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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.
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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
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 21:06:18|Editor: huaxia
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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. And the Board must love that business model
India
The Koreas
Syraqistan
East Africa: Ethiopia to Fill Contested Dam As Nile Talks Falter All Africa
Brexit
UK/EU
New Cold War
Putin aims for patriotic boost from victory parades FT
$1 Billion Gold Case Pits Maduro, BOE in Political Fight Bloomberg
Trump Transition
Police State Watch
Big Briother Is Watching You Watch
The EARN IT Bill Is the Governments Plan to Scan Every Message Online Electronic Frontier Foundation
Black Injustice Tipping Point
Our Famously Free Press
NYT Is Threatening My Safety By Revealing My Real Name, So I Am Deleting The Blog Slate Star Codex (bwilli123). The Times takes out a competitor
Failed State
Boeing
Spirit AeroSystems asks lenders for relief after deeper Boeing 737 production cut Reuters (Re Silc).
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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Follow AP reporter Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APjoshgoodman
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Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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/
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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
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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'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
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Parliament passes, in first reading, bill restricting gambling advertising in Armenia
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FBI search congressman's home in connection with Azerbaijan probe
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EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus meets Aliyev
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US general discusses regional security and bilateral cooperation in Armenia
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Armenian side members to Armenian-American Intergovernmental Commission confirmed
WHO advises countries to lift or ease international travel restrictions
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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)
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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]
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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.
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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
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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.
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"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.
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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
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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/
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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'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.
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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.
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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 .
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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.
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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/
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Almost all the U.S. tech firms, from Google to Amazon, Twitter and Facebook have condemned the latest visa ban announced by President Donald Trump.
They said the freeze would make the US less competitive.
Trump on Monday banned new H-1B visas, used by major companies to bring over highly-skilled engineers from abroad.
Around 18,000 H1-B visas were given to Google and Apple last year.
Trump said he did it to create jobs for Americans hurting economically due to the pandemic.
However, the tech companies said the policy was a bad one.
Amazon said the measures put Americas global competitiveness at risk.
The CEO of file-sharing firm Box dubbed it unbelievably bad policy.
A Facebook spokesperson said it will be even more difficult for the US to recover after coronavirus because of the measures.
An Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider: Preventing high skilled professionals from entering the country and contributing to Americas economic recovery puts Americas global competitiveness at risk.
CEO of Alphabet Googles parent company Sundar Pichai tweeted: 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.
Box founder and CEO Aaron Levie wrote that Trumps measures are unbelievably bad policy on every level. It will only mean more jobs move outside the US, and in no way makes America better or more competitive.
Reports said that the country most hit by the ban is India.
Indians take up nearly 70% of the 85,000 H-1B visas issued every year. And the ban is expected to hurt Indian technology companies and workers.
The visa is useful for Indian tech giants like Wipro, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as it allows them to send workers from India to manage important projects.
It also helps US tech giants like Google, Facebook and Twitter hire talent from India.
The ban announced by Mr Trump will only affect individuals who are planning to apply for the visa which means those who have already got it and are working in the US will not be affected.
However, H-1B visa holders who travelled to their home countries due to the pandemic will not be allowed to re-enter the US until the end of the year.
Related
Many industries across the globe are witnessing a bloodbath as the outbreak of novel coronavirus is forcing several companies to shut their businesses or scale back their normal operations to curtail the spread of the deadly contagion. At the same time, with the pandemic woes intensifying, stakeholders are racing against time to develop technological solutions to pitch in on the COVID-19 frontline.
With the gradual reopening of economy and the relaxation of lockdown, companies are beginning to assess how to bring back employees to their work places. As the virus can spread through even asymptomatic people, wearable technology is playing a pivotal role in effectively providing us insights into a number of health-related parameters, such as heart rate, body temperature and more.
Wearable technology has been recognized as an evolving product category in recent years. Per a recent ResearchandMarkets.com industry data, the global wearable device market is expected to be valued at $62 billion by 2025. And now, it is being deployed to analyze employee health amid this chaotic environment. Although not a substitute for testing, the data collection aids in early identification of potential COVID-19 cases and help encourage individuals to quarantine themselves.
Notably, wearable electronic devices may or may not be under users control. They can be deployed either by the state or entities for surveillance of individuals or merely for conveying health information to users. These body-worn devices can also be used to track social distancing and quarantine enforcement.
Emerging Wearable Solutions to Keep COVID-19 at Bay
Wearable technology is the latest breakthrough to tackle coronavirus. Individuals, companies and governments around the world are beginning to use these machines to monitor the course of the disease that could be fatal. Predominantly associated with either a smart watch or an ankle monitor, now electronic bracelets are also being adopted to trace active COVID-19 cases.
Story continues
In a bid to fight the coronavirus, Amazon AMZN recently deployed clear plastic-sleeve shaped like gadgets that give off warning signals when workers violate social-distancing mandate. Casino hotel company Las Vegas Sands LVS is trialling Oura smart rings that can detect COVID-19 symptoms early. The gear tracks sleep as well as monitors body temperature and the heart rate.
Port of Antwerp, key lifeline of the Belgium economy, uses smart bracelets to facilitate social distancing and permits contact tracing to pull through the current crisis. The bracelets, supplied by the Dutch tech company Rombit, are Bluetooth-enabled and equipped with ultra-wideband technology. It issues an alert whenever employees are in close proximity to one another.
Some countries are also using tracking wristbands or apps to keep tabs on individuals and patients under quarantine orders. Kentucky and West Virginia in the United States made it compulsory to use electronic ankle shackles for individuals who fail to comply with quarantine instructions after testing COVID-19 positive. In Western Australia too, these devices are used for quarantining persons who caught the infection.
The rapid proliferation of wearable devices like various other mitigations to combat the coronavirus, crops up a question: Can the extensive data accumulation by these wearables succeed in predicting the onset of the virus?
Researchers at Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in the United States reported that Oura ring successfully anticipated an individual to experience symptoms, such as cough, high temperature and shortness of breath three days prior to the signs of development. The DETECT (Digital Engagement & Tracking for Early Control & Treatment) study by the Scripps Research Translational Institute, which uses devices for tracking heart rate, activity and sleep data plus combines it with participants symptom reports to identify potential COVID-19 cases, shows that Fitbits FIT trackers can predict coronavirus in 78% of the 14 patients studied.
A biometric bracelet program known as AVA-GAPP was recently rolled out in Liechtenstein to determine if the bracelets supplied by Swiss fertility start-up Ava, are capable of forecasting COVID-19 pre-symptomatic cases. The trial is conducted on 2,200 voluntary participants and the data amassed is pseudonymized.
Wrapping Up
While wearable devices are the new answer to COVID-19, these devices also come with a host of other problems, which might weaken the sole objective of their adoption. Despite a widespread uptake of wearable technology, getting people acclimatized to this technology still remains a hurdle for the industry to cross. According to Accentures ACN report, the use of wearable technology for health management now stands at 18%, down from 33% registered in 2018.
It is also important to consider the long-term impact of such protective equipment. Strikingly, wearable devices can potentially distract employees, just like social media platforms, as these devices have internet access or appear as a cool piece of kit to play with. Their size and limited battery capacity are concerns too. Some devices like Fitbits trackers have a longer battery life compared to more advanced gizmos like Apples AAPL watch series. Even though fitness trackers are available at cheaper rates, those proving to be truly effective are often expensive. Accuracy also remains an obstacle to remote monitoring.
But the worst demerit is the privacy issue. Data gathered by wearables must be kept safe. Although personalized data generated from these devices is allowing informed decision making by doctors, such data is of great value to hackers who can sell or use the same for their vested interest. People will also not feel normal being tracked everywhere.
Finallly, brushing aside all shortcomings, efficacy of wearable technology should justify its speedy deployment. Although using wearable tech in predicting coronavirus by diagnosing vital symptoms is an attractive prospect, GlobalData foresees a long road ahead of these devices before they are put to use for reaping benefits. With wearables witnessing a spike in usage and sensing investors strong appetite for stocks in that space, we present three companies, each currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) that investors should watch out for.
You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Alphabet Inc. GOOGL is one of the most innovative companies in the modern technological age. Its strategic move to acquire wearable fitness company Fitbit highlights its focus on the wearables space. The company has a trailing four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 4.85%, on average.
Apple Inc., headquartered in Cupertino, CA, expects Services and Wearables businesses to drive its top line in fiscal 2020 and beyond. A solid uptake of Apple Watch also helped Apple strengthen its presence in the personal health monitoring space. The company has a trailing four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 10.61%, on average.
Garmin Ltd. GRMN is benefiting from solid momentum across the Fitness and Outdoor segments owing to buoyant demand for advanced wearables and adventure watches. The company has a trailing four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 22.11%, on average.
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.
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Prasanta Mazumdar By
Express News Service
GUWAHATI: As the BJP was reduced to a minority in Manipur, four ally NPP MLAs, who withdrew support to the saffron party-led government last week, were flown to Guwahati by Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The events transpired even as CBI summoned former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh for questioning in an alleged Rs 332 crore misappropriation case.
They (NPP MLAs) have been taken to Guwahati and subsequently, would be taken to Delhi, a Minister in the state told The New Indian Express.
The BJPs idea behind taking them to Delhi is ostensibly to mount pressure on them to return to the government. Ibobi will be grilled by sleuths of the CBI at his residence in Imphal on Wednesday.
The developments came just days after three BJP MLAs resigned from the party and the Assembly and six others four from NPP, one from All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and an independent MLA withdrew their support and went to the Congress which had prompted the grand old party to stake claim and then move a no-trust motion against the three-year-old N Biren Singh government.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who is also the NPP president, held closed door meetings with the NPP and the BJP MLAs.
After the meeting, the NPP MLAs went to the airport and flew in the flight of Sarma and Sangma. The duo had visited the state on Sunday as well for a patch up.
The NPPs Manipur leadership was miffed with CM N Biren Singh for his alleged autocratic style of functioning.
As pressure was being built up on the party MLAs to return to the N Biren Singh government, the party leadership felt it would be loss of face to do that just days after ditching the government.
The state unit president Thangminlien Kipgen had on Monday issued a statement outlining the reasons behind withdrawal of support.
Meanwhile, as the BJP fights to hold on to power, the Congress is suddenly under siege as evident from former CM Okram Ibobi Singh being summoned by the CBI. A team of the probe agency reached Imphal on Tuesday.
The case against Singh pertains to alleged embezzlement of funds in the Manipur Development Society (MDS). Apart from him, others named by the CBI in the FIR are former MDS chairmen DS Poonia, PC Lawmuknga, O Nabakishore Singh, all retired IAS officers, Y Ningthem Singh, former MDS project director, and S Ranjit Singh, its administrative officer.
Singh was not available for comments but a member of his family confirmed the former CM having received the CBI summons.
They (CBI) wanted to record his statement at their office here (Imphal). We requested them to go for video conferencing or visit our residence as the COVID-19 cases are rising. So, they agreed to come to our house tomorrow (Wednesday). We are not running away anywhere. We are ready to cooperate, he said.
Oil slipped from a three-month high before a U.S. government report expected to show another increase in inventories, signaling the market still has its work cut out to clear a massive supply glut.
Crude futures earlier rallied after President Donald Trump insisted the U.S.-China trade deal was fully intact, contradicting remarks from a trade adviser that sent markets into a tailspin. While the market has been buoyed in recent days by signs that demand is coming back, renewed fears of a second wave of the coronavirus is spurring some caution.
Crude has had a draw only three weeks since mid-January, so I wouldnt be surprised to see another build from this weeks report, said Michael Hiley, head of over-the-counter energy trading at New York-based LPS Futures.
The weekly round of U.S. inventory data begins with industry figures later on Tuesday. A Bloomberg survey is predicting that stockpiles rose by 1.5 million barrels last week, a sign that the recovery is likely to be uneven. If confirmed by government data Wednesday, it would be a third weekly gain.
PREVIOUSLY: Oil futures jump to a 3-month high on demand optimism
In a grim reminder that the pandemic hasnt gone away, California reported its biggest daily jump, and Floridas infection rate climbed above 10%. Intensive-care unit capacity in Harris County, Texas -- home to Houston and the nations third-most populous county -- will be exhausted in 11 days, based on the two-week average expansion rates.
Oil has rebounded since plunging below zero in April and is now trading around levels last seen in early March, before a short-lived but damaging price war broke out between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Some of the worlds biggest traders have expressed optimism that demand is making a comeback, while OPEC+ laggards are reported to be falling in line with supply cuts.
If you look at projections of flattening the curve of crude inventories, the peak is now lower and it will come sooner because youve got a better outlook on demand than originally feared, said Peter McNally, an analyst at Third Bridge Group Ltd.
2020 Bloomberg L.P.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has unveiled a new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine to boost COVID-19 testing in ...
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has unveiled a new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine to boost COVID-19 testing in the country.
The machine was unveiled at the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), a campus of the NCDC National Reference Laboratory in Lagos, on Sunday.
The PCR machine was procured using part of the 661,000 UKAid funding the British government donated to the Nigeria branch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) this year.
Both UK and Nigerian authorities have been collaborating closely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the unveiling, Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of NCDC, said the machine will help in achieving the centres goal to test over two million people over the next three months.
He said it will increase the nations capacity to carry out 3,000 tests per day.
We are glad to be getting such huge support and technical advice from our partners including the UK Governments Department for International Development (DFID), he said.
This new PCR Machine, which is a small part of our bigger testing strategy, will help us in driving towards our goal to test over 2 million people over the next three months. This laboratory will now be able to play an even bigger role to help us meet this target.
Also speaking on the donation, Karl Holmes, British high commissioner representative at the event, said the PCR machine is part of the UK governments support to Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that the machine will contribute to the wider efforts to strengthen testing in Nigeria.
The procurement of this new PCR machine complements the UK Governments ongoing financial and technical support to Nigeria for the provision of diagnostic reagents and consumables, Biosafety training and certifications through our International Health Regulations (lHR) Strengthening Project led by Public Health England, he said.
We hope this machine and other support will contribute to the wider efforts to strengthen testing in Nigeria. These efforts have been steadily expanding over the last few weeks and we welcome this progress. The UK remains committed to continuing our support to this and other pillars of the response.
Washington, June 23 : Police in Washington D.C. used a chemical irritant to disperse protesters who were attempting to topple a statue of the seventh US President Andrew Jackson in a park near the White House, it was reported.
Before the police intervention on Monday night, the protesters threw ropes around the statue in Lafayette Square and began trying to pull it down, chanting "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Andrew Jackson's got to go", Xinhua news agency reported.
Protesters did manage to smash the wooden wheels of four replica canons at the base of the statue astride a horse, said a Washington Post report, adding "protesters threw things at police, and officers shoved people in the melee".
Earlier on Monday, police and protesters briefly clashed as city officials attempted to clear out tents erected on a street near the White House and the Black Lives Matter Plaza, saying they were creating a potential safety hazard.
Jackson had signed the Indian Removal Act in May 1830, which led to the relocation of thousands of Native Americans and the deaths of thousands more when he was in office.
Responding to the incident, President Donald Trump tweeted that "Numerous people" had been arrested for "the disgraceful vandalism", adding: "10 years in prison under the Veteran's Memorial Preservation Act. Beware." Protesters have continued to target historical symbols of the Confederacy across the country, said a USA Today report.
On June 19, protesters in Washington, D.C., and in Raleigh, North Carolina, toppled statues.
A statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis was toppled in Richmond, Virginia earlier this month.
On June 18 in New Jersey, a statue of Christopher Columbus was toppled and beheaded.
The Mahatma Gandhi statue in Washington also was defaced with personal insults to him with an anti-India slogan on June 2.
The protests against police brutality, some of which have been violent, were triggered by the extra-judicial killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man by a policeman in Minneapolis on May 25.
Late Actor Sushant Singh Rajput The Congress on Tuesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Sushant's death. Lalan Kumar, former Bihar Youth Congress chairman and member of the Film Censor Board Advisory Committee, has written to Shah and Thackeray demanding that the CBI investigate Sushant's death. Kumar said in the letters that Sushant made his mark in Bollywood in a very short span but coming from a small town, he made a section of the film world unhappy. Quoting media reports, he said Sushant was abetted in committing suicide. Only a CBI investigation can clear up the entire matter, the letter said. If the demand for a CBI inquiry is not met within 15 days, he will approach the court, Lalan said. He warned that till Sushant gets justice, the films of actor Salman Khan and Karan Johar will also not be allowed to be screened in Bihar. Earlier Congress leader and former governor Nikhil Kumar had also demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. BJP leader and actor Manoj Tiwari has also demanded a high-level inquiry into the death. Sushant allegedly committed suicide on June 14 at his Bandra residence in Mumbai._ _SHOW_MID_AD__
The police in Kano have rescued over 600 labourers who were forced to spend three months in a factory called popular farm rice, in Challawa industrial area.
The workers told PREMIUM TIMES that they were threatened with their jobs if they opted to go home to see their families.
Members of the Kano police command stormed the factory on Monday after obtaining a court injunction, arresting four managers and releasing the detained workers.
This is where the factory workers sleep.
According to the workers, they were denied access outside the premises of the factory due to the fear of bringing COVID-19 into the factory.
One of the freed workers told journalists that he has been in the factory since March 23rd without setting his foot outside.
Another worker, Haruna Salihu, said he had been in the factory since March 28 and was denied time to visit his family and parents. Our family members are seriously disturbed, as they dont know the (condition we are in). My wife and my kids used to come to the factorys gate and I couldnt go and meet them.
This is where the factory workers sleep.
We were tricked to stay in the factory for five days, then (it was) extended to seven days, then two weeks and subsequently extended to one month. We are now detained for over three months. There are about 600 workers in the factory. We are sleeping in a very poor environment. I am appealing to authorities to allow me to go back to my family.
According to another employee, though he was not forced to stay, he was threatened with dismissal if he decided to go outside the factory.
Also, a truck driver, Hashimu Isa, who brought paddy rice from Kebbi State, narrated how he was kept in the factory for three days without going out.
This is where the factory workers sleep.
I brought paddy rice from Yauri, Kebbi State. I couldnt go out of the factory, since my entry three days ago. Even if you attempted to go out, the security will not allow you. I couldnt go out to give my boy money to buy food. Someone sent me ten thousand Naira, but I couldnt go to the bank to withdraw it. I was waiting to (offload) the rice, so that I will leave, he said.
The police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said they have arrested four management staff of the factory, and investigation is ongoing to verify the allegations against them.
This is where the factory workers sleep.
We have found many workers locked and enslaved in the factory. The commissioner of police, Habu A Sani, has directed for thorough investigation. So far, we have arrested four management staff and investigation has commenced, Mr Kiyawa said.
The manager of the rice mill, who identified himself as Abdulkareem, regretted the incident, saying he was not aware of the workers terrible condition.
Panic buying of toilet paper in COVID-19 hot spots across Victoria has ramped-up amid fears of another looming lockdown.
Daily Mail Australia observed people in COVID hot spots of Brimbank and Hume, in Melbourne's west, stocking up on products, with reports some smaller supermarkets had already been stripped.
Victoria has recorded a double significant rises in coronavirus cases for the seventh day running, with 17 new cases confirmed on Tuesday.
A shopper at Brimbank Shopping Centre on Tuesday leaves with a large supply of toilet paper
Another shopper leaves the Brimbank Shopping Centre on Tuesday with her trolley packed with toilet paper
While supplies at several of the larger Coles and Woolworths shops visited by Daily Mail Australia still had healthy supplies, there were strong signs the situation was about to get worse.
Many shoppers could be seen walking out with gigantic packages of toilet paper containing up to 36 rolls each.
One Brimbank resident told Daily Mail Australia he had heard about people stockpiling again on morning radio and had come down to the shops to grab some rolls before they vanished.
'I'm not getting caught out again,' the man said.
The man could later be heard calling family members telling them to stock-up as soon as possible.
Word quickly spread throughout the outer suburbs, with worried shoppers hitting supermarkets as far out as Hoppers Crossing and Werribee - in the outer west.
In Broadmeadows - in the municipality of Hume - shoppers could be seen leaving supermarkets with trolleys stacked with toilet paper.
Over in Endeavour Hills - in the municipality of Casey - large packages of toilet paper also appeared to be on the agenda.
A Coles shopper is seen with groceries bags and toilet paper at Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre on Tuesday
Shoppers use a travelator after stocking up on their groceries at Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre on Tuesday
Shoppers are seen with full trolleys as they make their way around Brimbank Shopping Centre on Tuesday
VICTORIA'S CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS Victoria's State of Emergency has been extended until 11.59pm on July 19 Until July 12, Victorians will only be able to have five people at their homes while outdoor gatherings have been reduced from 20 down to ten Cafes, restaurants and pubs were to be allowed up to 50 patrons from Monday, but that will now have to remain at 20 until July 12 The 20-person limit is the rule for real estate auctions, open houses and community areas will also continue to be limited to just 20 people Religious gatherings cannot be larger than 20 people plus those in charge of the ceremony Advertisement
On Tuesday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said authorities expected to provide more information about COVID cases as information was confirmed.
'There will be some significant community transmission within those numbers,' Mr Andrews said. 'This is still with us. This is not over.'
According to the latest statistics, the Victorian government is mostly concerned about the outbreak of cases in the areas of Hume (17 cases since the start of June), Brimbank (10), Casey (7), Darebin (6), Moreland (6) and Cardinia (6).
Victorians were among the first to go completely loopy when news of likely COVID-19 restrictions came about in March.
Some profiteering toilet hoarders quickly took to social media where they attempted to flog-off their booty at insanely inflated prices.
Supermarkets were forced to close down to try and re-stock supplies.
Back then, the prime minister was forced to address the nation and tell selfish Australians to 'stop it'.
It was only last week that Victorian shoppers observed supermarkets were jam packed with toilet paper, with some reducing prices to as little as $1.50 for four rolls.
A woman leaves Woolworths at Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre in Melbourne on Tuesday
Mr Andrews confirmed on Tuesday that two more Victorian schools had been shut down due to COVID-19 cases.
Both are in areas which have been declared coronavirus hot spots.
It remains to be seen if ordinary staples such as flour, rice and pasta will fly off the shelves too.
While the March panic buying began with toilet paper, it quickly escalated to the point where elderly Australians were forced to shop at designated times just so they could buy food.
Following social media reports of Sunday 21 June 2020 purporting that Delish Nguwaya is a holder of a Diplomatic Passport, I wish to inform the nation that as the custodians of Diplomatic Passports in Zimbabwe, @MoFA_ZW has no record of ever issuing one to him. pic.twitter.com/83WY5wYTkE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue University was ranked 13th in the nation on BestColleges and Campus Prides 2020 listing of Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students. Additionally, Purdue was listed as the best college for LGBTQ+ students in the state of Indiana.
The rankings look at schools academic support and affordability data, along with the Campus Pride Index score, which is a national rating system that measures LGBTQ-friendly campus life. Campus Pride takes an exhaustive and multifaceted approach, considering eight LGBTQ+ inclusive factors to reach a measurement. The rankings also include descriptions of campus resources that provide support to students of various gender and sexual identities.
Purdues LGBTQ Center, a resource within the Division of Diversity and Inclusion that was established in 2012, was a key instrument in engaging the campus community with educational, outreach and advocacy programs. It also provided services and resources for students. Purdues offering of an LGBTQ studies minor and award-winning study abroad opportunities in LGBTQ+ history, identity and culture also was featured in the ranking.
Weve seen over the past eight years phenomenal growth and participation in the center, said Lowell Kane, director of student engagement and belonging and director of the LGBTQ Center. We have seen an expansion of programs and services as well as policies and practices that illustrate Purdues commitment to welcoming and affirming everybody.
Every year we welcome more students who use the centers resources and programs to enhance their Purdue experience and enrich their own lives and the lives and experiences of the LGBTQ community, Kane said.
In addition to programs for faculty, staff and students, the center has seen the development of new LGBTQ+ student organizations, the growth of Purdue Employee Pride, and established center internships to engage experiential learning and expanded volunteer opportunities.
All of these resources work in tandem to enhance the center and Purdue commitment to this dynamic and diverse population, Kane said.
Writer: Matthew Oates, 765-586-7496 (cell), oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates
Source: Lowell Kane, lowell@purdue.edu, @purduelgbtq
New Delhi, June 23 : Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, echoing the party view on China in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, said if the matter is not tackled properly it can lead to a serious situation.
Endorsing party chief Sonia Gandhi's view that the face-off at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh is a full blown crisis, Manmohan Singh said: "The crisis on the border, which if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation." Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, who attended the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi briefed the CWC on the border situation.
Manmohan Singh on Monday slammed the Prime Minister on the Chinese transgression accusing him of delivering "disinformation" following Modi's statement in the all-party meeting and the later clarification by the PMO. Singh said the Prime Minister should know the implication of his words. "The Prime Minister cannot allow them to use his words as a vindication of their position and must ensure that all organs of the Government work together to tackle this crisis and prevent it from escalating further," said Singh.
Manmohan Singh in his statement on Monday said: "We remind the Government that disinformation is no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership." "The truth cannot be suppressed by having pliant allies spout comforting but false statements," added Manmohan Singh. He was criticising Modi's statement at the all-party meeting on Friday and later clarification by the PMO on June 15 night's violent face-off between the Indian and Chinese sides in Galwan Valley that led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers, including a commanding officer. The PM's statement was used by the Chinese to get away with their misdeeds.
Before the former Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi also slammed the government saying that we have a "full-blown" crisis on the LAC with China.
Addressing the party leaders, she said, "Chinese troops have committed brazen transgressions into our territory in Pangong Tso Lake area and the Galwan Valley, Ladakh. True to its character, the government is in denial. The intrusion was detected and reported on May 5. Instead of a resolution, the situation deteriorated rapidly and there were violent clashes on June 15-16," she said, adding that 20 Indian soldiers were martyred, 85 injured and 10 went missing until they were returned.
Hitting out at Modi she said, "The Prime Minister was called out when he announced that no one had intruded into Indian territory in Ladakh." The Congress leader said that on matters of national security and territorial integrity, the nation has always stood together and this time too, there is no second opinion. "The Congress Party was the first to offer its total support to the Armed Forces and the government. However, there is a growing feeling among the people that the government has gravely mishandled the situation," she said.
Sonia added that the future is yet to "unfold" but we hope that "mature diplomacy" and "decisive leadership" will inform the government's actions in protecting our territorial integrity. She also urged the government that peace, calm and the restoration of the status quo ante along the LAC be the only guiding principles in our national interest.
Sonia Gandhi also discussed the economic crisis and the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) situation in the country and said that "misfortunes do not come singly".
"India has been hit by a terrible economic crisis, a pandemic of huge proportions. Much of each crisis is attributable to the mismanagement of the BJP-led NDA government and the wrong policies pursued by it," she said, adding that the party has discussed the economic crisis before. "Since then, it has only become worse. The Modi government refuses to listen to good advice. The need of the hour is a massive fiscal stimulus, putting money directly in the hands of the poor, protecting and nurturing the MSMEs, and stimulating demand." Slamming the government, she said that the government announced a hollow financial package that had a fiscal component of less than 1 per cent of the GDP. Discussing the fuel price hike, she said, "The government has 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." She emphasised that the result is that a sliding economy is now hurtling toward a "recession" for the first time in 42 years and recoveries will take long time.
She also criticised the government over the handling of the Covid-19 crisis and said the government was totally unprepared to manage the fallout of the lockdown. "The pandemic hit India in February. The Congress offered its total support to the government and supported Lockdown 1.0. Within weeks, it was apparent that the government was totally unprepared to manage the fallout of a lockdown," she said.
Sonia alleged that millions of jobs have been lost and several MSMEs have been shut. "Despite the assurances of the Prime Minister who centralized all authority in his hands, the pandemic continues to rage. The grave deficiencies in the health infrastructure have been exposed. The promised peak is nowhere in sight. The Centre has passed the buck to the state governments, but given them zero extra finances," she said.
"Actually, the people have been left to protect themselves as best as possible. The mismanagement of the pandemic will be recorded as one of the most disastrous failures of the Modi government," she added.
The CWC meeting comes after the all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister last week. Sources in the party said that the incident at the Line of Actual Control is unacceptable to the party and the relationship with Nepal is at an all time low.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 24) A construction site at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig has been placed under a localized lockdown, starting Tuesday up to July 7, as authorities confirmed some workers there tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, the Taguig city government followed the recommendation of its Safe City Task Force as 27 construction workers showed fever symptoms in the site and are considered as suspected COVID-19 cases.
Among the 27 suspected COVID-19 patients, six of them tested positive of the virus when their results were released at 11 a.m. yesterday.
The Taguig City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit conducted an early investigation on the site last June 18 and also found out that some workers got infected with dengue, typhoid and Zika virus.
The city government ordered its police force and BGC Marshalls to cordon off and secure the construction site.
The Taguig local government unit also said that they will strictly monitor the health and living conditions of the quarantined construction workers, and assist them through their emergency response teams in case of trouble.
The Taguig LGU decided to withhold the details about the construction site, its developer, and its workers to protect their right to privacy and avoid unnecessary and undue harm to all the parties involved.
Last week, three areas in Lower Bicutan were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to a clustering of three or more confirmed COVID-19 cases there.
The ECQ in Purok 4, 5, and 6 of Lower Bicutan will end on July 1. However, the ECQ may be lifted earlier if there will be no new infections in these areas.
To date, Taguig City now has 714 confirmed COVID-19 cases along with 21 deaths and 142 recoveries.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 19:22:01|Editor: huaxia
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WINDHOEK, June 23 (Xinhua) -- An initiative by the Chinese business community in Namibia is assisting locals whose livelihoods have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other socio-economic challenges.
Under this initiative , the Chinese business community has donated 150 parcels to the elderly citizens at Ondangwa town in the northern part of Namibia.
Jiang Bo, deputy chairman of Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry who represented the business community in Namibia, said the food parcels were aimed at uplifting senior citizens in the community facing socio-economic challenges and meeting their nutritional needs.
According to Jiang, the donated parcels were collaborative efforts and contribution by the various Chinese businesses operating in the northern part of the country.
"The elderly citizens face many challenges, but are often overlooked. This donation is our expression of concern to the aged citizens," he said.
Elia Irimari, governor of the northern Oshana region, commended the Chinese business community for the donation.
"The Chinese business community in Ondangwa have our elderly at heart. And this donation is timely, given the challenges faced by the elderly in the area," he said Tuesday.
The elderly have welcomed the Chinese aid. Ruusa Shilongo said that the parcels would relieve her household from hunger and other social aspects.
"It will also help our resources go farther. The donation would further ease me financially from spending money on food. As a result, I will be able to channel the money I receive from the state pension grant to other needs," Shilongo said. Enditem
Agartala, June 23 : Under Phase 3 of the Vande Bharat Mission, national carrier Air India will ferry 150 Indians from six northeastern states still stranded in Kyrgyzstan on June 30, a Tripura Minister said here on Tuesday.
The flight would land at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati on June 30, Tripura Law and Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath said quoting an External Affairs Ministry communication.
Of these, 70 people are from Manipur, 67 from Assam, eight from Arunachal Pradesh and two each from Tripura and Mizoram, and one from Meghalaya.
Nath said that earlier a large number of northeastern residents had returned from Bangladesh, Kuwait and other countries.
The 3rd phase of the Vande Bharat Mission began on June 11 and will continue till July 2.
Over 500 residents of northeast India, stranded in Bangladesh, had returned by road. Health officials said that they were sent in institutional quarantine for seven days, after which they had to undergo home quarantine for another seven days. Many of these returnees had tested positive for Covid-19.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal suffered a big jolt on Tuesday when five of its eight members of the legislative council in Bihar quit the opposition party and joined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United) even as Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, one of its founding members, resigned as the national vice-president.
It was a day of mayhem for the main opposition party as S M Qamar Alam, a national general secretary of the RJD, walked to the chamber of Vidhan Parishad Acting chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh along with four others to tender their resignation.
The other MLCs who resigned are Sanjay Prasad, Radha Charan Seth, Ranvijay Kumar Singh and Dlip Rai.
The acting chairman said the five MLCs have been recognised as a separate group, the merger of which into the JD-U has been approved.
Meanwhile, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, a former Union minister, who is down with COVID 19 and admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, shot off a letter to the party leadership conveying his decision to step down as national vice-president as he was unhappy over the type of people being inducted into the RJD of late.
Singh is said to have been miffed over reports that Rama Singh, a mafia don-turned-politician formerly associated with Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party who had defeated the RJD veteran in his pocket borough of Vaishali in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, was likely to join the party founded and headed by Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Egypt has categorically condemned the recent drone and ballistic missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi militias targeting the Saudi cities of Najran and Jizan in the early hours of Tuesday.
Three ballistic missiles and eight drones launched toward Najran and Jizan were intercepted by the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, according to the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television.
In an official statement on Tuesday, the Egyptian foreign ministry stressed Egypts full solidarity with the kingdom in the face of any attempt targeting its security and stability.
The ministry added that "Egypt supports Saudi Arabia in all its measures to counter the brutal terrorism."
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been leading a coalition against the Houthis since March 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government in Sanaa.
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DEER PARK, Ill., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Plexus Groupe, a rapidly growing, privately held broker, announces its acquisition of Community Insurance Group (CIG) of Brandon, Florida. This is the first entrance into the Florida market for Plexus which has locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Oklahoma City. The transaction was completed June 22, 2020.
Community Insurance Group was founded in 2004 by Bill Puckett who grew the business by specializing in insurance for Homeowners Associations throughout the state of Florida. All CIG associates have accepted positions at Plexus.
Bill Puckett, President of CIG, commented, "After growing Community from scratch in 2004, I decided the time was right to find a partner that could help our team grow to the next level. After looking at many buyers, I was drawn to Plexus' commitment to remaining private, while providing the tools to grow. I'm excited for our associates to become part of The Plexus Groupe organization."
Plexus Founder and CEO Walter R. Fawcett, III said, "As Plexus begins our expansion through M&A, I'm thrilled to enter the Florida market with a firm like Community that has such an excellent reputation. We welcome Bill and his team to the Plexus family."
The Plexus Groupe LLC, founded by Walter R. Fawcett, III in 1990, offers innovative solutions in employee benefits, property & casualty insurance, corporate retirement plans, personal lines insurance, benefits technology services, and mergers & acquisitions. Additionally, the Plexus Global Network gives clients access to insurance placement in 130 countries around the world. Plexus is headquartered in Deer Park, Ill., with locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Oklahoma City.
If you are interested in learning more about a partnership with The Plexus Groupe, please contact Bob Hilb at [email protected]. Visit our website: www.plexusgroupe.com.
SOURCE The Plexus Groupe
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In general, as a state, Armenia has always dealt with the issues related to the Constitution with precaution, starting from the stage of formation of the state and leading up to our days. This is what leader of the Union for National Self-Determination Paruyr Hayrikyan told reporters today.
Even the regimes that the Union for National Self-Determination had initially viewed as undemocratic took extreme actions. For instance, it took four years to adopt a Constitution, which the Union had been raising as a major issue since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of Armenia. Although we undertook the next constitutional reforms in 1998, the referendum was held in two stages, and of course, it was not held the way I would have liked for it to be held, he said.
According to Hayrikyan, at the time, the Union had envisaged that certain constitutional provisions could be amended through the parliament, that is, there wouldnt be a need to hold a referendum.
For instance, during the years of administration of the Republicans, the bill to be put to a referendum had already been adopted and included a statement on the acquisition of citizenship of people of Armenian descent. I had a talk with the parliamentary speaker of the time and said there cant be people of Armenian descent in the Constitution. Discussions on this issue lasted for months, and in the end, the issue remained unsolved. Even the parliament didnt consider discussion on the issue appropriate since it concerned the Constitution. Basically, the Constitution is the foundation of all other laws, and a careless attitude towards the Constitution is not only incomprehensible, but also even dangerous, he said.
As our country goes through one of the toughest crises, it is expected that there would be political consensus, not political mudslinging, around our response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Right from upgrading hospital infrastructure, developing emergency beds and ICUs to economic measures. It was interesting to see Abhishek Manu Singhvi, in a recent newspaper article, taking umbrage at PM Modis monumental failure expression for MGNREGS in 2014. However, the entire discourse, carried on by many opposition leaders, amounts to missing the wood for the trees.
The recent announcement of an additional Rs 40,000 crore under MGNREGS to mitigate rural distress could not have come at a more appropriate time. This has further been supplemented by the PM Garib Kalyan Rozgar Yojna that aims at providing Rs 50,000 crore worth of work to 69 lakh migrant workers in 116 districts. While the naysayers are recollecting PM Modis description of MGNREGS as monumental failure, they intentionally forget to mention the context in which such a statement was made. Prior to May 2014, a series of objections raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General, PILs filed before the Supreme Court, a plethora of circulars issued by the Ministry of Rural Development - many of the circulars contradicting the ones issued earlier - frequent interference of the then National Advisory Council in policy making and implementation and lack of proper monitoring and transparency had led to tremendous chaos and confusion in the field. Consequently, there was rampant corruption and a large number of earthworks, which would facilitate such corruption, became the order of the day. PM Modis statement regarding monumental failure was basically intended to highlight the urgent need to transform MGNREGS with a focus on transparency, durable asset creation and convergence of MGNREGS with other schemes to maximize the impact.
Having been directly associated with the entire transformation exercise taken up under MGNREGS, I would like to list out some of the major governance reforms that ensured a complete overhaul of the programme. If MGNREGS has been able to stand by the poor and the deprived in the villages today, it is due to a series of painstaking reforms that were ushered in pursuant to PM Modis directions.
In the midst of the chaos and confusion prevailing in MGNREGS implementation in the UPA-2 regime, a major intervention for removing the possibility of ghost assets and repeat works on the same site was geo-tagging of all assets created since April, 2014. With the help of space technology and tie up with National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad, the MORD, with support from states, geo-tagged nearly 4 crore assets within a short period and the effort continues. This was a path-breaking initiative which was emulated in many central government schemes at a later date.
Coupled with this, came the National Electronic Fund Management System (e-FMS) on 1 January 2015. While Dr Singhvi is right that the DBT announcement had been made in the 2013 budget, he conveniently chose not to mention the extremely poor implementation of all DBT announcements by the UPA-2 Government. Because of strong monitoring and guidance of the Prime Minister, 99% of the MGNREGA funds are being transferred directly to the bank account of the beneficiaries today. Holding on to Aadhaar database, without making effective use was one more glaring example of the policy paralysis afflicting the system in UPA-2 days.
In sharp contrast to the earlier focus on taking up any kind of earthwork in the name of addressing rural unemployment, there was a conscious effort after 2014 to move towards durable asset creation and taking up more individual land based activities to enable small and marginal farmers to gain long term benefits through MGNREGS interventions. For example, only 3,488 works were taken up under the rural infrastructure component of MGNREGS in the financial year 2013-14. This shot up to 2,52,628 in 2019-20. Works on individual land go a long way in augmenting the income of a household and they ensure more tangible asset creation due to personal involvement of the landowner or the small and marginal farmer. A massive push was given to such works and consequently, this figure jumped from 18 lakh individual works in 2013-14 to 1.42 crore works in 2019-20.
Dr Singhvis overenthusiastic suggestion to increase the number of mandays from 100 days to 200 days misses the fact that the law itself provides for adding 50 more mandays only to the existing 100 days. That too is permissible only in the event of drought or other natural calamities. The cynics must note that the Labour Budget of MGNREGS has been increasing with focus on poor and needy states like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar. The Labour Budget of 2014-15 and 2020-21 are 220 crore and 281 crore mandays respectively. That means more resources are made available for which PM Modi and team deserve accolades; this is another dimension of the transformative approach adopted by the central government.
To maximize the impact of MGNREGS interventions, works under convergence have increased immensely in recent years. Convergence has helped in combining necessary resources for generating an asset. Increased demand from beneficiaries from all the states for convergence works has further cemented the utility of this initiative. This thrust of the government on convergence has resulted in creation of useful and durable assets - anganwadi centres, food storage godowns, variety of roads including those with paver blocks as well as plastic waste and water conservation structures. While 66,525 works were taken up under the convergence category in 2014-15, this number has gone up to 4,51,779 in 2019-20.
That Dr Singhvi has not checked facts before putting in certain figures mesmerizes many of us keeping in view his level of wisdom. His allegation that Rs 16,000 crore is outstanding is divorced from reality. In April 2020 itself, all pending dues have been cleared, thanks to the proactive approach of the central government.
Times like these require a proper appreciation of the gravity of the situation and a constructive approach to overcome the present crisis which is staring at us. Statements of Dr Singhvi and other opposition leaders at this critical juncture smack of cynicism and apathy. PM Modi is leading from the front. His clarion call for constructing an Atma Nirbhar Bharat requires all of us, from all segments, to join hands for various nation-building activities with hearts full of compassion, empathy and hope.
(A former IAS officer, Aparajita Sarangi is a BJP Member of Parliament from Odishas Bhubaneswar constituency. She was the joint secretary handling MGNREGS in the rural development ministry between 2013 and 2018)
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Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Liz Wolter
From Popular Mechanics
The Zumwalt-class destroyers are under-gunned, thanks to expensive ammunition.
Congress wants the Navy to boost their firepower with hypersonic weapons.
Currently under development, Conventional Prompt Global Strike would give the destroyers the ability to destroy targets thousands of miles away in a matter of seconds.
Congress is poised to order the U.S. Navy to add a key new weapon system to its beleaguered class of destroyers. The House of Representatives plans to mandate that the Navy add the new Conventional Prompt Global Strike hypersonic missile to the Zumwalt-class destroyers. The order would beef up the firepower of a class of destroyers hobbled by a lack of ammunition for their high-tech guns.
According to U.S. Naval Institute News , the House of Representatives 2021 defense budget will carry a provision ordering the Navy to begin integration of Conventional Prompt Global Strike (CPS) onto the Zumwalt class destroyers by 2021. CPS is a hypersonic weapon system that travels at speeds in excess of Mach 5nobody really knows how fastto destroy time-sensitive targets on the ground. CPS was originally designed to deploy aboard U.S. Navy submarines.
The U.S. Navy originally intended the stealthy Zumwalts as land attack destroyers, meant to creep up to an adversarys coastline and then bombard targets ashore with the ships new 155-millimeter Advanced Gun Systems. The Navy cut the number of destroyers from 32 to just three, causing the price of the AGS precision-guided shell to balloon from a pricey $50,000 each to an unaffordable $566,000 . As a result the U.S. Navy is repurposing the three remaining Zumwalts into ship killers, and plans to add new anti-ship missiles to the destroyers vertical launch silos.
Photo credit: Elizabeth A Wolter
Its not clear how the Zumwalts will add new CPS missiles. CPS is too large to fit in the Zumwalts 80 Mk. 57 vertical launch missile silos. Unless the Navy removes the two AGS guns, the service will probably have to add the large missiles to the destroyers deck, which could spoil the ships carefully designed, stealthy, anti-radar profile. Bolting them to the deck might also interfere with the ships helicopter and drone flight operations, as the flight deck takes up nearly one-third of the warship.
Story continues
The combination hypersonic weapons and the Zumwalt destroyers sound like peanut butter and chocolate all over again, but the reality is more complicated. Unless the Navys new hypersonic missile has some kind of anti-ship capability, CPS will shift the Zumwalts mission away from ship-killing and back to land attack. This ping-ponging of the ships role at sea will only further delay the introduction of the three ships into the fleet. The first in class, Zumwalt, is ideally supposed to be ready for action right now.
Source: U.S. Naval Institute News
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Shaun King has made a career out of inserting himself into high-profile moments that purportedly highlight systemic racism. Unfortunately for his high profile, he didn't manage to grab headlines with the most recent iteration of Blacks Lives Matter protests. That is, he didn't manage to grab headlines until Monday. That was the day he was inspired to attack every bit of Western Christian iconography, claiming that it is rooted in racism and most be destroyed. It is an extraordinary demonstration of ignorance, anti-Christian sentiment, and anti-white racism.
The tweets, which put King back on the radar (which is, remember, how he makes his living), insist that every single bit of Christian imagery must be destroyed as surely as the mobs are attacking the images of America's history:
These tweets are a desperate bid for attention from a man who rode the Black Lives Matter train to fame but now feels it's passing him by. However, because they did garner a few thousand likes, his ignorant statements deserve to be rebutted.
Christian iconography as we know it developed in a white world that had no sense of Jesus and Mary as historical figures and did not traffic in race. Instead, the medieval world divided the world into religious categories (Christian, Jewish, or Muslim) and regional categories (the British region, the French region, the Spanish region, the Italian region, etc.).
For the medieval painters who cemented the images we know today, Christ was an immediate presence in their daily lives. They painted the Madonna and Christ to look like them because they were unaffected by race, time, or place. In each of the pictures, not only do the actors look like people in the painters' world, but they also dress in contemporary clothes and are situated in contemporary Northern European rooms and landscapes.
The painters' self-referential iconography was helped by the fact that they existed in a world with limited literacy and no internet. They had no way of knowing how the 1st-century biblical world looked. All they could do was paint what they knew.
That's why Jan van Eyck, in the first half of the 15th century, imagined his Mary as a highborn lady from Burgundy (in modern Belgium) and placed her in a Gothic Church straight out of Northern Europe:
We see this ahistoric worldview again in van Eyck's "Madonna of Chancellor Rolin," where Mary sits in a lavish, contemporary early 15th-century chamber with the town of Autun, in Burgundy, seen behind her through a window:
Likewise, when van Eyck's peer, Roger van der Weyden, painted Christs descent from the cross, he too was incapable of imagining a different place or time. Christ was "everyman," which meant that the Madonna and others present when he was taken from the cross would look like the people van der Weyden saw on the street. This wasnt racism; it was the finite world of medieval man:
Fifty years later, the Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci, in "The Last Supper," was again incapable of imagining Christ as anyone but a renaissance lord. Because da Vinci had the benefit of an Italian upbringing, the setting is vaguely Roman-looking. Still, the clothes that his blond Jesus and the apostles wear are pure Italian Renaissance.
Racism was not a factor. Instead, again, Leonardo, like his contemporaries, did not distinguish between past and present or Roman-occupied Palestine and Italy when he envisioned Jesus.
The other thing to remember about the Northern European imagery is that, as Thomas Cahill argues in his delightful How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe, it was the Irish who preserved Christianity after Rome fell to the pagan Huns and Germanic tribes. Europe's Christian tradition was not connected to the Middle East. It was connected to the Anglo-Celtic tradition. Indeed, by the time Muhammad and his jihadis were done, little Christianity remained in the Middle East. It lived in Northern Europe and, with Greek Orthodoxy, in Constantinople.
The famous and pervasive images in this post (and others like them) were all painted without regard for, understanding of, or interest in Mary's or Jesus's actual looks or his contemporaneous world. When repetition and cultural familiarity caused them to become the templates for all modern Christian iconography, race or racism had nothing to do with it.
There's nothing wrong with reimagining Christ, Mary, the apostles, and other people in the Bible as they would have looked in their time: Semitic Jews. There is a great deal wrong with an attention-seeking grifter trying to gin up violence that will overthrow an aesthetically beautiful and enduring Western Christian tradition merely because one man is ignorant enough to believe that the entirety of Christianity, with its race-free focus on the son of God, is, in reality, a vast racist conspiracy.
Conservative Christian group One Million Moms has issued a warning to parents that Disney's new animated series "The Owl House" is "evil" and "demonic".
The group has heavily criticised Disney Television Animation's new cartoon series, saying it portrays witchcraft in a positive light. More than 16,000 people have signed a One Million Moms petition demanding that The Disney Channel cancel "The Owl House", which premiered in the U.S. in January.
The new series follows a teenage girl named Luz, who discovers a portal to a demon realm and battles the forces of evil.
On her journey, Luz befriends a witch named Eda and a tiny warrior named King. Even though Luz does not have magical powers, Luz becomes Eda's apprentice as she pursues a dream of becoming a witch.
The series is produced by Dana Terrace, who has worked on the shows "Gravity Falls" and "Duck Tales."
The new series has already been renewed for a second season.
One Million Moms has accused Disney of introducing children to "to a world of demons" while inundating their minds with "secular worldviews that reflect the current culture."
The One Million Moms campaign webpage reads: "The show makes light of Hell and the dangers of the demonic realm. Even the previews and commercials include such content that makes it difficult for families who watch Disney Channel to avoid the evil content completely."
The series is rated as appropriate for ages 7 and up even though it contains "fantasy violence."
One Million Moms has said: "The first episode is more than enough for most Christian families to realize that 'The Owl House' ... is not a cute, funny show. [R]ather [it is] an extremely dangerous one."
Deborah Bunting, an op-ed contributor for the Christian Broadcasting Network, has written that "The Owl House" is "so beyond Cinderella it's not even funny."
She says, "The show tries to portray witchcraft as a positive tool to fight evil. That's similar to what real-life witches have been promoting over the past few years as they've been putting hexes on President Trump and others in order to fight for their beliefs."
One Million Moms highlights that the Bible states clearly in Isaiah 8:19-22 that "there is a spiritual realm that is not of God."
"It warns us not to participate in witchcraft or consult with mediums but to call on God," the One Million Moms petition states. "Deuteronomy 18:10-11 also warns us to avoid witchcraft in all forms."
In 2017, One Million Moms launched a petition opposing a Disney XD series that showed several gay characters kissing. That petition was supported by 64,000 people.
Last year, One Million Moms called for a boycott of "Toy Story 4," stating that Disney "blindsided" families by subtly including LGBT characters and undertones in the film.
The organisation said the inclusion of lesbian moms in the movie was Disney's attempt to "normalize" the LGBT lifestyle.
The One Million Moms campaign stated: "'Toy Story 4' is the last place parents would expect their children to be confronted with content regarding sexual orientation. Issues of this nature are being introduced too early and too soon. It is extremely common yet unnecessary."
One Million Moms' "Toy Story 4" petition was backed by over 15,000 signatures.
Courtesy of Christian Today
[June 23, 2020] Ridgemont Equity Partners Acquires American Safety Council
Ridgemont Equity Partners, a middle market private equity investor, today announced the acquisition of American Safety Council ("ASC (News - Alert)" or the "Company"), a leading national provider of mandatory training, education, and certification solutions to regulated end markets. ASC distributes 100% of its life-saving content in digital format and focuses on workplace safety, driver safety and vocational certifications. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "ASC has an outstanding management team, led by John Comly, and a uniquely scaled, national platform with nearly two million customers and over four hundred online courses that help people lead safer and more productive lives," said Rob Edwards, Partner at Ridgemont. "We have followed the business and its impressive growth trajectory for many years and are very pleased to partner with the ASC team to continue to invest in its content and technology and to actively pursue M&A opportunities in adjacent end markets." "There has been an ongoing paradigm shift of learning environments gravitating from the classroom to a digital setting, and the current public health crisis has accelerated this movement," said Charles Anderson, Partner at Ridgemont. "Additionally, the U.S. regulatory landscape has become more stringent in many training and continuing education segments. ASC is extremely well-positioned to provide trusted, high-quality content in a user-friendly online format, and Ridgemont is excited to embark on this next chapter of growth alongside the ompany's management team."
"Our new partnership with Ridgemont and their team's strategic and financial support will further propel our business and enable us to advance our capabilities," said John Comly, CEO of American Safety Council. "We have a purpose-built platform for organic growth and M&A, alongside a winning culture at ASC. Ridgemont shares our vision to build American Safety Council into the leading provider of online training, education and vocational certification in regulated end markets." Financing for the transaction was provided by Benefit Street Partners LLC, AB Private Credit Investors and funds and accounts sub-advised by Churchill Asset Management LLC. Alston & Bird LLP provided legal services to Ridgemont. Robert W. Baird & Company served as financial advisor to American Safety Council and William Blair served as financial advisor to Ridgemont.
About American Safety Council Based in Orlando, Florida, American Safety Council provides critical training and education to more than two million customers each year. ASC collaborates with federal and state agencies, higher learning institutions, trade associations and iconic industry brands to ensure the content of the Company's online courses is best-in-class and compliant with applicable laws, regulations or industry standards. American Safety Council is committed to helping people live safer, more productive lives with current training offerings focused on workplace safety, driver safety, and other vocational certifications. www.americansafetycouncil.com About Ridgemont Equity Partners Ridgemont Equity Partners is a Charlotte-based middle market buyout and growth equity investor. Since 1993, the principals of Ridgemont have invested approximately $4.4 billion. The firm focuses on equity investments up to $250 million in industries in which it has deep expertise, including business and industrial services, energy, healthcare, and technology and telecommunications. www.ridgemontep.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005088/en/
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Netflix
The Supreme Court in Brazil has given the go ahead to Netflix to continue streaming a comedy that depicts Jesus as homosexual.
"The First Temptation of Christ" was created by Brazilian comedy group Porta Does Fundos and first aired on December 3, coinciding with the Christmas season.
The Netflix blurb described it as a "Christmas special so wrong".
It sparked outrage across Brazil, with over 2.3 million people signing a petition demanding its removal from the streatming platform.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of conservative Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, was among the outspoken critics against the satire.
"We support freedom of expression, but is it worth attacking the belief of 86 per cent of the population?" Bolsonaro said.
The strength of feeling among Brazilians was laid bare when the Rio de Janeiro office of Porta dos Fundos was attacked with firebombs on Christmas Eve. No one was injured in the attack.
A lower court last Tuesday came down on the side of the critics and ordered Netflix to remove the comedy special.
However, that decision was reversed on Thursday by the Supreme Court, with the President of Brazil's Supreme Court, Justice Jose Antonio Dias Toffoli, stating that freedom of expression is a fundamental right of democracy.
"A piece of satire is not going to undermine the values of Christian faith, which has been around for more than 2,000 years," he wrote in his judgement.
ALTON Fire broke out at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 10 E. 3rd St., sometime before 10 a.m.Tuesday. The cause of the fire is yet unknown.
I just got here and it was on fire, said parish office administrator Jenn Grassle. She said she arrived on site at around 9:45 a.m., just 15 minutes after lay pastoral assistant Diane Martin discovered smoke billowing from the building.
I am a volunteer here and I get here early every morning, said Martin. This morning, I got here and opened that door and black smoke just poured out. So, I closed the door real fast and I opened it again just to try to see anything and then noticed that there was smoke on the roof.
Martin said she had trouble dialing 911 on her phone and then ran up the hill to Post Commons where employees helped her make the call.
I was aggravated because I couldnt call 911 on my phone, she said. But I just ran up the hill and they called right away and came back down the hill with me.
At 9:50 a.m. Alton and East Alton Fire Departments mostly unfamiliar with the buildings layout were on the scene Tuesday morning trying to locate the fires source until finally getting a hit on the flames around 10:24 a.m.
Theyre trying to get down to the basement, but thats a very complicated procedure, said Martin as firefighters were still busy trying to find their way into the building.
Although the fire appeared to stem from the section of building adjacent to the sanctuary, the extent of damage is so far unknown. The state fire marshal has been called in to aid in the investigation.
We dont even know whats happened yet, said Rev. Cynthia Sever, who confirmed she was on the church premises with Martin until about 7 p.m. Monday. We dont know where the fire was exactly in the building or where it started or what the extent of the damage is. I just ask people to pray.
Grassle, who works in the part of the building that was filled with smoke Tuesday morning, said that although all of the churchs important documents are in a fireproof safe, she was worried about what may be lost.
Im hoping the computer is not trashed entirely, she said. I have no idea what could have started it.
Canada Is Either Part of Western Civilization or It Is Nothing
Commentary
Happy Canada Day. I guess. But whats to celebrate?
Once upon a time that question was easy to answer. Too easy, probably. We spoke of our prosperity, our tolerance, and our military prowess and glossed over the ways in which we had not lived up to those ideals.
From the 1960s on, we increasingly did the reverse. We became more and more aware of the failings and less and less certain of the ideals. Our 150th celebration was a damp squib, especially compared to the cheesy giddiness of 1967, because our leaders were ashamed of Canada. And now we encounter a strange mix in the official attitude. Canada is back, our prime minister declares smugly, referring to himself, before declaring equally smugly that Canada is systemically racist.
In such posturing I hear the Pharisees prayer: God, I thank you that I am not like other men. Official Canada celebrates its superiority to its backward citizens and wonders why the cheering is so muted.
I do not think cutting us off from our roots can succeed. Canada is either part of Western civilization or it is nothing. And nothing gets a surprising number of votes. Including the PMs famous There is no core identity, no mainstream in Canada. There are shared values openness, respect, compassion, willingness to work hard, to be there for each other, to search for equality and justice.
Rather than dismissing these words as merely self-contradictory talking points, its important to focus on his immediately subsequent statement: Those qualities are what make us the first post-national state. Meaning devotion to compassion equality and justice dont come from adhering to our roots but to transcending them.
Those with longish memories for the long march of radicalism through the dominant institutions of our society may recall Jesse Jackson and others marching around American campuses in the 1980s chanting, Hey hey, ho ho, Western Civ has got to go. Formally they meant the course, which they considered too triumphalist about capitalism, liberalism, and democracy and too insensitive to racism, colonialism, and so forth. But a lot of them meant the whole thing. And to a frightening degree it went.
A fundamental principle of Western civilization, laid out in classical Greek philosophy, is non-contradiction: A thing cannot be true and not true at the same time. But postmodernism says otherwise. In his trendy The Rights Revolution based on his trendy 2000 CBC Massey Lecture, trendy Michael Ignatieff urged us to acknowledge that it is the very essence of nation-states that they harbour within themselves incompatible versions of the national story. And if that sentiment doesnt make you want to rush down to Parliament Hill with your face(mask) adorned with white and red, or some other combination if you prefer, what would?
Perhaps the time has come for us to invent new ways of living together, as then-Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean said in her 2008 New Years message? The familiar problem with transvaluing all values is that you retain no values on the basis of which to create new values. But if you cant get it right, you also cant get it wrong: As leading Canadian pollster Angus Reid wrote in his 1996 book Shakedown, Moral arguments dont carry much weight in the 1990s. (Though ask any victim of cancel culture about that proposition.) And the outgoing federal taxpayers ombudsman just said the CRA was systematically oppressive because some people said so and Ones perception is reality, though as I tweeted at the time, it would be imprudent to take that attitude toward ones income tax balance owing.
In such a setting, the centre cannot hold. Another leading pollster, Michael Adams, said a while back that Canadas religion is secular liberalism, in which the state legislates equality and everyone helps everyone. But the Globe and Mails Margaret Wente retorted that this claim is great in theory. But what strikes me as I travel across Canada these days is that everyone feels aggrieved.
Exactly. Theres nothing to celebrate about Canada and no Canada to celebrate. Hip hip dead silence. Or snarling about whose grievance can throw whose over a fence.
There is an alternative. We can acknowledge that almost everything that used to be a staple of Canada Day rhetoric is true, yet so are many of the criticisms. Even our statesmen in years gone by held racial attitudes we now struggle even to comprehend, let alone forgive.
If you wonder how I could celebrate such a chequered accomplishment or would accuse me of ignoring the principle of non-contradiction, you need to get out more and realize humans are a scurvy lot. So whats wrong with the radical critique isnt the critique, its the radicalism: The assumption that our past could easily have been better and certainly would have been if theyd been there.
Here let me confess to being systemically Western civilized. (Im also white and male, of course, but youd have to take that up with my parents.) I just taught a course on Western civilization in which I argued that the key thing that sets it apart from all the others is precisely its relentless habit of questioning, refining, and reforming.
Its unsettling. Its what makes a collision with the West so devastating to any other culture. Especially the very real risk that it must end by questioning the habit of questioning, denying truth, and having sawn through the branch were sitting on, plunging into chaos in which might makes right faute de mieux. But as someone once said, the truth will make you free, so we must believe there is something at the end of the quest beyond endless questions.
To do so, it is necessary that we should challenge what we celebrate. But also celebrate what we challenge, realizing that while Canada is not perfect it is excellent because it recognizes and corrects its failings, unlike how it was in the Soviet Union and continues to be in communist-ruled China, fundamentalist Saudi Arabia, and so forth.
Those who will not join that celebration live in an imaginary world in which humans are perfect or at least, as in the Pharisees prayer, they themselves are, and may be trusted to separate their fellow sheep from the goats and make short work of the latter. Such people compare Canada not to almost any other nation that ever existed but to the imaginary utopia inside their heads. Not good enough is their slogan and we know where it ends: in rage and intolerance.
So yes, it is our tradition, its achievement, and its potential, that those boys fought for at Vimy and Juno Beach. And yes, they were boys, and mostly white, with some Aboriginals who if they survived the war went back to a country where they were legally and socially oppressed. But they risked all their tomorrows for the freedoms already won, those still to be secured, and to rescue from genocide a minority still often despised, even in Canada.
So Happy Canada Day after all. And many more like it.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A Pizza Hut delivery driver who ran over and killed a man in a grotesque overreaction to his cars wing mirror being snapped off has been jailed for 14 years.
Uran Nabiev, 63, flew into a rage when his Toyota Prius was damaged, driving after friends John Ambler and Jake Kemp to seek revenge.
He first rammed into Mr Ambler, 33, leaving him injured in a heap on the ground, and then turned his attentions to Mr Kemp, 26, who had tripped while desperately trying to flee.
Nabiev drove over Mr Kemps prone body on the pavement, dragging him for more than eight metres and inflicting traumatic brain injuries that proved fatal.
At the Old Bailey this morning, Nabiev was jailed for 14 years by Judge Richard Marks QC, the Common Serjeant of London, who called the attack truly horrific.
Nabiev's Toyota Prius
This was a grotesque and wholly unwarranted overreaction to minor damage having been caused to your vehicle, he said.
The judge said Mr Ambler had been the one who broke the wing mirror, adding: Jake Kemp was not responsible for this but was to pay for it with his life.
In an impact statement, Maurice Kemp said his son, an air conditioning engineer, was a bundle of mischief but never malicious, unkind or deliberately mean.
Since Jakes death, we as a family have had to persevere through extreme adversity despite being overwhelmed with sadness, he said, adding that his sons organs were donated after his death.
Jake was young and healthy, he had a big heart. We were grateful Jake was able to give the gift of life to others.
Jake Kemp
Jake helped so many people improve the quality of their lives, it was Jakes final act of generosity.
The court heard Mr Kemp and Mr Ambler were walking home from a night out on October 19 last year when they passed Nabievs car in Erith, and Mr Ambler drunkenly punched out at the wing mirror.
Nabiev, who had been drinking vodka at home, came out to his vehicle and drove after the two men, mounting the pavement and first striking Mr Ambler.
He then reversed and performed a U-turn before mounting the opposite pavement as Mr Kemp was attempting to flee.
CCTV caught the shocking moment he drove over Mr Kemps body, dragging him along the ground, before driving away.
The judge concluded Nabiev, who fled back to his native Azerbaijan hours after the killing, had shown no remorse.
Nabiev was cleared of murder and attempted murder, but convicted by a jury of the manslaughter of Mr Kemp and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Mr Ambler.
Robert Trump could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Charles J. Harder, provided a statement from Robert Trump that said: I am deeply disappointed in my niece Marys decision to write a book concerning our family. Her attempt to sensationalize and mischaracterize our family relationship after all of these years for her own financial gain is both a travesty and injustice to the memory of my late brother Fred and our beloved parents. I and the rest of my entire family are so proud of my wonderful brother, the President, and feel that Marys actions are truly a disgrace.
The move will depend on the coronavirus developments, minister says.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius says Lithuania may reopen the border for citizens of Ukraine and Georgia to cross in starting July 1, as part of lockdown easing.
"Certain routes outside Schengen will probably reopen from July 1, but it would be imprudent to do this on a massive scale this certainly won't happen. We hope we will be able to establish routes with Georgia and Ukraine, as we imagine, for example, with Israel, but the situation has worsened there lately," the minister said, as reported by Delfi on June 23.
According to Linkevicius, Lithuania applies the standard of no more than 25 COVID-19 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people when allowing entry. Residents of Sweden, Portugal and the United Kingdom are not yet allowed into Lithuania, he said.
Read alsoFM Kuleba presents interactive online map for Ukrainians traveling abroad amid COVID-19 pandemic
As UNIAN reported earlier, on May 15, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia reopened borders between the two countries, thereby relaxing restrictions on movement set amid the quarantine.
The beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic caught the world by surprise. However, in particularly difficult circumstances, cooperation among countries has facilitated efforts to mitigate the pain.
A characteristic example is the evolution of the Sino-African partnership in the last few months. When the virus was first detected and reported in Wuhan, ministers of the African Union member-states expressed their solidarity with the Chinese government and people.
In return, during a press briefing on Feb. 10, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciated this "strong support" and expressed the hope that the friendship thus demonstrated could grow deeper amid unprecedented challenges.
Indeed, this is what has happened. When COVID-19 started to hit Africa, China was quick in providing medical assistance. Yet, it should be stressed that collaboration between Chinese and African health authorities and professionals is nothing new. It exhibits continuity.
According to an article published in The Lancet medical journal, it can be traced back to 1963. In the previous decade, in particular, China's role in Africa became more important as it actively supported the development and equipment of the latter's centers for disease control and prevention.
Its contribution to the fight against Ebola, for instance, was remarkable. China regularly collaborated with its partners across the world to help Africa, including the U.S.
China and African states have also fostered new synergies via the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Its 2018 Beijing summit, for example, created the blueprint for joint actions for a period from 2019 until 2021, including the health sector.
Under the section "Medical Care and Public Health," China undertook a commitment to, inter alia, upgrade 50 medical and health programs for Africa, undertake anti-malaria projects and train medical staff.
In his recent speech at the extraordinary China-Africa Summit teleconference, President Xi Jinping referred to the healthcare initiative adopted at the Beijing 2018 summit and promised that China would, ahead of schedule, start construction of the African centers for disease control headquarters.
President Xi had already focused on the need of providing support to Africa in his address at the 73rd World Health Assembly in May. He then talked not only about medical assistance against COVID-19, but also efforts to implement the debt service suspension initiative for the poorest countries.
With his speech to the aforementioned extraordinary summit, he reiterated his support for this mechanism and encouraged "friendly consultations with African countries according to market principles to work out arrangements for commercial loans with sovereign guarantees."
He went even further, however, suggesting that China would cancel the debt of relevant African countries in the form of interest-free government loans due to mature by the end of 2020.
There is no question that the pandemic has influenced the ability of developing and poor countries to service their debts. As Chinese financial institutions have provided some of them with loans, the issue needs to be addressed.
Despite speculation in some international media about potential failures, the Chinese administration demonstrates its preparedness to respond to the existing problem. Solutions are not always easy, but they are possible.
The much-expected recovery from the pandemic will pave the way for all cooperation plans agreed in Beijing in 2018 to proceed at a faster path. At the writing, 93,928 active cases of COVID-19 are being monitored in Africa according to WHO. South Africa is the country suffering the most.
The joint statement of the extraordinary summit, which was attended by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus along with Chinese and African leaders, underscored the close relationship as well as common concerns and interests.
The traditionally good political climate is being reflected in the work of scholars. In April Chinese and African think tanks issued a joint proposal to work together. General mobilization only helps the realization of objectives set by the political elites.
George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
MBABANE The public is against the notion of the right to refuse medical treatment.
Following Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosis announcement that government cannot forcefully admit COVID-19 patients against their will because it is their right to choose not to seek medical assistance, the public sees it differently. During random interviews, members of the public said this would be detrimental to the welfare of emaSwati, ultimately leading to more COVID-19 deaths. This comes shortly after a COVID-19 positive woman, who later died, allegedly refused to be admitted to a medical facility. This is the woman who allegedly refused to go to hospital to the extent that an ambulance which was commissioned to fetch her from home had to turn back without her.
Contacting
This publication reported that it was alleged that when the rapid response team tried contacting her, her phone rang unanswered. The patient was mildly symptomatic when she tested positive at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital to treat her flu-like symptoms. Meanwhile, Human Rights Lawyer Sipho Gumedze emphasised that some rights were limited by others. Gumedze highlighted that people could have a right to freedom of choice, but that right does not supersede the right of protecting the right to life of others. The human rights lawyer further advised government to take such patients to hospital in order to protect the lives of others. In the same breath, some pastors were of the view that refusal of medical assistance when one had a condition that was infectious and could put other people at risk of contracting it, was tantamount to committing murder.
Pastor Isaac Muchenweyenge said if the infected person declined to be taken to hospital, that person was destroying their life because they would be refusing the opportunity to be assisted by qualified medical practitioners. That person (patient) may be denying themselves the chance to be treated of their ailment, but when they refuse, they also refuse the opportunity to life and that is no different from committing suicide, the pastor said.
Exaggerate
The clergyman mentioned that it was wise to educate people on illnesses and not exaggerate them because in most cases, people feared getting medical treatment because of fear of stigmatisation. Similarly, Apostle Sizwe Dlamini of God of Hope Ministries stated that nurses and doctors were created by God and the medication which was used to treat patients was all from Gods wisdom, which He imparted to them. Therefore, refusing medical treatment would mean refusing the help of God, literally, the man of God said.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu
MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to oversee the governments COVID-19 response in the hard-hit city of Cebu.
During his recorded public address on Monday evening (June 22), the President noted the conflict among local government officials in the city amid the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Cebu.
The city reverted to enhanced community quarantine on June 15 while the city of Talisay was placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until June 30 due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 infection and a high utilization rate in the citys critical care capacity.
Kayong mga taga-Cebu (To the people of Cebu), its not that I do not trust your ability but rather I said its the penchant to go into a sort of a sisihan (blame-shifting) then nobody would answer for anything, the President said.
So mga kaigsuonan nako sa Cebu, both sa mga siyudad og probinsya, akong ipadala si General Cimatu (To my brothers in Cebu, both at the city level and provincial level, I am sending General Cimatu). All he has to do not for permission but just to advise Manila here that these things are being done, these things are not yet done and these things must be done, he added.
President Duterte asked concerned agencies like the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as well as the National Task Force against COVID-19 to extend their assistance to Cimatu in his new role.
Cimatu, for his part, promised to do his best to help solve the problem in Cebu.
Thank you Mr. President for giving me the opportunity to go to Cebu. Ill do my best, he said.
In the end, President Duterte said the people of Cebu had been too confident and too complacent towards the pandemic.
Iyong mga taga-Cebu, bakit marami (To the Cebuanons,how come you have too many cases)? Because you were too confident and too complacent about it. Parang binalewala ninyo kaya dumating (You took it lightly thats why), the President noted.
Based on the latest report of the DOH, Cebu City has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases among all cities across the country. MNP (with reports from Rosalie Coz)
The post Duterte orders DENR Secretary Cimatu to oversee COVID-19 response in Cebu City appeared first on UNTV News.
In 2015, a Pew research study showed that in nearly 50 percent of two-parent American households, both mother and father work full-time. When both of them are giving more than 100 percent to their jobs, as was the case with high-powered couple J.R. Storment, a tech entrepreneur, and Jessica Brandes, a physician, what happens to spending time with children?
For Storment and Brandes, when one of their 8-year-old twin sons, Wiley, suddenly died in the middle of the night, the parents realized just how precious and short life could be and how important it is to spend time with loved ones while they have it.
Both parents took to LinkedIn and shared their thought-provoking essays that are now serving as a reminder to all parents.
Wiley (R) at his first concert about three weeks before he died in his sleep. (Courtesy of J.R. Storment)
Describing Wiley, Brandes wrote in her post, All That Remains, that He was smart, artistic, ambitious and funny, an incredible dancer, excellent taste in music and movies.
Wiley being precocious for his age, dad Storment wrote in his post, Its Later Than You Think, that Wiley was obsessed with starting a business. One day it was a smoothie stand, the next it would be a gallery, then a VR headset company, then a coder, then a spaceship building company.
Though young, the happy and healthy boy had decided that he would get married when he became an adult at the mere age of 5. By the age of 6, Wiley had even identified it to be with the girl he had met in kindergarten. As the jet-setting family moved from Portland, Oregon, to London, England, and then to Hawaii, Wiley kept correspondence with her through handwritten letters.
In his short course of life, the little boy with the most gorgeous blue eyes had even traveled to 10 countries and driven a car.
However, the only dark cloud on the horizon was that Wiley suffered an epileptic seizure while the family was on vacation about nine months before he died. Wiley was then diagnosed with a mild form of epilepsy called benign rolandic epilepsy.
The condition is commonly found in boys between the ages of 8 and 13 and mostly resolves itself by the time they become teenagers.
The family, however, still consulted with 2 neurologists in the US and in the UK [who] told us hed suffer no cognitive deficits, that he would outgrow his condition and that his prognosis was incredibly good, wrote the mother of two.
As the parents were advised not to give Wiley any medication due to their side effects, the family hoped for the best and tried to continue their normal routine, while vowing to keep Wileys quantity of sleep as a priority so as to not let it trigger any seizures.
In August 2019, the familys lives changed in an instant when Brandes went to check on why Wiley hadnt gotten up and started to play, while his twin brother, Oliver, was sitting next to him with his iPad.
However, the moments that followed next were filled with panic, tragedy, and grief, as she first found Wileys feet to have an unusual color. My eyes tracked up his legs as I pulled the blanket back and I traced the deep purple color of lividity, Brandes wrote. The extreme color indicated that he had been dead for eight hours, and a medical examiner later confirmed that, indicating the little boy had passed away early the night before.
J.R. Storment with his wife, Jessica Brandes, and their twin sons, Wiley and Oliver. (Courtesy of J.R. Storment)
The mom of two then made an important call to her husband informing him that Wileys dead, before calling 911.
When Storment got the call about his sons death, he had been in a meeting at his company discussing PTO (paid time off). I had admitted to the group that in the last 8 years Id not taken more than a contiguous week off, he wrote.
Even the morning that Wiley died, Storment remembers work winning out over family. I woke up for a series of back to back meetings. I did a Peloton ride, took an analyst call from my home office, one with a colleague on the drive to work, then the rest at the office, he said.
However, in the wake of Wileys death, Storment added: None seem that important now. I left that morning without saying goodbye or checking on the boys.
While the parents said there wasnt a kind of epilepsy that could explain why Wiley passed away, they believe that he had died of a phenomenon called sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP).
Storment and Brandes were devastated by their loss but have become spokespeople for the importance of work-life balance.
Brandes wrote that when the life of a loved one ends, theres just photos and left over things and time is no longer available to you. It is priceless and should not be squandered. She urges working parents to take your vacation days and sabbaticals and go be with [your kids].
Storment echoed the same sentiments as his wife. Hug your kids. Dont work too late. A lot of the things you are likely spending your time on youll regret once you no longer have the time, he wrote. Im guessing you have 1:1 meetings on the books with a lot of people you work with. Do you have them regularly scheduled with your kids?
(Illustration Moni Stechova/Shutterstock)
After facing this tragedy, Storment has realized not to take a single moment for granted and shares an instance of how he prioritized spending time with their other son, Oliver.
He concludes his essay by writing [I] hope from this tragedy you consider how you prioritize your own time.
Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter here: https://www.theepochtimes.com/newsletter
Former President Barack Obama raised more than $4 million from 1,20,000 individual donors ahead of his first fundraiser for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
The small dollar fundraiser Tuesday night will be held online and offers a fresh test of Obama's ability to transfer his popularity to Biden, his former vice president who is now seeking the White House on his own. It's a kickoff of what Obamas team says will likely be a busy schedule heading into the fall, as he looks to help elect not just Biden but Democrats running for House and Senate.
Obama sometimes struggled to lift other Democratic candidates while he was in the White House, notably losing control of the House in 2010 and the Senate in 2014.
But in the era of President Donald Trump, Democrats believe Obama's appeal, especially among Black and younger voters, can help boost energy for Biden.
Theres two groups of voters that Biden needs to move, said Dan Pfeiffer, former White House communications director. You have the 4 million Obama 2012 voters that sat out in 16, Obama obviously has cache with them. And you have to persuade some number of voters who voted for Barack Obama in 2012 and either Trump or a third party candidate in 2016, and Obama obviously is very, very high-performing with those as well.
Obama endorsed Biden with a video message in April, but kept an otherwise low profile throughout the primary and largely avoided wading into national politics. In recent weeks, however, he's reemerged publicly to speak out on policing and the civil unrest that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Some Democrats say that, in the wake of Floyd's killing, Obama's voice as an advocate for Biden and a leader for the party is needed.
Biden doesnt have the strongest record on criminal justice reform so having Obama there is helpful in reinforcing that issue, said Ben Tulchin, who polled for progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign.
Given whats going on with criminal justice reform and Black Lives Matter, having the first African American president out there publicly backing Biden is extremely helpful.
But Obama's reemergence is not without risks for Biden.
For Trumps campaign, it offers an opportunity to resurface some of their favorite political attacks charges that the Obama administrations policies undermined the American middle class and US interests abroad.
They believe the focus on Obama will help reinvigorate Trumps base, and remind waffling Trump voters those considering voting for Biden, or staying home of their dissatisfaction with the prior administration. And they see a potential opportunity to drive a wedge between Biden and his base by resurfacing issues from the Obama administration like the high rate of deportations that riled progressives during the Democratic primary.
Trump campaign deputy communications director Ali Pardo said that together, Obama and Biden put kids in cages and failed to stop China from ripping off Americans while overseeing the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression and stagnant wage growth for American workers."
Trump himself has pushed unfounded conspiracy theories about Obama, hoping to taint Biden by association. Still, Democrats say Obama is eager to take Trump on to defend his legacy in a debate over whose policies have better benefited Americans.
"Trumps election just devastated the country and Obamas legacy, Tulchin said. Beating Trump is important for his legacy and important for the country.
Bidens embrace of Obama during the Democratic primary created some headaches for the former vice president within his own party as well.
Biden was criticized by some opponents as too focused on returning to the status quo of the Obama years at a time when the progressive base of the party was clamouring for significant structural change.
But by the end of the primary contest, at least five candidates, including Sanders, aired ads featuring praise from the former president or photos of the candidate alongside him. And both Biden and Sanders have made overtures toward progressives, with Biden embracing some of Sanders policies and Obama praising him by name in his endorsement video for Biden.
But Stephanie Cutter, who served as Obama's 2012 campaign manager, said that if Obamas reemergence into the campaign raises any further debates about the policies of his administration, hell be prepared to respond.
"Theres nobody better to answer those questions than Obama," she said.
A Palestinian man was shot dead Tuesday at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank after driving his car "quickly" towards a border officer, Israeli police said.
The Palestinian was "shot and killed" at a checkpoint in Abu Dis, close to Jerusalem, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
The man "drove his vehicle quickly towards the direction of a female border police officer who was injured lightly," Rosenfeld added.
Several police vehicles were seen by an AFP journalist at the checkpoint.
The Palestinian killed was named by family and security sources as Ahmad Erakat, in his 20s.
The incident comes nearly a month after a Palestinian man was killed in similar circumstances near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
He was shot dead on May 29 after trying to ram a car into Israeli soldiers, none of whom were injured, police said at the time.
Tuesday's incident comes ahead of plans by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex parts of the West Bank.
Netanyahu said the government would take steps towards annexing Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley from July 1, as part of a broader US peace plan.
The proposals have sparked widespread international criticism and warnings that such a move would spark violence.
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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 22, 2020) - Romios Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: RG) (OTC Pink: RMIOF) (FSE: D4R) ("Romios" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has acquired 55 mining claims totalling 1,073.3 hectares (2,652.2acres) with 5 gold and copper showings along the North Caribou River Fault in northwestern Ontario. The "NCR" claims are located 15 km southeast of the road accessible community of Weagamow (Round) Lake and just 8 km from the all-weather provincial road to that community. They are 35 km west of Romios 2019 gold-copper discovery on their Lundmark-Akow property and 54 km NW of Newmont's Musselwhite gold mine. Romios' new claims are flanked on both sides by claims held by Newmont.
The prospects on the NCR claims were explored by several companies, (St. Joseph Exploration, Sulpetro, Moss Resources, etc.) in the 1970s and 1980s with a relatively narrow focus on the main fault zone itself. The work included airborne surveys, ground magnetic and VLF-EM surveys, bulldozer and hand trenching, and dozens of short drill holes. Grab samples at that time returned some very high grade gold, silver and copper values, e.g. Power Exploration's "Trench M" returned assays of 10g/t to 55.7g/t Au from a 23 cm wide, sulphide-rich vein, part of a broad series of en echelon veins.
Almost all of the past drill holes targeted several of the prospects exposed along the North Caribou River fault zone. Although none of these holes returned ore grades over mineable widths at that time, they did intersect up to 23 m of intensely silicified, brecciated host rocks with quartz and sulphides (including pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite +/- chalcopyrite +/- sphalerite) and gold grades up to 2.3 g/t Au/3.2 m and 6.35 g/t Au/0.4 m. These exploration efforts apparently did not consider or test the mineral potential of an obvious parallel fault zone nearby and the linking fault structures between the two parallel main faults. It is now known that in many gold camps (e.g. Kirkland Lake, Kalgoorlie, Val d'Or), the main fault zones are often too "tight" to host ore zones and it is only the subordinate splay faults or linking structures between the main breaks that create enough open space to host ore zones. Past VLF electromagnetic surveys of an adjacent claim block seem to show evidence of such linking structures. The presence of numerous well-mineralized small showings along the main fault is an encouraging indication that gold-rich fluids moved along that fault and may have been deposited in more favourable open spaces within the adjacent splay faults.
Story continues
A program of ground geophysical surveys, soil sampling and detailed mapping is being planned for the NCR claims and will be implemented as soon as circumstances permit. The claims are subject to a 1% net smelter returns royalty ("NSR"). Romios can acquire a 0.5% NSR for $1 million and has a right of first refusal on the remaining 0.5% NSR. Due to the likelihood of the Covid-19 pandemic hindering near-term exploration plans, Romios has applied to the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines for a 1 year "Exclusion of Time" with respect to the work requirements on the NCR clams.
The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Biczok, P. Geo., Vice-President, Exploration, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. In addition to his extensive experience exploring for a wide variety of ore deposit types across Canada and India, Mr. Biczok spent 12 years conducting exploration and research at the Musselwhite mine.
About Romios Gold Resources Inc.
Romios Gold Resources Inc., a progressive Canadian mineral exploration company established in 1995, is engaged in precious and base metal exploration primarily focused on gold, silver and copper. It has extensive claim holdings covering porphyry copper-gold prospects in the "Golden Triangle" of British Columbia as well as a 100% interest in the Lundmark-Akow Lake gold-copper property in Ontario, the La Corne molybdenum property in Quebec and the Scossa gold property in Nevada. The company also retains a 2% NSR on the Hislop gold property in Ontario. Please see the Company's website, www.romios.com.
This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward- looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information, please contact:
Tom Drivas, President and Director, (tel) 416-221-4124, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) romios@romios.com.
John Biczok, P. Geo., Vice-President, Exploration, (tel) 613-410-7877 or (email) john.biczok@gmail.com
Frank van de Water, Chief Financial Officer and Director, (tel) 416-221-4124 or (email) fvandewater@rogers.com.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58306
Veteran Bollywood actor and ex-MP Paresh Rawal is not only a distinguished actor but is also widely known for his satirical take on relevant issues and this time too he has won hearts on social media for his take on who should be actually called as heroes. The 65-year-old actor has an interesting suggestion for the terminology that we use for actors and armed forces.
On Tuesday, the Hera Pheri actor took to his Twitter handle and wrote, We Should Start Calling Actors As 'Entertainers' And Our Army & Police As 'Heroes' for Our Next Generation To Know The Actual Meaning Of Real Heroes !!! (sic)
We Should Start Calling Actors As 'Entertainers' And Our Army & Police As 'Heroes' for Our Next Generation To Know The Actual Meaning Of Real Heroes !!! Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) June 23, 2020
Earlier, the actor also sent out a clear message on his Twitter account for e-commerce sites like Flipkart, Amazon and others in the wake of the 'Boycott China' movement. His tweet was in the wake of the news of 20 Indian soldiers being martyred in the violent face-off with the Chinese Army along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Galwan valley, Ladakh.
He wrote, Hello Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal and all the other online merchants, if you are selling Chinese goods, kindly ensure that you put a disclaimer on them. As your customer, I would like to know the origin of the product that I am buying. #BoycottChineseProducts (sic)
Hello Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal and all the other online merchants, if you are selling Chinese goods, kindly ensure that you put a disclaimer on them. As your customer, I would like to know the origin of the product that I am buying.#BoycottChineseProducts Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) June 18, 2020
On the work front, Paresh Rawal was last seen in Vicky Kaushals Uri: The Surgical Strike and Made in China in 2019. As per the reports, some of his upcoming projects include Umesh Shuklas Aankh Micholi, Priyadarshans Hungama 2 and David Dhawans Coolie No.1. Interestingly, he is also said to be a part of Hera Pheri 3 which will be released in 2021.
Another Russian Scientist Sentenced On High Treason Charge
June 22, 2020
Another Russian scientist has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term on a high treason charge in an ongoing spate of similar secretive cases targeting Russian academics.
The Moscow Regional Court on June 22 sentenced Roman Kovalyov, a former senior official at the Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TsNIIMash), to 7 years in prison.
TsNIIMash is Russia's leading rocket and spacecraft scientific center located in the city of Korolyov near Moscow.
Kovalyov was arrested in June last year and charged with treason after his apartment and summer house near the Russian capital were searched by police.
Details of the case have not been made public as its materials were classified.
Kovalyov was working with Viktor Kudryavtsev, a 75-year-old researcher at the TsNIIMash.
Kudryavtsev was arrested in July 2018 on suspicion of passing classified data on hypersonic technology to a research group in Belgium.
Kudryavtsev's lawyers have said that he had rejected a deal with investigators who wanted him to testify against Kovalyov in exchange for being transferred from pretrial detention to house arrest.
Kudryavtsev suffered a heart attack while in custody and was released from pretrial detention in late-September and ordered not to leave Moscow while investigations were under way.
The case against Kovalyov and Kudryavtsev is one of several in recent years in which Russian scholars and scientists have been accused of treason or disseminating classified or sensitive information.
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/another-russian-scientist- sentenced-on-high-treason-charge/30684519.html
Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Zhang is in a Shanghai prison for disturbing social stability and creating public disorder. She criticised the government's handling of the crisis. Friends fear that her Christian faith might lead her to martyrdom. The government is cracking down on those who speak about the pandemic. Posts have been deleted from the virtual wailing wall dedicated to the memory of Li Wenliang.
Shanghai (AsiaNews) Chinese authorities have formally charged Zhang Zhan, the citizen journalist who reported on the COVID-19 emergency in Wuhan (Hubei), the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, from February to mid-May.
According to Radio Free Asia, the forty-year-old lawyer was charged last Friday for picking quarrels and stirring up trouble. She was detained on 15 May at Wuhan's Caiguang Hotel and taken to Pudong district police station in Shanghai, her home town.
In her last YouTube video, posted on 13 May, Zhang reported on job losses in Wuhan, the difficulties local taxi drivers face in the absence of customers, and the intimidation of residents by the urban management police (Chengguan). In her posts, she often criticised the governments handling of the crisis.
Zhang, who rejects all charges, was previously arrested in Shanghai last September, spending 60 days in prison for her support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. Friends fear that her Christian faith might lead her to martyrdom.
Zhang is not the only citizen journalist to run afoul of the law. Three other citizen journalists went missing in Wuhan in February. Li Zehua, who had reported that city crematoria were open 19 hours a day, reappeared on 22 April after a period under arrest. However, there is no news of the fate of Fang Bin and Chen Qiushi.
According to official data, since the imposition of the lockdown in Wuhan in late January, the government has indicted or arrested thousands of people for reporting allegedly false information on the coronavirus and creating public order problems.
The authorities used the same charge to silence Li Wenliang, the 34-year-old Wuhan doctor who shared information in chatrooms about an atypical pneumonia that was more aggressive than SARS.
Li died on 6 February from the coronavirus. Since then his Weibo page, a well-known Chinese-based mini-blogging service, has been inundated with comments in support of his courage.
In recent days however, many of the posts left on the virtual Wailing Wall in Lis memory have been deleted or removed. This has triggered protests from Chinese netizens.
Cameron Webb - an African American physician, former White House fellow and health policy researcher - is the Democratic nominee for the open congressional seat in central Virginia, setting up a potentially competitive general-election showdown.
In Virginia's only statewide contest Tuesday, establishment favorite Daniel Gade won the Republican Senate primary and will challenge Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, in the fall. Gade, a professor at American University in the District, is a retired Army lieutenant colonel whose leg was amputated after he was wounded in Iraq.
Other key races Tuesday included a GOP primary to decide who will challenge Rep. Elaine Luria, a Democrat, in the 2nd District. Former congressman Scott Taylor, who lost the Virginia Beach seat to Luria in the 2018 blue wave, defeated two Republican opponents, setting up a rematch in the military-heavy district.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report considers the general election a toss-up.
Webb easily defeated his three Democratic opponents and will face Bob Good, a self-described "biblical" conservative, in November's 5th District general election. Democratic enthusiasm about the race grew after GOP voters nominated the untested Good over Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Va., in a convention earlier this month, and analysts changed the race from "likely Republican" to "leans Republican."
David Wasserman, an expert on House races with Cook, called Webb's huge margin of victory on Tuesday "astounding" and said it marked a "sea change in what Democratic voters are looking for."
Webb had more than three times the votes of his nearest opponent with nearly 90 percent of precincts reporting, according to unofficial returns.
"It takes a perfect storm for Democrats to win VA5, but a storm may be brewing," Wasserman said. "To win this, Democrats need a massive margin in Charlottesville, high black turnout in Southside and a weak and controversial Republican opponent - and right now they may be firing on all three cylinders."
Webb's biography and focus on social justice seems tailor-made for the moment, Wasserman said, as Americans are gathering across the country to protest police brutality and systemic racism.
Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, moved the date of the primary from June 9 to June 23 and encouraged voters to cast absentee ballots, in hopes of reducing the possibility of the spread of the coronavirus at polling places.
Unlike states such as Maryland, Virginia did not take the step of automatically mailing ballots to registered voters. But the state waived a requirement that a witness sign the outside of each absentee ballot and made it easier for people to request absentee ballots.
Several voters from both parties who voted in person said this year's election was important enough to take the public health risk.
At Warrenton Community Center, voters stopped at a table before the official check-in point to use hand sanitizer. After voters filled out their ballots, they could collect an "I Voted" sticker from a volunteer who sat with a face shield behind scratched plexiglass.
In Manassas, Amanda Duffy, 33, a seventh-grade teacher, said she wanted to practice what she preached.
"I teach my kids: Every election matters, every voice matters, every vote matters," she said. "So if I'm not doing that, it's a little bit hypocritical of me to expect that my students feel like their voices matter."
- - -
In the Senate primary, Gade easily defeated Alissa Baldwin, a civics and economics teacher in Nottoway County Public Schools, and Thomas Speciale II, an Army reservist and Cub Scout master who owns a firearms training company.
Gade, who worked in the administration of President George W. Bush and used to teach at the U.S. Military Academy, had the support of the party establishment and far outraised his primary opponents.
At the polls in Manassas, Beverly King, 68, said she voted for Gade to bring a fresh perspective to the Senate. She said she was slightly worried about potential exposure to the coronavirus, but not enough to stay home.
"The world's changing," she said. "You have to vote."
Warner is seeking a third term on the strength of his reputation as a bipartisan centrist and popular former Virginia governor who has investigated Russian interference in U.S. elections as vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Although he nearly lost his 2014 reelection bid to Republican Ed Gillespie, Quentin Kidd, a political scientist at Christopher Newport University, said Warner will be heavily favored in the general election in Virginia, which has not elected a Republican statewide in more than a decade.
"The winds are at his back, if you will," Kidd said. "A Republican is in the White House having to defend himself against head winds he's facing. Virginia structurally is a really tough to be a Republican this year."
- - -
Some voters in Virginia Beach - in the state's 2nd Congressional District - had to vote by provisional ballot because electronic poll books were programmed incorrectly. The national parties closely tracked the three-way primary in the swing district.
Taylor is a former Navy SEAL, a native of Maryland's Eastern Shore and a former state lawmaker.
An uptick in anti-Trump sentiment, and a scandal over fraudulent signatures that his campaign collected to help a potential spoiler candidate get on the ballot, sunk Taylor's campaign against Luria two years ago, analysts say.
On Tuesday, he defeated Ben Loyola Jr., a retired Navy captain and defense contractor whose family fled communist Cuba when he was 2 years old, and Jarome Bell, a retired naval chief petty officer.
At his election night party, Taylor said Luria broke her promise to work during her first term with President Trump, who endorsed Taylor last week.
"There is no question that Elaine Luria is not at all who she says she was," he said in a speech streamed live on Facebook. "She is exactly who we said she was."
- - -
The four-way Democratic primary in an expansive central and Southside Virginia district garnered national attention when GOP voters nominated Good over Riggleman, who had angered religious conservatives by presiding over the same-sex wedding of two former campaign aides.
Democrats believe they have a shot at winning the newly open seat for the first time since Tom Perriello won a single term in 2008, before the tea party ousted him in part for voting for the Affordable Care Act.
Webb, 37, easily defeated R.D. Huffstetler, a Marine veteran and former congressional chief of staff with Silicon Valley experience; John Lesinski, a retired Marine Corps colonel and former elected official in Rappahannock County who works in commercial real estate; and Claire Russo, a former Marine intelligence officer and advocate for victims of military sexual assault who had been endorsed by Emily's List.
In rural Warrenton, Bryce Burrell, 21, said he felt unsettled by Good's nomination, at a time when he was already reckoning with his place as a black man in the fight for racial justice.
He voted for Webb and said he liked the Democrat's plans for health care, policing issues and his relationship with the African American community in rural Virginia.
"I feel like this country is leaning more right, more toward a fascist state," said Burrell, who will soon begin a masters in fine arts program at Virginia Tech. "I think all the time about how we need to start leaning the pendulum left and pushing the ballot left."
Cheryl Crow, 63, voted for Russo. "We just need more women in Congress," she said. "And I like her stance on guns."
Her husband, Richard Crow, 67, voted for Webb for his "deep knowledge as a lawyer and a doctor." But he tread carefully when discussing gender with his wife of 36 years.
"I don't want to be that old white guy," he said, embracing her.
- - -
The other primaries drew less attention. In Virginia's solidly red 1st District, Democrat and human rights lawyer Qasim Rashid narrowly defeated Vangie Williams, a strategic planner who was the party's 2018 nominee, and will challenge Rep. Rob Wittman, a Republican.
Marine veteran John Collick won the GOP nomination in the 3rd District to challenge Rep. Robert Scott, a Democrat, the longest-serving member of the Virginia congressional delegation and chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Collick defeated Madison Downs, a teacher and community developer; and George Yacus, a former Navy pilot and consultant for the U.S. Coast Guard.
In the 4th District Democratic primary, Rep. Donald McEachin, a Democrat, an attorney and former state senator first elected to Congress in 2016, easily beat technology consultant Cazel Levine, AP reported.
Rep. Gerald Connolly, a Democrat, a member of the House Oversight Committee who has served in Congress since 2009, beat 11th District challenger Zainab Mohsini, a community activist. Before being elected to Congress, Connolly chaired the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Connolly, McEachin and Scott will all be heavily favored in November.
- - -
Davies reported from Warrenton.
A n investigation has been launched after Nigel Farage was granted entry to the US to attend a Donald Trump rally despite the countrys ongoing UK travel ban.
US officials exempted the Brexit Party leader from the rules enforced due to the coronavirus pandemic under a national interest clause, according to local reports.
He was pictured at the presidents campaign event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday night beaming and clutching a red Make America Great Again (MAGA) cap.
But on Monday a prominent US congressman launched a probe into the decision, saying it raised troubling questions at a time of necessary strict restrictions.
America has barred entry to arrivals from Britain, with the exception of US citizens, their family members and "individuals who meet specified exceptions".
Bennie G Thompson, chairman of the House of Representatives' committee on homeland security, has requested all documents and information that led to Mr Farage enjoying leeway from the ban.
Mr Thompson wrote in a letter to the acting secretary of the department of homeland security (DHS): "The decision of the Trump administration to admit Mr Farage to the United States to enable him to attend a campaign rally at a time when most travel from the United Kingdom to the US has been suspended raises numerous troubling questions, as does the claim that such travel was in the national interest."
The Mississippi Democrat said America's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed in a statement to his staff that Mr Farage was initially prevented from boarding the flight from the UK to the US due to the travel restrictions.
However, the Department of Homeland Security then reportedly conducted a review and determined Mr Farage's travel was "permissible" as his entry to the US "would be in the national interest", and he was allowed to board the flight.
Mr Farage posted a photo of himself giving a thumbs up on Saturday with the caption: "In the USA, only twenty fours from Tulsa.
In his letter to Mr Wolf, Mr Thompson has asked that the Department of Homeland Security provide "all communication" since March 14 related to Mr Farage's contentious trip.
He also requests information on "the individual who ultimately approved travel to the US by Mr Farage" and "the determination and justification" that the trip "was a matter of national interest".
Mr Farage a famous supporter of Mr Trump last appeared at a rally with him in 2016, when the then-Republican nominee was campaigning for the US presidency against Hillary Clinton.
The Standard has contacted the Brexit Party for comment.
Joe Biden's team is seriously vetting Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Karen Bass as a potential running mate
Karen Bass could become Joe Biden's running mate as the former vice president faces mounting pressure to choose a minority woman to join him on the Democratic ticket.
Biden's team recently began more seriously vetting the Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman, sources familiar with the process told CBS News in a report published Tuesday and Biden has previewed he will make an announcement on his decision around August 1.
Bass endorsed Biden for president in mid-March and has represented Los Angeles in the House of Representatives for five terms.
She has risen to more notoriety as she unveiled earlier this month the Democrat's police reform bill and has publicly weighed in on race relations between the black community and law enforcement.
'I'm inclined to push the envelope as far as we can because we have a moment now,' Bass said of the policing reform proposal when speaking with CBS News' Major Garrett.
Biden is facing mounting pressure to choose a minority woman as his running mate while race relation protests enter their second month following the death of George Floyd
JOE BIDEN'S RUNNING MATE SHORTLIST Karen Bass, 66 California congresswoman and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Former California assemblywoman Val Demings, 63 Florida congresswoman. Former police chief of Orlando Kamala Harris, 55 California senator. Former California attorney general and San Francisco district attorney Keisha Lance Bottoms, 50 Atlanta mayor. Former judge and city council member Michelle Lujan Grisham, 60 Governor of New Mexico. Former congresswoman. Sole Hispanic-American on shortlist Susan Rice, 55 Barack Obama's last national security advisor. Former ambassador to the United Nations Elizabeth Warren, 70 Massachusetts senator. Former Harvard academic. Sole white member of shortlist Advertisement
Bass has not weighed in on where she stands on potentially running with Biden in November, telling Garrett, who hosts 'The Takeout' Podcast that she 'would certainly like to see' a woman of color chosen as Biden's running mate.
She added, however, that those qualifications are not 'imperative' to her support of the former vice president.
Several powerful Democrats have floated Bass' name for consideration as they push for Biden to run with a black, or other minority, woman.
'Karen Bass would be a big plus,' House Majority Whip James Clyburn told CNN earlier this month. 'She is a great person in my mind, I work with her every day.'
Her vetting comes as Biden has put more of a spotlight in his campaign on civil rights and amending racial tensions as protests over the death of George Floyd continue to flood the nation.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, Biden's former competitor for the nomination, has also pulled her name from consideration for vice president, asserting that he should choose a woman of color.
Biden's team has released several names on the short list to become his running mate, including several black women.
Of those women, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Congresswoman Val Demings and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are now being more seriously considered than in weeks prior.
Biden's campaign is vetting several potential candidates by reviewing public and private records, other relevant documents and conducting written questionnaires and interviews.
Bass rose to more notoriety as she took the lead on the Democratic policing reform bill
Delaware's at-large Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, Biden's campaign co-chair, is one of the women helping former President Barack Obama's No. 2 deliberate the contenders and she has made clear that she feels race will factor into her decision making.
'If we want to transform this country, this is the time to recognize...the leadership of black women,' she said during a livestream recently. 'We won't be taken for granted.'
Biden and Blunt Rochester are close as Biden represented Delaware in the Senate from 1973-2009.
Bass was the first African-American to become speaker of the California Assembly, which some argue makes her more qualified for the No. 2 role in the White House.
Before joining the world of politics, Bass was a physician's assistant a notable healthcare role considering the U.S. continues to face the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Gina Raimondo (C) addresses protesters during Black Lives Matter protests in Providence, R.I., on June 5, 2020. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)
Rhode Island May Change Its Official State Name Due to Slavery Connotations
Governor issues order to remove 'plantations' from documents, websites
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo issued an executive order to remove the word plantation from official state documents and could possibly set up a move to permanently change its name.
The state seal, found on government buildings and state documents, contains the phrase the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, along with the word hope and an anchor.
We cant ignore the image conjured by the word plantations,' Raimondo, a Democrat, told reporters on June 22 in announcing the executive order (pdf). We cant ignore how painful that is for black Rhode Islanders to see that and have to see that as part of their states name. The order will remove Providence Plantations.
The state was incorporated as The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when it declared statehood in 1790.
The governors order will change the name in official communications from the governors office, such as future executive orders, citations, and letterheads. It also directs agency websites to not use the full name. But the order doesnt change the states official name permanently, that would require voters to permanently change the Rhode Island Constitution.
The term plantation has come under fire because of its connotations with slavery, although some historians say the term in Rhode Island was more in reference to the land that was settled. Rhode Island became the first English colony in 1652 to officially end slavery.
Whatever the meaning of the term plantations in the context of Rhode Islands history, it carries a horrific connotation when considering the tragic and racist history of our nation, Rhode Island state Sen. Harold Metts said in a statement to the Providence Journal.
People walk past protest signs affixed to fencing surrounding a statue of President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park near the White House on June 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Raimondo also told reporters this week that shes supportive of state lawmakers efforts to ensure a referendum is on the ballot in November.
Rhode Island Republican chairwoman Sue Cienki said Raimondo is overstepping her authority by making the declaration.
I certainly understand her sentiment for wanting to change it, but I dont agree with the way she went about it by doing it by executive order, Cienki told WJAR in Providence, adding that voters need to provide their input.
In 2010, voters overwhelmingly rejected changing its official name, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, to Rhode Island.
Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio and Speaker of the House Nicholas A. Mattiello, who are both Democrats, said in a statement: We both support placing on the ballot this November the decision whether to remove the word and Providence Plantations from the states name. In the meantime, we know this is an important issue to a lot of people, so the General Assembly will be removing the reference to Plantations from Assembly documents.
The push to change the states name came after an online petition was circulated in the wake of George Floyds death, which sparked widespread protests, riots, and anti-police sentiment across the United States. The petition calls to change the the last half of our official name.
Earlier this year, Facebook paid some of its users $5 for voice recordings in order to improve its speech recognition technology. That may sound like something that former presidential candidate Andrew Yang might support; on the campaign trail, he spoke about giving people the right to make money off of their data. But Yang does not like that companies can choose to compensate users for their data on a case-by-case basis. Instead, he wants data payment to be required by law. Enter his Data Dividend Project, which launched on Monday.
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According to its website, the Data Dividend Project is a movement committed to establishing and enforcing data property rights. It seeks to update state privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act to officially grant people the right to own and sell their data.
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The CCPA went into effect in January, giving Californians more ability to opt out of data sales or delete their personal information. But for Andrew Yang, the CCPA falls short. According to the Verge, Theres nothing in the law about tech companies paying for data (or, more specifically, paying them not to opt out), but Yangs new project is looking to show that the idea is popular with voters.
We are completely outgunned by tech companies, Yang said in an interview with the Verge. Were just presented with these terms and conditions. No one ever reads them. You just click on them and hope for the best. And unfortunately, the best has not happened.
At the core of the Dividend Project is an online form that asks supporters to submit all of the email addresses that they use online so that its team can estimate the number of platforms that profit off of peoples data. It hopes to use this information to back the extension of data property rights. By the end of 2020, the Dividend Project hopes to have collected the email addresses of more than 1 million people.
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Yang is not the first to try something like this. In 2019, Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, introduced legislation to give people property rights over their data, though the measure did not gain momentum in Congress.
That might be a good thing. These kinds of initiatives put individuals at risk, Elizabeth M. Renieris, Ravi Naik, and Jonnie Penn wrote in Slate in an April piece titled You Really Dont Want to Sell Your Data. They note: Not only is personal data effectively worthless on its own in the market, but drawing boundaries around personal data that can be owned by an individual may be an exercise in futility. In the context of a crisis like COVID-19, it would be disastrous. How?
Imagine if an #OwnYourData-style model were in place now, Renieris, Naik, and Penn continue. Imagine if it set the rules for contact tracing. Should someone have the right to sell your contact information to Facebook without your consent? Should they have the right to withhold it from the CDC or, on the contrary, sell it into Googles internal data free-for-all with no protections? Its something to think about before you fill out the Data Dividend Projects form.
Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei of Hezekiah Prayer Ministry who allegedly threatened to cause the death of Jean Mensah, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission has been granted GH100,000 bail by an Accra Circuit court.
Adjei, as part of his bail conditions was to provide three sureties two of whom are to be public servants earning not less than GHC 2,000 a month.
The accused was ordered to report to the Police twice a week.
The court further directed Adjei to deposit his passport to the Courts Registry.
He is to reappear on July 21.
Adjei charged with threat of death, unlawful possession of narcotic plants, assault on public officer, has pleaded not guilty.
He has denied the charges.
Appearing before the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh for the second time, Adjei's lawyers prayed for bail.
Mr Kwodwoga Adawudu one of the legal counsel held that his client was a good citizen with a pure heart who only gave a prophecy given to him by God and also seem to be speaking his mind.
Mr Adawudu said his client has denied the offences and under the law, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
He was of the view that the charges preferred against the accused did not support facts.
Defence Counsel contended that his client was not a flight risk and he was ready to stand trial.
Mr Adawudu said from the facts prosecution has completed their investigations and they were only left with the transcription of a video.
According to defence counsel, Adjei has fixed place of abode at Spintex and would be available to stand trial.
He denied that Adjei was arrested in a container within Greda Estates.
According to him, Adjei was only lured to the said container to be arrested by the Police.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare, who was leading the prosecution vehemently opposed to bail, saying the Police would be extending their investigations to the regions.
ASP Asare contended that Adjei did not have a fixed place of abode.
Prosecution intimated to the court that investigation was a process and an event.
Prosecution case was that the complainant was Madam Jean Mensah and that On June 5, this year, the complainant reported to the police that whilst acting in the execution of her statutory duties as Electoral Commissioner, Adjei threatened to cause her death.
The Prosecution said based on that the complainant was interviewed by the police and statement taken.
ASP Asare said on June, 9 this year, intelligence led to the arrest of Adjei at Greda Estate in Teshie whiles granting an interview to a team of journalists in relation to a video made by him on social media.
He said the accused in the said video threatened to cause the death of Mrs Mensah.
Subsequently, Prosecution said a search conducted on Adjei revealed one infinix 5 mobile phone, a black wallet containing GHC 29.00 and a Voter ID Card.
He said " also found on the accused was a brown waist pack which contained inter alia; one mobile charger, two suspected aphrodisiac labelled Mr Q, one brown smoking XL paper and two brown wrapped substance of dried leaves suspected to be a narcotic plant. "
Prosecution said after the inventory was taken, Adjei admitted ownership.
Meanwhile investigations revealed that within the past four years Adjei accompanied a group which occasionally visited an orphanage by name Jehovah Rapha Foundation located at Suhum to make donations.
The prosecution said in order to facilitate the commission of "this crime and also put complainant in fear of death, on June 4, 2020, accused and five others which included a presenter from Otumfuo TV Station, in a guise of donation, visited the orphanage to donate few items which included cooked rice and face masks."
The prosecution said further investigations disclosed that Adjei while at the orphanage with the group made a video of himself and in the video he threatened to cause the death of Jean Mensah.
According to the prosecution a careful analysis of the video disclosed the usage of abusive, threatening and insulting language against the complainant.
Some of the insults include " stupid Jean Mensah, idiot, foolish girl, you are crazy, stupid Akuffo girl."
Prosecution said Adjei's video was circulated on social media and on June 9, this year, he was located at Greda Estate at Teshie.
The prosecution said on June 17, this year the dried leaves was sent to the Police Forensic Laboratory.
He said on June 22, this year, result from the lab of the dried leaves tested positive for "Delta--9 tetra hydro cannabinol cannabinol and cannabinol.
Prosecution said the Police is waiting for the report of transcription of the video tape of the accused.
Source: GNA
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A majority of coronavirus infections from Multnomah Countys record-breaking week reportedly spread among friends and family, prompting county health officials Monday to encourage the use of face coverings in social settings.
Infections within immigrant and refugee communities drove some portion of the spike, officials said.
Former prime minister John Howard says he stands by his 2003 decision to appoint Dyson Heydon to the High Court of Australia, amid growing calls to strip the former judge of his honours after an independent investigation found he sexually harassed six junior staff.
Questions are also being asked about the level of knowledge legal luminaries, including judges, must have had of Mr Heydon's alleged inappropriate behaviour at the High Court and in wider legal circles.
Brooke Greenwood, a lawyer at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, tweeted yesterday: "I was an associate two years after #DysonHeydon left the HCA. I remember being warned of his behaviour when retired justices returned for events warnings passed on by successive cohorts of female associates trying to protect themselves and each other."
The Herald was contacted confidentially on Tuesday by a number of people who urged further examination of Mr Heydon's alleged behaviour, suggesting many in senior legal circles were aware of his reputation.
"You explain to me then whats the difference between .08 and .081 as far as breaking the law versus your seatbelt?"
"Well, they might be looking for a new mayor. Not a big deal."
The Portland nonprofit Literary Arts announced Monday night the seven books that won 2020 Oregon Book Awards, chosen from among more than 200 submissions.
The awards are typically handed out in a live ceremony that draws Portlands literary community to applaud short speeches by each of the winning authors, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, Literary Arts shifted to a radio broadcast hosted by two previous Oregon Book Award winners, Omar El-Akkad (American War) and Elena Passarello (Animals Strike Curious Poses). The two reminisced fondly about what it was like to win before turning to announcing most of this years award recipients. Oregon poet laureate Anis Mojgani announced the poetry and special awards.
The winning authors, who read excerpts from or discussed their books on the broadcast, received $1,000.
KEN KESEY AWARD FOR FICTION
Kesha Ajose Fisher of Portland, No God Like the Mother: Fishers perspective as a Nigerian American woman informs this collection of nine stories whose characters often struggle to keep a firm grasp on identity and relationships.
STAFFORD/HALL AWARD FOR POETRY
Ashley Toliver of Portland, Spectra: This three-part collection runs a finger along the dual-edged swords creation on one side, destruction on the other wielded by both our relationships and our bodies.
FRANCES FULLER VICTOR AWARD FOR GENERAL NONFICTION
David Wolman and Julian Smith of Portland, Aloha Rodeo: Three Hawaiian Cowboys, the Worlds Greatest Rodeo, and a Hidden History of the American West: Those who attended the 1908 Frontier Days extravaganza in Cheyenne, Wyoming, saw a rodeo unlike any other, as three paniolos from the Hawaiian islands challenged the very notion of a cowboy. Wolman and Smith explain with gusto how this singular moment came to be.
SARAH WINNEMUCCA AWARD FOR CREATIVE NONFICTION
Beth Alvarado of Bend, Anxious Attachments: This essay collection is practically a master class in the genre, as Alvarado tackles themes such as addiction, grief and environmental racism with steady prose and compassion.
ELOISE JARVIS MCGRAW AWARD FOR CHILDRENS LITERATURE
Cathy Camper of Portland, Lowriders Blast from the Past: In this appealing graphic novel presented in English and Spanish, three young friends bond over their love of cars and over the bullies who target them.
LESLIE BRADSHAW AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE
Deborah Hopkinson of West Linn, How I Became A Spy: A Mystery of WWII: Bertie is just a kid, so he can only contribute to the war effort in London as a bike messenger until he stumbles across a notebook that appears to contain coded messages that could help the Allies.
AWARD FOR GRAPHIC LITERATURE
Greg Means and M.K. Reed of Portland, Penny Nichols: This tongue-in-cheek tale about a very amateur effort to make a slasher flick is a hilarious ode to creativity, the can-do spirit and friendship.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Literary Arts also announced this years winners of three special awards.
Walt Morey Young Readers Literary Legacy Award: Reading Results, of Portland, which works to support childhood literacy.
The Stewart H. Holbrook Literary Legacy Award: Write Around Portland, of Portland, which uses writing as a tool for working toward equity.
C.E.S. Wood Award: Lawson Inada of Ashland, Oregons fifth poet laureate from 2006 to 2010, who read a poem on the broadcast.
You can hear all the authors who were finalists reading from their work at Literary Arts website.
awang@oregonian.com; Twitter: @ORAmyW
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has warned Singaporeans the coronavirus pandemic will last at least another year as he announced the country's 2.6 million voters will go to the polls on July 10.
In a live address that highlighted global economic uncertainty and political tensions, the prospect of further domestic job losses and the health risks posed by the pandemic, Lee framed the choice facing voters in stark terms.
Customers wait in line to enter the Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road in Singapore due to coronavirus restrictions. Credit:Bloomberg
"COVID-19, the economy and jobs are domestic concerns but we also face external uncertainties. Major regional and global developments can affect us. US-China tensions over many issues, now including Hong Kong. The US presidential elections in November. Border clashes between China and India. Political developments here at home in south-east Asia," he said.
"We do not know what surprises may be in store for us in the next year, but as dangers materialise we must navigate safely through them and protect Singapores security and national interest. This will require diplomatic skills and a deft touch."
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Tuesday claimed that his company Patanjali Ayurved has made the first Ayurvedic medicine for coronavirus disease Covid-19.
The medicine called Coronil will help in treating the respiratory disease, claimed Ramdev.
The whole country and the world was waiting for medicine or vaccine for corona. We are proud to announce that the first Ayurvedic, clinically controlled trial based evidence and research-based medicine has been prepared by the combined efforts of Patanjali Research Centre and NIMS, he said at a press conference in Haridwar.
Here is everything you need to know about the new Ayurvedic medicine for Covid-19:
The medicine comes as part of a kit which consists of tablets named Coronil and Swasari Vati, and an oil called Anu Oil. Patanjali Ayurved tweeted to say that they have used active compounds of Ahwagandha, Giloy and Tulsi in the new Covid-19 medicine.
Ramdev said more than 100 compounds have been used in Coronil. The entire kit will help in strengthening immunity.
Patanjali prescribes two tablets should be consumed with hot water half an hour after each meals. This quantity is suitable for people between 15 to 80 years of age, the company says. Chilmdren between the age of 6-14 years can take this medicine, but the dosage should be half of what is prescribed for adults.
According to Ramdev, the company conducted two-stage trials. The first was a clinical controlled study which took place in Delhi, Ahmedabad and many other cities. Under this, 280 patients were included and 100 per cent of those recovered, he said. After controlling the disese and its complications, the all-important clinical control trial was conducted, said Ramdev.
Patanjali claims those administered the medicine were fully cured and none died. Ramdev even claimed that 69 per cent of them recovered within three days. He said that 100 per cent recovery was seen in seven days.
The company said that data of the trial will be released as evidence in the next few days.
The efficacy of Patanjalis medicine on Covid-19 cure has not been corroborated by any independent medical body as of yet. The World Health Organization (WHO) had recently said that while several drug trials are ongoing, there is currently no proof that any drug can cure or prevent Covid-19.
India has been battling the pandemic and the number of Covid-19 cases neared 4.5 lakh cases on Tuesday. Over 14,000 people have died due to the disease so far in the country.
There are now over nine million people affected by the pandemic since it broke out in Chinas Wuhan city in December last year.
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Linkedin Tanya Steenkamp (Agence France-Presse) Paternoster, South Africa Tue, June 23, 2020 10:01 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660db480 2 Food South-Africa,restaurant,coronavirus,COVID-19,Wolfgat Free
A tiny beach restaurant in South Africa shot to fame last year when it was voted the world's best eating house for unique dishes based on the essence of the sea.
But the limelight swiftly faded after the coronavirus pandemic arrived -- and today, the much-acclaimed Wolfgat is counting its losses.
Eateries across the country have been shut to diners since March 27 when a nationwide lockdown was imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Starting last month, blanket restrictions were eased slightly, enabling to restaurants cook but just for takeaways.
"It was quite a roller-coaster ride. Everything happened very quickly and drastically," said Kobus van der Merwe, chef and owner of the Wolfgat, located in the remote beach town of Paternoster, a two-hour-drive from Cape Town.
Under normal circumstances, Wolfgat -- Afrikaans for "wolf hole" -- can serve a maximum of 20 sitting guests, specializing in dishes made from foraged ingredients such as seaweed, beach succulents and wild coastal berries.
But the pressure of the lockdown has weighed heavily on the restaurant, which barely three years after it opened won the top prize at the inaugural 2019 World Restaurant Awards in Paris.
Wolfgat won rave reviews for its small dishes, such as Saldanha bay mussels served with cauliflower and dune celery, alongside bream presented with sorghum, snoek roe and wild sage.
Foodies raved over its tasting menu served on a thatch-covered terrace overlooking the waves -- at around $60 for seven courses, it cost a fraction of similar top-quality fare in Paris, London or New York.
Read also: Tiny South Africa beach restaurant crowned best in world
Pandemic hit
But about half of its customers have been foreigners, and tourism in South Africa -- as around the world -- has been crippled by the pandemic.
"Even before South Africa went into lockdown, a lot of our international guests had to cancel because of the situation in their country already being much worse. Its been way more than just the lockdown period," said van der Merwe.
In a bid to stay afloat, the sea-view Wolfgat started producing immersive boxes with assortments of snacks for delivery to customers in distant Cape Town.
South African Chef Kobus van der Merwe of the Wolfgat restaurant on the beach in Paternoster, South Africa, on June 18, 2020 prepares dry ingredients to be delivered to customers for a at-home bake. (AFP/Marco Longari)
But this was difficult logistically and the returns were lower, with the restaurant charging half its regular price.
"We wanted to do everything in our power to try and just survive this time with big financial losses and no future income," said van der Merwe.
"Its a drop in the bucket but its at least something, and it kept us going and kept us motivated and creative," he said.
On the plus side, a lucrative season last year after being named top restaurant helped cushion the business for the shock that lay ahead.
"That gave us quite a strong sort of base," he said.
"If we had (had) a normal sort of ... okay summer season, we may not have survived this period as long as we have. It certainly gave us a bit of a stronger support base to try and pull through this."
President Cyril Ramaphosa this week announced that restaurants will soon be able to have sit-down customers, albeit with physical distance restrictions.
"We're very excited about the fact that we will be allowed to welcome guests," said van der Merwe. "But we realise its not going to be any kind of normal situation."
President Donald Trump has intensified claims this years election will be rigged by outside interference in postal voting (Evan Vucci/AP)speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center, Saturday, June 20, 2020, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Donald Trump has opened a new front in his fight against postal voting, making unsubstantiated assertions that foreign countries will print millions of bogus ballots to rig the election.
The US president tweeted about this envisaged outcome, saying it would be the scandal of our times, even as it emerged vice-president Mike Pence and several senior advisers to Mr Trump had voted by mail repeatedly.
His claims not only ignore safeguards that states have implemented to prevent fraud but also risk undermining Americans faith in the election, spreading the very kind of disinformation US authorities have warned foreign adversaries could use to foment doubt in the voting process.
With health officials saying postal voting can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, many states are moving ahead with plans to enhance access to mail-in ballots.
Mr Trump accelerated his attacks following a bruising weekend for his reelection campaign, when a low turnout at an election rally in Oklahoma left him seething, and as he seeks a second term during the worst unemployment since the Great Depression.
The rhetoric, coming as states scramble to adjust voting processes because of the coronavirus pandemic, represents a two-track approach: trying to both block postal balloting in advance, and setting the stage for challenging the results once the poll is over.
Its a way of trying to turn the foreign interference claims that have been made on their head, said Richard Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine.
Typically weve heard that the Russian government and others were working to help elect Trump, and here is Trump using fears of foreign interference as a way of bolstering his own side.
This potentially lays the groundwork, he added, for him contesting election results.
Election records obtained by The Associated Press show Mr Pence and at least five senior advisers to the president have voted by mail.
More than three years after leaving the Indiana governors residence, Mr Pence still lists that as his official residence and votes absentee accordingly. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has permanent absentee voting status in her home state of Michigan.
Brad Parscale, Mr Trumps campaign manager, voted absentee in Texas in 2018. He did not vote in the 2016 general election, when Mr Trumps name was on the ballot.
Expand Close Vice president Mike Pence regularly lodges absentee votes, according to election records (Ian Maule//Tulsa World/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook
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Whatsapp Vice president Mike Pence regularly lodges absentee votes, according to election records (Ian Maule//Tulsa World/AP)
Two other senior Trump campaign officials chief operating officer Michael Glassner and deputy campaign manager Bill Stepien have repeatedly voted by mail in New Jersey. And Nick Ayers, a senior campaign adviser who was previously chief of staff to Mr Pence, has voted by mail in Georgia since 2014.
Still, others in the administration have recently promoted the notion that states could be inundated with fraudulent ballots from overseas.
Attorney General William Barr raised that prospect in interviews in recent weeks with The New York Times Magazine and Fox News.
Right now, a foreign country could print up tens of thousands of counterfeit ballots, and (it would) be very hard for us to detect which was the right and which was the wrong ballot, Barr told Fox in an interview that aired Sunday.
The president tweeted a news report on Mr Barrs remarks on Monday as well as sending an all-caps tweet: RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!
We will not stand by while Donald Trump recklessly undermines faith in our democratic process The Joe Biden campaign
Democratic candidate Joe Bidens campaign later issued a statement calling Mr Trumps tweets a desperate attempt to rewrite reality to revive this Presidents faltering re-election campaign.
We will not stand by while Donald Trump recklessly undermines faith in our democratic process, campaign manager Jen OMalley Dillon said.
Experts say Mr Trumps doomsday scenario is far-fetched.
Comments like that demonstrate an ignorance of by-mail voting and the technology associated with how it actually works, said Eddie Perez, global director of technology development at the OSET Institute, a non-profit election technology research corporation.
There are more protocols than people are probably aware of, which would make such an attack rather difficult.
Though fraud in absentee balloting is rare, it is possible other problems could arise as people vote by the mail, including ballots being intercepted in a mailbox and tampered with.
Expand Close Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale has voted absentee in the past, but did not vote in the 2016 presidential election when Mr Trumps name was on the ballot (Evan Vucci/PA) AP/PA Images / Facebook
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Whatsapp Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale has voted absentee in the past, but did not vote in the 2016 presidential election when Mr Trumps name was on the ballot (Evan Vucci/PA)
The National Conference of State Legislatures lists on its website multiple disadvantages to the process, including slower reporting of results and the possibility that voters could be coerced by family members.
But the list does not broach the idea of foreign countries manufacturing their own ballots a type of fraud that would encounter significant practical obstacles, not least because states say they are adept at differentiating legitimate ballots from inauthentic ones.
The ballots used by Colorados 64 individual counties are printed exclusively in the United States, distinguished by specific colours and target areas and processed through sensitive scanners designed to weed out the inauthentic, said Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
A bipartisan team of election judges conducts signature verification and refers for further investigation suspected instances of double-voting.
And in Washington state, each county is responsible for printing its own ballots, which are placed inside a security envelope or sleeve. Voters signatures on return ballots are cross-checked against the signature on voter registration applications. The state says if a signature is missing or does not match the voter registration record, voters are contacted.
Five states Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington conduct elections entirely by mail, according to the NCSL. But nearly all states, led by Democratic and Republican governors alike, offer some form of the option.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, health care workers on the front lines had high levels of acute stress, anxiety, and depression, a study by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian has found.
Levels of stress, anxiety and depression were particularly high among those with the greatest amount of patient contact and interaction.
Among the findings:
More than half had high levels of acute stress.
Nearly half screened positive for depressive symptoms.
One-third had anxiety.
Most had insomnia symptoms and experienced loneliness.
The findings were published online in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.
"This is the largest study in the United States to document the psychological impact among clinicians working on the front lines at the height of the NYC COVID-19 pandemic," says Marwah Abdalla, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health at Columbia University, cardiac intensivist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and study leader.
"Our findings confirm what we suspected: Clinicians working in this environment experienced significant levels of acute stress and other psychological effects."
Nurses had highest stress levels
The researchers analyzed data from 657 clinicians at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center who were screened for stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms between April 9 and April 24 during the peak of the pandemic in New York City. More than half (375) of respondents were nurses and advanced practice providers.
Overall, 57% of participantsand 64% of nurses and advanced practice providerssaid they had experienced symptoms of acute stress, such as nightmares, an inability to stop thinking about COVID-19, a feeling of being constantly on guard, and numbness or detachment from people or their surroundings. Acute stress symptoms that persist for more than a month can lead to post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
Although the environment took a psychological toll on all healthcare workers, nurses were particularly affected. The different responsibilities of nurses may partly explain the higher rates of positive acute stress screens and other impacts, as nurses spend more time delivering direct patient care.
Nearly half (48%) of all participants screened positive for depressive symptoms and one-third (33%) for anxiety.
Loneliness was pervasive
Insomnia and loneliness were also pervasive in this group (71% and 65%, respectively). "These were essential workers who were still going to work and interacting with patients and colleagues throughout the day," Abdalla says, "so the high prevalence of loneliness is striking."
Three out of four participants were highly distressed about the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 to loved ones. Most were highly distressed about the need to maintain social distance from family and friends and a lack of control and uncertainty during the pandemic.
"The health care workers had the double burden of caring for patients with COVID-19 and worrying about the possibility of getting loved ones sick," says Abdalla. "The high prevalence of insomnia and loneliness among clinicians suggests that the acute stress of working in this environment was physically and emotionally exhausting and isolating, but we don't know yet if this stress will have long-term consequences, and if so, whether the feeling that they were doing something meaningful and purposeful helps insulate them from this stress."
Most engaged in stress-reducing behaviors
Most respondents reported the use of stress-reducing behaviors, most commonly physical exercise but also talk therapy, virtual support groups, and religious/spiritual practices. Most expressed interest in having access to an individual therapist.
"Our findings highlight the need to study the effectiveness of the wellness resources that were available to the health care workers during the study period and determine if additional resources may be needed to better protect them during the next health crisis that may arise in New York City," Abdalla says.
Abdalla and her colleagues are currently doing a follow-up survey to see if these clinicians' psychological symptoms, coping strategies, and sense of optimism change over time.
Explore further Anxiety up for nonmedical health care workers versus those on front lines
More information: Ari Shechter et al, Psychological distress, coping behaviors, and preferences for support among New York healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, General Hospital Psychiatry (2020). Journal information: General Hospital Psychiatry Ari Shechter et al, Psychological distress, coping behaviors, and preferences for support among New York healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.06.007
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The National Council of Malian Civil Societies has proposed the resignation of the Constitutional Court and the dissolution of the National Assembly, for a way out of the serious socio-political crisis that Mali is going through, the Council said at local press briefing
By PTI
BHOPAL: BJP's Lok Sabha member from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur fainted during an event organised at party office here on Tuesday to pay tributes to Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookherjee on his death anniversary.
The incident occurred when Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other senior BJP leaders were paying tributes to Mookherjee at the event held at the party's state headquarters here.
Former Bhopal MP Alok Sanjar told PTI that Thakur has been undergoing treatment for her ailments and was taking heavy doses of medicines, which could have caused dizziness.
Following the incident, Thakur (50) was taken to her home, where she is currently recuperating, he said.
Earlier on Sunday, Thakur had attributed her health issues, including "loss" of vision, to "torture" she had suffered under the Congress regime.
"I sustained several injuries due to torture by the Congress for nine years. Many injuries resurface due to this torture. There was formation of pus and swelling in my eyes and brain. I have blurred vision in the right eye and I can't see at all from the left one," she had said, apparently referring to her imprisonment in the 2008 Malegaon blast case in which she is an accused.
The newly-signed agreement anticipates the opening of 100 franchises across Canada
MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Kisses from Italy Inc. ("Kisses From Italy" or the "Company") (OTCQB:KITL) announced today, that following the recent opening of Kisses From Italy's European location, in Italy, and with its first Franchise Agreement for the state of California now complete, the Kisses from Italy restaurant group continues its expansion plans with the signing of a Multi-Unit Development Agreement for 100 locations in Canada.
The Agreement was signed with Canadian-based Demasar Management Inc. ("Demasar") which will be taking the lead role as the developer / operator of the Kisses From Italy brand in Canada. "We are excited to be working with Demasar on developing the Canadian market for our brand. We believe Demasar's background of restaurant development, and solid network of experienced professionals from various backgrounds, will significantly strengthen the team's efforts as we gear up for the next phase of our long-term growth strategy. Our teams perfectly blend together, since Demasar shares our passion and commitment for the brand, which continues to propel Kisses From Italy forward", commented Kisses From Italy's co-founder, co-CEO and CIO, Claudio Ferri.
"We believe there is a huge potential for a brand like Kisses From Italy to be established and scaled throughout Canada," said Michele Di Turi, also a co-founder, President and co-CEO of Kisses From Italy. "We are confident that Canada will play a pivotal position in the implementation and growth of our international distribution plan." In addition, Di Turi stated, "with the new deal in place for Canada, we expect to see the immediate development of Kisses From Italy restaurants across the country."
About KISSES FROM ITALY Inc.
KISSES FROM ITALY is a U.S. based restaurant chain operator, franchisor and product distributor with locations in North America and Europe. The Company offers a quick service menu and a unique take on traditional Italian delicacies with an All-American flair. Kisses From Italy offerings include sandwiches, salads, Italian roasted coffee, coffee related beverage and an array of other products. The Company currently operates four corporate owned stores. It successfully commenced operations in May 2015 with the opening of its flagship location in Ft. Lauderdale at 3146 NE 9th St. This was followed by three additional sites across the greater Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano Beach area. The Company recently opened its inaugural European location in Ceglie del Campo, Bari, Italy, in October 2019. In September 2019, the Company's common stock was approved for trading by FINRA and in mid-October 2019 was approved for up-listing by the OTC Markets Group to the OTCQB under the symbol KITL.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected, including statements related to the amount and timing of expected revenues and any payment of dividends on our common and preferred stock, statements related to our financial performance, expected income, distributions, and future growth for upcoming quarterly and annual periods. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC . Among other matters, the Company may not be able to sustain growth or achieve profitability based upon many factors including, but not limited to, general stock market conditions. Reference is hereby made to cautionary statements set forth in the Company's most recent SEC filings. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant expenses in our expansion of our existing and new service lines, noting there is no assurance that we will generate enough revenues to offset those costs in both the near and long term. Additional service offerings may expose us to additional legal and regulatory costs and unknown exposure(s) based upon the various geopolitical locations where we will be providing services, the impact of which cannot be predicted at this time.
For more information, please visit www.kissesfromitaly.com
Contact Information:
Kisses from Italy Inc.
305-423-7129
info@kissesfromitaly.com
SOURCE: Kisses from Italy Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594874/Kisses-From-Italy-Inc-Signs-Multi-Unit-Development-Deal-for-100-Locations-in-Canada
A HIGH-profile activist will speak at a University of Limerick conference on why black voices matter in the collective response to the climate crisis.
Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan youth activist and colleague of Greta Thunberg who came to prominence when she was cropped out of a photo of her fellow activists at Davos, is to speak at an international conference, which kicks off today at the University of Limerick albeit virtually.
The Kemmy Business School (KBS) at UL is hosting the seventh biennial International Symposium on Cross-Sector Social Interactions (CSSI 2020) from today, Tuesday, to Friday.
The conference has moved online and will be hosted virtually, but is still set to be the largest gathering of experts (academic and practitioner) on cross sector social partnerships in Ireland.
CSSI 2020 comes to Ireland for the first time at a pivotal moment for the UNs sustainable development agenda and the future of cross sector partnerships. The event will play host to over 100 academics from more than 20 countries.
Alongside the academic delegates, the conference will also play host to a range of practitioners, including partnership broker organisations, NGOs and directors of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a range of multinational organisations.
One of those to speak will be Ms Nakate, who received an apology from Associated Press when she was cropped out of a photo following a press conference with other prominent climate activists.
Speaking ahead of her appearance at the conference tomorrow, Vanessa said: We are seeing very many young people across the world demanding action. We are seeing the power that is in this global activism and the message is very clear: Young people want change, young people want a better future, young people want to be able to live.
Many of them have dreams, we have hopes, we have many things we want achieve in this world. But how can we be sure we will be able to achieve all these things, with a future that is so uncertain?
Dr Annmarie Ryan, lecturer in marketing at ULs Kemmy Business School the only school in Ireland championing the UNs Principles for responsible management education who is chair of CSSI 2020, said: Vanessa Nakate brings into focus the lived experience of climate change, from the perspective of a young person living in Africa.
She teaches us that collaboration is important - collaboration amongst businesses, government and non-profit organisations. But more than this, that this collaboration must be about action and a recognition that the UN sustainability goals cannot be achieved without listening to the voices of those who are affected most. We are delighted and honoured to have Vanessa speak at the symposium, she added.
An important aim of the conference is to enable practice-theory dialogue and harness the expertise of academia to advance practice in this field. The specific theme of the 2020 conference in Limerick is Partnership and Place.
Greater sensitivity to how place constrains and enables organising around issues like climate change can enrich both theory and practice of cross-sector partnerships in settings experiencing inequality and fragility, explained Dr Ryan.
Irish Aid is one of the main sponsors of the event and have focused their support on investing in the next generation of scholars in this field through the provision of a new bursary scheme for doctoral and early career researchers.
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a ban on the installation of new China-made meters by the state power department, days after 20 Indian Army personnel were killed by Chinese troops in a clash in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, an official said here on Tuesday.
"Installation of Chinese meter has been banned in the state," an official spokesman of the power department said here.
"The details have been sought about orders of Chinese meters and equipment and also contracts of Chinese items awarded in the past one year," he said.
All India Power Engineers Federation president Shailendra Dubey has welcomed the decision.
"In power plants, boilers and tubes and other equipment are brought from China as they are cheap. It's a truth that the quality of Chinese equipment is not good," he said.
He said their association demands that equipment used in power plants be purchased from public sector company Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). It will also help achieve the objective of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India), he added.
A 13-year-old Dublin boy has appeared in court accused of torturing a hedgehog to death in a 35-minute attack.
The boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was charged with animal cruelty offences in connection with the incident on the grounds of a north Co Dublin school on a night last September.
He also faces unrelated theft and public order charges.
The teenager, who was accompanied to court by his father and his solicitor Brian Keenan, was remanded on bail yesterday after he appeared at Dublin Children's Court.
The teenager was granted legal aid and ordered to appear again in July when he will be expected to formally indicate how he is going to plead.
A forensic psychologist's report on him is being prepared.
Garda Gemma Twohig told Judge Treasa Kelly the boy made no reply when she charged him with injuring a protected wild animal, and causing or permitting unnecessary suffering endangering the health and welfare of an animal.
The charges were contrary to the Wildlife Act and the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
The Director of Public Prosecutions recommended the case should be dealt with in the Children's Court.
Mr Keenan asked the judge to rule on the teen's trial venue and he added that because of his age the defence was anxious to get the case moved on quickly.
Gda Twohig said it was alleged the boy killed the hedgehog in the grounds of a school and there was CCTV of the incident.
It was alleged the boy was identified from the footage.
"This attack was quite lengthy," she said.
Judge Kelly accepted jurisdiction.
Stolen
Mr Keenan said he was going to obtain a report from a forensic psychology service. The teenager had been engaging well in a bail supervision scheme, the solicitor said.
The boy's father told the judge his son was "coming on very well" and he said "there is a big change in him, he is trying to get himself together".
The boy also faces charges for possessing a new stolen motorbike and theft of a small amount of cash on dates in October.
He is also accused of two public order offences on two dates earlier last year when he was aged 12.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday sought for the suspension of a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) memo that mandates online sellers to register and update their tax records while many of them struggle to find alternative means to earn a living during the coronavirus pandemic.
The lawmaker filed Senate Resolution No. 453, urging the tax agency to halt the implementation of the memorandum to require all online merchants to declare their profits from selling retail products online by July 31. Hontiveros said the BIR should postpone its order until the end of 2020 as the battle rages against COVID-19 crisis.
The resolution also calls on the Senate to investigate the BIR for making such an order criticized by many for being "ill-timed and insensitive."
Malacanang has clarified that not all online sellers will need to pay taxes, but should still register or update their records with the BIR. Officials said annual earnings less than 250,000 are tax exempt, referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act that overhauled the system for personal income taxes. Only income above 250,000 is subject to taxes.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government needs all the additional revenues to fight COVID-19, with the Department of Finance identifying more than 600 billion in spending.
Hontiveros said the government should prioritize chasing the tax dues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), rather than cut the earnings of local online retailers making a temporary living via social media or e-commerce channels.
"It is only proper for the BIR to ensure that big digital businesses earning millions in profits, such as Philippine Online Gaming Operators, are paying proper taxes as required by law," the senator said. "Pero sana, huwag na pahirapan ang mga kababayan nating dumidiskarte para makakain. [But hopefully, let's not make it harder for our countrymen who are looking for ways to make ends meet.]
Photo: Unsplash/Annie Spratt
Recent protests in the United States triggered by police killings of black Americans have spurred widespread corporate disavowal of racial discrimination but the question remains as to whether it will result in long-term change.
For social advocates with insights on the business world in Vancouver, the answer appears to be a hopeful maybe.
Most observers say they recognize the current wave of calls for social justice could improve the treatment of employees from various racial, cultural, gender and religious backgrounds but the track record in recent years of firms in B.C. and the rest of Canada putting the money where their mouths are has not been encouraging.
Even before recent events, there has certainly been movement on gender equality, inclusion and diversity in the workplace, said Queenie Choo, CEO of Vancouver immigrant and community services non-profit SUCCESS. But theres not a lot of traction yet. Yes, weve been cognizant of the need for it but have we done anything substantial for it? I think theres room for improvement.
But, outside of a few companies and groups, the numbers overall continue to show a lack of equality.
Statistics Canada said Canadian womens participation in the labour force as of June 2019 was 61.4%, almost 10% lower than the male figure of 70.1%. A number of other reports also continue to show lower earning powers in minority, immigrant and First Nations communities. LGBTQ groups say that many do not feel their workplaces are inclusive or safe.
Where doesnt it exist? said Rhiannon Foster, co-chair of Vancouver LGBTQ organization LOUD Business, when asked about the gap between overall corporate diversity policies and workplace practices.
There are wonderful things we can point to ... but across the board in Metro Vancouver, its tough. Its going to take a long time to get to even a B+ level.
The systemic nature of bias in the business world shows up a number ways, observers say manifesting itself in a range of ways, including how some companies choose job candidates for interviews based on surnames and the cultural identities they may suggest.
That is where the high visibility of the current protests provides some hope for business leaders like Choo, who said the headlines are pushing more people to examine their personal biases an important development because much of the biases are held subconsciously.
Most of us are driven by our unconscious bias, and hence the behaviours are displayed, she said. More than ever, we need to sharpen out unconscious-bias detectors through some training, reflection and also interactions to understand why we have these beliefs in our systems to drive what we do especially when we look at employees promotions and peoples career development.
The lack of diverse corporate leadership also continues to plague the effort for change. For example, Statistics Canada reported in 2016 that women held fewer than one in five business leadership roles in Canada, a number that has not improved significantly since.
The slow executive turnover rate in the business world is a major problem in accelerating the more dramatic change thats needed to foster true diversity in the workplace, said Kevin Huang, co-founder and executive director of community-engagement consultancy Hua Foundation.
What Ive seen and experienced is that theres always this push and pull of how much organizations and those with power want to engage this conversation, said Huang, who speaks regularly with government groups and businesses about inclusive policies and practices. What weve seen with COVID and now with the killing of George Floyd is that this is really pushing corporations to re-evaluate how they can do better. But for all Ive seen, theres a lot of posturing and gesturing; we havent got into how entrenched systemic racism is.
CertifyMe.net, the leader in online forklift certification recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The company, one of the first online enterprises to make OSHA certification affordable and completely online, is part of CEO Tom Wilkersons safety training network, which also includes ForkliftCertification.com, CertifyMeOnline.net, and AerialLiftCertification.com.
I saw a need early on for a simple, easy method for companies to obtain & retain OSHA compliance, said Mr. Wilkerson. Thats the story behind CertifyMe.net. Before online certification programs like CertifyMe.net, consultants would identify safety issues, but not actually implement solutions. From the start, CertifyMe.net empowered employers to take control of their safety training and OSHA compliance and to this day, weve kept true to that promise.
CertifyMe.net provides a comprehensive assortment of tools and resources for companies to train their own employees on basic and advanced forklift safety, including:
Online instruction
Hands-on evaluation forms
Free renewal certification
Complete customer support
And much more
Servicing over 81,000 clients across the United States, CertifyMe.net remains a go-to source for reliable, affordable, efficient forklift certification, even as OSHA safety rules and guidelines change on a regular basis.
The most important elements of CertifyMe.net and our other online certification programs are safety and compliance. Our certification courses address critical safety issues already included in OSHA guidelines. Whats more, CertifyMe.net documents all training for every employee. This is very important in the unfortunate event of a workplace accident or injury. Our certification not only protects employees your most important assets but also protects your other assets, since the absence of training documentation translates into severe fines and penalties.
According to an internal CertifyMe.net study, more than 50% of companies surveyed have been audited by OSHA, and over 50% of those were fined for compliance and safety violations. CertifyMe.net and Mr. Wilkersons other certification companies help prevent violations which often lead to accidents and injuries on the job.
Visit CertifyMe.net for more information about their safety certification and OSHA compliance programs. You can also call 1-888-699-4800 to speak with a safety consultant. To view the complete CertifyMe.net forklift course catalog, click here.
About the Author
Tom Wilkerson is a former crane operator with an intimate knowledge of OSHA processes and policies. His umbrella of OSHA compliance and certification companies, led by CertifyMe.net, helps businesses from a variety of industries (construction, distribution, shipping, logistics, maintenance, and more) with safety, certification, and compliance. Mr. Wilkersons other certification enterprises include CertifyMeOnline.net, ForkliftCertification.com, and AerialLiftCertification.com. Besides his passion for safety in the workplace and ensuring OSHA compliance for his numerous clients, Mr. Wilkerson enjoys spending time with his family.
Deadliest week in the countrys 19-year war, says top official even as the armed group rejects the figures.
The Taliban has killed at least 291 Afghan security personnel over the past week, a top government official said, accusing the armed group of unleashing a wave of violence ahead of potential peace talks.
The previous week was the deadliest in the countrys 19 years of conflict, Javid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council, said on Monday.
The Taliban group carried out 422 attacks in 32 provinces during the past week, killing 291 security personnel and wounding 550 others, Faisal said on Twitter.
Talibans commitment to reduce violence is meaningless, and their actions inconsistent with their rhetoric on peace, he said.
The Taliban rejected the latest government figures.
The enemy aims to hurt the peace process and intra-Afghan talks by releasing such false reports, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Talibans spokesman in Afghanistan, told the AFP news agency.
We did have some attacks last week, but they were mostly in defence.
In a cabinet meeting on Monday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the violence, which he blamed on the Taliban.
The government sees the violence as running against the spirit of commitment for peace, Ghani said.
In an attack on Monday, gunmen shot dead two prosecutors and three other employees of the attorney generals office.
The attack happened on the outskirts of capital Kabul, when gunmen opened fire on the car the attorney general and his team were in, the attorney generals office and the interior ministry said.
It was unclear who the attackers were, and the Taliban denied involvement.
(1/3) The US strongly condemns the attack today against the Afghan Attorney General's lawyers and other team members working to facilitate prisoner releases. This attack, carried out by enemies of peace, took the lives of five civilians. We offer our condolences. U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) June 22, 2020
The incident drew condemnation from US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who led negotiations with the Taliban ahead of a deal signed in February between the US and the Taliban.
The deal set out a US withdrawal from Afghanistan in return for security assurances from the Taliban and outlined steps to be taken by the Afghan government before intra-Afghan talks.
Khalilzad said the legal team had been working on a prisoner exchange that is a requirement before the Kabul government and the Taliban can start peace talks.
This attack underscores what we all know: Spoilers [both domestic and foreign] are trying to disrupt and delay the peace process, Khalilzad said on Twitter.
Both sides should not be deterred, and push forward to take the steps necessary to reach intra-Afghan negotiation.
Violence had dropped across much of Afghanistan since the Taliban announced a three-day ceasefire on May 24 to mark the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
But officials have accused the armed group of stepping up attacks in recent weeks.
Ghani has promised to complete the Taliban prisoner release. The Afghan authorities have freed about 3,000 Taliban prisoners and a further release of 2,000 more is planned as stipulated in the deal with Washington.
The Taliban said it is ready for the peace talks but only after the release of the remaining fighters.
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Weeks after cutting India's sovereign rating, Moody's on Monday said that India's gross domestic product (GDP) will contract 3.1 per cent in 2020 due to the coronavirus-led nationwide lockdown. The global rating agency, however, added that economic growth may bounce back to 6.9 per cent in 2021 as gradual recovery is expected to start from the second half of this year.
Indian Bank to offer Rs 20 lakh to heirs of employees succumbing to COVID-19
Instead of sealing a few areas, the entire state capital of Bengaluru should be shut down for 20 days in view of the rising COVID-19 cases, former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday. In a series of tweets, the JD(S) leader said sealing some areas would not serve any purpose and that weaker sections of the society should be taken care of immediately.
US President Donald Trump has signed an order, temporarily suspending employment-based visas. Trump administration has suspended and limited the entry into the US of H-1B, H-2B, and L visa-holders and their dependents till December 31, 2020. It also includes certain categories of J visas like an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, or summer work travel programme. The new rule would apply only to those who are outside the US, do not have a valid non-immigrant visa and an official travel document other than a visa to enter the country.Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has expressed his disappointment over the Trump administration's latest proclamation that suspends immigrant work visas including the H-1B visas temporarily till end of the year. He said he was disappointed by the decision and will continue to stand with the immigrants.Public sector Indian Bank will provide Rs 20 lakh as financial relief to legal heirs of employees if they succumb to COVID-19 while in service. The bank board, on June 22, decided that the scheme will be applicable to all serving employees including whole time directors. It is valid from June 1 till March 31, 2021.The Finance Ministry has released data on the loans sanctioned under the Rs 3 lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME sector. The ministry said that public and private sector banks have cumulatively sanctioned Rs 75,426 crore under the scheme. The sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic
Colleen Donovan is photographed at her bridal shop, Blessing Brides Ministry in Downingtown. Colleen, a full-time hospice nurse, is a romantic of second chances by avocation. She started Blessing Brides Ministry, a bridal shop of donated dresses, 1 1/2 years ago. Read more
This love story starts with a divorced mother of four and a never-used wedding dress that had been hanging in her closet for years, the tags still on it. Colleen Donovan bought it when a second chance at bliss seemed to be in the offing. Alas, it was not.
But then three years ago, a friend was getting married. A voice inside Donovan piped up.
Sometimes God says, Open your hand, and bless somebody else with something you wanted for yourself, she said. Thats what happened with the dress. I gave it to my girlfriend instead of holding onto it for myself. Thats where Blessing Brides was born.
Blessing Brides Ministry, to be precise. And if you happen to be in Downingtown and stroll into Donovans little storefront boutique, you might mistake it for just a wedding shop. Its much more than that.
Donovans full-time job is hospice nurse. Blessing Brides is her avocation, a more recent calling.
After she gave the dress to her friend, Donovan started acquiring other wedding dresses from consignment shops, from thrifts, from stores that were closing. Donovan wasnt quite sure where she was going with it all, or what the enterprise would look like. Online sales maybe?
But then a friend told her about a Downingtown storefront that was available for rent at a reasonable price. When the shop opened about a year and a half ago, word of mouth and a piece in a local pennysaver alerted the bridal grapevine that Donovan welcomed donations.
And the dresses started coming some donated by brides who had happy love stories and others who wished better endings for their frocks new owners than they themselves had had. The frothy torrent of lace, satin, and tulle has continued unabated.
Blessing Brides is now open by appointment in the evenings and, as COVID-19 restrictions have eased, on Fridays and Saturdays. The dresses, which range from vintage to modern to high-end designer, are deeply discounted. Every woman deserves to be beautiful, Donovan said. Its an expression of the goodness of God.
Each dress bears a tag with the name of the woman who donated it. And if the donator wishes (and almost all of them do), once the dress is purchased Donovan will send them a photo of the bride-to-be wearing it.
Its like open adoption, she explained.
Blessing Brides isnt a consignment shop. The women who donate their dresses dont get any monetary compensation. What they do get is far more sublime.
Barbara Harris, 62, a nurse from West Chester, donated two dresses to Blessing Brides in 2018, the year she and her husband, Jeffrey, 63, a West Chester University professor of nutrition, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. One she had worn as a bridesmaid long ago, and the other she made, with her mother, for her wedding to Jeffrey on Sept. 9, 1978.
Harris was especially delighted to donate her wedding dress.
I thought maybe this will bless somebody elses relationship, like I had been blessed with my marriage, she said. I felt good about it, especially when Colleen sent me the picture.
Kaylee Agostinelli, 31, and her husband Kenneth, 30, who live in West Chester and who both work for Vanguard, had a beautiful wedding last Oct. 11 at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr. She bought her gown a very different dress in a boutique in Maine, where she is originally from.
When Donovan told her about her Blessing Brides Ministry (theyre members of the same congregation: Providence Church in West Chester), she was interested in donating her gown, but she had to think about it.
I talked to my mom, she said. I talked to my husband about it, a lot.
In the end, handing over the dress to Blessing Brides Ministry just felt like the right thing to do, said Agostinelli.
I think its very unique knowing your dress went to a nice home, knowing that someone else is getting happiness out of the dress that provided you so much happiness on your day.
Some brides have experienced both giving and receiving the blessing. Kimberly Murzynski, 33, has been there, from heartbreak to happiness.
In April, the Toyota saleswoman and mother of an 8-year-old son donated a wedding dress she never got to wear.
Almost nine years ago, my sons father and I were going to get married. Then he cancelled the wedding the week before. I was five months pregnant, Murzynski said.
In May, the month after she donated her old dress, she went back to Blessing Brides and bought a gown buttons down the back, a train, the works. Shell be wearing it on Aug. 1 when she weds her fiance, Matthew Smith, 39, in their Downingtown backyard. The size of the guest list will depend on whether Chester County is in COVID phase yellow or green by then.
Murzynski is OK with however the day works out. Between the wedding that didnt happen and the tough years that immediately followed it, she went through plenty: single motherhood, working four jobs for a while, trouble making ends meet. Much of it was before she met her husband-to-be.
He was like the silver lining, said Murzynski. Things have definitely come a long way.
She bears no ill will toward her old dress.
I hope some girl falls in love with it, she said. It was a good dress.
Her hope for Faye, the new dress?
That its the only dress I ever have to wear down the aisle.
Colleen Donovan would be the first to tell you theres something spiritual about this whole what-goes-around-comes-around bridal thing.
She doesnt take credit for any of it. Sometimes its just a bride in need of a bargain and finding one, and thats magic enough. Other times, the story has that touched-by-an-angel feeling that leaves a lump in your throat.
And then there are blessings for which there are no words.
Case in point: the tale of the tiara.
Michele Paiva, 53, a therapist and YouTube content contributor from Downingtown, was in Blessing Brides last year helping daughter Alexandria Kochinsky, 27, an event planner, shop for a gown for her upcoming nuptials. Seeing all the vintage accessories, Paiva couldnt help but indulge a decades-long quest.
Over 30 years before, Paiva, 20 years old at the time, was loading boxes in her cars for a move. One of them contained a headpiece and veil that her mother had worn as a bride. Ever since she was a little girl, it had been precious to Paiva. She hoped one day to wear it at her own wedding one day and to pass it on to her own daughter, if she had one a part of her mother to keep forever.
But that day, for a few moments, she left the car unlocked. The tiara and veil were stolen.
The guilt and shame stayed with me my whole life, Paiva said.
She could never bring herself to confess what happened to her mother, who died 20 years ago. Over the years, she searched for the veil in flea markets and on eBay, to no avail.
So on that day in Blessings Bride, Paiva asked Donovan to please let her know if she ever came across a scalloped, beaded headpiece.
She just sort of looked at me. She said, Let me look in the back, Paiva recalled. She came out, held one up, and she said, Is this something like what you were looking for?'
I just started shaking and crying because, for all intents and purposes, she was holding my mothers tiara and veil, Paiva said, choking up just remembering it. I had to sit down. My daughter was hugging me. We kept saying, It was meant to be that were here.
Paiva told Donovan shed pay her anything for it. But the shopkeeper wouldnt take a dime.
Money seemed irrelevant, Donovan said.
Blessing Brides, in the end, is its own love story, passed on from one bride to another.
For now, its still Donovans labor of love. But who knows? After 30 years as a nurse, she would like to segue into making the shop a full-time endeavor (her friend and fellow nurse, Lisa Leitch, is willing to join her).
Donovan, 58, is quick to admit shes a romantic, through and through. Remember the dress she didnt get to wear, the one she gave to her girlfriend? Well, her friend donated it back to Blessing Brides after she was married in it. It subsequently became the shops first sale, noted Donovan with delight.
It would be really nice, she said, to spend my retirement years at somebody elses wedding every day.
What just happened? The bi-annual TOP500 Supercomputer list usually sees China and the US battling for the top spot, but not anymore. In the latest, 55th edition of the rankings, Japan has taken the number one position for the first time since 2011. Its also the first instance of an ARM-based computer beating all others.
Japans system, Fugaku, which is installed in Kobe and developed by Fujitsu and the government-sponsored Riken institute, managed a High Performance Linpack (HPL) result of 415.5 petaflops. That makes it around 2.8 times faster than the now second-place Summit from IBM. The system also came first in the High-Performance Conjugate Gradient (HPCG) Benchmark with a record 13.4 HPCG-petaflops.
It took six years to develop Fugaku, which uses Fujitsus 48-core A64FX system-on-chip. Its the first time an ARM-based processor has grabbed the top positionthere are only four of these systems in the TOP500, three of which use the same Fujitsu processor. The x86 architecture is used in 481 systems, and 469 of these are from Intel.
Thanks to the addition of Fugaku, the aggregate list performance has jumped from 1.65 exaflops six months ago to 2.23 exaflops. The latest edition sees the lowest number of new systems (51) since the TOP500 began in 1993, possibly a result of Covid-19-related delays.
Back in 2017, China overtook the US when it came to the number of supercomputers on the list. Back then, it had 202 entries, compared to Americas 143. Now, China has 226, while the US has fallen to 114. Japan is third with 30, followed by France (18), and Germany (16).
Despite being second to China in terms of overall supercomputer numbers, the US is still number one in aggregate list performance, boasting 644 petaflops to its rivals 565 petaflops.
Fugaku has been used for Covid-19 research, and its hoped the $1.2 billion machine will help identify treatments for the virus when it goes into full operation next year. It will also be used to model the impact of earthquakes and tsunamis and map out escape routes.
The data tell the story of the nation quickly sheltering in place in March and April and now slowly venturing back to the workplace. The earliest notable decline in occupancy was in the first week of March in San Francisco. Other cities saw similar patterns. By the first week in April, Washington, D.C. buildings, for example, were only 14% full - well below the baseline of 96% in March.
Occupancy rates started to tick up in Austin, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami in late May and cities like Chicago and Philadelphia have picked up more recently. The Kastle Back to Work Barometer indicates that Western and Southwestern cities like Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles, are leading the nation in terms of returning to the office.
"The question on everyone's minds right now is when will it be okay to go back to the office," Kastle CEO Haniel Lynn said. "We're keeping a close eye on trends in occupancy data as part of our KastleSafeSpaces framework, which is designed to help office buildings safely reopen. As the uptick in occupancy continues, Kastle stands ready to help the safe transition happen."
Kastle has combined decades of security experience with best practices around managing the novel coronavirus to introduce KastleSafeSpaces, which lets workplaces re-open by making their spaces smarter and safer, while maintaining a level of convenience that's enabled by technology.
Kastle will be releasing updates to the data weekly on its website and LinkedIn. The Kastle Back to Work Barometer reflects daily swipes of Kastle access controls from 10 major cities out of 138 cities with Kastle properties. It summarizes recent building access activity among our business partners, not a national statistical sample. Federal holidays and weekends are not included in the data.
About Kastle Systems
Kastle Systems has been leading the security industry since 1972 with advanced managed security solutions and services, protecting commercial real estate, multi-family residential, global enterprises, educational institutions, and critical government facilities. Kastle's state-of-the-art security solutions include access control, video surveillance, visitor management and identity management, as well as a suite of mobile security applications, all integrated on an open, standards-based platform and supported by a team of experts 24x7x365. Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Kastle is on CIOReview's 2019 List of Top 10 Physical Security Providers.
For more information about KastleSafeSpaces, KastleAccess or any of the other advanced security innovations from Kastle Systems, contact Jake Heinz, Chief Marketing Officer at [email protected] or visit https://www.kastle.com.
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New Delhi, June 23 : The Congress Working Committee has decided to launch a nationwide protest against the fuel price hike, which is at a record high currently. The party is working out modalities of protest while following health protocol.
K.C. Venugopal, General Secretary (Organisation) said, "The government has raised fuel price continuously for 17 days in a row which caused hardship to the citizens of the country" Earlier in the day in the CWC meet Congress President said, "The government has 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." On Tuesday, the oil companies raised the prices of petrol by 20 paise per litre and that of diesel by 55 paise per litre. On Monday, prices were hiked by 33 paise and 58 paise per litre respectively.
Diesel is currently priced at Rs 79.40 a litre in the Capital, just 36 paise short of petrol price that is being retailed at Rs 79.76 a litre. Going by the trend of price movement in the two products for the last few days where diesel prices have consistently increased by 50-60 paise per litre while the daily increase in petrol prices have fallen to just 20 paise on Tuesday, it is set to surpass petrol prices in next few days.
Currently, the Central excise on petrol is Rs 32.98 a litre while that on diesel it is Rs 31.83 a litre. The VAT on petrol in Delhi is Rs 17.71 a litre and that on diesel is Rs 17.60 a litre.
TEHRAN, Iran, June 23
Trend:
Possible talks between Iran and the IAEA would help solve the current issues that Iran is having with its nuclear program, expert on international affairs Hassan Beheshtipour told Trend.
He spoke about the recent IAEA Board of Governors resolution against Iran.
The IAEA Board of Governors has adopted a resolution calling on the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA in implementing its NPT Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol and satisfy the IAEA's requests without further delay.
The resolution follows reports in March and June by the IAEA Director General describing the Agencys efforts and interactions with Iran to clarify information relating to the correctness and completeness of Irans declarations under its Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, including denial of access to two locations.
The resolution stressed the importance of States complying fully with their safeguards obligations and facilitating access as required when notified by the IAEA.
"Iran has stated that the case has been fully closed in 2015 and there is no need to return to the old topic since the country has already cooperated with IAEA and complied with the rules, so I think these ambiguities are solvable via negotiation," he said.
"Iran should negotiate with the IAEA," said Beheshtipour. "When previous problems were solved, the organization was praising Iran for cooperation."
"China and Russia support Iran as long as it is cooperating with the IAEA. The Europeans are constantly supporting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and their recent behavior does not indicate that they are not supporting the JCPOA ," he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) Families of overseas Filipino workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who have died of the coronavirus disease are appealing to the national government to bring home their loved ones remains.
In an open letter, the families of the deceased OFWs pleaded to President Rodrigo Duterte and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to allow the bodies of their relatives to be brought home.
We ask that the government include our departed OFWs in the repatriation plans and that the families be given the opportunity to assist our government in the cremation of our fallen heroes, the letter read.
According to Philippine Ambassador Adnan Alonto, 107 Filipinos in the country have succumbed from the coronavirus disease.
READ: Remains of 353 OFWs in Saudi Arabia up for disposition
They are considered our modern-day heroes... our bagong bayani. We only ask that they be given the rightful memorial and be allowed to come home one last time.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier said that 50 of the deceased OFWs will be buried in the Gulf State as Saudi Arabia gave the Philippines 72 hours to bring home the remains of the Filipinos who have died there.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:24:45|Editor: huaxia
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SYDNEY, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Papua New Guinea's (PNG) parliament speaker Job Pomat has resigned from the People's National Congress Party (PNC), local newspaper The National reported on Tuesday.
Pomat said his resignation from the party was in the best interest of Parliament and the nation, and that he would like to maintain a neutral position in the house.
"It was a difficult decision to leave a party that I was a part of for the last 12 years," Pomat said.
"After 40 years (of independence), we need to change the laws in the best interest of the country."
Pomat said he had informed his decision to his former PNC colleagues, including party leader and former Prime Minister Peter O'Neil.
The announcement came after the PNC recently moved to opposition benches from the government coalition.
Amid the allegation on social media against him regarding the possible misuse of funds in the speaker office, Pomat said he has nothing to hide.
"There were allegations against me and the staff in Parliament on social media. I am calling on the agencies responsible to come forward and investigate," he said.
"As I announced in Parliament I will step aside and let them do their work and check the books." Enditem
UPDATE (6/24): Pa. coronavirus cases reach 83K, deaths total 6.5K. Case rate continues to rise.
The total of Pennsylvania coronavirus cases climbed to 82,696 on Tuesday, the fifth straight day of more than 450 new cases reported, the first such streak since May.
In its daily update, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 510 new coronavirus cases statewide. Thirty-eight more Pennsylvanians died, bringing the statewide COVID-19 death toll to 6,464.
(Cant see the map? Click here.)
Meanwhile, U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told a Congressional committee that he is optimistic a COVID-19 vaccine will be ready by late this year or early next. Locally, state parks have seen a spike in visitors during the coronavirus shutdown, and the Lehigh Valley will enter the green phase of reopening on Friday.
Here are your Pennsylvania coronavirus updates for June 23, 2020.
Coronavirus in Pa.
Not since the last days of May has Pennsylvania seen a five-day streak with more than 450 new COVID-19 cases a day.
The latest string of cases has pushed the Pennsylvanias seven-day moving average of cases one rate used for determining a states success in containing the virus a bit higher over the last few days, after more than a month of general decline.
(Cant see the map? Click here.)
However, the seven-day rate as calculated by lehighvalleylive.com still shows an overall decline in the last two weeks the maximum incubation period of the coronavirus and the rate remains far below the peak of mid-April. Johns Hopkins University shows the same result looking at the three-day moving average over the last 14 days.
Time will tell if the latest rise is a temporary blip or the start of another upward trend.
State health department spokesman Nate Wardle on Monday told lehighvalleylive.com that universal testing now done at nursing homes and similar sites may account for at least some of the rise, and that the department is monitoring cases as areas of Pennsylvania reopen in the green phase.
(Cant see the chart? Click here.)
Residents of long-term care facilities account for 17,294 cases of COVID-19, about 21% of the states total, and 4,389 deaths, 68% of Pennsylvanias death toll.
The health department estimates that 78% of Pennsylvania coronavirus patients have recovered. To date, 596,407 tests have come back negative.
Coronavirus in the Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley is scheduled to enter the green phase of reopening at 12:01 a.m. Friday. That means all businesses will be allowed to open, but safety restrictions will be in place. Masks and social distancing will still be required.
As of Monday, the two-county Valley totaled nearly 7,436 coronavirus cases and at least 536 COVID-19 deaths, per state data. That breaks down to:
4,109 cases and 281 deaths in Lehigh County
3,327 cases and 255 deaths in Northampton County
(Cant see the chart? Click here.)
The counties themselves in the last several days have reported at least 546 Lehigh Valley residents have died from the pandemic virus.
The state reported more deaths in counties adjacent to the Lehigh Valley:
(Cant see the table? Click here.)
State parks see spike in visitors during shutdown
In the midst of the statewide shutdown, participation in outdoor recreation skyrocketed. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources reports that 5.8 million people visited its state parks system in May versus 4.2 million during the same time last year.
Locally, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center saw a 56% increase in visitors, while Nockamixon State Park in nearby Bucks County was up 16%.
Fishing and hunting license sales also are up from last year.
(MORE: These numbers show huge spike in state park visits after pandemic hit Lehigh Valley)
Fauci hopeful for coronavirus vaccine by early 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, told a Congressional committee on Tuesday he is cautiously optimistic that there will be a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year or early 2021, and warned that the next few weeks will be critical to tamping down coronavirus hot spots around the country, the Associated Press reports.
Fauci and other top health officials also said they have not been asked to slow down testing for coronavirus. The U.S. has tested more than 27 million people, with about 2.3 million or 8.4% testing positive.
There is still no vaccine for COVID-19, and there are no treatments specifically developed for the disease, although, the AP reports, the antiviral drug remdesivir has been shown to help some patients, as well as a steroid called dexamethasone, and plasma from patients who have recovered.
Fauci has recently warned that the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic and has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
Christopher Croft of LIIBA
What lessons can insurance learn from the coronavirus pandemic? The CEO of the London & International Insurance Brokers Association explains whether the industry could have been better prepared and where it goes from here.
For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The first sign that something may have been awry came on Saturday afternoon. It was 1pm and the government's daily coronavirus update, usually released in the morning, was yet to be delivered. At the same time, the citys indoor malls were heaving with crowds that looked like they were shopping for Christmas. Many Melburnians, unconcerned about the upcoming announcement, heartily embraced their new freedoms, meeting friends at busy cafes and flocking to playgrounds. The difference from just a few weeks ago was striking. If you walked into Chadstone these days, you would not believe there is a global pandemic, said Matt McDonald, an organiser for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association. Union organiser Matt McDonald outside Chadstone shopping centre. Credit:Simon Schluter The whole mood has shifted People are laughing and seem to be having a good time. A couple of months ago, it was Armageddon. Everyone had their head down, keeping away from each other. You stepped into someones personal space, they would stare at you like a pariah. Now everyone just couldnt care less.
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Later that Saturday, following crisis talks, Premier Daniel Andrews would announce 25 new coronavirus cases. It was the highest total in more than two months, and of most concern, the majority were acquired in Victoria, putting the state on what has been described as a precipice of a second wave of infection. Victorians are now starting to demand answers about what has gone wrong, when the state had reported no cases just two weeks before. Some have turned their attention to the state governments handling of the crisis, including how the infectious disease could have been allowed to escape from hotel quarantine, a system meant to protect the community, not put it in danger. But a number of officials and medical experts say it is also time for the public to look in the mirror, among consistent reports that Victorians, once held up as models of social-distancing compliance, have begun to dramatically relax their behaviour, either sick of restrictions or believing the danger is behind them. Queues for coronavirus testing at Chadstone this week. Credit:Joe Armao The head of the Australian Medical Association in Victoria, Associate Professor Julian Rait, said that he had noticed a shift in community attitudes after thousands of masked protesters took to the streets following the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, a little more than two weeks ago - even though Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has been careful to rule out the demonstration as a site of major infection. Loading "I've had many of my colleagues in public health say to me in the last few weeks that gee, people aren't really observing social distancing any more. They are mingling in great numbers in cafes, very close to each other, and have forgotten what we were doing just a month ago," Professor Rait said.
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I'm not trying to blame anybody. We are fighting against this really natural behaviour that we have to be social creatures, so its very hard to counter that. This virus is a real devilish virus. If you give this thing an inch, it will just exploit it and go wild." Two experts who spoke to The Age said Victoria could have been a victim of some bad luck around the timing and location of the outbreaks, occurring just as social distancing rules were easing after months of strict restrictions. "This is about all of us, everyone, following the simplest of rules": Premier Daniel Andrews. Credit:Getty Images We have these extended households in every city, said Professor Catherine Bennett, epidemiology chair at Deakin University. It could have happened in Sydney two weeks ago you only needed one person to get infected and take it into another nursing home or an extended family that keeps visiting over multiple households, and its live. In a sense, it could have happened anywhere but because this has happened late and people are started to relax when restrictions eased, it makes us more vulnerable.
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Family clusters are reportedly responsible for about half of the latest coronavirus cases in Victoria in June, and these clusters have been linked to a GP who worked at multiple clinics, and security guards looking after returned foreign travellers at quarantine hotels. Monash Universitys Professor Allen Cheng, who sits on the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, which advises the national cabinet, said having cases spread from hotel quarantine was concerning. But he said chance could have also played a role in the new cases, if those who became infected were among the 20 per cent most likely to spread the virus. These people are sometimes dubbed super-spreaders. The infectious diseases physician said another key challenge was the location of outbreaks within communities in outer suburbs of Melbourne, where people were more likely to live in larger households and English was not always their first language. So they may have not have understood the significance of coronavirus or known how to get tested for that matter, Professor Cheng said.
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A shocking revelation to come from the Premiers press conference on Saturday was that people who had tested positive for coronavirus had continued to see family and go to work, knowing they had the disease. It was followed by reports from retail workers that large numbers of people were going to get COVID-19 tests at the weekend, before getting out of their cars heading out to do some shopping. Loading The Premier was also keen on Tuesday to highlight a broader problem with behaviour across the community, including many families breaching rules limiting gatherings to five people within homes. This is about all of us, everyone, following the simplest of rules, Mr Andrews said. Cough etiquette. Not going anywhere other than to get tested, if you are unwell. Keeping your distance. Not shaking hands. Not greeting people with hugs and kisses." Asked why Victoria was performing worse than other states in suppressing the disease, Mr Andrews said the most likely cause was low-levels of coronavirus that had remained undetected, despite a testing blitz.
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For the better part of 16 years, Jon Stewart functioned as the moral conscience of a certain subset of Americans. Unaffiliated if not precisely nonpartisan, he called bullshit on dissemblers and propagandists while offering (apparent) straight-talkers from across the political spectrum a forum in which to present themselves as rational centrists, the kind with whom one might have disagreements, but they would always be polite. In retrospect, he retired just in time. In the not-quite-five years since he handed the Daily Show baton to Trevor Noah, the rhetorical DMZ that Stewart tried to occupy has shrunk to a narrow strip, and the right-wing ecosystem he dubbed Bullshit Mountain has become a volcano that never stops erupting.
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Irresistible is the first movie Stewart has produced since leaving The Daily Show, and it begins more or less where his career as onscreen voice of reason left off, in the spin room after the first TrumpClinton debate. Democratic campaign strategist Gary Zimmer (Steve Carell) and his Republican counterpart Faith Brewster (Rose Byrne) would normally be furiously pumping out soundbites about how their candidate won the day, but instead theyre telling us the truth for once: They dont care who said what, who came out ahead and who fell on their face; theyre just spinning a narrative for the media to run with. Politics, am I right?
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A few months later, Gary is waking up on the day after the election with a splitting headache and a career path whose trajectory seems as promising as the trail of garbage on his bedroom floor (the transition from champagne to booze to an empty pint of Ben & Jerrys tells a story of its own). But the potential for salvation, both his and the Democratic Partys, arrives in the form of a viral video from Deerlaken, Wisconsin, where a hero marine grabs the mic at a small-town meeting to stand up for the rights of immigrants. Chris Coopers Col. Jack Hastings is the kind of figure both Democratic strategists and coastal liberals have dreams about, a rural farmer whose dedication to American ideals makes him part of the partys base, even if, as Gary admits, he doesnt know it yet.
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Gary arrives in Deerlaken, a small town that has gotten much smaller since the closure of the military base it was built around, believing that his stay will be a short one. Hell convince Jack to run for mayor against the Republican incumbent, blow away the cornfed rubes with his big-city knowledge, and be back on his private jet faster than you can say haricots verts. But Jack insists he stick around, and so Gary finds himself camping out in a room above the local tavern, where theres no Wi-Fi and the locals look at him as if hes just returned from the moon. Soon, hes joined by his team of crack campaign operatives, including Topher Graces pollster and Natasha Lyonnes analytics guru, but their big-data black magic doesnt work in a town where politics is so local that they can identify the swing voters by name. (You half-expect the polling results to come back with a margin of error thats plus or minus Fred.)
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Once Faith joins Gary in Deerlaken and the candidates for a small-town mayoralty start lobbing well-funded attack ads at each other, it seems like Irresistible is going the way of Our Brand Is Crisis, with rural Wisconsin subbed in for Bolivia: foreigners invade and corrupt the process, touting a more advanced form of democracy while perverting it at the root. But Stewart isnt that much of a cynic, or even enough of one. The movie feels more influenced by Preston Sturges fish-out-of-water comedies than Stewarts decade and a half as a close reader of the American political landscape. His rural red state has the generic feel of a Hollywood warehouse (the movie was shot in Georgia), and its not substantially more diverse than a studio comedy from the 1940s. The immigrants Jack went viral for defending appear in the background once or twice, but none become actual characters. Stewart buys into the narrative that Donald Trump won because, as Gary says to Jack, guys like me dont know how to talk to guys like you, not nativist rhetoric or voter suppression or foreign influence. He makes the system the villain and then suggests the best people can do is game it to their own advantage.
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It seems aimed at people who either know everything it has to say or arent likely to end up seeing it.
Like Stewart himself, Irresistible is unfailingly ingratiating, but its best moments are when Stewart falls back on his skills as a comedian rather than a pundit, like when Faith ducks down to give Gary a peck on the cheek and instead runs her tongue up the side of his face. When the focus is squarely on politics, you cant help but notice how the movies analysis falls far short of The Daily Show at its best. The moments that elevated Stewart to truth-teller-in-chief were those when he was furious without being self-righteous, finding moral clarity without closed-mindedness . But Irresistible doesnt feel angry so much as disappointed, the product of a man who tried to get us to listen and failed. Its a self-flagellating portrait of coastal liberals that seems of little interest to anyone else, aimed at people who either know everything it has to say or arent likely to end up seeing it. Irresistible might be a movie for the moment before or the moment after, but it feels entirely out of step with the one its in.
For more culture coverage, listen to Mira Jacob describe the challenges of writing her memoir, Good Talk, on Working.
Photo taken on May 4, 2020 shows the Victoria Harbor of Hong Kong, China. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)
Choi Koon-shum, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commence of Hong Kong, said the draft law shows that the central authorities respect, trust and care about the HKSAR and Hong Kong residents and are firmly committed to "one country, two systems."
HONG KONG, June 22 (Xinhua) -- People from various sectors in Hong Kong are looking forward to the early implementation of the law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and hope the new law will ensure Hong Kong's long-term peace and order.
The draft law was submitted for deliberation at the 19th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress from June 18 to 20.
Choi Koon-shum, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commence of Hong Kong, said the draft law shows that the central authorities respect, trust and care about the HKSAR and Hong Kong residents and are firmly committed to "one country, two systems."
Hong Kong's recent stable stock and property markets show that Hong Kong residents and foreign investors have responded positively to the law, Choi said.
Daniel Fung, a senior counsel, said the legislation can strike a balance between differences of mainland and Hong Kong legal systems, adding that recent signs of a resurgence of violence prove that the central authorities must take action as soon as possible.
Wong Kit-hin, chairman of the Hong Kong Legal Professionals Association, said the law is very comprehensive and will only do good to Hong Kong.
The human rights and freedom of Hong Kong residents are not restricted or impacted, and only an extreme minority of people committing crimes endangering national security will be punished, Wong said, adding that the central authorities respect Hong Kong's judicial independence.
Wong expected the enactment of the law will end the chaos and reinforce Hong Kong's status as an international financial center so that more foreign businesses will be reassured and continue to invest in Hong Kong.
During the social unrest in Hong Kong, some opposition figures supported the violent activities and even blatantly asked for interference of external forces, and young people were brainwashed and incited to take part in violent acts, which proves the necessity of the legislation, Lau Ping-cheung, chairman of Hong Kong Coalition of Professional Services, said.
Lo Man-tuen, executive director of Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, highlighted the importance of law enforcement.
It is legal and necessary for the office of safeguarding national security in the HKSAR and related organs of the central authorities to exercise jurisdiction over an extremely small number of criminal cases that endanger national security under specific circumstances, Lo said.
The law on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong will play a crucial role in improving the situation of Hong Kong, Lo said.
54-year old patient from Bangladesh had come to India before the lockdown for his kidney transplant. Due to sudden lockdown, and an imposed ban on conducting non-critical surgeries during lockdown, his treatment was delayed. His deteriorating health indicated an exigent need for a kidney transplant. The doctors immediately started all the prerequisites tests to be performed on both patient and his wife (the donor) for the transplant to take place. However, the nationwide lockdown forced them to wait for a go-ahead from authorities.
Dr. Sankaran Sundar, Consultant Nephrology, Transplant Physician, Head-International Transplant services, Manipal Hospitals said, "To perform surgeries on International patients, certain government clearances are required. Though we, at Manipal Hospitals, had quickly performed the necessary tests, evaluations, and procedures required for the transplant and were ready to perform it, we also had to decide how to solve the complications posed by the lockdown, as the surgery could not be performed without getting the required government clearance. Some quick change of plan and action was needed to save patient's life."
"The patient's reports showed both his native kidneys were shrunken indicating chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. Therefore, a kidney transplant was the need of the hour. In such complex procedures, where a foreign national is being treated, Government co-operation is of utmost importance. Fortunately, for the patient, the Karnataka Government has been supportive even during these tough times of the Covid-19 pandemic. When the lockdown was relaxed, they quickly performed the necessary process of reviewing the documents, and we were given the go-ahead within 2-3 days to perform the surgery," added Dr. Saurabh Vashishtha, Consultant - Urology, Robotic Surgery and Renal Transplantation who treated the patient with Dr. Sankaran Sundar.
Elaborating further on the case Dr. Vashishtha said, "This was a complicated procedure that required comprehensive and super specialty care. It has been possible for us at Manipal Hospitals to provide the same for our patients, even during these testing times of the pandemic, due to the dedication of the doctors and Zero-COVID infection rate at the hospital. We are thankful to the Karnataka Government for their proactive actions and quick clearances that helped us save the patient's life at the right time. The surgery was successful, and both the patient and the donor are stable."
Similarly, another 58-year old citizen of Maldives was diagnosed with Hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis at the hospital. He was accompanied by his two sons and was undergoing health check-ups before the lockdown. He needed a liver transplant, as his condition was critical. To initiate the treatment at the earliest, his one son travelled to the Maldives for getting the necessary documents and clearances from the Maldives Authorities, whereas the other son (donor) stayed with his father here in Bangalore. Unfortunately, the lockdown happened around the same time and his son was not able to procure the documents.
"After doing the necessary investigations, we realized that the transplant was the only viable option to save his life. However, his son had travelled to the Maldives but the lockdown delayed the process of obtaining the necessary permissions from the Maldives Authorities. The patient's condition was deteriorating hence we decided to reach out to the Maldives Embassy in India and the Karnataka Government for support. It took almost a month, but we finally got the go-ahead from the Karnataka Government based on the scanned documents and communications from Maldives authorities and we went ahead with the transplant. We performed the transplant successfully on time and could save his life as well," said Dr. Ravichand C Siddachari, Consultant - Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liver Transplantation Surgery, Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road.
Speaking about the help received from the Karnataka Government in this case, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, says, "We are grateful towards Government of Karnataka who helped us in saving patient's life via FastTrack approval at the nick of the time. The passion of our team of doctors and the extensive support of the authorities of both countries helped in making this transplant a great success. It was a strong collaborative approach and through relentless support, this challenging task was achieved amidst the pandemic. The patient and the donor are both stable and discharged."
About Manipal Hospitals:
As a pioneer in healthcare, Manipal Hospitals is among the largest hospital network in India serving over 2 million patients annually. Its focus is to develop an affordable tertiary care multispecialty healthcare framework through its entire multispecialty delivery spectrum and further extend it to homecare. With its flagship quaternary care facility located in Bangalore, India, 7 tertiary care, 5 secondary care, and 2 primary care clinics spread across India and abroad, today Manipal Hospitals successfully operates and manages 5,900 beds across 15 hospitals. Manipal Hospitals provides comprehensive curative and preventive care for a multitude of patients from across the globe. Manipal Hospitals has a one-day care clinic in Lagos, Nigeria. Manipal Hospitals is first in India to be awarded accreditation by the AAHRPP for ethical standards in clinical research activities. It is also NABL, NABH and ISO certified. Manipal Hospitals is also the most respected hospital company in India and the most patient recommended hospital in India by consumer survey.
For more details, please visit: https://www.manipalhospitals.com/oldairportroad/
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1006652/Manipal_Hospitals_Logo.jpg
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195164/Bangladesh_Patient_Ballaludeen.jpg
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195163/Maldives_Patient_Ahmed_Thaufeeq.jpg
SOURCE Manipal Hospitals Bangalore
S hoe Zone has closed an additional 20 shops after warning that the impact of Covid-19 will be felt by the retail industry for several years to come.
The retailer, which will now trade from 470 sites, re-opened stores in England last week with distance markings and limits on the number of customers allowed in shops.
During the lockdown, it was forced into very aggressive Buy One Get One Free online promotions in order to generate cash as quickly as possible. While these now only apply to selected lines, they continue to have a significant impact on digital gross margins.
The company saved 4 million by cancelling its 2019 dividend and has drawn down two-thirds of the 15 million secured from the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
Today's loss of 2.7 million for the six months to 4 April included the early impact of Covid-19, with sales up to February ahead 2.6%.
Shoe Zone said: Whilst the group has taken all possible steps to ensure that the business will survive through the crisis and continue into the future, the impact is likely to continue to be felt for several years.
The animal skinners of Ludhiana ended their strike on Tuesday and started lifting the carcasses from dairies and nearby villages after assurances from mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu.
The skinners have lifted nearly 70 carcasses and dumped them outside the city.
The strike had started affecting the city residents adversely. A woman of Balloke village complained to the PAU police that people were dumping carcasses in a vacant plot near her house.
Paramjit Singh Bobby, chairman, Haibowal Dairy Complex, said that after a meeting with the animal skinners, the strike was called off. They met mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu on Monday, who assured that the carcass dumping plant of municipal corporation will be operational in three to four months. After which they will not face such problems.
Suraj, an animal skinner, said that the National Green Tribunal had issued a notice to them and ordered them to deposit a fine of 2.82 crore each. So they are taking up the matter with the authorities for its permanent solution.
The strike had begun on Saturday, and led to inconvenience to dairy owners as the carcasses had started decomposing.
The time-honoured tradition of the Te Deum service is an integral part of Luxembourg's National Day. It goes back about 550 years - but had to be cancelled this year due to the ongoing pandemic.
National Day celebrations this year are feeling the sting of the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The traditional ceremony at the Kanounenhiwwel in Luxembourg City was for instance an exceptionally short one with only a very limited number of people attending. The military parade and the Te Deum service meanwhile had to be cancelled due to the precautionary coronavirus restrictions.
The Te Deum service goes back about 550 years. Much to the disappointment of church-goers, the pandemic has triggered the cancellation of the solemn ceremony at Luxembourg's cathedral.
The dean of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Georges Hellinghausen, told RTL that religious traditions are suffering in Luxembourg due to the pandemic. Church choirs can "neither rehearse, nor sing and perform because the risk of the circulation of [virus-laden] droplets and potential Covid-19 infections is too high," Hellinhausen explained. He added that many elderly members of the choir qualify as vulnerable individuals.
There are no Te Deum services in Luxembourg this year. The only exception: a drive-in Te Deum at Petange's Open Air cinema.
It is not the first time in the history of Luxembourg that the Te Deum is cancelled due to external forces. The traditional hymn was for instance replaced with the Marseillaise during the French Revolution in 1800. Luxembourg had been annexed into France as part of the Department des Forets during that time.
Luxembourg's churches were also banned from playing the Te Deum hymn during WWII when the German occupiers outlawed all patriotic events.
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 12:26 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660e7703 1 Politics #pilkada,pilkada,Pilkada-2020,regional-elections,#RegionalElections,COVID-19,#COVID19,KPU,#KPU,#HouseOfRepresentatives,house-of-representatives Free
The House of Representatives has approved a set of health measures devised by the General Elections Commission (KPU) for holding the Dec. 9 regional elections to protect election organizers and voters from the spread of COVID-19.
House Commission II, which oversees home affairs, green-lighted the proposed health protocol in a hearing with the KPU, the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and Home Ministry on Monday.
Commission II and the Home Ministry approved the KPUs election regulation proposal for holding elections of governors and deputy governors, regents and deputy regents, mayors and deputy mayors amid the non-natural disaster, Commission II deputy chairman Saan Mustopa of the NasDem Party said.
He was referring to the pandemic, which began to hit the country in March.
The KPU found itself under pressure to come up with special measures after the House and government decided in late May that this years regional elections should be held on Dec. 9 to elect 270 regional leaders, comprising nine governors, 224 regents and 37 mayors, even though the epidemic showed no sign of easing. The elections were pushed back by around three months from their initial schedule of Sept. 23, as mandated by a regulation in lieu of law issued by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in May.
Despite their approval on Monday, lawmakers urged the KPU and Bawaslu to carry out their respective duties in accordance with the health protocols and to always communicate with the local task forces so as to protect election officials, voters and candidates from infection.
It is my hope that KPU and Bawaslu can be very careful in applying their health protocols during the elections, Commission II member and National Mandate Party (PAN) politician Guspardi Gaus said during the hearing.
Critics have urged policymakers to push back the elections to 2021 over fears the outbreak could continue until late into the year. They also warned against low voter turnout.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Johan Budi said election organizers had to ensure both public health and the quality of the electoral process.
The KPU regulation, along with a similar regulation introduced by Bawaslu as an election monitoring body, state that health rules, for instance, the use of face masks and physical distancing, are mandatory for KPU officers, candidates and voters during all stages of an election, from the ongoing preparation to the final vote count a week after voting day.
It also limits the number of participants of indoor election campaign events to 40 percent of the venues capacity. Campaign activities that involve massive crowds, such as music concerts, are banned.
COVID-19 patients will be allowed to cast their vote after 12 p.m., an hour before voting booths close, at designated polling stations at nearby hospitals.
KPU chairman Arief Budiman said they had drafted the regulation after consulting with the COVID-19 national task force, adding that the KPU was committed to applying strict health protocol without hampering the elections.
I think all are in agreement that it is important to implement health protocols during the Dec. 9 elections without reducing the democratic quality [of the elections]. That is our spirit, he said.
A South Carolina circuit judge ruled Friday congregations that broke away from the Episcopal Church in 2012 can keep their properties, a decision likely to setup another legal skirmish in the multi-year dispute.
First Circuit Judge Edgar W. Dickson granted the motion by the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina asking for clarification on a 2017 ruling involving the schism between the Diocese and the defendants, The Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Church in South Carolina.
The ruling, which involves 36 properties from the Grand Strand to the Lowcountry and valued at $500 million, orders the plaintiff parishes be "affirmed as the title owners in fee simple absolute of their respective parish real properties."
Regarding Camp St. Christopher on Johns Island, which the national church has argued belongs in trust to the Episcopal denomination, Dickson affirmed that a nonprofit corporation that takes the correct steps to sever itself from another association does so with its property intact.
The camp should "remain as titled in the Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South Carolina as stated in the 1951 deed," the decision said.
It notes the federal court has exclusive authority to decide all issues relating to the trademarks, service marks and intellectual property. Those matters are on appeal before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond.
Dickson's decision denied the national church's petition for the appointment of a special master and petition for an accounting.
An appeal from the S.C. Episcopal Church is likely to follow the ruling.
The Episcopal church had argued the 1979 Dennis Canon alone, or the Canon in conjunction with various pledges of allegiance and the like were sufficient to create a trust under South Carolina law.
That argument was rejected, as Dicksons ruling clarifies the 2017 Collective Opinions, explaining that, the Dennis Canon by itself does not create a legally cognizable trust, nor does it transfer title to property.
"This affirms that those congregations that followed state non-profit guidelines for their disassociation from TEC retain all their real and personal property," the Anglican Diocese said in a release.
The Rev. Canon Jim Lewis with the Diocese welcomed the decision.
"By twice denying petitions by The Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Church of South Carolina to prevent Judge Dickson from completing this task, the Supreme Court has clearly signaled its desire to resolve these issues," he said. "We remain confident that our ability to disassociate from TEC, with all our legal rights intact, will continue to be affirmed.
The Diocese expects the decision to be appealed and "is hopeful that if the State Supreme Court agrees to hear our case again, they will uphold the clarity brought by todays decisions."
While the S.C. church that remains part of the national Episcopal congregation said the judge's decision "seems inconsistent" with the 2017 S.C. Supreme Court decision, representatives of the Episcopal body remain positive about the future.
This is not a final decision," said Diocesan Chancellor Thomas S. Tisdale Jr. "It is yet another step on a long journey to full reconciliation within our Diocese.
While we are understandably disappointed that Judge Dickson has not enforced the Supreme Courts decision as directed, we are hopeful that the South Carolina Supreme Court will hear the matter promptly and correct any errors that exist in todays order. Our legal team has already begun working on a formal response to this order that will be filed in the near future."
The fight for control of the sacred sites has been drawn out.
Under the leadership of Bishop Mark Lawrence, the Anglican Diocese broke away from the national Episcopal group in 2012 over theological divides and other differences.
In years past, the Episcopal Church has ordained gay bishops and permitted the blessings of same-sex unions. Lawrence was grateful for Friday's ruling.
"It is a day to rejoice," he said. "It is a day to move forward in Christs mission to the world. Thanks be to God.
After the Anglican group left the Episcopal denomination, the breakaway parishes prevailed during a Dorchester County trial for control of the religious sites. An appeal to the state's high court then ruled in the larger church's favor, giving the Episcopal church ownership of the religious sites that were declared to have agreed to an internal property rule.
The Anglican group filed in 2018 for a motion of clarification, which was decided Friday.
Media rights groups are calling for accountability after two Pakistani journalists accused paramilitary forces of torturing them for their reporting on poor conditions at a coronavirus quarantine center on the Afghan border.
Saeed Ali Achakzai, a reporter for the Urdu-language Samaa News TV, and Abdul Mateen Achakzai, a reporter for the Pashtun-language Khyber News TV, said they were beaten while under detention for three days in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Photos released on June 23 by the men, who are not related, show red marks on their backs.
Saeed Ali told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal that the two were reporting on the lack of food, water, and other basic facilities at a coronavirus quarantine center near the border city of Chaman.
They were then allegedly called to the paramilitary Frontier Corps command center on June 20 and handed over to an anti-terrorism force that took them to a jail and beat them.
Bashir Barechi, deputy commissioner of Qala-e-Abdullah district in Chaman, accused the journalists of spreading fake news and insulting him on social media. He said the journalists were detained for disrupting public order.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists called on the Balochistan government to conduct a judicial inquiry into the incident and demanded the arrest of any government official involved.
In a statement, press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said: It is absolutely unacceptable that representatives of the security forces should commit acts of torture simply because they didnt like what these two journalists reported.
RSF says that journalists working in the Chaman area are constantly harassed for their work covering corruption and every kind of trafficking between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
RSF ranks Pakistan 145th out of 180 countries in its 2020 World Press Freedom Index.
A Syrian soldier who posted videos on social media declaring his love for Bashar al-Assad's teenage daughter has allegedly been arrested and beaten.
Yazan Soltani began posting videos last week addressed to Zein Assad (16), proposing marriage, despite warnings that he could be arrested.
"I love you, I really love you," Mr Soltani says in a clip. "You are mine and I am yours."
On Saturday, a post appeared on his Facebook page, apparently written by his brother, claiming that he had been "arrested and beaten" over the videos.
A further update posted yesterday reads: "For more than eight years he has served in the army, away from his family, his home and friends, but because he expressed his feelings and said 'I love you'. . . he is now in the hands of the army he serves in and has lost his future. Everyone makes mistakes [but they] will kill him and torture him."
During Syria's nine-year civil war, an estimated 400,000 people have been killed, while tens of thousands of opponents to Assad's regime have been jailed or met an unknown fate.
Mr Soltani's videos previously received a mixed reaction in Syria, with some users celebrating him as a "romantic hero" while others warned him his posts could be dangerous.
"There were others before who appeared on social media and made tiny requests, and we don't see them any more," warned one Syrian blogger. "You are very close to the red line."
The soldier's arrest came as thousands of people rallied in Deraa province, southern Syria, on Saturday to demand the release of political prisoners and an end to Iranian interference.
The US last week targeted Assad and his family with a raft of new sanctions under the so-called "Caesar Act", named after the codename of a Syrian military police photographer who testified to the US Congress in 2014.
His evidence included 55,000 images of torture victims from early years of the war that he helped smuggle out of Syria.
With pressure growing to indict the perpetrators, in Germany, prosecutors yesterday announced the arrest of an alleged Syrian intelligence agent on suspicion of crimes against humanity. Two former Syrian officials are already on trial in Germany.
Syria has condemned the US sanctions as "criminal".
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear two points in Bill Cosbys appeal to overturn his 2018 sexual assault conviction.
Cosby, 82, was convicted in April 2018 of three counts of indecent assault and battery for drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand in 2004. He was sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison in September 2018.
PHOTO: In this Sept. 24, 2018, Bill Cosby arrives for his sentencing hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse, in Norristown, Pa. (Matt Slocum/AP, FILE)
Two lower courts, including a three-judge panel of Pennsylvania Superior Court jurists, previously refused to overturn the comedian's conviction.
MORE: Bill Cosby: A timeline of his fall from 'America's Dad' to a 'sexually violent predator'
The Supreme Court will consider two of the four key arguments in Cosby's appeal. One is the admission into trial of "prior bad acts" witnesses and Cosby's 2005-2006 quaalude deposition. The appeal argues that the trial judge erred in allowing Cosbys prior deposition about using quaaludes during consensual sexual encounters with women in the 1970s at trial.
The second point is a written agreement from previous Montgomery County prosecutor Bruce Castor not to criminally prosecute Cosby in the Constand case. Castor had testified that while he was district attorney, he promised Cosby he would not file criminal charges if the entertainer would testify in a civil lawsuit Constand filed against Cosby in 2005. Cosby testified during four days of depositions by Constand's attorneys, and the civil lawsuit was settled for more than $3 million in 2006. Prosecutor Kevin R. Steele later brought criminal charges against Cosby in 2015 after succeeding Castor as the county's district attorney.
MORE: Is Camille Cosby ready for her next act?
Steele's office issued a brief statement on Tuesday: "The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has narrowed the issues on appeal, limiting them to prior bad acts and the sovereign edict. We look forward to briefing and arguing these issues and remain confident in the Trial Court and Superior Court's previous decisions."
Story continues
Castor was unaware of the court's decision when reached by ABC News on Tuesday, but said he was gratified by the decision after reading a copy.
Ive always thought it was strange that the trial court didnt apply more weight to my statement that this was a quid pro quo in order to obtain justice for the victim in a case that I did not think could be won based on available evidence, said Castor, who went on to serve as Pennsylvania state attorney general before retiring.
And as it turns out it could not be won, Castor said, referring to a 2017 mistrial that preceded convictions in the second trial in 2018.
This report was featured in the Wednesday, June 24, 2020, episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast.
"Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear part of Bill Cosby appeal originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Serbian government might invite Russian companies to take part in the repair works on the Djerdap hydroelectric power plant, Serbian Ambassador to Russia Miroslav Lazanski told Sputnik in an interview
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd June, 2020) The Serbian government might invite Russian companies to take part in the repair works on the Djerdap hydroelectric power plant, Serbian Ambassador to Russia Miroslav Lazanski told Sputnik in an interview.
Djerdap, also known as Iron Gate after the Danube river's gorge where it is located, was built in the 1970s by Romania and Serbia, then part of Yugoslavia. In 2019, the Serbian government contracted Russian company Silovye Mashiny to repair one of Djerdap's 10 turbines as part of an ongoing overhaul.
"With regard to the energy sector in general, it is possible that in the future we will repair units of the Djerdap hydroelectric power plant. Russian companies have already done it, too," Lazanski said.
However, according to the ambassador, Serbia's energy sector is currently largely focused on the TurkStream project, which is a 570-mile twin pipeline to pump gas from Russia via Turkey further up to southeastern Europe.
"As [Serbian President Aleksandar] Vucic has already said, we really hope to get the first batch of gas by the end of 2020, but this no longer depends on us. We have finished our part of works, and it is now up to Bulgaria. Bulgaria promised to intensify construction works and finish its segment of the pipeline by the end of the year, albeit they already fall behind the schedule," the Serbian ambassador said.
The construction of TurkStream began in May 2017. By November of the next year, the pipeline's offshore segment across the Black Sea from Russia's Russkaya compressor station, near Anapa, to Turkey's receiving terminal of Luleburgaz, near Kiyikoy was ready. The onshore segment is planned to be extended further through Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary.
San Antonio Independent School District trustees Monday approved a $636 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, counting on a promise from the state education commissioner that funding rules released Tuesday would keep the district whole and assuming flat enrollment based on registration rates.
We continue to formalize the instructional model for the 2020-21 school year to incorporate the rules and funding allocations outlined by the state, district spokeswoman Leslie Price said as the Texas Education Agency released guidelines for the coming school year.
The district expects to hit last years enrollment of about 48,500 students because 83 percent of that number have already registered, a higher rate than this time last summer.
San Antonio ISD is scheduled to adopt a tax rate in August. The district is proposing to keep it unchanged at $1.53 per $100 in assessed property value. District leaders are still hoping to hold a $1.25 billion bond election in November that, if approved, is not expected to increase tax rates.
The new budget is an increase of about $18 million from the current fiscal year. About $498 million will go to operations and the rest will go to federally-funded school meals and a debt service fund that pays for capital projects.
Federal reimbursement for expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic in the spring will be added to the budget in a future amendment.
SAISD plans to participate in the states new Teacher Incentive Allotment compensation plan, which pays high-performing teachers extra to work in the neediest schools. The district will submit its proposed incentive plan this month to the TEA. If approved, more than 200 teachers could qualify for state-funded incentives next fiscal year, totaling about $3 million.
Depending on the teachers level of achievement and their students socioeconomic status, incentives could range from $5,000 to $26,500 per teacher.
Trustees also added three weeks of contingency days to the coming school years calendar, pushing the last day of school back to June 18, 2021.
The board extended Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks by one week each. During the extra time, students who have missed school due to the coronavirus pandemic or who need extra academic help will be able to come to school.
The new calendar attempts to make up for any additional school closures that might occur as a result of precautions against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Cases and hospitalizations are surging locally.
The first day of school is still Aug. 10 in San Antonio ISD.
District leaders said they surveyed families earlier this month about next school year, and the majority favored the option trustees approved, known as an intersessional calendar. Teachers can choose whether to work the intersession breaks and will be paid for doing so.
SAISD is considering different models for the school year that include full face-to-face classes, a hybrid of face-to-face and online learning or, in the event of additional school closures, fully online instruction. The school district will solicit parent feedback next month on the details of school operations and instruction.
Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox
A coalition of a dozen community organizations unsuccessfully renewed a call for SAISD to defund its police department in light of international protests against racism in the justice system, sparked by the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
The Intercultural Development Research Association, the PODER social justice caucus of the SAISD teachers union and the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition led the effort, submitting a four-page letter urging the school district to dissolve its police department.
The coalition said black students do not misbehave more than their peers but are disproportionately referred to school police.
Latinx students, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ students also have disproportionate contact with police in their schools, the organizations wrote. School policing systems ultimately perpetuate the systemic inequities and structural racism that created them - with dire consequences that the world has recently seen unfold. Policing systems model, for all students, harmful stereotypes and promote the idea that certain students deserve to be criminalized.
Alia Malik covers several school districts and the University of Texas at San Antonio. To read more from Alia, become a subscriber. amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN
Its a tradition that may well date back to 14th century England.
But a mace-carrying sergeant-at-arms functional role as overseer of security at the seat of government could soon be relegated to the dustbin of history or, at least, to the dusty shelf of ceremony, in British Columbia.
A report by the Speaker of the legislatures chief of staff obtained Monday by the Star and other media outlets calls for the position to be much reduced.
Its a development thats arisen in the lingering shadow of scandal and with the perceived opportunity to broaden demographics at the legislature building in Victoria.
The report by Alan Mullen recommended the position of sergeant-at-arms, which carries a salary of more than $200,000 and extensive duties ensuring the safety of the legislature and its members, become a ceremonial position only, with security of the building becoming the responsibility of a new director of security.
British Columbia can be a leader in this area, the conclusion of the report reads.
The reforms recommended herein will not only go some distance to addressing the weaknesses of governance identified in various reviews, and mitigate against the kind of wrongdoing which has recently come to light, but will also put British Columbia at the forefront among Canadian provinces in opening up the Legislative Assembly security staff roles to candidates from non-traditional backgrounds and help broaden the demographics represented.
If adopted, the changes in the report would separate B.C. from the 150-year-old tradition of parliamentary security posts across Canadian jurisdictions.
Sergeants-at-arms in the Canadian Parliament have almost always been military appointments.
Reached Monday, Mullen said now that the 55-page report, penned in January, has been released, he plans to comment publicly on it in the coming days.
In January 2019, Speaker Darryl Plecas issued a report alleging spending misconduct by former clerk Craig James and former sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz. Both men denied any wrongdoing.
A subsequent report by the provinces auditor general found gaps in expense policies for the clerk, sergeant-at-arms and Speaker, which made room for travel expenses without clear documentation to support the purpose of that travel.
The report on reducing the role of the sergeant-at-arms came to light as the first ever sitting of the B.C. legislature with members both in the house and on video conference took place.
The sitting included debate on the provinces economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and long-debated reforms of the public car-insurance system.
NDP Premier John Horgan was hammered with questions from the official Opposition party, the B.C. Liberals, on why the government does not suspend sales and hotel tax, and extend the amount of time small businesses are allowed to keep their employees on temporary layoff a state in which the employer does not have to pay severance.
The Opposition also questioned the government on why its conducting a six-week public consultation on the COVID-19 economic recovery, time it says could be better spent giving breaks to small businesses and employers.
The premier brushed off some of the questions, saying the government has been adding to a basket of initiatives to support British Columbians, including support for renters and those who have lost incomes, and that the parties have been working together on those initiatives since the pandemic began.
I appreciate its the job of the opposition to hold the government accountable, he said, nodding to the fact that the Parliament was gathered for question period for the first time since a global pandemic was declared. Im OK with that.
With only 24 politicians sitting in the chamber, it was a quieter question period than usual, mirroring the hybrid parliamentary sessions held at the federal level during the age of COVID-19 physical distancing.
One MLA, Doug Routley, acknowledged the unusual stillness before question period began, when he suggested members attending virtually, such as himself, use the chat box function of their video conferencing software to heckle one another.
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French drugmaker Sanofi SA, said on June 23, it expects to get approval for the potential COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with Britain's GlaxoSmithKline Plc by the first half of next year, faster than previously anticipated.
Sanofi, which is hosting a virtual research and development event, and GSK had said in April the vaccine, if successful, would be available in the second half of 2021.
"We are being guided by our dialogue with regulatory authorities," Sanofi research chief John Reed told reporters, when asked about the accelerated time frame.
There are currently no vaccines to prevent the coronavirus that has infected more than 90 lakh people and killed over 4.6 lakh globally, and only a couple of medicines that have demonstrated benefit in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in clinical trials.
Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
Many drugmakers have embarked in a race to come up with a safe and effective vaccine that can be produced at large scale.
Moderna Inc, the University of Oxford in collaboration with AstraZeneca Plc, and an alliance of BioNTech and Pfizer Inc grabbed headlines by moving to human trials as early as March.
Sanofi Chief Executive Paul Hudson said the firsts in the race now were not assured of securing victory.
"There are companies moving faster, but let us be brutally clear, speed has three downsides," he said of competition.
"They are using existing work, in many cases done for SARS; it is likely not to be as efficacious; and there is no guarantee on supply in large volumes," Hudson said.
Also read: COVID-19 treatment | Gilead to begin clinical trials of inhaled version of remdesivir
The probability of success for Sanofi is "higher than anybody else," the CEO said.
The comments echoed those of GSK, whose chief medical officer for vaccines told Reuters on June 19 the company was aiming at quality before speed.
Sanofi, whose Pasteur vaccines division has a long established reputation, notably in flu, is currently working on two vaccine projects.
One uses an adjuvant made by GSK to potentially boost its efficacy. It has received financial support from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
The other, being developed with U.S. company Translate Bio Inc, relies on a different technology known as mRNA, similar to the Moderna approach.
Clinical trials of the vaccine developed with GSK, described as a recombinant vaccine because of the use of GSK's boosting adjuvant, are to start in September. Trials of the mRNA vaccine candidate should begin around the end of the year, the company said.
Sanofi said it had capacity to produce up to 1 billion doses a year of its recombinant vaccine, and that it would be able to supply up to 360 million doses of its mRNA vaccine annually.
In April, Sanofi said it had manufacturing capacity for 600 million doses for its recombinant vaccine, with the ambition to double production by mid-2021.
A U.S. Army soldier gave classified information about American troops stationed overseas to a white supremacist group based in the United Kingdom, federal prosecutors alleged Monday.
Ethan Melzer, 22, allegedly planned to attack his own Army unit by sending sensitive details about its location, movements and security to members of the extremist group Order of the Nine Angles, or O9A, according to an indictment unsealed Monday.
Melzer, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged with conspiring and attempting to murder U.S. nationals, among other charges. He was arrested June 10 and now faces up to life in prison if convicted.
According to court records, Melzer allegedly planned a deadly ambush on his fellow soldiers in the service of what prosecutors called "a diabolical cocktail of ideologies laced with hate and violence."
MORE: Federal investigation launched after noose found in garage stall of Black NASCAR driver at Talladega Superspeedway
Melzer joined the Army in 2018 and by 2019 had joined O9A, a group that has "espoused anarchist, neo-fascist, neo-Nazi, and anti-Semitic beliefs," prosecutors said. Melzer had consumed ISIS propaganda, and possessed a photo that appears to depict a knife, a book entitled The Sinister Tradition: Order of Nine Angles, a skull mask -- a known neo-Nazi symbol -- and a U.S. Army beret, according to court records. The FBI seized the file from an iCloud account maintained by Melzer, court records state.
PHOTO: A photo included in a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's office in New York is said by investigators to have come from the photo library of accused conspirator Ethan Melzer and appears to show neo-Nazi materials. (U.S. Attorney's Office)
Last month, Melzer allegedly used an encrypted messaging app to solicit assistance for a mass casualty attack on his U.S. Army unit once it deployed to Turkey, as well as send confidential information about the unit, court records said.
"As alleged, Ethan Melzer, a private in the U.S. Army, was the enemy within," Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss said in a statement. "Melzer allegedly attempted to orchestrate a murderous ambush on his own unit by unlawfully revealing its location, strength and armaments to a neo-Nazi, anarchist, white supremacist group. Melzer allegedly provided this potentially deadly information intending that it be conveyed to jihadist terrorists. As alleged, Melzer was motivated by racism and hatred as he attempted to carry out this ultimate act of betrayal."
Story continues
MORE: Supreme Court wont revisit qualified immunity for police, leaving it to Congress
According to court records, Melzer confessed to his role in plotting the attack, and that he intended for the planned attack to kill as many of his fellow service members as possible. He also declared himself atraitor against the U.S., court records state.
"Melzer declared himself to be a traitor against the United States, and described his own conduct as tantamount to treason. We agree," William F. Sweeney Jr., FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office, said in a statement. "He turned his back on his country and his unit while aligning himself with members of the neo-Nazi group O9A."
US soldier, alleged member of white supremacist group, accused of plotting attack on own unit originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Malawi's presidential elections were re-rerun on Tuesday after being scrapped for irregularities in a historic legal ruling.
Following are key events in the crisis:
Narrow win
On May 21, 2019, President Peter Mutharika, in power since 2014, is re-elected with 38.57 percent of the vote.
He wins by just 159,000 votes over Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), according to official figures.
May 28 2019: Peter Mutharika, centre, is sworn in for his second term by Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda, left. Months later, Nyirenda headed the the Supreme Court when it overturned the election result. By AMOS GUMULIRA (AFP)
The results are published two days late, after accusations of fraud that prompt a court to order a recount of a third of the electoral districts.
Chakwera argues that tally sheets have been smudged with correction fluid -- and sheets from polling stations far apart each bear the same handwriting.
On May 28, Mutharika, whose party denies fraud, is sworn in.
Challenged in court
Chakwera goes to court to demand cancellation of the election, as does vice president Saulos Chilima, who came third.
In June, thousands of people take part in protests, which often lead to clashes with the police.
Mutharika accuses Chakwera of seeking to overthrow the government.
The headquarters of the main opposition party are torched and destroyed.
On August 8, for the first time since Malawi's independence in 1964, the Constitutional Court meets to hear a request for a vote cancellation. The sitting is broadcast live for weeks by private radio stations.
In January 2020, the president of the court denounces an attempt to corrupt his judges, unleashing new protests.
Election cancelled
On February 3, the Constitutional Court, sitting under heavy security, overturns Mutharika's re-election -- citing "grave", "widespread" and "systematic" irregularities.
It orders a new vote within 150 days, a decision that triggers jubilation.
Malawi becomes only the second country south of the Sahara to have presidential poll results set aside, after Kenya in 2017.
Mutharika and the Malawi Electoral Commission appeal the ruling.
Towards a re-run
Parliament votes through a law requiring a more than 50 percent majority to secure victory, meeting one of the Constitutional Court's demands.
In March, the electoral commission sets the election for July 2.
Vice President Chilima files a lawsuit against Mutharika after he refuses to promulgate laws to hold the re-run and fire the electoral commissioners who oversaw the failed election.
Teargas: Post-election turmoil triggered sometimes violent protests. By AMOS GUMULIRA (AFP)
Three people die following a petrol-bomb attack on an office of one of the main opposition parties, the United Transformation Movement (UTM), in Lilongwe.
On May 8, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismisses bids to overturn the annulment and authorises parliament to set a date for the new vote. Mutharika denounces a "judicial coup d'etat."
On May 21, controversial electoral commission boss Jane Ansah resigns.
The election is finally brought forward to June 23.
Mekong Delta provinces have experienced the most severe drought and saline intrusion ever in the dry season 2019-2020 but the negative impacts on agriculture production and daily life were minimised significantly thanks to effective measures,
a top official has said.
Tanks of water from Sai Gon Water Supply Company were carried to the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre to supply people who face water shortages due to drought and saline intrusion. VNA/VNS Photo
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong made the statement at a meeting held in the Mekong Delta province of Long An on Saturday about drought and saline intrusion prevention and control.
He said that thanks to what had been done to fight drought and salinity intrusion in the province, Vietnam could learn good lessons for dealing with the extreme weather in the future.
Cuong applauded the timely forecasting of salinity intrusion that helped agencies and farmers restructure agricultural production to match available water volume.
The Government, ministries and agencies effectively instructed localities and agencies to develop plans to tackle drought, saltwater intrusion and water shortages.
This year, we identified challenges posed by droughts and saltwater intrusion to the Mekong Delta early, Cuong said, adding that as soon as September 2019, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with leaders of 13 Mekong Delta provinces to discuss the issue.
The minister recalled the saline intrusion in 2016 which was described as the worst in the region in 100 years which offered both authorities and people experiences to better deal with this years incidents.
Saline intrusion in 2016 lasted about two months, and only two communes in Ben Tre Province were not affected while this year, the saline intrusion has already lasted five months and the whole Mekong Delta region has been submerged under water.
Groups of measures were taken, he said.
Works to store water and prevent saline intrusion were built and completed on time.
Cultivation areas were zoned, reduced and crops and cultivation times were changed so the areas affected by drought or saline intrusion was reduced.
The dredging of canals, ponds or wells and the construction of dams, pumping stations to control saline intrusion helped save nearly 400,000 ha of farming land.
Cuong said because people were equipped with a better understanding of the risks, development and impacts of saline intrusion, they became more active in responding and strictly followed agencies recommendations.
People stored water during the previous rainy season and in areas that faced water shortages, water was carried to every household, Cuong said.
According to the Directorate of Water Resources, the dry season 2019-2020 hit the Mekong Delta region in the middle of November 2019, about a month earlier than in previous years, while it lasted twice as long as the dry season in 2016.
Droughts and salinity remained severe during the dry season, with salinity levels in the Cua Tieu, Cua Dai and Ham Luong rivers remained high from February to May.
According to the Cultivation Department under the ministry, saline intrusion directly hit 10 out of 13 Mekong Delta provinces.
About 41,900 ha or 2.7 per cent of the total winter-spring rice crop in the region was damaged by the saline intrusion, of which, Tra Vinh lost 14,300ha, Tien Giang 4,500ha, Soc Trang 4,100ha, Kien Giang 1,600ha, Long An 800ha and Ca Mau 600ha.
The lost crops were mainly planted after December 2019 as farmers did not take the advice of agencies.
About 6,650ha of orchards were affected by the droughts and saline intrusion.
More than 1,240ha of other crops were affected.
About 8,715ha of aquaculture production including fish and shrimp were affected, mostly in provinces of Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang.
About 96,000 households had their water supply disrupted during the dry season due to droughts and saline water. Meanwhile, droughts and saline intrusion in the dry season 2015-2016 caused water shortages for about 210,000 households in the region though it lasted about two months. VNS
Mekong Delta province faces severe water shortage The Mekong Delta province of Long An, which has been hit by severe drought this year, needs more fresh water, but can only supply about 50 percent of demand from its 35 fresh water treatment plants and stations.
The campaign to represent Norwalk citizens in Hartford and Washington is already underway. This year, perhaps more than anytime in our memory, the debate is important. Yet, more important than the debate is the outcome of government decisions on behalf of Connecticut citizens. So, I wish to open the conversation with a pledge on behalf of Norwalk Republicans to focus the dialogue on outcomes rather than blame, on the future rather than the past, on what is good in Connecticut and how to make it better. In these conversations, I am aware that Republicans, Democrats and all other voters want the same thing: A Connecticut home that gives all residents something to brag about.
I do believe there are too few Republicans in our government and the good of a two-party system should encourage all voters to consider the balance of representation. It is never a good thing when one party is able to simply impose its side of the debate without concern for other points of view. Norwalk offers a slate of candidates that presents a broad range of experience in the fields of education, law, banking, and small business entrepreneurship. These are resumes that the state and federal government really need. They offer a richly diverse point of view that closely matches the opinions of our residents. Hartford and Washington need them!
SHERMAN OAKS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Leo Robin Music is outraged over the Hollywood Walk of Fame's decision at their annual meeting and subsequent announcement last week to once again deny the installation of the star that was awarded to lyricist, Leo Robin, 30 years ago. Ashley Lee from the Los Angeles Times first broke on May 23, 2019 this fascinating story, Leo Robin never got his Walk of Fame star. Now his grandson is fighting for it, about his grandson's serendipitous discovery of Leo's long-lost star which he believes got lost because "[The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce]...made this 30-year-old mistake." Leo Robin's wife, Cherie Robin, and actor, Bob Hope, sponsored Leo for a star in 1988 but, sadly, Mrs. Robin passed away slightly more than one year before the letter was sent out from the Hollywood Chamber announcing that her husband had been awarded the star and so, unfortunately, it was never installed.
In the wake of the release of this story last year by The Times, Leo Robin Music was infuriated to learn what happened 30 years ago. Ms. Lee reported, "The envelope was returned to its sender and has since remained in the Chamber of Commerce's records." She also tweeted, "at first I didn't believe that Leo Robin's star had really slipped through the cracks" with a photo of that acceptance letter and the envelope stamped "RETURN TO SENDER." Ms. Lee explained the Chamber's view, "A mistake it was not, noted (Ana) Martinez [Producer of the Walk Of Fame] to The Times. Back in 1989, before the ease of email and cell phones, honorees were not as repeatedly and actively pursued to secure their star as they are today. That means no follow-up letters and no calls to co-signers, even if Robin's application was co-signed by (Bob) Hope, who has four stars on the Walk."
The Chamber should live, love and learn the lyrics of the Elvis Presley 1962 hit "Return to Sender," a song about a man sending a letter by post to his girlfriend after an argument. She continually writes "Return to Sender" and he keeps mailing letters including "sent it special D" and "This time I'm gonna take it myself and put it right in her hand." Elvis, who recorded "Blue Hawaii," a classic written by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger, for his film of the same name and the soundtrack of which stayed at #1 on the album chart for twenty consecutive weeks, would be rock 'n' rolling in his grave and singing "Suspicious Minds" upon learning that the Hollywood Chamber only sent one letter with no follow-up letter or call to co-sponsor, Bob Hope. No matter when or where -- whether it be 1962 when Elvis sang about it or 1990 when the Chamber obstructed delivery of the letter or even today -- it has always been true when a letter has been marked "Return to sender," the sender will verify the address and resend it. What the Chamber did after the letter was returned to sender was not customary practice but smacks of disregard for the individuals honored by the Walk of Fame Committee.
Elvis Presley singing "Blue Hawaii," composed by Ralph Rainger with lyrics by Leo Robin, in connection with the groundbreaking concert,
Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite, headlined by the "King of Rock and Roll" that took place in Honolulu on January 14, 1973
The official blog of Graceland says, "Elvis loved the beauty of Hawaii and the state's laid-back atmosphere so much that he brought it home to Graceland." The beginning of the blog entry on July 14, 2017 captures this feeling inspired by the islands with these perfect lyrics written by Leo Robin, "Dreams come true in blue Hawaii..." "Blue Hawaii" was introduced by the stars Bing Crosby and Shirley Ross in the 1937 Paramount Pictures film Waikiki Wedding. Crosby subsequently recorded a version that was released in 1937 and it was recorded that same year by Al Bowlly. Elvis Presley made it famous all over again in 1961 in the movie of the same name. The song received numerous cover versions through the years ranging from jazz to country artists such as Frank Sinatra's 1958 album Come Fly With Me, Andy Williams 1959 albums Two Time Winners and To You Sweetheart, Ray Charles' 1960 album The Genius Hits The Road, on which every song was about a specific place in the United States, Pat Boone with his wife Shirley Boone on their 1962 album I Love You Truly, Dolly Parton with Al Harrington on the episode My Hawaii of her 1988 TV variety show Dolly and Willie Nelson's 1992 album Honeymoon in Vegas.
Meanwhile, the Hollywood Chamber has exercised wanton disregard of its own rules for the star awarded to Robin but never installed. In contradiction to its mission, the Hollywood Chamber is not doing justice to the nomination of Robin. Instead we are witness to the injustice of Leo's long-lost star and the Chamber's refusal to honor their commitment to Robin's memory. Moreover, in a press release issued by Leo Robin Music on July 30, 2019, the following was said about the Hollywood Chamber, "What a strange twist in irony; the Chamber, which administers this famous sidewalk landmark and usually assists honorees, performed the opposite of its mission and public expectations. Instead of assisting, the Chamber obstructed installation by ignoring emails for a whole year and failing to honor its promise for the Walk of Fame Committee to consider the grandson's request for the star to be placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame."
When Robin's grandson called the Chamber and spoke to Ms. Martinez on July 6, 2017, almost three years ago, he told her about his discovery of Leo's long-lost star. She confirmed it was true and said, "Nothing like this has ever happened before." Throughout the past sixty years, the Chamber has successfully kept track of 2,690 honorees and has seen to it that each and every one of them received a star and had it successfully installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with their name on it -- except for Leo. At this point, one can't help but conclude that Robin, his sponsors, his family and the 1990 Walk of Fame Committee, itself, have been treated unjustly by the Chamber.
Upon the passing of Johnny Grant on January 9, 2008, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, "Angelenos will always remember Johnny as the heart of Hollywood Boulevard, the dignified guardian of its gilded prestige and the human shine behind every one of its stars..." Johnny Grant, who was Chairman of the 1990 Walk of Fame Committee and signed the acceptance letter addressed to Mrs. Robin, must be looking down with contempt at the Hollywood Chamber for spurning the decision by the 1990 Walk of Fame Committee to award a star to Leo Robin. It is high time for the Hollywood Chamber to preserve its integrity and honor the decision of the Walk of Fame Committee and its obligation to put Leo's long-lost star in its rightful place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
For more information, visit the official website of Leo Robin at http://leorobin.com/.
About Leo Robin Music
Leo Robin Music owns the copyrights of songs written by Leo Robin, who was known as the "Dean of Lyric Writers." He created lyrics that have inspired popular music and become part of the fabric of our culture. Considered to be one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th Century, he wrote many of the country's most popular jazz standards including "Blue Hawaii," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "Easy Living," "If I Should Lose You," "My Ideal," "Prisoner of Love" and "Thanks for the Memory."
CONTACT:
Scott D. Ora
President - Leo Robin Music
thanks4thememory@icloud.com
(818) 618-2572
Leo Robin (@LeoRobinMusic) / Twitter
SOURCE: Leo Robin Music
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/593123/Leo-Robin-Music-is-Outraged-over-the-Hollywood-Walk-of-Fames-Decision-to-Not-Install-Leos-Long-Lost-Star-LeosLostStar-Awarded-to-the-Thanks-for-the-Memory-Oscar-Winning-Lyricist-30-Years-Ago
Donald Trump should be preparing to pack his bags at the White House.
Its hard to imagine a worse scenario for any incumbent President trying to secure re-election than his terrible handling of a global pandemic resulting in America suffering the worlds worst coronavirus death toll and the US economy crashing to its worst levels since the Great Depression with 40 million job losses.
Trump made things even worse when the country was engulfed by the worst race riots for 50 years and he shamefully fuelled the fires with his shockingly tone-deaf and incendiary response to the countrys rage at George Floyds murder at the knee of a racist cop.
Any one of those things would normally signal ballot box slaughter in election year.
Yet somehow, unbelievably, Trumps opponents are once again doing everything in their power to wrestle another defeat from the jaws of seemingly inevitable victory.
Scroll down for video
President Donald Trump is pictured above before departing on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House today
Astatue of Christopher Columbus in Richmond, Virginia is seen on the ground after it was pulled down by protesters on June 9, following the death of George Floyd
If you were scripting an escape route for Trump it would involve liberal protesters tearing down statues of Americas greatest icons, liberal leaders allowing virtual anarchy on the streets to go unpunished, and a dramatic intensifying of the absurdly self-defeating culture war nonsense that makes many Americans fear the very soul of their nation is being dismantled.
From a position of unprecedented weakness, Trump is now fighting back with his clunky but undeniably effective triple whammy America first fist of patriotism, toughness and common sense.
Or rather, hes being hauled off the ropes by his opponents losing their minds.
This insanity has reached its peak over the past few days as protesters set about destroying monuments to some of Americas most beloved historical figures.
In Portland, Oregon, they draped an American flag around a 100-year-old statue of the first president, George Washington, set it on fire, pulled the statue down and then urinated on it.
They said they did it because Washington owned slaves.
Thats true, he did.
But he was also one of the Founding Fathers who established the United States of America with a determination to eradicate slavery, which then happened.
People take turns stomping the Christopher Columbus statue after it was toppled in front of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul
Minnesota State Troopers surrounded the statue of Christopher Columbus after it was toppled in front of the Minnesota State Capitol
In San Francisco, protesters vandalized a statue of another former president Ulysses E. Grant, the man who led the Union Army in defeating the Confederates in the Civil War.
Again, they argued he was a slave owner.
And again, thats true.
But Grant was gifted one slave, despised the whole concept of having one, and let him free within a year. He then wiped out the Ku Klux Klan by pushing legislation through Congress to prosecute them. And he appointed African-Americans to prominent government roles.
In another part of the same Golden Gate Park, hundreds more protesters tore down statues of Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to 'The Star-Spangled Banner', because he too owned slaves.
This, again, is true. But he also represented a young Black man suing Georgetown College for his freedom in the 1830s.
And he wrote Americas National Anthem!
In Philadelphia, the statue of abolitionist Matthias Baldwin was attacked and sprayed with words like colonizer and murderer.
Yet Baldwin was a very outspoken critic of slavery, fought for African-Americans to have the right to vote and founded a school in the city for black children.
The craziness has got so demented that author and activist Shaun King has even called for statues of Jesus Christ to be removed. I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down, he tweeted. They are a form of white supremacy. Always have been.
All of this, set against the backdrop of widespread looting and rioting during otherwise predominantly peaceful George Floyd protests, will have the opposite effect to the one the protesters claim to want.
It wont persuade people to join their movement, it will turn them against it.
Thats not to say all their arguments are wrong.
I have no problem with statues of Confederacy leaders being removed.
As Washington Post columnist Henry Olsen wrote yesterday: The Confederacys vice president, Alexander Stephens, said in his cornerstone speech, the Confederacy rested on the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. Monuments to this revolting sentiment have no place in a United States that is dedicated to the opposite principle that all men are created equal.
I think most Americans would support that.
But to destroy monuments to great Presidents, as with the defacing of Sir Winston Churchills statue in London recently, actively alienates people from supporting the Black Lives Matter cause. So, it will hinder, not help the battle for racial equality and justice.
As does the failure to enforce the law.
In New York, people have been illegally letting off fireworks through the night in record numbers.
Its also being seen as some kind of protest.
But against what? And to whose benefit?
Fireworks have been plaguing residents in cities around the county. In NYC people have been told to call 311 instead of 911
All its doing is annoying most people in New York who just want a good nights sleep.
Yet authorities are refusing to confront the firework miscreants because they dont want to create more riots.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams told residents not to call 911 to report the fireworks because some view them as a form of nonviolent protest. Instead, he urged concerned neighbors to 'go talk to young people or the people on your block who are using fireworks' and warn them of the potential risks.
This is ridiculous and fuels the one rule for them, one for the rest of us mindset of law-abiding Americans, something that Trump can and will exploit.
The way for Democrats to win in November is simple: keep reminding the American people how badly Trumps handled the pandemic, how horrifically the economy has tanked, and how atrociously he responded to George Floyds murder.
Its not difficult to paint a pretty accurate picture of a president who completely lost control of his country during its darkest hour, through his ineptitude, complacency, narcissism and chronic lack of empathy.
But nobodys talking about any of that right now.
Instead, the news agenda is dominated by images of statues of beloved American icons being destroyed, and by lawless rioting and looting in cities all over the country.
During his controversial speech at his poorly attended comeback rally in Tulsa, Trump said: The choice in 2020 is very simple. Do you want to bow before the left-wing mob or do you want to stand up tall and proud as Americans?
Whatever you think of Trump, this is a very simple and powerful campaign message.
It doesnt help Democrats that their nominee Joe Biden has been restricted to his home for much of the last few months due to his age and vulnerability to coronavirus.
As Trump taunted: Biden remains silent in his basement in the face of this brutal assault on our nation and the values of our nation. Joe Biden has surrendered to his party and to the left-wing mob.
Its obvious how Trump will fight this election.
He knows that if the debate over the next four months centers around his abject failures with the pandemic and the collapsing economy, then he may get crushed on November 3 especially if by then, theres a second wave of the virus, and the economy hasnt shot back up in the V-shaped rebound he keeps promising.
But if he can make the debate about toppled statues, liberals encouraging lawlessness, and annoying fireworks, then hes got a very good chance of being re-elected.
In the run-up to the 2016 Election, I regularly warned liberals that their strategy to beat Trump, based around constant self-righteous and often rankly hypocritical rage, wouldnt work.
They ignored me, carried on screaming, and lost.
My message to liberals today remains the same: stop shrieking, stop statue toppling, stop virtue-signalling, stop pandering to ridiculous political correctness, and provide America with a vision for the future that resonates better than Trumps increasingly dystopian ideal.
It shouldnt be difficult to do this given the state of the country.
But all Im seeing is liberals committing political suicide.
As Anthony Scaramucci, Trumps former short-lived communications chief whos now become his biggest critic, told me on Good Morning Britain today: If they continue to tear down statues in the United States and continue to riot, that will play into the presidents hands. As he searches for a campaign narrative right now, that narrative will be that people are trying to take away your cultural heritage. And hell pit people against each other in a big culture war.
Yes, he will.
And it might work.
Wake up liberals, before its too late.
Reuters
Billionaire Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc said on Monday it has signed up with NASA to develop a program to promote private missions to the International Space Station (ISS), sending the shares of the company up about 16%.
As part of its agreement with the Johnson Space Center, the space tourism company will identify candidates interested in buying tickets for private rides to space in orbital-grade vehicles from other companies, and develop training packages under its astronaut readiness program.
The company competes with billionaire-backed ventures such as Amazon.com Incs Blue Origin that are vying to usher in a new era of space tourism, racing to be the first to offer sub-orbital flights to civilian space travelers.
Virgin Galactic offers zero-gravity experiences to customers with its centerpiece SpaceShipTwo plane and has long-term point-to-point travel plans to quickly transport passengers from city to city at near-space altitudes.
This is the second agreement between Virgin Galactic and the U.S. space agency. In May, the two entered an agreement to develop high-Mach aircraft for potential civilian use.
For NASA, the private partnerships are helping it revive its own human space missions. Last month, Elon Musks SpaceX ended NASAs nine-year hiatus by delivering two astronauts to the ISS.
The space agency is leaning heavily on private companies built around shared visions for space exploration, as it gears up for a long-term presence on the moon and prepares for a manned mission to Mars.
Shares of Virgin Galactic closed at $17.39.
(CNN) -- A fresh coronavirus outbreak in Germany has placed the country's massive meat processing industry under intense scrutiny, after more than 1,500 workers were infected at a family-owned slaughterhouse in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Officials said Tuesday that 1,553 workers at the meatpacking plant owned by Germany's Tonnies Group have tested positive for coronavirus up from 1,331 on Sunday. The plant is situated in Gutersloh, a city in the west of the country, which is now reintroducing lockdown restrictions until the end of June.
The outbreak had already prompted the closure of daycare centers and schools in the district and the Robert Koch Institute, a public health body, linked a spike in Germany's overall coronavirus reproduction rate directly to the plant. Armin Laschet, the prime minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, announced Tuesday that restaurants, bars and gyms in Gutersloh district would close for a week. Outdoor gatherings of more than two people are again prohibited.
The plant owned by Tonnies is one of several meat processing factories now facing scrutiny after coronavirus outbreaks highlighted the poor working and living conditions faced by the industry's many foreign workers. Germany has been relatively successful in fighting the coronavirus, but there have been several outbreaks at slaughterhouses in the past month that threaten to undermine the gradual reopening of its economy.
Clemens Tonnies, a managing partner at the company, said on Twitter that the company will fund widespread coronavirus testing in Gutersloh to compensate the local community. He apologized for the outbreak and said the company carried full responsibility.
Tonnies, which exports about half its products, has 16,500 employees worldwide and generated revenue of 6.7 billion ($7.5 billion) in 2018. Founded in 1971 by Clemens' late brother Bernd Tonnies, the company produces 850 tons of frozen and fresh meat a day and is Germany's single biggest pork processor, with 27% of the market. Tonnies slaughters tens of millions of pigs each year.
The coronavirus pandemic has hit the the global meat processing industry especially hard. Workers often labor in close quarters, and for relatively meager wages, leaving them more exposed to the virus. In the United States, thousands of industry workers have tested positive for coronavirus and dozens have died.
In Germany, federal labor minister Hubertus Heil told German tabloid Bild that he had "pretty much zero" trust in Tonnies. He said that the exploitation of people from Central and Eastern Europe has "obviously" taken place at the company's plants.
According to German labor union NGG, 70% to 80% of Tonnies' 7,000 factory workers are employed through subcontractors and made to work long hours. At some meatpacking plants, staff work 12 to 14 hours a day but only get paid for eight hours, NGG spokesman Jonas Bohl told CNN Business. "Tonnies is no different here," he said.
Tonnies did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its labor practices. Gutersloh officials put out a call Tuesday for Romanian, Bulgarian and Polish translators to improve communication with the plant's workers.
The meat processing industry employs around 200,000 people in Germany. According to statistics from the Federal Labor Office, roughly a third of the industry's workers are foreigners.
In reaction to the outbreaks at slaughterhouses, the German government has said it will bring in new laws to protect workers next year, banning the use of subcontractors and doubling fines for breaching rules on working hours.
Local authorities said Tonnies failed to provide addresses of employees to help health officials trace those who may have been in contact with the virus. The company has blamed Germany's data protection laws for slowing down information sharing.
Germany called in its army to assist with testing in Gutersloh. The country has recorded 192,127 total cases of coronavirus and 9,209 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
German grocery retailer Aldi said on Monday that Tonnies was among the suppliers that have made a voluntary commitment to improve working conditions for staff. Aldi said it was not worried about the risk of contamination, as there is no evidence to show that coronavirus can be transmitted through food.
Fred Pleitgen and Zamira Rahim contributed reporting.
This story was first published on CNN.com, "The giant meatpacking company at the heart of Germany's new coronavirus hotspot"
Amid bilateral tensions between India and China, Army Chief General MM Naravane on Tuesday visited Ladakh to discuss with ground commanders the six-week standoff with Chinese military. The Chief of the Army Staff will also visit forward locations and interact with troops on the ground.
Naravane reviewed India's military preparedness in eastern Ladakh as he began a two-day visit to the region where a border clash last week left 20 Indian soldiers dead in the midst of a tense standoff with the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
In a tweet, the Indian Army said Naravane met and spoke with soldiers at the Military Hospital in Leh. Eighteen soldiers injured in the clash in Galwan Valley on June 15 are undergoing treatment here, said Army officials.
General MM Naravane #COAS interacting with our gallant soldiers at Military Hospital, Leh during his two day visit to Eastern #Ladakh. pic.twitter.com/pG22J7kIs4 ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 23, 2020
The Chief of the Army Staff interacted with almost all the injured soldiers and complimented them for their bravery, they added.
Naravane's visit came as the Army said the Indian and Chinese militaries have arrived at a "mutual consensus" to "disengage" from all friction points in eastern Ladakh. This significant development comes in the midst of spiralling border tension following the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in a clash at Galwan Valley.
After visiting the hospital, Gen Naravane reviewed the overall security situation in the region with the ground commanders and is learnt to have directed them to keep a high-level of alertness to deal with any Chinese misadventure, people familiar with the issue said.
Naravane is scheduled to visit a number of forward areas during his two-day visit to the region.
Last week, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria made a quiet visit to Ladakh and Srinagar air bases to review the Indian Air Force's preparedness to deal with any eventualities in the region.
Before leaving for Leh, Naravane attended the final session of a two-day conference of top Army commanders. The commanders extensively deliberated on the situation in eastern Ladakh.
In Leh, Naravane was also scheduled to hold an extensive meeting with Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the 14 Corps that takes care of the sensitive border with China.
On Monday, Lt Gen Singh held a nearly 11-hour meeting with Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin. In the meeting, the two sides arrived at a "mutual consensus" to "disengage" from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh.
(With inputs from PTI)
Homicide detectives will probe the death of an "easy-going" father-of-two who died on his way to hospital two days after being assaulted while camping in regional Victoria.
David Crouch, from Springvale in Melbourne's south-east, packed up his caravan on June 15 and travelled 125 kilometres to Toorongo Falls, near Noojee in the Yarra Ranges National Park, for a solo camping trip.
The 49-year-old Springvale man who died on Sunday.
On Friday night he struck up a friendship with a man from Langwarrin at the campground and they had a few drinks together.
Late on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday, police say an altercation took place between Mr Crouch and a group of other campers.
Google employees have decided to petition the company to terminate police contracts, reports CNBC. The companys employees are signing an internal petition in order to make that happen.
Over 1,100 Google employees signed the petition to terminate police contracts
The letter with the headline No Police Contracts has been circulating around the company last week. It has been signed by over 1,100 Google employees, it has been reported.
Those employees identify themselves as Googlers Against Racism. The document asks the companys CEO, Sundar Pichai, to take real steps to dismantle racism, and it says that the company is profiting off racism with those business contracts.
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The petition says that people need to fight racism on a higher level, as saying Black Lives Matter doesnt seem to be enough. All of this happened around the time Google committed $175 million towards supporting black businesses.
These employees obviously want Google to do more. Theyre disappointed Googles AI tech is being used by law enforcement to track down immigrants with drone surveillance footage.
Now, this is not the first time the companys employees showed their displeasure with Googles government work. Back in 2018, Google decided not to renew a satellite image-based defense contract called Project Maven because of its employees.
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Thousands of Google employees signed a letter urging the OEO to pull out of the contract. Some of the companys employees even resigned because of the whole situation.
Both Amazon & Microsoft promised not to sell facial recognition tech to police agencies
Both Amazon and Microsoft recently said they wont be selling their facial recognition tech to police agencies. Google told CNBC that it doesnt make facial recognition tech commercially available, and also prohibits the sales for surveillance.
Googles employees seem to be determined this time as well. They simply want Google to stop doing business with the police, at least when it comes to present products.
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This petition managed to get quite a few signatures, and the company will have to react. We dont know what the reaction will be just yet, but Google may have to give in.
This is one of those complicated situations that requires careful thought by both Sundar Pichai and its colleagues. They need to find a way out of it without making a mess as a result.
Google goes to great lengths to get the best employees on its side, and it definitely doesnt want to lose them because of something like this. On the other hand, this is the government were talking about, so its complicated.
Harry Kane lay flat on his front, spread-eagled, panting. He rolled on his back, still breathing heavily. Strikers always insist it doesn't matter who scores. This little vignette suggested otherwise.
Hero Kane, Jose Mourinho had called him before this game. And while Tottenham did not actually require heroics from their goalscorer they were already leading, and he merely confirmed the victory this still felt like an important goal.
Mourinho had been moved to defend his record as a coach of world-class forwards, after Paul Merson said he feared for Kane under his tutelage. So here was the riposte, and evidence of a corner turned.
Harry Kane scored his first goal in 2020 and Tottenham's second on the night to seal the win
The Tottenham striker had too much pace after being played through on goal late on
Kane celebrated by diving to the floor as Spurs managed their first win in eight matches
He rolled on his back, breathing heavy, like a weight had been lifted off him after he netted
TOTTENHAM 2-0 WEST HAM - MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris 6; Aurier 6, Sanchez 6.5, Dier 6.5, Davies 6; Sissoko 6, Alli 6 (Lamela 59min, 6); Moura 6 (Bergwijn 71, 6), Lo celso 7.5, Son 6 (Winks 86); Kane 7. Subs not used: Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sessegnon, Gazzaniga, Ndombele, Fernandes. Scorers: Soucek (og) 64, Kane 82. Booked: Kane, Davies. Manager: Jose Mourinho 6.5. WEST HAM (4-3-3): Fabianski 6.5; Fredericks 5.5, Balbuena 6.5, Diop 6.5, Cresswell 6.5; Noble 6 (Anderson 71, 6), Rice 7, Soucek 6; Bowen 6, Antonio 6.5, Fornals 5.5 (Lanzini 71, 6). Subs not used: Yarmolenko, Wilshere, Ogbonna, Ajeti, Silva, Randolph, Johnson. Booked: Fornals, Noble. Manager: David Moyes 6. Referee: Craig Pawson 6.5. Advertisement
Kane, like many of the greats, scores in gluts: five in three, September 1 to 10; four in four, September 18 to October 1; five in five, October 11 to 27; seven in four, November 14 to 26. Many of those streaks have combined club and country goals. Tottenham will be hoping he can be as potent now they have him all to themselves.
It was 2019 when Kane last scored for Tottenham. Injury, and Covid-19, intervened and he looked strangely subdued against Manchester United last week. Nothing like a fixture against West Ham to lift the funk, though, and so it proved.
Tottenham were already ahead when, in the 82nd minute, Kane caught West Ham on the hunt for an equaliser. Erik Lamela, on as a substitute, worked hard to win the ball and having started the counter-attack it moved swiftly through the gears, culminating in a lovely Son Hueng-min pass that sent Kane through from just inside the West Ham half, with a yard on his pursuers. He doesn't miss those, but the relief was palpable.
Mourinho predicted Kane would score before this game, but that might have been as much down to what he knew about his opponents, as what he knows of his man.
Just as good teams find ways to win, bad teams find ways to lose. Tottenham are not particularly good at the moment, but West Ham are most certainly bad. They have restarted as they finished, conspiring against themselves as they creep ever nearer the precipice.
Having kept Tottenham at bay for much of this match, they succumbed to a 64th minute goal that owed much to random misfortune and little to the best laid plans of Mourinho.
Tottenham score the first goal after the ball struck West Ham's Tomas Soucek and went in
It was an unfortunate way to concede for West Ham as Eric Dier (centre) celebrates the goal
Granted, it was a good corner from Giovani Lo Celso on the right, swinging in and attacked by Davinson Sanchez and Lucas Moura simultaneously.
There was a slight touch endless replays ultimately identified a glance from Sanchez's arm, but it was not clear or obvious in the immediate aftermath which deflected the ball onto Tomas Soucek. He was a January transfer window signing , bought to keep West Ham up. Ah well.
The ball struck his shin and ricocheted past Lukasz Fabianski. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
And that's the way it often goes for a team down the bottom. Had Sanchez's arm been a little more visible in real time, it may have been disallowed. Had Soucek been standing a step to the right or left, the ball may have gone in another direction or into the hands of Fabianski. Those are the breaks. And the worst can be avoided with, for instance, better finishing.
For the second match in succession, West Ham's best chance fell to Pablo Fornals and for the second match in succession he made a hash of it.
The absence of firepower is truly troubling. Fornals panicked horribly against Wolves when through one on one and shot wildly over, and this was little different. Jarrod Bowen hit a cross from the right and Fornals, just outside the six yard box but with space, snatched at it, his miskick spinning well wide. If he can't keep his cool in front of goal, why is he even up there?
Son Heung-min finishes with his right foot in the first half but the goal did not stand
Son's celebrations were premature as his first-half goal was ruled out after VAR intervention
The Video Assistant Referee confirms Son's disallowed goal on the giant screen due to offside
Jose Mourinho (left) talks with referee Craig Pawson at half-time after the disallowed goal
Indeed, it sums up West Ham's weakness that Mark Noble was often the most advanced midfielder in support of Michail Antonio, although he is not a natural in the penalty box either.
In the second minute Antonio held up an Aaron Cresswell cross for Noble, only for him to run it tamely into the hands of Hugo Lloris. The closest West Ham came, then, was when Felipe Anderson cut the ball back for Bowen, who struck the near post. But by then they were behind and chasing the game.
Ultimately, the end result did not flatter Tottenham. The best moment of play early on led to a Tottenham goal in the final minute of the first-half, which was ruled out for a legitimate, but narrow, offside. It is of mounting concern that amid a sea of often drab Project Restart encounters, when someone actually scores, a chap in Stockley Park will spring into action and search for a reason to disallow it. That is pretty much what happened here.
Lo Celso cut a lovely diagonal ball from a congested space outside the penalty area to Son on the left, inexplicably given room by Ryan Fredericks. Jeremy Ngakia has been preferred in the right back position of late, but he is refusing to sign a new contract and wishes to leave this summer maybe withdrawing his services by the end of this month. That he didn't even feature on the substitutes bench suggested club and player may have finally reached an impasse. It is a pity. His instincts seem keener than Fredericks who, trying to make up too much ground, ended up on his backside as Son sped past. He shot, inside the near post, which startled Fabianski and gave Tottenham the lead.
West Ham captain Mark Noble battles for the ball with Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso
Lo Celso takes a corner in the first-half in an empty Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday
Serge Aurier receives medical treatment as Lucas Moura takes on some water on Tuesday
Not for long, though. The dreaded VAR check revealed Son had a foot in an offside position. And yes, we all know, you are either offside or you're not. So it was the correct decision. Equally, the ball is either over the line or it's not, and that didn't seem to trouble VAR half as much at Villa Park last week. It might be an idea to clear up the absolute travesties before we embark on calls that cannot be instantly identified with the naked eye.
Already, though, there were glimpses of West Ham's struggles to come.
Kane had his first shot of the restart in the 27th minute, easily collected by Fabianski and a header from a Serge Aurier cross that went close soon after. Just as impressively, he played a lovely ball for Dele Alli after 28 minutes, which was thwarted only by a strong challenge from Issa Diop, sending the ball flying at some speed towards Fabianski, who took it gamely on his chest, just in case.
The save of the match was also Fabianski's in the 22nd minute from Lucas Moura, 30 yards out, a real corker of a shot.
For Tottenham, it would appear to be coming together. West Ham, meanwhile, do not appear to know where their next goal is coming from, let alone their next win. And it's Chelsea next.
Kane had a glorious chance to open the scoring but struck the ball just wide off the post
Luna the pit bull was lonely.
So dog dad Francisco Montez set out to find a brother or sister for her so she could have companionship while he was away at work. He searched for the right dog for six months.
Then one day in May, that right dog stared at him through the computer screen. His name was Bruno, and he had been rescued from an abandoned apartment by the Houston SPCA. Montez didnt hesitate.
They said it may take three weeks for him to get adjusted to my dog (Luna), but the funny thing is, it only took two hours, Montez said. They just clicked. They sniffed each other, wondered who the other one was and then they just had a blast in the backyard.
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Since the start of the pandemic, Montezs girlfriend has worked from home and his son has dropped by the house to take care of the dogs. The animals have been alone no longer than four hours at a time in the past three months, he said.
But eventually, his girlfriend will return to the office and his son will start working full time again. So its time for Montez to begin prepping Luna and Bruno for this change.
More Information Transition time Provide a safe place, like a soft bed in a back room, or place a towel or T-shirt with your scent inside a crate. Have some playtime just before you leave, so your pets are ready for a nap when it's time to head out. Practice your "work day" routine before you return to work by reading in another room or talking on the phone away from your pet. Watch for signs of stress, like using the bathroom inside or destroying items in your home. If you have any concerns, be sure to consult your veterinarian. Source: Houston SCPA See More Collapse
We have a doggie door that (Bruno) doesnt know how to use, so I take him out every hour, Montez said. Hes learning by Luna and follows wherever she goes, but Ive been here most of the time.
Bruno is one of 1,160 adoptions from the Houston SPCA since March. At the Houston Humane Society, there have been 884 adoptions, including 530 dogs, 258 cats, 20 rodents, 15 rabbits and eight fish.
The months in lockdown have wreaked havoc on the economy, employment and our collective psyches. But after a short adjustment, theres been one group of satisfied customers: the American pet population.
Some pets felt anxiety when their owners were home all the time at the start of the lockdown, said Brian Larsen, founder of Restorapet Animal Healthcare, a company specializing in veterinarian-approved pet medications.
But now, theyve settled into a new normal of 24/7 cohabiting with their human and many prefer the added walks, lounge time, fetch and cuddles.
But what about when pet parents have to return to the workplace? Pets settle into routines easily, but breaking them out of them takes time, Larsen said.
Do not change the routine suddenly, he warned.
Take advantage of this period to ease into that transition by leaving for brief periods of time; have those become progressively longer and longer, Larsen said. In addition to that, have some kind of signal or cue that you are leaving to allow your pets to know that this is something that is about to happen.
On HoustonChronicle.com: A Houston CPA felt a slow-burning burnout, so she traded skyscrapers for sled dogs.
The signal could be a jingle of your keys, a cuddle session or a treat. By doing this, youre telling your pet that youre leaving, but not forever.
Alejandra Peimbert, a marketing assistant manager at Houston Humane Society, plays hide-and-seek with her dog before she leaves for the day. H-E-B Honey Ham lunch meat is her dogs passion, she said. So when she knows she will be away for a long time, she rips the ham into pieces and hides it around the house.
I tell him to sit and stay before I give him the order to search for it. It keeps him entertained, and I exit, Peimbert said. There has to be something they acknowledge as positive reinforcement when you leave, so they dont get anxious.
Dont let the pets size or breed fool you they will act out if they feel abandoned, she said. Though she has a smaller breed, her dog still chews valuables if Peimbert is gone for a while.
Peimbert also recommends an at-home camera to check on your pet, or even talk to them, while youre away during the day.
Youll see a lot of dogs will scratch at the door, barking or whining, but they should calm down after 5-10 minutes, she said. If it persists, you may need extra help or consult a trainer.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston-area Dog Lodge offers special canines haven through their final days
Being home all the time means another advantage for dogs and some cats: more W-A-L-K-S.
Exercise is important for their health, but a decrease in daily walks is important when readjusting your pet.
Peimbert and Larsen both recommend getting a dog walker during the adjustment period.
Having someone help walk the dog once a day to go potty while be a huge help, Larsen said. Companionship is key, especially for dogs, so a walker is another way to boost their amount of interaction during the day.
julie.garcia@chron.com
twitter.com/reporterjulie
Plans to relax Sunday trading laws have been shelved in the face of mounting Tory opposition.
Ministers had floated the idea of a temporary relaxation of the restrictions to help retailers recover from the impact of the coronavirus.
Boris Johnson, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Business Secretary Alok Sharma were all said to back the idea.
Plans to relax Sunday trading rules are set to be dropped after a Tory backbench rebellion
But Government sources last night confirmed that legal changes needed to bring the idea into force have been dropped from this weeks Business and Planning Bill after a backlash from Tory MPs.
Downing Street insisted that the idea has not been completely ditched, with the PMs official spokesman saying it was under review.
But a senior Tory said the plan was dead in the water following the response by traditionalist MPs who fear a negative impact on family life if more parents are asked to work on Sundays.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak had been among the Cabinet ministers to support the idea
At least 50 Conservative MPs, including former Cabinet minister David Jones, have backed a letter to the PM urging him to drop the plan.
The authors said that while they supported ambitions to stimulate the economy, removing Sunday trading hours will not achieve this.
They said changing the law would harm local shops by displacing trade to out-of-town superstores.
They added: Sunday represents an important common day of rest where families and communities can spend time together
Keeping Sundays just a little bit special provides an opportunity for communities to come together and individuals to pause, reflect and recharge for the working week ahead.
Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, large shops can open for trade between 10am and 6pm
Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, small shops are allowed to operate normal hours but large stores can open for no more than six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm.
Ministers had drawn up plans for a temporary relaxation of the rules to help retailers hit by the lockdown and encourage consumer spending.
Government chief whip Mark Spencer warned the Prime Minister he was facing a major rebellion over the move.
With Labour also opposed to relaxing the Sunday trading laws, Mr Spencer warned there was a real risk of a damaging government defeat.
Former Delhi BJP President and MP from North East Delhi Manoj Tiwari met the family members of Sushant Singh Rajput in Patna on Monday and expressed his condolences. Tiwari paid floral tributes and met the late actor's father KK Singh at his Rajiv Nagar residence in Patna.
Read: 'Unacceptable': BJP MP Roopa Ganguly demands CBI enquiry in Sushant Singh Rajput's case
Manoj Tiwari's statement
Manoj Tiwari while speaking to media said, "I met Sushants father. It's a very sad moment. We have lost a jewel of Bihar and the rising star of India. Everyone is shocked after his demise. Many questions are being raised. We have come to know that young artists face a lot of problems in Bollywood. But whatever happened with Sushant, we want to know the truth and for that, a threadbare investigation is needed. The kind of facts that are emerging in this case, the Maharashtra Government should recommend a CBI probe. Without naming anyone I am demanding a CBI probe."
Read: Mahesh Bhatt slammed for insensitive tweet, Sushant Singh Rajput's viral video & more
Ever since the actor committed suicide at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on June 14, people from all walks of life including politicians, actors, etc have been meeting Sushant Rajputs family to Express their condolences. Manoj Tiwari is the fourth prominent politician after Pappu Yadav, Chirag Paswan, and Sanjay Nirupam who have demanded a CBI probe into the actor's death. Various organizations have also demanded a CBI probe into Sushant's death, with a demand to unravel the nepotism in Bollywood. Sushant was cremated in Mumbai on June 14 and his ashes were immersed in River Ganga in Patna on 19th June.
Read: When Kriti Sanon said Sushant Singh Rajput was a better actor than Varun & Tiger; see here
Read: Sushant Singh Rajput's old video of him writing with both hands simultaneously goes viral
While not heavily touted by Apple on Monday, the company made several moves designed to address some key criticisms leveled by developers and antitrust authorities in recent weeks.
Why it matters: The moves likely won't end all the grumbling or stop regulators in their tracks, but they might turn down the heat for Apple over charges that it is increasingly behaving like a monopolist.
Driving the news: At its developer conference, Apple announced it would:
Allow customers for the first time to set a different email program or web browser as the default option on the iPhone.
Enable the HomePod speaker to work with streaming services beyond the company's own Apple Music.
Apple is also making some changes in how it handles disputes with developers:
In most cases, Apple will now not hold up bug fixes even when it has found an app violates its rules.
Developers will also have a process to challenge whether an app violates a specific rule, as well as to challenge a rule itself.
The big picture: The moves come as Europe has launched an antitrust probe and the chairman of the House Antitrust Subcommittee has criticized the company.
President Donald Trump stepped up his string of attacks on John Bolton, demanding the money his former national security adviser makes from his memoir be seized and calling on him to be jailed for publishing classified information.
'John Bolton was a stupid guy, and he was a guy with no heart,' he told Fox News in an interview that aired Tuesday morning.
The president has railed against Bolton since excerpts leaked from his memoir, 'The Room Where It Happened,' that painted Trump as incapable of handling foreign relations and only concerned with his re-election.
President Donald Trump stepped up his attacks on John Bolton, demanding money he makes be seized and he be jailed for publishing 'highly classified information'
John Bolton's memoir of his 17 months in the White House - 'The Room Where it Happened' - will be published on Tuesday
'Washed up Creepster John Bolton is a lowlife who should be in jail, money seized, for disseminating, for profit, highly Classified information,' Trump wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning, the day Bolton's book goes on sale.
Bolton reportedly received a $2 million advance for the book.
The White House tried to block Bolton's book from being released, claiming it contained classified information, but a judge on Saturday rejected the Justice Department's emergency request to block its publication, citing publisher Simon & Schuster's argument that more than 200,000 copies of the memoir had already shipped for sale.
The judge did say that Bolton 'likely jeopardized national security' and exposed himself to criminal prosecution for events he revealed in his book.
Bolton, a longtime diplomat, denies his book contains classified information and noted it was cleared by a career staffer in the White House ahead of publication.
Trump has demanded Bolton be jailed for writing the tome, which has topped the nonfiction best seller list on Amazon.com and has popped up online in pirated editions.
'What he did do is he took classified information, and he published it during a presidency. It's you know, it's one thing to write a book after, during. And I believe that he's a criminal. And I believe, frankly, he should go to jail for that,' Trump told Fox News' Brian Kilmeade in an interview that aired Tuesday morning.
Bolton has been on a massive media campaign to promote his memoir. His sit-down interview with ABC's Martha Raddatz on Sunday night garnered 6.1 million viewers, more than programming on CBS, NBC and Fox.
He will appear on Fox News - one of Trump's favorite TV networks - on Tuesday night.
Bolton has come under fire from the president and his former colleagues in the administration, who have described diva like behavior from the former national security adviser.
'Bolton was just a mean, nasty human being,' a high-ranking administration official told DailyMail.com last week. 'He was broadly disliked in the building, including by many on his own staff.'
This official described how Bolton wanted his own Air Force jet to fly to London for last year's state visit - instead of traveling on Air Force One with the president.
And former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders released tidbits from her upcoming memoir via Twitter, where described Bolton as 'drunk on power.'
According to Sanders, 'Bolton apparently felt too important to travel with the rest of us. It was a running joke in the White House.'
She revealed that former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney tore into Bolton for having a separate motorcade during the London state visit and leaving the rest of the staff behind while he used police protection to move through the city's traffic.
'He lit into him in a way I hadn't seen him do to anyone before,' Sanders wrote. 'Mick made clear he was the chief of staff and Bolton's total disregard for his colleagues and common decency was unacceptable and would no longer be tolerated. 'Let's face it John,' Mick said. 'You're a f*****g self-righteous, self-centered son of a b***h!''
After Sanders made her charge, Keith Urbahn of Javelin, the D.C firm handling publication of Bolton's book, took a jab at Sanders.
'Since "every conversation" with Trump is "classified," sincerely hope @SarahHuckabee didn't include any direct quotes. If so, I am sure we can expect DoJ action to stop the book,' he tweeted.
The president said last week: 'I will consider every conversation with me as president highly classified.'
Former press secretary Sarah Sanders (in green) took aim at former National Security Advisor John Bolton (right in 2019) in a newly released excerpt from her upcoming memoir
Sanders said Bolton was 'drunk on power' in the excerpt which she released on Twitter Monday
Keith Urbahn of Javelin, the D.C firm handling publication of John Bolton's book, took a jab at Sarah Sanders for her complaints about Bolton
Trump has had his own harsh words for Bolton.
He claimed Monday morning he knew Bolton was a 'wacko' when he hired him as his national security adviser but added he didn't know he would be a 'liar.'
'I gave John Bolton, who was incapable of being Senate confirmed because he was considered a wacko, and was not liked, a chance. I always like hearing differing points of view,' Trump lashed out in a tweet as Bolton started his book tour.
'He turned out to be grossly incompetent, and a liar,' he continued.
The president also referenced the Justice Department's attempt to block the memoir from being published with claimed that it contains 'highly classified' information.
'See judge's opinion. CLASSIFIED INFORMATION!!!' the president asserted in his tweet.
Bolton's book will hit shelves Tuesday after a judge dismissed the DOJ seeking a stop order and the memoir details his 17 months as Trump's national security adviser.
In an interview with ABC News Monday morning a follow up from an hour-long interview with the same network that aired Sunday night Bolton claimed that he would not vote for the president's reelection, and urged other Republicans to do the same.
He also insisted to 'Good Morning America' host George Stephenopoulos that it is up to voters to make Trump a one-term president, claiming he would be writing in a conservative Republican on his ballot in November.
'I hope [history] will remember him as a one-term president who didn't plunge the country irretrievably into a downward spiral we can't recall from,' Bolton said.
'We can get over one term I have absolute confidence, even if it's not the miracle of a conservative Republican being elected in November,' he added. 'Two terms, I'm more troubled about.'
Donald Trump admitted Monday morning that he hired John Bolton even though he knew he was a 'wacko,' insisting that he was not aware he would turn out to be a 'liar' and 'grossly incompetent'
Trump lashed out at Bolton as the former national security adviser starts his book tour, asserting that he revealed classified information in the book even though he has called the memoir 'fiction'
John Bolton refused to say Monday morning if he would comply with a subpoena if Democrats called him to testify about information he revealed in his upcoming book
'Let's see what they decide to do,' Bolton told ABC News' George Stephenopoulos of Democrats, also urging voters to make Trump a one-term president and claiming he will write in the name of a conservative Republican on the ballot in November
John Bolton responds to criticism of his book: The primary way we reign presidents in is not through impeachments, its elections https://t.co/zpjlpYU7OO pic.twitter.com/IbrnDZDQpb Good Morning America (@GMA) June 22, 2020
'I think one of the most important things I learned in watching Donald Trump up close, is he doesn't have any philosophy,' Bolton said of his tenure in the White House.
'It's all about Donald Trump. And that, to me, is a lesson for Americans as a whole but particularly for conservative Republicans,' he added, claiming he 'cannot in good conscious vote for him.'
Bolton would not say if he would comply with a subpoena if Democrats compelled him to testify regarding new information revealed in his upcoming book.
'Let's see what they decide to do,' Bolton dodged when Stephenopoulos asked if he would testify this time around. 'Look, let's be clear, the primary way that we reign presidents in is not through impeachment, it's through elections.'
'And, you know, what they do next, obviously, is up to them,' he said of the potential of a subpoena.
The main criticism of his book from Democrats, and some Republicans, is that instead of testifying before Congress as part of the impeachment proceedings, he decided to share that information in a bombshell book.
Bolton is promoting the Tuesday release of his new book, The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, which details his 17 months as Trump's national security adviser
The move has been bashed as 'greedy' and selfish by the likes of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Bolton blamed Democrats for his decision not to appear in Congress, claiming in an interview that aired on ABC Sunday night with Martha Raddatz that they went about the proceedings in a 'politicized' manner and said his testimony 'would not have made a difference.'
'Presidential behavior can be reckless, reprehensible, dangerous doesn't necessarily make it impeachable,' Bolton said. 'I think one of the mistakes that the Democrats made, and they made plenty, is the idea that everything is resolved through the impeachment process.'
'They mishandled it badly, I called it impeachment malpractice in the book,' he continued,
When pushed on why he decided to release a book rather than testify against the president on his first-hand knowledge of wrongdoing, Bolton said he was acting on his philosophy as a life-long conservative Republican.
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Microscopy Devices Market Share, Trends And Growth Analysis By Type (Optical Microscopes, Electron Microscope, Scanning Probe Microscope (Spm), Others), By Application (Life Science, Material Science, Pathology), By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Academic & Research Institutes, Diagnostics Centers) - Forecast Till 2022
Market Research Future (MRFR) in recently published study asserts that the global microscopy device market is expected to reach USD ~10.5 Billion in 2022; it has been noted that market is growing at steady pace and is expected to grow at the CAGR of 7.8% during the forecasted period 2016 2022. Surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value & volume, the market is expected to gain prominence over the forecasted period.
Factors substantiating the market growth include the increased funding by the public and private sector for life science research studies and the expansion of the semiconductor industries in most of the emerging nations. Increasing research and development activities initiated by governments, schools, universities and research institutions across the developing regions have fuelled the growth of the market.
Global Microscopy Device Market Regional Analysis
Globally, Asia-Pacific is the largest market for microscopy devices. The APAC market is expected to grow further registering 7.3% CAGR during 2016-2022. North America market for microscopy devices accounting for the second-largest market globally will grow at 11.5% CAGR during the assessment period.
Microscopy Device Market Competitive Analysis
The Microscopy Device market is widely expanded and highly competitive with the presence of numerous major and small players operating at the international and regional level around the globe. The market will witness fierce competition due to the expected extensions in product & service and product innovations. Manufacturers operating in the Microscopy Device market strive to develop Device with adept technology with unrivalled design and features.
Get full report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/microscopy-devices-market-2313
Key Players:
FEI, Meiji Techno, Nikon Metrology NV, Woodley Equipment Company Ltd, Radical Scientific Equipments Pvt. Ltd, Bruker, Mauna Kea Technologies SA, Icon Analytical Equipment Pvt. Ltd, Olympus Corporation, NIDEK Inc., Sonix, Inc., Konan Medical USA Inc., Carl Zeiss, and Leica Microsystems are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Microscopy Device Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.
Industry/ Innovation/ Related News
November 2017 Researchers of Germany and Portugal collaboratively developed the first microscope to concurrently monitor movement and neuron activity in zebrafish larvae without interfering with their behavior. To enable wider use in the research community, the neurobehavioral tracking microscope uses off-the-shelf components and is open source.
Browse other healthcare-related reports
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About Market Research Future:
MRFR team has supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country-level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.
tech2 News Staff
At the WWDC 2020, Apple announced that it will switch to its own Silicon chips for its Mac computers. Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the first machines powered by the new Silicon chips will ship by the end of this year, ending a nearly 15-year reliance on Intel to supply processors for its flagship laptops and desktop. Cook also said that the transition to its new chip is expected to take two years.
Tim Cook believes that the Silicon chips will mark the beginning of a major new era for a product line that powered the company's rise in the 1980s and its resurgence in the late 1990s.
Silicon is at the heart of our hardware," Cook said during a virtual keynote address recorded at the company's Cupertino, California headquarters for its annual developer conference. "Having a world-class silicon design team is a game changer.
The silicon switch brings the Mac into line with the company's iPhone and iPads, which already use Apple-designed chips. Cook said that Apple expects the Mac transition to take about two years and that Apple still has some Intel-based computers in its pipeline that it will support for "many years."
But the move will give software developers for Apple's largest pool of third-party apps - those built for iPhones and iPads - new access to its laptops and desktop for the first time. Apple software chief Craig Federighi said that for those offerings, "most apps will just work, with no changes from the developer" on the new Macs. He also said the "vast majority" of existing apps for Intel-based machines can be modified to work in "just a few days."
The news came at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference. The conference has gained new prominence since paid services sold through the App Store have become central to the company's revenue growth as consumers have slowed the growth of iPhone upgrades. Apple takes a 15 percent to 30 percent cut of the sales developers make through the App Store, which is the only way to distribute software onto Apple's mobile devices.
Those fees, and Apple's strict app review process, have come under antitrust scrutiny in the United States and Europe, where regulators last week unveiled a formal probe into the company. In what appeared to be an acknowledgement of its some of its critics, Apple said it would let users select non-Apple apps as default apps for tasks like email and web browsing on iPhones and iPads.
But developers still gravitate toward Apple's platform because it is lucrative, with a user base that is willing to spend money on paid apps. The annual developer conference, being held online this year for the first time because of the novel coronavirus, is where Apple often announces access to new hardware capabilities, such as special tools for artificial intelligence and augmented reality.
(Also read: Apple WWDC 2020: Apple announces iOS 14, iPadOS 14, WatchOS 7 and more)
At the event, Apple announced a new system that lets users share digital car keys with friends and family members via the company's iMessage system, will work with BMW 5 Series vehicles.
The system will work with phones running the current iOS 13 operating system so that owners can start using it when BMW vehicles arrive. Apple said more cars that work with the system will come to market next year.
Apple also updated its mapping application with information about electric vehicle charging stations, working with BMW and Ford Motor Co to show stations compatible with the user's vehicle.
Apple also added new privacy protections, saying it would let users only share their approximate location with app developers and that it would require those developers to seek permission before sharing user data with other apps and websites. Apple also said it would require a privacy and security label, akin to a food nutrition label, to be shown to users before they download apps.
Besides this, Apple also announced features App Clips and App Library on iOS 14, new iMessage and Memoji updates across iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur, updates to Apple Maps, Face Sharing on Apple Watch, Apple Pencil updates, Spatial Audio feature for AirPods, new handwashing app for Watch, among other things.
With inputs from Reuters
Chennai, June 23 : After the death of a father-son duo, who were in judicial custody, opposition DMK's President M.K. Stalin on Tuesday demanded strict action against police officials allegedly responsible for their demise due to assault.
Stalin also demanded that Chief Minister K. Palaniswami, who holds the Home portfolio, to answer the public on the deaths in judicial custody.
The opposition leader said that Stathankulam police had arrested the man and son after arguments on June 19 over the closure of their shop during the lockdown.
The police had booked the two on charge of preventing officials from performing their duty. They were remanded in judicial custody and housed in Kovilpatti jail on June 21.
On June 22, both were admitted to hospital where they died.
Stalin said area residents had alleged that the two were severely assaulted physically at the police station on June 19, owing to which they died.
People in Sathankulam also held a street protest against the "police brutality".
"I took this as a joke and said I would see what I could do." Former High Court justice Dyson Heydon. Credit:Ben Rushton Following his speech, Mr Heydon sat down next to Ms Blumer for dessert, and told her she was "the sexiest woman he had ever met in his entire life". "I was pretty dumbfounded by this extravagant and inappropriate statement ... from such an eminent person," she wrote. After that, "the judge's hands became very busy under the table, on my lap, feeling up the side of my leg", she wrote.
Ms Blumer said she "was wiggling away from him, but trying not to cause a scene that would be obvious to others". Mr Heydon suggested they go outside together "to discuss adoption law". Ms Blumer said they went into an empty room and "he immediately sat next to me and was hugging me and attempting to kiss me," she recounted. She evaded him and told him she was "definitely not interested" and "he should leave me alone". "He said that was a shame, it would be such a wonderful encounter ... he asked that it remain between ourselves." Ms Blumer was shaken and left the ball immediately.
"I was upset and disgusted by it all," she said. She told her husband, Mark Blumer, and the next day, she told her friend Professor Murray Raff, of the University of Canberra, who had also attended the ball. In a statement to the Herald, Professor Raff confirmed Ms Blumer informed him the next day "of inappropriate and unwelcome behaviour towards her at the ball, by the retired Justice of the High Court of Australia, Dyson Heydon". Professor Raff informed his "senior university colleagues" including the Head of the Law Faculty, Maree Sainsbury.
Loading "The Head of the School of Law at the time, after discussions with the vice-chancellor, contacted Ms Blumer to express the university's concern over the incident," the statement said. In a second statement, the university said: "a student did raise concerns about inappropriate behaviour by Justice Heydon at the 2013 Law School Ball". "The university responded immediately and Justice Heydon was removed from the event", and the student "received ongoing counselling and support", according to the statement. Another former female University of Canberra student who attended the 2013 ball said she also had an upsetting encounter with Mr Heydon that evening, when he sat down at her table. She had never met the judge before.
"He stared at my breasts the whole time and then he made a remark about my breasts and the dress I was wearing," she said. "It made me so uncomfortable that I got up from the conversation and left." The former student, who did not wish to be named, said it was a "really uncomfortable situation". "I remember [Heydon] being intoxicated and I remember feeling angry that he was there as a guest and the audacity of a person to do that." The young woman was not a law student, but was aware of "who he was" because Mr Heydon had given the keynote speech.
"That's what shocked me the most and why I recall it, because of who he was and his title," she said. "I told my friends, 'That guy is a grub'." Statement from Dyson Heydon's lawyers: In respect of the confidential inquiry and its subsequent confidential report, any allegation of predatory behaviour or breaches of the law is categorically denied by our client. The inquiry was an internal administrative inquiry and was conducted by a public servant and not by a lawyer, judge or a tribunal member. It was conducted without having statutory powers of investigation and of administering affirmations or oaths.
The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) has released its crime statistics for 2019, which show a drop in physical banking crime across multiple categories.
A decline in the prevalence of associated robberies, cash-in-transit heists, and ATM attacks was attributed to robust mitigation strategies put in place by the banks, SABRIC said.
The term associated robbery refers to a violent bank-related robbery of cash or a bank card committed against a bank client en route to, or from a bank branch, ATM, or cash centre to make a deposit or withdrawal.
ATM attacks decreased by 9%, cash-in-transit heists fell by 16%, and associated robberies dropped by 2% in the past year.
The Western Cape and Gauteng showed the biggest decline in ATM attacks, and KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State were the only provinces which did not reflect a decreased number of cash-in-transit robberies.
SABRIC found that the counterfeiting of cards decreased by 44.8% for credit cards and 34.8% for debit cards, and overall gross losses on card transactions in South Africa amounted to R428.6 million for 2019, a 2% decrease compared to the previous year.
Collaboration is critical when it comes to combatting organised financial crime and SABRIC is well positioned to do just that, by leveraging the collective efforts of its members and stakeholders. These results show whats possible, said SABRIC CEO Nischal Mewalall.
Big spike in business roberries
In contrast to this decline, however, business burglaries and robberies have seen sharp annual increases of 27% and 86%, respectively.
A business burglary is when a company is broken into to remove cash or any other movable property, while a business robbery is the violent removal of cash or movable property while under the control of a bank.
Digital banking fraud incidents increased by 20%, SABRIC noted.
The statistics also found that gross fraud losses on banking apps increased by only 1% despite a significant drive by banks to increase the number of transactions processed on apps.
Our banks have sound security measures in place to mitigate digital fraud, Mewalall said.
Criminals know this and therefore resort to manipulative social engineering tactics to get bank customers to inadvertently share their personal and confidential information, allowing them access to transact on customer accounts without authority.
Crime hotspots
SABRIC provided regional crime statistics for a number of crimes, including ATM attacks, associated robbery, burglary, and cash-in-transit heists.
Gauteng remains the national hotspot for cash-in transit heists, as well as associated robbery and ATM attacks.
The Eastern Cape had the highest number of burglaries and bank robberies.
The images below illustrate the provincial distribution of banking crime incidents across a variety of categories.
Associated Robbery
ATM Attack
Burglary
Bank Robbery
Cash-in-transit
Now read: Why South African banks will not scrap ATM Saswitch fees
Patna, June 24 : The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday received a jolt when five of its Legislative Council members resigned from the opposition party and joined the ruling Janata Dal-United.
The Legislative Council has issued a notification in this regard.
These leaders are Radhacharan Seth, Dilip Rai, Kamre Alam, Sanjay Prasad and Ranvijay Singh.
The development comes ahead of next month's elections to the nine Council seats. Sources said that many RJD MLAs too were in touch with the ruling party for switching alliance.
According to a notification issued by the Bihar Legislative Council, the five RJD legislators resigned from the party forming a separate group, and joined the ruling JD-U.
Their joining has also been approved by an order of the Executive Chairman of the Legislative Council.
Meanwhile, Raghuvansh Singh, a senior RJD leader and a former Union Minister, currently admitted to AIIMS, Patna with the Coronavirus infection has also resigned from all party posts.
Kedar Yadav, an assistant to Singh, also a former MP, said: "Raghuvansh babu has resigned from his posts, not the party. He is currently fighting with Corona. Despite his objection, a man with a criminal image like Rama Singh is in the party. He has resigned to protest against this. " Party spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari said that Singh's resignation has not reached the party office yet.
It needs to be mentioned here that JD-U leaders have already claimed that many RJD MLAs and MLCs are in touch with them.
You could call it a Continental drift. No sooner has Irelands staycation summer rebooted its reservation system, many travellers are already shimmying their holiday horizons to the mainland; from a city-break to Barcelona, to soaking up some distancia social on a Costa Brava beach.
Im also hanging on the updates - with a pre-existing Aer Lingus booking to Dubrovnik still offering hope of a Balkan breakaway in July. And like many, for the last three months Ive been logging every travel update, every national reopening and seeing every border-crossing pact between Serbia and Montengero as a step in the right direction.
To Europe.
While our Euro Summer 2020 was initially unthinkable, as our national road-map fast-forwards, so too is the airline industry. Just eight airlines were operating out of Dublin Airport earlier this month.
By July, that fleet will rise to 33. Cork Airport is also ready to taxi. Our Swiss service to Zurich and Air France service to Paris are due to restart next month while KLM is looking at an August launch of its new Amsterdam service, Kevin Cullihane, Head of Communications of Cork Airport, tells me.
And Ryanair is also gearing up to restart twenty two routes from July 1.
Expect some bargain deals to come into land, too.
Its those Ryanair routes, with attractive summer fares and waived booking charges, which will dangle over consumers heads this month like forbidden Valencia oranges. There is that caveat, of course.
The Irish Authorities advise against all non-essential travel overseas until further notice, plus our 14-day quarantine remains in place. For now, European getaways will come with the socially loaded suspicion of possibly importing infection back onto the island. And while you may be thrilled your gilded Algarve tan - youre not going to want to be spotted down your local Centra with it.
For now, I'll hold out for July - and that sense of European escape experienced while searching for an Airbnb in a hamlet in North Macedonian. The best advice is to stay in close contact with the respective airlines as they ease out of lockdown, according to Cullihane.
But watch also for Government decisions in relation to foreign travel advisories and the current mandatory quarantine which is due to be reviewed again on July 9.
Aer Lingus are yet to make an announcement about adding more to its current Heathrow service from Cork but fingers crossed and roll on those July 9 updates. I might make it Dubrovnik yet.
Spain
Spain rebooted its tourism industry on Monday with the country dropping quarantine regulations for the mainland, with the Canary Islands following suit. Regions like Valencia with its 134 blue flag beaches are gearing up to welcome sun-worshippers while rustic favourites like Galicia and Aragon can expect a tourism bounce for those seeking more escape. You can fly from Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Knock and Kerry to the costas this summer.
Fares from Shannon to Malaga start from 170 return. ( spain.info )
Portugal
Endless 30 degree weather, 10 three-course lunches and not having to change your watch - Portugal just does the holiday numbers so well. Their national tourism board has created a Clean & Safe stamp so tourism businesses can offer peace of mind to visitors, and while there have been outbreaks on the Algarve - 80% of Portugals cases have been confined to Lisbon.
The mainland and Madeira impose no quarantine, while the Covid-free Azores require a two week self- isolation to keep it that way. Fly from Cork to Faro from 120 return. visitportugal.com
France
The worlds most touristed country, France also launched their tourism bienvenue this week as the country reopened on Monday. And theyve been busy preparing: the Palais Versailles has enjoyed a massive deep-clean while the Louvre has new measures to peter out crowding: you may never experience a Paris like it again!
Paris, France.
The South of France is also looking inviting; Cork fares to Carcasonne start from 110 return. france.fr
Croatia
With one of the lowest Covid-19 case rates in the EU, Croatia was one of first countries to open up its tourism sector, while neighbouring Montenegro officially added Ireland to their welcome list earlier this month.
With the highest inventory of Airbnbs per capita in Europe, Croatias Adriatic coast will appeal to visitors looking for self-catering value, but expect the cobbled streets of Split and Dubrovnik to be far less-tourist choked this summer. Fly from Dublin to Split in July from 165 return. ( croatia.hr )
All fares correct at the time of print and include 10kg cabin baggage. (ryanair.com)
23rd June 2020
Runtime 14:08
Carl Esprey, Executive Director at Contango Holdings is interviewed by @Donaldleggatt @LondonSouthEast. Contango have just been readmitted to the London Stock Exchange Main Market.
Contango Holdings was a shell company set up 2 and a half years ago to look for a near term production asset "which could be developed and turned into cashflow in short order". Contango felt that the Lubu Coalfield in Northern Zimbabwe looked ideal. "We didn't want to take on the risk of an Exploration Licence, so we tasked the vendor [Consolidated Growth Holdings] to turn it into a Mining Licence which they duly did, so we have recently closed on the transaction to purchase of the Mining Licence for Lubu in Northern Zimbabwe.
This will allow us to start construction of the mine soon and move quickly towards first cash flow" explained Carl. The one billion tonnes+ Lubu coal field is one of the biggest discoveries in Southern Africa according to Carl, and although it contains both coking coal and thermal coal, the priority is to develop coking coal first. Coking coal is used to make coke, an essential ingredient for steelmaking and has an international market. "We were in discussions about offtake agreements when Covid struck and will resume those in a month or two's time when South Africa opens up again." Contango was already a listed shell company.
"The first block of shareholders are the people who set up the Contango company. The second big block is the vendor of the asset [Consolidated] who will end up owning 65% of the company post dilution, and the last block is people who have put in money in the latest raise, we have raised 1.4M, those are institutions, high net worths and some retail investors".
Following simultaneous mobilizations to support COVID-19 response and quell civil unrest, the National Guard is preparing to respond to what is expected to be a highly active hurricane season.
"We know things will be different this year," Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven Nordhaus, director of operations for the National Guard Bureau, said Monday in a conference call with defense reporters.
Read next: Defense Production Still Caught in COVID-19 Slowdown, Top Weapons Buyer Says
"Social distancing, [personal protective equipment], screening and testing, sheltering and other impacts will cause us to change how we respond," said Nordhaus, who was joined on the call by Army Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, the Texas National Guard adjutant general, and Air Force Maj. Gen. James Eifert, the Florida adjutant general.
The hurricane season, which officially began June 1, is expected to produce a higher than average number of major storms this year, Nordhaus said.
"What we're seeing this year is there is an increased indication of the weather pattern" to show the possibility of more major storms, he said. "So where a normal year might be eight to 12, they're tracking maybe as many as 16."
One of the major changes in how the Guard responds this year will be in dealing with evacuees from hard-hit areas if called upon by local and federal authorities, Eifert said.
With COVID-19 precautions in mind, the emphasis will be on finding "non-congregate shelters," meaning individual rooms, for evacuees rather than the armories or school gyms that have been used in past hurricane seasons, Eifert said.
Florida's Department of Emergency Management is identifying vacant hotels, motels and dormitories where evacuees could get individual rooms "to prevent the potential spread of the COVID virus," he added.
Eifert said his biggest concern is having enough Guard members in Florida on hand and ready to respond to hurricane emergencies following call-ups for COVID-19 and to assist local law enforcement agencies in dealing with unrest following the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
"We are trying really hard to whittle down the numbers on duty" to allow members to reset in anticipation of more activations for hurricane response, Eifert said.
Nordhaus noted that, on June 6, more than 120,000 National Guard members had been activated to deal with COVID-19, civil unrest and overseas deployments -- a historic number.
Norris said her biggest concern is ensuring the health of members of the Texas National Guard, who might be called up for hurricane response.
"The biggest thing for us at the National Guard is, we have to be well in order to respond," she explained.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the gender pronouns for Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris.
-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com
Related: They Really Did It: Guard Members Create COVID-19 Challenge Coin
China Sends Ship as Warning to Vietnam: No Court Case, No Oil Drilling
By Ralph Jennings June 22, 2020
China sent a survey vessel through waters claimed by its maritime sovereignty rival Vietnam this month to warn Hanoi against starting new energy exploration projects and filing any motions in an international court, observers say.
Tracking tools showed China's 105-meter-long, 58-person survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 4 moving toward Vietnamese waters on June 14, Radio Free Asia reported. The vessel passed three days later within 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) of Vietnam's coast a country's normal exclusive economic zone the report said.
That movement follows the passage of another Chinese vessel near Vietnam in April and a standoff at sea last year.
The Chinese government, the most powerful entity in a six-way South China Sea sovereignty dispute that includes Vietnam, hopes its ships discourage Vietnamese leaders from filing for world court arbitration as the Philippines did in 2013, analysts believe.
At the same time, China is warning Vietnam against any new undersea oil or gas exploration projects near a nine-dash line that Beijing uses to demarcate its maritime claims, analysts say.
"What I would see as recent moves, including the most recent one, I think is meant to signal to Vietnam to think twice before resorting to all sorts of these means to undermine Chinese interests, and that includes striking up new deals with other energy partners and all that," said Collin Koh, a maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
In November a deputy Vietnamese foreign minister cited arbitration and litigation as two possible measures against China.
Three years after Manila sued, a Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled against the legal basis for China's nine-dash line. China dismissed the ruling but used aid and investment on its own to strengthen relations with rival maritime claimants. Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan also claim all or parts of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea.
Vietnam and China clashed at sea in 1974, 1988 and 2014, setting Hanoi apart from other sea claimants that seldom spark conflict. The first two incidents were deadly. In 2014 Vietnam charged China with ramming a Vietnamese fishing boat. That incident along with upset over the placement of a Chinese oil rig sparked anti-Chinese rioting in Vietnam.
China, backed by the world's third strongest military, claims about 90% of the South China Sea, prized for fish, energy and shipping lanes.
China cites historical records to support its drilling, surveillance and island construction within the nine-dash line.
Vietnam and China are both looking for fossil fuel reserves under the seabed. China withdrew its vessels in October last year after four months of patrol near a gas-and-oil tract 352 kilometers southeast of Vietnam.
Other oil explorers should take note of China's survey vessel movement, suggested Euan Graham, senior fellow with the Singapore-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines actively seek undersea fuel, sometimes contracting projects to foreign drillers.
"I think it's a part of an underlying strategy, which is to intimidate and harass all Southeast Asian exploration activity within the nine-dash line and to a point where it becomes economically unviable for foreign companies and even local companies to exploit, aware that China is going to make life that difficult with them," Graham said.
China may hope to nudge other claimants toward joint energy exploration, he added.
Drilling contractors expect Vietnam to provide security during any projects, Koh said. They could ask Vietnam for a higher contract fee if they fear harassment, said Nguyen Thanh Trung, director of the Center for International Studies director at University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam had no rigs at an exploration tract along the Chinese boat's reported mid-June route, Nguyen added. The country hopes to stay low-key for now as the ruling Communist Party prepares for its 2021 national congress, he said. An upset at sea would derail the event agenda.
"Vietnam is making a compromise that it doesn't want to confront China for the time being," Nguyen said. "In the next year, the Vietnamese Communist Party congress will be convened, so anything that's happening in the South China Sea may have a big impact, so that's the reason why the Vietnamese government wants to put out the tension in the South China Sea."
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Many epidemiologists believe that the initial COVID-19 infection rate was undercounted due to testing issues, asymptomatic and alternatively symptomatic individuals, and a failure to identify early cases.
Now, a new study from Penn State estimates that the number of early COVID-19 cases in the U.S. may have been more than 80 times greater and doubled nearly twice as fast as originally believed.
In a paper published today (June 22) in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers estimated the detection rate of symptomatic COVID-19 cases using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's influenza-like illnesses (ILI) surveillance data over a three week period in March 2020.
We analyzed each state's ILI cases to estimate the number that could not be attributed to influenza and were in excess of seasonal baseline levels. When you subtract these out, you're left with what we're calling excess ILI - cases that can't be explained by either influenza or the typical seasonal variation of respiratory pathogens." Justin Silverman, Assistant Professor in Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology and Department of Medicine
The researchers found that the excess ILI showed a nearly perfect correlation with the spread of COVID-19 around the country.
Said Silverman, "This suggests that ILI data is capturing COVID cases, and there appears to be a much greater undiagnosed population than originally thought."
Remarkably, the size of the observed surge of excess ILI corresponds to more than 8.7 million new cases during the last three weeks of March, compared to the roughly 100,000 cases that were officially reported during the same time period.
"At first I couldn't believe our estimates were correct," said Silverman. "But we realized that deaths across the U.S. had been doubling every three days and that our estimate of the infection rate was consistent with three-day doubling since the first observed case was reported in Washington state on January 15."
The researchers also used this process to estimate infection rates for each state, noting that states showing higher per capita rates of infection also had higher per capita rates of a surge in excess ILI. Their estimates showed rates much higher than initially reported but closer to those found once states began completing antibody testing.
In New York, for example, the researchers' model suggested that at least 9% of the state's entire population was infected by the end of March. After the state conducted antibody testing on 3,000 residents, they found a 13.9% infection rate, or 2.7 million New Yorkers.
Excess ILI appears to have peaked in mid-March as, the researchers suggest, fewer patients with mild symptoms sought care and states implemented interventions which led to lower transmission rates. Nearly half of U.S. states were under stay-at-home orders by March 28.
The findings suggest an alternative way of thinking about the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our results suggest that the overwhelming effects of COVID-19 may have less to do with the virus' lethality and more to do with how quickly it was able to spread through communities initially," Silverman explained. "A lower fatality rate coupled with a higher prevalence of disease and rapid growth of regional epidemics provides an alternative explanation of the large number of deaths and overcrowding of hospitals we have seen in certain areas of the world."
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump surveyed a section of new border wall in Arizona on Tuesday, the first stop on a swing through two battleground states this week as his reelection campaign tries to regain its footing after a disappointing rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In 102-degree temperatures and dusty brown terrain, Trump examined the tall metal fence along the U.S.-Mexico border in San Luis, Arizona, and signed a metal plaque attached to the structure marking 200 miles of construction.
Trump, who made building the border wall a signature promise of his election campaign four years ago, declared before the tour that the barrier is the most powerful and comprehensive border wall structure anywhere in the world.
Maybe somebody can get an extraordinarily long ladder, but once you get up there, it gets very high, he said during a roundtable discussion on border security. And its just about unclimbable.
Later, Trump turned a 90-minute speech at a Phoenix megachurch into a full-on campaign rally, railing against a "left-wing mob" and "left-wing intolerance" and urging a group of young people to make sure their parents, relatives and friends show up at the polls on Election Day.
"We will never surrender to mob violence, and we will uphold American freedom, equality and justice for every citizen of every background," Trump said to raucous cheers. "That is what we believe. And that is why we must prevail on Nov. 3."
Neither the trip to Arizona nor Trump's visit to Wisconsin on Thursday is considered an official campaign event, but both states are expected to be pivotal in this fall's election. In Wisconsin, Trump will tour a Marinette shipyard that was recently awarded a $5.5 billion contract to build guided missile frigates for the Navy.
The events give Trump an opportunity to try to erase the images of Saturday's rally in Tulsa, where he addressed a crowd that filled roughly half of the arena and scrapped plans to address an overflow crowd after it didn't materialize.
Story continues
Live updates: President Donald Trump returns to Arizona on Tuesday as COVID-19 cases rise
The rally came at the end of an exhaustive week for the president, which included two Supreme Court rulings against the Trump administration on LGBT workplace discrimination, as well as the administration's effort to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that offers legal protection for young migrants at risk of deportation.
The administration was also forced to mount a defense after copies of former White House national security adviser John Bolton's book circulated in Washington. The White House tried to block the book's release but a judge cleared the way for its publication. On top of that, several polls released last week showed Trump trailing his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Exclusive: John Bolton says Trump's White House was 'like living inside a pinball machine'
The fallout from the Tulsa rally raises the stakes even higher for the events in Arizona and Wisconsin, said Kevin Madden, a political consultant who has advised several Republican presidential candidates.
"He's an incumbent president who is in the unfortunate position of being an underdog at the moment so, yes, the stakes are high," Madden said. "Arizona and Wisconsin are battlegrounds that he can't afford to lose, and his Republican allies are anxious to see the campaign turn things around because their political fortunes are at stake as well."
At the church event in Phoenix, Trump returned to many of the same themes he uses to fire up crowds at official campaign rallies.
He complained that he was impeached "over a perfect phone call." He claimed Democrats "want to raise everybody's taxes" and warned that they are trying to rig the election through mail-in ballots. He again referred to the coronavirus as the "kung flu," as he did in Tulsa, despite criticism that it's a racist phrase.
And he mocked his likely Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, questioning the former vice president's mental acuity and warning that the country "would be a mess" if "Sleepy Joe" becomes president.
Trump even claimed that the only reason he was elected in 2016 was because former President Barack Obama and Biden did a horrible job during their eight years in power. "If they did a good job," he said, "we wouldn't have been here."
Earlier Tuesday, dozens of supporters and a few protesters braved the intense heat to greet Trump upon his arrival in Arizona.
Yolanda Juarez Ashburn, 60, from Yuma, chanted "four more years" and held a sign that said Trump Pence Make America Great Again.
She wants Trump to be reelected because he did what he promised, like constructing part of the border wall and helping people get jobs. She said Trump is helping citizens and legal immigrants. Shes a U.S. citizen from Mexico who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 40 years.
I live very close to the border and I see how many people pour across the border, she said.
Margarita Keath, 76, showed up to protest against Trump. Keath, who is from Puerto Rico, carried a sign that read, Liar, corrupt, Trump has to go.
We cannot take four more years of this guy," she said. "Everybody needs to get out and vote. He is not the president for all of us. He is only president for his base."
What happened in Tulsa
With less than five months until Election Day, and political events largely on hiatus for several months because of coronavirus, Trump on Saturday aimed to restart his campaign before an arena packed with 19,000 supporters in Tulsa.
Instead he was greeted with a crowd of about 6,200, according to an estimate by the Tulsa Fire Department, and a sea of empty blue seats in the upper sections of the arena. Plans for for the president and vice president to speak to an overflow crowd outside the arena were canceled after the dwindling crowd moved inside.
Alex Conant, a GOP consultant who served as communications director for Sen. Marco Rubios presidential effort in 2016, said the campaign will likely need another form of relaunch after Tulsa's less-than-expected attendance.
President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center on June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Trump is traveling this week to Arizona and Wisconsin, two states considered pivotal in the November election.
"Trump needs to reframe this election as a choice between himself and Biden. The last couple of weeks were among the worst stretches for any president ever," Conant said. "He needs to turn the page, reframe the race and not have any more missteps like Tulsa."
The campaign blamed low turnout Saturday on media coverage of nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd last month and a surge in coronavirus cases in Oklahoma in the days leading up to the rally.
The president has dismissed concerns from health experts about the spread of COVID-19 at large-scale events such as his rallies and protests. But before Saturday's rally, the campaign announced six members of its advance team, including two Secret Service members, had tested positive. On Monday, two more staffers joined their ranks.
Matt Mackowiak, a Texas-based Republican political strategist, said the events in Arizona and Wisconsin give Trump an opportunity "to drive a message and motivate his base after three months where we seen some slippage in the polling."
"He can call attention to promises kept on his key issues, which will remind voters of the stakes in the election and the choice they have" in November, Mackowiak said.
Most polls show Trump trailing Biden. Biden leads Trump by 9.5 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics most recent average of polls. Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in Arizona by 3.5 percentage points in 2016 and pulled off a surprise victory in Wisconsin by edging Clinton by less than 1 point. Democrats and Republicans are both eyeing the states in their path to victory in November.
Before Tuesday's trip highlighting border security, the administration announced Trump would sign an executive order suspending temporary visas for foreign workers until the end of 2020.
Trump's strategy appears to be taking a page from his 2016 playbook, Conant said, which is to ensure his base is more energized than the Democratic base by focusing on the revival of his raucous rallies and issues that propelled him to the presidency like immigration.
But some of those issues that dominated in 2016 may feel a little out of place as the country wrestles with the twin crises of economic fallout over the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide protests over police brutality and racial inequity, according to Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
"Immigration may have felt more important in 2016 when there was less going on, but with the public health crisis, economic troubles, real concern about inequities in policing does the president's focus on the same issues he focused on in 2016 have as much relevance in a different time?" Kondik said.
More than 120,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus with more than 2 million cases reported, according to Johns Hopkins University. The death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes, sparked nationwide protests and has exposed the country's deep racial wounds.
While Trump's 2016 issues may still seem important to his hardcore supporters, Kondik said the president could benefit from reaching out to independent voters and those who were lukewarm on Trump in 2016 but voted for him anyway.
Instead, Trump has doubled down on divisive rhetoric that defined much of his first campaign. During his remarks in Tulsa, Trump used the term "kung flu" to describe the coronavirus and he denounced the removal of Confederate statues amid ongoing protests, arguing that a "left-wing mob" wanted to "vandalize our history."
"It's more serious in 2020, and I don't think the president has really adjusted to the state of the country," Kondik said. "I think that's dangerous for an incumbent because fairly or unfairly, if things are going poorly that could reflect back on the incumbent."
But as the past few months have shown, a lot can change between now and Election Day and the widening polling gap between Trump and Biden will likely narrow once the former vice president becomes the focus of the campaign.
"Biden's going to have his moment in the spotlight, too," Kondik said.
Contributing: The Arizona Republic
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump in Arizona: President rails against 'mob,' tours border wall
Aizawl, June 23 : The mountainous state Mizoram on Tuesday night witnessed another earthquake, the third in the last 48 hours, measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale, official said.
According to the Disaster Management officials, there was no report of any damage or casualty due to the tremor, which took place at 7.17 p.m. on Tuesday night.
Officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the tremor hit southern Mizoram's Lunglei district, adjoining Myanmar. The tremor, which lasted for a few seconds, was at 25 km depth of the earth.
A moderate earthquake, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale and the second in 12 hours, shook eastern Mizoram's Champhai area and other adjoining northeastern states bordering Myanmar on Monday, damaging 31 structures, including buildings and important installations.
Mizoram had also experienced earthquakes measuring 5.1 and 5 on the Richter scale on Sunday afternoon (at 4.16 p.m.) and Thursday night, respectively.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) Minister Jitendra Singh talked with Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and offered the Centre's help.
Seismologists consider the mountainous northeast region as the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world. In 1897, a Shillong-epicentre quake measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale had hit the area. In 1950, an earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale had altered the course of the Brahmaputra river.
Analysts: India-China Clash Will Prompt New Delhi to Build Closer Ties with U
By Anjana Pasricha June 22, 2020
Spiraling tensions between India and China over rival claims to territory in the icy Himalayas could push New Delhi to embrace closer ties with the United States and countries like Japan and Australia as ties with Beijing come under severe strain.
Whether the dramatic escalation that has led to a huge military deployment by the nuclear-armed Asian giants along their disputed border intensifies or is resolved diplomatically, it will lead to "strategic and economic choices by India that may explicitly have an anti-China orientation," according to Harsh Pant, director of studies at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the crisis will also influence the trajectory of New Delhi's ties with its neighbors in South Asia, where Beijing has been challenging India's predominant position, and determine whether the nationalist leader can fulfill his goal of raising India's global profile.
Tensions that had been building since early May over India's accusations of Chinese incursions in its territory have increased dangerously since a brutal hand-to-hand combat in Eastern Ladakh in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed on June 15.
Both countries have said they want to deescalate the crisis but have also hardened postures.
China has laid claim to the site of the bloody clash, the Galwan Valley, which New Delhi says was never part of the disputed border. This is not the only flashpoint Indian and Chinese troops are also confronting each other at two other Himalayan ridges along the 3,488-kilometer-long Line of Actual Control. New Delhi wants the status quo restored and has vowed to defend its border with military force if necessary.
As the crisis plays out, calls to deepen engagement with the West to build leverage against China have grown. The Hindustan Times in an editorial said that New Delhi would have to reconsider its entire geopolitical posture, "double down on its partnership with the US" and be "a part of any club that seeks to contain Chinese powers."
In the past decade even as India moved steadily closer to Washington, there were always voices advocating caution. That is likely to change.
"Many in New Delhi had been arguing to go ahead one step at a time. The whole idea was that we have managed China and the border issue relatively OK, so don't annoy Beijing to the extent that it can create problems for you," says Harsh Pant. "But now trouble has been created. So, in a sense this opens up the space for the Modi government to more robustly engage with like-minded countries where in the past it was hesitant."
Signs of that were already evident. This month, a major agreement signed by India and Australia will allow each country to use the other's military bases.
India, say analysts, is also likely to drop its hesitation about how closely to embrace the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known as "Quad" an informal strategic grouping of India, the U.S., Japan and Australia that was revived in 2017 amid fears of China's growing heft and assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
"As a country we have avoided going one way or the other, but depending on who comes forward to help and what kind of help, that will determine where we move closer to," says Jayadeva Ranade, a former senior security official who heads the Center for China Analysis and Strategy in New Delhi.
The manner in which the crisis plays out in the coming weeks will also impact India's ties with smaller countries in its neighborhood, like Nepal and Sri Lanka, that China, with its deep pockets, has wooed by building roads and ports.
"The geopolitical competition in South Asia between India and China will sharpen," says Happymon Jacob, a professor at the School of International Studies in New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University.
He points to Nepal's recent approval of a map that shows territories traditionally claimed by India as belonging to Nepal, deepening strains that surfaced in recent years as the tiny Himalayan country, tucked between the Asian giants, moved closer to Beijing. India's army chief, Manoj Navarane said the issue might have been raised at "someone else's behest", which has been interpreted as an allusion to China.
"If we don't respond to China effectively, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka may look at us differently, as a country that they need not bother about as long as they are friendly with Beijing," Ranade warns. "They will reevaluate what kind of relationship they should have with us."
However, countering China's challenge on a military level in the high Himalayas may not be easy although India has one of the world's largest armies, Beijing is considered a superior military power.
So, as it searches for ways to pressure China, India with its large market, is also considering economic options.
India had long hoped that the robust economic engagement, which has seen bilateral trade grow to more than $90 billion, would act as a counterweight to their more contentious border dispute. Those hopes have now been shattered.
New Delhi was already taking a more cautious approach to growing Chinese investments in India even before the clashes erupted in April, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, India passed legislation requiring government approval for investments from Chinese companies. That trend could accelerate.
"The sentiment is changing. For example, India decided to bring in Huawei for trials of 5G wireless network, now that might not happen," says Pant. "All those issues will become much more black and white for India."
Analysts however warn that India's economic options against China's much larger economy are limited and could hurt New Delhi more than Beijing, especially when the Indian economy is in a downward spiral.
But as it mulls military, economic and political options in the weeks and months ahead, New Delhi may have to abandon its decades-long policy of "strategic autonomy" as it prepares not just to defend its borders but also push back against what commentators call the idea of Chinese domination of Asia.
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Fear of Calling
"Our paramedics are noticeably not as busy," reports Marc Breckenridge of Huron Valley Ambulance.
by James Leonard
From the June, 2020 issue
Breckenridge, HVA's spokesperson, emails that "overall, 9-1-1 call volume is down about 35 percent." The same pattern plays out at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital's emergency department. Within weeks of the stay-at-home order, "the visit volume at our emergency room dropped dramatically to less than 50 percent of where we were at the same time last year within weeks," says David Vandenberg, St. Joe's chief medical officer. By mid-May there had been some recovery, but they were still down by "30 percent of our normal volume."
It's about the same at the Michigan Medicine emergency departments. "For the four weeks after the March 24th stay-at-home order, patient visits decreased by half in the adult emergency department and two-thirds in the pediatric emergency department," writes Robert Neumar, Michigan Medicine's chair of emergency medicine. By mid-May, "patient visits [were] 75 percent of baseline in the adult ED and 50 percent of baseline in the pediatric ED."
"A lot of factors" keep folks away, Vandenberg believes, but the biggest by far is the fear "there're patients there that have Covid." Others include the sheer difficulty of being hospitalized now with enforced isolation, increased tests, and restricted visiting.
In mid-May Covid-19 was accounting for about 25 to 30 percent of HVA's calls. But their calls for heart attacks and strokes were much lower than normal--"which is concerning because those kinds of common medical issues don't simply disappear because there's a pandemic," Breckenridge writes. "We're worried because it seems like more people are delaying calls to 9-1-1 until the last minute ... and possibly until it's too late ... for fear of going to the hospital during a pandemic."
"Our volume of critical ill presenting patients is definitely down," says Vandenberg. "Heart attacks [and] strokes are clearly down. It's very dangerous. We want to reassure people that the hospital is safe. People need to recognize that it's far riskier to stay at home with chest pain [and] shortness of breath."
The good news is "our total volume
...continued below...
of [Covid] patients is about a third of what it was," says Vandenberg. "There was a time when we were admitting as many as twenty-five patients with Covid [daily]. We've been coming down and in the last eight or ten days, it varies anywhere between zero and ten patients."Neumar reports about the same at the U-M. "Over the past week the number of patients visiting the ED that have tested positive for Covid-19 has ranged from 0-1 in the pediatric ED and 0-5 in the adult ED. Overall, that is less than 2 percent of total ED visits.""We're on the downside of that peak," Vandenberg says. "The whole community socially distanced at a higher percentage than the model expected even in the best-case scenario."The bad news is the near-certainty of a second wave. "It'll be rural where they don't really have enough health care," says Vandenberg, "and that second wave will wind up back in our hospitals anyway.""It's really important to realize we have to live with this," Vandenberg stresses. "The hospital has to be able to [care for] all patients, not just Covid patients." To do that, they're masking all physicians and patients when they're interacting, plus screening every employee and visitor."We're feeling optimistic that we've weathered the stormy days and we feel like it's probably going to make us stronger in the long run."[Originally published in June, 2020.]
A Covid-19 outbreak has broken out at a meat processing plant in Merthyr Tydfil, the third Welsh food factory to be hit by the virus in a week.
At least 34 people have tested positive at the plant run by Kepak, with eight of them discovered this month and six people currently off work sick.
A health minister in Wales, Vaughan Gething, said this afternoon that a 'small cluster' of cases was being investigated at the factory.
It comes after the whole island of Anglesey home to 70,000 people came under threat of lockdown when a chicken factory shut down because 158 staff tested positive for Covid-19. Another outbreak at a food plant in Wrexham saw at least 70 people test positive.
Scientists have suggested that the cold air inside food processing factories could make people more susceptible to the virus, and that close working conditions and poor ventilation could increase the risk of infection.
Mr Gething said there was no evidence outbreaks in the food factories had spilled over into the community.
Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething confirmed there was a 'cluster' of coronavirus cases at the Kepak meat processing factory in Merthyr Tydfil (pictured)
Mr Gething, MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, said this afternoon that there was a 'developing situation' in North Wales.
He said: 'We have two confirmed coronavirus outbreaks, centred on two meat and food processing plants- one on Anglesey and one in Wrexham.
'In addition, there is a small cluster of cases at a meat processing plant in Merthyr Tydfil.
'I want to restate, that at the moment, there is no evidence of wider community transmission beyond these plants.'
He said that all the cases that have been found so far in the area have been linked directly to the factory, suggesting transmission has not made it into the community.
Wales has its own 'Test, Trace, Protect' system that works the same way as test and trace in England.
Wales's Firs Minister, Mark Drakeford, yesterday said the country could bring in its first local lockdown on Anglesey amid a Covid-19 outbreak at the 2 Sisters chicken factory.
Nearly 160 staff tested positive for Covid-19, leading to the plant being closed and 560 staff and their families being sent into self-isolation.
Meanwhile a separate outbreak has been confirmed at Rowan Foods in Wrexham in the north of the country.
ARE MEAT AND FOOD FACTORIES HOTSPOTS FOR THE CORONAVIRUS? As news has emerged of food factories around the world experiencing outbreaks of Covid-19, experts have suggested conditions inside the plants may be conducive to the spread of the virus. Dr Simon Clarke, a cellular microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that it was notable that food factories seemed to have been the centre of outbreaks more than other factories where people might be close together. He said: 'There are problems in this country, in Germany, in the United States. There is something common between them - it's not happening in engineering or clothing factories where you also might expect people to be in close proximity to one another. 'One assumes - but it's just an idea - that the cold environment makes people more susceptible to the virus. 'Cold weather irritates the airways and the cells become more susceptible to viral infection.' Dr Chris Smith, a virologist at the University of Cambridge, said on LBC 'temperature is going to play a part'. He explained: 'When I'm breathing I'm blowing out droplets of moisture from my respiratory tract and the virus which is growing in there would be packaged up in the droplets. 'Now the droplets will hover for a period of time in the air and then sink to the ground... and if it's very dry, cold air - and cold air carries less moisture, remember - the droplets will stay smaller and stay airborne for longer. 'If it's very humid, moisture joins them, makes them bigger and heavier, and they fall and they drop out of circulation faster - so temperature could be a factor.' Sunlight is also known to degrade viruses and make them less able to survive on surfaces that are exposed to UV light. Rays of sunlight are thought to damage the genetic material inside the virus, making it less able to reproduce and killing it faster. Professor Calum Semple, a disease outbreak expert at the University of Liverpool, told The Telegraph that cold, sunless food factories are ideal conditions. He said: 'If I wanted to preserve a virus I would put it in a cold, dark environment or a cool environment that doesn't have any ultraviolet light - essentially a fridge or a meat processing facility... 'The perfect place to keep a virus alive for a long time is a cold place without sunlight.' But the temperature alone does not appear to be a controlling factor in coronavirus outbreaks. Dr Michael Head, a global health researcher at the University of Southampton, said he thought close proximity was most likely to be behind the factory outbreaks. He said: 'Whilst refrigeration may be a contributory factor to the spread of the virus, the key factors are likely to be the number of people close together in indoor conditions. 'Some of these factories have onsite or nearby accommodation where there are several people in each dormitory, they may be transported on a bus to the site of work, and they will be indoors together all day. 'Levels of adherence to measures such as washing hands is uncertain and there is unlikely to be widespread use of PPE.' Advertisement
Mr Gething today said he wanted to reassure the public that cases of coronavirus are generally falling across Wales.
'We have seen fewer than 100 cases each day in the first few weeks of June,' he said.
'There has been an increase over the weekend, which is probably related to these outbreaks.
'These outbreaks reinforce the need for all of us to continue to take coronavirus very seriously - it has not gone away. There is no room for complacency.'
Outbreaks in meat processing plants appear to have become more common in recent weeks, with Germany and the United States also reporting them.
Experts say they are particularly at risk of virus outbreaks, in part because of the wintery conditions inside them.
Dr Simon Clarke, a cellular microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that it was notable that food factories seemed to have been the centre of outbreaks more than other factories where people might be close together.
He said: 'There are problems in this country, in Germany, in the United States. There is something common between them - it's not happening in engineering or clothing factories where you also might expect people to be in close proximity to one another.
'One assumes - but it's just an idea - that the cold environment makes people more susceptible to the virus.'
Whether this meant the winter would bring a resurgence of the virus, Dr Clarke said it was difficult to say because we have only seen the virus in action during spring in the UK.
He added: 'It's not that viruses are better in the winter it's that we're more susceptible.
'Cold weather irritates the airways and the cells become more susceptible to viral infection.'
Dr Chris Smith, a virologist at the University of Cambridge, said on LBC 'temperature is going to play a part'.
He explained: 'When I'm breathing I'm blowing out droplets of moisture from my respiratory tract and the virus which is growing in there would be packaged up in the droplets.
'Now the droplets will hover for a period of time in the air and then sink to the ground... and if it's very dry, cold air - and cold air carries less moisture, remember - the droplets will stay smaller and stay airborne for longer.
'If it's very humid, moisture joins them, makes them bigger and heavier, and they fall and they drop out of circulation faster - so temperature could be a factor.'
Sunlight is also known to degrade viruses and make them less able to survive on surfaces that are exposed to UV light.
Rays of sunlight are thought to damage the genetic material inside the virus, making it less able to reproduce and killing it faster.
Professor Calum Semple, a disease outbreak expert at the University of Liverpool, told The Telegraph that cold, sunless food factories are ideal conditions.
He said: 'If I wanted to preserve a virus I would put it in a cold, dark environment or a cool environment that doesn't have any ultraviolet light - essentially a fridge or a meat processing facility...
'The perfect place to keep a virus alive for a long time is a cold place without sunlight.'
This suggests winter could bring the perfect environment for the coronavirus to start spreading rapidly again and producing a second wave of infections in Britain.
The average temperature in January is 4.9C (41F) and there are eight hours of daylight, compared to an average 15C (59F) and 16 hours of daylight in June.
But the weather alone does not appear to be a controlling factor in coronavirus outbreaks.
Dr Clarke said: 'There are summer colds and there's a coronavirus that causes summer colds, so it's not a given.
'We've heard a lot of people suggest that warmth and sunlight would rid us of the virus but it that were the case we wouldn't have problems in Brazil or Florida or Singapore.'
Dr Michael Head, a global health researcher at the University of Southampton, said he thought close proximity was most likely to be behind the factory outbreaks.
He said: 'Whilst refrigeration may be a contributory factor to the spread of the virus, the key factors are likely to be the number of people close together in indoor conditions.
'Some of these factories have onsite or nearby accommodation where there are several people in each dormitory, they may be transported on a bus to the site of work, and they will be indoors together all day.
'Levels of adherence to measures such as washing hands is uncertain and there is unlikely to be widespread use of PPE.'
Two pictures which show the changes in the face of Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner can be revealed by MailOnline.
The first picture was taken in 1996 shortly after Brueckner, who was then 19, had been released from jail in his native Germany for molesting a six-year-old girl.
He fled his homeland soon afterwards to begin his reign of terror robbery, burglary and rape in the holiday resorts of the Algarve coast, including Praia da Luz.
The second picture was taken early in 2006, when he was 29, after he was arrested for stealing diesel from commercial trucks in Portugal.
Both photos of Brueckner emerged from court papers in Portugal concerning his arrest and imprisonment in 2006 for stealing fuel.
Christian Brueckner is pictured as a 19-year-old in 1996 (left), upon leaving prison for molesting a six-year-old, and a decade later in 2006 (right) after he was arrested for stealing diesel from commercial trucks in Portugal
The year before Brueckner had tortured and raped a 72-year-old American tourist at her home in Praia da Luz.
The German filmed the attack and kept a copy of the recording.
The second picture was taken almost a year to the day before British youngster Madeleine McCann disappeared from the apartment in Praia da Luz where she was on holiday with her parents.
Brueckner fled his homeland soon after 1996 to begin his reign of terror robbery, burglary and rape in the holiday resorts of the Algarve coast, including Praia da Luz where Madeleine went missing in 2007 (left). He is now the prime suspect in her disappearance (recent picture, right)
On May 3, 2007 Brueckner was living in a run-down farm house on the edge of the village with his former cell-mate, Austrian drifter Michael Tatschl.
Phone records have revealed that the German, who has been linked with a growing number of sex attacks across Europe, was at the resort on the night that Madeleine disappeared.
Austrian carpenter Tatschl has now revealed he believes that his former friend and cell-mate is guilty of the kidnapping the three-year-old and selling her to a paedophile ring.
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Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 08:44 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660d2dea 1 National vaccination,COVID-19,immunity-passport,Eijkman-Institute,WHO,BioFarma Free
With a COVID-19 vaccine still months or even years away, countries are seeking ways to accommodate millions of stir-crazy people eager to usher in a new normal.
Indonesia is no exception. Researchers are pooling suggestions about how to create a proof of immunity to exempt people from physical restrictions and allow them to return to work, school and daily life.
However, many experts are worried about jumping the gun on an issue that is very likely dependent on the accessibility of vaccines.
Djarot Andaru, a health law researcher from the University of Indonesia, suggested that the government could create its own version of the international vaccination certificate issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) for people who eventually received a COVID-19 vaccination.
Travelers have long used a WHO-issued certification called the Yellow Card to enter certain countries where they may face increased individual health risks. Djarot suggested using a similar document for domestic travel to specific places.
This may function as an identity card and a prerequisite for entering [offices and government buildings] and can be applied when traveling to certain areas or areas with crowded places, he said, comparing it to the Ebola vaccine certificates issued in several African countries during outbreaks in 2013 and 2014.
The certification could distinguish between those who had and had not been vaccinated, Djarot said, especially as many countries, including Indonesia, were already transitioning to a new normal. However, he said the government had to ensure there were sufficient vaccine supplies before the certificate was issued.
Different regions in Indonesia have begun transitioning out of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) imposed to curb the spread of the virus, despite the lack of evidence that transmission rates have plateaued. The central government is also keen to jump-start the economy to avoid sliding into a recession.
As of Monday, Indonesia had recorded 46,845 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,500 deaths.
Read also: Indonesia rallies to keep COVID-19 vaccines, drugs affordable
Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology director Amin Soebandrio suggested that Indonesia could use a WHO international certification for COVID-19, which could be particularly useful for Indonesians traveling abroad.
But he also warned that an eventual vaccination would not guarantee that an individual was fully protected from the disease. Amin urged people to get regularly checked and follow physical distancing measures even after being vaccinated.
A 2016 Health Ministry regulation on international vaccination certification serves as a legal guideline for the provision of certificates for those who wish to travel to countries that require specific vaccinations, such as Saudi Arabia, which requires haj and umrah (minor haj) pilgrims to be vaccinated for meningitis.
The government has not yet declared a certification procedure for COVID-19 vaccination.
This isnt the first time we have managed vaccines, as all haj and umrah pilgrims must be vaccinated. That is to say [COVID-19 vaccine] management isnt something we are worried about at the moment, said national COVID-19 task force spokesman Achmad Yurianto last Thursday.
We are resolute in our priority to find a vaccine first.
There are still no proven vaccines or antiviral drugs to treat COVID-19, with most patients only receiving palliative care. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed 139 vaccines under development worldwide as of June 16, with 11 undergoing clinical trials.
In Indonesia, the government has established a consortium to develop a vaccine, involving state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma and the Eijkman Institute, which sequenced the complete genome of Indonesian coronavirus samples in early May, as part of the initial stage of vaccine development.
Read also: Indonesia targets local COVID-19 strain in Eijkman-led 2022 vaccine initiative
Some governments, including those of Chile, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, have suggested that the detection of antibodies for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could be used as the basis for an immunity passport or risk-free certificate, which would certify that an individual had been infected and was therefore purportedly immune to the virus.
However, the WHO wrote in a brief in April that there was no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.
People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice. The use of such certificates may therefore increase the risk of continued transmission, the WHO wrote.
An article in The Lancet medical journal noted that immunity passports posed considerable scientific, practical, equitable and legal challenges in their implementation. The author advised countries to build up established public health practices of testing, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation until a COVID-19 vaccine was accessible.
Bio Farmas R&D project integration manager Neni Nurainy has said that the government should stockpile sufficient vaccine doses before attempting to introduce any immunity certificate, so as to avoid friction between different economic classes, with the rich having more access to vaccination than the poor.
Neni suggested the use of existing vaccination records from health facilities, surveillance data and regular COVID-19 testing to distinguish between patients that had and had not been vaccinated.
If we later have enough vaccines, it will be good for everyone to have the same rights [to vaccination], she said.
Editor's note: Corrected figure of COVID-19-related deaths.
23.06.2020 LISTEN
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is asking its customers ahead of a cut in water supply tomorrow, Tuesday, June 23 in some parts of Accra.
This is as a result of repair works to be done on pipelines and valves on some transmission lines, leading to a shut down of the Weija Plant.
Management of Ghana Water Company Limited wishes to inform its valued customers and the general public that the Weija Headworks will be shut down on Tuesday 23rd June, 2020 for repairs to be effected on a raw water pipeline, the company said in a statement on Monday, June 22, 2020.
In addition, the Accra West Region will carry out repair and maintenance works on defective valves on the main transmission lines, it continued.
Areas to be affected include Weija, Mallam Junction, Gbawe, Anyaa, Awoshie, Dansoman, Sakaman, Kaneshie, Lapaz, Nii Boi Town, Achimota and surrounding areas.
The Water Company is, therefore, asking residents of these areas to store as much water as possible ahead of the repair works.
The Director of Communications at the GWCL, Stanley Martey, giving more clarity on Eyewitness News said the exercise will last for just 24 hours if all things go well. Read the full statement below:
Management of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) wishes to inform its valued customers and the general public that the Weija Headworks will be shut down on Tuesday 23rd June, 2020 for repairs to be effected on a raw water pipeline. In addition, the Accra West Region will carry out repair and maintenance works on defective valves on the main transmission lines.
Management, therefore, calls on GWCL's cherished customers to store as much water as possible. Customers are also to note that water production and supply will resume as soon as work is completed.
Affected areas include Weija, Mallam Junction, Gbawe, Anyaa, Awoshie, Dansoman, Sakaman, Kaneshie, Lapaz, Nii Boi Town, Achimota and surrounding areas.
The inconvenience this may cause is deeply regretted.
citinewsroom
Britons could soon be sunning themselves on Majorcan beaches as the British government prepares to scrap the two week quarantine, according to British press reports this morning.
The Times said in this morning's edition: "ministers are preparing to relax the UKs two-week quarantine rules to save summer holidays abroad."
The report goes on to say that the government has drawn up a list of 10 countries which have lower coronavirus rates than Britain, including Spain and France, and which are considered safe holiday destinations. British tour firms are planning to restart their summer holiday campaign in early July.
India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist
India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent
Spurt in cyber attacks from China, over 40,000 cases in 5 days: Maha cyber dept
India
pti-PTI
Mumbai, June 23: Hackers based in China attempted over 40,000 cyber attacks on India's Information Technology infrastructure and banking sector in the last five days, a top police official in Maharashtra said on Tuesday.
Internet users should be watchful for such attacks including phishing attempts and conduct cyber security audits of their IT systems, officials of Maharashtra Cyber, the state police's cyber wing, said.
The spurt in online attacks from across the border was noticed after tensions rose between the two countries in eastern Ladakh, said Yashasvi Yadav, Special Inspector General of Police, cyber wing.
Maharashtra Cyber collated information about these attempts and most of them were found to have originated in Chengdu area in China, he said.
Covid-19: 70 patients listed as missing in Mumbai's civic body BMC's records | Oneindia News
"According to our information at least 40,300 cyber attacks were attempted in the last four-five days on the resources in Indian cyberspace," he said.
The attacks aimed at causing issues such as denial of service, hijacking of Internet Protocol and phishing, Yadav added. Indian Internet users should pay attention to the threat of such attacks, create robust firewalls' and conduct cyber security audits, the IGP said. According to Maharashtra Cyber officials, these hackers are suspected to have database of some 20 lakh Indian email IDs.
Galwan clash: China dismisses reports on losing 40 soldiers in Ladakh
Indian government officials as well as private Internet users should especially guard against phishing, where attempt is made to obtain confidential information such as passwords or pass-codes by sending a fraudulent email or text message, they added.
There could be phishing attempts by impersonating, online, government agencies, departments and trade associations overseeing the disbursement of government fiscal aid, they said.
One such fraudulent email ID was found to be ncov2019@gov.in' which sent bogus information about free Covid-19 testing for residents of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad, officials warned.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-22 17:54:59|Editor: huaxia
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HARARE, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Nine people in Zimbabwe's second largest city Bulawayo have died form a gastrointestinal disease outbreak, while about a thousand have been infected with the water-borne disease.
The local authority said in a statement on Sunday that one of the possible causes of the outbreak was water contamination due to obsolete infrastructure.
"The 144-hour shedding strained the already aged network, further complicating the system and reducing its ability to self-cleanse due to prolonged hours of no water in the network," read a council report on water contamination.
The outbreak has been clustered in the city's three high density suburbs namely Old Luveve, New Luveve and Gwabalanda, with residents blaming the outbreak on contaminated council water.
The outbreak comes at a time when authorities are battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bulawayo Mayor Solomon Mgumi told media that one of their major challenges to date in handling the new outbreak was the lack of personnel as health officials were already engrossed with containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city has so far confirmed 60 cases of COVID-19, including 48 recoveries and 2 deaths.
Bulawayo, which lies 360 km south-west of the capital Harare, is facing one of the worst water crises in years that has seen some residents going for months without receiving running water.
An extended drought has reduced water supplies in the city's dams and reservoirs, forcing residents to fetch water from unprotected sources.
The local authority has so far decommissioned three of its six dams, leaving the city's dam levels below 30 percent. Enditem
Talks for a planned Canadian Museum for Human Rights exhibit on LGBTTQ+ history have been suspended by the organization set to advance the project.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Talks for a planned Canadian Museum for Human Rights exhibit on LGBTTQ+ history have been suspended by the organization set to advance the project.
The exhibit was meant to be part of a settlement and court order from the LGBT Purge Fund, a Canadian not-for-profit corporation created to manage the financial settlement won in 2018 by LGBTTQ+ RCMP, Armed Forces and public service workers who were systematically discriminated against as part of the "LGBT purge" of the 1950s-1990s.
The CMHR recently issued an apology after it was revealed the museum had purposely censored LGBTTQ+ content on tours at the request of schools from 2015-17, calling the choice "contrary to everything we stand for as a museum for human rights."
Chief executive officer John Young has taken responsibility for the decision, and said he will not seek reappointment when his contract ends in August. Public response included the resignation of former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray from the Friends of CMHR fundraising organization, and a statement released by LGBTTQ+ advocacy organization Egale Canada, calling the museums actions "disgraceful."
"Immediately upon learning of these allegations, we contacted museum officials to share how deeply troubled and shaken we were by the nature of the claims," a statement published June 13 by the LGBT Purge Fund reads.
"Specifically, we asked for a complete and fully transparent accounting of what has happened, along with a corrective action plan."
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The planned exhibition is part of the corporation's project funding, which is set as $15 million to $25 million of the $145-million settlement. More than $2 million from the LGBT Purge Fund has been allotted for the CMHR project, which was expected to include a permanent exhibition on the "LGBT purge," a travelling exhibit and an online component.
The fund is required to set up this project, as per the court order from the settlement, and CMHR spokesperson Maureen Fitzhenry emphasized only discussions regarding the exhibition had been suspended at this time.
"We have had several communications with representatives of the organization, by phone and email, to discuss their concerns," she said in a statement.
"We understand and respect their desire for transparency and their emphasis on the need for the museum to move beyond words to demonstrate a commitment to eradicating systemic racism, discrimination and homophobia in our workplace."
malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: malakabas_
A Covid-19 test which gives a diagnosis in 20 minutes could allow relatives to visit loved ones in care homes, England's care boss has said.
Martin Green - chief executive of Care England - told MPs today that 'patchy' access to swabs had deprived care home residents from seeing their families for months.
He urged the Government to look to emerging technologies and move away from the top-down testing approach the Government has been widely criticised for throughout the crisis.
Care homes shut their doors in March and blocked external visitors in a bid to shield vulnerable residents from catching the disease which is particularly deadly for elderly people.
But a lack of testing saw the NHS turf out patients infected with the virus into the care sector, allowing it to race through homes and kill one in 16 of all residents in England and Wales.
The same shortage of swabs meant only healthcare staff and people with symptoms can get access to a coronavirus test at the beginning of the crisis.
Mr Green highlighted the potential of a rapid on-the-spot Covid test currently being piloted on thousands of patients in Hampshire.
He said turning to new testing methods could allow families and care home residents to reunite. Mr Green also stressed the need for regular testing for any system to be effective.
Martin Green - chief executive of Care England - told MPs today that q Covid-19 test which gives a diagnosis in 20 minutes could allow relatives to visit loved ones in care homes
The Covid-19 LAMP assay test, developed by UK-based manufacturer Optigene, can turn around results within 20 minutes
Professor Green told the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee today: 'I think we've got to get testing as part of an ongoing programme - it is not a once-in-a-lifetime activity, it's something that needs to happen regularly.
'I also want to see, for example... there is one programme going on in Hampshire at the moment where you can get test results within about 20 minutes.
'Now what we need is that testing rolled out because that will also help us not only be able to test staff and residents, but also to be able to test relatives who might want to visit.'
Some care homes have started to reopen to visitors but under strict rules only.
Care UK, for example, runs more than 100 care homes with a total of over 7,000 residents and has started to allow outdoor visits at homes that have been coronavirus-free for at least two weeks.
Only adults are allowed to visit, all are screened on arrival, and visits are limited to 30 minutes without any physical contact, in a desperate bid to stop the virus re-entering homes.
Testing could allow homes to offer more visits and potentially to have looser rules, Professor Green suggested.
The Covid-19 LAMP assay test, developed by UK-based manufacturer Optigene, can turn around results within 20 minutes.
The trial of the rapid swab test began in Hampshire last month after it proved effective in clinical settings.
The swab test is being used in a number of A&E departments, GP testing hubs and care homes in the county.
Coronavirus has killed one in 16 care home residents in England and Wales, analysis reveals Coronavirus has killed one in 16 care home residents in England and Wales, fresh research suggests. Analysis by the Telegraph points to shocking figures of people who have lost their lives as a result of the spread, with data showing there have been 26,211 excess deaths in care homes since the start of the outbreak, compared to the five-year average for the same period. While coronavirus is believed to be the main driving factor behind the rise in deaths, it is understood the mass disruptions to normal care home service as a result of the pandemic has also led to people losing their lives. There were 411,00 people living in care homes in England and Wales and the data shows that more than six per cent - or one in 16 - has died since the spring. Advertisement
Current PCR tests take 48-72 hours to produce a result because they need to be sent to a laboratory and processed at different temperatures.
But the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (Lamp) swab can be processed on site.
Announcing the trial in May, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'This new test could provide accurate results almost on the spot.
'This could change the way that we control Covid-19 across the country, getting those with negative results back into society as quickly as possible.'
MPs also heard that care home and domiciliary care staff feel like the 'underdogs and the Cinderellas' compared with members of the NHS, and that testing of staff in home care settings has been limited.
Jane Townson, chief executive at the UK Homecare Association, told MPs: 'Because testing capacity has been limited, home care has been at the bottom of the priority list so people receiving home care were never even on the list.'
More than one in three care homes in the country have suffered outbreaks of Covid-19.
The Government's policy for testing in care homes during the peak of the outbreak, was to test a small sample in the home and, if positive cases were found, to assume there was an outbreak in the home and automatically classify other people with similar symptoms as coronavirus patients. Widespread testing only became available in April.
A report by the National Audit Office (NAO), the Government's spending watchdog, said the homes were overlooked in order to protect the NHS.
The first independent review of preparations for the pandemic counted that 25,000 patients were discharged from hospitals into the sector between March 17 and April 15 without testing them for the coronavirus. The peak of coronavirus deaths in hospitals in England was on April 8.
Care home residents are at a much higher risk than the general public of dying if they catch the coronavirus because it is more deadly for older people.
Higher rates of other health conditions affecting the heart, lungs and brain, and general frailty, are thought to be to blame.
It is also harder to contain the virus in care homes because many people are unable to live independently so rely on regular close contact with workers, who often care for multiple people at a time.
Cases are also thought to be harder to detect because residents are often ill with other conditions with similar symptoms, and may not show typical signs of Covid-19.
The estate of deceased Fine Gael Councillor John Bailey has secured a temporary High Court injunction preventing an alleged trespasser on 100 acres of farmland from spreading "poisonous weedkiller" on the property.
The personal representative of Mr Bailey's estate has brought proceedings against Francis Tiernan in relation to 100 acres of farmland at Castlewarden on the Dublin-Kildare border.
The estate, Darren Lehane Bl, instructed by solicitor Richard Hammond, said claims that the lands belong to Mr Bailey, but that Mr Tiernan has been trespassing on it since April of this year.
Counsel told Mr Justice Michael Quinn on Tuesday that the dispute had a long history. A contract for the sale for the lands had been entered into between the parties in 2006 for 4.6m.
The sale was never completed resulting in High Court proceedings, for alleged breach of contract, being brought against Mr Tiernan. In 2013 the High Court ordered that Mr Bailey be paid 1.2m in damages by Mr Tiernan, counsel said.
In 2018 Mr Tiernan sued Mr Bailey, and filed a 'Lis Pendens' with the Property Registration Authority in respect of the lands. Counsel said this action has not been progressed by Mr Tiernan, counsel said.
Counsel said last April Mr Tiernan unlawfully entered the lands, which he says have been used with the consent of the late Mr Bailey by another party to graze sheep.
Counsel said that Mr Tiernan, who has refused to leave the property, has used machinery to carry out works, and in recent days has also burned scrub on the lands.
Counsel said a sign was also erected on the lands directing that all animals and feeding equipment be removed as Mr Tiernan was going to "spray weed killer which may be poisonous," in the coming days.
Counsel said the estate fears that the application of week killer could have "disastrous consequences for the lands."
Mr Tiernan had not responded to the estate's demands that he leave the property, counsel said.
The court also heard that Mr Tiernan, with addresses at Longfield Road, Forkhill, Newry Co Armagh, Ann Street, Dundalk, Co Louth and Swanward Court, Parnell Road, Dublin 12, name featured at the Smithwick Tribunal.
Arising out of the references made about Mr Tiernan at that inquiry the estate has concerns about the defendant, counsel said.
That tribunal considered events surrounding the killing of senior RUC officers Harry Breen and Robert Buchanan by the IRA as they crossed the border in 1989.
The tribunal heard that Mr Tiernan, along with former Detective Owen Corrigan, were kidnapped and beaten by the IRA in 1995.
The tribunal concluded that the two were abducted "because of a business transaction with the Provisional IRA which turned sour".
The tribunal also said Mr Tiernan was believed to be involved in "large-scale smuggling" and was suspected of being involved in fraud.
Counsel said that while the estate was only seeking an interim order preventing the defendant from spraying the land with weed killer it also intends to seek orders from the court at a later stage.
These include an order restraining Mr Tiernan from entering the lands, damages for trespass and declarations that the defendant is not allowed to enter or use the property.
The temporary injunction preventing the lands from being sprayed was granted, on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Quinn.
The judge said that he was satisfied to make the temporary order based on the evidence that had been put before the court, including that a sign had been put up stating that the lands were to be sprayed.
The judge then adjourned the matter to a date in early July.
Killiney-based Mr Bailey, who died in July 2019 following a long illness, was a well known Fine Gael Councillor who served on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, County Council for many years.
He was also the Chairman of the Dublin GAA County Board for a decade as well as being a former intercounty referee. One of his children is the former FG TD for Dun Laoghaire Maria Bailey.
Ghanaians have been urged not to allow the fear of the coronavirus pandemic to overshadow their daily activities.
Mr. Musah Abubakar, Chairman of the Muslim Executive Foundation (MEF), an NGO dedicated to the promotion of the welfare of the Muslim community, who made the call, said most people are afraid to even go out because of the virus.
According to him, there was overall fear and panic in the atmosphere that, some people were afraid to even go to the hospital to treat themselves.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, he said though the virus was real and people should not doubt its existence, life must also go on.
What is important is for the people to take precautionary measures and adhere to all the preventive and restrictive protocols outlined by the government to stay safe, he told the GNA.
Mr. Abubakar attributed the heightened fear of the virus to the exaggeration, misconception, and myths, which were at times reinforced in the media and said it was creating a form of mentality for the people.
He said people must continue to receive education on the virus and take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent themselves from being infected with the virus.
Source: GNA
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Welland optometrist Dr. Richard Hsiung says he is one of many in his field hoping the provincial government's vision improves and a better framework is put in place for how practices are compensated for OHIP-insured patients.
Funding from the government for those clients has been unfair and unsustainable for 30 years as optometrists receive only about half the cost of an eye exam, Hsiung said Thursday.
The rest is taken out of their own pockets, which equates to about $173 million annually, according to the Ontario Association of Optometrists, which is urging the government to open its eyes to the situation.
Hsiung said the decades-old funding model, coupled with burdens brought on by COVID-19 restrictions, has a significant impact on his practice and others.
He said he sees about two patients in an hour, and he had to purchase new equipment to allow for better physical distancing. He also has to provide personal protective gear.
Hsiung and his staff have been spending large parts of the day sanitizing chairs, tools, frames, and everything else inside the walls of his practice on Thorold Road.
"Those are all extra costs we can't get back from the Ontario government," he said, adding he has seen about half the usual numer of patients since he reopened June 8, which he attributes to the restrictions.
Patients go through a thorough screening process before they enter the office and are sent home if the slightest indicator of a potential COVID-19 case is found.
He also said many people are hesitant to make appointments until the pandemic dissipates further.
Practicing in Welland since 1993, Hsiung recalls an eye exam around that time brought in $39. Today, he gets about $43, which he said is less than half the total cost.
Minimum wage has increased to $14 from $5.60 during that same time.
"They're expecting us to absorb that cost," he said, adding close to 70 per cent of his patients are covered by OHIP - people under 19 or older than 65, with some exceptions for people with specific conditions, like diabetes.
The OAO is urging its members to redirect people with minor eye-related ailments, like styes, to health practitioners, family doctors, Telehealth and local emergency rooms, to put pressure on the government to not lose sight of a needed change for the industry, he said.
Hsiung said he could have remained open during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, but wanted to keep his staff and clients safe, especially with "red eye" being a symptom of the virus and something his patients may have come to him with for care.
He said his office isn't facing closure, but many others in Ontario are, which would result in less access to proper eye care.
"If offices can't survive, the accessibility is going to be worse," said Hsiung, worried about care for seniors.
This has been an issue raised with various governments of all stripes over the last three decades.
"We've gotten nowhere, really," he said, explaining the model used in British Columbia, where offices can bill the government for extra expenses, is an option that could work in Ontario.
The OAO says one in three Ontarians will have some form of vision-threatening eye disease by the age of 65, and that finding a sustainable solution is more pressing than ever.
A campaign called www.saveeyecare.ca has been launched by OAO.
- He went to the optometrist with an irritated eye. You'll cringe at what the doctor pulled out
- Easy ways to combat eye strain and discomfort
- Understanding nearsightedness in children
- Secondary health-care services remain important
CALGARY, AB, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Crescent Point Energy Corp. ("Crescent Point" or the "Company") (TSX: CPG) (NYSE: CPG) has released its 2020 Sustainability Report (the "Report") highlighted by an emissions intensity reduction target of 30 percent by 2025. The Report outlines the Company's latest progress and commitment to strong environmental, social and governance ("ESG") performance.
Additional highlights of the Report include:
An effective risk-management response to the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating continued operational excellence and showcasing how the Company prioritizes the safety of staff and its operating area communities.
Significantly decreased asset retirement obligations by over $220 million in 2019 primarily driven by dispositions of non-core assets and ongoing reclamation activities.
in 2019 primarily driven by dispositions of non-core assets and ongoing reclamation activities. Adoption of operational technology platform to further minimize the risk of spills, reduce fleet emissions, and decrease the risk of motor vehicle incidents.
Revised compensation program with a significant weighting directly tied to ESG metrics.
Commitment to gender diversity in all levels of leadership, including the Board.
The release of the Company's first Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure ("TCFD") framework in conjunction with the Report.
"Our 2020 Sustainability Report shows our continued emphasis on enhancing Crescent Point's strong ESG performance," said Craig Bryksa, President and CEO of Crescent Point. "Our 30 percent emissions intensity reduction target by 2025 is a tangible and achievable target that aligns with our purpose statement of 'Bringing energy to our world - the right way'. Integrating sustainability practices into our business operations is the right thing to do as our approach mitigates our long-term risks and strengthens shareholder value."
The Report is Crescent Point's second sustainability report, building upon the inaugural report released in 2019. The full Report, including a downloadable PDF, is available on Crescent Point's website at www.crescentpointenergy.com. The TCFD framework is also available on the Company's website.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Any "financial outlook" or "future oriented financial information" in this press release, as defined by applicable securities legislation has been approved by management of Crescent Point. Such financial outlook or future oriented financial information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and "forward-looking information" for the purposes of Canadian securities regulation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "could", "should", "can", "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "will", "may", "intend", "projected", "sustain", "continues", "strategy", "potential", "projects", "grow", "take advantage", "estimate", "well-positioned" and other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.
In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining, among other things, to the following: the Company's emissions intensity reduction target of 30 percent by 2025 and the achievability of that goal; and the Company's asset retirement obligations.
All forward-looking statements are based on Crescent Point's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the assumption was made. Crescent Point believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this release should not be unduly relied upon. By their nature, such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which could cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated, expressed or implied by such statements, including those material risks and assumptions discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2019 under "Risk Factors" and in our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019, under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information". The impact of any one risk, uncertainty or factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as these are interdependent and Crescent Point's future course of action depends on management's assessment of all information available at the relevant time.
Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Crescent Point's operations or financial results are included in Crescent Point's reports on file with Canadian and U.S. securities regulatory authorities. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed herein or otherwise. Crescent Point undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required to do so pursuant to applicable law. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Crescent Point or persons acting on the Company's behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CRESCENT POINT ENERGY, PLEASE CONTACT:
Brad Borggard, Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning and Capital Markets, or
Shant Madian, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Telephone: (403) 693-0020 Toll-free (US and Canada): 888-693-0020 Fax: (403) 693-0070
Address: Crescent Point Energy Corp. Suite 2000, 585 - 8th Avenue S.W. Calgary AB T2P 1G1
www.crescentpointenergy.com
Crescent Point shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CPG.
SOURCE Crescent Point Energy Corp.
Related Links
http://www.crescentpointenergy.com
An Nsawam Circuit Court has granted bail in the sum of GH 15,000.00 to one Ishai Osei- Bonsu, a 57-year-old unemployed who paraded himself as a Police Superintendent at the Sakumono Police Station in Accra.
He pleaded not guilty.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Frederick Asante told the court presided over by Ms Audrey Kwakuvi Tay that in February this year, the suspect collected an amount of GH 3,800.00 from Mr Bright Adofo, an employee of the Nsawam Electricity Company of Ghana and promised to recruit his relative into the Ghana Police Service.
The prosecution said, after collecting the money, the suspect failed to honour his promise.
The prosecution said Adofo then complained to the Nsawam Police and the suspect was arrested and processed for court.
The case had been adjourned to July 3, 2020.
---GNA
No Indian Muslims will be able to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj this year (2020), honouring the decision of the the latter to ban international pilgrims from performing the annual rituals amid the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday (June 23, 2020) took to Twitter to announce that Muslims from India will not be going on Haj.
"Honouring the decision of the Saudi Arabia Government in view of serious challenges of corona pandemic and keeping in mind the health and well-being of the people, it has been decided that Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj," he tweeted.
Naqvi said that a total of 213,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020 and the process has been started to refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction.
For Haj 2020, above 2,300 women had applied without Mehram (male relative) and they will be allowed to go to Haj in 2021 on basis of their application for Haj 2020 only. Besides, women without Mehram who file fresh application for Haj 2021, will also go to Haj.
Honouring the decision of the Saudi Arabia Government in view of serious challenges of #Corona pandemic and keeping in mind the health and well-being of the people, it has been decided that Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj (1441 H/2020 AD). pic.twitter.com/UIg1t6Zq6i Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) June 23, 2020
2 lakh 13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020. The process has been started today to immediately refund full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction. The money will be refunded through online DBT mode into bank accounts of the applicants. pic.twitter.com/yt1wtb5lok Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) June 23, 2020
For Haj 2020, above 2300 women had applied without Mehram (male relative).These women applicants will be allowed to go to Haj 2021 on basis of their application for Haj 2020 only. Besides,women without Mehram who file fresh application for Haj 2021, will also go to Haj pic.twitter.com/ySCD7TbkPs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) June 23, 2020
A total of 3040 women have performed Haj without Mehram (male companion) after PM Shri @narendramodi Jis Government ensured Muslim women can perform Haj without Mehram (male companion) in 2018. pic.twitter.com/9JXpNK2hsR Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) June 23, 2020
"2 lakh 13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020. The process has been started today to immediately refund full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction. The money will be refunded through online DBT mode into bank accounts of the applicants," he also tweeted.
"For Haj 2020, above 2300 women had applied without Mehram (male relative). These women applicants will be allowed to go to Haj 2021 on basis of their application for Haj 2020 only. Besides,women without Mehram who file fresh application for Haj 2021, will also go to Haj," he further tweeted.
ANaqvi informed that he had a telephonic conversation with Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, Saudi Minister for Haj and Umrah who suggested not to send pilgrims from India to the pilgrimage this year due to coronavirus pandemic. "We have honoured Saudi`s decision and keeping in mind health and well being of people, it has been decided that Indian Muslims will not for Haj," news agency ANI quoted the Minister.
The ministry had done elaborate arrangements for Haj pilgrimage this time. The ministry had paid Rs 160 crore to Air India for Haj 2020 and three airlines Air India, Saudi Arabian Indian and FlyNas had been selected.
India and Saudi had signed bilateral Haj 2020 agreement on December 1, 2019.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trinity Church Wall Street has awarded nearly $7 million in grants to 57 organizations dedicated to ending systemic racism in New York City and offering alternative models for a new vision of how New Yorkers can reach their potential and thrive.
The 57 grants announced today range from $50,000 to $300,000 and total $6.86 million. The grantees are working on a range of projects, including fighting to end the racist practice of cash bail, reimagining the city's approach to affordable housing and lowering the number of households experiencing housing insecurity.
"Trinity established racial justice and homelessness as our New York City funding priorities last year. Now COVID-19 is magnifying the inequities in our city the very inequities that our grants are designed to address," said the Rev. Phillip A. Jackson, Priest-in-Charge and Vicar of Trinity Church Wall Street. "The pandemic has strengthened Trinity's calling and commitment to end the cycles of mass homelessness and mass incarceration."
Of the grants, $500,000 are specifically designated for Rikers Island re-entry support programs. "COVID-19 has further intensified the challenges faced by people being released from jails and prisons, who lack access to housing and other supports," said Neill Coleman, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Trinity. "The pandemic is magnifying the pernicious interconnection between cycles of incarceration and homelessness. These connected cycles were created - and continue to be driven - by systemic racism, and at this moment of national uprising against racism, we hope Trinity's support can break these cycles and advance new visions and just alternatives that can heal our city."
The five grantees in this area are working to bail people out of Rikers and provide housing, medicine, food, and other services to recently released individuals.
Trinity also funded 32 grantees whose work centers on racial justice.
"We're pleased to support organizations whose work is critical to disrupt the cycles of incarceration. It is only through community organizing, advocacy, and alternative models that we can end the perpetual punishment of Black and brown New Yorkers, and enable them to access the keys to upward mobility: housing, education, and employment," said Susan Shah, Managing Director for Racial Justice at Trinity.
Trinity also provided 19 grants as part of its housing and homelessness initiative, including 17 grantees that are being funded by Trinity for the first time. "Trinity is proud to support organizations that directly work with people facing housing insecurity in New York City. The grants in this cycle focus on three areas: promoting efforts to increase low-income housing and support homelessness prevention; supporting organizations helping women with justice-system involvement; and aiding organizations engaged in advocacy and policy," said Beatriz de la Torre, Trinity's Managing Director for Housing & Homelessness.
Several of these grants focus specifically on supporting women coming out of Rikers Island through a gender-responsive care model catering to women who have experienced trauma.
These grants are in addition to nearly $2.5 million in emergency grants and loans Trinity awarded in April to help local nonprofits assist vulnerable New Yorkers during the pandemic. Trinity also awarded $1.5 million in emergency COVID-19 grants to international organizations in June and a further $956,000 in grants to support financial capacity building in churches in Africa and South America.
Media Contact:
Tiani Jones
Phone: 917.710.3289
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Trinity Church Wall Street
Related Links
https://www.trinitywallstreet.org
After 20 Indian soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley a fortnight ago in clashes with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), political parties have been pressing for the issue to be discussed in detail. After the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MPs from the Department Related Standing Committee for External Affairs have now demanded for a meeting on the India-China issue and have asked the committee to summon the Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary and others.
Senior parliamentarian and RSP leader NK Premachandran has written a letter to the Chairman of the External Affairs Committee PP Chaudhary and requested for a meeting.
CNN-News18 has accessed the letter written to the former law minister and BJP MP in which Premachandran says, "There are several issues including India-China border issue that needs to be addressed. It has a key role by the Ministry of External Affairs and thus the Standing Committee must convene a meeting to discuss the said matter. Since MPs may not like to travel to Delhi for a meeting, an option to hold a virtual meeting may be considered."
This sentiment is expressed by a host of leaders from the opposition camp.
"It is a matter of urgent importance and thus we should have a committee meeting where the officers of External Affairs and Defence Ministry can answer our questions," former Home Minister and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram told CNN-News18.
TRS Lok Sabha MP Venkatesh Borlakunta, a member of the committee, said, "This is a critical matter and I am of the opinion that a meeting like this will only bring some clarity."
BSP MP Ritesh Pandey said the matter concerns the country and the MPs are concerned as well. "Committees are not run by a single party. They have representatives of all parties, so they also need to be taken into confidence and clarity must be provided on an urgent matter like this," he said. "I think it would be advisable to call for a committee meeting and allow for concerned officials to be summoned."
TDP's Jaidev Galla said China is a critical issue.
"India is a democracy and parliamentary democracy is vital, so is the importance of parliamentary committees. We cannot get away by saying no meetings because of pandemic and because people can't travel, virtual meetings must be held," he said. "The government business is being done through the same protocol. The Prime Minister held a virtual all-party meeting that was confidential too. So the government must not cite protocol but think along the lines of taking everybody along."
PC Mohan, BJP MP from Bengaluru Central, said calling a meeting at this time is a political issue by the opposition.
Mohan, who is in the DRSC for External Affairs, said," This is an ongoing situation. The opposition should wait and keep politics aside on matters like this. Our government is efficiently handling the matter. Unfortunately, the Congress and others have never understood what national security means."
Chaudhry, who has been in receipt of the request from a few other MPs as well, said, "National security is paramount. When there is a developing situation at play and the highest government offices are handling it, every mature individual/party must keep politics aside. This is not the time. I do not see this as a time to call for a meeting on such a sensitive matter. We have faith in our Prime Minister; our Defence Minister and the Minister of External Affairs will do what is best in the interest of the nation."
Many committee members have demanded that since there is still hesitation in the minds of MPs to travel with the growing number of coronavirus cases, India should also go digital.
As far as the decision of holding virtual parliamentary committee meetings is concerned, it lies with the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Lok Sabha Speaker. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Om Birla have asked the Rajya Sabha secretary generals of both houses to explore the possibilities as no meetings of the parliament committees have taken place in three months due to the lockdown and subsequent restrictions on travel.
On June 19, the central government had called for an all-party meet attended by party chiefs of close to 17 political parties.
Various parties, from TMC to TRS to Shiv Sena and NCP and DMK, had expressed solidarity with the soldiers and their families and had also extended support to the Centre to tackle China militarily and diplomatically or even economically.
The Congress had asked certain questions directly on what had transpired in Galwan Valley, demanding a clear response from the government. In the meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had told leaders that there was no military or intelligence failure that led to the killing of 20 soldiers and injuries to several others.
The Congress has continued to attack the government failure, with former party president and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi fronting the attack.
P rime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed that pubs will be able to reopen from July 4.
Pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants have been closed in Britain since March 20.
However, speaking to the Commons today, Mr Johnson revealed plans for a reopen of pubs, bars and restaurants.
Here's what we know:
When will pubs open?
Pubs, bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen on July 4, after over three months of closure.
The Prime Minister said "caution will still be our watchword" and that the changes lockdown rules would be "conditional and reversable."
All venues will be expected to keep a record of people who visit, to enable contact tracing.
In a bid to assist the reopening, the safe social distance will be one metre plus - meaning people get closer than two metres to people when necessary.
Wetherspoons had previously said it is planning to open its 874 pubs across the UK and Ireland on July 4, subject to approval from the Government.
Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin / PA Wire/PA Images
What measures will landlords take to keep customers safe?
Pubs will need to keep track of their visitors, to help with contract tracing, however they will be able to serve both indoors and outdoors.
Pubs, restaurants and bars will need to be regularly cleaned, staff working hours will likely be staggered, and hand washing kits will be added at exits and entrances.
It is not clear how many people will be allowed in a pub at any one time, but numbers will be severely reduced to allow "one metre-plus" social distancing.
A 32-year-old Bethlehem Township man is sought by Easton police after he pointed a gun at another man on Monday afternoon on College Hill, they struggled and the weapon fired, court papers say.
Jaime Dionisio Valentin, who lives in the 4000 block of Peacock Drive, is charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment, an arrest warrant says. As of Tuesday morning he was not in custody, records show.
Valentin was arguing with a woman he knew about 3:20 p.m. Monday in the 900 block of George Street when the other man approached, police said. Valentin pulled out and pointed a pistol at the man, police said. The man attempted to disarm Valentin and during the struggle the weapon fired into the air, police said.
The man was successful is taking away the gun and threw it, police said. As Valentin went to retrieve it, the man fought with him as the woman tried to intervene, police said.
Eventually, Valentin took the gun and drove away, police said.
No one was wounded, but the man suffered minor injuries, police said. The woman confirmed his version of what happened, police said.
Valentin is described as having black hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, court papers say. He drives a white 2004 Jeep Liberty with the Pennsylvania tag GLG9955, court papers say.
Valentin doesnt have a listed number so he couldnt be reached for comment.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a voluntary subscription.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
Contagion (2011)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Even scientists agree that the portrayal of how the virus came about and how it spread in the film is the closest to real-life happenings. The disease in the movie, called MEV-1, is zoonotic in nature. A bulldozer is razing trees where bats live. A pigpen is constructed in the cleared space. A bat drops a piece of banana that its eating. A pig, in turn, eats it and gets infected. A chef later butchers the pig and prepares it as a dish. He later shakes hands with Gwyneth Paltrows character, infecting her. Whoever she comes in contact with is a potential victim and host. The rest of the film is spent in coding that chain, which doctors are currently doing in real life. Her husband, played by Matt Damon, however, doesnt get infected. Thats also not impossible as some individuals do have immunity to such things.
The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. on Tuesday to discuss the issue of stand-offs with China and Nepal. The meeting will deliberate on the issues of 20 Indian army personnel killed by Chinese forces in Galwan Valley on June 15 and Nepal adopting a resolution to print a new map which has Indian territory and also situation due to pandemic.
The meeting comes in the wake of all party meeting convened by the Prime Minister last week.
Sources in the party said that the incident at the Line of Actual Control is unacceptable to the party and the relationship with Nepal is at an all time low.
On the killing of Indian soldiers and Chinese transgression, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Monday said, "Don't buckle down, have the strength to 'rise to the occasion'. We'll give the Govt every support."
India and China are engaged in a diplomatic resolution of the stand-off.
Nepal on June 13 adopted unanimously the Constitution Amendment Bill, paving the way for accommodating the updated political-administrative map in the national emblem which includes Indian areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura.
The CWC will also discuss the Covid pandemic situation and its handling by the central government.
India is now surrounded on its north, west and east by unfriendly neighbours --Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bangladesh -- some of whom are openly inimical, notes Amulya Ganguli.
Photograph: Reuters
About a year ago, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar said 'we are getting to know who our friends really are.'
He was speaking in the context of the criticism which the government was facing because of the crackdown in Kashmir, agitations against the enacted and proposed citizenship initiatives and the Delhi riots.
Since then, the number of India's friends has become less.
China and Pakistan were never known as pals, but Nepal and Bangladesh were.
But, now, Nepal and Bangladesh have joined China and Pakistan in their dislike of India.
While Nepal has undertaken what has been called cartographic assertion by India by claiming parts of Uttarakhand as its own territory, Bangladesh has been unhappy over the identification of illegal Muslim immigrants in India as Bangladeshis.
They have also been called 'termites' by none other than India's redoubtable Home Minister Amit Anilchandra Shah, while a BJP leader wants them to be quashed iike kida-makaura (insects).
Under the proposed National Register of Citizens, they are sought to be ferreted out from among the Indian Muslims and deported -- if Bangladesh accepts them, which it has refused to do -- or interned in what has been dubbed concentration camps by the BJP's critics.
Because of these charges, several Bangladeshi dignitaries called off their trips to India.
They included both Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momin, and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
Little wonder that the maverick BJP MP, Subramanian Swamy, favours a 'reset' of India's foreign policy.
India is now surrounded on its north, west and east by unfriendly neighbours -- Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bangladesh -- some of whom are openly inimical.
Unlike these countries, the US is a friend.
But the American state department has spoken of violence and discrimination against minorities in India.
It has referred to 'significant human rights issues including unlawful and arbitrary killings; torture by prison officials... and harsh and life-threatening prison conditions.'
It has also expressed concern over 'political prisoners in certain states; restrictions of freedom of expression and the press, including violence, threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists, use of criminal libel laws to prosecute social media speech, censorship or site blocking.'
These are not the words of a friend.
It isn't only the neighbouring countries and a government department across the seas which are either ill-disposed towards India or have serious reservations about its functioning.
There are also others who harbour an unfavourable view of the Indian legal system.
As many as 100 such eminent personalities have written to President Ram Nath Kovind and Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde about the incarceration of G N Saibaba and Varavara Rao in 'fabricated cases'.
They have also referred to the "infamous Bhima Koregaon case" in which, too, 'public intellectuals' have been jailed.
Another activist who has been put behind bars is Safoora Zargar, whose arrest has been described by the Center for Human Rights of the American Bar Association as not being in consonance with the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights.
There is apparently a need for a 'reset' in a number of fields in India.
Amulya Ganguli is a writer on current affairs
Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has provided more reasons for suspending its nationwide strike.
The doctors embarked on strike last week Monday over unpaid salaries, lack of protective equipment in hospitals and so on.
The president of the association, Aliyu Sokomba, told PREMIUM TIMES that the union decided to replace the industrial action with a four-week ultimatum to allow the federal government resolve all their pending demands.
Mr Sokomba also said the strike was called off to allow the smooth running of the countrys response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the doctors suspended their almost one-week-old strike on Sunday, two days after the federal government announced the release of N4.5 billion to 31 federal teaching and medical centres across the country as payment for hazard and inducement allowances for April and May.
Payment of hazard and inducement allowances were among several demands by the resident doctors.
Announcing the release of the special allowance which is not just for doctors alone but for all health workers, labour minister Chris Ngige said the payment was made with the intention that it would ameliorate the plight of resident doctors across the country.
READ ALSO: Why
In a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday evening, Mr Sokomba expressed gratitude over the payment. He, however, urged the government to also pay all the public hospitals asides the 31 aforementioned tertiary institutions.
The Nigerian government had promised a special COVID-19 hazard and inducement allowance of 50 per cent of Consolidated Basic Salary to all health workers in Nigerian teaching hospitals, Federal Medical Centres (FMCs), and designated COVID-19 centres.
The NARD president said he expects the government to use the four weeks grace given to them to address all pending demands of the resident doctors.
The doctors are protesting over unpaid salaries, non-payment of hazard allowance, and a dearth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in hospitals among several other issues.
Mr Sokomba also urged the government to prioritise life insurance for doctors on the forefront of COVID-19 treatment. He said no resident doctor has life insurance noting that no less than 10 doctors have died of COVID19.
I have lost count of those infected by the virus, he said
Resident doctors are certified doctors undergoing residency to become consultants. They make up a large bulk of doctors in Nigerias tertiary hospitals.
Health workers, being the first respondents to patients have continued to be at risk of exposure to COVID-19 virus.
Although health workers have been advised to use full PPE before attending to patients, many do not have access to this equipment.
As of June 2, about 812 health workers had tested positive for COVID-19 in Nigeria.
All good things must come to an end. In this case, its the removal of Alaskas Into The Wild icon a rusty bus which has sat 25 miles off of Parks Highway, on The Stampede Trail, for 60 years.
Made famous by the 1996 best selling book Into The Wild (which was later adapted into a movie), the abandoned bus is where 24-year-old backpacker Virginian Christopher McCandless stayed for 100 days in 1992 until his death.
West of the Teklanika River, the bus has drawn visitors many following in McCandless footsteps over the years, sparking several more deaths and rescues. The area, on the boundary of Denali National Park and Preserve, is treacherous.
To reach the bus one must endure wilderness conditions and cross the fast-moving Teklanika River. In light of this danger (and the bus insatiable pull), local officials have long called for its removal.
Its a little bittersweet, honestly, said Denali Borough Mayor Clay Walker. We know its the right thing to do for public safety, yet at the same time I watched it go down the Stampede Road, it does feel like a piece of your history moving on.
As for the removal: the bus was airlifted out and placed onto the back of an Alaska Department of Transportation flatbed truck, as part of a coordinated effort between the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the Alaska Army National Guard.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cheddar (@cheddar) on Jun 19, 2020 at 10:03am PDT
The bus will remain in storage at a secure location, and the state is considering options for its permanent placement (it may be displayed somewhere people can visit it safely).
Though this goes against the philosophy of many of those interested in seeing the bus in the first place, officials would point to the recent spate of incidents unprepared (or unlucky) travelers have caused.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by VANLIFE|TRAVEL COUPLE (@nomadarte) on Jun 22, 2020 at 11:31am PDT
As Traveller reports, Between 2009 and 2017, there were 15 bus-related search and rescue operations by the state, according to the natural resources department.
Most recently, a 26-year-old Brazilian man was rescued from the area in April after running out of food and becoming trapped when ice over the Teklanika River melted and the rushing waters swelled. Five Italian tourists were rescued in February, (Traveller).
In 2019, a 24-year-old woman from Belarus died as she struggled to cross the river after spending two nights at the bus.
It has long been a perilous attraction, local Borough Mayor Clay Walker said of the bus.
Though Mount Denali has also caused deaths over the years (and, likewise, more people have been endangered by brown bears and frozen lakes than this bus), wed say the Into The Wild bus was Alaskas most perilous in one place tourist attraction of the last 60 years.
The 1940s-era bus Fairbanks city bus 142 was dragged to the spot by Yutan Construction as shelter for employees during a pioneer road construction project, then left to rot when the project was completed in 1961.
Hopefully it ends up resting in peace, not pieces
Read Next
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked the government whether China has occupied Indian territory.
"We are standing united against Chinese aggression. Has China occupied Indian territory?" Gandhi tweeted along with a photograph of the Pangong Tso lake clicked by his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his statement at an all-party meeting last week that neither is anyone inside India's territory nor has anyone captured its posts while referring to the Ladakh face-off.
Earlier too, the Congress leader had asked the government whether China has occupied any Indian territory.
The Prime Minister's Office has already clarified Modi's comments, and said attempts are being made to give a "mischievous interpretation".
Firing a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi on Monday asked as to why China is "praising Mr Modi during this conflict".
Hitting back at the former Congress president, Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda asked on Tuesday if it was the "effect" of the MoU the Congress had signed with the Communist Party of China.
"First, Congress signs MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. Then, Congress surrenders land to China. During Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to the Chinese embassy. During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation and demoralise armed forces. Effects of MoU?" Nadda said in a tweet.
The two parties had signed a memorandum of understanding in 2008 to facilitate high-level exchange between them and consult each other over important regional and international issues.
The BJP has cited this to attack the Congress as the opposition party has become increasingly aggressive against the Narendra Modi government over its handling of the border standoff with China.
In 2008, Rahul Gandhi, then a Congress general secretary, and Xi Jinping, then a senior functionary of his party and now China's president, had signed the MoU.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday hit back at BJP chief J P Nadda for raising the issue of 600 Chinese incursions under the UPA rule, saying the saffron party chief will not dare to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain the "2,264 Chinese incursions since 2015".
In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said BJP president Nadda asked ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh to explain the 600 Chinese incursions into India between 2010 and 2013.
"Yes, there were incursions but no Indian territory was occupied by China and no lives of Indian soldiers were lost in violent clashes."
"Will J P Nadda please ask the present PM to explain the 2,264 Chinese incursions since 2015? I bet he will not dare to ask that question," the former home minister said.
Chidambaram's attack came following Nadda's remarks on Monday criticising Manmohan Singh after the former PM took aim at his successor over his handling of the ongoing stand-off with China.
Nadda had said Singh and his party should stop "insulting our forces" repeatedly and questioning their valour.
"One only wishes that Dr Singh was as worried about Chinese designs when, as PM, he abjectly surrendered hundreds of square kilometres of India's land to China. He presided over 600 incursions made by China between 2010 to 2013!" Nadda had tweeted.
To attack the government, Chidambaram also cited a media report on Tuesday which quoted official sources as saying that the Commander-level talks are aimed at "restoration of status quo ante".
"It (the report) also says that 'China has moved up to Finger 4 and has undertaken a major build up between Finger 4 and Finger 8'," Chidambaram said on Twitter.
"All these are in Ladakh. Do these not point to Chinese incursions into and occupation of Indian territory?" he asked.
Barber Karl Manke cuts a client's hair at his barber shop in Owosso, Mich., on May 12, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images)
Michigan Drops Lawsuit Against Barber Who Flouted Whitmers COVID-19 Lockdown
Michigan state has agreed to dismiss the lawsuit against a barbershop owner who had his license suspended after he cut hair during Gov. Gretchen Whitmers non-essential business shutdown.
The Department of the Attorney General agreed to a full and final dismissal of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Servicess lawsuit against 77-year-old Karl Manke, his attorney David A. Kallman said in a news release.
Manke previously had both his license and that of his business summarily suspended, before a judge ruled late last month that the state health department had failed to show that his shopKarl Manke Main Street, Barber & Beauty Shopin Owosso, a small town between Lansing and Flint, has the potential to spread COVID-19 around the state.
I am glad the state has finally realized I am not a health threat to anyone and that I have a right to continue to cut hair, Manke said in a statement issued by Kallman, reported MLive. The courts have consistently upheld my constitutional rights affirming that the governors attempts to shut me down were out of line.
Manke reopened his shop on May 4 despite Whitmers statewide Stay Home, Stay Safe order for non-essential businesses like his to remain closed. Whitmer has said barber shops and hair salons are risky places because of the contagious virus.
Listen, Ive been in this business for 59 years. She wants to come cut my hands off, thats another story, Manke told The Associated Press in an interview, referring to Whitmer.
Manke joined other barbers and hairdressers to cut hair for free during an anti-lockdown protest at the Capitol on May 20. He told Fox News at the time that he would not stand down.
Shiawassee County Judge Matthew Stewart in his opinion last month said that the Michigan Attorney Generals Office did not provide reasons why Mankes shop posed a threat to public health.
(The attorney general) has not presented any studies underlying the doctors conclusion. (The attorney general) has not shown any nexus between the cutting of hair and an increased risk of transmission, Stewart wrote. (The attorney generals) filings rest more on general facts about COVID-19 than specific practices or conditions at (Mankes) business.
Barber Karl Manke cuts a clients hair at his barber shop in Owosso, Mich., on May 12, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images)
In a video conference on the Whitmer administrations request for an injunction to close Mankes shop, Stewart said an affidavit from the states chief medical executive and photos werent sufficient to prove that Manke contributed to the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.
Mankes license was reinstated last week when barbershops, salons, tattoo parlors, and massage parlors were authorized to reopen statewide.
Manke still faces misdemeanor criminal charges filed by the Shiawassee County Prosecutors Office, his attorney said, adding that the 77-year-old will, during a July 15 hearing, contest a still-pending formal complaint filed against him by the state.
Kanye West's new Gospel album, titled 'Jesus Is King', has reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard charts.
Kanye West committed himself to the Christian faith earlier this year (Photo: ABC)
West now has nine studio albums to his name, with his latest 'Jesus Is King' - released on October 25 - marking his ninth consecutive album to debut at the top of The Billboard 200.
The feat means the rapper is now tied with Eminem for the "most consecutive No. 1's on the Billboard 200 charts".
His latest album also smashes West's own previous streaming record; 'Jesus Is King' provided him with his biggest streaming week ever, and is the fifth largest overall in 2019, with 196.9 million on-demand streams. The release also saw West post the second-largest sales week of the year for an R&B/Hip-Hop album, with over 100,000 copies sold.
"Number one in the country right now, number one in the world right now, Jesus is King," West said at his Sunday Service concert on Friday at Bethany Church in Baton Rouge.
"Number one song, number one album and they told me I would (inaudible) if I gave my life to Christ but God is showing out," he declared. "Who's number one? Jesus is number one!" the rapper said as his gospel choir sang the chorus "Father I stretch my hands to you."
Reports claim that at the concert, 1,000 people professed their newfound faith in Jesus Christ. The American Bible Society has also said it is committed to providing Bibles to any of West's fans who want to read the Word of God. The Christian charity has said it will send up to 1,000 free Bibles to people in the U.S. who are curious about the historical book and Christian faith.
Dr. John Farquhar Plake, director of ministry intelligence at American Bible Society, has said in a statement: "Kanye West's album has had an immediate effect on the current news cycle. 'Jesus is King' was a trending internet search last week with over 1 million queries on Google alone."
He added, "Coincidentally, something we're seeing as a rising trend is that most Americans turn to Google as a de facto spiritual guide. Our goal with this campaign is to give Americans and, yes, Kanye fans the opportunity to look for answers to their most pertinent questions at the source."
The change in West has surprised many as for many years the rapper projected a god complex through his blasphemous alter ego Yeezus.
However, this year he has declared himself a born again Christian, and has said he is devoting his life to "working for God". The turnaround has seen him establish his own Sunday Service events, featuring his own gospel choir, who often reimagine mainstream songs with Christian lyrics.
Since the release of West's latest album, online searches for the name "Jesus" and the phrase "What do Christians believe?" have both spiked.
The American Bible Society has said anyone in the U.S. interested in receiving a Bible free of charge can do so by November 22 here.
Meanwhile, West has said he will continue to make faith-based music, and is preparing to release a Christmas album titled Jesus Is Born.
West has said, "I believe because God has given me a gift that I pray for and so many people love that if I stop doing it, He might start to take all the things away."
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Canarc Resource Corp. (TSX:CCM)(OTCQB:CRCUF)(Frankfurt:CAN) announces the appointment of Mr. Troy Gill, MAIG., to the position of Vice President, Exploration, effective immediately. Mr. Gill is a geologist with extensive exploration experience and a successful track record of discoveries, including 15 years with Rio Tinto where he twice received the Rio Tinto Discovery Award.
Scott Eldridge, Canarc's CEO stated: "It is a pleasure to welcome Mr. Gill to our Canarc management team. We look forward to working with Troy to create value for shareholders through both our exploration and acquisition strategies. Canarc plans to carry out two drill programs on our projects in Nunavut and British Columbia over the next three months. We thank outgoing VP Exploration Dr. Jacob Margolis for his contributions and wish him all the best."
Mr. Gill graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Geology from the University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia in 1993. He has 27 years of mining and mineral exploration experience, more than half with Rio Tinto, searching for a wide range of commodities in a variety of geological settings, including gold, copper, nickel, diamonds, coal and iron ore.
His greatest exploration success came with the grassroots discovery of the Caliwingina Channel Iron Deposit in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, that grew to become a resource of nearly one billion tonnes of iron ore. After leaving Rio Tinto, Troy has enjoyed success as Exploration Manager with Sanatana Resources Inc. discovering the diamondiferous Dharma kimberlite in the Sahtu region, NWT, Canada.
As a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, Troy meets the requirements of and will act as Canarc's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
"Scott Eldridge"
Scott Eldridge, Chief Executive Officer
CANARC RESOURCE CORP.
About Canarc - Canarc Resource Corp. is a growth-oriented gold exploration company focused on generating superior shareholder returns by discovering, exploring and developing strategic gold deposits in North America. The Company is currently advancing two core assets, each with substantial gold resources, and has initiated a high impact exploration strategy to acquire and explore new properties that have district-scale gold discovery potential. Canarc shares trade on the TSX: CCM and the OTCQB: CRCUF.
For More Information - Please contact:
Scott Eldridge, CEO
Toll Free: 1-877-684-9700 Tel: (604) 685-9700 Cell: (604) 722-5381
Email: scott@canarc.net Website: www.canarc.net
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Statements contained in this news release that are not historic facts are forward-looking information that involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future performance of Canarc, and the Company's plans and exploration programs for its mineral properties, including the timing of such plans and programs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "has proven", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "potential", "appears", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "at least", "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", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the Company's ongoing due diligence review in relation to the Acquisition, risks related to the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; commodity prices; changes in general economic conditions; market sentiment; currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's ability to raise funds through equity financings; risks inherent in mineral exploration; risks related to operations in foreign countries; future prices of metals; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.
SOURCE: Canarc Resource Corp.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594868/Canarc-Appoints-VP-Exploration
Meeza, an end-to-end managed IT services and solutions provider based in Qatar, has announced plans to build a data centre in the capital, Doha. It will be the companys fourth such project in the country.
Local press reports quote Meeza representatives as saying that the project will coincide with the arrival of global hyperscalers like Microsoft and Google, both of which have announced cloud-related plans for Qatar. The companys acting CEO, Meeza Ahmad Abdulla Al-Muslemani, said: The new data centre will be ready for use by the time we welcome some of the leading world experts in the industry and opens new doors for exchange of information, ideas, and technological advancement.
Called M-Vault 4, the new data centre will be located in the Qatar Science and Technology Park. Construction of the new centre is already under way and is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
M-Vault 4 is described as a result of Qatars digital transformation agenda as it shifts to a smarter economy, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030). QNV 2030 is a development plan launched in October 2008 aiming to transform Qatar into an advanced society capable of achieving sustainable development by 2030.
There is a lot of data centre-linked activity in Qatar and across the wider region. Microsoft and Google are on the way to Qatar and, of course, Meeza has already launched three Tier III certified data centres, known as M-Vaults, in the country. Other recent announcements include data centres planned or operating in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and the choice of Orange Egypt to build and operate a data centre and cloud computing platform for New Cairo, Egypts next capital city.
Testing everyone for coronavirus every week could drive out the coronavirus without a second wave or another lockdown, according to scientists.
Researchers led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said routine testing, contact tracing and household isolation could stop Covid-19 'quite quickly'.
They said Britain should do a single-city trial of the system to see whether it could bring down new infections and deaths faster than the current situation.
Applied nationwide, the policy would require 10million tests to be done every day - there are currently an average of 166,000 - and it could cost 1billion per month.
The idea has been dismissed in the past because people didn't think that level of testing was feasible, the scientists said, but they argue there are ways to do it with basic saliva testing that can be carried out without expert lab staff.
It may be difficult to convince everyone in the UK to sign up to the invasive nasal swab testing, which people say makes them gag or suffer nosebleeds, but saliva testing is being trialled by the Government and could even be more accurate, the scientists said.
Researchers led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said 10million tests per day would need to be done to test everyone in the UK each week. The Department of Health is currently testing an average of 166,000 (two-week average)
Researchers from the LSHTM worked with others from the universities of Bristol, Queen Mary and King's College in London, Oxford, New York City, and the Institute of Cancer Research in London.
In their paper they said: 'The Covid-19 epidemic can probably be ended and normal life restored, perhaps quite quickly, by weekly SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing together with household quarantine and systematic contact tracing.
'Isolated outbreaks could then be contained by contact tracing, supplemented if necessary by temporary local reintroduction of population testing or lockdown.'
They suggested that doing this repeated testing could cut the reproduction rate of the virus could cut out a third of transmission of the virus.
One in three cases are transmitted inside the home, the study said, and it takes an average of 6.5 days for people from one household to infect those from another.
Isolating the entire household when the first member tests positive, therefore, would prevent most of those transmissions because of the time it takes for the virus to move into the second person and then to the third.
It would 'prevent the great majority of transmissions to the community from other household members infected by the case because they will not have been infectious for long, if at all,' the researchers, led by LSHTM's Professor Julian Peto, said.
This could be more effective than the current system - in which only people with symptoms get tested, and they have to volunteer for a test - because it would catch people who didn't know they were ill.
This is currently thought to account for around two thirds of all people with the virus in England.
The Office for National Statistics and scientists working on the COVID Symptom Tracker app have calculated that between 3,400 and 3,800 people catch the coronavirus each day in England.
But Department of Health testing has diagnosed an average of just 1,233 people per day over the past fortnight, meaning more than 2,000 daily are not getting tested.
Professor Peto and his colleagues said the mass testing approach had been dismissed in the past because it would be too difficult to get so many done.
But they suggest a type of testing called RT-LAMP tests, which involves mixing samples of saliva with a chemical that would react to the presence of coronavirus and change the colour of the sample.
They said a lab with 100 staff could do 50,000 of these tests per day - enough to provide for a city of 350,000 people, about the size of Leicester.
The researchers called for a trial this size to be started and added: 'The idea was not considered by the groups whose predictions have guided UK policy so we have examined the statistical case for such a study.
'The combination of regular testing with strict household quarantine... has remarkable power to reduce transmission to the community from other household members as well as providing earlier diagnosis and facilitating rapid contact tracing.'
But the suggestion of the mass testing has been shot down when suggested in the past.
One critic was a colleague of Professor Peto's at the LSHTM, Professor Liam Smeeth, an epidemiologist.
Professor Smeeth said in April: 'No country has managed to achieve anything approaching the level of testing being proposed... Nothing on that scale has ever been attempted.
'In addition to the practical barriers, there is no scientific evidence to support the assertion that such a strategy would control spread of coronavirus.'
He added: 'Scientists have the right to raise legitimate debate, but what we need to control this epidemic are practical, scientifically-driven strategies that are based on the best available evidence.'
The study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
Most of India's reserves for war have been sucked in by the standoff with China.
A large part of India's airpower has similarly been committed on the eastern border.
By moving these reserves to the China border, India has been weakened vis-a-vis Pakistan.
The nightmare scenario of a two-front war may well come true, warns Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
IMAGE: Indian soldiers at the border with Pakistan.
By far the most surprising part of the current India-China standoff in Ladakh is the relative silence in Pakistan.
This is indeed most unusual given the lyrical lengths that Pakistani commentators go to in describing Sino-Pak relations -- 'as deeper than the sea, higher than Everest', etc.
Yet, when its 'Iron Brother' is locked in a tense standoff with its mortal and perennial enemy India, Pakistan is quiet.
This is indeed an ominous sign.
Ever since the current India-China slugfest at the Line of Actual Control, there is very little clarity on Chinese motivation.
The Galwan Valley incident of June 15 in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives could well be called an 'accident'.
For, when a large number of charged-up soldiers come too close to each other, this kind of tragedy was waiting to happen. It could still be dismissed as a 'local' incident.
But the large-scale massing of Chinese troops and heavy equipment on the Ladakh border over a period of more than a month cannot be dismissed as a 'local' initiative. This movement could not have taken place without the sanction of the government at the highest level.
Even if one is to accept that the Galwan incident was local, the strategic movement cannot be dismissed as a spur-of-the-moment happening.
Strategically, the Chinese policy in the 21st century has been centred on keeping India away from getting too close to the US-led Western alliance. The various agreements for peace and tranquillity on the border beginning from 1993 were born out of this necessity.
Added to this is the incontrovertible fact that on the border issue both India and China are on the strategic defensive.
The Chinese aim of securing Aksai Chin was achieved in 1962. Many believe that its claims on Arunachal Pradesh are a pressure tactic.
In any case, China does not have the military capability to conquer Arunachal Pradesh like it did in 1962.
India has never seriously contested the Sinkiang-Tibet highway.
The Indian improvement of infrastructure is also essentially defensive in nature, to ensure the defence of the Ladakh plateau. It is because of this that the border has remained peaceful for last 35 years or so.
China, with its aggressive move on the border, has nullified its 20 years of 'normalisation' with India. It has also brought into serious question India-China co-operation at forums like BRICS.
It is difficult to believe that China has sacrificed all these gains in order to get some tactical advantage in the Galwan Valley or the Pangong Tso lake. In terms of military logic, it is hard to believe this.
But whatever the Chinese rationale for its actions, the consequences are clear.
Most of India's reserves for war in the mountains have been sucked in.
A large part of India's airpower has also similarly been committed on the China border. It is well known that most of these reserves had a dual role -- both against China and Pakistan.
By moving these reserves to Ladakh or the Arunachal border, India has been weakened vis-a-vis Pakistan.
Incidentally, the Chinese help to Pakistan in increasing its nuclear arsenal is a far greater provocation as far as India is concerned. Compared to that, the Ladakh incident is a mere pin prick.
One also wonders if the Chinese have decided that strengthening its proxy Pakistan is in its long term interest rather than normalisation of relations with India.
For all the talk of China taking a long term view of relations, this seems a particularly myopic course of action. A course of action that India has studiously avoided vis a vis China and Taiwan.
A joint Sino-Pak attack from the Gilgit-Baltistan side along the Shyok river axis may pose a major threat to Ladakh.
There are unconfirmed reports of Pakistan having made available the Skardu air base to China. This, if true, can negate much of the advantage the Indian Air Force has in this theatre.
It is true that the crisis on the China border does not affect the Indian forces in the plains of Punjab.
If push comes to shove, India can, like in 1965, threaten the heartland of Pakistan in Punjab.
Pakistan has no strategic depth there and is vulnerable.
The Indian Navy, much more powerful than Pakistan's, can also deliver a major blow to Karachi.
A conflagration on this scale will bring in the nuclear dimension. It is difficult to believe if Pakistan stands to gain much from this misadventure.
If the past is any guide, Pakistan is not known for its rational decision-making and is prone to risk-taking.
With the militancy dying out in Kashmir, Pakistan is indeed in a desperate situation.
All in all, the nightmare scenario for India of a two-front war may well come true.
With the US in disarray in an election year and under a whimsical president, the American power that restrained Pakistan in the past (during 1962, for example) stands neutralised.
India will be well advised to be on its guard to face a surprise Pakistani attack.
Colonel Anil A Athale (retd), military historian and strategic thinker, is the co-author of the official history of the India-China conflict of 1962.
In light of the recent protests across the country, many individuals around Connecticut are demanding that statues of the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus be taken down. Columbus, who sailed to the Americas in 1492, "enslaved many native inhabitants of the West Indies and subjected them to extreme violence and brutality," according to a History.com article.
Connecticut cities and towns have already begun to take action against the statues, and in some cases, have had the statues removed permanently.
Scroll through to see the status of various Columbus statues in Connecticut. This article will be updated as more news is available regarding the statues.
- Cambridge Pixel SPx AV software libraries used to develop new application software to process the data from Silent Sentinel's cameras for display within a security video management system (VMS)
CAMBRIDGE, England, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge Pixel, a developer of radar display, tracking and recording sub-systems (www.cambridgepixel.com), announced today that Silent Sentinel, a developer of daylight and thermal imaging solutions, has used its SPx AV software in the rapid development of a COVID-19 raised temperature detection system.
Engineers at Silent Sentinel's headquarters in Stanstead Abbotts, England, needed new application software for its temperature detection system to process the data from its cameras for display within a security video management system (VMS). A quick turnaround was essential as was the track record of the supplier chosen as Silent Sentinel needed delivery of a working solution in a matter of weeks.
James Longcroft, Business Development Director, Silent Sentinel said: "Our engineers have worked with Cambridge Pixel in the past and like us, we are both SMEs, they have a reputation for being responsive, flexible and delivering on their promises. As expected, Cambridge Pixel delivered a working solution on time and to budget, and that exceeded our expectations."
Silent Sentinel's COVID-19 raised temperature detection system is based on a fusion of daylight and thermal imaging cameras to provide automatic face detection, temperature measurement and alarm reporting capabilities. Cambridge Pixel's SPx AV software libraries are integral to the new software application that interfaces to the cameras, identifies faces and then measures the skin temperature, giving an alarm if an out-of-range temperature is observed.
The system captures snapshot images from the two cameras for out-of-range temperature detection, and these images can be stored locally or delivered to a wide area control system for further review and action. The system is designed to operate with different thermal and daylight cameras, providing a flexible range of configuration options for Silent Sentinel's customer base. Optionally, the system can provide full recording of the video data and alarms for later review.
David Johnson, Cambridge Pixel's CEO said: "We are really pleased to be involved with the development of this new product to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our SPx AV library of reusable components for camera control, processing and display have enabled us to develop and deliver this customisable software solution in a very short development timeframe.
The SPx AV software is an integral part of Cambridge Pixel's SPx suite of software libraries and applications providing highly flexible, ready-to-run software products for radar scan conversion, visualisation, radar video distribution, target tracking, camera control, sensor fusion, plot extraction and clutter processing.
Cambridge Pixel's technology is used in naval, air traffic control, vessel traffic, commercial shipping, security, surveillance, and airborne radar applications. Its systems and software have been implemented in mission-critical applications with companies such as BAE Systems, Frontier Electronic Systems, Blighter Surveillance Systems, Exelis, Hanwha Systems, Kelvin Hughes, Lockheed Martin, Navtech Radar, Raytheon, Royal Thai Air Force, Saab Sensis, Sofresud and Tellumat.
For more information about SPx AV or other products from Cambridge Pixel, please visit www.cambridgepixel.com or call: +44-(0)-1763-852749 or email: enquiries@cambridgepixel.com.
Media photo:
https://cambridgepixel.com/site/assets/files/2754/pr-ets.jpg
Silent Sentinel (www.silentsentinel.com)
Silent Sentinel designs and manufactures industry leading surveillance platforms, targeted specifically at the homeland security sector. These platforms incorporate the latest electro optical sensors including, long-range cooled and uncooled thermal cameras, SWIR cameras, ultra low-lowlight cameras and illumination technologies. Manufactured in the UK, its cameras are designed to meet the harsh and challenging environments associated with the protection of critical infrastructure such as transport hubs, maritime security, border and perimeter security, as well military applications. The company is headquartered in Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, England.
About Cambridge Pixel (www.cambridgepixel.com)
Cambridge Pixel is an award-winning developer of sensor processing and display solutions including primary and secondary radar interfacing, processing and display components for military and commercial radar applications. It is a world-leading supplier of software-based radar tracking and scan conversion solutions through its modular SPx software, and HPx hardware product range. Based near Cambridge in the UK, the company operates worldwide through a network of agents and distributors.
With Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and Westpac looking to sell their respective general insurance (GI) arms, could both businesses possibly be sold to one major Australian insurer? If a piece by The Australian is anything to go by, the scenario doesnt seem too far-off.
Citing unnamed sources, the publication said Sydney-headquartered QBE Insurance Group is pursuing the banks GI operations. That of Westpac was valued in the report at around $700 million, while CBAs GI segment was recently estimated to be worth roughly $500 million.
26 teams from across the world are developing solutions to make artisanal mining more responsible
Last October, a global coalition of partners began a search for the best solutions to address challenges related to artisanal and small-scale mining - from the destruction of rainforests, to widespread mercury contamination, and the health & safety of mining communities.
As of June 2020, external reviewers have determined that 26 semifinalist teams will move on to the next round of the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge. Semifinalist teams will deliver pitch presentations to a set of judges in hopes of becoming selected as one of the 10 finalist teams to compete for $750,000 in prizes this September.
The semifinalists hail from 29 countries around the world - Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Myanmar, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Togo, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Learn about the semifinalist teams and their innovations: https://www.artisanalminingchallenge.com/semifinalists
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a critical source of livelihood for an estimated 40+ million people worldwide. While ASM generates wealth in developing countries, ASM practices can cause habitat loss, species' population decline, poor water quality, hydrological changes, and negative human health & livelihood impacts. Mining is among the most significant drivers of deforestation in the world's tropical forests, a leading cause of global biodiversity loss.
The goals of the Challenge are to develop innovations that prevent, remediate, and restore impacts from ASM in the environment; reform supply chains; and use data to measure the environmental and social impacts of ASM.
Conservation X Labs is leading and administering the Challenge. Conservation X Labs (CXL) creates breakthroughs and empowers innovators to build ventures that revolutionize conservation. The mission of CXL is to end the sixth mass extinction - the first mass extinction event caused by one species - our species. CXL believes that since humans have created these problems, we also have the power to solve them. One way to spur innovative solutions to these problems is through prizes and challenges like the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge.
Facts about the ASM and the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge:
The competition received a global response, with applicants from 42 different countries
Prize winners will be announced during a virtual event in September 2020
A $100,000 Microsoft AI for Earth Award will be awarded to the best solution to utilize or deploy artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning, to address ASM in any of the Sub-Challenge categories
ASM is a critical source of livelihood for an estimated 40+ million people worldwide
Globally, ASM supplies 15-20% of diamonds, 15-20% of gold, and 70-80% of colored gemstones
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest global source of anthropogenic mercury pollution, contributing about 40 percent of all environmental mercury contamination
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Learn more about the Artisanal Mining Grand Challenge: http://www.artisanalminingchallenge.com
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClbeOQMHVy6gnX_bfOswQbQ/
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After 11 hours long Corps Commander level talks between India and China, government sources on Tuesday said that the dialogue was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere and there was a "mutual consensus to disengage".
"Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed," government sources added.
The corps commanders of two countries' military met at Moldo on Monday to resolve the border issue and ease tension in Eastern Ladakh. This is the second such meeting after the first one on June 6 to defuse the tensions in Eastern Ladakh.
The meeting between 14 Corps commander Lieutenant General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin happened on the lines of the one they held at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting (BPM) point in eastern Ladakh on June 6.
Before this, Major General level dialogue took place for three consecutive days after the barbaric attack at patrolling point 14 in Galwan Valley on June 15 night where 20 Indian soldiers were killed. The three talks were to ease out the tense situation and to get released 10 Indian soldiers, including four officers, who were in Chinese captivity.
Major General Abhijit Bapat, who is the Commander of the 3 Division of the Indian Army, had raised several points with the Chinese with regard to the incident on the night intervening June 15-16.
The clash occurred at the South bank of Galwan river, which flows in an east-west direction before its confluence with Shayok river, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
It is the first casualties faced by Indian Army in a clash with the Chinese People's Liberation Army since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.
Sources said Indian Army troopers were outnumbered by 1:5 ratio when they came under attack from the Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers at patrolling point number 14 on the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.
China's PLA troopers "savagely attacked" Indian Army personnel, according to sources in the government with knowledge of the details of the June 15-16 night clashes between the two army soldiers.
"The numbers were stacked up against the Indian Army troopers. Yet, the Indian side decided to fight the PLA troopers. The Indian soldiers were outnumbered 1:5 by the Chinese troopers," the sources said on Wednesday.
China is also said to have used thermal imaging drones to trace the Indian Army soldiers scattered on the treacherous terrain before brutally attacking them.
"It was the deadliest attack carried on Indian Army personnel by the Chinese military personnel to our memory," the government sources said.
Indian Army said the soldiers went to the spot where the clashes happened without any animosity and were displaying friendly gestures to the Chinese side when they were there to check if the de-escalation agreement was being followed as promised.
Several Indian Army soldiers are currently "critically injured" and are undergoing treatment.
Channel Seven terminated the employment of Ryan Phelan on Monday after he was charged over an alleged domestic violence incident.
And now the network has welcomed back original co-host Tom Williams to front the program for its final three episodes.
TV Blackbox reported on Tuesday that Williams would rejoin host Sally Obermeder in light of the serious allegations made against Phelan.
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Tom Williams (left) will reprise his hosting role on The Daily Edition after Channel Seven announced the immediate axing of its former host Ryan Phelan (right) on Tuesday's show when allegations of domestic violence came to light this week. Pictured with host Sally Obermeder
Williams, who hosted The Daily Edition from 2013 to 2018, departed Seven after 17 years with the network in December 2018.
The TV carpenter joined property marketing firm Boutique Estates International as a partner alongside Juliet Anderson and his sister-in-law Vanessa Gilbert.
Seven confirmed the axing of The Daily Edition last week, with its final episode to air this Friday.
Obermeder confirmed that Phelan would not return for the remainder of The Daily Edition's run on Tuesday's show.
Sally Obermeder (right) confirmed that Phelan would not return for the remainder of The Daily Edition's run on Tuesday's show - as it will be axed completely on Friday
Helping Sally sign off: Williams(pictured), who hosted The Daily Edition from 2013 to 2018, departed Seven after 17 years with the network in December 2018. He will co-host the remaining three episodes of the program with Obermeder this week
Phelan, 45, was charged on Monday night over an alleged domestic violence incident with his girlfriend, 44-year-old ballet instructor Chelsea Franklin, at their home in Frenchs Forest in Sydney's northern beaches.
Hours before he was charged with the alleged assault, the veteran television presenter arrived for his final week at work as though nothing was amiss.
Phelan presented alongside Obermeder for The Daily Edition, before filling in for Mel McLaughlin on the 6pm sport bulletin.
Phelan, 45, allegedly assaulted Ms Franklin on Saturday night inside their $2.16 million home in Frenchs Forest, in Sydney's north. The dance teacher made a report on Saturday, but her TV star boyfriend was not arrested and charged by NSW Police until Monday evening
The first time bosses at Channel Seven learned of the alleged altercation was when a reporter called asking for further information about Phelan's arrest, Sydney Morning Herald reported.
That claim was supported by Obermeder on air as she tried to explain why her co-host wasn't sitting beside her.
'Before we go on, I want to address Ryan Phelan's absence from the program,' she said.
'The network was unaware of these allegations until notified last night... Ryan will not be returning to The Daily Edition due to the serious allegations made against him.'
She said the entire team was 'understandably shocked', but would not comment further given it was now before the courts.
'The network was unaware of these allegations until notified last night... Ryan will not be returning to The Daily Edition due to the serious allegations made against him': Host Sally Obermeder addressed Phelan's absence with viewers on Tuesday
Phelan's girlfriend Ms Franklin told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday the pressures associated with his job and getting sacked led to the argument that saw her report him to police.
She broke down in tears as she told how Phelan's alleged assault of her on Saturday night was a 'horrible mistake', but admitted she 'still loves him'.
'I'm gutted, I'm devastated, I'm shattered. I've lost my lover, I've lost my boyfriend - I love him,' Ms Franklin said.
'It was just a horrible mistake really, we've had a wonderful two-and-a-half years together, nothing like that has ever happened before.
'Obviously with what's going on with him being made redundant and there's a couple of other personal issues I had and he had, and I think it just took its toll.'
She said: 'Its been a tough, tough week, but he's been an amazing person to me and I love him. It's just a horrible mistake.'
Donald Trump may be angry over secrets revealed in John Boltons new book, which officially hits the shelves on Tuesday. But he cant be annoyed with the books revelations about his relationship with Justin Trudeau.
The animosity described in The Room Where it Happened has been very public the opposite of secret, in fact.
Bolton has given readers a peek behind the scenes of the now-famous G7 meeting in Quebec in 2018, which resulted in a stream of Trump invective toward Trudeau in the immediate aftermath.
The book describes Trumps reaction after watching Trudeaus closing news conference, during which the prime minister spoke out about the U.S. tariff war against Canadian steel, levied just days before the G7 gathering.
He was throwing a fit about Trudeaus using his closing press conference to score points against him, Bolton writes in the book, a copy of which was discreetly supplied to me on Monday. Trump had been gracious to Trudeau in his press event, and he was infuriated Trudeau had not reciprocated.
Bolton then goes on to say how Trump ordered members of his inner circle, specifically his economic adviser Larry Kudlow, to publicly shame Canadas prime minister on TV.
Trumps direction was clear: Just go after Trudeau. Dont knock the others. Trudeaus a behind your back guy.
Kudlow obliged, as did trade adviser Peter Navarro, saying on that same Sunday TV circuit that there would be a special place in hell for people who crossed his boss. (Navarro would retract that statement not long afterward.)
That Trump-Trudeau blow-up took place entirely in public, on TV, which is what appears to be the real sticking point with this president. No big policy differences got under his skin, no clashes of ideology.
Trump wasnt annoyed that the Canadian prime minister opposed the tariffs it would be a surprise if a Canadian leader supported them, after all. The president didnt like what he saw on TV, so he launched retaliation on TV.
This is the most striking feature of Boltons revelations about the famous blow-up of 2018 how ultimately shallow it was. That little chapter might well be titled The Banality of an International Incident.
Bolton does report that Trump arrived in Canada without much regard for either Trudeau or French President Emmanuel Macron, but he tolerated them, mockingly crossing swords with them in meetings.
But Bolton never really explains what was behind this antipathy. He says, mistakenly, that Trump wanted Canada to ratify the new North American free trade deal, but his chronology is off in June 2018, that deal was still four months away.
So what was it, then? Perhaps the relative youth or energy of his counterparts?
As Bolton reports about the G7 meeting itself, Trump himself seemed very tired; in fairness, so were many others, but not Macron and Trudeau, and certainly not their aides, who were pushing policy agendas contrary to ours.
Trump seemed oblivious to those policy differences. I tried to judge whether Trump really wanted a G7 communique and would therefore make more concessions, or whether he was indifferent. I couldnt tell, but Trump (who had not troubled to prepare himself) didnt really have much of an idea what was at stake.
Bolton likely wasnt setting out to compliment Trudeau or Macron in this snippet from his book, but the lingering impression he leaves is of two energetic leaders getting the best of tired and distracted president, unable to defend himself in person or recognize differences until he saw them on TV.
Sources close to Trudeau have quietly and anonymously confirmed Boltons account of this blow-up, but the prime minister himself has said little about that incident. At the end of 2018, I asked Trudeau about it during an interview, and he said only that he resisted temptation to fight back personally.
As satisfying as it might be to sort of let it rip in public or respond to personal attacks or personal comments with personal comments, does that help me do my job? Does that help Canadians? No. So I put that aside, Trudeau said.
In Fire and Fury, another book about the Trump White House, author Michael Wolff described the early relationship with Trudeau in a more flattering light. Trump, in that account, was pleased with Trudeaus smiling, pleasant demeanour. Again, though, nothing to do with meetings of minds just style and image.
Bolton has been saying in his first flurry of book interviews that he set out to show that this president is not competent to hold office. This glimpse of what it took for Trudeau to get under Trumps skin in 2018 the banality of it all would certainly indicate a lack of deep thoughts in the Oval Office. But that too is not classified information.
Susan Delacourt is an Ottawa-based columnist covering national politics for the Star. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt
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Global private equity giant Blackstone has launched a deal to sell some of its units in Embassy Office Parks Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and raise around $300 million, three persons with knowledge of the transaction told Moneycontrol. Embassy Office Parks is Indias first real estate investment trust.
BofA Securities and Morgan Stanley are the advisors on this block deal which has now been launched," one of the individuals said. A second individual confirmed the same.
Considering the current commercial real estate environment, its a good time to take some chips off the table and show a partial exit to its investors, a third individual told Moneycontrol.
All three spoke to Moneycontrol on the condition of anonymity. Blackstone and Embassy REIT decline to comment. Morgan Stanley and BofA Securities couldnt be immediately reached for a comment.
Embassy Office Parks REIT launched an initial public offering (IPO) and debuted in the stock market in April 2019. It was backed by Blackstone and Bengaluru-based Embassy Property Development Pvt and it owns a portfolio comprising seven office parks and four prime city-centre office buildings, totalling 33.3 million sq ft as of March 31. Embassy has invested in high-quality assets in Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and Noida.
"The REIT is now trading close to IPO levels, said the third person familiar with the proposed deal.
A real estate investment trust is a company that owns, operates and in most cases operates, income-producing properties or real estate. Modelled after mutual funds, REITs pool the capital of numerous investors and generate steady income for their investors. REITs own many types of commercial real estate, ranging from office and apartment buildings to warehouses, hospitals, shopping centres and hotels.
Baghdad, June 23 : A Katyusha rocket landed near the Baghdad International Airport without causing casualty, the Iraqi military said.
The attack took place on Monday evening when unknown militants fired the rocket from a village in Abu Ghraib area in western Baghdad, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) said in a statement.
Baghdad airport and other Iraqi military bases housing the US forces have been frequently targeted by mortar and rocket attacks, reports Xinhua news agency.
The attack came more than a week after the US and Iraqi officials held a strategic video dialogue, where Washington pledged to continue cutting down on its forces in Iraq and confirmed that it does not seek permanent military presence in the country.
The Iraq-US relations have witnessed a tension since January 3 when an American drone struck a convoy at Baghdad's airport, which killed Qasem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.
The US airstrike prompted the Iraqi parliament two days later to pass a resolution that requires the government to end the presence of foreign forces in the country.
More than 5,000 US troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the domestic forces in the battles against the Islamic State militants, mainly providing training and advising.
Researchers have found that rocky exoplanets which formed early in the life of the galaxy seem to have had a greater chance of developing a magnetic field and plate tectonics than planets which formed later. As both these conditions are considered favourable to the development of life, this means that if life exists in the Galaxy, it may have developed earlier than later, and that planets formed more recently may have less chance of developing life.
As lead scientist, planetary researcher Craig O'Neill said,
"Plate tectonics is important for habitability, and it looks like the optimum conditions plate tectonics existed for planets forming early in the galaxy's lifespan, and may be unlikely to easily recur. For life, maybe that was as good as it gets".
Exoplanets - planets in orbit around distant stars - have been attracting great interest because of the possibility that some of them may harbour life. Presenting the results at the Goldschmidt geochemistry conference, Professor Craig O'Neill (Director of the Macquarie Planetary Research Centre, Macquarie University) continued:
"Because of the great distances involved, we have a limited amount of information on these exoplanets, but we can understand some factors, such as position, temperature, and some idea of the geochemistry of the exoplanets. This allows us to model how they develop".
Using huge simulations involving hundreds of processors on the Australian National Computing Infrastructure, the team ran the parameters through the ASPECT* geodynamics code, which simulates the development of the interior of planets. O'Neill's group was able to show that many early planets would have tended to develop plate tectonics, which is favourable to the development of life.
He commented: "Plate tectonics act as a kind of thermostat for the Earth creating the conditions which allow life to evolve. The Earth has a lot of iron in its core, and we had assumed that this would be necessary for tectonic development. However we found that even planets with little iron may develop plate tectonics if the timing is right. This was completely unexpected".
The development of plate tectonics has a major knock-on effect. "Planets which formed later may not have developed plate tectonics, which means that they don't have this built in thermostat. This doesn't just affect the surface temperature, this means that the core stays hot, which inhibits the development of a magnetic field. If there's no magnetic field, the planet is not shielded from solar radiation, and will tend to lose its atmosphere. So life becomes difficult to sustain. A planet needs to be lucky to have the right position and the right geochemistry at the right time if it's going to sustain life", said Professor O'Neill.
Researchers know that the overall chemical balance of the Galaxy has changed over time for diverse reasons, such as material coalescing into stars and planetary bodies, or being expelled through supernova. This means that the interstellar material available to form planets is significantly different to that available in the early galaxy.
"So the planets which formed earlier did so in conditions favourable to allow the development of life" said Craig O'Neill, "These conditions are becoming increasingly rarer in our galaxy."
Commenting, Professor Sara Russell said:
"Over the last few years, amazing projects such as the NASA Kepler mission have located thousands of planets orbiting around other stars. However, these exoplanet observations alone provide very basic information. It is so important to combine observing campaigns with large simulation projects like this, that really tell us something about the geological evolution of planets formed at different stages of galactic evolution. This enables us to build a picture of what these strange worlds might look like, and how habitable they may be".
Sara Russell is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Geochemical Society. She is Professor of Planetary Sciences and leader of the Planetary Materials Group at the Natural History Museum, London. She was not involved in this work, this is an independent comment.
As of 5th June, NASA has confirmed the detection of 4158 exoplanets in our galaxy, see https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/ . The closest exoplanets yet found orbit the star Proxima Centuri, which is about 4 light years from Earth (latest data indicates either 2 or 3 exoplanets).
The Goldschmidt conference is the world's main geochemistry conference, hosted by the Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry. Held annually, it covers such material as climate change, astrobiology, planetary and stellar development and conditions, chemistry of Earth materials, pollution, the undersea environment, volcanoes, and many other subjects. For 2020 the scheduled Hawaii congress has been moved online, and takes place from 21-26 June, see https://goldschmidt.info/2020/index. Future congresses are in Lyon, France (2021) and the rescheduled Hawaii congress (2022).
*NOTE: See Advanced Solver for Problems in Earth's ConvecTion https://aspect.geodynamics.org/ ASPECT was developed by the University of California (Davis) with funding from the National Science Foundation.
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Slow. Sluggish. Feet dragging. Legs heavy.
The run was not the effortless morning wake-up I had envisioned when I sat on front steps tying the shoes. The gazelle I had envisioned, gently bouncing over the trails, had turned into more of a hippo waddling along.
Then, around 15 minutes into the run, I remembered a friends wisdom. Dont fight the current. Find it and flow with it.
So, flow with it became my mantra.
As a competitive runner, flowing at an admittedly pedestrian speed is sort of new.
But then again, I am a competitive runner three months into a pandemic, exhausted from work as a family physician to support others in movement and health. I am a runner whose competition has become measured by resilience more than by mile pace or race times/awards.
It took some effort, but over the next miles of the run, I repeated flow with it and let the run take over. Suddenly, the trees seemed more present. The flowering plants of our New Mexico landscape became more fragrant. The sand beneath my feet that had earlier seemed a culprit in my slow pace now welcomed my every step with a grainy cushioned embrace.
Before I realized it, I was in that wonderful space that running offers us, escape from the pandemic and all of lifes stressors. I hardly noticed that my pace had quickened.
Flow with it.
Thats my prescription for us all. Let your movement be medicine on all levels mind, body, and spirit. Let your runs be a way to connect with yourself and nature in a way that we know is deep in our DNA as humans: running. As we see a world suffering, dedicate your movement to the healing of those infected and all of us affected. Flow with it.
And in the fine print of the prescription, I might also add that flow with it means to take care of being gentle with ourselves at this moment. Right now, the best things we can do on some days is to throw out the pace or mileage goal for the day and focus on being present, giving thanks for the moment, and for your body that allows you the gift of that days run. As we say in our running medicine program, Breathe deep, forget all worries, and get your medicine.
Anthony Fleg is a family physician who blogs at Writing to Heal.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
BASEL, Switzerland
June 23, 2020
Othmar Pfannes
Switzerland
Germany
Japan
Singapore
Miles Fisher-Pollard
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Genedata, the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharmaceutical R&D, today announced the release of Genedata Selector 6.0, the latest version of its innovative enterprise software solution for automation of next generation sequencing (NGS)-based workflows. The software has been developed in collaboration with biopharma customers and is rapidly being adopted by leading biopharma companies to increase efficiencies, from research to development and into biosafety testing.Efficient NGS analysis and comprehensive data management throughout an organization are required to address increasing numbers of projects and to speed up the development of biotherapeutics. Genedata Selector automates NGS-based workflows with wizard-style playbooks that guide users through the entire workflow from sample registration to report generation. These playbooks can be adapted to any laboratory's workflows; using pre-approved data processing pipelines, they enable scientists to perform routine analysis in cell line development and adventitious agent detection independent of expert bioinformatics support. Scientists can access results immediately, resulting in significant time savings.Genedata Selector 6.0 Highlights The newest release of Genedata Selector includes NGS data processing workflows which can be approved and locked for use in playbooks to minimize the risk of variations in data processing. This automation streamlines and standardizes routine data processing and allows scientists to focus more on their experiments and interpretation of the data. New features to enhance the user experience include a configurable dashboard with status cards to provide scientists and managers quick access to project status and other information. A new, robust genome loading tool enhances the system performance and simplifies genome database maintenance. In Genedata Selector 6.0, sample and data management, visualization, and analysis are tightly integrated to allow for full data transparency and to enable audit reports with time-stamped transactions.The playbooks allow complex NGS analysis in cell line development and process optimization, such as clone selection with Targeted Locus Amplification (TLA), to be brought in-house and drastically reduce the time required to generate results. In addition, playbooks for adventitious agent detection enable rapid on-site biosafety analysis of cell banks, raw material, and lot release testing, saving weeks compared to sending samples out for analysis to a CRO."With Genedata Selector we focus on streamlining and automating complex NGS-based applications for the biopharmaceutical industry, to accelerate the digitalization of our rapidly growing customer base," said Dr., Ph.D., CEO of Genedata. "Biopharmas that choose to manage innovation on Genedata Selector 6.0 can take a big leap forward to reach full digitalization today and enable easy access to high quality data within their organizations."About Genedata Genedata transforms data into intelligence with innovative software solutions and domain-specific consulting services that automate complex, large-scale experimental processes and enable organizations to maximize the ROI in their R&D, spanning early discovery all the way to the clinic. Founded in 1997, Genedata is headquartered inwith additional offices in, the UK, and the US. http://www.genedata.com LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube ________________________________________ ContactGenedata Public Relations Phone: +41 61 511 85 61 pr@genedata.comDisclaimer The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, developing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company's products and services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.SOURCE Genedata
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Tokyo says it expects a "large number" of new cases as a new cluster surfaced at an office in Japan's capital city. Its governor said clusters in the workplace "have become a big problem lately." White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress Tuesday that some parts of the U.S. are seeing a "disturbing surge" of infections and he's concerned about the increased community spread. Top officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services are discussing what each agency has done in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. Global cases: More than 9.27 million
Global deaths: At least 477,807
U.S. cases: More than 2.34 million
U.S. deaths: At least 121,225
The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Germany faces test over whether it can contain major outbreaks
10:00 a.m. London time: Germany has reported a further cluster of coronavirus cases at a slaughterhouse in Lower Saxony on Tuesday, the latest in a series of outbreaks seen in the country. Now, containing the potential spread of the virus is a top priority for Germany's authorities, who have so far attracted praise for their handling of the epidemic. "The important thing now is to try and contain this outbreak and prevent it from entering the general population and making it unstoppable," Thomas Kamradt, president of the German Society for Immunology, told CNBC Wednesday. Germany has reported a further outbreak of coronavirus cases at a slaughterhouse in Lower Saxony, the latest in a series of infections that have been seen in the country's meat-processing industry. German media reported late Tuesday that the factory in Wildeshausen is the latest meat-processing plant to see an outbreak of the virus, with 23 workers testing positive. Holly Ellyatt
Soldiers of the Bundeswehr dressed in full PPE prepare to take throat swab samples from local residents in the village of St. Vit following a Covid-19 outbreak at the nearby Toennies meat packaging plant during the coronavirus pandemic on June 23, 2020 near Guetersloh, Germany. Sean Gallup
Moscow holds Victory Day parade, brushing off coronavirus threat
09:30 a.m. London time: Russia is holding its annual Victory Day parade in Moscow on Wednesday, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Nazi Germany's capitulation in World War II. The parade allows Russia to showcase its military personnel and equipment to the world but it also offers Russian President Vladimir Putin to cement Russian patriotism, and his power base. This year's parade comes during an unprecedented global health crisis, and the event had to be rescheduled from its original date, on May 9, to June 24. But earlier Wednesday, Putin was seen greeting dignitaries with handshakes, despite Russia having the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world. Holly Ellyatt
The coronavirus pandemic could drive demand for copper
08:00 a.m. London time: The coronavirus pandemic is expected to pave the way for "the age of copper," according to the director of energy, climate and resources at Eurasia Group. The commodity, which is widely seen as a bellwether for the general state of the economy, has taken a hit during the coronavirus crisis. Slumping demand drove prices down at the height of the pandemic in March. However, benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange was trading around $5,909 per metric ton Tuesday, up 0.5%. That's close to its five-month high of $5,928 hit earlier this month, Reuters reported. Chloe Taylor
New York City opens up beaches for swimming ahead of Independence Day weekend
2:30 p.m. (Singapore time) Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that beaches in New York City will be opened to the public for swimming, ahead of the Independence Day weekend. "The rumors are true: NYC beaches will open for swimming on July 1," de Blasio said in a tweet. "Let's keep playing it safe: social distance & face coverings, even at the beach!" Weizhen Tan
Tokyo says its expects a 'large number' of new cases
1:25 p.m. (Singapore time) A new cluster of infections has been found at an office in Japan's capital, prompting Tokyo's governor to warn that the city will register "quite a large number" of new cases on Wednesday, according to Reuters. "Clusters in the workplace have become a big problem lately," said Governor Yuriko Koike. Weizhen Tan
New York City will hold scattered July 4 fireworks shows this year
6:42 p.m. ET New York City's fireworks display for July 4 will be different this year. The city is planning to hold a number of five-minute shows starting June 29, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced, according to the Wall Street Journal. To prevent crowds from gathering to watch, the timing of the shows will not be announced, the Journal reported. The shows will culminate in a grand finale on July 4, which will include fireworks over the Empire State Building and a NBC broadcast with musical guests, the Journal reported. Macy's is sponsoring the displays. Michelle Gao
Dr. Fauci recommends states seeing surges should consider pausing reopening phases
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, leaves after testifying during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Trump Administration's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. Kevin Dietsch | Pool via Reuters
6:26 p.m. ET States like Arizona, Florida, Texas and others with growing coronavirus outbreaks might not need to shut down again like many did in March, White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said. Instead, such states that have "a serious problem" might need to consider delaying, or rolling back, stages of reopening, he added. "I wouldn't necessarily say an absolute shutdown, lockdown, but if someone is going from gateway to phase one to phase two and they get into trouble in phase 2, they may need to go back to phase 1," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told members of Congress during a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Will Feuer
Arizona reports record single-day increase in cases ahead of Trump's visit
U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he tours a section of new U.S.-Mexico border wall built in San Luis, Arizona, June 23, 2020. Carlos Barria | Reuters
4:45 p.m. ET The coronavirus infected 3,593 people, another record in additional daily cases in Arizona, and killed an additional 42 people since Monday, bringing the states' death toll to 1,384, according to the Arizona Department of Health. While the rise in daily case numbers could reflect a lag in data reporting or increased testing in certain locations throughout the state, Arizona is averaging about 2,500 daily new cases as of Monday, which is about a 94% increase since one week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. The increase in cases comes as Trump travels to the state's border and to Phoenix, where he's scheduled to attend a campaign rally at a local church. Infectious disease experts have warned against large indoor gatherings, such as Trump's recent rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as cases surge in the West and South. Noah Higgins-Dunn
14% of business owners expect layoffs
4:09 p.m. ET About 14% of business owners expect to lay off workers after using up funds through the Paycheck Protection Program, a forgivable loan program created by the CARES Act. White House officials have credited the program for the stark turnaround in employment last month, when 2.5 million Americans went back to work. Recipients of the federal aid can only receive full loan forgiveness by rehiring laid-off or furloughed workers. However, businesses are struggling even as states have begun reopening their economies. Absent additional funding authorized by federal lawmakers, the employment rebound seen in May could prove short-lived. Greg Iacurci
Djokovic apologizes for hosting tennis matches where coronavirus spread
2:59 p.m. ET Top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic apologized on Twitter for organizing a tennis exhibition series during the outbreak. Djokovic and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus after attending the tournament. Djokovic said he and other organizers believed health protocols were met and that the region had combated the virus well enough to gather, but "we were wrong and it was too soon." The Associated Press reported earlier Tuesday that social distancing was not maintained, as players were seen hugging each other. "I can't express how sorry I am for this and for every case on infection," Djokovic said in an apology on Twitter. The Serbian player caught criticism for holding the series amid the pandemic. The third stage of the series, originally planned for next week in Bosnia, was canceled. Djokovic encouraged anyone who attended the series to get tested for the virus and practice social distancing. He and his wife will quarantine for five days. Alex Harring
Fauci warns of serious symptoms in young people, disturbing surge in cases
2:53 p.m. ET Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that health experts are seeing "more and more" coronavirus complications in young people while testifying during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing. Though young people initially appeared to be spared from the virus' worst symptoms early on in the outbreak, Fauci said they are at risk for suffering "deleterious consequences," CNBC's Berkeley Lovelace Jr. reports. Fauci's comments come as more young people fail to practice social-distancing measures and test positive for the virus. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases also said that parts of the U.S. are experiencing a "disturbing surge" in coronavirus infections, Lovelace and CNBC's Will Feuer report. Though some states, such as New York, have seen a decline in Covid-19 cases, others have seen rising case numbers that "reflect an increase in community spread," which Fauci called concerning. Hannah Miller
Cities warn of infrastructure spending cuts, more layoffs
2:39 p.m. ET More than 700 cities across the U.S. plan to delay or cancel planned infrastructure projects after their responses to the coronavirus outbreak left budgets with unplugged holes, according to a National League of Cities survey. A majority of cities plan to delay or cancel equipment purchases, which could stunt local commercial activity among businesses and add to the layoffs and furloughs already underway in one-third of cities that responded to the survey, which collected data from over 1,100 municipalities in all 50 states. Most of the cities reported their largest unexpected cost over the last few months involved purchases of personal protective equipment and contracting disinfecting services to keep public buildings clean as they begin to open. The National League of Cities called on the federal government to provide more federal funding directly to municipalities, warning that if it didn't, the nation's economic recovery from Covid-19 could be threatened. Noah Higgins-Dunn
White House considers shakeup at CDC over botched Covid-19 response, report says
CDC headquarters in Atlanta Elijah Nouvelage | Bloomberg via Getty Images
2:15 p.m. ET The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is under heightened scrutiny by the White House as the Trump administration seeks to blame the agency for the bungled U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic, a new report says. Multiple senior administration officials told Politico that the CDC would undergo a performance review focusing focus on the agency's failure to deliver working tests in the early months of the pandemic.White House staffers have also discussed narrowing the CDC's mission or adding political appointees, Politico said. Yelena Dzhanova
U.S. 7-day average of coronavirus cases surges 30% from week ago
1:40 p.m. ET The seven-day average of daily new Covid-19 cases increased more than 30% compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. Cases are growing by 5% or more in 26 states across the U.S., including Arizona, Texas, Florida and Montana. Texas added 4,846 new cases on Monday bringing its seven-day average of daily new cases to 3,940, according to Hopkins' data. The state has seen more than 100% increase in its seven-day average compared with a week ago. Arizona is averaging about 2,500 daily new cases as of Monday, which is about a 94% increase since one week ago. California saw a massive jump in its daily report of positive cases, adding 6,219 new cases, according to Hopkins' data. This new figure broke its previous single-day record of 4,084 new confirmed cases from last Thursday, according to the California Department of Health. Monday's number reported by county health departments across the state includes some caveats as some counties report multiple-day totals after not updating their case counts over the weekend. Jasmine Kim
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Sales of newly built homes show big increase, but meeting demand is a challenge
1:18 p.m. ET Sales of newly built homes increased nearly 13% annually, according to the U.S. Census. But single-family housing starts in May were close to 18% lower annually and building permits were down about 10%, leaving builders trying to meet the demand for construction, CNBC's Diana Olick reports. Some homebuilders slowed operations in March, but saw a quick uptick of interest in April, despite still producing below demand levels. Homebuilders have added 226,000 jobs in May, according to Robert Dietz, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders, but there was already a shortage of skilled workers before the pandemic. Alex Harring
Some colleges cutting academic programs as schools take financial hit from Covid-19 closures
The University of Alaska Anchorage campus is shown in Anchorage, Alaska. Yereth Rosen | Reuters
12:24 p.m. ET As colleges and universities across the country face extreme financial distress, some institutions are cutting the academic programs that were once central to a well-rounded education. In early June, the University of Alaska system announced it will cut 39 academic departments in all, including degree programs in sociology, creative writing, chemistry and environmental science. In order to stay afloat going forward, more schools may have to shift their priorities away from the value of a liberal arts education and focus on degrees that have a direct return on investment, according to Robert Franek, editor in chief of The Princeton Review. Jessica Dickler
As Trump blames rising cases on testing, data suggests the virus is spreading
Dr. Vincent Carrao draws blood from a patient for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test at Palisades Oral Surgery, in Fort Lee, New Jersey, U.S., June 15, 2020. Picture taken June 15, 2020. Brendan McDermid | Reuters
11:54 a.m. ET President Donald Trump has continued to blame rising coronavirus cases on increased testing despite mounting evidence that the virus is spreading rapidly throughout some communities. "Cases are going up in the U.S. because we are testing far more than any other country, and ever expanding," Trump tweeted early Tuesday. "With smaller testing we would show fewer cases!" Citing a rise in many states that the percent of total tests coming back positive is on the rise, public health specialists and some politicians have pushed back, saying that infections, not just confirmed cases, are accelerating. "Even with the testing increasing or being flat, the number of people testing positive is accelerating faster than that," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, told reporters last week. "You know that's evidence that there's transmission within those communities." Will Feuer
Better care and younger patients could lower the mortality rate, Dr. Scott Gottlieb says
11:26 a.m. ET As the coronavirus appears to infect mostly younger people in at least some states and doctors learn to provide better care for Covid-19 patients, the mortality rate of the disease will likely drop in the weeks ahead, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC. Young and otherwise healthy people are less likely to die of Covid-19, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, young people can still develop severe disease as well as die of the disease and scientists are still researching the long-term health effects of an infection. "As the hospitals fill up with Covid patients, we're going to see how much the mortality rate declines as a function of it's a younger cohort, younger age cohort, but also we have better treatment," Gottlieb said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "There's no question that we're going to preserve more life now that we have these therapeutic opportunities available to us." Will Feuer
Delta CEO calls for a government mask-wearing mandate
10:01 a.m. ET Major U.S. airlines now require passengers to wear masks on board in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19, but enforcing it is tricky without a government mandate, Delta Air Lines' CEO Ed Bastian said. Right now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends facial coverings like masks in places where it is difficult to socially distance, such as on airplanes. "If you take your mask off, no ... we will not forcibly remove you from the plane," Bastian told Axios in an interview that aired Monday night. "If the government were to mandate it I think that would help. If the government mandated it then you can enforce it." The government has "left it to the airlines to make those decisions." Last week, American Airlines said it is temporarily banning a passenger who refused to wear a mask, saying he can return when those face coverings are no longer required on flights. Leslie Josephs
Tennis player Novak Djokovic tests positive after organizing exhibition series
A file photo dated June 5, 2016 shows Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Andy Murray of United Kingdom during the men's single final match at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France on June 05, 2016. Mustafa Yalcin | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
9:57 a.m. ET Top-ranked Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus after playing in a tennis exhibition series he organized, the Associated Press reported. Djokovic became the fourth player to test positive following matches in Belgrade and Zadar, Croatia. Both Djokovic and his wife have tested positive. There was no social distancing measures implemented at the matches as players were seen hugging each other, per the AP report. Djokovic has been criticized for hosting the exhibition amid health concerns with the pandemic. Organizers of the Adria Tour confirmed to AP that the third stage of the series, originally planned next for next week in Bosnia, has been canceled. Alex Harring
Stocks open solidly higher following brief China-U.S. trade deal scare overnight
9:38 a.m. ET Stock futures recovered from earlier losses to trade higher at the open after White House trade advisor Peter Navarro clarified his remarks that suggested the U.S.-China trade deal is over. Navarro quickly walked back his remarks. "My comments have been taken wildly out of context," he said in a statement. "They had nothing at all to do with the Phase I trade deal, which continues in place." Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up about 230 points at the start of trading. S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures also traded higher. Stocks extended Monday's gains, despite unease surrounding the growing number of Covid-19 "hot spots" across the country. Terri Cullen
University of Michigan pulls out of hosting presidential debate, citing health concerns
9:30 a.m. ET The University of Michigan said it will be pulling out of its agreement with the Commission on Presidential Debates to host a general election presidential debate on its campus in the fall. The debate will still take place on Oct. 15, but will instead be held in Miami at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, according to a statement by the commission. The University of Michigan's decision to back out was rooted in concerns over the public health risks of bringing candidates, campaigns and the media to campus during the pandemic, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday, citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter. University President Mark Schlissel wrote in a letter to the committee that hosting the debate is no longer feasible, given the public health and safety issues which accompany bringing so many visitors to the Ann Arbor, Mich. campus. Alex Harring
Daily new cases in the U.S. trend upward
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Sanofi CEO says the company could contribute two successful coronavirus vaccines
8:56 a.m. ET Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson told CNBC both of the French drugmaker's vaccine pursuits could be successful in preventing Covid-19. "The world needs billions of doses. We want to make sure every country, everybody that needs that protection, can get it," Hudson said on "Squawk Box." "We think we'll definitely play a part with one, and maybe even both of our vaccines." Hudson's comments come after Sanofi announced a potential $2 billion deal with U.S. biotech firm Translate Bio to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. Sanofi has already entered a vaccine partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, a British pharmaceutical company. Hudson touted Translate Bio's experience working on therapeutics using mRNA technology, which tells human cells to produce specified proteins in order to produce an immune response to a particular disease. The vaccine candidate from Sanofi and Translate Bio could be ready "later in 2021," Hudson said. "One of the reasons why we went deeper into this collaboration was because they've been on mRNA for 10 years. They know how it make it scaled, which has never been done before with any other company. Once we've cracked it, which we think we will, we'll be able to get to large volumes very quickly," he said. Kevin Stankiewicz
England pubs, restaurants and hotels to reopen on July 4
People are seen buying takeaway pints at a pub on Wandsworth Common on May 28 2020 in London, England. Peter Summers | Getty Images
8:05 a.m. ET British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced England's pubs, restaurants and hotels will be permitted to reopen on July 4 as part of the country's next phase of a resumption of business, according to a Reuters report. "All hospitality indoors will be limited to table service and our guidance will encourage minimal staff and customer contact," he said in parliament, according to Reuters. "We will ask businesses to help NHS Test and Trace respond to any local outbreaks by collecting contact details from customers." Sara Salinas
German district goes back into lockdown after outbreak at meat processing plant
A man speaks to foreign labourers inside an area secured by local police forces within an apartment complex used by the Toennies meat company to house labourers from eastern Europe during the coronavirus pandemic on June 20, 2020 in Verl near Guetersloh, Germany. Alexander Koerner
7:13 a.m. ET A district in Germany that has seen an acute outbreak of coronavirus cases at a meat-processing plant is being put back into lockdown, the premier of North Rhine-Westfalia said. State premier Armin Laschet said he was putting the district of Guetersloh, home to around 360,000 people, back under lockdown until June 30. The move comes after at least 1,000 workers at a meat processing plant in the area contracted Covid-19. Germany has been lauded throughout the coronavirus crisis in Europe as a country that had seemingly managed to control the virus' spread, largely through an organized and early contact tracing system. Now, however, the country has seen a resurgence of cases due to several localized outbreaks in different parts of the country. As well as the outbreak in Guetersloh, a large Covid-19 outbreak in the district of Goettingen in Lower Saxony was traced to family gatherings and another, in Magdeburg in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, emerged in several schools that are now closed. In Berlin, an outbreak of 85 cases has been linked to members of a religious community. Holly Ellyatt
AstraZeneca's potential vaccine shows promise in pigs with two shots
AstraZeneca's building in Luton, Britain. Tim Ireland | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images
Guwahati/Agartala, June 23 : After a huge surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, lockdown was been re-imposed for 14-days in 11 wards in Guwahati on Tuesday night, officials said.
Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said in an order that there has been large scale spread of Covid-19 cases among the people of certain areas in Guwahati city, causing a major threat to public health, hygiene and safety.
Biswajit Pegu, the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup Metro district, the Guwahati city falls under the district, said that the lockdown would be continued for 14 days.
"As per the lockdown norms, all government offices, businesses and commercial establishments would remain closed and movement of public and private transport would also be suspended," the Deputy Commissioner told the media.
However, pharmacies, groceries, fruits and vegetables stores, dairy and milk booths and fodder shops would remain open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
With the reinforcement of the lockdown in more than one-third of the areas under the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, the famous Kamakhya Temple, Maligaon, Fatasil, Panbazar and parts of Fancy Bazar would come under the restrictions.
Of Assam's 5,853 Covid-19 positive cases (2,079 active cases) on Tuesday night, 552 cases were reported from the Kamrup Metro district.
Meanwhile, Assam BJP MLA Krishendu Paul, who represents Patharkandi in the state Assembly, tested Covid-19 positive on Monday night. Karimganj district (southern Assam) Joint Director of Health, A. Dattari, said the legislator tested positive for the virus during the ongoing 11-day long Assam Targeted Surveillance Programme (ATSP).
Thursdays long-awaited U.S. Supreme Court decision rejecting the Trump administrations bid to end the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program was met with sighs of relief on both sides of the border. The plight of so-called Dreamers youth and young people who were brought to the U.S. as children who remained with no legal immigration status is a well-known and heartbreaking story. Despite most often having had no role in the decision to migrate, nor having remaining connection to their previous country, these young people are vulnerable to deportation. Anti-immigration advocates accuse them of cheating the system.
While we gasp at this close call in the U.S., the truth is that Canada is no better on this issue. In fact, non-citizens brought to Canada as children are perhaps in a worse position. We have no DACA-equivalent legislation to provide protection from deportation or temporary work authorization to our Dreamers. We do not even have a public discourse on the issue.
While the term Dreamers invokes idealistic accounts of overcoming odds and happy endings, the people this term refers to are in fact real people living real lives. Like other children, they have gone to school, made neighbourhood friends, and developed views of the world based on their Canadian lives.
As the pandemic has laid bare, while migrants are essential to our communities, they are so often exploited and excluded. Migrants face barriers to health care, education, decent work, family unity and equal rights. While legalization theoretically enables Dreamers to access K-12 education, many require the intervention of lawyers and community advocates to enforce that right. As they grow up, they discover they cannot work legally, access supports such as OHIP and OSAP, enrol at most universities and colleges (or if they are admitted, face elevated international fees). Without SIN numbers, they cannot access CERB or CESB. Seeking professional support or calling the police, always a perilous choice for racialized groups, risks exposure to immigration authorities.
These barriers not only close doors to opportunities that other Canadians take for granted, they force these young people into precarious employment, housing and social situations that make them vulnerable to abuse. To protect themselves and their families, they work to fly under the radar. Living as an undocumented person carries huge psychological weight. In this case, that weight is carried by children and youth.
Consider Marla, who was brought to Canada at the age of 4. She has lived in the GTA for 18 years. An academic star throughout school, she was completely unaware of her insecure immigration status and what that meant until she was mid-way through high school. The revelation was harsh. While her friends entered university, she had to abandon her own university ambitions and instead enter precarious factory employment.
Since 2012, DACA has enabled approximately 800,000 young adults to work lawfully in the U.S.. How many undocumented childhood arrivals do we have in Canada? We do not actually know. Estimates of the number of people living in Canada without legal immigration status vary from 20,000 to 500,000, but there is no estimate of those who arrived during childhood. The existence of childhood arrivals is seldom even acknowledged.
Therefore, hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of young people across the country are living in marginalization and vulnerability. They also cannot contribute to our communities and economies in the ways they wish. And this despite the significant investments we have made in them (e.g., education, emergency health care) and they in us.
Do we need quantifiable numbers before we act? No. Agencies working with migrants and young people know of enough people like Marla to know their predicament is real.
If the Canadian government finally decides to provide protections to this special group, we must not blindly accept a DACA-like model. Despite applauding Thursdays decision, we know that DACA is insufficient. It defers removals but does not provide a pathway to citizenship, effectively leaving young people in limbo. It also creates a hierarchy of entitlement due to strict inclusion criteria. A made-in-Canada solution would need to address these glaring deficiencies and embrace childhood arrivals as equal and welcome members of our society.
GODFREY Lewis and Clark Community College Associate Professor Rosemarie Vithayathil will be offering a free lesson in biology entitled A Peek into Life, Evolution and the Future of Our Beautiful Planet at 3 p.m. Friday, June 26, on Zoom. All are welcome.
Vithayathil will give a broad overview of life science while offering a taste of a biology course she teaches, Fundamentals of Biological Science (BIOL-130). Attendees will explore the basic principles of the cell, reproduction, genetics, ecology, evolution and biological diversity.
Muslims pray at the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, in 2019.
Reuters
Saudi Arabia on Monday barred international visitors from completing the Hajj pilgrimage in July amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Hajj is worth around $6 billion to the Saudi government each year, and as over 70% of visitors come from abroad, the government is set to miss out on about $4 billion.
Muslims of any nationality currently residing in Saudi Arabia are still permitted to embark on Hajj, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said.
However, those going this year must be under 65 years old and will be tested upon arrival in Mecca, the Financial Times reported.
This is the first time since 1932 the year of Saudi Arabia's founding that limitations have been placed on the annual pilgrimage.
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Saudi Arabia has barred Muslims around the world from traveling to the kingdom to compete the Hajj pilgrimage this year, a decision that will see it lose billions in revenue.
"It has been decided that Hajj for this year will be held whereby a very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it," the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in a statement released Monday.
"This decision is taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective."
Those planning to go on the Hajj this year must be below 65, health minister Tawfig al-Rabia said on Tuesday, according to the Financial Times's Ahmed al-Omran.
Al-Rabia said that everyone will be tested for COVID-19 before arrival in Mecca and will be required to quarantine upon returning home after the pilgrimage.
In 2019, 2.5 million pilgrims descended on Mecca to perform the Hajj, with 76% (1.9 million) of those coming from outside Saudi Arabia, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
Muslim pilgrims pray in Mecca in September 2015.
Ozkan Bilgin / Andadolu Agency / Getty
The Hajj is worth around $6 billion to the Saudi economy each year, meaning as much as $4.6 billion may be forfeit this year due to the curbs.
Story continues
Going on the Hajj can cost pilgrims many thousands of dollars each, when flights, meals, and visas are factored in.
This year's Hajj is scheduled to begin on July 28 and marks the first time since 1932, the year of Saudi Arabia's founding, that limitations have been placed on the pilgrimage.
As is the case with all nations, the Saudi economy has been hit hard by the impact of the coronavirus.
The government has tripled value-added tax (VAT) and cut its budget by $27 billion in response.
Every Muslim is expected to perform the Hajj once in their lifetime.
Pilgrims visit the al-Haram mosque in Mecca to pray and circle the Kaaba. They visit Mina in the west of the city and sometimes visit the prophet's mosque in the nearby city of Medina.
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Donald Trump went on Twitter late on Monday to quell an international incident caused by one of his aides hours earlier as White House officials struggled to convey a consistent China strategy.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, an unabashed China hawk, said in a Fox Business interview on Monday evening that the trade deal Mr Trump signed with Beijing in January was over.
The comments triggered a sell-off in stock futures, an index the president watches closely.
Shortly after 10pm, Mr Trump tweeted: The China Trade Deal is fully intact. Hopefully they will continue to live up to the terms of the Agreement!
As part of Mr Navarro's provocative Fox Business interview, he also alleged without offering any evidence that China had sent hundreds of thousands of people to spread that virus in the US.
It's over, yes, Mr Navarro said when asked about the status of the trade deal during that interview.
Mr Navarro has a special status in the White House; he often goes on television shows and says what he likes, discarding administration talking points. His comments on Monday, however, clearly upset other White House officials and prompted a swift rebuttal.
Soon after Mr Navarro made his comments, White House National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow, speaking to The Washington Post, said: The China trade deal is still intact.
A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to frankly discuss internal matters, said Mr Navarro was not speaking for the administration when he made the comments about the deal being over.
Mr Navarro later told Reuters his comments had been wildly taken out of context and did not pertain to the trade deal with China.
They had nothing at all to do with the Phase 1 trade deal, which continues in place. I was simply speaking to the lack of trust we now have of the Chinese Communist Party after they lied about the origins of the China virus and foisted a pandemic upon the world, Mr Navarro said.
The mixed signals from the White House come as factions within the administration jockey over how the US should respond to China's role in the pandemic. Mr Navarro has blamed Beijing for allowing its representatives to visit the US in January, when the coronavirus was beginning to spread rapidly across China. He told Fox Business that the moment amounted to a turning point in relations between the superpowers.
The president repeatedly has cited the trade deal as one of the top economic policy accomplishments of his administration, and other senior advisers have urged a more cautious approach. But Mr Trump appears to have soured on the trade deal recently, and last week he wrote on Twitter that the option of a complete decoupling between the US and China was on the table.
The Washington Post
An Air Force staff sergeant accused of killing a federal security guard in Oakland and a Santa Cruz County sheriffs deputy made his first federal court appearance Tuesday in a virtual hearing.
Steven Carrillo, a 32-year-old Ben Lomond resident who was on active duty at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, has been charged with murder and attempted murder of a government employee.
Appearing in a red jumpsuit with his hands in front of him, seen through video from Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, Carrillo remained still as a judge continued his case to Monday morning for identification of counsel and a further status hearing.
He said yes twice in response to the judge asking whether he understood his right to counsel and if he generally understood the charges against him and potential penalties. He did not say anything when asked if he understood his right to remain silent.
Carrillo is accused of being the gunman who sprayed a guard shack May 29 in front of the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, killing 53-year-old David Patrick Underwood and wounding another official.
A week later, Carrillo allegedly ambushed sheriffs deputies in Santa Cruz County who were responding to an abandoned van as they pulled up to his house on a remote, mountainous road. Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, was killed in the attack and several other law enforcement officials were wounded, according to authorities and court records.
Prosecutors in Santa Cruz charged Carrillo with a slew of felonies, including murder and attempted murder in connection to the Ben Lomond incident.
In revealing charges against Carrillo, federal prosecutors linked him to an extremist, anti-government group called the Boogaloo movement.
Experts say the group started in alt-right culture on the internet with the belief that there is an impending civil war. Members and believers of the movement, some of whom call themselves Boogaloo Bois, are generally younger and more likely to turn to acts of violence than members of other militia-type groups.
Before the attack in Ben Lomond, Carrillo shared a string of posts criticizing police on Facebook.
Authorities accused Carrillo of fatally shooting Underwood from a white van after developing a plot with Robert Alvin Justus Jr., of Millbrae. The pair allegedly drove to Oakland and took advantage of the distraction afforded by protesters marching through the citys downtown in a demonstration against police brutality. Justus is accused of driving the van.
Did you see how they fing fell! Carrillo said after the shooting as the two drove away, according to an affidavit.
The FBI said Carrillo used white spray paint to disguise the window on the sliding door of his van.
On June 5, the FBI released surveillance photos of a white van they believed was involved in Underwoods shooting.
Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.
The next afternoon, Santa Cruz County sheriffs deputies received a call about a suspicious white van abandoned off Jamison Creek Road, on land controlled by a water company. The caller reported seeing ammunition, firearms and bomb-making equipment inside the van.
Around 2:30 p.m., deputies drove up a narrow, twisting road through the Santa Cruz Mountains and arrived at Carrillos house, where he opened fire and tossed homemade bombs, investigators said.
As he fled, his hip bleeding from a gunshot wound, Carrillo allegedly carjacked a white Toyota Camry. Investigators found the car nearby with Boogaloo-associated words and phrases scrawled in Carrillos blood on the hood: BOOG, I became unreasonable and stop the duopoly.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Jack Bennett said in a news conference last week that the investigation was ongoing and there could be more suspects.
Weve lost two law enforcement heroes this month, Bennett said. Their sacrifice wont ever be forgotten.
Alejandro Serrano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alejandro.serrano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @serrano_alej
KAMPALA The Ministry of Health has confirmed 23 new coronavirus cases extending Ugandas cumulative total to 979.
The new infections were identified from 2,219 samples tested on June 22.
In the latest update, Ministry of Health says the new cases include 18 community infections and five truck drivers who were identified from different border districts and entry points.
Five of the confirmed cases are truck drivers; three arrived from Kenya via Malaba while two arrived from South Sudan via Elegu and Bungana points of entry.
The Ministry of Health says 18 of the confirmed cases are community infections or contacts and alerts to previously confirmed cases.
10 of these were identified from Tororo, three from Amuru one of which was an illegal entrant and was detected at Elegu border.
The other cases were identified from Kyotera (4) and Yumbe (1) districts. The Ministry of Health says all these were under quarantine at the time of test.
Additionally, a total of 13 foreign truck drivers (8 Kenyans, 2 Tanzanians, 1 Burundian, 1 Rwandan and 1 Eritrean) tested positive and were handed over to their respective country of origin.
President Museveni on Monday June 22 opened 33 border districts including Yumbe, Isingiro among others. He however said districts with potential clusters of infections including Rakai, Kyotera, Amuru, Buikwe, Gulu, Arua, Adjumani, Moyo, and Nebi are still under investigation.
He also said districts with refugees including Zombo, Adjumani and Arua remained closed
to allow time to test the refugees and a risk profiling before the final decision is made.
He also said Busia and Bulisa remain still need more comprehensive surveillance and testing to inform next decision.
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The Primary Corporation, a minority-owned business, will develop the final 10 acres of the former Boston State Hospital site, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday during a news briefing in Bostons Mattapan neighborhood.
The corporation will work with Toll Brothers, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based developer of luxury apartments, to build 367 residential units, as well as a farming initiative, day care center and shuttle bus to the Forest Hills MBTA Station.
Of those 367 units, 82 will be ownership units and 121 will be affordable units, including one-third set aside for seniors.
What we envision is about to happen is the glue that brings it all together and invites the community in, said Kirk Sykes, president of Primary Corporation and co-managing partner of Accordia Partners, during the news conference at the Mass Audubons Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary.
The site will include local business such as Ripple Cafe, a Dorchester-based business, and Brazo Fuerte, a Black- and woman-owned brewery, Sykes said. The Audubon Nature Centers preschool will expand on the final parcel.
Baker notes that the proposal from Accordia Partners with Toll Brothers was unanimously backed by the Boston State Hospital Citizens Advisory Committee, an eight-member group that was created in 1985 to make sure residents had input in the development process.
The site will be a truly great place to live and raise a family with easy access to the T and open space to support a healthy lifestyle and outdoor activities, the Republican governor said.
It is up to the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, DCAMM, to select the developer. The CAC is meant to review the proposals and make recommendations to ensure the neighborhood has a voice.
But local leaders raised concerns that the CAC did not meet with neighborhood associations during the decision-making process and that locals did not receive proper email notifications of public meetings, the Bay State Banner reported.
A notification for the April 29 meeting, which was held virtually, was posted on the Boston.gov website April 24. Ali-Salaam and other neighborhood residents said they did not receive customary email notifications of the meeting.
Because community groups were not privy to the questions asked of developers during the April 29 meeting, Ali-Salaam says Mattapan residents dont know what commitments developers made to hiring people of color in the construction process.
Were concerned about a project coming in that would not hire people of color in a substantial way for the construction and management of the property, Fatima Ali-Salaam, chair of the Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council, told the Banner.
She said groups dont know what commitments developers made about hiring people of color in the construction process because they werent aware of questions asked during an April meeting.
CAC member Royal Bolling Jr. told the Banner the committee asked developers about their plans to hire Blacks and Latinos for the project.
Others have raised complaints that the development will not include enough affordable units and attract people who can, effectively pushing longtime residents out of Mattapan. Rep. Russell E. Holmes said he found the suggestion that the development wasnt meant for Mattapan residents offensive.
There are many, many people who are in situations where theyre with their mom, with their dad, cant afford to move and start on their own. Thats what this is for, said Holmes, a Boston Democrat who serves on the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. This is not to create a new neighborhood, and it really does astonish me as a representative who represents the blackest district in this commonwealth that folks still love to say that Im developing and doing all of this for other people.
Holmes, a long-term proponent of the project, said he needs to see ownership opportunities and more than a fraction of the units set aside for the people who have spent decades in the neighborhood.
Weve very happy Toll Brothers is coming in town ... but we know what Toll Brothers does around the country, and we know what they want to do here in the city, he said. We want ownership. Do not bring us a project that is rental only. We want some of the money.
Construction is expected to start in 2021 and finish by the spring of 2024, according to the governors office.
Related Construction:
The flight, which departed Hong Kong on Thursday (18 June) and travelled via London Heathrow (LHR) arrived today carrying almost half a million items of PPE including masks, gowns, goggles and face shields procured by UNICEF to support the governments of Eswatini and Mozambique in their fight against COVID-19. Distribution of all items will be managed by the Ministries of Health in each country to ensure the PPE reaches the areas and individuals in greatest need to help beat this pandemic.
Sir Richard Branson said: "We're very proud to be working with a collective of philanthropists and partners like UNICEF to support the African response to COVID-19. Life-saving protective equipment is critical to contain the spread of this pandemic and we hope our contribution will make a difference to those working so hard on the frontlines every day."
Dominic Kennedy, Managing Director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo commented: "We're honoured to be able to support UNICEF and Virgin Unite on this important cargo operation and are incredibly grateful to medical professionals who are working tirelessly at this difficult time. Today's flight follows existing PPE flights we've undertaken in partnership with the Department of Health and NHS to transport vital medical supplies. So far, we've carried more than 1.4million tonnes of medical equipment and PPE and we look forward to flying more throughout the summer."
COVID-19 cases are rising in Africa, from 100,000 confirmed cases at the end of May to more than 276,000 confirmed cases as of 19 June.
This news follows last week's launch of the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) - an online platform for African countries to manage global procurement of life-saving medical equipment more fairly and cost effectively. This unique platform is an example of how important collaboration, not just across one country, but across an entire continent, is going to be in combatting this global pandemic. The site was developed under the leadership of philanthropist and African Union COVID-19 special envoy, Strive Masiyiwa, working in partnership with the African Union.
Virgin Group supported this effort through a local manufacturing initiative with South African company, Invicta Holdings. Invicta is producing 1,000 bridge ventilators, designed by engineers at Virgin Orbit who provided the designs for free, to be followed by the production of oxygen helmet prototypes (pending a grant of emergency use authorisation by the US FDA) designed by Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company. Both items will be distributed on the AMSP, thanks to the generosity of Jeff Skoll and Strive Masiyiwa whose donations secured the initial orders.
Strive Masiyiwa said: "We developed the Africa Medical Supply Platform as a centralised online marketplace to house all certified PPE and COVID-related medical suppliers from Africa and around the world. It enables health ministries from all African countries to organize procurement, payment and shipment of these urgent goods. It is designed to ensure fair and consistent pricing for each African country, no matter their size. AMSP is a world-leading solution to a very current global challenge, and we are already getting requests for other parts of the world to license the AMSP concept."
Access to freight capacity across the continent of Africa is critical right now to ensure medical equipment can flow to the places where it is needed the most. We encourage anyone who can provide support to contact The World Food Programme https://emergency.servicemarketplace.wfp.org/about-us and Airlink - https://airlinkflight.org/responses/novel-coronavirus/
Another critical area for support is to increase the number of Community Health Workers for testing and tracing. Last Mile Health and its partners have launched an online classroom and mobile app with free, high-quality digital content to help countries and organizations train community and frontline health workers responding to COVID19. If you're interested in partnering, you can contact Last Mile Health at info@lastmilehealth.org.
About Virgin Unite
Virgin Unite is the entrepreneurial foundation of the Virgin Group and the Branson family. We focus on challenging the unacceptable by changing systems and tough to tackle issues for good. We are fortunate to work with great partners in all we do, from supporting initiatives such as The Elders, The B Team, Ocean Unite, to growing a community of extraordinary frontline leaders. Our overheads are covered by Richard Branson and the Virgin Group, which means that 100% of all donations received go directly to initiatives where they are needed the most.
About the Africa Medical Supplies Platform
The Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) is a non-profit initiative launched by the African Union as an immediate, integrated and practical response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The online platform was developed under the leadership of African Union Special Envoy, Strive Masiyiwa, by Janngo, Vaya Africa and Baobab Circle on behalf of the African Union's Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and in partnership with AfricanExport-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) with the support of leading African & international Institutions, Foundations & Corporations as well as Governments of China, Canada & France. For more information visit www.amsp.africa
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195090/Virgin_Unite.jpg
SOURCE Virgin Unite
JP Nadda, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, on Tuesday accused Rahul Gandhi of trying to divide the nation and demoralise the countrys armed forces as he questioned the Congress leader over his jibes at the Centres handling of the border tension with China.
The BJP presidents latest tweet has added to the war of words between the ruling party at the Centre and the opposition over last weeks border violent standoff with China in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.
Twenty Indian Army soldiers, including a colonel, were killed in the deadly clash with Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh on June 15.
Since then the Congress party has been relentless in its attacks on the government. On Monday, former prime minister Manmohan Singh said a PM must be mindful of the implications of his words on a nations strategic interests and that disinformation was no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership.
Rahul Gandhi has alleged that PM Modi surrendered Indian territory to the Chinese and said he hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi will politely accept Singhs advice for the betterment of India.
Even on Tuesday, the former Congress president kept up with his criticism of the government in a tweet.
After Rahul Gandhis tweet, Nadda asked whether it was the effect of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) the Congress had signed with the Communist Party of China.
First, Congress signs MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. Then, Congress surrenders land to China. During Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to the Chinese embassy. During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation and demoralise armed forces. Effects of MoU? Nadda asked in a tweet.
The BJP president was referring to the MoU signed by the two parties in 2008 to facilitate high-level exchange between them and consult each other over important regional and international issues.
Rahul Gandhi, who was a Congress general secretary then, and Xi Jinping had signed that MoU in 2008. Xi was a senior functionary of his party during that period and is now Chinas president,
Nadda also posted a photograph with his tweet with the timeline of what he said was the story of a MoU and its effects.
This is the second time Nadda has hit out at the Congress, alleging that its leaders were demoralising the Indian Army.
He had, in a series of tweets, questioned Manmohan Singhs statement over the June 15 brutal clash in Galwan Valley.
Dear Dr. Singh and Congress Party, Please stop insulting our forces repeatedly, questioning their valour. You did this post the air strikes and surgical strikes. Please understand the true meaning of national unity, especially in such times. Its never too late to improve, Nadda had tweeted on Monday.
Before that, he had questioned the Congress party on the same lines while addressing a virtual rally in Rajasthan on Sunday.
When we are fighting in Galwan, a leader is damaging the morale of forces with his tweets. He is showing his limited intellect, he said.
(He is asking) why have our forces gone unarmed. Dont you know international treaties? And they didnt go unarmed. Why are you exposing your limited intellect? Nadda asked.
The senior BJP leader had said Indias defence forces were capable of protecting its borders everywhere.
As she lay wounded outside her Mississauga home, a bullet from a Peel Regional police officers gun lodged in her side, Chantelle Krupka kept repeating the same question.
Why did you shoot me? Why? Krupka remembers asking. No one answered.
Krupka, a 34-year-old Black Mississauga mother, says she and her partner Michael Headley were unarmed on the night of May 10 when police arrived at her home and Tasered them both.
Then, as she lay on the ground, a female police officer pulled out her gun and shot her without warning, the bullet striking her in the abdomen and fracturing her hip, Krupka said.
What could possibly justify shooting a woman on the ground after shes been Tasered? Theres no weapons involved, Davin Charney, the criminal lawyer representing Krupka and Headley, said in an interview Tuesday.
Exactly how Krupka came to be seriously injured outside her home on Mothers Day left with chronic pain, a long road of physiotherapy, and walking with the use of a cane is being investigated by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). It is among the latest in a series of incidents in which a Peel police officer has shot someone in recent weeks.
This weekend, Peel police shot and killed 62-year-old Ejaz Choudry, a father of four who lived with schizophrenia, following a mental health crisis call a death that on Monday prompted hundreds of protestors to block a major Malton intersection near Choudrys home. In April, a Peel police officer fatally shot 26-year-old DAndre Campbell who was struggling with mental illness, and in January, Peel police fatally shot Jamal Derek Jr. Francique, a father of two.
A Peel police spokesperson declined to comment on Krupkas shooting. On Monday night, Peel police chief Nishan Duraiappah issued a statement asking for calm while the SIU investigations unfold.
According to a brief summary of the case provided by SIU, a Peel police officer Tasered then shot Krupka outside a home while responding to a domestic call. According to the SIU, officers arrived and found a man and a woman on a front porch of a residence before an interaction ensued and two officers discharged their Tasers before one fired her weapon.
Other than the officers firearm and conducted energy weapons, neither SIU update mentions a weapon, information the watchdog sometimes includes in statements.
In an update Tuesday, the SIU said the investigation is nearing completion. The watchdog said it has video footage, six witness officers have been interviewed, and the female officer who shot Krupka provided a copy of her notes and has been interviewed. (A subject officer has the legal right to refuse to participate in an SIU investigation.)
According to a summary of the incident detailed in a written complaint to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director the office that reviews complaints against Ontario police the incident began after Krupka got into an argument with her ex-partner over access to their 10-year-old son. His father had custody that day but because it was Mothers Day, Krupka said shed asked to see her son. When her ex-partner did not agree to this, Krupka said they got into an argument by text, but there was nothing threatening.
After realizing she wouldnt get to see her son, Krupka says she was relaxing at home when she got a call from an officer at 10:30 p.m. saying police were outside. According to Krupkas complaint, her ex-partner had called police and shown them the text messages, prompting officers to come to Krupkas home to tell her not to contact her ex-partner except to arrange child care.
Krupka says she told an officer she would not be going outside, prompting him to first threaten to charge her and next to position the police car so as to shine its lights directly into her home, according to the complaint. It was then that Krupka decided to call police to try to speak with the officers supervisor; when she was connected to a dispatcher, she said she was encouraged to go outside and speak with the police.
I was afraid, she wrote in the OIPRD complaint. I am afraid of police because I have seen so many Black people killed or abused by police and I have bad experiences with them before.
Krupka says she and Headley then came out of the house and that she was recording the interaction with her phone (Charney confirmed there is video showing the interaction but they are not releasing it right now). It was then that two officers, a man and a woman, got out of the police vehicle and walked up to the front of their home, according to Krupkas complaint.
Krupka said that she told the officers they needed to leave because they were trespassing, but she says they argued with her and the male officer moved toward her and pulled out his Taser. When Krupka said she raised her hand in protest, the officer accused her of raising her fist at him, according to the complaint.
The officer then told Headley to go inside the house, then quickly moved toward him and Tasered him, according to the complaint. Headley had been standing approximately two meters away from the officer and was not threatening him in any way, the complaint says.
Krupka said she next tried to run into the house but then felt the jolt of a Taser to the back, causing her to fall to the ground in excruciating pain.
Krupka says she was lying on her back, trying to regain her composure, when she looked over and saw that Headley was still in pain, so she reached out her arm and yelled that she wanted to help him.
It was then, she said, that the female officer shot her without warning.
I was in absolute shock. I froze and simply kept asking the officer why? Krupka wrote in her complaint.
Krupka was taken to hospital and has undergone surgery to remove the bullet fragments. She recovered alone amid COVID-19 hospital restrictions on visitors.
Police have charged both Krupka and Headley over the incident. According to the complaint, police searched the home after and seized cash, a cellphone and cannabis, which Krupka said were all legal. She alleges the charges Headley and Krupka face charges of possession for the purpose of distributing and laundering proceeds of crime, while Headley is also charged with obstructing a peace officer and assaulting a police officer have been laid in an attempt to paint us as criminals and create an after-the-fact justification for the excessive use of force against us.
Even if there were any merit to the charges, which we absolutely deny, the use of force was excessive and outrageously abusive, reads the complaint.
Krupkas complaint alleges the officers involved used excessive force, accuses them of unlawful arrest and discreditable conduct, and alleges systemic racism against Peel police.
In an interview Tuesday, Krupka said she is recovering but is in a great deal of pain and will require physiotherapy. She will also need counselling for the emotional trauma, which includes flashbacks to the night of the shooting, she said.
Every time she hears of another police shooting, it rocks me, Krupka said. She grieves alongside the families who lost loved-ones and thinks about how close she came to being among the victims who died.
Campbell, the 26-year-old man shot by Peel police earlier this year, was also Tasered before he was shot, then died from his injuries.
His final moments I got a tiny taste of that, and its horrifying that he had to experience that, she said. It makes me feel every emotion: anger, sadness, fear.
According to the SIUs initial account, Choudry was also Tasered moments before he was fatally shot on Saturday.
Charney said Krupka and Headleys experience shows that resources should be diverted from police and put into social programs. On the night of the incident, police were not investigating a crime and were not there to arrest Krupka, but were effectively giving her relationship advice, he said.
This is the perfect case to illustrate why we need to defund the police, he said.
Krupka agrees, saying there need be systemic changes including improvements to the mental health system. Referencing Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus move to kneel at a recent anti-racism demonstration and noting we were protesting him, she called upon political leaders to stand up, take charge, and make change.
Feeling lucky to be alive, Krupka said she intends to use her voice to speak up for those who no longer can. One of the biggest problems that requires swift action is fixing the mental health system, she said, noting armed police officers should not be responding to calls where people need help.
Clearly, theres a problem, she said. Weve acknowledged it, now lets talk about solutions.
Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing for the Star. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis
LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide Facilities, a national wholesale insurance broker, managing general agent and program underwriter, announced today that Brad Perilman has joined the company as Senior Executive Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions.
As part of the executive management team, Perilman will lead Worldwide Facilities' M&A activities. His responsibilities will include transaction sourcing, strategic and financial analysis, diligence management and assisting with the development and implementation of integration plans.
Davis Moore, CEO of Worldwide Facilities, commented, "M&A is an important growth lever for us, as evidenced by the nine acquisitions we made in the past 2.5 years. Brad, as a dedicated M&A resource with a considerable skillset and relevant financial and operational experience, will expand our capabilities. We have known Brad and respected his capabilities for a long time and are extremely pleased to have him join the Worldwide Facilities team."
Perilman joins Worldwide Facilities with over 18 years of global (re)insurance industry experience. Prior to joining Worldwide Facilities, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Atlas General Holdings, LLC, a leading, full-service program administrator. Previously, Perilman served as Director at Aon Securities and Benfield Advisory, where he was responsible for the execution of merger and acquisition transactions and capital raisings.
"I am thrilled to be working with the extremely talented team at Worldwide Facilities," says Perilman. "I look forward to helping continue the tremendous growth Worldwide Facilities has experienced and building upon the strong foundation established over the last 50 years."
Contact:
Brad Perilman
Sr. EVP, Mergers & Acquisitions
Telephone: (619) 541-4268
Email: [email protected]
About Worldwide Facilities
Worldwide Facilities is a national wholesale insurance broker, managing general agent and program underwriter that has been in business since 1970. Its brokers and underwriters are industry leaders providing expertise in a wide range of specialty lines, as well as extensive contacts with carriers domestically and overseas. For more information, please visit wwfi.com.
Media Contact: Erika Guerra, [email protected], Direct: 213-236-4509
SOURCE Worldwide Facilities, LLC
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An unscientific survey conducted recently by a city councilor to gauge Albuquerque residents feelings on police reform received over 10,000 responses within three days with at least some from each ZIP code in the city.
The poll, conducted by City Councilor Pat Davis, a former police officer, using his own mailing list, was conducted from June 13-15. The 15-question survey asked about police reforms, interpretations of safety, past interactions with Albuquerque police officers and how money should be reallocated, among other questions.
About 92% of respondents supported hiring more police officers rather than hiring fewer and investing in community programs faster.
Some of the police reforms listed in the survey already exist in APDs policies, such as the use of body cameras, bias-prevention training, and a civilian police oversight board that can investigate complaints. Albuquerque has also chosen not to accept military equipment since 2015.
Davis said that regarding police reforms, his survey found that:
85% support officers wearing body cameras.
81% support bias-prevention training.
71% support a civilian police oversight board that can investigate complaints as well as prohibit certain holds and tactics.
61% support community workers helping people with a criminal record seek expungement to have a fresh start.
59% support officers completing eight hours of volunteer work with community groups.
56% support prohibiting officers from receiving military equipment.
Its not about abolishing (the Albuquerque Police Department); its about trying to figure out how much lead the public is willing to give us to make some big changes, Davis said.
Albuquerques police union leader, Shawn Willoughby, called the survey confusing at best, but speaks to the wonderful job that Albuquerque police officers are doing.
One of the issues Willoughby had with the survey was that there was no option to show support to give the department more money or to keep money from leaving the department.
I think we all have a lot of work to do to ensure that every Albuquerque resident feels safe in this community and that they know when they need help therell be enough police officers to help with whatever they need, he said.
The Davis survey was sent to his mailing list, and participants were then able to share the link on social media.
Davis said the open-access nature of the poll is not perfect.
It needs more Hispanic representation, he said. Its not perfect, but this is a good model for getting public input.
Of the 10,052 responses received, he said 43% of respondents were white, 29% were Hispanic, 3.2% were Black, 1.8% were Native American and 20% declined to answer.
For Dr. Finnie Coleman, UNM associate professor of American literary studies and the faculty senate president, the survey just reaffirms what the community believes.
What we want is what we invest in, Coleman said. Rhetoric is fine, but show me your investments. Show me where you place resources. Thatll tell me what you truly value.
Provincial Police confirm online travel registration no longer required to enter, leave Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Sermpan Sirikong has today confirmed that people entering or leaving Phuket no longer need to register their travel details on the gophuget.com online form as the process has been suspended, for now.
COVID-19healthtourismtransportpolice
By Khunanya Wanchanwet
Tuesday 23 June 2020, 04:44PM
An officer stops and questions a driver passing through the Phuket Check Point leading off the island. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police
The news came to first public knowledge last week when a notice addressed to the Phuket Provincial Police Commander and marked as signed by outgoing Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana on Monday (June 15) was finally publicly published last Thursday (June 18).
Phuket Vice Governor Supoj later was willing to comment, and clarify, "To follow the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions for interprovincial travel, Phuket Provincial Police should announce that the registration through the PhuketSmartCheckIn app or the website www.gophuget.com and other ways [of registering to enter or leave Phuket] has been postponed from June 16 until the further notice.
So, since June 16, people no longer need to register their travel details through www.gophuget.com. Instead, they can just use Thai Chana [web platform], Vice Governor Supoj said.
However, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Rungrote Thakurapunyasiri last week declined to comment, or confirm or deny whether Provincial Police were still enforcing the registration requirement.
Up until today (June 23), the Phuket Provincial Police have not posted any public recognition of receiving the order or clarified whether or not Provincial Police were still enforcing the gophuget.com registration requirement.
Today, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Rungrote still declined to comment on the order.
However, Col Sermpan broke the silence, and confirmed that people entering or leaving Phuket no longer need to register their details on gophuget.com.
People [entering or leaving Phuket] dont need register on gophuget.com because the Phuket Provincial Government has already commanded the Phuket Provincial Police to cease enforcing the gophuget.com online platform, Col Sermpan told The Phuket News.
But people still need to use Thai Chana [web platform], he added.
Col Sermpan did warn that use of the online registration may return in the future.
On June 15, Phuket Provincial Government on Monday submitted an official request with Ministry of Interior officials in Bangkok for provincial officials to be able to use gophuget.com after the Emergency Decree has been lifted, he said, echoing the explanation given by Vice Governor Supoj late last week.
We hope to use gophuget.com again in the future for crime prevention and for development of the Smart City project, Col Sermpan said.
"If there are any updates, we will inform people later," he said.
Kriti Sanon is heartbroken over the death of her Raabta co-star Sushant Singh Rajput whom she had described as the cutest during her appearance on Karan Johars chat show, Koffee With Karan. She had also rated him as the best actor among his contemporaries.
Kriti had only good things to say about the actor on Koffee With Karan where she appeared along with her Luka Chhupi co-star Kartik Aaryan. On being asked to describe her co-stars in one word, she had called Sushant the cutest where she gave the title boneless to Tiger Shroff and marketing guru to Varun Dhawan.
When Karan had asked Kriti to rate actors on the basis of their talent, she had placed Sushant on the top, to be followed by Varun Dhawan, Kartik Aaryan, Ayushmann Khurrana and Tiger Shroff.
Kriti had shared a heartbreaking note days after his death along with a few precious pictures from the making of their film Raabta. She wrote, Sush.. I knew that your brilliant mind was your best friend and your worst enemy.. but it has broken me completely to know that you had a moment in your life where Dying felt easier or better than Living. I so wish you had people around you to get you past THAT moment, i wish you hadnt pushed the ones who loved you away.. i wish i could have fixed that something which was broken inside you..I couldnt..I wish so so many things....A part of my heart has gone with you.. and a part will always keep you alive..Never stopped praying for your happiness and never will..
Also read: When Katrina Kaif said she admired Sushant Singh Rajput the most among young actors, this was his response
Kriti had also responded to the blame game being played out on social media after Sushants death. The actor penned a long note in her response and wrote, Its strange that the otherwise trolling, gossiping world suddenly wakes up to your niceness and positive side once you are gone.. Social media is the FAKEST, most toxic place.. and if you havent posted RIP or said something publicly, you are considered not to be grieving, when in reality, those are the people grieving for REAL. It seems Social Media is the new Real world.. and the Real world has become Fake.
If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918
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Texas leaders expect public schools to re-open for in-person classes in August, but appear willing to leave many of the health and safety decisions for combating the ongoing coronavirus outbreak to local education officials, including whether to require students and faculty to wear face masks.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath was expected to release formal safety guidelines Tuesday regarding the opening of public schools in the upcoming 2020-21 academic year, but backed off in the face of rising COVID-19 cases across the state.
A draft of the state guidelines, however, briefly was posted to the TEAs website.
In it, TEA officials recommend but do not require that local school leaders implement several health and safety protocols to fight the spread of the coronavirus. They include placing desks at least six feet apart, requiring students and staff to wear face masks, taking the temperature of teachers and other staff members at the start of each day and setting aside times for hand washing, among others.
The guidance does outline several mandates: people with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 must remain home while sick and meet three conditions before returning to school; school leaders must notify local health officials and school community members of individuals who were on-campus and tested positive; educators must provide instruction on hygiene practices on the first day of school.
While it is not possible to eliminate all risk of furthering the spread of COVID-19, the current science suggests there are many steps schools can take to reduce the risk to students, teachers, staff and their families significantly, the draft states.
In a conference call Tuesday afternoon, when he laid out plans for how schools will receive funding, Morath said the preliminary health guidelines are still draft, working documents.
Its a rapidly changing public health situation, so we are unable to give final guidance (Tuesday) on on-campus instruction, Morath said.
The agency did confirm that school funding will be based on student attendance, which will include students on campus as well as those who choose to stick with the kind of online instruction and distance learning that districts provided after Gov. Greg Abbott shut down all public schools in March.
Local school leaders across Texas are awaiting directives from the state as they craft extensive plans for the upcoming school year. They are deciding how to structure school days, implement safety protocols, assign staff responsibilities and provide instruction to students who fell behind in recent months.
Many school leaders are planning to reopen campuses in August, but with a limited number of students and staff in attendance each day. In those cases, the remaining students would continue online classes from home. Several Houston-area superintendents have said they also are creating contingency plans in case they are forced to shut down campuses again.
Several Houston-area public school leaders said they aim to announce back-to-school protocols in July.
State guidance will help us finalize some things and stamp some decisions, but at the end of the day, were going to make decisions based on the best available data and information about the spread of the virus, said KIPP Texas Public Schools CEO Sehba Ali, whose charter network outlined several expected safety protocols in a letter to families this week.
The final review of state guidelines comes as the Houston region reports its highest number of confirmed cases and hospitalizations, as well as the highest rate of positive tests, since the pandemic arrived in Texas in March. The state on also recorded nearly 5,200 positive COVID-19 test results Tuesday, it highest single-day total since the pandemic began.
The 2020-21 school year starts in August, with some districts scheduled to return early in the month and others waiting until the fourth week. No local districts are providing regular in-person summer school classes.
Education leaders across the state say there are innumerable academic, social and economic benefits to resuming in-person classes, particularly for children from lower-income families and working parents.
At the same time, education and public health officials worry about the potential for increasing the spread of the novel coronavirus. While children fall ill from COVID-19 at exceedingly low rates, health experts fear they could infect staff members or relatives.
The draft guidelines drew mixed reviews from the states largest teachers unions and employees groups.
Texas State Teachers Association President Noel Candelaria said state leaders should issue a mask mandate for all people on campus. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association argued the TEA must provide clear, enforceable parameters for reopening schools that are set by state health care professionals.
Shannon Holmes, executive director of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, said his organization wants to see more flexibility for teachers concerned about returning to in-person classes.
We would simply urge the state and school districts to listen to their employees and the recommendation of medical experts as they start developing these plans, Holmes said. Theres not going to be any one-size-fits-all plan for every district in the state and even if they did, it probably wouldnt work for every pocket of Texas.
At least half a dozen other states have released guidelines on how local schools should work to reopen for in-person instruction as the pandemic continues.
Floridas Department of Education released a set of recommendations as points to consider and implement with local context. Similarly, the Arizona Department of Education released a roadmap that contained suggestions about physical distancing. Washington state went further, requiring all students and staff to wear face coverings in K-12 settings, among other things.
While Morath held back on safety guidance, he released an 11-page outline on plans for allocating money to schools.
Morath said schools will receive the same amount of funding for each student learning from home or reporting to campus, as long as they capture attendance in virtual learning spaces.
To count at-home attendance, students must log onto live instructional videos each day or show progress on their school work without real-time instruction from a teacher.
Districts also will be given two grace periods. During the first 12 weeks of school, they will be funded no lower than the same level as the first 12 weeks of 2019-2020, even if enrollments drop. There will be an attendance grace period for funding students engaged in online learning for up to 18 weeks.
Aldine ISD Superintendent LaTonya Goffney, however, questioned whether the 12-week break would last long enough to stop significant funding losses. Aldine staff members were unable to reach about 5 percent of district students at any point following the closure of schools in mid-March a potential harbinger for the challenge of counting daily attendance with students learning from home in 2020-21.
I just really think were going to need a semester to level set and see what that looks like, especially if we have most of our (COVID-19) cases in the fall, Goffney said.
shelby.webb@chron.com
jacob.carpenter@chron.com
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Advises on a more cautious use of the Social Media
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has advised on a more cautious use of the social media by members of the public. The IGPs advice comes against the backdrop of the successful rescue of a 40yr old Philippino lady, Irene Torento Panas by Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command at Neke-Uno Village, Enugu East LGA, Enugu State. The Philippino was rescued six (6) months after she arrived Nigeria from the Philippines in an apparent but unsuccessful search for love.
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Irene Torento Panas, an Accountant by profession and a native of Manila in the Philippines arrived Nigeria in November 22, 2019 on a visit to one Chukwudi Odo m 54yrs of Enugu Ezike in Igbo-Eze North LGA of Enugu State whom she met on Facebook on 8th March, 2017. The visit which was originally intended to be for 10-days however turned out to be a full case of abduction following Chukwudi Odos refusal to allow her return to her country against her will. She was held incommunicado by the suspect, Chukwudi Odo.
The victim who was critically ill at the time of rescue was successfully rescued by police operatives attached to the Unity Police Division, Ibegwa Nike, Enugu State led by the DPO, SP Siga Malgwi, following a tip-off from some members of the public in the area. She was immediately taken to the hospital for medical attention where she was admitted from 5th June to 16th June. Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspect, Chukwudi Odo deliberately lured the victim into the country with the aim of confining her, sexually abusing, and extorting money from her.
The IGP, while enjoining members of the public to tread cautiously in their use of the social media, warns against any abuse of the cyberspace noting that such criminal acts will not go undetected and unpunished by the Force. Meanwhile, the Force is already in contact with the Embassy of the Philippines in Nigeria so as to reunite the victim with members of her family.
CHICAGO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet King Brands, Inc., the maker of ZYMOX Dermatology pet products, recognizes the sacrifices the military and their families make to serve the United States and the benefits family pets provide through companionship and stress reduction. To help keep military members' pets healthy and happy, Pet King Brands announced its veterinarian-recommended product line of antibiotic alternatives is now available at commissaries operated by the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
ZYMOX Ear and Skin Products for Small and Large Animals
The ZYMOX line of enzyme-based products are veterinarian-recommended and proven to help promote healthy ears and skin for pets. Among the products now available at commissaries around the world are ZYMOX Shampoo and Leave-On Conditioner used to calm and care for pets' irritated skin; ZYMOX Topical Spray and Cream for hot spots and wound care; the ZYMOX Ear cleanser to keep pets' ears clean and healthy; and the best-selling product ZYMOX Ear Solution for soothing relief for pets' painful ears.
"It is an honor to have our products featured at commissaries and to be able to help those who serve our country to be able to care for their dogs and cats," said Dan Archetti, National Sales Director of Pet King Brands. "Pets are family and it can be very comforting to pet parent to know they have the resources they need, close to them, to help their pets find comfort and relief and live happy healthy lives."
Ear infections or itchy allergic, skin in dogs and cats are very common and account for the top conditions treated by veterinarians. They are also stressful conditions to the pet. ZYMOX reduces the stress and preserves the human-animal bond by providing soothing relief with easy-to-use products that take the fear out of caring for painful ears or extremely irritated skin, without antibiotics, harsh chemicals, or the need for a prescription.
Pet King Brands' ZYMOX has been helping large and small animals for over twenty years. In addition to ZYMOX Dermatology products, Pet King Brands offer its line of Oratene Brushless Dental Care products and its Equine Defense product line. Healthy animals lead happy lives. To learn more, visit www.zymox.com
About Pet King Brands, Inc.
Pet King Brands, the maker of ZYMOX Ear and Skin products, Oratene Brushless Oral Care and Equine Defense, is a leader in pet products made in the USA that rely on the advanced technology of the patented LP3 Enzyme System to promote health and wellness of small and large animals that first do no harm. Led by President and Founder, Pamela Bosco, who first introduced ZYMOX in 1998 with the help of her bioscientist brother, Michael Pellico, has changed the way people care for animals' ears, skin, and mouth. Guided by the principle that Healthy Animals Lead Happy Lives, Pet King Brands offers solutions that are gentle to the animal, easy to administer and free of harsh chemicals and antibiotics.
CONTACT:
Debra Decker
Director of Marketing
817-713-9200
[email protected]
SOURCE Pet King Brands, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.zymox.com
In fulfilling its mandate and according to its slogan "Your Health, Our Concern," Ghana Health Services (GHS) has embarked on a nationwide recruitment drive to seek the best candidates for various positions. It is an autonomous public service body created under Act 525 of 1996 of the 1992 constitution. The institution was set up to be independent and give their staff the ideal flexibility to serve Ghanaians better. Today's healthcare system is more sophisticated than ever. With the advancement in treatment techniques, there is no better time for the government to safeguard its population's capability of accessing healthcare. Institutions like GHS make this possible. Through the Ghana Health Service recruitment, qualified and interested candidates can apply for various positions.
image: facebook.com, @MOHGhana
Source: Facebook
If you are a newly qualified medical officer of health service administrator, better find out more about the Ghana Health Service recruitment portal. There is likely an opening waiting for you. All the positions on offer under the service provide amazing perks and are opportunities to grow one's career in their profession. However, the application process is the most integral, and you ought to adhere to all instructions before moving forward.
The institution's mandate of providing accessible medical care and emphasis on primary healthcare is unequivocal. Ghana Health Service facilitates this by recruiting sufficient staff every year via the Ministry of Health Ghana admission.
About Ghana Health Services
GHS operates under the Ministry of Health and is mandated to implement all policies as assigned. Even though the institution has an autonomous element, it is financed by the public and remains part of the people.
After the 1993 reforms by the Ministry of Health and the subsequent establishment of Ghana Health Services, the sector has never been the same. The institution laid the foundation for a proper organizational framework and managerial responsibility from top to bottom.
GHS has clear objectives that inform on its operations which are:
Facilitate proper implementation of national policies. These ascertain ideal healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Increase access to proper healthcare.
Appropriately manage all resources allocated for healthcare.
All these core-objectives of Ghana Health Services are what inform on its responsibilities. The main idea behind the creation of GHS is to provide comprehensive health services at all levels and supporting all other agencies in fulfilling the same.
READ ALSO: Food and Drugs Authority Ghana: services, recruitment, address, contacts
Ghana Health Service recruitment the application process
What should you do if you want to participate in the Ghana Health Service recruitment and secure a good position? Every year, applications are invited from suitably qualified Ghanaians for the recruitment drive.
Any interested candidate can visit the Ghana Health Services recruitment portal using their mobile phone or computer to complete their application. And the most exciting thing is that you can do it from virtually any location.
Considerations before applying
It is integral that know whether you qualify before embarking on the recruitment process at the mohcrp com portal. Of course, every application possesses particular prerequisites for any interested candidate, and the GHS recruitment drive is no different.
Ascertain that you have been granted the ideal financial clearance before accessing the Ghana Health Service application form. Remember that if you have not received your financial consent, you cannot be placed on the payroll and even create an account.
Therefore, checking out if you have the required financial clearance for a particular recruitment round would suffice. Only when the system confirms that you have been successfully cleared will you do the application stress-free.
Always remember that all application is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. The system utilizes an automatic queuing system that takes care of this process.
Who are eligible to apply?
Image: facebook.com, @GHSHealthPromotion
Source: Facebook
Ghana Health Service recruitment forms are available to people in the healthcare profession that have been cleared by the Ministry of Finance. In most cases, these are the professional that the recruitment drive looks for:
Nurse assistants
Preventive (Community Health Nurses)
Nurse assistants clinical (enrolled nurses)
Allied health service professionals
Pharmacy technicians
Other relevant healthcare professionals
If you fall into the above category, you can start finding out more about the entire process to prepare your application. It is an easy and straightforward online process that will give you access to the Ghana Health Service application form in a few minutes.
Submitting your application
Now that you have all your details ready, you can start your online application to secure one of the numerous available slots at Ghana Health Services. At the portal, you will be required to enter your PIN or index number, email address, and password.
If you are a physical assistant, medical, or dental officer, you will be required to provide your PIN without the character. The registration process is easy, and it will allow you to access the Ministry of Health recruitment portal to submit your application.
Once you are logged in, you can access whatever Ghana Health Services recruitment forms you are looking for. Check out all the required details and fill all the necessary information and submit.
READ ALSO: Ghana Statistical Service Recruitment and Jobs
Contacts
If you want to get in touch with Ghana Health Services to find out more about their courses, you can reach them via their contacts.
Ghana Health Service
Private Mail Bag, Ministries, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: 233 302 682709 / 233 302 687821 / 233 302 662014
Fax: 233 3021 666808
Email: info@ghsmail.org
During the application process, you can get in touch through the following contacts:
0546471389
0546471364
0546471374
Email address: mohrecruitment2020@gmail.com
Many people look forward to Ghana Health Service recruitment to join the healthcare workforce in various fields. That is why the drive is mostly oversubscribed. The hiring drive aims to ensure equitable distribution of healthcare workers in all regions of Ghana. Ordinarily, the GHS conducts nationwide tours to interact and get feedback from all healthcare workers on the ground. This comprehensive overview of staff operation conditions and their capability of offering proper healthcare services informs on the recruitment drive.
READ ALSO:
NSS Enrollment Form in Ghana: 2020
NSS registration for national service: step by step guide and deadlines 2019/2020
UPSA courses and admission 2020/2021: cut off points and fees
Source: YEN.com.gh
DANBURY Graduates of Henry Abbott Technical High School received their diplomas on Monday during a drive-thru celebration.
Decorated cars drove through the parking lot of the school and under an arch of blue and white balloons.
Students were told to arrive at designated times based on their field of study. At their turn, they got out of their cars, heard their name read, accepted their diplomas and posed for photos in front of 2020 balloons.
There were 158 students expected to graduate during the six hour event, which was livestreamed on Instagram. A virtual ceremony with speeches was also planned.
This is one of the last graduation ceremonies to be held in the Danbury area this year, which was marked by the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 04:50:47|Editor: huaxia
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SAN FRANCISCO, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Apple on Monday previewed its latest version of iPad operating system, iPadOS 14, during its virtual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), with new features and designs for iPad and its large Multi-Touch display.
The iPadOS 14 introduces an all-new compact design for incoming FaceTime and phone calls, Siri interactions, and Search to help users stay focused on the task at hand, the company said.
New Apple Pencil features, including Scribble for iPad, deliver a new way to work with handwritten notes, and ARKit 4 delivers a new Depth API that allows developers to create more powerful features in their apps.
"With iPadOS 14, we're excited to build on the distinct experience of iPad and deliver new capabilities that help customers boost productivity, be more creative, and have more fun," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "With new compact designs for system interactions and new app designs specifically tailored to iPad, even better note-taking capabilities with Apple Pencil, and more powerful AR experiences, iPadOS 14 delivers an amazing experience that keeps it in a class of its own."
Siri now appears at the bottom of the screen when activated in the new version, allowing users to seamlessly reference information onscreen while making a request, and it quickly gets out of the way when launching other apps or controlling music.
Search on iPad has also been rebuilt from the ground up with iPadOS 14 and is now the one place to "quickly find practically anything", from locating and launching apps to accessing contacts, files, and quick information. With a new compact design, users can start a search from anywhere, without having to leave the app they are in.
iPadOS 14 brings Scribble to iPad with Apple Pencil, allowing users to write in any text field - where it will automatically be converted to typed text - making actions like replying to an iMessage or searching in Safari fast and easy. To keep it private and secure, all handwriting and conversion to text happens on the device, according to the company.
Scribble will initially offer support for English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and mixed Chinese and English, so users can write English and Chinese words together without needing to switch languages.
The new software features will be available this fall as a free software update for iPad Air 2 and later, all iPad Pro models, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 4 and later.
The WWDC 2020 kicked off on Monday and will run virtually until Friday. Enditem
South Korea Warns Military Options Possible in Response to Pyongyang's 'Leafleting Campaign'
Sputnik News
06:51 GMT 22.06.2020(updated 06:54 GMT 22.06.2020)
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - South Korea is leaving military options on the table regarding North Korea's plan to send propaganda leaflets over the border, media reported Monday.
"We are closely monitoring moves by the North Korean military regarding the leafleting round-the-clock. In preparations for diverse possibilities, we maintain a firm readiness posture," Kim Jun-rak, spokesperson of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said according to state news agency Yonhap.
Kim stressed that Seoul was ready to take military action if any aircraft is flown over the Demilitarized Zone, which would violate the 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement, the agency reported.
According to an unnamed Yonhap military source, the South Korean Air Force is preparing to field the Global Hawk reconnaissance drone as early as July in response to North Korean threats.
North Korea's Central News Agency reported earlier in the day that Pyongyang was ready to release some 3,000 balloons with 12,000 anti-Seoul propaganda leaflets in response to similar actions taken from the South, which provoked the latest spike in tensions.
The drone is a "key strategic asset" as it will provide South Korea with key surveillance over military movements at large distances, purportedly circumventing the 2018 agreement.
Having ordered four models at over $200 million each, South Korea has so far received three of the US-made drones, the agency reported.
A Sputnik
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In our new series called, I need advice, we bring you pertinent questions that real-life people have asked in publications around the world. These are hard-hitting issues faced by men and women today. The questions could range from family, relationships and work, to abuse and sex.
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Here is todays question:
I am a Hindu in a steady relationship with a Muslim. We want to get married as soon as possible. We are perfect for each other, and we make each other happy.
But, living in an Indian society, and especially in the India of today, this is considered a sin.
I fail to understand why society should have any say in our personal matters. He has not asked me to change my religion, nor have I asked him to. In fact, he offered to change his religion in order to marry me, but I refused. Why should one give up their faith for a partner? Doesnt love transcend religion?
I am constantly looked down upon and I know that the trolls will have a field day with my problem.
My parents too are upset. My father is against the relationship not because he is racist, but because of the amount of hate that I already receive from neighbours, family etc, and will continue to receive. He is fearful of the life that I will have to live once I marry him.
How can I convince everyone? I do not want to run away. I want everyone in my family to be happy.
What to do?
-
What is your advice to her? Tell us in the comment space below.
More on I need advice, here.
Burma Top Myanmar General's Visit to Russia Will Strengthens Ties: Myanmar Military
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (sixth from left) salutes as he inspects a Russian guard of honor during his visit to the country in April 2019. / Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services
NAYPYITAWMyanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said that military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaings one-week visit to Russia will foster ties between the two countries armed forces.
The senior general left Naypyitaw on Monday to attend the 75th anniversary of Russian Victory Day, which commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945 at the end of World War II.
The commander-in-chief of defense forces was invited by the [Russian] Defense Ministry. It also arranged places for him to visit. This invitation reflects the development in military ties between Russia and Myanmar, the military spokesman told The Irrawaddy.
Russia has invited international leaders to the event and around 10 presidents as well as a number of defense ministers and military chiefs will attend the event, Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun said.
The delegation from the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, will undergo health screenings before and after the visit to Russia in line with COVID-19 rules and regulations.
U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank formed by ex-Myanmar military officers, said the Myanmar military chief is attending the events in Russia himself because the country is Myanmars main partner in military arena.
The military chief also visited Russia in the past to promote diplomatic ties. He dropped by [Russia] on his return trip from visiting European countries during U Thein Seins administration. As Russia and Myanmar are allied militarily, the Myanmar military chief has visited Russia more than any other country, said U Thein Tun Oo.
Including the current visit, the military chief has visited Russia six times since 2013, the most out of any country.
In 2019, Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing made a total of 11 trips to foreign countries including China, Russia, Japan, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Most of the countries he visited were in Asia.
The Tatmadaw also said that participants at the Moscow International Security Conference in Russia last April appreciated Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaings contributions to discussions on military cooperation and the potential for regional security in the Indo-Pacific Region.
Russia originally planned to organize the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Victory Day in May, but officials were forced to postpone due to COVID-19.
According to political analyst and ex-military officer Dr. Aung Myo, Russia considers Myanmar important to geopolitics because the country borders the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. He also said Russia invited Myanmars military chief partly because Myanmar is one of Moscows biggest customers for weapons and Russian leaders want to show that Myanmar is important to them.
As Myanmar is shunned by the Western bloc from time to time, Russia has sought to become allies with the country. Myanmar also has space to use weapons developed by Russia as fighting is ongoing in Rakhine, so it is natural for the two countries to maintain friendly ties, said Dr. Aung Myo.
During his visit to Myanmar in 2018, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that Russia would sell six Su-30 fighters to Myanmar.
The Russian defense minister reached the deal with Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing after the two met in Myanmar in January 2018.
Neither the Russian Defense Ministry nor the Myanmar army has disclosed the price of the six fighter jets or when they will be delivered. The Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat maneuverable fighter jet developed by Russias Sukhoi Aviation Corporation.
All the jets, fighters and helicopters in Myanmars air force were purchased from China or Russia.
Hundreds of Myanmar military personnel are studying at Russias military higher education institutions. Four of them tested positive for COVID-19 over the past months, one of whom has recovered and the rest of whom are responding well to treatment, according to the Myanmar military.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 17:30 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066103eb8 1 Politics Perppu,COVID-19,coronavirus,Constitutional-Court,MK,judicial-review,virus-corona,COVID-19-aid Free
The Constitutional Court has rejected a petition for a judicial review of regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) No. 1/2020 on the COVID-19 pandemic response, stating that the Perppu has already been passed into law.
The decision to reject the petition was made at the justices consultation meeting attended by the nine court justices on June 6.
"The petition has lost its objective [] and therefore cannot be accepted," Chief Justice Anwar Usman said during a hearing on Tuesday.
The House of Representatives gave its approval to pass the Perppu into law during a plenary session on May 12 two months after President Joko Jokowi Widodo signed the regulation in late-March. The government later passed the Houses approval into Law No. 2/2020.
Read also: House passes virus response Perppu amid graft concerns
The law allows the government to extend the state budget deficit beyond the normal 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) limit and allocate the spending to programs related to COVID-19 relief.
Article 27 of the law contains provisions that protect officials who make fiscal and monetary decisions from any legal charges, as long as they act in good faith and according to the law.
The plaintiffs -- comprising five groups of anti-corruption activists, including the Indonesian Anticorruption Community (MAKI) said they had filed another judicial review against the 2020 law.
MAKI coordinator Boyamin Saiman said the plaintiffs had requested the law be revoked, especially the provisions stipulated in Article 27.
They filed the second petition on May 20, arguing that Article 27 violated the Constitution and several prevailing laws, including the 2003 State Finances Law and the 2006 Supreme Audit Agency Law.
We expected this to happen after the House passed it into law, so weve submitted a new petition to the Court.
Late last week an Ontario woman was run over and killed by a semi-truck outside of Fearmans Pork slaughterhouse in Burlington. Details surrounding the incident have yet to be revealed, but what is known now is that Regan Russell, 65, was a long-time animal and human rights activist who was there to bear witness to the pigs on that truck. She was there because the secrecy enshrouding meat, dairy and egg production, and lack of legal oversight concerning farmed animal welfare forced her to be there. She was there because it is only outside of those trucks that concerned citizens can gain a mere moment of interaction with the animals, to document their conditions, and to show compassion before they are trucked off into the darkness. On this day in particular, Russell was there because soon, the newly passed Bill 156 will make it illegal to do so, and soon that darkness will grow much darker.
Russell witnessed animals used and abused in awful ways for many years, says Jenny McQueen, a well-known Toronto activist and friend of Russell. Russell was absolutely committed to speaking up on behalf of the animals and showing that, week after week, people need to do the right thing. Russell attended slaughterhouse vigils regularly, participated in a recent Black Lives Matter protest, and was a strong womens rights advocate. There are so many instances when she was standing up for the oppressed, McQueen says.
Vigils have been held outside of Fearmans Pork for several years, organized by international animal rights group The Save Movement, which originated in Toronto. Typically, peaceful activists stand outside of slaughterhouses on public land, and, when trucks hauling live animals pull up, drivers are asked to stop for two minutes to allow activists to provide water, document conditions, and offer some words of apology, love and comfort. Vigils are extremely powerful, says McQueen. If you go, and connect, and look an animal in the eye, in person, its life-changing.
With the passing of Bill 156, the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, however, individuals who interact with animals in this way could soon be fined up to $15,000.
Tensions between vigil participants and some truck drivers have been bubbling for years, but for the most part the requested two minutes is usually provided without incident. Since the passing of Bill 156 just days before Russells death, though, activists cant help but wonder if the industry, including that truck driver, may be feeling emboldened.
In Canada, there are no laws overseeing the daily treatment of animals on farms. An accepted form of on-farm euthanasia for piglets is bashing their heads into concrete. Pigs are transported in open-sided, non-climate-controlled trucks for up to 36 hours without food, water or rest, regardless of the weather. Fearmans Pork kills approximately 10,000 young pigs every single day. These are things Russell would want you to know. These are the things she was trying to expose with her activism. These are the things Bill 156 will drive further away from the public eye, further into the darkness.
Jessica Scott-Reid is a writer and animal rights advocate.
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Dallas-based employee benefits provider, BenefitMall, has partnered with CyberScout, a provider cybersecurity, identity theft resolution and employee benefits services.
BenefitMall brokers will now be able to offer CyberScouts cybersecurity education and identity theft services as a voluntary or employee-sponsored benefit to clients.
Employees can utilize CyberScouts expertise through breach education, preparation, response and remediation as well as fraud, credit and reputation monitoring. CyberScout can also be a cybersecurity and data privacy consulting resource for BenefitMall broker portfolio clients.
The rise in data breaches has increased concerns about identity theft and the unauthorized release of personal data. A recent study conducted by CyberScout found that 69 percent of people admitted they would spend work time resolving identity theft issues. More businesses are offering identity theft services as a voluntary employee benefit because of identity thefts hindrance to productivity.
Employer-sponsored and voluntary rates for CyberScout are now available to all BenefitMall brokers and their clients. Employer breach services are available for no additional charge when rates are employer-paid.
Source: BenefitMall
Topics Mergers Cyber Texas
Jaipur, June 23 : The Rajasthan government will soon start taking action against poultry hatcheries using crude methods to kill chicks. The Deputy Director of animal husbandry on June 16 issued an order stating that killing chicks using crude methods is a clear violation of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, and is a punishable offence under it.
The order urged district animal husbandry officers to take steps to ensure that poultry hatcheries stop cruel chick-killing methods and recommended the adoption of nitrogen or inert gas methods prescribed by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and the Law Commission of India (LCI). The animal husbandry department issued the order following appeals from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.
PETA India raised the issue of the poultry industry killing male and other unwanted chicks using cruel and illegal methods.
The egg industry commonly kills male chicks because they can't lay eggs, while both the meat and egg industries routinely destroy other unwanted chicks, including those who are weak or deformed, PETA pointed out.
Common killing methods include grinding, crushing, burning, drowning and even feeding them alive to fish, the group said in its appeal. PETA India pointed out that the commonly used cruel methods of killing unwanted chicks violate Section 11(1)(l) of The PCA Act, 1960. The group has requested that the animal husbandry department stop these methods practiced by poultry hatcheries in the state and that the government require the egg industry to use in ovo sex-determination technology as soon as it becomes available.
This new technology, which was developed abroad and will be commercially available soon, would allow eggs containing male embryos to be destroyed in an early stage of development and spare live chicks a horrific death."The gruesome killing of countless male chicks simply because they can't lay eggs is cruel and should be stopped," PETA India CEO and veterinarian Manilal Valliyate said.
"We're grateful that the Rajasthan government is calling for a crackdown on the poultry industry's commonly used cruel and illegal methods of killing unwanted chicks. Members of the public who are concerned about these animals can help them by choosing to eat vegan." According to the 2019 report on basic animal husbandry statistics released by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajasthan is one of the major egg-producing states in the country -- making it especially imperative that it implement in ovo sexing technology as soon as it's commercially available.
PETA India claims that the animal husbandry departments of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have also issued similar orders on its appeal directing an end to illegal and cruel chick-killing practices.
Germany, as well as France and Switzerland have taken steps towards banning the shredding of live male chicks, which is commonly practised abroad.
Riyadh, June 23 : Saudi Arabia has announced that due to the coronavirus pandemic, only a "very limited number" of people will be allowed to take part in this year's Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
"In light of the persistence of this pandemic, the severity of the outbreak of infection by gatherings... It was decided to establish a pilgrimage this year 2020 with very limited numbers for those of different nationalities within the Kingdom," the Ministry of Pilgrimage said in a statement on Monday.
So while this year's Haj will include non-Saudis, those individuals must already reside inside the borders of the Kingdom to be eligible, reports Efe news.
Authorities said their aim was making the "ritual safe" and "complying with preventive measures and social distancing", given the lack of a vaccine.
Limiting the number of pilgrims making the journey to Mecca in late July is in harmony with the imperative in Islamic Law to "preserve the human soul".
The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia reported a total of 161,005 COVID-19 cases, while the death toll stands at 1,307.
Muslim-majority nations, notably Malaysia, had been calling on the Saudi government to clarify its position on the Haj.
Until now, Riyadh's only public statement on the matter was a statement in March urging Muslims abroad to delay making reservations for the journey to Mecca.
Some 1,500 mosques in Mecca reopened on Sunday after being closed for three months. Worshippers are required to wear masks.
This is not the first time Saudi Arabia has restricted participation in the pilgrimage.
Between 2014 and 2016, Muslim faithful from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and several other African countries were excluded from the Haj due to Ebola.
The Haj represents an important source of income, typically generating between $5.3 billion and $6.9 billion for the local economy, according to Mecca's chamber of commerce.
In 2019, nearly 2.5 million Muslims performed the Haj, including more than 600,000 Saudis, according to official figures.
The annual pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, which every Muslim must perform at least once if his or her physical and economic state allow.
-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
A man in Idleb has died while he looked at photos that showed the bodies of torture victims, who were killed in the Syrian government's prisons reports Smart News.
A man in his 60s died after seeing photos of detainees who were tortured to death in the Syrian governments prisons. The man is from the village of Ram Hamdan, 10 kilometers north of Idleb.
Media activist Mustafa Hashem, who is from the village of Ram Hamdan, reported to Smart News that on Sunday night, Nader Abboud died while viewing leaked photos of detainees tortured to death in the prisons of the Syrian governments security forces.
Hashem added that Abboud has a son called Yousef, who has been detained for about seven years by the Syrian government. Hashem noted that Yousef was arrested from the Firdous neighborhood in the city of Aleppo on charges of demonstrating.
Hashem stated that Yousef was imprisoned at the age of 31 and he is the son in the family, with three sisters. Hashem suspected that Abboud died due to a sudden heart attack, as he was in good health. Hashem noted that Abboud did not see the photo of his son Yousef among the photos he was viewing before his death.
Caesar, who was a photographer for the Syrian government military police, leaked 50,000 photos of prisoners who were tortured to death in Syrian government prisons, allowing the world to see and families to identify their loved ones. In mid-December 2015, the Human Rights Watch declared the photos to be clear evidence of the Syrian governments crimes against humanity.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Mithun Chakraborty was worried for his family as the the 'only earning member' during the pandemic
UP Board 10th, 12th Result 2020:Uttar Pradesh board will declare the class 10th and 12th exam results 2020 on June 27. Students who have appeared for the board exams will be able to check their result online after it is declared. Around 56 lakh lakh students are anxiously waiting for their results. As soon as the result is announced, the official website of UP board usually crashes due to heavy server. However, the students need not worry. They can also check their results on our Hindustan Times Result portal.
We have separate links for UP Board 10th and 12th results 2020. Candidates will have to choose their class and key in the required information to check their results. SMS alert will also be sent to the students who pre-register themselves for the result notification, as soon as it is declared. The SMS notification will have a direct link to check the results.
UP Board 10th, 12th Result 2020 Live Updates
Students should register for the result notification now. Follow these steps to register for result alert:
Visit the official webpage of HT Education at hindustantimes.com/education
Click on Exam Results tab given on the top
Select UP Board tab
Then choose between UP Board 10th or UP Board 12th result
A login page will appear on the screen
Key in your Name, Phone number and email ID on which you want to receive the result notification and submit.
Click here to register for UP Board Result alert
How to check UP Board Result on HT Result portal:
After the result is declared, candidates can visit the official webpage of HT Education at hindustantimes.com/education
Click on Exam Results tab given on the top
Click on the UP Board Result tab on the website
A login page will appear
Key in your roll number
Your result will appear on the screen.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this
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(Natural News) Cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in American prisons and jails have doubled since last month. Now, over 68,000 inmates have contracted the virus. Furthermore, prisoner deaths due to COVID-19 have jumped by nearly 75 percent over the past four weeks.
According to The New York Times, the five largest-known infection clusters across the United States are located in prison complexes, correctional institutions and jails. The largest cluster being the Marion Correctional Institution in Marion, Ohio, which has over 2,500 COVID-19 cases. This is followed closely by the Pickaway Correctional Institution in Scioto Township, Ohio, with more than 1,700 cases.
The scale of the outbreak in prisons is being made even worse by an uneven response from corrections officials to testing and care for positive inmates and prison employees.
Furthermore, even though many states in the country are ramping up their testing capabilities, not a lot of attention is being given to inmates. In New York, for example, only 1,200 of the states approximately 40,000 prisoners have been tested, even though around 40 percent of those tested have come up positive for COVID-19. According to the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, 16 inmates and five corrections employees have died from the coronavirus.
In the prisons themselves, conditions are making it difficult for inmates who dont have the coronavirus to avoid the infected ones. Many facilities are overcrowded and have common spaces where inmates are unable to practice social distancing. Some have insufficient amounts of soap and hand sanitizer.
Worse still, its likely that the coronavirus will continue spreading in jails and prisons as the engineered riots over the death of George Floyd continue. More and more rioters and violent protesters are being arrested and placed in crowded holding cells in local jails, where all it takes is one infected individual to spread the disease to dozens of other people. (Related: Experts warn protesters: You could start new wave of coronavirus infections.)
Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how the globalists are pushing through with their depopulation goals with the help of the global pandemic and the engineered riots.
Prison conditions forcing states to set thousands of inmates free
Because of this inability to prevent the spread of the virus and to properly care for infected individuals, prisons have been forced to resort to drastic measures. One of these is releasing inmates early.
Missouri has released thousands of inmates from their jails; both Washington state and New Jersey have planned to release around a thousand inmates each; and in California, where state prisons are about 20,000 people over capacity, the prison system will start releasing inmates early beginning on July 1.
Not everybody agrees with this tactic, however. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order barring the states prison system from releasing inmates due to the coronavirus, arguing that it would not only hinder the states efforts to combat COVID-19, but it would also gravely threaten public safety.
Opponents of releasing inmates early have pointed to a case in Florida, where a man, along with more than 160 other inmates, was freed the day after he was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing someone.
Those in favor of releasing some inmates argue that there will always be risks with any decision. But, doing nothing and letting prisons turn into petri dishes, they say, would cause even more harm. If prisons continue to be overcrowded, more inmates and prison employees would be infected. Furthermore, because of the high rate of turnover in local jails across the country, these infected workers and inmates would then carry the disease to their communities.
Solitary confinement as a means of controlling coronavirus spread
Alternatively, many overcrowded prisons have resorted to placing prisoners on longer lockdowns, where inmates are kept in their cells almost round the clock. Prison reformers are concerned that the coronavirus pandemic is making prisons resort to the practice of solitary confinement.
According to Unlock the Box, a coalition of civil rights groups fighting to end the practice of solitary confinement; before the pandemic, around 60,000 inmates in state and federal prisons were being kept in solitary confinement. Now, that number has ballooned to over 300,000 a 400 percent increase.
While the state of the confinement varies, in most cases inmates are unable to leave their cells to eat, exercise or do prison jobs. Many inmates are also unable to receive visits from their families, and some might even have had their communication privileges either through mail or phone revoked. Unlock the Box disagrees that this is an appropriate solution.
These restrictions began for federal prisons on April, when the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) began restricting what little freedom of movement their prisoners already had.
The restrictions worsened when, on the first week of June, the BOP instituted a rare nationwide lockdown because of fears that the inmates might start prison riots in response to the nationwide rioting that erupted over the death of George Floyd. If one cell has even one person with COVID-19, its very likely that all of the other people in that cell will have contracted the disease.
While the nationwide lockdown has been lifted, prison reformers from Unlock the Box are worried that many lockdown restrictions will remain in place long after the pandemic ends, and that outbreaks in prisons are being used to justify the expansion of the practice of solitary confinement.
Much like in nursing homes, the coronavirus is able to spread rapidly in prisons and jails. If no meaningful reforms are enacted to counter its spread, thousands more inmates will get infected and succumb to the disease.
Pandemic.news is publishing up-to-date, unbiased and scientific reporting on the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Sources include:
DailyMail.co.uk
NYTimes.com 1
NYTimes.com 2
NYTimes.com 3
LAist.com
NPR.org
GovExec.com
As New York City voters went to the polls on Tuesday, all the elements were in place for a chaotic experience.
The coronavirus pandemic had certainly changed the environment: Some poll locations opened late, as the overnight subway closure made it difficult for some workers to arrive on time. Some poll sites had to be changed, with voters getting little advance notice.
And although Joseph R. Biden Jr. is the Democratic nominee, the presidential primary was still being contested in New York necessitating two separate ballots, one for that primary and one for local races. But some voters complained that they were only being offered one ballot.
Despite the problems, the situation seemed somewhat less chaotic than in other years, perhaps because the virus was expected to dampen the physical turnout on Tuesday. With many people reluctant to vote in person, or unable to because they have relocated, roughly 765,000 absentee ballots were distributed in the city, according to data released by the New York City Board of Elections on Tuesday evening.
Today, Apple made an announcement saying that they are changing how disputes with regards to their App Store will be handled with third-party developers in two big ways.
The first change they're making is that Apple can appeal any particular violation of the App Store guidelines, and there will be a different process altogether for challenging the specific guideline itself. The second change is that there will be no delays to updates that involve bug fixes or other core functionality over disputes with the App Store.
What Lead To These Changes Going Through?
These changes happened right after the debate between Apple and the developers of the premium email app Hey, Basecamp. Basecamp launched Hey recently as a website where you needed to be invited along with a companion app for iOS. The full launch of Hey is targeted for next month.
Apple approved the app at first, but then they rejected any updates that Basecamp would push, which lit the flames of a high-profile public battle between Apple and Basecamp's co-founders. They feuded over whether Hey was even allowed to be in the App Store with how it is in the first place.
The feud was inconvenient for Apple since it was happening right when there were two European Union antitrust probes that were brought up due to complaints from Apple's rivals such as Spotify.
With this feud, the main argument was whether Basecamp's email app Hey was qualified to be exempted from the rules involving in-app purchases. Basecamp excluded in-app purchases from their app since they didn't want to give Apple the App Store revenue share they would have owed. Apple claimed that Basecamp's email service's companion iOS app violated three guidelines of the App Store by not letting you sign up to or buy access to Hey from the iOS app.
Basecamp stated that Apple was being greedy and inconsistent since numerous apps were qualified for exemptions to bypassing the in-app purchase guideline for a long time.
This resulted in an outcry that had a risk of taking the spotlight from Apple's annual WWDC virtual event, which started recently with a keynote address that featured major announcements like macOS Big Sur and iOS 14.
Read More: [PHOTOS] A Leak Shows That Apple's Wireless Charging Mat AirPower Might Be Coming
Calming Down The Flames Of App Developers
Apple attempted to calm the feud down by explaining its reasoning in a formal letter written by the App Review Board, which they directed at Basecamp and numerous media organizations. Phil Schiller, Apple's marketing chief, conducted interviews with many press members.
This Monday, before the Apple WWDC keynote, gave in and allowed Basecamp to push Hey updates only after a compromise where they let you sign up for a temporary account which expires after 14 days. However, it isn't clear if this will be enough for Apple or if Basecamp needs to change something in the future. Basecamp still hasn't implemented any in-app purchases in Hey.
No matter how the fight is going, the App Store's two major changes will definitely help app developers in the future. It will be easier to appeal to Apple's decisions thanks to the changes without being worried about getting denied or having app updates delayed.
Apple has approved HEY for iOS 1.0.2 without IAP!! Weve submitted 1.0.3 for final, definitive approval with a new free option and HEY for Work. SO NOW WE WAIT. CAN THIS STAND-OFF END IN A TRUCE? https://t.co/0x0UAYgM80 DHH (@dhh) June 22, 2020
Read Also: WWDC 2020: Here's What Upset Apple App Developers
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Linkedin Thomas Urbain and Maggy Donaldson (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States Tue, June 23, 2020 08:53 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660d3598 2 World New-York-City,coronavirus,COVID-19,reopening-economy,reopening-plan,reopening,COVID-19-lockdown,coronavirus-restrictions,pandemic Free
New York businesses opened their doors to returning waves of workers Monday as the city that was once the epicenter of the global pandemic marked an important milestone in its return to normalcy, even as other US states were seeing an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases.
Nationwide, cases have been on the rise for the past two weeks following a long plateau in the spring, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, with California hitting levels of new infections not seen since March.
But for many in hard-hit New York, where more than 20,000 people succumbed to the disease, the return to normal meant resuming their small every day rituals.
For some, that meant getting a haircut.
"I've been cutting it myself and doing a very bad job, so I was very excited to see [the barber]," said Jeremiah Zinn, a man in his 50s who was the first client to walk through the door at Benny's Barbershop in Brooklyn.
Yury Ykubov, the owner, told AFP he had opened the shop six months prior, and negotiated with the landlord to make rent during the lockdown.
Ybkov himself contracted COVID-19 but, like the city itself, has recovered and has antibodies for protection.
But all the barbers in his shop took online courses on how to be safe, which included using special gowns, wearing masks, and no blow-drying.
"I'm slightly nervous, like it's the first day I come to work, the first day somebody hired me," he laughed.
In Manhattan, Sam Karalis, owner of The Windsor Florist, said his business was one of the lucky ones to have survived with the help of the government and his landlord.
He was relieved to be able to open his doors to paying customers.
Allowing people inside the shop "makes a big difference because people like to look at the stuff," he said.
"If you can't look at the stuff, you can't really buy it."
Nationwide cases rising
Statewide, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported 10 new deaths Sunday while the rate of positive test results has fallen to one percent -- which has paved the way for incremental lifting of restrictions.
New York City is now in the second of its four-phase reopening, which began two weeks ago when construction and industries were allowed to resume working.
But the picture is far less positive in other parts of the United States, with the virus spiking in several states despite predictions that summer heat, humidity and bright sunlight would limit its spread.
Cases were skyrocketing in California, Texas, Arizona and Florida and in the Midwestern state of Missouri.
In Florida, which reopened bars and restaurants earlier this month, emergency physician Rajiv Bahl said cases were rising across age groups.
"Personally, I am seeing more patients who are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s with upper respiratory symptoms than I did before," he told AFP.
"While it is not exactly known why this is the case, it may be because of the opening of bars and restaurants," he added, with those working in the service industry accounting for a high volume of the cases.
The Sunshine State saw more than 4,000 cases on Friday and Saturday, according to official data, and Bahl urged would-be tourists to think carefully about their plans.
"You may want to rethink mass gatherings and opt for more isolated adventures such as national parks, isolated beaches, or enjoying a pool with more strict distancing rules," he said.
'No second wave'
Top officials from the administration of President Donald Trump, meanwhile, continued to downplay the severity of the pandemic, a nearly constant theme since the virus was first reported in the United States in January.
"There is no second wave coming," White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow told CNBC, adding that lawmakers will likely present another stimulus package by the end of next month.
Kudlow claimed in late February that the virus had been "contained" and an economic tragedy avoided.
At a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, President Trump said he wanted to slow down testing, on grounds it was making the United States look bad.
Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, however, told CBS News on Sunday: "We're seeing the positivity rates go up.
"That's a clear indication that there's now community spread underway. And this isn't just a function of testing more."
New Delhi: The government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested not to send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, Naqvi told reporters.
Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic. It said only a very limited number of people currently living in the kingdom may take part.
"This decision was taken to ensure haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective," a Saudi government statement said.
NEXO ('NEXO') will be available for trading on the BEQUANT Exchange from Tuesday 23rd June 2020
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / The NEXO Token is backed by the underlying assets of Nexo's loan portfolio. The innovative model of Nexo brings the crypto community the best of both worlds - retaining 100% ownership of their digital assets while having immediate access to cash.
CEO of BEQUANT George Zarya said: "The NEXO token release is great for our traders, allowing them the ability to trade another token on our exchange. We are delighted to list another Top 100 token on our platform."
"Thanks to our partnership with BEQUANT, the NEXO token will be even more accessible to institutional investors, opening new possibilities for both Nexo and our growing client base within this segment," commented Antoni Trenchev, Nexo Co-founder and Managing Partner.
BEQUANT has made the necessary technical preparations, integrating the NEXO Token on its trading platform. BEQUANT has listed the following crosses, Nexo/Bitcoin (BTC), Nexo/Ethereum (ETH) and Nexo/Tether (USDT).
About BEQUANT:
ocated in London and Malta, BEQUANT is a one stop solution for professional digital-assets investors and institutions. Our breadth of products include prime brokerage, custody, fund administration, enhanced by an institutional trading platform providing low-latency, liquidity and direct market access.
The BEQUANT team is composed of experts from institutional, retail and digital financial services with experience in banking, derivatives, electronic trading and prime brokerage.
Websites
BEQUANT Digital Assets Trading Platform:www.BEQUANT.io
BEQUANT Prime Brokerage Services:www.BEQUANT.pro
SAFEQUANT Custodian: https://safequant.io/
Social Media
Follow BEQUANT onTwitter,Facebook andLinkedIn
Contact details:
BEQUANT
Sunil Chauhan
T - +44 (0)20 3893 3214
E - marketing@bequant.pro
About Nexo:
Nexo is the leading regulated financial institution for digital assets. The company's mission from day 1 is to maximize the value of digital assets by offering tax-efficient 'Instant Crypto Credit Lines', high-yield 'Earn Interest' products and 'Send & Pay' capabilities for our clients, while ensuring the $100 million custodial insurance and military-grade security of the Nexo Wallet. Nexo has processed $2+ billion in 45+ fiat currencies for 750,000+ users across 200 jurisdictions.
Official website:
https://www.nexo.io
Social media:
Follow Nexo on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
Contact details:
Nexo
Mia Agova
T - +359 889 261 112
E - mia@nexo.io
SOURCE: BEQUANT
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594903/BEQUANT-Exchange-List-NEXO-Token-on-Digital-Assets-Trading-Platform
SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Karbo Communications, a top-ranked U.S. technology public relations (PR) and digital marketing agency, today announced a record number of award wins for the first half of 2020, including creative honors from the Hermes Creative Awards and Telly Awards and industry honors from O'Dwyer's Top U.S. PR Firms, PRWeek's Agency Business Report and a Bronze Stevie Award for Public Relations Agency of the Year.
Client Penguin Computing enlisted Karbo Com to highlight the HPC leader's key role in creating Ang Lee's technologically groundbreaking film, Gemini Man. The resulting case study video , featuring interviews with Gemini Man's Technical Supervisor Ben Gervais, and Kevin Tubbs, Senior Director, Technology and Business Development at Penguin Computing, was recognized by multiple honors from creative award programs. An international competition administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals (AMCP), the Hermes Creative Awards honored Karbo Com as a Gold winner in the 2020 competition among 6,000 entries from around the world. Karbo Com was also recognized as a silver winner alongside industry giants Comcast and Nickelodeon by the Telly Awards, a program honoring video and television.
In addition to creative awards, the agency was also recognized by the PR industry's top award programs. The American Business Awards, nicknamed the Stevie Awards, awarded Karbo Com with the Bronze medal for Public Relations Agency of the Year . This is the third consecutive year Karbo Com has been honored as one of the top three agencies in the country. Winners were chosen from more than 3,700 nominations across industries for categories such as Startup of the Year and Best New Product or Service of the Year.
Additionally, Karbo Com was ranked as a top PR agency in the San Francisco Bay Area and in tech PR nationally by O'Dwyer's PR News, a publication ranking over 100 of the most successful PR firms annually. Karbo Com has consistently been listed in O'Dwyer's rankings over the last fifteen years.
Finally, Karbo Com was included in the top 150 agencies nationally and top 200 agencies globally by PR Week. Their Agency Business Report honored Karbo Com's ability to retain business and talent after analyzing their revenue and staff levels.
"Customer stories are the victory lap after a hard won race," said Julie Karbo, CEO of Karbo Communications. "It's not good enough to send out a press release. A customized impactful strategy has to come first. Creative thinking about how to get the most bang for your buck and helping your customer benefit from your partnership is key. This is an opportunity for both companies to shine and how you communicate will affect how you continue to reap the rewards from sharing your story with the world."
About Karbo Communications
Karbo Communications, Inc. is a leading digital technology PR and marketing agency located in the hubs of innovation, San Francisco's South of Market area (SoMA), Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Seattle and New York. A full-service agency, Karbo Communications offers an extensive array of innovative digital services, including branding, corporate and product PR, social media, creative services, content development and more. Karbo Communications has helped to disrupt markets through strategic communications programs for groundbreaking companies such as TIBCO, Apple, eBay, Digg, Logitech, TDK, RTI, Hootsuite, Penguin Computing, Oracle and Cisco.
The Karbo Communications team brings industry knowledge, strategic thinking, creativity and the best of the tech industry's entrepreneurial spirit to create and amplify market leadership for a range of clients, from start-ups to leading global organizations. For more information, visit www.karbocom.com or follow us on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .
Media Contact
Erin Fogarty
[email protected]
530-306-2392
SOURCE Karbo Communications
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Archaeologists discover ancient Christian settlement in Galilee conquered in 7th century
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Researchers in Israel say that they have found what they believe to be the remains of an ancient Christian settlement that was most likely destroyed by the Persian conquest of the region in the seventh century.
Atiqot, a Hebrew-language research journal operated by the Israel Antiquities Authority, has published a new report on the excavation at Pi Mazuva, a Byzantine settlement located in modern Israels northwest corner near the Lebanon border.
According to the journal, the excavation at the site, which was first discovered in 2007 during excavation for road construction, has revealed building complexes separated by alleys that date back to the Byzantine period.
The finds at the site included a bronze cross, an ashlar limestone lintel with a cross engraving, and pottery dated to the sixthseventh centuries CE, which comprised local types, alongside many imported ones, some adorned with crosses, according to Atiqot.
An interesting find is a high-quality, colorful, seventh-century CE mosaic floor adorned with floral motifs, animal and human figures, and two fragmentary Greek inscriptions. The finds at the site point to the existence of a rural Christian settlement, probably destroyed during the Persian conquest of the region in 613 CE.
The research was led by IAA archaeologist Gilad Cinamon.
According to the Jewish newspaper Haaretz, the town is not known from Byzantine sources but was mentioned in the Jerusalem Talmud, a document of religious law from the fourth and fifth century.
The town is said to be among a group of Western Galilee towns that are not considered part of the land of Israel but whose Jewish residents were to abide by the commandments listed for inhabitants of the holy land, Haaretz notes.
While for now we have no documents from Christian sources about this settlement, all the evidence points to an almost entirely Christian population, Cinamon told Haaretz.
According to Atiqots summary of the report, the pottery finds retrieved from the buildings excavated at Pi Mazuva date to the late Byzantine period and comprise local and imported vessels.
Two red-slipped bowls were discovered. One was adorned with a cross and the other featured a human figure holding a staff.
The pottery from Pi Mazuva shows a clear affinity with assemblages dated to the late Byzantine period at nearby sites in the western Galilee, the journal notes. The rather large quantity of imported vessels possibly suggests the existence of dwellings and storehouses for agricultural produce at the site.
According to Atiqot, the mosaic floor uncovered at Pi Mazuva comprises a broad border of acanthus medallions, surrounding a carpet of flower buds, with a womans bust depicted in its center. The journal states that the mosaic could be a personification of abundance and agricultural fertility.
The acanthus border is populated by floral and animal motifs, which seem to have been executed by experienced artists. Based on iconographic and stylistic considerations, the mosaic was dated to the seventh century CE, probably created after the Muslim conquest, attesting to a continuation of local Byzantine traditions throughout the seventheighth centuries CE, the journal explains.
The mosaic might have adorned a room that was used for entertaining guests in a manor house.
Cinamon told Haaretz that the mosaic 16 feet by 16 feet likely decorated the living room of a self-sustained urban villa owned by a very wealthy family.
And this is quite a rare find for this area in the Byzantine period, he said.
Vietnam has made a new policy move in its journey to transform itself into a digital economy and improve its legal framework, much to the appreciation of investors and businesses.
Country to go digital through decade of all-purpose action, photo Shutterstock
Over a week ago, the Politburo enacted Conclusion No.77-KL/TW on overcoming impacts of COVID-19 for national economic recovery and development. The conclusion underlined the need for Vietnam to develop a digital government, economy, and society with renovations and applications of science and technology.
Resources are gathered to develop a number of shared technological platforms and national key database systems, reads the conclusion. It is necessary to boost the formulation of policy frameworks and complete these for new business models and for digital transformation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc last week approved a national programme on digital transformation until 2025, with a vision to 2030.
Together with the Politburos hallmark Resolution No.52-NQ/TW released last September on a number of guidelines and policies to actively participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and Conclusion 77, this programme is a big addition to Vietnams effort to showcase its strong determination to become a digital economy, in which new products, services, solutions, and business models are accepted in tandem with the countrys gradual completion of legal frameworks.
The government will create new policies to stand ready to accept and pilot new technological solutions controllably. There must be a culture of accepting and piloting new things, stated PM Phuc. Vietnams technological businesses are the key developers of infrastructure, platforms, services, and solutions of the digital transformation. They will have to master core technology and then expand their presence to the global markets.
Vietnamese enterprises are to be facilitated to co-operate with global technological giants to research, develop, transfer, and apply new technologies and models in Vietnam.
In its digital economy development programme, the government will aim to develop four types of digital businesses, namely major trade and service groups focusing on digital technology investment and core technologies, IT firms focusing on research and development (R&D) and production, and digital startups that create innovative products.
Notably, Vietnam plans to shift from assembly and processing towards creating Make in Vietnam products, meaning creating, designing, and producing products in Vietnam. Moreover, the country will research, develop, and master all technologies, and produce digital equipment such as smartphones, smart TVs, tablets, and Internet-of-Things equipment, while meeting all technical standards on ensuring cybersecurity.
Jeff Paine, managing director of the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), told VIR that Vietnam is full of potential to become a digital economy. In recent years, the country has taken steps to attract overseas Vietnamese to come back home. This has enabled a burgeoning entrepreneurial scene, where startups and small businesses that leverage technologies have emerged.
With the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, Vietnam also is well poised to meet the demand of companies shifting their production capacity out of China into Southeast Asian economies like Vietnam, Paine said. The opportunities from these developments are enormous, as the availability of local tech talents in a country with almost 100 million people will create a foundation upon which global tech companies can invest and develop innovative products and services for both local and regional markets. Grab, which opened an R&D centre in Ho Chi Minh City in 2017, is an example.
According to Dang Hoang Hai, general director of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, currently in Vietnam, one of the firm foundations for developing a digital economy is the boom of e-commerce.
Success in e-commerce development will also help Vietnam soon reach its goals and successfully develop its own digital economy, Hai said.
He estimated that currently there are about 24,250 websites with e-commerce applications in Vietnam, 143.3 million mobile phone subscribers, and 62 million social network users and internet users.
All these stats show great potential for Vietnam to develop its e-commerce industry, which is now considered the biggest highlight in Vietnams drive to develop its digital economy, Hai said.
Vietnams open policies have enabled it to attract leading global technology companies who have chosen the country as a place to build major manufacturing facilities that supply equipment and products to the world, creating more jobs and developing human capital.
Today, we are seeing a shift higher up the technology value chain, to software development and digital application-based services. These foreign investments are critical to Vietnam, especially for transfer of knowledge and international best practices, which will support the development of a local ICT industry that is globally competitive, Paine said.
According to financial and accounting consultancy firm Deloitte, amidst the proliferation of physical channels, digital platforms are also emerging in the retail market, which is part of a digital economy, with players such as Adayroi, Lazada, Shopee, and Tiki leading the pack. The growth potential of Vietnams digital retail market has also captured the attention of several e-commerce giants, with Amazon launching an initiative together with the Vietnam e-Commerce Association to provide digital services to a group of 140 local businesses.
Targets for Vietnams digital economy over the next decade Basic targets until 2025 - Vietnam will be among the 70 nations taking the lead in e-government in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs E-Government Development Index (EGDI); - The digital economy will account for 20 per cent of GDP; - The ratio of the digital economy in each industry will reach at least 10 per cent; - Annual labour productivity will increase at least 7 per cent; - Vietnam will be among the 50 nations taking the lead in global competition; - Vietnam will be among the 35 nations taking the lead in innovation. Basic targets until 2030 - Vietnam will be among the 50 nations taking the lead in e-government in EGDI; - The digital economy will account for 30 per cent of GDP; - The ratio of the digital economy in each industry will reach at least 20 per cent; - Annual labour productivity will increase at least 8 per cent; - Vietnam will be among the 30 nations taking the lead in global competition; - Vietnam will be among the 30 nations taking the lead in innovation. Source: National programme on digital transformation until 2025, with a vision to 2030
In another case, founded in 2010 as a web-based book retail business, Tiki has since then expanded its offerings to a wider range of products, including home appliances, electronics products, and healthcare products. In March 2017, Tiki announced that it would be transforming its business model from a business-to-customer platform to a business-to-business-to-consumer platform. This strategic shift appeared to be well-received by investors, following a $50 million investment from JD.com at the end of 2017 and another $10 million from STIC Investments in early 2018.
Vietnam has become an attractive spot for e-commerce development, with many types of firms, said Tran Hai Linh, CEO of Sendo Technology, which has over 10,000 buyers nationwide. E-commerce development is laying a firm groundwork for Vietnam to successfully develop its digital economy.
According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, one of the key factors for the successful construction of a digital economy and the successful implementation of Industry 4.0 is that the government will issue special incentives for foreign firms to establish R&D centres in Vietnam.
Currently, many foreign businesses are already operating R&D centres in the country, such as Singapores Grab, South Koreas Samsung, Swedens ABB, and Germanys Bosch. The US telecommunications giant Qualcomm is also considering founding such a centre in Vietnam.
Ousmane Dione - Country director for Vietnam World Bank I would like to offer three actionable measures, one to the business community and two to the government, as ways forward for deepening the ongoing digital government reforms. My proposed action for the business community is to step up digitalisation as COVID-19 has been a wake-up call for business leaders. The business continuity today seems impossible without the right technology in place, with online businesses experiencing less severe disruption than offline as seen during the crisis. A study performed in Singapore in 2019 shows that the use of digital technologies can increase small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) value and productivity by 26 and 17 per cent, respectively. It is estimated that the digitalisation of SMEs in the ASEAN region could add $1.1 trillion of GDP value across the region by 2025. Vietnamese business leaders can certainly start their digitalisation process to ensure the future of the business community by using the services available in the National eService Portal. Furthermore, there are two proposals for the government. Firstly, e-services begin with the simplification of business processes. Regardless of how many services are available online, if those services do not reduce time investment and transaction costs for businesses, these services will mean little to them. Thus, it is important for the government to optimise business processes. Data which has been generated and collected via the governments eService Portal will serve as a great starting point to analyse where the bottlenecks are and which steps could be removed from existing processes. Other data sets such as registrations, licensing, permits, and payments will also be useful pointers. Second, the government can serve as a launching platform for the private sectors digitalisation. Many governments have encouraged and enabled their businesses to digitally transform by creating partnerships with technology providers, even well before the pandemic. These include the SMEs Go Digital Programme of Singapore in 2017, Digital China 2020, and Australias Small Business Digital Champions, to name a few. These various government-led initiatives have supported firms in the respective countries to adopt new business models, such as e-commerce and digital products, resulting in significant increases in productivity and profitability. VIR
We urge the president to fully reinstate the H-2B program as soon as possible, so our nations landscape and irrigation companies can continue providing the essential services to American homes and businesses throughout the United States."
For years, the landscape irrigation industry has depended on seasonal H-2B workers to install and maintain our efficient irrigation systems and technologies, as well as the functional, managed landscapes that benefit our nations environment and economic welfare. President Trump has signed an executive order to suspend the issue of new H-2B visas, along with other temporary worker visas, through the end of 2020.
While we are appreciative that the president excluded critical H-2A workers from this executive order, we are disappointed that this administration continues to target the H-2B seasonal guest worker program, which creates American jobs and benefits small businesses everywhere, said IA Government and Public Affairs Director John Farner. We urge the president to fully reinstate the H-2B program as soon as possible, so our nations landscape and irrigation companies can continue providing the essential services to American homes and businesses throughout the United States.
The order signed on June 22 also applies to H-1B visas, H-4 visas, L-1 visas and some J-1 visas. The move is a follow-up to signing a more narrow measure in April. The restrictions will remain in place for the rest of the calendar year and can be extended.
For more information about the IAs advocacy work related to the H-2A and H-2B programs, visit http://www.irrigation.org.
Syrian air defences responded to Israeli strikes on the air space of the southeastern part of the country near the city of Sweida and in the eastern province of Deir al Zor bordering Iraq that left two soldiers dead, the Syrian army said on Tuesday.
An army statement said several attacks occurred simultaneously, one at a military outpost in Kabajib, east of Deir Zor province and in the vicinity of the town of Sukhna in the nearby eastern desert.
A third strike hit a military installation farther south in the town of Salkhad, near the southern city of Sweida, that left two soldiers dead and four injured.
The bases are located in zones in eastern and southern Syria which Israel had hit in recent months and which are believed to have a strong presence of Iranian-backed militias.
The Israeli occupation army declined to comment.
Regional intelligence sources say Israels strikes on Syria are part of a shadow war approved by Washington and part of the anti-Iran policy that has undermined in the last two years Irans extensive military power without triggering a major increase in hostilities.
Israel has acknowledged conducting many raids inside Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011 where it sees Irans presence as a strategic threat.
Israeli defence officials have said in recent weeks that their country would step up its campaign against Iran in Syria where, with the help of its proxy militias, Tehran has expanded its presence.
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MINNEAPOLIS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alight , formerly known as the American Refugee Committee, is working closely with pillars in Pakistani communities and other humanitarian agencies to support the needs of vulnerable populations as the country experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases. As the global pandemic continues to spread, Alight has worked alongside communities throughout Pakistan to better understand the populations most pressing needs to mitigate as many interruptions to their daily lives as possible.
In an effort to reach even the most remote locations, Alight has taken to the airwaves to help bridge the gap between knowledge and accessibility. Alight-led responses in Pakistan to support and protect the community at large include:
Working with local educators to produce youth-led radio and online education programs aimed at bringing lessons to students that may have traditionally been left out of the system due to lockdown restrictions.
aimed at bringing lessons to students that may have traditionally been left out of the system due to lockdown restrictions. Development and dissemination of public health messaging through Alight's #InOurHands campaign was promoted on radio broadcasts to expand reach from the provinces of Gilgit and Baltistan to now include the province of Balochistan .
through Alight's #InOurHands campaign was promoted on radio broadcasts to expand reach from the provinces of Gilgit and Baltistan to now include the province of . Providing diversified programs throughout the region ranging from life-saving health services by increasing hospital capacity and enhancing patient intake capability to protection provisions and PPEs.
ranging from life-saving health services by increasing hospital capacity and enhancing patient intake capability to protection provisions and PPEs. Partnering with food distribution sources to strengthen the local supply chain in order to reach hubs in rural areas opening up greater opportunities for access to food.
"Prior to COVID-19, our work in the country was focused on traditional and non-traditional education initiatives," says Alight CEO, Daniels Wordsworth. "As the pandemic initially unfolded and is surging once again, we are doubling-down on our work around education, and utilizing our teams on the ground and the relationships that have long been established to extend our services beyond education into health and food services to support needs in the community."
The increase in COVID-19 throughout Pakistan is adding a layer of uncertainty, as the increase in cases has mostly gone unreported. If not addressed, and properly supported, the fear is particularly greatest for families that will put their own health at risk at all costs because they need more help making ends meet.
"An emergency like COVID-19 plays out quite differently in the developed and developing worlds. Distance learning through TV or internet may sound very exciting but this approach does not allow us to reach millions of kids who may not have access to these advanced technologies or are living in very rural areas of the country," noted Dr. Tariq Cheema, Alight Pakistan Program Director. "A low-cost technology such as radio has proven very impactful to prevent the learning gap while schools are closed."
To learn more about the work Alight is doing, and how you can help please visit www.wearealight.org.
ABOUT ALIGHT
Established in 1978 by founder Neal Ball, Alight, formerly known as American Refugee Committee, provides health care, clean water, shelter, protection and economic opportunities to more than 3.5 million people in 17 countries each year. Alight believes in the incredible creativity, potential, and ingenuity of the displaced and works to shine a light on their humanity, the tremendous amount of good that's already happening and the possibilities to do more. The organization exists to see and help every person make meaningful change in the world from displaced and marginalized communities in Africa, Asia and the Americas to...anyone, anywhere. Learn more about Alight at www.wearealight.org.
SOURCE Alight
STEM Education
Students Get Scholarships to Summer STEM Camps
Two companies are working together to help students in Washington, D.C. attend virtual technology camps. iD Tech, which runs STEM camps all over the country for young people, is getting support from Salesforce to launch "Coding Our Future," which will enable 150 low-income students in the district to participate in the camps. They'll take courses through Trailhead, Salesforce's online learning platform, on Java, C++, 3D game design, YouTube animation, Python and machine learning.
The goal, according to the two companies, is to expose underrepresented minorities to the world of STEM as a field of professional pursuit. The scholarship students will receive laptops and home internet access. The initiative will also get help from other organizations, including the Black Student Fund, Black Girls Code, DMV National Society of Black Engineers, Jr. chapter and Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science.
"All students should have access to a quality STEM education," said Pete Ingram-Cauchi, CEO of iD Tech, in a statement. "With the support of Salesforce, we are confident we can help give students the resources to explore a career in STEM, and help grow the talent pipeline for the industry."
"As we build the economy of the future, it is imperative we include the students of today," added Leah McGowen-Hare, the vice president in charge of the Trailblazer community and evangelism. "Salesforce is committed to partnering with organizations like iD Tech to empower students of all backgrounds to embark on meaningful careers in STEM."
The iD Tech Virtual Tech Camps program will take place July 27-August 14, 2020. Students in grades 5-12 are encouraged to apply here before Jun. 30, 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 01:58:52|Editor: huaxia
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds the 22nd China-European Union (EU) leaders' meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday called on China and the European Union (EU) to expand two-way opening up and enhance practical cooperation so as to better achieve mutual benefits and win-win results.
The pledge came as Li held the 22nd China-EU leaders' meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link.
China and the EU are each other's comprehensive strategic partners, the bilateral cooperation far outweighs competition, and there are far more areas where both sides agree than disagree, Li said.
China attaches great importance to its relations with Europe, he said.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.
Li said since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the relationship between China and the EU has been generally defined by cooperation, which has enhanced the welfare of both peoples and brought stability to the world.
China has always supported the process of European integration, and is happy to see the EU maintain unity and prosperity, said Li.
He called on the two sides to view bilateral relations from a long-term perspective and with a broader vision, and regard each other as comprehensive strategic partners.
Li also called on both sides to increase understanding through dialogue, achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results through deepened cooperation, and jointly contribute to maintaining world peace, stability, development and prosperity.
During the meeting, Li said China and the EU, both as major global economies, should strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, maintain the stability of the industrial and supply chains, and inject impetus into global economic recovery in the face of COVID-19 impacts.
Li said China and the EU are committed to concluding the China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement in 2020 and reaching a comprehensive, balanced and high-level agreement.
He called for the signing of the China-EU geographical indications agreement at an early date.
China is unswervingly dedicated to expanding opening up, and committed to creating a market-oriented and world-class business environment with a sound legal framework for companies from all countries, said Li, adding that European companies have enjoyed the benefits.
China hoped the European side would also keep its trade and investment market open and relax the export control toward China so as to facilitate bilateral high-tech trade, Li said.
"Expanding two-way opening up on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual respect will help China and the EU better achieve mutual benefits and win-win results," the premier said.
Hailing both China and the EU uphold multilateralism and free trade, Li said China is willing to maintain communication with the EU on issues such as the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO), jointly safeguard the rule-based multilateral trade system, participate constructively in the multilateral process of combating climate change.
He called on both sides to continue to support the World Health Organization in playing a leading role in the global fight against COVID-19, deepen cooperation on vaccine and drug research and development, and work together to win the battle against the pandemic at an early date.
For their part, Michel and von der Leyen spoke highly of the mutual support and solidarity in the fight against COVID-19 between the EU and China.
The will of cooperation between the EU and China is not weakened although the pandemic has impacted many countries, they said.
Lauding China's active participation in the international cooperation on the fight against COVID-19 initiated by the EU, the EU leaders said the EU stands ready to enhance cooperation with China on economic recovery, jointly safeguard the safety of the industrial and supply chains, and further expand market opening.
They also called on both sides to strengthen connectivity, intensify cooperation on areas including trade, investment and digital economy, and reach the China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement in 2020.
Besides, China and the EU should enhance cooperation on the WTO reforms and climate change, and uphold multilateralism and free trade, they said.
The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on regional and international issues of common concern. Enditem
The Heritage Foundations latest Index of Economic Freedom once again rates Hungarys economy as moderately free. Greater economic freedom -- and the stronger economic growth associated with that freedom -- would boost Prime Minister Victor Orbans efforts to carve out a more distinct and independent role for Hungary as a member of the European Union.
For more than a decade, Hungarys overall score in the think tanks annual Index has hovered between 66 and 67 points [out of a possible 100.] That rating places the country in the bottom third among European countries. Hungarys failure to improve its rating is problematic, given the strong correlation found in the Index between growth in economic freedom and more rapid economic growth.
Responsibility for Hungarys lackluster performance can be laid squarely at the doorstep of European Union bureaucrats, who control many economic decisions from Brussels, but also must be shared by Orban, who has been in office since 2010. Orban won reelection to a third term in 2018, and his populist, center-right Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Alliance won two-thirds of the seats in parliament.
Orbans government has clashed repeatedly with the European Union, particularly over migration issues and social policies that Orban believes the EU has attempted to impose on Hungary through strings on its economic assistance. In Orbans view, many EU policies reflect a toxic mixture of extreme liberalism, cultural Marxism, and centrally-planned, statist economic mandates that work to the detriment of Hungarian families.
Orbans conservative-nationalist and populist approach to economic management also set Hungary somewhat apart from its neighbors, although the current government of Poland shares many of his concerns about the EU. Critics allege that Orban and his Polish counterpart, Jarosaw Kaczynski, leader of Poland's populist Law and Justice party, have displayed some disturbing authoritarian tendencies. While that may be debated, it is certainly true that Orban and Kaczynski have formed a sort of tag team within the EU, watching each others backs and blocking any potential European Commission or European Parliament moves against them that would require unanimity.
Until the pandemic struck, Hungarys GDP growth had been excellent. As the Financial Times noted last month, Hungary has enjoyed one of the highest rates of economic growth in the EU and unemployment has plummeted (prior to the pandemic). Growth has been led in recent years by strong consumer demand, industrial activity, and construction.
Before the virus-imposed lockdown, the biggest threat to continued economic growth and economic freedom in Hungary was an excessive level of government spending.
Now, of course, Hungary and the rest of the world are facing the imperative of additional spending to help the economy rebound. According to Reuters, Orban is battling Brussels over the fairness of the EUs latest proposed bailout offer.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) reports that the outbreak of the coronavirus, and the accompanying restrictions on the movement of people and goods, will lead to a substantial reversal of economic activity in 2020 in Hungary. The forecast for GDP is a contraction of 5.5 percent, with the budget deficit rising to 5.8 percent of GDP, and public debt ballooning to 78.6 percent of GDP.
That drop in economic output mirrors the global level of contraction, which the World Bank predicts will be 5.2 percent in 2020.
As the Hungarian economy slowly recovers, the government should take additional steps now to improve economic freedom. As the 2020 Index notes, these areas for improvement include strengthening the independence of the judiciary and vigorously attacking public sector corruption and cronyism.
Prioritizing robust improvements to the rule of law at home would be an excellent lead-by-example strategy for Orban, who is well known for his efforts to reintroduce the Judeo-Christian ethic into Hungary in particular and a secularized Europe in general.
The United States is in a position to help Hungary during this difficult period, through the two countries participation in the Three Seas Initiative (3SI). As Heritage reported recently, the goal of 3SI is to accelerate the development of cross border energy, transport, and digital infrastructure in the region between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas. Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia all are involved. The initiative aims to spur economic growth, reinforce economic resiliency and energy security, and deepen regional connectivity, including with Western Europe.
Orban has put Hungary on a separate, but largely parallel track within the EU, seeking greater economic growth while insisting on more national independence. That is understandable, too, since (as Heritages Mike Gonzalez has noted elsewhere) the Hungarian language is Asiatic in origin, not Indo-European, and its Christian culture is distinct among the Christianity-rooted cultures of other European countries.
So far, Orbans Hungary has not lost any economic freedom, while solidifying a greater say about policies within its own borders. To gain even greater economic clout, now is the time for Hungary to catch up to the higher levels of economic freedom enjoyed by European countries to its west.
James M. Roberts is a research fellow in The Heritage Foundations Center for International Trade and Economics. The views expressed are the author's own.
More than four months after undergraduate students of Mithibai College, Vile Parle, protested against the introduction of a new grading system claiming that the new system brought down their overall performance compared to the previous semesters. The college on Tuesday announced the results of second-year students based on the new system.
Students claimed that the college implemented the new grading system which it had introduced after becoming an autonomous institution despite assurances from the management that the new pattern will be introduced in phases, starting with first-year students.
Despite repeated attempts, college principal Rajpal Hande did not answer HTs calls till the time of going to the press.
We are in a single integrated three-year course. So the administration cant introduce new grading pattern without our consent. Changes to the grading system have left most students with lower grades, as compared to the previous semesters, and that is unacceptable, especially because its not our fault, said a student.
Earlier, many students had pointed out that their scores fell drastically in the previous semester after the college introduced a 10-point grading system, instead of the seven-point one followed by the University of Mumbai.
After the second-year students received their results, the college informed students that while the institutes academic council agreed to hold back the new grading system, at a governing council meeting on June 16, it was decided to continue with the new system.
All our attempts to touch base with the management are futile because no one is responding. Final-year students are worried now that their overall result will reflect low scores, as compared to previous years because of the new grading system, said another student.
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A black man from Georgia is suing a local city police department for using excessive force and breaking his arm after he was mistaken for a panhandling suspect.
Antonio Arnelo Smith, 46, filed a lawsuit against the Valdosta Police Department on Friday for violently detaining him on February 8.
He's seeking $700,000 in compensation and punitive damages. His attorney states Smith's arm was broken in the incident and he required physical therapy afterwards.
The lawsuit names Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan, three Valdosta patrolmen and one police sergeant, Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson, members of the Valdosta City Council as the defendants and demands a jury trial.
The city announced Monday it is reviewing the incident and has posted nearly six minutes of bodycamera footage of the incident on social media.
In the incident officers responded to a report of panhandling outside of a pharmacy on North Ashley Street, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.
Black Georgia man Antonio Arnelo Smith, 46, has filed a lawsuit against the Valdosta Police Department after cops broke his arm during an arrest, mistaking him for a panhandling suspect on February 8
A view of Smith with with a police sergeant approaching him from behind pictured above
A sergeant and two officers responded to a call about a panhandling suspect and saw an officer speaking to Smith on a grassy lot. The sergeant assumed Smith was the suspect and went up to him, grabbed his arm and wrist, and brought him to the ground without stating he was under arrest
Smith pictured on the ground as he sobbed and shouted 'Oh My God, Oh My God!'
In the incident a male officer was out searching for a suspect allegedly heading south from the parking lot of the pharmacy, but he was given no description of the man involved.
The officer found a man walking south near a hotel, about 100 yards away. The officer then talked to the man, identified as Smith.
Smith said he had been at a business just up the road waiting for his sister to wire him money and that there were cameras at the site that would verify he was there.
When cops asked for identification, Smith complied.
A police sergeant and two other cops then arrived on the scene.
The sergeant's body camera footage shows him swiftly exiting his vehicle and beelining for Smith, grabbing his wrist then reaching for his left arm from behind, without stating he was under arrest.
The cop wrapped his arms around Smith and instructed him to put his hands behind his back three times.
Smith was caught off guard and is heard exclaiming: 'Oh my God! What are you doing? What are you doing? Jesus!'
When police tried to put him in handcuffs he exclaimed that he was in pain and the officers realized his left wrist was injured and they removed the handcuffs
The sergeant was heard asking the first officer on the site 'That's him?' The officer responded saying Smith wasn't the suspect with the warrant and that he had only just started speaking with Smith
Smith hyperventilated due to his injury as the officers called EMS
The sergeant pictured walking away from the scene after realizing Smith was not the suspect
He starts to sob and hyperventilate when the cop brings him to the ground and another cop puts him in cuffs.
Smith is heard saying: 'It hurts!'
Thats when officers seem to realize his wrist may have been injured in the take down and tell him to relax and remove the handcuffs.
His left arm appears to be injured and they roll him over and call EMS to the scene.
The sergeant behind the camera then asks the officer who had initially stopped Smith: 'Thats him?'
'No. They pointed out two different people. They got a guy with a warrant, this guy I had just stopped talking to him,' the officer replies.
'I thought this was the one with the warrant,' the sergeant behind the camera repeats, realizing the mishap.
The officers then scan Smith license and said it was 'good'.
'I was getting ready to put my hands behind my back,' Smith said in the video. 'He forcibly picked me up.'
The lawsuit names Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan (above) and three Valdosta patrolmen and one police sergeant
The sergeant said he was monitoring his police radio call that morning when he heard of a search for a panhandling suspect near a hotel trying to avoid police. Thats when he drove by the grassy lot where he saw Smith and an officer.
In the sergeants report he said upon putting handcuffs on Smith and only upon hearing Smith's complaint that his wrist hurt did he notice potential injury to the left wrist.
'I was unsure if it was dislocated or broken. Hand irons were removed and we assisted him in rolling over onto his back,' the sergeant said in his report.
No further restraint was given to Smith to avoid inflicting additional pain.
Smith refused medical treatment. The sergeant reported 'he was not angry with us, but he just wanted to go.'
Attorney Nathaniel Haugabrook filed the lawsuit on Smith's behalf on grounds of conspiracy to create a false report, excessive force, false detention, false arrest and assault and battery.
Haugabrook claims the patrolman falsified his report to make it appear that Smith was told to put his hands behind his back before the sergeant touched him.
'Thats not the case,' he said.
An administrative review was completed and no action was taken on the officers involved, Haugabrook said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 03:01:18|Editor: huaxia
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SKOPJE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The government of North Macedonia said on Tuesday that it has decided to resume flights at International Airport of Skopje and St. Paul the Apostle Airport in Ohrid, on July 1.
The decision was taken at a government meeting and is based on the recommendations of the Commission for Infectious Diseases, according to a press release.
On March 18, authorities decided to close flights at the two airports in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.
At the meeting, the government also decided to fully open on June 26 all border crossings for passengers and vehicles without presenting a PCR tests and without asking for home isolation or mandatory state quarantine.
According to the press release, all bars and restaurants will be allowed to operate in their indoor areas through an appropriate work protocol on June 26.
In addition, the government decided to allow all gyms to open as of June 26 and shopping malls to operate on Sundays.
On Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported 118 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the country's total to 5,314, with 2,048 recoveries and 251 fatalities. Enditem
With 14,933 people testing positive for coronavirus in a single day, India's COVID-19 tally climbed to 4,40,215 on Tuesday while the death toll rose to 14,011 with 312 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data.
The country has witnessed a spike of 2,49,680 infections from June 1 till date, with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh contributing to almost 70 per cent of total cases.
The number of recoveries also continued to surge with 2,48,189 patients cured so far, while there were 1,78,014 active cases, according to the updated official figures at 8 am.One patient has migrated.
During the last 24 hours, a total of 10,994 COVID-19 patients have recovered, taking the recovery rate to 56.38 per cent amongst coronavirus infected patients, an official said.
According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 71,37,716 samples have been tested up to June 22 with 1,87,223 samples being tested on Monday.
Of the 312 fresh fatalities reported till Tuesday morning, 113 were from Maharashtra, 58 from Delhi, 37 from Tamil Nadu, 21 from Gujarat, 19 from Uttar Pradesh, 14 from West Bengal, 9 from Haryana, seven each from Rajasthan and Telangana, six from Madhya Pradesh, five each from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, three from Jammu and Kashmir, two each from Bihar and Punjab and one each from Chhattisgarh, Goa, Odisha and Uttarakhand.
India is the fourth worst-hit nation by the pandemic after the US, Brazil and Russia. According to the Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling COVID-19 data from all over the world, India is at the eighth position in terms of the death toll.
Of the total 14,011 deaths reported so far, Maharashtra accounted for the highest 6,283 fatalities, followed by Delhi with 2,233 deaths, Gujarat with 1,684, Tamil Nadu with 794, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh with 569 each, Madhya Pradesh with 521, Rajasthan with 356 and Telangana with 217 deaths.
The COVID-19 death toll reached 169 in Haryana, 142 in Karnataka, 111 in Andhra Pradesh, 101 in Punjab, 85 in Jammu and Kashmir, 55 in Bihar, 28 in Uttarakhand, 21 in Kerala and 15 in Odisha.
Chhattisgarh has registered 12 deaths, Jharkhand 11, Assam nine, Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry eight each, Chandigarh six, while Goa, Meghalaya, Tripura and Ladakh have reported one fatality each, according to the health ministry.
More than 70 per cent deaths took place due to comorbidities, it said. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 1,35,796, followed by Delhi at 62,655, Tamil Nadu at 62,087, Gujarat at 27,825, Uttar Pradesh at 18,322, Rajasthan at 15,232 and West Bengal at 14,358, according to ministry data.
The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 12,078 in Madhya Pradesh, 11,025 in Haryana, 9,399 in Karnataka, 9,372 in Andhra Pradesh and 8,674 in Telangana.
It has risen to 7,825 in Bihar, 6,088 in Jammu and Kashmir, 5,586 in Assam and 5,303 in Odisha. Punjab has reported 4,235 novel coronavirus infections so far, while Kerala has 3,310 cases.
A total of 2,402 people have been infected by the virus in Uttarakhand, 2,303 in Chhattisgarh, 2,137 in Jharkhand, 1,237 in Tripura, 898 in Manipur,864 in Goa, 847 in Ladakh and 727 in Himachal Pradesh.
Chandigarh has recorded 411 COVID-19 cases, Puducherry has 383 cases, Nagaland has 280, Mizoram has 141 and Arunachal Pradesh has 139. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu together have reported 91 COVID-19 cases.
Sikkim has recorded 78 cases, Andaman and Nicobar Islands registered 48 infections, while Meghalaya has recorded 44 cases.
"Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research)," the ministry said, adding 8,015 cases are being reassigned to states.
State-wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation, it added.
By Trend
Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia held an Investors Council Meeting on June 22, Trend reports citing the Press Service of the government administration.
During the meeting held in a video format, the participants reviewed recommendations for the promotion of investments in Georgia and measures implemented for improvement of the investment climate in the country. The discussion focused on the facilitated development of the capital market, implemented and planned reforms in the energy and education sectors, and attraction of more foreign direct investments (FDI) to the agriculture sector.
Giorgi Gakharia once again stressed the role born by the Investors Council in the development of the private sector.
It was also noted that the government of Georgia is working together with international and local experts on a Long-Term Economic Recovery Plan, which will prioritize support towards investments and enabling policy advancements.
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Video: DMARGEs resident expert Luke Laretive shares his picks for the best 3 ASX shares to buy in January 2022
The following article has not been sponsored by any parties. The author, Luke Laretive, is our resident expert.
The pandemic whacked Australias economy harder than 2001 hit American airport security. But while Australias hospitality and travel industries continue to be devastated by border closures and lockdowns, the ASX, buoyed by a miraculous NASDAQ bounce back, has rallied harder than a supercar.
Now, almost two years after COVID-19 caused an en masse BASE jump, the ASX has bounced back hard. And were on the lookout for the best shares
Related stories on DMARGE
While experts agree it will take years for the ~real~ economy to grow back to 2019 levels, the stock market is currently living in a world of its own, having regained what it lost and in some cases much more. Whether this can be maintained or whether its a peach about to go putrid, well leave for the experts.
Whats not up for question is that you dont want to be throwing money away right now. So rather than trust your mates brothers cousin (or your Uber driver who assures you theres still momentum), DMARGE, each month throughout 2022, will be bringing you the top three ASX picks of Luke Laretive, CEO of Seneca Financial Solutions and his analysis on each one.
Weve had some fantastic winners, and few duds, but overall, Laretives picks have averaged a 65.6% return over the period (before dividends, franking credits and currency movements).
This article is of a general nature only and does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs.
You should consider the appropriateness of the information in light of your objectives, financial situation and needs before acting on it and obtain copies of any relevant disclosure documents. Seneca Financial Solutions does not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information in this report.
Luke Laretive, Seneca Financial Solutions, its Directors and its associated entities may have or had interests in companies mentioned. They may have or have had a relationship with or may provide or has provided investment banking, capital markets and/or other financial services to those companies mentioned.
Luke provides clients with a weekly note, which you can access here.
Here are this months best shares and stocks.
January 2022
All figures in Australian dollars (1 AUD = 0.73 USD at time of publishing)
TPG Telecom (TPG) $6.26, $11.4bn market cap
TPG underperformed by 17% over the past 3 months, leaving the stock trading at a discount to its intrinsic value. As the economy and borders reopen, TPG could be a major beneficiary, with increased subscribers and growing average revenue per user as roaming returns. We think the sale of its tower assets is a catalyst, with an improving balance sheet and accelerating free cash flow likely to drive a re-rate.
In short: undervalued large cap with re-rate potential.
ARB Corporation (ARB) $46.14, $3.7bn market cap
We think its overly simplistic to view this high-quality business as ex-growth on the back of slowing car sales data alone. A more thorough investigation would uncover significant leverage to reopening on the eastern seaboard and longer-term growth drivers through partnerships and distribution opportunities in the US and Europe.
In short: an opportune time to build a position in this high-quality business.
Praemium (PPS) $1.38, $700m market cap
Netwealth (NWL) offered $1.50 per share for Praemium back in November, which management rightfully rejected. We can imagine a range of acquirers seeing Praemium as a strategic asset, not-least there market leading position in what we would argue is the fastest growth part of wealth management separately managed accounts (shameless plug: we manage our Seneca Australian Shares SMA on the platform, +27.57% since inception).
In short: its getting taken over, but not at $1.50
December 2021
All figures in Australian dollars (1 AUD = 0.71 USD at time of publishing)
Zip Co (Z1P) $4.34, $2.5bn market cap
The entire BNPL sector has de-rated, and its seen Zips valuation crash from 15x Price-to-Sales to 3x. US-based competitor Affirm (AFRM) has been the one exception, increasing its valuation multiple from 11 to 21x Price-to-Sales this year. At this price, Affirm could buy Zip at 7x P/S, or close to $9.60 per share, by issuing c.10% more shares and increase sales immediately by >30%. At 20x, it would a highly accretive move for Affirm shareholders, and give the company access to new markets, a whole new pool of talent and technology and undoubtedly, and most importantly, reduce their cost of capital.
In short: Takeover target.
Corum Group (COO) 6.6cps, $39m market cap
Corum provide the software that handles point-of-sale, drug dispensing and head office management for Pharmacy groups. They made a game changing acquisition last year, acquiring Pharm-X, which is the dominant ordering, payments, and supplier gateway to the pharmacy industry. The significance of this acquisition has been missed by the market, with Corum now essentially control the buying data for most of a c.$22bn industry. We think this gives them a unique ability to add value through vertical integration coupling head office with ordering and payments. The board and shareholder register is elite and operating momentum is building. Corum recently penning agreements with key pharmacy groups like Terry White Chemists, Alive Pharmacy Group and Blooms the Chemist, among others, representing over 600 pharmacies.
In short: Exactly the sort of technology business (i.e., a profitable one exposed to a defensive industry) you want to own at this point in the cycle.
Spotify (SPOT) US$232, US$43bn
As cheap as its been and sitting right on technical support, now looks like as good an entry as investors could hope for. Spotify is leveraged to reopening (like Netflix, NFLX), as artists release new music ahead of concert dates/tours. We are already seeing green shots in the 3Q results, with average revenue per user (ARPU) already starting to accelerate on the back of stronger than expected advertising growth and premium-user ads (all in the face of successful price increases!). The company could be about to deliver multiple quarters of material growth in both revenues and profits.
In short: Company is trading at a 46% discount to consensus price target.
November 2021
All figures in Australian dollars (1 AUD = 0.75 USD at time of publishing)
Vulcan Energy Resources (VUL) $10.81, $1.35bn market cap
For all those who feel like they missed out on Vulcan, now might be the last opportunity to buy the stock under $1.5bn market cap. After a strong-on-hyperbole-weak-on-facts short report was released the stock has fallen from $14.50 back to $11.00. This is under the recent $200m placement price of $13.50 and an attractive entry price as the company continues to build out its suite of tier 1, globally significant financial and commercial partners.
In short: A motivated and incentivised management team executing on a globally significant project.
Heramed (HMD) $0.195, $35m market cap
Pregnancy monitoring device and software business which enables pregnant mothers and their chosen professionals to monitor foetal and maternal heart rate, blood pressure etc. with accuracy and confidence. HMD is engaged in paid pilots with the likes of Ramsay Healthcare and The Mayo Clinic and we see the next logical step as a potential full scale commercial partnership a catalyst for significant share price appreciation in our view.
In short: SaaS + device health-tech with material upside potential from this market cap.
Ramelius Resources (RMS) $1.63, $1.3bn market cap
The gold market is bifurcated stocks that trade on 7x and those that trade on 4x EV/EBITDA. The reason is generally to do with reliability and growth profile of production, as well as their operating costs and subsequently, margins. We think RMS is a 4x EV/EBITDA stock that could re-rate and join the likes of Northern Star and Newcrest. It looks too cheap to me and most analysts who cover the stock.
In short: the best value of the ASX listed gold producers.
October 2021
All figures in Australian dollars (1 AUD = 0.73 USD at time of publishing)
Pilbara Minerals (PLS) $1.88, $5.5bn market cap
Capitalising on high spodumene pricing through solid operational performance and as a result, producing excellent cash flow. With the final investment decision on the proposed lithium hydroxide project in JV with POSCO expected by the end of October, a recent reserve upgrade at Pilgangoora that extended the mine life to over 25 years and with the stock trading at a >40% discount to spot NPV, there is not only value, but a range of potential positive catalysts to drive the stock higher.
In short: Large cap lithium exposure with significant valuation upside at spot prices.
Aura Energy (AEE) $0.22, $88m market cap
After a recent relisting and with uranium prices on the move upwards, Aura looks too cheap relative to peers given its low barriers and short time frame to get into production. We think the stock is unfairly discounted for its location (in NW Mauritania), which is an excellent, stable mining jurisdiction and while remote, access and mining the soft, shallow resource should be simple.
In short: One for the uranium bulls.
Nickel Mines (NIC) $0.94, $2.3bn market cap
The stock looks much too cheap given NIC is doubling production capacity at the time when Nickel demand is set to accelerate as a result of expanding battery production. Oh and, late last week, the Managing Director bought $500k worth of stock on market, which shows hes got confidence in how the business is tracking.
In short: Leveraged exposure to what we see as rising Nickel prices.
September 2021
All figures in Australian dollars (1 AUD = 0.73 USD at time of publishing)
Integral Diagnostics (IDX) $4.54 per share, $908m market cap
Structurally supported by growing demand for diagnostic images (think CT, MRI, Xray et al), IDX is an opportunity at current prices after a 15% pull back on EBITDA margin pressure. I see this as temporary and a function of pandemic-induced operating conditions (i.e. labour shortage / wages) and like the strong, defensive growth profile of IDX (+12% organic growth last year). The fragmented industry structure also plays into their inorganic growth strategy (issue shares at 11x to buy a clinic for 5-8x EV/EBITDA, pretty simply arbitrage really).
In short: First time in a long time you can buy this business at these prices.
De.Mem (DEM) $0.30 per share, $66m market cap
Waste water treatment business reported a record half, revenues up 44% to $9.1m on record gross margins (34%). Im expecting the business to go close to breaking even this year, with material leverage to every incremental sale over $20m per annum. A few big build, own, operate contract opportunities might get them there fast than expected. There are reportedly a handful in the pipeline.
In short: Under-owned, no research, misunderstood for now.
Good Drinks Aus (GDA) $0.09 per share, $112m market cap
Fermentum, which owns Stone & Wood, just got sold to global beverage giant Lion for over $500m. Stone & Wood do about $72m in craft beer sales. Good Drinks Aus sells $89m in craft beer, but its only valued by the learned investors of the ASX at $112m.
In short: Im just a humble stockbroker but even I can tell you something doesnt add up here.
August 2021
All figures in Australian dollars (1 AUD = 0.73 USD at time of publishing)
ZipCo (Z1P) $7.73 per share, $4.3bn market cap
Afterpay (APT) has been taken over by Square (SQ.NYS) and we think ZipCo is next, but the uplift potential for shareholders is much more significant. Square paid 20x EV/Sales for APT, the sector trades on 15x and Zip currently trades on 7x, despite above-average growth, scale, management and talent.
We know Klarna are sneakily sitting on the Zip register with a c. 4.5% interest and are the likely buyer. Dont be surprised if the Aussie banks are now thinking about Zips strategic value to them, with US-tech now in a position to threaten the big four. I cant see Zip shareholders accepting anything less than a market multiple of 15x EV/Sales or c. $15 per share.
In short: 20% of Australian e-commerce checkouts go through BNPL, while in the US, there is less than 2% share-of-checkout this BNPL-thing still has a long way to run and Zip is strategically positioned.
Mineral Resources (MIN) $61.33 per share, $11.3bn market cap
MinRes recently bought Red Hill Irons interest in the Red Hill Iron Ore JV (40%) for c.$400m. And while this might look like an expensive tenement package to the untrained eye, this management team have rarely (read: never) made a mistake and as such, Im equating this to more like the Bucks drafting a raw Giannis Antetokounmpo or like when Facebook overpaid for Instagram. The upcoming AGM (10 Aug) might give us a bit more insight into what makes Red Hill so special. Throw this into the mix with a lithium business worth $6bn and a mining services business worth $3.5bn, its not hard to see the stock trading at $90.00 in the near future.
In short: A great management team executing in some of the most favourable commodity sectors (iron ore, lithium).
Incitec Pivot (IPL) $2.76 per share, $5.4bn market cap
Incitec Pivot is on track for a strong 2H21 performance. Management have rectified production and manufacturing, ensuring operations are back at full capacity, performing well and capturing full commodity upside. Ammonia and DAP prices are still rising and IPL should be able to capture these benefits in pure profit margin. Consensus is too low, by half.
In short: Trading on a PE of 13x FY22, the stock is way too cheap.
July 2021
All figures in Australian dollars (1 AUD = 0.75 USD at time of publishing)
Warrego Energy (WGO) $0.225, $225m market cap
Warrego owns a 50% interest in the West Erregulla gas project in the Perth Basin, with Strike Energy (STX) owning the other 50% and operating the project. WGO last week successfully raised $50m from institutional and professional investors at $0.22 per share to fund the long lead items needed to start construction of the gas processing plant and do some remediation work on well #3.
While flow tests from the 4th and 5th wells are expected to be in line with previous good results and add to their significant (513bscf) 2C resource, we see the debt financing and Final Investment Decision (FID) on Phase 1 as the key share price catalysts in the next few months.
Strike, who own the other half of this project, are market capped at $665m, and while theyve got a couple of other interesting projects, those projects arent worth $440m in my mind. On this basis, WGO, can double or triple from the current share price if things go to plan and should certainly be a takeover target for any other Western Australian-based large cap gas company that is short gas
In short: Materially mispriced for its stage in development.
Corella Resources (CR9) 4.7 cents per share, $15m market cap
Corella is awaiting kaolin laboratory results from its 114-drill hole program at the Tampu Project in Western Australia. I am expecting something released to the market this month, which hopefully will go a long way towards CR9 defining a maiden resource and allow them to be accurately compared to peers like SUV (+650% LTM), FYI (+1197% LTM), ADN (+194% LTM) and LRS (+600% LTM).
In short: A stock in a white-hot sector with news imminent.
AML3D (AL3) $0.205 per share, $20m market cap
Large format, industrial-scale 3D printing company AL3 has had a hard time on the boards until recently, when it signed a small but significant contract with Boeing (BA.NYS). I like the technology and the team have done a good job developing a handful of meaningful commercial applications. Though more sales momentum is needed, I think a big contract is just around the corner for these guys, perhaps the Lightforce body armour deal?
In short: As an investor, sometimes you have to ask yourself: What could go right?
June 2021
All figures in Australian dollars (1 AUD = 0.77 USD at time of publishing)
Airbnb (ABNB) USD $140 per share, market cap US $84bn
As inflation expectations have risen, growth names have been sold off 20-30% across the board and Airbnb is no different.
Airbnb is one of those unique businesses that not only have a monogamous relationship with a high value customer, they pretty much invented their category I mean who would have thought, 10 years ago, wed be booking holidays at strangers homes With this sort of moat, high quality reoccurring revenues, a permanent shift in business travel preferences in their favour and so much leverage to the global recovery in travel spend, ABNB deserves a EV/Sales multiple of 20x, something reserved for the very best businesses on the planet (because it bloody well is one!) Its trading on 15x currently, its probably not going to stay there long.
In short: a really good investment strategy is to buy the best business models on planet earth; this is one of them.
De.Mem (DEM) $0.29 per share, market cap $63m
In small caps, Im always looking for a few key signposts, that if I can see them under $100m market cap, Im confident Ill make more money than I lose.
Think fast growing revenues, excellent cash conversion, self-sustaining/profitable, expanding margins, reliable, honest management, favourable industry tailwinds. DEM ticks all these boxes and is trading on 2x EV/Sales ($10m in cash), is under-owned by institutional investors (not for long) and can (and has) delivered organic growth in excess of 20% year after year.
In short: While youre blowing up your bank balance chasing the over-hyped, under-capitalised, forum-ramped explorers or drug-developers, Ill be over here invested in DEM compounding my capital.
MyDeal (MYD) $0.69 per share, market cap $177m
Fair to say its been a rocky ride holding MYD stock to date, but Im sticking fat as the market cant seem to see the difference between a mature e-commerce business that is slowing down *cough* Kogan (KGN) *cough* and an emerging one that is just getting started. The team are knocking over all the low hanging fruit (i.e. mobile application, private label products and advertising optimisation) that has helped propel similar businesses, in different categories around the world, to dizzy heights in the past so there is no reason to think MYD wouldnt benefit in a similar way. The category is under-serviced and under-penetrated online and management are no fools.
In short: Materially mispriced and misunderstood.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 14:40 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660f2bc4 1 News Jakarta-fair,JIExpo-Kemayoran,coronavirus,COVID-19,Jakarta-Anniversary,postponement,exhibition Free
The annual Pekan Raya Jakarta (PRJ) exhibition, also known as Jakarta Fair, will likely be held at the end of the year, according to an official.
Weve postponed the event until further notice, organizer PT Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) marketing director Ralph Scheunemann said on Instagram on Monday. If the situation gets better, we plan to hold it at the end of this year. Well probably announce the dates in July or August.
Scheunemann said the Jakarta Fair would be the peak of a series of exhibitions slated to kick off in late August or early September at JIExpo Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Well begin the series of exhibitions with smaller- to medium-sized ones and continue with bigger [events]. Jakarta Fair will be the highlight."
When the venue is open to the public, the organizers is said to implement the necessary health protocols stipulated by the government, Jakarta administration and the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI).
For examples, well installed hand sanitizer [dispensers] at numerous locations, including in all entrance gates, and conduct temperature checks on all visitors, Scheunemann said.
Jakarta Fair is part of a series of events to held to celebrate the capitals anniversary, which falls on June 22. It includes an array of activities, shops and promotions, making it a huge attraction for local residents and tourists alike.
First held in 1968, the exhibition took place at the National Monument (Monas) area in Central Jakarta under the name Gambir Night Market until 1991. (wir/kes)
After a three-month shutdown for in-person transactions, the state Department of Motor Vehicles offices have partially reopened by appointment only.
Gov Ned Lamont and Commissioner Sibongile Magubane were at the Waterbury DMV office to announce the reopening on Tuesday.
Soldiers from Regional Command (South) gather for a naturalization ceremony in support of their comrades-in-arms at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Whitney C. Houston
US Army Pvt. Ethan Melzer, 22, has been charged with terrorism offenses for planning a "mass casualty" attack on his fellow service members with a satanic neo-Nazi group, the Department of Justice announced Monday.
The young soldier provided the Order of the Nine Angles (O9A) with sensitive details, such as location, movements, and strength, about a recent deployment with the intent of having that information make it to violent jihadists, federal prosecutors allege.
In interviews with authorities, Melzer called himself a traitor and said that his aim was to kill as many of his fellow soldiers as possible.
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The Department of Justice announced on Monday that 22-year-old US Army private Ethan Melzer is being charged with terrorism offenses for his alleged role in the planning of a "mass casualty" attack on his unit with an extremist neo-Nazi group.
Melzer, a Louisville, Kentucky native who joined the Army in 2018, provided sensitive information about his unit, such as location, movements, and security status, to the Order of the Nine Angles (O9A) with the intent that it be distributed to violent jihadists, federal prosecutors said in a Monday press release.
The Army private is said to have joined O9A, a satanic white supremacist group known for its violent beliefs and hateful ideologies, in 2019, according to the DOJ.
After he was informed by the Army in April 2020 about plans for his unit's next deployment, federal prosecutors allege that Melzer used an encryption app to send sensitive information about the deployment to O9A and a related group and make plans for a "jihadi attack" on the unit.
The objective, as laid out by the DOJ, is said to have been a "mass casualty" event that would kill Melzer's fellow service members.
Melzer also sent information in May to a purported member of al Qaeda, including where the soldiers would be and their surveillance and defensive capabilities, federal prosecutors allege. He told his contact he would provide more information later that would increase the likelihood of success.
Story continues
Federal prosecutors said that in electronic communications with his co-conspirators, he acknowledged that he would likely be killed in the attack. He said that he was willing to die. "Who gives a fuck?" he wrote, according to the criminal complaint unsealed Monday.
Federal authorities and the Army successfully thwarted Melzer's plot in late May, and he was arrested on June 10. In interviews with military investigators and the FBI, he described himself as a traitor.
He confessed to role in the plot and revealed that his plan was to kill as many of his fellow soldiers as possible, the criminal complaint released by the Department of Justice said.
Acting US Attorney Audrey Strauss for the Southern District of New York said that Melzer was "motivated by racism and hatred as he attempted to carry out this ultimate act of betrayal."
Melzer has been charged with conspiring and attempting to murder US nationals, specifically US service members, providing material support to terrorists, and conspiring to murder and maim in a foreign country. If convicted, he faces life in prison.
Read the original article on Business Insider
It is "grossly unfair" for Green members in Northern Ireland to have a vote on whether the party should enter a coalition Government in the Republic while their southern counterparts enjoy no similar veto here, a party member has said.
She told the Belfast Telegraph that Greens here should abstain in the crucial vote, which will be counted on Friday.
Green Party leader in Northern Ireland Clare Bailey MLA, deputy leader Mal O'Hara, Rachel Woods MLA and local party councillors have voiced their intention to vote against the blueprint agreed with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.
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A total of 195 of the Greens' 600-strong membership here have registered to vote on the draft programme for government.
But the party member said that local Greens should step aside from the vote and abstain.
She described Ms Bailey's decision to "rally representatives in the north" against the draft programme for government as "unwise".
She said: "The rule that allows northern members to participate operates only one way.
"Members in the south would have no such say in the north.
"The move by Clare Bailey is a political misstep with potential unintended consequences.
"If there is a marginal rejection of the programme for government in this week's vote, there could be anger that citizens in another jurisdiction were able to affect the outcome.
"This issue could come back to haunt Clare."
The party member added: "At most, members in the north who object to the programme for government should have been instructed to abstain out of respect for the fact that the programme for government impacts on a separate jurisdiction where fellow members have no reciprocal influence on the affairs of the northern party.
"If the Green Party in the north was invited to join the Stormont Executive, which includes the climate change-denying DUP, as things currently stand party members in the south would have no say on that."
When asked to comment on the issue, a Green Party spokeswoman said: "All fully paid-up members of the Green Party across the island are entitled to partake in the democratic process as set out in our constitution."
A total of 2,627 Green members across the island are registered to vote on the blueprint to enter government. Of the three possible coalition partners, the Greens require the biggest endorsement from their membership to proceed. At least two-thirds of members registered to vote must back the deal. Ms Bailey's deputy Mr O'Hara joined her in opposing the blueprint.
"I will be voting no on the proposed programme for government," he said. "While there are significant gains on environmental issues, the systemic social and economic action that would ensure a just transition are not met by this draft deal.
"I would urge Green Party members across this island to vote no."
On Sunday Ms Bailey joined three Green TDs - Francis Duffy, Patrick Costello and Neasa Hourigan - to oppose the deal.
"This offer of government represents one of the most fiscally conservative arrangements in a generation," they stated.
"It's a deal that was negotiated in good faith but fails to deliver on our promise to tackle homelessness and provide better healthcare.
"It sets out an inadequate and vague pathway towards climate action.
"Transformative change was called for by the electorate earlier this year. That call must be answered by not only the Green Party, but every party that promised positive change."
North Down MLA Ms Woods came out against the blueprint, too.
As did Belfast City councillors Anthony Flynn and Brian Smyth.
Ohio passes law expanding students' religious liberty in public schools
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Ohio has enacted legislation aimed at expanding religious freedom rights for students in public schools, including the allowance of religious content in school assignments.
Last Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 164, also known as the Student Religious Liberties Act, which passed the House in a vote of 90-3 and unanimously in the Senate.
Among its provisions, the new law says that schools must treat religious student clubs as they do secular clubs and cannot prohibit religious content from being included in school assignments.
A student enrolled in a public school may engage in religious expression before, during, and after school hours in the same manner and to the same extent that a student is permitted to engage in secular activities or expression before, during, and after school hours, reads the legislation in part.
Assignment grades and scores shall be calculated using ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance, including any legitimate pedagogical concerns, and shall not penalize or reward a student based on the religious content of a student's work.
Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Matt Sharp, whose law firm often handles religious liberty cases, celebrated the passage of the new law.
Ohios Student Religious Liberties Act protects students right to express their religious beliefs and ensures that schools cant punish or give students a poor grade simply because they choose to express a religious viewpoint when completing a class assignment, stated Sharp.
Ohios Student Religious Liberties Act reinforces that students dont give up their First Amendment rights when they step through the doors of a school, and thats a win for everyone.
The bill was not without its critics, as the Ohio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union expressed concern over the implementation of the proposal and questioned its efficacy.
In testimony given earlier this month before the Ohio Senate Education Committee, ACLU of Ohio Chief Lobbyist Gary Daniels argued that the bill was unnecessary.
Indeed, students have the fundamental right to pray and discuss their religious beliefs with fellow students as long as they are not disruptive. They can already express their religious beliefs in homework, reports, essays, and artwork, so long as those beliefs are germane to the assignment and coursework, stated Daniels.
They may distribute religious literature to fellow students, subject to typical time, place, and manner restrictions imposed on all such speech. They can participate in religious events such as See You at the Pole before and after the school day, on school property.
Against the backdrop of mass global protests decrying racism and U.S. police brutality toward blacks, another story is coming to light.
Since the brutal killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, the bodies of five blacks and one Latinx have been found hanging from trees in California, New York, Oregon and Texas. Law-enforcement officers in each jurisdiction have said the deaths were suicides, but activists and family members of the deceased are dubious. As the body count mounts, fears are rising that a new wave of lynching is roiling across America.
The police slayings of blacks today, particularly unarmed blacks who pose no deadly threat, are frequently decried as modern lynchings. In 2019, blacks accounted for 24 percent of all people killed by law enforcement, despite comprising only 13 percent of the population, according to the project Mapping Police Violence.
But now, with crowds of people demanding racial justice, there is suddenly a spate of what appear to be literal lynchings. Some activists view that situation as sinister, especially since all of the recent deaths were quickly determined to be suicides by local law enforcement, without much if any investigation. Historically, suicide was the official cause of death given for blacks who were lynched.
One of the recent hanging deaths has been confirmed a suicide, but questions remain surrounding the others.
The hanging of Malcolm Harsch, a black man in Victorville, California, was confirmed to have been self-inflicted after a video of his death was found on a security camera. There were also witnesses in his case.
But there are lingering questions concerning the other hangings.
Police found the body of Otis/Titi Gulley, a homeless black transgender person, hanging from a tree in a Portland, Oregon, park. Portland police ruled the death a suicide, but Gulleys family questions the finding. Her mother believes she might have been targeted due to her gender identity.
The death of Robert Fuller, who was found hanging from a tree near city hall in Palmdale, California, was initially called a suicide. But less than a week later, Fullers brother was shot and killed by Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies in a shootout north of Palmdale.
Los Angeles Times reports that coincidence prompted state and federal investigators to be called in to investigate.
A black 17-year-old was found hanged outside an elementary school in Houston, just two days after a Hispanic man was discovered hanged outside a store also in Harris County. Both deaths were called suicides by law-enforcement involved in the cases.
Two days ago, more than 100 protesters gathered in a Manhattan park where Dominique Alexander, a black man, was found hanging from a tree. Organizers of the protest called for an investigation into the death, which was called a suicide by the medical examiners office.
Suspicions
As Stacey Patton writes in todays Washington Post, suicides are uncommon among young black men and suicides by hanging are even more uncommon.
Patton cites the American Association of Suicidology, which reports that firearms are the predominant method of suicide for everyone, including African Americans, followed by suffocation by plastic bags or gas inhalation.
Jacqueline Olive, director of Always in Season, a documentary that examines the history of lynchings, told Democracy Now! reporter Amy Goodman that there have been dozens of unresolved cases of black men found hanging since 1995.
Pull Quote Black people were 24 percent of those killed, despite being only 13 percent of the population.
Theres a CDC report that Ive been looking at that says that there have been 79 unsolved hangings of blacks, and that theyve all been males 79 hangings that are unsolved between 2000 and 2016, Olive said.
The recent hangings deserve a full investigation," Olive said, "and given the context of this history we (should) look at them more than three days, and (look at them) as a whole."
Last September, a University of Illinois student was charged with a felony hate crime for leaving a noose inside a campus residence hall elevator. The hate crime charge was dropped in May, but the former student will have to attend a year of court supervision, 50 hours of community service and pay a $75 fine.
The seriousness of nooses as a racist symbol reflects the chilling barbarity of the history of black lynching in America.
Prior to the Civil War, runaway slaves were often punished by being hanged from trees in conspicuous places, such as town centers. Their bodies were left dangling to intimidate other would-be escapees.
Lynchings became a public spectacle cheered on by white mobs in the South during the post-Civil War years, when freedmen gained the right to vote and hold office. Blacks in the South outnumbered whites, who feared losing political and legal control to their former slaves. Police and white paramilitary groups, such as the extant Ku Klux Klan, intimidated blacks to keep them from voting, and lynchings were a favored way of accomplishing that.
There are records of 4,743 lynchings between 1882 and 1968, primarily in the South, and blacks accounted for 72.7 percent of them. Whites also were lynched for assisting or defending blacks. The NAACP reports that many more lynchings were never recorded.
In The Warmth of Other Suns, author Isabel Wilkerson writes about Southern planters who lynched blacks planning to leave their jobs as share-croppers in the first half of the 20th century, even though blacks were legally free. During those decades, black men were lynched for such crimes as not getting off the sidewalks fast enough to let whites pass them or for looking at a white woman in a way she perceived as disrespectful.
I think that (the recent spate of hangings) deserve a full investigation, and that they and given the context of this history and given what people in communities understand about the racial divisions in these communities and the families concern that we look at them more than three days, (and) that they are looked at as a whole; because whether or not these are lynchings or whether or not theyre suicides, the questions around: Is there this new trend for black people to hang themselves publicly?
If these are suicides, then thats information thats really important to understand, in addition to understanding what are the issues around structural racism that can increase depression and increase anxiety and the suicide rate for black people. Those are all really important to understand.
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A woman on an inflatable dinghy has been filmed lashing out at a group of kids for splashing her boat with water.
The woman, dubbed 'boat Karen' on social media, appears upset that one of the youths deliberately drove too close to her motorised dinghy with their jet ski.
'You jumped on your f***king ski when you saw us and gave us a whomp and took off like the f***tard you are,' the woman shouts at the group in the footage.
A man standing on one of the kid's jet skis, understood to be her partner, stands by her side in support and threatens to fight the group as they question why the pair are so angry.
When one of the group asks the man to relax, he responds 'you need to relax or I'll put you to sleep - so you shut the f**k up right now'.
He also asks them if they 'want to have a go' as he hands his glasses to his partner.
'Come on who wants to have a go - who wants to go? You all want to have a crack together?' the man says.
One of the boys ask what the pair are doing in the water if they didn't want to get splashed, leading to a furious response from the couple.
'Is this your place? It's a waterway you f***wit,' the man says.
'It's a waterway you little d***face,' his partner adds.
It is unclear where or when the video - shared to viral Australian fishing video social media page Tinny Bashing on Monday - was taken.
The woman - who was accompanied on the motorboat by two small dogs - also tells her partner to take photos of the jet ski so she can call police.
Footage of the woman's (right on left and right) astonishing rant showed her yelling at a group of boys on the shore 'you're in for it mate, you're in for it' - while her partner (left on left and right) asks them if they 'want to have a go'
The woman's partner jumped onto the jet ski to take photos of the vehicle - who she told to 'get all the regos'
'You boys are a joke, absolutely a f***ing joke,' she says.
'Get all the regos (registrations) because you're in for it now, you're bloody in for it. You don't know who we know.
'Guess what - the cops are going to be coming round. You people are round here 24-f***ing-seven.'
Haiti - Insecurity : 616 victims of homicides in 5 months
Pursuant to Security Council resolution 2466 (2019), Ms. Helen Meagher La Lime, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations presented her periodic report (every 120 days) which covers the main developments since the publication of its previous report and provides an update on the implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and on the activities undertaken by the United Nations to support the Haitian Government in the context of the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID -19). Regarding the insecurity situation, the report reveals :
"[...] Haiti experienced an overall increase in criminality and gang-related activity in the first months of 2020, even as the protests of 2019, which had increased insecurity, largely abated. While only 30 protests were recorded in the first quarter of 2020, violence was particularly evident in the context of police protests over labour issues. The protests culminated in clashes on 23 February between a group of some 100 mostly off-duty protesting police officers and their sympathizers and members of the Haitian Armed Forces.
Between 1 January and 31 May, the number of reported intentional homicides increased by 33 per cent, with 616 cases reported (591 of the victims, including 11 police officers and 19 minors, were male, and 25, including 4 minors, were female). A total of 75 per cent of the cases were recorded in the West Department, where criminality is traditionally more prevalent owing to gangs vying for control over the marginalized neighbourhoods of Port-au-Prince.
Haiti also experienced a 200 per cent increase in reported abductions, with 92 cases reported to the Haitian National Police between 1 January and 31 May (57 were male, including 11 minors, and 35 were female, including 8 minors). Abductions peaked in February, with 50 reported incidents, prior to decreasing to 25 between March and May. There were 34 reports of sexual and gender-based violence in the first five months of 2020, down from 31 in the five preceding months.
The need for local gangs to generate alternative sources of revenue following the end of peyi lok reignited inter-gang clashes and led to ongoing reorganizations and shifting alliances. The phenomenon was particularly striking in Port-au-Prince (West Department) and in the Artibonite Department, with regular spikes of gang-related incidents reported in Cite Soleil, Croix-des-Bouquets, Martissant and Village de Dieu over the first two months of 2020, as gangs tried to expand their respective areas of control [...]
Amid the public outcry over the increased incidence of abductions, the Haitian National Police launched large-scale police operations, employing improved intelligence and targeting strategies to reverse the kidnapping trend. Arrests of gang members and leaders rose, from 169 in January and February to 232 in March and April, while abductions have declined significantly since March. Anti-gang operations continued, even as the police were mobilized to enforce government measures in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. Gang violence peaked in the second half of April, however, with a series of inter-gang clashes and confrontations with the police in the Port-au-Prince neighbourhoods of Bicentenaire, Grand Ravine, Martissant and Village de Dieu as gang members began to oppose police deterrence measures put in place to impede their ability to carry out abductions.
The proliferation of illicit weapons and ammunition continues to exacerbate insecurity. BINUH and UNDP are working closely with national authorities in the framework of a Peacebuilding Fund project and in close cooperation with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean to develop arms control legislation consistent with international standards. In addition, the Mission is working with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research to conduct a baseline assessment of the life cycle of weapons and ammunition in Haiti. Although those initiatives will require that work in situ, preparations are being conducted remotely."
SL/ HaitiLibre
Nigerian muslims hoping to perform the Hajj this year in Saudi Arabia should forget about it. The Saudi authorities said they woul...
Nigerian muslims hoping to perform the Hajj this year in Saudi Arabia should forget about it.
The Saudi authorities said they would only allow a limited number of muslims already resident to perform the Hajj, a major pillar in Islam.
Their doors are shut against Nigerians and other nationalities.
In a statement on Monday, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said the pilgrimage will take place this year with a very limited number of those who want to perform the Hajj from all nationalities residing in Saudi Arabia only,
The decision aims at ensuring preventive measures and social distancing protocols are observed to limit the spread of COVID-19.
It is also in accordance with the teachings of Islam in preserving the lives of human beings, the ministry added.
More than two million people perform the annual pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca every year, including many travelling from abroad.
One of the five pillars of Islam, the Hajj is a mandatory duty for all Muslims to make at least once in their lifetime if they have the financial and physical means to do so.
It usually takes place over five days, from the eighth to the 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Since late February, the kingdom, the birthplace of Islam, has suspended the Umrah (minor pilgrimage) to Mecca due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Gulf monarchy has the Arab worlds largest number of coronavirus infections with more than 160,000 cases, including 1,307 deaths.
On Sunday, authorities lifted a nationwide curfew that was imposed to contain the spread of the virus, allowing gatherings up to 50 people.
However, international flights to and from Saudi Arabia remain suspended.
Agreement to reduce tensions comes a week after clashes on their disputed Himalayan border left 20 Indian soldiers dead.
China and India have agreed to reduce tensions a week after clashes on their disputed Himalayan border left 20 Indian soldiers dead in brutal hand-to-hand fighting the deadliest in 45 years.
After talks between the top regional military commanders held on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said both sides agreed to take necessary measures to promote a cooling of the situation.
The holding of this meeting shows that both sides want to deal with their disagreement, manage the situation and de-escalate the situation through dialogue and consultations, Zhao told a news conference on Tuesday.
The two sides exchanged frank and in-depth views and agreed to maintain dialogue and jointly committed to promoting peace and tranquillity in the border areas, Zhao added.
Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a standoff since early May at several points in the Galwan Valley, a disputed Himalayan area along the 3,500-km (2,200-mile) Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border between the worlds two most populous countries, most of which remains undemarcated.
Indian soldiers walk along the foothills of a mountain range near Leh in Ladakh on Tuesday [Tauseef Mustafa//AFP]
Mutual consensus to disengage
Indian media reports, quoting sources in the Indian army, also said the two nations held hours-long talks on Monday and reached at a mutual consensus to disengage along the LAC.
Corps Commander level talks between India-China yesterday were held at Moldo in cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere, the statement said, according to the ANI news agency.
There was mutual consensus to disengage. Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both sides.
The Press Trust of India said the meeting was between Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of the 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the Tibet Military District.
#Chinese and #Indian border troops held a commander-level meeting on Monday, the first since the two sides clashed on June 15 at Galwan Valley, showing that both sides hope to properly handle their differences through dialogue and consultation: Chinese FM pic.twitter.com/xVpxdQsQ6B Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 23, 2020
China has yet to officially declare its casualties in the combat. Global Times earlier said there had been Chinese casualties, but did not elaborate.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian described recent media reports of 40 Chinese casualties in the conflict as fake news.
An Indian government minister had said on Sunday that China lost at least 40 soldiers in the clash.
The call to ease India-China tensions came as Indian, Chinese and Russian foreign ministers hold a virtual meeting on Tuesday.
Disney World is going to be hard-pressed to live up to its billing as "The Most Magical Place on Earth" if it sticks to its plan to reopen the Orlando theme park with limited capacity on July 11.
It will be staffed with disgruntled employees who are scared to death of catching COVID-19.
Disney World could become the most nightmarish place on Earth. How's that for a crisis PR scenario?
A petition drive organized by Disney employees calls for a delay in the reopening the park due to the spike in COVID-19 cases in Florida.
The Sunshine State reports more than 100K cases of coronavirus and a single-day record high of 4,049 new cases on June 20.
Addressed to Orange County mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer, the petition notes that theme parks are not deemed essential businesses.
It reads: "As individuals who work in the bustling tourism industry in central Florida, we are responsible for ensuring the safety of our guests and our fellow magic makers This includes our health and wellbeing. We are encouraged to say something when we see something that we deem is unsafe so were speaking up While theme parks are a great way to relax and enjoy free time, it is a non-essential business; it is not fair to the people who work there to risk their lives, especially if they are at risk or have family members who are at risk. People are more important than making a profit."
Disney fans also have expressed their opinion about the reopening. They swamped Disney's advanced reservations booking system, when it opened for business on June 21.
Facebook is the No. 1 platform for online hate and harassment, according to a survey released June 23 by the Anti-Defamation League.
It found that 28 percent of Americans experienced sexual harassment, stalking, physical threats, swatting, or doxing.
More than three-quarters (77 percent) of them said harassment occurred on Facebook while the rest was experienced on Twitter (27 percent), YouTube (21 percent), Instagram (20 percent) and WhatsApp (nine percent).
The ADL is part of the #StopHateforProfit coalition launched June 17 to ask large advertisers to boycott Facebook to show "they will not support a company that puts profit over safety."
Other members are the NAACP, Sleeping Giants, Color Of Change, Free Press and Common Sense.
The ADL's survey reported big jumps in identity-based harassment. Sixty-one percent of Muslims felt their harassment was due to their religion. That's up from 35 percent from the 2019 survey.
Asian-Americans ranked next, with 55 percent saying harassment was due to race, compared to 20 percent in 2018.
That was followed by Jews for their religious identity (43 percent in 2020, 35 percent in 2018), African Americans for their race (42 percent in 2020, 27 percent in 2018) and Hispanics or Latinos for their race (42 percent in 2020, 30 percent in 2018).
The LGBTQ+ community bucked the trend, reporting a decline (48 percent in 2020 vs. 63 percent) in harassment due to their sexual orientation.
The Wirecard scandal has become the latest chapter in a long story of corporate calamities where serious problems have emerged in the supposedly fully-transparent books of a large public company.
Perhaps the most famous of these was the American energy conglomerate Enron which collapsed in 2001 after fraudulent accounting practices came to light.
There have been numerous cases like this where it became clear that malpractice had been going on undiscovered for significant periods of time.
Even Tesco, a simple groceries business under intense scrutiny as a FTSE 100 household name, managed to get itself into an accounting scandal in 2014.
Markus Braun CEO of Wirecard in better times, before the firm was embroiled in an accounting scandal
This raises the question as to whether investors can ever be sure the companies they hold shares in arent 'cooking the books'.
How many more Enrons and Wirecards are out there and how will they be rumbled?
Clearly we cant rely on the firms who check the books and take large fees for doing so. The major accountants, who literally 'had one job' have failed to do it well enough to stop these scandals emerging at regular intervals.
Also with questions to answer on Wirecard, NMC Health and others are the equities analysts at various brokers and banks that are tasked with running a close eye through the numbers to make sure they all add up.
Collectively they failed spectacularly with Wirecard, NMC Health, Tesco, and many others.
So should the media pick these things up before they get to such a grave stage? In an ideal world yes, but most news organisations do not have the numbers of experienced and knowledgeable business journalists needed to do the forensic examination of individual companies required.
The well-resourced Financial Times in its role in uncovering the Wirecard scandal is the honourable exception rather than the rule here.
There is one other group though who can ride to the rescue, not for altruistic reasons but because it can be extremely profitable for them to do so... short-sellers.
They are often seen as an unwelcome presence in financial markets because they profit from disaster, but their true role is more nuanced.
This was recently exemplified by Muddy Waters exposure of FTSE 100 listed hospital operator NMC Health. The American hedge fund correctly identified the company had seriously misrepresented its financial position, then told the world.
The NMC specialty hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Of course, Muddy Waters did not put the time and effort into this endeavour for the greater good. It did it to make a huge sum of money by shorting NMC shares before letting the cat out of the bag.
Its motivations do not change the fact that the outcome did serve the interests of retail investors and the wider public.
In the short term, when a company like NMC is caught out it does not benefit investors directly. It in fact means huge losses for shareholders.
But, over time the impact of shining a light on deception is that it deters others. The greater the perceived risk of getting caught the less likely others are to try and get away with it.
The other potential benefit stemming from the activities of Muddy Waters and other short-sellers is that cooked books are identified more quickly, possibly at an early enough stage to be rectified without the company collapsing.
Perhaps if there had been more short-selling funds looking closely at Wirecard it would not have thousands of shareholders staring down the barrel of close to 90 per cent losses, with its future as a going concern in doubt.
[June 23, 2020] 7-Eleven Fuels 7Rewards Program
IRVING, Texas, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- It's that time, folks. We are back in our cars, venturing out, and (unfortunately) embarking on those long commutes to work. To help you fuel your car with the most value, 7-Eleven, Inc. is now piloting Fuel Loyalty in participating 7-Eleven stores in North and South Orlando Florida, North Texas and Woodbridge, Virginia. The Fuel Loyalty program is designed to provide contactless payment options to reduce touch and drive instantaneous savings at the pump. The internally developed technology allows customers to pay for fuel contact-free through the 7Rewards loyalty program found in the 7-Eleven app by using mobile payment options or Siri shortcuts on their Apple iPhone. 7-Eleven is the first retailer to offer this convenient and frictionless Siri functionality which allows customers to use voice commands to pay for gas. "Okay, very cool 7-Eleven, but how do I save?" We're glad you asked! Customers who use the program will receive a discount of 11 cents per gallon on the first seven fill-ups* on all fuel grades; after which members will receive a 3-cent per gallon discount on all fuel grades**. The per-gallon discount will automatically show on the pump display. "Adding fuel savings takes the 7Rewards loyalty program to the next level," said 7-Eleven Chief Digital Officer Tarang Sethia. "Fuel loyalty offers value with an elevated experience that allows customers to pump, pay and be on their way all without taking out their wallet! A contactless payment experience and fuel discounts that's how we give customers power in the driver's seat." How to get your fuel loyalty discounts: Customers must be at a participating store and have a verified phone number in their 7Rewards loyalty program account. To activate the experience and discounts before stepping out of the car simply selector tell Siri to selectthe fuel pump number and the desired fuel amount. To put more even power in the hands of the customer, they can choose the full tank option or pre-select their desired amount of fuel.
Not into mobile apps or voice commands? No fear, we have a solution for you, too. Simply type in your 7Rewards verified phone number at the pump to get the fuel rewards.
Pay touchless for your fuel loyalty discounts: Mobile Pay : To pay via the 7Rewards loyalty program in the 7-Eleven app, simply upgrade the 7-Eleven app to the most current version and set up a credit or debit card under payment in account settings. The app also accepts Google Pay or Apple Pay. Customers select their fuel pump number and choose a preferred fuel amount. To complete the purchase, simply authorize the payment through the app.
: To pay via the 7Rewards loyalty program in the 7-Eleven app, simply upgrade the 7-Eleven app to the most current version and set up a credit or debit card under payment in account settings. The app also accepts Google Pay or Apple Pay. Customers select their fuel pump number and choose a preferred fuel amount. To complete the purchase, simply authorize the payment through the app. "Siri, fuel now": To set up the Siri experience on iPhones, simply create a Siri shortcut in the most up to date 7-Eleven app. On the payment confirmation screen of the fuel loyalty program, customers will be prompted to set up a customized Siri shortcut that they can use at the pump. Once set up, customers won't have to open their app during future visits to get the fuel rewards or pay. Instead they simply instruct Siri using their new shortcut to select a pump and authorize payment. The fuel discount offer is only available at participating stores via the 7Rewards loyalty program, which is found in the 7-Eleven app. The national program allows members (yep all 33 million of them) to earn and redeem points on most in-store purchases. Customers can also take advantage of offers, exclusive discounts and interactive features awesome right? The 7-Eleven app is available for download on smartphones via the Apple App Store or via Google Play.
* Limit to 20 gallons per transaction.
** Limitations apply. See Terms and Conditions on the 7-Eleven App for more details. About 7-Eleven, Inc.
Are you still reading this? Awesome. Most people stop when they get to the small print. But not you! You get to read the cool stuff. 7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience-retailing industry. They don't like to brag, but they invented convenience stores. For real. Google it. Based in Irving, Texas (home to bronze horses and marble cows), 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 70,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. Mmmmmm, tacos. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products under the 7-Select brand including healthy options, decadent treats and everyday favorites, at an outstanding value. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards loyalty program, place an order in the 7NOW delivery app in over 35 participating markets, or rely on 7-Eleven for bill payment service, self-service lockers and other convenient services. Find out more online at?www.7-Eleven.com, via the 7Rewards customer loyalty platform on the 7-Eleven mobile app, or on social media at? Facebook,? Twitter? and?Instagram. Also, they trademarked the word "Brainfreeze." No lie. Thanks for sticking with this. You're unstoppable. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/7-eleven-fuels-7rewards-program-301081999.html SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc.
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Violence metastasizes in neighborhoods when opportunity, or even the hope of it, ebbs away. Its not enough to put more cops on the streets or revamp gang intervention strategies. Communities on the South and West sides have been withered by decades of indifference by the rest of the city by mayors who disproportionately channeled tax dollars and attention to downtown and the North Side and by an ecosystem, including banks, that dropped investments in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. Rising crime, and failing strategies to address it, also caused an exodus of stable, middle-class Black families who fled to safer suburbs or moved out of state. Communities already on the brink were further destabilized.
Boris Johnson has not looked as cheerful for a long time as he did in the Commons yesterday.
His is a sunny nature and he does not like to be cast in the part of Charles Dickenss Thomas Gradgrind a sober man obsessed with numbers.
That is a role he cedes happily to Sir Keir Starmer or Professor Chris Whitty, the joyless chief medical officer.
Boris is a good-news man who hated imposing the lockdown and depriving us of our ancient liberties. I fear his dilly-dallying gave Covid-19 more time to spread.
Yesterday he was able to restore a fair portion of what he had taken away, which was why he looked so buoyant and jovial.
He was playing his favourite part of the benign wizard. He uttered a phrase redolent of Tolkien, the great conjurer of magic: Our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end.
Boris is a good-news man who hated imposing the lockdown and depriving us of our ancient liberties. I fear his dilly-dallying gave Covid-19 more time to spread
Hurrah! Most people will surely share the Prime Ministers sense of relief and optimism.
Not a moment too soon, the economy-destroying two-metre rule will be abolished in England, though he urged us to stick to it whenever practicable.
Revolution
True, some restrictions will remain in pubs and restaurants, which will be allowed to reopen from July 4.
Whether even one metre can be observed in busy pubs may be doubted, and Im not sure how many customers will want to hand over contact details to the owners.
Museums, galleries, places of worship, cinemas, hairdressers and other establishments in England will be permitted to throw open their doors in ten days time so long as they adopt appropriate safety measures.
After months of lockdown, this amounts to a kind of revolution.
Museums, galleries, places of worship, cinemas, hairdressers and other establishments in England will be permitted to throw open their doors in ten days time so long as they adopt appropriate safety measures. Pictured: People buy food and drinks at a restaurant currently only doing take away food in London, on 23 June
Unfortunately, even Boriss magic wand wont extend to nightclubs and casinos, or to bowling alleys, spas, swimming pools and indoor soft play centres, but Ive no doubt it will do so quite soon if things go well.
There was one unforgivable omission: schools. They wont be fully up and running until September at the earliest.
Isnt it shameful that pubs and restaurants will open in England at least two months before the institutions charged with educating our children?
That outrage apart, lets rejoice that, after a curbing of our freedoms the like of which has never happened before in peacetime, we can take one large step back to normality even if well have to get used to Perspex screens and people cutting our hair wearing plastic visors.
So on what may be the hottest day of the year so far, I share Boriss sunny good cheer.
Although I cant honestly say that lockdown for me has been especially injurious, I am delighted this formless period of near-identical days is drawing to a close.
Schools wont be fully up and running until September at the earliest. Isnt it shameful that pubs and restaurants will open in England at least two months before the institutions charged with educating our children? Pictured: Prime Minister Boris Johnson joins a socially distanced lesson during a visit to Bovingdon Primary School in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on 19 June
But I fear many tribulations lie ahead, on which Boris did not touch while bestowing his largesse.
For understandable reasons, there was nothing in his statement about the parlous state of the economy or other formidable challenges thrown up by the pandemic.
Even in a mood of optimism, we should face the fact that we are not the same country that went into lockdown just over three months ago.
More has changed and more has been revealed than would then have been imaginable.
What Boris didnt say is that the measures he announced yesterday are emergency dressings being applied to a traumatised economy.
Nobody can know whether they will be enough to revive the patient.
We can only be sure that, if the Government hadnt acted, the outlook for many businesses would have been terminal.
Tucked away in yesterday's newspapers and barely reported by the broadcast media was the disclosure by the new Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, that the Government would effectively have gone bust during the stock market meltdown in March if it hadnt been rescued by the Bank.
Crisis
Its decision to pump 200 billion into the economy via quantitative easing the biggest single cash injection in its history averted a liquidity crisis for the Government. Pretty scary stuff.
Alistair Darling, who was Chancellor during the Great Recession of 2008, later said that people were only two hours away from being unable to withdraw money from cashpoints.
That was bad enough. A Government close to insolvency sounds even worse.
Neither Boris Johnson nor Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, has levelled with us about the terrifying state of the nations finances.
According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, Britains debt will soon hit 2 trillion as the cost of the pandemic soars.
The new Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, revealed the Government would effectively have gone bust during the stock market meltdown in March if it hadnt been rescued by the Bank
Debt will be more than 100 per cent of national income and the highest it has been since the end of World War II.
The truth is that, during lockdown, many people have been living in a kind of fools paradise, largely insulated from the prospect of widespread unemployment.
Repairing the economy is going be a much more arduous test for the Government than handing back our liberties.
Other problems have been thrown up by the pandemic.
The Prime Ministers Commons statement concerned only England though that did not prevent the SNP leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, from asking barbed questions from his Scottish redoubt.
The contagion has exposed deep divisions in the Union, with Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland in particular behaving like the leader of an independent country and, despite her errors, attracting widespread admiration from her electorate.
She will use this advantage to extract a second referendum on independence, which the SNP could win.
Other shortcomings revealed by Covid-19 include the quality of some of our public institutions and of our senior civil servants.
Health professionals have dragged their feet over obviously beneficial measures such as masks.
With depressing predictability, the Department of Health has blunderingly failed to come up with a workable contact-tracing app.
So while I am relieved that the lockdown is nearly over and welcome the sensible measures announced by the Prime Minister, I cant conceal forebodings about the future on several fronts.
The agonies of being stuck at home are going to be replaced by a different sort of pain, which will last a lot longer and take various forms.
Optimism
Whether the Government is equal to these enormous challenges remains to be seen. Boriss heady optimism is infectious but, by itself, it isnt going to get us out of the hole were in.
Was the lockdown worth it? I believe so, but its a huge question that cant be definitively answered until there is a final weighing of the benefits versus the costs.
Weve a pretty good idea of the benefits preventing thousands of people from dying but cant yet know what the cost will be in terms of jobs lost, companies destroyed and lives ruined.
All we can be sure of is that this country cant afford another lockdown such as we have just endured. Nor would the British people tolerate it a second time.
If there are new spikes of the disease in the coming months, they will have to be dealt with by local clampdowns.
Whatever difficulties may lie ahead, we can at least console ourselves with this thought: the extraordinary past few months of virtual incarceration, and the unprecedented curtailment of our personal freedom, are not going to be repeated.
The 28th meeting of the Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA) was held via video conference under the chair of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) on June 22.
The Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community holds an online meeting on June 22
The meeting was attended by heads of member countries SOCA delegations, the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General in charge of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Addressing the gathering, Director of MoLISAs Department of International Cooperation and head of the Vietnamese SOCA delegation Nguyen Manh Cuong said 2020 is an important year for the bloc as all of its specialised bodies have been reviewing activities implemented in the current period and preparing to build work plans for the next phase so as to achieve the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
This is also a special year for social and cultural activities as all member states have been hit by COVID-19, he said, noting that the pandemic has affected not only peoples health but also their livelihoods, especially vulnerable groups.
As ASEAN Chair in 2020, Vietnam has been coordinating closely with the ASEAN Secretariat and other member countries to actively and proactively carry out activities and initiatives in response to the pandemics complex developments, matching the adopted theme of Cohesive and Responsive, Cuong noted.
Participants discussed priority activities and fields for 2020. They agreed to push ahead with effectively carrying out specialised work plans and reviewing the implementation of those plans over the last five years, to assist the mid-term review of the implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 at the national and regional levels.
The review report is to be submitted to the 37th ASEAN Summit, slated for November.
The officials also highlighted the need to speed up discussions with Timor-Leste on relevant specialised issues so as to learn more about the countrys readiness and capacity to meet ASEANs expectations.
The Vietnamese delegation also gave participants an insight into its priorities during the 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, including in terms of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, to help secure the support and consensus of member nations.
Accordingly, Vietnam is set to promote discussions on the priority areas of labour and human resources development, social welfare and development, healthcare, communications and information, ASEAN culture, youth, the environment and climate change, and the mid-term review of the implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint.
During the session, the ASEAN Secretariat provided a summary of activities being carried out or planned for the Community that are in line with regional leaders decisions and statements on a collective response to the pandemic.
Participants also agreed to submit two documents to the 23rd meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council, so that the council will later propose them to ASEAN summits for approval: an ASEAN statement on human resources development in a changing world of work, and the reference provisions of the ASEAN Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
The Socio-Cultural Community is one of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, together with the Political-Security Community and the Economic Community./.VNA
Click here to read the full article.
A fan-favorite colorway of the Air Jordan 7 could possibly be returning to shelves next year.
According to sneaker-leaking Instagram account @zSneakerheadz, the reissue of the classic Air Jordan 7 Flint colorway is slated to drop in spring 2021. Given its distant release date, early images have not yet surfaced. However, the aforementioned account shared info of the White/Flint Grey-Black-Varsity Purple color-blocking and images of the original 2006 launch. The latest pair is expected to feature a premium gray suede upper with white leather overlays on the heel, and its purple accents on the ankles Jumpman logo and tongues Air Jordan branding stand out.
More from Footwear News
Along with the reported spring 2021 release date, the shoe is expected to come with a $190 price tag.
A new pair of the Flint Air Jordan 7 from the 2006 release is available for purchase on resale sites including on StockX with asking prices starting at $350 in a mens size 7 and upward of $700 for a size 11. Select sizes are also available on the platform GOAT with brand new pairs going for as low as $400 in a size 10.5 and as high as $505 in a size 9.5.
In related Jordan Brand news, Dior revealed that its upcoming Air Dior collaboration with Jordan Brand is releasing at select Dior retailers on July 8. The Air Jordan 1 High and Low collab will launch through an exclusive online experience.
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(Newser) Joe Biden will have to scratch the "Go Blue!" joke from his intro of the second 2020 presidential debate. The University of Michigan has backed out of hosting duties, which have been assumed by the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami on Oct. 15, per the Commission on Presidential Debates. The Detroit Free-Press quotes a letter from the Ann Arbor school's president to the commission that alludes to the coronavirus: Given the scale and complexity of the work we are undertaking to help assure a safe and healthy fall for our students, faculty and staff and limited visitorsand in consideration of the public health guidelines in our state as well as advice from our own expertswe feel it is not feasible for us to safely host the presidential debate as planned."
story continues below
As for the Miami venue, it's well-versed in debates, reports CNN: It held the first Democratic presidential primary debate in 2019. The schedule as it currently stands: additional presidential debates Sept. 29 at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and Oct. 22 at Belmont University in Nashville, and a vice presidential debate Oct. 7 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. (Read more presidential debate stories.)
Exhaustion caused
comedian collapse
Comedian D.L. Hughley announced he tested positive for COVID-19 after collapsing onstage during a performance in Nashville, Tennessee.
The stand-up comedian, 57, lost consciousness while performing at the Zanies comedy nightclub and was hospitalized, news outlets reported. Hughley later posted a video on Twitter in which he said he was treated for exhaustion and dehydration afterward.
I also tested positive for COVID-19, which blew me away, he says in the video. I was what they call asymptomatic. I didnt have any symptoms, the classic symptoms.
Hughley plans to quarantine in his Nashville hotel room for 14 days. The remaining two nights of his four-night engagement at Zanies were canceled, according to the clubs online calendar.
Our friend D.L. Hughley had a medical emergency while performing and was hospitalized overnight. According to his publicist, he was suffering from exhaustion after working and traveling this week, the club posted on Facebook. Love ya, D.L. and well look forward to seeing this King of Comedy back in Nashville soon!
Hughley said he still hasnt exhibited any of the typical symptoms associated with the coronavirus, including shortness of breath and fever.
So, in addition to all the other stuff you have to look out for, Hughley advises in the video, if you pass out in the middle of a show, onstage, you probably need to get tested.
Hurricane Chris
is facing charges
Rap artist Hurricane Chris, known for the hit A Bay Bay, has been arrested on a murder charge in Louisiana.
The rapper, whose real name is Christopher Dooley Jr., was arrested on one count each of second-degree murder and illegal possession of stolen things, Shreveport Police said in a news release. Dooley, 31, of Shreveport, was being held without bond at the city jail.
Police responded shortly after 1 a.m. Friday to a reported shooting at a gas station in Shreveport. Officers found one person suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Dooley, who had gone into the gas stations store, initially told police that he had shot a man who he thought was trying to steal his vehicle. But video footage appears to show otherwise, police said. The car Dooley was in had also been reported stolen from Texas.
The Shreveport native, who is the godson of former Democratic state Rep. Barbara Norton, is best known for his 2007 album 51/50 Ratchet, which includes his hit single, A Bay Bay. That tracks music video has nearly 30 million views on YouTube.
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - New home sales in the U.S. showed a substantial increase in the month of May, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Tuesday.
The report said new home sales spiked by 16.6 percent to an annual rate of 676,000 in May from a significantly downwardly revised rate of 580,000 in April.
Economists had expected new home sales to jump 2.7 percent to an annual rate of 640,000 from the 623,000 originally reported for the previous month.
The downwardly revised data for April indicates new home sales plunged by 5.2 percent during the month compared to the previously reported 0.6 percent uptick.
New home sales in the Northeast skyrocketed by 45.5 percent to a rate of 32,000, home sales in the West soared by 29.0 percent to a rate of 169,000 and home sales in the South surged up by 15.2 percent to a rate of 402,000.
Meanwhile, the report showed a notable decrease in new home sales in the Midwest, which tumbled by 6.4 percent to a rate of 73,000.
The Commerce Department said the median sales price of new houses sold in May was $317,900, up 4.9 percent from $303,000 in April and up 1.7 percent from $312,700 in the same month a year ago.
The estimate of new houses for sale at the end of May was 318,000, representing 5.6 months of supply at the current sales rate.
On Monday, the National Association of Realtors released a separate report showing existing home sales in the U.S. tumbled by much more than anticipated in the month of May.
NAR said existing home sales plunged by 9.7 percent to an annual rate of 3.91 million in May after plummeting by 17.8 percent to a rate of 4.33 million in April. Economists had expected existing home sales to slump by 4.8 percent to a rate of 4.12 million.
However, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun expressed confidence home sales will rise in the coming months as the economy reopens.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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The San Antonio Independent School District can now put a laptop or tablet in the hands of every one of its almost 50,000 studentsreaching a 1-to-1 computing environment years ahead of schedule due to the unprecedented rush to buy new tech brought on by coronavirus school closures.
But Ken Thompson, the districts chief information technology officer, knows that securing new Chromebooks amid crushing demand from competing districts around the country and then distributing them to students in a rapid-fire process was just the beginning.
At some point in the future, whenever its deemed safe for school buildings to reopen, students will be returning those loaner devices. Then, the process starts to transition tens of thousands of brand-new laptops into devices intended to provide a digital boost to learning inside school buildings.
And that move will have big implications: Can the districts new data center handle the demand? How is the district going to sanitize all those devices when turned in? And how will teachers need to be trained to integrate the devices into instruction in meaningful ways?
Another pressing technical matter: making sure every school has WiFi access throughout the building.
Right now, my buildings are not fully lit up, said Thompson. Our goal is to be able to provide learning everywhere on a campus, from the gym to the cafeteria. We have to address that quickly before the devices come back.
Those are key challenges for educators at all levels as many districts look toward the next school year with more mobile devices at their disposal and more lesson plans geared specifically toward teaching and learning with a laptop or tablet.
The prevalence of full 1-to-1 laptop programs hasnt experienced a drastic shift since schools switched to distance learning amid the global pandemic, according to a new, nationally representative survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center. Just 59 percent of teachers in early May said they had at least one device for every student, up only two percentage points from February before U.S. schools began to close.
But the COVID-19 school building closures that affected more than 55 million students this spring prompted many districts to buy laptops and tablets in what has been described as a never-before-seen pace and volume. Even if districts are not reaching 1-to-1 status, more of them are now armed with more mobile computers than ever before: Hundreds of thousands of devicesat a minimumhave been ordered in the last three months alone.
Golden Opportunity
Its the type of mass tech infusion that has the potential to reshape learning inside and outside the classroom, for better or worse. And thats one of the pressing questions underlying the national remote learning experiment unfolding in real time: How will schools utilize this influx of new devices in ways that improve student learning?
This is such a golden opportunity to transform teaching and learning into a more tech-based ecosystem, said Leslie Wilson, the co-founder and former CEO of the One-to-One Institute, a nonprofit that consults with schools and districts. But in the real world, you cant just deploy devices and expect youre going to transform education for the better simply because youve done that.
In the San Antonio district, officials are hoping to recoup the $6.1 million cost of its acquisition of 30,000 laptops by floating a bond election in November. To reach 1-to-1 computing across all grade levels, the district purchased 30,000 laptops in mid-March to accompany 25,000 devices already on hand.
Patti Salzmann, the districts chief academic officer, said some changes on the horizon to better accommodate the devices include likely acquiring a learning management system for the entire district. Currently, teachers are using Google Classroom as a central hub, and while free and convenient, Salzmann said the district cant extract all the useful student data it needs from Google Classroom.
We dont know the quality of the interaction, she said. With an LMS, we can monitor information other than whether you logged in and what your grade is.
Professional development will also be fine-tuned to incorporate digital learning more, she said. Teachers are already offered a robust digital program that includes tools such as Screencastify and NearPod, but Salzmann said going forward there would be an emphasis on ensuring that is naturally integrated 100 percent into training.
District-issued laptops will stay with students at least through the summer, so they can tap into different programs, including an online portal to interact with classmates and engage in academic exercises that will change weekly until the new school year starts. Once the laptops return to school, Salzmann said theyll be used plenty, but there will be a balance between screen time and face-to-face interaction between student and teacher.
The idea that children are coming to school and sitting on a computer all day isnt something anybody wants either, she said.
We Just Need More Time
In Detroit, where the school district is receiving 50,000 tablet-style laptops with internet connectivity in June as a gift from a coalition of business leaders and nonprofits, the approach to incorporating those devices into every classroom is going to be much more methodical, said Superintendent Nikolai Vitti.
Tips Many districts have made the mistake of rolling out digital devices to teachers and students without first thinking about how those devices should be used for meaningful learning and the tech infrastructure needed to support them. To prevent such mistakes, follow these steps:
Make sure your districts computer networks are fully prepared to support new devices. That could mean increasing bandwidth or access points in school buildings.
To maximize what mobile devices can provide district officials from a data-mining perspective, consider investing in dashboards or software that track and provide metrics on student progress.
A school districts chief academic officer and chief technology officer should be in constant communication. This way theres cohesiveness between tech purchases and classroom curriculum.
Buying devices requires more than upfront money. Consider and project future budget costs appropriately for device maintenance and upgrades.
Try leveraging ideas about device usage from a working group of district officials, principals, teachers, and even students that can provide continual input on what is and what is not working.
Teacher training is paramount. Professional development must emphasize using tech tools that allow teachers and students to unlock the learning power of mobile devices. It is best if this training happens well in advance of a device rollout.
Vitti said some of his teachers are so far behind the digital teaching curve that it wont be until the 2021-22 school year when district-wide curriculum plans are tailored specifically toward the fleet of new devices. And Vitti emphasized its not just the teachers who can use the extra time learning how to use the devices effectively: Im a little skeptical that all our students are comfortable in the space of online learning.
We just need more time. Theres so much happening now. Stress is high. Trauma is high, he said, noting that Detroit has been a hot spot for COVID-19 cases and when in-person classes resume teachers are likely to be worried about exposure, let alone changing their entire teaching approach. Wed have resistance only because we didnt plan and train enough. This is more methodical, more strategic, and more sensitive to where our teaching staff is.
When Vitti arrived three years ago at the Detroit public schools, a district where up to 90 percent of its roughly 51,000 students do not have access to a laptop or internet at home, there was just one device available in school for every six students. A cohesive plan for buying and using tech at schools did not exist.
Since then, Detroit has bought 30,000 laptops, Vitti said, and was on pace to be 1-to-1 at K-8 by the end of this school year. Moving forward, the idea, he said, was to start investing in laptops for high school students. But then coronavirus upended those plans, and the 50,000 new devices will bring the district to a complete 1-to-1 computing ratio much quicker.
Up until now, the district had used its laptops to mostly supplement core instruction for reading and math only. The devices were tied to carts. Once the new batch arrives in the summer, Vitti said, they will be the property of the families, not ours and students can use them as their main device at home.
Starting in the fall, every student will carry a laptop daily, but the districts core curriculum wont be integrated with the devices until the following school year. Thats when the district can start implementing a broader shift to incorporate tech tools such as digital textbooks and give assignments through Schoology, a learning management system, Vitti said.
Even though theres a sense of urgency to roll the devices into the mix faster, waiting will enhance buy in and implementation, he said.
Spray and Pray Approach Doesnt Work
Back about 20 years ago, when Wilson, the co-founder of the nonprofit One-to-One Institute, started evangelizing for the idea of putting a laptop in the hands of every student, she said superintendents and district officials were loath to spend money on technology for the classroom.
But as districts warmed to technology, Wilson said they started buying laptops with no idea how to effectively use them. She called it the spray and pray model: They spray every kid some type of device and pray that some meaningful learning happens.
That approach, for instance, was taken in the Los Angeles schools several years ago and resulted in a colossal failure and a huge waste of money and time.
To avoid that kind of mess, districts need to plan ahead before moving to 1-to-1, she saideverything from network infrastructure to device selection to finances for maintenance and upgrades to teacher training. Failing to do so, Wilson warns, will result in a randomized roll out that can cause a myriad of problems.
On the flipside of a 1-to-1 computing district, there are school districts still without enough devices for students to do tech-driven, remote learning. Those districts are relying on packets and worksheets, but that doesnt necessarily mean students are falling behind, Wilson said.
Elizabeth Keren-Kolb, a clinical associate professor of education technology at the University of Michigan, agrees, saying that students in districts lacking devices arent in an ideal situation but can still make the most of whats available without losing ground.
Packets and workbooks arent necessarily less than digital devices. Half the applications online are just doing things from workbooks, said Keren-Kolb, who is currently surveying K-12 teachers, parents, and students about their experiences with remote learning.
Helping Students in Need
Coming up with the cash to pay for new devices has been one of the biggest challenges. The school district in Detroit is able to accelerate its 1-to-1 ambitions based on a $23 million philanthropic gift. At the San Antonio Independent School District, officials are hoping to recoup the $6.1 million cost of its acquisition of 30,000 laptops by floating a bond election in November.
But in Pittsburgh, more than 7,000 of the districts 23,000 students did not have access to a device when distance learning started in mid-April. So the district took to raising money online. About a month later, the shortage still was about 4,000 devices, said Ted Dwyer, the districts chief accountability officer and interim CTO.
This is not a 1-to-1 approach. If we can secure funds, were going to do that as soon as possible, said Dwyer, noting that the district had purchased about 5,000 devices following school closures but was still waiting for the bulk of that order to arrive. Right now, we are trying to get devices in the hands of students in need, he said.
Aleesia Johnson, superintendent of the Indianapolis school district, said her district is planning to use federal stimulus money mostly to pay for 21,000 new devices and up to 9,000 WiFi hotspots that will bring the district up to a 1-to-1 computing ratio. But those devices wont arrive until July, leaving the district short on tech tools for the time being. Johnson said IPS also resorted to online fundraising to help cover some device and hotspot costs.
When I look at Twitter or what I hear from calls with other superintendents, she said, its clear folks are trying to leverage community resources or any resources possible to any extent to pay for devices.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) The Philippine Navy wants President Rodrigo Duterte to physically attend the commissioning of its first missile-capable frigate, but is considering other options due to pandemic restrictions.
In his weekly televised address late Monday, the President expressed his desire to personally inspect the South Korean-built warship slated to be christened BRP Jose Rizal.
"I read it one week ago na nandito na. I want to board just to see how good it is. Kindly arrange the time," the President said.
The warship's commissioning was initially planned last June 19, the birthday of the national hero and the ship's namesake, Dr. Jose Rizal.
The Navy had to delay the schedule after one of the ship's crew members tested positive after undergoing rapid antibody testing for COVID-19. This pushed back the timetable allotted for the defense department's mandatory technical inspection process prior to accepting the delivery of the frigate.
The Navy is still awaiting word from Malacanang on the availability of the President's schedule to set the new date for the ceremony.
But Philippine Navy Flag-Officer-In-Command Vice Admiral Giovanni Bacordo said they are aware of the President's "comorbidities" and would not want to "unnecessarily expose" the country's 75-year-old chief executive to infection by attending the activity.
The frigate is currently docked in Subic, Zambales.
"(But) if he will be present, we are ready (to observe) social distancing standards," Bacordo told defense reporters. We will invite only those who are needed to be thereno more than 50 personnel."
President Duterte had previously spoken publicly about some of his health issues, including his recurring spine injury and Buerger's disease. In an interview with CNN Philippines in November 2019, he said he was fit enough to continue carrying out his duties though his age was catching up with him.
Bacordo said another option is to have the President attend the ceremony virtually via video conferencing similar to his addresses during the joint graduation ceremonies of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), as well as the Independence Day commemoration last June 12.
This June, YFM launches The Put On for the second year in a row, giving budding entrepreneurs a chance to win their share of R1.5m in radio advertising and a cash prize of R100,000,00, which aims to develop and grow their business.
Cyril Zuma, from iStock Photography, was a finalist in The Put On 2019 and is currently on YFMs photography suppliers list.
YFM continues to find innovative and unique ways to resonate with the young people, as it has done since its inception in 1997 as Gautengs leading youth radio station. The significant month of June, which commemorates the Soweto Uprisings, has seen YFM launch, aimed at helping young entrepreneurs.More than just creating this platform to support youth-driven business and entrepreneurship through advertising, YFM is also looking for more youth-owned businesses which can be added to its supplier database.This 12-week intensive initiative includes calls for entries, digital and listener engagement, top 20 finalist announcements, and a-style pitch process.This pitch process will allow entrepreneurs to meet the judging panel which consists of YFMs MD Haseena Cassim; owner and founder of Rockets Group and Rockets Man, Sean Barber; founder of The Throne Agency, Caron Williams; founder of Legends Barber, Sheldon Tatchell; and integrated marketing manager at Viacom CBS, AyandamantombazaneKayise Mhlongo who will act as mentors, challenging these business owners to new heights.The next phase will include the announcement of winners and the creation of ads which will then go live on air.Theis YFMs annual entrepreneurship competition, which further cements the stations commitment to empowering the youth. Through this competition, the station discovered the talent of Cyril Zuma, owner of iStock, who works as YFMs event photographers.ConcludesYFM: By launching, YFM continues to stay in touch with issues the youth face in South Africa while finding engaging ways to support the dreams of young people in the country through unique ways which speaks to them, thus validating their dreams and supporting them along the way.
The respective Party secretary and chairman of Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam Le Viet Chu, 57, and Tran Ngoc Cang, 60 have handed in their letters of resignation after being disciplined for their violations.
A leader of the provincial government told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that both Chu and Cang had tendered their resignation, citing personal reasons.
The duo expected their resignation to facilitate personnel preparations for the forthcoming 2020-25 Party congress of Quang Ngai Province slated for November this year.
Their letters are awaiting the consideration of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Central Party Committee.
Before taking up the post as the provincial Party chief during the 2015-20 tenure, Chu served as the chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, the provincial Peoples Council, and the provincial Fatherland Front Committee.
Meanwhile, the provinces chairman Cang, who is also vice-secretary of the provincial Party Committee, was the head of the local Commission for Mass Mobilization and the chairman of the provincial Peoples Council.
The two leaders, who are both Quang Ngai natives, did not answer phone calls from Tuoi Tre reporters for further details behind their resignation.
Punishments for various violations
On June 16, the Politburo, the top decision-making body of the Communist Party of Vietnam, issued a warning against Chu as a disciplinary action.
The Politburo stated that as a member of the Party Central Committee and Party chief of Quang Ngai Province, Chu had to be held chiefly accountable for the violations and mistakes made by local Party chapters from 2010 to 2016
These wrongdoings were related to the transfer, appointment, and rotation of officials; the nomination of candidates for elections; and the dispatch of officials, public workers and university graduates on overseas business and study trips.
They approved in principle several major projects funded by the private sector, and the leasing or granting of land to enterprises without an auction.
The local Party chief was found to have approved the addition of some projects to the list of medium-term public investment to aid enterprises projects and violated rules on state budget.
He was directly involved in the settlement of enterprises requests, which was beyond his authority or that of the provincial Party unit.
The Politburo noted his irregularities were severe, tarnishing the prestige of the local Party unit, the local government, and himself.
Meanwhile, the provinces chairman Cang was found to have committed many serious mistakes in his leadership, instruction, and management strategies which were related to land use, finance and budget, investment projects, and personnel issues.
The Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee had previously issued a warning against him.
A former Party secretary of Quang Ngai Province, who declined to be named, told Tuoi Tre that it came as no surprise to him and many local residents when disciplinary measures were taken against the two leaders.
Chu and Cang have issued several policies and made certain decisions on some construction projects that are not in line with regulations The handover and lease of land without auctions suggest his favor of enterprises, said the former leader.
The ex-official also alleged the duo has caused problems over the use of the state budget for some projects.
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Sixth Iranian ship nears Venezuelan port, carrying food
Iran Press TV
Monday, 22 June 2020 4:50 AM
A sixth Iranian vessel has entered Venezuela's territorial waters, carrying a cargo of food after the Islamic Republic supplied massive cargos of fuel to the Latin American nation in defiance of the United States' sanctions targeting both nations.
"The Golsan will arrive carrying food to open the first Iranian supermarket in Venezuela," the Iranian Embassy in Caracas wrote on its Twitter account, referring to the vessel by its name.
The Embassy described the supplying process as "another success in the friendly and fraternal relations between the two countries."
Iran's envoy to Caracas, Hojjatollah Soltani, confirmed the ongoing shipping operation in remarks to Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network on Saturday.
The ambassador had mentioned in an earlier tweet that the ship would also carry a supply of equipment to help the Latin American country fight the outbreak of COVID-19.
Golsan is reportedly destined for the port of La Guaira in the northern Venezuelan state of Vargas. Reports also say the vessel departed from the Shahid Rajai Port that is located off the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, on May 15.
Last month, five Iranian tankers berthed at Venezuelan ports, supplying 1.5 million barrels of fuel to the country as well as refinery equipment aimed at kick-starting its refining operations that have been hit hard by the United States' unilateral and illegal sanctions.
The US has subjected Venezuela to the coercive measures with the avowed aim of ousting the country's democratically-elected President Nicolas Maduro.
Washington also brought back its sanctions against Tehran in 2018 after illegally and unilaterally leaving a historic nuclear accord between Iran and six world countries.
Shortly after the Islamic Republic began shipping the fuel supplies to Venezuela, the United States said it would consider taking action to stop the development. Tehran responded by warning Washington about retaliation.
The Venezuelan armed forces, including fighter planes and helicopter gunships, began escorting the Iranian tankers right after their arrival within Venezuela's jurisdiction.
Also on Saturday, Noor News, an Iranian news agency, reported that the Islamic Republic planned to continue supplying fuel to Venezuela with monthly shipments despite the American bans and threats.
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A tragic accident took place in Belgium around 60km from the Luxembourg border on Monday night.
According to the local fire brigade and emergency services, the accident took place in Comblain-la-Tour in the municipality of Hamoir. Two young people did not survive the deadly crash.
The underage driver lost control over the vehicle around 3.30am and crashed into a house, DH reported. Hamoir mayor Patrick Lecerf told local media that six young people aged 17 to 22 were inside the car when the accident occurred. "It's a terrible tragedy that plunges all inhabitants into deep pain because everybody knew the victims," he said.
The two people who lost their lives were 17 and 20-years-old. The four other passengers of the car were also injured - two of them severely- and rushed to the hospital.
An investigation into the exact circumstances of the accidents has been launched.
It was back in November of last year when Chery officially marked its return to the Philippines. Now under the leadership of United Asia Automotive Group Inc (UAAGI), Chery Auto Philippines is now serving up a bevy of crossovers for its Philippine comeback. These included the Tiggo2, the Tiggo5x, the Tiggo 7, and the flagship Tiggo8.
Recently, the flagship crossover was voted as the 'Best Entry-Level Medium-Large SUV in Customer Satisfaction'. Based on the results released by the China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co. Limited (CATARC), the midsize seven-seater Tiggo8 was given the accolade for its outstanding performance, build quality, and customer service.
The Tiggo8 was ranked among the top three on the entry-level medium and large SUV satisfaction list with a high score of 795 points which Chery claims is above average in industrial satisfaction. This translates that customers expressed high recognition of the Tiggo8's product performance, sales service, after-sales service, as well as in overall engineering and specification.
Outlets will be required to submit a list of employees in the US as if they were foreign embassies or consulates.
The Trump administration on Monday added four Chinese media outlets to a list of organisations that should be considered foreign missions because of their ties to the government and the Communist Party in a move that is likely to further aggravate relations between the two countries.
State Department officials said the four organisations, including CCTV, would be required to submit a list of all their employees in the US as well as any real estate holdings, just as they would if they were foreign embassies or consulates.
None are being ordered to leave the US, and no limits on their activities were announced. But five other Chinese organisations were directed to cap the number of people who could work in the US in March a month after they were designated as foreign missions.
State Department officials said the organisations are essentially mouthpieces for the Communist Party and Chinese government, not legitimate news outlets.
Students for a Free Tibet protest below a new electronic billboard leased by Xinhua, the news agency operated by the Chinese government, in New Yorks Times Square in 2011 [File: Stan Honda/AFP]
The Communist Party does not just exercise operational control over these propaganda entities but has full editorial control over their content, said Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell. This foreign mission designation is an obvious step in increasing transparency of these and other PRC government propaganda activities in the United States.
The other three added to the list of foreign missions are the China News Service, the Peoples Daily newspaper and the Global Times.
Its editor-in-chief Hu Xijin said the US decision aas absurd describing the Global Times, as market-oriented media. The tabloid is owned by the Peoples Daily, which is published by the Chinese Communist Party.
This is a very absurd decision. China-US relation is so tense that market-oriented media like the Global Times has been affected. It is regrettable. The US is losing self-confidence and inclusiveness. The country is chaotic. pic.twitter.com/NrMNI71rc8 Hu Xijin (@HuXijin_GT) June 23, 2020
It is not yet clear how many journalists work in the US for the organisations that were designated on Monday.
The US took similar actions against Soviet outlets during the Cold War. That precedent reflects the bitter state of relations between the US and China, which are at odds over the origin and response to the coronavirus, trade, human rights and other issues.
US officials say the designated media outlets should be considered foreign missions under American law because they are substantially owned or effectively controlled by the government of the Peoples Republic of China and should not be treated like traditional news organisations.
As one of the last 10 counties in NW China's #Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to have not been lifted out of #poverty, Shache County is accelerating its steps to shake off poverty by planting marigold. pic.twitter.com/7Vdi5K02rr People's Daily, China (@PDChina) June 22, 2020
These arent journalists. These are members of the propaganda apparatus in the PRC, Stilwell said in a conference call with reporters.
Asked about potential Chinese retaliation, Stilwell noted that American journalists working in China already faced tight restrictions on their activities.
China had no immediate reaction to the announcement, but the foreign ministry accused the administration of harbouring a Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice when it applied the same designation to five other media organisations earlier this year.
At that time, the administration applied the label to the Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network (CGTN), China Radio International, the China Daily Distribution Corporation, which distributes the newspaper of the same name, and Hai Tian Development USA, which distributes the Peoples Daily newspaper.
Then the US administration capped the number of journalists from the five allowed to work in the US at 100, down from about 160. At the time, the US cited Chinas increasingly harsh surveillance, harassment and intimidation of American and other foreign journalists in China.
China announced in response that it would revoke the media credentials of all American journalists at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
A tip has led authorities to Leon River in Bell County in the ongoing search for missing Fort Hood soldier and Houston resident Vanessa Guillen, according to Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller.
EquuSearch has been assisting multiple agencies in the search efforts, including The Fort Hood Army Criminal Investigation Division Command and the Texas Rangers. Miller said searchers had come up empty as of Monday evening.
He said authorities had been searching the area since receiving the tip Sunday, but he could not release any details, citing the ongoing investigation.
It was certainly good enough (information) that everyone thought there was some credibility to it, he said.
Guillen, a private first class, was last seen around 1 p.m. April 22 in the parking lot of her barracks at the base in Killeen, about 190 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Gloria Guillen, the soldiers mother, said that her daughter told her that a sergeant had sexually harassed her at the base.
Fort Hood has since initiated an internal investigation into those allegations, according to earlier reports.
The Leon River stems from Belton Lake, one of the closest bodies of water to the base. Teams had previously searched the lake using sonar equipment, Miller said. Drones and canines have also been used in the search effort, he added.
Guillens case has gained national attention from high-profile figures such as actress and filmmaker Salma Hayek, who last week wrote a heartfelt Instagram post calling for the soldiers safe return. Also, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia publicly called for transparency in the Armys investigation.
Guillens family on Tuesday will join Garcia on the base to discuss the investigation with military officials, according to Garcias spokesman Robert Julien. Garcia will be available to the media after the meeting, he said.
Additionally, the League of United Latin American Citizens is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to discovery of the soldier. The Army has raised its reward to $25,000, and Houston rapper Baby Bash pledged a $5,000 reward in a Facebook post.
julian.gill@chron.com
DETROIT, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards (NACTOY) announced today that it has awarded $40,000 in scholarships and charitable donations to the College for Creative Studies (CCS) and Feeding America.
The charitable donations were made through a partnership between NACTOY and the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). NACTOY jurors selected the recipients of these awards through a voting process that began with a list of respected charities and college scholarships and was narrowed down to the two recipients.
"On behalf of the 50 members of the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Award journalist jury, I want to sincerely thank NAIAS for its contribution of $20,000 toward these donations," said NACTOY president Gary Witzenburg. "Our organization is proud to be able to match that donation as we provide the first charitable donations in the history of our organization."
CCS and Feeding America will each receive a total of $20,000 from NACTOY and NAIAS.
"NACTOY has been a wonderful partner with NAIAS for many years and has supported our show by announcing its annual awards in Detroit," said Executive Director Rod Alberts. "We are pleased to be a part of these charitable donations because they deepen that relationship and will go to two great organizations."
The College for Creative Studies has created NACTOY Automotive Design Scholarships that will award $10,000 scholarships to two students over a two-year period. The recipients will be selected by the Transportation Design Department Chair, Paul Snyder.
"The College for Creative Studies Transportation Design Department is deeply grateful for the scholarship support offered by North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year," Snyder said. "As we all know, these are extraordinary times, and several of our rising students are feeling the pinch of the COVID-19 pandemic more than others. The support of NACTOY not only represents an investment in the future of car design, but also bears testament to the amazing generosity of our larger automotive community."
Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. It provides meals to more than 40 million people each year through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs.
ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN CAR, UTILITY AND TRUCK OF THE YEAR
The non-profit organization's awards are intended to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year. The award-winning vehicles are benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. The organization gives out three awards annually. They are: "North American Car of the Year," "North American Truck of the Year," and "North American Utility Vehicle of the Year." The awards are unique because they are given by an independent jury of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada instead of by a single publication, website, radio or television station.
SOURCE North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards (NACTOY)
PICK OF THE WEEK
Living with the Anthropocene
Edited by Cameron Muir, Kirsten Wehner & Jenny Newell
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It's not hard to see why some scholars have nicknamed the Anthropocene 'the Obscene', given what we've done to our planet. The beauty of this collection is that it walks a tightrope over this chasm self-disgust and dread without toppling into it. After his brother's death, global warming lost all meaning for Tony Birch.
It was only as he walked his country along the Yarra where he felt his brother's presence, and as he reconnected with young people who refused to be defeated, that he realised "I must be in the world in order to respect it." From James Bradley on cuttlefish to Saskia Beudel on the changing soundscape of her mother's garden, the quality of writing in these pieces, their delight in nature and their determination not to give in to despair make for stirring reading despite the grim truths they confront.
Growing Up Disabled, edited by Carly Findlay.
Growing Up Disabled in Australia
Edited by Carly Findlay
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Despite a warning by the federal government not to reopen schools in the state, the Oyo government, on Tuesday said it will be going ahead with its plans, with modification.
Its COVID-19 Task Force said it has modified the resumption date for primary six, Junior Secondary School III and Senior Secondary School III students in the state.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the Oyo State Government relaxed the coronavirus curfew in the state and also asked final year students in schools to resume on June 29.
All civil servants were also asked to resume duties.
However, this newspaper also reported how the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, warned the state government against its plan to reopen schools.
The minister described the resolution as insensitive.
Modification
The decision to modify the resumption date was made known in a statement by Governor Seyi Makindes chief press secretary, Taiwo Adisa, on Tuesday.
Mr Adisa said the Task Force, which rose from a two-and-a-half-hour meeting today reviewed the state of preparedness of the schools ahead of the planned resumption.
He also confirmed that the Commissioner for Education, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, and experts from the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) had been going round the schools to determine compliance with the COVID-19 prevention protocols put in place by the schools.
The statement added the team has since discovered that a space of one week was needed to enable the schools test-run the facilities, especially the hand washing points and the security measures.
The statement reads:
By the new arrangement, teachers are to resume to the schools on Monday June 29, 2020, while students in critical classes including Primary 6, JSS3 and SS3 will resume a week later on July 6, 2020.
As of Monday, June 22, no fewer than 372 Heads of Schools have been trained by the EOC on the management of the COVID-19 containment procedures, while each of the schools is to appoint an Incident Manager, who will ensure compliance with the approved COVID-19 protocol.
Each student is expected to wear face masks, while the schools are to prepare well laid out hand washing spots to guarantee regular washing of hands by the students and teachers.
The Task Force also resolved that by July 15, the state government would have reviewed the situation with the schools and come to a conclusion whether the remaining classes would be able to resume or whether the students would have to wait to resume the new session in September 2020.
The statement also added that 8,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted on residents.
The community testing is currently going on in 10 locations, across the state, while testing would be regularly conducted from the secondary health centres located in the seven administrative zones of the state after the ongoing massive community testing exercise, it said.
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Cinemas, pubs and hairdressers will today get the green light to reopen on July 4 - dubbed 'Super Saturday' by some MPs - as Boris Johnson signals the end of lockdown.
In a calculated gamble designed to rescue Britain's economy, the Prime Minister will announce that key sectors including tourism and hospitality will be allowed to reopen next week for the first time since March.
But, in a sign of the risks involved, he will also warn that the changes will be reversed immediately if people abuse the new rules and the epidemic begins to take off again.
The relaxation on July 4 Independence Day in the US comes amid growing optimism that the virus, which has claimed more than 42,000 lives in the UK, is finally reducing to manageable proportions.
Yesterday's death toll rose by 15 the lowest figure since March 13, ten days before the lockdown began.
Cinemas, pubs and hairdressers will today get the green light to reopen on July 4, as Boris Johnson signals the end of lockdown. The relaxation comes amid growing optimism that the virus, which has claimed more than 42,000 lives in the UK, is finally reducing to manageable proportions
The Prime Minister will also confirm the end of the two-metre rule, with businesses allowed to operate a one-metre rule as long as they introduce other measures to cut the virus risk. (Above, a shopper is fitted for a suit by a tailor in Londons Savile Row on June 15)
In a calculated gamble designed to rescue Britain's economy, the PM will announce that key sectors including tourism and hospitality will be allowed to reopen next week for the first time since March. Government sources said some indoor venues, including cinemas, museums and art galleries, can reopen next week provided they take measures to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus. (Above, visitors to the British Museum on March 17)
Boris Johnson is expected to confirm that from July 4 the British tourist industry can reopen, giving millions the hope of a 'staycation' in the UK this summer. (Above, people relax in the sunshine on Wandsworth Common, south London, on Monday)
Just 15 coronavirus deaths were announced in the UK today - the lowest figure recorded since the middle of March
High street sees 51% surge after reopening of non-essential shops Last week's reopening of non-essential shops led to a 51 per cent surge on the high street compared with a week earlier. Figures from retail data analyst Springboard also showed that numbers in England rose as the week went on, as customers started to feel safer. However, they were still down by nearly half on a year ago and not all areas saw the benefit, with London's West End seeing customer numbers 80 per cent below normal. Advertisement
Some 2.2million vulnerable people who have been 'shielding' for more than three months were yesterday told they could finally leave their homes from July 6.
The focus of the attempted economic revival will be on activities that can take place outdoors. The July 4 date has been dubbed 'Super Saturday' by some MPs according to the Daily Telegraph.
Ministers will bring forward legislation this week to give fast-track approval for pubs and restaurants to put seating outdoors, and small shops will be encouraged to set up stalls outside their premises.
The package of measures will be finalised by the Cabinet today before being announced by Mr Johnson in a statement to Parliament at lunchtime.
But government sources said that some indoor venues, including cinemas, museums and art galleries, will also be allowed to reopen next week provided they take measures to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Mr Johnson will also confirm the end of the two-metre rule, with businesses allowed to operate a one-metre rule as long as they introduce other measures to cut the virus risk.
At a meeting of senior ministers and officials last night, Downing Street permanent secretary Simon Case, who led a review of the rule, said case numbers were now low enough to reduce the guidance to 'one metre plus'.
But businesses will have to take precautions such as encouraging the use of masks, seating people side by side rather than face to face, and improving ventilation.
The government released the latest slides tonight showing the status of the battle against coronavirus in the UK
Britain's first coronavirus-proof gym A gym has become Britain's 'first coronavirus-proof' workout venue, after installing futuristic pods around equipment. Fascinating photos show the transformation of Feelgood Fitness and Wellness Centre in Basildon, Essex, which is preparing to reopen as soon as the government allows. Gym lovers are now primed enjoy working up a sweat on their running machines and stair-climbers whilst safely encapsulated in their own futuristic pods. Fascinating photos show the transformation of Feelgood Fitness and Wellness Centre in Basildon, Essex Owner Aaron Tyler, 41, who started the business in April, has designed the set-up so his customers will easily be able to see the person who is next to them. He said: 'I've put my heart and soul into this gym and now we've had to work so hard to make these changes. Advertisement
A Downing Street source warned: 'We are only able to move forward this week because the vast majority of people have taken steps to control the virus.
'But the more we open up, the more important it is that everyone follows the social distancing guidelines. We will not hesitate to reverse these steps if it is necessary to stop the virus running out of control.'
The changes will only apply in England for now.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister, yesterday suggested the Government was acting in a 'reckless' way.
She said it was 'very tempting' to ease restrictions when death rates were falling, but said fresh outbreaks in Germany and China underlined the need for caution.
But Matt Hancock said official data on the epidemic supported the case for relaxing the rules.
The number of new cases fell to 958, the lowest figure since lockdown began on March 23.
The Health Secretary told the daily No 10 briefing last night: 'A month ago, one in 400 people had the virus; now it is one in 1,700 and we can ease the lockdown.'
Today's package of measures is expected to produce the biggest single relaxation of the lockdown so far.
One Whitehall source said it was 'effectively the end of lockdown' although large gatherings will remain banned, theatres and nightclubs will have to stay closed, and modified social distancing rules will remain in place.
Cinemas will only be able to have customers in every other seat.
Museums and galleries will have to operate one-way systems and limit numbers.
Hairdressers will be required to take steps such as wearing personal protective equipment and to cut the small talk to limit the spread of the virus.
Pubs and restaurants will also be allowed to reopen, but with a heavy focus on the outdoors.
The change to the two-metre rule will mean that tables can be placed one metre apart, provided they are side by side.
The PM is expected to confirm that from July 4 the British tourist industry can reopen, giving millions the hope of a 'staycation' in the UK this summer.
Hotels, guesthouses, campsites, caravan parks and self-catering properties will all be permitted to reopen if they act to prevent the spread of the virus.
Owners of second homes will also be allowed to visit them again.
Nicola Sturgeon slams Boris Johnson claiming he is making a 'reckless' bid to get back to normal as he prepares to cut two-metre rule and unveil plans tomorrow for holidays, pubs and hugs for grandparents to return for the summer
Boris Johnson is set to announce an 'expansion of social bubbles' tomorrow allowing families to reunite
He is also expected to unveil 'one metre plus' rule and allow hotels and holiday parks to reopen in a fortnight
The moves will be part of package aimed at restarting the crippled economy following coronavirus lockdown
Tourist sites with shared facilities such as campsites will have to wait longer to get up and running again
Ministers are also negotiating 'air bridges' with around ten countries to allow foreign holidays to resume
By James Tapsfield, political editor, and David Wilcock, Whitehall correspondent for MailOnline
Nicola Sturgeon tore into Boris Johnson today over his plans to ease the lockdown still further in England, branding him 'reckless.
Scotland's First Minister said it was 'tempting' to try to rush to get the nation 'back to normal' but suggested that the move should not be rushed amid new spikes in cases in some countries.
She made the waning as the UK's death toll fell to just 15 - the lowest level since mid-March.
Mr Johnson is preparing to announce a dramatic easing of lockdown this week, with a meeting of the Cabinet to rubber-stamp it tomorrow.
The PM is expected to announce an expansion of social 'bubbles' where people are allowed to mix freely, as he moves England into a new phase of coronavirus recovery.
The changes will be unveiled tomorrow along with a reduction in the two-metre social distancing rule, which businesses insist is crucial to breathe new life back into the tanking economy.
But there are big questions over how the new system will work, amid claims that just two households might be allowed to form 'bubbles'. That could leave families forced to make agonising choices between sets of grandparents, friends and relatives.
'The virus hasn't gone away, there are already countries - China and Germany for example - that are right now dealing with spikes in cases as a result of significant outbreaks. And health officials in South Korea have said they think the country is now experiencing a second wave,' Ms Sturgeon told a media briefing this afternoon.
'I know that when numbers of cases and deaths here are continuing to fall it is very tempting for all of us to think it is all over and we should just now quickly get back to normal.
'We are trying to get back to normal and we want to do that as quickly as possible, but let me reiterate my strong view that acting recklessly now would be a serious mistake.
'We must continue to be cautious and all of us must continue to adhere strictly to the public health advice. That will help us continue progress and avoid a resurgence of the virus now.
'But it will also hopefully put us in a much stronger position ahead of the winter months to come.'
In other major developments today:
Around four in 10 young people who say coronavirus has affected their wellbeing believe the lockdown has made their mental health worse, according to new analysis from the Office for National Statistics;
The government could have effectively gone bust if the Bank of England had not stepped in to bail it out at the start of the crisis, governor Andrew Bailey has revealed;
Ms Sturgeon has suggested the Scottish government is considering stepping in to take a stake in businesses that might otherwise go under due to coronavirus;
Spain appealed for British tourists to visit, with a minister insisting the country was now a 'particularly' safe place and that holidays will not be 'radically' affected by temperature checks and health forms;
Three quarters of Britons want Boris Johnson and senior ministers to take a pay cut in solidarity with millions of workers hammered by the coronavirus lockdown;
Scotland's First Minister said it was 'tempting' to try to rush to get the nation 'back to normal' but suggested that the move should not be rushed amid new spikes in cases in some countries
Health Secretary Matt Hancock this evening said the Government was being 'guided by the science' in easing the lockdown restrictions
The government released the latest slides tonight showing the status of the battle against coronavirus in the UK
What changes is the PM expected to make today? Boris Johnson is widely expected to announce a raft of easements to the lockdown restrictions on Tuesday. They would come into effect from July 4 - in less than a fortnight. They are believed to include: Two-metre rule relaxed
Expansion of support 'bubbles' to allow two households where both have more than one person in them to mingle indoors.
Pubs, bars and restaurants reopen
Barbers and hairdressers are able to reopen Advertisement
Downing Street has warned that Mr Johnson will not hesitate to put the 'handbrake' on again if infections start to surge - amid worrying signs that Germany is experiencing another flare-up.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock this evening said the Government was being 'guided by the science' in easing the lockdown restrictions.
Dr Jenny Harries said even as the rules were relaxed people still needed to follow social distancing, including regular handwashing and good respiratory hygiene.
'There is a critical point here that says just because life is feeling a bit more back to normal don't suddenly jump to where you were this time last year. We need to learn to go forward with restrictions in our lives,' she told the No 10 briefing.
She said that the consensus among members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies was that the R number remained below one.
'The advice that is given is already coming from a consensus of scientists. They give that advice and the politicians act on that advice. The consensus as of last week was that our R remains between 0.7 and 0.9,' she said.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland is allowing six people to meet indoors from tomorrow, after a slump in the number of cases suggested lockdown can be unwound faster there.
Current guidelines in England allow for groups of up to six to meet in the open air, while staying over two metres apart.
Only those living together, or who have chosen to expand their 'support bubble' to include another person who lives alone, can touch or be closer than two metres.
Mr Johnson has been meeting his closest ministers, advisers, and medical and science chiefs to thrash out the new arrangements today. They will then be signed off by Cabinet tomorrow before the premier unveils them in the House of Commons.
Six people are allowed to gather indoors in NI after cases dive Up to six people can gather indoors in Northern Ireland from tomorrow, under changes agreed at Stormont. A meeting of the executive approved the step after the virus was suppressed faster than expected. On Saturday, Northern Ireland's heath trust labs reported no new confirmed cases of coronavirus for the first time since lockdown. The daily update from the Department of Health revealed there were no positive results in the 995 tests analysed in their labs through Friday. There was one coronavirus-linked death announced on Saturday and none yesterday. First Minister Arlene Foster told the daily briefing: 'It is recommended that social distancing should still be maintained along with other mitigations such as ventilation and good hand hygiene. 'This was the one relaxation remaining outstanding from the initial stage of our recovery plan and I know many of you have been desperate in recent weeks to visit your family and friends inside their homes.' Earlier this month, ministers approved the creation of indoor social bubbles involving one person living on their own and another household, without the need for social distancing restrictions. While a move to allow six people to gather indoors would allow for multiple people from different households to meet inside, it is set to have some social distancing guidance attached. Advertisement
According to The Telegraph, two potential options are on the table.
One would involve two household being able to form a bubble, with no limit on the total numbers inside it. That would potentially mean only one set of grandparents.
Another possibility could be to allow households to merge, but impose a ceiling on the number of people. However, that could be regarded as unfair by larger families, who would be more severely constrained in expanding their group.
A senior government source said: 'There will be an expansion of social bubbles, but the details are still being finalised.'
Another government source told The Telegraph: 'The question with bubbles has always been how you help families reunite to the maximum possible extent without too much risk.
'The scientists' main concern has always been infections spreading from one household to another, which is why this is one of the more difficult decisions we have to take.'
Ministers hope the announcement tomorrow will mark another step towards normalising the country, with pubs and restaurants due to reopen from July 4.
But they are also at pains to stress that the crisis is not over by any means.
Security minister James Brokenshire said a sharp increase in the R virus reproduction rate in Germany showed the dangers.
'It is concerning to see the situation in Germany and it's why we are informed in our actions by experience from around the world, why the chief scientific officer, the chief medical officer, speak to their counterparts in different parts of the world to ensure that we are applying the best learning and the best experience in informing our next steps,' he said.
The Department of Health announced 15 more people had died from coronavirus, taking the total to 42,647.
It is the lowest daily rise in deaths since March 15, but there is often a lag over weekends.
The Government figures do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which are thought to have passed 53,500. Scotland recorded no new deaths.
Dr Zeshan Qureshi, lead author of a report on social distancing for Oxford University's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was scientific uncertainty around relaxing the two-metre rule.
His team has looked at every study published up to June 17 on Covid-19 and social distancing. 'This one to two-metre distancing, it's not based on data that we are getting from coronavirus,' he said.
'It is based on historic data, decades and decades old that has been applied to coronavirus in good faith.
UK announces 15 Covid deaths - the lowest level since mid-March The UK today announced just 15 more Covid-19 deaths in the lowest daily toll since 10 days before lockdown was introduced, as the outbreak that once terrorized the nation continues to fizzle out and the Prime Minister prepares to unveil a major loosening of social distancing rules tomorrow. Department of Health statistics show 42,647 Britons have now died after testing positive for the coronavirus in all settings, including hospitals and care homes but the actual number of fatalities has already topped 50,000 when all suspected fatalities are taken into account. And official statistics show just 958 more cases of the disease were diagnosed, in the lowest 24-hour jump since Boris Johnson imposed the draconian restrictions to halt the outbreak on March 23 (967). The increase in deaths is the smallest one-day rise since March 13, when just one fatality was announced. Fifteen Covid-19 deaths were also registered across all settings in Britain two days later on March 15. Scotland has now recorded zero deaths on six occasions in June, including no victims for the last two days. While Northern Ireland has had no deaths on 11 separate days, with three in a row up to today. The East of England also recorded no victims to their count today. Separate analysis today showed more than 100 NHS trusts in England have now gone 48 hours without recording a single Covid-19 death the equivalent of almost 80 per cent of all hospitals. Although the number of deaths is always lower on Sundays and Mondays because of weekend delays to records, experts are convinced the virus is fading in the UK. Advertisement
'It is based on very old, outdated models of droplet transmission, which assume that large droplets are the route in which infections are transmitted.'
He said more modern studies had shown those droplets are on a 'spectrum' and smaller droplets can project up to eight metres.
He said it was possible the virus could be transmitted much further than two metres between people.
'We don't know what a toxic dose of coronavirus is... we don't know it's safe to relax what we're doing already,' he said.
He added that any relaxation of current measures should be done with very 'close monitoring' of the consequences.
There is evidence that 'more social distancing is better than less social distancing', he added.
When asked if the two-metre social distancing rule is going to be reduced, Security Minister James Brokenshire told BBC Breakfast: 'There has been a great deal of work that's been taking place at pace over the last number of days, informed by the science, informed by experience from around the world as well, as to how we can appropriately look at easements and appropriately also reflect on the two-metre rule as well.'
He added the international experience and understanding of the virus had evolved in recent weeks and the decision would be informed by 'the best, most up to date science' and medical experience.
Speaking yesterday Mr Johnson insisted coronavirus is 'increasingly under control' as he prepares to unveil a new 'one metre plus' rule - with caveats such as the need for facemasks - and give Britons the green light for holidays and haircuts.
He stressed he is 'sticking like glue' to the roadmap that from July 4 will permit hairdressers in England to roll up the shutters.
The UK holiday season is also expected to start within a fortnight when Mr Johnson gives permission for hotels and vacation parks to reopen.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is preparing another huge package of tax cuts and spending to revive UK plc after lockdown. VAT is set to be slashed as part of efforts to prop up struggling businesses and stave off mass unemployment.
Chief whip Mark Spencer (left) and No10 aide Dominic Cummings (right) were both in Downing Street today as the new social distancing rules are hammered out
Just 15 coronavirus deaths were announced in the UK today - the lowest figure recorded since the middle of March
Sun-seekers gathered outside the Ship Inn in Folkestone, Kent on Sunday as England prepares for lockdown rules to be eased
People might need to register for pubs People might need to register before going to the pub and order drinks using an app, Matt Hancock said Sunday. The Health Secretary confirmed the options are being considered as ways to make it 'safe' to reopen the hospitality industry. Mr Hancock insisted that the government is 'on plan' to get more sectors of the economy up and running on July 4. Boris Johnson is expected to announce this week that the two-metre social distancing rule is being halved. But he made clear that there is little chance of bars and restaurants getting back to business as usual any time soon. Asked on Sky News' Sophy Ridge programme whether drinkers will need to register before going to the pub, and order using an app, Mr Hancock said: 'That is the sort of thing that we are looking at for how do you make it safe to open things... I wouldn't rule it out.' The step - previously taken in countries such as New Zealand - would allow for easier tracing of customers if someone who went to the venue is found to have been infected. Advertisement
Tory former chancellor Ken Clarke told the BBC: 'I think coming out of the lockdown, sorting out the mess, including the recession after the coronavirus, is going to be even more difficult than going into it in the first place.'
Asked if a short-term cut in VAT was needed, Mr Clarke said: 'I think that's arguable.
'I would accept that. I think that might well be a sensible thing to do.
'But, again, as with furloughing, with a strict time limit.
'Because one of the things we are going to have to do is raise some taxation to pay for the much more interventionist things... the Government is going to have to do.'
Labour ex-chancellor Alistair Darling said he would support a VAT cut, stating: 'Yes, I did that 10 years ago and it was part of a package of measures.'
Speaking in No10 yesterday, Mr Johnson said: 'The disease is increasingly under control and I just want people to reflect on that important fact.
'It's going down, we are getting it down. 'So, of course, as we make that progress it will be possible to open up more and you will be hearing more about what we want to do with not just non-essential retail but with the hospitality sector from July 4 and we're sticking absolutely like glue to the road map to the plan that I set out on May 10.
'But it's very important we don't lose our vice-like grip on the disease; we've got to keep it on the floor where we've got it.
'On the progress on social distancing, watch this space and you won't have much more to wait now. You'll certainly be hearing more this week.'
Large groups gather in Liverpool city centre to drink takeaway alcohol on Sunday afternoon, sitting on the pavements
People were enjoying themselves on the promenade in Folkestone in Kent yesterday while the restrictions are still place
Thirsty Britons queue for takeaway drinks at the Ship Inn in Folksestone on another sunny Sunday afternoon
People were also out drinking in Liverpool City centre on Sunday as the summer weather continued to brighten spirits
Speaking in No10 on Sunday, Boris Johnson said: 'The disease is increasingly under control and I just want people to reflect on that important fact.'
Bournemouth beach was busy on Sunday ahead of lockdown easing as people took advantage of the warm weather
This next phase of lockdown loosening will also permit hairdressers to roll up the shutters on July 4 subject to the wearing of face masks - in a boost for thousands of barbers and millions of shaggy-haired Britons in need of a trim. Pictured: Gatsby and Miller salon in Amersham demonstrates how it will operates when clear to reopen
The reproduction rate - the average number of people each Covid-19 patient infects - is still between 0.7 and 0.9 across the UK, meaning the virus is firmly in retreat. Separate data released for the first time also claimed the UK's current growth rate - how the number of new daily cases is changing day-by-day - could be as low as minus 4 per cent. If the rate becomes greater than zero, the disease could once again spiral out of control
How could the 'one metre plus' rule work? An announcement of the two-metre social distancing rule is expected to be relaxed this week. UK Hospitality has suggested that halving the minimum gap could double the capacity of businesses to operate, while a loosening will also be welcomed by aviation and the tourism industry. But the government has made clear that other precautions will be needed, with inside spaces required to be well ventilated and thoroughly cleaned. Although few hard details are known, here is how the new arrangements could work in difference settings. PUBS Drinkers would be expected to give their contact details in a register, so that they can be traced if it emerges later that someone infected was in the venue. Customers could be advised to order using an app, stand as far apart as possible, face away from each other where they can, and prefer outside spaces. RESTAURANTS Tables could be closer together than two metres as long as people can face away from each other, and there may be advice for 'side-sitting' when people are dining together. Rules could be slacker for those who dine outside. Disposable cutlery might be needed in many restaurants, and there will be thorough cleaning in between guests. Booking is likely to be compulsory in formal settings. TRAINS AND PLANES Face coverings have already been made compulsory on public transport, with passengers who break the rules risking fines. Reducing the minimum distance will increase the potential for trains, Tube and buses to run at higher capacity - allowing more people to go back to work. Airlines will also benefit from lowering the spacing requirement, which they had warned could make it economically impossible to run flights. Face coverings will again be relied on to help reduce the risk of transmission, along with temperature checks. There is the possibility that some seating could be reconfigured to limit how many people face each other, and screens could also be deployed. SHOPS Perspex screens, face coverings and 'quarantine' for goods handled by customers are already being used to reduce the potential for spread. But cutting the social distancing will benefit smaller shops in particular, and help boost footfall. More people will be allowed in shops at once. It is also possible that browsing could be time limited to curb the length of exposure - which along with distance is a key component in spreading the virus. Advertisement
As the rate of infection continues to wane, scientists have rubber-stamped the reopening salons as safe, in a change of tack cheered by the nation's 30,000 hairdressers.
However, Downing Street is facing a Tory revolt over plans to change Sunday trading rules in order to boost the economic recovery.
Asked whether the proposals had been ditched, the PM's spokesman said: 'We have said we will keep measures such as extending Sunday trading hours under review as they can support shops with social distancing and allow shoppers to buy food and other items more conveniently.'
Asked if the suggested plans were now on the 'back burner', the No 10 spokesman added: 'There is a Covid Bill which will look at new ways of working as the country recovers from the disruption caused by coronavirus and which is intended to help businesses through the summer months, in particular.
'I would expect that Bill to be introduced this week.'
He continued: 'In terms of what is in the Bill, it is right that that will go to Parliament first but, as I say, at the heart of it will be legislation to enable businesses to adjust to new ways of working and to help them to capitalise on the summer months.
'It will look to support business to implement safer ways of working to manage the ongoing risks of coronavirus and in particular the need for social distancing.'
The UK's threat level was downgraded on Friday after scientists confirmed that the epidemic is shrinking by four per cent every day, and the reproduction R rate remained below one. Britain can also now test everyone showing symptoms.
As ministers' attention turns from wrestling down the virus to rescuing the economy, they are poised to revise the two-metre rule down to 'one-metre-plus'.
The halving permits will be contingent on other precautions such as meeting outside and with a face covering.
Mr Johnson's relaxation of the draconian restrictions will provide a lifeline to the beleaguered holiday industry, which will open for business also on July 4 - America's Independence Day.
But it is understood that while hotels and bed and breakfasts will be allowed to open then, tourist sites with shared facilities, such as campsites, will have to wait longer before being given the green light.
The encouraging signs have fed a growing clamour from the tourism industry for a clear date from which it can start accepting bookings again and clear guidance about how it will have to operate.
Millions of families are desperately waiting to find out whether they will be able to enjoy a summer holiday after spending three months in lockdown, while holiday bosses say that the limbo has cost them billions of pounds in lost revenue.
Ministers are also negotiating 'air bridges' with up ten countries, including France and Spain, to allow Britons to go abroad without being subject to the Government's controversial 14-day quarantine when they return.
A scheme to test arrivals at airports for the virus is also being piloted, which could also help end blanket restrictions.
Meanwhile, new data showed the reopening of non-essential retailers, including clothes shops and department stores, in England led to a 51 per cent surge in customers heading to the high street.
Between Monday June 15 and Sunday June 21 the number of shoppers was up compared with the week before but remain at historic lows, according to Springboard.
Across all UK retail destinations, footfall was up 45 per cent despite Wales and Scotland keeping non-essential stores closed.
Footfall numbers were up just 8.5 per cent and 11.5 per cent in those countries respectively.
Splitting out the data, it showed high streets and shopping centres in England saw the biggest uptick in shoppers, both up 51 per cent during the week compared with a week earlier but retail parks saw a slower rise, up 32.7 per cent.
But compared with a year ago, footfall in England is still down 47.7 per cent.
In Wales it is down 68.8 per cent and Scotland down 66.5 per cent.
The data also found each day of the week saw an increased number of shoppers as more customers felt safe heading to stores, apart from Thursday when there was heavy rain.
Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said: 'The opening of non-essential retail in England on Monday June 15 had a substantial impact on footfall across all retail destinations.
'The overall result for the UK was subdued by Scotland and Wales where retail reopening is yet to happen.
'We anticipate an additional uplift to come when retail in these areas of the UK also reopens and the hospitality and entertainment industry is given the green light to resume trading in the coming weeks.'
The improvements on England's high streets were not matched by London's West End, however, with footfall remaining down 80.8 per cent.
One thing I will very much miss this summer is going on a summer vacation. Im fairly certain Im not alone. Growing up, wed go on two road trips in my home state of Californiaone, to the eastern Sierras; the other, to the western Sierras. I loved those trips, but eighteen summers of California mountains with slightly different light didnt provide the width of experience I was ready for by the time I graduated from high school. Then, that summer before college, as many teenage Americans had done before me, I went to Europe for the first time.
That trip changed me. Not just because it was my first trip abroad. But because it introduced me to an idea that was pervasive not just in life, but in so many books and films I admired: the American in Europeon vacation or at war, in pleasure or in crisis. For at least one week a year since that first trip at 18, Ive found a way to make it back. Ive stayed in grimy hostels, in rooms of thirty-six backpackers. Ive slept (and been robbed) on sleeper trains. Ive stayed in countless Airbnbs and the occasional luxurious hotel. Ive stayed with old friends and new friends and ex-girlfriends and current girlfriends and, eventually, my wife. Ive fought with friends. Ive been party to relationships dissolving in real time. Ive also had my share of very good times. Visiting Europefor me, and a lot of characters in a lot of the books and movies belowbecame a way to get away from America for a minute, to be a new or different version of oneself, or at least the same version in a different context.
One of the things I like to do while visiting Europe is to read and write. Ive read a lot of these books on trips there, and written the bulk of two novelsincluding a new one, out this week, about this very subject: Americans in Europe. In the case of my novel, its a pod of foura couple with deep stress fractures, plus two strangers they meet while trapped in Barcelona when the ashcloud from an Icelandic volcano seals off all ins and outs and forces the four to pair and re-pair and reckon with the problems theyd hoped to leave behind in Europe.
Story continues
Americans in Europe is one of the great specific genres in American litand I hope this new book of mine is a worthy contribution to that shelf of fiction. Since we wont be going on any trips of our own this summer, consider picking up Barcelona Days, as well as any others from this list herethe books and movies that inspired, in ways small and large, my book, and will, guaranteed, provide you with an illusion of that trip abroad you wont be taking this year.
Where to start?
For me, its with James Salter. Salter spanned a couple generations of great American writers, without becoming as well-known as some. He flew fighter planes in Korea, then returned to the U.S., but spent a considerable amount of time in Europe, living life and taking notes. I recommend in particular the novels A Sport and a Pastime and Solo Faces, and the short story Am Strande Von Tange. A Sport and a Pastimea slim sex-filled voyeuristic novel about one American watching another American indulge in an affair in Franceis the best known of the trio, in part because many of Salters contemporaries revered it. (Reynolds Price called it as nearly perfect as any fiction I know.) Am Strande Von Tange is a brief little escapade in Barcelona, as rich with transporting detail as anything Ive read (the wide, tree-cool avenues; the white silence...Sunday morning, the early morning of Spain). But Im gonna point you to the lesser-known Solo Faces first. Salter wrote this novel about an American mountain climber in the French Alps first as a screenplay, as a follow-up to his successful collaboration with Robert Redford on the film Downhill Racer (another American in Europe; Redford as a competitive skier on the World Cup circuit). Salter imagined Redford in the lead role, but when development stalled out, he transformed the story into a new novel. Lucky us. What you get then is a movie plot, with the novelists detail of living through the seasons in the foothills of the Alps and climbing the sheer faces of the most majestic mountains in Europe.
As with so much of what James Baldwin wrote when he wrote it, Giovannis Room is worth revisiting again and again. A gay romance in Paris in the 50s, published in 1956? Besides what it meant for the conversation about love and sex represented in mainstream literature, its just a jewel-cut little piece of perfection on its own terms. Its sorrowful, its longing, its filled with equal parts darkness and light. Baldwin lived for much of his later life in the southern French town of St.-Paul-de-Vence, so its reasonable to consider him one of the foremost authorities on the matter of Americans in Europe. But this novel was early days still, and about first blush with Europeabout the ways Europe (particularly a bygone Paris) could change you, and reveal to you your truest self.
MSDTAMR EC038 Everett Collection
Oh man, Tom Ripley. The greatest of all the American psychopaths to indulge in a little European r&r (&murder). If youve only seen the luminous Anthony Minghella film of The Talented Mr. Ripley (that captured all four of its starsMatt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Philip Seymour Hoffmanat their most follicled and sun-kissed), do yourself a favor and go straight to the origin point. Patricia Highsmith is one of the inimitable great gifts of all American writingbut particularly the genre of Americans in Europe. And Ripley the First, followed by all four sequel novels in the Ripliad, are among the most twistedly entertaining and crisply psychological books Ive ever read. Book or film version, just get yourself to an Italian seaside town with cold water and a rentable rowboat.
BEFORE SUNRISE, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, 1995 Everett Collection
Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, and Ethan Hawkes ongoing saga about a single couple (American man, French woman) is the nearest representation, Id imagine, to the version of visiting Europe most of us have experienced ourselves. (More familiar, at least, than Ripleys escapades.) Walking around with someone weve just met, or someone weve just re-met, or someone weve spent a decade growing apart from (Jesse and Celeste, in all three cases), stopping only to lie in the grass or snack on some olives, all while conducting one extended conversation on...what, exactly? How a person should live a life? How a person can love another person? Before Sunrise (Vienna, 1995), Before Sunset (Paris, 2004), and Before Midnight (Greece, 2013) describe the arc of a relationship of a very specific couple, and yet the feelings of attraction, repulsion, desire, aggravation, and most other universal human emotions are utterly palpable. As I write this, Im realizing that these films are possibly more influential on my book (and life) than any of the others here. Fingers crossed for a Before 4.
Djuna Barness Nightwood is a 1930s romance of sorts set in seedy Paris, and Berlin and Vienna of the interwar years. Stylishly modern and influentially Modernist. More ideas about love and relationships between humans than obvious plotting. There's a casualness (and cruelty) to the affairs between the magnetic Robin Vote and the women who serve as the other two points of their tricky love triangle. There's just a frankness and rich complication to the portrayals of those relationships (and the rest in this book, gay or straight) that must've, at the time, been starkly refreshing and controversial at once.
A BIGGER SPLASH, l-r: Dakota Johnson, Matthias Schoenaerts, 2015. ph: Jack English/TM and Copyright Everett Collection
A number of great novels in the genre hue closest to that of auto-fictionnovels that are (we assume) lightly fictionalized memoir, where the dramatics live in the subtle particulars of real experience. For some more recent examples Ive been swept up in, check out Garth Greenwells What Belongs To You (an American English teacher's love affair in Bulgaria) or Ben Lerners Leaving the Atocha Station (a Fulbright fellow stumbling his way through Madrid) or Darryl Pinckneys Black Deutschland (a gay black expat from Chicago in early-80s Berlin, inspired by Isherwoods model from half a century earlier) or Caleb Crains Necessary Errors (a recent college grad in Prague in the rush of freedom following the Velvet Revolution). Further back, theres Lynn Tillmans Motion Sickness (an American writer skipping frenetically across the continent). And further back still theres The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy (a 21-year-olds fizzy adventures in late-1950s expat Paris). Id jump back into any of these today and feel deeply, instantly, elsewhere.
If we were to play single-word-association game with Don DeLillo, we could do worse than Americananot just the title of his first novel, but the subject in his crosshairs for a fifty-plus-year career. Only rarely do any of his Americans get to Europe, but when they do, holy cow, what a great and bizarro version of it they find. I love The Namesabout some Americans living (and participating in various forms of shady business) in Athens in the early 80s; also about a language cult of some sort in Greece. If language cult of some sort doesnt have you smashing that Buy Now button on Amazon, but you like the idea of spending some time in Greece, consider Lawrence Osbornes Beautiful Animals instead. This 2017 novel is about two young womenan American and a Britwho get in over their heads when they meet a Syrian refugee on the Greek island where theyre vacationing. Its an ideal combo of pace and precision, when a literary novelist can still cook a plot.
MCDCAME EC135 Everett Collection
Italian director Luca Guadagnino has become an unlikely bard on the topic. Several of his films center on the experiences of Americans (or at least non-native English speakers) in strange European lands. Think of Elio and Oliver in Call Me My Your Name (based on the sensuous novel by Andre Aciman) or the young American played by Dakota Johnson in A Bigger Splash. (Nothing will zap your home-bound blues like this film, set on the Italian island of Pantelleria in the Mediterranean, and starring an epic quartetJohnson, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaertsand a centerpiece swimming pool). Or SuspiriaJohnson again, as an American at a ballet school in behind-the-wall Berlin. Or I Am LoveSwinton again, as an American married into Milanese royalty. Guadagninos current project, ostensibly set on an American military base in Italy, has him sticking to his (maybe unwittingly) favorite subject.
Suspiria Everett Collection
How about the olds? Hmm. You may have left Hemingway and Fitzgerald back in the fog of high school and never looked back. Or you may take issue with their antiquated ways in the world. But let me confess right here that I still really love most of this stuff. Caveat button fully engaged, consider their three most notable works in the genre: A Farewell to Arms (Hemingways World War I tragedy, set in Italy and Switzerland), The Sun Also Rises (a Lost Generation troupes romp through Paris and Pamplona and the Basque Country) and Tender Is the Night (Fitzgeralds ode to the sea-coast in France and, I guess, sanitariums in Switzerland?).
Some other bits and bobs I cant leave without mentioning:
The Vacationers: Escape of escapes. Emma Straubs breezy novel about a family getaway to Mallorca, replete with salt and sun and properly-scaled drama, is the ultimate stand-in for your own trip.
Roman Holiday: Hell of a couple days for an American in Europe. Never gets old.
ROMAN HOLIDAY, Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, 1953 Everett Collection
Midsommar: The latest great entry on the list. Sun stays out all night, bear bodysuits go up in flames. Key learnings? Americans in northern Europe are extra susceptible to shit going sideways.
Some parts of novels I think about often from books that are primarily set elsewhere, but that swing their Americans through for short stays. Im talking about the northern Italy of revolution in The Flamethrowers (Rachel Kushner); the Berlin of near-love in Less (Andrew Sean Greer); the Budapest and Hungarian countryside in The Idiot (Elif Batuman); the crime-y underbelly of Amsterdam in The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt); the prostitute-filled Vienna in The World According to Garp (John Irving) or the psychoanalyst-filled Vienna in Fear of Flying (Erica Jong); and the manic-depressive Honeymoon surge through Monaco in The Marriage Plot (Jeffrey Eugenides). Visit them!
Theres also a whole other category of Americans in Europe, nonfiction edition. Its breaking the premise, and there are too many to list and too many I havent read, but here are some Ive loved over the years by (bonus) favorite writers of mine whove written for GQ. Notes on a Foreign Country by Suzy Hansen. The Telling Room by Michael Paterniti. A Sense of Direction by Gideon Lewis-Kraus. Paris, I Love You But Youre Bringing Me Down by Rosecrans Baldwin. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik.
THE BOURNE IDENTITY, MATT DAMON, 2002, UNIVERSAL Everett Collection
Finally, dont forget the Bourne movies. An American in Europe if ever there was one.
And then lastly, for real: Please check out Barcelona Days. If you, like I, love any of the above, I think you will very much enjoy this book, too.
Daniel Riley is a GQ correspondent. Barcelona Days is out today, June 23.
Originally Appeared on GQ
A Portuguese woman will spend at least four years behind bars after trying to smuggle almost five kilograms of cocaine hidden in toiletry bottles into Western Australia.
The street value of the cocaine was estimates just under $2.2 million. Credit:AFP
Border Force officers searched the 42-year-old woman's bags when she arrived at Perth International Airport on December 29 last year on a flight from Doha, the Australian Federal Police said.
Six plastic bottles of toiletry products inside her suitcase returned positive drug readings and concealed almost five kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of just under $2.2 million.
Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation has received the Gold Award in the Special Video Production category for its 2019 Possibilities Patient Honoree Video.
In addition, Siskin Hospital received the Silver Award for its end-of-year Direct Mail Piece among thousands of other entries from across the country.
These awards are in addition to the Healthcare Marketing Report Awards Siskin Hospital recently received.
The Aster Awards has honored excellence in healthcare advertising since 2002. One of the largest and most respected national competitions of its kind, participants across the U. S. compete for awards against similar-sized organizations in their specific groups and categories, in advertising, marketing and communications, said officials.
Entries are judged on creativity, layout/design, typography, production, quality and overall effectiveness. A diverse panel of industry experts, comprised of design and healthcare marketing professional with decades of combined experience, judge all entries. Awards were issued for entries that received top marks from judges placing them in the nations top 16 percent for advertising excellence. Specifically, Gold Awards score in the nations top 5 percent and Silver Awards in the top 12 percent.
The goal of Siskin Hospitals 2019 Possibilities Patient Honoree Video was to celebrate life beyond disability through the story of an actual patient who had overcome significant challenges and find that life is full of possibilities. Each year, a new story of hope, courage, perseverance is developed as part of the annual Possibilities: Siskin Hospital Celebrates Life Beyond Disability Luncheon, its only community-wide fundraiser.
For more information about Siskin Hospital and its rehabilitation services, visit www.SiskinRehab.org.
[June 22, 2020] W. R. Berkley Corporation Announces Executive Appointments
W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) has named John Littzi as senior vice president - deputy general counsel and Neil Keenan as vice president - senior counsel. Both appointments are effective immediately. Mr. Littzi joined W. R. Berkley Corporation in 2011 and since 2013 has served as vice president - senior counsel. Each year, he has taken on additional responsibilities, participating in a variety of corporate and investment transactions. More recently, he has broadened his role within the legal department and expanded his engagement with our operating units, working on a variety of transactional and litigation matters, underwriting concerns and regulatory issues. Previously, he was an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Mr. Keenan joined . R. Berkley Corporation in 2014 and since 2018 has served as assistant vice president - counsel. Over the past 2 years, he has worked on a diverse group of projects, involving corporate transactions, employment and litigation matters, underwriting concerns and regulatory issues. He has also taken the lead for the legal department on several difficult compliance projects, as well as being at the forefront of the legal department's innovation efforts. Previously, he was an associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.
"Through their individual achievements, extremely hard work and singular dedication, John and Neil have each made meaningful contributions to the success of our enterprise," said W. Robert Berkley, president and chief executive officer. "We congratulate them on their promotions and look forward to continuing to work together for many years to come." Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty insurance business: Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200622005730/en/
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Iran said it will soon send to France the black boxes it retrieved from the crash site of a Ukraine International Airlines plane outside the capital city of Tehran back in January. The passenger aircraft was hit by a missile defense base belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at the dawn of a tense night between the United States and Iran. The latter had struck a key American military base in Iraq with a barrage of missiles in retaliation for the US killing of IRGCs Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in the Iraqi capital.
Of the 176 people on board the plane most of them Iranian-Canadians none survived the strike. Marking a U-turn from their initial denial, Iranian authorities came out three days after the incident to officially admit that the crash was the fruit of a disastrous mistake by missile battery operators. They promised a transparent probe and justice for the victims.
Tehran also announced that it lacked the technical knowhow to decipher the data on the two black boxes and continued to grip them tightly while sending mixed signals about what its next steps could be.
Six months on and amid mounting international pressure, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif assured his Canadian counterpart Francois-Philippe Champagne of Tehrans readiness to send the black boxes to France, where further light could be shed on the tragedy. And Zarifs deputy for legal affairs Mohsen Baharvand told state television June 23 that the new decision was made after the Ukrainian side exercised delays in responding to Irans offers to hand over the black boxes to Kyiv.
Tehran also says it has been urging a negotiated compensation deal, for which Kyiv has not yet named a delegation. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the Iranian proposals. Zelenskiy warned that his government may seek international arbitration and will continue to demand adequate compensation as well as an official apology.
But more persistent calls for accountability have come from the families of the Iranian victims. Those families have long complained about pressure from Irans intelligence organizations to remain silent and hold low-profile funeral ceremonies only in the presence of plain-clothes IRGC officers. Yet through multiple petitions and campaigns, some continue to press for justice. Canada-based Iranian novelist Hamed Esmailioun, who lost his wife and 9-year-old daughter in the tragedy, is particularly spearheading one such effort at the international level. He told a virtual press conference earlier this week that the families demands go beyond the black boxes, and they wont rest easy before the Islamic Republic identifies and puts to trial those who ordered the missile strike.
Irans admission that the plane was indeed downed by the IRGC sparked days of nationwide protests in January against the governments perceived cover-up. The candle vigils in memory of the victims also saw radical slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with an unspecified number of demonstrators, mostly university students, arrested in the crackdown. One of those students, Siavash Nowruzi, was sentenced last week to eight years in jail and will receive 74 lashes after being convicted of acting against national security and insulting the supreme leader.
A new visitor has come to America. That visitor is called fear. After the killing of George Floyd, the Democrats took advantage of the situation to enable their militant arm, the communist cadres of BLM and Antifa, to riot and destroy, virtually unmolested, in blue cities and towns across our country. Democrat Party politicians and their media allies not only abetted the riots, but have allowed them to continue, in some cases even joining them. That the riots have metastasized into statue topplings pleases them to no end and bothers them not a whit.
Make no mistake: these riots have nothing to do with George Floyd, or even social or racial justice. They have only to do with Democrats attempting to seize power from President Donald Trump. Their efforts have followed, in stair-step fashion, with each step more destructive than the one preceding, through Stormy, Russia, impeach, COVID, and now the ultimate world-destroyer: communism, the Kraken. They are saying, in essence, that if they cannot run the country, then they will destroy it. Their calculation is that this will scare voters into pulling the lever for Joe Biden, and tranquility, come November. Otherwise, the message is clear: the Kraken will overwhelm the place.
Their strategy may be working. People across the country are beginning to act foolishly, prostrating themselves or raising their arms in supplication to the Kraken communists, and toppling statues everywhere. Are they crazy? Of course not they are scared. Average Americans are terrified that they and their property will be the next target of the Kraken communist mob. They fear that they, their families, and their property will be targeted next, with local police standing aside and their elected officials mouthing Orwellian mantras like " check your white privilege."
Further evidence, Democrats point out, is Biden's poll numbers, which are rising, even as the riots, looting, secessions, statue topplings, and killings continue. But a more astute interpretation is that more and more Americans are self-censoring their thoughts and opinions, choosing not to voice their increasing support for Donald Trump.
Come November and a Trump landslide, the Kraken communists and their foolish Democrat and media enablers will learn their big mistake. The cold fury that is building will be more than enough to slay the Kraken.
Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
ONE of those arrested during a major garda operation targeting the activities of a Limerick-based organised crime group has been charged with drugs offences.
Jamie Crawford, 19, of Clarina Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston appeared before Limerick District Court just over 24 hours after gardai carried a series of searches at locations in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.
He is accused of possession of 1kg of cannabis for the purpose of sale of supply.
It is alleged the drugs, estimated to be worth 20,000, were seized at two locations in the Ballinacurra Weston area on June 17.
There was no objection to bail subject to Mr Crawford complying with strict conditions. The matter was adjourned to September for DPPs directions.
Nineteen other people were arrested during a series of co-ordinated searches as part of Operation Coronation.
More than 170 gardai from Limerick, Clare and Tipperary supported by national units and members of the Defence Forces were deployed to carried out more than 70 searches across the three counties.
More than 250,000 in cash was seized during the operation while 13 bank accounts containing more than 300,000 have been frozen.
Five cars, the deeds to a property in Dubai and a variety of high-end jewellery and clothing were also seized.
Thirteen of those arrested have since appeared before the courts and a file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) is generally considered one of the best beverage makers in the world, with a leading market share in several key industry segments. Its ubiquitous Coke brand is recognized around the globe. While steelmaker Nucor (NYSE:NUE) may not have that same level of brand recognition for any of its specific products, there are a number of ways in which Nucor and Coca-Cola are very similar. Here's why Nucor is the Coca-Cola of the steel industry.
It's an industry leader in its core markets
Nucor is a North American steel manufacturer, so it lacks the global scale of Coca-Cola. However, it is a leader in its main market, the United States. Larger and more diversified than any of its peers, one of the steel maker's primary goals is to take the No. 1 or No. 2 spot in any industry segment it serves. To put some numbers on that, it is the industry leader in seven products and holds the second slot in another four. It's third in one (sheet steel), but it uses that material internally to make other products.
Being the largest player gives Nucor the ability to take the lead on things like pricing, with competitors often falling in line once the steelmaker raises or lowers prices. And it provides economies of scale, helping keep costs low. In this situation, bigger is better, which is one of the key factors that helps drive Coca-Cola's success.
It has a special recipe for success
Although it wouldn't be exactly correct to say that Nucor has a "secret" recipe like the one for Coca-Cola's famous Coke brand, it does have a very-hard-to-replicate approach. The first piece of that is its use of electric arc furnaces, which are more flexible and efficient than the older blast furnace technology that underpins some of its competitors' mills. There are other companies that use electric arc mills, like Steel Dynamics, but building mills is expensive and time-consuming. It will take competitors a long time to catch up to Nucor's scale, if they can ever achieve it.
Next, Nucor is vertically integrated. Its mills make heavy use of scrap metal, and Nucor, via its David J. Joseph Company, is one of the largest players in the scrap metal space. It's also been working to create additional input alternatives, including building two direct reduced iron ore plants (an alternative to scrap), to ensure it has access to the cheapest inputs available at any given time.
Moreover, it uses its own production of commodity steel to feed its production of higher-margin specialty products. In this way, it maximizes the use of its owned facilities while building businesses that offer higher profits. And as if that weren't enough, it has a unique pay structure in which a significant portion of employee compensation is based on profit sharing. When Nucor does well, its employees do well; when Nucor is struggling, its employees feel the pinch too, giving the company a break on one of its biggest costs right when it needs it.
There is no company that comes close to matching this combination of positive attributes. This underpins the company's ability to generate industry-leading margins in good and bad markets alike.
It's shown a dedication to the dividend
One other area where Nucor and Coca-Cola have a great similarity is their impressive dividend records. Nucor's dividend has been increased annually for 47 consecutive years. While that falls short of Coca-Cola's 58 years, Nucor's streak basically goes back to the point at which it started making steel. It did other things before repositioning itself in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
However, there's a big difference here between Coca-Cola and Nucor that is very important. Coca-Cola's business is fairly stable over time, while Nucor's business is highly cyclical. So, in some ways, the steel maker's ability to keep growing its dividend through good markets and bad is even more impressive than what Coca-Cola has achieved.
Time for a deep dive
If you've never considered a steel mill because of the volatile nature of the industry, you might want to step back and rethink that decision. Steel isn't soda, of course, but Nucor has managed to create an industry-leading position with a unique business approach while rewarding investors well all along the way. That sounds a lot like Coca-Cola. And the cyclical nature of the industry actually allows dividend investors a chance to get in the door at a decent price while other investors are focused on steel markets instead of Nucor's incredibly strong industry position. In fact, its 3.8% dividend yield is currently toward the high end of its historical range, suggesting that now could be a good time to start looking at shares.
By PTI
MOSCOW: Russia on Tuesday ruled out mediating between India and China following the violent clashes in the Galwan Valley, saying the two nations do not need any kind of assistance to resolve their disputes.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks came after a virtual conference of the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also attended the conference.
ALSO READ| Respect international law, support multilateralism to build durable world: S Jaishankar at RIC meet
The conference was held amid escalating tension between India and China following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15 that left 20 Indian Army personnel dead, significantly escalating the already volatile situation in the region. "I do not think that India and China need any help, any kind of assistance specifically aimed at helping them to resolve disputes," Lavrov said.
"As soon as the border incidents took place, meetings were held and contact was established between the military command on the ground and the foreign ministers," Sputnik News quoted Lavrov as saying.
"As I understand, these contacts are ongoing, and neither party has made any statement indicating a lack of willingness to negotiate based on generally acceptable approaches. We naturally expect it to continue that way," Lavrov said.
India and China have rejected any role for other parties in finding a peaceful resolution to their boundary issue. Russia has maintained close ties with both China and India. Russia last week expressed concern over the clashes but hoped that both of its close allies can resolve the conflict themselves.
ALSO READ| Beijing terms reports of 40 Chinese soldiers killed in Ladakh clash as 'fake news'
Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh is currently in Moscow to attend Wednesday's parade on Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II.
OAKLAND, Calif. Twitter added a label to another post by President Trump on Tuesday, the fifth time it has said he violated its policies and further escalating the companys battle with the president over his often incendiary tweets.
In an early-morning tweet, Mr. Trump threatened serious force against any protesters who tried to establish an autonomous zone in Washington, D.C., as they have in Seattle. Twitter hid his message behind a warning label saying the president violated the companys policies forbidding abusive behavior.
After years of taking a hands-off approach, Twitter began to moderate Mr. Trumps posts more aggressively last month. It added fact-checking messages to some of his tweets about mail-in ballots and appended a warning label to a tweet in which he suggested that protesters would be shot. Last week, the company put an explanatory label on a tweet from Mr. Trump that included a doctored video about a racist baby.
In response, Mr. Trump accused Twitter of working to stifle conservative voices and harm his re-election campaign. Last month, he signed an executive order intended to roll back legal protections for Twitter and other internet companies. A lawsuit has been filed to block the order.
The Punjab cabinet on Monday approved setting up of four new Covid-19 laboratories in the state with a view to ramping up the daily testing capacity from the current 9,000 to 13,000.
Also, the cabinet in a meeting chaired by chief minister Amarinder Singh gave the go-ahead to recruit 131 employees to run these laboratories that will come up at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana; Punjab State Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Mohali; Northern Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory, Jalandhar; and Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, Mohali.
At present, viral research and diagnostic laboratories in three Government Medical Colleges at Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot are conducting coronavirus tests in the state.
The cabinet also cleared the proposal of the medical education and research department to create and fill four posts of assistant professor (microbiology) on ad hoc basis in the new viral testing laboratories.
Besides, approval was given fill to 300 ad hoc posts in the medical education department, 100 each in the three government-run medical colleges to handle the critical patients of Covid-19. Directions were given for an expeditious recruitment of medical and technical staff as well.
Regular faculty for
Bathinda vet college
The cabinet also decided to fill all vacancies as per the regulations of the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) for the Veterinary College, Rampura Phul (Bathinda), to ensure its optimal functioning. This move would lead to regular appointments of a dean, 17 professors and 23 associate professors on full salary by the academic year 2022-23.
New chemical lab
in Jalandhar
To bring down the pendency of reports of samples of viscera, blood alcohol, etc in the chemical examiner laboratory, Kharar, the cabinet accorded approval to establish a new chemical laboratory in Jalandhar, with creation of 21 posts involving annual financial liability of 42.31 lakh.
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Cube, meanwhile, has been sharing conspiratorial images, like a mural portraying scheming, hook-nosed Jews secretly controlling the world by an artist who, just in case you didn't pick up on his subtle messaging, has called Jews "demons." Over a spree of posts that, in a non-COVID world, should have seen an assistant rip his phone from his hands and throw it into the nearest river, Cube linked the oppression of black people to a Jewish conspiracy in-between sharing pictures of Trump photoshopped as the Joker, to the applause of 14-year-olds intellectuals everywhere.
When critics pointed out that his anti-Trump hot takes were hard to take seriously when wedged between his anti-Semitic hot takes, he responded with posts like "I speak for no organization. I only speak for the meek people of thee earth. We will not expect crumbles from your table" and "DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE: THE DEVIL WILL COME AT ME (AND YOU) WITH THIS TATIC. 1)Dismiss us 2)Discredit us 3)Demonize us 4)Destroy us!!! The formula they used against Martin Luther King Jr & many others!!!" So, he was in a bit of a mood.
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The fact that Cube also retweeted a QAnon image about how the media has committed treason, then told a critic "I don't know who the f--k Q is? It's just a True statement" tempts us to write this off as isolation driving him stir-crazy. But Cube has palled around with anti-Semitic preacher and all-around weirdo Louis "Actually, German Jews Funded the Holocaust, Duh" Farrakhan, and in 2015 he was accused of having his posse assault a rabbi while slinging epithets. So, he's unfortunately in deeper than his rogue grandma tweet storm would suggest.
Big sigh here, Cube. Well, we'll always have Nickelodeon.
Example of a plastic Scintillator detector (left) and a stage of its 3D-printing process (right). Credit: CERN
Plastic scintillators are one of the most used active materials in high-energy physics. Their properties make it possible to track and distinguish between particle topologies. Among other things, scintillators are used in the detectors of neutrino oscillation experiments, where they reconstruct the final state of the neutrino interaction. Measurements of oscillation phenomena are carried out through comparison of observations of neutrinos in near detectors (close to the target) and far detectors (up to several hundred kilometers away).
CERN is strongly involved in the T2K experiment, the current world-leading neutrino oscillation experiment, in Japan, which recently released promising results. A future upgrade of the experiment's near detector will pave the way for more precise results. The novel detector will comprise a two-ton polystyrene-based plastic scintillator detector segmented into 1 x 1 x 1 cm3 cubes, leading to a total of around two million sensitive elements: the smaller the cubes, the more precise the results. This technology could be adopted for other projects, such as the DUNE near detector. However, more precise measurements would require finer granularity, making the detector assembly harder.
This is where the CERN EP-Neutrino groupled by Albert De Roecksteps in, developing a new plastic scintillator production technique that involves additive manufacturing. The R&D is carried out in collaboration with the Institute for Scintillation Materials (ISMA) of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, which has strong expertise in the development of scintillator materials, and the Haute Ecole d'Ingenierie et Gestion du Canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD), which is expert in additive manufacturing. The final goal is to 3-D-print a "super-cube," that is, a single massive block of scintillator containing many optically independent cubes. 3-D-printing would solve the issue of assembling the individual cubes, which could thus be produced in any size, including smaller than 1 cm3, and relatively quickly (volumes bigger than 20 x 20 x 20 cm3 can be produced in about a day).
So far, the collaboration has been fruitful. A preliminary test gave the first proof of concept: the scintillation light yield of a polystyrene-based scintillator 3-D-printed with fused deposition modeling has been found to be comparable to that of a traditional scintillator. But the road towards a ready-to-use super-cube is still long. Further optimisation of the scintillator parameters and tuning of the 3-D-printer configuration, followed by a full characterisation of the 3-D-printed scintillator, will need to be achieved before the light reflector material for optically isolating the cubes can be developed.
This new technique could also open up new possibilities for the field of particle detection. A successful 3-D-printed plastic scintillator detector could pave the way for a broader use of this technology in detector building, which could shake up the field of high-energy physics, as well as that of medicine, where particle detectors are used, for instance, in cancer therapy. Moreover, the greatly cost-effective 3-D-printer could be replicated quite easily and used in a vast number of settings. Umut Kose, from the EP-neutrino group and Neutrino Platform at CERN, explains: "Our dream goes beyond the super-cube. We like to think that, in a few years, 3-D-printing will allow high-school students to make their own radiation detection systems. The outreach potential of this technology is mind-blowing."
Davide Sgalaberna, now at ETH Zurich, cannot hide his enthusiasm for this adventure: "This is the first time that 3-D-printing could be used for real particle detectors. We are transforming our personal will into a project, and we are hopeful that this could lead to a breakthrough. That is thrilling." This thrill is shared by Davide's colleagues, who are more than ready to resume work on the 3-D-printed detector once the easing of lockdown allows everyone to return to CERN.
Explore further They are there and they are gone: ICARUS chases a fourth neutrino
Oxford University started human clinical trials for its potential COVID-19 vaccine in Brazil, one of the worst-hit countries and current epicentre, over the last weekend. Vaccine sponsor Lemann Foundation said in a statement that the trials will be performed on 2,000 health workers volunteers in Sao Paulo, Brazils most populous city, and 1,000 people in Rio de Janeiro.
Sarah Gilbert, the lead researcher of the vaccine development programme, had reportedly told a virtual conference on April 17 that her team is confident about the efficacy of ChAdOx1 vaccine. The team had already been working on a plan for an unknown disease, named Disease X, which would have caused a pandemic.
The vaccine is made of a weakened and modified version of adenovirus (a common cold virus) that causes infections in chimpanzees. The team of researchers extracted the genes for the spike protein on the surface of the coronavirus. When the vaccine is injected into a body, the vaccine enters cells and start producing coronavirus spike protein.
Read: MMR Vaccine Might Offer Protection Against Acute Covid-19 Complications: Scientists
Temporary side effects
The spike in protein prompts the immune system to produce antibodies and trigger T-cells to destroy the infected cells. If the individual encounters the novel coronavirus, the antibodies and T-cells are activated to fight the virus. Oxford Univesity said in a separate statement that vaccines made from the ChAdOx1 virus have been given to more than 320 people to date and have been shown to be safe with temporary side effects, such as mild fever, headache or a sore arm.
Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) approved the trials on June 2 and the Lemann Foundation will cover the costs of all the necessary medical infrastructure and equipment. The volunteers will receive the vaccine and will be left exposed to the virus normally in their day-to-day work. Dr Lily Yin Weckx, a principal investigator of the study and coordinator of the program in Brazil, said in a statement that the most important thing is to carry out these trials at a time when the epidemiological curve is still rising and the results may be more decisive.
Read: Oxford Researchers Announce Phase II And Phase III Human Trials Of COVID-19 Vaccine
(Image: AP)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 05:27:50|Editor: huaxia
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A team of experts work at the site of the mass graves in Tarhuna, some 90 km south of Tripoli, Libya, on June 23, 2020. Lutfi Al-Misurati, director of the Department of Search for Remains of the Libyan General Authority for Research and Identification of Missing Persons, on Tuesday said that 10 unidentified bodies have been found inside mass graves in the city of Tarhuna. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua)
TRIPOLI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Lutfi Al-Misurati, director of the Department of Search for Remains of the Libyan General Authority for Research and Identification of Missing Persons, on Tuesday said that 10 unidentified bodies have been found inside mass graves in the city of Tarhuna.
"On June 10, a team of experts was present with all its logistical and technical equipment and found four sites that had been tampered with by unidentified individuals. 10 bodies were recovered from this site," Al-Misurati told Xinhua.
The Libyan official also said that work is still ongoing to find mass grave and bodies in and around the city.
Libya's eastern-based army and the UN-backed government were engaged in a deadly armed conflict for more than a year in and around the capital Tripoli, which ended recently with the UN-backed government announcing taking over all of western Libya after withdrawal of the rival eastern-based army.
Tarhuna, which is located some 90 km south of Tripoli, was the eastern-based army's main military operations center, before it was taken over by the UN-backed government.
A 25-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting the cat of a Tuscaloosa business owner.
Tuscaloosa police arrested Yuxin Zhuang on one count of animal cruelty, according to Tuscaloosa police spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor. We believe he is responsible for the death of at least one pet cat in the downtown residential area,' Taylor said.
Police were notified that a business owner had found their cat deceased at a location on Eighth Street in downtown Tuscaloosa Saturday morning. A veterinarian determined the animal had been shot with a pellet gun.
Evidence led officers to arrest Zhuang at his residence on Monday. He was charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals and is being held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail with bond set at $10,000.
Further charges could be forthcoming. Anyone with information about the case or any potential cases is asked to contact Tuscaloosa Police at 205-349-2121 or Crime Stoppers at 205-752-STOP (7867).
An accused meth-lab mastermind even had smurfs minions who purchased his supplies and kept watch, a Pennsylvania district attorney says.
The big meth-cooking bust was made last week in Bucks County, where DA Matt Weintraub says the alleged meth lab mastermind now faces a raft of criminal charges.
The prime suspect is identified as Gary Lynn Moyer, 70, of Dublin. He was arraigned last week on charges of operating a methamphetamine lab, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, and conspiracy, the DAs office tells WFMZ 69 News, which adds:
At an age when many are retired, Moyer is accused of cooking and selling meth out of his home on Cherry Lane and using so-called smurfs to buy supplies and watch out for him while he cooked-up the meth batches.
"Smurf is a term for someone that will go into a CVS or Walgreens and steal some of the ingredients needed to cook meth," Weintraub explained.
The six "smurfs" are identified as Teresa Ann Truitt, 58, of Dublin, Harold Roger Bickley, 61, of Perkasie, Annette Bickley, 57, of Perkasie, Lisa M. Hilbert, 50, of Long Pond, Monroe County, Donna Rapoli, 56, of Easton, Northampton County, and Christopher Ryan Clemmer, 38, of Dublin.
Police tell WFMZ each of the six was seen going to Moyers residence after buying supplies like ephedrine from area pharmacies. Ephedrine is one of the main drugs used to make methamphetamine.
Moyer paid his co-defendants in meth, according to the affidavit, which also alleges the operation routinely cranked out 2,000 grams of meth thats about 4-and-a-half pounds, of the drug per batch.
A Syrian working in Germany as a doctor, has been arrested and accused of torturing detainees in Syria government prisons reports Hurriya Press.
On Monday, German prosecutors announced the arrest of a Syrian doctor who had taken refuge in Germany, and had been accused of crimes against humanity, including torturing prisoners detained by the Assad regime.
The accused, Alaa Mousa, was arrested Friday evening in Germanys Hessen state, according to a statement by the Federal Prosecutor General in the city of Karlsruhe, adding that the suspect had worked as a doctor in a military security prison, and had participated in at least two cases of torture against a prisoner inside the Assad regimes military prison.
The results of the investigation showed that in 2011, the accused beat a second detainee who was suffering a seizure as a result of torture. The victim, who was arrested for participating in peaceful protests against the Assad regime, was killed. The German prosecutors statement confirmed that the cause of death remained unknown.
The doctor left Syria in the middle of 2015 as a refugee to Germany, where he is practicing medicine.
The case adds to a series of ongoing investigations in Germany and France against senior officials and officers in the Assad regime accused of crimes against humanity, including torture, rape and sexual assault.
Last Thursday, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), a German NGO, announced that seven Syrian refugees who were victims or witnesses of sexual assault and rape in Syrian regime prisons had filed a criminal complaints before the German judiciary.
As part of details provided by the federal court about the arrest of accused Dr. Alaa Mousa, from October 2011, the victim, known as detainee A., had been subjected to a torture session, then had a seizure. One of his fellow detainees then asked a guard to inform a doctor.
After the detainees arrival, the Mousa beat him with a plastic tube, then continued to beat and kick him.
The following day, detainee A.s health deteriorated significantly. A detainee asked for medical support, and Alaa returned with another doctor in the prison with whom he, again, beat the detainee with a plastic tube.
According to the court, Alaa Mousa left Syria in mid-2015, then entered Germany, where he practiced medicine.
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.
WASHINGTON - Roger Stone has asked to stay out of prison until Sept. 3 while he appeals his November conviction for lying and witness tampering in a congressional investigation, citing the serious risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic to people with his medical conditions and age.
Stone is set to report to prison June 30, but asked a federal judge Tuesday for a two-month extension in reporting for his sentence. U.S. prosecutors did not oppose the request and have taken similar stances for other defendants at higher risk of illness from the novel corovonavirus.
The longtime GOP operative and friend of President Donald Trump had been expected to seek a stay of his 40-month prison sentence since he appealed his case in April to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
"Roger J. Stone, Jr. respectfully moves the Court for an Order extending his surrender date to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons from June 30, 2020, to September 3, 2020, in light of his heightened risk of serious medical consequences from exposure to the COVID-19 virus in the close confines of a BOP facility," Stone attorneys Seth Ginsberg and Grant Smith wrote in a motion to U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the District.
Stone's attorneys said they were told by prosecutors that they did not oppose a 60-day extension based on Justice Department guidance on the handling of voluntary surrender dates during the pandemic. Legal analysts said it is not uncommon for the U.S. attorney's office for the District to agree to delaying a defendant's sentence, especially for inmates considered at higher risk for coronavirus, which could include Stone because of his age.
"Challenges of the covid-19 pandemic in prisons, combined with a desire to respect the appellate process, can often lead the Justice Department in close cases to not oppose a motion," said Douglas Berman, an expert on criminal sentencing at Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law.
Berman said the handling of Stone's case has been "so peculiar" that any accommodation or penalty for the defendant would fuel partisan attacks by one side or the other, and reasonably so, given its political context. Still, he said prosecutors and judges have treated other defendants of a similar age and with medical profiles like Stone's the same way.
The longtime Trump adviser's request to push back his reporting date came the day before a federal prosecutor was expected to testify before House lawmakers that top Justice Department officials pressured government lawyers to cut Stone "a break" in his sentencing.
Briefing for Stone's appeal is expected to continue into October, making any decision unlikely before the presidential election. Trump has also strongly suggested that he will pardon Stone.
Stone has been out on bail since Jackson sentenced him in February and denied his request for a new trial in mid-April.
Stone, 67, was convicted by a federal jury in Washington of lying during his September 2017 testimony to the House Intelligence Committee to conceal his central role in the 2016 Trump campaign's efforts to learn about Democratic computer files hacked by Russia and made public by WikiLeaks to damage Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton.
Stone, the last defendant charged in special counsel Robert Mueller III's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. He lost his motion in district court for a retrial April 16.
Before Stone's sentencing, Attorney General William Barr and senior Justice Department officials intervened to recommend a lower sentence for the longtime Trump ally, prompting all four front-line prosecutors to quit the case and 2,600 former prosecutors to call for Barr to resign.
Barr's move last month to drop the case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn - despite his sworn guilty plea - raised similar allegations. Former federal prosecutors said the department undercut the work of career employees to protect the president's friends, abdicating its commitment to equal justice under the law.
Still, Trump has turned to Twitter to support Stone at several points, attacking prosecutors and the judge in his case even in the midst of court proceedings. After Jackson's April ruling, he wrote, "This is a disgraceful situation!"
On June 2, Trump suggested that Stone would not serve long in prison, if at all, tweeting, "No. Roger was a victim of a corrupt and illegal Witch Hunt, one which will go down as the greatest political crime in history. He can sleep well at night!"
Our Downers Grove theater is a 1,000-seat theatre, Johnson said. We thought we were going to get a 250 maximum. We wouldnt have been able to achieve 250 in any way. At Lake, if we would have taken out every other row, were at 50 percent and then taking out multiple seats for social distancing, that would have been about 100 people rather than 50.
More than 1,600 workers at United States technology giant Alphabet Inc are petitioning its Google unit to stop selling email and other services to police departments, according to media reports.
The workers, in a petition seen by the Reuters news agency, expressed disappointment with Google for not joining the millions who want to defang and defund police departments. Civil rights activists across the US for years have called for scaling back traditional policing, and the efforts have gained momentum through protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last month.
We should not be in the business of profiting from racist policing, the Google petition said. It cited sales of the companys G Suite package, which includes tools for email, document editing and file storage, to the police department in Clarkstown, New York.
A Google spokesperson told Reuters in response, We have longstanding terms of use for generally available computing platforms like Gmail, G Suite and Google Cloud Platform, and these products will remain available for governments and local authorities, including police departments, to use.
Clarkstown police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Some other major technology companies have recently backed away from partnerships with police. Amazon.com Inc. suspended the sale of its facial-recognition systems to law enforcement for a year, while Microsoft Corp. said it would not offer the technology until the government regulates it. Google stopped offering its off-the-shelf facial recognition services in 2018.
Google has trailed those two rivals in selling cloud technology to government agencies, but is trying to catch up.
In the letter to Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai, the staff cite a 2017 lawsuit from the Black Lives Matter group against Clarkstown and its police department that officers illegally surveilled protesters there, according to Bloomberg. Additionally, the Google staff called out investments from Gradient Ventures, one of the companys investment arms, which were tied to work with the military and police.
In recent years, Google employee activism has shelved projects with the US Department of Defense and in China. It has also prompted new policies in the treatment of contract staff. However, Google has not responded to employee demands from last summer to ban work with US border patrol agencies.
While the company has pulled back from some deals like facial recognition, it has responded to concerns by saying it remains committed to helping governments with cybersecurity and other issues.
Were committed to work that makes a meaningful difference to combat systemic racism, and our employees have made over 500 product suggestions in recent weeks, which we are reviewing, the Google spokesperson added.
passed suddenly Saturday, June 13, 2020 at her home in Waddell, Arizona at the age of 97. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend to all who knew her. She was born December 16, 1922 in Los Angeles, California and with her family, moved back to Tucson when she was five years old. She is part of the Pioneers of Tucson and cherished the rich heritage that is hers as a fourth generation Tucsonan. Her father along with his brothers and sister, homesteaded property southwest of Tucson, the La Sierrita Ranch. She grew up both on the ranch and in Tucson, graduating in 1939 from Tucson High School. She married William J. Perry on June 16, 1945 and followed her husband to his hometown of Dothan, Alabama. Together they began their new life where Ellie embraced their membership at Grandview Baptist Church before she and Bill returned to Tucson to help care for her aging mother. Because of her love of Jesus Christ, her life was filled with service to God and service to mankind. She volunteered as a Candy Striper at Tucson Medical Center, Brownie leader, Sunday school teacher, Girls Auxiliary leader, and was active in both adult and children's choir at Emmanuel Baptist church in Tucson for many years.
I fired him. And I didnt think it was a big deal. And I wasnt around him very much, the president said. But what he did do is he took classified information, and he published it during a presidency.
I believe that hes a criminal, and I believe, frankly, he should go to jail for that, Trump added.
On June 20, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth denied the Trump administrations attempt to stop the book from being immediately released, saying that the government had failed to show that blocking the book at such a late stage would prevent the government from irreparable harm given that the book had already been disseminated widely.
The books publisher, Simon & Schuster, told the court that over 200,000 copies of the book have been shipped domestically and thousands of copies of the book have been delivered to booksellers around the globe. Meanwhile, copies of the book have also been distributed to media outlets.
With hundreds of thousands of copies around the globemany in newsroomsthe damage is done. There is no restoring the status quo, Lamberth wrote in his order (pdf).
The judge, however, expressed his concerns over Boltons actions, saying that he gambled with the national security of the United States by abandoning a prepublication review process for his book.
He has exposed his country to harm and himself to civil (and potentially criminal) liability, he wrote.
Former national security adviser John Bolton leaves his home in Bethesda, Md., on Jan. 28, 2020. (Luis M. Alvarez/AP Photo)
Lamberth said that after he had reviewed the classified information submitted by the government, he was persuaded that Bolton will likely jeopardize national security by disclosing classified information in violation of his nondisclosure agreement obligations, when he rushed the publication of his book.
He said Bolton now stands to lose his profits from the book deal, exposes himself to criminal liability, and imperils national security.
Boltons lawyer, Charles Cooper, disputed the judges preliminary characterization, telling The Epoch Times in a statement on June 20 that the full story of the events would be revealed upon the development of the case.
David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the permanent loss of capital. When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. We can see that Xpediator Plc (LON:XPD) does use debt in its business. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.
What Risk Does Debt Bring?
Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. However, a more frequent (but still costly) occurrence is where a company must issue shares at bargain-basement prices, permanently diluting shareholders, just to shore up its balance sheet. Of course, the upside of debt is that it often represents cheap capital, especially when it replaces dilution in a company with the ability to reinvest at high rates of return. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.
View our latest analysis for Xpediator
How Much Debt Does Xpediator Carry?
You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that Xpediator had UK5.00m of debt in December 2019, down from UK6.22m, one year before. However, it does have UK12.0m in cash offsetting this, leading to net cash of UK6.95m.
AIM:XPD Historical Debt June 23rd 2020
A Look At Xpediator's Liabilities
We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Xpediator had liabilities of UK72.3m falling due within a year, and liabilities of UK27.6m due beyond that. On the other hand, it had cash of UK12.0m and UK55.3m worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by UK32.6m.
This is a mountain of leverage relative to its market capitalization of UK35.4m. Should its lenders demand that it shore up the balance sheet, shareholders would likely face severe dilution. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, Xpediator boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load!
Story continues
Shareholders should be aware that Xpediator's EBIT was down 28% last year. If that earnings trend continues then paying off its debt will be about as easy as herding cats on to a roller coaster. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Xpediator's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you're focused on the future you can check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.
But our final consideration is also important, because a company cannot pay debt with paper profits; it needs cold hard cash. Xpediator may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. Over the last three years, Xpediator actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT. That sort of strong cash generation warms our hearts like a puppy in a bumblebee suit.
Summing up
Although Xpediator's balance sheet isn't particularly strong, due to the total liabilities, it is clearly positive to see that it has net cash of UK6.95m. The cherry on top was that in converted 107% of that EBIT to free cash flow, bringing in UK12m. So while Xpediator does not have a great balance sheet, it's certainly not too bad. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Xpediator you should know about.
If, after all that, you're more interested in a fast growing company with a rock-solid balance sheet, then check out our list of net cash growth stocks without delay.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
After a hiatus of more than a year, the US and Russia will discuss nuclear disarmament on Monday, but China does not want to participate.
The continuance of the arms talks has made it clear that President Trump wants to get something in the twilight of his term.
His new representative is Marshall Billingslea, is tasked to head the US delegation and talk to Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov in Vienna. An envoy from the communist party was requested but none was sent, reported The Guardian.
According to the State Department, the People's Republic of China was asked to be part of these talks on Nuclear Arms Control. The US stressed the need for arms because all talks will be in good faith, VOA News said.
According to President Trump, the inclusion of China is crucial and they have refused to take part. The US and its Federation of American Scientists have speculated that China has 320 warheads which are smaller than Russia's or America's in terms of a nuclear arsenal.
Rather evasively, China's foreign ministry spokesman said that China is not ready to join nuclear talks, earlier this month.
In a Tweet, Billingslea said China should join with attaining Super Power status responsibly. There should be no more secrecy about its nuclear stockpile.
With the resumption of nuclear talks, it will last two days in Vienna with the 2010 New Start treaty. A limited number will be retained about 1550 warheads per nation for those on long-range systems. Expiration of the treaty will be on February next year, but an extension of five years is assured. Putin has agreed, but the Trump administration is yet to decide with finality.
Sources have said that the Trump administration want a comprehensive deal that will add non-strategic weapons, with more checks on the stockpiles. Most important is that China allow arms control, but these alterations will take months if not years. Cited in Wall Street Journal.
Also read: Pentagon Plans to Protect America From Ballistic Missiles, Sets Up Plan B for Assurance
The danger of not getting a nuclear deal will result in a nuclear arms race that will be uncontrolled in over 50 years for the first time.
A source from congress said China is being forced to participate, but they refuse. Even the Kremlin is not keen on it, which shows a road to nowhere.
Most American allies are asking the US president to extend the time for an extension, to draw in China to more complete arms negotiations as a whole. Billingslea threshed the US proposal in a meet of member state ambassadors, who are part of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) last May. But not too many were interested in the US approach.
One of the observations was that trilateral arms control was the focus, said one diplomat. Most of the allies want an extension on the New Start, but China is getting too much attention. The time to run New Start is more important.
Many of the considerations were addressed, but Billingslea was clear that no decision on the start has been made. This was the opinion voiced by the diplomat.
The NAC meeting was discussed after Trump was not keen on the Open Skies Treaty to make flyovers over nations' jurisdiction. It was made to give transparency, but Trump did not like placing limits on overflights. But European allies said it can be fixed and not be jeopardized by disagreements, confirmed BBC News.
Related article: Nuclear Arms Race Between US and Russia Looms If No New Treaty is Signed
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Petoskey High School band directors, assistant principal remain on administrative leave
Superintendent Chris Parker addressed the situation regarding three band instructors and an assistant principal who are all currently on paid leave during Thursday's board of education meeting.
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Two years after showing intentions of selling equity stake in Tata Motors Finance (TMF), parent company Tata Motors is partnering with banks to sell the finance arms loan assets through securitisation.
Tata Motors intends to bring down the assets under management (AUM) base of TMF to about Rs 23,000 crore from the current base of Rs 32,000 crore over three years through collaborations with banks and other market participants.
Exactly two years ago, Tata Motors had said that it was open to having partners in TMF but declared that it will retain the majority stake in the non-bank lending subsidiary. TMF was also said to be aiming for an AUM of Rs 50,000 crore by 2020, but ended way short of the target.
As per information shared in the latest investor presentation, TMF had an AUM of Rs 36,881 crore in FY20 -- down nearly 4 per cent from Rs 38,311 crore in FY19. While the earlier plan was to infuse Rs 400 crore every year to grow the finance business, Tata Motors has now decided to not make any new investments in TMF.
No plans to invest in Tata Motors Finance at this point in time. They will be self-sufficient in their funding requirements by sourcing and selling down assets. We will go asset-light there, P B Balaji, chief finance officer, Tata Motors, had told analysts while discussing the March quarter results.
While a defined set of assets is assigned to a bank, TMF will continue to collect EMIs from original borrowers in the capacity of a collection agent for the assignee bank, Tata Motors told Moneycontrol.
With securitisation, borrowing costs are being reduced and by co-originating new contracts, risks are being shared and reduced. Such an 'Asset Lite' model will enable sustainable ROE generation and limit any additional requirement for equity infusion, Tata Motors said.
Given the lower growth in GDP and other economic challenges, the gross non-performing asset (GNPA) and net non-performing asset (NNPA) shot up substantially for TMF last year.
GNPA rose 252bps to 5.1 per cent from 2.6 per cent while NNPA shot up by 304bps to 4.4 per cent from 1.4 per cent. The impact of the lockdown and subsequent impact on the economy is expected to push NPAs even higher in the first half of this year.
Though the final financial status of TMF will be revealed in the annual report, its profit before tax increased 21 per cent to Rs 149 crore in FY20, compared to Rs 123 crore in FY19.
On the sidelines of announcing the March quarter financial details, Tata Motors executives stated that the company has embarked on an aggressive cost rationalisation drive aimed at reducing the structural cost of its business. The company has even planned to abort those projects which it thinks could become a drag due to disruptions caused by COVID-19.
China launched the final satellite in its global navigation system constellation Beidou earlier today - completing the network six months ahead of schedule.
The spacecraft was launched into geostationary orbit on top of a Long March-3B rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 02:43 BST this morning.
Completing its own global navigation system will allow Beijing to reduce its reliance on the US-owned GPS system and boost its own power and reputation in space.
An initial launch scheduled for last week was scrubbed after checks revealed unspecified technical problems with the Long March-3B pre-launch.
Experts in space policy say the drive to have its own version of GPS stems from the fear that if there was a conflict with the US, China could be cut off from the system.
China launched the final satellite in its global navigation system constellation Beidou earlier today - completing the network six months ahead of schedule
The spacecraft was launched into geostationary orbit on top of a Long March-3B rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 02:43 BST this morning
'The Chinese military now has a system it can use independent of the US GPS system,' Andrew Dempster, space engineering expert, told CNBC.
The third iteration of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System promises to provide global coverage for timing and navigation, offering an alternative to Russia's GLONASS and the European Galileo systems, as well as America's GPS.
The launch of the 55th satellite in the Beidou family, but the 30th active operational device, shows China's push to provide global coverage has been 'entirely successful,' the system's chief designer Yang Changfeng told CCTV.
'In actual fact, this also signifies that we are moving from being a major nation in the field of space to becoming a true space power,' Yang said.
China's space program has developed rapidly over the past two decades as the government devotes major resources toward developing independent high-tech capabilities - and even dominating in fields such as 5G data processing.
Beidou is made up of 30 satellites giving China military independence in terms of navigation and even messaging independent of the US or other nations.
Completing its own global navigation system will allow Beijing to reduce its reliance on the US-owned GPS system and boost its own power and reputation in space
A carrier rocket carrying the last satellite of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) lifts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province
'The Chinese military now has a system it can use independent of the US GPS system,' Andrew Dempster, space engineering expert, told CNBC.
THERE ARE FOUR GLOBAL SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS There are four global satellite navigation systems (GNSS) either in operation or near completion. All the systems work in a similar way and can provide backup for one another when necessary. As well as providing information to the military they have civilian uses. Global Positions System GPS is the oldest of the global systems - it originated as a way for the US military to track movements, launching fully in 1971. It was opened for global non-military use in 1994 and is the system used by SatNav, phones and other commercial systems. It has 33 satellites in its constellation with 31 currently operational. GPS can provide location data as accurate as 11ft from your location. Global Navigation Satellite System Known as GLONASS, this is Russia's version of GPS and was operational from 1993 with 12 satellites. It isn't as accurate as the US GPS system in part due to it using fewer satellites to provide global coverage. There are currently 27 satellites in orbit and operational. GLONASS provides position accuracy between 16ft and 32ft. It has been used by some operators as a GPS backup, providing signal when GPS isn't available or blocked. Galileo This is the EU system put together by the European Space Agency and reaching limited launch in 2016. When operational it will have 30 satellites and another six spares to be switched on if needed. It is compatible with GPS and GLONASS and can be used as a backup service. It's expected to be fully functional later in 2020 after the final satellites launch. Beidou China's Beidou system was first launched in 2000 to cover China but has since expanded globally. It will have 30 satellites in its constellation split between a standard GPS-style orbit and a geosynchronous orbit over the equator. It was designed to give China an independent way to track movements in the event of a war with the US that would see it cut off from GPS. It's also used by Pakistan and Thailand and could be expanded to other nations in the future. It is also used by Chinese car and mobile phone manufacturers to provide positioning data in the country instead of GPS. Advertisement
Along with being a navigation aid, the system offers 'short message communication, satellite-based augmentation, international search and rescue, as well as precise point positioning,' according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
The short messaging systems allows for communications up to 1,200 Chinese characters long, as well as the ability to transmit images, it said.
While China says it seeks cooperation with other satellite navigation systems, Beidou could ultimately compete against GPS and others in the same way Chinese phone makers and other producers of technically sophisticated hardware have taken on their foreign rivals.
The first version of Beidou was started in 1994 but became operational by 2000 - it wasn't a global system at the time - only providing satellite navigation services for China.
This was expanded to cover the whole of the Asia Pacific region by 2012 and the third and final version - which is almost complete - will give Beijing global coverage.
'The Beidou network is emblematic of China's grand ambitions in respect to foreign policy. They're taking a much more global view,' Christopher Newman, professor of space law and policy at Northumbria University told CNBC.
Beidou is the Chinese name for the star constellation the 'Big Dipper'.
According to the Beidou website the system will work in a similar way to GPS - providing support for smartphones, driverless cars, planes and ships.
It will also guide China's upcoming driverless high-speed trains, which are being developed for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Alex Joske, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said Beidou would give China and its army greater self-reliance.
He added it is a 'reflection of the Communist Party's ongoing drive to decouple itself from Western critical technologies.'
The constellation is part of a global technological push by Beijing which includes commercial space travel, its own space station and an upcoming Mars lander.
It won't be just China using Beidou - Pakistan and Thailand already make use of the system and this could be extended to other nations in a foreign policy push.
'The Beidou network is emblematic of China's grand ambitions in respect to foreign policy. They're taking a much more global view,' Newman said.
He said having other nations making use of its own navigation system over the US-owned GPS would give China greater influence over those countries.
Analysts have said the endeavour is one of China's more ambitious undertakings; a remarkable feat for a nation also working towards conquering commercial space flight, cheap energy via an 'artificial sun' and a man-made moon.
Beidou is the third of four global satellite navigation systems to be operational - the oldest is the US-owned GPS, second was the Russian-backed GLONASS and the final to complete will be the European Galileo.
There are also regional Japanese and Indian systems that cover specific areas surrounding those countries and their region.
Beidou is a similar size to the other global constellations - with 30 satellites.
It launched the last of its medium-altitude constellation in December - that is 24 operational satellites more than 13,000 miles above the Earth similar to GPS.
Beidou is the third of four global satellite navigation systems to be operational - the oldest is the US-owned GPS, second was the Russian-backed GLONASS and the final to complete will be the European Galileo
Unlike other systems - the fully-operational Beidou network also includes six spacecraft in geosynchronous orbits including three permanently over the equator and three swinging north and south of the equator
Unlike other systems - the fully-operational Beidou network also includes six spacecraft in geosynchronous orbits including three permanently over the equator and three swinging north and south of the equator.
This final satellite - that was due to launch on June 16 - will be permanently over the equator when it finally launches.
China says its network will be able to be used in agriculture, fishing and disaster relief - as well as providing services to 70 per cent of Chinese smartphones.
'After the global system is completed this year, the BDS can provide satisfactory services to every corner of the world,' said Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the Beidou system, according to Xinhua.
As China prepares to eradicate traces of GPS in the country, firms are scrabbling to make devices Beidou compatible for the eventual switch-over.
Future plans call for a fully functioning permanent space station and a possible crewed flight to the moon, with its first attempt to send an orbiter and rover to Mars possibly coming as early as next month.
If successful, it would be the only other country besides the US to land on Earth's closest planetary neighbour.
The program has suffered some setbacks, including launch failures, and has had limited cooperation with other countries' space efforts, in part because of US objections to its close connections to the Chinese military.
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MINNEAPOLIS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DELVE HEALTH is excited to announce that it is joining xCures and Cancer Commons to support Beat19a crowd-sourcing initiative to jump start COVID-19 data collection from around the world.
CoV-SARS-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, shocked the global community and will forever change how human beings interact with one another. Societal norms and life-styles will probably never be the same as before. From practicing "social distancing" to shopping for household supplies, it has been a challenging and scary time for most people; but especially for those who are also cancer patients.
DELVE HEALTH has over 20 years of experience in working with ever-evolving technologies to create solutions. Our role is to leverage our expertise in technology and combine it with our knowledge of cancer care, in order to create a user-friendly and secure mobile app for the Beat19 project, which will allow volunteers to participate in sharing their data. "COVID-19 is the most significant, worldwide health challenge of our lifetime; and, it will take all of us working together as a global community to put an end to this pandemic," said Wessam Sonbol, CEO of Delve Health. "We are honored that we've been called upon to utilize our Clinical StudyPal mobile framework to empower researchers with insights that can better identify at-risk patients," he continued.
Beat19 is a patient-led initiative allows researchers to start mapping data points to see if there are any patterns between things like types of cancers, types of treatments, behaviors, and exposure and/or symptoms of COVID-19. By leveraging DELVE HEALTH's technology platform, the partnership is able to focus on the immediate goal of engaging 100,000 volunteers to use the Beat19 app.
"COVID-19 is having a major impact on people with chronic conditions. For cancer patients, this is an absolutely terrifying time," said Mark Shapiro, Principal Investigator for the BEAT19 study. "Using the BEAT19 platform, we are trying to collect data about how the pandemic is affecting cancer patients in order to understand what behavioral, environmental, and treatment modifications may reduce the risk or severity of infection."
About the BEAT19 Registry Study
BEAT19 is a people-powered study, registered on clinicaltrials.gov, designed to understand the natural history of the coronavirus infection before, during and after symptoms, and to understand how pre-existing conditions, medications, and other factors affect disease progression.
Cancer patients can join the fight against COVID-19 by visiting the BEAT19 registry for more information about the study or to participate in the study, please visit https://beat19.org.
About DELVE HEALTH
DELVE HEALTH is a Minnesota-based technology company, which has worked to leverage evolving technologies in support of clinical research for over 20 years. It seeks to streamline clinical research and reduce the burden of the patient during a clinical trial. To learn more about DELVE HEALTH, visit www.delvehealth.com or e-mail [email protected].
About xCures
xCures is a health technology and services company that operates an AI-assisted precision medicine platform that continuously learns from the experiences of all patients, on all treatments, all the time. The platform can determine the best individualized treatment options and services for patients, including access via reimbursement, clinical trials, and expanded-access support. By tightly integrating research and clinical care, xCures enables physicians to make better treatment decisions, patients to achieve superior outcomes, and bio-pharmas to slash the time and cost of developing drugs. To learn more about xCures, visit www.xCures.com.
About Cancer Commons
Cancer Commons is a nonprofit that connects patients and their caregivers with a collaborative network of nurse navigators, PhD scientists, and national experts, who share a compassionate approach and deep scientific knowledge of cancer. To learn more about Cancer Commons, visit www.cancercommons.org.
Media Contact:
James Miller
[email protected]
612.293.7725
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Academic success is something that comes naturally for St. Catharines resident Kariann Gracey.
The 26-year-old recently graduated from Niagara Colleges social service worker program with a 97.67 per cent average, earning her the Governor Generals Academic Medal the most prestigious award a student can receive in Canada.
In 2017, she graduated from Brock University and was awarded the deans medal when she earned an honours bachelor of arts degree in psychology.
Ive always been a high achiever when it comes to grades, but I dont think I was ever expecting something as high as this, she said, referring to her latest accolade.
In a news release, the college refers to her as 2020s top graduate.
Graceys interest in social service stems from her time growing up around conflict and addiction, she said in an interview.
At age 17, she started as a volunteer at Distress Centre Niagara answering crisis calls, some of them as serious as people sharing plans to self-harm.
As I grew older, I saw it in the community as well. It led me to explore what thats all about, what causes that, said Gracey, who in May landed a job as a child protection worker with Family and Childrens Services Niagara.
While in college, she balanced time working with Positive Living Niagaras Streetworks program, as well as at a local brain injury group home.
How did she balance life, work and getting a nearly perfect report card by the time graduation arrived?
Not much of a social life, she quipped.
I just prioritized things I needed to get done first. I was never really a person to leave things to the last minute, said Gracey.
She was unable to complete her final co-op placement at Niagara Healths New Port Centre in Port Colborne, an addiction recovery facility, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gracey looks forward to furthering her career at FACS, and is also considering the pursuit of a masters degree in social work.
She was known by faculty for being outstanding, both as a student and as a person, said Carolyn Triemstra, the colleges dean of community and health studies.
Her exceptional performance during the two-year program demonstrates an extraordinary level of professional commitment in both academics and her program placements, and we know she will be a tremendous asset to the social services field, said Triemstra in a news release.
Through her college program placements, Gracey gained valuable experience at Pathstone Mental Health and in addictions counselling at New Port Centre working with people experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Both of my supervisors and the staff from both agencies were incredibly supportive and helped me grow a great deal as a professional, she said.
She also took advantage of an opportunity to travel on a college-sanctioned Be World Ready trip to Guatemala, where she learned from health professionals and social workers who provide programs without government support.
Niagara College hosted a number of virtual convocation ceremonies last week.
Officers of the New York Police department caught on video driving into a group of protesters demonstrating against racism and police brutality in Brooklyn last month did not violate the departments use-of-force policy, Commissioner Dermot Shea said Monday.
Shea made the statement during an online public hearing held by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is investigating police encounters during widespread protests following last month's killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.
Was that in violation of your use of force policy?, James asked of the May 30 incident, to which Shea responded No.
Our internal affairs bureau investigated this information and preliminarily we have an accounting of that incident where we have officers in a situation where theyre essentially being penned in by protesters, the commissioner added.
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Officers of the New York Police department caught on video driving into a group of protesters demonstrating against racism and police brutality in Brooklyn last month did not violate the departments use-of-force policy, Commissioner Dermot Shea said Monday
Video footage of the incident showed two NYPD cruisers intentionally plowing into protesters who were pushing against a barricade in front of one of the vehicles, pelting it with objects
When a second squad car arrives on scene, it runs into several people who struggle to get out of the way
James then asked, So in that particular instance, is it your testimony that the police car was an appropriate use of force?
Im not saying that the police car was used as a use of force, Shea said. The officers were set upon and attacked, and thankfully they were able to get out of that situation with, to my knowledge, no injuries to anyone.
Video footage of the incident showed two NYPD cruisers intentionally plowing into protesters who were pushing against a barricade in front of one of the vehicles, pelting it with objects.
The first patrol car initially remained stationary in the middle of the road before demonstrators approached. The activists then began pelting the car with bottles, traffic cones and even bags of trash.
A second NYPD cruiser then pulled alongside the first but appeared to be in a rush to push through the crowds. Those gathered swarmed the second patrol car which then, without warning, suddenly began to accelerate.
At least three people were pushed to the side and almost run over and the police car drove on down the street.
In the hours after the footage surfaced online, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the encounter troubling but added, if those protesters had just gotten out of the way and not created an attempt to surround that vehicle, we would not be talking about this situation.
Queens-Bronx Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also spoke out against the incident, calling for the cops responsible to be brought to justice.
Shea made the statement when quizzed about the May 30 incident by New York Attorney General Letitia James (right) during an online public hearing investigating police encounters during widespread protests following last month's killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.
People were pushed out of the way as a second police car arrived on the scene
The demonstrators were standing directly in front of the vehicles at the time and put up a barricade
Last week, scores of protesters testified that New York Police Department officers kicked or shoved them, hit them with night sticks, doused them with pepper spray or cuffed wrists so tightly that hands turned blue.
In his opening statement, Shea called protesting on the streets a tradition that is as old as New York but said the recent demonstrations were unusually violent, demanding a more-forceful response.
This was some of the worst rioting that occurred in our city in recent memory, he said, saying people had thrown bricks, bottles and trash cans at police, injuring some.
Shea also defended the arrests of legal observers monitoring police conduct at demonstrations.
The National Lawyers Guild has said that eight of its accredited legal observers, who wear distinctive neon-green hats and other identifiers as they record information about arrestees and police conduct, were zip-tied and detained at a protest in the Bronx.
Having a shirt or a hat that says legal observer does not mean that person is an attorney, Shea said. It does not mean that they're actually performing any legal function.
Last week, scores of protesters testified that New York Police Department officers kicked or shoved them, hit them with night sticks, doused them with pepper spray or cuffed wrists so tightly that hands turned blue. (pictured: Protesters smash an NYPD police car as they clash with police on May 30)
More than 300 officers have been injured in the protests since late May, Shea said, although it was unclear how many injuries were caused by civilians (pictured: A NYPD police officer is removed after being injured as they clash with protesters in Brooklyn)
More than 300 officers have been injured in the protests since late May, Shea said, although it was unclear how many injuries were caused by civilians.
He promised that officers found to have breached the department's standards in using force against New Yorkers will face consequences. Fewer than 10 officers are being disciplined, Shea testified.
James opened her investigation in late May at the request of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who said he was alarmed by disturbing violent clashes between NYPD officers and protesters.
In 17 hours of testimony last week, many protesters, including elected officials, said the protesters were largely peaceful and found themselves being arrested or hurt by the police with minimal provocation.
Shea said his department was being vilified.
No one will come out and support the police right now because they are scared because they will get shouted down, Shea said. And I think that's really sad.
Repeating his question alleging that China has captured Indian territory even as Commander level talks are going on between the two nations on the Galwan clash and recent LAC standoff, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday continued to remain silent on questions over his own 2008 deal with the Chinese CCP.
Moreover, in his tweet on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi shared a picture clicked by his father and former PM Rajiv Gandhi.
READ | PM actually 'Surender Modi': Rahul Gandhi launches new attack over India-China clash
Earlier on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi had taken to Twitter and accused the Prime Minister of surrendering the Indian territory to Chinese aggression. In a fiery response, Home Minister Amit Shah shared a message of an injured soldier's father, wherein the old man asked the Gandhi family scion to refrain from politics in matters of Army and security of the country. Rahul Gandhi was then schooled by EAM S Jaishankar on various agreements between India and China, when he wrongly claimed that Indian soldiers at the Galwan valley were 'unarmed.' He then issued a 'Surender Modi' attack at the Prime Minister.
At about the same time, senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani sought an NIA probe into the deal signed between the Congress and the Communist Party of China during Rahul and Sonia Gandhi's visit for the Beijing Olympics, with current Chinese President Xi Jinping also present in the photo.
This picture of Rahul Gandhi signing an agreement in 2008 in China with Sonia and Xi in the background has possible sinister implications for the countrys security. The NIA must initiate an investigation under the Unlawful Activities ( Prevention) Act and secure the agreement pic.twitter.com/WCn1TY6E28 Mahesh Jethmalani (@JethmalaniM) June 21, 2020
READ | 'Cong Is Crossing The Line': BJP Seeks Apology From Rahul Gandhi Over 'Surender Modi' Jibe
Centre maintains 'no intrusion'
During the all-party meeting to brief them on the clash with China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that neither anyone had intruded into Indian land nor taken over any post of the country. After this statement came in for criticism from opposition leaders, the PMO clarified that his observations pertained to the situation as a consequence of the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces. It stated that the soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment had foiled the Chinese attempt to erect structures on the Indian side of the LAC. The PMO added that the Union government would not allow any unilateral change of the LAC.
READ | BJP chief JP Nadda interprets Rahul Gandhi's 'Surender Modi' jibe as 'leader of gods'
Meanwhile, the MEA on June 20 rejected China's claim over the entire Galwan valley area. Maintaining that India had never undertaken any actions across the LAC, it revealed that the Chinese side attempted to hinder Indian patrolling and transgressing the LAC in other areas of the Western sector. The MEA observed that the Chinese troops took violent action after India did not allow the former to erect structures across the LAC.
READ | Rahul Gandhi questions China's praise for PM amid LAC faceoff, repeats 'occupation' claim
US president Donald Trump says no second shutdown, as Covid-19 cases rise amid reopening: AP
As many as 23 US states, mostly in the South and West, are registering a rise in new reported cases compared to the previous week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Most of the states reporting surging numbers of cases have not previously seen a peak and fall this is not a resurgence of cases, but a continued increase.
Florida became the seventh state to hit 100,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Monday according to the state department of health. The daily number of cases reached a record 4,049 on Saturday, but that fell back on Sunday and Monday.
Governor Ron DeSantis has not made masks mandatory, but several cities have. Mr DeSantis said that local enforcement would be more effective than statewide penalties. Florida now has 100,217 confirmed cases, and more than 3,150 officially recorded deaths.
California, which reported some of the first cases in the US back in February, this weekend saw its highest number of hospitalisations 3,574 on Saturday and the most new cases in a single day 4,515.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that residents are now required to wear a face mask or covering in indoor public spaces, on public transportation, or in a healthcare environment.
As one of the first states to begin the process of reopening, Texas is now grappling with a surge in cases similar in size to both California and Florida, reaching a new daily peak of 4,430 new cases on Saturday.
Governor Greg Abbott has insisted that there is no cause for concern and dismissed a request from the mayor of nine of the largest cities in the state to allow them to make masks mandatory in their cities.
Mayor of Austin Steve Adler said on Sunday night that he wished the reopening of the state had been done slower with more attention to case numbers in each phase before moving to the next. Not mandating masks sends a message that this is all over, he said.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Monday there is no second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, even though there are some flare-ups in states such as Florida, and it is unlikely there will be widespread shutdowns across the country.
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There are some hotspots. We're on it, Mr Kudlow said in an interview with CNBC. We know how to deal with this stuff now. It's come a long way since last winter and there is no second wave coming.
Joining California, Florida and Texas, are Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Ten states have case numbers that are holding steady: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Virginia and Wisconsin.
States that continue to show decreases in the number of cases are Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont.
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'They hope I die, hope I'm murdered, hope I'm shot,' Newman said of his critics
He insists extraordinary comments about Floyd were about his criminal record
Following the tirade, he abruptly left Channel Nine on Friday on 'amicable' terms
AFL great Sam Newman claims he's received death threats and warned his family will be 'raped by felons' following his controversial comments about George Floyd.
The former Footy Show host sparked outrage after calling Floyd - an African-American man who was allegedly murdered by a cop in the US - a 'piece of s**t'.
'He has been in jail five times, he held up a pregnant black woman with a knife, he's a drug addict, he's a crackhead and he's a pornstar,' Newman said on his podcast last week.
'He's dead because of the police brutality and it never should have happened. But I am telling you who George Floyd is, now they've made a monument about him and he's a piece of s***.'
Floyd's death sparked worldwide protests that reached Australia, where demonstrators campaigned against racism and police brutality.
The former Footy Show host called George Floyd a 'piece of s**t' on his podcast last week
On his podcast on Tuesday, Newman's co-host Mike Sheahan asked him if he makes contentious remarks to get attention.
'Do I crave people speaking about me?' Newman replied.
'Do you think at this stage of my life, having been on the television for over 30 years, do you think I want to put myself through the things that have been said about me that they hope I die, hope I'm murdered, hope I'm shot, hope my grandchildren get raped by felons?'
'Do you think I want to put myself through that for the sake of saying a very accurate statement about a man who shouldn't have been killed, but is a very ordinary person?
Newman said he says 'controversial things' in order to make his podcast You Cant Be Serious a success.
'I've done it on the television because I tried to make that a success. You know who I am away from this,' he said.
Newman also discussed his recent resignation from Channel 9 after 30 years with the network.
George Floyd died under the knee of Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin who pressed his knee on Floyd's neck for more than eight minutes
The 74-year-old said the 'mutual decision' to leave 'affects me not one iota... I don't need to be on television.'
On Sunday Newman revealed what transpired on his phone call with Channel 9 executives that led to his exit.
'The station rang me and said: ''We are getting a bit of blow back from some of your comments'' and I said: ''Well, I don't want to put the station in an invidious position, anymore than I have in the past'',' he told the Herald Sun.
'I said: ''I am very happy, if it will solve anything for you, very happy to withdraw forthwith from appearing on the network''.'
He said the network agreed it would be for the best.
'Whether I beat them to it or they were going to say that anyhow is irrelevant,' Newman said.
The former Geelong Cats star previously doubled down on his remarks about George Floyd.
Newman insisted he was talking about Floyd's criminal record and that people should have focused on condemning police brutality.
He claimed the 'extravagant language' used may have gotten his point across in a way he did not intend.
However, he remains firm about his comments about Floyd, calling them 'absolutely accurate'.
Newman said he says 'controversial things' in order to make his podcast You Cant Be Serious a success
Controversial TV personality and former AFL great Sam Newman (pictured on the Footy Show in 1999) announced his split from the Nine Network after 35 years on Friday night
'How in God's name could you say that was controversial what I said about him,' Newman said.
Floyd died after an arrest on May 25 in which a police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes.
Records showed Floyd had been arrested nine times for mostly drug and theft offences, and served several short prison sentences.
His most serious offence was aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, in which he and other suspects forced themselves into a woman's home and Floyd held a pistol to her abdomen. He served four years in prison for the crime.
In The Know by Yahoo
When Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced that the statue of Christopher Columbus outside City Hall would be removed, residents of Ohios capital started a petition to take the movement one step further.
Thousands are fighting to erase the citys connection with Christopher Columbus including the city name and are advocating for it to be changed to Flavortown in honor of Columbus native Guy Fieri.
Credit: Change.org
As protests have continued through the month of June in response to the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as well as the numerous Black people who have lost their lives to police brutality, statues like the one of Columbus are being torn down. Columbus is responsible for years of cruelty towards Indigenous people.
For many people in our community, the statue represents patriarchy, oppression and divisiveness. That does not represent our great city, and we will no longer live in the shadow of our ugly past, Mayor Ginther said in a statement.
32-year-old Tyler Woodbridge didnt consider the statue removal to be enough.
Even though its my favorite city, I was always a bit ashamed of the name, Woodbridge told CNN.
Thus, he created the petition to rename the city to Flavortown Fieris signature catchphrase on his plethora of shows on The Food Network.
As of June 23, almost 50,000 people have signed.
Woodbridge didnt select the Flavortown name to be funny. Fieri has a track record of doing incredible charity work like when he put on a dinner for 3,000 first responders in 2018 in response to the Las Vegas mass shooting or when he dropped everything to serve evacuees and firefighters amid the 2017 wildfires in California. Recently, Fieri helped raise more than $20 million for restaurant workers during the pandemic. Hes even officiated more than 100 LGBTQIA+ weddings.
That kind of optimism and charitable work embodies more of what Columbus, Ohio, is about rather than the tarnished legacy of Christopher Columbus, Woodbridge said.
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The petition even caught the eye of Budweiser, who tweeted that theyd give free Bud Light Seltzer to every resident of Flavortown if the name change actually happens.
Bud Light Seltzer for all of Flavortown if this happens https://t.co/hUMViimR3n Bud Light (@budlight) June 18, 2020
Even if Flavortown doesnt work out, Woodbridge just hopes the city changes its name from Columbus.
We as a culture in America are waking up to how bad of a person he was, Woodbridge said. Now is the time for progressiveness. Its a time for change.
For more stories on people doing good in the world, check out this profile on a woman who provides book bags and mental health classes to kids in the Dominican Republic.
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The post Thousands sign petition to rename Ohio capital Flavortown appeared first on In The Know.
Despite the COVID-19 induced challenges, Verizon Communications Inc. VZ recently announced the completion of Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) trial to accelerate the pace of 5G network evolution. Apart from harnessing the potential of DSS technology, the trial underscores Verizons commitment to introduce nationwide 5G coverage with the deployment of Ultra Wideband network services by the end of 2020.
Markedly, DSS will help Verizon to deploy lower-frequency bands, including mid-band and low-band spectrum, to deliver an optimum combination of 5G coverage and speed to its customers. The DSS technology enables the deployment of both 4G and 5G in the same band and proactively allocates spectrum resources between them, based on user demand. With the added benefit of a faster network rollout, DSS enables smooth and fast transfer of data within latency-resistant network. The combination of faster commercialization and lower investment requirements has made spectrum sharing an essential part of Verizons 5G strategies. Notably, companies like Nokia Corporation NOK, Ericsson ERIC and Qualcomm Incorporated QCOM had previously demonstrated the feasibility of this next-gen networking technology.
Reportedly, the demonstration showcasing the efficacy and viability of DSS technology in a live environment was conducted in Minnesota and Texas. The innovative technology has been specifically designed to support customers with utmost network flexibility with the help of low spectrum bands, thereby accelerating network programmability, addressing application-specific bandwidth as well as latency needs. The DSS technology will also enable Verizon to leverage its low-band spectrum for 5G new radio through a software update pushed out to base stations rather than following the arduous and expensive process of spectrum re-farming. Notably, the DSS technology is expected to be commercially deployed in the near future. In addition, the tech behemoth continues to focus on the deployment of its millimeter-wave 5G network with nationwide coverage in nearly 60 cities by the end of 2020.
As one of the most efficient wireless networks in the United States, Verizon deploys state-of-the-art technologies to solve complex business challenges and deliver increased capacity, lower latency and faster speeds. Seeking competitive edge in a saturated and price-sensitive market, the company aims to retain its lead in promulgating 5G mobile networks nationwide by using virtualized machines and advanced levels of operational automation.
Moving forward, Verizon expects healthy improvement in margins on the back of strong Fios network and services in the Wireline business. The companys efforts to improve profitable growth include enhancing operating and capital efficiency. In the enterprise and wholesale businesses, Verizon is shifting its revenue mix toward newer growth services like cloud, security and professional services. Also, the company is looking forward to capitalize on innovative technology solutions being developed in the IoT and the telematics ecosystem across multiple industries. Further, the companys focus on online content delivery, mobile video and online advertising is likely to stoke growth.
Verizon has long-term earnings growth expectation of 2.8%. Despite efficient operational strategies, the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has lost 4.5% compared with the industrys decline of 1% in the past year. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Regarding the recent article Christie backs Trump in firing of U.S. attorney:
Former Gov. Chris Christie may have been correct in asserting that President Donald Trumps weekend firing of Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, was legally permissible.
Christie misses the point, however, when it is considered that Trump previously fired several inspectors general, some of whom had openly questioned the legality of numerous actions by Trump or the administration. In this context, the firing of Berman who reportedly was investigating Trumps personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani is less an example of presidential prerogative than a blatant attempt to obstruct justice.
As we have seen with autocrats around the world, Trump places loyalty to himself above loyalty to the Constitution and the rule of law, and the silence of Republicans in Congress speaks volumes about their values, as well.
Robert Checchio, Dunellen
They ARE coming for your guns
Remember when former Democratic presidential candidate Robert Beto ORourke said on the campaign trail in 2019, Hell, yes, were coming for your AR-15, your AK-47?
By supporting a mandatory buyback program, he vowed to confiscate assault weapons from those who currently own them legally.
Does anyone think Beto is on his way to Seattle to confiscate these weapons from the anti-police anarchists encamped there? Nah. The demonstrators are not Republicans, so, hands off.
And, God forbid if prospective Democrat nominee Joe Biden gets elected. When ORourke endorsed Biden in March, Biden said he was going to make ORourke the one who leads this (gun problem) effort in his administration.
How about a cabinet post for this spineless weasel? How about making ORourke Secretary of Hypocrisy?
Walter Goldeski, East Brunswick
Put statues in museums, and out of our faces
To reconcile the Should we take down our historic statues? debate in the June 21 Perspective section between Brian Regal (yes) and Tom Wrobleski (no):
I suggest creating Museums of American Slavery, to which to relegate the statues, films, namings of institutions and other relics in all their ugliness, much like the example of the Holocaust Museum.
In that way, the reality of these artifacts is preserved, but sequestered away, and placed in their historical context so that they no longer can serve their original purpose of in-your-face intimidation and glorification.
Barry R. Komisaruk, Maplewood
A promise too far about a bridge too stuck?
Gov. Phil Murphy was incorrect when he wrote on Twitter that the Portal Bridge replacement was granted permission by the Federal Transit Administration to enter into final design and engineering with FULL federal funding.
Murphy did not not leave his meeting with President Donald Trump with a $766 million federal check toward the $1.8 billion railway bridge project. There is no legal commitment at this point for federal funding. All that has been approved is permission to enter final design and engineering. This is only the second of three critical milestones in the funding process. The next step is for the FTA to approve the final design/engineering, after which comes discussion of a full-funding agreement by the agency. This the real legal commitment for federal dollars.
Financing the local (state) share to cover any cost overruns is still an open question. Currently, this share is being financed by borrowing, rather than hard cash. Still outstanding from the Portal Bridge projects sponsor is formal submission of a revised financial plan to document the states capacity to cover any unexpected cost increase or funding shortfall.
When did Murphy promise Washington that this key document will be submitted? The FTA submission and review process could take several months or more.
It is unrealistic, based on upon past history of similar funding agreements, to assume that you would obtain full approval this year, with only six months remaining.
Larry Penner, Great Neck, N.Y.
The writer formerly worked for 31 years at the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 Office in New York City.
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African college students in northeast Chinas Liaoning province have been well protected amid COVID-19 by the provinces strict control measures, and the universities and colleges in the province have also won great reputation from the overseas students in return.
Im grateful to my teachers for their loving care. I regard Liaoning as my second hometown and will recommend Liaoning University to more African students, said Azmina, a Tanzanian student studying in Liaoning, in fluent Chinese.
Azmina from Liaoning University was stranded by the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, capital of central Chinas Hubei province when she was on vacation there.
We kept close contact with her to learn her health conditions and assist her with online courses, said Wang Qi, a teacher of Azmina, adding that the students understanding and cooperation were quite reassuring.
There are a total of 6,659 African college students in Liaoning, accounting for 46.19 percent of the total foreign students in the province. They study at 43 colleges and universities in Liaoning, and 3,370 of them currently stay in the province.
Multiple measures have been taken by Liaonings universities and colleges to protect the safety of these students, who also showed great appreciation and understanding and supported Chinas epidemic response with concrete actions in return.
A volunteer group was established in Liaoning University for epidemic prevention and control by African students, and Ma Le from Zambia is one of them.
According to him, the volunteers took body temperatures of the students every day, and also sent students everyday shopping list to the universitys logistics department.
We are very grateful to the teachers who worked all day round to ensure our safety, and I also wanted to assist them and the students as a volunteer, he said.
Shenyang University of Chemical Technology in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, set up a small self-service library to encourage international students to stay studious during the COVID-19 progress, and Liaoning Shihua University in Fushun, Liaoning promoted scientific knowledge about epidemic prevention and control among African students, to help them protect themselves from the COVID-19 epidemic.
Shenyang Aerospace University had 213 African students on campus during the epidemic, and the university adopted an opinion soliciting mechanism to help them solve the problems they met in terms of online courses.
China has taken science-based and effective measures to prevent and control the epidemic, said a Ghanaian student from the Shenyang Aerospace University, adding our university attaches great importance to international students health and safety. We will continue cooperating as always with the work of our teachers to repay their hard work.
A Kenyan student who names himself Li Benshan in Chinese has lived in China for six years. He obtained a work visa last year and is now teaching at the Shenyang Aerospace University. Li has made active efforts to help others during the epidemic prevention and control in China.
The Chinese government has taken powerful measures to prevent the epidemic, which brought us a sense of security, Li said, stressing Epidemic knows no boundaries. We must unite as one to overcome difficulties.
To the Editor:
Re Midlevel Staff Stifles Science About Climate (front page, June 15):
Your disturbing findings remind us that federal Civil Service employees face a Faustian bargain. They can preserve their careers or risk their jobs by working openly on one of the great challenges facing humanity: climate change.
Global warming is already damaging communities in every state, whether the Trump administration wants to stick its head in the sand or not.
Americans are bearing the brunt of these impacts. Thankfully, our founders framed the Constitution with an eye toward checks and balances among coequal branches of government. If there were ever a time when those checks were needed, its now.
To that end, the Senates Clean Economy Act of 2020 can tip the scales back in favor of logical thinking. The bill calls for a national goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and it would place the might of the federal government behind those goals.
High-level military talks between India and China on Monday that went on for almost 11 hours. (AFP Photo)
New Delhi: At the high-level military talks between India and China on Monday that went on for almost 11 hours, India is understood to have demanded a timeline from the Chinese on their withdrawal from Galwan Valley and, specifically, restoring status quo in the Pangong Tso and Hot Springs.
The meeting on the ongoing stand-off at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh was held at Moldo, on the Chinese side of LAC, between Indian Armys 14 Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh and the Peoples Liberation Armys South Xinjiang Military Region commander, Maj. Gen. Liu Lin, began at 11:30 am and continued till late night.
Sources said that at the meeting, which was requested by the Chinese Army, India raised the issue of Chinas June 15 premeditated ambush despite agreeing on June 6 to disengage from the area. India demanded that status quo must be restored in Pangong Tso.
While the second high-level military talks between the top commanders of the two armies was underway across the LAC, there were reports that at an earlier meeting between the two armies, the Chinese had admitted that they had lost one commanding officer during the June 15 clash.
In New Delhi, meanwhile, a day after India changed the no-shooting rules and gave its forces full freedom to respond adequately at the LAC, in New Delhi, top commanders of the Indian Army from all over the country began a two-day conference on Monday under Army Chief General M.M. Naravane to discuss the operational situation.
The Army Chief will again visit Ladakh this week to review the military preparedness.
India wants China to bring down its massive build-up and for its troops to go back at least 10 kilometers in Galwan Valley where 20 soldiers, including 16 Bihars Commanding Officer Colonel Santosh Babu, were killed during a violent clash with the Chinese soldiers on June 15.
The sticking point seems to be Pangong Tso where Chinese have brought in a large number of soldiers and have built bunkers and structures around finger 4 area. At Pangong Tso Indian troops have been patrolling till finger 8.
MOSCOW: Former US marine Paul Whelan, who was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison last week on spying charges, hopes to be freed as part of a prisoner swap with the United States, his lawyer said on Tuesday, Interfax news agency reported. Whelan will therefore not appeal his espionage conviction but will instead hold consultations with Western diplomats about the merits of asking President Vladimir Putin to pardon him, the lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, was quoted as saying.
Whelan, who holds the US, British, Canadian and Irish passports, was detained by agents from Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) in a Moscow hotel room on Dec. 28, 2018. Russia says Whelan, 50, was caught with a computer flash drive containing classified information.
Whelan, who pleaded not guilty, said he was set up in a sting operation and had thought the drive, given to him by a Russian acquaintance, contained holiday photos.
"Today we met him (Whelan) in the detention facility and after a discussion it was decided not to appeal the verdict because he doesn`t believe in Russian justice," Interfax quoted Zherebenkov as saying. "He hopes that he will be swapped for Russians in the near future who have been convicted in the United States."
Zherebenkov has previously said he believes Moscow wants to exchange Whelan for two Russians held in U.S. prisons - arms dealer Viktor Bout and a pilot named Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle cocaine. Putin`s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday the Kremlin had noted Whelan`s decision not to appeal his conviction, but declined to comment further.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week after the court sentenced Whelan to 16 years in jail that the verdict had caused outrage in Washington. The U.S. ambassador to Moscow, John Sullivan, called his trial "a mockery of justice".
A 'pioneering' new biography about Meghan Markle is promising to 'set the record straight' on why 'the most charismatic member of the Royal Family' has been 'so upset'.
Celebrity biographer Sean Smith, who has penned books about royals like Kate Middleton as well as stars including Ed Sheeran and Kim Kardashian, has written Meghan: Misunderstood, set to be released in November.
The author said he was moved watching the explosive ITV documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, which aired last year, and explained he 'immediately wanted to know how it had come to this'.
The book promises to 'pull no punches' in it's exploration of Meghan Markle's, 38, life in the royal family, calling her 'the most talked about, unfairly vilified and misrepresented woman in the world.'
Meghan: Misunderstood, a new biography about Meghan Markle, 38, is promising to offer a 'no punches pulled' view of the Duchess and her life in the royal family
A press release on the Harpers Collins website details how the Duchess of Sussex had a 'extraordinarily accomplished life' before marrying Prince Harry.
The book aims to delve into the 'rom-com fantasy' of the Duke and Duchess' relationship, as well as touching on the 'disturbing drama' which followed their joyful wedding in May 2018.
The release adds: 'Theirs was a story that the screenwriters of Hollywood where Meghan had made her name could scarcely have imagined.'
The biography promises to 'pull no punches' as the author unravels the 'remarkable and powerful story of this self-made, intelligent American woman with a strong social conscience.'
Celebrity author Sean Smith said he was inspired to write the biography after watching the explosive documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey in November
Meanwhile the cover shows a close-up snap of the Duchess at the Invictus Games team trials in 2018, which took place in Bath just weeks before her wedding to Prince Harry.
In the documentary which inspired the novel, Meghan spoke about struggling with the media spotlight during her time in the royal family.
The book's synposis tells how Smith will unravel the 'remarkable and powerful story' of the Duchess
The Duchess told of the unbearable pressure of life in the spotlight, saying she had 'no idea' of the struggles she would deal with as a member of The Firm.
In a candid interview for an ITV documentary, she revealed her friends warned her not to marry Harry because the media focus would 'destroy your life', admitting that since the wedding and during her pregnancy she felt 'vulnerable.'
The searingly honest interviews come following months of controversy involving Meghan and Harry, who came under fire for their privacy demands over Archie's christening, their use of private jets, and Meghan's Wimbledon appearance when she banned fans from taking photos.
Since the interviews aired in November, the Sussexes stepped back from life in the royal family.
After initially moving to Canada after stepping down as senior working royals on March 31, the couple have now set up home in California.
Reports of a new Meghan Markle biography comes days after it emerged royal author Robert Lacey is due to released his book Battle of Brothers in October. Pictured: Prince William, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle at the Commonwealth Day service in London in March
They are currently living with their son Archie, one, in Tyler Perry's $18 million mansion.
The book's synposis tells how Lacey investigates the 'untold reality' of the brothers' relationship
News of the latest biography on the couple comes after it emerged another explosive book detailing their troubles will be released this autumn.
Biographer Robert Lacey, a historical consultant for Netflix's The Crown as well as the author of Majesty, a 1977 study of Queen Elizabeth, has penned Battle of Brothers: William and Harry - the Friendship and the Feuds, set to be released in October.
He told how he was 'astonished' and 'sometimes moved to tears' by the fresh details of the rift that emerged while he was researching the conflict.
The book explores conflicts that emerge as a result of the heir and the spare dynamic that permeates British aristocracy, and claims that the 'seeds of damage were sown' when William and Harry's parents' marriage unravelled.
It will also delve into how the relationship between the two brothers has been impacted by their wives - Kate Middleton and Meghan.
It is believed the trigger that caused the rift to develop between William and Harry was when the Duke of Cambridge, 38, advised his younger sibling to 'take things slow' when he first began dating Meghan Markle in 2017.
Egyptian mosques and churches are gearing up to open their doors to worshippers for the first time since March after the government said houses of worship would be allowed to reopen from Saturday under certain conditions.
Egypt had shut down mosques and churches three months ago to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mosques will be allowed to reopen for daily prayers, but will not be allowed to host Friday congregational prayers. Churches may open for prayers and mass services but will not be allowed to hold mass on Sunday, per the governments new rules.
Religious Endowments Minister Mohamed Mokhtar, who is responsible for the countrys mosques, said in a statement on Tuesday that provincial directorates will determine the mosques that will open in what the government has said is the first stage of reopening.
The first stage will include major mosques, but not the smaller mosques known in Arabic as zawiya.
They will be restricted to hosting the five daily prayers, he added, and will be opened only ten minutes ahead of the call to prayer, and shut ten minutes after the prayers conclude. All mosques must close their doors 30 minutes at most after the call to prayer.
Mosque bathrooms and areas designated for ablution, a ritual cleansing that worshippers complete before prayer, will remain completely shut, as will areas designated for women to pray.
Funerals and marriage celebrations will remain suspended, according to the minister.
The same rules will be applied to Islamic shrines.
The minister ordered all doors leading to shrines be closed.
Muslims entering mosques to pray during the first stage must wear masks, bring their own prayer carpet, and abide by social distancing indicators.
The ministry warned that any mosque where the worshippers do not abide by the new rules would be immediately closed.
The Coptic Orthodox Churchs holy synod is set to convene next week to make a decision on the resumption of church services, in accordance with the governments announcement.
We will start [reopening churches] in the least affected governorates [by the coronavirus] and with limited numbers and strict precautions," said church spokesman Boulos Halim.
The vast majority of Egyptian Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church.
The Coptic Catholic Church has announced the resumption of daily prayer services as of Saturday at all its churches.
The churches will be at a maximum 25 percent of capacity, and worshippers will keep 1.5 metres apart, at a minimum.
In accordance with the cabinet's decisions, the prayers will be restricted to priests only on Sundays and Fridays, while a limited number of worshippers will be allowed on the other days.
Halls and areas designated for funerals, weddings and baptisms will reopen at 25 percent capacity, and with the 1.5 metre distancing rule in place.
All other church activities, including weekly meetings, will remain suspended until further notice.
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Romanian prosecutors have charged the head of a Romanian state-owned company with corruption over a contract to acquire medical equipment aimed at fighting the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
The Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) said in a statement on June 23 that Adrian Ionel demanded a 760,000-euro ($860,000) bribe to help a company secure the contract for three million surgical masks and 250,000 medical gowns.
Ionel is the director-general of Unifarm, a firm responsible for procuring equipment and drugs for Romanias public health-care facilities.
The suspect, who claimed his innocence, was placed under judicial control for 60 days, during which he was banned from leaving Bucharest and from performing his role at Unifarm.
He faces charges including abuse of office, bribe taking, and complicity in trafficking influence after the DNA said he struck a deal in a meeting in a Bucharest restaurant with a middleman for the private company that was awarded the contract in March.
The prosecutors alleged that only one million masks were delivered. And even those were not surgical masks, as stipulated in the contract, but protective masks that did not meet safety standards.
Prosecutors added that, after the shipment, Ionel cancelled the contract when the bribe he demanded was not forthcoming.
Romania's health-care system has long suffered from corruption and under-investment.
Over the past few months, medical staff have complained of a shortage of equipment in the EU member state and some of them have resigned in protest.
Romania has so far reported more than 24,500 cases of the novel coronavirus and over 1,500 deaths.
With reporting by AFP
A NEW BILL to protect residents from verbal and physical harassment, abuse, threatening telephone calls and false information, is set to be presented to the House of Assembly next week.
But days before the debate, the bill, which has been made public, has sparked outrage, consternation and criticism from a cross section of the population.
On Monday (June 22), a bill titled the Public Order and Criminal Justice Ordinance 2020 will be presented to members for their perusal, debate and possible passage.
Under the proposed law the following acts will be criminalised: affray (fighting in public), fear or provocation of violence, intentional harassment, alarm or distress, harassment, alarm or distress, and mental element.
Also included are sending letters with intent to cause distress or anxiety, improper use of public telecommunication systems, and intimidation and harm of witnesses, jurors and judicial officers.
Leader of the Progressive National Party, Washington Misick, said in a statement on Friday that he will not be supporting the bill come Monday.
"We cannot and will not give our consent to legislation that is ill-conceived and carry the risk of suppressing criticism. This is a clear consequence of this bill intended or not, he stated.
The Opposition leader called the bill "ambiguous adding that it has "broad and unjustified risks for abusive application.
The only part that he is supporting, he said, is the part aimed at protecting witnesses and judicial personnel from intimidation and harm which should be set out in a standalone bill.
"The Opposition view is that the case has not been made for the justification of the risk to the freedom of expression that could result from passage of the current bill.
He said this is critical even where the language or action may be insensitive or aggressive.
"We say that against the TCI cultural background of passionate superlatives, hyperbole and bravado that someone from a different cultural orientation is likely to bring their own cultural bias to our expressions.
"The risk of this is real considering the predominance of the law enforcement community by persons from diverse cultures, but generally different from ours.
"We are convinced that the enactment of such a bill at this time, and in this form, is misguided.
Former leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement, Oswald Skippings, said the proposed
legislation is "a devious and blatant case of masked totalitarianism.
"This repressive legislation does not only highlight this Governments fear of being objectively criticised and held into account, but it clearly demonstrates the Governments desire to continue to muffle its citizenry both vocally and through media outlets while it continues to exploit, oppress, disadvantage and disempower its people, Skippings added.
The politician questioned whether the church will now be censored if it is in Opposition to, or condemns government policy. He is calling on pastors to speak out about the proposed law.
"Will the church, who are supposed to be the watchmen on the wall, rise to the occasion and speak out about it, since a preacher may in the future be easily not only be accused of and arrested, but fined or imprisoned or both for merely addressing any issue from a prophetic or biblical standpoint or simply from a natural, layman, communal standpoint.
Meanwhile, attorney Mark Fulford called the ordinance a "shut ya mouth law which would permanently restrict freedoms such as the freedom of speech.
"Despite, the likely intention of the bill, it is understandable why we as Turks Islanders would be naturally sceptical of its timing and why we would be inclined to ask ourselves, who is behind this bill? Is it the premier or is it the British?
He continued: "Other questions that leave persons with a profound sense of mistrust, are the questions as to how the bill will be enforced? Is this a tool to create a police state?
"Will parliamentarians use the auspices of the bill to make complaints to the police whenever a concerned citizen speaks out against them forcefully?
"Is that why we have not heard from any parliamentarian on this bill? If that is the case, the bill would be an entrapment and should be rejected in its current form.
He stressed that the bill is ambiguous, leaves a lot to interpretation and greater clarity is needed.
The bill explains the following:
Affray
A person is guilty of affray if he uses or threatens unlawful violence towards another and his conduct, causing the other person to fear for their safety.
This threat cannot be made by the use of words alone, and can be committed in private as well as public places.
A person guilty of affray is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for no more than six months, or to a fine of $10,000 or to both.
On conviction on indictment, the guilty party will be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years.
Fear or provocation of violence
A person is guilty of an offence if they use, towards another person, threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or if they distribute or display any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting with intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence will be used against him or someone else.
This section applies to both private and public spaces.
Anyone convicted of this crime will also face a six-month prison sentence, a fine of $10,000 or both.
Intentional harassment, alarm or distress
Anyone who intentionally harasses, alarms or distress another by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or displays any writing, sign will be guilty of an offence.
The guilty party will also face six-months imprisonment, a $10,000 fine or both.
Harassment, alarm or distress
If the harassment, as described above, is not intentional, and the accused cannot prove that they did not mean to harass, they can still be charged and convicted.
On conviction, this individual will be required to pay a fine of up to $2,500.
Mental element: Miscellaneous
If an accused is not mentally competent at the time of any of the aforementioned acts, by way of intoxication (alcohol, drugs or a combination of both), they need to prove that the illegal act was committed as a result of their intoxication due to medical reasons, or that it was not self-induced.
Offensive messages and telephone calls
Any person who sends to another person a letter, electronic communication or article of any description which conveys a message which is indecent or grossly offensive, a threat or known false information will be guilty of an offence if their purpose causes distress or anxiety to the recipient or anyone else to whom it is communicated.
If the sender can show that the threat was used to reinforce a demand made by him on reasonable grounds they will not be prosecuted.
Electronic communication refers to any oral or other communication by means of an electronic communications network.
If found to be guilty on summary conviction, the sender can be imprisoned for up to six months, fined $10,000 or both.
On conviction on indictment, the guilty party can serve up to two years in prison.
Improper use of public telecommunication system
Anyone who sends, by means of a public telecommunication system, a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or of menacing character shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine of $10,000 or to both.
This clause in the bill refers to messages conveyed on television programme services, radio programme service or any other service using an electronic communication.
Intimidation of witnesses, jurors and judicial officers
Finally, a person is guilty if they intimidate or intend to intimidate another person who is assisting in the investigation of an offence, a witness or potential witness, a juror or potential juror, or a judicial officer.
This person will, on summary conviction, serve a prison term not exceeding six months, or to a fine of $10,000 or to both.
If convicted on indictment, they can serve up to five years in prison.
The same goes for harming witnesses, jurors and judicial officers involved in proceedings for an offence, and if the act is done to pervert the course of justice.
When coronavirus cases started exploding on the East Coast in March, there were devastating failures by Democratic leaders. New Yorks governor, Andrew Cuomo, not only forced nursing homes to take back residents whod been hospitalized for the coronavirus, he barred them from testing the residents to see if they were still infected.
As ProPublica reported, following Cuomos order, Covid-19 tore through New York states nursing facilities, killing more than 6,000 people about 6 percent of its more than 100,000 nursing home residents. In Florida, which prohibited such transfers, the virus has so far killed only 1.6 percent of nursing home residents.
Given how Cuomos errors contributed to New Yorks catastrophe, its hard to say how much credit he deserves for eventually rising to the occasion. Still, by the time New Yorks cases got to where Arizonas are now, he at least understood that the state faced calamity and imposed the lockdown that helped bring it back from the abyss.
Arizona, Florida and Texas, by contrast, arent even doing simple things like mandating mask-wearing. Worse, until last week, the governors of Arizona and Texas prevented cities from instituting their own such requirements.
So far, evidence about the role mass protests over police violence played in coronavirus spikes is mixed, but liberal support for the demonstrations solidified the conviction among many conservatives that strict social distancing rules are a hypocritical tool of social control. The paranoia and resentment that have long been part of the culture of the modern right are now directed at those warning about the ongoing dangers of the pandemic.
Across the country, public health workers have faced death threats, harassment and armed protesters at their homes. No matter how bad things get in red America, its hard to imagine where the political will to contain the virus will come from.
So while countries with competent leadership haltingly return to normal, ours will continue to be pummeled. In mid-May, when Americas coronavirus death toll was around 85,000, Trump sycophant Lindsey Graham said that as long as fatalities didnt go much beyond 120,000, I think you can say you limited the casualties in this war.
By The Timess count, we just hit that number. The war goes on, but Trump has already lost it.
Shasta County health officials say a man showing coronavirus symptoms attended a "large family gathering," now a cluster of a dozen confirmed cases.
The man, who is in his 20s, attended the party a few weeks ago. Afterward, he went in for a COVID-19 test and learned he had the virus. The county health department asked 20 people at the party to self-quarantine. As of June 21, 12 party-goers have now tested positive and most are showing symptoms, health officials said.
Large indoor gatherings are prohibited by the California stay-at-home order.
Although Shasta County still has a relatively small number of cases, its numbers have soared in June. After an April and May where rarely more than one case was confirmed each day, June has consistently had multiple positives per day. The county health department says it's at an overall alert level of 3 out of 4, designating "many cases including community spread, with undetected cases likely."
The county now has 86 confirmed cases, 25 people in quarantine, two hospitalizations and four deaths.
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Katie Dowd is the SFGATE managing editor. Email her: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd
SALEM| CHENNAI: Reversing a relentless uptrend, Tamil Nadu witnessed some relief on Tuesday with the number of patients testing positive for COVID-19, novel coronavirus, fractionally dropping by 7.10 per cent both at the state and Chennai city levels, giving everyone a breather.
While the per-day positive COVID-19 cases for the state as a whole dropped to 2,516 from Monday's all-time day-wise spike of 2,710, greater Chennai also saw some respite with positive cases declining to 1,380 from 1,487 on Monday. But the total number of deaths kept spiraling to 833, after 39 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed by the State Health department today.
The number of persons tested for COVID-19 was tad lower at 23,921. In Chennai city, though, the testing momentum was kept up with over 600 'fever camps' held across the 15 zones on Tuesday, according to the Food Minister R Kamaraj who oversaw the cash relief distribution of Rs.1,000 to each of the rice card holders under PDS in the city. He said 53.33 per cent of the households had been covered in the city in disbursing the cash till date.
With a 'full lockdown' to be in force from tonight in Madurai, that southern district saw slightly reduced positive cases at 137 today, next only to Thiruvallur-156 and Chengalpattu district with 146 COVID-19 infections. As Salem district picked up some rapid numbers, the public health authorities there curtailed retail shopping and shops were asked to shut by 4 pm today. A 60-year-old woman succumbed to the virus in Salem GH today.
CM TO TALK TO COLLECTORS AGAIN
Amid unconfirmed reports that Theni district could go under a 'full lockdown' next, after Madurai (on Tuesday Theni reported 48 new coronavirus positive cases), there is a sense of unease among sections of the public that the 'intense lockdown' may not be effective after all, as more and more people moved from Chennai to their home districts.
In this backdrop, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is scheduled to hold a video-conference meeting with all the district collectors from Chennai on Wednesday, to take stock of the COVID-19 preventive and control measures in each district and to also discuss options on whether to uniformly extend the 'full lockdown' to all the other districts till June 30, or curb more select tier-two cities and towns on a strict necessity basis depending on the severity of coronavirus spread in the respective areas.
Georgetown, SC (29440)
Today
Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 21F. Winds light and variable..
Tonight
Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 21F. Winds light and variable.
The goal for each of the universities participating in the statewide E-Challenge competition was to craft an energy savings plan for their respective campuses, but it was up to each university to define exactly what that would look like. The team from UM-Dearborn decided to go about as big as they could. They set themselves to auditing every major building an approach that involved walkthroughs and deep analysis of each one over the course of the winter and early spring. Lighting, complex HVAC systems and anything in between were all taken into account. The result was a 500-page report detailing dozens of specific projects with substantial returns on investment that, if implemented, could save the university $200,000 a year on its energy bills.
The scope and level of detail left an impression on judges from E-Challenge sponsors DTE Energy and the Engineering Society of Detroit, who awarded the UM-Dearborn team the top spot in the competition. Executive Director for Facilities Operations Carol Glick is thrilled with the win, and says she is particularly impressed with the collaboration between students, tradespeople, faculty and staff. But shes equally excited about what it could mean in practical terms for the campus. This is the first time theyve had such a comprehensive understanding of how the campus buildings use and lose energy ?- information that helped them identify and prioritize dozens of projects, many with payback periods of just a few years. In total, their plan would reduce electricity usage by 8 percent and natural gas consumption by 10 percent over five years ?- a big first step in getting UM-Dearborn to meet the U-M systems carbon neutrality goals. I think its also always important to remember that were largely a tuition-funded university, and energy efficiency is one way we can be good stewards of the investments students are making, Glick says.
The campus team will also get a big assist from DTE to implement the plan. The E-Challenge award earns UM-Dearborn a spot in DTEs Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program a one- to two-year partnership that helps the campus identify low or no-cost improvements, provides technical support from DTE energy experts, and offers additional incentives only available to those in the SEM program.
E-Challenge faculty team member and Associate Professor of Engineering Practice Line van Nieuwstadt says shed love to see students stay involved in the implementation of the energy plan. In particular, she sees potential for internal internships that leverage faculty with relevant expertise, staff and students to tackle energy-related projects that improve campus facilities and infrastructure. Ideally, she says, that would involve a for-credit experiential learning opportunity, as is done with CECSs senior design program or for-credit co-ops.
Could we have a team that explores taking a building off the grid? Or could we have a class where the project is to design a system to recycle gray water and save energy? Or how about investigating class schedule optimization that would reduce heating needs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer? An idea like that doesnt even require much up-front investment other than turning students loose on the data and some guidance from faculty, van Nieuwstadt says. So theres a lot of potential, especially if we can offer the students academic credit for these kinds of project-based learning experiences.
Masters student Keerthana Ramasamy Thirugnana Sambantham would be more than happy to offer a testimonial. One of 19 graduate students who worked on the E-Challenge, she says it made such an impression on her that she hopes to make her career in the field of energy and sustainability.
Im from India and when I was learning about energy audits, all the learning was very theoretical, she says. But Id never seen anything like this in person. In the E-Challenge, I literally counted lights in the buildings. I got to know all the features of the systems and equipment up close. I never thought Id get to do something like that, but the learning is so much more practical when you do it this way. I think as you do, you learn.
Source: UM-Dearborn
A knee-jerk reaction, they said, could be detrimental to the fortunes of an industry that is highly dependent on the country given the huge competitive advantage it offers, in terms of cost and speed.
Auto manufacturers and component makers in India have sounded a note of caution against the rising call to boycott Chinese products.
A knee-jerk reaction, they said, could be detrimental to the fortunes of an industry that is highly dependent on the country given the huge competitive advantage it offers, in terms of cost and speed.
Indias $120-billion auto industry sources 8-20 per cent of its annual requirement from China, show industry estimates.
Rajiv Bajaj, MD of Bajaj Auto, said: China offers competitive advantage in terms of speed and costs.
While it is possible to find alternatives and concurrently produce locally, it will be a long-drawn strategy and cannot be done overnight, said Bajaj.
As a global company, we need experiences from various markets in order to complete our understanding.
"It doesnt matter whether we make or sell. For that reason, I dont see us moving away (from China) as of now.
Bajaj Auto and its suppliers source components worth Rs 1,000 crore from China.
Despite a 10 per cent duty and higher logistic costs, sourcing from China is cheaper than procuring domestically and, on an average, leads to savings of 12-15 per cent for companies, say industry officials.
Deepak Jain, president of the Auto Component Manufacturers Association (Acma), agrees with Bajaj.
As an industry, we need to have a measured approach. Any knee-jerk reaction will only hurt us and not China.
"We cannot suddenly say from tomorrow we have to increase import duty to 25 per cent, said an executive of a large auto company.
Of the $17 billion annual imports by the auto component industry, about $4.5 billion (or 27 per cent) comes from China, said Jain.
While we need to be self-reliant, its a long-term journey, he added.
The outbreak has exposed the danger of relying too much on one region.
Since then, there has been a de-risking strategy in place at most firms.
All companies are, therefore, looking at a China plus one strategy, said Jain, adding that India doesnt have the competitiveness in terms of scale and cost.
We need a sustainable supply chain. We have seen, through the Covid experience, the complex and integrated nature of the supply chain, he added.
A top executive of an auto firm said developing a second supplier source would happen in a big way.
He added that sourcing from one point was fraught with risks.
More and more companies are going to look at two sources - from two different countries.
"Even in India, I would not want to source all parts from one region, he said.
However, he said it would not be done in a hurry but only after normalcy was restored.
The nationalistic feeling will not last beyond two months.
"After that, well be back to buying everything from agarbattis and toys, to chappals made in China.
"It will not lead to any change in long-term buying habits, said the executive.
Experts agree that matching Chinas scale and costs will be a long-drawn effort.
Given the huge reliance Indias industries have on China, finding an alternative source that offers the same scale and cost will take several years, said an analyst at a consulting firm.
While its an opportunity for the auto component makers, it has to be a nuanced approach.
It will require joint efforts by auto makers, suppliers, and regulators, he added.
Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Bob Brody
The document a colleague emailed for your review just landed in your in-box. Here you go, the cover note says. Please advise. Your feedback is hungrily awaited.
The attachment is either a memo to a client or a press release or a media advisory or an activity report or a pitch note for a reporter or a blog post or an award submission or an op-ed piece or a PowerPoint deck for a new business presentation.
Whatever. Its got words in it. Hundreds, in fact.
You take a quick look, scanning and skimming. Then, just to confirm your original suspicions, you look closer and harder. It has more lapses in logic than a surrealist painting, more structural defects than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Its riddled with claims unsupported by fact and corporate boilerplate that could only be construed as high-grade bullshit. And those are its most promising features.
The upshot? Lets just say its off the mark. No, lets call it downright disappointing. Then again, lets deem it a disaster.
Ive played editor now for a long time47 years in case youre counting. Ive edited colleagues junior and senior at public relations agencies small, medium-sized and large, staff reporters and freelancers at newspapers and magazines, and guest contributors to my former blog. Ive edited clients, tooCEOs, university presidents, entrepreneurs. Ive even edited my son, my daughter andto the extent she would let me (meaning never)my wife.
For just as long, but in my role as a writer, Ive also teamed up with a lot of editorshigher-ups at the PR firms (my first assignment called for me to rewrite a press release seven times)and gatekeepers at publications ranging from Esquire, The Atlantic and Glamour to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.
So Ive presumably picked up a few valuable lessons, otherwise known as best practices, about editing. Here, then, are what I consider the seven biggest mistakes people make:
1. Going negative. Yes, you could describe the pitch note as too vague or label it thin on facts. Better, I believe, to suggest it be more specific and substantial. I know, I know. Youre tempted to say, I personally know a chimpanzee who composes more coherently than this. But please, I beg you, think again. Even a critique that finds fault can stay positive (though sugarcoating the truth is a disservice). So start with I like this or This is good or I can see this appealing to a reporter. Then, rather than say how its gone wrong, say how it can be made right.
2. Being discouraging. If a memo to a client has gone awry, youre entitled to tell its author, This fell at least a mile short of my expectations or This is going to take a ton of reworking. But where exactly would such a withering takedown get anyone? Will your colleague feel properly motivated? In a word, no. Betterbut with all due honestyto be a jot generous. Say This is a good start. Or, With more work this could turn out well. Paint a happy outcome that fuels aspiration.
3. Doing everything yourself. I once showed a new colleague on the same account a press release I had drafted. Big mistake. An hour later it came back to me strewn in redas if literally bloodiedwith track changes. Please feel free to imagine me feeling deeply insulted. Now maybe my colleague knew better than I. But he moved ahead with his overhaul without discussing or explaining anything to me first, much less securing my buy-in or consent. Can you spell rude?
4. Denying the opportunity to be independent. A corollary to the above imperative: if a blog post needs polish, your colleague deserves a choice about who should now do what. I always ask, Would you prefer I take over the project from here or try improving it yourself? Sometimes a colleague would rather play to her strengths in, say, client relations or crisis management. But most colleagues, perhaps out of pride, opt to give it a go themselves. Only then will they ever discover how much they can accomplish unassisted.
5. Being heavy-handed. I used to be much more nitpicky editing others. Its taken me years to realize that whoever edits least often edits best. Often now my track changes, rather than edits, are mostly comments, questions and suggestions in the margins. Even as you cite specifics, venture a topline response, an overarching umbrella statement. Oh, do tinker and do tweak But give your colleagues enough wiggle room to read between the lines and solve some issues themselves.
6. Relying on generalities. I once turned in an investigative article to a science magazine, only for the top editor to tell me to do it again. I asked for details. Just do it over, he said. So I had no choice but to practice clairvoyance and try to fathom what he meant. Feedback should get a little granular. Instead of saying its too long, say cut it by about one-third. Instead of saying it jumps around too much, say The third paragraph might belong after the fourth.
7, Digging too deep into the weeds. For several years I freelanced for an editor who invariably needed about an hour on the phone to discuss my latest 750-word article. This approach always struck me as overkill. Eventually I developed editorial PTSD and, for the sake of salvaging my mental health, quit writing for him. So resist the temptation to go down rabbit holes. No need to debate this semi-colon, much less how best to deploy that ever-controversial word and.
Now, none of these takeaways are graven in marble, or even jelly. Exceptions can be made, and probably should be.
A quick case in point: only three years into my PR career, I wrote a memo to a clienttruly a mess, sprawling and unfocusedand showed it to a highly seasoned colleague. He could have come down on me hardaccused me of producing the worst drivel ever to come from a creature walking upright. But no. Instead, he revised it from top to bottom. And came back an object of such exquisite proportionsto the point, instantly understandable, all on a single pagethat it belongs in a museum. And I learnedby example, unforgettably, without his ever saying a wordexactly what I needed to learn.
So I contradict myself here. Sue me.
And by the way, once in a while, over the transom comes a document close to perfect. In such instancesoccurring annually or bi-annually at bestplease feel free to cue The Hallelujah Chorus and praise your colleague to the heavens.
The bottom line: its all case by case. Apply your best judgment. But equally important, regard editing as more than a craft, more than the manipulating and mastering of words. Its also a matter of behavior, of conduct either becoming or unbecoming. So even as youre being candid and blunt and even tough, make sure youre also kind and civil and fair and decent, too.
By my book, thats a concept that should never be edited out of our existence.
***
Bob Brody is a public relations consultant, primarily as an editorial specialist and a media strategist. He contributes personal essays regularly to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, among other publications. Hes author of the memoir Playing Catch with Strangers: A Family Guy (Reluctantly) Comes of Age.
HarperCollins Christian Publishing is moving the Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive imprints from Grand Rapids, Mich., to HCCPs corporate office in Nashville. The move, HCCP said, will allow it to share best practices across the companys trade book publishing program for both the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups.
Creating a more cohesive structure for our trade book publishing imprints allows for us to manage our nonfiction brands under Don Jacobsons leadership, said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing and HarperCollins Focus, in a statement. We believe that having the Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive leadership in Nashville will help the teams better manage author relationships and allow them to collaborate on larger corporate initiatives.
Zondervan Books is the flagship nonfiction imprint for the Zondervan publishing group, publishing approximately 50 titles per year. Zondervan Thrive launched in late 2019 as an imprint focused on personal development, health and wellness, self-care, marriage and family, abuse/trauma, anxiety, and personality typologies.
With the shift, Webster Younce has been named v-p and publisher of Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive. Younce has worked as the associate publisher and executive editor of Nelson Books for the past seven years, with oversight on all editorial processes. The second new member of the management team is Paul Fisher, who had previously been senior director of marketing for the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan fiction programs. Fisher has been appointed v-p of marketing for Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive.
With the appointments of Younce and Fisher, David Morris, v-p and publishers of Zondervan Books and Tom Dean, v-p of marketing, have left the company.Younce and Fisher are the only two members of Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive who will be based in Nashville. We have been successful in the past with teams based in multiple locations and we believe this model will work for that team as well, a spokesperson said. However, we will continue to analyze the needs of our business and adjust when necessary.
At this time, HCCP will continue to maintain an office in Grand Rapids, where other Zondervan brands are based. Those brands include Zondervan Academic, Zondervan Reflective, Zonderkidz, and the Zondervan Bible Group.
This story has been updated to include news of the departures of Morris and Dean.
Following the likes of Google and some of its other peers in the space, Microsoft unveiled a racial equality initiative on Tuesday. In a letter signed by CEO Satya Nadella, the company said it's "committed" to addressing racial injustice and inequity. To that end, Microsoft detailed several changes it's making to support Black individuals both inside and outside of the company.
Most notably, the company plans to double the number of "Black and African American managers, senior individual contributors and senior leaders it employs in the US by 2025. Additionally, the company will spend an additional $150 million on its diversity and inclusion efforts.
The company also wants to help make its non-Black employees better allies. Starting in the company's fiscal 2021 year, Microsoft will mandate mandatory training on allyship and privilege for all employees. Part of the course material will touch on understanding the experience of Black communities.
Outside of its own walls, the company plans to double the number of Black-owned businesses it works with over the next three years. It will spend $500 million with both existing and new suppliers. The company says it spent more than $2.9 billion in its 2019 fiscal year working with women-owned suppliers, along with businesses run by people identifying as minorities, disabled, veterans and LGBT.
Some of the other investments Nadella announced today include a $50 million fund dedicated to supporting Black-owned small businesses and the creation of a $100 million program that will assist minority-owned depository institutions. The company will also make a five-year, $50 million investment in its existing justice reform initiative.
Microsoft's efforts could go a long way towards making it more inclusive to the Black community. However, like most tech giants, the company still has a long way to go. In its 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Report, Microsoft said 4.5 percent of all of its employees and 2.7 percent of its executives are Black. In the same report, the company said white individuals make up 53.2 percent of its workforce. The overwhelming majority of Microsofts employees 72.3 percent are also men. But at least for now, Microsoft appears committed to changing things.
This is not a one-time event, wrote Nadella. It will require real work and focus. We will listen and learn. We will take feedback and we will adjust. But it starts with each of us making a commitment to do the work, to help drive change, and to act with intention.
Xiaomi India is going to host another sale of the Redmi Note 9 Pro today. Launched in March, the handset is a follow up of the companys popular Redmi Note 8 Pro. The smartphone boasts of a new square camera module and a punch-hole display at the front. The company had also launched the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, a slightly beefed-up version offering a higher resolution camera and higher memory and RAM options. The Note 9 Pro will go on sale today at 12 noon on Amazon India and Mi.com.
SPECIFICATIONS
The Redmi Note 9 Pro features a 6.67-inch full-HD+ LCD display with a punch-hole placed on top center and a quad-camera setup in a square module. Like the previous Redmi Note 8 series, it has Gorilla Glass on the front and back, but this time the cameras are also protected with the same. Other notable design features include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner similar to the Poco X2 and the Realme 6 series.
The device is powered by the new 8nm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G which should be more efficient and slightly more powerful than the 730G. The smartphone will be offered in two variants- 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. There is also a dedicated microSD card slot to expand the storage further.
The square camera module is placed at the center and is raised from the main body. It includes a 48-megapixel main sensor next to an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera. There is also a 5-megapixel macro camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. At the front, there is a 16-megapixel selfie camera placed in the punch hole. According to the company, the camera is capable of shooting RAW photography and some nifty tricks in pro mode while shooting video.
The battery unit is rated at 5,020mAh which is said to be the biggest on a Redmi Note device and supports 18W fast charging. Rest of the features include support for 4G VoLTE, NaVIC GPS, dual-SIM card slots, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, P2i coating, USB Type-C and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The handset will come with Android 10 with MIUI 11. There are three colour options to choose from including Aurora Blue, Glacier White, and Interstellar Black.
PRICE AND OFFERS
The smartphone is priced at Rs 13,999 for the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant, and Rs 16,999 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. Airtel is offering double data benefits with Rs 298 and Rs 398 unlimited packs on the Note 9 Pro.
Michigan launched a pilot program that issues inmates new IDs and registers them to vote as they are released from prison.
Former inmates, in a collaboration between Secretary of State Jocelyn Bensons office and the Michigan Department of Corrections, are being issued a drivers license or state ID upon completion of their sentences. Michigan began automatic voter registration for anyone who signs up for an ID in September of last year.
A prison-system-wide launch of the ID issuing program will be in place by fall, the SOS said.
For formerly incarcerated individuals, obtaining ID is one of the biggest obstacles they face, and its also the first hurdle they have to cross before they can do anything else, Benson said. This partnership removes that obstacle and helps returning citizens start off on the right track to reintegrating into their communities.
The MDOC will obtain required documents for identification verification and photos from prisoners who are designated for parole and will send that info directly to (the Secretary of State), where either a drivers license or state ID will be processed, Bensons office said in statement issued Tuesday. Once someone has been paroled, they will be provided their drivers license or ID and registered to vote unless they choose not to be, along with a workforce development packet that includes information outlining the restoration of their voting rights.
Benson said she made the ID program a priority when she took office in 2019.
This initiative is an important step that builds on the years of work the MDOC has done to help returning citizens have their vital documents upon release, MDOC Director Heidi Washington said. We know that providing identification after exiting the criminal justice system will play a huge role in producing positive outcomes for parolees and the community at large, and were proud to be partnering on this effort.
Michigan sends absentee ballot applications to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2020
The announcement comes a little more than a month after President Donald Trump criticized Bensons announcement that he office plans to mail every registered voter an absentee ballot application. Trump, based on comments he posted to Twitter, initially incorrectly stated that Benson mailed absentee ballots, rather than applications for ballots, to voters.
In a corrected post, Trump said: Michigan sends absentee ballot applications to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!
The president, as of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, hadnt posted any comments regarding Bensons latest voter-access effort.
The applicants alleged that dumping has impacted the industry and has requested for imposition of the anti-dumping duty on the import
Workers transferring aluminium foil for export to India at a factory in Huaibei in China's eastern Anhui province. India initiates probe into alleged dumping of aluminium foil from 4 nations. (AFP Photo)
New Delhi: India has initiated a probe into the alleged dumping of aluminium foil from China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand following a complaint by domestic manufacturers.
Hindalco Industries, Raviraj Foils and Jindal India have filed an application before the commerce ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), seeking initiation of anti-dumping investigation on imports of 'Aluminium foil 80 micron and below' from these countries.
The applicants have alleged that dumping has impacted the industry and has requested for imposition of the anti-dumping duty on the imports.
In a notification, DGTR said that on the basis of prima facie evidence submitted by the applicants, "the authority, hereby, initiates an investigation".
In the probe, the directorate will determine the existence, degree and effect of any alleged dumping in respect of the product under consideration from the four nations.
If it would finds that there is a dumping and it is impacting the domestic manufacturers, it will recommend the amount of anti-dumping duty, which if levied, would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.
While DGTR recommends the duty, the finance ministry imposes it.
The period of investigation is from April 2019 - March 2020. It would also look into the data of April 2016-19 period.
In international trade parlance, dumping happens when a country or a firm exports an item at a price lower than the price of that product in its domestic market.
Dumping impacts price of that product in the importing country, hitting margins and profits of local manufacturing firms.
According to global trade norms, a country is allowed to impose tariffs on such dumped products to provide a level-playing field to domestic manufacturers. The duty is imposed only after a thorough investigation by a quasi-judicial body, such as DGTR, in India.
In its probe, the directorate has to conclude whether the imported products are impacting domestic industries.
Imposition of anti-dumping duty is permissible under the World Trade Organization (WTO) regime. These countries are members of the Geneva-based organisation, which deals global trade norms.
The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.
An isolated outbreak at an abattoir is one of the reasons cited for a rise in Germany's reproduction (R) number to 2.88.
R is the average number of people who someone with Covid-19 could infect. A number below one is seen as necessary to contain the spread of the disease.
The Tonnies meat processing plant in the Gutersloh area of North Rhine-Westphalia has now reported more than 1,500 infections, out of a total of 7,000 workers.
State premier Armin Laschet says schools and kindergartens have already been shut in the immediate area and 7,000 people have been put into quarantine. Now public health officials are deciding whether to go further.
An opinion piece on the Deutsche Welle website suggests an outbreak at Europes largest meat processing plant was a disaster that was bound to happen and just as preventable.
---BBC
[June 22, 2020] Scholle IPN Announces New Corporate Brand
NORTHLAKE, Illinois, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholle IPN, a global leader in flexible packaging solutions, has announced today a major rebranding to reflect the company's focused efforts on sustainable packaging. Ross Bushnell, President and CEO of Scholle IPN, said of the rebranding initiative, "This is a really exciting time for the Scholle IPN business and for our team around the world. The opportunities are endless for sustainable, leading-edge solutions crafted around film, fitments, and equipment offerings. We believe that our brand should more accurately reflect those tremendous opportunities and we are excited to launch the new brand campaign at this time." Bushnell continued, "The Scholle IPN name has long been synonymous with enabling the world's leading brands to deliver their products by the most effective, sustainable means possible. As the packaging industry continues to undergo sweeping changes with respect to our role in a circular economy, it's onl appropriate that the Scholle IPN brand experience and product portfolio reflect that shift. As a result, our marketing team, both in the US and Europe, spent countless hours to ensure that our visual brand aligns with our operational philosophy and vision."
In addition to the new-look brand, Scholle IPN has also adopted the Simply Flexible tagline to further reinforce its strategy and direction. For Bushnell, it's more than a tagline, "Simply Flexible is who we are and how we go to market. It's internal as we constantly look to streamline our processes and become more efficient and it's external as we seek ways in which we can be easier to do business with along each step of our customer and supplier relationships. It means we constantly challenge ourselves to find a better, simpler way for our team to interact with key stakeholders." As part of the re-branding initiative, Scholle IPN has launched a new website (www.scholleipn.com) which highlights the Company's capabilities and their value-added packaging solutions for the markets they serve.
ABOUT SCHOLLE IPN Scholle IPN is a global leader in total flexible packaging solutions like barrier films, ergonomic fitments, and state-of-the-art equipment for bag-in-box and pouches. With a vertically-integrated manufacturing footprint that stretches across five continents, Scholle IPN is able to quickly design, manufacture, and deliver solutions to customers who provide over one-hundred billion servings of food and beverage each year to their consumers. www.scholleipn.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1193749/Scholle_IPN_Logo.jpg SOURCE Scholle IPN
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Polling sites opened at 6 a.m. across the borough Tuesday as Staten Island voters registered with the Conservative, Democratic, Republican, and SAM (Serve America Movement) parties cast their primary ballots during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Polling site staff and voters followed new safety procedures when voting on Tuesday -- a primary that was postponed from the original April 28 primary day. Social distancing markers were placed on the ground at polling sites, while staff and voters were required to wear a face-covering or mask. In addition to the voting sticker, voters also received a free individual pen to fill out ballots.
While early voting has been underway and the state made absentee ballots available to New Yorkers due to the coronavirus, many borough residents were seen casting their votes on Tuesday morning, the Advance/SILive.com observed. Polling places are open to 9 p.m.
*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***
VOTERS AT PS 39
Members of the polling site staff were surprised by the early morning turnout on Tuesday at PS 39 in South Beach. About a dozen people were seen at the site to vote just after 7:30 a.m.
There was no problem, Robert Blum, of Grasmere, said about voting during the pandemic. Everybody had masks on. It was pretty good."
He said he initially requested an absentee ballot by mail but never received it. When he called again on Friday, he was told he would be mailed a new one, but he still hadnt received it as of Tuesday morning.
With everything that was going on, to be safe, theyre telling you to avoid trips to be safe than sorry but I never got it in the mail, he said. I hope they clear this up by November. They need to make sure people get it by mail.
VOTERS AT PS 8
The PS 8 polling site had several voters at about 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. More than a dozen people trickled in and out of the site.
Peter Vega of Great Kills said voting during a pandemic felt the same as always with the exception of a mask.
Just take the proper precautions, wear a mask, if youre comfortable wearing gloves, bring some hand sanitizer, he said, offering advice to those going out to vote.
Peraj Rifat, also of Great Kills, said he felt a difference voting, especially with the mask. But he said people should continue to cast their votes, even during a pandemic, as its important to make change.
VOTERS AT SUMMERFIELD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Despite being a smaller polling site, at least 10 people showed up to cast their primary ballots at Summerfield United Methodist Church in Mariners Harbor around 9:15 a.m.
A resident, who asked to go by Ren, said voting went well, but it was different with the new safety precautions.
Everybody is masked up, she said. You cant touch anything.
Polling site staff said many people were showing up to vote, including many new voters. That could possibly be attributed to kids not being in school buildings and that more people are working from home, staff said.
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Eni S.p.A. E has plans to divest oil and gas resources in Pakistan, per Bloomberg. The company has been operating in the South Asian country for 20 years. It is in talks with a financial advisor to evaluate its portfolio in the country.
The divestment would include Enis producing assets in Badhra, Bhit and Kadanwari. Moreover, the companys processing units and many non-operating assets will be included in the sale. It will divest eight development and production, and four exploration leases.
The company produces 37 billion cubic feet of natural gas annually in the country. Moreover, it opened a photovoltaic plant in 2019 in Bhit, where it has a 40% operating stake. The plant, which has the capacity to produce around 20 gigawatt hours per year, is expected to reduce gas consumption and prevent more than 144 thousand tons of carbon dioxide from being released.
Divestment Benefits
The divestment can bring more cash and enable the company to reduce debt level. As of Mar 31, Eni had a long-term debt of 19.7 billion. In the March quarter, its cash balance declined 2.4 billion to 3.6 billion, which is not sufficient to cover short-term debt of 4.6 billion. Also, the companys ability to pay off a portion of total long-term debt of 19.7 billion is in question since there has been prolonged weakness in global energy demand without possibilities of recovery anytime soon.
Other Resources to Focus on
The above-mentioned divestment can help the company focus on more profitable resources. The start-up of key upstream projects in Algeria, Mexico, Egypt and Norway is expected to have enabled it to meet compound annual production growth rate of 3.5% from 2019 through 2025. Enis exploration campaign offshore Angola led to five new discoveries that are expected to hold 2 billion barrels of oil. These developments strengthened Enis footprint in the region, and are expected to boost organic growth and cash flow.
Story continues
Its equity production from Angola currently stands at 145,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The company recently started production from the Agogo oilfield, only nine months post its discovery.
Price Performance
Enis shares have lost 1.1% from the beginning of the second quarter against 8.8% rise of the industry it belongs to.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Eni currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked players in the energy space include Chaparral Energy, Inc. CHAP, CNX Resources Corporation CNX and Concho Resources Inc. CXO, each holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Chaparral Energys bottom line for 2020 is expected to rise 57.8% year over year.
CNX Resources beat earnings estimates thrice and met once in the last four quarters, with average positive surprise of 111.5%.
Concho Resources has a positive earnings surprise of 4.9% in the last four quarters.
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"That was certainly me as an arts graduate 35 years ago, and my parents, and yet I am eternally grateful to have done that arts degree, as humble as mine was with nary a high distinction, distinction or even a credit to my credit, and yet still only one fail, which was in religious studies so it doesn't really count.
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"No matter! An arts degree is the most polyvalent of all degrees, the one that allows far and away the greatest latitude in where to steer to from here in your careers, gives you the best understanding of the world at large, how it all fits together, where we have come from, where we are going to, what is important in this world. There is tendency, true, for graduates such as yourself to say 'Just an arts degrees', when asked what did you graduate in, but please don't. A better answer is, 'An arts degree! From Sydney Uni!'
For there really is much to be proud of when it comes to assessing the contribution to society made by arts graduates, a contribution that the federal government does down at its peril.
It was put very well by no less than the great Professor Manning Clark, in one of his last lectures, delivered to a group of Modern History students at ANU three decades ago. One of them recorded it and passed it on to me.
PHOENIX, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) has donated $15,000 to assist the Hopi Tribe in Arizona in its efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus. The funds will help the American Indian tribe purchase critical medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) that can help prevent the continued spread of COVID-19. BCBSAZ is also distributing several thousands of cloth face masks to tribal communities throughout the state to help protect against further spread of the virus.
"The Hopi Tribe is working tirelessly to slow the spread of COVID-19 in its community," said Pam Kehaly, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. "We stand alongside our strong tribal communities and their leaders in the fight against COVID-19."
The Hopi Tribe in Northern Arizona has been largely affected by COVID-19, and the tribe's annual budget falls dramatically short of what their community currently needs to address the impact of COVID-19. BCBSAZ has donated funds to the Hopi Tribe's COVID-19 response program to further strengthen their efforts in minimizing infection rates.
"With genuine partnerships made possible through shared values for our Hopi-Tewa community, we can continue to be stewards to the Hopi villages and our people during this national emergency," said Hopi Tribal Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma. "On behalf of all who are contributing to the efforts of prevention, response and preparedness for Hopi, we thank you for your foresight and kindness that will replenish much needed supplies and provide resources from a local perspective to address the most urgent needs."
BCBSAZ is also donating 5,000 face masks to be distributed to the Gila River Indian Community, Ak-Chin Indian Community, Tohono O'odham Nation, and Tonto Apache Tribe, as well as the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA). The tribes and ITCA will distribute these masks as needed to their employees and critical workers.
For more information about how BCBSAZ is helping communities throughout Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit azblue.com/coronavirus.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is committed to helping Arizonans get healthier faster and stay healthier longer. With a focus on connecting people with the care they need, BCBSAZ offers health insurance and related services to more than 1.7 million customers. Through advanced clinical programs and community outreach, BCBSAZ is inspiring health in Arizona. BCBSAZ, a not-for-profit company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The company, and its subsidiaries, employ more than 2,400 people in its Phoenix, Chandler, Flagstaff, and Tucson offices. To learn more, visit azblue.com.
SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Related Links
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Three children lost their mother when her boyfriend in New Jersey allegedly stabs her and kills her. Soon after the murder, he took two of the kids but left the third lost in the streets, reported Oxygen.
A concerned citizen dialed 911 to report the child who was roaming around after midnight last Tuesday. According to a statement from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, the 5-year old child was walking alone in the Dumont home's courtyard without a guardian, mentioned ABC 7.
The young girl's mother was Michelle Burns, 36 years old, who was slain by her boyfriend
Another development was a 911 caller, who was trying to reach the victim on her mobile but got no answer. The unidentified woman said that she heard a loud argument that came from Burns unit that she cohabited with Jeffrey Daniels, 36.
Later, the woman who heard the domestic trouble said that Daniels asked if she can drive them somewhere.
According to NorthJersey.com, the couple has two kids from 6 months to 18 months old, with a 5-year old girl from an earlier relationship. Apparently, Daniel left the eldest because she was not his.
When the police were sent to check on the 911 call, they arrived to see the child all alone in the grounds. Upon checking, the child was not harmed. Next, they went to the apartment unit and found out the fatal injury that killed Michelle Burns.
Also read: Woman Shot Dead, Man Injured Due to Altercation Over Dog Poop
Before entering, they asked permission but there was no answer, so they entered. Once in the apartment, they found Michelle Burns dead with a stab to her neck. This was part of the press release about a fatal stabbing with a kitchen knife to her neck.
The kidnapper and murderer is caught
Once Jeffrey Daniels was confirmed as Miss Burns's killer, he was tracked to apprehend him for the killing.
He got captured by the police in Closter which is little more than 5 miles or less from the apartment shared by him and Burns.
Trying to find shelter, he was found at the door of a residence and seeking entry for his two children. Throughout the running, he did not hurt the young children which was confirmed by the prosecutor's office.
With everything in order, Daniels got charged with murder, use of a weapon for an illegal purpose, and also causing undue danger to children.
Burn's sister, identified as Nicole Boccellari, revealed to NorthJersey.com about the kind of relationship that Daniels and Burns had.
Nicole revealed that her sister and Daniels were constantly combative and were at each other's throats.
It reached a point that the violence was getting worse, especially Daniels whom she nearly got a restraining for.
On that Tuesday night, what they fear finally happened and Daniel's snapped, then killed her. Boccellari said that her sister's relationship was not safe.
She added that her sister made it a point for her to be unharmed. She also said her sister had watched over her.
After her death, the young children were in the care of their family, and the 5-year old is with her ex, she confirmed, according to New York Post.
Boccellari remarked that her dead sister was selfless and was concerned about helping, and caring for her family.
Jeffrey Daniels cannot say anything for now.
Related article: Suspect Who Dumped Bodies of Two Sisters With Bags on Their Head Arrested
@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After a brain injury, cells that normally nourish nerves may actually kill them instead, a new study in rodents finds. This "reactive" phenomenon may be the driving factor behind neurodegenerative diseases like glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.
Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the study examined what happens when pressure builds up in the eye and damages the nerve cells that connect the eyes and brain. Although experts have long linked this condition to glaucoma, it remained unclear how excess pressure leads to cell death.
The new investigation revealed that increased pressure drove astrocytes a star-shaped glial cell of the central nervous system to release as-yet-unidentified neuron-killing toxins, possibly to "clear away" damaged cells. Meanwhile, excess pressure had little effect on nerves when astrocytes were not present. In addition, when astrocytes were prevented from reacting to pressure, neurons were damaged but not as badly.
"Our findings point to astrocytes as the true culprits behind nerve cell death and highlight a new way of treating a neurodegenerative disease like glaucoma," says study senior author Shane Liddelow, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology at NYU Langone Health. "Perhaps targeting astrocytes after an injury may be the way to keep neurons healthy and help prevent further deterioration."
Liddelow, also an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at NYU Langone, adds that while half of all brain cells are astrocytes, most research on glaucoma has historically focused on neurons, the electrically active cells that send messages throughout nerve tissue.
The study findings, he says, make clear that in order to understand neurodegenerative diseases, experts must look beyond neurons to the cells that surround them, including astrocytes, which are named after the Greek word for star.
His previous research in rodents showed that astrocytes could become reactive immediately after nerves are physically damaged. The new investigation, publishing online June 23 in the journal Cell Reports, is believed to be the first to show that reactive astrocytes kill cells over time in a process similar to what occurs in glaucoma, the study authors say.
In addition, the findings may help explain why brain cells continue to die long after excess pressure has been controlled. According to Liddelow, dying neurons spill inflammatory compounds into the surrounding tissue, which may further aggravate astrocytes and lead to a continuous cycle of cell destruction.
For their investigation, the study authors increased eye pressure for two weeks in several dozen rats and mice, some of which had been genetically engineered to lack these neuron-killing reactive astrocytes.
They found that while the unmodified mice lost up to half of the neurons in the injured area, those without toxic astrocytes saw little cell death. In addition, neurons that survived continued to send electrical signals.
To examine whether neurons survive if astrocytes are prevented from releasing toxins, the researchers increased pressure again, this time disrupting inflammation in some of the animals to prevent their astrocytes from becoming reactive.
Although the findings suggest that blocking astrocytes is a potential means of preventing nerve damage in glaucoma patients, he cautions that researchers do not yet know if the resulting effects are permanent or what side effects may occur.
Next, the research team plans to investigate if this treatment can actually improve vision in animals with glaucoma, as well as to study astrocyte behavior in related diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's disease.
Funding for the study was provided by the Cure Alzheimer's Foundation and the Glenn Foundation Glenn Award. Liddelow maintains a financial interest in AstronauTx Ltd, a company targeting astrocytes as a possible treatment target for Alzheimer's disease. The terms and conditions are being managed in accordance with the policies of NYU Langone.
In addition to Liddelow, other NYU Langone investigators involved in the study are Rana El-Danaf, PhD; Indigo Rose, MS; and MSTP student Drew Adler. Additional research support was provided by Alexandra Munch, BA; Maya Weigel, BA; and Andrew Huberman, PhD, at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif. Kevin Guttenplan, PhD, also at Stanford University, is the study lead investigator.
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SOURCE NYU Langone Health
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Collaboration between local giants opens era of industrial New Deal
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun and LG Group Chairman Koo Gwang-mo met on Monday to discuss cooperation in the electric vehicle (EV) battery business. The two toured LG Chem's car battery plant in Ochang, 120 kilometers south of Seoul, and had lunch together. It was the first meeting between the two business leaders. Koo and Chung exchanged views on installing next-generation car batteries developed by LG Chem into Hyundai Motor's electric vehicles.
Their meeting drew particular attention because it came after the Moon Jae-in administration selected futuristic cars as one of its core strategic industries under the Korean New Deal project. Previously, Chung, Hyundai Motor Group's heir apparent, held a similar meeting with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Chung is also likely to meet SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to complete what industry watchers describe as the "Triangular K-Battery Alliance."
The core concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is fusion and convergence. At stake now is how to combine existing technologies to turn out new products. The alliance among domestic competitors has become all the more important now that the coronavirus pandemic has destroyed the global supply network and international cooperation. Korean conglomerates, too, are finding it difficult to survive by acting separately. Even large business groups can seldom remain competitive in global markets by themselves. Nevertheless, industrial fusion and convergence between different industries and businesses have been hard to find.
That shows why the Chung-Koo meeting attracted unusual interest. If the two companies join forces, they will be able to take the global initiative in developing and producing cars, giving rise to a new industry and create jobs. The get-together also deserves special attention, because it provided an occasion for the nation's family-run conglomerates, called chaebol, to shift their relationship from competition to cooperation.
Korea needs many similar examples to break the economic impasse. In this regard, the government's support is no less important than corporate initiatives. What the Moon administration should do is to streamline related regulations and offer incentives, including tax breaks, to encourage collaboration among domestic businesses.
SEOUL, June 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House said Monday that the upcoming memoir by former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton considerably distorts facts on discussions between the leaders of the two Koreas and the United States.
Chung Eui-yong, top national security adviser for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, said in a statement that the memoir is what Bolton saw from his own viewpoint about consultations and relevant situations between the leaders of South Korea, the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"(The memoir) does not reflect accurate facts and also distorts a large portion of facts considerably," Chung said in the statement, according to the Blue House.
Bolton's book is scheduled for publication on Tuesday, but media outlets reported on excerpts.
Chung said the unilateral publication of consultations made based on mutual trust between the governments is in violation of the basic principle of diplomacy and can severely damage the trust necessary for future negotiations.
He anticipated that the U.S. government would take an appropriate measure to prevent such a dangerous case.
Top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump held the first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit in Singapore in June 2018, agreeing to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for the corresponding measures.
Kim and Trump met again in Vietnam for their second summit in February 2019, but it ended without agreement.
They had an impromptu meeting in June of the year at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, accompanied by South Korean President Moon.
During the summits process, Bolton had been the counterpart of Chung, the Blue House national security adviser.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to outline plans Tuesday to allow Britons to go to a movie, enjoy pints in a pub and get a haircut the latest easing of lockdown measures imposed three months ago to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
Johnson will speak to Parliament on Tuesday afternoon after meeting his Cabinet in the morning.
The lockdown loosening, expected to take effect on July 4, comes amid intense pressure from businesses to relax a government requirement that people who are indoors must stay 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) apart.
Britains pubs and restaurants, many of which operate in small spaces, are urging a reduction to 1 meter (3 feet) the minimum recommended by the World Health Organization saying without it many will go under.
The social distancing requirement is also a concern for educators hoping to safely open British schools in the fall.
The Conservative government is desperate to restart the stalled British economy, and that desire is likely to be reflected in guidance to re-open businesses ranging from hotels to hairdressers.
But some scientists are worried that the government is reopening the economy too fast and that a track-and-trace system meant to quickly stamp out any outbreaks is not fully functional.
Britain has Europes highest death toll from the virus, with almost 42,700 confirmed dead. That is also the third-highest death toll in the world after the United States and Brazil, which both have much larger populations.
The number of daily deaths and new infections in the U.K. has fallen significantly from its April peak, but the country is still confirming 1,000 or more new Covid-19 cases a day.
WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris urged the British government to use caution.
The U.K. has brought a very difficult outbreak right down, she told the BBC. Very good news in the last couple of days about the limitation in cases, and far, far fewer people dying. So now is the moment to celebrate that by being super careful.
The measures being announced by Johnson apply only in England. Other parts of the U.K. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all following slightly different lockdown plans.
Activists floated 20 huge balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets and 2,000 one-dollar bills from the border town of Paju.
A South Korean group launched hundreds of thousands of leaflet-stuffed balloons across the border with North Korea overnight, an activist said on Tuesday, even as Pyongyang warned it would retaliate against such actions.
The move is certain to further inflame tensions between the Koreas. North Korea recently abruptly raised its fiery rhetoric against South Korean civilian leafleting, destroyed a Seoul-built liaison office on its territory and threatened to redeploy troops to demilitarised areas.
On Monday, North Koreas state media said it had manufactured 12 million propaganda leaflets to be floated towards South Korea in what it said would be its largest-ever anti-Seoul leafleting campaign.
Local officials in South Korea were looking into the account and may ask the police to investigate it as a potential safety threat to front-line residents.
Activist Park Sang-hak said his organisation floated 20 huge balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets, 2,000 one-dollar bills and small books on North Korea from the border town of Paju on Monday night.
Park, who defected from North Korea, said in a statement that his leafleting is a struggle for justice for the sake of liberation of North Koreans.
Calling North Korean leader Kim Jong Un an evil and his rule barbarism, Park said he would continue sending anti-Kim leaflets.
Though North Korean residents have become modern-day slaves with no basic rights, dont they have the rights to know the truth? he said.
Raising animosities
South Korean officials have vowed to ban leafleting and said they would press charges against Park and others, who have have been sending leaflets towards North Korea for years.
Park accused South Koreas liberal government of sympathising with North Korea or caving to its threats. Parks brother, another activist also formerly from North Korea, last week cancelled plans to release bottles filled with dried rice and coronavirus masks from a front-line island.
South Korean authorities said Parks activities are raising animosities and potentially endangering border residents.
In 2014, North Korean troops opened fire at propaganda balloons flying towards their territory, triggering an exchange of fire.
Gyeonggi province, which governs Paju, has issued an administrative order prohibiting anti-Pyongyang activists from entering certain border areas, including Paju, to fly leaflets to North Korea.
If Parks leafleting is confirmed, Gyeonggi official Kim Min-yeong said the province will demand a police investigation. The penalty for violations is a year in prison or a maximum 10 million won ($8,200) fine.
North Korea does not tolerate outside criticism of its ruling family, whose legitimacy rests on a personality cult built around the countrys founder Kim Il Sung, whose militarys surprise invasion of South Korea triggered a devastating three-year war in June 1950.
Park previously said he would push to drop a million leaflets over the border around Thursday, the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.
A large banner that Park said was flown to North Korea with the leaflets on Monday shows the image of Kim Il Sung and calls him the slaughterer of (the Korean) people and urged North Koreans to rise up against the of the Kim family, according to photos distributed by Park.
In recent weeks, North Korea has unleashed crude insults against activists like Park, describing them as human scum and mongrel dogs. It said it would also take a series of steps to nullify agreements signed in 2018 to reduce tensions with South Korea.
Experts say North Korea is probably using the leafleting as an excuse to boost its internal unity and apply more pressure on Seoul and Washington amid stalled nuclear diplomacy.
The Hamilton County Health Department on Tuesday said a female Hispanic child in the 0-10 year age bracket, who had no underlying medical conditions, has died of coronavirus. This brings the COVID-19 death total of Hamilton County residents to 29.
The Health Department grieves with the family and the community for the loss of this child, said Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes, We stress once again how important it is to wear a mask and practice social distancing to keep this virus from spreading.
These are simple yet necessary acts of kindness that could save a life.
She added, Every death from COVID-19 is tragic, but the death of a child under the age of 10 is especially tragic. Let us resolve to do everything we can as a community to stop the spread of the virus in our community and prevent further desks.
She said the Health Department COVID-19 hotline has received complaints from patients who have visited medical offices and reported that face masks were not being worn and distancing not being practiced in waiting rooms.
Ms. Barnes said, "All businesses that offer a waiting room are strongly urged to follow the Tennessee Pledge guidance that people in waiting rooms should wear facial coverings and maintain a minimum of 6 feet of distance from others."
The Health Department has published several new informational videos in English and Spanish. Readers are encouraged to share these resources on their social media:
English Facebook page
Spanish Facebook page
English YouTube channel
Spanish YouTube channel
Free COVID-19 testing from the Health Department can be found in an easy-to-read calendar format on their updated website. Testing this week will be at Hardy Elementary and East Lake Academy, over the weekend at Hardy Elementary and Greater Tucker Baptist Church, and next week at Brainerd High School. See their website for complete details.
The Health Department updates their total test results to 32,470. The Health Departments COVID-19 data page can be viewed here.
For more information, call the Health Departments COVID-19 hotline at 423-209-8383.
Also, the Health Department held a special briefing Tuesday afternoon to discuss convalescent plasma donations and their importance to the local community.
Blood Assurances Dr. Liz Culler said convalescent plasma could be vital for those fighting COVID-19.
Through donating convalescent plasma, donors can have a direct impact on saving a life, said Dr. Culler. If you have had coronavirus or think you may have had it, this is a call to action to contact Blood Assurance.
In order to donate, a person needs to have had a positive nasal swab and be asymptomatic for 14 days. However, a person can also be tested for the antibodies and they may be tested that way, and then their antibodies can be collected after donating blood. She then explained the importance of donating convalescent plasma.
If youve had coronavirus, you may have made antibodies to help fight that virus, said Dr. Culler. Patients in the hospital who are fighting the virus may not have had a chance yet to make those antibodies, so we can give those antibodies to them through your plasma to help them fight the virus on their own in order to make it out of the hospital.
Dr. Jigme Sethi from Erlanger said Erlanger is part of the FDA-sponsored trial on the use of convalescent plasma, and he said about 20 patients have used it. He said this is not a new method, as patients during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic convalescent plasma used it.
It seems to have a basis to work and overcome the infections, said Dr. Sethi. We do know that there is some signal that it may be successful in improving the outcome of patients who are sick.
CGBSE 10th, 12th results 2020: Direct links here
CGBSE 10th Result 2020 Direct link
CGBSE 12th result 2020 Direct link
CGBSE 12th vocational result 2020 Direct link
CGBSE 10th Result 2020: Girls outshine boys
In the class 10th result also, the girls have outshone boys. The pass percentage of boys is 70.53% while the pass percent of girls is 76.28.
CGBSE 12th result 2020: Girls outscore boys
Girls have again outscore boys in CGBSE board results. A total of 82.02% girls passed the exam while 74.70% boys could pass the class 12th exam.
CGBSE 12th Result 2020: Topper list
Tikesh Vaishnav is the class 12th topper. He scored 97.80% in class 12th exam. Shreya Agarwal bagged 2nd rank with 97% while Tannu Yadav has got 3rd rank with 96.60%
CGBSE 10th topper list 2020
Chhattisgarh Board result has been announced. Pragya Kashyap has bagged first rank with 100% followed by Prashansa Rajpur with 99.33% and Bharati Yadav and Nikhil Sao with 98.57%
CGBSE matric topper Pragya Kashyap scores a perfect 100%
Matric topper Pragya Kashyap has scored a perfect 100% in Chhattisgarh class 10th board exam. She is a student of Govt Higher Secondary School, Jarhagaon.
Tikesh Vaishnav is class 12th topper
Tikesh Vaishnav has topped state in class 12th exam of Chhattisgarh board. He has scored 97.80%. Read more
Pragya Kashyap is state topper in Class 10th exam
Pragya kashyap of class 10th has topped the state.
CGBSE Chhattisgarh Board Result 2020: 73.62% students pass 10th exam
A total of 73.62% students have passed class 10th exam.
CGBSE 10th, 12th Result 2020 declared
Chhattisgarh Board has declared the class 10th, 12th results on its official website at cgbse.nic.in. The result was announced by the state education minister through video conferencing.
CGBSE Chhattisgarh Board Result 2020: Websites to check result
CGBSE Chhattisgarh 10th, 12th results will be announced shortly. Results can be checked on the following websites:
cgbse.nic.in, results.gov.in/cgresults, result.cg.nic.in, jagranjosh.com and hindi.news18.com
Education minister announce CGBSE board results shortly
Education minister of state will announce the CGBSE 10th, 12th results shortly at 11 am. No press conference will be held this year.
CGBSE Board Result 2020: Just half an hour left
In just half an hour, CGBSE will announce the class 10th, 12th results on its official website at cgbse.nic.in
CGBSE Chhattisgarh Result 2020: Keep your admit card handy
Students are advise to be ready with their admit cards. The roll number and date of birth mentioned in the hall ticket has to be enter in the login page to check their results. The results will be declared at 11 am today.
CGBSE 12th board result 2020: Check result in four easy steps
Follow these simple steps to check your CGBSE 12th results:
Students can visit the official website at cgbse.nic.in
On the home page, click on the link for CGBSE Class 12th Result 2020
Enter your roll number and date of birth to log-in
Your CGBSE 12th result will be displayed on screen
Take print out of the results for your future references.
CG Board Results 2020: How to check Chhattisgarh class 10th result online
Follow these easy steps to check the CGBSE 10th results 2020:
Students can visit the official website
On the home page, click on the link for CGBSE Class 10th Result 2020
Enter your roll number and date of birth to log-in
Your class 10th CGBSE Board result will be displayed on screen
Take print out of the results for your future references.
CGBSE Chhattisgarh Board Result 2020: Just one hour to go
In the next one hour, Chhatisgarh state education minister will announce the CGBSE 10th, 12th results 2020 via webinar. The students will be able to check their results online at cgbse.nic.in from 11 am onwards.
CGBSE 10th,12th result 2020: For the first time, result will be announced through webinar
This will be the first time in the history of Chhattisgarh Board that the results will be announced through a webinar. Unlike previous years, the board will not hold a press conference this year in order to maintain social distancing int he time of coronavirus.
Coronavirus effect on Chhattisgarh Board exams 2020
Chhattisgarh board had scheduled the class 10 and 12 board exams in March, but due to the coronavirus lockdown, the exams were postponed to May. But later, as the lockdown extended, the board decided not to conduct the remaining class 10 and 12th board exams.
When was answersheet evaluation of CG Board class 10th, 12th students completed
Chhattisgarh Board had completed the answersheet evaluation by May 25. This year, the evaluation and result declaration have been delayed due to coronavirus pandemic.
CGBSE Chhattisgarh Class 10th, 12th board students anxiously waiting for results
Around 6 lakh students are anxiously waiting for their class 10th, 12th results 2020. The results will be announced in around 90 minutes. Check details here
Check CG Board Result 2020 in four simple steps
Checking Chhattisgarh Board results online is very easy. The CG Board 10th, 12th results can be checked by following four simple steps. Click here to know the steps.
CG Board has already promoted class 1-9, 11 students
The Chhattisgarh government has already promoted the students of class 1 to 9 and 11 to next class without examination based on the internal assessment marks. The school exam could not be conducted due to coronavirus pandemic.
Who will announce CG Board 10th, 12th results 2020?
According to the press release issued by CG Board, the result will be announced by state education minister Prem Sai Singh through webinar in order to maintain the social distancing.
Chhattisgarh Board Result: Steps to check CGBSE 10th, 12th result online
After the CGBSE result is declared, students should follow these steps to check their results online.
Step 1: Visit the official website of CGBSE at cgbse.nic.in or results.cg.nic.in
Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link for CGBSE Class 12th Result 2020 or CGBSE Class 10th Result 2020
Step 3: Key in your credentials and login
Step 4: Your CGBSE Board result for Class 10 and 12 will be displayed on screen
Step 5: Take a print out of the results for future use
CGBSE Chhattisgarh Board Result 2020: Class 10th, 12th result to be announced at 11 am
In just two hours, the Chhattisgarh Board will announce the class 10th and 12th results on its official website. Students can check their results at cgbse.nic.in from 11 am onwards.
CG Chhattisgarh Board 10th, 12th result to be declared soon at cgbse.nic.in
Chhattisgarh Board will soon declare class 10th and 12th results on its official website at cgbse.nic.in. The result will be announced at 11 am today.
Editors note: In light of the mayhem in Albuquerque last week surrounding the Onate statue at the Albuquerque Museum, we asked Don Bullis for a column on Onate for a better understanding of the topic.
Most historians consider Juan de Onate y Salazar the founder of New Mexico.
He was not the first Spaniard to visit what was then called La Tierra Incognita five or six expeditions had preceded him, some legal and some illegal but he was the first to establish a settlement that continued to exist beyond his lifetime.
Onate was not the only Spaniard in Mexico with designs on an adventure that seemed to offer riches and fame on an untamed frontier. He began planning his expedition in 1595, and it took until 1598 before he could get under way.
His organizing efforts were slowed by the red tape of a cumbersome bureaucracy in both Mexico and Spain, as well as by rivals who tried to undermine his efforts. When the dust cleared, he was named governor and captain-general of New Mexico, and he was given a lifetime contract.
Historian Marc Simmons wrote that Onate was the only Spanish governor of New Mexico to be given such a contract. He was obliged to pay the cost of colonization out of his own pocket.
There is some question about how many folks joined Onates group because often Native American slaves were not counted, which was also the case with people of mixed racial heritage. Some sources indicated as few as 129 men joined Onate, but David H. Snow in New Mexicos First Colonists wrote this: I have identified 560 persons, either named or otherwise identified but not named.
Dan Thrapp in the Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography reported that the entourage included 400 men, 130 of them with their families, 83 wagons and carts, and 7,000 head of [live]stock.
It was a formidable group in any event, and in addition to Spaniards, it included nearly a dozen Portuguese, and one each Belgian, Greek and Italian. Several members were identified as black.
The trip north along the Rio Grande began in early 1598. The heat was relentless and the water scarce.
Before the caravan reached a final stopping point, dissention arose among the settlers. Onate managed to reassure his followers at that point, and they continued their trek.
By the time they reached their destination at San Juan near the present day Espanola in July of the same year, they had lost 22 of their wagons along the trail.
Once the pioneers had established a camp, Onate set about exploring the area and engaged in his brief and unfortunate war with the Acoma people of western New Mexico in January 1599.
In February 1599, Onate conducted a three-day trial at Santo Domingo of Pueblo of Acoma people for crimes relating to the killing of Juan de Zaldivar and their refusal to surrender to Vicente de Zaldivar. They were convicted, of course.
The most famous part of the sentence condemned men over 25 years of age to the removal of one foot and 20 years of servitude. Younger males and women were sentenced to 20 years of slavery.
While historian Marc Simmons indicated that forced amputations were conducted at other pueblos, to make an example to other Indian people, other historians question whether or not the punishments were ever carried out at all.
No document has been found to confirm that fact, and some historians do not believe that the sentences of amputations were ever executed. After all, they argue, of how much use would a one-footed slave be to his owner?
Onate had problems with his own people back at San Juan. For some, life on the frontier was too much to endure. Desertions began.
Four soldiers who fled south were chased down by Gaspar Perez de Villagra, one of Onates lieutenants, and two of the deserters were beheaded. Hands were also severed and preserved to prove to Onate that they were indeed dead.
By the turn of the century, as many as half of the original settlers had taken advantage of Onates frequent absences and fled back to Mexico.
Onate managed to hang on until 1608, when he was replaced as governor and his lifetime contract voided. Onate was subsequently tried for misconduct in office and while he was exonerated on some of the charges, he was convicted on others.
The court exiled him from New Mexico and he spent his last years in Spain.
Selected sources:
Chavez, New Mexico, Past and Future
Ellis, New Mexico, Past and Present
Kessell, Spain in the Southwest
Lamar, The New Encyclopedia of the American West
Perrigo, Hispanos: Historic Leaders in New Mexico
Roberts & Roberts, New Mexico
Simmons, The Last Conquistador
Simmons, Spanish Pathways
Snow, New Mexicos First Colonists
Thrapp, Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography
(Don Bullis is a Rio Rancho resident, New Mexico centennial historian and award-winning author. He was named the Best Local Author in the 2018 and 19 Rio Rancho Observer Readers Choice contests. Ellos Pasaron por Aqui is translated as They Passed by Here.)
The NDA crossed 100 Rajya Sabha seats on Friday, further consolidating the BJP as Indias dominant political force in its 40th year.
The BJP was formed in April 1980 after its members were expelled from the Janata Party, the joint Opposition force launched three years earlier to counter an authoritarian Indira Gandhi. One of its components was the Jan Sangh, launched in 1951.
According to its own record, the Jan Sangh was the result of three events. First, the death of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in December 1950, second, Syama Prasad Mookerjees resignation from the Nehru government, and the election, also in 1950, and subsequent forcing out of P.D. Tandon as Congress president. Tandon was seen as a Hindu conservative opposed to Nehrus secularism, and after Patels death Nehru forced Tandon to resign.
Another event, also acknowledged by the Jan Sangh as important to its formation, was the banning of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh after Mahatma Gandhis assassination in 1948 and the arrest of its leader M.S. Golwalkar.
The RSS was not registered as a political organisation and the ban was lifted in 1949, on the condition that it adopt a constitution, that it agreed to do.
At this point, inside the RSS, and published in its mouthpiece Organiser, there began a series of articles arguing why the RSS should participate in politics. Golwalkars solution was to not make the RSS itself a political body but to allow workers to set up a party.
They joined S.P. Mookerjee, earlier head of the Hindu Mahasabha, and the Jan Sangh was formed with Mookerjee as its leader. Golwalkar asked some of his people to join the partys structure, including Deen Dayal Upadhayay, who was a pracharak in Uttar Pradesh.
Later, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani, who was writing film reviews for Organiser, were also asked to join.
The RSS was already a quarter century old at this point and had spread well beyond Nagpur. It was thus able to provide the necessary frame for the Jan Sangh to be present in several states at the point of its launch. Mookerjee was a former Cabinet minister but had a base only in Bengal. Mookerjees death in 1953 meant the RSS could take control of the party.
In Indias first general election the Jan Sangh won only a handful of seats and this continued till the 1970s, when under Vajpayee it merged into the Janata Party with the rest of the Opposition.
When Jan Sangh members were expelled and had to form a new party in 1980, Vajpayee rejected the call to rename it the Bharatiya Jan Sangh. He said they had learned from the experience of being part of a larger group.
The two changes that came from this was that first, the Bharatiya Janata Party (as named by Vajpayee) would expand its cadre and take non-RSS individuals, and second, the BJPs constitution would differ from the Jan Sanghs and would promise allegiance to Indias secularism and socialism.
This is still a unique feature in both the BJPs constitution and the oath that it makes all its members sign.
This party also did not do well and got only two seats in the 1984 general election in which the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi demolished the entire Opposition. What changed the partys fortunes was a movement started by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to be allowed to pray at the Babri Masjid, where two idols of Ram and Sita were placed in December 1949.
The oath to secularism was ignored and under its new president L.K. Advani, the party adopted the VHP demand, though Ayodhya had been on the manifesto of neither the Jan Sangh, formed only months after the idols were placed inside the mosque, or the BJP up to that point.
The polarisation that Mr Advani produced in Indian society with his decision to pursue the Ayodhya project finally gave the RSS the sort of success it was looking for, and the BJP won 85 seats in 1989. It joined another coalition called the Janata Dal, but this time supported it from outside.
When the government collapsed, Mr Advani returned to the Babri issue, finally leading a mob in December 1992 which demolished it and over 2,000 Indians died in the riots that followed.
After the demolition and the violence, the party increased its popularity further and under Vajpayee, who was back in charge, it doubled its tally to 182 in the 1998 elections. It got stuck here, winning 180 in the next one in 1999, and then slipping to 138 in 2004.
The BJP had moved away from its Ayodhya and anti-Muslim positions substantially while in power. What changed was the riots in Gujarat in 2002, after which Vajpayee tried unsuccessfully to oust Narendra Modi as chief minister.
What happened next was the classic example of what takes place in ideological parties.
The leader is always vulnerable to the person who is more extreme than he is and is charismatic. Thus, after Vajpayee failed to wrestle Mr Modi down, the writing was on the wall. Mr Modis acceleration of the BJP away from its constitutional promise of secularism produced a profit and the BJP doubled again to over 300 seats in 2019.
The story of the party seems complex but in many ways it is quite simple. And the story, which began in Bengal with Mookerjee, is poised to return to that state very soon.
Employers have reported 3,336 Alabamians to the state for refusing to return to work since January. About a third of those workers were taken off the unemployment rolls and the rest have lost benefits while they are under review.
(Bosses) have called the employee back to work and the employee has refused, said Tara Hutchinson, spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Labor. So (workers) either have not come or told the employer, Im not coming back.
According to Hutchinson, the volume of refusal to work cases being reviewed by the department this spring is unusually high due to the pandemic.
The federal CARES Act allows workers impacted by COVID-19 to hold on to unemployment under some circumstances. Employees who have the disease or are caring for someone with COVID-19 cannot lose their unemployment benefits. Caring for a child whose school is closed or dealing with the COVID-19 death of a primary breadwinner are other exceptions laid out by the federal legislation.
However those who simply feel unsafe returning to the workplace are not protected.
A general fear is not a valid reason (to stay home), said Hutchinson.
For some workers who are immunocompromised and who work in close proximity to others, like at meat plants, car parts factories or food service, the decision of whether to protect their health or give up a paycheck during an economic recession is often not an easy one.
UAB professor of Management Dr. George Munchus says its not a simple situation for businesses either.
Its a very tangled web and its very complicated. Theres no easy set of rules because weve traveled down a path weve never traveled down before, he said.
I get phone calls almost daily from both employees, who feel they are being adversely treated by employers, and then I get called from (managers) who feel they are being held hostage...by certain employees who refuse to come to work, he said.
At some point, someone is going to sue the Alabama Department of Labor, said Munchus, for revoking benefits from an employee who believes their COVID-era termination was without cause.
After the department is notified of a refusal to work by an employer, it contacts the employer and employee to learn details of the situation and to determine whether to end benefits. The state has so far denied benefits to 909 workers who opted not to return and has stopped benefits to review 2,317 more cases.
I would predict that number is probably going to rise, said Munchus.
Hutchinson says the review has been somewhat delayed by the overwhelming volume of claims her office is managing.
We have a limited amount of staff and only a couple of people can work the refusal to works, she said.
Going forward, it will require mutual adjustments for employers and their workers to avoid an adversarial dynamic during the pandemic, says Munchus.
Employers are going to have to listen to some of the ideas the employees have on how to make the workplace safe, he said, adding that theres a cost involved to doing some of that, so (theres) going to need to be flexibility both sides.
ALBANY Fitness centers and exercise studios may not be allowed to open in the fourth and final reopening phase in New York a blow to an industry that survives largely on the number of members who enter their facilities.
Although some gyms are offering outdoor classes in parking lots or other locations where participants can workout while staying at least six feet apart there has been no indication from state economic development officials or Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo about when or how fitness centers could resume operations. That could change suddenly, including with restrictions in place such as requiring clubs to maintain 50% capacity, which is what Illinois is doing as that state enters phase four of it's five-phase plan on Friday.
But managers and owners of New York fitness clubs said they have received no information from the state on when they may reopen.
"We've kind of been in the dark during this whole process," said Bryan Lupian, a regional manager at Vent Fitness. "We dont know and nobody is really keeping us informed. Were just doing our Google searches and following the governor."
Vent Fitness operates four large clubs in Guilderland, Clifton Park, Latham and Niskayuna, and the staff members not furloughed have spent the past four months preparing for an eventual opening that is expected to include constant sanitizing of equipment and limiting the number of people who can take classes or enter the gym.
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The governor's coronavirus task force is scheduled to release its phase four guidelines late Tuesday, as many regions, including the Capital Region, are poised to move into the final reopening phase in early July. But phase four does not mean everything reopens fully, as concert venues and sporting events and gyms are among the industries that may be opened through separate decisions, a person briefed on the matter said.
Lupian said that Vent Fitness has used the closure period to reconfigure its interior layouts, spreading equipment and weight machines at least six feet apart, adding hand sanitizer and wipes throughout the clubs and putting numbers on the floors where classes are given that would ensure members in reserved spaces remain at least six feet apart.
They also anticipated having showers and swimming pools open, albeit they would keep saunas and steam rooms closed.
"We're expecting to open at 50% capacity in the (training) rooms," Lupian said, adding the club has instituted a "hands-free" check-in system for members entering and exiting the club, which would also enable employees to control the number of people in the facility at one time.
The fitness industry also has had to adapt to what may be a "new normal," offering online training sessions and, at Vent, developing an app that enables trainers to work with clients who are training at home.
The fallout of closing gyms for four months was also felt in the retail industry, where shelves holding fitness equipment and weights have been bare for months and sold out quickly when the shutdown began in mid-March.
Travis Gil, who runs Fitness Artist in Clifton Park, said their facility recently began offering outdoor training sessions to a limited number of clients, using parking spaces to ensure everyone stays at least six feet apart. Another group of trainers, in an effort unrelated to Vent Fitness or Fitness Artist, have been offering training classes to dozens of people who gather on Sunday mornings in an empty parking lot near the former Kmart in Clifton Park.
But the outdoor training sessions are not enough to sustain the businesses.
"Its been a roller coaster of a ride for sure and definitely the lack of guidance is very, very frustrating," Gil said. "Were dealing with really our livelihood here and from a business standpoint were pretty much making one tenth of what we would normally make. ... We have to do something or else were not going to have a business. My back is certainly against the wall and my employees are feeling a little distressed."
Gil noted that as some trainers have turned to outside training with the understanding that it is allowed and meets the restrictions set by the state while other gyms have simply opened their doors in defiance but while insisting they meet the criteria because of precautions in place, including spacing equipment or requiring masks.
It's become a sort of "wild, wild west," Gil said. "I think people are going to really start rebelling."
He also said that members are "so done with this" and are eager to resume indoor training and feel comfortable that the precautions in place staying apart, using hand sanitizer and keeping equipment clean will not put them at risk.
Gil said he founded Fitness Artist 11 years ago and "my family, they are relying on me to make it work."
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Linkedin Yunindita Prasidya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 18:05 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40661069a7 1 Business Tiphone-Mobile-Indonesia,bonds,stocks,default,repayment,IDX Free
Publicly listed mobile phone distributor PT Tiphone Mobile Indonesia has defaulted on bond coupon and principal repayments of about Rp 250 billion. In response, the Indonesian Central Securities Depository (KSEI) has announced a payment postponement.
In a statement released on June 19, the KSEI announced the postponement of principal and interest payments for holders of Tiphones TELE01BCN3 shelf-registered bonds, worth a total of Rp 231 billion with an original maturity date of June 22.
In a separate statement published a day before, the KSEI announced that bond coupon payments for Tiphones shelf-registered TELE02CN2 bonds would be postponed. The value of the delayed payments was Rp 19 billion and the maturity date was June 19.
The bourse has decided to extend the temporary suspension of PT Tiphone Mobile Indonesias securities trading in all markets, effective from the first trading session on June 22, 2020, until further notice, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) announced on Monday.
The IDX has prevented the trading of Tiphones securities since June 10 because of concerns over the company's ability to pay its debts.
Tiphones shares, traded on the IDX under the stock symbol TELE, closed at Rp 121 per share on June 9. This year, the shares have fallen 60 percent, a steep decline compared to that of the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (JCI), which was down 21.92 percent year-to-date.
Tiphone, whose main business is the sale and distribution of mobile phone vouchers and cellular phones, announced that the pandemic had impacted its business operations.
This pandemic has slowly begun to impact several company business outlets. The companys outlets cannot operate because of the closure of malls following the large-scale social restrictions [PSBB] enforced by the government, Tiphone corporate secretary Semuel Kurniawan said in a written statement on May 26.
The company is still trying to maintain the continuity of the business.
Tiphone did not immediately respond to The Jakarta Posts request for comment.
As of Sep. 30, 2019, the companys total liabilities stood at Rp 4.94 trillion, up 11 percent from Rp 4.45 trillion on Dec. 31, 2018. Its total assets were Rp 9.23 trillion, up 10.6 percent from Rp 8.34 trillion.
The companys debt-to-asset ratio was 53.56 percent, indicating that most of the companys assets were financed through debt.
Indonesian rating agency Pemeringkat Efek Indonesia (Pefindo) analysts Ayuningtyas Nur Paramitasari and Christyanto Wijaya said the postponement of the issuance of Rp 150 billion in shelf-registered bonds had put further pressure on the companys liquidity.
They said the liquidity pressures were exacerbated by the company's weekly working capital requirement for its voucher business of about Rp 600 billion to Rp 700 billion.
We expect that the companys liquidity position is under pressure following lower revenue generation and longer receivables collection periods because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Pefindo analysts wrote in a statement released on June 19.
Pefindo has lowered the companys rating and the ratings of its outstanding bonds. The most recent rating revision was a downgrade of the TELE02CN2 bond to idD, which indicates a payment default, from idCCC, a rating that indicates vulnerability to non-payment.
The analysts said the companys corporate rating could be lowered to idD if it could not pay its financial obligations upon their due dates. This would be yet another downgrade in a series of revisions the company has experienced throughout the year.
Tiphones corporate rating now is idSD (selective default), which indicates that the company has failed to pay one or more of its financial obligations but still makes timely payments on others. It was downgraded by Pefindo earlier this month from idBB+. That rating followed a revision from idBBB+, which the agency issued last month.
But what makes it especially shocking is that Trump allegedly made clear he was willing to brush off Chinas human rights violations, to the point of telling Xi that he should go ahead with building concentration camps used for the Orwellian re-education of the minority Uighurs. As Bolton put it, this meant we could cross repression of the Uighurs off our list of possible reasons to sanction China, at least as long as trade negotiations continued.
So not only was Americas president willing to withhold military aid from a beleaguered ally (Ukraine) for the sake of his personal political needs, he also was willing to enable human rights abuses on an epic scale.
Other reported details from the book provide more examples of Trumps stunning ignorance about the world. Bolton writes that Trump wasnt aware Britain is a nuclear power, though it was the first member of that exclusive club after the U.S. and Russia, and is Americas closest ally.
No wonder Bolton, a lifelong conservative, said over the weekend that he considers Trumps potential reelection a danger for the republic.
Trump maintains the books claims are false, which means nothing coming from a president whose trail of lies is unprecedented. This is, in the end, a book with no heroes just an opportunistic author, an unfit president and a Republican Senate whose refusal to do its duty and remove Trump looks more egregious all the time.
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
Bern, 23.06.2020 - On 23 June 2020, under the leadership of the head of the Labour Directorate, Boris Zurcher, SECO held a meeting with Vietnams Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). The video conference focused on labour market policy measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and concluded with both parties signing a roadmap to increase cooperation in labour and employment matters.
MOLISA requested this exchange to discuss the extraordinary effects the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the world of work. In the conference call, Switzerland spoke in particular about the measures taken to preserve jobs, safeguard wages and secure the liquidity of companies. Switzerland also stressed the important role social partners have played in rapidly and effectively reacting to the COVID-19 pandemics effects on the economy and society, and underlined the importance of short-time working compensation. Both sides agree that multilateral cooperation will be vital to the economys rapid and sustainable recovery.
At the end of the conference, Boris Zurcher and Vietnamese Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha signed a roadmap to increase bilateral cooperation in labour and employment matters, in particular in the areas of social partnerships, unemployment insurance and work conditions. The two countries also plan to increase cooperation in the transposition of relevant conventions of the International Labour Organization into national law. Signing this roadmap represents a milestone in the long-term, bilateral cooperation between Switzerland and Vietnam in this area, which first began in 2011 with a Memorandum of Understanding.
Address for enquiries
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
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CH-3003 Bern
Tel. +41 58 462 56 56
Fax +41 58 462 56 00
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State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
http://www.seco.admin.ch
China's state security police have formally arrested dissident Xu Zhiyong for subversion after he called publicly on President Xi Jinping to resign.
Xu, who has already served jail time for his spearheading of the New Citizens' Movement anti-corruption campaign, penned an open letter to Xi while in hiding following a gathering of pro-democracy activists and lawyers in December 2019, calling on him to step down.
He is currently being held incommunicado in "residential surveillance at a designated location" (RSDL) pending the completion of the investigation.
RSDL allows police to hold anyone they say is suspected of crimes linked to national security without contact with family or a lawyer for up to six months.
Xu is currently being investigated for "incitement to subvert state power by a team of state security police based in the eastern province of Shandong that has been pursuing a number of participants in December's gathering in the southeastern port city of Xiamen.
Human rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi is a co-defendant in the same case, RFA has learned.
Xu Zhiyong's sister was notified by the Shandong police on June 20 that Xu had been formally arrested, but his location remains unknown.
Xu Zhiyong's friend and independent documentary director Hua Ze meanwhile said the "meeting" was merely a gathering of friends.
"The police are treating this as if it is a big case, and claiming that there is an organization at work, but actually it was just a group of friends getting together," Hua said.
"They were just talking about how to help some of the current [detained activists'] cases, and follow up on them," she said.
Liu Jiacai, a rights activist from the Yangtze river city of Yichang who is often targeted by state security police, said he is currently safe at home after being taken out of town for the sensitive June 4 anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre.
"Xu had written a lot of articles since the start of the coronavirus pandemic," Liu said. "Anyone who attended the Xiamen gathering is now being suppressed by the authorities, and many people no longer dare to speak out."
"But Xu kept insisting on speaking up ... I feel bad that he was detained, as his friend and fellow activist," he said.
Liu said the Xiamen gathering was a meeting of like-minded friends who discussed social phenomena and China's future.
"We did not violate the Constitution or the current laws of China, but the authorities have persecuted us anyway," he said.
Fears over possible torture
Ding Jiaxis wife Luo Shengchun says she fears her husband, who is also being held under RDSL detention, may be being tortured.
"My sense is that he is being subjected to torture," Luo told RFA. "The people who came out [after being interrogated as part of the investigation] wouldn't talk about it; they had been silenced."
"This is clearly about framing Ding Jiaxi; they haven't been able to find any evidence of criminal behavior, but they will keep on finding excuses to keep him in detention because he refuses to plead guilty," she said.
Luo said she is certain that Ding Jiaxi will never cave in to police pressure to "confess" to the charges against him.
"This is a red line for him, because he is innocent," Luo said. "They came before to try to persuade him, and he told them they should be trying to persuade the bad guys not to do bad things, not trying to persuade the good guys not to do good things."
Writers' group PEN America, which recently honored Xu with the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, on Monday condemned Xu's formal arrest.
"Xu Zhiyong is under arrest for criticizing the government, plain and simple," PEN CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement. "By proceeding with these meritless charges of subversion, the government is using the law as a tool to legitimize its suppression of dissidents. But criticisms are not crimes, no matter how much Beijing insists otherwise."
She added: "We have zero confidence that Xu will receive a fair trial. We insist that the government drop these absurd and abusive criminal charges against him, and acknowledge his right to express his ideas and opinions without fear of a jail cell."
Critical flaws in proposed resolution
The news of Xu's formal arrest emerged as the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) held a brief debate in Geneva on June 22 over a draft resolution presented by China, raising "serious concerns" about the future of the Human Rights Council and, more broadly, the multilateral UN human rights system, rights groups said.
The overseas-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) network said there were "critical flaws" in the resolution, which would limit the council's ability to hold member states to account for human rights violations.
"The draft resolution, once put into effect, would codify language directly taken from Chinese Communist Party propaganda namely, Chinas promotion for a shared community of future modeled on its authoritarian governance at home and its attempt to silence criticisms of rights abuses in the Human Rights Council platforms," the group said in a statement.
Xu had also penned a New Year's message to China's citizens in 2020, calling on them to think about whether they want to carry on with an authoritarian government or movement towards democratic constitutionalism, an idea that President Xi has said has no place in his vision for China.
Dozens of people linked in some way to the New Citizens' Movement group have been detained and jailed in recent years.
Xu was handed a four-year jail term in January 2014 on public order charges after staging a street protest calling for greater transparency from the country's richest and most powerful people.
Ding Jiaxi, who has previously served jail time for calling on top officials of the ruling Chinese Communist Party to reveal details of their wealth, was stopped by police at Beijing International Airport in May 2018, as he tried to board a plane to visit his wife and daughter in the U.S.
He was also among more than 300 rights attorneys, law firm staff, and associated activists detained, questioned, and subjected to surveillance and travel bans amid a nationwide crackdown since 2015.
Ding was earlier detained in April 2013 and handed a three-and-a-half year jail term a year later by Beijing's Haidian District People's Court for gathering a crowd to disrupt public order, after he called publicly on Chinese officials to reveal details of their wealth, as part of the New Citizens Movement.
Reported by Xue Xiaoshan for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Twitter once again put a warning label over one of President Donald Trump's tweets, in which he warned if protesters tried to set up an 'autonomous zone' in Washington DC they would be 'met with serious force!' 'There will never be an 'Autonomous Zone' in Washington, D.C., as long as I'm your President. If they try they will be met with serious force!,' Trump twitted. Twitter said that it has placed a public interest notice on this Tweet for violating its policy against abusive behavior, specifically, the presence of a threat of harm against an identifiable group. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible. Trump's tweet came after a group of protesters on Monday unsuccessfully attempted to pull down a statute of former President Andrew Jackson near the White House. The protesters later tried to claim an area near Black Lives Matter Plaza as a 'Black House Autonomous Zone,' reports said. Last month, Twitter labeled two Trump tweets that made false claims about mail-in ballots in California. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast/Getty
Shortly after Saturday nights less-than-packed rally in Oklahoma, President Donald Trump was handed pieces of printed paper that aides thought would cheer him up.
The pages, according to an individual involved in the matter, included a collation of various copy-and-pasted live tweets by some of the presidents most prominent allies and diehard fans lauding Trumps speech and celebrating the event as an unmitigated triumph against Joe Biden.
The effort at ego-soothing, which came despite numerous Trump campaign and White House officials privately conceding that the Tulsa gathering had been a clear-cut debacle, didnt have its intended outcome. The president barely skimmed the papers. And he was visibly downbeat as he rode back to Washington, D.C., aboard Air Force One, having come to the realization thatby the very metrics set by himself and his own campaignhis rally had failed.
Chris Wallace Shreds Trump Campaign Adviser: You Guys Look Silly for Denying Poor Rally Attendance
According to three people with knowledge of the matter, the presidents mood had been foul even before he hit the stageas he took stock of the wide empty space in the arena. Some advisers were genuinely surprised that he was able to seem as buoyant as he did during the speech itself.
Soon after the rally ended, the facade was dropped. President Trump complained to top advisers about being put in a position where the media could mock him. He ordered his team to immediately find out what went wrong. And two of the sources said the president suggested there would be major consequences for campaign staff if this wasnt fixed and if he saw too many empty seats at his next coronavirus-era mega-rally.
Among various Trump associates and staffas well as GOP veteransthe blame was directed at Michael Glassner, the campaign's chief operating officer, and Brad Parscale, the campaign manager.
It was a disaster and I think the reality is that it's not a good way to start a general election campaign, said Ed Rollins, a veteran Republican strategist who leads the pro-Trump group Great America PAC, who also said Trump had no message and was rambling during the speech. If I were the presidentId get a campaign manager who is running a campaign, not companies outside of itMy sense is [Brad Parscales] making way too much moneyIt's not my style to criticize a campaign manager, having run one myself, I know how difficult it can be, but in this case, something is not working and something has to change.
Story continues
However, multiple sources familiar with the reaction from Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has tremendous power over the direction of the campaign, said that Parscale and Glassner's jobs were safe as of Monday.
That left Trump officials with the task of pretending that the president wasnt pissed off at all. On Sunday, Trump campaign comms director Tim Murtaugh denounced the trolls thinking they hacked rally tickets, and pinned the low headcount on media-stoked fear for families who wanted to attend. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany was reduced to boasting about the rallys television ratings. And one source familiar with the situation, in trying to explain the porous attendance, was forced to concede that the campaign had made a massive mistake in fairly basic event planning operations. According to the source, the presidents team did not spend the usual amount of money doing advertising and outreach for the rally because it thought ticket demand was organically highseemingly unaware that Trump-trolling teens and K-Pop fans and Tik Tok users were wildly and artificially inflating it.
But even with those missteps, the lackluster rally attendance came as cracks appear to be forming in one of the presidents key political assetshis formidable, and for a time unmatched, grassroots appealand as his Democratic rival overtakes him in an area dominated by Trump in 2016: small-dollar fundraising.
As Trump was on stage in Tulsa, his campaign filed its most recent financial report with the Federal Election Commission, revealing that it had brought in just under $25 million last month, well short of the nearly $37 million in receipts reported by the Biden campaign. The real concerns for the Trump campaign, though, were in the details. For the second time in three months, Bidens campaign reported beating Trumps in small dollar donations, both in terms of gross receiptsBiden more than tripled the $5.4 million that Trump brought in in May from donations of under $200and as a share of total individual contributions. All told, 38.2 percent of individual donations to the Trump campaign in May came via contributions of less than $200, compared to 47.2 percent for Biden.
In addition to its campaign contributions, the Trump campaign leans heavily on a joint fundraising committee with the Republican National Committee that also regularly reports robust income from small-dollar donations. That committee hasnt yet reported its fundraising totals for the second quarter of the year, though it will likely boost Trumps small-dollar fundraising numbers considerably when it does.
A direct comparison of the two candidates campaigns, though, reveals that Biden has closed the gap considerably as his campaign has dramatically scaled up its grassroots fundraising.
Even as a coronavirus-induced recession hammered American pocketbooks, Bidens small dollar fundraising has exploded. His campaign brought in nearly $20 million from donations of under $200 in March, according to its FEC filings. That was more than the Trump campaign has ever reported raising from small-dollar contributions in a single reporting period. And Biden has largely kept up the momentum. In March, an aide said, his average donation was $40; by April it was $32, and by May it was $30. The campaign had tripled the number of online donors since February.
Trumps political machine has been driven largely by those small-dollar donors since he declared his presidential candidacy in 2015. For that first run, Trump himself provided tens of millions of dollars of his own money, but to the extent that the campaign leaned on its donors during his run against Hillary Clinton, those donors were overwhelmingly giving small sums.
That was a stark contrast to Clinton, who relied on larger itemized donations of more than $200. In all but one financial reporting period, Clintons campaign brought in less than a third of its individual campaign contributions from donations under that threshold. Trump, meanwhile, was consistently bringing in more than 60 percent of his individual donations from small-dollar contributors.
A Trump campaign official said on Monday evening, that they had "a robust digital fundraising operation built since 2016, and it has only continued to grow, adding that the Biden campaign is structured completely differently and the comparison disregards the tremendous amount of support we have received from small dollar donors over the years." The official noted, for example, that the totals being reflected on finance reports did not include "anyone who purchases an item from our store, or engages with one of our emails.
Trump and the GOPs mammoth grassroots fundraising hauls have been a great point of prideand a significant talking pointfor the president and his lieutenants, whove used it over and over to bash Biden as a weak candidate with severely dampened enthusiasm among even hardened Democratic voters. Its also yet another data point that the presidents top aides say they print on paper, as they do with his fan-tweets, to hand to Trump to help stroke his ego.
For now, the presidents senior officials will also have to settle for bragging about Trumps headcount for the online viewership.
President Trump is eager to keep hitting the campaign trail and holding more rallies to speak directly to the American people, Murtaugh said in a statement to The Daily Beast on Monday. Thousands of supporters turned out in Tulsa, even in the face of media-stoked hysteria about the coronavirus and the potential for violent protests. As of Monday morning, more than 11.3 million people had watched the Presidents rally online, which doesnt even count television viewership. This is an enormous audience that Joe Biden couldnt even begin to dream of from his basement.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:44:19|Editor: huaxia
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WASHINGTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Nearly all American adults support at least some level of change to the U.S. criminal justice system, according to a new poll released Tuesday.
Among the surveyed, 29 percent think the U.S. criminal justice system needs "a complete overhaul," 40 percent say it needs "major changes" and 25 percent say it needs "minor changes," the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found.
Only 5 percent believe no changes are necessary.
The poll found overwhelming support for changes in how police departments operate: requiring officers to wear body cameras, establishing clear standards for use of force, prosecuting officers who use excessive force and requiring officers to report misconduct by their peers.
The poll results came after weeks of nationwide protests against police violence in response to the fatal arrest of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes.
The poll of 1,301 adults was conducted on June 11-15 with a margin of sampling error of 3.7 percentage points. Enditem
Doctors and nurses across NSW public hospitals were forced to treat patients without access to their electronic medical records after a major outage knocked out the entire network for several hours.
Doctors arriving for patient rounds on Tuesday morning discovered they couldnt access their hospitals electronic systems. They switched to paper and pen as they checked on the health of their patients.
The NSW Health website, health.nsw.gov.au, was also offline most of Tuesday, displaying the message: "Cannot connect to the configuration database." Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the site has been used to relay to the public daily statistical information about the virus.
Hospitals across NSW suffered a power outage on Tuesday. Credit:Steven Siewert
An internal communique to NSW Health staff blamed a "major power outage" at 4.15am at the NSW Government Data Centre facility in Silverwater. Twelve hours later the network was still affected.
WASHINGTON (AP) The governments top infectious disease expert told a House committee on Tuesday he believes it will be when and not if there will be a COVID-19 vaccine and that he remains cautiously optimistic that some will be ready at the end of the year.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has returned to Capitol Hill at a fraught moment in the nation's pandemic response, with coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations.
Fauci was testifying along with the heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and a top official at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Watch live:
Since Faucis last appearance at a high-profile hearing more than a month ago, the U.S. has been emerging from weeks of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. But its being done in an uneven way, with some states far less cautious than others. A trio of states with Republican governors who are bullish on reopening Arizona, Florida and Texas are among those seeing worrisome increases in cases.
Last week, Vice President Mike Pence published an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal saying the administration's efforts have strengthened the nation's ability to counter the virus and should be "a cause for celebration."
Then Trump said at his weekend rally in Tulsa that he had asked administration officials to slow down testing, because too many positive cases are turning up. Many rally goers did not wear masks, and for some that was an act of defiance against what they see as government intrusion. White House officials later tried to walk back Trump's comment on testing, suggesting it wasn't meant to be taken literally.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey said during Tuesday's hearing that Trump's testing comment at the rally "was an extremely reckless action, and unfortunately it continues the president's pattern of ignoring the advice of his own public health experts."
Trump, departing the White House for a visit to Arizona on Tuesday, played down those comments, saying under his administration the U.S. is doing more testing than any other country. Trump's trip includes a rally at a megachurch.
Fauci has recently warned that the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic and has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing. And, in a recent ABC News interview, he said political demonstrations such as protests against racial injustice are "risky" to all involved. Asked if that applied to Trump rallies, he said it did. Fauci continues to recognize widespread testing as critical for catching clusters of COVID-19 cases before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community.
About 2.3 million Americans have been sickened in the pandemic, and some 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is joined by CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield, FDA chief Dr. Stephen Hahn and the head of the U.S. Public Health Service, Adm. Brett Giroir.
Giroir was tapped by the White House to oversee the expansion of coronavirus testing. But he gained notoriety after a whistleblower complaint flagged him for trying to push a malaria drug touted by Trump to treat COVID-19 without conclusive scientific evidence. The FDA has since withdrawn its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine.
"There have been a lot of unfortunate missteps in the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic," Pallone said. "As communities across the country ease social distancing guidance and reopen their economies, it is critically important that both the administration and Congress remain focused on containing the spread of the coronavirus and providing the resources and support Americans need during this time of crisis."
There is still no vaccine for COVID-19, and there are no treatments specifically developed for the disease, although the antiviral drug remdesivir has been shown to help some patients, as well as a steroid called dexamethasone, and plasma from patients who have recovered.
Since Fauci last testified, hospital physicians have become more skilled in treating coronavirus patients with the techniques and medications at their disposal. The U.S. continues to ramp up testing, with some 27.5 million Americans, or more than 8% of the population, tested thus far. But most communities still lack enough health workers trained in doing contact tracing, the work of identifying people who have had interactions with an infected person. That could make it more difficult to tamp down emerging outbreaks.
The Energy and Commerce Committee has oversight over drugs and vaccines, among other facets of the U.S. health care system. Committee Democrats have been harshly critical of the administration. However, not all Republicans have lined up to defend the White House. Some GOP members were growing concerned early in the year that the administration wasnt doing enough to prepare.
The Daily Beast
Reuters/Arnd WiegmannTheatrical rock superstar Meat Loaf, whose Bat Out of Hell is one of the bestselling albums of all time, has died at the age of 74. Reports say the singer and actor had recently fallen sick with COVID-19.In an emotional statement posted to Facebook early Friday, the performers family said he was with his wife when he died and had said his final goodbyes to his two daughters in the past 24 hours. The star sold 100 million albums in his five-decade career and starred in movie
Six hours on dirt roads, and a motorcycle: Henrikus Suroto is a teacher on a mission.
When the island of Java, in Indonesia, saw it's schools forced to shut - like much of the world - he knew that teaching online classes wasn't going to be an option for the kids here.
The internet is shakey and some don't even have a phone signal. .
So he goes to them.
"I'm a teacher, and it is my responsibility to do this. I must accompany and teach my students. If the students have no internet access then how can they learn?"
Suroto is 57-years-old, and sometimes has to leave the bike to go on foot to reach students' homes in these hilly remote areas.
Third grade student Albertus Jonas Wiratama looks forward to his face-to-face lesson.
"Studying at home sometimes can be difficult, sometimes easy. But if Mr Suroto is here, all subjects become easy."
The students' parents welcome the respite from trying to take up the role as "stand in" teacher at home.
Indonesia has around 60 million households, but only about one in six had an internet connection last year.
"Well, I do not know what the internet is nor other sophisticated devices that are often used nowadays."
Mr Suroto doesn't flinch at the many, many miles he's covering.
His only complaint? The rain.
Youyu county of Shuozhou city, North China's Shanxi province, located on the edge of Mu Us Desert, was once considered to be "unlivable"; however, thanks to decades of forestation efforts of the local people, the county has become an oasis.
Wang Minghua checks the plants.
Wang Minghua, a 70-year-old villager from Toushuiquan village, Youyu county, has been dedicated to forestation all her life. Since she was 17 years old, she has been fully aware of the significance of planting trees. "I have known from an early age that if we plant trees, we will have a way to live, and if we do not plant trees, there will be famine," said Wang Minghua.
In the early days of the founding of New China, the land desertification rate in Youyu county was 76 percent; the forestation rate was less than 0.3 percent and the windy days above Grade 8 lasted as long as three months a year.
"When I was nine years old, I went to school with other classmates arm in arm when it was windy in the spring. We were afraid of being blown away and couldn't see clearly during the day, with fear of getting lost," Wang recalled.
In the 1950s, Youyu county organized thousands of local people, including 800 students, to plant trees together. Wang Minghua followed the adults up the mountain with hoes, "at that time, I knew nothing but to help carry water and seedlings."
Wang said that in the first year they planted more than 90,000 saplings, but in the spring of the second year, high winds that lasted for many days uprooted the saplings they had planted several months before.
After eight years of efforts, as the survival rate of the trees increased, the local people in Youyu county were finally able to slow down the speed of desertification.
Wang Zhijian, head of Youyu county, said that the area of forestry land in the county has increased from 8,000 mu (about 533 hectares) to 1.7 million mu. Today, the county is no longer "unlivable" thanks to the efforts of the local people.
Along with the forestation, the grain production of the region has also greatly increased. "The yield of corn used to be 50 jin per mu, but now it is over 1,000 jin." Wang Minghua said.
Now, Youyu county is more confident about the future forestation plan: planting between the economic forest and ecological forest, so that green produces more economic benefits.
"We will further broaden the path of ecological poverty alleviation in Shanxi and constantly carry forward and enrich the spirit of Youyu county in modern desert prevention and control practice," said Zhang Yunlong, head of the provincial forestry and grassland administration.
Mayank Singh By
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: A major breakthrough has been achieved in the Corps Commander level talks between India and China on Monday, with the armies of both countries deciding to disengage from their standoff positions in eastern Ladakh.
A highly placed source confirmed that there was a mutual consensus to disengage and added, Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both sides.
A senior officer aware of the situation said the entire process will take time as it is just the broader agreement. "There will now be meetings between the Division Commanders of both sides to work out details."
The Sector Commanders will also be involved to get the agreement translated onto the ground with actual pullback of troops from both the sides, said the officer.
Even the retreat of soldiers will be in phases, he added.
The situation along the borders had become tense after the incident on June 15 when the Chinese Army attacked Indian troops in Galwan Valley. Twenty Indian soldiers lost their lives while the Chinese Army also suffered casualties. Post the incident, Indian Army was given a free hand to respond to the PLA's actions in a befitting manner.
Sources said the meeting between the Indian Armys XIV Corps Commander Lt General Harinder Singh and Major General Lin Liu, commander of the Chinas Peoples Liberation Army in South Xinjiang region, was held at Moldo in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere.
The news of the disengagement comes on the day when the Army Chief was slated to visit Leh to take stock of the situation.
However, people on the ground have reacted cautiously to the breakthrough. We must wait till the retreat of the Chinese soldiers actually begins on the ground, another source said. India has clearly reiterated its position that the status quo ante must be restored in the standoff areas.
The Chinese Army adopted a standoff position by moving its troops and was supported by heavy military vehicles including tanks, infantry vehicles and artillery since the intervening night of 5 and 6 May, as reported first by The New Indian Express, when the PLA clashed with Indian troops between Finger 4 and Finger 5 lying along the Northern Flank of Pangong Tso lake in Eastern Ladakh.
Immediately after the incident, China moved in its troops to Finger 4 and then gradually to Galwan Valley and Hot Spring Area. China moved in around 15,000 troops at various locations, including those at the LAC and those right behind them.
The Indian Army also moved in its troops in equal number with the formations of the 3 Division, entrusted with the responsibility of Eastern Ladakh, bringing its artillery and armoured elements in a counter deployment.
At present, the reported standoff between the Indian and Chinese Armies is at Patrolling Point 14 and 15 in Galwan Valley, Gogra Post (Patrolling Point 17A) in Hot Spring Area and Finger 4.
Trump administration has justified suspension of some worker visas on grounds it will boost US jobs, but execs cry foul.
United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday temporarily barring certain foreign worker visas until the end of the year.
While the Trump administration has justified the freeze on the grounds that it will open up more than half a million jobs for US workers, business leaders are crying foul.
The order takes aim at several types of worker permits, including H-1B visas that are very popular with technology companies looking to recruit software engineers and other skilled workers from abroad.
But critics have maintained that US tech firms exploit H-1B visas to outsource jobs to foreign workers at lower pay.
Among the tech titans taking to Twitter to lambast Mondays executive order are Googles Sundar Pichai and Teslas Elon Musk.
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
Pichai, Google and Alphabet Incs chief executive officer, said he was disappointed by the proclamation, adding also that immigration had contributed greatly to US economic growth, making it a global leader in tech and also Google the company it is today.
Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft and PayPal representatives also took to Twitter, with Amazon calling the administrations policy short-sighted and several tech companies pledging to continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.
Very much disagree with this action. In my experience, these skillsets are net job creators. Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 23, 2020
Facebook in a company statement said that President Trumps latest proclamation uses the COVID-19 pandemic as justification for limiting immigration.
In reality, the move to keep highly-skilled talent out of the US will make our countrys recovery even more difficult, the company said.
Amazon opposes the Administrations short-sighted decision to pause high-skill visa programs. Welcoming the best & the brightest global talent is critical to America's economic recovery. We will continue to support these programs & efforts to protect the rights of immigrants. Amazon Policy (@amazon_policy) June 22, 2020
According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Amazon had the most number of H-1B visa approvals at 3,026 in 2019. Google had 2,678, Microsoft had 1,701, Facebook had 1,518 and Apple had 1,136 H-1B visa approvals in 2019.
As we plan for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis let's focus on common sense & fair immigration policies. H-1B workers should be treated with respect & dignity. They generate real innovation & growth . . . benefiting us all and fueling the our economy. We embrace all our Ohana. Marc Benioff (@Benioff) June 23, 2020
Apples CEO Tim Cook tweeted: This nation has also found strength in our diversity, adding that he was also deeply disappointed by the proclamation.
Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream. There is no new prosperity without both. Deeply disappointed by this proclamation. Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 23, 2020
Elon Musk, Tesla and SpaceX CEO, wrote on Twitter that he very much disagreed with the Trump administrations decision.
In my experience, these skillsets are net job creators. Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad, Musk wrote. Tesla had 324 H-1B visa approvals in 2019.
Now is not the time to cut our nation off from the worlds talent or create uncertainty and anxiety. Immigrants play a vital role at our company and support our countrys critical infrastructure. They are contributing to this country at a time when we need them most. Brad Smith (@BradSmi) June 23, 2020
Twitter also took to its own platform to say that the proclamation undermines Americas greatest economic asset: its diversity. Twitter had 117 H-1B visa approvals in 2019.
Statement on US high-skilled immigration proclamation: "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. Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) June 22, 2020
PayPals CEO Dan Schulman wrote on LinkedIn that creating new restrictions for immigrants who seek to work in the US is disappointing, warning that it will slow our progress as a nation.
Also speaking out against the proclamation on Twitter were Box Inc CEO Aaron Levie, Microsoft President Brad Smith, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, and Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff.
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Linkedin Moira Warburton (Reuters) Toronto, Canada Tue, June 23, 2020 07:30 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660cb622 2 World Toronto,Canada,reopening,reopening-economy,reopening-plan,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,COVID-19-lockdown-easing,pandemic Free
Toronto, Canada's most-populous city and financial capital, will allow businesses to reopen starting on Wednesday, joining other regions in the province of Ontario in ending a three-month pandemic lockdown, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Monday.
Malls and restaurants in Toronto, along with Peel Region, which includes some of the city's densely populated suburbs, will be able to open their patios, according to the government's plan.
Ontario, Canada's largest province by population, started gradually reopening its economy this month, but Toronto was left off the initial list.
Ford said the government would continue to monitor health trends and consult daily with the province's medical experts, and asked people to stay vigilant.
"It can turn and bite us in the backside in about a heartbeat," Ford said.
Downtown Toronto is home to some of Canada's biggest banks and insurers, and many of them have agreed to allow their staff to work from home until at least September, Toronto Mayor John Tory said last month.
Canadian provinces imposed lockdowns in March to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed 8,430 people in Canada and infected 101,337, according to the latest government data. Toronto has recorded more than 1,000 deaths.
Windsor-Essex, in southwestern Ontario near the Michigan border, is the only health region still in Phase 1 of the three-phase reopening, where an outbreak is hitting migrant workers on farms.
Ford said the province began sending mobile testing units to the largest farms and food-processing plants on Saturday, but blamed Windsor-Essex's continued closure on farmers who will not get their workers tested.
"Farmers just aren't cooperating," Ford said, adding the province cannot force anyone to get tested. "We'll give it another shot ... but then we're going to have to pull out other tools."
Separately, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed back on Monday against pressure from airlines to reopen the nation's borders.
Authorities released the names of a New Mexico State Police sergeant and two men involved in a police pursuit and shooting that ended in a deadly crash earlier this month outside Gallup.
State Police spokesman Dusty Francisco said June 5, Sgt. Steven Owens fired at a pickup truck with Gerard John, 25, and Ray Jim, 21, inside as they drove the wrong way on Interstate 40 following a pursuit with Gallup police.
Soon after, the pickup truck crashed head-on with a semi tractor-trailer and John and Jim were ejected. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
Francisco did not say if the men were armed at the time or struck by gunfire before the crash.
Francisco said Owens, a 15-year veteran with State Police, was placed on administrative leave as they investigated.
The incident began around 11:55 p.m. when Gallup police responded to two men brandishing a firearm inside a truck at the Redwood Lodge Motel. Police gave chase after John, the driver, fled and nearly hit an officers vehicle.
The pursuit continued from N.M. 118 to I-40 with John driving erratically, going into the opposite lanes, and Jim throwing objects from the bed of the truck at officers, and Gallup police terminated the pursuit.
Francisco said Owens, who was nearby and overheard on his police radio that the men were armed, parked his vehicle in the I-40 median.
In an attempt to disable the Dodge truck, and to prevent a head-on collision with another vehicle, Sergeant Owens fired at least one shot from his department issued shotgun towards the Dodge, he said.
After the shot, the truck crashed head-on into the tractor-trailer.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The ministry of the Interior of the government of national accord Tuesday welcomed the decision of the UN Council of human rights to set up an investigation commission to on Libya
Maya Evans (R) toasts friend Tiffany Webster, 30, on Webster's 30th birthday during the first day of the city's phase two reopening from the CCP outbreak, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City on June 22, 2020. (Kathy Willens/AP Photo)
NYC Takes Biggest Step in Reopening After Virus Crisis
NEW YORKNew York City ventured into a crucial stage of reopening as stores let people in on June 22, offices brought workers back, restaurants seated customers outdoors and residents both welcomed and worried about rebounding from the nations deadliest outbreak caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.
From Macys Miracle on 34th Street store to the World Trade Centers office towers, the city was getting back to business, though with new virus-safety measures after a three-month shutdown.
Larry Silverstein, for one, couldnt wait.
The 89-year-old World Trade Center developer was eager to return to his office there as Silverstein Properties staffers started coming back on staggered schedules Monday. Employees have to wear masks in the 7 World Trade Center lobby, and footprints mark where to stand in elevators now limited to about a quarter of their usual capacity.
To Silverstein, returning to office life and in-person teamwork brings a joy, a fulfillment, such a sense of being able to function. He doesnt buy into arguments that the pandemic bodes poorly for office work or New York City.
I went through 9/11. I remember people telling me we were never going to be able to get people to come back to lower Manhattan, said Silverstein, who leased the twin towers six weeks before the 2001 terrorist attacks destroyed them. Never bet against New York, because New York always comes back, bigger and better than ever before.
Workers prepare for the reopening of the Macys Herald Square location in New York City, on June 19, 2020. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)
At Macys famous flagship store, Tammi Marilus was in line when doors opened at 11 a.m.
Shoppers have to wear masks. Workers must undergo temperature checks. Makeup testing is temporarily banned.
Still, with the store reopening, it feels like its coming back to normal, even though we all know it isnt over yet, said Marilus, 42, who brought hand sanitizer with her and was pleased to see workers disinfecting counters.
We have to live our lives. We have to take risks, she said.
Workers test social distancing at the Macys Herald Square location in New York City on June 19, 2020. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)
But some New Yorkers were apprehensive.
Alex Michaels may return soon to a retail job. He agreed its important to revive the economy, but he worries about potential virus exposure from working with the public, even with new safety measures.
Somethings got to give. I get that, said Michaels, 30, but there could be a high price to pay.
Eve Gonzalez, whos not yet back at her food-industry job, feels its too soon to relax restrictions.
Im dying to go out, but peoples health is more important, said Gonzalez, 27.
The virus has been blamed for over 22,000 New York City deaths, with the toll down to single and low double digits in recent days. Infections have plummeted from an early-April peak, but the last two weeks have still averaged about 250 positive tests a day, city data shows.
Reopening began June 8 with construction, curbside-pickup retail, wholesaling and manufacturing. The city estimated 150,000 to 300,000 additional workers would return to their jobs Monday.
Meanwhile, cooped-up kids finally could climb playground monkey bars instead of apartment walls. And shaggy heads could get salon haircuts.
Peter Shamuelov (C) wears a protective mask as he gives a haircut to a customer at Ace of Cuts barbershop, in New York City on June 22, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP Photo)
Victor Suarez had a socially distanced full house for much of the afternoon at his barbershop in Queens East Elmhurst neighborhood.
Its a lot of changes, a lot of rules we have to follow, Suarez said. But its the new normal. Were excited to be back.
Monday marked just the second of four reopening phases, but Mayor Bill de Blasio called it the biggest step, particularly for a restaurant industry he described as so much the identity of New York City.
At Melbas in Harlem, customers filled the 62 new outdoor seats faster than expected Monday afternoon.
Its like a dream come true, said owner Melba Wilson, president of the NYC Hospitality Alliance. She said outdoor dining was the infusion that we so greatly needed after three months of struggling to get by on takeout and delivery.
Esmerelda Amador shares a toast with her sister, far right, and parents as the family celebrates Amdaors recent graduation from dental school at a restaurant on Manhattans Upper West Side during the first day of New York Citys phase two reopening during the CCP virus outbreak, in New York City, on June 22, 2020. (Kathy Willens/AP Photo)
Hours later, de Blasio and wife Chirlane McCray came for dinner on a patio set up in a former parking spot outside Melbas.
Meanwhile, some shuttered offices reopened in business districts that became virtual ghost towns this spring.
Lawyer Greg Nespole went in to work near Wall Street feeling it was about time to return to normalcy.
You dont really feel like a lawyer practicing in your kids bedroom, Nespole said.
Some of the citys biggest corporate employers are sticking with largely remote work for now.
Only about 5 percent of Citis 13,300 New York City employees are expected back at the banks offices on July 1. JPMorgan Chase hasnt set a date yet for returning to its New York offices; Wells Fargos time frame is July 31 or later. Pharmaceutical company Pfizer is extending remote working at least until the as-yet-undetermined date for citys next reopening phase.
With work-from-home arrangements now established and employees concerned about offices, public-transit commutes and child care, many white-collar companies are moving with caution and safety, says Bhushan Sethi, a PwC partner specializing in workplace strategies. The consulting and accounting firm is not yet reopening its own New York office.
As the city reopens, retail worker William Rodgers is figuring out his next steps.
The last three months have not been easy, but a lot of us have gotten time to reflect on our own lives, said Rodgers, 29. Thats one blessing.
By Jennifer Peltz
Doctors at the Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad on Tuesday are boycotting their duties due to inadequacy of staff in the hospital.
Hyderabad: Doctors at the Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad on Tuesday are boycotting their duties due to inadequacy of staff in the hospital.
The medicine department postgraduates have been attending duties during the protest.
Harshanth, Vice President, Telangana Junior Doctors Association speaking to ANI over the phone said, "There are 33 Medicine Department Post Graduates who are attending duties at all the ICU's, casualty wards of Osmania General Hospital. Since Gandhi Hospital is not there and some PG's are affected by COVID-19, it has put pressure on us."
"We are also requesting staff from other departments or other hospitals, we have boycotted our duties since Saturday, as we are not able to manage with the workload," he added.
US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One prior to departure from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, June 23, 2020, as he travels to Arizona to view the border wall and speak at a Republican student event.
The Arizona Department of Health reported nearly 3,600 additional Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, another record in additional daily cases, ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled appearances in the state later in the day.
Arizona is averaging about 2,500 daily new cases as of Monday, which is about a 94% increase since one week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The coronavirus has infected 3,593 people and killed an additional 42 people in Arizona since Monday, bringing the states' death toll to 1,384, according to the state's health department.
While the rise in daily case numbers could reflect a lag in data reporting or increased testing in certain locations throughout the state, Arizona's positivity rate has increased from 5% in early May to nearly 20% in June, according to the state's health department. Its current positivity rate average stands at more than 10%.
The positivity rate indicates the percentage of tests that come back positive in a specific region. Epidemiologists say this number can indicate how broadly the virus is spreading throughout a community.
Another factor that is watched carefully is hopitalizations, which can indicate how severe cases are in an area. This data can lag the number of new cases.
Arizona hospitals have reported more patients in their hospital beds and intensive care units since mid-May when the state began to reopen. About 84% of the state's ICU beds were in use as of Monday, up from 74% reported in use on Memorial Day.
The increase in cases and hospitalizations comes as Trump travels to the nation's border with Mexico and to Phoenix, where he's scheduled to attend a campaign rally at a local church. Infectious disease experts have warned against large indoor gatherings, such as Trump's recent rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as cases surge in the West and South.
"We are actually seeing the fastest rate of growth among our young people in the community, and here it is, a rally specifically focused on that demographic," Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, a Democrat, told CNN on Sunday. "Public health professionals in Phoenix are trying to tell young people to take this seriously."
White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Tuesday that parts of the U.S. are beginning to see a "disturbing surge" in coronavirus infections.
While New York state is seeing a decline in Covid-19 cases, other states are experiencing a rise in cases that "reflect an increase in community spread," Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said.
"That's something I'm really quite concerned about," he said.
The Trump administration has maintained that the Covid-19 response is still a priority.
"It's why the task force meets regularly, the president is given that information. The vice president has been leading on the task force and the president ultimately makes the decisions and is constantly kept up to date with the latest numbers," press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said during a briefing Friday.
CNBC's Berkeley Lovelace Jr., William Feuer and Jasmine Kim contributed to this report.
The Aviation Recovery Taskforce has called for the two-week quarantine period of passengers arriving in Ireland to end next month (PA)
A Government taskforce has called for the restrictions on non-essential air travel to be lifted by July 1, noting Ireland is significantly behind other countries.
The Aviation Recovery Taskforce has also called for the two-week quarantine period of passengers arriving in Ireland to end next month.
The interim report from the taskforce notes the extensive recommendations provided on June 11 by the European Commission, which called for member states to lift all border restrictions by June 15.
Ireland is now significantly behind other Member States in this regard despite having equivalent or even better success in containing Covid-19, the taskforce states.
As an island nation with an open economy, the taskforce calls on the Government to prioritise the recovery of this critical industry which enables large scale tourism, international business and exports, it adds.
The taskforce is also calling for urgent clarification around the process regarding the 14-day recommended quarantine period, for visitors.
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It says: A 14-day quarantine period makes non-essential and discretionary travel challenging, and inhibits business-related travel, which is critical for the Irish economy.
The taskforce notes that implementation of efficient test-and-trace regimes can provide effective alternatives to the current 14-day quarantine measure.
It said the Government must urgently adopt a code of practice for the aviation industry that has been developed by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
It has also called for confirmation that the wage subsidy scheme would be extended for the industry along with any other financial supports.
Transport Minister Shane Ross said the interim report very succinctly captures the huge importance of the sector to the Irish economy.
He said: It very clearly sets out the case for taking steps to be taken to begin opening up to international travel sooner rather than later. There are of course important public health issues to be considered, which the report acknowledges, and I will give the matters my priority attention and ensure that they are considered as a matter of urgency by the Government.
Aer Lingus urged the Government to immediately implement the taskforce recommendations.
Sean Doyle, chief executive of Aer Lingus, said the Covid-19 crisis is having a catastrophic effect on the aviation industry.
He added: Irelands failure to take steps that other European Member States have already taken has exacerbated the crisis in Irish aviation.
This is having a negative impact upon jobs within the industry and upon the industrys ability to recover.
As an island economy with a huge reliance on connectivity and mobility, Ireland needs the urgent recommencement of operations in aviation.
Ryanair chief executive Eddie Wilson called on the Government to implement its taskforce recommendations to save whats left of the summer season and start to recover lost airline traffic.
Mr Wilson said: A great number of the 140,000 Irish jobs which rely on aviation may be lost forever if these measures are not adopted without delay.
India on Tuesday announced it will contribute $10 million over the next two years to a key UN agency working for Palestinian refugees as part of efforts to ensure sustainable and predictable funding for the body.
Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan announced Indias contribution for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) while participating in an extraordinary virtual ministerial pledging conference convened by Jordan and Sweden.
UNRWA needs continued support since sustainability and predictability of funding is imperative for any agency or organisation to carry on its mandate without interruption, he said.
When certain countries withdrew funding, we had stepped up our annual pledge from $1.25 million to $5 million in 2018. For this year, we have already disbursed $2 million and will soon be remitting the balance $3 million. I am pleased to announce that we will contribute another $10 million to UNRWA over the coming two years, Muraleedharan said.
Describing India as a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause, he said capacity enhancement through training and building durable institutions is a major plank of New Delhis developmental assistance.
India is working with the Palestinian side to organise more training programmes on virtual platforms amid the Covid-19 pandemic and is committed to timely disbursement of funds so that developmental projects continue on schedule, he said.
We provide 250 annual scholarships to Palestinian youth and officials, apart from regular customised training programmes, and our current project grant is around $72 million, Muraleedharan said.
As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the world and stretch governments resources to address healthcare and socio-economic needs, India is assisting countries in need of critical life-saving drugs despite a surge in domestic demand for medical supplies, he said. We are sending a medical shipment to Palestine next week, he added.
Ups and Downs in the terrible saga of covid-19.
Its up in New York, where residents are getting their first haircuts since mid-March, stores have reopened for shopping and restaurants and bars are again offering outdoor service.
But Phase 2 in the US it is a sad comeback. The pandemic has killed almost 120.000 Americans up to now, and if New York is better many other cities and States are not.
It seems to be down in Ukraine, because its young President Zelensky was photographed in the city of Khmelnytsky drinking coffee with his entourage at a time when cafes were barred to serve customers inside.
Well, the cafe was fined the equivalent of almost 600 Euros, and the local authorities asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether an identical fine would breach the Presidents legal immunity.
Zelensky responded immediately apologizing, and giving assurances that he will pay the cafes fine and of course any personal fine if it comes. Ukraine has reported 37.000 coronavirus cases and a thousand deaths. But the reaction to the Presidents mistake is good news, Up.
Ph: ymgerman / Shutterstock.com
The vice president of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Mrs. Linda Asante-Agyei, on Monday, called journalists to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols and precautions to protect themselves as they discharge their needful duties.
She said the disease was real and it was no respecter of persons and advise the media to always ensure that their safety was paramount.
It is unfortunate some journalists have tested positive and we pray for their speedy recovery.
Mrs. Asante-Agyei made the call when Saham Life Insurance a member of the Sanlam Group donated preventive items to the Association to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company donated 1,500 pieces of branded nose masks and 52 boxes of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to the Association.
The GJA Vice President said reporters should cultivate the habit of sanitizing their gadgets very often because they were mediums through which the virus could be transmitted.
As conveys of the news and educating the public on the preventive measures, we should also protect ourselves to live to tell the story, she added.
She said the life of every journalist was needed as the country fights to control the spread of the virus, so please keep safe to discharge your duties as expected of you.
She called on corporate organizations to donate to the Association to help journalists across the country to keep safe as they fight in the frontline against the virus.
Mr. Kingson Moses Amegavi, Head of Retail, Saham Life Insurance said journalists in the discharge of their duties were equally exposed to the virus and needed the support to keep safe.
He said their mandate as an insurance service provider was to save lives and was convinced that the items would protect journalists as they report and educate the populace.
Mr. Amegavi said the companys support would go a long way to protect journalists in the line of duty as they cover COVID-19 pandemic related stories and engage the public to fish for news.
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.
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Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has released an excerpt from her upcoming book in which she slams former National Security Adviser John Bolton for being 'drunk on power.'
Sanders' excerpt release comes as Bolton continues to grab headlines - and White House ire - for his revealing memoir, The Room Where It Happened, out Tuesday.
On Monday, Sanders used her Twitter account to release the excerpt from her own book, Speaking for Myself: Faith, Freedom, and the Fight of Our Lives Inside the Trump White House, due out in September.
Former press secretary Sarah Sanders (in green) took aim at former National Security Advisor John Bolton (right in 2019) in a newly released excerpt from her upcoming memoir
Sanders said Bolton was 'drunk on power' in the excerpt which she released on Twitter Monday
As the prelude to the excerpt from the book, which chronicles an incident that apparently took place during President Trump's state visit to the UK in June 2019, Sanders tweeted that Bolton is 'a man drunk on power who ultimately betrayed America when he didn't get his way.'
Sanders revealed in the excerpt that during trips abroad, 'Bolton had a separate agenda and often arrived and departed on a different plane because he didn't want to travel on Air Force One with the President and his team.'
According to Sanders, 'Bolton apparently felt too important to travel with the rest of us. It was a running joke in the White House.'
The excerpt is from Sanders' upcoming book, Speaking for Myself, due in September
During the UK trip, while in London, Sanders noted that since Trump would be doing most of his traveling via helicopter on Marine One, there wouldn't be the usual presidential motorcade to ride in.
Instead, the administration staffers would have to make do with just 'one small staff motorcade' to get from place to place.
In the lead up to the trip, Sanders said that former Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Walsh had specifically 'asked Bolton's team to be sure to wait on the senior White House staff vehicles traveling to the Winfield House so they could be part of Bolton's motorcade and not get stuck in traffic' - a request which Bolton's staff apparently acknowledged.
Winfield House is the London townhouse where the US Ambassador to the UK lives.
Sanders wrote that on the day in question, she and many of Trump's senior White House officials hopped onto a 'small black bus' to get to Winfield House.
'On board were Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, Senior Advisor Stephen Miller, Senior Advisor Dan Scavino, Walsh and me. Based on US protocol, Mnuchin, Mulvaney and Walsh all outranked Bolton. Mnuchin, one of the highest ranking officials in government, far outranked him,' Sanders wrote.
Sanders was Trump's press secretary from 2017 to 2019. They're pictured here in June 2019
Sanders (center) is pictured here in the Oval Office with chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow (left) and Bolton (right) in January 2019
Sanders' book excerpt involved an incident she claims occurred during Trump's UK state visit in 2019 and involved other White House senior staffers
'We waited at the hotel but there was no sign of Bolton or his motorcade. After a while we gave up and headed to the Winfield House to meet the president. While en route, UK police directed us to pull to the side of the road because someone was coming through...we looked over to see who it was and sure enough here came Bolton and his motorcade. We waited and watched as Bolton sped by and left us in the dust.'
Sanders recalled that as soon as they saw Bolton's motorcade zip past, 'The discussion on the bus quickly moved from casual chit chat to how arrogant and selfish Bolton could be, not just in this moment but on a regular basis. If anyone on the team should have merited a motorcade it was Mnuchin, but he was a team player.'
Mnuchin, in 2018, had drawn ire when it was revealed that he had spent $1million of taxpayer money to fly pricey military aircraft in just eight trips, more than half of which were domestic locations.
Sanders noted that once the senior staffers finally got to Winfield house, the 'typically laid-back' Mulvaney 'unleashed a full Irish explosion' on Bolton.
'He lit into him in a way I hadn't seen him do to anyone before,' Sanders wrote. 'Mick made clear he was the chief of staff and Bolton's total disregard for his colleagues and common decency was unacceptable and would no longer be tolerated. 'Let's face it John,' Mick said. 'You're a f*****g self-righteous, self-centered son of a b***h!''
Sanders tweeted out the lengthy excerpt on Monday, the day before Bolton's book releases
Bolton's book, The Room Where It Happened, is expected to be a revealing account of his time as National Security Advisor. The White House has tried to block the book's release
Sanders has cast doubt on the contents of Bolton's books, claiming he was 'lying' either now or when he was in his White House position
Trump has been railing against Bolton on Twitter, claiming Bolton's book will reveal classified information, while the Department of Justice has sued Bolton and tried to get its release halted
Bolton, Sanders said, 'backed down and stormed off' while the rest of the senior staffers 'nodded in approval' and even gave Mulvaney high fives.
Sanders noted that Mulvaney's comments were 'the culmination of months of Bolton thinking he was more important and could play by a different set of rules than the rest of the team.'
During the except, Sanders also noted that 'Bolton was a classic case of a senior White House official drunk on power, who had forgotten that nobody elected him to anything. Often Bolton acted like he was the president, pushing an agenda contrary to President Trump's.'
Bolton, a Trump supporter, was Trump's national security advisor before being pushed out of the role in September 2019, after 18 months on the job.
On Monday, Trump tweeted that he decided to give Bolton a 'chance,' but that he 'turned out to be grossly incompetent, and a liar.'
On Saturday, a federal judge denied a request by the Department of Justice to block Bolton's book release on the grounds that it's a national security risk.
The Justice Department has also sued Bolton himself, claiming that the book violates nondisclosure agreements he signed.
[June 23, 2020] 3CLogic Announces Cloud Contact Center Integration for Microsoft Teams
3CLogic, a leading provider of cloud contact center solutions, today announced its latest integration with Microsoft Teams. The combined offering will streamline communication between back-office resources and front-line call center agents to enhance the overall customer experience. "We are excited to extend this new integration to our current and future enterprise customers who are eager to improve the collaboration between departments," states Denis Seynhaeve, CEO of 3CLogic. "Enterprises have accelerated their adoption of Microsoft (News - Alert) Teams over the past few months given the ongoing need to facilitate the ability to work remotely. This joint offering will make it easier for customer-facing agents to access internal experts and resources across departments to enable the highest level of customer service." The integration between 3CLogic and Microsoft Teams will allow fora number of key use cases and features, including:
Syncing of agent statuses between both platforms to allow 3CLogic agents and Microsoft Teams users to respectively know the availability of one another to minimize disruptions and streamline communication.
Ability for 3CLogic agents to click-to-call or conference in Teams users to assist in active customer issues.
Ability to answer contact center calls via the Microsoft Teams client while facilitating CRM (ie: Microsoft Dynamics CRM) or systems of record (ie: ServiceNow (News - Alert)) screen-pops. "As organizations adjust to the new work environment, the adoption of cloud-enabled technologies to simplify and enhance customer engagements and streamline collaboration between groups will be key to any long-term success," expresses Denis. "We look forward to continuing to expand our portfolio of features to support our current and future customers as they adapt to the ongoing market trends and shifts." The announcement comes as 3CLogic continues to expand its global enterprise presence across industries and divisions including Sales, Customer Service, Employee Services, and IT Helpdesks. The Microsoft Teams offering serves as an extension to its existing CTI (News - Alert) and Call Center integration with Dynamics 365 CRM.
About 3CLogic 3CLogic is a leading cloud contact center platform modernizing enterprise communications with their employees and customers. Built on Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) (AWS), the solution provides advanced and scalable speech-enabled offerings for leading CRMs, including ServiceNow, Salesforce, and SugarCRM (News - Alert). With deployments on four continents and a growing base of Global 2000 clients, 3CLogic drives digital transformation by improving CX, organizational efficiency and reporting insights using dynamic IVR, CTI, AI, advanced speech analytics, and API-driven integrations. For more information, please visit www.3clogic.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005325/en/
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Syracuse, N.Y. There were no cell phone videos of what happened Oct. 12, 1995, at 2 a.m. on the side of the road.
This is why Demetria Gammage cannot bring herself to watch the video of George Floyd being killed by police officers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 00:04:17|Editor: huaxia
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MAPUTO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The leader of Renamo, the main opposition party in Mozambique, reiterated Tuesday that his party is committed to successfully complete the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of its members.
Ossufo Momade, President of Renamo, spoke to the press in a communication on the country's 45th anniversary of independence to be marked on Thursday, June 25.
"The Renamo party loves its people and wants to see the country without war, so we are determined to successfully complete the process of demobilization, disarmament and reintegration of our forces with dignity and humanity," said Momade.
He said the party is pleased to follow the continued DDR process of its combatants, and national reconciliation will only be effective to the extent that the reintegrated ones enjoy the same rights and freedoms as other fellow Mozambicans do.
Momade also said that the armed attacks in the central part of the country were not perpetrated by their members.
"We urge its authors to stop these practices that jeopardize peace and social stability," he said.
Last week, a group of DDR mediators announced the closure of Renamo's first armed base, in the central province of Sofala. Enditem
The nation's premier dermatology group begins rollout of Nevisense technology to examine patients with irregular moles suspicious of melanoma
STOCKHOLM and MAITLAND, Florida, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SciBase Holding AB ("SciBase") [STO:SCIB], a leading developer of augmented intelligence-based solutions for skin disorders, announced today that it has installed the first two Nevisense Systems at Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetics Surgery ("ADCS") - the nation's premier dermatology group. The Nevisense systems are now operational at ADCS' Windermere, Florida location led by Dr. Bill Steffes. This is the first of several sites planned to offer Nevisense as part of a joint-partnership rollout this year.
Based in Maitland, Florida, Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery is the nation's leading providers of dermatological services with over 150 sites of care located across 14 states. "We take pride in providing our patients with access to the most advanced technology for the earliest detection of melanoma, when the disease is at its most curable stage. "Technological advances like Nevisense will not only improve outcomes for our patients, but also change the landscape for the future of skin cancer detection and we are thrilled to be a part of this advancement," said Dr. Matt Leavitt, founder and CEO of Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery.
"This is a terrific first step in our collaboration with ADCS after their decision to adopt our advanced skin cancer detection solutions. Offering ADCS providers such as Dr. Bill Steffes state-of-the art technology means they will have more management options, helping them improve patient care and outcomes," said Simon Grant, Chief Executive Officer of SciBase. "Having the nation's leading dermatology group, such as ADCS, adopt Nevisense, is a reflection of the increasing level of interest we see for SciBase's skin disorders solutions" added Grant.
About SciBase and Nevisense
SciBase AB is a Swedish medical technology company, headquartered in Stockholm that has developed and sells a unique point-of-care device for evaluation of skin disorders such as skin cancer and atopic dermatitis. Its first product, Nevisense, helps doctors to detect malignant melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Further development has led to Nevisense also being used as a tool to assess the skin barrier and inflammation. SciBase was founded by Stig Ollmar, Associate Professor at The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Nevisense is based on substantial research and has achieved excellent results in the largest clinical study ever conducted on the detection of malignant melanoma. Nevisense is CE marked in Europe, has TGA approval in Australia and an FDA approval (PMA) in the United States. Nevisense is based on a method called Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), which uses the varying electrical properties of human tissue to categorize cellular structures and thereby detect malignancies and abnormalities. SciBase is listed on First North Growth Market ("SCIB"). Further information is available at www.scibase.com.
About Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery
Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery is the largest dermatology practice in the country. We are committed to providing comprehensive and unparalleled dermatologic and aesthetic care in a welcoming and engaging environment, seeking to make each patient experience unique. We strive to combine the best of the art of medicine with the latest advances in research and technology in formulating individualized treatment plans to achieve the desired result with superior patient safety and privacy standards.
To learn more about Advanced Dermatology, visit www.advancedderm.com or call 1-866-400-DERM.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Grant
CEO SciBase
Tel: +46-72-887-43-99
Email: simon.grant@scibase.com
Certified Advisor:
Avanza
Tel: +46-8-409-421-20
Email: corp@avanza.se
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
https://news.cision.com/scibase/r/scibase-installs-nevisense-systems-at-advanced-dermatology-and-cosmetic-surgery-group-in-florida,c3139432
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Heather Lister. Photo: Kristin Balcita Photography
Heather Lister was 28 when her cardiologist said, "If you're planning to have children, you shouldn't wait long."
The problem was her heart. Instead of being born with three leaflets on her aortic valve, she only had two. The older you are during pregnancy and childbirth, the greater the strain on the heart, he told her.
This was the first time she'd heard that diagnosis. But she was no stranger to heart issues.
Diagnosed with a heart murmur as a child, she was used to yearly checkups and taking antibiotics before having any dental work. She was in her early 20s when her 44-year-old father died from an undefined heart condition. Later, his sister died from an aortic aneurysm and his brother had heart issues.
Heeding the cardiologist's advice, Heather and her husband quickly started a family. They moved to Jacksonville, Florida, when their son was 4 and daughter was 2.
Heather found a new cardiologist, who gave her more disturbing news.
"Has anyone told you you're going to need to have your valve replaced some day?" he asked.
He said he didn't think it would happen anytime soon because Heather was fit. She exercised frequently and didn't smoke. But he advised her to have checkups every two years.
In her 40s, Heather's blood pressure started to spike for no apparent reason. She was still physically active, participating in boot camps and doing weight training. She also stayed busy working as a real estate agent and volunteered at her children's schools and in the community.
She wondered if the issue was related to her valve, but her cardiologist dismissed her concerns, instead putting her on blood pressure medicine.
At 45, Heather continued to feel winded easily and sometimes lightheaded. But her cardiologist said her valve looked fine and he would see her in two years.
"I came home and felt defeated," she said.
By happenstance, her business partner connected Heather with a cardiologist he recently met from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, who then put her in touch with Dr. Carolyn Landolfo, a fellow cardiologist who focuses on valvular heart disease and women's heart health.
"Seeing Dr. Landolfo was the first time I felt like someone really listened to me," Heather said.
Landolfo told Heather some people with her congenital heart defect, known as a bicuspid aortic valve, also are prone to abnormalities in the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Her records showed her aorta had never been checked.
Testing confirmed she had an aortic aneurysm, an enlargement of the aorta that can prove fatal if it ruptures or tears.
Surgery could repair the defect, but timing was key. Because of Heather's small frame and family history, Landolfo and her team decided the surgery should be sooner than later.
By this time, Heather's children were teenagers.
"I was terrified something would happen when I was home alone with my kids," she said. "I felt like a ticking time bomb."
Her daughter, Emmi, remembers worrying about her mom.
"She used to be on her feet all day and on the go 24/7, involved in everything. And then suddenly she didn't have any energy at all," Emmi said. "I was so stressed that I started getting tension headaches."
In September 2017, nine months after her aortic aneurysm diagnosis, Heather flew to the Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, for open-heart surgery to repair the aorta.
Because her valve was in such good condition, she didn't need to have it replaced. The expectation is she won't need further treatment for at least another decade. Even then, it could be less invasive because of potential medical advances.
Back home, Heather, then 48, went through cardiac rehabilitation.
"I was the youngest there by 20 years, but I highly recommend it," she said. "It gave me a comfort level of what to come back to."
Heather is now back to exercising and enjoys working out and walking with her daughter before she goes off to college.
"We motivate each other," Emmi said. "My mom can't do everything she did before, but she's doing great."
During her sophomore year in high school, Emmi started a "Heart Club" focused on activities to raise money for heart research. The nearly 100 members and their friends participated in walks and other activities, raising awareness and money for the American Heart Association. Emmi and Heather also are AHA volunteers.
"I'm always looking for ways to support heart research," Heather said. "But the thing I'm most passionate about is advocating for yourself. When you know something's not right, you need to fight to be heard."
Explore further Cardiologist investigates why TAVR might not work for some heart patient
American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Silveria Jacobs hereby updates the general public for today, Monday, June 22nd, 2020, as part of the process to keep the community of St. Maarten informed about the latest developments concerning the Social Economic Council (SER).
On October 10th, 2010, the National ordinance of the Social Economic Council AB 2010 GT. No 19 came into effect. However, the appointment of the board was executed in May 2011. From its inception, the employer representation on the SER board was unevenly balanced. One employer organization has two (2) seats while the other employer organization has one (1) seat on the board. In order to ensure a balanced representation of the employer organizations on the board of the SER, an instruction was given to review the National ordinance of the SER.
In addition, one employer organization also requested a thorough review of the laws which govern the SER. The evaluation revealed that the current makeup of the employer representatives on the board are not in line with the principles of the SER, equal representation employers organizations, employees organizations, and independent experts is of paramount importance for the proper functioning of the SER.
The current structure of the SER consists of the following social partners such as:
the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of St. Maarten (COCI), the Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), the Windward Island Chamber of Labor Unions (WICLU) and independent experts. In order to rectify the current imbalance, on April 21st, 2020, my cabinet sent a letter to the SER informing the advisory body of my decision to restructure and correct the employer representation on the board. The term of the board came to an end on April 30th, 2020.
In April, the COCI as a business register where companies are recorded, was given the mandate to facilitate the creation of an employer organization in order to create one locally established umbrella organization from which various employer organizations will obtain membership.
The COCI has established a restructuring committee, whom are charged with the execution of the restructuring of the employer representation on the board. The COCI has informed me that the creation of the restructuring committee was done to ensure an independent and transparent process.
This restructuring of the board will allow other large employers such as the Harbor, PIJA, TELEM, GEBE, Indian Merchant Association and the Chinese Merchant Association just to name a few, the opportunity to partake in the tripartite discussions. As these organizations have never held a seat on the SER.
In this clarifying statement, clarity was provided on Governments intentions with regard to the SER, which are based on the law, mainly article 3 paragraph 1 of the National ordinance of the SER. During the absence of the board, the Secretary-General of the SER reports to the Prime Minister. The Minister of General Affairs holds the political responsibility for the SER.
The reorganization of the employer representation was delayed due to COVID-19 lockdown. As of June 15th, the country is fully open for business. Government look forward to receiving all relevant information from the restructuring committee, my cabinet will review the documentation and advise me on the way forward. The Government of St. Maarten would like to declare that the appointment of the 2020 - 2023 board of the SER will be executed in a transparent manner and in accordance with the National ordinance Social Economic Council AB 2010 GT no.19.
A pedestrian walks past an advertisement for Kakao Bank. / Yonhap
90 Day Fiance stars Andrei Castravet and Elizabeth Potthast quickly became a married couple and proud parents to baby Eleanor shortly after Andreis arrival in the U.S. from his home country of Moldova.
While Elizabeth and Andrei went through many ups and downs on their road to wedded bliss in the U.S., there was no bigger threat to their relationship than Andreis strained relationship with his wifes family. Andreis in-laws often accused him of being controlling, while Elizabeths dad didnt think his son-in-law worked hard enough to provide for his family.
On the fifth season of TLCs 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, it looks like Andrei and Elizabeth are still facing many of the same issues. In a recent episode, Andrei took it upon himself to announce their upcoming second wedding in Moldova in just a months timewithout consulting his wife beforehandand even told Elizabeth he expected her to ask her dad to pay for the event.
Andrei Castravet and Elizabeth Potthast | Elizabeth Potthast via Instagram
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Andrei pushed Elizabeth to ask her dad to pay for the second wedding
On a recent episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, Andrei told Elizabeths stunned family that they were invited to the couples second wedding in his home country, just a few weeks away. Elizabeths sisters wondered how on earth they would get childcare for their babies and take off from work in such a short time.
Meanwhile, Elizabeths father, Chuck Potthast, immediately worried that hed be expected to pay for the wedding. There were some times in the past when I felt like theyd hit me with the bill, the 90 Day Fiance star told TLC producers. So I hope they dont come to me for it.
For her part, Elizabeth admitted she was mad about Andreis unilateral decision to announce their upcoming second wedding, especially at her fathers birthday party. The 90 Day Fiance star complained about her husbands attention-seeking behavior.
Andrei has made my dads birthday completely about himself, Elizabeth lamented. And now its really making me look bad because the rest of my family thinks that Im in on this. Andrei has a really, really bad track record with my family, and now, theyre just going to be even more pissed.
She added angrily, It feels like I dont have a say in my own damn wedding.
Andrei claimed that Elizabeths dad was obligated to pay for the wedding
On their way home from Chucks birthday party, Elizabeth laid into Andrei about his decision to make such a big decision, and announcement, without asking her first. Then she asked about the elephant in the room: How are we going to pay for this wedding? Andrei and Elizabeth had struggled financially ever since they first got married, so she knew they wouldnt be able to afford such a big event.
As he drove home, Andrei told Elizabeth in no uncertain terms what he expected from her dad. The tradition says, the father of the bride needs to pay for the wedding, the 90 Day Fiance star replied.
Andreis wife asked him incredulously, My dad already cut us off, and you want my dad to pay for the wedding?!
For his part, Andrei defended his decision by saying that Elizabeths sisters had each gotten the wedding of their dreams, courtesy of their dad. Chuck didnt pay for our first wedding, the 90 Day Fiance star explained. I paid for our first wedding, because I had savings from when I was working in Ireland. And I would pay for my daughters wedding. And I think Chuck should pay for Elizabeths, too.
Elizabeth looked stricken as her husband laid out exactly what he wanted from her dad. He is obligated to us, Andrei exclaimed. He did it for your sisters, and everybody got the wedding of their dreams. You need to get the wedding of your dreams, too. Were gonna make it happen.
I didnt plan on asking my dad for money, Elizabeth retorted. Did you?
No, youre gonna ask him! Andrei replied.
My a**, Elizabeth snapped in response. But her husband insisted that he was merely following tradition by expecting her dad to foot the bill.
Some 90 Day Fiance fans thought Andreis request was presumptuous
During the episode, many 90 Day Fiance fans took to Twitter to suggest that Andreis attitude was entitled. Many criticized him for expecting his wifes dad to pay for their second wedding when he didnt have a job or any primary source of income himself.
Andrei I have lost all respect for you, one Twitter user wrote. Bullying your wife into asking her parents for money because you know they have money. I know you wouldnt pull that mess if her family was poor. You want a dream wedding go get a job! Your wife needs to kick you to the curb.
Other 90 Day Fiance viewers wondered why Andrei refused to ask for the money himself. Andrei, since youre such a man, one wrote on Twitter, why dont you ask Lizs dad for money for the second wedding?
Andrei "We gonna have a wedding in Moldova in like a month"
Also Andrei#90DayFiance#90DayFianceHappilyEverAfter pic.twitter.com/6MAz3j2bJ7 GP12 (@GeorgeP3154) June 15, 2020
Andrei telling Elizabeth that her dad is going to pay for a Moldovian wedding. #90DayFiance #90DayFianceHappilyEverAfter pic.twitter.com/kT1aeYtPxt Peter Barbounis (@PeteB973) June 15, 2020
Another critic agreed, expressing doubt that Elizabeths husband paid for the first wedding to begin with. Who paid for this wedding in Moldova when Andrei aint worked a day since he stepped on US soil? they wrote on Twitter.
Andrei plans everything on a caviar budget with a Walmart income, yet another fan joked.
Another season of Andrei not having a job but having all the damn audacity #90DayFiance pic.twitter.com/RDwA6klerb Alicia Marie (@JuiceeBrucey) June 15, 2020
Someone needs to tell Andrei he can't be both an asshole and unemployed. Pick a struggle. #90DayFiance pic.twitter.com/LCuOsGJ2pY Shay (@shaybaby105) June 15, 2020
Another critic summed up many 90 Day Fiance fans feelings about Andreis hypocrisy when it came to money, writing: Andrei: The tradition says, the father of the bride needs to pay for the wedding. Does the tradition also say the father of the bride needs to pay for ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING while the groom doesnt do sh**?
After attending the Army Commanders' Conference in New Delhi, General MM Naravane will review progress on talks with China, ground-zero developments.
Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane will visit Leh on Tuesday after the Army Commanders Conference gets over, to review the on-ground situation and the progress in talks with the Chinese military.
The Army chief had on Monday discussed the security situation with the top Army commanders in Delhi, officials said.
According to Army officials, all commanders are in the national capital for the second phase of the commanders conference.
Army Commanders Conference is being held on June 22-23 to review the operational situation on both the northern and western fronts.
Also read: Pulwama encounter: CRPF eliminates 2 terrorists, 1 jawan killed in action
Also read: India-China border dispute: Corps Commander level meeting held for 11 hours
The meeting comes at a time when India and China are holding military-level talks to defuse the border tensions after the violent face-off in Ladakhs Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives. Indian intercepts have revealed that the Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured.
Also read: India China border issue: Rajnath Singh likely to seek Su-30 fighter jets, T-90 tanks, warships urgently from Russia
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OTTAWAA political staff member at the centre of allegations that Peter MacKays Conservative leadership campaign inappropriately accessed rival Erin OTooles video-conferencing records has been fired.
Calgary-Centre MP Greg McLean, an OToole supporter, released a terse statement Tuesday that upon learning of a breach of trust involving a summer student working in his office, that person was immediately fired.
This matter is entirely regrettable, McLeans statement read.
McLean could not immediately be reached by the Star on Tuesday morning.
A source close to the OToole campaign said the staff member in question has been accused of providing the MacKay campaign with access to a database holding confidential OToole campaign video recordings.
The MacKay campaign has denied the allegations.
Two sources told the Star Monday that only about 10 people on the OToole campaign had access to a shared Zoom account, where they stored recordings of strategy sessions among senior staff, debate preparation and town-hall meetings between the candidate and party members.
It was not immediately clear why the office of McLean, a rookie MP, might have had access to the account, or how someone on his staff might have gained access to it. A spokesperson for OTooles campaign did not immediately respond to questions from the Star on Tuesday morning.
According to a complaint to police that was reviewed by the Star, the OToole campaign alleges a third party shared internal OToole campaign videos with Jamie Lall, a MacKay operative in Calgary.
All of these allegations I categorically deny, every single one of them, Lall told the Star on Monday. Lall also said he would take legal action against the OToole campaign.
According to the complaint, a total of 138 English-language and seven French-language Zoom videos were downloaded from three Internet Protocol addresses two in Calgary and one in midtown Toronto over the course of several days in early June.
The RCMP confirmed Monday that it had received the OToole campaigns complaint, and that its National Division which handles sensitive investigations is reviewing the matter.
The Conservative party did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday morning.
SPRINGFIELD The City Council approved four resolutions Monday night that call for steps to end racism and racial profiling, and improve policing.
The resolutions were promised recently by councilors in response to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis that triggered demonstrations around the nation, including Springfield and area communities, against racism and police brutality.
This is a historic night, said Councilor Orlando Ramos, chairman of the Public Safety Committee. Although these are nonbinding resolutions, lets not minimize the power of what it is that we are able to accomplish this evening.
The resolutions passed by unanimous votes, and it could not be for a more important issue, Ramos said.
The councilors voted to:
Declare that racism is a public health crisis affecting the city, and to take multiple steps including working to enhance diversity and and anti-racism principles; promote racial equity policies; and develop policies to improve health in communities of color. The lead sponsor was Councilor Adam Gomez.
Support the continued development and funding of a National Decertification Database that would share information relating to the decertification of police officers deemed unfit for law enforcement. The lead sponsor was Councilor Marcus Williams.
Support creation of a state Board of Professional Licensure of police, in which officers go through a licensing process that exists in most other states. The resolution lead sponsor was Councilor Michael Fenton.
Support a resolution sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and other House members that condemns police brutality, racial profiling and the use of excessive and militarized force, and for the Department of Justice to reinstate its role in investigating instances of police violating civil rights. Ramos was the lead sponsor.
In other action Monday, the Council balked at giving first step approval to an ordinance proposed by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno to keep the current single police commissioner in Springfield and expand the powers of a citizen advisory board to include subpoena powers for witnesses.
Councilors have long pushed for the return of a five-member citizen Police Commission to oversee police policy, hiring, firing and discipline instead of the current advisory board.
The council recently said it was considering legal action to push for the re-establishment of a Police Commission and voted to accept pro bono legal advice.
At Mondays meeting, the council voted to refer the ordinance, resubmitted by Sarno, to the councils Public Safety Committee, rather than give it first-step approval.
Most councilors said they did not want to affect their potential legal case regarding the Police Commission issue by giving the first approval in a three-step process.
Councilors argue that returning to a five-member citizen Police Commission improves accountability and transparency. The current system equates to police overseeing police conduct and public complaints, councilors said.
Sarno has said that the Community Police Hearing Board, with subpoena powers, adds to the effectiveness of the board in considering police misconduct cases.
In addition, he said the councils creation of the Police Commission would violate the strong-mayor powers under the City Charter. He also said department oversight is best in the hands of a professional in law enforcement.
The council had also rejected the single police commissioner system in 2018 and 2016.
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PHILADELPHIA - After examining the genes of more than 200,000 people all over the world who have type-2 diabetes, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center (CMCVAMC) found hundreds of genetic variants never before linked to the disease. The study also identified gene variants that vary by ethnicity, as well as variants tied to conditions related to type-2 diabetes like coronary heart disease and chronic kidney disease. This expansive genetic investigation, the largest of its kind, has the potential to dramatically impact care for millions of people worldwide who suffer from this disease. The study is published in the latest edition of the journal Nature Genetics.
Using data from the world's biggest biobank--the Million Veteran Program (MVP) in the VHA - plus the DIAGRAM Consortium, the UK Biobank, the Penn Medicine Biobank, and Biobank Japan, the researchers analyzed a study population of 1.4 million people around the world, of which almost 230,000 people had type-2 diabetes. From there, they broke down the genetic makeup of those hundreds of thousands of people and found 558 independent genetic variants that are differentially distributed between people with and without type-2 diabetes, 21 being European-ancestry-specific and seven African American-ancestry specific. Of the 588 variants found, 286 had never before been discovered. Researchers then set out to see if certain genetic variants among this group of people could be tied to specific type-2-diabetes-related diseases.
"Ultimately, three were linked to coronary heart disease, two to acute ischemic stroke, four to retinopathy, two to chronic kidney disease, and one to neuropathy," said Marijana Vujkovic, PhD, a biostatistician at both the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, VHA's CMCVAMC and a co-leader for the VHA's national MVP Cardiometabolic Working Group. "Building on this research, the scientific community can assess which of the surrounding genes nearby the identified genetic variants is likely to be the causal gene that alters the risk of type-2 diabetes, and that could lead to early interventions to limit controllable risks of developing the condition."
While so many genetic variants were found in people with type-2 diabetes, no one variant was implicated as the "worst" or "most dangerous," said co-senior author Benjamin F. Voight, PhD, an associate professor of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics at Penn, and a co-leader for the VHA's national MVP Cardiometabolic Working Group. "However, just like heart disease, schizophrenia, or obesity, it is the accumulation of a large number of these variants that can add up to a considerable increase in risk. We hope this study can not only help find that subset of patients with substantial risk, but also to motivate new, future studies for treatments based on these findings."
These Penn and VHA researchers say more knowledge about genetic variants related to type-2 diabetes may help identify potential therapeutic targets for type-2 diabetes. They also say it can help guide treatment plans for people with the condition who may also be predisposed to specific diabetes complications.
"Knowing the genetic susceptibility for diabetes complications in a patient already diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, for example through a cumulative genetic risk score, could help guide that patient's care," said co-senior-author Kyong-Mi Chang, MD, a professor of Medicine at Penn, Associate Chief of Staff for Research at VHA's CMCVAMC and the Co-PI for the VHA's MVP Merit Award that supported this work. "As clinicians, we hope that these findings can ultimately be applied to improve the health outcomes for our patients including veterans."
Following the patients from this analysis over the long term will help illuminate the risk associated with these genetic variants, the study authors say. Accordingly, they are planning to do a long-term examination of how genetics influence disease progression among patients with type-2 diabetes and associated metabolic disorders. The summary statistics from this work also have been released via dbGaP repository for public use to facilitate further discoveries. In addition, the researchers are currently using the list of newly-discovered genes to investigate medication interactions.
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This study was performed in collaboration with researchers from the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University and the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System and Vanderbilt University among others. Additional Penn and VHA authors include Scott M. Damrauer, Daniel J Rader, Renae L. Judy, Xing Sheng, Long Gao, Klaus H. Kaestner, and Katalin Susztak.
This study was supported by funding from the Veterans Health Administration Office of R&D (I01-BX003362, I01-CX001025, I01CX001737, MVP000, IK2-CX001780, the VA Cooperative Studies Program), the NIH (DK101478, HG010067, T32 HL007734, R21DK099716, U01 DK098246, P30DK111024, R03AI133172), a Linda Pechenik Montague Investigator award, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (PHILLI12A0).
Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $8.6 billion enterprise.
The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $494 million awarded in the 2019 fiscal year.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center--which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report--Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; and Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Penn Medicine at Home, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others.
Penn Medicine is powered by a talented and dedicated workforce of more than 43,900 people. The organization also has alliances with top community health systems across both Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, creating more options for patients no matter where they live.
Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2019, Penn Medicine provided more than $583 million to benefit our community.
Even as the Chinese foreign ministry announced Tuesday that People's Liberation Army and the Indian Army have agreed to take necessary measures to 'cool down' the situation at their borders, recent coverage of Beijing's mouthpiece Global Times is a patchwork of anti-India tirade and systematic attacks on India's economic credentials
Even as the Chinese foreign ministry announced Tuesday that the People's Liberation Army and the Indian Army have agreed to take necessary measures to "cool down" the situation along the Line of Actual Control, recent coverage of the situation by Beijing's mouthpiece Global Times is a patchwork of anti-India tirades and attacks on India's economic credentials.
The op-eds in the state-run newspaper made a mockery of the seething anti-Beijing sentiments among Indians, while asking India to not "provoke" China.
Until a week ago, the focus was on deprecating India's military prowess and taunting it with the might of China's PLA even as the generals of both armies sat across each other to negotiate de-escalation.
"India will be more humiliated than after the 1962 border conflict with China if it cannot control anti-China sentiment at home and has a new military conflict with its biggest neighbour," Global Times declared in an op-ed published Sunday.
It went on to praise China's restraint, while advising India to not 'provoke' Beijing.
"China is being very restrained in its efforts to avoid conflict, but this does not mean China is afraid of provocation or aggression from any country, especially India. Chinese military observers said that an escalated, large-scale military conflict involving main Chinese troops, if that were to happen, would mean a rout just like the war in 1962, with very disproportionate casualty figures unfavorable to India. Because the Chinese military has an informationized combat system that integrates all troops, weapons and equipment together, while also having very disciplined troops and officers with advanced tactical awareness, they noted," the article said.
In another article, it picked up on news reports that the Modi government has given a 'free hand' to forces in exceptional circumstances after 20 soldiers were killed.
"Although 'complete freedom of action' is the Modi administration's appeasement to the Indian army and public opinion, it is extremely irresponsible. It shows that India may be tearing up the two countries' most important agreements, and this will seriously increase the two troops' mutual distrust and add to the possibility of unwanted military conflicts. It is also against the consensus reached by the two sides' foreign ministers to cool down the situation in the Galwan Valley," a Global Times article said.
It also warned India of a humiliating defeat in a full fledged war, projecting the Indian military as being undisciplined.
"We would like to warn India's feverish nationalists not to lead New Delhi down the wrong path, and not allow India to repeat past mistakes," the state-run daily said.
"Indian troops use weapons made from all over the world, which means a high logistical support cost and incompatibility between systems. India will find the maintenance and repairing of these weapons difficult in the battlefield, and the incompatibility means that many of these weapons cannot be used together or share information, and they would have to fight only loosely together in which friendly fire can become possible. The Chinese troops mainly use domestically developed weapons and equipment, and they are trained for maximum efficiency in an integrated system of information sharing, which is a huge advantage in modern warfare," Global Times reported quoting unnamed Chinese experts.
Now the focus seems to have shifted to India's economic strength as campaigns to boycott Chinese-made goods echo louder on Indian social media.
In an article, that seeks to 'debunk' reports that 'boycott China' merchandise were being manufactured in China, Global Times quoted Quora responses and online images to claim such reports were afloat in India, then quoted 'sources' to claim they were false.
"Neglecting the fact that these items were not made in China, a conspiracy theory has appeared on social media that attacked Chinese exporters for intentionally irritating Indian customers to boost their own sales," Global Times said adding a quote from social media platform Quora.
Another op-ed published on Monday said that such calls to derail trade pacts were 'suicidal'.
"India has recently intensified tensions with China following a fatal border clash. There is a campaign to boycott Chinese products and Indian authorities are reportedly mulling higher trade barriers. These are undoubtedly suicide paths for India's economic development," the article said.
It also claimed that the Indian economy will not be able to find alternatives to Chinese products it seeks to boycott.
"Restricting imports or investment from China under globalised value chains is not simple for India as East Asian countries have developed highly integrated industrial chains. The restrictions will inevitably hinder its cooperation with other countries and worsen India's business environment in the long run," Global Times said, while claiming that the rising border tensions were India's attempts to " relieve some pressure from virus prevention efforts".
In another editorial, the newspaper sought to underplay the impact of vast Indian markets on global trade. It said that India was an easily replaceable market if the Indian government did not offer protection to Chinese businesses against anti-China sentiments.
"If the boiling nationalist sentiment continues unchecked in India, it may lead to serious consequences in extreme cases, which would only weaken that market's appeal to the outside world, making it easier to be replaced with other Southeast Asian markets," the report said.
Another article claimed that since China's trade with India only accounts for about 2 percent of its total exports, whereas China has been a top trading partner of India for years, indicating that the former could inflict more damage on India.
"It is irrational for India to heat tensions or reduce economic ties with China as the two countries are not in the same heavyweight class. China has been a top trading partner of India for years, while China's exports to India have accounted for about 2 percent of its total exports," the article said.
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He has fretted about it for weeks, and recent behaviour by Niagara residents taking advantage of warm weather and the economic reopening has done little to ease the fears of Dr. Mustafa Hirji.
Over the weekend, as the temperature rose above 30 C and businesses everywhere reopened, people who have been in pandemic lockdown for months gathered on patios and beaches.
But photos of some of those places, including some Niagara beaches, bespoke a lack of concern for infection control. Physical distancing and masks appear to be the exception rather than the rule in some locations. And given how COVID-19 has spread easily among big gatherings in the United States, Hirji worries about the increased spread of the novel coronavirus in Niagara.
I worry about this a lot, said Hirji. It does seem that some people are taking the reopening as a sign that this is over, and they can, you know, return to their previous behaviours. But that is not the case. The pandemic is not over.
Hirji said Stage 2 of the reopening is not written in stone. If cases spike, the region can be forced back into lockdown. And even if the reopening doesnt collapse, Niagara is a long way from a pre-pandemic normal.
It is a slow, phased-in approach. We have to get through Phase 2 without having to reimpose those measures and then go onto Phase 3, he said. Beyond that is going to be the new normal that will have to persist until we have a vaccine.
That said, Hirji said Niagara is not Florida, where beachgoers helped fuel viral spread, and the risk here is lower than it is in the Sunshine State. Where Florida never got control of the virus spread before reopening Niagara sees a low daily case count.
On Thursday, for instance, Niagara had three new confirmed COVID-19 cases. Two were connected to a previous case and the other is an essential worker who is employed on the American side of the border.
In Florida, the daily case count is presently in the thousands.
Despite his concerns, however, Hirji remains disinclined to follow the actions of his Guelph counterpart or his colleagues in Alberta in calling for mandatory masking in public.
In Guelph, the medical officer of health issued an order making masks mandatory in businesses for customers and staff. And in Alberta, every medical officer of health in the province has urged the provincial government to make masks mandatory in public after a rise in cases in some jurisdictions.
Hirji said nothing in the past week has changed his previous view that it is not the place of the public health department to issue such a sweeping order that should come from elected officials.
Moreover, he said while masks are useful, they are not the fool-proof anti-virus shield some people appear to believe they are.
Masks are your second line of defence, Hirji said. Why would you make your second line of defence mandatory but not your first and best line of defence, which is physical distancing?
He said people have become enamoured with masks, but points out their recommended use is as an extra layer of protection when physical distancing is not possible. They are not meant to take the place of physical distancing.
Hirji said as the reopening of the economy heads into its first full week, the health department has been receiving calls about businesses or other locations where infection control measures including distancing and masking are not being followed.
If you see that happening, our recommendation is that first, you raise it with the business owner or manager and if you want to take a step further, you should bring it to the attention of your municipalitys bylaw office and they will handle it, Hirji said.
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The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has recommended restitution for victims of human rights abuses during the 22-year long rule of former Gambia president, Yahya Jammeh.
In a report titled Documenting Dictatorship: Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation in the Gambia, the centre said reparation is a critical area in Gambias Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) process.
Yahya Jammeh took control of The Gambia in a military coup in July 1994, aged 29.
He sought popular validation for his rule by holding, and winning, elections in 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011, each time securing more than 50 per cent of the votes in polls that were described as tainted and lacking legitimacy by election observers.
But in December 2016, seeking a fifth popular mandate, Mr Jammeh could only muster 39.6 per cent of the votes and was defeated by the candidate of a coalition of opposition parties, Adama Barrow.
Having initially appeared to be willing to accept the results, Mr Jammeh then changed his mind, citing abnormalities and called for the results to be cancelled and fresh elections held.
But after over a month of protracted negotiations with leaders from the Economic Community of West African States, and with the threat of regional military action looming, Mr Jammeh left The Gambia for exile in Equatorial Guinea on January 21, 2017.
During Mr Jammehs 22-year rule, human rights violation ranging from forced disappearances, unlawful arrests and killings, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and persecution of real or perceived political opponents, characterised The Gambia.
A 2015 Human Rights Watch investigative report detailed how security services and guerrilla groups routinely used intimidation, violence, arson, and forced disappearances against three people who spoke out against those in power.
New report
In the report released on Monday, the CDD said once reparation regulations are finalised, the details should also be simplified and communicated across media print, radio, TV, social media in local languages.
According to the CDD, dissemination of the report of the commission is to give Gambians detailed insight into the process of its application and timelines for the reparation process.
The report also said this can be done in partnership with media houses and organisations like the Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations.
It said there should be an approved process of building on the work that has been done by the TRRC in bringing the issue of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) into the public arena.
It also called on the Gambian human rights commission to make SGBV a key focus of its work in its first annual or strategic plan while community level reconciliation efforts should continue to be a key focus of the TRRCs work in its final few months.
Champions
The centre called for the identification of community reconciliation champions who can support the commissions work in other regions of the country, which will further improve Gambians sense of ownership of the process.
Another option recommended includes the consideration of community reparations especially for regions that were deprived of essential social services due to their resistance to the former regime.
The TRRC must continue to ensure there is trauma counselling, healthcare and psycho-social support for victims. Create a Victims Support Fund tracker that will allow citizens to see how funds are being dispersed in a transparent and accountable way, but that still ensures individuals privacy is retained.
Privately, the TRRC and development partners should apply pressure on the MoJ to release more funds to support the payment of reparations.
In addition to using funds raised from the sale of Jammehs assets, other individuals and businesses that benefited from Jammehs rule should also pay for reparations, especially if they are explicitly mentioned by the TRRC.
The TRRC should establish and communicate clear guidance on how the reparations fund will operate. If that timeframe extends beyond the life of the Commission, this should include clear direction on who will be responsible for managing the distribution of funds, it said.
Victoria recorded 17 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, marking a full week of double-digit growth in case numbers.
From Wednesday an "army" of hundreds of public health workers will hit the streets of the six local government areas identified as coronavirus hotspots, liaising with families and reminding them that they must get tested and stay home if they are unwell.
Premier Daniel Andrews again asked Victorians to take social distancing rules seriously. Credit:AAP
The 17 fresh cases included one from hotel quarantine, three picked up via routine testing and 11 that are under investigation, with more information expected later on Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday morning.
Two cases are linked with the Keilor Downs family cluster that has reached 13 cases across eight homes. Five members of one family household in the City of Maribyrnong have also tested positive, with the source of the infection still under investigation.
[June 23, 2020] Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company Announces Extension of Maturity for Maxim Series A-2 Convertible Note
Boca Raton, Florida, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company ( OTCQB:WINR ) (Simplicity Esports), announced today that it has agreed with Maxim Group to extend the maturity date of the Series A-2 convertible note until December 31, 2020. The note is the result of legacy investment banking fees from SPAC-related transactions in 2017 and 2018 under previous management.
Roman Franklin, President of Simplicity Esports, stated, We appreciate Maxims confidence in Simplicity and its willingness to extend the maturity of the convertible note. We believe the extension of the maturity date, the addition of a leak-out provision, and the 12-month note with an accredited investor that was announced yesterday, solidifies our capitalization table, and allows us to continue focusing on the execution of our organic and inorganic plans to increase shareholder value, and to move closer to achieving our goal of uplisting o a national stock exchange this year.
About Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company: Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company (WINR) is an established brand within the esports industry, competing and streaming in popular games across different genres, including Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, and various EA Sports titles. Simplicity Esports also operates as a franchisor of Esports Gaming Centers that provide the public an opportunity to experience and enjoy gaming and esports in a social setting, regardless of skill or experience. Additionally, Simplicity Esports is an organizer and host of paid entry, online, play from home tournaments.
Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, Fortnite and EA Sports are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond Simplicity Esports control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Simplicity Esports Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on August 29, 2019 and our subsequent SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of Simplicity Esports filings with the SEC are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Simplicity Esports undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Simplicity Esports Contact:
Roman Franklin
President
[email protected]
561-819-8586
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MEXICO CITY - A powerful earthquake centred near the southern Mexico resort of Huatulco on Tuesday killed at least five people, swayed buildings in Mexico City and sent thousands fleeing into the streets.
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This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
MEXICO CITY - A powerful earthquake centred near the southern Mexico resort of Huatulco on Tuesday killed at least five people, swayed buildings in Mexico City and sent thousands fleeing into the streets.
Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said one person was killed in a building collapse in Huatulco, Oaxaca. Otherwise he said reports were of minor damage from the magnitude 7.4 quake, including broken windows and collapsed walls. Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat said a second person was killed in an apparent house collapse in the mountain village of San Juan Ozolotepec and a third died in circumstances he did not explain.
Federal civil defence authorities reported two more deaths: a worker at the state-run oil company, Pemex, fell to his death from a refinery structure, and a man died in the Oaxaca village of San Agustin Amatengo when a wall fell on him.
Pemex also said the quake caused a fire at its refinery in the Pacific coast city of Salina Cruz, relatively near the epicenter. It said one worker was injured and the flames were quickly extinguished. Churches, bridges and highways also suffered damage during the quake.
Lopez Obrador said there had been more than 140 aftershocks, most of them small.
Seismic alarms sounded midmorning with enough warning for residents to exit buildings. Power was knocked out to some areas.
Helicopters flew over downtown Mexico City and police patrols sounded their sirens.
Groups of people still milled around in close proximity on streets and sidewalks in some neighbourhoods of the capital about an hour after the quake. Many were not wearing masks despite past appeals from municipal officials for them to do so as a way to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
Juarez public hospital health workers wait on a street after a 7.5 earthquake sent them out from their work areas, in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The earthquake centered near the resort of Huatulco in southern Mexico swayed buildings Tuesday in Mexico City and sent thousands into the streets. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Inside a Mexico City military barracks converted to COVID-19 hospital, medical staff suited in protective equipment tried to calm anxious patients. Unable to evacuate isolation areas, patients huddled under a large beam in the women's ward while a nurse tried to calm one having a panic attack.
Teresa Juarez could only wish for it to pass quickly from her hospital bed where she lay connected to oxygen. Diabetic and with high blood pressure, Juarez said she thought about her five children. It's horrible, you're here and you don't know what to do, she said.
The U.S. Geologic Survey said the quake hit at 10:29 a.m. (11:29 a.m. Eastern) along Mexico's southern Pacific coast at a depth of 16 miles (26 km). The epicenter was 7 miles (12 km) south-southwest of Santa Maria Zapotitlan in Oaxaca state
Juarez public hospital health workers wait on a street after a 7.5 earthquake sent them out from their work areas, in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The earthquake centered near the resort of Huatulco in southern Mexico swayed buildings Tuesday in Mexico City and sent thousands into the streets. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
It was felt in Guatemala and throughout south and central Mexico.
In Huatulco, a laid-back beach destination known for surfing and small protected coves, the earthquake knocked goods off shelves and some rubble from buildings.
Mari Gonzalez of the Princess Mayev hotel in Huatulco said staff and guests were able to evacuate the building before the quake, but that 45 minutes after the initial quake they were still outside as strong aftershocks continued.
People evacuate a building during a 7.5 earthquake, in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The earthquake centered near the resort of Huatulco in southern Mexico swayed buildings Tuesday in Mexico City and sent thousands into the streets. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
It was strong, very strong, she said.
Gonzalez said there was some visible broken glass and mirrors, but no major damage. The staff was waiting for the aftershocks to dissipate before fully evaluating the property.
Local news media reported damage to some buildings in the state capital, Oaxaca city. State officials said they were looking for damage.
A man removes rubble from a building damaged by an earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico, Tuesday, June 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Luis Alberto Cruz Hernandez)
The USGS estimated that some 2 million people felt strong or moderate shaking and another 49 million felt weak or light shaking.
The earthquake hit a quake-prone region where four underground tectonic plates come together. In the past 35 years, there have been at least seven magnitude 7 or greater earthquakes, killing around 10,000 people most of them in a 1985 8.0 quake.
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This has the potential to be a deadly earthquake and cause significant damage, U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Paul Earle said. This area is capable of and has had larger earthquakes in the past.
A woman sits with her son outside home as they wait until it is called safe to return to their apartment, after an earthquake in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The earthquake struck near the Huatulco resort in southern Mexico on Tuesday morning, swayed buildings in Mexico City and sent thousands fleeing into the streets. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
There will be aftershocks, Earle said. It is not unexpected to see a magnitude 6 at this point and a number of smaller ones.
This quake happened when the Cocos plate, which is to the southwest of the area, slipped under the North American plate, Earle said.
Youve got all sorts of plates and theyre moving quickly, Earle said. The important thing is how fast the plates are moving relative to each other.
__
Associated Press writers Chris Torchia in Mexico City and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.
The logo of social media application TikTok is displayed on the screen of an iPhone in Arlington, Va., on April 13, 2020. (OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
NY State Senator Introduces Bill Banning State Employees From Using TikTok
New York state Sen. Chris Jacobs has introduced a new bill proposing to ban state employees from downloading and using the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok on their government-issued phones.
On the surface TikTok appears to be a harmless tool for creating short videos with music when in reality it is a data mining instrument that violates our privacy and could threaten our security, Jacobs said in a June 22 press release from his office.
It is just too easy for the information it collects to be accessed by the oppressive Chinese government waging a fierce economic war against our state and our country.
The bill, named No TikTok on Government Devices Act (S8600), was introduced by Jacobs on June 18.
It would add new language to section 103 of the New York states technology law, banning employees and public officers of the state from using TikTok or any successor application developed by its parent company ByteDance or any entities owned by ByteDance.
TikTok, known as Douyin in China, was launched by ByteDance in 2016. It is extremely popular inside and outside of China, with an estimated 800 million active users worldwide.
State employees would be exempt from the ban if they need to use the app for investigations, cybersecurity research activity, law enforcement action, and intelligence gathering.
Jacobs pointed to TikToks history of untrustworthiness, including its practice of censoring in the United States, refusal to testify in congressional hearings, and several of its corporate board members also being members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Recently, TikTok refused to testify at two congressional hearings, one in November 2019, and the other in March.
Following TikToks refusal to testify in March, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who presided over the hearing, issued a statement noting that if TikTok had nothing to hide, it would need to quit stalling and testify before Congress.
News website The Intercept reported in March that TikTok moderators were told to suppress video uploads from users with certain qualities, such as ugly facial looks, obvious beer belly, and too many wrinkles, based on leaked documents.
In September 2019, The Guardian reported that TikTok instructed its moderators to censor certain videos that mention topics considered taboo by the Chinese regime, such as the Tiananmen Square Massacre and Falun Gong, a spiritual practice that has been severely persecuted in China since 1999. The report was based on leaked documents detailing the apps moderation guidelines. TikTok said in a statement that such policies were replaced in May 2019 and are no longer in use.
Jacobs noted that user information collected by TikTokwhich, according to its privacy policy, includes the users IP address, location, and browsing and search historycould fall into Beijings hands, since companies are obligated to work with Chinese authorities in intelligence collection efforts.
Chinas national intelligence law, which went into effect in 2017, allows Beijing access to all data stored within its national borders.
This legislation is a very reasonable response to the unnecessary collection of so much data and the history of distrust that has been created by this company and its ties to the Chinese Communist Party, Jacobs said in the press release.
Jacobss bill mirrors two federal bills of the same name. In March, Hawley and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced Senate bill S.3455, banning the app on government-issued phones. Two months later, Reps. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) and Lou Correa (D-Calif.) introduced a companion bill (H.R.6896) in the House.
Jacobs is a Republican representing western New York in the 60th Senate District, which includes parts of the city of Buffalo, the city of Tonawanda, and the towns of Brant, Evans, Grand Island, Hamburg, and Orchard Park.
The trade deal inked by Washington and Beijing is likely to hold for now, according to former top White House trade negotiator Clete Willems. "I think the reason the deal is gonna hold for the time being is that China's actually doing a good job at implementation," Willems, a former deputy director at the National Economic Council, told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Tuesday. The two economic powerhouses signed a phase one trade deal in January following a protracted period of tensions that saw both parties slapping punitive tariffs on each other's goods. "From an election standpoint, this deal remains a winner for the (U.S. President Donald Trump) because he was able to get China to make certain commitments that others have failed to do and the U.S. really didn't give up much in exchange," Willems said, in reference to the U.S. presidential election in November. "They kept almost all of the tariffs in place. So, it still allows the president to say he's tough and he got a deal."
President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands at a press conference following their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Artyom Ivanov | TASS | Getty Images
Willems' comments came White House advisor Peter Navarro stoked confusion about the status of the U.S.-China trade deal, which briefly sent investors reeling. Navarro later clarified that the trade deal is not over, claiming his remarks during a Monday night interview with Fox News were taken out of context. Earlier, Fox reported that Navarro widely known as a China hawk had blamed the breakdown of the trade deal on China not warning about the coronavirus outbreak earlier.
'Two lessons' for investors
Stephen King was running an insulation company in Perth 18 months ago when he got the call that would make him a poorer yet happier man.
The call was from single mother Jessica who, with her two boys, had just moved into their first social housing property.
Stephen King and his offsider, volunteer Ramandeep Singh Virdi, who is studying a Masters in Community Development at Murdoch University.
Struggling through summer in the uninsulated 72-square-metre house, she rang Mr King for a quote.
She had a fan to keep cool that wasnt even working, he said.
Sundar Pichai started out on H-1B and went on to head Google, the giant of most things internet.
Satya Nadella used the visa programme also, but for an entirely different reason. Not to further his career, but his personal life. He gave up his Green Card yes, he did and went on to a H-1B so that his wife could join in in the United States. Immigration rules then, as now, made it very difficult for foreigners to join Green Card spouses, without going through a long and uncertain process.
So Nadella gave up his permanent residency and switched to H-1B in 1994, a year after he got married and four years after the new visa programme was introduced for skilled workers in 1990.
What I didnt expect was the instant notoriety around campus, Nadella wrote in his 2017 memoir Hit Refresh, Hey, there goes the guy who gave up his Green card.
H-1B can do that too, help married couples unite.
But for most people like Pichai and Nooyi, H-1Bs have been a gateway to work, live and prosper in the United States.
Pichai came to the US on a student visa -- from IIT Kharagpur to Stanford University, California. He went on a H-1B visa when he started at McKinsey, and then went on to Google, which he has headed since 2015.
Former PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi, who was raised in Chennai and went to the Madras Christian College, went on H-1B visa when she joined the Boston Consulting Group in 1980, according to Business Insider. It was not immediately clear if she was on H-1 at the time, instead. H-1B would be born 10 years later by the Immigration Act of 1990 by splitting H-1 into two H-1A for nurses and H-1B for speciality occupation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Leman Zeynalova Trend:
Poland supports the idea of developing the multimodal transport corridors connecting Europe and Asia, including those passing through South Caucasus, Press Office Director at Polands Foreign Ministry Andrzej Fafara told Trend.
"This route can be an important element of the EU's connectivity policy as well. It should strengthen of multidimensional cooperation between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, including Azerbaijan," he said.
Fafara said no doubt COVID-19 has brought the new reality also to global logistics and transportation.
"Though passenger flights were and in large extent still are temporarily suspended, the demand for medical cargo air transportation services has grown significantly and entities from our two countries were recently cooperating in this field," he noted.
Fafara went on to add that Polish Azerbaijani political and economic relations are close.
"Poland considers Azerbaijan as its very important economic partner in the region of South Caucasus. According to the Polish data, value of goods exported from Poland to Azerbaijan in 2019 reached $83 million and Azerbaijani exports to Poland was around $5 million. Poland is the sixth supplier of goods to Azerbaijan among EU countries. Those figures are satisfactory neither to Poland, nor to Azerbaijan. Its too early to give exact numbers for this year as we dont have trade statistics for the first half of 2020 yet. What we can say is that the first months of 2020 has shown positive dynamics in our bilateral trade but the COVID19 pandemic will have for sure its negative impact on economic cooperation between the two countries," he said.
Fafara expressed confidence that the trade office of the Polish Agency for Trade and Investment opened two years ago in Landmark complex in Baku and Azerbaijani Trade Representation in Warsaw are effectively working to provide companies from the two countries with needed information and useful contacts to develop further our bilateral business cooperation.
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Egypt will reopen restaurants, sporting clubs and places of worship and will abolish a nighttime curfew imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus starting Saturday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and a cabinet spokesman said on Tuesday.
In a televised briefing, Madbouly announced the easing of precautionary measures in place since March, allowing restaurants, cafes and sporting clubs to reopen at a reduced capacity of 25 percent in the first phase.
Cafes and restaurants will now be allowed to open until 10pm, while shops will be required to close at 9pm instead of the current 6pm. A shisha ban will remain in place, Madbouly said, to eliminate the risk of virus transmission.
The reopening decision came after thousands of complaints the government has received about the months-long closure of service businesses, where around 3.5 million Egyptians work, the prime minister said.
Mosques and churches will also be allowed to reopen for daily prayers and mass services as of Saturday, but will remain closed for the Muslim weekly Friday prayers and for Sunday mass, he added. Community centres as well as condolence and wedding halls attached to places of worship will remain shut nationwide.
A nighttime curfew which now runs from 8pm until 4am will be lifted starting Saturday, cabinet media adviser Hany Younes said separately.
Cinemas and theatres will also be allowed to reopen starting next week, also at a reduced capacity of 25 percent and pursuant to preventive measures, while public parks and beaches will remain shut due to fears of overcrowding, the prime minister said.
Authorities will review the measures periodically before they decide to gradually relax them further, Madbouly said, warning that "strict measures" would be imposed if citizens failed to adhere to the rules.
Egypt has so far registered 56,809 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 2,278 deaths.
Madbouly said Egypt has achieved "reasonable" success in dealing with the pandemic, in comparison with other countries which saw a surge in cases despite their strong healthcare systems.
"Keeping things under control has been our main concern given our [limited] capabilities," he said, adding that the government has so far designated over 360 hospitals, as well as tens of university hospitals and field hospitals, to handle coronavirus patients.
He stressed that the country is still capable of handling new infections, highlighting the availability of hospitals belonging to the armed forces and the police which have not been used in the countrys fight against the pandemic.
He said there had been a "very difficult phase" in the coronavirus crisis around the time of the Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Fitr in May, which saw a surge in cases.
"We were aware there would be a phase when infections rise and numbers significantly increase, he said, stressing that the main goal has been to slow the spread of the virus so the country's healthcare system could handle the cases.
Madbouly said that the main challenge has been to rein in the pandemic in the governorates of Cairo, Giza and Qalioubiya, areas he said have seen the highest numbers of cases.
He said over 50 percent of total infections and more than 60 percent of total deaths have been reported in Greater Cairo, which is spread across the three governorates and has a swelling population of more than 20 million people.
Madbouly said authorities will take all necessary legal measures against negligent medical staff in certain governorates, who he blamed for contributing to an increase in infections, without specifying which governorates.
On the shortage of medicines, Madbouly described it as "normal", blaming the problem on stockpiling of drugs by citizens, similar to the hoarding of commodities seen in the beginning of the outbreak in the country.
He said quantities that are normally sufficient for three or four months now cover a week.
By next week, everything will be available, Madbouly said, urging citizens to stop hoarding medicines amid the crisis.
The curfew was first introduced in March as part of a series of measures to curtail the spread of the virus and has been revised several times since. Other measures include suspending air traffic, shuttering schools and universities and banning public gatherings.
However, since June, Egypt has moved towards a gradual reopening of its economy, part of a plan to coexist with the virus.
Last week, Egypt announced it would gradually resume regular international flights, halted since March, at all its airports starting from July 1, but foreign tourists will only be allowed into three coastal governorates.
The areas that will open for foreign tourists in the first stage are South Sinai, where the popular seaside resort of Sharm El-Sheikh is located, the Red Sea governorate, home to the city of Hurghada, and Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean.
Flights will be resumed with countries that have reopened their airports, according to aviation minister Mohamed Manar.
The government has so far allowed over 250 hotels that have met safety protocols to reopen at a reduced occupancy rate of 50 percent in a bid to revive the country's key tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the virus restrictions.
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MANILA, Philippines, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- An Asia-Pacific coalition of tobacco harm reduction advocates has protested the ban imposed by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on the importation of nicotine liquids, saying this will deprive millions of Australian vapers and existing smokers of their rights to access better alternatives to combustible cigarettes.
CAPHRA says the ban will only exacerbate the smoking problem which kills 21,000 Australians a year.
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) said the ban on importation of vaping products for personal use into Australia effective 1 July means that cigarette smokers looking for safer alternatives will no longer be able to import these products for their own personal use.
The ban will cover e-cigarettes containing vaporizer nicotine (nicotine liquids and salts) and nicotine-containing refills. Only doctors or medical suppliers will be allowed to import these products as long as they have a permit from the Health Department.
According to the new regulatory framework, vapers will have to visit a general practitioner, get a prescription, and then obtain their vaping liquids from an approved medical dispensary.
"Smokers in Australia have been denied access to a proven harm reduction tool and vapers in Australia have yet again been dealt a potentially fatal blow which will see many of the 300,000 strong vaping community go back to smoking cigarettes," CAPHRA Executive Director Nancy Loucas said in a statement.
CAPHRA said the use of e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco products and other electronic nicotine delivery systems are considered a part of tobacco harm reductiona public health strategy that aims to provide alternatives to reduce risks caused by smoking cigarettes.
Loucas said the ban will only exacerbate the smoking problem which kills 21,000 Australians a year as this will discourage them from switching to better alternatives.
Scientific studies have shown that e-cigarettes are 95-percent less harmful than combustible tobacco because they do not involve combustion. It has been known for decades that tar, and carcinogens found in tobacco smoke, cause the death and disease associated with smoking, and not nicotine. Unlike combustible cigarettes, THR products do not produce smoke as they deliver nicotine by heating, and not burning tobacco.
Loucas said the decision by TGA led by Health Minister Greg Hunt is a direct assault on the rights of vapers and smokers who are now being forced to keep smoking in the absence of better alternatives.
"How much more can the people take when their human right to choose health is up for sale by those who only see the need to keep collecting the tobacco excise to bolster their coffers? Moreover, how could anyone in a public health role find this type of announcement and activity to be in the best interests of public health defies logic?" she said.
The ban also drew protests from the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ATHRA), the Progressive Public Health Alliance (PPHA), Aotearoa Vape Community Advocacy (AVCA) and Legalise Vaping Australia (LVA).
"CAPHRA stands in support of ATHRA, PPHA, AVA and LVA in denouncing the announcement by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of a crackdown on those importing vaping products for personal use into the country, with or without a prescription. From July 1, Border force will be stepping up enforcement activities and targeting vapers," said Loucas.
Loucas said she agrees with Brian Marlow of LVA who said that the new policy "will drive up the medicare costs and screw over regional and rural smokers and vapers who aren't able to see a doctor as easily as these inner-city policymakers can. Smoking rates in rural and regional areas are already through the roof, this will only make matters worse."
"Given the weight of overwhelming evidence in relation to the less harmful nature of vaping products, the only logical thing to do is appropriately legislate these products as a consumer good with all of the relevant protections that come with that. The current regulations to take effect in July are absolutely abysmal," Marlow said.
Loucas said the crackdown will also affect vapers who enter Australia for work or holiday, as it will be presumed that any vape liquid will contain nicotine and therefore is a medicine that requires a prescription. "In effect, this is a total ban on e-liquid vaping in the entire country of Australia," she said.
She said the Australian ban, in general, will have implications in neighbouring New Zealand which prepares to legalize vaping or the use of electronic cigarettes.
"It is astonishing that Health Minister Greg Hunt, et.al, would go on a witch-hunt of this magnitude knowing fully well that across the Tasman, New Zealand is gearing up to legalize vaping and provide risk proportionate regulatory frameworks and guidelines for consumer access and availability to assist the thousands of smokers in Aotearoa/New Zealand," said Loucas, who is also one of the co-founders and co-directors of AVCA, the vaping consumer advocacy organization in New Zealand.
CAPHRA has encouraged other organizations and affiliated consumer tobacco harm reduction advocates and experts to support consumer groups in Australia in their quest to push for tobacco harm reduction, instead of a ban, as the more reasonable government policy to address the problem of smoking.
About CAPHRA
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is an alliance of consumer organizations from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand that aims to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.
Contact:
Jena F. Fetalino
+639178150324
[email protected]
SOURCE CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates)
From bomb-scares to memorable teachers and ancient methods of dealing with mental health, Stradreagh Hospital at Gransha is remembered with a considerable mix of emotions.
Some are favourable but there are eerie stories too that I would go far as to brand disturbing - mysteries that leave one searching for answers.
Certainly, this old hospital is surrounded by fascinating history and intriguing tales.
A couple of weeks ago, I put an appeal online searching for information regarding Stradreagh Hospital, which in its day was used for treating patients with mental health disorders.
Back then it was known as a 'mental asylum' but in modern times such use of language is deemed offensive and demeaning to patients and their families.
After the hospitals closure some years back, it temporarily housed a secondary school Oakgrove Integrated College.
Recently, I was amazed by the response from hundreds of local people who gave an incredible insight into the building and contributed images and shared old school and work stories.
Members of the public expressed how thankful they were that society has become more accepting of mental illness over the past few years.
A former caretaker who worked in the building gave me a glimpse of some of the mysterious tales.
He said: "At night, doors would be firmly closed but would open and slam closed by themselves right in front of me.
Stradreagh Hospital began as Londonderry District Lunatic Asylum, or as it was known locally the Asylum.
It was opened in the year 1829 on Strand Road in the city and was the fourth of eleven built in Ireland during the 19th century.
The eight acres of land, the building and the furnishings cost the government 25,678.
This was repaid by the counties of Londonderry, Donegal and Tyrone, in installments.
Then, due to overcrowding, a new site was chosen at Gransha in 1895.
This opened in 1903 and in the mid-1900s became known as Stradreagh Hospital.
Eventually, it was phased out in the 1980s.
In 1992, the hospital site was taken over by Oakgrove College until a new school building was completed in 2004.
Students from Oakgrove College that I have spoken to recall how there were 'rooms that were never open to students' and explained how the rooms 'looked like cells some also seemed to be used as medical stores'.
A former cleaner of the hospital told me that: "Beds were bolted to the floors, with padding on the walls of some rooms. I used to dread cleaning the wards at times. You never knew what you were going to see.
Whilst doing research on the old hospital, I realised how different the approach to mental health was in the past and the methods of treatment compared to how it is handled in our modern world.
One highly controversial method commonly used was Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
This has been described as a 'last resort'.
A worrying report found that patients who believed the treatment helped them had a high frequency of relapse.
It became evident that the treatment could cause severe cognitive impairment and memory loss with some not being able to recall significant events in their lives nor even remember family members.
ECT was physically dangerous in the beginning but in modern times with the use of muscle relaxants, it tends to avoid physical injury.
Nevertheless, I was shocked to find that this old-school method of therapy, often described as being 'barbaric', is still being used in a few places, some patients even receiving treatment without consent under the Mental Health Act.
The thing that I found most alarming was that this treatment may have been used in the 1950s as a method of controlling patients who were deemed 'difficult'.
Reports also document that ECT was used for 'curing' homosexuality, which back then was deemed an abnormality.
According to The Lancet Psychiatry Journal, homosexual people were deemed mentally ill and at the time they faced a prison sentence or aversion therapy or both. Such practices were eventually abandoned in1973 though it is still possible to find opinions that support them.
Of course, one has to say that great and loving care was also a feature of the old Stradreagh Hospital.
Nonetheless, I always had an eerie feeling about tales surrounding the hospital and I have to admit even wandering around the outside of the boarded up old building these days gives me a sense of dread.
I wonder is there something residual in the air, a leftover from those times when treatments, often with short-lived improvement, were the order of the day?
Its good to know that all of this has changed with modern approaches and state-of- the -art drugs.
Mental illness is no longer seen as a stigma and this is so important in a world where mental health is such a concern especially for todays young people.
After months of waiting, the Xiaomi Redmi 7 is finally receiving the stable Android 10 update. The update is rolling out in China and bears the version number "MIUI 11.0.1.0.QFLCNXM". It's obviously based on MIUI 11 and, if the Redmi 7A's rollout was any indication, should get to global units in a few weeks.
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A few days ago, we published a report citing the rollout of the May security patch to the Redmi 7 around the world. Well, it would appear that the update has come with a surprise in other regionsin the form of Android 10.
Yes, Android 10 has finally arrived for the Redmi 7. The update began rolling out in China yesterday, with the software version number "MIUI 11.0.1.0.QFLCNXM". As evident from that code, the update is for the Chinese model of the phone and is based on MIUI 11, not MIUI 12. Xiaomi is yet to begin the MIUI 12 rollout for its older mid-range phones. The update weighs a heavy 2.0 GB.
While this update is only rolling out in China, we expect a global release in the coming weeks. It only took two weeks for the Redmi 7A's Android 10 update to spread from China to the rest of the world, for example.
FP Trending
The decline in active bee populations in the past decade has prompted researchers have been looking at different ways of achieving pollination.
Soap bubbles, which facilitated pollination of a pear orchard could actually pollinate fruit-bearing plants, a new study argues. The study conducted by researchers from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) in Nomi, Japan was published 17 June in the journal iScience.
According to a Science Daily report on the study, authors have suggested that soap bubbles may present a low-tech complement to robotic pollination technology designed to supplement the work of bees.
Senior author Eijiro Miyako from JAIST explained that soap bubbles allow effective pollination and assure that the quality of fruits is the same as with conventionally hand-pollinated fruit-bearing plants.
Miyako had initially tested the ability of a drone to deliver the pollen, but found that it repeatedly damaged flowers. While watching his son play, Miyako had a moment of clarity.
Speaking to BBC, he said that while playing soap bubbles with his son one of the bubbles accidently hit his son's face.
"There was no damage because soap bubbles are soft, light, and flexible," he said. "But I got an inspiration because I thought the bubbles won't damage the flowers and would be an ideal material for pollination."
"In comparison with other types of remote pollination, functional soap bubbles have innovative potentiality and unique properties, such as effective and convenient delivery of pollen grains to targeted flowers and high flexibility to avoid damaging them," Miyako told BBC.
Miyako and colleagues started testing various surfactants and picked one that had the least effect on germination, According to a report in Science Mag.
In subsequent lab tests, they bombarded pear flowers with pollen-laden bubbles and found that when the pollen landed on the pistil, the female reproductive part, and the grains grew pollen tubes. Subsequent studies by authors found that when they used a toy bubble gun to blow pollen-laden bubbles on flowers in three trees, it showed that the resulting fruit was just as good as that of flowers that had been pollinated by hand.
The researchers combined an automatic bubble maker that produced about 5,000 bubbles per minute with a GPS-controlled drone to create a robotic pollinator.
When bubbles were shot on to fake lilies, with the movement of the drones fairly slow, researchers found that the pollination showed an 87 percent success rate, indicating that a drone with a soap bubble maker could successfully pollinate flowers.
A state in Germany has reimposed COVID-19 lockdown after a series of coronavirus cases emerged in Rheda-Wiedenbruck meat processing plant -- one of the largest in Europe.
Reuters
Reported first by Reuters, the state in question is North Rhine-Westphalia. Over 1,500 workers were found to be infected with the novel coronavirus over the weekend. This caused the nations rate of reproduction of the virus to skyrocket from 1.06 to a whopping 2.88.
Lockdown back in place
Several thousand people have also been kept under quarantine to prevent further spreading of the novel coronavirus. Reports reveal that authorities have installed metal fencing around residential buildings where workers from the facility reside. Basic necessity items are being provided by the authorities to more than 7,000 employees.
Stricter social distancing norms have come back into place. Authorities are asking Guetersloh countys roughly 300,000 residents to only have one person from their household to step out at a time, only for necessities.
Schools are shut once again. Authorities have also announced shutting down of cinemas, fitness centres and bars. Restaurants are however allowed to sell food as takeaway only.
Armin Laschet, the governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state, said in a statement, assuring citizens, This is a limited measure of caution. We will lift the measure as soon as possible when we have certainty about the safety of the infection. It is a preventative measure."
Reuters
Rise in COVID-19 cases
Germany was one of the first nations to unlock after seeing a drop in number of infection in April. However, in May itself Germany saw a spike in the number of cases which made the authorities to reconsider imposing lockdown for its citizens.
Whats astonishing is that this isnt the only outbreak caused due to meat processing plants. Such outbreaks are being witnessed in the US as well as UK.
There is no specific reason for this occurrence for now, some linking it to lack of social distancing norms while some are linking it to poor employment conditions, but nothing is certain. Industry representatives in the UK (in a conversation with the Independent) have regarded this a mystery.
Second wave of COVID-19
Nations combatting COVID-19 that have managed to lower the rate of infection and have stopped lockdown are in constant fear of a Second Wave of COVID-19 cases.
And some places have also experienced this second wave. Beijing saw a steep spike in number of cases at a meat market too. Within a month after unlock, South Korea too saw a sudden rise in number of cases, causing a shutdown of over 2,100 bars and places of gathering.
Reuters
Researchers have stated that the second wave of an epidemic can be more catastrophic than the first.
However, in the case of COVID-19, researchers from Barcelona Institute For Global Health claim that the deconfinement must be gradual in order to decrease the risk of second waves while also maintaining social distancing, wearing face masks which could considerably help in containing the second wave from occurring.
On Sunday, Nashville was alarmed after a major newspaper in Tennessee published a full-page ad in the form of an open letter addressed to the citizens of Nashville, which claimed that an-Islam initiated terrorist attack will happen in Nashville next month.
The said, "warning," which the paper's editor described as "horrific" was published on the Sunday edition of Tennessee's leading newspaper, The Tennessean. The paid ad told the people that the bombing would happen on the 18th of July
The ad was paid by the group Future For America who claimed that US President Donal Trump is the last American president and also has a picture of Trump and the pope. It also said that an attack which would carry out unspecified Islamic interests by first detonating a nuclear device in Nashville.
Before this, the group also had a previous ad which was published in the paper's Wednesday edition. The ad said that the group wants to warn people of forthcoming events so they will be able to make decisions.
Meanwhile, The Tennessean stated that the ad was a clear violation of the paper's standards against hate speech. According to the Editor and Vice President of The Tennessean, Michael A. Anastasi, the sales and news departments of the paper run independently of each other.
Moreover, Anastasi said that there could have been a clear breakdown of the usual process which scrutinizes the ads for publishing. He also said that this incident has called their attention that they should be focused more on their advertising content.
He also said that the crime is indefensible and that there was no argument that it was wrong and should not have been published in the first place. In addition, he said that the wrongful publication of the ad has caused hurt within members of the community and even their own employees.
Anastasi also emphasized that the publication of the ad was very inconsistent with what the Tennessen stands for as an institution.
Read also: Fact Check: Did Trump Tweet a Doctored Video of a 'Racist Baby'?
Sales executives of the paper have also already ordered the removal of the ad on future editions of the paper.
Kevin Gentzel, chief revenue officer of the company which owns The Tennessean, Gannett stated in a tweet that the matter is already being discussed and investigated inside the company.
Two ads ran this week in the Tennessean that clearly violate our advertising standards. We strongly condemn the message and apologize to our readers. We are immediately investigating to determine how this could have happened: https://t.co/d6tBk6epOv Kevin Gentzel (@KevGentzel) June 21, 2020
Islamic relations council call for updated policies.
According to CBS News despite the fact that they appreciated the move of The Tennessean in investigating and pulling the offensive ad, Ibrahim Hooper, spokesperson for Council on Islamic-American Relations stated that CIAR encourages the implementation of updated policies and train The Tennessean staff in order to ensure that hate incidents like this do not happen in the foreseeable future.
As of the moment, it remains unknown how much the group Future for America paid to have the Islamophobic ad published in the paper.
Based on statistics by the FBI, in the year 2018, Tennessee has recorded at least 170 hate crimes.
Related article: 19-Year-Old Dies in Shooting Incident at 'Cop-Free' Zone in Seattle
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Primary elections initially delayed by the coronavirus are taking place on Tuesday in North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Kentucky and New York.
The big picture: Establishment-backed candidates have been pitted against progressive challengers in several of the Democratic congressional primaries being held Tuesday including one race that could see the powerful chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee unseated after 16 terms in Congress.
The primaries will be held against the backdrop of ongoing anti-racism protests and a coronavirus outbreak that is still accelerating in many states.
Due to the high number of absentee ballots cast as a result of the pandemic, the winners of close races may not be known for several days.
Races to watch
In Kentucky, state Rep. Charles Booker and retired Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath are vying for the opportunity to challenge Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this November.
The Democratic primary comes as Kentucky continues to grapple with the aftermath of the police killing of Louisville EMT Breonna Taylor, which has sparked mass protests within the state and across the country.
Booker, a progressive and one of five black men running for U.S. Senate in the South, has gained serious momentum by actively engaging with the community and taking a leadership role in the protests against Taylor's death, according to NPR. Booker has secured high-profile endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
McGrath, meanwhile, is the establishment favorite and has out-raised McConnell thanks in part to her strong out-of-state support. The race was originally seen as hers to lose, but it could be tight with Booker's late surge.
In New York, House Foreign Affairs Chair Eliot Engel is facing a formidable challenge from former middle school principal Jamaal Bowman, one of several progressive insurgents taking on a powerful incumbent.
Engel has represented New York since 1989, but he may be one of the House Democratic caucus' most endangered members. He received an endorsement from Hillary Clinton on Monday, her first one for any incumbent facing a primary challenger in 2020, per the New York Times. He has also been endorsed by New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Bowman has earned endorsements from Sanders, Warren, Ocasio-Cortez and dozens of powerful progressive groups.
House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler, House Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney and Rep. Yvette Clarke face New York primary challenges on Tuesday as well.
Worth noting: Ocasio-Cortez and former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera are also facing off in AOC's first primary since ousting 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in 2018 viewed by many as the biggest upset of the 2018 midterms.
The state of play: More than 700,000 New York City residents have requested absentee ballots, according to the New York Times.
A man in his 20s has been charged with criminal damage over the writing of the word "rat" under the name of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in a book of condolence.
It had been left at the public counter at Blanchardstown Garda Station for the public to sign.
Jason Hennessy (23), from Sheephill Avenue in Blanchardstown, was also charged with violent conduct at Blanchardstown Garda Station while in custody for the criminal damage offence.
He appeared before Judge Gerard Jones at Blanchardstown District Court yesterday morning.
Signed
Det Gda Horkan died following a shooting in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, last Wednesday.
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A 43-year-old man, Stephen Silver, from Aughaward, Foxford, Co Mayo, has been charged with his murder.
Sergeant Alan Lynch told Judge Jones that on Friday, June 19, he had put out a book of condolence to be signed for their garda colleague Det Gda Horkan.
At 12.15pm he was made aware that two men were at the book and it had been tampered with.
When the book was examined it was seen that the word "rat" had been written under Det Gda Horkan's name and the station stamp had been used to stamp the front of the book.
Expand Close Stephen Silver has been charged with murder. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin / Facebook
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He said that when CCTV was reviewed Mr Hennessy could be seen to be at the book using the stamp, and while it could not be seen what he had written, he could be observed taking a photograph of it with his mobile phone.
Sgt Lynch said Mr Hennessy's phone has been seized for examination.
He also told Judge Jones that the book of condolence was the property of An Garda Siochana and was due to be presented to the family of the late Det Garda Horkan.
He added that the term "rat" was a very offensive and dangerous thing to write.
No plea was entered and Mr Hennessy's solicitor Simon Fleming applied for bail.
This was objected to by Sgt Lynch, and Judge Jones refused to grant bail.
Addressing the court, Judge Jones said he had been told there was a book of condolence put out for the public to sign and that two males could be seen to be laughing and sniggering at it and that the word "rat" was under Det Gda Horkan's name.
Appalled
"I'm appalled at the behaviour," he said, adding that it was an allegation at this stage.
"Under no circumstances am I entertaining bail for one minute.
"It's most serious for you and your deceased colleague," he told Sgt Lynch.
He said gardai go out to protect the public and if members of the public deal with them in this manner the courts will deal with them.
"I'm not saying he [Mr Hennessy] is guilty but the evidence is strong," said Judge Jones before refusing bail.
Mr Hennessy was remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court today, when a date is expected to be set for a High Court bail application.
The EFCC said it has re-arrested a former assistant director in the federal civil service, John Yusuf, who was convicted for a N32.8 billion pension fraud.
Mr Yusuf was tried on a 20-count charge in 2013 alongside four other officials Atiku Abubakar, a permanent secretary; Ahmed Wada, a director; Veronica Onyegbula, a cashier; and Sani Zira, an ICT officer.
He, thereafter, pleaded guilty to converting N2 billion of the police pension to personal use.
After his guilty plea, Abubakar Talba, the trial judge of the High Court of the Federal Territory, Abuja, sentenced him to two years jail term for each of the three counts he pleaded guilty to.
But surprisingly, the judge gave him the option of avoiding jail with a fine of N250,000 for each of the counts (N750, 000).
The conviction sparked national outrage, with activists describing the judgement as an handshake ruling.
The former director was, however, to forfeit properties traced to him by EFCC, valued at N325 million.
He was thus technically permitted to retain about N1 billion after paying his fines and losing the N325 million worth of properties traced to him, the EFCC said.
Not satisfied
Dissatisfied with the high courts ruling, the EFCC approached the appellate court to set aside the judgment.
Mr Yusuf subsequently argued that the notice of appeal was filed outside the mandatory 90 days and was, therefore, in contravention of Section 24 (2)(b) of the Court of Appeal Act 2010. He asked the court to dismiss the appeal.
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However, the appeal court m dismissed his objection.
Mr Yusuf was apprehended in Gombe State according to a statement from the EFCC on Monday.
The commission also said it has secured a remand order by Justice Baba Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, that enables the ex-pension director to serve his six years jail term in the Kuje custodial facility.
When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday, for details, he said, he (convict) was arrested recently and declined further comment.
Pension scam
The pension scam involved several billions of naira stolen from retired police officers.
Mr Yakubu and his colleagues were suspended indefinitely in 2012 after the scandal broke.
The EFCC said the complex scheme involved several transfers of huge sums between banks and use of illegal accounts and falsification of names; which were said to have been conducted between the officials and a former Director of Police Pension Fund, Esai Dangabar.
Mr Dangabar was charged to court. He later told the EFCC part of the money was shared among the officials and the pension committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The National Assembly, at the time, denied the allegations, calling it a pack of lies. It asked him to provide proof that he shared the money with its members.
The Finance Ministry on Tuesday cited green shoots of recovery in agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors, and said the prompt policy measures taken by the government and RBI have helped reinvigorate the economy with minimal damage.
Stating that agricultural sector remains the foundation of the Indian economy, the ministry said that a normal monsoon, as has been forecast, should support the rebooting of economy.
Though the GDP contribution of the sector may not be very large (in relation to industry and services), its growth has a very positive impact on the large population dependent on agriculture. Further, the recent landmark reforms announced in the sector will go a long way in building efficient value chains and ensuring better returns for farmers, the ministry said in a statement.
Early green shoots of economic revival have also emerged in May and June with real activity indicators like electricity and fuel consumption, inter and intra-state movement of goods, retail financial transactions witnessing pick up, it said, adding India becoming the worlds second largest manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE) within two months shows the resilience of the manufacturing sector.
The Government and the RBI have taken prompt policy measures - both short term and long term - in a calibrated manner to reinvigorate the economy at the earliest with minimal damage.... The commitment of the Government towards both structural reforms and supportive social welfare measures will help build on these green shoots, the ministry said.
To contain the spread of coronavirus the government had imposed nationwide lockdown from March 25. From June 1, India has started phased resumption of services and businesses.
Due to timely tracing, treatment and reporting, the number of people recovering from the virus is continuously rising and the active cases, as on date, are 41 per cent of the total cases in the country.
The resolve for Atma Nirbhar Bharat will be strengthened with the collective effort of all stakeholders and contribute to rebuilding a strong vibrant Indian economy, it said.
With regard to agriculture sector, the ministry said procurement of wheat from farmers by government agencies has touched an all-time record figure of 382 lakh metric tonne (LMT) on June 16, 2020, surpassing the earlier record of 381.48 LMT achieved during 2012-13. 42 lakh farmers have been benefitted and a total amount of about Rs 73,500 crore has been paid to them towards minimum support price (MSP) for wheat, it said.
As on June 19, farmers have sown 13.13 million hectares of Kharif crops, 39 per cent higher than corresponding period of last year with a big jump in area coverage under oil seeds, course cereals, pulses and cotton.
Fertiliser sales have surged by almost 98 per cent year-on-year in May 2020 to 40.02 lakh tonne, reflecting a robust agricultural sector.
Giving data on manufacturing sector, the ministry said Indias PMI Manufacturing and Services showed lower contraction in May at 30.8 and 12.6, respectively, over April (27.4 and 5.4 respectively).
Electricity consumption saw lower contraction in growth rates from (-) 24 per cent in April to (-) 15.2 per cent in May to (-) 12.5 per cent in June (till June 21). In June, electricity consumption has continuously improved from (-) 19.8 per cent in the first week to (-) 11.2 per cent in the second week to (-) 6.2 per cent in the third week.
Total assessable value of e-way bills picked up by a massive 130 per cent in May 2020 (Rs 8.98 lakh crore) compared to April 2020 (Rs 3.9 lakh crore), though lower than previous year and pre-lockdown levels. Value of e-way bills generated between June 1-19 stood at Rs 7.7 lakh crore.
Consumption of petroleum products, a major indicator reflecting consumption and manufacturing activity in the country, increased by 47 per cent from 99,37,000 metric tonnes in April to 1,46,46,000 metric tonnes in May.
Consequently, year-on-year contraction in consumption growth of petroleum products was much smaller at (-)23.2 per cent in May against (-)45.7 per cent in April. In June, growth in consumption of petroleum products is expected to be still higher, the ministry said.
In the services sector, railway freight traffic improved by 26 per cent in May (8.26 crore tonne) over April (6.54 crore tonne). The improvement is likely to continue in June in sync with growth in movement of goods on National Highways.
Average daily electronic toll collections increased from Rs 8.25 crore in April, 2020 to Rs 36.84 crore in May, rising more than 4 times. In the first three weeks of June, it has improved further to Rs 49.8 crore.
Total digital retail financial transactions via NPCI platforms increased sharply from Rs 6.71 lakh crore in April, 2020 to Rs 9.65 lakh crore in May. The trend is expected to continue in June driven by a sustained pick-up in real activity, the ministry said.
It said with RBIs efforts towards ensuring adequate liquidity, private placement of corporate bonds picked up sharply by 94.1 per cent in May (Rs 0.84 lakh crore) as compared to a contraction of 22 per cent in April (Rs 0.54 lakh crore). June is likely to see a still larger placement as excess liquidity persists in the system.
Also the average assets under management (AUM) of mutual funds increased by 3.2 per cent to Rs 24.2 lakh crore in May 2020 from Rs 23.5 lakh crore in April 2020. Indias forex reserves at USD 507.6 billion as on June 12, continue to provide a crucial cushion to external shocks on the back of higher FDI, portfolio flows and low oil prices. FDI in India recorded inflow of USD 73.45 billion in FY 2019-20, an increase of 18.5 per cent over the previous fiscal.
Global rating agencies like S&P and Fitch has projected Indian economy to shrink by 5 per cent in the current fiscal, while Moodys pegged the contraction at 4 per cent.
All U.S. departing cruises suspended says the International Association of Cruise Lines
Riviera Maya, Q.R. The International Association of Cruise Lines has announced the suspension of operations until September 15 of this year. The association says that the decision was made to prolong cruise ship cruises due to the continuing spread of the Covid-19 in the U.S.
The news will hit the industry hard including Cozumel and Mahahual who rely heavily on cruise ship tourism. Companies such as Carnival Caribbean, Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruises are among those association members who will continue suspending cruises of more than 250 passengers until at least September. These three cruise companies make up more than 90 percent of the ships that arrive in the state of Quintana Roo.
Due to the current situation in the United States related to Covid-19, the CLIA member cruise lines have decided to voluntarily extend the period of operations ( ) Although we hoped that cruise activity could resume as soon as possible, it is becoming increasingly clear that more time will be needed.
We also believe that it is appropriate to err on the side of caution to help ensure the best interests of our passengers and crew members, therefore we have decided to further extend our suspension of operations from the ports of the United States until September 15, the association announced.
In a press release, Carnival Cruise Lines said As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we regret to inform our guests that Carnival Cruise Line is having to cancel the following sailings:
All San Francisco sailings through 2020
All Carnival Sunrise sailings through and including October 19, 2020
All Carnival Legend sailings through and including October 30, 2020
All Carnival Radiance sailings through and including November 1, 2020
All Carnival Spirit Alaska, Hawaii, & Trans-Pacific sailings through and including October 6, 2020
All Other Ships sailings through and including September 30, 2020
Royal Carribean also released a press statement saying, Royal Caribbean Announces Global Suspension Of Cruising. CLIA has announced the voluntarily suspension of U.S. cruise operations until September 15. We will share more details about this announcement with our guests early next week.
At Royal Caribbean International, our guests and crews safety and well-being are always our top priorities. After further consulting with our partners at Cruise Lines International Association and in conjunction with the CDC, we have decided to extend the suspension of sailings for our global fleet for all sailings through July 31st, 2020. Our goal is to resume operations on August 1st, 2020 for the majority of our fleet.
The Administracion Portuaria Integral de Quintana Roo (Apiqroo) had anticipated the cancellation of cruises for a month-and-a-half from the middle of March and throughout April, meaning Cozumel would not receive the nearly 120 ships carrying around 720,000 passengers. Apiqroo has not yet updated the losses for Quintana Roo, which has now been extended to six months.
By next month Egypt will probably be fighting two wars.
The GNA in Libya, supported by Turkey and Qatar, wants to move out of its Tripoli and Misrata area to take Sirte and the oil installations east of it. Sirte is currently held by the Libyan National Army (LNA) under General Haftar.
The war to its west would be against Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA) which threatens to extend itself from west Libya to the Egyptian border. The war to its south would be against Ethiopia which will soon start to fill its Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with Nil water that Egypt needs to survive.
On Saturday the Egyptian dictator Abdel Fattah el-Sisi inspected the troops at Egypts western border. The highest officers of the Egyptian military were also there. The number of deployed troops shows that they mean buiness.
If Russia would pull back its support and completely give up on Haftar Egypt would see a necessity to intervene in Libya. A Turkish-Egyptian war on Libyan grounds would then become likely.
Next month Ethiopia will start to fill its great new dam on the Blue Nil river.
Egypt has support from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. But fighting in Libya would include a war against Turkey which has troops as well as 14,000 mercenary Jihadis from Syria deployed with the GNA. A war between the two biggest armies in the eastern Mediterranean could easily escalate.
"If the Libyan people asked us to intervene, it is a signal to the world that Egypt and Libya share ... common interests, security and stability," Sisi said on Saturday.
It has been build since 2010 and the $4.8 billion project will turn Ethiopia into an electricity exporter. Egypt fears that the filling of the dam and its later management will leave too little water flowing down the Nil where Egypt needs it to feed its 100 million people.
Negotiations between Egypt and Ethiopia, moderated by the United States and the World Bank, have failed to find a solution. Egypt has called on (pdf, slow) the UN Security Council to intervene.
The issue is existential for both countries:
The years-long conflict pits Ethiopias desire to become a significant power exporter in the region against Egypts concern that the dam will significantly reduce its water supply if filled too quickly. Egypt is expected to lose at least 22% of water flow, and is concerned that up to 30% of its agricultural land might turn into desert. Both Egypt and Ethiopia have hinted at the possibility of taking military steps to protect their interests, and experts fear a breakdown in talks could lead to conflict. Sudan, another party to this squabble, has long been caught between the competing interests. The arrival of the rainy season is bringing more water to the Blue Nile, the main branch of the Nile. Addis Ababa considers next month would be an ideal time to begin filling the dams reservoir. The basin was designed for a gigantic 74 billion cubic meters of water.
When finished and filled the dam will produce 6,450 MW of electrical power, more than triple as much as Ethiopia can currently generate. Much of the new generated electricity will be exported to Sudan which is the reason why Sudan has not taken Egypts side.
No Egyptian ruler can allow a situation in which 30% of Egypts agriculture dies off. Tens of millions of small farmers would lose their income and a famine would become a distinct possibility.
A military attack on the dam would be complicate. The land route for an army attack would need to go through Sudan. It is very long and lacks infrastructure. A large scale air attack coming from the Red Sea seems to be the most likely operation. But that would be risky and would not solve Egypts problem. The dam would be repaired and the operation would have to be repeated.
Ethiopia needs the electricity from the dam to develop the country and to pay back the loans it has taken up to build it. It wants to completely fill the dam over the next seven years. A prolongation of that time frame would lessen the immediate impact on Egypt. But Ethiopia is poor and someone else would have to pay for the losses it would incur.
Could Egypt handle two wars at the same time? For a short period that would likely be possible. But both potential conflicts, the one in Libya and the one with Ethiopia, would likely become prolonged and would take years to settle. Egypt does not have the money to pay for them.
Sisi will now have to take quite difficult decisions. How will he decide?
India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt
In talks with China, India demands restoration of status quo ante
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, June 23: The meeting between the military officials of India and China that lasted till 10.15 pm on Monday ended with the former seeking the restoration of status quo ante in key strategic areas.
During the talks, the Indian side demanded the withdrawal of PLA troops from the Galwan Valley, where the deadly clash had taken place on June 15. The Indian side also demanded the restoration of status quo ante in the key strategic areas.
Ladakh Standoff: Govt to expedite works on 32 road projects along border with China
Rath Yatra begins in Puri's Jagannath Temple amid curfew due to Covid-19 pandemic | Oneindia News
The meeting took place between Lieutenant General, Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh based 14 corps and Major General Liu Lin of the South Xinjiang military region. The talks began at around 11.30 am and went on till 10.15 pm, officials familiar with the developments told OneIndia.
India also demanded the reduction of military deployments in the depth areas on their side of the disputed border. The main intention of the talks was to restore status quo in the Gogra Post, Galwan Valley and Gogra Post. The Indian Army wants the Chinese to move back from their current positions to where they were in early April.
India also flagged concerns about the build up of Chinese troops, artillery units in the Gogra Post Hot Springs sector, which is north of Pangong Tso.
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Story first published: Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 8:34 [IST]
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Sayfamzn takipcileri suc teskil edecek, yasal olarak takip gerektirecek,hakaret ve kufur iceren, asaglayc, kucuk dusurucu, kaba, ahlaka aykr, mustehcen, toplumca genel olarak kabul gormus kurallara aykr, kisilik haklarna zarar verici ya da benzeri niteliklerde hicbir yorumu bu web sitesinin hicbir sayfasnda paylasamazlar. Bu tur iceriklerden dogan her turlu mali, hukuki, cezai, idari sorumluluk yorumu gonderen takipciye aittir. KONHABER yaplan yorumlar arasndan uygun gormediklerini herhangi bir gerekce belirtmeksizin yaynlamama veya yayndan kaldrma hakkna sahiptir. Konhaber basta yukarda saylan hususlar olmaz uzere kanun hukumlerine aykrlk gerekcesi ile her turlu adli makam tarafndan baslatlan sorusturma kapsamnda kendisinden Ceza Muhakemesi Kanununun 332.maddesi dogrultusunda istenilen yorum yapan takipcilerine ait ip bilgilerini ve yapms oldugu yorumlar paylasabilecegini beyan eder
A 40-year-old Indian man tragically lost his life recently after his visiting family allegedly unplugged the ventilator keeping him alive in order to plug in an air cooler, after the hospital turned on air conditioning to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The unnamed man was suspected to be suffering from COVID-19 and admitted to the ICU at Maharao Bhim Singh (MBS) Hospital in Rajasthan, India, on June 13. Two days later, after another patient there tested positive for the virus, he was moved to an isolation ward as a safety precaution. That same day, the mans family came to visit, and because it was extremely hot in the Kota district of Rajasthan (41 degrees Celsius), they brought an electrical air cooler. Under normal circumstances, the hospitals air conditioning would have made the air cooler redundant, but because of the Covid-19 threat, the air conditioning system had been turned off to stop the spread of the virus.
Photo: sungmin cho/Pixabay
When the mans family tried to plug in the air cooler, they noticed that there were no available power outlets, save for the ones used for medical equipment, including a mechanical ventilator. Without bothering to consult with hospital staff, they unplugged the ventilator and plugged in the air cooler instead. If the ventilator had stopped working at that point, they would have probably panicked and plugged in back in, but seeing that the device continued to function they didnt even inform the nurses about it.
Little did the sick mans relatives know that the backup battery of the ventilator would soon run out, leaving the patient unable to breathe. When the alarm went off, hospital staff rushed to save the man, giving him CPR, but it was too late.
Dr Navin Saxena, medical superintendent at the MBS Hospital confirmed to VICE News that the man had died, adding that the doctor on duty that day had accused his family of misbehaving and being negligent.
We have set up a committee with the deputy superintendent of the hospital, nursing superintendent, isolation ward staff and Chief Medical Officer to file a report that details what happened, Dr. Saxena said.
Despite complaining of breathing difficulties when he was admitted to the hospital, the patient tested negative for COVID-19 after his death.
WASHINGTON - Protesters attempted to topple a bronze statue of former president Andrew Jackson in a park next to the White House on Monday night but were thwarted when police intervened.
With chants of "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Andrew Jackson's got to go," protesters threw ropes around the statue of the seventh president, depicted atop a horse in Lafayette Square, and tried to pull it down before police officers removed them from the area. Hundreds of protesters had locked arms around the statue.
In a chaotic scene, a helicopter flew low over the park as 150 to 200 U.S. Park and District of Columbia police used a chemical irritant to disperse protesters and sweep them back to a nearby street. Protesters did manage to smash the wooden wheels of four replica cannons at the base of the Jackson statue.
Protesters threw things at police, and officers shoved protesters in the melee. One woman hurled a folding chair, striking an officer, who staggered away from a police line.
Jackson was a former general in the U.S. Army and a populist politician sometimes compared with President Donald Trump in style. Known for his harsh treatment of Native Americans as president, he signed the Indian Removal Act, which led to the relocations of thousands of Native Americans and the deaths of thousands more. Jackson was also an enslaver.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., tweeted his dismay at the attempt to destroy the statue just minutes after the action.
3 1 of 3 Washington Post photo by Katherine Frey Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Photo for The Washington Post by Astrid Riecken Show More Show Less 3 of 3
"It's about time DC police showed up to stop the mob," he tweeted. "If Muriel Bowser won't allow the police to do their job, @realdonaldtrump should deploy federal law enforcement."
Trump on Friday night used Twitter to criticize D.C. police for not intervening as protesters in D.C. toppled a statue of Confederate Gen. Albert Pike near Judiciary Square.
Shortly after 9 p.m. Monday, protesters and police, who were in helmets and carrying batons and pepper spray, stood face-to-face in a relatively calm standoff after the action. Some people were singing, and others were telling officers to quit their jobs and join what they called the right side of history.
The move Monday capped a day of skirmishes between demonstrators protesting police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. On Monday afternoon, police and protesters briefly clashed as city officials attempted to clear out tents erected on a street near the White House.
D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said city officials had become concerned with the tents going up a street near the newly renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza. On Monday afternoon, police, along with other city agencies, moved in to remove the tents.
"They were creating a potential safety hazard," Newsham said.
During the operation, Newsham said, some demonstrators resisted and two officers were assaulted. He said police arrested two people and used pepper spray to move back the crowd.
D.C. Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage said in a statement that the city was worried about campers' exposure to traffic.
"We are always concerned when we have people staying in tents outside - it is not safe," Turnage said in the statement. "It is also a serious concern if they are staying in tents in the middle of the road. Therefore, today, we deployed our interagency team to talk with the people staying on H Street and, eventually, to remove the tents."
A city official said the team had approached the campers several times to explain the dangers of pitching tents in an open street but that campers rebuffed requests to move.
The moments of tension followed weeks of mostly peaceful protests. The carnival-like atmosphere in recent days stood in contrast to looting and clashes between protesters and police that marked the opening days of the protests that followed the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis police custody.
Frederick Brown, 24, said a D.C. police supervisor shot him with pepper spray as he and other protesters tried to prevent the officers from clearing the encampment.
About seven small tents had been set up in the street near St. John's Episcopal Church. Many of the protesters in the tents were helping with Earl's Grill, which has been offering food for the asking since early on.
"We put the tents in the street so that cars wouldn't be able to come through, so people could protest," Brown said. "They came up here agitating because they want this street open."
Brown, who said he has been at Lafayette Square since the protests began, said that sometime before 2 p.m. an official from the office of Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, gave the protesters a warning to leave, saying it was illegal to block the street.
But the protesters defied the order, and police began moving them out of the street. Brown said one protester was arrested after he grabbed water bottles from police bicycles and began dumping them. Brown acknowledged that he intervened to prevent police from arresting another demonstrator when he was hit with pepper spray.
"We have been out here every day feeding people for free," Brown said. "We have been peaceful overall."
Jim Hensel, a tourist from Chicago, said he watched police talking to people for over an hour, telling them they needed to get their tents out of the street. Hensel said that when police began pushing people back things got more tense, with one protester soaking an officer with a fire extinguisher. Hensel got out of the way quickly.
By Monday evening, tents had been pushed off the street but some remained on the sidewalk. Protesters had pushed construction barriers and sections of metal fence into the street in the area to create roadblocks. Someone had posted a sign spray-painted on plywood: "BHAZ: Black House Autonomous Zone."
The sign appeared to be a play on the area that protesters have cordoned off in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood dubbed the "CHAZ."
- - -
The Washington Post's Peter Hermann and Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report.
Fiona Carter
Goldman Sachs has hired Fiona Carter, who is exiting as AT&T's chief brand officer on June 26, as its first chief marketing officer. She joins the bank on Sept. 1.
Responsible for brand marketing, content and global digital strategy, Carter "will work closely with businesses across the firm to apply a cross-divisional lens in our execution in support of our One Goldman Sachs approach," according to an internal memo.
She will report to John Waldron, president and chief operating officer.
During a five-year stint at AT&T, Carter handled global brand marketing, advertising, media, sponsorships, social media, corporate and employee communications.
She also led the telecom's participation in the Assn. of National Advertisers Alliance's #SeeHer campaign to improve how girls and women are portrayed in the media.
Prior to AT&T, Carter worked 11 years at Omnicom's BBDO shop, overseeing the General Electric, Procter & Gamble and Bank of America accounts.
She also did a stint as COO of Omnicom's diversified agency services network.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/23/2020
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JENNY AND SUMIT
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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
: The Other Way featured Yazan flipping out and cursing after discovering alcohol in Brittany's luggage in Jordan, Armando Rubio coming out to his parents in a very emotional scene, Jihoon Lee admitting he had lied to Deavan Clegg about having a full-time job, and Jenny Slatten arriving in India during Monday night's Season 2 episode on TLC.: The Other Way follows American citizens moving to foreign countries for the sake of love and their future spouses, and they must marry within 90 days in order to stay.: The Other Way's second season features a total of six couples, including Season 1 returnees Jenny and fiance Sumit as well as Deavan and husband Jihoon.Jenny, a 61-year-old from Palm Springs, CA, is moving back to India for Sumit, a 32-year-old from New Delhi, India, once and for all after previously uprooting her life only to discover Sumit was married to another woman.Deavan, a 23-year-old from Salt Lake City, UT, is officially moving to South Korea along with her two children to start a life with Jihoon, a 29-year-old from Seoul, South Korea.The four new couples starring on Season 2 of : The Other Way are Yazan, a 24-year-old from Amman, Jordan, and Brittany, a 26-year-old from Palm Beach, FL; Ariela, a 28-year-old from Princeton, NJ, and Biniyam, a 29-year-old from Ethiopia; Kenneth, a 57-year-old from St. Petersburg, FL, and Armando, a 31-year-old from Mexico; and Tim, a 34-year-old from Dallas, TX, and Melyza, a 29-year-old from Colombia.Tim and Melyza, however, have yet to be introduced on the show.Below is what Episode 3 of : The Other Way's second season featured.Jenny was so excited to travel to India to Sumit, saying she'd probably "knock him to the ground" upon seeing him again in the airport. Jenny was shown traveling over 20 hours to New Delhi and acknowledged she had given up so much for a life with Sumit.Jenny had no car, apartment, furniture or money, so she required that Sumit get a divorce, marry her and never lie to her again. If Sumit couldn't meet those requirements, she said their relationship would be over for good.Sumit said after losing Jenny once, he was never going to let her go again."Last time, when I was at this airport, you can say I was hiding a bunch of lies, but now I'm feeling so free and you can say this is a moment of happiness. I got lucky that she understood me and is giving me another chance," Sumit told the cameras.Jenny and Sumit then reunited in the airport and hugged and kissed. It had been five long months since Jenny last saw Sumit, and she said it was wonderful to touch and be with Sumit again."This is my happiness!" Jenny gushed, before Sumit promised her, "No more lying."Jenny said it felt great to be back in India because she really liked living there with the smells and busy streets, but the pair had to drive over two hours to get to Sumit's new house. Sumit was apparently living lean in order to save for his divorce, admitting he didn't have another option.Jenny tried to be positive once she got to her new house, but she wasn't happy about living so far from the city.Sumit also asked Jenny to participate in a house-warming ceremony, which is a tradition in India. Sumit wanted his house with Jenny to be blessed and pure so they would have a happy future together.But Jenny was very uncomfortable with the scene. A religious leader put a flower pot on Jenny's head, Sumit welcomed a cow into their house, and people started a small fire in her house. Sumit explained the cow signified wealth, health and profitability.Jenny wasn't okay with the cow in her house, and she quickly realized her living space was "a big mess."Jenny was upset she and Sumit wouldn't have any extra money to fix up the house.Jenny said the house was "great" but it was really old, and Sumit noted they could work on it."We are poor now," Sumit told Jenny. "It's still cheaper [than our old apartment]. I cannot afford much. We need to be more alert and patient."Sumit also warned Jenny that crime was high in their area and all they had to protect them was a gate rather than a security guard at the door. Sumit told her to be careful."Over here, people kill other guys just for 10 dollars," Sumit warned Jenny.Sumit had to pay $20,000 back for his divorce, so he had a lot of debts to pay, and that left Jenny worrying.During a lunch with his parents in Mexico, Armando decided to come out to his parents, Virginia and Armando Sr., for the second time. He hadn't talked to them in three years about being gay because they didn't want to see it or accept it the first time."I don't know what to expect. I just don't want them to keep denying it," Armando said.Armando explained he had spent his whole life hiding who he really is and he got married -- which probably confused his parents -- just to please his parents. Armando said he got married so people wouldn't gossip about his family, and then his mother broke down into tears."There were nights where I cried alone because of hiding who I was. I know it's a process to accept it, but I just want you to know this is who I am," Armando said."As a son, the only thing that you have more than anything, are your parents. So when you feel like they don't love you, it's hard."Armando's father said he couldn't have known how Armando was feeling since he chose not to talk to them, so Armando admitted maybe it was his mistake for not bringing this up sooner. Armando's mother was crying, but she walked over to hug her son."How can you think I don't love you? I'm your mother," Virginia wept in her son's arms.Armando said the hug was something he had wanted for a very long time and it was beautiful to hear Virginia still loved him and considered him her son. Armando Sr. also held his son's hand and said, "You're my son and I see you the same."Armando Sr. confessed his pride in being Mexican prevented Virginia and himself from seeing reality, that their son is gay."I felt that the world was falling apart because it was something very difficult for me," Virginia said in a confessional.Armando also told his parents that he had a partner from Florida, who just sold his house to move to Mexico so they could live with each other. Armando added that he was moving several hours away.Armando felt the need to move so he and Kenneth could have privacy and live open and free. Armando told his parents that Hannah was happy about the move and they were going to do it as a family.Virginia said it was painful to think about her son being farther away, and she said she would accept Kenneth as his partner. However, Armando Sr. noted he would "need some time" to come around to the idea."I do plan on making a life with Kenny, and if he's not accepted her, I feel like I not accepted myself," Armando shared with the cameras.Deavan was preparing to fly with her newborn son Taeyang and daughter Drascilla, 4. Deavan predicted the move was going to be very difficult for Drascilla because she's moving away from the only home she's ever known and her grandparents who love and helped raise her.Deavan, however, was excited about the idea of her children having a father in their lives.Deavan admitted it was "crazy" to move her family to a different country and it "scared" her that she must rely on Jihoon's help and financial support to take care of them all."We are getting rid of our old lives in America and starting a whole new life in Korea. I'm taking a huge gamble; I'm giving up my whole life in Korea and everything I've ever worked hard for to start this new life with Jihoon," Deavan told the cameras.Deavan knew it would be an adjustment for Drascilla to adjust to a new culture and hear a new language every day.Deavan's parents were sad to say goodbye to their daughter and grandkids, but Deavan could only be optimistic about having a better life in South Korea."My biggest fear is that Jihoon is not going to step up and he's not going to work and take care of us like he promised," Deavan said in a confessional."He lied to me last time, so I'm really worried that he's lying to me again. I really hope Jihoon is ready for what's coming for him."Jihoon was then shown meeting up with two of his friends, Woohyuk and Tae Hyun. Jihoon was nervous about Deavan's arrival the next day and didn't want to give up on his relationship.Jihoon's friends asked where he was going to live with Deavan, and Jihoon replied, "This is embarrassing. The house that we are living together in, Deavan paid the first month. She found it online and paid for it. That's why she's coming even though I didn't get a house."Jihoon's friends called Deavan "amazing," and Jihoon said he was doing "deliveries," so his pals weren't sure Jihoon would be able to provide for four people.Jihoon planned to work extra hours and not take time off, but he said that would only make him $3,000-$4,000, which wouldn't be enough."I exaggerated to Deavan. I don't really have a job," Jihoon admitted in a confessional. "I have a side job doing deliveries and it goes by the hour. It's a part-time job. I lied to Deavan because if I not have money, then Deavan's not come to Korea."Jihoon said he needed to hurry and figure things out because his mother-in-law was also coming to Korea, and he believed he would be fine working two jobs with no days off.Tae Hyun had been friends with Jihoon for 15 to 20 years and said he couldn't imagine Jihoon working two jobs. Jihoon was so stressed out, and his pals couldn't believe Jihoon was going to do this twice to Deavan."This isn't something a man should be doing," Woohyuk told the cameras. "As a friend, I am very embarrassed. He is making a fool out of Korean men."Jihoon realized he was f-cked because Deavan was almost there.Brittany was due to arrive in Jordan the following day, and Yazan was very excited about starting a new life with her.Yazan then met with his parents, who weren't convinced Brittany is a good match for him. Yazan hoped Brittany would prove how much she loved him by converting to Islam, wearing a hijab, etc, but Brittany didn't seem to have any desire to do either of those things.Yazan's mother wouldn't even appear on camera due to her cultural beliefs.Yazan's father said he didn't like the situation at first because Brittany is not Muslim, but he was willing to keep an open mind as long as Brittany would be willing to "change" and convert.Yazan's father, who is very traditional, according to Yazan, just requested that Brittany change her religion and marry Yazan right away. Yazan hoped his family would come to support his relationship with Brittany because he said he loved her very much.After picking Brittany up at the airport, Yazan planned for them to sleep in separate hotel rooms due to his faith.But Yazan was going to be shocked to learn Brittany's divorce had not been finalized yet."Did she bring with her the divorce papers?" Yazan's father asked."Yes, yes. The document is complete," Yazan replied."Fine son. Great then. That is the most important thing, that there will be no obstacles regarding your marriage," Yazan's dad said."No, hopefully there won't be any," Yazan responded.When Brittany first met Yazan's parents, she had told them that she was married to "a bad person" and was going through the divorce process."Brittany promised me and my family the next time she comes to Jordan, she will have the divorce papers with her," Yazan explained."If she comes without the divorce papers, we can't get married because it's an important document to present to the court to sign the marriage papers."Yazan's father wasn't willing to accept his son just being "a boyfriend," so he urged Yazan to get married immediately under Islam law. Yazan and Brittany had only spent 40 days together, so he looked forward to getting to know each other and letting Brittany see how he lives and whether they could live together.Yazan knew convincing his parents that Brittany is good for him would be difficult, but he received a blessing "seven times" from his father to proceed with the romance.After about 15 hours of traveling, Brittany finally arrived in Jordan, and she admitted she was going to miss her dad, dog and friends."But I think Yazan is the one for me. A lot of people think I'm crazy for coming to Jordan to live there because it's definitely different, but I know Yazan understands I'm an American girl and I have my own thoughts and feelings," Brittany told the cameras."I am definitely going to corrupt Yazan!"Yazan picked Brittany up at the airport with a big bouquet of flowers in his hands, but he insisted Brittany would have to change in order to continue living in his country together.The couple was so excited to reunite, and Yazan gushed, "I love you.""I feel like Yazan is my little home -- home sweet home," Brittany said.But things fell apart in a matter of minutes! A producer asked Brittany to "stop right here."A graphic was then displayed on the screen that read the following: "While the crew stops to place a microphone on Brittany, she greets them with hugs and exposes a container of alcohol in her carry-on."Suddenly, Yazan started screaming, "What is this?! That's just not good, but f-ck you!"Brittany told Yazan not to worry about it, but he was furious and began lashing out."Why are you acting crazy?! What's this?! Oh my God. F-ck you! F-ck Brittany! F-ck all the sh-t!" Yazan yelled while flipping the middle finger at people.Yazan vented, "I am so stupid. I said before [to Brittany], 'You cannot drink here! And you cannot to talk for people and to hug people."Brittany was taken aback by Yazan's reaction and said she had never seen him act like that before. Brittany was "disappointed" and "not proud" of his behavior at all, especially since she had given up so much to be with him."Look at her, she is fooling me. What an idiot I am," Yazan complained a distance away from Brittany. "This is exactly what my parents warned me about. Brittany either doesn't understand or doesn't care about the traditions or the country I live in."Yazan felt he had taken risks as well to have a successful relationship, and so he couldn't believe that was happening.Brittany said alcohol was not prohibited in Yazan's country and she did respect his culture and choices."But I am not Muslim. Seeing this behavior makes me second guess moving here. It reminded me of the way my ex behaved, and so, if he's going to behave like my ex, then I don't want anything to do with him," Brittany told the cameras.Yazan then got inside his car and it almost seemed like he was going to leave Brittany behind at the airport.Ariela was about to leave the next day for Ethiopia, so she was packing all of her belongings.Ariela was excited but also nervous to leave her family and friends, and she admittedly felt "totally overwhelmed."However, Ariela was thankful her mother, a nurse, would be traveling with her to Ethiopia with medical supplies and medications.Ariela's mother, however, was not certified to give or provide Ariela with an epidural, saying it's risky for someone to do that without the proper experience given the shot goes into a woman's spine.Ariela planned to stay in Ethiopia for two weeks, and she admitted she was going to "fall apart" once it became time to leave her daughter in a different country. Ariela's whole family said they were going to miss her and saying goodbye was "a tough one."Ariela was also upset to leave her nephew and dog, but it was an exciting time in her life.Ariela's whole life was packed into seven suitcases."I don't know if I'm making a mistake. Having a baby and moving to Ethiopia is one of the biggest and riskiest decisions I've ever made," Ariela said in a confessional.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
A mayor in West Virginia is accused of taking federal flood relief funds intended for her city and paying herself extra money for working with a flood recovery team.
Richwood Mayor Chris Drennen was indicted on federal felony charges June 15 following a probe into her time as a recorder for the city during a flood in 2016, news outlets reported.
Drennan came under scrutiny as state investigators looked into the misuse of more than $3 million in flood relief to the city, WCHS-TV reported.
The indictment alleges that Drennen was paid for working with recovery team even before the group existed and after it was disbanded.
Drennen and the Incident Command Teams excessive payments to themselves and their family members inhibited the City of Richwood from recovering from the flood to the benefit of herself and others, the indictment said.
Drennen was initially arrested last year for an embezzlement charge, but not indicted in that case.
She now faces two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and one count of fraudulent scheme. If convicted, she could face up to 30 years in prison. It was not immediately clear if she had a lawyer who could comment on her behalf.
Nicholas County prosecutor Jonathan Sweeney described the charges against the mayor as just the beginning, and said charges against others are possible as well.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Flood Abuse Molestation Virginia
Iggy Azalea certainly knows how to keep her fans on their toes.
Just weeks after announcing she'd secretly welcomed a son, the 30-year-old rapper has now debuted a striking new look.
The once-blonde Australian star unveiled a head of bright red locks via Instagram on Tuesday, uploading several Polaroid portraits taken inside a plush-looking house.
Yummy mummy! Iggy Azalea, 30, debuted bright red hair in a glamorous photo shoot on Instagram this Tuesday - weeks after announcing she secretly welcomed a son
Clad in a black denim jacket and wearing a full face of makeup, the Fancy hitmaker looked every inch the yummy mummy as she posed inside a corridor.
In one photo, the Black Widow rapper seductively held a cherry up to her mouth while poking out her tongue.
The final image saw Iggy pulling a similar pose while perched on a double bed with a cherry-topped cake on her lap.
Red hot! In one photo, the Black Widow rapper seductively held a cherry up to her mouth while poking out her tongue
Glamorous: Clad in a black denim jacket and wearing a full face of makeup, the Fancy hitmaker looked every inch the yummy mummy as she posed inside a corridor
She simply captioned the post with a broken love heart emoji.
Iggy's new look comes after she officially announced the birth of her child earlier this month, telling her Instagram followers: 'I have a son.'
She added: 'I kept waiting for the right time to say something but it feels like the more time passes the more I realize I'm always going to feel anxious to share news that giant with the world.
Sweet treat: The final image saw Iggy pulling a similar pose while perched on a double bed with a cherry-topped cake on her lap
Style chameleon: Iggy is known for her trademark blonde locks, but often temporarily changes up her look with colourful wigs
'I want to keep his life private but wanted to make it clear he is not a secret and I love him beyond words.'
Though she did not state the father of her child, the revelation comes more than a month after reports claimed she had secretly welcomed a baby boy with rapper boyfriend Playboi Carti, 23.
Iggy and Playboi Carti have been linked since the summer of 2018 and have had what many would describe as an on-and-off relationship.
'He is not a secret, and I love him beyond words': Earlier this month, Iggy confirmed on Instagram that she gave birth to a son sometime this year
They endured a brief breakup in December of last year - with Iggy declaring on Instagram that she was 'single' - but they reconciled shortly after.
Since announcing the birth of her son, fans have been scouring through Iggy's various social media pages and musical projects in an attempt to uncover any and all clues about her pregnancy.
Meanwhile, Iggy's producer J. White recently confirmed that the new mother is back in the studio working on a new single.
Sleuths: Since announcing the birth of her son, fans have been scouring through Iggy's various social media pages and musical projects in an attempt to uncover any and all clues about her pregnancy. Iggy pictured on Instagram on May 25
Speaking to Popcrave this month, White said that Iggy has been 'laser focused' on bringing her fans some new music.
'Iggy is definitely working!' he said. 'We got some special things coming.'
He continued: 'I dont really know as far as a release date for a single, but what I do know is that with me and Iggy, shes so laser focused on getting the people something fresh, something new.
'We had a conversation on where we need to go as far as sound and how she feels. I really, for months now, have been working on the perfect taste for Iggy,' he added.
LIGO-Virgo finds mystery object in 'mass gap'
When the most massive stars die, they collapse under their own gravity and leave behind black holes; when stars that are a bit less massive die, they explode in supernovas and leave behind dense, dead remnants of stars called neutron stars. For decades, astronomers have been puzzled by a gap that lies between neutron stars and black holes: the heaviest known neutron star is no more than 2.5 times the mass of our sun, or 2.5 solar masses, and the lightest known black hole is about 5 solar masses. The question remained: does anything lie in this so-called mass gap?
Now, in a new study from the National Science Foundation's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the Virgo detector in Europe, scientists have announced the discovery of an object of 2.6 solar masses, placing it firmly in the mass gap. The object was found on August 14, 2019, as it merged with a black hole of 23 solar masses, generating a splash of gravitational waves detected back on Earth by LIGO and Virgo. A paper about the detection is being published today, June 23, in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
"We've been waiting decades to solve this mystery" says co-author Vicky Kalogera, a professor at Northwestern University. "We don't know if this object is the heaviest known neutron star, or the lightest known black hole, but either way it breaks a record."
"This is going to change how scientists talk about neutron stars and black holes," says co-author Patrick Brady, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration spokesperson. "The mass gap may in fact not exist at all but may have been due to limitations in observational capabilities. Time and more observations will tell."
The cosmic merger described in the study, an event dubbed GW190814, resulted in a final black hole about 25 times the mass of the sun (some of the merged mass was converted to a blast of energy in the form of gravitational waves). The newly formed black hole lies about 800 million light-years away from Earth.
Before the two objects merged, their masses differed by a factor of 9, making this the most extreme mass ratio known for a gravitational-wave event. Another recently reported LIGO-Virgo event, called GW190412, occurred between two black holes with a mass ratio of about 4:1.
"It's a challenge for current theoretical models to form merging pairs of compact objects with such a large mass ratio in which the low-mass partner resides in the mass gap. This discovery implies these events occur much more often than we predicted, making this a really intriguing low-mass object," explains Kalogera. "The mystery object may be a neutron star merging with a black hole, an exciting possibility expected theoretically but not yet confirmed observationally. However, at 2.6 times the mass of our sun, it exceeds modern predictions for the maximum mass of neutron stars, and may instead be the lightest black hole ever detected."
When the LIGO and Virgo scientists spotted this merger, they immediately sent out an alert to the astronomical community. Dozens of ground- and space-based telescopes followed up in search of light waves generated in the event, but none picked up any signals. So far, such light counterparts to gravitational-wave signals have been seen only once, in an event called GW170817. That event, discovered by the LIGO-Virgo network in August of 2017, involved a fiery collision between two neutron stars that was subsequently witnessed by dozens of telescopes on Earth and in space. Neutron star collisions are messy affairs with matter flung outward in all directions and are thus expected to shine with light. Conversely, black hole mergers, in most circumstances, are thought not to produce light.
According to the LIGO and Virgo scientists, the August 2019 event was not seen by light-based telescopes for a few possible reasons. First, this event was six times farther away than the merger observed in 2017, making it harder to pick up any light signals. Secondly, if the collision involved two black holes, it likely would have not shone with any light. Thirdly, if the object was in fact a neutron star, its 9-fold more massive black-hole partner might have swallowed it whole; a neutron star consumed whole by a black hole would not give off any light.
"I think of Pac-Man eating a little dot," says Kalogera. "When the masses are highly asymmetric, the smaller neutron star can be eaten in one bite."
How will researchers ever know if the mystery object was a neutron star or a black hole? Future observations with LIGO, Virgo, and possibly other telescopes may catch similar events that would help reveal whether additional objects exist in the mass gap.
"This is the first glimpse of what could be a whole new population of compact binary objects," says Charlie Hoy, a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and a graduate student at Cardiff University. "What is really exciting is that this is just the start. As the detectors get more and more sensitive, we will observe even more of these signals, and we will be able to pinpoint the populations of neutron stars and black holes in the universe."
"The mass gap has been an interesting puzzle for decades, and now we've detected an object that fits just inside it," says Pedro Marronetti, program director for gravitational physics at the National Science Foundation (NSF). "That cannot be explained without defying our understanding of extremely dense matter or what we know about the evolution of stars. This observation is yet another example of the transformative potential of the field of gravitational-wave astronomy, which brings novel insights with every new detection."
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Webinar Series
For those wishing for a deeper dive into these LIGO-Virgo results and other research from the latest observing run, the team has scheduled a webinar intended for a scientific audience. Called the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Webinar Series, this will be the first in a series of webinars discussing the gravitational-wave network's results in-depth. The one-hour Zoom webinar will be on June 25 at 14:00 Universal Time Coordinated (7:00am Pacific Daylight Time; 10:00am Eastern Daylight Time; 16:00 Central European Summer Time; 23:00 Japan Standard Time).
To register, visit: https:/ / zoom. us/ webinar/ register/ 3315925939436/ WN_rsJximZ8R36WqZnMH16IrA
The Zoom webinar will also be live streamed and a recording will be available upon request.
Additional information about the gravitational-wave observatories:
LIGO is funded by the NSF and operated by Caltech and MIT, which conceived of LIGO and lead the project. Financial support for the Advanced LIGO project was led by the NSF with Germany (Max Planck Society), the U.K. (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and Australia (Australian Research Council-OzGrav) making significant commitments and contributions to the project. Approximately 1,300 scientists from around the world participate in the effort through the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration. A list of additional partners is available at https:/ / my. ligo. org/ census. php .
The Virgo Collaboration is currently composed of approximately 550 members from 106 institutes in 12 different countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) hosts the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy, and is funded by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy, and Nikhef in the Netherlands. A list of the Virgo Collaboration groups can be found at http://public. virgo-gw. eu/ the-virgo-collaboration/ . More information is available on the Virgo website at http://www. virgo-gw. eu .
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Regrouping after a humbling weekend rally, President Donald Trump faces another test of his ability to draw a crowd during a pandemic Tuesday as he visits Arizona and tries to remind voters of one of his key 2016 campaign promises.
Trumps weekend rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had been meant to be a sign of the nations reopening and a show of political force but instead generated thousands of empty seats and swirling questions about the presidents campaign leadership and his case for another four years in office. The low turnout has sharpened the focus on Trumps visit to Arizona, which doubles as both a 2020 battleground state and a surging coronavirus hotspot.
First, the president will travel to Yuma to mark the construction of more than 200 miles of wall along the US-Mexico border, an issue that he built his campaign on four years ago. Later, hell address a group of young Republicans at a Phoenix megachurch, where event organizers have pledged thousands will attend.
Throughout the trip, the Covid-19 pandemic will shadow Trump. The Democratic mayor of Phoenix made clear that she does not believe the speech can be safely held in her city and urged the president to wear a face mask.
Everyone attending tomorrows event, particularly any elected official, should set an example to residents by wearing a mask, said Mayor Kate Gallego. This includes the President.
Trump has refused to wear a mask in public, instead turning it into a red-vs.-blue cultural issue. Polling suggests that Republican are far less likely to wear a face covering than Democrats despite health experts warnings that it dramatically reduces the risk of transmitting the virus.
The Students for Trump event will be held at the Dream City Church and broadcast to groups across the nation. It is being hosted by Turning Point USA, a group founded by Trump ally Charlie Kirk. Organizers said health and safety measures still were being finalized and it was not clear if attendees would be asked to wear masks or keep socially distant.
Since late May, Arizona has emerged as one of the nations most active hotspots for the spread of Covid-19. Use of hospitals, intensive care units and ventilators has set daily records over the past week.
Photos of restaurants and bars crowded with unmasked patrons ignited controversy. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, a Trump supporter, reversed himself last week and allowed cities and counties to require people to wear masks in public places. Most have, including Phoenix and Yuma and the counties that surround them.
Arizona is seeing disturbing trends in several benchmarks, including the percentage of tests that prove positive for the virus, which is the highest in the nation.
The states positive test rate is at a seven-day average of 20.4%, well above the national average of 8.4% and the 10% level that public health officials say is a problem.
Campaign officials are still assessing the fallout from low turnout in Tulsa amid concern about the virus.
Campaign officials stressed that rallies would remain a staple of the presidents reelection strategy but allowed that they may, in certain states, need to change slightly. Discussions were under way about having them in more modest venues or outdoors, perhaps in airplane hangers and amphitheaters, or in smaller cities away from likely protesters.
But officials believe that Trumps ability to draw thousands of supporters out during a pandemic sets up a favorable contrasting image with Democratic rival Joe Biden. Still, the campaign has struggled to find effective attack lines on Biden.
Biden, like Trump, has had struggles with young voters but the former vice presidents campaign has expressed hope that the national protests against racial injustice may change that.
Trumps visit to the Phoenix megachurch will come on the same day that Pence kicks off a faith-centered tour, highlighting the central position that religious conservatives - particularly white evangelicals, but also right-leaning Catholics - continue to occupy in the presidents base. Yet even as Trumps campaign overtly courts religious voters, there are signs of softening support among voting blocs the president cant afford to lose.
A poll released earlier this month by the nonprofit Public Religion Research Institute found that the share of white Catholics viewing Trump favorably had fallen by double digits since last year, measuring 37% in the last week of May compared with 49% across 2019. The same poll found Trumps favorability among white evangelicals at 62% in May, a level comparable to 2019s but 15% less than it was in March.
Trumps focus on construction of his long-promised border wall also is meant to shore up support with his most loyal supporters.
His administration has promised to build 450 miles by the end of the year, but thats not very likely. The government has awarded more than $6.1 billion in construction contracts since April 2019 for various projects along the border. It has also waived procurement rules that critics say make the process of awarding multi-million dollar contracts secretive and opaque.
The White House this month floated a theory that travel from Mexico may be contributing to a new wave of coronavirus infections, rather than states efforts to reopen their economies. It was not clear that the evidence supports the theory.
Trumps first visit to the border in more than a year comes a day after another hardline immigration move. The Trump administration said Monday that it was 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.
The administration cast the effort as a way to free up jobs in an economy reeling from the coronavirus.
When Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf took office in 2015, she offered a simple but powerful pledge for a city scarred by violent crime: She would boost the tattered police force to 800 officers.
Today shes within arms length of that goal, after inching up from 722 officers to 792 even as the department pushed through a sexual misconduct scandal, cycled through chief after chief, and endured the scrutiny of a federal court monitor.
But now, the mayor and other leaders face a new challenge. Across the city, activists are loudly rallying to defund the police, organizing protests, and marching to Schaafs and council members houses. Though criticism of law enforcement has long been a staple of Oakland politics, its suddenly gained momentum, part of a national reckoning after the death of George Floyd.
In this current moment, we dont sound so radical any more, said Cat Brooks, co-founder of the Anti Police-Terror Project, who spent the last five years speaking at City Council meetings and leading demonstrations to agitate for police budget cuts. She ran unsuccessfully against Schaaf for mayor in 2018.
Sarahbeth Maney / The Chronicle
Supporters of the movement want to strip half of Oaklands police budget some $150 million and divert it to community services, social workers, and teachers. They have the ear of some council members, one of whom proposed a $25 million cut to the Police Department next year, calling it the first step toward the more ambitious goal of slashing the police budget in half.
I believe we can get to $25 million today in this current budget cycle, then set a goal toward a larger reduction and a plan that will allow us to reimagine how we do community policing, Councilwoman Nikki Fortunato Bas told The Chronicle.
She introduced her budget amendment during an eight-hour City Council meeting last week, in which police became the focal point of a painful discussion about Oaklands financial health. The City Council is set to approve the budget on June 30, in a moment of social upheaval and economic crisis.
Pressure to defund the police has created a political quandary for city leaders in Oakland, some of whom promised for years to reform and beef up the Police Department, but who also acknowledge the raw emotions over police killings of Black men and women. To further complicate the debate, Oakland is already grappling with extensive cuts to city services in the wake of COVID-19.
Some City Council members say now is not the time to hastily lacerate a department, even if they support the philosophical idea of defunding and want to keep the $150 million goal in sight.
Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
If were really having a conversation about reducing the police budget by 50%, then I want to have that conversation, Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney said. But were not going to do that work in 10 days.
As fury from activists grew more intense, the city released a proposal Friday to shave about $12 million from the Police Department. In a memo to the City Council, Bas suggested a means to come up with the difference: reduce overtime and freeze vacant positions. She cited city data showing 51 sworn officer vacancies and 55 open civilian jobs within the department, some of which could be trimmed, the councilwoman wrote.
With the money saved, Bas would fund a variety of services. She requested $5 million for community ambassadors; $2.5 million for violence prevention in schools; $1 million for victims of human trafficking; $800,000 for investigators to review cases of police misconduct; $500,000 for mental health; and $300,000 for a process to rethink safety in Oakland. Bas then instructed the city to devise a road map to chop police funding in half in its next two-year budget.
Council President Rebecca Kaplan applauded the $25 million reduction, and submitted her own spreadsheet with $20 million in possible savings, such as hiring police laid off from other departments, instead of new recruits who need more training. She said that with a little creativity, the city could reach Bas $25 million target.
Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle
I think its important for people to understand that when we say we do not want to rely on police for every response, were not saying there should be no one you can call, Kaplan argued. Lets have appropriate, trained responders for every particular need.
Schaaf, however, was not convinced. She agrees with Bas and other City Council members that many law enforcement duties could be accomplished by unarmed civilian professionals. San Francisco Mayor London Breed recently announced plans to remove sworn officers from noncriminal calls, including school discipline interventions, behavioral health crises and disputes between neighbors. Schaaf said Oakland is on track to make similar reforms.
Yet significantly defunding the Police Department is not the answer, the mayor argued.
Even with my efforts to bring our sworn staffing up a little bit ... Oakland still has the lowest officer-per-crime ratio of any department in America, she said during an interview Wednesday. She stressed that more cuts would compromise our commitment to equity, given that Oaklands lower income, predominantly African American and Latino neighborhoods suffer from higher crime.
Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.
In a city of deep divisions, the desire for safer streets and a stronger police presence still seems to have broad support. When the force reached a low point of 615 officers in 2013, residents of the hills above Interstate 580 got so frustrated that they hired private armed security guards to patrol their neighborhoods. Crime overwhelmed the more working-class flatlands, where people live with the constant threat of shootings, witness human trafficking on International Boulevard, and hear the screech of cars doing doughnuts on residential streets, often without a police officer in sight.
Sarahbeth Maney / The Chronicle
The level of need and demand for police has outstripped our resources on every measure: crimes per capita, crimes per officer just pick anything, said Barry Donelan, president of the Oakland Police Officers Association. He added that homelessness, mental health and public safety are all righteous things that need to be funded ... but the proposal is to fund one by defunding the other.
Even as the Police Department staffed up, residents complained about slow response times to lower-level crimes such as burglaries. The recent string of anti-police protests didnt help merchants harangued the mayor and City Council after vandals smashed windows and looted buildings, and the police didnt intervene in time to stop it.
We had more than 30 businesses vandalized, said Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. Bas district includes Chinatown, and many constituents there are skeptical of any plans to reduce police funding, Chan said.
Yet an equally passionate crowd has mobilized to slash police funding, and it includes some of the folks who may have hired security guards to patrol their streets seven years ago, Brooks said.
Speaking from a Juneteenth rally on Friday which was replete with Defund the Police signs Brooks was breathless.
It grew throughout a five-year campaign, and exploded astronomically this year, she said. Its a whole new day.
Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@rachelswan
Ashanti Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sam Pyne has called on the party members and supporters to lay aside their pains and rally behind the elected Parliamentary candidates as the party prepares towards the 2020 elections.
Sam Pyne urged the defeated aspirants in the just-ended NPP Primaries not to lose hope in the party but keep persevering, assuring them there are better days ahead.
The NPP Primaries were held on Saturday, June 20, 2020 with 308 aspirants contesting in various constituencies across the nation.
Over 100000 delegates decided the fate of the aspirants, casting their votes for the candidates they desire to represent the party in Parliament.
Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', the NPP Ashanti Regional Secretary called for peace and unity in the party.
"They should have hope and know that if it didn't go well yesterday, there will be a better tomorrow. Because there are people who couldn't make it some time ago but they kept persevering till it was well for them; so let's be hopeful and know that we're one party and one people with a common goal...Let's put aside every pain and share in every joy, and realize that we're one big political party."
Sam Pyne also advised the winners to humble themselves and learn from the experienced Members of Parliament should they make their way into the house of Legislature.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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The US Navy can win in conflict but a new strategy to account for a 100% win is needed, but replacing ships in combat needs to be addressed immediately.
According to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. David Berger, there should be some changes to the current strategy of amphibious ships which can win in a conflict, but not 100% foolproof. One other concern is how fast shipyards can fix and replace damaged ships, reported in Breaking Defense.
This is was issued by Berger, who is concerned about how the marine corps may need to change aspects of training and getting equipment. Another is to improve the coordination of all services with allied nations.
He said that current cold war-style warfare might not be enough to counter the threat of missiles from inland locations. China has invested in missile defenses, knowing that it cannot stand with America toes to toes. One concern is that Americans can land a knockout punch, but not without getting hurt, as mentioned in Asia Times.
In a report, authored by Berger "Naval Campaigning: The 2020 Marine Corps Capstone Operating Concept," that gives the method for the Marine Corp and Navy how to fight a battle with an entrench PLA, PLAN that will not engage US firepower directly. Instead, fight the US with more ships and missiles, but not get down in a direct line of sight battle.
Another innovation according to Berger is for amphibious warships and maritime prepositioning ships with emphasis on warfighting ability. Big ships are good but are too but expensive to maintain, but smaller mobile force will be the future.
He also added that the US might be outstripped in replacing and repairing ships, in limited conflicts.
Also read: China Thinks US Navy's Three Aircraft Carriers Are Merely for Show, Although It Threatens Them
One of the concerns is the speed of US shipwrights might not be fast enough compared to that of China and other US enemies. After World War II, the US got lackadaisical and lost the industrial advantage, cited in Forbes.
One example is the slowdown in naval shipyards that were hampered by the pandemic, and a need for 1,600 reservists to work on aircraft carriers and subs. All the effort just to get the hardware out to sea, as fast as possible.
Berger avoids blaming the navy in having a craft that carries marines slowly to the destination on the globe.
According to him, these ships were built with specific requirements that are from a different era, for its time they were just right with finite resources.
What the Marines want are smaller naval ships that will carry them into striking range with a hard punch into US enemies. Preference for smaller mobile ships than the bigger flotilla now, mentioned in Reuters.
Dakota Wood, a senior research fellow for defense programs said smaller ships are a problem, saying where will all equipment be stowed in these smaller ships.
There are plans for a logistics ship that can creep under fire of presumably Chinese precision weapons. This is a Next Generation Medium Logistics Ship that will resupply at sea and bases anywhere.
It is within Berger's vision to have several Marine Littoral Regiments, for fast deployments and anti-air, anti-ship armaments. These Marine and Navy units might get 30 Light Amphibious Warships soon, but smaller and mobile.
One thing apparent is a unified naval strategy that needs to be addressed. Recently, Mark Esper did not agree to a paper submitted on the subject in 2020 recently. Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist will review it soon, and release it in fall.
Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch, head of Warfighting Development office declined to comment at reporter's request.
Related article: Three US Navy Aircraft Carriers Dispatched in the Pacific Causing Chaos in Beijing
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Over the last couple weeks, I've seen numerous people being "canceled."
This is when an individual, at some point in their life, has shared a questionable or controversial opinion. Then, as a result, they are then often ostracized or ridiculed. Keep in mind, this isn't as a result of committing a felony or even a misdemeanor.
This comes from people expressing their own opinion, belief or take on a situation. When this happens, some are shunned from social circles, others from educational peers and institutions and a few are even terminated from their current employment.
How is this different than treating a convicted felon? Felons at times lose their friends, and even the accusation itself can be enough for job termination. In no way is this to say that these instances are exactly the same.
However, the idea of cancel culture is just that. Taking a moment of a person's life, whether today or years ago, and in some way punishing them for it -- not as result of them breaking any laws against the state mind you, but by stating ones own opinion.
If I could tell you one story about Chester Uplands public schools, it would be about our students who, despite the adversities they face, come into school every day with a burning desire to learn and grow.
These students are strong and brilliant and they deserve success.
I am proud to teach them and to work alongside colleagues who bring an unmatched enthusiasm to the classroom as we introduce students to new worlds of learning.
That is why we are so troubled by the push to convert some or all of our neighborhood schools to charter schools. Charterization of our district would upend the work of dedicated teachers and support staff in our public schools, and that could undermine the academic progress our students are making. This is the last thing we should be doing.
Many of Chester Uplands educators grew up in this community and are committed to it. They are making a difference for our communitys children and are dedicated to their success.
That connection between teachers and students is incredibly important. A charter takeover of Chester Upland will force those students to switch schools, either by physically changing buildings or by substantially changing the character of a school within the same building. This will disrupt key relationships with teachers and peers. Researchers tell us that even one school move can decrease student achievement scores and graduation rates.
In the case of Chester Upland schools, a charter takeover could also set back the academic progress that our students have been making in recent years particularly in the area of English language arts.
Over the last four years, a growing share of our students scored at or above proficient on the English language arts PSSAs. The biggest increase came after our district invested in a new K-6 literacy program and diagnostic assessments and interventions in 2017-18.
Converting district schools to charter schools could set back students academic gains in English language arts and put at risk new investments in the mathematic curriculum made in the recently completed school year.
Rather than closing district schools and expanding charter schools, lets focus on what works. Positive investments in the districts academic programs are beginning to bear fruit. Uprooting students now could undermine this progress.
We need to equip our schools, educators, and support staff with adequate resources and the supports they need to do what we do best teach students.
Yes, Chester Uplands schools face serious challenges. Its clear that we need and our kids deserve more resources. Today, our school district sends more than $50 million of state funding to charter schools. Even with those desperately needed dollars leaving our schools, we still make spending decisions focused on teaching and learning and our student outcomes are moving up. Taking even more money out of our classrooms wont improve matters. It will make the situation far, far worse.
Chester Uplands students deserve the opportunity to learn in the public schools that have educated this communitys children for generations. But if we convert most of our public schools to charters, our community will no longer have that option. We will lose a public good that belongs to our community our public schools. Once we lose those schools, we will never get them back.
So, I ask you to show your support for saving Chester Uplands public schools. Our students are remarkable, and they are going to do great things with their lives. Lets give them a chance to stick with the educators and support staff who know them well and care about them.
Go to www.psea.org/savechesteruplandschools to learn more and to sign up for updates. Join us as we lift up the story of our students.
Dariah Jackson is a Chester resident and teaches third- to fifth-grade life skills support at Stetser Elementary School in the Chester Upland School District.
I know that others in the Russian government have suggested this idea, but we dont trade people, Sullivan said last Monday. We focus on individual justice. There have been certain individuals, Russian citizens, whove been tried and convicted in federal court in the United States in public trials, with defense counsel of their own choosing, subject to all of our constitutional protections of due process. . . .
Feeding Students and Covid Survivors
Food Gatherers expands the reach of its summer food service program
by Maggie McMillin
Published in June, 2020
Summer is the hungriest time of year for many children and teens. There are an estimated 5,300 food-insecure kids in Washtenaw County, and when schools close, they no longer have access to National School Lunch and Breakfast programs.
With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the need is even greater this year.
In a statement to Flintside.com, Food Gatherers President and CEO Eileen Spring discussed this uptick in need. "When the stay-at-home order was first issued, pretty much overnight we lost a huge portion of our regular food supply as well as our labor force," she says. Picked-over grocery stores had less leftover food to offer up for collection, and many volunteers were older or otherwise high-risk. Spring also notes that food pantries around the county are reporting increases in the number of people seeking assistance. Depending on location, traffic is up anywhere from 30 percent to 300 percent--and 40 percent of those seeking assistance are new clients who've never needed emergency food services before.
The pandemic also shut down Grillin' for Food Gatherers, the fundraising that raises an estimated $250,000 each year. But local partners, businesses, and volunteers continue to support the organization's efforts. Washtenaw Community College donated the contents of its campus pantry, Michigan Medicine created a drive-up donation site for food and PPE, and the People's Food Co-op recently donated $4,000. Food Gatherer's Covid fundraising campaign successfully met its $50,000 match, and has since increased the match to $70,000.
On June 29, Food Gatherers kicked off its Summer Food Service Program, which serves free meals to kids and teens. Backed by a $140,000 donation, they're offering grab-and-go meals at twenty-two sites around the county. "This year, many more families are experiencing reduced or lost income as a result of the pandemic," says community food programs coordinator LeRonica Robert. "The Summer Food Service Program makes it easy for families to safely pick up and take home meals so that parents
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can focus on other important things and not worry where their children's next meal will come from."Food Gatherers is also working with the Hope Clinic and St. Joe's hospital to provide staple dry goods and regional produce to recently discharged Covid-19 patients. Hope food programs manager Emmeline Weinert notes that discharged patients who are already experiencing food insecurity have a harder time staying healthy. Citing a 2017 report that found "people who experience discrimination are almost twice as likely as others to struggle with hunger," Food Gatherers recently shared a Feeding America statement on social media that reads, "to end hunger, we must also work to dismantle systemic racism, which is at the root of inequities in health, hunger, and economic opportunity."Food Gatherers's food pantries and meal programs are available to anyone in need, no questions asked. See foodgathers.org for information on how to get help, or how to help by volunteering or donating money, food, or personal care items. [Originally published in June, 2020.]
BERLINWhen Insp. Martin Halweg was a young cadet, his class met a Holocaust survivor who had spent almost four years in a Berlin attic hiding from the Nazis and from police officers like him.
He described what it felt like running from the police, his fear, his absolute terror, said Halweg, who was only 16 when he started training in 1992.
Hearing this first-hand, he said, changes you as a person and changes you as a police officer.
Visiting a former concentration camp is mandatory for every future police officer in Berlin. It is one of the ways in which policing was fundamentally overhauled in Germany after the Second World War. Cadets are taught in unsparing detail about the shameful legacy of policing under the Nazis and how it informs the mission and institution of policing today.
After the war, we had to start from scratch, said Klaus Weinhauer, a historian and police expert at Bielefeld University. The country had to break with its history and so did the police.
Germans have applied the lessons of their unique and horrid history to every aspect of their postwar democracy, not least to how they police their country. Those changes were partly imposed on Germany after the war and took decades to work their way through attitudes and institutions. But over time they have become pillars of German identity.
You cannot compare the history of policing in America to the history of German policing under the Nazis, said Weinhauer, the historian.
But as Americans debate the need to rethink their own law enforcement in the wake of George Floyds death under a white police officers knee, Germanys experience may offer insight into what it takes to redesign institutions to prevent a painful past from repeating itself.
In Germanys case, the greatest preoccupation among the United States, its Allies and Germans themselves was that the countrys police force never again be militarized, politicized and used as a cudgel by an authoritarian state.
So they set out to fashion a postwar force with decentralized responsibility to avoid letting a single agency become too powerful. The privacy of citizens was rigorously protected, and the police and military were strictly separated.
Even today, law enforcement in Germany is in the hands of the 16 states, not the national government, a system that can be cumbersome and imperfect, especially when dealing with modern-day challenges like terrorism.
But its safeguards have earned the respect of Germans. Police officers are required to pass a rigorous multi-year curriculum with history and Germanys liberal democratic constitution at its core. The bedrock of public safety in Germany is a strategy of communication and de-escalation.
There is no German FBI
Under the Nazis, the police were a central tool of an all-powerful state. Police officers rounded up political enemies, deported Jews, guarded ghettos and murdered. Some 30 police battalions helped kill more than one million people on the eastern front.
After the Second World War, the Western Allies had three priorities in West Germany, said Weinhauer, the historian: democratize, de-Nazify and demilitarize.
The most notorious branch of the police under the Nazis was the Gestapo, the secret state police, which spied on citizens and also had the power to arrest. In the Communist East, the Stasi later also combined both powers into a terrifying instrument of oppression by the state.
Germanys democratic postwar constitution includes a strict separation of powers: The Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the countrys domestic intelligence agency, cannot make arrests while the police have limited surveillance powers. The two are barred from exchanging information outside a dedicated counterterrorism forum.
There is no such thing as an FBI in Germany, Weinhauer said.
But, he added, It took many years until the police forces had learned to critically reflect on their own involvement in the Holocaust.
Demilitarize and civilize
In Georgia, becoming a police officer takes as little as 11 weeks.
Thats completely unthinkable in Germany, Halweg said.
Most U.S. police academies require only a high school diploma or associate degree and courses rarely run longer than the six months required in New York City.
Even the more elaborate training courses fall far short of Germanys minimum standards in terms of entry requirements, length and intensity.
Before they even start, applicants have to pass personality and intelligence tests, said Margarete Koppers, Berlins attorney general, who previously ran the Berlin police force.
Once accepted, training in Germany takes at least 2 1/2 years at an academy. Cadets are not just taught how to handle a gun but obliged to take classes in law, ethics and police history. When they graduate they are rewarded with high trust levels in society and civil servant status that guarantees decent pay and job security.
In another postwar innovation, German police officers do not handle minor infractions like parking tickets and noise ordinances, which are handled by uniformed but unarmed city employees.
This was an idea of the Allies, they wanted to demilitarize and civilize police matters, said Ralf Poscher, director for the department of public law at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law.
More than seven decades later, that early ambition of demilitarization has morphed into a broad-based strategy of de-escalation that has become the bedrock of modern German policing.
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The Finance Ministry has released data on the loans sanctioned under the Rs 3 lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for the MSME sector. The ministry said that public and private sector banks have cumulatively sanctioned Rs 75,426 crore under the scheme. The sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Nirmala Sitharaman said in a tweet on Monday, "The total amount sanctioned under the 100% Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme by PSBs and private banks stands at Rs 75,426.39 crore, of which Rs 32,894.86 crore has already been disbursed."
She said that out of the Rs 75,426 crore, Rs 42,739.12 crore have been sanctioned by PSBs while private banks sanctioned Rs 32,687.27 crore. PSBs have disbursed Rs 22,197.54 crore, while private banks have disbursed Rs 10,697.33 crore.
Under the 100% ECLGS, the loan amounts sanctioned by Public Sector Banks increased to Rs 42,739.12 crore, of which Rs 22,197.54 crore has been disbursed. Here are the bank-wise & State-wise details. #AatmanirbharBharat #MSMEs pic.twitter.com/vbjYKYQ2Ez NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) June 22, 2020
The ECLGS is the biggest fiscal component of the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package announced to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
When it comes to banks, State Bank of India has sanctioned Rs 16,234 crore and disbursed Rs 10,960 crore so far. Bank of Baroda has sanctioned Rs 5,666 crore and disbursed Rs 1,719 crore so far. Punjab National Bank has sanctioned Rs 4,800 crore and disbursed Rs 1,493 crore. Canara Bank has sanctioned Rs 4,171 crore and disbursed Rs 2,132 crore so far.
Also read: Save MSMEs campaign! Easier access to Rs 3 lakh crore loan scheme, GST rebate among top demands
Tamil Nadu has received the highest cumulative disbursement of Rs 2,625 crore, followed by Maharashtra at Rs 1,883 crore and Gujarat at Rs 1,739 crore. The highest amount has been sanctioned for Gujarat at Rs 4,309 crore, followed by Maharashtra at Rs 4,146 crore and Tamil Nadu at Rs 4,144.50 crore.
Under the ECLGS scheme, 100 per cent guarantee coverage will be provided by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) for additional funding of up to Rs 3 lakh crore to eligible MSMEs and MUDRA borrowers. The Cabinet had approved additional funding of up to Rs 3 lakh crore at a concessional rate of 9.25 per cent through ECLGS for the MSME sector on May 21.
Also read: Don't boycott China, say MSMEs! Input cost will shoot 40%
Also read: MSME credit guarantee scheme suffers as banks fear NPAs
New Delhi: Discussions on cancelling remaining Class 10 and 12 board exams are at an advanced stage and a final decision in this regard is likely to be made on Wednesday, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
CBSE on May 18 issued a notification on holding the examinations that were put on hold two months earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari, and Sanjiv Khanna said they will wait for CBSEs decision and posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.
Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, who appeared for the Indian School Certificate Examination (ICSE), told the court they would like to know what CBSE decides before deciding what to do.
The bench told Gupta, In the interest of the children, if the government takes a decision for CBSE, it should be adopted by you too. You must take this seriously as we are in an unprecedented situation.
The Supreme Court last week asked CBSE, which is scheduled to conduct the exams from July 1 to 15, to consider scrapping the exams. The suggestion came in response to a plea from a group of parents, who have sought the cancellation of the exams citing the Covid-19 pandemic.
In their plea, the parents cited the pandemic and said conducting the examinations across over 15,000 centres would unnecessarily expose children to the risk of contracting Covid-19. It asked CBSE to allot marks to students for the remaining papers on the basis of their internal assessment and performance in practicals and examinations they took in March. The petitioners pointed out tat CBSE had cancelled Class 10 and 12 board examinations for students enrolled at 250 odd schools abroad.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for CBSE, said discussions on this are at an advanced stage. We will apprise the court by Thursday. By tomorrow [Wednesday], it will be finalised.
Advocate Rishi Malhotra, who represented the petitioners, said CBSE should not delay the decision any further as anxiety among students was increasing with every passing day.
The bench also asked Mehta to take instructions with regard to another petition seeking the cancellation of ICSE Class 10 and 12 papers exams scheduled from July 2-11.
Mehta told the court ICSE is an autonomous board and the Centre cannot take a decision on its behalf.
Gupta told the court that ICSE would follow the decision of CBSE. Let this matter be heard along with CBSE petition on Thursday. He said a petition in this regard was also pending in the Bombay High Court .
The states of Maharashtra, Delhi and Odisha have asked CBSE to scrap the exams.
CAY Hill:--- Staff of St. Maarten Medical Center joined the protest march organized by the Chamber of Labor Unions on Monday.
SMN News learned that the appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Marco Meuleman who also holds two other positions namely Head of Human Resource and also Head of the IT department.
For the first time in years, the staff of SMMC participated in such protest, which began in the hallway of the SMMC after joined the protest as they marched from the WIFOL building through Front and Back Street then to the Little League Ballpark.
Currently, the Windward Islands Health Care unions and its shop stewards are in a meeting where they intend to give the Board of SMMC and the CFO an ultimatum where he must resign from two of the positions he is holding within 48 hours.
SMN News further understands that the grievances at SMMC mounted when the CFO decided he will fire local workers from their position.
So far management of SMMC has not reacted to the protest action undertaken by the staff of SMMC.
Motsi Mabuse celebrated her third wedding anniversary on Monday, marking the special day by sharing wedding snaps with her fans.
The Strictly Come Dancing judge married her former dance partner Evgenij Voznyuk in 2017.
Celebrating the anniversary, Motsi shared a sweet video of herself in her wedding dress dancing down a tree-lined path, before adding more snaps from the big day, where her Strictly dancer sister Oti served as bridesmaid.
Memories: Motsi Mabuse celebrated her third wedding anniversary with husband Evgenij Voznyuk on Monday, marking the special day by sharing wedding snaps with her fans
Posting on her Instagram, Motsi shared a video from the day of her legal ceremony, as she wowed in a one-shouldered white dress and carried a small bouquet of flowers.
The video shows Motsi with her heels kicked off, dancing barefoot on the path while beaming at the camera.
The video also featured a photo of Motsi and Evgenij kissing as they were legally pronounced husband and wife.
'There is no remedy for love but to love more. Happy anniversary mr @evgenijvoznyuk!!!! Through thick and thin, you and me !!! ,' she captioned the post.
Happiness: Celebrating the anniversary, Motsi shared a sweet video of herself in her wedding dress dancing down a tree-lined path
On her Stories, Motsi shared a photo from her wedding day as she reflected on the bond she shares with her sisters, Phemelo and Oti, who were also her bridesmaids.
'The bond,' she captioned the post, showing the three sisterss standing in front of a full-length mirror ahead of the wedding ceremony.
Motsi is wearing another beautiful dress in the photo, this time a low-cut lace gown with a floral headband.
Sweet: 'There is no remedy for love but to love more. Happy anniversary mr @evgenijvoznyuk!!!! Through thick and thin, you and me !!!' she said
Since marrying Motsi and Evgenij have welcomed their 22-month-old daughter, whose name she has never publicly revealed.
Last year Motsi revealed she understands the Strictly curse after breaking off her 11-year marriage to be with her 'best friend' and dancing partner in 2014.
Motsi married her first love Timo Kulczak, 42, when she was just 22.
But over a decade later the couple called it quits when Motsi realised she wanted to be with her dance partner Evgenij, who she wed in 2017, as she told The Sun: 'Three years later whoosh! And then I was married'.
'Bond': On her Stories, Motsi shared a photo from her wedding day as she reflected on the bond she shares with her sisters, Phemelo and Oti, who were also her bridesmaids
Strictly star: ast year Motsi revealed she understands the Strictly curse after breaking off her 11-year marriage to be with her 'best friend' and dancing partner in 2014
South African-born Motsi and Evgenij won German Latin American title in 2013, before retiring after a final Rumba on Germany's version of Strictly.
The candid star admitted: 'We stopped and it was then that we realised that we wanted to do more than just dance together.'
She described her beau as her 'best friend' and revealed they have a 'deep honesty'.
So she has an element of understanding of the so-called Strictly curse - where professional and celebrity dance partnerships develop romantic feelings during the course of the show.
Motsi laughed: 'You know, if you work in this sort of world, adult things happen. Everyone goes for a drink and, whoops-a-daisy!'
The State Bank of India (SBI) has called for online applications from qualified Indian nationals, fresher as well as experienced, for filling Sixty Four (64) vacancies - fresh and backlog, in the Wealth Management Business Unit in capacity as Relationship Managers, Investment Officers (IO), Project Development Manager (Technology), Central Research Team (Support), Central Research Team (Portfolio Analysis & Data Analytics) and Head (Product, Investment & Research) on contract through direct recruitment to be posted in Mumbai or at the SBI units/branches in across India. The online application-cum-registration process towards the same starts from June 23, 2020 and closes on July 13, 2020.
CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Relationship Managers, Investment Officers, etc. posts Organisation State Bank of India (SBI) Educational Qualification Bachelors Degree; Graduation/Post-Graduation in Commerce, Finance, Economics, Management, Mathematics Statistics; MBA/PGDM/Post graduation in Statistics/Data Analytics; MBA/MMS/PGDM/M.E/M.Tech/B.E/B.Tech in concerned discipline Experience As detailed in the advertisement Skills Required Desirable Job Location Mumbai, India Salary Scale As per the SBI norms Industry Banking Application Start Date June 23, 2020 Application End Date July 13, 2020
Age Criteria And Fees
Candidates interested in applying for various posts through SBI SCO Recruitment 2020 must fall in the age group between 23 to 50 years of age as on March 1, 2020 with relaxation (upper age limit) up to 5 years (SC/ST) and 3 years (OBC-NCL) respectively as per the Govt. of India guidelines.
Candidates must pay a specified amount of Rs. 750 (GEN/OBC/EWS) as application fee and intimation charges through online (net-banking/debit/credit, etc.) mode only. However, SC/ST/PWD candidates are granted exemption from paying the application fee.
SBI SO Recruitment 2020 For 26 Credit Analyst And Sr. Executive Posts, Apply Online From Today
Vacancy Details
Educational Criteria And Eligibility
Desirous candidates applying for various posts through SBI SCO Recruitment 2020 must possess a Bachelor's Degree; Graduation/Post-Graduation in Commerce, Finance, Economics, Management, Mathematics Statistics; MBA/PGDM/Post graduation in Statistics/Data Analytics; MBA/MMS/PGDM/M.E/M.Tech/B.E/B.Tech in concerned discipline from a recognised University/Institution with relevant years' work of experience as detailed in the advertisement.
Selection And Pay Scale
The selection of candidates to various posts through SBI SCO Recruitment 2020 will be done through Shortlisting, Interview and Document Verification.
Candidates selected to various posts through SBI SCO Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument as per the SBI norms.
SBI Recruitment 2020 For 326 Executive And Sr. Executive Posts, Apply Online Starting Today
How To Apply
Candidates applying for various posts through SBI SCO Recruitment 2020 must register online on the official SBI website at https://recruitment.bank.sbi/crpd-sco-wealth-2020-21-03/apply from June 23, 2020 onwards, and submit their applications on or before July 13, 2020.
Read the detailed advertisement about SBI SCO Recruitment 2020 for Relationship Managers, Investment Officers, etc. posts here
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 14:22:35|Editor: huaxia
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BISHKEK, June 23 (Xinhua) -- President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov on Monday signed into law a protocol on making amendments to the agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Russia on the status and conditions of the Russian military base in Kant in northern Kyrgyzstan.
The press service of the president reported that the protocol of amendments was signed in Bishkek on March 28, 2019.
According to the amendments, the area actually used by the Russian side will be increased by 58.32 hectares.
Besides, the protocol provides for the reconstruction of the runway in the base. Upon expiration of the agreement, these facilities will be returned to the Kyrgyz side, the press service said.
In order to develop cooperation in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in Kyrgyzstan, the Russian side plans to use drones at the air base, the press service added.
Russia's airbase in Kant was opened in 2003 under the auspices of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Enditem
S cores of mourners have paid their final respects to Rayshard Brooks at his funeral in Atlanta.
Mr Brooks' killing at the hands of police on June 12 came amid weeks of protests across the US and the rest of the world over the death of George Floyd while in police custody on May 25.
Mr Brooks' widow, Tomika Miller, dressed in white, sat surrounded by family and friends at the funeral on Tuesday. Former state senator Stacey Abrams and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, both of whom have been mentioned as potential running mates for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, were among the mourners.
Most people dressed all in white, while some wore T-shirts with Brooks' picture. Nearly everyone had masks on to protect them against the coronavirus.
Rayshard Brooks Funeral - In pictures 1 /30 Rayshard Brooks Funeral - In pictures Tomika Miller, centre, the widow of Rayshard Brooks, weeps near the entrance to the Ebeneezer Baptist Church AP Family members and friends react during a prayer at Rayshard Brooks' funeral AP A musician plays music near the hearse carying the casket of Rayshard Brooks, AP American rapper T.I. consoles Tomika Miller, the wife of Rayshard Brooks, AP People stand in line at the public viewing for Rayshard Brooks Reuters Rev. Raphael G. Warnock delivers the eulogy AP Tomika Miller, the widow of Rayshard Brooks Reuters The body of Rayshard Brooks arrives for his funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church AP Family members fight back emotions during the family processional at Rayshard Brooks funeral AP Rochelle Gooden, Rayshard Brooks mother -in-law, speaks during his funeral AP Family members and friends arrive to attend the funeral for Rayshard Brooks Reuters Tomika Miller rides on the horse and carriage transporting Rayshard Brooks' coffin at the Forest Hills Memorial Garden in Forest Park, Georgia U.S Reuters People wearing protective face masks hold a photograph of Rayshard Brooks Reuters Tomika Miller, widow of Rayshard Brooks Reuters Men carry the casket of Rayshard Brooks Reuters People release balloons at Forest Hills Memorial Gardens cemetery, following the funeral of Rayshard Brooks Reuters A woman wearing a protective face mask holds a U.S flag outside Ebenezer Baptist Church Reuters A family member reacts to a speaker during the funeral of Rayshard Brooks Reuters An arrangement of white flowers in the shape of a heart and bearing gold colored roses is displayed during the funeral of Rayshard Brooks, Reuters Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms consoles Tomika Miller, widow of Rayshard Brooks Reuters Mourners listen to the service outside of Ebenezer Baptist Church at the funeral for Rayshard Brooks Reuters Tomika Miller, Rayshard Brooks' widow, watches as his coffin is placed in the hearse after his funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta Reuters Family and friends gather to release balloons in honor of Rayshard Brooks at the Forest Hills Memorial Garden in Forest Park, Georgia U.S Reuters
"Rayshard Brooks is 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," the Rev. Raphael Warnock, senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, told the crowd, less than two weeks after the Black man was shot twice in the back by a white Atlanta police officer following a struggle in a fast-food parking lot.
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."
"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," the Rev. Bernice King, Martin Luther King's daughter, told the crowd.
Family members and friends react during a prayer at Rayshard Brooks' funeral / AP
She noted ruefully that the killing took place in Atlanta, the "Black Mecca" and "the city that is supposed to be 'too busy to hate.'"
Ms King, who was a child 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 noted that Brooks' death took place 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.
But 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."
People stand in line at the public viewing for Rayshard Brooks (REUTERS) / Reuters
Mr Brooks, 27, was shot 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 the officer while running away.
Rolfe, 27, was charged with murder and denied 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.
Atlanta's police chief stepped down less than 24 hours after Mr Brooks' death, and the Wendy's was burned by protesters.
Protesters have demanded changes to how officers are trained and disciplined and have called for the dismantling of police departments or the shifting of funding away from law enforcement towards social services.
A sub-committee constituted by Punjab government indicted the cabinet minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhis family for pocketing double compensation against a piece of land acquired by the state government for a road project. The family received 1.83 crore compensation in 2013 for the land after re-acquisition in 2012, which, as per records, was also acquired in 1962 and a sum of 7,384 paid. The said land at Mohanki Attar village had been acquired for the Ferozepur-Fazilka-Gurharsahai road.
The land 55 kanal and 6 marla of Rana Sodhi and 38 kanal of his nephew Jasdeep Sodhi (son of Hardeep Singh) was re-acquired by the Punjab government and compensation was paid after the owners approached the court.
The panel has recommended probe into the role of public works department (PWD) and revenue department officials to fix responsibility as the whole matter smells of willful connivance with the beneficiaries.
The land at Mohanki Attar was acquired twice, in 1962 and then in 2011-12, as the record were not updated, says the report.
The Milestones 2005 Rana Gurmit Singh files a suit in the court of civil judge (senior division), Ferozepur, demanding acquisition and compensation for the land. The suit was decided in his favour in April 2006. 2006 Department files appeal against the orders, which was dismissed in October 2007. 2008 Guru Gurmit Singh, his nephews Prabhjot Singh and Jasdeep Singh through their special power of attorney Hardeep Singh make a representation with the government seeking compensation. 2011 Punjab government issues acquisition notification; compensation awarded in 2012. 2014 Family receives 1.83-crore compensation.
As per the report, Hardeep Singh had given four representations to government as Special Power of Attorney (of his brother Rana Sodhi and three sons) in the year 2008 that the land on which road had been constructed was neither acquired nor compensation paid to them.
The committee found that Hardeep Singh was in the know that the land was acquired in 1962 and he himself had admitted in his two letters to the public works department in 1963 that they had received the compensation. then how could he give a representations...this means that he held back the facts while giving representations, points out the report.
The report puts a questionmark on the role PWD and revenue officials. Intentional negligence reflects on every aspect and the case has been grossly mishandled since beginning, it says.
As far as beneficiaries are concerned, it has been established that at least Hardeep Singh was in the knowledge of all the facts regarding acquisition of land in 1962 since he himself had handled that acquisition on behalf of the family, the report says.
Therefore, legal remedy should be sought from the court of competent jurisdiction to annul the subsequent acquisition proceedings, concludes the report.
In March this year, Punjab government formed a five-member sub-committee comprising special secretary, PWD; director consolidation-cum-director land records; land acquisition officer PWD (B&R), Jalandhar; district revenue officer, Ferozepur, and executive engineer, construction Division-1, PWD (B&R), Ferozepur, to examine the records.
When reached over the phone, Hardeep Singh said, We have neither any information about any sub-committee formed by the government nor aware of its findings. We were not even called by the committee. If they have facts then they should produce in the court as it is legal matter now. He categorically denied having received any compensation in 1962 from the state.
Cabinet minister Rana Sodhi didnt respond to the calls and messages. Principal secretary, PWD, Vikas Pratap, too was incommunicado.
PepsiCo Lay's products on display at an industry expo in Beijing. [WU CHANGQING/FOR CHINA DAILY]
PepsiCo China said on Monday that their beverage and snack products remained safe for consumption after it suspended operations at a food processing unit in Beijing due to confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The confirmation of the novel coronavirus cases at its potato chipmaking unit had triggered safety concerns among consumers and prompted calls to strengthen safety norms for food production across the nation.
According to PepsiCo China, there have been eight confirmed COVID-19 cases at its unit in Ciwei Road, Beijng. The factory is one of the seven food factories in China making canned Lay's chips. The factory has initiated emergency measures and suspended production, disinfected and sterilized the environment, quarantined personnel and conducted thorough inspections after an employee was confirmed as a COVID-19 patient on June 15, said Fan Zhimin, an employee with the public relations department of PepsiCo China.
PepsiCo, which owns world-leading brands like Pepsi Cola, Quaker oats, Doritos chips and 7up, said they have sampled and tested their products and environment while ensuring that the products manufactured since the re-emergence of new COVID-19 cases at the Xinfadi Market are locked down.
Testing has been offered to all workers at the factory on June 16 and those who tested negative are currently under quarantine at designated places since June 20. Those who live with the employees are under home-quarantine.
The company said no confirmed cases have been detected at the bottling units of its Pepsi Cola and production is continuing. At the same time, the company reiterated that its snacks are safe as the possibility of survival of viruses during its snack processing under ultrahigh temperature and the ensuing supply chain is close to zero.
Zhong Kai, director of the China Food Information Center, said the process of making potato chips is rather simple, involving just heating at ultrahigh temperatures. Viruses as a rule do not like the dry environment in the chipmaking process, Zhong said.
Health and safety are more critical to consumers than ever as the world is battling COVID-19 and the ongoing uncertainties it presents, said Jason Yu, general manager of Kantar Worldpanel China.
He said the temporary shutdown of the Pepsi food plant, which mainly produces Lay's, is unlikely to have a material impact on the overall Pepsi business in China. But the company will need to constantly assure consumers that it is conforming to the highest safety standards with zero risk.
"The wider food and beverage industry will also have to make sure that they carry out a thorough inspection of the entire supply chain and production process to avoid any contamination risk. Otherwise, the consequences will be catastrophic," said Yu.
Zhu Hong, a frequent consumer of Lay's chips in Beijing, carefully checked the production date of the bright yellow cans she bought during her prolonged stay at home.
She said she is not keeping or purchasing chips that are produced after May. "I will wait until the epidemic curves are flattened," Zhu said.
President Donald Trump is looking to put the setback of his poorly attended Oklahoma rally behind him with visit to Arizona on Tuesday, where he'll return to a familiar issue that helped him win the White House in 2016: border security.
Trump's schedule includes a stop to tout progress building his promised border wall and an address to young supporters at a Phoenix church. The state was once a reliably Republican stronghold, but polls show that both Trump and incumbent GOP Senator Martha McSally trail their Democratic rivals.
And despite the president's push to reopen the economy and downplay the coronavirus outbreak, the number of infected in Arizona is again rising. Weekly case counts are up 284% since Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, lifted his stay-home order in mid-May, according Joe Gerald, an associate professor of public health policy and management at the University of Arizona who works with the state and colleagues to analyze data on the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease covid-19.
The Arizona visit follows an embarrassment for the president on Saturday, when thousands of empty seats greeted him at his first campaign rally in three months in Tulsa, Okla. He also endured reports last week from a damaging new book by his former national security adviser, John Bolton, that went on sale Tuesday.
Trump can ill afford further erosion of his political standing, particularly in a state so crucial to his re-election efforts. Trump won Arizona by about 3.5 percentage points in 2016 but now trails presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden by about four points, according to an average of polling by RealClearPolitics. A loss in the state may cripple the president's hopes of re-election.
In Yuma, he'll commemorate the completion of 200 miles of border wall built during his administration, an effort to recapture momentum by revisiting his promises to stop illegal immigration. But the visit also highlights Trump's retreat from promises earlier in his presidency that 500 miles of border wall would be completed by the end of 2020.
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The construction project was a trademark of the president's first campaign, and Trump has begun to again champion the milestone in recent weeks. He's also claimed the wall has played a crucial role in stopping the spread of coronavirus in the U.S.
"Very, very few people are coming through on our border," Trump said last week in an interview with Fox News. "We have a tremendous border. But think of it - and Tijuana, Mexico, it's one of the most infected places on Earth. And we have a wall between Tijuana and San Diego. It's like a beautiful, very powerful wall."
But the vast majority of wall construction during the president's administration has replaced existing fencing, with less than two dozen of the 200 miles built in areas where there wasn't already a barrier. And Vice President Mike Pence, who chairs the president's coronavirus task force, said last week that the virus is spreading from Americans returning home from Mexico, not from immigration.
On Monday, more than 20% of new covid-19 tests reported in Arizona came back positive, compared to less than 1% in New York. Arizona reported its seventh straight daily record of confirmed or suspected covid-19 cases in hospitals at 1,992, up 144% since Memorial Day.
Ducey said last week that the state's "trend is headed in the wrong direction," but so far has rejected calls to slow reopening and discounted criticism that he lifted his stay-home order too quickly.
In Yuma, Trump will receive a briefing on wall construction and then participate in a roundtable discussion with local leaders. Top officials from the Department of Homeland Security, including acting Secretary Chad Wolf, acting deputy secretary Ken Cuccinelli, and acting Customs and Border Patrol commissioner Mark Morgan, are expected to attend.
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While the president and his top advisers believe his anti-immigration message helped propel him to the White House in 2016, Trump's decision to frame the 2018 midterms as a referendum on those policies was seen as a strategic misstep. Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives, and McSally narrowly lost her first Senate bid to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.
McSally was subsequently appointed to the state's other Senate seat when GOP Sen. Jon Kyl resigned, but has trailed Democratic challenger Mark Kelly, an astronaut married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords, a survivor of a mass shooting in Tucson nine years ago. A Fox News survey released this month showed Kelly with a 13-point advantage.
Democrats are particularly upbeat about Biden's chances in Arizona partly on the strength of Kelly's campaign, but also because they believe the state's changing demographics will put it in their column.
"This state is likely to turn blue, and it's more likely to turn blue than some of the traditional Midwest states that used to be considered battlegrounds," said Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who endorsed Biden in March.
Trump's racially charged immigration rhetoric also risks reinforcing perceptions that he bungled the response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. Trump responded to subsequent national protests by declaring himself a "law and order" candidate and saying he enjoyed the support of the "silent majority" of Americans.
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A substantial majority of Americans - 61% - say they disapprove of Trump's handling of race relations, according to a separate Fox News poll released Thursday.
Still, Trump is likely to receive a raucous reception when he addresses a Students for Trump event in Phoenix hosted by the conservative group Turning Point Action. The organization, led by 26-year-old activist Charlie Kirk, has repeatedly turned out swaths of young conservatives for high-energy events attended by the president.
Trump's attendance may refocus attention on Kirk's controversial online commentary, which has included repeating an unproven conspiracy theory that Chinese officials were burning coronavirus patients alive. The site of the event, the Dream City Church in Phoenix, has announced that it did not know when it rented the space that it was for a presidential visit and that "facility rental does not constitute endorsement of the opinions of its renters."
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, a Democrat, said the city won't enforce its requirement that face masks be worn in public during the president's event, but she said she hoped Ducey would do so if he attends.
"He believes in masks and he could be a great spokesman for telling the young people who are there to wear masks," Gallego told CNN. "But the best spokesman would be the president - if he told everyone at that rally it was important to wear masks, I believe they would do it."
50 per cent of the flashlights market in the country is dominated by Chinese imports, which have been increasing.
Eveready Industries, the market leader in flashlights in the country, is betting on anti-China sentiment to grow its business further, which has been fuelled by the escalation of border dispute between India and China.
A recent survey conducted by LocalCircles, involving over 32,000 Indians across 235 districts, showed that 58 per cent of the respondents are willing to boycott Chinese firms while 42 per cent want heavy import duties to discourage the influx of Chinese items.
Incidentally, 50 per cent of the flashlights market in the country is dominated by Chinese imports, which have been increasing.
Data sourced from industry officials pointed that while 61.57 million pieces of flashlights, mainly from China, were imported in 2018-19, the number rose by 16.94 per cent to touch 72 million pieces in 2019-20.
Officials pointed that owing to cheaper priced imports, Indian flashlight makers like Eveready and others have been losing business opportunities.
Eveready, with around 21 million pieces of annual sales alone accounts for over 70 per cent of the organised domestic flashlight market.
After BIS was made mandatory, domestic battery sales got a boost and grew by double digits.
"If the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) increases import duty on cheap Chinese flashlights, domestic sales of flashlights would also get a boost, Amritanshu Khaitan, managing director at Eveready Industries said.
Flashlights account for 20 per cent of Evereadys annual revenue of over Rs 1,500 crore.
Sources said to boost the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, DPIIT is considering policy measures to discourage low-quality Chinese imports which includes measures like increase of import duty on numerous cheap quality items from China.
To promote domestic business, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has already cancelled the bidding process for the design, manufacture, supply, testing and commissioning of 10 monorail rakes because both bids were received from Chinese manufacturers while Indian Railways has decided to terminate the contract of a Chinese company due to "poor progress" in a 417-km stretch on the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.
The Railways is also planning to reduce its imports to zero levels and use only Made-in-India components.
Sources said that the Department of Telecom (DoT) may also ask state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd not to use Chinese telecom gear.
However, Khaitan is of the view that the developing national fervour promoting Indian goods is not enough.
Flashlights are primarily used in rural belts where pricing is very important.
"Consumers fall prey to cheap quality imports because of lower prices, he said.
Eveready, with its flashlights and batteries portfolio, has presence across 4 million retail outlets covering 50 per cent of the national retail universe.
Around 60 per cent of its outlets are in rural belts.
There has been an uptake in rural demand after the lockdown and we have enough capacity in place to cater to rising demands.
"If steps are taken under the current scenario, I think domestic flashlights industry will get a boost, Khaitan said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 13:29:36|Editor: huaxia
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KABUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen Taliban militants were killed after clashes with Afghan national army soldiers in two Afghan provinces, the Ministry of Defense said Tuesday.
In southern Kandahar province, nine Taliban insurgents were killed when they faced a counter-attack from army soldiers in Maiwand district's Jagrum village late on Monday night, the ministry said in a statement.
In neighboring Helmand province, four militants were killed when they confronted harsh response from the patrolling convoy of security forces in Marja district on Monday evening, the statement added.
Government forces also confiscated heavy arms and ammunition including improvised bombs, one telecommunication radio, as well as one vehicle and eight motorcycles and an amount of narcotics during the two conflicts, according to the statement.
The latest clashes came as militancy and counter-militancy traditionally gets momentum in spring and summer commonly known as fighting season in Afghanistan.
Sporadic clashes and fighting occur in countryside as Taliban militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions. Enditem
(Newser) The European Union is preparing to open its borders to travelers from countries that have the pandemic under controlbut the US is nowhere close to qualifying, according to draft lists seen by the New York Times. One list, with 47 countries, contains only countries with infection rates lower than the EU average of 16 new infections per 100,000 people over the last 14 days. Another list, with 54 countries, includes those with slightly higher rates. The US, however, has an infection rate of 107 per 100,000, according to the Times' database, meaning American travelers would be barred, along with those from Russia, which has an infection rate of 80, and Brazil, where the infection rate is 180. The EU, which banned most travel from the US and other non-EU countries, in March, aims to finalize details on reopening by July 1.
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"The idea is, from July 1, to be able to put on the table a list of countries overseas from which we can come or go," says French Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, per Forbes. Both lists are believed to include Chinadespite concerns about transparency over the country's number of casesas well as developing countries like Cuba and Vietnam, which has recorded no coronavirus deaths. Some of the EU's 27 member states have already started accepting travelers from non-EU countries, but officials, who have been haggling over the lists for weeks, say they want to ensure a common travel policy so that internal borders between European nations can be lifted. (President Trump, accusing the EU of failing to address the "foreign virus," suspended travel to the US from the bloc on March 11.)
It sheds light on Fidel Castro and Cuban Revolution
by Anwar A. Khan
Ernesto Che Guevara was the legendary Argentine-born guerrilla fighter who joined the Cuban revolutionary movement that toppled the Batista dictatorship in 1959. He played a leading role in the early years of the Cuban revolution and made an extraordinary and original contribution to Marxist theory. He died at the hands of CIA assassins in Bolivia in 1967. His life has been dramatised in two popular movies: The Motorcycle Diaries (directed by Walter Salles, starring Gael Garcia Bernal) and Steven Soderberghs epic Che (starring Benicio Del Toro).
A diary kept by Che Guevara has come to light that provides fresh insight into his relationship with Fidel Castro and the guerrilla campaign that led to the Cuban revolution. Extracts from notebooks previously thought lost have been published as Diary of a Combatant in Cuba.
Researchers spent years deciphering the handwritten scrawl of the revolutionary icon. The diaries chart the three-year guerrilla campaign which resulted in the overthrow of then-president Gen Fulgencio Batista and brought Fidel Castro to power in 1959.
Argentine-born Ernesto Guevara wrote about his experience from landing on Cuban shores on the yacht Granma on 2 December 1956 to the moment of victory on 1 January 1959.
The diary provides a detailed account of skirmishes in Cuba's Sierra Maestra and the march from the southern tip of the island to the capital - Havana. It also gives fresh insight into the relationship between Che and Fidel, the two heroes of the Revolution.
Guevara, who trained as a doctor, had met Fidel when the latter was exiled to Mexico. Together with Castro's younger brother, Raul, the group of 82 rebels landed in Cuba and launched their armed struggle to overthrow Baptista's regime.
Guevara was the first member of the band to be promoted to the top rank of "comandante" by Castro, and after their victory he held the positions of Minister of Industries and president of the central bank. In 1965, he left Cuba with about 100 soldiers to foment a revolution in what was then the Belgian Congo, but it failed and he returned to Cuba to prepare for an ill-fated campaign in Bolivia.
He was captured by the Bolivian military and executed on October 9, 1967 at the age of 39. The new book was edited by the Che Guevara Studies Centre, which is directed by his widow Aleida March. She said it would give readers a real look into the mind of her husband.
"It acknowledges his thoughts, life and work," she said. Some of the notes contained within the diaries were used later by Guevara in his 1963 account of the Sierra Maestra campaign entitled "Episodes of the Cuban Revolutionary War" but the diaries themselves were thought lost.
Researchers said that Guevara kept his diary in hand-written notebooks and that publishing had been delayed until now because some of the papers were missing and the script was hard to decipher.
An earlier account of a road trip through Latin America when Guevara was 23 was published as "The Motorcycle Diaries" and made into a successful film in 2004.
His remains were recovered in Bolivia by a Cuban-Argentina forensic team in 1997 and transferred to Cuba, where they are buried in a war memorial in Santa Clara, 175 miles south- east of Havana.
So, unsurprisingly, images are what drew her to Remembering Che: My Life with Che Guevara, Aleida Marchs memoir of her marriage to Ernesto Che Guevara. The book contains dozens of personal photographs, many published for the first time -- candid pictures of a charismatic and amazingly photogenic couple.
Its not hard to understand how CheGuevera became the poster child for Latin American revolution. Theres an energy -- a directness -- in his eyes thats hard to look away from. Even in his later years, when he frequently travelled in disguise and under aliases, that gaze is unmistakable. These photos will be the main draw for all but the hardcore Guevara fan. They, along with the couples personal correspondence, provide a definite sense of the man as his family and friends knew him.
Aleida March is as committed to the cause of the revolution in Cuba (her own country, though Che was from Argentina) as was her famous husband. She was involved in the guerrilla movement as a young woman and first met Che while acting as a courier (she delivered a package of money to his camp in the Escambray Mountains). After the overthrow of the Batista government they were married. Aleida took up the role of his personal secretary.
Aleidaminimises her government service while acknowledging being appointed to the Cuban Delegation to the First Latin American Congress of Women and Children and being an elected officer in the Federation of Cuban Women, an organisation which worked to overcome what she describes as persistent male chauvinism in order to fully integrate women into the new Cuban society. Its obvious that her access to Che gave her knowledge of more than the details of their own life together. She was in a unique position, which makes her able to provide potentially new insights into Ches political activities.
But Aleida was also the head of the Che Guevara Studies Center in Havana appointed by Fidel Castro himself making her as protective of her husbands legacy as she has, until now, been of her private memories of their time together. The combination makes remembering Che more than the typical memoir.
Remembering Che: My Life with Che Guevara is fundamentally a collection of names, dates and locations peppered with personal anecdotes which are interesting. Aleida talks about her husband, the places they travelled, the births of their children, their friends and fellow campesinos. She moves quickly and as a result, often deals with events only superficially; including their revolutionary activities (revolutionary is a word thats used a lot). This may be in part because she assumes the reader has also read Guevaras published diaries.
Aleida chooses to focus instead on Guevaras long absences after the Cuban Revolution, when he distanced himself from Castros government. She describes their meetings (often arranged by Fidel) and the infrequent communications she received from the Congo, Bolivia, and Eastern Europe. Only the most rudimentary details and almost no opinions are given of Ches activities in these places. The details she told in a prose so carefully worded. Even the major historical incidents of the Cuban Revolution, such as, the executions at La Cabana Fortress and the Bay of Pigs invasion, are allotted only a few, brief sentences. The Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 is discussed in two paragraphs.
Despite the years that have passed since October 1962, one can still vividly recall the tension of the days when humanity faced an armed conflict of unimaginable proportions. After the Bay of Pigs, facing the constant threat of a US invasion, Cuba decided to accept the Soviet Unions offer to have nuclear missiles on their territory. They regarded this as a legitimate act of defence of their sovereignty.
The location of these strategic arms was detected by spy planes and denounced by the US government. Unfortunately, when the crisis came to a head, Cuba was not consulted and the revisionary revolutionary government was forced to take a principled stand, refusing to succumb to the threats of imperialism.
She then goes on to quote briefly from Ches farewell letter to Fidel Castro, in which he expresses the pride he felt during those brilliant yet sad days ... and thats it. A book about the man who engineered the entire Cuban-Soviet relationship and thats all we get.
Aleida March was a guerrilla, an eyewitness to history. She served on government committees, attended university and taught students as part of her husbands literacy programmes. She also had the ear of high ranking officials and represented her country internationally ... all while raising five children virtually alone.
She recalls how Che initially had to convince her of the merits of Communism -- so she obviously has a mind and opinions of her own. In this book Afterword, she expresses regret at not having "sufficiently acknowledged many companeras, women who played a key role in our struggle."
Aleida's memoir gives us a good personal portrait of Che - who, like it or not, is viewed at a heroic perspective by many of his contemporaries. It does not provide the salacious details or irrelevant armchair psychoanalysis common to American memoirs, which is perhaps the source of disappointment for some.
Aleida acted as Che's personal secretary. She was with him both at home and at work. She participated in the government and obviously interacted with both Fidel and Raul Castro.
It was a good introduction into the lives of those leading the Cuban Revolution. People that gave more than their share to end the oppression of the poor and uneducated, their sacrifices, their happiness and sadness and most of all their vision for equality, are told in this edition.
At long last, we wish to remember the words of Fidel Castro, "Thanks to Ches invariable habit of noting the main events of each day, we have rigorously exact, priceless and detailed information on the heroic final moments of his life in Bolivia.
-The End
The writer is an independent political observer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centred figures, current and international affairs.
OTTAWA - Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos said Tuesday federal officials will push back against any new protectionist effort by Donald Trump to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, making the case that Canadian aluminum is no threat to the American market.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
President of the Treasury Board Jean-Yves Duclos speaks during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, June 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
OTTAWA - Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos said Tuesday federal officials will push back against any new protectionist effort by Donald Trump to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, making the case that Canadian aluminum is no threat to the American market.
Duclos was responding to a report from Bloomberg saying the Trump administration is planning to impose a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports from Canada.
Duclos would not say whether the government is aware of a new round of tariffs impending, but said the threat of protectionism still exists and the risk becomes bigger in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We all are aware of the protectionist attitudes and actions of the last few years in the context of our relationship with the United States," Duclos said during a midday briefing Tuesday.
He said the Canadian government had worked hard to secure a new North American free trade agreement and end the previous round of tariffs against imports of aluminum and steel from Canada but warned of the need to remain vigilant.
"We need, as Canadians, to be mindful of the fact that protectionism still exists and in fact runs the risk of being even bigger and being an even greater threat as we emerge from the COVID health and economic crisis," Duclos said.
"This being said, we use every opportunity to make our neighbours and our friends and trade partners understand that it is to the joint benefit of everyone to keep the flow of goods and services open and strong, because we all gain from that."
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The last time the Americans imposed such tariffs, the federal government imposed reciprocal tariffs on a slew of U.S. products crossing into Canada before both sides backed down.
Duclos said the Canadian government has fulfilled its end of the trade detente by ensuring Canada isn't a conduit to the U.S. for cheaper overseas metal.
Canada's ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, delivered a similar message Tuesday.
"We firmly believe that Canadian aluminum exports to the U.S. aren't hurting the U.S. market in any way," she said during a virtual event, adding the two countries have been having "constant dialogues" on the issue.
"We're emphasizing with our American friends the fact that we have this deep, mutually supportive industry and that far from being harmful to the American aluminum sector, our aluminum exports are indeed a great help and benefit."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2020.
A court in southwestern Russia has granted early release to a Danish member of the Jehovah's Witnesses who had been imprisoned since 2017, the religious denomination says.
It said a judge in the Lgovskiy District Court on June 23 released Dennis Christensen from prison, three years into a six-year sentence.
A spokesman for the denomination's world headquarters in the United States said Christensen was ordered to pay a fine of 400,000 rubles ($5,800) in place of serving out the rest of his sentence.
We are pleased that Dennis may be going home to his wife, family, and friends in the coming weeks, said the spokesman, Jarrod Lopes.
"However, it is unconscionable, after Denniss harrowing experiences in prison, that he should have to pay a fine," Lopes added.
Russia banned the Jehovahs Witnesses in 2017 and declared the religious group an extremist organization.
According to the denomination, 353 adherents are facing criminal cases in Russia, 34 are imprisoned, and 24 are under house arrest.
Christensen was arrested in May 2017 and sentenced in February 2019 to six years in prison on extremism charges that have been condemned by rights groups in Russia and abroad.
In September, the United States banned two high-ranking regional officers from Russia's Investigative Committee from entering the United States over the alleged torture of seven detainees who are Jehovah's Witnesses.
Based on reporting by AP and The Washington Times
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.5% to close at 22,549.05 while the Topix index added 0.51% to finish its trading day at 1,587.14. South Korea's Kospi also gained 0.21% to close at 2,131.24.
Mainland Chinese stocks were higher on the day, with the Shanghai composite up 0.18% to around 2,970.62 while the Shenzhen component rose 0.782% to about 11,794.01.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index led gains among the region's major markets as it rose 1.62% to close at 24,907.34. Shares of Chinese tech giant Tencent soared to a new record, according to data from Refinitiv Eikon. It rose as high as 498.60 Hong Kong dollars per share before finishing the trading day 4.89% higher.
Stocks in Asia Pacific were higher on Tuesday following a turbulent session as White House advisor Peter Navarro clarified that the U.S.-China trade deal is not over.
The moves regionally came after Navarro told NBC News that his earlier comments during a Fox News interview "had nothing to do with the trade deal at all."
"Phase one remains in place. We are trying to execute on that," Navarro told NBC News.
Asia Pacific stocks fell into negative territory after his Monday interview on Fox News' "The Story."
Fox's Martha MacCallum asked, "Do you think that the president sort of- I mean, he obviously really wanted to hang onto this trade deal as much as possible. And he wanted them to make good on the promises, because there had been progress made on that trade deal, but given everything that's happened and all the things you just listed, is that over?"
"It's over. Yes," Navarro responded.
In a statement to CNBC following the interview, Navarro said his comments were "taken wildly out of context."
"I was simply speaking to the lack of trust we now have of the Chinese Communist Party after they lied about the origins of the China virus and foisted a pandemic upon the world," Navarro said.
U.S. President Donald Trump also chimed in on the subject, saying in a tweet that the "China Trade Deal is fully intact."
Meanwhile, concerns around the coronavirus situation stateside also likely lingered. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warned Monday that "additional measures are going to be necessary" if coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continued spiking. That came as the states of Nevada, Florida, California and Arizona recently reported record-high single-day infections.
"Investors remain focused on the states re opening strategies with monitors such as restaurant diners tracked by OpenTable and mobility track(ed) by Apple all pointing to an increase in US economic activity," Rodrigo Catril, senior foreign exchange strategist at National Australia Bank, wrote in a note.
"Investors continue to see a high bar for the re-introduction of containment measures," Catril said, highlighting White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow's comments to CNBC on Monday that a "second wave" of coronavirus cases isn't coming.
US President Donald Trump's latest proclamation outlines a number of new restrictions on visas for temporary foreign workers.
His argument: the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has forced officials to do more to protect American jobs.
Business groups and immigrant rights advocates are crying foul. They say these restrictions will ultimately harm the economy, and they're accusing the Trump administration of using the public health crisis as a pretext to enact unnecessary immigration restrictions.
Unless you're an attorney or an immigrant with experience navigating the US system, the alphabet soup of visas listed in Monday's proclamation might be tough to decipher. 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.
It also will draft similar standards to admit people who are critical to national security, are necessary to help the country's economic recovery or are essential to the US food supply chain. And the new measures don't apply to people who've already been issued valid visas.
But even so, the Migration Policy Institute estimates some 167,000 temporary workers will be kept out of the United States as a result of these new restrictions, which take effect on Wednesday.
Here's a look at what kind of jobs are included in Trump's proclamation, and how many people could be affected in each visa category.
H-1B visa
What it is: According to USCIS, the H-1B visa category covers individuals who "work in a specialty 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."
What kind of work these visas cover: 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.
How many people could be affected: 29,000, according to MPI's estimates, plus some 19,000 dependents on H-4 visas.
H-2B visa
What it is: According to USCIS, the H-2B program allows US employers or agents "to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs."
What kind of work these visas cover: They generally apply to seasonal workers in a wide variety of industries, according to the National Immigration Forum, including landscaping, forestry, hospitality and construction.
How many people could be affected: 23,000, according to MPI.
J-1 visa
What it is: According to the State Department, the J-1 visa is an exchange visitor visa for "individuals approved to participate in work- and study-based exchange visitor programs."
What kind of work these visas cover: Trump's proclamation lists a number of impacted workers, including interns, trainees, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs and participants in summer work travel programs.
How many people could be affected: 72,000, according to MPI (plus some 11,000 dependents on J-2 visas).
L-1 visa
What it is: According to USCIS, the L visa category covers "temporary intracompany transferees who work in managerial positions or have specialized knowledge."
What kind of work these visas cover: Managers, executives and employees with specialized knowledge.
How many people could be affected: 6,000, according to MPI (plus some 7,000 dependents on L-2 visas).
With coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations, Dr. Anthony Fauci returns to Capitol Hill on Tuesday at a fraught moment in the nations pandemic response.
The governments top infectious disease expert will testify before a House committee, along with the heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and a top official at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Follow latest updates on coronavirus here
Since Faucis last appearance at a high-profile hearing more than a month ago, the US is emerging from weeks of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. But its being done in an uneven way, with some states far less cautious than others. A trio of states with Republican governors who are bullish on reopening Arizona, Florida and Texas are among those seeing worrisome increases in cases.
Last week, Vice President Mike Pence published an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal saying the administrations efforts have strengthened the nations ability to counter the virus and should be a cause for celebration. Then President Donald Trump said at his weekend rally in Tulsa that he had asked administration officials to slow down testing, because too many positive cases are turning up.
Many rally goers did not wear masks, and for some that was an act of defiance against what they see as government intrusion. White House officials later tried to walk back Trumps comment on testing, suggesting it wasnt meant to be taken literally.
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Fauci has recently warned that the US is still in the first wave of the pandemic and has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing. And, in a recent ABC News interview, he said political demonstrations such as protests against racial injustice are risky to all involved. Asked if that applied to Trump rallies, he said it did. Fauci continues to recognize widespread testing as critical for catching clusters of Covid-19 cases before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community.
About 2.3 million Americans have been sickened in the pandemic, and some 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
As head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci will be joined before the House Energy and Commerce Committee by CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield, FDA chief Dr. Stephen Hahn, and Adm. Brett Giroir, head of the U.S. Public Health Service.
Giroir was tapped by the White House to oversee the expansion of coronavirus testing. But he gained notoriety after a whistleblower complaint flagged him for trying to push a malaria drug touted by Trump to treat Covid-19 without conclusive scientific evidence. The FDA has since withdrawn its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine.
There have been a lot of unfortunate missteps in the Trump administrations response to the COVID-19 pandemic, said committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J. As communities across the country ease social distancing guidance and reopen their economies, it is critically important that both the administration and Congress remain focused on containing the spread of the coronavirus and providing the resources and support Americans need during this time of crisis. There is still no vaccine for Covid-19, and there are no treatments specifically developed for the disease, although the antiviral drug remdesivir has been shown to help some patients, as well as a steroid called dexamethasone, and plasma from patients who have recovered.
Fauci remains optimistic that a vaccine will be found, noting that patients develop antibodies to the virus a sign that the human immune system is able to battle back. However, he shies away from promising results by the end of the year, as Trump has done.
The Energy and Commerce panel has oversight over drugs and vaccines, among other facets of the U.S. health care system. Committee Democrats have been harshly critical of the administration.
However, not all Republicans have lined up to defend the White House. Some GOP members started growing concerned early in the year that the administration wasnt doing enough to prepare.
Two more staff members of U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rally tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following Saturday's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The workers joined six other staffers from the campaign's advance team, who tested positive hours before the event.
A spokesman for the President confirmed on Monday that the two workers attended the President's indoor rally at the Bank of Oklahoma (BOK) Center in Tulsa.
This happened despite earlier assurances that no staff infected with COVID-19 will be allowed to enter the arena.
The two workers had tested positive after going through another round of testing following the event, the New York Times reported.
Tim Murtaugh, the campaign's communications director, said the staff members wore masks during the rally.
He claimed that the campaign organizers launched contact-tracing protocols and immediately placed the two staffers in quarantine after their test results were released.
It is still unclear whether the two personnel had been in contact with the President or Vice President Mike Pence.
Oklahoma Rally
On Saturday morning, Trump's aides revealed that six other members of his campaign's advance team tested positive for the virus.
The campaign organizers claimed that the alarming development only represented a small fraction of the hundreds of tests they performed on staff members before the event.
Trump's campaign forged ahead despite multiple recommendations from health officials to delay large indoor gatherings following the recent spikes in COVID-19 cases in the state.
While the President's campaign manager, Brad Parscale, promised a huge crowd, the Tulsa fire department recorded only 6,200 people.
Parscale blamed protestors of blocking access to metal detectors inside the arena, preventing Trump supporters from entering.
The sparse crowd allegedly infuriated the President, his daughter Ivanka, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Saturday's rally has earned widespread criticism after the President suggested slowing down tests to reduce the number of reported coronavirus cases, according to a previous article.
Trump also drew flak after calling the virus "kung flu" during his Saturda rally.
In a press briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended the President's statement, claiming it was "fair" to point out that the virus originated from China.
"It's a fair thing to point out. As China tries to ridiculously rewrite history, ridiculously blame the coronavirus on American soldiers - this is what China is trying to do. Well, President Trump is saying, 'No, China, I will label this virus for its place of origin,'" she said.
When asked for the White House's response to Asian-Americans who may have been offended by Trump's statement, McEnany said the President highlighted the importance of protecting the members of the Asian community living in the United States, the CNN reported.
The press secretary also cited other news outlets, who use "Wuhan virus" when describing the novel coronavirus.
Early this spring, Trump used the phrases "Chinese virus" and the "China virus" when referring to the novel coronavirus.
However, harsh criticism forced the President to stop using the terms.
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Coordinators at the Montana Food Bank Network showed Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney Tuesday how theyve been adapting to coronavirus strain.
The network was the second stop on Cooney's list Tuesday. Two hours before, he visited a COVID-19 testing site at the Community Food Bank of Mineral County to asses the coronavirus situation there.
The Montana Food Bank Network is Montanas only statewide food bank. It partners with other nonprofits, including Feeding America, to help spread food and food resources across the state. In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, the network secured a $50,000 Food Bank and Food Pantry Assistance Grant from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The food bank also received a $50,000 Share Our Strength Emergency Grant.
On Tuesday, Clearwater Credit Union announced a $25,000 donation to the Montana Food Bank Network during its annual member meeting.
Cooney, who is currently campaigning against U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., for governor, praised the network for its efforts during this challenging time.
What weve seen, especially during COVID, is the need (for food banks) just erupting, Cooney said. If it hadnt been for food banks around the state, a lot of people would have gone hungry. And so this was really the safety net that was so important.
Gayle Carlson, CEO of the network, said the grant funding has greatly helped the food bank secure supplies. All the grant money has gone directly to finding food resources for the state, Carlson said, with the need much greater now due to distribution delays caused by the coronavirus. Where the network used to have to wait three weeks for product delivery, that wait is now three months.
Carlson cited inefficiencies in the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection process that delay food deliveries and distribution as a principal challenge her organization faces, along with changes in the food distribution models of smaller food banks across the state.
Theres a lot of systematic things that need to change the USDA inspection, better ways of handling our agriculture products," Carlson said.
Cooney echoed Carlsons concerns. Cattle, sheep, swine and goats must undergo federal inspection, a process that delays Montana distribution. On the other hand, bison and venison can be directly processed through the network and distributed more quickly.
Even more than institutional challenges, Carlson mentioned challenges on the small scale.
Where we have struggles is reaching those rural communities. And seniors. Seniors will be the first to tell you, they dont want to take food from a family, Carlson said.
She said the network has been trying to encourage people in those groups to reach out for help, and is working on ways to make that help happen.
The programs supported by Clearwater's donation Tuesday include Mail-A-Meal Program, which aids rural communities. People in need of assistance can sign up to have a 30-pound box of non-perishable food items delivered to their home.
Cooney spoke to the importance of the work such organizations are doing.
The food banks around the state really did step up, and continue to do so, he said. It really has proven to be incredibly important to the people around Montana.
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A friend was just trying to mail four Thai durian fruits. Her package caused quite the stink.
A German post office was forced to evacuate and six workers were taken to the hospital due to a suspicious, pungent package that turned out to contain a particularly smelly fruit.
About 60 people were cleared from the post office in Schweinfurt Saturday and 12 workers were treated for nausea, local media reported. Six ambulances, five first-responder cars, two emergency vehicles and three different fire departments were involved in the incident, Schweinfurt police said in a statement given to CNN.
"Due to the unknown content, it was initially unclear whether the suspect package posed a greater risk," the statement said.
Workers feared the package was releasing a harmful gas, but careful examination revealed the parcel contained four Thai durian fruits, Bayerischer Rundfunk reported.
The fruits were sent to a 50-year-old resident by a friend in Nuremberg, according to the outlet, and were eventually delivered to its intended recipient.
Durians are a divisive fruit from Asia and known for their strong aroma. To some, the fruits have a pleasant smell and taste, but others get more of a scent of "turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock," food writer Richard Sterling once wrote, according to Smithsonian magazine.
A mixture of chemicals in the fruit creates its unique scent, according to Smithsonian. In Singapore, the fruit is banned on some trains.
This is not the first time the durian has caused problems in public places.
Students at the University of Canberra in Australia evacuated last May after a suspected gas leak, only to realize a durian caused the smell, a statement on the library's Facebook page read. About 550 people were forced to leave the building in less than six minutes.
In 2018, an Indonesian flight was delayed after passengers complained of a foul smell from the fruit.
Contributing: Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY.
Follow N'dea Yancey-Bragg on Twitter: @NdeaYanceyBragg
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: German post office evacuated, 6 hospitalized because of smelly durian
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd (TSX:SZLS) ("StageZero" or the "Company") announces that it has today been issued a receipt by the Ontario Securities Commission in respect of its final prospectus dated June 22, 2020.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has conditionally approved the listing of the common shares (the "Shares") partially comprising the units (the "Units") offered by the prospectus, the Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants (the "Warrants") partially comprising the Units, the shares issuable upon exercise of broker warrants and compensation warrants granted to the agents for the prospectus offering. Listing is subject to the Company fulfilling all of the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange on or before August 31, 2020.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has conditionally approved the listing of the Warrants. Listing of the Warrants is subject to the Company fulfilling all of the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange on or before August 31, 2020, including distribution of the securities to a minimum number of public securityholders.
The offering is expected to close on or about June 29, 2020.
About StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd.
StageZero Life Sciences is dedicated to the early detection of multiple disease states through whole blood. The Company operates a CAP accredited and CLIA certified high complexity reference laboratory based in Richmond, Virginia. A specialist in PCR testing for the early identification of Cancer through blood, the Company is uniquely positioned to provide both COVID PCR testing (nasal swab) and blood test analysis (Antibody testing). Our full service, telehealth platform includes access to physicians and phlebotomist who can prescribe and draw samples for individuals and groups. As we provide COVID-19 test during this Pandemic, we continue making progress with our mission to eradicate late stage cancers through early detection. Our next generation test, Aristotle, is a multi-cancer panel for simultaneously screening for 10 cancers from a single sample of blood with high sensitivity and specificity for each cancer. www.stagezerolifesciences.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements identified by words such as "expects", "will" and similar expressions, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual events to differ materially from those projected herein. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings and annual reports for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
This offering is only made by prospectus. The prospectus contains important detailed information about the securities being offered. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained by emailing Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., at ecm@echelonpartners.com. Investors should read the prospectus before making an investment decision.
Company Contacts:
James R. Howard-Tripp
Chairman & CEO
jht@stagezerols.com
Tel: 1-855-420-7140 Ext. 1
Rebecca Greco
Investor Relations
rgreco@stagezerols.com
Tel: 1-855-420-7140 Ext. 1838
SOURCE: StageZero Life Sciences Ltd
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594966/StageZero-Life-Sciences-Announces-Issuance-of-Receipt-for-Final-Prospectus-and-Conditional-Listing-Approval
- UMass Amherst Students and Alumni Gain Access to All Simplilearn Digital Economy Skills Courses
SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn , a global provider of digital skills training, today announced its partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) to provide digital and tech-based skilling programs for the students and alumni of the university. This collaboration with UMass Amherst's University Without Walls (UWW) gives UMass Amherst's students and alumni access to the complete catalog of programs offered by Simplilearn, covering a range of topics including artificial intelligence, data science, digital marketing, and many other digital economy skills.
All the programs offered by Simplilearn through this partnership are delivered via a blended learning approach that combines expert instructor-led live virtual classrooms, self-paced on-demand lessons, and integrated hands-on labs. Learners also benefit from industry-certified Capstone projects based on real-world challenges, which give them work samples for their portfolios; Independent research has shown this blended learning approach drives significantly better student outcomes than conventional e-learning. On successfully completing programs, learners receive certificates of completion from Simplilearn and related partner companies like IBM. Simplilearn's programs are fully online, so UMass Amherst students and alumni can access them from anywhere across the globe.
Commenting on the partnership with UMass Amherst, Mr. Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer, Simplilearn said, "With technology changing constantly, there is a greater need for companies and especially professionals to stay ahead of the curve. This process has led to building an environment of constant learning and upskilling. The alumni learning program introduced by the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a one-of-a-kind initiative, showing that learning does not stop at the university level alone. We are happy to collaborate with UMass Amherst in its commitment to building an accessible learning environment for current students and graduates alike. Through our programs, we aim to empower learners with industry-relevant skills, preparing them for jobs of the future."
"Learning doesn't end when a person receives their college degree," said John Wells, UMass Amherst senior Vice Provost for lifelong learning. "By expanding our online offerings for our students and alumni through our partnership with Simplilearn, we can provide affordable, convenient ways for them to continuously upgrade their job skills, making them even more prepared to take on the fast-paced global economy," he added.
About Simplilearn
Simplilearn enables professionals and enterprises to succeed in the fast-changing digital economy. The company provides outcome-based online training across digital technologies and applications such as big data, machine learning, AI, cloud computing, digital marketing and other emerging technologies. Based in San Francisco and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn has helped more than 1 million professionals and 1,000 companies across 150 countries get trained, acquire certifications, and reach their business and career goals. The company's Blended Learning curriculum combines self-paced online learning, instructor-led live virtual classrooms, hands-on projects, student collaboration, and 24/7 global teaching assistance. For more information, visit Simplilearn.com
About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst is one of the major public research universities in America. Nestled in Amherst, Massachusetts, the campus is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation, and offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. Working with the UMass Amherst schools and colleges, University Without Walls (UWW) is a leader in online education offering degrees and certificates in a number of subject areas. The vision for UWW at UMass Amherst is to create a learning experience that supports the needs and goals of lifelong learners. UWW will expand access to education by creating high-quality, innovative pathways that meet the unique needs of future learners anytime, any place.
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/535442/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg
[June 23, 2020] Most Effective SQL Recovery Tool Releases Update That Repairs Large Corrupt Databases with Record Breaking Recovery Rate
HONG KONG, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SQL Server is the most popular database management system in Windows and is trusted by businesses throughout world. However, it is also one of the most vulnerable to corruption, and the build-in commands are ineffective at repairing many corrupt and damaged files. According to a recent Backblaze study, nearly half (46%) of people experience data loss each year from hardware malfunctions, human error, software corruption and malicious malware and viruses, which puts virtually every company at risk. For businesses with large databases in particular, the recovery process can be extremely time consuming and costly. DataNumen SQL Recovery changes that. DataNumen SQL Recovery is the leading SQL Server recovery tool in the world and boasts the industry's highest recovery rate (92.6%). It can repair corrupt or damaged MDF and NDF databases including damage caused by various errors or incidences. The software automatically analyzes source files for inconsistencies and recovers the tables, records, and all other objects inside it. The newest version, DataNumen SQL Recovery 5.0, offers three significant upgrades: Improved recovery rate
Improved recovery speed
Eliinate useless objects.
Alan Chen , Chairman & President of DataNumen, Inc. "The recovery speed for these large databases has also increased by as much as 500%. Plus, we have eliminated the recovery of useless objects to reduce end user confusion. The result is an upgraded product that is the most powerful and effective recovery tool for corrupt SQL Server databases on the market." The program can quickly process files as big as 16 terabytes all with a simple click from any Window's device. Plus, the company's100% satisfaction guarantee means users get a full refund if another application is able to recover more data from a database than DataNumen SQL Recovery can.
DataNumen SQL Recovery supports multiple database formats including SQL Server 2005 to 2019. About the Company: Founded in 2001, DataNumen, Inc. is an industry leader in data recovery software and technology. Media Contact:
Alan Chen
DataNumen, Inc.
26/F., Beautiful Group Tower
Suite 791, 77 Connaught Road
Hong Kong Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1-800-599-0398
Product page: https://www.datanumen.com/sql-recovery/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/most-effective-sql-recovery-tool-releases-update-that-repairs-large-corrupt-databases-with-record-breaking-recovery-rate-301081917.html SOURCE DataNumen, Inc.
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ST. LOUIS Various existing city police restrictions on use of force would be written into city law under a bill endorsed Monday by an aldermanic committee.
The measure, sponsored by Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, would bar the use of chokeholds or strangleholds, require officers to intervene when force is inappropriately used and mandate the use of de-escalation tactics.
Reed said making those policies a part of city ordinances would keep future chiefs or mayors from changing them.
The bill also adds some new policies, such as requiring police officers to file a report when a gun is pointed at someone regardless of whether its fired. The measure also sets fines and possible jail terms for violating the rules.
It helps set a new standard in our police department and protects good officers and assures that the officers that are operating outside those guidelines ... that theres some repercussions, Reed told the Public Safety Committee.
The measure also includes a provision prohibiting the use of no-knock warrants in drug cases.
However, that would appear to have little actual effect if passed. Reed said the Board of Aldermen can only approve such a ban applying to investigations of alleged city ordinance violations prosecuted in municipal court.
He said there are very few such warrants ever applied for in such cases and that most are filed in connection with state and federal charges.
He said a city ordinance cant govern what a state judge or federal judge will do or issue.
Asked later in an interview whether the board could bar city police from applying for a warrant from a state judge, Reed said he understood that it could not.
Earlier, Jay Schroeder, president of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, urged the panel to not remove the ability for police to seek from the circuit attorney and judges a no-knock warrant.
He said they are not often used and that fewer than 10% of warrants executed last year by the departments SWAT team were in that category.
He said theyre typically sought involving a suspect who is known to barricade a door or who has shot at police or others in the past.
If that option isnt in there, there could be some problems down the road, Schroeder said.
Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
PHOENIX - It wasnt quite one of his signature big-stadium rallies.
But U.S. President Donald Trump drew something closer to the jam-packed audience of political supporters hes been craving as hundreds of young conservatives filled a Phoenix megachurch Tuesday to hear his call for them to get behind his re-election effort.
The crowded Dream City Church for the gathering of Students for Trump offered a starkly different feel compared to Trumps weekend rally in Tulsa, Okla., his first of the coronavirus era, which drew sparser attendance.
Trump hailed the patriotic young Americans who stand up tall for America and refuse to kneel to the radical left.
You are the courageous warriors standing in the way of what they want to do and their goals, he told the boisterous crowd. They hate our history. They hate our values, and they hate everything we prize as Americans.
Trump was looking to regain campaign momentum after Tulsa, which was supposed to be a sign of the nations reopening and a show of political force. Instead, it generated thousands of empty seats and swirling questions about the presidents campaign leadership and his case for another four years in office.
The low turnout sharpened the focus on Trumps visit to Arizona, which doubles as both a 2020 battleground state and a surging coronavirus hot spot.
With the Phoenix event, which was organized by Turning Point Action, a group chaired by Trump ally Charlie Kirk, the president hoped to turn attention at least momentarily away from his slumping poll numbers, surging coronavirus infections in huge swaths of the South and West, and a virus-ravaged economy.
His address was chock-full of typical Trump lines boasts about television ratings, ridicule of his likely Democratic presidential opponent Joe Biden and sharply worded resentments over Chinas handling of the coronavirus crisis. As he did in Oklahoma over the weekend, Trump referred to the virus as kung flu, a pejorative term that Asian-Americans say is racist.
But unlike his return to campaign stage before thousands of empty seats in Oklahoma, Trump seemed to revel in the energy of a packed albeit smaller venue. He also offered his supporters a dark warning.
This will be in my opinion the most corrupt election in the history of our country, said Trump, who has in recent days stepped up claims that expanded mail-in voting will lead to voting fraud. And we can not let this happen.
But throughout his daylong trip to Arizona, which included a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, the COVID-19 pandemic shadowed Trump.
The Democratic mayor of Phoenix made clear she did not believe Trumps speech could be safely held in her city and urged the president to wear a face mask.
But Trump has adamantly refused to wear a mask in public, instead turning it into a red-vs.-blue cultural issue. Polling suggests Republicans are far less likely to wear face coverings than Democrats despite health experts warnings that it dramatically reduces the risk of transmitting the virus. Few in the crowd at the Students for Trump event donned masks.
Since late May, Arizona has emerged as one of the nations most active hot spots for the spread of COVID-19.
Photos of restaurants and bars crowded with unmasked patrons ignited controversy. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, a Trump supporter, reversed himself last week and allowed cities and counties to require people to wear masks in public places. Most have, including Phoenix and Yuma and the counties that surround them.
Arizona is seeing disturbing trends in several benchmarks, including the percentage of tests that prove positive for the virus, which is the highest in the nation.
The state reported a new daily record of nearly 3,600 additional coronavirus cases Tuesday as Arizona continued to set records for the number of people hospitalized, in intensive care and on ventilators for COVID-19. Arizonas total caseload in the pandemic stands at at least 58,179, with 42 more deaths reported Tuesday, raising the death toll to 1,384.
Right now, the next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surgings that we are seeing in Florida, in Texas, in Arizona and other states, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal governments top infectious disease expert, told a House committee Tuesday. They are not the only ones that are having a difficulty. Bottom line ... its a mixed bag.
Campaign officials stressed that rallies would remain a staple of the presidents re-election strategy but allowed that they may, in certain states, need to change slightly. Discussions were under way about having them in more modest venues or outdoors, perhaps in airplane hangars and amphitheatres, or in smaller cities away from likely protesters.
Trump campaign officials believe Trumps ability to draw thousands of supporters out during a pandemic sets up a favourable contrasting image with Democratic rival Joe Biden. Still, the campaign has struggled to find effective attack lines on Biden.
Before the Students for Trump event, Trump visited the U.S.-Mexico border, where he tried to credit his new wall with stopping both illegal immigration and the coronavirus.
In the blazing summer heat, Trump briefly stopped to inspect a new section of the concrete and rebar structure. The president and other officials took a moment to scrawl their signatures on the wall.
Arizona health officials have said in recent weeks that an influx of virus patients from Mexico have added to the load on hospitals in the southern part of the state.
We realize that this is a hot spot, Ducey said earlier this week. We also realize weve got a lot of good, hard-working folks that come across the border every day to work in Arizona industry. We also have a lot of good folks that want to take advantage of much of our Arizona health-care system, and we want there to be that capacity.
__
Madhani reported from Chicago. Associated Press writers Jonathan Cooper, Astrid Galvan and Bob Christie in Phoenix and Elana Schor in New York contributed to this report.
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, told House lawmakers that the nation is experiencing a disturbing surge of coronavirus infections as states reopen too quickly and without adequate plans for testing and tracing the contacts of those infected.
In a break with President Trumps relentlessly positive assessments of the pandemics trajectory in the United States, Dr. Fauci told the house Energy and Commerce Committee that the picture is a mixed bag, with some bright spots but many dark clouds and unknowns. Some states like New York are doing very well in controlling the spread of the virus, he said, but called the surge in other states very troublesome to me.
The next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges we are seeing in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and other states, Dr. Fauci told the panel as he and other leaders of the White House coronavirus task force appeared together for the first time in more than a month to brief Congress.
While deaths from the virus have been dropping over the past few days, he added, it is too soon to tell whether the numbers mean anything, saying that deaths always lag considerably behind cases, and that the trend may reverse itself. The hearing comes as the United States accounted for 20 percent of all the new cases worldwide on Sunday, according to New York Times data.
In their testimony, the officials said they had made progress in confronting the virus, including toward a vaccine that Dr. Fauci said he was cautiously optimistic could be ready by early next year and expanding the availability of testing in doctors offices by late fall. But they also made clear they did not agree with Mr. Trump, who last week claimed in an interview with Fox News that the virus would simply fade away.
CINCINNATI - Among the holy quests of serious and mysterious medical challenges that doctors and research scientists strive to vanquish is preventing miscarriages, stillbirth and other pregnancy complications including preterm births.
"We don't understand at a cellular and molecular level what causes miscarriages or preterm births, mainly because we don't know how pregnancy works normally," says Sing Sing Way, MD, PhD, Director of the Center for Inflammation and Tolerance at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Way and his colleagues are part of a small army of scientists, physicians and others looking for answers to these basic questions with enormous health and scientific implications. Their goal is to devise improved therapies to stem the tide of what remains a severe and entrenched public health crisis.
Way's research focuses on how the immune system changes during pregnancy, and immunological perturbations associated with pregnancy complications. The scientists use animal pregnancy models so that variables in evaluating differences in human pregnancy outcomes including maternal age, genetic diversity between parents and number of prior pregnancies can be properly evaluated.
A mother's immune system is altered during pregnancy to prevent a fetus from being rejected by the body. It is a delicate immunological balance that, if disrupted, could cause a miscarriage or multiple miscarriages. And unfortunately, that balance does too often become disrupted by environmental exposures or physiological changes leading to pregnancy complications.
Way's team is now adding an important new wrinkle by reporting in Cell Reports that a woman's immune system behaves very differently between a first and second pregnancy.
Researchers say this could lead to more personalized and more effective therapeutic strategies.
"First and subsequent pregnancies work very differently and understanding these differences can lead to improved therapies that target the unique immunological perturbations that occur in first and later pregnancies," explained Way, the study's principal investigator.
The study shows the immune pathways that promote a healthy first pregnancy are not the same pathways that promote later pregnancies.
The authors discuss how pregnancy causes physiological exposure, and often re-exposure, to foreign fetal allo-antigens, which are expressed by the developing fetus. These allo-antigens interact directly with the mother's immune system. The consequences after pregnancy are highly varied, they note.
The researchers found evidence of both alloimmunization (where the immune system attacks) and expanded tolerance phenotypes where it does not. Their data show that pregnancy primes accumulation of fetal-specific maternal CD8+ T cells, and that mothers remember their babies immunologically in that these cells persists as an activated memory pool after she gives birth.
Expression to two proteins, PD-1 and LAG-3 by what are called memory T cells, reminds the cells to again be tolerant of the developing fetus again during subsequent pregnancies. But molecular disruptions that neutralize expression of these proteins unleash the activation of fetal-specific CD8+ T cells, causing miscarriage selectively during subsequent, but not first pregnancies, according to the study's first author, Jeremy Kinder, a research associate on Way's laboratory team.
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Funding support for the study came in part from the National Institutes of Health (R01AI120202, R01AI124657 and DP1AI131080); the HHMI Faculty Scholar's program , the March of Dimes Ohio Collaborative for Prematurity Research, and a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in the Pathogenesis Award.
The study post-publication link is: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(20)30764-6
It is an honor to present this years Sourcies to schools that are doing remarkable work with CollegeSources solutions to achieve excellence in student degree planning support and in automating transfer evaluation, said Troy Holaday, president of CollegeSource.
CollegeSource, the higher education industrys most trusted SaaS provider of transfer and degree achievement solutions, today announced the winners of its annual Sourcies Awards, which recognize institutions best practices in transfer and degree achievement. Announced during the CollegeSource Annual Conference held virtually this year the 2020 Sourcies went to Humboldt State University for Superior Student Planning Support and to Lehman College (The City University of New York - CUNY) and the University of Southern California (USC) for Innovation in Transfer Evaluation Automation.
It is an honor to present this years Sourcies to schools that are doing remarkable work with CollegeSources solutions to achieve excellence in student degree planning support and in automating transfer evaluation, said Troy Holaday, president of CollegeSource. These three institutions have gone above and beyond in delivering critical technology innovations to benefit not only their students and faculty but also advisors, registrars, enrollment staff and overall campus leadership in enabling student mobility.
Humboldt State University implemented and began using CollegeSources Planner to proactively foster students degree pursuits. With support from CollegeSource in providing data schema, a data dictionary and a unique query, Humboldts team was able to present the Planner to students in a format customized to meet their constituents streamlined needs. They further surrounded this improved format with a bevy of tutorials that quickly help students master the process of planning their academic careers.
Lehman College utilized application programming interfaces for CollegeSources TES solution to underpin its new electronic Transfer Credit Evaluation (eTCE) system. eTCE helps Lehman identify courses that require evaluation ahead of the actual course transfer and automatically alerts advisors by email when a review is needed. The new system has significantly enhanced student, faculty and staff satisfaction by replacing a manual process for evaluating over 5,000 transfer credit evaluation requests annually.
Faced with evaluating transfer credits for thousands of new students who were slated to arrive for orientation during a short two-week cycle in the summer of 2020, USC deployed CollegeSources robust, self-service transfer credit engine along with its uAchieve degree audit solution to automate the process for delivering reliable, properly formatted and rapid results. As a result, USC was prepared to evaluate transfer credit for 100 percent of the incoming coursework for this summers batch of potential transfer students well ahead of the two-week orientation window.
About CollegeSource
CollegeSource is the higher education industrys trusted SaaS provider of transfer and degree achievement solutions. For nearly 50 years, CollegeSource has led market-changing transformation by inventing and investing in technology solutions that aid the staff and students of higher education in their quest to plan and complete academic careers. As the archiver of the nations extensive higher education course catalogs, CollegeSources degree audit, academic planning, and transfer credit evaluation solutions are depended on by more than 2,000 institutions and millions of individuals worldwide. Founded and led by higher education and technology veterans, CollegeSource is a privately-held company based in San Diego with offices in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, please visit collegesource.com.
Multiple federal government sources have confirmed concerns about the lack of expert medical personnel advising hotel workers, who have the task of delivering food and escorting guests without appropriate personal protective equipment. Victorian health authorities are now reviewing the staffing and management of hotels used to detain and isolate returned travellers for 14 days. The same private security firm oversees quarantine arrangements at both the Stamford Plaza and Rydges hotels where infected staff members have spread the virus to close contacts and contributed to family outbreaks that forced the Victorian government to reintroduce restrictions. A senior federal government source said hotel staff had no training in the use of PPE and "would wear the same mask and gloves for hours", while no medical waste bins were provided in the initial weeks of hotel quarantine.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, made up of state and territory chief health officers, decided on Monday to review hotel quarantine arrangements around the country to prevent further breaches, and will discuss the matter again on Friday. A Victorian government spokeswoman said repatriation flights were a matter for the federal government. "We will continue to accept any returned travellers from overseas into our hotel quarantine program as this is the best way to prevent returning travellers spreading the virus amongst the wider Victorian community," she said. Health Minister Greg Hunt told the ABC on Tuesday morning that the hotel quarantine system was the nation's "defence against importing cases from around the world".
Seventeen new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Victoria on Tuesday, underpinned by what Premier Daniel Andrews called significant community transmission, particularly across six coronavirus "hotspots" in Moreland, Darebin, Hume, Cardinia, Casey and Brimbank. Two were part of a family outbreak in Keilor Downs, in Brimbank. That cluster has reached 13 cases across eight households, including a Keilor View primary school student and a worker at a Coles distribution centre in Laverton. A new outbreak was also confirmed among five members of one family household in the City of Maribyrnong. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told the states tourism operators not to accept visitors from Victorias COVID-19 hotspots, while South Australian Premier Steven Marshall announced police would strengthen their presence on the SA-Victorian border. Essential travellers from Victoria will also need to be pre-approved online before entering South Australia.
As fears of a second wave grow in the state, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said he would "work up some advice" on the use of face masks, contrary to previous instructions. "I don't think it should be mandated ... but I think it might be worthwhile as an additional intervention," he told ABC radio. There was also some evidence of renewed stockpiling, as shoppers cleared supermarket shelves of toilet paper for the first time since March. A Woolworths spokesman said there had been "elevated demand" for toilet paper in "a handful" of Melbourne stores.
"We have plenty of stock to draw on in our distribution centres and will replenish shelves in those stores quickly," he said. Woolworths and Aldi reminded customers to buy only what they needed. Coles declined to comment. The official advice to residents in coronavirus hotspots remains to stay vigilant. Mr Andrews said only those who were unwell should avoid travelling over the school holidays that begin this weekend. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian asked residents of her state to reconsider any visits to Melbourne. Credit:Sydney Morning Herald Ms Berejiklian, however, added to her message that NSW residents should reconsider travel to Melbourne, saying on Tuesday that NSW's tourism operators, such as ski resorts, should reject visitors from Victorias hotspots.
"I think it's the prerogative of every business, every organisation to not accept anybody from those hotspots at this time," she said. "That is basic pandemic management." Mr Marshall, meanwhile, said police checkpoints on roads from Victoria into South Australia would increase as his government monitors Victorias growing infections extraordinarily carefully. Victoria has recorded 124 cases in the past seven days and on Tuesday contributed 17 of Australias 20 cases nationwide. In the past week there have been 49 community transmissions with an unknown source - about the same number as the two months prior. Coles said on Tuesday that its worker who tested positive would not have handled any groceries or products sold at supermarkets directly.
Brunswick East Primary, in the hotspot of Moreland, was also closed on Tuesday due to a student testing positive after attending school while infectious. In total, Tuesdays cases included two from the Keilor Downs outbreak, three detected in routine testing, one in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine and 11 under investigation. Mr Andrews defended the government's handling of hotels housing returned travellers and declined Prime Minister Scott Morrisons offer for the Australian Defence Force to take over their management. [Hotel quarantine] is a challenging thing to do from a very practical point of view [but] no, I dont think we need to do that now, Mr Andrews said of the offer.
The Premier said Victoria would introduce an army of hundreds of public health workers in coronavirus hotspots, liaising with families and reminding them that they must get tested and stay home if they are unwell. Mr Andrews also flagged an increased, targeted testing regime in those local government areas, which could include asymptomatic residents. Loading He said it was not yet time for a more severe lockdown of those suburbs. "If and when we need to make announcements about how we're going to deal with these hotspots further, then of course we will. But that's not today," the Premier said.
(CNN) Silicon Valley is pushing back against President Donald Trump's latest immigration curbs, this time targeting visa programs that tech companies use to bring in thousands of skilled foreign worker.
Trump signed an executive order on Monday expanding restrictions on several work visas until at least the end of this year, including the L-1 visa that allows companies to transfer employees from overseas offices and the H-1B program for workers in specialty occupations.
Both visas are popular with the United States' tech giants, and many were quick to condemn the executive order.
"Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said on Twitter. "Disappointed by today's proclamation we'll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all," he added.
Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, Twitter's head of public policy and philanthropy for the Americas, said the policy would end up hurting the US economy.
"This proclamation undermines America's greatest economic asset: its diversity," Herrera-Flanigan said in a statement. "Unilaterally and unnecessarily stifling America's attractiveness to global, high-skilled talent is short-sighted and deeply damaging to the economic strength of the United States."
The new restrictions will take effect on June 24. The Migration Policy Institute, a think tank in Washington, DC, estimated that they would block 219,000 temporary workers.
The executive order claimed that restricting immigration will help the US economy recover from the shock of the coronavirus pandemic, an idea Amazon pushed back against.
"Preventing high skilled professionals from entering the country and contributing to America's economic recovery puts American's global competitiveness at risk," a company spokesperson said. "Welcoming the best and the brightest global talent to the U.S. is more important than ever, and we will continue to support efforts that will preserve their ability to strengthen our economy."
That sentiment was echoed by Facebook.
"President Trump's latest proclamation uses the Covid-19 pandemic as justification for limiting immigration. In reality, the move to keep highly-skilled talent out of the US will make our country's recovery even more difficult," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement. "Highly-skilled visa holders play a critical role in driving innovation at Facebook and at organizations across the country and that's something we should encourage, not restrict."
Prominent tech executives including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Microsoft President Brad Smith also spoke out against the executive order.
"Now is not the time to cut our nation off from the world's talent or create uncertainty and anxiety," Smith said. "Immigrants... are contributing to this country at a time when we need them most."
Musk said he "very much" disagreed with the Trump administration's decision.
"In my experience, these skillsets are net job creators.," he said in a tweet. "Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad."
Some tech industry bodies also added their voices to the backlash.
The Internet Association, whose members include Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, Uber and PayPal, specifically called out the H-1B program, which Trump has targeted in the past and continues to be controversial.
"The diverse and accomplished H-1B visa holders in the U.S. create American jobs and help our economy grow," Sean Perryman, the association's director of social impact, said in a statement. "All industries benefit from a visa system that allows U.S. companies to attract the best and brightest no matter where they're from."
Jason Oxman, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council, another technology trade group, said the administration's plan will have a "dangerous impact on the economic recovery."
"As U.S. companies get their employees back to work, immigrants working in the technology industry are vital to sustaining promising recovery trends, as well as supporting the United States' ongoing response to Covid-19," Oxman said. "We urge President Trump to reconsider his actions and work with the business community on a plan that will actually bolster job growth and ensure economic security for all Americans."
This story was first published on CNN.com "Tech companies slam Trump's executive order restricting work visas."
Beijing, June 23 : China on Tuesday launched the latest satellite of its Beidou geo-location system (BDS), its alternative to the American GPS.
The launch, from the base of Xichang in Sichuan province, took place at 9.43 a.m., on the "Long March 3B" transport rocket, Efe news reported.
The satellite, which successfully entered orbit 25 minutes later, will complete the network of 35 third-generation devices (BDS-3) of the Beidou system (Big Dipper in Chinese), which the Asian country launched in 2015 to be able to offer coverage global positioning.
The launch of the last satellite was scheduled for June 16, but was suspended for "technical reasons".
China began building the Beidou 20 years ago, with the aim of being self-sufficient in navigation technology and having an alternative system to GPS.
It is made up of two separate satellite constellations. The Beidou-1 consists of three satellites that since 2000 have offered limited coverage and navigation and positioning services for China and some neighbouring countries.
The Beidou-2 began operating in December 2011 with ten satellites in orbit and has offered navigation and positioning services to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
With the Beidou-3, the system would reach global coverage this year and would be ready to provide an alternative to the other three currently in existence: the American GPS, the European Galileo and the Russian GLONASS.
With 35 satellites, Beidou would have more than 31 in the US system and also more than the European and Russian systems.
Nearly 200 countries have already applied to China for BDS technologies, which it currently exports to more than 120 nations.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
French President Emmanuel Macron has accused Turkey of "playing a dangerous game" in Libya, where its backing of the internationally recognised government of Fayez al-Sarraj has repelled a year-long assault by eastern military leader Khalifa Haftar. The sudden reversal has rattled not only France but Egypt.
"We will not tolerate the role that Turkey is playing in Libya," Macron said Monday after talks in Paris with Tunisian President Kais Saied.
Calling Ankaras military intervention a "dangerous game," the French president warned that it threatened not only Tripoli and the region but the whole of Europe.
Turkey has "gone against all of its commitments made at the Berlin conference," Macron said, referring to a peace summit earlier this year at the end of which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to a UN arms embargo and to end military support for the warring factions.
Instead, Erdogan has increased support for the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
Its backing has enabled Sarrajs Islamist forces to regain control of Tripoli from renegade military commander Khalifa Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA), in a major blow to Haftars year-long campaign to seize the capital.
Siding with Sarraj has nonetheless put Turkey in opposition to a growing list of foreign powers that support the rival LNA, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Russia.
France Haftar support
Paris has also been accused of supporting Haftar diplomatically behind the scenes, having previously provided him military assistance to fight Islamist militants. France denies the allegations.
Macron has repeatedly tried to broker agreements between the head of the Tripoli government and his rival eastern Libyan military leader, so far, in vain.
The French president, flanked by his Tunisian counterpart, on Monday condemned all outside interference in Libya.
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"France and Tunisia urge all the warring parties to cease fire and respect their commitments to resuming UN-backed talks with the aim of restoring security for all Libyans," he insisted.
Macrons call for peace was echoed by the US National Security Council through the voice of its ambassador to Libya Richard Norland.
The current violence fuels the potential resurgence of ISIS and Al Qaeda in Libya, and is further dividing the country for the benefit of foreign actors, he said.
Crossing red lines
The latest player to get involved in Libyas conflict is Egypt. Cairo, like Paris, is displeased with Turkeys role. Ankaras support has bolstered a formerly weak Sarraj and paved the way for him to recapture the central city of Sirte, the hometown of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, key oil terminals, and the Al-Jufra air base.
Sirte and Al-Jufra are a red line, Egyptian President Fattah al-Sissi warned Saturday, and called on his army to "be prepared to carry out any mission here within our borders, or if necessary outside our borders."
On Tuesday, al-Sissi called an emergency meeting of the Arab League to discuss the recent developments in Libyas nine-year war, stressing that any Egyptian intervention would be done according to the United Nations Charters right to self-defence.
Turkey, which rejected an Egypt-brokered-ceasefire earlier this month, has accused Cairo of trying to "save Haftar," and describes him as the "biggest obstacle to peace."
France-Turkey at odds
The Libya crisis has further put a strain on relations between Nato allies Turkey and France.
The two traded barbs again last week when Paris accused Ankara of failing to allow a Nato inspection of one of its vessels, suspected of smuggling arms to Libya.
The incident further underscored Macron's claim that Nato is "brain dead."
"As long as we Nato members, Europeans, stakeholders, continue to be weak in our words or lack clarity, we will allow non-cooperative powers to win," he said.
The French leader has been particularly critical of Turkey's decision to transfer allied fighters from Syria to Libya, which has raised fears of a new proxy war.
"I do not want in six months, a year or two years time to see Libya turn into another Syria," Macron stated.
A woman has told how she's lucky to be alive after her 'hangover' turned out to be a cluster of blood clots on her brain - caused by her contraceptive pill.
Professional horse groom Lucie Edwards, 25, Solihull, from West Midlands, thought she was suffering from a hangover after a family birthday party - but when her symptoms carried on for three days, she went to see her GP.
But then Lucie became violently ill in the early hours of the same day, so she was rushed to A&E and taken in for a CT scan, where doctors discovered a mass of six blood clots on her brain.
Her parents were told to prepare for the worst, with doctors waiting for her to have a stroke because the clots stopped blood flow to her brain.
The ordeal left her blind for two months, and experiencing pain 'worse than labour,' but she is thankfully now back to normal.
Professional horse groom Lucie Edwards, 25, Solihull, from West Midlands revealed how what she thought was a hangover turned out to be a life threatening blood blot in her brain caused by her contraceptive pill
Lucie had been taking the contraceptive pill Microgynon for only three weeks before she got the headache, and, shockingly, medics mirrored that time period to the quick growth of the clots.
Lucie said: 'The doctors said it's not rare for the pill to cause blood clots elsewhere in the body, and have come across a small blood clot in someone's brain - but not a mass of six clots like mine.
'Before the headaches started, I went to my auntie's birthday party and usually I handle my drink really well, but I had two doubles and felt really drunk. I thought it was weird so I stopped drinking.
'I woke up the next day feeling groggy and started getting sick, which has never happened but I didn't think anything of it.
At first, Lucie explained she thought she had a hangover. But when the symptoms did not dissipate, she called her GP (Lucie with her sister Molly)
'The morning after that, I went to brush my teeth and suddenly felt faint. My head started pounding and I began to see flashing strobe lights, as if I was going to pass out.
'I googled my symptoms and it suggested I had a migraine - it said they can last up to three days but the pain kept getting worse and it felt like my head could explode.
'On the third day it was getting no better, so I went to my GP who said I had the worst case of migraines, but if they got worse I should go straight to A&E.
'At about 1am I couldn't cope with the pain anymore, so my mum and dad took me to hospital.
'I was rushed into a CT scan, but they couldn't find anything at first, so they did another with some dye in my brain.
'It then showed up that I had a massive mass of blood clots from the left side of my neck to the top of my brain, stopping all the blood flow, which was why the pressure in my head was so bad.'
After three days of severe migraines, Lucie went to the A&E where doctors warned her family she might not make it, due to the large blood clot spreading from her neck to the ear
Lucie passed out in the car as she arrived at hospital in November 2019, before waiting seven hours in A&E in a wheelchair, terrified and slipping in and out of consciousness.
After the scan, medics realised Lucie was in a life-threatening situation and weren't sure she was going to pull through, because an operation was too risky.
Lucie said: 'In the first couple of days the doctors were saying to my mum that they didn't know if I was going to pull through, and she just wanted answers but they weren't sure.
'They were waiting for me to have a stroke, but I woke up the day after. I was really weak and I couldn't talk.
'I kept asking my mum to just let me die - if I was strong enough I would've probably tried to kill myself because the pain was so horrendous.
'Doctors didn't know the cause of the clots at first so they tested me for AIDs and cancer but they came back all clear.
'They asked my mum if I'd been taking any medication and she mentioned I'd gone back onto the pill, then they realised that was what caused it."
Lucie had been taking the Microgynon pill for two years previously, suffering no headaches, but took herself off it when it was no longer needed.
A year later, she had an in-date packet left and decided to begin taking it again - and was only on it for three weeks before the headaches began.
Looking back at the CT scan, doctors eventually found that the build up of clots had only been there for three weeks which was when they made the relation to the pill.
She said: 'I was discharged after ten days and prescribed blood thinning injections which I had to have in my stomach every night.
'My vision ended up going for two months but there wasn't anything that they could do, so they hoped my body would get better on its own.
Back on the saddle: The professional horseman was put on a blood thinning treatment but said she would not wish the ordeal on anyone
Lucie and Molly at home. She said she was shocked to find the clot had grown during the three weeks after she had started taking her new contraceptive pill
'I was also bound to a wheelchair because if I tried to walk, I'd fall over because of all the pressure in my head.'
Just seven months on, Lucie is miraculously back to normal after a brain scan showed the clots were all gone, and she was in the clear.
This month, she also stopped the blood thinning injections which doctors initially thought she would be on for life.
Lucie is now speaking out for the first time about her harrowing experience, and wants to encourage others to think twice before they start taking Microgynon.
She added: 'Doctors said it would be a miracle that the blood clots would go and thank god they have and it's all clear.
'I've made everyone that I know aware because I'd hate for anyone to go through this - I wouldn't even wish it on my worst enemy.
'They said the pain that I would've been going through would be worse than child labour.
'I just want to spread awareness - obviously it's not going to happen to everyone but it's more common than what's let out.
'My mum couldn't believe that the blood clots had all gone because at first they were telling her I was critical for the first six days I was in hospital so she's just amazed - we all are.'
Lucie revealed her went blind for two months due to the way the blood clot pressed on her brain. But thankfully her vision is back to normal now
A spokesperson for charity Thrombosis UK said: 'Oral contraceptive is the most commonly prescribed form of birth control.
'There are many approved oral contraceptives, but an often used one is the "combined pill" which contains oestrogen and progestogen hormones. However oestrogen hormones make the blood more 'sticky' and so more likely to cause blood clots.
'We would recommend that individuals should consider avoiding using the 'combined pill' but instead discuss with their doctor or nurse, a contraceptive that does not increase the risk of thrombosis.'
THE RISK OF BLOOD CLOTS WITH THE PILL Contraceptive pills that contain oestrogen may cause blood to clot more easily. This could lead to a clot in the leg, known as deep vein thrombosis, or in the lung, which is called a pulmonary embolism. Blood clots can also trigger a heart attack or stroke. The risk of developing a blood clot from the Pill is 'very small'. Nonetheless, it is unlikely a doctor will prescribe the contraceptive if a woman has two or more of the following risk factors: Aged 35 or over
Smokes or quit in the past year
Is very overweight
Has migraines or high blood pressure
Has had a blood clot or stroke before
Had a close relative who developed a clot before 45
Has been immobile for a long time, such as wheelchair users Source: NHS Advertisement
A spokesperson for Microgynon manufacturer, Bayer, said: "At Bayer, we take the safety of our products very seriously and we continuously review the safety profiles of our products.
'Combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs), like Microgynon, are among the most systematically studied and widely used medical products available today.
'Risk of blood clots is increased for women taking CHCs when compared with non-users. This is a well-known class effect of all CHCs as is clearly stated in the patient information leaflet of CHCs. This risk, however, of blood clots in a woman taking a CHC is smaller than the risk of clots associated with pregnancy.
Doctors told Lucie it was a miracle all her blood clots were gone after months of blood thinning treatment
'A woman's individual risk for a blood clot is determined by her personal risk factors. General risk factors for clots include genetic predisposition, obesity, pregnancy, advancing age and immobilisation (bed rest, a long-haul flight, trauma or surgery).
'The clot risk for a healthy woman is low, whether she takes an oral contraceptive or not. The more risk factors a woman has, the higher her risk might be.
'A woman should discuss their own medical history and known risk factors with her healthcare professional to weigh the risks of blood clots against the need for contraception and determine the contraceptive method best suited for their individual circumstances.'
The challenges facing barbers and hairdressers upon reopening have been highlighted by local owners this week.
Speaking to the Democrat, Barry Kieran, of Signature Hair on Dundalks Clanbrassil Street, says that he had not been made aware of any "actual guidelines" as of last week, despite reopening being set for June 29.
He explained: "I know there have been proposals presented to officials by the industry, none of which to my knowledge have been released as an official industry guideline. All we know right now is we are due for a reopen of June 29th."
The changes and enforced new guidelines will mean a lot of additional work for such businesses to allow them to reopen. Barry says their customers' and staffs' safety is paramount.
"Luckily enough for us, we already had worked with a booking system for the last number of years so it won't affect us to much in that area.
"We will face challenges in other areas of the business, but we are confident we can adapt and will change accordingly to suit the best interest of clients and staff."
Susan Scully of Cortex Hair Design on Francis Street in Dundalk says her salon will not be able to accommodate as many clients at one time, like they used, to due to the new guidelines.
Business will be very different for us. We certainly wont be allowed as many clients in the salon as usual. No beverages, no reading material but we will to our upmost best to make your trip to the salon as pleasurable as possible."
Susan says they have stepped up in their efforts ahead of reopening.
"We have put perspex screens up around the salon and we will have sanitizing stations around the salon, disposable towels and masks. We want to make the salon a safe environment for all our staff on our clients."
Her staff have made efforts to stay in contact with clients via social media during the closure and lockdown and Susan remains optimistic about the future for the business.
"It will take time to recover from this. We have to start back slow, but I do believe that we can get back to how we were before all of this happened."
New safety measures will also include - but are not limited to: temperature screening, a limited number of people in the salon (one adult per child) and the washing of hair before every cut.
Despite the massive upheaval and loss of income for the past number of months, Barry Kieran says he is looking up, not down.
"I chose to view it was an opportunity to reflect and improve on personal aspects of my trade along with having the time to really focus on improving the business moving forward. The changes to our philosophy will be clear when we finally get the official guidance and date of reopening."
While his business has used a booking system for some time now, Barry sees it becoming essential for other barbers.
With restrictions on the amount of people inside, along with Irish weather it may not allow long queues outside without shelter. It will be a case of implementing the best health and safety infrastructure for your salon on each service and any other problems that arise, you simply adapt to your salons protocols.
As a barber, what changes has Barry noticed in terms of mens hairstyles during the lockdown?
"I think at this point people have either grown their hair out or have completely shaved it off, there seems to be nothing in between."
He sees it having a major impact on trends going forward.
"This will change the face of fashion in the hair industry, with people either adapting and liking length in their hair or vice versa. A recent survey was 70% can't wait to get their skin fade/head shave back with only 30% enjoying the length gained in their hair.
I think it shows how highly people value their barbers/hairdressers and some view it as therapeutic. Me personally, I cannot wait to get back to work!"
Boeing recently named Michael D'Ambrose as executive vice president of Human Resources, effective July 6. He will succeed Wendy Livingston, who has served in an interim capacity since April.
In this role, D'Ambrose will be responsible for the company's leadership and learning, talent planning, employee and labour relations, total rewards, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. He will report to Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun, serve on the company's Executive Council and be based in Chicago.
"Michael is joining Boeing at a critical time as we align our workforce with what will be a smaller and more competitive aerospace industry in the coming years," said Calhoun. "He brings to this effort and our other business priorities extensive experience leading through organizational change, passionate advocacy for diversity and inclusion, and commitment to identifying, developing and retaining the industry's top talent.
"I'd also like to thank Wendy for her tremendous leadership in recent months, particularly as we navigated the pandemic's initial impact on our business and people," Calhoun added. "I look forward to her continued support and success as we further strengthen our world-class Human Resources team and position Boeing as a global employer of choice."
D'Ambrose joins Boeing from ADM, one of the world's largest agribusinesses and a global leader in human and animal nutrition, with more than $60 billion in annual revenue. He has served as senior vice president and chief human resources officer at ADM since 2006. In that role, he led the continued modernization of all global human resources activities, as well as the enterprise transformation of ADM through significant organic growth and M&A activity over the past decade.
D'Ambrose holds a bachelor's degree in industrial and labour relations from Cornell University, where he chairs the advisory board at the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies. In 2016, he was inducted as a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources. He also is a certified recreational pilot.
Livingston will support a thorough transition of responsibilities before resuming her previous role as vice president, Corporate Human Resources. TradeArabia News Service
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh left for a three-day visit to Russia on Monday amid heightened tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control. The minister will discuss various defence deals with his counterparts which both countries have agreed upon.
Among the defence deals to be discussed, Singh is likely to bring up expediting the delivery of S-400 anti-missile system to India.
Defence deals between India and Russia are set to cross $16 billion. Moscow has stated that it is committed to the timely implementation of contracts, including the supply of S-400 air defence systems and production of Kalashnikov rifles and Kamov helicopters.
The two countries signed 14 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow in February this year that covered development and production of land, air and naval systems and hi-tech civilian products.
Russia's state-run Rosoboronexport inked deals with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for advanced pyrotechnic ignition systems, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for export of spares and services to friendly countries, and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for land systems.
A separate MoU was signed by Russian Helicopters and Indo-Russian Helicopters Ltd for localisation of component to be used in Kamov Ka-226 helicopters. India has plans to buy 200 Ka-226 helicopters.
Indian Air Force (IAF) signed a Rs 1500 crore deal with Russia for buying R-27 air-to-air missiles. The missiles will be fitted on the IAF's multi-role Su-30MKI fighter jets. The missiles will further boost the air-to-air combat capability of the Indian Air Force.
After holding talks with top Russian military brass, Singh will attend a grand military parade in Moscow to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also attend the Russia-India-China meet. The Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers will also be present.
The Defence Minister's visit to Russia comes as a standoff between India and China has escalated in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed by Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley on June 15.
Before leaving for Moscow, Singh tweeted: "Leaving for Moscow on a three-day visit. The visit to Russia will give me an opportunity to hold talks on ways to further deepen the India-Russia defence and strategic partnership. I shall also be attending the 75th Victory Day Parade in Moscow."
A tri-service 75-member Indian military contingent has already reached Moscow and will participate in the parade alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries.
Egypt welcomed on Tuesday an announcement by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen of a ceasefire and de-escalation between the Saudi-backed government and southern separatist forces, a statement by the foreign ministry said.
Egypt hailed unremitting efforts by Saudi Arabia to support Yemen, stressing its confidence that such attempts would create the appropriate conditions to resume the political process between Yemeni parties to reach a comprehensive political solution for the crisis.
The ministry affirmed Egypts support to all efforts aiming to achieve peace, security and stability in Yemen, which it said would ensure the countrys unity and lift the suffering of the Yemeni people.
The statement by Egypt comes one day after Yemen's Saudi-backed government and southern separatist forces agreed on a ceasefire and said they would begin talks in Riyadh on implementing a peace deal.
The agreed de-escalation followed growing tensions over the weekend after the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized control of the Yemeni island of Socotra, driving out government forces.
Under the agreement, the ceasefire will be implemented in Abyan province along the coast east of Aden, with de-escalation of tensions in Socotra and other areas, as well as the beginning of talks.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led military coalition said on Tuesday it had intercepted and destroyed drones and missiles launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
It said it intercepted "eight booby-trapped unmanned aircraft to target civilian objects and civilians in the kingdom" as well as "three ballistic missiles from Saada governorate towards the kingdom."
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WASHINGTON - Protesters tried to pull down a statue of President Andrew Jackson near the White House Monday night before being dispersed by police.
WUSA-TV in Washington reported that police used pepper spray to move protesters out of Lafayette Square, where the Jackson statue is located. Videos posted on social media showed that the protesters had climbed on the statue and tied ropes around it, then tried to pull it off its pedestal.
The statue shows Jackson in a military uniform, riding a horse that is rearing on its hind legs. The 19th century presidents ruthless treatment of Native Americans has made his statue a target of demonstrators protesting the United States legacy of racial injustice.
The Jackson statue remained on its pedestal Monday night.
President Donald Trump tweeted late Monday that Numerous people had been arrested for the disgraceful vandalism. He added: 10 years in prison under the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt was at the scene Monday night, and issued a statement saying: Let me be clear: we will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served.
On June 1, law enforcement officers forcefully cleared peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square so Trump could stage a photo op at a nearby church.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz referred on June 23 to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan of implementing Israeli sovereignty on West Bank settlements, saying that annexation should not change significantly the current situation of either settlers or Palestinians. "We will execute the most responsible version of the plan in accordance with the US peace plan," said Gantz.
Gantz added, "We wont take Palestinians into our territory; we wont harm human rights or the right of movement. Well work in coordination with regional countries, and were in contact with them. We wont endanger the peace agreements. Already on June 18, Gantz had said he will not support the annexation of West Bank lands that are home to many Palestinian residents.
Speaking with military journalists, Gantz hinted that he could back advancing unilaterally the annexation plan if no progress is made toward a peace process with the Palestinians. Gantz criticized Palestinian refusal to enter into direct talks with Israel, stating that he is willing to talk directly with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. We wont continue to wait for the Palestinians. If they say no forever to everything, then well be forced to move forward without them. We wont get into Palestinian deep shit, said Gantz. The chair of the Blue and White party reiterated his support of Trumps peace plan, insisting that what we will do will have consequences, and what we will not do will also have consequences.
Gantzs remarks come a week exactly before July 1, when Netanyahu is expected to bring his annexation plan up for a vote in the Knesset. According to reports in Israeli media, the two men disagree on the plan, though any disagreement was not really made public. Netanyahu aims at annexing the full 30% of the West Bank allowed under Trumps peace plan, while Gantz wants to annex only a small area, probably part of the settlement blocs near Jerusalem.
Since the March 2020 elections, and with Netanyahu pushing for his plan to be adopted, Gantz remained vague on his partys stance over annexation. Pundits claim that Gantz has been waiting for the past few weeks for Netanyahu to publish the annexation map being elaborated by a joint Israeli-American team. US officials made it clear to Netanyahu that the administration would support his plan only if Blue and White is also on board. A meeting at the White House on the issue should take place this week.
It is also unclear whether Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, also of Blue and White, shares the same position as Gantz on a staged or limited annexation. Israels army radio reported today that according to an unnamed UN official, Ashkenazi is moving behind the scenes to curb the annexation plan. Still, a diplomat who spoke with Al-Monitor said that the report is probably exaggerated.
By Kate Kelland
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Tuesday announced an easing of social distancing rules from July 4, reducing the recommended gap from 2 metres to "1 metre plus" in England as it further loosened lockdown measures meant to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHAT DO SCIENTISTS SAY?
Infectious disease experts say the closer people are to someone infected with COVID-19, and the more time people spend in close quarters, the higher the risk that the coronavirus will spread from one person to another.
Beyond that simple reality, "it is just a matter of reducing risk with increased physical distance", said Jonathan Reid, a professor of Physical Chemistry at Britain's Bristol University.
"The further you stand away from someone, the fewer droplets you will be exposed to. One metre only prevents you from being exposed to the largest of droplets; two metres reduces your exposure - but doesnt make it zero risk."
A study in The Lancet this month found that physical distancing of at least 1m lowers risk of COVID-19 transmission, but that 2m could be more effective.
WHAT IS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S ADVICE?
The WHO says keeping a distance of at least one metre helps reduce the risk of the coronavirus spreading in the small liquid droplets that people spray out when they cough, sneeze and talk.
These droplets may contain the virus, and "if you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets", the WHO says.
IS DISTANCE THE ONLY FACTOR?
Switzerland's health ministry says that "according to current data, a distance of more than one meter reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection by more than 80% in both healthcare (settings) and everyday life".
It added, however, that the risk is higher "in circumstances in which a particularly large number of droplets are expelled, such as when singing or speaking loudly".
Shaun Fitzgerald, a professor of engineering at Britain's University of Cambridge, said the key point is that "it's not all about the distance".
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"There are other mitigation measures," he said - including the duration of close proximity, the number of people in a given space, the use of face masks, availability of ventilation, and whether people talk quietly or shout loudly.
WHAT DO OTHER COUNTRIES RECOMMEND?
China, Denmark, France, Hong Kong and Singapore recommend social distancing of 1 metre, and many people also choose to, or are required to, wear face masks in public spaces.
Australia, Belgium, Greece, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal advise people to keep 1.5m apart. Switzerland this week also reduced the required distance to 1.5m from 2m.
The guidance in the United States is six feet, or 1.8m.
(Additional reporting by John Miller in Zurich, editing by Mark Heinrich)
A 19-year-old Milwaukee woman who was in custody for two years on charges she killed a man who sexually assaulted her and other minors has been released on bail.
Chrystul Kizer on Monday walked out of the Kenosha County Jail after several community groups joined forces and together helped raise her $400,000 bail.
Kizer was awaiting trial on five felony counts, including first-degree intentional homicide, for the June 2018 killing of 34-year-old Randall Volar III. She was 17 at the time.
Suspected trafficking victim and accused killer Chrystul Kizer, 19, was freed from a Wisconsin jail on Monday after community groups helped raise her $400,000 bail (pictured with her attorney in November 2019)
Kizer (left) was 17 years old in June 2018 when she admittedly shot Randall Volar III (right), a suspected sex trafficker, in the head and set his body on fire
Volar's charred home in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he was killed is pictured above
Advocates for trafficking victims have been pushing for the charges to be dropped.
Kizer, who is black, was able to post bond due to an influx of donations, most of them small, associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, according to Sharlyn Grace, executive director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund.
Community groups including the Chrystul Kizer Defense Committee, Milwaukee Freedom Fund and Survived & Punished also contributed, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
DailyMail.com does not typically identify people claiming to be victims of sexual assault, but Kizer discussed her case in an interview with The Washington Post last year.
Kenosha police had been investigating Volar, who was white, for child trafficking and possession of child pornography at the time of his death.
Advocates for trafficking victims have been pushing for the charges to be dropped against Kizer
District Attorney Michael Graveley said at Kizer's most recent court appearance that there's no doubt Volar sexually assaulted Kizer and other underage girls. Police have seized videotapes that show some of the assaults, according to court documents.
But, he said, there's evidence that Kizer planned Volar's shooting death and that her motive was to steal his BMW.
Speaking to The Washington Post from jail, Kizer maintained she was defending herself and that when she told Volar she didn't want to have sex, he pinned her to the floor.
'I didn't intentionally try to do this,' she said.
Kizer said she met Volar when she was 16 after he responded to an advertisement she had posted on Backpage.com. She needed money for snacks and school notebooks and Volar was the first to respond, she said.
The Post article describes how Volar groomed her for sex work by buying her expensive gifts and giving her money.
In exchange, he expected her to have sex with him, and also to prostitute herself to other men for cash, which he would then keep for himself.
Kizer first met Volar through Backpage,com when she was 16. She has maintained that she killed Volar in self defense after he drugged her and tried to have sex with her
In February 2018, Volar was arrested on charges of child enticement, using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, and second-degree sexual assault of a child. Photo and video evidence found at his home indicated that Kizer was one of his victims.
Volar was inexplicably released from jail the day after his arrest, without bail, and remained free until his death.
In February 2018, Volar was arrested on charges of child enticement, using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, and second-degree sexual assault of a child
On the night of June 5, 2018, Kizer shot Volar in the head twice at his home in Kenosha, before setting his body on fire and fleeing the scene in his BMW.
Kizer has maintained that she did not go to Volar's house armed with a gun planning to kill him and claimed self-defense after allegedly being drugged and nearly raped.
The teen's lawyers sought to apply an 'affirmative defense' under a state law which allows victims of sex trafficking to be acquitted of certain charges if they can prove they committed the crime because they were being trafficked.
A judge ruled in December that Wisconsin's affirmative defense did not apply to Chrystul's case.
Grace said the Chicago Community Bond Fund works with defense committees and support groups for victims of trafficking and sexual abuse who have been 'further harmed by prosecution.' The group has posted bond for eight other women in similar circumstances, she said.
'The state has failed to protect Chrystul and others who are disproportionately black women,' Grace said.
Kizer's mother, Devore Taylor, 36, is shocked and upset as she reads an 88 page legal document which contained the search warrant of Valor's house and police investigation file on his sex crimes
Kizer's bond was originally set at $1million. Judge David Wilk lowered the bond to $400,000 in February.
If convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, Kizer faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison, but a judge could set a parole eligibility date.
Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Gravely said a possible plea deal to downgrade the first-degree intentional homicide charge to felony murder is on the table.
No trial has been set for Kizer. A status conference in the case is scheduled for September.
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Volans, a global think tank and strategic advisory firm founded by John Elkington , the originator of the 'triple-bottom-line' of profit, people and planet, and advisor to major companies across the globe, has called out a pioneering Scottish partnership as a potential model for global economic recovery.
, the originator of the 'triple-bottom-line' of profit, people and planet, and advisor to major companies across the globe, has called out a pioneering Scottish partnership as a potential model for global economic recovery. The River Leven Programme, a regional regeneration partnership pioneered by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, aims to transform an area once at the centre of Scotland's industrial revolution, locking in sustainable, inclusive growth.
industrial revolution, locking in sustainable, inclusive growth. The Programme is the first living case study in Volans' 'Green Swan Observatory', propelling the project to the global 'one to watch' list for innovative approaches.
"The alignment of environment and economic agencies with private partners to accelerate regeneration in Leven can be a model for Scotland! 's green recovery," says Elkington.
green recovery," says Elkington. This comes as the Scottish Government's Economic Advisory Group on Economic Recovery calls for "a strong green spine to... recovery."
The announcement comes as five new partners - Network Rail, The Coal Authority, Zero Waste Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, and Fife Coast & Countryside Trust - join another ten private and public partners on the one-year anniversary of the partnership. Volans, a global think tank and strategic advisory firm founded by John Elkington, the originator of the 'triple-bottom-line' of profit, people and planet, and advisor to major companies across the globe, has called out a pioneering Scottish partnership as a potential model for global economic recovery. The River Leven Programme, a regional regeneration partnership, pioneered by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, aims to transform an area once at the centre of Sc otland's industrial revolution, locking in sustainable, inclusive growth. The programme, the subject of a 'Sustainable Growth Agreement' in 2019 between eleven public and private sector partners including SEPA, Scottish Enterprise, Fife Council and global spirits manufacturer Diageo, focuses on six aims to realise a 2030 vision for aA "living, breathing example of inclusive growth."A The programme is the first living case study in Volans' 'Green Swan Observatory' initiative, propelling the project to the global 'one to watch' list for innovative approaches. Volans has so far given Green Swan Awards to 'Earth Day' and the multi-award-winning Eden Project in Cornwall. Volans' Green Swan Observatory spotlights and analyses examples that encapsulate activities needed for a regenerative future, sharing these 'Green Swan' innovations that can drive forward positively exponential change with the wider world. Its aim is to accelerate the move from a 'responsibility' agenda to one of resilience and ultimately regeneration for businesses and other organisations. Louise Kjellerup Roper, Chief Executive of Volans, said: "The ongoing global pandemic has brought into sharp focus the need for structural change in our society and economies. Scotland's leadership on low-carbon innovation is well known and we've been watching the transformation of its environment protection agency for some time. The alignment of environment and economic agencies with private partners to accelerate regeneration in Leven can be a model for Scotland's green recovery." The announcement comes on the day following Scottish Government's Economic Advisory Group on Economic Recovery called for "a strong green spine to... recovery" and as five new partners commit to the programme: Network Rail, The Coal Authority, Zero Waste Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, and Fife Coast & Countryside Trust. Ross Martin, Chair of the River Leven Partnership, said: "This is an exceptionally bold place-based intervention being led by our national environmental regulator into one of Scotland's regional economies.A The partnership recognises that the environment and economy are not competing interests, but two sides of the same coin - the currency of sustainable, inclusive growth. "The Covid19 crisis has demonstrated beyond all doubt the importance of reconnecting people and place, and I predict that all other EPAs will follow the Leven lead." Terry A'Hearn, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: "Now more than ever, the future health, wellbeing and prosperity of our people relies on transformational change in our economy.A As Scotland's environment protection agency, we're determined to step up.A The old way that all EPAs around the world have worked is no longer good enough for the challenges our societies face.A We're not waiting for the change; we are going to create it here in Scotland. Our One Planet Prosperity strategy gives us a new powerful partnership with our enterprise agency, private and public partners to drive actions, not words. "The River Leven Programme is a powerful example of what can be achieved when environment and economy align.A This region of Scotland was a cradle of the first industrial revolution. Under this partnership, it can now become a pioneer in the new global low-carbon industrial revolution.A We're excited for the local community and our partners and delighted that it is being looked at as an example of what future sustainable, inclusive growth and partnerships will look like in this next revolution.A The international recognition as a Green Swan project is a welcome boost for the people of this region." Steve Dunlop, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, added: "The River Leven initiative is the epitome of strategic partnership working which is creating exciting new opportunities to unlock purposeful economic outcomes for regions and communities across Scotland. Working in this way with SEPA and other partners is critical to how we will do business in support of a green recovery and being acknowledged by Volans in this way speaks volumes about the power of purposeful partnerships." Notes for Editors Volans isA a think tank and advisory firm operating at the intersection of innovation and sustainability, making the emergent future practical and actionable to drive positive systems change.
The Green Swan ObservatoryA builds on Volans' ongoing Green SwansA campaign, part of our Tomorrow's Capitalism Inquiry. Now entering its second phase, the Inquiry is focussing on how we can help create the right market conditions for finance to be an accelerant of regenerative 'Green Swan' trajectories in the real world.A Further information can be found at https://volans.com .
TheA Scottish Enviro! nment Pro tection AgencyA (SEPA) is Scotland's principal environmental regulator, protecting and improving Scotland's environment. A keystone of its mission is to accelerate progress towards 'One Planet Prosperity'.
The ten original partners in the Leven Programme Partnership who backed the Sustainable Growth Agreement with SEPA announced in July 2019 are Fife Council, Sustrans, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Water, Scottish Enterprise, Fife College, Forth Rivers Trust, Diageo, Central Scotland Green Network Trust and Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Niamey, Niger (PANA) The central office for the Repression of illegal drug trafficking (OCTRIS), seized huge quantities of drugs in the city of Niamey in one week, the governmental newspaper, "LE SAHEL", reported on Tuesday
In this April 29, 2016, file photo, members of a South Korean civic group send leaflets denouncing the North Korean regime in Tanhyeon, Paju, near the North Korean border. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
The sending of leaflets into North Korea by defectors is an exercise of the right to freedom of expression, a U.N. official said, amid Pyongyang's threats to punish Seoul for failing to stop the launches that criticize the North Korean leader.
Signe Poulsen, head of the Seoul office of the U.N. Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the remarks amid heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula after the North threatened to retaliate against the South for what it called Seoul's "connivance" at the floating of anti-Pyongyang materials in large balloons.
The flying of leaflets has long been a source of tensions between the two Koreas, as the leaflets contain strong criticism of the North's authoritarian regime and leader Kim Jong-un, as well as the country's poor human rights situation.
"It's very difficult to give information to people in North Korea. There are organizations who're trying to reach North Koreans by flying balloons, there are some who try to get information through radios. I think their intentions are very genuine ones," she said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
"I think, escapees who've come from North Korea themselves, know more about that than me or any kind of so-called North Korea experts," she said.
The North has revealed plans to revert to treating the South like an enemy and to send its own propaganda leaflets into the South. On Monday, the North's state media reported it was preparing to send around 12 million leaflets via some 3,000 balloons.
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 16:14 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660fc91b 1 World haj-pilgrimage,haj,Saudi-Arabia,Religious-Affairs-Ministry,Fachrul-Razi,pilgrims,pilgrimage,COVID-19,coronavirus Free
The Indonesian government has lauded Saudi Arabias move to limit the number of haj pilgrims this year in an effort to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that it would allow pilgrims already in the kingdom to proceed with the annual ritual, which is scheduled to take place next month. This means that only Saudi nationals and foreigners currently living or staying in the country can do the pilgrimage.
In the name of the Indonesian government, I express appreciation for Saudi Arabias decision to prioritize the pilgrims safety, said Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi in a statement on Tuesday.
House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad of the Gerindra Party echoed the governments statement, saying the move was in line with Indonesias decision to cancel this years haj trips over coronavirus concerns.
We must respect the decision, Sufmi said.
Read also: Lawmakers grill religious affairs minister for 'sudden' haj cancellation
Indonesia the worlds largest Muslim-majority country which holds the largest quota of haj pilgrims decided earlier this month to cancel this years haj trips over health concerns, forcing 221,000 would-be pilgrims to put their haj plans on hold.
The minister, however, asserted that those who had already paid for their pilgrimage could embark on the haj in 2021.
According to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, nearly 2.5 million people went on the haj pilgrimage last year, including 1.85 million from outside the country.
Madrid, Spain, 23 June 2020 Restrictions on travel, introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, are slowly being eased, allowing tourism to restart in a growing number of destinations.
The latest research by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that 22% of all destinations worldwide (48 destinations) have started to ease restrictions, with Europe leading the way.
At the same time, however, 65% of all destinations worldwide (141 destinations) continue to have their borders completely closed to international tourism.
As the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, UNWTO has been monitoring responses to the pandemic since the start of the current crisis. This latest update, the fifth edition of COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions: A Global Review for Tourism, shows that the sector is slowly restarting, though this restart is significantly more pronounced in some global regions.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: The restart of tourism is of vital importance for livelihoods, for businesses, and for national economies. This latest overview of global travel restrictions shows that growing numbers of destinations are beginning to ease the restrictions they introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is being done in a responsible and measured way. However, this crisis is not over. UNWTO will continue to work with our Member States around the world to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and to ensure that, when the time is right, tourism can help drive a responsible and sustainable recovery.
The layoffs, changed job functions and planned budget cuts of almost 40 percent were first reported by The Forward. The museum, which describes itself as a living memorial to the Holocaust, was formed with the aim of educating diverse visitors about Jewish life before, during and after the Holocaust.
An audio recording of the Zoom meeting that was obtained by The New York Times included questions from employees. One asked: What, if any pay cuts, were implemented at the executive and senior management level?
There were no pay reductions for executive and senior managers, Mr. Kliger responded.
The layoffs came as an especially severe blow at the museum given the accolades it has received for its Auschwitz exhibition, which went up in 2019 and drew more visitors than ever before to the institution.
Mr. Kliger said in the Zoom call that as soon as we closed on March 15, we knew we would face financial hardship and began preparing for the possibility of layoffs, according to the museums record, but added that the museum held off on layoffs as long as it could and would extend health benefits to those who were being laid off through Sept. 30, which was as long as the budget would allow.
The museum was not planning further staff reductions, he told the employees.
Mr. Kliger said that the museum had taken steps to shore up its finances, starting a campaign to raise money and obtaining a grant from the New York Community Trust and a loan from the federal Paycheck Protection Program.
Manisha Koirala stirred up a storm on Twitter with her recent musing on Nepal and sovereignty. Her tweet comes after the Nepalese Parliament endorsed a new map that shows the disputed areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as part of its territory, earlier this month. This has led to strained bilateral ties.
Territorial sovereignty + political sovereignty + economical sovereignty = sovereign state !! Lets mull over this!! Gm, the Bollywood actor wrote on Twitter. She confirmed in a reply to a Twitter user that she was reflecting about the Nepal situation.
I was simply mulling over where Nepal stands today n where its heading in future, on these fronts..we kinda know the past .. not saying its either good or bad.. just mulling, she wrote.
As Manishas tweet drew criticism from angry Indians, she wrote in a follow-up tweet. A heartfelt request please lets not be aggressive and disrespectful..we are in this situation together..our respective Govs will resolve the issue. In the meantime we can be civil. I remain hopeful.
Earlier, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a statement that Nepal should refrain from such unjustified cartographic assertion. He said, This unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence. It is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India.
Also read: Monali Thakur backs Sonu Nigams claim of music industry mafia, says they crush talented musicians like ants
Meanwhile, Manisha, who was last seen in the Netflix original film Maska, is quarantining with her parents in Mumbai. In an earlier interview with Hindustan Times, she said that the lockdown reminded her of the time when she was fighting cancer.
During my treatment days in New York, I was basically locked up in my apartment for six long months. Looking back, that was thousand times worse than this for me. (Right now) Even if were locked up for a total of two months, it at least gives us hope that things will get better if we follow all instructions, she said.
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(CNN) The White House on Monday (Tuesday in the Philippines) admitted that President Donald Trump was involved in the removal of US Attorney Geoffrey Berman after Trump had claimed he was "not involved" in the process this weekend.
Speaking at the White House, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump was "involved in the sign-off capacity" as she sought to explain the removal of Berman as a simple swap that would allow Jay Clayton, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to take the post.
Clayton and Trump also discussed the job, which leads the powerful Southern District of New York office.
During a recent meeting, Trump asked Clayton if he was interested in a job during a potential second term, according to a person close to the situation.
Clayton, who has never been a litigator or prosecutor, said he wanted to move back to New York and expressed interest in the SDNY position with the expectation it would be in a second term. Clayton was then told that it was accelerating and would be announced.
On Monday, however, McEnany wasn't able to fully explain why Berman was dismissed before Clayton was confirmed by the Senate, saying only that there would be an interim US attorney in the post.
"The hope is Clayton will be confirmed," she said.
Berman's departure came a day after he refused Attorney General William Barr's request that he resign. In a curt letter to Berman on Saturday, Barr told him Trump had agreed to remove him and conceded that Berman's deputy would succeed him.
"Unfortunately, with your statement of last night, you have chosen public spectacle over public service," Barr wrote in his letter to Berman. "Because you have declared that you have no intention of resigning, I have asked the President to remove you as of today, and he has done so."
He provided no justification for pushing out Berman.
Speaking to reporters shortly after Barr's letter was made public, however, Trump said, "That's his department, not my department." He added: "I'm not involved."
This story was first published on CNN.com 'White House admits Trump was involved in firing of top US attorney after Trump claimed he wasn't'
Past and present governments have channeled some resources into establishing community and school Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres. These ICT centres have been established purposely to enhance the learning of ICT in schools and communities. A typical ICT centre would have a set of computers and accessories with no access to the internet or an Intranet.
ICT teachers are expected to use these computers to teach school children some basic computer hardware and applications. Just a few of these ICT centers are connected to the internet through either private initiatives, VSAT or through the governments fiber backbone initiative.
The ministry of Communication of Ghanas vision for community information centers (CIC) is to create rural access centres and use the medium of ICT to promote community-based ICT applications that will promote operational efficiencies delivered through effective and timely availability of information.
According to a 2004 government project strategy chanced up by yours truly, government through the ministry of Communication had plans to build community information centers in all districts in Ghana to serve as centres of learning and assist in bridging the digital divide between rural and urban communities. This document, also known as Ghanas ICT for Accelerated Development Policy also proposes the deployment and spread of ICTs in the Community as a way to improve the economic base and further accelerate growth and development towards transforming Ghana into an information society.
The initial setups where a collaborative effort by the Government of Ghana and the Government of India. These centres were expected to be connected to Satellite from the remote location as the near-end and to the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT as the far-end to facilitate system management and finally establish a link to the government portal at the Information Services Department of the Ministry of Information to facilitate government to citizen (G2C) interaction.
These ideas surrounding the establishment of CIC where laudable until Covid-19 arrived to disrupt the system. On the 30th day of March 2020, a lockdown was announced in two regions in Ghana to curb the spread of Covid-19. Prior to that, all schools were closed, and new restrictions and social distancing rules were introduced. The Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service tried different ways of engaging students while at home. Mediums such as Television and Radio were used to engage students. Additionally, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Ghana also zero rated some educational Uniform Resource Locator (URLs) for students to access. All these interventions were to get students to learn what they would have been learning if they were at school.
All these interventions by the Ministry were not good enough. They never provided the interaction that the students needed. What was missing were the interactions between the students and the teachers. That is where the most important element comes in: the provision or availability of Laptops or tablets. If as a country, we had a policy of providing all students with a very robust locally assembled laptop or tablet which can have access to internet services, our nightmare would have been solved by now. We could as a country have gone fully online from day one for all students during the lockdown. It would be very easy for MNOs to provide free access to internet services for education purposes to all students who uses the free laptops or tablets. The mac addresses of these devices could be easily allowed on all networks to access internet for only educational purpose, that is, an interactive application where a student could interact with his peers and teacher in a classroom setting.
Ghana would not be the first country to provide free laptops to students. Countries such as Peru, Uruguay and Rwanda have adopted the one child one laptop agenda in full. Other countries such as Norway, Brazil, Bangladesh, South Korea and Spain are also implementing it partially. The United States does not provide free laptops from the federal government, but some districts such as the Los Angeles Unified district and Miami Dade (Florida) are providing free devices to students in their districts. It is also worth mentioning that some school districts are increasingly promoting 'bring your own technology' (or 'BYOT') initiatives to increase the access to laptops and tablets within schools.
If we are serious about turning the fortunes of this great nation, we should take some bold steps in making ICT and access to ICT devices for learning a priority. Free Secondary school without the access to ICT tools would produce half-baked graduates. These Graduates would not be competitive in the job market globally. Students in other countries are developing mobile applications, computer applications, robots, and other computer aided applications while our students are busy studying ICT on the chalk board. The provision of free laptops and tablets to students would open the floodgate for innovation and creativity in the development of software and applications by students. The pros outweigh the cons in providing free laptops to every Ghanaian child of school going age.
The free laptops must be designed and assembled locally in Ghana with local production offices in all Regional or district capitals. This first step would be an avenue for job creation for the youth. The citing of the assembling plants in the regions or even districts can support with the maintenance of these devices for either free or for a small charge.
With every child having access to laptops and free internet services for education purposes, we can eliminate the double track system, and increase enrollment drastically. We would not need to build more classrooms to accommodate students. All that would be needed is to enroll a cohort on an online system, get them connected from a specific time for an in-class experience. Occasionally, the online students could be asked to visit the schools for a residency type of experience.
Through curiosity and access to online materials, students with access to the free laptops (hitherto would not have had one) can learn new skills from free materials online and build their capacity without being in the four corners of a school building. Access can be controlled on these devices so that students cannot access X rated sites and other adult rated sites. A central management system to manage updates and security settings can be setup to control these devices. Unauthorized applications can be detected and deleted remotely. We have managed to implement free SHS, we can manage to provide free laptops and devices for all students of school going age thereby improving the economic base and to further accelerate growth and development towards transforming Ghana into an information society.
Author: Samuel Hanson Hagan ; | Telecommunication Consultant | Member, Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana
For comments, contact email: [email protected] | WhatsApp: +233507393640
Almost one-half of Manitobans are nervous about reopening the economy and returning to commercial spaces, suggests a new survey commissioned by the provinces business councils and associations.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Almost one-half of Manitobans are nervous about reopening the economy and returning to commercial spaces, suggests a new survey commissioned by the provinces business councils and associations.
The Probe Research poll released Monday shows two-thirds of 1,000 sampled Manitobans "want to get back to pre-pandemic times, but are still cautious and uneasy," with 19 per cent of respondents saying they want to continue self-isolation.
"Its definitely a timely poll that provides concrete data about consumers apprehensiveness and nerves," said Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, one of the associations that sponsored the poll.
"We know how businesses feel about our economic recovery, but what we now have is the missing piece about how consumers really feel in going back to how things were," he said.
"Its not surprising to see that Manitobans feel daunted."
According to the survey, a vast majority of people 65 per cent would feel more comfortable "reconnecting with the economy and society," with widespread and increased COVID-19 testing in place, especially among older citizens.
Those most likely to remain cautious about "going out in society," the poll found, includes university graduates (representing 22 per cent), people aged 55 or older (representing 25 per cent) and women (representing 55 per cent).
Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, told the Free Press the poll reinforces "a need for clarity about the safety of commercial spaces from the government."
"People are going to commercial spaces at their own pace, determining slowly whether they feel safe or not, but we know they listen to authorities," he said, citing the polls findings about most Manitobans having good working knowledge of COVID-19 regulations, such as those about mask-wearing, gathering size limits and provincial re-entry rules.
"At the end of the day, its all about consumer confidence," said Davidson. "A public government campaign of some sort would go a long way to let people know, Hey, its actually safe to be doing business."
The poll found 75 per cent of Manitobans believe it is critical to their "economic participation" that commercial and service spaces are reported to be virus-free and following health protocols per safety regulations.
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But despite consumers hesitation, over 90 per cent of those surveyed also reported they were concerned about the effect of COVID-19 on the provinces overall economy.
Bram Strain, CEO and president of the Business Council of Manitoba, suggests that statistic has to do with personal finances, citing the 65 per cent of respondents who reported such concerns.
Strain said reassurances to people that commercial spaces are safe for them is key to achieving economic stability post-pandemic.
"Weve been the envy of several regions in Canada in terms of how well weve done to flatten the curve," he said. "I think now we need to start changing our messaging so we can reopen the economy."
temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca
A police officer in Southborough was wounded late Monday night at the towns public safety building, news outlets report.
Update: Southborough police officer released from hospital after being attacked Monday night while investigating threats complaint, authorities say
A person went to the communitys police station on Cordaville Road shortly before 10 p.m. The individual and the officer were later taken to the hospital after a violent incident involving a knife, WCVB reported.
The officer, who was not identified, is expected to recover from his injuries, according to WCVBs report.
Massachusetts State Police and officers in Westborough responded to the incident, Boston 25 reported.
The Southborough police and fire complex was roped off for hours as officers documented evidence in front of the building, NBC 10 reported.
Authorities did not immediately release information about the events leading to the violent incident.
OTTAWAThe RCMP is looking into allegations that a member of Peter MacKays Conservative leadership campaign accessed confidential video-conferencing records of rival candidate Erin OToole.
In a brief statement Monday, the Mounties national division confirmed that it is examining this matter carefully and will take appropriate actions as required. The force declined any further comment.
On Friday, the OToole campaign notified police about a data breach which it said led to the downloading of hundreds of hours of internal Zoom videos, campaign strategy meetings and other internal data.
The OToole campaign has publicly accused Jamie Lall, a regional organizer for MacKay in Calgary, of obtaining log-in credentials and downloading the videos.
Lall told the Star in an interview on Monday that he would welcome a police investigation.
All of these allegations I categorically deny, every single one of them, he said, adding that he's aggressively pursuing legal action against the OToole campaign.
I had nothing to do with this, he said.
None of the allegations have been proven.
The OToole campaign has made accusations, but have failed to give us anything at all to back up those accusations. We cannot comment on documentation that we have not seen, wrote MacKay spokesperson Chisholm Pothier in a statement.
The Star has reviewed a copy of the OToole campaigns complaint to police, in which it suggests a third party accessed the campaigns Zoom account and leaked some footage to Lall. The statement alleges that Lall then met this person, who provided him with the log-in information.
The OToole campaign alleged that Lall, as well as another person in Toronto, proceeded to access 138 English videos and seven French videos from the Zoom account.
It launched an internal investigation on June 15 after a leaked video made its way to Radio-Canada. The video, which showed OToole asking social conservatives in Quebec for their support, made a minor splash before the partys French-language debate last week.
According to two sources, the OToole team originally thought someone was leaking from within the campaign. But the investigation, which was assisted by Zoom, revealed three Internet Protocol addresses two in Calgary, one in Toronto had accessed the campaigns shared account without permission.
The OTooles campaign complaint to police says it cross-referenced those IP addresses against a database of people who had signed up for the campaigns email alerts or participated in online surveys.
We have more specific information; however, we await further discussions with police, the letter read.
An OToole supporter from Alberta told the Star that campaign staff have been told to expect calls from the RCMP on the matter.
The OToole campaign has alerted the Conservative partys leadership election organizing committee, but has not asked the party to investigate what it believes to be a criminal matter.
The criminal allegations arrive in the midst of an already bitter fight between OToole and MacKay for the partys leadership, which will be decided by mail-in ballot on Aug. 21.
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While efforts are still on to further defuse tensions between India and China, Russia appears to be playing a key role in brokering peace.
Over a week after the clashes at Ladakh's Galwan Valley between Indian and Chinese army personnel, the two countries have agreed to disengage forces along the disputed stretch of the Line of Actual Control. While efforts are still on to further defuse tensions, Russia appears to be playing a key role in brokering peace.
Indian officials have been in touch with the Russian government both before the 15 June clashes and afterwards. On 5 June, when tensions along the LAC were increasingly becoming apparent, foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had updated Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev on the recent developments on the issue.
Two days after the clashes, Indian Ambassador to Russia D Bala Venkatesh Varma also spoke to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov. The Indian Express quoted a statement by the Russian foreign ministry as saying that the officials "discussed regional security, including developments on the Line of Actual Control on the border between India and China in the Himalayas".
On the same day, Kudashev tweeted
We welcome all steps aimed at de-escalation at the #LAC, including the conversation between the two FMs, and remain optimistic. Nikolay Kudashev (@NKudashev) June 17, 2020
However, notwithstanding the note of optimism, Russia has avoided directly expressing any intention of intervening to resolve the conflict between India and China. On Tuesday, at a virtual meeting of RIC (Russia-India-China) foreign ministers, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said, "I don't think India and China need any help from outside. I don't think they need to be helped, especially when it comes to country issues. They can solve them on their own."
Lavrov was further quoted as saying by ANI, "New Delhi and Beijing have shown commitment to a peaceful resolution. They started meetings at the level of defence officers and foreign ministers and neither has made any statement to indicate either will pursue non-diplomatic solutions."
Notwithstanding Russia's official stand of non-intervention that was expressed on Tuesday, another ministerial-level engagement between the three countries is scheduled on 24 June. That is when defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe will attend Russia's 75th Victory Day parade at Moscow.
Russia also has reasons to encourage peaceful resolution of disputes between India and China along the LAC. It presently holds the presidency of three groupings in which India and China are also a part the Russia, India, China (RIC) trilateral; Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). In fact, later this year, Russia is slated to hold the BRICS and SCO summits in St Petersburg. A report in the Economic Times has quoted sources as saying that Russia considers these groupings as mechanisms to balance global power equations, and it is worried that prolonged tensions between India and China might undermine these groupings.
The Economic Times report also points out that there have been fissures in relations between Russia and China of late, which can lead to the former country seeking expanded ties with India. Among the causes for these fissures are said to be the COVID-19 outbreak and China's plans of boosting activities related to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Ukraine, which lies on Russia's western border.
While reports suggest that Russia may be seeking to play a role in defusing tensions between India and China, this is not the first time that it is doing so. In 2017, during the Doka La border standoff, Russian diplomats in Beijing were among the few briefed by the Chinese government.
While Russia had dismissed the possibility of mediation on the issue, its ambassador in Bejing Andrey Denisov was quoted as saying to the media, "The history of the 20th Century shows that every time (our) country had an opportunity to play a positive role (in settling international disputes), we did it."
South Africa: First COVID-19 vaccine trial in SA begins
The first participants in South Africa's first clinical trial for a vaccine against COVID-19 will be vaccinated this week.
The first clinical trial in South Africa and on the continent for a COVID-19 vaccine was announced on Tuesday during a virtual press conference hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits).
The South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial aims to find a vaccine that will prevent infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
In South Africa, over 100 000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since March when President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster and lockdown.
By 17 June 2020, South Africa contributed to 30% of all diagnosed COVID-19 cases and 23% of all COVID-19 deaths on the African continent. These statistics emphasise the urgent need for prevention of COVID-19 on the continent.
Shabir Madhi, Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University and Director of the South Africa Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (VIDA), leads the South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial.
Wits University is collaborating with the University of Oxford and the Oxford Jenner Institute on the South African trial.
This is a landmark moment for South Africa and Africa at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we enter winter in South Africa and pressure increases on public hospitals, now more than ever we need a vaccine to prevent infection by COVID-19, said Madhi, speaking at the launch of the South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial, which is being run at multiple sites in South Africa.
We began screening participants for the South African Oxford 1 COVID-19 vaccine trial last week and the first participants will be vaccinated this week, says Madhi.
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice Principal and Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Postgraduate Affairs at the Wits University, who facilitated the virtual press conference, said vaccines are among the most powerful tools to mitigate life-threatening diseases.
Without a vaccine against COVID-19, there will likely be ongoing contagion, causing severe illness and death. Wits is committed to developing a vaccine to save lives in collaboration with the University of Oxford.
Prior to launch, the South African study was subject to rigorous review and has been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Witwatersrand.
Furthermore, after eliciting and considering public comment, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries approved import of the investigational vaccine for use in the trial.
Dr Sandile Buthelezi, Director General at the Department of Health, said government is excited at the launch of the vaccine trial, which will go a long way to cement South Africa's leadership in the scientific space.
With COVID-19 infections increasing every day, the development of the vaccine will be the last solution in the long term, and we are fully behind the team leading this trial, said Buthelezi.
SA's participation in international trials
The vaccine is being evaluated in a large clinical trial in the UK where more than 4 000 participants have already been enrolled.
In addition to the South African study, similar and related studies are about to start in Brazil. An even larger study of the same vaccine of up to 30 000 participants is planned in the USA.
Professor Helen Rees, Chair of SAHPRA and Executive Director of the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI), said it is essential that vaccine studies are performed in southern hemisphere countries, including in the African region, concurrently with studies in northern hemisphere countries.
This allows evaluation of the efficacy and safety of candidate vaccines to be assessed in a global context, failing which the introduction of many life-saving vaccines into public immunization programmes for low-middle income countries frequently lags behind those in high-income countries, said Rees.
Rees also co-directs the Wits African Leadership in Vaccinology Excellence (ALIVE) flagship programme and is engaged in global discussions with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organisation to ensure equitable access for all countries, including those in Africa, should a successful vaccine be developed.
About the SA vaccine on trial
The technical name of the vaccine is ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, as it is made from a virus called ChAdOx1, which is a weakened and non-replicating version of a common cold virus (adenovirus). The vaccine has been engineered to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
The vaccine being used in the South African trial is the same as that being used in the UK and Brazil.
The vaccine was made by adding genetic material called spike glycoprotein that is expressed on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 to the ChAdOx1 virus.
This spike glycoprotein is usually found on the surface of the novel Coronavirus and is what gives the Coronavirus its distinct spiky appearance.
These spikes play an essential role in laying a path for infection by the Coronavirus. The virus that causes COVID-19 uses this spike protein to bind to ACE2 receptors on human cells.
ACE2 is a protein on the surface of many cell types. It is an enzyme that generates small proteins that then go on to regulate functions in the cell. In this way, the virus gains entry to the cells in the human body and causes COVID-19 infection.
Researchers have shown that antibodies produced against sections of the spike protein after natural infection are able to neutralize (kill) the virus when tested in the laboratory.
By vaccinating volunteers with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, scientists hope to make the human body recognise and develop an immune response (develop antibodies) to the spike glycoprotein that will help stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering human cells and causing Covid-19.
Local application of a global response
In addition to the more than 4 000 people already vaccinated in the UK with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, other vaccines made from the ChAdOx1 virus have also been given to more than 320 people to date.
These vaccines have been shown to be safe and well-tolerated, although they can cause temporary side effects, such as a temperature, headache or a sore arm.
There are currently over 100 candidate COVID vaccines in development around the world and many of South Africas best vaccine research institutions will soon be involved in a range of vaccine studies evaluating other types of potential COVID vaccines.
As the world rallies to find health solutions, a South African endeavour for the development of an effective COVID-19 vaccine is testament to our commitment of supporting healthcare innovation to save lives, said Professor Glenda Gray, President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council. - SAnews.gov.za
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Press Release
June 23, 2020 Hontiveros files reso urging BIR to suspend tax memo on online sellers "Kung hahabulin ng pamahalaan ang malalaking digital entrepreneurs, dapat siguraduhing hindi nito pahihirapan ang maliliit na online seller na dumidiskarte ngayon para kumita. Our revenue policies should be sensitive to the struggles of Filipinos trying to make ends meet in these difficult times." These were the words of Senator Risa Hontiveros today as she sought a Senate investigation into the Bureau of Internal Revenue's (BIR) efforts to subject small-online sellers to taxation and registration requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hontiveros filed proposed Senate Resolution No. 453, which calls on the Senate to probe the BIR's Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 60-2020 released early this month, which orders all online sellers to register with the bureau and pay due taxes. Hontiveros' resolution also urges the BIR to suspend "until the end of the year" the said memo, which has been roundly criticized for being "ill-timed and insensitive." "Magulo at mahirap sundin ang BIR memo, lalo na't paiba-iba ang sinasabi ng mga ahensiya ng pamahaalan ukol dito. It is best for everybody's interests if the BIR suspends the implementation of the memo until December 31, 2020, while government agencies review and craft better policy guidelines on how online entrepreneurs should register or pay taxes," Hontiveros said. Health risks, hefty costs She said that as presently worded, the BIR memo orders all online sellers - even those considered as "subsistence entrepreneurs" or those selling products to earn for their families' basic daily needs - to physically troop to BIR offices and register for tax purposes. "Magkaroon muna ng digital platform for registration. Requiring people to congregate at the BIR's offices likewise exposes them to the health risks associated with COVID-19 and might also lead to further spreading the disease and prolonging the pandemic," she said. Hontiveros noted that while Malacanang has clarified that online sellers earning less than P250,000 annually are exempt from payment of income tax, government agencies have issued contradictory statements regarding the need for small online sellers to comply with BIR registration, which may cost an applicant thousands of pesos in fees. "The DTI has claimed that online sellers are exempt from tax registration, but the BIR said before the House of Representatives that all online sellers - no matter how big or small their income - must register. Nalilito na ang publiko, at hindi biro ito dahil ang registration sa BIR ay umaabot sa P2,260 na masyadong mahal para sa maliliit na online sellers," she said. Comprehensive, compassionate guidelines needed The senator, who recently hosted a discussion with small online sellers on how the BIR order will affect their livelihood, noted that online sellers are actually willing to comply with revenue policies as long as these are clear, comprehensive and un-oppressive: "Basta hindi pahirap at delikado ang registration, mabilis na susunod ang mga kababayan natin", she remarked. "Our revenue policies should be responsive to the difficulties faced by many Filipinos during this pandemic. Madami sa mga bagong online sellers ay nawalan ng trabaho o negosyo at ngayon ay dumidiskarte sa internet. Maliit lang ang kinikita nila, wala silang masasakyan papunta sa mga opisina ng BIR, at delikado sa kalusugan ng pamilya nila kapag lumabas sila," Hontiveros said. "It is only proper for the BIR to ensure that big digital businesses earning millions in profits - such as Philippine Online Gaming Operators (POGOs) - are paying proper taxes as required by law. Pero sana, huwag na pahirapan ang mga kababayan nating dumidiskarte para makakain," she urged. Given the record levels of unemployment - with 7.3 million Filipinos now jobless- and the shift to digital transactions due to the pandemic, Hontiveros said the government should closely monitor and afford better protections for Filipinos trying to provide for their families through selling goods and services online. "There is insufficient official data vis-a-vis the informal online economy to guide policy, thus making it imperative that the relevant government agencies provide an update on the situation for Congress," she said.
Jericho is the scene of the first mass protest against Israel's US-backed plan. For demonstrators, there is no Palestinian state "without the valley". Annexation will strangle Palestinians, says a resident of the disputed area. For BTselem, the goal is to make life "impossible" to force Palestinians to flee.
Jerusalem (AsiaNews/Agencies) Thousands of people took to the streets in Jericho for the first time to protest against the US Mideast peace plan. Defying COVID-19 restrictions, they shouted that there is no Palestinian state "without the Jordan valley" and that Palestine "is not for sale"
Since annexation plans were announced in January, scores of small protests have been taking place, but in the last few hours, they have grown as tensions escalate.
Palestinians and many Israelis are opposed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan, which should take shape on on 1 July.
Israels new government, agreed by Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz, wants to annex Palestinians territories, including the Jordan valley, and legalise settlements.
The Israeli Supreme Court has rejected the plan. UN experts have called it the 21st century apartheid. The Church in the Holy Land describes it as a serious and catastrophic" policy backed by the US as part of its "deal of the century".
Fatah has called for Palestinians to mobilise, convinced of growing international opposition to the project. For Saeb Erakat, Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the opposition includes Arab countries, [and] non-aligned nations of Africa and Europe".
On the ground, tensions continue to rise, as evinced by what is happening in Al-Maleh, one of the disputed places in the Jordan valley where Jewish settlers and Palestinian live separately and do everything to avoid each other.
"We are already suffocating, said Ibrahim Najada, a resident of the area, speaking to French daily Le Monde. If annexation takes place, I will be completely strangled."
For Israel, the area has a strategic importance both economically (agriculture) and politically (border with Jordan).
The annexation "is a means, not an end" for Israel to "establish colonial rule from the Mediterranean to the Jordan," notes Lubnah Shomali, director of the Palestinian NGO Badil.
Amit Gilutz, spokesman for the Israeli anti-occupation movement BTselem, agrees. The Israeli government's goal is to "make life impossible for Palestinians, to force them to flee.
WEST HAVEN - City Council members recently donated UConn Nation hand sanitizers to the West Haven Community House for the non-profits Community Connections program for the intellectually disabled, according to the organization.
The donation to Executive Director Patricia Stevens and Board of Directors President William Heffernan III was made possible by University of Connecticut doctoral students and Councilman Barry Lee Cohen, R-10, on behalf of the Connecticut Center for Applied Separations Technologies.
Cohen was joined for the recent presentation by fellow WHCH Board of Directors member, Councilwoman Elizabeth Johnston, D-3, according to a release.
Under the direction of doctoral student Noah Ferguson, the center was able to offer hand sanitizer that will ensure all West Haven Community Connections resident and day clients receive a 6 oz. bottle, the release says.
Later this month, an additional supply will be distributed to Morrissey Manor residents.
It was a couple of weeks into the pandemic, and we were having our weekly research group meeting, Ferguson said in the release. We were bouncing ideas around of what we could do and producing our own hand sanitizer came up. We all wanted to use our engineering skills to help the community.
Stevens thanked the team.
We are very grateful to the UConn doctoral students and faculty who used their knowledge and experience to produce a very needed supply, and to Barry Cohen, WHCH board member, who arranged for this generous gift, Stevens said in the release.
Community Connections, a division of The West Haven Community House, provides individualized and meaningful enrichment opportunities that increase independence, enhance community integration, and improve the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities, the release says.
Donations to allow the students to continue their hand sanitizer production and distribution to charities and communities in need, can be made by visiting https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/uconnENG
For more information, contact Cohen at 203.645.2913, or bcohen@westhaven-ct.gov.
Nguyen Van Nghiem, 57, was accused of "making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the State of Socialist Republic of Vietnam," the Vietnam News Agency reported.
The indictment said he had used several social media accounts to share posts and videos to comment on Vietnams political and social issues since 2011. In January 2018, Nghiem was fined VND49 million ($2,100) by the Hoa Binh authorities for posting two videos containing information that wrongly reflected history and "harmed peoples reputation."
But Nghiem did not pay the fine and continued to post similar content, the court heard.
From June 2018 to June 2019, Nghiem created and managed several Facebook and YouTube accounts to share videos online. The court heard that 31 of these videos contained false information and anti-state content that disparaged authorities and sowed confusion among the people.
Local reports said Nghiem has admitted his wrongdoing.
Theres a Chinese proverb of one being honored by a single glance. It comes from an old story of a horse expert whose mere glance caused a horses value to rise significantly.
Shark Tank's titular innovation-hunters have that power: A mere inquiry into a product persuades thousands of TV spectators to buy it. Overnight, an unknown ventures chance of success and valuation rises significantly. The ABC series is in its 12th season, and its formula for televising brutal business truths still resonates with a national audience, continuing to accrue nearly five million viewers per episode.
Above all, the show demonstrates the following crucial, if not painful, lessons for entrepreneurs who need financing, as well as for novices on how venture capital works.
Related: What You Can Learn from 'Shark Tank' Contestants' Successes (and Failures)
Know Thy Numbers
The Golden Rule is to know your KPIs. And rule No. 2 is to never, ever forget the Golden Rule. On Shark Tank, ignorance often means getting ridiculed out the door. Kevin OLeary in particular doesnt care for sob stories. At times, he seems to enjoy humiliating weeping solopreneurs about how their tears dont add value.
Just remember that fire forges steel. Business owners must be extremely prepared so that investors believe their capital can multiply instead of burning in the flames of ineptitude or excuses. Sensitive viewers may think OLeary is too unforgiving. Hes not. Financial expertise is why OLeary has amassed an estimated $400 million fortune. The absence of it leaves delicate opinionators stuck daydreaming and eating bon-bons.
In the real world, solopreneurs must embrace hard lessons or get dinged by more painful consequences. Not understanding customer-acquisition costs, not knowing that ones gross margins are too low or not maximizing sales price can bankrupt the business, not to mention ruin your retirement savings and burn investors money. Thats worse than an experts rebuke about not knowing thy numbers.
Sharks Invest in You, Not Just Your Business Plan
The Sharks hate snakes. Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec are known to invest in the entrepreneur herself, even though a products or services shortcomings are evident from the pitch. Greiner and Herjavec offer capital to driven people who are willing to fix business flaws, because they know that startups arent perfect, yet can potentially acquire tens of millions in sales with a great leader in charge.
In fact, the Sharks (especially Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban) get extremely suspicious of a polished, perfect pitch because it may harbor fraudulent claims by a snake-oil salesman.
The above lessons apply to creatives who sell unique propositions. You are a small-business owner, and your art is the product, says Jen Rudolph, CEO of The Actors Green Room and Creator of The 2% Signature System, which helps actors become part of the 2 percent who get called in and booked. Actors must think like an entrepreneur, which means youre in charge of marketing, branding, production, PR and finances.
Rudolph says artists, like entrepreneurs, must define what makes them unique and make it impossible for a buying market to ignore special traits: The market will always say what you need to know. If youre not getting booked, it means your message is off and/or your product's impact isn't clear.
Related: 'Shark Tank' Judges Say Successful Entrepreneurs Share These 5 Traits
Complexity Kills Interest
Confusion is the mother of excuses, arguments and poor execution and litigation. Barbara Corcoran and Daymond John usually reject complicated deals. Sharks have many companies in their portfolio, therefore theyre attracted to simple, binary deal, such as common-sense products for the masses that the Sharks believe will fly off shelves at a Walmart or Walgreens. Convolution kills investor interest because if the pitch is murky, then future meetings will be complex, as will everything else about the partnership.
Blurry vision confuses employees. This means that operators who are integral to success wont perform and get results. After the entrepreneur's pitch on Shark Tank, the first question the Sharks ask is, What are your sales? reminds Rudolph. Theyre looking for proof of concept.
The market speaks through the cash register: Either people want, or dont want, your product. It's that simple. Pre-revenue business plan and other fuzzy claims dont represent the essence of what the marketplace is truly saying. Thus, theyre just noise that pisses off investors.
If youre ever confused about the market, check the cash register. Is it ringing? Is your bank account balance growing? A prototype and/or business plan that asks Sharks for a million-dollar valuation does not pay bills or payroll.
Theres another Chinese proverb about striving for success: Jade requires polishing to turn into a gem.
Related:
Why You're Having Vivid Dreams, and How Some Sleep Supplements Can Trigger Nightmares
Painful Lessons for Getting an Investment Deal on 'Shark Tank'
#9 Ways How Meditation Can Strengthen Our Mind, Body, and Soul
Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) While Cebu City reverts back to enhanced community quarantine, the provincial government is seeking less restrictions in other areas to stimulate more economic activity.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday the Cebu provincial government led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will formalize an appeal before the national inter-agency task force to further ease restrictions in areas considered low risk.
"She has manifested that she will write a formal request or appeal to look at certain areas that will certainly impact the economic activities of the province and that she would like the IATF to reconsider those areas, especially the tourist havens, if they can be de-escalated further to MGCQ," Duque said in a media briefing on Tuesday.
"She essentially has two appeals, one is for Talisay City to be de-escalated from MECQ to GCQ," he added.
The IATF placed Cebu City on enhanced community quarantine, and Talisay City on modified ECQ on June 15 due to a surge in coronavirus cases.
But Talisay City was granted a less-stringent risk classification status on Saturday, after data showed the city recorded 50 recoveries from a total of 126 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed Executive Order No. 17-G, series of 2020, lifting the modified enhanced community quarantine status in the city effective Saturday.
The governor of a province has the authority to impose, lift, or extend the risk classification of their province according to IATF No. 29.
"As governor, I believe it is my duty to emphasize that the situation in Cebu City may not exactly reflect what the situation is in the entire province," Garcia said.
Cebu City is now the leading city in the country with the most number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The Cebu City Health Department reported Tuesday afternoon 30 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 4,479. Of this number, 2,213 are considered active cases.
Some 31 more people have recovered, while seven more succumbed to the disease in Cebu City, it added.
The current situation convinced President Rodrigo Duterte to re-order the enhanced community quarantine setting in Cebu City last week.
All 250,000 quarantine passes issued by the Cebu City government are now canceled, Central Visayas Police Director Albert Ignatius Ferro said Tuesday night.
Ferro said this was the order of Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, following a meeting with IATF officials earlier in the day.
Ferro said the public will no longer be allowed to travel outside of their barangays, adding that only essential workers will be allowed to leave to report for work.
The police regional director said there will be an evaluation of the quarantine passes, while a new quarantine pass will be issued soon.
It is expected that only one quarantine pass will be given per family, he added.
Cebu stringer Dale Israel contributed to this report.
Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were arrested in late 2018. China announced the espionage charges against them on Friday.
In a statement released Monday, Pompeo said the United States was "extremely concerned" about their safety. "These charges are politically motivated and completely groundless," said Pompeo.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is urging the immediate release of two Canadians detained by China on allegations of espionage.
Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor were arrested in late 2018. China announced the espionage charges against them on Friday.
The two were arrested shortly after Canada detained Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant. China has said that the two incidents are unrelated but some experts believe Kovrig and Spavor are being used as pressure against Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the arrests of the two men "arbitrary."
Secretary of State Pompeo on Monday also echoed what he said was Canada's call for immediate consular access to its two citizens, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
"China has prohibited such access for almost six months, and the world has no knowledge of the two Canadians' condition," said Pompeo.
Amanda Kloots took to Instagram on Sunday to provide her followers with an update on husband Nick Cordero's condition.
And the 38-year-old fitness instructor revealed that Cordero, 41, was 'more alert' when she visited him in the ICU of Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Father's Day.
'I'm leaving my visit with Nick and he was having such a great day, actually. He was more alert than I've seen him in a little while and he was really following [with] his eyes a lot,' said Kloots in a string of Instagram Story clips.
Update: Amanda Kloots took to Instagram on Sunday to provide her followers with an update on husband Nick Cordero's condition
Amanda also shared that she has been singing the song Our House by the group Crosby, Stills & Nash to Cordero during her hospital visits.
'This song, Our House, was written in Laurel Canyon not far from the house that we bought. I just felt like it's so apropos and our house is just this cozy little canyon house, and so I just started singing it to him every time before I leave,' she explained.
'Then, I say a big prayer, and I hold his hand and give him a kiss. I just tell him that we will live in our house one day and just keep fighting.'
Aside from being by her husband's side at the hospital, Kloots also posted a tribute to him on her Instagram for Father's Day, where she recalled Nick's 'first proud dad moment.'
More alert: And the 38-year-old fitness instructor revealed that Cordero, 41, was 'more alert' when she visited him in the ICU of Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Father's Day
Great day: 'I'm leaving my visit with Nick and he was having such a great day, actually. He was more alert than I've seen him in a little while and he was really following [with] his eyes a lot,' explained Kloots in a string of Instagram Story clips
'That first proud dad moment... taking your baby home from the hospital! I love this photo of Nick. He is so happy and so excited to be going home with his son,' captioned Amanda, who shared a photo of Nick and there then newborn son Elvis.
'Since Nick has been sick my brother and my father, who are both incredible fathers, have really helped to fill that void for Elvis. I do love seeing Elvis get so close to his uncle and grandpa.
'It is a silver lining in all of this that we are all together and will celebrate Fathers Day for Nick with everyone,' concluded Amanda.
Father's Day: Aside from being by her husband's side at the hospital, Kloots also posted a tribute to him on her Instagram for Father's Day, where she recalled Nick's 'first proud dad moment'; Cordero pictured in January
In an update on Saturday, Amanda gushed about how 'amazing' it has been 'being at the hospital with [Nick], being by his side, and holding his hand.'
She also revealed that 'Nick is doing okay' and that 'his blood pressure medication is either off or very limited, which is great news.'
'White blood count is down, which is great news. I believe they were gonna do some CT scans today on his brain and see what his mental status [is doing].'
Amanda said that her and Nick's doctors 'are hoping for a weekend of stability and just rest' for the Broadway star.
Proud dad: 'That first proud dad moment... taking your baby home from the hospital! I love this photo of Nick. He is so happy and so excited to be going home with his son,' captioned Amanda, who shared a photo of Nick and there then newborn son Elvis
Amazing: In an update on Saturday, Amanda gushed about how 'amazing' it has been 'being at the hospital with [Nick], being by his side, and holding his hand'
'Goals for next week would be to start weening him off of some antibiotics, weening him off steroids, and possibly trying to some dialysis trials,' she concluded.
On Friday, Kloots reunited with Cordero after having to spend 79 days apart due to coronavirus safety guidelines.
Amanda uploaded a picture that showed her holding Nick's hand as he remained in a hospital bed.
She posted the poignant lyrics to the Andy Grammer "Don't Give Up On Me" along with the hashtag #Day79 accompanying the moving picture of her and Nick's hands together.
Reunited: On Friday, Kloots reunited with Cordero after having to spend 79 days apart due to coronavirus safety guidelines
Visitor: Amanda also shared a picture of a visitor's pass for the hospital, excitedly telling followers: 'Guess where I'm heading!!!'
Amanda also shared a picture of a visitor's pass for the hospital, excitedly telling followers: 'Guess where I'm heading!!!'
She also posted a 'Hallelujah' GIF over her post, and another one of Cedars-Sinai which she captioned: 'Everyday.'
Amanda has previously posted that she was unable to visit her husband in the ICU due to visitor restriction, but it seems that a special allowance was made.
Cordero has been battling complications caused by the novel coronavirus since March.
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With new Directed Health Measures in place, Columbus Community Hospital is continuing with elective surgeries and attempting to catch up on a backlog of those needing a non-emergency operation.
We dont have restrictions on the number of cases that we can do; however, we still want to make sure that were providing a safe environment for our patients, our staff and our physicians, Sue Hrnicek, Surgical Services Director at Columbus Community Hospital, said. We have to make sure we have enough PPE to be able to do cases daily. Weve got to make sure that the patients that need to be tested for COVID are tested and that we have their results before their procedure.
Patients who are considered high risk, such as those whose airways are being operated on, are tested for COVID-19 before the surgery takes place.
Once we started looking at the numbers and the COVID-19 positive numbers and the effect and all that, weve been placed to finally return to elective procedures. That started June 1 at 33% and then another 66% (of) available rooms the week of June 8 and we started full capacity June 15, Hrnicek said. We actually extended our hours; our three rooms we schedule until 6 p.m., which is not our typical schedule. Were doing that for four weeks to get patients and physicians to get procedures scheduled and done to catch up.
Elective surgeries have been suspended for three months at Columbus Community Hospital. An elective surgery, Hrnicek said, is one that a patient may need to be done but is not considered life-threatening.
For instance, a total joint, she said. People have hip, knee, shoulder pain that may affect their lifestyle and how active they are but, however, it is not considered an emergency for them so its something that can wait. An elective surgery is something that is not immediately urgent.
An example of an urgent surgery is an appendectomy or cancer-related operation.
Columbus Community Hospital is doing everything within its power to keep everyone safe and that is our goal: we want to provide the safest quality care we can provide for our community and the surrounding areas, Hrnicek said. The staff and the physicians are very happy to be back and working in the type of work that they love.
A press release from the hospital states that, as of June 16, five patients were utilizing its negative pressure rooms and CCH has recently opened its third operating room this week to allow for more elective surgeries. CCH also reports that 2,288 specimens have been collected to test for COVID-19: of those, 1,608 have been negative and 667 have been positive. The hospital provides testing through the Nebraska Public Health Lab, Abbott, LabCorp and Regional Pathology Services.
CCH staff are assisting with COVID-19 screening and temperature checks at area manufacturing plants, as well as the Platte County Courthouse. These screenings will also be provided for those attending exhibitions at the Platte and Colfax county fairs.
Additionally, CCH will begin as a Test Nebraska site on June 29. This will replace the hospitals drive-through screening and assessment service. Testing is completed by a nasopharyngeal test, which is commonly seen as a nasal swab.
Test Nebraska is a state initiative that aims to increase the availability of COVID-19 testing.
Good Neighbor Community Health Center has signed a contract with Test Nebraska as well.
Patrick Peer, CEO of Good Neighbor, said they were contacted early last week by Test Nebraska. He estimates that the Test Nebraska site will be ready by July 1.
Good Neighbor Community Health Center announced last week that it would start serving in this capacity this week; however, Peer said that they are still working on getting the proper training, equipment and other needed details.
Peer said that Good Neighbors scheduled testing will be coordinated with CCH, with Good Neighbors taking place in the afternoon and the hospitals in the mornings.
Were coordinating different testing times from each other so there are more opportunities for testing for the community, Peer noted.
According to Peer, there are 11,000 patients in Good Neighbors database, and they will be reaching out to those patients, as well as Centro Hispano and other community members.
The free tests are available to anyone, and do not require a doctors orders. Results should be available within 72 hours of the test.
Other new DHMs, which the state of Nebraska has implemented as its Phase 3 plans, are:
*Restaurants and bars can open their dining rooms to 100% capacity, with a maximum of eight people per table
*Indoor gathering venues will be allowed to serve up to 50% of rated occupancy
*Outdoor gathering venues will be allowed to serve up to 75% of rated occupancy
*Gyms, fitness centers and health clubs will be able to serve up to 75% of rated occupancy
*Barbershops, salons, massage therapy services and body art facilities will be able to open up to 75% of rated occupancy while both workers and patrons wear masks
*Group gatherings will be limited to no more than eight people
*Maintaining six feet of separation between groups will become guidance, rather than a mandate
*Fan attendance at youth and school games is no longer limited to household members only
Hannah Schrodt is the news editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at hannah.schrodt@lee.net.
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Linkedin Pierre-Henry Deshayes (Agence France-Presse) Oslo, Norway Tue, June 23, 2020 11:00 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660e064d 2 World Norway,Norwegia,Europe,coronavirus,coronavirus-effect,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19-travel-ban,COVID-19-travel-restriction Free
"I believe I'll never see her alive again": Bettina Wintermark worries that her adopted country Norway's pandemic travel ban means she won't be able to make one last visit to her dying mother in France.
The Scandinavian country, which was quick to bring the new coronavirus under control, has ignored calls to lift, or at least ease, its travel restrictions, making it probably the most closed nation in Europe today.
Most non-residents are still not allowed to enter the country, and while foreign trips are not forbidden for Norwegians, the 10-day quarantine requirement upon return to Norway -- in place until at least August 20 -- makes travel abroad prohibitive.
As a result, Norwegians will not be able to soak up the sun on the beaches of the Mediterranean this summer -- even Prime Minister Erna Solberg has cancelled her planned holiday in Spain.
For some, the government's cautious tack has serious consequences.
Such is the case for Wintermark, who can't travel to the southwestern French city of Bordeaux, about a two-hour flight from Oslo, to see her 84-year-old mother, who suffered an internal hemorrhage and whom doctors have given only weeks to live.
Double trouble
"It's a nightmare," says the 59-year-old hairdresser.
"If Norway didn't have these strict restrictions I would have left immediately," she says. "But it's impossible to make short trips to France because I can't go into a 10-day quarantine each time."
For the same reason, her son's wedding -- initially planned for July 20, also in Bordeaux -- has been postponed indefinitely.
"The invitations had already been sent out," laments Wintermark. "Most of the people coming from Norway had their hotels and tickets booked, and they're having a hard time getting reimbursed."
She herself is struggling to get the full deposit back from the local caterer, who couldn't care less about the situation in Norway.
Broadly hailed for containing COVID-19, which has killed just 248 people in the country of 5.4 million, Norwegian authorities have stressed the importance of not throwing away its sacrifices by opening up too early and allowing a re-importation of the potentially fatal virus.
"A lot of people are sad and frustrated," admitted Justice Minister Monica Maeland, tasked with coordinating the country's virus response.
"We're not doing this to annoy people, but because we absolutely have to keep the situation under control," she said last week.
In the only concessions so far, Norway, which is not an EU member but does belong to the Schengen zone of free movement, agreed to allow travel to Denmark, Finland and Iceland as of June 15.
Oslo also said it would review by July 20 the possibility of opening up to other nearby countries.
Sweden a pariah
The tourism industry has meanwhile called for restrictions to be swiftly lifted for Germany, which accounts for almost a quarter of all foreign visitors each summer.
"Reopening to this country would be the best recovery plan for Norway's tourism sector, without it costing authorities a cent," insisted Per-Arne Tuftin, the head of the national tourism association Norsk Reiseliv.
Meanwhile, Norwegians are still advised not to travel to and from neighboring Sweden, which adopted a softer approach to the virus and still has a high infection rate, though they are allowed to visit the island of Gotland, which has few cases.
That's been a disappointment for the 12,000 Norwegian families who own secondary residences in Sweden and who can't go for the summer holidays.
"Most of the cabins are isolated in the woods or by the water, you don't see anyone and so you're much safer than in Oslo, where the beaches are packed," thunders Einar Rudaa, who started a Facebook group that now has more than 6,000 disgruntled members.
"And we can't afford to travel in Norway. We bought these cabins to use them," he argues.
In a sign of simmering anger among a normally law-abiding population, 5.4 percent of Norwegians say they plan to disregard the official recommendations and travel to a destination advised against by authorities this summer, according to one poll.
Read Part 1 HERE.
Mun Yeong followed the man to the backstage and heard what he said. She talked him out to leave his daughter alone. He got mad and fought with Mun Yeong. She fell on the floor as he jumps and strangled her. Mun Yeong almost choked to death, but luckily, Gang Tae arrived and pushed the man away.
Gang Tae wrestled with him and scuffed him to the floor. But Mun Yeong came back with the knife and about to hit the disturbed man. Gang Tae was fast enough to reach and hold the blade that it cut through his palm. He held his grip unless Mun Yeong releases her hand. Blood spilled on the man's face and unto the floor. They looked into each other eyes; it's like finding answers to why things wrongly happened.
Frightened, the man ran outside, and the security caught him. While Mun Yeong reasoned with Gang Tae that he shouldn't have been hurt if he didn't overreact. She helped him bandage the wound while she explained what her true self is.
The doctor stitched Gang Tae's right palm to stop the blood. The hospital director advised Gang Tae to better end his contract and get severance pay. They needed to cover up the incident to avoid any conflict from the government.
Feeling down with slumped shoulders, Gang Tae packed his bag and surrendered his ID. It's his last day at work. He met Jae-Su, his good friend, at the bus stop and hopped on his motorcycle as they headed home.
He promised to get an autograph from Mun Yeong since Sang Tae adores her books. They tried to make a fake signature, but Sang Tae was smart enough to recognize it. He bursts into tantrums again. Gang Tae attempted to pacify him, but to no use. He hides inside the plastic cabinet.
Meanwhile, at the hotel, Mun Yeong opened the door as she hears the bell rang. A woman appeared, holding a folder, looking hesitant to greet her. She went inside as Mun Yeong guides her through the couch. Ju-Ri handed her the file. She needs to sign the document that will allow her father to get an operation.
Ju-Ri works at the OK Psychiatric Hospital in Seogjin City, a place that is three hours ride by bus from Seoul. It is in the countryside and where the brothers formerly lived when their mother was still alive. Ju-Ri is a nurse and takes care of Mun Yeong's sick father.
Mun Yeong abandoned her father in the hospital due to their dark past. She never visited him. If they do not get him an operation, he will die of his illness.
Although Mun Yeong decided not to sign, Ju-Ri insisted and pleaded. She had no choice and gave in. Ju-Ri and Mun Yeong knew each other back in their school days. It wasn't a happy memory for Ju-Ri, but she needs her signature for the old man's surgery.
The next day, Gang Tae visited the publishing company as Mr. Lee requested to see him. He waited at the meeting room and saw the array of books of Mun Yeong.
Little did he know that Mun-Yeong is also on her way to the building. She saw him standing and holding one of her books. She approached him and talked her out of his feelings.
Mun Yeong, from the look of her face, liked Gang Tae a lot. She stared long enough, right into his eyes. But their first meeting already caused so much trouble that he prefers not to see her again. Mr. Lee tried to bribe him with a box full of bills, but he returned it.
For the sake of his brother, he asked for a book with her signature, but later on, he found out that Mun Yeong wrote a letter inviting Sang Tae to her book fair event.
Gang Tae felt helpless and dreaded to meet her again, but what's important is to make Sang Tae happy.
The United States is home to more than 21 million military veterans, many of whom have difficulty reintegrating into civilian life. A staggering 20 percent of them suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), one of the most common trauma-induced mental illnesses. Moreover, it is estimated that 20 veterans die of suicide each day, resulting in about 6,000 deaths by suicide each year. With President Trump's announcement last week for a roadmap to increase public awareness and training to curb these deaths in our military veterans, a unique study exploring the human-animal bond could play an important role in helping this initiative.
Human-animal interaction is known to reduce stress. Yet, few studies have examined the health effects of interacting with dogs, specifically in the veteran population. With about 6 to 8 million dogs ending up in shelters in the U.S. each year - half of which won't get adopted - researchers enlisted the help of two no-kill shelters for a study evaluating the effects of walking with a shelter dog on psychological and physiological stress indicators in military veterans.
The randomized study was led by Cheryl Krause-Parello, Ph.D., lead author, a professor and director of Canines Providing Assistance to Wounded Warriors ( C-P.A.W.W.), within Florida Atlantic University's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, and a faculty fellow of FAU's Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-HEALTH), who conducted the study while at the University of Colorado, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Maryland's School of Nursing and SUNY Fredonia. The study was funded in part by the ISAZ/Waltham Petcare Science Institute Collaborative Research Award and C-P.A.W.W..
Results, published in the journal Anthrozoos, provide evidence that walking with a shelter dog may affect psychological and physiological stress indicators in veterans - with particular potential benefits for veterans with an increase in PTSD symptom severity.
Researchers compared the effects of walking with a shelter dog versus walking with a human on psychological stress indicators, PTSD symptoms, and perceived stress in reintegrating military veterans.
Krause-Parello and collaborators evaluated three physiological stress biomarkers: heart rate variability, salivary cortisol, and the enzyme alpha-amylase over four weeks of walking with a dog and walking with a human. The body's reaction to stress affects these biomarkers. The researchers included the heart rate variability biomarker because of its strong correlations with human physical stress and psychosocial stress.
The clearest indicator for decreases in stress came from the heart rate variability data, which was most apparent for veterans with greater PTSD symptom severity. Heart rate variability was measured before, during and for 30 minutes after walking.
Based on heart rate variability, our study provides evidence that walking with a shelter dog may benefit veterans with higher symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Severity of symptoms and perceived stress tended to decrease more after walks with a dog than walks with a human." Cheryl Krause-Parello, Ph.D., Lead Author, Professor and Director of Canines Providing Assistance to Wounded Warriors
Responses to walking with a dog and a human from week one to week four were different depending on PTSD symptom severity. Walking with another person did not change stress levels, as measured with cortisol, in those with high PTSD symptom severity. Walking with a dog or another person led to decreases in cortisol among those with low PTSD symptom severity. For individuals with high PTSD symptom severity, walking with a dog did not change stress levels, as indicated by alpha amylase, but walking with a person led to increased stress. For individuals with lower PTSD symptoms, alpha amylase did not change significantly for either type of walk.
"Our findings emphasize the need for more research to determine if this form of human-animal interaction is beneficial to veterans with PTSD and to help us identify the optimal level of interaction that will be most impactful for them," said Krause-Parello.
This unique pairing has the potential to be mutually beneficial for veterans and humankind's "best friend" alike. The researchers emphasize the obvious benefits of human-animal interaction for shelter dogs. They need to be walked and socialized on a consistent basis to develop a positive relationship with humans, maintain a good quality of life, reduce their stress, expand the boundaries of a mundane kennel cage, and improve the likelihood that they will be successfully adopted. The dogs involved in the study resided in the two shelters and were awaiting adoption.
"Considering the large number and availability of shelter dogs in the United States, it really makes sense to consider the potential for these dogs to be involved in a unique intervention that combines the benefits of human-animal interaction with the benefits of altruistic action like volunteerism," said Erika Friedmann, Ph.D., co-author, a professor and associate dean for research at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.
Men and women ages 22 to 69 years old participated in the study. A total of 72 different dogs participated in 124 walks and ranged in size from toy (7.2 pounds) to giant (90 pounds). Each dog walked one to six times. Veterans were asked to draw a name to determine what dog they would be walking with to ensure randomization and to minimize the risk of becoming attached to a shelter dog that might be adopted during the course of the study.
"This innovative research confirms the importance of the human-animal bond. It brings to life an unexpected connection between shelter dogs and veterans, serving to meet a need for both and providing direction for holistic programming that addresses both the health of veterans and that of shelter dogs. It is a win-win," said Patricia Liehr, Ph.D., associate dean of research and scholarship at FAU's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.
Study co-authors are former C-P.A.W.W. research assistants Kelly Blanchard and Megan Payton; and Nancy R. Gee, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, and director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, who conducted the research while at SUNY Fredonia.
"At Mars Petcare we believe we have a responsibility to take scientific exploration further when evidence to date shows us that pets can be part of addressing conditions like PTSD," said Kay O'Donnell, vice president, Waltham Petcare Science Institute. "It's important we undertake rigorous studies to understand how companion animals may provide a benefit and we're proud to be part of this study, which takes us another step forward in understanding the human-animal bond."
SHANGHAI, June 22 (Xinhua) -- China began the trading of low-sulfur fuel futures on Monday, launching the country's fifth commodities futures open to both home and overseas investors.
The futures listed on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange are contracts to be delivered from January to June of 2021, with benchmark prices of 2,368 yuan (about 334.2 U.S. dollars) per tonne.
On Monday, the most active contract for January delivery opened higher and closed at 2,599 yuan per tonne, up 231 yuan from its benchmark price in daytime trading.
The total trading volume for six listed contracts on the exchange was 133,985 lots, with a turnover of about 3.5 billion yuan.
The launch of the futures will allow overseas investors to access the price signals, manage risks, and advance a steady operation of the sector.
As the global shipping industry has sped up to pursue eco-friendly and sustainable development, low-sulfur oil has become a domain fuel for maritime transport, according to Fang Xinghai, vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.
"The launch of the low-sulfur fuel futures and its opening to international investors will better serve companies worldwide in accordance with industries' development," noted Fang.
China has opened more commodities futures to overseas investors and improved corresponding institutional systems and processes since the country launched crude oil futures in March 2018.
So far, 20 percent of the investors trading crude oil futures are from overseas.
According to Fang, China will speed up the opening up of its commodities futures market despite the global uncertainty brought on by COVID-19.
"China will better facilitate trading procedures for overseas traders, improve supporting policies on foreign exchange, extend overseas delivery services, deepen business exchange and cross-border cooperation between domestic and overseas exchanges, and effectively enhance the global pricing capability of China's futures market," he said.
Ayush Ministry sought from the company detailed report on composition, testing and other data of the drugs
Haridwar/New Delhi: Yoga guru Ramdev's herbal medicine company Patanjali Ayurved on Tuesday claimed to have discovered a medicine that could cure coronavirus in just seven days - a claim that the Ayush Ministry scoffed at by seeking stopping of advertisements for the drug.
While Ramdev claimed that Ayurved-based 'Coronil and Swasari' medicine have shown 100 per cent favourable results during clinical trials on COVID-19 infected patients except those on a life support system, the Ayush Ministry sought from the company detailed report on composition, testing and other data of the drugs.
The ministry also used powers under a 1954 law to ask the firm to "stop advertising/publicizing" claims of corona cure drug until the issue is examined by it.
A government notification bars companies from advertising a cure without government approval. But it wasn't immediately clear if the drug can still be sold.
Talking to PTI, Ramdev said the medicines have been developed by Patanjali Research Center, Haridwar and privately-owned National Institute of Medical Science, Jaipur following all protocols with clinically controlled trial-based evidence.
"Patanjali first conducted clinical case study and conducted clinical control trials following all protocols of drug discovery," he said.
Sidestepping questions on the drug being approved by government agencies such as ICMR, Ramdev said clinical controlled study of these medicines was done in several cities including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Meerut and the RCT (Randomized Clinical Trial) controlled with placebo was conducted at Jaipur-based National Institute of Medical Sciences & Research.
"This was done after getting approval from Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI) and all other required formalities," he said. "We have followed all the parameters set up by modern science for such clinical trials."
Reacting to the announcement, the Ministry of Ayush issued a statement saying, "Facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study are not known" to it.
"Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has been asked to provide at the earliest details of the name and composition of the medicines being claimed for COVID treatment; site(s)/hospital(s), where the research study was conducted for COVID-19; protocol, sample size, Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, CTRI registration and results data of the study (ies) and stop advertising/publicizing such claims till the issue is duly examined," the ministry statement said.
The ministry also asked the concerned State Licensing Authority of Uttarakhand Government to provide copies of license and product approval details of the Ayurvedic medicines being claimed for the treatment of COVID -19.
Under the ministry's guidelines for drug development of ayurvedic formulations, state licensing authority grants licenses for manufacturing any Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani medicine.
Ramdev at a launch press conference in Haridwar, where his company is based, claimed that his ayurvedic drugs have shown 100 per cent favourable results during the clinical trial.
"We conducted a clinical case study and clinical controlled trial, and found 69 per cent patients recovered in 3 days and 100 patients recovered in 7 days," he said.
According to him, this medicine is useful for prevention from COVID-19 and also for treatment.
Claiming that during the trial other complications of patients were also cured and their critical parameters were normalised, he said no infected patient lost his life during the trial.
Patanjali, he said, had started to work on corona medicines in December 2019.
The Corona kit, priced at Rs 545, would be available pan India within a week. The kit will have medicines for 30 days.
Ramdev said the medicines can be ordered online through a mobile app from next Monday.
The COVID-19 therapy suggested by Patanjali is applicable for adults ranging between 15-80 years of age whereas children are advised to take half the dosage prescribed for adults.
Patanjali's anti-COVID tablet, Divya Coronil Tablet consists of Giloy, Tulsi and Ashwagandha and is prescribed to be taken thrice a day with hot water 30 minutes after breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Medical experts, however, were not convinced by the claims.
Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, Head of the department and senior consultant, Pulmonology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad, said physiologically it is quite impossible that there is any medicine which can finish the viral load from the body in 5-7 days.
"These claims can be very harmful because people, instead of taking actual medical help, may start rushing to these kinds of claims which have no proven clinical trial," he told PTI.
Instead of taking actual medical help, opting for a "desi nuskha" kind of a thing is just going to result in loss of precious time in curing the disease, Jha said.
Noted city-based lung surgeon Dr Arvind Kumar said only a proper clinical trial can prove the efficacy of the medicine.
Haridwar-based Patanjali group has an estimated turnover of around Rs 10,500 crore. It had acquired debt-ridden Ruchi Soya in a corporate insolvency resolution process for around Rs 4,350 crore after competing with Adani Group.
The group is also known for venturing in uncharted areas as it had in August 2018 launched a messaging app 'Kimbho', which could not take off and is now defunct.
Vietnam has exported fresh lychees to Japan for the first time after five years of negotiations and preparations to meet quality standards.
The first batch of three tons arrived in Japan by air on June 20, and another six tons are on their way by sea, the Vietnam Trade Office in that country said in a statement on Monday.
The fruits are being sold at supermarkets for 498 yen ($4.6) for 200 grams.
Starting this week 2-4 tons will be exported to Japan every day, with an estimated 200 tons shipped in all this year.
Vietnam started negotiating with Japan for lychee exports in 2014 and got the green light only last December. The coronavirus pandemic delayed a visit by Japanese experts to Vietnam until this month, and they finally examined and approved the fruits on June 17.
Japanese buyers pay VND35,000-40,000 ($1.5-1.7) for a kilogram as against the average local price of VND10,000 ($0.4).
The lychees are grown in the northern province of Bac Giang, which is set to harvest 700 tons this year. Bac Giang also eyes exports to the U.S. and Australia this year besides its traditional Chinese market.
Introduction
Brief information about competition policy work in the WTO
Links to the section on competition policy in the WTO Guide Understanding the WTO.
Working Group on the Interaction between Trade and Competition Policy (WGTCP)
As a result of the Ministerial Conference in Singapore (1996), the Working Group on the Interaction between Trade and Competition Policy (WGTCP) was established to study various aspects of this issue, with the participation of all WTO Members.
Under the Doha Ministerial Declaration (2001), the study work within the Working Group was focusing on the clarification of:
- core principles, including transparency, non-discrimination and procedural fairness
- provisions on hardcore cartels;
- modalities for voluntary cooperation; and
- support for progressive reinforcement of competition institutions in developing countries through capacity building.
The Working Group is currently inactive but the WTO Secretariat continues to respond to national requests for technical assistance in this area for the benefit of interested WTO Members and countries seeking accession to the WTO.
Documents of the Working Group
> Documents page
> Singapore Ministerial Conference (1996)
> Doha Ministerial Conference (2001)
> Cancun Ministerial Conference (2003)
> The July Decision (2004)
Technical Assistance in regard to Trade and Competition Policy
Technical Assistance activities include symposia, regional and national workshops, sometimes undertaken in co-operation with other multilateral agencies.
23.06.2020 LISTEN
A proverb to me, "A mind is like an umbrella, only useful when open".
On the 21-06-2020, the President of Ghana addressed the nation and he disclosed that the free SHS 3students are "Akufo Addo graduates". He added that he will pay the exam fees for the SHS 3 students numbering 313,837 which amount to 75.4 million cedis for free. What about those teaching the students? Their arrears are still pending.
Does it mean the Oil Money free SHS doesn't cover their exams fee?
Why these political gimmicks? While this Akuffo Addo - led government wants us to clap in ecstasy for bearing the cost of examination for WASSCE candidates, the same cannot be said about BECE candidates. It tells you the motive behind this action.
Sadly, Basic Schools have no textbooks but GES spends about 35 Billion to buy 400K "Past Questions" for SHS students to enable them.....
From the above, our president, at all costs, wants the first batch of free SHS students to pass massively for political gains without considering their future.
These students are just going through the school system with no proper education. We shall definitely pay for it in tears tomorrow as a country.
Mr. President, what has Ghana done wrong?
I am a citizen
Signed
Boadi William
CEO of Educate Ghana Summit, Educationist and Motivational Speaker.
+233541935106.
We Educate The Nation
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19isolated from a patient, emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Credit: NIAID-RML
A child's fever may have a new underlying cause.
Cases of COVID-19-related inflammation throughout the bodies of children have led physicians to urge parents not to disregard a temperature spike.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children is a condition in which organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys become swollen.
Many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19 or were near someone with the novel coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported.
Every major children's hospital in Texas has diagnosed patients with the syndrome, physicians familiar with the cases said.
Since the novel coronavirus began to emerge, five children have been treated for MIS-C at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. All of the patients have returned home, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Asked for the number of patients that Children's Medical Center Dallas and Children's Medical Center Plano have treated for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, a representative of the hospitals did not answer directly.
"Since the CDC issued its advisory about multi-system inflammatory syndrome, we are still thoroughly investigating any potential cases of this syndrome and continuing to monitor for symptoms in our patients," the hospitals' parent system, Children's Health, said.
A Tarrant County Public Health spokesman said the department was aware of two syndrome cases.
Based on the case numbers, the risk appears to be extraordinarily low, but much about the syndrome remains unclear.
Children have died from MIS-C, the CDC said, but most patients with the condition have improved with medical care.
A parent wary of doctors' offices who delays assessment of a child's fever is among the concerns of physicians treating the syndrome, said Dr. Priya Bui, a pediatrician and associate professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.
Telemedicine is a strong alternative for patients to get care, especially for people who fear being inside a medical facility during the pandemic, Bui said.
Testing, however, often requires an ultrasound, X-ray and blood analysis.
Studies of factors that put children at greater risk are incomplete. There is an early indication that children of Afro-Caribbean descent are at increased risk, Bui said, but much remains unknown.
The syndrome is "too new to know for sure," about risk elements, said Dr. Nicholas Rister, an Cook infectious diseases physician.
Four of the patients treated at Cook are between 6 and 14 years old. Cook did not release the age of the fifth patient. At least one syndrome patient was treated in the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit.
As of Sunday, Tarrant County has had 8,955 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 208 deaths and about 4,100 recoveries.
The children with the inflammatory syndrome presented with symptoms that resembled a severe case of Kawasaki disease, Rister said. Kawasaki disease is an illness that creates inflammation in blood vessels that is thought to follow infections after they have otherwise resolved.
The patients arrived at Cook Children's following exposure to COVID-19 and had symptoms including fever, abdominal pain and outward evidence of inflammation including diffuse rashes, conjunctivitis and swelling. In the more severe cases, there was evidence of multi-organ dysfunction including respiratory distress, low blood pressures, liver and kidney damage, and altered mental status.
"Of particular concern to us is inflammation of the heart and surrounding major blood vessels which is also seen in Kawasaki's disease. We have seen this same thing in several of these COVID inflammatory disease patients," Rister said in a May statement. "Minimizing the degree of inflammation in these children, while providing supportive care for any organ damage, has been a key component of treatment."
Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
2020 Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An organisation that promotes the sustainable use of the Wicklow mountains has hit out at raw meat left behind at a campsite near Glendalough.
The Wicklow Uplands Council said the uncooked burgers were discarded in a wooded area in Glenmalure.
Also littered at the site were tents, disposal BBQs, clothing, sleeping bags, plastic bags, glass bottles and food items left.
The Council said it was the second weekend in a row that this happened.
It added: "This atrocious scene was found by visitors on Sunday."
The Council supports the sustainable use of the Wicklow uplands through consensus and partnership with those who live, work and recreate there.
A statement on the Council's website said:
The picturesque Glenmalure Valley has for the second weekend in a row, suffered extensive levels of rubbish as a result of camping groups descending on the area. Discarded tents, bbqs, clothing, sleeping bags, plastic bags, glass bottles, raw meat and other food items, lay strewn across the forest floor for visitors to discover on Sunday.
This latest incidents follow a much publicised similar event only last weekend, which resulted in members of the Glenmalure Pure Mile Group convening an emergency clean-up operation in response.
The local volunteer group reports that unfortunately incidents such as this are not isolated and that destruction from forest parties and irresponsible camping activities is a growing concern as Covid-19 measures impact how recreational holidays and gatherings take place.
There are also reports that locations in the Dublin Uplands experienced similar incidents over the weekend and popular locations in Wicklow such as Lough Dan and the Blessington Lakes have recorded multiple incidents of rubbish and abandoned picnic and camping equipment left behind by visitors.
Due to travel restrictions and other measures introduced in response to Covid-19, an increase in domestic visitors has been witnessed across much the region something that is likely to continue for the remainder of 2020.
Understandably, the remote glacier valley of Glenmalure is a popular choice with hillwalkers, campers and visitors, however, unfortunately it seems to also be attracting groups who are treating it in a manner more likely to be witnessed at a large music festival. This challenge extends well beyond that of extensive littering and crosses into the realms of anti-social behaviour that local communities and other visitors are dealing with on a frequent basis.
Not only is the rubbish a blight on the landscape, broken glass creates a public health risk and discarded food items (including both cooked and raw meat) can be very damaging to wildlife especially when wrapped in plastic. The environmental impact is not simply one of littering either, as many of the items left abandoned in the midst of fragile ecosystems are plastic based with a life cycle lasting hundreds of years.
The Avonbeg River which supports the areas sensitive biodiversity, flows through the Glenmalure Valley before joining the Avonmore to form the Avoca River home to a 11 species of fish, birds such as heron and the red kite and countless other wildlife.
It also appears that plastics and fibreglass tent poles were burnt on campfires which create toxic airborne pollutants. Trees have also been cut down and damaged and in one location, evidence of a campfire set in the trees roots. Thankfully there was no Forest Fire Risk Warning issued for last weekend, however, campfires in the heart of forest and woodland areas always possess risk and require responsible oversight.
Although the vast majority of people who enjoy camping in the natural setting of the Wicklow and Dublin Uplands follow the Leave No Trace Principles, the mindless actions of a few are endangering fragile and valuable ecosystems and destroying popular locations famed for their natural beauty.
Photos by: John Nolan & Martina Byrne
LONDON : A trial of AstraZeneca's experimental COVID-19 vaccine in pigs has found that two doses of the Oxford University-developed shot produced a greater antibody response than a single dose, scientists said on Tuesday.
Research released by Britain's Pirbright Institute found that giving an initial prime dose followed by a booster dose of the shot elicited a greater immune response than a single dose suggesting a two-dose approach may be more effective in getting protection against the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine was originally developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, who are now working with AstraZeneca on development and production.
The vaccine is already in mid-stage human trials, and AstraZeneca has said it hopes to have data showing efficacy later this year. Pigs are a useful research model for this type of vaccine and other trials have been able to predict vaccine outcomes in humans, particularly in studies of flu.
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The UN Human Rights Council on Monday adopted a China-sponsored resolution, calling upon all countries to uphold multilateralism and work together to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights.
The resolution, titled "Promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights," recognizes the importance of fostering international relations based on mutual respect, fairness, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation, and of building a community of shared future for human beings in which human rights are enjoyed by all.
The resolution also calls upon all States and other stakeholders to undertake constructive and genuine dialogue and cooperation in the field of human rights, based on universality, impartiality, objectivity, indivisibility, non-selectivity, non-politicization, equality and mutual respect, with the aim of promoting mutual understanding, expanding common ground, narrowing differences and strengthening constructive cooperation.
Ambassador Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva, said while introducing the resolution that the epidemic of the novel coronavirus shows that in the face of global challenges, humanity is actually a community of shared future.
"We must strengthen international cooperation and practise multilateralism in order to overcome all kinds of global challenges and realize the well-being of all people," he said.
This is the second time that the UN rights body adopts a China-sponsored resolution on human rights cooperation. A similar resolution was adopted in 2018.
Illegal fireworks illuminate the sky over the skyline of the Brooklyn borough of New York City, N.Y., on June 18, 2020. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
NYC Cracks Down on Illegal Fireworks After Rash of Complaints
New York City officials are cracking down on illegal fireworks with a new task force that will include police officers going undercover to buy them or conducting sting operations.
The new task force will focus on conducting operations in the city and in other parts of the state in an attempt to tackle the problem at its knees, Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, told reporters June 23.
Illegal fireworks are both dangerous and a public nuisance. Were cracking down on this activity at the source to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers and the ability of our neighbors to get some sleep, he added.
While there are permitted fireworks displays in New York City, consumer fireworks are illegal to use, buy, sell, or transport in the city.
Nearly 2,000 fireworks complaints have been received by city officials this month alonean increase of more than 80 times the same time period last yearin a phenomenon thats puzzled many and led to a slew of conspiracy theories.
The multi-agency force will include officers from the New York Police Departments Intelligence Bureau, marshals from the Fire Department of New York, and members of the Sheriffs Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a Department of Finance office that helps with criminal investigations. More than 40 officers combined will be part of the force.
Earlier yesterday morning, a homeless male was sleeping on the sidewalk in front of 67 Lenox Avenue, in the confines of the 28 pct, when he was attacked. The male pictured above threw a lit firework on him, which exploded causing burns to the victims back. pic.twitter.com/gUZhbLznGT Chief Rodney Harrison (@NYPDDetectives) June 23, 2020
In one shocking video, recorded early on June 22, two black men were recorded hurling a firework at a homeless man who was sleeping outside a storefront. The man was in stable condition, with burns to his back from the explosion. NYPD Chief Terence Monahan called the incident inhumane, and said officers will find those responsible for the assault.
The task force is targeting entities and individuals that supply illegal fireworks, as well as people who distribute and possess them. A major goal is to cut off supply chains.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at a temporary hospital site in New York, March 31, 2020. (Frank Franklin II/ AP Photo)
For any number of reasons, the use of illegal firework has skyrocketed this year and that has damaged the quality of life in our neighborhoods, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said. The NYPD will continue to work closely with our city partners to address this dangerous issue.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and City Councilman Robert E. Cornegy Jr. told reporters over the weekend that people shouldnt necessarily call the police when fireworks are going off.
These times demand that we stop leaning on policing and law enforcement when we have alternatives, Cornegy said in a statement.
They support community engagement and community education, including letting locals know about the dangers that illegal fireworks present, such as the loss of life or loss of limbs.
De Blasio said he wants to see local groups involved in stopping the illegal fireworks, including the Cure Violence movement, but also wants the groups to help stop shootings.
A 25-year-old father who was shot dead in a leafy London suburb has been pictured today.
Kyle Kelson was gunned down just yards from his doorstep in a residential road in North Cheam, south-west London in the early hours of the morning on Friday.
Armed police attended at 1.12am and found Mr Kelson suffering from the gunshot injury and gave him first aid but he was pronounced dead at 1.45am.
Met Police have today released an image of a dark coloured car driving away from the scene and is appealing for further information.
A post-mortem examination held on 20 June at St Hellier Hospital Mortuary gave cause of death as a shotgun wound to the head.
Mr Kelson's mother Angella Kelson said: 'Kyle was a much loved father, son, brother and friend to so many people. His big beautiful smile brought joy to all of us.'
Kyle Kelson (pictured) was gunned down just yards from his doorstep in a residential road in North Cheam, south-west London in the early hours of the morning on Friday
A teary friend, who had known the victim for over a decade, said: 'I passed by earlier and saw one of my friends standing near the cordons with an empty bottle of brandy. I knew something was up, then I found out it was him. I can't believe it.'
The 23-year-old added: 'He has a three year old boy who is now without a father.
'I'm not saying he was an angel, but he was a genuinely nice bloke. He was happy, bubbly, all the good stuff. No one deserves that.'
The young man said he had last seen his friend about two weeks ago.
He added: 'We were driving and he pulled up alongside me. We both said 'hi,' we were both alright and that was that.
Met Police has today released an image of a dark coloured car driving away from the scene and is appealing for further information
'Who knows the next time I would hear about him he'd be dead. The police told me he was shot in the head. I just hope it was quick. He lived right there across the road.'
The grieving friend, who said he has lived in the area for his whole life, described the neighbourhood as 'lovely,' adding: 'Yes, there are groups of friends. But there are no gangs, no postcode wars. Nothing like that. It's lovely here.'
His family have been informed but he has not yet been formally identified following the incident, which was London's 53rd murder of the year so far.
One woman reported hearing a gunshot at around 1am. She said: 'At about 1am I heard a single bang.
Flowers have been left at the scene where a man was shot in the head and died on Friday
'I thought, 'that sounds like a gunshot,' but thought nothing of it. Then I heard screeching of car tyres. When I heard that I ran to the window. But I couldn't really make out anything.'
Around 15 minutes later, the woman, who requested not to be named, saw flashing lights as ambulances and police cars arrived at the scene.
She said: 'There were about seven police cars and seven ambulances all turning up one after the other.
'The road was covered in police. It is unheard of for the area. You hear of stabbings, but never a shooting.'
Lines of officers have swept a residential street in North Cheam on Friday for evidence after a father was shot dead
She added: 'I'm shocked. Nothing like this has ever happened around here. It's a calm, quiet, family neighbourhood.
'My friends make fun of me for living in a posh area. So that makes it stand out.'
The resident said the victim had moved into the semi-detached house in March.
The woman reported that she complained to police and the council about loud parties and barbeques happening at the victim's house.
She added: 'I'm really annoyed. I told the council and the police about the disturbances, but they did nothing about it.
Forensic officers investigate on Friday in North Cheam, South West London, after the shooting
'My message to them is that they should listen to residents. I had noticed an escalation in the area and I knew it was a matter of time before something happened.'
She said she had noticed 'drug deals' happening on the street next to her house for some time.
She added: 'I often see people pulling up and exchanging things. I'm almost certain it's drugs.'
Another neighbourhood corroborated reports of large gatherings at the victim's house, but dismissed reports of problems saying they were just 'doing what boys do.'
She also confirmed that the man had moved in just a few months before his death, and had been sharing the house with friends.
LONDON MURDERS 2020 Where the 54 murders across the capital this year have happened William Algar, 53, Jan-03, Barnes
Takieddine Boudhane, 30, Jan-03, Finsbury Park
Krasimir Kartikov, 60, Jan-13, Croydon
Harinder Kumar, 22, Jan-19, Seven Kings
Narinder Singh, 26, Jan-19, Seven Kings
Baljit Singh, 34, Jan-19, Seven Kings
Tahereh Pirali-Dashti, 40, Jan-20, Barnet
Beverley Denahy, 61, Jan-22, Chingford
Unnamed man, 60s, Jan-24, Clapton
Louis Johnson, 16, Jan-27, Croydon
Eraj Seifi, 46, Jan-29, Queens Park
Unnamed man, 33, Feb-12, North Finchley
James Dowdell, 54, Feb-17, Chelsea
Sundeep Ghuman, 36, Feb-18, Thamesmead
Lennox Nigel Alcendor, 42, Feb-21, Cricklewood
Li-Qing Wang, 35, Feb-25, Waltham Forest
Tyler Roye, 24, Feb-26, Croydon
Archie Beston, 19, Feb-29, Kingston
Asante Campbell, 24, Feb-29, Hendon
Shanur Ahmed, 16, Mar-03, Newham
Ricardo Fuller, 24, Mar-07, Ilford
Vanita Nowell, 68, Mar-08, Southwark
Damani Mauge, 17, Mar-08, Croydon
Cameron Murfitt, 18, Mar-15, Greenwich
Tracey Kidd, 57, Mar-17, Hackney
Shadika Mohsin Patel, 40, Mar-19, Newham
Abdullahi Mahmoud, 29, Mar-19, Enfield
Stefan Melnyk, 54, Mar-22, Acton
Kelly Stewart, 41, Mar-26, Barking
Tomas Macionis, 35, Mar-31, Walthamstow
Sonia Teresa Burton Calvi, 56, Apr-01, Stockwell
Edgar Aguilera Daza, 59, Apr-01, Stockwell
Maryan Ismail, 57, Apr-06, Edmonton
Ralph Gibson, 42, Apr-15, Putney
Denise Michelle Keane-Barnett-Simmons, 26, Apr-16, Brent
Mark Baker, 62, Apr-19, Walthamstow
Jay John, 27, Apr-25, Hackney
Baljit Singh, 37, Apr-25, Hayes
Pavinya Nithiyakumar, 1, Apr-26, Ilford
Nigish Nithiyakumar, 3, Apr-26, Ilford
David Gomoh, 24, Apr-26, Newham
Anthony Rooks, 79, May-04, Holloway
Yonas Haile, 32, May-05, Hammersmith
Francois Kablan, 19, May-13, Southwark
Jemal Ebrahim, 23, May-13, Haringey
Chad Gordon, 27, May-18, Haringey
Oluwamayowa Adeymi, 21, Jun-05, Hackney
Nicole Smallman, 27, Jun-07, Wembley
Bibaa Henry, 46, Jun-07, Wembley
Alexander Kareem, 20, Jun-08, Shepherd's Bush
Unnamed woman, 50s, Jun-10, Lewisham
Unnamed man, 48, Jun-13, Hornsey
Kyle Kelson, 25, Jun-19, North Cheam
Unnamed man, 41, Jun-19, Bexley
The 32-year-old, originally from Brixton, south London, added: 'This is a nice family area, so I can understand why some people are disturbed by music and gatherings.
'I grew up around Brixton. So, for me personally, it's just boys having a good time. They were never abusive or rude to me. The victim was someone's son and boyfriend. He was loved. It's a sad loss of life.'
DCI Leonard said: 'Our investigation is making progress, but I still need to hear from residents or people who were walking or driving through Brocks Drive in the early hours of Friday morning. Did you see anyone acting suspiciously? No matter how insignificant it may seem, you could have crucial information.
'I am also releasing an image of a dark coloured car that was seen driving away from the scene; we are not certain about the make and model. I want to hear from anyone who saw this car in the area or has information about it.
'A man has lost his life in violent circumstances and his family are devastated. They need and deserve answers and the community can help us provide them. If you have information, video or images that could help us, please contact us immediately.'
Regulatory News:
Committed to a new growth trajectory, Claranova (Paris:CLA) continues its strategy to make the Group a major technology player. To support this new phase, the Group has strengthened its management team and expanded its Board of Directors. The addition of these new experts to the existing teams will help speed up the subsequent growth phases.
Strengthening of the management team
Mr. Sebastien Martin is appointed Executive Vice-President to fully concentrate on the Group's development projects. Mr. Martin will focus in particular on investor relations to boost the visibility of the Group and the understanding of its growth model.
Mr. Jean-Yves Quentel becomes Group Chief Financial Officer and will now steer Claranova's financial strategy.
Jean-Yves Quentel has over 25 years' experience, gained on both sides of the Atlantic, in creating, managing and financing growth and technology companies.
He combines a long career in France and the U.S. in venture capital investment with prestigious funds such as Atlas Venture or Europatweb and extensive operational expertise acquired as Chief Financial Officer of private and listed innovative companies, as well as entrepreneurial experience having founded and helmed Mensia Technologies, among other start-ups.
Appointment of three new directors
Three new directors also join the Board of Directors: Mrs. Joanna Gordon, Mr. Francis Meston and Mr. Jerome Bichut. Their excellent understanding of technology and finance will bring valuable expertise to the Claranova group.
Mrs. Joanna Gordon specializes in strategic marketing issues and has considerable experience in technology and its ecosystem. She served as Director of Enterprise Strategy at Salesforce and was Head of the Information Technology Industry at the World Economic Forum where she mixed with leaders of the world's largest groups. Mrs. Gordon founded Transform.AI, the first conference in Europe focused on artificial intelligence, and manages JG Consulting.
Mr. Francis Meston has held key positions in major international technological groups where he developed his expertise, particularly in telecommunications. At Atos Group (CAC40 listed company), he served as Executive Vice-President and member of the Executive Committee, Director of the IMEA (India, Middle East, Africa) division and Group Digital Transformation Officer. He was also head of the global "Consulting Systems Integration" division. With experience in the technology sector spanning several decades, he was also Vice-President at AT Kearney and Gemini Consulting and CEO of EDS France.
Mr. Jerome Bichut was for nearly 20 years Managing Director of PSP, one of the largest Canadian pension funds with investments of C$168 billion. Mr. Bichut is a seasoned financial investment professional with unique expertise in international stock markets. He was also a director of the Euronext listed company Korian (market cap of 2.8 billion SBF 120).
He is currently CEO of the Canadian firm Select Consultation, specializing in strategic and asset management consulting.
These three appointments will be submitted to the approval of the Shareholders' Meeting to be held on July 29, 2020.
Pierre Cesarini, CEO of the Claranova group, said: "After an initial phase which enabled us to create, in less than five years, a profitable global technological group generating several hundreds of millions of euros in revenue, with outstanding growth driven by totally unique solutions, we now wish to embark on a new phase for Claranova with a revenue target of one billion euros for the years to come.
I am delighted to welcome these new members to the Board of Directors. Their expertise will help step up our development in this new phase, enabling us to multiply our projects and boost our growth. Johanna Gordon, with her extensive knowledge of strategic marketing and technology, Francis Meston, with his expertise in major international groups and major contracts, and Jerome Bichut's experience in North American stock markets and listed companies, will be valuable assets in supporting the Group's scale-up. Having already worked alongside Jean-Yves Quentel, I'm convinced he will successfully lead the Finance Department in completing the various ongoing projects."
Financial calendar:
July 29, 2020 3 p.m.: Combined Shareholders' Meeting
August 11, 2020: 2019-2020 annual revenue
About Claranova:
A high-growth technological group, Claranova is an international player that is firmly positioned in the long term, drawing on resilient business models for high-growth potential markets. As the leader in personalized digital printing (Mobile Printing), Claranova also sets itself apart through its technological expertise in software publishing (Software) and the Internet of Things (IoT). These three business divisions share a common vision: simplify access to new technologies using reliable solutions, combining innovation and ease of use. Drawing on this vision, for the past four years Claranova has enjoyed an average annual growth trajectory of 30% while improving its profitability, both through organic and external growth. The Group generated revenue of 234.3 million in H1 2019-2020, for an operating margin of 5%.
For more information on the Claranova group:
https://www.claranova.com or https://twitter.com/claranova_group
CODES
Ticker:? CLA
ISIN: FR0013426004
www.claranova.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005777/en/
Contacts:
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Regulators were aware of two accidents involving deadly Takata airbags in Australia before a Sydney father's death - as 250,000 drivers remain at risk because they haven't had the faulty devices removed, an inquest has heard.
Huy Neng Ngo, 58, died minutes after a relatively minor collision in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta on July 13, 2017 due to a faulty airbag in his Honda CRV.
His spine was shattered by an airbag inflator fragment that fired into his neck following the collision.
His horrific death led to a nationwide recall and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported that 2.7million vehicles have had their dangerous airbags replaced as of May 31 this year.
However, there are still as many as 250,000 Australians driving around in vehicles with the faulty devices.
Huy Neng Ngo, 58, died minutes after a relatively minor collision in Cabramatta on July 13, 2017 due to a faulty airbag in his Honda CRV
Mr Ngo's Honda CRV (pictured) was involved in a relatively minor crash
The inquest heard that Mr Ngo's airbag was scheduled to be replaced two days before the crash but was re-booked for a date in October 2017.
However, the public servant responsible for vehicle standards in the years before Mr Ngo's death said he didn't know of a database tracking serious defects and misfiring airbags.
His inquest, which resumed on Monday, was told the vehicle standards branch in the Department of Industry and Regional Development was alerted in November 2015 to a report of airbags misfiring in a Mazda.
Then in September 2016, BMW told the same branch an airbag inflator fragment had been found in a roof.
The Madza report was marked 'closed' by the department in early 2016, while the same agency kept the BMW incident between itself and an industry working group.
'The information was provided confidentially, and we negotiated with BMW to share it with the Takata Working Group and we handled that information in accordance with confidentiality agreements with BMW,' Jeremy Thomas told the inquest.
Mr Ngo's airbag was scheduled to be replaced two days before the crash but was re-booked for a date in October 2017 (stock image)
The piece of metal shrapnel removed from Mr Ngo's neck following his collision back in 2017
From 2015 until February 2017, Mr Thomas led the department's response to the recall of certain Takata airbags.
He disagreed his department should have told the public or the minister about the risk, rather than spending time preparing a reactive media strategy should 'something bring it to the fore'.
In a document detailing how to handle media and the public, Mr Thomas said the strategy was 'to assure them that what we are doing is right in the circumstances'.
Counsel assisting David Kell SC said as life slowly resumes to normal following COVID-19, it is important that the public is aware of the dangers of the defective airbags.
'Attention needs to turn again to the real and present risk that defective Takata airbags pose for Australian road users,' he said, The Australian reported.
Under questioning by a lawyer for Honda Australia on Monday, he agreed the department was there to 'protect the public, not protect its reputation'.
'What about a media strategy to alert the Australian public that they might be injured or killed?' Arthur Moses SC, acting for Honda Australia, asked.
'We didn't prepare it on those lines,' Mr Thomas replied.
Mr Ngo's death prompted a public campaign warning of the deaths, and an eventual compulsory recall that meant manufacturers had to replace airbags at a defined rate or face fines (stock)
Mr Thomas said he had a detailed discussion with his successor in February 2017 but couldn't specifically recall telling her about the BMW incident.
He confirmed it was also not in the handover document he gave her and he hadn't checked a database of serious incidents that may have contained information on airbag incidents.
Mr Ngo's death prompted a public campaign warning of the deaths and an eventual compulsory recall that meant manufacturers had to replace airbags at a defined rate or face fines.
Counsel assisting the coroner, David Kell SC, told the inquest on Monday 148,430 vehicles have had their registrations blocked in NSW over the airbag threat and other states and territories are considering doing the same.
'This provides a further incentive - if one were needed - to check the status of a consumer's vehicle,' he said.
Transport for NSW says the restriction means owners of unregistered vehicles with defective Takata airbags need to prove the airbag is replaced before registration is reinstated.
Consumers can see if their vehicle is affected by visiting ismyairbagsafe.com.au and entering their registration plate.
They can also text 'TAKATA' to 0487 247 224 and follow the prompts.
Community leaders work with police officers in UM-Dearborns Alternatives to Violent Force (AVF) workshop series to address the police against community narrative, explore why it exists, and identify steps in improving community relationships.
Through these workshops, hundreds of officers have shared dialogue with AVF educators who are also Detroit community organization directors, former FBI agents, educators, civil rights advocates, licensed therapists, police chiefs and more. The seven-week Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (M-COLES)-certified program was first offered in 2017.
The bottom line of all of the programs principles is recognizing the sanctity of human life, said UM-Dearborn Criminology and Criminal Justice Director Hon. Donald Shelton, a retired Washtenaw County Circuit Court judge who sat on the bench for nearly 25 years. That is at the core of our discussions.
In the weeks since George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, people have gathered to protest police brutality, stand in solidarity with Black community members, and examine ways that racism is woven into the fabric of society.
UM-Dearborns Reporter reached out to UM-Dearborns AVF educators to ask them what they are seeing in their roles and what actions may lead to lasting systemic change.
Harold Love
Name: Harold Love, Michigan State Police police captain (ret.); board-certified behavioral health counselor
Topic of AVF sessions: Law Enforcement Response to Persons with a Mental Illness, and Behavioral Health Issues in Law Enforcement
What do you talk about in your Behavioral Health Issues in Law Enforcement session?
The word help is considered the dirtiest four-letter word within the law enforcement culture. The negative stigma associated with an officer asking for help when overwhelmed with stress and emotion contributes to an officers tendency to internalize the stress to a point that causes physical ailments and emotional dysfunction.
But help is needed. Law enforcement officers are exposed on a daily basis to incidents and situations that most members of the general public will not be exposed to in a lifetime. The daily exposure to critical / traumatic incident stress and the stressful nature of the job can wreak havoc on the personal lives of the law enforcement officer. If left unchecked, the stress can negatively affect the law enforcement officers personal relationships, interaction with citizens, behavior, attitude and overall wellness. We discuss what steps they can take to reclaim the fulfillment and quality of life they once knew and how this process can improve their overall job fulfilment, enabling them to more effectively serve the communities they work in.
So there needs to be change in law enforcement culture to better support officers. Whats another needed change?
To address racism in our society, criminal justice administrators need to acknowledge that law enforcement officers are an extension of local government and take a proactive approach to creating and facilitating opportunities for law enforcement officers and administrators to have positive interactions with members of the community. The only way for law enforcement personnel to increase their level of cultural competence within the communities they serve is to consistently interact with community members.
Increasing cultural competence and sensitivity promotes mutual understanding and trust, which is an essential element in a departments ability to effectively serve the community. This effort has to be perpetual and transcend administrations and generations.
Charles W. Schoder
Name: Charles W. Schoder, 14 M.P.A., Michigan Department of Civil Rights civil rights specialist
Topic of your AVF session: Sanctity of Life and the Policing Experience. We need to understand that there is an advantage, personally and professionally, in seeing another as a person even if they are a different person than you.
What is one major change thats needed to properly address racism in our society?
I believe we must shake the idea of a zero-sum when it comes to building equitable community. One person does not have to lose something for another to have an opportunity at a full life. To the contrary, I believe we all lose with inequitable systems.
When you think of an urban community, several things are generally consistent: These areas are starved of economic opportunity, the education system is inadequate, they are heavily polluted, they lack grocery stores that provide nutritional foods, and they are typically a community of color as a majority. Conversely, a suburban community means the opposite in virtually every aspect and are often mostly White. We are not honoring our duty to treat each other as equal human beings where there is a system of disadvantage for some.
You are a white man. What have you learned about being an ally for the Black Lives Matter Movement?
Be open to hearing other peoples perspectives, truly listening to them. When you hear something that may offend you, do not close off and tune out. Instead, ask questions and strive for a deeper understanding. For example, people may shut down or be offended when they hear the term White privilege. White people may hear it as an insult, an accusation that you do not work hard for what you have in life. However, without denying your effort and struggles, consider it as the privilege to not have your race or ethnicity making it harder.
Bishop Daryl Harris
Name: Bishop Daryl Harris, Human Rights commissioner for the City of Detroit, CeaseFire faith-coordinator, Total Life Christian Ministries pastor
Topic of AVF session: Sanctity of Life and the Policing Experience
You work on Detroits East side. What are you seeing in your community?
The Black Lives Matter Movement has spread across the world after George Floyds murder and people are speaking out in Detroit too. Ive worked with police and with protestors for the past few weeks. No one knew what to expect and a curfew was put in place to curb violence and property damage, but that was dismissed after Police Chief (James) Craig saw that demonstrations were peaceful. Im not at liberty to speak on it in detail, but I will say difficult conversations are being had and it is recognized by the Detroit Police Department that a culture change mindset is needed. Even though the movement is still in the beginning stages, its having an effect.
Why do you think Detroits protests have been peaceful in relation to other major areas?
Chief Craig has a record of holding officers accountable and is big on neighborhood policing, where an officer has a long-term assignment in a particular area to get to know the residents better and for the residents to get to know an officer. He knows its about seeing each other as human beings. Our police department is not perfect, but Detroit residents know Chief Craig calls it as he sees it and responds accordingly.
In my opinion, the Black Lives Matter Movement loses direction if we head into violence or destruction and our community knows this. The systems injustices are deeply ingrained and there are people who want to burn it all down and start over, but thats not whats going to get us to our destination. Even though I dont encourage rioting and it is not a long-term solution in my opinion, it is important to note that it did take the threat of the world burning to draw attention to George Floyds death and police brutality that Black and Brown people experience.
If the goal is truly equity, we need to think bigger than our personal experiences and focus on the direction of the Movement. If you talk to 10 Black people, you will get 10 different experiences and all may have a very valid point of view or argument but if we focus on our personal struggles and not the collective one, long-term change will not come.
You are in a unique situation you are a Detroit community leader and an honorary member of the Detroit Police Department. You even have a badge.
For people who might not understand, can you give a Black perspective on interaction with law enforcement?
Well, I can tell you it was a bit shocking to see protestors storm the State Capitol over the governors emergency order. White men holding rifles, no masks and yelling in the faces of law enforcement in a government building while officials were inside. Speaking with other Black members in my community, we had a similar thought: Wait, you can do that and live? It reinforces some of the experiences weve had with law enforcement on being treated differently because of the color of our skin.
And can you give a perspective of what its like to be an officer in your community?
It can seem very us vs. them on both sides. As soon as I got my Detroit Police Department badge, I had cousins who didnt want me invited to family gatherings. Not because of who I was as a person, but because family members had negative interactions with police and it was seen that I chose to be a part of the police community. My goal is to remove the idea of separate communities, like police and citizens, and help create one community that we all happen to live within.
So how does that happen?
You need to recognize that there are bad actors in every community. And instead of trying to imprison them or defund them, try to connect them to help because they are part of your community. That doesnt mean they shouldnt be held accountable. People need to take responsibility for their actions. But, at the same time, our community needs to do more than expel someone who does wrong. Human beings are not trash. But sometimes they are broken through trauma and need to be restored.
Source: UM-Dearborn
Vikram Desai, an information technology (IT) professional on an H-1B visa cleared for a Green Card, says that when he and his wife first heard of President Donald Trumps order suspending work visas, they panicked.
We have parents in the high-risk category of those vulnerable to Covid-19 and our first thoughts were that if one of us had to leave the US for India ,we may not be able to return until the end of the year, he said.
His H-1B visa has expired and he is on extension, which is being granted easily by US authorities in view of the Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns. But if he or his wife were to travel to India or anywhere out of the US, they will be unable to return without getting their passports stamped with renewed visas.
That was already a problem with consular operations closed at US missions, and now with the suspension until the end of the year, its even worse.
It feels just safer to stay in the US, Desai said, adding, things are so uncertain at this time.
Many Indians on H-1B or in line for Green Cards are stranded in India already because of the suspension of commercial flights. They have begun to make their way back, slowly.
This is a Hindu Ban much like the Muslim Ban, said one of those impacted by the suspension, referring to the controversial ban imposed on the entry of people from some Muslim majority countries by Trump early on in his presidency, which remains in force, in a version diluted by legal challenges.
This person may have actually meant an India ban, not a Hindu ban, because Indians, irrespective of their religion, have been the largest beneficiaries of the suspended H-1Bs and H-4 visas, which are given to spouses of H-1B visa-holders cleared for the Green Card. It allows the spouses to work.
Indians are the largest beneficiaries of both H-1Bs (more than 70% of the annual 85,000) and H-4 (for spouses and unmarried children). Indians accounted for 93% of the 126,853 H-4 EAD (employment authorization document) applications approved till December 2017, according to a study by the Congressional Research Service, a non-partisan provider of data and analysis to US congress, based on numbers from the USCIS.
This is because the queue for Green Cards is the longest for Indians; current waiting time is statistically estimated to be over 100 years. H-4 was introduced by President Barack Obama in 2015 as an incentive for these Green Card hopefuls. The Trump administration wants to rescind it.
Pramila Jayapal, the Indian American congresswoman who led a joint appeal by lawmakers to the administration to not cancel H-4, slammed Trumps new order in a post on Twitter: For months, Trump has been desperately trying to do anything to open the country back up and return to normal. EXCEPT for those who are immigrants seeking to contribute to this country, she wrote, and added, We must defeat Trumps racist and white nationalist agenda.
But for some IT services companies that use H-1Bs to hire workers from India, or elsewhere, the Monday order was not as bad as feared.
I breathed a sigh of relief,, said Deepali Khadakban, owner of New Jersey-based Precision Technologies. Based on news reports and speculation, the company expected a hike in H-1B visa processing fee, which is paid by the employer, a change in the qualification for H-1B, and an end of work authorization for graduates as part of their course.
As of now, the suspension will only push the joining date for new hires coming from India, from October, the usual starting time, by a few months to December.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will not have any bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of a grand parade in Moscow, a senior official said on Tuesday.
IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Yury Ivanovich Borisov, in Moscow. Photograph: @DefenceMinIndia/Twitter
Currently, Singh is on a three-day visit to Moscow to attend the grand military parade on Wednesday to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War.
Chinese State Councilor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe is also expected to attend the parade.
A Chinese media report said Wei and Singh are attending the event in Moscow and they are likely to meet there over the border tension in eastern Ladakh.
"Our Defence Minister would not be meeting the Chinese Defence Minister," Defence Ministry Spokesperson Bharat Bhushan Babu said when asked about the Chinese media report.
The defence minister's visit to Russia comes in the midst of an 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.
Officials said Singh went ahead with the visit, notwithstanding the border row with China, due to India's decades-old military ties with Russia.
Russia has been one of India's key suppliers of arms and ammunition.
A tri-service 75-member Indian military contingent has already reached Moscow to participate in the parade. The Indian team will participate in the parade alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries including China.
'The visit of the defence minister will strengthen the longstanding special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia," the defence ministry said on Saturday.
'The Indian participation in the victory day parade will be a mark of tribute to the great sacrifices made by Russia and other nations in the Second World War in which Indian soldiers also participated and made supreme sacrifice,' it said.
Walworth County has surpassed 500 cases of coronavirus, doubling the number of people who were infected when the state's "Safer At Home" regulations were thrown out.
The Walworth County Health & Human Services Department today said 506 people have tested positive for the virus, which pushes the county past the 500 mark for the first time.
The county had about 250 cases on May 13 when the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the "Safer At Home" order, which had kept many businesses closed and prohibited many large crowd gatherings to combat the spread of the virus.
Since the order was overruled, most businesses have reopened, large crowds of tourists and shoppers have congregated, and many people are refusing to wear face masks or take other precautions.
Of the 506 cases among Walworth County residents, the county said that 18 have died, three remain hospitalized, and 48 are quarantined in their homes.
Another 437 people have recovered from coronavirus infections, while 6,850 others have tested negative for the contagious respiratory bug.
At 506 cases, Walworth County ranks ninth-highest out of Wisconsin's 72 counties, behind the counties of Brown, Dane, Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Rock, Waukesha and Winnebago.
Officials reported that a two-day free testing site at the Walworth County Fairgrounds administered nearly 1,000 tests to county residents on June 22 and 23.
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Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput was a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan ever since he was a school student and even when he became a Bollywood star himself. Sushant professed his love for the actor at multiple events and occasions, calling him an inspiration. Sushant died on June 14 at his residence.
Ever since his death, his fans have been calling out the Bollywood Privilege Club, alleging that Sushant was isolated as nepotism is rampant in the film industry. Among the hashtags trending on social media is boycott the Khans.
Others, however, are standing with Shah Rukh, sharing instances when he was kind and loving towards Sushant. A few fan clubs on Instagram dug up an old video of Sushant and Shah Rukhs interaction on stage at an IIFA Awards ceremony. In the video, Sushant is seen in a dhoti kurta--to promote his film Detective Byomkesh Bakshy--as he speaks with Shah Rukh.
He tells the audience that he has long been a fan of Shah Rukh and would do impressions of him at school and college. He then took the actors permission to show it to everyone and imitated a famous line from Shah Rukhs hit film, Chak De India. His take on the Is ilaake ka gunda main hoon came with a romantic flavour as he spread out his arms and went down on his knees in true Shah Rukh Khan style. Impressed with his impression, Shah Rukh gave Sushant a warm hug.
Also read: Sona Mohapatra on Salman Khans request to fans: Large hearted PR move from poster boy of toxic masculinity
Writing for HT Brunch, Sushant had confessed his love for Shah Rukh in 2017. I was a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan. I remember watching Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) and thinking now heres a cool dude. He is a great performer, but thats not what impacted me most: Shah Rukh helped me sort out my confusion about who I should be.
After Sushants death, Shah Rukh took to Twitter to mourn him. Posting a picture he wrote, He loved me so much...I will miss him so much. His energy, enthusiasm and his full happy smile. May Allah bless his soul and my condolences to his near and dear ones. This is extremely sad....and so shocking!!
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The European Parliament reaffirms its support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to resolve the Karabakh issue as well as for the 2009 basic principles aimed at reaching a solution, based on the norms and principles of international law, the UN Charter and the 1975 OSCE Helsinki Act.
It calls on all parties to engage in dialogue and to refrain from rhetoric that causes tension, which in the future will jeopardize any prospect of a settlement.
According to the statement of European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA), on Friday, June 19, the European Parliament approved its proposals ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit set to be held in 2021. This is an occasion for parliament to confirm its position on the future of the Eastern Partnership. It is also an opportunity for the parliament to express its views on events in the region.
Undoubtedly, the mention of Nagorno-Karabakh and the report can become the basis for the misrepresentation of a number of misinformation campaigns and the real content of the text, the statement noted.
According to the EuFoA, it contributes to the efforts of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the Karabakh problem and their basic principles of 2009, which implies a compromise based on the non-use of force, territorial integrity, equal rights and the right of peoples to self-determination.
The European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA), which are committed to the reports received from Brussels, confirm that this is exactly the situation that should be taken into account analyzing the position of the European Parliament regarding Nagorno-Karabakh.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the 31st ASEAN Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila on Nov. 13, 2017. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)
Communists Are Biggest Threat to the Philippines: Duterte
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that communist rebels are among his nations top national security threats.
At a public briefing at Malacanang Palace in Manila, Duterte identified terrorism as the number one threat to the country, but dismissed the ISIS-linked group Abu Sayyaf as being among the prime threats and instead singled out communists.
Its not the Abu Sayyafnot these terrorists of no value, Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino, according to a translated version of his comment by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The high-value targets are these communists.
Thats my order to the Armed Forces, to the soldiers, is: Hit them,' he added.
The Philippine president said that both Abu Sayyaf and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic while local law enforcement agencies are more focused on tackling the pandemic. According to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University, 1,177 people have died due to COVID-19 in the south-east Asian country.
This [the COVID-19 crisis] has been taken advantage of by these forces arrayed against usthe Abu Sayyaf, who are terrorists with no ideology, the communist party, with ideology, but more pernicious in effect, which could undermine the peace and security of our country, Duterte said.
The Filipino president added that the insurgency by the CPP and its armed unit, the New Peoples Army (NPA) will place in jeopardy the democratic values the Filipinos have enjoyed for the longest time, reported ABS-CBN, the countrys largest broadcast network.
Guerrillas of the New Peoples Army in formation in the Sierra Madre mountain range, located east of Manila, the Philippines, on July 30, 2017. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)
The Filipino government has been continuing its efforts to stop terror activities such as kidnappings and bombing operations, according to the outlet.
Duterte is seeking to pass an anti-terrorism billHouse Bill No. 6875which would amend the countrys Human Security Act of 2007 that he recently certified as urgent.
In a letter to Filipino politician House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Duterte said that the bills passage is to address the urgent need to strengthen the law on anti-terrorism in order to adequately and effectively contain the menace of terrorist acts for the preservation of national security and the promotion of general welfare, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Duterte came to office in 2016 and is serving a six-year term.
Under his administration, the Filipino government classified the CPP and the NPA as a terrorist organization in December 2017. The United States had earlier designated the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization back in 2002.
More than 100,000 people have died in the conflict between the Philippine government and the CPP-NPA since 1969, with multiple failed peace talks across different administrations, The Diplomat noted in a recent article.
The article also noted that talks between the government under Dutertes leadership and the CPP have not led to any sustained progress beyond cycles of starts and stops.
TDT | Manama
Representatives Council Speaker Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal commended the unlimited support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to humanitarian work to handle the repercussions of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and ensure peoples safety.
She also praised the ongoing efforts of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF), under the chairmanship of HM the Kings Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs representative, National Security Advisor and RHF Board of Trustees chairman His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
She stressed the key role played by the foundation in supporting needy people affiliated with it, as well as those affected by COVID-19. The Representatives Council Speaker was speaking as she received yesterday RHF secretary general Dr. Mustafa Al Sayed, in the presence of Representatives Council member MP Mamdooh Al Saleh; Services Committee head and Charity Resources Development director Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa; and RHF HR director Mohammed Al Awadhi.
The RHF secretary general highlighted the foundations main projects in combatting COVID-19 as well as its future plans. He spotlighted ways of boosting cooperation with the Representatives Council to show the civilisational and humanitarian achievements of the Kingdom, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and thanks to the directives of HH Shaikh Nasser.
He also praised the efforts of the Representatives Council Speaker in supporting humanitarian work in Bahrain and boosting the Kingdoms status at regional and international parliamentary gatherings.
Bengaluru, June 23 : A bed-ridden patient in a hospital in Karnataka's Hubli, shown in a viral video holding up a saline bottle, was only made to hold it "briefly" till a nurse could fix a stand - of which there was no shortage, a hospital official said on Tuesday.
"The patient was made to hold his saline bottle briefly before a nurse could bring the stand," Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Director R. C. Antartani told IANS.
He said the 1,800 bedded hospital has sufficient saline stands and is generally occupied only 50 to 60 per cent.
"The incident occurred at a time when the casualty ward was very busy and the nurse went to bring the stand. Meanwhile, somebody shot the video and made it viral," Antartani claimed.
He said the incident occurred 4-5 days ago with a non-Covid patient who left the hospital hurriedly without heeding the medical advice.
According to the director, the patient's relatives or somebody within the institution could have captured the video.
"We don't know who has done it exactly but such things are going on. Anyway, we are going to send a memo to the Group D workers and the staff nurse," Antartani said.
In the viral video, the patient, identified as Shankarappa Angadi, was seen holding the saline bottle with his raised right hand as he lay on the bed, surrounded by fellow bed-ridden patients.
Angadi, speaking in Kannada, told the person capturing the video that the nurse had instructed him to hold up the bottle and smiled when asked if KIMS ilacks funds, hinting that it could not even provide a saline stand.
However, the room in which the video was shot had no signs identifying it to be KIMS, except two more bed-ridden patients lying to Angadi's right and a switch board being visible.
Recently, KIMS was in the news for claiming to have used plasma therapy on a Covid patient who showed signs of 'recovery'.
KIMS-Hubli was started in 1957 and is currently affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).
The college offers MBBS, MD and MS degrees in all specialties along with other courses.
Xcel Energy Inc. XEL recently put forward an offer for one of the largest packages of energy investment. The company proposed to invest $3 billion in accelerated and incremental projects, which will help increasing job opportunities and provide a cushion to the economy.
This strategic move was in response to the appeal of Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and Department of Commerce to energy companies for bailing the state out of the pandemic-led crisis. However, these proposed projects are subject to approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
Project Details
One of the projects includes maximizing solar-power generation up to 460 megawatts (MW) near the Sherco coal plant in Becker, MN. This, in turn, will lead to creation of 230-350 union jobs plus tax benefits from the state and local government. Also, a significant advantage related to landowner lease payments regarding the project duration will be gained. This installation will have the capacity to power more than 240,000 homes annually by producing carbon-free energy.
Secondly, incorporation of the latest technology in the old wind farms and increasing its power will also boost job creation for union labor and women, veterans and minority-owned businesses in greater Minnesota. Lastly, the proposal aiming to reduce customer bills includes expansion of the current energy conservation programs.
Additionally, the company pledged for investments in transmission, distribution, natural gas and electric vehicle infrastructure projects including building electric charging stations for automobiles as well as the public.
Investment Creates Huge Scope for Jobs
When millions of Americans are filing for unemployment benefits, Xcel Energys utility investments and subsequent job opportunities are definitely good news for the people of Minnesota.These proposed projects are likely to create 5,000 jobs in Minnesota and also stabilize the customers bills. Further, along with the companys goal of lowering carbon footprint, these plans will drive the economy.
Investment to Support Lower Emission Goals
Xcel Energy is focusing on generating more electricity from clean energy sources. The company is working on various wind and solar projects to extend its renewable power generation portfolio. Managements announcement of creating more clean projects in Minnesota will help it achieve its target of 80% carbon reduction by 2030 and 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.
In addition to Xcel Energy, utilities like Duke Energy DUK, DTE Energy DTE and Avista Corporation AVA among others chalked out a plan to supply 100% clean energy to customers.
Price Performance
Shares of Xcel Energy have gained 4.5% against the industry's decline of 22.1% in the past 12 months.
Story continues
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Sam Armytage returned to Sunrise on Tuesday morning, two days after announcing her engagement to horse breeder Richard Lavender.
And in a surprising twist, the 43-year-old presenter revealed on air that Richard had actually proposed 'weeks ago', but they'd managed to keep it a secret until Sunday.
Sam's co-host David 'Kochie' Koch looked stunned by the revelation.
Secret: Sunrise host Sam Armytage has revealed how she kept her engagement a secret for weeks. Pictured with her fiance, horse breeder Richard Lavender
'Kochie, it is very private. It was a few weeks ago.' she said.
While Kochie was shocked that she had kept it quiet for so long, there was actually a very practical reason behind the decision.
'We had to wait for the ring to arrive,' Sam said. 'We had a lovely time just with family.'
Keeping things private: 'We had to wait for the ring to arrive,' Sam said, explaining why she had delayed the announcement. 'We had a lovely time just with family'
But Kochie wasn't going to leave it at that, as he grilled his colleague for more details about her engagement, including where Richard had proposed.
'In the paddock,' said Sam, revealing that the couple had been picking firewood on Richard's property in the Southern Highlands when he popped the question.
'We were picking firewood, post drought... We were pulling weeds by hand,' she said.
Rather than ask 'Will you marry me?', Richard had apparently said: 'How about it?'
'It very romantic,' she added.
What a rock! Sam returned to Sunrise on Tuesday, after getting engaged to farmer Richard Lavender over the weekend. The 43-year-old proudly showed off her diamond ring, estimated to be worth up to $80,000, before dodging a series of questions about the proposal
The 43-year-old also proudly showed off her diamond ring, estimated to be worth up to $80,000.
The notoriously private journalist wasn't giving much away as Kochie continued to interrogate her throughout the program.
Bling! Samantha's engagement ring features a modest-sized cushion cut diamond on a prong setting, with an elegant gold band
The Sunrise panel first acknowledged Sam's engagement at 6am, when Kochie said: 'Thanks for joining us on a very special morning because Sam is back - radiant, gushing, glowing - after a romantic weekend.'
He said the team was slowly 'getting to know Rich a bit more', then asked a visibly embarrassed Sam how the couple had met and what Richard did for a living.
She humoured her co-anchor to begin with, telling him she'd met Richard at a party last year, but soon scolded Kochie for being so nosy.
'You know what he does. Why are you asking all these questions? We've known each other for ages!' she said.
Kochie said his questions were for the benefit of viewers, and promised 'more throughout the show' as Sam cringed at the desk.
Despite the grilling, Sam confirmed she was 'thrilled' and 'couldn't be happier' about her engagement.
Nosy! Sam's co-host David 'Kochie' Koch (right) grilled her for details about the engagement and her 'romantic weekend' with Richard, 60, in the NSW Southern Highlands
Sam announced her engagement to Richard in an Instagram post on Sunday. She uploaded two photos of herself posing in the arms of her fiance, with a diamond ring on her wedding finger.
'What a year...' she wrote in the caption.
The couple, who reportedly began dating in April 2019, confirmed their romance in an interview with WHO magazine November.
They had sparked engagement rumours in September, when they were spotted shopping for expensive jewellery in Sydney's Double Bay.
Australians who wrongly dipped into their superannuation during the coronavirus pandemic could face penalties of more than $12,000.
The Australian Tax Office revealed they would take action against people who have deliberately exploited the system during the unprecedented health crisis.
'Compliance remains one of our priorities to ensure the integrity of the tax and super system,' the ATO said.
'We have seen some COVID-19 early release of super examples where people are doing the wrong thing.
The Australian Tax Office revealed they would take action against people who have deliberately exploited the system during the unprecedented health crisis. 'Compliance remains one of our priorities to ensure the integrity of the tax and super system,' the ATO said (stock image)
'In some cases, we have stopped applications and prevented super money from being released.'
Citizens and permanent residents financially impacted by coronavirus were able to access $10,000 of their super until June 30 and an additional $10,000 from July 1.
They must meet strict criteria to access the cash. This could include being unemployed, being made redundant or having working hours reduced by 20 per cent.
The ATO said they have a variety of data sources to check for claims that were made incorrectly.
This includes: Single Touch Payroll (STP), income tax returns, information reported by super funds and third party data from agencies including Services Australia Home Affairs.
The STP gives the ATO 'real time information' to see if people are employed and how much they are earning.
Citizens and permanent residents financially impacted by coronavirus were able to access $10,000 of their super until June 30 and an additional $10,000 from July 1. Pictured: People walk past a Westpac bank sign in Melbourne
'Our compliance approach is based on ensuring that people have not exploited the measure,' the ATO said.
'Where we have concerns that claims were not genuine we will review them.'
The ATO are concerned by applications where there is no change to a salary/wage and where applicants have arranged their affairs to meet the eligibility criteria.
Making false statements or fraudulent attempts to meet the eligibility criteria and recontributing super for a tax advantage would also attract attention of the ATO.
The ATO warns applicants must carefully check the criteria to access COVID-19 early release of super.
Those who provide false or misleading information could face penalties of more than $12,000 for each false and misleading statement.
OTTAWA Canada could avoid a second wave of the coronavirus if it learns the lessons of South Korea and Taiwan and attacks testing, tracing and treatment of COVID-19 cases and practices dynamic distancing from the get-go, MPs heard Tuesday.
That means as the economy reopens, communities must be ready to reimpose physical distancing and socially restrictive measures periodically with surges in disease activity in order to contain outbreaks and allow economic revitalization to continue, Asaph Young Chun, head of Koreas Statistics Research Institute, told the Commons health committee.
Those nonpharmaceutical interventions are the best exit strategy from the COVID-19 lockdowns, he said.
Two American health experts said South Korea and Taiwan showed the path for other countries to follow, but they warned Canada against reopening too quickly even to its neighbours, the United States.
Jeremy Konyndyk, a fellow with Centre for Global Development who works closely with the World Health Organization, said the pandemic is moving to a different phase around the world where governments now find it difficult to sustain prolonged and complete lockdowns economically, politically and socially.
Its hard for governments to reimpose measures once theyve been lifted, he said, so communities and individuals need to voluntarily adopt and own social distancing and public health measures like hand hygiene and wearing masks.
Konyndyk said states like Arizona, Florida, Texas, parts of California and other southern states that lifted restrictions too early without having the publics buy-in to sustain those measures are now seeing outbreaks starting to overwhelm them.
It was easier for those which locked down earlier to think because they dodged a bullet that theyre bulletproof, he said. They are now paying a real penalty with a resurgence of the disease. If you give this virus oxygen, it will burn you down, he warned.
Taiwan and South Korean officials outlined how their governments used early border closures, aggressive testing and contact tracing with the support of digital mobile tracing technology and lockdowns to tackle the epidemic at first. Both have moved to lift restrictions as the virus comes under control.
Those countries learned hard lessons in the 2003 SARS outbreak and moved quickly this time to order their populations to stay at home, practice hand hygiene and wear masks, even before there was hard evidence of asymptomatic transmission.
The Korean government worried about the negative impacts of the lockdown on the mental and physical health of families and individuals, so Korea continues to experiment in real time with the idea that restrictions can be lifted but must dynamically cycle on and off as reports of new cases emerge, he said.
Korean disease modellers worked closely with Canadian infectious disease expert Dr. David Fisman of the University of Torontos Dalla Lana School of Public Health to plot its reopening. They coined the term dynamic distancing to describe the need to allow a certain amount of relaxation when it comes to small gatherings, and working at the office and also spending time in public places, said Chun.
Korea now reports only about 50 new cases a day and even that is seen as too high by a population that wears masks as the new normal, he said.
You certainly should be anticipating this epidemic might be coming back, but a second wave is not inevitable, he said. Whats important is do you have a system in place to deal with it.
Winston Wen-Yi Chen, a representative of Taiwan in Canada, said although Taiwan is neither a member nor an observer at the World Health Organization, it detected alerts about the new virus in Wuhan early. It launched an emergency command centre on Dec. 31, communicated clearly, closed borders, conducted massive testing, supplied protective equipment like masks to the general public, and guaranteed their privacy rights when it adopted digital tracing technology.
Konyndyk said governments that had horrible communication and sowed confusion and mistrust are doing worst, and the worst performing countries in the world right now are the United States and Brazil.
As the global COVID-19 response shifts from something that is government-imposed to something that is community-owned and led, Konyndyk said front-line local organizations in poor countries need more help. He said less than $2 million of $2.5 billion pledged globally is reaching them. The rest appears directed to flow through international organizations, which e called a recipe for failure.
Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University professor and director of the WHO Collaborating centre on National and Global Health Law, said the WHO made mistakes but he defended it against criticism it was too slow to report the Wuhan outbreak, to reveal rapid community spread, and to recommend border closures.
He said the WHO had no power to go into China without Chinese permission to investigate the outbreak and said it is unfair to criticize the WHO for not doing something that the world did not give it the power to do.
Gostin said it was Canada after the 2003 SARS epidemic which pushed the WHO against imposing travel restrictions quickly in outbreaks. That was incorporated into WHO guidance, but Gostin said the recommendation no longer made sense with a novel virus marked by asymptomatic transmission.
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 (8:29 am) - Score 3,673
The pace of Openreachs (BT) commercial deployment of gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband ISP technology in Northern Ireland continues to impress, with the operator today confirming that theyve just passed 360,000 premises (up by 100,000 since January 2020 alone) and intend to go much further.
The impact of Openreachs latest update means that nearly half of Northern Ireland now has access to a full fibre network, which puts them massively ahead of the rest of the United Kingdom, where the overall coverage figure is just over 12% (here). A much smaller proportion of NIs FTTP delivery has also come from Virgin Media and the odd new entrant like Fibrus (here).
Admittedly NI remains a bit of an oddity since, on the flip side, they continue to have weaker coverage of fixed superfast broadband 24Mbps+ networks (89%) than any other devolved region. Put another way, fewer people in more rural or harder to reach areas can today benefit from faster speeds.
The good news is that Openreach now intend to continue their commercial roll-out until they hit 525,000 premises (60% coverage) by March 2021, which will form a big chunk of their overall UK coverage goal of 4.5 million premises by that same date.
NOTE: Openreach plans to invest 12bn to cover 20 million UK premises with FTTP by the mid to late-2020s ( Openreach plans to invest 12bn to cover 20 million UK premises with FTTP by the mid to late-2020s ( here ).
Mairead Meyer, Director of Openreach NI, said (Irish News): The full fibre build programme is central to Northern Irelands digital future and economic growth and will provide the region with more reliable, faster and future-proof broadband. Were delighted to have reached the 360,000 premises milestone today. We are building right across Northern Ireland, having finished projects from Bangor and Magherafelt to Enniskillen, as well as building full fibre to rural communities in Tamnaghmore and Upper Ballinderry among others. Belfast city has 72% coverage of full fibre, making it the second-best covered city in the UK, and 7 out of 11 council areas are within the top 20 local authorities in the UK for access to faster connectivity speeds.
Meanwhile were currently still awaiting the outcome of the long-in-gestation Project Stratum, which has committed 165m of state aid (mostly funded by the UK Government) to help extend superfast broadband (30Mbps+) to an additional 78,500 premises across NI. At present only Fibrus and BT are left to bid on this contract after Granahan McCourt dropped out (here).
A contract for that project is due to be awarded in September 2020 and, despite the focus on superfast connectivity, much of the associated deployment is expected to harness FTTP. Meanwhile Fibrus, which is also investing around 85m into their own commercial roll-out across over 100 towns, has recently committed to help ensure that 100% of NI homes can access such services by the end of 2025 (here).
At this point we shouldnt forget that more public investment will be coming because the UK Government has committed to invest a further 5bn in order to ensure that every home can access a gigabit-capable broadband service by the end of 2025. A clear framework for that will be announced in the not too distant future. At the current pace NI may be one of the only UK regions to stand a truly viable chance of actually achieving such a goal.
Wayland Baptist University, in association with the Texas Department of Emergency Management and the City of Plainview, is hosting a drive through test for the COVID-19 virus from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. on June 25.
The test is being administered by Air Force personnel from the State of Texas Military Department. Testing will take place, at 700 Utica St. in the circle drive located near at the rear entrance of Harral Auditorium. Participants must register before being tested. Registration will begin 24 hours prior to the testing time. To register, call 512-883-2400. According to the City of Plainview, all who register will be tested and there is no charge for the test.
MANZINI All high school teachers are expected to report for work on Monday.
This is a directive issued by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, Bertram Stewart.
Teachers have been idle at home since March 18, 2020 as schools were closed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Stewart said all teachers in high schools should report for work. He said the teachers would be expected to assist the administrations of their various schools with preparations and administering all the protocols that would assist government with preventing the spread of the coronavirus among learners.
Notwithstanding the fact that it is only Form Vs that will be attending class on July 6, 2020, all teachers are expected in schools in order to assist the administration. So, its not only teachers that are teaching Form V that are expected at their workstations, but all teachers, he said.
Stewart said the teachers were expected at their workplaces as of June 29, 2020. To this, the President of the Eswatini Principals Association (EPA), Welcome Mhlanga, said his association was grateful that government had called upon all teachers in high schools to return. He said this would assist in the workload as some classes would be divided into groups of two or more depending on the number of pupils per class once schools reopen.
He said this would then be a challenge if only the teachers who were teaching Form V were the ones to shoulder the workload.
We are establishing timetables already and they shall assist us with the number of additional teachers we shall need from government moving forward, Mhlanga said.
He said they were still collecting data in line with preparations to reopen schools.
Turkey on Tuesday fired back at France, accusing Paris of "playing a dangerous game in Libya" by supporting strongman Khalifa Haftar against the UN-recognised government in Tripoli.
"France has a major responsibility for Libya being dragged into chaos by supporting illegal structures there for years, and therefore, it is actually France which is playing a dangerous game in Libya," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
In a sign of mounting tensions between two NATO allies, French President Emmanuel Macron accused Ankara on Monday of playing a "dangerous game" in the north African country that can no longer be tolerated.
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Education Minister Dan Tehan has told upcoming school leavers aggrieved about sudden fee hikes for their chosen university degrees that the new system will be fairer and still majority-funded by taxpayers who have mostly not benefited from a university education.
The fee overhaul, which has increased fees for some courses while dropping the cost of "job-relevant" degrees, will be in place from next year and has triggered concerns for school students who have picked year 11 and 12 subjects based on the degrees they have committed to.
Education Minister Dan Tehan has called on concerned students to consider that the new system is fairer. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Responding to the complaints, Mr Tehan said Australia was facing the greatest economic contraction since the Great Depression and the government wanted students to think about choosing university subjects that would boost their employment prospects.
"You will not pay one cent upfront you have access to the best HELP loan scheme in the world. And we want to ensure that in choices you make getting a job is one of the key considerations," he said.
I can still smell the incense. My dad would light three sticks of it, prop them up in a bowl of uncooked rice, kneel, and bow until his forehead met the ground. Three times he would bowslowly, reverentlyand the room would grow somber and silent. I remember watching the smoke curl in the air and disappear into the dining room lights.
Platters of our favorite Chinese delicacies filled the dining table. My mouth waters thinking about the sea cucumber, bamboo shoots, abalone, extra-large shrimp, flavorful shiitake mushrooms, and special vegetables we procured from the only Asian supermarket in our areawhich was still over an hour away.
A single chair, situated away from the table, represented the spirit of my grandmother. Each dish represented a special offering to honor her memory. She had died from lung cancer, and I had never met her in person. I only knew of her from a portrait in my dads office. When I was a little girl, this portrait frightened meI was convinced her eyes were following my every step.
After all the family members took turns kneeling and bowing, my dad would take the incense out the back door, and we would sit down to enjoy the feast.
The Glow of New Life
I grew up in a culturally Buddhist home. By culturally Buddhist, I mean that religion didnt influence my day-to-day life. When it came to rituals like honoring the spirit of my grandma, I was only going through the motions.
Our family lived in Boulder, Coloradoa beautiful city nestled in the mountains. The fresh mountain air was scented with pineand sometimes pot. Boulder is filled with granola-type hippies, plenty of new-age crystals, and throngs of the spiritually open-minded. Growing up culturally Buddhist in an immigrant home, I knew nothing about American holidays except for what I learned at school. Christmas revolved around presents and Santa Claus. Easter had something to do with a giant white bunny, jelly beans, and colorful hidden eggs.
During my sophomore year of high school, a friend I sat next to in math class, Jean, underwent a notable change in disposition. Intrigued, I asked her the secret of her newfound glow.
Well, Viv, I became a Christian. I have a personal relationship with Jesus now. He died to forgive my sins, and now Im born again and made new. The glow is from my new life in Christ.
Oh, no. Disappointment filled me from head to toe. Jean was funny and smart. How could she get duped into becoming a weird Jesus freak? But over the course of the year, the change in her stuck, and she continued to transform before my eyes. God worked in her life in specific and unexplainable ways. She liked to say that human beings could never be satisfied with relationships, shopping, awards, or achievements. God had made people with a God-shaped vacuum that only he could fill.
My heart felt restless. Even as a teenager, I could already see the futility of going after bigger, brighter, better. The temporary thrill of winning an award or buying something new to wear could not relieve the emptiness I felt inside.
I started going to church and attending the youth group, mostly to check out the cute boys at first. Before long, I started asking questions and learned that I wasnt expected to have blind faith. Over time, I grew captivated by the person of Jesus, who spoke words of radical hope. His invitation to enter a relationship with the God of heaven proved irresistible. The summer before my junior year of high school, I gave my heart and life to Jesusor so I thought.
I knew Christians were supposed to read the Bible, so I bought a copy at the bookstore. But no matter how much I read, very little made sense. To be honest, I found the Bible pretty boring. I also knew that Christians were supposed to pray, but whenever I tried, I would get distracted or fall asleep.
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On Sundays, if I happened to wake up in time, I would drive by myself to church. I cried through every song during worship. I wanted to know God, to love him and live for him. But then I would drive home, and life went on as usual. I would return to my selfish ways and take matters into my own hands. Christianity wasnt working for me, so I planned to casually toss it aside like just another teenage phase.
Then my life got turned upside down. My dad went through a midlife crisis and moved our family from Boulder to Hong Kong. I had big plans for my senior year. Now they were dashed. I didnt know a soul. I didnt read or write Chinese, and I didnt speak Cantonese (we grew up speaking Mandarin, a completely different dialect). Everything was different: the currency, the climate, the culture and customs, the ferry, the red taxicabs, and the railway system.
I remember sitting on my bed in our little flat, tears burning in my eyes. Angry and confused, I unleashed my frustration and let God know exactly how I felt. But at the end of my tirade, I added a sincere prayer: In my heart of hearts, I want to know you and do your will. I need a church and a youth group, some Christian friends. And if you do that, I will give you my whole life. Ill hold nothing back.
Into Gods Hands
Shortly thereafter, I got involved with the debate team at Maryknoll Convent School, the all-girls Catholic school I attended. One of the top schools in Hong Kong, it sat at the corner of a busy intersection in Kowloon. The girls at Maryknoll were polished and confident. Id never been in a more academically challenging environment.
Classes there were taught in English, but the students bantered in Cantonese. When I learned that the debate team competed in English, I decided to take part. The girls on my team became my closest friends.
After one of the debates, a boy from a rival boys school approached me. Excuse me, he said. Are you a Christian? Would you like to come to our youth group?
The following Friday, I attended the meeting, hosted at a Christian and Missionary Alliance church near our home. That night, I learned that the Christian life wasnt just hard to liveit was impossible to live, at least by our own efforts. God supplied the power source. Reliance upon him and his Spirit enabled us to live as Christians.
When we moved to Hong Kong, all the things I had clung to so tightly were suddenly stripped away. But in their place came a spiritual breakthrough. For the first time in my life, I felt willing to give God total control. Once I made this commitment, Scripture came to life in a new way. And Gods Spirit began to lead, guide, comfort, and convict.
In Hong Kong, I met regularly with a mentor who showed me how to study the Bible and live out my faith. I asked her a thousand questions, and she faithfully invested her life in mine. I wrote her name next to Hebrews 13:7 in my Bible (Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.), and since then, Ive added the names of several others who have aided my spiritual growth.
Over the years, Ive often needed to recommit to Gods rule and reign. This was especially true as I puzzled over my career path after college and suffered through financial challenges, family and ministry heartbreaks, and a cancer diagnosis several years ago. But each time I placed my heart, life, plans, hopes, and dreams into Gods hands, I found that his faithfulness is unwavering.
Vivian Mabuni is an author, speaker, and host of the podcast Someday is Here. She and her husband have served with Cru for 31 years. Parts of this essay were adapted from her book, Open Hands, Willing Heart: Discovering the Joy of Saying Yes to God (WaterBrook).
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PM Lee dissolves parliament, calls for elections
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday, June 23, that he has advised President Halimah Yacob to dissolve the parliament and issue the Writ of Election.
In a live address, PM Lee explained why he has called for elections now.
"We are approaching the end of the five year term of this government. Under constitutional terms, elections must be held latest by April 2021."
Photo courtesy: Screengrab from PMO video
PM Lee noted that COVID-19 will be around for longer than a year, and until a vaccine has been developed and becomes available. With unprecedented economic challenges ahead, Singapore needs a strong government with a backing of the people.
"We need a capable government with the backing of the people to do what needs to be done, and see us through these tumultuous times. An election now, when things are relatively stable, will clear the decks and give the new government a fresh full five-year mandate," PM Lee said.
Prior to that announcement the company had in-force a small piece of the insurance program for early-works site construction, with the policy expiring in October 2019. However, the company conceded it still remained contractually obligated to a 24-month maintenance period for any defects that may arise in that specific construction following the conclusion of the period of insurance.
Read more: Insurers continue to distance themselves from Adani project
We recognise the risk of climate change to our planet and are taking action to reduce carbon emissions. Environmental sustainability has been a key focus for us for some time, and we have a long-term strategy of decarbonisation and investment in renewable energy, the spokesperson added.
We recently launched our inaugural ESG [Environmental, Social and Governance Review] report, and last year we announced our global policy on coal underwriting and investing and our new Office of Sustainability, which will further embed responsible investment and risk management policies into our decision-making.
The spokesperson says Liberty Mutual is taking many steps that demonstrate its commitment to the shift towards clean energy, and we will continue to improve and build on the progress weve made.
Within the companys ESG report, it cites the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and the fifth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2018) as making unequivocal cases to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius.
Renewable energy has overtaken coal as the largest source of installed power capacity globally, outstripping all fossil fuel sources in terms of new annual growth. This news is arguably more welcome in the insurance sector than any other, the report states.
We see firsthand how a warming world can destroy the lives and assets of entire communities. Extreme weather has almost become the new norm as climate change pushes our planet into a new, more volatile state. Recent years have been a reminder of that.
Australia experienced its worst wildfires on record in 2019, with more than 11 million hectares of land destroyed and 33 people losing their lives In short, climate change mitigation, and the transition to a zero-carbon economy, is not only a moral obligation for the insurance sector, its business-critical, it concluded.
A spokesperson for HDI, which is part of the Talanx Group, told Insurance Business Australia that over the past two years Talanx has intensified its focus on sustainability and reviewed its existing underwriting policy.
On April 18, 2019, Talanx defined its underwriting policy for coal-based risks over the long term, the spokesperson continued. Underpinning the policy is a commitment towards a lower carbon economy and recognising the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The underwriting policy stipulates that Talanx will no longer write risks associated with the construction of new coal mines, including the Adani Carmichael Coal Mine.
The spokesperson said the company is continuously enhancing its underwriting policy and focusing more on aspects of sustainability.
To give an example, the spokesperson added oil sands have recently been added to the list of exclusion criteria for both investments and underwriting.
An AXA XL spokesperson, meanwhile, said it did not intend on doing business with Adani in the future.
AXA XL do not currently have a live insurance policy for the Carmichael [Adani] mines assets, neither directly nor through packages, and we do not intend to do so in the future, the spokesperson said.
Insurance broking company Marsh told Insurance Business Australia that it will evaluate its business decisions in accordance with company goals.
Read next: Risk expert on climate change perils for insurers
We recently announced the development of client engagement principles to further our commitment to Sustainable Development Goals including energy security and access, climate change mitigation and resilience and inclusive economic growth and job creation, among others. These principles do not contain a bright-line policy against any industry, the spokesperson said.
Rather, we will evaluate proposed engagements that potentially conflict with these goals and determine whether work can proceed as proposed or with limitations.
The spokesperson said Marsh remains committed to sustainability and has adopted the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Beginning in 2021, we will publish an annual sustainability report, overseen by a newly-appointed sustainability officer, the spokesperson said.
The Adani coalmine, located 300km west of the Queensland coast, is one of the most controversial projects in Australias history with various politicians, activists and public figures decrying its work to export coal through Adanis Abbott Point terminal to power plants.
According to Robert Cooper, director at Cooper Professional Risks, also located in Queensland, coalmines present an increasing threat to brokers and insurers because of public perception.
The concerned insured, along with many shareholders, are wanting more social responsibility from the big corporate insurers, persuading them not to insure risks that directly cause increased emissions, Cooper explained.
They are withdrawing support of the very companies contributing directly to climate change, and the businesses that supply them. Clients are changing brokers because of the types of risks they are handling. If you are placing risks on coal mining companies, then environmentally conscious clients are wanting to affiliate with brokers who are not.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks on the Senate floor at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 21, 2020. (Senate Television via AP)
McConnell Pushes Vote on GOP Police Reform Bill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has set Wednesday as the day to vote on legislation to bring reforms to policing practices across the nation. Prompted by the death of George Floyd on May 25, the Kentucky senator has expedited the voting process.
The Senate will vote to consider the GOP police reform legislation, the JUSTICE Act, which would bolster accountability, training, and transparency for police officers and make lynching a federal crime.
McConnell will need 60 votes, including the support of at least seven Democrats, to proceed with making the bill law. On Monday he urged Democrats to vote in favor of the bill to move past political posturing and have a real outcome.
Later this week, thanks to @SenatorTimScott, the Senate will vote to consider police reform legislation on the floor. I hope both sides come together and vote to begin this important debate. The American people deserve more than political posturing. They deserve an outcome, McConnell said on Twitter Monday.
We read this: Senate Democrats are agonizing over what to do about Senate Republicans police reform bill. What is there to agonize over? McConnell said in a speech.
It seems to me that proceeding to consider Sen. Scotts legislation, proceeding to take up the subject on the Senate floor, would only be an agonizing prospect if members were more interested in making a point rather than in actually making a law, he added.
The JUSTICE Act identifies productive ways that Congress can encourage and incentivize smart police reform efforts and communities all across our country, said McConnell. He also emphasized that the majority of Americans support decent and brave law enforcement professionals.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits protesters outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 3, 2020. (CNN)
The bill discourages the use of chokeholds by withholding grants from police departments who have used this type of force. It requires 100 percent of police departments to submit data on their use of no-knock warrants and excessive or deadly use of force. It seeks increase funding, training, and tactics, to enable the deescalation of force and the responsibility of officers to intervene.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told CNN that the Republican police reform plan is inadequate. We dont need a study about chokeholds, she said. We dont need a study about no-knock warrants We need to take action that is real.
The Republican legislation would also ensure that when a police candidate was being hired to their new position, the department looking to hire could access prior disciplinary records. The bill also mandates the storage and use of data from body camera footage.
Under the JUSTICE Act lynching would become a federal crime, and the act would create two commissions to study and offer solutions to a broader range of challenges facing black men and boys, and the criminal justice system as a whole.
But Democrats have said the Republican bill does not go far enough to address legal protections like qualified immunity for police. The Democrats bill bans no-knock warrants in drug cases and it changes qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that shields police officers from civil lawsuits.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday called the GOP bill piecemeal and half-hearted.
A fter a long, long wait in lockdown, beauty salons have finally reopened.
While some grooming services such as hairdressers and barbers were allowed to open up to customers with safety measures in place a few weeks ago, a whole host of other beauty and leisure services were not initially given the green light by the Government to resume trading.
However, Culture secretary Oliver Dowden announced recently that beauticians, tattooists and tanning salons can welcome back clients in the latest easing of the lockdown.
He said:Having allowed hairdressers to reopen, beauticians, tattooists, spas, tanning salons and other close contact services can now do the same, Im pleased to say, from Monday [July 13].
Of course that will be subject to some restrictions on particularly high-risk services.
With that in mind, here's what you can and can't do when you book in:
In Texas, US, nail bars started slowly reopening in May / AFP via Getty Images
When will nail salons reopen?
Nail salons can officially reopen from today, Monday 13 July.
Salons will be required to put safety measures in place, just as hairdressers are. These will include sanitisation stations, masks for staff and extra cleaning measures.
When will beauty salons reopen?
Similarly, beauty salons, tattoo and massage studios, physical therapy businesses, spas and piercing services will also be allowed to reopen from July 13.
Customers having their nails done at a bar in New York before lockdown (Getty ) / Getty
Can I get beauty treatments from July 4?
Some, yes. Despite salons reopening, not all treatments will be available.
Only services that do not involve work in the highest risk zone - directly in front of the face should be made available at beauty salons.
This means that treatments such as face waxing, eyelash treatments, make-up application and facials, should not be provided until Government advice changes.
The Government's decision not to open beauty salons along with hairdressers and barbers prompted allegations that female-led businesses were being ignored.
Conservative MP Caroline Nokes criticised the Government yesterday in Parliament, saying its lockdown easing policies have been "designed by men, for men".
"What we have seen is female led businesses left to the back of the pile," she added. "Its very obvious that men with hair need barbers and hairdressers. They perhaps find less need for pedicures and leg waxers. And its absolutely noticeable that the beauty industry has 90% female employees and the majority are women-led businesses. Were preventing our women entrepreneurs from getting back to work."
However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement on July 3 that he was prioritising the opening as soon as it could be considered safe.
"I want these restrictions to be lifted as soon as possible - of course I do," he said.
"We have established taskforces to work rapidly and closely with the sectors that remain closed to explore how they can be Covid Secure. I am pleased to report good progress is being made.
Glen Ellyn, Ill., June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- College of DuPage Trustee Maureen Dunne recently was appointed Secretary to the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) for 2020-2021. Dunne will begin her one-year term on July 1.
Since 1970, the ICCTA has provided legislative advocacy and educational opportunities for the state's public community college boards.
College of DuPage Board of Trustees Chairman Frank Napolitano applauded Dunne for her newly elected position.
Trustee Dunne will be a fine representative for the ICCTA Board to help advance the work of community colleges across Illinois, he said. Through her dedicated leadership and devotion to the community college system, Dunne is working to improve the lives of the people in our communities for years to come.
A COD graduate, Dunne obtained her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Chicago, a masters from the London School of Economics and a doctorate in cognitive sciences from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
In addition to her academic accomplishments, Dunne co-founded, led and advised venture-backed technology companies. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Greater Chicago, Access to Care (Auxiliary Board) and on the executive board of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation. A community leader, she is a member of Rotary and a co-founder of a nonprofit initiative that sponsors coding bootcamps.
Attachment
Jennifer Duda
College of DuPage
(630) 942-3097
dudajen@cod.edu
Martin Schreiber is a former Wisconsin governor, lieutenant governor and state senator. But he took on a different role as caregiver for his wife, Elaine, after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 13 years ago. He wrote about his struggles in My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer's Caregiver (Book Publishers Network, $17), with the book's net proceeds to be used to promote Alzheimer's caregiver support programs. In this lightly edited conversation, we talked with Schreiber, age 78, about the overlooked needs of caregivers. You point out that it's often more challenging for men to take on the role of caregiver. Why do you think that's the case? Men have terrible egos. And they think they can handle everything without any help. And so, as the caregiving progresses, and there's more need for outside support, the man refuses to ask for it, creating further types of anxiety. You're assuming roles that you never had before. Elaine would take care of the bills, all of the home care, and so forth. Now you are the one doing it. All of the sudden, simple matters become complex. Noting the health problems you suffered before you reached out for caregiving help, you urge other caregivers not to hesitate to seek support. What kind of toll did your wife's disease take on you?
My world became Elaine and taking care of her, and nothing else really seemed to matter. I cut out exercise and cut out being with other people. I gained 30 pounds. I couldn't breathe decently when I would go for a short walk. I didn't want to seem like a wimp because I couldn't handle the emotional strain. But the fact is, [that strain is] there. Friends pull you aside and say, "Wow, you look terrible." My wife is in assisted living now, and I see it in the faces of the other men there, the drawn-out look, the haggard look. Can you explain the concept of your "two Elaines" and how it helped you to move forward? I had to understand that there are two Elaines and that I had to let go of my first Elaine. The woman who once was is no more. I can never expect of this new woman any of the things I once did together with the first Elaine. But I wish I'd understood the benefits of letting go sooner. If we're at Christmastime, with the four children and their spouses and grandchildren, and Elaine asks who those people are, I don't have to worry about the pain of dealing with this because I already dealt with that when I let go of the first Elaine. There's now this new person whose life I want to enter. Elaine likes music, so we listen whenever we can. When I'm walking with Elaine, I sing, "I want to marry you," and she says, "that would make me so happy." As a caregiver, look for those areas of common interest. Elaine may not be aware I might be her husband. But she knows I'm a friend, and I'm someone special to her.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza announced Tuesday that there will be a citywide virtual graduation celebration for the Class of 2020 on June 30.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic canceled many special events for graduates, including commencement and award ceremonies, proms, senior trips, and more. Some schools on Staten Island made their own celebrations -- like drive-by parades, outdoor celebrations, and virtual commencements.
Graduating high school under normal circumstances is an extraordinary accomplishment, but I am especially impressed by the Class of 2020 and all they have been through to get to this point, said de Blasio in a news release. In this time of great upheaval and many challenges, they will be leading the way to create a fairer, safer future for all. I could not be more proud to celebrate them with this special sendoff.
The ceremony will bring the entire city together in celebration of graduates, featuring student spotlights, musical performances, and special guest speakers, including award-winning artist and former New York City public school student and teacher, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Congratulations to the amazing Class of 2020! Theres never been a New York City graduating class like yours. Theres never been a senior year like this! said Carranza in the release. As Chancellor of all New York City Public Schools, and on behalf of all 150,000 staff who make our schools run: I am so proud of you.
The special program will be produced by the city in partnership with PIX11, airing live on PIX11s television channel, website, and social media channels at 7 p.m. on June 20. It will also be live-streamed on the DOEs and the citys social media channels, and at this website, https://www.nycclassof2020.com/.
Were proud to help make this exciting event available to every New Yorker, said Bart Feder, vice president and general manager of PIX11. These resilient graduates will play a crucial role in the future of our city and nation, and theyve earned this recognition
Kori Chambers, Marysol Castro and Mr. G from PIX11 will host the ceremony.
It will feature:
-- A musical performance from Brooklyns Phony Ppl as well as student musical performances.
-- Guest speakers including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pitbull, Kenan Thompson, Nick Kroll, Angela Yee, Tina Fey, Andy Cohen, and more.
-- A special valedictorian speech.
-- Contributions from family members and educators who have supported our graduating seniors.
The citywide celebration complements ceremonies and events being held in communities across the city. The celebrations are being done virtually, as drive-throughs, and other unique safe ways to honor this years senior class, according to the release from the mayors office.
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Indore, Jun 21 (PTI) A special flight under 'Vande Bharat' mission carrying 125 Indian medical students who were stuck in Kyrgyzstan due to lockdown in India landed at airport here in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday night, an official said.
The Air India flight, which took off from Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek, reached here via Delhi at 8.15 pm, said Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport Director Aryama Sanyal.
Also Read | YSRCP MP Raghurama Raju Alleges Threat to Life, Writes to Lok Sabha Speaker For Security: Live News Breaking & Coronavirus Updates on June 21, 2020.
All the passengers were screened and their luggage was sanitised as per the procedure, she said.
A health department official said while 12 of the 125 students belonged to Indore, others hailed from different districts in Madhya Pradesh.
Also Read | Delhi Revamps COVID-19 Strategy: Aggressive Testing and Contact-Tracing, Redrawing of Containment Zones.
They will be quarantined in their respective districts for a period of 14 days as per the guidelines, the official said.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
A rescue group in Tennessee on Saturday posted on Facebook that a golden retriever living there is the oldest of her breed in history.
August turned 20 years old on April 24, 2020.
According to GoldHeart Golden Retrievers Rescue, There are many accounts of 17 or 18-year-old goldens, and even a few stories about 19-year-old goldens, but Augie is the first golden retriever to ever reach the big two-oh.
Augie is owned by Jennifer and Steve Hetterscheidt of Oakland, Tenn. The couple adopted Augie when she was 14 years old. The couple have three more golden retrievers - Sherman, Belle and Bruce.
The couple told the rescue that Augie is healthy although she has some kidney issues and take supplements for that and her joints and receives subcutaneous fluids twice a week for added hydration.
She celebrated her birthday with dog-friendly carrot cake.
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The corporate m-learning market is expected to grow by USD 10.13 billion during 2020-2024. The report also provides the market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact can be expected to be significant in the first quarter but gradually lessen in subsequent quarters with a limited impact on the full-year economic growth, according to the latest market research report by Technavio.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005753/en/
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Corporate M-Learning Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)
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Players in the market are focusing on expanding their customer base and geographical presence by forming strategic alliances with other corporate m-learning solutions providers. For instance, in May 2018, Skillsoft announced its partnership with Shine Learning. The partnership allowed the users of Shine Learning to access Skillsoft's extensive learning portfolio, including business skills training, digital transformation, productivity and collaboration, and others. Similarly, in October 2018, Avaya Inc. partnered with Global Knowledge Training. The partnership enabled Global Knowledge Training to provide training to Avayas' channel partners in Latin America and Canada. Such strategic partnerships are fueling the growth of the global corporate m-learning market.
To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41391
As per Technavio, the growing popularity of game-based learning will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024.
Corporate M-learning Market: Growing Popularity of Game-based Learning
The use of gamification in corporate m-learning enhances earner engagement, influences behavior change, and promotes healthy competition among employees. Owing to such benefits, organizations are integrating gamification solutions in corporate m-learning. For instance, Accord LMS partnered with Evoq Social to gamify its learning management system. It included new features such as a leaderboard, badges, and a points-based reputation system to provide a more engaging and interesting learning experience for employees. Therefore, the increasing popularity of gamification is expected to boost the growth of the global corporate m-learning market during the forecast period.
"Integration of analytics in corporate m-learning and the rising demand for skilled professionals in emerging technologies will further boost market growth during the forecast period", says a senior analyst at Technavio.
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Corporate M-learning Market: Segmentation Analysis
This market research report segments the corporate m-learning market by type (technical corporate m-learning and non-technical corporate m-learning) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).
The North America region led the corporate m-learning market in 2019, followed by Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, North America is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the presence of major MNCs, such as Microsoft, SAP, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (Cognizant Technology Solutions), BI WORLDWIDE, and others in the region.
Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report
Some of the key topics covered in the report include:
Market Drivers
Market Challenges
Market Trends
Vendor Landscape
Vendors covered
Vendor classification
Market positioning of vendors
Competitive scenario
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With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
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Fresh coronavorus lockdown measures have been announced in Germany after an increase in cases linked to an abattoir.
Armin Laschet, the governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state, said 100,000 people in Guetersloh county should only have contact with their own household or one person from outside.
More than 1,500 people have tested positive for the coronavirus at the Toennies slaughterhouse in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck and thousands have been put under a quarantine to try to halt the outbreak.
The governor said people in Guetersloh and parts of a neighboring county will now face the same kind of restrictions that existed across Germany during the early stages of the pandemic in March and April.
These include limiting the number of people who can meet in public to those from a single household or two people from separate households, Laschet said.
Cinemas, fitness studios and bars will also be closed, although restaurants can continue to cater to people from the same household, he added. Previously, the western county had only closed schools and child care centers.
Germany was among the first to ease Covid-19 restrictions after faring better than many of its European neighbours as a result of an aggressive policy of mass testing.
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Our elections have been melting down. Disastrous, spectacular collapses have become commonplace in this unimaginable year already filled with a pandemic, record unemployment, and civil unrest.
While the failures are complex and manifold, many have been predictable and similar from state to state. The patterns are clear. There are not enough places to vote in person. There are not enough poll workers. Lines at limited precincts stretch to unimaginable, hourslong lengths.
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Meanwhile, the demand for vote-by-mail has swamped underfunded election boards in many states, and sometimes overwhelmed a wobbly Postal Service. As a result, tens of thousands of voters have requested absentee ballots but not received them by election day, forcing them, as well, into those already interminable waits. Also: During a pandemic.
Endure the lines? Risk catching a deadly virus? If other nations forced their citizens to make this decision, we would watch in horror and question their commitments to democracy, fair elections, and public health. This is now the situation in America almost weekly. And thats the backdrop for todays election in Kentucky, where some of those same conditions exist that led to chaos in Georgia, Wisconsin, and elsewhere.
The U.S. Senate primary on the Democratic side which once looked like a runaway for former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath, the preferred candidate of the D.C. establishment has become the hottest race in the nation. But when Kentucky voters head to the polls on Tuesday, many will be in for quite a road trip.
In the past two weeks, an underfunded challenger, the unapologetically progressive state Rep. Charles Booker, has won important endorsements and surged statewide, elevated by a movement for racial justice and continued outrage over the police killing of Breonna Taylor in a no-knock raid in Louisville in May that has found significant support even in white, rural Kentucky.
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Booker represents western Louisville in the Statehouse. And while much of Louisville has been transformed by boutique hotels and downtown bourbon distilleries, his district includes some of the poorest ZIP codes in the state. Louisville is Kentuckys largest city, in Kentuckys largest county, Jefferson County, which sprawls 54 miles wide and is home to some 616,000 registered voters. It is home to a large portion (46 percent) of all of Kentuckys black residents. And on Tuesday, there will be one polling place for all of Jefferson County.
You read that correctly. One polling place, out by the fairgrounds and the airport a considerable bus ride for many even from downtown for 616,000 American voters.
Kentucky has worked hard, and in a bipartisan manner, to expand absentee and early voting. State officials have done many things carefully and correctly during this run-up; the Democratic governor, the Republican secretary of state, and many state residents have bristled over national media coverage and celebrity tweets suggesting voter suppression is afoot.
But disenfranchisement can take many forms. Most voters, those who are not especially online, who dont follow the governors live briefings, begin to pay attention to an election as it draws closer. So for those who are just tuning into this race now, who maybe did not request an absentee ballot weeks ago, who saw millions of dollars of McGrath ads on television and perhaps did not even know that a rising black legislative star wanted the opportunity to run against Mitch McConnell this fall as well well, it is not going to be easy for them to vote.
Say youre a young black man or woman in west Louisville who got inspired by Booker this weekend, as his campaign became a sensation. Now your only way to cast a ballot is to get to the fairgrounds on Tuesday. Thats a considerable effort and a giant barrier for many who cant spend an hour or more on public transportation simply to vote and thats before whatever line they encounter at the polls. Not every job will be that flexible. Perhaps child care, or caring for a sick parent, gets in the way. What if they have asthma or a respiratory disease and theyre nervous about voting in person?
Its terrific that Kentucky has expanded mail-in options, and those will work for many people. They will work for those who dialed into this race weeks ago. Those for whom the Democratic primary for Senate has not been top of mind? Head to the fairgrounds and get in line.
Thats disenfranchising. And it privileges certain voters voters with cars, voters with more flexible jobs, voters with easy child care over others. Thats wrong.
At the same time, there are already reports from Kentucky, as well, as from other states, of voters who have requested ballots that have yet to arrive. They also should not have to travel miles to cast their votes. They risk being disenfranchised unless they, too, are able to travel many miles and wait in what seems likely to be a long line at their countys single in-person precinct. Planes, Trains and Automobiles is supposed to be a Steve Martin comedy, not what is necessary to cast a vote in Louisville on an election day. (Indeed, its not just Louisville; each county will have just one in-person voting location, so there may be deep inequities in large, rural counties as well.)
Mail-in voting is going to be a crucial part of holding an election during a pandemic this fall. But we also need robust in-person options and many accessible drop-off centers whether for voters who do not receive an absentee ballot, decide to vote at the last minute, lack access to reliable mail service, or just feel more secure casting a ballot that way. One voting precinct per county is not enough. It will be wonderful if Kentucky sets a voter turnout record on Tuesday, as some predict. But that will not be a sign that there was no disenfranchisement. If anyone who wants to vote cannot, because they do not have the ability to spend hours on a shuttle bus or in a line, they have been disenfranchised. Thats unacceptable.
This has become a serious problem elsewhere. A big part of the problem is that its understandably difficult to find poll workers often senior citizens, who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 during a pandemic. States have also had to spend precious resources to quickly ramp up mail-in voting. Officials in Kentucky and elsewhere have suggested that fewer in-person options are necessary because so much voting will be done via mail. Statewide, Kentucky will open fewer than 200 of its usual 3,700 polling places.
Thats the kind of statistic that gets attention on Twitter, and does not take into account the expanded mail options. But its also what happened in Georgia, where elections melted down earlier this month. Officials expanded mail-in voting and opened 80 fewer precincts in Atlanta alone, moving multiple in-person locations at the last second, and consolidated so many spots that one precinct serviced 16,000 voters. We all saw the un-American, yet all too familiar, lines that ensued. And we all saw which voters and neighborhoods waited the longest.
This creates a stout barrier to the ballot box for any last-minute voter. It has also been a serious problem in state after state for tens of thousands who have not received their mail-in ballots in a timely fashion. If you were one of those voters in Milwaukee back in April, the city managed to open just five of 180 precincts. If you were one of the 160,000 voters in Maryland, or thousands more in this predicament in Washington, D.C., your option was to accept the long line or accept disenfranchisement.
Race matters deeply here as well. There are patterns here, and patterns that black voters are especially heightened to, in Georgia and elsewhere, since these burdens consistently fall disproportionately onto communities of color. Shuttering polling places, moving them around, locating them far from black neighborhoods these are time-honored means of disenfranchisement. Officials often say that when they reduce the number of precincts, its to close ones that are no longer used. Studies show, however, that these closures fall disproportionately in communities of color. Now the majority of black voters in Kentucky will have one polling place for any of the hundreds of thousands of registered voters who want to vote.
The well-meaning Kentuckians defending their state from outside criticism and concern should also pause and remember the way these very methods have disenfranchised black voters historically and in the present day. They might put themselves in the shoes of an 18-year-old black woman in west Louisville who became inspired by a candidate and a cause in the days before an election, wants her voice heard, but cant get off from work.
What is intentional disenfranchisement, and what is inevitable as under-resourced officials try to transition from in-person voting to majority absentee? It does not matter if the end result is forcing voters into that unacceptable election day choice.
Here is the broader problem: Were barreling toward November and we dont seem to be learning from our mistakes. Primary day needs to stop being Groundhog Day. After watching Wisconsin and Georgia, after seeing the vote-by-mail challenges in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., it defies logic that Kentucky could believe that one precinct per county is enough, or that voters will receive their mail-in ballots on time.
We are closing in on four months before the presidential election, when turnout will be higher and an election meltdown in just one of these states could throw the nation into constitutional chaos. If these primaries have been a dry run for the fall, one thing is certain: We are not close to ready.
We know what we need to do. We need robust vote-by-mail and in-person options. We need to automatically send mail ballots to registered voters far ahead of the election and reduce time-consuming application hurdles. We need to fund the Postal Service if we are going to conduct an election by mail. And we need to fund all aspects of absentee-ballot expansion if we want an efficient election, trained workers, and the most expedited count. Some politicians and electoral officials, of both parties, have embraced many of these measures, whether the Republican secretaries of state in Iowa and Ohio, or the Democratic governor of California. And some, yes, including Kentucky, have crossed party lines and worked together.
Yet we have not done enough. Time is running out. We have spent trillions to shore up the economy. The $4 billion necessary for Election Day is a mere rounding error for democracy. It is a small price to pay.
David Daley is the author of Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy and the national bestseller Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesnt Count.
Santita Jackson is the host and executive producer of The Santita Jackson Show, which airs daily on WCPT-AM in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison, Wisconsin, and Facebook, and the co-host and executive producer of the Keep Hope Alive with Rev. Jesse Jackson radio show.
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For the sixth consecutive day, Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for most of eastern Ontario, but says severe thunderstorms could finally cool things off.
There are no longer heat warnings covering Renfrew County or the Kingston area. Apart from Gatineau, the weather agency hasn't issued any special weather statements for western Quebec.
Those communities under a heat warning have also been issued a severe thunderstorm watch until early Tuesday evening, with the possibility of strong winds and downpours.
For Ottawa and areas to the east and south, the humidity is again expected to make it feel close to 40 today with a temperature peak of 30 C.
The overnight low is 18 C in Ottawa, about what it was last night.
Yesterday's high of 33.5 C at the Ottawa airport was the hottest it's been this month and just passed June 22, 1983 as the hottest Ottawa has been on that date going back to 1939.
The areas without a heat warning should see highs in the mid-to-high 20s and humidex values making it feel like the mid 30s today, with a similar chance of showers or storms.
Return to normal
There should be high temperatures in the mid-20s and a decent chance of showers in Ottawa every day for the rest of the week.
Wednesday brings a 30 per cent chance of showers and a high of 25 C in Ottawa and an overnight low of 15 C, which is about average for late June.
Thursday and Friday should be a few degrees cooler, with highs of 26 forecast for the weekend at this time.
ST. LOUIS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A Missouri appellate court has unanimously upheld a St. Louis jury's determination that Johnson & Johnson engaged in "reprehensible conduct" by manufacturing and selling asbestos-containing talcum powder products over the course of many decades.
The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld $ 2.11 billion of a $4.69 billion unanimous jury verdict against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary JJCI in July 2018 following a six-week trial. The 22 claimants had used the talc-based powders daily for many years, unaware that J&J failed to warn consumers that the talc contains asbestos. Half of the 22 women have died from ovarian cancer, six before trial and another five since the trial ended.
The trial jury awarded each woman or family $25 million in compensatory damages, as well as their respective share of $4.14 billion in punitive damages. The compensatory damages awards were upheld in full by the ruling.
In its 83-page opinion, the three-judge panel rejected numerous arguments by J&J attorneys seeking reversal of the jury's verdict. The court stated, "Plaintiffs proved with convincing clarity that Defendants engaged in outrageous conduct because of an evil motive or reckless indifference."
The appellate court ruled in J&J's favor on two legal points. First, the court concluded that two of the women who had never used J&J's talc-based products manufactured in Missouri, Marcia Owens and Annette Koman, were required to bring their lawsuits in a different state, and that Johnson & Johnson, as the parent company, could be sued in Missouri only by Missouri residents. Second, the court reduced the punitive damages to $1.61 billion based on the panel's interpretation of precedent handed down by the United States Supreme Court.
The court stated: "We find there was significant reprehensibility in Defendants' conduct," including "evidence that Defendants discussed the presence of asbestos in their talc in internal memoranda for several decades; avoided adopting more accurate measures for detecting asbestos and influenced the industry to do the same; attempted to discredit those scientists publishing studies unfavorable to their Products; and did not eliminate talc from the Products and use cornstarch instead because it would be more costly to do so."
"Johnson & Johnson has at long last been held accountable for its misconduct," said lead trial counsel Mark Lanier. "To their shame, decade after decade, Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary knowingly manufactured and sold dangerous, life-threatening products. Since the verdict, J&J has finally quit selling this asbestos-laced talc product in the U.S. and Canada. We are gratified that the court found the evidence presented at trial fully supported each one of the jury's findings, demonstrating the strength and credibility of the overwhelming scientific evidence proving the presence of asbestos and its life-threatening dangers. The opinion shows deep respect for the voice of the jury and admirable concern for the application of Missouri law. "
Lanier also stated: "While we're disappointed that the families of Marcia Owens and Annette Koman will have to try their cases again, we are confident that another jury will reach the same conclusion about Johnson & Johnson's blatant misconduct."
"The appellate court's thoughtful opinion reflects its meticulous review of the vast evidentiary record. While we hoped to prevail on the two legal issues that the court reversed, we appreciate the court's hard work and its careful approach to the entire case," said Ken Starr, a member of the firm's appellate group and former federal appellate judge and U.S. Solicitor General.
"The court's opinion reinforces that jury awards that are solidly based on the evidence should not be set aside, especially when the jury determines justice calls for a large amount of punitive damages due to outrageous behavior putting lives at risk," said Eric Holland, the St. Louis attorney who served as co-counsel in the case
At the April 24 appellate arguments, the plaintiffs were represented by Kevin Parker of the Lanier Law Firm, assisted on the brief by Mark Lanier, Ken Starr, Natalie Armour, Benjamin Major, and Megan Waida. Co-counsel on the brief included Eric Holland and Patrick Dowd of Holland Law Firm LLC, and John Torbitzky of Behr McCarter & Potter PC.
The Lanier Law Firm continues to represent ovarian cancer victims, as well as mesothelioma victims, in claims against Johnson & Johnson. To learn more about Mark Lanier and the Lanier Law Firm, visit http://www.lanierlawfirm.com.
Media Contact:
J.D. Cargill
713-659-5200
[email protected]
SOURCE The Lanier Law Firm
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Oslo, 22 June 2020 - Adevinta ASA (ADE) has signed an agreement for the sale of Corotos, its online marketplace in the Dominican Republic, to three local entrepreneurs: Alvaro De Camps, Managing Partner at Antares Equity Partners; Javier Lara, co-founder at Bonita Real Estate Group; and Sergio Dario Reyes, partner and CTO at 7Labs.
Corotos holds a solid leadership position in the highly competitive Dominican Republic market with over 1.3 million unique users per month. The change in ownership represents an opportunity for the marketplace to pursue its growth story by developing its product portfolio locally, taking advantage of local synergies, and positioning itself as a truly local platform.
Our comprehensive strategic review has shown that local ownership will best position Corotos for long-term growth and success, so we have decided to divest, said Rolv Erik Ryssdal, CEO Adevinta. Exiting the Dominican Republic will allow Adevinta to focus on continuing to build momentum in markets where we see more significant growth opportunities. Corotos is an attractive asset for a local player which will be better positioned to leverage local synergies and partnerships. During the transition period, we will fully support the Corotos team and the new owners in achieving a smooth handover.
Corotos was launched by Schibsted in 2011 on the Blocket platform, and started operating locally in 2015. Corotos has been a strong contributor to shared technology in Adevinta. The new owners will migrate Corotos to their own platform over the next few months. This new setup will give Corotos the necessary momentum to move forward faster and develop its product portfolio with greater agility.
-End-
Notes to the Editors
Media contacts
Melodie Laroche
Corporate Communications
T: +33 (0) 6 84 30 52 76
melodie.laroche@adevinta.com
About Adevinta
Adevinta is a global online classifieds company with generalist, real estate, cars, jobs and other internet marketplaces in 15 countries, connecting buyers seeking goods or services with a large base of sellers. Its portfolio spans 35 digital products and websites, attracting 1.5 billion average monthly visits. Leading brands include top-ranked leboncoin in France, InfoJobs and Milanuncios in Spain, and 50% of fast-growing OLX Brazil. Adevinta was spun off from Schibsted ASA and publicly listed as an independent company in Oslo, Norway in 2019. Adevinta is majority owned by Schibsted ASA.
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Mumbai:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced development package of Rs 49,248 crore for Marathwada region, under which important projects, including irrigation and infrastructure, will be completed in a time-bound manner.
Funds have been allocated for these projects and these will be completed within four years, Fadnavis said, after a meeting of the state Cabinet in Aurangabad.
This is the first time in eight years that the state Cabinet meeting was held at Aurangabad. The region, which was reeling under acute drought till recently, has witnessed heavy rains in the last few days, leading to crop damage and loss of life and property.
Under the plan announced by the Chief Minister, Rs 9,291 crore will be spent on irrigation, Rs 5,326 crore on railway network in the region, Rs 3,000 crore for road projects, Rs 250 crore for airport expansion, Rs 450 crore for micro-irrigation, and Rs 1,885 for water conservation works.
Funds for these projects will be raised through bonds, Fadnavis said.
He assured people of Marathwada region that train service to Beed will commence in 2018. A Bal Thackeray memorial will be set up in Aurangabad.
A rural development institute, named after late Gopinath Munde, former Union rural development minister, will be set up in Aurangabad, Fadnavis said, adding efforts will be made to get UNESCO heritage tag for the historic Aurangabad city.
The procedure of completing panchnama to assess damage will be bypassed for areas which have witnessed heavy rains so that farmers get compensation for crop damage quickly, he said.
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The value of Bahrains exports of national origin decreased by 16% to BD176 million ($464 million) during May2020, compared to BD210 million for the same month of the previous year, said the Information &eGovernment Authority (iGA) in foreign trade report of May.
The top 10 countries in terms of the value of exports of national origin purchased from Bahrain accounted for 76% of the total value, with the remaining countries accounting for 24%.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first among countries receiving Bahraini exports of national origin, importing BD34 million from Bahrain. Meanwhile, Netherlands was second with BD18 million and the United Arab Emirates third with BD14 million.
Unwrought aluminium (not alloyed) emerged as the top products exported during May2020 with BD36 million. Unwrought aluminium alloys was second with a value of BD31 million and Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates third with BD25 million.
The total value of re-exports decreased by 40% to reach BD40 million during May2020, compared to BD66 million for the same month of the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 95% of the re-exported value, while the remaining countries accounted for the 5%.TheKingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first with BD15 million, China second with BD7 million, and the United Arab Emirates third with BD5 million.
Four-wheel drive cars is the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD8 million, Parts for aero planes came in second place with BD2.4 million, and cigarettes containing tobacco came third with BD2.2 million.
The trade balance, the difference between exports and imports, recorded a deficit totalling BD162 million during May of2020 compared to BD143 million for the same month of the previous year, an improvement of the trade balance by 13%.
The value of imports decreased by 10%, reaching BD378 million during May2020compared to BD419 million for the same month of the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 67% of the value of imports, with the remaining countries accounting for 33%.
According to the report, China ranked first when it came to imports to Bahrain, with a total of BD67 million; Australia was second with BD38 million; and Brazil was third with BD23 million.
Aluminium oxide emerged as the top product imported into Bahrain with a total value ofBD43 million, while non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates was second withBD26 million, and four-wheel drive cars third with BD14 million. TradeArabia News Service
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is a new and in some cases highly effective form of immunotherapy to treat certain types of cancer of the blood and lymph system. This promising treatment comes at a cost, however: The manufacturers charge up to EUR 320,000 for the production of immune cells for a single patient. By determining the fixed and variable costs involved, researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) established that cellular immunotherapy could be produced at a scientific institution such as DKFZ at around a tenth of the cost.
For several years now, physicians have been achieving considerable success using an innovative form of immunotherapy in patients with certain types of cancer of the blood and lymph system: The treatment involves harvesting immune cells (T cells) from the patient and modifying them outside the body to make them more effective in attacking the malignant leukemia cells. To do so, the researchers equip the cells in the laboratory with a specific receptor protein. This chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) recognizes a protein molecule as a target structure that is formed by every cancer cell in certain types of leukemia. The CAR T cells are subsequently propagated and transferred back to the patient - where they hunt down malignantly transformed leukemia cells, sometimes with spectacular success.
Two commercial CAR T cell products have been approved to treat patients with acute lymphoblastic T cell leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphomas such as diffuse large cell B cell lymphoma. They are only used if other treatment options have failed. The treatment is often effective: two years after treatment, 40 to 60 percent of patients have not relapsed.
This promising and highly individualized treatment comes at a cost, however: In Germany, the manufacturers charge up to EUR 320,000 for the production of CAR T cells for a patient. "CAR T cell therapy is still only feasible in a few cancer patients, but this treatment approach will hopefully be able to be extended to other types of cancer. There is considerable concern that our health care systems will not be able to meet the costs of this potential increase in the number of patients," Michael Schlander, a health economist at DKFZ, explained.
As an alternative to the two CAR T cell products developed by large pharmaceutical companies, many research institutions, including DKFZ, hope to manufacture the therapeutic cells themselves. For the first time, health economist Schlander, immunologist Stefan Eichmuller and their team of researchers at DKFZ have now listed in detail the costs incurred by an academic institution in producing CAR T cell therapies.
The fixed and variable costs included setting up a clean room, laboratory materials, equipment, and all salaries and non-wage labor costs for the specially trained laboratory staff. As expected, the calculated costs were heavily dependent on the capacity utilization rate of the fully automated production system for the cells. The researchers based their calculations on different scenarios, including a maximum annual capacity utilization rate of the machine with 18 CAR T cell products.
Under these conditions, DKFZ could produce a CAR T cell product to treat a patient for less than EUR 60,000. "That would be only about a fifth of the price that the companies charge. And we can cut these costs even further by a considerable amount," Michael Schlander explained, adding that the greatest savings could be made if several of the automated production machines were operated at the same time. An alternative method of transferring the genes for the chimeric receptor could further reduce the production costs to as little as around EUR 33.000 Euro - a tenth of the current commercial price.
Quite apart from these direct savings, the patients would benefit from decentralized CAR T cell production too: "Without the time needed to send the patient's blood and the finished cell therapy, we can provide the treatment within 12 to 14 days - a considerable reduction compared with the three- to four-week waiting time for the commercial products. Patients might then need less chemotherapy and would spend less time in hospital, which would lead to further savings," remarked immunologist Stefan Eichmuller.
The analysis did not take account of the cost of license fees. Michael Schlander and Stefan Eichmuller hope that the present study will also encourage the manufacturing companies to review their current pricing policy for CAR T cell therapies.
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Tao Ran, Stefan B. Eichmuller, Patrick Schmidt, Michael Schlander: Cost of decentralized CAR T cell production in an academic non-profit setting. International Journal of Cancer 2020, DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33156
A photo is available for download:
http://www.dkfz.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2020/bilder/PM-Schlander-Eichmueller.jpg
Picture caption: DKFZ employees examining CAR T cells under the microscope in a clean room
Photo: Eichmuller/DKFZ
The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) with its more than 3,000 employees is the largest biomedical research institution in Germany. More than 1,300 scientists at the DKFZ investigate how cancer develops, identify cancer risk factors and search for new strategies to prevent people from developing cancer. They are developing new methods to diagnose tumors more precisely and treat cancer patients more successfully. The DKFZ's Cancer Information Service (KID) provides patients, interested citizens and experts with individual answers to all questions on cancer.
Jointly with partners from the university hospitals, the DKFZ operates the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg and Dresden, and the Hopp Children's Tumour Center KiTZ in Heidelberg. In the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), one of the six German Centers for Health Research, the DKFZ maintains translational centers at seven university partner locations. NCT and DKTK sites combine excellent university medicine with the high-profile research of the DKFZ. They contribute to the endeavor of transferring promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic and thus improving the chances of cancer patients.
The DKFZ is 90 percent financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The DKFZ is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers.
Isabel Deelan was holding a sign that read Abolish The Police on the front lawn of New Canaan Town Hall, as part of a demonstration that marched to the towns police headquarters Monday afternoon.
I think we do need some form of protection, but the protection we have right now is not working, she said as she stood with 30 other protesters around 1 p.m. Monday, June 22.
I know they probably think that I mean get rid of all the police, but that is not exactly what it means. It means there is way too much funding for police, where it could be used for other projects to help the community, Deelan said.
When you see defund the police it looks drastic, but police should not be funded at the expense of other social programs, she said. Teachers are buying their own supplies, but we have police that can militarize at the drop of a hat, she said.
The protest was organized by Lauren Kranzlin, who grew up in New Canaan, because she wanted to honor Juneteenth in New Canaan. I learned about it [Juneteenth] in college and it isnt something I should have had to learn about in college, I should have been learning about it in elementary school, she said.
If we are celebrating the Fourth of July, if we are celebrating Columbus Day, we should be celebrating the final emancipation of all the slaves in this country, she added.
The Columbia University graduate student wants to keep the Black Lives Matter message present in the minds of New Canaan since it is 92 percent White and only 1.8 percent Black.
Walker Schulte Schneider, a student at the University of Cambridge who advocates police abolition, was also standing in front of Town Hall.
American society is uniquely punitive in that we seek to punish people instead of rehabilitating, restoring people, the student of the history of American policing said.
Police abolition is a theory of change to totally restructure society so that we dont punish, we seek to restore and rehabilitate, which could reduce recidivism and change the spiral of desperation that traps young black men, he said.
More than half a dozen police vehicles escorted the march to the police headquarters, protesters marched up Main Street to Elm Street and down South Avenue to the headquarters as they chanted such phrases as No Racist Police, Black Lives Matter, and No Justice No Peace.
Speaking bluntly, Kofi Adjepong, 23, addressed the crowd in front of the police station with a bullhorn.
I am not from this town. Quite frankly I dont feel that safe in this town, the Milford man said. I have friends who are alumni with the ABC (A Better Chance House of New Canaan) program in this town who share similar sentiments as me.
Police brutality is just one issue we face, it is major one, but it all stems from systemic racism and oppression, he said.
He emphasized that advancement for society is dependent on people in an affluent town such as New Canaan becoming champions for change.
You have to have these conversations within your inner circles where Black people are not around. You have to educate those around you and realize those racist jokes and micro-aggressions that you share within friend groups, families and workplaces are not harmless, Adjepong said.
I was five years old when my family first sat me down to discuss how to interact with police officers. I was 12 years old when I watched a police officer assault my father, and only did the officer calm down once he saw my fathers ID and realized he was a doctor. But, Black people should not have to prove their worth to deserve to live, we deserve to live because we are human beings, he said.
We are scared for our lives. We are scared for our future childrens lives, he said.
I am scared to go into a store and not buy anything. I am scared to be out too late. I am scared to be in a town like this one at the wrong time and get pulled over because a police officer doesnt believe I belong here, he said. These are not just my fears. They are the fears of everybody within the Black community. They are common fears of ABC students and alumni this town reveres so much, he said.
I urge you to challenge yourself to be uncomfortable, except these feelings and fight with me, fight for me, fight for the ABC kids our lives depend upon it, he said.
Several police cars lined up outside of the station as the protesters walked over to the sidewalk and stood on both sides of the street chanting and holding up the signs for the people driving by to see them.
Then, they peacefully walked back into town, carrying their signs as the thermometer topped 90 degrees and chanting the words No Racist Police.
Texas added yet another record number of new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, as Gov. Greg Abbott urged people to wear masks and stay indoors whenever possible.
The state reported nearly 5,200 new cases, surpassing the previous high of 4,600 on Friday, according to a data analysis by Hearst Newspapers. The weekly rolling average hit 3,722 new cases per day, up from about 1,500 two weeks ago.
Infections have been surging across the state since Memorial Day and amid the reopening of business and recent police protests. Health officials say cases are particularly rising among young adults, who tend to have healthier immune systems than older Texans but are still susceptible to death or prolonged illness.
ABBOTTS WARNING: Gov. Abbott calls coronavirus surge unacceptable, urges Texans to wear masks in public
We want to make sure everyone reinforces the best safe practices of wearing a mask, hand sanitation, maintaining safe distance, but importantly, because the spread is so rampant right now, theres never a reason for you to have to leave your home unless you need to go out, Abbott said on KBTX. The safest place for you is at your home.
While the governor has sounded alarms this week about the surge, he has yet to mandate face coverings in public, or reverse any of his orders to reopen the Texas economy bars remain open at 50 percent of maximum occupancy; restaurants can go up to 75 percent, provided they leave space between parties.
But Abbott has also warned that the dramatic increase in hospitalizations threatens those previous orders. There were 4,092 patients hospitalized with the virus on Tuesday, the twelfth straight day of record highs.
If those spikes continue, additional measures are going to be necessary to make sure that we maintain the health and safety of the people of the state of Texas, Abbott said in a press briefing Monday.
On Tuesday, the governor allowed local leaders to limit gatherings of 100 people and directed the state health agency to re-impose emergency safety standards that had been rolled back earlier this month on child care centers across the state. He has also authorized county judges to impose fines on businesses that dont require their customers to wear face coverings.
Federal health experts testified Tuesday that they were closely monitoring the states surging numbers.
Right now the next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges we are seeing in Florida, in Texas, Arizona and many other states, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, told the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
In Austin, Dr. John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, used similar language, warning the public that the state is at a crucial point in the fight against the virus as the trends go in the wrong direction.
Please, Texas, Hellerstedt said. Lets heed the wise guidance that the governor has laid out.
Dr. John Zerwas, a key medical adviser to Abbott during the pandemic, has requested workers in the medical field to add their names to a volunteer registry in the event hospitalizations continue to climb.
Anybody thats in the health care field that would like to put their name in there so in the event we need to start drawing on volunteers for additional efforts, this is the time to do that, Zerwas said.
Other key Republican officials have intensified their messaging as well. Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, issued a statement on Monday criticizing Republicans who are arguing that their freedom is in danger because they have to wear masks.
Its time to stand up to the mask naysayers who speak loudly but act irresponsibly as they destroy the liberty and freedom we ALL deserve, Bonnen said.
As recently as Thursday afternoon, Ed Rendell still had hope for his Democratic dream ticket: Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar.
With their moderate appeal, Rendell said, they would have the best chance to win back the white working class voters in states like Pennsylvania who fled from the Democratic Party in 2016, lifting Donald Trump to the presidency.
But just hours after Rendell, the former Pennsylvania governor, made that case in an interview, Klobuchar took herself out of the running. She said Biden should pick a woman of color as his vice presidential nominee.
The turnaround for Klobuchar, a Minnesota senator seen a few weeks ago as one of the leading options for the Biden ticket, illustrates how the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and the ensuing protests have elevated race and racism in the presidential campaign. The intensified focus has amplified calls among some Pennsylvania Democrats to nominate a woman of color for the number-two job.
I definitely think he should choose a Black woman or at least a woman of color. He is our nominee due to the Black vote in the South, said Rogette Harris, the Dauphin County Democratic chair. Its time for the actions and peoples words to match. Meaning, if we say were going to be inclusive and were the big tent party, we need to show that in not just words but also in appointments and supporting minority candidates in leadership positions.
Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who supported Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts in the Democratic primary campaign, said she also wants to see a Black woman on the ticket: Stacey Abrams, the former candidate for governor in Georgia.
Gauthier said many Democrats are motivated to beat Trump, but the party needs even more. Will they be so excited that theyll bring all their friends out and all their neighbors out? she said. Thats the excitement we need, and thats the excitement we were missing last time.
Pennsylvania Democrats may be particularly sensitive to the political implications of Bidens choice, even if history suggests vice presidential picks usually have a minimal impact on election outcomes. The state, along with Michigan and Wisconsin, was decided by less than one percentage point in 2016.
Neil Makhija, a Philadelphia lawyer active in Democratic politics and fund-raising, hopes Biden chooses Sen. Kamala Harris of California, widely seen as one of the leading contenders.
As an Indian American, I know there are so many people in our community that are inspired by her, said Makhija. Harris father is from Jamaica and her mother is from India.
The future of the Democratic Party is in enfranchising communities that have been underrepresented, Makhija said, and Kamala will excite and engage people who have never voted before.
And Alan Kessler, a Center City lawyer and Biden fund-raiser, said that while he had long thought the former vice president should pick a woman of color to be his veep, Now, 10 times more so.
I think Joe Biden is committed to having an administration that looks like America, said Rich Fitzgerald, the Allegheny County executive.
While those arguments are gaining traction, theyre not universal. In interviews with more than a dozen Pennsylvania Democratic officials, operatives, and donors, there was little consensus about one of Bidens most high-profile campaign choices. Some hoped he would pick a person of color to reflect the countrys diversity and spur excitement, but others said he should emphasize a personal and policy rapport.
Most people interviewed said that ultimately the election is about Trump and Biden, not the vice presidential selection.
But its still a more charged decision than usual, given Bidens age (77) and the heavy governing demands that would likely confront a new administration in a public health crisis, a historic economic downturn, and a searing fight against systemic racism.
Even Biden supporters acknowledge the choice has to be someone voters feel confident could lead the country if necessary.
And his pick will come in the context of years of Democratic debate over the best path to capturing pivotal states like Pennsylvania that they lost by those agonizingly small margins in 2016. Many point to the drop in turnout in cities like Detroit and Milwaukee, and argue that Democrats need to excite liberals and people of color (though the dip was much smaller in Philadelphia). Others have emphasized suburban moderates, and some stress winning back working-class white voters who abandoned the party in rural areas and small cities.
Biden has promised to pick a woman, but those under consideration vary widely in both political and personal strengths and weaknesses. Along with Harris, some of the bigger names in the mix include Warren; Susan Rice, a former national security adviser; Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; U.S. Rep. Val Demings, a former Orlando police chief; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Until a few weeks ago, many in the Pennsylvania donor class favored Klobuchar or Whitmer, with their centrist, Midwestern profiles. Now some are mentioning Rice and Demings as impressive options.
Several Biden supporters predicted that the former vice president, shaped by his close relationship with President Barack Obama, would decide based on personal connection more than any electoral strategy.
I dont think hes going to make a tactical selection, said Stephen Cozen, a longtime Biden donor and friend from Philadelphia. I think hes going to make a selection based upon whether or not he believes he can have the kind of relationship with the vice president that he had with Barack. Keeping in mind that he also wants to have someone who kind of answers the question: If anything happens to Joe, would we be happy with that person?
Cozen worried that Warren might be too far left for the partys donor class. While Warren is seen as the potential nominee most likely to rally liberals, some argued that her calls to ban fracking could be damaging in Western Pennsylvania.
Several other Biden supporters also emphasized personal connection over demographics or electoral strategy.
I really do believe that people can smell bulls, and if he picks somebody that there isnt that relationship there, I think people are going to be able to feel that and recognize that, said State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia, a frequent Biden surrogate. I just want him to pick somebody that makes sense to him and that hes going to be able to govern with, because ultimately the next president, from my vantage point, is going to have some real work repairing what Trump has done.
Said U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Chester County: In the end, its a matter of fit as well. Its a matter of disposition and whether Vice President Biden feels thats a person he can work with in the future.
Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), who has argued that the party needs to energize African American voters, demurred when asked whether Biden should nominate a woman of color.
I would not should all over Joe Biden, Booker said. I have a lot of trust in him and faith in him that he will pick the person that can best serve this country, serve his presidency and help us to win.
READ MORE: Elizabeth Warren's days at Rutgers and Penn
Most of the people interviewed said that ultimately, voters will decide between Trump and Biden, not their vice presidents. Most research backs them up.
So much has happened in our society and our country, too, that I think it comes down to, Four more years of this? Or do we want a fresh start? said Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.
And U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans said that in his Philadelphia district, people dont ask me about a vice president, they just want to oust Trump.
Excite voters in Philadelphia? he added, In my view, the biggest excitement is on the ballot on the opposite side.
A Los Angeles councilman was charged Tuesday with accepting bribes from a host of developers, including a Chinese billionaire, as part of a sweeping pay-to-play scheme, authorities said.
Jose Huizar, 61, was arrested at his home on a federal racketeering charge amid an ongoing FBI corruption probe, according to federal prosecutors in California.
]Huizar is accused of turning his city council seat into what U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna described as a money-making criminal enterprise that shaped the development landscape in Los Angeles.
Huizar accepted illicit cash from developers in exchange for help in securing approvals for major real estate projects, according to the criminal complaint.
In one case, Huizar received $600,000 from an unidentified Chinese billionaire who runs a global real estate firm and who owns a hotel in Huizars district, the complaint says.
The money was provided as collateral to help Huizar settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by a former staffer, according to the complaint.
The Chinese billionaire also provided Huizar with direct and indirect financial benefits on more than a dozen trips to Las Vegas casinos, which included rides on private jets and stays at posh villas, according to the criminal complaint.
In all, the developer doled out more than $800,000 in benefits in exchange for the councilmans help in his ambitious plan to redevelop his property and build the tallest building west of the Mississippi, according to an affidavit.
When federal agents searched Huizar's home in November 2018, the criminal complaint says, they found about $129,000 in cash hidden in a closet. Some of the money was concealed in red envelopes with Chinese characters, according to the complaint.
Agents found cash in red envelopes with Chinese characters (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California)
This case pulled back the curtain on rampant corruption at City Hall, said Hanna. Councilman Huizar violated the public trust to a staggering degree, allegedly soliciting and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from multiple sources over many years.
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Jack Weiss, a former federal prosecutor who served on the L.A. City Council from 2001 to 2009, described the case as a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme.
It would be breathtaking at the highest levels of government in America, but the fact is that is the amount of cash that was being thrown around to lubricate business and real estate approvals in a city, Weiss said.
Huizar appeared in federal court in Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon and was ordered released on a $100,000 bond. His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
The ongoing FBI corruption probe has already swept up a former aide to Huizar, a real estate consultant, a political fundraiser and former City Council Member Mitchell Englander.
Englander faces up to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to obstructing a public corruption investigation related to his acceptance of gifts including cash, hotel rooms and expensive meals from a developer during trips to Las Vegas and Palm Springs in 2017.
Huizar, who served as chair of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee and a member of the Economic Development Committee, was elected in 2005 to the Los Angeles City Council representing District 14, which includes the development-rich downtown area. He was re-elected three times to four-year terms, the last of which was due to end this year because of term limits.
The FBI began investigating Huizar in August 2015 for soliciting and accepting bribes and kickbacks from a developer in Las Vegas. The Bureau has interviewed more than 75 people uncovering a web of bribery, mail and wire fraud, extortion, money laundering interstate and foreign travel in aid of the racketeering enterprise and obstruction of justice.
The Gurugram district administration from Wednesday is all set to ramp up Covid-19 testing in the city by rolling out antigen detection tests from one booth in Sadar Bazar.
The districts health department on Tuesday received 8,000 antigen kits which can deliver Covid-19 result within 15-30 minutes.
Approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), these tests look for specific protein associated with the Sars-Cov-2 virus, the pathogen that causes Covid-19. The state health department has already placed an order of 100,000 kits with a South Korean company that has a manufacturing plant in Manesar.
Last week, during a review meeting with Union home affairs minister Amit Shah on Covid-19 management in Delhi-NCR, Haryana was directed to use the antigen detection tests widely to cover more people. The RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests often considered the gold standard in front-line testing for Covid-19 too will continue simultaneously.
The district at the moment is conducting around 450 RT-PCR tests daily. The number of antigen tests to be conducted daily is yet to be decided by the administration depending on the response they receive today (Wednesday)..
Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, said, It is a new test which delivers results in 15-30 minutes. Like RT-PCR, nasal swabs will be collected. But in the process of sample collection safety measures are to be taken. Therefore, we are figuring out a planned way to do the tests in different areas. The testing will start with Sadar Bazar area, where our Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) will identify people for collecting swab samples.
He said that better clarity on the testing process will emerge on Wednesday after the actual tests start. The plan is to conduct the test in a zone-wise manner. The overall plan will be prepared soon, said Yadav, adding that a team of pathologists, microbiologists and technicians have already been trained tin conducting the tests.
The new test, developed by a South Korean company and manufactured in Manesar, is highly specific (99.3% to 100%) meaning a positive result on the test is a true positive and does not need any confirmatory test.
The sensitivity is between 50.6% to 84% depending on the viral load, meaning those who test negative might still have the infection and are advised to go for a test through the more reliable RT-PCR method if they show symptoms of the disease.
The antigen kits that will be used by the administration comes with a Covid-19 antigen test device, swab for sample collection, and viral extraction tube with viral lysis buffer that makes the virus inactive.
Officials of the health department said that they have also increased the RT-PCR testing in the city by increasing the capacity of the lab to process at least 170 samples a day. Dr Jai Prakash, district surveillance officer, said, RT-PCR test is being done 24 hours daily. Teams have been formed who are working in shifts. It includes seven lab technicians, pathologists, microbiologists, covid microbiologists and data entry operators..
In Gurugram, as of Tuesday, the total count of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 stood at 4,645, with 133 new cases being added in the last 24 hours. Of the 4,645 cases, 1,833 are active cases and 2,743 have been discharged. At least, 1255 patients are under home isolation.
All we can prove is that we will deliver and that we will honor what we say. We have been doing that for the past 25 years and will continue to do so in the future.
Koi Computers is celebrating its 25th anniversary as one of the leading HPC cluster, server and high-end workstation providers in the U.S. The companys rapid growth and staying power are attributed to its core values integrity, reliability and commitment to client experience excellence.
Koi Computers is also positioning itself for the next 25 years. As a family-owned company, multiple generations have a strong vision for future growth. Koi Computers Federal Business Development Manager Catherine Ho said, We have all worked hard to stay ahead of innovation, react quickly to client needs, accurately predict trends, but most importantly, we continue to have a vision. The company has weathered through the dot.com bubble, 9/11 and the resulting stock market crash, the 2007 Great Recession, and now, the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, our companys agility, adaptability and flexibility has helped us emerge stronger and strategically positioned to respond to these turbulent times.
Pivotal Milestones
Early on, Koi Computers competed its way into a leading U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory. This lab gave Koi Computers their first foray into Federal Government contracting and the rest is history. Koi Computers President Fanny Ho said, I am so grateful for that one opportunity. We worked hard, remained competitive, really stuck to the core values of our business and never lost sight of that. Through these and other opportunities, Koi Computers was able to continue to expand its niche within the high-performance computing vertical.
Over the past two and a half decades, Koi Computers achieved many more milestones and continues to experience double-digit organic growth. The company has also placed several HPC Clusters on the Top 500 and Green 500 Lists. In 2015, Koi Computers was awarded both the elite National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement V (SEWP V) and National Institutes of Health Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center (NITAAC) Chief Information Officer Commodities and Solutions (CIO-CS) Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC). These elite contracts, vetted and awarded based on past performance, technical capability and price, further cemented the companys status as a trusted, established and responsible Federal Government contractor.
The Future
As the company looks ahead, the next generation is learning the nuances of the business, expanding strategic technology partnerships and positioning the company for future success.
Koi Computers Vice President of Engineering Simon Ho said, As a company, we are aware of the rapidly emerging technologies and the transition into the different cloud models. We also recognize there will be a growing demand for HPC solutions, especially within segments such as AI and Deep Learning. We continue to develop and fine tune our strategies to capitalize on these ever-changing infrastructures and needs. But at the same time, we ensure that our quality control and evaluation of new technology meets the stringent standards and requirements of Koi Computers and our clients.
Catherine agreed, saying, There will be a continual need for us to expand our technology partnerships and our Federal Government contracts portfolio, but our expansion will always align with our vision and focus on our core business values. Simon and I both have a legal background, and this is a great asset for not just our company, but for our Federal Government clients. In addition to helping us navigate contractual requirements, it ensures that the environment of precision, accountability, and professional integrity continues as we move the company forward.
Stanley Ho and Fanny Ho, who founded the company back in 1995, know the next generation will stay focused on the companys core values and continuous improvement as the company moves into the future.
Stanley said, We are continually advancing the speed, capacity, reliability, flexibility and security of the products we offer. Continued improvement gives us an edge in both driving the market and, more importantly, serving the market. We are proud of our reputation for integrity and that we offer competitive products backed by the best possible customer service.
Fanny summarized, All we can prove is that we will deliver and that we will honor what we say. We have been doing that for the past 25 years and will continue to do so in the future.
Headquartered in Greater Chicago since 1995, Koi Computers has been working with top technology manufacturers to deliver scalable high-performance computing and technology solutions that improve efficiency, reliability and speed. The companys world-class engineering team specializes in building custom IT solutions that accommodate todays needs and tomorrows vision with services that include performance benchmarking and outstanding support. Koi Computers has a strong track record of developing, building and deploying HPC technology for the U.S. Federal Government with satisfactory ratings in CPARS and Past Performance. The company is a Prime Contract Holder of the GSA IT Schedule 70, NASA SEWP V, and NITAAC CIO-CS contracts and the 2GIT BPA.
To learn more, call: 888-LOVE-KOI (888-568-3564); email: sales@koicomputers.com or visit https://www.koicomputers.com. For media inquiries, contact Jeanna Van Rensselar at Smart PR Communications; jeanna@smartprcommunications.com 630-363-8081.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BNY Mellon Investment Management today announced a new partnership with Wilshire Associates to launch the BNY Mellon Investment Management Custom Target Date Builder, a transformative advisor platform, which will provide more choice to the Target Date Fund business dominated by large fund providers. Retirement Plan Advisors will now be able to design and build turnkey custom target date solutions, access institutional quality research and glide path management expertise, that were previously only available to the largest, multi-billion dollar plans.
The BNY Mellon Investment Management Custom Target Date Builder empowers advisors to provide plan sponsors and plan participants with a new level of customization, scalability and open architecture Target Date solutions. Now advisors have the ability to democratize the solutions available for plan sponsors and combine active and passive in low-cost mutual funds and Collective Investment Trusts (CITs). They can also develop portfolios that include 18 asset classes, as well as open architecture within Wilshire's independently rated strategies, sophisticated, defined manager selection and allocation process.
Advisors have a powerful platform that:
Helps limit fiduciary risk;
Facilitates ability to consult on plan lineup (within and outside of Target Date solution);
Scales the custom Target Date portion of their book;
Works with funds beyond recordkeeper lineup; and
lineup; and Permits preferred funds that pass Wilshire screen.
"The BNY Mellon Investment Management Custom Target Date Builder platform is a game-changer for advisors and builds on BNY Mellon Investment Management's efforts to evolve our business such as the Dreyfus rebrand in 2019, introducing certain zero-fee ETF funds and an expanded OCIO offering to investors and institutions in 2020," said Andy Provencher, head of North America Distribution, BNY Mellon Investment Management. "This new platform is a further testament to our commitment to the DCIO market and provides advisors with greater target date fund choice."
Plan sponsors and participants also benefit through the launch of this new platform, with advisors gaining a powerful new tool to help facilitate better retirement outcomes. The platform offers the following:
Reduces liability for plan sponsors;
Diminishes investment manager and longevity risk for participants;
Provides competitive pricing leveraging the efficiencies of the BNY Mellon advisor distribution and Wilshire's investment and research capabilities; and
Plan-level customization for participants with the potential for better outcomes.
"The availability of this innovative new tool arrives at a befitting time when we are seeing increasing demand for target date funds from plan sponsors as a default 401(k) investment option and the embrace of CITs in DC and DB plans with their lower costs, greater flexibility and fewer regulatory/administrative requirements," said Jason Schwarz, Chief Operating Officer, Wilshire Associates. "Our partnership with BNY Mellon Investment Management is altering the custom target date universe where plan sponsors had off-the-shelf target date options from a few dominant asset managers and now they have the same variety and richness of institutional investment options large plans have accessed to customize to their exact specifications."
To learn more about the BNY Mellon Investment Management Custom Target Date Builder, please visit our website at http://im.bnymellon.com/tdportal.
About BNY Mellon Investment Management
BNY Mellon Investment Management is one of the world's largest investment firms and one of the top U.S. wealth managers, with $1.8 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2020.
Through an investor-first approach, the firm brings to clients the best of both worlds: specialist expertise from eight world-class investment firms offering solutions across every major asset class, backed by the strength, stability, and global presence of BNY Mellon, one of the world's most trusted investment partners. Additional information on BNY Mellon Investment Management is available on www.im.bnymellon.com.
BNY Mellon Investment Management is a division of BNY Mellon, which has $35.2 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration as of March 31, 2020. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.
About Wilshire Associates
Wilshire Associates is a leading global financial services firm, dedicated to improving outcomes for investors worldwide. An independent firm since its founding in 1972, Wilshire advises on over $1 trillion in assets and manages $65 billion in assets as of March 31, 2020. Specializing in innovative investment solutions, consulting services and multi-asset analytics, Wilshire serves more than 500 institutional and intermediary clients worldwide from 10 offices around the globe. For more information about Wilshire, visit www.wilshire.com or follow @WilshireAssoc.
Please visit www.wilshire.com
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By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) - Mourners filed into the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church on Monday for a public viewing for Rayshard Brooks, a Black man who lay in a gold-colored casket after being killed by an Atlanta police officer outside a restaurant ten days ago. All wearing masks as mandated by the church, and some in Black Lives Matter T-shirts, mourner after mourner walked slowly past the casket to pay their respects to Brooks, who lay in a white suit with gold buttons and aviator sunglasses on his face
By Rich McKay
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Mourners filed into the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church on Monday for a public viewing for Rayshard Brooks, a Black man who lay in a gold-colored casket after being killed by an Atlanta police officer outside a restaurant ten days ago.
All wearing masks as mandated by the church, and some in Black Lives Matter T-shirts, mourner after mourner walked slowly past the casket to pay their respects to Brooks, who lay in a white suit with gold buttons and aviator sunglasses on his face. One woman faced the casket with open arms and then pumped her fist in the air.
A lone violin played as people filed in and out silently, some pausing for a brief prayer.
Brooks' June 12 death at the hands of officers who were called to the scene because he had fallen asleep in his car further heightened tensions over brutality and racism in American policing that had been burning since the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.
People started lining up three hours before the viewing began. Many said that while they had not known the 27-year old Brooks, his death had struck a chord, accentuating their own fears in dealing with the police.
"I don't know them, but I feel the hurt for them," Tricia Hill, 45, told Reuters as she waited to enter the church on a hot and sometimes rainy afternoon.
"When I saw this on the news, I just shook my head and said to myself, that's another one, another Black man died from (the) police," added Hill, who is Black and was wearing an "I can't breath" T-shirt.
KING'S CHURCH
The body arrived in a black hearse with a placard bearing Brooks' picture and the words: "KILLED in Atlanta, Georgia 2020". The casket was escorted into a church steeped in the history of the Black struggle for civil rights. Ebenezer Baptist was where Martin Luther King Jr. preached until his assassination in 1968.
"It's important to me because this is history," said Latoia Spikes, who along with her 12-year old daughter were the first in line. "I want to honor him and show respect for him and his family."
Brooks' funeral, which the family's lawyer said would be paid for by filmmaker Tyler Perry, is scheduled for Tuesday.
On June 12, police were called to a Wendy's fast food restaurant in Atlanta by an employee that reported that Brooks was asleep in his car in the drive-through lane and appeared intoxicated.
He tussled with officers after failing a sobriety test and apparently ran off with a Taser stun gun from one of the officers. Video shows that Brooks appeared to fire the Taser in the direction of the officers.
Brooks was shot twice in the back, with one round piercing his heart, officials said.
STANDING ON SHOULDERS
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard asserted that Brooks was running away at the time of the shooting, was more than 18 feet (5.49 m) away and posed no threat.
Surveillance and other videos also appeared to show one officer kicking Brooks and another standing on his shoulders as he lay dying.
The former Atlanta police officer who shot Brooks, Garrett Rolfe, 27, was fired and charged with murder. A second officer, Devin Brosnan, 26, was placed on administrative duty and charged with aggravated assault. The city's police chief resigned.
The Wendy's restaurant was burned down after the killing.
State Representative Park Cannon, whose district includes Ebenezer Baptist and the Wendy's, was among the more than 600 people who attended to support the family.
"This is my home church," said Cannon, a Democrat, adding she had to be there. "We need to stand strong, all of us together. It's our fight for justice. The world is watching Atlanta."
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta, additional reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California and Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Alistair Bell and Bill Berkrot)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
HALTOM CITY, Texas, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BMS CAT is proud to announce the acquisition of Diamond Restoration based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"We could not be more excited about this opportunity, as it allows us to combine the strong local reputation that Diamond Restoration boasts in the Charlotte area with BMS CAT's national footprint and operational expertise," said Tom Head, President & CEO of Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT.
Carol Fannon and Zach Fisher, former owners of Diamond, will remain with the company and assist with integrating Diamond and BMS CAT.
"I am excited and honored to be chosen to serve as an integral part of the growth at the BMS CAT organization. I hope to grow our client relationships within the insurance industry, as well as showcase our exceptional operational response while increasing our footprint," Fannon says.
Jeremy James, Eastern Region Vice President of BMS CAT, will manage the day-to-day operations for this location. "With the addition of this location, we are able to expedite our response services and help our residential and commercial customers in a timely manner. But, the aspect that I am looking forward to the most is working with the passionate and knowledgeable employees at this location," said James.
About Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT
Started in 1948 as a furniture and dye shop, Blackmon Mooring has grown to become a leader in each service area it practices from fire and water restoration to storm damage recovery. The earliest founders of Blackmon Mooring built their business on reliability, quality and superior customer service. In 1981, the company expanded its reach globally with the addition of the BMS CAT division and since then, it has responded to some of the world's most devastating disasters. Today, the company follows the same principles it was founded upon, and always remembers that the customer is the cornerstone of the business. www.blackmonmooring.com
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 15:18 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660f8c6f 1 Lifestyle coronavirus,COVID-19,Celebrities,children,reading Free
The pandemic has shut down schools around the globe and this dramatic shift in lifestyle is feared to have a drastic impact on the mental health of children.
Some organizations are addressing this issue with fundraising campaigns aimed at children, with the help of celebrity voices.
Yahoo, part of Verizon Media, has partnered with the GEANCO Foundation, an organization that provides medical aid in Nigeria, to create a new podcast called STOR14S.
A 14-part series that premiered on June 18, it features childrens stories narrated by renowned actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Russell Brand, Zoe Saldana and more.
STOR14S aims to raise money for GEANCO, which provides coronavirus relief and emergency aid in Nigeria. Part of the aid includes training nurses and midwives to help stop the spread of the virus. GEANCO is also donating materials such as gloves, face masks, soap and sanitizer to maternity centers in Nigeria.
Focusing on our mental health has never been more urgent, and we hope STOR14S will inspire families during this very difficult time, Guru Gowrappan, CEO of Verizon Media, said in a statement.
STOR14S will continue throughout the Northern Hemisphere summer months until its final episode, which will be released on Aug. 3. The program is available on all podcast platforms and on Yahoo.
Read also: Stars and scientists call for world not to 'go back to normal'
Save the Children, an organization working to improve the living conditions of children around the world, is also making use of childrens stories and celebrity with a program called Save with Stories.
The campaign was launched by actors Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams. Proceeds go to Save the Children and No Kid Hungry, a child hunger aid organization.
We are tremendously grateful to Jennifer and Amy for supporting this critical effort to help children who are most affected by these unprecedented school closures, Betsy Zorio, vice president of Save the Childrens Unitec States Programs and Advocacy, said in a statement.
Save with Stories posts childrens stories read by celebrities and other notable public figures on Instagram. The campaign aims to raise funds to make sure schools and community programs have the support they need and distribute books, learning resources and meals to families in need.
Celebrities who have participated so far include Kate Winslet, Jamie Lee Curtis, Donnie Yen, Taye Diggs and Ayesha Curry. (jes/kes)
Supercomputer Fugaku (in development and preparation)
TOKYO, June 23, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced that Fugaku(1), a supercomputer jointly developed by RIKEN and Fujitsu, was ranked No. 1 in the 58th TOP500 list of the world's supercomputers. Fugaku also took the No.1 position in the international ranking HPCG (High Performance Conjugate Gradient), which measure the processing speed of the conjugate gradient method(2) often used in practical applications including in the field of industry, and in the ranking of HPL-AI, which measures the performance of low-precision computing often used in AI such as deep learning.These rankings were announced on June 22 at the ongoing virtual event ISC (International Supercomputing Conference) High Performance 2020 Digital.The achievement of No. 1 in these three rankings indicates the overall high performance of Fugaku and demonstrates that it can sufficiently respond to the needs of Society 5.0(3) which aims to build a smart society that creates new value. Fugaku can contribute in such society as an information infrastructure technology accelerating the solution of social problems with simulation while advancing the development of AI technologies as well as technologies related to information distribution and processing.Supercomputer Fugaku (in development and preparation)Supercomputer Fugaku (in development and preparation)Measurement Results of Fugaku1. TOP500The Fugaku system ranked first in the TOP500 list consisted of 396 racks (152,064 nodes(4), approximately 95.6% of the entire system), and the LINPACK performance was 415.53 PFLOPS (petaflops) with the computing efficiency ratio of 80.87%. It is the first time for a Japanese supercomputer to take the first place in TOP500 since the K computer claimed No.1 in November 2011 (the 38th TOP 500 list). Fugaku's performance is approximately 2.8 times that of the supercomputer ranked second in the TOP500 list with148.6 PFLOPS.2. HPCGFor this benchmark, 360 racks (138,240 nodes, approximately 87% of the entire system) of Fugaku were used to achieve the high score of 13,400 TFLOPS (teraflops). This proves that the supercomputer can efficiently handle such real-world applications in the field of industry and perform well. Moreover, Fugaku exceeds the performance of the No.2 supercomputer (2,925.75 TFLOPS) by approximately 4.6 times.3. HPL-AIUnlike the conventional listings of TOP500 and HPCG which measure the performance of double-precision arithmetic logic unit, HPL-AI is a new benchmark established in November 2019 as an index for evaluating calculation performance that takes into account the capabilities of single-precision and half-precision arithmetic logic units used in artificial intelligence. For this measurement, a high score of 1.421 EFLOPS (Exa FLOPS) was recorded using 330 racks (126,720 nodes, approximately 79.7% of the entire system) of Fugaku.This is also a historical record, as Fugaku achieved 1 exa (10 raised to the power of 18) in one of HPL benchmarks for the first time in the world. This proves Fugaku's capability to contribute to the advancement of Society 5.0, as a research platform for machine learning and big data analysis.About the supercomputer benchmarks1. TOP500The TOP500 list is a project that regularly ranks and evaluates the top 500 fastest supercomputer systems in the world based on LINPACK performance. Developed by Dr. Jack Dongarra of the University of Tennessee, US, to solve a system of linear equations by matrix calculation, the LINPACK program was launched in 1993 to announce the supercomputer ranking two times a year (June and November).LINPACK measures the computing power of double-precision floating-point numbers used in many scientific and industrial applications and to get a high score on this benchmark, it is necessary to run a large-scale benchmark for a long time. In general, a high LINPACK score is said to be a comprehensive measure of computing power and reliability.2. HPCGThe TOP500 has long been a popular benchmark for evaluating computing power, which was an important performance indicator for solving a system of linear equations composed of a dense coefficient matrix. More than 20 years have passed since the project was launched in 1993, and recently it has been pointed out that the performance requirements of actual applications are not met, and the time required for benchmark testing is prolonged.Accordingly, Dr. Dongarra et al. proposed a new benchmark program, HPCG, that uses the conjugate gradient method to solve a system of linear equations composed of a sparse coefficient matrix, which are often used in industrial applications. Following the announcement of measurements on the world's leading 15 supercomputer systems at ISC 2014 in June, the official ranking was announced at the International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis (SC14) held in New Orleans, US, in November.3. HPL-AIThe TOP500 and HPCG have ranked supercomputers in terms of computational performance for solving a system of linear equations. In both cases, it was stipulated in the rules that only double precision arithmetic (16-digit floating point number in 10), which has been widely used in scientific and technological calculations as well as industrial applications, should be used for calculations.In recent years, more computers, equipped with GPUs or AI dedicated chips, are adding a large number of low-precision arithmetic logic units (5 or 10 digits in 10) to increase their performance. Since these high-performance computing capabilities are not reflected in the TOP500 list, Dr. Dongarra et al. improved the LINPACK benchmark by allowing the use of low precision calculations and proposed a new benchmark, HPL-AI, in November 2019.HPL-AI allows LINPACK to perform low-precision computations when solving a system of linear equations using LU decomposition(5). However, since the calculation accuracy is inferior to that of double precision calculation, it is required to obtain the same accuracy as double precision calculation by a technique called iterative refinement(6). In other words, it's a two-step benchmark. As the HPL-AI rules were issued in November 2019, this is the first announcement of the benchmark ranking.CommentsComment from Satoshi Matsuoka, Director, Riken-Center for Computational Science (R-CCS)Ten years after the initial concept was proposed, and six years after the official start of the project, Fugaku is now near completion. Fugaku was developed based on the idea of achieving high performance on a variety of applications of great public interest, such as the achievement of Society 5.0, and we are very happy that it has shown itself to be outstanding on all the major supercomputer benchmarks. In addition to its use as a supercomputer, I hope that the leading-edge IT technology developed for it will contribute to major advances on difficult social challenges such as COVID-19.Comment from Naoki Shinjo, Corporate Executive Officer, Fujitsu LimitedI believe that our decision to use a co-design process for Fugaku, which involved working with RIKEN and other parties to create the system, was a key to our winning the top position on a number of rankings. I am particularly proud that we were able to do this just one month after the delivery of the system was finished, even during the COVID-19 crisis. I would like to express our sincere gratitude to RIKEN and all the other parties for their generous cooperation and support. I very much hope that Fugaku will show itself to be highly effective in real-world applications and will help to make Society 5.0 a reality.Comment from Rene Haas, President, IPG, ArmThe Fugaku supercomputer illustrates a dramatic shift in the type of compute that has been traditionally used in these powerful machines, and it is proof of the innovation that can happen with flexible computing solutions driven by a strong ecosystem. For Arm, this achievement showcases the power efficiency, performance and scalability of our compute platform, which spans from smartphones to the world's fastest supercomputer. We congratulate RIKEN and Fujitsu for challenging the status quo and showing the world what is possible in Arm-based high-performance computing.Related Websites:TOP 500 Ranking: https://www.top500.org/lists/top500/TOP 500: https://www.top500.org/HPCG Ranking: https://www.top500.org/hpcg/HPCG: https://www.hpcg-benchmark.org/HPL-AI: https://icl.bitbucket.io/hpl-ai/RIKEN Computational Science Research Center (R-CCS): https://www.r-ccs.riken.jp/jp/ISC HIGH PERFORMANCE 2020 DIGITAL (Fujitsu website):https://www.fujitsu.com/supercomputer/topics/isc20/(1) Supercomputer FugakuSucceeding supercomputer K, Fugaku aims to contribute to Japan's growth and produce world-leading results by solving social and scientific issues in the 2020s. Under the flagship 2020 project of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (the development of post-K) initiated in fiscal 2014, RIKEN Computational Science and Research Center has developed Fugaku which is planned to start public service in fiscal 2021 (starting in April 2021).(2) Conjugate gradient methodWhen a physical phenomenon is simulated by a computer, it is often solved as a large-scale system of linear equations. There are two methods for solving a system of linear equations: a direct method for directly obtaining a solution, and an iterative method for converging to a correct solution through iterative calculation. The conjugate gradient method is one of the iterative methods, and by combining the preprocessing, the correct solution can be converged quickly. It is often used in the world of computer simulation.(3) Society 5.0As first introduced in the Fifth Science and Technology Basic Plan, this is a proposal for "a human-centered society that achieves both economic development and the resolution of social issues through a highly integrated system of cyberspace (virtual space) and physical space (real space)," indicating the future society that Japan should aim for.(4) NodesThe smallest unit of supercomputer's computing resource that an operating system can run. One node of Fugaku consists of 1 CPU (central processing unit) and 32 GiB of memory.(5) LU decompositionA method of solving a system of linear equations. This method is called the LU decomposition method because the matrix is decomposed into the product of the lower triangular matrix (Lower-triangular matrix) and the upper triangular matrix (Upper Triangular Matrix) in the middle of the solution.(6) Iterative improvementAn approximate solution of a system of linear equations by methods such as LU decomposition contains errors with the true solution. This is a method of solving a system of linear equations (using the errors) again and obtaining a solution closer to the true solution by correcting the approximate solution.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
(CNN) The United States has spoken out forcefully against China's prosecution of two Canadian men for spying.
In a statement Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was "extremely concerned" about the decision to file espionage charges against Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who have been detained in China since 2018.
"These charges are politically motivated and completely groundless," Pompeo said. "The United States stands with Canada in calling on Beijing for the immediate release of the two men and rejects the use of these unjustified detentions to coerce Canada."
Kovrig and Spavor were detained in the weeks following the arrest in Vancouver of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of the Chinese technology company Huawei in late 2018, on charges filed in the US.
US prosecutors want Meng to stand trial on multiple charges, including bank fraud and violating US sanctions against Iran.
Late last month, a Canadian judge ruled the extradition case against her could proceed, in what China's representatives to the country called a "grave political incident."
Within weeks, new charges were announced against Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat and NGO worker, and Spavor, who founded a North Korea tourism company.
China's legal system is beholden to the ruling Communist Party and is known for its exceedingly high conviction rate.
On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the evidence against the two Canadians was "solid" and the "facts are clear."
Zhao denied reports that the two men had been denied access to consular assistance, saying visits were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to CNN last year, Guy Saint-Jacques, who served as Canada's ambassador to China from 2012 to 2016, said that what consular visits the men had were highly limited, and they had had no access to lawyers or visits from family.
"In both cases they receive consular visits once every month, exactly 30 minutes, with someone there watching all the discussion," he said. "These mainly serve to give them news of their family, and give them books and other reading material. It's very difficult for them, they are waiting and they have no idea when and how they might be released."
In his statement, Pompeo said Washington echoed "Canada's call for immediate consular access to its two citizens, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, as China has prohibited such access for almost six months, and the world has no knowledge of the two Canadians' condition."
In a Washington where China hawkishness is the default, Pompeo has emerged as a tough voice on Beijing, blasting Chinese moves in the South China Sea and Hong Kong, as well as the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.
Following a meeting with Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in Hawaii last week of which few details were released Pompeo urged European leaders to "take off the golden blinders of economic ties and see that the China challenge isn't just at the gates; it's in every capital, it's in every borough, it's in every province."
"Europe faces a China challenge, just as the United States does, and as just as our South American, African, Middle Eastern, and Asian friends do too," Pompeo said.
His hard line has made him a figure of loathing in Chinese media, where editorials regularly rail against him. Last week, Zhao, the foreign ministry spokesman, accused him of having a "deep-rooted Cold War mentality and ideological bias."
This story was first published on CNN.com "Pompeo urges China to release two detained Canadians after 'groundless' charges"
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cruised to the Republican nomination Tuesday night in pursuit of a seventh term, but his general election challenger might not be known for days as Kentucky awaits the outcome of a competitive Democratic primary.
McConnell, the nations top-ranking congressional Republican, dispatched a group of little-known GOP challengers in the unprecedented primary. Much of the states electorate cast mail-in absentee ballots an accommodation made to the coronavirus pandemic.
On the Democratic side, well-funded Amy McGrath and progressive Charles Booker, a freshman state lawmaker, were leading a crowded field. The race was too early to call Tuesday night and the outcome could be in limbo for up to a week as officials await complete results.
McConnell wasted no time in framing the fall race as he claimed victory in the GOP primary.
Kentuckians have a huge choice this year regarding the path of our nation, he said in a statement Tuesday night. Do we choose to follow Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and other Washington Democrats down the path towards socialism? I sure hope not. Instead, I am confident Kentuckians will choose expanding freedom, creating jobs and upholding our conservative values.
In Louisville, Booker and a gathering of supporters chanted from the hood to the holler the slogan he hoped would help build a coalition of urban Blacks and rural whites. Having gone from a longshot to formidable, Booker declared: We have the opportunity to transform history.
In a statement, McGrath urged everyone to get a little rest, recharge your battery and buckle up for whats next. The mission, she said, was to unseat McConnell.
Democrats can point to Gov. Andy Beshears victory over an embattled GOP incumbent in last years gubernatorial race as reason for hope in a state dominated by Republicans.
McConnell has aligned himself with President Donald Trump, helping him put conservatives on the federal bench, cut taxes and navigate a Senate impeachment trial that led to Trumps acquittal.
A DJ party in downtown New Orleans on Friday night drew hundreds of people shoulder to shoulder inside a short-term rental property and spilling out onto Baronne Street, prompting the state fire marshal to shut it down in part out of concern over the spread of coronavirus.
The party, billed as a Juneteenth celebration, by one count drew nearly 600 people to a 5-bedroom house with a pool. It appears to have provided the inspiration for a public tongue-lashing the next day from Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the citys health director, over the eruption of large social gatherings during Phase 2 of the states economic reopening.
It wasnt the only New Orleans gathering in recent weeks to draw the attention of local and state health officials, while Avegno also referenced a massive outbreak of COVID-19 traced recently to young partiers gathering at bars off the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
A June 8 graduation party inside an Uptown home for Isidore Newman School students and their parents has been identified as a source of the virus' spread to dozens of people, state health officials acknowledged Monday.
This event, like others, needlessly puts people at risk and has contributed to the spread of COVID-19, said state health department spokeswoman Aly Neel of the gathering. The joy of a graduation party is not worth the guilt of infecting others.
One parent of a Newman student who attended the party said he would be shocked if it had sparked an outbreak. He acknowledged there wasnt a whole lot of mask wearing, but said only about 50 people attended the indoor party. The man, whose wife and a son tested positive for the virus soon afterward, said several Newman students left to visit colleges or on family trips across the country, only to return and test positive.
But Neel said at least 25 positive cases of COVID-19 have been tied to what she described as a series of parties related to attendance at the graduation event, held at a house on Prytania Street. She described indoor parties as a particularly high-risk environment for spread of the highly contagious disease.
While the city and state each confirmed the spread of infections in response to questions about the June 8 graduation party, neither identified Newman by name.
Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration said in a statement late Monday that the city is investigating reports of multiple parties at several different locations between May 27-June 9 associated with a private high school graduation.
It also described at least 20 reports of cases associated with these graduation events, and said the city is working with the state on contact tracing, notifications of people at risk and what enforcement actions are warranted."
Avegno, the city health director, didnt name names either as she sounded the alarm on Saturday over an increasingly laissez-faire attitude, particularly among youth, toward social distancing, more than three months into the pandemics deadly spread across Louisiana.
Noting the citys persistently high death rate among COVID-19 patients, she said, If you are planning a party for 100 people, look around and decide which seven of them you would be comfortable sentencing to death.
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Roughly 7% of the 7,491 New Orleanians who have tested positive for coronavirus have died. The actual mortality rate for the disease is believed to be much lower because many who have contracted it did not get tested.
In her scolding over big gatherings, Avegno took particular aim at people leasing short-term rental properties to gather in groups that violate size or mask restrictions during the coronavirus crisis.
Michael Duplantier, who owns a framing shop and lives on the same block as the DJ party, which was advertised on social media, said he came out after 10:30 p.m. to complain about the noise when he saw a few dozen people standing behind a rope line waiting to get inside.
I didnt see one mask the entire time, he said. The crowd was just starting to grow. It was like a nightclub atmosphere.
Police arrived and blocked off Julia Street to handle the crowd before it was shut down, Duplantier said.
According to a New Orleans police spokesman, officers arrived about 11:20 p.m. to find about 300 people in the street, on the sidewalk, and entering and exiting a short-term rental property.
The renter police spoke to, Malcolm Darensbourg, could not be reached on Monday. By one count, attendance at the party reached 572 people, police said.
The city said enforcement actions are ongoing over the party and that the Cantrell administration urged people who attended the event to quarantine for two weeks and seek testing.
Duplantier, the neighbor, said he received an e-mail from Avegno on Saturday morning, asking for details about the party at property that rents for $779 a night on Airbnb.
The permit-holder is the propertys listed owner, Society Property Co. The listed contact for the commercial short-term rental permit, Gordon McLeod, is a real estate broker with the McEnery Company.
McLeod declined to comment about the party at the Baronne Street rental. Once chief of staff to former District A Councilwoman Susan Guidry, McLeod was heavily involved just a few years ago in helping to develop city regulations around short-term rentals.
This story has been updated to include a statement from the city.
The SBPQ methodology is based on studying the evolution of certain marine species deemed to have bioindicator potential in order to detect changes that may point towards shifts in the environment
Researchers at the University of Seville Marine Biology Laboratory, working in the research team of Dr. Jose Carlos Garcia Gomez, have demonstrated the usefulness of using the SBPQ (Sessile Bioindicators Permanent Quadrats) methodology to detect potential shifts in coastal areas. This technique acts a warning of incidents of a local nature, such as water pollution from poorly treated urban wastewater discharges; or of a more global nature, which become evident by monitoring climate change through species that are sensitive to temperature increases; or incidents caused by the intrusion of potential invasive species.
The first step in applying the SBPQ methodology is to select areas where sensitive native species are present and live in their adult form attached to the rocks (sessile), such as corals and sponges. These species have are unable to escape or relocate if environmental conditions deteriorate, meaning they can be used as environmental sentinels. To do this, the evolution over time of their presence in specific enclaves is monitored closely so that it is possible to detect changing circumstances if they begin to disappear. This early detection of environmental impacts in the coastal environment enables researchers to locate the source of the impact and, potentially, to correct it swiftly when the first signs of change are observed.
These conclusions flow from data collected over a ten year period (2005-2014), making this study one of the longest in the field of pre-coral and coral reefs. Long-term series are key to establishing trends and solving many unanswered questions around developments in ecosystems and possible changes to them. The study, published in the scientific journal PloS One, sought to confirm the validity and usefulness of the SBPQ methodology by focusing on a ten-year historical series which it was designed to test.
Furthermore, the researchers were able to confirm the hypothesis that in very stable and biostructured, high diversity beds, coral reef communities are very stable and tend not to vary over time unless disturbed by environmental factors that change the system. For ten years no change was recorded in the presence/absence of the monitored indicator species or in their abundances on the monitored fixed surfaces, meaning that, in that period of time no change--at least no change of significance--occurred leading to lethal or maladaptive effects on selected sensitive organisms in native biota.
Further research, also using the SBPQ method, led to the detection in 2015 of the invasive Asian algae Rugulopteryx okamurae (although not yet formally declared as such) in the Strait of Gibraltar. Its presence was detected for the first time in the area associated with pre-coral enclaves of high stability, spatial structure and associated biodiversity, which are very sensitive to environmental changes in the system. In this case, researchers from the University of Seville Marine Biology Laboratory tentatively linked this shift to global warming, since the invasion of the species occurred in 2015, coinciding with the highest peak in surface water temperature on the Andalusian coast in the period between 2000 and 2017. These considerations were reflected in another recent article by the team led by Dr. Garcia Gomez, published in the scientific journal Science of The Total Environment (STOTEN).
The Strait of Gibraltar is an especially interesting area to test the usefulness of the SBPQ methodology as it presents coral habitats in pristine waters, especially in the Estrecho Natural Park, featuring excellent indicator species which are highly sensitive to environmental changes.
Based on the results obtained, the researchers underscored the importance of promoting a network to monitor environmental impacts in the coastal environment, tracking invasive species and monitoring global warming in the western Mediterranean. "But perhaps the most important thing about the SBPQ methodology is that it is a tool for social participation that reaches out to diving clubs and centres who want to get involved, under scientific supervision, in the underwater environment to monitor our coastal ecosystems," says Professor Jose Carlos Garcia Gomez, director of the University of Seville Marine Biology Laboratory. "It is a tool that aims to fit into the recent world trend of Citizen Science, which has shown engagement with the conservation of underwater nature". It is a promising line of research developed by the University of Seville to transfer research results and social innovation in the field of marine biology.
The study was conducted thanks to financing from various European projects, the Network of Northern Mediterranean Protected Areas (Med-PAN), the RAC/SPA (Activity Centre for Special Protected Areas), the Department of the Environment of the Andalusian Regional Government (now CAGPyDS), the Port Authority of Seville (APS), the CEPSA Foundation and Red Electrica de Espana. The Port Authority of Algeciras (APBA) is currently studying the idea of including the waters around its facilities in the research project for the long term.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) Local financial markets remain resilient despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Financial Stability Coordination Council said Tuesday, as they stressed that economic risks have risen in the face of global recession.
"COVID-19 certainly caused so much damage, but our reading of market conditions is that our financial market remains to be strong. The movement that we have seen... are reactions to changes in risk aversion, rather than structural weaknesses," BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno added in an online briefing.
The FSCC, composed of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Department of Finance, the Insurance Commission, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, monitors the buildup of systemic risks in the local financial system and crafts policies to minimize the impact.
The April edition of the Financial Stability Report also noted that there were no signs that the financial market is in peril.
Diokno acknowledged that this recession is unprecedented, with the 1997 and 2008 crises caused by a stock market crash or a credit bubble in major economies rather than by a contagion.
READ: PH needs additional budget to offset economic downturn economist
Cash is king amid the economic slump, with money market instruments the popular choice, the council noted. It added that borrowers are expected to have more difficulty in settling their dues with household cash flows disrupted by the lockdowns.
In turn, late payments by borrowers could impact bank portfolios. Risk premiums have also risen as the landscape remains uncertain.
RELATED: BSP urges 'least burdensome' schemes on bank loan payments after grace period
The focus should now be on containing the ill effects of the pandemic, which has caused global shocks, depressed demand for exports, and supply disruptions, said the council.
The pandemic, the counmcil said, also disrupted the local tourism industry, limited manufacturing output, disrupted small businesses, took away millions of jobs, and reduced remittances from overseas workers.
"While we address the public health issues, we want to ensure that these difficulties do not contaminate our financial system and trigger a negative feedback to the real economy," Diokno added, noting that a healthy financial system will assist economic growth.
More than providing fiscal support and cash subsidies to poor Filipinos, the FSCC noted that it must "diversify, deepen, and discover" the capital market to allow longer tenors for debt papers, improve transparency in market pricing, manage risk premiums by guiding spot and forward rates for bonds, and managing concerns on liquidity and solvency in select industries.
"COVID-19 is leaving scars that even a proven vaccine may not remove. The old economy has to 're-fit' into the new normal of social distancing," the council added.
The group added that the national government must take on the cost of managing these risks, even if it means bigger debts and a narrower fiscal space. This can be pursued through additional borrowings and an adjustment in taxes, the latter may be "pushed down the road."
TIMELINE: The COVID-19 response money trail
The government is looking to spend over 600 billion in COVID-19 response, which will be financed through existing funds and additional loans from both local and foreign sources. Economic stimulus bills worth over 1 trillion also remain pending in Congress.
Dakshinpuri residents Amit Sagar (35) and his wife Komal (26) were shifted to a Delhi government-run Covid Care Centre (CCC) at Terapanth Bhawan in Chhatarpur from home isolation on Saturday afternoon, following lieutenant governor Anil Baijals order requiring asymptomatic/mild cases of Covid-19 to be mandatorily quarantined at a facility for five days. Both of them did not have any symptoms.
A day later, the order was rescinded and the couple now wants to be sent back home, which they say is a more hygienic environment.
The rooms they showed us were not clean. Used masks were hanging on the doorknobs. But when we requested the staff to sanitise the room, they did so immediately. They should check all this before allotting the rooms, Sagar said, while adding that the facility was largely well-managed and they were satisfied with the food.
The Terapanth Bhawan, a guesthouse, however may not be representative of a typical CCC. Here, rooms -- which are meant to be shared by two people -- are air conditioned and there is an attached bathroom.
A majority of the 18 CCCs, however, are in government schools or flats constructed by the Delhi Development Authority and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) for people from economically weaker sections and the lower-income group categories -- making these unlikely to be equipped with an AC or be as spacious. Some require residents to use common lavatories.
The government initially set up CCCs to house mild and moderate cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). A majority of the people evacuated from the Tablighi Jamaat headquarters at Nizamuddin West in March were housed at the CCCs in Narela, Badarpur, Mandoli Jail complex and Bakkarwala.
Since May, when the Union ministry of health and family welfare allowed asymptomatic patients to isolate themselves at home if they had the adequate infrastructure, these facilities are being used to house patients who dont have a separate room and bathroom at home.
Currently, the 18 CCCs have a total of 5,909 beds, of which 1,607 were occupied till Monday.
Another resident at the Terapanth Bhawan said she would prefer to be at home instead. Anita (35) said she first agreed to come to the facility hoping there would be better medical facilities. I feel weak and breathless. I thought Id be kept under observation. But the doctor only checks up on me over the phone. The facility is good, but I think I would have taken better care of myself at home, as there is no special medical treatment for this, she said.
The 120-bed Covid Care Centre in Badarpur is in a government school. The isolation facility comprises 23 classrooms, each housing four or five patients. Currently, there are 97 patients at the facility, which is manned by a team of five doctors and support staff.
A doctor at the facility, who asked not to be named, said there is no air-coolers as a precautionary measure and the residents have had to face a mosquito problem since windows and doors are kept open for ventilation. They often keep the doors open for ventilation. With intermittent rain, there is a problem of mosquito breeding. We have provided mosquito repellents to the patients, this person said.
The situation is the same at Narela, Bakkarwala and the Mandoli jail complex. At Narela, the government has turned 1,000 DDA LIG flats into a CCC facility. Currently, there are 450 patients here, including those who have returned from abroad under the Vande Bharat mission.
At these flats, each room has a separate bathroom. But CCCs operating from school complexes such as in Badarpur and New Friends Colony require residents to use common lavatories.
While Sagar and Anita said that the food at the centre was good, another woman who requested anonymity said that her daughter and in-laws, who had tested positive on June 19, didnt get dinner at the Mandoli jail complex CCC as they reached the centre late.
They were taken to the quarantine facility in an ambulance. But as they reached the centre late, they didnt get anything to eat that day despite several requests to the authorities. But now, everything is fine. All three of them are recovering well, the woman, a resident of Deoli, said.
A senior government official said, These facilities have been set up in a short period and their functioning has been streamlined now. We try to address logistical issues immediately. We have not received any complaint so far regarding our Covid Care Centres.
With the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, headed by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, making it mandatory for asymptomatic patients to be taken to these centres for clinical assessments, many residents welfare associations opposed the idea and requested the L-G and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to review the decision.
Rajiv Kakria, the convener of Save Our City campaign and a resident of GK-I said, If a person is asymptomatic, why should they be taken to Covid Care Centres for clinical screening? It is impractical. It will only increase the chances of transmission of the disease. We have been demanding that a strong monitoring mechanism involving RWAs be put in place for effective management and coordination for those in home isolation.
Gufran Nawaz, who returned to India from Oman under the Vande Bharat mission and lived at the Narela facility for a week before he left for West Bengal, said, I was at the quarantine centre from June 11 to June 17. The quarantine facility is very good.
A Delhi government spokesperson said, As and when we get a complaint, we rectify it immediately.
Twitter on Monday opted not to take down or flag a tweet from President Trump that baselessly tied mail-in ballots to voter fraud and foreign election interference. On Tuesday, meanwhile, the platform flagged a Trump tweet threatening "serious force" against protesters seeking to set up an "autonomous zone" in Washington for violating its rules on abusive behavior.
The big picture: President Trump continues to test tech platforms' willingness to crack down on abuse and misinformation he spreads on his social media accounts, a dynamic that will likely intensify as the election approaches and he seeks to raise doubts about potentially unfavorable outcomes.
Driving the news: Trump tweeted on Tuesday, "There will never be an 'Autonomous Zone' in Washington, D.C., as long as Im your President. If they try they will be met with serious force!"
The tweet was flagged and replaced with a notice that gave users the option to view the content because Twitter determined "it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible."
Users are not permitted to share the tweet.
Screenshot via Twitter
On Monday, Trump railed against mail-in voting in a series of tweets claiming that "millions of mail-in ballots will be printed by foreign countries, and others" and maintaining, "Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history."
It's unclear what inspired Trump's claim about foreign countries printing ballots, and there has never been any link established between mail-in voting and widespread voter fraud (or indeed any record of widespread voter fraud in the U.S. at all).
Trump himself has repeatedly voted by mail in the last three years.
Twitter declined to flag the tweets as election-related misinformation, as it had an earlier series of Trump tweets, because Monday's postings didn't level any specific accusations about election officials' processes on handling voting or mail-in ballots, a company spokesperson told Axios.
Twitter did create a "Moment" aggregating tweets that debunked Trump's latest claims.
Trump's posts also appeared without being flagged on Facebook, which has taken a broadly more permissive approach than Twitter to Trump's inflammatory messages.
Our thought bubble: Testing the boundaries of acceptability on social media is a win-win for Trump's grievance politics. Either platforms give him a pass and let him spread misinformation unimpeded, or they crack down on him, fueling his claims that they're trying to silence him and other conservatives.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with Twitter's decision to flag another Trump tweet for abusive behavior.
The leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have warned there is no Plan B if the programme for government is voted down this week.
Micheal Martin said if the blueprint document is rejected, it will leave parties in uncharted territory.
Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party have been balloting their respective members to back the document, which took some five weeks to put together.
The outcome of the membership votes among the three parties will be announced on Friday.
The Green Party has the highest threshold of the three parties to secure the approval of its membership. Two thirds of members registered to vote on the proposals must back the deal.
Mr Martin said the country is facing an enormous challenge in dealing with Covid-19.
I think we will be in a very difficult situation if it emerges that this does not get support from the members of any political party Micheal Martin
Asked what will happen if the document is rejected, Mr Martin told RTE Morning Ireland: I think we are in uncharted territory if that happens.
An enormous amount of time has been put into the negotiations to get this programme for government.
Therefore there is no magic Plan B if its defeated.
The negotiations is on all sides, and Im not saying that in any hardline way, believe me this has taken quite a long time and has taken quite a lot of detailed discussion on all sides and involves compromises from all parties.
I think we will be in a very difficult situation if it emerges that this does not get support from the members of any political party.
We have had a lot of discussions with independent groupings, some of whom have indicated a desire that there would be a government formed and it would last five years.
Fianna Fail will Reignite, Restart and Renew the Economy. Our number one priority will be to repair and rebuild the Irish economy, support businesses in these tough times, and help people get back to work. #PfG pic.twitter.com/J4GlAMevcS Fianna Fail (@fiannafailparty) June 20, 2020
Mr Martin said he is very positive the programme will be accepted.
He denied the programme failed to address the impact of a no-deal Brexit.
The programme for government does provide for Brexit and obviously there are different scenarios that may emerge in terms of Brexit.
We will have to respond like we responded in the last Dail to that, in terms of contingency planning, he added.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also warned there is no Plan B if the document is rejected this week.
I know there are some people in my party who are counselling me and advising me to have a Plan B on the shelf, but I decided not to do that because we entered these coalition talks in good faith with Fianna Fail and the Greens, he told Newstalk FM.
If it is defeated, we will have to sit down over the weekend and see what the options are.
Mr Varadkar said Fine Gael wanted to go into opposition and let Sinn Fein form a government, but it did not work out.
He said: Sinn Fein, despite their protestations, never really tried.
They didnt even come up with a framework document with the far-left.
They voted for Mary Lou initially, but they couldnt even agree a common policy among themselves.
Given the opposition on the left were so incapable of delivering on any of the promises they made, we felt that we should step back in and this was our best attempt and perhaps only attempt to form a government.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said that if the agreement fails to garner enough support, Sinn Fein will speak to other parties.
What's on the table at this point in time, a combination of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, the political establishment cemented together, is certainly not change Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald
While her party won the popular vote in Februarys election, Sinn Fein failed to establish a left-wing coalition because they did not secure enough numbers to reach the 80 seats required for a Dail majority.
We will talk to the Social Democrats, we will talk to Green Party, People Before Profit and to independent formations, to establish in the first instance, can we agree on a very strong programme for government and can we agree that we have a sufficiency to form the core or the spine of a government for change going forward, she said.
If that being the case, then it will be necessary, from a numbers point of view, to talk to the other parties as well, and thats consistent with what Ive been saying all along, which is I will talk to everybody.
Ms McDonald told RTE that the country is facing more of the same of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, this time officially in bed together.
I have views around the track record of others, and the policy positions of other parties, but nonetheless, once the people have their say and the votes are cast, well then its incumbent on every party to talk to each other and to establish the best basis for a government going forward, she added.
The best basis for the new government, on the back of the last election, is a government that is truly new and transformative and a government of change, and whats on the table at this point in time, a combination of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, the political establishment cemented together, is certainly not change.
By Trend
Turkeys export of ready-made clothing to Kazakhstan shrank by slightly over 1.1 percent from January through May 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 and stood at $58.5 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend.
In May 2020, the export of ready-made clothing from Turkey to Kazakhstan declined by 14.2 percent compared to the same month of 2019 and amounted to $10.7 million.
Turkeys export of ready-made clothing to world markets dropped by 26.1 percent in the first 5 months of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, amounting to $5.6 billion.
Turkeys ready-made clothing export for the reporting period amounted to 9.1 percent of the countrys total export for the same period of this year.
In May 2020, Turkey exported ready-made clothing worth $840.2 million to foreign markets, which is 48.2 percent less compared to the same month of 2019.
Turkeys ready-made clothing export in May of this year amounted to 8.4 percent of the country's total export.
During the last twelve months (from May 2019 through May 2020), Turkey exported the ready-made clothing in the amount of over $15.6 billion.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - As new infections spiking in half of U.S. states with reopening, cases in Florida surged to more than 100,000, becoming the seventh state to cross the mark in the country.
With nearly 3000 new cases reporting on Monday, the total number of infections in the populous state increased to 100,217. A total of 3,173 people died of the deadly diseases so far in Florida.
Considering the alarming situation, the state health authorities have issued strict warning. Surgeon General Scott Rivkees has urged people to wear face coverings in any setting where social distancing is not possible.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said COVID-19 is spreading at an unacceptable rate in the state. He warned that if situation worsens, he may be forced to close down Texas again.
Separately, speaking in a television interview, President Donald Trump said that the total number of U.S. COVID deaths could go up to 150000 and beyond.
The coronavirus death toll in the United States passed 120,000 on Monday. With 26555 new cases reporting in the last 24 hours, the total number of cases in the country increased to 2,312,302, as per Johns Hopkins University's latest update on Tuesday.
Health experts warned that Covid-19 cases are rising among young generation in the South and West.
CNN quoted former acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Richard Besser, as saying that he sees some real danger signs for the states of New York, New Jersey and Washington DC, which have entered their second phase of reopening.
After a lull in deaths and infections, New York reported 51 additional coronavirus-related fatalities Monday, taking the total death toll to 31176.
With 552 new infections, total cases rose to 388,488.
New Jersey (12974 deaths, 169415 infections), Michigan (6097 deaths, 67957 infections), Massachusetts (7873 deaths, 107210 infections), Louisiana (3117 deaths, 50239 infections), Illinois (6671 deaths, 137224 infections), Pennsylvania (6426 deaths, 86576 infections), California (5566 deaths, 184765 infections), Connecticut (4263 deaths, 45782 infections), Texas (2207 deaths, 117790 infections), Georgia (2648 deaths, 65928 infections), Virginia (1620 deaths, 58465 infections), Maryland (3074 deaths, 64603 infections), Florida (3173 deaths, 100217 infections), Indiana (2553 deaths, 42633 infections), Ohio (2704 deaths, 45537 infections), Colorado (1651 deaths, 30689 infections), Minnesota (1416 deaths, 33227 infections), Arizona (1351 deaths, 54599 infections) and Washington (1276 deaths, 28870 infections) are some of the worst-hit U.S. states.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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LANZHOU, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Fuxi, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation was commemorated on Monday at a ceremony held in the city of Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province.
After the drum beating and bell tolling, a eulogy was read as part of the rituals. Worshippers offered sacrifices to the statue of Fuxi at the Fuxi Temple and paid floral tributes.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, this year less than 300 people participated in the commemoration ceremony. However, an online forum was created so worshippers at home and abroad can pay their tributes to Fuxi.
Taiwan also organized a similar annual event on the same day and at the same time, marking the seventh year of simultaneous commemoration of this legendary figure by the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
"Fuxi culture is one of the origins of Chinese civilization. Holding a commemoration for him can help deepen the sense of national identity," said Wang Mausong from Taiwan, adding that it was his second time to participate in the ceremony in Tianshui.
Fuxi is believed to be the inventor of writing, fishing and hunting. Unearthed millennia-old stone carvings depict Fuxi as half-human, half-snake. Tianshui is deemed as Fuxi's birthplace.
Following Saudi Arabia's announcement to allow "very limited number" of people to perform Hajj this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the government on Tuesday said that the application money of pilgrims will be refunded without any deduction.
"We have honoured Saudi's decision and keeping in mind health and well-being of people, it has been decided that Indian Muslims will not go for Hajj," Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
"Application money of more than 2.3 lakh pilgrims will be returned without cancellation deductions through direct transfer, he further said.
The Central Haj Committee of India began refunding the amount deposited by the Hajj Pilgrims following the announcement, ex-acting chairman of the committee Jina Shaikh said, adding that over 50 per cent pilgrims from Goa recently received a refund amount of Rs 51,000.
Shaikh further said that the pilgrims selected for this year's Hajj will not be considered for next year without lottery systems. The pilgrims will have to refill the application next year, except Muslim women who were going to perform Hajj without a male companion (Mehram).
"It's tough for women to get together and make arrangements as they go in groups without Mehram. So, we have decided they will be allowed to go on Hajj next year if they want to," Naqvi said.
An ex-member of the committee said whether this year's pilgrims will be eligible for next year is a policy matter and the Haj Review Committee will take the final call.
Saudi Arabia said late on Monday that only a very limited number of pilgrims would be allowed to perform the hajj in Mecca from among residents of various nationalities already inside the country.
The kingdom's Hajj Minster Muhammad Benten said it will be a small and very limited numbers of pilgrims to ensure social distancing and crowd control amid the virus outbreak.
TransEnterix, Inc. (NYSE American:TRXC), a medical device company that is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and the patient to improve minimally invasive surgery, today announced that the Sana Klinikum Offenbach has entered into an agreement to lease and utilize a SenhanceSurgical System. Located in the city of Offenbach am Main, the hospital is located close to Frankfurt and serves patients in the large Rhine-Main region of Germany.
"We are pleased that Sana Klinikum Offenbach has chosen to initiate a Senhance Digital Laparoscopic program," said Anthony Fernando, president and chief executive officer at TransEnterix. "Germany continues to be a compelling location to realize the potential of surgery with Senhance, and this hospital will be the fourth hospital in Germany that offers Senhance to their patients. The deep experience and advanced laparoscopic skills of many German surgeons and the need for enabling technology at a responsible cost make Senhance a good choice for hospitals seeking to build robotics and digital surgery into their minimally invasive surgical offering."
The Senhance System is the first and only digital laparoscopic surgical platform designed to maintain laparoscopic MIS standards while providing digital benefits such as haptic feedback, robotic precision, comfortable ergonomics, advanced instrumentation including, 3 mm microlaparoscopic instruments, eye sensing camera control and reusable standard instruments to help maintain per-procedure costs similar to traditional laparoscopy. The Senhance System is also the first machine-vision system in robotic surgery which is powered by the new intelligent Surgical Unit (ISU) that enables augmented intelligence in surgery.
"Senhance technology is a welcome addition to how we offer our patients the least invasive and most effective surgical care possible," said Prof. Dr. Michael Lein, Head of the Department of Urology at Sana Klinikum Offenbach. "We were particularly pleased at how this system adds digital assistance in precision, control and vision to the foundation of laparoscopy which our surgical teams already perform with excellent results. The unique ability for the robot to have sensing of haptics and measuring forces applied in surgery is very important. The Senhance also adds advanced technology while helping to minimize waste and costs to our health system, which is more important than ever before in meeting our obligation to the health of all the people in the community we serve."
About TransEnterix
At TransEnterix, Inc., we are digitizing the interface between the surgeon and the patient to improve minimally invasive surgery (MIS) through a new category of care called Digital Laparoscopy. Digitizing the interface enables the use of advanced capabilities like augmented intelligence, connectivity and robotics in laparoscopy, and allows us to address the current clinical, cognitive and economic shortcomings in surgery. The Senhance Surgical System brings the benefits of Digital Laparoscopy to patients around the world while staying true to the principles of value-based healthcare. Learn more about Digital Laparoscopy with the Senhance Surgical System here: https://Senhance.com/. Now available for sale in the US, the EU, Japan, and select other countries. For a complete list of indications for use, please visit: https://www.transenterix.com/indications-for-use/.
About Sana Klinikum Offenbach
The Sana Klinikum Offenbach is an academic teaching hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt and is one of the largest clinic facilities in the Rhine-Main region. As a maximum care hospital with over 900 planned beds, the clinic has 23 specialist clinics, 5 institutes and certified specialist centers as well as one of the largest emergency rooms in Hessen. Around 2,300 employees ensure that around 39,000 inpatients and 74,000 outpatients are optimally cared for every year with the latest medical diagnosis and therapy methods.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements relating to the Senhance System and Sana Klinikum Offenbach initiating a program with the Senhance System. These statements and other statements regarding our future plans and goals constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations and include whether the deep experience and advanced laparoscopic skills of many German surgeons and the need for enabling technology at a responsible costs will make the Senhance System a good choice for hospitals seeking to build robotics and digital surgery into their minimally invasive surgical offering. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with TransEnterix's business, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2020 and our other filings we make with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the origination date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005079/en/
Contacts:
For TransEnterix, Inc.
Investor Contact:
Mark Klausner, +1 443-213-0501
invest@transenterix.com
or
Media Contact:
Terri Clevenger, +1 203-682-8297
terri.clevenger@icrinc.com
The absence of detailed guidance on summer programmes for children with special educational needs could put students and staff at risk, and it is acting as a deterrent to those thinking of opting into the scheme.
That is according to Forsa, the union that represents more than 12,000 staff in primary and secondary schools, including special needs assistants (SNAs).
Summer programmes for both children with special educational needs and those who are at risk of disadvantage are due to begin in July. The full re-opening of schools is still planned for September. However, further information on how this reopening will happen safely has yet to be issued.
"Without this guidance, schools do not know how many students can attend, what PPE such as masks will be required, and what new hygiene regime will be required," the union said.
The Department of Education is the only large State department yet to issue safety guidance for the reopening of services, Forsa claims in a written submission to the Oireachtas special committee on the Covid-19 response. The union, which says it backed the early resumption of services to children with special educational needs, told the committee that the lack of detailed guidance is deterring many from opting into the voluntary summer programmes.
The publication of Covid-19 safety guidance is mandatory under the safe return to work protocol. This applies to schools in the same manner as all other workplaces, the submission added.
Thus far the focus of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) advice has been to stress the need for the young to protect the vulnerable. In terms of the school community, the risks of clusters of Covid-19 developing schools and spreading into the local community is real and needs to be managed rather than be ignored or downplayed," the submission states.
SNAs will not be able to practice effective social distancing due to the requirement for close contact with students, the submission also adds. Many staff are parents themselves and will be affected by any reduced school attendance patterns, according to Andy Pike, head of education at Forsa. The union recognises the impact the prolonged school closures have had on students with special education needs, he added.
According to correspondence sent to schools this week, the Department of Education is working with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to give schools guidance on updating their risk assessments and safety statements ahead of summer programmes. Schools will also be updated with health advice on appropriate physical distancing. All staff must complete induction training prior to returning to the school building, according to the document.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said some staff will need to wear PPE for certain work activities. This includes performing intimate care, or when a suspected case of Covid-19 is identified. Hand sanitiser will also be needed and work on procuring these items for the new school year is underway.
"In the interim, schools operating the summer programme will need to source these items locally." Costs will be reimbursed, he added.
By Sandip Kumar Mishra
India and China have been having another round of standoffs on their border for the last one month. All existing mechanisms to deal with such incidents have been insufficient so far.
A special meeting between the top Indian and Chinese military commanders in Ladakh took place June 6, and reportedly both countries have "slightly" pulled back their troops from three out of the four sites of confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but the standoff is far from over.
China has mobilized a significant number of its troops and military equipment in the Galwan River Valley, Pangong Lake and Gogra-Hot Spring areas. Of these three, only Pangong Lake is among 23 areas across the LAC where China and India have divergent views about control.
Even though the distinction that "no shots have been fired by any side along the LAC since 1967" has been maintained so far, reportedly this time, the clash between the two sides is more serious than the recent few standoffs such as Depsang 2013, Chumur 2014 and Doklam 2017.
The three most obvious explanations of the Chinese actions could be the following. One, these border standoffs are one of the things that happen frequently happen between the two countries because of different perceptions about the LAC.
Two, Beijing has not been happy with the road construction and other infrastructure development activities of India along the LAC. Recently, India completed construction of the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi and Sasoma to Saser La roads in the northern sector.
Three, China has been unhappy with the Indian decision to divide the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two and both entities were made union territories of India. By almost abolishing Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, the special status of Jammu and Kashmir were also withdrawn. China looks at these developments as consolidation of the Indian position, which must be challenged.
However, all three explanations appear to be less than sufficient. One, they could not be one of the normal border standoffs as they happened not in one but at least three sectors and without a coordinated planning at the higher level this is impossible.
Two, even though China is unhappy with India's infrastructure development along the LAC, it has little to complain about as it has made the same or better infrastructure development in its own side of the LAC. Also, the timing of the Chinese actions is suspicious.
When the whole world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, why has China decided to escalate tension on the border now.
Three, the political and administrative changes regarding Jammu and Kashmir are the domestic issues of India, and China will not be able to affect India's decision by having standoffs at the border. Since all three arguments are weak, it's plausible to think that China's actions might be part of broader geo-strategic calculations.
Actually, amid the global pandemic which originated from China, Beijing has deliberately been escalating tensions in various regions. As it is being criticized across the world for its role in the spread of the global pandemic, China has two options to deal with the situation.
One, since it has been able to relatively contain the pandemic inside the country, it should provide constructive health and other assistance to other countries in the region and save its image. Actually, China has provided medical supplies to many countries to help in their dealing with the pandemic.
However, China realizes that the damage has already been done and it could take a long time to regain international trust. So, China appears to have decided that even though it will continue to assist other countries, it will also deliberately try to escalate tensions in various regions.
A larger geostrategic game plan of China could be in order to deflect international attention from the blunder in dealing with COVID-19, it might be useful to reinforce the old narrative of a "revisionist" and "assertive" China. China is confident that such a narrative could be dealt with more easily as it has done so quite successfully for some time.
For the same reason, China has shown aggressive intent and actions on the issue pertaining to Hong Kong, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea. On May 28, China's legislature approved a proposal to impose a national security law on Hong Kong.
In the past three months, it has sunk a Vietnamese boat and captured eight fisherman, provoked Indonesia by encroaching on the vicinity of the Nature Islands, tried to forcefully stop Malaysian drilling operations off the Malaysia coast, clashed with a Philippine ship near the Malampaya Gas Field in the West Philippine Sea and so on.
In the East China Sea also, the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and two Chinese guided-missile destroyers, two multirole warships and one supply-class fast combat support ship were seen twice in April between Okinawa and the Miyakojima islands.
Thus, the ongoing India-China border standoffs appear to be part of a coordinated strategic plan by Beijing and not merely a bilateral border issue.
The author (sandipmishra10@gmail.com) is an associate professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Shaun King says he's received death threats after calling 'white Jesus' 'tool of oppression'
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Controversial activist Shaun King on Tuesday said that hes received death threats after calling for churches to remove all depictions of Jesus, the Holy Family and the apostles as white European because he sees such depictions as a form of white supremacy.
On Monday, King, a political activist who introduced Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at the democratic socialists presidential campaign kickoff rally in Brooklyn last year, tweeted about the toppling of statues across the United States before he demanded that churches follow suit by removing all images of Jesus that depict Him as white.
By Tuesday morning, King said hed received about 20 death threats in the past 12 hours since I said that statues of white European Jesus are a tool of oppression for white supremacy and should be taken down.
In a series of Twitter posts through Monday evening, he wrote:
Yes, I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down. They are a form of white supremacy. Always have been. In the Bible, when the family of Jesus wanted to hide, and blend in, guess where they went? EGYPT! Not Denmark. Tear them down. Yes. All murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends should also come down. They are a gross form white supremacy. Created as tools of oppression. Racist propaganda. They should all come down. Experts have long since said this is likely the most accurate depiction of Jesus. White Americans who bought, sold, traded, raped, and worked Africans to death, for hundreds of years in this country, simply could not have THIS man at the center of their faith.
King, who has 1.1 million followers on Twitter, responded to the alleged death threats and reiterated his argument against Christian whiteness." The Christian Post reached out to King to request to view the threats and will include those details when a response is received.
I am a practicing Christian. I am an ordained minister and was a Senior Pastor for many years, he tweeted. If my critiques of the white supremacy within the Christian world bother you to the point of wanting to kill me, you are the problem. Christian whiteness has ALWAYS been dangerous.
Some of Kings Twitter followers agreed with his push for churches to remove all stained glass windows and other images depicting Jesus with fair skin. Others, however, posited whether hed fully thought through his argument since Jesus, Mary and other biblical figures have been depicted with different skin tones, styles of clothing as well as non-European characteristics in countries throughout the world.
Fox News noted Monday that Ethiopian churches have long depicted Jesus as black. Throughout Asia, artwork has depicted Him and the Holy Family as Asian.
In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, who created the "Jesus the Homeless" statue and presented his sculpture A Quiet Moment to the late Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 2004, said artists are frequently commissioned to create works that depict Jesus and biblical figures to look like a particular ethnicity and community.
Joan Taylor, a professor of Christian origins and Second Temple Judaism at King's College in London, noted in a 2015 article titled What did Jesus really look like? that some of the familiar depictions of Jesus actually comes from the Byzantine era, from the 4th Century onwards.
In 2001 forensic anthropologist Richard Neave created a model of a Galilean man for a BBC documentary, Son of God, working on the basis of an actual skull found in the region. He did not claim it was Jesus's face. It was simply meant to prompt people to consider Jesus as being a man of his time and place, since we are never told he looked distinctive, she added.
Neave, a retired medical artist from the Unit of Art in Medicine at the University of Manchester, used a first century skull from a department of forensic science in Israel to reconstruct what Jesus might have looked like. These features included a large face, broad nose. Mark Goodacre, a professor of New Testament at Duke University, used third-century images from a synagogue to determine that Jesus skin color would have been an olive tone, not black or white.
For all that may be done with modelling on ancient bones, I think the closest correspondence to what Jesus really looked like is found in the depiction of Moses on the walls of the third century synagogue of Dura-Europos, since it shows how a Jewish sage was imagined in the Graeco-Roman world, Taylor added.
King, who has co-founded two political action committees, Real Justice PAC and The Action PAC, previously worked as a pastor at Total Grace Christian Center in DeKalb County, Georgia. He founded Courageous Church in 2008 but later resigned in 2012.
He received an Oprah Winfrey Scholarship and graduated from Morehouse College, a historically black college in Atlanta.
In 2015, King was accused of falsely portraying himself as black after media reports indicated that his birth certificate showed that both of his parents are white. A family member also told media outlets that he was lying about his race.
This led CNN opinion host Don Lemon to ask a panel whether King is Rachel Dolezal 2.0 after he refused to answer the cable networks questions about his personal history and the race listed on his birth certificate. While King refused to answer questions about his birth certificate, Lemon said King did say that he is biracial.
In response to media inquires about whether he was passing himself off as a black man, King wrote a piece for the Daily Kos in 2015, saying: I have been told for most of my life that the white man on my birth certificate is not my biological father and that my actual biological father is a light-skinned black man. My mother and I have discussed her affair. She was a young woman in a bad relationship and I have no judgment.
King has also been mired in several controversies surrounding the accounting of money he managed for social justice causes and his relaunch of Frederick Douglass abolitionist newspaper, The North Star. While The Daily Beast noted hes never faced criminal or civil charges related to the accusations of wrongdoing, professor and author Keisha N. Blain said in a post on Twitter that she was warned about King. Blain claimed that she learned through personal experience that he is a liar and a fraud.
Additionally, King has been accused many times of trying to spark racial unrest. Last year, he falsely identified a white man in the fatal shooting of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes, who was killed by two black men in a drive-by shooting in Houston, Texas.
Following the police-involved death of George Floyd on May 25, King shared a video clip on his Instagram account showing Minneapolis police officers attempting to get a handcuffed Floyd into a squad car. King claimed the officers were beating the s*** out of Floyd. An extended video shows Floyd struggling to stand up outside the vehicle before he entered and then exited the opposite side and fell to the ground where two officers restrained his legs and back, and Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes before he died. Chauvin is now facing second-degree murder charges for his actions.
Chahid El Hafed , June 23, 2020 (SPS) -. The National Union of Sahrawi Women (UNMS) reiterated its unconditional solidarity and praised the struggles of Sahrawi women in the Occupied Areas of Western Sahara.
Sahrawi women national body in a meeting of its Executive Bureau sent a greeting to all Sahrawi women in the diaspora and in the Camps of pride and dignity.
The meeting addressed a number of issues related to the organization's work at the external, national and regional levels.
UNMS Executive Bureau highlighted the commemoration of the National Day of the disappeared person that coincides with the physical disappearance of the leader of the Zemla "Uprising" Mohamed Sid Brahim Basiri, requesting the Spanish authorities to reveal her whereabouts.
In this regard, the organization of the Sahrawi women called for the revelation of the whereabouts of more than 651 Sahrawis disappeared as a result of the invasion and military occupation of Western Sahara on October 31, 1975 by Morocco. SPS
125/090/TRA
By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) - The public will have the opportunity to pay their respects to Rayshard Brooks, the African American shot in the back by an Atlanta police officer, at a viewing to be held on Monday at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Following the public viewing, family and friends will gather a private funeral for Brooks the next day, and the church's website will live-stream the services.
By Rich McKay
ATLANTA (Reuters) - The public will have the opportunity to pay their respects to Rayshard Brooks, the African American shot in the back by an Atlanta police officer, at a viewing to be held on Monday at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Following the public viewing, family and friends will gather a private funeral for Brooks the next day, and the church's website will live-stream the services.
The venue carries special significance for people of color in the United States. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, perhaps the most influential and charismatic civil rights leaders of the 1960s, preached at the church until his assassination in 1968.
Filmmaker Tyler Perry will underwrite the costs of the funeral, according to the Brooks family's lawyer.
The death of Brooks two weeks ago, coming on the heels of the killing of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police, intensified national outrage over police brutality and racism in the American criminal justice system.
Brooks, 27, was the latest in a long line of African Americans whose fatal encounters with law enforcement have been captured on video. The killings have triggered demonstrations demanding racial justice that have erupting daily across the country in recent weeks.
The protests have prompted several localities to review police funding and procedures, including New York state, which enacted a package of policing overhauls earlier this month.
Brooks died on June 12 after an employee at a Wendy's fast-food restaurant called police to say a customer had fallen asleep in his car in the drive-through lane and appeared intoxicated.
After failing a sobriety test, Brooks tussled with two police officers and wrested a Taser stun gun from one of them. Brooks then appeared to fire the Taser in the direction of the officers before turning and running. Video then shows one of the officers shooting him twice in the back, with one round piercing his heart, officials said.
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said Brooks was running away at the time of the shooting. He was more than 18 feet away and posed no threat.
Surveillance and other videos also appeared to show one officer kicking Brooks and another standing on his shoulders as he lay dying.
The former Atlanta police officer who shot Brooks, Garrett Rolfe, 27, was fired and charged with murder. A second officer, Devin Brosnan, 26, was placed on administrative duty and charged with aggravated assault. The city's police chief resigned.
The Wendy's restaurant was burned down during a demonstration on the first night after the killing.
(Story corrects to remove reference to Brooks being unarmed in para six)
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta, additional reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California and Peter Szekely in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Alistair Bell)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Canada sees the oil and gas industry as crucial to its economy and economic recovery after the pandemic, and the federal government is working on getting funds through to the industry, which hasnt seen any financial help from the loan programs, Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus ORegan said.
The bottom line is the country is not going to recover unless the oil and gas sector recovers, Calgary Herald columnist Chris Varcoe quoted ORegan as saying on Monday on an online seminar with Calgary-based ARC Energy Research Institute.
This is the biggest industry in the country. Its our biggest export, so there is a lot on the line for everybody, the minister said.
Canadas federal government has set up programs to support businesses, including in the oil and gas industry, with relief financing to help them overcome the crash in oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadas oil firms, however, were still struggling early this month to understand what it takes to qualify for a federal government program. Meanwhile, industry representatives said they were unaware of any firm that could access financing under those programs.
Top executives at many Canadian oil firms are still waiting for specifics regarding the program for loans while their companies review eligibility criteria. Some managers believe that the federal governments intentions are good, but the details are still unclear. Others feel deceived and question whether the federal government is sincerely intent on helping the oil industry.
Related: China Sees Tanker Traffic Soar As Oil Storage Runs Out
The federal government still has work to do to get funding programs to Canadian oil and gas producers, ORegan said at the Monday seminar.
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced last week a new program aimed at helping medium-sized businesses with cash flow needs as a result of COVID-19, including in the oil and gas sector. Under the program, businesses eligible to receive loans must have been financially stable and viable prior to the current economic environment and must have been negatively impacted, directly or indirectly, by COVID-19 and/or the recent decline in oil and gas prices.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Your Vote Counts-VOTE TODAY
Jun. 22, 2020
By Jun. 22, 2020
WESTERN KENTUCKY - As the primary Election Day is here, local courthouses have taken different approaches for how they are conducting the election and other courthouse business.
The McCracken County Courthouse will close all other offices so they can focus on voting TODAY, according to McCracken County Clerk Julie Griggs.
Hickman County Clerk James Berry said they will also hold voting at the courthouse and close all other offices.
Marshall County's courthouse will be open on Election Day but voting will be held in the Marshall County High School gym, according to County Clerk Tim York.
The Ballard County Courthouse will be open for voting according to Ballard County Clerk Katie Mercer.
The Livingston County Clerk Sonya Williams says voting will be at North Livingston Elementary on 1372 US 60 and South Livingston Elementary on 850 Cutoff Road. The courthouse will be open but the county clerk's office is closed for all other business.
Graves County voters will cast their ballots at Graves County High School. County Clerk Kim Gills said the courthouse will be open but the county clerk's office will be closed for other business.
The Calloway County Courthouse will be open on Tuesday but voting will be at the CFSB Center on the Murray State University Campus, per County Clerk Anotonia Faulkner. The county clerk's office will not be conducting other business.
Fulton County will hold their election at the county clerk's office and the Fulton County Courthouse will be open.
Carlisle County Clerk Becky Martin said the courthouse and county clerk's office will be open. The county clerk's office is only open for election related business. Voting will take place in the Community Room at the Carlisle County Extension Office and that is the only precinct.
At all of these locations, voters can cast their ballots between 6 am and 6 pm.
Anyone who requested an absentee ballot must return it to the courthouse or it must be postmarked by June 23 to be counted.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- President Donald Trumps first rally during the coronavirus pandemic was low in attendance but his racist, reckless and incompetent remarks about combating it still have reached millions.
During his two hour address to too small of a crowd, President Trump referred to the coronavirus as Kung Flu, taking a karate chop at China, who he has sought to make a villain responsible for the disease rampant spread in the United States.
The unmasked Trump also told the fellow unmasked watching him that he had strongly urged his administration to slow testing for Coronavirus to reduce the the number of reported cases.
Trump spun his slow walk down a slight and dry stage ramp after his West Point Commencement address and his appearing to struggle drinking a small glass of water.
After the event, White House and campaign staffers claimed Trump was just joking when he made the testing comment. But today talking to the press, the President said I dont kid in reference to his testing remarks and repeated them.
Only an estimated 6,200 people occupied the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma that can seat 19,000. Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale had boasted that there were a million who had registered for the rally. Afterward he blamed protesters and the media for the lower than anticipated turnout, not the Coronavirus.
When you consider that a number of people in attendance actually worked for Trump, the GOP, the BOK Center and the media, the actual number of ordinary voters there was less than 6,200.
Its been reported that Trumps team had given him four locations where he could hold the rally and he chose Tulsa, originally on Friday night, which is not only Juneteenth but also the anniversary of the massacre on the Black Wall Street in Tulsa. During the rally the President of the United States said nothing about Juneteenth or the massacre.
Trump is following up his Tulsa disaster with another indoor campaign event today speaking to young Republicans in Arizona, which is among the states now being hit hard by Coronavirus. The president will also be inspecting the border wall, but is still not expected to be wearing a mask to keep coronavirus from crossing the border into his mouth or his germs from crossing into anyone elses physical border.
SEOUL, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been reinstalling loudspeakers in areas near the border with South Korea, multiple local media reported Monday.
An unnamed South Korean military source was quoted as saying that the DPRK has been setting up loudspeakers along the inter-Korean frontline areas since Sunday afternoon.
The propaganda loudspeakers had been dismantled after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un agreed upon the dismantlement in their first summit in April 2018 at the border village of Panmunjom.
The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency reported earlier in the day that the country will soon distribute 12 million leaflets to South Korea to "make them pay dearly for their crime."
"As of June 22, various equipment and means of distributing leaflets, including over 3,000 balloons of various types capable of scattering leaflets deep inside South Korea, have been prepared," the report said.
Pyongyang has recently cut off all communication lines with Seoul and blown up the inter-Korean joint liaison office building near the border with South Korea in protest against the dispersion of anti-DPRK leaflets across the border by defectors in the South.
The South Korean unification ministry said in a statement that it is very sorry for the DPRK to announce its plan to send large-scale anti-South Korea leaflets, calling on Pyongyang to immediately drop the plan.
The ministry said such acts are in a clear violation of inter-Korean agreements that worsens wrong practices rather than resolve them, noting that such acts will be of no help to settle peace on the Korean Peninsula and develop inter-Korean relations.
It noted that the South Korean government has thoroughly clamped down on the scattering of anti-DPRK leaflets in border areas, calling for the DPRK to stop any act that aggravates the situation.
A 21-year-old man was stabbed to death outside a McDonald's after a row that started over a spilled drink in a bar, a court heard.
Asim Khan died after being stabbed twice in the stomach in front of Saturday night revellers in Cardiff city centre.
Momodoulamin Saine, 28, is accused of his murder but claims he was acting in self-defence during the incident in July last year.
Asim Khan, pictured, 21, was murdered outside a McDonald's restaurant after a row over a spilled drink in Soda bar in Cardiff city centre, a court heard
Newport Crown Court heard Saine and the Khan brothers had first bumped into each other in Soda Bar on Cardiff's Mill Lane, where Saine had his drink knocked over, before a second meeting outside McDonald's at around 4.40am.
The brothers were said to be outside the fast food restaurant when Saine took one of their drinks from a roadside bollard and walked off with it.
Prosecutor Caroline Rees QC said the brothers followed Saine before he threw the drink at them.
Asim Khan then threw a drink back at Saine before he ran off and the brothers returned to McDonalds.
CCTV played to the court showed Saine then returning to McDonald's just minutes later and the three men coming together.
The jury was shown Asim and Saine on the floor before a bystander intervened and the pair backed away.
A police cordon pictured outside a McDonald's on St Mary's Street following the incident in July last year. Saine denies murder while Hamza Khan denies grievous bodily harm
But Asim was seen staggering before collapsing to the ground shortly before 5am on July 21 last year.
Saine, of Ely, Cardiff, denies murder while Hamza, 25, denies grievous bodily harm.
The trial in front of Mr Justice Griffiths continues.
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 08:13 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660cfe64 1 Politics President-Jokowi,startup,Nadiem-Makarim,Bukalapak Free
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has made it clear that he wants technology to play a central role in his government.
In 2018, he launched the "Making Indonesia 4.0" road map to encourage automation and data exchange in manufacturing. One year later, he announced that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would take over the jobs of civil servants to cut red tape and create more efficiency.
The President has also called for a greater role for start-ups in driving the country's economic growth. On a trip to Silicon Valley in 2015, he enlisted CEOs of top start-ups, including Gojek founder Nadiem Makarim and William Tanuwijaya of Tokopedia.
In an address to a crowd that included Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella earlier this year, President Jokowi said that the countrys over 2,000 startups, including one decacorn and four unicorns, were not enough.
Soon after winning reelection last year, President Jokowi took things further by hiring technology talent from Indonesian start-ups to join his administration.
He appointed Nadiem as Education and Culture Minister, with a charge that included the management of the country's higher education system.
Soon thereafter, Jokowi tapped Andi Taufan Garuda Putra, CEO of lending start-up PT Amartha Mikro Fintek, and Adamas Belva Syah Devara, cofounder of education technology start-up Ruangguru Adamas, as his expert staffers. Andi and Belva later resigned following public backlash over conflicts of interest as a result of their dual roles in government and business.
On Friday, the trend of appointing tech CEOs to government positions continued with the appointment of Fajrin Rasyid, cofounder and CEO of e-commerce unicorn Bukalapak, as a director of state-owned telecommunication firm PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom).
The appointment, by the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry, aims to improve digital services and reduce the companys dependence on its cellular services.
Fajrin said in a statement posted on Bukalapaks website that he hoped he could bring his experience in growing the homegrown e-commerce platform to Telkom.
Im very thankful for the new trust given to me, he said. Now is the time to make a greater contribution to the advancement of Indonesia and focus on developing Indonesias telecommunications industry with Telkom.
Following his appointment, 34-year-old Fajrin expects to hand over his duties and responsibilities at Bukalapak to the companys board of directors and management, the statement read.
Antigraft activists have called on Fajrin to avoid conflicts of interest in his job at the country's biggest telecommunication company.
Zaenur Rohman, a researcher at the Gadjah Mada University Center for Anticorruption Studies (Pukat UGM), said Fajrin should make sure that he did not follow in the footsteps Belva or Andi.
Learning from these previous cases, the most important issue is that the appointment should be consistent with a merit-based system, that the person is rightly appointed for the post and it is ensured that he or she has no conflict of interest before, during or after serving in the position, said Zaenur.
SOEs Minister Erick Thohir has insisted that the appointment of Fajrin was based on merit.
With bigger challenges ahead, every member of Telkoms board of directors has a certain key performance index. I have already told [them] that they should be ready to be shown the door if they fail to fulfill it, Erick said in a statement made available on Friday following the announcement of Telkoms new board members.
Firman Noor, a political analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said that the Jokowi administration's penchant for appointing young startup figures for key government positions should be founded on a strong meritocratic system.
Perhaps fresh blood that can bring fresh thinking is needed, but he or she should be well-tested in their leadership, said Firman. This is one of the key requirements at any firm that people who are in charge have the much-needed experience.
While appointing figures from the emerging digital sector could bring in valuable insights, Firman warned that such a move might not be sustainable in the long run.
If this trend continues, the policies could be unsustainable because people from these [start-ups] tend to be very agile and quick in their actions. They could have quick responses, but are the people behind them ready? That is why the decision to always bring in these people could be questioned, said Firman.
Lyttleton Port (New Zealand) 23 June 2020 (SPS)- Free Western Sahara Solidarity Aotearoa and a group of New Zealand citizens gathered Today in a protest blockading Ravensdown trucks carrying blood Phosphate illegally mined and exported by Morocco from occupied Western Sahara.
The protesters issued a detailed press release explaining the reasons behind their action, and stating their rejection of Ravensdown illegal deals with Morocco that are only helping Rabat fund its illegal and brutal occupation in Western Sahara.
Following is the full Press Release issued by Free Western Sahara Solidarity Aotearoa (FWSSA) on the occasion:
Media Release: Successful protest action at Lyttelton Port Company against Ravensdown imports of blood phosphate
From: Free Western Sahara Solidarity Aotearoa
Free Western Sahara Solidarity Aotearoa had a successful protest action against Ravensdown to coincide with the arrival of the Trans Spring vessel into Lyttleton Port today. The Trans Spring is carrying thousands of tonnes of stolen blood phosphate from the occupied territory of Western Sahara.
A group of concerned local citizens gathered today to peacefully protest and register their discontent with Ravensdown funding human rights violations in the occupied territory of Western Sahara. Spokesperson Josie Butler stated "Ravensdown damages the international reputation of New Zealand by continuing to import from the occupied territory. They are funding war crimes".
The protestors blockaded trucks carrying the stolen "blood phosphate", rebranding the vehicles with signs that said "Stolen Goods". The police helped facilitate this action by supporting the protestors in stopping the trucks safely.
Yesterday local activists in Dunedin blockaded the Ravensdown factory for most of the day, stopping all trucks from being able to leave the facility. This was to protest the arrival of the Trans Spring in New Zealand domestic waters.
Last night the Rail and Maritime Union (RMTU) delivered a letter of protest to the Captain of the Trans Spring, condemning Morocco's illegal occupation of Western Sahara and calling on the New Zealand Government to halt all importation of phosphate from the area. This follows the New Zealand Council of Trade Union's resolution that was passed last year standing in solidarity with the people of Western Sahara.
In March this year, the representatives for Western Sahara started an action in the High Court taking the Guardians of the New Zealand Super Fund to court, calling for a judicial review of its investments in businesses with links to Western Saharas exploited resources.
The money Ravensdown contributes to Morocco goes towards funding the 10 million land mines, which lie along the border of Western Sahara, forbidding the local Saharawi from ever returning to their home land. The area is guarded by 150,000 military and police, which is a ratio of 15 military to every 1 Saharawi. New Zealand is directly funding war crimes by continuing to purchase phosphate from the illegally occupied territory of Western Sahara.
173,000 Saharawi have had to flee their homes, and are living in refugee camps in neighbouring Algeria.
The Saharawi people have never consented for their phosphate to be taken by Morocco, and have been demanding a referendum for self determination for over 30 years. The UN and the African Union support their calls for referendum, which are being refused by the occupying power of Morocco. The Saharawi want their natural resources protected, because they need them to rebuild their lives after decades of exile, conflict and suffering.
Ravensdown has been accused by international authorities of misrepresenting the UN position by saying they are operating within their guidelines, when they have never sought the consent of the Saharawi people. The Western Sahara government in exile has never consented. OCP does not claim to have mined the phosphate with the consent of the people of the territory.
The Saharawi in the occupied territory are denied their right to self determination, they are denied civil and political rights, they are tortured, they are imprisoned without trial. The Moroccan government have implemented a media blackout, and refuse to allow human rights observers to entire Western Sahara, to try and ensure these stories are never told.
In March 2017, 60 Saharawi took over a bus owned by OCP and threatened to self immolate in protest of the occupation and their lack of rights.
Last year a ship carrying phosphate rock destined for New Zealand was detained in South Africa and its Courts ruled that the cargo was stolen from the people of Western Sahara. A boat was also detained in Panama for the same reason.
Western Sahara was invaded by Morocco in 1975. 176,300 people are still living in refugee camps in neighbouring Algeria despite a UN peace plan that proposed a referendum for Western Saharas independence in 1991. A plan, that is on hold due to the Moroccan occupiers intransigence. The Saharawi people are separated from their homeland by a 2700km sand wall, the Berm, personned by over 100,000 soldiers. The occupation is brutal said Josie Butler, spokesperson for the Otautahi group, I think the people of Christchurch would be horrified to know that a local business is funding such an injustice.
The people of Western Sahara are calling for Ravensdown Ltd and Ballance Agri-Nutrients to stop stealing their future. The two NZ fertiliser cooperatives are the last two companies, in the western world, that still import from the occupied region. Western Saharas Representative to Australia and New Zealand, Kamal Fadel says that the phosphate trade funds the occupation and also signifies de-facto recognition of Morocco's claim to the territory. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
The UN said Monday the "last thing" Libya needs is more conflict on its territory after Egypt warned of military intervention in the neighboring country.
"It is clear that the last thing Libya needs right now is more fighting, more military mobilization, more transfer of weapons, more presence of either foreign fighters or mercenaries on its soil," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric during his daily press conference.
"We're alarmed by the continued military mobilization in central Libya, particularly in Sirte," and by the "flagrant violations of the arms embargo," Dujarric said.
He added it was "important for none of the parties to do anything that would make the situation worse."
Oil-rich Libya has been torn by violence, drawing in tribal militias, jihadists, and mercenaries since the 2011 toppling and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Khadafi in a Western-backed uprising.
Since 2015, a power struggle has pitted the UN-recognized, Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) against strongman Khalifa Haftar, who claims legitimacy from an eastern-based elected parliament.
Haftar has been trying unsuccessfully to seize the capital since April 2019, with support from neighboring Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned that if pro-GNA forces advanced on the strategic city of Sirte -- some 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of Tripoli -- it could provoke a "direct" intervention by Cairo.
The GNA on Sunday denounced the warning, labeling it a "declaration of war."
CLEVELAND, Ohio It will be mostly sunny Wednesday, but the National Weather Service forecast calls for a 20% chance of rain in the afternoon.
The rain is expected after 1 p.m. In the morning and evening, however, expect mostly clear skies and calm winds.
Temperatures will top out in the mid 70s and the low will dip to around 62 overnight.
Cleveland sunrise 5:54 a.m. | Cleveland sunset 9:05 p.m.
Beach Hazards Statement
NWS has issued a beach hazards statement in effect through Wednesday evening for beaches along Lake Erie due to strong winds and waves.
Small Craft Advisory
NWS has issued a small craft advisory in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday for Lake Erie nearshore waters across all of Ohios north coast due to west winds of 10 to 20 knots with gusts up to 30 knots and waves of 2 to 4 feet. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions, NWS said.
Extended forecast for Northeast Ohio
A chance of showers and thunderstorms picks up again Thursday before skies clear on Friday. Temperatures on Thursday will peak in the high 70s, and may reach the mid 80s Friday.
Ohio regional radar
And then they did. Far from ushering in a new era of harmony between police and the people they are sworn to protect, the budget cuts worsened tensions between the department and the community and were followed by a dramatic surge in officers use of deadly force. Since 2009 the police have killed 20 people, an extraordinarily high number for such a small city. In 2012 alone, officers fatally shot six suspects. Nearly a third of the citys homicides that year were committed by law enforcement.
Taiwan protests against Japan's name change for Diaoyutai area
ROC Central News Agency
06/22/2020 04:01 PM
Taipei, June 22 (CNA) Taiwan on Monday protested against Japan's decision to change the name of an administrative area that covers the Diaoyutai Islands, saying it was an infringement on Taiwan's territorial claim to the islands.
In a press release, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) reiterated the country's sovereignty claim over the disputed islands in the East China Sea and said Japan's decision was regrettable.
The ministry said it had filed a protest with the Japanese side, via diplomatic channels, after the Ishigaki City assembly voted earlier in day to change the administrative name of the area that includes the Diaoyutais, a group of uninhabited islands that are claimed by Taiwan, China and Japan.
Effective October, the administrative area, now known as Tonoshiro, will be called Tonoshiro Senkaku, following Monday's vote, according to Japanese media reports.
The area falls under Ishigaki City in Okinawa, a prefecture that comprises more than a 150 islands in the East China Sea, some of which are claimed by other countries.
On Monday, MOFA said no unilateral actions will change the fact of Taiwan's sovereignty over the Diaoyutais.
The Taiwan government, however, will continue to deal with the territorial disputes peacefully and rationally, MOFA said, calling on Japan to show restraint instead of taking actions that could affect peace and stability in the East China Sea and disrupt cordial bilateral ties.
In Taiwan, the Diaoyutai Islands fall under the jurisdiction of Toucheng Township in Yilan County, which passed a resolution earlier this month to submit a proposal to the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) to change the name of the islands to "Toucheng Diaoyutais."
Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao () of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) said Monday that her county government had already sent the name-change proposal to the MOI and that the Ishigaki City assembly's decision was regrettable.
Meanwhile, in a press release, the KMT condemned Japan's move and urged the Taiwan government to summon Tokyo's top envoy in Taipei to protest against the Ishigaki City decision.
The KMT also called on the government to lay out concrete plans to highlight Taiwan's sovereignty claim over the Diaoyutais and protect the rights of Taiwanese fishermen in waters near the disputed islands.
Earlier this month, the KMT and Lin had urged President Tsai Ing-wen () to visit the Diaoyutais to assert Taiwan's sovereignty claim to the islands, which lie northwest of Taiwan and west of Okinawa.
(By Liu Kuang-ting, Wang Chao-yu and Joseph Yeh)
Enditem
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More than two dozen people including five staff members - have been arrested at seven Alabama prisons on contraband charges over the past three months.
The Alabama Department of Corrections said Tuesday that enforcement of its zero-tolerance contraband policy has continued despite the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 18 through June 18, authorities have arrested 22 people and five employees for trying to smuggle illegal contraband into the facilities.
The ADOCs K-9 Bureau has carried out 49 institutional searches that eliminated 7,166 grams of drugs from the prisons. Additionally, more than 150 electronics and more than 100 weapons have been seized.
The 22 free-world arrests took place at: Bibb Correctional Facility in Brent; Donaldson Correction Facility in Bessemer; Elmore Correctional Facility in Elmore; Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore; North Alabama Community Work Center; St. Clair Correctional Facility in Springville; and Ventress Correctional Facility in Clayton. Donaldson had the highest number of arrests with seven.
So far in all of 2020, prison authorities have initiated 491 investigations, closed 567 investigations, conducted 96 institutional searches, and arrested 34 free-world individuals and eight ADOC staff members.
While the entire ADOC from executive leadership to our security staff has been working diligently to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our facilities, the LESD also has been hard at work eradicating contraband including cell phones, which we know are the nexus of most coordinated criminal activity in our facilities, said LESD Chief Law Enforcement Officer Arnaldo Mercado. Unfortunately, weve actually seen an increase in attempted illegal activity related to contraband introduction during the pandemic. Criminals have found new and, in some cases, sophisticated means by which to exploit the porous nature of our dilapidated, aging facilities.
Ill-intentioned inmates use cell phones to coordinate duplicitous schemes with free-world individuals who, in light of suspended visitation, often will go to extreme lengths to introduce contraband including sneaking through the woods at night to try to throw illegal items over our fences undetected, added Mercado. For anyone who is complicit in these schemes, know this we are onto you, you will eventually be caught, and you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The public should submit all information that may lead to the arrest of anyone attempting to introduce illegal contraband into state prisons to the ADOC Law Enforcement Services Division by calling 1-855-WE R ADOC (937-2362) or by visiting the ADOC website at http://www.doc.alabama.gov/investigationrequest.
She's been enjoying a vacation with her new boyfriend in St Tropez.
And, Chloe Green put on a colourful display in a hot pink hoodie and patterned trousers as she docked in Cannes on her father's luxury yacht, on Tuesday.
The Topshop hieress, 29, veered away from her typically stylish ensembles and opted for comfortable attire for the evening.
Colourful in Cannes! Chloe Green, 29, put on a colourful display in a hot pink hoodie and patterned trousers as she docked in Cannes on her father's luxury yacht, on Tuesday
Chloe kept things casual in wide-legged silky trousers which boasted a pretty watercolour painting style print.
The former Made In Chelsea star strolled along in flat taupe boots as she made her way onto dry land.
While chatting with friends aboard her father's Lionchase yacht, Chloe flashed a rare smile.
The mother-of-one left has left her hair to dry naturally and shunned makeup, allowing her natural beauty to shine.
Low-key: The Topshop hieress veered away from her typically stylish ensembles and opted for comfortable attire for the evening
Pretty: Chloe kept things casual in wide-legged silky trousers which boasted a pretty watercolour painting style print
Au naturale: The mother-of-one left has left her hair to dry naturally and shunned makeup, allowing her natural beauty to shine
Chloe has been holidaying in St Tropez with friends and her Italian yacht broker boyfriend for a few weeks.
The former Made In Chelsea star was pictured passionately kissing Manuele on board her father Sir Philip Green's 118 million yacht in the South of France earlier this month.
But it won't have been Manuele's first voyage as he's the CEO of company Royal Yacht Brokers, which boasts celebrity clients such as Madonna, Chrissy Teigen and Alicia Vikander.
The businessman has been dating Chloe since 2019 with the pair even spending the festive period together alongside Chloe's mum Tina, 70, and other 'best friends and family.'
Happy lady: While chatting with friends aboard her father's Lionchase yacht, Chloe flashed a rare smile
Taking it easy: Chloe and her two pals lounged on the boat as the sun went down
A source said: 'Chloe has known Manuele for months and they have always been very close friends.
'They have a lot in common; they're both parents and are from similar worlds, Chloe is very happy with him. He's very much been accepted into her family.'
The couple celebrated Chloe's birthday together in March, with Manuele pictured smiling alongside the heiress and her brother Brandon, 27.
Chloe split from ex-fiance Jeremy Meeks, 36, nicknamed Hot Felon, in June 2019, following a two-year romance.
Checking in? The two men were on their phones as Chloe made her way onto shore
The former Made in Chelsea star shares a two-year-old son, Jayden while Manuele has a daughter from a previous relationship with a former partner.
After her split from hot felon Jeremy, Chloe briefly dated Italian polo captain Rommy Gianni, who she was also spotted kissing on board her dad's super yacht.
Chloe was photographed in Sardina with Rommy last August just two months after reports of her split from Jeremy.
MailOnline contacted Chloe for comment at the time.
COLUMBUS, OH Ohio saw a surge in new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths on Tuesday.
Gov. Mike DeWine acknowledged that Ohio is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases. He urged Ohioans to follow physical distancing protocols, wear a mask and get a COVID-19 test if they felt ill. DeWine was then tested for the virus during Tuesday's news conference.
Over the past 24 hours, Ohio confirmed 590 new COVID-19 cases and 31 COVID-19-related deaths. At least 87 people were hospitalized because of the virus during that same time span, the Ohio Department of Health announced. Twenty-four people were admitted to intensive care units with COVID-19, the state health department said.
Don't miss the latest updates from health and government officials in Ohio on the coronavirus. Sign up for Patch newsletters and news alerts.
Over the past three weeks, Ohio has averaged the following numbers per day:
COVID-19 cases: 466 cases
COVID-19-related deaths per day: 23
COVID-19-related hospitalizations: 57
COVID-19-related ICU admissions: 14
Ohio is launching three new advertisements to encourage Ohioans to follow health and safety protocols. DeWine said the ads note that Ohio's economic recovery is tied into the state's ability to stymie COVID-19.
The ads were paid for using the Ohio Department of Health's budget. They will air on broadcast and cable television.
Here is the second "I Believe" PSA pic.twitter.com/rw7NudhT7R
Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) June 23, 2020
This article originally appeared on the Cleveland Patch
Nguyen Thanh Tam (L) and his son Nguyen Huu Thanh stand trial in Binh Thuan Province for raping a disabled woman, June 22, 2020. Photo by Binh Thuan Newspaper.
A Binh Thuan Province court has sentenced a father and son to three and nine years each for raping, impregnating an intellectually disabled woman.
Nguyen Thanh Tam, 43, was jailed for three years while his 20-year-old son Nguyen Huu Thanh got nine years after the latter was identified as the father of the baby, the court ruled Monday.
Both were forced to pay VND70 million ($3,016) in compensation for mental trauma and supporting the mother in raising the child.
According to the indictment, Thanh and the victim were cousins. In late 2018, he visited her home in Ham Thuan Nam District in the south central province of Binh Thuan, noting she lived alone. Thanh later forced her into a room where he raped her on two different occasions in the following days.
Thanhs father also visited the victims home where he continued to rape her. Tam threatened to kill her if she revealed the secret.
In mid-2019, the victims mother noticed something amiss in her daughter and took her to a hospital where doctors found she was around six months pregnant. After the victim told her mother what had happened, she called on local police to launch a criminal investigation.
In November 2019, the victim gave birth to a boy, DNA results confirming Thanh to be the father.
The Central Institute of Mental Forensics in the southern province of Dong Nai concluded the victim suffered intellectually disability with limited cognition and behavior control.
Rape is punishable by death in Vietnam where around 2,000 sexual assaults are reported each year. Victims are mostly children and perpetrators family members, neighbors, school employees or other adults the children are familiar with.
Two part travel doco Joanna Lumleys Hidden Caribbean begins next week on ABC.
This is a 2020 series in which she travels from Havana to Haiti.
Joanna kicks off her adventure in Havana in a boxing gym with one of Cubas rising female boxing stars. She also visits the stars of the cabaret at the National Hotel
8:30pm Tuesday on ABC.
Vivian Tunnell Woods, 75, of Hixson, Tennessee went to be with the Lord Tuesday, June 23, 2020, after an extended illness.
Mrs. Woods was born July 8th, 1944, in Texas City, Texas. Vivian attended Texas City High School, where she was editor-in-chief of the Texas City High yearbook, President of the Literary Guild, Secretary of the Pep Squad, and Representative to Girls State. Vivian graduated college from Southern Methodist University and following her graduation, she became a stewardess for PAN AM. She moved to Chattanooga and began teaching 5th grade at Red Bank Elementary, leading to a remarkably successful 34-year teaching career for Hamilton County School system. In 1985, Vivian was a finalist for NASAs First Teacher in Space program, a program that she was extremely dedicated to and a program that remained very close to her heart, especially with the significance of the space shuttle and the tragic death of the teacher and astronauts on board. Vivian was appointed a supervisor of the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades of Hamilton County schools and was a principal of Mowbray, Bachman, Soddy, and Snow Hill. Mrs. Woods had a series of achievements and accomplishments during her tenure as an educator, as she was awarded Hamilton County Principal of the Year, was a finalist for Tennessees Principal of the Year, and was the president of the Hamilton County Principals Association. Vivian was exceptionally passionate about education, as she felt that every individual should have access to education and the opportunity to learn important and essential skills and tools that can be used to navigate the world. Mrs. Woods was loved deeply by all her students and staff, as she touched several individuals hearts through her love, compassion, and admiration for education.
Vivian was preceded in death by her mother, Marjorie Tunnell, her father, Brady Tunnell, and her husband, Jim Woods.
Mrs. Woods is survived by her sister, Suzanne Tunnell Ebrahimi (Ali) of Houston, Texas, her son, Scott Moore of Hixson, Tennessee, her stepsons, John Woods (Janelle) and Jim Woods (Terri) of Marietta, Georgia, and her stepdaughter, Jamie Woods Angel (Bob) of Kennesaw, Georgia. She also had several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Friday, June 26, at the funeral home. A funeral service will follow at 12:30 p.m. Burial will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery.
To watch the service live you may join us at https://www.facebook.com/ ChattanoogaNorthChapel
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association, 7625 Hamilton Park Drive Suite 8, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421, www.alz.org.
We respectfully request that "social distancing", wearing masks, and all CDC measures be adhered to at the funeral home and the cemetery.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343.
Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 18:20:09|Editor: huaxia
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LUSAKA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's cabinet has approved the establishment of an economic stimulus package that will be financed through the issuance of a COVID-19 bond, a statement released after a cabinet meeting said on Tuesday.
During its 16th sitting on Monday, the cabinet approved in principle for the establishment of the 8 billion Zambian Kwacha (about 438 million U.S. dollars) economic stimulus package which will be allocated to needy areas such as payment to retirees, contractors and suppliers, according to the statement released late Monday.
It added that it was necessary to provide an economic stimulus through the issuance of the COVID-19 bond in order to improve the liquidity levels in the economy that have reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The outbreak of the pandemic has had a toll on the southern African nation's economy, resulting in a constriction of economic growth.
Zambia has so far recorded 1,430 cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths. Enditem
Overwhelmed Kentucky and New York officials faced a deluge of mail-in votes likely to delay results for days after high-profile primaries Tuesday contests testing whether establishment Democratic congressional candidates can withstand challengers fuelled by voter fury over racism in the United States.
There was particular concern about how voting might play out in Louisville, Kentucky. The states largest city and hometown of a serious challenger for the Democratic nomination for the Senate, Louisville population nearly 600,000 had just one in-person polling place.
But voting was moving smoothly early Tuesday, with large crowds flowing through the Kentucky Exposition Center so quickly that there was no need for people to stand and wait at the many social-distancing markers on the floor.
ICYMI: While national Democrats, athletes and Hollywood celebrities claim 'voter suppression,' #Kentucky is on pace for a record setting turnout in the 2020 primary election. https://t.co/SYWEEwwGx3 #AllEyesOnKentucky #KYSen Philmonger (@phillipmbailey) June 23, 2020
Each of the citys local districts was replicated inside the vast convention centre, and plenty of poll workers were available to direct voters to their designated areas to cast their ballots. And while masks werent required, the overwhelming majority of voters appeared to wear them. Outside, buses shuttled people from huge parking lots to the centres doors.
It was in and out, no waiting at all, said Anthony Spicer, a 51-year-old Black man.
A voter filling out her ballot at a convention centre serving as the only polling place open for a primary election in Louisville, Kentucky. [Timothy D. Easley/AP Photo]
All of this flowed from the coronavirus pandemic, which has upended life in the US since March. Tuesday, it was on track to take its toll on voters hoping to cast ballots without long waits and for officials hoping to quickly declare winners in all but the most one-sided contests.
Like other states, Kentucky and New York have made it easier for voters to cast ballots by mail, instead of risking exposure to the virus by waiting on long lines. That is likely to mean delayed election results caused by a perfect storm: far more mail-in votes than usual, and ballot-counting procedures that have not been adjusted to handle them.
The focus was on two races Tuesday. In both, Democrats were waiting to see if nationwide protests sparked by last months killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody would translate to decisive turnout by Black and progressive voters.
Amy McGrath, favoured by party leaders and buoyed by a massive $41m war chest, faced an 11-hour scare as she fought to become the Democratic nominee against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Shes a former Marine combat pilot with centrist views, which top Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer view as a strong match for the Republican-heavy state.
Election Day in New York is off to a bad start. Here's a running thread of problems voters are experiencing, which I'll update throughout the day. Peter F. Martin (@peter_f_martin) June 23, 2020
But freshman state legislator Charles Bookers underfinanced campaign has caught fire after he attended recent protests against the March police killing of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in her Louisville home. That has helped Booker win support from progressive icons like Senator Bernie Sanders and the states two largest newspapers, leaving the primarys outcome unpredictable.
Meanwhile, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, embraced by a whos who of prominent Democrats, was battling for a 17th House term.
His challenger is educator and political neophyte Jamaal Bowman, who has drawn strength from anti-racism protests and his accusations that Engel has grown aloof from his district in parts of the Bronx and Westchester. Engel, a liberal, has support from the likes of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Black Caucus. Hes also outspent Bowman, who has been helped by progressive groups and a coveted endorsement by The New York Times.
Virginia was also holding congressional primaries, and there was one Republican House runoff each in North Carolina and Mississippi.
Poll workers instructing a voter on where to go to fill out her ballot at the convention centre in Louisville, Kentucky. [Timothy D. Easley/AP Photo]
Kentucky has been overwhelmed by such an increase in mail ballots that the states two biggest counties, Jefferson and Fayette, are not planning to release results election night, said Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams. Jefferson County is home to Louisville.
Kentucky typically receives few mail ballots, but expects them to account for the majority of votes this time. With the state now allowing any registered voter to vote by mail, more than 400,000 mail ballots were returned as of Sunday. All ballots received by Saturday will be counted.
New York officials expect the vast majority of votes to be mail ballots this year, compared to their typical five percent share. Counties have until eight days after election day to count and release the results of mail ballots, with 1.7 million requested by voters.
Other notable contests Tuesday included an effort by one-time CNBC anchor and former Republican Michelle Caruso-Cabrera to grab the Democratic nomination from Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez, who has become a progressive icon, was an unknown 28-year-old when she won a 2018 primary over longtime Representative Joe Crowley, who seemed in line to become House speaker.
Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history unless this stupidity is ended. We voted during World War One & World War Two with no problem, but now they are using Covid in order to cheat by using Mail-Ins! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2020
As Tuesdays voting approached, President Donald Trump continued his effort to undermine Americans faith in mail-in voting by repeating his unfounded claim that the system is rife with fraud.
Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history unless this stupidity is ended, he tweeted, accusing proponents of using Covid in order to cheat.
Already this year, problems like long lines and lost mail-in ballots have plagued elections in Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Its striking to read objectivity defined that way not because its objectionable, but rather because it barely resembles the way the concept is commonly discussed in newsrooms today. Conversations about objectivity, rather than happening in a virtuous vacuum, habitually focus on predicting whether a given sentence, opening paragraph or entire article will appear objective to a theoretical reader, who is invariably assumed to be white. This creates the very illusion of fairness that Mr. Jones, and others, specifically warn against.
Instead of telling hard truths in this polarized environment, Americas newsrooms too often deprive their readers of plainly stated facts that could expose reporters to accusations of partiality or imbalance.
For years, Ive been among a chorus of mainstream journalists who have called for our industry to abandon the appearance of objectivity as the aspirational journalistic standard, and for reporters instead to focus on being fair and telling the truth, as best as one can, based on the given context and available facts.
Its not a novel argument. Scores of journalists across generations, from gonzo reporters like Hunter S. Thompson to more traditional voices like Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, have advocated this very approach. Mr. Kovach and Mr. Rosenstiel lay it out in detail in their classic text The Elements of Journalism.
Those of us advancing this argument know that a fairness-and-truth focus will have different, healthy interpretations. We also know that neutral objective journalism is constructed atop a pyramid of subjective decision-making: which stories to cover, how intensely to cover those stories, which sources to seek out and include, which pieces of information are highlighted and which are downplayed. No journalistic process is objective. And no individual journalist is objective, because no human being is.
And so, instead of promising our readers that we will never, on any platform, betray a single personal bias submitting ourselves to a life sentence of public thoughtlessness a better pledge would be an assurance that we will devote ourselves to accuracy, that we will diligently seek out the perspectives of those with whom we personally may be inclined to disagree and that we will be just as sure to ask hard questions of those with whom were inclined to agree.
The best of our profession already does this. But we need to be honest about the gulf that lies between the best and the bulk.
Tina Fey along with her 30 Rock co-creator Robert Carlock and NBCUniversal have requested to remove four episodes of the comedy series because they feature the use of blackface.
Vulture first reported that the episodes were being removed from Hulu and Amazon Prime, and they weren't available to purchase on iTunes or Google Play.
Fey addressed the episodes' removal in a letter sent to streaming platforms and obtained by Variety.
Down the memory hole: Four episodes of 30 Rock featuring the use of blackface have been removed from streaming services, digital rental outlets and syndication at the request of Tina Fey, co-creator Robert Carlock and NBCUniversal; pictured in 2018
In one episode of 30 Rock, Jane Krakowski wore blackface to dress as former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann, while her boyfriend (guest star Will Forte) dressed as Natalie Portman in a spoof of her film Black Swan
In another episode, regular guest star Jon Hamm blackened his skin in a sketch critiquing the racist television series and radio show Amos 'n' Andy
'As we strive to do the work and do better in regards to race in America, we believe that these episodes featuring actors in race-changing makeup are best taken out of circulation,' she wrote.
'I understand now that 'intent' is not a free pass for white people to use these images. I apologize for pain they have caused.
'Going forward, no comedy-loving kid needs to stumble on these tropes and be stung by their ugliness. I thank NBCUniversal for honoring this request,' she concluded.
In addition to disappearing from streaming services and digital rental outlets, the offending episodes will no longer be broadcast on television.
Out of circulation: 'As we strive to do the work and do better in regards to race in America, we believe that these episodes featuring actors in race-changing makeup are best taken out of circulation,' she wrote in a letter to streamers; pictured with Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock
Two of the episodes, season three's Believe In The Stars and season five's Christmas Attack Zone, feature the character Jenna Maroney, played by Jane Krakowski, darkening her face.
In the former, she puts on blackface while her co-star Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) lightens his skin and dresses as a woman to determine if white women or Black men face greater struggles in society.
In the latter episode, Jenna wore blackface to dress as former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann, while her boyfriend (guest star Will Forte) dressed as Natalie Portman in a spoof of her film Black Swan.
Controversial: Two of the episodes, season three's Believe In The Stars and season five's Christmas Attack Zone, feature the character Jenna Maroney, played by Jane Krakowski, darkening her face
Also pulled from circulation was season five's East Coast version of Live Show, as well as season six's Live From Studio H.
In the latter episode, regular guest star Jon Hamm blackened his skin in a sketch critiquing the racist television series and radio show Amos 'n' Andy.
His character also spoofed the racist characterizations in Disney's Song Of The South, which has long been out of circulation.
The removal of the episodes comes amid moves by companies and brands to appear anti-racist, following protests that erupted across the nation that were inspired by the police killing of George Floyd and numerous other Black men and women.
Amid the furor, Gone With The Wind was removed from the new streaming service HBO Max, though the film will return sometime in the future with additional warnings about its racist content and new discussions that provide context for the 1939 epic.
Critique: In a season six episode, regular guest star Jon Hamm blackened his skin in a sketch critiquing the racist television series and radio show Amos 'n' Andy; still from 30 Rock
Changing times: A 2010 episode featuring Krakowski in blackface was praised by journalist Toure, but the reception to Hamm's 2012 episode was more mixed; publicity still from 30 Rock
Though Hollywood and its stars are trying to stamp out blackface depictions, 30 Rock's uses of blackface received a mix of praise and criticism at the time.
In 2010, journalist and cultural critic Toure commended Christmas Attack Zone in Mediaite for 'not using blackface as a simplistic visual way of turning a white person Black but as a complex tool that makes a multi-layered joke at the character's expense.'
Journalist Jamil Smith was less forgiving of Hamm's Amos 'n' Andy spoof in 2012.
'And #30Rock has Jon Hamm in almost-kinda-yeah-actually-it's-Blackface,' he tweet disapprovingly at the time.
A 16-year-old boy who was attacked with a glass bottle at a Black Lives Matter protest in London said he was stopped and searched by police after asking for help.
The teenager, named only as Gerard, joined the demonstrations in Westminster on June 13, which were sparked by the death of George Floyd in the United States.
Speaking to Channel 4 News, he said he didn't realise the event had been called off due to safety concerns over a counter-protesters involving far-right activists.
During the protest, Gerard said he was approached by a "whole mob of what appeared to be far-right supporters".
Despite telling the group he was not involved in the protests, they pulled him to the ground and attacked him with a glass bottle.
The Met Police confirmed to the Standard that the incident is being investigated as a racially aggravated assault.
Black Lives Matter protests across the world - In pictures 1 /28 Black Lives Matter protests across the world - In pictures A banner and a US. flag are placed on the Monument a la Republique in Paris REUTERS Protesters in Perth Australia Getty Images Speakers at the Black Lives Matter Rally at Langley Park in Perth Getty Images Police officers are seen during a protest against police brutality and the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Paris REUTERS Perth protests Getty Images Speakers take to the stage during the Black Lives Matter Rally in Perty Getty Images Protesters show their support during the Black Lives Matter Rally at Langley Park in Perty Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth Getty Images Thousands of people take part in a demonstration against police brutality and racism in Paris AP French riot police forces detain a protester during a rally as part of the 'Black Lives Matter' AFP via Getty Images French riot police forces detain protesters AFP via Getty Images The crowds in Paris AFP via Getty Images A man wearing a protective face mask and googles walks past a broken store window in Paris REUTERS Assa Traore (C), the sister of Adama Traore, who died in police custody in 2016 in Paris AFP via Getty Images Protesters hold flares as they stand next to a banner reading 'Confronted to police brutality - Self defence' in Paris AFP via Getty Images A house facade with a graffiti against police in Paris. AFP via Getty Images An injured demonstrator is helped away in Paris AFP via Getty Images
"When I was on the floor, I was just getting punched and kicked," Gerard said. "I was thinking, I don't know how I'm going to get out of this."
Left beaten and bloodied, and with impaired eyesight, Gerard approached the police for help.
The officer looked for injuries, Gerard said, but also stopped and searched him.
"He did look for injuries, but he also stopped and searched me," the teenager explained. "He seemed a bit wary of me at the same time."
Gerard said he didn't feel safe in the area and asked the officer to help him get to "anywhere he could be safe".
"He said no, he had to go and help the rest of his team," Gerard said.
His mother, Fanta, told Channel 4 News: "Who would have missed the blood? Had that been a 16-year-old white boy, or non-black child, would that child have been ignored? That's what I keep asking myself.
"If you can go to a police officer bleeding, asking for help, you left himyou said you were going to help your colleagues. I don't have faith anymore and I'm scared for his own future."
She added: "It will take time for me to recover from this myself."
Gerard thanked the member of the public who helped stop the attack.
"Thank you so much for not standing by when you see injustice and discrimination happening," he said. "You should feel very proud of yourself. Some people might not have jumped in."
Far-right protests clash violently with police in Westminster
Police said a section 60 order was in place at the time of the incident, which gives officers the power to stop and search those they believed to have been involved in violence.
"The boy approached officers who were actively engaged in the police operation to deal with the violent incidents seeking medical assistance," a statement said.
"He reported that he had been assaulted by a group of men and was suffering a facial injury. An officer carried out an initial assessment of the injury and deemed it was not serious.
"He was also checked over, including the lifting of his clothing, to ensure he had not received any other injuries."
The officer advised Gerard that it was unlikely the London Ambulance Service would be able to attend the location and suggested he make his way to the outer cordon.
"The boy then made contact with officers on the outer cordon," the statement said. "LAS were called and officers waited with him until they arrived."
Gerard was taken to hospital and later discharged.
The officers said they left Gerard in the care of the paramedics due to the "ongoing public order situation around them".
Amanda Pearson, the Met's Deputy Assistant Commissioner, said: "This incident is being treated as a racially aggravated assault. It is entirely unacceptable that anyone should be subject to an assault, especially one of this nature, and we have offered our full support to the victim in this case.
"This incident is being fully investigated by our officers. Detailed analysis of CCTV is being carried out to identify those involved. We will of course keep the victim and his family fully updated with the progress of this investigation."
There have been no arrests and enquiries are ongoing, police said.
As Cedars-Sinai expands telehealth and video visits and resumes surgeries, Joanna Chikwe, MD, chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Smidt Heart Institute, has her focus on one thing: ensuring that patients with heart disease understand it is safe to be seen, and treated, by Cedars-Sinai healthcare teams.
In three recent publications, Chikwe describes how flattening the COVID-19 curve has come at a "terrible cost" for patients with heart conditions. Chikwe also outlines how surgeons, hospitals and ambulatory care centers can safely resume caring for cardiac surgery patients in the era of the virus.
"Patients are now scared to go to their primary care doctors, their cardiologists' offices and the emergency room, where admissions are down by over 70% in many institutions," reads an article Chikwe co-authored with Christine Albert, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Cardiology. The article was published in Cardiology, a publication of the American College of Cardiology. "There is no way of knowing how many patients are dying at home of cardiac causes unrelated to COVID-19 because they have delayed seeking medical attention."
The finding that cardiac admissions are down by over 70% in many institutions comes from a published paper in the journal Circulation, of which Chikwe served as an author.
In the study, researchers surveyed 60 cardiac surgery centers in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey represented over 600 cardiac surgeons and found the median reduction in cardiac surgery case volume was 50% to 75%, with many centers indicating their surgeons were not performing any elective surgeries.
As a follow-up to the study, Chikwe served as lead author on new recommendations published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery that provide guidance around safely resuming cardiac surgery, research and education amid COVID-19.
The recommendations were developed by committee discussion within a cardiovascular research consortium representing 19 countries and a broad spectrum of cardiac surgery experience. The authors recommended that cardiac surgery be among the first clinical services supported so that elective inpatient and outpatient care can be resumed as soon as possible. Additionally, all patients should be screened for COVID-19 prior to surgery.
Our practical recommendations are intended to support local decision-making according to governmental requirements, regional disease prevalence, institutional capacity and ethics." Joanna Chikwe, MD, Chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Smidt Heart Institute
Cedars-Sinai staff has already implemented the key recommendations in the consensus statements, including testing before every procedure.
"State-of-the-art screening and prevention services at Cedars-Sinai create a safe environment for the highest quality cardiac care," said Eduardo Marban, MD, PhD, executive director if the Smidt Heart Institute. "We are committed to ensuring that patients in need not delay seeking treatment for fear of contracting COVID-19."
Before and after procedures, as much as possible is now being done remotely, to save patients the risk and expense of in-person visits.
"Above all, we want all patients especially those with cardiac care needs to know it's safe and easier than ever to see your doctor and get the treatment you need," said Chikwe.
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DGAP-Ad-hoc: MyBucks S.A. / Key word(s): Disposal/Personnel
MyBucks S.A. Completes Second Phase of Financial Restructuring
23-Jun-2020 / 16:35 CET/CEST
Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
/
Disclosure of an inside information according to Art. 17 MAR
MyBucks S.A. / Key word(s): Disposal/Personnel
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR IN WHICH THE OFFERING OF SECURITIES IS SUBJECT TO REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE.
MyBucks S.A. Completes Second Phase of Financial Restructuring
- External debt reduced by c. EUR26.5m through effective sale of operations in Botswana and disposal of equity stakes in Mozambique and Zambia
- Malawian balance sheet strengthened through introduction of a local partner with parallel c. EUR6m liquidity unlocked for further debt reduction
- Residual debt reduced to est. c. EUR25m from c. EUR108m as of 31 March 2019 at the start of the restructuring
- Proposed appointment of Patrick Matute as an Executive Board Member, appointment of Craig Lyons as Chairman of the Board with a phase-out of Timothy Nuy as CEO following the successful completion of the restructuring
Luxembourg, June 23, 2020 - Frankfurt-listed Fintech MyBucks S.A. ("MyBucks" or the "Company") today announced that it has successfully completed a second phase of the Debt Restructuring of the Company. It has reduced its consolidated indebtedness by c. EUR26.5m through a disposal of GetBucks Limited, Mauritius (holding its Botswana operation) including a disposal of shares in its operations in Mozambique and Zambia. MyBucks will retain a c. 25.0% stake in MBC Mozambique. MyBucks has further agreed to reduce its shareholding in Malawi to 49%, taken up by Mpatsa Holdings ("Mpatsa") a local investment holding company, allowing for a debt reduction by c. EUR6m. These transactions remain subject to customary regulatory approvals, most importantly central bank approval in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
MyBucks expects the transaction to have an accretive effect on its equity. It is expected to reduce gross external debt to c. EUR25m, against which the Company still holds financial assets of c. EUR10m.
To further align the cost structures of the Group to the need to focus on operational efficiency, the Group has decided to simplify its governance structures. Craig Lyons will take-over as an active Chairman of the Board of MyBucks S.A. from Dirk Harbecke. The executive team will be composed of Craig Lyons, Riaan Paul (Group Chief Financial Officer, based out of Luxembourg) and Patrick Matute (CEO of MyBucks' wholly-owned bank holding company, based in Africa). This structure will allow the Group to reduce cost, and to continue to deliver world-class reporting out of Luxembourg whilst driving significant growth on-the-ground in the African assets. Having successfully completed his restructuring mandate, Timothy Nuy will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer and leaving the Board at the next Annual General Meeting.
MyBucks expects to publish its audited financial statements by End of July 2020, and will invite for a general meeting thereafter to approve these financial statements. MyBucks intents to further align its Board of Directors to the transformed operational structure in this regard.
ENDS
About MyBucks
MyBucks S.A. is a FinTech company domiciled in Luxembourg that delivers financial services through technology. MyBucks operates in six African countries through its brands GetBucks, GetSure, MBC, and Opportunity Bank. The Group offers credit, banking solutions and insurance products to customers. The MyBucks product offering enables customers to manage their financial affairs easily and conveniently. Discover more at http://www.mybucks.com
Contact:
Investor related matters: investors@mybucks.com
Public relations: pr@mybucks.com
Important Notice:
This publication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe securities of MyBucks S.A. in the United States, Germany or any other jurisdiction.
This publication is not intended, either directly or indirectly, for dissemination or distribution to the USA or within the USA (including its territories and possessions, a U.S. federal state and the District of Columbia) and may not be distributed or forwarded to 'U.S. persons' (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 in the applicable version ('Securities Act')) or to publications which are widely available in the USA. This publication does not constitute an offer - or a request to issue an offer - to buy or acquire securities in the USA, nor is it part of such an offer or request. The securities are not and will not be registered in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act and may only be sold or offered for purchase in the USA with prior registration in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act in the version currently applicable or, in the absence of prior registration, if an exemption is granted. MyBucks S.A. does not intend to make a public share offer in the USA.
Subject to certain exceptions under applicable securities laws, the securities referred to in this publication may not be offered or sold in Canada, Australia or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Canada, Australia or Japan.
No action has been taken that would permit an offering of securities or their subscription or the distribution of this publication in any jurisdiction where such offering, subscription or distribution is prohibited. Persons who obtain this publication are required to inform themselves about potential restrictions and to observe any such restrictions.
This publication contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current views, expectations and assumptions of the management of MyBucks S.A. and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those described herein due to factors affecting MyBucks S.A. such as, among other things, changes in the general economic and competitive environment, capital market risks, currency exchange rate fluctuations and competition from other companies, and changes in international and national laws and regulations, in particular with respect to tax laws and regulations. MyBucks S.A. does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
The information contained in this publication is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed, for any purpose, on the information contained in this publication or its accuracy or completeness. The information in this publication is subject to change.
Neither the bank nor any of their directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this publication (or whether any information has been omitted from the publication) or, with limited exception, other information relating to MyBucks S.A., its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and independent from how it was transmitted or made available, or for any loss in any way arising from any use of this publication or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.
An investigation is underway after dozens of French bulldog puppies died after 500 of them were found on board a Ukraine International Airlines plane at Toronto airport.
Thirty-eight of the dogs were found dead on their arrival in Canada.
The surviving French bulldogs, a popular breed in Canada, were suffering from symptoms including dehydration, weakness and vomiting when they were found on the flight from Ukraine which landed at Toronto Pearson Airport on June 13, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a statement.
"CFIA officials are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident and will determine next steps once the investigation is complete, the statement said.
There were 500 French bulldog puppies on board the flight. The dog pictured was not onboard. Source: Getty, file.
A dog handler who was picking up another animal from the airport cargo area where the puppies were discovered last Saturday told the CBC of a "horror scene," adding: "It was a nightmare."
UIA offered its "condolences for the tragic loss of animal life on our flight" and said on Facebook that it was working with local authorities.
"UIA is working with local authorities to determine what happened and to make any changes necessary to prevent such a situation from occurring again," the Facebook post read.
Video shared to social media appeared to show the dogs in crates being unloaded from a car in Kiev, The Independent reported.
One witness also claims to have seen dead puppies inside bin bags outside a cargo warehouse at Toronto airport.
Puppy sales are "lucrative" in Canada, Veterinary Professor Scott Weese of the University of Guelph told the CBC.
Most buyers believe the animals are bred in Canada, but the reality is "we have no idea how many dogs come in, where they go, where they come from," he said, adding that there was "potentially some organised crime component."
"You mentioned 500 French bulldogs. If those are going for sale at $3,000 to $4,000 a dog, that's a massive amount of money," he told the broadcaster.
Animal welfare campaigners say many of the families who buy the puppies in Canada are unaware of their pets history.
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with AFP
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To the Editor:
In this moment of national reflection, as we see racist statues removed from our cities, its gratifying to see people in Syracuse looking critically at our own symbols of past racism. But while most of the recent attention in Syracuse has focused on the statue in Columbus Circle, another more significant monument to racism and oppression still looms over Syracuse and Central New York Interstate 81.
A product of the mid-20th Century push to build the national highway system, the 1.5 mile stretch of I-81 through downtown stands on the site of what was once a thriving Black neighborhood. The path of I-81 through our city was drawn by flawed urban renewal policies of the day that viewed non-white neighborhoods as slums and targeted them for removal in the name of progress. These policies amplified other racist practices at the time taking place in Syracuse, like redlining, that were aimed at keeping non-whites away from prosperous neighborhoods, and later out of white suburbs.
And the legacy of these racist policies lives on today. Study after study have found our region to be highly segregated, and Syracuse has the highest concentration of poverty among Black and Hispanic people of any city in the nation. As we reevaluate our monuments, and judge their significance during this critical moment for our nation, its time we acknowledge as a community the racist foundations on which I-81 is built. Only then can we move forward, toward a more equitable and more prosperous future together.
Mark Headd
Syracuse
How to submit letters and commentary to Syracuse.com
KOCHI: June and July are busy months for overseas education consultants as every year hundreds of students approach them to pursue their dream to study abroad. India and China are the two countries which send the highest number of students overseas.
But the picture is not the same this year and thousands of students studying in foreign university are worried over the uncertainty over completing the course. Both the enrolled students and those who want to join foreign campuses are equally worried over the escalating graph of coronavirus transmission, restrictions on international flight service and decreasing job opportunities.
Several foreign universities sent students back home, while classes have now been switched to online. Though colleges have resumed virtual sessions, many students and parents are not satisfied with digital classes.
Most of us have chosen a foreign institution for higher studies to have an experience of the campuses, culture and social life. Many of us also want to work and settle in these countries. Spending several lakhs just to attend the online class is unfair. The universities are not willing to reduce the tuition fee. The fee paid is for accessing other facilities in the campus like library, lab and other services. Since the services are unavailable, it is unfair to ask students to pay full fee, said Midhun Thomas, a student in Australia.
Those who decided to stay back in foreign countries are finding it tough to pay for accommodation and other utilities as most of them lost part-time job. Since uncertainty prevails around when the universities would reopen, both the students and their families are in a fix.
There are also reports that few Chinese universities/colleges have asked final year students not to return to the campus. They will not be given student visas and if required they can come on a visiting visa once the pandemic situation improves. There are complaints that some students are not getting digital classes regularly and the universities are not responding.
Yearly examinations have started which are being invigilated in a very strict manner using cameras and other devices. We have been asked not to come to the campus for the time being as there is no let up in virus transmission globally. And in China, new cases are being reported now. Hence the graduation ceremony of final year students is conducted online in many colleges. In my university, there is no restriction for students to come back once the situation improves. They have also promised to refund the fee paid for accommodation and other facilities, said an MBBS student from Ernakulam, studying in Xinjiang Medical University, China.
Meanwhile, several universities and colleges in US, Canada and European countries have adapted wisely to the adverse situation because they knew that international students are really important for them. Drop in overseas students, who pay higher fees, means big loss for educational institutions.
Colleges/universities have started online classes even for the last intake batch of students. They have been given the option to complete the first year/first semester from their home and return to the college when the situation is back to normal. But, the online classes are bit difficult for beginners as the foreign education system is different, said Jayesh Jacob of Royalae World, education and career services.
No university or college in Western countries have denied permission for students to come back once the restrictions are lifted, he added.
According to the data released by the Ministry of External Affairs in July 2019, more than 7.5 lakh Indian students are studying overseas.
A death row inmate is escorted to his cell at San Quentin State Prison in 2016. (Los Angeles Times)
Texas death row inmate Ray Freeney asked the federal courts last year to grant him a new sentencing trial because of the bizarre practice among some Texas judges of simply adopting language written by prosecutors as their rulings. Freeney sought a new sentencing hearing on the grounds that his lawyer incompetently failed to present mitigating evidence, but the judge rejected that claim and adopted the prosecutors' findings of fact, word for word, even before his new attorneys presented their arguments. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Freeney's appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to take it up. Why? Because a 1996 federal law effectively said they had to.
For decades, supporters of the death penalty have complained that executions are needlessly held up by time-consuming, frivolous and long-shot appeals that the condemned file to delay their date with the executioner. That was one of the impulses behind the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, which limited consideration of the habeas corpus appeals that inmates can use to challenge their state convictions and sentences in federal court.
The law undermined the spirit of vital constitutional guarantees and granted unwarranted deference to state court rulings on capital cases. This should trouble us on a number of levels, and it needs to be fixed.
The Framers embedded habeas protections in the U.S. Constitution as a bulwark against false imprisonment by the government. It is a fundamental element of the concept of individual liberties that dates to the Magna Carta.
Briefly, people who believe the government has unconstitutionally imprisoned them can seek redress in the courts. In the capital punishment system, habeas petitions are used primarily by the condemned to argue that their state convictions or sentences involve constitutional violations fake evidence, perjured witnesses, prosecutorial misconduct and other acts that unfairly tipped the scales of justice against them. Not every error, of course, leads to an unfair or unjust trial. The federal courts, which get involved after state appeals have been exhausted, often distill habeas appeals into that pivotal issue: Did the constitutional violation occur, and did it lead to a denial of justice?
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But the 1996 act enacted partly in response to the 168 lives lost when domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City the year before curtailed that review. Among other restrictions, it says that a federal court generally cant grant a habeas petition unless the state court decision has contradicted or applied an unreasonable interpretation of Supreme Court precedents.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly interpreted this requirement so as to limit successful habeas petitions to those in which the alleged violations are so blatant as to be totally indefensible, U.S. District Court Judge Jed. S Rakoff wrote in 2016, lamenting that the effect was to halt federal review of "the steamroller systems of criminal justice found in too many states.
The effect has been catastrophic for the condemned who are innocent, or who at a minimum did not receive fair trials or sentencing hearings. A landmark study from Columbia Law School reported that, from 1973 to 1995, federal and state judges found serious, reversible error in about 70% of death penalty cases, nearly half of which were set aside in state appeals. Federal review found 40% of the remaining cases involved errors that the state courts missed.
Another study in 2009 found that before the 1996 crime law went into effect, more than half of federal appeals were successful; afterward, that dropped to about 12%. A fresh study of Texas cases published this year in the UCLA Law Review found death-sentenced inmates prevailed two-thirds of the time before the 1996 federal law but that since then their success rate percentage is in the single-digits.
Clearly, a whole lot more people on death row previously found relief in federal courts; now inmates like Freeney who have been sentenced to death are not. And its not because the state courts have gotten better. Its because the 1996 act undermined constitutional rights.
Too often, public discussions of the death penalty get caught up in the legitimate emotions surrounding the crimes themselves. This page has a long history of opposing the death penalty in part because it is a barbaric relic that is applied disproportionately to people of color and low-income defendants. But it is also impossible to get right.
On occasion, police, prosecutors and witnesses lie or give false testimony that they believe is right. Many defense lawyers often untrained in capital cases, poorly paid and overwhelmed by crushing caseloads aren't up to the task, leading to convictions not because of guilt, but because of ineffective legal help. Those systemic shortcomings have nothing to do with the heinous nature of the crime at hand. They spotlight the challenge in finding the truth and assigning guilt. And when the result of that process is an execution possibly of an innocent person then the system cannot be relied on.
But rely on it we do. If we are not going to abolish capital punishment, as The Times' editorial board has urged, we must take every measure possible to reduce errors and to protect constitutional rights. The 1996 law was a move away from that. We have the studies to show how it has failed justice, and has failed us. Congress needs to repeal it.
JUNEAU, Alaska - A man suing the state over plans to distribute federal coronavirus relief aid is asking a judge to block disbursement of a portion set aside for small businesses after Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavys administration reinterpreted the rules.
Eric Forrer, contends the money should be spent according to defined standards, according to a court filing from his attorney, Joe Geldhof.
The filing seeks a court order that would either halt the disbursement of money set aside for businesses until lawmakers approve a valid expenditure or block spending of the funds that do not adhere to the express terms of a proposal previously ratified by the Legislature. The filing misidentifies the bill number, a typo Geldhof acknowledged.
Forrer has maintained the ratification process itself was problematic, citing constitutional concerns.
Last week, the state Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development announced eligibility changes to the $290 million program intended to provide additional aid to businesses feeling the economic fallout from the coronavirus. The changes include allowing businesses that received $5,000 or less in certain federal relief funds to become eligible for the states grant program, provided they meet other requirements.
Alaska received more than $1 billion in federal coronavirus relief aid, $290 million of which the state designated toward a small business program. The program, proposed by the Dunleavy administration and later ratified by the Legislature, excluded businesses that had secured federal program funding directly available to them under a federal coronavirus relief law.
Glenn Hoskinson, a special assistant to Alaskas commerce commissioner, said when the proposal was first drafted, the first round of the federal loan funds had been depleted and the second round hadnt been made available. Hoskinson said by email the department also was not aware then that businesses were getting partial amounts of funds requested from the federal programs.
Hoskinson said last week the Department of Law was looking at how or if the commerce department could amend the eligibility criteria.
At a legislative hearing Wednesday, Assistant Attorney General Bill Milks said attorneys for the state took into consideration factors such as legislative intent and determined there was a reasonable legal basis for the proposed adjustments.
Geldhof, in court documents, called the interpretation fanciful.
Department of Law spokesperson Maria Bahr said Tuesday the department does not have a written opinion and said its public comments on the program were made during the hearing. But the department later released a statement, saying the state stands by the proposed distribution of funds.
These funds are needed now, and the State stands ready to defend the actions the Governor and Legislature have taken to get funds to those who need it, the statement says.
House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, an independent from Dillingham, in a statement said ensuring all small businesses have a chance to access financial relief is critically important. At this point, we are still evaluating what the lawsuit means.
In terms of a remedy, should one be required, all options are on the table. That includes potentially reconvening the Legislature, he said.
Senate President Cathy Giessel, an Anchorage Republican, in a statement said if further legislative action is needed, we will take action. At this time, however, we support the governors plan and believe it needs a chance to work.
Giessel was referring to the Senate majority when she said we, Senate Majority Communications Director Daniel McDonald said.
On Saturday evening, I posted an extensive column on the homepage, exploring this weekends contretemps between Attorney General William Barr and Geoffrey Berman, the now-former interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (where I was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years).
The more one looks at this, the more clear it becomes that Democrats are contorting a long-overdue personnel move into a scandal. This is not an accident. We are four months from Election Day, and Barr has indicated we may be closer to some sort of reckoning in Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durhams investigation. Barrs deservedly stellar pre-Trump reputation notwithstanding, the presidents opposition is determined to discredit him and, derivatively, any malfeasance uncovered by Durhams scrutiny of the Obama administrations Trump-Russia probe.
It is dysfunctional of the Trump administration not to have installed a confirmed SDNY U.S. Attorney serving a four-year term. The post is among the most consequential in the Justice Department indeed, in the government. Attorney General Barr has been trying to reestablish normalcy in that regard. For the reasons I laid out in the column, however, it is not easy to get nominees confirmed when Democrats hold both Senate seats in the state where the district is located.
It looks like Barr, with the presidents encouragement, wants to fill the job with someone the administration both likes and believes could get confirmed: SEC chairman Jay Clayton. He was easily confirmed (61-37) with bipartisan support for the SEC post (in the Trump years, getting nine Democratic senators to support a nominee is no mean feat). Hes done a good job, and he was ready to move on, but said hed stay in government if given the coveted job of SDNY U.S. Attorney. The administration considers that post unfilled. There has not been a Senate-confirmed SDNY U.S. Attorney since 2017, when Trump dismissed Preet Bharara, President Obamas appointee. Contrary to the impression conveyed by coverage of this controversy, Berman was not the U.S. Attorney; he was an interim occupant, keeping the seat warm due to a court order that was to stand only until the president picked someone to replace him either a confirmed appointee or another interim pick (if eligible under applicable statutes).
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It is not a knock on Berman or his staff to say Trump and Barr want them replaced. If the president had wanted Berman in the job, he would have nominated Berman. He did not. That does not necessarily mean the Trump administration thinks SDNY leadership is doing a bad job, or that the SDNY must be investigating the president if Barr wants to replace Berman. It simply means that Berman and his team are not the presidents or the attorney generals choice to run an office of significance to the administration.
President Obama would not have tolerated a situation in which an important U.S. attorneys office was not being run by his chosen appointee. It was, moreover, President Clinton who fired U.S. attorneys across the country (all appointed by Republican presidents over the preceding twelve years) upon assuming office. This broke the tradition of presidents permitting U.S. attorneys even those appointed by the opposition party to finish their four-year terms. Democrats cant have it both ways. They cant expect carte blanche to clean house when they come into power, and then scream Corruption! when Republican administrations install their own chosen prosecutors.
The SDNY has a storied tradition of independence, but it is independence with a catch: The U.S. Attorney is expected to be the presidents own appointee. Yes, DOJ gives SDNY a wide berth. The office has high-caliber personnel with very experienced supervision. No one knows their cases better than they do, and it is not Main Justices function to run cases. The SDNY has experience that is just as rich, sometimes richer, than Main Justices in such big-ticket federal-enforcement areas as organized crime, terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and securities and commodities investigations. The SDNY also has a very powerful district court (many judges are former SDNY prosecutors), which expects things done a certain way. It is in everybodys interest that the office have good relations with the court.
All that said, the independence image is overstated, despite its undeniable place in SDNY lore.
As one would expect, a presidents appointed U.S. attorney is generally in lockstep with a presidents appointed attorney general. Disagreements happen, of course, but they are rare. Furthermore, no district U.S. attorneys office, not even the SDNY, can afford to make a habit of being a problem child. Main Justice holds too many cards. It is the arbiter of inter-district turf wars which you tend to lose if youve made yourself a too much of a nuisance. In many areas, Main Justices approval is required before the district U.S. Attorney may act. In reality, most of what goes on between the SDNY and Main Justice is cordial consultation and cooperation.
That consultation and cooperation begins with having the administrations own chosen people in the top jobs. Administrations of both parties insist on that. The latest reporting illustrates why. There was tension last week when Berman refused to sign a letter from DOJs Civil Rights Division to New York Citys mayor, left-wing extremist Bill de Blasio. The letter complained about the double standard by which the City permits thousands to gather in protest but drastically restricts the free exercise of religion. Upholding religious liberty has been a Trump administration priority. The Justice Department is entitled to enforce the presidents lawful policy including by directing U.S. attorneys across the country to support the effort. Berman, however, reportedly called the letter a political stunt that would strain the SDNYs relationship with City Hall. He is entitled to his opinion . . . but no one elected him to anything. While DOJ is downplaying the dispute as a factor in Bermans ouster, neither a Democratic administration nor its water-carrying media would stand for an interim appointees thwarting of administration policy.
The narrative peddled by New York Democrats, such as Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler, that Barr and Trump pulled off the equivalent of Watergates Saturday Night Massacre is laughable. There is no reason to believe that the SDNY is conducting an investigation at this point that would threaten the president that way. As I explained in the column, there is also no reason to believe SDNY prosecutors would abide interference in any investigation touching on some associate of the president. Moreover, in his letter conveying Trumps dismissal of Berman on Saturday, Barr closed by saying:
Your [i.e., Bermans] statement [on Friday night, refusing to step down] wrongly implies that your continued tenure in the office is necessary to ensure that cases now pending in the [SDNY] are handled appropriately. This is obviously false. I fully expect that the office will continue to handle all cases in the normal course and pursuant to the Departments applicable standards, policies, and guidance. Going forward, if any actions or decisions are taken that office supervisors conclude are improper interference with a case, that information should be provided immediately to Michael Horowitz, the Department of Justices Inspector General, whom I am authorizing to review any such claim. The Inspector Generals monitoring of the situation will provide additional confidence that all cases will continue to be decided on the law and the facts.
Id note that Mike Horowitz was appointed DOJs IG by President Obama. In addition, he is a former longtime SDNY prosecutor with extensive experience investigating public-corruption cases. Id further note that, when Senator Schumer said he wanted a DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) probe to determine if Bermans firing was politically motivated, Barr had already pre-approved an IG investigation if there are any political-interference claims by SDNY supervisors. An IG investigation is more independent: The IG reports to Congress as well as the AG; OPR reports to the AG.
The narrative that Barr is intervening for political reasons on behalf of Trumps associates is specious. He intervened in the Roger Stone case when the trial prosecutors recommended an unduly harsh nine-year sentence. He did not seek to dismiss Stones felony convictions, and the court ended up finding that a three-and-a-half-year sentence was appropriate the very sentence that Barr indicated would have been more in line with the gravity of the offenses, while also noting that the decision was up to the judge, not the Justice Department.
Barr directed that the prosecution of Michael Flynn be dismissed only after assigning an experienced prosecutor and former FBI agent (St. Louis U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen) to review it. That is because stunning irregularities regarding the investigation of Flynn had come to light. We now know: There was no predicate to investigate Flynn; the FBI consulted White House political leadership in continuing the investigation even after the Bureau had determined it should be closed; the FBI did not have a good reason to interview Flynn and schemed to do so outside Justice Department and executive branch protocols; the Bureau grossly violated its procedures in editing the Flynn interview report; and so on.
The Justice Department concluded that it would not prevail if it had to take the case to trial i.e., Flynn could not be proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Meanwhile, Flynns new counsel had moved to withdraw his guilty plea and made credible allegations that exculpatory information had been withheld and that Flynns plea had been coerced (by prosecutors who threatened to indict his son and concealed from the court their agreement not to prosecute the son if Flynn pled guilty). In the Flynn case, all Barr has done is dismiss a prosecution that should never have been brought in the first place, which was based on an investigation that should never have happened.
Democrats and their media allies, who so zealously championed the Trump collusion with Russia political narrative for over three years, are concerned about the investigation being conducted, at Barrs direction, by Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham. They are trying to bloody Barr in the hope that, if Durhams investigation results in indictments and/or a stinging report, those will be received as the product of a political witch hunt. They lambasted Trump for talking down the Mueller probe in those terms, yet here they are doing the same thing.
When Obama and Clinton remove U.S. attorneys, Democrats shrug and say, Elections have consequences. When Bush and Trump remove U.S. attorneys, Democrats say it is Watergate revisited. No one should be fooled. What happened in New York over the weekend was a personnel move. The SDNYs cases have not been affected.
More from National Review
A former Arizona politician pleaded guilty in Utah on Friday to human smuggling and other charges in an illegal adoption scheme that stretched across three states and involved pregnant women brought illegally from the Marshall Islands.
Paul Petersen, a Republican who served as a county assessor in metro Phoenix for six years until his resignation in January, has also struck a plea agreement with Arizona prosecutors on state Medicaid-fraud charges. Hes expected to enter a similar plea in Arkansas this week.
Petersen was charged with illegally paying women from the Pacific island nation to come to the United States to give up their babies in at least 70 adoption cases in Arizona, Utah and Arkansas over three years.
Paul Petersen, a Republican who served county assessor in Phoenix for six years, pleaded guilty in Utah to human smuggling as part of an illegal adoption scheme. Peterson is pictured left in his mugshot and right leaving court in Salt Lake City in 2019
The women brought to Utah to give birth received little or no prenatal care and their passports were taken while they were in the US to assert control over them, authorities said.
He pleaded guilty in Utah to three counts of human smuggling and one count of communications fraud, all felonies.
'Today, Utah is safer. The rest of America and our friends in the Marshall Islands are safer,' Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said in a statement.
It was reported in 2018 how Petersen was said to have paid for more than 40 pregnant Marshallese women to live in his four-bedroom home in Salt Lake City, Utah before placing their babies with adoptive families.
The women were crammed into homes owned or rented by Petersen, and in one house slept on mattresses laid on bare floors in what one shocked adoptive family described as a 'baby mill,' according court documents.
Prosecutors said Petersen was to pay them each $10,000 to put their newborns up for adoption.
Petersen then charged families $25,000 to $40,000 per adoption, prosecutors said.
The Utah investigation began after officials got a call to a human-trafficking tip line in October 2017. Staff at several hospitals in the Salt Lake City area would eventually report an 'influx' of women from the Marshall Islands giving birth and putting their babies up for adoption, often accompanied by the same woman.
Marshall Islands citizens have been prohibited from traveling to the US for adoption purposes since 2003.
Petersen faces up to 15 years in prison, a $50,000 fine and a requirement to shut down his adoption practice in Utah. He is expected to plea guilty to a federal charge of harboring aliens for financial gain in Arkansas, which carries up to 10 years in federal prison.
Petersen's attorney, Matthew Long, right, previously defended his client's actions, seen in court last year
Hell serve the federal sentence first, and the Utah and Arizona penalties will run at the same time, Reyes said.
Petersens attorneys have previously said he ran a legal adoption practice and was unfairly vilified. He said little during his plea hearing on Friday.
A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Petersen completed a proselytizing mission in the Marshall Islands, a collection of atolls and islands in the eastern Pacific.
He later worked in the islands and the U.S. on behalf of an international adoption agency before going to law school and becoming an adoption attorney.
Petersens plea in Arizona, entered on his behalf by his attorney, Kurt Altman, acknowledges he helped get state-funded health care for adoptive mothers, even though he knew the women didnt live in Arizona. Officials have said 28 Marshallese women gave birth in the Phoenix area as part of the scheme, with Petersen helping to secure $800,000 in state-funded health care expenses.
Prosecutors said Peterson paid Marshallese mothers $10,000 each to give their babies up, then charged American families $25,000-$40,000 to adopt them
Asked by the judge whether Altman's summary was correct, Petersen answered, 'It's true.'
He also agreed to pay $650,000 to the state's Medicaid system.
Previously, Petersen had proclaimed his innocence. His attorneys have said Petersen ran a legal adoption practice and has been vilified before his side of the story comes out.
Lynwood Jennet, who was accused of helping Petersen in the scheme, pleaded guilty late last year in Arizona to helping arrange state-funded health coverage for the expectant mothers, even though the women didn't live in the state. She agreed to testify against Petersen.
Authorities say Jennet, who is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, assisted the birth mothers in applying for the health benefits at the direction of Petersen.
After Petersen was indicted in October in Arizona, the state opened a second investigation of him that centered on false paperwork that he submitted in adoption cases.
Altman said Petersen provided documents to adoptive families that contained false information incurred by a birth mother and provided records to a county juvenile court that contained false information about expenses.
The adoptive parents are considered victims along with the birth mothers, and no completed adoptions will be undone, authorities said.
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan will donate his monthly salary to a charity, the President said on Facebook.
Today I made a decision to regularly provide 150,000 AMD from my monthly salary to the educational foundation named after Ivan Atayan by the end of the year for granting scholarships to distinguished students in natural science subjects, and I will donate the rest of my salary to the Artsakh war volunteers union fund, where I also serve as member of the Board and fully trust the transparency of the activity of the structure. The money will be spent for solving various social problems of first-degree military disabled, the Artsakh President said.
The President reminded that in the past as well when he was serving as prime minister and later as state minister of Artsakh he has regularly provided his monthly salary for various charity programs.
As my family has other sources of income, and I have talked about this for many times, I have never received a salary or used state resources for my business trips, he said.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
After voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada went to the polls this month, some races hung in the balance for days as election officials waded through thousands of absentee ballots.
On Tuesday, a similar scenario is expected to play out in Kentucky and New York, where officials have already announced that some results will not be available for as long as a week.
In all five states, officials have contended with an avalanche of mail ballots as voters seek to avoid exposure to the novel coronavirus. It was a fresh illustration of how the pandemic is transforming the way elections are conducted in the United States.
It is also a stark preview of what's coming on Nov. 3 - or, more accurately, what may not be coming: an election night result in the race for the White House.
If voters remain reluctant to cast ballots in person, November is likely to bring an even more massive wave of voting by mail than what has swept across the country during primary season. That, in turn, means a close race between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden in a pivotal state could take days, even weeks, to resolve, election officials across the country are warning.
Barring a landslide for either candidate, that scenario could invite an unprecedented test of the country's faith in its elections: an extended period without a declared winner. Amid that uncertainty, few expect Trump, who has said repeatedly that he thinks mail voting could cost him the election, to soothe voter anxieties.
On Monday, the president fired off tweets making unfounded assertions that voting by mail will cause massive fraud and allow foreign countries to manipulate the vote, echoing claims by his attorney general, William P. Barr.
"Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history - unless this stupidity is ended," Trump tweeted Monday morning. In a separate tweet, he claimed that "MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!"
There is no evidence that such wide-scale fraud is possible, and election officials across the country have disputed both Trump's and Barr's claims. Both Trump and Barr have voted by mail in past elections.
A volley of warring lawsuits by the national parties could add to the tense environment. Already, party lawyers are battling in court fights across the country to shape voting rules that will govern the election.
The situation could plunge the country into an electoral crisis not seen since the acrimonious recount between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush 20 years ago, when the then-vice president did not concede until a Supreme Court ruling 35 days after the election, historians said. It was the longest Americans had ever waited to know who their next president would be.
A long vote count "is going to automatically create mayhem about a 'rigged' election," said presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, quoting Trump's oft-repeated accusation. "We'd be better off if Biden or Trump won by a substantial margin. If someone decisively wins, people will be content with the result."
The evidence that Nov. 3 may not resemble past presidential elections has accrued with each passing primary. First came Wisconsin on April 7, when officials processed a record number of absentee ballots - nearly 1.1 million votes. The U.S. Supreme Court had ordered officials to accept all mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received six days later, delaying the release of results until the following Monday.
Then came Pennsylvania, and Georgia and Nevada after that - all states that saw record absentee voting, with about 3 million mail ballots cast in all.
In Georgia and Nevada, voters stood in hours-long lines past midnight, contributing to delayed tallies. In Georgia, still more delays ensued after difficulty with new voting machines forced many voters to fill out provisional ballots on paper.
Last Tuesday, a full week after the Georgia primary, election workers in Gwinnett County, a suburb of Atlanta, sat at tables spread out across the Rhodes Jordan Park community gym, piles of ballots still in front of them for processing. Gwinnett processed a total of 85,000 mailed ballots in this year's primaries - compared to a normal count of 18,000, according to county spokesman Joe Sorenson. The county finished on Friday - 10 days after polls had closed.
"Given the complexity of the task, that's pretty good, to be honest," Sorenson said.
Pennsylvania processed 1.5 million mail ballots this month, compared to 84,000 in its 2016 primary. In Nevada, this year's number was 483,788, compared to about 25,000 in 2016.
In Kentucky, nearly 1 million voters had requested mail ballots as of last week, vastly more than the roughly 50,000 voters who usually vote absentee. In New York, roughly 10 times the number of ballots mailed four years ago have been requested for Tuesday's primary.
Other forces beyond the sheer volume of mail ballots have contributed to how long the counts have taken this spring. Some states don't allow the processing of ballots to begin until in-person polls have closed on Election Day, a rule that hasn't delayed outcomes in past elections, when fewer people have voted by mail.
This year, however, it's a debilitating handicap, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar (D) said. She persuaded the state legislature to allow officials to begin processing mail ballots the morning of in-person voting for the June 2 primaries.
It still wasn't enough for a process that includes opening envelopes, verifying voter identity and scanning ballots into machines. "Thirteen hours doesn't do it," she said.
Pennsylvania did not finish tallying absentee ballots until 10 days after the primary.
Michigan and Wisconsin also prohibit election officials from processing mail ballots until Election Day. Together, the three competitive battleground states pushed Trump over the top in 2016 with a total margin of less than 90,000 votes.
Another big factor is the deadline for returning completed ballots. Some states require them to arrive by Election Day, but at least 13 states, including battlegrounds Nevada and North Carolina, require them only to be postmarked by then. Five states require postmarks by the day before the election.
Ohio allows ballots that are postmarked by Election Day to arrive as late as 10 days after the election. In Nevada, it's seven days.
Such rules virtually guarantee that results won't be available on the night of the election - and point to the need, election officials say, for the public to shift its expectations.
"We would all like to know early," said Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R). "This is a voter education effort. When we rely on absentee voting, there will be ballots that continue to arrive days after the election."
LaRose said he expects about a quarter of the state's electorate, or about 1.7 million voters, to cast ballots by mail this fall. In 2016, about 1.2 million did so.
"When you receive that volume, that avalanche of ballots, there's some logistics that people underestimate," he said.
The process is faster in the handful of states that have nearly universal mail voting, including Colorado.
There, election officials are permitted to process ballots as they arrive - scanning them into high-capacity machines and quickly totaling results from scanners once polls have closed on election night.
"It's really easy to get 60 or 70 percent of your ballots done before election night," said Judd Choate, the state's top elections officer, "but not if you have limitations on what ballots you can process or how you can process them."
Another force at work this year: scarce resources. City and county election offices have struggled to retain poll workers amid the threat of the virus; in Kentucky's upcoming primary, worker shortages have reduced the number of planned polling places across the state to 200, down from 3,700 in a typical election year.
These shortages have bled into the work crunch that comes after election night as well.
Election officials are pleading with state lawmakers to adjust the rules to accommodate the crush of mail ballots they expect in the fall - an effort complicated by the president's repeated attacks on the process.
In Pennsylvania, Boockvar expects to obtain legislative permission once again to start processing ballots before election night in November - although this time, she said she will seek even more time than the 13 extra hours allowed in the primary.
In Michigan, however, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) so far has not been able to persuade her state's Republican legislature to pass legislation allowing scanning to begin ahead of time.
The president's denunciations of mail voting make it harder to prepare for November, Benson said.
"There is tremendous need to adapt other laws to allow the election system as a whole to continue to operate smoothly," she said in a statement.
Preparations that states are able to make now to prepare for the flood of mail ballots will shape how quickly Americans will learn who has won the presidential contest this fall.
Presidential elections are almost always called before counting is complete. Many news outlets, including The Washington Post, follow the predictions of the Associated Press, the wire service with a long track record of combining reported results with exit polling data to announce state-by-state results.
The surge in mail balloting this year has complicated those calls. In Georgia, the AP incorrectly declared runoffs in two Democratic House primaries where late returns of absentee ballots shifted the results.
David Scott, an AP deputy managing editor, said the races were called too early but said the organization takes into account the different ways that votes are cast.
The possibility that the winner of the White House race will not immediately be known will test both the candidates and the public's tolerance for uncertainty. It is not unusual for campaigns to use early results to spin public opinion about the outcome. But during the Florida recount in 2000, neither Bush nor Gore ever threatened not accept the ultimate outcome.
On Dec. 13, 2000, after a Supreme Court decision went for Bush, Gore gave a full-throated nod to his rival.
"What remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of this country," Gore said of Bush.
Many critics doubt Trump will show such restraint. He has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to cast doubt election results without evidence of voting irregularities, such as when he claimed that millions of undocumented people voted illegally in the 2016 White House race.
In 2018, Trump questioned House Democrats' sweep to power in part with some close victories in California; he accused Democrats - without evidence - of fraudulently stuffing ballot boxes. Mail balloting would make such fraud even easier, he said.
"We had seven elections for Congress and they were, like, tied, and they lost every one of them because they came and they dropped a whole pile of ballots on the table," the president said in May. "But you don't think they rip them out of mailboxes?"
For his part, Biden has recently escalated his rhetoric around voting rights and warned that Trump might not accept the results in November.
"This president is going to try to steal this election," Biden said in an interview on "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" this month. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said "my single greatest concern" is ensuring that the voting process is fair.
Tim Murtaugh, the communications director for the Trump campaign, dismissed Biden's comments as "just another brainless conspiracy theory from Joe Biden as he continues to try to undermine confidence in our elections."
"President Trump has been clear that he will accept the results of the 2020 election," Murtaugh added.
Trump also shrugged off the accusation.
"Certainly if I don't win, I don't win. I mean, you know, go on and do other things," Trump told Fox News this month.
Brinkley, the presidential historian, said the scenario he can imagine in which the country accepts the result widely is if it's a "really obvious, deep loss" - for either candidate.
"People used to appreciate character, but we're not in that era right now," Brinkley said. "This is a battle for the heart and soul of the United States. Neither side is going to lay down their arms very easily."
---
The Washington Post's David Weigel, Matt Viser and Dan Balz in Washington and John Irwin in Lawrenceville, Ga., contributed to this report.
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Terming it "misleading and false", the Agra administration has asked Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to withdraw the claim regarding coronavirus deaths in the district within 24 hours.
Tagging a media report, the Congress leader had on Monday tweeted that 28 coronavirus patients died within 48 hours of hospitalisation in Agra. She had described it as a matter of shame for the Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of suppressing the truth.
Track live updates on coronavirus here
In an e-mail to the Congress leader on Monday, Agra District Magistrate Prabhu Narain Singh told her to take back the claim within 24 hours, saying the allegations are baseless and misleading.
"The Twitter post prima facie has created doubts and sent a message among people that 28 corona patients have died in 48 hours, The DM said in the letter to Priyanka Gandhi, shared by the Adviser to the Chief Minister, Mrityunjay Kumar.
Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases
The DM said such reports will serve to demoralise the corona warriors working round the clock to check the spread of the virus and also have an adverse impact" on the common man.
The reality is that in the past 109 days, Agra has reported 1,139 cases, of which 79 have succumbed to the virus. The report of 28 deaths in 48 hours is completely false," he said.
Therefore, in public interest, ensure the denial of misleading/false claim in 24 hours so that all people could get the knowledge of the right situation, the DM said.
Demonstrators call for a rent strike during the COVID-19 pandemic as they pass City Hall in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 1, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
LA County To Consider Shifting $20M From Affordable Housing to Rent Relief
LOS ANGELES (CNS)The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion June 23 to pull up to $20 million in funding earmarked for affordable housing to use it instead for rent relief.
The motion, co-authored by Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Mark Ridley-Thomas, is aimed at preventing a huge uptick in homelessness as a result of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. They have asked their colleagues to relax a rule set by the board in 2015 that requires at least 75 percent of $100 million set aside for the Affordable Housing Programs Budget Unit be spent on new housing or renovations.
The Affordable Housing Programs Budget Unit did not contemplate an emergency on the scale of COVID-19. While we must maintain our commitment to the production of new, and preservation of existing, affordable housing we must also respond to this emergency, the motion states.
Kuehl and Ridley-Thomas cite a May report by the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy predicting that as many as 120,000 households with 184,000 children could find themselves unable to pay rent and evicted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UCLA study used census data and unemployment claims to estimate that nearly 450,000 people living in Los Angeles County are unemployed and not receiving unemployment benefits.
Even before the pandemic, the number of those who were precariously housed was shocking, said Gary Blasi, a UCLA professor emeritus of law who authored the report. About 600,000 people in Los Angeles County lived in households where 90 percent of household income was being used to pay rent.
A moratorium on evictions is currently in force statewide, but will expire 90 days after Gov. Gavin Newsom declares the end of the COVID-19 emergency, unless earlier repealed by the states Judicial Council. The council had planned to vote on lifting the order last week, but suspended the vote, with Chief Justice Tina Cantil-Sakauye citing the need to give state legislators time to put relevant policies in place.
The Board of Supervisors has extended a countywide eviction moratorium to at least June 30, and will reconsider the matter every 30 days thereafter.
Landlords represented by the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles have sued the city of Los Angeles over its ban on evictions and rent increases, saying it violates their constitutional rights. The association said it was sympathetic to tenants suffering hardship, but that the ordinance allows even renters with the ability to pay to ignore their lease obligations.
The number of homeless people countywide had already increased 12.7 percent year-over-year by late January, according to the latest point-in-time count numbers released by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Even before job losses related to COVID-19, county officials said the number of people losing access to housing daily was outpacing the roughly 200 people who were being housed each day in shelters, temporarily in empty hotel and motel rooms, and in permanent supportive housing.
The LAHSA report also highlighted that Black county residents are four times as likely to be homeless. The county motion calls for rental assistance to be targeted to the lowest-income households who are the most at-risk of homelessness.
The recommendation by Kuehl and Ridley-Thomas to spend money on preventing homelessness that was originally intended to build new housing supply comes just a day after the city and county reached a settlement with the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights by agreeing to shelter and provide services for 6,000 more homeless people within 10 months. The countys commitment includes spending $300 million over five years to provide services to those 6,000 individuals.
The Kuehl/Ridley-Thomas motion does not lay out how rent relief dollars would be allocated, whether it would be paid to renters or directly to landlords, or how much any one household could be expected to receive or for how long. It calls for the details to be mapped out within 30 days by the Los Angeles County Development Authority.
By Elizabeth Marcellino
The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys cover-up and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.
[June 23, 2020] DigiCert and Valimail Partner to Help Companies Display Brand in Email, Get BIMI-Ready
LEHI, Utah and SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DigiCert, Inc ., the world's leading provider of TLS/SSL, IoT and other PKI solutions, and Valimail , the leading provider of identity-based anti-phishing solutions, today announced that they are partnering to help companies prepare for Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI), a new standard currently in pilot that allows companies to display a verified logo in emails with a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC). "DigiCert is pleased to partner with Valimail to support pilots that advance the BIMI email security standard with VMCs," said DigiCert Senior Director of Business Development Dean Coclin. "We anticipate growing demand for digital certificates displaying verified logos in email and are developing scalable solutions to help companies be ready on day one." "BIMI is a huge step forward for email marketing, and when combined with DMARC enforcement it will help make the entire ecosystem more secure," said Steve Mock, VP of Business Development for Valimail. "We're very proud to be working with DigiCert to create a one-stop shop for companies to make themselves BIMI-ready." A major BIMI pilot with Yahoo has been underway for the past year, and Google has recently announced plans to launch a BIMI pilot in 2020. Upcoming BIMI pilots are expected to require VMCs for participants. DigiCert issued the world's first VMC for a domain that sends email at scale to CNN.com in October 2019. DigiCert and Valimail are working together to establish a streamlined experience for companies to enforce Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC), an email authentication, policy and reporting protocol, and receive VMCs, both essential steps for BIMI compliance. DigiCert's globally leading platform, together with regional staffing and expertise, enable fast, scalable and automated certificate management. The Valimail platform makes DMARC compliance faster and easier, and also offers an automated way for customers to manage BIMI configuration. VMCs provide the following benefits for early adopter organizations: Long term, ensure customers see your logo in their inbox even before they open the email.
Provide an additional layer of protection against identity-targeted attacks through DMARC compliance.
Deliver a moreauthentic, recognizable and unified brand experience from email to conversion.
Distinguish your messaging from the clutter.
Improve deliverability and open rates by up to 10%.
DigiCert is the world's leading issuer of digital certificates, with a global presence and highly scalable infrastructure that makes it the top choice for emerging global and localized security standards using cryptography to authenticate identities and encrypt information online. DigiCert is supporting BIMI pilots in anticipation of a broad offering in its industry-leading DigiCert CertCentral TLS Manager, available in 11 languages and nine currencies, later this year. DigiCert was recently named 2020 Global Company of the Year in the TLS certificate market by Frost & Sullivan, in recognition of its strong market leadership in its growth, supporting the adoption of new standards and continually innovating with the industry's best, most modern public key infrastructure (PKI) technology.
Valimail is a leader in the DMARC space. This pioneering zero-trust identity-based anti-phishing company offers the only complete, cloud-native platform for validating and authenticating sender identity. It provides the most complete, effective visibility tool for interpreting DMARC reports, with the highest success rate among customers for achieving DMARC enforcement. It is also the largest provider of DMARC services to Microsoft 365 customers, and the world's fastest-growing DMARC vendor. Valimail and DigiCert are continuing to build on their partnership and will announce additional developments and milestones in the coming months. To get more information about VMCs and BIMI pilots, visit https://www.digicert.com/verified-mark-certificates/ . About DigiCert, Inc.
DigiCert is the world's leading provider of scalable TLS/SSL, PKI solutions for identity and encryption. The most innovative companies, including 89 percent of Fortune 500 companies and 97 out of the 100 top global banks, choose DigiCert for its expertise in identity and encryption for web servers and Internet of Things devices. DigiCert supports TLS/SSL and other digital certificates for PKI deployments at any scale through its certificate lifecycle management platform, CertCentral . The company is recognized for its enterprise-grade certificate management platform, fast and knowledgeable customer support, and market-leading security solutions. For the latest DigiCert news and updates, visit digicert.com ?or follow? @digicert . About Valimail
Valimail is a pioneering zero-trust identity-based anti-phishing company that has been ensuring the global trustworthiness of digital communications since 2015. Valimail delivers the only complete, cloud-native platform for validating and authenticating sender identity to stop phishing, protect and amplify brands, and ensure compliance. The company has won more than a dozen prestigious cybersecurity technology awards and authenticates billions of messages a month for some of the world's biggest companies, including Uber, Splunk, Yelp, Fannie Mae, Mercedes Benz USA, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. For more information visit www.valimail.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digicert-and-valimail-partner-to-help-companies-display-brand-in-email-get-bimi-ready-301081886.html SOURCE DigiCert, Inc.
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Mexico's largest oil refinery, the Salina Cruz refinery, is offline after a fire broke out in the refinery following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the area.
Pemex, Mexico's state-run oil company, said that the fire was immediately extinguished.
The refinery has an installed capacity of 330,000 barrels of crude oil per day but hasn't been producing that much for quite some time.
The earthquake that struck in Southeast Oaxaca left one dead and sent shockwaves that could be felt nearly 500 miles away.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said, "Strategic installations didn't suffer any damage, that is to say, ports, airports, refineries, hydroelectric plants, everything is in a good condition". The shutdown was described as a precautionary measure.
Many of Mexico's oil refineries have been offline intermittently over the past few years due to extended maintenance or operational problems due to poor condition. The Salina Cruz refinery has been offline multiple times in the past few years, including for a previous fire and earthquake in 2017.
Pemex isn't known for its refinery prowess, with its refineries running near 40% capacity according to the EIA, which has decreased the amount of crude oil that the country has imported for five years in a row, dipping from 1.2 million barrels per day in 2013 to just 600,000 barrels per day in 2018.
Despite the pandemic, Mexico is still moving forward with a massive $8 billion oil refinery, the likes of which have been controversial even before the coronavirus pandemic. Some say the 340,000 barrel per day refinery could cost upwards of $10 or even $12 billion.
The refinery, if successfully built, would allow Mexico to decrease the amount of refined products it imports from the United States.
By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads from Oilprice.com:
The eruption of a volcano in Alaska may have contributed to the rise of the Roman Empire - Charlotte Graham
The rise of the Roman Empire was due in part to a gigantic volcanic eruption 6,000 miles away in Alaska, an international team of scientists claims.
The eruption of the Okmok volcano in the Aleutian islands of Alaska more than 2,000 years ago caused a severe cold spell in Europe that led to crop failures, food shortages and political and social unrest, they argue.
That hastened the demise of the Roman Republic and the emergence of the Roman Empire, according to the team of researchers from the US and Britain.
By analysing traces of volcanic ash in ice core samples from the Arctic, they found that Okmok volcano erupted in 43BC a year after the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44BC.
The eruption was one of the largest of the last 2,500 years and would have sent colossal quantities of ash into the sky, leading to alterations to the climate worldwide.
The Latin phrase Senatus Populusque Romanus (The Senate and the People of Rome), referring to the government of the ancient Roman Republic, on a monument in Rome - Getty
Europe suffered unusually wet conditions and an extreme cold spell, with some regions seeing average temperatures drop by as much as 7C (13F) below normal.
Immediately after the eruption there were ancient Roman accounts of crop failures, famine, disease and unrest in the Mediterranean suggesting significant vulnerability to hydroclimatic shocks, the scientists said.
They pointed out that historians have previously speculated that a large volcanic eruption of unknown origin was the most likely cause.
Their findings did come with a caveat.
While it is difficult to establish direct causal linkages to thinly-documented historical events, the wet and very cold conditions from this massive eruption on the opposite side of Earth probably resulted in crop failures, famine and disease, they wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Those changes would have exacerbated social unrest and contributed to political realignments throughout the Mediterranean region at this critical juncture of Western civilisation.
The eruption on Umnak island in the eastern Aleutians coincided not just with the end of the Roman Republic but also the fall of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt, heralding the end of the pharaohs.
Story continues
The Okmok volcano in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska - AP
"To find evidence that a volcano on the other side of the Earth erupted and effectively contributed to the demise of the Roman (Republic) and the Egyptians and the rise of the Roman Empire is fascinating," said lead author Joe McConnell of the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada. "It certainly shows how interconnected the world was even 2,000 years ago.
By cross-checking with other climate evidence from around the world, including tree-ring records in Scandinavia, Austria and California, as well as caves in China, they found that the two years following the eruption were some of the coldest in the Northern Hemisphere for 2,500 years.
They were also very wet, with autumn rainfall in southern Europe up to four times heavier than normal.
"In the Mediterranean region, these wet and extremely cold conditions during the agriculturally important spring through autumn seasons probably reduced crop yields and compounded supply problems during the ongoing political upheavals of the period," said Andrew Wilson, a classical archaeologist from Oxford University.
Prof McConnell, an expert in glaciology and ice core chemistry, said while many factors contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic and Ptolemaic Kingdom, the volcanic eruption in Alaska played an important role.
Other academics were not convinced, however. Mary Beard, professor of classics at Newnham College, Cambridge University, said the link between the volcanic eruption and the downfall of the Roman Republic was very thin.
I am not a scientist, but I am always suspicious of theories that use eruptions, plagues or other natural disasters as off-the-peg explanations, said Prof Beard, the author of "SPQR, a history of ancient Rome, and Pompeii."
There is more than enough to account for the end of the Republic - class conflict, spiraling debt, disparities in wealth, political competition gone mad - without needing the volcano, she told The Telegraph.
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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 22, 2020) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) (OTCQB: SSVFF) (FSE: SEG1) (SSE: SSVCL) (the "Company" or "Southern Silver") reported today that the Company has executed an agreement (the "Agreement") with Electrum Global Holdings L. P. ("Electrum") to purchase Electrum's 60% indirect working interest in the Cerro Las Minitas Project (the "CLM Project") in Durango, Mexico for payment of US$15 million, payable in cash and Southern Silver common shares. The purchase of such working interest will increase the Company's working interest in the Project from 40% to 100%.
Benefits to Southern Silver Shareholders
Simplifies ownership structure of the CLM Project
Full control over project timeline and removal of perceived joint venture discount
100% ownership of a premier, polymetallic deposit in Mexico with substantial resource growth potential (with a focus on targeting high grade silver targets)
150% increase in attributable resources to current resource of Indicated: 134Mozs AgEq and Inferred: 138Mozs AgEq (1)
Highly accretive to Southern Silver shareholders
Electrum remains a supportive cornerstone investor
Southern Silver becomes a more attractive takeover target
Enhances the market profile of the Company
Timeline of Payment to Electrum under the Agreement
At closing (on or about September 9, 2020): US$5.0M in cash and US$2.0M (less credit for deposit of C$1.35M paid on execution of the Agreement (June 19, 2020) in shares (based on the greater of the 20-day VWAP prior to closing and the Discounted Market Price (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) of the shares (the "DMP")
Six months from closing: US$2.0M in cash and US$2.0M* in shares (based on the greater of the prior 20-day VWAP and the DMP).
12 months from closing: US$2.0M in cash and US$2.0M* in shares (based on the greater of the prior 20-day VWAP and the DMP).
Story continues
* The Company has the option to pay all cash in lieu of shares. Any shares issued will be subject to applicable Canadian and US resale restrictions.
To secure payments under the Agreement, the Company has agreed to pledge to Electrum the shares representing Electrum's 60% indirect working interest in the CLM Project.
Because of Electrum's current shareholdings in the Company, the purchase of Electrum's 60% indirect working interest in the CLM Project is a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101. The Agreement is subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions, including shareholder approval.
The Company, in seeking both TSX Venture Exchange and shareholder approvals, will convene an extraordinary shareholders meeting to be held in conjunction with an Annual General Meeting on or about September 4, 2020.
Through the transaction, Southern Silver will acquire an additional 49.9 million ounces silver and 1.35 billion pounds of combined lead and zinc to its account based on the current National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resources estimate of the CLM Project. Additionally, Southern Silver will become more attractive on a corporate level with the Company's market profile being enhanced by having ownership of one of the larger and highest grade, undeveloped silver projects in the world.
Lawrence Page, Q.C., Southern Silver's Chairman and Director, stated: "Upon completion of the transaction the benefits to Southern Silvers shareholders and investors will be significant. Sole ownership of the Project inclusive of the significant resources developed to date allows us great latitude in developing the Project for substantial resource growth. The transaction will also provide a 150% increase in attributable resources which will be highly accretive to Southern Silver shareholders."
Warrant Exercise
Electrum Global Holdings L.P. has exercised 9.0 million share purchase warrants at C$0.15 for gross proceeds to the Company of C$1,350,000. The Company utilized such funds in the payment of a deposit on execution of the Agreement, which deposit will be credited to the US$2 million payment in shares on closing of the Agreement.
Cerro Las Minitas Project
The Cerro Las Minitas project is an advanced exploration stage polymetallic Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu Skarn/CRD project located in southern Durango, Mexico.
The Cerro Las Minitas project as of May 9th, 2019 contains a Mineral Resource Estimate, at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, of(1)
Indicated - 134Moz AgEq: 37.5Moz Ag, 40Mlb Cu, 303Mlb Pb and 897Mlb Zn
Inferred - 138Moz AgEq: 45.7Moz Ag, 76Mlb Cu, 253Mlb Pb and 796Mlb Zn
A total of 133 drill holes for 59,000 metres have now been completed on the CLM Project with exploration expenditures of approximately US$18.5 million equating to exploration discovery costs of approximately C$0.07 per AgEq ounce to the end of 2019.
Southern Silver has identified a further 10,000 metres in exploration drilling for 2020, targeting specific step-outs from strongly silver-enriched mineral intercepts in the Las Victorias, South Skarn and the Mina La Bocona targets. The targeting is designed to increase the current mineral resource estimate by approximately 30%. The CLM Project remains one of the larger undeveloped silver-lead-zinc projects in the world. It is fully permitted to continue exploration on the property, with a strong potential resource growth profile.
Webinar
The Company will be hosting a live webinar on June 23, 2020 at 2:00pm EST (11:00am PST) with Red Cloud Securities. Registration for the webinar: https://www.redcloudfs.com/rcwebinar-ssv-2/
Lawrence Page and Robert Macdonald (the President and Vice President, Exploration of Southern Silver, respectively) will join Jacob Willoughby, Red Cloud's Vice President of Research, for a live discussion on the Electrum transaction and a Company update.
About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.
Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits. Our specific emphasis is the Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA.
The 2019 Cerro Las Minitas Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources. Resources are constrained using mainly geological constraints and approximate 10g/t AgEq grade shells. The block models are comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 2m x 10m, with grades for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn values interpolated using ID3 weighting. Silver and zinc equivalent values were subsequently calculated from the interpolated block grades. The model is identified at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, with an indicated resource of 11,102,000 tonnes averaging 105g/t Ag, 0.10g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn and 0.16% Cu and an inferred resource of 12,844,000 tonnes averaging 111g/t Ag, 0.07g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.8% Zn and 0.27% Cu. AgEq cut-off values were calculated using average long-term prices of $16.6/oz. silver, $1,275/oz. gold, $2.75/lb. copper, $1.0/lb. lead and $1.25/lb. zinc. Metal recoveries for the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits of 91% silver, 25% gold, 92% lead, 82% zinc and 80% copper and for the Skarn Front deposit of 85% silver, 18% gold, 89% lead, 92% zinc and 84% copper were used to define the cut-off grades. Base case cut-off grade assumed $75/tonne operating, smelting and sustaining costs. All prices are stated in $USD. Silver Equivalents were calculated from the interpolated block values using relative recoveries and prices between the component metals and silver to determine a final AgEq value. The same methodology was used to calculate the ZnEq value. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves until they have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for a resource's mineability, selectivity, mining loss, or dilution. The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. of Kirkham Geosciences Ltd. who is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for presentation and review of the Mineral Resource Estimate. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and therefore numbers may not appear to add precisely.
Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and supervised directly the collection of the data from the CLM Project that is reported in this disclosure and is responsible for the presentation of the technical information in this disclosure.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
"Lawrence Page"
Lawrence Page, Q.C.
President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.
For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58260
ALBANY Fitness centers and exercise studios may not be allowed to open in the fourth and final reopening phase in New York a blow to an industry that survives largely on the number of members who enter their facilities.
Although some gyms are offering outdoor classes in parking lots or other locations where participants can workout while staying at least six feet apart there has been no indication from state economic development officials or Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo about when or how fitness centers could resume operations. That could change suddenly, including with restrictions in place such as requiring clubs to maintain 50% capacity, which is what Illinois is doing as that state enters phase four of it's five-phase plan on Friday.
But managers and owners of New York fitness clubs said they have received no information from the state on when they may reopen.
"We've kind of been in the dark during this whole process," said Bryan Lupian, a regional manager at Vent Fitness. "We dont know and nobody is really keeping us informed. Were just doing our Google searches and following the governor."
Vent Fitness operates four large clubs in Guilderland, Clifton Park, Latham and Niskayuna, and the staff members not furloughed have spent the past four months preparing for an eventual opening that is expected to include constant sanitizing of equipment and limiting the number of people who can take classes or enter the gym.
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The governor's coronavirus task force is scheduled to release its phase four guidelines late Tuesday, as many regions, including the Capital Region, are poised to move into the final reopening phase in early July. But phase four does not mean everything reopens fully, as concert venues and sporting events and gyms are among the industries that may be opened through separate decisions, a person briefed on the matter said.
Lupian said that Vent Fitness has used the closure period to reconfigure its interior layouts, spreading equipment and weight machines at least six feet apart, adding hand sanitizer and wipes throughout the clubs and putting numbers on the floors where classes are given that would ensure members in reserved spaces remain at least six feet apart.
They also anticipated having showers and swimming pools open, albeit they would keep saunas and steam rooms closed.
"We're expecting to open at 50% capacity in the (training) rooms," Lupian said, adding the club has instituted a "hands-free" check-in system for members entering and exiting the club, which would also enable employees to control the number of people in the facility at one time.
The fitness industry also has had to adapt to what may be a "new normal," offering online training sessions and, at Vent, developing an app that enables trainers to work with clients who are training at home.
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The fallout of closing gyms for four months was also felt in the retail industry, where shelves holding fitness equipment and weights have been bare for months and sold out quickly when the shutdown began in mid-March.
Travis Gil, who runs Fitness Artist in Clifton Park, said their facility recently began offering outdoor training sessions to a limited number of clients, using parking spaces to ensure everyone stays at least six feet apart. Another group of trainers, in an effort unrelated to Vent Fitness or Fitness Artist, have been offering training classes to dozens of people who gather on Sunday mornings in an empty parking lot near the former Kmart in Clifton Park.
But the outdoor training sessions are not enough to sustain the businesses.
"Its been a roller coaster of a ride for sure and definitely the lack of guidance is very, very frustrating," Gil said. "Were dealing with really our livelihood here and from a business standpoint were pretty much making one tenth of what we would normally make. ... We have to do something or else were not going to have a business. My back is certainly against the wall and my employees are feeling a little distressed."
Gil noted that as some trainers have turned to outside training with the understanding that it is allowed and meets the restrictions set by the state while other gyms have simply opened their doors in defiance but while insisting they meet the criteria because of precautions in place, including spacing equipment or requiring masks.
It's become a sort of "wild, wild west," Gil said. "I think people are going to really start rebelling."
He also said that members are "so done with this" and are eager to resume indoor training and feel comfortable that the precautions in place staying apart, using hand sanitizer and keeping equipment clean will not put them at risk.
Gil said he founded Fitness Artist 11 years ago and "my family, they are relying on me to make it work."
Corey Feldman says Joel Schumacher tried to 'prevent [his] descent' into drugs when he was battling addiction as a teenage movie star.
Feldman paid tribute to the late filmmaker following his death Monday, calling him a 'a legendary director, a friend, an influence, & a supporter' via Twitter.
The troubled actor, 48, explained how Schumacher was never part of any 'corruption' that happened while filming their 1987 horror flick The Lost Boys, but actually tried to stop Corey from going 'down the wrong path.'
Feldman previously made disturbing claims about what happened on set, alleging that he was given cocaine by an adult and also claiming co-star/close friend Corey Haim was sexually abused during production.
Grateful: Corey Feldman thanked Joel Schumacher for trying to 'prevent' his 'descent' into drugs in a tribute to the director Monday. The actor is seen in 1987's The Lost Boys above
Corey recalled Joel stepping in after he noticed the young actor was high during filming. After first firing Feldman, Schumacher reconsidered but kept a close eye on the star.
The intervention was enough to make Corey avoid cocaine for a while, but he admitted he would pick up the habit just a year later.
Corey said that Joel continued to try and help as things began to spiral out of control for the Stand By Me star.
'Once I started down the wrong path Joel called me 2 his home. We met. He tried 2 prevent my descent.'
RIP: Schumacher died at 80-years-old on Monday. He is seen in 2011 above
Respect: Feldman called The Lost Boys director as a 'a legendary director, a friend, an influence, & a supporter' on Twitter
Trauma: Feldman previously claimed he was given cocaine by an adult and friend Corey Haim was sexually abused while filming Schumacher's The Lost Boys but said that Joel had nothing to do with it. The two Coreys are seen in 1989 above
Unfortunately, his effort was in vain. The young star was too stubborn to take Joel's advice.
'...I didn't listen as I was 16 & had 2 go thru what I had 2 go thru.'
Despite Corey's allegations about what happened on set, he said he was happy that Joel's vision for The Lost Boys brought him and Haim together.
The Goonies actor wrapped up his message by wishing Schumacher was in 'heaven' with Haim, who tragically passed away at 38-years-old in 2010.
'Maybe now u can start talkin 2 #coreyhaim about all the things we can create once we all meet again in eternity,' Feldman wrote.
'He tried 2 prevent my descent': Corey said Joel tried to help him with his addiction problems. Corey is seen in 1993 above
Abuse: Feldman accused Charlie Sheen and three other men of sexual abuse in the documentary My Truth: The Rape Of 2 Coreys. Feldman is seen at the film's March 9 premiere above
Feldman released the documentary My Truth: The Rape Of 2 Coreys back in March.
In the film he claims that both he and Haim were the victims of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of men in Hollywood.
He explicitly names actor Charlie Sheen, child agent Marty Weiss, Jon Grissom, and former talent agent Alphy Hoffman as the abusers that sexually assaulted him and Haim.
All of the men have denied such accusations, with Sheen's camp calling the claims 'sick, twisted and outlandish.' Haim's mother Judy and his sister Cari also dispute the allegations in the documentary.
Feldman got an early start in Hollywood, earning his first role at just seven-years-old. Haim began his acting career when 13-years-old.
Beloved: Schumacher passed away on Monday, with his reps saying 'he will be fondly remembered by his friends and collaborators.' Schumacher is seen in 2013 above
Behind the bat: Schumacher famously took over the Batman franchise from director Tim Burton with the two box-office smashes Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997) although the films were less favorable with critics
Schumacher passed away on Monday at 80-years-old, following a year-long battle against cancer.
A statement from his representatives read: 'Filmmaker Joel Schumacher, director of such films as 'St. Elmo's Fire', 'A Time to Kill', 'The Client', and 'Tigerland', passed away quietly from cancer this morning after a year-long battle. He will be fondly remembered by his friends and collaborators.'
Schumacher - who was openly gay - famously took over the Batman franchise from director Tim Burton with the two box-office smashes Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997) although the films were less favorable with critics.
However, Schumacher had an impressive career in Hollywood overall, directing classic films such as Flatliners (1990), The Lost Boys (1987), St. Elmo's Fire (1985).
His first movie was directing Lily Tomlin in the sci-fi comedy The Incredible Shrinking Woman in 1981, which received positive reviews.
Classic: Schumacher rose to fame directed hit '80s films such as the cult classic The Lost Boys (1987)
Classic cinema: Andrew McCarthy, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Rob Lowe St Elmo's Fire (1985) directed by Joel Schumacher
But it was his string of success directing the three hit films, St. Elmo's Fire, The Lost Boys, and Flatliners that propelled him to becoming one of Hollywood's busiest movie directors.
Schumacher was accused of introducing homoerotic elements to the relationship between titular characters Batman and Robin, when he took over the franchise from Tim Burton who had put a much darker spin on the caped crusader.
Speaking about Batman and Robin in 2017, Schumacher said: 'I want to apologise to every fan that was disappointed because I think I owe them that.'
Following the debacle, Joel went on to direct the feature adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera, which scored three Oscar nominations.
Most recently, the director helmed a couple of episodes of Netflix series House of Cards in 2013, and worked as an executive producer for the ID channel series Do Not Disturb: Hotel Horrors.
Prolific: Schumacher directed Michael Douglas in the 1993 crime thriller Falling Down
Another classic: Tommy Lee Jones in the big-screen adaptation of the John Grisham novel The Client (1994)
When asked in a 1999 interview if he had any advice for young filmmakers, he said: 'Be bold, take risks, follow your own instincts, listen to other people only when you really believe in your gut that they're right.'
'Get a great cast. Get a cinematographer that isn't jealous that you're the director. Get an editor that's not jealous you're the director. You can do it.'
Schumacher certainly had a tireless career in the business, turning out a long list of movies, some of them misses like the Nicolas Cage-starring 8MM (1999) and Jim Carrey thriller The Number 23 (2007), but many other big hits.
He made a Hollywood star out of Colin Farrell who starred in his 2000 war movie Tigerland, and worked together again on the action-thriller Phone Booth (2003).
He also directed Oscar-winners including Cate Blanchett in Veronia Guerin (2003) and Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the crime drama Flawless (1999,)
According to intelligence reports, two members of Russia-led forces were killed and another three were wounded on June 22.
Russia's hybrid military forces on June 22 mounted 16 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with one member of the Joint Forces reported as wounded in action.
"The Russian Federation's armed formations violated the ceasefire 16 times in the past day," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on June 23. "As a result, a Joint Forces serviceman was wounded in enemy shelling."
Russian-led forces fired proscribed 122mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms.
Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the towns of Popasna and Maryinka, and the villages of Orikhove, Novozvanivka, Khutir Vilny, Novotoshkivske, Katerynivka, Novhorodske, Shyrokyne, Pavlopil, Novomykhailivka, and Starohnativka.
Read alsoZelensky: Ukraine calls for ceasefire in Donbas amid pandemic
Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy attack. According to intelligence reports, two members of Russia-led forces were killed and another three were wounded on June 22.
The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on June 23.
No Ukrainian army casualties have been reported since Tuesday midnight.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:49:06|Editor: huaxia
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DOHA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Qatar's Health Ministry on Tuesday announced 1,176 new infections of COVID-19, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 89,579.
"Some 1,545 people recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 71,501, while the fatalities remained 99," the official Qatar News Agency quoted a statement by the ministry as saying.
It revealed that infections had doubled because of people's gatherings and visits, and ignoring of preventive measures recommended by the government, the most important of which is staying at home and maintaining social distancing.
A total of 328,941 people in Qatar have undergone lab tests for COVID-19 so far, it added.
China and Qatar have offered mutual help during the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
On Feb. 21, five Qatar Airways cargo freighters flew to China carrying approximately 300 tons of medical supplies donated by the airline. Enditem
Joe Bidens campaign said Monday that the presumptive Democratic nominee would commit to participating in three debates, and slammed a push by President Trumps advisers for an additional debate as an effort to change the subject.
Our position is straightforward and clear: Joe Biden will accept the Commissions debates, on the Commissions dates, under the Commissions established format and the Commissions independent choice of moderators, said Biden Campaign Manager Jen OMalley Dillon in a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, the nonprofit group that sponsors general election debates, which was obtained by The Associated Press. Donald Trump and Mike Pence should do the same.
Any debate proposals in lieu of that are just an effort to change the subject, avoid debates, or create a distracting debate about debates, she added.
The letter, which was first reported by The Washington Post, came in response to a request made by Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to add another, earlier debate to the current schedule of three. They also proposed that each campaign have a role in selecting the debate moderators.
Trumps team noted absentee and mail voting is being expanded because of the Covid-19 pandemic and expressed concern that some ballots especially those by elderly voters most at risk to the virus could be cast before the first debate. The first is scheduled for Sept. 29 at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, the second on October 15 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and the third for a week later, Oct. 22, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
The seeming acceptance that a vast number of this years votes will be cast by mail marks a change for the campaign. Both Giuliani and Trump have criticized widespread mail voting and claimed without evidence that mail ballots are ripe for fraud.
In the Monday letter, OMalley Dillon also pointed out that the Trump campaigns request for more debates marked a shift from December, when advisers were threatening that Trump might skip the debates altogether.
That shift comes as Trumps campaign has been seeking to paint Biden as mentally unsuited for the presidency, pointing to some of his verbal flubs on the campaign trail and lambasting the former vice president for campaigning from his basement during the pandemic, as Trump hit the campaign trail for his first rally during the pandemic this past weekend.
Indeed, in a statement on the Biden campaigns refusal to engage in additional debates, Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh charged that his aides were afraid to send the Democrat out in unscripted situations, noting its been more than 80 days since Biden held a press conference.
An earlier and longer debate schedule is necessary so Americans can see the clear difference between President Trumps vibrant leadership and Bidens confused meandering, he said.
In the Monday letter, OMalley also asked that the CPD confirm that its formulating safety plans to ensure that the debates will go on despite the coronavirus pandemic, and that the second debate be held in a town hall format, which would allow voters to ask questions of each candidate.
The Trump campaign proposal for elaborate negotiations is merely an effort to dodge fair, even-handed debates, OMalley Dillon wrote.
By Akbar Mammadov
Azerbaijan supports the peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with international law and relevant UNSC resolutions, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at the online meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on June 22.
As a responsible member of the international community, Azerbaijan supports the peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with the norms and principles of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as well as with full respect for international humanitarian law.
Mammadyarov noted that as a result, there is a clear need to continue efforts that will lead to a lasting solution. He also added that the peaceful settlement of all unresolved issues related to Jammu and Kashmir is of particular importance in terms of ensuring peace and security in the wider South Asian region.
As a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, Azerbaijan considers this format to be an important and useful mechanism for reviewing the implementation of the OIC member states' obligations under the relevant OIC decisions, the minister said.
In this regard, the minister stressed that Azerbaijan will confidently continue to take an active part in the work of the Contact Group.
During the meeting, Mammadyarov also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
As is known, as a result of the Armenian military aggression, 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions, has been occupied, and more than one million people have become refugees and internally displaced persons.
Furthermore, he reminded that numerous historical, cultural and religious monuments in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, including many works on Azerbaijani history and Islamic heritage, had been savagely destroyed.
Although the Azerbaijani government remains committed to the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of relevant UN Security Council and OIC resolutions, Azerbaijan retains the legal right to use all means necessary to fully restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty, the minister noted.
In his speech, Mammadyarov emphasized that in the difficult conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community must be prepared to resist the efforts of those who want to use the current state of international relations to further strengthen the consequences of aggression and occupation.
In this regard, unity and joint action within the OIC are very important in strengthening our solidarity, and thus increase our joint efforts to reduce the serious damage caused by the pandemic and to maintain international peace and security, he concluded.
It should be noted that Azerbaijan became a full member of the OIC at the fifth Conference of the Heads of State and Government on December 8, 1991 in Dakar.
In September 1992, the final document of regular meeting of the OIC foreign ministers in the framework of the session of the UN General Assembly included a relevant paragraph on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict". A resolution on "Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan" was adopted at the XXI Conference of Foreign Ministers of the OIC member countries in Karachi in April 1993.
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Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to facilitate bringing the body of a Bokaro resident, who died in an accident in Dubai.
Soren approached the External Affairs Minister after he was informed by the family of the deceased that he died in an accident recently in Dubai during the lockdown, a press release from the Chief Ministers Office said.
The family members informed the chief minister that they were waiting for the body of, Mohammad Zahid Akhtar, to perform the last rites.
He was working as a labourer in Dubai, the family members said.
Soren also asked Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and lend the family members all necessary support, the release added.
"Fleurs de Prairie rose is a tribute to the splendor of Provence, and Seeds of Beauty recognizes and supports individuals who are using their passion and talent to make the world a more beautiful place," says Martha Dzwonkowski, Brand Manager of Fleurs de Prairie. "Now more than ever, we are excited to support creators who are powered by kindness, strengthened by generosity and inspired by beauty."
Beginning today, Fleurs de Prairie invites creators and artisans to apply for seed grants by illustrating what their passions are and how they spread beauty in their own unique way. The brand also wants to understand how they plan to use the seed money to help grow their business. Fleurs de Prairie will select three creators who embody the brand's mission and supply each of them with $5,000 grants to help fund their endeavors. In addition, Fleurs de Prairie will support the winners through the #FleurishTogether Mentorship Program, led by marquee ambassadors Grace Atwood of The Stripe and Bad on Paper podcast, Hayet Rida of HayetRida.com and The Rida Collective, and Kate Arends of Wit & Delight. They will provide one-on-one business lessons and offer guidance on how to grow and propel the winners' careers.
Part of the Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits portfolio, Fleurs de Prairie is a premium rose wine sourced from Provence, one of the most celebrated wine regions in France. The wine reflects the beauty of the region and the brand believes in celebrating and supporting those creating beauty in their own communities. In 2019, the Seeds of Beauty campaign proudly recognized three creators, Alli Koch of Alli K Design, Carolyn Brown, Founder of The Crown Collective , and Erika Wasser, Founder of Glam+Go , who exemplified Fleurs de Prairie's brand values.
For more information and rules/regulations to apply, please visit www.fleursdeprairie.com/seeds-of-beauty. Submissions are due by August 31. For the latest updates, follow along on social media at @fleursdeprairie.
ABOUT FLEURS DE PRAIRIE
"Fleurs de Prairie" translates as "wildflowers," celebrating the beautiful fields of wisteria, lavender, poppy, and sunflowers carpeting Provence. This wine is sourced from select Provencal vineyards that dot the coastal wind-swept hillsides of the region. The Mediterranean combination of sun, wind, mild water stress, and ocean influence provide ideal conditions for grapes to ripen to the perfect balance of flavor and freshness. This wine is crafted in the traditional Provencal style with a pale salmon color, delicate flavors of strawberry, rose petals, and herbs, and a bright, refreshing acidity. It is made by the family-owned Les Grands Chais de France. For more information, please visit www.fleursdeprairie.com.
ABOUT DEUTSCH FAMILY WINE & SPIRITS
Initially called W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd., the company was founded in 1981 by Chairman Bill Deutsch to market quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world. In 2009, it announced the expansion of the award-winning company to include a Spirits Portfolio. Today the company is renowned for its brand-building prowess and its ability to meet the needs of the modern consumer. Bill's son Peter Deutsch is CEO; thus two generations of the Deutsch family work side by side in their continuous quest to build strong brands and relationships throughout the wine and spirits industry.
The portfolio includes award-winning wines from Australia: [ yellow tail ], [ yellow tail ] Bubbles, Peter Lehmann, Peter Lehmann Clancy's; California: Bellacosa; Eppa SupraFruta Sangria, Girard Winery, Joseph Carr, Josh Cellars, Josh Cellars Reserve, Kunde Family Estate, Layer Cake; The Calling; France: Andre Lurton, Cave de Lugny, Fleurs de Prairie, Hob Nob Vineyards, Sauvion et Fils; Washington: Skyfall; Italy: Barone Fini, Villa Pozzi; New Zealand: The Crossings; Portugal: Quinta Do Vale Meao; Argentina: Clos de los Siete; Ruta 22; and award-winning spirits: Redemption Whiskey, Bib & Tucker Bourbon, Masterson's Rye, Luksusowa Vodka and Gray Whale Gin. www.deutschfamily.com
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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Former paramilitary leader Emmanuel Constant was deported from the U.S. on Tuesday and arrested as soon as he landed in Haiti, where he faces murder and torture charges stemming from killings committed during the political upheaval of the 1990s that involved the U.S. government.
Constant did not say anything as he was placed into a police vehicle, where one officer held a cellphone up to Constants ear so he could talk to an unidentified person before he was taken away for questioning.
Constant was among 24 deported migrants who landed in the capital of Port-au-Prince, the fourth such flight since the COVID-19 pandemic began, said Jean Negot Bonheur Delva, director of Haitis migration office.
Some criticized his deportation and worried whether he would be held accountable for any of the charges he faces. Reed Brody, an attorney for Human Rights Watch known as the dictator hunter, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that Constant should be prosecuted somewhere.
The worst solution for Haitians would be to have somebody like Toto Constant with so much blood on his hands walking around, he said. It would just epitomize the impunity with which people have committed murder in Haiti for so long.
Human rights groups have accused Constant of killing, raping and torturing Haitians when he became leader of the Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti after President Jean-Bertrand Aristides presidency was toppled in 1991. They allege that between 1991 and 1994, the group that Constant led terrorized and slaughtered at least 3,000 slum dwellers loyal to Aristide.
According to the San Francisco-based Center for Justice & Accountability, Constant had pictures of mutilated victims in his office and his group would perform facial scalpings and display them.
Constant sought to cultivate a nearly supernatural mystique for FRAPH, the centre said.
When Aristide returned to power in 1994 with help from the U.S. military, Constant fled to the Dominican Republic and then entered the U.S. on Christmas Eve. He was ordered deported in 1995 but was allowed to remain in the U.S. because of instability in Haiti. In 2000, Constant was convicted in absentia in Haiti following a trial for the 1994 massacre in Raboteau, a shantytown in the northern coastal town of Gonaives where Aristide supporters were killed.
Constant kept a low profile while in the U.S. and lived with relatives in Queens, New York, until he was arrested in 2006 and later found guilty of fraud and grand larceny. In October 2008, he was sentenced at least 12 years in prison for his role in a $1.7 million mortgage fraud scheme.
Constant has repeatedly alleged that he was on the CIAs payroll and that he is a scapegoat and would be killed upon his return to Haiti.
There were no protesters or supporters when he landed in Port-au-Prince or when he was taken to a jail cell shortly afterward. His attorney, Ronaldo Saint-Louis, told reporters that Constant was being held illegally.
This is a country of injustice. We are going to fight for his right to be released, he said.
Constant was expected to remain in jail overnight in a cell he was sharing with several other detainees. An Associated Press journalist overheard Constant asking them if they needed anything before he requested certain things from his attorney.
Ive been away for too long. Can you bring me some poisson gros sel? Constant asked Saint-Louis, referring to a popular dish of coarse salt fish. He also requested deodorant, water and mosquito repellent, among other things.
U.S. legislators including Rep. Maxine Waters of California have said it would be dangerously irresponsible to deport Constant without a plan to prosecute him in Haiti and protect victims. Waters noted that Jean-Robert Gabriel, who also was convicted in absentia in the Raboteau trial, became a top official in Haitis military in 2018.
Marleine Bastien, executive director of the Miami-based Haitian non-profit Family Action Network Movement, also decried Constants deportation, saying it will only create more chaos. She said many of his friends remain in power and noted that judges in Haiti are on strike.
Does the US government want to export more instability to an already vulnerable nation? she said in a statement. Given the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Haiti and in the US, deporting Constant now, and without a plan to prosecute him, is disgusting and dangerous.
Brody, the human rights lawyer who worked in Haiti during the 1990s to prosecute human rights crimes, also said the U.S. was not a bystander when Constant rose to power.
The U.S. has an obligation to ensure that the story ends better than it started, he said.
___
Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The controlling shareholders of Shenzhen-listed solar manufacturer Jolywood have sold up to state-owned WJ Energy, as two more power companies revealed big plans for new capacity. NYSE-listed Daqo, meanwhile, is mulling an IPO in its homeland.WJ Energy is set to gain 30% voting rights and a controlling stake in Shenzhen-listed PV manufacturer Jolywood after the state-run group bought around 147 million shares - almost 19% of the stock - from Lin Jianwei and his wife Zhang Yuzheng for RMB1.16 billion (US$164 million). China Huadian said on Monday that it has reached an agreement with the municipal ...
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The spurt of Covid-19 cases in the city, 620 on Sunday, has moved the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to review its containment zones every seven days, instead of the current 15 days.
The PMC has also decided to bear the costs of all Covid-19 tests it commissions to private laboratories.
Municipal commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad, along with Pune divisional commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar and district collector Naval Kishore Ram, held a joint press conference on Monday, where Gaikwad announced that the civic body has also changed its strategy for reviewing containment zones.
As per the existing policy, PMC is taking the review of containment zones every 15 days, but as the numbers are increase rapidly in non-containment zones, a review will be taken every week. This way, we will announce new containment zones every week, said Gaikwad.
PMC also plans to restrict the entry of citizens at its headquarters, with more employees are testing positive.
I have given instructions to the security guard not to allow citizens into the headquarters. The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has also banned visitors to its headquarters, Gaikwad said.
Keeping human embryos frozen for over a year can halve women's chances of becoming pregnant and giving birth to a live baby, a study has found.
Researchers from China examined the pregnancy and live birth rates of more than 24,000 women undergoing embryo-storing 'vitrification' treatment.
They found that storing embryos for 12 years significantly lowered positive outcomes compared with those embryos stored for less than 3 months.
However, the team found that vitrifaction appeared to have no detrimental effect on the health of young babies born using the technique, despite previous concerns.
Keeping human embryos frozen for over a year can halve women's chances of becoming pregnant and giving birth to a live baby, a study has found (stock image)
'Although the storage time of vitrified embryos negatively affected pregnancy outcomes, including clinical pregnancy and live birth rates, it did not affect neonatal outcomes,' paper author Qifeng Lyu of the Shanghai Ninth Peoples Hospital said.
Vitrification involves briefly placing embryos in a solution that dehydrates them before they are rapidly frozen into a glass-like state using liquid nitrogen.
During this second part of the process, technicians use chemicals that prevent ice crystals from forming on the embryos as they are frozen ready for storage.
Vitrification which is reverse when the embryos are needed is a simple, fast and inexpensive technique that has become popular worldwide, but one that still attracts concerns over the safety of the procedure.
Some experts have suggested the method is unsafe for the embryo and could lead to complications, including low or high birth-weights and other defects.
To investigate these concerns, Professor Lyu and colleagues analysed the outcomes of the procedure for more than 24,000 patients who had vitrified embryos transferred for the first time between January 2011 and December 2017.
The team found that the clinical pregnancy rate fell from 56 per cent to 26 per cent when comparing embryos that had been stored for up to three months with those kept frozen from between 12 and 24 months.
Similarly, they found that the live birth rate also plummeted from 47 per to 26 per cent between the two different storage durations.
Researchers from China examined the pregnancy and live birth rates of more than 24,000 women undergoing embryo-storing 'vitrification' treatment. They found that storing embryos for 12 years significantly lowered positive outcomes compared with those embryos stored for less than 3 months (stock image)
In addition, the team also tested a subset of younger women in order to ensure that the results had not been skewed by the ages of the older patients who were concentrated in the longer-storage groups.
However, looking at more than 7,000 women aged 36 or younger whose infertility was caused by blocked or damaged fallopian tubes and not their age the researchers found similar results.
'We think the results from this sub-analysis support our main results about the relationship between the duration of storage with pregnancy and neonatal outcomes,' said paper author Qianqian Zhu of the Shanghai Ninth Peoples Hospital.
Despite the negative outcomes related to longer embryo storage times, however, the team found no evidence that vitrification endangered the development of the resulting babies over their first two years.
However, the team found that vitrifaction appeared to have no detrimental effect on the health of young babies born using the technique, despite previous concerns (stock image)
'This is reassuring news for couples seeking fertility treatment. The reduction in live birth rates can be overcome through additional embryo transfer cycles,' added Dr Zhu.
'If we had found that neonatal health was adversely affected by vitrification, it would impose a heavy burden on individuals, family and society.'
Based on their findings, the team have suggested that clinicians should consider the effect of storage duration before deciding how many embryos to freeze and store.
'This is especially important for cancer patients, who may have their ovaries destroyed by cancer therapies and who have to delay fertility treatment until they have recovered from their disease,' Dr Zhu added.
The study did not examine the effect of storing embryos for longer than 24 months.
With their initial study complete, the researchers have said that long-term follow-up work is needed to see how vitrification may impact babies as they grow older.
'In general terms this well conducted study is good news for patients seeking fertility treatment, said University of Kent geneticist Darren Griffin who was not involved in the present study.
'We were already pretty sure that vitrification was safe, but this particular set of investigations adds much needed information.'
The results on storage time and its relationship to clinical pregnancy/live birth rates need further scrutiny and may inspire further research into how storage conditions can be improved in the future.
'It is reassuring to note that there was no statistically significant association between ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, nor adverse neonatal outcomes.'
The full findings of the study were published in the journal Human Reproduction.
A Chinese worker unloads sacks of rice from South Korea, at Dandong port, Liaoning province October 31, 2010. The rice was sent as food aid destined for North Korea.
Ships carrying grain labelled as construction materials have been sailing from a northeastern Chinese port to nearby North Korea, dockworkers told RFA, describing a secret operation run at night kept to avoid international scrutiny.
North Korea, which has struggled with chronic food insecurity for decades, suffered a huge economic shock in January when the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a complete shutdown of the Sino-Korean border.
The coronavirus lockdown followed drought and poor harvests in the impoverished country, whose trade options are limited by international sanctions aimed at depriving Pyongyang of cash for its nuclear and missile programs.
Chinese rice and corn are put on ships in the Chinese border city of Dandong. From there the ships sail about 100 nautical miles to Nampo, southwest of the North Korean capital Pyongyang, a Chinese source of Korean descent from Dandong, told RFAs Korean service.
The source, who requested anonymity to speak freely, had been hired recently as a dockworker loading the ships at nighttime. The cargo is labelled as construction materials according to the source, who described daily shipping activity in mid-June but added that the scale of the operation was unknown.
These days, they are loading shipments of food here in Dandong port every night.
These ships used to carry emergency supplies and construction materials to North Korea, but now they are being used to transport food, the source told RFAs Korean Service June 14, after he had worked a week as a day laborer at the port.
This food is being exported by a certain Chinese trading company which has a dry materials contract with a state-run trading agency in North Korea. The company pays 200 yuan [U.S. $28.29] per day to each laborer loading the ships, the worker said.
But its all done in secret so no one can figure out how much food is being shipped, and if North Korea is paying for imported food or if the Chinese government is providing it for free, added the source.
The trading company keeps it all a secret by saying that the cargo heading to North Korea is construction materials, not food, the source said.
Food shortages and coronavirus
China is believed to be North Korea's largest aid donor, but Beijing releases few figures and prefers to provide relief on a bilateral basis. Most other donors give humanitarian aid through UN agencies and NGOs, subject to monitoring.
International sanctions on North Korea do not prohibit humanitarian assistance, but they make fertilizer hard for the North to obtain and aid groups say the restrictions hamper operations.
Another source, a trader from Dandong who asked not to be named, confirmed to RFA that ships carrying food are leaving the port nightly, sent by a local trading company in China, which has been trading with a North Korean state-run trading company for many years.
China is sending food aid to North Korea, which is suffering from chronic food shortages and the coronavirus crisis, the second source said.
The Dandong dockworker said shifts start very late at night.
Work begins at night, [often later than 10 p.m.] After being fully loaded, the ships sail for Nampo, and return after three days. But since there are several ships transporting the food, were working at the port every night, the dockworker said.
We dont have any information about when the food shipments will end because of all the secrecy of the project, the dockworker said.
The Dandong trader said that under the UN sanctions regime, North Korean ships cannot sail into Dandong to retrieve the food, so the North Korean trading company must instead pay a premium for the Chinese company to deliver it.
In 2016, North Korean ships were banned from entering Dandong under a UN resolution that imposed sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear and missile development tests. Thats why all the ships involved are Chinese, said the Dandong trader.
RFA reported in January that Beijing had agreed to send food by rail from Dandong, which is across the Yalu River from North Koras Sinuiju city, causing a backup in freight traffic.
Sources said they were puzzled as to why the food aid was needed, especially since North Korea was not reporting any food crisis at the time.
Recurring food shortages
According to estimates from the South Korean Unification Ministry, North Korea will produce only 4.64 million tons of grain this year, about 860,000 tons shy of the 5.5 million tons it needs to adequately feed its citizens.
Earlier this month, the World Food Program (WFP) said humanitarian assistance is needed for more than 10 million people, nearly 40 percent of the countrys population.
The WFP hopes to provide food aid to about 1.2 million North Koreans this year.
North Korean state media said the country experienced its worst drought in 37 years last year, prompting warnings of a food crisis following 2018 harvest that had been the worst in a decade.
Two UN agencies, the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization, were at that time concerned that the June 2019 harvest of crops like wheat and barley would be extremely low after the prolonged drought.
A report released by the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in May 2019 said that 10.9 million people -- more than 43 percent of the population -- did not have access to adequate food last year.
China extended massive bilateral food aid during 1994-98, a period North Korea calls the Arduous March, when the country lost as much as 10 percent of its population of 22 million to mass starvation, amid an economic meltdown brought on by mismanagement and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Reported by Jieun Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is likely to inform the Supreme Court on Tuesday about its decision on conducting the pending class 10 and 12 board exams, which were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, officials said.
The board last week told the court it will "very shortly" take a decision, after a plea by a group of parents sought quashing of the notification for conducting the remaining class 10 and 12 exams from July 1 to 15 and demanded that the students be awarded marks based on an internal assessment or in line with marks allotted for practical exams.
A similar request has been made by the Maharashtra, Delhi and Odisha governments to the HRD Ministry.
"The decision will be informed to the court on Tuesday and an official notification will accordingly be issued as per directions of the top court," a senior CBSE official said.
The parents have said in the plea that students could be exposed to Covid-19 infection if they appear for exams amid an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.
They have cited that the CBSE has cancelled the examinations of Class 10 and 12 for its around 250 schools situated abroad and the board has decided to award marks on the basis of either practical exams or an internal assessment because of the pandemic.
The CBSE has decided the fresh schedule of board exams from July 1-15 to ensure that they are completed before competitive examinations. While engineering entrance exam JEE-Mains is scheduled from July 18-23, medical entrance exam NEET is to be held on July 26.
"A decision about the two exams will also be taken in accordance with the decision on board exams," the official said.
The CICSE board has already announced that class 10 and 12 students can choose to not appear for pending board exams and be marked as per their performance in pre-board exams or internal assessment.
The board had submitted the proposal before the Bombay High Court last week in response to a petition filed by a parent seeking directions to the authorities to cancel exams in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases.
Universities and schools across the country have been shut since March 16, when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as part of measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. A nationwide lockdown was announced on March 24, which came into effect the next day.
While the government has eased several restrictions, schools and colleges continue to remain closed.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The value of chemical products export from Turkey to Uzbekistan dropped by 17.1 percent from January through May 2020 compared to the same period of last year and made up $82.4 million, Trend reports on June 23 with reference to the Turkish Trade Ministry.
In May this year, Turkey's export of chemical products to Uzbekistan plummeted by 43.8 percent compared to the same period of 2019 and amounted to over $14.5 million.
Turkey's export of chemical products to the world markets slid by 17.2 percent in the first five months of 2020 compared to the same period of last year and stood at $7.2 billion.
Turkey's export of chemical products to world markets amounted to 11.7 percent of the countrys total export from January through May 2020.
According to the ministry, in May 2020, Turkey's export of chemical products to world markets amounted to slightly over $1.1 billion, which is 39.1 percent less compared to the same month of 2019.
Meanwhile, Turkey's export of chemical products made up 11.8 percent of the countrys total export.
During the last 12 months (from May 2019 through May 2020), Turkey's export of chemical products to world markets amounted to $19 billion.
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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
B oris Johnson has recommended that Brits take a staycation this summer but indicated rules on overseas travel will be reviewed within days.
Speaking at the last daily press conference on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the current advice remains that people should avoid non-essential travel.
However, he said that the Government would be reviewing the situation on June 29 after he announced an easing of lockdown measures on Tuesday.
Currently, Brits travelling abroad would have to quarantine for 14 days as they returned to the UK.
The policy, which came into force on June 8, states quarantine is necessary "to keep overall levels of infection down.
On Tuesday, Mr Johnson announced that restrictions on hotels in England would be eased from July 4 , opening up the option of staycations, as he said pubs and restaurants will also reopen.
Countries such as France have been in talks with the UK Government on setting up "air-bridges" to allow tourists to travel between them while maintaining restrictions on visitors from other destinations.
The Prime Minister said the UK was a 'fantastic' country to holiday in / PA
The Prime Minister said in Downing Street on Tuesday: The current advice is still that people should avoid non-essential travel.
We will be reviewing the situation on the 29th, we will be looking at the quarantine rules and what we can do to create air bridges.
But he added: This is a fantastic country to go on holiday in and I would not hesitate to recommend staycations as well.
Britons can holiday in Spain without facing quarantine upon arrival / AFP via Getty Images
Prof Whitty struck a less enthusiastic note than the Prime Minister, predicting that the country could have to cope with Covid-19 into 2021.
He said: I would be surprised and delighted if we werent in this current situation through the winter and into next spring. I think then lets regroup and work out where we are.
I expect there to be a significant amount of coronavirus circulating at least into that time and I think it is going to be quite optimistic that for science to come fully to the rescue over that kind of timeframe."
That said, Prof Whitty added that he had "absolute confidence" in the ability of science to find a cure to Covid-19.
But I have an absolute confidence in the capacity of science to overcome infectious diseases it has done that repeatedly and it will do that for this virus, whether that is by drugs, vaccines or indeed other things that may come into play," he said.
For medium to long term, Im optimistic. But for the short to medium term, until this time next year, certainly I think we should be planning for this for what I consider to be the long haul into 2021.
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PhixNPhlip, Arizonas premier equity real estate crowdfunding platform, announced today the completion of their first project Arcadia Lite. The 2,200 sq ft, 4 bedroom, 2 bath, modern home sold for $934,000 and returned a net profit of $92,319 to investors - a 16.7% annualized return.
Shane Cook, co-founder of PhixNPhlip, said, Our goal at PhixNPhlip is to provide a 12% to 18% annualized return and to have periodic liquidity with a number of projects for the investors to choose from throughout the year. Our team is immensely satisfied with the results of our first project (Arcadia Lite) and the 16.7% annualized return we were able to yield for our investors.
PhixNPhlip published the full performance summary for Arcadia Lite project here: https://www.phixnphlip.com/#news.
PhixNPhlip opened over 600,000 individual secured participating preferred non-voting membership interests for the Arcadia Lite project. The initial offering was 6% preferred interest as the base part of the return, plus 40% net profit share after the sponsors participation. The offering for Arcadia Lite closed in May 2019.
The project was completed in 300 days, undergoing major demolition and remodeling. The home was initially expected to sell for $270 - $340/sq. ft. and adjusted to $370/ sq. ft. as the final projection.
Shane, who is also a Realtor at My Home Group, followed the Cromford statistics analysis of the MLS data, local real estate trends, and comparable houses in the market and was able to increase the asking price to over $412 per sq ft. The home was under contract within 3 weeks and sold for over $406 per sq ft.
Gwen Butler of GTNJ Architecture was responsible for completely re-designing the 1958 property into a modern home that fit the aesthetic of the neighborhood. Kevin Keller and Nicole Wheeler of Revival Home Renovations made the vision come to life while adding custom cabinetry items that were as artistic as they were functional.
As of 2015, the Arizona Legislature and Gov. Doug Ducey approved a crowdfunding law to allow and encourage non-accredited investors to make equity investments in startups and other entrepreneurial ventures, including real estate.
On March 28, 2019 Phix Properties LLC filed the first single-family residence real estate crowdfunded offering in the state of Arizona with the Arizona Securities Division. PhixNPhlip requires a minimum $1,000 investment and the law allows a maximum investment of $10,000 in a crowdfunded project. All investors must be Arizona residents, as the company operates under Arizonas crowdfunding laws.
What the new structure really does is allow us to build investor relations and communicate with the 100%, instead of the 5%. Investors are now able to invest in smaller amounts, get more transparency, and more diversity - thats a more prudent way to be an investor, says Joe Cook, veteran real estate investor and co-founder of PhixNPhlip. Were proud to provide a platform for all Arizonians to invest in our robust real estate market and communities.
PhixNPhlip has 2 more residential projects on the way and are expected to open commercial properties to crowdfunding later this year.
About PhixNPhlip:
PhixNPhlip is Arizonas premier real estate crowdfunding platform, founded by father-son duo, Joe Cook a veteran real estate investor participating in transactions of over $380 Million, and Shane Cook, expert Realtor having sold over $250 Million worth of commercial and residential property. Together, they bring decades of experience in real estate and investing to provide a platform that allows non-accredited investors of Arizona to invest in their community and become an integral part of the growing real estate market. For additional information, visit https://www.phixnphlip.com/
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) take part in the first night of the Democratic presidential debate on June 26, 2019 in Miami, Florida.
Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker said Tuesday they are opening an investigation of Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Cargill and Smithfield Foods related to their handling of pork exports and worker safety during the coronavirus pandemic.
The move comes after reports that the meatpacking companies were exporting a record amount of pork to China, while warning of impending meat shortages and raising prices in the United States.
Pork is an integral part of the U.S.-China trade agreement, which President Donald Trump has touted as one of his prime accomplishments. But while China buys some pork products and parts that Americans do not consume, the decision to export in large quantities to China comes as American workers have fallen sick or died from coronavirus in pork plants across the country.
In letters to the CEOs of Tyson, Cargill, JBS and Smithfield Foods, Warren, of Massachusetts, and Booker, of New Jersey, demanded information about how each company protects workers who have or may contract the coronavirus, and how much meat they each export to China.
"Your companies created the conditions that left your workers and the supply chain vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic but instead of addressing them, you used the prospect of food shortages to secure a federal license to put your workers in harm's way," the former presidential candidates wrote.
A spokesperson for Tyson told CNBC in a statement "in recent months, we've prioritized supplying meat to the U.S. domestic market and have voluntarily curtailed shipping those pork export items that are also used by domestic consumers to try to meet U.S. demand."
The spokesperson added that "many of the pork products we sell internationally are specialty products that have extremely limited use in the United States such as snouts, feet, ears and organ meats," the exports of which "adds considerable value to the overall price of hogs for U.S. farmers."
Through Tyson's fiscal year, its exports to China represent about 3% of its total pork production.
Representatives for JBS and Smithfield didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Cargill said it was still reviewing the letter.
In April, Billionaire John Tyson, chairman of the nation's largest meat processor, Tyson Foods, took out a full-page ad in several of the nation's most-read newspapers warning "the food supply chain is breaking," days before Trump issued an executive order requiring the plants to remain open. His order came as a growing number of workers reported being infected by the virus, amid working conditions that required frequent close contact in tight quarters.
Still, a number of grocers told CNBC at the time they had yet to see signs of the shortage that Tyson had warned of. A spokesperson for Kroger said there was "plenty of protein in the supply chain," while a spokesperson for Texas grocer H-E-B said they were adding new limits for customers' meat purchases after John Tyson's ad, over fears of stockpiling.
Those actions were cited by Booker and Warren.
"In April, while thousands of your workers were falling ill due to your own inability or unwillingness to implement worker protections, your companies warned that the 'country [was] perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply' and that 'the food supply chain is breaking,' while publicly pressing federal, state, and local officials to keep plants open," they wrote.
"Your warnings of potential shortages prompted retailers to place limits on the amount of meat that customers could purchase."
In phase one of the U.S.-China deal, Beijing agreed to buy $12.5 billion in agricultural goods this year from the United States, and another $19.5 billion in 2021. That agreement was viewed as a boon to meat processors and the farmers who supply them, many of whom are located in key swing states like Iowa.
Trump reassured major meat industry CEOs in a private call in April he was not interested in restricting pork exports to China, despite warnings of potential shortages. On Monday, Trump tweeted that the "The China Trade Deal is fully intact" after comments made by White House trade advisor Peter Navarro that implied the deal was off. Navarro later said his comments were taken out of context.
Through February, pork and pork variety meat exports accounted for 31% of all U.S. production, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Just over one-third of those exports went to China, CNBC previously reported. Through the first four months of 2020, the U.S. was on pace to export 1.1 million metric tons of pork meat, up 35% from a year ago, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal
In the minutes after a 39-year-old protester was shot and critically injured at a demonstration to remove the statue of Juan de Onate from the Albuquerque Museum grounds last week, officers wearing riot uniforms and tactical gear flooded the scene.
Short clips of video released by the Albuquerque Police Department show a line of officers, armed with batons, marching toward the protesters while another group wearing tactical gear spilled out from an armored vehicle to take several members of a civilian militia group into custody. They also arrested Steven Ray Baca, 31, who was suspected of shooting Scott Williams during an altercation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lagjxA0v6FA&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXN6rddBp3w&feature=youtu.be
What the videos dont show is any attempts at investigating the shooting, whether by interviewing witnesses or combing the streets for evidence.
Last week, District Attorney Raul Torrez leveled harsh criticism of APDs handling of the investigation, calling it a fundamentally incomplete police investigation and saying the original complaint omitted the fact that Baca was seen on video assaulting a woman in the crowd, which would negate his claims of self-defense. Torrez dropped the most serious charge against Baca and instead charged him with felony aggravated battery and two petty misdemeanor charges, in attacks on other protesters. He is also charged with carrying a gun without a concealed carry permit.
Baca was released pending trial after a hearing on Monday.
Deputy Chief Harold Medina said the District Attorneys Office is well aware of the fact that we were dealing with a riot. Munitions had been released and the crowd was angry, making it very difficult to process the scene like they normally would for a serious crime, he said. And he said instead of interviewing the witnesses who remained on scene, many of whom were present immediately before and during the shooting, they asked the media to get the word out that anyone with information should contact investigators.
We knew a lot of individuals when shots were fired had left the area, Medina said in a news conference Monday. There were others there that had gotten caught up in a clash with law enforcement so we knew that we werent going to have the witnesses that we typically do right away, and we knew that we didnt have the luxury of securing the scene as usual.
In a news conference last Wednesday, Torrez said, among other things, he was concerned that the investigation had been adversely affected by APDs response of riot police and smoke munitions.
Frankly, we have been put in a situation too many times in this community where investigations are rushed, investigations are incomplete and there is an expectation that quick decisions are made, Torrez said last week. As prosecutors who have to uphold an oath to be objective and impartial, we cant do that. We have to get it right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgnQRYK7Alw&feature=youtu.be
Allegations probed
Medina said they are also investigating allegations that some of the officers did not treat Williams family with respect and empathy following the shooting. Williams father was among those who reached Williams side after he was shot.
We are reviewing body camera audio and we will continue to work to make sure our officers are always being professional, Medina said. We will make sure they are held accountable if there was anything done that shouldnt have been done.
APD has also faced scrutiny over the decision not to send officers into the fray earlier.
Medina said in preparing for the protests, and watching similar events unfold all across the country, APD has been mindful that the way officers respond will affect the departments relationship with the community for years to come.
The Albuquerque Police Department recognizes that our past approach to use of force caused the community to distrust and fear the police, Medina said. Throughout this time of dealing with protests we have been cautious to hold the use of force to a minimum and use only for significant property damage or when life is threatened. We simply will not allow simple property crime damage to be the tipping point of when we decide to use force on a crowd that has a lot of individuals who are still peacefully demonstrating their constitutional rights.
Lt. Joe Viers laid out the timeline of events, starting with the incident command learning there would be a peaceful prayer gathering calling for the removal of the Onate statue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMLkdc7jFHc&feature=youtu.be
There was no indication they would try to remove or tear down the statue and there was no indication of any anti-protesters or militia members trying to show up to instigate any events, he said.
He said around 5:20 p.m. the first call came into 911 about armed men at the protest. In one 911 call, a woman reports that armed men were there but not pointing weapons at anyone and she was told by dispatch that it is legal in New Mexico to carry a gun openly.
I did contact the tactical commander to form a quick response team, Viers said. Basically their goal is to not be part of the demonstration or crowd control or anything like that. Basically since there was an armed individual introduced at this protest, at that time, we just needed to have a response team for medical care, as well as if there was a rescue that needed to take place.
A mobile camera trailer across the street also kept watch and officers compared the 911 calls coming in to what they could see from the feed. Out of the 23 calls about the incident, eight occurred before the shooting and four of those referenced the armed men, Viers said. One of those calls mentioned the men pointing guns at teenagers in the crowd, but Viers said they didnt have any evidence of that occurring.
He said two Emergency Response Teams were staged at the Albuquerque Museum and the Old Town substation nearby. As the protests unfolded undercover detectives kept their distance as they observed the events.
The undercover officers who were monitoring the crowd from a distance obviously did not convey any information that there was any threats of violence at that time, Viers said. There were no immediate threats of life and ERT was basically on standby if things were to escalate.
He said the undercover officers were standing outside the protest and therefore, didnt have a good visual on what was happening inside the crowd.
Furthermore, Medina said, it appeared as though the temperature of the group would rise and then fall.
When the civil guard surrendered the statue you can clearly see through the photos and video it was a sense of victory for the protesters, he said. It kind of diffused the situation there. From them surrendering the statute and pulling away to the moment that shots were fired was literally minutes.
At 8:04 p.m., shots were fired and the Emergency Response Teams were deployed a minute later, arriving at 8:07 p.m., police said. APD medics rendered aid and Williams was taken from the scene in an ambulance eight minutes later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugyrQUvBHsQ&feature=youtu.be
Viers said they still had the members of the New Mexico Civil Guard detained at the scene while they waited for marked units to arrive and transport them.
We had the individuals who were being detained between those two vehicles to deal with and then we also had a crime scene to try to preserve as best we could until the investigators were able to come on scene and continue that investigation, Viers said. At 20:28 hours (8:28 p.m.), a small group of protesters refused to move to a safe distance from where the group of individuals were being detained so smoke was used to help disperse the crowd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqb_33LQcDI&feature=youtu.be
Viers said some protesters kicked the smoke canisters back and officers deployed seven sponge rounds as well.
A couple dozen protesters remained in the area, finally dispersing around 9:30 p.m. In the hours that followed, crime scene investigators arrived to begin looking for evidence, continuing into the next morning, Medina said.
T-Mobile is hoping to ease some of the conditions it agreed to for its merger with Sprint. The carrier has asked Californias Public Utilities Commission to roll back three main requirements. It wants the CPUC to delay 5G coverage and speed targets for 2024 by two years, to use FCC testing for commitments instead of a new system and to eliminate a requirement that it adds 1,000 full-time jobs. Not surprisingly, it pins the requested job changes on the COVID-19 pandemic it may have long-term effects on companies like T-Mobile, according to the carriers request.
It added that the coverage and speed goals were out of sync with each other and werent feasible, such as tripling speeds from 100Mbps in 2023 to 300Mbps a year later. For testing, T-Mobile maintained that it was already subject to two independent tests and that a third would be burdensome.
Weve asked T-Mobile for comment. However, the labor group Communications Workers of America was unsurprisingly angry. It claimed the provider was all talk, no action when it came to promises and pointed to a recent decision to cut Sprint jobs as further evidence.
Its not certain that the CPUC will agree to any of the demands. Even if it doesnt, though, T-Mobiles request could easily rile critics. While the pandemic has clearly affected a number of telecoms (including Engadget parent Verizon), this repeats a familiar pattern of large tech companies making promises to secure mergers but getting cold feet once the union is secure. T-Mobile may have to elaborate on its claims if it hopes to get the CPUCs nod.
Update 6/23 9:40PM ET: T-Mobile told Engadget that it made the request so the decision aligns with what happened in proceedings, and clearly articulates how the merger helps Californians. The company also asserted that its job commitment has not changed, and that the CPUC has no authority to make additional demands. We suspect the CPUC might disagree on both counts, but you can see T-Mobiles full statements below.
The crisis caused by coronavirus threatens the livelihoods of each and every one of us, testing the strength and resolve of our community and we may not know the full extent of its damage for years to come. We know that this crisis has further exposed inequalities in communities throughout California, and we know that big solutions will be needed to recover from this and reinvest in the future. The Schools and Communities First ballot initiative in November will be key to this.
In the face of this unprecedented hardship, we Californians have proven to be strong, caring, compassionate and, above all, resilient. From Gov. Gavin Newsom on down, folks throughout the state have been faced with impossible decisions, and stepping up in ways we never thought wed have to.
Right now, California is facing its biggest budget shortfall in history, and the same is true for our school districts and local governments. These shortfalls threaten the schools, essential workers and critical local services on which our communities depend.
Theres no denying that it has taken a toll, especially on the Latino community and other communities of color.
The pandemic has exposed what weve all known to be true for a long time: None of our communities in the state was prepared for a crisis like this. The Latino community, which makes up a large proportion of essential workers, has been especially affected by this crisis.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Latinos are becoming infected and dying at disproportionately high rates relative to their share of the population. Health experts say one of the main reasons Latinos are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 is because many work in low-paying jobs that require them to leave home and interact with the public. Were seeing the same thing among the younger generations, as younger blacks and Latinos are dying of COVID-19 at higher rates in California.
Latinos and other communities of color have suffered most from decades of disinvestment, and such inequities in terms of access to fully funded schools and critical local services leave our communities at a serious disadvantage, with serious consequences.
This is something we cannot ignore as California looks to recover from this crisis and reinvest in our communities, all in an equitable fashion. Schools and Communities First will be key.
Schools and Communities First, which just qualified for the November ballot after having received a historic 1.7 million signatures of support, would reclaim $12 billion every year for our schools, essential workers and critical local services such as public hospitals and community health centers by closing corporate tax loopholes (in Proposition 13s treatment of commercial property) benefiting those at the very top. Importantly, this initiative would protect homeowners and renters, small businesses, and seniors. In fact, a recent analysis showed that 94% of the revenue would be generated by only 10% of commercial and industrial property owners showing that a fraction of top corporations benefit, at the expense of the rest of us.
Most important, Schools and Communities First is designed specifically to help address inequities that poorer school districts face, which has significant implications for communities of color. Every single student in California will benefit from this measure, but particular importance is paid to underserved communities additional funding will go toward low-income students, English-learners and foster youth. This, on top of the increased investments that local governments can make in their communities, will go a long way toward supporting our communities most in need.
Ive fought my entire life for what I know is right. I began my journey by speaking up for farm workers who had been mistreated and taken advantage of for decades. Now Im speaking up for the good of all Californians and encouraging you to vote for Schools and Communities First in November.
Dolores Huerta is founder and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association (now United Farm Workers), and part of the alliance for Schools & Communities First.
The grandparents of a toddler who was brutally bashed by his stepfather say vulnerable children need more protection in Queensland.
John and Sue Sandeman's grandson Mason Parker was murdered by her mother's partner Troy William Reed in April 2011. He was sentenced to life behind bars with 15 years non-parole.
The seventeen-month-old toddler was left with a fractured skull, ruptured bowl and internal injuries after being photographed with bruises all over his body at daycare just days earlier.
The Sandeman's have become advocates for children at risk in the wake of their grandson's death and launched Mason's Law, which requires childcare workers to report any suspected cases of abuse.
John and Sue Sandeman's grandson Mason Parker (pictured) was murdered by his stepfather in April 2011
The Sandeman's have become advocates for children at risk and want more to be done to protect vulnerable children in Queensland
The law was supported by the Queensland government in 2015, though Mr Sandeman believes more needs to be done to protect children.
'Why, when a child is known to child services, why isnt the person involved in the case (prosecuted) if a child gets furthers injured?' he told Townsville Bulletin.
The Sandeman's inquiries come as staggering statistics showcase the volume of child abuse cases in North Queensland, with the Townsville Child Protection and Investigation Unit viewing an average of nine reported incidences every day.
There were more than 1,400 abuse cases reported to the Department of Child Safetys North Queensland region in the year to September 2019.
Mason Lee died in 2016 after his stepfather Andrew William OSullivan hit him so hard that his organs ruptured
A spate of recent deaths in Queensland has raised questions about Queensland's Child Safety department and its ability to protect vulnerable children.
'Too many kids are getting murdered and abused,' Mr Sandeman said.
Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said the Sandeman's actions have helped to increase the budget for Child Safety over the last five years to be spending $1.3 billion this year alone.
Ms Farmer plans to meet with the Sandeman's this week and said every child has a right to feel safe.
'The Government makes no apology for taking a child into care when parents are unwilling or unable to provide appropriate care and protection for their child,' she said.
RESTON, Va., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, was awarded a prime contract by Edinburgh Airport Limited (Edinburgh Airport) to upgrade the airport's security tray return systems with antimicrobial tray technology. The implementation of antimicrobial technology complements other measures Edinburgh Airport is taking to minimize the spread of bacteria in the airport. This is Leidos' first order of the antimicrobial security tray technology introduced to mitigate the spread of bacteria from person-to-surface contact.
"Edinburgh Airport's leadership recognizes the increased risk of the virus spreading from the number of travelers and staff handling security trays every day, and I commend them for implementing antimicrobial security tray technology," said Maria Hedden, senior vice president and operation manager for Leidos' Security Detection and Automation Operation. "Leidos is proud to support the place where Scotland meets the world with security detection and automation technology solutions that are fast, frictionless and fully integrated."
Edinburgh Airport is Scotland's busiest airport, and the sixth busiest airport in the United Kingdom. The airport remains operational during the coronavirus pandemic, with airport officials enacting plans to safeguard the health of its staff and the traveling public while preparing for global travel recovery. Working with Leidos since 2012, Edinburgh Airport utilizes the company's intelligent automated tray return systems as well as desktop real-time explosives detection systems.
Under the contract, Leidos will provide new antimicrobial security trays that prevent reproduction of a broad spectrum of bacteria, including staphylococcus aureus (staph), E. coli, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA and VRE, by 99.99%. The antimicrobial technology is built into the security tray during Leidos' tray manufacturing process and continuously minimizes the presence of microbes throughout the security tray's lifecycle. The antimicrobial security trays must be cleaned according to normal hygiene procedures, but the additive will not wash off or wear away. The use of antimicrobial technology is important because studies have shown that microbes can survive on surfaces for up to eight weeks.
These antimicrobial security trays are the latest offering in Leidos' comprehensive security detection and automation solutions for aviation, ports, borders, and critical infrastructure. Learn more about the company's 24,000 security detection and automation products, which are deployed in 120 countries and territories at leidos.com/security-detection.
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500 information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 37,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $11.09 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2020. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 3, 2020, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Contact:
Melissa Duenas
(571) 526-6011
[email protected]
Thomas Doheny
(571) 474-4735
[email protected]
SOURCE Leidos
Related Links
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Alarming spikes in COVID-19 infections in the South and West have raised fears the outbreak is spiraling out of control - and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has slammed states like Texas and Florida for reopening too quickly amid the pandemic.
Gov Cuomo, who was criticized for not opening New York as quickly as others, has accused states like Texas, Florida and Arizona of reopening recklessly and not using facts and science like his state did.
'They have serious problems now. Not only will you have those states where more people will die, but it wasn't even better for the businesses,' he told NBC's Today on Tuesday.
'Now they've reopened and now they have an infection rate issue and they're talking about closing again.
'Anyone who thinks we could have reopened sooner, look at Florida, look at Arizona, look at Texas, look at the other 23 states that are going up - it shows we were smart and right.'
Currently, total infections in the US have surpassed 2.3 million and more than 120,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.
Cuomo said the current surge in cases and hospitals becoming overwhelmed in those states had vindicated what states like New York did by not reopening too early.
'We did have a science-based reopening. We did it on the facts. We did control it and that's what works,' he said. 'Reopen intelligently then you won't have a subsequent problem.
The United States saw a 25 percent increase in new cases in the last week compared to the previous seven days with Arizona, Florida and Texas experiencing record surges in new infections
Gov Andrew Cuomo, who was criticized for not opening New York as quickly as others, has accused states like Texas, Florida and Arizona of reopening recklessly and not using facts and science like his state did
'We went from one of the highest infection rates in the United States to one of the lowest infection rates. We just have to make sure other states don't infect us now.
'About half the states in this country, infection rates are going up. In New York the virus is going down. We're now afraid that... people get on a plane and they come to New York... we don't want them bringing the virus here.
'We're seriously considering a quarantine just to make sure people who come in from states with higher infections don't inadvertently increase our infection rate.'
It comes as the United States saw a 25 percent increase in new cases in the last week compared to the previous seven days with Arizona, Florida and Texas experiencing record surges in new infections.
Twenty-five states reported more new cases in the week ended June 21 than the previous week, including 10 states that saw weekly new infections rise more than 50 percent and 12 states that posted new records, according to a Reuters analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project.
Texas reported one of the largest rises in new cases at 24,000 for the week ended June 21, an increase of 84 percent from the previous week. The number of COVID-19 tests that came back positive in the state rose to 10 percent from 7 percent.
New cases in Florida rose 87 percent last week to almost 22,000 with the state's positive test rate nearly doubling to 11 percent.
TEXAS HOSPITALS: In Texas, the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston is now taking adult patients to provide additional beds as COVID-19 cases surge across the state Monday marked the 11th consecutive day Texas set a new high for COVID-19 hospitalizations
TEXAS CASES: Texas reported one of the largest rises in new cases at 24,000 for the week ended June 21, an increase of 84 percent from the previous week
TEXAS DEATHS: In Texas, deaths were down to 10 on Monday compared to the record 58 on May 15
Arizona reported 17,000 new cases, a 90 percent increase, with 20 percent of tests coming back positive.
The governors of all three states have attributed the increases in new cases to more testing, as well as younger people not following social distancing guidelines.
The alarming surges in cases - mostly in the South and West - continues to raise fears that the outbreak is spiraling out of control and that hard-won progress against the scourge is slipping away because of resistance among many Americans to wearing masks and keeping their distance from others.
Confirming predictions that the easing of state lockdowns over the past month and a half would lead to a comeback by the virus, cases surpassed 100,000 in Florida, hospitalizations are rising dramatically in Texas and Georgia, and a startling 1 in 5 of those tested in Arizona are proving to be infected.
In Texas, the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston is now taking adult patients to provide additional beds as COVID-19 cases surge across the state.
Hospitalizations in Texas have been increasing for more than a month and Monday marked the 11th consecutive day Texas set a new high for COVID-19 hospitalizations.
'It is snowballing. We will most certainly see more people die as a result of this spike,' said Dr Marc Boom, CEO and president of Houston Methodist Hospital.
He warned that hospitals could be overwhelmed in three weeks and he pleaded with people to cover their faces and practice social distancing.
FLORIDA CASES: FLORIDA CASES: Florida, one of the last states to impose stay-at-home restrictions and one of the first to begin lifting them, reported 2,926 new cases on Monday - down from the record 4,000 cases on Saturday
FLORIDA DEATHS: The state recorded 12 news deaths on Monday compared to the record 84 in early May
'It is possible to open up at a judicious pace and coexist with the virus but it requires millions and millions of people to do the right thing,' Boom said.
Texas is among a number of states - including Arizona, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina - whose governors have resisted statewide mask requirements, leaving the matter to local authorities.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said reimposing lockdown orders would be a last resort and reemphasized, but stopped short of mandating, people wear masks to curtail sobering trends.
In Georgia, the number of people hospitalized because of COVID-19 rose to 1,000 on Monday, erasing a month's worth of progress.
Infections are at their highest level since the outbreak began - nearly two months after Georgia began lifting restrictions on businesses.
Gov. Brian Kemp has required face coverings by waiters, barbers and others working face-to-face with customers but has largely let businesses decide whether customers must wear masks.
Arizona, in particular, is seeing disturbing trends in several benchmarks, including the percentage of tests that prove positive for the virus. Arizona's is the highest in the nation.
The state's positive test rate is at a seven-day average of over 20 percent, well above the national average of 8.4 percent and the 10 percent level that public health officials say is a problem.
When the positive test rate rises, it means that an outbreak is worsening - not just that more people are getting tested.
ARIZONA CASES: Arizona reported a record 3,591 new infections on Monday
ARIZONA DEATHS: The state recorded 42 new deaths on Monday - compared to the record 67 deaths recorded on May 8
ARIZONA HOSPITALS: Hospitalizations in Arizona appear to be declining but the intensive care bed usage in hospitals is increasing. Over the weekend, 85 percent of ICU beds (above) were in use across the state
In Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards extended restrictions on businesses because of a troubling uptick in cases, following the example set by Utah and Oregon last week. Louisiana has recorded more than 3,000 deaths.
'There are a lot of people out there saying they are done with this virus. Well, the virus isn't done with us,' Edwards said.
Meanwhile, New York City, once the most lethal hot spot in the US, lifted more of its restrictions on Monday. Restaurants can serve diners outdoors, customers can browse through stores and get a haircut and children can return to playgrounds.
While President Donald Trump says the surge in new cases is down to increased testing, public health officials say it only accounts for some of the increases as people continue to relax social distancing measures and states slowly reopen.
As infections continue to surge, the number of daily deaths appears to be gradually declining across the country.
But health experts have warned the fatality rate often lags several weeks behind the infection rate and could potentially shoot back up again.
Experts say the fact that younger people - who are less likely to be hospitalized - are now accounting for a large number of the new cases could also have an impact in several weeks.
Young people could currently be infecting their elderly relatives and other at-risk people, which could drive up hospitalizations and deaths.
Former FDA boss Scott Gottlieb said a high percentage of those being hospitalized are younger adults.
'In March, 82 percent of those hospitalized in NYC were over 45. Today, 50 percent of hospitalized in Dallas are under 50. Is this just a function of a much higher rate of current infection among young, or something else?' he tweeted.
More than five decades after its founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee gave the clarion call for not allowing two Constitutions, two Prime Ministers and two flags in one nation, in reference to Jammu and Kashmir, the Bharatiya Janata Party has ticked that box.
There is however, an issue linked to Mookerjee that is still pending, a demand periodically raised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP to probe his death while he was imprisoned in Jammu and Kashmir.
The founder of the Jana Sangh, forerunner of the BJP passed away in a cell in Jammu and Kashmir after he was detained for forcibly entering the state, defying the then law making it mandatory for an Indian to furnish a permit to enter Kashmir.
On Mookerjees death anniversary on Tuesday, the BJP brass paid tributes to the man who gave the party a task abrogation of Article 370 that gave the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir its special status.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and a host of other senior leaders paid tributes to Mukherjee.
Reading down Article 370 that made Article 35A that empowered the state assembly to define permanent residents for bestowing special rights and privileges on them infructuous is counted as one of the biggest achievements of the Narendra Modi government.
There was however no mention of a probe in the tributes.
On his death anniversary last year, leaders underlined how he sacrificed his life for the unity of the country.
The then newly-appointed working president; JP Nadda also added that while the whole country demanded an inquiry into Mookerjees death, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru did not order an inquiry.
History is witness to this. Dr. Mookerjees sacrifice will never go in vain, BJP is committed to this cause, Nadda said.
Similar statements were repeated on July 6, Mookerjees birth anniversary.
A month later on August 5, the House of Elders in Parliament witnessed a historic legislation being passed-- the Re-organisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories and the reading down of the contentious Article 370.
More than 10 months after Abrogation of Article 370, the BJP has renamed Chenani-Nashri tunnel, Indias longest tunnel that links Kashmir with Jammu after Mookerjee, but there is no indication that the government will initiate a probe into his death.
The RSS that has been steadfastly bringing up the need to investigate Mookerjees death is not giving up on this demand.
In 2004, (former PM) Atal Bihar Vajpayee had said there is a conspiracy that needs to be probed. We are hopeful that the government will investigate and put the issue to rest once and for all, a senior functionary of the RSS said on Tuesday.
In 2004, Vajpayee stoked a controversy with his statement that Mookerjees death was part of a conspiracy between the then Jawaharlal Nehru-led central government and Jammu and Kashmir government.
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J.C. Penney Co. Inc. is upping the count on its store closings.
The bankrupt retailer, as part of its store optimization strategy, disclosed Monday evening it will close 13 stores on top of the 136 units being liquidated. However, even more closings will be revealed.
We do anticipate a third round of store closures, but the date has not been decided yet, a Penneys spokeswoman told WWD. Theres no word yet on how many stores will be disclosed in the third round, though some retail experts believe Penneys needs to close at least a couple of hundred stores in order to survive.
The 13 stores are considered a second phase in the retailers optimization strategy. The liquidation sales on those 13 units are expected to begin on or around July 3.
Last week, Penneys commenced closing sales at 136 stores across the country. These decisions were made based on a comprehensive evaluation of our retail footprint and a careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for J.C. Penney, said the retailers spokeswoman. Those liquidations are seen taking 10 to 16 weeks to complete.
On June 4, Penneys disclosed the first phase of 154 store closures, and noted that additional phases of store closing sales would occur. The company said it would focus on its strongest stores and e-commerce.
Though Penneys hasnt revealed the timing of a third wave of closings, its expected that the Dallas-based department store chain will make the call soon. Bankruptcy enables retailers to get out of weak locations without penalty.
The $11 billion Penneys operates about 850 stores.
At this time, nearly all of our stores have reopened after temporarily closing due to the coronavirus pandemic, and we are thrilled to have shoppers back in our stores with many safety precautions in place, the spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Story continues
The tougher senior management is on identifying weaker performing stores, the better the outcome will be. They can always add stores, if they get the business back in line, said Allan Ellinger, senior managing partner of MMG Advisors. Penneys has to prune itself, and shed all those unproductive stores, at least 20 to 25 percent.
Ellinger added that Penneys is still a very recognizable and respected name, and there is still a consumer who puts trust in the name, and a lot of malls are clearly dependent on J.C. Penney as an anchor store. The industry would like to see it survive.
According to Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, Penneys will have to drop hundreds of stores to be economically viable and that will be a huge issue for some mall operators.
There is a revival path, Johnson said. Its not easy. Penneys is a nice, white-bread, middle-American brand, but the concept of the department store is much changed now. Its not relevant to Millennials. Penneys was always a point of destination for younger new households, a good place for good value.
Penneys is considering selling itself, and there has been speculation that the Simon Property Group, Brookfield Properties, Sycamore and Amazon are among those that have taken interest, to one degree or another. Penneys filed for bankruptcy on May 15.
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The health authorities in South Africa are scrambling to contain a coronavirus outbreak at a school in Eastern Cape province after about 180 pupils tested positive.
Makaula Senior Secondary School was closed on Tuesday for decontamination. Officials say contact tracing and testing is underway.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union has called for the closure of schools in the area.
Eastern Cape province has so far closed 196 schools since President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the reopening of schools on 1 June for older students.
The coastal province is the second hardest-hit in South Africa in terms of Covid-19 related deaths - with more than 300 fatalities. The neighbouring Western Cape province has recorded 1,500 out of the country's 1,990 total deaths.
Meanwhile, a minibus driver was shot dead and three teachers left in critical condition after an attack by gunmen in Kwa-Zulu Natal province.
Police say the gunmen opened fire on the minibus that was transporting teachers to Masijabule High School on Tuesday morning.
The shooting has been linked to a fight by minibus operators over lucrative routes. No arrests have been made.
Source: BBC
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Featured Video
A new website recently launched to help visitors explore Tennessees South Cumberland Plateau region in Southeast Tennessee at www.MountainsOfAdventure.org.
This new website, which went live last week, provides in-depth information about tourism assets in the area, including spectacular waterfalls and hundreds of miles of trails within South Cumberland State Park, as well as numerous other outdoor recreation resources, historic sites, local restaurants, shops, lodging, and live music and cave tours at The Caverns.
The websites focus includes nine communities in Grundy, Franklin and Marion counties: Altamont, Beersheba Springs, Coalmont, Gruetli-Laager, Monteagle, Palmer, Pelham, Sewanee and Tracy City as well as South Cumberland State Park, Tennessees largest state park.
"This tourism initiative has the long-term potential to benefit our region by introducing substantially larger numbers of visitors to this breathtakingly beautiful area, said Grundy County Mayor Michael Brady. Visitors will stay in our cabins, eat at our locally-owned restaurants, and shop at our unique local craft and other retail establishments all while enjoying the cultural, historical and natural amenities of our region.
The websites creation was facilitated by the Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association in partnership with the Grundy County Mayors Office and tourism partners in the area. A grant from the South Cumberland Community Fund will enable the next phase of the project, which will involve developing tourism-focused branding for each of the nine communities in the region.
To learn more, visit www.MountainsofAdventure.org.
Deutsch named to deans list
BOSTON Kendall Deutsch of Middle Grove has been named to the Emerson College deans list for the spring 2020 semester.
The requirement to make Emersons deans list is a grade point average of 3.7 or higher.
Deutsch is majoring in media arts production and is a member of the Class of 2021.
Ithaca College students make the deans list
ITHACA Ithaca College students have been named to the deans list for the spring 2020 semester.
Local students include:
Trevor Britton of Glens Falls, exploratory;
Joy Greene of Lake George, sound recording technology;
Allison Hillebrandt of Gansevoort, performance/music education;
Tiffany Hotte of Queensbury, music education;
Isabel Passaro of Gansevoort, occupational therapy;
Lucy Reid of Glens Falls, occupational therapy;
Meghan Siergiey of Queensbury, music education;
Lauren White of Queensbury, journalism; and
Tiani Ziegler of Hadley, occupational therapy.
Students graduate from Ithaca College
ITHACA Students graduated from Ithaca College in May 2020.
Local graduates include:
Emily Hammond of Glens Falls, Bachelor of Arts in sociology;
Kaitlin Miczek of Gansevoort, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish (teaching);
Hudson Payer of Greenfield Center, Bachelor of Science in emerging media;
Olivia Southworth of Glens Falls, Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy;
Suzannah Van Gelder of Granville, Bachelor of Arts in culture and communication;
Daniel Wilson of Adirondack, Bachelor of Science in business administration; and
Tiani Ziegler of Hadley, Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy.
Ceremony honors college graduates
SCHENECTADY Students graduated from Union College in a virtual ceremony on YouTube and Facebook. It featured the conferral of degrees on the 477 members of the class by President David Harris.
Local graduates include:
Dalton Hogan of Hudson Falls, Bachelor of Arts degree in economics;
Thomas Kiernan of Hudson Falls, Bachelor of Arts degree in economics;
Claire Lockwood of Greenfield Center, Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, in biology; and
Joseph Vanderhoof of Schuylerville, Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.
Students graduate from Western New England
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. More than 950 students received academic degrees in May 2020 from Western New England University. All Class of 2020 students will be warmly welcomed back to campus for a traditional ceremony when it is safe to do so.
Local graduates include:
Adam Monroe of Gansevoort, cum laude, Bachelor of Science in engineering; and
Donna Montgomery of Cambridge, Bachelor of Arts.
Scarlotta makes the deans list
MILTON, Mass. Logan Scarlotta of Gansevoort has been named to the deans list for the spring 2020 semester at Curry College.
To earn a place on the list, full-time undergraduate students who carry 12 or more graded credits per semester must earn a 3.3 grade point average or higher. Scarlotta majoring in accounting.
Marine named Presidential Scholar
POTSDAM Joseph Marine of Hudson Falls was named a Presidential Scholar for the spring 2020 semester at Clarkson University.
Presidential Scholars must achieve a minimum 3.80 grade point average and carry at least 14 credit hours. Marine is a senior majoring in engineering and management.
Students earn scholastic honors
CEDARVILLE, Ohio Students have been honored at Cedarville University. Deans list students obtain a 3.5 grade point average or higher and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. Deans honor list students maintain a 3.75 grade point average for the semester and take a minimum of 12 credit hours. Local students include:
Chelsea Yarosh of Pottersville, deans list; and
Elliot Jenks of Argyle, deans honor list.
URI students named to deans list
KINGSTON, R.I. The University of Rhode Island announced the spring 2020 deans list.
To be included on the deans list, students must have completed 12 or more credits for letter grades during a semester and achieved at least a 3.30 quality point average.
Local students include:
Michael Burkett of Gansevoort;
Maia Generoso of Gansevoort;
Abby Moller of Middle Grove;
Molly OBrien of Granville;
Nicole OBrien of Gansevoort;
Nicole Petta of Queensbury; and
Abigail Zabielski of Gansevoort.
Flaherty makes deans list
Stacy Flaherty of Queensbury was among 3,604 SUNY Empire State College undergraduate students who made the deans list in the spring of 2020.
The deans list recognizes the academic achievement of undergraduate students, semester by semester. To qualify for this distinction, undergraduate students at SUNY Empire State College must earn a grade point average of 3.75 or higher in a given term.
Clemson announces deans list
CLEMSON, S.C. Clemson University has announced the deans list for the spring 2020 semester. To be named to the deans list, a student achieved a grade point average between 3.50 and 3.99 on a 4.0 scale.
Local students include:
Brian Coffey of Adirondack, wildlife and fisheries biology; and
Tricia Jordan of Greenwich, food science and human nutrition.
Jordan of Greenwich makes presidents list at Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. Eliza Jordan of Greenwich has been named to the Clemson University presidents list for the spring 2020 semester. To be named to the presidents list, a student must achieve a 4.0 grade point average.
Ripley graduates as summa cum laude
BOSTON Katelyn Ripley of Queensbury graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University May 1 with a B.S. in chemical engineering and a M.S. in engineering management.
Ripley received the Compass Award recognizing her dedication to a core set of values: leadership, volunteerism academic integrity, and commitment to Northeastern.
At Northeastern, Ripley was a member of the Omega Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi engineering honor societies. In the fall, she will be pursuing her Ph.D. in chemical engineering at MIT with a Presidential Fellowship.
Carpenter makes deans list
NOTRE DAME, Ind. Cole Carpenter of Queensbury has been named to the deans list at the University of Notre Dames College of Science for outstanding scholarship during the spring 2020 semester.
Students who achieve deans honors at Notre Dame represent the top 30 percent of students in their college.
On campus is compiled by Gretta Hochsprung. If youd like to let her know about an upcoming event, email ghochsprung@poststar.com or call 518-742-3206.
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The left's mantra: "Logic is an enemy and truth is a menace."
You walk into this room at your own risk, because it leads to the future, not a future that will be but one that might be. This is not a new world, it is simply an extension of what began in the old one. It has patterned itself after every dictator who has ever planted the ripping imprint of a boot on the pages of history since the beginning of time. It has refinements, technological advances, and a more sophisticated approach to the destruction of human freedom. But like every one of the super-states that preceded it, it has one iron rule: logic is an enemy and truth is a menace. This is Mr. Romney Wordsworth, in his last forty-eight hours on Earth. He's a citizen of the State but will soon have to be eliminated, because he's built out of flesh and because he has a mind. Mr. Romney Wordsworth, who will draw his last breaths in The Twilight Zone.
The above passage is the opening narration of an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1961, written by Rod Serling. It was called "The Obsolete Man." Indeed. Watching it today is a stark reminder that what we Americans are experiencing, the violence that is tormenting Democrat-run cities throughout America, is not particularly new. The totalitarian left has forever been trying to eliminate those of us who rage against the dying of the light. Serling was beyond prescient when he wrote the screenplay for this episode. He was a true visionary. He somehow envisioned the future we now inhabit an era in which those who "have a mind" are deemed obsolete.
Thinking persons who oppose the groupthink mandated by the left and its front organizations (BLM, Antifa, the Democrat party) have for years been designated by the left as irrelevant, to be discarded as traitors to their authoritarian cause. That includes anyone who believes in God, the Constitution, the nuclear family, the fact of biological sex, the wisdom of self-reliance, and individual freedom. The now radicalized American left believes in none of those things.
The left of today means to obliterate any and all of the traditional values that have long characterized America as founded. Leftists loathe those of us who still embrace family, faith, and freedom. They are determined to render us obsolete. It would seem that of late, the SCOTUS is on their side; so much for our allegedly Constitutional conservatives. They, John Roberts and Neil Gorsuch, clearly fear being deemed obsolete, so they crumble in fear of our self-sanctified media. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito are to be revered for their unerring principles. Leftist judges never waver in their commitment to the cause. Conservative judges and justices are weak-kneed. It was ever thus.
How else can we explain the Republican silence in the face of mass vandalism of historical statues across the nation? They are not even speaking out against this travesty, this perversion of any semblance of patriotism. They are sitting back and letting it all happen, fearful of defending their party's proud history of opposing slavery and racism; the Civil War, the Republican war against Jim Crow laws in the South, the Republican-supported Civil Rights legislation of 1964 and 1965. The Democratic Party's long history of support for slavery and record of racism should give them the courage of the gods for being on the right side of decency but no, they cower before our viciously leftist media.
Do they imagine that by letting us all see how bereft of values the left is, they will surely ensure the re-election of President Trump? Perhaps. Most of us paying attention will choose Trump over the communist left even if we cringe at his tweets or long-winded but entertaining speeches at rallies. It is what he does as president that matters, and he has been masterful in all things foreign policy, trade, and re: the economy. What he accomplished economically in his first three years was miraculous. The left's politicization of COVID was very much part of a grand plan: use any presenting crisis to destroy this man, no matter how devastating the damage to the nation.
That is their creed, just as Serling imagined in his 1961 episode of The Twilight Zone.
The "Chancellor" of the Twilight Zone episode, the man who is sentencing the librarian to death for having a mind, is perfectly redolent of Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the bemused by default Joe Biden and our media. Those of us who eschew their brand of "democratic" socialism are deplorable (Hillary), are "not good people" (Biden), belong on the trash heap of history (Susan Rice). Our left is as intolerant of dissent as Serling's Chancellor for whom death is the punishment for an individual who is still able to think critically for himself. In Serling's original narration at the conclusion of the episode, he wrote:
Any state, entity , or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology which fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete.
If the cowardly Republicans in Congress continue to submit to the predations of the vicious anti-American, anti-history and vandalizing left, America will be over, a grand experiment sacrificed on the altar of the left's totalitarianism. If they are relying on the imagined silent majority that is horrified by the left's support of the violent protests and all the damage they continue to cause, they might by shocked by the sheer illiteracy of our so-called college-educated Millennials; they are ignorant of all things real and true.
To repeat Serling: "logic is an enemy and truth is a menace." This perfectly describes the Democrat party and the media today. They are a deadly serious danger to us all.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Bill Cosby, 82, is currently serving three to 10 years in prison for sexual assault
In a stunning decision that could test the legal framework of #MeToo cases, comedian Bill Cosby has won the right to fight his 2018 sexual assault conviction in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The 82-year-old Cosby has been imprisoned in suburban Philadelphia for nearly two years after a jury convicted him of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home in 2004. He's serving a three- to 10-year sentence.
The Supreme Court has agreed to review two aspects of the case, including the judge's decision to let prosecutors call five other accusers to testify about long-ago encounters with the once-powerful actor and comedian.
Cosby's lawyers have long challenged that testimony as remote and unreliable. The court will also consider, as it weighs the scope of the testimony allowed, whether the jury should have heard evidence that Cosby had given quaaludes to women in the past.
Bill Cosby is taken out of the Montgomery County Courthouse to state prison in shackles after being sentenced to prison for a sexual assault conviction in 2018
Secondly, the court will examine Cosby's argument that he had an agreement with a former prosecutor that he would never be charged in the case. Cosby has said he relied on that agreement before agreeing to testify in the trial accuser's civil lawsuit.
Those issues have been at the heart of the case since Cosby was charged in December 2015, days before the 12-year statute of limitations expired.
Prosecutors in Montgomery County had reopened the case that year after The Associated Press fought to unseal portions of Cosby's decade-old deposition testimony in accuser Andrea Constand's sex assault and defamation lawsuit against Cosby, which he had settled in 2006.
Dozens of other accusers had come forward since then to accuse Cosby, long beloved as 'America's Dad' because of his hit 1980s sitcom, of similar misconduct.
The criminal case against Cosby centered on the allegations of Andrea Constand (above) but five other women were allowed to testify about separate encounters with Cosby
Montgomery County Judge Stephen O'Neill allowed just one of them to testify at Cosby's first trial in 2017, which ended with an acquittal.
But a year later, after the #MeToo movement exploded in the wake of reporting on Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, the judge allowed five other accusers to testify at the retrial. The jury convicted Cosby on all three felony sex-assault counts.
Lawyer Brian W. Perry argued in the appeal that letting other accusers testify 'flips constitutional jurisprudence on its head, and the `presumption of guilt, rather than the presumption of innocence, becomes the premise.'
Spokesman Andrew Wyatt said Cosby was 'extremely thankful' the court would hear the case.
He said the decision comes as demonstrators across the nation protest the death of black people at the hands of police and expose the 'corruption that lies within the criminal justice system.'
'As we have all stated, the false conviction of Bill Cosby is so much bigger than him - it's about the destruction of ALL Black people and people of color in America,' Wyatt said in a statement.
Cosby arrives with his wife, Camille, for his sexual assault trial in 2018
Cosbys lawyers also challenged his classification as a sexually violent predator subject to lifetime supervision. The actor, who insists he had a consensual encounter with accuser Constand, has said he would never express remorse to the parole board.
The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been victims of sexual assault without their permission, which Constand has granted.
Cosby was denied early release from prison despite a COVID-19 outbreak inside the facility where he is housed.
In April, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf revealed a plan to 'temporarily relieve' at-risk inmates in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus behind bars.
The announcement sparked speculation that Cosby could be freed, but the state's Department of Corrections crushed any hope for the elderly star.
'Sex offenders are not eligible under the reprieve criteria,' a department spokesperson bluntly told the media.
MANILA, Philippines Muntinlpa City Mayor Jimmy Fresnedi on Monday (June 22) announced that the city government is placing Block 35 Excess Lot in Barangay Putatan under extreme localized community quarantine (ELCQ) due to the high number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
The ELCQ will take effect starting 12:01 p.m. of Tuesday (June 23) until 11:59 a.m. of July 7.
Agresibo ang hakbang ng Pamahalaang Lungsod dahil ayaw na nating kumalat pa ang sakit, Fresnedi said in his post.
(The local government is being aggressive in its measures because we do not want the disease to spread further.)
The Mayor said 10 individuals in the area have tested positive for COVID-19 and according to data, the doubling time of the virus in the area has been swift with additional cases being recorded within a short period of five days.
This prompted the local government to conduct mass testing by the City Health Office in the coming days, Fresnedi confirmed.
Huwag na po nating hayaang may magkasakit pa sa ating komunidad bago natin seryosohin nang lubos ang banta ng COVID-19, the Mayor reminded his constituents.
(Do not let COVID-19 infect our community even further before we are taking its threat seriously.)
Fresnedi urged his constituents to abide by the health protocols imposed by the national government and be responsible to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
The post Block 35 Excess Lot in Brgy. Putatan, Muntinlupa City placed under ELCQ appeared first on UNTV News.
Americans on Friday of June 19, 2020, commemorated the abolition of slavery with peaceful rallies, marches, and parties celebrating blackness. The Juneteenth celebrations took place following the sudden spark of nationwide protests demanding justice for the death of George Floyd, a black man who was choked to death by a police officer.
Juneteenth, a word combining the words "June" and "19th," is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in Confederate territory when Union army major general Gordon Granger readout Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation in Galveston, Texas two years after the proclamation had been signed. Slavery was outlawed nationwide a few months later when the 13th amendment was ratified.
Although Juneteenth is not a federal holiday yet, June 19 is considered the true independence day for the black community. Juneteenth is also known as freedom day, black independence day, and emancipation day.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Juneteenth celebrations were combined with a homage to Floyd in an early morning five-mile route for runners, walkers, and cyclists which ended at the site where Floyd was killed.
In Atlanta, protestors gathered in front of the Georgia Bar Association and marched to demand justice for Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old unarmed black man who was shot dead by a white father and son white another white man assisted in cornering Ahmaud and recorded the murder.
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, where President Trump initially planned a campaign rally but rescheduled after learning about the significance of the Juneteenth holiday, Rev Al Sharpton, a veteran civil rights activist and Baptist preacher delivered a speech.
"Juneteenth is both a celebration and a reminder, a commemoration," Sharpton preached. "It reminds us that it took almost three years after the signing of the emancipation proclamation for people in Texas to even know that slavery was over."
In New York City, the mayor Bill de Blasio, announced that from next year Juneteenth would be an official city and school holiday.
Senate Democrats including former presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, introduced legislation to make Juneteenth a national holiday. However, it is expected to face opposition from Republicans who currently dominate the Senate.
Hyderabad:
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani is all for Indian start-ups, saying they have entered an 'exciting phase' with focus on India-specific problems and opportunities, and domestic money is fuelling risk appetite. "I am very bullish on the Indian start-up scenario", the brain behind Aadhaar told PTI in an interview.
"I think we are entering a new phase where we are seeing breadth and depth of start-ups". On several start-ups shutting shop, Nilekani said it's the nature of the business. "The very nature of start-ups is that many ideas get funded; some ideas succeed; and some have to be revisited or pivoted...that's the nature of this whole venture economy".
He said that in the start-up business, some companies would succeed and some would not. Some companies will start with an idea but then pivot couple of times before they stabilise on a sustainable idea. "So, that's the nature of the activity. That does not bother me the least," he said. Nilekani also said that many start-ups would not succeed but entrepreneurs gain tremendous experience and can to go to another start-up.
"They can learn from the experience of the previous failed start-ups. I see it as part of that," he said. According to him, while there might be some challenges on follow-on funding for very large firms, its an exciting time if one looked at the larger scenario. He said more and more start-ups are being set up and their quality is also increasing with players doing "very interesting things".
There is a huge buzz on college campuses, which themselves are becoming pro-startups and encouraging their graduates to start companies, Nilekani said. "Lot more Indian money is also coming into the start-up world. So, people like us who already built a company are now providing funding and being mentors and all that", he said.
Painting a positive picture, Nilekani said Indian money flowing into the sector is meant to build companies in the country and people with operative experience having already served in companies can chip in with advice for start-ups. "It's private money (Indian money) so they (start-ups) are not obligated to their LPs (limited partners), or exits or returns to other shareholders...nothing of that type. So, they can take longer term risk. So, it's good stuff," he said.
The first imported 500 pigs at Lao Bao border gate in the central province of Quang Tri
The first 500 live pigs weighing 90-130 kilogrammes were imported last week into Vietnam from Thailand by Thanh Do Nghe An Co., Ltd. through Lao Bao Border Gate of the central province of Quang Tri.
After five days of quarantine, these pigs will be supplied to slaughterhouses. Depending on the local market demand, we can import 3,000-5,000 pigs per day and will stop when the market price stabilises. We hope to contribute to decreasing the current pork prices with these measures, Nguyen Van Thanh, director of Thanh Do Nghe An, told VIR.
According to Thanh, Thailand is not impacted by African swine fever (ASF), and its market of live pigs is huge, making it possible for Thanhs company to import up to 10,000 pigs per day. The Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD) stated that Thanh Do Nghe An is one of eight companies in Vietnam that meet all requirements to import live pigs.
Some businessmen said that, currently, the amount of imported pigs is still quite large, reaching 5,000-6,000 per day.
Despite this abundant supply, pork prices remain high on the market, triple the current expense of feeding.
Johan van den Ban, general director of Dutch-backed De Heus Vietnam and Cambodia, told VIR that Vietnam has been active in finding solutions on controlling the pork price. Besides importing live pigs, Vietnam has also allowed the breeding of new ones. However, so far, there has been no impact on the market. It also remains questionable if the bred pigs will be sold to Vietnamese farmers at competitive prices, he said.
According to Ban, a well-developed institutional framework to develop, enhance, and maintain a high level of biosecurity is key to producing food, particularly meat, in a safe and sustainable manner. Thus, an important next step for Vietnam is the further development of the cold chain and modern slaughterhouses. The impact of ASF on pork prices is significant, but will be temporary. Vietnam can take this situation as an opportunity to professionalise the sector and, hopefully, the Vietnamese government will support farmers to play an important role in the future, he added.
Meanwhile, Vu Anh Tuan, deputy director of Thai-backed C.P. Vietnam Corporation, said that the government should let the pork price follow the market mechanism. Besides this, domestic feeding facilities should pay attention to sanitary and epidemiological issues to be able to maintain and increase the number of pigs and ultimately meet the market demand, Tuan said.
According to the MARD, in the first five months of 2020, Vietnam imported about 70,000 tonnes of pork, up over 300 per cent on-year. Moreover, over 8,000 live pigs were also imported. By May, Vietnam had about 25 million pigs, accounting for 80 per cent of the total pigs before ASF occurred, and is expected to meet the local demand by the end of the third quarter.
A new national strategy for psychiatry is needed to address gaps in the recently refreshed 10-year mental health strategy, the President of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland has said.
In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Dr William Flannery said psychiatrists were dismayed and disillusioned by the recently launched Share the Vision strategy which, focused more on wellbeing than on psychiatry.
The strategy, he said, trivialised and stigmatised mental health and failed to focus on more serious psychiatric illnesses and disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder.
I struggled to find any specific reference to them in the strategy, Dr Flannery said, adding the new strategy placed greater emphasis on mild to moderate illness by the outgoing Minister's own admission.
It should be accepted as it is, which is a strategy for the mental wellness of the population. They need to have strategy for psychiatry. This is a strategy for the mental wellness of us all but it is not a strategy for psychiatric illness, he said.
When you take into account the wider picture and the lack of training posts for psychiatrists you could interpret it as a policy to exclude those with a psychiatric illness and some of the language used, such as mental health difficulties, is trivialising and stigmatising, he added.
Dr Flannery, who works in adult mental health and addiction services, said psychiatrists were not consulted on the refreshed 10-year strategy, which also lacked funding and manpower commitments.
This document isnt funded but they spent money on outside agencies for this report, Dr Flannery said.
Im curious to know why they put such effort into getting outside agencies involved and paying for them and not including us or allied health professionals in contributing to this strategy, he added.
The Covid-19 pandemic, he said, has already stressed an underfunded and overburdened mental health service and heightened the need for more resources.
Dr Flannery welcomed positive commitments in the programme for government to consider appointing a Chief Psychiatrist in the Department of Health and a Mental Health Director in the HSE, which would provide a "strong and separate presence" within the HSE and Department.
A Minister for Mental Health, "who sits as close as possible to the cabinet table is also needed and the Department of Children should be retained, he added.
The next government, he said, must deliver on long-standing commitments made in the original A Vision for Change blueprint 14 years ago and double consultant numbers and funding levels to 2 billion as a matter of priority.
We will be asking the Department of Health what is the medical manpower strategy for psychiatrists. Before the crisis we had a cap on the number of consultants we train and we know now there are junior doctors who do not have training jobs, including many who returned from abroad, Dr Flannery said.
There are around 100 consultant posts that are either unfilled or incorrectly filled in the system and we know from our own estimates that there has to be a doubling of staffing levels, he added.
To address gaps in the refreshed strategy the College is also calling on the Department to set up a taskforce to focus on delivering new national clinical programmes for psychiatry: We would also like to see a taskforce to continue the good work that was being carried out under A Vision for Change and further develop national clinical programmes.
A bipartisan House Armed Services panel is seeking to delay several Defense Department health system reforms until the Pentagon provides Congress with updates on its medical staffing needs and plans to shift retirees and families to the Tricare health program.
The House Armed Services personnel subcommittee on Monday unveiled its portion of the fiscal 2021 defense policy bill, proposing legislation that includes several measures to secure health care services for U.S. service members, their families and retirees.
Read Next: Navy Sees Enormous Decrease in Hypoxia-Like Events in Its Fighters and Trainers
Under the House proposal, the military services would not be allowed to trim their medical staff for up to a year after the bill becomes law -- an effort to ensure that the DoD is adequately staffed to handle its current patient load, as well as respond to national emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The draft legislation also would require the DoD to delay plans to shift military retirees, their dependents and some active-duty family members from military hospitals and clinics to civilian providers in Tricare.
Committee staff said the measures were included because subcommittee members have not received a detailed report on the military services' proposed cuts to medical end-strength, including 17,000 active-duty doctors, nurses, corpsmen, medics and administrative staff.
Congressional aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for the committee, said that the services have not done a thorough analysis of their medical staffing needs since the COVID-19 pandemic began and they don't "know what their operational requirements are."
"We want the department to take a hard look at their support for pandemic influenza and the homeland defense mission and make sure they have the right medical force structure in place," a committee aide said.
As the novel coronavirus pandemic exploded in late March and April, the DoD deployed more than 4,000 medical personnel to hard-hit communities across the country. Reservists were called up, and the services offered retirees with medical experience an opportunity to return to duty to participate in the response.
Anticipating another national emergency or pandemic, the subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat, included a provision in its proposed legislation that would allow the services to recall more than 1,000 retirees to active duty if needed.
Committee aides said members, however, still want a clearer picture of the current military medical force structure.
"We never received the breakdown we asked for. ... The numbers keep changing, and we don't have the analysis behind it," the aide said.
Under requirements of the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, the Defense Department is in the middle of reorganizing its health system, shifting management and oversight of military treatment facilities and other health-related agencies to the Defense Health Agency and focusing the services' medical commands on training and serving uniformed personnel.
Supporters say the effort, which will shift more DoD beneficiaries to civilian providers, will improve readiness and health care for more than 9 million patients.
But advocates have raised concerns that communities near military health facilities targeted for downsizing lack the capacity to care for an influx of Tricare patients. The Government Accountability Office said in May that the DoD's assessments of the availability of health care in communities are built on incomplete or faulty data that could leave beneficiaries without access to a doctor.
Citing the GAO report, aides said committee members are "not confident in DoD's analysis" of its health care networks, which is why they are seeking a delay.
"Even before the GAO report came out, there was great concern over the rigor of the analysis that has gone on," a staff member said.
The subcommittee is expected to pass its portion of the National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday, and the House Armed Services Committee will take it up next week. The legislative actions are among the early steps in a long path toward becoming law, however: The bill must pass the House and then be reconciled with the Senate's version before it has a chance to become law.
The Senate's proposed fiscal 2021 defense policy bill contains no similar restrictions on military health system reforms.
Other health provisions in the House panel's proposal include requirements that the Pentagon:
Contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to study cancer diagnoses and deaths among military pilots;
Include in its annual report on military suicides data on whether any deaths occurred within a year of a deployment or within a year of receiving medication for a mental health diagnosis;
A delay in the transfer of the services' medical research agencies and institutes to the Defense Health Agency for at least three years.
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy asked Pentagon leadership in December that the service be allowed to keep its public health and research commands rather than transfer them to DHA as required by the health system restructuring.
-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.
Related: Extra Cash for Low Income Families 3% Pay Raise in House Proposal
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Eldar Janashvili - Trend:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Azerbaijan observed a decrease in the number of branches of financial institutions, cash turnover, an increase in the number of ATMs and cashless payments, Erdem Chakar, Mastercard Country Manager for Azerbaijan, told Trend.
"Due to the foregoing developments, the opportunities of electronic trade (e-trade) will expand. The changes will not only be observed in the activities of the banks and payment companies, as well as in the behavior of traders and consumers," Chakar said.
Touching upon the situation with tourism and transportation, where cashless transactions are also often used, Chakar assumed that travel will turn become more unplanned and impulsive, and preference will be given more to domestic trips.
Thus, road transport will have a higher demand than air traffic, he stressed.
"The e-trade will become even more popular, and courier deliveries of food and clothing will significantly increase. Initially, some difficulties may be raised. However, those who can adapt will receive a higher market share," said Chakar.
The manager noted that due to the growth of cashless payments during the pandemic period, cybersecurity will become even more important.
During the pandemic period, Mastercard launched a new application that increases the term of use of the card by customers who cannot visit bank branches, he said.
"Also, one of our most important steps is the introduction of the Priceless Specials program, which we use to support our trading network through our personal channels and online investments," added Chakar.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili
C ould we see Joe Biden victorious in November and the beginning of a post-Trump presidency?
The sigh of relief from Democrats and dissenting Republicans would be echoed by an outpouring of relief across the free world.
Foes of the MAGA man Make America Great Again have good grounds to dream.
A statistical snapshot shows a considerable margin of probability for such an outcome.
As the grand Shrek of American politics launched his campaign for re-election at the weekend, a new slew of polls, ranging from Fox News (which puts the President 12 points behind his rival) to The Economists in-depth statistical model, predict that Biden is highly likely to win.
Polls can analyse probabilities in increasingly sophisticated detail but they cannot tell us how a race will unfold, nor the impact on turnout of the pandemic, nor the fizzy human alchemy of how the candidates strengths and weaknesses will interact once they go head to head. What they do is set the framework of a vital election.
Anne McElvoy
Because Trump inspires a kind of petrified awe in supporters and detractors alike, it has become fashionable to conclude that he must inevitably win, either by force of personality or fouler means of gerrymandering and voter suppression.
In the last few months, however, bluster has failed to conceal the march of the Covid virus from high-density Democrat states into Republican ones.
Revelations about allegedly currying favour with China for political gain; or Trumps former national security adviser John Boltons accusation that he is incapable of separating personal gain from his presidential role; or telling Finland from Russia, are just the most recent flourishes.
Returning from a Tulsa stadium on Saturday, which revealed rows of empty seats, Trump looked bedraggled. I have seen him on top form and this is not it.
Once, when I encountered him backstage at the hotel which bears his name in DC, the mood was a heady blend of tubthumping rhetoric and affability.
Look after these good people, were the codewords dispensed with a hefty grin to expel my producer and me when he had had enough of our presence. He knew his enemies blindspots too.
When Trump is coming at you, Hillary Clintons aide Huma Abedin told me you are in for a whirlwind.
She conceded that their campaign had underestimated the focus of their opponent.
That focus has been a largely negative force, stirring up tensions at home and leaving allies of the US, including Britain, as disappointed suitors, waiting for Trump to rediscover bilateral good manners, let alone deliver on the mirage of favourable UK trade deals.
A new wave of culture wars and their own excesses are productive for Trump.
When he preaches that Democrats were beset by a mob of Leftists who would demolish our heritage so they can impose their new repressive regime, there is more than a whiff of racism, but also truth in the view that ultra-radicals represent extremes of their own, such as the counterproductive defund the police demands.
Joe Biden would be well-advised to distance himself from demands which are more Leninist than reformist.
The failures of a presidency which scorns the hard slog of everyday governing are there to be seen in a coronavirus death toll above 120,000.
It leaves Trump starting from behind, a position which favoured his brand as an insurgency in 2016, but pits him against tougher odds as an incumbent whose economic bump has taken a battering from the virus.
The Democrats, if they can avoid reopening sectarian strife, are better organised and attuned to the Trump gameplan. Foreign interference is harder to conceal; social platforms are getting fiercer at flagging presidential untruths.
This more testing course might explain why a tetchy Trump is defending himself more often on the grounds that outrageous remarks about Covid testing were simply a joke, a line which feels more truculent than confident.
Fire and fury surely lie ahead and the unlikeliest American leader of modern times could silence the pundits again. In the launch phase of Trump 2020 though, he looks like a man contemplating the electoral battlefield ahead and not yet finding much to smile about.
Anne McElvoy is Senior Editor at The Economist
The government on Tuesday said that it is mandatory for sellers to enter the country of origin while registering all new products on Government e-Marketplace (GeM). In addition, the sellers, who had already uploaded their products before the introduction of this new feature will now have to update the given details. The products shall be removed from GeM if sellers fail to update the same, it noted. Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The development comes days after trader's body CAIT urged Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to make it mandatory for every e-commerce portal to mention 'country of origin' on each product sold at their platforms, so that buyers can make an informed decision. Most e-commerce portals are selling Chinese goods, about which the consumer remains unaware, said the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which has launched a campaign for boycott of Chinese goods.
"GeM has taken this significant step to promote 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. GeM has also enabled a provision for indication of the percentage of local content in products. With this new feature, now, the Country of Origin as well as the local content percentage are visible in the marketplace for all items," Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
"'Make in India' filter has now been enabled on the portal. Buyers can choose to buy only those products that meet the minimum 50% local content criteria. In case of Bids, Buyers can now reserve any bid for Class I Local suppliers (Local Content > 50%). For those Bids below Rs 200 crore, only Class I and Class II Local Suppliers (Local content > 50% and > 20% respectively) are eligible to bid, with Class I supplier getting purchase preference," it noted.
Also read: Patanjali to launch coronavirus medicine Coronil today; all you need to know
Also read: Donald Trump suspends H1B, H4 visas for rest of 2020
Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Mike Hiltzik has criticized the CalPERS board for acting childishly and wasting energy on intramural bickering and imposing sanctions on its pro-transparency, pro-accountability board members, first JJ Jelincic, more recently Margaret Brown rather than engage in oversight of the giant fund.
But rather than focus on executing its fiduciary duty, the board has doubled down on acting as the staffs enforcer and attacking dissidents who call out incompetence and abuses. The campaign against Brown has risen beyond petty harassment, like locking her out of her office, to measures that look designed to undermine her ability to perform as a board member and negatively effect her campaign for re-election.
Brown has apparently had it with the CalPERS and its captured boards range war and has filed suit, which we have embedded below. The form is a Writ of Mandate, which is a petition to the court to compel a government body either to undertake an action or stop taking certain actions.
The Brown Writ, is parsimonious and describes how CalPERS has instituted a discipline process for board members that makes kangaroo courts looks good; its the sort of thing you see in gangs and fascist regimes. It gives the board president, currently Henry Jones, the power to make charges and levy punishments, with no fact-finding, opportunity for rebuttal, independent adjudication, or appeal. In keeping with the totalitarian nature of the process, there is also no notion of the sanctions being proportional to the alleged offense; recall again that Hiltzik criticized CalPERS for even bothering to take action against board members for trivial lapses.
And in this case, the lapse was created by CalPERS.
One of the ways that CalPERS staff seeks to exercise control over the board, when the board is supposed to be in charge, is through restricting their communications.1 Browns alleged offense was using a Twitter handle @calpersmargaret, which CalPERS claimed was impersonating CalPERS. This strains credulity, since the name is clearly that of an individual, not an institution. CalPERS vendetta against Brown is even more obvious given that CalPERS hasnt acted against former and other current board members who use CalPERS as part of their Twitter name:
Other active Twitter accounts with CalPERS in them include @calperswatchdog, @Calpers_Andy, @CALPERSRND, @Calpers10 and @Calpers15.
Brown had had her account up for over eighteen months and had seldom tweeted (Facebook is her preferred social media platform). What apparently triggered official ire was Brown encouraging CalPERS beneficiaries to vote in the last board election! This was her final tweet:
Brown was supporting former board member JJ Jelincic, who was seeking to return. Given that other board members had endorsed the incumbent, the very Henry Jones who upon his being chosen as board president, then sanctioned Brown, his action looks like revenge, particularly given that the basis for the move was fabricated.
CalPERS did send Brown a cease and desist letter regarding her allegedly impermissible Twitter handle, But less than 24 hours after sending Brown that e-mail, CalPERS had gotten Twitter to suspend her account. That suggests that CalPERS had never intended to give her the opportunity to cease and desist; its demand to Twitter had to be close to simultaneous with their demand letter and may well have preceded it.
That also means the claim that Brown didnt comply is bogus because she was denied the opportunity to comply. So the action against her is on fabricated grounds.2
CalPERS assertions about Browns actions, presented in its letter dated September 16, 2019 which we have embedded below, dont hold up to scrutiny. As one CalPERS insider wrote:
CalPERS makes arguments beyond absurd. Their first argument is that Brown is violating the law that makes it illegal to use public resources for political campaigns. What they are saying is that the word CalPERS is a public resource. However, among the many problems with this are:
California law requires all candidates for public office to use the name of the office (and the election year) in their campaign committee name. So Joe Smith running for the CalPERS Board would have to have a committee name along the lines of Joe Smith for CalPERS Board 2020. Further, California law requires all electoral candidates to have the name of their campaign committee on their campaign materials. So, by CalPERS standard, no candidate for the CalPERS board can avoid running afoul of misusing the CalPERS name for campaign purposes. CalPERS claims that the Business and Professions Code 17533.6 prohibits any person from using a state agencys name, such as CalPERS, when the use could be construed as implying the state agencys connection, approval or endorsement unless the person has the express authorization of the state agency. However, this is flat out not what the law says. Instead, the law prohibits such use explicitly if the materials imply a government bodys connection, approval, or endorsement of any product or service [emphasis added]. Brown is not selling anything, so this entire provision does not apply to her. Moreover, this provision of law contains an explicit safe harbor, where even if Brown were engaged in commercial promotion, it is only prohibited unless the nongovernmental entity has an expressed connection with [emphasis added], or the approval or endorsement of, a federal, state, or local government, military veteran entity, or military or veteran service organization. Since Brown clearly stated her connection to CalPERS in her Twitter account, this prohibition does not apply for this reason as well.
It is par for the course that the letter from non-lawyer operation chief Kim Malm also misrepresents the reach of CalPERS trademark.3 It is cringe-making to see Malm claim .the use of the word CalPERS for unauthorized purposes violates CalPERS federal trademark rights. Really? Then pray tell how can critics and analysts talk freely about CalPERS? The CalPERS Ministry of Truth has not authorized anything other than happy talk.
In keeping with the discussion of the Business and Professions Code above, the purpose of a trademark is to identify and brand particular goods and services and to protect the company using the trademark from copycats.
Theres a long history of gripe sites that incorporate the name of the targeted company, such at www.goldman666.com, being recognized as non-infringing because they are clearly not competing with the business they are trashing. Indeed, as ars technica explained:
When we spoke with EFF staff attorney Corynne McSherry in 2007 about Lowes-sucks.com, she noted that gripe sites like this are protectedin fact, [the courts] want people to speak freely and share information about their experiences with various companies. She said that trademark holders sometimes lose sight of the point of trademark law, which is to protect consumers and provide them with good information about a companys product. Gripe sites provide information on someones consumer experience, she said, which is not only allowed under trademark law, but protected by the First Amendment.
Jones is denying Brown reimbursement for CalPERS-related travel, such as to beneficiary meetings. This sanction explicitly negates her ability to execute important duties as a board member as stipulated by CalPERS
CalPERS has set forth board member obligations that are eligible for release time, as in CalPERS will reimburse any employer of a CalPERS board member for time spent on these tasks. From Item 6c at the Finance and Administration Committee board meeting on November 19, 2019, Board Member Employer Reimbursement:
The costs associated with employer reimbursements are based on the percentage of time the elected Board Member spends on his or her duties as a member of the CalPERS Board of Administration. he percentage is based on the elected Board Members time away from their regular work schedule to fulfill his or her responsibilities to the system. The baseline hours represent the routine activities of Board Members, including offsites, workshops, and interviews; preparing for Board and Committee meetings; meetings with staff, consultants, beneficiaries, stakeholders, or industry experts; responding to individual constituency e-mail, telephone calls, or correspondence; and keeping current on pension fund and health industry issues.
See this worksheet from an April 2020 board meeting document. Virtually all of the items involve travel:
The travel ban clearly undermines Browns ability to perform her duty as one of only two board members elected to represent beneficiaries as a whole. Not only can she not meet with them in person to hear their concerns, but she is also being put at a disadvantage compared to other board members who can freely meet with beneficiaries.4
In addition, Brown is also being blocked from attending industry conferences. Brown has made a point of going only to forums in the US where she can obtain fiduciary duty training, Curiously, other board members see no incongruity in going on junkets to Europe, Australia, or South Africa despite the bad optics of such lavish travel when CalPERS is seriously underfunded.5
So it appears the CalPERS board and staff want to keep board members barefoot and pregnant uninformed and dependent on staff. Jones evidently does not want Brown to have information on which would help her evaluate the staff.
Not that it even takes all that much know-how to be better informed than the CalPERS board. Todays Wall Street Journal had letters to the editor on the Journal article last week on CalPERS reckless bet to pile on risk via more private equity, private debt, and fund-level leverage when asset valuations are at record levels despite poor prospects for the economy for the next eighteen months and quite possibly longer. They were all critical. One particularly damning missive from Mark Holmlund of Glenbrook, Nevada:
Compare Mr. Mengs strategy with that of Stephen Edmundson, who runs Nvpers next door in Nevada and uses index funds almost exclusively. As of June 30, 2019, 46% of the Nevada funds portfolio was invested in an S&P index, 18% in the MSCI ACWI all-world ex USA Index, and 25% in a U.S. bond index. Only 10% of the portfolio was allocated to a mix of private equity and private real estate, and the fund uses no leverage. The portfolios one-, five- and 10-year returns as of June 30, 2019 were 8.5%, 7.1%, and 9.9%, respectively, compared with Calperss comparable returns of 6.7%, 5.8% and 9.1%. All of this was accomplished at a fraction of Calperss cost and staffing.
It has to stick in their craw that despite their efforts to gag her, Brown was the focus of a prominent article in yesterdays Financial Times: Calpers board member objects to $80bn leverage gamble. And as weve indicated, its appalling, yet at this point no surprise, that the rest of the board is so financially illiterate that they dont share Browns alarm about the risks or having staff lie to them. From the article:
She added that when the board initially gave approval for adopting a 20 per cent leverage strategy, there was no discussion that most of it would be for private equity and private debt.
In other words, Jones and the staffs juvenile campaign against Brown would merely be yet another pathetic proof of how far CalPERS has fallen were the stakes not so high.
I hope readers will consider donating to Browns litigation fund. Even a small contribution will help. And please circulate this post to California readers since bad CalPERS bets will come out of taxpayers hides. Brown is the only one on the board looking out for their interest, and it would be nice if they did more to protect her back.
_____
1 For instance, board members dont have access to CalPERS letterhead; they are treated like children and have to submit the text of any missive to staff, which then prepares and sends the letter. Needless to say, this amounts to a review by staff of board communications and gives them the opportunity to object and delay. By contrast, as a newly-hired associate at Goldman, I was issued my own stationery with the firms logo on it.
2 Moreover, Brown was denied the opportunity to keep her old account up and redirect it to a new account, which is what CalPERS eventually asked of former board member Richard Costigan. Note that it taken no action against current board member Jason Perezs offending account. Apparently current board members who side with staff get special breaks.
3 Further reflecting CalPERS state of legal confusion, in its letter to the board about Browns suit, CalPERS tried asserting that Brown violated CalPERS copyright when single words cannot be copyrighted.
Note the letter tried to depict Brown as a recidivist. Brown did attempt to use a modified version of CalPERS logo in her campaign. CalPERS objected and Brown promptly stopped. And its separately irrelevant to bring in disputed matters from before Brown joined the CalPERS board.
4 CalPERS staff is particularly eager to dislodge Brown, so it is conceivable that an elected incumbent in another seat for which Brown would be ineligible (such as the public agency member seat) would be persuaded to challenge Brown when Browns term is up.
5 Henry Jones has been to South Africa at least twice on CalPERS dime.
It was one of the MPs who brought up the issue before the Speaker.
Ukrainian MP with the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Healthcare Mykhailo Radutsky claims security stopped police officers from entering Parliament premises to write tickets for quarantine violations on the part of a number of lawmakers.
"I personally approached parliament speaker on Thursday, asking him to call the police to impose fines. Unfortunately, there are reports that the police together with the State Consumer Control agents were unable to enter the Verkhovna Rada premises. I believe this should be fixed," he told Ukraine 24 TV channel, commenting on certain MPs failing to wear mandated face mask at parliamentary sessions.
Radutsky said the lawmakers are no different from any other citizens of Ukraine, so they must also pay fines for violating the law.
Read alsoAdaptive quarantine: education ministry comments on new academic year prospects
Earlier, police wrote a ticket to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for violating quarantine rules during his visit to Khmelnytsky region where he dropped by a local cafe for a cup of coffee, along with other officials that's despite the ban on indoor servicing of clients in catering establishments over the COVID-19 spread.
The Supreme Court is yet to decide whether president can be subject to administrative liability while in office. At the same time, Zelensky expressed readiness to pay the fine and cover the cost of the relevant fine to the cafe involved. "As a citizen of Ukraine, I feel responsible for violating quarantine in Khmelnytsky," the president said, according to his press service.
Snap protests against gold exploration have taken place in the Wombat State Forest in an area the Victorian governments environmental assessment body says should become a national park.
A year ago the independent Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) recommended that the forest, one of the few remaining in central-west Victoria and home to almost 100 threatened or rare species, become the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park.
Protesters have taken to the Wombat State Forest calling for a halt to gold mine exploration. Credit:Sandy Scheltema
But six months have passed since the legal deadline and Environment Minister Lily DAmbrosio is yet to act on the recommendations.
We only found out when we heard and felt the drilling, said Phaedra Morris, part of the No Wombat Gold community group, of the mining.
Police holding Ricky Bellevue down in Rockaway Beach.
NYPD
New York Police Officer David Afanador was suspended without pay on Sunday after he was seen on video using a chokehold on 35-year-old Ricky Bellevue.
Afanador was previously charged with assault following a 2014 arrest, during which he was seen on video hitting a 16-year-old boy in the face with his gun.
Afanador was acquitted and allowed to return to the force.
According to the Associated Press, in his 15 years with the department, Afanador has faced complaints tied to at least eight incidents.
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A New York City police officer who was suspended on Sunday after using what appeared to be a chokehold on a suspect in Queens had previously been faced assault charges in connection to a 2014 arrest of a 16-year-old boy.
Officer David Afanador, who was suspended without pay after Sunday's incident on the boardwalk of Rockaway Beach, was arrested and charged with assault in 2014, when he was seen on video hitting a 16-year-old boy with his gun during a marijuana bust. Afanador and another officer involved were acquitted in the incident, according to the New York Post.
He was put on modified duty following the incident, in which he and another police officer, Tyrone Isaac, chased 16-year-old Kaheem Tribble through the streets of Brooklyn before cornering him up against a gate.
Video caught by nearby security cameras showed one officer punching Tribble in the face, and the second hitting him with a pistol, according to DNA Info. CBS New York reported that Tribble's attorney said the incident left him with broken teeth and other mouth injuries.
Afanador returned to the NYPD after his acquittal. But according to the Associated Press, in his 15 years with the department, he has been involved in eight incidents in which people complained to the city's Civilian Complaint Review. Complaints included use-of-force, refusing to seek medical treatment, and using discourteous language. The only complaints that led to charges were connected to the incident involving Tribble.
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The NYPD acted swiftly to suspend Afanador on Sunday following the Rockaway Beach incident.
In footage of the incident first seen through a video filmed by a bystander and later through body-camera footage released by the NYPD, four officers can be seen piling on top of a Black man, identified by The New York Times as 35-year-old Ricky Bellevue. One of the officers can be seen wrapping his arm around Bellevue's neck.
Bellevue's lawyer, Lori Zeno, told the Times that her client lost consciousness during the incident, and was later treated at a hospital for swollen wrists and a scalp injury.
"Accountability in policing is essential. After a swift investigation by the Internal Affairs Bureau, a police officer involved in a disturbing apparent chokehold incident in Queens has been suspended without pay," New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a statement on Twitter. "While a full investigation is still underway, there is no question in my mind that this immediate action is necessary."
Read the original article on Insider
"Reopening too quickly is not just irresponsible, it's societal malpractice. " (Dorothy Perry )
The undergrad who lives in the back room keeps trying to get me to rejoin the world.
Lets get coffee, she suggests one day. Lets take a drive to Santa Monica, she suggests the next.
At 21, my daughter is long past ready to restart her life. Shes been living at home since March 13, when her mother and I picked her up at LAX. The three of us went into isolation that afternoon, and she has had enough.
I have not. I am against reopening. Im still hunkered down. Not forever, but for now. The pandemic isnt over, and in fact, the numbers suggest it is getting worse again.
According to the COVID Tracking Project, cases are rising precipitously in Texas, Arizona and Florida. Reuters analyzed the project data and found a 90% increase in week-to-week new cases in Arizona, and about 80% in Texas and Florida, as of June 21. In California, the number of confirmed cases keeps increasing, with Los Angeles still a hot spot, and statewide, hospitalizations, which were somewhat steady, are also climbing.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, and just about every public health officer, epidemiologist and respiratory specialist in the country, is uneasy. People keep talking about a second wave, he said recently. Were still in a first wave.
Data analysis by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington projects a total of more than 200,000 COVID deaths in the United States by the beginning of October. And yet a whole lot of us appear to have come to a collective reckoning that three-plus months of being careful is enough.
The Onion evoked the absurdity of the moment with a parody news item announcing that Dallas had entered Phase 4 of completely deluding ourselves into thinking that this pandemic has somehow stopped spreading and that were safe.
In California, aside from sports, live performances and conventions, just about everything has at least partly reopened. Over the last few weeks, we have seen the return of in-restaurant dining and limited access to retail outlets, bars and gyms. Houses of worship can now host services for 100 congregants or less.
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The logic is that mandatory face coverings and social distancing will keep us safe or, at least, safe enough. But as Luke Money, Hannah Fry, Stephanie Lai and Rong Gong Lin II recently reported, a mask rebellion is underway in some parts of the state. (Anecdotally speaking, based on the walks I take most mornings, Id say the rebellion is everywhere.)
Then, of course, theres the Trump administrations reckless approach to COVID-19. It's possible that the president's so-called campaign restart in Tulsa, Okla., was so sparsely attended because there is at least one thing I have in common with some of his voters: I'm not ready to reopen. He chose to go ahead with the next rally, in Arizona, where about 3,000 of his supporters filled the Dream City Church and hooted at the notion that masks were necessary.
The argument for reopening comes framed, largely, as a matter of economics and why not? Since March, more than 44 million Americans have filed unemployment claims. The financial effects of COVID-19 have been devastating, especially for the most vulnerable: low-income families, communities of color, small businesses.
Not unlike the institutionalized racism embodied by the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, among so many others or, for that matter, the coronavirus' toll in the U.S. this is a pandemic of another sort.
And yet, what happens if we go back too quickly? The effect could be more ruinous.
Another round of shutdowns might have even larger effects on businesses that may be on the edge of not being able to stay solvent, Dr. Christopher Murray, an expert on the burden of disease around the world, told CNN. The most effective economic strategy for the short term, in other words, may be to support our local businesses from home.
Look, I know Im fortunate. Thus far, Ive been able to work from home. I never went to the movies all that much, or to the gym, and I cant remember when last I set foot in a synagogue, mosque or church. Thus far, my version of reopening has been to set out earlier on my masked walks, to avoid the increased traffic on the streets.
Until all the lines on the graphs stay level, or we get fast and accurate testing and tracking, were stuck. Humans arent setting the agenda here, the virus is. That may not thrill the undergrad who lives in the back room. It doesnt thrill me. But reopening too quickly is not just irresponsible, its societal malpractice. As I finished writing the count was 187,349 cases in California, 5,577 deaths.
And still on the rise.
David L. Ulin is a contributing writer to Opinion.
For the record:
7:44 PM, Jun. 23, 2020: A previous version of this article said that Ahmaud Arbery was killed by police. He was killed in a confrontation with two armed citizens.
A 25-year-old man charged with stabbing his parents at their home in Dublin has been further remanded in custody pending a possible bail application next month.
Gardai responded following a report of an incident at a house in the Darndale area of Dublin 17 at approximately 7:30am on June 13 last.
The man and woman, aged in their 40s and 50s, both received stab wounds.
They were taken to Beaumont Hospital.
The mans condition was described as critical and the womans injuries were understood to be serious but non-life threatening.
Father-of-one Conor Dreelan, of Snowdrop Walk, Darndale, Dublin was charged with production of a large kitchen knife as a weapon and assault causing harm to David Dignam and Phyllis Dreelan at their home.
He faced his second hearing today via video-link at Cloverhill District Court.
Detective Garda Michael McCabe told Judge Victor Blake that directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions were not available and would take some weeks.
Defence solicitor Eugene Dunne said his client would not consent to an adjournment longer than two weeks. It was also possible a bail application would be made at the next hearing, he said.
Judge Blake remanded him in continuing custody to appear again on July 7 next. Detective Garda McCabe must be notified in advance if a bail application is going ahead on the next date, he said.
Earlier, Detective Garda McCabe said the accused made no reply when charged with the offences.
There was a possibility of additional charges, he had also said.
Oyo State governments decision to reopen schools from June 29 is insensitive, the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba said on Monday.
He warned that such decision if taken could raise Covid-19 infection figures in the state.
As of 10pm on Monday, Oyo ranked fourth on the table with 621 active cases from the 912 infections figures, confirmed in the state by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The minister expressed concern over the Oyo governments plan during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on Covid -19 Control in Abuja.
Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde had reeled out plans to reopen schools, worship centres and others against Federal Governments directive on closure of schools.
Nwajiuba, who said the Federal Ministry of Education did not give out any guideline to the state government to reopen schools, noted that governors have as their primary responsibility to secure the lives of their citizens, in the face of a pandemic.
He added that like all other sub-nationals, governors were under the Constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Stressing why government cannot reopen schools at this time, the minister noted that reopening of schools could lead to the exposure of teachers, pupils, drivers, cooks, vendors, their family members and friends to the dreaded virus.
The minister said: Out of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, there are actually few local governments with a lot of this burden and therefore it is easy to get the perception around the edges of the country that some things are not happening because they are not happening within our immediate locality.
But we must appreciate that the primary purpose of governors is the security of his citizens. Public health is key and primary and in that primary security delivery, they (governors), are always extremely cautious in making any pronouncements around this because the education sector holds the largest number of infrastructure in the country; a good 138,000 primary schools around the country.
There are clearly 600 all kinds of institutions awarding certificates all around Nigeria there are just lots of it. And at any given time in Nigeria, there are two million people attaining one form of education or the other.
For you to even begin to decide to unleash this in the public in the face of a pandemic is to be a very bit insensitive.
The least we can do at the moment is to keep our children, our most priced assets, the future of Nigeria under lock and key first. When we are sure that its safe to release them, gladly we will.
Nwajiuba also said the ministry was in discussion with examination bodies on how final year students could sit for their exams.
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Davina McCall and Rylan Clark-Neal paid tribute to the late Jade Goody on Monday's instalment of Big Brother: Best Shows Ever.
The highlights programme looked back on series three of the reality show which made Goody a household name as the hosts reflected on why the star was an ideal housemate.
"In BB3, she was probably the perfect housemate," Clark-Neal noted. "If we had a factory where we were able to build housemates, I think Jade would be one of the first off of that production line. She really, really would."
Read more: Davina McCall on why she wouldnt compete in Big Brother
McCall went on: "She was beautifully flawed. And I think all of us could relate to her in some form or another.
Jade Goody greets presenter Davina McCall as she leaves the Big Brother house at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire to become the ninth contestant to be evicted as the fly-on-the-wall show reached its dramatic finale. (Photo by Yui Mok - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
"We felt for her, we cried for her, we laughed at her. Then we started laughing with her. Then we loved her with all of our hearts. She was just an extraordinary person."
The then 20-year-old Goody finished in 4th place of the competition and went on to wide-spread fame in the UK.
Goody returned to Big Brother for the celebrity version in 2007 where she was caught up in a racism row due to comments made about fellow contestant and Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty.
Jade Goody contestant of Bigg Boss 2 arrives at Mumbai International Airport. (Photo by Manoj Patil/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
In the wake of the controversy she appeared on the Indian version of the reality show, Bigg Boss, however, her stay was short lived after she learned of her cervical cancer diagnosis and flew home to the UK.
She died less than a year later at the age of 27, survived by her two sons Bobby and Freddie who she shared with Jeff Brazier.
Eldest son Bobby recently shared a tribute to his mother on what would've been her 39th birthday.
We are haunted by uncertainty as we isolate, so imagine what it might be like to live in a house filled with the ghosts of murder victims. Maggie Holt sets out to discover whether the rural Vermont mansion she and her parents fled 25 years before is actually haunted in Riley Sagers propulsive thriller Home Before Dark (Dutton, $27, June 30). Maggies father, Ewan, wrote House of Horrors, a nonfiction blockbuster about the three weeks his family spent in the house when Maggie was 5. Its premise is that the house is cursed, but Maggie doesnt believe in ghosts.
(Photo : REUTERS/Courtney Pedroza) Physician John Jones, D.O. tests administrative assistant Morgan Bassin for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at One Medical in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. June 17, 2020. One Medical employees receive testing every two weeks. (Photo : REUTERS/Tingshu Wang) Customers wearing face masks are seen at a live seafood section inside a supermarket, following a new outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Beijing, China June 20, 2020. Picture taken June 20, 2020.
Scientists are worried about a small coronavirus mutation that they have been studying for weeks that, according to them, may make it more infectious.
According to Fox News, a new study which is now undergoing peer review, it suggests that the mutation gives the virus about four to five times more spikes, which makes it easier to infect human cells.
"Viruses with this mutation were much more infectious than those without the mutation," says Scripps Research virologist Hyeryun Choe, senior author of the study that used the cell culture system.
"Our data are very clear, the virus becomes much more stable with the mutation," said Choe. The coronavirus gets its crown-like appearance from the spikes, which bonds onto target cell receptors called ACE2.
Coronavirus mutation making it more dangerous
Researchers at Florida's Scripps Research Institute have called the mutation D614G. According to them, it has enhanced the virus's spike protein, the outer structure of the virus that it uses to enter cells. This may explain why the United States and Latin America have high coronavirus cases.
Scripps Research Department of Immunology and Microbiology co-chairman and the study's co-author Dr. Michael Farzan said the mutation makes the spike's "backbone" more flexible. This allows fresh viral particles to navigate from producer cells to target cells with less tendency to fall apart prematurely.
"The SARS-CoV-2 variant that circulated in the earliest regional outbreaks lacked the D614G mutation now dominating in much of the world," the researchers wrote in the report. However, they said it is still unknown whether this mutation affects the severity of COVID-19 infection or the mortality rate.
They recommend further research is needed to confirm their findings and to determine whether the mutation has changed the pandemic's course.
Recovered coronavirus patients may still be at risk
Meanwhile, a new study says that recovered COVID-19 patients in China may still be vulnerable to the mutated form of the virus that spreads overseas.
According to Chongqing Medical University Professor Huang Ailong, it is important to know the risks the D614G mutation presents to recovered patients from different strains of the virus.
The South China Morning Post reported that as early as February, D614G began spreading in Europe. And by May, it became the dominant strain across the globe seen in 70% of sequenced samples in Europe and North America.
A pre-print study published on Biorxiv.org said that antibodies found in patients who had been previously infected were unable to neutralize the mutant strain. The study has yet to be peer-reviewed.
In the latest coronavirus outbreak in a food market in Beijing, 227 new infections have been confirmed, prompting the authorities to test more than 2.3 million residents for COVID-19 to prevent the spread.
The infection was found at various locations in the market, including the mouths of imported salmon. Recently, the whole genome sequencing data of samples from the first three patients all show the D614G mutation.
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A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has refused to bar Godwin Obaseki, the Edo State Governor, from participating in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election slated for Thursday.
Mr Obaseki was granted a waiver by the PDP recently after he joined the opposition party from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The suit was instituted by one of the governorship aspirants of the PDP, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who had vowed not to step down for Mr Obaseki.
A major reason stated by Mr Ogbeide-Ihama was that Mr Obaseki recently joined the party and only those who purchased the forms during the stipulated window should be allowed to participate in the primary election.
Just like Mr Obasekis former party, the APC, Mr Ogbeide-Ihama also questioned his educational credentials.
Mr Ogbeide-Ihama also prayed that the primaries be put on hold pending when the court would hear the motion on notice.
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.
Several newspapers, including PREMIUM TIMES, earlier on Tuesday reported that Mr Obaseki had been barred by the court from contesting the election. Those accounts of the court proceeding were inaccurate, PREMIUM TIMES later confirmed.
Mr Obaseki joined the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday after he was disqualified by his former party, APC, from seeking re-election allegedly for submitting questionable certificates.
The APC on Monday picked a former Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as its candidate for the election.
Mr Ize-Iyamu had defected to the APC from the PDP while the governor travelled in the opposite direction, crossing from the APC to the PDP.
In the 2016 governorship election, Mr Ize-Iyamu was the candidate of the PDP while Mr Obaseki flew the flag of the APC.
MANILA, Philippines A total of 667 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who were repatriated from Barbados and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have arrived in the country, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In a statement, the DFA said the repatriates landed at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga on Monday via two separate flights.
The repatriates were subjected to testing for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) upon their arrival and were briefed on protocols before they were transported to their designated quarantine facilities, the department added.
The DFA earlier reported that a total of 51,113 OFWs have been repatriated since February 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DFA, together with its Philippine embassies and consulates around the world, continues to work with the various national agencies in assisting our Filipinos around the world in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, it said.
The post Over 600 repatriated Filipinos from Barbados, UAE back in PH DFA appeared first on UNTV News.
Trip.com Groups New Recovery Campaign Shows Tourism Leaders Still Long for Chinas Outbound Travelers
That it took Trip.com Group to pull together the global travel industry in a travel revival campaign rather than a world tourism body, Google Travel or Booking Holdings, shows the ongoing importance of the China outbound travel market.
In a never-before spectacle of global industry unity, Trip.com Group roped in more than 70 tourism, aviation, and hotel leaders worldwide to individually address tourists why their next trip would be their best yet.
The two-hour video launch on Monday is a cross-industry effort to instill confidence and inspire people to Travel On, with assurances that its attractive, safe, secure, clean, flexible and more affordable than ever. Although it is directed at all travelers in general, without doubt Chinas gigantic outbound market helped pull the leaders together in an effort to revive travel.
Close to 150 million outbound trips by Chinese were recorded in 2018, an increase of 15 percent over 2017, with the market expected to grow to more than 166 million trips last year, according to the China Tourism Academy. Chinese tourists are also the worlds biggest spenders. At $277 billion in 2018, thats nearly double the next largest spender, the US, which spent $144 billion in 2018, according to UNWTO data.
So even the Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary, Varga Mihaly, chipped in to launch Travel On. We are very happy that in the last decade, the number of travelers from China has increased by 500 percent, he said. Hungarians welcome Chinese tourists arriving to our country with open arms.
When the time is right, Canada will be here to welcome you with glowing hearts, said Davi Robinson, interim president and CEO, Destination Canada.
We have put in place the highest standards of safety and security at all stages of your travel to safeguard your health, which is and continues to be our number one priority, assured Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Touirsm. So when travel restarts we trust that you will make a trip to Dubai. We, will wait for you.
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But the most irresistible welcome has to be from the governor of Gangwon Province in South Korea, Choi Moon-soon. Our province is famous for potatoes, he said. We produce potatoes much, so people call us potato. So my nickname is also Potato. Next time when you meet me, please call me Potato.
Trip.com Group claimed that more than one million viewers tuned in for the launch.
Second Wave
The premise of the campaign is there has never been a better time to start planning that next trip, and to travel on, said the largest online travel group in China.
As part of the campaign, Trip.com Group is incentivizing customers with an international Travel On Sale that offers discounts of up to 60 percent on flexible advance reservations at 30,000 hotels in 180 countries.
The group also intends to do more in-destination livestream broadcasts across the world, having done 14 pilots to-date that brought in at least $70 million in sales, it said. The marketing model, popular in China, combines livestreams with exclusive discounts and the ability for viewers to book immediately.
But whether or not recovery demand can be captured now is still up in the air, what with fears of a second wave in Beijing last week that resulted in hundreds of Beijing flights being axed.
Asked how to revive travel when recovery is in fits and starts, Trip.com Groups CEO, Jane Sun, in an interview with Skift following the launch, said, I remember on March 5, when we launched a revitalization plan for domestic travel in China. People couldnt understand why, but we saw that the demand was already there. As an industry leader, we need to be two steps ahead.
Similarly, we see that certain countries, such as Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, now have the virus under control and the people in those countries feel safe to travel, at least in nearby areas, so its the right time to boost the confidence of consumers and partners.
Fears of a second wave in Beijing did cause cancellations, admits Sun, but she believes this is temporary. It has not really dampened confidence. Chinas population is 1.4 billion, whats 30 new cases? The most important thing is educating people not to panic, and having a medical system that can handle and treat cases. And once the government has the experience in containing them, it can develop a protocol should they happen again, hence there is a good playbook to balance the handling of new cases with the need to reduce the impact on the economy.
Sun said China is back to normal and believes that the economy and the travel industry of Asian neighbors that have controlled the virus will also rebound, at first with domestic travel, then bilateral, before a vaccine eventually fully restores confidence.
We want to stimulate domestic recovery first with this revival campaign. Our partners have idle capacity and need the cashflow. On the other hand, there are consumers who can travel. So we want to create a win-win where consumers can get great deals and partners can fill up perishable inventory, said Sun.
Trip.com Group has expanded its Travel On Fund from an initial $140 million to $500 million to help partners worldwide with cashflow to restart their businesses, in the form of a loan or an advance, she added.
The virtual launch of Travel On. Photo: Trip.com Group
Despite the dozens of tourism chiefs the world over warmly inviting tourists to visit their country, Sun admits cross-border travel is still difficult, limited to hundreds then gradually thousands of people.
Still, theres good reason for countries farther afield to dream of welcoming back Chinese tourists, with short-haul destinations set to be the first gainers. More than 70 percent of searches on Trip.com Group platforms (Ctrip.com, Skyscanner and Trip.com) in the first five months were for short-haul places. The top 10 short-haul getaways were Bangkok, Seoul, Shanghai, Jeju, Tokyo, Bali, Manila, Busan, Xian and Kuala Lumpur.
Chinese travelers also appear to maintain their wanderlust for adventure and novelty. Casablanca, Lima, Tunis, Buenos Aires, Reunion Island were trending in the first five months, while the top five outdoor adventure places searched were Banff, Abu Dhabi, Marrakech, Rio de Janeiro and Fiji.
Asked what advice shed give to Australia, which faces a travel ban imposed by China, Sun said, Without referring to any specific country, the factors that are important in attracting Chinese travelers [aside from safety and booking flexibility today] are firstly, the availability of direct flights. Second is visa how easy it is to get one. Third is how friendly and hospitable look at Japan, which is known as safe and hospitable, or Thailand, whose capital city Bangkok has been the most visited city in the world for a couple of years, surpassing New York, Paris and London. Again, thats because of the well-known hospitality.
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The former financial controller of Moriah College has told a court he misappropriated more than $7 million from the school over more than a decade and gambled most of the money on poker machines.
Augustine Robert Nosti, 57, worked for the Jewish independent school at Queens Park in Sydney's east from 2004 to 2019 in a role that involved managing its bank accounts.
Moriah College in Sydney's east. Credit:Louise Kennerley
On Tuesday, he agreed in the NSW Supreme Court that he diverted school funds into his personal accounts on multiple occasions, including by giving his bank details to the Australian Taxation Office instead of the college's details.
"It was all done online," he said. "I changed the bank details online."
Actor Nathan Davis Jr. has filed a $10 million lawsuit against United amid claims he was harassed and falsely accused of having a gun by one of the airlines flight attendants, who later had him removed from the plane.
The Detroit actor, who is also a star on Tik Tok, claims he was singled out and racially profiled by the United staffer just before he was set to take off on a flight from Houston to Tennessee in December last year.
Davis said the incident began when he was listening to music and one flight attendant told him the sound emanating from his headphones was too loud, citing complaints from other passengers.
Davis, who has nine million followers on Tik Tok, says that other passengers around him were also listening to music, though he was the only one reprimanded by the attendant. He was also the only African American on the flight, the complaint as observed by DailyMail.com claims.
The actor says he complied with the flight attendants demands and turned his music down, however the lady, who wasnt named, allegedly approached him two more times in a rude manner and told him again that it was still too loud.
Actor Nathan Davis Jr. has filed a $10 million lawsuit against United amid claims he was harassed and falsely accused of having a gun by one of the airlines flight attendants, who later had him removed from the plane
Davis even claims the woman scolded him about the volume of his music when he had the sound muted.
Eventually, the 26-year-old says the female staff member then complained about him to the pilot, which is when he claims the situation escalated dramatically.
The plane, which had begun taxiing for take-off, reportedly returned to the gate and Davis was asked to leave the plane, an experience he called humiliating.
Davis captured video of the moment he was being escorted off of the aircraft. In the background the female flight attendant at the center of the lawsuit is seen stood behind Davis, with her back to him.
See you later, David sarcastically says as hes seen walking down the aisle.
The female worker, who is speaking over the loudspeaker in the clip, is then heard saying He has a gun now.
Davis, who called the womans claim shocking, reckless and most significantly false, is heard reacting to the announcement, remarking Oh I have a gun? Thats crazy! Wow. Did you hear what she said? She said I have a gun, thats crazy.
A second flight attendant, who is out of frame, is heard telling Davis Ill speak to you outside.
Davis, who has nine million followers on Tik Tok, says that other passengers around him were also listening to music, though he was the only one reprimanded by the attendant (Davis pictured with fellow social media stars Addison Rae, left, and James Charles, right)
United Airlines has not yet returned a DailyMail.com request for comment regarding the legal filing
Davis says he was never approached by law enforcement over the attendants false claim that he was carrying a firearm.
He also says no further action was taken by the airline, other than him receiving a complimentary upgrade to first-class on a later flight.
The actor is suing the airline for negligent hiring, assault, infliction of emotional distress, discrimination among a series of other claims.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Matthew Parsons, Manager of Communications for ExpressJet Airlines, United's parents company, said: 'While we cannot comment on active litigation, ExpressJet does not tolerate racism and we are investigating this incident to better understand what occurred onboard our aircraft in December.'
Davis is requesting a judge award him $10 million in damages in light of the incident.
The movement to tear down statues or even just to deface them was misconceived in its earliest stages and has now, like most aspects of the self-flagellating fever over systemic racism, evolved from just concerns about offending African-American sensibilities into an assault on the entire body of achievement of Western civilization. This movement really began with the debate over whether to remove the statue of General Robert E. Lee from a main square of Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. Serious civic discussion on a legitimate question quickly deteriorated into mob violence between Klansmen and neo-Nazis on one side and Antifa and the belligerent faction of the now lionized Black Lives Matter (BLM) on the other.
The legitimate protest over a white police officers killing of African-American Minneapolis resident George Floyd on May 25 quickly descended into widespread rioting, arson, and pillage, and demands for the removal of statues of eminent Caucasians from Christopher Columbus to Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Winston Churchill. Some statues probably should be removed, but what we have now has degenerated with the astonishing speed that reasonable advocacy groups were transformed by domestic terrorists. The underlying argument is that society is systemically racist, and therefore that its leaders are also racist, are venerated for false reasons, and the entire notion of Western civilization represented politically by traditionally revered figures is an affront to and disrespectful of blacks. BLM is admirably inclusive in matters of gender, sexuality, age, and religion, but it excludes non-blacks those of Asian extraction, from Israel and Arabia to India and China and Japan, are in the same purgatory as whites, except that they have not supposedly been as oppressive of blacks. There is no movement to tear down statues of Gandhi or Mao Tse-tung, or vocal resentment of Arab slave-trafficking in blacks, which continues still. In an astonishing public-relations triumph, BLM suddenly ceased to be remembered for its identification with the murder of white policemen (including eight in Dallas and Baton Rouge in July 2016). It has seized the mantle of African-American self-respect and pursuit of justice.
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A statue of Washington or Jefferson is seen as a provocative gesture, as both were slaveholders. It is more of a stretch to attack Lincoln, since he declared in his second inaugural that the Union would eliminate slavery no matter how many Union soldiers died achieving that goal. He famously declared: If God wills that every drop of blood drawn by the lash shall be repaid by a drop of blood drawn by the sword, then as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Lincoln abominated slavery all of his conscient life and eventually came to agree with the concept of the equality of intelligence and ability of all races, partly because of his conversations with the great African-American leader Frederick Douglass. Even the emancipator of the African-Americans cannot escape the wrath of the hate-fueled leaders of Antifa and the militant elements of BLM, who wish to burn down America and society generally. Perhaps the most extreme formulation of this view is from Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, (as if Islam has been well-disposed to blacks), who proclaims that Jews are termites and Hitler was a very great man (referring to his moral qualities as much as his talents).
This is the difficulty with the entire effort to reason with extremists: They dont really want to reach an agreement. They skulked forward hiding behind the skirts of respectable reform organizations who wish equality and brotherhood in America. They seize on horrible incidents and even minor controversies about a statue and magnify them into assaults on public order and private property, dragging behind them the useful liberal idiots who would have us believe that Antifa is a legitimate reform organization. This resembles the trajectory of the anti-Trump Resistance itself. It started with those who claimed Trump was a Russian agent, a misogynist, a crook, and a racist. He is none of these, though he has his faults. Yet instead of treating him as a political opponent and seeking to defeat him electorally, they have assaulted him relentlessly with completely unfounded allegations of treason, high constitutional crimes, of bringing down upon the country a pandemic, and of dodging his inescapable moral duty to fight the pandemic by shutting down the economy and inciting an economic depression so dire that he has no chance of reelection. It was in this context that his comments that the initial disputants in Charlottesville were good people arguing both sides of an authentic debate were widely represented in the Democratic media as apologia for the Klan and the Nazis. In such a venomous atmosphere of implacable animosity to America and to civilization, conciliation and compromise will give way to the assertion of constitutional legitimacy and the ability of all citizens to exercise their constitutional liberties. That time has come.
On the statue question itself, many statues or memorials to Confederate soldiers or politicians could probably be replaced by statues of more deserving people, including in Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. (Removing them to museums, as some suggest, would create airplane hangars full of derelict statues of forgotten people.) General Lee himself opposed the secession of Virginia, but as was not uncommon in the South, placed the desires of his state above those of the Union, even when he had been offered the command of the Union armies by Lincoln. (Had he accepted, the war wouldve ended in 1862 with much more generous terms for the South than it ultimately received, and 500,000 fewer dead Americans.)
There is only a weak argument for removing the statues of great generals such as Lee and Stonewall Jackson. There is no argument whatever for removing from the front of the Museum of Natural History in New York the splendid statue of Theodore Roosevelt, which is being done preemptively, according to the director, because statues now attract controversy. (That one is accompanied by a Native American and an African American beside a mounted TR he was a supporter of both communities). They should retain TRs statue and get rid of the director. She represents precisely the sort of cowardice that feeds and is exploited by the extremism that quickly gets to the head of these apparently well intended movements. There is no earthly excuse for taking down the statue of General (and President) U. S. Grant in San Francisco, or for defacing the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square in London. Compare Confederate leader Jefferson Daviss views of black people to those of Farrakhans hero and Churchills arch-foe, Hitler, on the same subject. The first person who advocates the removal of General Shermans statue in New Yorks Grand Army Plaza by St. Gaudens, should be pitilessly mocked and chastised.
The Democratic Party has left the back door open to these anti-democratic extremists and has been infiltrated. It has morally atrophied and is ambiguous between mob rule and sensible law enforcement. The Democrats have a phantom presidential candidate who is clearly unequal to the office which he seeks and have left their campaign to the biased and unprofessional national political media, since the candidate cant make the race. The Democrats are trying to avoid the issues, profit from the coronavirus, and hope for a referendum on Trump stacked by the Trump-hating media. Jefferson, Madison, FDR, Truman, and LBJ were Democratic presidents who importantly strengthened the foundations of American liberty. Those who would remove a statue of Robert E. Lee because he led the Army of Virginia, no more realize that they are facilitating the work of those who would tear down statues of Lincoln and Churchill than those who peacefully protested the criminal death of George Floyd realized their efforts would be hijacked by those who burned and pillaged the businesses of thousands of decent Americans.
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20 Februarie 2022 // Cumpara bilete Londra 174 Camden High St, Camden Town, NW1, Europe //
As every show brought by Asgaardian Events, we present you a quite interesting and colourful lineup.
18:30 - 19:10 Infinitas
19:30 - 20:10 Valhalore
20:30 - 21:15 Vorna
21:40 - 23:00 Bucovina
Bucovina (Romania):
Romania's most prominent metal band, ready to take you on a journey into the magic realms of Bucovinas mountains and woods, filled with old lore and mysterious vibes.
Started in 2000, they bring an interesting mixture of Black & Heavy Metal, well spiced with folk elements & melodic line which they call Folc Hevi Blec.
Bucovina - Spune tu, Vant (2015)
Bucovina - Asteapta-ma Dincolo de Moarte (2017)
Bucovina - Stele Calauza (2019)
Bucovina live
Bucovina - Stahl kennt keinen Rost (first single from the upcoming 20-year anniversary album, to be released December 2020)
Vorna (Finland):
Vorna are a melancholic metal band from Tampere, Finland founded back in 2008. The six piece band started first as melodic black/folk metal but later absorbed various influences from symphonic, atmospheric and melodic metal, now delivering a dark and majestic performance sung in the beautiful Finnish language.
Vorna - Tyhjyys on tyyni (2019)
Vorna - Sateet (2019)
Valhalore (Australia):
Drawing upon elements of Melodic Death, Power, and Symphonic Metal, as well as folk music and cinematic scores, VALHALORE weaves a musical tapestry that is both breathtaking and awe-inspiring. With haunting melodic passages, crushing riffs, and heartfelt lyrical journeys, VALHALORE awakens a sense of majesty within all who hear them.
Valhalore - Legacy (2019)
Infinitas (Switzerland):
A medieval fantasy story meets melodic metal. The band's music revolves around a story. Not only did their Single Skylla make it into the Swiss Charts (19th place) for two weeks in 2018 and first place into Radio Sunshine Horercharts. They combine several different styles of metal underlaid with folk violin and multi-talented woman vocals gives INFINITAS music a unique touch.
INFINITAS - Avnas (2019)
INFINITAS - Rahu (2019)
Biletele se gasesc in format electronic pe www.iabilet.ro si in magazinele Flanco, Metrou Unirii 1, Muzica, IQ BOX si pe terminalele Selfpay. Online, puteti plati cu cardul, Paypal,carduri de tichete culturale Sodexo, pe factura la Vodafone sau Orange sau ramburs prin Fan Courier oriunde in tara.
Last week my focus was on the spiritual connotations of the pandemic, particularly the evil spirit behind COVID-19, which has come to steal, kill and destroy.
The church of Jesus Christ is uniquely empowered by God to fight any and all evil that is perpetuated by the enemy. When churches are continually restricted to fully operate, this spiritual fight is compromised. Yes, we can still gather in smaller groups but the impact and effect of togetherness is lost. Easing the restrictions will mobilize the church to gather itself in one accord and fight. Today I wish to highlight a few thoughts about the physical and social implications of easing restrictions on the operation of the church. Some have argued about the centrality of the church in the response to COVID-19, given that this is foremost a health issue. In fact, the argument is to the effect that churches are potential epicentres for the spread of the virus if they are allowed to fully operate without restrictions.
Attention
I wish to bring it to your attention that churches value the sanctity of life and over the past months, we have learnt a lot about how the virus spreads. Most churches have put in place measures to limit the spread of the virus during church meetings. Opening of churches, with these measures in place, will bolster the psychological fight against the pandemic as our frontline workers, who are exposed to strenuous conditions, will have a place of refuge. The emotional baggage that our healthcare workers and all frontline workers carry, can have a negative impact on our response to the pandemic - the church offers that upliftment and hope.
One of the key roles of the church is to refresh our foot soldiers; undoubtedly our frontline workers are carrying a heavy load in ensuring that every positive case of COVID-19 does not end in death. Most of these workers are churchgoers and since the closure of churches, many have been denied their source of inspiration and encouragement. I am aware that when we talk about lockdown, some say the church has always been locked down or we dont need many people for fellowship because Jesus said; Where two or three gather, together, in my name, there shall I be in their midst.
Christian
Unlike communist countries, Eswatini is built on Christian foundations - to quote the preamble of our Constitution; We, the People of the Kingdom of Swaziland do hereby undertake in humble submission to Almighty God to start afresh under a new framework of constitutional dispensation. It is discouraging to observe that today we have abandoned that posture towards God in our fight against COVID-19. Corporate meeting and worship are imperative because challenges that I struggle with alone tend to be eased when I am surrounded by like-minded people - this is true even for national challenges. I think of the dream of King Somhlolo, encouraging us to choose umculu over indibilishi. I think of the inscription in our Emalangeni notes; God is our source. All these point us to what we are seemingly reluctant to prioritise - God and His church.
Another key role of the church sterns from the fact that no community is complete without the church, in as much as it is not complete without the political and education spheres. Religion plays a key function in the stability of any nation. We cannot enjoy true peace if there is turmoil in the religious sector. Over the past few months, we have witnessed different churches making donations towards the response to COVID-19. Complementing the efforts by government through NDMA, churches are distributing food hampers not only to their affected members but also to the community at large. I must say these initiatives are difficult to facilitate and maintain given the status quo of the restricted operations of the church. It is the responsibility of the church to respond to any humanitarian crisis, and this we can optimally do when the restrictions to operate are lifted.
Argued
Many have argued that the impact of the church is minimal, hence they see no need to prioritize the opening of this great institution, which is central to the well-being of many emaSwati. I wish to point out that the church is doing many good works which are rarely reflected in our mainstream media platforms. The church has contributed to education in many forums, paying school fees, buying school uniforms, supporting school food programmes, to mention a few. A couple of years ago the nation adopted a multi-sectoral approach in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, the church was left behind because it was deemed as primitive with its teachings of abstinence and faithfulness. Leaders of the pandemic, then, felt the church was irrelevant because we were not embracing condoms.
I believe there are lessons to draw from the initial fight against HIV, which was muddied with a lot of finger-pointing. It wasnt until the combative effort from all sectors that meaningful strides were made, including what the church was preaching all along, the issue of abstinence and faithfulness. I believe even today, to adequately fight this pandemic, everybody must be involved. This is an emergency! Lives are at stake, therefore, no one or sector of society should be responsible for the entire nation. When the alarm is raised, everyone comes with a weapon he knows best.
The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo's south-eastern main mining area, Lualaba, are increasing monitoring in the fear that there will be a surge in parents sending their children down the mines, reports Reuters News agency.
The global demand for metals such as cobalt has decreased during the coronavirus, leading to miners' earnings plummeting, reports Reuters.
It adds that exports of cobalt fell by 15.2% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year.
The fear is that if parents cannot earn enough money to survive they will take their children out of school to do dangerous work in mines.
"Economic activity has been paralysed during this health crisis and this will have a negative impact on parents' income... But this must not be used as justification for the presence of children in mines," Mathieu Kazembe Sawana Ilunga, the official who oversees the economy in Lualaba, is quoted by Reuters as saying.
Nathalie Lunda Ngandu, the official in charge of social affairs, gender and family issues in Lualaba, told Reuters that they will improve monitoring systems for child labour.
Source: BBC
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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NEW DELHI, June 23 (Reuters) - India said on Tuesday it would reduce the headcount in Pakistan's embassy in New Delhi by 50%, following what it said was "acts of espionage" by officials there.
India would cut staff in its own embassy in Islamabad by the same amount, the statement by India's foreign ministry said. There was no immediate reaction from Pakistan.
(Reporting by Alasdair Pal)
Ahead of the reopening of Basic Schools on Monday, June 29, 2020, Zoomlion Ghana Limited yesterday began a nationwide disinfection of schools to create a conducive environment for teaching and learning activities to take place.
The waste management company was expected to disinfect 4,500 schools in the Greater Accra Region alone before next week Monday, Mr Ernest Morgan Acquah, Greater Accra General Manager of Zoomlion told journalists in an interview.
This, he said, was in line with governments directives to ensure the health and safety of basic school pupils and teachers.
It is recalled that academic activities in basic schools in Ghana came to a halt few months ago, in the wake of the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, also known as (COVID-19).
Since then, some schools started online teaching with the aim to cover the syllabi for the third term.
More than 500,00,000 final year pupils sitting for the 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are expected back in school next Monday to prepare for the examination which begins in September.
Zoomlion, is therefore, expected to complete spraying of classrooms, staff common rooms, library, washrooms and premises of beneficiary schools by Sunday, June 28, 2020.
At Christ Ebenezer Preparatory School, Mrs Rita Ofosu Yeboah, General Manager of the school said reopening of basic schools could help prepare the final year students for the upcoming BECE examination, noting that most pupils from that school did not participate in online learning introduced by other schools during the lockdown.
On observance of preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19, she said management had already educated Parents Teacher Association (PTA) and pupils on social distancing, hand washing with soap and use of face masks.
She said the school was waiting to receive face masks, alcohol-based sanitisers and paper tissue.
But the story was different at the Odorkor SDA Basic School with Mr Theo Mensah, a teacher at the school stating that Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) such as Veronica buckets, liquid soap, hand sanitisers and paper tissue had been procured for use by pupils and teachers from Monday, June 29, 2020.
Mr Abdul Wahab Haruna, a teacher at Odorkor 7 Basic School told journalists he was glad that government had fulfilled its promise to disinfect basic schools prior to the resumption of academic activities.
Zoomlion Ghana Limited had earlier this year, carried out disinfection of markets, lorry stations, drains, schools including specialised facilities such as the Akropong School for the Blind, universities, senior high schools, technical institutions and many others.
The company was executing the project under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Source: GNA
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Museums and cinemas in England have been given the green light to reopen their doors to visitors from 4 July, but many smaller venues are still worried about making it through the year.
The government has scrapped the two-metre social distancing rule in favour of one metre, a change that has been welcomed by museums and cinemas, which say it will help them reach up to 50 per cent of capacity instead of less than 25 per cent.
However, concerns about consumer confidence and whether reopening is financially viable means that some venues, such as heritage museums and independent cinemas, are in mortal peril.
Helen Bonser-Wilton, chief executive of the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, told The Independent that lockdown has cost the museum 90 per cent of its income and it would probably take between four to six weeks to make changes to ensure the safety of its staff and visitors.
The prime ministers announcement is not a surprise and is very welcome, but there is so much uncertainty about whether we will be able to recover from the past few months, she said.
In theory, museums will be able to reopen on 4th of July, but I think very few will. For the Mary Rose, were fully indoor and have air conditioning, so we will need to see if we comply by ventilation requirements, we need to order and install things like Perspex screens, review the guidance on toilets and so on.
The issue were seeing is the question of how much consumer demand theres actually going to be. Our cost will likely go up because of all the changes and its unlikely well see more than 20 per cent of our usual visitors it is a risk for all heritage museums because we might lose more money to open than to stay closed. We are in mortal peril if the government doesnt step in.
Laura Pye, director of the Liverpool Museums group, which aims to reopen the World Museum and the Walker Art Gallery as soon as possible, said it can do so because the spaces are large enough to allow for social distancing but many smaller heritage museums wont be able to do the same.
She said the biggest challenge for the museum sector is seeing how financially viable it will be to reopen, and it will take much longer to reopen smaller venues.
Reopening will be incredibly difficult for a large section of the museum community. The reality is that museums are mostly in historical buildings, have huge amounts of historical and valuable artefacts, so staffing levels will be higher than normal, she told The Independent.
Therell be more people needed to clean more often, to help with queues. If youre running a small venue, its very difficult.
A survey by the Independent Cinema Office (IOC) showed 41 per cent of venues are not confident they can reopen with social distancing measures and majority think they wont be able to open until September at the earliest.
Despite government suggestion that cinemas could reopen in July, many smaller independent venues are reluctant to open, citing safety of staff and audiences as the main concerns, said the IOC report.
They feel pressure from the commercial sector the industry as a whole to open when it is not actually financially viable, practical or even safe to do so.
Most of the respondents to the IOC survey also thought they would have a 20 per cent increase in costs to implement health and safety measures, such as additional staffing, PPE, and enhanced cleaning of the venues.
Phil Clapp, chief executive of the UK Cinema Association, said the announcement was very much welcome and was a major step forward for recovery in the industry, but added it was undoubtedly true that there will be a significant number of smaller venues who will not want to open for various reasons.
The IOC survey respondents were predominantly from smaller communities, there are a vast number of independent cinemas that will want to open, he told The Independent.
But smaller sites may decide their audiences are more likely to decide not to come back, may look at a likely film slate in the weeks after cinemas open and decide its not strong enough to attract enough people, or simply have too-small entrances to ensure social distancing is possible.
However, we are confident that as things develop, more cinemas will be able to reopen their doors.
Both independent museums and cinemas believe the government will have to step in to help them recover, especially as half the summer period will have passed by the time they are allowed to reopen.
Ms Bonser-Wilton called for the governments furlough scheme to continue until the end of the year and for substantial grants to be provided to cover essential care costs during the crisis and beyond.
She has also called for an urgent conversation on building resilience and better funding mechanism for independent heritage charities.
[June 23, 2020] Semperis Extends Industry's Most Comprehensive Active Directory Threat Detection and Response Platform
Semperis, the pioneer of identity-driven cyber resilience for enterprises, today announced new vulnerability assessment, security reporting, and auto-remediation capabilities in the latest release of Directory Services Protector (DSP), the industry's most comprehensive Active Directory threat detection and response platform. Semperis DSP v3.0 is the first-of-its-kind to address the entire lifecycle of a directory cyberattack - from monitoring pre-attack indicators of exposure, to analyzing post-attack forensics, and everything in-between - all integrated into a single console. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005132/en/ Semperis Directory Services Protector v3.0 Dashboard (Photo: Business Wire) "Over twenty years later, Active Directory is still the primary gatekeeper to sensitive credentials and data, which makes it an extremely lucrative target for attackers," said Darren Mar Elia, Vice President of Products at Semperis. Since it wasn't originally built with today's threats in mind, Active Directory is riddled with inherent soft spots and risky configurations for attackers to take advantage of. The newest developments in DSP empower Semperis customers to be even more proactive about their Active Directory security by adding an extra layer of visibility and control in every stage of the cyber kill chain." Business applications on-premises and in the cloud depend on Active Directory, making it a critical piece of an enterprise's IT infrastructure. However, securing Active Directory is difficult given its constant flux, sheer number of settings, and increasingly sophisticated threat landscape. With easy access to powerful hacking and discovery tools, attackers are increasingly adept at covering their tracks to silently create backdoors and establish persistent access inside of Active Directory. "Active Directory is the 'Achilles' heel' for enterprise security programs," said Christina Richmond, Program Vice President, Security Services at IDC (News - Alert). "And since Active Directory extends to the cloud and beyond, any tampering of it can compromise the entire identity infrastructure. Basically, if Active Directory isn't secure, nothing really is. Semperis is offering a timely solution considering that Active Directoy has been at the center of many widespread and business-crippling attacks in recent years."
Government agencies and Global 2000 enterprises already rely on Semperis DSP to defend against cyberattacks that routinely target Active Directory and increasingly circumvent security logging. Semperis DSP provides uninterrupted tracking of Active Directory modifications and immediate rollback of unwanted changes at the object and attribute level, without mounting backups or taking domain controllers offline. Semperis DSP v3.0 introduces ground-breaking capabilities to scan Active Directory for vulnerabilities, intercept attacks in progress, and immediately close backdoors created by an attacker or rogue administrator, so critical systems stay secure and available. Semperis raised the bar by delivering the industry's most comprehensive approach to securing Active Directory.
Semperis DSP v3.0 new features include: Vulnerability Assessment: Continuously monitors Active Directory for indicators of exposure and prioritizes vulnerabilities by risk-level. Security Dashboard: Built-in threat intelligence paired with action-oriented guidance from a community of Active Directory security researchers. Auto-Remediation: Instantly rolls back critical security-related or operational changes without requiring administrator intervention. Integrated Changes View: Enhanced user interface provides a single, consolidated view for real-time tracking and rollback of Active Directory changes. New Report Authoring Tool: Includes reporting utility for sophisticated LDAP and DSP database queries to create custom security and compliance reports. Enhanced Logging: New audit notification events can be natively integrated into your SIEM system to speed up forensic analysis and troubleshooting. The significant enhancements to Semperis DSP v3.0 come during a time of strong momentum for Semperis. The company recently completed a $40 million growth funding round led by Insight Partners, achieved six consecutive profitable quarters, and was named Best Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Solution by SC Magazine's 2020 Trust Awards. Pricing and Availability Semperis DSP v3.0 is available now. For more information, view the Semperis DSP v3.0 product demonstration on-demand, or visit www.semperis.com to request a briefing. About Semperis Semperis is the pioneer of identity-driven cyber resilience for cross-cloud and hybrid environments. The company provides cyber preparedness, incident response, and disaster recovery solutions for enterprise directory services-the keys to the kingdom. Semperis' patented technology for Microsoft (News - Alert) Active Directory protects over 40 million identities from cyberattacks, data breaches, and operational errors. Semperis is headquartered in New York City and operates internationally, with its research and development team distributed between San Francisco and Tel Aviv. Semperis hosts the award-winning Hybrid Identity Protection conference. The company has received the highest level of industry accolades; most recently being named Best Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Solution by SC Magazine's 2020 Trust Awards. Semperis is accredited by Microsoft and recognized by Gartner (News - Alert). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005132/en/
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The Maharashtra government on Tuesday declared 29.53 square kilometre (sq km) area, comprising 10 villages in Dodamarg taluka, Sindhudurg district, as the Tillari Conservation Reserve.
This is the first notified conservation reserve along the Konkan coast and the seventh in the state.
With this decision, a certain section of the Dodamarg-Sawantwadi corridor, which has been under threat from mining, receives protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Conservation reserves are protected areas that act as buffer zones or migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, reserved and protected forests of India. However, these protected areas do not have surrounding eco-sensitive zones (protected buffers) as sanctuaries or national parks do. Also, any developmental or agricultural activity proposed within the reserve needs approval from the state and central wildlife boards.
The notification published on Tuesday by the revenue and forest department shows the area was protected based on the presence of tigers, elephants, and leopards. Other fauna include sloth bears, civets, pangolins, several resident and migratory bird species, and even the Indian giant squirrel (Maharashtras state animal). The flora includes 303 plant species, 127 types of trees including 99 medicinal plants.
Tillari Conservation Reserve is a source of perennial water bodies, and an integral part of the Sahyadri-Konkan wildlife corridor. With this declaration, development activities are restricted, while mining is prohibited across 29.53 sq km areas, safeguarding the rich biodiversity of the tropical semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests. We will be setting up a committee to look after management and conservation of the reserve, said Nitin Kakodkar, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Maharashtra.
Located in the heart of the biodiversity hotspot, Western Ghats, the protected area falls between Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. This will be the 13th protected area along the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and 62nd across the state (including sanctuaries, national parks and tiger reserves).
The reserve will act as a connector through the Western Ghat ridges, connecting the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in north Goa and the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnatakas Belgaum district in the south to the Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary in Kolhapur district which lies in the north, said Kakodkar.
According to the state forest department, there are four resident tigers two adults and two sub-adults present within the notified area.
The Tilari ecosystem has a breeding tiger population, and acts as a source population for the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, said V Clement Ben, chief conservator of forest, Kolhapur. A transient population of around 25 tigers have been documented moving through the corridor over five years.
A family of five pachyderms (three adults including two tuskers, a female and their two calves) have also been spotted moving through the protected zone. Altogether, there are of 19 species of mammals, 12 species of amphibians, 71 species of birds, 60 species of butterflies, two species of damselflies, 16 species of reptiles, four species of scorpions, four species of spiders and five species of other invertebrates, according to biodiversity assessments carried out over the years, said Ben, adding, This is a win-win situation, in which the wildlife corridor is getting strengthened and sustainable livelihood model for the fringe villagers are ensured. At the same time ecotourism shall find a fillip in the days to come.
The 10 villages in Dodamarg taluka that form the reserves boundary include Bambarde, Ghatiwade, Kendre Bank, Kendre Khadi, Patiye, Shirange, Konal, Ainode, Hewale and Medhe. The entire Dodamarg taluka has 53 villages. The notification, however, did not include the extension of the water body (Tillari dam) within the taluka.
Petitioners striving to protect the Dodamarg-Sawantwadi corridor before the Bombay high court (HC) said the latest notification included eight of the 38 villages from Dodamarg taluka they sought protection for.
The notification of the reserve and orders to declare the entire corridor an eco-sensitive area are two separate subjects. We welcome that certain section of this corridor is now protected due to this notification but we need to be wary of surrounding areas that are still open to the mining lobby, and need similar safety, said Stalin D, director, Vanashakti and petitioner before the HC.
Area was originally proposed as a wildlife sanctuary: Forest department
In 2016, the Maharashtra forest department had proposed to declare 57 sq km area of Tillari as a wildlife sanctuary across 25 villages, but after stiff opposition from locals, the proposed protected area was reduced to 29.53 sq km.
Locals were worried that declaring the area a sanctuary would hamper developmental work, economic losses and livelihood issues. Thus, the plan was altered, the area was reduced and the locals were taken into confidence before the final notification for the conservation reserve was issued, said Kakodkar.
States seven conservation reserves
2008: 3.49 sqkm Borgad Conservation Reserve (eastern Nashik)
2013: 180.72 sqkm Kolamarka Conservation Reserve (Gadchiroli)
2014: 122.74 sqkm Muktai Bhawani Conservation Reserve (Jalgaon)
2014: 54.46sqkm Mamdapur Conservation Reserve (near Nashik)
2016: 93.42 sqkm Tornamal Conservation Reserve (near Nandurbar)
2017: 5.69 sqkm Anjaneri Conservation Reserve (near Nashik)
2020: 29.53 sqkm Tillari Conservation Reserve (Sindhudurg)
What is a conservation reserve
According to the Union environment ministry, conservation reserves are protected areas that act as buffer zones or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India.
These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002. These categories were added because of reduced protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land and land use
With this latest declaration, there are now 92 conservation reserves in India across 12 states. Jammu and Kashmir has the maximum reserves (34), followed by Karnataka (15) and Rajasthan (11).
(Source: National Wildlife Database, Wildlife Institute of India)
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US Intl DFC chief says tens of billions of dollars in loans and financing could be made available for reshoring effort.
United States government financing for projects to return critical supply chains to the US as part of coronavirus response efforts could reach tens of billions of dollars and clients may include a $12bn Taiwanese semiconductor plant, the head of the agency managing the funds told Reuters news agency.
The US International Development Finance Corp is talking to companies about reshoring the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE), generic drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients, DFC Chief Executive Adam Boehler said in an interview on Monday.
Boehler said letters of understanding for some initial projects could be signed within the next month. The administration of US President Donald Trump has been pushing for US companies and importers to move manufacturing out of China.
The agency, launched in October to boost US overseas development financing efforts to counter Chinas massive Belt and Road infrastructure drive, was drafted into domestic service in May, after Trump signed an executive order under the Defense Production Act.
DFC and the US Department of Defense on Monday agreed to jointly administer $100m in supply chain reshoring funds from the $2.3bn coronavirus legislation passed in March.
Company proposals to reshore are already pouring in, Boehler said.
The areas that have come on hot right away are on the PPE side and within the pharmaceutical value chains, Boehler said, adding that there was interest in returning some generic drug production almost all of which is imported to the US.
The $100m can be leveraged into tens of billions of dollars in loans by using it as a pool of capital similar to the US Treasurys backing of Federal Reserve loan facilities, Boehler said. At that scale, the agency could participate in the financing of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltds planned new factory in Arizona.
The project is a centrepiece of the push to wrestle global technology supply chains back from China. TSMC, the worlds largest contract chipmaker, is a major supplier to Apple, Qualcomm and other major US tech firms.
We provide loan and investment financing, so could we be relevant there? Absolutely. Were talking tens of billions of dollars in potential here, so thats a possibility, I wouldnt exclude that, Boehler said.
A financing package for TSMC would likely include private capital from the state of Arizona, and it is too soon to say whether the agency would be able to participate.
DFC was created from the former Overseas Private Investment Corp in October 29 and Congress more than doubled its overall lending capacity to $60bn.
Boehler insisted that DFCs development mission would not be affected by Trumps executive order and that DFC would keep its foot on the gas to accelerate projects in poor countries.
The 337-employee DFC small for a federal agency is adding about 15 new people to focus solely on the domestic reshoring projects, he said, and the funding for overseas development will be kept separate.
The agency approved $1bn worth of investments and loans at its June board meeting, including a $200m loan to Guatemalas Banco Industrial to expand lending to small and medium-sized enterprises. Boehler said the banks board in September will consider a larger slate of projects.
A Bavarian post office was evacuated and six workers were taken to hospital after the overwhelming odour of a durian fruit caused panic.
Police and firefighters rushed to the post office in Schweinfurt, Germany, over fears that a parcel was releasing a dangerous gas.
They evacuated 60 people from the building only to discover the source of the smell was a package of four Thai durian fruits, sent to a 50-year old resident by his friend in Nuremberg.
Twelve postal workers received treatment for nausea, and six were taken to hospital as a precaution, according to German broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk.
The resident has reportedly now received his package of fruit.
Durian fruits are banned in many hotels and on public transport across Asia, due to their pungent smell.
Last year, a library at University of Canberra was evacuated due to a strong smell of gas that it later emerged was coming from the fruit.
Durian fruits, nicknamed the king of fruit divide opinion.
Some people compare its creamy texture to that of a cheesecake, with hints of almond flavour. Others find durian intolerable, comparing it to unwashed feet or raw onions.
The fruit has recently become more popular among Chinese customers. Thailand produced 600,000 tonnes of durians in 2018, mostly for export. So far, the coronavirus pandemic has not affected the durian market which is a big earner in Thailand.
There are around 200 specially bred durian cultivars, each with different flavours, textures, flavours and smells. The fruit can be eaten on its own or with sticky rice.
It is also possible to buy durian-flavoured cakes, ice-cream, sweets, and pizzas.
The continued flow of Mexican workers to Ontario farms may have averted another pandemic-related crisis for the provinces food supply, but labour shortages still plague the industry and crops will still go to waste, says the head of Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
There are hundreds of acres of cucumbers, for instance, that are simply going to be mowed down because there isnt enough labour, said Cathy Lennon, OFA general manager.
Youve probably already seen the story about the crops of asparagus that have been lost. This is a very serious issue for our industry and for Canada.
Last week, the Mexican government said it would not send its citizens to Canada to work on farms after at least two Mexican migrant workers contracted COVID-19 and died. That country is a significant source of migrant farmworkers who form the backbone of Canadas agriculture workforce.
Farm operators, already struggling to manage their crops with a reduced workforce due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, worried about greater losses of crops and revenue without the continued arrival of Mexican workers.
It would have a been disaster, said Bill George, chair of Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. If you had asked me about this on Friday, I would not have been able to to tell you what we were going to do.
On Sunday the Mexican government said it struck a deal with Canadas Liberal government that will lead to improvements in the temporary foreign worker program.
In a press release, Mexico said Canada has committed to increased inspections, as well as more support for Mexican officials and workers to identify and report unsafe working conditions.
A working group will also be set up with Mexican and Canadian government officials to deal with the issue.
In a letter to Mexicos ambassador to Canada, sent Friday, Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said Canada is committed to ensuring the safety of people crucial to the nations food security.
Among issues Canada has committed to is COVID-19 testing on farms themselves, said George. To date, migrant farmhands had to go to clinics or hospitals to get tested. Bringing the test to the farms increases the likelihood to detect cases and isolating workers if necessary.
George said Canada has also promised to increase on-site inspections of farm and farmworker living conditions.
Any communal living situation increases the risk of virus transmission. So were also going to have to reduce the number of people living in one space to help reduce that risk, said George. It is another (expense) but it something we have to do. Protecting the health of our workers has to be the No. 1 priority.
George said farms are adopting worker bubbles similar to the social bubbles being used by the general population to have a degree of social interaction while reducing the risk of virus spread. Farm employees will live and work with the same crew to limit the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak.
There have been several outbreaks on farms, sickening about 630 migrant workers in Ontario alone. At least 65 migrant workers were infected in an outbreak at Pioneer Flower Farms in St. Catharines.
Lennon said the industry thought it had solid safety measures in place when the federal government allowed migrant workers through the pandemic border lockdown in March. Under federal rules, each migrant worker has to be isolated for two weeks upon arrival.
At the Pioneer farm and other locations, the workers did not bring the virus to the farm from Mexico. Rather, they caught it in the community when they left the farm to run errands such as grocery shopping.
In the close living and working conditions on farms, including greenhouses like at Pioneer, the virus can spread rapidly.
Lennon said COVID-19 has demonstrated how vulnerable Canadas agricultural sector is to disruptions like a pandemic and the OFA is actively working to grow the number of domestic farmworkers.
She said the industry is hosting virtual job fairs and launched including the feed your future online campaign to attract more Canadians to agricultural work.
Don't want God? No justice
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One of the chants heard during the recent protests across the world that condemn the outrageous and senseless killing of George Floyd has been No Justice, No Peace!
During this same period of time, the Netflix documentary Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich has consistently ranked as the number one or two offering available on the streaming service. Epstein, an American financier, lured large numbers of women, including underage girls, to his many residences and other locations where they were systematically abused by him and some of his acquaintances. Epstein was eventually arrested for his crimes but committed suicide before he could be tried. A number of his victims profiled in the series remarked how sad they were that Epstein never experienced true justice.
Its hard to remember a time in history where more people sought justice for real or supposed wrongdoings committed against others. Amidst all the fury, we tend to forget the role God plays in all of it and that, if God doesnt exist, real justice is just an illusion.
No morality without God
The famous poet and playwright Oscar Wilde once remarked, Nothing is good or bad, only charming or dull.[1] Although one could argue with how he framed things, the assertion of nothing being truly good or bad is correct if God is not in the picture.
Atheists like Louise Atony, Richard Dawkins, William Provine, and J. L. Mackie agree that the idea of objective good/evil and morals goes out the window if you delete God from your worldview. And this produces a real pickle for those who seek justice but deny Gods existence.
For example, where do atheists who say racism or homophobia is objectively wrong turn for both guidance and a moral standard? Their own opinions? Maybe evolutionary theory?
The former produces only chaos. The latter wont do because evolution has historically taught that races are actually not equal. This awful teaching has underpinned the existential philosophical conclusions reached by those such as Darwin and Nietzsche on the subject. Moreover, Richard Dawkins and others have constantly told us that our selfish genes only exist to propagate DNA[2], and if true, then life will view the gay community as having a genetic defect that fails in that regard and therefore it will be less welcome than other groups.
Other appeals to equality, no matter how eloquently offered (e.g. Sam Harris work The Moral Landscape), always wind up in the same place of morality being pure cultural or individual preference and not objective.
But the fact is that laws always imply a law giver. And if there is an objective moral law, there is a moral law giver. Put another way, if God does not exist, objective moral values and duties do not exist. But since people agree that objective moral values and duties exist, God must exist.
C. S. Lewis said it best A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.[3] And that straight line is something God has hardwired into each one of us.
No practical justice without God
In Romans 2, Paul says that because we are made in the image of God, we instinctively know right and wrong. While CNN host Chris Cuomo recently asserted that George Floyd protesters can resort to violence and asks to be shown where it says protesters are supposed to be polite and peaceful[4] (he need look no further than the First Amendment where it says Americans have the right to peaceably assemble), internally we know that violence committed against others is morally wrong.
When it comes to policing our own behavior as well as that of others, Dr. Edward John Carnell does an excellent job at making the distinction between our own actions and what he calls the judicial sentiment, which is also part of Gods image[5] thats sewn into us:
Whereas conscience accuses the self the judicial sentiment accuses others. The direction of accusation is the important thing. Conscience monitors ones own moral conduct, while the judicial sentiment monitors the moral conduct of others. Furthermore, conscience is subject to social and cultural conditioning, whereas the judicial sentiment is not. All normal men, past, present, and future, experience an aroused judicial sentiment whenever they are personally mistreated. . . . All aroused judicial sentiment is merely heavens warning that the image of God is being outraged.[6]
It's this judicial side of Gods image in us that allows for the proper recognition and resolution of injustice. Without it, youll only have mob rule.
No ultimate justice without God
The influential German philosopher Immanuel Kant is famous for saying that he believed in God because of "the starry host above and the moral law within." Kant was convinced that, without God, true justice is impossible.
In asking the question, What would it take for ethics to be meaningful?, Kant concluded that justice must exist, but then he went on to ask what was necessary for that justice to be real. To answer that question, Kants reasonings went as follows.
The world shows again and again that justice in this life doesnt always occur something observed by Jeffrey Epsteins accusers; because everyone eventually experiences death, Epsteins suicide was in no way a delivery of justice. Therefore, Kants first condition of justice was that there must be life after death.
Condition two is that there must be a final judgment in the next life. Moreover, that judgment must be perfect with no possibility of any resulting injustice.
But to have a perfect judgment, you must have a judge that has all knowledge and knows all the facts of each case. And that judge must be righteous because while a judge can possess all the facts of a case, they could be corrupt.
Lastly, Kant reasoned that the judge must have the ultimate power to implement and enforce justice, with nothing being able to oppose him.
So, to have meaningful ethics and true justice, Kant asserted you must have life after death where an omnipotent, omniscient, righteous, and holy judge awaits who will bring about final justice for everyone and everything.
For us in this life, Kant concluded that whether we like it or not we must live as if there is a God. Only He gives us the ability to accurately recognize objective morality and injustice today and only He gives us the hope that, one day, ultimate justice will be realized in totality for all of humanity.
Put another way, no God, no justice.
[1] https://tinyurl.com/y8srpf2n
[2] https://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/transcript/dawk-frame.html
[3] https://tinyurl.com/yapaflrk
[4] https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnns-chris-cuomo-blasted-for-suggesting-protesters-dont-have-to-be-peaceful
[5] One of Gods formal attributes is Justice/Righteousness, which we bear in our image.
[6] https://tinyurl.com/y8orhtz5
Apple will roll out a range of new features and improvements that are aimed at users in India, China and other international markets with its yearly updates to the iOS, iPadOS and macOS operating systems, it unveiled today.
iOS 14, which is rolling out to developers today and will reach general users later this year, introduces new bilingual dictionaries to support French and German; Indonesia and English; Japanese and Simplified Chinese; and Polish and English. For its users in China, one of Apples biggest overseas markets, the iPhone-maker said the new operating system will introduce support for a Wubi keyboard.
For users in India, Apple is adding 20 new document fonts and upgrading 18 existing fonts with more weights and italics" to give people greater choices. For those living in the worlds second largest internet market, the Mail app now supports email addresses in Indian script.
Apple said it will also deliver a range of additional features for India, building on the big momentum it kickstarted last year.
Messages now features corresponding full-screen effects when users send greetings such as Happy Holi in one of the 23 Indian local languages. Messages now also has "filters" to separate spam / promotional messages and bank transaction alerts from texts sent by people you know. The feature, available globally, could especially come in handy to users in places like India, where an endless stream of incoming spam messages has made the Messages app unbearable for many.
More interestingly, iOS 14 will include smart downloads, which will allow users in India to download Indian Siri voices and software updates as well as download and stream Apple TV+ shows over cellular networks -- a feature that is not available elsewhere in the world.
The feature further addresses the patchy networks that are prevalent in India -- despite major improvements in recent years. Last year, Apple beamed a feature for users in India that enabled users in the nation to set an optimized time of the day in on-demand streaming apps such as Hotstar and Netflix for downloading videos.
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New improvements further shows Apple's growing focus on India, the world's second largest smartphone market. Apple chief executive Tim Cook said earlier this year that the company will launch its online store in the country later this year, and open its first physical store next year. A source familiar with the matter told TechCrunch last month that the global pandemic had not affected the plan.
iOS 14 will also allow users in Ireland and Norway to utilize the autocorrection feature as the new update adds support for Irish Gaelic and Norwegian Nynorsk. And theres also a redesigned Kana keyboard for Japan, which will enable users there to type numbers with repeated digits more easily on the redesigned Numbers and Symbols plane.
All the aforementioned features -- except email addresses in Indian script in Mail and smart downloads for users in India -- will also ship with iPadOS 14. And the aforementioned new bilingual dictionaries, new fonts for India and localized messages are coming to macOS Big Sur.
Additionally, Apple says on the desktop operating system it has enhanced predictive input for Chinese and Japanese results in more accurate and contextual predictions.
CHELSEA, MI The Chelsea School District anticipates making up for a significant reduction in state revenue in the coming year by not filling vacant positions and using its financial reserves.
During a Chelsea School Board meeting Monday, June 22, the district outlined its plans for an uncertain 2020-21 budget that includes using nearly $2.6 million from its fund balance to make up for a projected $2.7 million decrease in state revenue. Public school budgets must be adopted by July 1.
The decrease in revenue is expected primarily due to an anticipated $700 per pupil cut from the state, which equates to about $2.4 million for the Chelsea School District.
As a result, the district expects to see its fund balance decrease from $5.9 million to close out 2019-20 to $3.3 million for the coming year about 11.5% of its expenditures.
Despite the dire funding outlook from the state, Superintendent Julie Helber said the district is in a really good position with its fund balance, which currently sits at more than 20% of its expenditures.
Were able to put the $700 per pupil cut in our preliminary budget and still have a balanced budget because we can draw on those reserves, Helber said. This is an emergency if I ever saw one, so we save in fund balance for emergency situations.
The district did not detail how many positions it expects to leave unfilled due to attrition. Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administrative Services Michelle Cowhy said Chelsea has budgeted for a decrease of $515,000 in personnel-related expenses for the coming year.
Cowhy said Chelsea School District also is trimming its building and department budgets by a total of $357,000 for the coming year.
Revenue for the district is expected to plummet to $26.9 million in 2020-21, compared to the $29.5 million in revenue it will closed out the current budget year with, accounting for a reduction in funding from the state and the potential loss of 50 students.
In addition to the anticipated cut to funding from the state, Helber said it is unclear how the district will be able to pay for expenses related to holding school safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chelsea School District has built those expenses into the budget, said Helber, who is hoping for some sort of relief to pay for things like personal protection equipment.
The state budget doesnt look good, either, so if the state budget doesnt look good and theyre going to give us less money and we have increased expenses due to COVID, thats problematic, she said.
The State Senate Fiscal Agencys economic outlook and budget review released on May 14 shows a $1.2-billion shortfall in school aid funding for the 2019-20 school year, along with a $1.1-billion decrease in school aid anticipated for 2020-21.
On Tuesday, Michigan Republicans unveiled a plan for helping bring students back into the classroom via a $1.3 billion proposal for federal COVID-19 relief aid to incorporate distance learning where necessary and health and safety protocol for in-person learning.
Despite the challenges it faces in accurately reflecting the current reality in its budget, Chelsea School Board Trustee Kristin van Reesema said she appreciated administrators efforts to look at all line items to make the cuts necessary to balance the budget.
We certainly want to maintain our class sizes and avoid having to increase class sizes, so maintaining our staff is very important, she said.
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$15.6-million budget deficit for Ann Arbor schools to be made up through attrition, fund balance
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Michigan districts are meeting students where they are as schools adapt to remote learning
Egyptian film 'Luxor' is in the line-up of the festival which will take place between 3 and 11 July 2020
In its special edition, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will screen 16 films at 96 movie theatres across the Czech Republic between 3 and 11 July.
Trying to bring a sense of one of European oldest film festivals to its viewers while taking precautions related to pandemic, this year the organisers will showcase two films (at 5pm and at 8pm) in each cinema.
"Before the opening film, Babyteeth (Friday, 3 July at 8pm) the festivals president Jiri Bartoska and master of ceremonies Marek Eben will host a special opening ceremony broadcast to all cinema audiences thanks to a live feed from the Grand Hall at Karlovy Varys Hotel Thermal," the organisers revealed.
The Egyptian film Luxor, written and directed by Zeina Durra, is among the selected repertoire.
"Members of the festival team will also travel to forty cinemas, large and small, from Karlovy Vary in the west to Moravia-Silesia in the east, in order to introduce the films just like at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Some screenings will feature live presentations, for others the introductions will be streamed to all cinemas."
With this organisational move, the Czech Republic's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is the first such event which found its way of holding its edition as planned in public cinemas yet with a mdified format.
According to Worldometers info on coronavirus infections, the central European country of 10.8 million has 10,561 and 337 fatalities until date.
At the beginning of May, Reuters has reported that the Czech government allowed cultural and sport events with up to 100 people to go ahead from 11 May.
"This will include cinema screenings, theatres performances and religious services, and comes sooner than the government had originally planned after it said the spread of the virus was now contained," Reuters wrote.
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is the largest film festival in the Czech Republic. Every year, the festival presents some 200 films from around the world, and regularly hosts famous and important filmmakers.
The festival was launched in 1946 in Marianske Lazne before moving to Karlovy Vary in 1947 and becoming a competitive festival with the main award being the Crystal Globe. In 1956, the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) officially designated Karlovy Vary a category A festival.
For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture
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Rapid increases in cases across the U.S. South and West are raising fears that progress against the virus is slipping away, as states reopen and many Americans resist wearing masks for political reasons and refuse to limit contacts to social-distancing bubbles. The United States has the most infections and deaths by far in the world, with 2.3 million cases and over 120,000 confirmed virus-related deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 18:55:40|Editor: huaxia
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GUANGZHOU, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Every day, Tanzanian businessman John Vedasto Rwehumbiza's phone buzzes with messages from agricultural producers and logistics enterprises.
Having lived in China for nearly 20 years, 56-year-old Rwehumbiza is now running his own business in Guangzhou, capital of south China's manufacturing heartland Guangdong Province, by importing African farm produce to factories in China.
Although the ongoing 127th China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, was moved online due to COVID-19, it is still one of the best opportunities for African businesspeople like Rwehumbiza to conduct purchase negotiations.
This year's online fair, which started on June 15 and will run for 10 days, has attracted around 25,000 enterprises with 1.8 million products.
"Suppliers didn't know the customers' needs and customers didn't know the capacity of the manufacturers. We all learned a lot during the visits," he said.
Rwehumbiza's bond with China can be traced back to 1987 when he left his hometown in Africa and studied at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. After graduation, he worked in Shanghai for three years before returning to Tanzania, where he became an exporter of construction materials.
He and his family moved to Guangzhou in 2007 as he wanted to explore the Chinese market. As one of the most important hub cities in China, Guangzhou has a long history of trading with countries and regions around the world and enjoys a reputation for having a favorable business environment.
In 2010, he eyed a new business opportunity and started importing African farm produce including cassava, peanuts, coffee and soybeans into China.
"We have a very good climate and fertile lands in Africa, while China has one of the biggest markets. The organic agricultural products produced in African countries are in large demand in China," he said.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, has brought more opportunities for China and African countries. The initiative is aimed at building trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe, Africa and beyond.
"Chinese businessmen have shown interest in importing raw materials from, as well as investing in and creating employment in Africa. It helped eliminate poverty and created another big market," said Rwehumbiza.
Communication technology, transportation and infrastructure are the three vital aspects that Rwehumbiza believes China has helped African countries to develop.
The vast leap taken by China's economy and society in the past few decades made Rwehumbiza confident that the same achievement will be made by the African people.
"It is admirable that all the changes in China were brought about by the Chinese themselves. Now we Africans are supposed to learn from the Chinese to build Africa with our own hands," he said. Enditem
As Canadians continue to report worsening mental health concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic, a study emphasizes the important role employers play in helping employees navigate the impact of COVID-19 and boosting the resilience of the countrys workforce.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and the Conference Board of Canada conducted what they called a mental health pulse check by surveying 1,804 Canadians online between April 17 and May 15. The findings, released Tuesday, found that 84 per cent of respondents reported worsening mental health concerns since mid-March, when the pandemic began shutting down the country.
Family well-being, ones future, isolation and loneliness and anxiety and fear were the biggest concerns reported among 15 mental health factors set out in the survey, although respondents were at least moderately concerned about all 15, including income and employment situation. The study reported the respondents perceptions of how they were doing for each factor before COVID-19, as well as when the survey was taken.
Respondents with lower incomes, students or those that were unemployed had greater levels of concern for their mental wellness than those who are employed and make healthier incomes.
As a result of the survey, the MHCC and the Conference Board released five recommendations to help inform employers about what they can do to help employees cope in difficult times:
Increase vigilance about employees psychological safety.
Complete a full inventory of all support programs.
Obtain a workforce and mental health baseline by regular measurements and pulse checks for the next 36 months, at minimum.
Promote and evaluate employee and family assistance programs and psychological services.
Review coping strategies.
For employers to thrive in a pandemic they need a healthy workforce who are mentally engaged and fit, said Dr. Bill Howatt, the chief of research at the Conference Board.
Covid-19 is not going anywhere fast, he said. We are 100 days into this and if we do not focus on mental health more, the risk is we will have more employees at increased risk for isolation and loneliness, suicide, domestic violence, mental illness and addiction.
The survey also looked at 32 coping strategies, suggesting employers explore the strategies employees are using to cope and know the pros and cons of those strategies to encourage healthier choices.
It broke coping strategies into three categories: prosocial, meaning positive strategies; help-seeking behaviours; and at-risk behaviours. The top three reported coping strategies among respondents were: connecting with families and friends, walking and jogging; and other exercise. The top three at-risk coping mechanisms were food, alcohol and video gaming.
Studies show people generally think they would know if something was wrong with a co-worker, but people get very good at hiding what theyre really going through, particularly from afar, said Liz Horvath, manager of workplace and mental health at MHCC. Employers need to help reduce stigma, isolation and loneliness, especially with more people working remotely than ever.
Horvath said she has noticed trends while speaking to employers across the country during the pandemic. Employers who are doing a lot to support the mental health of their employees had typically focused on mental health and safety before the outset of COVID-19. Still, focusing on the mental health of their employees can be a challenge as employers work long hours in unusual circumstances.
There is also a tension for employees who need to work outside the home: between needing to work and a fear of exposure to coronavirus, said Horvath. Employers need to be sensitive to this as there can be psychological effects of feeling unsafe at work, like anxiety and anger. Horvath has also heard reports of hostility toward workers in essential services and retail stores, which can add stress for employees.
Focusing on mental health is so important now because running ragged increases the risk of errors, conflict, burnout and mental illness but it also compromises the immune system and makes it more susceptible to infection, Horvath said.
If an employee is concerned they are not getting enough support in the workplace, Howatt of the Conference Board suggests focusing on developing healthy coping skills through training, accessing psychological supports when needed, and building at least one or two strong social connections in the workplace so each employee always has a safe person to talk to.
I encourage all employees to develop a mental fitness program so that they are actually aware of what they can do proactively to be charging their batteries and dealing with this over the long run, he said.
Like in the broader mental health system, no one treatment will work for all employees, said Louise Bradley, the MHCCs president and CEO. Thats why the MHCC has developed a COVID-19 mental health resource hub, a single window with targeted resources, like a COVID virtual crisis training program for essential workers.
A cookie-cutter mental health strategy which, quite frankly, has never worked has to be replaced by targeted approaches tailored to the specific circumstances of individuals and groups.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 19:20:09|Editor: huaxia
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HONG KONG, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Hospital Authority reported the sixth death case of COVID-19 in Hong Kong on Tuesday, while the Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 16 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases.
A 72-year-old male who was confirmed with COVID-19 infection and admitted to the hospital on June 4 passed away on early Tuesday morning in Prince of Wales Hospital.
The man was in a stable condition with no symptoms on admission, but was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit on June 10 after his condition deteriorated.
He required renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for assisted breathing as well as inotropic infusion, the spokesman for Prince of Wales Hospital said.
His condition further deteriorated and he eventually succumbed at 2:19 a.m. Tuesday local time.
The case brought the number of COVID-19 patients that have passed away in Hong Kong's public hospitals to six.
The CHP said it was investigating on Tuesday 16 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, which brought the total number of confirmed cases to 1,177, plus one probable case in Hong Kong.
The newly reported cases involved nine males and seven females aged between 11 and 48. All of them had travel history during the incubation period.
The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing.
In addition, the CHP is investigating an overseas case which involves a 39-year-old female patient who returned from India via Malaysia by flight on June 21.
Upon arrival, the patient declared that she had tested positive and was treated for COVID-19 in May while in India. She was transferred directly from Hong Kong International Airport to United Christian Hospital for management.
The CHP has contacted the health authority in India to obtain more information about the case.
According to Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, as of Tuesday noon, 1,083 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged from hospital upon recovery, while 89 confirmed patients are currently hospitalized in nine hospitals, including one in critical condition. Enditem
The restrictions are meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the kingdom, which has one of the largest outbreaks in the Middle East. Last year, 2.5 million people took part in the pilgrimage. This year, those allowed at the hajj will have to be under 65 years of age and will be required to undergo a virus test in advance.
The announcement disappointed Muslims around the world, many of whom have saved for years to travel to Mecca, and it will deal a financial blow to the kingdoms economy.
Quotable: I am heartbroken, sad and disappointed, but what can one do? said Qari Ali Gul, who runs a seminary in Peshawar, Pakistan. This must be the will of God.
Here are the latest updates and maps of where the virus has spread.
In other news:
The virus is gaining steam across Latin America, and experts fear the worst is ahead. Inequality, densely packed cities, weak health care systems and fumbled government responses have contributed.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said at a congressional hearing that the next two weeks will be critical in the countrys disease fighting efforts, as he warned of a disturbing surge in cases.
Novak Djokovic, the worlds No. 1 in mens tennis, is the fourth player found to be infected with the coronavirus after he organized an exhibition series in Croatia and Serbia.
The Times is providing free access to much of our coronavirus coverage, and our Coronavirus Briefing newsletter like all of our newsletters is free. Please consider supporting our journalism with a subscription.
A 63-year-old blind woman was banned for 2 years from a park and a library in Rhode Island because she shared about her Christian faith.
According to Fox News, Blair would offer a passage from the Bible like the Gospel of John to other people. But the Officials, who are in charge of Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, demanded Gail Blair to stop sharing to others about Jesus. The association members called the police on June 24, 2019, saying that she was "accosting" people by "stopping" and "giving them religious pamphlets."
She denied that she was accosting them. She said, "I do what the Pocket Testament League urges. Simply offer them a Gospel of John, the Word of God. No arguing."
Blair and William Wray Jr., an attorney at Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C., who are represented by First Liberty Institute, filed a discrimination complaint with the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights against the Association.
Blair also worked as a nurse until 1991 and suffered from a disorder that created slow vision loss. In the complaint, Blair describes that she was prohibited "because of the Associations' unlawful discrimination against me on the basis of my disability and my religious beliefs."
Blair said, "The Police Department searched for all incidents that involved complaints or trespass notices issued to anyone for distributing information, pamphlets, soliciting, selling, hawking, etc., and found none apart from when the Association called the police to eject me from the park. My conduct did not violate the 'Rules of Conduct' posted by Westerly Library and Wilcox Park. Nor did it violate any of the Park's Guidelines."
A spokesperson from the Association told Fox News it "does not engage in nor tolerate any forms of discrimination," also that they have not received a copy of the complaint and "cannot specifically comment on the allegations made by Gail Blair." They said, "The Association vehemently denies any claims of discrimination or wrongdoing and it looks forward to receiving a copy of the complaint in order to rebut and disprove any claims made by Ms. Blair."
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Falfurrias Capital Partners, a Charlotte-based private equity firm focused on investing in growth-oriented, middle-market businesses, today announced that it completed the sale of portfolio company American Safety Council (ASC) to Ridgemont Equity Partners.
The sale marks a successful exit for Falfurrias Capital Partners following a six-year growth partnership that saw ASC add five complementary businesses and a new leadership team, including CEO John Comly, that focused on building a robust digital marketing and customer acquisition platform.
ASC, based in Orlando, Florida, is the leading provider of online training and certification for workplace safety, driver safety, and other regulated, continuing education and pre-licensing markets. Falfurrias Capital Partners invested in the company in May 2014.
"We are proud of our successful partnership with American Safety Council, which was defined by significant investments in the team, technology, and content, all of which contributed to strong growth," said Wilson Sullivan, principal at Falfurrias Capital Partners. "John and his team have built an online training platform with world-class digital marketing and content development capabilities, as well as a proven track record of successful acquisitions that have created strategic value."
Five companies acquired since 2014 broadened ASC's content library and extended its reach into new markets, including food safety training. Starting with the addition of Online Traffic School (OLTS) in late 2014, ASC continued with acquisitions of Huckleberry Notary Bonding, National Safety Training/National Hospitality Training, Florida Drivers Association and Food Safety Educators.
"Falfurrias Capital Partners proved to be the ideal partner for American Safety Council over the past six years, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with Wilson and the team to help ASC realize its growth potential," said Comly. "ASC plays a critical role in helping consumers live safer lives and prides itself on being the leading digital platform focused on helping workers safely and efficiently navigate from unemployment or underemployment to a vocation of their choosing. We look forward to working with the Ridgemont team as we continue to fulfill that mission."
Falfurrias Capital acquired ASC as a platform investment after identifying the regulatory-driven online training and education industry as a significant growth opportunity through its "Industry First" investment methodology. Falfurrias uses the proprietary, research-based process to identify attractive growth markets with durable trends and then partners with companies that can benefit from the strategic, operational and financial support Falfurrias is uniquely positioned to provide.
Robert W. Baird & Company served as financial advisor to American Safety Council.
About American Safety Council
Based in Orlando, Florida, American Safety Council provides critical training and education to more than two million customers each year. ASC collaborates with federal and state agencies, higher learning institutions, trade associations and iconic industry brands to ensure the content of the Company's online courses is best-in-class and compliant with applicable laws, regulations or industry standards. American Safety Council is committed to helping people live safer, more productive lives with current training offerings focused on workplace safety, driver safety, and other vocational certifications. www.americansafetycouncil.com
About Falfurrias Capital Partners
Falfurrias Capital Partners is a Charlotte-based private equity investment firm founded in 2006 by Hugh McColl Jr., former chairman and CEO of Bank of America; Marc Oken, former CFO of Bank of America; and Managing Partner Ed McMahan. The firm has raised approximately $1.0 billion across four funds and invests in growing, middle market businesses in sectors where the firm's operational resources, relationships, and sector expertise can be employed to complement portfolio company executive teams in support of growth objectives. Falfurrias Capital Partners employs a proprietary, research-based process called "Industry First" to identify markets with durable growth trends, construct a thesis based on research findings, and partner with management teams and companies to create strategic value. Learn more at www.falfurriascapital.com.
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A man in eastern China has suffered three severe bladder tears from holding urine for 18 hours, according to doctors.
The 40-year-old, known by his surname Hu, allegedly fell into a deep sleep after drinking over 10 bottles of beer during a night out - without going to the toilet once.
Medics were shocked to find that Mr Hu's bladder had burst with three tears when he was rushed to hospital, Chinese media reported.
The 40-year-old resident, known by his surname Hu, fell into an inebriated sleep and did not wake up till next day after drinking over ten bottles of beer during a night out, according to reports. The picture released by Zhuji Daily shows Mr Hu's X-ray scan of his ruptured bladder
A man (not pictured) in eastern China has been left with a ruptured bladder after he held his pee for almost a full day after a boozy night out. The file picture taken on August 28, 2018, shows a man enjoying a pint of beer at the International Beer Festival in Qingdao, China
The incident came to light after the man sought medical attention at the Zhuji People's Hospital in Shaoxing of eastern Chinese province Zhejiang after suffering severe abdominal pain.
Mr Hu had gone out and downed more than ten bottles of beer the night before. He then fell asleep and had not used the toilet once since he started drinking, according to Zhuji Daily.
The hungover man was rushed to a local hospital after he woke up with severe abdominal pain next evening.
The doctors found that the patient was unable to lay flat due to the extreme pain and tensed abdominal muscles. Mr Hu also tried to release the urine but failed after multiple attempts.
After conducting a CT scan on Mr Hu, the medics discovered that the man's bladder had been torn apart with three holes.
One of the tears had even opened up towards his abdominal cavity and caused part of his intestines to enter the bladder.
Mr Hu was immediately scheduled to undergo an operation to fix his bladder following the doctors' shocking discovery. The picture released by Zhuji Daily shows Mr Hu's CT scan
Doctors warned that people should avoid holding urine for extended periods of time and resisting the urge to pee, especially after drinking. The file picture taken on July 27, 2018 shows a bartender serving different kinds of beer at the International Qingdao Beer Festival
Mr Hu was immediately scheduled to undergo an operation to fix his bladder following the doctors' shocking discovery.
The surgeons said that the man could be in a life-threatening condition if his bladder tears were not repaired in time.
Mr Hu is said to have been discharged from the Zhuji hospital following a full recovery.
Despite the rarity of such cases, the local hospital said that every year they received at least one patient like Mr Hu who suffered a ruptured bladder from holding the urine after drinking.
One's bladder is flexible and can increase in size as fluids are consumed but have a limited capacity of around 350 to 500 millilitres, according to the medics.
However, an intoxicated person might not feel the need of urinating after one's nerve system is suppressed by the alcohol.
The bladder could then burst from being excessively stretched by the stored urine.
The doctors warned that people should avoid holding urine for extended periods of time and resisting the urge to pee, especially after drinking.
EBRD and EU report on how Covid-19 has affected Ukraines tourism sector
Tourism industry roadmap update
Recommendations include development of crisis response plan
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism and hospitality industry across the world is expecting more than a billion tourists to cancel their holiday plans, leading to an 80 per cent drop compared with 2019.
In response, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have teamed up to offer emergency support and recommendations for Ukraines tourism industry, which has also been badly affected by the pandemic.
The analysis, supported by the EU4Business initiative, looked at implications for the sector, which employs up to 1 million people and contributes to around 9 per cent of GDP in Ukraine.
The report entitled Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on the Ukrainian tourism sector was presented online to industry professionals, regulators, relevant authorities and stakeholders. It updates the original tourism roadmap unveiled in Ukraine in November 2019 and is designed to unleash the countrys potential in the sector.
The report provides an overview of Covid-19 mitigation measures to be considered by the Ukrainian authorities, business and proposed by professional associations. It also recommends further steps needed in order to put tourism on the path to recovery. These include an anti-crisis plan for 2020, a reorganised roadmap, an awareness campaign and suggestions on capital investment requirements and new tourist products development.
More than 100 participants attended the online event, where they had a chance to find out what was happening to the tourism industry across the world, and how individual countries, tour operators and hospitality companies were combating the pandemic.
Ukraine is the first economy in which the EBRD invests where there has been such systemic sector analysis related to a specific industry. It is expected that the approach will be introduced in other countries too, drawing on experiences in Ukraine.
The EBRD is the largest international financial investor in Ukraine. To date, the Bank has made a cumulative commitment of almost 15 billion through 466 projects in the country.
The need for affordable housing in our communities is urgent. For too long, Connecticut has been a segregated state, with its poorest residents (largely people of color) clustered in pockets of our cities. Constructing affordable housing is part of the solution, but we must do it on our terms, not those of the developers.
Westports Planning & Zoning Commission recently rejected Summit Saugatuck LLCs proposal to build a 187-unit development in Old Saugatuck. The current plan is to transform a historical neighborhood that is already affordable, to build a massive complex in which less than a third of units are actually deemed affordable housing. It constitutes a rapid shift in density, one which would cause a spike in traffic on the one existing road in and out. On top of that, Old Saugatuck is low-density right now for good reason its swampy ecosystem has historically prevented construction of multi-story tenements like the ones proposed. There is no telling what problems construction workers may run into.
The senator representing Borno south, Ali Ndume, has agreed to act as a surety for the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.
Mr Maina said this to a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mr Maina is accused of diverting N100 billion of pension funds and is facing trial for alleged money laundering. He is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge and is also accused of operating fictitious accounts and carrying out other fraudulent activities.
The former PRTT chairman, who was in hiding for almost two years, was arrested by the State Security Service last year.
The SSS handed over Mr Maina to the EFCC, which had declared him wanted for over a year.
His son, Faisal, who was arrested alongside the father in September, is accused of operating an account he used to divert various sums of money, including N58 million.
The two men were arraigned by the EFCC on October 25 on separate charges. They pleaded not guilty.
Bail conditions
The court on November 25, 2019, admitted the former pension chairman to bail at N1 billion.
Justice Okon Abang, who gave the ruling, also ordered that Mr Maina should produce two sureties who must be serving senators.
The judge said the two lawmakers must not be standing criminal trial in any court in the country.
He also ruled that the two sureties, who must be prepared for an N500 million bond each, must always be in court with the defendant at each adjourned date.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported how on January 28, Justice Abang reduced the bail bond of the former PRTT chairman from N1 billion to N500 million.
Mr Maina had on January 13 told the court that he could not meet the stringent conditions of the bail granted him in November.
Still not able to meet the adjusted bail conditions, Mr Maina in an application dated February 10, asked the court to further vary the bail conditions.
But in a ruling on Mr Mainas bail variation application on April 29, Justice Abang held that the former PRTT chairman failed to provide sufficient material before the court to prove that he was unable to meet his bail condition, which includes a serving senator as surety.
Court Session
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Mainas lawyer, Joe Gadzama, informed the court that Mr Ndume has agreed to act as surety for the former PRTT chairman.
Ali Ndume
Mr Gadzama, however, said one condition had not been fully complied with, which is why the defendant is seeking a variation of the bail terms which was previously reviewed.
He said the condition is that of the surety having a certificate of occupancy of landed property in Abuja.
In a desperate move to get freedom and liberty, we filed an application before the Court of Appeal in Abuja, he said.
Finally, Senator Ndume agreed to stand as a surety which made us withdraw the appeal by filing a notice of discontinuance. The applicant has met all the conditions but only one, which is that the surety must have a certificate of occupancy, he said.
The surety has submitted a certificate of occupancy of a landed property but it is not In his name. It is in the name of Lawal Ahmed. But the owner is Ndume who purchased it from Lawal Ahmed.
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In addition, there is a certified irrevocable power of attorney by Lawal to Ndume. It is as good as the certificate and supersedes the certificate because it is the latest in time.
Mr Mainas lawyer said in the Federal Capital Territory, once a certificate of occupancy is issued in a persons name by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), that name cannot be changed even when another person acquires the property.
The only way to show new power of ownership is by issuing irrevocable power of attorney, he said.
The court has granted bail earlier and the court would be joyful to see the applicant enjoy the bail.
The only reason why he is still being incarcerated is that the court said it has to be a certificate of occupancy in the name of the surety. We ask my lord to temper justice with mercy.
Mr Gadzama also informed the court of the ill health of his client.
This gentleman is very sick. He needs to see an ophthalmologist because he cannot see well. He also needs orthopaedic surgery, the lawyer said.
It is in the interest of parties and the public whose funds is alleged to have been tampered with for him to live and face trial.
I urge the court to once more be magnanimous by further varying the one condition that he has been unable to meet, he said.
Responding, the EFCC lawyer, Farouk Abdullah, urged the court to dismiss the application for further variation of the bail terms.
Mr Abdullah submitted that a power of attorney does not convey title.
In the case of the FCT, it is only the president that can allocate land to an individual. The minister of the FCT exercises the power on behalf of the president, he said.
No individual who has enjoyed the power of allocation from the minister can allot to himself the power to further allocate or transfer that land to another.
After listening to both lawyers, Justice Abang fixed June 29 to deliver a ruling on the defendants application.
The High Court has struck down a law providing for certain minimum pay and entitlements for electricians.
Smaller electrical contractors had brought a challenge to the issuing last year by the Government of a sectoral employment order (SEO) setting out pay rates, pension and sick pay entitlements in the electrical industry.
The contractors, members of the Naisiunt Leictreach Contraitheor Eireann/National Electrical Contractors of Ireland (NECI), claimed the SEO breached their rights and were unconstitutional.
Among their arguments were that the SEO made it a criminal offence for them to employ workers on any less favourable terms than others did and represented a significant encroachment on the employers freedom to contract.
The case was against the Labour Court, the Minister for Business Enterprise and Innovation, Ireland and the Attorney General. The claims were denied.
Today, Mr Justice Garrett Simons found the Minister had acted outside his powers in purporting to make the SEO It was a condition precedent to the Ministers jurisdiction to make an SEO that he was satisfied the Labour Court had complied with the requirements of Chapter 3 of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015, he said.
The Minister erred in law in concluding, on the basis of a report and recommendation submitted to him, that the Labour Court had complied with those provisions, he said.
That report accompanied a recommendation in April 2019 to the Minister by the Labour Court that the SEO be issued.
The judge said that report formed the cornerstone of the Ministers subsequent assessment of whether the Labour Court had complied with the provisions the 2015 Act (Chapter 3) That report was deficient because it failed to record "even the conclusions of the Labour Court on crucial matters, still less does the report state a rationale for those conclusions."
The report also failed to set out a fair and accurate summary of the submissions made by interested parties who opposed the making of a SEO and did not engage with the issues raised in those submissions, he said.
The report and recommendation also did not adequately address the definition of the economic sector concerned and did not specify the class, type or group of workers to which the recommendation shall apply insofar as the position of workers employed by state and semi-state organisations was not expressly dealt with, he said.
Given that the SEO falls to be set aside as being outside the Minister's powers, the judge said it was not, strictly speaking, necessary to consider the challenge made to the constitutional validity of the parent legislation (the 2015 Act) by reference to constitutional rights.
However, ruling on that issue as well, the judge said the parent legislation did not contain sufficient principles and policies to guide the very broad discretion conferred upon the Minister and, indirectly, upon the Labour Court.
A decision to impose mandatory minimum terms and conditions of employment across an entire economic sector necessitates making difficult policy choices and has far-reaching consequences for employers, workers and consumers, he said.
The parent legislation abdicated the making of these significant policy choices to the Minister/Labour Court which meant there had to be regard to the potential impact on competitiveness in the sector but which was "at large as to the choice as to which objective is to prevail", he said.
The concept of fair and sustainable remuneration was "hopelessly vague and too subjective", he said.
The delegation of that role to the Minister involved "a standard-less delegation of law- making to the Minister" and one which would be almost impossible to challenge by way of judicial review, he said.
Therefore, the parent legislation was invalid by reference to Article 15.2.1 of the Constitution (power of Oireachtas to make laws), he said.
Like the Maharashtra state government, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has also been hiding the actual Covid-19 death toll in the city, BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya alleged on Tuesday.
According to Somaiya, the corporation is not revealing at least more than 50 deaths which will come out during the reconciliation of the figures. This figure is not sent to the state government by the corporation, Somaiya alleged.
He claimed that the TMC has shown less death figures in Mumbra where the actual death figure is much more. The politicos in the city are merely portraying a feel-good image of defeating coronavirus in the city, Somaiya said.
He met civic commissioner Vijay Singhal to take stock of the situation in Thane city on Tuesday afternoon.
Also read: Delhis Covid centre, 10 times bigger than Chinas largest, to start this week
I had asked the civic authority to provide me with the latest figure of Covid-19 infections, though I am not satisfied with the figures given by the authority. Thackeray government had hidden 3,000 deaths out of which they agreed that 1,500 were less after reconciliation. Solapur Municipal Corporation also tried to show 40 fewer deaths on Monday, all this will lead to a greater problem in the state in the coming days. Out of the total deaths hidden by the government, 2,000 are from Mumbai and at least 50 are from Thane city, he said.
He added that the death toll in Mumbra is much more than what the corporation showed. The corporation has merely shown 50% of the actual deaths in Mumbra. We have demanded an inquiry into these discrepancies in data. Moreover, patients are sent to private hospital increasingly instead of the government hospitals in Thane leading to profit for private hospitals. There are also technical issues like lack of oxygen supply or ventilators which the city needs to focus on, he added.
Pravin Darekar, leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council also met the municipal commissioner of Kalyan Dombivli Corporation, Vijay Suryavanshi, on Tuesday.
The number of cases within KDMC jurisdiction are increasing as many travel as part of essential services to Mumbai and nearby places. Steps to curb this movement or other provisions need to be made for these people to ensure their families are safe and break the chain of infection, said Darekar. He also visited Shashtri Nagar Civic Hospital and quarantine facility at Tata Amantra on Tuesday. In a special meeting held at Acharya Atre Auditorium, he discussed the steps taken and measures implemented to curb the pandemic within Kalyana and Dombivli areas.
Chennai, June 23 : Chennai recorded the highest number of cyberattacks in the country during the January-March quarter of this year as threat actors targeted the city with a variety of attacks aimed at exploiting user trust and enterprise vulnerabilities, said a report on Tuesday.
The infection rate in Chennai stood at 42 per cent during the quarter, followed by Patna at 38 per cent and Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata at 35 per cent each, said the "Cyber Threat Monitor Report" by home-grown cybersecurity company K7 Computing.
Threat actors continued to exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software and operating systems in this quarter.
Windows XP and Windows 7 were the most at risk as Microsoft has stopped providing updates and patches to these versions.
The report revealed that attacks by rootkits like Curveball, Remote Code Execution, phishing attacks based on Covid-19 trends, and DOS (denial-of-service) attacks were popular.
Complex USB attacks also saw an increase -- popular among these were crypto mining malware.
"We are seeing an increasing trend of threat actors targeting enterprises with complex viruses, Trojans, and even ransomware," J Kesavardhanan, founder and CEO of K7 Computing, said in a statement.
"On an individual level, the current risks facing users are fake apps, Covid-19 apps infected with malware, and phishing attacks. The most worrying of all is the new trend of many advanced threat actors offering malware as a service to cybercriminals." The research found that among tier-1 cities, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata recorded the highest rate of infections, while among the tier-2 cities, Patna registered the highest infection rate at 38 per cent followed by Guwahati, Jammu and Bhubaneswar.
These attacks were designed to exploit user trust and scam people for financial gains.
However, the report found that there was an eight per cent decrease in the overall rate of cyberattacks in the country during the January-March in comparison to the previous quarter.
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The UK's vulnerability to cyber security attacks has again come under the spotlight, with only half of business leaders ready and prepared to counter digital threats they're currently facing or are likely to confront in the future. This is despite the fact that over half (52%) link strong cyber security capabilities to increased profitability.
Lockdown measures that forced the majority of businesses worldwide to work remotely in response to COVID-19 have raised a number of cyber security concerns and issues. The number of attacks against organisations grew to reach a four-month high at the end April resulting in the NCSC and CISA issuing an advisory about cyber criminals exploiting COVID-19 o n April 8th 2020 .
Prior to the pandemic, the World Economic Forum (WEF), identified cyber-attacks as the most concerning technological risk, and the last EY CEO Imperative Study revealed that cybersecurity is the No. 1 global concern for CEOs. Furthermore according to the (WEF) , hacking and phishing attacks are likely to become the new norm for many companies, even as the virus infection rate begins to recede.
A worrying key finding of the survey of over 750 business leaders conducted by online pioneer Esme Learning Solutions , who is collaborating with Said Business School in the development of the Oxford Cyber Futures programme, was that although businesses have woken up to the threat of poor cyber security practices, they are not yet walking the walk.
Other insights include:
cyber security as a top priority - three quarters (75%) see cyber security as both a central priority for their organisation and a high priority in relation to other business priorities (72%)
- three quarters (75%) see cyber security as both a central priority for their organisation and a high priority in relation to other business priorities (72%) missed business opportunities - while over half (52%) link strong cyber security capabilities to profitability, only 36% believe they are equipped to capitalise on new cyber opportunities
- while over half (52%) link strong cyber security capabilities to profitability, only 36% believe they are equipped to capitalise on new cyber opportunities prioritise training - while the vast majority (95%) want the latest in cyber security training only 39% think the current offerings meet their needs.
"With cyber security breaches already costing mid-market businesses more than 30bn a year, it's encouraging to see it become a top priority for business leaders," said David Shrier, Managing Director of Esme Learning Solutions. "But worryingly, there appears to be a substantial disconnect between their views and what's actually taking place in their businesses every day."
"The missing link in all this is education a lack of training is costing companies money and putting their businesses at risk. There is a dearth of high-quality, accessible training and development available to this sector - something that Esme Learning is keen to address through a range of fully online courses, in partnership with top tier higher education institutions."
"Cyber security has never been more important for business, especially as we emerge from global lockdown to a world where business and commerce are shifting online at a pace. With this shift to a digital-first approach come new risks and new opportunities for forward-thinking business leaders.
It's extremely worrying that fewer than half of them feel equipped to deal with threats and even more concerning is the potential for growth that is being missed."
"There is good news in that businesses and their people have woken up to cyber security, however, they need to actually support their words with real action. Currently, cyber threats are seen as just as IT's problem, rather than a business-wide issue and responsibility, despite the risks and opportunities it presents."
About the research:
This study was conducted by Esme Learning Solutions in partnership with Future Publishing . Respondents are comprised of over 750 readers from Future Publishing media outlets between May 25, 2020 and June 20, 2020. Full data upon request.
Esme Learning:
Lexi Mills, [email protected], +44 7825 739 243
Melissa Tirey, [email protected] , +1 646 823 6776
Interviews
The University of Oxford's David Shrier, Programme Director for Oxford Cyber Futures, is available for interview. Please contact the Esme Learning team to arrange a time to speak with him.
About Esme Learning
Esme Learning is helping executives and working professionals reinvent themselves for the AI-enabled future, meeting the need to learn new cutting-edge topics and skills at an ever increasing rate as the pace of technology change is transforming the nature of work. Having already pioneered the short-course, tightly engineered model of learning that has revolutionized how tier one universities deliver online classes, our founders have formed Esme Learning to reinvent learning once again.
Oxford Cyber Futures:
Information is available at www.EsmeLearning.com/products/Oxford-Cyber-Futures
SOURCE Esme Learning Solutions
New Delhi: Actor Abhishek Bachchan is making his digital debut with 'Breathe: Into The Shadows'. The much-awaited season 2 of Amazon Original series will be unveiled on July 10, 2020. It has been written and directed by Mayank Sharma.
The makers, meanwhile, have dropped a new intriguing teaser. Watch it here:
The new teaser gives a sneak-peak the lives of Abhishek Bachchan and Nithya Menen, who play a couple on the reel. It shows Nithya playing with her daughter Siya, but the happy moment is interrupted with an unknown fatal incident for which Junior B is seen blaming himself.
Their daughter apparently goes missing and the mystery behind the incident keeps the momentum going.
In the first part of 'Breathe' ( 2018), south superstar R Madhavan played the lead and it received rave reviews from masses and classes alike. In the second season, Bachchan junior plays the lead and whereas Amit Sadh will be seen reprising his role of senior inspector Kabir Sawant.
South actress Nithya Menen also makes her digital debut with season 2 of Breathe and the stellar cast also includes actress Sayami Kher.
[June 23, 2020] Orion Partners with State Street Global Advisors to Expand Investment Program
Orion Advisor Solutions, the premier provider of financial advisor technology and investment solutions, announces a new offering with State Street Global Advisors (State Street), and the availability of a suite of low-cost model portfolios. The partnership provides Orion users, both through Communities, Orion's model marketplace, and Orion Portfolio Solutions, a division of Orion Advisor Solutions and leading Turnkey Asset Management Program (TAMP), access to the pedigree and financial acumen of State Street's Investment Solutions Group, creating value for their clients and cultivating low-cost growth opportunities in the midst of a global crisis. The Investment Solutions Group, a 50+ member investment team that manages money for central banks, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, and other large institutions, designs and manages each newly available portfolio. Situated in major finance hubs around the world, the team averages 15 years of investing experience across a wide swath of disciplines and perspectives. Advisors on Orion's platform can now draw on Investment Solutions Group's experience and thought leadership, through a diverse suite of asset allocation, tax-sensitive, and income strategies. Creating opportunities with long-term vision and tax sensitivity Available on Communities and through Orion Portfolio Solutions, State Street's Strategic Asset Allocation ETF Portfolios offering includes six model portfolios, spanning from conservative to maximum growth, and representing a distinct mix of SPDR ETFs. Built from the forecasts of State Street's Investment Solutions Group, these portfolios provide global diversification based on their target balance of risk an return, helping advisors deliver a consistent investment approach with lower turnover and greater cost efficiency.
Users of Communities and Orion Portfolio Solutions can also access State Street's Tax-Sensitive Strategic Asset Allocation ETF Portfolios, spanning from conservative to growth. These portfolios may help advisors capture the federal, state, and local tax advantages and lower default rates of municipal bonds located in the core U.S. bond exposure. A time-tested strategy for income value
Available in Communities, the State Street Income Allocation ETF Portfolio primarily uses State Street's pioneering SPDR ETFs as a cost-effective foundation of income-producing assets to seek competitive returns. Multiple asset classes comprise the portfolio, including dividend-paying equities, investment-grade and high-yield bonds, hybrid securities, and global REITs. A unique, active approach to alpha Advisors in search of uncorrelated alpha can access State Street Active Asset Allocation ETF Portfolios through Communities. Helmed by a multi-dimensional team of strategists, the portfolios blend quantitative rigor and qualitative insight to find opportunities in temporary security mispricings. The models articulate risk through the Investment Solutions Group's proprietary Market Regime Indicator, identifying five distinct patterns within the market cycle to arrive at a portfolio risk target. "State Street Global Advisors and the SPDR Family of ETFs are one of the biggest names in asset management, and they bring a great deal of optionality at an extremely low cost at a time when it is critical for our users to show their value to clients," said Orion Advisor Solutions' Chief Investment Officer, Rusty Vanneman, CFA, CMT. "By compounding resources and synergies across the brands, advisors can immediately tap into the newfound opportunities these models create, whether through Communities or our full-service TAMP offering." To learn more about Orion Portfolio Solutions' third-party strategist program, visit https://www.orionportfoliosolutions.com/strategists/ About Orion Advisor Solutions Orion Advisor Solutions offers a personalized financial management platform at scale, including best-in-class financial technology, comprehensive investment solutions and responsive support services to help fiduciary-minded advisors and firms of all sizes realize their unique visions for success. Through our subsidiary organizations, Orion Advisor Tech, Orion Portfolio Solutions, CLS Investments and Constellation Trust Company, our clients range from boutique RIAs to enterprise-level firms, all of which use Orion's continuum of solutions and integrations to better serve their clients, gain a competitive edge in a crowded marketplace and build strong, profitable businesses. Learn more at www.orion.com or follow news and insights via our blog. 1609-OAS-6/22/2020 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005677/en/
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Former Pope Benedict back in Vatican after German trip to see sick brother Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soeder speaks to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI gestures at the Munich Airport before his departure to Rome
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Former Pope Benedict returned to the Vatican on Monday after spending five days in his native Germany to visit his ailing older brother, the Vatican said.
Benedict, 93, was in Regensburg to see his 96-year-old brother Georg Ratzinger, who is also a priest.
Benedict, himself in fragile health, was accompanied by a doctor and a nurse as well as personal assistants.
It was the first time that Benedict has left Italy since 2013, when he became the first Pope to resign in six centuries.
(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
In honor of Pride Month, five Epic Reads authors took to the StreamYard platform for a virtual panel last Tuesday, June 16. The conversation, simulcast on Facebook, brought together HarperCollins young adult authors Dean Atta (The Black Flamingo), Kacen Callender (Felix Ever After), Andrew Eliopulos (The Fascinators), Tobly McSmith (Stay Gold), and Ciara Smyth (The Falling in Love Montage) for a lively conversation moderated by fellow author Sam Maggs (The Unstoppable Wasp, Marvel; Con Quest!, Imprint).
Maggs began the panel by introducing the bookstore partners, a selection of indies from across the country: Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston; Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, Mass.; Hicklebees Childrens Books in San Jose, Calif.; and Politics & Prose Bookstore in Washington, D.C. Audience members were invited to share their Pride Month reads in the comments for a chance to earn a $100 gift card to one of the bookstores, and were also asked to submit questions for the closing q&a.
Each author subsequently introduced themselves, their pronouns, and a favorite queer character. Atta (he/him) shared his love for Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, while McSmith (he/him) selected Theo Germaine, who narrated the audiobook for Stay Gold, in their role as James Sullivan on The Politician. The three other authors identified favorite book characters, with Smyth (she/her) choosing Cameron Post from The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth; Eliopulos (he/him) electing Duck from Francesca Lia Blocks Dangerous Angels; and Callender (they/them, sometimes he/him) going with Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz.
The authors followed up by presenting their books and inspirations. Callenders sophomore YA novel, Felix Ever After (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, May), features 17-year-old Felix Love, who feels like he is one marginalization too many to be loved. The book was inspired by Callenders own struggles with many of the same issues. In our society, Callender said, people with multiple marginalized identities are constantly told that were just not worth the same level love and respect. Ive been on my own journey of self-love, and I wanted to put that into the book. Callender also shared that they discovered the label of demi-boy for themselves and wanted to see that representation on the page.
Eliopuloss YA novel The Fascinators (Quill Tree, May) takes place in a small conservative Southern town, not too unlike the one [he] grew up in in Georgia, and follows a trio of teens who practice magic as an extracurricular. When out teen Sam begins to have feelings for James, their friendship dynamic is jeopardized, even as cult-like magickers threaten their safety. The book is inspired, Eliopulos related, by his own love for fantasy growing up, as well as those similarly complicated male friendships.
As for The Black Flamingo (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, May), Atta shared that his bildungsroman of a mixed race gay teenager living in London, who goes to university and discovers a love of drag and the eponymous drag persona, was inspired by seeing a real black flamingo and sharing a moment with his grandfather in Cyprus.
In The Falling in Love Montage (HarperTeen, June), Ciara Smyth relays a relationship between two teen girls based solely on the fun bits of rom-coms. Smyth confessed her love-hate relationship with rom-coms, and said the novel is actually her arguing in favor for each side.
Set in Texas, where McSmith grew up, Stay Gold (HarperTeen, May) stars trans boy Pony, who decides to go stealth at his new high school, and the will they-wont they relationship that ensues with cheerleader Georgia. McSmith said much of his experiences are shared with Pony; he wanted to pen the story to give trans and nonbinary teens representation and to help allies see their stories.
Representation Matters
Maggs then asked the authors why the authentic, individual presentation of each of their teen protagonists was so important. McSmith explained why representation, which was lacking for him in media growing up, held so much significance, and expressed how inspired he was by kids today. Smyth, who works in mental health, described how avoiding feelings causes more distress. Atta shared his belief that theres an absence of one true self; these books provide an opportunity for young people to explore their different selves. Eliopulos related that, as a closeted teen, hed lived the first 18 years of [his] life in a holding pattern, and a lot of people [he] grew up with didnt see [him] fully, so his novel gave him the chance to imagine himself into a more ideal environment and encourage teens to not wait to be their full selves. Callender agreed, saying that the concept of finding your true self dovetails with the themes of self-love and finding the space you give yourself to just bewithout judgment.
Next, the authors speculated on the age they began to start writing loudly about queer themes. Eliopulos admitted it is a question [he] reckon[s] with a lot, since his journey as a gay man is separate from the type of fantasy novel journey in The Fascinators. Seeing queer characters in genre stories like the ones I grew up reading is still rare, Eliopulos said, so the whole mechanism of the plot was ill-fitting for a while. Even after feeling comfortable with his own identity, it took years for Eliopulos to feel ready to write it.
Coming to terms with gender identity took longer than coming to terms with queer identity for Callender. Degrassi, in the seasons right after Drake, showed Callender a character who explained what their trans identity meant to them, which led to Callenders own lightbulb moment. In writing Felix Ever After, Callender sought to provide a similarly enlightening resource for teens, highlighting a trans experience different from the typically white trans or nonbinary media representation.
Despite writing musical parodies for years and working in publishing, McSmith said his realization only came about two years ago, when he witnessed a panel on #OwnVoices and recognized he had a story to tell. McSmith professed his belief in the present empowering moment, when it feels like we can add to the conversation and dialogue.
Smyth called her personal journey clichedshe did not come out until she was 26 or 27, not realizing she was gay until she watched The L-Word. As soon as she came to terms with her identity, she knew that queer literature was what she would write.
Moderator Maggs empathized with Smyth, commenting that her own coming-out journey didnt occur until later in her 20s; she felt bisexuality was not accurately represented as an option in media or in real life, and now feels a responsibility to write her identity for teens.
Atta, meanwhile, grew up sharing his experiences through slam poetry and said he used to be very in-your-face about everything [he] thought. He took a subtler approach with The Black Flamingo, believing that homophobic readers will still be swayed by the time they finish his novel.
Speaking on the dearth of queer pop cultural characters, Maggs asked the authors to identify characters in media growing up that influenced their respective journeys. While Callender did not see any canonical queer fiction, they participated in fanfiction spaces growing up. Gundam Wing, Card Captor Sakura, and another fandom not named for sad reasons were among their favorites. U.S. censorship, Callender added, led to their late realization of canonically queer anime characters, as relationships were often altered upon import for American audiences.
Eliopulos identified a gay kiss in Dawsons Creek, as well as Christina Aguileras music video for Beautiful on VH1 as formative experiences. Lacking access to contemporary queer fiction, Eliopulos read Oscar Wilde until college, when he saw representation in YA.
Atta specified a movie called Beautiful Thing and the U.K. version of the television show Queer as Folk.
Smyth said she read a lot of Baby-Sitters Club books and is pretty sure Kristy Thomas is a lesbian icon. A Swedish movie called Show Me Love that she watched as a teenager didnt help her in any way, but she really loved it. Looking back, she could not think of any definitive examples in the media, which she felt was part of the problem.
McSmith selected Boys Dont Cry, even if he does not recommend it to contemporary audiences, as the representation isnt great. McSmith also mentioned a trans character in The L Word.
The moderated questions concluded with Maggss request for books with queer themes. Maggs gave The Tigers Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera as her example. Smyth shared her love for both the film and book versions of The Miseducation of Cameron Post. Even though the book is super, super long, she deemed it worthwhile. Atta said Abdi Nazemians Like a Love Story offers a unique perspective. Eliopulos called Julian Winterss Running with Lions balm for the soul, and recommended All Boys Arent Blue by George M. Johnson. For fans of The Fascinators, Eliopulos suggested Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak.
McSmith originally offered Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown, about a lesbian experience, but said it came with caveats; he ended by wholeheartedly recommending Thomas Page McBees Amateur and Jackson Birds Sordid. Callender named We Are Totally Normal by R.H. Kanakia as one of the most validating and authentic portrayals of what its like to question your identity.
The panel closed with audience questions collected by Epic Reads team members. The authors recounted their favorite author career moments, their reading and writing routines during the pandemic, character details that didnt make it into their respective books, whether they would ever write a pandemic novel, and how to differentiate fiction from memoir.
Lakhimpur : , June 23 (IANS) The Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) has been deployed in the Chedipur village in Lakhimpur district after three persons were attacked by a stray tiger.
The attack happened on Sunday evening.Though the forest personnel managed to push the tiger back into the forest area, the STPF has been deployed to ensure that the big cat does not return to the village.
Two elephants have also been brought for combing operations.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Anil Patel said, "The elephants will also help us in pushing back the tiger deep into the forest. We have sought the support of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) but we are not planning to tranquilise the big cat as the attack seems to be accidental. The tiger was probably moving from one forest beat to another through the sugarcane field. The village has expanded its area and people have built huts around the old corridor." The DFO said the rescue team and the STPF would remain in the village for the next few days to ensure there are no more attacks on humans. The department proposes to dig a trench on the edge of the forest to restrict people from entering the reserve forest and wild animals from straying out. The work is expected to start within 15 days.
He further said that of the three injured men, two were out of danger while the third man, Ram Niwas, was still critical.
"The families of the victims will be awarded compensation by the department as per the guidelines," the DFO said.
The Chedipur village is close to the Mailani range, a buffer zone of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR).
kolkata:
Chinese electronics goods maker Lenovo on Tuesday said it considers India as a potential centre for manufacturing laptops. "At Pondicherry plant, where we are already manufacturing desktops, has the capacity and flexibility to manufacture laptops (notebooks). The company will have to take a call when to do it," Dinesh Nair, director, consumer business, Lenovo India said.
He said that Lenovo, which already started manufacturing at its Chennai plant, is committed to the 'Make in India' initiative, which is evident from the visit of the company's CEO and Chairman Yang Yuanqing in 2015 for a meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Lenovo, which is already the third largest vendor of PCs in India in terms of market share, has redesigned its entire range of portfolio targeting the youth and the business segments and keeping the price at competitive levels, he told reporters on Tuesday.
Nair said that manufacturing laptops in India would give more flexibility as at least two months were needed to ship products from China. Currently, the entire range of laptops are being shipped from China, he said. In terms of revenue contribution, the laptops segment was contributing to 85 per cent to 88 per cent of overall PC sales, the rest being desktops, Nair said. On market growth of PCs, he said that it remained flat in the last quarter.
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will participate in a virtual conference of the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral on Tuesday in the backdrop of escalating Sino-India tensions.India was not keen to be a part of the dialogue after the violent face-off along the LAC where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives, sources said. Jaishankar agreed to be a part of the talks upon the insistence of the host, Moscow.
Sources, however, did not deny the possibility of a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart in Moscow. Singh is in Russia on a three-day tour to attend the victory parade for World War-II.
Russia has so far taken a cautious and measured approach to the situation and urged both countries to resolve their disputes through dialogue. According to the experts, the India-China border issue is not expected to feature at the conference.
It is convention not to take up bilateral issues at multi lateral platforms like BRICS, SCO and RIC. Its unlikely that the issue will be brought up during the meetings of the three foreign ministers, sinologist and chairperson of the Centre for Chinese and South Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), BR Deepak said. Though there would not be any official line on the issue at the conference, Russia may unofficially try to persuade both nations to peacefully resolve the issue, he said.
A former diplomat said, There could be informal discussions with regard to the India-China border situation on the table but formally the issue will not be broached.
The trilateral discussions are likely to revolve around the political situation in Afghanistan following the US-Taliban peace deal and on key connectivity projects including the International North South Transport Corridor aimed at connecting Iran, Afghanistan and India to Central Europe.
The Ministry of Railways Development has signed an agreement with DongFang Electric International Corporation for the supply of rolling stock and 35 standard gauge trains.
Total value of the standard gauge trains is estimated at $243,600,000.
Minister of Railways Development, Joe Ghartey, signed the agreement with DongFang Electric International in Accra on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
In a similar development, the Minister also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TransTech, for the development of sections of the Western Rail Line from Huni Valley to Obuasi and from Dunkwa to Awaso.
In a short statement before signing the deal with the Chinese firm, the Minister said the agreement will see DongFang Electric International providing nine passenger locomotives with 4,500 horse-power and speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
He said DongFang shall also provide 48 passengers locomotives, seven freight locomotives ACAC transmission and eight freight locomotives with ACDC transmission with a capacity of 1,500 horse-power and speed of 100 kilometers per hour.
According to him, the company will also provide 330 freight balance and also 11 shanty locomotives with a capacity of 1,000 horse-power, so in all there will be 35 standard gauge trains which are being provided to us.
He says all of Ghanas old lines are narrow gauge, adding that the Accra to Nsawam line was constructed between 1910 and 1912 and that since 1912 the Nsawam track did not see major rehabilitation until 2018 under the Akufo-Addo Government.
He said the contract is part of the total solution that we are giving the railway sector.
He stated that the level of works that have been done under the Akufo-Addo Government over the last four years, no such works had been done in the sector in the past.
DongFang is a state-owned Chinese company which is involved in the supply of rolling stock.
Rail Line Development
According to him, the contract with TransTech is for the development of 183 kilometers of the line from Huni Valley to Obuasi on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
The signing of the MoU, he says, does not restrain any other company from conducting feasibility study on the Western Rail Line.
He encouraged TransTech to work closely with the Ghana Railways Development Authority.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:55:06|Editor: huaxia
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KAMPALA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Europe has topped the list of the importers of Ugandan coffee, a new monthly report issued on Tuesday said.
Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) in its report for May showed that Europe took 66.8 percent of the market share. In Europe, Italy bought much of Uganda's coffee, taking 31.18 percent of the market share.
Coffee exports to Africa amounted to 19.85 percent and most of it was exported to Sudan, Morocco and South Sudan.
The report showed that the total coffee exports for May were worth about 42.5 million U.S. dollars.
The report said the effect of COVID-19 on coffee production is yet to be quantified as the country's lockdown is relaxed and trucks are able to travel to the rural areas to procure coffee.
Coffee is one of Uganda's major foreign exchange earners and about 500,000 households in the country depend on coffee production, according to UCDA figures.
Uganda's ministry of finance figures show that in 2018, the sector fetched some 492 million dollars, compared to the previous year's 490 million dollars. Enditem
While pregnancy and birth rates continue to decline to historic lows for 15 to 19-year-olds, Minnesota youth are contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI) at alarmingly high rates. The 2020 Minnesota Adolescent Sexual Health Report from the University of Minnesota Medical School's Healthy Youth Development - Prevention Research Center (HYD-PRC) attributes the rise in STI rates to a combination of factors, including barriers to prevention, screening and treatment services, education, transportation, cost, concerns about confidentiality and peer and media influences.
Teen pregnancy and birth rates are at historic lows, and Minnesota youth should be commended for making safe and healthy choices about pregnancy prevention. However, we must continue to highlight the importance of condoms and other barrier methods, utilize new and innovative public health educational campaigns to reach youth and expand access to STI services and treatment." Jill Farris, Director of Adolescent Sexual Health Training and Education for the HYD-PRC
The HYD-PRC's report notes that Minnesota youth are disproportionately impacted by sexually transmitted infections. While adolescents aged 15 to 19 are only 7% of the Minnesota population, they accounted for 24% of all chlamydia cases and 15% of gonorrhea cases in Minnesota in 2019. "It's encouraging that young people are using highly effective contraceptive methods and increasing their use of condoms (up 3% since 2016), but discussions around the importance of barrier methods for STI prevention must continue. Confidential screening and treatment services must be easily accessible for youth, and families need to be supported to have open and nonjudgmental conversation with their children," Farris said.
Disparities in sexual health outcomes - by geography, race and ethnicity - continue to persist, as well. Rural areas in Minnesota continue to experience the highest teen birth rates in the state. Youth from communities of color have disproportionately high STI and birth rates. Birth rates for American Indian, Black and Hispanic youth are higher than for white and Asian/Pacific Islander youth. Adolescents from communities of color experience disproportionately higher rates of STIs, with the highest chlamydia and gonorrhea rates among Black and Hispanic youth.
Minnesota youth are also increasingly identifying their sexual orientation and gender identities on a broad spectrum. In 2019, 14% of male and 26% of female high school students identified their sexual orientation as something other than heterosexual (straight). "This is a dramatic increase from the 2016 figures," Farris said. Youth were also asked about their gender identity; 1.4% of Minnesota high schoolers identified as transgender, genderqueer or genderfluid.
"Students are increasingly fluid in their gender identities and sexual orientations. Health care providers, teachers, youth workers and parents need to respond by providing accurate, non-judgmental information and support to all youth," Farris said. Importantly, diverse sexual orientations and gender identities were reported throughout Minnesota. Young people from rural, suburban and urban areas are represented in these numbers.
This annual report helps Minnesotans understand the current landscape of our young people's sexual and reproductive health and how it is tied more broadly to healthy youth development.
"While focusing on changing individual behaviors that lead to decreases in STIs and teen pregnancy is needed, our youth deserve a holistic approach. We must fully support young people's health by addressing their physical, social, emotional and cognitive development and provide them with skills and support to make healthy decisions," Farris said. "Reducing systematic barriers to resources, power and opportunity will empower Minnesota youth to make healthy choices. Improving adolescent sexual health outcomes starts where we live, learn, work and play."
Odisha: Jagannath Rath Yatra begins in Puri today amid curfew after SC modifies stay order
India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Bhubaneswar, Jun 22: The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the chariot festival, began with much zeal and enthusiasm in Odisha a day after the Supreme Court modified its stay order and permitted the festivities without any public attendance, besides directing other precautions in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Rath Yatra happens to be a 15-day long festival. It commences on Dwitiya Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Ashada month which happens to fall on June 23 this year.
Puri's Rath Yatra: Historic annual chariot procession begins with no public attendance amid Covid-19
According to Drigpanchang, the Dwitiya Tithi began at 11:59 am on June 22 and will end at 11.19 am on June 23.
Rath Yatra begins in Puri's Jagannath Temple amid curfew due to Covid-19 pandemic | Oneindia News
The holy festival is held in Odisha's Puri and marks the journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balbhadra and Goddess Subadhra from their actual abode (the Puri Jagannath Temple) to the Gundicha temple.
Each of three raths or chariots would to be pulled by no more than 500 people who will be tested for coronavirus, a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said on Monday, after the Centre and the Odisha government supported holding the Yatra without any mass congregation stressing it is a "matter of faith for crores".
If Lord Jagannath will not come out tomorrow, he cannot come out for 12 years as per traditions, the Centre had contended.
"Indeed, if it is possible to ensure that there is no public attendance, we see no reason why the Rath Yatra cannot be conducted safely along its usual route from temple to temple," the bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and A S Bopanna, said.
The apex court also asked the state government to impose curfew in Puri city during the religious event in which lakhs of people from all over the world participate every year. In its order, the bench, however, sounded a word of caution that it was informed that in the 18th-19th century a yatra of this kind was responsible for the spread of cholera and plague "like wild fire".
5 True Crime Books by Women That Will Give You Chills In This Heat
I dont know about you, but in the midst of everything going on, I need a break. And if youre like me, a break involves camping out in Netflixs true crime tab and bingeing Evil Genius, Conversation with a Killer and Mindhunter (all of which I recommend). However, at some point in my watch party, I decided I wanted to hear some stories told by women.
It may seem counterintuitive to take a break from the suffering of the world with a book about grisly deaths, but it works somehow. Maybe its being able to learn about the damaged minds of damaged people or maybe its the satisfaction of knowing that the guys who commit the crimes always get caught in the end, even if its thanks to 23andMe and 30 years later.
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Either way, here are five true-crime books written by women that you should check out when the outside world is getting you down.
Ill Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
Soon to be an HBO documentary, this book is about McNamaras lifelong search for the Golden State Killer, who is believed to be responsible for 13 murders and more than 50 sexual assaults in the 1970s and 1980s. Ill Be Gone in the Dark is McNamaras investigation into the numerous crimes committed in a grand attempt to unmask the killer. Unfortunately, she died before the book could be published, but the work ended up revealing the killer, after all, two months after the books release and two years after McNamaras death.
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
In the 1970s, Ann Rule worked with a man at a Seattle crisis clinic who she considered a friend. The mans name? Ted Bundy. This book is a true account of Bundys life and crimes, Rules memories of Bundy and her discovery of his after-work pastimes. With a new introduction including suspected close-calls with Bundy sent in by readers, this book is by a woman for women everywhere with the hope of learning from the mistakes of the past and preventing someone like Bundy from wreaking the same sort of havoc in the future.
American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan
One of the more interesting killers in history is one you might not have ever heard of: Israel Keyes. Believed to have killed 11 people, Keyes hid kill kits buried all over the country, which he used to abduct, murder, and dispose of his victims before flying back home to his daughter. Callahans reporting delves into the crimes, the investigation and the failings of law enforcement, which allowed Keyes to go undetected for a decade.
Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three by Mara Leveritt
In small-town Arkansas, after three 8-year-old boys are found brutally murdered, three rebellious teenagers are charged for it. After a trial including a coerced confession, the implication of possible satanic ties and absolutely no physical evidence tying the teens to the crime, the West Memphis Three are convicted two sentenced to life in prison and one sentenced to death. Although the boys were eventually released from prison after 18 years behind bars Devils Knot tells the story of a modern witch hunt, the importance of the justice system and the danger of confirmation bias.
A Serial Killer's Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming by Kerri Rawson
Dennis Rader was, by all accounts, a stand-up guy boy scout leader, church president and loving father and husband. This is what made it so shocking for his daughter to find out that he was BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill), the serial killer who had sadistically tortured and murdered 10 in the Wichita area over the course of 30 years. This book is Rawsons reconciliation of her childhood, her life with a father with an incredibly dark secret and her path back to hope.
Header image: Photo by Stefano Pollio on Unsplash
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Evi Arthur is a graduate of Roosevelt University with a bachelors degree in journalism and media studies and a minor in womens and gender studies. The former editor-in-chief of her university paper, Evi has previously interned at Chicago Agent Magazine and St. Louis Magazine. A St. Louis native (and lover of St. Louis-style pizza), she plans to eventually return to school and earn a Master's degree in investigative reporting. You can follow her at @EviArthur on Instagram and Twitter.
HARRISON (dpa-AFX) - Mastercard (MA) has agreed to acquire Finicity, a North American provider of real-time access to financial data and insights. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Finicity provides financial data APIs, credit decisioning tools and financial wellness solutions. Mastercard said the addition of Finicity's complementary technology and teams strengthens the Mastercard open banking platform. The purchase price is $825 million. Finicity's shareholders have the potential for an earn-out of up to an additional $160 million, if performance targets are met. Mastercard does not expect the acquisition to be incrementally dilutive to its business for greater than 24 months. The company expects the transaction to close by year end. 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.
By The Associated Press Jun. 23, 2020 | 06:56 AM | WASHINGTON
Protesters tried to pull down a statue of President Andrew Jackson near the White House Monday night before being dispersed by police.
WUSA-TV in Washington reported that police used pepper spray to move protesters out of Lafayette Square, where the Jackson statue is located. Videos posted on social media showed that the protesters had climbed on the statue and tied ropes around it, then tried to pull it off its pedestal.
The statue shows Jackson in a military uniform, riding a horse that is rearing on its hind legs. The 19th century president's ruthless treatment of Native Americans has made his statue a target of demonstrators protesting the United States' legacy of racial injustice.
The Jackson statue remained on its pedestal Monday night.
President Donald Trump tweeted late Monday that Numerous people had been arrested for the disgraceful vandalism. He added: 10 years in prison under the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt was at the scene Monday night, and issued a statement saying: Let me be clear: we will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served.
A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck the coast of southern Mexico on Tuesday, killing at least one person, buckling paved roads, and setting off a tsunami in nearby Pacific coastal areas.
One person died in the state of Oaxaca, Governor Alejandro Murat said, after the quake hit the Pacific coastal state mid-morning.
The country's seismological service said a tsunami on the Oaxaca coast was ongoing, with the sea level having risen 60 centimeters (2 feet) at Huatulco beach, a popular destination for US and Canadian tourists.
Mexico's civil protection agency recommended that residents move away from the coastline. Videos on social media showed the ocean's water receding in Oaxaca, a mountainous state that is also home to coffee plantations and Spanish colonial architecture.
Miguel Candelaria, 30, was working at his computer in his family home in the Oaxaca town of Juchitan when the ground began to tremble. He ran outside with relatives, but they had to stop in the middle of the street as the pavement buckled and rocked.
"We couldn't walk... the street was like chewing gum," said Candelaria, 30.
Neighbours screamed in terror and some shouted out warnings to run from the electricity poles that looked poised to fall, said Candelaria, who works in telecommunications marketing.
Quakes of magnitudes over 7 are major earthquakes capable of widespread, heavy damage. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck central Mexico in 2017 killed 355 people in the capital and the surrounding states.
Tuesday's quake set off a tsunami warning for the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central and South America. Waves of up to one meter (3.28 ft) were possible on the Mexican coast, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned.
Buildings shook in Mexico City, hundreds of miles away.
Helicopters flew low over the Roma and Condesa districts of the capital, apparently looking for damage in streets where many buildings still show the scars of the 2017 quake. The city's public security ministry said a flyover showed "there are no fallen buildings."
The US Geological Survey said the epicenter of Tuesday's quake was located 69 km (43 miles) northeast of the town of Pochutla.
It was very shallow, only 26 km (16 miles) below the earth's surface, which would have amplified the shaking.
In some respite for residents of Mumbai, the daily rise in the city's Covid-19 cases appears to be tapering while the growth rate in other urban centres is witnessing a spike.
According to a report in The Times of India, Mumbai's share in the total cases in Maharashtra has fallen to 34%, close to one-third. In the preliminary stage of the outbreak in March, Mumbai constituted 30% of the total caseload of the state. In the subsequent weeks, the numbers rose steeply and by April end, it grew to 67%. The report added that the figure fell to 57% in May and now, it is at its lowest.
Mumbai's share in Maharashtra's caseload has been dipping through all three weeks in June till now. In the first 15 days of June, Mumbai had 19,607 cases, constituting 46% of the 43,092 cases reported across the state. Between June 16 and 21, its cases further fell to 34%, with Mumbai constituting 7,195 of the total 21,331 cases in Maharashtra, the report added.
But to put things in perspective, Mumbai has been witnessing a daily increase of over 1,000 cases. On Monday, the number of coronavirus cases in the city rose by 1,128 to 67,635 while the death toll went up by 20 to 3,735, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
Another pattern that has emerged is the increase in cases in satellite townships near the city, putting pressure on the health infrastructure there. This has become a cause of concern for officials.
"Bhiwandi, Thane, Palghar, are all adding cases now," an officer from the public health department told ToI. At the moment, Thane Municipal Corporation has nearly 7,500 cases, Navi Mumbai corporation close to 6,000 cases and Vasai-Virar around 3,000 cases.
A senior BMC official noted that Covid-19 has given a golden opportunity to assess the scale of development of health infrastructure by smaller corporations in the MMR area over the years.
The growth in health infrastructure has not been proportionate to that. About 45-50% of the caseload in Mumbais three civic tertiary hospitals are people from MMR and other parts of the state, the official was quoted as saying by the publication.
Exacerbating the situation, the unlocking of inter-district borders has also resulted in a surge in the number of infections.
Cases are spreading near tier-2 and tier-3 cities in the state following the migrant exodus from the metropolis, Dr Anupkumar Yadav, commissioner, National Health Mission told ToI.
The Kano State government on Monday said one more patient had died from coronavirus complications, bringing the total fatalities in the state from the disease to 51.
The state ministry of health in a tweet on Monday also said the state discharged six more patients, bringing the number of recoveries to 718, while the total confirmed cases stands at 1, 190.
The ministry, however, did not provide more information on the patients who died and those discharged.
The ministry also said it has collected and tested 9, 466 samples as of Monday at the five testing laboratories in the state.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday reported 675 new infections across the country with Kano having zero case.
Also, NCDC recorded seven deaths on Monday, bringing the total confirmed deaths from the virus to 525.
The NCDC has attributed the increase in numbers of confirmed cases in the country to an increase in the number of testing centres, Kano in recent weeks reported a decline in figures of confirmed cases despite the availability of five testing centres in the state.
Earlier, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said Kano is winning the battle against COVID-19 having recorded only 140 positive cases out of 2,603 samples tested in a week.
Mr Ganduje urged residents to continue to observe the COVID-19 protocols as cautioned by experts, which include physical distancing, use of face masks, washing of hands, and use of sanitizer. With this, he said the state will beats the virus and return to its normal activities.
Should Christian apologists be doing more to combat socialism?
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Multiple polls have indicated that socialism continues to gain support in the United States, especially among younger generations and political liberals.
A Harris Poll from March 2019 found that nearly half of millennials and Generation Z Americans said they would prefer to live in a socialist country.
A Gallup poll from May of last year found that 43% of Americans believed socialism would be a "good thing" for the country, well above the 25% reported back in 1942.
Last October, a YouGovVictims of Communism Memorial Foundation poll found greater support for socialism among millennials and Generation Z than Generation X and Baby Boomers.
According to that poll, 70% of millennial respondents said they were either somewhat or extremely likely to vote for a socialist presidential candidate, with 51% of the same generation having a negative view of capitalism.
In February, an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll reported that while the socialism label remained unpopular among the general population, it found popularity among self-identified Democrats.
The NPR poll found that 50% of Democrats rated socialism favorably, versus 46% of them who rated capitalism favorably, with the findings also noting increased support for socialism among younger respondents.
Commonly defined as advocating for collective or state-sponsored control of production and distribution of goods, socialism has also garnered a great deal of election-year attention from the political right.
The Conservative Political Action Conference, the largest annual gathering of conservatives in America, made their theme for this year, "America vs. Socialism."
President Donald Trump also invoked anti-socialism rhetoric, denouncing the economic theory in his 2019 State of the Union speech.
"Here in the United States, we are alarmed by the new calls to adopt socialism in our country," he said at the time. "America was founded on liberty and independence and not government coercion, domination and control. We are born free and we will stay free."
The rhetoric has also been part of the Trump reelection campaign, with his campaign site including such declarations as "NEVER SOCIALISM."
Notable apologist Alex McFarland told The Christian Post that he felt the need to address socialism more in his work because he has seen "the growing interest in socialism among young people."
"I hear and see about it so much, just almost every day, and not only among teens and 20-somethings that I talk to and dialogue with, but among concerned parents, concerned ministers, concerned educators," McFarland said.
Matt Slick of the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry also said he's seeing a rising interest in socialism among those he engages with on apologetics.
"Yes, I have seen a definite increase in the topic of socialism from Christians. I have a call-in radio show where people ask me questions. I've noticed a definite increase in inquiries regarding socialism," Slick said.
Kerby Anderson, host of the "Point of View" radio talk show, told C.P. that he's had multiple guests talk about socialism and has witnessed what the polls indicate about socialism and young people.
"For years, we have documented the fact that the younger you are, the more likely you are to believe socialism is better than capitalism," Anderson said.
Should Christian apologists and apologetic groups make a greater effort to tackle the issue of socialism? Are socialism and Christianity fundamentally incompatible?
The Christian Post interviewed multiple apologists on that question, and asked a scholar about the relationship between American Christianity and socialism, to analyze the issues.
'A topic that deserves more attention'
Some Christian leaders and apologists have offered recent critiques of socialism. This includes an April 19 episode of McFarland's "Truth for a New Generation" series, an essay on the CARM website by Slick published on April 28, and a YouTube video by Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
"I hate socialism," declared Moore in the 2019 video, arguing in part that socialism holds "a faulty view of human nature."
It can seem attractive to people. But I think it's only attractive to those who have never seen it really up close."
Apologists like Anderson believe that Christian apologists should do more to focus on socialism, telling C.P. that while he saw many Christian political commentators and "worldview ministries" tackle the matter, he was "not aware of too many Christian apologists who are addressing the issue."
"We have been addressing the issue of socialism for decades and believe that this is a topic that deserves more attention. Thousands of young people are graduating from high school and college with an inaccurate understanding of socialism," Anderson said.
McFarland also believes Christian apologetics should be doing more to address socialism, telling C.P. that apologists "should speak out in favor of free-market capitalism" and "should overtly speak against the rise of socialism."
"When it comes to defending God or the Bible or Jesus, there are a lot of great apologists," McFarland said.
"But in terms of apologists specifically addressing the political schemes of the left, and by name calling out people that have malicious designs for America, most apologists don't have the fortitude to really get in the down and dirty fray of defending the country or the economic model that has been our M.O. for two centuries plus."
McFarland attributed this apparent refusal to engage on the topic of socialism to his belief that many apologists "often are reticent to say publicly what they might be thinking privately."
"I could not name an apologist other than myself that came out for President Trump in late 2015, early 2016," he added.
"In fact, most of my fellow apologists castigated me when, by February of 2016, I was saying Trump would be the nominee and Christians ought to vote for him."
As with Anderson, McFarland believes that education played a major role in the increased support for socialism among younger generations.
McFarland has spoken at around 200 universities and colleges in the U.S., about half of which were public institutions.
"Overwhelmingly, faculty leans left of center and not only socially and morally and theologically, but politically and economically," McFarland said.
"Many of the educators that young people sit under or have sat under lean toward socialism, if not overt communism. And this has had a big influence on their view of economics and America."
'Biblically uninformed' support
When it comes to whether Christianity and socialism are compatible ideologies, McFarland and other apologists view it as a definite no.
McFarland reasoned that socialism is contrary to Christianity because it is inherently secular and advocates for forced charity rather than voluntary giving.
"I know people are well-intentioned, but socialism inherently is secular and it's secularism that denies moral absolutes," he said.
"If you are a Christian, if you are a follower of Jesus, and I would say a thinking reflective Christian who's willing to really sort through this, you really could not in good conscience advocate for socialism."
Slick of CARM told C.P. that when it comes to socialism, "its principles contradict Scripture" and that Christians who lean socialist are "biblically uninformed" and indoctrinated by "the leftist media and school system."
"However, Christians who have studied this issue in light of Scripture, which is rare, soon discover that socialistic principles are not biblical. Therefore, the Christian ought not to affirm the basic tenets of socialism," Slick stressed.
Socialism, he added, "demotivates people by confiscating their production and giving it to others."
"Socialism reduces and removes private property rights, lessens the self-governance of the people, removes or restricts liberty, and contradicts the capitalist principles found in God's Word," he said.
William Federer, a conservative Christian author and speaker, has tackled the topic of socialism in a few of his books, namely Change to Chains: The 6,000 Year Quest for Global Control and Rise of the Tyrant How Democracies & Republics Rise & Fall.
In an interview with CP, Federer described socialism as "a perversion of biblical covenant" and said "socialism and communism" are "effectively just varying degrees of repackaged dictatorship."
"There is no biblical command for government to help the poor, or take care of the sick, or operate schools, or provide jobs, healthcare, education, or other entitlements," said Federer.
"Early Christians sold their property and brought the money to the feet of the apostles for the church to distribute. They did not lay their money at the feet of Pilate for the Roman government to redistribute."
Federer sees the Bible as commanding churches and individuals to give, with the government having as its chief purpose to "protect the innocent and punish the guilty."
"Most hospitals, as well as schools and universities, historically, have been started by religious orders or denominations," he continued. "Christian organizations have been at the forefront of carrying out these responsibilities on the mission field."
Socialism has a track record of failure, he said, noting that, for a time, the Pilgrims of colonial America had a society centered on redistributing wealth.
"It did not work and the Pilgrims almost starved to death, until Governor William Bradford abandoned this 'communistic plan of life' and gave everyone their own plot of land," Federer said.
Federer also referenced a 1926 speech from then-President Calvin Coolidge, in which the commander-in-chief rejected the idea of any "plan of centralization."
"No plan of centralization has ever been adopted which did not result in bureaucracy, tyranny, inflexibility, reaction, and decline. Of all forms of government, those administered by bureaus are about the least satisfactory to an enlightened and progressive people," stated Coolidge. "Being irresponsible, they become autocratic, and being autocratic, they resist all development. Unless bureaucracy is constantly resisted, it breaks down representative government and overwhelms democracy."
Anderson also viewed socialism as a threat to human liberty, telling C.P. that socialism "places too much power in the hands of the state and leads to authoritarian governments."
Christians on 'different places on the political spectrum'
In his YouTube video criticizing socialism, Moore of ERLC said, "of course" someone can be a Christian and a socialist, adding that they can be "right or wrong" about most every political issue "and still trust in Christ."
In his book, The Prodigal Prophet, pastor and theologian Timothy Keller recounted an anecdote from a friend who knew a conservative Christian Republican from Mississippi.
According to Keller, the Mississippi Republican visited a Presbyterian community in Scotland for a month and found them to be conservative on social issues and theology.
"However," wrote Keller, "one day he got into a discussion with several of his admired Scottish Christians and discovered, to his shock, that they were all (in his view) socialists. That is, their understanding of tax structure and government economic policy was very left-wing."
"He realized that thoughtful Christians, all trying to obey God's call, can reasonably appear at a number of different places on the political spectrum, with loyalties to different political parties."
James Patrick Holding of the popular apologetics website Tektonics.org, told C.P. that he believed apologists should be "more engaged with the subject" but offered some caution over errors that he feared Christian critics of socialism often fall into.
He fears that too many apologists fail to distinguish between government-sponsored socialism and church-sponsored socialism.
"The early church clearly sponsored an aspect of voluntary socialism (Acts 4:32-35) under the premise that God was the ultimate owner of all they had, so they were obliged to be generous with, and be good stewards of, the resources entrusted to them. Jesus makes the same point in the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19)," Holding said.
"This type of socialism is inherent in Christianity, but the critiques I have seen don't even seem to realize that it is socialism."
Another error, said Holding, is the notion that "socialism encourages or is based on some moral failing like envy or materialism."
"I'm sure it can be used as a tool to encourage such failings, but so can capitalism. These moral failings are endemic in humans who find ways to abuse whatever system is at hand, so it's not a valid argument against socialism," he continued.
Holding also cautioned against elevating American culture too highly in the debate, noting that American individualism goes against the "collectivist" mindset often found in the Bible.
"The people of the biblical world were collectivist in social outlook. They related to each other in terms of their embedded identity in groups and their standing in their network of relationships," he explained.
"In a society like that, what you do for the group is paramount. What you do for yourself as an individual was less important, especially when it might impair the group's ability to survive."
The idea of socialism and Christianity being incompatible would have also been a surprise to many Christians living in the U.S. during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Jack Jenkins, a reporter at Religion News Service and author of the recently released history book, American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country, told C.P. that "it's difficult, if not impossible, to cleanly extricate early American socialism from its religious roots."
Notable Christian socialists included African American intellectual and author W.E.B. DuBois and Baptist minister Francis Bellamy, who authored the original Pledge of Allegiance.
"Arguably even more influential was an overlapping phenomenon known as the Social Gospel movement, a Christian effort that was stalwartly critical of capitalism," Jenkins said.
"Social Gospelers didn't always identify as socialist, but many of the movement's loudest voices such as Walter Rauschenbusch, a Baptist minister, railed against what they saw as the evils of the American capitalist system. As Rauschenbusch put it in his A Theology of the Social Gospel, 'if we can trust the Bible, God is against capitalism, its methods, spirit, and results.'"
Jenkins did note that over time the movement lost strength, explaining to C.P. that "the Christian socialist movement" was a lot "stronger in 1920 than it is in 2020."
Nevertheless, he cited multiple examples of religious socialists in modern American politics, such as academic Cornel West and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Regarding the issue of apologists critiquing socialism, Jenkins believes that as socialism continues to garner support and attention, such critiques will likely grow.
"Generally speaking, as the profile of democratic socialism in the United States grows, and with it, the profile of religious socialists, Christian or otherwise, I fully expect challenges to Christian socialist theology to emerge," Jenkins said.
"Or, perhaps more appropriately, reemerge. While Christian socialism isn't new, neither are critiques against it."
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NATO welcomes the arms talks between the US and Russia in Vienna and supports the extension of the START treaty, TASS reported referring to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg also supported Chinas involvement in the negotiation process.
Even if China does not join the talks on the treaty, he believes that its extension will be the right decision, the Secretary-General noted.
According to him, although the START treaty is a bilateral treaty between Russia and the US, and NATO states are not directly related to it, Washington is actively consulting with the alliance member states on issues related to this treaty and on arms control in general.
Russian-US consultations on strategic stability and arms control were held behind closed doors on Monday in Vienna. The Russian delegation was led by Deputy FM Sergey Ryabkov, while Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Ambassador Marshall Billingslea was leading the US delegation.
The parties also discussed the extension of the START Treaty.
This agreement was signed by Russia and the US in 2010.
Praia da Luz, Portugal: The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann was not interviewed by police in 2007 because he was not at home when officers knocked on his door, a former lead detective has claimed.
Christian Bruckner was one of 600 people of interest investigated by police after Madeleine's disappearance, but officers who were dispatched to speak with the convicted paedophile returned with no information and never followed him up.
In a television interview, Goncalo Amaral, the controversial police chief who blamed the McCanns for Madeleine's disappearance, admitted that it was not possible to investigate every potential perpetrator in enough detail.
"I have been told that, yes, they had come knocking on the door, that person [Bruckner] was not at home," he told the Portuguese TV channel TVI. Amaral was taken off the McCann case for a series of crucial mistakes including not securing the crime scene properly, and launching a bungled investigation into Madeleine's parents, which was dropped after eight months.
Turkey: Attacks on Churches Spike as Some Blame Christians for COVID-19
Satellite broadcaster SAT-7 calls for calm as coronavirus-fueled anger targets Christians in 'climate of fear, hatred'
CHURCHES UNDER ATTACK: Protesters have attacked churches in Istanbul, Turkey's biggest city, to vent their anger at coronavirus and business lockdown-related job losses, with some blaming Christians and other minorities for the crisis. Satellite television broadcaster SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) is using its unique platform to call for calm and show that Christians are not a threat.
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SAT-7
June 23, 2020
EASTON, Md., June 23, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- A satellite television broadcaster in the Middle East is using its unique platform to show that Christians are not a threat as angry protesters attack churches and some blame Christians for COVID-19.
After a recent arson attempt on a church in Istanbul -- Turkey's largest city -- the suspect told police that he wanted to burn down the church because, he said, Christians and other minorities "were responsible for COVID-19."
At another church in the city, protesters tore down the cross -- a sign of rising tensions and social unrest in a nation that's become increasingly hostile to Christianity.
SAT-7 TURK -- the only Christian network broadcasting every day in the Turkish language -- is encouraging local Christians to respond to the attacks and persecution by "living out their faith with love and taking the path of peace."
"We know first-hand the climate of hatred and its devastating effects on Turkey and on the churches exposed to it," Turkish presenter Senem Ekener said. "We aim to counter that with lives that reflect Christ."
Slammed by soaring unemployment and coronavirus-related financial hardships, some Turks have been looking for a scapegoat to vent their anger -- putting Christians and other minorities in the direct line of protests.
"The pandemic has created fear and frustration in Turkey, with Christians sometimes being blamed for the problem," said Dr. Rex Rogers, president of SAT-7 USA (www.sat7usa.org), a Christian network that broadcasts 24/7 in local languages across the Middle East and North Africa, using local presenters.
'Everything Has Been Taken Away'
"The current situation is so fragile... everything we trusted has been taken away," said co-presenter Volkan Er, referring to mass job losses and uncertainty in the nation of 84 million where less than one percent of the population is Christian.
Even before the pandemic and related business lockdowns, Turkey's unemployment rate hovered around 13 percent, with many families living on the edge. In recent weeks, reports of domestic violence have increased as desperation sets in.
During the health crisis, SAT-7 has seen interest in its social media channels skyrocket, as anxious Turks look for answers in the Christian faith and the lives of believers.
More viewers have contacted the television channel with questions about Christianity each day in the past few months than any day in the previous five years since Turkish-language broadcasts began. "When we turn to the Bible, we see how God removes all barriers, and we see his call for peace," said Ekener.
About SAT-7
Launched in 1996, SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) -- with its international headquarters in Cyprus -- broadcasts Christian and educational satellite television programs to more than 30 million people in the Middle East and North Africa. Its mission is to make the gospel available to everyone, and support the church in its life, work and witness for Jesus Christ. SAT-7 broadcasts 24/7 in Arabic, Farsi (Persian) and Turkish, using multiple satellite channels and online services.
SOURCE SAT-7
CONTACT: Matti Stevenson, 719-360-0586, mstevenson@inchristcommunications.com
FRAMINGHAM, MA The Boys and Girls Clubs of MetroWest will kick off a slate of summer programs on June 29, although this year's programs will be modified due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The BGCMW will offer programming at its Framingham, Hudson, and Marlborough locations through August. Here's more from a press release:
The Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest (BGCMW) is offering multiple summer programming options for MetroWest youth this summer. Our traditional Summer Program will be open at each of the three Clubhouses Framingham, Marlborough and Hudson, as well as at Francis J. Kane Elementary School in Marlborough. This in-person opportunity has a limited number of openings in each location in accordance with the Massachusetts state reopening guidelines.
Although field trips are not possible this year, kids will be participating in STEM activities, arts and craft projects, and fun physical games. Extensive cleaning precautions and health screenings will help keep youth and families safe white at the Clubs. The Summer Program will be running June 29 to Aug, 21. All Clubs are still taking registrations, and you can download registration paperwork by visiting www.bgcmetrowest.org.
The Clubs are also offering a new Virtual Summer Program. BGCMW staff will be running programs and activities through Zoom and YouTube for kids to participate in at home. Similarly to the in-person option, children will get instructions for at-home science experiments and arts and crafts. There will also be yoga, Zumba, and freeze dance for physical activities. This virtual program will be held Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. Click here for more information about this remote option.
Contact Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest with any additional questions at 508-485-4912.
This article originally appeared on the Framingham Patch
With the launch of masksandequipment.com, Canadian travel brand Kosan pivots to provide small businesses and individuals with access to quality, certified PPE products.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian owned and operated apparel brand, Kosan Medical Company Ltd. ("Kosan Medical"), announces the launch of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ecommerce site www.masksandequipment.com .
Through the website Masks & Equipment , Kosan Medical provides a platform where both businesses and consumers alike can purchase best-in-class, medical grade PPE gear from reputable sources. Many of the products are produced in facilities that are FDA certified, and all products undergo stringent testing to ensure the quality of the goods.
A travel apparel brand first, Kosan knew that as global conditions worsened, the company would need to pivot quickly in order to keep the business alive. With long standing supply relationships with suppliers both locally and globally, Kosan Medical has procured a wide array of PPE products which are in stock and shipping now. Kosan is focused on providing accessible, affordable access to PPE gear with no minimum order quantities in most cases.
"Our team at Kosan knew it would be very challenging for individuals, as well as small businesses, to locate the appropriate, necessary and government approved PPE for the safety of their community, workers and customers as well as themselves. We knew we had to do everything we could to ensure people had the option to purchase the proper PPE product for their health and safety." Said, Kosan Medical CEO, Alex McAulay.
Examples of items on order or in stock and shipping now
3 1 of 3 Photo: NOAA Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3
The Sahara dust cloud is set to arrive in Houston this week after completing a 5,000 mile journey across, and it's been a big, thick one so far.
The cloud made landfall in the Caribbean on Sunday, and it's "the thickest in decades to reach the Caribbean Sea," according to the Weather Channel.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian officials tried to contain a fresh outbreak of the novel coronavirus on Monday, telling residents in the cluster hotspots to avoid travel outside their suburbs in Melbourne, the country's second-largest city.
Victoria state of which Melbourne is the capital has recorded double digit rises in new COVID-19 infections, accounting for nearly 90% of the 126 cases detected nationally over the past week.
"At the moment the recommendation is simply an advisory, a strong advisory, where what we don't want is people to come from those areas to other parts of Victoria, or interstate," Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio.
"If you are coming from interstate and you have family in one of those areas, we would prefer you not to come and visit that area and potentially take the virus back."
The Victorian government has said it would reimpose restrictions on social gatherings after the surge in new cases it says has been caused by family get-togethers attended by people with mild symptoms.
Officials have also criticised people who have gone shopping while awaiting COVID-19 test results.
New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, told residents to avoid travelling to hotspots in neighbouring Victoria as the winter school holidays approach.
"We're asking people to consider their trips to Melbourne as community transmission at the moment is higher than what they would like," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.
Despite the spike in cases in Victoria, Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged states and territories to continue removing the bulk of social distancing restrictions by the end of July.
"We have to ensure that we can run our economy, run our lives, run our communities alongside this virus," Morrison told reporters in Sydney.
Australia had reported nearly 7,500 coronavirus cases and 102 deaths as of Sunday.
(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Stephen Coates)
I think what the superintendent said when he had this ambitious goal of 300, he called it a moon shot, Lightfoot said. And the idea was, not so much the number, but making sure that we rallied all the resources, both within the Police Department, but also with our various partners, to really focus on what each of us could to do more around public safety.
Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state has been stopped by a federal high court sitting in Port Harcourt from contesting in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary.
Obasekis defection to the PDP was prompted by his disqualification from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, one of the PDP aspirants, filed a suit stopping Obaseki from contesting in the primary election holding on Thursday, June 25.
According to Ogbeide-Ihama, only aspirants who purchased the partys nomination form and were screened within the stipulated time should be allowed to contest in the primary.
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The PDP aspirant further questioned the validity of Obasekis certificates; the same reason provided by the APC for his disqualification from the screening.
Read Also: Return To APC, Ize-Iyamu Tells Obaseki
In his ruling on Monday, EA Obile, the judge, granted Ogbeide-Ihamas request.
In the order of interim injunction, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also asked not to recognise the governor as an aspirant until the determination of the suit.
The eventual candidate of the PDP will contest with Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who won the APC governorship ticket at the partys primary election on Monday, in the governorship election holding September.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 13:15:20|Editor: huaxia
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People walk in the "Dove Lane" in the old town Tuancheng of Hotan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Sadat)
"By signing such bills, the United States relies on distorted facts in order to distort China's position in the world," Syrian political analyst Hussam Shuaib said.
DAMASCUS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The signing of the so-called "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020" by the United States runs counter to the international law, a Syrian expert has said.
"By signing such bills, the United States relies on distorted facts in order to distort China's position in the world," political analyst Hussam Shuaib told Xinhua in a recent interview.
Calling the bill "invalid," he said that there are no international or regional rules that entitle the United States to impose or pass such bills against any other country, including China.
In response to the U.S. interference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said last week in a statement that the Chinese government and people expressed strong indignation at and firm opposition to the signing of the so-called act by the United States.
The so-called U.S. bill deliberately denigrated the human rights conditions in China's Xinjiang, viciously attacked the Chinese government's Xinjiang policy, blatantly violated international law and basic norms governing international relations, and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, the ministry said.
A child has a good time with an ice cream vendor at the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 17, 2019. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
The measures undertaken by China in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are "extremely important" for maintaining stability and security in Xinjiang, Shuaib said.
The Chinese government implemented measures based on social justice to maintain the full national identity of the Chinese people without discrimination, he said.
However, the United States intended to smear China to inflame the situation and stir public opinions in China against the government, he said.
"China's role is essential in dealing with international issues, particularly in fighting terrorism" as Beijing contributes to maintaining peace and stability in the world while adopting the policy of non-interference in the affairs of other countries, he said.
Local residents who are involved in the tourism business play music for tourists in the old town of Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)
Comparing China's contribution to international issues with U.S. interference, Shuaib said countries in the Middle East "have come to realize that the United States doesn't care about their interests, but will rather sacrifice them."
Viewing China as a stumbling block to its schemes in the world, the United States is using economic sanctions and media to attack China, Shuaib said.
Such an attempt dooms to fail, Shuaib said, stressing that the U.S. move only proves that China is a strong country that respects international laws.
by Peter Tran
The diocese, which stretches along the border with China, has "the smallest number of faithful" in Vietnams Catholic Church, but has "huge" potential. Preaching the Gospel is not limited to the diocese, but can be done in association with the dioceses in nearby China.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) The Diocese of Lang Son-Cao Bang covers 18,359 sq kms in the provinces of Lang Son and Cao Bang as well as the districts east of the Lo River in Ha Giang province, 800 km along the Vietnam-China border with Mgr Giuse (Joseph) Chau Ngoc Tri (pictured) as its bishop.
In 2017, its population of 1,769,385 included several ethnic groups. Ethnic Nung and Tay represent 85 per cent, with Kinh (Vietnamese), Sao, Chinese, San Chay, H'Mong making up the remaining 15 per cent.
Currently, the diocese has more than 6,000 members, around 0.33 per cent of the areas population. Most pf them are ethnic Kinh from lowland dioceses like Thai Binh, Bui Chu, Phat Diem, Hai Phong, Hanoi and Bac Ninh, who, over time, came to the diocese to work or on business, involved mostly in farming, livestock, trade and crafts. There is little manufacturing and tourism is undeveloped.
Religious work has had to adapt to this new land to reach locals. This is one of the essential elements for evangelisation.
Most diocesan churches are in cities and with Catholics scattered across the provinces. So it is very difficult for parishes to organise pastoral activities for their members. As a result, mission centres are a way of providing pastoral care to the laity.
Years ago, there were few priests. Pastoral activities were very limited. Parishes faced many difficulties and scarce resources to teach catechism. Today, catechesis and outreach are centred on building the faith and on Sunday liturgy. Catholic groups and associations are becoming increasingly popular in parishes and mission centres.
Before 1990 there were very few vocations in Lang Son-Cao Bang. Most priests and religious came from other dioceses. Since the summer of 2017, the diocese has called for and organised the selection of candidates for the future diocesan clergy from other dioceses across the country. Consequently, pastoral activities have been diversified and given greater attention.
Parishes celebrate Mass daily. Mission centres often have Masses on Sundays. Hence, the sacramental life of the People of God is well cared for. Due to the small number of faithful, priests live very close and regularly visit their parishioners.
For their part, in addition to the parish pastoral council, parishioners are involved with six Catholic groups and associations providing pastoral activities, namely Legio Maria, Caritas, Parent groups, Hien Mau (Gentle mother) groups, ong Tam groups and active facilitators.
Parish-level liturgy boards include choir and traditional musical bands. There are only 20 catechists.
After the October 2017 mission conference, the Bishop's Office redrew parish boundaries to cover the entire territory. Now, everywhere a pastor takes care of believers. Since the renewal began, pastors and the People of God have been motivated to "go out" towards others to bring them the Good News.
Sister Mai, a member of the diocesan Caritas, told AsiaNews that "diocesan Caritas offers various activities. Its members pay particular attention to poor families, disabled children and people with HIV/AIDS.
This diocese, she noted, is also starting a programme to build houses for the poor, provide equipment for clean water, and organise playgrounds for teenagers and young people, etc. However, charity work is still limited because of poor and harsh conditions.
Currently, the Diocese of Lang Son-Cao Bang has "the smallest number of faithful" in the Vietnamese Church. However, evangelisation has huge potential and is very much needed.
What is more, preaching the Gospel is not limited to the diocese, but can be done in association with the dioceses across the border in China. Therefore, whilst the missionary vision in the diocese must be very locally focused and unique, there is also great need for new missionaries for this "mountain diocese".
Since the diocese is huge with few priests, Bishop Giuse Chau Ngoc Tri needs many priests to serve the faithful in parishes and in missionary work. For this reason, he has invited everyone to continue working with their local Church to build an ever more important diocese.
Reusable coffee cups are safe to use during the coronavirus pandemic, experts have insisted.
More than 100 virologists, epidemiologists, biologists, chemists and doctors hailing from 18 countries including the UK, US and France signed a statement saying the cups are as safe as single-use plastics providing the user 'employs basic hygiene'.
This includes washing cups regularly with a normal household disinfectant and hot water, washing hands with soap and water or a disinfectant, and avoiding touching the eyes, mouth and nose.
The call for further use of renewables comes amid mounting concerns over a spike in disposable plastic waste due to the pandemic.
Starbucks and Caffe Nero have suspended the use of reusable coffee cups in stores, but Costa Coffee started accepting reusable cups again in early June.
More than 100 experts wrote to say that reusable cups are safe to use. They added that single-use plastic is not inherently safer than the reusable alternatives
Writing in their statement to address the safety of reusable items, the experts said: 'Based on the best available science and guidance from public health professionals, it is clear that reusable systems can be used safely by employing basic hygiene.
'Single-use plastic is not inherently safer than reusables, and causes additional public health concerns once it is discarded.'
The 119 signatories, who are joined by Greenpeace, add that evidence indicates Covid-19 spreads primarily from inhaling aerosol droplets, rather than contact with surfaces.
However, they advised people to assume that any object or surface in a public place - reusable or disposal - could be 'contaminated' with the virus.
But these could be cleaned and made safe for use with normal hygiene methods.
Starbucks and Caffe Nero are both refusing reusable cups from customers
Are these coffee shops accepting reusable cups from customers? Starbucks: No. The chain stopped accepting reusable cups on March 6 in response to the coronavirus outbreak. It also waived its 5p charge on paper cups, and said customers who bring in reusable cups will get a 25p discount. The chain has reopened 150 stores in the UK, or 15 per cent of its total. Caffe Nero: No. The chain says online: 'For now, we will only be serving in take-away cups as it's best not to handle re-usable cups'. They have reopened some stores for takeaway and delivery only. Costa Coffee: Yes. The cafe has announced a raft of new measures to ensure customers are kept safe as it reopens, and said in early June it is once again accepting reusable cups. 'We have temporarily updated our instructions for team members around how to manage and handle reusable cups in light of Covid-19 - with minimal contact and enhanced hygiene,' a spokesman told MailOnline. The chain is offering a 25p discount to anyone using a reusable cup More than 1,100 Costa cafes are expected to open by the end of June. Pret a Manger: Thought to be refusing to handle reusable coffee cups The chain does not say whether it will accept them online. However, MailOnline understands that it is applying discounts to reusable cup owners but serving them disposable cups. More than 300 of its stores have reopened for takeaway and delivery. Advertisement
They added that retailers handling reusable containers should use additional hygiene practices for Covid-19, have contact-free systems for customer's personal bags and cups, and protect employees.
'The bottom line is that reusable items are safe to use when cleaned with soap and water, and there is no substitute for thorough hygiene,' they said.
'Systems in which there is no contact between the customer's reusable cup, container or bag and retail surface areas can protect workers and provide a precautionary approach to addressing Covid-19 transmission.'
The Government delayed moves to bring in a ban on plastic straws and stirrers, and the plastics industry has used the virus to try to stop or delay bans on single-use plastics in Europe.
Dr Jennifer Cole, Northern European regional hub co-ordinator of the Planetary Health Alliance, Royal Holloway University of London, who signed the statement, said: 'I feel it is vitally important that we do not let the impact Covid-19 has had on human health be used as an excuse to further damage the health of our planet.
'Reusable cups and utensils can be washed; loose bread rolls and fruit in shops can be picked up by using the paper bag they will then be placed in, without the need for immediately discarded plastic gloves.
'As our old lives resume, we must make time and space to protect and nurture healthier environments to ensure a healthier future for all.'
Professor Tamara Galloway, an ecotoxicologist at the University of Exeter, and Professor Charlotte Williams, a chemist at Oxford University, were the two other British scientists to sign the statement.
In the US, scientists from Yale University, the National Institute of Health Sciences and John Hopkins University signed the statement.
Before the lockdown the UK used seven million disposable coffee cups every day - or 2.5 billion a year - according to a report from the Environmental Audit Committee published in 2018.
Although this number has fallen drastically due to lockdown, scientists and officials are calling for reusable cups to still be used so that sustainable habits taken up by citizens over the past few years are not lost.
London, June 23 : The British government unveiled a package of measures to support businesses for the agriculture, food and drink industry, which have been greatly suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dubbed as "bounce back" plan, it introduces a new program of physical and virtual events that have been tailored to help a variety of businesses and exporters, including an overseas virtual buyer trial, a "Smart Distance Selling Process" and a package of "Ready to Trade" Exporting Masterclass webinars, Xinhua news agency.
Jointly launched by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the plan will offer "immediate support" to help businesses in the industry develop their trade activity overseas, said an official statement.
Leveraging DIT's existing E-exporting Program, the department also launches a new SME (medium-sized enterprise) E-commerce Accelerator Pilot to increase the level of international e-commerce backing for SMEs in the food and drink industry.
"The plan will provide unprecedented help for small and SMEs and allow them to capitalise on trade agreements being negotiated by DIT with Japan, US, Australia and New Zealand," it said.
The plan will also see the introduction of Defra's first Agri-food Counsellor serving the Gulf, read the statement.
"The measures introduced today will support producers, manufacturers and agri-tech companies across the food supply chain," said the statement.
"More trade is absolutely critical to helping the UK's agriculture, food and drink industry recover from the impact of coronavirus. It will also get the industry ready to capitalise on the opportunities that are being opened up by the series of free trade agreements that my department is negotiating around the world," said Graham Stuart, minister for export in the DIT.
According to official figures, the agriculture, food and drink industry contributed 121 billion pounds (about US $150 billion) to Britain's economy in 2018, supporting around 4 million jobs.
In 2019, Britain's food, feed and drink exports were worth 23.7 billion pounds (US $29.4 billion), up 4.9 per cent from 2018.
The moment a leader allows himself to become the primary reality people worry about, rather than reality being the primary reality, he has a recipe for mediocrity or worse -Jim Collins, Author of the book; Good to Great.
Nigeria is the giant of Africa and the most populous black nation in the world. But in material terms, the country has not left its third world status. This assertion is based on facts on public domain.
Aside from not being a member of BRICS, an acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the country is plagued with development challenges such as; insecurity, widespread poverty, terrorism, unchecked population explosion, technological backwardness, corruption, poor planning and implementation of policies, infrastructural decay, corruption, gross injustice, ethnic politics, and practices a democracy that neither underwrites social justice nor promotes social mobility.
It was these failures particularly the inability to manage the economy and provide security amongst others that prompted the Professor Ango Abdullahi led Northern Elders Forum (NEF), recent declaration that President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors in the region have lost the capacity to end insecurity. Noting that provision of security and pursuit of economic welfare of citizens is the only two constitutional responsibilities of the state which all leaders must achieve of which the current circumstances in the North clearly demonstrates that President Buharis administration has woefully failed to achieve either. While submitting that the development is unacceptable, the group demanded an immediate and comprehensive improvement.
Indeed, for Nigerians that understand the concept of one united Northern Nigeria, where the leaders speak with one voice, such declaration by President Buharis brothers would not have come as a surprise.
The reason for this assertion is not far fetched.
The people have common religious, socio-economic and political institutions that promote its oneness that is very different from that of its southern counterpart which was never administered by one administrator right from the colonial days. Not even the creation of 19 states out of the former Northern region has shaken this believe that the north is one entity where tribe and tongue may differ but they are united in fighting a common course to protect the interest of all from northern Nigeria. The north is united in fighting for the political, economic, socio-cultural and religious interests of its people within the large enclave called Nigeria.
However, there is something particularly brazen about this recent remark on the nations deteriorating security situation.
Fundamentally, it stands as a wondrous fact or event beyond the power of any creature and produced by the Almighty with the purpose of proving the truth. As after the declaration, President Buhari first, countered NEFs accusations and described the Convener of the group, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, as a General without troops.However, addressing the security chiefs at a security meeting on Thursday, Buhari told them that their best efforts at tackling the security challenges were not good enough and that they should up their game. He particularly frowned at the lack of synergy among the security agencies saddled with the responsibility of fighting insurgency and banditry in the country.
Without any shadow of the doubt, Mr. Presidents latest response has finally spread out the policies and ground works that promoted these failures as well as underlined the list of lengthy and worrying ways the Federal Government has failed to make the fight against insecurity and poor economic management a personal one or that of those that are directly charged with such responsibility.
His admission that there is something troubling with the nations security architecture, has consequentially vindicated many people who in the past worried that there is something deeply troubling about President Buharis relationship to reason, his disdain for facts, and his lack of curiosity about any new information that might produce a deeper understanding of the security problems and other challenges that he is supposed to wrestle with on behalf of the country.
And at about the same time eloquently adjudged as right the peaceful protest/procession held a while ago by the catholic churches in Nigeria where the church among other things explained that the procession or the peaceful protest was necessitated by the inability of the government to act on the several verbal and written complaints by the church; with regards to insecurity and bad governance, with the likes of His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Okogie asserting that the presidents silence towards the killings showed that a cow in the estimation of the president has become more valuable than human lives.
Interpretatively, what is in some ways newsy and a reality that Nigerians should worry about, is that Mr. Presidents sudden admission of shortfalls in expectation from the security chiefs, brazenly tells about a government that has for a very long time presented false hopes to the nation. And a public official that was neither willing to expose his weakness nor submit itself to public scrutiny. Indeed, it has been for Nigerians a season of forlorn hopes and a pain deepened by the fact that it was avoidable.
The fact is there and speaks for itself.
If not forlorn hope, why is this new awareness coming just few days after the NEFs outcry? And after the same Mr. President during the Democracy day broadcast gleefully told Nigerians that in the area of security, FG remains unshaken in their resolve to protect our national infrastructure including on-shore and off-shore oil installations, secure our territorial waters and end piracy in the Gulf of Guinea? And after declaring that ending insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality across the nation is being accorded appropriate priorities and the men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have considerably downgraded such threats across all geo-political zones? From the present development, what should Nigerians make out of Mr. presidents recent claim during the broadcast that all the Local Governments taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have long been recovered and are now occupied by indigenes of these areas that were hitherto forced to seek a living in areas far from their ancestral homes?
While I sympathize with the Northern Elders for their losses, it is important to add that as someone who cannot support an argument based on sentiment or allow sentiment to determine my actions, it is a barefaced truth that if we look honestly at the realities of our national life, it is clear that we are not matching forward but groping and stumbling; we are divided and confused; our moral values and our spiritual confidence sinks.
Looking ahead, it important to ask; is it possible for this administration to secure this nation? The answer in my views is yes. All that Mr. President needs to recognize is that globally, a countrys defense capability has to continually upgrade as new technology, especially information technology, is incorporated into weapon system. This requires a sound economy that can afford to pay for new weaponry and a highly educated and trained people who can integrate the various arms into one system and operate them efficiently and effectively.
Utomi, is a Lagos-Based Media Consultant
SecurityGate.io, a Houston, TX-based cybersecurity software company for organizations to become leaders and experts at managing cyber risk in OT/ICS environments, raised a Series A funding round of undisclosed amount.
The round was led by Houston Ventures.
The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its business reach.
Led by Ted Gutierrez, CEO, and Cherise Esparza, CTO, SecurityGate.io provides an integrated risk management platform designed 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. The system uses intelligent systems to help CISOs 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. The company recently signed on Chevron, who joined ranks with other SecurityGate.io customers like Patterson UTI and Westlake Chemical.
FinSMEs
23/06/2020
MIDDLETOWN Wesleyan University recently chose its new alumni-elected trustees for 2020, many of whom are local residents and nationally known.
The following individuals will join the Board of Directors to serve a three-year term beginning July 1, according to the college:
Felicia Appenteng 07 (New York): This chairwoman of IE Africa Center provides strategic and operational leadership across all the centers activities including executive programming, research and content creation, a press release said. She is also managing director of the IE Fund that supports the international development of IE Business School. At Wesleyan, Appenteng majored in European literature, history, and philosophy, and was a member of the Womens Crew Team. She received her master of arts from City University of New York.
Christine M. Pina 91 (Hartford): This chief advancement officer at Miss Porters School is a member of the schools senior leadership team. She is responsible for all fundraising and alumni engagement and has more than 25 years of experience in education administration, including several years as the director of major gifts at Wesleyan, the release said. PIna is a trustee of CASE and chairs the Commission on Philanthropy. She is also a trustee of the Barbara Bush Foundation. She majored in African American Studies and received an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
John E. Yang 80 (Washington, D.C.): He has been an award-winning journalist for four decades, and is now a national correspondent for PBS NewsHour. Previously, he worked for NBC, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, Today and MSNBC. This correspondent working in broadcast media is skilled in field production, news writing, breaking news and editing. His assignments have included the White House, Congress and the Middle East. He was honored with three Peabody Awards, two DuPont-Columbia Awards and a national Emmy. At Wesleyan, John majored in government with a concentration in American politics.
They join Board members who will begin their six-year terms, and Robert Pruzan and Phil Rauch, who will begin their second six-year terms, the news release added.
Andrea Grubb Barthwell 76 (Chicago, Ill.): She has been president and CEO, EMGlobal since 2005, and was previously the executive director of Two Dreams Out Banks; visiting professor of psychology at Wesleyan; executive director of Catasys; deputy director of Demand Reduction, U.S. Federal Government; and president of Encounter Medical Group. Barthwell majored in psychology at Wesleyan and received an MD from University of Michigan.
Eric B. Dachs 98 (Atherton, Calif.): He has been founder and CEO/President of PIX System since 2005. He has also been a board member of the Freemont Group since 2019. Dachs has served as president and trustee of the Creekside Foundation since 1999. He majored in theater at Wesleyan.
Sarah B. Kendall 77, P14 (Harrisville, N.H.): She has been president of the Adelphic Educational Fund since 2010. Previously she was vice president of investor relations at Novo Nordisk Laboratories; vice president of Research at Dean Witter Reynolds; and vice president and financial analyst for Oppenheimer & Co. Kendall majored in music and religion at Wesleyan, and received a certificate of advanced study from Smith College.
Joel C. Tillinghast 80 (Boston): He has been portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments since 1986. Previously he was portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments; financial futures research analyst for Drexel Burnham Lambert; and equity analyst at Value Line Investments. Tillinghast majored in economics at Wesleyan, and received an MA and MBA from Northeastern University.
Andrew E. Vogel 95 (New York): He has been co-chief investment officer and managing partner at ZMC since 2019. He has been a partner at ZMC; equity investor for The Ripplewood Founcation; and an associate at McCown De Leeuw & Co. Vogel majored in mathematics-economics at Wesleyan and received an MBA from Harvard University.
Cheong Wa Dae vehemently denies allegations by former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton in his memoirs that the U.S. and South Korea were not interested in concrete progress in North Korean denuclearization, but were more focused on photo ops and churning out feel-good images.
Referring to the 2018 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Bolton wrote that Trump was ready to sign a "substance-free communique, have his press conference to declare victory and then get out of town." Genuine efforts to get the North to scrap its nuclear weapons were not the only thing that was sacrificed for such photo ops. The annual U.S.-South Korean military exercises were also scrapped on a whim and South Korea's national security went down the tubes as a result.
President Moon Jae-in was also complicit in the "diplomatic fandango" that Bolton said was South Korea's creation. If the South's intelligence service had been doing its job properly, it would have known from the onset that North Korea had absolutely no interest whatsoever in scrapping its nuclear weapons. That means Cheong Wa Dae had to think very hard to find out what it would take to get Kim to consider such an option. Bolton is a notorious warmonger and has his own axe to grind with Trump, but the overall thrust rings true, and it looks like the Moon Jae-in administration was more interested in photo ops than in substantive progress in denuclearization. And as the leaders of the three countries smiled and shook hands as cameras flashed in front of the world, North Korea silently continued to develop and fine-tune its nuclear weapons and missiles.
North Korea's sham was exposed clearly when U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Pyongyang and returned empty handed. Kim would not have given Pompeo the cold shoulder if he had been interested in scrapping his nuclear weapons. Yet Trump let the sham continue and held another pointless summit with Kim in Hanoi, Vietnam, where he ended up walking out of the meeting. Things did not end there. The three leaders held another meeting at the border truce village of Panmunjom that was orchestrated by Moon. Looking back, it becomes clear just how useless those events were.
Trump, Kim and Moon were able to meet for only four minutes in Panmunjom. The U.S. and North Korea were apparently reluctant to have Moon join them at the border truce village. Trump wanted to hog the limelight, while Kim was not interested in dealing with the South. Yet Moon was quick to announce the "end of hostile relations" between the U.S. and North Korea. That was not just an exaggeration but a gross distortion of the truth. Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party lauded the brief soiree as the result of the "courage and decisiveness" of the three leaders. North Korean denuclearization appears to have been an afterthought. Yet Moon still pushed the Americans to declare an end to the Korean War. But a meaningful end to the Korean War must be backed by North Korean denuclearization and peace, and the North is going in the exact opposite direction. The whole thing was a sham.
HE The Governor Vice Admiral Sir David Steel Visit to the GHA
Gibraltars new Governor, Vice Admiral Sir David Steel paid a courtesy visit to St Bernards Hospital and the Primary Care Centre.
The Governor met with the Minister for Health and Care the Hon Mr Paul Balban, the Principal Secretary Mrs Evelyn Cervan and the Medical Director (Ag) Doctor Krish Rawal. Sir David also had the opportunity of meeting other senior management staff.
He was later briefed on some of the daily tasks and how the GHA staff had worked in making every possible preparation for the potential spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Sir David expressed his delight in meeting the Team GHA and looked forward to seeing more of the GHA in the near future.
The Minister Mr Paul Balban said, I am delighted and honoured to receive the new Governor H.E. Sir David Steel at St Bernards Hospital where we discussed the functions of the GHA in a community such as Gibraltar and be able to share our recent and ongoing COVID experiences.
(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JUNE 23 - After five editions were banned and cracked down by Turkish police, this year's edition of Istanbul's Pride Lgbti+ will be entirely held online.
Organizers have taken this decision because crowds have been banned due to the coronavirus pandemic. The week of digital events, which will culminate with a symbolic online demonstration, started yesterday under the slogan ''Where am I?''. The theme was chosen to raise awareness on the need for safe spaces for the Lgbti+ community, which has become even more urgent during the Covid-19 emergency and the effect of migrations. Workshops, talks and creative appointments will be organized during the 28th week dedicated to Pride in Turkey.
Celebrated since 2003, the event on the streets of Istanbul had registered large crowds in 2014, with the estimated participation of over 100,000 people. Since then, it has always been officially banned by authorities. (ANSAmed) (ANSA).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Elnur Baghishov Trend:
The products worth $708 million were exported from the East Azerbaijan Province in northwestern Iran, in the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 20-June 20, 2020), Deputy governor of East Azerbaijan Province Ali Jahangiri said, Trend reports citing Industry, Mine and Trade Organization of East Azerbaijan Provinces website.
Jahangiri noted that the weight of the exported product was about 417,000 tons.
The deputy governor added that exports of products decreased by 1.7 percent compared to the same period last Iranian year.
"The value of product export of East Azerbaijan Province is expected to reach $3.8 billion in the current Iranian year (began March 20, 2020)," he said.
The deputy governor emphasized that in order to increase the export of non-oil products of the province, the focus is on increasing manufacturing of agricultural products.
Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda on Tuesday launched the ayurvedic medicines--Coronil, Swasari Vati, and Anu Taila for coronavirus treatment of coronavirus. Patanjali has claimed that the new drugs would cure COVID patients in seven days. The yoga guru Baba Ramdev along with Patanjali's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Acharya Balkrishna launched the ayurvedic COVID-19 medicines at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar.
"These medicines balance the energy of the respiratory system, immune system to the whole body, and increase immunity," Patanjali Ayurveda claimed in a tweet. The Ayurveda company has also claimed a recovery rate of 100 per cent.
What is Coronil?
Coronil is the first ayurvedic, clinically controlled trial based evidence and research-based medicine for coronavirus. The medicine has been developed in joint research by Patanjali Research Insitute, National Institue of Medical Science (NIMS), Jaipur. Patanjali claims the medicines were tested on coronavirus patients across India including Delhi, Ahmedabad, Meerut, and other cities. The Coronil Kit, comprising the three medicines, has been created by Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurvedic Ltd, Haridwar.
According to Patanjali Ayurveda, their team of scientists used the compounds of Ashwagandha, Giloy, and Tusli, suggested by doctors to make Coronil.
Coronil clinical trials
Baba Ramdev added that his company Patanjali had conducted two trials of Coronil and Swasari. First, a clinical-controlled study, which took place in different cities, including Delhi and Ahmedabad.
During the initial stage, the company did an experiment on 250 patients.
According to Baba Ramdev, in the first three days, 65 per cent patients got recovered, and by seven days all 100 per cent.
"We conducted a clinical case study and clinical controlled trial, and found 69 per cent patients recovered in 3 days and 100 patients recovered in 7 days," Ramdev said.
Coronil kit pricing
The Coronil kit is priced at Rs 545. It will be a 30-day course. The Coronil kit will be available within a week across all Patanjali stores. An app will be launched to facilitate home delivery services of these medicines.
Also read: Baba Ramdev's Patanjali launches India's 'first Ayurvedic' medicine for coronavirus, Coronil
Also read: Patanjali to launch coronavirus medicine Coronil today; all you need to know
Heartbroken police officers have performed an emotional haka in honour of a colleague who was shot and killed while on duty.
Constable Matthew Dennis Hunt, 28, was fatally shot during a routine traffic check in Massey, west Auckland, on Friday morning.
On Sunday more than 150 of Mr Hunt's colleagues banded together for a moving ceremony on Reynella Drive where the young officer was killed just days earlier.
Family and friends wept in each other's arms as officers performed the traditional Maori dance and flowers were laid across the road.
Constable Matthew Dennis Hunt, 28, was fatally shot during a routine traffic check in Massey, west Auckland, on Friday morning
On Sunday more than 150 of Mr Hunt's colleagues banded together for a moving ceremony on Reynella Drive where the young officer was killed just days earlier
A 24-year-old man has been charged with murder and police have arrested a woman who they allege was an accessory after the fact to the fatal shooting.
Constable Hunt was killed and another officer was shot in the leg after they tried to pull over a vehicle for in the Massey area.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said the two officers initially lost sight of the vehicle but later found it had crashed.
When they approached the scene, a man with a 'long-barrelled firearm' allegedly began shooting at the unarmed officers.
The shooter and the female accomplice then allegedly fled the area in another vehicle - forcing local schools to go into lockdown.
As the pair allegedly made their getaway, the vehicle then struck an innocent bystander who is recovering in hospital.
Police officers are seen hugging as they pay tribute to Constable Hunt who was fatally shot
Constable Hunt (pictured) first started working with New Zealand Police as a member of Wing 312 on 30 October 2017. He spent most of his career working on the frontline at Orewa and Helensville Stations before recently moving to the Waitemata Road Policing Team
During parliament in New Zealand on Tuesday afternoon, National police spokesman Mark Mitchell shared words from Constable Hunt's family.
The 28-year-old's mother, Diane, said he was a 'selfless man of huge integrity'.
'He loved serving the community, he loved serving his community and protecting his fellow New Zealanders,' Mr Mitchell said on behalf of Diane.
'My heart is crying out that this was so unnecessary and tragic ... My beautiful boy, 28 years young, will never have another birthday.'
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the emotional tribute was a testament to how well loved Constable Hunt was.
A member of hold a 'police lives matter' sign outside Henderson Police Station on Saturday
A 'thank you' sign is seen among floral tributes for Constable Hunt on Saturday morning
A police officer keeps guard of the area after the shooting in western Auckland (pictured on Friday)
'Matt's death has moved people the length of this country,' she said.
'To lose a police officer is to lose someone working for all of us, but also a family member, someone's loved one and a friend.
'Matt did indeed have a star quality - a star that was taken too soon.'
Constable Hunt first started working with New Zealand Police as a member of Wing 312 on 30 October 2017.
The family said the 28-year-old was raised on the Hibiscus Coast by his mother Diane and with his sister Eleanor and he attended Orewa College.
'It was his life-long dream to be a police officer,' the family said.
During a press conference on Sunday, Waitemata District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan, broke down while paying tribute to her former colleague.
'Everyone is just absolutely devastated. There is no higher sacrifice. There is no worse scene than seeing your colleague get killed in the line of duty,' Hassan said in between tears.
'He was killed serving his country. There is no higher price.'
Pictured: Flowers are placed outside Henderson Police Station in Auckland on Saturday
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announces the co-founding of The Climate Pledge at the National Press Club on September 19, 2019, in Washington.
Amazon is launching a $2 billion venture capital fund that will back companies building "sustainable and decarbonizing technologies," the company announced Tuesday.
The Climate Pledge Fund will invest in companies across a number of industries, including transportation and logistics, energy generation, manufacturing and food and agriculture, among others, Amazon said. The company added that the $2 billion is an "initial" commitment, signaling that the fund could grow over time.
"Companies from around the world of all sizes and stages will be considered, from pre-product start-ups to well-established enterprises," CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement. "Each prospective investment will be judged on its potential to accelerate the path to zero carbon and help protect the planet for future generations."
The fund is a part of Amazon's "Climate Pledge," which was first unveiled by Bezos last September. As part of the plan, Amazon has committed to be carbon neutral by 2040. It also pledged to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris accord's goal. President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement in 2017.
On Tuesday, Amazon also announced it expects to run entirely on clean energy by 2025, which is five years ahead of the goal it initially stated in the Climate Pledge.
Amazon has faced mounting pressure from employees to address its environmental impact. At Amazon's annual shareholder meeting in May 2019 thousands of employees submitted a proposal asking Bezos to develop a comprehensive climate-change plan and reduce its carbon footprint. The proposal was built on an employee letter published in April 2019 that accused Amazon of donating to climate-delaying legislators and urged the company to transition away from fossil fuels.
Since then, Amazon has made several moves to advance its goal of relying on renewable energy. As part of the Climate Pledge, Amazon agreed to purchase 100,000 electric delivery vans from vehicle manufacturer Rivian, after it invested $440 million in the company.
In April, Amazon invested $10 million to help conserve or restore forests in the northeastern U.S. Additionally, Bezos in February pledged $10 billion to launch a new Earth Fund for combating climate change. It will issue grants to climate-oriented scientists and activists and other organizations to "preserve and protect the natural world."
SJC Rules Dangerous Defendants Can Be Held During Trial Delays
PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled on Monday that a trial court judge may extend pretrial holds on some defendants to protect the community and victims because of a delay in jury trials.
Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington's office previously argued for the court to create such a balancing test that emphasizes case-specific circumstances, local conditions, and progression toward resuming jury trials to find the balance between a defendant's due process rights and public and victim safety.
The Supreme Judicial Court took up the matter in Commonwealth v. Scott Smith and consolidated it with two other appeals from in the state.
Previously, Central Berkshire District Court ordered the defendant in the matter of Commonwealth v. Scott Smith to be held pretrial after being found dangerous in a domestic violence case and subsequently violating the conditions of his pretrial release when he was charged with possession with intent to distribute a class B substance.
The court scheduled the trial for April but the Trial Court delayed all jury trials amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 11, a justice of the District Court released the defendant over the district attorney's objection.
Harrington argued that the court should extend the defendant's release date because of court closures. The Supreme Judicial Court agreed with the district attorney and overruled the District Court judge's order that he be released.
The Supreme Judicial Court found that the length of time defendants are held pretrial under dangerousness or bail revocation statutes during the COVID-19 pandemic is excluded from limitations posed on both of those statutes.
"This decision provides the right process in determining pretrial detention during these unprecedented times. We cannot put victims and the public at an additional risk just because the court delayed jury trials," Harrington said in a statement.
"I thank the justices for hearing the argument and coming to a determination that balances public safety and due process. My office will hold these individuals accountable through the jury trial process as soon as the courts can safely reconvene juries."
The Berkshire District attorney's office appealed the lower court's finding, arguing that the judge did not correctly apply the law and stressed the urgency of holding defendants accountable through jury trials as soon as possible. The court expects to resume jury trials in September.
The district attorney said she recognizes that there must be limits to pretrial detention, implemented policies to limit the number of individuals held on low-level charges, and is now working with the Court to safely resume jury trials to bring defendants to justice as soon as possible.
The office's bail policy already reserves pretrial incarceration only for those who pose a danger to the community or individuals and the Office seeks reasonable conditions of release for the majority of defendants arraigned.
However, there are indicators that domestic violence and child abuse increased significantly because of the stressors associated with the pandemic.
Pittsfield data showed that domestic assault quadrupled compared to this time last year and the rate of threats increased nearly tenfold.
Mandated reporters are seeing fewer children, putting children at a heightened risk of abuse. The DA's office received 52 percent fewer referrals during the pandemic than this time last year.
In March, the SJC acted in response to an emergency petition calling for the reduction in population inside prisons, jails, and houses of correction filed by the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the ACLU Foundation of Massachusetts when infectious disease experts warned of devastating effects an outbreak of COVID-19 would have in prisons and jails.
Harrington then negotiated with a Special Master appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court and criminal justice agencies across that state to secure protections for victims and the community, specifically regarding domestic violence and child abuse, by excluding those defendants from a presumption of release.
That order provides individuals held pretrial for certain non-violent crimes the presumption of release on personal recognizance and urges district attorney offices and defense counsel to come to agreed-upon conditions of release.
SPRINGFIELD City officials said Monday that new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to decline in Springfield, but repercussions of the pandemic now include the city not being able to open cooling centers during the heat wave.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, during his weekly update on COVID-19 at City Hall, said the city cannot risk the spread of the virus by inviting residents to numerous senior centers and other air-conditioned neighborhood sites for relief from the heat.
Typically, Sarno and Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen R. Caulton open numerous cooling centers at peak hours during heat waves.
Temperatures reached a high of 91 degrees Monday, according to the National Weather Service, and Tuesday will be just as hot. High temperatures in the 80s are predicted the rest of the week.
Unfortunately, due to the cornoavirus, were not having cooling centers, Sarno said.
He and Caulton-Harris said preparations are being made for stations where people can get free bottles of water. The details will be announced, they said.
Hospital officials, meanwhile, reported Monday that there continues to be a decline in the number of patients with COVID-19.
Baystate Health, with four hospitals in the region, has 19 patients with the respiratory disease, representing 3% of its total patients, said Nancy Shendell-Falik, president of Baystate Medical Center.
The hospitals continue to welcome non-COVID patients back, and have safeguards in place to protect patients and employees from the virus, she said.
There were six people hospitalized with COVID-19 at Mercy Medical Center as of Monday morning, none of whom were in intensive care, said chief medical officer Dr. Robert Roose. Mercy has also taken steps to protect patients and staff, he said.
Both hospital officials, along with Sarno and Caulton-Harris, stressed that residents must remain vigilant and take precautions such as wearing facial coverings in public, keeping a safe distance from other people, frequently washing hands and staying home when feeling ill.
We must remain cautious and vigilant, Roose said.
The reduction in new cases in Springfield, and statewide, is an amazing accomplishment, Caulton-Harris said.
Monday marked the beginning of the second stage of phase two of the states reopening plan, meaning restaurants can resume indoor dining and other businesses like nail salons can reopen, provided they follow precautions. Caulton-Harris said she implores people to realize that the indoor offerings create some risks, and they must follow guidelines to protect their health and safety.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday said he doesnt mind the removal of statues of Confederate leaders around the country, though he questioned how far people should go in tearing down monuments of Christopher Columbus and other controversial figures.
I dont have any trouble, you know, looking at the Confederate statues coming down across the country, said the Greene County Republican during his semi-regular coronavirus briefing. DeWine noted that his great-great-grandfather was a Union soldier held as a prisoner of war.
But DeWine said that right now hes not in favor of taking down statues of Columbus in his namesake city, as many have called for amid ongoing protests for racial equality.
Already, one statue of the famous explorer has been taken down at Columbus State Community College, another statue outside Columbus City Hall is slated to be dismantled as well, and discussions are being held about the fate of a third statue outside the Ohio Statehouse.
The idea that were going to go around and pull every statue down because someone is not perfect, I think, is, you know, probably not a good idea, he said.
However, the governor said he intends to read a biography of Columbus, whose voyages to the Americas in the late 15th Century kicked off centuries of exploration, colonization and genocide.
DeWine said that these are good debates and good discussions to have. I think theres, you have to have kind of a balance. You know, at what point do we stop pulling statues down? And everybody, I suppose, has a different opinion about that, and thats whats great about this country -- we live in a country where we can have these debates.
The governor added that he was irritated by protesters in San Francisco who toppled a statue of Ulysses S. Grant, the ex-president from Ohio who led Union armies during the Civil War.
Read more Ohio politics and government stories:
Ohio has had 46,127 coronavirus cases, up 590: Gov. Mike DeWines Tuesday update
Gov. Mike DeWine pushes for U.S. Space Command headquarters to be based in Ohio
Vice President Mike Pence coming to Lordstown on Thursday as Ohio looks more competitive
Ohio Congress members introduce bill to help hospitals financially hit by coronavirus
Lake Erie wind turbine developer asks state regulators to reconsider ruling that could doom the project
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Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, June 24, 2020 10:54 577 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066108f33 1 Business tourism,tourism-reopening,health-ministry,health-protocol,COVID-19,Hotel,PHRI,restaurant Free
Tourist industry experts have lauded the governments decision to issue health protocols for public places such as hotels and restaurants, saying the measures will provide customers peace of mind as tourist destinations start to reopen.
Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto signed on June 19 a decree on health guidelines for public facilities, including hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, fitness centers, convention halls, tourist destinations and public transportation.
In general, such establishments are obliged to provide hand sanitizers in public spaces, clean these areas with disinfectant at least three times a day and maintain proper ventilation by prioritizing fresh air circulation or periodically replacing air conditioner filters.
Temperature checks and the use of face masks are also mandatory for both employees and guests, according to the decree. People without masks are barred from entering public facilities and spaces.
The 50 percent cap on venue capacity that has been widely used by businesses is not included in the decree, which instead has a 1-meter social distancing rule.
The decree also provides specific regulations for certain businesses, such as mandatory room disinfection prior to guest check-in and the provision of hand sanitizers in each room for hotels.
Convention hall operators are obliged to enforce the 1-meter physical distancing rule by limiting the number of attendees. In addition, venues and restaurants have been instructed to suspend buffet services and to provide takeaway menus.
Customers at beauty parlors and hairdressers are urged to bring their own makeup tools, while employees are required to sanitize equipment that is used on multiple customers, such as hair clippers and towels.
We believe that the protocol is sufficient enough to provide assurances to our consumers that we can limit the spread of COVID-19, Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani told The Jakarta Post in a phone interview on Monday.
He lauded the governments initiative to issue the health protocols, saying they could help spur confidence in consumers.
The tourist industry is among the worst-hit sectors amid the COVID-19 pandemic as people have chosen to stay at home to avoid catching the highly contagious coronavirus while governments around the world have closed their borders.
Foreign tourist arrivals dropped 87.44 percent year-on-year to 160,000 in April, the lowest in recent history, as countries around the world have imposed different degrees of lockdowns or physical distancing measures, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data show.
However, Hariyadi said the new health protocols had become a financial burden for hoteliers and tour operators whose cash had been depleting following months of closures.
We need additional capital to cover the costs of introducing the health protocols. It has become a challenge for us as financial institutions are still reluctant [to provide loans], he said.
He also urged the government to more aggressively trace COVID-19 cases to push down the infection rate, which shows no sign of flattening in Indonesia.
Indonesia recorded over 47,800 positive COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday afternoon, a daily increase of more than 1,000 cases, as the death toll reached at least 2,500, official data show. It is also the country with the highest number of cases in Southeast Asia.
Tourist industry expert Henky Hermantoro said the protocols could help improve market confidence in the industry despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
While the COVID-19 infection number continues to grow, I think we cannot shut down the industry for too long. The tourist industry provides a huge multiplier effect to the economy and we need to reignite it, Henky told the Post in a separate interview.
Henky said tourist industry players should attract local customers to kick-start their businesses as people were reluctant to travel long distance.
The issuance of the decree was followed by a decision from the national COVID-19 task force to gradually reopen the countrys tourist destinations, ending months of operational shutdown.
COVID-19 task force chief Doni Monardo said Monday the government would reopen natural tourist destinations, including national parks and water and wildlife conservation sites that were located in regions with a low infection rate.
Regents and mayors [who reopen tourist destinations] must always consult with governors and implement health protocols issued by the central government, Doni said in a broadcasted press conference.
Destinations must also limit the number of visitors to 50 percent of their normal capacity and consistently monitor for potential outbreaks, Doni added.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio welcomed the health ministers decree, saying he hoped it would standardize health requirements for industry players, as current protocols were formed independently or based on guidelines issued by various industry associations.
KAMPALA Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has on Tuesday, June 23 kicked off the inspection of hotels to ensure compliance of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) put in place by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities in the wake of COVID-19.
The SOPs aim to provide health and safety protocols for all s hotel and accommodation facilities and create confidence amongst domestic and international visitors as Uganda readies herself for tourism revitalisation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing media, Hon. Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Godfrey Kiwanda noted that the inspection was a critical part of the recovery process for Ugandas tourism sector. He said, Today, we kick off the inspection of the implementation of the SOPs. This exercise not only demonstrates the steps being taken by Ugandas tourism sector in readiness and recovery but the commitment by both government and private sector to ensure the safety of both our citizens and tourists.
According to a recent report released by the UN World Travel Organisation, health and safety will be a key determinant for travel by tourists across the world as the global industry recovers.
In addition to maintaining the recommended health and safety measures of social distancing, sanitisation and wearing of masks, every hotel will going forward be required to have an isolation room, formulate an on-ground emergency task force and have a COVID-19 resource center accessible to all, Kiwanda said.
UTB Deputy CEO, Bradford Ochieng, who also addressed the media highlighted that the board in fulfilling of its mandate ensures quality assurance across all tourism facilities and ensuring implementation of the SOPs is a key strategy in the revitalization of the sector and ensuring safety and confidence of the visitors- a key decision making factor in travel, going forward.
Ours is a promise that quality assurance in Ugandas tourism facilities will upheld across travel, accommodation, amenities and experience, Ochieng said.
He noted that UTB was in the process of developing a tourism sector recovery plan that is hoped to rebirth the sector.
The Chairlady of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, Ms. Susan Muhwezi, called on the association members and the hospitality sector to uphold the SOPs put in place by the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities.
She said, We understand that hotels have had to increase their operational costs to fit into what is now the new normal that led to the creation of the tourism Sector SOPs. We are hopeful that the government will support private sector investment in this process through the stimulus package. This will go a long way in support the recovery of our hospitality sector.
The inspection will traverse the whole country starting with Kampala City and Entebbe town this week.
In his closing remarks, Hon. Kiwanda noted the key role played the hospitality sector since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Uganda. He said that hotels supported the institutional quarantining process and acted as the model centers for the hospitality SOPs which are key in the quality and health assurance of our hospitability sector.
About Uganda Tourism Board
Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is a statutory organisation established in 1994 mandated to promote and market Uganda domestically, across the region and internationally, promote quality assurance in tourist facilities through training, grading and classification, promote tourism investment, support and act as liaison for the private sector in tourism development. The broader goals of the Board are to increase the contribution of tourism earnings and GDP; improve Ugandas competitiveness as an international tourism destination; and increase Ugandas share of Africas and World tourism market. UTB aims to create inclusive opportunities for the tourism sector through market transformation.
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GRAMMY Award-winning Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin will bring a special Gatlin Brothers"Fan Favorites"live concert to the historic Franklin Theatre on Saturday, July 25 in Franklin, Tennessee at 8:00 p.m./CT. The concert will be digitally streamed at franklintheatre.com. Tickets will also be available for an intimate audience of 70. It will be the venue's first live show since the pandemic shutdown. As for the Gatlins, the show has been long in the making.
"I had this idea about 10 years ago when we did a live concert at Bristol Motor Speedway," says Rudy. "The promoter told me thousands of fans tuned in online and it gave me the idea for Gatlin Brothers 'Fan Favorites.'"
The brothers plan to perform various songs that they recorded over the course of their career- hit songs as well as cuts that were included on previous albums that aren't normally performed at a live Gatlin Brothers show.
"We'll sing songs that we don't usually have time to do at our concerts, but often get requests for," explains Rudy. "But we'll be sure to sing 'All the Gold in California' just like The Oak Ridge Boys would never do a concert without 'Elvira.'"
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 26 at 11:00 a.m./CT. Pricing: $56 for theatre seating and $20 for live streaming
Patrons along with the theatre staff will be required to wear cloth face coverings while in the theatre and seating capacity will be limited to achieve social distancing safety measures. In an effort to provide a contact-free experience tickets for each show will need to be purchased in advance at franklintheatre.com. All seating will be done with respect to social distancing guidelines. Contact-free purchases can be made from the theatre's concession stand.
About Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers
The close family harmonies of Larry, Steve & Rudy: The Gatlin Brothers have given the trio a signature sound that led to country classics like "All the Gold in California" and "Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You)." The brothers won a GRAMMY for their 1976 breakthrough hit, "Broken Lady," and reached #1 with several other songs soon thereafter. Along with five career nominations for the ACM Vocal Group, the Gatlin Brothers picked up three 1979 trophies: Single of the Year ("All the Gold in California"), Album of the Year (Straight Ahead) and Male Vocalist of the Year for Larry Gatlin. The brothers were also nominated for multiple CMA Awards including Vocal Group of the Year, Single of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year. Larry Gatlin has written songs recorded by Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Dottie West, Roy Orbison, Barry Gibb and countless gospel artists including the Gaither Vocal Band, the Booth Brothers, the Isaacs and many more. Larry was formally inducted into the prestigious Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the fall of 2019.
After 65 years of music, the brothers continue to perform nearly 70 live concert dates each year.
For more information on the Gatlin Brothers, visit gatlinbrothers.com.
Tags : Gatlin Brothers Fan Favorites Concert gatlin brothers gatlin brothers news
The State Bank of India (SBI) has called for online applications from qualified Indian nationals, experienced as well as fresher, for filling 326 vacancies to the post of Executive (FI & MM) and Senior Executive (Social Banking & CSR) through direct recruitment on contractual basis to be posted at SBI units/branches anywhere in India. The application-cum-registration process towards the same starts from June 23, 2020 and closes on July 7, 2020.
CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Executive (FI & MM) and Senior Executive (Social Banking & CSR) Organisation State Bank of India (SBI) Educational Qualification Graduation/Post-Graduation in Rural Economy/ Agriculture and Allied Activities/Horticulture (Executive post); Graduation/Post-Graduation (any discipline), but preferably in Social Sciences/Social Work (Sr. Executive post) Experience Three years in a relevant domain Skills Required Desirable Job Location India Salary Scale In the range of Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh annually as per the post Industry Banking Application Start Date June 23, 2020 Application End Date July 13, 2020
Age Criteria And Fees
Candidates interested in applying for Executive and Sr. Executive posts through SBI Recruitment 2020 must not have exceeded 30 years of age (Executive post) and 35 years of age (Sr. Executive post) respectively as on March 31, 2020 with relaxation (upper age limit) to reserved categories as per the Govt. of India guidelines.
Candidates must remit a prescribed amount of Rs. 750 (GEN/OBC/EWS) as application processing fee and intimation charges through online (net-banking/debit/credit, etc.) mode only. However, SC/ST/PWD candidates are exempted from paying the application fee.
IB Recruitment 2020 For 292 Central Intel Officers And Other Posts, Apply Offline Before August 19
Vacancy Details
Post Name No. Of Vacancies Executive (FI & MM) 241 Senior Executive (Social Banking & CSR) 85 Total 326
Educational Criteria And Eligibility
Desirous candidates applying for Executive and Sr. Executive posts through SBI Recruitment 2020 must possess a Graduation/Post-Graduation in Rural Economy/ Agriculture and Allied Activities/Horticulture (Executive post); Graduation/Post-Graduation (any discipline), but preferably in Social Sciences/Social Work with minimum three year work experience (Sr. Executive post) from a recognised University/Institution as detailed in the notification.
Selection And Pay Scale
The selection of candidates as Executives and Sr. Executives through SBI Recruitment 2020 will be done through Shortlisting, Interview and Document Verification.
Candidates selected as Executives and Sr. Executives through SBI Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument in the range of Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh annually as per the post.
NIMHANS Recruitment 2020 For 34 Project Officers, IT Officers, And Other Posts. Apply Before July 7
How To Apply
Candidates applying for the post of Executive and Sr. Executive posts through SBI Recruitment 2020 must register online on the official SBI website at https://recruitment.bank.sbi/crpd-sco-2020-21-10/apply from June 23, 2020 onwards, and submit their applications on or before July 13, 2020.
Read the detailed advertisement about SBI Recruitment 2020 for Executive and Sr. Executive posts here
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 19:28:50|Editor: huaxia
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WASHINGTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The New York Times has criticized the U.S. administration for its policy on mass deportations on the pretext of curbing the spread of COVID-19, describing the move as "a public health hazard."
"That makes it all the more bitterly ironic that the United States, with the largest number of coronavirus cases in the world, is now consciously spreading the pandemic beyond its borders by continuing to deport thousands of immigrants, many infected with the coronavirus, to poor countries ill-equipped to cope with the disease," the newspaper said in an editorial last week.
Noting that the White House has drawn on a federal law on public health in late March to shut the borders to the migrants into the country, the editorial said that mass deportations are "not only cruel but also dangerous to public health abroad and at home."
Seeding and fanning the virus's spread in any country, especially those trapped in poverty and corruption, would only mean prolonging the bitter fight against the coronavirus, the opinion piece explained.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Immigrantion and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that although it has been testing "aliens in custody and prior to removal" since April 26, it was getting merely some 2,000 tests per month from the Department of Health and Human Service, which is only a "sample" of the population, according to the article.
In parallel, dozens of deportation flights operated by the ICE have continued monthly, with destinations in Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua and El Salvador, the New York Times quoted the Center for Economic and Policy Research, an economic policy think tank based in Washington, as saying.
The United Nations Network on Migration said in mid-May that deportations may put everyone under serious health risks, including "migrants, public officials, health workers, social workers and both host and origin communities," calling on governments to suspend "forced returns" amid the pandemic.
Although his Pulitzer Prize winning grandson for his biography, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House in 2009, Jon Meacham, is better known in the literary world, the late Chattanooga judge Ellis K. Meacham also made significant contributions with his writings.
Ellis was born in Chattanooga in 1913 and died in 1998. He was the son of an attorney, graduated from the University of Chattanooga (U.C.) in 1935 and received a law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1937.
He entered the practice of law with the firm of Cantrell, Meacham and Moon as a young associate attorney.
In 1940 he married Jean Austin, a teacher and future dean at U.C. She would be a supporter of his writing endeavors and would later create the Meacham Writers Workshop in 1985 in honor of Ellis at the University of Chattanooga and Chattanooga State Community College. Said workshop is held twice a year and gives novice writers an opportunity to interact with experienced writers of national renown.
During World War II Ellis served in the Navy as a gunnery officer in the Pacific obtaining the rank of Commander. He returned to the practice of law in Chattanooga as an assistant city attorney in 1948. He practiced with his father, C.W.K. Meacham, until the latter retired in 1954.
In January 1958 Ellis became a member of a newly created law firm, Anderson, Meacham and Collins. Starting in 1968, Meacham was an assistant city attorney under City Attorney Joe Anderson who had served as a member of the citys legal staff since 1920.
Eugene Collins, who had served two terms in the Tennessee General Assembly representing Hamilton County, would replace Joe Anderson when he retired as City Attorney. Collins would retain that position from 1963-1990. He died April 26, 2004.
Aside from his law practice, Meacham continued to write and in 1968 published his first novel in his Napoleonic Nautical trilogy set in India in the style of the more famous Horatio Hornblower series with his lead character being Percival Mereweather.
The East Indiaman (1968) was followed by On the Companys Service (1971) and For King and Country (1976). His first book won him a Friends of American Writers Major Award in fiction in 1969.
In 1972 he became judge in the City Court of Chattanooga handling traffic, criminal, misdemeanor, and felony bind over cases until he retired.
During this time, he was also working on a proposed novel on the 1906 case involving the hanging of African-American Ed Johnson from the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga arising out of a later determined false charge of rape of a white woman. This led to the historical trial against the sheriff of Hamilton County and others for contempt of court for allowing Johnson to be taken out of the Hamilton County Jail and hanged.
Meacham was a close friend of attorneys Crawford Bean and his younger partner, Leroy Phillips, Jr., and decided to curtail his writing activities. According to legal sources, he turned over his preliminary investigative file on the case to Leroy. This led to completion of the story and the collaboration of Leroy Phillips and nationally recognized legal writer Mark Curriden, who together wrote the award-winning novel Contempt of Court, that later resulted in the vindication of Ed Johnson by the Criminal Court of Hamilton County on the charge of rape in 2006. Phillips and Curriden would be recognized by winning an American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award for the book.
After he became City Judge he realized that he had less time to write and never finished the proposed fourth volume of the Mereweather nautical series. He also started a fictionalized account of the Jimmy Hoffa trial held in Chattanooga in 1968 but stopped work on it prior to completion.
In 1998 Ellis Meacham died having made significant contributions in the field of literature and law. The Meacham Writers Workshop insures possible greater recognition of his writings after his death than he achieved during his lifetime.
* * *
Jerry Summers
(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com
Mumbai, June 23 : Now that the lockdown has been lifted, Bollywood couple Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh have gone off to a farm in Latur with their sons.
On Tuesday, she shared a video in which her sons can be seen studying under a tree.
"Children are amazing and they adapt to everything but as parents and especially in these times, we are so lost.. We keep worrying, what world are we going to bring up our children in. I had a city upbringing and Riteish had a both City & Rural.. I envied him very often and then I thought I'd love to keep the kids as close to nature, animals as I can.. It's been three months since lockdown and we have been away from Mumbai, living in our village.. Now that the lockdown has been lifted, we got a chance to go to our farm. Our kids found a new classroom, they sit under a tree and read and write, and as a parent I feel so satisfied to see this happen.. I see them being more aware of their surroundings, more compassionate towards animals.. like someone rightfully said," she wrote.
"We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it for our children," she concluded.
Reacting to the video, actress Dia Mirza commented: "This is the best gift to give to our children." Earlier, Genelia shared how her children have adapted themselves to the virtual schooling during the lockdown.
"So our kids are currently living in a world where distance learning is the new way of education.. At first I thought, my whole world would come crashing down and that this concept would never ever work but that's not what my kids feel, they accept and adapt to every situation with such ease.
" All they need is a little love and time from their parents and they are just fine.. So be there for them, because learning together is better than learning alone," she had shared.
Agreeing to her, Genelia's husband and actor Riteish Deshmukh urged parents to spend time with their children.
"Home Schooling / Distance Education is the need of the hour. Spend time with your children, you will learn as much just observing them.
"A big shout out to all the teachers across India working in various schools taking part in digital education," Riteish had emphasised.
-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Trust and mutual respect play a key role in supporting the relationship between former foes Vietnam and the U.S., its ambassador to Hanoi said.
"Trust is the foundation of every good relationship and if we look back the past 25 years I think its remarkable how far we have come and how much trust we have built," said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink.
For Vietnam and the U.S., it is a friendship and partnership built on the foundation of trust and mutual respect, he told the press at a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday.
What the two nations have been working on is apparently building a strong future with a broad area of cooperation, from economics and trade to security and people-to-people ties, but it needs to keep in mind that in order to have the foundation of trust, it needs to be responsible for issues of the past. Reconciliation has remained a key aspect in the relationship between the two former war enemies, he said.
On Sunday, Kritenbrink became the first American ambassador ever to visit HCMC Military Cemetery, where 14,000 Vietnamese martyrs, most of whom killed in the Vietnam War, are laid to rest, along with Consul General Marie Damour and Colonel Thomas Stevenson, newly-appointed U.S. Defense Attache to Vietnam.
The visit was made at a time when the U.S. and Vietnam celebrate the 25th anniversary of the normalization of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations. The official ceremony for celebration is expected to be held both in Vietnam and the U.S. on July 11 and 12.
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink offers burning incense at the HCMC Military Cemetery in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City as Thomas Stevenson, U.S. Defense Attache to Vietnam, stands behind, June 21, 2020. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Consulate General HCMC.
He also visited Binh An Cemetery in Binh Duong Province that neighbors HCMC on Sunday. This is where most soldiers of the South Vietnam Army in the Vietnam War are laid to rest.
Last year, Kritenbrink was also the first ever U.S. ambassador to Vietnam to visit Truong Son Cemetery for soldiers killed in the Vietnam War. Over 10,000 Vietnamese soldiers killed during the war (1955-1975) were laid to rest in the cemetery in Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam.
"I do think it [the visit] will help build trust between the two countries and their people, and by doing so I hope I could make a small contribution to promoting reconciliation between our two countries," Kritenbrink said.
"Building trust is a two-way street. Together we have to continue to build trust and part of it is what I have said about dealing responsibly with our issues in the past," he said.
The ambassador added to the list of what the U.S. has been doing to deal with the past, including cleaning up dioxin, including at Bien Hoa, a former U.S. air base and the most contaminated spot in the country in Dong Nai Province that neighbors HCMC, and dealing with unexploded ordnances like mines and bombs in places across Vietnam, especially in the central region.
He also thanked the Vietnamese government and people for helping in locating missing American soldiers.
For the twos current relationship, Kritenbrink said he believes the future is "very bright" because "we do trust one another."
For the Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi in February last year, "of all the places we could have gone to ask for help in hosting the summit, we came to Vietnam, and we did that because we trust Vietnam, we have respect for Vietnam and we think Vietnam has great capability."
He added the U.S. and Vietnam have continuously confronted challenges together, whether they are problems in the East Sea, or South China Sea, or tackling Covid-19 together.
For Covid-19 alone, he praised Vietnams response to the pandemic as the best in the world - it has helped lead the way and the success belongs to Vietnam. The U.S. is proud to have helped Vietnam improve its healthcare capacity in the last 20 years by funding it $100 million, with a further approved $10 million to help the country cope with Covid-19, he said.
Mutual interest in East Sea
East Sea is the most important security issue for Vietnam, and the future peace and stability here is vital to America as well, said the ambassador.
Vietnam and the U.S.s view and interests on this issue are almost completely aligned, he said.
Both sides believe in peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with international laws, and that all countries, big and small, should play by the rules, basing their claims on international law. Neither country believes that large countries should bully small ones, because all countries have the right to develop their resources.
"So we have deep and fundamental concerns over the activities that our friends in China have carried out in the East Sea in the past several years."
"China has seemed to take advantage of the Covid-19 situation to more aggressively advance its claims in the sea, and its not just the issue related to territory but energy resources and fishing stocks, and we think it is inappropriate that China continues to engage in very aggressive behaviors to intimidate the region to prevent countries like Vietnam developing their rightful claims to the resources in the sea," he said.
For that, he promised the U.S. "will remain committed to the principles we believe in, and we will continue to engage in our policies with partners like Vietnam. We will continue to invest in building the capacity that involve partners in the region like Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines."
Kritenbrink said the U.S. will support energy companies engaging in commercial activities like ExxonMobil LNG Market Development Inc, whose president said in a phone call to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on June 11 that his company wants to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam's energy sector.
The U.S. has funded $450 million to build Vietnams maritime capacity since 2012 and Kritenbrink said the second U.S.-ASEAN maritime drill is on the agenda after the first one in September last year, though an exact date has yet to be scheduled.
The U.S. will also build its own capacities, including military capacities and continue carrying out activities related to navigation operations to ensure all countries follow international laws, he said.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said on Tuesday that India is his country's biggest friend as he expressed hope that the border tensions between India and China will be solved diplomatically.
"Bangladesh is the pioneer of peace. Dhaka is always for peaceful coexistence with neighbours. We believe on solution by discussing each and every problem, as we achieved lots with Indo-Bangla mutual discussions through understanding on both sides," Momen said.
"India is our biggest friend indeed from our liberation war days... India-China, both are our good friends and close neighbours. Both are our development partners," he said.
However, the minister ruled out any role of his country in the dispute.
"I don't think Bangladesh needs to interfere in resolving the long-standing issues between India and China. New Delhi and Beijing have shown commitment to a peaceful resolution. They started meetings at the level of defence officers and Foreign Ministers... it is the ray of hope. We hope for a diplomatic solution," he said.
Momen extended deepest condolences for the lives lost as a result of the recent confrontation between Indian and Chinese soldiers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 01:59:01|Editor: huaxia
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The China-Europe cagro train arrives at Paris, France, June 23, 2020. After a 19-day journey, a China-Europe cargo train loaded with medical materials arrived in Paris on Tuesday morning, the first freight train dedicated to transport protective materials against COVID-19 directly from China to France. (Xinhua/Xu Yongchun)
PARIS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- After a 19-day journey, a China-Europe cargo train loaded with medical materials arrived in Paris on Tuesday morning, the first freight train dedicated to transport protective materials against COVID-19 directly from China to France.
Departing on June 4 from the city of Nanchang in eastern China, the train has run over 11,920 kilometers through 7 countries before delivering some 20 million surgical masks and gloves, water-soluble bags, contactless gel dispensers and other equipment.
"This 'medical train' from China to France proves that the French-Chinese relations are stronger than ever, with logistics operation now joining scientific cooperation in the fight against COVID 19," Lyazid Benhami, vice-president of the Paris Association of French-Chinese Friendship, told Xinhua.
"In this period of health crisis, we are pleased to note that this important volume of materials transported (to France), including 20 million surgical masks and protective equipment, is up to meet the demand and needs of consumers and the market," he said.
Benhami also noted that the China-Europe freight train opens an opportunity for boosting the trade between France and China. "The 'win-win' approach is very real for everyone, including the environment, businesses and consumers," he said.
The operation of this special freight train was the fruit of cooperation among COSCO Shipping, a Chinese group, and Forwardis, a subsidiary of SNCF (France's national railway company) Logistics, as well as BIFP, a distributor of the Hygial brand.
Nicholas Giraud, SNCF Director of International Rail Freight, hailed the rail logistics solution as the most efficient in terms of cost and carrying capacity.
"With the volume of six cargo planes in a single train, the cost of rail transport is 30 times cheaper than that of air transport while 15 times lower in term of carbon footprint. Compared to maritime transport, a journey by train takes nearly half the time," he said.
Xavier Wanderpepen, responsible for China-Europe rail freight activities at Forwardis, said: "Thanks to this train, we wish to offer French and Chinese companies occasional train solutions."
"And we wish to work with China on the development of freight wagons with variable gauge capable of adapting to the situation in Western Europe, Russia and China. In a few years, we will be able to connect China and Europe in 10 days."
Initiated in 2011, the China-Europe rail transport service is seen as an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative to boost trade between China and the countries participating in the program. Enditem
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) President Rodrigo Dutertes latest remarks in defense of embattled Health Secretary Francisco Duque will not have much effect on the ongoing Ombudsman probe on the agencys COVID-19 response, Malacanang said Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque maintained that the Office of the Ombudsman remains an independent body noting the chief executive has expressed confidence on Samuel Martires qualifications to roll out an investigation.
Its headed by a seasoned litigator and former trial court judge and Supreme Court justice, Roque told CNN Philippines The Source. I think he can discern facts for himself, so I think hell proceed with his own probe regardless of what the President has said.
Roque added the Ombudsman will be looking into the issue of efficiency in government, as well as possible breaches in the countrys anti-graft laws.
Duterte on Monday defended Duque anew, saying he continues to have faith in the Health chief amid allegations hurled against the latter. In his taped address to the nation, the President said he was willing to place his reputation on the line to prove that there were no anomalies on the side of Duque.
The Palace spokesman added Duterte can also vouch for the integrity of Duques family members, noting how the President has been a longtime friend of the Health Secretarys brother, Gonzalo, who was once appointed as administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority.
As a matter of integrity, he believes the Duque family will not steal, he knows their background very well, Roque said, adding Duque would have already been fired if he no longer had Dutertes trust and confidence.
The Office of the Ombudsman ordered last week an investigation into supposed "irregularities and anomalies" in the DOHs pandemic response measures.
Among the issues and controversies expected to be reviewed include the delayed procurement of protective equipment for healthcare workers, the alleged lapses that led to the death of medical workers and the increasing number of infections among frontliners, inaction in the release and processing of benefits for the deceased and infected medical workers, as well as the supposed confusing and delayed reporting of COVID-19 data and cases.
The DOH maintained it has remained transparent with its regular reporting and publication of the countrys coronavirus numbers.
READ: Ombudsman probe may affect DOH operations, employees morale Vergeire
The worlds largest organizer of live music events has announced its first ever drive-in concert series in the United States.
International promoter Live Nation says its Live from the Drive-In series will offer nine shows in three cities next month.
Award-winning stars Brad Paisley and Nelly will be among the performers.
The drive-in events aim to bring live concerts back after months of social distancing and stay-at-home orders because of the coronavirus health crisis.
Paisley, a Grammy-winning country artist, will perform in all three cities. They are Saint Louis, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; and Indianapolis, Indiana. The concerts will take place on July 10, 11 and 12.
Country music artists Darius Rucker and Jon Pardi will perform in Nashville, while rapper Nelly will perform just outside St. Louis, in Maryland Heights, Missouri.
All the shows will take place at amphitheaters, outdoor performance spaces with circular seating. But for these events, the concerts will not be held inside the amphitheater. Instead, concertgoers will watch each performance from their car or empty parking lot spaces between each vehicle.
The stage will be built in front of the cars. Attendees can have up to four people inside each vehicle. There will be two empty spaces between each vehicle, creating what Live Nation describes as tailgating areas.
Concertgoers will be required to remain within the marked tailgating areas during the shows, except for trips to the restroom. They will be permitted to bring their own food, drinks and seating. Food products and drinks will also be available for purchase.
All concert workers will be required to wear face coverings during the events. Concertgoers will be asked to wear face coverings upon arrival but can remove them once inside their tailgating areas.
Tom See is the president of Live Nation Venues-U.S. Concerts. He told The Associated Press the company spent months working to find a safe, enjoyable way to hold live shows during the coronavirus crisis.
See added that the company felt the need to hold a series of concerts instead of organizing just one. It was really important to us not to just do one and be done. It wouldnt be Live Nation. It wouldnt be the concert industry leader. We wanted to make a bigger statement.
See said the price of admission will depend on the city, but they can be as low as $125 per vehicle.
Brad Paisley told the AP he was very excited to take part in the concerts, which he said were planned with the safety of those attending in mind. My goal would be not to spread this virus to one person. There should be no spread from this. Thats key, he said. I just dont think its worth doing shows if were putting people at risk.
The idea that were outdoors is a great thing, Paisley added. I just think its a fun way to watch a concert anyway. Itd be fun if there wasnt a virus.
Im Bryan Lynn.
The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
concert n. a public performance, such as music or dancing
promoter n. a person or company that organizes large events
parking lot n. an area outside a building for parking cars and other vehicles
stage n. the raised area in a public space where people perform
tailgate v. to have a social gathering in which food and drinks are served at or near the back of a parked vehicle
excite v. to feel very happy and enthusiastic
key adj. very important in influencing something
PHOENIX An Arizona megachurch hosting President Trump on Tuesday misleadingly claimed that its new air purification system kills 99.9 percent of Covid within 10 minutes but then backtracked shortly before the president spoke.
Mr. Trump visited Dream City Church in Phoenix, one of the nations biggest megachurches, to speak to thousands of Arizona college students gathered to support his re-election. With coronavirus cases sharply increasing in the state, some public health experts said the gathering had the potential to be a disaster.
But the church offered a possible solution on Sunday: Technology installed in the buildings ventilation system that would clean the air and kill the disease.
The technology, the churchs pastor said in a Facebook post that has since been removed, was developed by a local company whose C.E.O. said he sometimes attends the church.
Virgin Atlantic Airline planes are pictured at the apron at Manchester Airport in north-west England, on June 8, 2020, as the UK government's planned 14-day quarantine for international arrivals to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus begins.
OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic airline plans to restart flights to some destinations starting in July.
Virgin, which only flies long-haul international routes, has not flown passengers since April due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The airline is 49% owned by Delta, and has cut more than 3,000 jobs, retired some planes, and closed bases to try and cut costs during the pandemic.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Virgin Atlantic announced Monday that it will resume passenger flights to markets around the world, as countries begin to cautiously lift coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions.
US and European airlines have seen some travel demand return through May and June, with forward bookings for the summer also picking up. However, the vast majority of that demand has been for domestic travel.
While this has allowed some mainline and budget airlines to add capacity to their domestic and short-haul networks and reconfigure their network plans, other airlines that focus exclusively on long-haul travel, have remained grounded.
For Virgin Atlantic, which operates long-haul flights through its UK hubs, options during the pandemic have been scarce. The airline had planned to build up an domestic network through its acquisition of regional airline Flybe in 2019, but the smaller carrier became the first airline victim of the pandemic when it collapsed in early-March. Virgin Atlantic is 49% owned by Delta, with the remaining 51% owned by billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group.
As countries began imposing travel restrictions and quarantine requirements for border-crossers, Virgin suspended passenger flights effective April 20. The airline has continued to fly cargo using passenger jets.
Virgin has openly discussed its dire financial situation during the pandemic. The airline said in May that it would cut more than 3,000 jobs and close its base at London Gatwick. It has appealed unsuccessfully for a bailout from the British government. Branson has offered his private island as collateral for a bailout or loan.
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Delta CEO Ed Bastian has said that Delta would not offer a cash injection to save Virgin from a possible bankruptcy restructuring. UK foreign ownership laws would prevent Delta or any other foreign investor from increasing its stake.
Virgin Atlantic to resume passenger service starting in July
Virgin Atlantic A350 56
David Slotnick/Business Insider
Virgin will resume passenger flights from London Heathrow to the following destinations:
Hong Kong resumes July 20
New York JFK; Los Angeles resumes July 21
Barbados resumes August 1
Shanghai resumes August 4
San Francisco resumes August 4
Tel Aviv resumes August 9
Miami resumes August 18
Lagos resumes August 23
Orlando resumes August 24, subject to CDC approval (Virgin will also fly to Orlando from Manchester)
Atlanta August 25
The airline also announced a rough timeline to resume service from London Heathrow to the following cities:
Washington, DC; Seattle; Las Vegas resumes September, 2020
Mumbai; Delhi resumes September, 2020
Johannesburg resumes September, 2020
Boston resumes October, 2020
Montego Bay, Antigua, Grenada and Tobago (via Antigua) resumes October, 2020
Barbados (from Manchester) resumes October, 2020
Virgin Atlantic will also resume routes to Hong Kong, New York, and Los Angeles, but several current travel restrictions could significantly limit demand for the earliest flights if the restrictions remain in place.
The UK requires anyone entering the country to self-quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their citizenship status or where they are coming from.
The US, meanwhile, has temporarily banned non-residents from entering the country if they have been to certain countries within the past 14 days, including the UK.
Read the original article on Business Insider
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
Trend:
Due to COVID-related temporary suspension of flights and train trips by Azerbaijan with Georgia and Russia, the country's citizens are brought back home via special charter flights and special corridors at the borders, Trend reports referring to the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers.
Proceeding from the appeals of citizens who wished to return to Azerbaijan, 176 people were brought back from Georgia. They were brought back according to a list which was prepared in advance through the Shikhli border checkpoint.
Meanwhile, some 252 Azerbaijani citizens were brought back to the country through the Samur border checkpoint on the Azerbaijani-Russian border.
All Azerbaijani citizens who crossed the border have been quarantined.
Iran, Afghanistan agree to block illegal border crossings
Iran Press TV
Monday, 22 June 2020 6:07 PM
Iran and Afghanistan have agreed to take all the necessary measures to prevent illegal border crossings and human trafficking by intensification of controls over the common frontier.
The decision was announced on Monday through a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of the neighboring countries, which concluded a two-day visit to Iran by Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar.
Security and border committees, the statement said, have been instructed to take the necessary measures to ensure the security of the common border in order to prevent illegal traffic and smuggling of humans and goods.
"In this regard, the two sides stressed the need for the presence of Afghan security forces in the evacuated border checkpoints of the country in addition to facilitation of visa issuance for entering the Islamic Republic of Iran."
The two sides also stressed the need for the border guards to closely and effectively monitor and control the border. They pledged to prevent the unauthorized crossing of the border, human trafficking, and the smuggling of other goods into each other's territory.
"The recent incidents that led to human casualties have been discussed in detail, and Iran has informed Afghanistan of the progress of the investigation, and both sides have agreed to prevent such incidents," it noted.
Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry announced last month that an inquiry has been launched to assess claims that dozens of Afghans who were trying to enter Iran from bordering Herat Province were beaten and pushed into the Harirud river by Iranian border guards.
The Harirud river basin is shared by Afghanistan, Iran and Turkmenistan.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the incident took place on the Afghan side of the border and Iran's border guards had no part in it.
Tehran has expressed readiness to work with the Kabul government to investigate the issue.
Some three million Afghans, including refugees, passport holders, and undocumented ones, have sought safety in Iran over the past 40 years.
Iran spends $8 billion on Afghans every year in various sectors. Besides, an exemplary policy in Iran lets Afghan children attend public school, whether they are registered refugees, passport holders or even undocumented.
The UN refugee agency has, on numerous occasions, praised Iran for hosting Afghan refugees for more than four decades.
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A patient with suspected coronavirus in India died after his family allegedly unplugged his ventilator so they could switch on an air cooler.
The astonishing incident took place last Monday in the Maharao Bhimsingh Hospital in the North Indian state of Rajasthan.
The patient was a 40-year-old man who ended up on a ventilator in a makeshift coronavirus isolation unit after arriving at the hospital with breathing difficulties.
But he died when his family unwittingly switched off his ventilator so they could plug in their own air cooler which they had brought to combat the high temperatures.
A patient with suspected coronavirus in India died after his family allegedly unplugged his ventilator so they could switch on an air cooler (file photo)
The ventilator, which was delivering vital oxygen to the patient's body, reportedly ran for around 30 minutes on its battery before running out of power, according to multiple Indian news outlets and VICE News.
The man's family then informed medics who gave him CPR before declaring him dead. He later tested negative for coronavirus.
It is unclear how the family were able to visit their relative in the isolation unit.
The family had brought the air cooler because the hospital's air conditioning had been switched off to limit the spread of coronavirus, leading to a temperature of around 106 fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius).
The astonishing incident took place last Monday in the Maharao Bhimsingh Hospital (pictured) in the North Indian state of Rajasthan
The doctor on duty then filed a complaint against the man's family.
A doctor at the hospital, Navin Saxena, told VICE News: 'We have set up a committee with the deputy superintendent of the hospital, nursing superintendent, isolation ward staff and Chief Medical Officer to file a report that details what happened.'
He added that the cause of death would be confirmed in the report.
India has seen the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, with 440,685 being the latest confirmed figure.
There have been 14,015 deaths.
And in the Rajasthan region, 15,232 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, leading to 356 deaths.
Webster Area uses hot-shooting performance to roll past Roncalli
Webster Area used a strong offensive performance, shooting better than 50% from the field to down Aberdeen Roncalli 68-39 on Friday night in Aberdeen.
Mihran Poghosyan, attorney of former Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Yuri Khachaturov, has filed a motion to postpone the trial over the case of the events of March 1, 2008.
According to Judge Anna Danibekyan, the court received from attorney Mihran Poghosyan a message that he had had contact with a person infected with the coronavirus the day before and had to get tested. To not put the health of the participants in the proceedings at risk, the attorney didnt show up to court and asked to postpone it, and Khachaturov informed that he cant afford to call another attorney.
In this regard, prosecutor Gevorg Baghdasaryan deemed it necessary to record abuse of right and expressed the thought that such behavior of the attorneys is not equal for the other participants in the proceedings.
Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who has been released on bail for AMD 2,000,000,000 by the decision of the Criminal Court of Appeal, was also attending the trial.
The prosecutor accused the attorneys of filing several repetitive motions and presenting arguments to change the pre-trial measure, adding that the attorneys goal is to prolong the procedure.
Judge Danibekyan stated that the application cant be considered in the absence of the attorney and that she will examine it upon Mihran Poghosyans return. Attorney Hovhannes Khudoyan will recommend that the court consider the possibility of holding the court sessions in another hall in which it will be possible to maintain social distancing. The issue related to the application will also be considered with the attorney.
The next trial is set for June 30 at 1 p.m.
Easyjet wanted to point out that Calabria was undervalued by foreign tourists
Get a taste of real Italy by bunking down in mafia land, the ad said.
But Easyjet's bid to pitch Calabria backfired, and the company was forced to apologise Tuesday.
"For an authentic taste of Italian life, there's nothing better than Calabria," the advert on the British airline's website said.
"The region suffers from a distinct lack of tourists because of its history of mafia activity and earthquakes".
Easyjet said the region in Italy's southern tip, famous for its coastline, rich history and culture, benefitted from "the lack of iconic cities such as Rome and Venice capable of attracting the Instagram crowd".
Italy's minister for the south Peppe Provenzano on Tuesday demanded Easyjet "apologise to Calabria and Italy", with Calabrian senator Ernesto Magorno shouting "Shame on you Easyjet! Calabria is a wonderful land with exceptional people."
The region's head, Jole Santelli, slammed the "pseudo-marketing operation" as "aggressive, short-sighted and with a clear racist undercurrent".
Easyjet apologised, saying it had only wanted to point out that Calabria was undervalued by foreign tourists, and would remove the offending advert as well as launching an internal investigation, Italian dailies said.
"Calabria is a very important land for us, which we love and have always promoted with numerous flights to Lamezia Terme," it insisted.
Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra
Keeping in mind the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections, Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra has said COVID-19 patients will be allowed to vote through postal ballot. Chandra said the Law Ministry accepted the Election Commissions proposal and a new category of "COVID-19 suspect or affected persons" has been added under Rule 27A of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.
To vote using the postal ballot, individuals should have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in a government healthcare facility or a designated COVID hospital. Eligible voters who are under 'home quarantine or institutional quarantine' can also avail the postal ballot option, The Indian Express has reported.
"The COVID-positive voter has to notify the Returning Officer. Once the application has been accepted, the voter will not be allowed to vote at his or her polling booth," the Election Commissioner said, adding that the facility will be extended to all future elections, including by-elections.
Track this blog for LIVE updates on coronavirus pandemic
When asked about voters in containment zones, who are not infected, Chandra said the EC panel has contacted the state Chief Electoral Officer (in Bihar), and is considering a few options, including advance voting. "We dont want the voter turnout to go down due to COVID-19. We will even ensure that, if needed, a polling officer is sent to deliver the postal ballot to COVID-positive voters," he said.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
Meanwhile, to ensure that voters practice social distancing, the EC has capped the number of voters at each polling booth to 1,000, instead of 1,600. Due to this, the EC will have to add additional 30,000 polling stations, he said.
Chandra further said political parties will also have to follow the health and NDMA guidelines during campaigns. "Parties will have to rely on virtual rallies and campaigning through social media.
The term of the Bihar Assembly ends on November 29. Bihar will be the first state in the country that will go to polls since the COVID-19 outbreak. The state will elect a new government in October-November.
Social media is a double-edged sword. It gives people around the world unprecedented access to each others lives and viewpoints, but often at the expense of personal privacy. And while this free global flow of information can help expose both injustices and new ideas, it also enables the weaponization of misinformation on a scale never seen before.
A Black Lives Matter protest in Washington D.C., photographed by Geoff Livingston in May 2020.
The rapid spread of the video of George Floyds murder in Minneapolis helped galvanize protests around the United States and the rest of the world, inciting calls for racial justice and police accountability. Now that we all carry cameras in our pockets, its a lot easier to document and broadcast events that might otherwise be swept under the rug.
Posts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms have mobilized supporters, raised money, and organized impactful events. And when police responded with violent repression of peaceful protestors and journalists alike, thousands of people livetreamed the injustice as it happened, convincing many more Americans that there is in fact a real problem with the institution that needs to be addressed.
A Black Lives Matter Protest in Washington DC, photographed by Geoff Livingston in May 2020.
Traditional journalism is still an integral element of democracy, but it does have the effect of filtering information through the editors or owners own potential biases and agendas. When presented with video evidence posted to social media by individual citizens, people can see what happened for themselves and make up their own minds. A small-town conservative newspaper may choose not to print editorials about racism or police brutality, but posts on social media cant be contained, and in many cases, theyve led to protests in some of the most rural areas of the country.
At the same time, thousands of posts push wild conspiracy theories that George Floyd isnt really dead, billionaire George Soros is bussing in antifa to riot and loot, antifa is an organized network of domestic terrorists rather than a loose coalition of people who stand against fascism, and other blatant untruths.
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It certainly doesnt help that the President himself, who benefitted from Russian agents swaying the 2016 presidential election on Facebook, contributes to the misinformation. While Twitter has begun flagging Trumps tweets for false statements and glorifying violence, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg personally stands in the way of holding the President accountable on his own platform. Meanwhile, in many other countries, protestors are vulnerable to internet disruption as a government response to dissent, showing just how easily access to content can be shut off.
Though the social media movement #BlackoutTuesday may have been well-meaning, it ultimately kept many people from accessing important information about the Black Lives Matter cause.
Social media can backfire in other ways, too. On June 2, about 28 million people posted black squares to their Facebook or Instagram accounts and pledged to be silent as part of #BlackOutTuesday, ostensibly in support of Black Lives Matter. Not only did the posts do nothing to advance the cause, they also drowned out important information about the movement. Even worse, some influencers are using the protests as a backdrop for their own content.
Ultimately, while social media is an important tool for modern fights against injustice (especially in the middle of a pandemic), its no substitute for in-person activism, and it must be used wisely. We should all be taking a moment to question the veracity of what were posting before we post it, and consider the potential consequences of false information.
The social media hashtag #georgefloyd is displayed in a simple black and white graphic, with a heart placed just above the text.
To endure longterm, activism has to transcend social media. If youre looking to move past slacktivism to ensure that movements like the George Floyd Rebellion maintain momentum after the internet shifts its attention to something else, there are lots of ways to take meaningful action. Donate money, register people to vote, show up to protests and meetings in person if you can, put pressure on your local officials, join a local organization fighting for the cause, and listen to the voices of people most affected by injustice.
Images courtesy of Geoff Livingston (1, 2), Elvert Barnes (4)
TOKYO UENO STATION
By Yu Miri
Translated by Morgan Giles
192 pp. Riverhead. $25.
Yus glorious modernist novel is narrated by a voice from the dead Kazu, a construction worker from Fukushima, who spends his last years in a camp of homeless people in Tokyos Ueno Park. After his death, Kazus ghost is doomed to haunt the landmarks nearby: the zoo, the subway station, the museum, the memorial statues.
Yu weaves her novel out of overheard conversations, radio and train announcements, intermittent memories of a life spent mostly away from family, glimpses of the parks history. Giless translation is supple throughout. Kazus painstaking attention to those in the camp their appearances, their hopes and disappointments is perhaps a way to atone for the regret he feels for never being there for his wife and children while alive.
I did not live with intent, Kazu says, I only lived. Death was supposed to be a reunion of sorts for Kazu, a chance to meet up again with those who had disappeared from his life. Instead, he finds himself still stuck in the same place, now ceaselessly thinking, ceaselessly feeling.
In a spectacular scene toward the end of the novel, Kazu sees the Japanese emperor Akihito passing by in a motorcade and finds himself tongue-tied. The two men, though born in the same year, couldnt be further apart; Kazu ends up silently marveling at a life that had never known struggle, envy or aimlessness, one that had lived the same 73 years as I had.
[June 23, 2020] Orchid Insurance Names Ross Bowie to Head Personal Lines
Orchid Underwriters Agency, LLC ("Orchid Insurance"), among the largest independent managing general underwriters that focus on catastrophe-exposed properties, has named Ross Bowie as Head of Personal Lines, Brad Emmons, President and Chief Executive Officer at Orchid Insurance, announced today. "We are thrilled to have Ross join Orchid to lead our personal lines business," said Emmons. "He is a consummate professional whose career has spanned the management of products, marketing, underwriting, and sales teams. His experience and skills will be a tremendous asset to our company as we continue to scale our business with brokers and agents." Bowie replaces Bob Rose, who transitioned to a new position as Head of Underwriting and Exposure Management Services. In this role, Rose will be responsible for building capacity submission support, claims analytics and reporting, new product development, and risk analytics as well as underwriting controls and compliance. Prior to Orchid, Bowie was Senior Vice President at Bankers Insurance Group, where he oversaw $180 million in premiums for both personal and commercial lines as well as the development of new products in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina. During his tenure at Bankers, he integrated multiple machine learning algorithms that improved risk selection on both the commercial and personal lines portfolios resulting in growth of more than 350 percent while decreasing the net loss ratio by 13.1 percent. His previous roles included sales, product development and underwriting at ASI/Progressive. "I am excited to lead a talented team of professionalsand expand on Orchid's well-earned reputation for creative and flexible coverage solutions," said Bowie. "The excess and surplus market continues to enjoy substantial growth, and I look forward to ensuring that Orchid is well-positioned to seize opportunities and deliver underwriting expertise and value to our agency partners."
Bowie, who will serve out of Orchid's Tampa offices, earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics at the University of Saint Thomas, in St. Paul, Minn. About Orchid Insurance
Founded in 1998 and based in Vero Beach, FL, Orchid Insurance provides specialty insurance products for homeowners and businesses throughout the United States, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. A variety of product offerings provide customers with a single, comprehensive solution for both personal and commercial property insurance including Wind and Wind-Only, General, Primary and Excess Flood, Earthquake, Builder's Risk, and others. Orchid Insurance is a First Choice of agents who value superior process, policy and pricing options, high-quality system technologies, expertise in the E&S market with coastal-exposed risks, and extensive knowledge of coastal CAT-exposed market areas in the East and Gulf Coast states. Orchid Insurance only represents well-known A.M. Best Rated carriers. Orchidinsurance.com. In 2018 private equity group TowerBrook Capital Partners made a majority investment in Orchid. About TowerBrook TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P., an international investment management firm with more than $12.4 billion assets, is based in New York and London. The firm focuses on investing in North American and European companies through private equity and structured opportunities strategies, allowing it to access a range of opportunities throughout the cycle. TowerBrook's private equity strategy primarily pursues control-oriented investments in large and mid-market companies, principally on a proprietary basis and often in situations characterized by complexity. TowerBrook's structured opportunities strategy leverages the firm's expertise to invest in opportunities that fall outside the investment parameters of its private equity strategy including structured equity and structured assets. www.towerbrook.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005700/en/
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WASHINGTON During a briefing on Chinese propaganda and press censorship, the State Department's chief spokeswoman muted the line of a reporter who tried to ask a question about John Bolton's explosive new book and attacked a second reporter who followed up.
Morgan Ortagus quickly cut off a Reuters' reporter who started to ask if any U.S. allies had reached out to the State Department's East Asian and Pacific Affairs chief, David Stilwell, in the wake of Bolton's book. In the book, Bolton writes that President Donald Trump offered various concessions to Xi Jinping in exchange for China's help winning his 2020 re-election.
"That's not what this call is about," Ortagus said. "AT&T, we can mute that line."
The State Department held the call to brief reporters on a decision Monday to designate four Chinese news organizations as state-controlled foreign missions essentially labeling them propaganda outlets. The four outlets China Central Television, China News Service, Peoples Daily and Global Times will be required to report their employee rosters and real estate holdings to the State Department.
"We really believe in freedom of the press and freedom of speech," Stilwell said in explaining the decision to label the four outlets as arms of the Chinese Communist Party.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, accompanied by State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, speaks at a news conference at at the State Department in Washington,DC on June 10, 2020. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged a probe Wednesday into complaints that foreign news crews covering the street protests against racism and police brutality were mistreated. Australia, for instance, is investigating a US police attack on two Australian television journalists outside the White House last week."I know there have been concerns from some countries of their reporters having been treated inappropriately," Pompeo told a news conference.
"The U.S. government has long welcomed foreign journalists to report the news and events happening in U.S. freely without the threat of reprisal," Stilwell said. "Journalists in the United States, regardless of nationality, have and will continue to enjoy the freedom of expression that is not permitted in the (People's Republic of China)."
A Bloomberg reporter, Nicholas Wadhams, asked what message it sends for the State Department to refuse to answer questions about Bolton's book during a call on ensuring freedom of the press in the United States.
Ortagus laid into Wadhams, calling his question "offensive."
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" ... The insinuation that we haven't made ourselves available or responsive to your questions ... is offensive," she said. "And I just would like to go on the record that that's totally inaccurate."
She argued the State Department's press office is highly responsive and that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regularly answers reporters' questions.
However, the State Department's press office often fails to respond to journalists' questions, particularly on controversial topics. And while Pompeo takes a handful of questions during his news conferences, he is known for having a testy relationship with the press.
According to Bolton, Trump asked Xi to increase purchases of American soybeans and wheat to help his reelection prospects in farm states. At a summit dinner in Japan last year, Trump was "pleading with Xi to ensure he'd win," Bolton writes, to use China's economic clout for his political benefit. Trump offered to reduce U.S. tariffs if China agreed to those purchases, which he told Xi would help him win crucial farm-state votes.
"It was breathtaking," Bolton wrote.
Monday's decision to label the four Chinese outlets as foreign missions comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China over the coronavirus pandemic and other issues.
In early March, the Trump administration ordered several Chinese media organizations to dismiss dozens of U.S.-based Chinese nationals as part of what Pompeo described as "reciprocity" following years in which China's harassed American journalists working in the country. China quickly retaliated by expelling journalists for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post from China.
Stilwell noted that China tried to censor information about the severity of the novel coronavirus when it first emerged in Wuhan, before spreading across the globe.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: State Department cuts off reporter who asked about John Bolton's book.
Withdraw claim about virus deaths in 24 hours, Agra admin to Priyanka
With 2516 new cases, TN's tally rises to 64,603
AYUSH ministry orders Patanjali to stop advertising its medicine as Covid drug
Patanjali asked to provide details of name& composition of its medicine: AYUSH
120 mn children could slip into poverty in S Asia due to Covid-19: UNICEF
Healthcare worker check temperature and pulse rate of the residents at Govandi in Mumbai on Monday (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)
The Covid-19 tally in India on Tuesday climbed to 440,215 while the death toll rose to 140,11. The country recorded 14,933 fresh cases and 312 fatalities in the last 24 hours.
Indias positivity rate (the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 as a proportion of those tested) has been on the rise for the past four weeks. It increased from 5.37% in the week ended May 24 to 7.74% in the week ended June 21.
Click here for complete coronavirus coverage
Meanwhile, the number of people infected with the coronavirus disease topped nine million across the globe with the United States continuing to be the hardest hit with 2,310,798 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University tally. The global toll from the infection has gone up to 471,554.
As cases continue to surge, the World Health Organization has called for a rapid scaling up of production of the steroid dexamethasone, after British clinical trials found it had life-saving potential for critically-ill coronavirus patients.
Here are the latest updates on coronavirus
Officials on Tuesday said a noose was found over a month ago at a building under construction in downtown Portland.
The noose was found May 20 in the construction zone of the Fourth and Montgomery Building, which will be home to Portland State University, Portland Community College, Oregon Health & Science University and city of Portland functions.
Officials from the city and higher education institutions denounced the displaying of the noose, which they referred to as a disgusting act of racism. The noose represents a violent history against black people, and many associate it with lynching.
This act of hatred is heartbreaking, the officials said in a statement. It is reprehensible. And it is particularly troubling at a moment when our country seems to be waking up finally to the legacy of slavery and our collective failure to address anti-Black racism. Incidents like this one, and similar incidents happening around the country, remind us how deeply racism is embedded in our culture and how far we have to go to attain justice for Black Americans.
The officials said they were notified of the noose June 9. The lead contractor on the project, Andersen Construction, has committed to doing everything possible to identify and hold accountable the responsible parties, as well as preventing future acts of racism, the officials said.
The contractor has filed a police report, launched an independent investigation, offered support to employees and scheduled mandatory respectful-workplace training for craftspeople, the statement says.
The noose was discovered the month after an OHSU employee posted an image of two nooses in a virtual chatroom. That incident marked the second time in several months such imagery has involved the university.
A man also spotted a stuffed monkey hanging from a noose near Rainier earlier this month, according to KOIN-TV.
Also earlier this month, 10 images of a noose and text reading I CANT BREATHE, could be seen on the side of an old 24-hour coffee house at Southeast Powell Boulevard and 13th Place in Portland.
6 Noose images in Southeast Portland
And on Monday, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office said it had been made aware of a social media post about a noose found outside a yurt at Whistlers Bend County Park and Campground over the weekend. An investigation continues in the case.
-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
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WASHINGTON -- Hemmed in by police on all sides, Camellia Magness feared that the military helicopter descending on downtown Washington might unleash a final assault on protesters.
It was June 1, nearly three hours after federal police in riot gear charged largely peaceful demonstrators as they gathered near the White House to protest after the killing of George Floyd. Magness and others had lingered downtown past a 7 p.m. curfew.
Military helicopters had been flying high overhead, seeming to track their movements. But shortly before 10 p.m., a Black Hawk swept low over protesters in Chinatown and held its position, producing gusts that snapped thick tree limbs and swirled the air with volleys of dust and broken glass, sending many running for cover in panic and confusion.
"I thought they were going to land," Magness, 24, said, fearing soldiers would pour out and force protesters into waves of police.
The Washington Post reconstructed the movements of the two District of Columbia Army National Guard helicopters that parked nearly still in the air over protesters in Chinatown that night, using flight-tracking data, images and videos.
One of the helicopters dropped as low as an estimated 45 feet, according to a 3-D model created by The Post.
That altitude meant that the helicopter, a Lakota painted with the red cross of a medical evacuation aircraft, was below the height of the tallest nearby buildings, the analysis shows.
On the streets, the maneuvers created wind speeds equivalent to a tropical storm, according to calculations by aerospace engineers who reviewed The Post's data.
The two helicopters hovered over the protesters for a combined 10 minutes, first one and then the other, as protesters ran for cover.
The maneuvers - which did not appear to result in reported injuries - were a surreal coda to a day of demonstrations in Washington following the police killing of Floyd in Minneapolis that stunned human rights groups, military law experts and former pilots, who described them as a show of force more commonly used to disperse civilians in war zones.
D.C. Guard officials, who have launched an investigation into the incident, declined to discuss the helicopter's altitude, whether senior officers ordered the low-flying tactic, whether the pilots received unclear guidance about their mission or whether the pilots were grounded amid a review.
"It was clear they were trying to intimidate us," Magness said.
- - -
Magness and her roommate arrived downtown from Baltimore around 7 p.m., after law enforcement already had used chemical agents, smoke and batons to clear streets outside the White House for President Donald Trump to walk through the Lafayette Square area for a photo op.
Earlier, the president had berated local and state leaders as "weak" for not doing more to quell unrest, and he pledged decisive action. "We're going to do something that people haven't seen before," he said, "but you got to have total domination, and then you have to put them in jail."
Magness and her roommate, Dzhuliya Dashtamirova, 22, fell into a crowd near the White House, snaking east on U Street, near the convention center before swinging south into Chinatown.
Along the way, there were National Guard and law enforcement personnel everywhere they looked, the women said - including the sky.
At least nine aircraft were overhead, according to publicly available flight-tracking data. At least three were D.C. Guard helicopters.
The D.C. Guard's helicopters generally soared hundreds of feet over the city, The Post found, except for the nearly 10 intense minutes captured on numerous videos when a pair swooped low, battering demonstrators with the downward rush of air from spinning blades, known as rotor wash.
The Black Hawk and Lakota left Fort Belvoir in Virginia just after 9:30 p.m. Fifteen minutes later, the Lakota roared past the Lincoln Memorial at about 460 feet and east over the Mall at about 72 mph. Those calculations used signals tracked from the helicopters' transponders from the crowdsourced flight-tracking website ADS-B Exchange.
Magness and Dashtamirova were convinced the Black Hawk was going to land right on the street.
"We were all distracted and vulnerable," Magness said. The rotor wash tore away face masks and blew torrents of branches and leaves through the street before it ascended to the west.
Glass from shattered car windows and storefronts littered the ground, whipping demonstrators along with tree branches and trash, video and interviews show. Dirt and grit collected in mouths. Anyone without goggles had trouble keeping their eyes open. The roar of the blades was deafening.
To calculate the approximate altitude of the Lakota, The Post used geospatial data, building elevations, street widths and measurements of other street objects to create a precise scaled model of the intersection. It also used metadata from a photograph of the helicopter taken at 10:03 p.m. in the same spot to further build the 3-D environment.
Sam Ward stood on 5th Street NW and watched the Lakota blast the nearby trees into a frenzy.
"It was pretty wild, and it certainly appeared they were using it as an intimidation tactic," Ward, 27, said.
The Lakota's descent felt different, Dashtamirova said. She and Magness no longer believed the helicopters would land but interpreted the actions as focused efforts to scatter remaining protesters.
The two women fled the area and walked to the home of Dashtamirova's boyfriend two miles away.
"The military wasn't there to protect our rights," Dashtamirova said. "It was the opposite."
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In the following days, the D.C. National Guard launched an investigation into the use of its aviation assets as lawmakers and District officials decried the maneuvers.
"It was a potentially very dangerous scare tactic that was meant to intimidate D.C. residents," said Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, at a news conference two days after the June 1 incident. "And it was wholly inappropriate in an urban setting."
District officials were not forewarned that the helicopters would be coming in and using such tactics, according to an official familiar with the events who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.
"I was appalled to see our military using low-flying Black Hawk and Lakota helicopters as a show of force to intimidate peaceful protesters exercising their first amendment rights in our nation's capital," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a former Black Hawk pilot who served in Iraq, said in a statement.
"The use of these helicopters in that manner violates everything I learned in my military training and many FAA restrictions designed to keep Americans safe."
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy authorized the use of helicopters, he said on a call with reporters on June 7. Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, the commander of the D.C. Guard, told reporters they were there to "observe and report disposition, composition of the protesters" and provide any needed medical support.
But the use of a helicopter's rotor wash is a common military tactic to incite fear, disperse crowds and warn of other capabilities, like rockets and guns, said Kyleanne Hunter, a former Marine Corps pilot who flew Cobra attack helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Black Hawk's rotor wash produced estimated gusts of 54 mph, while the Lakota had an estimated 48 mph rotor wash, according to Atanu Halder, an aerospace engineering researcher at Texas A&M University. The estimates reflect a median value in a range that would vary according to the weight of fuel and personnel on board.
That force was strong enough to snap a thick tree branch outside the National Portrait Gallery, a Smithsonian official said. The tree was later cut down and removed by the city.
The helicopters' maneuvers, particularly with the red cross displayed, drew rebuke from military law experts, who said use of the emblem is carefully regulated because of its global symbolism for mercy.
"This was a foolish move," said Geoffrey Corn, a former Army lawyer and professor at the South Texas College of Law in Houston. "The symbolic significance of the red cross is pervasive: It denotes a 'noncombatant' function of the armed forces."
Eric Hildebrandt, a former Army helicopter pilot who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and has flown Black Hawks and Lakotas, said the helicopters in Washington were far too low for what is necessary to scout from above and could have observed the crowd without dipping below 200 feet.
"It was pretty irresponsible," Hildebrandt said, acknowledging he didn't know what the pilots were ordered to do.
Flying at such low altitudes deprives pilots of many safe options in the case of engine failure or malfunction.
Pilots train for such events, including a scenario for the Lakota losing one of its twin engines. A pilot would point the nose down to gain speed at the cost of altitude to make the single engine more efficient.
But at the estimated altitudes of the Lakota, "they would have maybe 2-3 seconds to determine what's wrong, react appropriately, and adjust the flight controls to save the aircraft and crew."
Two to three seconds, he said, "might still be generous."
It is unclear why medevac helicopters would be chosen to fly. The helicopters were not on a medical mission, Defense Secretary Mark Esper acknowledged in a June 3 briefing.
The use of medevac helicopters for non-medical missions is carefully scrutinized, said Hildebrandt, who flew medevac helicopters at the Army's training center in Fort Irwin in California. They are permitted only to carry medical supplies and medical personnel, he said, even in training scenarios.
Seeing them hovering over protesters, he said, left him "pretty shocked and horrified."
COLUMBUS, OhioNow that anyone in Ohio can be tested for coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted were tested live during Tuesdays coronavirus briefing.
Members of the Ohio National Guard, clad in blue gowns and wearing face masks, face shields, gloves and N-95 masks, swabbed a Q-tip around the noses of each of the three.
All right, DeWine said, clapping his hands when the roughly 20-second-long test was done. Awesome!
The tests will now go to a regional lab, which will issue test results in 24 to 48 hours, according to the National Guard member who conducted the tests. COVID-19 tests are now available for all Ohioans at private companies, community health centers, and pop-up testing sites around the state.
DeWine also said he and Fran filled out a not very complicated form.
Husted said the test was much better than advertised.
You two look like you were enjoying it, Husted joshed the DeWines.
A DeWine spokesman did not immediately reply to a question about whether the governor, first lady, and lieutenant governor have been tested for coronavirus before now.
DeWine isnt the first governor to be tested in front of the cameras. Last month, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo took a test during one of his live briefings. He tested negative for the disease -- though his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, tested positive back in late March.
Watch the tests being administered here:
Read more Ohio politics and government stories:
Ohio has had 46,127 coronavirus cases, up 590: Gov. Mike DeWines Tuesday update
Gov. Mike DeWine pushes for U.S. Space Command headquarters to be based in Ohio
Vice President Mike Pence coming to Lordstown on Thursday as Ohio looks more competitive
Ohio Congress members introduce bill to help hospitals financially hit by coronavirus
Lake Erie wind turbine developer asks state regulators to reconsider ruling that could doom the project
WASHINGTON - The political future of a Senate Republican police bill has been thrown into doubt after a trio of influential voices urged senators to oppose the measure.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Monday to oppose the bill, which was introduced last week by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., in response to protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
Lisa Cylar Barrett, the group's director of policy, said Scott's measure "allows federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to continue to use policing tactics that have been known to hurt communities of color, such as chokeholds and no-knock warrants."
"In this moment, we cannot support legislation that does not embody a strong accountability framework for police officers and other law enforcement who engage in misconduct as well as needed reforms to policing practices," Cylar Barrett said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post.
The Rev. Al Sharpton and Benjamin Crump, an attorney who is representing the Floyd family, also issued statements Monday urging senators to oppose the GOP bill. Sharpton called the legislation "a nonstarter in the conversation to truly make a difference when it comes to the pervasive issue of over-policing Black communities."
Crump said the Senate GOP bill as written stands "in direct contrast to the demands of the people" who have been protesting for far-reaching policy changes after Floyd's death.
"The Black community is tired of the lip service and is shocked that this $7 billion package can be thought of as legislation," Crump said.
The Republican proposal, which Senate leaders said will be considered on the floor this week, veers away from mandating certain policing practices, as a House Democratic plan does.
Instead, the GOP plan encourages thousands of local police and law enforcement agencies to curtail practices such as chokeholds and some no-knock warrants by withholding federal funding to departments that allow the tactics or do not submit reports related to them.
Even before the GOP bill was unveiled last week, Democrats criticized it as falling short of the sweeping action they say is expected by the public in response to the high-profile police killings of unarmed black men, including Floyd.
Schumer emphasized that point in a floor speech Monday afternoon in which he criticized the Republican proposal as "fundamentally flawed," arguing that "as hundreds of thousands of Americans of all ages and colors take to the streets to demand change, we need legislation that rises to the moment."
"I would repeat this important warning: If we pass a bill that's ineffective, and the killings continue, and police departments resist change, and there's no accountability, the wound in our society will not close, it will fester," Schumer said. He added that if the bill would not have prevented the deaths of Floyd and others, and "won't stop future deaths of black Americans in police custody, then it does not represent the change we need right now."
- - -
The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.
Asher Keddie and her artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo have sold their renovated Edwardian cottage in Melbourne's Elwood for approximately $2.795million, it has been reported.
According to Realestate.com.au, the couple finally offloaded the home after it was passed in at auction in March for $2.6million.
The publication reports that the pair originally purchased the property in 2015 for $2.061million and renovated the pad to make a tidy profit.
Gorgeous: Inside Asher Keddie and artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo's stunning Melbourne home as it sells for $2.795M
The home boasts dark wooden floors, an abundance of natural light thanks to large windows, white walls and high ceilings, as well as stunning portraits.
Award-winning artist Vincent painted a stunning portrait of Offspring star Asher, 45, and of the late Heath Ledger, who died in 2008 in New York, with the black and white artworks hanging in the home.
The pad also boasts four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage.
Selling up: According to Realestate.com.au, the couple (pictured) finally sold the home after it was passed in at auction in March for $2.6million
Art: Award-winning artist Vincent painted a stunning portrait of Offspring star Asher, 45, and of the late Heath Ledger, who died in 2008 in New York, with the black and white artworks hanging in the home
In February, Asher and Vincent told The Herald Sun that not only did they enjoy renovating the home, the house holds special memories for the couple.
'We've had such a wonderful five years here. For us the home has been the perfect combination of lifestyle and location, close to the bay and the city,' they said.
Asher and Vincent tied the knot in a barefoot ceremony in Fiji back in April 2014.
In July last year, Asher revealed that it was love at first sight for her and her man and said that when they first met, she knew he was 'The One.'
'Such a wonderful five years here': In February, Asher and Vincent told The Herald Sun that not only did they enjoy renovating the home, the house holds special memories for the couple. Pictured is the portrait of Heath
How nice! The pad also boasts four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a two-car garage and even a brand new kitchen
They met at Vincent's art studio in Melbourne in 2012, but he was running late and she was close to leaving.
Speaking to InStyle magazine, she said: 'I saw this incredibly gorgeous but chaotic man come outside the building looking all around him franticallyI hadn't ever met him before but I recognised him from photosand I thought, "Oh my God, that's him!''
'Look, this is going to sound absolutely like a ridiculous movie scene, but there's no point in playing it down.'
She finished: 'It was one of those very special moments in life where we walked towards each other and both felt exactly the same thing, and that was, "Oh right, I'm going to be with this person [forever]", before any words were even spoken.'
Vincent is father to son Luca, 10, from a previous relationship. He and Asher welcomed son Valentino, five, in March 2015.
OTTAWA - Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos said Tuesday federal officials will push back against any new protectionist effort by Donald Trump to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, making the case that Canadian aluminum is no threat to the American market.
Duclos was responding to a report from Bloomberg saying the Trump administration is planning to impose a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports from Canada.
Duclos would not say whether the government is aware of a new round of tariffs impending, but said the threat of protectionism still exists and the risk becomes bigger in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We all are aware of the protectionist attitudes and actions of the last few years in the context of our relationship with the United States, Duclos said during a midday briefing Tuesday.
He said the Canadian government had worked hard to secure a new North American free trade agreement and end the previous round of tariffs against imports of aluminum and steel from Canada but warned of the need to remain vigilant.
We need, as Canadians, to be mindful of the fact that protectionism still exists and in fact runs the risk of being even bigger and being an even greater threat as we emerge from the COVID health and economic crisis, Duclos said.
This being said, we use every opportunity to make our neighbours and our friends and trade partners understand that it is to the joint benefit of everyone to keep the flow of goods and services open and strong, because we all gain from that.
The last time the Americans imposed such tariffs, the federal government imposed reciprocal tariffs on a slew of U.S. products crossing into Canada before both sides backed down.
Duclos said the Canadian government has fulfilled its end of the trade detente by ensuring Canada isnt a conduit to the U.S. for cheaper overseas metal.
Canadas ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, delivered a similar message Tuesday.
We firmly believe that Canadian aluminum exports to the U.S. arent hurting the U.S. market in any way, she said during a virtual event, adding the two countries have been having constant dialogues on the issue.
Were emphasizing with our American friends the fact that we have this deep, mutually supportive industry and that far from being harmful to the American aluminum sector, our aluminum exports are indeed a great help and benefit.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 22:30:32|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday urged the United States to halt and correct wrongdoings that "harm others without benefiting itself" after Washington labelled four Chinese media outlets "foreign missions."
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a U.S. decision to designate four Chinese media outlets in the United States -- China Central Television, China News Service, People's Daily and Global Times -- as "foreign missions."
"The U.S. decision is another example of its political suppression of Chinese media," said Zhao, adding that this move will severely disrupt the reporting activities of the Chinese media outlets in United States and exposes U.S. hypocrisy over so-called freedoms of press and speech.
China strongly urges the United States to discard Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice, said Zhao, adding that otherwise, China will have to take necessary and legitimate countermeasures. Enditem
[June 23, 2020] PDFTron Acquires ActivePDF, a Leading Provider of PDF Technology to the Enterprise Market
Acquisition advances PDFTron's position as a leading document technology platform powering digital transformation VANCOUVER, BC, June 23, 2020 /CNW/ - PDFTron Systems Inc ., a global leader and innovator of document processing technology, today announced the acquisition of ActivePDF, a California-based global provider of high-volume and scalable server-side PDF automation components to 40% of Fortune 500 companies. The deal builds upon PDFTron's first acquisition of San Jose-based BCL Technologies just three months ago in March 2020, and marks another milestone in the company's expansion following the $71M growth investment led by Silversmith Capital Partners in May 2019. "ActivePDF is an extraordinary company with an amazing team and products," said Catherine Andersz, PDFTron co-founder and CEO. "Combining PDFTron's market-leading client-side technology and document SDKs with ActivePDF's high-volume document automation and no-code/low-code developer solutions will create an end-to-end document technology platform expediting our vision of changing the way the world works with documents." The combination of PDFTron and ActivePDF creates strong synergies that will drive the next-generation of digital transformation solutions and innovation. Both companies have a solid, long-standing expertise in PDFs and documents. With documents at the center of digital transformation, the ActivePDF acquisition positions PDFTron to play a greater role in helping enterprises accelerate change across every part of their businss, to increase operational efficiency and differentiated customer experiences. Additionally, the relentless focus that both companies have on customer satisfaction, will ensure that the acquisition will create long-term benefits for customers.
"PDFTron's highest priority has always been the utmost satisfaction of our customers and building a great company culture with an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. We are confident that the acquisition of ActivePDF will support these key values in the long-term," added Andersz. Some of ActivePDF's notable customers include DocuSign, The US Department of Defense, Nationwide Insurance, PwC, Paychex and Barclays.
Tim Sullivan, Founder of ActivePDF, stated, "This partnership highlights and promotes the strengths between our two companies. Both PDFTron and ActivePDF have pedigrees in PDF knowledge and digital transformation technology and the resulting combination of the two will benefit the market like no other has done before. We are very excited about the synergies between our two organizations and what that means for our customers and the industry as a whole." Choate, Hall & Stewart and the Canadian office of Gowling WLG served as legal counsel to PDFTron, while Rutan & Tucker served as legal counsel to ActivePDF. Deloitte Canada served as accounting and tax diligence advisors to PDFTron. Debt financing was provided by First Eagle Alternative Credit. About ActivePDF ActivePDF is the leading global provider of server-side PDF automation tools and digital transformation solutions. Developers, Product Managers, CIOs, and CTOs partner with ActivePDF to embed feature-rich digital transformation technologies directly into their enterprise applications and IIM solutions that reliably scale for millions of users. While represented amongst 40% of Fortune 500 companies, the full suite of ActivePDF technologies are currently deployed in industries such as Banking, Financial Services, Government, Healthcare, Legal, Manufacturing, Utilities, and more. To explore everything PDF, visit ActivePDF.com. About PDFTron Systems Inc. Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, PDFTron is a premier global provider of high-performance document processing technology serving hundreds of customers across a broad spectrum of industries. PDFTron's market-leading SDK drives digital transformation and powers next generation software applications with dynamic document viewing, annotation, processing, and conversion capabilities, as well as advanced features such as document understanding, data extraction, and redaction. PDFTron technology supports all major platforms and dozens of unique file types, including support for PDF, MS Office, and CAD formats. For more information, visit www.pdftron.com. For more information on XODO, visit www.xodo.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pdftron-acquires-activepdf-a-leading-provider-of-pdf-technology-to-the-enterprise-market-301081817.html SOURCE PDFTron
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When Greg Milefsky temporarily closed his bicycle shop in downtown Richmond in March, he did so amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic that caused other businesses around the region and the country to shutter.
After a couple weeks, as he saw other bike shops continue operating, Milefsky reopened his Balance Bicycle Shop at 904 W. Broad St., and saw business spike at a time when the virus was spurring people to get back on a bike for some outdoor exercise.
But then demonstrations in Richmond sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis turned destructive. Looters broke into his store during the overnight hours between May 30 and May 31.
They stole 70 to 80 bikes that had been in the shop, he said. The stolen bicycles included his own inventory that he had planned to sell and dozens owned by customers.
And then Im out of a job. I have no income, Milefsky said during an interview at his store where a row of bike hooks along the wall were bare. So insurance is going to cover some of that, but realistically I couldnt even reopen this year.
Libya calls Egypt military threat 'Declaration of war'
Iran Press TV
Monday, 22 June 2020 2:15 AM
Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) has condemned Egypt's warning of military intervention in Libya, terming it a "declaration of war".
"This is a hostile act, direct interference and amounts to a declaration of war," the Tripoli-based GNA said in a statement on Sunday.
For the Libyan state, "interference in its internal affairs, attacks on its sovereignty, whether by declarations... like those of the Egyptian president or by support for putschists, militias and mercenaries, is unacceptable," the GNA said.
The GNA called on the international community to "assume its responsibilities with regard to this escalation".
The comments came in reaction to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who warned on Saturday that if pro-GNA forces advanced on the strategic city of Sirte 450km (280 miles) east of Tripoli - it could provoke a "direct" intervention by Cairo.
During a tour of an airbase near Egypt's 1,200km-long (746 miles) western border with Libya, Sisi ordered his army to be ready to carry out any mission inside or outside the country to protect its national security amid tensions over Turkey's intervention in Libya.
In reaction to the Egyptian president's threat, the Libyan army had described Sisi's comments as "a clear declaration of war and a blatant interference" in Libyan affairs.
"[Abdel] al-Sisi's statements that Sirte and Jufra are a red line, according to his description, is a blatant interference in our country's affairs, and we consider it a clear declaration of a war on Libya," Abdel-Hadi Darah, a military spokesman of Path of Victory operation, said in a statement.
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Tehran, June 23 : Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that it plans to set up a permanent base in the Indian Ocean in order to expand its presence in the international waters, Press TV reported.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has tasked the IRGC with permanent presence in waters far away from the country, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Accordingly, the IRGC is planning to create a permanent base in the Indian Ocean by the end of March 2021, Tangsiri said.
The IRGC commander said that "pirates and some foreign vessels had, in the past, created disturbances for the Iranian trawlers and dhows in the country's southern waters." "Through its powerful presence in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean, the IRGC will no longer leave any room for such acts of infringement," he noted.
Perth's property market clocked its busiest week since 2013 after it recorded over 1,000 sales of dwellings and vacant land in the week ending 21 June, according to the latest market update from the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA).
Over the week, Perth reported 613 home sales and 412 vacant land sales. Both of these figures are significantly higher than the 52-week average.
The sales activity for established homes increased significantly, rising 7% from the preceding week. Land sales, however, recorded the standout gains.
Damian Collins, president of REIWA, said the boom in land sales, which were at their highest level since August 2009, could be attributed to the various government grants and incentives announced earlier this month.
"The schemes have certainly helped people who were undecided about a house-and-land package make their decision quicker, and we will likely see vacant land transactions remain at higher-than-normal levels until the end of the year when the scheme concludes," he said.
Also read: Another Construction Boost For WA
Five suburbs, in particular, comprised the bulk of the land sales for the week. These suburbs, which include Madora Bay, Baldivis, Maddington, Wellard and Hamond Park, are all situated in the outer region of Perth.
"While things are looking positive for the property market, we hope that the recent market activity will not only lead to the recovery we have been waiting for, but also continue post the government schemes," Collins said.
Cath Hart, executive director for Western Australia at the Housing Industry Association (HIA), said the home-building industry of Perth and the state is expected to recover over the next 12 months.
Hart said the stimulus schemes announced by the state and federal governments will likely boost consumer sentiment, which will, in turn, spur growth in housing starts.
"We now expect the September quarter to be the bottom of the prolonged downturn in residential building in WA which started in June 2014," she said.
According to HIA's projections, the state is expected to record 15,590 dwelling starts for the financial year 2020-2021. This was higher than the earlier expectation of 10,000 new dwellings, which took into consideration the impacts of COVID-19 on the housing market. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, the state is slated to build nearly 20,000 homes.
"The revised outlook for the state's home-building sector is a 15% improvement from the financial year 2019-2020, when we did about 13,800 starts, as the sector regains some of the momentum that was starting before COVID-19," Hart said.
The revised outlook took into consideration several factors, including the announcement of the Building Bonus Grant and the HomeBuilder Scheme, the plans to cut red tape in building approvals, and the campaign to encourage interstate fly-in-fly-out workers and their families to settle in the state.
"These measures, plus the unique features of our extraordinary state position Western Australia to come back better, emerging from the global pandemic faster than other states as an attractive destination for business investment and interstate and international migrants," Hart said.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Stacy Ellingen, 34, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, lost two of the three caregivers she depends on to dress, shower, eat and use the bathroom. The caregiversboth University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh studentsreturned to their parents' homes when the university canceled in-person classes.
Ellingen, who lives with complications from cerebral palsy, had little choice but to do the samemoving back to her parents' home in Fond du Lac.
Matt Ford, whose arms and legs are paralyzed, already lived with his 76-year-old father, his primary caregiver, in a specially designed house in Verona. One of Ford's other caregivers moved into his basement for a while, since it was easier for her to quarantine there rather than come and go and risk infection and transmission of the virus to Ford.
Jason Endres asked his care workers to stay away from the home he shares with his wife Julie in Eau Claire. With masks hard to come by, Endres feared the caregivers could inadvertently spread the virus, possibly ravaging his lungs, which have been weakened by spina bifida.
The novel coronavirus, which has infected nearly 13,000 Wisconsinites, has exposed vulnerabilities in the state's health care programs, including those designed to serve older residents and those with disabilities.
Before the pandemic, Gov. Tony Evers in 2019 created a state task force to address a chronic shortage of caregivers. A report released in February described a "crisis" in the direct care workforce, with 20,655 vacant positions in Wisconsin's long-term care facilities and residential settings, and an average workforce vacancy rate of nearly 26%.
For residents with disabilities who need caregivers in order to live and work independently, the pandemic is adding hurdles. These visiting aides take on demanding duties and are typically paid about $12 an hour in Wisconsin.
Clients with disabilities and their caregivers must weigh how to keep each other safe during close interactions, especially as protective equipment remains scarce. Some caregivers have stuck around; others have quit. And many clients who lose their caregivers also lose independence.
Every respondent to an April survey of nearly 500 Wisconsinites with disabilities and older adults said the pandemic had disrupted their caregiving service. Wisconsin Watch conducted a dozen interviews with people with disabilities, their family members and caregivers across Wisconsin, revealing how the crisis has transformed each life in unique ways.
Stacy Ellingen has navigated life from a power wheelchair since she was a child. Cerebral palsy has also affected her fine motor skills: She uses an enlarged keyboard and eye-gaze system to operate her design firm, Design Wheels, from her apartment in Oshkosh, where she lived independently before the pandemic. That computer setup is a key component of the independent life Ellingen has fought for. Now that she's living with her parents, she doesn't have access to that toolor lifestyle.
"I'm not able to do much work while I'm at my parents'," Ellingen said. During an interview over Zoom, she used an app on her phone to speak aloud. Ellingen requested interview questions in advance so she would have adequate time to enter her responses in the app.
Ellingen, who is featured in a video about assistive technology, said she could not survive long without caregivers to help her.
"Many times I've skipped meals, gone without using the restroom and slept in my wheelchair because I didn't have a caregiver," Ellingen said.
This is not the first time a lack of help has forced her to return to her parents' home, but Ellingen worries the pandemic will wreak long-lasting damage to an already thin caregiving workforce.
A May survey of 504 providers of disability services conducted by the nonprofit Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations showed costs rising and revenues plunging across the industry. Nearly 20% of surveyed businesses were unsure whether they would survive the pandemic.
In an ideal world, Ellingen said, she would have six or seven caregivers to fill work shifts, but that hasn't happened for years. Ellingen was down to just three care workers at the pandemic's outset, including the two UW-Oshkosh students who have since left town.
University students typically make up at least half of Ellingen's support staff; each rarely stays with her longer than a year.
Ellingen said life with her parents involves major and minor annoyances. She must go to bed when they domuch earlier than she would preferlest she be left with no one to lift her into bed. She also has to live with her parents' music, television and food preferences.
Still, Ellingen feels lucky; if not for her parents, she would likely live in a nursing home. The long-term care sector has experienced at least 5% of Wisconsin's coronavirus diagnoses and more than 40% of deaths from COVID-19.
"That's the last place anyone wants to beespecially during the pandemic," Ellingen said.
Matt Ford, 55, also recruits his caregivers mostly from a nearby college campusthe UW-Madison. He typically finds new hires near the end of the spring semester, but not this year because the pandemic sent students home early.
Paralyzed in a diving accident in 1987, Ford needs help getting in and out of bed, preparing meals, using the bathroom and driving. His father provides most of that assistance, and two or three additional workers take shifts at his home.
Ford posts his needs for paid caregivers on UW-Madison's student job board, often using creative ways to draw attention.
"I just started putting in there: 'Grass-fed, free-range quad needs help,'" Ford said with a chuckle. ("Quad" is short for "quadriplegic.")
Grace Brunette noticed the listing in spring 2016, when she was a UW-Madison senior. She has worked for Ford on and off since then.
Brunette is now finishing her studies in a physician assistant program at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. When the pandemic struck, she no longer felt comfortable splitting her time between her apartment and Ford's house. She moved into Ford's basement to minimize contact with outsiders, including her family. The basement was designed specifically to accommodate a live-in aidea need that seems inevitable as Ford's father ages.
After spending the entire first two weeks quarantining in Ford's house, Brunette now stays over three nights a week. Why stay during the pandemic?
"He only has one other caregiver. That would be really selfish of me to just say, 'Sayonara, I'm going to go quarantine with my family,' when he needs the help," Brunette said.
In May, the Wisconsin Supreme Court sided with Republican legislative leaders to strike down Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' "Safer at Home" order. The decision made Ford bristle at the thought that Wisconsinites might begin to take the pandemic less seriously. In an amicus brief filed before the ruling, advocacy groups argued that if the order were lifted, there would be increased risks of coronavirus infection to older adults and to people with disabilities.
"It does feel a little personal that no one is recognizing the efforts that we madeas vulnerable people who need caregivers in and out of our homesand the sacrifices that the caregivers made," Ford said.
"I don't want people to go out of business either," Ford added, referencing the push to reopen the state. "I do care about them. I have some empathy toward that. But I also don't want to die."
Brunette is still working for Ford, but the public health crisis makes it unclear how long she will remain. She was set to start clinical rotations as part of her physician assistant training in June, which would have taken her out of townmaking her unavailable to work with Ford. But when a planned trip to Belize with her classmates was canceled and her clinical rotations for school were moved online, she stayed on the job.
As of now, her next rotation is scheduled to begin in August. Someone will need to fill Brunette's shifts during the fall. Ford said that is typically one of the hardest times to recruit student caregivers.
Like many people with disabilities in Wisconsin, both Ellingen and Ford serve as de facto employers for their caregivers, meaning they are responsible for providing personal protective gear. They each get two boxes of gloves every month, paid for by the state's Medicaid program. But Ford said he is struggling to get gloves from his supplier because of the surging demand during the pandemic.
Masks are even tougher to find. A relative of Ellingen offered to sew some cloth face coverings for her workers. Ford finds masks at the doctor's office, where he might sneak out one or two after routine appointments. His other source is a neighbor with a carpet-cleaning business. As businesses reopen across Wisconsin, advocates are calling for the state to prioritize caregivers as protective equipment is distributed.
Gov. Evers announced a $100 million grant program for health care providers, including caregivers, in late May. The lack of masks has not dramatically altered either Ford's or Ellingen's caregiving plans. It is a different story for Jason Endres and his wife, Julie in Eau Claire.
"It's really one of the big reasons why we haven't had anyone come into the home," Endres said. Without a ready supply of masks, the couple feels uncomfortable inviting even familiar workers into their home, considering that many of them visit multiple clients or other work sites.
Endres, 45, has reason to be cautious. He has spina bifida-linked scoliosis. Endres had rods inserted into his back as a teenager, but his spine remained somewhat crookedand that spinal curvature has weakened his lungs.
His wife, Julie, has cerebral palsy. Both use power wheelchairs in their ranch-style home, which was built to accommodate their needs. Their decision to keep caregivers away from the house has added challenges during the pandemic. Take the task of changing bedsheets, for example: While a worker might finish in a matter of minutes, it takes the couple more than an hour to complete that chore.
"She would do it once a week," Jason Endres said of one of the workers who helps the couple. "We're lucky if we do it twice a month."
As the pandemic continues, uncertainty is eating Endres up inside: "Are we going to live in this limbo for the rest of our lives? Is that going to be changing for the better or for the worse?
"I agree that we need to get the economy going," Endres added. "But safety's got to be first."
Explore further More than 1 in 5 Americans are taking care of their elderly, ill and disabled relatives and friends
2020 Kaiser Health News
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WASHINGTON The Trump administration is planning to pull federal support for some coronavirus testing sites across the nation at the end of the month, including seven in Texas, where confirmed cases of COVID are spiking.
An array of Texas officials from the city of Houston to the state legislature and Congress are urging the White House to rethink the move, warning of catastrophic cascading consequences of pulling federal support for testing sites, four of which are in Harris County and administer thousands of tests per day. Houston officials say the sites wont close, but keeping them open without federal help will drain much-needed resources as the city works to expand testing and build a contact tracing network.
A Trump administration official said the sites are part of a now antiquated program the federal government is moving away from as it works to expand testing options and that the federal government has provided billions to help state testing efforts. But in Houston, two of the sites the largest in the city, administering up to 500 tests each per day are considered the backbone of testing efforts.
Texas has seen a 190-percent increase in lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations since Memorial Day, and Houston could soon be the countrys worst-hit city, health officials have warned.
ALL-TIME HIGH: Gov. Abbott warns of record-breaking 5,000 new COVID-19 infections for Texas
Now is the time to be ramping up our testing capabilities, not slowing it down, said U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat who led a letter to the heads of FEMA and Health and Human Services on Tuesday. Houston Democratic U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, Al Green and Lizzie Fletcher also signed it.
Also pushing back on the plan is a group of 20 members of the Texas House and Senate representing Harris County and Republican U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.
Assistant HHS Secretary Brett Giroir on Wednesday said he spoke personally with state leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, about the sites, and they made it clear they were very happy to take this under state control.
Giroir said the federal government gives testing supplies to the state every month and that the federal government has sent Texas $567 million and Houston $73 million in coronavirus relief funding that they can use to help pick up the costs of keeping the sites running. Covering the seven sites in Texas that will lose federal support should be a minimal burden on the state, he said.
The Trump administration has long planned to end federal support for the sites and transition them to state and local control as it works to expand testing in other ways, including by partnering with pharmacies such as CVS. Giroir said that includes more than 200 sites in Texas.
But the administration has pushed back the plan to pull out of the sites at least once, in April, when it extended support for the sites until the end of June at the urging of local lawmakers.
NEW FEDERAL SUPPORT: Harris Health gets $50 million in COVID-19 relief
Texas lawmakers are asking the administration to push back the deadline again, this time to the end of August. They say that ending federal support for the sites now could hinder local attempts to build up contact tracing networks and other efforts to control the outbreak.
Its pretty clear to me, and I think its clear to all of us, that with the uptick of cases, now is not a time to retreat from our vigilance in testing, Cornyn said. They need to extend that federal support in Texas, at least until we get this most recent uptick in cases addressed.
Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday that Houston will keep the testing sites open, but it will strain its resources to do so. The citys health department is working on a transition plan as officials push for the federal government to reconsider.
Losing the support of the federal government for testing sites will undoubtedly have catastrophic cascading consequences in the regions ability to adequately test, quarantine and isolate, ultimately blunting the progression of COVID-19, Turner and Dr. David Persse, the citys health authority, wrote in a letter to Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz earlier this week.
Houston has 27 testing sites, with most administering between 100 and 250 tests per day.
The federally supported sites at Butler and Delmar Stadiums are by far the citys largest. The two Harris County sites at the San Jacinto College campus in Pasadena and Pridgeon Stadium administer around 750 tests each per day. All four federally support sites have been reaching capacity by 1 p.m., officials said.
The federal government also provides support for two sites in Dallas and one in El Paso.
As we continue to see significant increases in the rate of infection in Houston and Harris County, we cannot afford for FEMA to withdraw fiscal, personnel and administrative support of COVID-19 testing sites, Garcia said. Doing so will only jeopardize our ability to monitor the spread of the virus and will set us back in our ability to take care of everyone in our community.
DAMN SCARY: Houston congressman rings alarm over growing COVID-19 cases
The potential loss of federal support for the sites comes as President Donald Trump has said repeatedly this week that fewer tests would mean fewer reported cases of the disease, doubling down on comments he made at a weekend rally in Tulsa, Okla., when said he suggested that his administration slow the testing down, please.
Dylan McGuinness contributed reporting from Houston.
ben.wermund@chron.com
State's Sales Tax-Free Holiday Set for Aug. 29-30
BOSTON The annual sales tax-free weekend will still be held this year despite the anticipated drop in state tax revenue because of the novel coronavirus.
The Baker-Polito administration said the tax-free weekend will take place Aug. 29-30. This marks the second sales tax holiday held under the new law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018 that made the weekend an annual occurrence.
"The annual sales tax holiday is an opportunity for us to support small businesses and consumers, and this year, it's a great way to support our economy that's been impacted by COVID-19," said Baker in a statement. "This pandemic has created enormous challenges for the commonwealth's small businesses, and the sales tax-free weekend is one way that we can encourage more economic activity to help Main Street businesses and local economies."
The holiday exempts retail items for personal use (up to $2,500 per item) from the state's sales tax of 6.25 percent. It does not include such items telecommunications, cars and boats, utilities and gasoline, meals, alcoholic beverages or marijuana. See more information here.
The effectiveness of a the sales tax holiday has been debated for years. Last year, the Department of Revenue estimated state tax revenue losses of between $16.7 million and $37.7 million. However, the holiday is very popular with citizens and small businesses so popular that some Pittsfield businesses held their own "tax free" promotion in 2016 when the state didn't.
After two years with no tax-free holiday because of the state's financial condition, it was made a permanent holiday by law in 2018.
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By Express News Service
JHARSUGUDA: In a blatant violation of quarantine guidelines, a woman under isolation hosted a birthday party and attended marriage anniversary celebration of her neighbour thereby infecting 17 persons in OPM area at Brajrajnagar.
Police on Sunday filed cases against two persons under Section 15 of the Disaster Management Act and Sections 296, 271 and 188 of IPC.
The 29-year-old woman, who is now considered a super-spreader, had returned to Jharsuguda from Gurgaon on June 9 along with her husband and son. The family was staying at the womans uncles house in OMP area and it was put under home quarantine. Their samples were collected for tests.
Although the family was supposed to stay in isolation for 14 days adhering to all the COVID-19 quarantine norms, the woman organised a birthday party of her son on June 12 attending by many of the neighbours.
A day later, the woman also attended a wedding anniversary celebration in her neighbourhood and in the process, she ended up infecting 17 others in the area with coronavirus, informed Collector Saroj Kumar Samal.
On June 14, her samples tested positive for the disease and the area was declared containment zone.
Collector said the irresponsibility by the woman has led to infection in 17 other persons.
Another person in the neighbourhood organised an anniversary celebration despite the area being a containment zone. Despite creating awareness among people about importance of complete isolation during home quarantine besides containment zone guidelines, they are not taking the situation seriously, said Samal, adding there is no fear of community transmission as all the cases are within containment zone limits.
Police filed cases against head of the womans family and the neighbour for violating the norms.Apart from these 17 cases, two more persons of Mandalia within Brajrajnagar limits had also tested positive on June 14.
A resident of a senior living community dances on her balcony as she listens to a DC area motown band play a social distance concert in the communitys parking lot in Arlington, Va., on April 14, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
The Bioethics Push to Starve Dementia Patients
Commentary
Did you know that the United Nations declared June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day? Probably not. It didnt get much publicity.
That may be because, as a culture, we are growing progressively disdainful of people with serious incapacities caused by advanced age, particularly those that impact cognition. Indeed, many now accept the discriminatory premise that death is better than dementia.
Some now take that invidious concept to its logical conclusion. The Netherlands and Belgium have long permitted lethal injection euthanasia for the ill and disabled who are competent. But now, doctors also may lethally inject incompetent people with Alzheimers, stroke, or other cognitively disabling condition if the patient so instructed while still compos mentis.
And, it turns out, patients may not be allowed to change their minds once they lose capacity.
A recent case out of the Netherlands illustrates the horror. A woman diagnosed with Alzheimers left instructions that she be euthanized once incapacitatedbut she reserved the right to decide when that time had come. After becoming incompetent, her doctor, Marinou Arends, asked her three times whether she wanted to dieand the patient told the doctor on each occasion that she did not.
I saw in her eyes that she didnt understand anymore, Arends recalled in an interview, after one such refusal.
So, the doctor drugged her patients coffee, and began the lethal injection procedure while the woman slept. But her patient awakened and struggled against being killed. The doctor ordered the family to hold her down as she finished the process.
Arends was tried for murder but was quickly exonerated and even praised by the judge for furthering her late patients best interests. In other words, the patient was deemed incompetent to want to live.
Self-Starvation
But what about jurisdictions in which euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal? Assisted suicide advocates teach the elderly how to commit suicide by self-starvationwith the cooperation of a doctor palliating the agonya practice known in euthanasia parlance as VSED for voluntary stop eating and drinking.
As if that isnt awful enough, bioethicists also are now arguing that people should be able to sign an advance medical directive ordering that they be denied food and water by mouth if they become cognitively impaired, just as people can order themselves euthanized in the Netherlands.
Since it requires that the individual act before losing capacity, VSED requires that the individual act earlier than they prefer, one prominent proponent, bioethicist Thaddeus Mason Pope, argues. They must act while they still find life worthwhile. Because it is uncertain when the window of opportunity will close, when the individual will lose capacity, individuals err on the side of acting early.
To avoid the problem of premature death, many have proposed that individuals complete advance directives that instruct others to stop hand feeding. This is known as advance VSED or SED by AD.
Lets be clear about what we are discussing here. Its not force-feeding people who wont eat. Nor are we discussing a feeding tube, which can be refused via a signed advance directive, because it is deemed by law to be a medical treatment. Rather, the point is to deny sustenance to people who willingly accept food and liquids by mouth.
Being provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner, even when spoon-fed, arent medical treatments, but humane careakin to being kept warm, clean, and free from bed soresbasic assistance to which everyone is entitled simply because they are human beings.
Consider: If a patient stated they wanted to die by hypothermia by being left in front of an open window during a blizzard, would we ever permit it? No! Doing so would be castigated as gross neglect regardless of what the patient wrote they wanted.
Enforced Starvation
This important distinction between medical treatment and humane care is eroding fast.
If Pope and his fellow travelers get their way, nursing homes and other caregivers could be forced to starve incompetent patients under threat of lawsuit or loss of professional licensejust like doctors today cannot refuse to cease life-sustaining medical treatment when so ordered in an advance directive.
Oh, Wesley. Things would never go that far!
Alas, they already have. The Medical Journal of Australia just reported on an incapacitated stroke patient who had signed an advance directive stating, If I am suffering from advanced dementia and appear willing to accept food and fluid by hand offered by assisted or hand feeding, my instructions are that I do NOT want to be fed by hand even if I appear to cooperate in being fed by opening my mouth.
That is something no one should have the right to demand of others, but its exactly what the doctors and the patients wife acquiesced to, even though the directives [to withhold food] were not legally binding.
It took the man four days to die.
It can happen here now, too. A recently passed law (SB 121) allows Nevadans to sign an End of Life Decisions Addendum: Statement of Desires, to an advance medical directive by marking yes or no to the following question: 4. I want to get food and water even if I do not want to take medicine or receive treatment.
If the patient checks no, it would seem to require caregivers to make the patient die of malnourishmentperhaps, even if he or she asks for food. Remember what happened to the poor dementia patient in the Netherlands deemed incompetent to want to live.
But, you say, starving is a horrible way to die! Indeed, and thats precisely the point. The ultimate purpose behind requiring caregivers to deny sustenance to people isnt to pretend that such crass neglect is a civilized means of causing death. Rather, it is to create such revulsion that people will agree to dispatch such patients more humanely by lethal injection instead.
We cant yield to that coercion. The answer to the difficulties caused by dementia isnt to kill people less painfully, but to care for them properly with love and respectwhich begins with not killing them at all.
Award-winning author Wesley J. Smith is chairman of the Discovery Institutes Center on Human Exceptionalism and a consultant to the Patients Rights Council.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The new PoP in the Spanish capital will offer customers dedicated and virtual servers with protection against DDoS attacks of any complexity and volume, as well as services for fast delivery of content with an average response time of 30 ms as measured by according to Citrix analytical system. It promises to offer access speeds to dedicated servers of at least 10 Gbit/s, without traffic limitations, even in conditions of high loads. New G-Core Labs customers will be able to use a free CDN trial period with 300 GBytes of traffic.Madrid is regarded by G-Core Labs as a very important location for G-Core Labs global network infrastructure. Firstly, the Spanish capital is one of the largest economic centres in Europe. By opening a hosting and CDN point in Madrid, we support our corporate clients focused on business in the Western European region, noted G-Core Labs managing director Andre Reitenbach.Secondly, Spain belongs to countries with a high level of Internet penetration, more than 68% of the population are active users of the network, this is more than 31 million internet users every month. At the same time, the country has a double-digit growth rate of e-commerce and is considered as one of unofficial centres of eSports development in the region.G-Core Labs also expects the new point of presence in Madrid to be useful both in Spain itself, and among European, Asian and American companies seeking to work effectively in the local and regional markets. It added that its G- content delivery network has repeatedly become the leader in response speed among all major CDN service providers in France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and other European countries. G-Core Labs global servers are located in a certified Tier III class data centre and the company provides 5 TB of traffic for free for each dedicated server. The global architecture of G-Core Labs content delivery network, located on five continents, was created by experts on high-load systems. It currently includes over 100 POPs located in more than 65 cities around the world, has more than 5000 peering partners, 300 cache servers and the total network capacity is over 10 Tbit/sec.The G-Core Labs virtual server, equipped with fast SSD disks, is based on KVM virtualisation technology which is said to guarantee high and uninterrupted performance.
New Delhi, June 23 : With less than a year to go for the West Bengal elections where the BJP hopes for "poriborton", the biggest roadblock it faces is a lack of a credible leader in the state. Now, it seems that debate is put to rest till the elections are over, with the BJP seemingly unanimous with going ahead with Jan Sangh founder and a fellow Bengali - Syama Prasad Mookerjee, to counter Trinamool Congress' Bengali card and yet stay on course with its nationalism base.
No wonder then, that a nearly seven-decade-old book,focussing on Mookerjee's death in mysterious circumstances, has been resurrected this year, just ahead of the 2021 Bengal assembly polls. Sangh insiders of the Bengal unit says that this is not just a book but the brand of Mookerjee, which is re-launched. The message is clear -- to educate Bengalis, particularly the younger generation of a leader who paid with his life in his pursuit to unify Jammu and Kashmir with India and has since, been pushed out of popular Bengali consciousness.
Anirban Ganguly, who heads the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, admits: "Bengalis of my generation used to heatedly debate about Mookerjee. But today's generation may not be as aware of him. The book will help them reconnect with a Bengali personality who has been the tallest since Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's disappearance." After decades in the cold, "Shyama Prasad Mukherjee: His death in detention, A case for enquiry", first published in 1953 in Bengali and English, will be relaunched by BJP President J.P. Nadda himself. Ganguly himself has written a forward in the book, which was written by Uma Prasad Mukherjee, the Jan Singh founder's brother.
The goal is simple - to counter TMC's 'Bengali card' that it is playing against the BJP in the state and corner it further for its association with the Congress by suggesting a foul play in the death of one of Bengal's tallest political leaders under the leadership of then Prime Minister Jawaharal Nehru.
"Rahul Gandhi keeps talking about RSS's responsibility in killing (Mahatma) Gandhi. The court has cleared it, various commissions too have done the same. But what about enquiring Mookerjee's, a fellow Bengali's, mysterious death under the watch of his own great grandfather? There are so many unanswered questions about why no oxygen was provided, why no ambulance was arranged, why the existence of his diary was denied," argues Ganguly.
The symbolic significance of Mookerjee is huge given many credit him for the creation of West Bengal, as we know today. A minister in Nehru's cabinet between 1951 and 1952, it was he who gave the call of 'Ek desh mein do vidhan, do pradhan aur do nishan nahi chalenge' (In one country, two different constitutions, leaders, and symbol cannot function), opposing Article 370 in Kashmir. His suspicious death occurred when he was enroute to enter J&K." The BJP has made steady progress in the state since the Panchayat elections where it snatched Purulia despite a violence-ridden poll that forced the Calcutta High Court to allow filing nominations through WhatsApp. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP stunned the Trinamool by getting 18 seats, a jump of 16 seats from its previous poll. All this while, the BJP was riding high on Hindutva and nationalism to counter TMC's alleged "minority appeasement".
But in the faction-ridden Bengal unit, what BJP lacked was a face who could counter Mamata Banerjee's "North Indian" charge against the party. It was the vandalisation of Vidyasagar's statue by miscreants, during Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata, before the last phase of Lok Sabha election in 2019 that helped Banerjee bring the "anti-Bengali" charge against the saffron party. BJP didn't win a single seat in the last phase, despite a stunning performance otherwise. To put things into context, in the 7-phase election, BJP didn't score a duck in Bengal in any other phases. It was blamed on the hurt Bengali sentiment that seemed to have punished the BJP in the last phase.
After the election, the BJP held multiple brainstorming sessions in Kolkata and New Delhi alike where , where it decided it needs a face to counter the "anti-Bengal" image. Who better than the man who founded the Jan Sangh and who championed the cause of the Hindu refugees of Bengal? Does the relaunching of 'brand SP Mookerjee' do that? "The book will establish a connection with Bengalis who aren't that aware of him. Bengalis must realize here was a leader who could have led them to much greater glory in post independent India, but was done away with," claims Ganguly.
(Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at Anindya.b@ians.in)
Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the US, testified before Congress on Tuesday that he believes racism has contributed to black Americans being disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Well, I mean, obviously the African American community has suffered from racism for a very, very long period of time," Mr Fauci said in response to a question from Illinois Democratic Congressman Bobby Rush at an oversight hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
"I cannot imagine that that has not contributed to the conditions that they find themselves in economically and otherwise. So the answer, congressman, is yes, Mr Fauci said.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has maintained for months that minority communities have been at greater risk for Covid-19 infection and death.
"Current data suggest a disproportionate burden of illness and death among racial and ethnic minority groups," the CDC says on its website, linking to a research paper from April.
The APM Research Lab released a report earlier this month that found black Americans have suffered 24.3 per cent of the known Covid-19 deaths in the US. That's despite their population share being just 12.4 per cent.
White Americans, meanwhile, have fared proportionately better. While they make up 62.2 per cent of the US population, their share of the Covid-19 death total is just 51.7 per cent.
Civil rights leaders and lawmakers have argued black Americans have been disproportionately affected due to a systemic lack of access to health care, more crowded housing conditions caused by decades of economic oppression, and other factors.
Mr Rush, a longtime civil rights activist and co-founder of Illinois' Black Panther chapter, has spent a strong bulk of his congressional career focusing on issues affecting black communities.
The congressman was in the headlines earlier this month after video emerged of police officers lounging in his congressional district office while people looted surrounding stores.
While it was not immediately clear whether the officers in Mr Rush's office had been ordered by higher-ups to stand down to the looters, Mr Rush was apoplectic about how the officers appeared to be treating his office as a living space.
They even had the unmitigated gall to go and make coffee for themselves and to pop popcorn my popcorn in my microwave while looters were tearing apart businesses within their sight and within their reach, Mr Rush said at a press conference earlier this month.
By Express News Service
LUCKNOW: In the wake of 57 inmates of a government shelter home in Kanpur testing positive for coronavirus, the state government has ordered the authorities concerned to conduct the Covid-19 test of all inmates lodged in women and children shelter homes and observations homes across Uttar Pradesh.
The order is part of the Women and Child Welfare departments preventive drive. Under the drive, the department has asked the district magistrates across all 75 districts to compulsorily carry out Covid-19 tests of all inmates lodged in the homes in their respective districts. There are over 300 homes in the state with around 5,500 inmates.
However, last week, under the campaign to conduct random testing of samples from targeted groups, samples from all homes were collected and tested.
As per the sources, in random testing, five samples were collected from each home across the state. While all of them tested negative, one sample from Kanpur government shelter home had tested positive for the deadly virus. This led to further tests for the shelter home inmates where 57 tested positive since June 17.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020will hold Aero-Engines Europe Virtual , a digital event with enhanced matchmaking opportunities and high-quality educational content, September 16-17. The proactive decision to transform this annual conference into a virtual event was made after reviewing government and business restrictions on travel and with the health and safety of its attendees in mind. Aero-Engines Europe will return as a live event in Stavanger, Norway on September 15-16, 2021.
Aero-Engines Europe is the premier event exclusively dedicated to the trends and issues related to Europe's engine MRO community, gathering stakeholders from across the value chain including OEMs, MROs, airlines, lessors and suppliers. The virtual event will provide digital content and networking, and a forum where the airline, engine lessor, OEM and MRO supplier communities can connect with and source new and existing business partners and share knowledge and best practices.
"We understand how important Aero-Engines Europe, and the entire Aero-Engines series, is to the industry and how much effort goes into preparing for it," said Lydia Janow, Managing Director of Events for Aviation Week Network. "It was not an easy decision to replace the live event with a virtual event, and so, in this difficult time, we would like to thank our community for its understanding and support. We're looking forward to continuing our role in driving our industry forward, connecting our communities and supporting businesses, we are in this together."
The Aviation Week events team is working through details that will support this transition and will be sharing updates via the website and social media platforms in the coming weeks.
Aviation Week Network's parent company, Informa, has developed AllSecure, a set of enhanced standards and guidelines that provide the highest level of hygiene and safety at all Informa's events. All upcoming Aero-Engines and MRO events will be organized in accordance with the AllSecure standard, providing visitors with reassurance they are participating in a safe and controlled environment.
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Estonian mobile operators have called for the countrys Minister of Foreign Trade and IT to revise its licensing strategy for spectrum in the 3.4GHz - 3.8GHz range.
Minister Raul Siem recently agreed to award four licences in this band after wireless ISP Levikom took legal action, arguing that the original plan of issuing three licences provided an unfair advantage to the incumbent operators that would stymie competition.
Estonias competition watchdog upheld Levikoms complaint, prompting a rethink of the ministrys strategy. However, the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITL) has now argued that creating four equal lots from the available spectrum will mean that each individual allocation will only be suitable for 4G services rather than full 5G networks.
There are also issues of cross-border interference to consider, as Estonias neighbour Russia currently runs military communications over the 3.6GHz-3.8GHz range. While it is looking to migrate these to alternative frequencies, Russias use of the 700MHz band for TV broadcasting is also preventing Estonia from auctioning this frequency for 5G.
Estonian operator Tele2 Eesti has called for the countrys government to use the available spectrum resources to create a single nationwide 5G network through which providers could offer services on a wholesale basis via an open access business model.
Writing to the minister, the operators CEO Chris Alan Robbins claimed: "This would be a real motor for innovation for Estonia, not a closed infrastructure model like we have right now, where all wireless access is controlled by three operators.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is calling on tourism operators and other businesses to shun customers from Melbournes coronavirus hotspots as the number of active cases in Victoria continues to rise.
However, Ms Berejiklian refused to bow to growing calls to close the southern border, particularly in the lead-up to the school holidays.
There was one newly confirmed case of COVID-19 in NSW on Tuesday in a returned traveller. In Victoria, 17 new cases were reported, marking a week of daily double-digit growth in cases.
Not welcome: Ms Berejiklian said businesses can turn away customers from Melbourne's coronavirus hotspots. Credit:Rhett Wyman
On Monday, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said ski resorts would want border closures ahead of the school holidays in order to prevent outbreaks in the state.
A new government rule that requires shops and malls to close at 9pm and restaurants and cafes to close at 10pm is a permanent decision and will not be changed after the coronavirus pandemic, said a cabinet spokesman on Tuesday.
The decision to regulate the working hours of cafes and restaurants is an organisational decision and Egypt is heading to having those hours as official working hours, like in the United States and Europe, Nader Saad told DMC TV channel on Tuesday night.
The decision about closing times of shops, restaurants and cafes will vary between summer and winter, Saad also said, adding that working hours would be extended in touristic governorates.
The decision to close the cafes at 10pm is final, he said, adding that the decision regulates the working hours of shops and conserves energy.
Sitting at a cafe after 10pm wont yield any productivity for the state, he said.
Prior to a nightly curfew put in place in March due to the pandemic, some restaurants and cafes were open 24 hours, while many others would remain open until at least midnight.
Shops were also commonly open until late at night.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced the easing of precautionary coronavirus measures from Saturday.
The curfew, currently set at 8pm, will be lifted, and restaurants, cafes and non-essential shops will be allowed to open until 10pm with a 25 percent capacity.
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As the coronavirus infects younger people and doctors learn to provide better care to patients, the death rate from Covid-19 could drop in coming weeks, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Tuesday.
A number of governors, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, have said young people account for many new infections in their states. Young and otherwise healthy people are less likely to die of Covid-19, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though they can develop severe disease and scientists are still researching the long-term health effects of an infection.
"As the hospitals fill up with Covid patients, we're going to see how much the mortality rate declines as a function of it's a younger cohort, younger age cohort, but also we have better treatment," Gottlieb said on "Squawk Box." "There's no question that we're going to preserve more life now that we have these therapeutic opportunities available to us."
In Florida, DeSantis noted last week that the average age of those who test positive has fallen from 65.5 years old in March to 37 in June, citing that as evidence that the state is effectively protecting the most vulnerable. Some health officials, however, have warned that even if mostly younger people are getting infected right now, they are likely to go on and spread the disease to older people and those with underlying conditions who are more vulnerable.
Hospitalizations, which lag behind confirmed cases as people develop symptoms and seek medical attention, are on the rise in Texas and at least 15 other states, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Gottlieb noted that hospitalizations are not rising at the same rate relative to new infections as they were in March and early April. That means a smaller portion of those infected are being hospitalized.
And doctors are better prepared to treat Covid-19 patients now than they were when some hospitals in New York City were overwhelmed about three months ago, Gottlieb said. He added that since then, doctors have begun to use ventilators more sparingly and opt instead for other treatment options that could be less traumatic for patients.
"We will see that affect outcomes and we'll preserve more life," Gottlieb said. "No question about that."
While there's still no FDA-approved treatment for Covid-19, Gottlieb said that a number of companies are working on different therapeutics and making steady progress. He said he's particularly hopeful about pharmaceutical company Regeneron's potential antibody drug. Pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, which began trials of its antibody drug earlier this month, said a treatment could be authorized, if all goes well, as early as September.
So far, Gilead's antiviral remdesivir is the only drug to show some effectiveness in treating the disease.
Earlier this month, researchers from Oxford University announced they found that dexamethasone, a cheap and widely used steroid, reduced death rates by about a third among the most severely ill Covid-19 patients. Gottlieb previously said the drug could have an "immediate impact" in bringing down the mortality rate of the disease.
"I think one or more of these will be successful," Gottlieb said. "The challenge is going to be that they're probably going to be most beneficial when introduced earlier in the course of disease and we're going to be dose limited."
Some companies, especially vaccine manufacturers, have said they are ramping up manufacturing capacity before their potential vaccines are approved so that they can quickly roll them out at scale if they prove safe and effective in humans. Gottlieb said therapeutic manufacturers do not appear to be taking the same route, which could lead to constrained supply.
"If I was in the government now, this is what I'd be focused on, trying to free up domestic manufacturing capacity and make these drugs at scale," he said. "We don't seem to be doing that, which is a challenge."
Disclosure: Scott Gottlieb is a CNBC contributor and is a member of the boards of Pfizer, genetic-testing start-up Tempus and biotech company Illumina.
We can both be proud of those symbolic gestures and critical of the ways that Muriel Bowser has led the city, Carter said. The mayor clearly has problems of her own outside of Donald Trump. She needs to figure out how shes going to answer to her residents.
French President Emmanuel Macron is seen on a television screen as he speaks during a televised address to the nation on the outbreak of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus, on March 16, 2020, in Paris.
French President Emmanuel Macron is facing a new dilemma that could hurt his chances for re-election in 2022.
Recent opinion polls have shown that Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is more popular than President Macron. According to polling firm Ifop, in June, the prime minister had an approval rating of 50% well above Macron's, which stood at 38%. In a political system where the president is the main political figure, Macron is studying his political alternatives.
"He is certainly tempted to make a change," Mujtaba Rahman, managing director at the research firm Eurasia Group, told CNBC amid speculation that Macron is considering changing prime minister.
"But, Philippe is very popular," he said. "Dumping him (even amicably) will be risky. Keeping him is also problematic, if his popularity puts Macron in the shade.
In France, the president selects the prime minister, who then forms the government.
The Elysee, the official residency of the president, wasn't immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.
A French newspaper reported earlier this month that Macron was considering resigning and triggering a new election to revamp the presidency post-coronavirus. His office denied the report.
European Union Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager talks during a video press conference at the European Commission in Brussels on June 17, 2020. (KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Europe Resorts to Trade Protectionism to Tackle State Subsidies
WASHINGTONThe European Union is moving forward with adopting protectionist rules to defend its companies against subsidized foreign competitors, a move that is expected to curtail the activities of state-owned Chinese companies in Europe.
European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition and digital policy, said the EU needs to have the right tool to tackle distortive foreign subsidies that are uncontrolled and unchecked.
We ask businesses in Europe to compete fair and square on the products, quality, affordable prices, innovation, without taxpayers picking up their bills, she said on June 23 at a virtual conference hosted by the Atlantic Council.
She added that the objective of the new policy is to push for fair competition in production and investment and also stand up for European companies when they are faced with unfair competition.
The European Commission recently published a white paper on the damage caused by foreign subsidies in the bloc.
According to the report, foreign subsidies take various forms, which include interest-free loans, unlimited guarantees, capital injections, preferential tax treatment, tax credits, and grants.
These subsidies cause a loss of competitiveness and innovation potential of companies that do not receive such subsidies, the report stated.
After a period of public consultation, the EU will introduce a new legal instrument on foreign subsidies next year.
Unfair and trade-distortive government subsidies have become a major issue in the world trading system, while the World Trade Organization rules have failed to address these problems, particularly in responding to the Chinese economic model.
The issue of subsidies has also been a top concern of the Trump administration and the impetus for starting a trade war with China.
The phase one China trade deal signed in January doesnt fully resolve this problem, and it will be difficult to ease U.S.China tensions if the issue of state subsidies remains unresolved in phase two talks with China, according to experts.
In the past decade, through large government subsidies, China has managed to create its own national champions in key industries, including steel, aluminum, and solar panels. And recently, these subsidies have been heavily used to achieve dominance in high-technology sectors, as outlined in the Made in China 2025 blueprint.
In response to questions about whether the EUs new protectionist tools would threaten globalization, Vestager said the EU would never, ever compromise on the rule of law and equal treatment principles.
These protectionist measures also will block Chinese bargain buyers who have been looking to acquire distressed assets and companies in Europe during the pandemic.
Vestager said that she hoped the white paper on foreign subsidy will be preferred reading globally.
She also said the EU wouldnt compromise on competition law enforcement in digital trade.
I do hope that one way or another we can still move this forward, she said, referring to a global solution on digital services taxes.
The dispute over digital taxes rose after Washington pulled out of global negotiations last week, heightening fears of a new trade war between the United States and the bloc.
She said that having a global consensus would be the best solution rather than us here within Europe having to pursue this on our own.
Earlier, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the United States will withdraw from negotiations that seek to rewrite cross-border tax rules for digital trade. He claimed that the talks had reached an impasse.
The negotiations coordinated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have been going for months with the goal of reaching a solution by the end of the year.
The United States, however, still plans to participate in OECDs digital tax talks in July, according to the Treasury Department.
Energy ministry has not yet reached agreements with Centrenergo on payments to coalmines for supplied coal minister
The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine has not yet reached an agreement with PJSC Centrenergo regarding settlements with state-owned coal enterprises for supplied coal, according to a statement on the ministry's Facebook page.
"The ministry is constantly negotiating with the management of Centrenergo PJSC, which is managed by the State Property Fund, regarding the facilitation of settlements for shipped coal, but so far no agreements have been reached," acting Minister of Energy Olha Buslavets said at a meeting with representatives of Nadiya Mine adding that the management of the power generating company promised to set up a debt repayment schedule.
According to Buslavets, the ministry is currently considering options for introducing a mechanism for selling coal to state-owned enterprises at exchange auctions.
According to acting Director of the mine Ihor Piliay, Centrenergo's debt to the coal enterprise amounts to UAH 9 million. At the same time, he said that PJSC Lvivoblenergo plans to disconnect the mine from power supply from June 26 due to debts for electricity in the amount of UAH 7.8 million.
"This situation, unfortunately, is not only at the Nadiya mine. One of the reasons is the decrease in electricity generation at TPPs, as well as the recent policy of Centrenergo to replace Ukrainian coal with gas," Buslavets said.
At the same time, she said that in the near future the financial and economic audit of the mine should be completed, based on which conclusions will be made regarding the activities of officials, which led to a deterioration in the economic condition of the enterprise.
Lawyer Alan Dershowitz is fighting to obtain secret court documents involving Jeffrey Epstein to use in a civil defamation lawsuit he has filed against a woman who claims she was forced to have sex with the flamboyant Harvard professor when she was a teen.
Lawyers for Virginia Giuffre, however, asked a federal judge on Tuesday to keep the documents out of Dershowitzs hands, at least for now, because they fear he may incorporate the information into his defamation case out of context and possibly distort the information.
Judge Loretta Preska held a telephonic conference call to hear arguments for and against Dershowitzs effort to obtain evidence that was collected in 2016 as part of an unrelated defamation suit that Giuffre brought against Epsteins alleged madam, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Tuesdays hearing came against the backdrop of an ongoing Miami Herald lawsuit seeking to make all the records public in the Maxwell lawsuit. How Preska rules could have a bearing on whether the public learns more about Epsteins circle of powerful, wealthy friends and whether they were either complicit in, had knowledge of or participated in his alleged sex trafficking operation.
Epstein was arrested almost a year ago, charged with sex trafficking by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. He was found dead in his federal prison cell last Aug. 10, and the New York medical examiner ruled his death was a suicide by hanging. He was 66.
A multimillionaire whose friends included former presidents, royalty and some of the worlds wealthiest men, Epstein was investigated in 2006 for allegedly molesting countless underage girls at his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. He hired a legal dream team that included a number of high-profile attorneys, including Dershowitz. He managed to receive an extraordinarily lenient plea deal in which he escaped a federal prison sentence, and received immunity from federal prosecution, along with a number of his alleged co-conspirators.
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Giuffre, now 36, married and living in Australia, sued Dershowitz last year for defamation, and Dershowitz has countersued. The 81-year-old lawyer claims that he has never met Giuffre and has insisted that her allegations against him are part of an elaborate conspiracy involving one of her lawyers, famed New York lawyer David Boies. Among other things, Dershowitz theorizes that Boies and Giuffre cooked up the accusation against Dershowitz as a means to extort billionaire Les Wexner, one of Epsteins clients.
The Herald was successful in obtaining some but not all of the documents in the Giuffre-Maxwell suit last year. Among the evidence still not released are the full transcripts of Giuffres depositions, in which she alleges she was sexually trafficked to several prominent men, including Englands Prince Andrew and Dershowitz.
Dershowitzs lawyer, Howard Cooper, however, admitted in court Tuesday that they have obtained some of those sealed depositions, and Dershowitz, in court filings connected to the case, identified former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Wexner, owner of L Brands and Victorias Secret, as two of the people whom Giuffre has alleged she was trafficked to and named in her depositions.
Cooper tried to convince the court that he was seeking efficiency in asking for sealed documents from the Maxwell suit. But in a rare confluence of interests, multiple lawyers who would otherwise oppose each other were united in asking Preska, a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, to deny the celebrity lawyer access.
Maxwells attorney, Laura A. Menninger, took issue with Coopers suggestions that there was substantial overlap between Giuffres defamation case involving Maxwell and Dershowitzs defamation action against Giuffre, labeling that speculative. It assumes, she said, that each witness [in the Maxwell case] was asked about Dershowitz and I can represent that that is far from the case.
Virginia Roberts, now Giuffre, says she was 16 and working as a locker room attendant at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort when she was approached by Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epsteins associate, about becoming a masseuse for Epstein.
Arguing on behalf of a mysterious John Doe, lawyer Nicholas J. Lewin was the most vocal, citing the need to protect the privacy of people who have not been publicly accused of wrongdoing. Dershowitzs request was neither efficient nor proportional, he argued.
It is frankly hard to imagine that the overlap is so significant that every single piece of paper every significant page of discovery is relevant in one case because it exists in another case, Lewin argued. He joined the Maxwell defamation suit in March 2019, offering a friend-of-the-court brief that supported efforts to keep those named by Giuffre in her deposition under seal and private. John Doe claims to be someone not publicly identified and insists that he had not had a sexual encounter with Giuffre.
Dershowitz has called Giuffre a serial liar, and has gone on a Twitter spree this week, angry about how he was portrayed in a Netflix show about the Epstein scandal.
Frequent television appearances and involvement in the O.J. Simpson trial have made Dershowitz, a professor emeritus at Harvard, a household name. He was also part of President Donald Trumps impeachment defense team.
Falsely accusing innocent people is a serious crime that must be seriously investigated. Alan Dershowitz (@AlanDersh) June 22, 2020
One of Giuffres new attorneys for the Dershowitz case, Nicole J. Moss, also opposed sharing depositions that were taken in one case and using them for another. She did confirm, however, that she herself has had access to these depositions via Giuffres attorneys in the Maxwell case. This drew criticism from lawyers for Maxwell, Dershowitz and John Doe.
Judge Preska did not signal how she might rule, ending the roughly 45-minute hearing with a promise to get back to all parties in short order.
The Congress' efforts to topple the BJP-led government in Manipur received a jolt on Tuesday after four MLAs of National Peoples Party (NPP) reportedly left the new Opposition front and were flown to Delhi for discussion with senior BJP leaders.
Sources said that the development took place after BJP's crisis manager and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held meetings with the MLAs on Tuesday at Imphal.
NPP chief and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was also in the meeting.
"They had raised some issues which I cannot address on my own. So they wanted a meeting with senior leaders," Sarma told reporters at Imphal airport.
The four MLAs of NPP, an ally of BJP in the Northeast, and five others had resigned from the three-year-old N Biren Singh government on June 17 and joined the Congress-led front, Secular Progressive Front (SPF), the next day.
They had decided to support the efforts to topple the government.
A team of the SRF led by former chief minister and veteran Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh including the NPP MLAs met Governor Najma Heptulla on Thursday and staked claim to form their government.
They claimed the support of 26 MLAs in the house of 52 and also demanded a floor test by BJP-led government.
As NPP MLAs remained firm with the Ibobi Singh camp, the BJP rushed Sarma to Imphal on Sunday. Conrad Sangma had also visited Imphal with Sarma but they could not break the ice with the disgruntled MLAs.
Sarma is also the convenor of North East Democratic Alliance, a forum of BJP's regional allies in the region. Sarma on Monday claimed in Guwahati that everything was under BJP's control and a positive solution would come out in the next two-three days.
The development happened hours after CBI summoned Ibobi Singh in connection with a corruption case registered against him in November 2019.
But a BJP leader in Imphal insisted that the CBI action had nothing to do with the political development.
In the past week, Southwest Airlines LUV provided an improved outlook for June and July compared with the previous coronavirus-ravaged months. This Dallas-TX based low-cost carrier attributed the sunnier view to the gradual increase in passenger demand owing to easing of travel restrictions. The demand-recovery scenario raised many carriers optimism of late. Evidently, in the previous week, American Airlines AAL management stated that it hopes to reduce its cash-burn rate to nil by Dec 31, 2020.
The carrier was also in news in the past five trading days when it announced its intention to raise $3.5 billion to strengthen its liquidity position to combat the coronavirus-induced low passenger revenues. Meanwhile, Spirit Airlines SAVE was fined by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to the tune of $350,000 for violating rules pertaining to oversold flights.
Recap of the Past Weeks Most Important Stories
1. Southwest Airlines, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), anticipates its June operating revenues to fall 70-75% year over year with capacity declining 40-50%. Load factor (percentage of seats filled by passengers) in the period is estimated in the 40-50% range. In May, operating revenues slumped 85-90% with capacity decreasing approximately 64% and load factor at around 30%. The May readings were better than those in April. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
2. In a bid to raise cash, American Airlines aims to offer $1.5 billion in senior secured notes due 2025. It expects to enter into a $500-million term loan facility due 2024. Further, the airline will sell $750 million each in shares and senior convertible notes due 2025. Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan are acting as representatives of the underwriters for the stock and the notes offerings. However, per a recent Bloomberg report, the carrier will expand the size of its share and convertible bond offerings to $2 billion.
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3. Spirit Airlines was fined when it wrongly classified more than 1,000 passengers as volunteers who were actual passengers and denied a boarding pass on the Miramar, FL-based carriers oversold flights. Notably, this budget carrier submitted inaccurate reports pertaining to passengers denied boarding for six consecutive quarters beginning the first quarter of 2017.
4. With improving demand, Alaska Air Group ALK anticipates revenue passengers to decline 80-85% year over year in June, indicating a betterment from 95% and 90% plunge in April and May respectively. Capacity in June is expected to be down approximately 70% year over year, compared with 78% and 79% decline in April and May respectively. Load factor (percentage of seats filled by passengers) is predicted to improve to around 50-55% this month from 15% and 40% in April and May respectively. Meanwhile, total revenues are estimated to be down approximately 80% in June from 87% and 83% decline in April and May respectively.
5. Delta Air Lines DAL is set to resume service between the United States and China as travel restrictions ease, making it the first U.S. airline to re-start flights to the nation after the temporary halt since February due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Effective Jun 25, the carrier will re-start flights between Seattle and Shanghai-Pudong via Seoul-Incheon, operating twice a week. From July onward, it will operate flights once a week from Seattle and Detroit, also via Incheon. Delta will utilize the A350 aircraft to operate the Shanghai Pudong-Seattle route.
Performance
The following table shows the price movement of major airline players over the past week and during the past six months.
The table above shows that all airline stocks traded in the red in the past week due to apprehensions of a second wave of coronavirus as cases spike in the United States. The downside caused the NYSE ARCA Airline Index to decline 7.8% to $56.05. Over the course of the past six months, the NYSE ARCA Airline Index has plunged 50.2%.
What's Next in the Airline Space?
Investors will keenly await further coronavirus-related updates and their impact on air travel.
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Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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The 2016 general elections marked a turning point in Taiwans history. For the first time, not only the countrys presidency but also the Legislative Yuan (acting as parliament) came under the control of the green camp led by the DPP. The DPP is a coalition espousing Taiwanese nationalism to a greater or lesser extent depending on the different groups that compose it, and has a moderate line. It had already won the presidency of the Republic between 2000 and 2008. But at the time, Chen Shui-bian, the first president from the ranks of the DPP, had to work with the opposition led by the Kuomintang (KMT) and its allies within the blue camp, a coalition promoting Chinese nationalism, which had retained a parliamentary majority.
So when she won in 2016, President Tsai Ing-wen had considerable room for manoeuvre and could implement ambitious reforms without having to obtain the agreement of the opposition. One of the themes of her campaign was the full realization of transitional justice, a theme that still divides the two camps today. For the KMT, this is not a priority issue since, according to them, three laws adopted in the 1990s have already created an institutional framework for granting compensation and other symbolic recognition to the victims of the authoritarian regime which, with the KMT at its head, ruled the island from 1945 until the beginning of democratisation in 1987. However, for various civil society actors and members of the green camp, these laws were not enough.
One of the major issues absent from the initiatives voted during democratization was the question of the legitimacy of the assets owned by the KMT and other organisations formerly close to the regime. It is at the heart of the law governing the settlement of ill-gotten properties by political parties and their affiliate organisations (or law on ill-gotten gains) adopted in July 2016. This first text was strengthened in 2017 by the adoption of the law on political parties, regulating the funding of political organizations which can no longer be at the head of for-profit organisations and election campaigns.
Legal framework impossible before 2016
Although it took until 2016 for this issue to receive significant attention in Taiwan, including in the media, it had been raised since the early 1990s. Members of the then opposition green camp had called the government to account, pointing out that the KMTs finances were a matter of public interest, given that the party had accumulated a large amount of assets during the authoritarian era and that these assets could undermine the proper functioning of the emerging democratic system. Indeed, at that time there were no binding measures regulating the finances of political parties and their election expenses. Despite repeated calls and the publication of books on how the KMT sold its assets at the time, the KMT refused to grant an external authority a right of inspection over its possessions.
After the presidential election in 2000, which marked a first change of power, the new administration had already carried out a census of public assets to determine their trajectories since 1945. In 2001, it presented a bill on the regularisation of KMT property, which was rejected by the KMT in its first reading in parliament and was therefore not debated. The Chen administration has been constantly pushing it. While rejecting the DPP initiative, KMT reacted by acknowledging its participation in certain companies in the cultural and financial sectors, publishing balance sheets, selling real estate and promising to solve the problem. But it did not propose setting up an independent oversight mechanism and, after regaining control of the executive branch after its victory in the 2008 presidential elections, did not take any significant initiatives before losing power again in 2016. During this period, an association led by intellectuals and public figures that had taken part in the Chen administrations attempts to regulate KMTs assets, sought to ensure that the issue did not disappear from public debate, in particular by publishing archives it had been able to collect between 2000 and 2008.
Creation of an ill-gotten gains commission
The law on ill-gotten gains was adopted five months after the new parliament elected in January 2016 took office, a very short time given the complexity of the issue. In fact, the newly elected government was able to act quickly because the law takes up most of the text promoted by the DPP between 2000 and 2008. Although not explicitly stated, the law targets the KMT and its affiliated organisations which have one year from the passing of the law to declare all their income and assets. Those defined as illegitimate i.e. according to Article 4 of the law assets the political parties have either acquired for themselves or allowed their affiliated organizations to acquire through conducts which are against the nature of political parties and the principles of democracy and the rule of law are to be nationalized. Article 5 stipulates that the only legal sources of income of parties are membership fees, political contributions, donation of campaign funds, government election expenses subsidies and its interests.
The issue of the laws enforcement is addressed in its second article, which defines the statutes of a commission in charge of its application. As an independent body affiliated to the Executive Yuan, i.e. the Presidential Palace, this Ill-Gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee has a mandate to investigate whether a particular group is a former affiliate of the authoritarian State, whether it has benefited from its position to receive material benefits and, if so, whether it possesses illegitimate assets that should be nationalized. Its prerogatives remain moderate. First of all, parliament has a right of oversight on its work. Also, while the commission can demand access to the archives of an entity it is investigating, it can only impose a fine if that entity refuses to cooperate. Finally, its decisions may be appealed to the administrative court.
Kuomintang account frozen
Of the investigations carried out by the Commission, we shall mention the two most emblematic. The first is the Kuomintangs assets. As the daily Taipei Times pointed out, the day after the ill-gotten gains law was passed, the party issued ten cheques for 52 million new Taiwanese dollars (NTD) [about 1.5 million euros] each, which immediately triggered an investigation. In the meantime, one of the ten cheques had already been cashed and the amount spread over 200 different accounts. The commission, which then estimated that the party had 630 million NTD in legitimate assets and 1,932 billion NTD in illegitimate assets, decided to freeze the partys account, which it could now use only for deposits. From 2017, however, complaining that it could no longer pay its 300 employees, KMT stepped up calls for donations and the sanction was relaxed. The party has the right to use its account to pay its salaries.
In 2018, the commission published the preliminary findings of its investigation into KMTs finances and stated that KMT had a total of 18.9 billion NTD in assets (approximately 560 million euros). By way of comparison, the DPPs assets at the time were 769 million NTD. Of this total, 15.6 billion NTD was said to be held by two companies founded by KMT during the authoritarian era, which are now legally separate but with which KMT has a sufficiently close relationship to be defined in the same report as ill-gotten assets. The party was also ordered to return a luxury hotel it owned in Palau and to shed light on the use of funds obtained after the sale of several assets when Chen was in power.
National Womens League, a typical affiliate organisation
The second emblematic case concerns the National Womens League. Founded in 1950 by Soong Meiling, wife of former Kuomintang head and Taiwanese president Chiang Kai-shek, the League is a charitable organization dominated by the wives of high-ranking personalities linked to the KMT. In March 2019, it was designated as an affiliate organisation, its accounts were frozen and the commission ordered it to return 38.7 billion NTD (about 1.15 billion euros), which was considered ill-gotten because it came from a tax (not named as such) imposed between 1955 and 1989. During those four decades, companies trading abroad had to pay on average 0.5 NTD for each US dollar of imported goods. The amount gathered went to associations concerned with the welfare of former military personnel and to the National Womens League. The League reportedly obtained 13.9 billion NTD between 1957 and 1994 to take care of former soldiers housing and 30 billion NTD in interest generated by its assets between 1990 and 2016.
To demonstrate the link between the former regime and the League, the commission worked mainly on the basis of KMT records showing that its members had permanent access to the partys Central Committee and that they participated in meetings central to the functioning of the party. Although legally separate from the KMT, the League was in fact closely linked to it during the authoritarian era, enabling it to build up a considerable fortune. This decision came after a year of negotiations between the League and the commission, a period which showed the limits of the latters prerogatives. It has thus never managed to obtain all the documents in the Leagues possession relating to its assets and transactions, the commissions team noting that part of the archives had been removed before their inspection.
Judicial battle still under way
The Kuomintang, the League and other entities that were designated as organizations affiliated to the former single-party regime (such as the former Anti-Communist Youth League, which was detached from the KMT at the beginning of democratization but still retains considerable land and financial assets) have repeatedly challenged each commission decision before the Taipei Administrative Court, with the commission itself challenging the courts judgements if they were unfavourable to it. All these appeals have led to a fierce legal battle, in which the commissions decisions have been upheld, overturned and reinstated. Tired of battle, the court requested arbitration by the High Constitutional Court, which must now rule on the constitutionality of the ill-gotten gains Act. It has announced that it will make its ruling public by the end of August at the latest.
If one disregards the historical context and takes a narrow reading of the law, then the Kuomintang, like the League, had no formal links with the former authoritarian regime. The former authoritarian regime, although effectively a single party system, maintained a facade of multipartyism and the League was never formally associated with the government or the KMT. On the other hand, a simple consultation of the KMT archives and public archives dating from the former regime suffices to show that these groups were, in fact, extremely financially linked to each other, owing to the KMTs hold on power and the privileges it granted to certain entities. They now possess considerable assets, which are not commensurate with their place in Taiwanese society or with the probity that should characterize a functioning democratic system.
German model
The commission, like its critics, uses two lines of argument. The first is domestic. The commission has organized several conferences in homage to Fu Chen, an intellectual who, originally a member of the KMT, ended up publicly criticizing the authoritarian nature of the post-war regime. He also published an article in which he accused the party of monopolizing the countrys wealth, which, in the commissions view, attests to predatory behaviour on the part of the KMT at the time. He was subsequently imprisoned for six years for spreading anti-government ideas. The KMT, while acknowledging the injustice suffered by Lei Chen, argues that his family has been compensated, his reputation has been restored and the context of the Cold War cannot be put on the same level as todays. The end somehow justified the means and the country was then under martial law.
The second line draws on the German experience, specifically legislation on assets of the former East German Communist Party, adopted during and after reunification. Since 2016, the current government has stepped up exchanges with Germany, whose experience in transitional justice is often put forward to support post-2016 measures in Taiwan. This link is particularly important in relation to the issue of ill-gotten gains, and at its inception the commission drew heavily on it. The commission has increased its exchanges with members of the former German committee, arguing that like them they must start from scattered sources to trace the trajectories of different types of assets, at the same time dealing with a former single party and its organizations. The KMT, for its part, argues that since the legislative frameworks are extremely different, comparison is not possible and that this is a blatant example of manipulation by the green camp . Indeed, the modalities of German reunification were not replicated in Taiwan in the 1990s, as the former Communist Party of the GDR was simply dissolved. Since 2016, the KMT has also increased its exchanges with German experts, and has sent a delegation to Germany to meet the institutional actors in charge of transitional justice. It has been able to obtain, it points out, opinions supporting its claim of abuse of power by the current government.
However, both sides converge on one thing. They are both calling in a more or less selective way on foreign, supposedly objective experts to validate their own positions, which reflect the paradoxes of the islands democratization. Today, it is welcome that some KMT cadres recognize the importance of making party assets transparent and liquidating the undue legacies of the authoritarian era. One can only regret, however, that the blue camp did nothing tangible when it had the legal means to do so, which naturally leads us to question the sincerity of this new position.
A Harris County constable deputy is accused of inappropriately messaging a runaway teenager who he helped report as missing, records show.
Aaron Mayes, 33, faces three felony charges associated with the communications, which allegedly took place between April 20 and May 16. Mayes allegedly sent the girl a lewd photo and offered to pay the 16-year-old $80 for some kind of sexual act, according to court records.
ARREST: Man arrested after firing AK-47 near Houston police station
The girl was reported as a runaway on March 11 but returned home March 12, according to court records. Mayes and another Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office deputy went to the girls apartment to confirm she was safe, which was when the suspect and the girl first met.
Detectives with the constables office discovered Mayes asked another teenager in the same complex to create an Instagram account for him, claiming he wanted to communicate with her to bring her home, according to court records. However, this happened after Mayes and the other deputy spoke with the girl March 12.
Court records show her name was never removed from a database of missing and runaway children.
The two messaged each other on Instagram for some time before Mayes allegedly sent the lewd picture.
The girl's mother learned of the conversations and went to police June 2, according to court records. After an initial investigation, deputies confronted Mayes that same day and immediately "took him off the streets," Constable Mark Herman said.
Mayes was fired from his post shortly after.
Detectives say Mayes tried to get the girls mother to ask police to drop the inquiry after learning he was under criminal investigation. The teen who created the account for Mayes also sent police a sworn statement claiming he was the one who sent the message about the sexual act, although investigators found inconsistencies in his statement and what was said in the messages, according to court records.
Mayes is now facing three felony charges of online solicitation of a minor, attempted sexual assault of a child and tampering with a witness.
Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com
CHANGSHA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- A medical team selected by central China's Hunan Province has returned home after helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea.
Following a 14-day quarantine period in Sanya, Hainan Province, the team, consisting of 12 experts with experience in COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment, arrived at Changsha, capital of Hunan, on Monday.
Designated by the National Health Commission, the team flew directly to Zimbabwe with medical supplies donated by the provincial government on May 11, kicking off a one-month medical-aid trip to Africa.
Zhu Yimin, deputy director of the provincial health commission and head of the team, said the experts are from respiratory departments, infectious disease departments, and the fields of intensive medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, infection control, public health and nursing.
Zhu said they visited relevant medical and testing institutions in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea to share China's experience in fighting against the epidemic.
The team cooperated with local medical workers on treatment plans and guided local laboratories to improve their nucleic acid testing capability. The team also submitted a professional and guiding proposal for COVID-19 prevention and control, according to Zhu.
Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the border standoff with China, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused him of "destroying" India's position and "betraying our Army" by accepting Beijing's stand that it did not occupy any Indian land.
Addressing the meeting of the Congress Working Committee, he said there has been a "complete and total failure" of foreign policy under the Modi government.
"The established institutional structure of diplomacy has been demolished by the PM. Our relations with our once friendly neighbours lie in tatters. Our time tested relationship with our traditional allies has been interrupted," he said.
Gandhi suggested that India should build a good relationship with the United States and other countries and must also maintain its ties with its old friends.
"China has brazenly occupied our territory. The PM has destroyed our position and betrayed our army by accepting their position that they occupied no Indian land. The Chinese can't be permitted to get away with this unacceptable usurpation of our land," he said, adding everything needs to be done to ensure that sacrifice of our martyrs is not in vain.
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(Kitco News) Prior to the coronavirus paralyzing the world, Russia was ramping up its gold production, according to the Union of Gold Producers of Russia.
Russias total gold output reached more than 64 metric tons in Q1, which is up 5.11% from the same period last year, the union said.
The coronavirus pandemic did not impact Russian gold mining companies production performance during the first three months of 2020. On the contrary, the results of the first quarter (Q1) maintained the trend of 2019, when Russia reached its record high in gold output, says the unions chairman Sergey Kashuba.
Total gold mined, excluding recycled gold, was up 4.6%, reaching more than 48 tons in Q1, the union added.
After March, however, gold production saw problems due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
Problems with shift changes and the direct impact of the coronavirus on the health of gold mining workers began to affect production in April and May, Kashuba noted. That is why we will be carefully analyzing the results of gold production in the second quarter.
As of now, the union still expects to see a slight increase in gold production in 2020, which would equal to 0.5%-1% rise compared to the record production levels of 2019.
Russian silver production, on the other hand, fell in Q1, dropping by 3.6% to total 338.92 tons.
Russian diamond giant, ALROSA, has fared less well due to COVID-19 than precious metal miners.The international market dried up for diamonds forcing production cuts on ALROSA.
In May ALROSA announced it was cutting production to 2831 million carats versus its initial guidance of around 34 million carats. Commercial production at its Verkhne-Munskoye deposit was cut. ALROSA already suspended operations at Zarya and Aikhal earlier in the year.
Russian recovery after all the coronavirus-related shutdowns has been sluggish so far, noted ING chief Russia economist Dmitry Dolgin.
Following the release of the full set of Russian data for May, including estimates of GDP growth, metrics of economic activity by households and corporates, as well as banking statistics, it appears that having passed the low point in April, Russia is now showing some signs of improvement, though at a very modest pace, Dolgin wrote on Tuesday.
June is also likely to show further economic improvement but the recovery is looking to be slow, the economist added.
June economic activity should be free from most of the lockdown restrictions and should be better than May, especially on the consumer side. At the same time the corporate activity is likely to remain under pressure of OPEC+ commitments and uncertainties related to medium-term consumer demand expectations. Based on this, the Russian fiscal and monetary authorities may experience calls for further support, Dolgin said.
Six months into the Covid-19 pandemic, and scientists and drug-makers around the world are frantically testing existing antiviral drugs to curb the spread of the respiratory virus until a vaccine is found.
Two of the most talked-about drugs are the Russian-approved Avifavir, and the American drug Remdesivir. Local production of both antiviral medications began in Egypt a few days ago, and they are soon expected to be available on the market.
Avifavir, aka Avigan, is based on the Japanese influenza drug Favipiravir which was approved for manufacture and sale in Japan in 2014 and became a generic drug in 2019.
In response to COVID-19, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has pushed development deals capitalising on Avigans generic status, and partnered with Russian pharmaceutical research and development group ChemRar to develop the Russian generic version currently known as Avifavir.
The Russian modified antiviral drug Avifavir received a registration certificate from Russias Ministry of Health on 29 May, becoming the first Russian drug approved for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. On 11 June the first batch of Avifavir drug was delivered by RDIF and ChemRar Group to Russian hospitals.
The day after it was delivered to hospitals in Russia Avifavir was incorporated in coronavirus treatment protocols and has had very impressive results, Ahmed Saad, a doctor in Moscow, told MBC Masr Channel in a telephone interview on Sunday.
Saad revealed that the Russian medicine reduces the treatment period from 21 days to five days.
On Monday, two Egyptian drug=makers announced that they had started production of Avifavir and expected it to be available in the local market within a few weeks.
Starting today [Monday], we began manufacturing the Japanese-originated medicine Avifavir, and it will be available in Egypt within a few days or weeks, Amgad Talaat, Eva Pharmas general manager, told MBC Masr channel on Monday.
Talaat added that the oral medicine Avifavir will be sold in Egypt under the trade name Avipiravir and will be priced around LE4,500 a package.
It is currently being tested for the treatment of Covid-19 patients in Japan, Italy and the UK, and is already included in treatment protocols in Saudi Arabia, said Talaat.
The 10 Ramadan for Pharmaceutical Industries and Diagnostic Reagents (Rameda), another leading Egyptian pharmaceutical company, also announced that it had commenced production of the Japanese-originated/Russian-modified drug under the brand name Anviziram.
We started production of Anviziram after obtaining approval from the Egyptian Drug Authority. It will take us about three weeks to make the drug available in the local market, Amr Morsy, CEO of Rameda, said on Monday.
The company aims to export Anviziram to neighbouring countries upon receipt of approval from the Ministry of Health and the Egyptian Drug Authority.
Egypt obtained batches of Avigan samples from its Japanese manufacturer Fujifilm in March, and has conducted clinical and research trials via the Egyptian National Research Centre (NRC), according to Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar.
In addition to Anviziram, Rameda said it has also been granted Egyptian Drug Authority approval to manufacture Remedisvir, a broad-spectrum intravenous antiviral medication which has been used in treatment of Covid-19 patients, and aims to commence production as soon as possible.
Eva Pharma announced on Monday that it has already started production of Remdesivir, and expects to offer it on the market within days.
We have already started producing Remdesivir in our factories in 6th of October City, and the price per vial will be less than LE2,000, said Eva Pharmas general manager.
Ten days ago, Eva Pharma said it had reached a landmark deal with the US-based Gilead Sciences Inc to become the only licensed manufacturer of Remdesivir in Africa and Middle East. According to California-based Gilead, a total of nine companies have been granted a non-exclusive voluntary licence to distribute the drug in 127 countries worldwide: six in India, two in Pakistan and one in Egypt.
Remdesivir is mainly used for medium to severe coronavirus cases. It will not be available in pharmacies, and will not be prescribed for home-isolated cases. It will only be available in isolation hospitals, and used under the supervision of a physician, Talaat said.
A US National Institutes of Health trial found the antiviral drug helped hospitalised coronavirus patients recover more quickly. It was the first drug to demonstrate a benefit in treating Covid-19. Due to its positive trial results, the US Food and Drug Administration issued emergency authorisation for Remdesivirs use on 1 May. While it falls short of an approval, the authorisation allows more hospitalised patients to receive the drug.
Health Minister Hala Zayed said earlier this month that Egypts coronavirus treatment protocols are constantly updated.
In an attempt to free up beds for critical cases in overwhelmed state-run isolation hospitals, under Egypts latest treatment protocol mild and moderate Covid-19 patients are treated at home or in university hostels.
The Health Ministry now uses clinical examinations, chest x-rays, and laboratory analyses to identify suspected cases of coronavirus, with treatment starting immediately, and continuing until the result of PCR testing comes through.
Late last month the ministry compiled coronavirus drug kits, which include medications and preventive supplies, for coronavirus patients being treated at home, and the people with whom they had come into contact. The treatment kit is available through 5,013 health units and medical centres, and 1,000 medical convoys, across all governorates.
On 19 June Egypt recorded 1,774 new infections, the highest single-day rise since the announcement of the first infected case in Egypt on 14 February. The surge in coronavirus infections and, sadly, deaths, is expected to increase in the coming days. Egypt has yet to reach its peak infection rate, says Hossam Hosni, head of the Ministry of Health Scientific Committee to Combat Covid-19. Hosni expects the number of coronavirus cases to increase to between 2,000-2,500 a day by the first week of July, after which the number of cases will stabilise and start decreasing.
Despite the surge in coronavirus infections, on Tuesday the cabinet issued a series of measures to reopen businesses.
The cabinet announced that the night-time curfew, in place since March, will be cancelled on 27 June.
Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli said restaurants and cafes will be allowed to reopen until 10pm starting Saturday, at a reduced capacity of 25 per cent. They will not be allowed to serve shisha, or water pipe. Shops will be allowed to open till 9pm, though public parks and beaches will remain closed.
Sporting clubs, cinemas and theatres, which closed in March, will be permitted to open from 27 June at 25 per cent of their capacity.
Places of worship will be allowed to hold daily prayers, but will not be holding weekly sermons on Fridays or Sundays. Public transport will be allowed to operate from 4am to 12am.
Egypt will gradually resume regular international flights from 1 July. Foreign tourists will initially be restricted to visiting the South Sinai, the Red Sea and Marsa Matrouh governorates. Visa fees will be waived for tourists arriving on direct flights to resort cities until the end of October.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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Protesters carry a "Black Lives Matter" banner as they march through downtown Seattle in November. (Matt Mills McKnight / European Pressphoto Agency)
More than 1,600 Google workers are demanding the company "take real steps to help dismantle racism" and end its police contracts. In a letter that began circulating internally last week, workers wrote that they were "disappointed to know that Google is still selling to police forces , and advertises its connection with police forces as somehow progressive.
"The racist legacy of police across the United States goes all the way back to its roots, when police forces emerged to protect the wealth gotten from slavery and genocide," the letter reads. "We have a long way to go to address the full legacy of racism but to begin with we should not be in the business of profiting from racist policing. We should not be in the business of criminalizing Black existence while we chant that Black Lives Matter."
The letter comes a few days after company Chief Executive Sundar Pichai announced Google was committing more than $175 million to "support Black business owners, startup founders, job seekers and developers." Google is among the many tech companies that have spoken up in support of the Black community since George Floyd was killed while in custody of Minneapolis police. But those statements stand in stark contrast to those companies' records on the treatment of Black employees and customers as well as how their products affect the Black community.
We're committed to work that makes a meaningful difference to combat systemic racism, and our employees have made over 500 product suggestions in recent weeks, which we are reviewing," Google spokesperson Cynthia Horiguchi said in a statement. "On this one, we were the first major company to decide, years ago, to not make facial recognition commercially available and we have very clear AI Principles that prohibit its use or sale for surveillance. We have longstanding terms of use for generally available computing platforms like Gmail, GSuite and Google Cloud Platform, and these products will remain available for Governments and local authorities, including police departments, to use.
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In the letter, the workers, who call themselves Googlers against Racism, wrote that they were "disappointed" by the company's response.
"The past weeks have shown us that addressing racism is not merely an issue of words, but of actions taken to dismantle the actual structures that perpetuate it," the letter reads. "While we as individuals hold difficult but necessary conversations with our family, friends and peers, we are also incredibly disappointed by our companys response."
Google employees have waged a long internal battle against the company's business with law enforcement and government agencies with mixed results. In 2018, employees demanded the company cancel and some quit in protest of its contract providing artificial intelligence to the Department of Defense. Eventually the company announced that it would not re-up its relationship with the department when it was up for renewal. However, when employees caught wind of an effort to create a censored search engine for China, hundreds of them demanded Google end those efforts. Though Pichai insisted there wasn't a product ready for launch, he would not commit not to create "a tool for surveillance and censorship in China" when asked by members of Congress.
In the letter, Google employees specifically pointed to the company's work with the Clarkstown Police Department in New York, which has been sued "multiple times for illegal surveillance of Black Lives Matter organizers."
"Why help the institutions responsible for the knee on George Floyds neck to be more effective organizationally?" the open letter to management read.
Ukraines three largest mobile operators have commenced joint actions to expand their 4G-LTE networks using redistributed 900MHz frequencies.
Across summer 2020, Kyivstar, Lifecell and Vodafone will exchange the 900MHz spectrum in eight Ukrainian regions, with the aim of completing the redistribution programme by the end of the year.
The initiative will allow the operators to offer LTE-900 services alongside their current GSM-900 services via contiguous spectrum allocations. The plan is in line with Presidential Decree No. 497 of 8 July 2019 aimed at improving mobile internet access.
The operators have been issued 900MHz licences valid from 1st July 2020 which oblige them to provide 4G coverage to 90% of the countrys population within two years.
At present, Kyivstar claims that its 1800MHz/2600MHz 4G coverage reaches 80% of Ukraines population, while Vodafone Ukraine describes its coverage rate as over 71%. Lifecells LTE population coverage is estimated at a slightly higher 73%.
Statistics from the Ukrainian government indicate that 57% of all nationwide settlements received 4G coverage, as of end-May 2020.
Coronavirus has infected millions of people worldwide, but it seems like the worse is yet to come. Experts are saying is that we are just in the first wave, and some are sure it's getting into the second wave already.
According to a report in Snopes, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence mentioned that the coronavirus 'second wave' does not exist and America is gaining in its struggle against COVID-19.
Despite the pronouncement, many experts suggest caution and hold on the victory celebrations as the death toll remains high in the United States. As of June 23, the death toll already reached more than 122,000.
The site of the increased infection rate is the southern and western USA. Despite all the arguments, everyone can agree that the 'second wave' is the wrong way to call all of these events that are currently going on.
Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health stated that with 20,000 or more infections per day, we're not in the second wave, but still in the first. Since it seems all the cases are piling up, saying that a second wave is coming might mean a wipeout, according to the Denver Post.
Last April, the New York breakout was the initial peak when many died along with numerous cases as well in the NYC. It was then followed by a state-wide lockdown, with businesses and establishments closed to lessen the number of cases.
According to Caitlin Rivers, a disease researcher at Johns Hopkins University's Center for Health Security, the leveling off of the cases should resemble a plateau, but not a rough trough that comes later than the wave.
Most scientists are in general agreement that it is still within the first wave of the contagion, despite variations in different parts of the globe.
Also read: Coronavirus Oxford Vaccine Effective in Monkeys to be Mass-Produced in India
Dr. Richard Besser, chief executive of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, explained the variations of the COVID-19 with differences in how severe the infection with the timing, as cited in ABC 13.
Another specialist from the University of Michigan, Dr. Arnold Monto, agreed with that observation. He added that a transmission that has been happening for a while will spike.
For flu seasons, it does have a second wave just like the coronavirus. These cases in the second wave of flu will not always be like the first flu strain that began the flu season.
Technically, the second wave is dependent on the viewer he added. According to Besser, semantics is important with the perception that the second wave is done.
A perception exists that another wave of the coronavirus is coming soon, either fall or winter. It may happen when schools open again, with colder weather and less social distancing too. A second wave is more terrifying due to the fact that we don't have vaccines yet, with a majority exposed to the coronavirus, according to Washington Post.
Dr. Rivers says it is hard to guess if we're in the first wave, and as of now, it is hard to know if there is an impending second wave on the horizon.
Related article: Satellite Images Imply Coronavirus Might Have Started in China as Early as August
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The new norms for assessment of asymptomatic Covid patients has led to political bickering in Delhi with opposition parties blaming the ruling Aam Aadmi Party for mismanagement.
On Tuesday, Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia wrote to lieutenant governor Anil Baijal seeking the rollback of the new norms, saying it will only create problems for patients and pressurise the government machinery as people will have to wait longer at the Covid Care Centres (CCCs).
In an order issued by the health department after the DDMA meeting on Monday, all asymptomatic patients have to be taken to CCCs for clinical assessment.
While addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Sisodia said, There is a lot of panic among people because of the new guidelines. Earlier, they tried to stop home isolation and a consensus on continuing it was reached after a lot of dialogue. Now, this new guideline. People are upset. Why should a Covid-19 patient be punished and made to stand in a queue at a quarantine centre? I have written to the L-G to continue with the earlier system of the medical team visiting the home of the patients instead.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the chief opposition party in Delhi, said the L-G has taken the right decision. BJP MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, leader of the opposition in the Delhi Assembly, said, The L-G took this decision after consulting medical experts. There is no harm if Covid positive patients are being examined at quarantine facilities by medical experts. After a proper examination, it will be easy to decide whether the patient should be kept in home isolation or not.
The BJP hit out at the Delhi government for mismanagement in the initial days when the number of cases was less. They didnt properly plan for the pandemic and this is why the situation has gone from bad to worse in Delhi. Now, when efforts are being made to put the system back on track, they are doing politics, Bidhuri said.
With nearly 3,000 Covid cases being reported daily for the past few days, the Congress blamed both the state and the central government for the mess in Delhi while not clarifying its stand on the issue at hand.
Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhury said, Both of the state and the central governments should stop fighting and focus on improving the infrastructure. The AAP government failed to put in place a proper system for the effective management of patients in home isolations. We had told home minister Amit Shah and the L-G that there was no proper monitoring of those in home isolation.
He added, There is a need for more quarantine facilities as a majority of the population lives in slums, unauthorised colonies and one or two-bedroom houses. Is home isolation possible there?
AAP did not comment on the matter.
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In the wake of police brutality incidents across the country, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said during a news conference Monday that his department will review its use-of-force policies.
The sheriff said the incident in Atlanta in which two officers were filmed shooting and killing a black man as he ran from them prompted local leaders to take "a deep dive" into what parts of their policies may be outdated.
"It made us sit and say 'what are we teaching our troops?'" Salazar said.
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The sheriff described the department's policies as a living document, saying if they weren't able to fold into their training things that are happening in the world, then the department is doing a disservice.
As an example, Salazar brought up the 21-foot rule he was taught when he was in the academy in 1992. The policy says an officer can shoot if a suspect is within 21 feet of them with a weapon. Salazar said, however, the policy doesn't account for a wide range of factors that may constitute using a less-deadly alternative to apprehend someone.
"We have these blanket policies and things like the 21-foot rule has fallen out of touch," Salazar said. "We need to make sure that nothing is outdated and it is now getting dangerous to teach a cookie cutter approach. That all is a training issue.
"Safety of human life is paramount, it is even written into our policies so we need to remember that and take a long, hard look at our policies," he added. "We don't want our deputies to take unnecessary chances and we of course want them to go home safe at the end of the night, but we need to remember that there are other factors that could be there."
Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio coronavirus cases are suddenly surging, and there are at least three possible reasons why.
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Editor Chris Quinn hosts Tuesdays daily half-hour coronavirus news podcast, with help from columnist Leila Atassi, crime editor Kris Wernowsky and me. We answer many of the questions youve sent through our text message platform.
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And youve been offering all sorts of great perspective in our coronavirus alert account, which has 13,000-plus subscribers. You can sign up for free by texting 216-279-7784.
Here are the questions were answering today:
1. Is Cleveland Public Power finally going to follow the law and give people hearings about electricity shutoffs? Yes. For the first time ever CPP customers will be able to schedule a hearing before an impartial panel to challenge a shutoff or dispute a bill.
2. Is Cuyahoga County government helping out businesses damaged by the Cleveland riot? The county is giving at least $100,000 in grants. County Executive Armond Budish initially planned to provide $400,000 to businesses, County Council representatives on the Board of Control on Monday lowered the amount until they see how the program works.
3. How much will Cuyahoga County taxpayers pay for the countys neglect of Aniya Day-Garretts father, who accused the county of failing to protect the 4-year-old girl against abuse that led to her death? Cuyahoga County will pay a $3 million settlement to Mickhal Garrett.
4. How is the Cleveland Clinic coping with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue it lost when it stopped performing non-critical surgeries when the coronavirus hit? Its not giving raises. The Clinic is also delaying some capital projects because of more than $500 million in revenue shortfalls and increased expenses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
5. What did Case Western Reserve University find in its mammoth study of what became of 10,000 people who had lead poisoning as children? The college found that adults who had experienced childhood lead poisoning were more likely to be incarcerated, experience homelessness and rely on public assistance.
6. How will Ohio State University operate when students return to campus in the fall? Ohio State University faculty, students and staff must take their temperature every day they plan to come to campus.
7. Where do we stand on the giant tunnel project in Greater Cleveland to stop pumping raw sewage into Lake Erie? Were 2/7 done, with the completion of the $148 million Dugway Storage Tunnel, which came in $4.6 million under budget.
Thats it for Tuesday. Want more? You can find all our past episodes here.
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Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Members of the international follow up committee on Libya (IFCL) Monday expressed deep concern over the military escalation around Sirte, an official source said here
LOS ANGELES, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), and Opus 12 today announced they have demonstrated further advancement of a new electrochemical technology that converts the carbon dioxide content in raw biogas to pipeline-quality renewable natural gas, a critical improvement in the science of upgrading waste emissions to renewable gas. The single-step process is designed to use renewable electricity, and thus also provides a way for long-term storage of excess wind and solar power. The twelve-month research and development effort was funded by SoCalGas and PG&E and builds on the success of an initial feasibility study in 2018.
Raw biogas is produced from the anaerobic breakdown of waste from sources like landfills, sewage, and dairy farms. It contains roughly 60 percent methane (the main component of natural gas), and 40 percent carbon dioxide. While current biogas upgrading technology removes the carbon dioxide from biogas, this new technology captures the carbon dioxide and converts it into additional renewable fuel.
The new demonstration shows that improved catalyst activity could speed reactions by five times and nearly double conversion efficiency, making the technology commercially competitive with other new biogas upgrading methods. The core technology was scaled up and tested using commercially available electrolyzer hardware. The next step will be to test this technology for longer periods at an existing biogas facility.
"This cutting-edge method of using renewable electricity to convert carbon dioxide in biogas to renewable natural gas in a single-step process is significant to SoCalGas," said Yuri Freedman, SoCalGas' senior director of business development. "As we work to meet California's ambitious climate goals, emissions-reducing innovations like these will help us protect the environment by providing a reliable carbon-neutral fuel."
"PG&E is deeply committed to meeting California's bold vision for a sustainable energy future in a reliable and cost-effective manner for customers. We continue to work toward advancing innovation that provides new possibilities in our quest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and find alternative sources of carbon-neutral fuel. We are very proud to be part of this collaboration with Opus 12 and SoCalGas," said PG&E's Manager of Innovation and Research and Development, Francois Rongere.
"We achieved significant advances in reaction rate and demonstrated the scalability of our approach by moving from lab scale to commercial-grade components," said Dr. Etosha Cave, Opus 12 co-founder and chief science officer. "We look forward to continuing to work with our partners at SoCalGas and PG&E toward a field demonstration of this technology."
"Our vision for deploying this technology in California is to recycle CO 2 emissions from industry and agriculture before they reach the air, and create valuable products such as renewable natural gas and feedstocks for everyday materials, chemicals, and even liquid fuels. They are compatible with existing infrastructure, and when produced with renewable electricity, these products will have significantly lower lifecycle emissions than conventional products."
Opus 12, a clean-energy startup with its origins at Stanford University and the prestigious Cyclotron Road program at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, has created a new proprietary Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer that uses electricity to convert water and carbon dioxide into renewable natural gas in one step. The technology differs from those that use microorganisms.
The research is part of SoCalGas' and PG&E's respective development of cutting-edge technologies for storing excess renewable energy. Because gases can be easily stored for long periods of time using existing infrastructure, these technologies have distinct advantages over storing renewable electricity in batteries.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians about 45 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.
SoCalGas' vision is to be the cleanest gas utility in North America, delivering affordable and increasingly renewable energy to its customers. In support of that vision, SoCalGas is committed to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2014 through 2018, the company invested nearly $6.5 billion to upgrade and modernize its pipeline system to enhance safety and reliability. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com and www.pge.com/news.
About Opus 12
Opus 12, headquartered in Berkeley, CA, has developed a device that recycles CO 2 into cost-competitive chemicals and fuels. The company's technology bolts onto any source of CO 2 emissions, and with only water and electricity as inputs, transforms that CO 2 into some of the world's most critical chemical and energy products.
Founded at Stanford in 2016, Opus 12 launched during the prestigious Cyclotron Road fellowship program at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. The company's founders were featured in Rolling Stone's 25 People Shaping the Next 50 Years, Forbes 30 Under 30 in Energy, MIT Technology Review's TR35 Innovators, and the New York Times' Climate Visionaries, and the company was recently featured in Bill Gates's 2019 Netflix documentary, Inside Bill's Brain.
For more information visit opus-12.com and follow Opus 12 on Twitter (@Opus12CO2).
SOURCE Southern California Gas Company
Related Links
http://www.socalgas.com
A man walks with his pet dog as he talks to a vendor who sells dog meat at a market during the dog meat festival in Yulin, Guangxi Autonomous Region, China, June 21, 2018. Reuters
China's notorious dog-meat festival has opened in defiance of a government campaign to improve animal welfare and reduce risks to health highlighted by the novel coronavirus outbreak, but activists are hopeful its days are numbered.
The annual 10-day festival in the southwestern city of Yulin usually attracts thousands of visitors, many of whom buy dogs for the pot that are on display in cramped cages, but campaigners said the numbers this year have dwindled.
The government is drawing up new laws to prohibit the wildlife trade and protect pets, and campaigners are hoping that this year will be the last time the festival is held.
"I do hope Yulin will change not only for the sake of the animals but also for the health and safety of its people," said Peter Li, China policy specialist with the Humane Society International, an animal rights group.
"Allowing mass gatherings to trade in and consume dog meat in crowded markets and restaurants in the name of a festival poses a significant public health risk," he said.
The coronavirus, which is believed to have originated in horseshoe bats before crossing into humans in a market in the city of Wuhan, has forced China to reassess its relationship with animals, and it has vowed to ban the wildlife trade.
In April, Shenzhen became the first city in China to ban the consumption of dogs, with others expected to follow.
The agriculture ministry also decided to classify dogs as pets rather than livestock, though it remains unclear how the reclassification will affect Yulin's trade.
Zhang Qianqian, an animal rights activist who was in Yulin on Saturday, said it was only a matter of time before the dog-meat festival was banned.
"From what we understand from our conversations with meat sellers, leaders have said the consumption of dog meat won't be allowed in future," she said.
"But banning dog-meat consumption is going to be hard and will take some time." (Reuters)
Details
Rider Height: 5 9.5" / 177cm
Rider Weight: 180lb / 81.6kg
Hometown: Aptos, California, USA
Model: Prototype
Frame Size: Custom, but considered an L by today's geometry
Wheel Size: 29"
Travel: 140mm or 164mm
Suspension System: High single pivot with idler pulley. Linkage driven shock
Development Time: 17 months (developing & fabricating)
Fabricators: Evan Turpen & John Caletti
History
Despite the flurry of home-crafted style bikes recently, we're still as keen as ever to see more. So, when Evan Turpen got in touch with details of his project we were of course interested.But after only a couple of emails back and forth there were mentions of patents, performance drivers, high pivots and steel, which got our ears really pricked up. And with a visual taster of the bike it was clear that this was a home build on a slightly different level.Delving deeper into the bike provided a cauldron full of information and insight into how this ex-racer took a simple note on a phone and made it a reality of a rideable bike, with all the challenges along the way.This is a closer look at Evan Turpen's custom high-pivot steel beauty.
When did you first get into bikes?
2000. I was inspired by a friend who had recently gotten into mountain biking. He had a beautiful Santa Cruz Bullit that I couldn't stop lusting after, especially after riding it around for the first time. As a money-less, job-less teenager there was no way I could afford such a nice bike, so instead I decided to dust off an oldie but goodie that had been sitting dormant for years. It was a Red Cannondale CAAD3 hardtail that was a Christmas present from my parents. About as far as you could get from a Bullit with its cantilever rim brakes, flat bars, and triple chainring, but I proceeded to ride the crap out of that thing! From that day on, mountain biking was all I wanted to do, and it was all that I did. I was obsessed.
When did you first start racing? And what discipline?
In 2001 I started racing downhill at a local race series. Somehow I managed to win the first race I entered as a junior and I was hooked on racing from that point on.
How long did you race for? Which disciplines did you race throughout your career and why?
Racing downhill, dual slalom, and the occasional 4-cross race was my life from 2001 to 2011. I raced because it gave me meaning and focus and despite the stress it was a hell of a lot of fun! As a privateer I never made any money racing bikes and struggled with coming up short results and sponsorship-wise. In 2012 I ran out of steam and took a break from racing to work on a small lift-accessed bike park in the Sierra Mountains. While building and maintaining trails at the park I decided to give enduro racing a go and signed up to race the Trans Provence later that year. I had no idea what I was getting into, but the concept of blind racing in epic locations was rad. Since then I've raced quite a few more enduro races and I will continue to race enduro for as long as I can. Don't get me wrong though, I still have a soft spot for downhill and dual slalom. I'm turning 35 this year, but I wouldn't say I won't race a downhill bike ever again.
How did your riding and racing background influence you into creating your own bike?
Through racing I was always very focused on trying to have the best equipment possible. Ultimately, the realization came to me that nobody makes the perfect bike. Most companies are limited by none other than themselves. Engineers have to make products fit into a particular box for marketing and sales reasons and therefore are unable to think outside the box. The design of this bike wasn't limited. It was a clean slate aimed at getting the most performance possible out of a bike with absolutely no obligations to anyone but myself.
What do you do aside from bike riding and making bikes? Whats your current profession?
Development
My current professional title is "unemployed". I am actually a professional bike mechanic by trade. Up until October of last year I was the lead mechanic at a local shop. When I left the shop, I took out a $20,000 loan to help cover living expenses and give me the time I needed to focus on the bike design and fabrication. It was a bit of a risk for me as I had never made a bike before and didn't know if it would pay off, but after riding the first prototype I am 100% confident that this was the right decision.
When did you first start developing this bike?
The bike started as a note in my cell phone in August of 2018. It was basically a wish list of characteristics and features that I thought would make the "perfect" bike.
You mentioned that youre not an engineer. Which hurdles did you have to overcome and which areas do you feel you've learned the most in to get to the end goal of a physical bike?
The first major hurdle was designing the bike in 3-D since I didn't have access to or the skills to use 3-D design software. I eventually managed to get a student license of Creo Parametric 3-D design software. I took an online Creo class and within 3 weeks had learned enough to have a very rough 3-D assembly. It was a proud moment to actually cycle through the travel to check clearances on the frame in the computer.The next big hurdle was my lack of engineering experience as it relates to design. I shared the design of the bike with a friend who's an engineer and he suggested that I look at the forces generated on the links and frame using FEA (Finite Element Analysis). Up to that point I had been designing the bike by the seat of my pants based off what I thought a strong bike looked like. Learning and using FEA changed my life. I tested my links and my frame and I found that some aspects of my initial designs would have failed under hard bottom-out situations. My bike would have actually bent. Luckily using FEA I was able to come up with solutions that exceeded my requirements for strength and avoid these major headaches.The last major hurdle was learning how to fabricate metal parts using a manual mill, lathe, and hand tools. Learning how to hit very precise tolerances over and over is very difficult, especially when the machines are cheaper Chinese ones! I generally try to hit a tolerance on critical parts of plus or minus 0.01mm. That's a full range of less than one one-thousandth of an inch. The equivalent of 5 times smaller than the thickness of an average human hair. I would say that I've definitely come the furthest with my fabrication skills. Something that is extremely valuable going forwards with developing the next version.
What factors did you give high priority in your development? You mentioned you wanted the fastest bike possible for its intended use.
Everything. But the main focus was always on speed and control, so priority was given to the kinematics and geometry: axle path, leverage ratio, anti-rise and anti-squat had a heavy focus. Carrying speed, predictability and generating grip are all really high on the list. I'm particularly proud of the anti-squat I achieved with this design. To the best of my knowledge no rear derailleur driven high-pivot bike has achieved what this one does.
How, from all the available choices, did you narrow down to this suspension layout and design?
I like simple things and I like smart things and I really like simple and smart things. When exploring all the different ideas that I had this was the simplest layout that consistently achieved the highest number of goals I had set for the bike. To the untrained eye and even to the trained eye it looks like a simple linkage driven high single pivot. And that is technically correct, but what it achieves goes well beyond the preconceived notions for that style of bike.
Were there any avenues that you went down, only to find you needed to backtrack and find another?
The Bike
For sure! The first design that I thought was the end-all be-all had extremely high pivot forces. It would have tried to rip itself to shreds. Multiple iterations leading up to the current design had issues too. I would get really far along in the design only to find some death-blow clearance or strength issue that I couldn't work around. So many disappointing failures, but you learn from each one and hopefully don't repeat them ever again.
What are some specific details on travel, geometry, suspension characteristics?
I designed the bike with two travel settings so that I could have two bikes to test in one. It has a 140mm setting and a 164mm setting that both use the appropriately sized shock for that travel. I am about 5 foot 9-1/2 inches tall (177cm) and the frame has a reach of 480mm which is just perfect for me. The seat tube angle is plenty steep for climbing too. At my saddle height the effective seat tube angle is 77.9 degrees. Head angle is set to 64 degrees and I am running an extra short 37mm fork offset (something that I had been testing on my prior bike). BB height is 341mm in the 140 and 350mm in the 164. Reach, stack, headtube and seat tube angle remain identical in both travel settings. Chain stay length is 435mm in the 140 and 432.4mm in the 164. Because of the rearward axle path both bikes sit around 445-448mm chain stays at sag.Kinematically the anti-squat is 100% at sag in every gear combination and is extremely stable even if you venture outside the sag zone. It pedals amazing. Anti-rise is 100% at sag. This bike is super stable under braking. Watch a Formula 1 car braking hard for a corner...It barely moves, it's just stable and planted and allows for the best control under braking. That's what this bike does. The axle path is also 100% rearward, but isn't so extreme that it creates awkward handling. This really helps the bike carry speed well through rough sections. The other benefit of the rearward axle path is increased front end grip from the bike naturally loading the front tire as you load the suspension into a corner. The bike really does create an "All Wheel Drive" feeling of traction and control for you. The leverage rate is also progressive and designed for increased small bump sensitivity and great bottom-out resistance. It is both coil shock and air shock compatible and you don't have to stuff air shocks completely full of volume spacers to get enough ramp up.
Who built the frame?
I built the frame, but I hired John Caletti of Caletti Cycles to TIG weld it. He's a local high-end frame builder who specializes in titanium and steel frames. He is an absolute wizard with a welding torch and there's no way I would have trusted the frame if I had welded it. I also hired local machinist bad-ass Dave Mather of Mather Machining to CNC machine my links and idler pulleys. He did a tremendous job of nailing the tolerances I specified and I will definitely work with him again. I bought my headtube, dropouts, brake mount, cable guides and seat tube sleeve from Paragon Machine Works. All other parts you see on the frame were machined by me on a manual mill and lathe. And some parts were made with saws, files and a power sander with a careful eye.
Why steel for the first frame?
Because it looks bad-ass! And I grew up during the heyday of Brooklyn Machine Works. Well, actually this was a decision I made in the first few months of researching fabrication techniques. It also came down to the fact that Santa Cruz County has some really amazing custom frame builders that work in steel and titanium. Aluminum has a couple extra steps required as well. After welding an aluminum frame it has to be baked in an oven until it is in an "annealed" state. This makes the frame very soft so that you can properly align everything (bend it all back into shape) after the distortion from welding. After it is aligned, it has to be heat treated which is another trip to a special oven in order to bring it back up to its original strength. If you don't take these additional steps, then your frame will be much weaker and likely fail.Generally welding 4130 chromoly steel doesn't require post welding heat treatment to be strong enough to ride. Also, my welder, John, did an amazing job keeping the frame straight and minimizing distortion from welding. This frame is straighter than most production welded bikes and my geometry and kinematics were maintained really well because of this. 4130 tubing is also stiffer than aluminum in a more compact package so it allowed me more clearance to work with while maintaining a great level of stiffness. Going forwards though, if done right, aluminum can save quite a bit of weight over steel and maintain a good level of stiffness if tubing size goes up.
What challenges did you find from going from a computer model to a physical bike?
Too many to list. The biggest challenge was jig design and figuring out the best way to accurately hold everything in place so the frame was actually what I designed when it was done. This is probably the most important step when making a frame. That and mitering the tubes to fit as tight and straight as possible.
Did you need to go backwards and forwards between the computer and manufacturing a lot or did you know exactly how you wanted to make the bike while you were in development?
Sometimes. A lot of times when I would have an issue figuring out how to accurately make something I would improvise and create a one-off special tool just to perform one single task. If it allowed me to make the machines do the dirty work in making the part I was all for the increased time and effort it took.
When did you realize you could apply for a patent?
Pretty early on in designing the bike I realized the uniqueness of what I was able to achieve with anti-squat, anti-rise, and axle-path and I knew I needed to apply for a patent on the design. The anti-squat is the most unique feature of them all. To the best of my knowledge no current or past high pivot bike with a rear derailleur based drivetrain achieves 100% anti-squat at sag in every gear combination. With a gearbox and single final gear this is easy to accomplish.
How has the bike been received by your peers? Whats the feedback?
Well...so far, the only one to ride it properly has been me. First ride on it was one-week ago. I am really looking forward to getting as many people on the bike to offer their opinions, feedback and experiences with how it rides in the near future. I'm not afraid to see what other people think. And I'm really looking forward to pitting it against the clock through racing and back-to-back comparison testing. The clock doesn't lie!
Is the adjustability in the bike for a specific geometry or kinematic purpose or just for you to play around with things and learn?
The adjustability is simply there so I can test this suspension design in two major different categories without having to make two bikes. The shorter travel is more of an aggressive trail/all-mountain setup and the long travel is a full on big-hitting park/enduro bike. Both configurations weigh pretty much the same, so it's really only testing suspension performance and how that relates to the experience on the trail.
There have been a few emerging high pivot bikes recently, what do you say this bike has over its competition?
Everything at the moment. Well, almost everything... it's not carbon fiber so it is heavy. I wanted to take the performance benefits of a high pivot bike and eliminate the negative traits I've experienced while riding them in the past. Kinematics were huge, but also drivetrain efficiency and noise. My idler is 22-teeth for better durability since the loads are distributed over a larger surface area and the angle change that each link has to make as it enters and exits the idler is less. It also utilizes a really nice bearing that can more than handle the loads that it sees without being damaged. With my idler location being so far forwards the angle that the chain sees at the extreme ends of the cassette is noticeably less too. This gives you less efficiency losses in your climbing gears where you spend the majority of your time. And also, better efficiency further down the cassette when you are going really fast! I'm excited to eventually perform scientific efficiency tests on this design compared to a "normal" drivetrain and post the results. Judging drivetrain efficiency by feel is great, but you can't argue with actual numbers.
The devil is in the details, as you say. Which is your favourite detail? Is there a story behind that particular one?
The Next Bike
One little detail that I really like as a bike mechanic is the lack of spacers required for the BB and cranks. This bike uses Super-Boost Shimano XT 12-speed cranks paired with a DH 157mm rear hub. The cranks are designed to be installed on a 73mm shell frame with 3 different spacers in various locations. I utilized all the space that would have been taken up by spacers to widen my BB shell as much as possible for an even wider and stiffer BB pivot and widest stance possible for the BB bearings. This also made it so there were no spacers to mess around with when installing the cranks. It's nice being able to do whatever I wanted since this was a one-off bike made just for me.
Youve mentioned youve learrned a lot from getting to this bike. What were the biggest things that youll take into the next bike?
So many things! Namely jig design to improve weldability, lowering the forces acting on the frame so it can be made lighter and stronger, and designing the bike smarter to make it easier, and less expensive to fabricate. Stuff doesn't have to cost more to be better. Smart design can make products less expensive, lighter, and stronger.
Have you now invested more into the next bike with the move to an aluminum construction?
I haven't invested anything yet. I don't have any money to invest! I'm actually going to fully run out of funds by August of this year. The goal is to plan out the next steps and secure enough funding to keep moving forwards. If I have to go back to working as a bike mechanic full-time my progress on this bike will slow drastically.
Is this looking like a venture to selling the bikes at some point?
100%. Yes. The plan is to start small with a batch of at least 25 to 50 high-quality frames and then go forwards from there. They will be aluminum versions to save weight and be built entirely here in the U.S. Doing so helps ensure the best quality product, a timely development cycle, and a very enjoyable experience for those that choose to buy one of my future bikes. Carbon is something that I would like to do eventually too, but just doesn't make sense right now with such small initial numbers.
When are you planning to have version two?
The goal is to push hard to have version two ready to ride sometime in the fall of this year using everything that I've learned from this bike and more. It will also be my first foray into building an aluminum frame that will be much more representative of a production bike.
Hyderabad, June 23 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Tuesday said Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour, should be conferred on former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.
Stating that Narasimha Rao changed the country's destiny for better and deserves the award, he said the state cabinet and state legislature will pass a resolution in this regard.
The Chief Minister said he would personally meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and request him to confer the Bharat Ratna on PV, as the late Prime Minister was popularly called.
Chairing a meeting where he reviewed the arrangements for PV's birth centenary celebrations, he announced that Rs 10 crore will be sanctioned for the celebrations.
KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, said that to remember the greatest services rendered by PV as a multi-faced personality in several fields, the state government decided to organise year-long celebrations.
He announced that on June 28, the birth anniversary of PV, the main programme would be organised at PV Gnana Bhoomi in Hyderabad. Around the same time celebrations will be held at 50 locations worldwide.
KCR said a PV memorial should be built like a memorial developed for former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram. A team under the leadership of MP Dr Keshav Rao will visit Rameswaram and make suggestion to the government on PV memorial.
He also directed the officials to install five bronze statues of PV at Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Vangara and at the Telangana Bhavan in Delhi.
A portrait of PV will be kept in the Telangana Assembly. The state government will request the Centre to keep a portrait of PV in the Parliament.
"PV rendered his services as freedom fighter, political leader, journalist, an expert in several languages (polyglot) and writer. Bring out a special souvenir on par with the international standards to mirror PV's contribution in a wide range of fields," KCR told officials.
He also asked the centenary celebrations committee headed by Keshav Rao to invite President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi to the centenary celebrations.
He said since PV had a special relationship with former President Pranab Mukherjee and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he asked the committee to prepare a special programme in which they both would participate.
Making foreign investment in Australia more difficult would cost the economy more than $10 billion dollars and make households up to $731 a year poorer, ground-breaking research by the Productivity Commission has revealed.
In its first analysis of Australia's foreign investment rules, the commission warned that stricter tightening laws could slow the nation's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic while having a chilling effect on overseas investors.
Australia has historically depended on foreign investment to supplement the small domestic pool of savings for industrial development. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates there is $3.5 trillion of foreign-owned capital in the country, offset by $2.5 trillion worth of overseas assets owned by Australians.
Foreign investment, such as Chevron's Wheatstone LNG project in Western Australia, has been pivotal to the nation's economic development but the Productivity Commission has warned tighter rules could come at a substantial financial cost.
But concerns over foreign ownership, particularly in sensitive areas including agriculture, residential property and communications, has grown over recent years.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 15:07:36|Editor: huaxia
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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Two militants and a paramilitary trooper belonging to India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed Tuesday in a fierce gunfight between them in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.
The gunfight broke out at village Bundzoo of Pulwama district, about 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"In a gunfight that broke out here at Bundzoo area today morning, two militants were killed. While fighting militants, a CRPF man also was hit by bullets of militants. Though he was immediately removed to a hospital, he succumbed there," a senior police official posted in Pulwama said.
According to police officials, the operation was launched in the village by government forces early Tuesday on specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants.
Gunfights between militants and government forces take place intermittently in the region. Officials said since the beginning of this year, over 100 militants were killed in gunfights across the region.
Militant groups opposing New Delhi's rule are engaged in a guerilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Enditem
Evening Standard
Brentford will be looking to get out of their recent slump as they take on Wolves in the Premier League this afternoon, coming off a midweek result that will be hard to take. Obviously, to expect a newly-promoted side to go out and match Manchester United with all of their resources would be ridiculous on first glance but the manner in which Thomas Franks side dominated in the first-half left the Dane ruining their second-half showing. Wolves, however, are unlikely to be anywhere near as bad as United were at times.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of demoralizing and insulting Indian army and said that unlike the BJP, the Congress, as the main opposition party, is not supporting the government during difficult times. Chouhans attack on Rahul Gandhi comes close on heels of BJP President JP Nadda accusing the former Congress president of trying to divide the nation by questioning the governments handling of the recent face-off with China at the line of actual control.
Rahul Gandhi is demoralising & insulting the army. BJP used to support Congress at difficult times, but they are doing dirty politics now. They should attack China, but they cant see anyone else other than PM Modi, Shivraj Singh Chouhan was quoted as saying by ANI.
The political war over the issue of Chinese act of aggression leading to deaths of 20 Indian soldiers including a colonel rank officer on the night of June 15 has intensified in the past few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an all party meeting on the issue, where he told the gathering that no one has entered our territory, no one is at present within our territory and no one has occupied our posts.
His statement led to political opponents and some experts allege that India had surrendered land to the Chinese and PM Modi could be attempting to appease the Chinese leadership despite the latter being in control of our territories through acts of encroachment in the last 2 months or so.
Also Read: BJPs JP Nadda takes on Rahul Gandhis jibes over India-China stand-off, cites MoUs
On Monday, former prime minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh also built on the same theme alleging that disinformation was no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership and advised PM Modi to be mindful of the implications of his words on a nations strategic interests.
Soon after Rahul Gandhi tweeted Manmohan Singhs statement and said he hoped that PM Modi will humbly follow the advice given by Singh for Indias benefit. He continued his tirade against the government by suggesting that PMs statement given at the all party meeting was being lauded by Chinese publications. On Tuesday, he went ahead to ask if China had occupied Indian land.
We stand united against Chinese attack. Has China occupied Indian land, Gandhi tweeted on Tuesday.
The Congress party, too, has been attacking the government in tandem. The partys top decision making body, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) blamed the governments policies for alleged setbacks on multiple fronts. A tweet from the partys official account repeated the point.
Sonia Gandhi hits out at Modi government over border standoff with China, economic crisis, fuel hike
BJPs misplaced trust in China & PM Modis policy of appeasement has led us to where we are today. Denial of the obvious is only furthering Chinas agenda, but is that what the BJP wanted all along?, said the tweet.
The party accused the ruling party of not being able to walk its own talk and alleged that due to its weak foreign policy the borders were experiencing tension.
During BJPs rule, 20 of our soldiers get martyred; and the BJP led government has not been able to take any strong decision against China due to lack of decisiveness, another tweet posted on Congress partys official handle alleged.
The Congress criticism has continued despite a clarification by the government that Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement referred to the situation after Indian Armys brave action to thwart Chinese attempts to erect a structure on the Indian side of the LAC on June 15. It further cited statements by the external affairs ministry to bring home the point that Indian government has categorically objected to attempts by the Chinese military to alter the status quo at the LAC in violation of understanding between the two countries. It also referred to the unequivocal statement that the Chinese side was responsible for the deadly violence by erecting a structure on the Indian side of the LAC.
Nadda was the first to attack Rahul Gandhi and the Congress on Tuesday. He referred to an understanding between Congress and the Communist Party of China and asked if that was guiding Congress leaders statements against the government.
First, Congress signs MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. Then, Congress surrenders land to China. During the Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to the Chinese embassy. During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation and demoralise armed forces. Effects of MoU? Nadda asked in a tweet.
The two parties had signed an agreement in 2008 to facilitate high-level exchange between their leaders and to consult each other over important regional and international issues.
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Christian Mysliwiec
These are difficult times, and Americans are looking for guidance on how to make sense of the most divisive issues we face. When it comes to race in America, Heritage President Kay C. James says that conservatives should be leading the civil rights movement.
Thats why The Daily Signal reached out to African American conservatives to ask why they are conservative. Here are their responses.
1. W.B. Allen: Good Sense Needs No Explanation
My political conservatism is an effect or consequence, not a cause.
I am an American patriot, informed by a deep appreciation of the human significance of the advance in human affairs occasioned by the founding of the United States. For the first time in human history, the idea that mankind in general was capable of self-government had been realized.
In these trying times, we must turn to the greatest document in the history of the world to promise freedom and opportunity to its citizens for guidance. Find out more now >>
Moreover, the fulfillment of the promises attending that realization have been made manifest in the consistent progress of civilization in the United States, in which the power of the individual and the value of self-agency, informed by the security of religious conviction, have steadily reinforced real material progress and the opportunity for moral progress.
For those reasons, it is a matter of prudent judgment that ones political exertions should ever be careful to reinforce and not to undermine the foundations of the hopes invested in the political constitution of this nation.
The United States was formed as a lamp unto the world, and whatever undermines the power of the United States to perform that role constitutes an impediment to human happiness.
If it is conservative to wish to preserve the last best hope of man on earth, then such conservatism is the effect of devotion to liberty. No one could do otherwise, if guided by good sense and a due appreciation of the values of faith, freedom, and responsibility.
W. B. Allen, Ph.D., is the chief operating officer of UrbanCURE.
2. Brian Bledsoe:Most Fair for All
As a conservative who happens to be Black, Im typically asked why I am a conservative. So heres why.
Im a conservative because the most innocent among us should be given the chance to live.
Im a conservative because you shouldnt be punished for being successful.
Im a conservative because securing our borders against those who seek to come here illegally should be as commonsensical as securing our residences.
Im a conservative because we need to defend the Second Amendment more than ever from the constant and vicious attack on our right to bear arms.
Im a conservative because speech should be free whether I agree with it or not.
Im a conservative because I stand against the deceptive allure of an all-controlling government by way of socialism, which threatens everything that made this country great.
Im a conservative because we should remain forever vigilant in advocating limited government.
Leftists will argue that being conservative goes against what they perceive is in my self-interest. Im a conservative because the principles of conservatism are the most effective, realistic, and fair for allregardless of individual outcome.
Brian Bledsoe is a Heritage Action Sentinel from Texas.
3. The Rev. Arnold M. Culbreath: Not Sellouts, but Solutions
We are living in turbulent times. Racial tensions run high, and intensified feelings, conversations, shouts, and pressure reverberate across the land. And in the midst of all this, a wide variety of perspectives abound.
Being Black in America is not easy. However, I remain hopeful and work to make America better every day. As a pastor, Army veteran, business owner, and national ministry leader, I strive to model what being a Christian, socially conscientious, Black man in America looks like, while frequently facing racism and exclusion in the process.
In spite of the odds, I have labored long and participated in initiatives that help hopeless and hurting people, and programming that moves past rhetoric to get real resources to people in need. Things like after-school feeding programs, grocery giveaways, the First Step Act, opportunity zones, free help to women in crisis pregnancies, and more.
These principles need not be defined or confined by polarizing labels such as left or right, conservative or liberal. The question is: Does an initiative strengthen and lift impoverished and disenfranchised people and communities that need it most?
If so, collaboration is desperately needed to serve those ravished by a pandemic, shaken by injustices such as the brutal killing of George Floyd and many others at the hands of police, racial upheaval, and socio-economic disparities, and we need it now.
In order for this to occur, name-calling and marginalizing of viewpoints must stop. Its much more helpful to stop viewing me and others like me as Uncle Toms, but as fellow team members. Not as sellouts, but as solutions to the problems.
This is our country, and our world, so lets work to make it the absolute best that we can together.
The Rev. Arnold M. Culbreath is the director of ministry engagement at the Douglass Leadership Institute.
4. Michael E. Kerridge: Reasonable Human Imperative
If anyone is willing to step away from the noise and cacophonic discourse that now compromise political discussion, we can begin to see that conservatism is not just an opposing or competing ideology. It is a human imperative wrought in the will and psyche of every reasonable person.
I am a conservative because personal initiative favors personal economic freedom. I oppose excessive government control of business and the subversion of the traditional family structure. I fully endorse and favor a free-market economy and the rule of law.
The values inherent in the individualism of my grandmother that spawned four generations of conservative thought and action embodied the sentiment that all are created equal, and that government does not bestow anything on anyone.
The entrepreneurship, individual effort, and hard work that made all of my grandmothers efforts and her life rich and full have influenced and spawned generational success. This makes me a reasonable man, a reasonable person.
The family is a microcosm of what works best for all of mankind. We realize that God created us male and female, that we are to train up our children and equip them with self-confidence, discipline, and respect for all that is good and right.
This fortifies our society with reasonable people who think critically about their impact and legacy for their families, their fellow citizens, and their society.
Only this actually works for all concerned.
Michael E. Kerridge is a Heritage Action Sentinel from Florida.
5. Liz Matory: From Liberal to Liberated
My greatest desire is for more Americans to remember their conservative roots. Five years ago, I feared conservatives. I thought they were the bad guys and that they didnt care about Black people.
Like so many Washingtonians and women of color, I was a liberal by default and never questioned being one. I just knew that I wasnt supposed to be a conservative.
I became an independent voter in 2015. I had become extremely disenchanted and disheartened with the status quo. If anything, I was desperate to find solutions that would really make a difference.
It was only then when I had the guts to read Barry Goldwaters The Conscience of a Conservative and Arthur Brooks The Conservative Heart. Through all of my schooling and political activism, I admit I never really knew what conservatives believed. I only knew they were the enemy.
If you had told me just five years ago that I would be a conservative, like a Bible, pro-life, and guns conservative, I would not have believed you. But I am. A very proud one.
Everything makes sense now, especially when it comes to the issues that still face Black America. We are actually conservatives, and have been since the beginning. It is as if our heritage was purposefully obscured to ensure we would not advance. We need only to flip the switch to see the light.
Faith. Family. Freedoms. Free enterprise. There is no color to it. Just truth.
Liz Matory is the author of Born Again Republican and Becoming Born Again.
6. Lenny McAllister: Advancing Freedom for All
As America has taught the world over our modern history, the power of free markets and conservative principles has broken down systems of oppression from Montgomery to Mumbai.
These principles have lifted many in Latin America and Asia out of poverty. They forced integration of public facilities through boycotts. They continue to push for life-enhancing innovations in technology, education, and retail.
A lifestyle that allows one to embrace ones potential, explore ones destiny, and self-determine ones successes is a lifestyle that extols the American Dream.
With our conservative principles, we grasp both the legality and sentiment of the Constitution, the founding vision for our nation, and the power of perseverance in America.
Visionary conservatives leading within modern America take the best of our foundation and apply contemporary lessons of courage and tact to pursue a more perfect union.
We leverage time-tested convictions to weather social storms, populist ramblings, and economic hardships.
We put feelings aside at a time when emotions are high, yet values must prevail.
We value God-given rights for Americans of all backgrounds, defending a Constitution that protects these timeless gifts.
Why am I a conservative? Why should conservatives lead the civil rights movement? Because only through the fulfilled promise of constitutional conservatism will America entrench itself as the beacon of freedom, opportunity, and prosperity that truly lifts character over color, results over race, and justice over prejudice.
I, like many Americans before me, pursue the fulfillment of that promise in my daily walk.
Lenny McAllister is director of Western Pennsylvania for Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvanias free-market think tank.
7. Emery McClendon: Working for Everyone
For years we have heard it over and over that Blacks are loyal to the Democratic Party. The Democrats believe that Blacks blindly follow their partys principles because of a herd mentality, and refuse to change or consider voting for Republican or conservative principles.
Democrats believe this even though many Blacks find themselves out of sync with many of the policies of the Democratic Party platform.
Recently, for good reasons, Blacks have begun to depart from the party and embrace conservatism. I am proud to be among those that have made that choice.
There are many reasons to embrace conservatism. Perhaps one of the chief reasons for making this choice is that one may embrace and pursue his or her own destiny and develop a sense of pride in individual accomplishment. This is a very important aspect if one values his or her sense of personal responsibility and seeks prosperity.
Conservatism allows an individual to excel beyond the dependency and imposed reliance forced upon him by the government, and gives one the desire to work toward greater life goals.
Conservatism, unlike Democratic ideology, brings one to a point of satisfaction for the accomplishments of life, and creates a deep desire to work harder, not unambitiously.
I choose to determine my own destiny and to illustrate to my posterity sound economic and life principles that will help them become successful in life, and not become wards of the state.
In short, conservatism works for everyone.
Emery McClendon is a Heritage Action Sentinel from Indiana.
8. Charlotte D. McGuire: Against All Odds
How did I become the vice president of the Ohio Board of Education? It was totally unexpected. I am not an educator by profession or experience.
But, over 100,000 citizens in a five-county territory elected me as their representative. Then, by surprise, a board colleague nominated me for the office of vice president and I won by one vote.
This honor caused me to pause and reflect on where I came from and why I do what I do. I am a conservative by choice. Conservatisms principles of life, freedom, faith, family, personal responsibility, limited government, and free markets all aligned with my biblical worldview and values, and, therefore my actions.
I was raised in the segregated South during the Jim Crow era. Racism was alive, well, and in your face.
But, against all odds, I overcame the obstacles of racism and discrimination that I faced.
My parents were key. They encouraged me and told me that hard work and dedication would pay off. My dad said, If youre going to be a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger there is. My mom told me that when I faced racists, kill them with kindness.
Against all odds, my dad worked two jobs so his five children would have an opportunity to go to college. My dad and mom believed that education was key to our freedom and independence. They didnt want us to depend on the government.
In Memphis, Tennessee, I was the colored girl who could only go to the zoo on Tuesday. Or, if I wanted go see a movie at the Malco Theatre, I had to use the side entrance, climb what seemed like a million steps, and sit in the balcony.
My race designation evolved to Negro and I participated in the 1968 protest to support garbage collectors job rights. With my parents approval, and as a high school senior in a segregated educational system, I waited in downtown Memphis at a rally to hear civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. He was the hope of the ages for Black Americans who wanted equal opportunities to succeed.
Dr. King never showed up. He was assassinated, and rioting broke out in downtown Memphis and around the country.
My senior class trip to Washington, D.C., was cancelled. A couple of months later, I graduated from the same school as my parents, Booker T. Washington High School.
Being the first person in my family to go to college during this turbulent time, I was sent north to attend Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. There, I had family members to assure my safety and support me.
My conservative values caused me to pray and persevere against all odds. I believe all my rights come from God. I believe in the self-evidentiary clause that I am created equal among a diverse humanity.
I believe that I have the right to life and liberty, and to pursue happiness. I believe I have the innate right to become who I was providentially purposed to be. To our Creator be all the glory.
Against all odds, I finished Central State University with a bachelors degree in business administration during a time of protests, from 1968 to 1973. I completed a few University of Dayton graduate courses in public administration. I became a voice for the homeless, hungry, elderly, families, and childrens educational success.
Against all odds, as a conservative and a former municipal government and nonprofit executive, I am now vice president of the Ohio Board of Education.
Charlotte D. McGuire was a local government and nonprofit leader before being elected to the Ohio Board of Education.
9. The Rev. Dean Nelson: Best for All People
I am a conservative. I had a happy childhood growing up in rural Virginia, but I heard the N-word as a matter of course. There was a restaurant in our town that refused service to Blacks well into the 1980s.
My high school guidance counselor encouraged me to enlist in the military instead of applying to college. Some friends who cheered my admission to Howard raised their eyebrows when I transferred to the University of Virginia.
As an adult, I havelike most other Black men in Americabeen pulled over by cops for no reason, as has my almost 19-year-old son. A white woman allowed her dog to bite me while I was jogging on a public sidewalk in my own neighborhood because she said I got too close to her. My daughter was falsely accused of shoplifting at the age of 13. I could go on.
Being a conservative does not mean I deny the existence of racismindividual or systemic. I am a conservative because I want economic prosperity, limited government, and strong families for everyone.
I believe Black Americans deserve more autonomy over our own lives, not less, and I want to live in a society that protects Black peoples right to create the good life for ourselves rather than wait naively for a magical set of social services to rescue us.
I am not conservative despite my race. I am conservative because I believe conservative principles are best for my race, and for all people.
The Rev. Dean Nelson is chairman of the Douglass Leadership Institute.
10. Sophia A. Nelson: Sustained Opportunity
Our nation is hurting right now. Our nation needs a deep spiritual and soul healing right now.
For so long, the voices of Black conservatives have been questioned. Called Uncle Tom. Called sellout. Or worse.
I believe that the time for divisions among us as Black people is over. It is now time for us to unite in solidarity, not just in the fight for Black lives and their value, but in the fight for us to live out our nations earliest credo: e pluribus unum. Out of many, one.
If we are to win this fight for the soul of America, conservatives no longer can run from that fight. I am a conservative because I believe in smaller, less government.
I believe in the wisdom and patriotism of we the people, not that of a centralized, overburdensome government.
I believe in religious liberty and freedom.
I believe in the rights of the people to peacefully assemble and to bear arms.
I believe that all men and women are created equal and endowed by our Creator with life, liberty, and the right to pursue happiness.
I am a conservative who loves her people deeply. It is time for Black conservatives, moderates, and liberals alike to work across ideological lines to help develop and guide our community to educational, economic, political, and social policies that will create sustained opportunity, access, ownership, and freedom in our day-to-day lives.
Sophia A. Nelson, a lawyer, is an award-winning author and freelance journalist and columnist.
11. Autry J. Pruitt: Maximum Protection
I abhor injustice, I am disgusted by inequality and those who would use their authority and power to break the backs of the innocent are repulsive to me.
No matter where one turns in their history book, one thing is consistenttoo much government is half the source of all mans problems (and a lack of faith, which usually is proceeded by big government, trails at a close second).
The evidence is clear: Massive protest, legitimate or not, never gathers against corporations or individualsprotest is always against government. This is because the evil that people or corporations perpetrate on others is always enabled, fostered, or protected by governments.
The sad fact is that now, with sovereigns all around the world harnessing more power, the only thing that seemingly can fight against big government is another government.
I am a conservative because conservatism equals maximum protection from the only institution that forces obedience through violence: government.
Autry J. Pruitt is CEO of New Journey PAC Inc.
12. C.J. Sailor: Essential to Thriving Communities
I remember going to vote for the first time at age 18 in Detroit, Michigan. I was full of vigor and hope until a friend of mine told me to vote for the Democratic ticket. I was bewildered and I asked him why. He said, Because thats the way all Black people vote.
I had not yet registered my party affiliation, and like most teenagers growing up in the inner city, I knew only of liberal policies and social promises. I was determined to be different, so I told my friend that I would vote for someone who held the values and beliefs that my parents taught me.
After reading several pieces of campaign literature, I was unable to find a candidate who embraced local control, family values, and economic freedom. I was stuck with the independent candidate, who was a better choice than the candidate who stood for big government and less freedom.
Today, Im a conservative because I believe my values of strong and healthy families, faith in God, and economic freedom are essential to thriving communities.
Now more than ever, these values can heal our nation of racial injustice and promote upward mobility. We must embrace the next generation of leaders and pass on the legacy of faith, hope, and American exceptionalism.
Clarence C.J. Sailor is a leader at an educational nonprofit.
13. Carol M. Swain: Hope and Encouragement
I am a conservative because I have tasted and spit out the depressing, self-defeating ideologies and fruits of progressive liberalism.
Long before I knew I was a conservative, I was acting upon and living my life by conservative principles.
Despite my poverty and lack as one of 12 children growing up in rural indigence, I still believed I could make good things happen, and that I was not destined to remain poor.
I married at 16, started a family, and eventually earned a high school equivalency after having dropped out of school after completing the eighth grade.
Next came a divorce and my entry into a community college, where I earned the first of five college and university degrees. A brief stint on welfare after my divorce convinced me of the need to get an education so I could get a good job.
It never occurred to me as I was studying, working, and raising my children that the world was stacked against me or that it owed me a better break because of my race, impoverished roots, female gender, or family status.
It would take graduate school and studies of oppression to reveal to me that people from my background were doomed to poverty because of oppression and systematic racism. Fortunately, I was successful and thriving before I heard these depressing messages.
My belief in the American Dream and its possibilities inspired me to study hard, make the deans list at the community college, and graduate from the four-year college magna cum laude while working 40 hours a week on nights and weekends at the community college where I earned my first degree.
I always have been a strong individualist who rejects groupthink and questions the behaviors and thought patterns of those around me. Today, I am a conservative because I believe in God, country, and nation.
As a Black child in the rural South, I knew I lived in the greatest country in the world, and I took pride in being a Virginian because my state was the home of presidents. Slavery, Jim Crow, racism, and other realities of the Black experience never defined or crippled me.
Conservatism offers hope and encouragement to those willing to avail themselves of opportunities.
Carol M. Swain, Ph.D., is a retired professor of political science and professor of law at Vanderbilt University and host of the Be the People podcast and radio show.
14. A.J. Swinson: Self-Sufficient, Entrepreneurial, Morally Strong
I am an African American millennial woman, and Im a proud conservative.
I learned conservative principles from my parents, who grew up in poverty in Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia. My parents political views changed when they became sold-out Christians.
They began to see that progressive values did not line up with the Bible they studied each day. They also understood the Democratic Partys role in destabilizing the neighborhoods they grew up in.
Today, my parents are successful despite their meager beginnings. They raised their children to be self-sufficient, entrepreneurial, and morally strong.
These are the core principles of conservatism.
Years ago, Black people built Rosewoods and Black Wall Streets around the country, and were successful despite Jim Crow laws, white supremacy, and oppression. We had a higher marriage rate than other races and focused on business and education. We put our faith in God, not man, to sustain us.
Abraham Lincoln said, What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried against the new and untried?
It was a mistake to leave what worked for us in the past to fit into a progressive agenda that expects blind loyalty (or we aint Black) and fails to hold biblical principles in high regard.
I am a conservative because I want to go back to what has been proven to work for us, and its not socialism or a larger welfare state. It is faith in God, love for others, local investment and entrepreneurship, prioritizing education, and traditional values.
A.J. Swinson is director of development at New Journey PAC Inc.
15. Jimmy Tillman: Christian Values and Critical Thinking
The easy answer is because I am a God-fearing Christian, but I will share a more complex reason why the son of a civil rights icon and Democratic ward boss is a conservative.
I am an alumnus of Central State University, a historically Black university in Wilberforce, Ohio, a town that was the last stop on one of the Underground Railroad lines. It was here where I learned how to ask therightquestions and to think critically. I received my degree in history.
As a historian, reflecting on Juneteenth (an American holiday commemorating when the last slaves in Galveston, Texas, got word that the Union was saved and they were granted rights as Americans), I am reminded that it was through the spirit of Christian values that the abolition movement was founded.
I owe my citizenship to the brave men who fought and died in the Civil War. This includes many slaves, who afterward built viable communities throughout the South during Reconstruction.
These former slaves went on to send five conservative representatives to the Senate and House. A quick look at most of the historical gains by Blacks in America and the conservative movement is usually behind it.
Most recently, the Martin Luther King Republicans joined with the conservative group Reopen Illinois to campaign for the right to worship. This led to the governors lifting an unconstitutional ban on churches.
I currently host a hip-hop conservative talk show. It is a platform for other Black conservatives to discuss issues relating to our community. We are the silent majority.
Jimmy Tillman is a Heritage Action Sentinel from Illinois.
16. Terris E. Todd: Way of Life
The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, where I am executive director, was created to strengthen our nation by improving educational outcomes for African Americans of all ages. The mission includes helping ensure students are prepared for college and productive careers to contribute to the well-being of society.
Having worked on every level education throughout my professional career, it provided me the understanding that African American students and their families deserve an education that provides them with the options that best meet their individual needs and talents.
Previously, I have worked as director of education and children services, teacher, and administrator in K-12 public schools, as a collegiate-level instructor, and as director of 62nd District relations in the Michigan State House of Representatives.
I also have had the privilege and honor of being the Michigan Republican Party vice chair, in the inaugural class of the Citizenship Project, a county elected official, and actively involved on numerous boards and committees in my local community.
My conservative beliefs and values have always been a way of life for me. That belief system carries with me in everything that I do and in every job I have ever had.
The belief that God is supreme to all creation, that our freedoms are given by God and protected by government, are just a few conservative values that I long have embraced and will continue to share with those I come in contact with throughout my lifetime.
Terris E. Todd is executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
17. Deana Bass Williams: 3 True North Principles
Three fundamental beliefs make me a conservative. I believe in the value of the individual over the state. I value freedom of expression. I believe life is a gift from God and should be protected and celebrated.
These foundational principles governed my way of thinking long before I had heard the term conservative, and even longer still before I knew anything about the conservative movement.
In my life, the best solutions on how to respond to challenges all have come from my family, my church, and my immediate community, not from the government. My community, not the government, has done a better job of dismantling poverty, alleviating educational disparities, and improving health care outcomes.
In my life, solutions to depression and despair were found in the church and not by a government program.
While the left professes to promote tolerance, my experience bears out that their tolerance extends only to their ideas. As a professional communicator for almost three decades, I have grown to value a fundamental principle of conservatism, and that is the freedom of expression and the marketplace of ideas.
Of course, when conservatives say they value life, the immediate thought goes to the abortion debate. While protecting the unborn is critical, it is merely the foundation of the sanctity of life argument. Conservatisms emphasis on life extends to supporting policies that empower and protect human life at every stage of development.
Yes, that means defunding killing machines such as Planned Parenthood, but it also means reforming a criminal justice system that shows bias against African Americans.
Deana Bass Williams is a partner at Bass Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.
18. Dee Dee Bass Wilbon: Founding Principles
I was in my early 20s working in a brand-new job after college when I was first asked, Why are you a conservative? The co-worker also felt the need to remind me that I was Black, which he believed made it even more egregious.
The first political campaign I worked on was in the mid-1980s for a Black woman running for city council in my hometown. She believed that human life began at conception. She believed in the free market giving everyone an opportunity to increase financially. She believed that you should be able to attend a school or get a job based on your ability and not because of the color of your skin.
I was 12 years old when I worked on that campaign. As a kid, conservative principles made perfect sense even if I had not yet heard the word conservative. They make perfect sense today as they align with what I have been taught as a Christian.
The answer to my colleagues question was easy for me then as a young single woman, and remains easy for me almost 30 years later as a wife and mother of two.
I am a conservative because of Christian values. I love America. Our nation is an imperfect experiment in a democracy founded on Judeo-Christian values. I believe that as we move away from these founding principles, we move away from our destiny of being one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.
Dee Dee Bass Wilbon is a partner at Bass Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.
19. Daren Williams: Origins of Conservatism
Most if not all people assume that conservatism was born by way of Edmund Burkes critique of the French Revolution in 1790, and the writing of others before him such as Richard Hooker, the Marquess of Halifax, and David Hume.
That is, the fundamental ideas and practices of conservatism are the legacy of old English white men. It is with this misconception and failed understanding of the worlds history that conservatism is scorned as a white mans ideology, particularly by Black Americans.
The roots of conservatism did not grow from the minds or hands of white men or any other race of man. The core values of conservatism were first written by the hand of God on the tablets which Moses held as he descended Mount Sinai to give to the Children of Israel.
The Ten Commandments are the true origins of conservatism, passed down from generation to generation for millenniums. At times lost through stubbornness and pride, but always found in the humble pursuit of Truth.
These 10 fundamental laws are the infallible building blocks of conservatism and of a truly sustainable society, starting with the individuals responsibility to God and then his love for his neighbors.
They enshrine and guarantee, if followed, a healthy, long-standing, and thriving individual, family, community, and nation of people.
And if ignored, the weakening, destruction, and demise of those entities, in that exact order.
Why Im a Black conservative has absolutely nothing to do with the color of my skin. It has everything to do with the origin of conservatism, which is from the same hands of my origin: God.
Daren Williams is director of policy and endorsements at New Journey PAC Inc.
Hyderabad, June 23 : A day after the Telangana High Court issued notices to Twitter and the Centre over Islamophobic posts, the lawyer-petitioner said on Tuesday that he hoped that the courts intervention on his PIL will put an end to the hate peddled on the social media Khaja Aijazuddin, a practising advocate at the High Court, told IANS that since the government had failed to act to make Twitter remove objectionable and illegal posts, the court will do the needful to prevail upon the government to do its duty.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy on Monday ordered notices to the Union Cabinet Secretary, the Union Home Secretary, Telangana Director General of Police, Hyderabad Commissioner of Police, and Twitter Inc, represented by its Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey.
The court asked all five respondents to file their replies and posted the next hearing to July 20.
The Public Interest Litigation plea sought orders to Twitter to remove the Islamophobic posts and illegal trends linking coronavirus to Islam. He also prayed for criminal action against Twitter and its users who posted hateful posts.
The petition pointed out that illegal trends are run on Twitter with hashtags like #Islamiccoronavirusjihad, #Coronajihad, #Tablighijamat, #Nizamuddinidiots, #TablighiJamatVirus and other Islamophobic posts.
Aijazuddin also sought orders to restrain all online sites in India from carrying Islamophobic posts as they hurt the feelings of the Muslim community, pointing out that such posts may disturb the communal harmony in the country.
The petitioner submitted to the court that he had made representations to the respondents in the first week of April to prevail upon Twitter to delete the inflammatory trends but they failed to act.
He had initially filed the PIL under Article 32 of the Constitution of India in the Supreme Court but the apex court asked him to approach the Telangana High Court.
The petitioner referred to the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) which clearly stipulate that attaching the religion with the pandemic is not permissible.
"Attaching the religion to pandemic disease which is done by social network users on Twitter is highly unwarranted, illegal and unconstitutional," the petitioner argued.
He further argued that the failure of the authorities to act on his representations is nothing but violation of rule of law.
"The petitioner's rights have been infringed and it is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India as the State is duty-bound to show utmost impartially towards its citizens to maintain equality of law or protections of law within the territory of India." "With the counters being invited from respondents, I feel that the court has taken cognizance that my PIL has got a point," Aijazuddin told IANS on Monday.
The lawyer said the government instrumentalities were empowered under the law to act over the hateful posts and since they failed to act, he exuded confidence that the court will prevail up on the government to take action against Twitter or any company spreading hatred.
He pointed out that as per Information Technology Act of 2000, attacking any community on social media is an offence and prosecution has to be ordered by the government of India or state government.
"Twitter has to give an explanation why it allowed such content while the government has to give an explanation to the court as to why they failed to act. For two and half months they have not taken any action. Is it not the duty of the government to prevail upon Twitter to stop this? Will they act only if the court passes an order?" he asked.
The lawyer feels that there is a "hidden conspiracy" behind the massive Twitter trends targeting Islam and Muslims.
"I have noticed massive trends on Twitter. I have come to know some people choose a topic on a particular day. They tweet, re-tweet and it goes on and on. If needed I will amend my prayer to initiate a CBI inquiry into what is happening," he said.
Aijazuddin pointed out how countries like the United States, China, Thailand and Japan act quickly to block any tweet which is offensive, against the public at large and violate the law of the land.
"In India they can trend or tweet whatever they want to against Islam and Muslims, linking them to coronavirus and calling for Muslims to be thrown into the Bay of Bengal. This should be stopped immediately. Today it is the Muslims, tomorrow the Sikhs, the Dalits, or some other community may become the target," he added.
Phuket COVID-19 daily report - June 23
PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) has released its daily report for the COVID-19 situation in Phuket for today, Tuesday, June 23.
COVID-19health
By The Phuket News
Tuesday 23 June 2020, 01:08PM
Image: PR Phuket
The report today notes as follows:
New cases: 0
Total infected: 227
Recovered: 224
Dead: 3
People deemed at risk checked: 13,639 (+17 on yesterday)
Persons Under Investigation: 13,405 (+14)
Waiting for test results: 7 (+3)
Receiving hospital treatment: 0 (no change)
The report today noted that on June 1 a total of 62 Thai national crewmen* had arrived in Phuket on boats from international waters. The 62 comprised 13 arriving from Singapore, 16 from Russia, 15 from India, eight from South Korea, nine from Myanmar and one from Malaysia.
None of the 62 arrivals have been found to be infected with the virus, the report said.
With the report marked as accurate as of 24:00hrs June 22, it has now been 29 days since the last case was confirmed in Phuket.
*Correction: All 62 were Thai nationals arriving on boats arriving from the countries identified. Not foreign nationals arriving from those countries. The error is regretted.
Palestinian official rejects Israeli police allegation that suspect had attempted to run over an officer.
Israeli forces have shot and killed the nephew of a senior Palestinian official at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank.
The deceased was identified as 27-year-old Ahmad Erakat, nephew of Saeb Erakat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).
Israeli border police said on Tuesday they shot and killed a suspect who they say attempted to run over a female officer at a checkpoint in the Palestinian village of Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem. Police said the officer was slightly wounded in the incident.
Palestinian officials rejected the polices account of the mans death.
Ahmad was executed by the Israeli police, his uncle Saeb told AFP, adding that he held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for this crime.
https://twitter.com/QudsNN/status/1275440129419739136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
He dismissed the police allegation of an attempted car ramming as impossible, saying that Ahmad was due to be married later in the week.
This young man was killed in cold blood. Tonight was his sisters wedding, Saeb said.
What the occupation army claims, that he was trying to run someone over, is a lie.
Israeli police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said the man drove his vehicle quickly towards the direction of a female border police officer who was injured lightly.
The officer was evacuated to a hospital.
Police did not immediately release a video of the incident, and there was no way to independently verify the account. But police released a photo that appeared to show the vehicle after it had collided into the checkpoint.
Palestinian lives matter
Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi called on the international community to take concrete steps to hold Israel accountable over Ahmads death.
A man prays at the side of the road as traffic backs up near the scene of the incident at a checkpoint near the town of Abu Dis in the West Bank [Ammar Awad/Reuters]
Palestinian lives matter, she wrote in a statement, recalling last months police killing of an autistic Palestinian man in Jerusalem.
She said that Ahmad was on his way to pick up his mother and sister who were preparing for his sisters wedding later that day.
Israel also attempted to slander Ahmad and excuse his murder. It is part of a tragically familiar pattern, where Israel habitually uses false pretexts that are all too familiar now to justify the murder of Palestinians by trigger happy soldiers, Ahrawi said.
READ: Statement by @DrHananAshrawi on the cold-blooded murder of 28-year-old Ahmed Erekat. pic.twitter.com/HPEn9mcj9D PLO Department of Public Diplomacy & Policy (@PalestinePDP) June 23, 2020
Palestinians and human rights groups have also accused Israeli security forces of using excessive force, or in some cases opening fire at cars that merely lost control.
The director of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Bethlehem confirmed that a soldier prevented Palestinian medical personnel from approaching the man and was left to bleed, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
Ahmed Erekat, 27, beautiful young man. A son. A brother. Fiancee. My baby cousin, Noura Erakat, a human rights attorney based in the US wrote on Twitter, sharing his photos.
Israeli cowards shot him multiple times, left him to bleed for 1.5 hours and blamed him for his death. Tonight was his sisters wedding, his was next month. We failed to protect him. I am so sorry, she wrote.
Ahmed Erekat, 27, beautiful young man. A son. A brother. Fiancee. My baby cousin. Israeli cowards shot him multiple times, left him to bleed for 1.5 hours and blamed him for his death. Tonight was his sisters wedding, his was next month. We failed to protect him. I am so sorry. pic.twitter.com/3E341iE7sM Noura Erakat (@4noura) June 23, 2020
Tuesdays incident comes ahead of plans by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex parts of the West Bank.
Netanyahu said the government would take steps towards annexing Israeli settlements, illegal under international law, and the Jordan Valley from July 1, as part of a broader US plan. The Palestinians have rejected the plan and want the West Bank to form part of a future Palestinian state.
The proposals have sparked widespread international criticism and warnings that such a move would lead to violence.
Short-Term Rental Platform RedAwning Restructures and Bookings Surge
Short-term rental platform RedAwning hit the reset button during the coronavirus crisis as it sold a subsidiary, Leavetown, and rolled out a program to be the exclusive distribution manager for property management companies.
This all took place after parting ways with about one third of its employees, but vacation rental bookings last week surged 42 percent higher than the same period last year as U.S. drive markets continued reopening, founder and CEO Tim Choate told Skift Monday.
North America-focused RedAwning, with some 35,000 properties in its portfolio, can serve as one-stop shop for property managers and owners, handling their distribution to Booking.com, Expedia, Vrbo, Airbnb, and Google Travel, as well as marketing, price-optimization, and website-building services.
Choate said RedAwning sold Leavetown, which it acquired in 2018 for an undisclosed sum and had a European focus, back to its founders.
The asset disposal was a move to cut costs, and focus on RedAwnings core business, Choate said, adding that Leavetown had a partnership with major property manager Interhome in Europe that required attention. Skift reported at the time of the Leavetown acquisition in 2018 that RedAwning had around 250 employees.
Choate said RedAwning is already rehiring some employees sidelined because of the coronavirus travel collapse, but acknowledged that the company now has fewer employees. Perhaps smaller is better in some instances, he said.
Making An Exclusive Play
Exclusive inventory is a kind of holy grail in the short-term rental industry. Peter Kern, the CEO of Expedia Group, which like RedAwning but on a much-larger scale is pushing to simplify its business, said in a Skift interview in May that he hopes its Vrbo home-sharing unit will notch more exclusive deals with property managers to take advantage of Airbnbs refund-policy-inducted problem with hosts.
While tacitly acknowledging that some hosts left the platform, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky told CNBC Monday that the company has more listings today than pre-pandemic.
Story continues
Expedia Group announced Tuesday that it will phase out its HomeAway brand in the United States starting next month. Expedias ongoing and expected emphasis of Vrbo as its primary vacation rental brand has been ongoing, and the missteps in the transition from HomeAway to Vrbo have been a drag on the parent companys financials for an extended period.
In RedAwnings case, its drive to notch exclusive deals with both its core property manager base, but also with individual home owners is not about RedAwning being the sole booker of partners rentals.
Choate said exclusivity in RedAwnings case means the company would be the sole provider of distribution, price-optimization, and website-building services for partners. For example, a property manager who might have had RedAwning handle Booking.com and Airbnb distribution, but handled Vrbo on its own, would now sign on to have RedAwning handle all such distribution and services.
Choate argued that these partnerships enable property managers to have lean teams while allowing RedAwning to become their global team. Choate said 10 property managers, including Hayes Vacation Rentals in the Orlando, Florida area and Long Cove Resort in Charlotte, North Carolina, have signed up for these exclusive deals.
Bookings Surge
RedAwning said the booking surge it is experiencing has been strongest in beach, lake and mountain destinations in the United States. Like other short-term rental executives, Choate contended that vacation rentals are the safest bet for families in the coronavirus era.
Asked about the relative strengths of distribution partners, Choate said Airbnb has come back with force, particularly in mountain locations reachable by car.
Google Travel, though, is still in rollout mode for vacation rentals, he said. They havent become a giant influence yet like they could, and eventually will be, Choate said.
Subscribe to Skift newsletters for essential news about the business of travel.
[June 23, 2020] New Study Reveals that 87% of Enterprises Will Accelerate Their Cloud Migration in a Post-COVID World
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new LogicMonitor study of 500 global IT decision makers examines the future of cloud workloads and the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on IT organizations in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Though the full picture is still evolving, the survey suggests that COVID-19 has become a powerful catalyst for rapid cloud migration.
LogicMonitors Cloud 2025 study , fielded during May - June 2020, found that 87% of global IT decision makers agree that the COVID-19 pandemic will cause organizations to accelerate their migration to the cloud. Specifically, nearly three quarters (74%) of respondents believe that, within the next five years, 95% of all workloads will be in the cloud. Many IT decisions makers around the world are even more optimistic than that, with 37% of respondents in the APAC region saying 95% of workloads will reach the cloud by 2022, compared with 35% of US/Canada respondents and 30% of UK respondents. That is a strikingly different tone from similar LogicMonitor research conducted in 2017, when 13% did not think the shift would ever happen, and 62% of respondents thought it would take five years or more for 95% of workloads to run in the cloud. Fast forward to today, and the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the importance of the cloud in large and small enterprises as a vital asset to business operations, said Tej Redkar, Chief Product Officer at LogicMonitor. It is clear that organizations are hastening their cloud migration during the cisis, as the cloud is enabling them to operate remotely now while also serving as the foundation for digital transformation and ongoing innovation.
Remote work speeds shift to cloud Indeed, survey respondents made it clear that remote work was a driving force behind cloud migration. If things go smoothly initially with remote work [as a result of COVID-19], then I expect increased efficiency and much more cloud usage, noted one IT decision maker.
This sentiment was echoed by another survey respondent: In a fully remote workforce scenario, there will be cost savings in terms of office leases, but more money will be spent on remote IT services. Everything will be in the cloud -- including more automation and Internet of Things (IoT). The decline of on-premises LogicMonitors Cloud 2025 survey also revealed that global IT decision makers anticipate a decline in on-premises workloads over the next five years amidst accelerating shifts to the cloud. Prior to COVID-19, 35% of workloads resided on-premises (on-prem), according to survey respondents. However, by 2025, they believe only 22% of workloads will reside on-prem. This represents a drop of 13%. If everyone is remote, companies will have to switch from on-prem infrastructure to more cloud-based infrastructures, commented one IT decision maker on why his organization is accelerating its cloud migration. Respondents from all three regions anticipated a significant decline in on-prem workloads between now and 2025. IT decision makers based in the US and Canada believe that on-prem workloads will fall from 35% today to 22% by 2025. In the UK, 38% of workloads currently on-prem are expected to decline to 21% by 2025. In Australia and New Zealand, 32% of workloads housed on-prem today are expected to decline to 24% by 2025. Cloud workloads evenly split Survey respondents believe workloads will remain evenly split between private and public clouds, even though more workloads overall will migrate to the cloud. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, global IT decision makers identified 23% of workloads as residing in the public cloud, and 25% in the private cloud. By 2025, these same decision makers believe 28% of workloads will reside in the public cloud, and 30% in the private cloud. For more information on the global survey and its findings, read LogicMonitors full Cloud 2025 study . About LogicMonitor
Monitoring unlocks new pathways to growth. At LogicMonitor , we expand whats possible for businesses by advancing the technology behind them. LogicMonitor seamlessly monitors infrastructures, empowering companies to focus less on problem solving and more on evolution. We help customers turn on a complete view in minutes, turn the dial from optimization to innovation and turn the corner from sight to vision. For more information, visit www.logicmonitor.com . Contact
Anna Lindsey
LogicMonitor
Tel: (805) 323-3901
Email: [email protected]
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Immigrant detainees at Adelanto Detention Center say they were injured or left struggling to breathe after officers in riot gear shot pepper bullets and discharged pepper spray at them earlier this month in an incident that until now has gone unreported.
Four detainees were treated at an off-site medical facility, officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have acknowledged.
Multiple detainees told LAist that officers used that force against them as they staged a peaceful protest against continuing lockdown conditions. They said those conditions included the requirement that they remain in their cells for at least 23 1/2 hours a day.
ICE officials acknowledged that staff used "non-lethal force," which they said was necessary to ensure detainees' and staff members' safety.
The for-profit privately run facility -- which has been the focus of several civil rights lawsuits -- currently houses about 930 detainees who are awaiting decisions from immigration courts on their immigration status or efforts to fight deportation.
'WE COULD HARDLY BREATHE'
Edgar Guillen told us that he was standing near his cell door on Friday, June 12, when an official told detainees to go inside of their dorms for a lockdown. Guillen said they were told a protest was happening outside the facility.
He said he and others refused. Some people sat on the floors and others stood outside their dorms. They yelled: "We respectfully refuse."
"That's when they started spraying and shooting [pepper balls]," Guillen recalled by phone. "I felt scared. I felt threatened because of the way they came at us."
He said about 15 officers, decked out in SWAT-like gear, came into the housing unit. A paintball-like bullet loaded with pepper spray exploded near his face.
"That's when I went into my room and started throwing up, and my eyes were burning," Guillen said. "That night was crazy. I couldn't see. My whole body was burning. I had to get up a few times and throw water on my body. We coughed the whole night."
"We could hardly breathe," said another detainee in Guillen's unit, who didn't want to be identified. "They didn't really seem to care if they hit one of us."
He added: "We never acted aggressively towards them. So why did they do it to us?"
The detainee and Guillen each told us they saw another detainee having a seizure on the floor.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement that "the facility went into lockdown June 12, in response to a planned protest." The agency says a lockdown is implemented "in response to an immediate or imminent threat to the safety, security, and order of the facility."
That same day, a small protest was underway outside the facility. "There were only 50 protestors in attendance," said Jodi Miller, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department. "The protest was peaceful, there were no incident[s], and no arrests were made."
Detainees in several of the housing units in the facility's "West" building told us they protested the lockdown order by standing outside of their dorms or sitting on the floors in the community room outside of their cells. LAist has heard consistent accounts of the events from six current detainees, a seventh detainee who has since been released, and at least six attorneys who represent detainees.
In an email sent to LAist on June 21, ICE spokesperson Alexx Pons wrote:
"During this time, an internal disturbance, which included more than 150 detainees who became disruptive and refused multiple directives from facility staff, necessitated the use of non-lethal force to preserve order and ensure the safety of everyone within the facility after multiple attempts to deescalate the situation were unsuccessful and as disruptions continued."
He said the use of pepper balls and pepper spray "was needed" because of "the large number of detainees actively participating in the disruption and refusing staff orders."
Four detainees were transferred to a nearby medical facility "and were evaluated, treated, and returned to Adelanto without requiring admission," Pons said.
The use of force comes as public health officials are battling the threat of the coronavirus, and detention centers across the country have experienced outbreaks. As of Sunday, the Adelanto detention center had eight confirmed cases of COVID-19. Health officials say the virus can spread through coughing and sneezing, which can be exacerbated by irritants such as tear gas and pepper spray.
CONTINUED RESTRICTIONS
In a separate housing unit, Alexis Gonzalez, who has since been released from the facility, said he and his fellow detainees didn't want to go into "lockdown" -- also known as "modified programming" -- that Friday because the facility had already been in lockdown for several days earlier that week.
"We got upset, too, because they were turning off the phones. For guys, that's the only way to talk to their families, their kids," he said.
The weekend prior, detainees had been restricted to their cells following a June 7 protest outside of the facility, Gonzalez and other detainees told us. That outside protest had resulted in an injury to an Adelanto employee, an arrest, shattered windows at the facility and damage to more than two dozen cars that belonged to employees, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
ICE said Adelanto "entered modified programming" June 7-9 and again from June 12-14.
Gonzalez, the recently released detainee, said that when they were told on June 12 about yet another lockdown, detainees wanted to know why. They had nothing to do with the protests outside the facility, he said, and felt they were being unfairly forced to pay the consequences.
That's when detainees in his unit held their own demonstrations.
"When they came to our dorm, instead of standing up, we sat down because that was a show that we're not going to be violent. We're just going to sit down and just not go to our room," Gonzalez said. "We were not a threat."
He said an official entered their room to tell the detainees they were in "violation code" and that officers would be taking "measures" if they didn't go into lockdown. Next, Gonzalez said, a group of about two dozen officers in riot gear came into the housing unit.
"We didn't think that the 'measures' were going to be necessarily spraying us, hitting us with pepper balls," he said. "I think one guy on the ground passed out."
Gonzalez told us he'd been sitting on the ground by his dorm when officers came in. He insists the protests were peaceful and that guards used unnecessary force.
"It was pretty bad. After it stopped, you couldn't really rub your face," he said, adding that guards gave detainees time to wash their faces, but did not allow them to shower for two days.
"So you could still feel the fumes in your fingers," Gonzalez said. "If you rub your eyes, you feel the little sting, and when you breathe, you can still feel the taste. For two days, it was just like that."
Pons, the ICE spokesperson, told us the agency follows national detention standards, and that "detainees are able to shower and utilize the day room, law library and outdoor recreation with reasonable respect to privacy and considerations to safety and security."
But other detainees corroborated Gonzales's claim that they were denied phone use and showers.
"It appears that whenever my clients try to advocate for themselves, they are retaliated against or ignored," said Margaret Hellerstein, a staff attorney at Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, a nonprofit that represents several detainees being held at Adelanto. She told us detainees gave her similar accounts about the June 12 incident.
A FRAGMENT IN THE EYE
Detainee Alejandro Ramirez said he was sitting on the floor in the same housing unit as Gonzalez. He was about 8 feet away from his dorm, he said, when about 20 guards in riot gear entered the housing unit and started shooting pepper pellets.
Ramirez said he was hit in the right eye with a fragment or pellet that had ricocheted off a surface.
"I was not able to breathe. There was way too much pepper," he said. Ramirez told us that one man lost consciousness and was taken away by two officers. He said he also witnessed officers pepper-spraying a man in the face.
Ramirez told us he was taken for medical treatment for his eye, and said he was recently seen by an eye doctor.
"I was having blood in my eye, but the blood is going away and my view is coming back," he said.
After the incident, the facility went on lockdown again and detainees were restricted to their cells the following Saturday, Sunday and Monday (June 13, 14 and 15), Ramirez said, adding that on Friday June 19, one week after the incident, he was still only given 30 minutes to leave his dorm.
'PLEASE DON'T DO THIS AGAIN'
Three detainees in yet another housing unit described a similar series of events on June 12. One said he and his unit mates were asking the guards why the facility was going on lockdown yet again.
"We just asked if they can explain what the reason is for lockdown," he said. "And they just refused to answer."
He said about half the housing unit, which had about 40 people, was in the day room.
"I was right there sitting in the day room with everybody, and when all that started happening, it started happening really fast, everything was covered with the spray, the pepper spray. You couldn't really breathe," he said.
A 55-year-old detainee said he went back into his cell but had trouble breathing because of the pepper spray. He told us he had an existing medical issue -- a nodule in this right lung -- but he didn't get medical attention, despite asking for it.
"I'm getting sharp pains more often in my right lung," he said. "They haven't called me, they locked us up and just ignored us."
He said detainees weren't allowed to leave their cells, even for a shower, for the next two days.
A third detainee described officers shooting "paintballs and tear gas." He said both he and his cellmate got hit, and he participated in a hunger strike for days after the incident.
Daniela Hernandez Chong Cuy, an immigration attorney, was at the facility that Friday for an immigration court hearing. When she sat in the waiting area mid-morning, she said she saw about three officers in riot gear.
"God knows what they thought was going to happen," she said.
Chong Cuy left the facility, but found out days later that one of her clients had been sent to solitary confinement after the incident. Her client told her he was participating in a lockdown protest.
"It was just their way of saying, 'Please don't do this again. Let us use the day room. Let us use the shower. Let us use the phone to speak with our attorneys, our family,'" Chong Cuy told us.
She said her client was outside of his cell when officers pepper-sprayed him.
"They threw him to another cell. He had to cover his face with a wall" and was then put into "segregation" or solitary confinement, she said. "This is a particular concern to me, because this is a client that suffers schizophrenia."
Karina Licea, a paralegal at Al Otro Lado, a nonprofit serving immigrant detainees, spoke with a detainee in his 30s who said he was injured from the incident and placed in solitary confinement.
"Our client described that he felt very disoriented," she said. "He ended up being shot with, he said, rubber bullets, twice."
She said her client had lost consciousness and woke up in a medical bed.
Lisa Okamoto, directing attorney at the nonprofit Immigrants Defenders Law Center, said she was able to speak with one of her clients by phone less than a week after the incidents.
The client didn't describe a protest, but told her that when guards came to do counts around 6:30 p.m. on June 12, about two detainees in his unit had refused to go inside their cells.
By that time, her client was already inside his bunk, but he said about six or seven guards in SWAT-type gear came inside and shot about six rounds of what looked like "paintballs," hitting the doors of the bunks.
FOR-PROFIT AND CONTROVERSIAL
The exterior of the Adelanto Detention Facility on November 15, 2013. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Adelanto ICE Processing Center can house approximately 2,000 unauthorized immigrants, asylum seekers, and some who have been transfered from prisons. The facility is run by The GEO Group, a private corrections company known for its political influence, which signed a new contract late last year and is expanding the facility.
Adelanto has been the target of several lawsuits from advocacy groups over civil rights violations. In 2018, government inspectors found a number of issues that posed "significant health and safety risks at the facility."
Earlier this year, a group of former Adelanto detainees settled a civil rights lawsuit against The GEO Group. The detainees claimed that in 2017, guards used excessive force when they peacefully protested conditions by sitting outside of their dorms in the day room. Video obtained by NPR shows guards using pepper spray on the group of men.
Last year, advocacy groups filed a class action lawsuit over what they claim is a lack of adequate mental and medical health care at the facility.
In April, a federal judge ordered ICE to consider releasing detainees who are medically vulnerable to serious complications from COVID-19. ICE is appealing the order.
Guillen, the detainee who said he vomited in his cell after being exposed to pepper spray, told us the experience has exacerbated his anxiety.
"I got depression and it's hitting me very bad. I can't really sleep at night. I've had anxiety," he said. "I keep getting angry, and I just want to leave my dorm. I keep hitting the wall for some reason. They're treating us like dogs, in a way. We're not incarcerated, we're being detained."
WE LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
Easthampton resident Vinney Valetuttis monstrous Sea Level Rise Ruler is far from 12 inches long.
The construction spans a whopping 30 feet and currently sits on a wooden platform attached to the Western Massachusetts mans car.
With his structure, the former engineer is seeking to raise awareness about the dangers of rising sea levels due to climate change and ice caps melting.
I simply hope to make people aware of the reality of sea level rise, as it is a unique part of the global warming discussion, Valetutti said in a statement. People tend to not focus on sea level rise because, at first glance, the daily effect is insignificant, but ice melt has a cumulative effect.
Valetutti, a retired professional engineer who is passionate about energy conservation, stays up to date on the science of climate change. He was inspired in 2019 by Greta Thunberg, a 17-year-old Swedish girl who become internationally recognized for her environmental activism.
Using his background in engineering, Valetutti constructed a traveling flagpole that can hold a 30-foot-tall banner that replicates a ruler, with exact measurements in feet, according to the Easthampton resident.
I marked the 11- and 22-foot levels in red, because those indicate where our sea level would rise if only 5% or 10% of Antarctica and Greenland were to melt, he said. When people stand next to the flagpole and see how high that really is, it shows how legitimate and scary the reality of rising sea levels is.
The ruler has been sitting in Northampton, but Valetutti is hoping to drive his moveable education tool across the east coast, according to his statement.
I wanted to take a stance on the side of climate change that is not always talked about - rising sea levels due to global warming, the statement said.
Valetutti stressed how rapidly sea levels could rise and how little the problem is discussed.
Sea level rise is real. It is scary, and there is no way to time it, he said. Mother Nature can work fast.
23 June 2020
ANANDA DEVELOPMENTS PLC
("Ananda" or the "Company")
INCREASED EQUITY INTEREST IN iCAN ISRAEL-CANNABIS
The Directors of Ananda announce that the balance of the USD200,000 convertible loan notes of iCAN Israel-Cannabis Ltd ("iCAN") issued to the Company in August 2018 has been converted to equity in iCAN.
On 8 January 2020, the first USD100,000 of Ananda's convertible loan notes were converted into 120 ordinary shares in iCAN , at a valuation of USD10M for iCAN. Upon conversion of the second half of the loan notes, Ananda now owns 180 ordinary shares in iCAN, equating to 1.03% of iCAN's issued share capital. The second conversion was done at a valuation of USD20M for iCAN.
iCAN is headquartered in Israel, one of the leading jurisdictions for medicinal cannabis research. It is one of the three major conference platforms in the cannabis space, along with MJBiz and Cannabis Europa, and also holds a portfolio of investments in early stage cannabis companies as well as providing consulting services to the sector.
Since the onset of COVID-19 iCAN has focused on virtual offerings and will recommence physical conferences when circumstances allow.
-Ends-
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As for the Roseville project, McCracken noticed it on her newsfeed and decided to give it a shot, not sure if she would be picked. I had thought it seemed really neat, and I thought why not? Im gonna try it!' she said, I wasnt expecting anything, especially being from Iowa, since it was in Minnesota. I figured they would just stick with artists from their state. However, it didnt take long for Roseville to get in contact with her, and soon she was chosen.
McCracken began work on her rose earlier this month, and finished it a week later. She was inspired by the flower imagery in the story of Alice in Wonderland." Like the other rose statues used for the project, her rose is nearly seven feet tall, and has a circumference of 100 inches and a total weight of 658 pounds. The rose also includes some 3-D printed materials.
On the base of the rose, I put some of the wording from the Alice in Wonderland book, McCracken explained, and I snuck in a little, personal Easter egg in there that I put in memory of my mom. Her mother passed away a couple years ago from cancer. She was my biggest fan, and I wanted her to be a part of it.
The First Year
After the First Year
Conclusion
or more than two decades, professors have been "flipping" classrooms to move course material online and use classroom time for student-centered activity and more complex, collaborative thinking. This flip strikes me as a good analogy for a needed reform: Flipping some required humanities courses from the first half to the second half of a college student's education.Higher ed leaders should replace lower-level humanities survey courses with an integrated series of upper-level courses that help students to think deeply about humanity and society. Moving most humanities courses to junior and senior years enables freshmen to declare a major and take its initial courses earlier. Students would have more time to explore different majors, settle into one, and prepare for a career in their field of study.Why should students take any more than a few humanities courses and just train for a career? The humanities study the human being, and thus, the human context for every business deal and cultural activity, all scientific research, and every use of technology in communication, medicine, manufacturing, etc.When we ponder new technologies like organ transplants in the 1950s and gene splicing today, we look at insights developed from the ancient world to the present. Those insights aren't sound because they are old; they are sound because it didn't take humanity very long to figure out certain characteristics of human success and failure and to explore fundamental human experiences. Great minds have found many ways to express those insights so that future peoples may use their works to sort out our aspirations, achievements, tragedies, and failures.By humanities, I mean literature, history, art, music, theology, philosophy, and its branches in the social sciences such as psychology and economics. I also include logic and rhetoric-the arts of thinking and communicating. The great minds are great because they have excelled at the arts of thinking and of communicating their insights with great depth and refinement. Among the greats, we find powerful truths and blind spots, the development of ideas and disagreements, and overlapping consensus. Studying their examples develops our own minds so that we may direct our activities by the best possible thinking we can achieve.The humanities help students evaluate the ideas and arguments they encounter, to accept some truly good ideas for credible reasons, and to reject others as legitimate but not preferred, or as distorted ideologies that no one should accept. There are many pitfalls in thought that a strong humanities education can help students avoid, such as evaluating past authors based only on today's accepted standards, importing anachronistic assumptions about what an author or artist may have meant, and overlooking the complexities of human experience. And there are great rewards if humanities faculty teach students a range of humbling intellectual skills: to interpret texts and works composed in cultures unfamiliar to them, understand each author's or artist's meaning on their own terms before evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of that person's thought, and relate what has been learned to life and work.If the humanities have been well-situated within the Liberal Arts tradition, why are they so marginalized today in undergraduate curricula? First, the humanities are intellectually demanding and thus more difficult for freshmen and sophomores. But by the time those students become juniors and seniors, they are immersed in professional majors and miss the best moment for undergraduate humanities study. Second, younger students are less equipped to address a course's political agenda, if there is one, and feel they are being indoctrinated, not challenged to deepen their thinking. Finally, humanities study is seen as impractical when people can study math and science and feel more confident about future employment.By "flipping" the humanities to an integrated set of courses in the latter half of the curriculum, colleges could provide more professional preparation alongside a deeper humanities education.How can a humanities curriculum better serve students?First, teach grammar, logic, and rhetoric but not philosophy, literature, or other humanities courses to freshmen. Many freshmen are smart, ambitious, and motivated, but they do not yet have the intellectual capacities or the life experiences that they will bring into their junior and senior years. Some high school students never encountered the classics of any tradition. They arrive on campus without ever having struggled with difficult-yet-rewarding texts and artistic works.Freshmen should study writing, math, and logic so as to develop solid intellectual skills-and they should begin studying in their major. If they are undecided, they should choose introductory courses in one or two majors that are most attractive to them. They can then take more time to investigate and change majors if they need to.Students are often worried about money, wondering what career they'd find rewarding, and in college to develop the skills to succeed. Colleges will have a greater positive impact on new students by helping them find a career direction and develop skills before offering them the best of human thought.Freshmen also tend to expend a lot of intellectual and emotional energy figuring out how to live more independently. Whether partying, working, studying, or just "doing whatever they want," they are making important life transitions. The students who enter college several years after graduating from high school are reviving, or just now learning, productive study habits, often while handling greater work and family responsibilities. Neither first-year nor returning students are in a position to study humanistic works deeply and enjoy the experience.I am not arguing that freshmen should never encounter the humanities. Writing and logic courses illustrate great thinking and writing with humanities texts. Professional programs may use history to introduce their fields and philosophy to explain their methods. Many colleges already teach life skills, career development, and personal finance where students explore their values and aspirations. Those courses provide a fertile field for students to encounter literary and philosophical texts in an accessible, personal way and prepares students for a more mature, complex, and satisfying experience of the humanities later.Colleges should teach a few humanities courses to sophomores and expand humanities offerings for juniors and seniors. By their sophomore year, students have pretty well figured out how to "do college." They have improved their thinking and communication skills and have some professional preparation. The second year is a good time to use works from the humanities to raise topics such as what it means to be human and live in society, what lifelong aspirations have proven most compelling, and what great minds have thought about love, suffering, death, friendship, character, sexuality, marriage, and work.Students then receive a much richer college experience if, in the junior and senior years, the bulk of humanities study accompanies the highest level of specialized, professional study. This arrangement enables students of diverse disciplines, professions, and industries to discuss our shared humanity, even though people interpret it differently and contradict each other. In this way, the curriculum fosters the kind of conversations that adults have in families, neighborhoods, and workplaces.Juniors and seniors are privileged to engage with some of the greatest minds in history as they examine the trends, possibilities, distortions, and great ideas in the culture around them. Colleges graduate future workers, leaders, philanthropists, citizens, spouses, parents, and neighbors of greater human depth and ability for lifelong learning.The strongest core humanities curriculum would thus be an integrated one, not a menu of courses. In an integrated curriculum, students follow a prearranged series of courses that build upon and "speak" to each other. For example, what people think about being human influences their view of ethics, and both influence their view of how society should be organized. Thus, a college may offer a series of courses presenting various views of being human, followed by ethics, political philosophy, economics, and culture. "Great Books" programs offer another integrated solution. Over at least four courses, students would trace the development of salient ideas via some of the most prominent thinkers in a tradition.In an integrated curriculum, students typically have fewer options but choose how to interpret, evaluate, and respond to the material in the courses, which is the more valuable sort of freedom. Whatever integrated program a college offers, it will likely provide a deeper, more relevant, and more enduring learning experience than the lower-level survey courses so widespread today.During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, colleges tried to preserve liberal arts education by shrinking the liberal arts curriculum from four years to two. They identified core liberal arts subjects and devoted the first half of college to skills in language, math, and logic, to introductory science, and to the humanities. Then students proceeded to specialized majors in natural science, social science, business, and technological production.Based on that reform, colleges still teach the arts of thinking and communicating early in the undergraduate curriculum but teach the rest of the humanities too early, leaving their greatest insights less accessible to many students today. It would be better to help incoming students expand their social relationships and begin addressing professional concerns before they think more deeply about fundamental human questions.If colleges flipped the humanities, students would be happier because they would find and begin a professional major that prepares them for employment. Less-experienced students would no longer sit in humanities courses wondering when they'll get to the "real stuff" that gets them a job. More-experienced students would get more out of humanities courses and relate what they learn to their lives and careers.Some people may not like this proposal because humanities courses will become more prominent when many students and employers have written them off as irrelevant and when administrators have eliminated them from curricula. Depending upon the institution, administrators may, or may not, need to increase the number of required humanities courses.Humanities faculty would be happier teaching more in-depth courses to more experienced students. They would lose some early required humanities courses that they count on to recruit majors, but if declining numbers of humanities majors are any indication, that recruitment strategy is not working anyway. For the majors they do attract, humanities faculty would offer higher-quality courses that complement the humanities curriculum that all students receive.Non-humanities faculty would find less-experienced students in more of their program's early courses. But those students would bring the motivation of having chosen the subject they study. As non-humanities majors enter their junior and senior years, they will have to spend more time in humanities courses. But non-humanities faculty could take the opportunity to help students explore the human dimension and the ethos of their disciplines, especially if students are also applying what they learn in internships.Imagine engineering or biology courses speculating about the next decade's technological innovations by using knowledge from both science and the humanities. Such courses would succeed much more easily if non-humanities majors took humanities courses in the same or nearby semesters rather than having to remember the little they retain from humanities-lite courses two to three years ago.College students grow immensely from freshman through senior years. During three to six years, they not only study more broadly and learn a major subject in-depth, but may also develop or change a worldview, gain a sense of mission, hold part- and full-time employment, study abroad, enter and exit romantic relationships, lead organizations, volunteer, and learn to manage time and resources.The humanities can have a powerful effect on this growth and plant the seeds of lifelong learning, but colleges should flip their humanities courses later in the curriculum to achieve these goals.
News
Introduction
Facts and figures
As of 15 October 2021, 350 RTAs were in force. These correspond to 568 notifications from WTO members, counting goods, services and accessions separately.
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements
The Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) considers individual regional agreements under the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs (see below). It is also mandated to hold discussions on the systemic implications of RTAs for the multilateral trading system, as was reaffirmed by WTO members at the 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in 2015. The CRTA's terms of reference can be found in WT/L/127. The current Chair is .
Transparency Mechanism for RTAs
WTO members agreed in 2006 to implement a provisional mechanism to enhance the transparency of RTAs and understand their effects on the multilateral system. Under this process, members notify the WTO about their RTAs and these are discussed by the wider WTO membership on the basis of a factual presentation prepared by the WTO Secretariat.
At the 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in 2015, WTO members agreed to work towards the transformation of the provisional mechanism into a permanent mechanism without prejudice to questions related to notification requirements.
Search Documents Online
General documents on regional trade agreements bear the document code WT/REG/*. Under the Doha agenda's trade negotiations mandate, they use TN/RL/* (where * takes additional values).
These links open a new window: allow a moment for the results to appear. > help with downloading these documents Documents on Regional Trade Agreements by Country (Document code WT/REG/*) > search
by Country > search Notifications of Regional Trade Agreements (Document code WT/REG*/N/*) > search
of Regional Trade Agreements > search Factual Presentations on Regional Trade Agreements (Document code WT/REG* and keyword Factual presentation)
> search
on Regional Trade Agreements > search Questions and Replies on Regional Trade Agreements (Document code RD/RTA* or WT/REG* and keyword Questions and replies)
> search > See also Transparency Mechanism communications (early announcements of RTAs, notifications of changes, etc.) You can perform more sophisticated searches from the Documents Online search facility (opens in new window) by defining multiple search criteria such as document symbol (i.e. code number), full text search or document date.
Notifications of RTAs
WTO members are obliged to notify the RTAs in which they participate. All of the WTO's members have notified participation in one or more RTAs (some members are party to 20 or more). Notifications may also refer to the accession of new parties to an agreement that already exists, e.g. the notification of the accession of Croatia to the European Union.
For more detail on notifications of RTAs currently in force, consult the summary tables of the RTA Database http://rtais.wto.org/UI/publicsummarytable.aspx
Evolution of RTAs, 1948-2021
The following chart shows all RTAs notified to the GATT/WTO (1948-2021), including inactive RTAs, by year of entry into force.
A series of interactive graphs, along with the underlying data, is available from the WTO RTA Database: http://rtais.wto.org/UI/Charts.aspx
New developments in RTAs
Many WTO members continue to be involved in negotiations to create new RTAs. Like the agreements in force, most new negotiations are bilateral. However, a recent development has been negotiations and new agreements among several WTO members. This includes developments in:
the Asia-Pacific Region, with the entry into force of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement (signed by 11 parties);
Asia, with the signature of the Regional Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (RCEP) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members and six other WTO members;
Latin America, with the establishment of the Pacific Alliance between Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru; and
Africa, with the entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and negotiations for the Tripartite Agreement, linking parties to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
However, the vast majority of such new plurilateral agreements have not reduced the spaghetti bowl of RTAs given that they have not superseded existing bilateral agreements.
Negotiations on RTAs
Negotiations to clarify and improve WTO disciplines on RTAs fall under the work of the Negotiating Group on Rules, which reports to the Trade Negotiations Committee. The negotiations have been dormant for some time.
WTO rules on regional trade agreements
The WTOs rules on regional trade agreements:
Is the US Transportation Department fair in saying that the Indian government has engaged in "unfair and discriminatory practices" through the Vande Bharat Mission flights?
The Department has asked for a "level playing field for US airlines" under the US-India Air Transport Agreement and issued an order requiring Indian air carriers to apply for authorisation prior to conducting charter flights.
As it turns out, the US Department may be right in its reprimand, say industry experts.
"Aviation works on reciprocity and Americans were not getting their approvals in a timely manner from the DGCA (the industry regulator). This is something that was coming," says Nitin Sarin, Managing Partner of Sarin & Co, which specialises in aviation law, on social media platform Twitter.
The Vande Bharat Mission, which was initially promoted as an 'evacuation exercise,' has got back over one lakh Indians home. These flights have also flown out Indians, including NRIs, who wanted to fly out of the country.
The Mission, now rightly termed as a repatriation exercise by all - including government agencies - is currently in its third phase. National carrier Air India had a near monopoly, at least in the first two phases. The government had also fixed a price, but there were countless allegations by customers, many of whom took to social media platforms to air their grievances, that the final fare was often many times higher.
Even as Air India was flying in and out of countries, it turns out that carriers from the US were not allowed to do the same.
The US Department office in its notice points out: "On May 26, 2020, Delta Air Lines Inc, 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."
Delta is among the biggest carriers in the US, and operated direct flights to Mumbai, before international flights were suspended by the Indian government in March.
"International carriers can only fly foreigners out of India, cannot fly anyone in, not even stranded Indians even if the flights are empty. Flights must come in empty," points out a senior executive from the industry.
"They are controlled by India by giving specific clearances. When they started, only Air India was operating flights," says Amit Singh, an industry veteran and Fellow of London's Royal Aeronautical Society.
Adds another senior executive: "Yet Air India is selling tickets to anyone who wants to buy (Indian and foreigners) on outbound flights, and is the only carrier allowed to bring people into India. It is selling the outbound as regular commercial flights, though they say these are repatriation flights....All this is basically monopolistic."
It was given that @Potus would intervene;He had done it to China: American Airlines were chaffing their bits seeing @airindiain monopolising the traffic at sky high charter rates:They wanted a piece of the pie:@HardeepSPuri being a former diplomat should have seen it coming https://t.co/7oeb9ttYqF
Shakti Lumba (@CaptShaktiLumba) June 23, 2020
Shakti Lumba, an aviation veteran and former Executive Director, Airline Operations (Alliance Air), and Vice President, Ops (IndiGo), points out that the US government had already called out China.
Lumba adds that other countries, including in Europe and the Middle-East, may follow suit.
This will be significant as Vande Bharat flights to the US, Canada, the UK and the Middle-East have seen the heaviest traffic.
Private charters also facing the heat
Senior industry executives further point out that it was not just the international airlines who were finding it tough to get clearances to fly to India.
"Many of the stranded Indians have now started reaching out for private charter services. They are tired of waiting for their turn to come, to get a ticket on Vande Bharat flights," says a senior industry official.
However, he adds, these charter companies are struggling to get permission.
"The SOP is complex. The charter company has to reach out to the local Indian embassy, which then sends the request to the specific state government in India....it's basically a nightmare," he added.
Though this delay may not be intentional, the senior official added, " but it's definitely our bureaucracy that's making it seem like that."
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Tue, June 23, 2020 07:07 579 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660c968c 2 Entertainment Bill-Wyman,Billie-Eilish,charity,charity-auction,united-states,music,The-Rolling-Stones,coronavirus,COVID-19,Barbra-Streisand Free
Some of the biggest names in the music industry have donated one-of-a-kind items for the MusiCares Relief Fund Auction, which will take place on Sept. 9 in Beverly Hills, California and online.
Bill Wyman helped to launch the charitable initiative by offering his custom Mesa/Boogie bass amplifier rig, which the founding member of the Rolling Stones used in 1989 during the bands iconic Steel Wheels United States Tour.
The English musician traveled with the historic item during the European leg of the tour, known as Urban Jungle World Tour, which marked his last live concerts with the rock n roll band.
The entire Mesa/Boogie bass rig will be sold with no reserve with a conversative pre-auction estimate between $200,000 and $300,000 and has been appraised at $2 million.
Additionally, Billie Eilish, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Depeche Mode, Hans Zimmer, Blake Shelton, Brandon Flowers, Tony Iommi, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne have all donated iconic items and memorabilia from their collection.
While the sales catalog has yet to be disclosed, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant took to Twitter to tease his contribution.
Love the guitar been practising in my bedroom for 55 yrs..https://t.co/KgcQTrv6kS Robert Plant (@RobertPlant) June 17, 2020
Love the guitar been [practicing] in my bedroom for 55 [years].., he cryptically told his fans.
Read also: Auction of Megadeth-signed guitar raises Rp 100 million for COVID-19 response
Proceeds from the forthcoming auction, hosted by Juliens Auctions, will benefit the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
The fund, established in March by the Recording Academy and its affiliated charitable organization MusiCares, helps professionals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the cancellation of income-generating music events and other industry work opportunities.
Having myself been in quarantine for the past [10] weeks, I can really feel for my fellow musicians and artists who are suffering from the impact of the pandemic. When MusiCares reached out to me about providing something for their COVID-19 Relief Fund, I decided to help by offering my original bass rig that I used on the Steel Wheels U.S. Tour of 1989, which I consider to be an important part of the Stones and musics history, Wyman said in a statement.
Nothing would please me more than to know that the proceeds from the sale of this, will go to support my fellow musicians during this time of need, and to also know that my bass rig will find a new home where it will be appreciated for years to come.
Juliens Auction is calling on more personalities from film, music, sports, fashion and more to look into their closets and archives and donate an iconic item or two to this urgent initiative.
Eastern New Mexico could have severe weather Tuesday, and lightning is likely in that entire region from 2 to 10 p.m., with large hail and damaging winds possible, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service Albuquerque office.
On Wednesday, more showers and scattered severe thunderstorms are also possible for that part of the state. The storms are expected to help bring lower temperatures midweek to the eastern plains.
The Albuquerque area will likely miss out on severe storms or significant rainfall this week. But temperatures will fall slightly midweek, with a high of 92 predicted for the city on Tuesday and a high of 93 on Wednesday.
Albuquerque has a 20% chance of rain on Tuesday and a 10% chance of rain on Wednesday. Temperatures will rise back to the mid-90s later in the week.
Forecasters are also keeping an eye on a tropical disturbance in the Pacific that could push moisture into the southwestern United States early next week.
The latest storm information and weather advisories are available at weather.gov/abq.
Drifting smoke from wildfires in southern Arizona has worsened air quality in Albuquerque for several days.
But Tuesdays air quality is predicted to be good, with little risk of air pollution, according to a forecast from the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department.
NEW YORK - Geoffrey Berman, whose abrupt ouster as Manhattan U.S. attorney has faced intense scrutiny from President Donald Trump's critics, refused to support a Justice Department initiative late last week urging New York's mayor to ease some coronavirus restrictions, a person familiar with the matter said Monday.
A letter from Eric Dreiband, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, was sent to Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, on Friday afternoon, about four hours before an announcement from Attorney General William Barr publicizing Trump's plans to replace Berman.
Berman on Thursday objected to signing Dreiband's letter, which characterized de Blasio as having endorsed large public protests over the death of George Floyd while seeking to limit crowds allowed to gather for religious services, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the matter remains sensitive. As The Wall Street Journal first reported, Berman considered the move a political ploy that would needlessly jeopardize his office's relationship with City Hall.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.
Berman's departure from the office on Saturday evening capped an extraordinary day-long standoff with Barr, who, for reasons that remain unclear, had sought to replace Berman with Jay Clayton, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. During Berman's tenure atop the U.S. attorney's office, federal prosecutors have pursued a number of investigations targeting Trump's interests and members of his inner circle - including the president's current and former personal attorneys.
A Justice Department official said over the weekend that Clayton was preparing to leave the SEC and that the New York job was seen as an avenue to compel him to remain with the administration. Congressional Democrats have refused to accept that explanation and demanded an investigation into Berman's dismissal, calling the move an attempt by Barr to put the president's personal interests above those of the American public.
Dreiband's letter to de Blasio has raised other concerns.
The Justice Department distributed a copy of it to the media Monday afternoon along with a statement suggesting that, as a result of the federal government's intervention, New York City would allow houses of worship to hold indoor services at 25% capacity.
Freddi Goldstein, a spokeswoman for the mayor, called the Justice Department's statement "totally false." City and state officials announced their reopening plans earlier that day, she said, adding in a tweet that Dreiband's letter was submitted several hours later and had "absolutely no bearing" on the city's actions.
The letter publicized by the Justice Department indicates that de Blasio was welcome to discuss the matter with Dreiband directly. A copy of the letter shared with The Washington Post by a person close to de Blasio says instead that Berman would be the point of contact for any questions.
Barr met with Berman in New York on Friday to discuss the desire for a personnel change in the Southern District of New York, but it quickly became evident that each man had a different understanding following their conversation. Berman issued a pointed response to Barr's news release saying that he would not step down and that he intended to ensure the office's "important cases" could continue "unimpeded."
Their standoff ended Saturday, when Barr informed Berman that Trump was firing him and installing Berman's handpicked deputy, Audrey Strauss, to fill the top job while Clayton's nomination is pending. Initially, the attorney general wanted the Manhattan job filled on an acting basis by the U.S. attorney in neighboring New Jersey. Barr's critics suspected the move marked a first step toward suppressing investigations of consequence to the president, but Strauss's appointment seemed to ease those concerns.
Barr has faced backlash within the Justice Department and among Democrats for intervening in cases that involve those close to the president, including Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn and his friend and former adviser Roger Stone. Both were charged as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said Monday that Barr was unaware that Berman had not signed Dreiband's letter when the attorney general made his controversial announcement Friday night, adding later that when officials in Washington realized Berman was mentioned in the letter, they sent de Blasio's office an updated version striking his name.
The mayor's office could not immediately confirm having received two emails.
The Charger Blog
Attending a workshop for creating public service announcements led Emily Brown 22 to develop her first PSA. She produced an uplifting message about overcoming addiction and recovery. Her video has now been aired on television statewide and shared online, and she hopes it fosters a dialogue about recovery. By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications
Emily Brown '22
Early in the spring semester, Emily Brown 22 attended a workshop at the University of New Haven during which she learned how to create an effective public service announcement. The workshop, which she wrote about for the Charger Blog, inspired her to create her own.
She entered her PSA, Our Superheroes, into a PSA contest held as part of an initiative created by Fox61 and Change the Script, a statewide public awareness campaign to help communities deal with the prescription drug and opioid crisis. Her PSA was chosen as the winner.
Emily Brown filming at the Universitys Up til Dawn fundraiser for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital last spring.
I was very excited when I had found out that I had placed first, said Brown, a communication major. I felt a sense of accomplishment. This is the first project like this that I have ever completed, and the workshop was instrumental in helping me create my PSA. I had attended the workshop hoping to learn more about how PSAs are made, and I left with a script and a game plan.
As the winner of the Be an Rxpert contest, which was open to students ages 13 to 22, Brown received a cash prize of $2,500. Her work aired on Fox61 and she was interviewed about her work during National Prevention Week last month.
Hosted by Prof. Nicki Chavoya; Stephanie Moran, prevention services coordinator for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services; and Trish Hesslein, community marketing manager for Fox61, the workshop Brown attended enabled students to learn about what an effective PSA entails, the resources available to people struggling with addiction, and the steps being taken to prevent addiction.
"I hope that my PSA creates a dialogue about the recovery aspect of addiction. I hope it encourages people to become more educated and realize they can aid in someones lifelong recovery." Emily Brown '22
Emily is an outstanding student who seizes every opportunity to challenge herself technically, creatively, and professionally this time, while making a difference in the community, said Prof. Chavoya. Opioid addiction is an ongoing battle in our country, and I'm so happy that Emily chose to create a piece that honored the strength and courage of the superheroes that are working every day to recover from it.
From left to right: Stephanie Moran, Trish Hesslein, Emily Brown.
Brown and the second and third place finishers were recognized during a virtual event hosted by the Governors Prevention Partnership during National Prevention Week. Their PSAs were aired on Fox61 and online. Browns work may also be shared during a presentation at the states Legislative Office Building during Red Ribbon Prevention week in October.
I hope that my PSA creates a dialogue about the recovery aspect of addiction, said Brown. I hope that by watching my PSA, family members and friends of those in recovery will be motivated to seek more information on what they can do to help their loved one. I hope it encourages people to become more educated and realize they can aid in someones lifelong recovery.
Queensland may allow larger groups of people to gather if it keeps the state's borders closed next month.
The Queensland government was gearing up to open its borders on July 10, but a spike in cases in Victoria has cast doubt over whether that will go ahead.
A small crowd was allowed at Suncorp Stadium at the weekend for the Gold Coast Titans v St George Illawarra match, Credit:Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was expected to announce whether the borders would be opened next Tuesday.
"We are going to review at the end of the month but there is significant about the community transmission [in Victoria]," she said.
[June 23, 2020] Most Companies Don't Think Like Hackers, Leaving Them More Prone to Attacks, Finds WhiteSource and CYR3CON Study
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WhiteSource , the leader in open source security and license compliance management, and CYR3CON , which predicts cybersecurity attacks based on AI-gathered intelligence from hacker communities, release in collaboration with d today their joint research report on security vulnerability prioritization through the eyes of hackers. As technology constantly advances, software development teams are bombarded with security alerts at an increasing rate. This has made it nearly impossible to remediate every vulnerability, rendering the ability to properly prioritize remediation all the more critical. This research examines the most common methods software development teams use to prioritize software vulnerabilities for remediation and compares those practices to data gathered from the discussions of hacker communities, including the dark web and deep web. Key findings in the report include: Software development teams tend to prioritize based on available data such as vulnerability severity score (CVSS), ease of remediation, and publication date, but hackers don't target vulnerabilities basedon these parameters.
Hackers are drawn to specific vulnerability types (CWEs), including CWE-20 (Input Validation), CWE-125 (Out-of-bound Read), CWE-79 (XSS), and CWE-200 (Information Leak/Disclosure).
Organizations tend to prioritize "fresh" vulnerabilities, while hackers often discuss vulnerabilities for over 6 months following exploitation, with even older vulnerabilities re-emerging in hacker community discussions as they reappear in new exploits or malware.
Rami Sass , CEO and co-founder of WhiteSource. "Our research can help organizations adopt a solid prioritization method, and ensure they look beyond just the most accessible data to the data that can best help them fix the security vulnerabilities that could cause the greatest impact, and in turn save them valuable time." "All too often companies unknowingly accept risk by using outdated methods of vulnerability prioritization - and this report sheds light on the shortcomings of those approaches. Combining threat intelligence and machine learning overcomes those shortcomings, highlighting previously unidentified risks in the process," said Paulo Shakarian, CYR3CON CEO & Co-Founder. "Our CyRating score, which originates from our own peer-reviewed scientific research, was designed to scale the process of analyzing vulnerabilities and rapidly shed light on the hackers' perspective of what they will exploit. Many top-tier teams today use CYR3CON to provide the knowledge they need to conduct this analysis in a manner that scales."
About WhiteSource WhiteSource is the pioneer of open source security and license compliance management. Founded in 2011, its vision is to empower businesses to develop better software by harnessing the power of open source. WhiteSource is used by more than 800 customers worldwide, from all verticals, and sizes, including 23% of Fortune 100 companies, as well as industry leaders such as Microsoft, IBM, Comcast and many more. For more information, please visit www.WhiteSourceSoftware.com About CYR3CON CYR3CON combines hacker-community threat intelligence with machine learning to predict threats to enterprise technology. The CYR3CON approach leverages peer-reviewed science and comprehensive threat intelligence to rapidly inform security teams. Multiple Fortune 500 companies use CYR3CON's SaaS-based offering that includes both an API and web-based option. CYR3CON routinely identifies major cyber threats in clients prior to purchase. For more information, please visit https://www.cyr3con.ai/ View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/most-companies-dont-think-like-hackers-leaving-them-more-prone-to-attacks-finds-whitesource-and-cyr3con-study-301081845.html SOURCE WhiteSource
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WASHINGTON - The nonpartisan commission that sponsors the formal election year presidential debates announced Tuesday that an October debate that had been set for Michigan will now take place in Florida.
The change comes after the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, determined it was no longer feasible to host the Oct. 15 debate, the Commission on Presidential Debates said.
The debate will instead be held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami.
In a letter shared with the Commission on Presidential Debates, University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel suggested the decision was influenced by the work needed to prepare the campus for the fall semester during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Given the scale and complexity of the work we are undertaking to help assure a safe and healthy fall for our students, faculty and staff and limited visitors and in consideration of the public health guidelines in our state as well as advice from our own experts we feel it is not feasible for us to safely host the presidential debate as planned, Schlissel wrote.
Two other presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate will proceed as originally planned.
The presidential debates are scheduled for Sept. 29 at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, Oct. 15 at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami and Oct. 22 at Belmont University in Tennessee.
The vice-presidential debate is set for Oct. 7 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
There are contingencies in place for all of the debate sites, according to a person familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss planning. The person noted that large performing arts venues that would otherwise be booked in the fall are available because the pandemic has led to the cancellation of so many events.
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Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
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Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African drug company Aspen could provide 10 million dexamethasone tablets within a month, Chief Executive Stephen Saad told Reuters on Tuesday.
Results from a trial showed that dexamethasone reduced death rates by about a third compared with a placebo in severely ill hospitalised COVID-19 patients, University of Oxford scientists said last week, calling the discovery a major breakthrough.
"Aspen has looked at the short-term needs and can provide 10 million tablets in the next three to four weeks. We would look to ramp up further should there be a need for additional product," Saad said without indicating current production volumes.
South Africa's biggest supplier of drugs, with a 22% market share in sub-Saharan Africa, manufactures both the injectable and tablet forms of dexamethasone, which is mainly used for treatment of tumours, asthma and other respiratory ailments.
The South African government has contacted Aspen to source the drug not only for its domestic market but also for rest of the continent, the company said on Monday.
The company has asked the government to indicate required volumes across the continent, Saad said. "Once they give us a sense, we can work out the supply," he added.
South Africa's health ministry on Friday said that the government had a stock of 300,000 ampoules of dexamethasone and could secure supplies from local suppliers.
Saad said the recent revelation by scientists at the University of Oxford had brought in sudden demand for the drug and the company had received orders from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other bodies.
"We are trying to make sure there is no panic-buying," he said.
(Reporting by Promit Mukherjee; Editing by Jason Neely and David Goodman)
The full effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the film industry have not yet been felt, the head of UK audiences at the BFI has warned as the Government announced cinemas will be allowed to reopen around England from July 4.
Ben Luxford said the reverberations from the crisis will still be felt for a long time, even as cinemas reopen with new socially-distanced seating configurations and staggered film start times.
Multiplexes and smaller screens have been closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic and Cineworld, Vue and Picturehouse cinemas have announced plans to reopen on July 10.
Mr Luxford told the PA news agency he welcomed the news, but said difficulties still lie ahead.
He said: Our whole industry still largely revolves around the cinema, people going to the cinema, so its been a huge loss to our industry as well, as to audiences in terms of their everyday life, so opening them again is a huge boost of confidence to our industry to really get back to business.
We have got the green light for films to start being made again so its great that we have got the opportunity to be able to show them to people again as well, so it starts to feel like things can really open up and we can get back to business.
If you are bored of "home"... We are excited to announce that we are planning to reopen Cineworld Cinemas across England on 10 July! Details here >> https://t.co/z0VSxucpTn pic.twitter.com/fDq1R0fooe Cineworld Cinemas (@cineworld) June 16, 2020
He added: Its been an incredibly tough time and its only going to continue to be a tough time. By getting the green light today, although its back to business in some senses, I dont think we have really felt the full effects of this yet.
Obviously a huge portion of our industry, notably cinema operators but as well as the huge freelance community that we have and rely upon so heavily in the industry, have been hit really hard by this and immediately, but the knock on effects of this are going to continue for a long time.
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And cinema operators have been given the green light to reopen with restrictions and we have modelled it, we have got a really strong sense of what the impact is going to be, but the reality is about when those venues actually reopen their doors and who comes in, how many come in.
The number of shows is going to reduce significantly, the number of seats they are going to be able to sell, whether people can or will want to buy food and drink in those venues, there is going to be a long long period of rebuilding that goes on in this industry. Its not without its challenges.
Cineworld, which has about 100 cinemas around the UK, said it has updated its booking system to ensure social distancing, and adapted its daily movie schedules to manage queues and avoid the build-up of crowds in lobbies.
It also said it has enhanced cleanliness and sanitation procedures across all sites.
Tim Richards, founder and chief executive of Vue International, said the company is confident it can look after staff and customers with enhanced protocols.
He added: By the time we reopen in the UK our methods will have been responsibly and robustly deployed in the real world.
We have learned how to do this from our operations in Taiwan where we never closed and have successfully operated through pandemics such as Sars in the past; and from our sites in Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland and Lithuania where we have recently and successfully reopened to the public.
The first new films due to be released are expected to be Proxima, starring Eva Green, scheduled for release on July 10, and road rage thriller Unhinged, starring Russell Crowe, which is due for launch on July 17.
Some news! We'll begin to reopen our doors in England on 10 July. We can't wait to start showing films on the big screen again.
We've made some important changes to help keep everyone safe in our cinemas: https://t.co/YHtZFgOP51 pic.twitter.com/M64NwTGQNM Team Picturehouse (@picturehouses) June 16, 2020
Christopher Nolans latest offering, Tenet, starring Robert Pattinson and John David Washington, is also expected to be released at the end of July.
More than 450 films, including Breakfast At Tiffanys, Singin In The Rain and The Sound Of Music, will be available to cinemas when they reopen to help them entice audiences back.
The films have been collated by the Film Distributors Association (FDA) in a document entitled Relaunching Cinema: Content for Recovery.
The list of titles, which also includes 1917, Once Upon A TimeIn Hollywood and recent Oscar winner Parasite, is part of the first stage of cross-industry body Cinema Firsts coronavirus recovery strategy.
The opening of cinemas will be made subject to guidelines agreed between the UK Cinema Association and Government officials, which are due to be published later this week.
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad has launched an endowment fund with an initial corpus of Rs 100 crore, the first business school in the country to have such a corpus.
The institute is targeting Rs 1,000 crore as part of this fund over the next five years.
In a digital event held on June 23, IIM-A announced 10 initial alumni contributors. These include InfoEdge founder and executive vice chairman Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Makemytrip founder Deep Kalra, ICRA non-executive chairman Arun Duggal and Sandeep Singhal, co-founders of WestBridge Capital and Sequoia Capital India, and Kavita Iyer, trustee of Singhal Iyer Family Foundation.
Funds from alumni are typically used for expansion activities including new buildings, scholarships as well as research and development facilities.
The endowment fund will have an independent governance structure. Further, there will be a 100 percent tax exemption for the funding.
IIM Ahmedabad director Errol D'Souza said the fund was a gift to the institute to enable and generate new forms of knowledge and serve society.
"You need the flexibility of resources for institutes like ours and this fund will help us achieve our goals," he added.
In November 2019, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi launched an endowment fund through which it aims to raise about $1 billion by 2025. The fund had already received Rs 250 crore, of which a sizable amount is said to have been donated by Flipkart founders Binny Bansal and Sachin Bansal.
Globally, institutes like Harvard University, Oxford University and Stanford University use alumni networks extensively for fund-raising. At Harvard, for instance, the endowment is made up of more than 13,000 funds.
Each year, a portion of the endowment is paid out as an annual distribution to support Harvard's budget.
Donald Trump has accused Barack Obama of treason without providing any evidence to support the suggestion.
While discussing the investigation into the 2016 Trump campaigns contacts with Russia with CBN News, the US president insisted the former presidents administration had committed treason by spying on him.
When CBNs David Brody asked what crime he believed would have potentially been committed, Mr Trump answered: Treason.
They were spying on my campaign, I told you that a long time ago. It turns out I was right. Lets see what happens to them now.
Its treason, he asserted.
There is no evidence that Mr Obama spied on Mr Trumps campaign or committed any acts that reach the definition of treason.
The actual definition of the crime, which is punishable by death, is narrowly classified under the terms of levying War against [the United States], or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.
Mr Trump expressed anticipation for the results of US Attorney John Durhams ongoing investigation into the origins of the Russia probe.
I want to stay out of it because otherwise its going to look political, Mr Trump said. Lets see what they come up with.
Trumps animosity against the two-year investigation into Russian interference in the presidents 2016 campaign, which led to his impeachment, has continued since it began in 2017.
In May Mr Trump coined his long-held belief that his predecessor, Mr Obama, facilitated a conspiracy among US intelligence officials and undermine his 2016 campaign and subsequent presidency, as OBAMAGATE.
This is also far from the first time Mr Trump has insinuated that his opponents are guilty of treason, having frequently thrown around the accusation without proof.
Last month the president again falsley accused Obama administration Justice Department officials of treason as the agency moved to drop all charges against his first national security adviser, retired Army General Michael Flynn.
The Obama administration Justice Department was a disgrace, the president said in the Oval Office. Its treason. Its treason.
The Independent has reached out to a Democratic strategist who works with Mr Obamas office for comment.
Four years ago, the most important political event in the Western World since 1989 happened: The people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.
Every single institution in Western public life was against Brexit. Of course, every single government in the European Union itself, including Britains own government, then led by David Cameron and his gang of Tory modernizers. The President of the United States was against it, intervening to say that a post-Brexit United Kingdom would be in the back of the queue when it came to trading with the United States. The international institutions were against it, with idiotic threats about permanent downgrades of credit, the disappearance of the financial sector from London, and immediate depression. The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, predicted that a vote for Leave could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the EU but also Western political civilization in its entirety.
And what happens when the universities, the established Church, the government, the media, the leading figures of the opposition, and the bureaucracy of Brussels want something? They get it. It might take a second referendum in Ireland, or an end run around France. But youll vote until you turn in the Establishments preferred result, and then the question will be deemed answered for at least a generation. Maybe forever.
But democratic peoples can find a way.
The European Union is a utopian project, a series of endless corporate giveaways, and an escape hatch for failed politicians. So of course the entire fashionable oligarchy supports it.
Opposition to the European Union was deemed populist, which is the Establishments word for declasse and illegitimate. But the vote four years ago proved that Brexit was not just a populist cause but a democratic one.
Democracy has its critics going back to the ancient Greeks. And many modern conservatives look at it with dismay. They fear that a rabble can, on a whim, overturn the great and often misunderstood customs and institutions that guard our liberties. That is sometimes true.
Story continues
But the institutions in many Western nations have largely been captured by a self-seeking class that feels no duty to posterity, has only conditional loyalty to their respective nations, and respects no principle that gets in the way of attaining personal wealth. This is as true in Britain as it is in the United States. The same managerial class that would forbid Americans to criticize the mob for destroying Americas cultural artifacts is the same that forbids too-harsh criticism of China doing the same in Kashgar. The consultants at McKinsey will put up a #BlackLivesMatter post on Instagram and still party with the Chinese Community Party in the shadow of concentration camps. Theres no principle involved except keeping a profitable status quo going.
This Establishment flatters itself as democratic even as it rages at the results of elections in Italy, Poland, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and America. But its not democratic, which is why those who lead it, whether prime ministers such as Tony Blair and David Cameron, presidents such as Barack Obama, or Chancellor Angela Merkel, constantly refer to the direction of history itself, and moral arcs of the universe. This is a rhetoric of inevitability, and iron laws, irresistible forces its the rhetoric of Communism, really.
But Brexit is proof that a democratic mandate can overturn the inevitable. Its a proof that democratic peoples still have free will. And its a sober proof that the Establishment is almost always projecting and lying. They accuse their opponents of their own misdeeds. Brexit did not sink the United Kingdom into Depression. In fact, the United Kingdom was growing faster than Germany until recently. Membership in the European Union is no prophylactic against disaster. The end of Western political civilization is still possible, and well know it has come when democratic events like Brexit really are made impossible.
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WASHINGTON - District of Columbia police lined streets around the White House on Tuesday, periodically clearing out tents, barricades and other structures built by protesters seeking to create an autonomous zone in the area that has been at the center of weeks of protests against police brutality.
The action came after President Donald Trump tweeted early Tuesday that protesters would be met with "serious force" if they tried to establish an autonomous zone and that federal officials would seek long sentences against anyone who toppled statues or vandalized monuments.
The comments followed a day of chaotic protests on Monday during which protesters unsuccessfully tried to topple a statue of President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square and tried to cordon off a section of a street near the White House before police removed them.
Overnight, protesters had reestablished what they are calling the "BHAZ," or Black House Autonomous Zone, by setting up barricades and pitching tents in an area near Black Lives Matter Plaza and H Street NW, essentially trying to create an island separate from the city around it. But by noon Tuesday, D.C. police had once again removed the encampment.
Throughout Tuesday, police continued to remove structures in the area to keep roads open. District Police Chief Peter Newsham said in an interview that police would not let protesters set up an encampment in the area but did intend to let them protest peacefully. City officials said it was a hazard to allow tents to be pitched on open roads. They said their actions were not related to Trump's tweets.
In a sign of increased security efforts, workers began reinstalling a seven-foot, black metal fence along the H Street edge of Lafayette Square. The fence was initially erected in the opening days of protests to keep demonstrators away from the White House, then was taken down. It became a much photographed easel for protesters signs and artwork.
Another move came around 3:30 p.m., when District police officers surrounded tents at 16th and K streets NW. Officers appeared to make an arrest, and city workers loaded a blue-and-green tent into an orange garbage truck.
The scene during the afternoon was calmer than on Monday, but protesters taunted officers and occasionally got nose-to-nose with them along police lines. During a standoff at 16th and I streets NW around 2 p.m., a woman wearing a football helmet and tall black boots strode through the intersection yelling into a bullhorn.
"The billy clubs are here," she said. "They're here to crack some skulls."
Attempts to create an autonomous zone potentially set up a clash in the same area where federal authorities forcibly removed protesters this month before President Trump walked to stand outside St. John's Episcopal Church, which was damaged by fire during protests over the May 15 killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.
"There will never be an 'Autonomous Zone' in Washington, D.C., as long as I'm your President," Trump tweeted Tuesday. "If they try they will be met with serious force!"
Twitter later responded, saying it had placed a public interest notice on the tweet for violating its "policy against abusive behavior." It said the tweet would remain accessible because of its "relevance to ongoing public conversation."
In another tweet Tuesday, Trump said anyone who vandalizes or topples a statute could be charged under federal law.
Shortly before departing for events in Arizona on Tuesday, Trump thanked law enforcement for its response Monday night in saving a "great monument," according to a White House pool report.
On Monday night, protesters looped ropes around a large, bronze statue of Andrew Jackson astride a horse in Lafayette Square and tried to pull it down, but U.S. Park Police and District police intervened to stop the action.
Jackson, the seventh president, is known for signing the Indian Removal Act, which led to the forcible relocations of thousands of Native Americans and the deaths of thousands more. Jackson also opposed the abolition of slavery and owned enslaved people.
Dozens of protesters camped in the reconstituted BHAZ nearby on Monday night into Tuesday. The zone seemed to be inspired by the autonomous zone set up by protesters in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. That zone has been dubbed the CHAZ.
But the effort in the District was short-lived.
District police arrived on the scene Tuesday morning. Shouts began to carry down H Street NW just after 10 a.m., stirring demonstrators who had spent the night nearby.
"Riot gear!" demonstrators called. "Riot gear! Get up! Get up!"
A handful of bleary-eyed volunteers who had been operating street medic tents outside St. John's Church scrambled to their feet. They grabbed what they could carry as police approached, marching toward them, batons and bicycles extended.
"Move," the District police officers shouted in unison.
Eric Otani, 30, who said he had been helping pull injured demonstrators out of crowds and over to medic stations almost daily since the protests began in the past month, was among about 10 people pushed back from the church as police moved in.
He said they tried to tell the officers that they had permission to be on church grounds "for humanitarian purposes," but the officers didn't respond.
By 11:30 a.m., more than 100 police officers lined 16th Street NW, standing on the yellow Black Lives Matter sign painted on the street as demonstrators' tents and supplies were hauled away in city garbage trucks.
Shortly before noon, the entire encampment had been removed, and city workers were powerwashing paint that read "Defund the Police." Street-sweeper trucks also worked the area.
Trump's ultimatums to protesters angered some and concerned members of the District government.
Elizabeth Tsehai, an immigrant from Ethiopia, gained attention three weeks ago when she was hauled out of her BMW by federal officers during protests in front of the White House. She returned Tuesday after protesters put out calls for reinforcements on social media.
She said she saw Trump's desire to crack down on protesters as a dangerous step closer to authoritarianism.
"I grew up during a time of turmoil in Ethiopia," she said. "But this is supposed to be a democracy. Lafayette Square is hallowed ground. People have been protesting there since the beginning of this country. For them to be forcibly clearing the square for no other reason than to placate Trump is ridiculous."
District Council member David Grosso, an Independent, one of the furthest-left members of the council, called on the city and District police to shield the demonstrators trying to form an autonomous zone rather than clearing them out.
"The District of Columbia should protect those demonstrators and give them the space to have a voice, and MPD [Metropolitan Police Department] needs to protect them from federal intrusion onto our soil," Grosso said.
A U.S. Park Police spokeswoman said Tuesday that Park Police officers had made two arrests as they cleared protesters during the effort Monday to topple the Jackson statue. District police, who also were involved, confirmed that two arrests were made Monday afternoon, but it was unclear whether those were the same two arrests Park Police reported.
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The Washington Post's Julie Zauzmer, Dana Hedgpeth, John Wagner, Ann E. Marimow, Fenit Nirappil, Paul Duggan, Perry Stein, Fredrick Kunkle and Peter Hermann contributed to this report.
The whole world honored the victors and commemorated the victims of World War II more than a month ago, in early May, when the 75th anniversary of Victory Day was marked. Russia, known for its focus on the events of the mid-twentieth century, went its own way - the Victory Day parade was postponed to June 24 due to coronavirus. And although the virus has not receded - about 8,000 new COVID-19 cases are recorded in Russia every day - the Kremlin leadership has not given up a plan to feed the ego of one person.
Russia's motto "We'll pay any price for it" dated 2020 implies, according to Russian media, 14 thousand soldiers and officers, 225 units of military equipment, as well as detachments from 19 world countries on the Red Square and 55 planes and 20 helicopters in the sky over Moscow. At the same time, hardly sentimental Russian leadership advises compatriots to watch this performance on TV.
Ukrinform spoke with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar about the ideological basis of the Russian parade, Putin's interpretation of history, and the current state and prospects of Ukraine-Russia relations
RUSSIA WANTS TO BECOME GLOBAL PLAYER UNDER FLAG OF USSR
- Mr. Bodnar, Russia does not conceal that the so-called Victory Parade in Moscow on June 24 aims to raise the patriotic spirit of Russians before voting for amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation. And what foreign policy goals does Russia's leadership pursue by holding this parade amidst the economic and coronavirus crisis?
- Russia incessantly loses its role and place in global politics, and since 2014, after the start of the aggression against Ukraine, it has fallen into international isolation. However, geopolitical ambitions have remained the same as they were in the USSR. That is why, Russia seeks to strengthen its positions in different ways, including by using the issues of history.
The Kremlin envisions that the parade should clearly demonstrate that Russia continues to be one of the "great powers" that decide the fate of the world. Putin clearly follows this line in his article dedicated to his vision of the events of World War II.
But let's get back to the parade. By inviting world leaders to it, the Kremlin leadership intended to demonstrate that Russia occupies the same global position as the former Soviet Union did.
This is evidenced by the choice of a new date for the parade - exactly 75 years after Stalin's "parade of winners", i.e. a direct parallel with the former Soviet dictator who participated in the division of the world into spheres of influence.
However, the list of world leaders, who agreed to come to the parade in Moscow, shows that this plan failed. Even the leaders of some CIS countries refused.
- Can it even be successful in the modern world with such an ideological basis?
- The victory in World War II was a common achievement of all members of the anti-Hitler coalition. A reflection of this was the joint Putin-Trump declaration on the Elbe Day. But for some reason, other nations that suffered and fought against Nazism were forgotten.
The contribution of Ukraine and Ukrainians to the victory was great, and our victims were terrible. But the Kremlin conceals this and appropriates all the laurels of the winner and liberator.
The Russian leadership wants to become the same global player as the Soviet Union was during World War II, flying the flag of the USSR. This is the main manipulative narrative. But it is as far from reality as the ideology of Putin's parade, which shields itself with Victory to achieve mercantile goals.
- According to Russian media, the presidents of several CIS countries, president of Serbia, and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto confirmed they would be present at the Moscow parade. Do such political gestures towards Russia affect our bilateral relations with these countries?
- Of course, we are not happy with them. But relations with the Russian Federation are a matter for each state. We do not influence their decision to participate and do not make bilateral relations conditional on it.
But, if possible, we warn foreign colleagues that the leaders or representatives of these countries can be used by Russian propaganda for its foreign policy purposes.
- In your opinion, why does the foreign minister of Hungary, which is a member of the EU and NATO, go to the neo-Stalinist parade?
- If we analyze Hungary's policy in relations with Russia, the dialogue between these countries has not stopped. Of course, it is the right of official Budapest to decide on a certain level of contacts with certain countries. But we count on a balanced approach.
Moreover, we hope that Peter Szijjarto will come to Ukraine and we will see him in Kyiv next week [the interview was recorded on June 19], so the balance will be maintained.
RUSSIA ALREADY IMPLEMENTS "WE CAN REPEAT IT" SLOGAN TOWARDS NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
- Putin's article on the events of World War II has already provoked a stormy reaction in many countries. What was the intention? Why did the Russian president write it? What new ideas did he express there?
- This is one of the elements of the Russian manipulation chain: the Victory Parade with invitation of world leaders, the repetition of classic Soviet propaganda cliches pretending to be new ideas of the Russian president, and then formation of a narrative that it is Russia, not all nations of the anti-Hitler coalition, that liberated Europe from Nazism. Russia wants to give prominence to its role both in the war and in the post-war settlement, in maintaining stability and security in Europe. Russian wants to emphasize that allegedly no order is possible without it. However, Russia is actually an aggressor today, a source of international insecurity and it seeks to further divide the world into spheres of influence.
I have repeatedly said in the media that Russia tries to use any methods, including history, to get out of the sanctions, because it really feels their impact.
The Kremlin seeks to fully return to world politics as the Russian Federation has been quite seriously isolated from participation in global processes after the start of the aggression against Ukraine. Now a certain shift is looming, some discussions have begun, but what the Russians want is not happening.
Unfortunately, what Ukraine wants is not happening either. Ukraine wants the world to work together to force the Kremlin to comply with international law and restore the territorial integrity of our state. But we will do everything possible to ensure that events develop according to the Ukrainian scenario, not the Russian one!
- The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania summoned the ambassadors of Russia because of the proposal of the State Duma to cancel the decision of the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR to condemn the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact made thirty years ago. Will Ukraine also declare its position on this issue?
- Currently, it is unknown how this idea will be implemented in the State Duma. If it becomes a fait accompli, I think there will be a very stormy reaction, not only from the Foreign Ministry, but from the society, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, and our politicians.
It seems strange, maybe even tragicomic, to overturn the condemnation of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact which actually gave the green light to World War II.
I don't know what Russian lawmakers are guided by, but apparently they live in a parallel reality that we don't understand.
Russia has already changed the end date of World War II; they stubbornly try to hold the parade despite the pandemic peak, although May 9 is long gone; they reiterate an old Soviet statement that the Soviet Union was allegedly defending itself, not attacking, although the opposite had been impartially proven. Hitler's Germany and Stalin's USSR conspired to start the war with a joint attack on Poland and then to divide Europe.
Russians say that the West revises history. But they themselves had previously published all the evidence of Soviet Unions aggressive policy! The agreement between Stalin and Hitler on the division of Poland and spheres of influence is confirmed by archival materials. It was such a real politics based on the imperial ambitions of each of those tyrants. And now Putin's Russia whitewashes these facts and blames all the rest for the outbreak of World War II, but not Stalin!
- Is the revision of history by Russians also aimed at the domestic consumer?
- No, they export it abroad. Kremlin propagandists try to promote their narrative by focusing on a certain aspect beneficial for Russia in different countries.
For example, in the European arena, they show the role that Russia played in the fight against Nazi Germany. However, all the allies fought against Hitler. The USSR also played an important role, and Ukraine and other nations were a part of it. But Russia does not mention this now.
- Can this narrative work abroad?
- Most politicians know the history of their countries, the history of that terrible war and are aware of today's realities. I should recall that the Declaration of the European Parliament of 23 September 2008 condemned the Hitler-Stalin Pact as the one that divided Europe into two spheres of interest through secret additional protocols and as the one that led to mass deportations, killings and enslavement which happened due to the acts of aggression of Stalinism and Nazism and fall into the category of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In fact, the signing of the pact resulted in war, occupation, massacres, the Holocaust, and many other terrible tragedies.
Putin is still angry about this fact as it is evident from his article, where he calls it "slander and meanness."
He also accuses Ukrainians of collaborationism but says nothing about the participation of Russians in the armed forces of the Third Reich. However, fighting of more than 400,000 ethnic Russians on the side of Nazi Germany is a historical fact.
- Russia is using hybrid methods everywhere. Will it be able to impose its historical narrative on European society, which will then influence the politicians of its countries?
- If it was not for the current aggressive policy of the Kremlin, the Russian exaggerated victorious hysteria would have flourished in Ukraine as well. Before the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, few people spoke about the role of the USSR at the beginning of World War II, we were dominated by the Soviet vision of the main victor over Nazi Germany.
But as Russia began to appropriate the victory over Nazism and neglect the role of other nations and peoples since the 2000s, the public opinion in Ukraine and around the world has become more critical about Russia's conquest of common history.
Again, the social narrative in Ukraine and in other countries is based on the thesis "Never again", while in Russia it is based on the opposite idea - "We can repeat it!"
- Does the world perceive this Russian slogan "We can repeat it" as a threat?
- In fact, Russia already implements this slogan as its aggressive actions in some way repeat the aggression committed by the Soviet Union against its neighbors.
The Kremlin openly demonstrates that it continues the USSR's policy toward other peoples: aggression, invasion, and subjugation.
But this approach also has an internal dimension: it incites Russian society to be ready to make unnecessary sacrifices again as it happens now in Ukraine's Donbas, Syria, and Libya, where Russian soldiers die for sake of ambitions of Russian politicians.
REACTION TO UKRAINE'S PARTICIPATION IN NATO ENHANCED OPPORTUNITY PARTNERSHIP SHOWS THAT RUSSIA HAS LOST AGAIN
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs already expressed its stance on the illegality of voting of residents of occupied Crimea and occupied Donbas with Russian passports in a constitutional referendum in Russia. Will Ukraine raise the issue of imposing additional sanctions on Russia in talks with the international community?
- Yes, it definitely will as it is a direct violation of Ukraines sovereignty and an attempt to impose its will on the population of the occupied territories.
Of course, we will also address the international partners and take measures at the national level to influence the organizers of this vote.
- But, for example, the EU imposed sanctions against five people over the organization of presidential elections in the occupied Crimea. Could a July 1 vote be the basis for more tangible sanctions?
- Sanctions were imposed against persons who actually took part in the illegal actions of the occupation authorities, that is, there were certain grounds for this. Targeted sanctions work better.
For many people in Russia, sanctions create significant discomfort and problems. For example, Crimeans have a big problem when a visa cannot be put in a Russian passport issued in the occupied Crimea. Indeed, Crimea used to be a territory from which they could travel freely and the whole world was open, now it is actually a closed territory of a large military base.
Of course, the Russian authorities are responsible for illegal voting in the upcoming referendum.
- The Kremlin, commenting on Ukraines joining NATO's Enhanced Opportunity Partnership, said that they are paying close attention to bringing NATO military infrastructure closer to the borders of the Russian Federation and will take the necessary measures to ensure their own security. Do such statements contain additional threats to Ukraine?
- Russia has already occupied Crimea, part of Donbas, deployed numerous military units there - both its own and local, builds military bases along the Ukrainian border, and at the same time it declares that NATO allegedly can threaten them from our territory. This is sheer manipulation!
In fact, such rhetoric of Russian politicians and the media shows that Russia has once again lost, as it did when it declared that the EU would not sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine, or the EU would not give us visa-free travel, etc. Now they are also sending signals to the public that this does not mean anything, that it does not matter, that this does not bring Ukraine closer to NATO and the like.
In this situation, we should do our own thing, that is, strengthen our defense capabilities and prepare for joining the North Atlantic Alliance.
- Ukraine has terminated or dissolved a number of agreements with Russia. Are you planning any other steps in this direction? Does the running contractual framework correspond to the current state of relations between Ukraine and Russia?
- Before the war, we had 453 signed bilateral agreements. Now about 300 documents remain in force, but a further revision of what we can refuse is ongoing.
We do not take radical and emotional steps that can harm our citizens. We did not break off diplomatic relations with Russia; we did not stop our diplomatic presence in Russia; respectively, before the quarantine, Ukrainian citizens moved freely there, and they had the opportunity to receive protection on the territory of the Russian Federation.
If we cancel all agreements at once, we will find ourselves in a lose-lose situation, when there is no mechanism to protect the interests of Ukrainian citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation. We will not allow this.
Remember the situation when Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia. To represent interests, it is necessary to seek an intermediary who will protect the interests of its citizens in Russia.
I dont know how many Georgians are on the territory of the Russian Federation today, but we have millions of people there, both Ukrainian citizens and ethnic Ukrainians living in Russia.
Therefore, as of today, we have functional contracts partly the contractual framework within the CIS and partly bilateral. Together with ministries and departments, we are gradually reviewing them in order to optimize and leave the minimum necessary number of documents that would allow us to maintain an appropriate level of protection of the rights and interests of citizens of Ukraine.
We should take into account the need to comply with all withdrawal or termination procedures so that there is no double interpretation of the force of certain documents.
For example, Russia unilaterally denounced agreements on the deployment of Russias Black Sea Fleet in Crimea. We believe that they should be effective, since legal procedures were not followed, and the Russians violated international law by resorting to an attempt to occupy the Ukrainian territory.
- That is, Russia would have paid us for the deployment of the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea?
- Yes, about $100 million a year, but since 2014 no payments have been made.
However, Russia will pay long not only for the agreements, but also for what it has done by unleashing aggression against Ukraine and occupying part of our territory. After all, despite international lawsuits of Ukraine against Russia, there are lawsuits by state-run and private companies.
TOLERANCE OF UKRAINIANS TOWARDS RUSSIANS MAY BE BOTH OUR WEAKNESS AND STRENGTH
- According to a joint survey conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) and the Levada Center in April, despite six years of Russian aggression, 54 percent of Ukrainians polled are well disposed towards Russia. The number of Russians who are good with Ukrainians decreased from 56 to 41 percent. Should we condemn such tolerance of compatriots towards the aggressor country?
- First of all, we need to learn in detail about the methodology according to which these surveys were conducted, what questions were asked, maybe they were in some context.
Secondly, two-thirds of Ukrainian citizens consider Russia an aggressor.
And, thirdly, the figure you mentioned shows how tolerant Ukrainians are even to their enemies. This is our traditional mental trait, which can be both our weakness and strength, depending on what kind of policy we profess. If we are going to fight for centuries, then this is one story, but if we are still going to end the war, this is another story.
Of course, peculiarities of the mentality of Ukrainians should be taken into account, but, in my opinion, there is nothing to blame them for - this is their choice.
But, again, I would go back to where I started with the survey methodology. If, for example, the first question is whether you consider Russia is an aggressor, the second how do you feel about Russians, and the third one what do you think about Putin, then the mood of Ukrainian society will be clearly understood.
And if there was a general question - how do you feel about, for example, citizens of the EU, Russia, the USA, then this is a completely different methodology of questions.
- The level of diplomatic representation between Ukraine and Russia has lowered, and the number of Ukrainian diplomats in Russia has been significantly reduced. Are there enough of them to complete the tasks?
- Yes, there are, since there is no relationship or cooperation. Negotiations on the settlement of Russian-Ukrainian conflict continue in Minsk, so the embassy in Russia is mainly engaged in protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens and monitoring the situation in Russia.
- Has the issue of introducing a visa regime with the Russian Federation been removed from the agenda? Or you can return to this idea.
- We need to constantly analyze the consequences. If, for example, the Russian Federation is recognized as a source of illegal migrants, then visas are justified.
But if we force our citizens to stand in a queue for visiting the Russian consulate, will we do them a good service?
At the Ukrainian border, border guards collect biometric data of Russian citizens, that is, de facto these are the same biometric visas.
Of course, we will gradually move away from the liberal mechanisms of border crossing, as it used to be, and strengthen control, since we do not see any steps on the part of the Russian Federation that would indicate an intention to resolve the conflict in Donbas and return the occupied Crimea.
- Is the exact number of our fellow citizens living in Russia known? In their number stable or is there some kind of dynamics?
- Some 25,000 citizens of Ukraine are registered in all consular offices in the Russian Federation. In real life, it seems to me that there are more than a million of them in Russia - someone works, someone has a family, maybe some kind of business.
Formally, it is impossible to track the dynamics of the stay of our citizens, because no one reports that he is going to work there. People come to Ukrainian consulates when they have problems.
Of course, our consuls in Russia have enough work - they also help our citizens who have logistical problems and visit our political prisoners.
When traveling to Russia, Ukrainian citizens risk getting into unpleasant and even critical situations. Russia returned to the times of the USSR, when its special services did not shun methods such as using citizens of Ukraine to create fake news. Going to jail is absolutely real.
We have repeatedly warned our citizens about their personal responsibility and the risks they face when visiting the Russian Federation.
- Is the resumption of transport service with the Russian Federation, which has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, under discussion?
- Despite the fact that the government decided to gradually open the borders of Ukraine, the issue of resuming services with Russia we are talking about rail transport services, since air services have been suspended since 2014 is not on the agenda yet
Russia today is at the peak of the incidence rate and ranks third in the world in the number of patients. It is dangerous to fully resume transport services and jeopardize the epidemiological situation in Ukraine, as the number of COVID-19 cases is growing in our country as well.
- We have talked about what happened and is happening in relations with Russia, and now, finally, I want to ask you what will happen. Analysts believe that Putin, through a constitutional referendum, wants to extend his stay in power until 2036. Is it possible to establish relations between the Russian Federation and Ukraine during this time?
- All the transformations in Russia and real actions near the Ukrainian border show that the Kremlin is preparing to continue aggressive actions. At a minimum, this refers to a demonstration of power, and, possibly, the continuation of military aggression.
Our answer is keep calm and clean the machine gun. We are not buying into the supposedly conciliatory rhetoric of Russia; we are strengthening our defense capabilities and psychological readiness for defensive positions. Otherwise, Russia's attempts to destroy the unity of society by using hybrid methods will be successful.
No one but us will protect us! This, it seems to me, is the main narrative for Ukraine in order to survive and develop as an independent state. The ideology of self-defense.
For example, the adoption of the Law On Territorial Defense is on the agenda. I followed its discussion in the relevant committee - there is an understanding that this must be done.
Nadiia Yurchenko, Kyiv
Photo credit: Hennadiy Minchenko
Wake Island and Marshall Islands
Randy, WW6RG, was expected to be active as KH9/WW6RG from Wake Island this past week (June 16-18th), but "due to Covid-19" restrictions on
Kwajalein Island, he has been notified by the airline that Thursday's flight to Wake has been canceled (things have been changing rapidly in the airline business).
He informs OPDX [edited], "I was supposed to be operating down to Diego Garcia next week; that has been changed due to restrictions and now I am operating between Los Angeles and Honolulu. I should know by the 4th of July the schedule for the next trip" to Kwajalein and Wake Island again; things have been changing rapidly.
"Just so you know, all of my operations International are QRP 5w SSB. As I have to pack everything between one bag and my flight bag. I travel light, I
carry a FT-817 with an Alex loop antenna and a 6 amp lithium-iron battery.
That being said I do not do any Digital or CW operations and I'm pretty much restricted between 10 and 40 m.. My setup works best on 20 and 17m.
And needless to say, working QRP I am normally working the Gray line. I do this for fun I am not a contester, I do not do LoTW or eQSL, but if someone needs a contact I am more than willing to pre schedule a contact and will exchange QSL cards. All QSLs are to home callsign WW6RG; NO Bureau."
Burma Myanmar Seeks to Fly Illegal Migrants Home From Malaysia As More Suicides Reported Amid COVID-19
The body of an undocumented migrant from Myanmar on June 18. / U San Win
Yangon Myanmars government has requested Malaysias assistance in repatriating illegal workers after eight suicides of undocumented migrants from Myanmar.
Thousands of unregistered migrants are stranded in Malaysia without work due to COVID-19 and because of crackdowns against undocumented foreigners.
On Monday, U Aung Myint, director general of Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met Zahairi bin Baharim, the Malaysian ambassador, to request Malaysian cooperation to bring home undocumented workers, according to the ministry.
U Aung Myint told the ambassador that Myanmar would send relief flights to bring home undocumented workers if Malaysia approved.
Myanmar also asked Malaysia not to fine those returning home.
Baharim said he would reply after reporting to Malaysias foreign ministry.
Myanmar arranged the ambassadorial meeting after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman failed to present a repatriation plan to the media on Friday.
Thousands of undocumented migrants in Malaysia who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 have been suffering from hardships exacerbated by a crackdown against illegal foreign workers.
On June 21, a 42-year-old from Tanintharyi Region committed suicide in Kuala Lumpur after losing his job, said U San Win, chairman of Kathpone Free Funeral Service Society in Kuala Lumpur.
A 22-year-old undocumented migrant from Mawlamyine Township in Mon State committed suicide in Kuala Lumpur on June 18.
Six other undocumented migrants from Myanmar have committed suicide in late May and early June.
Of the more than 550,000 migrants from Myanmar in Malaysia, an estimated 250,000 are undocumented, according to U Aung Zaw Min, a labor attache at the embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
He recently said up to 50,000 of the undocumented workers cannot find work.
At the Friday press conference, the ministrys permanent secretary U Soe Han said the government faced difficulties in bringing undocumented migrants home since they were illegal workers and could face action under Malaysias immigration law for illegally staying in the country.
The ministerial spokesman added that the ministry had instructed the embassy to help nationals facing hardship in Malaysia.
The embassy could not be reached for comment.
In Malaysia, undocumented workers are often jailed for three to six months and then held at immigration centers until their citizenship is confirmed by their embassies.
After their citizenship is confirmed, they are sent home.
So far nearly 400 undocumented workers were deported on two May 11 flights chartered by the Malaysian government after serving prison terms for staying in the country illegally.
Malaysia also told Myanmar it wanted to send home more than 3,000 additional detainees being held at immigration detention centers.
U Soe Han said on Friday that the ministry was having difficulties bringing home those 3,000 detainees.
U Htoo Chit, an executive director of the Thai-based Foundation for Education and Development, who is helping about 500 migrants in Malaysia to return home, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that more suicides, trafficking and fraud were expected if the government fails to address the issue.
Our government should urgently bring home undocumented workers facing hardship, regardless of whether they are legal, said U Htoo Chit, a migrant rights activist.
There are about 3.5 million migrants from Myanmar in Thailand.
Due to cooperation between the governments of Thailand and Myanmar, approximately 2.2 million migrants have been legalized since 2010, according to migrant rights groups in Thailand.
The legal status allows migrants to travel more easily back to Myanmar and undocumented migrants can now be transferred to Myanmar without being jailed.
However, Malaysian-based labor attache U Aung Zaw Min said previous attempts to legalize workers from Myanmar were rejected by Malaysia because they only made up a small proportion of the 2.2 million illegal migrants in Malaysia.
A 29-year-old undocumented worker Ko Aung Thu Win from Myanmars Bago Region who has been working in Malaysia for two years told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that due to COVID-19 and crackdowns against illegal foreign workers, 25 out of 30 workers from Myanmar, including him, were sacked from the restaurant where they worked in late March.
He said three colleagues rented a room at the Kuala Lumpur restaurant for 100 ringgit (US$23) per person.
Now we depend on a friend, who is a legal worker and has a job, for our daily meals, said Ko Aung Thu Win.
He added: We want to go home if illegal workers are not allowed to work. Now many employers are not taking on undocumented workers due to the crackdown. We want our government to bring us home by negotiating with the Malaysian authorities.
Ko Aung Thu Win added: All undocumented workers would be happy if they are allowed to go home.
Another undocumented worker Ko Nay Myo Naing from Rakhine State told The Irrawaddy that he was sacked on March 18 with four others from Myanmar from their restaurant and they lost their accommodation at the restaurant.
He said around eight migrants from Myanmar are now sharing a single room.
I am eager to go back home. I feel depressed as I have had no work for nearly four months, said Ko Nay Myo Naing.
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Six months have now passed since the body of Doomsday author Chad Daybell's wife was exhumed to see if she was poisoned and her death could be linked to the Idaho 'Cult Mom' case.
Yet, even though autopsy results were expected by February, Tammy Daybell's family has still to receive any word.
'We're holding our breath,' her father Ron Douglas told DailyMail.com at his home in Springville, Utah. 'We've heard nothing. Nobody's talking.'
Now that the bodies of two children of Daybell's new wife Lori Vallow who he married less than three weeks after Tammy's death have been discovered on the same Idaho property where she died last year, new questions are being raised, but no one is giving answers.
The body of Chad Daybell's dead wife Tammy Daybell was exhumed six months ago, but there is still no word on cause of death, her family tells DailyMail.com
Tammy has now been re-interred next to her grandparents with a grave marker that says: 'Tammy was a beloved wife and mother, devoted daughter and sister and friend to all animals'
Daybell, 51, was arrested earlier this month, four months after his wife Lori Vallow, 46, was arrested in Hawaii and extradited back to Idaho on charges of child neglect. Daybell has pleaded not guilty
The remains of Tylee, 17, and JJ, seven, were discovered buried in the backyard of Lori's husband, Chad Daybell, at his home in Salem, Idaho
'I knew Chad and I couldn't really believe he would kill her to marry someone else but it looks suspicious,' Suzanne Freeman, a published author and close friend of the Daybells told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview.
'I'm not going to say he killed her because we don't know for sure,' added Freeman, 54. 'But I do want to see Tammy have a voice. I want her family to know that people around the world know she is a victim in this.
Friend of Daybell's, Suzanne Freeman, 54, says 'I knew Chad and I couldn't really believe he would kill her to marry someone else but it looks suspicious'
'How humiliating is it to have a family member die and then find out that your father or brother got married two weeks later?
'What disrespect for the person that passed away.'
Tammy Daybell died in Salem, in sparsely populated Fremont County, Idaho, on October 19 last year.
County coroner Brenda Dye initially ruled it as due to natural causes and allowed her to be buried without an autopsy.
But when Chad remarried and it was discovered that his new wife's two younger children Tylee Ryan and Joshua 'JJ' Vallow had disappeared, Dye decided to have the body exhumed for testing and sent the body to the coroner's office in Ada County, which covers the state capital, Boise.
A spokeswoman there told DailyMail.com she had to refer any comment back to Dye, who has consistently refused to talk about the case. She referred calls to Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries who said he has no idea when the autopsy results will be released.
Tammy, who was training to run in a 5K, died at the home she shared with her husband. She was just 49. Her obituary said she 'passed away peacefully in her sleep.'
'She was into healthy living, very fit and then all of a sudden we hear she has died,' one friend in nearby Rexburg told DailyMail.com. 'It didn't make sense then and it doesn't make sense now.'
Daybell, 51, married, Vallow, 46, just 17 days after his wife's death in a beach ceremony in Hawaii.
Jeani Martin, who the couple approached to rent an apartment on the island of Kauai two days after the wedding, said the couple appeared 'giddy with happiness,' being openly affectionate with each other in public.
'Chad and Lori were acting like two teenagers let loose from their parents,' she told DailyMail.com.
Daybell, 51, married, Vallow, 46, just 17 days after his wife's death in a beach ceremony in Hawaii
Jeani Martin, who the couple approached to rent an apartment on the island of Kauai two days after the wedding, said the couple appeared 'giddy with happiness,' being openly affectionate with each other in public
Lori Vallow is currently behind bars on charges of neglect and desertion
It now seems that Tammy was alive when the children's charred bodies were buried on the property where she was living.
According to a probable cause affidavit from Detective Ron Ball, a cell phone belonging to Alex Cox Lori's brother pinged at the site early on September 9, a day after Tylee, 17, was last seen alive in the exact spot where one of the bodies was discovered. Daybell texted Tammy that morning to tell her he was burying a dead raccoon.
Cox's phone pinged again on September 23 on the property at the spot where the second body was found. The previous day Lori's friend David Warwick had seen Cox carry JJ who he thought was asleep into Lori's apartment in Rexburg. The next morning the boy was gone and he was never seen again.
Tammy Daybell died 25 days later.
Cox, who shot and killed Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow in July last year in what was said to be a domestic argument, died from a blood clot in Arizona on December 12. He was 51.
Suspicions into Tammy's death were raised when Vallow refused to reveal the whereabouts of Tylee and JJ last year.
Vallow was finally arrested in Hawaii on February 20. Daybell wasn't held until June 9 after Tylee and JJ's bodies were discovered.
Daybell, 51, a former gravedigger, has been charged with destroying or concealing evidence while his new wife is charged with desertion, obstruction and solicitation. Both are being held on $1 million bail, while prosecutors consider laying more serious charges.
Tammy, who was training to run in a 5K, died at the home she shared with her husband. She was just 49. Her obituary said she 'passed away peacefully in her sleep'
'She was into healthy living, very fit and then all of a sudden we hear she has died,' one friend in nearby Rexburg told DailyMail.com. 'It didn't make sense then and it doesn't make sense now'
Tammy's body was exhumed from its grave under a sycamore tree in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville on December 11
DailyMail.com unearthed this photo of Chad Daybell digging a grave from when he worked as a grave digger in 1998, which he described as 'rewarding'
Tammy's body was exhumed from its grave under a sycamore tree in the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville on December 11.
Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow was killed by her brother in July last year in what was said to be a domestic argument
She has now been re-interred next to her grandparents with a grave marker that says: 'Tammy was a beloved wife and mother, devoted daughter and sister and friend to all animals.'
The marker carries an engraving of a mother Indian Runner Duck Tammy's favorite followed by five ducklings to mark the five children she had with Daybell.
No one can explain why the autopsy has taken so long. Ron Douglas said: 'My thought is that the embalming fluids had two months to do their job and basically they are having to reverse engineer. I can only guess what kind of chemistry is going on.'
Douglas said he did not want to discuss his views on his daughter's death at this stage. 'Right now, we are not ready,' he said.
Sheriff Humphries told DailyMail.com: 'There are a lot of variables and I am not an expert in toxicology. It could be any time.'
Humphries told DailyMail.com in January that the autopsy would determine whether Tammy had been poisoned.
'We're looking for poison, but we are just having to wait for lab results,' he said at the time. He said then that he expected the autopsy results in February. Now he says: 'I don't have a timeline.'
Sheriff Len Humphries told DailyMail.com in January that the autopsy would determine whether Tammy had been poisoned
Investigators found the remains of JJ and Tylee after excavating the backyard of Chad Daybell's property last week (pictured)
Before her death, Tammy Daybell posted about this creepy encounter she had with a man in a ski mask in her driveway
After Tammy's death, Chad posted a note on Facebook, saying: 'I am saddened to share that my beautiful, talented wife Tammy passed away early this morning in her sleep'
Suspicion about Tammy's death has been rife for months. Melanie Gibb, a friend of both Chad and Lori who is now working with authorities, told the East Idaho News that Lori knew that Chad was married when the pair first started dating.
'She was uncomfortable with it. She believed that Tammy was going to pass away though,' said Gibb, who declined to speak to DailyMail.com. She said Chad had predicted that Tammy would die in a car crash.
When that didn't happen, Vallow still moved to Idaho to be near her lover, taking Tylee and JJ with her. But shortly after the start of the school year in September last year she pulled JJ from the local education system.
When Gibb, 49, heard of Tammy's death she wasn't surprised. 'I didn't know how they did it, but I knew it was part of the plan that she was supposed to pass away. Other people knew she was supposed to pass away because Chad knew this information for quite a while.'
'Their whole goal was to get together,' added Gibb, who lives in Gilbert, Arizona. 'They expressed to me many times that Tammy would be OK with this as she passed on
'(They said) she may not remember it now, but she had a mission to fulfill on that (the other) side, so they both felt that was where she was supposed to go.'
Melanie Gibb, a friend of both Chad and Lori who is now working with authorities, told the East Idaho News that Lori knew that Chad was married when the pair first started dating
County coroner Brenda Dye (pictured) initially ruled Tammy's death as due to natural causes and allowed her to be buried without an autopsy
After Tammy's death, Chad posted a note on Facebook, saying: 'I am saddened to share that my beautiful, talented wife Tammy passed away early this morning in her sleep. '
'It is a shock to all of us,' he added, despite his prediction that she was going to die. 'She was so wonderful in every way!'
Mandy Fowler, another friend of Tammy's, told KSL TV that Tammy, a librarian at Central Elementary School in Sugar City, Idaho, had seemed distant and distracted the last time she spoke to her.
She said that Tammy's daughter had told her no-one knew the cause of death and that 'pink foam was coming out of her mouth.'
Despite that, and despite the fact Tammy was so young and healthy, some claim Daybell successfully persuaded coroner Dye not to perform any autopsy.
An activist who criticized Kazakhstans ruling party on social media has been convicted of spreading false information about the coronavirus and banned from social or political activism for five years, even as the government itself warns of a worsening outbreak.
An Almaty court on June 22 convicted Alnur Ilyashev of the dissemination of knowingly false information that threatens public order during the state of emergency implemented because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The court sentenced him to three years of restricted freedom and banned him from political activities for five years. Any violation of the court terms means he will likely face imprisonment.
Ilyashev was detained on April 17 after he wrote on Facebook that authorities in Kazakhstan, including the ruling Nur Otan party, are corrupt and have been incompetent in their response to the coronavirus.
The 43-year-old activist spent more than two months in custody until being released after the verdict.
During the court hearing, held online because of the coronavirus, prosecutors brought in witnesses who claimed Ilyashevs social-media posts would alarm the public.
Rights group Amnesty International slammed the sentence as absurd and as a sign that the government will continue to not allow criticism of the government.
The Kazakhstani authorities have shamelessly exploited the state of emergency that was called to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic to clamp down on voices of dissent. Alnur Ilyashev has committed no crime. He has only expressed his opinions peacefully, which the authorities and their experts have portrayed as a criminal act and severely penalized, Heather McGill, Amnesty Internationals Central Asia researcher, said.
RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, known locally as Azattyq, reported in May that Kazakh authorities have hired firms to keep track of what is being said on social networks accessible in Kazakhstan.
These firms are contracted to search for posts that could create a "threat" to sociopolitical stability and also, as part of the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, the dissemination of false information about the virus or government measures to battle it. But in the process they also find people's messages criticizing the government.
Ilyashev had been helping to organize protests against the government since 2019 and took the Almaty mayor's office to court, unsuccessfully, after his requests to hold peaceful public meetings were rejected some 35 times.
In May, Kazakhstan reformed laws on protests that define how many people can attend a demonstration, what venues are available for rallies, and what permission is needed to conduct such public events.
Critics say the law falls short of international human rights and is replete with numerous restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles to prevent protests.
Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev came to power in 2019 pledging reforms in the energy-rich Central Asian country following three decades of rule by his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbaev.
Nazarbaev still maintains key positions of power, including head of the countrys Security Council and ruling Nur Otan party.
On June 18, Nazarbaev's press service said that the former president had tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the latest top official -- including the health minister and speaker of the lower house of parliament -- to become infected.
Kazakhstan imposed a state of emergency over the pandemic on March 16 and lifted it on May 11. The government slowly removed restrictions to help stop the spread of the virus, but health authorities tightened coronavirus restrictions last week in response to a worsening situation.
Kazakhstan has reported nearly 23,000 cases, including more than 100 deaths from the coronavirus, although total fatalities are believed to be higher.
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Reduce embassy staff by 50% in 7 days: India downgrades its diplomatic ties with Pakistan
India
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, June 23: In the wake of the abduction and torture of two high commission staffers, 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 d' Affaires.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the Charge d' Affaires of Pakistan High Commission was summoned and informed about the decision which was based on instances of involvement of Pakistani officials in "acts of espionage" and "dealings with terrorist organisations".
The activities of the two officials caught red-handed and expelled on 31 May 2020 was one example in that regard," the statement said.
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"While their officials indulged in actions that are not in conformity with their privileged status in the High Commission, 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," it added.
5 Indian High Commission officials return from Pakistan
"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 22 June 2020 have provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies," the statement further said.
"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," it said.
In response, Pakistan Foreign Office issued a statement, which said, it "rejects and strongly condemns the baseless allegations made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs as a pretext to seek 50 per cent reduction in the staff strength" of its high commission in New Delhi.
"Pakistan completely dismisses allegations of any violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by the officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and reiterates that they always function within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms.
Pakistan also rejects the insinuations of intimidation of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad," the statement added.
The Pakistan foreign office also said that the Indian Charge d' Affaires in Islamabad was summoned to convey Pakistan's rejection and condemnation of the "baseless Indian allegations", and was also informed of Islamabad's decision to reduce the Indian High Commission's staff strength by 50 per cent as a reciprocal measure.
According to a mutual arrangement, the sanctioned staff strength of the Indian and Pakistani high commissions is 110 each. However, both high commissions are not operating at full strength currently.
Officials said both sides will have to reduce staff strength by 40-45 people in view of India's decision.
The last time India downgraded diplomatic ties by asking Pakistan to reduce the staff strength in its high commission was after the Parliament attack in December 2001.
However, as relations improved by 2005, the staff strength at both missions returned to the normal level.
Pakistan had downgraded diplomatic ties by expelling the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad following India's decision to withdraw special status to Jammu and Kashmir in August last year.
"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 MEA said.
India's concern about the activities of officials of his High Commission was also conveyed to the Pakistan Charge d' Affaires by the MEA. "They have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organizations. The activities of the two officials caught red-handed and expelled on May 31 was one example in that regard," it said.
The ministry also referred to the June 15 incident when Pakistani authorities detained two junior members of the Indian high commission in Islamabad in a case of "hit and run" and released them after over 11 hours. India called it an abduction and said the two staffers were subjected to "barbaric treatment".
The Pakistani action was seen as a retaliation for the expulsion of two Pakistani officials by India on charges of espionage on May 31. Following their expulsion, Pakistani agencies started harassing a number of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad including Charge d' Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia.
"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," it said.
"These officials who have returned to India on June 22 have provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies," the MEA added.
India's expulsion of the two Pakistani officials and subsequent harassment of Indian High Commission staffers in Islamabad by Pakistani agencies came in the midst of frayed ties between the two countries over re-organisation of Jammu and Kashmir by India.
Two of the nations most influential experts on the coronavirus pandemic, both based in Texas, are calling for an independent, nonpartisan investigation of the U.S. response to the novel coronavirus.
We must prevent this from happening again, said Gerald Parker, who directs the pandemic and biosecurity program at Texas A&Ms Bush School of Public Service. This is not going to be our last pandemic.
Peter Hotez, a Houston-based vaccine researcher and frequent commentator on cable news, noted that the current virus, SARS-CoV-2, is the third coronavirus to pose a major health threat in the last 20 years. And given that outbreaks had already wreaked havoc in China and Europe, U.S. public health systems were notably slow to respond.
What hurt Wuhan was what hurt New York City, said Hotez, which is that virus transmission went on for six weeks before there was any public health intervention.
In a videotaped interview with John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, Parker suggested an investigation modeled on the nonpartisan 9/11 Commission.
Democrats in Washington, D.C., including the chairmen of both the House Homeland Security and Intelligence committees, have pushed to create such a commission modeled on the bipartisan effort that followed 9/11. Democrats have also set up an oversight subcommittee in the House to investigate the Trump administrations handling of trillions in coronavirus relief funding.
But Republicans have resisted such calls so far. House Republicans voted against the creation of the House oversight committee, arguing it was an attempt by Democrats to dig up dirt on the president. Republicans have instead largely focused on Chinas handling of the outbreak and whether there was a cover-up by the Chinese government, an effort led by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican whose district stretches from Austin to Houston.
McCaul said in a May interview with Hearst Newspapers that he believes Congress could do both.
I think they think maybe if we focus on China or the Communist Party, we may be taking our eye off they want to focus on the president, McCaul said at the time. I think you can probably do both.
Pandemic preparation used to be a nonpartisan issue, said Parker, who under President George W. Bush served on the large team that prepared the United States first pandemic security plan. I wouldnt be surprised if a COVID Commission came to a similar conclusion as the 9/11 Commission: that we suffered a failure of imagination.
He noted that, as with the coronavirus, the nations security experts knew that terrorism posed a major threat long before that threat hit home with the September 2001 attack. In the late 90s, while in the Army, Parker studied terrorism in the Department of Defenses war college. There was chatter about it, he remembers. There were several major studies about how to reorganize departments to better defend ourselves.
Similarly, he said, U.S. defense officials have long considered pandemics as major threats to national security. This should not have been a surprise, he said. This was not a black swan event.
Hotez, who also participated in the interview with Sharp, said later that he feared a congressional panel would become a political circus. Instead he proposed a review by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
Among the questions Hotez wants answered: How, for the whole month of February, did the U.S. miss evidence that the virus was already here? Given the crowding and high number of underlying conditions in low-income neighborhoods, what was done to prepare African-American and Hispanic communities in the early days? Why didnt the CDC have a centralized epidemiological model, including models of cities and metropolitan areas? And how can the U.S. prepare for future epidemics?
lisa.gray@chron.com
GLEN CARBON Police officers arrested a Glen Carbon man after he allegedly robbed the Caseys General Store on West Main Street Monday evening.
Ricky L. Allen, 35, of the 40 block of Cobblestone Lane in Glen Carbon, has been charged with aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony.
At approximately 9:45 p.m. Monday, police received a 911 call from Caseys reporting the robbery.
Once on scene, Glen Carbon Police deployed K9 officer, Griff. The officer searched the area where the suspect was last seen fleeing on foot and tracked the suspects escape route, which led to his residence on Cobblestone Lane.
With assistance from the Glen Carbon Drone Team and area license plate reader cameras, officers located and arrested Allen without incident. Police officers from Edwardsville, Maryville, Pontoon Beach and Troy, along with Madison County deputies and Illinois State Police troopers, also assisted with the search and investigation.
The amount of money involved in the alleged incident was undisclosed.
The Madison County States Attorneys Office issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for the charges. Judge Richard Tognarelli signed the warrant and set Allens bond at $250,000. Allen is currently being held at the Madison County Jail.
Virginias history is inextricably linked to slavery. In 1860, enslaved Africans made up one-third of the states population, according to the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. The public universities in the state are connected to that past, too, and some have tried to make amends. George Mason University in Fairfax is planning a memorial to honor the more than 100 people enslaved by the schools namesake. Officials at James Madison last year honored Paul Jennings, an enslaved African American who spent more than half his life serving Madison and his wife, by naming a new student residence hall after him.
5 RJD MLCs join JD(U) in Bihar, top leader steps down; Tejashwi blames Nitish Kumar
India
pti-PTI
Patna, June 23: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the chief of the JD(U), of hatching plots against the opposition.
His remarks come after five of its eight members of the legislative council in Bihar quit the opposition party and joined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United) even as Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, one of its founding members, resigned as the national vice-president.
The development is being seen as a huge setback for the opposition party in the election year.
"I offer my best wishes to my former party colleagues at their new political abode. I laud Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for demonstrating how constructive he has been during the three months he remained confined to his official residence, Yadav, who is RJDs chief ministerial candidate in the Bihar assembly polls due in a few months, said.
Covid-19: 70 patients listed as missing in Mumbai's civic body BMC's records | Oneindia News
The RJD leader was replying to queries of journalists who had rushed to the Raj Bhavan here upon learning that Yadav was going to meet Governor Fagu Chauhan and submit a memorandum.
The memorandum was not related to the events of the day and sought to draw the attention of the governor towards the alleged dilution of provisions of reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs.
Coronavirus: Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh see a drop in COVID-19 cases
Yadav said that all the steps taken by Nitish Kumar are aimed at furthering his personal ambitions. This was the case when he (Kumar) betrayed us three years ago and returned to the NDA despite having fought the elections as our ally and getting the popular mandate, which was against the BJP, the RJD leader, who is a former deputy chief minister of Bihar, said.
The leader of the opposition in the state assembly, claimed that he was not perturbed by the 'bhagdar (stampede) in his party but asserted that the JD(U) chief will have to explain what the people of Bihar gained".
"Nitish Kumar might have gained something psychologically in an election year, he commented. When asked about RJD founding member Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who stepped down from the post of national vice-president, Yadav said, Raghuvansh babu is my guardian and one of the nurturers of RJD.
At present I am most worried about his health. I am in touch with the hospital where he is undergoing treatment for COVID-19. I had spoken to him over phone recently. Once he recovers, I will speak to him again and all things will be ironed out, he said.
Singh stepped down from the top post in protest against the proposed induction of his bete noire Rama Singh, at whose hands the former union minister had tasted defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, the Congress, an old ally of the RJD which had suffered a split in 2018 when three of its MLCs led by former BPCC chief Ashok Choudhary switched over to the JD(U), expressed displeasure over the 'jod tod by the ruling NDA in Bihar.
The JD(U) has set a wrong precedent. It will lead to increased immorality and unscrupulousness in politics, AICC media panelist and MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said in a statement.
The self-acclaimed pastor Apostle Kwabena Owusu Agyei, who threatened to kill the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) has been grated a GH 100,000 bail by an Accra Circuit Court.
The accused is to present three sureties, two of whom must be public servants earning not less than GH 2,000 every month.
The pastor is before the court facing three counts of threat of death, unlawful possession of narcotics, and assault on public officer.
He pleaded not guilty to the counts and his legal team made up of Kwadjoga Adawu and Xavier Sosu pleaded with the court to grant him bail pending the trial.
Mr. Adawudu told the Court that per the constitution, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He said his personal liberty should not be curtailed by remanding him on mere allegations levelled against him by the state.
The application was opposed by ASP Sylvester Asare who stated that the accused will interfere with investigations if granted bail.
He added that given the nature of the charges, the accused will not appear for the trial if granted bail.
The court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Eesandoh, a High Court judge sitting with additional responsibilities as a Circuit Court judge, granted the accused bail of GH100,000 with three sureties, two of whom must be public servants earning not less than GH 2,000.
He is also to report to the police every Monday and Friday.
Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei caused a stir when he threatened on a live show to kill the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa if she goes ahead to compile a new voters register for the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
He threatened Madam Mensa to stop the compilation of the new register or die young at midnight although he did not mention any specific day.
Apostle Owusu Adjei, was arrested on June 9, 2030 by some officers of the National Security while he was granting an interview to a journalist from Hot FM.
In a video circulating on social media, some men who claimed to be from National Security were seen moving into the house of the pastor to arrest him.
Things took an interesting twist when a video went viral which suggested that security officers found parcels of a substance suspected to be marijuana (wee) on the pastor.
---Daily Guide
Microplastics have been found in the digestive tract of one of the most isolated animals on Earth, a study has revealed.
When scientists visited King George island in Antarctica, almost 100 miles from the tip of South America, they found springtails clinging to the bottom of a piece of polystyrene covered in moss, algae and lichen.
The up-to-two-millimetre-long bugs were collected and taken back to the lab for analysis which revealed that they contained tiny plastic pollutants.
The results are the first confirmation that microplastics have entered the Antarctic food chain which springtails form the basis of.
This puts other animals including seals, sharks and penguins at risk.
Previous studies of Antarctic springtails have suggested that they suffer alterations in growth and reproduction due to the ingestion of plastics.
Microplastics have been found in springtails living on polystyrene (left) discovered on a rocky beach on King George island, Antarctica. A collembolans is a type of springtail
The study, published in Biology Letters, analysed 18 springtails found on the foot-square, two-inch-thick sheet of polystyrene, which was picked up in 2016 on a rocky and sloping shore.
An infrared scanner revealed tiny fragments of polystyrene inside their guts, which matched the block that they were living on.
The invertebrates are equipped with powerful jaws for chomping vegetation, which also enabled them to eat through the man-made waste.
'(This study) shows their ability to ingest plastic,' first author Elisa Bergami, from the University of Siena, Italy, said.
She said this is a 'serious concern' as it shows a 'potential risk associated with the occurrence of plastic debris in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems.'
'It had been unknown whether plastics are able to enter the Antarctic terrestrial food webs,' she added.
A springtail with microplastics inside it, highlighted. They were identified using an infrared scanner, and came from the polystyrene block where they lived
'Given the large presence of C. antarcticus in the Antarctic terrestrial environment, the ingestion of microplastics could contribute to their spread along the food chain in the South Pole, with potential risks for the entire ecosystem.
'Further studies are needed to better understand the possible environmental consequences due to the presence of microplastics, which have already deeply penetrated the soil and food webs.'
The finding comes after small bits of plastic were detected in the Antarctic seas earlier this year.
Scientists at the University of Tasmania said in April they had identified 14 types of plastic smaller than five millimetres from an ice core taken in 2009.
Their presence could mean the regions krill which feed largely on algae growing on sea ice may have been exposed to microplastics.
Coastal fellfield on King George island where the piece of foam covered in moss was found
Anna Kelly, from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania and lead study author said: 'The remoteness of the Southern Ocean has not been enough to protect it from plastic pollution, which is now pervasive across the world's oceans.'
Springtails are considered to be the foundation of most ecosystems across the world, as they are relied on for food by tiny invertebrates and insects.
In turn, these get eaten by small animals, who then may be consumed by larger animals, allowing the microplastics to move up the food chain.
Young black males serve burned community in Minn. with pop-up grocery store
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The Man Up Club, led by Korey "XROSS" Dean Sr., is helping restore a sense of community with pop-up grocery locations in Minnesota in response to the looting and riots that broke out following the death of George Floyd while in police custody.
Deans vision of helping the community goes back to many years ago when he first desired to launch a mens ministry and help young black men pursue higher education. The dream was kicked into high gear following the unrest that came from racial injustice in his home town and as he saw a need in his community.
With a goal to empower young black males to make positive choices while preparing them for post-high-school education, Dean used his influence to rally young men to help make a positive impact during trying times.
Were building a pop-up grocery store, if you will, just so we can serve our community, Dean said, according to Faithwire. Because some of our stores are burned, some of our stores are closed because of the COVID-19. So you add this tragic death and situation on top of COVID and you can kind of get a glimpse of the magnitude from which the community is suffering.
Dean revealed that he was traumatized by the murder of Floyd and the aftermath.
I was devastated to see the police officer with his knee on the neck of George Floyd. That was heart-wrenching to me. And I thought about the long-term implications of what had occurred and the historical perspective of what continues to be perpetuated in America, he added.
For me, I have an advantage. My advantage is my faith my faith in Jesus Christ. And I believe that God is in control of all things.
The ministry leader said the pop-up stores are a service by young black men who are fulfilling their civic responsibility. The stores consist of providing essential needs, including food and hygiene supplies. Dean credited the community as a whole for donating the items.
The Man Up Club first drew attention online when Dean led a powerful prayer while in the streets of Minneapolis.
He declared, We ask for your forgiveness for any of the sins we have committed, that you would allow us to tap into who you are, and that we would walk like you, and talk like you, and that we would love like you. We bless your name. Help us to keep peace in this city. Help us to keep peace in this country and all over the world. In Jesus name, amen!
After working with more than 500 African American high school students, Dean realized that "it was the African American male who faced the most challenges to reach graduation on time and experienced the most stumbling blocks to become successful beyond high school," according to The Man Up Club website. His mentor-leadership organization is designed to "equip these young boys and prepare them to become valued competing members of society."
HOUSTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Quidnet Energy today announced the closing of its $10 million Series B financing and the execution of a contract with the New York State Energy Development Authority (NYSERDA) for commercial demonstration of its Geomechanical Pumped Storage (GPS) technology. Existing investors Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Evok Innovations participated in the round, as well as new investors Trafigura and The Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust. The company's Series B capitalization sets the stage for Quidnet to work with electric utilities and deliver commercial-scale projects across the North American electric grid.
"Integrating renewables and replacing retiring thermal generation require cost-effective long-duration electricity storage at an immense scale. While traditional pumped hydro has provided over 95% of the world's grid-scale storage, that approach faces significant siting and cost limitations going forward," said Quidnet Energy CEO Joe Zhou. "Quidnet unlocks these constraints to fundamentally change the economics and deployment profile of long-duration storage. With this Series B financing and the execution of the NYSERDA contract, we will begin deployment of commercial-scale facilities across priority markets.
"Quidnet's GPS technology is a novel form of hydroelectric energy storage. It uses time-tested well-drilling and construction technologies to pump water under pressure into subsurface geological reservoirs to store energy. When variable renewable energy is not available, this water is released to drive hydroelectric turbines to power the electric grid. Funds from the Series B financing will be used to expand the team and infrastructure necessary for full-scale commercial deployments, as well as fund the construction of near-term projects, including a 2-megawatt (MW) project implementing GPS as part of the company's contract with NYSERDA.
"Energy storage has a critical role in the low carbon economy. It is essential in integrating intermittent renewable energy into grids by aligning peaks and troughs in power generation with changing patterns of demand," said Robert Gillon, Senior Manager from Trafigura's Power and Renewables Trading Division. "Our strategic investment in Quidnet Energy is helping to deliver a cost-effective alternative to traditional pumped hydro, today's predominant solution for long-duration storage."
"Quidnet's Geomechanical Pumped Storage is not only more cost-effective than traditional pumped hydro, but it is uniquely capable of being deployed on non-mountainous terrain, enabling it to sit across a broad range of geographies," said Carmichael Roberts, Breakthrough Energy Ventures. "We're excited to see the company's advances toward wide-scale deployment and happy to support the team through this next phase of commercialization."
"Long-duration electricity storage is critical to the energy transition. It's exciting to see how Quidnet is bringing this viable long-duration solution to the market," said Dr. Mike Biddle, Managing Director at Evok Innovations. "Because they are leveraging long understood geologic principles, we are confident that they can scale rapidly. We are pleased to support the Quidnet team through its next phase of commercial growth".
"Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York is investing in the technology research and development needed to advance a 21st electric grid that can support the State's growing influx of renewable energy. Congratulations to Quidnet on this opportunity to develop and demonstrate the value that this innovative technology can bring to New York as we work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a 100 percent clean electric grid," said Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA.
The project in New York State will be a 2 MW scale implementation of GPS, supported through NYSERDA's High Performing Grid Program, which makes investments in research and development that accelerate the realization of an advanced, digitally enhanced and dynamically managed electric grid. Even at this modular scale, per-kilowatt installed costs are expected to be less than 50 percent of traditional pumped storage due to simpler civil construction scope. This facility is planned to be configured for applications involving 10-hours of storage duration.
The focus of Quidnet's hiring in the coming year will continue to draw from the highly technical talent pool of traditional subsurface industries while also building up internal capabilities to support project development partners. To learn more about Quidnet and current available positions, please visit www.quidnetenergy.com.
About Quidnet Energy Based in Houston, Texas with offices in San Francisco and Saratoga Springs, Quidnet's patented GPS technology utilizes excess renewable energy to store water beneath ground under pressure. When renewable energy is not producing this pressurized water drives hydroelectric turbines producing electricity to support the grid at a fraction of the cost of Li-ion and for much longer duration. Quidnet's technology is an adaptation of centuries-old gravity-powered "pumped storage," but without the massive land requirements and reliance on elevated terrain.
www.quidnetenergy.com
About Breakthrough Energy Ventures -- Established in 2015 by Bill Gates and a coalition of private investors concerned about the impacts of accelerating climate change, Breakthrough Energy supports the innovations that will lead the world to net-zero emissions. We're building on the proven model of public-private partnerships that Gates has already used to transform health, education, and public welfare around the world. Breakthrough Energy is encouraging the development of new net-zero energy technologies, championing policies that speed innovation from lab to market, and bringing together governments, research institutions, private companies, and investors to expand and enhance clean-energy investment.
www.b-t.energy
About Evok Innovations -- Evok is a fund that offers a unique approach to innovation, combining the pace and creativity of a Silicon Valley startup with the experience and insight of industry insiders. We drive innovation by deeply understanding industrial challenges, leveraging a global network of entrepreneurs to find solutions, and providing the investment, mentorship, and market access to accelerate deployment for game changing results. Through established partnerships with industry, we invest in a global portfolio of innovative companies to address the most pressing economic and environmental challenges.
www.evokinnovations.com
About NYSERDA A New York State public benefit corporation, offering objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975.
nyserda.ny.gov
About Trafigura -- Founded in 1993, Trafigura is one of the largest physical commodities trading groups in the world. Trafigura sources, stores, transports and delivers a range of raw materials (including oil and refined products and metals and minerals) to clients around the world. The trading business is supported by industrial and financial assets, including 49.3 percent owned global oil products storage and distribution company Puma Energy; global terminals, warehousing and logistics operator Impala Terminals; Trafigura's Mining Group; and Galena Asset Management. The Company is owned by over 700 of its 8,000 employees who work in 80 offices in 41 countries around the world. Trafigura has achieved substantial growth over recent years, growing revenue from USD12 billion in 2003 to USD171.5 billion in 2019. The Group has been connecting its customers to the global economy for more than two decades, growing prosperity by advancing trade.
www.trafigura.com
Contact:
Steve Sullivan
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[email protected]
SOURCE Quidnet Energy
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Centre for Equity Studies has released a report on the migrant crisis documenting how Indias most vulnerable class has suffered due to the unplanned national lockdown by the Central government for COVID-19.
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The report titled Labouring Lives: Hunger, Precarity and Despair amid Lockdown addressed vital questions of how the countrys labouring class stranded and jobless coped with the lockdown living away from their homes. The research has been conducted by Centre for Equity Studies in partnership with the Delhi Research Group and the Karwan-e-Mohabbat campaign with Aman Biradari Trust as the sponsor organization for relief to migrant workers.
With an aim to understand various aspects of the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the lives, livelihoods and food security of the poor, the report is prepared with first-hand data collated through extensive telephonic interviews with 1405 workers settled in both urban and rural India. A group of volunteers, mainly students, participated in data collection for the study between 25th May and 10th June 2020. All those who were contacted have also been reached for food support by Karwan-e-Mohabbat and Aman Biradari Trust.
The report has revealed economic and social boycott of the most vulnerable during the lockdown, stating that the naked distancing of the state from its responsibilities needed documentation so that the coming generations would remember how the state which takes an oath in the name of people abandoned them at a time of crisis. The respondents covered in the survey come from an economically underprivileged background, with only 5.5% of them earning a monthly amount of Rs. 15000. Hence, a vast support network for relief materials was also established during the research work, extending over Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.
The report has also been supported by the University of York and Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung for its detailed analysis on circular migration. One of the major findings in it is that nearly 90% of those working under a contractor were not getting paid, reflecting that the government that could have alternately provided them with limited economic opportunities for the job losses but instead it left them with no support. Among the 90%, interstate migrants who were travelling on foot for a maximum period of the lockdown were worse off in comparison with inter-state migrants, who suffered 10% less due to job loss. Additionally, those not working under contractors, about 94% of the migrant labourers, have been hit by widespread job loss without even minimal payment. Among them, 43% are uncertain about their financial security post-COVID and 10% are sure they would not get their old job back.
A major finding shows that the uncertainty of income opportunities in the future affects women (highest share of working as domestic help) more than men. Other than women, OBCs and interstate migrants are the most vulnerable concerning job prospects. Not surprising was the factual analysis revealing that Muslims have a higher share of workers reporting that they do not expect to get back their work compared to the other social categories. On the other hand, a higher share of Hindu advantaged caste (and mostly the men within this group) were sure about getting back their work after lockdown. This discrepancy of income opportunities pointed out that the BJP governments directives on March 29 to all employers and contractors that no worker be dismissed from their employment, has failed miserably.
Contrary to popular belief, the study disclosed that the surety of losing work is higher in rural areas, while those working in urban and semi-urban areas believe they would be able to rejoin their old jobs. It further suggested that there is an urgent need for the governments to attend to the job security woes in the rural areas as they are already suffering from agricultural losses and would be additionally pressurized with the load of return-migrants.
A separate section concerning the problem of hunger and starvation deaths among labourers said that only 38.9% had never gone completely out of food during the lockdown. While 29.9% reported they occasionally went out of food (starving intermittently for 1-2 days), 20.5% said they frequently went out of food for 4-7 days during the period of lockdown. 10.7% were recorded to have been going without food for more than 7 days facing an extreme hunger situation. Surprisingly, those who reported never starving during the period are those who have diminished their intake and were often having one meal in a day. Casual labourers were worst hit in terms of incidence of hunger.
21.8% labourers said they were skipping meals, while 49.5% were eating less within the day and 5.1% among the parents were skipping meals so they could provide food for their children. Whereas hunger is pervasive among all communities and cuts across caste, the factual findings in this report highlighted that the workers who belonged to the advantaged caste Hindus have suffered less in terms of going occasionally or frequently hungry compared to others. In the case of extreme hunger too, the advantaged caste Hindus are relatively better off than the conditions of OBC/SC/ST or Muslims, it says.
Further, in the absence of adequate support from the Central and State governments, the collaborative research also focused on the source of relief providers. Among the studys respondents, the highest number of support providers were NGOs, at 43.3%. This was followed by 38.7% of government initiatives and 19.2% by religious and community organizations. While 46% of labourers were receiving relief materials from one source only, 26.3% got support from two sources and a substantial section, 24.6% received no support at all. Several workers were also recorded saying that if the NGOs and religious organizations had not stepped in, for a large section of people, life during lockdown would have been far more testing.
The survey has also studied indebtedness among migrant labourers suggesting that 50.7% of migrant labourers hadnt taken any loans. 40% of them during this time of dire need were supported by friends and relatives (40%). In their respective order, the others who helped them were money lenders, local shops, contractors or employers and landlords.
Concerning the government directives for travel and helplines for migrant labourers that were announced later during Lockdown 3.0, one of the stranded migrant outlined the plight in these words: Bhagwan bharose chal raha hai kyunki sarkar se koi umeed hai nahi; wo bas ghoshna kar deti hai, maara jaata hai gareeb (We are left to fend for ourselves because we dont have any expectations from the government; they just make sudden announcements, it is the poor who pay the price). Other responses revealed similar views and the anger coupled with disappointment with government measures palpable among the most vulnerable sections of India. The study highlighted that by such sudden and unplanned directives once a while, government makes fools of the public by its play of words.
In its conclusion, the report has suggested some critical recommendations to address the dangerous economic collapse looming over the countrys weakest. It stated that the pandemic has underscored the extreme importance of a public healthcare system, and the folly of privatization of essential services, recommending that the post-pandemic period must not again see government abdicating its responsibility and that public expenditure on education and health must be substantially stepped up, with a focus on primary and secondary health. Highlighting care economy, the report suggested that the government could provide immense scope for increasing employment. While Anganwadi workers who provide essential services to the population, including during this pandemic, are paid a pittance and treated with extreme unfairness, the report said they must be given regular government employees with proper remuneration and associated benefits.
The report concludes that much-unutilized capacity exists in the economy and the shortage is not of real resources; the government needs the political will to get command over them. It further stated that these steps can easily come within the total package announced by the Prime Minister, which is presumably to be financed immediately by printing money.
The events that took place yesterday have nothing to do with a legal state and are unlawful. This is what constitutional expert Gohar Meloyan told reporters today, talking about the amendments made to the Constitution.
Several constitutional laws and provisions clearly enshrined by the Constitution were breached yesterday. The haste was rather incomprehensible, but in terms of content, it was comprehensible and was a repetition of almost the same thing that was happening in January and February when the ruling party was trying to solve the artificial crisis of the Constitutional Court through a referendum. The only thing that has changed in this scenario is that the authorities refused to hold a referendum since they understand that their rating is dropping, Meloyan said.
According to Meloyan, what was very symbolic was the release of the Venice Commissions advisory opinion in which the Venice Commission stated that the bill on constitutional amendments needed to be submitted to the Constitutional Court and that there had to be a transitional stage for establishing the premature powers of judges.
Meloyan added that discussion on the issue of the Constitutional Court was supposed to be one of the last issues for the ruling party at a time when the coronavirus is spreading at an unprecedented rate in the country and when the ruling party has failed in the fight against the spread of the virus and there are nearly 400 deaths and thousands of infected persons.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 00:02:54|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Monday slammed the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority in Taiwan for political maneuvering in the international community to seek "Taiwan independence."
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a media question about the DPP leader's recent video speech at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2020.
Zhu said it was a political manipulation under the pretext of "democracy," using the platform of some non-governmental organizations. The move once again exposed the DPP's attempt to take advantage of various international occasions to seek "Taiwan independence," Zhu said.
Zhu urged the DPP authority to give up on such separatist attempt and relevant countries not to give it any platform or chance for seeking "Taiwan independence" in the international community. Enditem
Malawian voters defied the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday to return to the polls for the second time in just over a year after President Peter Mutharika's re-election was annulled in a dramatic court ruling. The hotly-anticipated re-run was ordered by the Constitutional Court, which declared that the May 2019 vote, narrowly won by Mutharika, was fraught with "grave and widespread irregularities" including the use of correction fluid on results sheets. It ordered new elections be held within 150 days of its February ruling. The new polling deadline coincided with the coronavirus pandemic raging across world, but that did not deter candidates who staged rallies attracting tens of thousands of supporters across the country. The landmark verdict reverberated across African politics, for it made Malawi just the second country south of the Sahara to have presidential poll results set aside, after Kenya in 2017. But that decision sent Mutharika into a frenzy, accusing judges of working with the opposition to steal the election through what he dubbed a "judicial coup d'etat". On Tuesday, he accused the opposition of inciting violence following unconfirmed reports of isolated incidents. - Two-horse race - "It's obvious that the opposition is doing this. This is totally unnecessary," he told reporters after voting in Blantyre. He claimed some of his party monitors were "chased away, some were beaten". "It's obviously people that are afraid of the will of the people that are engaging in these barbaric acts. I condemn it completely." Tuesday's election was practically a two-horse race between the president and Lazarus Chakwera, who lost the election by 159,000 votes. Mutharika, who turns 80 next month, won with 38.5 percent of the ballots against Chakwera's 35 percent, according to the now-discredited results. Victory in the rerun will be determined by whoever garners more than 50 percent of the votes -- a new threshold welcomed by the Public Affairs Committee, an influential quasi-religious civic group. "This election is unique. First, this election is born out of a court ruling and second, they will follow the 50-percent-plus-one system," the group said. "I am happy because this re-run is the will of the people. I just hope that the best person wins," said Peter Chadza, 26, a businessman who voted in the capital. - 'Our date with destiny' - Chakwera, 65, enjoys the support of nine political parties in his bid to unseat the president. "I believe that Malawians' quest for justice is being answered today (and)... that rights will be respected," said Chakwera after casting his ballot at a primary school in Lilongwe. "This is our date with destiny and this is (the) time for the beginning of a new Malawi," he said, expressing "confidence" the electoral commission will do what is right. A new electoral commission was appointed on June 8, with Chifundo Kachale replacing the controversial Jane Ansah as chairman. Kachale described the voting which ended at 1600 GMT as "generally peaceful with some unfortunate incidents but this did not disturb the process". He gave no details of the incidents but vowed to deliver "a credible and transparent election". Army chief General Peter Namathanga told reporters: "We will jealousy guard peoples' votes. We will take measures to deter all those with ill intentions." In a statement, the UN called on Malawi's "political actors and stakeholders to renew their commitment to credible and peaceful elections, while observing all preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19". The coronavirus pandemic has killed 11 people and infected at least 730 in the poor country of 18 million. The electoral commission has provided hand-washing points at each of the 5,000 polling stations to guard against the spread of COVID-19. At Malembo Primary School in the capital, voters washed their hands with soap and water before lining up to vote, but none wore face masks or kept their distance in the long queue. "People really want to vote, whether we have coronavirus or not," said Innocent Maguya, a 34-year-old driver, queueing up to cast his ballot. "We would rather risk the disease than run the risk of having a president that people don't want. We cannot stop this crucial vote because there are no face masks," he said. Some 6.8 million people were registered for voting, which was due to end at 1600 GMT after 12 hours. The electoral commission has until July 3 to unveil the results, although the announcement is widely thought likely to come on Wednesday or Thursday.
The Sikkim government has deployed India Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawans in villages located in East and North Sikkim close to the Sino-India border amid the standoff between the two countries, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.
The armed IRB jawans have been deployed since the past week on the direction of the state government, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Range, Prawin Gurung told reporters.
He, however, refused to divulge the number of IRB jawans deployed.
Gurung said as per the state government's order, the IRB jawans have been deployed in villages near Lachen, Lachung and Thangu in North Sikkim and Kupup and Sherathang in East Sikkim.
These villages have a sizeable civilian population and are located very close to the international border, the DIG said.
"The deployment of armed state police personnel in border villages is a routine exercise," Gurung said.
"There is tension between the two nations and Sikkim too is a sensitive border state," he added.
"It is a protocol to provide backup to the Army and assist them in the border areas whenever there is border tension," Gurung said.
The state government also has a responsibility to act in such situations and beef up vigil in the border villages, and keep the villagers informed about developments taking place, he said.
"The deployment is a precautionary measure so that in case of any emergency situation, the lives and properties of the residents living in the border area can be protected," the police officer said, adding the state government too was duty-bound to instil confidence among the people.
The Sikkim government had not deployed IRB jawans in border villages even at the height of the 2017 Doklam standoff.
Elaborating on this point, Gurung said that the IRB jawans were not deployed then as only a small part of Sikkim in a very remote location was part of the Doklam standoff.
The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine and the State Property Fund of Ukraine held a constituent meeting with the investment fund Mubadala (the United Arab Emirates) and discussed its participation in large privatization and interest in seven Ukrainian enterprises from the investment list, the press service of the ministry has said.
"The Foreign Ministry and our embassy in the United Arab Emirates are working to attract investment in Ukraine. I am very pleased that Mubadala fund is interested in participating in the large privatization in Ukraine. This is a good signal that powerful world players see a great potential of Ukraine, and they want to invest. In addition, the participation of large investment funds makes the process of large privatization more competitive," Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said.
Representatives of one of the largest investment funds in the world were interested in participating in the tender for seven Ukrainian enterprises, including United Mining and Chemical Company, Centrenergo and a number of regional energy companies.
Participants in the meeting discussed the stage of project preparation and operational issues. In particular, they agreed with the assistance of the Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Arab Emirates to establish communications at the operational level between the representatives of Mubadala and the State Property Fund of Ukraine.
If the borders between Ukraine and the UAE open, in July a commission of the fund may visit Ukraine to see and evaluate the attractiveness of the facilities.
The Foreign Ministry reported that the international investment fund Mubadala (Abu Dhabi, the UAE) is one of the largest investment funds in the world, which owns assets worth more than $850 billion.
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Mental Health Matters
The current crisis is characterized by uncertainty. Government organizations around the world have mobilized efforts and gone to great lengths to protect the public, continue critical services, and allocate emergency funds for rapid relief. Yet, the state of affairs today continues to bring forth an acute and distressing reality anchored in the unknown.Undoubtedly, the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is universal. The World Health Organization notes that almost all people affected by emergencies will experience psychological distress. Now, more than ever, actions to protect mental health are of the utmost importance. Governments must respond, recover, and reimagine in ways that devote resources, develop programs, and improve access to mental health care.Currently, mental health care is traditionally confined to reactive, and often inaccessible and expensive, treatment. Compounding this, is a longstanding narrative of cultural stigma that further disheartens people to speak out or seek help.In these extraordinary times, many public health organizations are committed to achieving equitable access for the communities they serve. In Canada, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is increasing its secure connectivity and collaboration capacity after experiencing a 750% spike in telemental health sessions thus far during the COVID-19 pandemic.Ciscos secure Webex tools enable virtual care and visits, positioning CAMH to rapidly adapt to the evolving demand for mental health care service delivery. This is a pivotal moment for a new frontier of telemental health in Canada, and as a shining example to the rest of the world.Failure to treat mental health can cost the world over one trillion dollars each year. The human cost is even greater.As a leading cause of disability in many countries around the world, mental health care must embrace innovative treatments and the better use of technology to improve outcomes for people with mental illness.It is likely that the future of health will not exist as it does now. For care that is not delivered virtually, it will be imperative to modernize holistic health and strengthen access to care to better serve the most vulnerable populations. Telehealth and collaboration technologies empower virtual patient care that will improve access to treatment. While this opens up great opportunity for better patient care and streamlined clinical operations, it also brings challenges in security and scalability. However, as telehealth becomes a new standard, we move from reactive to proactive. And Cisco is here to help you securely scale for whats now and whats next.Growing amounts of personal health data can be used as predictive and preventative health resources for mental health. Promoting the use of emerging and future technologies, like artificial intelligence and data platforms , we can leverage improved data sources to integrate behavioral and physical health for holistic wellness. And, as governments deliberate how to fund these initiatives, they will be prudent to remember that the material impact and cost to society is immense.Government organizations have significant power in making decisions about mental health systems, programs, and availability of services. As such, governments must act as stewards of public health and well-being. For example, New York City maintains a comprehensive program intended to improve access to mental health care and break down barriers to treatment. Innovative services, new delivery models, and technology improvements can ultimately increase competency of health providers and their capacity for adequate care.We can all play a role in improving mental health and changing the status quo. Educating people about the importance of social emotional learning can help break down barriers and promote open dialogue about mental health.Stigma prevents 40 percent of people with anxiety or depression from seeking care. Fear and lack of information feed the mental health crisis. This is why I pledge to let others know that there is hope and understanding. You, too, can change the way the world views mental health.Mental health matters. And governments must step up to the challenge to better lead, protect, serve, and educate toward collective resilience. This Mental Health Awareness Month, lets cure stigma, educate ourselves, and build a world where our health systems foster competency and compassion to recognize, treat, and support those experiencing this human toll. Mental health is health and Cisco aims to treat it that way It is in the unknown where we find possibility. And were in this together.
The encrypted instant messenger Telegram said on Monday it's ramping up efforts to develop anti-censorship technologies serving users in countries where it is banned or partially blocked, including China and Iran.
"Over the course of the last two years, we had to regularly upgrade our 'unblocking' technology to stay ahead of the censors... We dont want this technology to get rusty and obsolete. That is why we have decided to direct our anti-censorship resources into other places where Telegram is still banned by governments -- places like Iran and China," co-founder and chief executive Pavel Durov, who lived in Russia for years before going into self-imposed exile, posted on his personal Telegram channel on Monday.
The pledge noticeably came on the heels of the Russian government's decision to lift its ban on Telegram last week. The app has generated impressive growth in Russia even after it was officially banned in the country in 2018 over its refusal to hand over encryption keys to the authorities who would then have access to users' content. The restriction prompted the company to launch the "Digital Resistance" initiative that would provide anti-blocking tools to users.
As a result, Telegram resumed accessibility within weeks in most of Russia and the ban had since remained patchy. It doubled its monthly active users to 400 million in May since 2018, with 30 million coming from Russia.
Digital Resistance is a community of anonymous developers who created proxy servers around the world to help Telegram remain accessible for Russian users. In his post, among other things, Pavel urged these people to continue their work and help users in Iran in China," Telegram spokesperson Remi Vaughn told TechCrunch.
Despite its popularity, the app is trapped in limbo as it copes with disgruntled investors who put up big bucks for the company's ambitious blockchain platform, Telegram Open Network, which terminated abruptly in May.
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It's unclear why Russia suddenly decided to change tack on Telegram. In a statement, Roskomnadzor, the telecommunications authority that initially ordered the ban, said the decision arrived after it had assessed the "readiness expressed by the founder of Telegram to counter terrorism and extremism."
This inevitably raised questions of the kind of concession Telegram has made to the Russian state. Durov stressed that his company uses advanced mechanisms to detect and prevent terrorist acts without compromising user privacy, the very ethos of Telegram. Time will tell how the app can accommodate two challenging tasks that are widely seen as mutually exclusive.
The government may also have a motive to unblock Telegram, which is particularly popular among Russian youngsters, as a constitutional vote that could extend Putin's rule is scheduled for next month.
In response to TechCrunch's request for comment, Durov brought attention to the company's counter-terrorism efforts and privacy policy. "There are no sudden changes / secret deals," he said in a tweet.
Many users in countries where Telegram is inaccessible, like China, run the app with virtual private networks (VPN) or other forms of proxy. The app has turned into a refuge for Chinese users to share and discuss information censored by the authorities.
For instance, following Beijing's crackdown on bitcoins in 2017, traders flocked to Telegram and other encrypted messengers that were out of reach by the Chinese government. Earlier this year, many Chinese citizens seeking clarity around the coronavirus situation got around the Great Firewall to join Telegram channels maintained by volunteers sharing hourly updates on the virus. One of the largest Chinese channels focused on COVID-19 has amassed more than 85,000 followers.
The story was updated with Telegram statement on June 24, 2020.
Calling them "vandals" and "protesters" and "hoodlums," Donald Trump promised "long-term ... jail sentences" for protesters who tried to topple a statue of Andrew Jackson near the White House on Monday evening.
The self-described "law-and-order president" hailed federal law enforcement officers who arrived on the scene in Lafayette Park of chains tied to the horse-riding Jackson and, in his words, "stopped them cold."
"We are looking at long-term jail sentences for these vandals and these hoodlums and these anarchists and agitators," Mr Trump said. "Call them whatever you want. Some people don't like that language, but that's what they are. They're bad people. They don't love our country. And they're not taking down our monuments. I just want to make that clear."
The president floated the notion that he would take actions based on the authorities of the Office of the President to somehow clamp down on the protests, which started after the death of George Floyd, a black man, while in custody of white police officers in Minneapolis.
"I will have an executive order very shortly," he said. "And all it's really going to do is reinforce what already there, but in a more uniform way."
He did not offer specifics about that coming order.
The president was referring to protesters in Washington, DC, who attached chains to a statute of Andrew Jackson, a former US president who also was an Army general. His military career was most known for the "Trail of Tears," during which as many as 60,000 Native Americans were forced from their lands.
Known as a populist and tough-talking commander in chief, Mr Jackson is a hero of Mr Trump.
A portrait of the seventh president has hung in the Oval Office during Mr Trump's term.
"Last night we stopped an attack on a great monument, the monument of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park. And I just want to thank law enforcement. They did a great job," the president told reporters. "We were working very closely with the White House Secret Service and some of our executives."
"They did a great job. Numerous people are in jail and going to jail today," he added. "People are already there, but we're looking at long term sentences under the Act we have a very specific monuments act."
Earlier Tuesday, the president tweeted about the Veterans' Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act of 2003. But that Iraq war-era law, according to a congressional report, was meant to protect military cemeteries and other federal symbols honouring US troopers who have died in combat.
Ondreaz Lopez
TikTok star Ondreaz Lopez has spoken out after being accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old in 2018.
On June 21, a Twitter user who identified themselves as Al accused the 23-year-old social media personality of sexually assaulting them during an incident that took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the age of consent is 16.
Al claimed that they and other members of the dance team Ondreaz was also on agreed to sleep over at his house prior to a dance competition that was set to take place the next day in Arizona. Al said that while sleeping in the same bed as Ondreaz, who was allegedly 21-years-old at the time, he "forced" them to touch his genitals. "He wouldn't let me pull away until I turned the other way around," they claimed
The Twitter user has since said that Ondreaz misgendered them in his response, tweeting, "...not only did he use my dead name but he kept on calling me the wrong pronouns. i go by Al, please do not address me by my dead name."
Ondreaz meanwhile, denied sexually assaulting Al. In a lengthy statement posted to Twitter the 23-year-old outlined his version of events.
Hollywood's Many Men Accused of Sexual Misconduct
He stated that on the night Al described, Al was sleeping on the couch at his house and he offered for them to sleep in his room with him because he wanted to "be polite." Ondreaz claimed that they accepted his offer and told him they liked to cuddle before they "put [their] legs over mine and buried [their] face" in his neck. After this, he claimed that he turned to look at them and they "initiated making out."
Lopez described, "We mutually made out for about half an hour, and it felt like things were escalating so I did get on top of [them]. At this point, [they] then stopped me and said [they] didn't want to have sex. I was definitely confused, but at no point did [they] have to force herself out from under me." Ondreaz adds that there was "no aggression at all" on his part.
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Al also claimed, "My crew turned their back on me when Ondreaz told everyone that I went on top of him and that I initiated everything, when he was the one to invite me in his bed when I was already sleeping on his couch."
They added in a later tweet that they never formally reported the incident to authorities out of concern that they "would never take me seriously."
However, Ondreaz says that he's "remained cordial" with Al since the night in question and that they have "made lighthearted jokes about the night we did spend together."
He acknowledged that Al "acting friendly" to him and his brother Tony Lopez "doesn't mean [they] didn't feel some type of way about that night." Lopez continued, "I would never want to invalidate a sexual assault victim, but some of the claims [they are] making simply are not true."
Ondreaz added that he was also the victim of sexual assault on two separate occasions. He alleged that a "male friend of [his] older brother" molested him when he was 8-years-old. He gave no further details on the second incident, as he explained the alleged perpetrator was a family member who "is still in my life."
Ondreaz Lopez
He explained, "My point of sharing these two stories is NOT for sympathy, and also NOT to distract from [Al's] claims. I've been able to heal and be stronger over the years, but my point is that I've experienced what [they are] claiming and I would NEVER put someone through the absolutely evil, vile behavior that I experienced as a child."
Ondreaz also apologized to Al in his statement. "I want to finalize all of this with an apology to [them]," he stated. "Regardless of whatever happened between us that evening, [they] obviously felt very uncomfortable with it and it was never my intention to hurt [them] or make [them] feel that way."
He concluded his message by emphasizing the importance of consent and encouraging anyone who might've experienced sexual assault to contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline.
Since Ondreaz released his statement, Al has tweeted that they feel "he just twisted the story up," among other claims.
Lopez became a famous figure through dance videos that he and his brother Tony posted on TikTok. He is currently one of the most popular creators on the social media app, with over 16 million followers.
Police are searching for a San Jose woman who appeared to cough on a 1-year-old child at a store after she accused the child's mother of standing too close to her.
The incident happened on June 12 just before 5:30 p.m. at a Yogurtland while the unidentified woman, believed to be in her 60s, was standing in line in front of the mother and child, who was in a stroller.
The San Jose Police Department said in a press release that the suspect "was upset the female was not maintaining proper social distancing, so the suspect removed her face mask, got close to the babys face, and coughed 2-3 times." She then left the store.
The incident was caught on video and released by the police department. It shows the mother standing in line with the stroller between her and the suspect.
The mother, Mireya Mora, told NBC Bay Area that the woman made a racist comment to her at the store. Mora is Hispanic and the suspect is apparently white.
She suspect at Yogurtland in San Jose, Calif. (San Jose Police Department)
"She said, 'So you dont understand, and do you even understand what Im saying?' Like Im not even speaking English," she said.
Mora said her son has had trouble sleeping since the incident.
"I can't believe someone has a heart to do this, and why? My child did nothing wrong," she told the outlet. "My son should not have experienced this."
The woman is wanted for assault. Police said anybody who provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a cash reward.
(@FahadShabbir)
Niger's state prosecutor on Tuesday reported evidence of fraud and other crimes in a military procurement scandal that had cost the poor West African state nearly 50 million euros, although the sum was less than half the amount initially feared
Niamey, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jun, 2020 ) :Niger's state prosecutor on Tuesday reported evidence of fraud and other crimes in a military procurement scandal that had cost the poor West African state nearly 50 million euros, although the sum was less than half the amount initially feared.
The "accumulated shortfall for the state" from overbilling and non-delivery of military gear totalled more than 32.6 billion CFA francs (49.7 million euros/$55.1 million), state prosecutor Maman Sayabou Issa said, citing a "final audit" by the defence ministry.
The affair sparked an outcry when excerpts of a preliminary audit began appearing on social media, showing misappropriations totalling more than 76 billion CFA francs or 116 million Euros between 2017 and 2019.
"The preliminary report contained contradictions that were incorporated in a definitive report dated April 3, 2020," the prosecutor's statement said.
The findings point to possible criminal activity, the statement said, citing evidence of fraud, use of false documents, "illicit enrichment" and procurement irregularities.
The scandal dates to late February when the government announced that an audit requested by President Mahammadou Issoufou revealed overbilling and non-delivery of orders to the army, which has been fighting a jihadist insurgency in the southeast and west of the country since 2015.
On March 15, protests descended into violence between demonstrators and security forces. At least three civil society figures remain in custody.
Niger ranks as the poorest country in the world, placed at 189th out of 189 nations in the UN's Human Development Index.
Russia continues its policy of intimidation in Crimea, punishing Crimean Muslims for their religious views.
"76 years to 7 citizens of Ukraine such judgments are delivered by the Russian Themis over religious views of Crimean Muslims Since 2014, Russia has been purposefully searching for terrorists in Crimea and... finds them. So it fills the myth of "Islamic extremism" and the heroic struggle against it. This is how Russia intimidates our citizens in Crimea," First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar posted on Facebook, commenting on the consideration of the appeal in the Yalta "Hizb ut-Tahrir case."
In this context, Dzheppar noted that directing and producing skills had been again shown in considering the appeal on June 22.
"Muslim Aliyev was sentenced to 19 years in a penal colony; Enver Bekirov - 18 years; Vadym Siruk and human rights activist Emir-Usein Kuku - 12 years; Refat Alimov - 8 years; Arsen Dzhepparov - 7 years. They received those terrible sentences in November 2019, and the first hearing on consideration of the appeal took place on June 22, 2020," the First Deputy Foreign Minister noted.
She said that the court had announced adjournment due to "inadequate technical support of video conference" with defendants and lawyers.
The next court hearing is scheduled for June 25. In the meantime, I propose to join the action of Amnesty International Ukraine and to write letters to the Chief Military Prosecutor of the Russian Federation. Here you can find an e-mail address and an appeal https://bit.ly/2NijCyv," Dzheppar added.
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A shopper walks through a near-deserted Intu Trafford Centre shopping mall on the outskirts of Manchester. (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
Ailing shopping centre owner Intu (INTU.L) warned on Tuesday that it had lined up KPMG as potential administrators in case rescue talks with its lenders failed.
Describing the move as a contingency plan, Intu said it was still hoping to strike standstill-based agreements with creditors, which would halt repayments on its debt for a certain period.
The companys current debt waivers expire on 26 June.
Intu, which owns Essexs Lakeside shopping centre, the Metrocentre in Gateshead, and the Trafford Centre in Manchester, previously said that it was seeking an 18-month standstill agreement, warning that it could breach debt agreements by July due to coronavirus-related disruption.
But it said on Tuesday that the standstill agreements were not expected to last more than 15 months.
READ MORE: Markets rise on vaccine hopes and lockdown easing in England
In the event that Intu Properties is unable to reach a standstill, it is likely it and certain other central entities will fall into administration, the company said.
Discussions with lenders are focused on the duration of the agreement, how the companys assets would be broken up in the future, and how cash-strapped shopping centres will be funded so that they can survive the pandemic.
The company said that it would be difficult to secure additional funding for the centres if it did not get authorisation to release cash from existing debt structures for its short-term liquidity needs.
Intu said this all remained subject to further negotiations, warning that there was no certainty as to whether a deal could be struck, or on what terms or for what duration.
If the company was to collapse into administration, Intu said that the administrator would require funding such that it could provide central services to the shopping centres.
READ MORE: Ex-chancellor says UK 'needs to prepare now' for mass job losses
If the administrator is not pre-funded then there is a risk that centres may have to close for a period, it said.
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Intu said in May that standstill agreements with creditors would provide a stable environment for the company, noting that the pandemic had resulted in a collapse in rental collections from tenants in its shopping centres.
It warned that the speed of the recovery once the UK exited lockdown remained unclear.
The standstill agreements will pause financial covenant testing, meaning that Intu could breach certain terms of its original loan agreements without consequences, and postpone repayments.
CBSE Class 12 exam 2020: Decision on conducting remaining exams on Thursday
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, June 23: The CBSE has told the Supreme Court that a decision on when to conduct the remaining Class 12 board exams would be taken on Thursday.
The board last week told the court it will "very shortly" take a decision, after a plea by a group of parents sought quashing of the notification for conducting the remaining class 10 and 12 exams from July 1 to 15 and demanded that the students be awarded marks based on an internal assessment or in line with marks allotted for practical exams.
The parents have said in the plea that students could be exposed to COVID-19 infection if they appear for exams amid an increase in the number of coronavirus cases. They have cited that the CBSE has cancelled the examinations of Class 10 and 12 for its around 250 schools situated abroad and the board has decided to award marks on the basis of either practical exams or an internal assessment because of the pandemic.
The CBSE has decided the fresh schedule of board exams from July 1-15 to ensure that they are completed before competitive examinations. While engineering entrance exam JEE-Mains is scheduled from July 18-23, medical entrance exam NEET is to be held on July 26.
"A decision about the two exams will also be taken in accordance with the decision on board exams," the official said. The CICSE board has already announced that class 10 and 12 students can choose to not appear for pending board exams and be marked as per their performance in pre-board exams or internal assessment.
Army sources revealed there was a mutual consensus to disengage at India China top military talks
The board had submitted the proposal before the Bombay High Court last week in response to a petition filed by a parent seeking directions to the authorities to cancel exams in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases.
Universities and schools across the country have been shut since March 16, when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as part of measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
Beijing, June 23 : China on Tuesday rejected "any foreign intervention" in Hong Kong after the European Union (EU) warned of "very negative consequences" if the cpntroversial national security law was implemented in the city.
"We oppose any foreign interference in this matter," said Wang Lutong, director-general of European Affairs at China's Foreign Ministry, adding that the interests of European companies in the city would not be affected.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that the implementation of the law, whose final approval is expected by the end of this month, could have "very negative consequences", reports Efe news.
Her comment came after after she and EU Council Charles Michel had a video meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang earlier on Monday.
Wang said that the national security law for the semi-autonomous city, passed by China's National People's Congress (NPC) on May 28, will allow Hong Kong to regain its prosperity, which was in the interest of all.
The NPC Standing Committee plans to pass the legislation so that it comes into effect on July 1, the 23rd anniversary of the city's handover from the UK to China.
Wang added that the issue was a internal matter so any interference was unwelcome.
With regard to the China-EU investment agreement, for which talks began in 2014 and is expected to be concluded this year, Wang said that progress had been made in the negotiations.
In her remarks on Monday, Von der Leyen had said that China and EU "continue to have an unbalanced trade" and urged "more ambition on the Chinese side" to conclude negotiations on the bilateral pact.
"In order to conclude the investment agreement, we would need in particular substantial commitments from China on the behaviour of state-owned enterprises, transparency in subsidies, and transparency on the topic of forced technology transfers," she added.
The EU also reiterated that it considered Hong Kong and human rights in China "non-negotiable" and, after reviewing some specific cases with the Chinese leaders, said that it had raised concerns about the new national security law Beijing intends to enforce on Hong Kong, which it believes will jeopardize its autonomy.
Wang denied that the human right's situation in China was deteriorating.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Canada Nickel Drills 0.42% nickel over 306 metres, Infill Drilling Highlights Potential of Higher-Grade Core at Canada Nickel\-\-s Crawford Nickel-Cobalt-Palladium Project
Posted by Publisher Internet
Highlights
First infill hole on Main Zone returned 0.42% nickel over 306 metres starting at 43 metres, including 0.51% nickel over 27 metres starting at 304 metres. Entire hole returned 0.40% nickel, 0.017% cobalt, 0.05 g/t PGM over 361 metres within the steeply dipping higher-grade core which varies in true thickness from 40 to 160 m.
Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSX-V:CNC) (\Canada Nickel\ or the \Company\ https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/canada-nickel-virtual-roadshow-investor-presentation-and-qa/ ) today announced the initial results from infill drilling on the Main Zone at its Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide project.
?This is an outstanding result from the first hole in our infill drilling program, which has delivered grades across the entire core length nearly one-third higher than our average high grade core resource of 0.31% nickel. These early results highlight the potential of the higher-grade core in our Main Zone,? said Mark Selby, Chair and CEO of Canada Nickel. ?We expect to deliver a resource update by the end of July for use in our Preliminary Economic Analysis (PEA), expected by year-end.?
The Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project is located in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp in Ontario, Canada, and is adjacent to well-established, major infrastructure associated with over 100 years of regional mining activity.
Main Zone
This phase of drilling on the Main Zone is focused on more clearly defining and upgrading the higher-grade core resource to be developed as part of the Preliminary Economic Assessment expected to be completed by year-end 2020.? This core was previously defined as part of the resource estimate and dips steeply within the ultramafic unit and having a true thickness that varies from 40 to 160 m. The infill drilling consists of 14 holes to date with assays pending and expected to be released over the coming month.? Additional holes will be completed as ground conditions permit.? See Table 1 and Figure 1 for results.
Assays, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Drilling and Assay Procedures
William E. MacRae, MSc, P.Geo., a \qualified person\ as defined by NI 43-101, is responsible for the on-going drilling and sampling program, including quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC). The core is collected from the drill in sealed core trays and transported to the core logging facility. The core is marked and sampled at 1.5 metre lengths and cut with a diamond blade saw. Samples are bagged with QA/QC samples inserted in batches of 35 samples per lot. Samples are transported in secure bags directly from the Canada Nickel core shack to Actlabs Timmins, an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab. Analysis for precious metals (gold, platinum and palladium) are completed by Fire Assay while analysis for nickel, cobalt, sulphur and 17 other elements are performed using a peroxide fusion and ICP-OES analysis. Certified standards and blanks are inserted at a rate of one QA/QC sample per 32 core samples making a batch of 35 samples that are submitted for analysis.
Qualified Person and Data Verification
Stephen J. Balch P.Geo. (ON), VP Exploration of Canada Nickel and a \qualified person\ as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release on behalf of Canada Nickel Company Inc.
About Canada Nickel Company
Canada Nickel Company Inc. is advancing the next generation of nickel-cobalt sulphide projects to deliver nickel and cobalt required to feed the high growth electric vehicle and stainless steel markets.? Canada Nickel provides investors with leverage to nickel and cobalt in low political risk jurisdictions.? Canada Nickel is currently anchored by its 100% owned flagship Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project in the heart of the prolific Timmins-Cochrane mining camp.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain information that may constitute \forward-looking information\ under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, drill results relating to the Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project, the potential of the Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project, strategic plans, including future exploration and development results, and corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals, the future? demand for metals, the results of drilling, inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the property, environmental liabilities (known and unknown), general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, results of exploration programs, timing of the updated resource estimate, risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, and failure to obtain regulatory or shareholder approvals. 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 information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Canada Nickel 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 law.
For further information, please contact:
Mark Selby, Chair and CEO
Phone: +1647-256-1954
Email: info@canadanickel.com
In Europe:
Swiss Resource Capital AG
Jochen Staiger
info@resource-capital.ch
www.resource-capital.ch
Working lives across the country have changed beyond recognition since the pandemic.
Official figures show that one in four working adults has been furloughed, while around half of employees have been doing their jobs from home.
Now, as many businesses are beginning to re-open, workers are facing fresh uncertainty. Here, FIONA PARKER and AMELIA MURRAY talk you through all you need to know . . .
Back to work: Government advice on social distancing measures in the workplace is not law, but under the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers must ensure workers are safe
1. Can I still work from home if I choose?
The Government said if you can work from home, you should, but legally your employer does not have to let you, so your job could be at risk if you refuse. But always ask the question.
Many firms have already told staff they will not return until September. If your employer is difficult, you could be able to claim unfair dismissal if you have a good reason for not going back yet.
If you are shielding because of a medical condition, you may be protected by the Equality Act, which prevents disabled workers from being discriminated against.
2. What if I don't think it will be safe?
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers must ensure workers are safe. If you are concerned about social distancing measures, talk to your boss.
If you are ignored, contact a trade union or health and safety representative. If you still have concerns, call the Health and Safety Executive on 0300 003 1747.
3. How soon could I have to go back?
There is no legal requirement of how much notice an employer must give you before summoning you back to work.
But they are expected to be reasonable. Jemma Fairclough-Haynes, an employment law specialist at Orchard Employment Law, says: 'We advise businesses to give staff at least a week's notice.'
Many firms have already told staff they will not return until September. If your employer is difficult, you may be able to claim unfair dismissal if you have a good reason for not going back
4. Can furlough be part-time?
From July 1, your employer will be able to furlough you on a pro-rata basis, as long as you've been furloughed for at least three weeks between March 1 and June 30.
So if you normally work five days a week, you could be furloughed for two and work the remaining three. This is also the case if you have a limited company and furloughed yourself.
Will the Government still pay my wages? At present the Government is paying 80 per cent of furloughed workers wages up to 2,500 a month. From August, employers will have to start paying National Insurance and pension contributions again. Then, from September, the Government will reduce the amount it pays towards workers wages to 70 per cent, up to 2,187. At this point, employers must top up furlough employees pay to 80 per cent. The scheme is set to finish in October. During this final month, the Government will pay just 60 per cent of workers wages. Again, employers must top staff members pay up to at least 80 per cent. Some firms are paying furloughed staff 100 per cent of their pay.
5. Could my hours be reduced?
A short-time working clause in your contract or furlough agreement will allow your employer to reduce your working hours.
You will be entitled to statutory guarantee pay for the days you would normally be working.
This will only be 30 a day for five days over a three-month period, so 150 maximum.
Check your contract, as your employer may offer a better scheme. You can apply for redundancy if you've received less than half a week's pay for four or more weeks in a row, or six weeks in a 13-week period.
6. Can I apply for another job?
The Government allows furloughed employees to take second jobs, but many employers don't.
If you are doing anything that provides revenue or services to your employer while furloughed, it could be committing a criminal offence.
If this happens, complain to your boss in writing and if you are ignored, complain directly to HMRC. You can still apply for any future permanent jobs while you are furloughed.
7. What happens if I have to self-isolate?
Many employers are paying staff as normal if they are forced to self-isolate and can still work from home.
If you can't, you'll be entitled to statutory sick pay at 95.85 a week, as long as you earn at least 120 a week and are not self-employed.
'Many employers also pay occupational sick pay, which is much more generous,' says Nadia Motraghi, senior barrister at Old Square Chambers.
8. What about the self-employed?
A short-time working clause in your contract or furlough agreement will allow your employer to reduce your working hours
If you are shielding, you can apply for a grant from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, which has been extended.
You can claim up to 80 per cent of average trading profits over three months, capped at 7,500.
The money is taxable. You have until July 13 to claim your first payment and can claim a second payment in August if your business is still adversely affected, but it will not be as generous 70 per cent, capped at 6,570. If you are not eligible, you may be entitled to Universal Credit.
9. Can I get home equipment?
Your employer is not legally obliged to kit you out with a home office. However, it does have to ensure staff are working safely.
'This may include providing proper equipment, such as an office chair,' says Helen Watson, head of employment at law firm Aaron & Partners.
If your employer does not reimburse you for the equipment you need, you may be able to claim back tax relief.
You'll need to send a P87 claims form to HMRC. The Government increased the flat-rate tax deduction to cover additional expenses, such as phone calls and energy bills, from 4 to 6 a week in April.
Many employers are paying staff their normal salaries if they are forced to self-isoalte and can still work from home
10. Has my pension been affected?
Unless your employer has topped up your furlough wages, your pension contributions will drop, because they will be based on four-fifths of your usual salary or less if you earn more than 30,000.
The Government is covering the cost of at least 3 per cent employer contributions on earnings from 520 to 2,500 a month until August 1, when bosses are expected to begin paying again.
11. What if I'm made redundant?
If you are made redundant while on furlough, your rights are no different. Your employer must consult with you beforehand.
The statutory minimum notice period for redundancy is one week for every year you have been employed, up to 12 weeks.
If you have worked at the company for at least two years, statutory redundancy pay is a week's wages for every year you have been there, for those aged 22 to 40.
This increases to a week-and-a-half's wages once you are 41 or older. Many firms will offer their own redundancy packages.
Redundancy pay is not taxable under 30,000.
Stay home: Many firms have told staff they will not be returning to the office until September at the earliest, or are asking employees to return only if they can avoid public transport
12. Will I still get Universal Credit?
If you get a new job you must contact the Department for Work and Pensions immediately to inform them.
Depending on your new wages, your Universal Credit payments will change, but they may not stop completely.
Typically, for every 1 you earn, Universal Credit payments are reduced by 63p. People with children or a partner with disabilities, may have a 'work allowance' that protects their benefits.
13. Can I be forced to take holiday?
Your employer can ask you to take annual leave, but should give you notice.
This is usually double the amount of time they want you to have off, says employment lawyer Danielle Parsons from Slater & Gordon. So you should get two weeks' notice to take one week off.
If you don't want to take holiday, you could ask for it to be carried forward.
Ms Parsons adds: 'The Government has introduced a temporary law, which allows employees affected by coronavirus to carry over up to four weeks of paid holiday into the next two years.'
14. What if I can't get childcare?
If you cannot organise childcare, your employer can ask you to take unpaid or annual leave.
But Ms Parsons says it may not be reasonable for employers to insist on your return if you have childcare issues.
The first step is to see if you can come to a solution with your employer. If that fails, she says you could have a potential employment tribunal claim for discrimination, depending on the circumstances.
moneymail@dailymail.co.uk
Political science lecturer Dr Richard Amoako Baah has said this year's presidential contest will be a battle between Satan and the wizard from the two leading political parties.
Without specifying which is which, Dr Amoako Baah told CTVs Dwabre Mu hosts Kwame Appiah Kubi and Animonyam Okyere on Tuesday, 23 June 2020 that Ghanaians have no choice but to elect their next president from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In his view, the NDC wouldve posed a threat to the NPP had the biggest opposition party presented a fresh presidential candidate instead of former President John Mahama.
Mahama has a lot of baggage, he said, adding: Its going to be difficult for him because we know him and the scandals that characterised his administration.
As far as scandals go, Dr Amoako Baah admitted that the Akufo-Addo administration has been equally hit with some scandals.
He, therefore, noted: Itll be a battle between Satan and the wizard.
Itll be a tit-for-tat affair replete with accusations and counter-accusations and Ghanaians will end up being held hostage by the two parties.
---classfmonline
KABUL -- Weeks after the Afghan government freed thousands of Taliban prisoners in return for the release of hundreds of government soldiers, there is little evidence that former combatants are returning to the battlefield.
In interviews across the country with recently freed Taliban prisoners and Afghan government soldiers, most have expressed a desire to live peacefully with their families.
In an optimistic sign that the warring Afghan sides are interested in negotiating peace, both Afghan officials and Taliban representatives maintain they want to keep former combatants from rejoining the fighting that is claiming hundreds of lives every week.
Abdul Rauf, a former detainee, was released along with hundreds of Taliban prisoners last month. He was sentenced to three years in 2017 after being detained in a midnight raid in his village in the eastern province of Kunar.
I am very happy to be reunited with my family, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. Now I want to stay with my family and help with the farming and looking after our cattle. Rauf says he has seen no Taliban officials since his release and has no intention of rejoining the militants.
Saifur Rahman, another former Taliban prisoner, says he was freed after serving nearly four years of a 10-year sentence. He, too, says he is eager to join civilian life. When I was arrested, I had graduated from high school, he said. Now I want to continue my education and normal life, he told Radio Free Afghanistan.
Rauf and Rahman are among more than 3,000 Taliban detainees released by the Afghan government since the hard-line Islamist group signed an initial peace agreement with the United States on February 29. The agreement stipulated that up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners could be freed before the beginning of peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government, which were originally scheduled to begin on March 10.
But a host of factors, including the Afghan governments fears about freed militants rejoining their former comrades in attacks on Afghan forces and civilians, prevented Kabul from freeing Taliban prisoners en masse.
Thanks to robust diplomatic efforts by U.S. officials, Kabul and the Taliban are now poised to complete the prisoner exchange, which envisaged the Taliban freeing some 1,000 government soldiers and workers in return for 5,000 Taliban prisoners.
According to Taliban officials, their freed comrades will rejoin their families. They have spent a great deal of time in prison. They need to rest and spend time with their families, said Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman in Doha. Some will eventually seek treatment for their illnesses while others will attempt to complete their education.
He rejected claims that some of the former Taliban detainees are rejoining the fighting. We now have enough forces and do not need more fighters as we move toward the intra-Afghan negotiations, he noted.
Rauf and Rahman say they signed a government pledge to refrain from returning to violence. But some freed Taliban prisoners, however, are open about their intentions to rejoin the militants.
If the Americans do not pull out, we will continue our jihad because they have killed many Afghans in their operations," Mohamed Daud, a freed Taliban prisoner, told the AFP. "We do not want foreign forces in our country anymore."
Requesting anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media, security officials in the southeast province of Paktia say some freed Taliban in the restive region have already rejoined their comrades in fighting them on the front lines.
Compared with the former Taliban detainees, interviewing freed government soldiers is more difficult due to official restrictions. They are also far fewer in number and include civilian workers for the government.
Nasratullah, who goes by one name only, fought for the Afghan Army against the Taliban along a dangerous front-line in the southern province of Uruzgan. He was recently released by the insurgents and has been reunited with his family in the southeast province of Khost. He says the government has not contacted him after his return.
We buy and sell cars and motorcycles, he said of his family business. I am happy and see no problem in my new life.
Intizar Khadim, a senior official of Afghan National Security Council, is vague about prospects for the Afghan soldiers recently released by the Taliban.
We are in contact with them after their return. In accordance with the specific instructions of the Afghan president, we are helping them, and they will be rewarded for their service, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. We know they have protected Afghanistans borders and interests.
It is not clear whether freed government soldiers will be re-enlisted.
In a sign that the Taliban and the Afghan government are poles apart on agreeing to reduce hostilities, a top Afghan government official blamed the Taliban for mounting increased attacks ahead of peace talks expected to begin soon.
Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghan National Security Council, says the Taliban have killed 291 Afghan security personnel and wounded 550 others in the past week alone.
The past week was the deadliest in Afghanistan's 18-year war, he said, adding that the Taliban carried out 422 attacks across 32 provinces. The Taliban's commitment to reduce violence is meaningless, and their actions inconsistent with their rhetoric on peace, Faisal wrote.
But a Taliban spokesman rejected Kabuls casualty figures. The enemy aims to hurt the peace process and intra-Afghan talks by releasing such false reports," Zabihullah Mujahid told the AFP while admitting the militant group did carry out some attacks last week, but they were mostly in defense."
Such contradictory claims have been common during the more than four decades of war in Afghanistan. Various groups and regimes have historically faced no dearth of potential fighters among the countrys impoverished millions so long as they could mobilize resources.
Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Ajmal Tormans reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic state lawmakers agreed Monday on a state budget plan that would avoid the deep cuts to essential health care services that the governor had initially proposed.
Even though the state faces a massive budget deficit, legislators flatly rejected Newsom's proposed cuts to safety-net programs intended help keep older adults and low-income residents out of long-term care homes, the epicenters of coronavirus outbreaks.
"The demand for these services is even more imperative, even more needed," said Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), who chairs the Senate Health Committee. "The more people keep out of nursing homes, the better."
To address the estimated $54 billion deficit in the 2020-21 state budget, the deal relies partly on drawing down state cash reserves and rainy day funds. But it still includes cuts, such as reductions to state employee pay and deferred payments to K-12 public schools. It also counts on future federal COVID-19 relief aid from Congress.
Lawmakers, still finalizing details, are expected to vote on the proposal later this week. Newsom must sign it by July 1, when the spending plan would take effect.
Newsom negotiated the plan with legislative leaders, including Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins. In a joint statement, they described an unprecedented pandemic that has forced them to "make hard choices and figure out how to sustain critical services with much less."
"In the face of these challenges, we have agreed on a budget that is balanced, responsible and protects core services education, health care, social safety net and emergency preparedness and response," they said.
In May, Newsom proposed $14 billion in cuts, including the elimination of several Medi-Cal services, along with sweeping cuts to other safety-net programs and education. He had described the cuts as painful, but necessary to balance a state budget decimated by the novel coronavirus. For instance, the state has been hit by plummeting tax revenues and additional costs related to pandemic response, such as paying a record number of unemployment claims. California's unemployment rate was 16.3% in May.
However, lawmakers balked at cutting Medi-Cal programs amid the pandemic, which has hit older people and those with chronic health conditions the hardest. About one-third of Californians are enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program for low-income people.
"We're relieved that many of the worst of the cuts were prevented. We're going to need to fight for federal funds and state funds in the future," said Anthony Wright, executive director of the advocacy group Health Access California.
Among the Medi-Cal programs that will remain funded in the final budget are ones that aim to keep older Californians out of nursing homes: the Multipurpose Senior Services Program, which links social workers to seniors still living in their homes, and Community-Based Adult Services, which provides recreation and medical care to seniors and people with disabilities.
Californians who rely on caregivers paid by the state to help them live at home no longer have to worry about a 7% cut Newsom had proposed for In-Home Supportive Services. And the budget preserves funding for "optional" Medi-Cal benefits, such as adult podiatry care, eyeglasses, speech therapy and hearing exams benefits that lawmakers had just recently restored after they were cut in the last recession.
"A lot of these benefits are benefits provided in the private market," said Linda Nguy, a policy advocate at the Western Center on Law & Poverty. "Having a lower standard for public programs for low income and communities of color is problematic, especially in a public health crisis."
Lawmakers also rejected Newsom's plan to redirect $1.2 billion from Proposition 56 funds to help pay for a projected surge in Medi-Cal enrollment. That money, raised by a tobacco tax, now helps pay physicians, dentists and other health care providers who treat Medi-Cal patients.
Pan said it is important those payments continue, as mandated by Proposition 56. "I appreciate the governor respected the will of the voters," he added.
The Newsom administration estimated that counties will lose $1.7 billion in public health funding between January 2020 and the end of June 2021 because of lower sales tax revenues and vehicle license fees. To help them make up for that loss, the budget includes $750 million in state money, and counties would get an additional $250 million if the federal government approves new COVID-19 relief money for states.
That's far less than what counties throughout California say they need for COVID-19 response and other public health programs.
Not all state health care programs escaped budget cuts.
The expansive health care agenda outlined at the beginning of the year by both the governor and the legislature is on hold, including an effort to expand Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented immigrants 65 and older; a new initiative to shelter homeless people, called "CalAIM"; and a revamp of the mental health care system.
"We made compromises across the spectrum," Newsom told reporters Monday. "This is a multiyear framework. We're not solving for everything. We have a lot of work to do for the next few years."
The budget deal did not include $4 billion requested by the California Hospital Association, which has said hospitals statewide have lost about $15 billion because the pandemic has forced them to buy masks and other protective equipment, cancel elective surgeries and free up hospital beds.
California hospitals have received about $3 billion in federal funds, said Carmela Coyle, president of the association. However, it is not nearly enough to offset the huge revenue losses that have triggered furloughs and layoffs she said.
"Without financial relief from the state, hospitals may have to continue workforce reductions, pay cuts and more," Coyle said in a statement. "This is a time when hospitals urgently need state support so they can remain open, staffed and ready."
This KHN story first published on California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Toni:
My 86-year-old mother with Alzheimers needs 24-hour care and lives in a personal care home. She is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage HMO and taking her to the doctor is quite an ordeal.
Friends have suggested that I disenroll my mother from this HMO and return her to Medicare, then use Telehealth which is popular since COVID-19 has made medical changes or I can ask about using a House Call doctor for her.
Financially, it is costing over $4,000 for her personal care home and she does not qualify for a Medicare Supplement due to her Alzheimers because I have tried. How do I find a doctor that does use telehealth or makes house calls like Dr. Welby did in the old days?
Is this something that Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan will pay for it? Thanks, Trish from Kingwood
Trish:
I have good news for you because the Dr. Welby days are back for those on Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans. Doctors are making old fashion house calls and in todays coronavirus times with social distancing telehealth, also known as telemedicine, has become popular. These current doctor at home office visits are keeping the sick from having emergency room hospital visits when one cannot get to the doctors office.
My advice to you Trish and the Toni Says readers is to ask your family members primary care doctor or specific healthcare provider about which telehealth, house call or visiting physician organization that their office is contracted with, whether your family member has Original Medicare with or without a Medicare Supplement, a retiree group medical plan or a Medicare Advantage plan.
Not only are doctors making telehealth or house call visits, but dentists, eye doctors and even mobile x-ray/ultra-sound machines with technicians are visiting homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, etc.
A telehealth or house call visit can help keep those who are having a minor ailment turn into a major operation, keeping a frail Senior healthy and out of the hospital.
Doctor or medical provider visits by telehealth or house call services whether at home or at a long-term care facility such as assisted living or nursing home are being accepted and paid for by Original Medicare, Original Medicare with a Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage plans (depending on your house call provider or telemedicine service being in the Medicare Advantage plans network).
House call doctors are generally board certified and the providers consist of doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The patient does not have to be home bound to qualify. The house call doctor can schedule regular appointments, especially if there is a chronic illness or you can schedule appointments as needed.
Trish, you are wise to look at all your mothers options regarding disenrolling from her Medicare Advantage plan with her serious health situations. Many do not realize that you must qualify medically to apply for a Medicare Supplement which helps pay for what Medicare will not pay for. If she does not qualify, then she will pay the Medicare out of pocket amounts.
Therefore, it is vitally important to look over all of ones Medicare plan options because no one knows when their health will begin to deteriorate and then they cannot change Medicare plan options. Call Toni Says Medicare office for personal Medicare planning at 832-519-8664.
In 2020, who would believe that doctors offices making telehealth or house call visits would be making such a huge difference due to the stress of one being isolated due to exposure to the coronavirus?
Toni King, author of the Medicare Survival Guide Advanced edition is giving a $5 discount to the Toni Says readers on the Medicare Survival Guide Advanced book at www.tonisays.com.
Guy Penrod says nows the time to push Hell backward; encourages dads to lead by example
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One of gospel music's most awarded vocalists and Gospel Music Hall of Famer Guy Penrod is gearing up to deliver a powerful Father's Day concert to encourage men of God to step up in these hard times and lead by example.
Penrod says he hopes Christian men will fight the evils of this world amid the coronavirus pandemic and unrest and injustice in America. And he's inviting families to enter into worship with him on Father's Day for his music special, "Concert On The CouchA Father's Day Celebration From Franklin Theatre."
The following is an edited transcript of Penrod's interview with The Christian Post where he discusses the live concert and the importance of men and fathers worshiping God from a place of vulnerability that will, in turn, change the world and help others resist the evil in it.
CP: Can you tell us about your Father's Day special, "Concert on the Couch"?
Penrod: We actually just kind of backed into the Father's Day understanding of it. We were going to do it on June 21, and then, as someone got to talking, they were like, "Hey, that's Father's Day." And I said, "What a great day for us to do it, worshiping the Lord, our Heavenly Father, and get to celebrate our earthly fathers.
I have eight kids, seven sons and one little girl. So Father's Day is kind of crazy at our place. I try to play it up as much as I can, get all the good stuff and get them to grill me something good. So we figured that would be a good time for the family to gather around the screens these days. [Families] can sit on the couch, make some popcorn, relax, and worship Jesus together.
CP: Can you speak of the importance of staying encouraged in these times?
Penrod: These are heavy times and we don't make light of that at all. But we read all through history, it's usually in those heavy times when we realize our needs. As humans, I'll speak for myself, I'm so forgetful. In prosperous times and peaceful times, we tend to forget a lot of the needs that we actually have on a daily basis. But oftentimes, I think that I can meet my own needs and I really can't. I have to be dependent on the Father day by day.
It's times like these, with this pandemic and the virus that has just wreaked havoc all over the world. And even here in our country, we're experiencing unrest and injustice and the results of man running things. You know, in the Old Testament, God told the children of Israel, "It'd be best if I don't give you an earthly king; just let me be your King. But they clamored and clamored to have a king, and you see the results all down through history of what happens when men get power, power tends to corrupt. It's part of the fall. It's what happens.
So when we can usher in the Kingdom of God, in the model of prayer, Jesus gave us that good instruction: "Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."
This is why I said it's exciting times to be alive even though they're heavy times. It was heavy times when Jesus was here and it has been with every generation at one time or another. And it's our good time to shine the bright light of the love of Christ and the hope and the grace that He gives, the mercies that are new every morning, and they can come to Him.
Jesus wipes everything clean. He has paid for everything. He can restore everything. He can bring peace where there is no peace. He can bring comfort where there's troubled hearts. He can mend relationships. He brings dead things to life. So the music and the message, when you couple those things, you've got both sides of the brain working.
So we lift up old hymns in these days, in this time, and then couple it with the new stuff that is worship music that has moved our hearts and souls, and live music as well that we've put into this particular event.
We believe that coupled with some spoken word to lead people to Christ, to encourage believers to tell them, "Jesus loves you. He is for you. He's not against you. He's with you. He's pleased with you. He even likes you; He likes you so much that He came and He reconciled us to the Father. He brought life where we were walking in death. And it's just a fabulous time to be alive and to be lifting up the King in this season and watch Him change the world as we boldly go back and push the gates of Hell backward.
CP: For this concert, you're singing songs like "I Surrender All" and "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." They're pretty vulnerable songs. For fathers, sometimes that can be hard to get to, and it's hard for children to see their fathers in that way. Will you talk about the importance of that vulnerable exchange?
Penrod: It is. As fathers humble themselves before the Lord in front of their children and wives and family, the power of the Holy Spirit fills. It's that type of positioning when we're humbled. We were studying the other day and my wife looked up the word believe, and the posture indicated in the word believe is to bow, to get on your knees. That is accompanied with the word believe, we are to be on our knees.
I just think it's a beautiful time for us to reawaken that, especially as fathers, and lead from that position of humility before our maker. And then to be bold regarding our expression. I think it's been quite some time now that fathers have, and I can include myself, that there's times we abdicate our responsibility, and our wives tend to have to pick up the slack.
They're not supposed to have to lead like that. Fathers are supposed to do these sorts of things, and children tend to respond, especially in worship. I noticed as I go into different settings, if the men sing, everybody else is singing the kids, the ladies, everyone joins in. But if the men are standing there silent, and they're spectating, watching someone else sing, then the participation is much less.
I don't do it perfectly, but for men to be transparent, and we've lived that way, the mistakes I've made, I make them pretty well right out in the open. The successes and the good decisions are right alongside and we try to show our kids as we've raised them: this is life; it tends to have messes all around.
Gloria Gaither explained this way one time, she said, "Kids' life is a lot like a tapestry. And if you're looking at a tapestry, and most of the tapestries I've seen are just exquisite works of art, just beautiful. But if you turn a tapestry around and look at the back of it, it's a mess. It's a bunch of strings just dangling at the back, you can't make heads or tails of what the strings represent. But when you turn it around, you see the picture. That's a lot like our lives, they're kind of like that.
But the Lord says, His mercies are new every morning. He did all the work. He took the performance part out. So man, hear the word of the Lord, the performance has already been done and Jesus did it. He did it perfectly!
Then He said, yes, this truth is so incredible. It's going to take faith to believe that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, even in the middle of our messes. That's faith.
Whereas, if you trust in your work yourself, like, "Well, I'm so good, therefore, I've done a good job, therefore, I am righteous." That's going to be a miserable place to be because you cannot perform that, nobody can, only one could, Jesus. So He's just kind enough to say, I'm going to credit you with that. I'm going to take all the junk, I'm going to pay for it and give you my righteousness. Now get out there and love people.
CP: What would you say to those who don't have an earthly father to look to, but this special is just as much for them as it is for anyone else?
Penrod: We love, period. Even the challenges that we face, we know our Heavenly Father loves. Even when we, as earthly fathers, don't love perfectly, He does. He doesn't fail you, He's not angry.
But sometimes we earthly fathers imprint our kids with an image of God because they look to Him when we call Him Father. They think, "Oh, well, you're a father and you yell at me sometimes," or "you're a father and you told me a lie," or "I bet the Heavenly Father would do the same thing." Not so! His word says He cannot lie.
He says, "My ways are not your ways. He says trust in me and I will lead you into all truth. Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest. Cast your cares upon me my burden is light, my yoke is easy. Ask anything in my name and I will do it, you have not because you ask not." I mean, it is just on and on and on the love of the Father.
So even when we fall short as fathers, and if you happen to be listening and you had a father who was not a good father, a good person to you, understand your Heavenly Father is perfect and perfectly loving. He's all love. So come to Him and humble yourself in your need. All you have to do is see your needs. It doesn't take long to see that and then realize where the source is to fill that need, end of story.
We know everybody that's out there breathing has a father. So let's just turn the tides even if it was a difficult one and let's thank God for our fathers. Because you wouldn't be here if there wasn't a father out there somewhere. He may not have been a good one; he may have been more of a surrogate in some ways. But trust me, your Heavenly Father will move into that void and fill it, and you'll be surprised at the short time it takes for His spirit to fill you with love, even when you don't understand it. That's the work of the Lord.
CP: Is there anything else you want to share about the Father's Day special that we can look forward to?
Penrod: In this day and time you can't gather in large groups. So we tried to figure out how to do it. I have a good friend who came up with a wonderful platform for doing this with beautiful audio. With all these fancy stereos we have these days hooked up to the TV, it works well. It sounds just like you're at a concert and the picture is beautiful, and what better seat than your couch.
So I would go to guypenrod.com and click on the link "concert on the couch." There's a picture of my ol' head on there. There's no cost to attend this concert. So you just reserve your online viewing and then come back on June 21 to the site you're directed to, and click in the virtual doors open at 5 p.m. and the concert begins at 6 p.m. Central time.
There's also an opportunity for you to donate. We've given you that capacity on those pages to click around and donate if you are capable. We know that the times have been tough, so we wanted to make it available to everybody regardless of their ability to pay.
But all this stuff costs money, so we encourage you to donate if you can and we're busy getting the word of Jesus out with new music, new artists, new books, new films, ideas, all sorts of things coming that we're just launching into right now. And we're kind of using this as an impetus to get that word out there. So let's join, link arms, and push the gates of Hell backward so that we can set the captives free, in Jesus name.
Parkinson's Foundation Awards 2020 Nurse Faculty Grant to Three Nurses Specializing in Parkinson's Care
NEW YORK & MIAMI -- June 23, 2020 -- The Parkinson's Foundation today announced that it has awarded the third Parkinson's Foundation Nurse Faculty Award to three nurses, totaling nearly $30,000. Each will receive nearly $10,000 in grant funding from the Foundation to launch individual projects to help make life better for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) in their local community.
The Parkinson's Foundation supports training nurses that specialize in PD through its professional education programs, including the Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Faculty Program, the online Nurse Course and funds their research through the Parkinson's Foundation Nurse Faculty Award, now in its third year.The nurses are all graduates of the Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Faculty Program, a 50-hour accredited program that teaches faculty leaders how to educate nursing students with ways to improve PD nursing care.
"Nurses are vital in caring for people with Parkinson's in all settings, from a clinic to an emergency room," said Elizabeth Pollard, Parkinson's Foundation vice president, chief education and training officer. "The Parkinson's Foundation recognizes how essential nurses are in the care for people with PD, from medication management to supporting care transitions, and is excited to continue providing our Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Scholars with this grant opportunity to develop their independent projects and provide unique tools to further educate nurses to improve PD care".
The three awardees include:
Donna G. Hood, PhD, RN, CNE will expand the Parkinson Resource Center program at Louisiana Tech University. The launch of the center created for the underserved communities in rural Louisiana and South Arkansas that utilizes university resources and trains nursing students, was funded by a 2018 Parkinson's Foundation award. This year's award will extend the program to four undergraduate students, connect those with PD across the region with resources, mentor future nursing leaders and help support the replication of the program. Dr. Hood is a professor and director of the Division of Nursing at Louisiana Tech University and conducts research on chronic illnesses.
Mo-Kyung Sin, PhD, RN will evaluate the effectiveness of a PD nursing student ambassador program on students' knowledge of and competence with PD care. The program includes education on PD care and case studies for junior students; a one-day intensive education program on PD and a group project for six selected senior students who intend to pursue careers in neurology. The project will develop well-trained nurses on PD care. Dr. Sin is an associate professor of nursing at Seattle University.
Stephanie Stewart, MSN, RN-BC will launch Navigating the Parkinson's Journey, designed to help participating people with Parkinson's enhance feelings of connectedness in order to enhance quality of life. The program will launch in St. Joseph, MO, with findings published in local and professional venues so that others may access the information and findings. Stephanie is an assistant professor of nursing at Missouri Western State University.
"We are thrilled to be able to continue our nursing student scholar program, a huge component of our Parkinson Resource Center at Louisiana Tech originally funded by the Parkinson's Foundation Nurse Grant Award in 2018 and co-directed with Dr. Tara Haskins," said Donna Hood, Parkinson's Foundation Nurse Faculty Award recipient. "We have excellent students who have expressed their desire to join us as future nursing student scholars and we are excited to see this program grow and see how this impacts the Parkinson community in our region and beyond as these student scholars become our future PD champions."
The Edmond J. Safra Visiting Nurse Faculty Program at the Parkinson's Foundation helps prepare the next generation of nurses to care for the growing population of people with Parkinson's. Research shows that nurses can lead to significant improvement in the well-being of people with Parkinson's.
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About the Parkinson's Foundation
The Parkinson's Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson's community. For more information, visit http://www.parkinson.org or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636).
About Parkinson's Disease
Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson's disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson's and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.
The risk of catching the coronavirus from eating meat is 'very low', Sir Patrick Vallance assured Britons today after a third food factory in Wales was hit by a Covid-19 outbreak.
Number 10's chief scientific adviser said food safety officials who looked 'carefully' at whether meat is a vector ruled the risk was slim.
Dismissing fears of contaminated meat in tonight's Downing Street press conference, he said: 'The meat itself is not the issue but the environment in which this takes place is.'
Sir Patrick added that the virus 'prefers' cold places such as meat-processing plants, which are often chilled to preserve them.
He added it can be 'difficult' to keep workers separated in cramped factories and communal areas, and warned staff may have to speak loudly which studies have suggested can spread the virus.
Fears over meat were raised again today after Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething today confirmed a Covid-19 outbreak had broken out at a meat processing plant in Merthyr Tydfil.
At least 34 people have tested positive at the plant run by Kepak, with eight of them discovered this month. Mr Gething said the 'small cluster' was being investigated.
It comes as the whole island of Anglesey home to 70,000 people faces the threat of a local lockdown after a chicken factory shut down because 158 staff tested positive for Covid-19. Another outbreak at a food plant in Wrexham saw at least 70 people test positive.
Number 10's chief scientist said food safety officials ruled the risk was slim after they looked 'carefully' at whether meat is a vector
Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething confirmed there was a 'cluster' of coronavirus cases at the Kepak meat processing factory in Merthyr Tydfil (pictured)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was asked about the cluster of outbreaks at meat-processing factories in tonight's Downing Street press conference.
He said: 'It is a very good question that has come up several times with me today. We are aware of this particular issue with meat-processing factories.'
Sir Patrick said: 'The Food Standards Agency has looked carefully at whether meat is a vector for transmitting and the risk there is thought to be very low.
'So the meat itself is not the issue but the environmental in which this takes place is. There are several features, perhaps, about meat-processing factories.
'They're cold and we know the virus prefers it in the cold, often difficult in keeping people separated so there's that whole problem of proximity.'
He added: 'They're often loud so people are speaking quite loudly and there are places people huddles to go and have their coffees, and so on, so they infect each other.'
England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: 'Meat-packing factories, abattoirs and food-processing and packing areas have led to several outbreaks around the world and, therefore, are an area where we'll have to take the mitigation efforts particularly seriously.'
No evidence yet exists to show people can catch Covid-19 from contaminated food even though the pandemic is thought to have originated in a traditional wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Scientists remain baffled as to how the virus, called SARS-CoV-2, jumped to humans. It has been linked to bats, pangolins and snakes.
But locals at the Huanan market could buy their meat 'warm', meaning it had been slaughtered just moment prior. Viruses can jump between species through coming into close contact with one another.
Some infectious disease experts say the packaging of meat is the bigger threat of spreading Covid-19, with the virus known to survive on surfaces for days.
Dr Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, told Forbes that the virus is likely to have died by the time meat makes it to consumers.
Health chiefs urge people to cook all meat thoroughly to ensure any pathogens are killed off, with studies showing similar coronaviruses can die when cooked at 165F (74C) or higher.
Mr Gething, MP for Cardiff South and Penarth, said this afternoon that there was a 'developing situation' in North Wales.
He said: 'We have two confirmed coronavirus outbreaks, centred on two meat and food processing plants- one on Anglesey and one in Wrexham.
'In addition, there is a small cluster of cases at a meat processing plant in Merthyr Tydfil.
'I want to restate, that at the moment, there is no evidence of wider community transmission beyond these plants.'
He said that all the cases that have been found so far in the area have been linked directly to the factory, suggesting transmission has not made it into the community.
Wales has its own 'Test, Trace, Protect' system that works the same way as test and trace in England.
Wales's Firs Minister, Mark Drakeford, yesterday said the country could bring in its first local lockdown on Anglesey amid a Covid-19 outbreak at the 2 Sisters chicken factory.
Nearly 160 staff tested positive for Covid-19, leading to the plant being closed and 560 staff and their families being sent into self-isolation.
Meanwhile a separate outbreak has been confirmed at Rowan Foods in Wrexham in the north of the country.
ARE MEAT AND FOOD FACTORIES HOTSPOTS FOR THE CORONAVIRUS? As news has emerged of food factories around the world experiencing outbreaks of Covid-19, experts have suggested conditions inside the plants may be conducive to the spread of the virus. Dr Simon Clarke, a cellular microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that it was notable that food factories seemed to have been the centre of outbreaks more than other factories where people might be close together. He said: 'There are problems in this country, in Germany, in the United States. There is something common between them - it's not happening in engineering or clothing factories where you also might expect people to be in close proximity to one another. 'One assumes - but it's just an idea - that the cold environment makes people more susceptible to the virus. 'Cold weather irritates the airways and the cells become more susceptible to viral infection.' Dr Chris Smith, a virologist at the University of Cambridge, said on LBC 'temperature is going to play a part'. He explained: 'When I'm breathing I'm blowing out droplets of moisture from my respiratory tract and the virus which is growing in there would be packaged up in the droplets. 'Now the droplets will hover for a period of time in the air and then sink to the ground... and if it's very dry, cold air - and cold air carries less moisture, remember - the droplets will stay smaller and stay airborne for longer. 'If it's very humid, moisture joins them, makes them bigger and heavier, and they fall and they drop out of circulation faster - so temperature could be a factor.' Sunlight is also known to degrade viruses and make them less able to survive on surfaces that are exposed to UV light. Rays of sunlight are thought to damage the genetic material inside the virus, making it less able to reproduce and killing it faster. Professor Calum Semple, a disease outbreak expert at the University of Liverpool, told The Telegraph that cold, sunless food factories are ideal conditions. He said: 'If I wanted to preserve a virus I would put it in a cold, dark environment or a cool environment that doesn't have any ultraviolet light - essentially a fridge or a meat processing facility... 'The perfect place to keep a virus alive for a long time is a cold place without sunlight.' But the temperature alone does not appear to be a controlling factor in coronavirus outbreaks. Dr Michael Head, a global health researcher at the University of Southampton, said he thought close proximity was most likely to be behind the factory outbreaks. He said: 'Whilst refrigeration may be a contributory factor to the spread of the virus, the key factors are likely to be the number of people close together in indoor conditions. 'Some of these factories have onsite or nearby accommodation where there are several people in each dormitory, they may be transported on a bus to the site of work, and they will be indoors together all day. 'Levels of adherence to measures such as washing hands is uncertain and there is unlikely to be widespread use of PPE.' Advertisement
Mr Gething today said he wanted to reassure the public that cases of coronavirus are generally falling across Wales.
'We have seen fewer than 100 cases each day in the first few weeks of June,' he said.
'There has been an increase over the weekend, which is probably related to these outbreaks.
'These outbreaks reinforce the need for all of us to continue to take coronavirus very seriously - it has not gone away. There is no room for complacency.'
Outbreaks in meat processing plants appear to have become more common in recent weeks, with Germany and the United States also reporting them.
Experts say they are particularly at risk of virus outbreaks, in part because of the wintery conditions inside them.
Dr Simon Clarke, a cellular microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline that it was notable that food factories seemed to have been the centre of outbreaks more than other factories where people might be close together.
He said: 'There are problems in this country, in Germany, in the United States. There is something common between them - it's not happening in engineering or clothing factories where you also might expect people to be in close proximity to one another.
'One assumes - but it's just an idea - that the cold environment makes people more susceptible to the virus.'
Whether this meant the winter would bring a resurgence of the virus, Dr Clarke said it was difficult to say because we have only seen the virus in action during spring in the UK.
He added: 'It's not that viruses are better in the winter it's that we're more susceptible.
'Cold weather irritates the airways and the cells become more susceptible to viral infection.'
Dr Chris Smith, a virologist at the University of Cambridge, said on LBC 'temperature is going to play a part'.
He explained: 'When I'm breathing I'm blowing out droplets of moisture from my respiratory tract and the virus which is growing in there would be packaged up in the droplets.
'Now the droplets will hover for a period of time in the air and then sink to the ground... and if it's very dry, cold air - and cold air carries less moisture, remember - the droplets will stay smaller and stay airborne for longer.
'If it's very humid, moisture joins them, makes them bigger and heavier, and they fall and they drop out of circulation faster - so temperature could be a factor.'
Sunlight is also known to degrade viruses and make them less able to survive on surfaces that are exposed to UV light.
Rays of sunlight are thought to damage the genetic material inside the virus, making it less able to reproduce and killing it faster.
Professor Calum Semple, a disease outbreak expert at the University of Liverpool, told The Telegraph that cold, sunless food factories are ideal conditions.
He said: 'If I wanted to preserve a virus I would put it in a cold, dark environment or a cool environment that doesn't have any ultraviolet light - essentially a fridge or a meat processing facility...
'The perfect place to keep a virus alive for a long time is a cold place without sunlight.'
This suggests winter could bring the perfect environment for the coronavirus to start spreading rapidly again and producing a second wave of infections in Britain.
The average temperature in January is 4.9C (41F) and there are eight hours of daylight, compared to an average 15C (59F) and 16 hours of daylight in June.
But the weather alone does not appear to be a controlling factor in coronavirus outbreaks.
Dr Clarke said: 'There are summer colds and there's a coronavirus that causes summer colds, so it's not a given.
'We've heard a lot of people suggest that warmth and sunlight would rid us of the virus but it that were the case we wouldn't have problems in Brazil or Florida or Singapore.'
Dr Michael Head, a global health researcher at the University of Southampton, said he thought close proximity was most likely to be behind the factory outbreaks.
He said: 'Whilst refrigeration may be a contributory factor to the spread of the virus, the key factors are likely to be the number of people close together in indoor conditions.
'Some of these factories have onsite or nearby accommodation where there are several people in each dormitory, they may be transported on a bus to the site of work, and they will be indoors together all day.
'Levels of adherence to measures such as washing hands is uncertain and there is unlikely to be widespread use of PPE.'
India: Religious conversion ban threatening Christians may expand to 9th state
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The Hindu nationalist government of the northern state of Haryana has pledged to enact a law to regulate religious conversions that would lead to the arrest of Christians who share their faith, talk about Heaven or Hell, or perform charity work for lower caste Hindus.
The draconian "anti-conversion" laws, termed as Freedom of Religion Acts, presume that Christian workers "force" or give financial benefits to Hindus to convert them to Christianity.
Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana's chief minister, said this week his administration would introduce a bill against religious conversion by force, marriages, or through inducement for the specific purpose of adopting a religion, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern said, quoting Indian newspapers.
Eight other states in India have already enacted this law.
"While one has the right to adopt any religion, conversion by force, inducement, etc. are not tolerable. The Right to Freedom of Religion Bill will be brought in, in which there will be provisions against conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement, marriage, or any fraudulent means," Khattar was quoted as saying.
"Strict actions are being considered to be taken against those involved in forced conversions," the official, belonging to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, added.
While these laws have been in place for decades in some states, no Christian has been convicted of "forcibly" converting anyone to Christianity. However, these laws allow Hindu nationalist groups to make false charges against Christians and launch attacks on them under the pretext of the alleged forced conversion.
"Although similar laws exist in eight other states in India, those governments have not defined the terms' inducement,' 'coercion,' 'force,' or 'fraud' in the context of religious conversions," ICC said. "Due to this legal ambiguity, these laws have been widely abused and empowers radical Hindu nationalist groups to attack and intimidate Christian minorities claiming to be acting under the state law."
Some of these laws state that no one is allowed to use the "threat" of "divine displeasure," meaning Christians cannot talk about Heaven or Hell, as that would be seen as "forcing" someone to convert. And if snacks or meals are served to Hindus after an evangelistic meeting, that could be seen as "inducement."
The ICC previously noted that India's own population data proves that the conspiracy of mass conversions to Christianity is a false claim. "In 1951, the first census after independence, Christians made up only 2.3% of India's overall population. According to the 2011 census, the most recent census data available, Christians still only make up 2.3% of the population."
Attacks and curbs on Christians have been on the rise since the BJP won India's 2014 general election.
"Since the current ruling party took power in 2014, incidents against Christians have increased, and Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences," noted Open Doors' World Watch List, which ranked India as the 10th worst country for Christians.
"The view of the Hindu nationalists is that to be Indian is to be Hindu, so any other faith including Christianity is viewed as non-Indian. Also, converts to Christianity from Hindu backgrounds or tribal religions are often extremely persecuted by their family members and communities," Open Doors added.
According to Delhi-based Evangelical Fellowship of India, at least 147 violent attacks on India's Christian community were reported in 2014, and the number increased to 366 in 2019.
India recently denied entry visas to representatives of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom who had planned to investigate reports of persecution of Muslims and Christians following the release of its report that designates India as a "Country of Particular Concern."
The head of Australian oil and gas giant Woodside has signalled a willingness to make a move on Chevron's stake in the nation's largest and longest-running liquefied natural gas project, the $34 billion North West Shelf.
Chevron, which owns the gas development off the coast of Western Australia with Woodside and four other joint-venture partners, has announced it will sell its 16.6 per cent stake after receiving a number of "unsolicited approaches" from potential buyers.
Describing the North West Shelf as the "jewel in Woodside's crown", chief executive Peter Coleman said the company would consider exercising its rights to block any sale to a third party and acquire the stake itself if it deemed necessary and the price was right.
Chevron has been approached by bidders for its stake in the North West Shelf venture.
"You don't want your neighbours to put up the 'for sale' sign and then get the wrong people move in next door, Mr Coleman said at the annual Credit Suisse Australian energy conference.
The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Tuesday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.
7:00 p.m.: The owner of a farm where some 199 migrant workers have tested positive for COVID-19 says his operation assiduously followed public health guidelines to prevent an outbreak, and has previously been lauded for providing quality accommodation to migrant workers.
In an interview with the Star on Tuesday, Scotlynn Growers president Scott Biddle said the local health department has always used us as an example for what other farmers should be doing.
Were building housing for another hundred men this year, Biddle told the Star, adding that the new accommodation will be larger than whats currently required by Health Canada to account for any changes to federally-mandated housing standards.
The comments come after a Star investigation revealed a history of complaints at Scotlynn by Mexican migrant workers about substandard housing and other concerns.
In reports to the Mexican Ministry of Labour between 2016 and 2018, workers described overcrowded bunkhouses, bedbug infestations, and sometimes failure to receive timely medical attention. Scotlynn received 33 complaints over the two year period, the highest number of any Canadian farm.
On Saturday, 55-year-old father of four Juan Lopez Chaparro, who worked at Scotlynn, died after fighting COVID-19 for three weeks.
Read the full story from Sara Mojtehedzadeh here.
6:50 p.m: Canada could avoid a second wave of the coronavirus if it learns the lessons of South Korea and Taiwan and attacks testing, tracing and treatment of COVID-19 cases and practices dynamic distancing from the get-go, MPs heard Tuesday.
That means as the economy reopens, communities must be ready to reimpose physical distancing and socially restrictive measures periodically with surges in disease activity in order to contain outbreaks and allow economic revitalization to continue, Asaph Young Chun, head of Koreas Statistics Research Institute, told the Commons health committee.
Those nonpharmaceutical interventions are the best exit strategy from the COVID-19 lockdowns, he said.
Two American health experts said South Korea and Taiwan showed the path for other countries to follow, but they warned Canada against reopening too quickly even to its neighbours, the United States.
Read the full story from Tonda MacCharles here.
6:20 p.m.: Ontario nursing homes need an extra $1.8 billion a year to hire more staff and improve care of vulnerable residents in the wake of COVID-19 horrors, says the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
The increase of 41 per cent would allow the 626 long-term-care homes to provide at least four hours of hands-on care daily for their 80,000 vulnerable residents, a new study from the think tank recommends.
The study was released Tuesday as Premier Doug Ford prepares to launch a promised independent commission in July into the pandemics impact on nursing homes, where the killer virus spread easily.
COVID-19 infected almost 5,400 nursing-home residents and killed 1,803. Another 2,205 staff members caught the virus, and seven of them also died.
The study by the left-leaning think tank also called for wage increases to bring non-unionized nurses, personal support workers and other staff up to levels of unionized staff, which would cost $285 million out of the $1.8 billion.
The premier has heaped praise on front-line health care workers for their work during the pandemic, and rightly so, says the study. Now is the time to go beyond words and support them in a very real way, and that means better jobs and more co-workers.
Read the full story from Rob Ferguson here.
5:50 p.m.: Ontario has seen a second day in a row with more than 200 new COVID-19 infections reported, according to the Stars latest count.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Ontarios public health units are reporting a total of 35,810 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,663 deaths, up a total of 239 new cases since Monday evening.
As was the case the day prior, most of the case growth on Tuesday came from outside Toronto, which saw 63 new cases reported marking the citys 12th consecutive daily report below triple digits. The rate of new infections in the city has fallen sharply this month. For the last seven days, Toronto has seen an average of 65 cases reported each day; that average peaked less than a month ago at 230 cases daily for on the seven days ending May 25.
Elsewhere, the same seven-day average has jumped slightly in the GTA outside Toronto and the rest of the province over the last two days.
Meanwhile, the 10 fatal cases reported Tuesday were also up slightly over recent trends, but still well down for the provinces peak in early May, when the health units reported as many as 90 deaths in a single day.
Earlier Tuesday, the province reported that 288 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, including 75 in intensive care, of whom 54 are on a ventilator. All three totals are near the lowest the province has reported in data that goes back to early April.
The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of total deaths 2,619 may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date.
The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test.
2:55 p.m.: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, told House lawmakers that the nation is experiencing a disturbing surge of coronavirus infections as states reopen too quickly and without adequate plans for testing and tracing the contacts of those infected with the virus.
In a break with President Donald Trumps upbeat assessments of the pandemics trajectory in the United States, Fauci told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that while some states like New York were doing very well in controlling spread of the virus, the surge in other states was very troublesome to me.
The next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges we are seeing in Florida, Texas, Arizona and other states, Fauci told the panel as he and other leaders of the White House coronavirus task force appeared together for the first time in more than a month to brief Congress.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that Texas has surpassed 5,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time, another troubling milestone as the largest pediatric hospital in the U.S. begins taking adult patients to free up bed space in Houston.
The announcement comes days after Texas eclipsed 4,000 new cases for the first time just last weekend.
2:50 p.m.: Top federal health officials say they continue to deal with the World Health Organization despite President Donald Trumps decision to pull out of the U.N. health agency, which serves as a forum for the global coronavirus response.
Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health and Dr. Robert Redfield, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday that they continue to have regular interactions with scientific peers at the WHO.
Trump pulled the U.S. out of the World Health Organization after complaining about its response to the coronavirus and alleged favouritism toward China.
Fauci and Redfield both said they were not directly consulted about the presidents decision.
Fauci said his National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has a memorandum of understanding that governs regular collaboration with the WHO. Redfield said his agency is working with the world body on Ebola, polio and influenza.
1:50 p.m.: (updated): The number of Ontarians requiring hospital care for COVID-19 unexpectedly shot upward after weeks of decline and the province has recorded the first death of a child, according to figures released Tuesday by the Ministry of Health.
Another 23 patients have been admitted to hospitals with the highly contagious virus, increasing the total to 288. Thats well below highs of more than 1,100 at the peak but enough of a change for officials to flag.
Circumstances of the childs death were not immediately known but Toronto Public Health issued a statement to the Stars David Rider.
We are aware of a recent death of a Toronto resident who was in the 0-9 age category who died with COVID-19, but not as a result of COVID-19. We extend our deepest sympathies to the individuals family during this difficult and tragic time, and also to everyone who has lost loved ones to this virus.
More details on the latest Ontario numbers from the Stars Rob Ferguson.
1:45 p.m.: The Manitoba government is offering a subsidy for people who return to full-time work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Brian Pallister says the money will be available to people who return to work and stop collecting the federal governments income programs for those who lost jobs due to the pandemic.
Pallister says there will be up to four payments of $500 each over six weeks, as long as recipients work at least 30 hours per week.
He says the aim is to ensure people are not penalized giving up the federal subsidies and returning to work.
Pallister also revealed more details about the provinces plan to reopen schools on Sept. 8 while adding extra instruction time to make up for lost classes this spring.
The premier says the aim is to reduce the number of days teachers spend on professional development, replacing them with regular classroom days.
1:15 p.m.: The AGO has announced that it will be reopening its doors to members and annual pass holders on July 2, which the general public will have to wait until July 23.
Capacity will be limited and guests will have to purchase timed-entry tickets, which will go on sale for members on Thursday and for pass holders on Friday.
The gallery is also limiting opening hours to Thursday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has increased its cleaning schedule.
12:52 p.m.: Public health officials in New Brunswick are reporting one new case of COVID-19 today.
The new case involves a person in their 50s in the Moncton area, and the case is travel-related.
Chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell says the person was self-isolating at the time of diagnosis and there were no close contacts.
The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 165 and 143 people have recovered.
There have been two deaths, and the number of active cases is 20.
Two patients are hospitalized with one in an intensive care unit.
12:27 p.m.: The federal Liberals say the government will go back to using competitive bid processes to get protective equipment needed across the country due to COVID-19.
Procurement Minister Anita Anand says the process usually used to award contracts will only apply in situations where there is enough time to run a competition.
The government is spending billions of dollars to acquire everything from ventilators to masks, though a full accounting is not expected for months.
Many contracts have been signed using national security exemptions to quickly snap up gear in high demand globally.
Speaking at a midday press conference, Anand says nine more cargo planes carrying supplies such as gloves, gowns and masks arrived in the last week.
She says another shipment of hand sanitizer, the countrys 13th, arrived at the Port of Vancouver in recent days.
12:25 p.m.: Prince Edward Island is set to enter the next phase of relaxed COVID-19 restrictions.
P.E.I.s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Heather Morrison, said today Phase 4 of the provinces reopening plan goes into effect Friday.
That means indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed for such things as weddings, funerals and graduations.
Phase 4 also includes the reopening of more companies that provide personal services including facials, nose piercings and teeth whitening.
Morrison also addressed the concept of the Atlantic bubble, whereby travel would be permitted throughout the four Atlantic Provinces, an idea the regions leaders have been discussing in recent weeks.
She says screening will still be done at border points to ensure that anyone from outside the region is instructed to self-isolate for 14 days.
12:20 p.m.: Quebec is reporting seven new deaths attributed to COVID-19, for a total of 5,424.
Authorities say five of the new deaths occurred in the past 24 hours while two occurred before June 15.
The province is also reporting 49 new cases of the novel coronavirus, for a total of 54,884.
Hospitalizations continue to drop, with 515 patients in hospital being treated for COVID-19, a reduction of five.
There are 56 people in intensive care, a drop of one from the previous day.
Authorities are conducting significantly fewer tests than they were in recent weeks, with 5,582 performed on June 21, the latest day for which data is available
12:15 p.m.: The mayor of Windsor, Ont., is calling on farmers in the surrounding area to have all of their workers tested for COVID-19.
Drew Dilkens says the high rates of the virus on farms in Essex County has held back the entire region from reopening.
He says if farmers take the lead on testing, they can help the region assess and contain the spread of the virus and reopen the local economy.
Premier Doug Ford announced Monday that Windsor-Essex would not yet proceed to Stage 2 of reopening because of the farm outbreaks.
Ford warned farmers if they did not co-operate with the provinces plan to test workers he would take extreme action, though he gave no specifics.
Hundreds of migrant workers in the region have tested positive for the virus and three have died.
12 p.m.: The top infectious disease expert in the United States has told House lawmakers its a question of when, not if the U.S. will have a vaccine for COVID-19.
Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health told the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday that he thinks a coronavirus vaccine could be available by the end of this year or early 2021.
One vaccine candidate will enter advanced trials next month.
Fauci says we feel cautiously optimistic based on the concerted effort.
The White House has launched an effort called Operation Warp Speed to make sure a vaccine can be quickly mass produced and distributed when its approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
11:30 a.m.: The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has announced that Sauble Beach will be closed after an influx of out-of-town beachgoers over the last two weekends.
Most of our residents followed the rules and we thank you for that but the day trippers flagrantly defied our restrictions and took over many parts of the beach, South Bruce Peninsula mayor Janice Jackson wrote on social media.
Jackson said the town only had six officers enforcing restrictions on the beach, about a three-hour drive from Toronto, and have asked the province for OPP assistance.
The sooner we can get assistance, the sooner we can open the beach. We know this wont be a popular decision for many, and it was a very tough decision to make but we stand by it, said Jackson.
11:15 a.m. (updated): On Tuesday, Mayor John Tory announced $4.97 million was being distributed to community organizations helping vulnerable populations deal with the fallout of COVID-19.
The fund made up of provincial contributions and donations from outside organizations will go toward mental health supports, access to food, hygiene products, Wi-Fi and other services, Tory said at a city hall news conference.
There are some people who undoubtedly have much bigger challenges and obstacles in front of them in terms of getting through the pandemic than others, said Tory, saying the fund would address some of the unique needs of Black, Indigenous and other hard-hit communities.
More than 50 organizations will receive varying levels of funding based on their need to respond to the urgent, unmet needs of Torontos vulnerable populations, a city press release said.
11:10 a.m.: Investing in stocks sure feels like a roller-coaster ride these days, but its one where you dont know whether the next stretch of the ride will be up, down or level.
First came a dramatic meltdown in stocks starting in late February when major stock indices fell more than 30 per cent in little more than a month. That has been followed by a sharp rebound where stocks regained most of the lost ground in record time.
Now everyone wonders how the pandemic will play out, what the path to economic recovery will be, and how markets will respond from here, all of which is hugely uncertain.
That drama and uncertainty begs the question about what you should do with your investment portfolio now.
Read the Stars Personal Finance column from David Aston.
11 a.m.: Ontario is reporting its first COVID-19 death in a patient under 20 years of age.
According to provincial data, the patient was female from Toronto. She was tested on June 18 and the data says she acquired the virus from community spread.
More than 95 per cent of the more than 2,600 fatal cases in the province have been patients over the age of 60, with only a handful of deaths among much younger Ontarians.
10:15 a.m.: The parliamentary budget officer estimates in a new report that it will cost the federal government $17.9 billion to provide eight extra weeks of payments through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
The report this morning from budget officer Yves Giroux says that would bring the total cost of the benefit program for people whove lost all or nearly all their work to the COVID-19 pandemic to $71.3 billion.
The CERB, now budgeted at $60 billion, has paid out $43.51 billion to 8.41 million people as of June 4 as demand surges past federal expectations.
10 a.m.: Scotlynn Growers, a massive Norfolk County farming operation about two hours southwest of Toronto that describes itself as North Americas Farm Stand, is the site of one of Ontarios largest recorded COVID-19 outbreaks. Some 199 workers there have tested positive for the virus.
In the years leading up to the outbreak, Mexican migrant workers at the farm had repeatedly sounded the alarm about poor living conditions they described as unsafe and sometimes hazardous, records obtained by the Star show.
Read the investigation from the Stars work and wealth reporter Sara Mojtehedzadeh.
9:45 a.m.: Robots that clean surfaces. Fogging that cleanses departure waiting areas. Touchless entry points. A spray that disinfects as you leave.
Whether youre coming or going, your experience at Toronto Pearson International Airport is about to change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that has grounded airlines around the world.
The Stars Kevin McGran has the details.
9:25 a.m.: The Toronto Zoo has announced plans to reopen this weekend for members only.
Visitors will be asked to follow a one-way path to maintain social distancing. The zoo is also requiring visitors to wear face coverings to enter zoo buildings.
Some areas of the zoo will continue to be inaccessible.
The zoo had previously been only offering drive-thru tours as well as online livestreams of its animal enclosures. Those tours will continue.
9 a.m.: The military has ended its deployment to Hawthorne Place Care Centre, a 269-bed nursing home in the Jane-Finch area that has had 48 deaths due to COVID-19.
The Canadian Armed Forces ended its deployment to Hawthorne Place on Monday, the facilitys executive director Gale Coburn said.
Read the full story from toronto.coms Andrew Palamarchuk.
8:18 a.m.: Novak Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday after taking part in a tennis exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia.
The top-ranked Serb is the fourth player to test positive for the virus after playing last week in Belgrade and last weekend in Zadar, Croatia. His wife also tested positive.
Djokovic has been criticized for organizing the tournament and bringing in players from other countries. His charity tennis exhibition series, combined with an overall softening of coronavirus restrictions in Serbia and Croatia, has been followed by an increase in the number of positive cases among professional athletes.
Viktor Troicki said Tuesday that he and his pregnant wife have both been diagnosed with the virus. Grigor Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist from Bulgaria, said Sunday he tested positive for the virus. Borna Coric played Dimitrov on Saturday in Zadar and said Monday he has also tested positive.
8:15 a.m.: Disneyland Paris plans a limited reopening July 15, a day after the countrys Bastille Day celebrations. The theme park in Marne-la-Vallee joins the Eiffel Tower, set to reopen Thursday, and the Louvre Museum, which plans to reopen its doors July 6, in opening amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Disneyland Paris is the latest site in the Disney empire to reopen after shutting down in March. Like other Disney sites, there will be new safety protocols in place, and some attractions will remain closed.
Disneyland, Walt Disney Studios Park, Newport Bay Club Hotel and Disney Village will reopen in coordination with French government and health authorities, according to a Monday announcement. Other hotels will reopen later.
Attendance will be limited to allow for social distancing, visitors 11 and older must wear face coverings, and advance ticket purchases and reservations will be required through a new online system. FastPass wont be offered, allowing the park to manage lines.
8:02 a.m.: President Donald Trump faces another test of his ability to draw a crowd during a pandemic Tuesday as he visits Arizona and tries to remind voters of one of his key 2016 campaign promises.
Trumps weekend rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was meant to be a sign of the nations reopening and a show of political force but instead generated thousands of empty seats and swirling questions about the presidents campaign leadership and his case for another four years in office. The low turnout has sharpened the focus on Trumps visit to Arizona, which doubles as both a 2020 battleground state and a surging coronavirus hot spot.
First, the president will travel to Yuma to mark the construction of more than 322 km of wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue that he built his campaign on four years ago. Later, hell address a group of young Republicans at a Phoenix megachurch, where event organizers have pledged thousands will attend.
Throughout the trip, the COVID-19 pandemic will shadow Trump. The Democratic mayor of Phoenix made clear that she does not believe the speech can be safely held in her city and urged the president to wear a face mask.
8 a.m.: Global shares rose Tuesday as investors appeared to look past reports of surging coronavirus cases in the U.S. and other countries to focus on evidence of economic recovery.
European shares advanced after a measure of economic activity in the eurozone, the purchasing managers index, rose significantly in June from the month before. The index was just shy of the level that indicates the economy is growing again after a devastating plunge in the spring.
Frances CAC 40 gained 1.6 per cent to 5,027, while Germanys DAX rallied 2.6 per cent to 12,584. Britains FTSE 100 gained 1.3 per cent to 6,235.
U.S. shares were set for gains, with Dow futures up 1 per cent and S&P 500 futures up 0.9 per cent.
7:50 a.m.: German economic experts say output wont completely bounce back to pre-virus levels until 2022 after a sharp plunge of 6.5 per cent this year, describing the pandemic recession and recovery as taking the shape of a pronounced V.
The five-member German Council of Economic Experts said Tuesday the economy would see an upswing in the second half of this year followed by more moderate growth reaching 4.9 per cent next year. It said unemployment would continue to rise this year before falling gradually next year.
The experts said recent economic data had made clearer the impact of the widespread restrictions on travel, business and interpersonal contact. Those restrictions hit hardest in April and are being gradually loosened as the number of new infections has fallen.
7:20 a.m.: A top English cricket official says Pakistans tour of England could still go ahead even if more players from the travelling party test positive for the coronavirus.
Three members of Pakistans extended 29-man squad Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan tested positive following checks for COVID-19 on Sunday, and more results were due in the coming days.
Ashley Giles, Englands director of cricket, said on Tuesday the situation was a concern but the tour was not currently in doubt.
Pakistans squad is scheduled to fly to Britain on Sunday for three tests and three Twenty20s in England from August.
The coronavirus is spreading in Pakistan at one of the fastest rates in the world, with new cases in the country leaping from around 2,000-3,000 a day in late May to up to 6,800 a day in mid-June. On Tuesday, Pakistan reported 105 new COVID-19 deaths and the total cases in a country of 220 million has risen to 185,034.
7:21 a.m.: A Saudi official said Tuesday that the hajj pilgrimage, which usually draws up to 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world, will only see at the most a few thousand pilgrims next month due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
The kingdoms Hajj Minister Muhammad Benten said a small and very limited number of people even as low as just 1,000 from inside the kingdom will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage to ensure social distancing and crowd control amid the global virus outbreak.
The number, God willing, may be in the thousands. We are in the process of reviewing so it could be 1,000 or less, or a little more, Benten said in a virtual press conference.
While the decision to drastically curb this years hajj was largely expected, it remains unprecedented in Saudi Arabias nearly 90-year history and effectively bars all Muslims from outside the kingdom from travelling there to performing the pilgrimage.
7:03 a.m.: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called Tuesday for early general elections despite the coronavirus, saying the outbreak has stabilized and there is no assurance it will be over by next April, when the current governments term ends.
Parliament was dissolved to pave the way for the polls, which the Elections Department said would be held on July 10.
The announcement came just four days after the city-state lifted most coronavirus restrictions, and appeared to be an attempt to take advantage of a quiet window before a possible worsening of the pandemics impact.
7 a.m.: With coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations, Dr. Anthony Fauci returns to Capitol Hill on Tuesday at a fraught moment in the nations pandemic response.
The governments top infectious disease expert will testify before a House committee, along with the heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and a top official at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Since Faucis last appearance at a high-profile hearing more than a month ago, the U.S. is emerging from weeks of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. But its being done in an uneven way, with some states far less cautious than others. A trio of states with Republican governors who are bullish on reopening Arizona, Florida and Texas are among those seeing worrisome increases in cases.
6:45 a.m.: The COVID-19 pandemic has put the kibosh on the annual Canada Day celebration of recipients of the countrys second highest award.
Governor General Julie Payette would normally announce a list of new Order of Canada nominees on July 1.
But her office says that is impossible this year because the spring meeting of the advisory council that recommends nominees was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The council, which meets twice a year in person to discuss nominations, is not scheduled to meet again until November.
6:10 a.m.: South Africas coronavirus cases have surpassed 100,000 as the country makes up close to one-third of all recorded infections on the African continent.
The latest daily update shows a worrying new trend as Gauteng province, home to South Africas economic hub of Johannesburg, has a higher number of new cases than the hot spot of Western Cape province centred on the city of Cape Town.
Virus cases in Gauteng, which also contains the capital, Pretoria, now make up more than one-fifth of South Africas total.
South Africa continues to loosen its lockdown despite the rise in cases because of economic pressure, with casinos and beauty parlours the latest businesses allowed to open.
Africa overall has more than 315,000 cases including more than 8,000 deaths. The true number of cases remains unknown because of the low level of testing on the continent due to a shortage of materials.
6:05 a.m.: A new poll suggests two-thirds of Canadians dont want to relax the physical distancing rules imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.
And if they were relaxed, fewer than half would feel comfortable taking part in activities that would bring them closer to other people, like going to a movie theatre.
Sixty-six per cent of respondents to the poll, conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies, said two metres should remain the safe distance kept between people.
Just 12 per cent favoured reducing the distance to 1.5 metres, as is required in many European countries, and 10 per cent favoured a reduction to one metre, the minimum recommended by the World Health Organization.
Monday 5:45 p.m.: Ontario saw an uptick in reported COVID-19 infections outside the GTA on Monday as the daily case count continues to fall in Toronto, according to the Stars latest count.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, Ontarios public health units are reporting a total of 35,571 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,653 deaths, up a total of 223 new cases since Sunday evening.
In Toronto, the daily report of new cases fell to just 37, the lowest single-day total since April 1, back when the city had reported fewer than 1,000 cases. The rate of new infections in the city has fallen sharply this month. For the last seven days, Toronto has seen an average of 68 cases reported each day; that average peaked less than a month ago at 230 cases daily for on the seven days ending May 25.
Meanwhile: Health units outside the GTA saw 100 new cases reported on Monday, up more than 70 cases from the previous day and the first time they had hit triple digits in 20 days.
In recent weeks, several health units have stopped reporting case totals on the weekend, meaning their tallies reported on Mondays included multiple days of data.
Since Sunday evening, the health units have reported another eight fatal cases, five of which were in Toronto.
Earlier Monday, the province reported that 265 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, including 76 in intensive care, of whom 58 are on a ventilator. All three totals are now near the lowest the province has reported in data that goes back to early April.
Update - June 24, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version to update the headline.
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Read more from Mondays coverage.
PHILADELPHIA - In a stunning decision that could test the legal framework of #MeToo cases, Pennsylvania's highest court will review the trial decision to let five other accusers testify at Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial in 2018, which ended with the longtime TV star's conviction.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2018, file photo, Bill Cosby arrives for a sentencing hearing following his sexual assault conviction at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown Pa. Cosby has won the right to fight his 2018 sexual assault conviction before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The 82-year-old Cosby has been imprisoned in suburban Philadelphia for nearly two years after a jury convicted him of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2004. Hes serving a three- to 10-year sentence. The Supreme Court has agreed to review two aspects of the case that Cosbys lawyers challenge. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
PHILADELPHIA - In a stunning decision that could test the legal framework of #MeToo cases, Pennsylvania's highest court will review the trial decision to let five other accusers testify at Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial in 2018, which ended with the longtime TV star's conviction.
Cosby, 82, has been imprisoned in suburban Philadelphia for nearly two years after a jury convicted him of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home in 2004. He's serving a three- to 10-year sentence.
The Supreme Court has agreed to review two aspects of the case, including the judge's decision to let prosecutors call the other accusers to testify about long-ago encounters with the actor and comedian. Cosbys lawyers have long complained the testimony is remote and unreliable.
The court will also consider, as it weighs the scope of the evidence allowed, whether the jury should have heard Cosby's own deposition testimony about getting quaaludes to give women in the past.
Secondly, the court will examine Cosby's argument that he had an agreement with a former prosecutor that he would never be charged in the case. Cosby has said he relied on the alleged promise before agreeing to give the deposition in trial accuser Andrea Constand's lawsuit.
Those issues have been at the heart of the case since Cosby was charged in December 2015, days before the 12-year statute of limitations expired.
Prosecutors in suburban Philadelphia had reopened the case that year after The Associated Press fought to unseal portions of Cosby's decade-old deposition in Constands sex assault and defamation lawsuit. Cosby paid $3.4 million to settle the lawsuit in 2006.
Cosby, in the deposition, acknowledged a string of extramarital relationships. He called them consensual, but many of the women say they were drugged and molested.
Dozens came forward in the years that followed to accuse Cosby, long beloved as America's Dad because of his hit 1980s sitcom, of sexual misconduct. Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill allowed just one of them to testify at Cosby's first trial in 2017, which ended with an acquittal.
But a year later, after the #MeToo movement exploded in the wake of reporting on Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men, the judge allowed five other accusers to testify at the retrial. The jury convicted Cosby on all three felony sex-assault counts.
Lawyer Brian W. Perry argued in the appeal that letting other accusers testify in #MeToo cases flips constitutional jurisprudence on its head, and the presumption of guilt, rather than the presumption of innocence, becomes the premise.
However, the judge said he found striking similarities in the womens descriptions of their encounters with Cosby, and said the testimony was therefore permissible to show evidence of a signature crime.
In each instance, (he) met a substantially younger woman, gained her trust, invited her to a place where he was alone with her, provided her with a drink or drug, and sexually assaulted her once she was rendered incapacitated, ONeill wrote in a post-trial opinion. These chilling similarities rendered (their) testimony admissible.
Spokesman Andrew Wyatt on Tuesday said the decision comes as demonstrators across the nation protest the death of Black people at the hands of police and expose the corruption that lies within the criminal justice system.
The false conviction of Bill Cosby is so much bigger than him its about the destruction of ALL Black people and people of colour in America, Wyatt said in a statement.
Constand, a former professional basketball player who now does outreach to sex assault victims, asked the appeals court Tuesday to not allow Cosby's wealth, fame and fortune to win an escape from his maleficent, malignant and downright criminal past.
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Questioned about the encounter with her in the 2006 deposition, Cosby described being on his couch and putting his hand down her pants after giving her three pills he identified as Benadryl. Constand said they made her pass out.
I dont hear her say anything. And I dont feel her say anything. And so I continue and I go into the area that is somewhere between permission and rejection. I am not stopped, he said.
Legal experts said the appellate review could help clarify when judges should allow prior bad act testimony from other accusers in sex crime cases, at least in Pennsylvania, and whether a supposed verbal promise from one prosecutor should bind their successor.
I think that Cosby still has an uphill battle. The good news is the state Supreme Court will look at the appeal, said Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson.
The AP typically does not name people who say they have been victims of sexual assault without their permission, which Constand has granted.
___ This story corrects the spelling of the judge's first name to Steven, instead of Stephen.
The protesters in Marion Square were divided physically and philosophically.
The city of Charleston created a funnel of chain-link fences and yellow police barricades with none of the paths leading any closer than 50 yards to the monument honoring John C. Calhoun, an American vice president who advocated for racist policies and slavery.
The barricades were there to separate two groups Black Lives Matter protesters and a group defending Calhoun's monument from being torn down from interacting in hopes of deescalating tensions Monday night.
But some verbal altercations occurred and one protester was arrested as the public and vocal clash of ideologies occurred in the middle of Charleston's public square.
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg announced last week, on the fifth anniversary of the Emanuel AME Church shooting, that the monument would be taken down. On Tuesday, City Council is expected to vote unanimously to remove the statue. A date and time for its removal has not been made public.
A group of about 100 people who support keeping the memorial had planned to protest until 8 p.m., but their speaker had wrapped up by 6:30 and many exited shortly after.
The group, which was organized by a Facebook event, was predominantly white. A podium was set up for Michael Kogan, a retired professor from Montclair State University and a vocal defender of Calhoun.
"The solution is not the obliteration of the part of history already told, but the addition of other parts, by the erection of new monuments honoring those great Charlestonians who have hitherto been neglected," Kogan said. "Let us have more, not fewer, statues and monuments."
Some 100 counterprotesters also showed up. They chanted Black Lives Matter, George Floyd and "Take it down" at the group defending the statue.
During the speech, there were confrontations between the groups, with people pushing on the fences and each side trading insults. Police stepped in and asked people to move away from each other.
"The statue glorifies him and doesn't recognize the terrible, racists acts he committed," said Erin O'Leary, a BLM protester.
One BLM protester crossed the fence line into the Calhoun supporters' section and held a sign. He was pushed by one man and then another threw some water on the young protester. Police escorted the BLM protester out of the section.
One African American protester, Kenya Skipper, took the empty microphone left on the podium and preached to the Calhoun defenders that the reason why he disagreed with the monument is because it didn't represent love.
"I don't care about the statue," he said. "All I care about is the heart that beats in your chest. ... There is a wrong side. But people aren't going to open their ears unless I come in here and speak about love first."
A white man dressed in an USA jersey came up and shook his hand and embraced him.
Around 7 p.m., Charleston police officers in riot gear told BLM protesters and Calhoun defenders to leave Marion Square. The BLM protesters marched down King Street and disrupted some traffic before circling back toward the park. They chanted "No justice, no peace."
During the march, one BLM protester was arrested by police and had a bloody nose when he was put in the squad car. Charleston police have not said what charges he faces.
Shortly before 8 p.m., the BLM protesters scattered and dispersed from Marion Square. Charleston police closed the park for the remainder of the night and said it would reopen at dawn.
Protests have happened in cities across the country after Floyd died at the hands of police in Minnesota last month. Since then, a national dialogue about racism, police brutality and inequity has been localized in many South Carolina cities.
And it's not just the Calhoun Monument that could be caught in the debate.
The status of the Heritage Act giving the Statehouse control over moving or altering monuments, streets and other landmarks in the state is also being explored. A Republican state lawmaker from Greenville County last week requested a legal opinion from Attorney General Alan Wilson on the constitutionality of the act.
Wilson spokesman Robert Kittle said Friday the opinion will also delve into whether the act inclusively covers the Calhoun monument, which Tecklenburgs legal staff contends it doesnt, because it is not a war monument.
Kittle said the opinion could be released ahead of the council meeting Tuesday night.
News
Introduction to trade and investment in the WTO
Brief information about trade and investment in the WTO
Links to the trade and investment section of the WTO Guide Understanding the WTO.
The three areas of work on trade and investment in the WTO
1. Working Group on the relationship between trade and investment
The Working Group on the Relationship between Trade and Investment was established during the 1996 Ministerial Conference in Singapore to examine the relationship between trade and investment. There is no negotiation of new rules or commitments.
The mandate of the Working Group
The Declaration of the 1996 Ministerial Conference in Singapore
See decision item 20
Checklist of issues suggested for study by the Working Group (document code WT/WGTI/2; opens in a new window) i see annex 1 of this document.
Decision of the General Council on the work of the Working Group (document code WT/WGTI/2; opens in a new window) i see paragraphs 226 - 227 of this document.
Work on the relationship between trade and investment
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Documents of the Working Group on trade and investment use the code WT/WGTI/* (where * takes additional values)
These links open a new window: allow a moment for the results to appear. > help with downloading these documents Reports of the Working Group to the WTO General Council (Document code WT/WGTI/* and ireporti) > search
of the Working Group to the WTO General Council > search Working documents of the Working Group (Document code WT/WGTI/W/*)
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3. Trade and Investment in the context of the GATS
The mandate
Overview of the GATS and rules for growth and investment
Links to the section on GATS and rules for growth and investment section of the WTO Guide Understanding the WTO.
Summary of the GATS
Download the legal text of the GATS in pdf format.
Work on investment and the GATS
See the Services section of the WTO website for information on work within the WTO on investment and the general agreement for trade in services (GATS)
The newly-appointed United Nations(UN) Resident Coordinator for Ghana, Charles Abani, has presented his letter of credence to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, on the start of his duty tour in the country.
Mr. Abani, whose appointment took effect in May this year, arrived in the country early June and has since been observing strict protocol in accordance with the Government of Ghana's Covid-19 rules.
Ms. Botchwey expressed gratitude to the UN for its support to the government and people of Ghana towards the achievement of its development goals.
She further commended the UN for recognizing the government of Ghana's Covid-19 response initiatives and lending its support to fight the pandemic.
Ms. Botchwey thanked Ms. Sylvia Lopez-Ekra for holding the fort for nearly two years and congratulated her for being a good friend to the Ministry and to Ghana.
Mr. Abani noted, I am here to continue the good work of my predecessors to support Ghana make a mark in the world and for its people.
He acknowledged Ghana's leadership role on the continent towards the achievement of the SDGs, on gender equality and on its response to kick out Covid-19 .
I look forward to working closely with all national partners, so that together we can attain the better world that we so desire for our people he added.
Daily Guide
PARIS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --
MILLENNIAL ICON
Bold and confident, Katherine Langford has already created a big impact on her generation. The rising actress is known for her part as 'Hannah Baker' in 13 Reasons Why and for playing strong young female leads. She is as empowered off-screen as on, speaking out for tolerance and raising awareness about gender equality. Using her reach to foster online conversations about confidence issues, she has already become a positive role model for all women. At only 24, she perfectly embodies the values of L'Oreal Paris with her positivity, her talent, and her convictions; the brand is proud to welcome Katherine to the family.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8734251-katherine-langford-new-loreal-spokesperson/
FROM PERTH TO HOLLYWOOD
Katherine was born in Perth, Australia, in 1996. Before her acting career, Katherine excelled as a swimmer - she was ranked nationally - and studied both music and drama. Her career finally kickstarted with a Skype audition for the show that would change her life. 13 Reasons Why became a worldwide phenomenon, and its lead female character, a household name whose fictional story touched millions. Katherine followed that breakout role with the teen romantic comedy-drama, Love, Simon. In 2019, Katherine appeared in the star-studded thriller Knives Out, starring as 'Meg Thrombey.' The Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated feature follows the mysterious death of the Thrombey family patriarch, Harlan, and how his family navigates the aftermath. Next up, she retells the story of another heroine; 'Nimue' in Cursed, a fresh reimagining of Arthurian legends with women at its helm. Cursed will be released on July 17th.
WOMAN OF WORTH & INFLUENCE
"Be Bold. Be Brave. Be kind," signs off one of Katherine's posts bringing awareness to World Mental Health Day. As 'Hannah' in 13 Reasons Why, she became a role model for young people and inspired them to be kind to themselves and to others. Katherine had always cared about issues surrounding mental health, but her role in Netflix's popular TV-show really marked the start of her raising awareness about this universal topic. Katherine is also very passionate about raising awareness about equality across gender, sexual orientation, age and race. When preparing to play the part of Hannah, she worked with a psychiatrist specialized in teenagers with It's On Us, the U.S. sexual consent campaign. Katherine also starred as Leah in the coming-of-age LGBTQ+ movie Love, Simon, which explores the journey of her best friend Simon as he comes out and finds himself.
"We are thrilled to welcome Katherine to the L'Oreal Paris family. She is a role model, a talented and confident young woman using her platform for positive influence. Katherine's star will only continue to rise. As a young radiant heroine who encourages people to believe in themselves, she's the perfect spokesperson to embody our signature brand message: we are all worth it."
Delphine Viguier-Hovasse
Global Brand President L'Oreal Paris
"L'Oreal Paris is the brand that creates what's next in beauty with an essential message: everyone is worth it. It is all about learning how to love yourself, how to be bold, how to be confident! People my age should not be afraid to be themselves, because that's what makes us beautiful. When you know you are worth it, you live your life to the fullest. Having always valued empowerment, I can say that I am very grateful to be part of such an inspiring group of women spokespersons."
Katherine Langford
WORTH IT
The first L'Oreal Paris campaigns starring Katherine Langfordwill be for Air Mascara and Casting Creme Gloss in 2020.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1176242/LOreal_Paris_Katherine_Langford.jpg
Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1190855/LOreal_Paris.mp4
An orangutan in a protected rainforest near the city of Kuching, in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Orangutans and other animals are having their homelands destroyed by illegal logging. Credit: Dale Willman
As National Geographic pointed out recently, Indigenous populations comprise less than five percent of the people now living on the planet, but they protect some 80 percent of the world's biodiversity. Indigenous groups often act as stewards of the land, protecting areas of the forests that they control from rampant development. But this year the assault of both forest fires and a pandemic are combining to pose a major threat to these already vulnerable populations and the lands on which they live. That was the topic of a recent webinar for journalists hosted by the Resilience Media Project of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.
Tropical forests, and the biodiversity they contain, are regularly threatened by human-set wildfires. Ane Alencar is the director of science at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM). She said natural fires have traditionally occurred on average every 500 to 1,000 years. "The Amazon, it doesn't burn naturally, although humans have changed that." Now the vast majority of fires, at least in the Amazon, are caused by humans, and fires have become common during the dry season, threatening the biological riches these areas have to offer.
Illegal logging in particular is a major problem and has altered the fire landscape in the Amazon, the rainforests of Indonesia, and elsewhere. Farmers looking for land on which to graze cattle or to grow soybeans for the international market use workers to log sections of the forest. Then fires are set to clear the remaining brush and debris from the land. Ruth DeFries, the Denning Family Professor of Sustainable Development at Columbia University, said all the fires now have some source of human ignition, and that usually means clearing land for farming is the cause. "We see fires in the humid tropics because essentially it's an inexpensive way to clear debris."
This year, the health effects from wildfires are expected to be particularly severe because of a new threat. This year's fire season, now underway in many tropical regions, will be occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting an additional risk to the region's Indigenous populations.
On their own, a wildfire or pandemic can wreak havoc with natural systems. But coming at the same time, they represent a compound risk, where each risk can greatly accentuate the damage caused by the other. For instance, respiratory problems caused by particulates in smoke from wildfires sicken or kill thousands of people each year. But these and other health problems will be particularly exacerbated this year because of the novel coronavirus.
"This year, it's especially concerning because the small particulate matter, the smoke, the soot that is emanating from these fires exacerbate respiratory infection," said Harvey Fineberg, a physician and the president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. "That respiratory susceptibility," he added, "means that COVID infections are more likely to be more serious among the populations who are directly affected by the fires in many tropical areas."
Here's how that could happen. Small particulates contained in wildfire smoke can lodge deeply in the lungs, impairing airway function, and as Fineberg suggests exacerbating respiratory infection. The COVID-19 virus, meanwhile, uses what are called ACE2 receptors to enter cells. The lower airways deep in the lungs contain a higher number of these receptors than the rest of the respiratory system, making that portion of the lungs particularly susceptible to a COVID-19 infection. If the particulates and smoke have already compromised those portions of the lungs, health officials speculate that those regions could then be more susceptible to an attack from COVID-19. However, it's too soon to have statistical studies finding a link between smoke exposure and COVID-19 outcomes, and data are particularly scant in rural regions of developing countries.
Yet another risk compounding the effects of wildfires and COVID infections is the current state of the health care system in Brazil and Indonesiawhich is generally particularly acute in rural regions and poor urban settlements where Indigenous populations live. Marcia Castro is the Chair of the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health. She said that in Brazil, the malaria season is about to begin. Meanwhile, in at least two states in the Amazon, they are seeing many more cases of dengue fever that expected. "So, it's going to be several layers of demand for hospital beds that will be even more complicated if we have the fire season." In some areas of the country, she said, the demand for hospital beds has already reached a 90 percent occupancy rate.
Because it's early in the fire season, the experts say it's not too late to reduce the most serious effects of these compound issues. Ane Alencar said if the laws currently in place are enforced, illegal logging will be greatly reduced. But without arrests, the loggers think they can do whatever they want, without facing consequences. "So we need to stop that and people need to be punished for doing illegal activities in the region."
Ruth DeFries agreed that enforcement is important, but she wants to take it one step further. Right now, she said, it's too easy for farmers to burn. "[T]he reason that people use fire is because it's cheap and it's easy. You set fire to your debris and you let it burn and then you have your land cleared." But with the right incentives, she said they can be encouraged not to burn, without needing to send them to jail. "I think [that's] where we need to go."
Harvey Fineberg, meanwhile, said the answer should come from leadership, from the local level on up to national politicians. "We have a very serious need for stronger regulation that will provide the foundation to avoid the degradation of our forests in wildfire and in other purposes." And that, he said, must come from the politicians.
Another entry point for changing direction, Fineberg added, is addressing consumer demand for products created in these regions. "It's really important to build on the efforts that are already underway to insist on deforestation-free products. Reducing demand is a very powerful financial incentive that can ultimately improve the balance of protecting these very precious, limited resources." And finally, Fineberg said it's important to strengthen the laws that allow Indigenous control of forest lands.
Explore further Amazon risks combusting with twin fire, virus crises
This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.
The 42-year-old chartered accountant, who shot himself after killing his wife in Bengaluru and mother-in-law in an upscale apartment in Kolkata, has left behind a 67-page suicide note which says he had planned to execute all his in-laws, including his father-in-law and brother-in-law.
Sleuths of the Kolkata Polices detective department are now trying to find out how Amit Agarwal procured a pistol. Agarwal used the pistol to shoot his 65-year-old mother-in-law Lalita Dhandania before committing suicide in his in-laws flat on Monday.
After killing his wife Shilpi, also a chartered accountant, in her Bengaluru flat, Agarwal took a flight to Kolkata on Monday morning with his ten-year-old son. He told his son that his mother had left for Kolkata and so they have to fly to Kolkata. A divorce suit was going on between the couple for the last two years. On arrival at the Kolkata airport, he handed over his son to a known person and asked him to take his son to his own flat in north Kolkata. He then went straight to his in-laws.
We are investigating where he got the pistol from, as the cab driver told us that he didnt stop anywhere enroute, said a senior official of Kolkata Police, adding that they have got in touch with airport authorities to check CCTV footage.
Also Read: Bengal private bus operators demand fare hike due to diesel price hike, Covid restrictions
Police have recovered at least two pistol magazines from which three bullets were fired. Agarwal, who wanted to kill even his 70-year-old father-in-law Subhash Dhandania, fired at him, but missed. He then shot Lalita while Subhash barged out and lock the flat from outside. Agarwal later shot himself.
From the suicide note, we came to know that he wanted to kill his brother-in-law too, who stays at Gurugram. He had called him to Kolkata but he didnt come and was therefore saved. In his suicide note, Agarwal had repeatedly accused his wife and in-laws. The entire 67-page note was typed barring one page which was handwritten and might have been added later, said a police officer.
It was from this suicide note that the police first suspected that Agarwal may have killed Shilpi too. They soon called her but her mobile was found to be switched off. Later Bengaluru police were informed and her body was recovered. Police after scanning Amits laptop found that he had watched videos to learn how to use a firearm.
From the note, it was clear that he was planning it for a long time. The child is in safe custody now. We have spoken to him once. All the family members are in a state of shock, said one official.
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The National Organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammy Awuku, has debunked assertions from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the defeat of some incumbent MPs at the just ended NPP Primaries on last Saturday June 20.
According to him, the fact that sitting MPs lost seats in Parliament will have no reflection on the fortunes of the party in the 2020 elections.
The primaries saw 40 sitting NPP MPs losing their re-election bids. A significant number of the defeated MPs are Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen in Parliament.
Some ministers-of-state who are also legislators also lost their seats.
The NDC at a press briefing on Monday suggested that the defeat of the incumbent MPs could mean a change in the fortunes of the NPP in the December election.
Mr. Awuku in response reminded that the contest that we had wasn't a contest between the NPP and other political parties.
The delegates had an opportunity to choose between two or three or four or five NPP candidates. It is the same stock.
If you are telling me that the fact that some of our sitting members of Parliament have lost their primaries is an indication that the NPP is going to suffer in the general election, I am surprised, Mr. Awuku told Citi News.
The NDCs assessment
The NDC maintained that most of the first-term NPP MPs were defeated because of the Akufo-Addo administrations abysmal performance.
At a press conference on Monday, the NDC said the MPs lost because no developmental projects have been undertaken in their constituencies in the last three and half years.
This is a clear indication that even NPP supporters are generally unhappy with the abysmal performance of their own government, and have invited the rest of Ghanaians to reject this nonperforming, nepotistic and corrupt Akufo-Addo government.
It is pretty obvious, even to the uninitiated, that but for the undemocratic imposition of some 65 incumbent Members of Parliament by the powers that be in the NPP, the situation would have been worse, the party said at the presser which was addressed by its Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi.
----citinewsroom
[June 23, 2020] Maxar Technologies Announces its Intention to Acquire Vricon, Inc. to Accelerate Growth in Emerging Markets for 3D Technology and Extend its Lead in Earth Intelligence
Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), a trusted partner and innovator in Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure, today announced its intent to exercise its call option to take full ownership of 3D data and analytics firm Vricon, Inc., for approximately $140 million, or approximately $115 million net of estimated cash at closing. To fund the transaction, Maxar intends to issue $150 million in aggregate principal amount of new senior secured notes. Maxar has also agreed to repurchase $150 million in aggregate principal amount of existing notes using the proceeds of the recent sale of its MDA (News - Alert) business. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005907/en/ Vricon 3D visualization of Damascus, Syria (Graphic: Business Wire) Vricon is a global leader in satellite-derived 3D data for defense and intelligence markets, with software and products that enhance 3D mapping, Earth intelligence data, military simulation and training and precision-guided munitions. The company was formed as a joint venture between Maxar and Saab in 2015 to combine patented Saab IP with Maxar commercial satellite imagery to build highly accurate, immersive 3D products at scale. Maxar intends to appoint Gilman Louie, Chairman of Vricon's Board of Directors, to the Maxar Board of Directors once the transaction closes. Louie is co-founder and partner of Alsop Louie Partners, an early-stage technology venture capital firm founded in San Francisco in 2006. Louie is the founder and former CEO of In-Q-Tel (News - Alert), a strategic venture fund created to help enhance national security by connecting the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. intelligence community with venture-backed entrepreneurial companies. He also serves as a commissioner on the U.S. National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Vricon's products and technology are strongly aligned with Maxar's Earth Intelligence growth strategy and priority mission areas outlined in the U.S. National Defense Strategy. Maxar expects that Vricon will extend the company's lead in existing markets with additional high-value growth products, by increasing Maxar's industry-leading accuracy and augmenting automated feature extraction and change detection capabilities. In addition, the transaction unlocks new and underpenetrated defense and commercial markets for Maxar, such as autonomous navigation and 5G telecommunications network planning. "Maxar commercial satellite imagery has long been foundational to U.S. and allied defense and intelligence operations, and this acquisition will enable training, simulation and tactical missions to be conducted in highly immersive and accurate 3D environments," said Dan Jablonsky, Maxar CEO. "Vricon will allow Maxar to accelerate the creation of a living digital model of the Earth-'The Digital Globe'-and become the global geospatial reference standard for existing and next-generation location-based applications." "The net cash purchase price would represent a valuation of roughly 10x, on a net cash basis, the trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA that Vricon generated from third-party sales. We expect this multiple to step down significantly over the next several years given the growth trajectory we see for the business," said iggs Porter, Maxar CFO. "We would expect the transaction to be additive to the 2020 guidance we issued on our first quarter earnings call on May 11 while having an immaterial effect on the company's leverage ratio this year. Furthermore, we expect the business to be a solid cash generator, which we expect to contribute to a reduction in both Maxar's indebtedness and leverage starting in 2021."
Maxar intends to exercise its call option to take control of Vricon on or about June 25, 2020, and expects the transaction to close in July. Maxar expects to fully integrate Vricon to improve existing products, develop new capabilities and pursue game-changing business opportunities. When Maxar's next-generation WorldView Legion imaging satellites come online in 2021, higher volumes of more frequently refreshed, high-resolution imagery will further improve the currency and utility of Vricon offerings and should drive subscription sales opportunities. Maxar CEO Dan Jablonsky and CFO Biggs Porter will host a conference call on June 24, 2020, to discuss the call option. The call is scheduled to begin promptly at 6:30 a.m. MT (8:30 a.m. ET).
Conference Call Dial-In Numbers:
Participant Toll Free Dial-In: 1-866-211-3067
Participant International Dial-In: 1-647-689-6610 Instant Replay:
Toll Free North America: 1-800-585-8367
International Dial-In: 1-416-621-4642
Passcode: 9348515# Replay available:
From June 24, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. MT (11:30 a.m. ET) to July 8, 2020 at 9:59 p.m. MT (11:59 p.m. ET) The conference call will also be webcast live and then archived at:
http://investor.maxar.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx Webcast of the presentation will also be accessible on the Investor section of the Maxar website: http://investor.maxar.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx About Maxar Maxar is a trusted partner and innovator in Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure. We deliver disruptive value to government and commercial customers to help them monitor, understand and navigate our changing planet; deliver global broadband communications; and explore and advance the use of space. Our unique approach combines decades of deep mission understanding and a proven commercial and defense foundation to deploy solutions and deliver insights with unrivaled speed, scale and cost effectiveness. Maxar's 4,000 team members in 20 global locations are inspired to harness the potential of space to help our customers create a better world. Maxar trades on the New York Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange as MAXR. For more information, visit www.maxar.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," "plan," "potential," "intend," "anticipate," "project," "target," "believe," "plan," "outlook," "estimate," "guidance" or "expect" and other words, terms and phrases of similar nature are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the intent to exercise the call option with respect to Vricon, the completion and timing of the consummation of the acquisition of Vricon, the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to those Risk Factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available online under the Company's EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov or on the Company's website at www.maxar.com, as well as the Company's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which are available online under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or on the Company's website at www.maxar.com. The risk factors detailed in the foregoing are not intended to be exhaustive and there may be other key risks that are not identified that are not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems immaterial. These risks and uncertainties are amplified by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused and will continue to cause significant challenges, instability and uncertainty. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such forward-looking statements are based upon data available as of the date of this release or other specified date and speak only as of such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as may be required under applicable securities law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005907/en/
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The foreign ministers of the Arab countries said in a videoconference on Tuesday that the water security of Egypt and Sudan is inseparable from Arab national security.
At its extraordinary session, the Arab League issued resolution No. 8524 on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which includes 9 articles.
Backed by all member countries, the resolution called on all parties not to take any unilateral measures. It urged Ethiopia not start filling the dams reservoir, without reaching an agreement with the downstream countries.
The decision included the formation of a committee to follow up the issue and coordinate with the United Nations Security Council on all related developments. The committee membership consists of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iraq and the Arab League General Secretariat.
During the meeting, held to discuss the situation with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the ministers expressed their rejection of any act or measure that would infringe on the rights of Nile Basin countries.
The ministers praised Sudans call for holding new rounds of negotiations from 25 May till 17 June in order to reach an agreement about the rules of filling and operating the GERD. They also welcomed UN chief Antonio Guterres call for Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to reach an agreement through negotiations.
The ministers also expressed their deep concern about the unfruitful talks between the three states, stressing the need for resuming negotiations in order to reach a deal that takes into consideration the interests of all parties.
The Arab top diplomats called on all parties not to take unilateral actions, including the filling of the GERD by Ethiopia, without first reaching a deal with the two other countries about the general rules. Otherwise, they argued, this would serve as a direct violation of the Declaration of Principles signed by the three states in Khartoum in March 2015.
They also emphasised the importance of the three countries abiding by international law, as well as resuming technical studies on the socio-economic and environmental impact of the GERD on Egypt and Sudan.
Sudan's state minister for foreign affairs said on Tuesday that Egypt and his country share a consensus about the Arab resolution on the GERD.
Omar Ismail said that both countries have cooperated on this issue, stressing that Sudan is a "key party" in the GERD talks.
Following days of renewed talks between the water ministers of the three countries, which were brokered by Sudan, the negotiations reached a deadlock due to Ethiopias "intransigent positions" on both the technical and legal aspects of the deal.
Ethiopia refused to sign a binding agreement between the three countries, insisting on drafting guiding rules that [it] can unilaterally amend, Egypt said.
Cairo and Addis Ababa recently sent letters to the United Nations Security Council in the latest escalation in the GERD crisis.
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A n investigation has been launched following widespread reports that a double amputee was struck and pepper-sprayed by US police.
The alleged incident took place during weekend protests against racism and police brutality in Columbus, Ohio.
The victim was said to have been demonstrating when officers hit and maced him. It was also claimed that officers took his prosthetic legs".
However, Columbus Police have refuted the claims which they said "blew up with no context".
On Monday they provided their own version of events, using bodycam footage as evidence.
A bystander video of the scene went viral after it appeared to show the amputee lying on the floor in pain, as a fellow protester cried out for a medic.
In the clip, his prosthetic legs can be seen a short distance away, detached, on the pavement.
Witness accounts suggested police officers removed the disabled protesters legs, and refused to give them back, leaving him helpless on the street.
But police spokesman Sgt. James Fuqua said body camera video painted a very different picture.
It showed the man throwing liquid at officers and, at one point, hurling a plywood sign, which hit and grazed a member of the force.
Thats when an officer rushed to try and arrest the man, Sgt. Fuqua said.
We did not take his legs and the demonstrators were the ones that physically took him away from us before we could even take him into custody, he added.
However, at least one image shared on Twitter shows a man who appears to have a prosthetic leg falling backwards as an officer pepper-sprays him and others.
Sgt. Fuqua said several protesters pulled the man away and forced police back with planks of plywood.
Officers did not pursue the man after he was pulled away, according to the video, which was shared with local media.
Sgt. Fuqua said none of the official footage was altered except "for brevity", The Columbus Dispatch reports.
No videos have emerged of the mans prosthetic legs being removed.
Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther tweeted that he had seen the video and the matter was being taken "very seriously".
He wrote: "I have seen the video and photo of the disabled man downtown last night.
"We are taking the matter very seriously and working diligently to find video, photos and additional information.
"Anyone with first-hand accounts, video or photos should send them to reportCPD@columbus.gov. We will fully investigate."
Social media erupted in anger after the initial video first emerged, fuelled by alleged witness reports.
Laurenn McCubbin, a professor at the towns College of Art & Design, tweeted at the time: Today in Columbus my husband was downtown at the protests & saw the cops hit & mace an unarmed kid and then STEAL HIS PROSTHETIC LEGS."
She continued: This kid, who was doing nothing but exercising his 1st amendment rights, was knocked over, maced, and had to flee from the cops ON HIS HANDS, to find medical help.
For everyone asking: the protesters begged the cops for the legs back, cops refused. Then a group rushed the cops (getting maced) and were able to grab the legs back & get them back to the kid.
She said of her husband: (He) came home furious and in tears. Ive never seen him that upset.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said on Tuesday Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour, should be conferred on former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao.
Stating that Narasimha Rao changed the country's destiny for better and deserves the award, he said the state cabinet and state legislature will pass a resolution in this regard.
The chief minister said he would personally meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and request him to confer the Bharat Ratna on PV, as the late prime minister was popularly called.
Chairing a meeting where he reviewed the arrangements for Narasimha Rao's birth centenary celebrations, he announced that Rs 10 crore will be sanctioned for the celebrations.
KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, said that to remember the greatest services rendered by Narasimha Rao, a Congressman, as a multi-faced personality in several fields, the state government has decided to organise year-long celebrations.
He said on June 28, the birth anniversary of Narasimha Rao, the main programme would be organised at PV Gnana Bhoomi in Hyderabad. Around the same time celebrations will be held at 50 locations worldwide.
KCR said a PV memorial should be built like a memorial developed for former President APJ Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram. A team under the leadership of MP Dr Keshav Rao will visit Rameswaram and make suggestion to the government on PV memorial.
He also directed officials to install five bronze statues of the former PM at Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Vangara and at the Telangana Bhavan in Delhi.
A portrait of Narasimha Rao will be kept in the Telangana Assembly, while the state government will request the Centre to keep a portrait of the Congress leader in Parliament.
"PV rendered his services as freedom fighter, political leader, journalist, an expert in several languages (polyglot) and writer. Bring out a special souvenir on par with the international standards to mirror PV's contribution in a wide range of fields," KCR told officials.
He also asked the centenary celebrations committee headed by Keshav Rao to invite President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi to the centenary celebrations.
He said since Narasimha Rao had a special relationship with former president Pranab Mukherjee and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, he asked the committee to prepare a special programme in which they both would participate.
(With inputs from IANS)
Chennai, June 23 : As many as 2,516 persons tested positive for coronavirus and 39 Covid-19 patients died in Tamil Nadu over the past 24 hours, said the State Health Department on Tuesday.
In a statement issued here, the Health Department said 2,516 persons turned Covid-19 patients in Tamil Nadu taking the total tally to 64,603.
According to the statement, 39 Covid-19 patients died taking the death toll to 833.
A total of 1,227 Covid-19 patients were cured and were discharged from various hospitals. The total number of cured patients in the state as on Sunday stands at 35,339.
Taking into account the cured patients and the number of persons who died due to the virus the total number of active cases in Tamil Nadu stands at 28,428.
The number of infected children in the state in the age group 0-12 went up to 3,188.
The state capital Chennai continued to head the Covid-19 infection table with 1,380 persons testing positive for the virus and the total tally stands at 44,203.
The state government, on Tuesday, said that it had decided not to go ahead with both the terminal examinations for the final-semester students and those for intermediate-semester students across the state. Examinations for final-semester students in government colleges were earlier scheduled to take place from July 6 onwards.
Students will now be promoted based on a combination of 50% weightage of internal assessment marks along with 50% weightage of marks from previous examinations. However, the students will have the option of appearing for examinations for improvement of grades later once normalcy returns to the state. The same procedure will also be applicable for all students of distance education and those studying in private universities.
The directive issued by the state government on Tuesday also stated that if a university so wishes, it may conduct online examination, provided that it is fully prepared and equipped for conducting such an examination. The university will also need to ensure that all students are able to take the online examinations.
The directive further stated that students with academic arrears in previous examinations may also be exempted from examinations and be promoted to the next semester. Students who are supposed to reappear for papers are to be given marks on the average of the previous examinations for promotion. For first-year students, internal assessment marks may be used for promotion to the next year.
Satyamanyu Yadav, principal of Government College in Sector 9, welcomed the decision. Yadav said that the college had raised certain concerns with respect to the earlier decision of conducting physical examinations. Our college is being used as a quarantine facility by the district administration. We would have required an alternative examination centre had the exams not been called off. The decision will especially help outstation students living outside Gurugram, said Yadav.
Global Risk Solutions Inc., a provider of claims adjusting and environmental risk management solutions, has expanded its marine claims capabilities with the addition of two claims executives.
Peter Wiswell and Joe Daneman have joined Global Risk Solutions Environmental Risk Management Solutions (ERMS) business unit as executive general adjusters, and both will be based in the Northeast.
Wiswell will serve as manager of Marine Claims at GRS. Previously, he was director of Technical Marine Claims for Zurich North America. Before that, he served in various marine claims leadership roles for both insurers and independent adjusting firms.
Daneman will serve as a senior marine claims specialist. Before joining GRS, he was a senior marine claims specialist at Zurich North America. Prior to that, he held marine claims roles at Travelers and RSA.
Headquartered in Miami with offices in London and throughout the U.S., GRS offers a range of claims adjusting and environmental risk management services.
Source: Global Risk Solutions Inc.
Topics Claims Pollution
New Delhi: Ministry of AYUSH has taken cognizance of the news in the media about Ayurvedic medicines developed for the treatment of COVID-19 by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, Haridwar (Uttrakhand). The ministry said that facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study are not known to it.
"The concerned Ayurvedic drug manufacturing company has been informed that such advertisements of drugs including Ayurvedic medicines are regulated under the provisions of Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Rules thereunder and the directives issued by the Central government in the wake of COVID outbreak," said the AYUSH statement.
Referring to a Gazette Notification No. L.11011/8/2020/AS dated 21st April 2020, the ministry stated that the requirements and the manner the research studies on COVID-19 with Ayush interventions/medicines should be undertaken.
This ministry directed the Patanjali Ayurved Ltd to "provide at the earliest details of the name and composition of the medicines being claimed for COVID treatment; site(s)/hospital(s), where the research study was conducted for COVID-19; protocol, sample size, Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, CTRI registration and results data of the study (ies) and stop advertising/publicizing such claims till the issue is duly examined."
The ministry has also requested concerned State Licensing Authority of Uttrakhand government to provide copies of license and product approval details of the Ayurvedic medicines being claimed for the treatment of COVID-19, the statement said.
Notably, Yoga guru Ramdev's herbal medicine company Patanjali Ayurved today claimed to have discovered cure for COVID-19 but no medical authority could immediately vouch for the claim of 'Coronil and Swasari' medicine curing the highly contagious disease within seven days.
Patanjali claimed that the two Ayurved-based medicines have shown 100 per cent favourable results during clinical trials on COVID-19 infected patients except those on a life support system.
Ramdev told mediapersons that the medicines have been developed by Patanjali Research Center, Haridwar and privately-owned National Institute of Medical Science, Jaipur following all protocols with clinically controlled trial-based evidence.
A police officer who slammed a handcuffed indigenous boy to the ground has escaped any punishment over the incident.
Shocking video footage shows the teenager being shoved and his face pushed into the pavement during an arrest outside Perth train station on July 7, 2018.
Despite being sat down on a bollard and handcuffed, the boy is then seen being thrown to the ground by an officer, causing him to hit his head on the pavement.
An internal investigation found the force used by the officer was 'necessary and not excessive', according to the Guardian.
The decision comes amid rising concerns about police attitudes towards indigenous people in Australia and New Zealand.
It follows the death of American man George Floyd, who died after a policeman knelt on his neck for eight minutes, sparking the Black Lives Matter protest movement.
The CCTV footage from Perth showed the teenager surrounded by five police officers, sitting down with his hands tied behind his back.
He then appears to speak to the officers, and is then grabbed and dragged to the ground, where he hit his head.
An officer is then seen using his forearm to push the boy's face into the pavement for almost 60 seconds, before another officers pulls his legs up and leans on him.
The officers are seen grappling with the boy on the floor outside Perth train station on July 7, 2018 (pictured) with an internal investigation claiming they didn't use excessive force
The boy cried out in pain, according to a witness, who was also arrested for obstructing police after trying to intervene.
'It's excessive force,' Nicholas van Hattem, president of the WA Law Society, said.
'Once someone has been detained and placed in handcuffs, if there's not a physical risk there, and it seems very clear from the footage that there isn't, there seems to be no reason to push him to the ground in that way.'
The internal police investigation heard that the officer believed the teenager 'had spat at them or was preparing to spit at them'.
It found the officers have no case to answer and hadn't used excessive force.
Witness Tanya De Souza-Meally (pictured, far right) is seen pleading with police on the night in question, saying they were 'hurting' the teenage boy
The eyewitness arrested for obstruction, which was later dropped, said she had been walking past the train station when she saw the boy surrounded by police.
'I overheard this boy sounding kind of distressed. He was saying 'I want to get home, how am I going to get home',' witness Tanya De Souza-Meally explained.
She said the officers' actions towards the boy had been 'shocking and brazen', saying she had pleaded with them to 'stop hurting him'.
The Black Lives Matter protests began in the US after Mr Floyd's death on May 25, but soon spread to Australia and New Zealand.
Activists have been calling for better treatment for indigenous people, and for an end to Aboriginal deaths in police custody.
Black Lives Matter protesters rally in Melbourne's CBD on June 6 (pictured) as the treatment of indigenous people is put under the spotlight
Despite there being certain voices including of three state governments against the auction of some coal blocks for commercial mining, the Centre has gone ahead with the process. The two-layer auction will be completed by July. The Prime Minister in a speech on June 18 said that environmental concerns would be fully taken care of. However, a close scrutiny of the situation raises several questions.
The list of total 41 coal blocks up for auction includes 14 which had been classified as 'no-go' in 2010 because of their dense forest cover and environmental value. The study was not approved as a rule in 2012 on the pretext that classification on more scientific and objective parameters to identify inviolate forest areas would be done. The said classification on the six parameters which were suggested in 2012 is still pending. The government had asked the Forest Survey of India to suggest inviolate forest areas among coal blocks and the first list was submitted in August 2014. But the ministry of coal had been continuously seeking more and more coal blocks out of the inviolate list.
The exercise is being done without putting any information in the public domain which is contrary to the report of the committee that has suggested violate and inviolate classification. Still there are 14 coal blocks earlier classified as no-go and 8 coal blocks in the present auction list which have been classified as inviolate by the FSI.
A careful scrutiny of the 41 coal blocks state/coalfield-wise makes it apparent that no application of mind has been exercised while selecting the mines for the present auction as many coal blocks of the same state or coalfield with much less forested areas are available for allotment or auction.
Chhattisgarh
There are 9 coal blocks of north Chhattisgarh which have been included in the auction list and 5 of them, namely Madanpur North, Morga 2, Morga South, Sayang and Fatehpur East have been classified as no-go and inviolate as well. The Chhattisgarh government has written to the Centre that all the coal blocks in environmentally sensitive areas like the catchment of Hasdeo and Mand river and proposed elephant reserve should be spared from the auction. The Hasdeo Arand coalfield is unique as all its coal blocks were classified as no-go, but there are at least 30 coal blocks in the nearby Mand Raigarh coalfield which were classified as go areas and could have been put up for auction instead.
Maharashtra
Only three coal blocks have been listed for auction from Maharashtra which are Bander, Marki Mangli 2 and Takli-Jena-Bellora North and South. Among them, Bander is within 10km of the periphery of the famous Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and on a tiger corridor whereas Marki Mangli 2 was classified as no-go in 2010 because of its dense forest cover. It is pertinent to note that in the Wardha coalfield of Maharashtra, a total 97 coal blocks were examined under the go/no-go study and only 16 were classified as no-go, leaving 81 blocks available for mining. In this situation, selecting Bander and Marki Mangli 2 for auction does not make any sense. The state has raised objections, citing the tiger corridor.
Jharkhand
There are 9 coal blocks that have been included from Jharkhand for the auction and the state government has now challenged the Centres decision in the Supreme Court on various grounds including environment. At least 3 out of 9 coal blocks of North Karanpura coalfield of Jharkhand had been classified as no-go, namely Chakla, North Dhadhu and Gondulpara.
All these three have been put up for auction while 33 coal blocks of the same North Karanpura coalfield, classified as go areas, are available.
Madhya Pradesh
Out of the 10 coal blocks picked for the present auction, at least three are contentious: Marki Barka and Bandha had been classified as no-go areas and Marwatola as inviolate. The Marki Barka and Bandha blocks are in Singrauli coalfield of MP which had 19 coal blocks in the go areas, while the Marwatola block is in Sohagpur coalfield which had 68 coal blocks classified as go areas. The Marwatola coal block is situated in the tiger corridor of Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and it has been classified as inviolate as well.
Odisha
Of the 10 blocks picked from Odisha, only one, Phuljhari East and West, had been classified as no-go. The has not red-flagged this auction yet as most of its no-go blocks have not been included.
In a nutshell, experts say it can be concluded that environmental concerns have not been addressed while finalising the list of the coal blocks. The PM said in his speech on more than one occasion that I have been apprised by officials... which indicates that there is a lack of prudent and objective advice in the entire process as he said all environmental aspects have been considered which, ecologists say, does not appear to be the case here.
A wave of gun violence has washed over New York City since the beginning of June leaving dozens of victims in its bloody wake, with a dramatic spike of 28 shootings between Friday and Sunday.
Latest crime statistics released by the New York City Police Department show a whopping 342 per cent jump in shootings last week 53 compared to 12 the same time last year.
The numbers from the NYPD also show a 414 per cent increase in the total number of people shot between last Monday and Sunday 74 compared to 14 in 2019.
According to police, there were a total of 28 shootings with 38 victims across four of the five boroughs in the 72-hour span between Friday and Sunday.
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Kenneth Singleton's shooting was caught on surveillance video showing a man walking up to him and shooting him in the neck (pictured) in Brooklyn on Sunday. It was one of 28 shootings that were reported in the city over a 72-hour span
Singleton, 35, a clothing designer and graffiti artist from Brooklyn's East New York who was killed while washing his car, was among 18 people shot on Saturday alone
Eight of the shootings were reported on Friday, followed by 18 on Saturday and two on Sunday, leaving at least two people dead, reported CBS New York.
The Bronx was hit the hardest by instances of gun violence over the weekend; Brooklyn was the site of four of the shootings, with Queens logging two shootings and Manhattan one, according to NBC New York.
One of the fatalities, 35-year-old clothing designer and graffiti artist Kenneth Singleton, was seen on surveillance video being shot in the neck at point-blank range while washing his car outside his home in the East New York section of Brooklyn late Saturday morning. So far, no arrests have been made.
New York City was only one of several major US cities that saw a sharp spike in shootings last weekend.
Fourteen people, including five children, were killed and more than 100 people were shot in a wave of gunfire in Chicago between Saturday and Sunday that produced the citys highest number of shooting victims in a single weekend this year.
The latest crime statistics from the NYPD show a 342 per cent jump in shootings last week compared to the same time in 2019
Brooklyn was the site of four of the shootings that were reported over the weekend
More bloodshed was reported in Minneapolis, Seattle, Charlotte, North Carolina, Riverside, California and Phoenix, leaving dozens of people dead.
In New York City, numbers for the first three weeks of June paint a similarly troubling picture, with a total of 125 shooting incidents reported across the five boroughs.
'We have to go back to June of 1996 to get a worse start for June,' Chief of Crime Control Strategies Michael LiPetri told The New York Post on Monday.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the uptick in shootings, which he characterized as a 'troubling trend,' during a press conference on Monday.
'Were not going back to the bad old days when there was so much violence in this city,' he said, referring to a time during the 1990s when New York City was notorious for its skyrocketing crime rates. 'We are not going to allow gun violence to continue to grow in this city.'
There were a total of 28 shootings with 38 victims between last Friday and Sunday
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio address the uptick in shootings on Monday, saying in part: 'Were not going back to the bad old days when there was so much violence in this city'
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea (left) last week announced the disbandment of an anti-crime plainclothes unit that had focused on getting illegal guns off the streets
De Blasio outlined two specific initiatives aimed at curbing the spread of gun violence in the city, including the 'Summer All-Out' program that will put hundreds of officers on the streets in precincts that have been seeing spikes in gun-related crimes, and Curb Violence crisis management groups that will work in the same high-crime areas.
The uptick in shootings comes just days after NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea disbanded an anti-crime plainclothes unit that had focused on getting illegal guns off the streets.
Shea announced the closure of the unit last week in a nod to intensifying calls for police reform following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in May, which sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the US and abroad.
Police said a 3-year-old Chicago boy was shot and killed over the weekend, becoming one of 14 people killed in the city between Friday and Sunday
CHARLOTTE: In North Carolina's biggest city, an impromptu block party spiraled into chaos when multiple shooters opened fire, killing two and leaving seven injured
In announcing the change, Shea acknowledged that anti-crime units were responsible for a disproportionate number of shootings and complaints.
During an interview on NY1 on Monday, Shea said he was not surprised by the rise in shootings, characterizing the worrying trend as a 'storm on the horizon' that he had predicted months ago.
'We had a hundred shootings in May first time we hit that number in probably five years. We were trending up before COVID hit on shooting,' he said. 'The shame of this is Ive been warning people since November or December that this is coming. A month or two ago, I told you that there is a storm on the horizon.'
Update: The Randy Rogers Band has canceled its Friday concerts at John T. Floore Country Store in Helotes because of a new limit on crowd sizes in response to a spike in COVID-19 cases here.
The band was scheduled to play two shows Friday at the historic dancehall. They would have been the first concerts by a big-name performer in the San Antonio area since music venues closed in March as part of the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
On Tuesday, San Antonio and Bexar County updated their emergency ordinances to limit outdoor gatherings to 100 people. The Floore shows were to have a capacity of 500 each.
Refunds are available at point of purchase.
For country music fans, a night under the stars at John T. Floore Country Store is as cherished and familiar as a favorite pair of cowboy boots. After nearly 80 years, the good times are virtually guaranteed.
When its a really big outdoor show Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam or the Randy Rogers Band, for example the rituals are a given: parking blocks away in the darkness at the rustic setting out Texas 16. The crunch of loose asphalt underfoot. Navigating the sea of people. Music that owes a debt to Hank Williams.
More Information Randy Rogers Band Where: John T. Floore Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Road, Helotes When: 6:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, June 26 Tickets: General admission $30-$40 each sold in groups of four; tables for four $350-$600. Phone: 210-695-8827 Guidelines: Masks required; social distancing; credit card payments preferred; clear bags and small purse only; no backpacks, camera bags, mesh bags, oversize totes or purses See More Collapse
They all ring nostalgic in this time of COVID-19.
It was not unusual for Nelson, Yoakam, Rogers and other big names to attract way more than 3,000 fans to concerts at the venerable roadhouses mythic outdoor stage. Sometimes those crowds reached 4,000, said Mark McKinney, Floore owner and talent buyer.
Friday will be different as Randy Rogers and Floores Store present one of the areas first big concerts in months as musicians and venues try to work out how to entertain fans safely even as COVID-19 cases are spiking.
Rogers and McKinney said it can be done by taking cautionary measures such as social distancing, requiring patrons to wear masks and limiting capacity.
The folks at Floore have put in very stringent safety measures and are not going to oversell the show, said Rogers, who owns Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos and is a partner in Whitewater Amphitheater near Canyon Lake. We dont want any issues with anybody about safety. We want to play by the rules.
The Randy Rogers Band will play two shows Friday. Capacity is being held to 500 per show.
This not a money grab, said Rogers, noting that live music is going to be among the last industries to recover from pandemic-related shutdowns. Its us trying to provide our fans a live-music setting that is safe and compliant.
The band hasnt played a live show since the beginning of March. Their last gig was in New York right before the city shut down.
Its going to be hard for any musician to make money during this time, Rogers said. Its a very scary time for myself and my band and our crew and our families. Our way of life has been uprooted.
This show is going to be great for the bands morale.
It should be a celebratory night. The Randy Rogers Band is celebrating 20 years together in October, and last years Hellbent was one of the best records of their career.. You, Me and the Bottle, the current single, is the bands highest charting ever.
Rogers also has an excellent album out with friend Wade Bowen - Hold My Beer, Vol. 2.
McKinney said he feels good about Friday, which he called as an effort to safely support the ecosystem of employees and bands.
He described the concerts as cabaret-style, seated shows. Efforts have been made to have tables spaced out and to limit how chairs are grouped.
We will be requiring patrons to wear a mask as they are moving around, and entering and exiting the venue, McKinney said.
Its likely the template for all shows going forward at Floore, which is not open daily right now. There will be no indoor shows for the foreseeable future, either.
We felt (outdoors) is something we could do safely, and we made a plan. McKinney said. As far as how all of it works and how people respond, itll be a lot easier after we do the first one. Just because its a brand-new idea and a brand-new setup. Youve never seen Floore look like this.
Garage rocker Eric Friedland, who leads Los #3 Dinners, said fans are willing to comply. The band recently played at the reopened Sams Burger Joint, and they were wary, even with the masks.
I dont want to risk my life for 100 bucks playing in a beer joint, Friedland joked.
Everyones got the itch to keep rockin, both the band and the audience, he added. We want to help the clubs that help us. And thats a big part of it.
Weve got to slowly but surely get back to normal, though the world will never be quite the same. Its the new reality. But in our world, the more crowded the better.
All acknowledge that new reality will not be optimum for the music biz.
I dont know what the music industry is going to look like going forward through all this madness, Rogers said. I always thought being a musician was kinda recession-proof. When times are good, people want to go out and have fun. And when times are bad, people want to go out and have fun more.
This pandemic is unlike anything. Its unprecedented for the music industry. Its literally killed the music industry. But at the end of the day, there is nothing like a concert. No musician on planet earth is accustomed to singing into a computer. But that could be the new norm.
Hector Saldana is the curator of the Texas Music Collection at The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos
23.06.2020 LISTEN
The National Democratic Congress(NDC) has listed a number of fake promises which SHALL NOT make John Dramani Mahama President again in Ghana.
The promises articulated by inexperienced Sammy Gyamfi are very empty, poor in thoughts, and lacks quantitative and qualitative understanding.
These are the shallowness and emptiness of John Mahama's Campaign promises:
1. John Mahama lacks the trustworthiness, integrity, and credibility to pay all customers of the collapsed financial institutions and restore indigenous Ghanaian participation in the financial sector.
It is important to state that, all the collapsed financial institutions were caused by the mismanagement, wasteful, and Incompetent leadership of careless John Mahama's administration. It took the bold intervention of President Akufo-Addo's Government to safeguard the funds of depositors, as well as saved indigenous banks such as UMB, Prudential Bank, CBG, Agricultural Development Bank, National Investment Bank, etc.
John Mahama miserably failed to pay customers of DKM and others which collapsed in 2015. It took a trustworthy Akufo-Addo to address the concerns of the customers of DKM and others.
2. What NDC failed to appreciate and understand is that it is not about the size of Government that matters, rather the ability to sustain value for money, avoidance of wastage of resources(judicious use of resources), and the ability to minimize corruption related practices. You can run Government with only 2 people and still collapse the productive sectors of the economy at the detriment of Ghanaians.
It is very important to remind NDC that, Former President Mills declared on campaign platforms around the Country to work with a smaller government in a bid to cut down on protocol spending. Interestingly, Former President Mills ended up having a very large Government than his predecessor John Agyekum Kufuor but with little achievements to boast of before his sad demise allegedly caused by elements within the NDC.
John Mahama took over from Professor Mills and even escalated the size of Government beyond and above his Boss. Categorically, the wastage of resources and misplaced Political Appointments under John Mahama surpasses all his predecessors.
3. This is the same Political Party who were and still against Free Senior High School Policy. How can they be promising free Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) while at the same time against Free SHS Policy? Where and how are they going to fund the free TVET (Sources of Funding)?, Why and When do they intend to implement free TVET(Timelines)?
The Incompetent John Mahama should note that President Akufo-Addo has already included Free Technical and Vocational Education(TVET) as part of his topnotch agenda to run concurrently with the Free SHS Policy. Sorry, John Mahama and NDC, you people are very late on this promise.
4. Institute a National Apprenticeship Program is just a Political jargon without any sense of commitment. How many jobs and industries have NDC established /created since their 27years reign of power?
The proposed National Apprenticeship Program by the NDC is a plagiarized version of the Presidential Pitch Program, and Business Resource Centre(BRC).
The Business Resource Center(BRC) is mandated to promote and support the national Industrialization agenda of the Akufo-Addo Government and serve as a one-stop-shop for business development, job creation, and investment.
The Presidential Pitch Program by Akufo-Addo's Government is aimed at creating and raising indigenous entrepreneurs for the Country thereby expanding job opportunities for the Youth of this Country.
5. When and where did the NDC suddenly obtain wisdom to scrap taxes? When and how did NDC and John Mahama suddenly realize that Killer taxes affect the cost of living and the cost of doing business in Ghana?. As a matter of fact, John Mahama's administration has no moral right and justification to talk about taxes when he introduced the worst Killer taxes ever seen in the 4th Republic without Value for money. The Communication Service Tax is contributing positively to Sustainability of the major projects and programmes of Akufo-Addo's administration.
6. Akufo-Addo's Government has already assured the good people of Ghana the Construction of Regional Hospitals in the six(6)newly created Regions and Regions without a proper Regional Hospital.
7. Akufo-Addo's government has already announced the construction of hospitals in every District of Ghana, beginning with the Construction of 88 across the Country.
8. The proposed "Onipa Nua" Hospital Ship by the NDC to the inaccessible riverine and fishing communities on the inland Volta Waterways is a very Big Scam just like the NHIS one-time premium policy promised by Former President John Atta Mills and NDC in 2008. NDC wasted 8years in Office without any commitment to the NHIS one-time premium policy.
John Mahama's Government wasted 5.5million dollars to procured bogus Ambulances("Onuador" Mobile Vans) without any consideration for the medical needs and emergency needs of the National Ambulance Service. Mahama's Ambulances were not fit for purpose.
9. Akufo-Addo's Government has already commenced the construction of international standard Infectious Disease Isolation and Treatment Facility funded by Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund. More of such facilities are going to be constructed across the Country to even serve other African Countries who lack the capacity to construct such facilities.
Plans are also far advanced to begin the construction of Medical Research Centers to complement the efforts of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research(NMIMR).
Again, the lazy thinkers in NDC have plagiarized the idea of President Akufo-Addo.
10. The abolishment of the double-track system of secondary education is one of the laziest and dumb approaches in the midst of COVID-19.
The Coronavirus pandemic has taught us to utilize the virtual model of teaching and learning. Every sensible Government is planning on how best to utilize technological solutions to help Students as a result of the unexpected pandemic.
Moreover, it is important to Point out to the NDC that, there are massive infrastructural drive taking place in the various Senior High Schools under President Akufo-Addo. The double-track was a short term solution to the overwhelming rise in enrollments as the result of Akufo-Addo's Free SHS Policy.
11. Akufo-Addo's Government has already committed to the establishment of University Campuses in each of the Six(6) newly created Regions under the NPP Government.
12. It is only a shallow mind who thinks that national Service to the State and professional License exams for Teachers is not a good policy. Who canceled Allowance for Teacher trainees? Obviously John Mahama.
13. In all humility, NDC under John Mahama is gradually becoming a very useless organisation who easily forget their own atrocities. Who canceled Allowance for Nursing trainees? Obviously John Mahama.
It took President Akufo-Addo to employ about 70, 000 Nurses who were jobless under Incompetent John Mahama.
14. Cocoa Farmers are already enjoying free quality cocoa fertilizer and chemicals under President Akufo-Addo. This year, cocoa farmers would be enjoying an unprecedented rise in Cocoa Prices.
15. The Eastern Corridor Roads, Aflao, Cape Coast, and Kumasi roads are already receiving attention under the Year of Roads Policy under President Akufo-Addo.
John Mahama and NDC wasted 8years without completion of Eastern Corridor roads, with no interchange in Volta Region, with no dual roads in Aflao, and finally completion of Kumasi-Accra Road.
16. Another shambolic and anus scratching campaign promises from John Mahama. Hospital and health projects, educational projects, road projects, and other infrastructural projects started by former President Kufuor and Professor Mills were never completed under John Mahama's Administration within the 8years of NDC. How can we trust John Mahama coming again with these empty promises?
17. When it comes to corruption and nepotism, Lordina Mahama herself knows very well her husband is a legend so I will not waste time to even list the number of gargantuan corrupt and nepotistic cases under John Mahama's Administration.
18. NDC and John Mahama wasted 8years without resourcing Births and Deaths Registry, not to even talk about the National Identification Authority which are critical Institutions of improving the National population register.
In conclusion, John Mahama and NDC totally lack the track record, credibility, integrity, commitment, dignity, and honesty to implement any of the Campaign promises articulated by inexperienced Sammy Gyamfi, NDC National Communication Officer.
...Signed...
Razak Kojo Opoku
(CVM Founder and President)
A mother-of-four, who is the first American patient to have her genes edited with the controversial CRISPR technology to treat her sickle cell disease, says the technology is working.
Victoria Gray, 34, of Forest, Mississippi, has suffered from the debilitating blood disorder her entire life.
She was in so much pain at one point that she wasn't even able to lift a spoon, let alone take care of her children.
Sickle cell disease affects as many as 100,000 Americans - a disproportionate number of whom are black, like Gray - and while treatments may alleviate symptoms, they do nothing to address the underlying disease.
But the genetically modified cells that doctors have inserted into her body seem to be reversing and relieving the symptoms of the debilitating illness, NPR reported.
Tests show no signs that Gray's DNA has changed, and she says she no longer experiences the severe bouts of pain that would leave her hospitalized several times a year.
Victoria Gray, 34 (left and right), of Forest, Mississippi, became the first American patient to use CRISPR to treat her sickle cell disease. The gene-editing tool created new fetal hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein, to cancel out the faulty hemoglobin that was causing her red blood cells to stick together in blood vessels
Gray says she no longer suffers from severe bouts of pain that would leave her hospitalized and hasn't needed blood transfusions or narcotics. Pictured: Gray with three of her children
'It's wonderful. It's the change I've been waiting on my whole life,' Gray told NPR.
'It's hard to put into words the joy that I feel - being grateful for a change this big. It's been amazing,'
Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder that affects the way in which red blood cells circulate oxygen through the body.
The disorder causes red blood cells to have a crescent, or sickle, shape instead of the normal round shape.
Sickle cells die prematurely, which causes a shortage of red blood cells. When they do pass through blood vessels, they stick together and block vessels, preventing blood from properly flowing.
The buildup of sickle cells that periodically occurs in Gray's blood vessels often leaves her in immense pain.
HOW DOES CRISPR DNA EDITING WORK? The CRISPR gene editing technique is being used an increasing amount in health research because it can change the building blocks of the body. At a basic level, CRISPR works as a DNA cutting-and-pasting operation. Technically called CRISPR-Cas9, the process involves sending new strands of DNA and enzymes into organisms to edit their genes. In humans, genes act as blueprints for many processes and characteristics in the body they dictate everything from the colour of your eyes and hair to whether or not you have cancer. The components of CRISPR-Cas9 the DNA sequence and the enzymes needed to implant it are often sent into the body on the back of a harmless virus so scientists can control where they go. Cas9 enzymes can then cut strands of DNA, effectively turning off a gene, or remove sections of DNA to be replaced with the CRISPRs, which are new sections sent in to change the gene and have an effect they have been pre-programmed to produce. But the process is controversial because it could be used to change babies in the womb initially to treat diseases but could lead to a rise in 'designer babies' as doctors offer ways to change embryos' DNA. Source: Broad Institute Advertisement
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease is far more common among African Americans, with an estimated one in 13 born with the trait.
About in in 365 African American and black babies are born with the disease itself and many will die in their 40s.
Treatment mainly focuses on alleviating symptoms, such as pain and infections, through blood transfusions and painkillers.
But this new experimental treatment, which Gray received on July 2, 2019, is different.
Scientists removed cells from her bone marrow and edited a gene to make new fetal hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein.
This is typically only produced by fetuses in the womb to get oxygen from their mothers' blood.
If it works, the fetal protein might be a lifelong fix for Gray and hundreds of thousands more sickle cell sufferers around the world by compensating for the defective hemoglobin her body makes.
Blood tests viewed by NPR showed that about 46 percent of the hemoglobin in Gray's system is fetal hemoglobin, with 99.7 percent of her red blood cells containing some of it.
The team says they would have considered the treatment successful if just 20 percent of the hemoglobin in her system was fetal hemoglobin.
Over the last two years, Gray told NPR she would be hospitalized about seven times a year due to her pain, and she would need either regular blood transfusions or prescription narcotics.
Now, she no longer has serious bouts of pain, has not needed to be hospitalized and has not required any blood transfusions.
'High school graduations, college graduations, weddings, grandkids - I thought I wouldn't see none of that,' Gray told the radio station.
'Now I'll be there to help my daughters pick out their wedding dresses and we'll be able to take family vacations and they'll have their mom every step of the way.'
Gray's condition means many of her red blood cells are shaped like sticky sickles (center), instead of being smooth, round and oxygen-rich disks
In Fall 2019, Gray's husband, who is in the National Guard, was deployed to Washington.
She says she doesn't know how she would have been able to take care of her three children on her own if not for the treatment.
'Since my treatment I've been able to do everything for myself, everything for my kids,' Gray told NPR.
'And so it's been joy not only for me but for the people around me that's in my life.'
Although animal and petri dish tests have been successful enough to get the Food and Drug Administration's go-ahead for live human trials, it's never been done before.
It's possible that CRISPR could make undesired DNA changes, for the worse, so the scientists say they will need to follow Gray for years to make sue
Women in Suweida have gathered to protest the transferring of those arrested at recent protests to Damascus, and called for their release reports Suweida 24 Network.
Suweida city witnessed a protest yesterday by a group of women demanding the release of those detained at recent demonstrations, some of whom were transferred to Damascus by the Assad regime.
A group of women from Suweida governorate participated in a protest in front of the governorate building in Suweida city demanding freedom for the detainees.
The protest came after the Assad regime transferred some of the detainees who had been arrested at recent protests to security branches in the capital, Damascus.
Negotiations over the detainees faltered after the Security Committee decided to transfer most of the movements detainees to Damascus.
On Sunday, Suweidas Youth of the Peaceful Movement called for the return of protests to the street, and for them to, not cease their demands, foremost of which is immediate release of the detainees, according to a statement they released.
Those in the movemant had waited, in good faith for release of the detainees, without any movement on the street, the statement said.
The statement called on the people of Suweida to stand up for, honor and dignity, to support their brothers who went out and called for the demands of everyone.
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.
The war over the proper way to remember the nations troubled past heated up this week as police dispersed a crowd attempting to pull down a statue of Andrew Jackson Donald Trumps favorite predecessor near the White House. But memorials to other former presidents, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, fell to the crowds that have been gathering nightly in many cities since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis galvanized public support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
While many Americans believe the nation should not continue to glorify the memory of the Confederacy and the institution of slavery, others, like President Trump, have countered that keeping memorials and honorary names in place honors the Great American Heritage.
The number of statues that have been removed some placed into storage by government officials or local institutions and others yanked to the ground by protesters illustrates how broad the reevaluation of historical reputations has been.
Historians, of course, are always reassessing the past in light of new research and evolving social and political values. The men (as they all are) whose statues have been toppled arent being written out of the history books; the protests are directed at the idea that they deserve a place of honor in Americas civic life.
Here are six examples that illustrate both straightforward cases (an ardent supporter of slavery who made war on the United States) and more complex ones (the Union general who defeated the South but once briefly was a slave owner) for the removal of statues meant to honor the figures they depict.
Jefferson Davis, 1808-1889
Kentuckys Historic Properties Advisory Commission voted on June 12 to remove a statue of Jefferson Davis from the state Capitol in Frankfort, where it had stood since 1936. Davis was not just a slave owner and unrepentant apologist for slavery as a moral, a social and a political blessing, but literally a traitor to the United States, the president of the Confederacy for the duration of the Civil War. In the aftermath, counties, schools, parks, museums, mountains, hospitals and highways were named after him, as well as former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In recent years, statues of Davis have been taken down across the country, and that has only sped up in the wake of Floyds killing and the nationwide protests that have followed. On June 10, protesters pulled down a Davis statue on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Va., the former capital of the Confederacy.
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Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear operates a crane that removes a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from the rotunda of the Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. (Bryan Woolston/Reuters)
Ulysses S. Grant, 1822-1885
President Ulysses S. Grant the man who led the Union Army to victory over the Confederacy, thereby helping to bring about an end to slavery seems an unlikely target for protests inspired by Black Lives Matter. But a statue of Grant was ripped from its pedestal in San Franciscos Golden Gate Park by protesters on Juneteenth, the holiday marking the end of slavery in America. Grant, some of the protesters noted, had owned a slave the year before the Civil War. And as president he presided over some of the bloodiest battles of the Indian Wars. Yet Grant freed his own slave before the Civil War began, insisted on equal treatment for African-American and white prisoners of war by Confederate forces and sought to destroy the Ku Klux Klan in the years after the Norths victory. As president, he helped ratify the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave African-Americans the right to vote.
Nearby statue of Ulysses S. Grant is also toppled. He was a slave owner too, before the Civil War. Thats three for three this night. pic.twitter.com/Lyw6bXeOTO Joe Rivano Barros (@jrivanob) June 20, 2020
Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919
The American Museum of Natural History in New York City announced Sunday that it would remove an outdoor statue of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, who helped the museum assemble its collection of artifacts. The objections to the monument had less to do with Roosevelt himself than with the statue, by American sculptor James Earle Fraser, which depicts Roosevelt on horseback alongside two walking figures of African-American and Native American men. The iconography had been the subject of numerous complaints from patrons who considered it a homage to colonialism.
Over the last few weeks, our museum community has been profoundly moved by the ever-widening movement for racial justice that has emerged after the killing of George Floyd, the museums president, Ellen V. Futter, said in an interview with the New York Times. We have watched as the attention of the world and the country has increasingly turned to statues as powerful and hurtful symbols of systemic racism.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city supported the museums decision to remove the problematic statue, and Roosevelts own great-grandson, a trustee at the museum, said he also agreed. But Trump signaled his displeasure with the planned move.
Andrew Jackson, 1767-1845
Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, brought 14 slaves from his Tennessee plantation with him to the White House in 1829. By the time of his death he owned 150 African-Americans. As president he oversaw the forcible relocation of Native Americans from ancestral land east of the Mississippi, an act of genocide that is remembered as the Trail of Tears. The brutal eviction cleared land for rich white settlers to start cotton plantations run with the slave labor of Black people. Trump is said to admire Jackson and hung a portrait of him in the Oval Office.
On Monday night, protesters gathered near the White House in Lafayette Square, where they attempted to pull down a statue of Jackson. In response, Trump threatened them with 10 years in jail.
Protesters attempt to take down a statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Park in front of the White House, Monday. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)
Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826
The primary author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson penned the words that would change the course of history: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. But when he laid down that principle, Jefferson himself was a slave owner, and over his lifetime he would buy more than 600 slaves. It is now widely accepted that a woman who was enslaved in his household, Sally Hemings, was also his mistress and the mother of at least six of his unacknowledged children. He was by no means alone. Twelve of the first 18 presidents owned slaves. At the same time, however, Jefferson often spoke out against the institution of slavery and thought it represented the single greatest threat to the survival of the country, and he favored a plan to emancipate slaves gradually over time.
Last week, protesters in Portland, Ore., cited Jeffersons slave-owning past to justify the toppling of a statue of the third American president that stood in front of Jefferson High School.
At his rally in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday night, Trump railed against the protesters, saying that the left-wing anarchists tore down a statue of Thomas Jefferson.
A statue of Thomas Jefferson brought down by protesters in Portland, Ore. (Kate Kaye)
George Washington, 1732-1799
Like Jefferson, George Washington was a slave owner who often expressed reservations about the institution. He inherited his first slave at the age of 11, upon the death of his father in 1743. At the time of his death in 1799, Washington owned 123 slaves at his Mount Vernon plantation in Virginia. Famously, his own dentures comprised teeth pulled from the mouths of men he held in bondage. Months before Washington died, the nations first president wrote in his will that his slaves should be freed after the passing of his wife, Martha, who died in 1802. But the slaves belonging to Washington were instead transferred to his wifes family.
The same Portland protesters who toppled the statue of Jefferson also downed one of Washington, spray-painting the words Genocidal Colonist on it. A second statue of Washington was defaced in Baltimore last week, the words Destroy Racists painted on its pedestal.
Cover thumbnail composite: Bryan Woolston/Reuters, Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images, Joe Rivano Barros/Twitter
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Read more from Yahoo News:
Three alleged victims of former High Court judge Dyson Heydon will seek compensation from both the federal government and the former top judge.
Lawyers representing the alleged victims, whose allegations of harassment were uncovered by an independent investigation, have also threatened to take Mr Heydon to the Human Rights Commission if he did not agree to enter settlement talks.
Former High Court Justice Dyson Heydon sexually harassed six young female associates, an independent inquiry by the court has found. Credit:Ben Rushton
Maurice Blackburn lawyer Josh Bornstein said he would write to Mr Heydons lawyers shortly to request talks about settlement terms, but was "not optimistic they will take up that invitation".
Mr Bornstein said while the government had indicated it intended to enter talks, the former top judge continued to resolutely maintain his innocence.
If you think French exiting a Zoom meeting (i.e. leaving without saying goodbye) is rude, and youve already exhausted every excuse in the book about why youre sorry but you really must go right now, there is hope for you yet in the form of a new and ingenious product out of Japan: the YOUMECOME machine, or the Video call emergency escape machine.
From the brain of Japanese inventor Marina Fujiwara, the escape machine is a real life prop that looks identical to the loading circle that appears in the middle of a persons screen when their video chat freezes. Place it in front of your computer screen, flip a switch on the machines base and the loading circle will pop out, giving others online the impression your computer has frozen. From the products listing: When you want to leave an online meeting, you can use this machine to easily leave without making the other person feel uncomfortable.
Of course, the product will only work if you pretend to be frozen too, meaning its success requires a bit of acting on the users part. Its also pricey at roughly 4,000 yen (about $50 Canadian.) In other words, its a bit of a gimmick.
But gimmicky as it may be, I suspect the Video call emergency escape machine will someday find its way into a museum exhibit about the pandemic, as it appears to be the first product developed to address a growing problem of our time: video conferencing fatigue, or Zoom fatigue.
You might have read about this phenomenon or experienced it without knowing it has a name. Whatever the case, Zoom fatigue has emerged as the most popular term for the feeling of exhaustion and annoyance that overtakes a person when they are fed up with video-chatting.
This fatigue doesnt have to be Zoom specific. It can hit you on any video-conferencing platform, whether youre in an hours-long virtual work meeting at which your boss keeps forgetting to unmute himself (or worse, in which he cant figure out how to mute himself.)
It can hit you when youre FaceTiming your relatives, or in my case, when attending one of several large, virtual surprise birthday parties at which its painfully obvious that everyone present is yearning to exit the conversation, most of all the person whose birthday it is.
Whats ironic is that talk of Zoom fatigue seems to be circulating at exactly the moment when Zoom itself is taking steps to make its platform more accessible (last week the company announced it will offer end-to-end encryption to all users, whether they pay for the service or not.)
A prime reason for this creeping fatigue, explains Steve Joordens, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough, is that where video-conferencing once helped us cope with the unpredictability of the pandemic, today our patience with the medium is wearing thin.
When the pandemic first hit, says Joordens, a lot of us were struggling with What does this mean? How are we going to live? The anxiety reaction was like when a bear steps out of the woods. We didnt know what the bear was: how big it was, how many people it would kill.
Video-conferencing, he argues, was a little bit of a saviour. It conveyed to us, dont worry, theres a window thats still open for social interaction.
It was an imperfect window, no doubt, through which we couldnt (and still cant) make proper eye contact, and through which non-verbal cues are almost impossible to read. But it did the job fine at the time.
Zoom takes you halfway there, says Joordens. Which is great if youre feeling like youve got nothing. But today, he says, many are feeling like halfway doesnt cut it.
Fast forward to June and we still dont know nearly enough about the bear that stepped out of the woods a.k.a. COVID-19 but we certainly know a lot more than we did in March, and we know enough to at least try to mitigate the risk to ourselves and our families and with it, perhaps, to mitigate our anxiety.
In other words, suggests Joordens, Zoom fatigue might be evidence of something positive: that many of us no longer need regular video-conferencing to feel connected and safe in the crisis. This isnt true for everyone of course not by a long shot. But maybe those of us who have come to take for granted the technology that allows us to be together when were apart, are doing better than we think.
In the end, its probably not a bad idea to get comfortable with the notion that these virtual meetings and parties arent temporary interferences. Toronto is a day away from entering Stage 2 of reopening, a move many experts think is premature. We may be Zooming for the long haul.
Haters should learn to love it, or shell out 50 bucks for a Video call emergency escape machine.
The temporary suspension of foreign work visas is expected to free up to 5,25,000 jobs in the US, senior officials said after President Donald Trump issued a proclamation to ban until the end of the year popular non-immigrant visas, including H-1B and L1, which benefit Indian IT professionals.
"The sum total of what these actions will do in terms of freeing up jobs over the course of the rest of 2020 is about 5,25,000 jobs," a senior administration official told reporters during a conference call on Monday. "Quite a significant number, where President Trump is focusing on getting Americans back to work as quickly as possible after we've suffered this hit to our economy based on the coronavirus and the harm it's done," the official said.
A proclamation of Trump on Monday temporarily suspended till the end of the current year a number of popular non-immigrant visas including the H-1B, H-4, H-2B visa, J and L visas. "The H-1B is the high-tech visa. H-4 is the spouses of certain other visa holders, including H-1B and H-2B. H-2B is a bit of a low-skill catchall. The only ones that'll come in under the H-2B will be those in the food service industry, which is less than 15 per cent of all H-2Bs."
"Then, almost all working J visas will be excluded, and then all L visas. Ls are intra-company transfers from, say, company X, their facility in Germany to their facility in Michigan," the official said.
While maintaining the integrity of the asylum system, the president has closed a bunch of those loopholes, which, in addition to cleaning up the asylum system, will also free up more jobs for Americans. "That is done by regulation, however, not by the executive order," the official said.
Trump in his lengthy proclamation has directed the Department of Homeland Security to eliminate work permits of those who have final orders of removal or commit crimes in the United States or are deportable. The category alone is in excess of 50,000 jobs a year that will be opened up for Americans, the official said.
The White House later said the proclamation is part of the 'America first recovery' effort of Trump as he is expanding the suspension of certain visas through the end of the year to ensure American workers take first priority as the country recovers from the economic effects of the coronavirus.
Noting that Trump is extending the pause on new immigrant visas through the end of the year to ensure that the US continues putting American workers first during the ongoing coronavirus recovery, the White House said the president is building on this measure with an additional pause on several job-related non-immigrant visas H-1Bs, H-2Bs without a nexus to the food-supply chain, certain H-4s, as well as Ls and certain Js preserving jobs for American citizens.
Asserting that this will ensure businesses look to American workers first when hiring, the White House said that many workers have been hurt through no fault of their own due to coronavirus and they should not remain on the sidelines while being replaced by new foreign labour.
"The Trump administration has also finalised regulations to eliminate the incentive to file an asylum application for the primary purpose of obtaining an employment authorisation document. With some exceptions, we should not permit large numbers of foreign workers to enter the United States at a time when so many Americans are out of work," the White House said.
The White House asserted that American people stand by Trump as he takes commonsense action to preserve jobs for American citizens. "Polls show that the overwhelming majority of Americans support pausing immigration as we recover as a nation from the coronavirus pandemic," it said.
A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found that 65 per cent of those polled support pausing immigration into the country, including 61 per cent of minority respondents. A Pew Research Center poll found that 81 percent of Americans see mass immigration as a threat as we confront the challenges posed by the coronavirus, it added. Democrats and liberal commentators used to support such commonsense efforts to protect American jobs, the White House said.
Also read: 'Move towards merit-based immigration,' says Trump as he orders H-1B visa reforms
Also read: Ban on H-1B visas to hit innovation, foreign investment: US corporate sector
Callous burglars stabbed a beloved family dog so badly during a break-in that his leg may have to be amputated.
Brooke Carrello had only left her Perth home for an hour when she returned about 6.30pm on Monday to find her pitbull Thunder horribly injured.
The mother-of-one found the wounded animal lying in a pool of blood in her daughter's room where the thieves had locked him.
'He is in emergency and has lost all nerve feelings in his leg,' Ms Carrello said.
Brooke Carrello had only left her Perth home for an hour when she returned to find her pitbull (pictured with her) horribly injured
The mother-of-one found the wounded animal lying in a pool of blood in her daughter's room where the thieves had locked him
'The vet wants to amputate his leg so he has the best life a dog his size can have instead of having to drag his leg around.'
Ms Carrello said she initially thought her dog had been stolen when she opened her bedroom door to find the bed sheets covered in blood.
'He was locked in my daughters room in a pool of blood with my other 13 year old dog laying with him licking him,' she said.
'The carpet, walls, and bed are destroyed.'
Ms Carrello spent an anxious night at the vet while her dog was in surgery fighting for life as the blade slashed through a main artery.
Ms Carrello begged anyone with information to contact police and help her track down the cowardly burglars
Ms Carrello said she initially thought her dog had been stolen when she opened her bedroom door to find the bed sheets covered in blood (pictured)
'Anyone who knows me knows the love I have for this beautiful boy. He is not just a dog, he is my child,' she said.
'The feeling I felt last night when I walked into the house and saw the blood and found him locked in my daughters room... I was pretty much dying.'
Ms Carrello begged anyone with information to contact police.
More than $2,000 has been donated to a Facebook fundraiser to pay for the dog's vet bills.
'This vet bill is already pretty much unmanageable now for me,' she said.
At five past nine last Friday morning, Harry Jordan (65) looked over to John Savage and said, see you on the far side. They wouldnt speak again for the next three hours and ten minutes as they swam side by side all the way from Omeath to Carlingford.
During that five-mile swim, Harry took a wider line, further out, closer to the shipping lanes in Carlingford Lough - he was hoping to catch a favourable current to help guide him along - ultimately though, it didnt work out.
Meanwhile, John took a line closer to the shore, within 55 metres of it. Both would eventually finish up in Carlingford Harbour at more or less the exact same moment. Escorting them all the way was Graham McNally, positioned in a kayak, keenly watching their every stroke.
Speaking to the Democrat, having dried off afterwards, Harry explained just why two local men decided to undertake such a mission.
A number of years ago, a friend of ours in Camlough - Padraig Mallon - who has swam a couple of channels - formed a company called Infinity Channel Swimming. Padraig became a qualified pilot/validator of channel swims.
Harry continues: He started an event called Hit the Wall, an event held each May for the past six years. 200 swimmers come from all over the world to qualify to swim channels. Part of that swim is the Battle of Carlingford Lough.
This year the swim was cancelled and I thought to myself, during this whole Covid crisis, both myself and John Savage live within 1.5km of the harbour, so we decided to swim on.
We swim all year round, Harry adds. We swim 12 months of the year, five days of the week in water temperatures of 3.9 to 14 degrees. We decided it would be a shame to see it go down the tubes, so we decided to keep the swim alive.
But they wanted to do a little more, and make the swim even more worthwhile: To keep the swim alive we thought some organisation could benefit, hence SOSAD.
SOSAD, who have offices in Dundalk, offer services in suicide prevention and bereavement support.
As he speaks, it is clear Harry is passionate about the benefits of open water swimming. He has seen how it has helped people throughout the 40 years he has been swimming in the lough.
Ive met more people who are bi-polar, that have dependency problems - drugs, alcohol, and more people going through marriage split-ups and they use the water as therapy.
In recent years, Harry has also seen more people get involved.
To give you an example, I ran a swim here 35 years ago, around Christmas time, and I was the only swimmer.
The next year I got three more people, there were four. Last year we had well over 100. Thats 100 people out on Christmas Eve for a swim.
I might have been the catalyst to some degree, but not the entire driving force behind it.
Carlingford Swimmers is a group of like-minded individuals that Harry helped set up some time ago, but part of the reason behind its creation came from his own fears of open water swimming.
I got one or two frights over the years. Youre out a mile or two and you get what I call the heebee jeebies - what the f**k am I doing out here?
It does happen to you. Your mind plays tricks on you. Wed a five mile swim this morning. It was three hours in the water - but you dont stop. You keep swimming. A lot of thoughts go through your head when youre swimming. But all you can think of is the next stroke, the next breath. Is the wave gonna hit me? Is the wind gonna hit me?
There are things you cant control. You cant control the wind, you cant control the waves. All you can control is your own mental health during that three and half hours, or five miles, or ten miles, or 21 miles, as the channel (swim) is.
You go through apprehensive modes before you go into the water - what if I cramp up? What if the waves hit me? What if the wind turns? What if a boat cant see me? What if a jet ski appears out of the blue?
Youve no control over those things. All you can do is take control of what you can do. Your breathing, your stroke, your calmness. You have to get calm. You have to start feeling comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. Im uncomfortable here, but so what, I have to get comfortable with this.
Getting back to Fridays swim, Harry recounts a funny experience while out on the lough that morning.
Graham stopped a trawler between us and he collected 20 quid off him, Harry says. That trawler cost me a couple of minutes, but I wasnt worried about it. I saw the trawler. What we did before we swam was, we notified the coastguard and the gardai. We notified the larger fishing trawlers and they came back to us and said yeah, well avoid you, we notified the ferries and a captain messaged me last night and said good luck lads, were leaving at 9.30, if we see you, well slow down.
Sea swimming is in his blood and Carlingford has a world-pedigree reputation, partly because it is a designated Swim Validation Point for swimmers hoping to qualify to swim the Channel.
Even a small scale event attracts global talent, says Harry.
Last year I went ahead and got a medal commissioned for everyone that swam what we call the Marina Swim which is 2.5km and you get a free medal.
We had world channel swimmers that I know came over wanting to get this medal. These are guys that have swam 40km. It was a bit of craic and a bit of prestige and they got a cheapo medal from Carlingford Swimmers. Its a gimmick, but they all loved it.
I went to the ILDSA (Irish Long distance Swimming Association) annual awards with people from all over the world and they said we have to get this medal!.
Harry recounts the time a very prominent ocean swimmer came to Carlingford.
Linton Morton, who swam the Oceans Seven, came to Carlingford having swam the channel. Hes a barrister in Queensland in Australia.
He arrived over to London for a bit of work and decided hed swim to Jersey - headbanger!
But he arrived over to Carlingford and he decided to give us a shout at 4 oclock in the morning and said cmon were going for a swim. So we brought him to Larne, we got on a rib (type of boat) and took him out to the Mull of Kintyre and said good luck and he swam back to Ireland.
While clearly an extrovert on dry land, Harry is a much more serious character when he jumps into the sea.
I do a risk assessment. I check the tide, the current, I use a number of apps. Carlingford is a relatively safe place to swim, you haven't got riptides in it, too adverse weather conditions, and if it is rough outside, you stay within the harbour.
You cant afford to be an extrovert in the water, he warns.
Controlling the mind and maintaining mental wellbeing play a huge part in being able to swim inthe sea. For Harry its a fundamental part of what he has loved doing for 40 years.
The biggest distance youre ever gonna swim is the four inches between the two ears. Thats the hardest distance youll swim.
From talking to people over the years, the body can do a lot more than the mind will allow.
By Express News Service
CHENNAI: Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have condemned the alleged death of two traders in police custody in Sathankulam in Thoothukudi. Demanding answers from the state government on the incident, the opposition parties have called for stringent action against the police personnel.
Kin of P Jeyaraj, 63, and his son J Fenix, 31, suspect their deaths were due to police torture and sought severe punishment for the 13 cops involved.
ALSO READ: All shops in TN to be shut on Wednesday to protest deaths of two traders in police custody
DMK president MK Stalin, in a statement, asked Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami, who holds the home department portfolio, to give a proper response on this. Congress president KS Alagiri also condemned the incident and urged that a murder case be registered against the police inspector and sub-inspector of Sathankulam. "The case should be handed over to the CBI," he demanded.
Similarly, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and TMC(M) president GK Vasan have asked for urgent action against the erring police officials. AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran has sought for a proper clarification from the state government, while the CPI sought a transparent investigation into the whole incident.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was not behind a political persecution of his predecessor Petro Poroshenko, who now sits in parliament.
"He just wants to be a victim, wants everyone to think that there are political persecutions in Ukraine," Zelensky said in an interview with the Canadian news outlet The Globe and Mail.
"I am not interested in Mr. Poroshenko, I am not interested in political persecutions, I just don't do these things. I am sure that he is simply heating up the situation: he has not been heard from for half a year before elections, his political force in the parliament did not vote for any of the current big reforms in our country. I have not seen anything, except this latest story, they started compiling ratings on this hype. I am taking it in my stride," Zelensky said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 04:17:49|Editor: huaxia
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VALLETTA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Around 2,000 migrants who were leaving Libya to cross the Mediterranean in the first four months this year had been detained by the Libyan coastguard and prevented from reaching Malta, Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo said on Tuesday.
Bartolo told the parliament that the information was given to a Maltese delegation led by Prime Minister Robert Abela when they visited Libya recently. He said the two countries had signed a deal on fighting illegal immigration.
The two countries had agreed to set up specialized units to better coordinate operations against irregular migration. Bartolo said the coordination centers in Valletta and Tripoli aimed at fighting human trafficking shall start operating on July 1.
Bartolo said there had been 1,700 arrivals to Malta from the north African coast in the first four months of this year. The figure was half the total number of migrants who landed on Malta last year. Had it not been for the Libyan coastguard, the figure would have been closer to 4,000.
The minister reiterated his disappointment that very few European states had offered to share the burden with Malta in dealing with the migration problem, and warned that the situation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic was expected to make things even worse due to the increase in poverty and unemployment. Enditem
The chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall has warned that the Government must provide solutions in weeks not months to aid the reopening of the creative sector.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that theatres and concert halls are able to reopen from July 4, but not for live performances, with social-distancing rules cut from two metres to one metre-plus.
Chief executive Craig Hassall said venues including the Royal Albert Hall, The Old Vic and Shakespeares Globe would be unable to reopen despite the reduced social-distancing measures.
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He said his venue, which has been closed since mid-March, had lost around 12 million in potential income.
Mr Hassall told PA news agency: We are in a desperate situation, not as desperate as other people in our sector, there are small theatre companies and concert halls that are unable to reopen and this is weeks not months.
Government has to really, if they want to help the creative sector, we need to have a solution within weeks, not months.
Following news that the two-metre social distancing rule can now be relaxed, Mr Hassall said: At two metres our capacity drops to about 10% of total potential capacity. At one metre it goes up to about 35 or 40% and for a show to break even, ie, cover its costs, it generally has to have about 75% or 80% capacity and after that its profit.
And we have no subsidy from Government, so we have no cushion, so we rely on about a 75% to 80% capacity just to cover the costs of the Royal Albert Hall and thats not unusual for a non-subsided venue.
The Old Vic would be the same and the Globe similarly, so we are all in the same boat.
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He added: I dont know what the numbers would be but I am sure that one-metre would reduce the capacity of most venues to such an extent that they couldnt actually open.
Mr Hassall said he expected the Royal Albert Hall to begin hosting reduced audiences in October or November, but stressed this was only an interim measure to get people into the venue.
He said around 80% of concerts hosted by the venue were from external promoters hiring the space, and that many of them would be unable to break even with the one-metre rule in place.
Describing the effect of the pandemic, he said: It is the most negatively impactful event in the history of the Royal Albert Hall, and for the cultural sector it is devastating and perilous. I cannot exaggerate this.
Mr Hassall said he had been speaking with the chief executives of major London-based venues, including the Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Barbican and The Old Vic to swap solutions.
He said he had also been in contact with The Lincoln Centre and Carnegie Hall in New York, and the Sydney Opera House.
Mr Hassall also warned of the dangers facing regional theatre groups who may not be able to stage pantomimes this year.
He said: And the killer thing is pantomime. So for a lot of regional theatres, if they dont have their panto season at Christmas, thats their cash cow for the entire year.
And the time to plan your panto season is today, its not next month, its right now. You need to plan for it right now so this is a desperate situation for the creative sector across the whole of the UK.
CityXGuide seized and shut down; owner indicted for sex trafficking
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The owner of CityXGuide, the website that users have described as having taken over where Backpage.com left off, has been indicted on sex trafficking charges and the site has been shut down.
According to the Justice Department on Friday, CityXGuide, a leading online source of ads for prostitution and trafficking, has been seized and the owner has been charged with 28 federal criminal counts.
Wilham Martono was indicted earlier this month on one count promotion of prostitution and reckless disregard of sex trafficking and on another separate count of interstate racketeering conspiracy, which means facilitating prostitution. Other charges included interstate transportation in aid of racketeering and money laundering. Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service arrested Martono last week.
Following his arrest, his website was officially seized and "replaced with a splash page notifying users that the website had been seized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pursuant to a warrant," according to a DOJ release.
As soon as DOJ shut down one despicable site, another popped up to take its place, said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox.
Like the owners of Backpage, this defendant made millions facilitating the online exploitation of women and children. The Justice Department will not rest until these sites are eliminated and their owners held accountable for their crimes.
Martono reportedly gained over $21 million from several websites promoting prostitution and sex trafficking having registered the domain names for the sites the day after federal authorities seized Backpage.com, a site that was long known for its promotion and facilitating of prostitution and sex trafficking, including the exploitation of minors.
A 2017 U.S. Senate investigation report into Backpage showed that its company staff had manipulated its content to conceal instances of criminality like child sex trafficking. Such terms that site operators automatically stripped from trafficking ads before publication included lolita, teenage, rape, young, amber alert, little girl, teen, fresh, innocent, and school girl.
This case is a harsh reminder of the ruthlessness of human traffickers and lengths to which they go, including victimizing women and children, to make a profit, Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Field Office, said of the shutting down of CityXGuide and Martono arrest.
HSI maintains its unwavering commitment to investigate these heinous crimes, rescue victims, and prosecute the offenders to the fullest extent of the law.
The DOJ added that it had identified a number of minor victims in CityXGuide ads, including a 13-year-old girl who was recovered in North Texas in November.
Martono could face up to 25 years in federal prison if he is convicted.
He was charged in part under a relatively new federal law that President Donald Trump signed in 2018, called the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act-Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act, which occurred soon after the federal seizure of Backpage. The law enabled the federal government to prosecute websites that facilitate sex trafficking.
FOSTA-SESTA updated the existing law to clarify the nation's existing statutes, outlawing knowingly assisting, facilitating, or supporting sex trafficking. The law also amended Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to exclude enforcement of federal or state sex trafficking laws from its immunity.
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Linkedin Bhuvan Bagga and Beiyi Seow (Agence France-Presse) New Delhi and Beijing Tue, June 23, 2020 21:39 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406610e786 2 World China-India,Ladakh Free
China and India have agreed to reduce tensions a week after their deadliest clashes in over 50 years on the disputed Himalayan border left 20 Indian troops dead in brutal hand-to-hand fighting.
The June 15 battle, reportedly fought with fists, clubs and rocks, was the first time troops have been killed on their frontier since 1975 and marked a major deterioration in ties between the two Asian giants.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that after talks between the top regional military commanders on Monday, both sides "agreed to take necessary measures to promote a cooling of the situation".
Press Trust of India said the meeting was between Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh, the commander of the 14 Corps, and Maj. Gen. Liu Lin, the commander of the Tibet Military District.
"The holding of this meeting shows that both sides want to deal with their disagreement, manage the situation and de-escalate the situation through dialogue and consultations," Zhao told a regular news conference.
The two sides "exchanged frank and in-depth views" and "agreed to maintain dialogue and jointly committed to promoting peace and tranquillity in the border areas", Zhao added.
There was no official comment from New Delhi but an Indian army source said that after the meeting, reportedly lasting almost 11 hours, that there was a "mutual consensus to disengage".
He added that ways to reduce frictions in the Ladakh region opposite Tibet "were discussed and will be taken forward by both the sides".
The meeting came ahead of virtual talks between the foreign ministers of India, China and Russia later Tuesday, ostensibly to discuss the coronavirus and commemorate the end of World War II.
While Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar made no direct mention of the clashes in his opening remarks, Russia's Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow saw no need to mediate between the two countries.
"I don't think China or India need any help whatsoever," Lavrov said.
Russia is a major supplier of arms to both countries.
Times of India reported that Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in Moscow this week, would press Russia to fast-track delivery of its S-400 missile defense system as well as spares for fighter planes, tanks and submarines.
China has said it suffered casualties but has not given more details. Indian media reports suggested more than 40 Chinese soldiers were killed or seriously injured.
India has since sent huge reinforcements of soldiers, military equipment and fighter jets into the already highly militarised region. China is reportedly following suit.
In India, there have been growing calls for a boycott of Chinese goods.
The clashes followed an earlier agreement to disengage struck in early June after weeks of rising tensions on the border, known as the Line of Actual Control, that included several brawls.
The June 15 violence took place around 4,500 meters above sea level in the Galwan river valley, where both sides accuse each other of encroaching on their respective territory.
China is claiming all of the valley as its own, which Indian analysts and officials say is a new demand. China now reportedly controls more of the northern shore of the Pangong Tso lake.
Harsh Pant from the Observer Research Foundation think-tank in New Delhi said he was sceptical that anything concrete had been resolved so far in the talks between the military commanders.
"Anything that the Chinese now say can't be taken on face value. India, hopefully, has learnt its lessons now," Pant told AFP.
"The episode has shaken Indian's belief that a normal rational relationship with China is possible. And the power disparities are so huge that there is a degree of discomfort and suspicion in New Delhi," he said.
BOSTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than half of consumers1 noting they are unhappy with their medical decisions because they lack the right information and guidance, a webinar presentation from two industry leaders will provide both insight and solutions.
As part of The Conference Board's virtual 2020 Annual Employee Health Care Conference, Randy Hawkins, MD, Chief Medical Officer for ConsumerMedical, together with Vito Rubino, Head of Health and Welfare Benefits for MassMutual, will present a webinar entitled, Optimizing Benefit Strategies Post COVID-19. The webinar will take place on Thursday, June 25, at 1 pm EDT for registered attendees.
ConsumerMedical is a leading clinical advocacy and decision support company working with large employers and health plans nationwide. The company supports employers with programs focused on five drivers of quality care to ensure optimal, accurate and effective care. These include: 1) Ensuring an accurate diagnosis; 2); Finding the highest-quality providers for care; 3) Guidance on the most effective, evidence-based treatments; 4) Providing a data-driven approach to finding the best hospitals; and 5) Helping patients and their families cope throughout the healthcare journey.
MassMutual is one of the nation's leading mutual life insurance companies. The webinar will highlight the programs and services provided by ConsumerMedical and how MassMutual has made those programs available to its employees, including ConsumerMedical's Treatment and Surgery Decision Support, Second Opinion, Cancer Quality Care and Claims Advocacy.
Overall, these programs provided the company with a 3:1 Return on Investment (ROI) and a more than 96 percent participant satisfaction rate. Additionally, more than 90% of participants surveyed noted an improvement in quality of care.
In the webinar, Hawkins and Rubino will highlight the steps employers can take as they start to design employee benefit plan strategies for 2021.
"Our goal at MassMutual is to meet the needs of our diverse, multi-generational workforce while allowing us to attract and retain top talent," said Rubino. "We want our benefit programs to help our employees and their loved ones live well and feel supported during and after the current crisis. We believe our program model and effective communication and incentive strategies has helped to engage our employees and deliver positive results."
To register for the 2020 Employee Healthcare Conference, visit https://conference-board.org/employee-healthcare-virtual-meeting .
1ConsumerMedical proprietary research. Available upon request
About ConsumerMedical
ConsumerMedical is a leading clinical advocacy, decision support and expert second opinion company serving over four million individuals through some of the nation's largest employers, health plans and private exchanges. The company has been serving patients and payers for more than 24 years. As a Medical Ally, ConsumerMedical guides participants throughout their healthcare journey with compassionate, high-touch support and deep clinical expertise. ConsumerMedical offers a fully integrated suite of solutions including Medical Decision Support, Surgery Decision Support, Expert Medical Opinion, Claims Advocacy and more, helping individuals and families navigate the healthcare system while improving outcomes and reducing costs. ConsumerMedical's results have been validated continuously by independent actuaries. www.consumermedical.com
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Possible water shortages may affect rice production in Cambodia, adding to the problems brought by COVID-19. Credit: Brad Collis/Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (CC BY 2.0)
While Cambodia has been less affected by the health impacts of COVID-19, there are fears that smallholder farms will be hit hard during the wet season that runs from June to September as the fallout from restrictions and lockdown measures takes hold.
Agriculture is vital for the Cambodian economy as it employs about 3 million workers, with the rice sector employing a significant majority being the country's main crop and the most important export commodity, according to the World Bank.
Alexandre Huynh, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Cambodia, tells SciDev.Net that movement restrictions because of COVID-19 and limited transportation add to the problems that may affect the production of crops for both personal consumption and for sale. "Agricultural inputs such as seeds, fish fingerlings and breeding chickens are not adequate for the next season."
Possible water shortages, despite the wet season, is another issue that farmers may have to contend with. "Water scarcity in different areas may compound the difficult situation for rice farmers," says Rica Joy Flor, innovation systems scientist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
Flor, who is based in Phnom Penh, adds that farmers may not have the funds to procure inputs. "It is predicted that some farmers may not be able to access the credit they need at the start of the wet season," says Flor. "Many rice farmers depend on credit, especially at the start of the cropping season."
Huynh says, "Taking microloans as a coping strategy to meet household needs and consumption, especially by the poor, can be foreseen." She adds that this, however, could lead farming households into debt traps.
"There are many households that are just above the poverty line," Flor says. "What this means is that many of them are in precarious situations, where a shock such as delayed payment, drought-damaged crop, illness in the household or lack of credit would have significant impacts on the households or their farms."
For its part, the government has offered debt relief or compromise loans with micro-finance institutions as part of interventions to support farmers and boost food production in response to the COVID-19 situation, says Srey Vuthy, secretary-general and spokesperson for the agricultural ministry.
As of now, rice farming is running normally, says Vuthy, noting that rice production in Cambodia has grown from 8.2 million tons in 2010 to 10.8 million tons in 2019.
Cambodia and the IRRI have signed a work plan to strengthen the rice value chain and promote the modernisation of the agriculture sector. Though drawn up before the pandemic, the plan has various entry points to factor in COVID-19-related concerns that "address different constraints as well as broader issues in the rice sector," says Flor.
Meanwhile, the non-profit Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) is collaborating with farmers to maintain production of high-quality rice that is produced using ecologically sustainable farming techniques and exported to Europe, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the US, says Ponhrith Kan, the agency's program development and partnership advisor for livelihoods in Cambodia.
VSO is also providing support through market links, agronomic advice and farming inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. Farmers, with the help of the organization, are now also using social media platforms to stay in touch with agricultural experts and their respective cooperatives.
Explore further Popular doesn't mean influential among Cambodian farmers
Provided by SciDev.Net
New Delhi, June 23 : As the call grows for an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' or a 'Self Reliant' India amid the border tensions with China, industrial conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has said that it is committed towards the objective, and stands with the policy of "best-in-class" manufacturing in India.
In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, L&T said that is committed to achieve self reliance for the domestic industry by creating a strong and feasible 'Make in India' ecosystem.
S. N.Subrahmanyan, CEO & MD, L&T said: "With an unfortunate incident involving our brave soldiers at our border, sentiments are running high in the country. As a company involved in nation-building for more than eight decades, we firmly stand with the policy of manufacturing best-in-class products locally through 'Make in India'." He said that India can "drastically" reduce its dependency on imported products, including those from China by putting processes and systems in place to develop a large scale, efficient and cost-effective domestic industrial ecosystem over a medium to long term.
Subrahmanyan was of the view that the atmosphere is right for such actions to make the country self-reliant and less dependent on other countries.
"We are fully supportive of the Government of India's initiatives and will do our best to contribute to Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan," he added.
The company in its filing outlined its major projects and contributions to the country and its manufacturing ecosystem.
It noted that it has been involved in developing a strong supply chain of local vendor partners in its businesses like it did for over 80 per cent localisation for its '155mm/52 calibre' tracked, self-propelled 'K9 Vajra-T' guns, supplied to Indian army.
Further, L&T is nurturing the local manufacturing and construction ecosystem involved in producing efficient and cost-effective substitutes for the global markets, it said.
The company added that as a long-term proponent of 'Make in India', it has been contributing to almost all key engineering and technological developments in the country for over eight decades.
"It played a significant role in the construction of almost all nuclear reactors for the power generation. It is also at the forefront of construction of key national buildings, monuments and factories, construction of transportation and smart urban infrastructure, supporting defence forces by providing cutting-edge products and supplying critical components for Indian space programs," L&T said.
Here's a quick test to find out if your political leaders are sociopathic monsters. Run a quick Google search for a politician's name, plus "COVID-19" or "coronavirus," and then "reporting." Try to spot any or all of the articles that depict them scrambling to alter the numbers of how many COVID cases they have rather than, like, doing something about it. If you search Trump, you'll pretty quickly find him openly admitting to ordering a slowdown in testing to artificially deflate the numbers because President Donald Trump never developed object permanence. The same search for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shows that he's a clown's penis that's became a whole human, as he's ordered Florida's Department of Health to change the way it reports COVID-19 patients in ICUs to lower the number of cases.
Hospitals in Florida can no longer report how many patients are in ICUs. Florida only wants the numbers of patients who require an "intensive level of care." Let's put aside the tragically comic mental image of an ICU nurse trying to work out the absurd bureaucratic semantics of the state's demand. Let's instead focus on the big logical misconception at the heart of this. ICU patients are in that specific wing for a legitimately intense medical reason, not because they upgraded to a room with a balcony and a hot tub. They're in that room because they need, by definition, more intensive care than people under regular care. But DeSantis, eager to do as little as possible while still coming out on top, wants the state to further fudge numbers by subdividing people into a higher level of illness. It's the Ludicrous Speed of viral designations.
Wyandotte County officials considering mask requirement for fall school year KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Health officials in Wyandotte County are strongly encouraging the use of facial coverings and may end up making them a requirement for the upcoming fall school year. On Monday, the Unified Government Public Health Department released guidance for education facilities to follow for the 2020-2021 school year.
The reality is thatand there's very little downside to wearing them other than political posturing.Read more:
A plan to expand a quarry operation outside Naas on the Kildare- Wicklow border is being opposed by local residents. Hudson Brothers Limited, a long standing company producing sand gravel and crushed rock is seeking to extend extraction activities over 34 acres.
Read more County Kildare news
A locally-based conservation group, Save Kildare Uplands representing residents of Red Bog, Eadestown, Wolfestown, Athgarrett, Rathmore and Blessington oppose the plan. They claim that the quarry may damage the landscape, the area is not suitable, residents are concerned over a gas line in the area. They also say the quarry is not sustainable in a residential area, which also has protected monuments.
County Kildare has endured more than its fair share of quarries that has destroyed its landscape and should never have been developed in designated high amenity areas which adds to the initial controversy of Glen Ding (the site of controversial quarrying some years ago).
However, Devin Hudson of HBL said that the application relates to an extension of existing area, which is much larger. He also dismissed concerns about the gas pipeline saying that the company is aware of it and is used to complying with all safety requirements. He said the application will create no additional traffic and up to 90% of traffic from its operations uses the Blessington-Tallaght route to reach Dublin.
We are seeking to extend the permission to ensure a seamless continuation of production so that demand can be met. He pointed out the company is a family firm which is more than fifty years old. HBL has 56 employs, apart from 20 self employed contractors and this figure increases as demand dictates. He said while most of its product is aimed at the construction industry, sand has other uses such in glass and toothpaste. He said it is a finite resource for which there is a demand. He said two residents nearest the area have no concerns and no quarrying would take place at Red Bog. Submissions to Kildare County Council must be made by June 30.
Charles Johnson leads a chant during a funeral procession honoring the lives taken by Colorado Springs Police Department on Thursday, June 11, 2020. Protesters gathered at City Hall and placed black coffins at doorways to the building before they marched to the Colorado Springs Police Department to place the remaining coffins outside the front doors of the station. The Empowerment Solidarity Network, The Chinook Center, and Colorado Springs DSA is a coalition of support for local protests in response to the death of George Floyd and lives lost to police brutality.
Eleven people, including six relatives of a cancer patient who had succumbed to the deadly virus on June 18, tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Moga district on Tuesday.
Moga civil surgeon Dr Amarjit Kaur said one Punjab Police personnel, one female migrant labourer, two Holland returnees and one person who had returned from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh had tested positive. Among the six relatives of the deceased Covid-19 positive patient, three are residents of Moga, two of Ludhiana and one of Jalandhar, she said.
Eight patients have been admitted to the isolation ward of the Moga civil hospital while others are isolated in Ludhiana and Jalandhar.
COP TESTS POSITIVE IN FARIDKOT
One Punjab Police commando, who was posted in Ludhiana and had returned home a couple of days ago, tested positive for Covid-19 in Faridkot.
Faridkot civil surgeon Dr Rajinder Kumar said, We have initiated contact tracing. The patient has been admitted to the isolation ward of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital (GGSMCH), Faridkot. He had also visited Amritsar last week. His sample was collected at Patiala.
Victorian universities risk losing tens of millions of dollars in fee revenue from domestic students enrolled in high-priority subjects including science, maths, teaching and nursing under a Morrison government plan to cut its funding contribution to those courses.
The federal government wants to slash fees for university courses in these subjects to encourage students to pursue a degree in a high-priority employment area.
Australian universities are seriously engaged in remapping their survival strategies. Credit:
But universities that offer them will receive a lower Commonwealth contribution for each domestic student under the changes that are set to go before Parliament, prompting education experts to warn they may have to cut teaching staff or reduce the quality of their course material.
"It doesnt make any sense at all," said Professor Deborah Corrigan, of Monash University's Faculty of Education.
Oil supermajor Shell plans to announce by the end of the year a significant restructuring to reflect its net-zero emissions goal for 2050 and to align itself with a green recovery from the pandemic, a Shell source told Reuters on Tuesday.
Shells chief executive Ben van Beurden has told employees in an internal website video that there would be restructuring and job cuts, sources who saw the video told Reuters.
Shells official website has posted a video message from van Beurden, who says that [S]ociety must remain focused on the longer-term challenge of climate change. Because it hasnt gone away. It still needs urgent action. Shell has a big part to play.
Our current business plans will not get us to where we need to be, and we will have to change those plans over time. And, it wont be easy, and of course there will be obstacles to overcome, but like many others, I believe that society now has a unique opportunity to accelerate towards a cleaner energy future, the top executive said in the message.
Shell announced earlier this year its ambition to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 at the latest, joining other majors such as BP and Eni in unveiling plans to curb carbon emissions.
Societys expectations have shifted quickly in the debate around climate change. Shell now needs to go further with our own ambitions, which is why we aim to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner. Society, and our customers, expect nothing less, van Beurden said in April.
In recent months, Shell, BP, and Eni have been vocal about becoming net-zero energy businesses and reducing emissions and have announced steps to accelerate investments into low-carbon energy sources.
BPs chief executive Bernard Looney talks about build back better after the pandemic, with the UK-based supermajor expected to elaborate on its net-zero emissions plan in September this year.
Italys Eni, for its part, announced earlier this month a new business structure to be a leader in the energy transition, creating an Energy Evolution division in the company to accelerate its plans to significantly boost renewable power generation and biofuels production.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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The mother of an abortion survivor has spoken about the moment she discovered her daughter was alive, 36 years after her own mother - a nurse - had performed the botched operation on her.
More than three decades earlier, in 1977, Melissa Ohden, 42, from Missouri, was fighting for her life in a hospital in Iowa after being born at 2Ib 14oz and discarded as toxic waste.
Her mother, who has now been revealed as Ruth, had been forced to have an abortion by her mother, a nurse at the hospital, and had left the hospital believing the toxic saline solution she'd been given over a five-day period when she was eight months pregnant had aborted her child.
However a nurse heard her 'weak cries' and rescued her from the waste bin, and despite the supervisor on shift - Melissa's grandmother - advising her to leave the baby in the room to die, Melissa, known as Missy, survived and was quickly adopted.
And now Missy's biological mother has revealed the shock she felt to The Sun after being reunited with her daughter, who had searched for her for two decades after learning she was unaware of her existence.
In 1977, Missy Ohden, 42, from Missouri, seen now, was left fighting for her life in a hospital in Iowa after being born at 2Ib 14oz and discarded as toxic waste
Her mother, who has now been revealed as Ruth, was forced to have an abortion by her mom, a nurse at the hospital, and had left the hospital believing the toxic saline solution she'd been given over a five-day period when she was eight months pregnant had aborted her child
Ruth, who became estranged from her own parents after they told her to have the abortion, said: 'The day I heard that Melissa had survived the abortion my mother had performed on me was a Sunday in August 2007.
'My twin sister Mary called in the afternoon. I could tell it was going to be a serious conversation, so I went to the bedroom. Mary told me that the child I had was alive. My first thought was: what a cruel joke to play on your twin sister.'
Ruth and Missy now share a close relationship, and she added: 'One of the best aspects of getting to know Melissa is discovering all the things we have in common.
'Comparing physical similarities was fun the first day we met Melissa inherited some striking and beautiful features from her biological father, but I think we have the same nose and a similar shape to our smiles.'
A nurse had heard her 'weak cries' and rescued her from the waste bin, and despite the supervisor on shift - Missy's grandmother - advising her to leave the baby in the room to die, Missy had survived and quickly been adopted (Missy seen after birth)
Missy's biological mother was stunned after being reunited with her daughter, who had searched for her for two decades after learning she was unaware of her existence
After Melissa learnt about her traumatic start in life from her adopted sister as a teenager, she spent nearly two decades searching for answers and would discover her guilt-ridden birth mother had not wanted to have the termination.
Melissa who was adopted by a loving family and reunited with her birth mother in 2016 after a 17-year search says shes found it in her heart to forgive.
Speaking to MailOnline previously, she said: I discovered that my birth mother, aged 19, had been forced into the abortion by her own mother, who was an educational nurse at the hospital, said the 40-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, who has written a memoir about her life.
She was heavily sedated and didnt know that I had been born alive. It would be 30 odd years before she learned the truth.
Its been a long and painful journey from shame and anger to faith and forgiveness. But I refuse to be poisoned by bitterness thats no way to live.
Melissa had spent much of her teenage years in great emotional pain, developing bulimia and turning to sex and alcohol after thinking she was 'unwanted'.
Melissa who was adopted by a loving family and reunited with her birth mother in 2016 after a 17-year search says shes found it in her heart to forgive (seen as a teen)
Melissa had spent much of her teenage years in great emotional pain, developing bulimia and turning to sex and alcohol after thinking she was 'unwanted'
However she eventually headed off to the University of South Dakota to study political science.
She would later learn that her biological mother had attended there as well.
And astonishingly, her maternal grandmother the very woman who orchestrated the abortion was a professor at the university during the time Melissa was there.
After a career in social work, Melissa is now a motivational speaker as well as an author
At 19, the desire to know more about her background eat away at her and she began her search to find her birth family.
After going through archives she eventually found her grandparents and sent them a letter, but only her grandfather wrote back, telling her they were estranged from her mother.
Melissa gave up her hunt for a while. By then she was married to IT worker Ryan, now 44, with whom she has two daughters, Olivia, 11, and Ava, five. Her oldest was born at the same hospital where she survived the abortion.
Then, when she was 36, her biological mothers cousin emailed her after learning shed been in touch with the family.
She was told that her parents were college students childhood sweethearts who were engaged to be married when she was conceived.
Finally, after 17 years of searching, the cousin put Melissa in touch with her mother, and the pair have been close friends ever since.
After a career in social work, Melissa is now a motivational speaker as well as an author, and she founded the Abortion Survivors Network to support others in the same position.
You Carried Me: A Daughters Memoir Priced is published by Plough Publishing House and is priced at $13.59 (6.59)
Melissa is now married to IT worker Ryan, now 44, with whom she has two daughters, Olivia, 11, and Ava, five
As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) moved to tighten his grip on power over the past few years, arresting senior royals and opponents, one person has eluded him: A former top-ranking intelligence official who was close to a key rival to the throne.
In recent months, the crown prince has increased pressure on relatives of Saad al-Jabri, including arresting his adult children to try to force his return to the kingdom from exile in Canada, the former intelligence officials family has said.
In the crown princes sights are documents al-Jabri has access to that contain sensitive information, four people with knowledge of the situation told Reuters News Agency.
Al-Jabri was a longtime aide to Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who the crown prince overthrew as heir to the throne in a 2017 palace coup that left MBS to be the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, the worlds top oil exporter and a key United States ally.
Saudi authorities arrested bin Nayef and two other senior royals on March 6, the latest in a series of extraordinary measures seen to be aimed at consolidating MBSs strength within the ruling Al Saud family and removing perceived threats to his power ahead of an eventual succession upon the kings death or abdication.
Multiple top interior ministry officials were also arrested in March, said two of the people with knowledge of the situation both well-connected Saudis.
Days after bin Nayefs arrest, according to al-Jabris family, Saudi authorities arrested two of his children, 21-year-old Omar and 20-year-old Sarah, in a dawn raid on the family home in the capital, Riyadh. That was followed by the arrest of the former intelligence officials brother in early May, the family said.
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Three of the people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the arrest of al-Jabris relatives.
According to the four people with knowledge of the situation, the crown prince believes he could use the documents in al-Jabris possession against current rivals for the throne. He also fears they contain additional information that could compromise him and his father, the king, the sources said.
The documents include information on bin Nayefs assets abroad, which also potentially could be useful to MBS in putting pressure on his predecessor, said the two well-connected Saudis and a former regional security official. Al-Jabri also has access to sensitive files relating to the financial dealings of senior royals, including King Salman and MBS, said one of the well-connected Saudi sources, the former regional security official and a diplomat.
The diplomat said some of the information related to land deals and transactions, without elaborating beyond saying that they related to King Salman during his time as governor of Riyadh, a position he held for nearly 40 years prior to his 2015 ascension to the throne.
One of the well-connected Saudi sources said the crown prince wants to press charges against bin Nayef relating to allegations of corruption during bin Nayefs time at the Ministry of Interior. Reuters was unable to determine the details of those allegations.
They have long wanted Jabri as the right-hand man of MBN, the person said, referring to bin Nayef.
The Saudi government has not confirmed or publicly commented on the seizure of al-Jabris children or his brother, Abdulrahman al-Jabri. The Saudi government media office did not respond to detailed questions from Reuters about the detentions or the reasons behind them.
Al-Jabris family and one of the well-connected Saudis said Saudi authorities had accused him of corruption but did not elaborate on the nature of the allegations. The family says the allegations are false. Saad al-Jabri declined to comment via his son.
Reuters could not determine where bin Nayef and the other two princes are being held and was unable to reach them for comment.
A US official said Washington had raised the issue of the arrest of the children with the Saudi leadership. The official added that many US government officials had worked directly with al-Jabri over a long period of time and that he had been a very, very strong counterterrorism partner.
A second US official in Washington said the US was in contact with al-Jabris family in Canada and were exploring ways to assist.
We are deeply concerned by reports of the al-Jabri childrens detention and would strongly condemn any unjust persecution of family members whatever the allegations against Saad Al-Jabri may be, the official said.
Canada was also concerned about the detention of al-Jabris children, said Syrine Khoury, a spokeswoman for Canadas foreign ministry. She did not elaborate on whether Canada was taking specific steps.
He had all the files on everything
For nearly 20 years, al-Jabri had worked closely with bin Nayef, helping to overhaul the kingdoms intelligence and counterterrorism operations and building close ties with Western officials.
He had all the files on everything and everybody, said the former regional security official. Al-Jabri coordinated relations between Saudi intelligence and the CIA, the former official said. The CIA declined to comment.
The crown prince is officially next in line to the throne to his 85-year-old father, King Salman [File: Hassan Ammar/AP Photo]
When King Salman ascended the throne in January 2015, he appointed al-Jabri to a cabinet-level position. Bin Nayef became crown prince in April 2015. Al-Jabris son, Khalid al-Jabri, said at that time the relationship between his father and MBS was initially really good but the relationship soon soured, spurred by opponents close to MBS who alleged that al-Jabri was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. The family strongly denies it.
Four months later, in August 2015, al-Jabri learned he had been fired from his post via a state television announcement, said Khalid, who now lives in Canada along with his father.
Al-Jabri became a personal adviser to bin Nayef, a position he held until the royal was deposed as crown prince and removed as head of the interior ministry in June 2017. The two well-connected Saudis and the diplomat described al-Jabri as fiercely loyal to bin Nayef.
Since 2017, when al-Jabri moved to Canada, Saudi authorities have made repeated attempts to lure the former intelligence official back to the kingdom, both directly and through interlocutors, his son, Khalid, told Reuters.
He added that his siblings had been barred from leaving Saudi Arabia for more than two years prior to their arrest and were questioned by authorities on more than one occasion regarding their father. The crown prince had made an offer in 2017 to al-Jabri to allow the children to travel in exchange for his return, he said.
The family said they do not know where al-Jabris children are being held and are not able to reach them. Every time we ask people inside [Saudi Arabia], weve been told MBS is handling their detention himself. Dont bother asking for details, Khalid said.
Lobbying Washington
Al-Jabris deep knowledge of some of the kingdoms most sensitive information, coupled with his popularity in Western political circles and among some long-serving Saudi security officials, made him a target, according to his son, the diplomat, the former regional security official and a former Western intelligence source.
The diplomat said al-Jabri could be perceived as a threat to MBS if US President Donald Trump, who defended strategic defence and energy ties with the kingdom during the global uproar over Jamal Khashoggis death, failed to win re-election. The White House declined to comment.
The family said it is lobbying US legislators for help. Senators Marco Rubio and Patrick Leahy have spoken with the family, according to their offices. Members of Congress are concerned that two young people have disappeared after being seized by Saudi state security forces, said Tim Rieser, senior foreign policy aide to Democratic Senator Leahy.
It seems that theyre being used as hostages to try and coerce their father to return to Saudi Arabia, he said. He added that the senators office is seeking information about their whereabouts and calling for their release.
US President Donald Trump and MBS in the Oval Office of the White House [File: Mark Wilson/Bloomberg]
The crown prince is officially next in line to the throne to his 85-year-old father, King Salman. His efforts to diversify the kingdoms economy away from its heavy reliance on oil and lift social restrictions, including on women, were welcomed by many Western officials and Saudis.
But the crown prince has also drawn criticism for attempts to silence dissident and marginalise rivals. He came under international criticism over the 2018 murder of Khashoggi in the kingdoms Istanbul consulate, which the CIA has said the crown prince ordered.
The crown prince has denied ordering Khashoggis killing but said he ultimately bears full responsibility as the kingdoms de facto leader.
Saudi watchers and diplomats said MBS has grown increasingly concerned with his standing, both at home and abroad, following the Khashoggi killing. Some members of Saudi Arabias ruling family and business elite expressed frustration with his leadership following the largest-ever attack on the kingdoms oil infrastructure in September, as Reuters previously reported.
There is also discontent at home, where the economy has been struck hard by the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices, leading to austerity measures. The crown prince nevertheless still has staunch supporters and is popular among young Saudis for opening up the conservative kingdom and pledging to diversify the economy.
(CNN) Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is now among the world's top 10 wealthiest people.
Ambani is the chairman and chief executive of one of India's most valuable companies, Reliance Industries. His net worth recently surged to $64.5 billion, edging out Oracle's Larry Ellison and French L'Oreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers for the No. 9 spot on the list, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Ambani is the only person from Asia on the list.
Under Ambani's leadership, Reliance has grown from an oil and energy company into a sprawling conglomerate that includes retail shops, a mobile and broadband carrier, digital platforms and more.
This new milestone comes shortly after Ambani amassed more than $16.5 billion in investments in just around three months for Reliance's digital technology arm, Jio Platforms, and despite challenges to the oil side of Reliance's business.
The fundraising blitz and a recent share sale have made Reliance Industries debt-free, the company said in June. The company said its net debt at the end of March was 1.61 trillion rupees ($21 billion).
Shares of the conglomerate have more than doubled since a low in March and are up 17.2% since the beginning of this year to 1,752.50 rupees, or $23. While Reliance's stock has recovered, many other companies continue to suffer from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, and India's economy appears to be headed for a major slump.
The recent investments in Jio Platforms include more than $15 billion from the likes of Facebook and top Silicon Valley investors Silver Lake and TPG. It also received $1.2 billion from Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund and $1.5 billion from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The deal with Saudi Arabia valued Jio at close to $68 billion.
The investments will fuel Ambani's ambitions to make Jio Platforms into an internet giant that could rival Google or Alibaba. Facebook's $5.7 billion bet on the company, one of the social media company's biggest-ever deals, signaled that Ambani and Facebook are aiming to create a platform similar to Tencent's WeChat, where users have access to messaging, mobile banking, social media and other services.
This story was first published on CNN.com "Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, is now among the world's 10 wealthiest people"
The way we get from A to B is changing. With the climate crisis looming and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic making public transit less appealing, traditional methods of transport are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Enter e-bikes, designed to make getting around quick, cheap and easy. As demand has slowly but surely increased, weve seen all kinds of innovations in e-bikes in recent times now, Rad Power Bikes has launched a model that tackles some of the biggest barriers to uptake.
The RadMission Electric Metro Bike is a stripped back e-bike designed for commuters. It doesnt come with any fancy add-ons or wild innovations, but it does pack in a punchy 500W geared hub motor, a top speed of 20mph and a battery smaller than, but just as powerful as, previous Rad Power Bikes iterations. And it costs just $999.
At such a shockingly low price, many e-bike enthusiasts would rightly be suspicious of the RadMission. Other e-bike companies that have carved a niche in affordable models have entry points much higher VanMoofs S3 e-bike starts at $1,998 for example. But Rad Power Bikes has already established a solid reputation for itself, predominantly in the utility and cargo sector, although its been making commuter-style models for a while.
The pared-back design (and accompanying price) has created another USP for the bike: its a lot lighter than previous models, weighing in at just under 50lbs, or 15lb less than the companys standard e-bike weight. This, the company says, makes the model more appealing to city residents living in walk-up apartments no-one wants to be lugging a heavy bike up and down stairs all the time. Of course, its still heavier than your regular analog bike, but the reduced weight does demonstrate that e-bike makers are aware of pain points in adoption, and that things can be done to mitigate them.
In a blog post, Rad Power Bikes co-founder Ty Collins explains that the bike is a homage to the no-frills bike culture I saw while living in San Franciscos Mission District in my early 20s. CEO Mike Radenbaugh, meanwhile, says that the RadMission has been designed as an entryway to e-bikes. Im really hoping that this is the first e-bike for people who are just waking up to the fact that they dont need a car to survive anymore. Bikes like these can get you from Point A to Point B, cut down on emissions, save money on gas, and ultimately change the entire transportation game.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Beni, DR Congo Tue, June 23, 2020 19:37 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406610bf41 2 World Indonesia-peacekeeping-force,DR-Congo,MONUSCO Free
An Indonesian soldier with the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo was killed, and a second was injured, in a militia attack late Monday in the country's troubled east, the UN said.
Their patrol was attacked around 20 kilometers from the city of Beni in North Kivu province, Sy Koumbo, a communications officer with the MONUSCO peacekeeping force, told AFP on Tuesday.
"A Blue Helmet died and another is wounded but not seriously. He is in a stable condition," she said.
In a statement, MONUSCO chief Leila Zerrougui condemned the attack, which she said was carried out by "suspected members of the ADF" -- the Allied Democratic Forces, a notorious armed group in eastern DRC.
The soldier had been taking part in a project to build a bridge in the Hululu area, she said.
The ADF is a mainly Muslim movement that originated in neighbouring Uganda in the 1990s, opposed to the rule of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
In 1995, it moved into the DRC, which became its base of operations, although it has not carried out attacks inside Uganda for years.
According to UN figures, it has killed more than 500 people since the end of October, when the Congolese army launched an offensive against it.
The ADF killed 15 UN troops at their base near the Ugandan border in December 2017, and seven in an ambush in December 2018.
A 54-year-old man identified as Chukwudi Odo, has been arrested by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command for luring a Philippino Lady, Irene Torento Panas ,40, and thereafter abducting her.
It was gathered that the victim, an Accountant by profession and a native of Manila in the Philippines, arrived Nigeria on November 22, 2019, on a visit to Chukwudi Odo of Enugu Ezike, Enugu State, whom she met on Facebook on 8th March 2017 in an apparent attempt to find love.
The visit which was originally intended to be for 10-days, however, turned out to be a full case of abduction following Chukwudi Odos refusal to allow her return to her country against her will. She was held incommunicado by him.
READ ALSO Vulcanizer Arrested After Stealing Clients Underwear For Rituals (Photo)
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The suspect was arrested following a tip-off by some members of the public in the area and the victim rescued.
Preliminary investigations reveal that Chukwudi deliberately lured the victim into the country with the aim of confining her, sexually abusing, and extorting money from her.
She was immediately taken to the hospital for medical attention where she was admitted from 5th June to 16th June.
TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) is the worlds largest contract semiconductor foundry in the world. It has more than 50 percent market share in the foundry business. The recent US restrictions caused the company to lose one of its largest customers Huaweis semiconductor unit HiSilicon.
According to a Taiwanese government minister, TSMC has already replaced the Huaweis orders from other manufacturers. With the recent US ban, TSMC can no longer take new orders for producing Kirin chipsets. Moreover, the company can only fulfill the current orders until mid-September.
TSMC has replaced all of the canceled orders from Huawei
As per Reuters, Kung Ming-hsin, the new head of Taiwans National Development Council, said the US is not interfering in the countrys economic relations with China. The US ban on Huawei is only because it is not transparent and has a close relationship with the Chinese government. Of course, Huawei is denying these accusations.
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He added, With increasing demand from other customers, TSMC has quickly replaced its orders canceled by Huawei. Huawei is one of the top five customers of TSMC. The Chinese company is currently looking for alternatives to the US supply chain.
It is said to be in talks with Chinese and Korean companies for producing its next-generation Kirin chipsets. With an increasing demand for smartphones and other gadgets, TSMC has plenty of customers to keep its production lines up and running.
TSMC to build a semiconductor facility in the US
The company is reportedly working on 5nm chip production for customers including Apple and Qualcomm. Based on the rumors, the upcoming iPhone 12 series will be powered by a 5nm Apple chip. TSMC is also planning to set up a $12 billion worth facility in the US. It is currently awaiting a nod from the US government.
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It could become one of the first movers in shifting high-tech manufacturing to America. China is currently the hub for high-tech manufacturing in the world. However, several companies are now moving the majority of their manufacturing out of China.
Huawei sustained itself in the smartphone business even without the support for Google apps. However, it will surely need a partner to produce its new Kirin chipsets to power the upcoming flagship smartphones. In the last few weeks, Huawei has launched quite a few Huawei and Honor branded smartphones powered by the MediaTek chipsets.
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One night in late March, Juan Constantino was helping his mother cook dinner -- and mulling a drastic step to help his tiny family.
It's just Juan and his mom at home, and he could sense the coronavirus pandemic had seriously tightened the household's finances. The doughnut shop in Huntington Park where his mom works had cut her hours. Sometimes, Juan -- who just turned 17 last week -- would have to fork over cash so they could get through the grocery line.
So that night in the kitchen, Juan asked her: Mom, what if I don't go to school?
"My whole goal in that conversation," he recalled, "was to convince her to let me drop out."
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There was a certain logic to Juan's idea: his mom was earning less during the COVID-19 crisis -- and Juan was working a lot more.
Before the pandemic, he worked just evenings and weekends for his brother's dad, who runs a mobile locksmith and auto repair shop. Now, Juan is basically working as a full-time apprentice, taking home a cut of each day's earnings -- anywhere from nothing to $60, depending on business.
"I really did try to convince her," Juan remembered. "I was getting money, and you know ... I'm feeling good about this, I don't need school."
His mom's reaction? She laughed at him -- and gave Juan a half-hour-long talking-to that convinced him to give up any idea of dropping out with these words:
"You're nothing without going to school."
Juan Constantino, 17, has been around his brother's dad's locksmithing business since he was little. He remembers sitting in the back of the van as an 8-year-old, watching and learning. A few months before the pandemic, Juan approached him about becoming an actual employee. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
'I'M WORRIED THEY WON'T COME BACK'
As summer break begins and the economy dips into recession, principals at some Los Angeles public schools in low-income neighborhoods are beginning to ask an uncomfortable question about working-age students such as Juan: Could some of them be at risk of dropping out?
Consider: these students "might be the only people in the family bringing in income," says Cynthia Gonzalez, the principal of Juan's high school in South L.A.
One survey suggests more than half of the families in the Los Angeles Unified School District have endured a job loss during the pandemic. As a result, many working-age students went looking for work -- or picked up more hours at jobs they already held -- because their families needed help covering living expenses.
"For kids that are not seniors ... I'm worried that they won't come back" next fall, said Gonzalez, head of the Communications and Technology School at LAUSD's Diego Rivera Learning Complex.
"They're helping their families. They're making money," Gonzalez figures. "And so if a student starts to feel like, Do I really need to get a high school diploma when I'm working construction, or doing electrical work already, or carpentry? ... Why do I need to go back to school?"
Gonzalez worries especially about working students who are already short on credits, or students who are also living in the U.S. without legal authorization, who are ineligible for federal stimulus benefits.
MORE COVERAGE OF COVID-19 & EDUCATION:
Several principals at L.A. high schools said they shared Gonzalez's concern that the lure of paid employment might cause some students to drift away from school -- though some told KPCC/LAist anonymously they aren't as concerned as Gonzalez about working students going so far as dropping out.
Two research experts also said Gonzalez is onto something: While it's not clear how many working students will drop out because of the coronavirus crisis, the number is not likely to be trivial.
"It's hard to say," said Molly Scott, a researcher at the Urban Institute. "I would definitely say it's not minor. What is the unemployment rate in your city right now? How many of those folks have kids?"
"I think there may be lots of kids like that," said Russell Rumberger, a professor emeritus and dropout researcher at UC Santa Barbara, "who maybe aren't so engaged with their learning, they don't really like the online learning stuff anyway, so they might be enticed to go to work instead."
But both Rumberger and Scott both say there's even more dropout risk attached to a broader question: Can schools re-engage students who've fallen behind in core courses while campuses were closed?
If high schools don't succeed in that task, it won't only be working students we'll have to worry about.
One night in mid-March, Juan Constantino asked his mom, "What if I don't go to school?" What do you mean? she responded. "My whole goal there was to convince her to let me drop out." (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
'I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP MY LIFE'
There's no plexiglass sneeze-guard between Juan Constantino and his customers to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
There are no tape lines to mark out appropriate "social distances" on the sidewalk where Juan and his brother's dad set up shop most days.
Hand sanitizer is a squirt bottle of soapy water.
Juan's workplace is a white utility van parked on a side street in South L.A. near the Alameda Swap Meet, their space claimed by a flapping vertical "LOCKSMITH" flag. His job is hands-on auto repair, and close contact with customers is hard to avoid.
"You get kind of scared sometimes," Juan admitted, "when there are people coming up without masks and stuff. But you deal with it. You're not going to lose a customer over it ...
"If it means putting your life at risk, money is money here."
Juan has been around the business since he was little. He remembers sitting in the back of the van as an 8-year-old, watching and learning. A few months before the pandemic, Juan approached his brother's dad about becoming an actual employee.
Juan Constantino and his brother's dad replace a minivan's smashed-in rear windshield. "Any little thing you can do to your car, we can do," Juan said of the business. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
Juan takes pride in his work -- and even sees a future in locksmithing or auto repair, either as an occupation or as a "side profession if I do decide to go for a career or college."
Juan is also a bright student. Despite the momentary-but-serious consideration he gave to dropping out, Juan knows his mom was correct that night in the kitchen: his future prospects drop off sharply without a high school diploma.
"I don't want to mess up my life," he said, "because I [didn't want to] go to school."
But the pandemic is only the latest academic hurdle Juan has faced.
During his sophomore year, Juan transferred schools twice -- and lost several core academic credits in the process. Last fall, he took Saturday classes to make up those missing credits. Juan had just gotten back on track this spring when the pandemic hit.
Juan didn't regain his stride in distance learning. He's lost track of how many Zoom lessons he missed -- and when he did log in, he'd lose focus easily. It feels like there's twice the work now, he said: the work involved in comprehending the material, which teachers normally handled during their in-class lectures; and the assignments that teachers give you to prove you learned it.
"Homework from all the classes was piling up," said Juan, sitting on a folding chair outside the utility van. "Work here started piling up."
Though he's quick to admit his struggles, Juan ended the semester with several A's and B's. Despite all he'd missed, LAUSD's lenient pandemic grading policy prevented his grades from backsliding.
Gonzalez said Juan will have to improve one grade he got in an English class if he wants to qualify for admission to a four-year state university. On Monday, Juan called his principal to ask about recovering the credit in a summer school course.
Juan said he had meant to log on to complete final exams. But by the time he logged on, friends told him the school year was already over.
"Where I live," said Juan Constantino, 17, who will be a high school senior next year, "we all have to grow up real fast and take up responsibilities." (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
'THROWN INTO THE FIRE'
While the coronavirus crisis may be unusual, many of the risk factors facing working-class students are well-known. Students who work longer hours are less likely to stay in school. Students who work more than part-time are more likely to drop out.
Ten high school students spoke to KPCC/LAist about their experiences working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To be clear: none of these students appeared to be at risk of dropping out.
But when their schools moved to distance learning mode, most of these students used newly-flexible schedules to take on more hours at work.
Paola Onofre, a recent high school graduate from Arleta, has recently seen her hours at In-N-Out nearly double -- partially because of the pandemic, partially because she turned 18. She needed the hours: Paola and her older sister take care of rent -- and her older sister was furloughed from a beauty salon for about two months.
"It was kind of a lot to take in," Onofre remembered. "At first, my sister got the stimulus check and she [said], 'That's not going to be enough for the month.'"
MORE COVERAGE OF COVID-19 & EDUCATION:
Kimberly Rochin, soon to be a senior at Azusa High, didn't expect to be working more than 25 hours a week at Chick-Fil-A; she got her job in February, and new hires don't usually get that many hours: "I kinda got thrown into the fire when this pandemic started."
Vidal Reynoso, who just graduated from John Glenn High School in Norwalk, decided to spend more days working with his dad -- a general contractor and handyman. The family relies on his dad's income, and he was getting fewer calls for work.
"I felt like I could spend my time much better if I went with him to help support the family," Reynoso said, "and get his jobs done quicker."
A few of the students said the pandemic had actually made it easier to balance school, work and life.
Duarte High School student Sara Jones appreciated how the pandemic condensed her school day down to essentials. Jones can now manage three hours of relaxation between school and her shifts at the Sonic Drive-In -- and she still consistently clocks 40 hours a week. Before, she'd have to rush from campus to work.
"Distance learning was easier for me," said Jones, who starts her senior year in the fall.
But many working students reported experiences like Juan Constantino's: with wide variation in the quality of online instruction, and increased stress and pressure at home, school went on the back burner.
Juan Constantino, who attends the Communications & Technology school at the Diego Rivera Learning Complex in South L.A., poses in the mobile auto repair and locksmith shop where he works. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
'WHAT WE'RE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT'
Russell Rumberger -- the UCSB professor emeritus who, by the way, founded the California Dropout Research Project -- is concerned about how working students will fare in school after the pandemic.
But Rumberger's broader fear is that schools will face a "medium-term" crisis in dropouts as each grade of the current high school population successively reaches graduation age.
While this year's seniors may be spared because of no-fail or hold-harmless grading policies, Rumberger fears what will happen in future years if students return next fall unprepared for the next course in a sequence -- say, the move up from Algebra I to Algebra II -- and schools are unable to get students back on track.
"If they haven't mastered learning materials this year and in their next year," Rumberger said, "they could really be behind the eight-ball."
Molly Scott of the Urban Institute contended that one of the reasons students from economically-vulnerable backgrounds drop out is "because schools are inflexible": students who can't juggle school along with childcare, employment and other responsibilities often don't get help until it's too late.
Schools "only give you [an alternative] option after things are so bad that you're behind and basically set up to fail," said Scott. "That's a big problem."
What interests -- and excites -- Scott about the COVID-19 crisis is that school systems seem to be open to changes that would help these populations.
"Pre-COVID," according to Scott, schools often said, "'We don't have any capacity to make any changes. We can't think about credit hours in a different way. We can't have kids take classes online. We couldn't possibly make packets for kids to take home for class.'"
Now, schools are contemplating all of those changes -- in part out of necessity.
In most of Southern California, if campuses reopen in the fall, many schools are likely to adopt "hybrid schedules," meaning students will rotate between learning in classrooms on some days and working from home on others.
Cynthia Gonzalez, the South L.A. high school principal, is excited about the change. Hybrid schedules could open the door for huge shifts that would be good for working students: more learning at a student's own pace, more flexible scheduling and -- with fewer students in a classroom at a time -- more individualized instruction.
"There are opportunities, being online, to actually do a better job at closing those gaps," said Gonzalez, "if it's done correctly."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. It was a bloody Fathers Day weekend in New York City, with gunfire ringing out in every borough. Two people were killed and nearly two dozen others injured over a calamitous three days.
Staten Island didnt escape the mayhem, with a man sitting in a car shot by another motorist at Targee and Dekalb streets in Concord.
The surge in New York City violence wasnt confined to just this weekend.
Shootings are up nearly 25 percent for the year versus 2019. There were spikes in January and February, then a lull in March and April as coronavirus slammed the city. Then more increases in May and June. The number of shooting victims is also up.
Staten Islands 120th Precinct, on the North Shore, has seen a spike in shootings and robberies compared to last year.
So its not a statistical blip. Its not an aberration. Its a stark reminder of the bad old days, even though Mayor Bill de Blasio insists that the city is not heading back the the deadly violence we saw here in the 1980s and 1990s.
De Blasio on Monday said that the surge in shootings presented a real challenge and was something we all have to focus on.
De Blasio pointed to how shootings generally increase during the warmer months, and said that the coronavirus lockdown had also frayed nerves. Gang retaliation also figures into the uptick, the mayor said.
Not only wouldnt New York return to the bad old days of high crime, he vowed, but we would not return to bad police practices either.
Its impossible to ignore that the backdrop here.
On the heels of the massive protests that followed the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, there are calls to cut $1 billion or more in spending from the NYPD. Some would like to see the police force eliminated entirely.
In a cave to the protestors, the NYPD anti-crime unit, whose cops are charged with getting guns off the street, has been disbanded. The stop-and-frisk program, which also aimed at finding illegal guns, had already been significantly downgraded.
Meanwhile, offenders in large numbers are being turned back onto the street without bail, thanks to criminal justice reform, and theres been a stand-down on enforcing quality-of-life crimes. Some want to see all jails closed.
The bad people out there have clearly gotten the message: Police are walking on eggshells, fearful to let any interaction with the public, particularly in minority neighborhoods, get out of hand. Even if youre arrested, youll likely be back on the street in no time. Nobodys looking to take your gun away. Theres a veritable laundry list of offenses you can commit without consequence.
The result? Increasing mayhem, as was predicted.
New York wasnt the only city that suffered over the weekend. Minneapolis, where the George Floyd death occurred, saw one person killed and 11 injured in a shooting incident early Sunday morning. Twelve people were shot in multiple incidents in Syracuse over the weekend. There were shootings and a death in the CHAZ anarchy zone in Seattle.
And there was the usual, staggering mayhem in Chicago this Fathers Day weekend: An astounding 104 people shot, 14 fatally, including five children.
In the face of all that, whats the hot topic of debate today? The fact that the Teddy Roosevelt statue was taken down from the front of the Museum of Natural History, and how many more statues we should take down. How many more portraits we need to remove of Founding Fathers and other famous Americans who werent all they were cracked up to be.
Meanwhile, theres a real downward spiral of gunplay going on out there. Lets have the same urgency about that.
A series of thunderstorms is heading out of Houston after dumping nearly three inches of rain across the area.
Several roadways across Harris County remained underwater as of 1:30 p.m. Most communities in Greater Houston recorded at least an inch of rain in a matter of hours, with some spots reporting as much as three inches south and southeast of the city.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Amsterdam, Netherlands Tue, June 23, 2020 16:15 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660fd218 2 World Netherlands,e-cigarette,vaping,vaping-ban Free
The Netherlands plans to ban flavored electronic cigarettes from next year to make vaping less attractive to young people, the government said on Tuesday.
Flavors currently available range from mojito and strawberry ice cream to mango and chocolate, the government said.
With its sweet tastes and perceived lower health risks, vaping has rapidly become popular among young non-smokers, who are often seen to use them as a stepping stone to regular tobacco products.
"It is unacceptable that 20,000 people die every year in our country from the effects of smoking and that every day around 75 kids start smoking", deputy health minister Paul Blokhuis said.
"The smoke-free generation we see coming also needs to be free of electronic cigarettes."
The government will refine the tobacco law to include the ban on flavored e-cigarettes, which is likely to take effect in the first half of next year, the government said.
Tobacco-flavored vaping products will remain available, mainly to help regular smokers kick their habit, it said.
E-cigarettes, which electrically vaporize a nicotine-infused solution, are defended by proponents as a healthier alternative to regular cigarettes. But studies have shown the devices were more damaging to health than expected.
In 2015, the Dutch Institute for Public Health showed smoke from e-cigarettes contained all kinds of chemical substances which could cause cancer. Late last year, U.S. researchers said the use of them increased the risk of developing chronic lung conditions such as asthma or emphysema.
A Dutch government report in 2017 said that over a quarter of people aged 12-16 said they had tried vaping at least once.
Electronic cigarettes and water pipes have been banned in the Netherlands for anyone under the age of 18 since 2016.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) said it has entered into an agreement with some of the worlds leading infrastructure investors and operators, sovereign wealth and pension funds.
A consortium of investors comprising Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP); Brookfield Asset Management, Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC; Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board, Ontario Teachers; NH Investment & Securities and Snam, the Consortium; will invest in select Adnoc gas pipeline assets valued at $20.7 billion.
In one of the largest global energy infrastructure transactions, the consortium will collectively acquire a 49 per cent stake in Adnoc Gas Pipeline Assets, a newly formed subsidiary of Adnoc with lease rights to 38 pipelines covering a total of 982.3 km, while Adnoc will be holding a 51 per cent majority stake.
The innovative transaction structure allows Adnoc to tap new pools of global institutional investment capital, whilst maintaining full operating control over the assets included as part of the investment, said the statement from Adnoc.
Under the terms of the agreement, Adnoc will lease its ownership interest in the assets to Adnoc Gas Pipelines for 20 years in return for a volume-based tariff subject to a floor and a cap.
The transaction will result in upfront proceeds of over $10 billion to Adnoc and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, it stated.
The gas pipeline network connects Adnocs upstream assets to local UAE off-takers. Ownership of the pipelines, management of pipeline operations, and all responsibility for associated operational and capital expenditures will remain with Adnoc.
For Adnocs partners, this transaction represents a unique opportunity to invest in quality energy infrastructure assets with a low-risk profile that generate stable cash flows, said the statement.
This agreement is the largest transaction since Adnoc announced the expansion of its partnership and investment model in 2017, which aims to unlock value for Adnoc, it added.
On the deal, Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Adnoc Group CEO, said: "This milestone transaction demonstrates the trust and confidence placed in Adnoc by the global investment community and unlocks significant value from our pipeline portfolio, following last years groundbreaking oil pipeline infrastructure investment partnership."
"Todays landmark investment signals continued strong interest in Adnocs low-risk, income-generating assets, and sets another benchmark for large-scale energy infrastructure investments in the UAE and the wider region," remarked Al Jaber.
"It solidifies Adnocs position as an attractive partner and reinforces the UAEs track record as the regions go-to foreign direct investment destination, even during the current unprecedented circumstances," he added.
Expressing delight at the deal, GIP Chairman Adebayo Ogunlesi said: "Adnocs gas network is a core piece of midstream infrastructure in the UAE and this transaction presents a unique opportunity to invest in an asset of this quality and importance, while also supporting Adnoc in their smart growth strategy."
"This transaction underscores GIPs strategy of investing in high quality infrastructure assets and developing long term strategic partnerships with industry leaders," he noted.
Brookfield Asset Management CEO Bruce Flatt said: "We are pleased to invest in this strategic pipeline system, which serves as the critical link between UAE low-cost natural gas supply and robust in-country demand."
"This transaction aligns with our strategy of investing in high quality, essential assets generating stable and predictable cash flows in a sector we know well. Adnoc has established itself as one of the worlds leading natural gas producers, with an exemplary operational record. We look forward to partnering with them in support of this critical asset and sector," noted Flatt.
Ontario Teachers CIO Ziad Hindo said: "This strategic transaction is attractive to Ontario Teachers as it provides us with a stake in a high-quality infrastructure asset with stable long-term cash flows, which will help us deliver on our pension promise."
"This new partnership with Adnoc and a group of world-class institutional and infrastructure investors expands our global presence and provides further geographic diversification to our portfolio," he added.
NH Investment & Securities Chairman and CEO Young-Chae Jeong said: "Investing into Adnocs gas infrastructure and supporting Abu Dhabi's energy initiatives reinforces our investment diversification strategy and demonstrates Korea's growing presence in the global infrastructure space."
"I am confident this milestone transaction can become a stepping-stone to broaden Korean investments in the region," he noted.
Snam CEO Marco Alvera said: "With this strategic transaction, we strengthen our international footprint by entering a country and a region that are key to our sector. Our aim is to promote further cooperation opportunities, particularly in the energy transition."
"We will work with Adnoc and the consortium partners by leveraging our industrial skills, know-how and innovative solutions in natural gas infrastructure management and provide our contribution to the UAEs energy system," observed Alvera.
"This transaction was carried out remotely over the past months, testifying the resilience of our company and its willingness to continue its growth path," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Egypt has appealed to all sisterly Arab states to support its moves to resume talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in good faith.
The top diplomat made the remarks at a virtual meeting held by the Arab League at the ministerial level to discuss the GERD file.
Shoukry touched on a step taken by Egypt to ask the UN Security Council to intervene to prevent Ethiopia from starting to fill its dam or taking any unilateral action on that score, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez said.
Shoukri also reviewed the outcome of the last round of the Sudan-hosted talks on the GERD, which saw an intransigent position of Ethiopia regarding several legal and technical points, as well as its insistence on starting to fill the dam's reservoir without reaching an agreement.
Filling the dam without reaching an agreement with Egypt and Sudan constitutes a clear violation of Ethiopia's international legal obligations, as well as the Declaration of Principles signed in 2015, which obliges Ethiopia not to cause any serious harm to the interests of the two downstream countries, Shoukry said.
Soukry voiced Egypt's appeal to all Arab countries to support it in the GERD file, which he said affects more than 150 million people living on the banks of the River Nile in both Egypt and Sudan.
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Victorian police are again able to issue on-the-spot fines for breaches of coronavirus restrictions without first seeking permission from a supervisor.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said a new directive had been sent to officers over the weekend allowing them to issue coronavirus fines without a supervisor's permission if they find more than five visitors in a home, or more than 10 people at an outdoor gathering.
This hasn't been allowed since the middle of May, when stage three restrictions were eased and a new process came into force that required officers to seek approval before handing out fines.
"On Sunday, Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton issued a new directive to members that in relation to the 'five at home' and the '10 outside' [rules] that police officers did not need to go to a supervisor to issue those fines," Ms Neville said on Tuesday.
As many as 135 passengers who had landed at the Delhi international airport from Heathrow airport, London, in an Air Indias Vande Bharat flight on Monday, had to wait for more than 10 hours inside the airport terminal as their connecting Air India flight to Chennai was inordinately delayed.
While passengers said they were told the flight was delayed because results of the pre-flight Covid-19 tests of the pilots werent received on time, Air India maintained that the delay was because of operational reasons, without explaining the details.
One of the passengers that HT spoke to, Uma Natrajan from Chennai, who had gone to meet her daughter in London and was stuck there because of the lockdown, said she boarded the Air Indias flight from the Heathrow airport around 7.30pm Sunday and arrived at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport at 8am Monday.
It was a Vande Bharat flight and from Delhi, we had a connecting AI flight to Chennai. Our departure was scheduled at 10.30am. Soon as we landed, we were asked to sit in the waiting lounge and were told that the flight will depart at 12.10pm. After an hour, the time was changed to 2.30pm, then to 4.30 and finally, our flight to Chennai departed Delhi airport around 6.30pm, after a delay of over 10 hours, Natrajan, a manager at a private firm in Chennai, said.
Another passenger who was travelling on the same flight, but did not wish to be named, said because there was no clarity on the departure time and all 135 passengers were getting restless, around 4pm they demanded that the airline manager be called to address them. The manager came around 4.30pm and told us that the flight has been delayed because the pre-flight Covid-19 tests of the pilots have not yet come in, the passenger said.
Another passenger, 22-year-old student Madhumithaa Sharmila Ramesh Kumar, who studies at a university in the UK, said this was her worst experience with Air India so far. There were pregnant women and children among the passengers. One of the women had to attend her fathers funeral and she was pleading with airline staff to send her on any available flight, but they didnt. If the airline officials had told us initially itself that the Covid-19 results of the pilots are awaited, we would have waited patiently. But they gave us no clear answers or explanations, which is unprofessional, Kumar said.
An airport official, who didnt wish to be named, also confirmed that the reason behind the delay was that the test results of the pilots had not come in.
Air India later said the flight departed the IGI airport at 6.30pm and arrived in Chennai at 8.30pm. An airline spokesperson said due to last-minute operational reasons, the flight had was delayed. The airline, however, did not comment on the delay over the test reports.
There were 135 passengers in transit. All efforts were made to minimise the inconvenience to the transit passengers and they were provided refreshments, the spokesperson said.
The majority of the House Republican caucus signed onto a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday backing any decision he makes on annexing the West Bank independent of outside pressure, even as Donald Trump administration officials convene this week to decide whether they should give Israel the greenlight to proceed in July.
We are aware of and deeply concerned by threats being expressed by some to retaliate against Israel as it makes decisions to ensure defensible borders, wrote 116 House Republicans led by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. It is shortsighted to threaten relations with Israel, a long-time friend and critical ally that shares our democratic values.
They go on to reiterate support for Trumps peace plan, which endorses the annexation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the entire Jordan Valley, while vowing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel and oppose any effort to apply pressure.
Why it matters: The letter, a lobbying priority for the Republican Jewish Coalition, comes after a slew of pro-Israel Democrats have warned Netanyahu against annexation. And although the White House laid the groundwork for annexation in his January peace plan, the Trump administration has grown warier of Netanyahus July target date in recent months. Trump himself may attend meetings this week on the issue with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, US envoy to Israel David Friedman, presidential adviser Jared Kushner and Israeli-Palestinian peace envoy Avi Berkowitz.
The Trump administration has asked Netanyahu to obtain support from his rival coalition partner Defense Minister Benny Gantz before pursuing annexation. Gantz in turn says he will not throw his weight behind annexation without support from Jordans King Abdullah II, who staunchly opposes the plan.
Whats next: Netanyahu is reportedly pushing for an early annexation date in case former Vice President Joe Biden succeeds in ousting Trump from the White House in November. Biden has warned Israel against annexation but has also resisted the push from progressive groups to use military aid as leverage.
Know more: Mazal Mualem explains why Trumps endorsement is crucial for Netanyahus annexation plan. And Rina Bassist reports on Gantzs latest annexation remarks.
TDT | Manama
Bahrain exported BD176million worth of products of national origin during May, the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) announced yesterday in its foreign trade report for last month, encompassing data on the balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin) and re-exports.
The value of exports of national origin decreased by 16 per cent, compared with BD210million for the same month of last year, the iGA added. The top 10 countries in terms of the value of exports of national origin purchased from Bahrain accounted for 76 per cent of the total value, with the remaining countries accounting for 24 per cent.
Saudi Arabia ranked first among countries receiving Bahraini exports of national origin, importing BD34million from the Kingdom. The Netherlands was second with BD18million and the UAE third with BD14million.
Unwrought aluminum (not alloyed) emerged as the top products exported during May with BD36million. Unwrought aluminum alloys was second with a value of BD31million, while Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates came third with BD25million. Meanwhile, Bahrains value of imports decreased by 10 per cent, reaching BD378million during May, compared with BD419million for the same month last year.
The top 10 countries accounted for 67 per cent of the value of imports, with the remaining countries accounting for 33 per cent, the iGA said. According to the foreign trade report, China ranked first in imports to Bahrain, with BD67million, followed by Australia with BD38million and Brazil with BD23million.
Aluminum oxide emerged as the top product imported into Bahrain with a total value of BD43million, while non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates were second with BD26million, and four-wheel-drive cars third with BD14million. The total value of re-exports decreased by 40 per cent to reach BD40million during May, compared with BD66million for the same month of the previous year.
The top 10 countries accounted for 95 per cent of the re-exported value, while the remaining countries accounted for the five per cent. Saudi ranked first with BD15million, China second with BD7million, and the UAE third with BD5million.
Four-wheel-drive cars were the top products re-exported from Bahrain with BD8million, followed by parts for aero planes with BD2.4million, and cigarettes containing tobacco with BD2.2million. The trade balance, which is the difference between exports and imports, recorded a deficit totaling BD162million during May, compared with BD143million for the same month of the previous yearan improvement of the trade balance by 13 per cent.
ATLANTA, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AmeriPro EMS, a leading provider of innovative and high-performance medical transportation and emergency services, today announced that well-known Emergency Medical Service (EMS) industry visionary Bobby Peardon has joined the company as vice president of strategic development. Peardon will be responsible for defining the company's strategic positioning and partnerships, as well as the company's overall operational expansion to sustain the company's rapid growth.
"As we continue to grow and expand our operations it is critical that we have a strong leader with a proven track record of directing this type of growth leading the charge," said Suhas Uppalapati, CEO of AmeriPro. "Bobby brings deep experience in both expansion and operational management and we are extremely pleased to have such an industry authority with his level of expertise join our team to drive our future growth."
Peardon brings more than 40 years of EMS and leadership experience managing high performance EMS systems to AmeriPro EMS and is well-known for designing and managing some of the most complex 9-1-1- systems in the country. Peardon also has extensive experience in managing operations and sales and marketing programs that have produced significant growth and expansion for both regional and national private ambulance service providers.
Prior to joining AmeriPro EMS, Peardon held multiple positions, including chief operating officer at Lifeguard Ambulance Services, and senior vice president of operations at Central EMS where he increased business with hospitals and medical facilities.
Peardon most recently served as regional president of Priority Ambulance, assisting in growth strategy and operational efficiency. Peardon has experience in integrating multiple brands and overseen acquisitions and mergers over the course of his career, increasing employee satisfaction, service delivery and bottom-line objectives.
"I'm excited to join the AmeriPro EMS team where I believe my experience in developing and implementing growth strategies and operational efficiencies can further strengthen the company's industry-leading EMS offering," said Bobby Peardon.
Peardon also has vast experience in technology and was part of the team that pioneered system status management as part of Metro Ambulance Services' 9-1-1 service in Tulsa, Oklahoma. System status management continues to be the accepted best practice for designing high performance EMS systems. The method uses data collected over time to statistically predict the geographic location, frequency and type of emergency calls and proactively position ambulances to best meet the call demand at any given time.
About AmeriPro EMS
AmeriPro EMS is one of the fastest growing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transport companies in the United States, servicing hospitals and other healthcare facilitates as well as County and Municipal 911 Markets. Using modern technologies and state-of-the-art ambulances, AmeriPro EMS provides an unmatched premier patient experience with ultra-fast, ultra-comfortable transportation and highly skilled staff. The sophisticated, tech-enabled vehicles provide instantaneous wireless transmission of patient data and real-time safety monitoring of patients helping to ensure the best patient outcome possible. This translates into reduced wait-times for patients and increased hospital throughput and revenue capture. For more information please visit www.AmeriProEMS.com .
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A 48-year-old man was charged with murder after a deadly bar shooting on the North Side last week, according to an arrest affidavit.
San Antonio police are accusing Felix Sanchez of killing 45-year-old Jose Ramon Juardo and then attempting to clean up the crime scene on June 13.
Officers were called to the 4000 block of Vance Jackson just before 7 a.m. and found Juardo laying in the alley dead from a gunshot wound.
During the investigation, authorities discovered Jurado's body may have been moved to the alley 30 feet away from the original crime scene on the patio of Shenanigans Cocktails, the affidavit said.
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According to the affidavit, video surveillance showed Sanchez and a woman exit the bar after closing time to sit on the patio. Several minutes later, cameras in the front of the bar showed Juardo parking his car at the bar and walking around to the back before taking a seat with the other two.
The woman later told police that she knew the victim, though it was unclear in what capacity.
Juardos body language showed that after several minutes the conversation started to get heated and he stands up and moves toward Sanchez and the woman, the affidavit said.
The woman told police that Juardo started to call her names before he came up and shoved her on the ground. Juardo then turned toward Sanchez and then fell to the floor and when the woman looked up, she saw Sanchez with a gun, the affidavit said.
The two moved the body from the patio and tidied up the patio chairs that had been knocked over during the shooting. They left the bar, but Sanchez returned about an hour and a half later to clean the patio with bleach, the affidavit said.
A bartender at Shenanigans Cocktails identified Sanchez for authorities.
Sanchez was arrested Sunday night and is being held on a $150,000 bail.
Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
Trump offered support for Israeli military action against Iran: Bolton
Iran Press TV
Monday, 22 June 2020 10:35 AM
Former US national security adviser John Bolton says President Donald Trump had given Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu the green light to attack Iran, and pledged his support for such a military action.
According to a leaked manuscript of his forthcoming book, Bolton has suggested that Trump had already pledged his support for an Israeli military action in direct talks with Netanyahu.
"On Iran, I urged that he [Trump] press ahead to withdraw from the nuclear agreement and explained why the use of force against Iran's nuclear program might be the only lasting solution," Bolton said in the his book "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir" which is to be released Tuesday.
"'You tell Bibi [Netanyahu] that if he uses force, I will back him. I told him that, but you tell him again,' Trump said, unprompted by me," Bolton added.
According to Bolton, the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner blocked phone calls from Netanyahu to Trump last summer when the Israeli prime minister wanted to urge him not to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Trump reportedly wanted to meet Iran's top diplomat on the sidelines of the G7 conference in France's Biarritz, but Zarif rejected it out of hand.
"Trump asked [Mick] Mulvaney and Kushner what they thought. Mulvaney agreed with me, but Kushner said he would have the meeting because there was nothing to lose," wrote Bolton, who opposed the meeting.
Bolton said Kushner later actively blocked Netanyahu from reaching Trump to discuss the matter.
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by Paul Wang
Hong Kongs former Chief Justice Andrew Li criticises judgess subrodination to chief executive and Beijings interference in "exceptional" security cases. According to pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspapers, local religious leaders, including Card Tong, "understand and support the national security law".
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) The new security law that Beijing wants to impose on Hong Kong could undermine the independence of Hong Kongs judiciary, notes former Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang in an article and interviews published today in various local media.
Li especially stressed the fact that the new security law provides for a special group of judges in charge of trials related to subversion, separatism, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers against Hong Kong and China. These judges would be selected by the Chief Executive, who would also chair a security commission.
For Andrew Li, this is "inappropriate" and would be "detrimental to the independence of the judiciary" because it puts the executive branch above the judiciary, rather than guaranteeing the latters independence. In China, the judiciary is subordinate to the Chinese Communist Party.
For Li, it is also unacceptable for China to claim the right to judge some crimes related to security, even in "exceptional" circumstances.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Chinas parliament, met recently to draft the security law, which has not been released. Xinhua only published a few elements.
So far, the Hong Kong Bar Association, Protestant clergymen, the Hong Kong Journalists Association and 86 world organisations have spoken out against the law. Many foreign governments have also expressed opposition or doubts.
Until now, Hong Kongs religious authorities have not spoken on the matter, although some Catholics have complained that the new law threatnes religious freedom.
On Sunday, the Hong Kong Liaison Office[*] met with 50 religious leaders to present the security law. Card John Tong Hon, apostolic administrator of the diocese of Hong Kong, was one of them.
Hong Kongs Catholic diocese has not yet issued any official statement. For now, only two pro-Beijing papers, Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po, claim that the aforementioned religious leaders understand and support the national security law.
[*] Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
A merica "did a great job" on coronavirus and has had the best testing system in the world during the pandemic, Donald Trump has claimed.
The US president took to Twitter on Tuesday to blast the "fake news" media for not reporting on the country's testing rates.
Mr Trump said: "We did a great job on CoronaVirus, including the very early ban on China, Ventilator production, and Testing, which is by far the most, and best, in the World.
"We saved millions of U.S. lives.! Yet the Fake News refuses to acknowledge this in a positive way."
Mr Trump also contrasted the positive media coverage of Dr Anthony Fauci, the infectious diseases expert leading the US response to the virus.
He added: "Dr Anthony Fauci, who is with us in all ways, a very high 72% Approval Rating.
"So, if he is in charge along with V.P. etc, and with us doing all of these really good things, why doesnt the Lamestream Media treat us as they should?
"Answer: Because they are Fake News!"
Top doctor Anthony Fauci, flanked by US President Donald Trump / AFP via Getty Images
Mr Trump's comments come as coronavirus case numbers surge in several states, even while parts of the economy begin to open up again.
Cases were rising in 29 states and territories on Monday, measured by seven-day averages. Nine states have had record average highs. Hospitalisations were up in several states too.
The US has more than double the infections and deaths linked to the virus than Brazil, the second-worst affected country.
Trump says he told 'his people' to 'slow the testing down'
The president told supporters at an indoor campaign rally on Saturday that he had told the coronavirus response team to slow testing rates, because high numbers of infections would make the US look bad.
A campaign official later told Reuters that he was joking.
The US has increased testing significantly to nearly 480,000 tests per day in June, from around 350,000 in May.
And Mr Trump said the higher testing rates are to blame for the increased number of confirmed infections.
He said in a tweet: Cases are going up in the U.S. because we are testing far more than any other country, and ever expanding. With smaller testing we would show fewer cases!
But this may not be true, according to public health experts.
Scientists argue that the positivity rate - the percentage of tests that come back positive for the virus - is a more accurate marker of whether the spread of the virus is slowing.
The US positivity rate has stayed roughly the same for most of June, despite the increased testing.
It's the Hollywood feud no one saw coming.
Charlize Theron, 44, has taken aim at Steven Seagal, 68, in a scathing interview with Howard Stern on Monday, singling the action veteran out for being 'not very nice to women'.
Calling the actor 'incredible overweight,' Charlize explained 'I have no problem talking s*** about him because he's not very nice to women, so f*** you.'
Off the cuff: Charlize Theron, 44, [L, February 2020] has taken aim at Steven Seagal, 68, [R, in the 2006 film Mercenary for Justice] in a scathing interview with Howard Stern on Monday
Asked how she preps for her action projects, the Monster actress explained to Stern that she had been watching YouTube clips of Seagal fighting during Aikido (a Japanese martial art) tournaments around the world - and was not impressed by what she saw.
'At night I'll go online to watch fighters or watch people fight and you always come across that odd Seagal video of him 'fighting' in Japan, but he really isn't.'
'He's just incredibly overweight and pushing people. He's overweight and can barely fight look it up, it's ridiculous. He's shoving people by the face. It's a whole setup.'
Justifying her words, Charlize added: 'I have no problem talking s**t about him because he's not very nice to women so f**k you!'
Attack: Calling the actor 'incredible overweight,' Charlize explained 'I have no problem talking s*** about him because he's not very nice to women, so f*** you'
Seagal has been accused on multiple occasions of sexual assault and sexual harassment.
In 2017, actress Portia de Rossi, with whom Theron worked on Arrested Development, tweeted,
'My final audition for a Steven Segal [sic] movie took place in his office. He told me how important it was to have chemistry off-screen as he sat me down and unzipped his leather pants.'
Critical: Asked how she preps for her action projects, the Monster actress explained to Stern that she had been watching YouTube clips of Seagal fighting during Aikido
Jenny McCarthy has previously accused the On Deadly Ground actor of asking her to undress during an audition for Under Siege 2.
Speaking on her SirusXM radio show in 2017, the former Playboy Playmate claimed Seagal told her, 'You know, this part has nudity in it and I can't really tell what your body looks like in that dress that you're wearing.'
Warner Bros., the studio behind the 1995 action film, subsequently denied McCarthy ever auditioned.
Ouch: 'He's overweight and can barely fight look it up, it's ridiculous,' she told Stern of the footage. Seagal [R] seen here in a 2016 YouTube video
No regrets: Justifying her words, Charlize added: 'I have no problem talking s**t about him because he's not very nice to women so f**k you!'
In early 2018, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office acknowledged that it was reviewing a potential sex abuse case involving Seagal.
In the same interview, Charlize set the record straight on her brief relationship with Sean Penn.
She revealed Monday on The Howard Stern show that she and Penn were never engaged, despite reports that he popped the question in Paris back in November of 2014.
The star addressed the rumors: 'What? That's not true. no. I did not 'almost get married to Sean,' that's such bulls***. No, we dated, that was literally all we did, we dated.'
Not true: Theron revealed Monday on The Howard Stern show that she and Sean Penn were never engaged (pictured in July, 2014)
She continued: 'It was a relationship, for sure. We were definitely exclusive, but it was for barely a year. We never moved in. I was never going to marry him. It was nothing like that.'
Theron began dating Penn, 59, back in December of 2013, later breaking it off in June of 2015.
Us Weekly reported in December of 2014 that the couple secretly got engaged in Paris, a source saying: 'There's no ring, but they are committed.'
Year of love: Theron began dating Penn, 59, back in December of 2013, later breaking it off in June of 2015 (pictured in May, 2015)
She told Vogue earlier that year: 'Let's put it this way: I never had the dream of the white dress. And watching other people getting married? I think it's beautiful for them, but to be quite honest, usually I'm sitting there just devastated.'
When Stern asked about her desires to get married, she responded: 'I never wanted to get married. That's never been something that's important to me. On the lives of my children, I've never been lonely. I've never felt alone.'
She added: 'My life right now just doesn't allow a lot of room for something like that to happen. But in saying that, there's not this thing that drives me [to have a romantic relationship].'
Last January, Theron was subject of another romantic rumor that she was dating Brad Pitt, 56, before a source told E! News that it wasn't true.
The insider said: 'They know each other, but it doesn't go beyond that. They aren't dating and never were.'
President Trump shows a photo of recently completed sections of border wall during a roundtable Tuesday in Yuma, Ariz. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)
President Trump, whose plans to campaign on a booming economy were ruined by the coronavirus, traveled Tuesday to the southern edge of Arizona to highlight completion of "more than 200 miles of powerful border wall" with Mexico.
He didn't mention the fine print.
Nearly all 216 miles built since Trump took office replaced outdated or dilapidated fencing. Only about "three miles of new border wall system [have been] constructed in locations where no barriers previously existed," according to Homeland Security's June 19 status report on the wall.
Trump repeatedly pledged during and after his 2016 campaign that he'd make Mexico pay for "a big beautiful wall" on the entire 1,954-mile border. So far, the Trump administration has spent $15 billion on the project. Mexico has not contributed anything.
Aware of the discrepancy, Mark A. Morgan, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said hairsplitting over how much of the wall is new amounted to "a false political narrative."
"From an operational law enforcement perspective, those are new miles of wall system that are going into the ground," Morgan told reporters.
Trump promised to complete "close to 500 miles" of wall by the end of 2020 during a roundtable discussion at a U.S. Border Patrol station in Yuma, Ariz., before touring a nearby section of wall.
He touted the new and refurbished walls as "pretty much un-climbable" and said illegal border crossings have dropped 84% over the last year, although the drop is partly due to the economy cratering this year during the COVID-19 outbreak and aggressive efforts to expel migrants, including asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors.
The heavy salesmanship by the president, making his second trip to Arizona in six weeks, suggested he is still searching for a winning campaign message less than five months before election day, especially in a state that he won handily in 2016 but that now appears in play for Democrats.
Story continues
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, leads Trump by four percentage points in Arizona, according to the Real Clear Politics average of recent polls.
The visit to Yuma, and later to Phoenix, marked Trump's first public appearance since his poorly attended rally Saturday night in Tulsa, Okla., which has sparked speculation by some Republicans that Trump's campaign needed major retooling.
The campaign had predicted a massive overflow crowd for his first public rally in more than three months, but the indoor arena in Tulsa was two-thirds empty, and Trump was humiliated, according to aides.
He also was angry that his aides had confirmed to the press before the event that six Trump campaign staffers involved in organizing the rally tested positive for COVID-19. (The total is now eight.)
For an hour and 40 minutes, Trump delivered a rambling and at times overtly racist speech that eclipsed his prepared remarks, which began with an overview of select accomplishments confirming conservative federal judges, increasing the Pentagon budget and improving the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Trump's scripted attempts to paint a negative portrait of Biden were lost in a torrent of grievances and invective toward the media, China and the coronavirus, not to mention a bizarre reenactment of his tentative walk down a ramp after a commencement address days earlier.
"The most important thing in a campaign is the message. And the most powerful message he needs to develop is what's wrong with Joe Biden," said Ari Fleischer, who was White House press secretary under President George W. Bush. "If this election is about the incumbent, chances are Donald Trump will lose."
Jen Psaki, a veteran of President Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns, said the Tulsa event showed that Trump or his campaign haven't settled on "his best argument about why he's running."
"There are many advantages of running for reelection as an incumbent president," she said. "But the challenge is that you are judged not by your aspirations but [by] what you've actually accomplished and where the country actually sits."
Trump's visit to Arizona and his continuing focus on the border wall largely ignored the health crisis that has overshadowed the 2020 race, even as the state is ravaged by a spike in coronavirus infections. The number of confirmed cases, now around 55,000, has doubled over the last two weeks.
On Tuesday, Arizona tallied the most COVID-19 cases of any day yet 3,591 and its hospitalization rate set a record for an eighth straight day, casting a heavy shadow on the president's visit, especially his second event, a speech sponsored by a conservative advocacy group at a Phoenix church.
Trump has sidelined the White House coronavirus task force in recent weeks and spoken of the pandemic as if it had ended, even claiming in Tulsa that he has asked aides to "slow down" testing to keep the overall number of reported cases from rising. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 tops 121,000.
Before leaving the White House on Tuesday, Trump scoffed at his press secretary's claim that the president's call to slow testing was meant as a joke.
"I don't kid," Trump told reporters on the South Lawn. "By having more tests, we find more cases."
In recent weeks, doctors have tracked sharply rising infections in Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Oklahoma, all states that Trump won in 2016 and that aggressively lifted lockdown restrictions. Cases also have risen in California, which reported more than 5,000 new infections Monday, topping its previous record of 4,515 the day before.
Trump is aware, aides say, that he may not convince even his supporters to risk their health to attend crowded rallies or return immediately to pre-pandemic routines to help the economy rebound. But some analysts say he has little choice.
"It's valid for him to keep talking about the strong economy before the pandemic hit," Fleischer said. "Most voters give him a mulligan on the pandemic, and memories of the strong economy remain fresh. But he better be doing everything he can to manage this crisis well so that in the fall people give him credit for being competent."
Democrats are less charitable, insisting that Trump's hyperbole and "I alone" approach are ill-suited for the moment.
"The country needs a 'We, the people' president," said Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart. "The one thing we know is [Trump] has no empathy, and that's a fatal flaw this year, to have no ability to look at the world through other people's eyes."
Trump's boasts about his border wall are not without merit, even if much of the wall isn't technically new, according to Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington and an advocate for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
"Replacing crappy, rusting 1970s barriers that are 8 feet high with 30-foot bollard wall that's 'new wall,'" he said. "The president has a case to make that he's actually achieved results."
But making the wall a symbol of Trump's harsh approach to immigration enforcement has drawn scrutiny on the project itself, especially since construction has occurred only on 10% of the border.
Trump tweeted a complaint Monday night after watching a Fox News report on the slow progress, declaring that the wall is "well under construction, fully financed and already over 200 miles long."
It may not matter. Polling suggests that immigration, which helped propel his unexpected election four years ago, is not the top concern for even Trump's voters now.
"The whole wall debate is less salient now because there's almost no one sneaking across the border anyway, which is partly because of the COVID outbreak," Krikorian said. "And partly because the changes are working."
Times staff writer Molly O'Toole contributed to this report.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Victory Resources Corporation (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR61)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Company") announced it intends to proceed with a consolidation of its common shares (each, a "Share") on the basis of ten (10) pre-consolidation Shares for one (1) post-consolidation Share (the "Consolidation"). The Board of Directors approved the consolidation on June 9, 2020.
The Company currently has 193,221,049 Shares issued and outstanding. Accordingly, once the Consolidation is effective, the Company will have 19,322,104 Shares issued and outstanding, assuming there are no other changes in the issued capital of the Company.
The Company intends to also proceed with consolidating its outstanding options and warrants on a ratio of ten (10) to one (1), with the result that each consolidated option and warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one Share at an exercise price of ten (10) times its original exercise price.
The Consolidation is being proposed in order to provide the Company with increased flexibility to seek additional financing opportunities and is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company will not change its name as part of the Consolidation. The consolidation is planned for Friday, June 26th, subject to final exchange approval.
For further information, please contact:
David Lane, President
Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822
E-mail: IR@victoryresourcescorp.com
About Victory Resources Corporation
VICTORY RESOURCES CORPORATION (CSE: VR) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The company is also currently seeking other exploration opportunities, preferably in Canada.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.
SOURCE: Victory Resources Corporation
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594975/Victory-Resources-Announces-Share-Consolidation
- Troops of the Nigerian Air Force in collaboration with other security agencies averted what could have led to another tragedy in Kaduna on Sunday
- The operatives foiled an attack by bandits and recovered some cattle stolen by the criminals
- While there were no casualties among the security operatives and civilians, some of the bandits escaped with gunshot wounds
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Lives were saved and some herds of cattle recovered in Kaduna on Sunday, June 21, as the operatives of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) thwarted an attack by armed bandits along the Kwauya-Tsamiya village.
This was revealed in a statement released on Monday, June 22, by Major General John Enenche who is the coordinator of defence media operations at the Defence Headquarters.
Legit.ng gathers that the attack was repelled by the personnel of the 404 Force Protection Group (404 FPG) NAF Base Kaduna.
Nigerian Air Force Thwarts Bandits Attack In Kaduna. Photo credit: Nigerian Air Force
Source: Facebook
Enenche explained that the bandits had raided the Fulani settlements and seized some herds of cattle at gun point.
A Rapid Response Force (RRF) team supported by NAF special forces and local vigilantes was subsequently dispatched to pursue and recover the rustled cattle.
While there were no casualties among the security operatives and civilians, some of the bandits managed to escape with gunshot wounds.
The bandits were also forced to abandon 40 cattle as they fled in different directions.
The NAF commended the officers for their gallantry and urged them to sustain their efforts to curb the activities of bandits and all other criminal elements.
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In a related development, the Biu community in Kaduna state has commended the Nigerian Army under the leadership of the chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, for the tireless and laudable efforts in ensuring security for Nigeria.
In a ceremony organised by the community in commemoration of the mother of the chief of army staff, Alhaji Bawa Garba (ABG), the patron of the association in Kaduna said that General Buratais commitment to the peace, security and unity of Nigeria is unprecedented.
Garba said it is a big pride to Biu community, Borno state and Nigeria as a whole to have a visionary, selfless and committed leader who is focused on ensuring the country's territorial space is secured.
According to Garba, no chief of army staff in the history of Nigeria has recorded numerous achievements like General Buratai has so far achieved.
Buhari should put an end to banditry, unrest in Zamfara - Nigerians cry | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will look into the corruption allegations leveled against Mudashiru Obasa,...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will look into the corruption allegations leveled against Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly.
Obasa had been accused of embezzling public funds and abusing his office.
SaharaReporters had carried out an investigation on the speaker who allegedly owns more than 60 bank accounts. on the speaker who allegedly owns more than 60 bank accounts.
He was accused of using his office to misappropriate funds and allocate contracts to himself through third party sources, as well as other acquaintances.
The state house of assembly had cleared the speaker of the corruption allegations, saying the allegations were untrue.
Speaking on Tuesday at the commissions office in Lagos, Mohammed Rabo, zonal head of the EFCC, said the anti-graft agency will give the petition against Obasa the attention it deserves.
Members of the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CISNAC) had protested at the commissions office while a petition was also submitted to the agency.
We will give it the required attention. We have our process here. This is the first process. You have submitted. We will go through it. I assure you we will give it the attention it requires. Always do your things within the ambit of the law. Rabo said.
Sina Odugbemi, a programme officer at CISNAC, said the Lagos state house of assembly cannot be a judge in its own affairs.
He said the EFCC must investigate the speaker for the public to know the truth about the allegations.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-20 21:44:42|Editor: huaxia
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BEIRUT, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Saturday by 26 cases to 1,536 while the death toll remained unchanged at 32, the National News Agency reported.
The Lebanese health ministry has conducted PCR tests for Palestinian refugees in Mieh Mieh camp and Syrian refugees in different camps all over the country.
Lebanon has been fighting against COVID-19 since Feb. 21.
The country has received several donations from different countries for the fight against COVID-19.
The latest foreign support received by Lebanon for the fight against the pandemic was from China last week which offered 17,500 masks, 1,500 protective gears, 1,320 goggles and 1,000 shoes covers to Lebanese public hospitals. Enditem
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed the executive order (EO) that expanded the immigration restrictions in the country.
This move was to make sure that Americans will be prioritized in getting jobs as the number of employment rate in the country surge.
In a report published by Fox News, a senior administration official said millions of Americans have no jobs.
He said Trump's order to curtail visas for foreign workers will protect the disadvantaged and unemployed Americans from the threat of competition for scarce jobs as they will be prioritized.
The Trump administration is expecting economic growth in the coming months as some states have already reopened for business.
Rep. Lance Gooden of Texas has supported Trump's action.
He said the President's decision to expand his immigration ban is a manifestation of Trump's strong support for American workers.
Gooden added that currently there are 45 million individuals, who filed unemployment since mid-March and the order will help stop the competition between Americans and foreigners in getting the jobs as the economy reopens.
Trump's Executive Order Was Criticized
Meanwhile, despite the aim of the EO that gives more opportunities for Americans in the country to get the jobs first, big companies like Twitter has criticized Trump's action.
Twitter wrote that the order undermines the country's greatest asset and that's diversity.
The company also emphasized that people around the world join the labor force in the U.S., pay taxes, and have contributed to the global competitiveness on the world stage.
Moreover, the Democrats and immigration activists will likely oppose the order as they have already expressed disapproval on the immigration restriction in April and described it as anti-immigrant.
Here are the visas that are restricted under the EO:
H-1B tech worker visas
H-2B seasonal worker visas
Certain J work and education exchange visitor visas
L executive transfer visas
The restriction of these visas will take effect until the end of the year. But it will not affect those who already have a visa.
The following are exempted from the visas restriction:
Health care workers directly related to COVID-19 and for cases that are deemed to be in the national interest
Original green card order
Members of the U.S. military
H-2A agricultural guest-worker program
The effect of the order may not have a noticeable effect immediately. However, the Trump administration estimates that this will affect more than 600,000 jobs before December 31.
The decision of the President to suspend certain working visas was also not welcomed by some business groups.
They described it as too restrictive and an order that could potentially hurt the economic recovery of the country.
It can be remembered that U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas Donohue wrote a letter to Trump, stating that "American businesses" need an assurance that they can meet all the workforce that they need.
He added in his letter that businesses in the U.S. also need access to talents "both domestically and from around the world."
Check these out!
NORWOOD, Mass., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MariMed Inc. (MRMD:OTCQX) (the "Company" or MariMed), a leading multi-state cannabis and hemp operator focused on health and wellness, today announced that Chief Executive Officer, Robert Fireman, and Chief Financial Officer, Jon Levine, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on June 24th.
DATE: Wednesday, June 24th
TIME: 12:30 p.m. ET
LINK: https://www.tinyurl.com/062420KCSAVIC
This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.
It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.
Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.
Recent Company Highlights
On May 29 th , MariMed announced a 112% increase in revenue year-over year for first quarter 2020.
, MariMed announced a 112% increase in revenue year-over year for first quarter 2020. With the consolidation of its licensed cannabis businesses in Massachusetts and Illinois , MariMed is expecting continued growth in 2020 revenue and EBITDA.
and , MariMed is expecting continued growth in 2020 revenue and EBITDA. MariMed's award-winning Betty's Eddies Edibles brand continues to be industry leader in Maryland and Massachusetts and has recently been launched into the Nevada adult-use cannabis market, a state that continues to surpass retail sales expectations.
and and has recently been launched into the adult-use cannabis market, a state that continues to surpass retail sales expectations. MariMed Massachusetts licensed cannabis production is ramping up to approximately 1000 pounds per month at its 70,000 square foot cannabis manufacturing facility in New Bedford . MariMed is at final stages for approval of its provisional adult use licenses for cultivation and production in New Bedford and at its Panacea Wellness dispensary in Middleborough .
To be added to the email distribution list, please email [email protected] with "MRMD" in the subject.
About MariMed:
MariMed Inc. (MRMD: OTCQX), a multi-state cannabis operator (MSO), is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of people through the use of cannabinoids and cannabis products. The MariMed experienced and validated team have won 14 cannabis licenses in six states where we have developed over 300,000 square feet of state of the art, regulatory compliant, cannabis cultivation, production, and dispensary facilities.
The Company is at the forefront of science and innovation, developing new formulations for its products to be effective to the needs of our customers. MariMed proprietary brands "Kalm Fusion", "Betty's Eddies" and Bourne Baked Goods are top sellers in their respective marketplaces.
MariMed has recently consolidated its Massachusetts and Illinois businesses into the public company. It plans to consolidate the cannabis businesses in the other 4 states as transfers are approved. The consolidation will allow the revenue from the licensed cannabis business to be included in our pubco's financial reporting. MariMed continues to achieve consistent growth and success as an acclaimed fully integrated seed to sale MSO.
About Virtual Investor Conferences
Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly-traded companies to meet and present directly with investors.
A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network.
Important Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This release contains certain forward-looking statements and information relating to MariMed Inc. that is based on the beliefs of MariMed Inc.'s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events, including estimates and projections about its business based on certain assumptions of its management, including those described in this Release. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including, among other factors, changes in demand for the Company's services and products, changes in the law and its enforcement and changes in the economic environment and developments in, and the outcome of, GenCanna's Chapter 11 proceeding. Additional risk factors are included in the Company's public filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as "hoped," "anticipated," "believed," "planned, "estimated," "preparing," "potential," "expected," "looks" or words of a similar nature. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. None of the content of any of the websites referred to herein (even if a link is provided for your convenience) is incorporated into this release and the Company assumes no responsibility for any of such content.
All trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE VirtualInvestorConferences.com
SANTA ANA, Calif., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- My Office Apps, Inc. (MOA), an industry leader in business improvement software, today announced that Meals on Wheels San Francisco (MOWSF), a provider of nutritious meals and professional social work services, is streamlining inventory management and meal production with Kechie ERP to manage the supply chain in their new state-of-the-art kitchen facility.
"With our new kitchen and food production facility set to open later this year, we want to assure that our capacity to produce and deliver 20,000 meals a day to thousands of homebound seniors living in San Francisco, is supported by a user-friendly tool that is robust and scalable," explained Frank Scott, MOWSF Director of Fleet and Facilities. "The Kechie software solution will allow us to monitor our end-to-end supply chain management from procurement, inventory and tracking, to the end destination, which is into the refrigerators of our meals recipients."
Utilizing the latest in cloud technology, Kechie is a robust and agile Software as a Service (SaaS) platform designed to help organizations capture critical data in real time with a simplified user experience, enabling MOWSF to manage meal production and delivery with control and confidence.
"We are very pleased to partner with MOWSF to deliver fresh and healthy meals to folks with dignity," said Mariam Komeili, MOA co-founder and CEO. "Having served as a volunteer on a local delivery team, the MOWSF mission speaks to the level of social responsibility we value with our Kechie solutions. Together, we aim to build a stronger, more efficient process to support health, welfare and independence in our communities."
About Meals on Wheels-San Francisco
Since 1970, Meals on Wheels San Francisco (MOWSF) has been serving people, mostly seniors aged 60 and older, who have the greatest physical, social, and economic needs and who have limited ability to purchase food. MOWSF has provided seniors residing in San Francisco with what they need to live independent and dignified lives nutritious meals, professional social work services including wellness checks, and a friendly visitor. In 2019, staff and volunteers delivered 2.2 million meals to nearly 4,500 homebound seniors and adults with disabilities.
In 2020, Meals on Wheels San Francisco will celebrate 50 years of serving the older adult community. Construction is underway on a new state-of-the-art kitchen and food production facility that will increase the organization's capacity to produce up to 20,000 meals daily. The new kitchen will be the largest of its kind in California and is expected to be in operation by the end of 2020. To learn more about Meals on Wheels San Francisco, visit mowsf.org.
About My Office Apps, Inc.
My Office Apps, Inc. (MOA) is a leader in business improvement software solutions to automate your organization. Building on three decades of software design and development, MOA delivers Kechie, a transformative business tool. Kechie is a fully integrated Enterprise Resource Planning Software as a Service (SaaS) platform with a simplified user experience and the latest in cloud technology. It is quick and easy to implement without the expensive price tag. Sold in separate packages inventory and warehouse management (CRM, Sales, Procurement, Logistics included), manufacturing, finance or a fully configured ERP system to integrating all of these individual modules. Kechie is easily configured to the scalable needs of your growing business. For more information on managing your business processes more efficiently and effectively, visit www.kechie.com or www.myofficeapps.com .
My Office Apps, Inc.
505 N. Tustin Ave
Suite 206
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 486-1487
For media inquiries:
Doug Finke (714) 486-1487 | [email protected]
SOURCE My Office Apps
Related Links
https://www.myofficeapps.com/
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:25:21|Editor: huaxia
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RIYADH, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday the conditions of Hajj this season, noting only domestic pilgrims aged under 65 will be allowed to perform Hajj.
The Minister of Health Tawfiq Al-Rabiah told a press conference that the selected pilgrims should be below 65 years old and free from chronic diseases, the Saudi Press Agency reported, adding that they should pass the coronavirus testing and be in home-quarantine after performing the Hajj rituals.
Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that due to the global spread of coronavirus, only a "very limited" number of pilgrims who already live in the kingdom are allowed to perform Hajj this season.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mohammad bin Saleh Benten explained that the kingdom made the decision for the safety of pilgrims.
Meanwhile, the health ministry announced on Tuesday the registration of 3,139 new coronavirus cases, raising the accumulated infections to 164,144.
The death toll reached 1,346 after 39 more fatalities were confirmed, while the recoveries rose by 4,710 to 109,885. Enditem
[June 23, 2020] Red Hat Helps CO-OP Enable Faster, More Flexible Application Development with Red Hat OpenShift
Red Hat (News - Alert), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced that Japan CO-OP Insurance Consumers' Co-operative Federation (JCIF) has adopted Red Hat OpenShift as the foundational platform for JCIF's "Co-op My Page," an online portal for policyholder support and new policy applications. JCIF delivers insurance solutions in the spirit of mutual aid, offering a broad range of insurance types and policies according to the needs of its members. Specifically, JCIF emphasizes policies intended to provide enhanced financial and health security for spouses and children, with the organization serving as Japan's largest provider of child insurance policies. Transforming insurance, digitally As online solutions have become the point of contact for policyholder support and new policy applications, JCIF has developed a variety of services for its web-based systems to meet these demands. The centerpiece of this strategy is the "Co-op My Page." My Page helps make it easier for policyholders to claim mutual aid benefits, make address changes and other administrative tasks via a centralized site with 24/7/365 availability. Additionally, My Page is also intended to help drive business processing efficiency for JCIF in an effort to better streamline how the organization handles policyholder requests. With My Page covering a broad range of services and functionality, JCIF needed to be able to more quickly and flexibly respond to the changing and diversification of end user needs. This prompted the organization to adopt a multi-vendor approach, building applications separately for each service and commissioning a different vendor to develop each application. The introduction of each vendor, however, required changes to service configurations and resources, straining the underlying legacy system. In addition, in order to respond to spikes in service demand, server resources had to be readied for whatever the projected maximum user requirements would be. These service spikes compounded challenges that JCIF already saw with its legacy systems, including siloed application stacks, end-of-lifecycle support and the inability to integrate with emerging Web-based technologies Bridging digital gaps with containers and Kubernetes With these realities front-and-center, JCIF decided to use more portable and flexible container technology, which could separate the runtime environment for each application and service. This helped to simplify JCIF's multi-vendor development approach and enabled a faster, lower cost path to effective service delivery and resource usage. To power its container strategy, JCIF selected Red Hat OpenShift, the industry's most comprehensive enterprise Kubernetes platform, for its streamlined, supported operations across the cloud-native lifecycle, from container preparation to tuning and log configuration. JCIF began rebuilding its web system infrastructure in October 2017, with operations starting in January 2019 and My Page entering full production in June of that same year. The organization also began operating two additional OpenShift-based systems in May 2019. The benefits of cloud-native Previously, settings and configuration changes to JCIF's web environment could only be made on a server-by-server basis; under the new system, changes for each application can be made at the container level, reducing the time it takes to manage underlying environments. This also increases developer and IT operations freedom across the organization. In addition, reducing delivery time has made it possible to more quickly develop new applications and services. JCIF can now also increase and decrease resources flexibly to handle demand spikes, eliminating the need to prepare resources in anticipation of maximum loads, leading to a reduction in IT costs. ITOCHU Techno-Solutions (TC) provided consulting, design and development for JCIF, while Red Hat provided technical product support for this project.
Supporting Quotes: Hirokazu Mochizuki, president and representative director, Red Hat K.K.
"We are very happy that Red Hat OpenShift has been selected as a solution that can more precisely solve the issues related to Japan CO-OP Insurance Consumers' Co-operative Federation's web systems infrastructure. Red Hat OpenShift helps organizations gain the full benefits of containerized applications running on enterprise Kubernetes, from portability across the hybrid cloud to improved developer efficiency, and we look forward to continuing our support of JCIF as it seeks to enhance the policyholder experience through cloud-native technologies.. " Ken Kawazoe, manager, Web Systems Development Department, Development Division, Japan CO-OP Insurance Consumers' Co-operative Federation(JCIF) "Going forward, dedicated sites will have to be opened in as short a time as possible, with all the necessary functionalities and with greater convenience. Sudden, concentrated accesses are also anticipated. In our search for a product that will offer agility and flexibility, we introduced Red Hat OpenShift as our web systems infrastructure and it performed as expected. We are hoping to have continued support and cooperation from Red Hat and CTC (News - Alert) for the stable operation of our current system and future migration work." Takanori Minatohara, Managing Executive Officer, ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation "Japan CO-OP Insurance Consumers' Co-operative Federation's redesign of its web infrastructure system for the Co-op My Page enabled improved development efficiency for their systems and the achievement of faster, lower-cost delivery through the use of the Red Hat OpenShift. We took great pride in using our accumulated know-how and container technology in consulting, designing and developing this implementation. Going forward, we will look to further enhance the deployed container technology, extend stability of operations and resolve systems issues as they emerge for JCIF and their end users." Connect with Red Hat Learn more about Red Hat
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French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday launched a furious attack on Turkey's conduct in Libya, accusing the key NATO member of playing a "dangerous game" that can no longer be tolerated.
In fierce comments likely to rile his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Macron described Turkey's behaviour as a telling example of his controversial belief the military alliance was in the throes of brain death.
Ankara supports the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in the conflict against rebel strongman Khalifa Haftar.
France is suspected by analysts of backing Haftar alongside Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, but insists it is neutral in the conflict.
"I believe today that Turkey is playing a dangerous game in Libya and is contravening all the engagements that it made at the Berlin conference" earlier this year on finding peace, Macron said after meeting Tunisian President Kais Saied in Paris.
Ankara's role, said Macron, threatened the interests of Libya, its neighbours, the entire region and also Europe.
Macron's comments came as a pro-government Turkish newspaper reported Turkey has arrested four of its nationals on suspicion of spying on conservative and religious groups for France.
"We will not tolerate today the role that Turkey plays in Libya," added Macron.
Libya has been torn by violence since 2011. By Mahmud TURKIA (AFP/File)
In a sign of convergence between Paris and Cairo on the issue, Macron said he could understand the "legitimate concern" of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has warned advances by Turkey-backed forces could prompt an intervention by Egypt.
"I don't want in six months, or one year or two, to see that Libya is in the situation that Syria is in today," said Macron.
Rising tensions
Libya has been torn by violence, drawing in tribal militias, jihadists and mercenaries since the 2011 toppling and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a Western-backed uprising.
The oil-rich country is split between rival administrations in the east and west, with the conflict recently attracting increasing foreign involvement.
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and Tunisian President Kais Saied (L) discussed Libya. By Christophe PETIT TESSON (POOL/AFP)
Haftar, a former Kadhafi army commander, has been battling to take the capital Tripoli since last year.
Tensions have risen over the last year between Macron and Erdogan, notably when the French leader said the lack of NATO response to a unilateral Turkish operation in northern Syria showed the alliance was undergoing "brain death".
The Ankara-Paris strains soared further last week when France denounced an "extremely aggressive" intervention by Turkish ships against a French navy vessel participating in a NATO mission in the Mediterranean, a claim Ankara dismissed as "groundless".
Macron described this of fine proof of his concern for NATO.
"I refer you to my statements at the end of last year, on the brain death of NATO, I consider this to be one of the best demonstrations (of this)... when we have two NATO members" in a standoff, he said.
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin on Saturday accused France of "supporting an illegitimate warlord and jeopardising NATO security."
Turkey has sent Syrian fighters, military advisors and drones in support of the GNA, in a deployment which has changed the course of the conflict, with Haftar's forces enduring a string of defeats.
Macron said he and Saied were urging the belligerent parties to down arms and honour their commitment under the UN to resume peace talks aimed at achieving "security of all, the reunification of Libyan institutions and reconstruction for the benefit of all Libyans."
"It is a difficult path that requires everyone to show proof of responsibility, stop the foreign interference and unilateral actions of those who claim to win new positions in the war," said the French president.
The three people who were killed in Charlotte at a Juneteenth block party on Sunday morning have been pictured, as police continue to search for the gunmen.
Kelly Miller, 29, Christopher Antonio Gleaton, 28, and 39-year-old Jamaa Keon Cassell all died when the unidentified shooter or shooters fired into the crowd of some 400 people who had been gathering all weekend to peacefully celebrate Juneteenth.
Six people were shot and five more were injured when they were hit by cars while running from the gunfire at the 'impromptu block party' in Charlotte.
No one has been arrested and the motive for the killings remains unknown.
Police say that the shooting was so intense that firefighters and cops carried people out of the street on their backs to avoid being struck.
'It was a very, very chaotic scene. Were talking about 400 people in one spot, not one witness, not one,' Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Deputy Chief Gerald Smith said over the weekend.
Kelly Miller, 29, Christopher Antonio Gleaton, 28, were both killed in the block party shooting
Maliyah Cook, a witness and relative of one of the victims, said the mood of the crowd leading up to the shooting had been calm. Suddenly, she heard gunshots.
39-year-old Jamaa Keon Cassell also died
'I really feel like it was a good party. I don't know what happened,' Cook said. 'It came out the blue.' As Cook was running, she said she looked down to see her cousin Kelly Miller, fatally wounded in the middle of the street.
Cops say they arrived on Beatties Ford Road in northern Charlotte to find hundreds of people in the street. They described the incident as a 'mass casualty' and a 'very, very chaotic scene'.
In a statement law enforcement said: 'We're talking about 400 people in one spot, not one witness, not one.'
Police say they were first called to reports of a pedestrian hit by a car. As over a dozen emergency services swooped on the scene, several shots were fired, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Deputy Chief Johnny Jennings said.
Jennings said there was evidence of multiple shooters, but no one was in custody as of Monday morning.
Police said in a statement: 'Preliminary information gathered during the investigation indicates that several shooters discharged dozens of shots in to the crowd who had been gathered in the area.'
Cops arrived at the scene on Beatties Ford Road in northern Charlotte to find hundreds of people in the street
One woman was pronounced dead at the scene, a second victim died later at the hospital
One eyewitness told WCNC: 'I heard about 60 or 70 shots, sounded like, people were running everywhere, cars were leaving.
'It's just sad someone took something that was an event that was supposed to be an event and turned it into a massacre, a nightmare for families. People lost their loved ones, people out here in the streets dead. Charlotte's better than this.'
Another onlooker added: 'To be honest, it had to be over 15 or 20 people shooting.
'Shots were coming from the left, right, front and back. They were coming from everything. Nobody knew which way to run or which way to go.'
Shocking video from a witness shows party-goers running down the street after hearing gunfire.
As a police vehicle races to the scene with sirens blaring, a burst of pops ring out.
Screaming, the crowd sprints down the street while the gunfire persists. The witness dives into his car and says 'crazy'.
Juneteenth, for which celebrations started Friday, commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans learned they free 155 years ago.
Five were hit by cars while running from the gunfire, which scattered the large crowds around midnight at an 'impromptu block party' in Charlotte (scene pictured)
Police said there was evidence of multiple shooters, but no one was in custody as of Monday morning
Another person was shot near Seattle's protest zone referred to as the "Capitol Hill Occupied Protest" or CHOP, in less than 48 hours.
The shooting incident took place on Sunday night and it involved a 17-year-old victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to his arm, as reported by Q13 Fox News.
Police said the victim has declined to speak with authorities about the incident that occurred in Cal Anderson Park, where protesters gathered for peaceful demonstrations against police brutality.
Like the first victim shot on Saturday, the teen was rushed to Harborview Medical Center by zone volunteer medics in private cars since there was no police in the area.
Authorities Blocked From the Area
Seattle Post-Intelligencer said authorities were unable to get to the crime scene due to the hostile environment.
The recent gun violence in the area was allegedly related to the demonstrations.
Since the protests started, loud gunshots could be heard in the neighborhood from time to time.
Recently, a federal court ordered Seattle police to temporarily stop using tear gas, flash-bangs, and pepper sprays to break up large peaceful protests.
Be that as it may, Bobby Stills, a volunteer at the CHOP protest zone, asserted that having no police presence made people free to do whatever they want to do.
"You never know who's going to show up. That's why people here are on such high alert - they don't know who's who or what's what or their intentions," the Seattle resident added.
Last June 18, a volunteer medic was also sexually assaulted when a man coaxed her inside his tent and started forcibly kissing and touching her private areas.
The tragic incident was prevented from escalating when another medic overheard the attack.
Prior to the gun violence on Sunday, a grimmer episode also happened at the CHOP when an early Saturday morning firing has critically injured a 33-year-old man and left a 19-year-old man dead as reported by The Epoch Times.
CHOP Members Submit Proposal
In view of the recent violence that is happening inside the CHOP protest zone, some members have released an "open letter" directed to the leaders and organizers of the barricaded community.
They suggested instilling curfew hours and creating a safe use area on the outer parts of the zone, as well as putting up signages that will keep drunk people from loitering inside the zone.
Mayor Addresses CHOP Protest Zone Violence
Last Monday, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a press conference that situations inside the protest camp have become different, particularly at night during the past weekend.
She assured the public that the city is doing its best to offer community resources, especially to those who have been left homeless in the area.
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Under the Democratic legislation, set to pass the House this week, such warrants would be banned in federal drug cases, and federal funding would be conditioned on local police agencies barring the practice. The Senate GOP bill calls on states and localities to report to the Justice Department when such warrants are used, and it would punish those that do not do so by withholding federal funding.
ALBANY Early results Tuesday night in the Democratic primary between Albany County District Attorney David Soares and challenger Matthew Toporowski show the incumbent with a more than 1,100-vote edge.
But what could be a long wait has just begun.
Soares had a lead of 7,218 to 6,077 with 99 percent of the polling place vote in, but those numbers are just the start of a process that may not be finished for a week given the large number of absentee ballots this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The county sent out 28,501 absentee ballots and about 17,390 have been received so far. Results wont be known for a week until the mailed-in ballots are counted.
A confident Soares, 50, of Glenmont told the Times Union he absolutely expected to win the primary.
Its not just the work thats been put in over the course of the last several months. Its the work thats been put in over the last 16 years, Soares said. I think that our brand of public safety services is known by the community at large. We feel very confident that well return to office based upon the work weve put in over the last 16 years.
He said he strongly believed that good ethical work results in good politics and the people understand that.
Especially now in a time of such uncertainly people are looking for leadership that they can rely on , Soares said, calling himself the most qualified candidate to guide us the through what I believe to be the most challenging time that we have had in our community.
In a room with more than 30 supporters, Toporowski, 34, said he knew campaigns would have highs and lows and knew he would need to keep pushing forward. The progressive attorney and one-time prosecutor for Soares, was at the Bull Moose Club on the fourth-floor of a building at 150 State St. with campaign supporters.
Here we are and I already feel like I've won because weve done such a great job, Toporowski said. Im hoping we win so we bring this change that Ive been talking about. But even if we dont, weve just done so much. Im very proud Ive given what I have to this campaign. Ive left it out there and I know I can hold my head high no matter what happens. I dont know what will happen, but Im very proud of what weve done.
Toporowski said even if he loses the fight will continue to advocate for a progressive message. The building where his campaign met was across the street from the state Capitol.
If (Soares) doesnt answer tonight to the voters and to me, he will have to keep answering to the progressive justice advocates on the ground here in Albany and beyond, Toporowski said.
In Albany County, where Democrats outnumber Republicans, the Democratic primary is often tantamount to a victory in November. No Republican is running. Soares also is running on the Independence Party line. Soares has the endorsement of the Democratic Party committee. Toporowski also has the Working Families Party line.
Soares voted early Tuesday at Mt. Moriah Christian Academy in Glenmont. Toporowski, who lives in Albany's Arbor Hill section and works with the Wagoner Firm, voted at The First Church on North Pearl Street.
Toporowski, who announced in his campaign in February, has called to reform a criminal justice system he contends contains too much punishment and incarceration and not enough alternatives. Toporowski has the support of Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Albany County Legislator Carolyn McLaughlin, the former Common Council president, activist Barbara Smith and among others, Sen. Bernie Sanders and musician John Legend.
Soares, who was endorsed by among others Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, was elected in 2004 following a major upset of incumbent Democrat Paul Clyne.
Toporowski worked for Soares from July 2013 to March 2015, but his departure became a point of debate. The Times Union reported on June 16 that Toporowski said he left the office voluntarily and that he had never been disciplined -- or criticized -- while working for Soares.
But Soares' chief assistant, David Rossi, said he personally suspended Toporowski in 2014 in connection with a photo posted on social media that showed Toporowski with two female students at an Albany Law School function. Toporowski and the students, all fully clothed, appeared to be parodying a sex act in the photo. Rossi said he asked for Toporowski's resignation a year later . Rossi said he went public because "I can't allow him to continue to lie to the public about it."
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Earlier that day, when the Times Union asked Toporowski if he had ever attended a dance-type function at Albany Law School in 2014 while at Soares office, he replied: Not that I can recall."
On June 13, the Times Union reported that city Police Detective David Bernacki said that when he responded to Toporowskis home on Dec. 20, 2013, -- after Toporowski had allegedly been assaulted -- the detective heard Toporowski say racial slurs to a biracial alleged assailant, including the n-word. Toporowski, who identifies as Hispanic, denied making the slurs. A second officer at the scene, Kyle Haller, and a friend of Toporowski's who was on the scene backed up Toporowski. Both attended high school in Saugerties with Toporowski.
Earlier Tuesday, both campaigns confirmed they had heard scattered reports of issues at polling places in the city. At least one polling place did not open up on time at 6 a.m., causing at least one voter to wait 45 minutes to cast a ballot. Other polling sites neglected to hand voters the two ballots one for the Democratic presidential primary and the other for the county district attorney race.
Toporowski said his campaign had heard reports that some inspectors were not trained. Toporowski also said some polling locations did not have air conditioning for workers as temperatures in the city climbed to over 90 degrees. Toporowski said he reported that issue to the state Board of Elections.
Democratic Election Commissioner Matthew Clyne said it was not unusual to have some issues with polling places, machines or workers. This years training for elections was complicated by the pandemic, which forced the board to train most of its inspectors online, he said.
We were limited in the amount of people we could have (in person) at any one time, he said.
The county Board of Elections runs 317 sites throughout the county.
Mark Streb, the campaign manager for Soares, said he had also heard of some voters who did not receive ballots for the district attorneys race. Streb echoed Clynes comments that some disruptions were always likely on voting day.
Theres always a hiccup somewhere along the way, he said. The board gets notified and they fix it.
In one of the few other local primaries, early voting had Sonia Frederick ahead of John O. Williamson, 306-146, in the Democratic race for Albany Common Council Ward 1, with all 10 polling places reporting.
New Delhi, June 23 : BJP national President JP Nadda on Tuesday said that during the earlier UPA rule, the then PM (Manmohan Singh) never met with Chief Ministers or held meetings with them but present Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held six meetings with the political heads of the states and taken suggestions amid the coronavirus crisis.
Addressing an election rally in Assam through videoconference, Nadda said that the Rs 20 lakh crore 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' package announced by Modi held the potential to change the face and destiny of India.
He said that the reforms-oriented package had allocated funds for the MSMEs, agriculture and other sectors and advocated 'vocal for local'.
The BJP chief said that Modi took along various states as well as people in the nation's fight against the coronavirus crisis.
Listing out the central government's achievements in its fight against coronavirus, Nadda said that there was no dedicated hospital to treat corona patients when the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 24-25 midnight.
Now there were 1,000 such hospitals, 2 lakh dedicated beds, and 21,000 ventilators, he said. Nadda said that 60,000 ventilators were set to be added in this very month.
"When the lockdown was imposed there was no manufacturing of Personal Protection Equipment. Now, the country is manufacturing 4.5 lakh PPE every day." Nadda said that Modi had done in six years the works that had been lingering for the past six decades, adding that the government's first year in its second stint was full of achievements.
The BJP chief said that he was happy that the party had digitally connected to the voters amid the pandemic, adding that the party had held a total of 36 virtual rallies, including the instant one in which 30 lakh people were reached.
He also praised Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal on the distribution of free ration to the beneficiaries amid the coronavirus crisis.
Visitors wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus sit on benches while maintaining social distancing at a park in Seoul, Saturday, June 20, 2020. AP
South Korea's new virus cases bounced back Tuesday due mainly to a surge in imported cases, with most traced to sailors on a Russia-flagged ship docked in the southeastern city of Busan. The spread of the virus in the Seoul metropolitan area and outside the capital continued.
The country added 46 cases, including 16 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,484, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The tally rebounded from 17 new cases reported Monday, the lowest in almost a month.
The country reported 30 additional imported cases, 16 of which were tied to the 3,933-ton Russia-flagged refrigerator vessel with 21 crew. The ship that departed from Russia's Vladivostok is currently at a port in Busan.
The crewmembers took virus tests a day earlier, after the captain who got off the ship in Russia a week ago tested positive. Around 160 port workers who came in contact with the infected sailors are in isolation.
Health authorities are on high alert, as imported cases are likely to further rise.
New Delhi, June 23 : The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. on Tuesday to discuss the issue of stand-offs with China and Nepal. The meeting will deliberate on the issues of 20 Indian army personnel killed by Chinese forces in Galwan Valley on June 15 and Nepal adopting a resolution to print a new map which has Indian territory and also situation due to pandemic.
The meeting comes in the wake of all party meeting convened by the Prime Minister last week.
Sources in the party said that the incident at the Line of Actual Control is unacceptable to the party and the relationship with Nepal is at an all time low.
On the killing of Indian soldiers and Chinese transgression, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Monday said, "Don't buckle down, have the strength to 'rise to the occasion'. We'll give the Govt every support." India and China are engaged in a diplomatic resolution of the stand-off.
Nepal on June 13 adopted unanimously the Constitution Amendment Bill, paving the way for accommodating the updated political-administrative map in the national emblem which includes Indian areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura.
The CWC will also discuss the Covid pandemic situation and its handling by the central government.
If Trump were less cloistered, he might know that to improve his prospects he has to speak to voters on the fence between him and Biden. He has to address their fears and make a positive case for his administration. But because he lives within the confines of a gated MAGA community, Trump has no sense of what the skeptical public wants to hear. This, too, was apparent at his Tulsa rally, where he spoke at length about minor controversies his ability to drink a glass of water with one hand, his ability to walk down a ramp that are almost certainly irrelevant to everyone other than himself and his staunchest supporters.
And its not just Trump who is closed off from the rest of the world. Republican officials across the country refuse to believe that the president is on the path to defeat. The more bad things happen in the country, it just solidifies support for Trump, one North Carolina Republican Party county chairman told Politico in a story on the belief, within Republican circles, that coronavirus is on its way out and polls are unreliable.
We cant predict what will happen in November. But right now Trump is losing the presidential race, Democrats are likely to hold the House of Representatives, and Republicans are at risk of losing the Senate. A backlash is brewing, and Trump cant see or even sense it. There are those in his camp, like Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader of the Senate, who can see the writing on the wall. This is presumably why hes pushing a police reform bill to give Republicans something to tout in the fall to those moderate voters who sympathize with protesters.
But its not clear if the conservative movement as a whole knows what it has unleashed by hitching its wagon to Donald Trump. Conservatives thought they were getting 252 beautiful, brand-new, conservative, wonderful judges and a chance to cement their political preferences into the constitutional order. What they may receive instead is a newly energized and increasingly liberal public that has the numbers to sink that project for at least the near future, if not much longer.
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Samantha Rise, program director at Girls Rock Philly (at the base of a unicorn puppet), marches on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway during an arts event organized by the Artist Coalition for a Just Philadelphia on June 16. Read more
City Council has put money for the arts back into the administrations revised COVID-19-ravaged 2021 budget, including full restoration of the subsidy for the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
But the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, the citys key funding apparatus for arts support, has been restored to only about one-third its pre-COVID-19 level of $3 million.
Barbara Silzle, executive director of the Cultural Fund, which is an independent nonprofit, called the cut devastating.
The full impact on the hundreds of organizations seeking Cultural Fund grants will only become clear in the months ahead, she said.
Its going to mean a whole lot fewer grants and lesser amounts, she said. Hopefully the city can find other ways to divert money to the Cultural Fund.
The Cultural Fund subsidy had been eliminated when Mayor Jim Kenney submitted his revised budget at the beginning of May.
In explaining that budget, the mayor said the epidemic had forced him to propose a drastically revised spending plan for the coming fiscal year that emphasizes core municipal services. He cut his initial $5.2 billion budget by $649 million. Then, less than two weeks ago, the administration said the COVID-19 budget hole had frayed even more, adding another $100 million to the projected deficit.
READ MORE: Loss of Philadelphia Cultural Fund would hit arts organizations and neighborhoods hard
We all understand we have to take cuts, but why we were singled out to take this big cut, is baffling, Silzle said. The Cultural Fund has not been restored.
The Cultural Fund provided support this past year to 350 groups in every neighborhood of the city, as well as to big organizations like the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Silzle said she had hoped for restoration of at least 75 to 80% of the Cultural Funds $3 million appropriation which would put it in line with most of the cuts made across a range of city departments and agencies.
The Mural Arts Program, for instance, has had funding cut from $2.45 million to a little over $2 million. The Philadelphia Museum of Art has been cut from $2.55 million to just over $2 million. But the revised Kenney budget eliminated the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, which administered the Cultural Fund. The office has been disbanded.
The African American Museum, which initially faced elimination of its entire $231,000 general operating subsidy, has been fully restored.
READ MORE: Kimmel Center, seeing no earned revenue, cuts most of its staff
Derek Green, at-large council member who sits on the board of the Cultural Fund, said he is concerned by the substantial reduction in support for the fund.
Im going to continue to work for additional funding for the Cultural Fund as we continue to go forward, he said Monday. The Cultural Fund is an organization that continues to provide resources to grassroots community organizations all around the city of Philadelphia.
Council gave its preliminary approval to the revised funding levels last week. A final vote is scheduled for this week in advance of the end of the fiscal year, June 30.
Michigan Republican lawmakers are proposing a back-to-school plan that would require in-person learning for K-5 students in the fall and direct federal funding towards developing more robust virtual learning plans and safety measures.
The proposal hinges on $1.3 billion in federal funding that would be used for one-time boosts of $800 per pupil to K-12 schools and an extra $500 for teachers who have been working through the pandemic. Another $80 million under the plan would go directly to school districts to coordinate and implement distance learning plans and increased safety protocol for in-person instruction.
Schools would be allowed to start the next academic year at any time under the plan, removing the requirement for districts to obtain a waiver if they intend to start school before Labor Day. Educators would also be expected to lean on remote learning during poor weather conditions, dropping the number of forgiven snow days from six days per year to two.
Republican lawmakers stressed the need for local school flexibility when considering the best path forward for reopening, based on local health data and the needs of students in their districts.
Nobody knows what the fall is going to look like, but we are committed to getting our kids back in the fall, Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton. We do know, however, thats going to look different from district to district.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, told reporters Tuesday that in some areas of the state, the appropriate reopening plan could be almost exclusively in-person learning, while other areas might not be there yet.
But I dont think it should be the state determining that decision, he said. It should be done at a local level, based on their own unique circumstances.
Asked whether the plan would meet the requirements for spending federal funding allotted to Michigan during the pandemic, Shirkey said lawmakers were very careful when coming up with the plan, adding I think that we were using it exactly as intended, maybe applying a little bit of creativity at the same time.
The plan comes a week before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to unveil her administrations Return to School Roadmap outlining requirements and guidance for schools to reopen their classrooms. Shirkey said the Whitmer administration has been briefed on the proposal.
Related: Gov. Whitmer optimistic Michigan schools can reopen this fall
Considerations about when and how to return to the classroom are only one piece of the puzzle for schools. The state is facing a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall for both the current and upcoming fiscal years in the aftermath of the pandemic.
We know K-12 funding will see major challenges in the future, said Rep. Pamela Hornberger, R-Chesterfield Township. Our plan uses federal funds to provide our students with stability.
Since in-person schooling was shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the remainder of the academic year, educators, students and parents alike have struggled to cope with the unprecedented shift to online learning.
When introducing the Republican plan to prepare for and fund COVID-19 response measures for next school year, House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, said parents, students and local school leaders deserve an apology.
I do not believe that they have received the predictability, or the plan or the insight from state government over the past several months that they deserve, he said. Were going to make that right.
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
More on MLive:
Whitmer orders all Michigan schools to remain closed through academic year as coronavirus cases surge
This does not mean our kids will stop learning, Whitmer says after extending school closures due to coronavirus
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The failure of Torontos Quayside smart city project boils down to two original sins, according to former Research In Motion co-CEO and Centre for Digital Rights founder Jim Balsillie: a lack of regulatory oversight and a lack of citizen input.
But that doesnt mean Toronto cant have a smart city under the right conditions.
According to Balsillie and York University assistant professor Natasha Tusikov, those original sins point the way forward to ensuring any future smart city projects dont infringe upon citizens digital and privacy rights.
The sins of Sidewalk Labs
The Quayside project, a proposed smart city in the underused Port Lands area of Toronto spearheaded by Google sister company Sidewalk Labs, sounded appealing at first, said Balsillie.
The project promised a high-tech neighbourhood with sensors everywhere, gathering data on weather, movement, traffic and more.
But just months after a panel was formed in April 2018 to help Waterfront Toronto tackle data privacy and safety issues, experts on the panel started resigning, citing concerns over how the data would be collected and controlled.
And in May 2020, Sidewalk Labs pulled out of the project, blaming COVID-19.
Balsillie and Tusikov both say the Quayside development was flawed from the start, in two major ways.
The first was that it was allowed to move ahead without a proper regulatory framework, instead giving the regulatory power to Googles parent Alphabet Inc., said Balsillie.
The second was that it didnt involve citizens right from the start, he said.
He described the project as an example of surveillance capitalism, which infringes upon peoples basic rights to privacy.
The hands-off attitude by Waterfront Toronto led to huge governance problems, said Tusikov, who is currently studying data governance in smart cities using Torontos Quayside project as a case study.
Everything about this was studded with data-collecting sensors, she said, from health-care data to data about transportation and waste all for laudable purposes like environmental monitoring and safe traffic systems.
The problem was, we didnt know where this data was flowing, she said.
Growing privacy concerns led to resignations throughout the project, such as that of tech entrepreneur Saadia Muzaffar, who left her role in October 2018, citing concerns that Sidewalk Labs, rather than Toronto, would have control over the valuable data stemming from the project.
Google wasnt forthcoming about its intentions for the project, said Tusikov. And Toronto was taking on much more risk than the other players involved, essentially becoming a test case for Google not so much for the technology, but for standard-setting, she said.
In our modern economy, control over data is central for economic dominance, Tusikov said.
Toronto would be a test case, a test case for the development of products, services and standards that would be exported elsewhere.
What do Torontonians want?
Those two flaws highlight what needs to change before Toronto embarks on another smart city project something both Balsillie and Tusikov believe is possible, if done right, though the city hasnt announced any plans yet.
If a new plan is proposed, Tusikov said, it must start with the question: What do Torontonians want?
That way, the technology will be based on what citizens need, instead of what companies want to test, she said.
Alongside that process, there must be a regulatory framework concerning data and the role of government and private actors in collecting and using that data, she said.
Balsillie said the regulatory framework necessary would include some serious updates to privacy legislation in Canada, and severe penalties for companies that steal and trade in information. Just like governments have made laws throughout history to mitigate the negative side effects of capitalism, such as child labour laws, similar rules need to be established to prevent the side effects of a data-driven economy, he said.
Balsillie said Toronto could have looked to Vienna, Amsterdam or Barcelona as examples where smart city pilot projects were approached in the right manner.
For some reason Toronto chose to break all of the established, high-functioning rules.
What happens to the data?
In this new smart city, could the data collected still be sold? Balsillie and Tusikov both say yes, theres room for the data to be a commodity with restrictions.
Tusikov said with the proper regulatory framework, citizens may be more likely to trust that their data is being collected and used in a responsible manner that doesnt violate their privacy.
She said she envisions an open system, where multiple parties have access to the collected data, creating competition instead of a monopoly.
Balsillie believes that while regulating data collection might sound like a new frontier, its no different than the way various resources have been regulated throughout history to protect consumers rights.
When this data is in the public realm, it really is about power, and whoever has the power is fundamentally the government, he said. So, if there is profit, it has to be very carefully regulated with very, very careful oversight akin to what we do to water treatment plants or electrical utilities.
Balsillie said he does believe there is room for profit from data in a potential smart city, as long as its founded on proper governance and not surveillance capitalism. And while data as a commodity sounds intangible to many, its just another new resource that needs regulation, he said.
Weve done it before, he said. We know the playbook.
Balsillies Centre for Digital Rights is holding a two-part video series on surveillance capitalism, of which Tusikov is a part.
In the first video, posted June 17 and titled Beyond Surveillance Capitalism, Balsillie and Harvard business professor Shoshana Zuboff talk about the roots of capitalism and how it has led to todays surveillance capitalism, exemplified by the failed Toronto project by Sidewalk Labs.
The second part of the talks, a panel titled Beyond Smart Cities and hosted by Zuboff, comes out June 24.
That conversation aims to address whether its possible to have smart cities in the age of surveillance, and what can be learned from the Quayside project, said Tusikov.
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Facebook and its affiliate Instagram are now facing another battle together as social media platforms. Several huge advertising companies and products, first connected with both platforms, are now withdrawing their businesses with the two giants. Here's why.
Here's why advertisers are now leaving Facebook
On Monday, June 22, outdoor clothing company Patagonia closes its doors for Facebook and Instagram to be used as a platform for advertisements.
Patagonia was already the third huge company that withdrawn its businesses with Facebook and Instagram. The other two companies are outdoor recreation companies The North Face and Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI).
All of them seek explanation and resolution from both platforms regarding the increasing mass social justice protests happening in the United States. The companies supported the campaign against the platforms with hashtag #StopHateForProfit.
This campaign, first started last week, was led by a coalition of organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Common Sense, and other civil rights groups. These groups told advertisers to ban the platforms in line with all their issues of supporting hate, bigotry, racism, and the likes.
Interestingly, it was supported by several companies.
"As companies across the country work hard to ensure that Americans have access to free and fair elections this fall, we can't stand by and contribute resources to companies that contribute to the problem. We stand with #StopHateforProfit in saying Facebook's 'profits will never be worth promoting hate, bigotry, racism, antisemitism, and violence,'" said Cory Bayers, head of marketing for Patagonia. "We will pull all ads on Facebook and Instagram, effective immediately, through at least the end of July, pending meaningful action from the social media giant."
Why are Facebook and Instagram bombarded with #StopHate?
Since the issue of George Floyd's death began, several mass protests happened all over America. In the social media world, the same protests were also evident.
This issue was even stirred more when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg fails to censor the U.S. President Donald Trump regarding its posts about 'glorifying violence' in the social media app.
"It is clear that Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, are no longer simply negligent, but in fact, complacent in the spread of misinformation, despite the irreversible damage to our democracy," said The North Face - owned by VF Corp., which also owns Vans and Timberland.
"We cannot stand by and be complicit to or complacent about the spread of hate, racism, and misinformation, and that is why we are supporting the Stop Hate for a Profit advocacy campaign, which calls for pausing advertising on all Facebook platforms in the month of July. Upwork will pause advertising on Facebook and Instagram as a part of this campaign," said Hayden Brown, CEO of the online freelancing platform Upwork.
As of now, Facebook hasn't yet responded to comments.
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All hell broke loose at the manufacturing facility of a mobile major, situated near Delhi, after one of the employees tested positive for COVID-19. Not just that it meant all the employees had to be screened, but the facility itself had to close down for fumigation.
Chastised by the loss in production, the company laid down an even more stringent protocol to follow the SoPs that the government had announced.
A similar incident occurred at Bombay High, where ONGC's offshore oilfield is located, about 160km off the coast. A Business Standard report said that 54 employees working at the oilfield tested positive. While the company claimed that it has been following the SoPs, employees alleged that the infection was spreading 'due to lack of proper guidelines,' added the report.
These are incidents that companies want to avoid, as they ramp up production after resuming operations post the national lockdown. All of them have already lost crucial man-days because of the lockdown that lasted from the last week of March until May. And that is why, nearly all of them have doubled down their focus on the SoPs, which focus on two critical factors - social distancing and maintaining hygiene.
"Safety has become a big part of a company's focus. We have seen companies spending up to 25 percent more in keeping their facilities clean and hygienic," says Rituraj Sinha, Group Managing Director of SIS, the country's second-largest facilities management company.
This means not only are the companies obsessed with the kind of chemicals and machines used for cleaning, but also want cleaning to be done more frequently. "Earlier, companies were fine with a mop and bucket. Now they ask what chemicals are being used and if these are harmful. Some even ask for organic disinfectants," adds Sinha. Work stations are now cleaned up to three times a day, from just once earlier.
All these add to the costs. At Maruti Suzuki for instance, the safety protocol is actually reducing the effective working time of a shift and decreases productivity.
The requirement of a one-hour gap between shifts also creates certain issues. We had to virtually double the transport to get the same number of people into the factory. Various things are being tried out so that productivity can gradually increase," said Chairman RC Bhargava.
At DHL Express, the largest courier service provider in the country, the expenses have gone up by 10 to 15 percent. "But this is essential for business continuity," says RS Subramanian, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DHL Express India.
Surely, a small price to pay to ensure the safety of employees, and minimise loss of working days.
Liability of the employer
Appliance makers told Moneycontrol that each of them has set aside at least Rs 40 crore on an average to adhere to the standard operating protocols.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had on April 15 released a set of guidelines for workplaces that resume operations amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Here, thermal screening, regular sanitisation of the office premises and adequate social distancing were made mandatory.
The human resource head of an electrical goods maker told Moneycontrol that while the MHA hasnt explicitly stated it, the liability of employee health falls on the company.
If an employee contracts COVID-19 through exposure to the virus at the workplace, he/she can legally sue the firm. Hence, we need to be extra cautious and pace out work shifts in such a way that there is no crowding, he added.
Getting masks, gloves and additional sanitisation equipment would also cost additional money to companies. While regular cleaning is a practice across corporate offices, MHA guidelines also seek firms to sanitise the workplace between shifts.
This would require additional manpower being employed for this purpose on one hand, while on the other companies would also need to bear the cost of masks, gloves and protection equipment for the house-keeping staff.
For manufacturing facilities of white goods firms that have at least 300-600 people working two shifts, it is estimated that at least Rs 500 per person would be spent additionally on employees for buying them masks and gloves suitable for the workplace.
Production delays would cost the industry as high as Rs 80 crore, said the chief executive of a consumer durables firm.
If we give staggered 30-40 minute lunch breaks for the staff, that will have a direct impact on the actual production hours in a week. We cannot increase the working hours because workers will complain and machine overheating would disrupt production. Hence, refilling the supply chain would also cost higher, he added.
Thermal screeners would also need to be installed across all entry and exit points, especially at manufacturing facilities. These devices are priced in the range of Rs 30,000 to Rs 80,000 and would add an additional cost to the operating expenses of companies.
While this additional cost may pinch during a slowdown, companies now have understood the need for better sanitation which will become a permanent feature.
With inputs from Prince Mathews Thomas, M Saraswathy and Swaraj Baggonkar.
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By Borja Suarez
LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA, Spain (Reuters) - Spain's king and queen visited the Canary Islands on Tuesday to begin a tour intended to help rescue a tourism-dependent economy battered by the coronavirus crisis and a months-long lockdown.
Locals applauded King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia in the regional capital Gran Canaria. Some shouted "Viva!" as the king bumped elbows with people to avoid shaking hands.
He and Queen Letizia met tourism sector representatives on the popular Spanish archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa. Their "Spain for Sure" tour will take them to every region of the country in coming days.
There were signs elsewhere of Spain's slow re-emergence from the coronavirus confinement, with Madrid's zoo reopening to eager, mask-wearing families and other animal lovers.
"(I came) to enjoy the animals," primary schooler Adrian Gomez said from his vantage point by the monkey enclosure. "We really wanted to see them!"
The zoo's operations director, Carlos de las Parras, was equally happy to see human visitors. "I was even excited to see people I already knew, regulars at the zoo, to see them...being the first ones at the door to meet the animals."
The COVID-19 pandemic hit Spain harder than most countries, with 28,324 deaths so far and a three-month lockdown that crippled a tourism sector that accounts for 12% of the economy and employs one in eight.
Though Spain reopened its borders to European tourists on Sunday, the summer season is only tentatively resuming.
Just 35 hotels were operating on Tuesday in Mallorca, a mere 5% of the Mediterranean island's total, with only 15% of hotels set to open there in early July, according to a local hotel association.
Since Sunday, some 600-700 flights have taken place daily in all directions, state-owned airport operator Aena said, an increase on May's 570 daily average, but still a fraction of an average of about 6,000 daily flights a year ago.
Bad news came from Huesca and Lleida provinces, where several new localised coronavirus outbreaks were detected.
(Reporting by Borja Suarez; Additional reporting by Clara-Laeila Laudette, Inti Landauro, Emma Pinedo, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus; Writing by Clara-Laeila Laudette; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Mark Heinrich)
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.
Even though barbers and outdoor restaurants are about to open in Toronto for the first time in 14 weeks, Premier Doug Ford is holding off getting a haircut or visiting a patio until every region can reopen.
Ford told reporters Tuesday he is doing so in solidarity with Windsor-Essex, the last place Ontario to not move to the second stage of reopening due to persistent new cases of COVID-19 among migrant farm workers.
Everyones asking me about this haircut, the premier said of his golden mullet.
Im not going to get a haircut until everyone in the province can. Im standing beside the people of Windsor-Essex. Its not fair that they cant get a haircut and I can go out and get one, he said.
I know its not much, but Ill continue supporting them, so Ill get clipped after everyone else gets clipped down in Windsor-Essex. Im not going to go to any patio restaurants either until everyone in this province can go there.
His comments came on the eve of Toronto and Peel Region entering the second stage of reopening Wednesday.
Ontario has been in a state of emergency since March 17. MPPs are expected to extend that to July 15.
Ford said he is hopeful Windsor-Essex can open up soon, but farmers must play ball in order for that to happen.
If youre working on a farm and you're worried about COVID-19, please go get tested, the premier said.
Tomorrow, well have more to say on a plan going forward that will protect our workers, protect our farmers and get the Windsor region on track to join the rest of the province in stage two, he said.
But today, Im asking all the farmers to co-operate and ensure that testing is available to their workers. And if you work on a farm and you test positive for COVID-19 and you need to self-isolate for two weeks, youre eligible for WSIB, youll be protected for your time off. So, theres no excuses.
Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie
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By Michael Breen
When Pyongyang blew up the North-South liaison office building in Gaeseong last week, the message that emerged from the smoke and dust was loud and clear: "Lift sanctions or I'll shoot myself. Again."
To which the South Korean public responded with an unspoken message that went something like, "Keep taking the tablets and have a nice day."
In other words, they didn't care. Of course, those who are paid to pay attention responded more professionally. Reporters put the story on the front page with pictures. Government officials warned Pyongyang to desist and took issue with the potty mouth of Comrade Yo-jong.
But, as I say, the rest of us find it hard to muster interest.
Why is that? The obvious answer is that we've got used to North Korea rattling its saber and begging bowl at the same time. And we are confident in the knowledge that North Korea is too afraid of South Korea and the U.S. to do anything serious.
But indifference can often mask strong emotion. I think the South Koreans are withholding what they really feel. Here's that argument.
Broadly speaking, South Koreans fall into two camps depending on how they identify as Koreans. The first camp is loyal to the Republic of Korea. This nation has roots going back millennia, but is itself young. It began in 1948, freed from Japanese rule after World War II and spawned by America. Its expression in its modern history has been human and flawed, but became a democracy and things have improved so that now it is respected as an advanced state, standing shoulder to shoulder with other free market, liberal democracies.
Those who hold to this interpretation hope that, one day, North Koreans will throw off the yoke and join them.
The second version of Korea has those the same ancient roots, but is yet to be born. While the Republic of Korea threw off the idea of victimhood and demanded a place as an advanced nation, devotees of this other nation keep the flames of victimhood alive. This Korea continues to suffer because it has no country. North Korea and South Korea are not its rightful expression. They are imposters, temporary and imperfect. One day a Unified Korea will be born and we will be truly free.
Reverence for these two sacred nations, I believe, is what really distinguishes the political left and right in Korea. It's not over central planning versus free markets, or business versus labor. It is rooted in the version of the nation they revere. (And it's quite possible, normal even, for an individual to be a mix of conservative and liberal).
When it comes to dealing with North Korea, the first group, the ROK-loyalists, can handle disappointment better and more easily switch between engagement and containment because they essentially see North Korea as another country. They are contemptuous of its useless government, scornful of its preposterous posturing, appalled by its brutality and embarrassed to be so closely identified with what many now see as the worst country in the world. They know nothing can be done until North Korea changes and so they swallow their emotions.
The second group, however, is in a more difficult position. Its people suspend their criticism of North Korea because they need its cooperation in order for their version of Korea to be born. They ignore the gulag while getting outraged by Japanese crimes of the 1930 without intellectual discomfort.
But the blowing up of the North-South liaison office and the vulgar verbiage of the North Korean leader's sister, Kim Yo-jong, present them with a challenge.
That is because, this second group that reveres the as-yet unborn Unified Korea, is for the first time, fully in charge in South Korea. They have driven the latest initiative towards peace and reconciliation. And now they are being rejected by the very people they thought would respond to them.
What to do? It's possible this group may blame the United States. Who doesn't? It's possible they may break conceptually with the North Korean regime and project their idealism and hopes onto the people of North Korea.
But it's also possible their experience of rejection could awaken a beast. If I were North Korea, I would be afraid.
Michael Breen (mike.breen@insightcomms.com) is the CEO of Insight Communications Consultants, a public relations company, and author of "The New Koreans."
The New Jersey State Police trooper injured in a horrific three-vehicle crash on Monday continues to recover, with his boss calling it a miracle that Luis Sierra is doing so well after being thrown from his vehicle after being rear-ended by a dump truck.
For him to get ejected through that windshield and bounce off the right lane, (its) really just a miracle, Colonel Pat Callahan, the superintendent of the New Jersey State Police said at Gov. Phil Murphys coronavirus press conference on Tuesday.
Callahan said he spent time with Sierra at an area hospital on Tuesday morning the third anniversary of Sierras class graduating from the police academy.
I was amazed and in awe to be speaking with him, Callahan said. Hes doing very well and appreciated everybodys prayers.
Our Trooper will be spending tonight in the hospital but he and our @NJSP family are very fortunate this crash didnt have a worse outcome. It appears the dump truck crashed thru the guide rail from the truck lanes, entered the inner car lanes, and struck the stopped Troop Car. pic.twitter.com/PlqOq92CHx State Troopers Fraternal Association of NJ (STFA) (@STFA_NJ) June 22, 2020
A State Police spokesman said Sierra is in stable condition, but declined to describe the troopers injuries.
The crash took place at about 7 a.m. as Sierra was stopped behind a Porsche Boxster on the right shoulder of the inner roadway of the New Jersey Turnpike near milepost 70.7 in Cranbury with his overhead lights activated, State Police said.
A dump truck headed south on the outer roadway then plowed through the left guard rail and slammed into the troop car, rode over its roof and hit the Porsche, officials said.
All three drivers suffered what authorities said were moderate injuries.
The crash, which closed the inner roadway for about six hours, remains under investigation.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will host three Facebook Live events in July to talk with anglers and get feedback about fishing in Tennessee. The three events will be generally focused on east, middle, and west regions of the state and general comments or questions will be taken prior or during any meeting.
TWRA welcomes the public to provide any comments or questions in advance of the events to ask.twra@tn.gov, or on Facebook or Instagram via direct message prior to and during the events. We want to hear what people are experiencing on the water, what they like and dont like, and any questions they might have, said Frank Fiss, TWRA Fisheries chief.
We will have our local Fisheries managers available to answer questions during the event do our best to answer questions live.
The schedule of public meetings are as follows and can all be watched live on Facebook or can be watched the recording afterward on any of our social media channels:
July 9 - 6:30 p.m. (CDT) to discuss fishing in Middle Tennessee.
July 14 - 6:30 p.m. (CDT) to discuss fishing in West Tennessee.
July 16 - 5:30 p.m. (CDT) to discuss fisheries in East Tennessee.
All meetings can easily be attended virtually and seen live on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tnwildlife/. The TWRA encourages everyone to watch live and send in questions or comments before or during the meeting. There is no other option to attend these meetings due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings and social distancing requirements.
Embrace FARM, the support network for those affected by farm accidents, is reminding farm families that its annual Remembrance Service this year takes place online on the Embrace FARM website this Sunday, June 28 at 2pm.
Coinciding with this, Embrace FARM commissioned a study which suggests bereavement as a result of farm accident is similar to those grieving deaths of first responders.
Jennifer Moran Stritch of Limerick IT Loss and Grief research group who conducted the study said, "There is very little international or Irish research that looks at how families affected by farm deaths experience grief.
"The Embrace FARM study suggests that the experiences of bereaved farming families may be similar to those grieving deaths by suicide or the deaths in service of first responders, police, firefighters and emergency workers.
"People who are grieving these kind of deaths look for two things to sustain them: memorialisation, or the idea that their loved one will never be forgotten.
"Our research suggests that the annual Embrace FARM Remembrance Service is a consistent factor that helps to keep the memory and identity of the deceased loved one alive and vibrant.
"Secondly, people want to know that the death of their loved one has meaning and if it had to happen, hopefully someone else will not have to go through the pain they are now experiencing.
"Thats where the farm safety messages along with the advice and support from Embrace members and founders play a role," she stated.
Embrace FARM Remembrance Service
Last year more than 150 families had their loved ones remembered at the Ecumenical Service and Embrace FARM is encouraging people to send names of those they would like remembered this year.
The Embrace FARM online remembrance service will take place this Sunday, June 28 at 2pm. The live stream will be broadcast on www.embracefarm.com.
To submit loved ones details for inclusion call or WhatsApp 085-7709966 or email info@embracefarm.com with name, county, year of death or accident and a photograph if available.
Embrace FARM (Farming Accidents Remembered & Missed) was established by Brian Rohan and his wife Norma in 2014.
Having experienced the tragic loss of his father Liam during 2012 in a farming accident, Brian and Norma decided after some research to organise an ecumenical remembrance service for families who had lost a loved one or suffered serious injury in a farming accident.
Embrace FARM is supported by a voluntary board of directors who give their time freely in the development of the organisation.
In an encounter between terrorists and security forces in Pulwamas Bandzoo area on Tuesday morning, two unidentified terrorists were killed while one CRPF personnel succumbed to his injuries.
Operation Bundzoo (Pulwama). Joint Operation was launched today early morning on @JmuKmrPolice inputs. Cordon was laid and contact established. Joint Operation in progress, said Chinar Corps, Indian Army.
One CRPF personnel who had sustained bullet injury in the encounter and was evacuated to a hospital has succumbed to his injuries, said Central Reserve Police Force.
Also read: India China border issue: Rajnath Singh likely to seek Su-30 fighter jets, T-90 tanks, warships urgently from Russia
Also read: India-China border dispute: Corps Commander level meeting held for 11 hours
Two terrorists were eliminated and 2 AK-47 was recovered from the spot.
The encounter broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, and a search operation is underway, said Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Police and security forces are on the job, it added.
Further, details are awaited.
Also read: Disinformation not a substitute for leadership, Manomohan Singh slams govt on China
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The UN's top rights body on Monday ordered a fact-finding mission to Libya to document violations committed since 2016 as International Criminal Court prosecutors said mass graves discovered there may constitute war crimes.
Oil-rich Libya has been torn by conflict, drawing in militias, jihadists and mercenaries, since the 2011 toppling and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a Western-backed uprising.
Since 2015, a power struggle has pitted the UN-recognised Tripoli government against eastern commander Khalifa Haftar with both sides backed by rival foreign powers.
The UN Human Rights Council adopted by consensus the resolution strongly condemning all acts of violence in Libya and urging UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet to "dispatch a fact-finding mission" to the country.
The resolution expressed concern at reports of "torture, sexual and gender-based violence and harsh conditions in prisons and detention centres."
The fact-finding mission experts will "document alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties in Libya since the beginning of 2016," the text said.
Map showing the positions of forces fighting in Libya. By (AFP)
Tamim Baiou, Libya's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, told the council shortly before the resolution was adopted by consensus that he hoped it would mark "a turning point for a better future for Libya."
The resolution put forward in March by a group of African countries, but the UN's top rights body was forced to suspend its main annual session for three months due to the coronavirus crisis, postponing a vote by the 47-member council until Monday.
The council's 43rd session resumed last week after Switzerland relaxed the measures imposed to halt the spread of COVID-19, and concluded Monday with the Libya resolution.
- 'Long overdue'
Rights groups hailed Monday's resolution.
"We welcome the establishment of the fact-finding mission as an important and long overdue step towards ending the rampant impunity that has for years fuelled by the horrific crimes committed in Libya," Heba Morayef, head of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa operations, said in a statement.
Hundreds have been killed and some 200,000 people were displaced in Libya since the latest escalation, that began in April 2019, when Haftar's forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, began an onslaught against Tripoli.
But then Tripoli's Government of National Accord, with stepped-up support from Turkey, has pushed back and launched a counter-offensive that has reclaimed all of northwestern Libya.
"The establishment of a fact-finding mission into abuses in Libya is a wake-up call to warlords and armed groups that they could be held accountable for serious crimes committed by their rank and file," Human Rights Watch's Eric Goldstein said.
Mass graves
The withdrawal of Haftar's forces earlier this month allowed for the discovery of eight suspected mass graves, prompting rights groups to urge that they be investigated for war crimes.
International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement Monday that she would "not hesitate" to enlarge her investigation following the discovery of the mass graves, which she said "may constitute evidence of war crimes or crimes against humanity."
Envoy Baiou insisted that GNA had showed that "impunity will no longer be tolerated" in Libya.
Tripoli hoped, he said, that the resolution indicated "the international community holds the same threshold for those countries who contributed to this situation in Libya."
Analysts Say Syria Sanctions to Have Wide Impact
By Dale Gavlak June 22, 2020
Lebanon is facing challenges posed by the new U.S. Caesar Act, which authorizes new sanctions and financial restrictions targeting Syrian government, analysts say, because of close banking and commercial ties between the two countries. Analysts say Lebanon will be forced to revise its activities as its own floundering economy is in crisis due to what critics call years of mismanagement and corruption.
Analyst Maha Yahya, who directs the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, says the Caesar Act has far-reaching implications for any entity or individual in Lebanon who has worked with Damascus because they risk sanctions.
"The Caesar Act is creating considerable pressure," she said. "The first list, they're mainly Syrians affiliated directly with the Syrian regime. But it will create a lot of challenges in Lebanon. It's a pressure point on Hezbollah, a tool that can be brandished at any point to address anyone seeking to normalize with a Syria under Bashar al-Assad. But, also for many companies that had started preparing for possibly getting involved in reconstruction in Syria."
While the Iranian-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah militia, also part of Lebanon's government and parliament, may be seen as the most obvious party affected by the Caesar Act, it certainly is not the only one.
Joseph Bahout, an academic fellow in the Middle East program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, tells VOA that Hezbollah is already affected by other sanctions.
"On the military issue, Hezbollah is already under watch. It will continue to act. It will probably be more shrewd, more prudent. It will not change substantially this equation," he said.
Bahout says it is likely that Lebanon's internal security head will continue his visits to Damascus because they benefit Western powers as well. He sees the bigger impact on both countries' economies.
"The Caesar Act is not so much a military issue than a commercial and trade issue and this is where it will hit. It is hitting the Syrian economy at the core and now you have a very strong and rapid degradation of the situation in Syria. It will hit a huge amount of macro exchanges between Syria and Lebanon. It will probably hit Lebanon partially; for example. The deposits of Syrian figures in Lebanese banks will be much more closely monitored, a lot of transfers will be impossible to do," he said.
Bahout says five Lebanese banks with branches in Syria are stopping their business. Substantial trade of Lebanese products into Syria as well as Syrian agricultural goods into Lebanon will either be halted or "go underground" with smuggling, he adds.
Bahout says the present Lebanese government's attempt to normalize political ties with Damascus will likely come to an end.
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OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Enbridge Inc. (ENB, ENB.TO) said that the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction sought by the Attorney General of Michigan is legally unsupportable, unnecessary, and will be vigorously opposed by Enbridge.
The company said its inspections confirmed there was no mechanical damage to pipeline or any support-anchors.
Earlier today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she filed motions for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction related to Enbridge's disclosure late last week of significant damage to an anchor support on the east leg of the Line 5 oil pipeline.
Line 5 lies open on the floor of the Straits of Mackinac pumping nearly 23 million gallons of oil each day through two aging pipelines in the heart of the Great Lakes.
Enbridge reported the damage on June 18, shutting down both the east and west legs for inspection. In a June 19th letter, Governor Whitmer asked Enbridge to provide the State with all of the information in its possession about the damage, including pictures, video, and engineering reports. The Michigan Governor requested that all digital information be provided within 24 hours of her request.
The Attorney General alleged that Enbridge not only failed to provide the requested information but on June 20, 2020, the company unilaterally reactivated the west leg of the pipeline without even providing the State with an opportunity to first discuss it.
In response, Governor Whitmer sent another letter to Enbridge requesting that it immediately shut down the pipeline until the matter could be investigated, assessed and preventive measures put in place.
The Attorney General also alleged that Enbridge didn't provide any information on the damage until earlier today, when it sent brief reports on the east and west legs of the pipeline. Only a few pages long, the reports contained little content, few pictures, and left several critical questions unanswered, including the cause of the damage.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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District Scale Exploration Targeting High-Priority Structures for Near Surface Gold Discoveries
VANCOUVER, BC, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - KORE Mining Ltd. (TSXV: KORE) (OTCQB: KOREF) ("KORE" or the "Company") is pleased to announce is mobilizing a ground geophysics and surface sampling program ("New Exploration Program") on the Mesquite East and Imperial West areas of the Mesquite-Imperial-Picacho District exploration project ("District") to generate further drill targets. KORE is also permitting the highest priority drill pads for District targets towards the Mesquite Mine (Equinox Gold | TSX:EQX) and in and around the current Imperial resource.
Highlights
Previous rounds of geophysics confirmed district scale with 19 km of anomalies
Mesquite East, Ogilby, Imperial East and Imperial West areas
Each target area has potential to host significant new gold structure
New Exploration Program will further define specific drill targets
Over 25 line km of ground geophysics on priority Mesquite East and Imperial West areas
1,500 soil and surface samples from "downstream" washes for western half of District
High resolution satellite topography
Additional field mapping
Drill pad permitting in progress to test highest priority current targets at the following areas:
Imperial Resource Expansion western extension defined by geophysics
Mesquite East - two north-west trending fault structures coincident with regional folding, on-strike from Mesquite's Vista and Rainbow deposits
Imperial East and Imperial West - direct extension of Imperial deposit thrust fault aligned with resource expansion targets
Eastern 9 km of District to Picacho and the Ogilby area remains unexplored and a future opportunity
Next Steps
New Exploration Program results expected in July and August 2020
Drill permits expected in the fall 2020 could accommodate a multi-phased drill program
Initial drill program a minimum of 5,000 meters (mix RC and core drilling)
Scott Trebilcock, President and CEO of KORE, stated, "Imperial County is a prolific mining District with almost 150 years of modern gold mining history. The Mesquite-Imperial-Picacho District trend is a high priority to expand KORE's already large resource base. KORE will be targeting both near surface resources to enhance the Imperial project PEA while targeting blue-sky new discoveries on our 26,000 acres of claims. The work kicked off today will help us prioritise the large array of District targets and we are excited to explore this district with modern exploration methods, never used before in this district."
Figure 1 shows the Mesquite-Imperial-Picacho District claims in relation to KORE's Imperial project, the operating Mesquite mine and the closed Picacho mine. Figure 2 depicts the western half of the District (Mesquite-Imperial) with the three newly defined target areas with main interpreted target structures.
KORE owns 100% of the District which consists of 26,323 acres on 1,007 claims captures the entire 28-kilometer trend from the operating Mesquite mine (Equinox Gold | TSX:EQX) to the closed Picacho mine and including KORE's Imperial project. In the District, gold is hosted in local fault structures related to a series of regional faults connecting the known District deposits. Those three District deposits (Mesquite-Imperial-Picacho) were discovered in exposed outcrops and from placer workings. The rest of the District is covered by alluvium and has never been systematically explored. Having the intact Imperial deposit to "tune" or "fingerprint" geophysical signatures, greatly enhances the ability to explore and target deposits under the alluvium and make new discoveries along the trend.
Previously, KORE completed two rounds of ground geophysics, the first to "tune" the system over its Imperial deposit and the second to define exploration targets on the western half of the District exploration project. Details of previous targeting work were released January 7, 2020 and April 29, 2020.
Click here to for a video walk-through of District exploration interpretation.
Drill permits at Imperial are with the US Federal agency, the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"). KORE is completing a Plan of Operations process for the permits which is expected to take three to six months. KORE is committed to operate to the stringent environmental and labour standards of California. KORE plans to concurrently reclaim drill pad locations and ensure measures are taken to mitigate any impacts to biological and cultural resources.
About Imperial Project
The Mesquite-Imperial-Picacho District centers on KORE's Imperial project. Imperial is a structurally controlled intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold deposit. The 100% oxide gold deposit is currently defined at 2.44 kilometer long and up to 0.75 kilometer wide and is open both along strike and downdip. It is hosted in a shallowly southwest dipping, amphibolite grade metamorphic rock suite along a west-northwest trending low-angle regional thrust fault system. The thrust fault system controls the regional geometry of mineralization. East-west striking, post-mineralization normal faults control the property scale geometry of mineralization. Geophysical characterization of the deposit and regional controlling structures is an essential component of exploration for additional resources.
Imperial has a mineral resource estimate and a positive preliminary economic assessment effective April 6, 2020 with the following highlights (see also Figure 3):
Robust economics: US$ 343 million NPV5% post-tax with 44% IRR at US$1,450 per ounce gold
NPV5% post-tax with 44% IRR at per ounce gold Low capital intensity project with only US$ 143 million pre-production capital cost
pre-production capital cost 146,000 ounces gold per year over 8 years for 1.2 million ounces total production
Technically simple project: shallow open pit, run-of-mine heap leach with existing infrastructure
Value enhancement through Mesquite-Imperial-Picacho District exploration and resource expansion
About KORE
KORE is 100% owner of a portfolio of advanced gold exploration and development assets in California and British Columbia. KORE is supported by strategic investors Eric Sprott and Macquarie Bank who, together with the management and Board own approximately 65% of the basic shares outstanding.
Further information on KORE and its assets can be found on the Company's updated website at www.koremining.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting us as [email protected] or by telephone at (888) 407-5450.
On behalf of KORE Mining Ltd
"Scott Trebilcock"
Chief Executive Officer
(888) 407-5450
Qualified Person
Technical information with respect to the Project contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Marc Leduc, P.Eng, who is KORE's COO and is the qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 responsible for the technical matters of this news release.
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.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.
Such factors include, among others: risks related to exploration and development activities at the Company's projects, and factors relating to whether or not mineralization extraction will be commercially viable; risks related to mining operations and the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of minerals, such as unusual and unexpected geological formations, rock falls, seismic activity, flooding and other conditions involved in the extraction and removal of materials; uncertainties regarding regulatory matters, including obtaining permits and complying with laws and regulations governing exploration, development, production, taxes, labour standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, site safety and other matters, and the potential for existing laws and regulations to be amended or more stringently implemented by the relevant authorities; uncertainties regarding estimating mineral resources, which estimates may require revision (either up or down) based on actual production experience; risks relating to fluctuating metals prices and the ability to operate the Company's projects at a profit in the event of declining metals prices and the need to reassess feasibility of a particular project that estimated resources will be recovered or that they will be recovered at the rates estimated; risks related to title to the Company's properties, including the risk that the Company's title may be challenged or impugned by third parties; the ability of the Company to access necessary resources, including mining equipment and crews, on a timely basis and at reasonable cost; competition within the mining industry for the discovery and acquisition of properties from other mining companies, many of which have greater financial, technical and other resources than the Company, for, among other things, the acquisition of mineral claims, leases and other mineral interests as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other personnel; access to suitable infrastructure, such as roads, energy and water supplies in the vicinity of the Company's properties; and risks related to the stage of the Company's development, including risks relating to limited financial resources, limited availability of additional financing and potential dilution to existing shareholders; reliance on its management and key personnel; inability to obtain adequate or any insurance; exposure to litigation or similar claims; currently unprofitable operations; risks regarding the ability of the Company and its management to manage growth; and potential conflicts of interest.
In addition to the above summary, additional risks and uncertainties are described in the "Risks" section of the Company's management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 prepared as of April 27, 2020 available under the Company's issuer profile on www.sedar.com.
Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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.
There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserve. It is uncertain if further exploration will allow improving the classification of the Indicated or Inferred mineral resource. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Cautionary Note Regarding Mineral Resource Estimates: Information regarding mineral resource estimates has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Industry Guide 7. In October 2018, the SEC approved final rules requiring comprehensive and detailed disclosure requirements for issuers with material mining operations. The provisions in Industry Guide 7 and Item 102 of Regulation S-K, have been replaced with a new subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K under the United States Securities Act and will become mandatory for SEC registrants after January 1, 2021. The changes adopted are intended to align the SEC's disclosure requirements more closely with global standards as embodied by the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO), including Canada's NI 43-101 and CIM Definition Standards. Under the new SEC rules, SEC registrants will be permitted to disclose "mineral resources" even though they reflect a lower level of certainty than mineral reserves. Additionally, under the New Rules, mineral resources must be classified as "measured", "indicated", or "inferred", terms which are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101 for Canadian issuers and are not recognized under SEC Industry Guide 7. An "Inferred Mineral Resource" has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an "Indicated Mineral Resource" and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of "Inferred Mineral Resources" could be upgraded to "Indicated Mineral Resources" with continued exploration. Accordingly, the mineral resource estimates and related information may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, including SEC Industry Guide 7.
SOURCE Kore Mining
Related Links
http://www.koremining.com
Friends and family members gathered in Atlanta on Tuesday at the funeral for Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man who was fatally shot in the back by a white police officer in the parking lot of a Wendys restaurant earlier this month.
Mourners, mostly dressed in white and wearing masks to prevent infection from the coronavirus, filled the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his first sermon and was later eulogized after his assassination in 1968.
Dr. Bernice King, his youngest daughter, delivered the eulogy for Brooks.
We really should not be here today, King said. This did not have to happen to Rayshard. There are so many ways that Friday, June 12, could have ended, and a police killing did not have to be one of them. And yet here we are again.
Brooks was the latest among many African-American young men and women killed by police or vigilantes in confrontations recorded on video. He was shot while running from two officers who had responded to a complaint that a man, later identified as Brooks, was asleep in his car at the fast food restaurant.
This screengrab taken from Atlanta Police Department bodycam video shows Rayshard Brooks speaking with Officer Garrett Rolfe in a Wendy's parking lot on June 12. (Atlanta Police Department via AP)
Police said Brooks failed a sobriety test. After he offered to leave his car and walk home, Brooks resisted arrest, grabbed a Taser from an officer and ran. He fired the Taser as he fled.
Officer Garrett Rolfe, who fired the two shots that hit Brooks, has been charged with murder. The other responding officer, Devin Brosnan, was charged with aggravated assault. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields stepped down less than 24 hours after Brooks died.
The shooting came amid nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd, who died on May 25 in Minneapolis after being pinned to the ground by a white police officer who was seen in a video kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Stacey Abrams, a former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and possible vice presidential nominee, was among those in attendance at the funeral, which was reportedly paid for by the actor and producer Tyler Perry.
Story continues
Tomika Miller, wife of Rayshard Brooks, with her children at his funeral service on Tuesday. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
These tragic moments remind us that we are one, King said. Because it impacts all of us.
King, who was 5 years old when her father was murdered, said her heart deeply grieves for Brookss four young children.
I know the pain of growing up without a father, she said, and the ongoing attention around his tragic loss.
Rayshard Brookss life matters, King continued. And he should have been able to live to enjoy his family and watch his kids grow up. And the officers should have gone home that night without blood on their hands.
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Neutrino brings together our V-Person virtual agent and chatbot technology, our V-Portal orchestration platform and the consultation and guidance of our expert global team to deliver an industry-leading solution.
Creative Virtual, a world leader in customer and employee engagement solutions, today announced the Neutrino release of V-Person, their innovative virtual agent and chatbot technology. This release delivers the industrys smartest solution yet, bringing together humans and artificial intelligence (AI) with powerful integration options and easy-to-manage workflows.
Based on Creative Virtuals nearly two decades of delivering successful customer and employee self-service solutions, the Neutrino release combines conversational virtual agent and chatbot technology with a powerful orchestration platform and the guidance of a highly experienced global team. Organisations are empowered to unlock their knowledge to create AI-enhanced conversations with customers and employees across touchpoints in a seamless, personalised way and at large scale.
Neutrino offers robust and feature-rich tools, flexible integration options, unlimited customisation and blending of natural language processing (NLP), AI and machine comprehension. The solution can integrate with other AI engines and systems, including systems for image recognition, intent matching and assisting in verification and sales processes. By combining an organisations existing data with a powerful Transcript Analysis Tool and sector-specific intent libraries, Neutrino also enables self-service solutions to be deployed quickly and easily.
Neutrino brings together our V-Person virtual agent and chatbot technology, our V-Portal orchestration platform and the consultation and guidance of our expert global team to deliver an industry-leading solution, says Chris Ezekiel, Founder & CEO of Creative Virtual. The chatbot, virtual agent and live chat market is saturated with inexperienced vendors and ineffective technologies that leave companies and customers frustrated. Our Neutrino release removes those frustrations with the right combination of tools, easy-to-manage workflows and a blend of localised support and international insights from our company of experts.
Learn more about the Neutrino release of V-Person and request a live demo on the Creative Virtual website.
ABOUT CREATIVE VIRTUAL
Creative Virtual is a world leader in virtual agent, chatbot, live chat and conversational AI solutions that bring together humans and artificial intelligence to create conversations with customers and employees across touchpoints in a seamless, personalised way and at large scale. Leading global organisations, including HSBC, BT, Chase, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Lloyds Banking Group and American Family Insurance, rely on our award-winning V-Person technology to improve their support experience, reduce costs, increase sales and build brand loyalty.
Named the Product Leader in AI-Enhanced Customer Self-Service by Frost & Sullivan and awarded The Queens Awards for Enterprise: Innovation, Creative Virtual delivers an industry-leading combination of proven technology and expert guidance from a highly experienced team and extensive partner network. Our global team supports installs around the world in over 35 languages, providing both localised support and international insights to our customers and partners.
To learn more visit http://www.creativevirtual.com.
Tensions are spiralling around two issues that directly impact on Egypts national security: the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and Turkish military intervention in western Libya that has sharpened polarisation in an already divided country.
When negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia collapsed, Egypt submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council detailing the decade-long record of Ethiopian intransigence and evasiveness that led up to Addis Ababas threat to begin filling and operating the dam in July in the absence of an agreement with downstream nations. The potential harm to Egypt could be immense and include, at least, the loss of vast stretches of agricultural land and a halt to electricity generation at the Aswan High Dam. The Egyptian complaint to the UN Security Council was an expression of Egypts frustration after having exhausted all possible means to persuade Ethiopia to work towards an equitable solution that serves the rights and interests of all three parties. Egypt has now asked the Security Council to intervene. As President Al-Sisi said: When we turned to the Security Council, it was out of our determination to follow the political and diplomatic course to its end... We need to act vigorously in order to conclude the negotiations and reach an agreement and solutions that realise the welfare of all.
With regard to developments in Libya, following a recent inspection of forces at the western border, President Al-Sisi warned of a genuine threat to Egypt because of developments in western Libya and told the army to be ready for possible action. Egypt has had to draw a red line to Turkish military aggression in Libya. As the president noted, any Egyptian intervention there would be legitimate under international law, both because Egypt would be exercising its legitimate right to self-defence and because it would be at the invitation of Libyan authorities specifically the Libyan House of Representatives, the sole popularly elected body in Libya. The Egyptian message to the Turkish occupation of western Libya is clear: it must not step beyond the red line from Sirte to Al-Jafra.
National security priorities guide Egypts actions in both the GERD and Libyan crises. The first concerns the life and death question of water; the second involves border security in the face of the proliferation of extremist and jihadist militias in western Libya, many at the service of Turkish ambitions that now set their sights on Libyan oil and gas fields. Coming on top of Turkish military aggression in northern Iraq, Turkish military and administrative control of large portions of northern Syria, Libya has become the third Arab country to be targeted by Erdogans neo-Ottoman expansionist designs. Yemen may be next in line.
In both crises, Egypt is simultaneously guided by the desire to give prevalence to all possible avenues towards political and diplomatic solutions. It is an approach that Egypt has followed consistently in its foreign policy in its African and Arab spheres. However, when confronted with direct threats to its national security, and parties that spurn political solutions and cross red lines, Egypt has another face to show in order to defend its people, stability and security.
The UN must now shoulder the responsibility of averting needless military clashes. It should take the necessary actions to compel the concerned parties to return to the negotiating table and to minimise windows for costly military confrontations that only serve extremist groups and the ambitions of acquisitive regional powers with aggressive irredentist designs.
At the same time, if the Security Council fails to act on the question of GERD, it will leave the door open to all possibilities as we approach the Ethiopian deadline to begin filling the dams reservoir unilaterally, without consideration for the reservations expressed by international panels of experts, or for Egypts and Sudans welfare. Remaining silent in the face of Ethiopian intransigence is not an option because it threatens Egypts main artery of life.
Egyptian public opinion is united behind their political leadership on these issues. It is looking to the international community and world powers to halt the perilous follies in neighbouring Libya and the Nile Basin, because if they proceed unchecked the consequences will be far from pleasant.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon delivers a speech during the Cities Against COVID-19 Global Summit 2020, an online conference hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government from June 1 to 5. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
By Park Won-soon
COVID-19 puts the world at a civilizing crossroads. The unprecedented coronavirus pandemic has changed the entire environment surrounding us all of a sudden ranging from the international order and economic structure to our daily lives.
We, human beings, are heading for a new future we have never experienced before. In this era of crisis and chaos, the world is now paying attention to Seoul, wondering about the know-how that has helped this mega-city with a population of 10 million maintain not only its function as a city as well as its democratic system but also how it has maintained the death toll at near zero.
The key to S(eoul)-Quarantine and K(orean)-Quarantine lies in the two principles: swiftness and transparency. Based on the lessons learned from the MERS crisis five years ago, Seoul quickly conducted tests for the virus to a great extent, traced contact and implemented self-quarantine measures when many parts of the world hesitated to respond to the coronavirus. Seoul has taken various innovative approaches and used our sophisticated smart technologies to combat the new coronavirus: "drive-thru" and "walk-thru" testing stations, anonymous testing and the use of GPS to strengthen the city's pre-emptive response to COVID-19.
The leading players of S-Quarantine and K-Quarantine and the best vaccine against the virus are our residents. Each resident has taken the initiative in responding to COVID-19, following the government's guidelines and being willing to join the Social Distancing campaign.
Residents of Seoul themselves have shown solidarity and cooperation: for example, some donated their masks for the vulnerable people and landlords voluntarily reduced monthly rent. Going beyond the national solidarity led by our mature citizens, Seoul has recently taken the lead for transnational solidarity. We have provided medical supplies to the neighboring countries and launched an online platform named Cities Against COVID-19 (CAC), to share the city's successful experiences and know-how with the world.
While many countries closed their borders and imposed travel restrictions, Seoul moved in the opposite direction by opening our door wider to the world. A few weeks ago, Seoul hosted an international video conference titled CAC Global Summit 2020 to discuss future directions in the post-COVID-19 era with the world's city mayors, scholars and experts. It was the first of its kind to recognize new opportunities with other cities of the world in times of crisis.
The summit has drawn much attention from home and abroad, with its video clips on YouTube receiving 21 million views as of June 11. At the Mayoral Meeting held during the summit, a total of 42 mayors and governors from around the world endorsed the Seoul Statement that promises constant cooperation in a "new normal" era, and agreed to create an inter-city alliance called the Cities Alliance Against Pandemic (CAAP) to fight together against infectious diseases.
Even in the post-COVID-19 era, Seoul will continuously adhere to our values of openness, cooperation and solidarity. A change may be a crisis to those who stay complacent, but it can be an opportunity for those who are prepared with an insight into the future. Korea's efforts in the fight against coronavirus have proven that the most democratic way is the fastest path to a solution. Likewise, global solidarity and cooperation will be our path to a new chapter of human civilization brought by COVID-19.
Especially, ASEAN has special relations with Seoul as it is geographically very close to Korea and I was once sent as a special envoy to the ASEAN countries by President Moon Jae-in.
In fact, many ASEAN cities have been our major partner cities with which we shared the city's outstanding policies, and now amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Seoul has been providing support to them including information sharing and medical equipment donations.
The ASEAN cities have also promised to join our efforts to create the CAAP, and Seoul will not cease to go together hand in hand with the ASEAN cities down the road.
Park Won-soon is the mayor of Seoul.
Credit: Benoit Clarys
Former archaeology student Ivo Verheijen made a unique discovery in Schoningen in Germany: the almost complete skeleton of an extinct Eurasian straight-tusked elephant. The remains show that our ancestors enjoyed the odd elephant steak. But they weren't the only ones
It was sometime in September 2017 when a team of local archaeologists and archaeology students from the University of Tubingen came across a piece of bone in Schoningen, a village between the cities of Hannover and Leipzig. Things are often found in the former lignite mine there, but this find was of a different order. The bone was exceptionally large and dense. The students contacted Leiden alumnus Ivo Verheijen, who knows all about Pleistocene mammals. He immediately saw that it was the first cervical vertebra of a Eurasian straight-tusked elephant, which would have roamed Europe some 300,000 years ago.
"From the end of 2017 until now, we systematically went through all the soil layers," says Verheijen. "The other bones emerged one by one, including almost intact tusks of 2.3 meters in length. This meant we could reconstruct an almost entire elephant skeleton, with the exception of the front left leg. We're currently looking for that, and should find it too. Sometimes the foot is torn off and dragged away by predators. Then they leave it lying a few meters away."
Watch the excavation of the elephant. Credit: Leiden University
Almost complete skeletons of the Eurasian straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus) are a very rare find. The bones are a fantastic reminder of the powerful beasts that once ranged our continent. An adult male straight-tusked elephant had a shoulder height of around 4 meters, taller than the double-decker buses that ride round London. It was larger, therefore, than its more famous peer, the woolly mammoth. It was a real giant; what is more, it must have been in regular contact with the prehistoric humans who lived in what is now Germany.
The next step for Verheijen and his colleagues was to research how the animal lived and died. "As with a human death, an archaeologist first assumes it was of natural causes unless proven otherwise. So far, we've found no traces of cuts or spear marks on the bones. This female elephant must have been around 50 years old, a normal age for a straight-tusked elephant to die."
There is another clue suggesting that the elephant died a natural death rather than being killed by our hungry ancestors. It died at the edge of a lake, one reason why the bones have been so well preserved. "Today's elephants also go to a watering hole at the end of their life," says Verheijen. "Then it's easy for them to slake their thirst, and the water will cool them down if they're in pain."
The straight-tusked elephant in happier times. Credit: Leiden University
Case closed? Not completely. Because although the elephant was not killed by humans, there is strong evidence to suggest that the prehistoric Germans wouldn't have said no to a juicy elephant steak. Verheijen and his colleagues found several flint flakes around the skeleton, which indicated that people had sharpened their tools there, something that you would only do if you were butchering the carcass. Two of these fragments fitted together exactly, which means you can conclude with some certainty that the splinter did not come from elsewhere.
The researchers also discovered two bones with indentations in them. These 'retouchoirs' were used for flint knapping. Under a microscope, the researchers found minuscule flint flakes in the bones. These were on and even in the carcass. The researchers were therefore able to channel Sherlock Holmes and conclude that people of the time would have profited from the deceased giant. Bite marks show that other animals also discovered the carcass.
Verheijen and his colleagues published their find in the journal Archaologie in Deutschland. They hope soon to publish in a leading scientific journal too, but a few remaining mysteries first have to be solved. They are particularly curious about the environment in which the elephant lived. Leiden researchers are using mice teeth that have been found to discover more about this.
Explore further A 300,000-year-old, nearly complete elephant skeleton from Schoningen
More information: Jordi Serangeli et al. Elefanten in Schoningen. Archaologie in Deutschland 2020 (3): 8-13
President Donald Trump signed his border wall during a trip to Arizona on Tuesday where he reassured Dreamers that 'good things are going to happen' after he lost his attempt to remove their right to stay in the United States.
The president made a brief inspection of the tall metal fence on the U.S-Mexico border during his stop in the border town of Yuma.
He also signed a plaque attached to the fence - composed of individual steel rods spaced close together - that marked 200 miles of construction.
The plaque he signed was a piece of paper inside a metal frame that marked the date of his visit. It contained the names of the president, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, Acting Commissioner U.S Customs and Border Protection Mark Morgan, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, and Chief Border Agent for the Yuma area Anthony Porvaznik. Only Trump signed it.
President Donald Trump signed his border wall during a trip to Yuma, Arizona
President Trump's visit was to mark 200 miles of the wall being completed
The wall is made up of individual steel rods spaced close together
The president made brief remarks during the stop in the 102 degree weather, bragging the structure was 'foolproof' in the way it was built.
'It's gonna be really foolproof,' he said after he inspected the wall's construction. 'Its a solid steel rebar and concrete inside there.'
'We have heavy concrete on the inside the steel and inside the concrete we have rebar,' noted the president, who was a real estate tycoon in his previous career.
Trump had pledged to have 'substantially more than 500 miles' of his long-promised border wall completed by February of next year. But according to a detailed Washington Post analysis updated at the end of May, of the 200 miles that have been reinforced with new fencing, there are just 16 miles of the border with a completely new barrier.
Ahead of making the stop at the wall, Trump said the barrier had 'stopped Covid, it stopped everything'.
President Trump also had a message for Dreamers - the illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children - as he stood on the border.
'Good things will happen for DACA recipients. And pretty soon,' he said, adding that 'good things are going to happen.'
Last week the Supreme Court blocked Trump's attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program implemented by President Barack Obama eight years ago.
It protected the nearly 650,000 people known as 'Dreamers' from deportation.
Chief Justice John Roberts provided the pivotal vote, ruling that the administration had not provided proper legal justification to end the program.
Trump vowed on Saturday to try again.
'They want us to refile if we want to win. So, I'm going to refile, and it's going to work out for DACA,' he told Fox News.
Trump said the ruling was not a loss for his administration.
'If you read the opinion, we won. But we have to refile. And everything is going to work out for DACA, and the young people,' he noted. He did not elaborate.
Asked when he expected to file another bid to dismantle the DACA program, Trump said, 'Probably pretty soon.'
Trump on Friday wrote on Twitter that his administration would submit 'enhanced papers shortly.'
President Trump inspected the construction of his wall and called it 'really foolproof'
President Trump was accompanied by by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Senator Martha McSally, Rep. Debbie Lesko, and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott
President Trump spent Tuesday in Arizona, a state that could be decisive in his November election with Democratic rival Joe Biden
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, who President Trump tasked with leading the charge on the wall, joined the president on the trip
The president was spending Tuesday to inspect his border wall and to attend a 'Students for Trump' event at the Dream City Church in north Phoenix where as many as 3,000 students were expected.
Arizona is looking to be a battleground state in November's presidential election, where polls between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden are tight.
Additionally, Republican Sen. Martha McSally, who traveled on Air Force One to Arizona with Trump and accompanied him on his stops, faces a tough re-election bid against Democrat Mark Kelly, the astronaut husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot at a congressional event in January 2011.
Lightbridge Academy, a leading early education and child care franchise, is welcoming back its community after state mandated closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While center reopenings are dependent on state and local guidelines, the franchise brand, which has a footprint of over 100 centers either open, under construction or in development in markets across the U.S., has already seen some centers reopen and has implemented solutions that will help keep children, families and staff members safe. The brand has rolled out the Lightbridge Promise which reinforces the companys top priority to ensure the health and safety of all of those in their Circle of Care. The Lightbridge Promise is the Gold Standard in the child care industry for cleanliness, security and peace of mind.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have worked closely with families and staff members to listen to and address their concerns, President and Chief Operating Officer Gigi Schweikert said. We surveyed over 6,000 parents and overwhelmingly they were most concerned about the health and safety of their children. In order for parents to return to work, whether that is from home or in the office, they need peace of mind knowing that their children are well cared for and educated in a safe environment. For this reason, we took an aggressive approach and looked across industries for the most advanced technology and procedures to implement in our centers. Utilizing these new solutions and extensively training our staff members has provided us with the confidence that Lightbridge Academy is offering the very best to our parents, children, and staff members as we all transition to a more normal state.
One new solution is an air purification and filtration system that uses an advanced oxidation process to continuously purify the air and all surfaces. It is currently being installed in the NYC subway system and the system is similar in design to what hospitals and other sensitive environments use to create a clean room. The technology works by producing ionized hydrogen peroxide molecules that are continuously distributed through the air of the facility, breaking down and destroying air contaminants such as viruses, bacteria and mold spores.
In addition to the air purification and filtration system, Lightbridge Academy has also enhanced protocols to ensure the health and safety of children and staff members at its centers. To start, franchise owners and administrative teams stay up-to-date with the latest health and safety guidelines provided by resources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state licensing regulations. All Lightbridge Academy facilities follow specific guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing classrooms and frequently touched surfaces and toys throughout the day and in the evening. The entire franchise system is also following health-focused protocols, including limited access for visitors, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for all adults, external drop-off and pick-up for children and a strict temperature screening process before entry.
Additionally, staff members have received training to identify signs of illness, and the center has a strict illness policy. Classroom sizes will have the lowest possible teacher-student ratios, and field trips have been suspended and replaced with virtual or hands-on experiences.
These, in addition to other health measures, complement the brands safety protocols, which include online video monitoring features for parents, random quality assurance visits from state regulators and brand inspectors and more. Lightbridge Academy also will continue to use state-of-the-art technology to ensure that each and every center is safe and secure. From coded entry to silent alarms to internal video monitoring and limited points of entry, Lightbridge Academys security system and emergency drills are some of the most advanced in the child care industry. Staff members must also continue to meet or exceed state-mandated educational requirements and pass thorough background checks to ensure everyones safety. Additionally, all staff members are all required to attain their CPR and First Aid certification.
Although many of these protocols were already in place, the enhancements and new technology included in the Lightbridge Promise were implemented after the brand survey revealed that over 80% of parents were most concerned about health and safety when returning to child care.
At Lightbridge Academy, we pride ourselves on being The Solution for Working Parents, Founder and CEO Guy Falzarano said. Its no secret that working parents have juggled quite a bit lately, as many of them have worked from home while also taking care of their childrens needs and trying to provide some type of curriculum throughout the week. As our centers reopen, the Lightbridge Academy leadership team wants parents to feel confident that the gold standard for health and safety is in place so their children can receive a high quality of care and early childhood education.
About Lightbridge Academy
Established in 1997, Lightbridge Academy provides early education and child care to children ages six weeks through kindergarten, as well as special programming for children up to 10 years old during school holidays, breaks and summer camp. The company franchised in 2011 in an effort to expand their distinctive concept throughout the Northeast; it currently has over 100 child care centers either open, under construction or in development throughout Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Guy and Julia Falzarano founded the company based on core values and a Circle of Care philosophy that places equal importance on the needs of children, their families, teachers, center owners, and the community. In 2019 and 2020, Lightbridge Academy was ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500, and it was featured on the Franchise Times Top 200+ in 2018 and 2019. To learn more about Lightbridge Academy, prospective families and franchisees are encouraged to visit http://www.LightbridgeAcademy.com or call (732) 980-1900 x 199.
Orthopedic surgeon Arthur Kreitenberg, right, invented the plane-disinfecting device he named the GermFalcon, and his son Elliot helped get it to market. (George Sayah for Dimer LLC)
Seven years before the coronavirus pandemic hit, Arthur Kreitenberg, a Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon, came up with an invention in his basement to quickly disinfect an airplane cabin using ultraviolet light.
He even bought airplane seats from the airline graveyard in the Mojave Desert to test his idea.
But the idea did not catch on quickly. His wife joked that Kreitenberg's tinkering in the basement was "cheaper than having a girlfriend." At the many aviation trade shows and conferences he attended to pitch his invention, few showed interest.
COVID-19 changed all of that.
Honeywell International, the multinational conglomerate with $37 billion in annual sales, announced this month that it is teaming up with Kreitenberg to build the UV invention and distribute it to the world's airlines. The company plans to build more than 100 units by the end of July, with production increasing in the following months.
The invention, originally named the GermFalcon, looks like an airline beverage cart equipped with two mechanical arms that stretch out over the plane's seats like a pair of wings. The arms emit UV light as the cart is pushed down the aisle.
Kreitenberg's son, Elliot, who gave up his basement batting cage for his dad's invention, has teamed with his father to get the GermFalcon off the ground.
The contraption can disinfect a cabin in about 10 minutes at a cost of about $10 per plane, according to Honeywell, which is marketing the device as the Honeywell UV Cabin System.
It's not a novel concept. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's database shows more than 30 patents filed since 1995 that propose using UV light to disinfect water, air, surgical equipment, cellphone screens and catheters, among other things.
Medical experts note that UV light is already used to disinfect hospital operating rooms, and two of Southern California's swankiest hotels, the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and the Beverly Hilton, recently announced plans to use UV light to disinfect their rooms in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Story continues
But experts point out that once an airplane cabin has been disinfected, a passenger infected with COVID-19 can sit down and jeopardize the health of many of the fliers.
The biggest risk of being infected is from close contact with another person, said Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and an infectious disease specialist at UC San Francisco. Using UV light to disinfect an airplane cabin "could possibly help," he said. "But UV light is not the end-all and be-all."
Philip Barruel, the biosafety program manager for laboratory research at UC Davis, agrees, saying UV light may not reach far enough into creases and corners of an airplane cabin to kill the virus.
"There are a lot of unknowns about this virus, he said.
Kreitenberg acknowledges that his invention will only reduce the chances of getting infected by germs left on the surfaces of an airline cabin and won't make flying entirely safe.
Still, he points out that UV light can kill several kinds of germs, with the potential to help stem the spread of influenza and other diseases.
Neither Honeywell or Kreitenberg would disclose the financial terms of the partnership or the price they would charge airlines to buy or lease the UV cabin system.
Honeywell began in early June to meet with airlines and demonstrate the UV cabin system but has yet to get a commitment from any carrier.
"The initial reaction from airlines has been very positive," said Honeywell spokesman Adam Kress. "We believe this product has great potential at airlines worldwide, but were starting in-person demonstrations with domestic carriers."
Elliot and Arthur Kreitenberg push the GermFalcon on a plane to disinfect the cabin. (George Sayah for Dimer LLC.)
It all began with a volleyball.
While attending his daughter Zoe's college volleyball matches during the H1N1 outbreak of 2009, Kreitenberg noticed that the players didn't shake hands to reduce the chances of spreading the virus. But all the players touched the same volleyball.
Inspired by the use of UV light to disinfect operating rooms, Kreitenberg invented a device dubbed the Germ Ninja to quickly disinfect the balls by passing UV light over them. The invention was so successful it was used in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Not long after that, Elliot Kreitenberg flew home from college, trying to sleep with his face resting on the fold-down tray. A fellow flier warned Elliot about the germs on the tray, reminding him that it was flu season. Elliot relayed the story to his father, and the idea for using UV light to disinfect commercial planes was hatched.
A business major from Skidmore College, Elliot wanted to run his own company. After some research and encouragement from a college professor, he decided to go into business with his father to sell the GermFalcon. Elliot became president and co-founder with his father of Dimer LLC, which is named for part of the process that kills viruses with UV light.
The father-son team estimated they visited up to 20 trade shows and conferences, hoping to sell the idea with no success. One of the challenges was trying to talk directly with an airline executive who had the authority to approve the purchase.
Executives at Virgin America, the California-based carrier launched by Sir Richard Branson, expressed interest in the UV cabin system in 2014, but that sale fell through when Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America in 2016.
"It seemed as though every conversation we had with airlines or people visiting our booth at trade shows were interested," Elliot Kreitenberg, 28, said. "Somewhere along the way, it got lost."
The company stayed afloat over the years thanks to investments, most of which came from doctors.
Once the coronavirus pandemic reached the U.S. early this year, the Kreitenbergs offered to donate the use of the GermFalcon to disinfect planes that were flying passengers in from overseas. A handful of airlines at Los Angeles International Airport accepted the offer, which drew the attention of a few cable television news outlets. It also got the attention of several potential business partners, including Honeywell.
Elliot Kreitenberg said they agreed to partner with Honeywell because it has the "infrastructure and the footprint in the airline industry to overcome barriers of entry" that they had run into.
The father-son team is not done yet. They are now working on a version of the GermFalcon that can be used in classrooms, offices, buses and train stations, among other locations. They call it the UV Hammer.
The timely arrival of the monsoon has given a much-needed boost to rural employment, absorbing thousands of migrant workers who have returned to their rural homes in seasonal farm jobs.
The rural unemployment rate continued to drop, falling to 7.26% in the week ended June 21 from 10.96% in the previous week, according to data released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). The job loss rate has now dropped to the lowest level in three months, even lower than the week preceding March 25, when India first went into a stringent lockdown.
The exodus of migrant workers from cities had raised fears of rampant joblessness in rural areas. But those fears have proved to be exaggerated as the timing of their return coincided with the summer crop planting season, opening up seasonal job avenues.
Increased government spending on the rural jobs programme has also aided returnee migrants.
A good sowing season is helping the rural employment environment. There is distressed employment in rural areas; hence, the labour force participation is going up, said Aroop Mitra, a professor of economics at Institute of Economic Growth in New Delhi. Additional spending by the Centre and states in schemes such as the employment guarantee scheme and the new jobs scheme to offer informal work to migrants has also helped, Mitra said. While the employment rate in rural areas has seen a steady pick-up since the government eased lockdown curbs, urban India continues to see higher joblessness as cities struggle to contain rising coronavirus infections.
The urban unemployment rate continued to hover much above the 10% level, partly because of the impact of rising infections in cities such as Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai and as companies fired people to save costs. The urban job loss rate fell 2 percentage points to 11.19% in the week ended 21 June.
Indias overall unemployment rate was, however, lower at 8.48% in the week ended June 21, a drop of more than 3 percentage points from the previous week. In the pre-lockdown week, Indias overall job loss rate was 8.41%.
Economists said the opening up of the rural economy, good progress of the monsoon and a robust sowing season are aiding the employment pick-up in rural India.
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The New Jersey family of three found dead in their 'newly serviced' swimming pool drowned, officials confirmed Tuesday.
Bharat Patel, 62, his daughter-in-law Nisha Patel, 33, and her unnamed daughter, eight, were found unresponsive in the above-ground 3.5-foot-deep pool Monday.
The medical examiner's office said Tuesday all three victims drowned and the manner of death was accidental.
Neighbors had suggested the family 'may have been electrocuted'. One eyewitness told CBS 'an electricians truck showed up shortly thereafter'.
Neighbor Phil Peterson said: 'I mean, it wouldnt make sense that three people just drowned right away like that, with an adult there, too.'
A police spokesman had earlier told CNN: 'That's just to rule in or rule out the possibility of electrical currents. The investigation is still active and we're waiting for the autopsies.'
Bharat Patel, 62, his daughter-in-law Nisha Patel, 33, and her unnamed daughter, eight, were found unresponsive in the above-ground 3.5-foot-deep pool Monday
This electricians truck is said to have arrived after the three relatives were found dead
Loved ones were pictured being consoled in the aftermath of the tragedy Monday
POOLS THAT CAN PROVE DEADLY Pools that are not correctly fitted can prove deadly, an expert has warned. A licensed electrician told The New York Post: 'It wouldnt look or sound any different. 'You could jump in, swim around and be fine in the water with the electricity but once you become the bridge to ground by touching the ladder or rail youd die. 'Then someone tries to help and they die.' The unnamed expert added: 'You need ground fault protection on the filter motor.' Advertisement
Concerned neighbors called the cops after hearing screaming from the property in East Brunswick shortly after 4pm Monday afternoon.
The family are understood to have bought the five bedroom home within the last month for $451,000.
It is believed other family members were inside the home at the time of their deaths.
Loved ones were pictured being consoled in the aftermath of the tragedy Monday.
Locals had initially feared someone had fallen but when police arrived they found the three family members unresponsive in the pool.
Police fear the screaming were the mother's desperate pleas for help.
The family - who moved into the house in the last month - were pronounced dead in the back yard, NBC reports.
They are said to have only just serviced the pool ready for the summer and were 'excited to use it', News12 NJ reports.
Neighbor Vishal Makin told the network: 'We are from the same part of India, we spoke the same language also.
After the family had their pool serviced Makin said: 'We were so excited for them, it's the right weather you should get it done and it's such a bad sad day.'
Brunswick Police Chief Frank Losacco said Monday: 'This is a devastating day for our entire community.'
The family are said to have only just serviced the pool ready for the summer
The family - who moved into the house in the last month - were pronounced dead in the yard
WASHINGTON -- A group of top Democratic senators rebuked the Trump administration for unilaterally withdrawing from a treaty that permits the United States and Russia to conduct reconnaissance flights over each others territory, saying it impairs national defense.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper on June 22, the senators also called the timing of the withdrawal suspect, saying it would be completed just days before the U.S. presidential election in November and would limit the next administration if the Democrats occupy the White House in January.
The senators said the administration violated the National Defense Appropriations Act by not notifying Congress 120 days prior to the start of the five-month withdrawal process. The Trump administration notified Congress on May 22 of its plans to immediately withdraw from the treaty.
Beginning the U.S. withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty, without complying with U.S. domestic law or constitutional practice, is an obvious political maneuver in an attempt to bind a future administration, the senators said in the letter.
The letter was signed by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Minority Leader Bob Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat-New York), Senate Armed Services Committee Minority Leader Jack Reed (Democrat-Rhode Island), and Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark Warner (Democrat-Virginia).
The Trump administration has accused Russia of repeatedly violating the Open Skies Treaty as its reason for withdrawing.
The Open Skies Treaty was signed in 1992 and entered into force 10 years later. There are currently 34 states party to the agreement. The treaty allows each state to conduct short-notice, unarmed flights over the others' territories to collect data on military forces and activities. Satellites today can provide the same detailed information.
The Democrats said in their letter that the treaty is far from perfect as Russia has limited overflights of its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad as well as Georgia, which borders the North Caucasus region.
Nonetheless, they said the treatys benefits still outweighed its drawbacks, with the United States flying over Russias territory nearly three times more than Russian surveillance planes overfly the United States.
The United States relies on the treaty to attain important, real-time information on Russian military activities, including Russian activities in Ukraine. Furthermore, our treaty partners view our participation as a gauge for our commitment to ensuring the security of their respective nations. By withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty, the United States is leaving an agreement our partners have repeatedly communicated they value and believe improves their security, the letter said.
The mayors of both Niagara Falls, Ont., and Niagara Falls, N.Y., want to shine the spotlight on graduates.
The Horseshoe and American falls will be bathed in myriad school colours Wednesday and Friday in honour of graduates from both sides of the border.
Mayors Jim Diodati and Robert Restaino recently submitted a request to the Niagara Falls Illumination Board, asking members to consider their binational idea.
We both thought this was a great only in Niagara Falls way to recognize all the graduates of 2020, Ontarios Diodati said.
We feel bad because theyre not going to get the traditional experience with all the pomp and circumstance.
Graduation events have been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and many communities have been coming up with unique ways to make graduation memorable for students.
We are very excited for our Niagara Falls secondary graduates to be able to see their school colours lighting up the eighth wonder of the world, said Helen McGregor, superintendent of secondary schools curriculum and student achievement for District School Board of Niagara.
Theyve worked very hard this year and anything we can do to make their last few days of high school special is a good thing.
Bradley Johnstone, principal at Saint Paul Catholic High School, said the illumination event is a very unique way for a hometown to celebrate students accomplishments.
What I like about this idea is that it is a very Niagara Falls event, he said. These grads get to have a moment that no one else in the country will experience.
The Niagara Falls, Ont., schools will be highlighted Wednesday, followed by the American high schools on Friday.
The local grad illumination schedule is as follows:
8:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.: Stamford, black and orange
8:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.: A.N. Myer, purple and white
9:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.: Saint Michael, maroon and white
9:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.: Saint Paul, blue and white
9:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.: Westlane, green and white
The falls were first illuminated in 1860 to mark an upcoming visit by the Prince of Wales.
The nightly illumination has changed dramatically over the years.
In December 2016, a $4-million lighting grid was unveiled that delivers twice the brightness and a wider spectrum of colour all at a quarter of the energy consumption than the previous illumination.
This is a big step forward, said Gidigbi, who represents the District and was key in pushing the board to establish a review panel. Especially during this time, I recognize that we are still trying to figure this out. And so one of the things that Im asking as we navigate this new space is that the riders and the public be willing to go with us on this journey, still holding us accountable, but understanding that we may not always get it right, but were doing our best along the way.
This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 -- also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19 -- isolated from a patient in the US. Virus particles are shown emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. The spikes on the outer edge of the virus particles give coronaviruses their name, crown-like. Credit: NIAID-RML
When Nina Dalsania Makadia felt the first symptoms of COVID-19 in March, she braced herself for a couple of miserable weeks.
The Kennesaw, Ga., mother of three young children expected the virus to be like a bad cold or the flu. Her headache, chills and fever would require rest and recuperation in bed, she thought. After that, she'd be better, and life would return to normal.
But things haven't returned to normal for the 38-year-old.
Three months since falling ill, Makadia still can't shake extreme exhaustion. Even going up and down the stairs in her home leaves her winded. Then there's the leg soreness, dizziness and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Still early in the pandemic, doctors are just beginning to learn what recovery from COVID-19 looks like. While some of the medical issues from the coronavirus resolve over time, others can linger and cause lasting damage, such as permanently decreased lung function. But COVID-19 is not just a respiratory disease, as many people initially thought. Experts say the coronavirus is proving to be a full-body assault.
"There have been days when I can't breathe well lying down, so I have to sit up. And I've been so scared to fall asleep because I thought my breathing would stop," said Makadia, who has twice gone to the emergency room and is now seeing a cardiologist and gastrointestinal specialist.
Doctors are seeing a growing list of related health impacts, including blood clotting complications that can cause lung blockages, strokes and heart attacks; kidney damage that requires long-term dialysis; and cognitive impairments such as confusion and anxiety. An estimated 20% to 50% of COVID-19 patients continue to face health challenges after being discharged from the hospital, according to an estimate from Yale Medicine physicians.
"While it may feel like an eternity, we had our first patients in the ICU in early March, and we don't have a full sense of what recovery is like," said Dr. Craig Coopersmith, director of Emory University's Critical Care Center.
Often, the patients who become dangerously ill are older or have other risk factors, including obesity, diabetes, heart or lung disease, cancer and other immune problems. And, while the prognosis is generally better for younger patients without preexisting health conditions, Coopersmith said it still can be hard to predict who will make a full recovery and who will never be the same.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most people with COVID-19 develop only mild symptoms and can recover at home without medical care, typically within two weeks.
But COVID-19 patients who end up in intensive care units for extended periods often develop post-intensive-care syndrome, which is a collection of physical, mental and emotional symptoms that persist after a patient is discharged.
Even some patients with seemingly more mild cases have been stunned by a wide range of symptoms that continue for weeks, even months.
"I've seen healthy people pretty sick," said Dr. Andrew Reisman, a Gainesville doctor and president of the Medical Association of Georgia. "Not ICU sick, but really sick, like persistent aches and pains and chest pains for six weeks."
Not over the coronavirus
Chris Riley, a lobbyist and former chief of staff to Gov. Nathan Deal, started feeling achy in mid-March, a few days after learning about state legislators testing positive for the coronavirus.
At first, he noticed a loss of taste and smell. Then, he said, he developed fatigue and a "hard headache" that couldn't be dulled by Advil or Tylenol. Little by little, the 51-year-old's headaches started to dissipate, his fever broke, and he was better. Or so he thought.
"I started training for an Ironman (triathlon) again," said Riley, who lives in Gainesville.
But his running pace was way off. He felt anxious and was having trouble sleeping. His blood pressure was unusually high. And, all of a sudden, he depended on reading glasses. Even so, he dismissed the symptoms as part of life or the aging process. Maybe, he thought to himself, he just needed to train harder.
But his physician, Dr. Reisman, knew better. Reisman kept in close touch with Riley, monitoring his vitals and overall health. Riley's blood pressure, usually about 125 over 60, was around 180 over 100.
Riley didn't need to go the hospital, but Reisman knew his patient was not over the coronavirus.
For COVID-19 patients who are not sick enough to be hospitalized, there is no specific drug or treatment, other than rest, fluids and fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol. Primary doctors monitor for red flags, such as trouble breathing, which would trigger an ER visit.
Reisman knew about a post-COVID trial for survivors of mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Riley enrolled in the clinical trial for leronlimab, a drug that was originally developed to treat HIV, but is showing promise in the coronavirus fight. He had four injections in his stomach over two weeks.
Riley said he immediately felt better. He returned to a faster pace, his blood pressure returned to normal and the other symptoms the anxiety, the insomniafaded.
It's possible he was given a placebo or perhaps it was time that helped him heal, but Riley is confident that it was the leronlimab.
Doctor who was also COVID-19 patient
Dr. Chris Recknor, a Gainesville internist who runs one of the six sites for the leronlimab clinical trial, is also a COVID-19 survivor.
He first got sick in April, starting with an intense headache. Then, he started bumping into things and saw floaters in his eyes. Those aren't the most common coronavirus symptoms, but he knew something wasn't right and decided to get tested to, if nothing else, rule out the infectious virus. The test was positive.
His conditioned worsened to the point where he thought he might have a heart attack. He ended up in ER at Northeast Georgia Medical Center three times and was twice admitted for overnight stays.
"I felt like my heart was pumping so hard, it felt like it was coming out of my ears," he said.
His physician at the hospital obtained "compassionate use" permission from the Food and Drug Administration to prescribe leronlimab.
Researchers think that the drug may work by calming the aggressive immune response called the "cytokine storm," which occurs in ill COVID-19 patients.
Recknor said he felt better within two days after getting the medication and has fully recovered.
"The only way I can explain it is, it was like it felt like I had 1,000 cups of coffee," said Recknor. "And then after the medicine, it was like a relaxing time on the beach. A couple days after the medicine, I was back to doing everything normal. I knew there were other people like me having crazy symptoms."
So Recknor, who is a clinical trialist and founder of the Center for Advanced Research & Education, contacted the drug company and offered to run one of the country's clinical trial sites. Those in the trial are post-COVID survivors looking for relief after several weeks of battling the illness.
Results from the Phase II clinical trial are expected in July.
Makadia said her doctors think the coronavirus may have triggered an autoimmune disorder. She now plans to see rheumatologist.
A part-time optometrist, Makadia has not been able to go back to work. She said even going for a walk with her with children ages 2 to 6, can be overly taxing.
She said she realizes people have the impression COVID-19 is a brief illness, but her personal experience with the virus shows it can take timein her case, a long time to recover.
"I urge people to take this more seriously, to wear masks and be more careful until this calms down," she said.
For now, she said is mostly staying indoors at home.
"Overall, I am a little anxious because I am not getting better and I have never been sick before," she said. "I am taking it day by day and hoping I get better."
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2020 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, Ga.)
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:39:35|Editor: huaxia
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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks made Monday during a virtual meeting with European Union (EU) leaders are significant for relations and global governance, experts and politicians around the world have said.
Referring to China as "a partner, not an opponent" to the EU side, Xi said during the meeting that China will continue to deepen reform and expand opening up, which will provide Europe with a new round of cooperation opportunities and development space.
In the view of Antonio Martins da Cruz, former Portuguese foreign minister, Xi's stance on future China-EU relations are "a reinforcement of China's traditional positions."
"Xi's statement on China's opening up policy is a major cornerstone for (its) future relations with the EU," he said, adding that the Chinese president's speech will play a positive role in "building a new scope of China-EU relations."
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
The former Portuguese official also appreciated Xi's vision that China and the EU should serve as two major forces to maintain global peace and stability.
"Peace and stability are essential for economic and social development," the official said, adding China will be a very important and essential partner for Europe to create and improve new global governance and a better world for future generations.
In the eyes of Mate Granic, former minister of foreign affairs of Croatia, cooperation between the EU and China is "the best guarantee for stability and peace in the world."
As the COVID-19 pandemic is still ravaging the world, Granic said "this is the right time to show solidarity" and advocate more efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two sides.
"As Xi said, China and the EU are not rivals, but partners. China will further open up, not only for the EU, but for the whole world," said Sylwester Szafarz, former consul general of Poland in the Chinese city of Shanghai.
"In the post-pandemic era, it will be more needed than ever for China and the EU to respect each other, work together closely, revive the world economy and build a better world," Szafarz added.
A China-Europe freight train loaded with medical supplies pulls out of a China-Kazakhstan logistics terminal in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 14, 2020.(Photo by Wang Jianmin/Xinhua)
During the meeting, the Chinese president also pointed out that China and Europe should serve as two great civilizations that adhere to multilateralism and help improve global governance.
Xi said that China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the EU on major international and regional issues, strengthen dialogue and cooperation on global public health governance, and promote the building of a community of health for all.
French writer and sinologist Sonia Bressler said that "we must work with China in a 'win-win' approach and seek to consolidate the emerging multilateralism."
Citing the China-Europe freight trains as an example, Bressler said this link symbolizes Sino-European friendship and shows how much China seeks to apply the principle of "a community of shared future."
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met via video link with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China and the European Union (EU) have supported and helped each other, Xi said, noting that China is willing to join hands with the European side to push for a more stable and mature relationship in the post-pandemic era and lift their ties to a new height.
"China wants peace instead of hegemony," said Xi, stressing that China is not only a country with a long history, but also a developing country full of vitality.
"The starting point of all our policies and work is to enable the Chinese people to live a happy life. We will steadfastly follow the path of peaceful development," Xi said, noting that China presents "opportunities, rather than threats."
He went on to say that China is "a partner, not an opponent" to the EU side, as China will continue to deepen reform and expand opening up, which will provide Europe with a new round of cooperation opportunities and development space.
"There is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and Europe. Cooperation far outweighs competition, and consensus far outweighs disagreement," he said, calling on the two sides to respect each other, and seek common ground while reserving differences.
The two sides should continuously enhance mutual understanding and trust, expand common interests in cooperation, solve difficult problems in development, and build a China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership with more global influence.
The world under the impact of the pandemic is undergoing profound changes and facing more unstable and uncertain factors, Xi emphasized, calling for fostering new opportunities in crises and creating new prospects in the face of changing circumstances.
As two major forces, huge markets and great civilizations in the world, what China and the EU advocate and oppose and in what areas they cooperate will have global significance, Xi said.
China and the EU should serve as two major forces to maintain global peace and stability, Xi said, noting that China is willing to communicate with the European side on major issues.
"We believe that the EU will continue to move forward in the direction of unity, stability, openness and prosperity. China is delighted to see that the EU makes a constructive contribution to international peace and stability, and is willing to strengthen strategic cooperation with the EU to jointly cope with global challenges," he said.
Meanwhile, China and the EU should serve as two huge markets that promote global development and prosperity, Xi said.
"Our two major economies should play the role as dual engines of the world economy, drive the recovery of global economy, jointly support a scientific and orderly resumption of work and production, strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, and keep global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth," Xi said.
The two sides should maintain market openness to each other, accelerate the negotiation of the China-EU investment agreement, strengthen cooperation in the green and digital fields, and develop a partnership in green development, said Xi, calling on the two sides to enhance third-party cooperation in Africa.
In addition, China and Europe should serve as two great civilizations that adhere to multilateralism and help improve global governance, the Chinese president said.
"No matter how the international situation changes, China will take the side of multilateralism and adhere to the global governance concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits," Xi said.
Xi said that China appreciates EU's firm adherence to multilateralism, participation in international anti-pandemic cooperation, and increasing investment in the World Health Organization and other international institutions.
He said that China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the EU on major international and regional issues, strengthen dialogue and cooperation on global public health governance, and promote the building of a community of health for all.
Xi stressed that he would like to maintain close communication with the two EU leaders, advance a series of major China-EU political agendas, and push bilateral relations to a new level.
The two EU leaders said that the relationship between the EU and China is full of vitality, stressing that only through cooperation can the world cope with global challenges, and only dialogue and consultation can resolve conflicts and eliminate regional instability, as the world is facing great uncertainties.
The EU side is ready to conduct strategic dialogue with China to expand consensus in a candid manner, they noted.
The EU leaders voiced willingness to strengthen cooperation with China on vaccine R&D and work resumption. The EU is ready to expand bilateral trade and push for more progress in cooperation with China in green and low-carbon development, digital economy and other areas, they said.
They said that the EU is willing to reach an investment agreement with China at an early date.
They also expressed willingness to work with China to overcome the impacts of the pandemic as soon as possible and advance world economic recovery.
According to the two EU leaders, the EU is committed to multilateralism, and stands ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with China on public health security, climate change, sustainable development, third-party cooperation in Africa and other major issues within the frameworks of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the Group of 20.
The EU will work with China to achieve successful outcomes in major political agendas agreed upon by the two sides, according to the two leaders.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Bangkok, Thailand Tue, June 23, 2020 14:45 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660f3a8e 2 SE Asia Thailand,coronavirus,coronavirus-free,local-transmissions,COVID-19,COVID-19-travel-restriction,COVID-19-lockdown-easing,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic Free
Thailand hopes to ease some coronavirus restrictions on foreigners entering the country after going for 28 days without recording any domestic transmissions, a senior official said on Monday.
Those who will benefit from the easing of restrictions will include business executives, skilled workers and foreigners who live in Thailand.
"The first three groups will be able to return to Thailand and stay in 14-day state quarantine," said the spokesman for the government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, Taweesin Wisanuyothin.
Medical tourists will also be allowed back for treatment in hospital, he said.
Short-term business travellers and tourists from China, Japan and South Korea might be allowed back without having to spend 14 days in quarantine, he said, adding that the guidelines were still being worked out.
The proposed easing of restrictions will be put to the government's coronavirus task force on Friday.
Thailand, which has banned international commercial flights up to the end of June, has recorded 3,151 cases and 58 deaths related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
On Friday, Myanmar reported 23 coronavirus cases among Myanmar migrant workers deported from Thailand, raising questions about the possibility of transmission in Thailand.
Both Thailand and Myanmar are investigating.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:00:49|Editor: huaxia
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Palestinians wearing face masks attend a mass rally organized by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Movement to protest against Israel's annexation plans in the West Bank town of Jericho on June 22, 2020. Thousands of Palestinians joined the mass rally, alongside Palestinian Liberation Organization and Fatah leaders and dozens of international diplomats. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
JERICHO, West Bank, June 23 (Xinhua) -- International diplomats have rejected an Israeli plan to annex parts of the West Bank, saying it undermines the vision of a two-state solution.
The remarks were made on Monday during a mass rally that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Movement organized in the West Bank town of Jericho, to reject the Israeli plan, with the participation of diplomats from 48 countries.
Nickolay Mladenov, the UN peace envoy to the Middle East, said at the rally that "the Israeli annexation plan contradicts international law and will undermine the dream of peace and establishing a Palestinian state."
He called on the international community "to move as quickly as possible and exert every possible effort to rescue the peace process through peace talks that end with the establishment of a Palestinian state."
"Over the past 25 years, the international community worked on establishing a Palestinian state that late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had put as his basis," said Mladenov.
He also called for unity among the Palestinians in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.
Sven Kuhn Von Burgdsroff, the representative of the European Union in Palestine, renewed the EU's rejection of the Israeli annexation plan.
"The EU doesn't recognize any Israeli sovereignty on the Palestinian Territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem," he stressed.
He added that "any annexation process or any unilateral steps will create irreparable consequences, and directly undermine the two-state solution based on negotiations."
"The Union closely monitors the consequences of these plans, and confirms that in the case of any annexation, the relations between the EU and Israel will be affected," he said.
Burgdsroff called on Israel to abide by international law and work immediately on ending all settlement activities in the occupied territories and other violations.
Russian Ambassador to the State of Palestine Gocha Buachidze said that the Israeli annexation plan "will undermine the peace process and implementing it will block the possibilities of establishing an independent Palestinian state."
"The situation needs immediate resumption of the negotiations under the mandate of the United Nations to reach a comprehensive solution based on the UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab peace initiative," said Buachidze.
Salem al-Omeiri, the ambassador of Oman to the State of Palestine, called on the international community to back the Palestinian people and "stop all illegal Israeli behaviors."
"The Sultanate of Oman highly appreciates the Palestinian people's peaceful struggle to stop all the Israeli plans of annexation and settlement on the Palestinian Territories occupied in 1967," said al-Omeiri.
Meanwhile, Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee, said that "just peace can only be achieved by ending the occupation and establishing the state of Palestine on 1967 borders."
"The world has today sent a message of support for the Palestinians and said that Israel and the American Administration, are alone in facing international law and you should end the occupation and reject annexation," said Erekat.
Thousands of Palestinians joined the mass rally, alongside PLO and Fatah leaders and dozens of international diplomats. Palestinian participants held banners against Israeli annexation.
On Friday afternoon, 24 hours before Lemeir Mitchell opened Happy Ice on Melrose Avenue, the 28-year-old sat and stared at the rainbow-colored room around him. Cloudlike light fixtures hung from the ceiling. The dessert shops logo, written in big, groovy letters, decorated the wall.
On the street just outside was where Mitchell first sold water ice which is what Philadelphians like him call the dairy-free dessert with an ice cream-ish texture in the sorbet/granita/Italian ice family from his food truck in 2017. Three years, two trucks and many sleepless nights later, Mitchell is at the helm of a budding dessert empire with a loyal cult fandom that includes nearly 70,000 followers on Instagram.
You may have seen the trucks rolling around Los Angeles, parked on Melrose Avenue or in South L.A. The psychedelic blue, pink and yellow design sucks your eyes into its happy orbit. The ices, which run around $5 a cup, are just as mesmerizing, each scoop like a cartoon sunset with the saturation cranked up to 100.
The staff is known for yelling, singing and doing whatever it takes to hype up the energy of its customers.
You cannot leave the truck without a smile, Mitchell said. Whether youre laughing at us or with us, youre laughing.
A cup of water ice from Happy Ice, Lemeir Mitchell's new dessert shop on Melrose Avenue. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
At the grand opening on Saturday, celebrities including Babyface and Cedric the Entertainer made appearances, and hundreds of people waited in a socially distanced line that snaked down the street for such flavors as Cherry Bomb, Watermelon Lush and Time Machine (a cherry-mango-pineapple concoction that channels the vibe of a Big Stick).
But its been a long, rough road to opening day.
Mitchell has 10 siblings. His father was sentenced to life in prison for murder when Mitchell was 10 years old; he said he knew hed have to step up and be an example for his family.
I basically put anything that had to do with the streets behind me, he said. I wanted to do something different.
His first career was as a self-taught tattoo artist. In his early 20s, Mitchell bought a friends tattoo supplies for $50. Thirty minutes later, he was tattooing the Famous Stars and Straps clothing logo onto another friends arm. He traveled to Los Angeles from Philly a couple of times with friends to work on tattoos. In the midst of one of his trips, his older brother Kevin died in a motorcycle accident. It was a week before Kevin was supposed to graduate from college; he would have been the first in his family to do so.
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We had plans of building a family and just growing together, he said. I took a leap of faith when he passed, and I lost all fear: fear of dying, fear of anything.
Mitchell gets teary-eyed at the mention of his brother, whose initials CBK for college boy Kevin are tattooed on his neck and face and featured prominently on the wall in the new shop.
Two weeks after the funeral, Mitchell moved to Los Angeles, got a job at a tattoo parlor on Melrose Avenue and discovered food-truck culture. He then called his mother, Josette, a nurse in Philadelphia.
'Mom, I think Im going to bring water ice from Philly to L.A.,' he remembers telling her. 'What if I call it Happy Ice?'
Daylin White, 8, left, and Jace Knot, 6, attend the opening of Happy Ice on Melrose Ave on June 20, 2020. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Josette recalls: I was for it 100%, but at first I was a little hesitant because he went from tattooing to Happy Ice. But he was always coming home saying, Mama, I want water ice.
The day after that phone call, Mitchell went to City Hall and registered the business. Then he booked a ticket back to Philly. He grew up eating water ice at Freds Water Ice, a Southwest Philly institution, and he wanted to learn from the best. The dessert is made with water, ice, fruit and other flavorings churned through a special machine until its texture is somewhere between a slushee and sorbet. Owner Fred Cooper mentored Mitchell for two weeks, taught him the companys 40-year-old water ice recipe and sold him his first water ice machine.
With more and more food trucks popping up in Los Angeles, Mitchell wanted to make sure his stood out. He and artist Serena Saunders, a.k.a. MsPassionArt, painted a canvas of swirling colors and a giant happy face with palm trees in place of eyes and turned it into the wrap for the truck.
Our first day, he said of Sept. 4, 2017, when he opened for business, we didnt make a lot of money, but the energy and how people were receiving the product made that $400 feel like $1 million.
Mitchell started adjusting Fred's recipe and experimented with different methods of scooping the water ice, trying to get the colors to look just right. He slapped stickers onto the serving cups, placing them so the logo would make it into every Instagram shot of his perfect colored swirls.
Then the YouTubers came.
After a visit from the Ace Family, who have 18.6 million YouTube subscribers, Mitchell says business skyrocketed.
We started hitting $1,800 on the weekends, and the kids kept coming up saying, We saw you on the Ace Family YouTube, he said.
Shortly after the truck opened, Ted Foxman, a Chicago entrepreneur, saw someone walking down Melrose Avenue with a rainbow-colored dessert. He hired Happy Ice, Shake Shack and a bunch of other food companies to cater a 400-person party in 2018. At the end of the night, Foxman said, Mitchell was the only vendor who stopped by to thank him.
I knew there was something special about this guy, Foxman said. I told him right there that I envision a huge opportunity, and I would love to be a part of that.
The two met for pizza the next week and became partners. They say they now have an eight-year plan to turn Happy Ice into a lifestyle brand with multiple events and an amusement park.
But first, they wanted a physical shop for Happy Ice. It took a bit longer than theyd hoped.
The morning the location of Happy Ice was supposed to undergo its final health inspection, the mayor shut down all nonessential businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lemeir Mitchell, left, and partner Ted Foxman on opening day of Happy Ice, a water ice shop on Melrose Avenue. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Two months later, after Happy Ice passed its final inspection in May, George Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody, sparking protests in Los Angeles and across the nation.
Mitchell wanted to help support the cause. On May 30, he learned of a local protest via social media and decided to bring free Happy Ice to protesters along Wilshire Boulevard. He passed out hundreds of scoops, then drove back to the store to restock and change locations. As he walked over to the protesters on Fairfax Avenue, the sight of smoke billowing from a car made him stop in his tracks and turn back to the store.
There, he found a group of people forming on Melrose Avenue and said he could hear someone kicking in a door nearby. He sent his mother, girlfriend and 10-month-old daughter home. He taped a sign that read Black-owned business to his window, then sat out front and pleaded with people not to damage his shop.
Mitchell said he and a few other Happy Ice employees walked up and down the street that day, trying to protect other businesses. They grabbed a hose, connected it to the back of the store and took turns sitting on the roof to make sure the building didnt go up in flames.
I feel bad for small businesses, but I also felt bad for the people looting because I know what that type of pain looks like, he said. Ive seen people get shot before, but seeing a swarm of people with that look in their eyes was mind-blowing.
That night, Mitchell and two employees tag-teamed protection duty and rested on ice insulation bags on the floor of the shop. Happy Ice remained untouched.
Mitchell wants to continue to support the fight for equality. He created a black ice flavor and is donating 100% of the profits to Sisters of Watts, a local Black community organization.
I really just wanted to make this so I could eat it myself and share the experience with other people, he said. Water ice was a gateway to happiness for me, and I want it to be that for everyone.
7324 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (215) 800-3965, happyicela.com
In 1960, Frank Drake, an astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, launched Project Ozma, the first scientific effort to listen for radio communications from extraterrestrials. Frank, now 90, is still serious about SETI, writing research papers and advising scientists who are listening to the stars for signs of intelligent life. (I came to know Frank and his lovely and inspiring family while I was working on the vinyl reissue of the Voyager Golden Record; Frank was the technical director of the original Voyager Record in 1977!) In celebration of Father's Day, talented science journalist Nadia Drake (aka Frank's daughter), wrote in National Geographic about the history of her dad's Project Ozma and the current state of SETI. From National Geographic:
[Drake] designed an experiment to search for signals coming from worlds that could be orbiting the nearby stars Epsilon Eridani and Tau Ceti. He named the experiment Project Ozma, after the princess in L. Frank Baum's Oz seriesan homage to an adventure tale populated by exotic and unearthly beings.
Before sunrise on April 8, 1960, Drake climbed an 85-foot radio telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia, jammed himself inside a trash-can-size piece of equipment, and launched humanity's first scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligencenow known as SETI. For three months the telescope scanned its targets and found nothing more than cosmic static. The stars were stubbornly quiet.
"That was a disappointment," Dad told me a few years ago. "We'd hoped that, in fact, there were radio-transmitting civilizations around almost every star."
Even though Ozma failed to find evidence of extraterrestrial technologies, the project was uniquely transformativethe first step toward solving a monumental mystery.
"For me, Ozma is a platform that points out to the world that, when compared to something else that might potentially be out there, we're all the same," says the SETI Institute's Jill Tarter, one of the leading astronomers in the field. "That cosmic perspective is just critical to solving the challenges that we're looking at."
The 21st Secretary of United States Department of Human and Health Services and former governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius has said that the country is still reacting and not ahead of coronavirus contagion. In a televised interview with an international media outlet, the former HHS secretary not only showed her scepticism regarding US President Donald trumps handling of COVID-19 pandemic but also indicated that the US has to ramp up its testing and tracing of the novel coronavirus.
According to Sebelius, the only way to get ahead of coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 2.3 million people in the country, is to contain the spread of infection in any area and then test like crazy if a single COVID-19 case appears. Along with that, the government has to take note of contact tracing and ensure the quarantining of people. However, the former HHS Secretary noted that the government in the US can not do all that she mentioned because the medical professionals are still trying to find all coronavirus positive people in the country.
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'Trump's numbers'
The US has continued to record more and more cases, deaths and hospitalisations each day and as per Johns Hopkins University tally, over 120,400 have even died of COVID-19. While Sebelius has noted that the US is not testing enough, Donald Trump had said that he asked his people to slow the testing down, please. The 45th US President also called the coronavirus testing a double-edged sword at his first rally since the pandemic in Tulsa.
Former HHS Secretary reportedly said the countrys testing is not enough but Trumps a man who does not want his numbers which imply the number of coronavirus patients. Sebelius said that the US Presidents mere numbers are patients and are people who have already lost their loved ones in the fight against COVID-19. Meanwhile, Donald Trump faced severe backlash for not only hosting an indoor rally to kickstart reelection campaign but also for not wearing a facemask
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HOLYOKE Holyoke Medical Center has officially petitioned the state for approval to expand the number of psychiatric beds at the hospital from the existing 20 to 84.
The letter of intent to add 64 more psychiatric beds was filed with the Massachusetts Bureau of Health Care and Safety on Friday. It will be followed up with an application to receive approval for the increase, said Rebecca MacGregor, spokeswoman for Holyoke Medical Center.
The project proposal comes as Mercy Medical Center and its parent company Trinity Health of New England is planning to close 74 of its inpatient psychiatry beds at Providence Health Center and lay off 202 employees.
The plans have sparked an outcry from employee unions and families who say there is a lack of inpatient beds in the area. In May the state Department of Public Health ruled Mercy Medical Center has to provide a more detailed of how and where people can get help if the 74 beds are closed.
Holyoke Medical officials have said their plan to expand is not related to the proposed closure of Providence Health. A study completed recently determined there is a need for 52 adult and 36 geriatric beds in a 14-mile radius of the facility, she said.
The proposal comes Our plan is to build a three level, 68,000 square foot, 84-bed behavioral health pavilion on our campus and near the Medical Center, said Spiros Hatiras, President and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems. We have completed a comprehensive review and been working with architects and community stakeholders on finalizing building design.
The addition, to be called the Holyoke Medical Center Behavioral Health Pavilion, would have 48 adult psychiatric beds, 36 geriatric beds, and 4,000 square feet of space to be used for expansion or another purpose to be determined in the future, he said.
The proposal also calls for parking analysis and parking garage study that could provide 60 to 180 parking spaces, MacGregor said.
Once approved by state and local officials, the new facility will take 18 months to complete and become operational, she said.
The letter of intent was filed about three weeks after Holyoke Medical Center officials formally informed the state they plan to close the 13-bed birthing center by Oct. 1 because of declining use.
The hospitals inpatient obstetrics services and well infant nursery have been temporarily closed since the beginning of April when the space was converted to receive veterans from the Holyoke Soldiers Home following a coronavirus outbreak that killed 76 of the about 210 residents who lived there. A total of 26 veterans remain at Holyoke Medical in a dedicated skilled nursing facility but are expected to return to the Soldiers Home.
Labor and delivery patients at the time were moved to the Family Life Center for Maternity at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield under a partnership with the two facilities.
For the past six years, Holyoke Medical Center has been growing and expanding services through recruitment and retention of high-quality doctors and advanced practice providers. This proposed project is fully aligned with the mission of the health system, MacGregor said.
Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal
Schools across New Mexico will open the 2020-21 school year with a mix of in-person and online learning.
The Public Education Department is recommending a hybrid schedule that alternates the days kids come into the school building, according to Deputy Secretary Gwen Perea Warniment.
That could look like one group of students coming to class Monday and Tuesday for the full school day, while another group would come Thursday and Friday. Wednesday would be remote learning for all students to allow for sanitization before the groups switch off.
We know that while our educators moved mountains and did amazing things during this period of online and remote learning, its not a substitute for our students being able to be physically in community, physically present. So, we want to maximize the amount of in-person learning that our students have access to in a safe way, Secretary of Education Ryan Stewart said during a virtual news conference Tuesday.
Younger students and students with disabilities will be given priority for in-person learning.
Recovering lost learning
The PED released a 25-page guidance document, which was influenced by a task force, to direct how districts and charter schools educate students in the fall.
In March, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration called for schools to close, ultimately for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year, to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Recently, a Legislative Finance Committee report found that school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic will likely result in months to a years worth of learning loss for students. PED has raised questions about the report.
In legislative hearings, including during the special session, multiple lawmakers cautioned that if K-12 students are not allowed back into schools this fall, they could fall even further behind academically.
Sen. Bill Soules, D-Las Cruces, who teaches advanced placement psychology at Onate High School, said the states experiment with remote learning after public schools were shuttered in March was unsuccessful.
It was at very best, better than nothing, and not a whole lot more, Soules said during a Senate floor debate on a budget solvency bill. I had highly motivated students and it was not good education.
In the upcoming year, schools will be tasked with addressing learning loss while adhering to heightened safety requirements to mitigate the spread of the contagious virus.
Specifics on grading and instructional time are unknown right now, but Perea Warniment said the PED will release more information in the future and it will be more rigorous than previous distance learning.
In its reentry guidance, PED writes that beginning Aug. 3, all schools in the state will be able to start the school year utilizing a hybrid model of instruction.
Students will alternate between in-person instruction at the school building and online instruction when at home, the document says.
APS plan on track
Albuquerque Public Schools has been working on a plan for this scenario. APS Chief Operations Officer Scott Elder, who will take over as acting superintendent July 1, wrote in a statement that the district appreciated the details released by the state.
Stewart said there will be exceptions for medically high-risk students and staff, who should be given virtual or low-contact options to do their work.
Meals will be provided to students on both in-person and distance learning days, according to the plan.
PED deputy secretary Katarina Sandoval said attendance will be reported for in-person days and monitored for remote days.
If a student wasnt able to log on for whatever reason, that student wouldnt necessarily be counted as absent during that particular day, but instead their attendance would be those physical in-person days, Sandoval said.
The hybrid model will mean extra safety procedures, changing the way school looks and feels for kids.
The number of students in the classroom will be limited to allow for 6 feet of social distancing. PED recommends restrictions on visitors, too.
Students can expect to see signs in classrooms and hallways about how to stop the spread of COVID-19. And they may have to bring water bottles to class as schools are encouraged to turn off water fountains.
Masks, screenings
Face coverings will largely be required, staff will have to be screened daily and schools must avoid large gatherings, among other requirements.
It is impossible to avoid all risks of virus transmission in the return to school, but we have the power to greatly minimize the potential for illness if we commit to taking reasonable precautions to contain the virus, Stewart wrote in the guidance.
As of Tuesday, New Mexico had a total of 10,838 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 4,874 cases designated as recovered by the New Mexico Department of Health.
The Department of Health is pulling together their plans for our surveillance testing and rapid-response system. So, they are going to be working with all of our charter schools and districts to make sure that we do have a monitoring and response system in place whenever we see cases get confirmed and need to do the contact tracing and isolation, Stewart said.
The state says its aim is to move all schools into a full school schedule as soon as it is safely possible. But PED added that phasing students back into the classroom has its benefits, such as being able to monitor how a limited back-to-school plan affects the coronavirus spread rate.
The plan also has guidance on remote learning and fully in-person learning, depending on the status of the pandemic in the future.
Journal Capitol Bureau Chief Dan Boyd contributed to this story.
The rising number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Houston has U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, ringing an alarm with the nations top infectious disease experts in Washington who last month were praising the citys efforts to contain the virus.
During a U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee meeting Tuesday, Olson warned that the current trajectory of cases in Houston has the city on pace to be one of the worst affected cities in the nation if something doesnt change. Olson said there are experts comparing Houstons situation to Brazils.
And that is damn scary, Olson told Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert who was testifying before Congress on Tuesday.
IN DEPTH: If trends persist, Houston would become the worst affected city in the U.S., expert Peter Hotez says
It was in early May that White House officials invited Gov. Greg Abbott to Washington to praise Houston and Dallas for their efforts to really contain and mitigate the virus.
On Tuesday, Olson said what scares him the most is the increase in infections among people aged 20 to 39. He said young people are acting like the virus cant hurt them. Olson represents the 22nd Congressional District, which includes most of Fort Bend County, plus parts of Brazoria and Harris counties.
Fauci said what makes COVID-19 so perplexing is the range of its impact on people. Some people have no symptoms, some have mild symptoms, others can be sick for a few weeks, and yet others require hospitalization and can die.
You have a situation that is very confusing to people, Fauci said stressing that in decades of studying viruses, hes never seen such a range.
TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox
But Fauci said even though the majority of young people do well in fighting COVID-19, they still have to be reminded that if they are not careful, they help spread the infection and inadvertently push it to more vulnerable populations.
You should care, Fauci said of younger people. Not only for yourself but for the impact you might have on the dynamics of the outbreak.
Olsons comments come less than 24 hours after Abbott warned Texans that a surge in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in the state is unacceptable. Texas has seen a 146-percent increase in lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations since Memorial Day.
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 of the state of Texas, Abbott said.
"I think these numbers demonstrate that immigrants are under a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety," says Yasir Naqvi, CEO of the institute. "It is impacting their day-to-day life and causing stress not only for them, but their families."
A total 2,471 respondents including 956 new Canadians completed the survey between April 27 and 30. The margin of error for the study was +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20. New Canadians expressed significantly more concern around everyday activities because of discrimination, to the point that:
27% are worried about wearing a mask in public (vs. 21% of the general public)
49% are worried about going out to run errands (vs. 34% of the general public)
53% are worried about going out in public (vs. 35% of the general public)
33% are worried about telling people they work with about possible symptoms of illness (vs. 20% of the general public)
and 63% are worried about taking public transit (vs. 47% of the general public). Among Chinese-Canadian new citizens who responded, a full 81% fear discrimination while taking transit.
Almost half of the new Canadians in the poll report being essential workers. Naqvi says their mental and physical health is being unduly affected if they fear negative reactions each time they don a mask or ride transit to work.
"We need to #StandTogether with Canadians who are feeling left out and who have been bearing a disproportionate impact of the pandemic," he says. "All Canadians need to do the hard work to counter racism. That's why we're doing collecting the data to create that awareness, and to mobilize people."
Find the full polling results report here.
About #StandTogether: The Institute for Canadian Citizenship launched the campaign last month to raise awareness of immigrants' front-line contributions during the pandemic and to combat racism and xenophobia. More on the campaign at inclusion.ca.
SOURCE Institute for Canadian Citizenship
For further information: Clare Graham, Director of Communications, Institute for Canadian Citizenship, 416-953-8567, [email protected]; Dave Scholz, Executive Vice-President, Communications and Public Affairs, Leger, Ph: 416-964-9222, [email protected]
Related Links
http://inclusion.ca
Being stuck in a foreign country during the COVID-19 pandemic could be terrifying for many, but not for one couple recently stranded in Greece.
Dylise Dai, 32, who is now a week into 14-day hotel quarantine at Marina Bay Sands after returning to Singapore, had intended for her romantic Greek getaway with her boyfriend to last for a month before they both hopped to other parts of Europe to live and work abroad.
But when COVID-19 struck, those plans changed, and the couple ended up stranded in Greece for 95 days before returning to Singapore, mostly living in Athens and then venturing Santorini and Milos, where they found themselves the only tourists around.
Our original plan was to come back [to Singapore] every 90 days for a month or two and then go back to Europe. Definitely the plan was not to be in Greece for three months, the finance account manager told Coconuts Singapore by phone.
Dai and boyfriend Lawrence Lim, 39, were reluctant to cancel the trip they had been planning since last year as they had given up their lease and were able to work remotely abroad. Greece seemed like a safe choice for the couple, given its relatively low number of infections at the time and precautions being taken.
We didnt cancel our trip because Greece was very quick to do the lockdown, taking precautions the moment the numbers in Spain and Italy were rising. The moment Italy became quite bad, Greece immediately took swift actions to impose social distancing and close the borders, Dai said.
They landed in Athens on March 13, the same day Greece announced the closure of tourist attractions like museums as well as cafes, bars, malls, and restaurants. Nine days later, Greece ordered a nationwide lockdown.
Singapore had reported 200 cases by March 13 while Greece was only behind by a few with 190 known infections at the time. COVID-19 had hit Singapore a month before Greece, in late January. Singapore also saw a spike in imported cases in March, including individuals who had traveled to Europe.
Story continues
Dai stressed that the couple had taken extra precautions and were not in close physical contact with strangers most of the time. The couple had also considered staying in Greece until they recovered if they were to become infected.
We definitely took everything into consideration and every point of time we are considering the health of ours and others, she said.
In Greece, It was also compulsory to wear face masks in confined spaces and people had to carry passports or IDs, with written permission to buy essentials such as groceries and medicine.
One reason the animal-friendly country allowed people outside for was to feed stray animals.
At that time we had also booked our first Airbnb for a month, so we told ourselves to make the best of the situation, stay at least for a month and see how things go. If it gets better we stay, and worst case scenario fly back to Singapore, she said. Every day I just put down the reason, feeding stray cats and exercise!
Only tourists around
As travel to domestic islands was restricted, the couple spent the first two months in Athens exploring the citys historical sites and supermarkets by foot, and recreating local dishes in their Airbnb where they also worked from.
We didnt take any public transport, so we walked a lot, went on hikes, explored the neighborhood, sometimes up to three hours a day just to explore Greece and make the most out of it, she said.
When all movement restrictions across the country were lifted, they explored outside of Athens on wheels, visiting places like Meteora, Lefkada, Thessaloniki, and Ktistades.
The couple adjourned to Santorini and Milos for eight days after Greece lifted travel restrictions to domestic islands. Due to the lack of tourists, the islands seemed deserted.
Its actually very different when its a dead town. Paradise is not paradise without the people and the holidaymakers and the ambiance that contributes to the atmosphere, she said.
When I went there, the one good thing is that I could take a lot of really nice pictures without people in the background but on the other hand it was eerily silent, she added, describing the tourist towns as dead empty.
Even the Greeks joked to the couple that they had the islands all to themselves, they said. Throughout their trip, they felt like they were at the center of attention as curious locals questioned how they ended up there.
After island-hopping, the couple decided to return to Singapore for fear of contracting the virus in Greece without medical insurance.
Greek authorities had also decided not to mandate COVID-19 testing for people entering the country, which made the couple feel less safe.
We read that Greece was not going to mandate testing at the customs which we felt that it wasnt going to be safe anymore, she said. All the Greeks will be covered [by insurance] but we wont. We felt that it wasnt going to be safe anymore so we thought we were left with no choice but to come back to Singapore.
She later added: We were running to and from the police because our 90 days visa was running out and our flights back home to Singapore kept getting canceled.
Looking back, Dai had no regrets making the most out of the trip. Now back home, the couple is safely in quarantine at Marina Bay Sands.
On one hand, Im in a good place. They put me in MBS, Ive been told that some of my friends got tiny hotels, she said, referring to friends with children who were put up at hotels with not enough room.
Editors Note: After this story was published, Dai reached out to say that she was referring to stories she had heard about people being put up in small hotels, not her actual friends. Additionally, the story has been updated to add information about her difficulties traveling back to Singapore.
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This article, Greek getaway turns into 3-month pandemic odyssey for Singaporean woman, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
Russia has again endorsed India for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and said that the foreign ministers of the RIC grouping comprising Russia, India and China discussed reforms of the United Nations during the trilateral held through video conferencing on Tuesday.
India has been pushing for reforms of the United Nations including one of its most powerful bodies- the Security Councilstating that its composition doesnt reflect the current realities and is not representative enough.
Today we talked of probable reforms of the United Nations and India is a strong nominee to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council & we support Indias candidacy. We believe it can become a full-fledged member of the Security Council, Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by ANI.
Also Read: No outside help needed to resolve India-China border dispute: Russia
Earlier today, Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar had presented forceful arguments to back a greater role for India in the decision-making of international organisations such as the United Nations. He pressed on the need for a reformed multilateral world order, which cant ignore Indias role.
The UN began with 50 members, today it has 193. Surely, its decision-making cannot continue to be in denial of this fact. We, the RIC countries, have been active participants in shaping the global agenda. It is Indias hope that we will also now converge on the value of reformed multilateralism, Jaishankar said while addressing the RIC summit.
The Security Council has 15 members, including five permanent members the US, the UK, France, Russia and China. China is the only permanent member of the UNSC which is blocking Indias inclusion into the powerful grouping. Half of the 10 non-permanent members are elected every year for a two-year term, starting on January 1.
India has been recently elected a non-permanent member for a two-year term starting January 1, 2021, following an overwhelming vote. New Delhi has stated that it will work for enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation as one of its main priorities.
Also Read: In a meet with China, Russia, Jaishankar says need to respect ethos of international law
India is hoping that its performance at the UNSC in the next two years would reaffirm its credentials to be a permanent member of the council. It is one of the strongest claimants for the seat along with Japan, Germany and Brazil, which together form the G-4the group that is pressing for reforms in the United Nations terming it outdated and out of sync with the changed global realities.
Our presence on the Security Council and our performance there over the next 2 years will underscore the value that a country like India brings to the table and reaffirm our credentials to be a permanent member of UNSC, Vikas Swarup, Secretary (West) in the ministry of external affairs had said on June 18.
It will be Indias eighth two-year term.
Earlier today, Jaishankar recounted Indias contribution to World War-II, which, he said, was not given the due recognition.
This historical injustice has stood uncorrected for the last 75 years, even as the world has changed. Thereforeit is important for the world to realise both the contribution that India made and the need to rectify the past, Jaishankar said, and added that 2.3 million Indians had fought in the war and another 14 million had participated in the war production.
Amid the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, a Bengaluru-based institute has ordered for oral exams and asked students to come to the city for the same, leaving students and parents angry. The institute, Srishti Institute of Art Design and Technology, has issued this order by sending a mail to the students of the final semester in June.
The examination is held between August 3-21 and oral examination takes about an hour. However, in the current situation, if students from different states of the country come to participate in this examination, then they will have to take a risk of at least 15 days.
As per the information given to the students, the order also clarifies that the students should follow the 14-day quarantine rule laid down by the Karnataka government before they appear for the exam.
In addition to this, the students will have to make their own arrangements of lodging as the PGs and hostels for the students are closed. The rules of quarantine in Karnataka are also determined as per other states.
According to the new rules applicable from June 16, a person who enters Karnataka from Delhi or Tamil Nadu will have to stay in institutional quarantine for the first three days and for the remaining eleven days, home quarantine is mandatory. If a person is coming from Maharashtra, then it is mandatory for the first seven days to stay in institutional quarantine and the remaining seven days, in home quarantine. People from other states are required to stay in home quarantine for the entire 14 days.
When Zee News probed the matter, based on the information given by the students and parents, an institute official said that the decision to conduct the examination is in accordance with the UGC and government regulations. Although it is a big challenge to conduct examinations like this amid the growing cases of COVID-19, the UGC and the government have to decide whether to conduct the exam or start a new session, the institute only follows the instructions. It was also clarified by the institute that decisions can also be changed according to the situation.
What does the guideline say?
According to the guidelines of both the central and state government in this regard, the decision to open a school, college or any institution will be made in July. The state government will take this decision in consultation with the educational institute and parents.
WINSTED The goal includes helping Connecticut to recover through the arts.
To that end, the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundations COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund has awarded a challenge grant to the American Mural Project.
The grants includes gift matching that allows local nonprofits to set fundraising goals to meet immediate needs, including operational support., according to the response fund. As one of 50 nonprofits chosen to participate in Northwest Connecticut, the American Mural Project, or AMP, is aiming to raise $2,500 to receive a $2,500 match from the foundation.
Donations through this challenge grant will help AMP innovatively provide AMPs in-demand programs and events again, perhaps in new ways, and help CT recover through the arts and the celebration of work, said Amy Wynn, AMPs executive director.
The Northwest Community Foundation launched Northwest Corner Gives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in an effort to double support for local nonprofits. The foundation has already matched 50 percent of AMPs total campaign goal of $10,000 through the Northwest Corner Gives: COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund.
The foundation will continue to match all gifts made through Northwest Corner Gives on a dollar-for-dollar basis until AMP reaches its goal. Matching grants are made possible by gifts from community members, anonymous donors, and discretionary Community Foundation funds, according to a release.
The funding, AMP members said, will supplement revenue loss resulting from the pandemic. AMP suspended several school and summer programs, canceled public tours, and is now shifting plans for the annual gala, its largest fundraiser of the year, because of group size limits the state imposed.
Despite these challenges, AMP is ramping up for its summer Outdoor Design & Building program for tweens and teens, a Digital Story Work internship for young adults, after-school and in-school programming in the fall, and remains optimistic about starting tours again later in the summer, according to a statement.
Donations may be made on the Northwest Corner Gives website: https://northwestcornergives.org/campaigns/american-mural-project/
Launched in 2002 by artist Ellen Griesedieck, the American Mural Project is creating what is expected to be the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world: a mural 120 feet long, 48 feet high, and up to 10 feet deep.
The mural is a tribute to American workers and highlights what has defined the country over the last century, according to the AMP website. More than 15,000 children and adults have helped create pieces of the mural, which will be housed in two former mill buildings on Whiting Street in Winsted, according to AMP.
To learn more about AMP, visit www.americanmuralproject.org/
The Texas Restaurant Promise Certification Program ensures employees understand the new protocols of operating in a COVID-19 environment and establishes trust between restaurants and their guests. Customers should begin to look for the Texas Restaurant Promise Certified and Verified decal on doors of Texas neighborhood restaurants, cafes, and bars as an indicator that these businesses have gone above and beyond for their safety. The training program consists of five courses focused on key roles within a restaurant: managers, takeout/delivery line staff, servers, kitchen staff, and cleaning crew. In order for a restaurant to earn their Texas Restaurant Promise Certified and Verified decal, a minimum of five employees must complete the requisite courses and the restaurant must undergo the third part of the program - third party onsite evaluation.
A Closer Look, a mystery shopping and customer experience company with decades of experience in the hospitality sector, will provide the third part of the program, onsite evaluation. A member of A Closer Look's team will visit participating restaurants multiple times, providing feedback directly to the owner/operator for them to incorporate into staff training. Additionally, A Closer Look's Health and Hygiene Satisfaction Program ensures standard health protocols are consistently followed in all locations, providing critical feedback and best practices on any necessary changes. This feedback loop also includes feedback directly from customers on their perception of restaurants' health and sanitation standards.
The initial grant from TWC will provide funding for 500 restaurants to be evaluated and certified with 2,500 of their employees receiving training. TRA and Dallas College plan to continue expanding grant funding from the Texas Workforce Commission to ensure all restaurants and employees can participate.
"This comprehensive program allows restaurant owners and their staff to demonstrate to the public that they have done everything possible to safely receive guests in their dining rooms," said Dr. Emily Williams Knight, President and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. "I am proud that TRA can provide a training program to ensure employees are aware, trained, and certified in what is expected and required to safely operate today. This is a big win for our industry and will continue to build trust between consumers and restaurants. With more than 700,000 jobs lost and 5B in revenue since the start of the pandemic, Texas restaurants need this support and I am confident will continue to rise to the challenge of feeding and caring for Texans."
"Dallas College is excited to partner with the Texas Restaurant Association to deliver rigorous online health and safety training aligned with the guidance provided by various public regulatory agencies," said Dr. Joe May, Chancellor of Dallas College. "With restaurants offering their patrons added peace of mind after training and certification, there will be increased revenue for businesses, particularly the restaurant and hospitality industry, which has suffered devastating losses. Dallas College strongly supports the local economy and renews its support for the workforce that powers them."
"While the economic devastation has been significant, the innovation that we have seen from restaurant operators across the state has been inspirational," said Steve DeShazo, Senior Director of Culinary, Pastry, and Hospitality at El Centro College. "This certification program exemplifies innovation and commitment to guest satisfaction and Dallas College is proud to partner with the TRA and industry to provide this important resource."
"At A Closer Look, we believe that when customers feel restaurants are taking their health and safety seriously, they are more likely to return and recommend others. Both are critical components to helping restaurants thrive again," said Chris Gillen, CEO of A Closer Look. "We are excited to launch the Texas Restaurant Promise Certification in partnership with the Texas Restaurant Association and Dallas College. For over 25 years, we have helped restaurants assess and improve their operational effectiveness and financial performance. It is our honor and pleasure to help those restaurants impacted by COVID to safely serve their customers again."
The program kicks off with a launch event on June 24 at 11:00 a.m. with the following guests:
Dr. Joe May , Chancellor, Dallas College
, Chancellor, Dallas College Dr. Emily Williams Knight , Chief Executive Officer for Texas Restaurant Association (TRA)
, Chief Executive Officer for Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) Bryan Daniel , Chairman and Commissioner Representing the Public, Texas Workforce Commission
, Chairman and Commissioner Representing the Public, Texas Workforce Commission Aaron Demerson , Commissioner Representing Employers, Texas Workforce Commission
, Commissioner Representing Employers, Texas Workforce Commission Steve DeShazo , Sr. Director of Culinary, Pastry, and Hospitality
, Sr. Director of Culinary, Pastry, and Hospitality Kelvin Walker , CEO, Dallas Citizens' Council
, CEO, Council Nikky Phinyawatana, Owner, Asian Mint
Chris Gillen , CEO, A Closer Look
, CEO, A Closer Look Moderator: Anna Tauzin , Chief Revenue and Innovation Officer for TRA
Attendees can join the kick off call using this link: https://dcccd.webex.com/dcccd/onstage/g.php?MTID=eed89063ad815ec0f7f09de2c8d5fb0f8
The first class will start on June 25. More information can be found at TXRestaurant.org/TXRestaurantPromiseCertification
About the Texas Restaurant Association
The Texas Restaurant Association was formed in 1937 to serve as the advocate in Texas and the indispensable resource for the foodservice industry. Today, as a leading business association, TRA represents the state's $70 billion restaurant industry, which is comprised of more than 50,000 locations and a workforce of 1.4 million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation, the Association protects, advances, and educates the growing industry.
About Dallas College
Dallas College, formerly the Dallas County Community College District, was founded in 1965, and comprises seven campuses: Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland. Dallas College offers online learning, and serves more than 83,000 credit and 25,000 continuing education students during the fall and spring semesters. Dallas College also offers dual credit for students in partner high schools and early college high schools throughout Dallas County. Dr. Joe May, the college's 7th chancellor, has established the Dallas College higher education network in partnership with area school districts, colleges and universities, businesses, community organizations and others to support student success and college completion by removing barriers and providing services that help them earn a college credential and start their professional careers.
About A Closer Look
For more than 25 years, A Closer Look has partnered with a variety of businesses, including hospitality, retail, hotel, senior living, and others, across North America to provide in-depth customer experience feedback. A Closer Look uses qualified, independently contracted evaluators that assess clients' current customer experience operation through detailed stories, which, when paired with data analytics, help identify friction points that provide clarity on how to improve brand loyalty and maximize profitability.
SOURCE Texas Restaurant Association
Related Links
https://www.txrestaurant.org
BURLINGTON, Vt., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealer.com announced it has been selected as a choice Honda website and digital advertising provider through the Honda Digital Customer Experience. Today, through Dealer.com's Website Choice program, Honda dealers receive customized, strategic and secure management of a dealer's advertising strategy and investment to connect with in-market shoppers across the digital channels that drive performance.
Dealer.com is aiding Honda dealers to deliver a personalized, efficient car shopping experience, which customers expect now more than ever before. Fueled by user experience research, data science, and exclusive integrations with Cox Automotive brands, Dealer.com websites deliver a full service, personalized digital storefront experience that complement a dealer's individual business goals.
"We are better positioned to help dealers now and invest in the long-term to respond to the new model of car shopping," said Wayne Pastore, vice president and general manager of Dealer.com. "Through Honda's Website Choice Program, we provide all the levers dealers can pull in the digital marketing ecosystem whether it's on their website, through social channels or video. These tools have impact and will allow dealers to connect in a meaningful way to their customers."
Through unsurpassed insight into human behavior, supported by data from Cox Automotive brands like Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, Dealertrack, Homenet, and more, Dealer.com's Website Choice program offers professional services that address and solve the challenges faced by dealers and their customers. Participating dealerships will receive a strategic advantage in content creation, SEO ranking, advertising, social strategies and more. Dealer.com's innovations, with extensive consumer intelligence, bring dealers the tools to build their best digital storefront. The award-winning platform delivers personalized experiences that attract, engage and help convert online shoppers at every stage of their journey.
The digital marketing solutions at Dealer.com have earned prestigious automotive industry awards, including two consecutive Automotive Website Awards, the Highest Rated SEO Provider and Driving Sales Dealers' Choice Award for Top Rated Website Provider.
Dealers who would like to learn more can visit https://www.dealer.com/honda/.
About Dealer.com
Dealer.com is the premier digital marketing solution for the automotive industry. Providing an integrated platform of Websites, Advertising, Digital Retailing and Managed Services, Dealer.com allows OEMs, dealer groups, retailers and agencies to leverage advanced digital technology, data and insights to deliver the shortest, fastest and most personalized path to customer engagement. The company practices a deep commitment to its culture of progress, with a focus on community, health, and wellness. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Dealer.com is a Cox Automotive brand. For more information, visit www.dealer.com.
About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company's 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, VinSolutions, vAuto and Xtime, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com
SOURCE Dealer.com
Related Links
https://www.dealer.com
New Delhi:
Commenting on some politicians raising questions over India's surgical strikes along the LoC on September 29, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu has said on Wednesday that they will be duly 'tackled' by the government.
"There are a few people who like to interrupt others, we'll silently tackle them. Like our Army silently conducted the surgical strikes," said Naidu
On AAP, Congress demanding proof of surgical strike, Naidu said There is no need to respond to such irresponsible comments and demands.
Speaking on Indian Army Naidu went on to say, I don't think any other Indian citizen has any doubt about the credentials and commitment of our Indian army.
On Tuesday, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam had dubbed the surgical strikes as 'fake', raising doubts over the veracity of the Indian Army and the government.
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Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday described the India-China face-off in Ladakh as a full blown crisis and hoped that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will guide the government's action in protecting India's territorial integrity.
Sonia Gandhi made this remark in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, party's highest decision making body, which met on Tuesday to discuss the India-China face off and the issue of Nepal.
The CWC meeting started after paying homage to all the 20 Indian soldiers, who died on June 15 fighting Chinese forces in Galwan Valley. "CWC pays homage to Colonel B. Santosh Babu and our brave jawans (soldiers), who laid down their lives by making the supreme sacrifice. All CWC members rise to observe two minutes silence in their memory," Congress national media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a tweet.
Addressing the CWC members, Sonia Gandhi said, "Now, we have a full-blown crisis on the LAC with China... The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will guide the government's actions in protecting our territorial integrity."
At least 20 Indian soldier including an officer were killed in an unprecedented attack by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Ladakh's Galwan Valley on June 15.
Sonia Gandhi also said that the need of hour is a massive fiscal stimulus, putting money directly in the hands of the poor, protecting and nurturing the MSMEs and stimulating demand.
Slamming the government over the Rs 20 lakh crore financial package, the Congress president said, "Instead, government announced a hollow financial package that had a fiscal component of less than 1 per cent of GDP."
She also raised the issue of continuous fuel price hike in last 17 days and said, "The government has 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.
Taking a pot shot at the government over the spike in the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) situation across the country, she said, "Despite the assurances of the Prime Minister who centralized all authority in his hands, the pandemic continues to rage. The Centre has passed the buck to the state governments, but given them zero extra finances."
The CWC meeting comes in the wake of all party meeting convened by the Prime Minister last week. Sources in the party said that the incident at the Line of Actual Control is unacceptable to the party and the relationship with Nepal is at an all time low.
India and China are engaged in a diplomatic resolution of the stand-off. Nepal on June 13 adopted unanimously the Constitution Amendment Bill, paving the way for accommodating the updated political-administrative map in the national emblem which includes Indian areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura.
The project's objective is to help Egypt achieve long-term stability in health financing with less dependence on the state budget and less exposure to economic fluctuations
Egypt and the World Bank (WB) are embarking on a joint project that aims to facilitate and speed up the implementation of a national universal health insurance programme that was started earlier this year.
On 16 June, the WB announced that its Board of Executive Directors had approved providing $400 million to support Egypts transformational Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS), which aims to serve as as the countrys pathway to achieving universal health coverage and improving the health outcomes of its citizens.
According to a telephone interview with Maria Wes, Egypt country director at the WB, and Amr AlShalakany, a WB healthcare expert, the projects objective is to help Egypt achieve long-term stability in health financing with less dependence on state budget and less exposure to economic fluctuations.
The project is launched in acknowledgement of the fact that disparities still persist despite the significant improvement that Egypt has been making in its health outcomes.
It is also based on the fact that despite an improving economic performance, Egypt still has one of the lowest government health expenditures per GDP in the region and one of the highest out-of-pocket expenditure rates.
According to Wes, with a growing population and an increasing life expectancy for women and men in Egypt, it is expected that the demand for healthcare services will be on the rise, and that economically disadvantaged groups, like women and citizens in remote areas, will have to come to the government to access this healthcare, which ranges from access to family planning to the treatment of non-communicable diseases.
Fixing the resources to finance the UHIS is a top priority for the joint work of the WB and the Egyptian government. Essentially, the project aims to spare the budget by securing financing from contributions and premiums, taxes (including road fees, car licensing and tobacco taxes) and copayments by beneficaries at the point of service.
This said, Wes stressed that, as would be the case anywhere in the world, there is no fast fix for the ailments of the healthcare system in Egypt. This, she said, is a typically long reform process that is complicated and takes years.
However, Wes said that while it is strictly up to the government to fully reach out to the most disadvantage groups, it would be purposeful for the UHIS to incorporate the private sector as part of accelerating wider coverage for all.
Essentially, the inclusion of the private sector, Wes argued, would attract larger segments of the population that would otherwise be hesitant to subscribe to the UHIS if it is only operated through public hosptials.
Moreover, Wes added that the inclusion of the private sector inevitably creates competition and promotes best practices.
She said that the government will be the decision-maker on the rules of inclusion of the private sector in the UHIS through benefit packages and pricing systems, to make the things equally attractive to the private sector and the recipients of the services.
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Saharanpur:
Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that farm loans will be waived off and the power tariff be reduced to half, if Congress comes to power in the UP assembly polls next year.
Congress Vice President was speaking to farmers in Maniharan in Rampur during Kisan Yatra. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not fulfilling the promises given by his government.
He alleged that the Central government has given Rs 1.10 lakh crore to industrialists, which was assured to be given to farmers.
He also said that the electricity bill will be reduced to half and farmers loans will be waive off if Congress came to power in UP.
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Linkedin Sunghee Hwang (Agence France-Presse) Seoul, South Korea Tue, June 23, 2020 15:00 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660f7669 2 World South-Korea,North-Korea,Korean-war,inter-Korean,bilateral-spat,bilateral-tension Free
From a veteran wounded in combat to a conscripted grandson, three generations of a South Korean family illustrate changing views of the North and the Korean War, 70 years after it began.
The conflict broke out in June 1950 and ended three years later, with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, after the two sides and their allies fought each other to a standstill.
The two Koreas remain technically at war to this day, with the Demilitarized Zone that forms their border often referred to as the world's last Cold War frontier.
The veteran and grandfather
Yang Tae-sung, 89, vividly remembers the summer day when North Korea invaded.
Already a soldier, he was returning from leave on June 25, 1950, when he was rushed from the train station to the battlefield north of Seoul.
The South's ill-equipped military had been utterly unprepared for war, Yang recalls, with only around 103,000 soldiers and not a single tank.
In comparison, the Soviet-backed Korean People's Army had nearly twice as many troops, supported by hundreds of tanks, fighter jets and warships.
Yang supplied ammunition to frontline troops and experienced the full brutality of war, his left thigh bearing the scars of when enemy fighter jets bombed his unit, killing a close friend.
"When I regained consciousness after the shelling, I saw blood streaming out of him," Yang said. "Pieces of the shells had gone right through his stomach and out the other side."
And he is still haunted by the memory of an injured soldier whose wound had been infested with maggots.
Yang said he hoped for a peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula -- under Seoul's rule -- but remains wary of the communist North, which has "time and again violated inter-Korean agreements".
Seoul must always be prepared for another invasion, he said, after a conflict that killed millions of people on both sides.
"The post-war generation don't know just how fierce and devastating the Korean War was."
The son
Born six years after the ceasefire, Yang Kyung-mo grew up at the height of the Cold War, when the North still mounted occasional attacks on the South.
"From a young age, I was taught that North Korea was absolutely evil," said the 61-year-old.
He was nine when Pyongyang sent a squad of commandos to try to assassinate then South Korean president Park Chung-hee. They were stopped in a gun battle that left dozens dead on both sides.
Six years later Pyongyang mounted another failed attempt to assassinate Park, with a North Korean sympathizer from Japan this time killing the South's first lady during a Liberation Day ceremony.
Yang remembers taking part in regular rallies against Pyongyang in elementary school, and training in military uniform as a high-school student.
But while he understands the "lifelong trauma" his father's generation suffers, he considers their aspirations for reunification "pointless".
"I don't think any good would come from the collapse of the North Korean regime," he said.
The grandson
Yang Hee-kon has never been very interested in his grandfather's war stories. And until he had to enlist in the army for his mandatory military service, his awareness of the Korean War came largely through movies or TV series.
All able-bodied South Korean men are obliged to serve in the military for nearly two years, making up the bulk of Seoul's 600,000-strong forces -- smaller than North Korea's combined forces of 1.3 million.
While he was enlisted, Yang, now 30, found himself stationed in the Demilitarized Zone.
"As I moved further into where there is no one living to finally reach the barbed wire fences, I could feel it," Yang said.
"Once I was in the field, the situation felt real."
During his two years in the military, the North sank a Southern warship and shelled a border island, sparking concerns of a bigger armed conflict.
"It was like war was right in front of our noses," he said. "I felt a sense of duty."
But back in the civilian world, Yang says, his interest in reunification has diminished.
Younger South Koreans tend to have less connection with the nuclear-armed North, having spent their adult lives in a culturally vibrant democracy regularly menaced and occasionally attacked by Pyongyang.
"I don't think that deeply about inter-Korean relations," Yang added.
"In the past I used to be very optimistic but now I think unconditional reunification could be bad realistically and economically."
Outspoken politician Mark Latham has blasted a professional development course for preschool teachers which includes modules centered around 'non-binary living' and 'queer thinking'.
The controversial former Labor leader who is now in charge of New South Wales' One Nation Party described the training as 'political indoctrination'.
He is now planning to introduce a private member's bill in state parliament to ban the promotion of gender fluidity in schools.
New South Wales One Nation leader Mark Latham (pictured) has blasted a professional development course for preschool teachers which includes modules centered around 'non-binary living' and 'queer thinking'
'It is pure social engineering with very young children taught things that should be left to discussion with their parents later in life,' Mr Latham told the Daily Telegraph.
'What they are trying to run here is a political indoctrination camp for three and four year olds.'
Back in January 2019, The New South Wales Education Standards Authority granted the education consultancy company, Multiverse, accreditation to teach early childhood educator courses in areas such as painting, drawing and storytelling.
The New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) said they are now examining the accreditation process to determine whether the course is outside the company's mandate.
'(We are) investigating to confirm that the course referred to meets the requirements of Multiverse's endorsement as a provider of NESA-registered professional development,' a NESA spokeswoman said yesterday.
The course in question is titled, 'My Friend Has Two Mums: Gender Sexuality in Early Childhood'.
The $220 course, taught through a secret 'safe space' Facebook group, includes modules such as Queer Thinking in Early Childhood, A Transgender Early Childhood Educator, Living Non-Binary and Aboriginal Queerness and Queeness.
The course in question is titled: 'My Friend Has Two Mums: Gender Sexuality in Early Childhood' (stock image)
Despite the criticism, Multiverse says it's merely adjusting to modern times and seeking to educate pre-school teachers about inclusivity.
'As society changes, the issues we face in early childhood change,' Multiverse says on their website.
'Things we may have never thought of impacting on our work, now do. Things like sexuality and gender.
'Our services are now working with children who identify with a different gender, with same sex parents, with openly gay and lesbian educators.
And, importantly how we deal with these issues are part of the National Quality Standard!'
About 30 early-age educators have taken the course.
My point is that when the weekdays blend into the weekends, there seems to be little reason to change out of those three-day jeans. It has also been a weird time when we women watch our gray roots grow out, go without getting our teeth cleaned, dont wear makeup or lipstick (whats the point, behind a mask?) and dont have the experience of primping for an important board meeting, or night out.
The majority of Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Kumasi Metropolis, have been provided with a variety of protective items as schools reopen for final and second-year Gold Track students on Monday, June 22.
They included nose masks and hand sanitizers to be distributed freely to the arriving students to enhance their safety in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each student is supposed to receive two reusable nose masks and hand sanitizers after going through the requisite health screening protocols in line with the governments measures to stem the spread of the virus.
A visit to some of the Schools by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Osei Assibey-Antwi, accompanied by educational and health experts, saw strict adherence to the protocols as the arriving students had their body temperature taken before being allowed entry into the school premises.
They included Opoku Ware, Asanteman, St. Hubert and Kumasi Senior and Technical high schools.
Schools across the country had since March 15, been closed after the country recorded its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases about three months ago.
Mr. Assibey-Antwi, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Kumasi, lauded the educational institutions for their observance of the instituted safety guidelines.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, he said, was committed to ensuring that every school was provided with the protective items, saying, the Assembly was working in partnership with the relevant authorities to create a harmonious environment for the students to learn.
The Reverend Father Owusu Sekyere, Headmaster of Opoku Ware SHS, said a total of 1, 967 students were expected to arrive in the course of the week.
The final year students, he said, would be in school for six weeks before sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
Source: GNA
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jun. 23
By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:
The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Italy amounted to $3.5 billion over first four months of 2020 compared to $3.3 billion during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee.
The share of Italy in total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover was 12.5 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 11.6 percent during the same period of 2019.
Kazakhstans export to Italy amounted to $3.2 billion over the period from January through April 2020 compared to $2.9 billion during the same period of 2019.
Italys share in total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to 17.6 percent during the reporting period of 2020, compared to 16 percent during the same period of 2019.
In turn, Kazakhstans import from Italy amounted to $289.1 million over the reporting period compared to $384.5 million during the same period of 2019.
Italys total share in Kazakhstans import was 2.9 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 3.7 percent during the same period of 2019.
Total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover amounted to $28.1 billion over the period from Jan. through Apr. 2020 which indicates a decrease from $28.8 billion during the same period of 2019.
Kazakhstans export amounted to $18.3 billion during the reporting period of 2020 ($18.5 billion in the same period of 2019), whereas import amounted to $9.8 billion ($10.3 billion).
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Losses following COVID-19 caused Zara's parent company Inditex to close many of its fashion shops, and both Vietnamese Zara outlets could be included.
Zara's outlet in Ba Trieu street, Hanoi
Entering Vietnam four years ago, Zara has been present in the local market with two outlets, one in Ho Chi Minh City and another in the capital of Hanoi. Both are located at favourable locations which, in turn, also is reflected by high monthly rents of hundreds of millions of US dollars. During Vietnam's national social distancing nearly two months ago, both stores had no choice but to interrupt operation, which resulted in unavoidable damage to the outlets' revenue.
As soon as this year's initial losses were reported, Inditex Zara's Spanish parent company decided to shut down around 1,200 stores across the globe in the next two years, equalling 16 per cent of its total retail points. The decision also includes some of Inditex' other fashion brands, such as Bersha, Pull&Bear, and Massimo Dutti.
The Spanish group announced to particularly close those shops that were performing inefficiently, with the restructuring aiming to accumulate profits from the more profitable establishments as well as its online vendors.
In the period between February and April, Inditex recorded a deficit of over $460 million and a net profit of just under $830 million.
Meanwhile, the group has made plans to invest around $1.13 billion into building up its online shopping platform in the next three years.
Moreover, Inditex will also invest another $1.92 billion to upgrade its integrated digital platforms in its store system. Accordingly, the company's physical outlets will be both, distributors for its online business and places for customers to come in and enjoy a direct shopping experience.
Last year, Inditex's online business occupied about 14 per cent of its total revenue. The group expects the proportion to grow to 25 per cent in 2022. In April alone the peak of COVID-19 in many countries saw its online sales spiked to around 95 per cent.
Despite planning to shut down a large number of its physical stores, Inditex asserted that the number of its staff will remain stable, with some of them moving to other departments and others being responsible for the online shopping arm. VIR
Van Anh
They tied the knot at Whithurst Park in a lavish ceremony back in 2018.
And two years on, Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor returned to the venue, this time as proud new parents.
The Made In Chelsea stars visited the estate Tuesday for the second anniversary of their big day, but this time with seven-week-old daughter, Sienna.
Family: They tied the knot at Whithurst Park in a lavish ceremony back in 2018. And two years on, Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor returned to the venue, this time as proud new parents
Posing on the front steps, the couple recreated their wedding snaps, but with their adorable daughter in tow.
New mum Millie, 30, looked radiant in a white blouse teamed with skinny jeans and trainers.
The reality starlet cradled daughter Sienna in her arms and leaned forward to pucker up to Hugo, who looked dapper in navy top and cream shorts.
Sharing the sweet snap on Instagram, Millie penned: 'Standing on the steps where we said I do feels even more special now we have you'.
Bridal bliss: Millie and Hugo tied the knot in an elaborate ceremony at Whithurst Park - which is owned by Hugo's uncle - in front of their nearest and dearest on June 22, 2018
Millie and Hugo tied the knot in an elaborate ceremony at Whithurst Park on June 22, 2018, but had their intimate official wedding service at Chelsea Town Hall earlier in the month.
For the grand ceremony, Millie enlisted celebrated London designer Kate, who also crafted Emilia Fox's wedding dress, to create her bespoke, off-the-shoulder lace gown.
On May 1, Millie and Hugo welcomed their first child, daughter Sienna Grace.
Twice as nice: Prior to their ceremony at the Sussex estate, Mille and Hugo had their intimate official wedding service at Chelsea Town Hall
Speaking to HELLO! magazine, the blogger gushed she's 'on cloud nine' following the birth.
She also praised sunglasses entrepreneur Hugo for being present during labour amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused most hospitals in the UK to allow only one birthing partner.
Revealing they settled on Sienna Grace's name 'months' before the birth, Millie added of their first weeks of parenthood: 'We're on cloud nine; it's gone so quickly.'
She continued: 'We've been in our little love bubble at home, cherishing those newborn moments, whether that's her sleeping on me or just lapping up all the cuteness.
'Time has gone so quickly. She is so adorable, even down to the little noises she makes.'
Hugo added: 'Sienna has turned our world upside down. It's like first love all over again that wondrous feeling of excitement, joy and endless possibility for the future. I can't wait to watch her grow.'
Regrouping after a humbling weekend rally, President Donald Trump faces another test of his ability to draw a crowd during a pandemic Tuesday as he visits Arizona and tries to remind voters of one of his key 2016 campaign promises.
Trumps weekend rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had been meant to be a sign of the nations reopening and a show of political force but instead generated thousands of empty seats and swirling questions about the presidents campaign leadership and his case for another four years in office. The low turnout has sharpened the focus on Trumps visit to Arizona, which doubles as both a 2020 battleground state and a surging coronavirus hotspot.
First, the president will travel to Yuma to mark the construction of more than 200 miles of wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue that he built his campaign on four years ago. Later, he'll address a group of young Republicans at a Phoenix megachurch, where event organizers have pledged thousands will attend.
Throughout the trip, the COVID-19 pandemic will shadow Trump. The Democratic mayor of Phoenix made clear that she does not believe the speech can be safely held in her city and urged the president to wear a face mask.
Everyone attending tomorrows event, particularly any elected official, should set an example to residents by wearing a mask, said Mayor Kate Gallego. This includes the President.
Trump has refused to wear a mask in public, instead turning it into a red-vs.-blue cultural issue. Polling suggests that Republican are far less likely to wear a face covering than Democrats despite health experts warnings that it dramatically reduces the risk of transmitting the virus.
The Students for Trump event will be held at the Dream City Church and broadcast to groups across the nation. It is being hosted by Turning Point USA, a group founded by Trump ally Charlie Kirk. Organizers said health and safety measures still were being finalized and it was not clear if attendees would be asked to wear masks or keep socially distant.
Since late May, Arizona has emerged as one of the nations most active hotspots for the spread of COVID-19. Use of hospitals, intensive care units and ventilators has set daily records over the past week.
Photos of restaurants and bars crowded with unmasked patrons ignited controversy. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, a Trump supporter, reversed himself last week and allowed cities and counties to require people to wear masks in public places. Most have, including Phoenix and Yuma and the counties that surround them.
Arizona is seeing disturbing trends in several benchmarks, including the percentage of tests that prove positive for the virus, which is the highest in the nation.
The states positive test rate is at a seven-day average of 20.4%, well above the national average of 8.4% and the 10% level that public health officials say is a problem.
Campaign officials are still assessing the fallout from low turnout in Tulsa amid concern about the virus.
Campaign officials stressed that rallies would remain a staple of the presidents reelection strategy but allowed that they may, in certain states, need to change slightly. Discussions were under way about having them in more modest venues or outdoors, perhaps in airplane hangers and amphitheaters, or in smaller cities away from likely protesters.
But officials believe that Trumps ability to draw thousands of supporters out during a pandemic sets up a favorable contrasting image with Democratic rival Joe Biden. Still, the campaign has struggled to find effective attack lines on Biden.
Biden, like Trump, has had struggles with young voters but the former vice presidents campaign has expressed hope that the national protests against racial injustice may change that.
Trumps visit to the Phoenix megachurch will come on the same day that Pence kicks off a faith-centered tour, highlighting the central position that religious conservatives - particularly white evangelicals, but also right-leaning Catholics - continue to occupy in the presidents base. Yet even as Trumps campaign overtly courts religious voters, there are signs of softening support among voting blocs the president cant afford to lose.
A poll released earlier this month by the nonprofit Public Religion Research Institute found that the share of white Catholics viewing Trump favorably had fallen by double digits since last year, measuring 37% in the last week of May compared with 49% across 2019. The same poll found Trumps favorability among white evangelicals at 62% in May, a level comparable to 2019s but 15% less than it was in March.
Trump's focus on construction of his long-promised border wall also is meant to shore up support with his most loyal supporters.
His administration has promised to build 450 miles by the end of the year, but thats not very likely. The government has awarded more than $6.1 billion in construction contracts since April 2019 for various projects along the border. It has also waived procurement rules that critics say make the process of awarding multi-million dollar contracts secretive and opaque.
The White House this month floated a theory that travel from Mexico may be contributing to a new wave of coronavirus infections, rather than states efforts to reopen their economies. It was not clear that the evidence supports the theory.
Trumps first visit to the border in more than a year comes a day after another hardline immigration move. The Trump administration said Monday that it was 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.
The administration cast the effort as a way to free up jobs in an economy reeling from the coronavirus.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Basic Custom Duty (BCD), announced in Union Budget, to be implemented from August
It will replace 15% safeguard duty (SGD), set to expire on July 29, 2020
India dependent on China for 80-90% of solar equipment, only has 8GW module making capacity
PFC, REC, IREDA to offer cheap loans for projects with domestic equipment
Government to vet proposals for investment from countries that share borders with India
India is planning to impose a 20 per cent Basic Custom Duty (BCD) on solar modules, solar cells and solar inverters from August, with a view to discourage imports from China. Now solar equipment importers have to pay a 15 per cent safeguard duty (SGD), which is set to expire on July 29, 2020.
At present India is dependent mainly on China for 80-90 percent of the solar equipment required for meeting the ambitious target of 100 GW of solar energy by 2022. Of the $1.5 billion worth of solar equipment imported by India in the first nine months of FY20, $1.2 billion was from China.
India had imposed a 25 per cent SGD on solar imports from China and Malaysia to boost domestic manufacturing for a year from August, 2018, but was reduced to 20 per cent from July 2019 to January 2020 and then to 15 per cent from January, this year. Imposing Basic Custom Duty (BCD) on solar equipment was announced in the latest Union Budget, but the government was yet to clarify when it will be enforced.
India's domestic solar equipment manufacturers led by companies like Adani Solar, Vikram Solar, Waare Energy, Tata Power Solar, etc have a current installed module manufacturing (the main component of solar equipment) capacity close to 8 gigawatts (GW), but most have spare manufacturing capacity. Most of the projects on ground so far in India are based on imports from China. It is not economically viable for most developers to switch to other countries as they have bid for projects on the basis of the Chinese module cost structure, say sources.
Solar panels imported from China costs less, about $0.16-0.20 per watt, compared to domestic modules ($0.25-0.28/watt) or those from Korea ($0.22-0.24). Apart from China, Southeast Asian nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Korea can supply modules. Once the BCD is enforced, imports from these countries also will become costlier.
Union Power Minister RK Singh on Tuesday told industry representatives that a clear trajectory of BCD would be declared so that there is no uncertainty about government policy. Further, the approved list of models and manufacturers in respect of Renewable Energy will be made effective from October 1, this year. This is to ensure that all solar power projects which are bid out as per the standard bidding guidelines will be required to procure solar cells and solar modules and other equipment from manufacturers figuring in the approved list. In addition, financing from Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) will be structured in such a manner that lower rates of interest will be charged on the developers who will use domestically manufactured equipment.
Further, the recently constituted FDI Cell and a Project Development Cell in the Ministries of Power and NRE will vet proposals for investment from countries that shares borders with India. The Project Development Cell will hand-hold in investible projects so that the process of investment is accelerated. The practice of issuing concessional custom certificates for certain import items in the RE sector will be discontinued from a date that will be specified separately.
The Power Minister pointed out that from the data on item-wise quantum of imports in power sector given by Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence (DGCI), Department of Commerce, it is seen that many equipment like transmission line towers, conductors, industrial electronics, capacitors, transformers, cables, and insulators and fittings, etc., in respect of which domestic manufacturing capacity exists, are still being imported. The Indian industry should not import any equipment, materials and goods in respect of which there is sufficient domestic capacity, the Minister said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend:
Exports of mining industry products from Turkey to Qatar grew by 8.69 percent from January through May 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, having surpassed $7.5 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on June 23.
In May 2020, exports of mining products from Turkey to Qatar plunged by 47.89 percent compared to May 2019 and made up slightly over $1.1 million.
In the first 5 months of 2020, the export of mining products from Turkey to the world market dropped by 15.1 percent compared to the same period of 2019, having stood at $1.5 billion. In this period, Turkeys export of mining products made up 2.5 percent of the countrys total exports.
In May 2020, Turkey exported $272.7 million worth of mining products to the foreign markets, which is 40.5 percent less compared to the same month of last year. Thus, the countrys export of mining products accounted for 2.7 percent of its total exports in the reporting month.
According to the ministry, from May 2019 through May 2020, Turkey exported over $4 million worth of mining industry products to the international markets.
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The coronavirus cases across the world crossed the nine million-mark on Monday, with the United States still sitting on top in terms of the number of cases.
Covid-19, the respiratory disease which Sars-CoV-2 virus causes, was first reported in Chinas Wuhan in December last year and has since spread rapidly across the globe. From China, Covid-19 severely affected the United States and Europe; in fact, in the United States leads the world with the highest number of infections, at about 2.4 million or 25 per cent of all reported cases.
Latin American countries like Brazil, Peru and Mexico are now the new emerging hotspots of the disease. Brazil is at number 2 with over five lakh cases of the disease.
Worryingly, World Health Organisation (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the virus is still accelerating. The global health body recorded 1,83,000 new cases of Covid-19 - its largest single-day increase.
Global spread
New York City residents, gradually emerging from more than 100 days of coronavirus lockdown, celebrated an easing of social-distancing restrictions on Monday by shopping at reopened stores, dining at outdoor cafes and getting their first haircuts in months. New York accounts for 1,20,000 infections - or more than a quarter of all US fatalities - till date.
China reported 22 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 13 in Beijing. Current numbers of confirmed cases in treatment rose by 10 to 359, while another 114 people were in isolation and being monitored for being suspected cases or having tested positive for the virus without showing any symptoms. China has reported 4,634 deaths from the virus among 83,418 total cases .
Italy, the European country to be hit the hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic, added another 218 coronavirus infections on Monday, indicating how the virus is still circulating in the one-time European epicentre. Hard-hit Lombardy again counted most of the new infections with 143.
The UK reported its lowest daily Covid-19 death toll since mid-March, health officials said on Monday. The British government has launched a weekly testing regime using a no-swab saliva test. It is being tried out in southern England and could result in a simpler and quicker way to detect outbreaks of the virus.
Toronto in Canada will allow businesses to reopen starting on Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said.
Health authorities in South Korea said for the first time it is in the midst of a second wave of novel coronavirus infections around Seoul.
People in Saudi Arabia ventured out on Sunday night for the first time in three months to celebrate the end of a nationwide curfew.
Situation in India
The number of coronavirus disease cases in India reached 4,40,215 on Tuesday. The country recorded 312 fatalities in the last 24 hours, taking the Covid-19 death toll in the country to 14,011.
Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday that the governments decisive enforcement of nationwide lockdown ensured Covid-19 deaths were low in the country. Despite having 17 per cent of the worlds population, Indias Covid-19 deaths was at a low of three per cent when compared to the global numbers, he said. Goyal also said that Indias recovery rate of 55 per cent is amongst the highest.
Maharashtra continues to top the table of the number of Covid-19 cases. The state has recorded 1,35,796 cases and 6,283 deaths due to the disease - the highest in the country. The Union health ministry update on Tuesday morning showed that Delhi has come at the second spot in terms of the total number of cases, beating Tamil Nadu.
The ministry had said on Monday that Indias Covid-19 cases per lakh population are among the lowest in the world. For every one lakh population, there are 30.04 coronavirus cases in India, while the global average is over three times at 114.67, the ministry said, referring to the WHO Situation Report 153, dated June 21.
Citing the WHO Situation Report, the ministry said the US has 671.24 cases per lakh population, while Germany, Spain, Brazil and the UK have 583.88, 526.22, 489.42 and 448.86 cases per lakh population, respectively.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:49:56|Editor: huaxia
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AMMAN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's under-control epidemiological situation will serve the country economically recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, while the losses would still take a long time to be addressed, according to Jordanian experts and officials.
After more than two months' closure of almost all sectors due to the coronavirus, Jordan opened up most of the businesses and eased movement restrictions in early June to lessen the burdens. However, challenges remain.
"We were negatively affected by the coronavirus, and several sectors were severely hit such as the tourism sector, but we have also introduced programs to help the private sector," Jordan's Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said during a press conference early June.
A recent report from Jordanian Central Bank shows that Jordan's tourism revenue has dropped by 36.6% in the first four months of 2020, with only 784 million dinars (around 1,120 million U.S. dollars).
Bordering conflict-torn Syria and Iraq, as well as lacking the oil wealth, Jordan vows to revive the economic engine of the tourism industry, which contributes around 10% of its GDP and maintains more than 55,000 employees in the industry.
Under the new decisions, sales tax on the tourism sector was reduced from 16 percent to 8 percent, and the Jordanian government allocated 150 million dinars as financing programs to help the tourism establishments.
Besides, some of the significant challenges Jordan will still face in the next stage are negative economic growth and high-level unemployment rates, according to experts.
Between mid-March and mid-May 2020, around 40 percent of people in Jordan lost their businesses or jobs completely, according to a study by the Jordanian Phenix Centre for Economics and Informatics Studies.
"Unemployment rate is expected to exceed 20 percent in the second half of 2020...It will be a major problem accompanied by poverty increasing," Mazen Marji, an economist and former expert at the Investment Promotion Commission, told Xinhua.
Also, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expected that Jordan's economy would contract by 3.7 percent in 2020.
To minimize the losses, the government launched a fund worth 700 million U.S. dollars to support small and medium-sized businesses with soft loans.
In parallel, the return of many Jordanians from the Gulf countries and a decline in government revenues caused by a drop in domestic consumption, will force the government to resort to more borrowing.
Jordan has recently signed a new agreement with the IMF to borrow 400 million U.S. dollars.
"Jordanian state budget deficit will widen by an additional 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2020," Jordan's Minister of Finance Mohammad Al Ississ told Xinhua in a recent interview.
Experts believe more measures are needed.
"There is an urgent demand to reduce the sales tax on all sectors to drive more consumption, which can also generate more revenues," Marji said.
Jordanian economic columnist and analyst Khaled Zubaidi told Xinhua that China's Belt and Road Initiative could support Jordan in economic recovery in the short term. He proposed broadening and accelerating infrastructure-related projects, as they will provide abundant job opportunities.
Amjad Issa, a political analyst at the Jordan Press Foundation, told Xinhua that Jordan should attract more patients from Arab countries for medical tourism, where has always been a hub for such services.
"Besides, Jordan requires to draft a long-term economic plan for recovery and appeal for international support as it is still hosting more than 657,000 Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations," Issa said. Enditem
McDonalds plans to hire about 470 workers in Albuquerque this summer as part of a massive nationwide hiring surge, according to a news release.
The company plans to hire about 260,000 employees across the country as the economy slowly reawakens after months of virus-related closures.
The company offers a tuition assistance program for employees who have been on the job 90 days at least 15 hours a week, the release said. Job seekers can visit mcdonalds.com/careers or text worksforme to 36453.
Western Australia's health minister has slammed 'disgraceful' comments made by a prominent doctor who likened the state's border controls to Nazi Germany.
The stoush came as WA recorded two new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, both from returned overseas travellers who are in hotel quarantine.
WA now has four active cases following one recovery overnight.
Infectious diseases specialist Clay Golledge (pictured), a notable critic of the government throughout the coronavirus pandemic, has likened likened the state's border controls to Nazi Germany
Labelling Mr McGowan a 'messianic megalomaniac', Dr Golledge suggested the premier was using the crisis to gain political traction (Royal Australian Navy personnel stop drivers at a checkpoint on the Forrest Highway in WA)
Infectious diseases specialist Clay Golledge, a notable critic of the government throughout the coronavirus pandemic, lashed out at Premier Mark McGowan after he declined to name a date for reopening the interstate borders.
Labelling Mr McGowan a 'messianic megalomaniac', Dr Golledge suggested the premier was using the crisis to gain political traction.
'Good people can be brainwashed in to believing the spin. We saw an extreme example of this in Germany in 1933,' he posted on Twitter.
Health Minister Roger Cook said Dr Golledge, a senior doctor at Perth's Hollywood Private Hospital, should apologise.
'I find those tweets deeply offensive, not only to myself and the premier but also to all those people for whom it touches upon very personal issues,' he told reporters on Tuesday.
'This is a serious matter. We're here through the pandemic trying to save lives and trying to save jobs and really, it's disgraceful that Dr Golledge should belittle that debate by making these sort of comments that are deeply offensive.'
The infectious diseases specialist lashed out at Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) after he declined to name a date for reopening the interstate borders
Mr Cook said he was troubled by the fact that Dr Golledge was also an advisor to the AFL on infectious diseases, as negotiations continued between the league and the government on a potential hub in Western Australia.
'I would seriously reconsider seeking his advice on this issue,' he said.
The premier on Monday revealed his government had been planning to reopen the interstate borders from August 8.
But an outbreak in Victoria, where there has been significant community transmission, has led WA to abandon any border changes for now.
All other coronavirus restrictions within WA will be removed from July 18, paving the way for capacity crowds of up to 60,000 when AFL games return to Optus Stadium.
'These are obviously really exciting developments and very important ones but with this reward comes a great deal of responsibility,' Mr Cook said.
'It's important that Western Australians continue to make sure that they observe physical distancing, make sure that we do all these things which have made us successful.'
(CNN) Markus Braun, the Austrian tech entrepreneur who built Wirecard into one of Germany's biggest companies, has been arrested after a $2.1 billion hole exploded in its accounts.
Munich prosecutors confirmed Tuesday that Braun, Wirecard's former CEO, was arrested on suspicion of having inflated the digital payment company's balance sheet and sales through fake transactions in order to make it more attractive to investors and customers. Prosecutors said that Braun may have acted in cooperation with other perpetrators.
Braun will be released from custody Tuesday on bail of 5 million ($5.7 million), prosecutors said.
Wirecard acknowledged on Monday that 1.9 billion ($2.1 billion) in cash included in financial statements or roughly a quarter of its assets probably never existed in the first place. The company withdrew its preliminary results for 2019, the first quarter of 2020 and its profit forecast for 2020.
The scandal erupted last week when Wirecard said that its auditor, EY, could not locate the funds in trust accounts and refused to sign off on the company's financial results. The fallout is raising questions over how the company's regulators and auditors could have missed accounting irregularities that are already drawing comparisons to Enron, the American energy giant that filed for bankruptcy in 2001.
Braun resigned as CEO on Friday, suggesting the company may have been the victim of a massive fraud. Jan Marsalek, a board member and chief operating officer at Wirecard, was fired on Monday.
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.
Braun, who also served as Wirecard's chief technology officer, had led the company since 2002. The former KPMG consultant is the company's largest shareholder, with holdings of just over 7%, according to data from Refinitiv.
Wirecard grew quickly with Braun at the helm. The company reported revenues of over 2 billion ($2.2 billion) in 2018, or more than four times the figure from 2013. Shares hit an all-time high above 190 ($213) in September 2018, the same month Wirecard replaced Commerzbank in Germany's list of top 30 companies. At that point, it was worth more than 24 billion ($26.9 billion).
The company now faces an existential crisis. A frantic search for the missing money ran into a dead end over the weekend in the Philippines, where the central bank denied the cash had entered the country's financial system. The company's shares plummeted on Monday, extending a crash that wiped 85% off its share price over three trading sessions. Wirecard ended the day with a market value of 1.7 billion ($1.9 billion).
Wirecard is scrambling to keep creditors at bay, a task that could be complicated by the arrest of its former CEO. The company said late Friday that it had hired investment bank Houlihan Lokey to come up with a new financing strategy.
'Total disaster'
German finance minister Olaf Scholz described the scandal as "extremely worrying" on Tuesday, saying the country must act quickly to improve oversight of companies such as Wirecard. "Critical questions arise over the supervision of the company, especially with regards to accounting and balance sheet control. Auditors and supervisory bodies do not seem to have been effective here," Scholz said in a statement.
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, or BaFin, said last week that it is actively investigating whether Wirecard violated rules against market manipulation. But Felix Hufeld, who leads the regulator and sits on the European Central Bank's supervisory board, described the scandal as a "total disaster."
"It is a scandal that something like this could happen," Hufeld said, in comments that were reported by Reuters and confirmed by the regulator.
The implosion follows a tumultuous 18 months for the company punctuated by allegations of fraud, attacks by short sellers and questions over its accounting practices.
The success story began to unravel in January 2019, when the Financial Times reported that Wirecard forged and backdated contracts in a string of suspicious transactions in Singapore. The company denied the report, which was produced with the help of a whistleblower, but its shares plummeted. In February 2019, authorities in Singapore said they would investigate.
Another blow landed late last year, when the FT published a report and company documents suggesting that profits and sales had been inflated at Wirecard outposts in Dubai and Ireland. Wirecard again denied the allegations. But an investigation by KPMG published in April found the company had not provided enough information to fully explain issues raised by the FT.
Braun explained his decision to quit last week in a letter to employees and shareholders.
"The confidence of the capital market in the company I have been managing for 18 years has been deeply shaken ... I respect the fact that responsibility for all business transactions lies with the CEO," said Braun.
"The confidence of the capital market in the company I have been managing for 18 years has been deeply shaken ... I respect the fact that responsibility for all business transactions lies with the CEO," said Braun.
Mark Thompson, Eoin McSweeney and Chris Liakos contributed reporting.
This story was first published on CNN.com "Wirecard's former CEO Markus Braun arrested after $2 billion scandal explodes."
By ANI
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said leading voices of the world must be exemplars in "every way" and they need to respect international law while recognising the interests of partners, in comments seen as a veiled criticism of China.
Jaishankar's remarks in presence of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at an online conference of Russia-India-China trilateral came in the midst of an escalating border row between India and China following killing of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley clash.
Last week, India termed the killing of Indian soldiers a "premeditated and planned action" by the Chinese troops.
"This special meeting reiterates our belief in the time-tested principles of international relations.
But the challenge today is not just one of concepts and norms, but equally of their practice," Jaishankar said.
"The leading voices of the world must be exemplars in every way. Respecting international law, recognising the legitimate interests of partners, supporting multilateralism and promoting common good are the only way of building a durable world order," he added.
The external affairs minister's comments are seen as an indirect message to China which has been adopting an aggressive posturing along its land boundary with India besides increasing its activities in the Indian Ocean region.
In his initial remarks, Jaishankar also said that India did not get its due recognition in the global order post World War II and that the historical injustice remained "uncorrected" for the last 75 years.
"When the victors met to fashion the ensuing global order, the political circumstances of that era did not give India due recognition.
"This historical injustice has stood uncorrected for the last 75 years, even as the world has changed," he said.
Therefore, he said, it was important for the world to realise both the contribution that India made and the need to rectify the past.
The external affairs minister also spoke about the need for reforming the United Nations so that it can represent the current reality of the globe.
"But beyond history, international affairs must also come to terms with contemporary reality. The United Nations began with 50 members; today it has 193. Surely, its decision making cannot continue to be in denial of this fact," he said.
"We, the RIC countries, have been active participants in shaping the global agenda. It is India's hope that we will also now converge on the value of reformed multilateralism," Jaishankar added.
He said India made significant sacrifices in the World War II which needed to be recognised.
"The victory over Nazism and Fascism was achieved through sacrifices across many theatres by many countries. India made a significant contribution, with 2.3 million of its citizens under arms and 14 million more participating in war production," he said.
"Indian blood was shed at the battlefields of the world, from Tobruk, El Alamein and Montecassino, to Singapore, Kohima and Borneo," the minister added.
He said India helped to keep key supply lines open to both Russia and China - one through the Persian corridor and the other over the Himalayan hump.
"If Indian personnel were conferred the Order of the Red Star, the medical mission led by Dr Kotnis was a legend in China. So tomorrow, when our military contingent marches through the Red Square, it would be an affirmation of the difference that we made," he said.
Russia is organising a grand military parade on Wednesday to mark 75th anniversary of Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War.
In the mid-2000s, it was fashionable among journalists and academics to worry that America was on the verge of becoming a theocracy. Conservative white evangelicals had fueled the election of George W. Bush and helped turn Mel Gibsons The Passion of the Christ into a box-office smash. They seemed poised for renewed political and cultural dominance. And so books and articles poured forth warnings about the peculiar dangers of Dominionism, Christian Reconstructionism, and various other movements conspiring to impose Christian beliefs on an unsuspecting populace.
This narrative came crashing down with the election of Barack Obama. Almost overnight, fears of America descending into a theocracy evaporated. Pundits began forecasting the death of the Religious Right, and the same evangelicals who had helped propel Bush to power spent the next eight years playing defense. More and more, they saw themselves not as ascendant governing partners but as targets of a crusading secularism.
And then Donald Trump broke everything. His surprising election, enabled in part by white evangelical support, reawakened fears that religious conservatives would mobilize underneath a theocratic banner. Margaret Atwoods 1985 novel The Handmaids Tale, which imagines a fundamentalist dystopia where women are forced to breed, enjoyed a second life repurposed as a Trump-era cautionary tale (and a hit Hulu series).
Yet the idea of America descending into a genuine theocracy lacked the same surface plausibility it had during the Bush years. Though white evangelicals enthusiastically carried Trump into the White House, his lack of personal piety made him an unlikely candidate to preside over a thoroughly Christianized ...
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Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said police overtime costs stemming from coverage of nightly protests that sometimes result in violent clashes outside the Justice Center has cost the bureau at least $6.2 million as the city enters the 27th consecutive day of protests against police brutality and systemic racism in response to the killing of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man killed when an officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Lovell called the thousands who converge to peacefully protest in the city an awesome statement of unity for transformational change.'
But he said those who have thrown objects at police guarding the Justice Center, attempted to cut through a fence out front or set fires in different parts of the city have required police to turn their focus from answering emergency calls in the city and led to delays in police responses to some of those calls.
This is not the police service we strive for or the community expects. Other important work is delayed as officers and investigators are unable to provide follow-up on critical cases because they are re-assigned to the evening events,' he wrote in a prepared statement Tuesday.
He called the more than $6.2 million in police costs a staggering sum, especially when we know many of us would rather those funds be used for the reinvestment so many truly desire.'
To move forward, we must shift our focus and resources into productive collaboration and actions alongside the community,' Lovell wrote. We cannot do this effectively if the nightly criminal acts and violence continue to pose instability and threat to our community and critical infrastructure.'
Lovell said the multi-million dollar figure did not include straight time paid to police officers or civilian bureau employees who are working, or other material, services or repair costs resulting from any damage. The Police Bureau hasnt responded yet to an Oregonian/OregonLive public records request for total police hours worked and overtime costs.
Civil rights advocates have criticized the police response to protests, arguing that officers have indiscriminately fired tear gas and less-lethal munitions at demonstrators and journalists attempting to follow their dispersal orders.
The nonprofit Dont Shoot Portland has filed a federal suit against the city, seeking to curtail the Police Bureaus use of stun gun grenades, sponge-tipped projectiles and CS gas on peaceful demonstrators. The nonprofit won a temporary restraining order that restricts Portland police use of tear gas through July 24, but is now seeking a broader preliminary injunction that would bar other police less-lethal munitions. A two-day hearing is set for July 16.
The Portland Police Bureau, like police departments all over the country, has responded with indiscriminate, unchecked, and unconstitutional violence against protesters,' attorney J. Ashlee Albies wrote on behalf of Dont Shoot Portland, in an amended complaint.
After the temporary restraining order was granted, Albies argued that the Police Bureau " changed tactics, and now use a variety of so-called less lethal weapons indiscriminately against plaintiffs in its continued effort to silence speech.'
The chiefs comments also come less than a week after the City Council voted to remove up to $27 million from the Police Bureaus 2020-2021 fiscal budget. The council directed the Police Bureau to eliminate the bureaus school resource officer program, the Gun Violence Reduction Unit and pull its officers out of the multi-agency Transit Division.
There may be those who will attempt to blame PPB for spending millions during a time when there are calls to cut the Police Bureaus budget,' Lovell wrote.
Citing vandalism to businesses downtown that occurred on May 29 and fires set downtown, Lovell wrote that businesses have suffered millions of dollars in losses just trying to recover from shutdowns caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.
" We cannot afford to not respond with public safety personnel during this critical time,' the chief said.
He noted that the bureaus resources are strained, noting there have been six homicides in 10 days, an increase in shootings, and other calls, including robberies, burglaries and domestic violence assaults.
Lovells remarks sparked some activists to re-issue their call for further defunding of the Police Bureau.
Attorney Juan Chavez, who also is representing Dont Shoot Portland in the federal suit pending against the city, said the Police Bureau cannot continue to keep punishing a crowd for what happened on May 29.'
Whatever (the Police Bureau) thinks of the intentions of the crowd, the people assembling outside the Justice Center have been shamefully treated by the police night after night, and they keep showing up for that reason,' Chavez said. The chief is right in one respect: it is a tremendous waste of resources to violently police these protests the way they have, which is why its critical that we defund (the Police Bureau.
Tuesday marked the citys 27th consecutive day of demonstrations against systemic racism and police brutality.
-- Maxine Bernstein
Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212
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Intels 10th-generation chips are flowing, which means that every PC maker needs to update their machines accordingly. Acers deep bench of Predator laptops are getting refreshed with new, but not dramatically different, silicon from today. That includes the Predator Helios 700, Helios 300 and Triton 300, which also get improved NVIDIA graphics options too.
Gallery: Acer Predator Helios 700, Helios 300, Triton 300 (2020) press images | 14 Photos
/14 Gallery: Acer Predator Helios 700, Helios 300, Triton 300 (2020) press images | 14 Photos
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First up, the flagship Helios 700, Acers desktop-replacement laptop that packs a sliding keyboard inside. When you pull it forward for easier typing, it opens up the bodys top vents for improved cooling, which youll need for its new chips. The 2020 refresh now includes the option of either a 10th-generation Core i7-10875H or a Core i9-10980HK, both of which are overclockable. Alongside, youll get the choice of either a RTX 2080 Super or the RTX 2070 Super, both of which will need a lot of cooling.
Acer says that the Helios 700 will be better at dissipating heat thanks to its new thermal solution, PowerGem, which it first announced last September. Its a pad that sits on the chip, pushing heat away 3.83 times more efficiently than existing solutions. Thats been paired with three copper heat pipes, a vapor chamber and a pair of custom AeroBlade fans,
Other changes include the addition of a second Thunderbolt 3 port and the ability to order up to 64GB of 2933 RAM. One thing that youll be familiar with is the 17.3-inch HD IPS display, running at 144Hz with NVIDIA G-Sync -- its the same as on the existing model. Same goes for the connectivity options, which include a Killer DoubleShot Pro WiFi 6 AX1650i card and Ethernet options.
You can still adjust the actuation point on the keyboards WASD keys, but Acer has changed the way you do it. Last years model used a linear switch (branded as MagForce) but the company says that its now using something its calling MagTek. Swap out the regular keys and, much like Steelseries Apex Pro, youll be able to adjust the actuation point on those keys depending on how you play.
Acers Predator Helios 700 will cost $2,400 when it arrives in October, although European buyers will be able to pick it up a month earlier for 2,700.
Stepping down a level, the Helios 300 is Acers Max-Q model, with the option of RTX 2070 graphics, 10th-generation H-Series Intel processors and a 240Hz 15.6-inch display. This more affordable gaming laptop will let you order up to 32GB 2933MHz RAM and has space for a pair of SSDs and a 2TB HDD. If you want one of them on your desk, then youll need to hand over $1,200 or 1,300 when it arrives in the US and Europe this July.
Gallery: Acer Predator Triton 300 hands-on | 11 Photos
/11 Gallery: Acer Predator Triton 300 hands-on | 11 Photos
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The only model in the series weve spent even a second of face-to-keyboard time with is the Triton 300. Its designed to be more portable than the Helios models, not that were able to go many places right now. As above, the new model gets 10th-generation Intel Core chips and the option to add in NVIDIA RTX 2070 graphics. Similarly, Acer has taken the attitude that if isnt broken, dont fix it, keeping that 15.6-inch, 144Hz FHD display (with a 3ms response time) unchanged from the prior model.
What has been tweaked is the cooling, with a redesigned thermal system and improved intake and exhaust vents. Immediately, in the hand, youll notice that the Triton 300 isnt too beefy that you cant tote it around in your bag pretty easily. That said, it is a fingerprint magnet, so dont go anywhere without a soft cloth to hand, or else youll regret it. Should you want one, itll cost $1,300 when it lands in the US come October, and feel jealous that Europeans have been able to snag them (for 1,399) since July.
The Trump administration's decision to remove more than 9,000 troops from Germany by September is part of a dispiriting pattern. It serves little strategic purpose and will be virtually impossible to pull off. News of the proposal provoked the ire of the German government, which wasn't briefed on it in advance. Given the mutual animosity between Donald Trump and Chancellor Angela Merkel, that appears to have been the point all along.
The plan would cap the U.S. presence in Germany at 25,000, down from about 35,000 today, which itself is less than half the number stationed in Germany during the height of the Iraq War. With overseas combat missions winding down, the U.S. depends less heavily on German bases for transporting troops and supplies. Even so, the U.S. Africa Command runs out of Stuttgart, and military assets in Germany remain critical for counterterrorism operations, treating wounded troops and deterring Russia.
As is so often the case, the potential benefits of the administration's policy have been negated by the chaos surrounding it. A prudent reduction to the U.S. troop presence in Germany could strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, provided Washington redeploys those forces elsewhere in Europe. But any such move should be done in coordination with partners, not in defiance of them.
Advocates of redeploying forces argue that other NATO members, such as Poland and the Baltic states, are more vulnerable to Russian aggression. It makes sense for the U.S. to bolster support for frontline countries, but rapidly transferring large numbers of troops poses considerable challenges, not least the cost of maintaining bases and housing for service members and their families. In Poland's case, it would also reward a government that is at odds with the European Union over democratic norms and the rule of law.
Decisions about how to allocate personnel and resources to meet emerging threats should be made through NATO's strategic planning process, not on the basis of presidential caprice. Republicans in Congress are right to warn the administration against placing an arbitrary cap on the number of troops deployed in Europe. At a minimum, the U.S. should commit to consulting with allies before making any significant cuts.
NATO's European members also need to do more. On June 15, Trump told reporters he was ordering the pullout to punish Germany for failing to increase military spending. In reality, most governments, including Germany's, have boosted defense spending in recent years, partly in response to Trump's demands. Yet only nine out of 30 members have met the alliance's stated goal of devoting 2% of national GDP to defense by 2024, and few are likely to increase outlays during a pandemic. As the continent's biggest economy, Germany should reaffirm its commitment to NATO by investing in new military capabilities and upgrading outdated weapons systems.
Over the past three and half years, Trump's disparagement of NATO allies has emboldened the West's adversaries and undermined the security of the U.S. and Europe. A rash pullout of American forces promises to weaken the alliance even more. It's up to leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to persuade the White House to change course, before it's too late.
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Thai kindergarten students rehearse social distancing and measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok
By Artorn Pookasook
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai schools are holding rehearsals to prepare students for classes in the coronavirus era, giving lessons in hygiene and social distancing to children as young as three ahead of next week's return.
Schools across Thailand have been modifying classrooms, dining halls and play areas to prepare for a phased return of students, in another step towards normalcy as the country nears one month without a domestic transmission.
Bangkok's Wichutit School has since last week been putting students through a day of drills in hand-washing, playground etiquette and forming orderly lines one metre apart.
On Tuesday, the school of more than 1,600 students invited children age 3 and 4 to put on masks and face shields for mock lessons in classrooms with barriers installed on desks.
They queued for temperature checks and wash basins and were introduced to hand-cleaning techniques and a new lunchtime routine of eating behinds screens.
"This is going to be something new for the kids and they're excited. They've been cooperative because parents also practise the same new normal at home," said the school's director, Pornnicha Chatapun.
"It's normal life for them now, and they won't feel weird about it."
Thailand's return to school is sooner than much of Southeast Asia, owing to its low infection numbers. Of its 3,156 cases, only 58 have died and 3,023 patients have recovered.
That compares to nearly 48,000 cases in Indonesia and close to 32,000 in the Philippines, whose president has vowed to keep schools shut until a COVID-19 vaccine is available.
Pareeyaporn Deesuer, whose son attends the Wichutit school, said she was reassured by its preparations.
"I was kind of really worried, but once they are back at school there's a sense of relief because of the school's preventive measures," she said.
(Reporting by Artorn Pookasook; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Giles Elgood)
SPRINGFIELD A much anticipated investigative report by retired Superior Court Judge Peter A. Velis into sexual abuse allegations against the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon will be released Wednesday, June 24, by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.
Mark Dupont, a spokesman for the diocese, said the report will be posted on the dioceses website at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Velis, who was hired by the diocese last July to investigate the allegations that date back to the 1960s, will meet members of the press at the time, along with Archbishop-designate Mitchell Rozanski, and retired Superior Court Judge Daniel Ford.
Ford heads a diocesan task force that will review any recommendations contained in the report for improving outreach to alleged survivors and how their clergy sexual misconduct claims are handled.
The briefing on the report, which the advisory said has been delivered by Velis to the diocese, will take place at the Bishop Marshall Center that is connected to St. Michaels Cathedral and will be live streamed.
Rozanski asked Velis to act as a third party investigator into the claims of sexual abuse an alleged survivor made against Weldon. The allegations reportedly first surfaced during a June 2018 meeting before the diocesan review board for such complaints, though the board later disputed that account. The claims were made again last June during a meeting the alleged survivor requested with Rozanski, during which the person accused to other members of the diocesan clergy of sex abuse.
After that meeting, Rozanski referred the Weldon allegations to the Hamdpen district attorneys office and announced Velis would investigate the allegations against Springfields fourth bishop.
The alleged survivor had a September 2018 letter from the review board thanking him for sharing details of your abuse as detailed in narrative relating to Bishop Christopher Weldon, Rev. Edward Authier and Rev. Clarence Forand, and saying it found his testimony compelling and credible.
After the Berkshire Eagle published a story last spring about the allegations against Weldon and the other two priests and questioned whether their names would be added to the dioceses list of credibly accused clergy, the review boards chairman released a statement through the diocese, saying, There was no finding against Bishop Weldon as the individual also indicated that the former Bishop never abused them.
The alleged survivor, whose testimony before the board was witnessed by three individuals who accompanied him and said he did identify Weldon as an alleged abuser, then requested the meeting with Rozanski.
The diocese has said Velis was provided access to whatever he needed and was given the time needed to conduct a thorough review.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States Tue, June 23, 2020 08:23 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660d17bb 2 World Donald-Trump,coronavirus,coronavirus-epicenter,COVID-19,COVID-19-death-toll,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free
The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in the United States could surpass 150,000, President Donald Trump said Monday.
"It could get up to 150," Trump said in an interview with the cable television channel Spectrum News. "It could go beyond that.
"But we would have lost two million to four million lives [without mitigation]," he said.
A study published by the Imperial College of London in mid-March warned of a possible 2.2 million deaths in the United States if no efforts had been taken to mitigate the spread of the highly-contagious virus.
The US death toll from COVID-19 has topped 120,000, according to a tracker maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
"We've done a good job and now we're bringing the country back," Trump said.
The president was also asked about holding more campaign rallies at a time when the virus was still spreading in several southern and western states.
"We're always worried about safety," he said. "We want to get rid of this thing."
Trump, who is facing a tough re-election battle in November, is scheduled to attend a "Students for Trump" event in Phoenix on Tuesday.
He held a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, his first since the pandemic began, but it was sparsely attended.
Mumbai: Not actors, but the army and police personnel should be called heroes, feels Paresh Rawal.
"We Should Start Calling Actors As 'Entertainers' And Our Army and Police As 'Heroes' for Our Next Generation To Know The Actual Meaning Of Real Heroes !!!" the veteran actor-politician tweeted.
We Should Start Calling Actors As 'Entertainers' And Our Army & Police As 'Heroes' for Our Next Generation To Know The Actual Meaning Of Real Heroes !!! Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) June 23, 2020
Paresh Rawal's tweet comes at a time when 20 Indian armymen were recently killed by Chinese forces in Galwan Valley amid ongoing tension between the two nations.
Raveena Tandon also expressed respect for the Indian Army on social media. The actress shared a video on Twitter featuring a group of soldiers, with one of them singing a song.
Tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat... the true sons of the soil.. my Veers , my brothers, my loves... talent in the viens and junoon for their motherland...I love you Veera, wherever you may be ... pic.twitter.com/fqP1oC9UmR Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) June 23, 2020
"Tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat... the true sons of the soil.. my Veers , my brothers, my loves... talent in the viens and junoon for their motherland... I love you Veera, wherever you may be," wrote the actress.
US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on Tuesday (June 23) condemned the Chinese government's aggression along the India-China border and called for de-escalation through diplomacy.
In an official statement, Krishnamoorthi said, "I remain deeply concerned with the Chinese governments recent dangerous acts of aggression along the Line of Actual Control on the India-China border and the unnecessary loss of life caused."
Krishnamoorthi who is representing Illinois' 8th Congressional District added, "The Chinese government must end its bullying and provocations while joining its neighbours in working to resolve conflicts according to international law."
He also strongly urged the Chinese government to abandon its reckless path of escalation and instead turn diplomacy to productively work to resolve its border questions with India.
I am deeply concerned with the Chinese governments recent acts of aggression along the India-China border and today I am strongly urging the Chinese government to abandon its reckless provocations and to resolve its border questions with India peacefully. pic.twitter.com/oNjUMhBavp Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) June 22, 2020
The violent clashes between the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) on the night of June 15 led to the martyrdom of 20 Indian Army personnel, while China has not officially declared any figures of the casualties in the PLA.
Although, several reports say that there were around 40-45 deaths on the Chinese side during the clashes in the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh.
The owner of a historic home at the former Navy base says his property values are being damaged by construction of a rail line near his North Charleston back yard, and he wants developer Palmetto Railways to cover his losses.
Mike Turner, an electrical contractor from Bluffton and owner of MCT Properties LLC, is suing the short-line railroad in Charleston County court, alleging Palmetto Railways refuses to compensate him for financial damages at his 1801 Avenue F property.
The home, built in 1942, served as officer's quarters before the base closed in 1996 and once housed surgeons working at the Navy hospital a short walk away.
Palmetto Railways is constructing a rail line between the home and the hospital as part of a $300 million yard where cargo containers headed to and from the Port of Charleston will be transferred between trucks and rail cars. Norfolk Southern and CSX Corp. will use the rail yard, sending trains up to three miles long through the facility.
Palmetto Railways declined to discuss the lawsuit, saying it does not comment on pending legal matters.
Turner bought the home in 2012 before the rail route had been finalized.
"I was told there wasn't going to be rail there, so I bought it," he said, pointing to the construction site about 125 feet from his backdoor.
Turner said he spent about $250,000 fixing up the long-neglected property and based his business on the first floor while living on the second floor. Turner moved to Bluffton about three years ago and has been leasing the home to another business since then.
The rail project has permanently closed Avenue F off to through traffic, leaving a narrow road along the back side of the property as the only vehicle access to the home. At the time Turner bought the home, he also purchased an option on a strip of land beside the property. Palmetto Railways recently built a gravel drive on that site, telling Turner his option had expired, according to the lawsuit.
"Avenue F used to take you right into the Navy Base, and I wanted that because we were doing a lot of work on the base," Turner said. "Plus, the value of this property being on the base is more than being off the base. But Avenue F is gone forever."
The loss of the road has also affected Batu Aytore's antiques business, Parham & Co., located next door to Turner's home.
"It's cut us off from the business district," Aytore said, adding he is no longer able to take large deliveries at the home where he also lives. "The road is blocked but they say we don't qualify for compensation."
Turner has been trying to sell his home and twice buyers have put contracts on the property, but both contracts were canceled because the buyers "could not get a bank to provide financing due to the railway coming in and the banks concern over the impact on the value of the property," according to the lawsuit.
Turner said he has tried to negotiate a settlement with Palmetto Railways and the S.C. Commerce Department, which owns the railroad, but the agencies told him his property has not been devalued.
The railroad has not filed an answer to Turner's complaint and no court date has been scheduled.
"I think I've been adversely affected and I'm asking for fairness," Turner said. "I'm not asking for a windfall. I've always been in favor of the economy moving forward and I'm not opposed to this project at all. If it brings jobs to this area and paychecks to families, that's a great thing. What I am opposed to is somebody taking equity from my building."
Palmetto Railways also is involved in a separate legal dispute with a North Charleston property owner over the amount of money that should be paid in a property condemnation case. A jury awarded $3.75 million to Gateway Properties after its Meeting Street building was taken for construction of the rail yard. Palmetto Railways had offered $1.8 million for the site, which includes land and a two-story structure built for electronics contractor eLifespaces. The railroad is appealing the jury's award to the state's Court of Appeals.
The rail yard, officially known as the Navy Base Intermodal Container Transfer Facility, will be linked to the State Ports Authoritys new Leatherman Terminal by a private road, which will keep cargo moving between the two yards off public roads. The North Charleston rail yard to be built south of Cosgrove Avenue is scheduled to open at about the same time as the first phase of the Leatherman Terminal, in early 2021.
Palmetto Railways is seeking federal funding for at least part of the project.
Demonstrators gather to protest abortion restrictions at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on May 21, 2019.
Eric Gay/AP Photo
Dr. Diana Greene Foster was the lead researcher on the Turnaway Study, a landmark study that followed 1,000 women from 30 abortion clinics for five years.
She found people turned away from abortions were more likely to remain with abusive partners, be less ambitious in what they want to accomplish in life, and have serious health problems.
Foster has written a book about the decade she spent researching these women.
This week, as the Supreme Court mulls a case that could severely restrict abortion nationwide, Foster reflects on the lack of progress despite a boom in research.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
During the pandemic, abortions have become even harder to access than usual.
But a Supreme Court case, expected to reach a verdict this week, could make it even less likely that care would return to normal, or even improve, when lockdowns end. The case addresses abortion clinics in Louisiana, but any outcome will, likely, impact other states, too.
Dr. Diana Greene Foster knows better than anyone that being denied an abortion has serious, lingering effects.
She's spent a decade gathering data on the fate of what she refers to as "turnaways." That's her term for the women who tried to get an abortion but couldn't; because they were past the abortion cut-off in their state, didn't know they were pregnant, felt pressured to keep it, or couldn't afford the procedure.
Foster is a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, and served as principal investigator of the Turnaway Study. It was a landmark study so influential that it led to 50 different peer-reviewed scientific publications, and inspired similar research in Nepal, Bangladesh, South Africa, Tunisia, and Colombia, all backing up the original finding.
But despite an unprecedented swell of research and awareness, Foster says, she hasn't seen much change in perceptions around abortion, and she wonders what it would take to make a difference. 43 states still ban abortion for women after a certain point in pregnancy. 12 states still prohibit private insurance plans from covering abortion. 34 states don't cover abortion for women on Medicaid except in instances of rape, incest, or situations where carrying the baby could endanger the woman's life.
Story continues
"I think that the question about whether people decide to carry a pregnancy to term or not is not just an activist question that is still part of a crucial political debate," Foster, who has just published a book reflecting on the last decade, told Insider. "It touches on everything important about how we make our lives and whether we decide to have children, and what other goals we have and how we pursue them."
Abortion opponents kneel in prayer outside Reproductive Health Services, an abortion clinic in Alabama in 2019.
Associated Press
Being denied an abortion can have negative ramifications that last a lifetime
Foster wants people to know that abortion is incredibly common, to the point where one in four women in the United States will have an abortion over their lifetime. She wants people to know that a large proportion of the women who get abortions do not regret it, while the ripple effect of being denied an abortion lasts a lifetime.
Women denied abortions will likely have health issues that might last for years post-pregnancy, says Foster. They have four times greater odds of living below the poverty level and three times greater odds of being unemployed.
They are likely to stay with abusive partners, have anxiety and eroded self-esteem, and not have aspirational life plans for the coming year. They will likely reduce the scale of what they want to accomplish in life.
Women denied abortions are also more likely to experience serious end-of-pregnancy complications. Two women in the study died from childbirth-related causes.
"Having my son sent my life completely off the rails," a 24-year-old woman named Brenda, told Foster and her researchers. "Pregnancy definitely has a negative impact on people's financial well-being. Because it is very, very difficult to find a job when you're pregnant, to keep a job when you're pregnant, and to find or maintain a job with a baby."
Brenda was denied an abortion when she was 20 weeks pregnant.
abortion protest
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Prior to 2006, nobody had thoroughly investigated the negative impact of denying abortions
Foster's research began with a comment from a colleague, during an informal conversation in a hallway.
"I wonder what happens to the women we turn away," Dr. Eleanor Drey, medical director of the Women's Options Center at San Francisco General Hospital, wondered aloud to Foster in 2006. Her comment sparked a decade of research.
Drey was voicing her frustration as a clinician who was unable to help all her patients. But as a researcher, Foster saw an opportunity. "I was thinking about the raging political debate about: 'does abortion hurt women, and why isn't there aren't reliable data to answer those questions?'" Foster told Insider.
But in these women who were turned away from getting abortions, Foster saw a group she could compare against women who did successfully get abortions, and examine the trajectory of both groups' lives.
That inspired the Turnaway Study, which was the first to examine the long-term effects of what happened to the thousands of women who are denied abortions every year, compared to those who got their abortions.
They recruited 1,000 women from 30 abortion clinics across America and interviewed each woman every six months for five years. The study included a mix of white, black, and Latinx women from 30 clinics across the U.S. The average age was 25, and 62% were already raising kids.
Given abortion is a medical procedure "so controversial it decides elections and ruins Thanksgiving dinners," as Foster writes in her book, she expected that the women would be hesitant to participate. But four out of five women agreed to be part of the research, especially when they were told by the researchers that it might help future women.
The study found that much of what we know about abortion is inaccurate
Foster found that almost everything that we consider to be common knowledge about abortions is wrong; women who had abortions were not more likely to have depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation, and 95% of the women she spoke to reported that having the abortion was the right decision over five years after the procedure.
"We've had this idea that abortion hurts women, and we didn't find that kind of emotional harm that people might have expected," Foster told Insider.
When Foster was conducting the study, she would ask women how often they thought about the pregnancy they'd terminated.
"Only when you call me," one woman told her.
Foster hopes the Supreme Court will take the Turnaway study results into account
The Supreme Court is expected to hand down a verdict on the case of June Medical Services v. Russo, which is about a law requiring Louisiana abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local clinics. Abortion advocates say the law is unnecessary, and just creates more bureaucracy around the already complicated process of getting an abortion. Anti-abortion activists say the law is to protect patients.
If the Supreme Court rules to uphold the law, clinics in Louisiana and across the US could shut down. Pro-choice advocates say such a verdict could open the door to more, slowly eroding abortion rights and access nationwide.
In 2016, a similar case made it to the court, and the judges ruled the restriction unconstitutional. But with two new conservative judges, the verdict may be very different this time.
Foster hopes that when weighing a policy about the benefits or burdens of future restrictions, the court will take evidence based research into consideration.
"We'll see whether this new court with two new conservative judges sticks with the concept that policy should be based on evidence," Foster said. "But the Turnaway Study certainly generated a lot of evidence. It knows there are harms to being denied abortion. In an ideal world, state legislators would take that into consideration."
Read the original article on Insider
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Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung chairs Joint Consultation Meeting (Photo: VNA)
Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the SOM ASEAN Vietnam Nguyen Quoc Dung chaired the ASEAN Senior Officials' Preparatory Meeting (Prep-SOM), the second meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Working Group on Public Health Emergencies (ACCWG-PHE) and the Joint Consultation Meeting in Hanoi on June 22nd.
The online meetings were meant to prepare for the 36th ASEAN Summit and ministerial meetings slated for June 24-26, with ASEAN senior officials in the pillars of politics-security, socio-culture and economy, health officials and heads of permanent representative delegations to ASEAN taking part.
Representing Vietnam as ASEAN Chair 2020, Deputy FM Dung updated participants on agendas of meetings and a list of documents scheduled for ratification at the ASEAN Summit.
ASEAN officials spoke highly of Vietnams preparations for the meetings, saying that under the countrys directions, such meetings will be a success.
They stressed that despite difficulties caused by COVID-19, the bloc will stay consistent with its goals and principles, striving for a united and open ASEAN Community with rules-based regional architecture.
Dung updated the gathering on progress in launching priorities and initiatives during Vietnams ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. He also reaffirmed ASEANs cooperative spirit, close coordination with partners in the fight against COVID-19, and post-pandemic recovery.
Amid the current situation, he highlighted the need to raise a sense of responsibility, maintain peace and stability, and prevent unilateral action that could further complicate the situation, towards successfully curbing the pandemic.
Discussing the implementation of the outcomes of the ASEAN Special Summit and ASEAN 3 Special Summit on COVID-19 Response at the ACCWG-PHEs second meeting, the bloc agreed to step up the progress of four initiatives, including the ASEAN Response Fund for COVID-19, the ASEAN Reserve on medical supplies, emergency response guidelines, and post-COVID-19 recovery plan.
Officials called on ASEAN to focus on curbing the spread of COVID-19 and improving prevention capacity to better cope with medical contingencies in the future.
Dung shared his concern over the second wave of the coronavirus and urged countries to work more closely together to resume activities, especially for vulnerable groups, small and medium-sized enterprises, among others./.
[June 23, 2020] K2 Cyber Security and SYNNEX Corporation Sign Agreement for Distribution of K2 Security Platform
K2 Cyber Security, provider of the next generation in application workload protection, today announced that the company has signed a distribution agreement with SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX), a leading business process services company. Through the agreement, SYNNEX (News - Alert) will work with K2 Cyber Security to bring the K2 Security Platform to market through its extensive network of channel partners while supporting them before and during the sale. This agreement is another milestone in K2's ongoing strategy to rapidly expand its customer footprint across the U.S. Together with SYNNEX, K2 Cyber Security is delivering the ability to secure web applications and container workloads against sophisticated attacks, including OWASP Top 10, memory-based, and zero-day attacks. This provides significant value add to customers and helps value-added resellers differentiate their security offerings. "K2 Cyber Security provides an innovative platform offering considerable capabilities to strengthen security infrastructure for customers," said Reyna Thompson, Senior Vice President, Product Management, North America, SYNNEX. "This is a strong addition to the array of cybersecurity products SYNNEX brings to the channel to address some of the most common threats to today' businesses."
Pravin Madhani, CEO and Co-Founder of K2 Cyber Security, said the agreement with SYNNEX will play a significant role in rapidly expanding its geographic reach and sales coverage across the U.S. as more companies adopt application workload security that resides on the server and addresses runtime security needs. "Faced with an overwhelming number of false alerts, continued breaches and cyber attacks, companies need to move to application security that doesn't depend on prior attack knowledge," Madhani said. "SYNNEX' best-in-class distribution and logistics capabilities, combined with its cybersecurity expertise and a vast network of channel partners, make it ideal for promoting and selling our unique application workload protection on a national scale."
To learn more about the K2 Security Platform through SYNNEX, visit synnex.com or email [email protected]. About K2 Cyber Security K2 Cyber Security delivers the Next Generation Application Workload Protection Platform to secure web applications and container workloads against sophisticated attacks including OWASP Top 10 and memory-based attacks. K2's Platform is deployed on production servers for runtime protection of application workloads and on pen-testing / pre-production servers to identify the location of the vulnerable code in real-time. K2's solution generates minimal false alerts, eliminates breaches due to zero-day attacks and dramatically reduces security cost. The K2 Platform can be deployed in multi-cloud or on premise and protects all applications, container workloads and Kubernetes. About SYNNEX Corporation SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX) is a Fortune 200 corporation and a leading business process services company, providing a comprehensive range of distribution, logistics and integration services for the technology industry and providing outsourced services focused on customer engagement to a broad range of enterprises. SYNNEX distributes a broad range of information technology systems and products, and also provides systems design and integration solutions. Founded in 1980, SYNNEX Corporation operates in numerous countries throughout North and South America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Additional information about SYNNEX may be found online at www.synnex.com. SYNNEX, the SYNNEX Logo, and all other SYNNEX company, product and services names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of?SYNNEX Corporation. SYNNEX, the SYNNEX Logo Reg.?U.S.?Pat. & Tm. Off. Other names and marks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005403/en/
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[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is entirely dependent on [President Donald] Trump for the annexation. We have no illusions that he would operate against decisions taken in the White House. These words were told to Al-Monitor by a senior Likud minister speaking on condition of anonymity. The minister spoke on June 23, exactly a week before the July 1 target date set by Netanyahu for the start of the annexation or imposing Israels sovereignty, as he calls the process.
However, according to all the hints and briefs that Netanyahu has been scattering in recent days, it is already clear to everyone that the grand annexation of 30% of West Bank and Jordan Valley territories will not be realized in the near future and certainly not prior to the US elections in November. Now he talks about a gradual annexation in stages on limited territory.
At the end of last week, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman left Jerusalem for Washington where he is expected to participate in a decisive meeting in the White House. That meeting will deal with one question: whether to give the American green light to a limited annexation. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Trumps son-in-law White House adviser Jared Kushner, and Middle East Envoy Avi Berkowitz are expected to participate at that meeting, which could take place as early as June 24.
According to various media items, what will be placed on the table is a program for a symbolic annexation of several settlements in the Jerusalem area. Nothing of this limited annexation program will bear resemblance to the bombastic announcements of the White House six months ago regarding imposing full, historic sovereignty. According to a Reuters report, Trump himself could join in some of the discussions.
For Netanyahu, this is a dramatic event. Israels prime minister is concerned about Trump's political problems, as he faces a difficult election campaign and political uncertainty. Netanyahu will not say or do anything against the official White House stance, certainly nothing to politically harm or embarrass Trump or cause political damage.
The truth is that without Trump in the White House, plans for the great annexation have no future either. Netanyahu has been closely following the recent polls disseminated in the United States, pointing to the strengthening of Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Israels prime minister receives ongoing reports on Trumps campaign for example, the major failure of the presidents election campaign in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 21. Netanyahu is very concerned over the possibility of a Democratic president returning to the White House this November.
Netanyahu uses his right-hand ally and friend, Israels Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, to send political feelers out to the movers and shakers in Washington. Almost all Republican congressional members have an open-door policy to Dermer, as does the White House. Thus, Dermer has been doubling up on his reports to Netanyahu from Washington, and in their conversations, they (Netanyahu and Dermer) analyze the situation sometimes several times a day.
On June 22, 116 House Republicans published a letter to Netanyahu backing Israels right to determine its borders. "We support the Trump administrations engagement with Israel on the Vision for Peace Plan, which was based on the critical premise that Israel should never be forced to compromise its security. We assure you that we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel and oppose any effort to apply pressure," said the letter. In another letter, sent to Trump, the senior Republicans stated, "We support Israel's right, as provided in the Peace to Prosperity Plan, to declare its sovereignty over Jewish population centers and strategic territories in the West Bank.
I imagine that none of these letters surprised Dermer or Netanyahu, said a source close to the Prime Ministers Office to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. They were intended as a tailwind toward any kind of annexation process, and to strengthen Trump vis-a-vis the heavy pressures inflicted on him by Europe, Jordan and Arab countries who warn that annexation will bring down catastrophe on the Middle East.
Six months have passed since the impressive ceremony that Trump organized for Netanyahu in the White House in January 2020 in which the latter was officially gifted with US annexation approval. This was in the very midst of Netanyahus fateful election campaign, while he was simultaneously coping with a bribery indictment. Trumps program was marketed by Netanyahu as a historic opportunity and a dream come true for Israels right wing, thus assisting Netanyahu in his election campaign. But now, the realization of the plan is cast in doubt.
Over the past months, the two leaders' positions have changed. Netanyahu became stronger on the political front and, against all odds, fortified his base. It is Trump who is not the same president as the one who strode confidently last January toward his second term of office. Trials of all kinds have landed on him, one after another: First, the coronavirus hit New York, then the unprecedented riots inundated large cities. These all caused Biden to rise in the polls. Now Trump is concerned with his own issues and especially his political survival, and Israels prime minister is very aware and concerned as well.
Netanyahu has clear interests in a Trump victory and will do his best to help and not hinder; thats why he is trying to draft the Jewish and evangelical votes. In addition, Netanyahus long experience with Democratic presidents (first Bill Clinton, then eight years of Barack Obama) who pressed him towards Palestinian statehood and evacuation of settlements taught him that the scales could turn against him at any time. Therefore, Netanyahu must be moderate. Yesha Council officials [umbrella organization of the settlers] met with Netanyahu on June 2. They understood that the prime minister is concerned regarding Trumps chances of re-election, and his conclusion is that he must be very levelheaded in the current era of uncertainty.
In recent years, actions by the Trump administration caused Netanyahus popularity to rise among Israels right-wing sector, but not only them. Israelis know how to appreciate friendship with American presidents and are unhappy when the two countries are at odds. Netanyahu, a virtuosic campaigner, knew how to squeeze this lemon till it was dry. He turned Trump into a central figure in the recent Israeli election campaigns he led. He made sure to trumpet the recognition given by the United States to the Golan Heights. He emphasized the transferring of the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and he made clear that everyone knew about his direct line to the Oval Office. The annexation plan should make the jewel of this crown.
The person to determine if there will be annexation and, if so, the extent of annexation, is none other than the president of the United States. Netanyahu is less worried about getting the support of Blue and White leaders Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. In a worst-case scenario, if they refuse to back his plan, Netanyahu can threaten them with a fourth election campaign. In any event, the current Blue and White showings in the polls are so poor that Netanyahu will probably have no problem convincing them.
Flash
U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 120,000 on Monday with nearly 2.3 million infections, while new cases continue to increase across the country over three months into the pandemic.
A total of 2,286,457 cases were reported in the country with the fatalities reaching 120,036 as of 12:04 p.m. (1604 GMT) on Monday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
New York state reported 388,488 cases with 31,125 deaths. Other states with over 5,000 COVID-19 deaths include New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and California, showed the JHU data.
Worldwide, COVID-19 cases topped surpassed 9 million and the death toll from the virus was 469,122.
In the United States, the virus spread has trended downward in some of the hard-hit places including New York City, once the epicenter of the U.S. COVID-19 outbreak.
The Big Apple entered phase two of reopening on Monday, during which hair salons, real estate sales, vehicle sales and rentals, some in-store retails are allowed to reopen. Restaurants can serve customers in outdoor space, according to New York state's phased reopening strategy.
However, several U.S. states in the South and Southwest are seeing upticks in their coronavirus case counts.
As of Sunday, the nation's seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases increased more than 24 percent compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of JHU data. Cases were growing by 5 percent or more in 25 states across the United States, including Arizona, Texas, Florida and Oklahoma.
According to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project, hospitalizations from COVID-19 were growing in 14 states as of Sunday.
In Texas, there were 2,913 people hospitalized with COVID-19 based on a seven-day moving average, a 37 percent increase compared to a week ago. Arizona reported 1,702 people hospitalized on a seven-day average, a near 29 percent increase compared to a week ago.
"We're seeing a resurgence in the south and the southeast, they really never got rid of their epidemics," Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration, told CBS News "Face the Nation" on Sunday.
Calling the situation "very unsatisfactory," Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned economics professor at Columbia University, recently told Xinhua that as the virus continues to spread rapidly, the federal government has "basically lost interest" in controlling the virus.
"The results are likely to be very bad: a big resurgence of disease and deaths," said Sachs, also a senior United Nations advisor.
Public health experts believe that states' hasty efforts to reopen their economies, weeks of nationwide protests over the death of unarmed black man George Floyd, as well as some Americans' unwillingness to practice social distancing or wear a mask, have all contributed to the recent surge in cases.
Since late April, U.S. states, facing record unemployment, have gradually started to reopen their economies, despite not seeing a significant downward trend in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
An influential model produced by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington recently revised its projections, forecasting nearly 170,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States by Oct. 1.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday warned that the world has moved into a "new and dangerous phase" of the global coronavirus pandemic as countries have lifted lockdowns and other measures intended to curb the virus' spread, and several have seen their rates of newly reported cases of the virus accelerate.
"Countries are understandably eager to open up their societies and their economies. But the virus is still spreading fast. It is still deadly and most people are still susceptible," he said.
Police personnel have rescued a 40-year-old Filipino lady, Irene Panas, allegedly held hostage by one Chukwudi Odo, whom she met on Facebook in 2019.
Panas, an accountant based in Manila, was lured to Nene-Uno village in the Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, where she spent six months, while being sexually abused by her supposed lover.
After her rescue, the victim was immediately taken to hospital, where she was admitted from June 5 to June 16, 2020.
The police explained that Panas, who had a month visa, had planned to spend 10 days in Nigeria, but was forced to stay for six months against her will.
The force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, who paraded Odo in Abuja on Monday, explained that his victim was critically ill at the time of her rescue, noting that she was held incommunicado by the suspect.
He stated, Irene Panas, an accountant by profession and a native of Manila in the Philippines, arrived Nigeria on November 22, 2019, on a visit to one Chukwudi Odo, 54, of Enugu Ezike in the Igbo-Eze North LGA of Enugu State, whom she met on Facebook on March 8, 2017.
The visit, which was originally intended for 10 days, however, turned out to be a full case of abduction following Odos refusal to allow her to return to her country. She was held incommunicado by the suspect.
Mba added, The victim, who was critically ill, was successfully rescued by police operatives attached to the Unity Police Division, Ibegwa Nike, Enugu State, led by the DPO, SP Siga Malgwi, following a tip-off from some members of the public in the area.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Odo deliberately lured the victim into the country with the aim of confining her, s.e.x.ually abusing her and extorting money from her.
Odo, however, defended his action, insisting that he planned to marry Panas and had discussed his plans with her family members.
He accused the Nene-Uno community of informing the police about Panas, because he did not take her to hospital.
The suspect stated, I met her on Facebook in March 2017 and we became friends. We were in touch on a regular basis. Then, we agreed to marry each other. I told her that I could not leave my country for another country. I also told her that I was financially handicapped.
In November 2019, she came to Nigeria; I even wrote to the Embassy of Philippines intimating them of the arrival of Irene. It happened that I had a minor land issue with the people of Nene-Uno, where I am residing.
When asked if he paid the bride price for Panas before having s.e.x.ual relations with her, he said, No, but we are in the process.
The police did not arrest me; it was the Nene-Uno people, who alleged that my woman was sick and I did not take her to hospital. They came to my house on June 1, asking me to take her to hospital; I wanted to take her to hospital for a pregnancy test. It was an agreement between her family and I that I would marry her.
Asked how and where he met the family, the suspect, who is separated from his wife, kept mum.
The police said they were in contact with the Embassy of the Philippines in Nigeria in order to reunite the victim with her family.
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WASHINGTON,DC / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is pleased to announce the long-anticipated June 2020 return of Ambassador Alberto M. Fernandez as Vice President of MEMRI. Ambassador Fernandez previously held this position from May 2015 to July 2017, when he left to accept the post of President of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) which he held until June 2020.
Amb. Fernandez has served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer since 1983. Among his positions were:
Head of the State Department's Coordinator for the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications from 2012 to 2015
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea from 2009 to 2012
U.S. Charge d'Affaires to the Republic of Sudan from 2007 to 2009
Director for Near East Public Diplomacy from 2005 to 2007
Director for Iraq Public Diplomacy from 2004 to 2005
Senior public diplomacy positions at the U.S. Embassies in Afghanistan, Jordan, Syria, and Guatemala
Foreign Service officer in Kuwait, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and the United Arab Emirates
USIA desk officer for Egypt, Yemen, and Sudan.
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor, Amb. Fernandez has received numerous prestigious awards, among them the Presidential Meritorious Service Award (2008), the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy (2006), and Superior Honor Award for his work in Afghanistan (2003). His performance also garnered Senior Foreign Service performance recognition in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2002. Amb. Fernandez is a graduate of the 46th (2003-2004) Senior Seminar, the State Department's premier senior management course.
After arriving in the U.S. as a refugee from Cuba in 1959, he served in the U.S. Army (1976-1979) and graduated from the University of Arizona and the Defense Language Institute. His writings have been published extensively, in publications such as Brookings: Markaz, ReVista: the Harvard Review of Latin America; Middle East Quarterly; Journal of the Assyrian Academic Society (JAAS); Providence; Cipher Brief; AFPC Almanac of Islamism; Journal of International Security Affairs; Gatestone Institute; The European Conservative; The University Bookman; Foreign Service Journal; Defense Dossier; The Washington Post; and the SAGE Handbook of Propaganda. He has lectured and debated on U.S. foreign policy in numerous public venues worldwide. In addition to English, Amb. Fernandez speaks fluent Spanish and Arabic.
ABOUT MEMRI
Exploring the Middle East and South Asia through their media, MEMRI bridges the language gap between the West and the Middle East and South Asia, providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu-Pashtu, Dari, and Turkish media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends.
Founded in February 1998 to inform the debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East, MEMRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. MEMRI's main office is located in Washington, DC, with branch offices in various world capitals. MEMRI research is translated into English, French, Polish, Japanese, Spanish and Hebrew.
MEMRI - Middle East Media Research Institute: https://www.memri.org
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SOURCE: Middle East Media Research Institute
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594941/MEMRI-Welcomes-The-Return-Of-Vice-President-Amb-Alberto-M-Fernandez
General manager Carlos Crow hangs a sign at Steiner's, A Nevada Style Pub shortly before opening for business for the first time since closing on March 17 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on May 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller | Getty Images
The ability to quit or refuse a job and continue getting unemployment benefits has been in play in the era of the coronavirus pandemic. While workers are able to do this in certain cases even in normal times, a federal relief package enacted in March offers more leeway. But it could be harder for Americans to refuse job offers and continue tapping unemployment aid in coming weeks and months, as states start reopening their economies more fully, experts said. Collecting benefits may also be less appealing when enhanced aid runs out next month. "There is no simple answer," said Stephen Woodbury, an economist at Michigan State University. "The handling of 'quits' and by extension refusal to return to work when recalled varies by state."
'Good cause' to quit
The question of benefits in instances of quitting or work refusal is playing out amid the worst employment crisis in the U.S. since the Great Depression in the 1930s. Around 21 million Americans are out of work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many millions more are likely unaccounted for.
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However, more than 15 million of those workers are furloughed, meaning they expect to be recalled eventually. And 2.5 million Americans went back to work in May. Generally, people can't get unemployment benefits if they quit or refuse a work offer, experts say. However, they may be eligible if they can show there was "good cause" to refuse suitable work. More from Personal Finance
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Here are some red flags that could attract the IRS Barry White, a spokesman at California's Employment Development Department, which administers unemployment benefits for workers in the state, explained it this way: Good cause exists when a "substantial motivating factor" causing a resignation was "real, substantial, and compelling and would cause a reasonable person who genuinely wants to stay employed to quit under the same circumstances." Let's say a worker has typical daytime hours, perhaps from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and has family care responsibilities in the evenings. The employer demands a shift change to night hours, from 4 p.m. to midnight. This worker could likely quit and collect unemployment, Woodbury said. Unsafe work conditions can also be a qualifying factor. But the worker has a duty to try to "preserve [the] employment relationship" i.e., hash things out with the their boss before quitting, White said.
CARES Act unemployment expansion
The CARES Act law expanded the range of "good cause" possibilities to include reasons related to Covid-19. Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity lists several qualifying reasons on its website. For example, if a worker: is in self-quarantine due to being immuno-compromised. (This may include people over 65 years old, those with certain conditions like cancer, heart disease or diabetes, and with treatments like steroids and chemotherapy); has Covid-19 symptoms, came in contact with someone over the past 14 days who tested positive, or is required to care for someone who tested positive; is unable to do their job temporarily due to coronavirus-related medical complications; or has a family care responsibility without access to an alternative (for example, child care if schools or summer arrangements are closed). States also generally allow workers to collect benefits if a business hasn't complied with state or federal guidance for safely reopening in their industry, or the worker believes the workplace is unsafe. Importantly, though, workers can't turn down a job because of general fear of Covid-19 or dislike of their job.
States reopening
Some experts believe it will be difficult to continue collecting benefits as states reopen their economies. "If they come to a workplace and say, you're not cleaning or requiring people to wear masks, they may have a good case," said Stephen Wandner, an economist and senior fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance. "But if you get called back, it'll be hard for you to refuse work."
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Some states will likely be stricter than others when it comes to determining eligibility in these scenarios, said Wandner, formerly an actuary at the Labor Department. States most likely to interpret the rules more narrowly are those that pay benefits to a relatively small share of their unemployed population, he said. For example, Florida and North Carolina pay jobless benefits to around 11% of their unemployed workers, whereas New Jersey pays them to more than half, according to a report published in January by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
Fraud
Newtown Police Department
NEWTOWN - The former resident arrested on child pornography possession charges earlier this year is expected back in court in August.
David Eric Anderson, 51, was arrested and charged with first- and third-degree child pornography possession charges back in January.
UMass Amherst Students and Alumni Gain Access to All Simplilearn Digital Economy Skills Courses
BENGALURU, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, a global provider of digital skills training, today announced its partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) to provide digital and tech-based skilling programs for the students and alumni of the university. This collaboration with UMass Amherst's University Without Walls (UWW) gives UMass Amherst's students and alumni access to the complete catalog of programs offered by Simplilearn, covering a range of topics including artificial intelligence, data science, digital marketing, and many other digital economy skills.
All the programs offered by Simplilearn through this partnership are delivered via a blended learning approach that combines expert instructor-led live virtual classrooms, self-paced on-demand lessons, and integrated hands-on labs. Learners also benefit from industry-certified Capstone projects based on real-world challenges, which give them work samples for their portfolios; Independent research has shown this blended learning approach drives significantly better student outcomes than conventional e-learning. On successfully completing programs, learners receive certificates of completion from Simplilearn and related partner companies like IBM. Simplilearn's programs are fully online, so UMass Amherst students and alumni can access them from anywhere across the globe.
Commenting on the partnership with UMass Amherst, Mr. Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer, Simplilearn said, "With technology changing constantly, there is a greater need for companies and especially professionals to stay ahead of the curve. This process has led to building an environment of constant learning and upskilling. The alumni learning program introduced by the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a one-of-a-kind initiative, showing that learning does not stop at the university level alone. We are happy to collaborate with UMass Amherst in its commitment to building an accessible learning environment for current students and graduates alike. Through our programs, we aim to empower learners with industry-relevant skills, preparing them for jobs of the future."
"Learning doesn't end when a person receives their college degree," said John Wells, UMass Amherst senior Vice Provost for lifelong learning. "By expanding our online offerings for our students and alumni through our partnership with Simplilearn, we can provide affordable, convenient ways for them to continuously upgrade their job skills, making them even more prepared to take on the fast-paced global economy," he added.
About Simplilearn
Simplilearn enables professionals and enterprises to succeed in the fast-changing digital economy. The company provides outcome-based online training across digital technologies and applications such as big data, machine learning, AI, cloud computing, digital marketing and other emerging technologies. Based in San Francisco and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn has helped more than 1 million professionals and 1,000 companies across 150 countries get trained, acquire certifications, and reach their business and career goals. The company's Blended Learning curriculum combines self-paced online learning, instructor-led live virtual classrooms, hands-on projects, student collaboration, and 24/7 global teaching assistance. For more information, visit Simplilearn.com
About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst is one of the major public research universities in America. Nestled in Amherst, Massachusetts, the campus is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation, and offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. Working with the UMass Amherst schools and colleges, University Without Walls (UWW) is a leader in online education offering degrees and certificates in a number of subject areas. The vision for UWW at UMass Amherst is to create a learning experience that supports the needs and goals of lifelong learners. UWW will expand access to education by creating high-quality, innovative pathways that meet the unique needs of future learners anytime, any place.
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SOURCE Simplilearn Solutions Private Limited
President Donald Trump may have nearly ended the flow of refugees and other African immigrants to the United States, but a new study shows that at least those from Nigeria are well-educated, hardworking and contribute more to society than they cost the American social security system. The paper contrasts Nigerian newcomers with those from Somalia, whose work ethic is similarly strong, but whose lack of education hurts their employment prospects here.
The authors argue that Americans should "reconsider the treatment of African immigrants as a collective group, as this obscures differences between immigrants from different African countries and the ways they adjust to life in the U.S."
Abel Chikanda, assistant professor of African & African American studies and geography, and a KU doctoral student, Julie Morris, are the co-authors of a paper published this spring in the journal African Geographical Review. In it, they compare and contrast the incorporation (they prefer that term to "integration") of immigrants from two African nationsNigeria and Somaliausing data from the 2017 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Chikanda, who was born in Zimbabwe, said he had long noted that those outside Africa tend to regard all African immigrants as part of the same group, ignoring the fact that there are 55 countries on the continent.
"I wanted to challenge this notion of treating African immigrants as one unified entity," Chikanda said, "so I purposefully chose two groupsthe Nigerians, who have a long immigration history, and then the other group from Somalia. They are coming from a war-torn country as refugees. They don't have high levels of education, and they have another handicap of being Muslim. So I wanted to see how these two distinct African groups are formed when they enter into U.S. society."
Since 1980, immigrants from Africa have formed an ever-larger percentage of immigrants to the United States, at least through 2017, when the president's travel ban from mostly Muslim countries took effect. Today, Africans comprise 5.1% of all immigrants to the United States.
And while there are differences among people from various African countries, when considered as a whole, the authors write, "Compared to the U.S. population, the African-born immigrant population is generally more youthful with 81.3% falling in the 18-64 age group, compared to 61.8% for the national population."
Their relative youth is one reason why these immigrants are net contributors to American society, the authors wrote. They are "likely to exert less pressure on the country's pension and social security system. In the absence of significant barriers to employment opportunities, African-born immigrants are strategically positioned to make a net positive contribution to the country's social security system."
And while relatively lower levels of development in Africa lead Americans to assume that African immigrants are less well-educated, "Data from the ACS shows that African-born immigrants aged 25 and over possess high levels of education comparable to, if not better than, the average American population."
Refugees who flee to the country are expected to be self-sufficient within six months of arrivingwhen government benefits run out, Chikanda said. Thus, perhaps it should not be surprising that data from the ACS show that "the labor force participation rates of African-born immigrants are higher than that of the foreign-born population and the general U.S. population," the authors wrote.
The "participation rate" is the number of employed and unemployed-but-looking as a percentage of the population ages 16 years and over.
The rate for African immigrants, the study found, was roughly 73%, or about 10 percentage points greater than for native-born Americans. This makes sense because the immigrants almost never have the generational family wealth or high-earning spouse that permits some Americans to avoid working.
Even if higher rates of labor force participation do not automatically translate to higher rates of employment, the gap between immigrants and the U.S.-born population held true in 2017, the study found.
The authors wrote: "Overall, African-born immigrants aged 16 and over have a higher rate of employment (69.2%) relative to the foreign-born population (63.1%) and the general US population (59.9%)."
The study also notes significant differences between Nigerian immigrants, who mostly come from that country's south, and Somalis. For one thing, with its history of British colonization, many more Nigerians speak English upon arrival in the U.S. than do Somalis. That makes the Nigerians' transition easier in almost every respect.
"For the Nigerian-born immigrants, the proportion that possesses at least a bachelor's degree is 60.5%," Chikanda said. "But when we look at the Somali-born population ... that's about 15%."
That higher level of education and English skill has translated into better jobsa significant percentage of them managerialfor the Nigerian immigrants, Chikanda said.
Social service agencies across the country have found themselves with few refugees to resettle under the Trump administration, resulting in cuts to their funding and staff, Chikanda said. But if there is a bright side to the restrictions on newcomers, he said, it is that resettlement agencies can devote more time to helping those who made it to these shores.
Explore further Heart disease risk profiles differ widely among African-Americans, blacks from the Caribbean and Africa
More information: Abel Chikanda et al. Assessing the integration outcomes of African immigrants in the United States, African Geographical Review (2020). Abel Chikanda et al. Assessing the integration outcomes of African immigrants in the United States,(2020). DOI: 10.1080/19376812.2020.1744455
Latest News Westpac makes first fixed rate move of 2022 New year, same rate action as major lenders continue rate hikes
Inside the property market explosion in regional Australia Regional broker explains just how crazy the property market has been in one NSW town
Some of Australias leading neobank and fintech upstarts have seen a recent and significant drop in media exposure following their prolonged period of profile growth, according to a study of major metropolitan newspapers and news websites that ran from June 2019 to May 2020.
The analysis by Streem found usage of the term neobank within the countrys media has fallen 74% from its peak earlier this year, with several brands experiencing deep cuts to their profile which seem to be correlated to the COVID-19 lockdown which began in March.
The research highlighted that non-bank lender Prospa was the notable exception given the media attention it received in April after having been named as a participant of the governments Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme.
However, after this bump, Prospas media mentions fell 97% in May.
Over the past 12 months, the newer market players have been locked in fierce competition to build profile.
Going off a list of major metro publications, Prospa charted 495 media items ahead of Xinja (444) and 86 400 (402).
Comparatively, among larger traditional banking institutions, ING had 2,507 media items, ME Bank 657 and UBank 392. Each of the big four had between 15,000 and 19,000.
Athena had the leading profile of the new breed of digital home lenders with 296 mentions, which compared to the 409 media items for established brand Aussie Home Loans and 177 for Rams.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. - President Donald Trump toured a border fence along the U.S.-Mexico divide here Tuesday, seeking to tout what he views as a key reelection accomplishment in a critical state as his bid for a second term has been upended by a resurgent pandemic, an economic crisis and racial unrest.
Trump, who has increasingly focused on immigration amid the coronavirus crisis, said he was marking the 200th mile of border wall erected since his election and reviving one of the most contentious issues of a first term now defined by more pressing challenges.
"It's never mentioned anymore - the wall is never mentioned anymore," Trump said during a roundtable in Yuma, Ariz. "The reason it's not mentioned - it's not that we won the battle. It's that it's such a compelling thing to have done. Because you see the number, and where that wall is going, as you're seeing, it's like magic."
While visiting the border, Trump put his signature on a plaque attached to the barrier.
The trip - more than three hours on Air Force One to a state dealing with a record-high spike in coronavirus cases - was itself controversial because Trump and his aides continued to flout public health guidelines at the same time that top administration officials were testifying before Congress about the growing threat of the coronavirus, which causes the disease covid-19.
Neither Trump nor his aides wore masks during the visit to Arizona, which included the border wall tour and a speech to a crowded group of young supporters in Phoenix. Public health officials have argued against unnecessary travel and several testified Tuesday about the need to maintain social distancing and other preventive measures.
Calling the coronavirus pandemic the "greatest public health crisis" that the United States has faced in more than a century, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield urged Americans to continue taking preventive measures to control the spread of the disease.
"Right now, the most powerful weapon against this disease are social distancing, face coverings and hand hygiene," Redfield told lawmakers.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, told lawmakers that Arizona was among states seeing a "disturbing surge" in new cases.
Trump did not spend much time speaking about the coronavirus during his trip to Arizona, despite the state's rapidly rising caseload. On Tuesday, Arizona recorded a record 3,593 new known cases of the virus, as well as a rolling average in new infections 77% higher than last Tuesday's. The state is now reporting 2,136 hospitalizations, more than double the number at the beginning of the month. Hospital bed usage and intensive care unit usage are at 83% and 84% capacity, respectively.
The president focused on touting his immigration record and sought to convince voters in Arizona to back his 2020 reelection bid. Political consultants list Arizona as one of the most important states in the November elections, and Democrats are trying to defeat Trump and Republican Sen. Martha McSally. Both have slipped in the polls in recent weeks, and Trump has visited the state twice even as the pandemic sharply restricted his travel schedule.
"We need you in Washington. Will you please win?" Trump said to McSally during the roundtable. "Because we need you. The alternative that's running against you is not the person that we want."
Democrat Mark Kelly, who is challenging McSally, has been leading in recent polling in a state some Republicans consider key to their quest to keep the White House and maintain control of the Senate. His campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump has pushed a hard-line immigration message as he has attempted to revitalize his campaign after a series of setbacks. In the past week, the president has issued a proclamation curbing immigration visas through the end of the year and decried a Supreme Court ruling that blocked his attempt to end a program shielding some undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Trump's visit to the border was the latest in a series of similar trips in which he has inspected the barrier at various stages of its development since 2017.
The Trump administration has completed more than 220 new linear miles of border barriers, according to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures. CBP officials say they remain on track to deliver on the president's promise to complete 450 miles by the end of the year, but to meet that goal they will need to increase the current pace of construction to roughly 40 new miles per month.
As construction crews race to meet Trump's objectives despite the pandemic and the desert's withering summer heat, the project has essentially split into two. The administration has been laying down new 30-foot-tall steel barriers relatively quickly on federally-controlled land in Western states, including national forests, wildlife preserves and military bases. But progress has been much slower along the lower Rio Grande in South Texas - the areas considered to be the highest priority to the CBP - because the land there is almost entirely in private hands.
The government has been using its eminent-domain authority to gain access to that land, but the slow pace of property seizures has frustrated Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior adviser, whom he has tasked with overseeing wall construction.
The president continues to view the project as an asset to his reelection bid and tangible proof of his ability to deliver on promises he made during his 2016 campaign that were widely mocked and dismissed as unrealistic.
More than three years later, Trump's border wall has morphed into one of the most expensive federal infrastructure projects in U.S. history. The White House has obtained $15 billion for construction so far, two-thirds of which has been diverted from Defense Department construction funds and counternarcotics programs over the objections of Democrats and some Republicans.
On Tuesday, the president put his signature to a section of the barrier that has recently been coated in black paint. Trump has been pushing for years to have the entire structure painted, telling aides that it will discourage climbers by making the metal too hot to touch. The cost of painting the wall across hundreds of miles of deserts and mountains is projected to add $500 million to the project's price tag while increasing the structure's long-term maintenance requirements.
Presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has said he will halt work on the project if elected, potentially stopping the bulldozers and excavators in their tracks with hundreds of miles of planned barriers left incomplete.
Trump singled out Biden for a political attack during the official White House event in Yuma.
"The Biden people - and he's controlled totally by the radical left, as you understand, he's not controlling it, they're controlling him - they want open borders, they want criminal sanctuaries, they want everything that doesn't work," Trump said. "I don't even think it works politically, frankly."
Biden has criticized Trump for "creating a humanitarian crisis" at the border and slammed the latest immigration restrictions as an "attempt to distract" from a failed coronavirus response.
Trump was scheduled to speak later Tuesday in Phoenix at a Students for Trump rally at Dream City Church, which according to local news can hold about 3,000 people. Arizona doctors raised alarms about the planned mass gathering, which occurred as many of the new coronavirus patients filling up local hospitals have been younger.
Phoenix-based members of the Committee to Protect Medicare, a national network of doctors that's lobbied against Trump, joined a chorus of voices urging caution.
"This is a public health issue. It's not about young or old, it's not about being Republican or Democrat," said Jagruti Patel, a critical care pulmonologist at HonorHealth in Phoenix who says her hospital's intensive care units are 90% full. "It's about human safety."
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The Washington Post's Lena H. Sun, Yasmeen Abutaleb and Hannah Knowles contributed to this report.
For the inhabitants of the districts of Gutersloh and Warendorf is it a Deja-vu of the most unpleasant kind: the curve that the infection is happening in and around Covid-19 is intended to represent, is flattened, and the "new normal" almost everyday, it is with the new-old freedoms over again. is For hundreds of thousands it is now, once again, to not behave in a way that it comes to a situation like the one in March in Italy or in Spain. It stipulates, in any case, the rules and regulations, the Federal unit is to ensure that local Corona regional epidemics, and no second or even third "waves" are outbreaks.
Therefore, the Prime Minister, Laschet remained on Tuesday, not only objectively, but also subjectively with no choice. Because of the Rhine countries, Annegret Kramp-to follow Karrenbauer at the top of the CDU, must not give even the impression that he did not take the outbreak seriously. Then that would confirm, possibly, the impression from the first few weeks of the "lock downs", was Laschet, in contrast to the Bavarian Prime Minister Soder (CSU), in terms of national integrity hard to beat, and the crisis-hardened German Chancellor Angela Merkel rather than brother profligate on the way. Moreover, the dusseldorf Prime Minister would be in case of bad crisis management risk to be as fair-weather politicians are perceived, and to forfeit the claim to the candidacy of the Union parties.
For (temporary) Lockdown of affected citizens in Eastern Westphalia and in the munsterland region, this is no consolation, on the contrary. Shortly before the start of the summer holidays, you have to deal with insofar as shortcomings, as the Federal government and many countries have been watching the machinations of the meat industry for many years, against my better judgement, sitting on the sidelines. Now for the end of the contracts for work and services and an animal welfare label, cheap to enter. If laschet's labour Minister Laumann (CDU), with the words, quote, the abuses in the meat industry to be "known for years", then it must also be Prime Minister (like many other politicians) questions, where have you been all these years. Ever in the collection of workers from Eastern Europe, or in the animal factories in Germany accommodation?
Updated Date: 23 June 2020, 16:19
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:21:47|Editor: huaxia
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HONG KONG, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The legislation on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will enable the vast majority of Hong Kong residents to better enjoy the advantages under "one country, two systems," officials of China's central authorities said on Tuesday.
The Legislative Affairs Commission under the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR jointly held 12 symposiums on Tuesday to hear opinions from the Hong Kong society on the draft law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.
Officials of the central authorities said at the symposiums that the upcoming law will focus on addressing the HKSAR's prominent problems in safeguarding national security and providing legal guarantees for preventing, curbing and punishing crimes including secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security.
The legislation will reflect the principle of "one country, two systems" and will take into consideration not only the practical needs and requirements for safeguarding national security, but also the differences between the two systems and the actual situation in Hong Kong, the officials said.
The legislation will consider not only its consistency with the Constitution, the Basic Law and national laws on safeguarding national security, but also its compatibility and complementarity with Hong Kong's existing legal system. It will also take into account both the characteristics of the mainland's legal system and the traditions and customs of the common law, they added.
To ensure the effective implementation of this law in the HKSAR, it is essential for the central authorities to retain jurisdiction over certain crimes that seriously endanger national security under special circumstances, the officials said.
Embodying the principle of "punishing a tiny small group and protecting the vast majority," the legislation will ensure that the capitalist system in Hong Kong remains unchanged, the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law are not diminished, Hong Kong's judicial independence is intact, and all the legitimate rights and interests of foreigners and foreign investors' confidence in Hong Kong are guaranteed, they said.
To the vast majority of Hong Kong residents, the legislation will provide further protection so that they can better enjoy the institutional advantages of "one country, two systems," and live, work and start businesses in a safer, more stable and harmonious social environment, they said.
A total of 120 representatives from various sectors and organizations in Hong Kong attended the symposiums to express their views.
Voicing unanimous support to the legislation and calling for early promulgation of the law, the attendees said the law will plug loopholes in the HKSAR's legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, so as to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and ensure the enduring development of the "one country, two systems" principle. Enditem
Some of the recipient states include Maharashtra (275), Delhi (275), Gujarat (175), Bihar (100), Karnataka (90), Rajasthan (75), among other States and Union Territories.
A sum of Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for supplying 50,000 Made in India ventilators to government-run COVID hospitals across the country through the PM-CARES Fund. Apart from this, Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated for the welfare of migrant labourers from the fund. According to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), so far 2,923 ventilators have been manufactured, out of which 1,340 ventilators have already been delivered to the States/UTs.
The recipients of these include Maharashtra (275), Delhi (275), Gujarat (175), Bihar (100), Karnataka (90), Rajasthan (75), among other States and Union Territories. By the end of June, additional 14,000 ventilators will be delivered to all States and UTs.
While 30,000 ventilators are being manufactured by M/s Bharat Electronics Limited, the remaining 20,000 ventilators are being manufactured by AgVa Healthcare (10,000), AMTZ Basic (5,650), AMTZ High End (4,000) and Allied Medical (350), respectively.
50,000 Made in India ventillators under PM CARES Fund; So far 2923 ventilators manufactured, out of which 1340 ventilators already delivered to States/UTs. Prominent recipients incl Maharashtra (275), Delhi(275), Gujarat (175), Bihar(100),Karnataka(90),Rajasthan(75): PMO#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/MW5bLLLOcW ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
Also Read: Impose lockdown in Bengaluru, otherwise it would be another Brazil: HD Kumaraswamy
Also Read: Rajnath Singh arrives in Moscow to attend 75th Victory Day Parade
Meanwhile, the sum of Rs 1,000 crore has been distributed on the formula of 50 per cent weightage for the population as per 2011 census, 40 per cent weightage for the number of positive COVID-19 cases and 10 per cent for equal distribution among all the States/UTs.
The sum provided under this measure will be used for arranging accommodation, food, medical treatment and transportation of the returnee workers.
While Maharashtra has received Rs 181 crore under this, Uttar Pradesh (Rs 103 cr), Tamil Nadu (Rs 83 cr), Gujarat (Rs 66 cr), Delhi (Rs 55 cr), West Bengal (Rs 53 cr), Bihar (Rs 51 cr), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 50 cr), Rajasthan (Rs 50 cr) and Karnataka (Rs 34 cr).
Following the COVID-19 pandemic in India, the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund) was created on March 28 this year by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
The contributions in the fund are being used for combating, containment and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak.
Also Read: Jagannath Rath Yatra begins in Odishas Puri; PM Modi extends wishes
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BUFFALO, N.Y., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athenex, Inc. (ATNX), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and related conditions, today announced the promotion of Teresa Bair, Esq. to Executive Officer as General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Administration. She will report to Athenexs Chief Executive Officer.
Ms. Bair, who has more than 23 years of private and in-house legal experience, advances from the position of Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs and Administration. Since joining Athenex in 2015, she has held various roles with increasing responsibility. As General Counsel, she will continue overseeing all legal matters of the Company worldwide and serving as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors. As Senior Vice President, Administration, Ms. Bair will lead administration and government relations for U.S. operations and work closely with the Companys senior management team across the globe.
Teresas valuable legal counsel and unmatched corporate knowledge and experience have made her an institutional asset to Athenex, stated Dr. Johnson Lau, Athenexs Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors. She is involved in every aspect of the business and remains fully dedicated to the achievement of our corporate objectives. Teresa will also continue to play a critical role in advising the Board and leadership team on legal and corporate governance matters. We are delighted to expand her role to that of an Executive Officer and we are confident she will continue to be a strong and prominent leader within Athenex.
Ms. Bair added, All of us at Athenex are driven by the prospect of creating new paradigms in the treatment of cancer. I am excited to take on a new role as Executive Officer and General Counsel as we execute on our mission of bringing innovative cancer treatments to the market and improving health outcomes globally.
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Prior to joining Athenex, Ms. Bair was a partner at Harris Beach PLLC, a nationally recognized law firm, where she successfully represented and advised business clients, including Fortune 500 companies, on complex and diverse matters. She serves on the Boards of Directors of BirchBioMed Inc., the University at Buffalo Law Alumni Association, and the Western New York Womens Foundation, as well as the Advisory Boards of Varia Ventures and the Buffalo Institute for Genomics & Data Analytics. She received her law degree (JD) from University at Buffalo School of Law, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University.
About Athenex, Inc.
Founded in 2003, Athenex, Inc. is a global clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to becoming a leader in the discovery, development and commercialization of next generation drugs for the treatment of cancer. Athenex is organized around three platforms, including an Oncology Innovation Platform, a Commercial Platform and a Global Supply Chain Platform. The Companys current clinical pipeline is derived from four different platform technologies: (1) Orascovery, based on P-glycoprotein inhibitor, (2) Src kinase inhibition, (3) T-cell receptor-engineered T-cells (TCR-T), and (4) Arginine deprivation therapy. Athenexs employees worldwide are dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients by creating more active and tolerable treatments. Athenex has offices in Buffalo and Clarence, New York; Cranford, New Jersey; Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan; multiple locations in Chongqing, China; Manchester, UK; Guatemala City, Guatemala and Buenos Aires, Argentina. For more information, please visit www.athenex.com.
CONTACTS
Athenex, Inc.:
Randoll Sze
Chief Financial Officer
Email: RandollSze@athenex.com
Joint venture will yield $10.1 billion in foreign direct investment in one of the largest global energy infrastructure transactionsLargest transaction in ADNOC's strategy to proactively manage its assets and maximize value, launched in 2017Foreign investment into ADNOC's infrastructure unlocks significant capital to reinvest in ADNOC's strategic growth projects and reinforces the UAE as an investment destination of choiceLandmark transaction creates a further benchmark for large-scale energy infrastructure investment into the UAE and wider region from leading global institutional investors
Abu Dhabi, UAE, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with some of the world's leading infrastructure investors and operators, sovereign wealth and pension funds. A consortium of investors comprising Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), Brookfield Asset Management, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers'), NH Investment & Securities and Snam (the Consortium), will invest in select ADNOC gas pipeline assets valued at $20.7 billion.
In one of the largest global energy infrastructure transactions, the Consortium will collectively acquire a 49% stake in ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets LLC (henceforth referred to as "ADNOC Gas Pipelines"), a newly formed subsidiary of ADNOC with lease rights to 38 pipelines covering a total of 982.3 kilometers, with ADNOC holding the 51% majority stake. The innovative transaction structure allows ADNOC to tap new pools of global institutional investment capital, whilst at the same time maintaining full operating control over the assets included as part of the investment.
Under the terms of the agreement, ADNOC will lease its ownership interest in the assets to ADNOC Gas Pipelines for 20 years in return for a volume-based tariff subject to a floor and a cap. The transaction will result in upfront proceeds of over $10 billion to ADNOC and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
The gas pipeline network connects ADNOC's upstream assets to local UAE off-takers. Ownership of the pipelines, management of pipeline operations, and all responsibility for associated operational and capital expenditures will remain with ADNOC. For ADNOC's partners, this transaction represents a unique opportunity to invest in quality energy infrastructure assets with a low-risk profile that generate stable cash flows.
Commenting on the transaction, His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, said: "We are pleased to once again partner with some of the world's leading global infrastructure and institutional investors in what marks the region's largest energy infrastructure investment. This milestone transaction demonstrates the trust and confidence placed in ADNOC by the global investment community and unlocks significant value from our pipeline portfolio, following last year's groundbreaking oil pipeline infrastructure investment partnership. Today's landmark investment signals continued strong interest in ADNOC's low-risk, income-generating assets, and sets another benchmark for large-scale energy infrastructure investments in the UAE and the wider region. It solidifies ADNOC's position as an attractive partner and reinforces the UAE's track record as the region's go-to foreign direct investment destination, even during the current unprecedented circumstances."
Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and Managing Partner of GIP commented: "We are delighted to be entering into this strategic partnership with ADNOC, one of the world's leading energy companies. ADNOC's gas network is a core piece of midstream infrastructure in the UAE and this transaction presents a unique opportunity to invest in an asset of this quality and importance, while also supporting ADNOC in their smart growth strategy. This transaction underscores GIP's strategy of investing in high quality infrastructure assets and developing long term strategic partnerships with industry leaders."
"We are pleased to invest in this strategic pipeline system, which serves as the critical link between UAE low-cost natural gas supply and robust in-country demand," said Bruce Flatt, CEO, Brookfield Asset Management. "This transaction aligns with our strategy of investing in high quality, essential assets generating stable and predictable cash flows in a sector we know well. ADNOC has established itself as one of the world's leading natural gas producers, with an exemplary operational record. We look forward to partnering with them in support of this critical asset and sector."
"This strategic transaction is attractive to Ontario Teachers' as it provides us with a stake in a high- quality infrastructure asset with stable long-term cash flows, which will help us deliver on our pension promise," said Ziad Hindo, Chief Investment Officer, Ontario Teachers'. "This new partnership with ADNOC and a group of world-class institutional and infrastructure investors expands our global presence and provides further geographic diversification to our portfolio."
"Investing into ADNOC's gas infrastructure and supporting Abu Dhabi's energy initiatives reinforces our investment diversification strategy and demonstrates Korea's growing presence in the global infrastructure space. I am confident this milestone transaction can become a stepping-stone to broaden Korean investments in the region," remarked Young-Chae Jeong, Chairman & CEO of NH Investment & Securities.
Snam CEO, Marco Alvera, said: "With this strategic transaction, we strengthen our international footprint by entering a country and a region that are key to our sector. Our aim is to promote further cooperation opportunities, particularly in the energy transition. We will work with ADNOC and the Consortium partners by leveraging our industrial skills, know-how and innovative solutions in natural gas infrastructure management and provide our contribution to the UAE's energy system. This transaction was carried out remotely over the past months, testifying the resilience of our company and its willingness to continue its growth path."
This agreement is the largest transaction since ADNOC announced the expansion of its partnership and investment model in 2017, which aims to unlock value for ADNOC. Since then, ADNOC has entered the debt capital markets for the first time, issuing a $3 billion bond backed by the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline; partially floated ADNOC Distribution, the first-ever IPO of an ADNOC Group company; and entered into several strategic partnerships in its drilling, refining, fertilizer and trading businesses, amongst others. These transactions and today's landmark announcement are part of ADNOC's ongoing delivery of its value creation strategy.
This milestone agreement reinforces ADNOC's focus and role as a catalyst for responsible and sustained investment and value creation for Abu Dhabi and the UAE in this challenging period. The partnership unlocks significant capital that can be deployed into strategic initiatives to support ADNOC's smart growth strategy.
Additional Transaction Details
The strategic joint venture will see ADNOC pay ADNOC Gas Pipelines a volume-based tariff for the use of pipelines that transport sales gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) from ADNOC's upstream assets to Abu Dhabi's key outlets and terminals. The tariff will be charged on the total volumes transported through the pipelines, together with liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows, subject to a volume cap. The new subsidiary will distribute 100% of free cash to the investors in the form of quarterly dividends.
Bank of America Securities, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Mizuho Securities acted as financial advisors to ADNOC while Moelis & Company acted as an independent financial advisor to ADNOC.
ADNOC's Gas Strategy
The UAE holds the world's sixth-largest natural gas reserves. ADNOC's gas strategy aims to meet in-country gas demand and support the UAE in achieving gas self-sufficiency. Dynamics for the UAE gas market are attractive, driven largely by domestic utilities and growing industrial production, in addition to the demand created by ADNOC's own upstream and downstream activities.
ADNOC's Sustainability Strategy
ADNOC has a legacy of responsible oil and gas production and long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship. Earlier this year, it announced a comprehensive set of sustainability goals, which included plans to decrease its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 25% by 2030, strengthening its position as one of the least carbon-intensive oil and gas companies in the world.
# # #
About ADNOC
ADNOC is one of the world's leading diversified energy and petrochemicals groups. With 14 specialist subsidiary and joint venture companies, ADNOC is a primary catalyst for the UAE's growth and diversification. To find out more, visit www.adnoc.ae
For further information: media@adnoc.ae
About Global Infrastructure Partners
Global Infrastructure Partners.
About Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a leading global alternative asset manager with over
$515 billion of assets under management across real estate, infrastructure, renewable power, private equity and credit. Brookfield owns and operates long-life assets and businesses, many of which form the backbone of the global economy. Utilizing its global reach, access to large- scale capital and operational expertise, Brookfield offers a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world - including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors.
Brookfield Asset Management is listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the symbol BAM and BAM.A respectively.
About Ontario Teachers'
The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Boardand follow us on Twitter @OtppInfo.
About NH Investment & Securities ("NH I&S")
NH I&S is the second largest investment bank in Korea, offering a broad range of financial services, encompassing wealth management, investment banking, brokerage and merchant banking through 79 domestic branches. Since its founding in 1969, NH I&S has been a trusted partner of Korea's capital markets. As of September 2019, NH I&S has total assets of US$46bn and shareholders' equity of US$4.5bn. NH I&S, together with NongHyup Financial Group and its affiliates, forms NH Financial Group. For more information, visit www.nhqv.com
About Snam
Snam is one of the world's leading energy infrastructure operators and one of the largest Italian-listed companies in terms of market capitalization. Through its international subsidiaries, it operates in Albania, Austria, China, France, Greece and the UK. The company has the largest natural gas transmission network and storage capacity among European peers and is also one of the main operators in regasification. As part of a 6.5 billion plan to 2023, Snam invests 1.4 bn in the SnamTec project, focused on innovation and new energy transition businesses, from sustainable mobility to biomethane and energy efficiency. Snam also aims to enable and promote the development of hydrogen to encourage the decarbonisation of the energy sector and industry. Snam's business model is based on sustainable growth, transparency, the promotion of talent and diversity and the social development of regions through the initiatives of Fondazione Snam. To find out more, visit www.snam.it
For further information: ufficio.stampa@snam.it
(Newser) With reusable containers giving way to single-use plastics during the pandemic, consumers are receiving expert reassurance that it doesn't need to be that way. More than 100 scientists from 18 nations issued a statement saying that reusable containers do not increase the risk of transmitting the coronavirus, the Guardian reports. As long as basic hygiene is followed, reusable bags, cups, and other containerssuch as grocery bagsshould be fine, they said, adding that the coronavirus spreads mainly through inhaling droplets in the air, not by touching surfaces. Scientists do advise thoroughly washing reusable containers with soap and hot water. The group issuing the statement included epidemiologists, virologists, biologists, chemists, and doctors, per EcoWatch.
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The need for protective gear has brought a rise in the use of plastics, and scientists warned of the potential harm if efforts to promote reusables lose ground. "We should make every attempt to avoid overconsumption of single-use plastics," said a chemistry professor at Oxford, "particularly in applications like packaging." A Greenpeace UK activist welcomed the scientists' statement, saying that reusables can "cut down on throwaway plastic and protect our wildlife, seas and rivers." Once the pandemic is over, the professor said, she hopes everyone is "more determined than ever to solve the pernicious problems associated with plastics in the environment." (Read more plastic stories.)
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Canarc Resource Corp. (CCM.TO)(CRCUF)(CAN.F) announces the appointment of Mr. Troy Gill, MAIG., to the position of Vice President, Exploration, effective immediately. Mr. Gill is a geologist with extensive exploration experience and a successful track record of discoveries, including 15 years with Rio Tinto where he twice received the Rio Tinto Discovery Award.
Scott Eldridge, Canarc's CEO stated: "It is a pleasure to welcome Mr. Gill to our Canarc management team. We look forward to working with Troy to create value for shareholders through both our exploration and acquisition strategies. Canarc plans to carry out two drill programs on our projects in Nunavut and British Columbia over the next three months. We thank outgoing VP Exploration Dr. Jacob Margolis for his contributions and wish him all the best."
Mr. Gill graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Geology from the University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia in 1993. He has 27 years of mining and mineral exploration experience, more than half with Rio Tinto, searching for a wide range of commodities in a variety of geological settings, including gold, copper, nickel, diamonds, coal and iron ore.
His greatest exploration success came with the grassroots discovery of the Caliwingina Channel Iron Deposit in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, that grew to become a resource of nearly one billion tonnes of iron ore. After leaving Rio Tinto, Troy has enjoyed success as Exploration Manager with Sanatana Resources Inc. discovering the diamondiferous Dharma kimberlite in the Sahtu region, NWT, Canada.
As a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, Troy meets the requirements of and will act as Canarc's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
"Scott Eldridge"
Scott Eldridge, Chief Executive Officer
CANARC RESOURCE CORP.
About Canarc - Canarc Resource Corp. is a growth-oriented gold exploration company focused on generating superior shareholder returns by discovering, exploring and developing strategic gold deposits in North America. The Company is currently advancing two core assets, each with substantial gold resources, and has initiated a high impact exploration strategy to acquire and explore new properties that have district-scale gold discovery potential. Canarc shares trade on the TSX: CCM and the OTCQB: CRCUF.
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For More Information - Please contact:
Scott Eldridge, CEO
Toll Free: 1-877-684-9700 Tel: (604) 685-9700 Cell: (604) 722-5381
Email: scott@canarc.net Website: www.canarc.net
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Statements contained in this news release that are not historic facts are forward-looking information that involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future performance of Canarc, and the Company's plans and exploration programs for its mineral properties, including the timing of such plans and programs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "has proven", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "potential", "appears", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "at least", "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", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the Company's ongoing due diligence review in relation to the Acquisition, risks related to the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; commodity prices; changes in general economic conditions; market sentiment; currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's ability to raise funds through equity financings; risks inherent in mineral exploration; risks related to operations in foreign countries; future prices of metals; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.
SOURCE: Canarc Resource Corp.
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Lebanons Tourism Ministry has again authorised it, after it was banned because it can spread the virus. Restaurant and bar owners are happy; doctors and infectious disease specialists are not.
Beirut (AsiaNews) Lebanons Tourism Minister Ramzi Moucharafieh has authorised the use of the hookah (nargilah), which had been banned to counter the spread of the coronavirus.
The ministerial directive authorises its use "in bars, restaurants and on beaches". Restaurant and bar owners are happy, but doctors and infectious disease specialists are not. Some believe that businesses put pressure on the authorities to get the ban lifted, concerned about its impact on their revenue.
The directive specifies that hookahs must be outdoors and that pipes and tips must be disposable. They must be washed and disinfected after each use, even only once a day.
The minister's decision has elicited harsh criticism from scientists, who believe that the fight against the coronavirus must continue, since the pandemic is far from over.
In an open letter, university rectors, heads of several orders, heads of faculties of medicine and NGOs urge the minister to reconsider his decision.
"Since the beginning of the epidemic, we have increased our efforts to fight COVID-19 and limit its harm as much as possible, said Charaf Abou Charaf, president of the Lebanese Order of Physicians, speaking to LOrient Le Jour.
Whilst we advise people to take care of their health and offer advice on how to protect oneself from the disease, especially by giving up smoking, what is the logic behind authorising the hookah, knowing that smokers are more likely to develop complications from the disease?
Authorising hookahs undermines social distancing, one of the main measures in the fight against the spread of coronavirus, explains Dr Lung Mirna Waked. In fact, when many share the hookah, they are less than a metre from each other.
Furthermore, whilst it is not yet known if sharing the tube by more people, even if the tip is changed, increases the risk of SARS-CoV-2 contagion, what is known is that a few years ago, we detected several cases of tuberculosis in people who shared the same hookah.
What is more, studies have shown that smokers, especially chronic smokers, infected with SARS-CoV-2, develop a more severe form of the disease. Hence, the message sent during the pandemic should be for people to quit smoking.
Here are todays leading news stories:
Politics
-- Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong asked the Central Public Security Party Committee to make thorough preparations for its upcoming Party Congress during a conference in Hanoi on Monday.
-- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded outgoing Country Director of the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam Ousmane Dione for his impressive contributions to the ties between the bank and the Southeast Asian country during a reception in Hanoi on Monday.
Society
-- The highest temperature in northern and central Vietnam is expected to be at 37-40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, while UV Index will be at a harmful level, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.
-- Military units were able to salvage a bomb measuring 1.6 meters long and 35 centimeters in diameter from a section of the Red River near Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi on Monday.
-- Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung has ordered the municipal Department of Police to verify two separate cases where two young boys were allegedly molested by two men inside the elevators of local apartment buildings last week.
-- The Peoples Committee in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang has approved a project worth VND165 billion (US$7.1 million) to deal with serious subsidence along National Highway 91.
-- The Ministry of Health has proposed that relevant authorities grant a VND500 million ($21,600) reward to the team of doctors, nurses, and experts in charge of treating a British man who has been Vietnams most seriously ill COVID-19 patient.
Business
-- During a regular government meeting in Hanoi on Monday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Vietnam Electricity to review recent hikes in household electricity bills, stressing that mistakes that affect peoples rights must be avoided and violations, if any, must be strictly handled.
-- The 45-MW Phuoc Ninh solar power plant, which costs over VND1 trillion ($43 million), was officially inaugurated in Thuan Nam District in south-central Ninh Thuan Province on Monday.
World news
-- The novel coronavirus has infected over 9.17 million people around the world while killing more than 473,400, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Healths statistics. Over 4.91 million patients have recovered from COVID-19.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Samsung Electronics has launched the Samsung Health Monitor application in South Korea, enabling Galaxy Watch Active2 users in the country to access the app.
To monitor blood pressure on the Galaxy Watch Active2, users will need to first calibrate with a traditional cuff. They will then be able to tap to Measure the blood pressure anytime, anywhere through pulse wave analysis via the Galaxy Watch Active2 wrist sensors.
The Samsung Health Monitor app analyzes the relationship between the calibration value and the blood pressure change to determine the blood pressure.3
When you measure your blood pressure with the Galaxy Watch Active2, the measurement results can be synced to the Samsung Health Monitor app on your Galaxy phone. You can track your blood pressure by days, weeks or months and choose to share this information with your doctor for review or consultation.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) tracking will also be supported on the Samsung Health Monitor app in South Korea within the third quarter of this year. Together, the ground-breaking blood pressure and ECG technology will help users monitor and manage their health by providing on-demand measurements.
It also means that the Galaxy Watch Active2 now boasts some of Samsungs most advanced health and wellness capabilities to date, offering users a range of services to help track exercise, sleep, stress and much more. It provides users with an easy and convenient way to monitor their wellbeing and receive added health insights.
The launch of the Samsung Health Monitor app demonstrates Samsungs dedication to providing accessible and convenient healthcare for all by integrating advanced hardware and best-in-class software technology, said TaeJong Jay Yang, Corporate SVP and Head of Health Team, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics.
Were delighted that Galaxy Watch Active2 users in Korea can now access the new app and receive insights to help them manage their health. We look forward to expanding the app to all future Galaxy Watch products.
To measure blood pressure, users must have the Samsung Health Monitor app installed on both the Galaxy Watch Active2 and the Galaxy smartphone. The Samsung Health Monitor app is automatically installed on the Galaxy Watch Active2 by updating the Watch Software to the latest version via the Galaxy Wearable app. The smartwatch app will then open a link, which will direct users to the smartphone app download page in the Galaxy Store app. TradeArabia News Service
Idlib in Syria - OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images
A British aid worker who was stripped of his UK citizenship was arrested in northwest Syria on Monday by a jihadist group.
Tauqir Sharif was captured in Atmeh, a town north of Idlib province on Monday night and taken to an unknown location, activists in the area said.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was formerly linked to al-Qaeda, and controls parts of the northwest, the last rebel-held area still at war with Damascus.
The reason for his seizure remains unclear.
The 32-year-old from Walthamstow travelled to Syria in 2012 with his British wife and founded the organisation Live Updates from Syria, which works with orphans and widows and raises awareness of the humanitarian catastrophe.
Mr Sharifs wife, Racquell Hayden Best, has requested a formal statement from HTS on the reason for her husbands arrest but has had no official response.
According to a post on her Facebook page, masked men searched their house in Idlib where they live with their children late last night.
HTS security personnel also raided the houses of a number of foreign nationals linked to Mr Sharif, confiscating laptops and mobile phones and shutting down Live Updates from Syria offices and projects, according to Middle East Eye.
Mr Sharifs family told the London-based news organisation that they had not been notified of any demands or ransom.
Mr Sharif had his citizenship revoked in 2017, after he was assessed to be aligned with an al-Qaeda-aligned group, rendering him stateless and effectively stranded in Syria.
I have never aligned myself with any group involved in the conflict or taken part in any operation that is not related to my aid work. I no longer carry an assault rifle as we now have security, so I only need my handgun, Mr Sharif told the Guardian in an interview last year.
Yes, Ive fired it, shooting back at people who shot at us, who want to kill us. But Im not a fighter, Im an aid worker, he said, reportedly pointing to the fact that large aid groups have security and as an independent, he had to carry out that role himself.
He added that other well-known activists, doctors and aid workers had also had their citizenships revoked.
India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent
International flights may resume soon: Heres where the first set of flights may be headed
India
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, June 23: In what comes as a ray of hope for international travel, India is considering establishing "individual bilateral bubbles" with certain counties allowing airlines of each country in the pact to operate international passenger flights.
While there is no clear sign on when scheduled international flights will resume, we now have a sense of where they may be headed. A statement by India's Ministry of Civil Aviation suggests that the first set of flights may take off for the US, UK and Europe.
The ministry's statement has come after the US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it has barred Air India from operating chartered flights between India and the United States from July 22 without its prior approval, in apparent retaliation for the Indian government not allowing American carriers to operate between the two countries.
Covid-19: 70 patients listed as missing in Mumbai's civic body BMC's records | Oneindia News
The Aviation Ministry said, "As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. These are all destinations where demand for travel has not diminished. Final decisions pursuant to negotiations are expected to be taken soon."
More domestic flights likely soon: Hardeep Singh Puri
"We have received requests from authorities in several countries including the US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in the transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission. These requests are being examined," it added.
Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Air India started international chartered flights under Vande Bharat Mission from May 6 to help people stranded amid the pandemic reach their destinations.
The US Department of Transport (DOT) said on Monday it appears that Air India may be using its passenger repatriation charters as a way of circumventing Government of India-imposed prohibition of all scheduled international services.
"We are taking this action (of allowing only those Air India flights from July 22 that have DOT's approval) because Government of India 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," the DOT said.
The Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday that it had one round of negotiations with the representatives of the DOT and US Embassy on June 15 about letting American carriers operate flights.
"They were invited to submit precise proposals in this respect. A communication has now been received on 19 June, 2020 detailing these requests," the ministry said.
Air India has been operating chartered flights on Indo-US routes since May 18 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.
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said on June 20 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 per cent of the levels before the coronavirus.
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 June 20 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 June 10.
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Actor from Guwahati, Assam, Boloram Das believes in striving hard to achieve success. Neither I have nor I ever will ever shy away from working hard to make a mark. I come from a very humble background where every penny counted, so taking up acting was just beyond comprehension for my family. I was only ten when I went to a local natak mandli and I remember they asked for Rs 20 for a month. How I managed those rupees is another story altogether, but from next month they let me join them for free as I was a very eager and hard-working kid, said the actor.
Reaching NSD (National School of Drama) was not an easy task for Boloram. After being part of Kingdom of Dreams in Delhi for long I shifted my base to Mumbai in 2013. Luckily, I got an ad with none other than Amitabh (Bachchan) sir and it actually did make me stand out. Then I acted in numerous episodes of Crime Patrol and got roles in films like Badlapur Boys, Haider and Ok Jaanu, Gabbar is Back. I never thought of any role as big or small for me every role matter as I knew this will keep me in picture, he said.
For Boloram language has been no bar, telling more about this, he said, Though I came from different language zone and my diction of Hindi was never that good. So, I knew that I have to overcome this and because of this I took up a job of a salesman so I get to move around in the city, meet people and just talk and talk. That actually helped me a lot. Today, I am comfortable in Hindi completely.
The diligent actor was in Lucknow in the beginning of the year to shoot for a film with actor Richa Chadha in lead. The film, Madam Chief Minister, has an ensemble cast and I am playing an important character. We all had a great time shooting there. Lucknow for me is a heaven of food. Being an Assamese I love non-vegetarian delicacies and the city of nawabs has a range of Mughlai dishes to savour on. I wish to come back and eat all that tasty stuff again.
With the ongoing crisis the film awaits a release. Its really tough time for the films that are all ready to release. Also, my next film Om and another untitled film too are both complete. Seeing the current trend, we actors dont mind a release on OTT as that is the best available option for now.
With his industry friends from various departments and his wife-actor Tina, he has come up with short film Conditions Apply which got good appreciation on the digital platform.
Chinas COVID-19 Testing Demands Choking Off Canadian Lobster Exports
Lobster import testing demonstrates a double standard for pandemic accountability
New Analysis
Beijing is demanding that Canadian lobster shippers sign COVID-19 liability waivers for products entering China, months after it condemned countries for closing their borders to Chinese travellers to stop the virus from spreading.
On June 19, Chinese importers started requiring a signed declaration that Canadian live and processed lobster be free of COVID-19 before it can enter China, according to a CBC report.
Its the second hit for the industry in recent weeks, after new COVID-19 testing measures and random inspections were imposed on products in at least three major Chinese cities, leading to delayed or cancelled lobster shipments from Nova Scotia.
The restrictions come as the Canadian industry is already struggling to rebound after a precipitous fall in exports to China amid the pandemic.
In January, Canada sent over 4,300 tonnes of live lobster worth $79.3 million to China. By February, sales had fallen to 46 tonnesworth just $940,000, according to seafood publication Undercurrent News.
Last year, Canadian companies shipped a total of $457 million worth of live lobster to China.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and other major food safety agencies report there is no scientific evidence that COVID-19 has been transmitted through seafood or any other food products.
China expert Margaret McCuaig-Johnston says Chinas rules on lobsters is related to Beijings requirement to buy more from the United States as part of the U.S.-China trade deal. Under the first phase of the deal, the Trump administration has required China to buy an extra US$200 billion of American products and services over two years.
This new rule will allow China to get out of its deals with [Canadian] lobster firms, McCuaig-Johnston, a senior fellow with the University of Ottawas Institute for Science, Society and Policy wrote on Twitter. She says lobster is a key product that China must buy from the United States.
U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, after a recent meeting with the Chinese regimes top foreign affairs official Yang Jiechi in Hawaii, said that Yang said Beijing is committed to honouring the obligations of the trade deal.
Beijings Retaliation
In January and February, as the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, began spreading around the world, Canada refused to impose any travel restrictions on Chinese travellersa decision that drew praise from Beijing.
Meanwhile, the regime strongly condemned the United States, Australia, Taiwan, and other countries that closed their borders to travellers from China.
Beijing has come under increased scrutiny in recent months, as more evidence has come to light about the CCPs coverup of the original virus outbreak in Wuhan, which led to the pandemic that crippled the global economy and has caused over 476,000 deaths by June 24, at the time of this writing.
Amid increased criticism, the CCP has engaged in retaliatory measures against several countries that have challenged or criticized the regime for its bad behaviour.
Canada has been increasingly affected by Beijings strong-arm tactics, with restrictions placed on some Canadian agricultural goods and the detention of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig after Canada arrested Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in December 2018 on a U.S. extradition request.
Last week, amid escalating diplomatic tensions between China and Ottawa after Meng lost a key fight in her extradition case, Kovrig and Spavor were charged with suspected espionageindictments that could result in life imprisonment.
Other countries have also experienced retaliation for speaking out against the Chinese regime.
Australia is currently engaged in a protracted trade dispute with the regime, which has resulted in tariffs being placed on Australian barley imports, a ban on imports from four Australian abattoirs, Chinese power plants notified not to buy Australian coal, and a death sentence suddenly given to an Australian actor jailed in China.
Tensions have also escalated between Beijing and Washington amid U.S. criticism of the communist regime on a host of key issues, including its handling of COVID-19, its move to strengthen its grip on Hong Kong, its threat against Taiwans self-ruling status, its unfair trade practices, and its treatment of the countrys Uyghur Muslim minority.
The ski season has officially kicked off in New South Wales and Victoria after weeks of delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But as the slopes and fields opened on Monday it was not quite business as usual, with social distancing rules in place and pre-purchased lift passes required at some locations.
Thredbo in NSW and Mount Buller in Victoria started operating ski lifts on Monday, while Perisher and Victoria's Mount Hotham and Falls Creek will start turning lifts on from Wednesday.
The ski season has officially kicked off in NSW and Victoria after weeks of delay due to the coronavirus pandemic
Guests play in the snow at Mount Buller, Victoria on Monday June 23
But as the slopes and fields opened on Monday it was not quite business as usual
Ski resorts will operate at a reduced capacity and group ski and snowboarding lessons are not permitted, while all accommodation and facilities at the ski fields will have screening and safeguards in place.
The late start to the ski season comes days before school holidays in Victoria and a few weeks ahead of those in NSW in what tourism operators hope will bring a much-needed boost.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday said patrons planning a snow trip this winter should remain vigilant, citing Victoria's recent rise in coronavirus infections.
'We cannot assume because of the case numbers in NSW we are through the worst of it, we just don't know,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters.
'We only have to look south of the border, that could be us, if people don't do the right thing.'
Perisher and Thredbo are forecast to receive only a smattering of snow in the coming days, while Falls Creek, Mount Hotham and Mount Buller can expect a bit more powder than their NSW counterparts.
Guests watch a man snowboarding down the slopes at Mount Buller after its opening on Monday
Ski hire shops and accommodation providers will have increased safety protocols in place to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19
Michelle Taueki and Fletcher McCormack of George's Ski Hire, clean and sanitise boots prior to them being hired out to the public, on June 23, 2020 at Mount Buller, Australia
The ski season in Australia looks very different this year due to new measures around COVID-19
Jindabyne's The Shed Ski Hire owner Gary Vaughan said he's hoping restrictions around the snowfields and resorts further ease from July.
'A lot of people are calling saying they want to come down but can't because of restrictions,' he told AAP.
'We don't know what's going on next week compared to tomorrow.'
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro on Monday said rapid COVID-19 testing will be available for those in the Snowy Mountains region.
'Communities in the Snowy Mountains and those on major roads in and out depend heavily on tourism dollars and I know they will be very appreciative of the business brought in by visitors to the region, but it is imperative that we remember to be COVID safe,' Mr Barilaro said.
'While our regional communities are ready to welcome you with open arms, the message remains clear - if you are sick, get tested and don't travel.'
A snowboarder takes a fall on the slopes on the opening day of the ski season
New Delhi: Retaliating to the illegal custody and barbaric treatment last week of two Indian High Commission staffers in Islamabad by Pakistani security agencies after being abducted at gunpoint, India -- in a major decision on Tuesday -- asked Pakistan to reduce its staff at its High Commission in New Delhi by half within a week. New Delhi said it would reduce its own staff in Islamabad by the same 50 percent proportion.
The decision was communicated to Pakistani Charge dAffaires Syed Haidar Shah, who was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday. This marks a further sharp downward spiral in Indo-Pak ties. New Delhi seems to have been infuriated by the graphic details of the barbaric treatment that the two staffers narrated after their return to India through the Attari-Wagah land border in Punjab on Monday. The two had been abducted and tortured in illegal custody for several hours by Pakistani security agencies last Monday and the MEA had said last week that the two had suffered grievous injuries while being physically assaulted.
Pointing out how two Pakistani High Commission officials had been expelled from India late last month after being caught red-handed while carrying out espionage, New Delhi referred to the sustained campaignof Pakistani agencies to intimidate the officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad from carrying on with their legitimate diplomatic functions. India also pointed how such behaviour by Pakistan was not in conformity with the Vienna Convention and bilateral agreements on the treatment of diplomatic and consular officials but rather an intrinsic element of a larger policy of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism. New Delhi also accused officials of the Pakistan High Commission of maintaining dealings with terrorist organisations.
On Tuesday, the MEA said, The Charge d Affaires of Pakistan was summoned today to the Ministry of External Affairs and informed that India had repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of officials of his High Commission. They have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations. The activities of the two officials caught red-handed and expelled on 31 May 2020 was one example in that regard.
The MEA added, While their officials indulged in actions that are not in conformity with their privileged status in the High Commission, 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 22 June 2020 have provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies.
New Delhi further said, 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. Therefore, the Government of India has taken the decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50%. 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.
In a late-evening reaction, Pakistan rejected Indias allegations and in turn summoned the Indian Charge dAffaires in Islamabad to ask New Delhi to also reduce the Indian High Commissions staff in Islamabad by 50 percent as a reciprocal measure within a week. Incidentally, New Delhi had already declared earlier in the evening that it would also reduce the Indian High Commissions staff by half in Islamabad. According to sources, both the diplomatic missions currently have about 110 personnel each in each others Capital.
Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has commiserated with the defeated aspirants in the NPP Primaries held on Saturday, June 20, 2020 but asked them to make the right choices as they progress with their life.
NPP Primaries
The primaries saw over 100,000 delegates casting their votes for 308 aspirants in various constituencies across the country.
Some sitting Members of Parliament lost their positions to new aspirants while others also went unopposed.
Moneycracy
Prior to the NPP primaries, reports were rife about some aspirants distributing money and items such as TV sets, bicycles among others to buy the votes of the delegates.
At some constituency, it was alleged that the Parliamentary aspirants gave as much as $1,200 to each of his over 300 delegates but still lost the elections.
A defeated aspirant named Eric Amankwa Blay who distributed 250 bicycles to the delegates, after losing the primaries, has gone back for all the bicycles.
Make The Best Decision
Addressing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Kwesi Pratt has advised the defeated aspirants to make the best decision as they move forward with their lives.
Although he wouldn't suggest what decision is appropriate for them to make, Kwesi Pratt however noted should the aspirants become selfish; they might do things which won't augur well for the New Patriotic Party and the entire nation.
"With the defeated ones, are they going to think about themselves or their party or their country? Should it be that they become selfish or think about themselves, it might not augur well for Ghana and their party," he said.
Listen to Kwesi Pratt Jnr. in the video below
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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The Trump administration is extending a ban on green cards issued outside the United States until the end of 202 and adding many temporary work visas to the freeze, including those used heavily by technology companies and multinational corporations. Read more
WASHINGTON The Trump administration on Monday extended a ban on green cards issued outside the United States until the end of the year and added many temporary work visas to the freeze, including those used heavily by technology companies and multinational corporations.
The administration cast the effort as a way to free up jobs in an economy reeling from the coronavirus. A senior official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity predicted it will open up to 525,000 jobs for Americans, a claim that was immediately challenged by critics.
The ban, while temporary, would amount to major restructuring of legal immigration if made permanent, a goal that had eluded the administration before the pandemic. Long-term changes that would prevent many asylum seekers from getting work permits and would allocate high-tech worker visas differently are also being sought.
Business groups pressed hard to limit the changes, but got little of what they wanted, marking a victory for immigration hardliners as Trump seeks to further solidify their support ahead of the November election.
The ban on new visas applies to H-1B visas, which are widely used by major American and Indian technology companies, H-2B visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers, J-1 visas for cultural exchanges and L-1 visas for managers and other key employees of multinational corporations.
There will be exemptions for food processing workers, which make up about 15% of H-2B visas, the official said. Health care workers assisting with the coronavirus fight will continue to be spared from the green-card freeze, though their exemption will be narrower.
In the administration of our Nations immigration system, we must remain mindful of the impact of foreign workers on the United States labor market, particularly in the current extraordinary environment of high domestic unemployment and depressed demand for labor, Trump wrote in his presidential proclamation.
Trump imposed a 60-day ban on green cards issued abroad in April, which was set to expire Monday. That announcement, which largely targeted family members, drew a surprisingly chilly reception from immigration hardliners, who said the president didnt go far enough.
The new steps to include non-immigrant visas went a long toward appeasing hardliners.
This is a bold move by the Trump administration to protect American jobs, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for restrictions. Not all the items on our checklist of needed actions are included in todays announcement, but the corporate lobbyists who were desperately fighting for exceptions to protect their clients access to cheap foreign labor have largely been rebuffed."
Thomas J. Donohue, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's chief executive officer, said the measures will harm, not help, the American economy.
Putting up a not welcome sign for engineers, executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses and other workers wont help our country, it will hold us back, he said. Restrictive changes to our nations immigration system will push investment and economic activity abroad, slow growth, and reduce job creation.
BSA, a group that represents major software companies, urged the administration to reconsider, particularly changes to the H-1B program, saying they will hinder economic recovery by making it harder to fill critical positions.
Filling these roles that are more abundant than the number of U.S. employees qualified to fill them means these jobs can be kept in the U.S.," the group said. "This allows companies based in the U.S. to remain globally competitive, which in turn boosts the U.S. economy, creating jobs for millions of Americans."
The freezes on visas issued abroad are designed to take effect immediately. Other changes, including restrictions on work permits for asylum seekers, will go through a formal rule-making process that takes months.
The administration is proposing a new way of awarding H-1B visas, the official said, awarding them by highest salary instead of by lottery.
H-1B visas are capped at 85,000 a year for people with highly specialized knowledge and minimum of a bachelors degree, often in science, technology, engineering, teaching and accounting. Critics say high-tech companies have used the visas as a tool to outsource jobs to foreigners, replacing Americans.
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. was the largest H-1B employer in the 2018 fiscal year, followed by Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Infosys Ltd., Deloitte Consulting LLP and Microsoft Corp. Other major employers include Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Google and Facebook Inc.
The rule against asylum seekers, scheduled to take effect Aug. 25, would make it much more difficult for them to get work permits by, among other things, lengthening the waiting time to apply from 150 days to a year and barring applicants who cross the border illegally.
The 328-page regulation signed by Chad Mizelle, the Homeland Security Department's acting general counsel, who is considered an ally of White House adviser Stephen Miller says limiting work permits will remove a major incentive for people to come to the United States for asylum.
It is the latest in a long string of measures that make asylum more difficult to get almost unattainable, according to some immigrant advocacy groups.
The rule will prevent many refugees from feeding, supporting, and housing themselves and their families," said Eleanor Acer, Human Rights Firsts senior director for refugee protection. Asylum seekers and their families already struggle to survive under existing work authorization wait times. But this rule will make survival impossible for many.
Perhaps the only major consolation for business and academic institutions is the preservation at least for now of the Optional Practical Training program that allows college graduates to stay in the United States up to three years after completing study.
Jersey Citys waterfront could soon get a new park. But not everyone would get to enjoy it.
The Jersey City Planning Board will consider a proposal from developer LeFrak for Newport Pier Park, a 3.5-acre park on the Hudson River, east of Newports Ellipse apartment building.
Under LeFraks proposal, the majority of the Newport Pier Park will be available only to residents of Newport. Non-residents would have access only to a walkway and public plaza along the north and east edges of the park, as well as a dog run, according to renderings submitted to the Planning Board.
Jersey Digs first reported on the application.
Newport Pier Park, which would sit on a former shipping pier, was designed by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, a New York City firm that is involved in the Little Island project across the Hudson. Renderings show the park will feature picnic areas, art installations and a hammock grove.
Its not clear how the public and residents-only sections would be separated, though a rendering submitted to the Planning Board seemed to label the boundary as wood post and wire.
Under New Jerseys Public Trust Doctrine, the public has a right to access the Hudson riverfront, though the parks proposed public walkway could fulfill that requirement.
On Monday, construction on the site was underway. A posted placard said the crews were working on a roadway.
In an emailed statement, Newport spokesman Jeremy Farrell said the park would be another amenity to the neighborhood.
The rehabilitated pier will feature a public walkway, plaza, viewing deck and dog run that will be maintained by Newport, Farrell said. The interior of the pier will become a private green space for Newport residents.
We are very excited to be able to add this amenity to Jersey City and Newport, he added.
The park is not the only part of Newport to mix public and private. The entire Newport development is the product of a massive partnership between LeFrak and Jersey City, helped by a $40 million federal grant in the 1980s.
The arrangement has made for some unusual features. According to a 2017 New York Times article, drivers pay the LeFrak Organization to park on Newports private streets. And residents from the neighborhoods 17 residential buildings must all go to the same Residential Management Office if problems arise.
LeFrak is requesting no tax abatements for the construction of the park, but the developer has received millions in tax breaks over the years.
The planning board will consider LeFraks application Tuesday. If approved, Farrell said the public sections could be completed by 2021.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Jim Johnsen, the embattled University of Alaska president whose term has been marked by no-confidence votes from the faculty amid deep budget cuts, has resigned, the university announced Monday.
The change in leadership was a mutual decision made after Johnsen consulted with the Board of Regents, according to a statement. His biography was immediately removed from the universitys web page.
A university vice-president, Michelle Rizk, will immediately become acting president and will serve until an interim president is named, no later than July 15. The university said Johnsen would be available to help with the transition through July 1.
While the board understands that a change in leadership can be unsettling, it is confident that this decision, though difficult, is the correct one for the university, said Sheri Buretta, the chair of the Board of Regents.
Johnsens resignation announcement came a week after the faculty union demanded he quit and less than two weeks after he withdrew his candidacy to become the president of the University of Wisconsin even though he was the lone finalist.
Johnsen in 2015 became president of the Alaska system, which includes about 30,000 students at three universities and 13 community campuses. But his tenure was mired by run-ins with faculty and the fallout of Alaskas state budget problems.
Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who faces a recall effort, had proposed an unprecedented $135 million cut to state funding for the system last year, about a 41% reduction.
But an agreement between the university system and Dunleavy in August sought to lessen the blow. They agreed to a smaller, $70 million cut spread over three years, including a $25 million cut in the current academic year.
Earlier this month, the Board of Regents voted to cut or reduce more than 40 academic programs to help meet the cuts.
The faculty unions petition calling for him to resign said he failed in all areas that matter to the academic mission.
It has been a real challenge leading the university over the last five years, but we made a lot of progress, too. Looking forward, there is no institution more important for creating opportunities for Alaskans than the university, Johnsen said in a statement.
He would not be available for an interview, university spokeswoman Roberta Graham said in an email to The Associated Press.
Jim Johnsen served the University of Alaska under historically challenging circumstances, House Speaks Bryce Edgmon of Dillingham said. He was saddled with the impossible task of managing a university system facing a 44 per cent cut in state funding. I thank Jim for his service to the University and state of Alaska.
Buretta said its imperative that everyone recognizes the state and universitys current fiscal situation will require significant change.
To thrive, UA must come together to address our significant challenges working to transform, reversing declining enrolment, and adapting to declining state support, Buretta said. The board also asks our community to move forward together and to work with the Board and university leadership as we address these challenges.
Dunleavy issued a statement in which he thanked Johnsen and wished him well.
I look forward to working with the University of Alaska as it goes through the process of selecting a new president and ensuring it continues to deliver educational services to Alaskans, Dunleavy said. My administration is committed to assisting the university as it goes through this transition.
Johnsen previously received no-confidence votes from the university faculty in 2017 and 2019 over plans to consolidate programs and combine the three university system into a single accredited institute to absorb budget cuts.
Other University of Wisconsin presidential candidates dropped out over concerns of being publicly named. Faculty, staff and students complained they had no representative on the search committee, When he withdrew, Johnsen said his calling remained in Alaska. He also signalled that Wisconsins search process was flawed.
The University of Alaska faculty petition calling for his resignation was issued after he withdrew from the Wisconsin job. It claimed he sought to advance his own career instead of leading the university.
The United States has been worrying about productivity for the whole of my life, and for the whole of my life, we have made almost no progress in figuring out where productivity growth really comes from or how to cultivate it.
There is a very power political incentive to do so: By one conventional measure and apply here the usual caveats American mens median earnings peaked in 1973 and were in real-dollar terms about 4.4 percent lower by 2012. The growth in household income in my generation has come from the increasing participation of women in the work force and the rise in womens real wages, which peaked around 2007 and have not yet quite recovered from the Great Recession. Americans 50 and younger have had a very different experience of intergenerational prosperity than their parents did. They are frustrated.
The postwar economic boom in the United States was based on a combination of unusual factors that cannot be repeated and that we mostly would not want to repeat even if we could: Reducing Europe, the United Kingdom, and Japan to smoking ruins some of them irradiated, others languishing under brutal occupation by a federation of police states affiliated with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is not exactly a promising policy for the 21st century.
But why did the postwar boom end so suddenly? What in Hell happened in 1973? From 194869, nonfarm labor-productivity growth averaged 2.5 percent. That looks like a very modest number, but it implies a radical improvement in standards of living from one generation to the next. From 1969 to 1973, it slowed a bit, to about 2 percent. After that, it came almost to a halt, averaging 0.5 percent from 1973 to 1979. As economist Alicia Munnell put it in a paper written 30 years ago like I said: Weve been worrying about this forever the 2.5 percent productivity growth of the postwar era meant a doubling in living standards every 28 years, whereas at 0.5 percent those same 28 years would see only a 15 percent growth in living standards.
Story continues
Productivity growth (meaning still nonfarm labor-productivity growth) increased toward the turn of the century, driven in part by advances in technology, especially the proliferation of personal computers and then the growth of the Internet. In 1998, productivity growth was at a very encouraging 3.8 percent. In 2002, it was at 4.4 percent. (Labor productivity tends to spike during and immediately after recessions; this could be a kind of bookkeeping artifact or the result of businesses firing their least-productive workers first. The explanation preferred by some economists at the National Bureau of Economic Research is terror.) But productivity growth averaged less than 2 percent from 1993 to 1997, which were pretty good years, and after the turn of the century it declined steadily to 1.2 percent in 2006.
Compounding the problem is the fact that even the modest productivity growth we have seen has not been accompanied by a parallel increase in real wages. This decoupling of wages and productivity is not unique to the American economy but also is present in the economies of most of the OECD countries, including in the European welfare states that American progressives say they admire. In Germany and Ireland, for example, productivity increased at three times the rate of real wages from 2000 to 2016; in Belgium and Austria, productivity has increased only twice as fast as real wages. In some of the less robust European economies, such as Hungary, Portugal, and Greece, real wages went down even as labor productivity increased.
Where does productivity growth come from? That is an easy question to answer retrospectively. It is a very difficult question to answer with an eye to the future.
Most modern industrial economies will have gone through a period of rapid productivity growth at some point in their histories. Most often, that is the result of an agrarian economys turning into an industrial one a worker in a 19th-century factory produced a lot more value in an hours work than did a worker on a 19th-century farm. (There is a reason economists specify nonfarm labor.) Most of the economic miracles of centrally planned economies were roughly that one of the things about having a brutal totalitarian state is that you can drive the peasants off of the farms and into the factories, if you want to. Other countries have seen dramatic growth in prosperity driven by new trade opportunities, which increase the value of existing production.
There are other sources of productivity growth, including education and training that makes labor more valuable, infrastructure projects that enable more efficient use of land and other resources, and, probably most important in the American context, innovation and the investment to implement it. But innovation is a will-o-the-wisp it cannot be captured and put in a cage to be trotted out when needed, like a draft horse. The technological innovations that drove the prosperity of the 1990s came in no small part from research undertaken as early as the 1940s and developed in the 1950s and 1960s, when the first computers were connected to what would become the Internet. Packet-switching was developed by RAND and the Defense Department back in the 1960s. The frequency hopping technology supporting our wireless devices was on the mind of Marconi in the 19th century and was being used in military applications by the time of the Great War. But all of that was a long way from the iPhone, or even attaching a .doc to an email.
In the United States, we spend significantly more per student on K12 education today than in past generations, we send a much greater share of the population to college than we did before, and we spend more per student on higher education than any other country save Luxembourg, where the professors must be living large, indeed. We do not have much to show for that when it comes to productivity growth. We have a gazillion worker-training programs implemented at virtually every level of government, to very little effect. The welfare state created through the New Deal and Great Society has not improved productivity in the way many of the proponents of those programs thought (or at least said) it would but, then, the Reaganite program of tax cuts and deregulation has not brought back that 2.5 percent productivity growth of the postwar years, either, at least on a long-term basis. We have reached into a lot of hats still no rabbit.
As noted earlier, the political incentives for figuring this out are very strong, and there is not really any sensible incentive for not improving productivity growth, unless you count the anti-growth (and anti-human) agenda of the radical environmentalists. This is the sort of thing that inspires conspiracy theories and myths you know, that secret automobile engine that runs off of seawater that Big Oil has been keeping under wraps all these years. The more reasonable conclusion is that we do not know how to improve productivity in any direct and reliable way, and that this may in fact be not knowable at all. There is not any formula for better productivity, stronger growth, higher wages, or prosperity that is more robust, more widely shared, and more confidence-inspiring. The people who tell you otherwise are selling something, usually themselves.
There is no magic bullet, but there are some things that have stood the test of time: the rule of law, property rights, an open economy, prudent government, democratic accountability, an enlightened understanding of public goods, the skillful balancing of adaptability, stability, and predictability in public policy. The great tragedy of the moment is that the populist movements inspired in no small part by disappointment with economic conditions (and social conditions intertwined with those economic conditions) are fundamentally hostile to the most reliable aspects of the system we have inherited. They seek to elevate strongman executives over the slow work of legislators (the effective abnegation of Congress has not helped here), factional fervor over consensus, a politics of spoils over property rights, and urgent tribal demands over the rule of law. As a result, we enjoy the benefits of neither predictability nor adaptability instead, we lurch from enthusiasm to enthusiasm and from outrage to outrage: Should we knock over the statue of this Jefferson (Davis) or that Jefferson (Davis), or neither, or both? It is all very exciting. Much more exciting than work.
These things are linked: It is not entirely an accident that the postwar productivity boom ended shortly after the riots of the late 1960s. Philadelphia, to take one example, lost a fifth of its population and a quarter of its jobs second half of the 20th century it has fewer residents today than it did in 1920. In the United States, our centers of productivity are the cities and the energy corridor. What is bad for city life is bad for the economy and bad for the country at large, and the current disorder is bad for city life on both political fronts: The progressives and their instrument, the Democratic Party, are cowed into acting as apologists for rioting and arson, their energies turned to the pursuit of daft policies and demonstrations of tribal allegiance; conservatives and their instrument, the increasingly rural and exurban Republican Party, are confirmed in their contempt for the cities and the people who live there, and so urban problems are at the bottom of their to-do list except when those can be used to inconvenience or embarrass some Democratic political interest.
If we act like we do not know what is good for us, it is because we dont. But we also act like we dont care to do whats good for us, because we dont, preferring instead to service our private rages and petty grievances. There can be no excuse for that, and no forgiving it.
More from National Review
The worlds top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, is creating a tourism development fund with an initial investment of US$4 billion as part of efforts to diversify away from oil and polish its image as an attractive tourism destination.
OPECs biggest oil producer, which allowed women to drive for the first time in 2018, is looking at developing tourism as part of its Vision 2030 program to have its economy less dependent on oil and more open to foreign investment.
The Tourism Development Fund will play a critical role in developing outstanding tourism experiences and unlocking the full potential of Saudi Arabia as a destination, Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said in a statement, reported by Saudi Gazette.
The launch of the fund at this time, as the tourism sector faces unprecedented global challenges, is testament to investor and private-sector confidence in the long-term outlook for tourism in Saudi Arabia. The social and economic importance of the sector cannot be understated: it drives growth and diversification, attracts international investment, creates job opportunities and enhances quality of life for millions of Saudis, the minister noted.
Last year, Saudi Arabia launched a new visa regime to attract international tourists, but it will likely have to wait for years until tourists start traveling after the pandemic again and choosing the Kingdom as a destination.
Saudi Arabias economy is suffering from the sharp contraction in oil revenues due to the oil price crash, reduced demand, and the OPEC+ cuts that made the Saudis slash their production to 8.5 million bpd from 12 million bpd in April. Related: How A Pandemic Made Americans Better Workers
Diversification has also been an issue with the Saudi economy despite years of assurances that the Vision 2030 is doing that.
The World Bank said in its Global Economic Prospects report earlier this month that the oil price collapse during the pandemic is yet another reminder for energy-exporting emerging markets to diversify their oil-dependent economies.
Even if oil prices rise as global oil demand recovers, the recent plunge in prices is another reminder for oil-exporting countries of the urgency to continue with reforms to diversify their economies, Ayhan Kose, Director of the World Banks Prospects Group, commented.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Safehaven.com:
A Coles worker at a distribution centre in Melbourne has tested positive for COVID-19 - as Victorians are told to stay away from parts of the city which have emerged as hotspots for the virus.
The supermarket giant confirmed on Tuesday morning the staff member at the Laverton distribution centre in the city's south-west is self-isolating and that state health officials had visited the site.
A small number of staff who had been in close contact with the infected team member were also self-isolating and had been told to get tested for COVID-19, a Coles spokesperson said.
The staff member at the Laverton distribution centre (pictured) in the city's south-west is self-isolating along with other workers who were in close contact with them
'As an added precaution, Coles has conducted additional deep cleans of the facility,' the supermarket chain said in a statement.
'Distribution centre team members do not manually handle individual grocery products, which are packaged in larger crates and cartons during distribution.'
The confirmed case comes as Victoria battles against a second wave of COVID-19 infections, with the state recording 17 cases on Tuesday.
Of the new infections, 11 are from an unknown source, marking the state's 17th consecutive day of double-digit cases.
Six areas have been identified as hotspots for the coronavirus - Hume and Brimbank in Melbourne's north and west, Casey and Cardinia in the city's southeast and Moreland and Darebin in the north.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has recommended against travelling to Melbourne and encouraged businesses in her state to deny service to travellers from the new hotspots.
A cashier works behind a protective glass shield at a Coles supermarket in Sydney on June 17. Coles said it has conducted additional deep cleans of the Laverton facility after the staff member tested positive
Australians have been warned to stay away from six council in Melbourne: Hume, Casey and Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin
Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos said she also hadn't ruled out enforcing mandatory isolation in certain suburbs if coronavirus infections continued to spike.
'In the legal directions that have come in, we have not issued stay-at-home directions for those hotspot areas, but of course we don't rule anything out,' Ms Mikakos said.
Cases are expected to continue rising in the areas, with more than 1,000 close contacts of the state's 125 active cases already identified.
Two Victorian schools were closed on Tuesday after students were among those who tested positive to COVID-19.
Brunswick East Primary School and Keilor Views Primary School, both in Melbourne virus hot spots, will shut their doors for three days.
Premier Daniel Andrews admitted the spike in community transmissions was a cause for concern.
'I know and understand that so many Victorian, perhaps all Victorians want this to be over. But we simply can't pretend that the virus is gone,' he told reporters on Tuesday.
Victorians are seen wearing face masks as they leave Melbourne's Flinders Street Station on Sunday (pictured) as cases grow across Victoria
'It is here. It travels so fast. It is so infectious.
'So what we can be certain of is that there will be some significant community transmission within those numbers.
'There is an acceptable level of new cases. We're not at that point now. The amount of community transmission that we've got is too high.'
President Donald Trump says that his administration "did a great job on CoronaVirus" as cases surge in states across the country and the death toll continues to climb.
In a tweet posted on Tuesday morning he listed the "very early ban on China, Ventilator production, and Testing, which is by the most, and best, in the World" as having saved millions of US lives, decrying the "Fake News" for refusing to acknowledge this in a positive way.
He then complained that the media gives Dr Anthony Fauci a high approval rating, but that does not extend to the rest of the government's response, or those involved in the coronavirus taskforce such as vice president Mike Pence.
The president continues to maintain that Covid-19 case numbers are climbing in the US because more testing is being done. At Saturday night's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he sparked outrage when he said that he told his people to "slow the testing down, please". A comment that the White House spent much of Sunday and Monday attempting to walk back.
On Tuesday there were 2.36 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US, and the number of recorded deaths had risen to 122,000. Almost half of states are seeing the number of cases increase, some by alarming amounts.
Texas, California and Florida have seen large spikes since they began to reopen their economies, prompting governors and mayors to mandate the wearing of face masks one of the proven ways of stopping the spread of the virus, yet one that the president refuses to do himself.
Mr Trump's latest tweet comes as he flies to Yuma, Arizona, to participate in a roundtable briefing on border security, before inspecting a new section of the border wall with Mexico. Later he will address a group of Young Americans at the Dream City Church in Phoenix, before heading back to Washington, DC.
Arizona has seen cases rise from approximately 700 per day at the beginning of June to 3,200 per day by 19 June.
Also on Tuesday morning, Dr Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and other health experts are testifying before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in a session called "Oversight of the Trump Administration's Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic".
New Zealand police have seized NZ$140 million (US$90 million) in bank funds linked to Alexander Vinnik, a Russian alleged to have been the controller of the now-defunct BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange.
The seizure of funds, which were controlled by a New Zealand-registered company, is said to be the largest in the countrys history by federal police. The forces Asset Recovery Unit moved to freeze the funds amid a global investigation into the activities of the exchange and its operators, according to a report by news source NZ Herald.
U.S. prosecutors have alleged that Vinnik controlled BTC-e, a bitcoin exchange used to launder billions of dollars for criminal enterprises. Vinnik, who has been denying the charges for up to three years, was arrested based on extradition orders from the U.S. while on holiday with family in Greece in 2017.
Related: Market Wrap: Bitcoin Hits $9.6K as Bullish Crypto Sentiment Returns
New Zealand police allege the exchange had no anti-money laundering (AML) controls in place, resulting in criminals laundering crime-related proceeds through the platform.
See also: Crypto Exchange Owner Admits Laundering $1.8M in Online Auctions Fraud
New Zealand Police has worked closely with the Internal Revenue Service of the United States to address this very serious offending, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said. These funds are likely to reflect the profit gained from the victimisation of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people globally as a result of cyber-crime and organised crime.
Vinnik is now in custody in France after being extradited earlier this year following a ruling from Greeces Council of State, the countrys supreme administrative court on January 23.
Related: Liquidity on Bitcoin Perpetuals Exchange FTX Catches Up to Industry Leader BitMEX
French officials have since charged him with counts of extortion, aggravated money laundering, conspiracy and harming automatic data-processing systems for his alleged involvement in laundering money for criminals.
Related Stories
Additional reporting by Aoife Moore
A dissolution of the Dail is unlikely to be permitted by President Michael D Higgins should the programme for government be rejected this weekend, according to senior sources in the main parties.
Leading figures in both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are increasingly concerned the requirement for a two-thirds majority in the Green Party could be a bridge too far with many TDs saying it is too close to call.
Attention is now shifting to what will happen should the deal be voted down. The Constitution demands that should that happen, then acting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar would formally seek a dissolution of Dail Eireann and trigger a second general election.
However, the parties believe President Higgins will not accede to such a request in light of the ongoing pandemic restrictions.
Such a failure could allow Fine Gael bow out of consideration, having tried to form a government. It could also force Fianna Fail to open talks with Sinn Fein, as two of the three large parties would be needed to form a government.
One senior source said: How could he allow a general election with Covid still not over? There is a concern he will send Leo back and see if the parties could find an alternative route to power.
In response to queries from the Irish Examiner, President Higgins spokesman said he is aware of the powers of the President as outlined in Bunreacht na hEireann and their exercise in absolute discretion as indicated in the Constitution, and indeed the literature on the exercise of such powers.
While he is following events as they unfold, it would not be appropriate for the President to participate in any speculation as to how such events might evolve and the constitutional issues that might arise, the spokesman said. The President has had no discussion on constitutional or political matters as they might be unfolding with those to whom you refer in your query.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald says the country should be ready to move to Plan B in the event of the programme for government being rejected.
However, she said a second general election of 2020 would not be a catastrophe.
Matt Carthy TD Louise O Reilly TD President of Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald TD David Cullinane TD Eoin O Broin TD during a Sinn Fein Press brieifng at Leinster House on Kildare Street, Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins
Speaking to Newstalk FM, Ms McDonald said she would
Read More:
Meanwhile, a leading Cork Green councillor says she was temporarily suspended by the party after she spoke out against government formation talks.
In May this year, Lorna Bogue made a number of media appearances speaking out against the Greens entering negotiations, claiming the promises being made by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were slippery.
Ms Bogues comments were put to party leader Eamon Ryan on RTEs Prime Time on May 7, and on May 8, Ms Bogue received an email from the party headquarters that her membership status had been changed by the party, in relation to two national media appearances, among other issues.
Cllr Lorna Bogue, Green Party Councillor for Cork City South East
Cork Greens communications officer Robert OSullivan said: I can confirm that we are aware that one of our members received an email from the party stating their suspension from the Green Party.
"We have been in regular contact with the member in question regarding this matter, and will be following up with head office as the situation arises.
When approached by the Irish Examiner, Ms Bogue said: I think this kind of misbehaviour can be seen publicly now. When people speak out, theyre set upon with these ad-hominem attacks, and Ive been told to leave my party that behaviour is persistent. Ive noticed that a lot of people are staying quiet on it, Ive been open internally about the abuse Ive received at the hands of the party, when I speak out I get silenced and people denying whats happening to me.
Ive been enduring this for over a year, and when people see how Ive been treated, they think: Well, Im not going to say anything.
On this day in 1965, twenty years after South Korea was liberated from Japan's colonial rule,...Seoul and Tokyo signed historic agreements normalizing their ties.
Those treaties opened a new chapter for their bilateral cooperation, but left major issues unresolved to this day.
Lee Kyung-eun lays out those and tells us where the two countries stand now.
Fifty-five years have passed since Seoul and Tokyo established diplomatic relations, but their ties are chillier than ever.
The key dispute stems from their different interpretation of the definition of Japan's colonization, which is closely linked to the issue of wartime forced labor.
The 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations says,... all treaties or agreements concluded between two sides during the colonial rule on or before August 22, 1910 are quote aalready null and void."
South Korea believes the term means nullifying the justification of the annexation.
It was seen that way by the South Korean Supreme Court that ordered Japanese firms to compensate Korean forced laborer while clearly stating such an act was illegal.
However, Tokyo insists that "nullify" means terminating the previous treaties that were legally signed.
Another source of tension comes from the Agreement on Property and Claims on Economic Co-operation" that says the agreement "terminates individuals' rights to file independent damage suits".
South Korea's top court saw that those "suits" do not include cases of infringement of human rights ...deciding to freeze the local assets of a local Japanese steel company that refused to compensate the victims.
Japan responded by sending a strong warning of retaliation upon the sell-off of the company,...while insisting Seoul had violated international law for not abiding by the deal.
Most recently, their ties have been further strained over Japan's UNESCO-listed wartime industrial facilities.
The country has so far has not kept its promise to address its past use of Korean forced labor at its recently established information center built on the infamous Hashima Island,...prompting South Korean officials to send a letter requesting UNESCO to remove the listing.
Against this backdrop, the Seoul-Tokyo trade spat continues at the World Trade Organization, and is unlikely be settled anytime soon.
Washington: President Donald Trump will sign an executive order temporarily suspending work visas and barring hundreds of thousands of foreigners from entering to the United States, part of a broad effort by the administration to dramatically limit entry during the economic downturn.
US President Donald Trump has moved to clamp down on foreign workers. Credit:AP
A senior administration official said on Monday the move would help the economy, but business groups strongly oppose the measures.
Trump will block the entry on H-1B visas for foreign workers being transferred within a company through the end of the year, the official said. Trump will also block seasonal workers on H-2B visas, with an exception for workers in the food service industry.
Major tech companies and the US Chamber of Commerce have said the visa suspension will stifle the economic recovery after the damage done by the coronavirus pandemic.
Fifth Wall, a Los Angeles, CA-based venture capital firm focused on innovation for the global real estate industry, is now a Certified B Corporation or B Corp.
THE PRESS RELEASE
Fifth Wall Becomes One of the Largest VCs to Become a Certified B Corporation Emphasizing the Value of a More Equitable and Sustainable Society
LOS ANGELES, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ Fifth Wall, the largest venture capital firm focused on innovation for the global real estate industry, is proud to announce it is now a Certified B Corporation or B Corp. Using the power of business to build a more equitable and sustainable economy, Fifth Wall strives to align with many B Corp business objectives, such as facilitating an inclusive environment to build stronger communities, as well as creating a healthier environment by committing to sustainable practices.
It is incumbent upon all of us to take actionable steps towards building a more equitable and sustainable society, said Brendan Wallace, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Fifth Wall. Were grateful to the resources and community offered by B Lab to help our firm as we continue to educate ourselves and make changes within our own organization. We recognize that todays announcement is a small step and that there is a lot more work to be done. As a member of the venture capital and technology ecosystems, were hopeful this commitment will be shared by our peers and ultimately catalyze an industry-wide shift in mindset.
Certified B Corporations are leaders of a global movement of people using business as a force for good. They meet high standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability, and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.
The real estate industry accounts for 40% of the worlds consumption of energy while emitting 30% of total global greenhouse gases, and using 40% of its raw materials. Given this, the industry has a responsibility to find solutions that reduce its negative environmental impact by implementing long-lasting solutions to address climate change. With over $1 billion in commitments and capital under management and 50+ corporate strategic partners from 11 countries, Fifth Wall, whose global consortium consists of some of the largest owners and operators of commercial real estate, is ready to help bring more inclusive and sustainable B Corp business practices to the sector.
Earlier this year, Fifth Wall announced its intention to launch a Carbon Impact Fund to help build a consortium of climate-forward real estate companies meet growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and invest in sustainability technologies.
Over the next few years, sustainability and decarbonization issues will be a dominant theme for every company in real estate and the technology companies that support the industry. So, we believe new building materials, new approaches to operating assets, and sources of carbon-neutral power will need to be created, and funded, said Tyson Woeste, Partner at Fifth Wall. Becoming a Certified B Corporation was a natural step as we prepare to launch our Carbon Impact Fund.
Climate consciousness is at the core of Fifth Walls values, impacting the firms operations and investment strategy. With this certification, Fifth Walls current and future portfolio companies, investors, and employees can feel certain that theyve partnered with an organization that prioritizes a high bar of values-driven innovation and environmental performance. Currently, two companies in the Fifth Wall portfolio, Allbirds and Cotopaxi, are also B Corps.
We live by the conscious capitalism ethos at Cotopaxi and rely on investors and like-minded peers, like Fifth Wall, to support our purpose and benefit model, said Cotopaxi Founder & CEO, Davis Smith. We applaud Fifth Walls new B Corporation status and their commitment to social and environmental responsibility. They are paving the way for other investors to operate at a higher standard of accountability and play an integral role in shaping the retail landscape for the better.
There are more than 3,300 Certified B Corporations in over 150 industries and 70 countries with one unifying goal to redefine success in business.
For more information, go to https://bcorporation.net/directory/fifth-wall.
About Fifth Wall
Founded in 2016 and based in Los Angeles, California, Fifth Wall, a Certified B Corporation, is the largest venture capital firm focused on technology-driven innovation for the global real estate industry, and is committed to sustainable practices. With approximately $1 billion in commitments and capital under management, Fifth Wall connects many of the worlds largest owners and operators of real estate with the entrepreneurs who are redefining the future of the physical environment. Fifth Wall is backed by a global mix of more than 50 corporate strategic partners in 11 countries, including Acadia Realty Trust, British Land, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, D.R. Horton, Equity Residential, Gaw Capital, Gecina, GLP, Hines, Host Hotels & Resorts, Hudson Pacific Properties, Kenedix, Lennar, Lowes Home Improvement, Macerich, Marriott International, MERLIN Properties, MetLife Investment Management, Mitsubishi Estate, News Corp, Nuveen Real Estate, Prologis, PulteGroup, Related Companies, SEGRO, Starwood Capital, Toll Brothers, Vanke, and others. Fifth Wall believes this strategic corporate consortium represents one of the largest groups of potential partners in the global Built World ecosystem, which can result in game-changing investments and collaborations in promising portfolio companies in retail, residential and multi-family, commercial, industrial, hospitality, and more. For more information about Fifth Wall, its partners, and portfolio, visit www.fifthwall.com.
A 40-year-old man in China reportedly suffered three bladder tears after drinking ten beers and then holding pee in for a shocking 18 hours.
Earlier this month, the man, referred to only as Mr. Hu, had reportedly consumed 10 beers during a night on the town, before coming home and crashing into an inebriated sleep. Somehow he never woke up to urinate after drinking that many beers. He just went to sleep and didnt empty his bladder once for a total of 18 hours, which doctors later explained could be tied to alcohols capacity to suppress the nervous system. It is possible that Hu just didnt feel the sensation of needing to empty his bladder while he slept. That all changed when he woke up, though.
Photo: Darko Djurin/Pixabay
In a report published on June 18, doctors at Zhuji Peoples Hospital in Zhejiang wrote that the patient had said that when he woke up from his sleep, he started experience a sharp pain in his abdomen. When he was brought in by an ambulance, he was in so much pain that he couldnt even lie down. An emergency MRI quickly revealed the source of this excruciating pain the mans bladder had ruptured in three places.
One of the discovered tears had opened up towards his abdominal cavity and had caused one of his intestines to enter the bladder. This would have led to tissue death if left unfixed, so Hu was prepared for emergency surgery and a team of surgeons managed to repair the bladder, preventing other complications. The 40-year-old is now in stable condition.
Doctors warned that even though Mr. Hus case is extremely rare, it could theoretically happen to anyone. A human bladder is flexible and can increase in size as fluids are consumed, but has a limited capacity of around 450 to 500 millilitres, so its recommended to pee regularly, especially when consuming lots of fluids.
Photo: Giorgio Trovato/Unsplash
Strangely enough, alcohol makes you need to pee even more often than if you were drinking the same quantity of water, by suppressing the hormones that signal the kidneys to stop making urine. However, in Hus case, the alcohol seems to have also suppressed the nervous system from conveying the need to empty the bladder to the brain.
Doctors say that it takes about 10 hours for the human body to produce about two cups of urine, which takes about 10 hours, on average. That is about how long you can hold in your pee without risking to cause damage to other internal organs.
A man was found shot to death in an empty field in northeast Houston late Monday night, a gruesome discovery uncovered by officers following a fresh blood trail.
Neighbors called 911 when they found another man shot but still alive on a porch in the 6000 block of Eastland Street around 10:30 p.m. After paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital, officers spotted a trail of blood leading up to the porch where the man was found, according to Houston Police Department detective Jason Escobar.
The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is seeking to reopen the social justice issue regarding state spending on salaries. This means abolishing double salaries, reducing allocations to political prisoners and martyrs and compensation to those who fled to Rafha in Saudi Arabia during the 1991 Shiite uprising in southern Iraq.
The first step of the plan began in early June without parliament approval. The plan cuts up to 15% of retirees' salaries as well as the salaries of many of those aforementioned.
Ahmed Hama Rashid, a member of parliaments Finance Committee, told Al-Monitor the financial reform draft bill had been handed to parliament and the committee was studying it. However, Kadhimi had already implemented the plan before parliament could make a decision about it.
Nouri al-Maliki's parliament from 2006-2014 passed a series of laws to compensate different categories of Iraqis who were affected by Baath policies before 2003, including families of martyrs, prisoners and people who fled the country for political reasons.
Now, as oil prices plunge, the newly elected Iraqi government seeks new sources of financing including cutting salaries that cost Iraq some 7 trillion dinars. Iraq's revenue for this year is about 3 trillion dinars.
Soon after the cuts started and despite the fact that parliament had approved his plan previously on the condition that the lowest-grade salaries remain unchanged parliament voted against Kadhimi's plan.
On May 30, during the periodic meeting of the Financial Reform Committee that Kadhimi headed, he announced several measures aimed at addressing Iraq's financial crisis. According to Kadhimis statement, the Iraqi government is taking "measures in line with the principle of achieving social justice, which entails abolishing double salaries [as well as salaries of those in Rafha] and anyone who is residing abroad and receives salaries from there.
Kadhimi's statements regarding salary cuts raised major controversy and drew calls to reject such cuts by several parliament members and leaders of political parties. These salaries are a thorny issue in Iraq, as the beneficiaries are mostly rank-and-file members in several prominent Shiite political parties.
Following the cuts, protesters occupied Baghdad and other southern cities, demanding their normal salaries. Hundreds of demonstrators also closed the Basra-Baghdad Highway to protest the cuts.
The cuts have only affected people with incomes of more than half a million dinars ($420), since, as aforementioned, the government agreed to protect salaries of the lowest-grade public servants, said Finance Minister Ali Abdul-Amir Alawi.
The salary reductions will not affect employees or retirees of low grades who are on payrolls of 500,000 dinars or less, Allawi said.
The rest of the grades on the salary scale that take up half of the budget will be changed and reduced, he added.
Iraqs salary structure is divided into 10 grades. First-grade public servants receive about 910,000 dinars a month in their first year of employment, with an annual bonus of 20,000 dinars.
Employees of the 10th grade, which is the lowest rank on the salary scale, receive about 170,000 dinars a month and a bonus of 3,000 dinars a year.
Although salary cuts have already begun, the government has not released details of its plan.
A Cabinet decision leaked to media mentioned significant reductions in salaries of the highest-grade employees, the abolition of employees who are on two or more payrolls from several state institutions, the reductions in salaries of political prisoners and of those who fled to Rafha in 1991, in addition to halting employment for 2020 which means no new public servants will be appointed this year.
It is still unknown how much money the government would save if the bill passes, according to Rashid. But the amount is estimated to range between 12.5 billion to 15 billion dinars a year.
In fact, the government could include a compulsory saving paragraph in its annual budget without parliament approval, as was the case during the fight against the invasion by the Islamic State (IS), which led Iraq into a financial crisis.
The attempts to slash public servants salaries are not something new, and this step has always been rejected by the political powers, Mohammad Salih, an expert and economic adviser in the governments of Haider al-Abadi and Adel Abdul Mahdi, told Al-Monitor.
Any talk about a reduction in salaries faces a fierce attack. The decision is a precautionary measure to avoid drowning in debt. But the political elite is not even remotely concerned with this if it means drowning the Iraqi generations to come in debt, Salih said.
The entire world is facing a major crisis, which makes it difficult for Iraq to borrow money, as was the case during the war on IS when the world felt it had a responsibility for Iraq in this fight, he explained.
With falling oil prices and the gripping financial crisis, Iraq has little room for solutions except to make salary cuts, which is not to the liking of many political forces.
Some parliament members deemed Kadhimis efforts to cut spending a systematic targeting of political prisoners and martyrs. The Martyrs Foundation in Iraq threatened to go to court if the government approved the financial reform draft bill.
The Finance Committee and parliament told the prime minister that it would best if the governments bill is included in a law or if the salary law is amended, as the government's decision can be appealed, Rashid said.
The governments decision certainly drove a wedge between parliament members, and many political forces have already begun calling for exceptions in the bill, which naturally undermines any connotation of social justice in the decision, he added.
Hassan al-Kaabi, the first deputy speaker of parliament, condemned the governments decision as illegal and inappropriate and rejected the governments attempt to encroach on the salaries of civil and military personnel, retirees, martyrs and political prisoners.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Many small-scale businesses have sprung over the years. The technological innovations and the economy seem to have motivated the start of these small firms. In the United States alone, micro-businesses make up about 99.7% of the existing employer firms - this accounts for 27.8 million small-time businesses.
More often than not, a number of these businesses are owned by people who have little to no idea about the complex textbook mechanism of business and finance. People experience a bump, following their progression in the business world - this comes in the form of strategic financial decisions, tax, and accounting.
When your business gets bigger, you may encounter complications on how to handle overwhelming finances and accounting. That is normal - especially if you are not a graduate of business school. As your business grows, the responsibility of running it and sustaining it also increases.
Tax Emperor is the company just for any business in trouble. Owned by Joseph Lang, Tax Emperor has grown to be one of the front runners in matters of accounting, tax, and consultation services.
The company provides a reliable but straightforward orientation about the legal jargon that goes with business and finance. Their strategy is to simplify the concept of business without sacrificing even the minutest detail that matters in keeping the activities of their clients running.
Unfortunately, according to Lang, some companies take advantage of clients who have little knowledge about the legal complexity of businesses. Tax Emperor advocates for the opposite. They will make sure that their clients will receive the best service and the best business advice. Unsurprisingly, many testimonials guarantee the future clients of Tax Emperor a well-rounded approach.
"The more you learn, the more you earn," is a core principle that Joseph Lang firmly holds for years. Together with his team of professionals, they help thousands of business owners to effectively navigate through their financial and tax liabilities for seven years and counting. The company assists thousands in saving large sums of money from unlimited team consultations regarding tax education and monthly tax planning.
"Apart from business clients, I love to help working-class families increase and maximize their tax refunds each year," Lang stated.
The company also went international - with teams reaching Canada and Europe.
With his extensive knowledge of tax, Joseph Lang provides clients with an affiliate program intended to educate individuals who plan to create their own tax business. The program kick-started three years ago meant to add substantial supplementary income to those who enrolled all from the comfort of their homes.
Among the user-friendly discussion that this program features is the overview of tax laws, how to build and market clientele, a comprehensive and interactive course about a tax software to complete business and personal tax return, and optional bookkeeping.
The company wants to counter the modern-day problem of businesses, particularly in the tax industry. Lang and his team regularly update their knowledge about the Internal Revenue Service or IRS and state tax laws - different from the usual tax preparers. Tax preparers are paid individuals who calculate tax returns on behalf of businesses and individuals. It holds a stark contrast with the professionals in Tax Emperor who do more than calculate and sign tax returns.
Their team will continue to serve businesses and individuals who are passionate about their businesses.
If you want to be part of the growing satisfied customers of Tax Emperor, visit their website. You can also email the owner himself, Joseph@taxemperor.com, or call (305) 810-9083.
SOURCE: Authority Titans
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594882/Joseph-Lang-and-Team-Provides-an-Easier-way-to-Deal-with-Any-Business
US Envoy in Syria Says Washington Wants Assad to Change Behavior, Not Necessarily Step Down
Sputnik News
16:57 GMT 22.06.2020(updated 17:25 GMT 22.06.2020)
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States does not demand that Syrian President Bashar Assad resign, but rather wants him to change his behaviour, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement Ambassador James Jeffrey said on Monday.
"We are not demanding total victory. We are not saying that Assad has to go. We are saying that Assad has to change, or whoever is in charge of that government, has to change its behavior," Jeffrey said. "Also we are not saying the Russians have to go."
The envoy added Washington is not advocating for the "regime change" in the Middle Eastern country, stressing that it is up to the Syrian people to choose who will lead their country.
On US Troop Withdrawal From Syria
The issue of the United States withdrawing its troops from Syria is not on the table at present, Jeffrey said on Monday.
"The President in his own way is talking about withdrawals, for example, from Afghanistan and made clear that we will eventually withdraw from Syria. Nothing is on the table right now," Jeffrey said.
The US Special representative noted that the United States has not left northeast Syria and more specifically has not left At Tanf.
Russia has been assisting Syria's efforts to fight terrorism and help restore the country per the request of the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad.
The United States presence has not been approved by the Syrian government nor by the UN Security Council.
On US Plans to Pledge Significant Funds to Syria at EU Conference
The United States will pledge significant amount of money to Syria at EU pledging conference at the end of June, but we will maintain the sanctions regime it has imposed on the country, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement Ambassador James Jeffrey said on Monday.
"The Caesar Act has very strong humanitarian provisions that require us in the US government to explain to Congress and ensure in our actual sanctions targeting that we do not undercut the humanitarian efforts underway," Jeffrey said. "The United States, however, will be pledging a significant at the EU pledging conference for humanitarian aid at the end of this month."
Jeffrey noted that the United States has pledged more than $10.6 billion and is the biggest humanitarian contributor.
"That will not stop... but we will continue the sanctions," he said, adding that the United States will also continue to impose secondary sanctions.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo unveiled the 39 new Syria sanctions designations under the Caesar Act, targeting people and entities linked to President Assad and members of his family.
The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act was signed into law by US President Donald Trump in December and targets individuals or companies that cooperate financially with the Assad government.
On Wednesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said the country and its people will resist all US sanctions as stubbornly as they have resisted terrorism.
A Sputnik
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When working to provide credit union members with the tools and resources needed during an unprecedented time, NAFCU has leveraged virtual technology to ensure the industry remains strong both during and after the coronavirus pandemic. Thursday, join credit union executives and board members from around the country for NAFCUs State of the Industrycomplimentary virtual event.
View the full agenda for the event underwritten by Mastercard and register now.
NAFCUs award-winning staff and other industry experts will equip industry leaders with the data, trends, and key takeaways that are necessary to make urgent decisions amid the pandemic and beyond.
NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood will join NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger for a one-on-one conversation about the agencys efforts to provide relief for credit unions as they grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. Attendees will also hear from President and CEO of Allied Solutions Pete Hilger for a deep look into how the lending and risk management landscape has been vastly affected by the pandemic, and keynote speaker Jim Marous who will address the new reality in financial services.
Abhishek Bachchan, who has been detailing his journey in Bollywood over the last two decades on social media, opened up about his films Raavan and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se in his latest Instagram post. He called Raavan his most challenging film, both physically and emotionally.
Directed by Mani Ratnam, Raavan was loosely based on the epic Ramayana, and saw Abhishek playing the bandit Beera. He wrote on Instagram, Raavan has been the most challenging film both physically and emotionally for me in my career. Its a wonder how the team managed to pull it off. Mani and I reunited for our 3rd film together. By far the most ambitious story, for him to execute and tell ( in my opinion ).
Raavan brought Abhishek and his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan together on screen for the eighth time, and he was all praise for her dedication. My 8th film with the missus. She was an absolute trooper during the making of the film. The dedication, and sheer strength it took for her to perform the complexities of her role is just awe inspiring. And she did it all with her trademark smile. To think that she had to perform each scene ( regardless of how emotionally and physically challenging ) baffles me. And to do it twice each time- as we were shooting the Hindi and Tamil versions simultaneously. Huge salute!, he wrote.
Abhishek also worked with Vikram in Raavan. He called himself a huge fan of the Tamil star and said that he learnt a lot from him. Raavan also gave me the opportunity to work with @the_real_chiyaan Ive been a huge fan of his ( must have watched Dhool- his Tamil film over 17 times ) he has always been so loving towards me and I learnt so much by just observing him. A great actor! A film truly ahead of its time, he wrote.
Also read | Abhishek Bachchan says he struggled to get his debut film: I forget how many producers and directors I met and requested
Abhishek then talked about his other release of 2010, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se, and called it very close to (his) heart. He said that when he was offered the role of revolutionary Surya Sen, he felt compelled as a patriotic Indian to do the film.
Later that year was Khelein hum je jaan se with my dear friend @ashutoshgowariker I had 1st met Ashu on the sets of my fathers film Indrajeet in which he was acting way back in 1991. We tried several times to work together and finally managed with #KHJJS. A HUGE cast comprising of @deepikapadukone , my childhood best friend @sikandarkher and a host of others was a story very close to my heart, he wrote.
When Ashu told me the story of Surya Sen and what he managed with 60 of his students, I felt compelled as a patriotic Indian to be a part of the telling of their immense courage and sacrifice. Im so proud that we could bring their story to life and tell it to a new generation who might not have known about it. Wonderful vivid memories of the making of this film. The premiere in Kolkata and our shenanigans post the show with our cast and crew is a night I will never forget. What fun! he added.
Follow @htshowbiz for more
Police in Greenland have detained a man in his early 30s in connection with the vandalism of a statue of a Danish coloniser that was doused with red paint and the word decolonise.
Police told Greenland broadcaster KNR on Monday that investigations of the defacement of the statue of Hans Egede, a Lutheran missionary who arrived on the vast island in 1721, were ongoing.
The suspect was not identified.
The statue in Nuuks old district was vandalised early on Sunday as Greenland was marking its National Day.
It has been vandalised before.
Statues and monuments of people associated with racism or colonialism have been targeted in light of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.
Mr Egede, who was born in Norway that was part of Denmark at the time, is considered to be the person who colonised Greenland and founded the capital, Nuuk.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 when it became a formal part of the Danish Realm.
In 2009, Greenland became a self-governing entity.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) Just over a month before President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address, much has yet to be finalized.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said preparations are ongoing for the SONA amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but hinted that a small group may gather at the Batasan Pambansa where the address is held annually.
"It will not be the same SONA that we're used to. Siyempre po wala na iyong madamihang opisyales na mag-aattend, wala nang fashion show na pagandahan ng suot. Tingin ko po kakaunti lang ang mag-aassemble sa Kongreso," he said in his regular media briefing.
[Translation: There won't be a lot of officials attending. The usual fashion show will be scrapped. I think only a handful will assemble at the Congress.]
He said he is unsure if Duterte will deliver his address live at Batasan or opt to do it virtually.
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano previously said safety will be the primary consideration in staging the Presidents annual report to the people. But he said they will make sure that the SONA will be communicated nationwide.
Malacanang earlier said the President could deliver his speech in a blended way similar to the blended learning activities for students in the upcoming school year.
Under the Constitution, the President is mandated to deliver his SONA before a joint session of Congress every fourth Monday of July, which this year falls on July 27.
Mass Action Committee, a civil society Organisation, has condemned open and veiled threats against the lives of top officials of f Electoral Commission.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Convener of the group, Atik Mohammed said, the group finds such utterances reprehensible and accordingly condemn them in the strongest terms possible adding that, individuals found to have been engaged in such acts should be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.
ECs constitutionally sanctioned decision to compile a new electoral register, has suffered opposition from a few groups and individuals for varied reasons.
Some groups and persons have raised concerns about ECs move to compile a new register threatening that, they will use violence to disrupt the exercise.
Mr. Mohamed added that, individuals found to have been engaged in such acts should be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.
Ladies and gentlemen, we all are aware that the ECs constitutionally sanctioned decision to compile a new electoral register, has suffered opposition from a few groups and individuals for varied reasons.
Although for the most part, these reasons are unstable and inconsistent, it has always been our position that, the proponents are entitled to express them. In point of fact, we encourage them to do so because, that is what our democracy prescribes. And where they feel strongly about their views, we have always advocated that, they use all means permissible under the law especially the law courts to articulate their case.
In recent times however, several comments have been made suggesting the use of violence to either disrupt the registration exercise or harm the persons of Electoral Commission officials.We find such utterances reprehensible and accordingly condemn them in the strongest terms possible, he said.
We further wish to state that, all individuals found to have been engaged in such act should be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. He added.
Condemning former President Mahamas comment on NDC not accepting any flawed election, Mr. Atik Mohammed said, such sweeping remarks by President Mahama without providing the proper context has suffered the fate of wrong interpretation and speculation.
He said, all those who are afraid of a flawed election including the former President, should therefore join hands with all Ghanaians to make the upcoming exercise successful.
A flawed election is generally seen as one that is not free, fair and transparent. One of the defining features of a free, fair and transparent election is the existence of a credible register. All objective and patriotic citizens concede the register and the BVMS in their current form, have some problems that tend to undermine the credibility and sustainability of the register. To this end, a new register affords us an opportunity to solve these problems and enhance the credibility of the roll. By enhancing the credibility of the register, we are minimizing the probability of a flawed election. All those who are afraid of a flawed election including the former President, should therefore join hands with all Ghanaians to make the upcoming exercise successful.
He ended by calling on the security agencies to continue to protect Ghanaians from all enemies of democracy and to subject all such to the full rigors of the law especially those who intend to unleash mayhem on innocent Ghanaians during the registration period.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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Kim Kardashian teased a new Christian music album from her husband Kanye West on Instagram on Friday.
In a photo uploaded to Instagram that has already been liked over half a million times, a Bible opened in the Psalms can be seen next to what appears to be a tracklist for West's new album on a notebook.
The list is headed 'Jesus is King' and then appears to list 12 songs with names like "Selah", "God Is", "Baptized" and "Sweet Jesus".
At the bottom of the page is written the date "September 27th".
Also seen in the picture is a notepad of what appears to be ideas for lyrics, with "He will defend" scrawled above the words "kingdom", "lion" and "fire".
Kim captioned the picture with the same date and prayer hands, causing much excitement among Kanye fans that the rapper is about to drop a Christian album.
It would fit in with his latest project, Sunday Service, started this year initially as an exclusive Christian-themed gathering of close friends and family focused on music.
Sunday Service has steadily evolved over the course of the year into an increasingly church-like service, with Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr, who married Kim and Kanye in 2014, recently being invited to preach a sermon.
For a recent Sunday Service, Kanye moved out from the exclusive Calabasas set to a school auditorium in North Hollywood where the California Worship Center meets.
Kanye was pictured playing a keyboard as he and a band accompanied the congregation and a choir in performing praise songs like Fred Hammond's "This Is The Day" and Tye Tribbett's "Lift Him Up".
The unpredictable rapper has dabbled in Christian themes in his music before, releasing the track "Jesus Walks" back in 2004.
Christian spins on his own secular wrap songs are reportedly a feature of the Sunday Services.
Kim's sister Kourtney Kardashian, a regular at Hillsong Church, told Jimmy Kimmel that "Jesus Walks" is one of the songs they often sing at Sunday Service.
Chef Frank Stitt has announced that two of the restaurants in his hospitality group-- Chez Fonfon and Bottega-- will temporarily close their doors after learning that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
Chez Fonfon, the classic French bistro helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Frank Stitt and his wife Pardis Stitt, posted the announcement on its Facebook and Instagram accounts the morning of June 23.
Our most important priority is the health and safety of our staff and guests. After learning yesterday an employee tested positive for the coronavirus, we immediately arranged for staff testing. The employee, a cook who last worked on Wednesday, is doing well and has been self-isolating at home. All employees were tested yesterday afternoon. Until all test results are received and precautionary measures have been taken, including a deep cleaning and sanitation assisted by a professional cleaning company, we will be closed for curbside service. Please check back here for updates. Thank you, Pardis & Frank
Under each post, commenters offered well-wishes and praised the Birmingham restaurant for its transparency.
Thank you for being transparent and caring of your staff and customers, wrote Alabama musician Duquette Johnston on Facebook. Love yall and hope everyone recovers and yall stay safe. Let us know if we can do anything for anyone isolating.
Praying for negative results for all! My daughter is one of the staff thats been tested. Thank you for acting fast and taking care of everyone involved! wrote another Facebook user Jennifer Schorr Durkin.
Bars and restaurants in Alabama were allowed to resume on-premise consumption effective May 11 under Gov. Kay Iveys amended Safer at Home order.
Chez Fonfon reopened to offer curbside-only service on May 14, nearly two months after chef Frank Stitt announced that he would temporarily shutter operations at all three of his restaurants -- including Highlands Bar & Grill and Bottega- after pivoting to takeout service.
In late April, the Stitts reopened Bottega Cafe for curbside service.
Mayawell Bar, the tequila and mezcal-focused cocktail bar and lounge, announced its temporary closure Tuesday afternoon in an abundance of caution after finding out a staff member came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The Lakewview bar reopened for on-premise service on May 14 after pivoting to curbside alcohol sales in March.
We will be closed temporarily as we have found out that a staff member came into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Out of abundance of care and safety for the community, we are going to close temporarily to have all staff members tested. We hope to reopen as soon as possible!
Chez Fonfon is the second Birmingham-area dining establishment in the last three days to publicly announce temporary closures after learning a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The evening of June 20, Automatic Seafood & Oysters announced that it would shutter all service after a member of its staff tested positive for the virus.
In an interview earlier this week, Automatic co-owner and operations manager Suzanne Humphries Evans told AL.com the restaurant is requiring its entire staff to get tested before making a decision about when to reopen.
Test results will inform the staff that is able to return to work, said Humphries Evans.
The employee that tested positive, tested positive not because of symptoms but because of contact tracing from someone that employee had crossed paths with a few days prior to testing, Humphries Evans explained. But the employee never showed symptoms and never came in contact with guests.
Since it reopened its dining room in May, Automatic has been taking reservations for patio-only seating, as well as limited seating inside, sectioned off by large sliding doors. The restaurants bar area is closed.
Were very lucky to have a large outdoor space. I cant speak on behalf of all restaurants, but I think the reality is that were not the only restaurant this is going to happen to. We probably arent the only restaurant its already happened to, said Humphries Evans. Its probably going to happen again, so were taking this time to try and diligently react for the first time so that we can possibly, more efficiently react the second time, if there is a second time. I think we all have to be prepared and we all have to face the reality that its likely.
Federal Chamber of Lawyers backs initiative on minors right to public representation
RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov
15:52 23/06/2020
MOSCOW, June 23 (RAPSI) Russias Federal Chamber of Lawyers backed an initiative envisaging that court-appointed legal professionals are to be granted the right to represent interests of minors, the press-service of the body informs on Tuesday.
The Chamber shares the view that a number of problems exists at the moment in the sphere of protection of rights and interests of children, among them abuses of parental authority and ethical issues encountered by lawyers in the situations where minors are not their immediate principals. The Chamber agrees that granting underage individuals the personal right to be provided legal aid by pro bono court-assigned lawyers may become an efficient legal instrument as to the settlement of the aforesaid problems, according to the statement.
At the end of the last year, Russias Supreme Court developed a bill aimed to amend the Code of Administrative Procedure to the effect that minors are to have the right of personal participation in court hearings and that of being provided professional legal aid.
Professional legal aid is to be provided to minors by mandatory participation of lawyers in the hearings on condition courts have no information if the underage persons have the representatives as required by the Code, the explanatory note to the bill reads.
In line with the initiative, Moscow Bar Association member Victoria Dergunova has developed proposals aimed to change a number of codes and laws to the effect that lawyers are to be empowered to provide professional legal aid to children.
According to Dergunova, she has been being involved in protection of children for many years; nevertheless, she could not protect them directly as by law her principals were the parents of minors. Accordingly, the lawyer says, she could do nothing even when seeing that the parents acted not in the interests of their children as she could not do anything against the will or interests of her formal principals.
Dergunova believes that after the law is amended, the Chamber is to organize training courses for lawyers, where they could learn special skills needed to participate in disputes involving protection of childrens rights and make the lists of such legal professionals for courts.
The initiative of the lawyer has been already backed by the Office of Russias Ombudsman.
Teenager Harry Dunn is unable to walk and gets around by shuffling on his bottom or using a walking frame. The 16-year-old communicates by grunting and gets his parents attention by pulling on their clothes or nudging them with his head.
Harry was born with Angelman syndrome a complex genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system and has epilepsy.
Brad and Fiona Dunn with their boys Lachie, Campbell, Joel and Harry. Credit:Lauren Pilat
Like other children with Angelman, who are lovingly referred to as happy puppets, Harry is a happy teenager who has a big smile and cheeky laugh.
His younger brother Campbell, 8, communicates by flicking his fingers and making noises. He loves playing on an iPhone or iPad and is fascinated by maps.
By Nidhi Verma
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's oil imports in May hit the lowest since Oct 2011 as refiners with brimming storage cut purchases after a continuous decline in fuel demand, preliminary data obtained from industry sources showed.
In May, India imported 3.18 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil, a decline of about 31% from April and about 26% from a year ago, the data showed.
Hit by an unexpected fall in demand due to lockdown measures to contain the novel coronavirus, Indian refiners in April filled tanks with cheaper oil, sold extra cargoes to the federal government for strategic reserves and declared force majeure on crude imports.
The refiners, which normally book cargoes one-to-two months in advance, also deferred some term cargoes scheduled for lifting in April.
In May, Saudi Arabia was the top oil supplier to India for a second consecutive month, although supplies from the kingdom declined by nearly 28% from April, the data showed.
India's oil imports from Iraq fell by 43% to about 554,000 bpd, the lowest since Oct 2016, the data compiled by Reuters showed.
India's oil imports from key suppliers https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/azgvormgzpd/India%20oil%20imports%20from%20key%20suppliers.jpg
The intake of Venezuelan oil in May fell to the lowest since June 2011. Reliance Industries , operator of the world's biggest refining complex, received 2 million barrels of oil from Venezuela.
Another private refiner Nayara Energy, part-owned by Russian oil major Rosneft , did not import from the Latin American nation in May, under pressure from the U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan national oil company PDVSA.
Venezuela and other producing nations in a grouping known as OPEC+ have agreed output cuts to try to stabilise international oil markets.
Oil from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a share of India's imports fell to an all-time low of 71.3%, while the share of U.S. oil hit a record high of nearly 8% in May.
Story continues
OPEC's share of India's crude oil imports drops to record low https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/yxmpjlomgpr/grapicOPECMay2020.JPG
India's oil imports in June are set to recover as refiners have raised crude processing and demand is recovering with the gradual resumption of transport and industrial activity.
(Corrects dateline to June 23, not June 22)
(Reporting by Nidhi Verma, Graphics by Gaurav Dogra; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi speaks during his meeting in Manila, Philippines, January 9, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Willy Kurniawan.
Japan will partially ease travel restrictions with Vietnam, with flights between the two countries to be permitted from June 25-27, according to Reuters.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made the announcement on Tuesday, the newswire service wrote, adding the Japanese government is weighing different options for easing entry bans put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Vietnam's Foreign Ministry said last week that an agreement has been reached with Japan to gradually relax travel restrictions between the two countries.
The ministry said the government was in talks with several countries, including China, Japan and South Korea, on gradually recommencing travel, first for experts, managers and skilled workers.
Japan currently has an entry ban in place for 111 countries and territories, which was implemented to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
It was Vietnam's fourth largest investor in 2019 after South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore in terms of registered capital, and its largest labor market, welcoming around 80,000 Vietnamese last year.
Japan has reported 17,916 Covid-19 cases and 953 deaths. Vietnam has recorded no deaths out of 349 patients, and no community transmission cases for over two months.
People are buying nicotine for vapes at extraordinary rates after the Australian government announced it would ban importation of most e-cigarettes.
From July 1, it will be illegal to import e-cigarettes and refills containing nicotine liquids or salts.
In response, e-cigarette users have started stockpiling from Shosha, a supplier in New Zealand, to ensure they get their products before the July 1 cut off.
Shosha, which is New Zealand's leading retailer of vaping supplies, recorded a 130% spike in sales from Australia since the announcement.
Most of their new customers are stocking up due to New Zealand's proximity to Australia to ensure their deliveries arrive before the July 1 deadline.
People are buying nicotine for vapes at extraordinary rates after the Australian government announced it would ban importation of most e-cigarettes
New Zealand's leading retailer of vaping supplies recorded a 130% spike in sales from Australia since the announcement
Most of their new customers are stocking up due to New Zealand's proximity to Australia to ensure their deliveries arrive before the July 1 deadline
'New Zealand has a lower rate of smoking than Australia and also has a different viewpoint to vaping when it comes to legislation that aims to lower combustible cigarette smoking,' Nabhik Gupta, Operations Manager of Shosha, said.
'While both should be commended for their internationally low rates, Australia is short-sighted in its demonization of vaping and E-liquids, which other countries including the UK see as a powerful tools to help quit cigarette smoking.'
Shosha already has a quick and efficient delivery system in place for Australian orders, offering next day delivery.
The company anticipates a spike in vaping users following the coronavirus crisis - primarily due to the cost effectiveness.
It is currently looking to expand to open stores within Australia, a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
People turned to buying e-cigarettes (pictured) from overseas after their sale was banned in each state and territory
Under the new regulations, individuals would need to visit a doctor and be issued a prescription to purchase their nicotine containing e-cigarettes or refills.
Even valid prescription holders would still be prohibited from purchasing the devices from overseas themselves.
From July 1, vaporisers and refills containing nicotine would have to be imported by doctors or medical suppliers via a courier or cargo service with express permission from the Department of Health.
Importing the equipment through international mail would not be allowed.
Shosha already has a quick and efficient delivery system in place for Australian orders, offering next day delivery
From July 1, vaporisers and refills containing nicotine would have to be imported by doctors or medical suppliers via a courier or cargo service with express permission from the Department of Health
The ban on importing nicotine e-cigarettes and refills would be in line with existing bans on their sale in each state and territory.
The prohibition would last 12 months while the government conducts a public consultation on the regulation of nicotine products by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The regulation would see nicotine products added to the Poisons Standard making them prohibited permanently with the exception of tobacco cigarettes and products used to quit smoking such as gums and patches.
'The Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, requested the Department of Health to work with the Australian Border Force on a new approach to regulating e-cigarettes containing vaporiser nicotine,' the government's Office of Drug Control said in a statement.
A decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration is expected in early 2021.
From July 1, it will be illegal to import e-cigarettes and refills containing nicotine liquids or salts into Australia (stock image)
TELEMMGLPICT000233103208.jpeg
The European Commission has warned Britain could face a legal challenge over air bridges unless it opens them to all EU countries with similar coronavirus rates.
The move threatens Boris Johnsons plans for air bridges with a limited number of fewer than 10 predominantly European countries including France, Spain, Italy and Greece but excluding many other low-risk destinations on the continent.
The Government is planning to announce the first air bridges within the next week, allowing holidaymakers coming to and from the respective countries to sidestep the 14-day quarantine in the UK.
However, a Commission spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: There can be no discrimination. This means that regions in similar health situations around Europe should benefit from the same treatment.
We would therefore expect that if the UK decides to lift its restrictions for movement to and from another Member State, or a specific area through air bridges, this should apply to all parts of the [European] Union in a similar epidemiological situation.
The problems were hinted at by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab when he admitted: If you open up the airports and don't open up the Eurotunnel or if you open up to one country but not in relation to others there is always a risk of legal challenge."
Nearly all countries in the EU have lower transmission and infection rates than the UK but the criteria being considered by the Government is understood to include potential economic benefits based on the size of the relative tourist markets in each country.
Professor Steve Peers, an expert on EU law at Essex University, said restricting the number of air bridges on economic grounds would be seen as discriminatory.
If challenged by the Commision, by a member state or by a travel organisation like Ryanair, it is possible the Government would be vulnerable, he said.
Story continues
Government lawyers are understood to be working on building a legal defence for the air bridges which will also require the Foreign Office to lift its ban on all but essential travel to the designated countries.
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency and member of the Quash Quarantine group, said: It is unlawful to restrict movement to a few corridors but also unworkable, as I could simply drive from Spain across most of the EU anyway.
Only a pan-EU corridor makes sense as a first step towards revitalising the travel sector.
Airlines are urging the Government to scrap air passenger duty alongside the launch of air bridges to kickstart flying and help safeguard thousands of jobs in the aviation industry.
Airlines UK, their representative body, said it would save 13 per adult ticket on average short haul and 80 on long haul at a cost to the Treasury of 3.7 billion for a 12 month waiver.
A Department for Transport spokesman said:Intern ational travel corridors remain an option under consideration by the UK Government, not established policy.
Any options taken forward will take into account the UKs obligations under EU law, through to the end of the Transition Period.
New York, June 23 : The statue of Theodore Roosevelt atop a horse at the entrance to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City will be removed, due to "the racial hierarchy it depicts," according to the museum.
The bronze statue of the 26th president of the United States, flanked by an African American and a Native American, has been standing before the museum since 1940, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.
The museum asked that it should be moved, and the city, which owns the property and the museum, approved the request on Sunday night.
"The statue was meant to celebrate Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) as a devoted naturalist and author of works on natural history," said the museum in a statement. "At the same time, the statue itself communicates a racial hierarchy that the Museum and members of the public have long found disturbing." New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement that the city supports the museum's request. "It is the right decision and the right time to remove this problematic statue," he said.
The museum's action came amid a new moment of reckoning of racial injustice in the United States. After weeks of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, protesters across the country have turned their focus onto the statues of historic figures with a connection to slavery, such as Robert E. Lee and Winston Churchill.
Last week, a statue of Nathaniel Rochester, the founder of the city of Rochester in upstate New York, was sprayed with anti-racism messages. Rochester was a Revolutionary War figure and a slave owner.
New York City Council members have also demanded that a statue of Thomas Jefferson be removed from the City Hall. Jefferson was the third president of the United States and owned more than 600 African-American slaves, according to historical documents.
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In August last year, my ten-year-old twin sons combined their birthday money to buy a Sony PlayStation 4 from Argos, costing 225.
In February, the console stopped working. We returned the PlayStation 4, which was under warranty, to Argos on March 16. Then lockdown happened and we heard nothing more.
After six weeks we chased it up, but were told via an internet live chat that nothing could be done.
Left out: Argos refused to replace ten-year-old twins' broken Playstation meaning they couldn't play online games with their friends during lockdown
My wife is a key worker so we appreciate the pressure businesses are under, and I know this is a very small issue compared with what some families have suffered, but I would like my sons to have their birthday present so they can play online with their friends again.
K. M., Huddersfield.
The early weeks of lockdown in particular, when we could rarely leave our homes, put a lot of strain on families.
Many of us relied on technology to keep in contact with friends and loved ones. A games console would have been a great help to two ten-year-old boys missing their mates.
Argos has apologised for the service you received. Your sons now have a replacement console and are gaming again.
An Argos spokesman says: This did not reflect the high standards our customers rightly expect from us.
You have YOUR say Every week, Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here are some from our investigation into how deliveries are being delayed and parcels damaged and stolen during lockdown: The delivery driver took a photograph of a package with 50 worth of meat inside which hed left on the doorstep. Unfortunately, it was not my doorstep. J. F., Teignmouth, Devon. I was told a parcel would be delivered to my door between 12pm and 2pm. The next day an email said it had been delivered at 11am. But nobody had rung the bell to alert me it was there. M. C., via email. My daughters purchase from an online retailer went missing, and the courier admitted it had lost it. She is still waiting for her refund three months later. S. D., via email. Two local shops have started doing deliveries and theyve been amazing. Everything is packed perfectly and arrives within 24 hours. A lifesaver in a rural area. L. R., Plymouth, Devon. My wife and I are shielding and we have used home deliveries for everything. I have been very impressed with all the delivery personnel. They are polite, punctual and keep their distance. R. H., Newbury, Berkshire. Private delivery companies pay drivers peanuts. Its not really their fault that they are adopting ditch-and-run tactics, as that is probably what brings them the most money. They should be paid proper wages. D. L., London. I work for a courier company and we are in a catch-22 situation. If we leave something in a secluded spot, the customer complains; but if we dont, the customer will ask why we didnt deliver it. B. S., Durham.
My mother died in January and my father is desperate to go into a good care home for company, but our efforts are being thwarted by Santander.
Our council insists he requires a minimum of 50,000 if he is to go into a home of his choice. We have found a lovely one.
We need to transfer 28,000 from his Santander Isa into his HSBC current account.
My brother and I hold joint and several Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), which was registered in January.
We attempted to register this with a Santander branch in Cardiff, providing the information requested. One week later, we received a letter saying a piece of ID was missing.
We returned to the branch and again submitted our LPA registration, this time using my bank statement as proof of address. A week later we got another letter from Santander saying a piece of information was missing.
I have tried to perform this transaction online, but it will only let me transfer to another Isa, not to a current account.
I spoke to Santander by telephone and was asked for two forms of ID and the LPA form. A week later, I received another letter exactly the same as the previous two.
T. R., Cardiff.
How frustrating for you, to find a care home which is perfect for your father and then to have him left living alone and under stress because a bank is not doing its job properly.
Both you and your brother provided ID on February 24, but were asked for a second form of ID on March 5. Santander says you sent a terms and conditions letter rather than a statement.
It should not have been beyond the wit of those at Santander to explain precisely what was wrong and what was required, rather than sending back three identical letters asking for more ID.
This smacks of someone pressing a button to produce a computer-generated letter, rather than addressing the issue at hand.
Incidentally, as you hold a joint and several Lasting Power of Attorney, as long as your brothers ID was correct, he would have been able to carry out the transaction independently.
The LPA was finally registered on May 28, three months after your first attempt.
A Santander spokesman says: We are sorry that Mrs R was incorrectly told that we had enough information to register the LPA when we actually required additional ID.
Santander has sent you flowers and 100 to apologise.
Unfortunately, when you tried to transfer the Isa, it showed up as having become dormant. This led to a further slight delay as you had to unfreeze the account.
But finally the money has been transferred to your fathers HSBC current account. I hope he will be very happy in the care home you and he have chosen.
Straight to the point Recently I received a new Barclaycard for my late husband, despite providing the bank with his death certificate in September 2018. I find this totally insensitive and very upsetting. J. S., Woolavington, Somerset. While your husbands accounts were closed in 2018, he was still named as an authorised user on your account, which is why a new card was sent out recently. Barclaycard has sent you a bouquet of flowers as an apology. It is also taking steps to ensure this doesnt happen to others. *** For the past three weeks, NatWest has been unable to sort out a glitch with an online application for a Bounce Back Loan. It wont accept my signature. P. B-H., via email. NatWest denies there was a technical issue. You completed the form again and, despite it still not accepting your signature, your application has now been accepted. *** I ordered five knitting patterns from LoveCrafts, totalling 17.57. But I did not realise four had to be printed at home. I do not have a printer and LoveCrafts said it could not send me paper copies. P. H., West Lothian. By the time I contacted LoveCrafts, it had already agreed to refund you for the patterns you did not want as a gesture of goodwill. *** When my 94-year-old mother tried to use her John Lewis credit card to purchase some furniture from the store, the transaction was declined. It turns out that her card had been cancelled after she hadnt used it for a while. She never received a letter notifying her of this. P. L., Norfolk. A John Lewis spokesman says your mother should have received a letter informing her that her account would be closed if she did not use the card by a specified date. After learning the letter was not received, your mothers account was reopened and she was offered a goodwill gesture.
I switched gas and electricity suppliers and provided final readings to Green Star, but I still cannot get a correct final bill from it after 20 months.
Green Star insists it has made a goodwill gesture, which it has not.
R. E., Coventry.
Green Star tells me that it initially provided a final bill using estimated readings from your new energy provider.
When you supplied an accurate reading, it attempted to get your new provider to correct these estimates but was told this could not be done.
It, therefore, initially wrote off the difference between the estimated final balance and your accurate one as a gesture of goodwill. It has since returned the account balance to zero.
It has spoken to you and you are happy with this outcome.
It drives me mad that energy providers ask us for final readings and then seem to take not one iota of notice of them.
The root of the problem appears to be that when we move supplier, mysterious background organisations, such as energy transporters and data service providers, can pluck out random meter readings, which are then imposed on us and the energy companies.
It can be enormously difficult to get these fabricated readings replaced by our accurate ones.
My advice is to take a photo of your meter with a mobile phone. At least you will then have evidence to counter their fairy tales.
We love hearing from our loyal readers, so ask that during this challenging time you write to us by email where possible, as we will not pick up letters sent to our postal address as regularly as usual.
You can write to: asktony@ dailymail.co.uk or, if you prefer, Ask Tony, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 D erry Street, London W8 5TT please include your daytime phone number, postal address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Tony Hazell.
We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.
WINNEMUCCA, Nev., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. (NYSE American: PZG) ("Paramount" or the "Company") announced today the pricing of its previously announced non-brokered registered direct offering and concurrent, best efforts offering in Canada (collectively, the "Offerings") of 4,807,700 shares of its common stock, at an offering price of US $1.04 per share of common stock.
Proceeds from the Offerings, before deducting agents' commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by Paramount, are expected to be approximately US$5 million.
Closing of the Offerings is anticipated to occur on or about June 30, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Proceeds from the Offerings will be used primarily to advance the ongoing permitting of the Company's high-grade Grassy Mountain Gold Project in eastern Oregon and for general corporate purposes.
The Offerings are being made under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus under the Company's effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-218295) that was declared effective by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on June 8, 2017 and the best efforts offering in Canada is being made pursuant to the Company's preliminary short form prospectus filed with the Ontario Securities Commission on June 22, 2020. Copies of these documents and the final prospectus supplement (and the accompanying base prospectus) and the final short form prospectus will be available under the Company's profiles at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, respectively.
Canadian investors may also obtain the final short form prospectus for the Offerings, when available, by contacting Canaccord Genuity Corp. attention: Syndication Brookfield Place, 161 Bay Street, Suite 3100, P.O. Box 516 Toronto, ON M5J 2S1, Email: [email protected], or Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation, attention: Equity Capital Markets, 181 University Avenue, Suite 1500, Toronto, ON, M5H 3M7, email: [email protected]. Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation are not involved in the registered direct offering by the Company in the United States.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. Any offer to buy the securities may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time prior to notice of its acceptance.
About Paramount Gold Nevada Corp.
Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. is a U.S. based precious metals exploration and development company. Paramount's strategy is to create shareholder value through exploring and developing its mineral properties and to realize this value for its shareholders in three ways: by selling its assets to established producers; entering into joint ventures with producers for construction and operation; or constructing and operating mines for its own account.
Paramount owns 100% of the Grassy Mountain Gold Project which consists of approximately 11,000 acres located on private and BLM land in Malheur County, Oregon. The Grassy Mountain Gold Project contains a gold-silver deposit (100% located on private land) for which results of a positive Pre-Feasibility Study have been released and key permitting milestones accomplished.
Paramount owns a 100% interest in the Sleeper Gold Project located in Northern Nevada, the world's premier mining jurisdiction. The Sleeper Gold Project, which includes the former producing Sleeper mine, totals 2,322 unpatented mining claims (approximately 60 square miles or 15,500 hectares). The Sleeper gold project is host to a large gold deposit (over 4 million ounces of mineralized material) and the Company has completed and released a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This release and related documents may include "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") pursuant to applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. Paramount's future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable securities laws. Words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although these words may not be present in all forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements included in this news release include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the use of proceeds from the Offerings and the anticipated closing date of the Offerings. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Management believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conclusions made in the preliminary feasibility study for the Grassy Mountain Gold Project (the "PFS"); the quantity and grade of resources included in resource estimates; the accuracy and achievability of projections included in the PFS; Paramount's ability to carry on exploration and development activities, including construction; the timely receipt of required approvals and permits; the price of silver, gold and other metals; prices for key mining supplies, including labor costs and consumables, remaining consistent with current expectations; work meeting expectations and being consistent with estimates and plant, equipment and processes operating as anticipated. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: uncertainties involving interpretation of drilling results; environmental matters; the ability to obtain required permitting; equipment breakdown or disruptions; additional financing requirements; the completion of a definitive feasibility study for the Grassy Mountain Gold Project; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, between actual and estimated development and operating costs and between estimated and actual production; and the other factors described in Paramount's disclosures as filed with the SEC and the Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta Securities Commissions.
Except as required by applicable law, Paramount disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this document.
SOURCE Paramount Gold Nevada Corp.
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Yoga guru Ramdev addresses the media during the launch of 'Coronil' and 'Swasari', ayurvedic medicines claimed by Patanjali to cure coronavirus disease, in Haridwar. PTI photo
Haridwar/New Delhi: Yoga guru Ramdev's herbal medicine company Patanjali Ayurved on Tuesday claimed to have discovered a medicine that could cure coronavirus in just seven days - a claim that the Ayush Ministry scoffed at by seeking stopping of advertisements for the drug.
While Ramdev claimed that Ayurved-based 'Coronil and Swasari' medicine have shown 100 per cent favourable results during clinical trials on COVID-19 infected patients except those on a life support system, the Ayush Ministry sought from the company detailed report on composition, testing and other data of the drugs.
The ministry also used powers under a 1954 law to ask the firm to "stop advertising/publicizing" claims of corona cure drug until the issue is examined by it.
A government notification bars companies from advertising a cure without government approval. But it wasn't immediately clear if the drug can still be sold.
Talking to PTI, Ramdev said the medicines have been developed by Patanjali Research Center, Haridwar and privately-owned National Institute of Medical Science, Jaipur following all protocols with clinically controlled trial-based evidence.
"Patanjali first conducted clinical case study and conducted clinical control trials following all protocols of drug discovery," he said.
Sidestepping questions on the drug being approved by government agencies such as ICMR, Ramdev said clinical controlled study of these medicines was done in several cities including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Meerut and the RCT (Randomized Clinical Trial) controlled with placebo was conducted at Jaipur-based National Institute of Medical Sciences & Research.
"This was done after getting approval from Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI) and all other required formalities," he said. "We have followed all the parameters set up by modern science for such clinical trials."
Reacting to the announcement, the Ministry of Ayush issued a statement saying, "Facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study are not known" to it.
"Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has been asked to provide at the earliest details of the name and composition of the medicines being claimed for COVID treatment; site(s)/hospital(s), where the research study was conducted for COVID-19; protocol, sample size, Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, CTRI registration and results data of the study (ies) and stop advertising/publicizing such claims till the issue is duly examined," the ministry statement said.
The ministry also asked the concerned State Licensing Authority of Uttarakhand Government to provide copies of license and product approval details of the Ayurvedic medicines being claimed for the treatment of COVID -19.
Under the ministry's guidelines for drug development of ayurvedic formulations, state licensing authority grants licenses for manufacturing any Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani medicine.
Ramdev at a launch press conference in Haridwar, where his company is based, claimed that his ayurvedic drugs have shown 100 per cent favourable results during the clinical trial.
"We conducted a clinical case study and clinical controlled trial, and found 69 per cent patients recovered in 3 days and 100 patients recovered in 7 days," he said.
According to him, this medicine is useful for prevention from COVID-19 and also for treatment.
Claiming that during the trial other complications of patients were also cured and their critical parameters were normalised, he said no infected patient lost his life during the trial.
Patanjali, he said, had started to work on corona medicines in December 2019.
The Corona kit, priced at Rs 545, would be available pan India within a week. The kit will have medicines for 30 days.
Ramdev said the medicines can be ordered online through a mobile app from next Monday.
The COVID-19 therapy suggested by Patanjali is applicable for adults ranging between 15-80 years of age whereas children are advised to take half the dosage prescribed for adults.
Patanjali's anti-COVID tablet, Divya Coronil Tablet consists of Giloy, Tulsi and Ashwagandha and is prescribed to be taken thrice a day with hot water 30 minutes after breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Medical experts, however, were not convinced by the claims.
Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, Head of the department and senior consultant, Pulmonology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad, said physiologically it is quite impossible that there is any medicine which can finish the viral load from the body in 5-7 days.
"These claims can be very harmful because people, instead of taking actual medical help, may start rushing to these kinds of claims which have no proven clinical trial," he told PTI.
Instead of taking actual medical help, opting for a "desi nuskha" kind of a thing is just going to result in loss of precious time in curing the disease, Jha said.
Noted city-based lung surgeon Dr Arvind Kumar said only a proper clinical trial can prove the efficacy of the medicine.
Haridwar-based Patanjali group has an estimated turnover of around Rs 10,500 crore. It had acquired debt-ridden Ruchi Soya in a corporate insolvency resolution process for around Rs 4,350 crore after competing with Adani Group.
The group is also known for venturing in uncharted areas as it had in August 2018 launched a messaging app 'Kimbho', which could not take off and is now defunct.
In a heart-warming ode to his father, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella remembered him as an institution builder.
I am guided by the lessons he taught me by living his life to fulfill his passions and principles, Nadella wrote in a post on LinkdIn on Sunday which was celebrated as Father's Day this year. He said that his first memories of his father were him reading a thick hardback book late in the night after he had returned from a trip to rural parts of the country.
Everything was quiet and dark, except for the bedside light that reflected off his white kurta and the mosquito net. There were many official reports stacked by the bedside. He had returned home late, after everyone else had gone to bed, from a grueling trip to a remote area in rural India during a difficult period of turmoil in the district we lived in, Nadella wrote recalling his favourite Russian author and his passions, his values, and his lifes work.
Nadella further wrote about the passion and dedication his father had towards his work as a civil servant. To him this was not a professional career choice, but a calling.
Nadellas father, Bukkapuram Nadella Yugandhar, was an IAS officer and passed away last year.
To him, land reforms, bonded labor abolition, watershed development, rural employment programs, self-help groups, disabled communities, and much more were not topics or portfolios, but his lifes purpose, he wrote.
He also wrote how his fathers way of combining work with his lifes passions, the deep meaning he derived from it, has shaped his views of work and life.
His overall lifes pursuit was clear: working as a public servant creating systems that could deliver on universal rights (food, housing, health, education, employment) in spite of Indias complexity, constraints, and scale, Nadella wrote.
I work and live in a very different context and time. And yet I am guided by the lessons he taught me by living his life to fulfill his passions and principles, Nadella wrote in the conclusion in the ode to his father.
(TNS) The task force in charge of deciding how Rapid City, S.D., Area Schools will go back to school in the fall is leaning towards a hybrid normal start option, with school beginning sometime after Labor Day.The hybrid normal start would include a remote start option for families who dont wish to have their children present in school buildings yet for reasons like health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.RCAS Superintendent Lori Simon updated the school board of the task forces current leanings during a special meeting Monday night. She said the group wants to aim for after Labor Day so we have some upfront time to train our staff and allow them adequate planning time depending on the scenario we choose.Staff training and preparedness was one of the largest obstacles when the district switched to remote learning abruptly in mid-March, said John Johnson, coordinator of research for RCAS. A delayed start could give teachers more time to create lesson plans for online learning.Imagine you wake up one morning and all of a sudden you realize you have to come up with a whole new teaching strategy, he said. A lot of teachers had no experience with teaching classes online or via Zoom.Johnson gave a report from teachers about their experience teaching in the pandemic and said many had inconsistent and disorganized communication with parents. Another problem was the inaccessibility of technology and WiFi for students.Johnson said an estimated 10% to 35% of students did not participate in any learning activities, leading to concerns that students fell through the cracks.The hybrid normal start with a remote learning option is ranked the best option among a work group determining the best learning practice for elementary students, Simon said.The secondary work group for middle and high schools favored the normal start, but their second choice was the hybrid normal start with a remote learning option, Simon said.Simon said most districts across the state are looking at a hybrid start with a remote learning option.They really believe the remote option is necessary because we know that for personal reasons, for health reasons some parents are just not going to be ready for their kids to go back to school, Simon said. None of us can afford to lose a significant amount of enrollment, so we really need to offer that remote learning option, but a much-improved option.Simon said there are a multitude of considerations going into the districts decision, including: personnel matters, need for additional staff, substitute teachers, availability of personal protective equipment, staff training, new rituals and routines for students, family communication, student learning gaps and considerations for special education students.Safety protocols and considerations for the district also include: busing, arrival and dismissal, hallway and cafeteria patterns, recess, passing periods, special classes like band and orchestra, a nurse area, cleaning and screening procedures.Simon said the district would likely require all staff and teachers to wear masks and/or face shields and highly recommend students consider wearing masks at school. Yet, she said the availability of PPE is still scant, even for health care systems.Next steps for the district include finishing the distribution of staff and family surveys and having the work groups submit final reports to the superintendent on June 29. The final recommendation about how RCAS will open will be presented to the school board in July.We think that there needs to be as normal a start as possible, Simon said.
A search was is still underway today for a Cork man missing off the Kerry coast.
Friends fear John Cunningham may have been swept into the sea off the Dingle coast while checking his lobster pots.
The PE teacher, who is on a career break from a school in Cork and lives at gCom Dhineoil in Dun Chaoin, Dingle, went missing around 12.30pm on Saturday.
The weather was taking a turn for the worst at the time and he is believed to have wanted to check up on his lobster pots.
He was then due to have joined pals for a surfing trip to Sligo.
He had also arranged for a carer to look after his father, who is believed to have Alzheimer's.
Searches have been carried out along the coast by Dunmore Head, where he had his lobster pots.
The last time friends were aware of being online on WhatsApp was about 12.30pm.
John Cunningham has been missing from his home in Dun Chaoin since Saturday. The Emergency Services and John's family are appealing to the public for help in the search.
Between then and the alarm being raised on Sunday, friends discovered a rope attached to his lobster pots has since gone missing, as have the pots.
And when his house was searched, they found his jeep still parked outside it.
It had his wallet inside the vehicle.
A full search around Dunmore Head and cliffs was only begun Tuesday morning because of the 67ft swells in the bay and the lack of visibility.
Searches have also been carried out in nearby Mount Eagle, part of the central Dingle Peninsula mountains, because of his love of hillwalking.
As well as members of Dingle Sea and Cliff Rescue, Irish Coast Guard helicopter R115 is helping in the search for Mr Cunningham, who is in his 40s.
His family, including his sister, is in Dingle helping coordinate the search, along with Valentia Coastguard Station.
A friend said last night that while they wanted to stay positive, they feared the worst.
It is, they said, very unlike Mr Cunningham to not tell someone where he is.
He would never not be in contact, another, who also asked not to be named, said.
Early Tuesday morning, Dingle Hillwalking Club put out an appeal on Facebook.
John is a former member of our club, the post read.
Can I ask as many people as possible to share this post in the hope that he will be found safe and well.
Thank you.
NASHOTAH, Wis., June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Techniplas (the "Company"), a provider of highly engineered technical solutions to the automotive, transportation, and industrial markets, today announced that, following a sale process through Chapter 11, the Company's business is now under new ownership with an improved balance sheet and will continue operating under the Techniplas name.
As outlined in the sale order, which was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on June 12, 2020, Techniplas, LLC executed a sale of its core assets to certain of its existing investors. The Company's owners include marquee investors Bayside Capital, Amzak Capital Management, and The Jordan Company, who have contributed over $50 million in fresh capital in order to provide the Company a strong balance sheet. The Company will now have significantly less debt and more liquidity to invest in sustainable future growth to the benefit of its customers.
Ali El-Haj, who will continue as Techniplas's Chief Executive Officer under its new ownership, said, "I am excited to lead Techniplas into our next chapter, strengthened with a right-sized balance sheet and backed by our investors, who have proven experience in supporting companies like ours through the next phase of growth. We enter this new phase with renewed energy and enthusiasm to meet the needs of our strategic customers."
El-Haj continued, "I would like to offer special thanks to all of our customers, suppliers, and dedicated employees for their support throughout this expedited process. Techniplas has continued to support and serve essential businesses throughout this process and the COVID-19 pandemic, and now with all of our facilities resuming operations, we are even better positioned to continue serving our customers with our high-quality solutions and service."
The acquisition of Techniplas's core assets closed June 19, 2020. Further information about the Chapter 11 cases can be found at https://dm.epiq11.com/Techniplas.
Techniplas, LLC was represented in this matter by White & Case LLP, FTI Consulting, and Miller Buckfire. The ad hoc group of investors was represented by Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and Houlihan Lokey.
About Techniplas
Techniplas (www.techniplas.com) is a global provider of highly engineered plastic components, primarily for the automotive sector as well as industrial, consumer, medical, and other markets. The Company's products align with industry trends, including vehicle lightweighting and electrification and an increasing focus on comfort and safety. Techniplas serves global customers and platforms with a focus on technology expertise and design and engineering collaboration with customers. Techniplas maintains long-term relationships with many of the world's leading automotive OEMs.
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The Quebec government unveiled the next stage in its reckless back-to-work drive last week. New measures include allowing indoor gatherings of 50 people; reopening cinemas, pools, arenas and gyms; the resumption of day care services in Montreal; the reopening of shopping malls; and the relaxing of social distancing measures to the point of making them effectively useless.
The Coalition Avenir Quebecs (CAQ) back-to-work drive began in April, at the height of the pandemic, with the reopening of mines and residential construction. It was intensified in May with the reopening of most businesses, primary schools and daycare centres (except in the Greater Montreal area, the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada).
Quebec is the Canadian province most affected by COVID-19. It accounts for more than half of all infections and deaths although it is home to less than a quarter of the country's population. Yet the Quebec government has mounted the most aggressive campaign for a premature reopening of non-essential sectors of the economy.
The announcement of similar measures in neighbouring Ontario by the hard-right government of Doug Ford underscores that the back-to-work drive is a cross-Canada policy aimed at enabling big business to begin reaping profits once again from the working class, irrespective of the consequences for human life.
The push for a premature return to work is being carried out under the oversight of Justin Trudeau's federal Liberal government. After demonstrating a complete lack of preparedness for a foreseeable and predicted pandemic, Ottawa responded by bailing out big business to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, while placing workers who lost their jobs on meagre rations (see: Canadas parliament approves coronavirus bailout for corporations and austerity for workers).
Like their European and American counterparts, all levels of government in Canada are in the process of lifting their last remaining lockdown measures. Their intended goal is the creation of conditions in which workers are forced, under threat of dismissal, to return to workplaces where the risk of contracting the deadly coronavirus, and passing it on to their loved ones, is high.
This is highlighted by the Trudeau government's Bill C-17, which threatens severe fines and even prison sentences for workers who use the meagre assistance provided by the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to delay their return to unsafe workplaces (see: Canadian government threatens fines and jail time to force workers back to work).
The priority for the capitalist elite is to recover the costs of the massive bailout provided it by the state through increased exploitation of the working class. Underscoring that the financial aristocracy is determined to put profits before human lives, their hirelings in government are already letting it be known that they intend to ignore the sharp rise in COVID-19 and deaths that will inevitably be the product of their premature reopening of the economy.
Quebec's director of public health, Horacio Arruda, has already declared that there will be no total lockdown in the event of a second wave of the pandemic. Similar statements have been made by other Canadian officials, including Saskatchewan and British Columbias chief medical officers and by US President Donald Trump.
The forced return to work is accompanied by an official campaign to give the false impression of a return to normality, when in reality the COVID-19 pandemic continues to progress at an accelerated pace.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported last week that the number of new cases worldwide has surpassed a record 150,000 daily. We are entering a new and dangerous phase of the pandemic, warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
In Canada, the ruling class has seized on a moderate decline in the number of infections since the beginning of June to intensify the back-to-work drive.
This is particularly true in Quebec which since it reached the gruesome threshold of 5,000 coronavirus deaths on June 8, has seen a drop in the number of new infections. Currently they average about 100 per day.
The decision by Francois Legault's government to take advantage of this decline in the official pandemic figures, which is primarily the result of lockdown measures, to move to the final stage of its back-to-work campaign is nothing short of criminal.
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, explicitly warned last Tuesday, Although the growth of the epidemic has slowed considerably, and we can now see these signs of hope, we are at the stage where we need to work together and continue our efforts, because it only takes one new case of COVID-19 to trigger an epidemic or to restart an exponential growth that could change our trajectory.
According to Dr. David Kaiser of Montreals regional Public Health Agency, the reduced number of infections is due in part to better controls in nursing homes and other care facilities.
Looking at infections caused by community transmission, he adds, the decline in the number of new cases has been more modest. Dr. Kaiser also warned that it is too early to see the real impact of the Legault government's measures to reopen the economy. He added, We're going to find out in the next couple of weeks, not necessarily today.
Another factor in the decline in new cases is the sharp drop in testing. Since June 1, less than 8,000 people on average have been tested daily for the coronavirus in Quebec. This is little more than half of the already insufficient target of 14,000 daily tests set by the provinces own health authorities.
According to David Buckeridge, an epidemiologist at McGill University, the province mainly tests people who are sick enough to seek testing, rather than proactively screening large segments of the population. There are certainly more [infections]. The number confirmed by tests will be much lower than the real number, he explains.
Quebecs refusal to carry out systematic pro-active testing, which is replicated across Canada, underscores that the ruling elite has no interest in containing the spread of the pandemic. It was only under pressure from the working class, including mass walkouts by construction workers in Quebec and auto workers in Ontario, that Legault and premiers across Canada were forced to close many non-essential sectors of industry in March.
But Legaults government rejected from the outset the only known effective methods to combat COVID-19: mass testing, quarantining, systematic contact-tracing and the injection of massive resources to strengthen health care infrastructure.
Instead, the CAQ favoured (first overtly, then covertly) the strategy of herd immunity, i.e., deliberate mass contamination, regardless of the cost in human lives. The result was that Quebec has one of the highest death rates per head of population in the world.
With last week's announcements, Legault abandoned all lockdown measures. A range of confusing social distancing regulationsincluding keeping 2 metres distance in crowded areas, 1.5 metres in places where people are seated and not talking, and 1 meter for school students under 16are designed to create complacency and break down the observance of WHO-recommended distancing practices. For younger students, bubbles of four to six students where no distance requirements apply are to be created. A distance of 1.5 metres between each bubble is supposed to be observed.
I fell off my chair when I heard the new measures, says Steeve Tremblay, an occupational health and safety consultant. It's far too complicated and difficult to understand. The problem is the message it sends, he says. People may assume that it's not that bad. But we're still in the midst of a pandemic! And it's far from over.
The CAQ governments criminally irresponsible back-to-work drive will make working conditions for frontline workers even more dangerous and life-threatening.
Since the start of the outbreak in Quebec, more than 5,000 workers in Quebecs public health system, devastated by decades of budget cuts, have contracted COVID-19 because they lacked personal protective equipment (PPE). Many have died as a result.
Other workers in services deemed essential have also been exposed to the deadly coronavirus. Two weeks ago, about 60 employees at retailer Dollaramas warehouse and distribution centre, which employs close to 1,000 workers, held a demonstration. They were protesting the impossibility of enforcing social distancing, and managements minimal application or outright violation of safety standards and public health measures.
The company has prioritized money, leaving aside the health and safety of its workers, said one employee in an anonymous interview. Workers, some with many years of seniority, have been fired for filing a complaint. Dollarama, which was declared an essential service at the start of the pandemic, has seen its profits exceed expectations, with the company making nearly $86 million in the first quarter.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
Central Asia belongs to arid and semi-arid region. Water resource is the most critical natural factor affecting the region.
Researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences quantitatively assessed the four main water security sub-objectives and the comprehensive level of water security in five Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
By using the projection pursuit model based on particle swarm optimization (PSO-PEE), they established the assessment indicators system and classification standard data set for water security in Central Asian countries.
Their results indicated that for ecological security, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have improved their status, but Turkmenistan is getting worse; for the quantity security of water resources, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are relatively safe, whereas Uzbekistan is at risk.
For socio-economic conditions, Kazakhstan scored the highest, while Tajikistan and Uzbekistan scored the lowest. Water consumption per 10,000 dollars of GDP across all five Central Asian countries is relatively high, but shows a significant decreasing trend, indicating that the water utilization efficiency in Central Asia is gradually improving.
For the water supply and demand security, the status of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are better than that of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan has achieved a relatively safe level (level II) and the degree of water security is high. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are only in the basically safe level (level III). Uzbekistan is under significant pressure with regard to water security (level IV).
Explore further Hot summer fuels dangerous glacier melting in Central Asia
More information: Xuanxuan Wang et al. Development and utilization of water resources and assessment of water security in Central Asia, Agricultural Water Management (2020). Xuanxuan Wang et al. Development and utilization of water resources and assessment of water security in Central Asia,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106297
President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Arayik Haroutyunyan today sent a congratulatory message to President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian on the occasion of his birthday.
The message reads as follows:
Dear Armen Sarkissian,
On behalf of the people and authorities of Artsakh and myself, I cordially congratulate you on your birthday.
Artsakh deeply respects you as a skillful state and political figure, scholar and diplomat.
We highly appreciate your consistent efforts for the development and empowerment of the two Armenian republics, the strengthening of the place and role of the Armenian people in the new world and the patriotic act of shaping a reliable and thriving future for our generations. May you succeed on the path to solving pan-national issues.
I wish you and your family good health, peace and all the best.
Celebrations have kicked off early in Cork this morning as Lotto bosses revealed that a southside service station sold last weekend's near 7m jackpot ticket.
But the identity of Irelands latest Lotto millionaire remains a mystery as the National Lottery confirmed that the 6,933,904 winning ticket was sold at Murphys Circle K family-owned service station on Vicars Road in Togher.
The winner has made contact with National Lottery headquarters and arrangements are now being made for their life-changing prize to be paid.
Noel Murphy, who owns the shop, described the win as a tremendous boost for the local community and promised a day celebrations with staff and customers in-store - in line with physical distancing guidelines.
I have been absolutely bursting to share this amazing news but I have had to keep it to myself since yesterday evening, he said.
Anybody who knows the area surrounding Togher will know what a fantastic community we have here.
Especially over the last number of months, we have been reminded of that great community spirit that we have and knowing that one of these people has won almost 7m is truly heart-warming.
I have absolutely no idea who the winner is, whether it is a syndicate or a lucky single winner.
Whoever it is, we wish them all the best of luck with their new-found fortune and I hope they enjoy it. Mr Murphy, who established the business on Vicars Road in 1995, said following local rumours he had some suspicions that his store may have been the lucky selling agent.
Celebrations at Murphys Circle K service station in Togher, Co Cork. Picture: MacInnes
But he said he didnt allow himself to even dream about the win until he received official notification from the National Lottery.
Funnily enough, there were rumours swirling around the area on Sunday that we sold the winning jackpot ticket but I assured everybody that I would be the first to know, apart from the winner of course, he said.
Now that the win is confirmed, were going to have a memorable day of celebrations in-store with our staff and customers, from two metres of course.
I am lucky to have some of the hardest working staff you could hope for so once restrictions are lifted and our lives return to some form of normality, the entire store will be enjoying a night out on me to celebrate the win. This latest Lotto win is the sixth jackpot win this year with over 30m won in jackpot prizes alone.
In 2020, over 67 million has been won in prizes in the Lotto game which includes 11 new millionaires which have been created in the Lotto and Lotto Plus games.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand and SYDNEY, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 1, 2020, Gebruder Weiss, the globally active transport and logistics company, will be represented in the Southern hemisphere for the first time with the opening of national subsidiaries in Australia and New Zealand. The future Air & Sea locations are situated in the Australian major cities of Sydney and Melbourne, as well as in Auckland, New Zealand. This move is part of the company's global strategy to develop new markets, extending its existing network of locations in the Gebruder Weiss region of East Asia/Oceania.
Gebruder Weiss to open new air & sea locations in Australia and New Zealand, Michael Zankel is Regional Manager East Asia/Oceania for the international logistics company.
Close ties to importing markets
"As we enter the markets in Australia and New Zealand, we will focus primarily on import business from Asian, American, and European markets," says Michael Zankel, Regional Manager East Asia/Oceania at Gebruder Weiss. To offer customers in its newest market one-stop logistics solutions, the global transport leader has a presence in each of the region's top trading partner countries, which includes China, the USA, Japan, Germany, and South Korea. Business commodities such as vehicles and automotive parts, machines and electronic products, and goods from the food and chemical industries, are imported from the USA, Europe, and Southeast Asia to the region Down Under.
"The important thing is to establish compelling delivery chains in the future, based on our long-standing experience in the logistics market. In this context, we also make sure to tie in with fast-growing transport activities within Asia, and create synergies when it comes to the efficient use of transport capacities," says Michael Zankel.
Earlier this month, Gebruder Weiss opened another new office location in Seoul, South Korea. The new sites in Australia and New Zealand are an essential addition for the company within the region of East Asia/Oceania, which currently contains 35 locations.
For more information visit the website at www.gw-world.com
About Gebruder Weiss
Gebruder Weiss, a global freight forwarder with a core business of overland transport, air, and sea freight and logistics, is the world's oldest transport company with a history that dates back more than 500 years. The family-owned company employs more than 7,300 people worldwide and boasts 150 company-owned locations. The business established a presence in the United States in Chicago in 2017 and has expanded its North American locations to include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. Developing and changing with the needs of its customers, Gebruder Weiss is a pioneer in sustainable business practices having implemented myriad ecological, economic, and social initiatives. The company's voyage into North America, along with its continuous growth, illustrates the need for experienced providers of global solutions through an international network of supply chain experts. Customized solutions with a single point of contact, provide customers with an exceptional service experience.
Media Contact:
Karolyn Raphael
Winger Marketing
[email protected]
T 312-494-0422
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Michael Zankel, Regional Manager East Asia/Oceania at Gebruder Weiss.
Gebruder Weiss to open new air & sea locations in Australia and New Zealand, Michael Zankel is Regional Manager East Asia/Oceania for the international logistics company.
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SOURCE Gebruder Weiss
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China and the United States are locked in a contest to develop the world's most powerful computers. Now a massive machine in Japan has topped them both.
A long-awaited supercomputer dubbed Fugaku, installed in the city of Kobe by the government-sponsored institute Riken, took first place in a twice-yearly speed ranking released on Monday. The Japanese machine carried out 2.8 times more calculations per second than an IBM system at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, which Fugaku bumped to second place in the so-called Top500 list.
Japan's new supercomputer is unveiled to the media at Riken Center for Computational Science in Kobe, Japan. Credit:EPA
Another IBM system, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, slid to third place in the ranking from second, while systems in China moved to the fourth and fifth spots from third and fourth.
Supercomputers have become a symbol for both technical and economic competitiveness. The room-size systems are used for complex military and scientific tasks, including breaking codes, modelling climate change and simulating new designs for cars, weapons, aircraft and drugs. Riken has said Fugaku is already being used to help study, diagnose and treat COVID-19.
n: Mandatory Credit: Photo by MIKA SCHMIDT/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10675376r) German Minister of Interior Horst Seehofer speaks during a press conference about the border controls due to the Coronavirus, Berlin, Germany, 10 June 2020. Horst Seehofer on border controls, Berlin, Germany - 10 Jun 2020 - MIKA SCHMIDT/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Germany on Tuesday banned a neo-Nazi group and ordered police raids against its members.
Nordadler, or Northern Eagles, is the third far-Right organisation to be banned this year under a crackdown by Horst Seehofer, the interior minister.
The move follows the banning of Combat 18 Deutschland in January. Interior ministry sources said the Northern Eagles have been largely confined to online activities so far, but the group openly professes support for Adolf Hitler and Nazi ideology.
Members have been investigated by German prosecutors on suspicion of forming a far-Right terror group.
The organisation is highly anti-Semitic and its leader expressed support for a failed attack on a synagogue in Halle last year in a public post on the Telegram internet messaging service.
The group also operates under the names Volkische Revolution, Volkische Jugend, Volkische Community and Volkische Renaissance.
Police raids were carried out in four German states against members of the group.
Far-Right extremism and anti-Semitism have no place on the internet, a spokesman for Mr Seehofer said.
Anyone who still glorifies National Socialism today despite the Holocaust and the Second World War, and endorses anti-Semitic attacks like the one in Halle, must feel the full force of the democratic constitutional state, Mathias Middelberg, a spokesman for Angela Merkels Christian Democrat party (CDU) said.
Mr Seehofer has moved against the neo-Nazi scene in the wake of the Halle attack and other incidents including the assassination of a prominent local politician by a suspected far-Right gunman last year.
In January, he ordered the banning of Combat 18 Deustchland, the German branch of the neo-Nazi organisation founded in the UK.
And in March he banned another group, the United German Peoples and Tribes.
SEATTLE, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (Sana), focused on engineering cells as medicines for patients, announced today the funding of all tranches of its initial financing, raising over $700 million.
With this financing, Sana's shareholders include ARCH Venture Partners, Flagship Pioneering, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Baillie Gifford, F-Prime Capital, Alaska Permanent Fund, the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, Bezos Expeditions, GV, Omega Funds, Altitude Life Science Ventures, and multiple unnamed institutional investors.
"Sana is dedicated to modulating genes in cells as well as replacing damaged cells in the body," said Steve Harr, Sana President and CEO. "The commitment from this group of long-term investors enables us to concentrate on making discoveries that overcome the most important challenges to making gene and cell therapies that improve the lives of a broad swath of patients. I am proud of our progress to date in turning our technologies into potential therapies for serious diseases such as cancer, central nervous system diseases, heart disease and various genetic disorders."
Proceeds from Sana's financing will be used to advance discovery and development within the company's core platforms, including gene delivery, immunology, stem cell biology, and gene modification and control. Some approaches include in vivo delivery of genetic payloads to specific cells, ex vivo genetic modifications that hide allogeneic cells from a patient's immune system, and applying stem cell biology to make differentiated cells to replace missing or damaged tissue. Proceeds are expected to support IND-enabling and initial clinical studies for multiple therapeutic candidates, buildout of manufacturing capabilities, and expansion of the company's portfolio of enabling technologies. They will also support the continued addition of top talent to Sana's team.
About Sana
Sana Biotechnology, Inc. is focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines for patients. We share a vision of repairing and controlling genes, replacing missing or damaged cells, and making our therapies broadly available to patients. We are a team of 200 plus scientists, engineers, clinicians and biotechnology veterans creating an enduring company that makes meaningful medicines and changes how we approach treating disease. Sana has operations in Seattle, Cambridge, and South San Francisco.
Contact
[email protected]
SOURCE Sana Biotechnology, Inc.
Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov arrives for a meeting with U.S. special envoy Marshall Billingslea in Vienna, Austria, on June 22, 2020. (Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)
Russian, US Envoys Discuss Nuclear Arms Treaty in Vienna
Russias deputy foreign minister and the U.S. special presidential envoy for arms control on Monday discussed global security issues, and the extension of the START nuclear arms control treaty in particular, the Russian foreign ministry said.
Sergey Ryabkov and Marshall Billingslea, at talks in Vienna, also discussed the issues of sustaining stability and predictability in the conditions after the end of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), the Russian ministry said on its website.
Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and his delegation arrive for a meeting with U.S. special envoy Marshall Billingslea in Vienna, Austria, on June 22, 2020. (Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)
The U.S. State Department has said Billingslea will be in Vienna for the talks on Monday and Tuesday.
New START imposes the last remaining limits on U.S. and Russian deployments of strategic nuclear arms to no more than 1,550 each. It can be extended for up to five years if both sides agree to.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for China to join the United States and Russia in talks on an agreement to replace New START.
China, estimated to have about 300 nuclear weapons, has repeatedly rejected Trumps proposal.
China is a no-show, Billingslea said on Twitter around the time he arrived for the talks in a palace adjoining Austrias Foreign Ministry.
Beijing still hiding behind #GreatWallofSecrecy on its crash nuclear build-up, and so many other things. We will proceed with #Russia, notwithstanding, he added.
Reuters reporters at the palace did not see any Chinese officials.
In other news, Germany places two districts under lockdown as report says EU may bar US travellers.
German authorities have ordered two new lockdowns for the entire districts of Warendorf and Guetersloh. The move came after a coronavirus outbreak at a slaughterhouse infected more than 1,500 workers.
Saudi Arabia will limit the number of domestic pilgrims attending the Hajj to around 1,000 after barring Muslims abroad from the rite for the first year in modern times.
European Union countries are considering banning entry to Americans as the US has failed in controlling the spread of the coronavirus, according to draft lists of travellers seen by the New York Times.
Worldwide, more than 9 million people have been confirmed to have the coronavirus. More than 4.5 million have recovered, while more than 472,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Here are the latest updates:
Tuesday, June 23
20:30 GMT French app alerts just 14 people since launch
Frances Digital Minister Cedric O said that the coronavirus tracking app that was launched three weeks ago sent 14 notifications in the past three weeks to warn people they had been in close contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus.
A screenshot showing the tracking application StopCovid is seen on a mobile phone in this illustration picture taken in Nantes, France [Stephane Mahe/Reuters]
People probably consider they need it less, the minister said attributing the unexpectedly low number of notifications to the rapid slowdown of the epidemic in France.
He says the app was downloaded 1.9 million times since it became available on June 2 yet almost one-quarter of users had since removed it from their cell phones. France has a population of 66 million.
Pointing out to the fact that In Germany 10 million people downloaded the app, the minister said that the difference was probably due to cultural differences and differing attitudes to the coronavirus.
19:24 GMT UK lifts further restrictions
Starting from July 4, people in England will be allowed to go to the pub, visit a cinema or a museum, get a haircut or attend a religious service but not a choir.
Under the new measures announced by the government, tattoo places and gyms will remain closed and music concerts will still not be allowed.
The two-metre (six feet) physical distance measure will be reduced to one metre while mask are still mandatory in enclosed spaces. The changes only apply in England.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all following slightly different measures.
18:36 GMT Texas reports more than 5,000 new cases
A patient is wheeled into Houston Methodist Hospital amid the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Houston, Texas, US [Callaghan OHare/Reuters]
Governor Greg Abbott said the US state of Texas registered more than 5,000 new cases in the past 24 hours the highest daily increase so far.
There remain a lot of people in the state of Texas who think that the spread of COVID-19 is not a challenge, Abbott told reporters. The coronavirus is serious. Its spreading.
The warning came as top national disease expert Anthony Fauci said the next couple weeks are going to be critical in Texas and other states that are trying to curtail an alarming spike in infections.
18:02 GMT EU may ban US travellers: Report
European Union countries are considering banning entry to Americans as the US has failed in controlling the spread of the coronavirus, according to draft lists of travellers seen by the New York Times.
The newspaper reported that there are two potential lists of travellers who would be exempted from the ban pending on how their countries handled the outbreak.
As selecting criteria, countries should not exceed the EUs average number of new infections in the past 14 days per 100,000 people, currently standing at 16.
For the US, the same figure now is 107, for Brazil 190 and Russia at 80.
EU officials have warned that failing in agreeing over the final list, which will be presented next week and revised every 14 days could trigger the reintroduction of border restrictions among the blocs members.
Visitors coming from outside the EU cannot enter the 27-member bloc since March, however they are expected to be allowed to do so starting on July 1.
17:28 GMT Spain to trial tracing app on island
The Spanish government will test a new smartphone app designed to control the spread of the coronavirus by adding hundreds of false cases into the system.
The two-week trial which will start on Friday in Gomera, on the Canary Islands is part of a system intended to send an alert when one user has been in contact with another who receives a postive diagnosis.
The idea is that approximately 3,000 people download it and we will introduce around 300 simulators, beta testers, to mimic a pandemic among 10 percent of the population, a government spokeswoman said.
To guard against impinging on peoples privacy, contact records will be stored on individual devices rather than a central server, using a standard developed by Apple and Google.
16:57 GMT Significant level of coronavirus until next year: England health official
The coronavirus is expected to circulate in England until next year, said Chief Medical officer Chris Whitty, warning the battle with the virus will be long.
I would be surprised and delighted if we werent in this current situation, through the winter, and into next spring I expect there to be a significant amount of coronavirus circulating at least into that time, he said.
16:32 GMT Fauci: COVID-19 vaccine a matter of when not if
Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said he believed it will be when and not if there will be a COVID-19 vaccine, expressing cautious optimism some will be ready by the end of the year.
Speaking to a House committee, Fauci added that neither he nor any members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force have been asked to slow down testing.
The comments came after President Donald Trump said at a weekend political rally in Oklahoma that he had asked his aides to reduce testing because it was turning up too many positive cases.
16:05 GMT Judge orders Brazils Bolsonaro to keep mask on
A Brazilian federal judge ordered President Jair Bolsonaro to comply with local rules to wear a face mask whenever he is outdoors in the capital, Brasilia.
Bolsonaro has exposed other people to the contagion of a disease that has caused national commotion, said Judge Renato Coelho Borelli.
The ruling came after Bolsonaro was seen unmasked at various public gatherings in recent weekends, from joining people protesting against the countrys Congress and Supreme Court to drawing crowds as he visited outdoor food stalls.
Brazils federal district requires people to wear face masks in public to help control the spread of the virus. Failure to comply carries a possible daily fine of $390.
15:33 GMT Egypt to lift night curfew, eases restrictions
Closed shops in Cairo, Egypt amid coronavirus lockdowns [Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters]
Egypt will lift on Saturday a three-month, night-time curfew despite the number of new infections keeps increasing.
Restaurants and cafes will also be allowed to operate at a fourth of their capacity and remain open until 10pm local time (20:00 GMT), while mosques and churches will be open for daily praying but not for end-of-week prayers or services attended by larger crowds.
While announcing the new relaxing measures, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly acknowledged that infections were rising but insisted that citizens will have to learn to live with the pandemic as the government seeks to limit the impact on the economy.
We still have the ability to absorb the current numbers and we also have an existing reserve of hospitals; the armed forces and the police hospitals, he said, adding the measures could be revoked if people did not follow the rules.
15:06 GMT UK latest figures
The number of people in Britain who have died after being confirmed to have COVID-19 has risen to 42,927, from 42,647 the day before, according to health officials.
The increase includes 171 new deaths reported as of 1600 GMT on June 22, plus 109 deaths that occurred in April, May and June which had been reclassified as caused by COVID-19.
14:48 GMT Russia to raise taxes on high earners: Putin
Russia will increase by two percentage points taxes for high earners, said President Vladimir Putin.
He said the tax rate will rise from 13 percent to 15 percent on incomes over five million rubles ($73,000) from January 1.
The move which would be the first hike since a flat tax rate was introduced in 2001 came as the Russian leader laid out measures to tackle the economic fallout of the coronavirus.
14:27 GMT Oman to reopen some businesses from Wednesday
Omans government said a new batch of activities will be allowed to restart from Wednesday, according to the countrys state news agency.
The businesses covered by the decision include real estate offices, travel agencies, maintenance businesses and dry cleaners, the agency quoted the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources as saying.
Physical distancing of at least two metres (six metres) must be maintained by customers.
() . pic.twitter.com/ti3w7X19sT (@OmanNewsAgency) June 23, 2020
14:05 GMT Germany orders second local virus lockdown
A second district in Germany has been placed under lockdown over a coronavirus outbreak.
In order to protect the population, we are now launching a further safety and security package to effectively combat the spread of the virus, said North Rhine-Westphalia health minister Karl-Josef Laumann, ordering a lockdown for the district of Warendorf.
The news came shortly after similar measures were reinforced around the neighbouring area of Guetersloh after more than 1,500 workers tested positive for COVID-19 at the slaughterhouse.
The move marked the first local lockdown imposed after Germany lifted all security restrictions.
Employees of the Toennies factory, who are under lockdown after a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the meatpacking plant, lean out the windows of their houses in Verl, Germany [Leon Kuegeler/Reuters]
13:30 GMT Ten million dexamethasone tablets could be ready in a month: Aspen
South African pharmaceutical company Apen has said it could provide 10 million dexamethasone tablets within a month.
The commments were made by CEO Stephen Saad who said Aspen would look to ramp up further should there be a need for additional product.
In what was described as a major breakthrough in the fight against the coronavirus, trial results last week that dexamethasone reduced death rates by about a third compared with a placebo in severely ill hospitalised COVID-19 patients.
The South African government has contacted Aspen to source the cheap and widely available steroid not only for its domestic market but also for the rest of the continent.
Once they give us a sense [required volumes across the continent], we can work out the supply, Saad said.
12:40 GMT Tennis-Djokovic tests positive for COVID-19
Novak Djokovic, the mens world number one tennis player, has tested positive for COVID-19.
Croatias Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Viktor Troicki have previously tested positive after playing in Djokovics Adria Tour exhibition tournament in the Balkan region.
200507171557885
The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested, the 33-year-old said in a statement, adding that he was not showing any symptoms. My result is positive, just as Jelenas (wife), while the results of our children are negative.
I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection. I hope that it will not complicate anyones health situation and that everyone will be fine. I will remain in self-isolation for the next 14 days, and repeat the test in five days.
The tournament witnessed packed stands during the opening leg in Belgrade, players hugging at the net, playing basketball, posing for pictures and attending press conferences together.
Serbias Novak Djokovic said the idea behind his tournament was noble and he wanted to raise funds for players in need. [File:Antonio Bronic/ Reuters]
12:10 GMT Germany imposes local lockdown after virus outbreak at meat plant
The premier of the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has said he was putting the Guetersloh area back into lockdown until June 30 after a coronavirus outbreak at a meatpacking plant in the area.
For the first time in Germany, we will return an entire district to the measures that applied several weeks ago, said Armin Laschet.
He said the lockdown would affect 360,000 people.
11:55 GMT EU leaders summit July 17-18 on virus recovery package
The leaders of the 27 EU member states will meet in Brussels on July 17, their first physical summit since the coronavirus lockdown began, to discuss an economic recovery package.
The two-day meeting was confirmed by a spokesman for European Council president and summit host Charles Michel, as capitals wrangle over the terms of the huge rescue plan.
11:40 GMT Trials with Oxford COVID-19 vaccine start in Brazil
Oxford University has started human clinical trials for a potential coronavirus vaccine in Brazil, sponsor Lemann Foundation said in a statement has said.
Trials will count on 2,000 health workers volunteers in Sao Paulo and 1,000 people in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazils health regulator Anvisa approved human clinical trials for this potential vaccine, developed by Oxford and supported by AstraZeneca Plc, earlier in June.
11:15 GMT South Africa to start Africas first coronavirus vaccine pilot
South Africa rolls out the continents first coronavirus vaccine trial this week, the university leading the pilot has said, as the country grapples with the highest number of cases in Africa.
The vaccine, developed by the Oxford Jenner Institute, is already being evaluated in the United Kingdom, where 4,000 participants have signed up for the trial.
South Africa has set out to vaccinate 2,000 people with the vaccine known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. Fifty of the candidates have HIV.
11:00 GMT Dublin Airport Authority expects up to 1,000 job losses: CEO
Dublin Airport Authority, Irelands largest airport operator, expects COVID-19 to lead to between 750 and 1,000 job losses, Chief Executive Dalton Philips has said.
The company, which operates Dublin and Cork airports and has operations in 15 other countries, said has been losing 1 million euros ($1.13m) per day since mid March, Philips told RTE radio.
He said he expected traffic at its main airports to be about 40 percent lower in 2021 due to COVID-19 with traffic only returning to pre-pandemic levels by 2023.
10:45 GMT Russian capital emerges from tight lockdown
Restaurants, gyms, swimming pools, libraries and kindergartens have resumed operation in Moscow as the city emerges from a tight coronavirus lockdown in place since late March.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced ending the lockdown in the Russian capital two weeks ago.
Sobyanin lifted stay-at-home orders and allowed beauty parlors to reopen first. Last week, dental clinics, museums and outdoor spaces of cafes and restaurants resumed operation.
10:30 GMT Saudi minister says number of pilgrims limited to around 1,000
Saudi Arabias Hajj minister has said that the number of pilgrims attending Hajj this year would be limited to around 1,000 local citizens and residents, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus .
Pilgrims coming from overseas will be barred this year and the ministry will apply a strict health criteria to choose pilgrims who may attend, including excluding those above 65 years old, Mohammed Benten said at a news conference.
Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 161,000 COVID-19 infections with over 1,300 deaths [File: AFP]
10:15 GMT German economy to shrink by 6.5 percent this year due to coronavirus: economic advisers
The German economy will shrink by 6.5 percent this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the governments council of economic advisers has said, adding that the slump will be prolonged if the number of new infections jumps again.
The coronavirus pandemic is expected to cause the largest slump of the German economy since the founding of the Federal Republic. But we expect the recovery to start in the summer, council head Lars Feld said.
Adjusted for calendar effects, the German economy is seen shrinking by 6.9 percent this year. The council said it expects a slow recovery in the second half of the year, with gross domestic product (GDP) forecast to grow by 4.9 percent next year.
This means GDP probably wont get back to its pre-pandemic level until 2022 at the earliest, the council said in a statement, adding that the governments stimulus measures were likely to support the recovery.
10:00 GMT Smart lockdown in Pakistan to target 500 coronavirus hotspots
Pakistans government has identified 500 coronavirus hotspots across the country to be targeted in its smart lockdown strategy, according to the countrys top health official.
Zafar Mirza, the prime ministers special adviser on health and head of the federal health ministry, told legislators that these areas would be targeted for limited locality-based lockdowns which the government has dubbed smart lockdowns to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Due to the current economic situation, it is impossible to implement complete lockdown in the country. However, the government [is] focusing on smart lockdown policy, a statement released after the meeting said.
Read more here.
After weeks of a strict lockdown, Imran Khans government eased almost all restrictions in late May [File:Akhtar Soomro/ Reuters]
09:45 GMT Pig trial of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine shows promise with two shots
A trial of AstraZenecas experimental COVID-19 vaccine in pigs has found that two doses of the Oxford University-developed shot produced a greater antibody response than a single dose, scientists said.
Research released by Britains Pirbright Institute found that giving an initial prime dose followed by a booster dose of the shot elicited a greater immune response than a single dose suggesting a two-dose approach may be more effective in getting protection against the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
09:30 GMT Philippines records 1,150 new coronavirus cases
The Philippine health ministry has reported 1,150 additional cases of the novel coronavirus, the countrys biggest single-day increase in infections.
In a bulletin, the ministry said total cases have reached 31,825 while deaths have increased by nine to 1,186.
09:15 GMT Beijing says mass testing for COVID-19 to enter fast track
Beijings mass testing for the new coronavirus will soon enter a fast track as the citys testing capacity expands, a senior municipal health official has said.
Beijing can now administer more than 300,000 nucleic acid tests per day compared with 40,000 in March, Zhang Hua, deputy director at the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, told reporters.
Beijing had taken samples from 2.95 million people between June 12 and June 22, Zhang said.
09:00 GMT Indonesia reports 1,051 new coronavirus infections, 35 new deaths
Indonesia has reported 1,051 new coronavirus infections, taking its total number of cases to 47,896.
Health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said there were 35 more deaths reported, with total fatalities now at 2,535.
Indonesias toll of deaths related to COVID-19 is the highest in East Asia outside of China.
08:45 GMT Taiwan raps China for military activity, says it should fight virus instead
China should focus on fighting the resurgent coronavirus in Beijing rather than disturbing Taiwan with military drills near the Chinese-claimed island, Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang has told reporters.
Chinas air force has buzzed Taiwan at least eight times in the past two weeks, Taiwans military says, sending fighters and bombers into Taiwans air defence identification zone where they have been warned off by patrolling Taiwanese jets.
China is very big, and has never given up the use of force to deal with Taiwan. China has always, with such a serious epidemic, sent their aircraft and ships around Taiwan, really disturbing Taiwan, Su said, adding that Taiwan only wants to be a contributor to regional peace.
08:15 GMT Muslims disappointed, but accepting, as Saudi scales back Hajj
Muslims have expressed disappointment at Saudi Arabias decision to scale back this years hajj pilgrimage, but many accepted it was necessary as the kingdom battles a major coronavirus outbreak.
Riyadh said Monday the hajj would be very limited with only pilgrims already in the country allowed to perform the ritual, marking the first time in modern Saudi history that foreign visitors have been barred.
The move had looked inevitable for some time and several countries had already pulled out, but the announcement nevertheless added to disappointment for Muslims who invest huge sums and face long waits to go on hajj.
08:00 GMT Sanofi expands US vaccine venture in COVID-19 race
French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has said that it would invest $425m to expand its vaccine development venture with US start-up Translate Bio as they aim to find a COVID-19 vaccine by next year.
The companies have been working together since 2018, hoping to leverage Translate Bios work on new messenger RNA (mRNA) drugs that cause cells to create a specific protein for treating a range of diseases.
07:45 GMT Russias coronavirus case tally approaches 600,000
Russia has reported 7,425 new cases of the novel coronavirus, pushing its nationwide case total to 599,705, the worlds third highest tally.
The countrys coronavirus crisis response centre said 153 people had died in the past 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 8,359.
07:30 GMT Virus numbers surge globally as many nations ease lockdowns
The number of global coronavirus cases have continued to surge in many large countries that have been lifting lockdowns, including the US, even as new infections stabilised or dropped in parts of Western Europe.
Hospitals in Pakistan are turning away patients, but with the economy there teetering, the government remains determined to reopen the country.
New cases have also been rising steeply in Mexico, Colombia and Indonesia.
Brazil, with more than 1.1 million cases and 51,000 deaths, has been affected more than anywhere but the US, which has reported more than 2.3 million cases and 120,000 deaths, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
07:15 GMT As coronavirus rages in India, billionaires and startups team up
Some of Indias richest people and health-tech startups have created an alliance to try and transform Indias failing health-care system.
The loose alliance, whose backers include Infosys Ltd. co-founders Nandan Nilekani and Kris Gopalakrishnan as well as prominent startups from Practo to Policybazaar, will be formally unveiled as soon as this week in an attempt to salvage a decrepit system by digitising everything from patient data and records to creating online platforms for hospital care and doctor consultations.
Read more here.
07:00 GMT Hong Kong records sixth coronavirus death
A 72-year-old man has died in Hong Kong from coronavirus taking the death toll from COVID-19 in the city to six, local television Cable TV said.
Hong Kong has avoided the large numbers of infections seen in other big cities around the world, but on Monday it reported its biggest spike in months, with 30 imported new cases taking the total to 1,162.
06:50 GMT India adds nearly 15,000,000 cases as more states worry
Indias health ministry has said that the nationwide tally had reached 440,215 cases, including 14,011 deaths. The state of Delhi, which includes the capital of New Delhi, has reported 62,655 cases with the rate of new infections rapidly expanding in recent weeks as a nationwide lockdown has eased.
States remote from the capital including Assam in the northeast that initially reported few cases have plans to reimpose stringent lockdowns in certain districts.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi lifted months-long restrictions on movement and industrial and commercial activity to restart Indias ailing economy, which has shed millions of jobs.
Hi, this is Elizabeth Melimopoulos in Doha taking over the live updates from my colleague Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.
05:30 GMT
Im handing the blog to my colleagues in Doha shortly. A quick update of developments over the last few hours: In the US there are concerns the outbreak is snowballing with a surge in cases particularly in the south and west. In China, South Korea and Australia, the focus is on containing the re-emergence of the virus after weeks of relative calm. South Korea reported 46 new cases on Tuesday morning, while Australias Victoria state has extended a state of emergency amid a number of hotspots in Melbourne.
05:15 GMT Sanofi eyes vaccine approval by first half of 2021
The French drugmaker Sanofi says it hopes to get regulatory approval for the coronavirus vaccine it is developing with Britains GlaxoSmithKline by the first half of next year.
There are currently no vaccines against the virus and, while a number of companies and institutions are in the race to develop one, there is no guarantee of success.
Sanofi currently has two vaccine projects. Clinical trials of the GSK-linked project are due to start in September.
04:30 GMT MSF says Malaysia plan for Rohingya return concerning
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says reports Malaysia plans to send some 269 Rohingya people back to sea on the boat they arrived on were concerning.
Beatrice Lau, the organisations head of mission in Malaysia, says returning the Rohingya was a violation of the customary international law principle of non-refoulement, and could lead to many more deaths.
Malaysia, which has stepped up border patrols because of the coronavirus, detained the Rohingya on June 8 after their boat was discovered off the resort island of Langkawi. Lau noted the Rohingya no longer posed a COVID-19 risk as they had been quarantined and tested. MSF was willing to provide medical assistance, she added.
03:15 GMT Daegu files civil suit against church where outbreak started
The South Korean city of Daegu is taking legal action against the Shincheonji church and its founder, claiming it hindered quarantine efforts and contributed towards mass infections of COVID-19 in February.
South Koreas fourth-biggest city is claiming damages of 100 billion won ($82.3 million), more than two-thirds of its coronavirus spending, Yonhap reported.
Daegus first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported on February 18 in a woman who was a member of Shincheonji. City authorities said the sect failed to cooperate with tracing and quarantine efforts.
03:00 GMT Tokyo Disney Resort to reopen on July 1
After months of closure, Tokyos Disney Resort will reopen on July 1.
Visitors will need to book in advance and have their temperature taken before they enter the theme parks Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Seating will be spaced out, and everyone will have to wear masks.
Tokyos popular Disney theme parks will reopen to visitors from July 1. The resort was closed on February 29 because of the coronavirus outbreak [File: Kaya Tomoyuki/EPA]
02:45 GMT Australian state of Victoria battles COVID-19 resurgence
Australias southern state of Victoria is seeing a jump in infections in the community and has extended its state of emergency to July 12.
Victoria has the second-biggest population in the country, and officials say cases have spread because people are not being careful about keeping their distance from others, wearing a mask and taking other steps to control the disease.
The main COVID-19 hotspots are in Melbourne.
Community transmission of #COVID19 is on the rise in Victoria. Yesterday saw an increase of 12 such cases, the largest single-day increase of its kind for more than two months. This graph shows the uptick. Read more: https://t.co/Ewkjf2FAKb pic.twitter.com/0rBs2mPIDv The Age (@theage) June 22, 2020
02:30 GMT South Korea adds 46 new cases, focus on ship in Busan
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the country added 46 new coronavirus cases, most of which were imported, including a cluster linked to a Russian-flagged ship at port in Busan.
Some 16 members of the 21-man crew have been confirmed to have the virus. The captain, who left the ship before it set sail from Vladivostok, tested positive for COVID-19 in Russia. South Korea has put 160 port workers who came into contact with the crew in Busan into isolation.
Cluster infections in Seoul and outside the capital also continue to grow, Yonhap news agency reported. City authorities have said they may need to tighten movement restrictions again in order to control the spread of the disease.
01:15 GMT China reports 22 new cases, mostly in Beijing
Chinas National Health Commission has confirmed 22 new cases of coronavirus, 13 of them in Beijing.
The capitals been battling a renewed outbreak of COVID-19, which is centred around the citys main wholesale food market.
Beijing reported 13 newly confirmed domestically-transmitted COVID-19 cases, two suspected cases and one asymptomatic case on Monday https://t.co/pav2r1j0tk pic.twitter.com/G6zcuSoz5M China Xinhua News (@XHNews) June 23, 2020
00:30 GMT Red Cross to provide 800,000 masks to Thailand migrant workers
The Red Cross says it will provide some 800,000 masks to migrant workers, village health volunteers and other front-line workers to help protect people at risk from COVID-19 in Thailand.
Migrant workers are particularly at risk because many are undocumented.
Thai Red Cross Society will provide reusable cloth face masks, alcohol gel and information materials, while migrant workers under quarantine will also receive relief kits including food and personal hygiene items.
A Red Cross worker in Thailand hands out COVID-19 information at an event for migrant workers [Thai Red Cross/Supplied] [-]
00:00 GMT COVID-19 has exacerbated school exclusion: UNESCO
Nearly 260 million children missed out on school in 2018 and the coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the problem, according to UNESCOs 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report, which also said the pandemic was an opportunity for change and a rethinking of education systems.
Poorer children, girls, the disabled and immigrants are among those at a disadvantage, a situation that worsened with COVID-19 when some 90 percent of the worlds schoolchildren found their learning affected by closures if their families could not afford internet, computers or mobile phones.
The report found 258 million children and young people were entirely excluded from education, with poverty as the main obstacle to access. In low- and middle-income countries, adolescents from the richest 20 percent of households were three times as likely to complete lower secondary school as those from the poorest homes.
23:30 GMT Alarm over cases snowballing in parts of US
An alarming surge in coronavirus cases in parts of the US following eased lockdowns is raising concern that the outbreak is spiralling out of control because of Americans resistance to wearing masks and keeping their distance from others.
Cases surpassed 100,000 in Florida, hospitalisations are rising dramatically in Houston, and a startling one in five of those tested in Arizona have been confirmed to have the virus.
It is snowballing. We will most certainly see more people die as a result of this spike, said Dr Marc Boom, CEO and president of Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. You can read more about whats happening in the US here.
There are concerns the coronavirus outbreak could spiral out of control in parts of the US, following a surge in cases in the wake of lockdown easings [Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via AFP/]
23:00 GMT Saudi Arabia limits Hajj attendance
Saudi Arabia will hold only a very limited Hajj this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, with only people already living in the country allowed to take part.
It was decided to hold the pilgrimage this year with very limited numbers with different nationalities in the kingdom, the official Saudi Press Agency said on Monday, citing the Hajj ministry.
More than two million Muslims take part in the annual pilgrimage to Islams holy city of Mecca every year. This years event is due to take place in late July.
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Hello and welcome to Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Im Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.
Read all the updates from yesterday (June 22) here.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 19:30:11|Editor: huaxia
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by Keren Setton
JERUSALEM, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is mulling over whether to annex territories in the West Bank in the coming days, likely to be a historic decision for the Middle East.
Facing mounting international pressure to renege on repeated promises to apply Israeli law to the West Bank, Netanyahu has yet to indicate what his final decision will be. He has set July 1 as the starting date for the plan.
Israel captured the West Bank territories during the 1967 Mideast war. It then began populating the area with Jewish settlers in dozens of settlements. There are approximately half a million Israelis living in the area.
According to various UN resolutions, Israeli settlement activity is considered illegal. Palestinians see the West Bank territories as a major part of their future state. The majority of the international community agrees with the Palestinians and opposes any unilateral Israeli move.
Netanyahu has vowed to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Such a move would essentially obliterate Palestinian hopes for a viable state.
But eyeing potential international backlash and threats of renewed violence, Netanyahu may choose a partial annexation or none at all.
The annexation is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan revealed earlier this year, which has been denounced by the Palestinians. Before that, they had severed ties with the U.S. administration after a series of pro-Israeli decisions.
According to various media outlets, senior U.S. officials are expected to meet this week to decide on whether to give a green light to the Israeli prime minister. Reports suggest Americans may allow for a phased annexation with areas adjacent to Jerusalem being declared as Israeli first.
While Trump's previous controversial moves were met with global condemnation, the response to them was largely rhetoric. But this time, there is concern that an Israeli move in the West Bank might trigger a renewed armed conflict between the sides.
In a surprise visit last week, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Riad Malki, and warned that annexation would "kill" any hope for a two-state solution to the problem.
Israel's longest border is shared with Jordan, which is also home to many Palestinians and has been in a tense relation with Israel, despite the peace agreement between the two. Both Israel and Jordan benefit from their ties and risking it would be detrimental to both.
Israeli media reported that defense officials have warned the government that annexation would result in an eruption of major violence in the West Bank.
Abbas, as leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), who has repeatedly encouraged non-violent protests, might be pushed to change his policy.
And his main rivals, Hamas militants, will likely take advantage of an Israeli decision to position themselves as the "savior" of the Palestinian national cause. Hamas' leaders in the Gaza Strip may choose to resume attacks towards Israel.
"Israel is pushing the PLO into an impossible place," said Ronit Marzan, a researcher of Palestinian society and politics from the University of Haifa. "There will be a struggle on who is more patriotic amongst the Palestinian factions."
Hamas has been increasingly unpopular amongst Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as the situation there has deteriorated continuously. A diversion such as an escalation with Israel might be an opportunity.
"If the PA will not prevent violence in the West Bank, not only the Gaza Strip will be on fire," Marzan added. "Events will spiral out of control."
In a tweet on Monday, Nicolay Mladenov, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, urged the Palestinians not to stray away from the path of non-violence, and not to lose hope for "a Palestinian state side by side and in peace with Israel."
However, the chances of no violent reaction to an Israeli move are slim. The question remains on whether the reaction will be measured and will there be a real ability to control the level of violence.
Dikla Cohen, expert from the department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said annexation poses an immediate and critical threat to the Palestinians, which will be "a major change to the status quo of the past decades."
"Israel will have to prepare for worst-case scenarios of terror attacks and a major escalation in the West Bank," Cohen added.
Unilateral moves that create facts on the ground will force the Palestinians to respond in one way or another. Netanyahu may choose in the end to delay the move. Enditem
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Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 18:04 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066106066 1 National Joko-Widodo,forest-fires,forest-fires-in-Indonesia,BMKG,land-fires,peat-fires,Environment-and-Forestry-Ministry,peatland,Siti-Nurbaya-Bakar,doni-monardo,BNPB,dry-season Free
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called on authorities to prepare better disaster mitigation measures ahead of the dry season in August when forest fires are more likely to occur throughout most of the archipelago.
Citing a Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) report, Jokowi said about 17 percent of the country entered the dry season in April, while 38 percent saw the start of it in May and 27 percent in June.
"Most of the regions [] will experience [the peak] of the dry season in August. We now have at least a month left to prepare," Jokowi said during the opening of a limited Cabinet meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He further reminded his aides about the urgency of better management when dealing with forest fires in the field. "[The measures] must be well-consolidated and well-coordinated.
Jokowi said authorities needed to improve measures for identifying fire-prone areas and provide more updated information by utilizing technology to double down on monitoring and surveillance activities.
In Riau, for instance, the system used there is able to describe the ongoing situation in detail. I think other areas that have many vulnerable hot spots could follow suit, he said.
Read also: COVID-19 presents new challenges in forest fire control
Besides utilizing technology, the President stressed the importance of creating infrastructure for monitoring that involved all levels of authority, including local authorities in villages. He also urged his aides to strengthen law enforcement.
According to a recent study from Madani Berkelanjutan, an environmental NGO focusing on forest and land management, at least 44 percent of land and forest fires in Indonesia last year occurred in peatland.
Environment and Forestry Ministry data show that 1.65 million hectares of forest and land burned in 2019, second only to the 2.61 million ha that burned during massive fires in 2015. The 2020 figure currently stands at 38,772 ha.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head Doni Monardo said the national task force for land and forest fires would pay special attention to peatland as peat fires could produce very thick smoke.
It could be dangerous for those who are suffering from respiratory illness, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
Jokowi said he had asked the relevant authorities to consistently focus on maintaining the peatland ecosystem by keeping such areas wet.
In this regard, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya explained on Tuesday that the ministry was studying climate patterns and the emergence of hot spots, especially during the period between August and July.
We can apply weather modification [by creating artificial rain], with the help of the BMKG, the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the Air Force, she said, adding that weather modification was introduced in Riau and other areas of Sumatra during a critical phase from April to May.
We will continue to do this, possibly in areas in Kalimantan too, so that the rain will provide water for the reservoirs that have been built on the peatland, Siti said.
There may initially be no one in the grandstands, but fans at home will at least be seeing a low of rainbows in Formula 1 this year.
The sport has announced that it wants to "tackle the major issues" facing society in 2020, including coronavirus, sustainability, and now racism and diversity.
So in Austria and beyond, F1 will display "rainbows on the Formula 1 cars and around the race circuit" along with the hashtag 'WeRaceAsOne'.
"We believe this important gesture will encourage our fans to join us in saying thank you," a statement posted by the governing FIA said.
It is understood that six-time Lewis Hamilton will kneel in Austria as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, having marched in a London protest last weekend.
"As a global sport we must represent the diversity and social concerns of our fans," said F1 CEO Chase Carey.
McLaren says it will also display the message 'End Racism' on its cars.
(GMM)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
Trend:
The EU and the World Health Organization (WHO) have sent 160,000 medical masks and 8,000 protective overalls to Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to the WHO.
Out of 160,000 masks delivered to the country, 10,000 are transparent, 10,000 - protective, and 140,000 - respiratory masks.
The assistance is part of the EU Solidarity for Health Initiative, under which the European Union provides 30 million euros to Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries to help them fight the COVID-19.
"At Lowe's Canada, we believe it is important to offer a wide selection of ECO products, including ENERGY STAR certified products, that are more environmentally friendly. By promoting their benefits and making them easily accessible, we are having a positive impact on consumer awareness about more sustainable choices and are helping to make the Canadian construction and home improvement industry's environmental performance better," explained Jean-Sebastien Lamoureux, Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs, Asset Protection and Sustainable Development at Lowe's Canada. "As part of our corporate responsibility approach, we are determined to offer even more ECO products and promote them further over the coming years."
In addition to participating in various energy savings rebate programs, Lowe's Canada works with suppliers to promote and continuously offer more ENERGY STAR certified products, such as appliances, lighting, and air conditioners. To facilitate the choices of consumers who want to reduce the environmental footprint of their projects, the products are readily identifiable in store and online. In addition, various home improvement guides on lowes.ca, rona.ca, and renodepot.com highlight the environmental and energy efficiency benefits of these products.
"The ENERGY STAR Canada winners create a sustainable, energy-efficient, and resilient future. By reducing pollution, lowering energy bills, and creating jobs, Lowe's contributes to making Canada shine," said the Honourable Seamus O'Regan, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources.
Key ENERGY STAR Canada-related accomplishments in 2019
The following accomplishments earned Lowe's Canada the ENERGY STAR Canada Special Recognition Award this year:
Participation in energy savings rebate programs in Ontario and British Columbia , with an instant rebate on ENERGY STAR certified products
and , with an instant rebate on ENERGY certified products Promotion of ENERGY STAR certified products in stores, in flyers, online, and on social media to encourage consumers to reduce their energy consumption
certified products in stores, in flyers, online, and on social media to encourage consumers to reduce their energy consumption Expansion of the ENERGY STAR certified product assortment by adding a little over 100 new models during that year
To browse the ENERGY STAR product selections at each of our banners:
Major energy efficiency projects
In addition to offering a wide assortment of energy-efficient products to the customers of its Lowe's, RONA, and Reno-Depot banners, Lowe's Canada has also undertaken a large project to significantly reduce the energy consumption of its corporate stores and distribution centres across the country by installing building management systems and LED lighting systems. By the end of 2020, 231 locations from the Lowe's Canada network, including the Boucherville distribution centre, will be equipped with a system to optimize energy consumption, and 162 locations will have a LED lighting system. These initiatives, which are the result of a $24 million investment, will contribute to significantly reducing the company's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Earlier this year, Lowe's Canada set a target to reduce its GHG emissions to 40% below its 2016 levels by 2030.
To share this news on social media, please use @Lowe's Canada (LinkedIn) and @LowesCanadaCorp (Twitter).
About Lowe's Canada
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 18 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2019 sales of $72.1 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Boucherville, Quebec, Lowe's Canadian business, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, RONA inc., operates or services more than 470 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under different banners. These include Lowe's, RONA, Reno-Depot and Dick's Lumber. In Canada, the companies have more than 26,000 associates, in addition to approximately 5,000 employees in the stores of independent affiliate dealers operating under the RONA banner. For more information, visit lowescanada.ca.
SOURCE Lowe's Canada
For further information: Valerie Gonzalo, Media Relations, Lowe's Canada, 514-599-5900, ext. 5271, 1-866-566-3342, [email protected]
Related Links
www.lowes.ca
If for any reason you choose to ignore this request, you will leave the Village of Oak Brook with no alternative but to take the necessary legal steps on behalf of the taxpayers of the State of Illinois to have the red-light camera removed, he wrote. It is the villages sincere hope to avoid any further public attention to this matter, which will undoubtedly bring more embarrassment to your office as well as those individuals within your office that capitulated to the threats from the Illinois senator.
Anthony Nwapa is a team leader at the UN Mission in South Sudan Human Rights Division in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. Following advocacy efforts with the Head of Legal Administration in South Sudan to decongest places of detention, his team has been monitoring progress in steps taken to avoid the spread of COVID-19 amongst detainees and inmates, in particular through the release of individuals from prisons and other detention facilities.
We asked Nwapa how he and his colleagues continue working on human rights and protection issues during the pandemic.
How has COVID-19 affected your work?
The COVID-19 measures in South Sudan have radically changed our mode of operation in terms of monitoring and verification of human rights. Thus, due to lockdown measures, we have resorted to remote monitoring using the partnerships we have built over time with civil society organization and Government actors through safe, secured social media platforms to leverage monitoring and redress violations. We have credible and reliable civil society partners who share information with us and, through them and other Government actors, we are able to engage with Government actors to secure redress for those violations.
What is OHCHR in South Sudan doing to protect the rights of people during this epidemic?
UN Human Rights, in partnership with the Human Rights Division of the UN Mission in South Sudan, is engaging with Government actors and civil society partners to monitor detention facilities. We have been able to successfully advocate with the Head of Legal Administration to review cases of minor offences in police detention facilities leading to the grant of ordinary bail - without onerous conditions, thereby making it possible for poor detainees to benefit from these exercise.
We have also carried out advocacy with the President of the High Court resulting in jail delivery exercises that have yielded positive results. In the last couple of weeks, we have documented the release of 59 detainees from police detention facilities, including 28 male adults, 23 male juveniles, six female adults and two female juveniles. Further, through these advocacies with the judges, we have secured the release of eight adult inmates from prison custody. Our efforts have not only addressed the issue of right to liberty but have also facilitated decongestion in these facilities as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
What are the main human rights issues at stake in your country in the COVID-19 response?
The pandemic has exacerbated the already precarious human rights situation in our region. The measures to respond to the crisis has given security forces wide powers to restrict fundamental freedoms and dignity, and this has enabled some of these personnel to act with impunity leading to greater number of incidents of violations in our region. Access to health care also constitutes a major challenge because of lack of healthcare facilities and staff to cope with the increasing demands for health services. We also lack coordination amongst the judicial institutions; this leads to undue delays in the administration of justice, and the congestion of prisons and other detention facilities that may encourage the spread of COVID-19.
Biggest challenges and lessons learned thus far during the pandemic?
Our biggest challenge is how to manage, with lesser personnel on ground, the increasing demands of human rights monitoring, and engagements brought about by the COVID-19 prevention measures under the existing lockdowns. The lesson learned is that we can narrow down our work and focus on most important issues and areas we have a comparative advantage on.
Why is it important to stand together during this pandemic?
It is vital that we collaborate with relevant stakeholders. This is because our individual resources and capabilities are limited but, when pulled together, our comparative advantages will facilitate greater results for the vulnerable groups we support. For instance, we sought the support of the humanitarian partners to secure greater assistance to address the socio-economic challenges that is facing persons living with disability in our region. We felt that we are unable to adequately ameliorate the impact of COVID-19 measures on this group. We therefore engaged the humanitarian agencies and secured pledges from them to facilitate the provision of psychosocial support, the distribution of food and hand washing items including soap to address the challenges facing this group, actions which we are not able to accomplish because of the limitations of our mandate.
23 June 2020
E mergency services have launched a search for a man who is feared to have drowned in the Thames in Berkshire.
Pictures showed crews on the river responding to the incident close to Odney Weir in Cookham, near Maidenhead, on Tuesday evening.
Police said a search was under way to locate a man who was seen entering the water.
The local force tweeted: We are on the scene in Odney Lane, in Cookham, following a report of a fear for welfare.
Emergency services in Cookham / Levi Genes
It was reported that a man had entered the water.
Officers are working to locate the man, who was not seen to get out of the water.
A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service said they were supporting Thames Valley Police and firefighters at the scene. The critical care unit was also sent for support.
There had been reports on social media that three boys had drowned, but the ambulance service confirmed in a tweet that this was not correct.
[June 22, 2020] Pioneering Skin Care Platform, Soko Glam, Adds Exclusively Developed Brand Good (Skin) Days To Its Growing Roster of Skin Care
NEW YORK, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading skin care e-commerce and digital platform, Soko Glam, will launch its first exclusively developed brand based on the brand's mission of helping all people believe in Only Good (Skin) Days Ahead through adapting the Korean "skin first" philosophy to their own daily routines skin care is a journey, not a destination. Good (Skin) Days is committed to approachable, effective formulations designed with the consumer's skin care journey top of mind. The collection will include three high-performance products at launch and will roll out additional SKU's this summer. When Charlotte and Dave Cho launched Soko Glam in 2012, it was not meant to be a business. It was a passion project that grew into something much bigger than they could have ever imagined. Their unique vision and mission for Soko Glam always went beyond beauty and skin care it was built on the foundation and values of truly helping even just one person and making a positive difference in their lives. With the launch of Good (Skin) Days, Soko Glam will debut "Good Days for All", a charitable and mission driven program that will support two to three national charities a year. With every purchase of each product in the collection, Soko Glam will donate a portion of proceeds to help make a difference in someone's personal journey. As part of "Good Days for All", Soko Glam will turn to their engaged community to play an active role in giving back. Through their digital platform and social media, Soko Glam will ask their community to decide what charities and partners to donate to. This program will impact the needs of the community and the world around them as it evolves and changes. At launch, we will be donating to Black Lives Matter Global Network as our first charity partner in order to support their mission of building power to bring justice and freedom to Black people across the globe. This organization embodies our continued commitment to serving community, supporting and enriching lives not only today but into the future. Since launch, Soko Glam has curated thousands of the top Korean skin care brands and has continued to innovate digitally through 1:1 Skin Care Concierge consultations via text message and skin care content through The Klog, a skin care resource guide that drives half a million highly engaged uniques per month.
A disruptor in the skin care marketplace, Soko Glam's success can be attributed to a focus on their community's wants and needs. Rigorously testing new and exciting innovations from Korea and educating their community on skin care ingredients and techniques has led to a loyal following rooted in trust. "When we first launched Soko Glam, it was always about helping people along their life journeys. Good (Skin) Days embodies our continued commitment to serving our community, enriched in our strong values and passion for skin care innovation well beyond the status quo," says Dave Cho, co-founder and CEO of Soko Glam. "We are uniquely positioned to develop best-in-class products from our in-house expertise to the direct dialogue and relationship we continue to have with our community, we are a trusted source and platform to decode and de-mystify the skin care journey for all people."
From the sleek sustainable-friendly packaging, to proprietary data-driven community insights to its unique, efficacious ingredients, Good (Skin) Days is skin care for every moment and every skin care journey. The collection is expertly crafted with innovative ingredients and delivery methods that have been developed by Soko Glam's proprietary apparatus Soko Glam Labs, an approach involving a team of highly skilled in-house experts, estheticians and chemists, with the precise balance of science and community custom, clean & cruelty-free formulas that help achieve true healthy, happy skin. "Since 2012, Soko Glam has helped millions of customers on their skin care journey through expert product curations, personal skin consultations and education" says Charlotte Cho, co-founder of Soko Glam. "We are confident that Good (Skin) Days will be a welcome and regular part of our community's routine, as it was developed around our community needs and feedback about ingredients that have shown to deliver true results. It is the culmination of what we've cultivated over the past 8 years it's our philosophy and our brand story." The Good (Skin) Days collection nods to "moments in time" with their product names, emphasizing the importance that skin care can have within daily life. The brand will launch with four key SKU's, which include: A NEW LEAF CREAM CLEANSER Low pH Cream Facial Cleanser with mugwort, celery & green tea (SRP: $16, 100ml/3.38 fl. oz.) ? Exfoliating mugwort leaves ? Gently removes makeup ? Cleans pores & impurities ? Non-stripping ON THE BRIGHT SIDE MOISTURIZER Hydrating Facial Cream with rice ferment and probiotics (SRP: $24, 50ml/1.69 fl. oz.) ? Fermented probiotics ? Hydrating humectants ? Soothing ceramides ? Calming madecassoside C's THE DAY SERUM with 10% pure vitamin C & camu camu (SRP: $26, 30ml/1 fl. oz.) ? Pure Ascorbic Acid ? Vitamin E benefits ? Low pH & non-sticky ? Fragrance free PRIME TIME CLEANSING TONER with maple, papaya & rose water (SRP: $18, 140ml/4.73 fl. oz.) launching mid-Summer 2020 ? Prep & hydrate skin ? Cleans & exfoliates ? Pumpkin & papaya enzymes ? Low pH formula Good (Skin) Days will be available exclusively on www.sokoglam.com June 2020. The Prime Time Cleansing Toner will be available mid-Summer 2020. For more information, please visit www.sokoglam.com. Soko Glam Media Contacts: Catherine Albaladejo Birli
[email protected] Alice Corey
[email protected] About Soko Glam Soko Glam is the largest and most trusted community and lifestyle e-commerce platform bringing the best selection of skin care and Korean beauty products and content to the US market. The brand is passionate in helping all women and men to adapt to the Korean "skin first" philosophy to their own daily routines. Korean beauty offers high quality ingredients for effective results, innovative products, and fun, easy solutions for anyone to maintain healthy and happy skin. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pioneering-skin-care-platform-soko-glam-adds-exclusively-developed-brand-good-skin-days-to-its-growing-roster-of-skin-care-301081466.html SOURCE Soko Glam
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Stanley Kubricks 1964 movie Dr. Strangelove is not only the best Cold War movie ever made, but the best movie, period at least if you measure by memorable lines.
One of the best comes when Air Force General Buck Turgidson, played by George C. Scott, is explaining to the president the advantages of firing off a first strike at the Russians.
Youre talking about mass murder, not war, says the president, played by Peter Sellers.
Mr. President, Im not saying we wouldnt get our hair mussed, Scott replies, mussing his own hair for effect. But I do say no more than 10 to 20 million killed, tops!
There is a hauntingly familiar line in former national security adviser John Boltons advice to President Trump as reported in his book The Room Where It Happened.
I explained why and how a preemptive strike against North Koreas nuclear and ballistic-missile programs would work; how we could use massive conventional bombs against Pyongyangs artillery north of the DMZ, which threatened Seoul, thereby reducing casualties dramatically, he writes.
Sure, the South Koreans might have gotten their hair mussed. But Bolton proposes the same solution for just about every crisis that arises.
We should have destroyed other Syrian military assets, including headquarters, planes, and helicopters, he writes. We should have also threatened the regime itself, such as by attacking Assads palaces,
He suggests more of the same for Iran, of which he once suggested in a New York Times op-ed: To stop Irans bomb, bomb Iran.
After Donald Trump finally rid himself of Bolton last year, the president joked, If Id listened to him, wed be in World War Six by now.
So I found it particularly amusing that Bolton writes that his fellow neo conservative, (as opposed to a genuine conservative like Pat Buchanan), the late Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer, told me he had been wrong earlier to characterize Trumps behavior as that of an eleven-year-old boy.
I was off by ten years,' Krauthammer remarked. Hes like a one-year-old.
That observation might have made sense if it were Trump who wanted to open the bomb-bay doors on that B-52 and ride the bomb down to the target in the manner of Slim Pickens in the movie.
But it was Bolton who reacted to every perceived threat like a little boy playing with plastic planes. As for Trump, Bolton quotes him as saying of the Mideast, I want to get out of these horrible wars.
Bolton seems to have no idea that he helped make the Mideast horrible. When he was in the Bush 43 administration, for example, Bolton advised that after the U.S. military made short work of Saddam Hussein in Iraq the army could then "turn right" and impose regime change on Iran.
The opposite happened. The regime change in Iraq permitted the Iranian Shia and their Iraqi brothers to form an alliance that made Iran stronger than ever.
Trump was making the argument against regime change on the campaign trail in 2016. So why did he choose as his national security adviser the Beltway insider who was the most enthusiastic advocate of that approach?
You wont find the answer in the book. Bolton terms his biggest critic, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, an isolationist. But he fails to note Trump was also termed an isolationist when he and Paul took turns assailing the foreign policy failures of the Bush family.
Trump despised both Bush Presidents and their Administrations, leading me to wonder if he had missed my almost ten years of service in those presidencies, Bolton writes.
Somebody missed something. Over and over, Bolton reports his astonishment at finding out that Trump actually acted on what he promised on the campaign trail.
Typical is Boltons quoting with disapproval Trumps order to a general, I am worried about our soldiers in Syria. Get them out.
Then there was Trumps extreme unwillingness to get into a fight with the nuclear armed country that figured so prominently in Dr. Strangelove.
Bolton writes that after Iran downed an American drone, he and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushed for military strikes on Irans Russian-made anti-aircraft batteries.
We discussed whether there might be Russian casualties, which was doubtful but not impossible, he writes.
After some back-and-forth, Trump ended the matter.
Too many body bags,' said Trump, which he was not willing to risk for an unmanned drone Not proportionate, he said again. Pompeo tried to reason with him, but he wasnt having it.
Reason? Thats in short supply in Boltons book.
I have no idea what the current title is supposed to mean. But let me suggest a more appropriate one. Its taken from the subtitle of that great movie:
How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
BELOW - ONE OF THE CRUCIAL SCENES:
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and other members of the Peoples Justice Party leave its headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, June 9, 2020.
Two members of the Malaysian opposition bloc called on its constituent parties Monday to combine their strengths, stop bickering, and find common ground over who should be their nominee for prime minister should it win the countrys next election.
Amid reports that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition could be fracturing because its parties are divided over who should be the oppositions prime ministerial pick, the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the faith-based Amanah party announced their preference for a power-sharing agreement between Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim.
Under their proposal, the agreement would call for Mahathir to serve as prime minister for six months and promise in writing to hand over the reins to Anwar, the two parties said in a joint statement.
Based on the current political scenario, the only realistic option of success is to combine the strength of all five parties PKR (Peoples Justice Party), Amanah and DAP in PH as well as Warisan and Mahathirs Bersatu, said Mohamad Sabu, president of Amanah, and Lim Guan Eng, secretary general of DAP.
This political journey has taken 22 years, we can afford to wait another six months to see Anwar installed as the 10th prime minister of Malaysia, they said, noting that the six-month transition shall be documented in writing, signed by all party leaders and publicly announced.
For Pakatan to succeed in its effort to unseat the unelected government of Muhyiddin Yassin, all parties in PH, Warisan and Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamads grouping must try to find a common ground to reclaim the electoral mandate granted by the rakyat [the people] in the 2018 general elections, they added in the statement. Warisan is a regional party based in Sabah, a state in Malaysian Borneo.
As Mahathir and others have challenged Muhyiddins claim to having the necessary support of 112 MPs one more than half of the parliaments 222 members members of the prime ministers National Alliance (PN) coalition have hinted that there would be snap elections to settle the matter.
Mondays joint statement came a day after Anwar announced he did not support continuing to be number 2 to Mahathir.
I cannot accept that because I am not confident that this decision is the best for the country, for the people, for reform, for judiciary (independence), for media (freedom), for anti-corruption, and especially the economy, to end cronyism and the enriching of a select few people, Anwar said during a Facebook livestream on Sunday.
Anwar, who leads the PKR, discussed the suggested arrangement that he be Mahathirs deputy for the six months.
I am facing a difficulty of gargantuan proportion to carry that burden. How long do I need to suffer? Enough, Anwar said while insisting the comment was made in jest.
On Friday, PKRs central leadership council issued a statement saying it rejected a proposal to nominate Mahathir as prime minister and stood firm with its plan to nominate Anwar instead.
That same day, Mahathir told local news website Malaysiakini that he would abide by the proposal.
When the time comes, I will keep my word. You can check my conduct when I was prime minister and even before that. I have never reneged on my promise, he said.
In the 1990s, Anwar served as Mahathirs deputy prime minister and was expected to succeed him. Anwar was removed from the office in September 1998. He was sentenced on a corruption conviction the next year and on a sodomy charge in 2000.
Years later, Anwar and Mahathir put aside their differences and joined forces to form the Pakatan coalition in a bid to oust the government of then-Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2018. Under their agreement, Mahathir was to hand over power to Anwar after his first two years in office, but that never happened.
Mahathir, who led the Bersatu party and served as prime minister under the Pakatan government, stepped down earlier this year as the ruling coalition began to crumble.
Muhyiddin, who had served as the deputy leader of Bersatu, formed a new coalition that included the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) to take control of the government, and was sworn in by the king as prime minister in early March.
Analysts expect agreement
While Anwar may be seen as being stubborn, it is Mahathir who is bent on blocking Anwar from being prime minister, Political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi said.
Anwar had repeatedly given way to Mahathir, and in fact was jailed for over 10 years for fighting for justice and institutional reform, Awang Azman told BenarNews.
Mahathir is seen as weak and without new ideas for Malaysia. He often ridicules the Malay population, labeling them as lazy and this will distance the Malays from supporting PH, he said.
Another political analyst, James Chin from University of Tasmania, said Pakatan remained a firm coalition and both camps would come to agreement sooner or later.
This is not a breakup they will find a solution because they know that if they dont find a solution to the present crisis, this effectively means that they are handing power over to PN until the next election, he said.
While Muhyiddin has not spoken about snap elections, PN members including Najib and Zahid Hamidi, who was Najibs deputy prime minister and serves as UMNO president, posted photos online that said: We are already preparing for elections. Are you already with us?
On Sunday, UMNO Vice President Mahdzir Khalid said a snap general election was the best solution to resolve the current political issues.
This election should be held so that we can have a solid government in term of support of MPs, he said.
President Donald Trump said the first-phase trade deal with China is "fully intact" after his adviser Peter Navarro sowed confusion and spurred a temporary stock slump with comments interpreted as a decision to end the agreement.
"The China Trade Deal is fully intact. Hopefully they will continue to live up to the terms of the Agreement!" Trump said in a Twitter post late Monday. Navarro had responded to a question by Fox News interviewer Martha MacCallum asking whether aspects of the deal were "over" by saying: "It's over. Yes."
U.S. futures swung wildly with the yuan as the remarks caused concern that the deal signed in January, which paused the trade war between world's two largest economies, was in jeopardy. Navarro later said he had been taken out of context.
The market reaction and rapid response by Trump signal the sensitivity over the trade agreement at a time when the global economy is pummeled by the novel coronavirus and faces growing worries over the relationship between Washington and Beijing. The two nations are locked in confrontation over the pandemic, Hong Kong, human rights and technology.
Contracts on the S&P 500 Index fell as much as 1.6% before paring losses and the offshore yuan weakened 0.4% after media outlets reported the remarks.
Chinese officials have insisted that they intend to stick to the deal, which implies increasing imports from the U.S. by a total of $200 billion over two years. The economic slump caused by the coronavirus has made reaching those targets doubtful, though the U.S. had signaled some flexibility.
Navarro is not the decisive voice on the future of the trade deal. The architect of the agreement, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, said last week that the phase one agreement is "enforceable" and the U.S. fully intends to carry it through.
China's foreign and commerce ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comments on Navarro's Fox interview.
Delta State has recorded 532 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of June 23, a top aide to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has announced.
Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Olisa Ifeajika, made the announcement in Asaba on Tuesday.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ifeajika said the pandemic had gulped a huge chunk of money from the government since the disease was recorded in the state.
He said the government was making huge financial commitments to safeguard citizens, lamenting, however, that there had been gross violations of safety guidelines by people in the state.
He said many residents of the state have been refusing to adhere to safety protocols, aimed at checkmating further spread of the virus.
The spokesperson said 20 deaths had been recorded in the state with 382 active cases, while 130 patients had been discharged from isolation centres.
Mr Ifeajika recalled that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Chiedu Ebie, and the Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, were among people who tested positive for the disease.
Based on this development, the governor directed decontamination of the offices of the SSG, ministry of information and that of the CPS because of their close affinity.
The spokesperson said most government meetings in the state had been virtual, in a bid to check the spread of the virus.
He disclosed that the SSG and the commissioner were in stable condition at the isolation centre, advising those describing COVID-19 as a fluke to have a rethink.
According to him, a disease that has impacted the entire world cannot be described as a scam.
As at today, workers on levels 10 and below have been asked to stay at home all in a bid to stem the tide of the pandemic.
Mr Ifeajika warned that people should adhere to protocols of regular hand washing on running water, wearing face masks and the use of hand sanitisers.
As the governor has constantly said, if you do not have a very important reason to go out, you should stay at home. Otherwise, make your contacts with your phone.
(NAN).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:
Turkmenistan and the the UAE have scheduled preliminary date for the meeting of the Joint Committee on Cooperation, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
This was discussed during a videoconference between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on June 22, 2020.
The parties noted intention to develop trade and economic cooperation, as well as trade turnover between the countries. In terms of partnership, the ministers praised the high level of partnership in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields.
The participants also highlighted the countries fruitful cooperation within the framework of international organizations, in particular within the United Nations (UN).
The parties also considered the situation worldwide, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The diplomats stressed the need to combine efforts between the scientific centers of the two countries, as well as to attract the tools of scientific diplomacy, the report says.
Earlier, Turkmenistan and the UAE discussed issues related to investment activities. Also, the parties considered the start of cooperation in trade and economic, fuel and energy, transport and communication, banking and financial sectors, as well as in the cultural and humanitarian field.
In terms of UAE's investment to Turkmenistan, earlier, a meeting of representatives of Turkmenistan and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) noted the importance of enhancing cooperation on attracting investment in the country's oil and gas projects.
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Bhopal: The daredevil operation by the Indian Air Force to evacuate people stranded in flood and rain-hit Uttarakhand in 2013 had inspired Anchal Gangwal to set her goal to become an IAF pilot, her humble background notwithstanding.
Daughter of a tea seller in an obscure town of Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh, 23-year-old Anchal had doggedly pursued her dream to become IAF pilot and got recommended in Services Selection Board (SSB) after the sixth attempt.
I owe it to my father who taught me to be tough in tough times. I followed the mantra, Never give up taught by my father, religiously, to achieve my goal, she was quoted as saying by a member of her family who watched the flying officer in her uniform on TV, bagging Presidents Plaque at the combined graduation parade held at Indian Air Force Academy in Hyderabad on Staturday.
Like her other two siblings, Anchal is very disciplined and determined, her proud father Suresh Gangwal told this newspaper on Monday.
Gangwal recounted how his three children used to watch him and his wife silently when they were doing business in their roadside tea stall and never demanded anything beyond their reach.
Anchal had nurtured her dream to become a pilot of a fighter plane in IAF after watching rescue operation by IAF to evacuate stranded people in flood-hit Uttarakhand in 2013, he recalled.
A computer science graduate from a government degree college in Neemuch, Anchal was first selected as sub-inspector in Madhya Pradesh police. She later switched her job after she was selected as labour inspector.
However, her ambition was to pursue a career in IAF as a fighter plane pilot.
She had begun preparing for the AFCAT soon after her graduation and cleared SSB in the sixth attempt to be commissioned as flying officer in IAF.
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Showers and thunderstorms are likely through most of the day. Look for highs around 80 degrees. There are chances of more showers and storms before 10 p.m., then it will be partly cloudy with temps in the low 60s. Read more.
The headlines
Coronavirus trends: Ohios newly reported coronavirus cases spiked Monday to the highest number in more than a month, with 729 new cases, raising the statewide total since the start of COVID-19 to 45,537, Rich Exner reports. The rolling seven-day average for new cases had dipped to a two-month low on June 12, before leveling off and then beginning to go up especially in the last couple of days.
Riot damage: Cuyahoga County will provide at least $100,000 in grants to help downtown Cleveland businesses damaged in rioting that followed a Black Lives Matter protest on May 30. County Executive Armond Budish initially planned to provide $400,000 to businesses, but Courtney Astolfi reports that County Council representatives on the Board of Control on Monday lowered the amount until they see how the program works and get a better understanding of the damages.
Subtext: Cleveland.com has started a new, free Subtext account to send coronavirus updates. Every day, the team covering the coronavirus will send three to four updates about the progress of the virus -- confirmed cases of the virus, major cancellations, the latest medical advice, relevant scientific information and more. You can even text us back. Go to https://joinsubtext.com/ohiocoronavirus and enter your phone number. Or send a text to 216-279-7784. Did we mention its free?
This Week in the CLE: Are Ohio and the Cuyahoga County Jail national models for how to beat the coronavirus? This Week in the CLE, the daily half-hour podcast, is back, talking about why the state hasnt surged like some others and how the jail stamped out the virus.
Wind turbines: Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. is asking state regulators to reconsider their ruling setting dozens of conditions that could kill its Icebreaker Wind project. Jeremy Pelzer reports the nonprofit argues the Ohio Power Siting Boards decision on what could be the nations first freshwater offshore wind farm was unjust and unlawful.
Cleveland Clinic CEO Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic attends a sendoff for 13 nurses going to Michigan to battle COVID-19 in April. The Clinic is taking cost-cutting measures to deal with a loss of revenue due to COVID-19.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Cleveland Clinic: The Cleveland Clinic is cutting costs by eliminating raises and delaying some capital projects, in reaction to more than $500 million in revenue shortfalls and increased expenses caused by the coronavirus pandemic, reports Julie Washington. The Clinic is also restricting travel and changing how it manages paid time off.
Settlement: Cuyahoga County will pay a $3 million settlement to Aniya Day-Garretts father, who accused the county of failing to protect the 4-year-old girl against abuse that led to her death. Courtney Astolfi reports a wrongful-death lawsuit was filed in April 2019 by Aniyas father, Mickhal Garrett, who accused the county and two Euclid daycares of ignoring clear signs of abuse and neglect and failing to protect a vulnerable child dependent upon [them] for protection. County Council will consider the settlement today.
Cleveland numbers: Mayor Frank Jacksons administration announced Monday that 27 more cases of COVID-19 coronavirus had been confirmed in Cleveland, Robert Higgs reports. No new deaths from the coronavirus were reported. The new cases push the total confirmed cases in Cleveland to 1,962.
Cuyahoga County is expected to declare racism a public health crisis.Thomas Ondrey Thomas Ondrey
Racism crisis: Cuyahoga County is expected to join the cities of Cleveland and Akron as well as other places across Ohio by declaring racism as a public health crisis, reports Courtney Astolfi. The proposal is to be introduced today to County Council, with nine out of 11 council members as sponsors.
Racial slurs: Cleveland police are investigating as a hate crime an incident where a white man shouted racial slurs and drove into a group of Black teenagers, reports Adam Ferrise. Rickey Adkins, 50, is charged with felonious assault in the incident.
RTA issues: Transit advocates on Tuesday are expected to demand Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority immediately end fare enforcement by armed police officers, and redirect half of RTA polices budget to boost service and reduce the cost of rides, Courtney Astolfi reports.
Lead poisoning: A Case Western Reserve University study found adults who had experienced childhood lead poisoning were more likely to be incarcerated, experience homelessness and rely on public assistance. Emily Bamforth reports the study followed 10,000 children who experienced elevated blood-lead levels before age 3 through age 23, using public data to create a record of their life.
Childhood well-being: Ohio ranked 31st of all states in the country for overall childhood well-being in a report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Emily Bamforth reports. The Kids Count Report ranking, which uses 2018 data, is a drop in the rankings for the state. Last year, Ohio ranked 27th in overall childhood well-being.
Legislative districts: Black Ohioans are concentrated in a small number of Ohio House and Senate districts, some of it the result of where people live and some of it due to gerrymandering. Rich Exner has the latest estimates for race for residents in each Ohio Senate and House legislative district.
Larry Householder: In the aftermath of another round of vandalism at the Statehouse last week, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder is leaning into framing the actions of some taking part in the ongoing demonstrations in downtown Columbus as a threat to public property, Andrew Tobias reports.
8-year-old shot: A 17-year-old boy shot an 8-year-old girl in the head late Sunday in the parking lot of an apartment building on Forrest Hills Boulevard, reports Adam Ferrise. The girl is in critical condition.
Masks: Two hair stylists in Missouri tested positive for COVID-19 after working in close contact with 140 clients and six coworkers. But employees and patrons at the Great Clips salon were required to wear masks, so no one got sick, reports Julie Washington.
Mistaken release: Cuyahoga County Jail employees released three inmates by mistake in one day, Adam Ferrise reports. All three were released on June 13 and faced misdemeanor charges. Authorities arrested one of the men five days later, another was issued a summons to appear in court at a later date, and the third remains at-large.
Sewage overflows: The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has completed its second of seven tunnels to keep sewage out of Lake Erie, Laura Johnston reports. The Dugway Storage Tunnel -- originally a $153 million price tag -- came in $4.6 million under budget.
Ohio State: Ohio State University faculty, students and staff must take their temperature every day they plan to come to campus this fall, reports Emily Bamforth. The temperature checks, submitted to the university through an online portal, could be coupled with a swab testing program, but that will be piloted with employees before decisions are made.
Flavortown: Changing the name of the city of Columbus to Flavortown seems like a long shot. Joey Morona reports Columbus resident Tyler Woodbridge has more than 25,000 signatures in an online petition to rename Ohios capital city in honor of Food Network star Guy Fieri.
Prosperity Social Club: Prosperity Social Club is gearing up to reopen for business on July 31 -- and along the way, the popular Tremont tavern will celebrate with a series of live-streamed concerts on social media, reports Anne Nickoloff. The concert series kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday with a performance by Sands and Hearn on Prosperitys Facebook page.
Spaces: Spaces will reopen its gallery for appointment viewings starting on Saturday, with new works on view. Anne Nickoloff reports art enthusiasts will be welcomed back into the gallery -- with plenty of restrictions in place to protect against COVID-19 transmission.
Boxed brownies: Join chefs as they share their favorite ways to improve boxed brownies. Cleveland.coms sister site, Bon Appetit, wonders, can you get down with some tahini swirl boxed brownies? How about some salted caramel brown butter brownies?
Market at the Food Bank: The Greater Cleveland Food Banks big annual fundraiser, Market at the Food Bank, isnt happening this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Joey Morona reports the nonprofit is introducing Market at Home. Each night this week at 6 p.m., viewers can tune in for a live stream of special content including cooking demos, interviews and daily raffles.
Other headlines
Coronavirus reopenings and cancellations for Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Read more
FBI subpoenas Put-in-Bay police records Read more
Akron man gets 22 years for providing fentanyl that killed Wooster mother Read more
1 wounded in 2 drive-by shootings outside Akron hookah lounge Read more
Armed suspect ties up worker in robbery of Solon AT&T store, police say Read more
Mistrial declared for Stanley Ford due to COVID-19 concerns; new date set Read more
Cleveland resumes pickup of bulk trash items this week after 2-month coronavirus hiatus Read more
Cleveland Heights council bans secret meetings, but locks horns on revenge porn victims as protected class under Fair Practices Code Read more
Shaker Heights in line for $762,000 to assist with added expenses through pandemic relief fund Read more
Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools on board for potential lawsuit over EdChoice private tuition vouchers Read more
Parma may pursue jail agreement with Broadview Heights; North Royalton officials face off in jail debate Read more
Haba to retire in July as Beachwood police chief Read more
Westlake High School students make splash in design competition at site of World War II submarine Read more
Dollar stores in Brunswick could require planning commission approval Read more
Fourth of July decisions made by local communities Read more
Lake Ridge Academy prepares to fully reopen school in the fall Read more
Akron releases report on citys diversity, inclusion efforts, but mayor says its not a mission accomplished checklist Read more
Akrons city charter review commission wants to hear from residents during Tuesday meeting Read more
Vice President Mike Pence to visit Lordstown on Thursday Read more
Governor should use $4 million CARES Act discretionary funds to boost internet access for families, education leaders say Read more
A cancer survivor who battled a rare brain tumour at the age of 11 has revealed why he decided to volunteer on the coronavirus frontline in the hope of inspiring other patients with his story.
Kai Newton, 22, from Croydon, is currently working as a healthcare assistant and support worker at King's College Hospital London while he studies to become a children's oncologist.
The medical student battled brain cancer at 11 and was aided by designer Karen Millen's charity Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, which he said 'gave him a family' when he was forced to 'move in' to the hospital he was being treated.
He volunteered to work shifts on an understaffed coronavirus ward, and appearing on Good Morning Britain today, he said that he hopes his story can comfort patients who are unable to see friends and family during the pandemic.
Kai Newton, 22, (pictured) from Croydon, is currently working as a healthcare assistant and support worker at King's College Hospital London while he studies to become a children's oncologist
He volunteered to work shifts on an understaffed coronavirus ward and appearing on Good Morning Britain today told that he hopes his story can comfort coronavirus patients
Kai said that he doesn't normally work on a Covid ward, but was happy to pitch in when needed.
'Essentially I knew the Covid ward was very short-staffed and I felt very bad for these patients,' he said.
'It reminded me of when I was in hospital, but they weren't allowed to see friends and family, and I imagined if my parents were in that situation, how would I feel?
'I thought if I want to be a doctor, this is my dream in life. I have to do this and I jumped straight in.'
Kai, whose memory was affected by his childhood treatment, studied at Hackney University Technical College, one of the worst-performing schools in London, which closed in 2015 because of its poor performance.
Kai studied at Hackney University Technical College , one of the worst performing schools in London, which closed in 2015 because of it's poor performance
He managed to score a place studying biomedical science at the University of Hull where he received first class honours before applying twice to get into medical school
He managed to score a place studying biomedical science at the University of Hull where he received first class honours before applying twice to get into medical school.
The student said that during his coronavirus shifts he's been telling patients his story so they know while 'bad things happen, there's always a positive outcome'.
He told: 'What I like to tell them is, I want to be an inspiration and let them know bad things happen in life - but there's always a positive outcome.
'When I told them about my story a lot of them are touched, because they never expected it and it gives a glimpse of hope. I say it's something you never expect and just do what I can to keep them comfortable.'
He went on to insist that he's 'so grateful' for Teens Unite because his cancer affected him ' physically, mentally and emotionally' and the charity was able to give him non-medical support as he battled the disease.
The medical student battled brain cancer at 11 and was aided by designer Karen Millen's (pictured right) charity Teens Unite Fighting Cancer
The student told that during his coronavirus shifts he's been telling patients his story so they know while 'bad things happen, there's always a positive outcome'
Kai said: 'I'm grateful I'm alive today. Cancer is horrible, what it does is suck away your life physically, mentally and emotionally.
'I got headaches that were so bad I had to rest it on my shoulder because the pain was too much. I would wake up with blurry vision.
'Teens Unite has been amazing, what cancer does, as I said, it affects you physically, mentally and emotionally.
'But what Teens Unite does is helps in those keys areas. When you first have cancer, you move out of your house and essentially move into your new house, which is your hospital and Teens Unite gives you a family.'
Speaking of his place at medical school, he said: 'I can't wait. I'm gonna love it. Everything I've learned throughout the whole journey has been amazing, everyone at my previous university have supported me so much. '
New Delhi, June 23 : A whopping 68.3 per cent Indians believe that China is a far bigger problem for India than arch-enemy Pakistan, according to the latest IANS-CVoter Snap Poll on China, conducted in the wake of the India-China standoff in Ladakh's Galwan valley.
Only, a meagre 31.7 per cent respondents still think that Pakistan is a bigger problem for India than China.
This is a stark departure from the usual Indian mindset where Pakistan is perceived as the prime enemy. With a sample size of more than 10,000, the snap poll shows more and more Indians are waking up to the changed realities around India.
Twenty Indian soldiers, including an officer, were killed on Monday night during a violent face-off with Chinese People's Liberation Army troops at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh region. These are the first casualties faced by Indian Army in a clash with the Chinese soldiers since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed in Arunachal Pradesh.
Following this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out a clear signal to China, saying that India won't tolerate misadventures when it comes to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Articulating India's clear stand, the Prime Minister, in virtual presence of a host of Chief Ministers, said: "I would like to assure the nation that the sacrifice of our jawans will not be in vain. For us, the unity and sovereignty of the country are important. India wants peace but when instigated, India is capable of giving a befitting reply." The snap poll appears to have reflected the overriding national sentiment against China. Not only has the government been trying to curtail Chinese FDI inflow into the country, but the RSS too have decided to spearhead a nationwide campaign asking to boycott Chinese products.
Expertspeak Jobs are coming back, but not for the salaried: Indias unemployment rate has fallen to about 11.6 percent from a high of almost 23.5 percent in April 2020.
The fall is almost as dramatic as the rise, and that throws up some questions: What is happening in the economy? Are we fundamentally more resilient than we thought? What are the other insights, particularly from the few months we lost now, for those who have been working across the country, many of them migrant labour? Read this interview with Mahesh Vyas, chief executive officer and managing director, Centre For ...
UW School of Pharmacy Selects Business Manager/Educator to Lead MSHSA Degree Program
Elliott Sogol
A former corporate manager and pharmacy business leader has been selected as director of the University of Wyomings School of Pharmacy Master of Science in Health Services Administration (MSHSA) program.
Elliott Sogol, the current director of postgraduate education for the pharmacy school in the UW College of Health Sciences, brings a balanced mix of experience in both business management and graduate-level education instruction.
Sogols previous roles included serving as the senior vice president of strategy for Pharmacy Quality Solutions and group manager in the health care professional service group for the Target Corp. He also served as manager of one of the corporations pharmacies, and he has held leadership positions in the corporate, and research and development divisions within GlaxoSmithKline.
Sogol also held positions in academia at Campbell University School of Pharmacy and the University of Illinois-Chicago. He received his professional and graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. He currently holds adjunct faculty appointments at Campbell University, the University of Minnesota and the University of North Carolina.
UWs MSHSA program is a fully accredited online program intended for new or midcareer health professionals, including pharmacists, nurses, physical therapists, first responders and other non-health care professionals looking to advance their careers in the pharmaceutical and health care fields.
Students can complete the program at a pace that suits their personal circumstances, by either a full-time, two-year track or taking as much as six years as part-time students.
One of our main strengths is our students, Sogol says. They come from diverse backgrounds all across the country and bring many different perspectives to our discussions.
In addition to postgraduate students, current graduate-level as well as non-degree-seeking students are invited to enroll in the MSHSA program as a way to enhance managerial and planning skills for entering the health care business sector.
Four key career directive tracks are offered through the MSHSA program: biopharmaceutical regulatory compliance; health economics and outcomes; health institution leadership; and health quality and improvement. Each can be tailored to focus more directly on the career development needs of each student.
Our program is student centered, Sogol says. Our faculty include experts from throughout the pharmacy health care industry whose experience will prove valuable when applying their teachings to our students career paths. These experts work closely with our students, either in an advising capacity or providing mentorship, depending on the students circumstances and program track.
The mission of the department is to provide excellent instruction to educate future leaders in the health care field, he adds.
The application deadline for admission to the fall semester is Aug. 1.
For specific information about the MSHSA program, and to submit an application, visit the website at www.uwyohealthadminms.org/.
From its address on the west side of the Hudson River to its tiny balance sheet, Cross River Bank is nothing like Manhattans Wall Street behemoths. But as part of the governments efforts to stave off an economic catastrophe, it stands among giants.
Cross River has churned out loans to more than 106,000 businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program, a centrepiece of the governments $2 trillion (U.S.) CARES Act. That puts it just behind three of the countrys most prolific lenders: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo.
Cross Rivers size it has a single branch, in Teaneck, New Jersey, and just a few billion dollars in assets means it is generally described as a community bank. But it is anything but a small-town lender: Cross River has spent the past decade carving out a lucrative business as a bank for the financial technology startups trying to compete with traditional banks.
When the coronavirus pandemic ground businesses to a halt, the government wanted to use banks to distribute $660 billion in forgivable loans fast to small-business owners trying to pay workers who might otherwise become jobless. Cross River was one of the quickest and most aggressive, working with dozens of so-called fintechs to scoop up borrowers who couldnt get the attention of the big banks.
This is in our DNA, said Gilles Gade, Cross Rivers founder and chief executive. Its exactly what we were built for.
In normal times, Cross River is a largely invisible partner for dozens of companies like Affirm, which offers on-the-spot financing for online purchases, and Upgrade and Upstart, which make personal loans. It is accustomed to high-volume, low-dollar lending.
But the Paycheck Protection Program was an opportunity on a whole new scale, with small businesses across the country applying for hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency aid. More than 30 firms funneled some or all of their borrowers through Cross River, including large companies like Intuit, the maker of the popular QuickBooks accounting software, and Kabbage, an online small-business lender. Other borrowers arrived through niche businesses like Divvy, an expense management tool, and Womply, a small-business marketing system, that wanted to serve their customers.
Cross Rivers role is, by design, behind the scenes. Jessica Smith applied for a loan nearly as soon as the relief program began, in early April, but was ghosted, she said, by her original lender. So she turned to Pearl Capital, which she had used before for a merchant cash advance for her Bella Vita Salon and Spa in Saugatuck, Michigan.
I got word that I was approved the next day, Smith said.
When the loans closing documents arrived, Cross Rivers name was on them. Her cash arrived a week later. She reopened last week and plans to use her loan to pay her workers as business returns.
The average loan through the paycheck program is about $111,000, but Cross Rivers are much smaller: $44,062 on average, by far the lowest of the programs 15 largest lenders, according to data from the Small Business Administration, which oversees the program.
Those tiny loans add up. Cross River has lent a total of $4.7 billion nearly twice the assets the bank had on its books less than three months ago, according to a regulatory filing. On its average loan, the bank collects a fee from the government of around $2,200, a portion of which is shared with the company that brought in the customer.
Gade started Cross River, which has its headquarters in Fort Lee, New Jersey, in 2008 after more than a decade of working on Wall Street. That included a stint as the chief financial officer of First Meridian Mortgage, which operated for a few years as Trump Mortgage after licensing the name of the future president. (Gade left soon after the name change and said he had no ties to President Donald Trump or his administration.)
The plan was to buy distressed assets on the cheap after the Great Recession, but a new opportunity came along in 2010. A fintech, GreenSky, had a deal with Home Depot to offer customers financing for repair and renovation projects, but needed a partner with a banking charter to make the loans. It was the banks first foray into a lucrative new market: It now writes loans for everything from Peloton exercise bikes to funerals, then typically sells the loans back to the fintechs that originated them.
This business model is known in the financial industry as rent-a-charter the banks handle the industrys strict regulatory demands, while the fintechs furnish the shiny interfaces.
But the arrangement has downsides. Critics warn that it can enable predatory lending as fintechs dodge and weave around state usury caps and other consumer protection laws.
Cross River has had a few scrapes: It paid a $642,000 penalty in 2018 for what the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. called deceptive and unfair tactics on loans it made for Freedom Financial Asset Management, which sold high-fee debt consolidation loans. (A bank spokesperson said Cross River had beefed up its compliance oversight in response.)
Cross River has a pretty good appetite for risk, said Ron Shevlin, director of research for Cornerstone Advisors, a bank consultancy.
The benefits of its fintech alliances have, so far, outweighed the financial and regulatory costs of the handful of deals that turned bad, he said.
Gade sees the fintechs that use Cross River as fulfilling customer needs that traditional lenders have ignored. And to him, the Paycheck Protection Program was the ultimate unmet need.
In the programs early days, many borrowers struggled to get in. Many banks restricted their loans to existing customers, penalizing those without prior relationships a particular problem for minority business owners. Some fintechs wanted to make loans themselves, but the government was slow to grant them permission.
Through its partners and its own website, where it accepted any qualified applicant, Cross River started cranking out thousands of loans. Gusto, which processes payrolls for around 100,000 small businesses, was one of those partners.
It took less than 24 hours to connect Gustos systems to Cross Rivers and sign a contract, said Megan Niedermeyer, Gustos head of legal and compliance.
Being able to do that in the middle of a crisis was impressive, she said.
Processing a high volume of loans was only part of the challenge. Cross River also needed cash.
Loans made through the Paycheck Protection Program are nearly risk free for banks theyre guaranteed against default and intended to be forgiven if borrowers comply with the programs rules but lenders have to advance the cash and wait months for the government to repay them. The Federal Reserve promised to set up a way for banks to have access to cash to lend, but details werent final by the time the program began. So if Cross River wanted to lend billions of dollars, it needed to find money to do it.
The bank bought online ads in early April promoting high-yield 12- and 24-month certificates of deposit, with rates as high as 2.25 per cent about twice the industry average at the time. That brought in $250 million. Cross River also paid high rates to attract about $1 billion in long-term deposits from fintechs like Betterment and Wealthfront, giving it access to immediate cash.
We raised a ton of deposits and built a war chest, Gade said. It was very costly.
The Fed opened its lending program in mid-April, giving Cross River a much cheaper way to obtain cash for loans. The bank soon became its biggest borrower.
And Cross River found another way to benefit: It bought more than $1 billion in loans made by other lenders and passed those, too, along to the Fed, collecting a fee in the process. Using its own loans and those it has bought as collateral, Cross River has already received $5.4 billion from the Fed, the central banks data shows.
But the banks job isnt finished with just 350 employees, it still has to service all of the 106,000 loans it has made. Borrowers who want their debt forgiven must prove they used the money appropriately, a potentially complicated process.
Here, too, Cross River found a fintech partner. The bank hired Scratch, a loan-servicing startup best known for its efforts to reform student loan payments, to guide Cross Rivers PPP borrowers.
Scratch is even smaller than Cross River fewer than 50 employees but Gade is cautiously optimistic that things will go smoothly, even if he has learned to count on nothing with the relief program. At every step, it has been chaotic, plagued by technical problems, shifting rules and confusion.
But the challenge has been worth it, Gade said.
Every loan we send out, were saving businesses, he said. Were saving paychecks were saving lives. Thats really the way we look at it.
Hong Kong: No restrictions on security law judges
Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said there are no particular restrictions on judges to be selected by the Chief Executive as part of the future group to adjudicate national security cases.
Mrs Lam, ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, made the statement in response to concerns over the nationality of judges who will be designated to handle such cases.
She said: Under the Basic Law there are only two positions in the Judiciary that have a nationality requirement, that are the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court.
That's why I said that while many people have been advocating that only Chinese-citizen judges should adjudicate over national security cases, this is simply not quite realistic because we do not know how many judges now sitting on the bench have foreign nationality.
Mrs Lam explained that judges in Hong Kong are appointed on the basis of their judicial and professional qualities.
So with those safeguards in place, the answer should be obvious: there are no particular restrictions on the judges to be designated by the Chief Executive on to the future group to adjudicate these national security cases.
Noting that the Court of Final Appeal has 15 judges who came from the UK, Canada and Australia, Mrs Lam emphasised that Hong Kong is blessed with a large number of distinguished foreign judges sitting on the court.
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
'I don't see how any Indian government or any Indian military leadership can now ask the soldiers to patrol without weapons.'
IMAGE: People's Liberation Troops at the Line of Actual Control. Photograph: Reuters
"We are much closer to a bigger conflict now than we have ever been in the past," strategic affairs expert Sushant Sareen -- Senior Research Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation and author of Corridor Calculus: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor & China's comprador model of investment in Pakistan -- tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com.
The first of a two-part interview:
What action of the Modi administration has rubbed China and Xi Jinping the wrong way? What explains the Chinese misadventures in Ladakh?
I don't think there's anything which the Modi government has done which has made the Chinese adopt such an aggressive attitude (towards India).
A lot of people talk about maps being issued, about the division of Jammu & Kashmir, making Ladakh a separate Union territory. But nobody has ever explained how all this changes the larger conflict between India and China.
Maps which were issued after the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir were the same maps issued earlier except for new internal demarcation.
India claims the whole of Aksai Chin -- where is the debate in that? That is precisely the issue of dispute between India and China.
So, clearly it (the Chinese moves in Eastern Ladakh) doesn't have anything to do with the stand-off. At best this is an excuse, not a cause for what's happening.
The second narrative is how India's border infrastructure development is riling the Chinese. Now, if indeed that is the case, then I'm afraid that is China's problem, and not India's.
Is India going to decide what it does on its side of the LAC on the basis of China's likes and dislikes, or to satisfy China?
Does China keep India's concerns and sensitivities in view when it does what it does on its side of the LAC?
What entitlement do Chinese have that India needs to be sensitive to their concern?
And what inferiority complex is there within the Indian mindspace that because the Chinese don't want us to do something that would rile them and so India should not do it even though India don't like what the Chinese are doing.
Why can't we have the same standard for both sides?
If the Chinese can build (road infrastructure for movement of military) up right up to the LAC, then why can't India build (road infrastructure for movement of military)?
Therefore, the argument that India's infrastructure development has provoked the Chinese is completely untenable and disingenuous.
The third argument, which I find the most plausible, is that the Chinese are nibbling into Indian territory because they are able to do it.
And they have been consistently doing it; taking it (Indian territories) in small bites so that it doesn't become a big issue and escalate into something bigger.
And, after a few years, the entire complexion of the LAC has changed, which is what has been happening. So somewhere along the line, you have to say this far and no further.
This is something that every farmer in India who tills or owns some land also understands. He knows that if he accepts encroachment from his neighbours the other guy will take him for a weakling and a pushover and keep grabbing his land.
So, at what point of time do you say this far and no further?
I think that time has now come (for India in the context of Chinese activities in eastern Ladakh).
If India doesn't draw the line now, the Chinese will be right in thinking that they can always intimidate India.
What is China's intent behind doing what they are doing right now?
I suspect there could be two or three things. One is keep testing India's resolve to keep seeing how far they can push, to see how much territory they can nibble at. That is clearly their intent.
Are they actually looking for a fight?
In the current instance, I certainly don't think so. Because had they been wanting to enter a larger conflict, they would not be making the kind of noises they have been making at the official level.
At the official level, they want to reduce the tension even as they continue to stake their claim to territory which falls on India's side of the LAC.
More importantly, they haven't yet agitated the street (the Chinese people to create a mood for battle with India).
Normally, when the Chinese want to get into this kind of a mood to intimidate the other side, they use psychological warfare, main component of which is to excite the street.
The public pressure kind of provides them with a justification for moving ahead or at least not backing down and also building up this whole climate against a particular country. That hasn't happened till now.
They have played down their casualties. It might be on Chinese social media, but the official (Chinese) media is very quiet about it.
Why would China downplay the casualties -- the dead as well as injured -- on their side if China is trying to portray India as an aggressor?
If you are portraying India as an aggressor, and you are not admitting that India have delivered a number of blows to you, then what are you trying to do?
At one level, by portraying India as the aggressor, China is emphatically asserting the correctness of its actions; at another level by not acknowledging its own casualties, China is trying to keep a control over the dynamics of the situation.
Because once you make public the casualties the pressure from the street mounts and forces the hand of the government.
The greater the noise in the street, the more limited is your space to maneuver at the military level.
Like, for example, in India people are demanding a response (to the martyrdom of 20 Indian soldiers).
If the Chinese wanted a bigger conflict, they would not have waited out as much as they have.
Now, this does not mean that we have avoided the bigger conflict for all times to come; far from it.
We are much closer to a bigger conflict now than we have ever been in the past. Because going forward, I think things are now completely broken as far as the border mechanisms or SOPs (standard operating procedures related to the movement of troops and face-offs) are concerned.
I don't see how any Indian government or any Indian military leadership can now ask the soldiers to patrol without weapons.
The era of batons and sticks is over. I don't see how sticking to the old protocols is going to wash down anybody's throat anymore.
The instruction now will be if any Chinese come with a baton or barbed wire, shoot the chap dead.
So, you feel that this Galwan Valley attack in which 20 Indian bravehearts were martyred could snowball into a major conflagration sometime later?
I think that possibility has come a lot closer now then maybe what it was a week back.
Afghan officials say dozens of Taliban fighters staged overnight raids and stormed several checkpoints in the northern part of the country, killing at least 14 security personnel.
The violence early on June 23 comes after authorities this week accused the Taliban of increasing attacks on Afghan forces at a time when both sides say they are preparing to start delayed peace negotiations.
Officials said simultaneous raids on one army and two police checkpoints in Kunduz Province led to fierce gunbattles that lasted for hours.
Eight members of the Afghan security forces were killed and seven more were wounded in the fighting, district chief Nasruddin Saadi said.
The Kunduz provincial governor's spokesman, Esmatullah Muradi, confirmed the attacks but said nine security personnel were killed in the nighttime battle.
The Taliban has so far not commented.
Militants also raided an army post in Balkh Province and another in Ghazni Province during the night, the Defense Ministry said, adding that several insurgents had been killed in ensuing clashes.
At least six Afghan police officers were killed and one wounded in another attack in the Chahar Bolak area of Ghazni, local officials told TOLOnews.
Violence dropped across much of Afghanistan after the Taliban announced a three-day cease-fire on May 24 to mark the Eid al-Fitr holiday, but officials now accuse the insurgents of stepping up attacks.
The National Security Council said on June 22 that the Taliban had killed at least 291 Afghan security personnel over the past week, saying it was the "deadliest" week in the 19-year conflict.
President Ashraf Ghani told a government meeting on June 22 that the violence unleashed by the Taliban was "running against the spirit of commitment for peace."
Ghani has vowed to go on with a Taliban prisoner release as agreed in a deal between the militants and Washington in February.
Afghan authorities have already freed about 3,000 Taliban inmates and plan to further release 2,000 as stipulated in the deal as a condition for talks.
The militants have released 500 prisoners they were holding.
With reporting by AFP and TOLOnews.com
Are there dark clouds on the horizon? Germany has reported a surge in Covid-19 cases and the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced a record increase in infections.
Every country that eases lockdown can expect outbreaks. Germany's R number has shot up to 2.88. A country needs to keep the R number under one to maintain control of the virus. Overall, the number of cases is relatively low.
Mini waves are expected as countries open up but they are still dreaded. Even New Zealand, which had declared itself virus free, recorded nine active cases in recent days.
What sparked this rise in German cases?
The rise is due to a number of local outbreaks in a slaughterhouse, refugee centres, church communities and family parties. They seem to be mostly in the North Rhine-Westphalia region.
What lessons should we draw from this?
The test for German authorities now will be how soon they bring these surges under control and stop them spreading.
They are still sticking to their course of gradually reopening the country.
Places such as Ireland can see how it is done, but it's a stark reminder as we reawaken from lockdown, with people mixing more.
The highest level of surveillance and a clampdown plan are needed with fast testing, tracing and isolation of those with the virus. A plan is being drawn up on what measures will be taken here in post-lockdown flare-ups. If cases are rising in other countries there is a risk people travelling here could bring the virus with them.
What is the R number here?
It stands at about 0.7, which allows for room to manoeuvre as phase three of the roadmap out of lockdown starts next week. The spread of the virus here has continued to drop to low levels.
There are no longer reports of outbreaks in places such as nursing homes and meat plants. Two new cases were linked to meat plants in the past week. In the coming weeks, the focus will be more on what is happening in terms of new cases, hospitalisations and admissions to intensive care to get a sense of where potential danger lies rather than the R number.
Instead of clusters, a higher proportion of the cases now involve people getting infected in their own homes.
But the numbers of new infections overall are small.
If so many countries in Europe are moving out of lockdown and welcoming tourists, why has the WHO seen the largest single-day increase in cases?
Over the course of 24 hours, it recorded more than 183,000 new cases.
Brazil has the highest number at 54,771 cases, followed by the US at 36,617 and India at 15,400.
It's due to the spread of infection and also more testing.
WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus last week warned the Covid-19 pandemic had entered a "new and dangerous" phase, warning the virus was still spreading fast and "still deadly".
What is the thinking here about the reopening of so many business and activities from next week?
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, in his recent advice to the Government on proceeding with the next phase, pointed to a number of factors for the go-ahead. They include emerging research, information and understanding about the virus. There is also a lot of information from the experiences of other countries "that are ahead of Ireland in terms of the profile of the pandemic".
We are learning from their approach to lifting and adapting public health restrictive measures.
Infectious disease expert Professor Sam McConkey has warned about being complacent here and has again appealed to follow the rules and wear a face mask.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday walked back comments that he would consider meeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying he would only do so to discuss Maduro's departure from office. In an interview published on Sunday, Trump said he would consider meeting Maduro and played down his earlier decision to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday walked back comments that he would consider meeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying he would only do so to discuss Maduro's departure from office.
In an interview published on Sunday, Trump said he would consider meeting Maduro and played down his earlier decision to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader.
The Republican president changed tack in a tweet on Monday. "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!" Trump said.
Trump told the news site Axios on Friday, however, that he was open to a meeting, a move that would upend his "maximum pressure" campaign aimed at ousting Maduro, a socialist who has presided over a deep economic crisis in the South American nation.
"I would maybe think about that. ... Maduro would like to meet. And Im never opposed to meetings," Trump said. "But at this moment, Ive turned them down."
Maduro told Venezuelan state news site AVN on Monday that he would be open to meeting with Trump.
"I am willing to talk respectfully with President Donald Trump. In the same way that I spoke with Biden, I could speak with Trump," Maduro said, citing a brief 2015 meeting with then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden following the inauguration of Brazil's president at the time, Dilma Rousseff.
Trump expressed an openness in 2018 to meeting Maduro, who had also made overtures for talks, but nothing materialized and the United States instead ratcheted up the pressure.
Trump's comments to Axios were possibly the clearest sign yet of what some U.S. officials have privately said is growing frustration over his administrations failure to unseat Maduro through sanctions and diplomacy.
The United States and most other Western countries have recognized Guaido as the OPEC nation's interim president since January 2019, regarding Maduro's 2018 re-election as a sham.
The White House said on Monday that Trump continued to recognize Guaido as the leader of Venezuela.
"Nothing has changed," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told a news briefing, adding that he "has not lost confidence at all" in Guaido.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey, Steve Holland and Sarah Kinosian; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Peter Cooney)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The Tennessean newspaper and Gannett, its parent company, fired an advertising manager on Monday, a day after the newspaper published a full-page ad from a biblical prophecy group claiming Islam would detonate a bomb in Nashville.
The manager who was fired agreed to proceed with the ad without fully reviewing the content after it had been flagged by a sales executive, Kathy Jack-Romero, the president of local sales for Gannett, said in a Tennessean article published on Monday.
An internal investigation found that three advertising staff members had the opportunity to review the ad before it published, she said, adding that the sales and design teams did not fully read the context of the ad content in its entirety and subsequently approved it.
NASA is set to fly where no one has flown before Mars atmosphere.
The American space agency is gearing up to launch its Perseverance rover along with a terrestrial helicopter this summer that will soar through the layers of gas that hang over the Red Planet.
Named Ingenuity, the copter will fly at an altitude that is similar to 100,000 feet on Earth, allowing it to gather geology data in areas the rover is unable to travel.
NASA is comparing this mission to the Wright brothers moment, as it will be the first time in history an aerial vehicle has flown on another world.
NASA is gearing up to launch its Perseverance rover along with a terrestrial helicopter this summer that will soar through the layers of gas that hang over Mars
NASA is set to launch its Mars 2020 mission on July 20, which will send the Perseverance rover to the Red Planet, where it will look for signs of past microscopic life and explore the geology of the Jezero Crater landing site.
And Ingenuity will act as a scout for its rover companion.
This will be the first time a terrestrial helicopter has not only flown at such altitudes, but also the first time it will take flight on another planet.
Since the Wright brothers first took to the skies of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, December 17, 1903, first flights have been important milestones in the life of any vehicle designed for air travel, NASA said in a statement.
Named Ingenuity, the copter will fly at an altitude that is similar to 100,000 feet on Earth, allowing it to gather geology data in areas the rover is unable to travel. NASA is this comparing this journey to the Wright brothers moment, as it will be the first time in history a aerial vehicle has flown on another world
MiMi Aung (center), the project manager of the Mars helicopter at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory over the past six years, told The New York Times: This is very analogous to the Wright brothers moment, but on another planet'
MiMi Aung, the project manager of the Mars helicopter at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory over the past six years, told The New York Times: This is very analogous to the Wright brothers moment, but on another planet.
The helicopter weighs four pounds and will be carried in the belly of Perseverance.
Scientists describe flying the device remotely from hundreds of millions of miles away as an incredibly difficult technical feat.
Mars has a third less gravity and 99 percent less air than Earth so the team suggests that its like flying at 100,000 feet, even though initially it will only go nine feet in the air.
It is equipped with two cameras - a downward-facing, black-and-white one for keeping track of where it is and a color one for oblique views of the landscape
The helicopter weighs four pounds and will be carried in the belly of Perseverance. Scientists describe flying the device remotely from hundreds of millions of miles away as an incredibly difficult technical feat
The copter will operate mostly autonomously, since the half-hour round trip for commands would be far too long for an Earth-based pilot to operate it.
It operates on solar cells and batteries and has small landing feet, and will perform flights of increasing distance from the rover over a 30-day period.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said during a news conference for the mission held on June 17, said: The thing that has me the most excited as the NASA administrator is getting ready to watch a helicopter fly on another world.
That's something that's never been done before in human history, and here we are.
The development of Ingenuity began in 2014 and just last year, NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory put all the pieces together to begin testing the copter.
In March 2019, Ingenuity completed its first test flights in simulated Martian conditions.
Now Ingenuity has been attached to Perseverance and both are in Cape Canaveral, Florida for the final preparations before next months launch.
Aung explained that once both devices land on Mars in February is when the real test for the copter begins.
The rover will release its companion on a flat area and drive away at least 300 feet so the copter can take off.
NASA is set to launch its Mars 2020 mission on July 20, which will send the Perseverance (pictured) rover to the Red Planet, where it will look for signs of past microscopic life and explore the geology of the Jezero Crater landing site
The helicopter never returns to the rover, Aung said.
For the duration of 30 days, Ingenuity is set to complete up to five flights it spends a majority of its time idle while waiting for its solar panels to recharge the batteries.
The first flight will take the copter up just a few feet, where it will hover for some 30 seconds and then come back down to the Martian surface.
Flights will become longer, higher and farther over the 30 days and on the fifth flight, it will soar 15 feet and fly out 500 feet before returning back to where it started.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:47:54|Editor: huaxia
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HONG KONG, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong police said on Tuesday that seven people have been charged with offenses including riot and unlawful assembly for their involvement in the violence at a metro station in Kowloon last August.
Protesters gathered near the Prince Edward metro station on the night of Aug. 31, 2019 and committed illegal acts including blocking roads, criminal damage, wounding and possession of offensive weapons.
The police arrested 69 people, including 58 males and 11 females, during and after the incident.
After further investigating into the incident and seeking legal advice, seven of them were charged with unlawful assembly, riot, criminal damage, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, robbery and possession of offensive weapons.
The seven people, aged between 14 and 29, are scheduled to appear in court on July 17. Enditem
Bob Asher (right) is dropping out the race for a seat on the Republican National Committee, which he has held since 1998. Andy Reilly (left), the former chairman of the Republican Party in Delaware County, is seeking that seat. Read more
Bob Asher, a 22-year veteran of the Republican National Committee, dropped his bid this week for another term amid acrimony and infighting within the Pennsylvania GOP leadership over a plan to ease him out of the post.
In an email to state committee members, Asher disputed claims from Pennsylvania Republican Party Chair Lawrence Tabas about an evolving unity resolution that would have had him share a new four-year RNC term with state party secretary Andy Reilly.
Asher, of Montgomery County, told the committee members the process had become destructive, so he was dropping out for the sake of party unity and the reelection of Donald Trump as president.
Tabas, of Philadelphia, has not publicly endorsed Reilly, a former chair of the Delaware County Republican Party. But his efforts in the negotiations were in support of Reillys candidacy.
Clout hears Asher was open to splitting the term with Reilly, but his email said he rejected the political mechanics proposed by Tabas to make that happen.
The first version Tabas pitched on May 27 would have had both Asher and Reilly elected to a single RNC seat, with Asher serving until February and then being replaced by Reilly. The RNC last week said that violates party rules. The second version, proposed by Tabas last week, would have Reilly elected to a four-year term but then sign an irrevocable proxy allowing Asher to hold the seat for five more months.
This is something I would not agree to as this would create too much confusion and too many questions about the process, Asher wrote.
Reilly on Monday said he knew for a fact that Asher had agreed to the terms. Reilly said if he wins, he will still offer the seat to Asher until February. He now expects Asher to decline.
Asher, 82, a power in state Republican politics for four decades, did not respond to requests for comment. Vonne Andring, the partys executive director, declined to comment.
NEW YORK, NY (June 23, 2020) -- During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, health care workers on the front lines had high levels of acute stress, anxiety, and depression, a study by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian has found.
Levels of stress, anxiety and depression were particularly high among those with the greatest amount of patient contact and interaction.
Among the findings:
More than half had high levels of acute stress.
Nearly half screened positive for depressive symptoms.
One-third had anxiety.
Most had insomnia symptoms and experienced loneliness.
The findings were published online in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.
"This is the largest study in the United States to document the psychological impact among clinicians working on the front lines at the height of the NYC COVID-19 pandemic," says Marwah Abdalla, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health at Columbia University, cardiac intensivist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and study leader.
"Our findings confirm what we suspected: Clinicians working in this environment experienced significant levels of acute stress and other psychological effects."
Nurses had highest stress levels
The researchers analyzed data from 657 clinicians at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center who were screened for stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms between April 9 and April 24 during the peak of the pandemic in New York City. More than half (375) of respondents were nurses and advanced practice providers.
Overall, 57% of participants -- and 64% of nurses and advanced practice providers -- said they had experienced symptoms of acute stress, such as nightmares, an inability to stop thinking about COVID-19, a feeling of being constantly on guard, and numbness or detachment from people or their surroundings. Acute stress symptoms that persist for more than a month can lead to post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
Although the environment took a psychological toll on all healthcare workers, nurses were particularly affected. The different responsibilities of nurses may partly explain the higher rates of positive acute stress screens and other impacts, as nurses spend more time delivering direct patient care.
Nearly half (48%) of all participants screened positive for depressive symptoms and one-third (33%) for anxiety.
Loneliness was pervasive
Insomnia and loneliness were also pervasive in this group (71% and 65%, respectively). "These were essential workers who were still going to work and interacting with patients and colleagues throughout the day," Abdalla says, "so the high prevalence of loneliness is striking."
Three out of four participants were highly distressed about the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 to loved ones. Most were highly distressed about the need to maintain social distance from family and friends and a lack of control and uncertainty during the pandemic.
"The health care workers had the double burden of caring for patients with COVID-19 and worrying about the possibility of getting loved ones sick," says Abdalla. "The high prevalence of insomnia and loneliness among clinicians suggests that the acute stress of working in this environment was physically and emotionally exhausting and isolating, but we don't know yet if this stress will have long-term consequences, and if so, whether the feeling that they were doing something meaningful and purposeful helps insulate them from this stress."
Most engaged in stress-reducing behaviors
Most respondents reported the use of stress-reducing behaviors, most commonly physical exercise but also talk therapy, virtual support groups, and religious/spiritual practices. Most expressed interest in having access to an individual therapist.
"Our findings highlight the need to study the effectiveness of the wellness resources that were available to the health care workers during the study period and determine if additional resources may be needed to better protect them during the next health crisis that may arise in New York City," Abdalla says.
Abdalla and her colleagues are currently doing a follow-up survey to see if these clinicians' psychological symptoms, coping strategies, and sense of optimism change over time.
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More Information
The paper is titled, "Psychological Distress, Coping Behaviors, and Preferences for Support among New York Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic."
The other authors (all from NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center except where indicated) are Ari Shechter, Franchesca Diaz, Nathalie Moise, D. Edmund Anstey, Siqin Ye, Sachin Agarwal, Jeffrey L. Birk, Daniel Brodie, Diane E. Cannone, Bernard Chang, Jan Claassen, Talea Cornelius, Lilly Derby, Melissa Dong, Raymond C. Givens, Beth Hochman, Shunichi Homma, Ian M. Kronish, Sung A.J. Lee, Wilhelmina Manzano, Laurel E.S. Mayer, Cara L. McMurry, Vivek Moitra, Patrick Pham, LeRoy Rabbani, Reynaldo R. Rivera, Allan Schwartz, Joseph Schwartz (Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY), Peter Shapiro, Kaitlin Shaw, Alexandra M. Sullivan, Courtney Vose, Lauren Wasson, and Donald Edmondson.
Author funding includes grants from the American Heart Association, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the National Institutes of Health (18AMFDP34380732, K23HL141682-01A1, R01HL146636-01A1, R01HL141494, R01HL146911, U24AG052175, P30AG064198, NHLBI R01HL132347, R01HL141811, R01HL146911, P30AG064198, R01-HL123368, R01-HL117832, R21 HL 145970).
The authors report no financial or other conflicts of interest.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, preclinical, and clinical research; medical and health sciences education; and patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Columbia University Irving Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast. For more information, visit cuimc.columbia.edu or columbiadoctors.org.
New England states have loosened travel guidelines for each other.
As of July 3, residents of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey are able to forgo quarantine and testing protocols when visiting Maine; prior to this date, the state was requiring a two-week isolation period or a negative COVID-19 test in order to visit the state. Similarly, restrictions were lifted for Connecticut residents traveling to Massachusetts on July 1; previously there was a 14-day quarantine request for all out-of-state visitors.
The governors of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York announced mandatory quarantines for out-of-state visitors, but only certain states are subject to the quarantine.
If you are planning a summer road trip, take a look at what each neighboring state is requesting.
BIG RAPIDS As fireworks shows continue to be canceled because of coronavirus concerns, local folks may be compelled to put the Fourth of July in their own hands.
Big Rapids City Manager Mark Gifford said the city does not host its own fireworks performance. Typically, he said, the city turns to the Big Rapids Jaycees for a show.
However, because of a lack of funds and concerns of the coronavirus, the Jaycees have had to cancel their annual extravaganza, and instead, host a festive downtown scavenger hunt.
"There's a downtown event they are working on," he said. "I think they are trying to focus their efforts in a different way this year, and I know (the city) certainly appreciates the work they put in and the thought behind it."
Similar to the Jaycees' annual performance, Gifford said there are several area residents who tend to take the Fourth of July in their own hands each year. The city often receives complaints of discharged fireworks around this time of year, Gifford noted.
"There were a lot of fireworks this weekend, so I'm sure there were complaints about that," he said.
Big Rapids Chief of Police Danielle Haynes confirmed there were several fireworks shows this past weekend, and anticipates more calls concerning them in the future.
Were already at three complaints, and during the whole season last year, we only had four total, she said.
Though complaints have already begun, Haynes said the city's local ordinance will not prohibit consumer fireworks from June 29 to July 4.
According to the local ordinance, consumer fireworks are "devices that are designed to produce visible effects by combustion, that are required to comply with the construction, chemical composition, and labeling regulations promulgated by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission."
As residents consider celebrating July 4 from their homes, however, Haynes encourages them to stay safety conscious at all times.
The biggest thing for people to remember is that (fireworks) can be dangerous, (and) they can produce serious burns," she said.
For the specific ordinance regarding fireworks in the city, visit the city of Big Rapids' website.
Residents may also follow Big Rapids Department of Public Safety on Facebook for the ordinance and for tips on how to stay safe this holiday season.
Almost 25 years ago, California voters ended race-conscious affirmative action at the University of California with the passage of Proposition 209. Affirmative action is a highly controversial issue and one that has tended to split the Asian American community in particular.
Should the state Senate pass ACA5, a constitutional amendment to repeal Prop. 209, this week, California voters will revisit this issue on the November ballot. So far, Asians in California have found themselves confronted with the same conflict.
For example, state Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), who is Chinese American, publicly supported ACA5 but received substantial pushback from his constituents. Low stated that his office had received over 3,000 calls, many from his Asian American constituents, asking him to oppose ACA5. He added that elected officials in his own district criticized him: Why are you voting against your own people?
This criticism against Low showcases some of the Asian communities fears that race-conscious affirmative action negatively affects Asian applicants.
I personally remember being advised not to check the Asian box when I applied to colleges many years ago. However, much of this fear is grounded in the assumption that race-conscious affirmative action leads to bias against Asians. Affirmative action benefits historically underrepresented minority groups by stacking the cards against Asian Americans, goes the common (but misguided) refrain.
In fact, they are unrelated.
A recent lawsuit against can help illustrate this principle. In 2014, the organization Students for Fair Admissions filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of Harvard Universitys race-conscious undergraduate admissions policies. Specifically, the organization argued that Harvard discriminated against Asians by noting that while Harvards Asian applicant acceptance rates have hovered between 16-19% percent for the past 20 years while the percentage population of Asians in the United States has more than doubled.
Many, including my own friends and family, know this case as the Harvard affirmative action case and have the misconception that this is a case about race-conscious affirmative action. Stanford University, along with the rest of the Ivy League schools, seems to have this misconception, too; they submitted a friend of the court amicus brief supporting Harvard in this lawsuit where they stated, race-neutral admissions policies would mean they would no longer be able to effectively pursue ... diversity.
It is not surprising that some Asians might think that affirmative action disadvantages them. After all, here is a university being accused of racial discrimination and at least some are pointing to race-conscious affirmative action as the defense.
However, a closer look at the Harvard case shows that bias against Asians is an entirely separate matter.
Documents revealed in the discovery process showed that Asian applicants were rated higher on average than white applicants in almost all categories (including academics, extracurriculars and test scores) but that the lower acceptance rate for qualified Asians could be attributed to the fact that Asians, on average, had a lower personal rating than their white counterparts (despite Asians having comparable scores in alumni-student interviews).
While the cause of this lower personal rating is disputed, it has nothing to do with affirmative action providing benefits to Black, Latino, Native American or other underrepresented applicants.
This conflation between bias against Asians and affirmative action is furthered by the mascotting of Asians in the fight against affirmative action by conservative groups. Students for Fair Admissions is led by Edward Blum, an anti-affirmative action strategist who has specifically stated, I needed Asian plaintiffs.
ACA5 and affirmative action raise uncomfortable questions, especially in a post-coronavirus world where Asian Americans already find their belonging questioned.
However, affirmative actions goals of diversity and remedying past systemic discrimination should be clearly distinguished from bias against Asians.
In 1999, three years after Prop. 209s implementation, William Kidder conducted an empirical study of Asian American law school applicants to UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Kidder found that Black, Latinx, and Native American applicant acceptance rates had dropped, and acceptance rates for white applicants had risen.
There was no effect on Asian applicants.
Eric J. Chang is an attorney for the state of California. He serves on the board of directors of Chinese for Affirmative Action, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization. These views are his own.
Pope Francis has called for investors to divest from fossil fuels. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP) (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
The Vatican has called on the private sector and Catholic investors to ditch investments in arms and fossil fuels in a radical push for sustainability.
Building safe, accessible, reliable and efficient energy systems based on renewable energy sources would make it possible to respond to the needs of the poorest populations and at the same time limit global warming," Pope Francis said.
He said Catholics need to avoid supporting companies harmful to human or social ecology, including weapon makers and the fossil fuel industry. The Vatican also called on Catholics to reconsider investments in abortion providers, Reuters reported.
The Popes words come after 40 faith organisations around the world pledged to divest from fossil fuel, with more than half of this group Catholic.
Last month, more that 40 faith organisations from around the world, more than half of them Catholic, pledged to divest from fossil fuel companies.
Writing in the Vatican encyclical Laudato Si, the Pope said investors could favour positive changes ... by excluding from their investments companies that do not satisfy certain parameters.
These parameters include child labour, human rights and environmental protection.
The Vatican bank has said it does not invest in fossil fuels.
The Vatican also called for carbon dioxide emissions to be taxed on its news website, Vatican News.
The seas and oceans also cut to the heart of integral ecology. They are the blue lungs of the planet, and require governance focused on the common good of the entire human family and founded on the principle of subsidiarity, the Vatican said.
Additionally, it called for the world to move to a circular economy.
We must overcome the concept of rejected waste... because everything has value. This, however, will only be possible through positive interaction between technological innovation, investment in sustainable infrastructure, and growth in resource productivity.
The private sector is called upon to operate transparently in the supply chain.
Story continues
Investments with environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials have weathered the coronavirus sell-off better than broader market equivalents, research has found.
While some caveats remain, including adjustments for beta, credit quality and the sudden market recovery, we are encouraged by evidence of an overall relationship between strong sustainability factors and returns, lending further credence to the importance of analysing ESG factors as part of a fundamental research approach, said Jenn-Hui Tan, global head of stewardship and sustainable investing at Fidelity International.
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Justice will not be served by convicting the wrong person of murdering 'blameless victim' Sarah Spiers, the lawyer for the accused Claremont serial killer has told his Perth trial.
Confessed rapist and ex-Telstra technician Bradley Robert Edwards, 51, denies murdering secretary Ms Spiers, 18, childcare worker Jane Rimmer, 23, and solicitor Ciara Glennon, 27, in the mid-1990s.
Defence counsel Paul Yovich continued his lengthy closing submissions in the WA Supreme Court on Tuesday, turning to the night Ms Spiers vanished in January 1996.
Bradley Robert Edwards (pictured) is accused of murdering secretary Sarah Spiers, childcare worker Jane Rimmer and solicitor Ciara Glennon in 1996 and 1997
'We don't intend to trivialise Ms Spiers' death or disrespect her. Quite the contrary,' he said.
'The murder of Sarah Spiers was a grave crime and she is a blameless victim.
'But neither her memory nor the interest of justice is served by convicting the wrong person of this crime, nor by convicting the accused on evidence that does not prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.'
Some witnesses gave evidence they heard 'bloodcurdling screams' in nearby Mosman Park on the night she disappeared.
Wayne Stewart testified he heard two doors slam and saw a light-coloured station wagon with its lights on about 100 metres away.
Mr Stewart said the vehicle looked like a Toyota Corona. Edwards drove a Toyota Camry at the time.
Mr Yovich said Mr Stewart was the only witness who saw anything that might connect Edwards to the scream and therefore, according to prosecutors, to Ms Spiers' murder.
Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo described Mr Stewart's testimony as compelling, but Mr Yovich said the state had accepted Mr Stewart's evidence to be correct except the exact description of the car.
Edwards is accused of murdering childcare worker Jane Rimmer (left) and secretary Sarah Spiers (right) in 1996 and 1997
Edwards had visited his estranged wife on the night of Ms Spiers' murder and had work early the next morning, the court heard
He said it would be 'unsafe' to conclude the car Mr Stewart saw was linked to Ms Spiers or that it was Edwards' vehicle.
'Your Honour can't even be sure that the screams and car are associated.'
Mr Yovich questioned why a murderer would drive Ms Spiers to a well-lit street near a phone box and a block of flats.
He also pointed out Edwards had visited his estranged wife that night and had work early the next morning.
Although it did not constitute an alibi, Mr Yovich said logic suggested Edwards was unlikely to be the killer.
'It defies belief that he would choose this night (to commit murder).'
Ms Spiers' body has never been found, but Ms Rimmer and Ms Glennon were dumped in bushland at opposite ends of Perth.
Mr Yovich said any similarities between Ms Spiers' death and the other murders were minimal and speculative.
Ciara Glennon, 27, the third victim of the Claremont serial killer, allegedly Edwards
Regarding Ms Rimmer's murder in June 1996, Mr Yovich said the descriptions from two couples who heard screams in Wellard were different and may have been separate incidents.
He said unlike the double rape of a teenager at Karrakatta Cemetery in 1995, which Edwards admits committing, there was nothing to indicate Ms Rimmer had been bound and gagged.
Mr Yovich also said it was outlandish that Edwards, if he was the killer, would discard a Telstra knife in the area.
Prosecutors do not suggest it is the murder weapon.
The trial, which is almost seven months in, has heard from more than 200 witnesses, while scientific evidence includes DNA and fibre analysis.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a phone talk with his Malaysian counterpart Muhyiddin Yassin on June 23 to discuss cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia, and regional and international issues of shared concern.
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PM Phuc congratulated Muhyiddin Yassin for his appointment as the eighth PM of Malaysia and lauded measures adopted by the Malaysian government to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also shared Vietnams experience in fighting the epidemic and spurring economic development in the new normal situation.
The PM spoke highly of the two countries coordination in repatriating their citizens over the recent past, and used the occasion to thank Malaysia for its support for Vietnams initiatives, as well as ASEANs efforts against the pandemic.
For his part, Muhyiddin Yassin congratulated Vietnam on its success in the pandemic fight, and highly valued the countrys initiatives and leading role in ASEANs efforts to mitigate socio-economic impacts caused by the pandemic, as reflected through the ASEAN Chairmans Statement 2020 on February 14, and the online Special ASEAN and ASEAN 3 Summits on COVID-19 on April 14.
Both leaders agreed to step up the bilateral ties through all-level meetings, join hands to organise regular bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the sixth meeting of the joint committee on economic, scientific and technological cooperation, and early approve the action programme to implement the strategic partnership for 2020-2025.
Given a range of challenges faced by the region and the world, the two sides vowed to make greater efforts to soon raise their bilateral trade to 15 billion USD, and promote two-way investment so as to maintain their position in the top 10 economic partners of each other.
They also agreed to enhance bilateral coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums.
PM Muhyiddin Yassin committed to further cooperating with and supporting Vietnam so that it successfully perform the roles of ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.
Malaysia will work to contribute to the success of the upcoming 36th ASEAN Summit, he pledged.
PM Phuc affirmed that Vietnam strongly backs Malaysias organisation of the APEC Economic Leaders Week in the time ahead.
The two Government leaders stressed the significance of maintaining peace, stability, freedom and security of navigation and overflight in the East Sea.
They agreed to make join efforts to preserve ASEANs solidarity and common stance, and promote result-oriented negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS)./.VNA
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:
As many as 2,445 people have been infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours in Iran, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Trend reports citing the ministry.
According to Sadat Lari, 121 more people have died from the coronavirus over the past day.
Sadat Lari added that the condition of 2,846 people is critical.
So far, more than 1.47 million tests have been conducted in Iran for the diagnosis of coronavirus.
Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 209,900 people have been infected, 9,863 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 169,100 have reportedly recovered from the disease.
The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.
The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.
The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
ASTRO complements PA's global capabilities in strategy, innovation, product design and engineering and manufacturing process improvement. PA's team helps develop world-leading innovations such as Airora Professional air decontamination technology, Virgin Hyperloop's reinvention of transportation, plastic-free and home compostable Tea Sheets , and the Clinician Matching Network which improves COVID-19 patient care by matching doctors to hospitals.
Formed in 1994, ASTRO works with flagship clients in the consumer, technology, and healthcare sectors, including P&G, Nike, Bose, Facebook, Colgate and HP. ASTRO helps its clients to deliver brand communications, user-centered design as well as creating new brands, products and experiences. They have developed market defining consumer tech products, including the Nike Fuelband, Microsoft's Xbox 360, and the ASTRO Gaming headsets. ASTRO has been honored with many accolades, including Fast Company's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Design, TIME Magazine's 2018 Best Inventions in Health & Wellness, BusinessWeek's Design of the Decade Awards and a Best of Red Dot design award 2020.
Headquartered in San Francisco, ASTRO provides PA with a West Coast center of excellence for innovation and design. The team will work in partnership with PA's long-established Global Innovation and Technology Centre in Cambridge, UK and Essential Design in Boston (acquired by PA in 2018). In a world where strategies, technologies and innovation collide, the combination of PA, ASTRO and Essential Design's capabilities will enable organizations to holistically transform the way they bring new brands, products and experiences to market.
Ken Toombs, Head of Americas at PA Consulting, said: "We are delighted to welcome the ASTRO Studios team to PA Consulting. The team is passionate about design driven cultures that blend innovation, technologies and lifestyle perspectives into high impact brands, products and experiences. This fits perfectly with PA Consulting's Purpose: 'We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future in a technology-driven world.' As well as enhancing our US presence, the brilliant ASTRO team will extend our capabilities at the front-end of design, bringing our clients' customers a world of ingenuous opportunities."
Brett Lovelady, ASTRO Studio's founder, said: "Having worked with the world's best innovators across very diverse industries, we're thrilled to be joining the ingenious team at PA Consulting. Its range of expertise, commitment to client success, and unique ability to deliver innovative physical and digital solutions is incredibly inspiring. Becoming part of PA allows us to magnify the power of design more comprehensively, affecting positive change for our clients and humanity, ultimately building the futures we both imagine."
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About PA Consulting
We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future in a technology-driven world.
As strategies, technologies and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.
Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough use of technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.
An innovation and transformation consultancy, we are over 3,200 specialists in consumer, defense and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government, health and life sciences, manufacturing, and transport.
Our people are strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers and technologists.
We operate globally from offices across the UK, US, Europe, and the Nordics.
PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life www.paconsulting.com
About ASTRO Studios
Since launching in 1994, ASTRO Studios designs the future daily by creating breakthrough products, brands and experiences at the intersection of technology and culture.
With one foot planted in San Francisco and the other firmly in the future, ASTRO's design work is inspired by the relentless innovation of the Bay Area, the entrepreneurial spirit of the West Coast, and the limitless possibilities of the cosmos.
ASTRO's work has ranged from wearables to shaving sets, home goods to virtual reality experiences, touching tens of millions of people worldwide and while elevating our clients' businesses and brands. With a human-centric vision, ASTRO strives to blend relevant design, technology and culture with high impact consumer markets.
ASTRO believes deeply that all missions are possible and in its mantra to always Fight Gravity! https://www.astrostudios.com
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For the past three years the #MeToo campaign has exposed predatory behaviour by powerful men all over the world but the case of former High Court judge Dyson Heydon is arguably one of the most shocking to have come to light.
The Herald has revealed that an independent report for the High Court by Vivienne Thom, the former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, said evidence showed a tendency by Mr Heydon to engage in a pattern of conduct of sexual harassment during his stint on the bench from 2003 to 2013.
Chief Justice Susan Kiefel has taken the highly unusual step of naming Mr Heydon and issuing a public apology for the harassment of six High Court staff.
We're ashamed that this could have happened at the High Court of Australia, she said. At least three complainants have indicated they will sue Mr Heydon for damages.
In some ways this story is similar to many other #MeToo complaints.
By IANS
DHAKA: Bangladesh Foreign Minister, A.K. Abdul Momen, said on Tuesday that India is his country's biggest friend, as he expressed hope that the border tensions between India and China will be solved diplomatically.
"Bangladesh is the pioneer of peace. Dhaka is always for peaceful coexistence with neighbours. We believe on solution by discussing each and every problem, as we achieved lots with Indo-Bangla mutual discussions through understanding on both sides," Momen said in an exclusive interview with IANS.
"India is our biggest friend indeed from our liberation war days... India-China, both are our good friends and close neighbours. Both are our development partners," he said.
However, the minister ruled out any role of his country in the dispute.
"I don't think Bangladesh needs to interfere in resolving the long-standing issues between India and China. New Delhi and Beijing have shown commitment to a peaceful resolution. They started meetings at the level of defence officers and Foreign Ministers... it is the ray of hope. We hope for a diplomatic solution," he said.
The Minister extended deepest condolences for the lives lost as a result of the recent confrontation between Indian and Chinese soldiers.
About Indian commentators and the news published in the Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika which caused a social media uproar, Abdul Momen said: "Who described the zero-tariff bilateral agreement for 97 per cent of exports to China as 'charity' for 'least developed' Bangladesh... for this, many are disappointed. This word ('Khoyraati'/charity) is not acceptable to me, I said on Sunday."
However, he welcomed the paper's apology.
"Anandabazar has apologised unconditionally by admitting its mistake today, that's good. Lots of thanks to them from my side for their realisation. Hope they also realize that India is a very good friend of Bangladesh.
"Many had said to protest officially, but I refused. Because, it does not reflect the real scenario at all. That's why we don't think there is a need to protest (officially) on these news reports," he told IANS.
Anandabazar Patrika, a Kolkata-based Bengali daily, on Tuesday apologised for stating that the zero-tariff bilateral agreement for 97 per cent of exports to China was "charity" for Bangladesh.
On the fourth page of Tuesday's print version, it admitted its mistake and apologised unconditionally.
On June 20, in a report titled "Beijing taking Dhaka to its side after Ladakh", Anandabazar wrote: "China's recent decision of providing 5,161 Bangladeshi products duty-free access after the clash with India is a 'charitable' act."
The Indian media claimed that China has given such a duty-free export opportunity to Bangladesh only to put pressure on India. Several Indian media outlets, including Anandabazar, mocked it as a "charitable" act.
This was the second response from the Minister in two days after certain Indian news publications alleged that "China used the agreement to get Bangladesh on its side as tension with India simmers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Ladakh".
Abdul Momen said he was quoted wrongly by some media on Sunday.
Bangladesh media reports on Sunday reported that the Foreign Minister said that the representation of Bangladesh in a demeaning manner in certain sections of Indian media was "not welcome". He indicated that Dhaka took serious note of the negative reports of Indian media about Bangladesh and said, "It appears that they (the government) are very upset."
The minister told IANS that "we are so happy that the Indian government said nothing about the agreement with China. We are thankful to India".
He also said that India will have also economic benefits through the bilateral agreement with China. If Bangladesh is developed, India will get the benefit, he said.
However, the Foreign Minister also admitted that Bangladesh-China trade balance is "imbalanced", the same as Indo-Bangladesh trade. "We export to India only one billion dollars of products, but import huge in multiple billion dollars product. At the same time, Bangladesh imports huge from China, exports less."
On the impact of Covid-19, he said: "It is a big shake for our economy in this pandemic... our major export is RMG sector and remittance also in crisis. We are urging all neighbouring countries to be our development partners... it will help us to overcome the challenge of the pandemic period. We are very grateful to China they have moved on with Bangladesh in this crucial period, which we tried for long time. Hope India also will come forward."
ANDOVER, Mass., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Navisite today announced the appointment of Peter Berry as the company's chief technology officer (CTO) of cloud technologies. Peter joined Navisite following the company's acquisition of clckwrk in February 2019, where he was the co-founder and CTO. As Navisite's CTO of cloud technologies, he will lead the company's technical vision and development of its managed cloud services portfolio to accelerate IT transformation for thousands of growing and established global brands.
"We're fully committed to advancing our cloud strategy with the industry's best talent and expertiseand we have that leader in Peter," said Navisite President and COO Gina Murphy. "Since joining Navisite, he has had a significant impact on the company, building trust with customers, working with key stakeholders and delivering on the promise and benefits of the cloud. His proven experience, along with the wealth of technical expertise he brings to his role as CTO of cloud technologies, will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and develop our cloud technologies and related servicesfrom strategy and design to migration, optimization and ongoing support."
Peter has more than 20 years of experience working in infrastructure and cloud computing, and most recently served as Navisite's director of AWS solutions. As CTO and co-founder of clckwrk, a London-based AWS migration specialist and consulting partner, he was instrumental in building a successful business that helped global enterprises throughout Europe and North America migrate Oracle and other enterprise applications to the public cloud.
"Over the last few years, Navisite has amassed an impressive team of highly specialized experts, global capabilities and managed cloud services that stand out in our industry," said Peter. "With our strategic partnerships with Amazon, Microsoft, Google and other leading cloud providers, we are well positioned to help companies throughout all phases of their cloud journey. I look forward to working alongside Navisite's strong executive team to grow our service portfolio, our customer base and the bottom line."
About Navisite
Navisite is a modern managed cloud service provider that accelerates IT transformation for thousands of growing and established global brands. Through our deep technical knowledge and strategic relationships with the world's leading cloud providers, proven delivery methodologies, platform-agnostic approach and worldwide network of highly specialized experts, we provide the capabilities and practical guidance customers need to successfully embrace IT change and move their businesses forward. Let us partner with you to navigate the nowlearn more at navisite.com.
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"With the online exhibition Remote Impressions, Sag Harbor Elementary School (SHES) 4th & 5th Grade students share the objects, images, and expressions of their shelter-in-place experience.
Led by guest artist Clarence Sheppard and their classroom art teacher Gary Osborne, SHES students have been introduced to the tenets and techniques of digital photography and self-portrait, while visually reflecting their time during the COVID pandemic.
4th Grade Students learned the tenets of digital photography: composition, shadow, reflection, repetition, and angle. In past years, students explored these tenets by capturing images while on field trips to LongHouse Reserve, Pollock-Krasner House, or walks through Sag Harbor. This year their online course took them to places closer to home; revealing the creative potential in our everyday.
Similar to the 4th Grade, 5th Grade Students reacquainted themselves with the tenets of digital photography while being introduced to self-portrait. Experimenting with these techniques, their work spans from self-portrait to reflected landscapes; expanding on the past years annual portrait series.
An annual program, Clarence Sheppard has been leading a digital photography project with Sag Harbor Elementary students for the past 17 years. The project is made possible in part by the Reutershan Educational Trust, a privately funded art program created by Sag Harbor resident and architect Hobart Hobbie Betts."
Guild Hall
(CNN) The first wave of coronavirus in the US isn't over.
Nearly half of states are reporting a rise in new cases and some continue to break records in their daily reported cases. In the South, officials say more young people are testing positive. And across the US, experts continue to repeat warnings highlighting the need for social distancing and face covers.
And while some point to the rise in numbers as a result of more testing, health officials say that's part of -- but not the full picture.
"More testing does in fact turn out more cases. However ... if widespread testing was the entire reason for the rise in cases, you'd expect to see the proportion of positive tests go down or at the very least remain steady. We're not seeing that," says Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, a specialist in internal medicine at the California Pacific Medical Center.
"This has nothing to do with more testing and everything to do with behavior," she said. "We need to talk to people about following the guidelines, wearing masks, avoiding crowds, staying home if possible and washing their hands."
But parts of the country remain divided on wearing face masks in public, and more officials have had to consider making face covers in public a requirement.
As those discussions take place, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it will soon make an updated recommendation on the public health benefits on masks, a senior agency official told CNN.
The CDC has so far been conducting a scientific review on the topic, and a senior official with knowledge of the review says researchers are studying weather masks are not only "good for source control -- and keeping you from giving it to others -- but we're also seeing if masks are going to protect you from getting (Covid-19) yourself."
Track the virus here
States with an increase in cases
The 23 states seeing a rise in new reported cases compared to the previous week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, are: Washington, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Delaware and Hawaii.
In California, the number of people hospitalized with coronavirus is the highest it's been since the beginning of the pandemic. Across the state, 3,574 people were hospitalized Saturday. The state also reported the most new cases in a single day -- 4,515 -- since the pandemic's start, according to data from the state's health department.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week residents were required to wear a face covering in "high risk" settings, including indoor public space, public transportation or while seeking medical care.
In Texas, one of the first states to push forward with reopening, one mayor said he wished the state reopened more slowly while following coronavirus restrictions.
"When the governor started reopening, I wish he had done it a little slowly so we could have seen the numbers in each one of the phases before we moved on to the next phase," Austin Mayor Steve Adler said Sunday night.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott insists there's no cause for concern and has rebuffed a request from several city mayors that would allow them to require masks in their cities.
"By making it so that cites couldn't enforce masks, it sent the message to our community that maybe this thing was over," Adler said.
These states require you to wear a face mask in public
States going steady
Meanwhile, ten states are trekking steady in new cases compared to last week: Oregon, New Mexico, North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, and Virginia.
And 17 states are reporting a decline in new cases. They are South Dakota, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Maryland.
In New York City, officials say they're on track for the second phase of reopening which will begin Monday.
In a news release, the governor said the state continues to be "on the right path toward defeating the virus," noting the state saw less than 1% positivity rate for the virus in the tests conducted Saturday.
All your coronavirus questions, answered
Young groups testing positive for coronavirus
Across the South, some officials are raising alarm about an increased number of younger people testing positive for the virus.
In Mississippi, where one health officer called adherence to social distancing over the past weeks "overwhelmingly disappointing," officials attributed clusters of new cases to fraternity rush parties.
In Texas, the governor said last week people under 30 made up a majority of new coronavirus cases in several counties. He said that increase in young infected people could be related to Memorial Day parties, visits to bars or other gatherings.
And in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday cases are "shifting in a radical direction" toward populations in their 20s and 30s.
Those younger groups, he said, are mostly asymptomatic and don't require clinical attention.
Experts have raised alarm about Florida's climbing cases, saying the state could become the next US coronavirus epicenter. On Saturday, Florida reported 4,049 new cases -- the most reported in a single day.
This story was first published on CNN.com, "Nearly half of US states are reporting a rise in new coronavirus cases."
Young Australians are ditching the nation's capital cities for a much more comfortable and affordable lifestyle in regional towns, a new report has revealed.
The report, Big Movers: Understanding Population Mobility in Regional Australia, undertaken by the New Regional Australia Institute (RAI), was released on Tuesday showing that regional Australia is attracting younger people.
The notable hot spots to move to include Newcastle, the Sunshine Coast, Greater Geelong, Cairns, Toowoomba, Ballarat, Maitland, Greater Bendigo, the Gold Coast and Lake Macquarie.
Bendigo (pictured) in Victoria is a popular destination for Aussies who want to start anew away from the city
Ballarat in country Victoria topped the list for Melbourne residents looking to swap the big city for a more relaxed lifestyle
RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said the change took hold before coronavirus lockdown restrictions saw many Australians ditch the office to work remotely.
'Over the last few months, we've all had to change how we work and this has allowed staff and employers to see that location is no longer a barrier for where we choose to work,' she said.
The report focused on 1.2 million millennials aged between 20 and 35 at the time of the 2016 Census.
The focus on this age group is of particular interest to policymakers, as it consists of families as well as early-to-mid career professionals and tradespeople, all of whom can boost the human and social capital of regional communities.
People in this age group are highly desired regional residents and have the potential to become long-term community members because they're likely to be starting a new family or beginning their careers.
The report focused on millennials aged between 20 and 35 at the time of the 2016 Census (pictured: Newcastle, a popular destination for millennials moving away from the city)
From 2011 to 2016, both Sydney and Melbourne lost residents aged between 20 and 35 years old.
About 64,756 Sydneysiders ditched the city to move to regional Australia, compared to 21,609 Melbourne residents.
In Adelaide, around 1,041 residents left for a comfortable life away from the big smoke.
Brisbane bucked the trend, attracting an extra 15,597 people to the state's capital.
Despite the state's capital seeing an increase, millennials were also moving from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and Toowoomba for job opportunities and a coastal lifestyle.
Ms Ritchie predicts the trend will continue to grow as Australians prove they have no problem moving around.
'As a country, we are an extremely mobile nation, and we have a propensity to change our address at twice the rate of people in most OECD countries,' she said.
'If location is no longer a barrier for employment, it's possible that the trend line over the next decade could see an even greater swing to regions and this is the RAI's ambition.'
While there is an increase in people moving to regional towns, the report found that most people remained in their respective states.
Disturbing footage has emerged of the inhumane treatment elephants in Thailand endure at the hands of trainers to make them 'perform' for tourists and break their spirits.
The harrowing videos have been shared by World Animal Protection to show the cruel training process known as 'the crush' used to make elephants submissive enough to bathe, dance on command and take tourists on rides.
The video showed common practices such as the use of a bull-hook, which is a metal tool used to jab sensitive areas, chains to restrain them, and frequent exposure to stressful situations.
Eight young elephants were seen being forcibly taken from their mothers, tied to wooden structures while beaten repeatedly, and walking tied up - sometimes along busy highways.
In heartbreaking footage, three emaciated elephants were forced to dance on their back legs in front of a crowd of tourists
A young elephant sways in pain after its feet and neck were shackled to poles by cruel trainers
The elephants experience both physical and psychological trauma as they take violent blows, leaving them vulnerable and therefore terrified without the comfort of their mothers
Another video showed a trainer riding an elephant who was forced to walk with its two front legs shackled together
The young elephants experience both physical and psychological trauma as they take violent blows, leaving them vulnerable and terrified without the comfort of their mothers.
The distressing vision also shows young elephants being chained between trees while wailing in pain and eventually collapsing.
One elephant was seen being forced to stand up on his two hind legs, while his two front ankles are shackled together.
In an even more heartbreaking video, three emaciated elephants were forced to dance on their back legs in front of a crowd of tourists.
The footage also showed an elephant lifting up a tourist with his trunk while visibly in agony.
A scared baby elephant was chained to a wooden pole while being forced to spin a hoola hoop on his trunk.
Another video showed a trainer riding an elephant who was forced to walk with its two front legs shackled together.
The footage showed an elephant lifting up a tourist with his trunk while visibly in pain
The distressing vision also shows young elephants being chained between trees while crying out in pain and collapsing
A shackled elephant keeled over in pain after its two front legs were shackled together
Elephants are unable to move after being roped and chained to large fences, as they wail in pain
The global animal welfare organisation is calling for all Australian tourists to avoid captive elephant venues that offer direct interactions when tourism resumes post-coronavirus in popular travel destinations, like Thailand and Bali.
'We are calling on the travel industry to revise their wildlife policies and stop offering exploitative experiences to their customers,' Ben Pearson, Head of Campaigns at World Animal Protection, Australia said.
'Elephant riding and other interactions, like shows and bathing, support acute animal cruelty.
'We want to expose the true suffering elephants endure for a lifetime just so travellers can have their "once in a lifetime" holiday experience.
Mr Pearson said that once travel to Bali - one of the most popular overseas destinations for Australian travellers - opens up again, tourists should avoid such practices.
'Tourism has come to a halt, but it will re-build, and this is the ideal opportunity to create a responsible and resilient future for wild animals,' he said.
Tourists drive the demand for interactive elephant experiences, and in Thailand alone, there are approximately 2,800 captive elephants that have undergone this cruel training.
Trainers cruelly dressed elephants up in costumes to perform and dance on command for crowds of heartless tourists
A baby elephant tries to fit its head through a cage inside an inhumane enclosure
The video showed the common practices such as the use of a bull-hook (carried by the trainer), which is a metal tool used to jab sensitive areas
A 2018 report by World Animal Protection documented numerous venues in Bali that offered elephant riding and interactions, all of which had poor welfare practices.
As a sustainable, long-term solution, World Animal Protection is advocating for a captive breeding ban on elephants to ensure future generations are spared this trauma.
Holidaymakers hold considerable power to turn their backs on unethical practices and can opt instead to see elephants in their natural habitat or support elephant-friendly venues.
Elephant-friendly venues work on an observation-only model, not allowing direct interaction between elephants and tourists, but still providing jobs and a valuable income to local people such as elephant keepers, also known as mahouts.
Viewers tuning into BBC Breakfast this morning found themselves a little distracted - by a pair of trainers lurking on set.
Breakfast host Louise Minchin looked her usual smart self in trendy office attire, donning a giraffe-print dress and lofty nude heels.
However, her footwear clearly wasn't that comfortable, for those watching at home spotted her Adidas Stan Smith sneakers close by - which she later whipped on to do an outdoor interview during the show.
The programme's wide angle kept bringing the casual footwear in shot, as Minchin and co-host Dan Walker chatted to weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, just before 8:30am, about the mini-heatwave that's set to sweep the UK this week.
Scroll down for video
The front camera angle on BBC Breakfast this morning saw Louise Minchin looking office-ready in a giraffe-print dress and lofty nude heels
However, viewers at home couldn't help but get distracted by a pair of Stan Smith Adidas trainers that kept being caught on camera
Many of those watching at home who spotted the green-and-white shoes on set took to Twitter to comment, with some saying that the presenter should have made more effort to conceal the casual shoes while on air - without realising the presenter was poised to interview charity jogger Brendan Rendall outside - requiring a quick exit from the indoor studio.
The presenter, a keen triathlete, rushed outside at the Salford Quays studio to interview the charity runner at 8:40am about his quest to raise funds for Chester Zoo.
On Twitter, @TonyHearn14 joked: 'No good trying to hide the trainers!'
@richyhol added: 'Running later Louise ? Whose are the trainers behind the table?? Just caught a glimpse on @BBCBreakfast.'
@spenner83 added: @louiseminchin rocking Stan Smiths trainers on #bbcbreakfast. I must be on trend...'
That's why! Minchin is seen in her trendy trainers at MediaCity UK in Salford Quays, where BBC Breakfast is filmed
Earlier the presenter had tweeted about her growing locks, saying she couldn't wait for UK hairdressers to re-open on July 4th
On Twitter earlier, Minchin had addressed her growing locks, telling fans 'Good morning, and hopefully, amongst other things hairdressers will open on the 4th of July. Its deffo time for a hair-cut for me anyway!'
Lsat week on the show, Minchin's co-star Naga Munchetty revealed her own DIY haircut, telling viewers on Thursday she 'couldn't take it anymore.'
Naga, 45, showed pictures which proved her newly cropped look wasn't the work of a hairdresser and a breach of lockdown rules.
The presenter said she took the scissors to her own hair at home and had only meant to cut the sides but got carried away.
What a difference: Naga showed the length of her hair pre-cut three days before on Instagram when she proved she had been relying on hair wax on air to keep her locks in place
DIY 'do: Naga had taken to Twitter to reveal she had taken the scissors to her own hair as her growing locks needed some attention
Who knew there was so much? She shared a picture of all the hair she had cut off which was piled up in the sink
Co-host Charlie Stayt, 57, revealed he'd also been trimming his own hair, but viewers were amazed that immaculate Naga's new 'do was all her own work.
Pics were posted on Twitter and Instagram and were also aired on the programme as she explained her decision.
Naga said: 'I couldn't take it any more, I actually cut all my hair. My make-up friends and hairdressing friends said "what are you doing?" but I couldn't take it.
Pro-police supporters rallied in front of police stations in Boca Raton, Florida, on June 22, to demonstrate their support for law enforcement agencies.
Footage of the Boca Raton protest shows demonstrators waving a Blue Lives Matter flag, with several yelling enough is enough.
Rally organizer Alan Burgstein told local news: We are here to try and inform the people of Boca Raton that our cops are not racist. They are people like you and me and we have to support them. Credit: @Dahar4322 via Storyful
United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday announced July 4 as the date for a significant lifting of lockdown restrictions in the country, with cinemas, museums, bars, pubs and restaurants being allowed to open their doors to the public once again.
IMAGE: While making the announcement of the relaxations in the House of the Commons, UK PM Boris Johnson said, "Our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end. The bustle is beginning to come back. A new, but cautious optimism is palpable". Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
The venues, which have been closed for at least three months since the UK went into its official coronavirus-induced lockdown on March 23, will be required to have safety measures set out under government guidance in place to be able to operate.
"Our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end. The bustle is beginning to come back. A new, but cautious optimism is palpable," Johnson said, amid cheers in the House of Commons.
"The government will publish COVID-secure guidelines for each sector that is reopening as businesses get back on their feet and people get back to work," he said.
"But the virus has not gone away -- there will be flare-ups, for which local measures will be required. We will not hesitate to apply the brakes and reimpose restrictions even at a national level," he said in his statement.
The Cabinet met earlier on Tuesday to officially rubber-stamp the decision to allow public venues, including theatres and businesses such as hairdressers, to reopen and effectively mark an end to the lockdown on what some British MPs have dubbed as July 4 'Super Saturday'.
The UK PM also confirmed that the current mandatory 2-metre social distancing rule will be halved to 1 metre (3ft 3 in) from July 4, with some mitigating measures.
The government had come under pressure from the hospitality sector, and some MPs from within the ruling Conservative Party, to relax the 2 metre rule, with many saying it would be impossible to trade under the current measures.
"People will be advised to keep one metre-plus in places where two-metres are not possible," Johnson said, reiterating that guidance such as avoiding face-to-face seating, using protective screens and providing hand sanitiser will be issued to all public venues.
Making a specific reference to hairdressers, Johnson said he along with the rest of the country have been waiting for a haircut which would now be possible with the use of safety measures such as face visors.
Stressing on the unchanged safety advice, the UK prime minister said there is "only one certainty" -- the fewer social contacts you have, the safer you will be". The government's duty is to "guide the British people" while recognising the "natural desire" to return to normality.
"Our principle is to trust the British public to use their common sense, remembering the more we open up the more vigilant we will need to be," he said.
From July 4, two households will be able to meet in any setting -- indoors or out -- but multiple households will still be required not to meet indoors to avert the risk of creating greater 'chains of transmission'.
Places of worship will reopen for prayer and services, including weddings with a maximum of 30 people, all subject to social distancing. Courts and other public services will increasingly resume face to face proceedings from July 4.
However, certain venues including nightclubs, indoor gyms, swimming pools and spas will remain closed for now, as will bowling alleys asnd water parks. But Johnson said that task forces are being established to help them become Covid-secure to reopen as soon as possible.
Opposition Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer broadly welcomed the statement but sought more details on the 'test, track and trace' system to monitor the deadly virus.
"We do want more clarity but we welcome the thrust of this statement," he said.
The devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will set out their own lockdown easing plans, though the government is pushing for a UK-wide approach.
On Monday, the UK saw its lowest daily death toll from the deadly virus at 15 deaths to hit a total figure of 42, 647, prompting UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock to declare that the virus was "in retreat" in the country.
The minister also said that from July 6, the people in the vulnerable health category who have been shielding behind closed doors will be able to spend time outdoors in a group of up to six people, including those outside of their household, while maintaining social distancing.
"Now, with infection rates continuing to fall in our communities, our medical experts have advised that we can now ease some of these measures, while keeping people safe," said Hancock.
From August 1, the guidance will then be relaxed so clinically extremely vulnerable people will no longer be advised to shield, but support will remain available from National Health Service volunteers and local councils.
As US states grapple with how to safely carry out elections during a pandemic, President Donald Trump has made an escalating series of fantastical and false accusations about the risks of embracing mail voting
Seattle: As US states grapple with how to safely carry out elections during a pandemic, President Donald Trump has made an escalating series of fantastical and false accusations about the risks of embracing mail voting.
Without evidence, the president has warned that mail elections would involve robbed mailboxes, forged signatures and illegally printed ballots. In a tweet Monday, this one in all-caps, Trump warned:
RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2020
That claim about foreign-made ballots was the latest misleading statement from Trump: He offered no evidence, and the tampering of ballots is widely seen as a nearly impossible scenario because they are printed on very specific stock and often have specific tracking systems like bar codes.
Trump himself has voted by mail, yet at the same time he has claimed in the past that mail-in voting could mean thousands of people sitting in somebodys living room, signing ballots all over the place.
Kids go and they raid the mailboxes and they hand them to people signing the ballots down at the end of the street, Trump said in May.
Officials in 11 of the 16 states that limit who can vote absentee have eased their election rules this spring to let anyone cast an absentee ballot in primary elections and in some cases, in November as well.
In another state, Texas, Republicans won a temporary legal victory and successfully blocked an effort to expand vote-by-mail rules, but Democrats have appealed to the US Supreme Court.
In states that have long embraced mail voting such as Washington state, which has been mainly using mail balloting since 2005 those running elections see no evidence of widespread fraud.
There have been concerning ballots filed, with dozens of potential cases flagged for deeper investigation in major election years. The officials running the elections know what attempted voter fraud looks like. And it does not look anything like the ominous scenes of mass and coordinated criminality the president describes.
Kim Wyman, Washingtons secretary of state, said all methods of voting had the potential for fraud, but that her experience in Washington was that mail ballot fraud was low.
How do you respond to someone that makes an allegation that theres rampant fraud? said Wyman, a Republican. You show them all the security measures that are in place to prevent it and detect it if it does happen.
Here is how Washingtons system works and the types of fraud officials have encountered:
Registration
As with all types of balloting, registration vetting is one of the most important steps to ensure that the people who are getting ballots in the mail are qualified to vote them. Washington state checks to make sure the person is not already registered elsewhere in the state and also verifies personal information, such as date of birth and Social Security number, to confirm it is a real person.
In 2007, a woman in Washington state successfully registered her dog to vote and received ballots in order to make a point about the systems risks. But in 2016, officials in King County said, another person tried to register a dog to vote. The registration was not fully approved because the information did not match records in state and federal databases.
King County prosecutors sent a message to that person warning that providing false information was a crime and saying that if the intent was to expose a flaw in the system, it was unsuccessful.
Instead, your actions demonstrated that the state laws designed to prevent voter fraud work, prosecutors wrote.
Mailings
Trump has speculated that fraudsters can rob mailboxes a federal crime to collect ballots in order to commit election fraud, another crime. But Julie Wise, the director of King County elections, said that in her experience, when someone steals a ballot from the mail, it is usually in the hope of finding something else.
Ballots in Washington state are tied to specific individuals, with unique bar codes that record the path of the ballot a protection that would also, incidentally, make it difficult for a foreign country to print counterfeit ballots. Voters can actually track to see when their ballots have been mailed, when the election office has received them back and whether they have been counted.
If someone did try to acquire ballots through mail theft, Wise said, a voter could monitor his or her ballot and call for a replacement, a process that would render invalid the original ballot that was sent. As Trump said, voters can print replacement ballots hundreds of them if they wanted to. But since the ballots are linked to them individually, only one vote is going to be accepted and repeated submissions might be grounds for investigation.
Fraudulent signatures
Wise said officials had not heard of voters reporting that ballots were cast on their behalf unexpectedly, so thus far there is no evidence that people are stealing and submitting ballots.
Even if a ballot were to get stolen and submitted, it would run into another obstacle. Voters must sign the ballot return envelope. Workers at the election office are trained to examine signatures, checking to make sure the signature that comes in matches the one on file for the voter before sending the ballot along the line to be counted.
A voter with a problematic signature will be contacted by the election office, sometimes by phone, and asked to fill out an additional form to verify his or her identity. Wise said her signature had been rejected on two occasions because it had changed over the years, and she was able to resolve the discrepancy to get her vote counted.
Its a good system, Wise said.
Cameras on
Unlike states that depend on volunteers in polling places to manage ballots, Washington state uses professionals to distribute ballots and then collect, analyse and count them in a central location.
In the King County elections office, cameras keep an eye on everything, and the public can tune in to watch. Political parties and campaigns also monitor the process.
Wise has helped lead both traditional polling-place elections and those done entirely through the mail. She said it was clear that the mail-ballot process increases accessibility for people, allowing them to vote on their own time without having to stand in line. She said the all-mail option also allowed for better vetting and checks that give her more confidence in such elections overall.
I guarantee you that vote-by-mail is more secure and more accurate than polling place elections, Wise said.
Cases of fraud
After elections, Washington has partnered with other states in a joint data analysis that looked at whether any voter cast a ballot in multiple states or whether a ballot was cast in the name of someone who was dead at the time of the election.
After the 2016 election, that system flagged 74 questionable votes in Washington state: Fifty-nine people who may have voted in multiple states, 14 people who may have voted multiple times within the state and one deceased voter. Those ballots were sent to county elections managers and prosecutors for further scrutiny.
King County had the most cases. Officials there said that in some cases, they found data errors, and the votes were legitimate. In cases of votes by dead people, Wyman said that officials had sometimes found that a spouse had just died and the survivor wanted to cast one last ballot for her or him. For others, she said, people who own properties in two states may convince themselves, erroneously, that it is proper to vote in both places.
After scrutinising cases, investigators in King County did not see any significant fraud in 2016, but they sent letters to 10 people who appeared to have voted twice. The message was clear: We saw your two votes even if they were in separate states and that is a crime.
Though we decline to pursue this matter further, it will not foreclose us from pursuing charges in the future should you engage in additional acts in violation of state election law, a criminal prosecutor wrote.
Mike Baker c.2020 The New York Times Company
Much as Democrats would like to deny it, the reality is that Americans were unanimous in condemning how George Floyd died at police hands in a Democrat-run city. Even after learning that Floyd was a career criminal hopped up on drugs when he met his death, Americans were willing to accept the Democrats' (and their fellow leftists') demands for police reform. Had Democrats stopped there, they could have achieved yet another incremental leftward push for their political agenda, a victory they could have put toward their next moment of political theater.
The problem is that Democrats have trained their army of college grads, minorities, and other victim groups to view words as violence, to hate America's institutions, and to believe that hysteria is persuasive. Once you unleash these emotionally unstable and factually ignorant foot soldiers on the world, they are unstoppable, even if it's in the best interests of their cause that they stop.
The looting was bad enough, but Americans were still on board with the fundamental (although factually false) notion that police are disproportionately attacking blacks. Now, though, Americans have witnessed CHAZ (or CHOP), which began by building walls, demanding "citizen" identification, instituting segregation, assaulting Christians, and appointing warlords, and then quickly devolved into gunfights, murder, and rape.
None of those is a sympathetic position. It's a long journey from "fix the police" to "we're setting up a violent, walled, racist, Marxist paradise." Things have gotten so bad that Seattle's Mayor Jenny Durkan, who imagined a Summer of Love and chastised President Trump for suggesting otherwise, has finally conceded that the CHOP (or CHAZ) experiment needs to end.
Meanwhile, in Lafayette Square across from the White House, CHAZ's ideological cohorts tried to establish a "Black House Autonomous Zone" (or BHAZ). Perhaps because President Trump blocked protesters from burning St. John's Church to the ground, BHAZ's wannabe citizens immediately vandalized the historic church:
St. Johns Church has been vandalized with spray paint reading BHAZ (Black House Autonomous Zone) pic.twitter.com/8D7UITVTK0 RichieMcG (@RichieMcGinniss) June 23, 2020
Most Americans are not sympathetic to destroying churches and other historic buildings.
The next order of business was to deface and try (unsuccessfully) to pull down a statue of President Andrew Jackson, an effective president but also a slave-owner and Indian foe. Oh! And let us not forget that he was the first Democrat party president.
Rioters in Lafayette Square in Washington DC are trying to topple over a statue of President Andrew Jackson
pic.twitter.com/p3hFCLx9P8 Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 23, 2020
Again, even those people who don't have warm feelings for Jackson are beginning to be troubled by the fact that it's a violent mob, rather than a democratic process, that is making decisions about what's appropriate in the public square.
Other footage from the Lafayette Square protests also will not endear leftists to ordinary Americans. There are the usual hysterically screaming, obscene, incoherent white women (who are surrounded by other screaming white people):
Two women are screaming at the cops outside the White House. pic.twitter.com/V9wTsoFDzf Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) June 23, 2020
There's the drooling (literally) ponytailed, tattooed white man hurling obscene invective at a black cop:
A protester got pushed to the ground by D.C. Police after putting his hands on an officer, according to an eyewitness. The protester got in the officers face and ranted at him. pic.twitter.com/ycbrAue1w8 Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) June 23, 2020
(And at 1:14, did the drooler call the black officer a "bitch-ass n-----"?)
Once again, these are not uplifting images about pushing back against bad cops. Indeed, putting the lie to the rhetoric, the D.C. police showed incredible restraint when faced with extreme provocation.
Drool man was not the only person trying to create viral video moments of police violence. But again, the police held strong, showing admirable self-control:
So-called "peaceful protesters" are taunting and verbally abusing police in DC outside in Lafayette Square. This isn't a protest. pic.twitter.com/FXV28HlFSy Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 23, 2020
We also witnessed a touch of irony when the same people who film every police/black person interaction attacked and tried to rob Daily Caller reporter Shelby Talcott when they suspected her of using her phone to film the activity at the park:
The protesters attacked and tried to grab her phone. She got shoved toward the cops, who then shoved the protesters back and took her behind the police. I think she may have lost her phone? Really bad. pic.twitter.com/ZD4GrC0WWt Robby Soave (@robbysoave) June 23, 2020
Shelby later explained that, when a protester tried to steal her phone, she fought back:
"I didn't let her have it and fought her for it," Talcott said, adding, "They weren't there to talk, they were there to get me out by any means necessary, that was made clear when the woman attacked me to try and steal my phone." After that, Talcott said that she turned toward the police and they pulled her through the line and away from the crowd. They put her in cuffs, explaining to her that it was for her own safety and that she had to be handcuffed because she was behind the police line. "They probably saved me from getting my ass beat," Talcott concluded.
Eventually, the police arrived and began the hard work of dispersing this vile collection of leftists:
President Trump sent them off with a Twitter warning:
Numerous people arrested in D.C. 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. 10 years in prison under the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act. Beware! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020
Despite Trump's warning, it's unlikely that a Department of Justice heavily staffed with young, Democrat-leaning attorneys will do a darn thing to those arrested. More importantly, though, these protests likely squander all of the goodwill Floyd's death engendered. Voters have also taken note that Democrats seem entirely comfortable with this ugliness, for their political leaders have not said a single word to stop or even to criticize their army of street fighters.
A few days ago, John Nolte wrote that, geographically, most of America is peaceful. It's only thanks to cities in regions that will vote Democrat no matter what that Americans are getting the chance to face squarely the Marxism incubated on American college campuses and then spread among urbanites, minorities, and other self-styled victims. I sense that Americans will shrink back in revulsion from this preview of coming attractions in a leftist-run America.
With about half a year to go, it's still not a given that China's economy will grow in 2020.
An independent survey of more than 3,300 businesses in the country by U.S.-based China Beige Book found that for the second quarter, recovery from the first quarter's decline is minimal, according to findings released Tuesday Beijing time.
"Until and unless global demand recovers more forcefully, the incremental quarterly improvement just seen will make for a contraction for full-year 2020," the report said.
"No matter the lens, gains over Q1 are marginal. Services, Manufacturing, Property, and Commodities all saw revenue and profits move into expansion territory," the report added, noting that the figures remained around record lows.
China's National Bureau of Statistics is set to release official second-quarter data the third week of July.
The world's second-largest economy has steadily resumed work in the last few months after efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak forced more than half of China to extend the Lunar New Year holiday by at least a week in February. Gross domestic product contracted 6.8% in the first quarter.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 01:06:00|Editor: huaxia
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JERUSALEM, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli parliament's finance committee approved on Tuesday controversial tax refunds worth about 1 million new shekels (292,000 U.S. dollars) to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The decision, approved following a request by Netanyahu, will allow the long-time leader to retroactively get refunds for taxes that he paid between 2009 and 2017.
"A tax imposed on the prime minister due to income derived from payments, services and benefits provided to him by the state treasury in the context of his position as prime minister, will be at the expense of the state treasury," the decision read.
Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper reported that the overall benefits of the new decision is worth nearly 1 million new shekels.
Coalition Chairman Miki Zohar told the committee that the taxes on Netanyahu were "unfair" and would make him "financially handicapped."
Members of the committee voted by 8-5 in favor of the tax refunds. Lawmakers with the Blue and White party, Netanyahu's new partners in his power-sharing coalition, were absent from the discussion.
The move triggered criticism from the opposition.
Yair Lapid, Netanyahu's former finance minister, accused Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud party of taking big benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis.
He wrote on Twitter that the government was "disconnected" from the public. Enditem
The government might soon allow the export of nearly 50 lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) suits a month as production reaches surplus levels. The move might come into effect because of the demand tabled by the Indian apparel export industry body AEPC on June 21. According to AECP, PPE kits' production has reached 8 lakh units per day in the country.
Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) chairman A Sakthivel said, "Domestic exporters are prepared to play a key role in the global market for PPEs, which is estimated to be more than $60 billion over the next five years".
Consequently, the textile ministry is currently seeking permission for the PPE kits' export to cover losses it suffered because of the coronavirus pandemic. Export of PPE kits, including suits made for firefighters and bulletproof jackets, was stopped on January 31.
According to the Hindustan Times report, Clothes Manufacturing Association of India did a survey of around 1,000 factories in May and found that the textile companies' apparel sales plunged to 84 per cent during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. However, PPE production reached surplus levels.
South India Mills Association President K Selvaraju also said that the textile companies were producing nearly 1 crore kits a month. Besides, and 2.02 crore PPE suits have been supplied in the Indian market till now.
The daily added that discussions between different stakeholders on PPEs export have already taken place. It is likely that there will be an official announcement on this matter by the end of this week. Additionally, the manufacturers will have to comply with international standards and acquire certifications to ensure that their products are up to the mark.
According to AEPC chairman, countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and others have lifted the ban on PPE exports and were receiving huge orders.
He added that Pakistan received $100 million export orders last week, which was likely to go up to $500 million. Similarly, Bangladesh aggressively protected the global businesses from countries such as the US, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Kuwait while tackling the pandemic.
Also read: Patanjali to launch coronavirus medicine Coronil today; all you need to know
Also read: Coronavirus crisis: India records 14,933 new cases; tally at 4.40 lakh, death toll crosses 14,000
White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley at the White House in Washington on Oct. 10, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
Trump Campaign Names Hogan Gidley New National Press Secretary
President Donald Trumps 2020 campaign named Hogan Gidley its new national press secretary, replacing Kayleigh McEnany.
McEnany became the White House press secretary in April.
Gidley, 44, was the White Houses principal deputy press secretary since January 2019 and worked in the White House communications office starting in the fall of 2017.
I am overwhelmingly humbled and deeply appreciative to President Trump for giving me a front row seat to witness history, Gidley said in a statement. My time at the White House has truly been a blessing beyond measure and getting to speak directly to the American people on behalf of this President has been an incredible honor. President Trumps record-setting accomplishments have improved the lives of all Americans, and I cant wait to get over to the campaign and fight for his re-election.
Brad Parscale, who manages Trumps campaign, called Gidley a talented advocate and defender of the President and his policies who is never afraid to go into battle with hostile reporters and television hosts. Gidley has deep knowledge of Trumps accomplishments and a keen grasp of the Trump administrations policies, Tim Murtaugh, the campaigns communications director, added.
Trump praised Gidley in a statement on Twitter.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington on June 8, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
He is a strong, loyal and trusted member of the team that I know will do an outstanding job! We must WIN this election! Trump said.
The campaign also announced that Erin Perrine was shifted from principal deputy communications director to director of press communications.
Trumps campaign has made a number of moves this month, including bringing Jason Miller, an aide in the 2016 campaign, back on board.
The president held his first campaign rally in months in Tulsa, Oklahoma, over the weekend, drawing thousands fewer than expected. The turnout was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and protesters blocking an entrance.
More than 10 million people watched the rally online, according to the campaign.
It was a great night and there was a lot to celebrate, McEnany told Fox News. The president is in his best mood when he gets to speak directly to the American people because thats what he loves.
Jack Phillips and Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
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Kaldar cave in Iran estimated to date over 63,000 years
06/23/20
Source: Tehran Times
Nearly one decade of archaeological surveys at Kaldar cave has concluded that parts of this western Iranian shelter date more than 63,000 years.
"After a decade of studying the cultural evidence yielded from the three seasons of archeological excavations at Kaldar Cave, the recent results show that a Paleolithic layer in the middle of this the cave is more than 63,000 years old," CHTN quoted Iranian archaeologist Behrouz Bazgir as saying on Sunday.
Kaldar is a key archaeological site that provides evidence of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in Iran. The cave is situated in the northern Khorramabad valley of Lorestan province and at an elevation of 1,290 m above sea level. It measures 16 meters long, 17 meters wide, and seven meters high.
Last year, in one of the significant archaeological finds of Iranian history, the cave yielded fresh evidence for its Paleolithic residents; including traditions of making [stone] tools related to Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic eras.
Excavations at the site in 2014-2015 led to the discovery of cultural remains generally associated with anatomically modern humans (AMHs) and evidence of a probable Neanderthal-made industry in the basal layers. It also offers an opportunity to study the technological differences between the Mousterian and the first Upper Paleolithic technologies as well as the human behavior in the region.
Last year, archaeologists excavated stone tools and a fragment of a fossilized skull, attributed to Homo sapiens. The cave has also yielded weapon fragments crafted by Neanderthals.
See more photos by Iran Tourism and Touring Organization
In taxonomy, Homo sapiens is the only extant human species. The name is Latin for "wise man" and was introduced in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus (who is himself also the type specimen). Neanderthals are an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans in the genus Homo, who lived within Eurasia from circa 400,000 until 40,000 years ago.
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A detailed analysis report of the Global Photomedicine Devices and Technologies Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments.
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Leading Segment in this market:
By Technology - Laser
By Application - Dermatology
By Geography - North America
Final Report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry.
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Alma Lasers Ltd
AngioDynamics
Colorado Skin & Vein
IRIDEX
Lumenis Ltd.
Photomedex
qbmi Photomedicine
Spectranetics Syneron Medical
Syneron Medical
THOR Photomedicine Ltd
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SEGMENTATIONS IN THE REPORT:
By Technology:
Laser
Polychromatic Polarized Light
Full Spectrum Light
Dichroic Lamps
Light Emitting Diodes
By Applications:
Dermatology Tattoo Removal Hair Removal Skin Resurfacing
Wound Healing
Pain Management
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Asia Pacific (APAC)
Latin America (LA)
Middle East & Africa (MEA)
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The Global Photomedicine Devices and Technologies Market has been exhibited in detail in the following chapters -
Chapter 1 Photomedicine Devices and Technologies Market Preface
Chapter 2 Executive Summary
Chapter 3 Photomedicine Devices and Technologies Industry Analysis
Chapter 4 Photomedicine Devices and Technologies Market Value Chain Analysis
Chapter 5 Photomedicine Devices and Technologies Market Analysis By Technology
Chapter 6 Photomedicine Devices and Technologies Market Analysis By Applications
Chapter 7 Photomedicine Devices and Technologies Market Analysis By Geography
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Yobe State Government has awarded contracts for the construction of two modern markets in Potiskum and Gashua at the cost of N5 billion.
Barma Shettima, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism, disclosed this at the signing of the contract agreement on Tuesday in Damaturu, the state capital.
He said after following all the due processes, two companies emerged winners of the contracts.
The construction of Potiskum modern market is awarded to Ponglomerape Nigeria Limited at the contract sum of N2.6 billion.
While the Gashua modern market is awarded to SabTech Towers Nigeria Limited at a contract sum of N2.4 billion, Mr Barma said.
He said the contracts were part of Governor Mai Mala Bunis efforts to enhance social and economic development of the state.
Mr Barma urged the contractors to abide by all the terms and conditions of the contractual agreement.
(NAN)
In recent years, local governments have been forced to adapt to a wildly changing world, especially as it pertains to sending bills and collecting payments.
Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, has sacked Allen Sowore, special assistant on new media to Agboola Ajayi, his deputy. ...
Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, has sacked Allen Sowore, special assistant on new media to Agboola Ajayi, his deputy.
This was announced in a statement by Olusegun Ajiboye, chief press secretary to the governor.
Sowore was advised to submit all governments property in his possession to the chief of staff to the governor.
Akeredolu and Ajayi have been having a running battle which finally led to the resignation of the deputy governor from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ajayi had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he has indicated interest to run against the governor in October.
Uche Secondus, national chairman of the PDP, was in Ondo on Monday to formally receive Ajayi in the opposition party.
Secondus had said Ajayis defection would be a boost for the party in the October 10 governorship election, assuring him of a level-playing field during the governorship primary.
Sowore was the one who circulated the video of the police preventing Ajayi from moving out of his official quarters at the government house premises on Saturday night.
Policemen led by Bolaji Salami, commissioner of police, reportedly acted on instructions from the governor but Akeredolu has since distanced himself from the action of the police.
Sowore had told reporters that the deputy governor was taken hostage for hours, despite the fact that he enjoys immunity.
We could not leave the government house for several hours yesterday as they refused the deputy governor to pack his personal belongings, he had said.
At a time, the deputy governor had to ask the stand of the commissioner of Police in this matter, because the way he acted yesterday was just too low of him as a public officer and not a politician.
Reference was not made to the incident of Saturday but Akeredolu simply wished Sowore the best of luck in his future endeavour.
An encounter broke out on Tuesday between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. This is the second encounter of the day.
According to sources, the security forces got a tip-off about the presence of terrorists in the forest area of Lolab and joint searches were launched. A brief exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces took place.
A police official said, "A joint team of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army's 28 Rashtriya Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Lolab forests after the tip-off of the presence of terrorists in the area.
The exchange of fire between the joint team and the terrorists took place initially. However, as of now there no firing going on. More reinforcements have been rushed to the area," he added.
Earlier, a CRPF jawan was martyred and two unidentified terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bandzoo area of Pulwama. According to the Army, two AK-47 have been recovered from the site of encounter and the joint operation is still in progress.
Jammu and Kashmir Police DGP said, On a credible police input an operation was initiated by Pulwama police at village Bandzoo early this morning along with local Army and CRPF units. He added that two terrorists were killed while one CRPF jawan was injured who later succumbed to the injuries. The CRPF jawan got injured when the terrorists opened fire at the cordon party.
The terrorists have been identified as- Owais Ahmad Bhat, resident of Molu Chitragam, and Azaz Ahmad Ganai, resident of Ramnagari.
A total of 35 terrorists have been killed in June and 108 in 2020.
The case came before Carndonagh District Court in Co Donegal (stock photo)
A farmer who accused his neighbour of mistreating his sheep by not watering them in scorching hot weather was found to be the real culprit.
William Barr (54) appeared before Carndonagh District Court in Co Donegal charged with two charges of cruelty to animals.
Barr had accused his neighbour Patsy Barr (no relation) of not filling up his water barrels during stifling heat in the summer of 2018.
He contacted animal welfare inspectors in Letterkenny to make the accusations against Patsy Barr.
The court heard that the two men had been involved in a long-running dispute.
Between June 26-29, 2018, William Barr contacted the Department of Agriculture in Letterkenny claiming sheep on his neighbour's farm at Ballymacarthur, Greencastle were not being watered.
Garda Sgt Sean McDaid told the court that on the day in question, temperatures in the area had reached 25.1C or 77F. There were 13 sheep on Patsy Barr's land and some of them were in distress.
The court was told that when the initial complaint was made against him, Patsy Barr decided to install a covert camera.
When Gardai viewed the footage they saw William Barr dumping the water out of his neighbour's water-feeding barrels.
'Vulnerable'
Sgt McDaid said the water was filled up again an hour after it was dumped out. He added that Patsy Barr looked after his animals well.
Frank Dorrian, solicitor for the accused, said his client was a vulnerable man who was trying to get at Patsy Barr through his sheep.
He stressed that this was not an effort to injure the animals.
There had been no incidents between the two men since this had happened almost two years ago, the court was told.
Judge Paul Kelly said he planned to deal with the matter by way of a peace bond but would like to speak to William Barr.
He adjourned the case until September.
Maharashtra has stalled a proposal by Chinas Great Wall Motor to invest nearly $500 million, days after a deadly border clash between the two nations, potentially delaying the companys plan to tap one of the worlds biggest car markets
Mumbai: Maharashtra has stalled a proposal by Chinas Great Wall Motor to invest nearly $500 million, days after a deadly border clash between the two nations, potentially delaying the companys plan to tap one of the worlds biggest car markets.
The state government of Maharashtra, home to the financial capital of Mumbai, said on Monday it had put on hold three investment proposals from Chinese firms worth 50 billion rupees ($658 million) in total, including Great Walls.
The initial agreements are not cancelled, but further action is awaited, said Maharashtras industries minister Subhash Desai, days after his government signed them.
This is the latest setback for Chinese companies that are facing calls for boycott after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in clashes at a disputed border site, in a major escalation of a weeks-long standoff between the two nuclear-armed Asian giants.
In the current environment, we will wait for the federal government to announce a clear policy regarding these projects, Desai said in a statement.
Great Wall, which has plans to invest a total of $1 billion in India, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
One of the biggest sellers of SUVs in China, Great Wall made its debut in India at the countrys biennial auto show in February, amid much fanfare.
Great Wall said in January it had agreed to buy US automaker General Motors car plant in Talegaon in Maharashtra state, and the deal was expected to be completed by the second half of 2020.
Signing the agreement with Maharashtra government was an official announcement of its investment in the plant, Great Wall said a press statement last week, describing the move as a major milestone in its Indian journey.
This is a big setback for sentiment and can make India an unpredictable investment destination, said a person who works closely with Chinese companies.
As many as 200 stranded Indian nationals were repatriated by the Indian Navy from the Maldives as part of the Samudra Setu mission of the Government of India.
Indian Navy Ship Airavat arrived here from the Maldives with 200 Indian nationals at the VOC Port this morning, officials said.
For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here
As many as 64 people who arrived today hailed from Kanyakumari district while the rest were from many other districts, they said.
Upon arrival, the passengers were screened by the Port Health officials and their luggage were sanitised as part of COVID-19 health protocols.
Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths on June 23
On the issue of PPE kits by the Port authorities to all passengers, the latter boarded waiting for buses and transited to the passenger terminal.
Later, before proceeding to their respective destinations in designated buses, self-declaration forms were obtained from the passengers and they were also asked to download and configure the 'Aarogya Setu' app in their smartphones.
The Indian Navy had earlier repatriated over 3,000 stranded Indians from Sri Lanka and the Maldives while making earlier port calls here.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 16:22 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660fe04f 1 World Australia,Indonesia,unicef,Australian-Embassy,COVID-19,COVID-19-aid,coronavirus Free
Australia is set to disburse aid totaling AU$4.9 million (US$3.3 million) to the United Nations Childrens Fund to support Indonesia's COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
In a joint statement, the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and UNICEF said that with the new funding, they would work together to maintain essential health services in communities, strengthen the health system, improve basic water, sanitation and hygiene practices [and] supply critical goods.
The aid would also be utilized to make sure that women, children and vulnerable communities have access to nutrition interventions.
As a close friend and long-term partner to Indonesia whose futures are inseparable, we have a shared interest in combating COVID-19 and its impacts and Australia is pleased to partner with UNICEF to support immediate health and humanitarian needs, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Gary Quinlan said on Monday.
UNICEF has been working closely with Indonesia to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on communities, including to deliver life-saving medical supplies and support the continuation of health and nutrition services, provide essential water and sanitation activities and keep children connected to education, the statement read.
Read also: Tanoto, UNICEF to create tools to help Indonesia attain educational equity SDG by 2030
Australia has also changed the orientation of its development program in Indonesia to respond directly to the global pandemic, including pouring out an additional AU$21 million in immediate support to Indonesias health, humanitarian and economic response.
With millions of Indonesian children and families at risk of lifelong consequences from COVID-19, the contribution from Australia comes at a pivotal and opportune moment, UNICEF representative Debora Comini said.
It will help UNICEF support government health services [and] expand community outreach programs and public awareness campaigns in response to the pandemic.
Previously, Australia disbursed aid totaling AU$6.2 million to support Indonesias COVID-19 mitigation efforts through the World Health Organization.
Australias neighbor New Zealand had also contributed to Jakartas COVID-19 response and recovery efforts by disbursing aid totaling NZ$5 million (US$3 million). (asp)
A consortium of six global investors has entered into a $20.7 billion agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the state-owned oil company said Tuesday.
As part of the agreement, the group will invest $10.1 billion to acquire a 49% stake in a newly-formed subsidiary, ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets, with lease rights to 38 pipelines. ADNOC will hold the majority stake of 51% and will retain ownership of the pipelines. It will also manage operations and remain responsible for capital expenditure.
It is the single-largest energy infrastructure investment in the region, and the largest in the world in 2020, according to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. It is also part of the UAE national oil company's strategy to attract foreign capital and maximize the value of its assets.
The six companies involved are Global Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, NH Investment & Securities and Snam.
"We are excited to have completed this deal, and once again partner with some of the word's leading infrastructure and institutional investors," said Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive officer of ADNOC Group and UAE's minister of state.
"It is in fact a huge achievement, particularly given the current challenging economic climate and business environment, and it is, if anything, a testament to Abu Dhabi and the UAE's position as a trusted, reliable and credible investment destination," he told CNBC's Hadley Gamble.
Al-Jaber said the deal would allow ADNOC to reinvest responsibly and finance activities that produce higher returns.
"Importantly, by completing this landmark transaction, we are sending a very strong signal to other potential partners from around the world, that ADNOC continues to be open and in fact, very ready for business," he added.
A UK woman whose mother was adopted is trying to trace her family's ties to Birr in Co Offaly.
Clare Mee contacted the Offaly Express to explain the links which suggest her maternal grandmother Elizabeth Ann Kelly was engaged to a policeman in Birr before leaving Ireland for London in 1938.
"My mum was adopted and we have found her mother's side of the family, they lived in Birr. Betty (Annie Elizabeth) Kelly left with her sister at the age of 22 to go to London to work. We heard that she was engaged to a policeman in Birr before they left and my mum was born in London in the same year," Clare explained.
"We have no idea if this policeman was her father or whether her mother got pregnant whilst in London. We do know they used to go dancing at Marian Hall in Birr. All this was in 1938 and I know it is a long time ago, but maybe someone knows something on how to track the policeman?"
Clare has been tracing her Offaly roots for a long time and has already been able to find her grandmother. Clare's own mum was reunited with her siblings after contact made with St Brendan's Parish Church.
Clare's grandmother was called Elizabeth Ann Kelly, born on September 4, 1915.
If you think you have any information that could be helpful, contact justin.kelly@iconicnews.ie.
A makeshift noose was found hanging from a tree at the Sonoma Raceway in California and officials said they are investigating the incident.
Raceway President Steve Page said a 'piece of twine tied in what appeared to be a noose' was found hanging from a tree Saturday behind a former administrative office, news outlets reported.
Page said the incident was under investigation by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department, and the raceway is reportedly reviewing surveillance.
He also said he has asked staff and on-site business tenants to share any information or 'any possible alternative explanation.'
The noose was reportedly found before another was found in the garage of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace on Sunday ahead of a race in Alabama at the Talladega Superspeedway.
Wallace, the only full-time Black driver on the NASCAR circuit, has been instrumental in pushing for a ban on the Confederate flag being flown at races, which the organisation has now implemented.
Pictured: A makeshift noose that was found handing from a treet outside the Sonoma Raceway, a day before a noose was found in the garage of of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace on Sunday ahead of a race in Alabama at the Talladega Superspeedway
The Sonoma Raceway in California, pictured in 2014, where a noose was found hanging from a tree on Saturday
Page said in a statement: 'On Saturday, a Sonoma Raceway staff member discovered a piece of twine tied in what appeared to be a noose hanging from a tree on raceway property.
'Our staff, on-site business tenants and local law enforcement have been contacted and asked to share any information they may have.
'The incident is under investigation by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department. Sonoma Raceway takes this incident very seriously and is dedicated to operating a facility that is welcoming to everyone,' he concluded.
The Sonoma Raceway has hosted NASCAR Cup races from 1989 to 2019, but was closed over the weekend due the coronavirus pandemic, with this year's race being moved to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
'I can't imagine it's anyone that works here at the track. I think it's someone who is pissed off at NASCAR. This is a NASCAR track,' said Tom Fallon, Sonoma Raceway tenant, to NBC Bay Area.
Driver Bubba Wallace, right, is overcome with emotion as he and team owner Richard Petty walk to his car in the pits of the Talladega Superspeedway prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Talladega Superspeedway
NASCAR announced the discovery of the noose in Wallace's garage late on Sunday and said it had launched an immediate investigation, adding it will do everything possible to find who was responsible and 'eliminate them from the sport.'
'We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act,' NASCAR said in a statement.
'As we have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR, and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.'
On Twitter, Wallace said the 'the despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism.'
'As my mother told me today, "They are just trying to scare you",' he wrote. 'This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.'
NASCAR has banned the Confederate flag from being displayed at its events but supporters of the symbol still managed display it at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday
The noose was discovered on the same day NASCAR's fledgling Confederate flag ban faced its biggest challenge.
The ban took effect before last week's race near Miami, but there were only about 1,000 military members admitted into that race.
At Talladega, in the heart of the South, as many as 5,000 fans were allowed in, even though rain postponed the race until Monday.
A plane protesting NASCAR's ban on the Confederate flag flew over Talladega Superspeedway just hours before fans returned to the track.
Images of the aircraft flying the banned symbol were shared widely on social media. Inside the track the ban seems to have been so far observed.
The plane pulled a message which read: 'Defund NASCAR', a reference to protesters pushing to 'defund the police' over the death of George Floyd and other black Americans killed by law enforcement.
On-the-ground protests also saw a caravan of cars fly them up to the track's entrance. Footage shared online showed dozens of vehicles protesting the ban and vehicles lined the boulevard outside the speedway waving the flag.
NASCAR officially banned the Confederate flag from its racetracks on June 10. It had said five years ago it would no longer allow fans to display the Confederate flag at events but never enforced the ban.
Now, in response to Wallace's call for the flag to be disallowed, series leaders say they are serious about enforcement.
NASCAR has not stated how exactly it plans to stop fans from displaying the flag on track property and none of the instances on Sunday at Talladega were inside the stadium.
NASCAR drivers push the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, driven by Bubba Wallace, to the front of the grid as a sign of solidarity with the driver prior to the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
In a show of solidarity, all 39 drivers rallied around Wallace at the race in Alabama on Sunday, with dozens of drivers pushing the No. 43 car belonging to Wallace to the front of the field.
'I'm proud to stand where I'm at... This sport is changing,' an emotional Wallace said after the race.
'The deal that happened (Saturday) I wanted to show whoever it was, you are not going to take away my smile. I am going to keep on going.'
As fans cheered Wallace from the stands, he appeared overwhelmed by the public show of support from the NASCAR community.
'The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to witness in my life,' he said.
It was a stirring move to support Wallace at a track in the heart of the South where Confederate flags have flown for decades and were seen outside the superspeedway all weekend long by fans opposed to NASCAR's ban.
Wallace is a native of Mobile, Alabama, which is a four-hour drive from Talladega.
Investigators speak with personnel in the garage area prior to the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday. A noose was found in the garage stall of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway a week after the organization banned the Confederate flag at its facilities
Standing alongside Wallace for the national anthem was Richard Petty, the 82-year-old Hall of Fame driver known as 'The King.'
Wallace drives for Petty, who issued a scathing rebuke after the noose was found that called for the 'sick person' to be expelled from NASCAR forever - a move NASCAR President Steve Phelps insisted would happen should they be caught.
Workers painted '#IStandWithBubbaWallace' on the infield grass before the race and Confederate flags were nowhere to be seen inside the sprawling facility that can hold 80,000-plus.
Hours after Sunday's race was postponed by rain, NASCAR said the noose had been found. The sanctioning body vowed to do everything possible to find who was responsible and 'eliminate them from the sport.' It has not offered other details.
The incident has rocked NASCAR, which returned to racing just last month because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (pictured with the state seal, which includes the Confederate flag) said she was 'shocked and appalled' by the 'vile act' against Wallace, an Alabama native
The stock car series, founded in the South more than 70 years ago, has tried to distance itself from the confederate flag for years at the risk of alienating a core group of its fan base.
Despite this, it went ahead with the ban as the nation grapples with social unrest largely tied to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police.
Two weeks ago, Wallace successfully pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its venues, though the sanctioning body has not outlined plans on how it will enforce the restriction.
Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday's scheduled race, while a plane flew above the track pulling a banner of the flag that read 'Defund NASCAR.'
Smaller numbers of Black Lives Matters supporters were seen lining the streets and waving the American flag. One demonstrator held a sign that read 'Not My South.'
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said she was 'shocked and appalled' by the 'vile act' against Wallace, an Alabama native.
'There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state,' Ivey said.
'Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamians, I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state.'
Two weeks ago, Wallace successfully pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its venues, though the sanctioning body has not outlined plans on how it will enforce the restriction. Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday's race, while a plane flew above the track pulling a banner of the flag that read 'Defund NASCAR'
While the Confederate flag remains a symbol of southern pride to some, its history is inextricably linked with slavery and the racist motivations behind the secession of the southern states in 1860.
In the stands, fan Luke Johnson said he is against the flag ban, saying: 'All the NASCAR tracks need to keep on flying them.'
As for the noose left for Wallace, he said: 'I thought it was funny myself.'
Another fan, Robert Chaisson, said he didn't have a strong opinion on the ban. He certainly did on what happened to Wallace.
'That was messed up. I hope they charge that guy with a hate crime,' said Chaisson, who lives in Alabaster, Alabama.
'It doesn't matter what your opinion is, it's when you cross that line, then your opinion no longer matters. That's trying to inflict harm on someone else.'
The BJP on Tuesday accused the Congress of deriving "sadistic pleasure" by "showing" that India has lost land to China in the ongoing military standoff in Ladakh and asserted that not an inch of Indian territory has been seized by the neighbouring country during the current crisis.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit out at Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, alleging that they are "conspiring" to lower the India Army's morale, as he took exception to the Congress Working Committee meeting and its criticism of the Modi government on a day the Army chief was visiting Ladakh.
Everyday, Congress leaders keep saying that India is not performing well, India is losing, Indian Army has surrendered, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is weak and has surrendered, Patra alleged.
The Congress has surrendered its shame to China, he added.
"The Congress is deriving sadistic pleasure," he said, adding that the Congress should not use misfortunes like COVID-19 or the standoff with China, falling on our country as a "launch pad" for the falling career of its "clown prince", Patra said, in a reference to Rahul.
Rahul has been attacking Modi over the border standoff, alleging that China has captured Indian territory.
He recently taunted the prime minister by calling him "Surender Modi", seen as a play on the word "surrender".
The prime minister has asserted India has not lost its territory to China during the current standoff.
The Congress president on Tuesday said the current border crisis is attributable to the "mismanagement" of the BJP-led government and the "wrong policies" pursued by it.
"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 said.
As the rain let up Monday evening, Mekhis family joined in a small vigil near the Central Green Line stop in Chicagos Austin neighborhood. They held posters with photos of the little boy. In one that said Happy first birthday, Mekhi appeared in a bright yellow shirt; in another he smiled behind a gingerbread house.
A former police officer who contacted prostitutes using the Police National Computer before meeting them for sex has been jailed.
Christopher Taylor, 36, from Rochdale, who contacted three known sex workers and met one of them for sex on two occasions, was suspended in 2019 following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Anti-Corruption Unit.
Today the former GMP officer, was jailed for eight months at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of misconduct in public office, and unauthorised access to the police computer.
The court heard how Taylor carried out more than 700 searches on the force's computer system to gather information about family, friends, police officers, organised crime groups and sex workers between June 2017 and March 2019.
Christopher Taylor (pictured), 36, from Rochdale, who worked with the Tactical Firearms Unit for Greater Manchester Police, contacted three known sex workers while on duty
Appearing in court today, Taylor, who worked with the Tactical Firearms Unit, pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of breaching section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: 'An ex-police officer has been jailed after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office.
'PC Christopher Taylor was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court earlier today to eight months in prison.
'He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of breaching section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
'An investigation by GMP's Anti-Corruption Unit found that between March 2018 and March 2019, PC Taylor contacted three known sex-workers on a number of occasions whilst he was on duty.
'On two occasions, Taylor also met one of the women for sex whilst off duty. The court also heard that he met other sex workers and used their services.
'The investigation also found that PC Taylor had carried out over 700 unauthorised searches of secure information held on GMP systems between June 2017 and March 2019.
'The searches included information regarding family and friends, other police officers, organised crime group members and individuals believed to be sex-workers.
Appearing in Liverpool Crown Court today, Taylor pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of breaching section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990
'Taylor has been suspended from duty since his crimes first came to light in March 2019.'
Detective Chief Superintendent Jon Chadwick, Head of GMP's Professional Standards Branch, said: 'PC Chris Taylor's behaviour fell well below the standard rightly expected of a police officer by the public.
'He showed a blatant disregard for his role as a police officer and abused the powers afforded to him, effectively betraying the trust of the public and his fellow officers in the process.
'We take offences such as this incredibly seriously so once his offending came to light he was quickly suspended from duty and his access to any restricted information removed.
'The severity of his misconduct is reflected in the sentence passed today and I hope it will serve as a stark reminder of the consequences people will face if they abuse their position for their own gain.'
According to the the BBC while sentencing Taylor today, Judge David Aubrey QC said: 'You crossed the boundaries of your duties as a police officer and did so knowingly.
'You were accessing the computer for your own interest, including your own sexual interest and gratification. It had become an addiction and an obsession.'
After serving 2 years of 10-year sentence for sexual assault, The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to review two aspects of the case the comedians lawyers challenged on appeal.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal requested by Bill Cosby concerning his being convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. Sentenced to 3 to 10 years in state prison, he has already served two years.
Cosbys spokesman Andrew Wyatt lauded the decision by the states highest court. He said the 82-year-old comedian was extremely thankful the Supreme Court will look at the false conviction while calling out district attorneys and judges
Were extremely thankful to the State Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for agreeing to review Mr. Cosbys appeal. America and the world are witnessing the 23rd day of protests regarding the abuse and murder of Black people, not just at the hands of corrupt police officers. Still, these extremely vital and important protests are exposing the corruption that lies within the criminal justice system.
Wyatt continued, thanking the actors attorneys for their tenacious efforts in fighting for the vindication of Mr. Cosby. Then went on to say
As we have all stated, the false conviction of Bill Cosby is so much bigger than him its about the destruction of ALL Black people and people of color in America.
One of the aspects from Cosbys case the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to examine is the judges decision to let prosecutors call five other accusers as prior bad act witnesses. The women made allegations of previous uncharged misconduct involving sexual contact and claimed that Cosby sedated them with Quaaludes.
Cosbys lawyers laid out five issues in their petition to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to secure its willingness to agree to hear an appeal, including that the womens claims are unduly prejudicial and are not probative of the crimes for which he was on trial.
The Supreme Court also agreed to review Cosbys assertion that he had a deal with a former Montgomery County District Attorney that hed never be charged in the case.
Cosby has claimed an agreement was reached so he would testify in the trial accusers civil lawsuit, which was allowed at trial. Cosbys lawyers argue that by relying on that agreement, Cosbys Constitutional right against self-incrimination guaranteed to him and then later unfairly used against him.
The victim, Andrea Constand, sued Cosby and won a civil settlement in 2006. Last year, she settled a defamation lawsuit against a former Pennsylvania District Attorney. The latter didnt prosecute Cosby in 2005 after she said the entertainer sexually assaulted her at his home outside Philadelphia.
There is no indication that Cosby will be released from prison while the appeal is pending. Theres also no guarantee that he will prevail in his appeal. There is little doubt that Cosby made a habit of drugging women and raping them for decades. The issue has always been one of he said, she said because of the time it took for his finally be indicted.
Bill Cosby Tries To Appeal Sexual Assault Conviction
Federal prosecutors in New York announced the arrest of a US Army solider charged with planning a "murderous ambush" against his own unit with help from neo-Nazi occultists as part of a "hate-fuelled" terror attack.
The 22-year-old Army private who is alleged to have sent sensitive information about his unit to violent racists in the Order of the Nine Angles admitted his role in plotting the attack and "described his conduct as tantamount to treason," according to prosecutors.
"Ethan Melzer, a private in the US Army, was the enemy within," said acting US attorney Audrey Strauss, who replaced outgoing US attorney Geoffrey Berman following his resignation under pressure from Donald Trump's administration. The indictment marks her first announcement since taking the role.
Mr Melzer is charged with conspiring and attempting to murder as well as providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, among other charges. He faces life in prison, if convicted.
He joined the US Army in 2018 and was involved with the Order in 2019, according to prosecutors. The UK-based Order, which lionises Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich as well as Osama Bin Laden, promotes violence to usher in a "Satanic empire" through the destruction of western society, according to antifascist advocacy group Hope Not Hate.
Mr Melzer "consumed propaganda from multiple extremist groups" including Isis, coordinated with Order members through encrypted messaging apps, and planned a "jihadi attack" to cause a "mass casualty" event while describing his "willingness to die", prosecutors said.
"Who gives a f***," he wrote in messages to Order members, according to a federal indictment. "It would be another war ... I would've died successfully ... Another 10-year war in the Middle East would definitely leave a mark."
In May, he sent messages to a suspected member of al Qaeda, and described deployment information including travel, size, locations and surveillance and defences, prosecutors said. The alleged plot was discovered later that month and he was arrested on 10 June.
Mr Melzer was influence by a "diabolical cocktail of ideologies laced with hate and violence," Assistant Attorney General John C Demers said in a statement.
Organisations studying the movements of extremist hate groups have linked the Order to other neo-Nazi groups like the Base and Atomwaffen, whose members have also been targeted by federal prosecutors.
NEW YORK - Dozens of former prosecutors are questioning the governments handling of a case against two lawyers hit with charges that could put them in prison for nearly 50 years for torching an empty New York City police vehicle last month.
Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman, a pair of young Brooklyn attorneys, face federal counts that would carry at least 45 years in prison if they are convicted of all counts, including conspiracy.
No one was injured in the attack, which came amid an eruption of demonstrations following the death of George Floyd.
A magistrate judge had freed the lawyers on bail, but they were detained again after federal prosecutors in Brooklyn appealed the decision. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday.
Fifty-six former federal prosecutors urged the court in a written brief to reject the governments efforts to keep the attorneys behind bars as they await trial, calling it contrary both to the law and to our collective decades of experience.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Brooklyn defended their request to keep the lawyers jailed pending trial, saying they violated their oaths and crossed a sacred line by targeting the police.
These were lawyers, in particular, who had every reason to know what they were doing was wrong, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kessler told a federal appeals court Tuesday. Committing these crimes required essentially a fundamental change in mindset.
The appellate panel did not rule on whether to release the lawyers on bail but expressed horror at the firebombing, with one judge calling the whole case unimaginable.
Several former prosecutors not involved with the case told The Associated Press the prosecution appeared to be based more on politics than public safety.
The government seems to be trying to do everything it can to punish people charged in these protests as harshly as possible, and theyre going way overboard here, said Duncan Levin, a former prosecutor who worked for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Brooklyn.
This case should have been charged in state court, he added. This seems more than anything like scare tactics and trumped-up charges by the federal government.
Lucy Lang, a former assistant district attorney in Manhattan, called the mandatory prison sentences extreme and a relic of a bygone era of draconian policies that have hurt families and communities for decades.
Amid clashes between police and protesters on May 30, surveillance cameras recorded Rahman, a 31-year-old human rights lawyer, hurling what prosecutors described as a Molotov cocktail into a police vehicle, setting fire to its console.
Officers arrested the lawyers a short time later and said they found a lighter, a Bud Light beer bottle filled with toilet paper and a gasoline tank in the back of a minivan driven by Mattis, a 32-year-old corporate attorney. Prosecutors allege the lawyers planned to distribute and throw other Molotov cocktails.
The U.S. Attorneys Office in Brooklyn indicted another woman in a separate firebombing that targeted four New York City police officers the same night. Prosecutors also later charged a homeless man in a third arson involving an NYPD vehicle, but then released him after concluding they had arrested the wrong person.
Those who carry out attacks on NYPD officers or vehicles are not protesters, U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said in a statement. They are criminals and they will be treated as such.
Defence attorney Paul Schechtman, who represents Rahman, said the attorneys got caught up in the passion of the demonstration but still had enough sense about them to pick their target so that no one would be harmed.
Quoting a phrase often attributed to Robert Morgenthau, the former longtime Manhattan district attorney, Schechtman said the young attorneys were at worst guilty of stupidity in the first degree.
It is one night where really fine people lost their way, Schechtman said. One can lose ones sense in a moment or even in an hour on an evening like this.
Number of convicted teenagers reduces in Russia more than triple in 10 years
flickr.com/ Monica Arellano-Ongpin
11:06 23/06/2020
MOSCOW, June 23 (RAPSI) In the last decade the number of Russian teenagers convicted of committing crimes has downed by more than three times, according to the statistics published on the website of the Supreme Courts Justice Department.
According to the forensic statistics, over 56,000 minors aged from 14 to 17 were convicted in 2009 while in 2019 sentences were passed on 16,858 teens.
However, the number of convicts in the age of 14-15 reduced nearly fourfold during this 10-year period, from 21,600 to 5,400 persons.
There is also a drastic reduction of minors, who have committed crimes in a drunken state, from about 11,600 in 2009 to nearly 2,000 in 2019.
On the dust jacket of the Spanish edition of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's monumental final novel, "The Labyrinth of the Spirits," the Catalan master storyteller, stares into the distance, as if he's lost in thought, almost as if stopping to pose is an inconvenience, a waste of precious time.
His eyebrows arch and his jaw clenches ever so slightly. It is the look of an artist who has exhaustively wrenched from his imagination every word he placed on the page, yet still might be thinking of a few final tweaks.
For those who knew him, though, the eye is drawn to Ruiz Zafon's left wrist, where he has strapped a heavy, impressive-looking watch that rests prominently near the center of the frame, just as he'd positioned other timepieces in previous portraits.
Ruiz Zafon - who died last week of cancer at the impossibly cruel early age of 55 - loved watches. He delighted in their precision, their complex interlocking parts, the ratchets and pinions and springs. His favorites were the ones with clear glass backs that he could study, tracking how the mechanisms lurched and spun, producing something that felt to him like a bit of magic.
Ruiz Zafon - the best-selling Spanish author since Cervantes and one of the most widely read writers in the world - conjured books with that same complicated structure, works that made sense only if you contemplated how the parts interacted with each other. His collection of four interrelated novels that culminated with "The Labyrinth of the Spirits" is often referred to as the The Cemetery of Forgotten Books "series." But in the long conversations we had over the past few years, Ruiz Zafon never used that word.
He preferred to call them a "cycle," for he wanted to invite readers to dip into them at any point, following the spinning of the gears around the watch face whether they started at 3 a.m. or noon.
"To me, the original plan was to create this big kind of labyrinth of stories," Ruiz Zafon told me one afternoon in 2018 shortly after his battle with cancer forced him to cancel a book tour marking the release of the English language edition of "The Labyrinth of the Spirits," which like all the books in the cycle was elegantly translated by Lucia Graves.
"The more you explore it, the more you got inside of it, you could see that everything was shifting - that the story you thought you were reading actually was changing before your eyes."
Ruiz Zafon situated his cycle of novels in Barcelona, the entrancing, mind-bending city where he was born. From his Los Angeles home, Ruiz Zafon could call up the tangled cityscape of Barcelona from memory. His was a Barcelona of mist and mystery. The ends of burning cigarettes flicker in the ghostly gloom of night in those dreary years after the Spanish Civil War. He propelled his characters through darkened walkways and slender streets - the names of which he rattles off by the dozens - in neighborhoods that the casual tourist might never think to visit.
I found myself recommending the book over and over to friends traveling to Spain who sought my suggestions, knowing I was born there. It opened their eyes to a Barcelona they would have missed if they'd only hit the beach and joined the hordes at La Sagrada Familia, the phantasmagoric cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudi.
"When we reached Calle Arco de Teatro," says Daniel Sempere - the earnest protagonist of "The Shadow of the Wind," the first and best-loved book of his cycle - "we continued through its arch to the Raval Quarter, entering a vault of blue haze. I followed my father through that narrow lane, more of a scar than a street, until the gleam of Las Ramblas faded behind us."
Ruiz Zafon liked to say that he wasn't into the social whirl - that he wasn't a big talker. But, in one-on-one conversation, the words could come gushing out in bursts. He was a tall, lumbering man with enormous hands that paired well with his hefty watches, an owlish mien, and a dense circle beard. He looked older than his real age, perhaps because he'd packed so much into his too-short life, working first as a handsomely paid adman, then writing young adult fiction before turning to his most enduring work, the Cemetery of Forgotten Books cycle.
He will surely always be associated with Barcelona. But he wasn't writing travelogues. It was the characters whom he placed in its winding corridors - the bookseller with a monocle, the menacing Franquista thug, the verbose ne'er-do-well, the vanishing novelists - and the alchemy of his storytelling, that elevated his work, including the middle books in his cycle, "The Angel's Game" and "The Prisoner of Heaven."
He combined elements of gothic novels - all flickering candles, creaky mansions and advancing shadows - with a coming-of-age story, noirish mysteries, meditations on the legacy of the brutal dictatorship of Generalissimo Francisco Franco and the fallibility of memory. The sprawling novels encompassed everything, so they spoke to everyone.
For all their cinematic qualities, Ruiz Zafon had steadfastly resisted any attempts to adapt his books into movies. He told me over lunch at a Washington restaurant in 2016 that he planned to put a clause in his will to ensure his wishes would be enforced even after he was gone.
Readers, he said, have "already seen the film in the theater of their mind in exactly the condition I want them to experience it in."
Ruiz Zafon often turned to the piano, composing musical pieces for many of his characters, a process that he felt allowed him to understand them better.
In Sempere, Ruiz Zafon poignantly brought to life a boy who could no longer remember the face of his dead mother. It is through Sempere's 10-year-old eyes that we first behold the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a labyrinth of bookshelves that "rose from base to pinnacle like a beehive."
His visit to that secret redoubt sets in motion a quest for answers that unveils a dark past. Just as Sempere guides us through a gritty Barcelona of bygone days, his son, Julian, nudges us to reckon with what Barcelona has become.
"I learned to rediscover the city," Julian muses to himself. "The world I once imagined I could remember now lay dismantled. It had become a stage set, perfumed and carpeted for tourists."
Ruiz Zafon was not wistful when he finally closed his cycle, having tinkered with even minute details until the music of the words matched the music in his head. He'd once thought he'd write a single gargantuan book, a 2,000-page behemoth, but cracking the story into four parts made the most sense to him.
"It would have been a monstrosity," he told me, his thinning voice rising an octave and striking a note of whimsy. "People would have died underneath it if it fell off the shelf."
(He skipped over the fact that the original Spanish-language edition of "The Labyrinth of the Spirits," published in 2016, might be, at the very least, capable of causing injury, clocking in at 925 pages.)
During the conversation, the tone of his voice eventually shifted. He became reflective and searched for the right phrasing to explain why the end wasn't really the end. Not for Daniel Sempere, or the impish Fermin Romero de Torres, or the elusive literary genius Julian Carax, or the morally conflicted Secret Police investigator, Alicia Gris.
In their final renderings, Ruiz Zafon told their stories with chapter titles drawn from the sections of the Catholic Requiem Mass. But, in his mind, he didn't bury them.
"It's not like they're going away," Ruiz Zafon told me. "To me, they live inside my head. To me, the door was never closed."
2020 Toyota GR Supra Reborn - Review By Larry Nutson
BINGE:
Toyota Supra Content
2020 Toyota GR Supra
Reborn
By Larry Nutson
Executive Editor and Bureau Chief
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel
The Specialty Equipment Market Association Show, better known as SEMA, has just wrapped up. Toyota showed its performance hand with a display of a dozen different 2020 GR Supras ranging from the mild to the wild.
The first entirely new Supra in 21 years has hit the streets and also the track. I drove some Supra-laps around the Autobahn Country Club north course at the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) Fall Rally. Following that I had a long weekend with the new Supra driving the streets and highways in my Chicago neighborhood.
The new 2020 GR Supra was developed in partnership with BMW and shares the same architecture at the BMW Z4 Roadster. GAZOO Racing (GR) did the engineering, a first for Toyota. The GR Supra has a unique coupe body style. Toyota offered a glimpse of the new Supras design theme in 2014 with the dramatic FT-1 concept car that emerged from Toyotas Calty design center in California. Supras exterior design was inspired by the FT-1s expressive form.
Supra is powered by BMWs 3.0-L turbocharged straight-six pumping out 335-horsepower. With 365 lb.ft. of torque the big six gets the Supra going. Power to the rear wheels is delivered through an 8-speed automatic. A manual transmission is not available.
Active rear sport differential, active exhaust, shift paddles, launch control, and adaptive variable sport suspension allows the Supra to be driven hard. Adding to this are 19-inch wheels, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, staggered 255/35 front and 275/35 rear, and Brembo 4-piston brakes with 13.7-in. front rotors.
This fifth-generation Supra is a drivers car and delivers a very connected feeling. Relaxed steering input and keeping the rear end under control delivers the most from the Supra. On the street the Supra's chassis setup is nicely compliant making for a comfortable ride.
Toyota estimates 0-60 mph acceleration in 4.1 seconds, the quickest Toyota ever. Top track speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
Low fuel consumption was not high on the priority list in the Supras development. That said, EPA test cycle fuel economy estimates are half-way decent at 26 mpg combined with 24 city mpg and 31 highway mpg. Note that premium gas is required.
Normal and Sport driving modes can be selected. Sport Mode sharpens throttle response, increases steering weight, improves transmission shift crispness, has more aggressive active differential tuning and amplifying exhaust sound. Around the streets the sport mode delivers a nice exhaust pop on gear changes to keep things fun and interesting.
The sport seats hold you nicely in place and provide a good driving position. Thanks to the low dash theres good visibility. The interior is comfortable once you are in. The low roof makes for a tight entry and exit. However, the double-bubble roof design does make for good headroom, even for a 6ft 4in tall colleague of mine.
The GR Supra comes in 3.0 and 3.0 Premium models priced at $49,990 and $53,990, respectively. A uniquely numbered production run of 1,500 Supra Launch Edition models are priced at $55,250.
A $1,195 Driver Assist package adds active cruise control, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert and parking sensors with brake.
Standard on all Supras are forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assist and automatic high beams.
The Supra Launch Edition will be available in Absolute Zero White, Nocturnal Black or Renaissance Red 2.0, each featuring high-contrast red mirror caps and 19-inch forged matte black alloy wheels. The white and black Supra Launch Editions have a red leather interior. The red Supra Launch Edition gets a black leather interior.
The 3.0 has a 6.5-inch display with Bluetooth and iPod capability, as well as Alcantara seats. Navigation and JBL Audio are available as an option for $2,460. The 3.0 Premium features an upgraded 8.8-inch wide-format touchscreen display with Navigation, Supra Connect telematics services, Apple CarPlay, a premium 12-speaker JBL audio system, wireless phone charging and a color Head-Up Display plus leather seats.
Under the large rear hatch is about 10 cu.ft. of cargo space. Enough to carry luggage for two for a weekend getaway.
Check out additional details on the new GR Supra at www.toyota.com. Every new Supra comes with a 1-year membership in the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) which includes one free high performance driving experience.
The new Supra is assembled in Graz, Austria by Magna Steyr in joint venture with BMW alongside the BMW Z4.
If two seats and a fixed roof are on your list, I recommend a test drive in the new Supra.
2019 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7. 9% from 2020 to 2027. The growth of the marketin this region is primarily attributed to the escalating demand for bioreactors and rising number of market players focusing on expanding their business in different countries, rapidly growing biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and increasing adoption of single-use bioreactors.
New York, June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Asia Pacific Bioreactors Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis By Cell ; Molecule ; Technology ; End User and Country" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05915396/?utm_source=GNW
However, stringent regulatory framework is the major factor hindering the market growth in Asia Pacific. Additionally, technological advancements in bioreactors and rising demand of personalized medicinesare the factors that are likely boost the growth of the bioreactorsmarketin this region during the forecast period.
A bioreactor is equipment or system engineered to provide biologically active environment for the production of various medical and pharmaceutical compounds.The vessel is used to carry out a chemical process, which involves organisms or biochemically active substances derived from such organisms.
This process can either be aerobic or anaerobic.Bioreactors are commonly cylindrical in shape, ranging in capacities from liters to cubic meters, and are generally made of stainless steel.
Bioreactors provide a controllable environment, in terms of pH, temperature, nutrient supply, and shear stress. These equipment are used in a variety of applications, such as production of biopharmaceuticals and tissue engineering products.
The biopharmaceutical industry is one of the most significant contributors to many economies.With the aging population and rising healthcare standards,the demand for pharmaceutical products has been escalating in Asia Pacific countries.
For instance, Autekbio, based in Beijing,is one of the few biopharmaceutical manufacturing organizations fully devoted to contract manufacturing of biologicals.TaiMed Biologics Ibalizumab, the FDA-designated orphan drug, is manufactured by contract pharmaceutical manufacturing WuXi PharmaTech.
With the increasing demand for drugs and pharmaceuticals, many companies are opting for advanced bioreactor-related specialized services offered by other pharmaceuticals and biotechnology companies; this enables them to speed up the development process and attain lower production costs.Apart from developed economies, emerging economies such as Brazil, China, and India have shown rapid growth in the research landscape.
Factors such as increasing approvals for biologics, growing pipeline of biosimilars, and elevating investments in research activities are prime factors facilitating the growth of the bioreactor industry in this region. Moreover, increasing approvals in gene and cell therapies are favoring the growth of the market. The approved gene therapies are Glybera-used to treat Lipoprotein Lipase Deficiency, and Strimvelis- treating ADA-Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has badly affected the transportation infrastructure in Asia Pacific, resulting in disruptions in supply chains and shortage of healthcare facilities in low-income countries.To prevent the spread of disease, restrictive measures have been taken in South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and India.
The COVID-19 outbreak is expected to have short- and long-term impact on the region,which is potentially projected to have negative impact on growth of the bioreactors market in the region.
In 2019, the mammalian cells segment accounted for the largest share of the Asia Pacific bioreactors market.However, the yeast cells segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
Yeasts are cost-effective, fast-growing, and technically feasible and can be used for high-density cell cultures in bioreactors. Moreover rapid growth rate, easy genetic manipulation, complete genome sequence knowledge, cost-effective growth medium requirements, and post-translational modifications flexibility make yeasts perfect hosts for recombinant protein expression.
A few of the significant secondary sources referred to while preparing the report on the Asia Pacific bioreactors marketreport includethe World Health Organization (WHO) andMedical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05915396/?utm_source=GNW
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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.
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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001
Clarification: An earlier version of this story did not adequately explain that when the city of Vallejo reduced police funding it did not provide additional funding to social services agencies, as many current defund the police proposals advocate. The story has been revised to add that information.
Twelve years ago, officials in Vallejo, Calif., reluctantly took a step that activists are now urging in cities across the country: They defunded their police department.
Unable to pay its bills after the 2008 financial crisis, Vallejo filed for bankruptcy and cut its police force nearly in half - to fewer than 80 officers, from a pre-recession high of more than 150. At the time, the working-class city of 122,000 north of San Francisco struggled with high rates of violent crime and simmering mistrust of its police department. It didn't seem like things could get much worse.
And then they did. Far from ushering in a new era of harmony between police and the people they are sworn to protect, the budget cuts worsened tensions between the department and the community and were followed by a dramatic surge in officers' use of deadly force. Since 2009 the police have killed 20 people, an extraordinarily high number for such a small city. In 2012 alone, officers fatally shot six suspects. Nearly a third of the city's homicides that year were committed by law enforcement.
Vallejo's experience offers a glimpse of what a reduced police presence on America's streets could mean as defunding continues to gain traction. In the wake of national protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, city officials from New York to Los Angeles are talking seriously about far-reaching cuts to their police forces.
Those who support such an approach say that the current model of policing is irrevocably broken and that millions or billions of dollars should be moved from police budgets to social services. That did not happen in Vallejo, which departed from many current prescriptions for reform in a fundamental way: As the city went broke, there was no effort to shift money from its diminished police department to other agencies and programs, which likewise faced cuts.
Nevertheless, some Vallejo residents and public officials who have seen the reality of a dramatically smaller police department view the current calls to slash law enforcement budgets with caution. Beyond consequences such as decreased responsiveness to burglaries, car thefts and other lower-priority offenses, this city has learned the hard way that a smaller police force is not necessarily a less deadly one.
Dante R. Quick, pastor at Vallejo's Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and a lead organizer of the city's protests after the death of Floyd, said he worries that some of his fellow activists have too simplistic an understanding of what police reform entails.
"Our police department is woefully 'defunded' - which has led to overworked, underpaid and therefore underqualified police officers," Quick said. "Do I really want a man or woman who's worked 16 hours straight, with a gun in their hand, with state-sanctioned ability to take my life, who is tired - do I want that person authorized to police me? The answer to that is no."
Quick, who is African American, said that rather than further reducing his city's already stretched police force, he is advocating for a more diverse department, expanded efforts by officers to build bonds in the community, and greater scrutiny and accountability for cops who use deadly force.
"I've said it over and over again: Black people call the police," he said. "It's not about not wanting or needing the police. It's about knowing that if I call the police to my home, they won't shoot me. We want good policing."
Others question whether a smaller staff played a role in the woes of a police department that, by some accounts, already had a poisoned relationship with its city before the Great Recession.
The problems have been particularly acute among Vallejo's residents of color, who make up roughly 75% of the city but have long been served by a majority-white police force.
"Police brutality is not a new problem at all," said Melissa Nold, a civil rights lawyer who grew up in Vallejo and is representing multiple families suing the city over deadly police shootings.
She said what led to an uproar in her hometown was not an overworked department but the growing omnipresence of cellphones, which - along with officers' body cameras - have captured startling video footage "consistent with what the black community had been talking about for decades."
While there's no agreement on the exact causes of the city's police problems, few defend the status quo. And many agree on the urgency of change that goes beyond the size of the department.
Just this month, a new shooting intensified calls for reform. On June 2, Vallejo police responded to reports of looting at a Walgreens. One of the officers fired his gun through the windshield of his cruiser at 22-year-old Sean Monterrosa, saying he believed that Monterrosa had a gun. Monterrosa was killed. He was kneeling, officials have said, and had no gun. The object in his pocket was a hammer.
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Vallejo hugs the shore of San Pablo Bay, about an hour's drive northeast of San Francisco. But the city shares little in common with the Bay Area's wealthier suburbs.
The diverse community grew up around the once-bustling Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Today the city is almost evenly divided among white, black, Latino and Asian - mostly Filipino - residents. When the naval base closed in 1996, the local economy drifted. Vallejo was left out of the prosperity that washed over the San Francisco peninsula from the tech industry.
Another blow came in 2008. Like many cities in California, Vallejo offered generous pay and benefits for public employees, particularly police officers and firefighters. When the economy crashed, the city's decimated tax base forced it into bankruptcy. The police department, which accounted for much of Vallejo's spending, was put on the chopping block.
Mayor Bob Sampayan said the cuts were felt immediately.
"We were in triage mode," said Sampayan, himself a former police officer who retired in 2006. "We responded only to crimes in progress, and everything else was put on the back burner."
Lt. Michael Nichelini, president of the Vallejo Police Officers' Association, recalled watching as one division and program after another - traffic, narcotics, school resource officers, community policing - was cut so that the department could concentrate its remaining staff on patrol and investigations. Veteran officers fled, he said, and those who replaced them were often less-experienced cops willing to accept lower pay and rougher working conditions.
"It severely impacted our ability to provide not only top-notch police service but, I would say, even regular police service," Nichelini said. In a city with high rates of violent crime, he added, the smaller number of officers found themselves repeatedly confronting dangerous situations.
"If you have a guy who's in a shooting, or uses a baton, or whatever," Nichelini said, "that same officer is coming right back to work, because we don't have anybody else to take their place."
A recent review of the Vallejo Police Department by the OIR Group, an independent consultancy hired by the city, found "significant and far-reaching" effects from the staffing reductions that linger to this day. At a basic level, the consultants found, Vallejo simply has too few police officers to do the work asked of them. Today, the approximately 100 sworn officers average out to 0.8 per 1,000 residents, about half the national average and less than a sixth of the number in Washington.
The OIR Group found that mandated overtime caused by personnel shortages led to "burnout, discouragement, and a pervasive sense of being underappreciated by city officials as well as outsiders," and that working conditions fostered an " 'us against the world' mindset."
That attitude was evident in the increasing violence between police and residents. During the five-year period that ended in 2009, six people lost their lives in encounters with Vallejo police, according to Open Vallejo, a local journalism nonprofit that has extensively covered officers' use of force. Over the next five years, the number jumped to 13.
Police themselves were not spared from bloodshed. In 2011, Officer James Capoot was shot to death while running after a bank robbery suspect.
The extensive use of force - both lethal and nonlethal - by police soon became hard for city officials to ignore. In 2018 Vallejo decided to leave the insurance pool used by California municipalities rather than pay higher premiums to make up for its legal settlements, which were burning up a disproportionate share of the group's money.
"This is a problem that is not unrelated to the policing problems the entire country faces. But Vallejo is an outlier," said Brien Farrell, a Vallejo resident and former city attorney for Santa Rosa, Calif.
Farrell, who in his old job frequently scrutinized police-misconduct complaints and defended accused officers, said the extent of police violence against citizens in Vallejo has become a major financial liability as well as a moral outrage.
"My estimate is that there are 20 to 30 misconduct suits pending against Vallejo. That's an extraordinary number for a city of 120,000," Farrell said. "I am an expert at assessing the civil liabilities of police officers in these incidents. And the city has major exposure."
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Among those pursuing claims against the city are the relatives of Willie McCoy, a 20-year-old rapper shot to death last year in a Taco Bell parking lot by a group of police officers.
McCoy had apparently fallen asleep or passed out in the driver's seat of his car, in the restaurant's drive thru lane. Police called to the scene saw that he had a gun in his lap. The ensuing interaction was captured on body-camera footage later made public.
The officers surround McCoy's car, guns drawn on him at close range. When he begins to stir, they scream at him to raise his hands, then fire 55 rounds into the car. Police asserted that he was reaching for the gun in his lap, although his motions cannot be clearly seen in the video footage.
"If he had a bazooka on his lap, my brother was clearly shot awake," said Kori McCoy, Willie's brother. "We look at it as an execution."
Kori, a 49-year-old retired grocery clerk who lives in the nearby city of Hercules, has joined others in pushing for change at the Vallejo Police Department. His focus is not on defunding but greater accountability, through internal discipline and criminal prosecutions, for officers who kill.
Such accountability has so far eluded the McCoy family. An independent review commissioned by the city determined that Willie's shooting was justified.
"This is a supervision problem and a discipline problem," Kori McCoy said. "When these police officers go out here, they know that there's no repercussions. That's why they do it over and over again."
Alicia Saddler takes a dimmer view of the prospects for reform.
Her 21-year-old brother, Angel Ramos, was shot and killed by police after they were called to the family's home to break up a fight. The officer who shot him, who was later cleared by the department, asserted that he saw Ramos holding a knife. No weapon was found near the body.
"I think they should be completely abolished. They don't do nothing to help us at all," Saddler said. "We can police ourselves. It's been done before, and it can be done again."
She pointed to the Black Panther Party's armed citizen patrols during the 1960s as an example of how a community can keep itself safe without interference from law enforcement.
Saddler said she has watched the national groundswell for police reform after Floyd's death with mixed emotions. While she welcomes those joining the cause, she said, she is perplexed that it took so long.
She is particularly wary of some Vallejo city officials, who she said ignored her and other families of victims of police violence until the protests over Floyd's death made it politically impractical to continue doing so. Since Floyd's death, she said, "they want to be on board, they want to help, they're speaking out against the police. I guess it's great. It just would have been nice if they had done it years ago, then maybe my brother would be alive."
Sampayan, the mayor, acknowledged that city officials had not given residents' complaints the attention they deserved.
"We haven't listened for years," he said. "It isn't just the city of Vallejo. It's the entire nation. We have not listened. And for that I apologize."
Sampayan said he is willing to support overhauls of policing in Vallejo, including a more diverse department (the city recently hired its first African American police chief) and an auditor and police commission to review officers' use of force.
This month California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) also announced that the state Department of Justice would be working with the city to review and improve the practices of its police department.
But there is one reform at the top of the national agenda that Sampayan says he is not willing to consider: further cuts to the police. To restore the department's relationship with the community, the mayor said, he would ideally like to see double the current number of officers.
As elected officials cope with a budget battered by the coronavirus pandemic's effects on the economy, such an expansion is probably impossible. But more "defunding," Sampayan said, is out of the question.
"Our populace won't stand for that," he said.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. A New Jersey man who flew to Rhode Island to have sex with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl he had befriended online has been sentenced to almost four years in federal prison, prosecutors said.
Amish Jayant Patel, 47, of Swedesboro communicated online for nearly a month with a person he thought to be a 14-year-old ninth-grader, according to a statement Monday from the office of U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, Aaron Weisman.
The person he was actually communicating with was a Rhode Island State Police detective, authorities said.
Patel sent photographs of himself and sexually explicit images, then arranged to meet for sex in January, according to prosecutors.
According to court documents, Patel arrived at T.F. Green Airport and was followed by police to a liquor store where he purchased alcohol, and then to a location where he was expecting to meet the girl. He was arrested without incident.
He pleaded guilty in March to traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual activity.
Parametric catastrophe facility CCRIF paid the government of Guatemala approximately US$3.6 million under its excess rainfall (XSR) parametric insurance policy for nine days of rain that occurred during Tropical Storms Amanda and Cristobal.
The policy was triggered by rains that started on May 31. Storm Amanda, which originated in the Pacific Ocean, initially made landfall on Guatemalas Pacific coast on May 31, causing flooding and landslides. This tropical storm dissipated but the remnants reorganized on June 1 to become Tropical Storm Cristobal, the third storm in the Atlantic Basin a rare cross-over tropical cyclone with origins in the Pacific Basin.
Amanda and Cristobal led to more than a week of devastating rainfall across parts of Central America, said CCRIF in a statement.
CCRIFs payouts are made quickly within 14 days of an event which is possible because the insurance policies are parametric as opposed to indemnity or traditional insurance.
Parametric insurance products are insurance contracts that make payments based on the intensity of an event (for example, hurricane wind speed, earthquake intensity, or volume of rainfall) and the amount of loss is calculated in a pre-agreed catastrophe model, explained CCRIF.
Therefore, payouts can be made quickly after a hazard event, as parametric insurance does not require an on-the-ground assessment of individual losses after an event before a payment can be made a process that can take months.
Guatemala became a member of CCRIF in 2019 and is receiving a payout within its first year of joining the facility. This payment is being made under Guatemalas policy for 2019/20. The new policy year started on June 1, 2020, for which Guatemala has renewed its excess rainfall coverage.
CCRIF currently has 22 member governments three of which are from Central America Nicaragua, Panama, and Guatemala. Since its inception in 2007, CCRIF has made a total of 43 payouts for 21 events (earthquakes, tropical cyclones, and excess rainfall events) to 14 member governments totaling US$155.8 million.
In the 2019/20 policy year, CCRIF made five payouts as follows:
Two payouts to The Bahamas totalling US$12.8 million following Hurricane Dorian, which battered the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama in September 2019;
One payout to Trinidad and Tobago totaling US$362,982 for its excess rainfall policy, which was triggered due to rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Karen in October 2019;
One payout to Belize totaling US$203,136, also due to rains from Amanda and Cristobal;
The current payout to Guatemala.
About CCRIF SPC
CCRIF was formed in 2007 as the worlds rst multi-country risk pool. Developed under the leadership of the World Bank with a grant from Japan, it was capitalized through contributions to a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) by Canada, the European Union, the World Bank, the governments of the UK and France, the Caribbean Development Bank and the governments of Ireland and Bermuda, as well as through membership fees paid by participating governments. In 2014, the facility was restructured into a segregated portfolio company (SPC) to facilitate new products and expansion into new geographic areas. It is now named CCRIF SPC and is based in the Cayman Islands.
Source: CCRIF SPC
Topics Catastrophe USA
"Bihar government is trying to put the onus on Centre. They are writing to MEA after Monsoon has arrived. The entire northern part of the state is in danger of getting flooded," said RJD's Tejashwi Yadav on Bihar Minister to approach MEA after Nepal obstructed Bihar government from flood prevention-related work."What was this double engine government doing from past so many days? I guarantee the upcoming situation will be dreadful, such a situation has been created that chances are there, Bihar and North-Bihar will be flooded. Why is their government called a double engine government? They are writing letters to each-other; PM never comes here after floods," said Yadav.He continued saying that no relief fund is provided if flood situation arises here."What has Nitish Kumar-led government done in the last 15 years? They are waking up right now. This is a failure of his government. This matter could have been resolved but they did not do anything. Planning has to be done on a prior basis," said Yadav."Nepal and Bihar share a very old relationship. What must have happened that Nepal is behaving in such a manner all of a sudden? What initiative did Bihar government take about the development work?" he questioned.In an apparent provocative move, Nepal has stopped all repair work of river embankments in Bihar on the India-Nepal border, by erecting barriers and effectively putting a stop to work done by India to prevent flooding of its low-lying areas, the Bihar government has alleged.This comes at a time when tensions between Kathmandu and New Delhi have escalated over a new map in which the neighbouring country has staked claim over some Indian territories. Bihar, which shares over 700 kilometre-long international border with Nepal, can be severely affected by floods due to Nepal's action during the forthcoming rainy season as water from rivers coming from Nepal can overflow and wipe out entire villages.Water Resources Minister in the Bihar government, Jha on Monday said his government will approach the MEA and apprise them of the threat posed by the situation."The Gandak barrage in Valmiki Nagar has 36 gates and 18 of those are on Nepal side. They have installed barriers there, which has never happened before. Yesterday also over 1.5 lakh cusecs water was released from the barrage. If the flood-fighting materials and our officers cannot go there, then, in that case, there will be a grave danger," Jha told ANI here.Similarly, Nepal has obstructed repair work on the embankment on Lalbakeya river, in East Champaran district in Bihar, where there is no man's land and the dam is present for 20 years.Bihar had constructed the embankment over the river and had been carrying out fortification work every year ahead of the monsoon. According to the Minister they have never faced such objections from Nepal."Repair work used to take place without any problem till last year. This time they are not letting it happen. In Madhubani's Jaynagar upstream on Kamala river too they are not letting us conduct repairs," the JDU leader added.The Minister said that it is for the first time that such behaviour is being observed from Nepal authorities."This is the first time we are noticing this trend. The Bihar government is the one which does all the repair work on that side and it is the first time that we are facing difficulties in sending material and officers," he said.The Minister also said that the local engineers and District Magistrates (DMs) are holding talks with the administration on the other side to resolve the issue. He also added that he will take up the matter with higher authorities."I will write a letter immediately to the MEA to make them aware of this issue. If this is not resolved soon then a major part of Bihar will get flooded during the rainy season," Jha said. (ANI)
Referring to continued suppression of freedom of expression in the Islamic Republic, more than 300 Iranian writers, artists, academics, civil society activists, and journalists have warned that blocking all sorts of criticism and questioning the regime's performance will lead to a "social collapse".
Given the inefficiency and corruption of the political system in Iran, a total social collapse would be inevitable, the statement says, adding, "blocking any sort of criticism, and disregarding the right to question under the pretext of maintaining "national security" is inadmissible.
Noureddine Zarrin Kelk (veteran artist and animator), Ali Babachahi (poet), Alireza Rajaei (pro-reformists ideologist), Kamran Shirdel (acclaimed film director), and Alireza Abiz (poet) are among the signatories of the June 22 statement titled as "Warning on Censorship."
The Islamic Republic Judiciary, along with the intelligence services of the county, have frequently condemned many journalists, artists, writers, and other critics, accusing them of acting against national security.
The signatories to the statement have noted that "for more than a hundred years, the Iranian people have made great strides toward achieving civil liberties and, above all, toward freedom of expression.
"People of Iran have bravely suffered and sacrificed themselves to achieve that goal," the signatories to the statement have asserted, reiterating, "Freedom of expression and criticism are everyone's right."
Insisting that "censorship and besieging activists" in Iran "paves the way for corruption," the statement says, "surrendering to censorship makes corruption and anomalies dominant and pervasive."
The signatories have also stressed, "the notion that any criticism of the state structures is against national security has no scientific basis. Such interpretation is an epitome of censorship, and against freedom of expression."
Charges of "acting against national security" are vaguely set down in Articles 498 to 512 of the Islamic Penal Code
According to Article 498, "Anyone, with any ideology, who establishes or directs a group, society, or branch, inside or outside the country, with any name or title, that constitutes more than two individuals and aims to disturb the security of the countryshall be sentenced to two to ten years imprisonment." This does not include armed opposition whose fate can be sealed by execution.
However, political and civil activists in Iran have repeatedly stressed that Islamic Republic's interrogators and intelligence agencies force judges to issue verdicts compatible with their wishes.
Although the statement has not singled out any specific case, in recent months, several members of Iran's Writers Association have been imprisoned. Three journalists, including Khosrow Sadeqi Boroujeni, Kayvan Samimi, and Shahram Safari, have been sentenced to long terms in prison.
The arrests have expanded to the extent that even Adel Assakereh (a teacher in the remote city of Darkhovin), Ebrahim Shooriani (a social media activist in the city of Baneh) and Mohammad Reza Hayati (TV presenter) have also been summoned to courts.
AJT trainer jet is new design not upgraded IDF: test pilots
ROC Central News Agency
06/22/2020 06:23 PM
Taichung, June 22 (CNA) Taiwan's first indigenous advanced jet trainer (AJT), codenamed Brave Eagle, is a brand-new design not an upgraded version of the decades-old Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF), two test flight pilots told media Monday after completing the trainer's inaugural public flight in Taichung earlier in the day.
Although the jet looks similar to the IDF, which has been used by Taiwan's Air Force since 1992, 80 percent of the AJT's components are newly designed, including its exterior and pneumatics, said pilot Lu Chih-yuan ().
Echoing Lu's view, co-pilot Kuan Yen-nien () said the cockpit design of the AJT is also different from that of the IDF.
The cockpit of the two-seat AJT is similar to that of the F-16 fighter, which has an aft-seat 4K ultra HD HUD monitor, providing the back-seat co-pilot with a clear view of the front, according to Kuan.
The monitor can also display all the information a back seat pilot needs to know in order to fly the jet, even landing it if necessary, Kuan said.
Lu and Kuan made the remarks when asked to comment on the differences between the two aircraft, both designed and built by the government-funded Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC).
Earlier Monday, the two civilian pilots, both retired Air Force pilots, conducted the first public flight of the Brave Eagle, or "Yung Yin ()" with President Tsai Ing-wen () attending a ceremony held at Taichung's Ching Chuan Kang air base.
The Brave Eagle, serial number 11001, took off from the air base at 9:20 a.m. Monday, carried out a series of tests that included its ground run, high speed rolling take-off, airborne performance and final approach, before landing on 9:32 a.m.
AIDC President Ma Wan-june () told reporters that, including Monday's event, the company has conducted four rounds of test flights for the new AJT since June 10 when the aircraft conducted its first test flight.
Civilian pilots will continue to conduct test flights over the next few months to collect data needed to calibrate the system and make improvements before the AIDC invites Air Force pilots to conduct test flights.
The company will only begin mass production of the AJT after the Air Force is satisfied with the test flight results and clears the AIDC to do so, Ma added.
The AJT project was initiated in 2017 to replace the military's decades-old AT-3 trainer aircraft and F-5E/F lead-in fighter trainer, with a prototype of the jet was first unveiled in September 2019.
According to the military, it will take delivery of a total of 66 AJTs by 2026 at a cost of NT$66.8 billion (US$2.23 billion) as part of the country's efforts to become more militarily self-reliant.
(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)
Enditem/AW
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Raja Krishnamoorthy, on Monday, emphasised on the need to revive economy and job creation, said he was "deeply disappointed by President Trump's misguided order."
US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on Monday (local time) expressed disappointment over the new restrictions on work visas, including H1-B visas used widely in the tech industry, and urged President Donald Trump to roll back the order to ensure a broader economy and more jobs that could combat the next phase of the pandemic and make way for economic recovery.
Im deeply disappointed by President Trumps misguided order to suspend these key work visa programs. I urge him to reverse this decision to help ensure our health care system and broader economy are ready to combat the next phase of this pandemic and to create the jobs we need for our economic recovery, Krishnamoorthi said in a statement following the announcement of new restrictions on work visas by the administration.
The H-1B program, in particular, plays a crucial role in addressing our dangerous shortage of health care professionals while also providing other key sectors of our economy with talent from around the world to not only fill jobs but create new ones. Suspending this program will only weaken our economy and our health care workforce at a time when they need to strengthen both is as clear as ever, the Congressman added.
Also read: Big jolt to Indian IT professionals, Trump suspends H1B visas till end of 2020
Also read: Slow down testing: Trump receives flak for Tulsa address
The White House, earlier in the day, announced that the restrictions were put in place to ensure American workers take first priority as the nation starts recovering from the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
President Trump is extending the pause on new immigrant visas through the end of the year to ensure we continue putting American workers first during our ongoing coronavirus recovery, the White House said in a release.
President Trump is building on this measure with an additional pause on several job-related non-immigrant visasH-1Bs, H-2Bs without a nexus to the food-supply chain, certain H-4s, as well as Ls and certain Jspreserving jobs for American citizens, it added.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Donna Shalala from Florida and Chellie Pingree from Minnesota also showed displeasure on the development, saying the executive order is yet another example of President Trump using the coronavirus pandemic to advance a hateful and extreme anti-immigrant agenda.
President Trump is now attacking American business and jeopardizing our economic recovery in service of xenophobia. America will be poorer and less competitive because of it, Shalala said on twitter retweeting New York Times article on the same.
A ban on student visas is not only contrary to Americas core values of supporting an open exchange of ideas and cultures, it also undermines educational opportunities for students and Maine schools which benefit from these international exchanges, Pingree tweeted.
Trump will sign an executive order suspending foreign work visas, barring hundreds of thousands of people from coming to work in the US. The move includes the H-1B program for high-skilled workers and several other categories.
The new policy is extending and expanding on Trumps April pause on issuing new green cards, which will continue beyond the initial 60-day period until the end of the year, according to a senior administration official.
The move would free up 525,000 jobs, making a dent in the high unemployment rate caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the official added.
Under these reforms, the H-1B program will prioritise those workers who are offered the highest wage, ensuring that the highest-skilled applicants are admitted, the White House said.
The development marks the latest efforts to bar the entry of immigrants to the country.
Also read: China creating wedge in US-Europe relations, undoing free world progress: Mike Pompeo
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An American biopharmaceutical company on Monday announced plans to start human trials to test the inhaled version of remdesivir.
Remdesivir is an antiviral drug used as an experimental therapeutic against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In a statement, Gilead said it received a green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to start the first phase of human trials for the inhalable remdesivir this week.
The study aims to make the drug accessible outside the hospital environment, where the antiviral drug is given intravenously.
The inhaled version will be given through a nebulizer, a device often used by asthma patients.
If successful, the inhaled formula could help make early treatment of the coronavirus possible with the use of portable nebulizers.
How effective is it?
Remdesivir interferes with the coronavirus ability to replicate.
The scientists hoped that with early intervention, more people infected with COVID-19 would not have to be hospitalized.
In other viruses, antiviral drugs are more effective when prescribed during the early stages of the disease.
Many studies showed that the same may be true for remdesivir.
While the drug received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA, its safety and effectivity are still being studied in multiple clinical trials, the New York Times reported.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that remdesivir was able to shorten a hospitalized patient's average recovery time by four days.
However, it did not affect the mortality rate.
While the drug may be less effective when given late in infection, early doses could help prevent the virus from developing severe symptoms.
Gilead Sciences expects to manufacture more than two million courses of its antiviral drug by the end of the year.
Are there other COVID-19 treatments?
While there has yet to be a proven treatment for COVID-19, researchers and medical experts are looking into a widely available and affordable drug called dexamethasone - a steroid typically prescribed to fight inflammation, as reported in a previous article.
A trial conducted by researchers from the United Kingdom found the drug could cut a patient's mortality rate, including those on ventilators.
The trial involved 6,400 patients, 2,104 of whom received the medication.
The outcome showed that the drug was able to cut a third of the deaths with patients on ventilators and a fifth on patients requiring oxygens.
The report garnered enthusiasm across the globe, leading experts to question whether there would be enough of the drug to supply thousands of medical facilities worldwide, the Science Mag reported.
While dexamethasone is abundant and cheap, Stephen Schondelmeyer, a director at the University of Minnesota, claimed hoarding behaviors started to show following the release of the trial's findings.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said is still too early to say if there will be a global shortage.
However, the WHO acknowledged that the situation could become dire for the injectable version of the drug, which many physicians prefer over the oral formulation.
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - A high-level European Union delegation landed in Khartoum, 24 hours before an international conference for economic support to Khartoum, a videoconference, kicks off
India is in talks with US and European nations for bilateral arrangements to operate passenger flights as demand for travel to these nations remained high even after the evacuation of a significant number of stranded Indian nationals.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said it was exploring prospect of establishing "bilateral bubbles" with countries such as the US, Germany, France and the UK, even as the US barred Air India from operating Vande Bharat flights without prior approval.
The US administrations Department of Transportation had said Air Indias repatriation flights created a competitive disadvantage for US airlines, which had sought permission from India to operate similar flights.
As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. These are all destinations where demand for travel has not diminished, Civil Aviation Ministry spokesman Rajeev Jain said in a statement here.
He said final decisions pursuant to negotiations were expected to be taken soon.
The ministry had received requests from travel authorities of several countries including the US, France and Germany requesting their air carriers to participate in transportation of passengers along the line of Air Indias Vande Bharat mission, he said.
He said one round of discussions have already been held with the US Department of Transportation and the US Embassy officials in India.
They were invited to present precise proposals in this respect, Jain said, adding that the ministry has received requests on June 19.
India had launched Vande Bharat flights on May 7 which had flown in more than one lakh stranded Indian nationals to the homeland from across the world.
On Saturday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had announced phase 4 of the Vande Bharat mission involving 1,050 flights, of which 750 were offered to private airliners.
Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday claimed that a youth who went missing during a trekking expedition has joined Hizb ul Mujahideen.
As per our reports, Hilal Ahmed has joined Hizbul Mujahideen, a local terror outfit, said Inspector General Police, Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar.
On June 13 current year, Hilal, (Phd scholar), went for trekking along with five other youth to Naranag area of Ganderbal district. In the evening all his five friends returned back except him.
Pertinently, on Monday, his family members staged a peaceful protest and sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu to take concrete steps to trace their son.
In recent years, many educated youngsters have joined terror ranks.
The first educated terrorist with a doctorate was Azhar-ud-Din Khan, 27, from Trusso Kandi of Kupwara district in north Kashmir.
On February 4, 2017, Azhar was killed at Amargarh in Sopore. Azhar completed his PhD in Arabic and was a lecturer on contract at a higher secondary school, before joining terrorist outfit in April 2016.
READ | BSF Shoots Down Pakistan Spy Drone Carrying Weapons In Jammu And Kashmir's Kathua
Manan Wani of the remote Lolab village in Kupwara, who was pursuing PhD in Geology at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in January 2018.
Wani had gone missing from AMU and later was killed in an encounter with security forces at Shatgund village of north Kashmirs Handwara.
In 2018, Mohammad Rafi Bhat, assistant professor at Kashmir University got killed during an encounter with the security forces at Budigam area in Shopian district of south Kashmir.
The slain professor-turned-terrorist had done a doctorate in Sociology and had also qualified the National Eligibility Test twice and was also a Junior Research Fellow (JRF).
Eisa Fazili, an engineering student, joined the terror ranks in 2017. Fazili was killed along with 02 other terrorists, including a resident of Hyderabad in an encounter with security forces in Hakoora area of Anantnag district in March 2018.
READ | Jammu And Kashmir: Kathua's Chenab Textile Mills Workers Get Violent Over Salary Payments
READ | UMTA Approved To Revamp Urban Transport In Jammu And Kashmir
Dams are important to conserve water for sustainable development, prevent flood damage, and store water in seasons of plenty to use in seasons of drought. Today, over 900,000 dams are estimated to exist worldwide, 40,000 of which are on a scale large enough to be considered as mega-dams. Although there is no universal definition of what qualifies as a mega-dam, as a general rule they are large structures over 15 metres in height and generating on average over 400 Megawatts of power.
Mega-dams in upstream river countries are not recommended under the 1997 UN Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses because they infringe on the right to water and the accepted rights of downstream countries. They cause extreme impacts on the downstream environment and biodiversity, in addition to on the river course itself.
Such dams in upstream river countries require complete studies to be undertaken before their construction showing their impact on the river hydrology and the environment as well as their socio-economic impacts on downstream countries. Upstream countries should guarantee a minimum level of water discharge to avoid any significant hazards to the downstream countries.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is being built as a result of a unilateral Ethiopian decision without advance agreement from Egypt and Sudan, will cause severe impacts on the course of the River Nile and harm the environment and agriculture in both downstream countries.
Constructing mega-dams in upstream countries is a completely different story from constructing them in downstream countries where no harm or negative impacts are caused. In fact, by constructing mega-dams, downstream countries are saving water from going to waste in the sea, and they do not cause damage to second or third parties.
In contrast, upstream mega-dams always cause extreme environmental, hydrological, and socio-economic impacts. For example, the GERD, with a height of 145 metres, a length of approximately 1,800 metres, and a saddle dam supporting the main dam that is 50 metres in height and 4,800 metres in length, will create a reservoir with a capacity of 75 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water. If surface evaporation and deep seepage are taken into account, that makes a total reservoir of 90 BCM.
After the building of the GERD, Egypt, a country already suffering from food insecurity, will have to import 75 per cent of its essential crops, a 10 per cent increase on what it currently imports. This will mean a higher food-import bill of $18 billion, compared to the current $13 billion.
Land in both the Delta and the Nile Valley will suffer immensely from increasing salinity and the intensive use of chemical fertilisers that will be necessary to increase production after the expected water shortages because of the GERD. The reduction in the amount of water reaching Egypt will lead to a decline in the extent of its agricultural land and a loss of almost two million acres, with the increasing vulnerability of the Nile Delta to climate change and sea-level rise and seawater intrusion.
Native flora and riverine weeds, fauna, forests, animal habitats, amphibian species, and wildlife will also be affected by this mega-dam.
Another impact is the effect of the GERD on climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions will increase from the GERDs reservoir due to the decomposition of organic matter and plant residues that enter it as a result of the silting processes of the Blue Nile. This will cause high carbon dioxide emissions and a severe drop in the soluble oxygen consumed by microorganisms, leading to the death of fish in the river stream for years to come.
The GERD will decrease the water that arrives in Egypt by 10 to 12 BCM per year, which will mean that more than five million people will lose their jobs in the agriculture and fishing sectors. Evaporation from the Nile course will increase because the water flowing to Sudan and Egypt will be shallow. Of course, Ethiopia should guarantee acceptable amounts of water to the downstream countries to minimise the significant negative impacts of its mega-dam.
The GERD being constructed on the Ethiopian border with Sudan at a distance of between five and 20km because it is curved in shape will hit Sudan especially hard and notably the Blue River and Sennar states in eastern Sudan. The GERD will also prevent 86 per cent of the sedimentation of the Blue Nile, amounting to 136.5 million tons of silt. The loss of these fertile silt and clay particles will clearly affect the fertility of Blue Nile state agricultural land in Sudan.
The absence of such alluvial sedimentation will mean that more nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers will need to be added to the soil. This will lead to a decrease in food safety criteria and will increase the contamination of shallow ground water by nitrates, especially in the rainy areas of eastern Sudan. Moreover, the expected heavier use of phosphorus and potassium fertilisers will also increase soil contamination, especially with cadmium and other heavy metals, as well as increasing chemical fertiliser residues in all food products from this area.
The pattern of agriculture in the Blue Nile states in Sudan will change from basin agriculture, which relies mostly on flood water that is stored in the soil and at root-zone depth, to permanently irrigated agriculture, which means the increased use of chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides. The use of such pesticides in irrigated agriculture after the completion of the GERD will increase the probability of cases of cancer in eastern Sudan. Meanwhile, irrigated agriculture without the construction of good drainage systems will cause waterlogging, or the saturation of the soil with water, and shallow ground water.
Sudan, with its weak financial resources, will not be able to construct a complete drainage system for its new pattern of irrigated agriculture, and it is likely to postpone doing so until the water table rises and becomes a serious problem. Such waterlogging and poor drainage will hit all the agricultural land of the Blue Nile and Sennar states in Sudan.
Increasing soil salinity will be the main problem in the eastern Sudan over the next 30 years, as happened in Egypt after the building of the Aswan Dam prevented the Niles flooding from leaching agriculture land of salt accumulation. The GERD will turn the River Nile almost into an irrigation canal due to the controlled daily water discharge delivered from the mega-dam according to the power generation needed. This will cause severe changes to the river stream, and bank erosion will undoubtedly happen, especially on the Blue Nile in eastern Sudan.
The writer is a professor of Soil and Water Sciences at the Faculty of Agriculture at Cairo University.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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NEW HAVEN The Rev. Kelcy G.L. Steele, writing on the behalf of a new social justice collaborative and Varick Memorial AME Zion Church, called for societal change to address anti-Black racism in New Haven in an open letter Monday night.
The community, Steele wrote, has waited long enough for action.
This moment is unprecedented, yet in many ways, we have been here before. Black people have long talked about disproportionate violence our people face as a result of policing. We have followed closely the horrendous killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, said Steele. Floyd joins a long list of Black people who have died in police presence, after wellness calls were made for help. We cannot be silent in the face of the ongoing horror Black people are experiencing in the United States. We stand in solidarity with Black people everywhere in calling for justice.
Among other measures, Steele called for anti-Black racism to be declared a public health crisis; enhanced accountability measures concerning police brutality, and a provincial commitment to the allocation of protected funds to provide culturally appropriate health and wellbeing support within Black communities.
A critical component of undoing anti-Black racism is working towards making Black life livable. Culturally appropriate organizations must be given the support they need to continue providing these services, Steele said in the letter. Too many lives have already been lost, much is at stake and our people cannot wait.
Steeele called upon allies to make commitments to addressing the many iterations of white supremacy and anti-Black racism by standing in solidarity with Black people, committing to interrupting cycles of violence and refusing to make this an issue only Black people care about.
This is everyones business, said Steele.
Protestors have routinely taken to the streets in New Haven and surrounding communities after Floyd was killed at the hands of Minneapolis police May 25, calling for changes to policing and society writ large in his name.
Steele previously formed a social justice collaborative featuring faith and civic leaders from across the city in the wake of Floyds death.
Among the members of the coalition are the Board of Alders, the mayors office, Ice the Beef, three African American-owned funeral homes, Beulah Heights First Pentecostal, Bethel AME and Elms Vineyard churches, Christ and Trinity Episcopal churches, Maranatha Church of God in Christ, Church on the Rock, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, Abdul Majid Karim Hasan Islamic Center, the New Haven and Hamden/North Haven YMCAs, the Flaming Knights Motorcycle Club and the Peoples Center.
We believe in order to love our community forward in solidarity we must start to dismantle some of the structures that perpetuates racism, prejudices, and unconscious bias, Steele said in an email Tuesday.
william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Diversified miner Hudbay (TSE:HBM) said Monday it launched its appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to revive its rejected Rosemont mine in Arizona.
The $1.9 billion open-pit copper mine was stopped last year after a judge sided with environmental and First Nation groups.
In July 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizonas revoked the U.S. Forest Services issuance of the Final Record of Decision for the Rosemont project in Arizona. At issue was tailings disposal, which Hudbay disputes.
"[Current] law broadly authorizes mining-related activities, such as ore processing and tailings storage, to be conducted on open Forest Service lands," said the company in a news release.
"The District Courts determination that the Forest Services mining regulations do not apply to mining activities unless those activities are conducted entirely on valid mining claims is contrary to plain language readings of the general mining law, as well as Forest Service regulations, which explicitly allow for mining-related activity to occur on lands not covered by any mining claim."
FAST FOLD portable solar power system being deployed Deployed within minutes, the portable FAST FOLD solar power system can provide 100% self-sustaining power for medical equipment, without reliance on the grid or diesel supplies
First Aid Africa, a Scottish charity with operations in Africa supporting sustainable healthcare, and Renovagen Ltd, a UK supplier and manufacturer of innovative portable renewable energy equipment, have announced the success of a rapid response project to support testing operations in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia.
One of Renovagens FAST FOLD portable solar power systems was deployed by First Aid Africa to Mbereshi Mission Hospital following an urgent request. The hospital was struggling with delivery of tests because power was available for only 6 hours a day and it was extremely unreliable. Due to logistical and procurement restrictions, fuel for generators was not available at the site. This limited the number of tests which could be completed, and caused valuable reagents to be wasted as tests were being interrupted by power outages. With reagents being in such short supply, this was a critical issue.
First Aid Africa responded by sending one of their FAST FOLD portable solar power systems on a 14 hour drive across the country to the hospital site, where it was set up within minutes to provide a stable source of clean power for the testing equipment at the hospital. The small size and weight of the system meant that it could be transported by pickup truck and manually deployed without the need for special equipment. The unique design, with single-button operation, meant that no specialist skills were needed to set up and run the FAST FOLD system. First Aid Africa plan to leave the system in place to support the COVID-19 response, until funding can be raised for a permanent off-grid solar power installation at the site. At that time, the FAST FOLD system can be moved to another location with a critical need for power.
John Hingley, Managing Director of Renovagen Ltd said, This case study demonstrates the benefits of portable solar power equipment as a critical interim solution in healthcare settings. The FAST FOLD system has proven itself to be an extremely flexible tool for fast response in remote locations where the use of heavy equipment to deploy larger systems may not be practical and specialist electrical skills may not be available. Whether the driving factor for urgency is a global pandemic, a natural disaster or population displacement, there will continue to be many scenarios where self-sustaining power is required at sites that are difficult to access. Often, the provision of that power without reliance on fuel for generators can be life-saving. We are proud to have partnered with First Aid Africa to provide this capability that enhances their great work in Africa.
The FAST FOLD system can provide 100% self-sustaining power for medical equipment, without reliance on the grid or diesel supplies, states Sam Abrahams, CEO of First Aid Africa. It has proved to be a flexible asset for supporting a range of our operations from First Aid training in remote villages to urgent response to critical healthcare issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a kW-scale portable solar capability - which can be packed up within a few minutes by hand, transported by pickup truck and redeployed just as quickly - is hugely valuable. This has had a direct impact on the number of COVID-19 tests being completed, so it is positively contributing to the national response, helping to contain the virus and ultimately to save lives.
Josephat Moyo, Medical Laboratory Technologist at Mbereshi Mission Hospital said I would like to acknowledge and thank First Aid Africa for providing the FAST FOLD portable solar generator to our institution. We are using it to power Pentra C200 and Gene Xpert machines used for COVID-19 testing and are extending it to power blood count/CD4 count machines as well. This has helped the laboratory to have a stable energy supply which is especially valuable because before we had the FAST FOLD system we would usually experience power supply interruptions during the course of our work. The result has been improved turn-around times for test results and a reduction in wastage of reagents.
We welcome press enquiries and investment/funding enquiries to assist in scaling up and increasing the impact of our projects.
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Police in Oregon have arrested two Alabama men suspected of shooting dead seven people in a dispute about a self-made club named the Seven Deadly Sins.
Frederic Rogers, 22, and John Legg, 19, believed to have gunned down Tammy England Muzzey, 45, Emily Brooke Payne, 21, Roger Lee Jones Jr., 19, Jeramy Wade Roberts, 31, William Zane Hodgin, 18, James Wayne Benford, 22 and 17-year-old Dakota Green.
Cops believe the men then tried to burn down a residence on the 500 block of Talucah Road in Valhermoso Springs, Alabama around 11.30pm on June 4 with the dead bodies still inside.
One of the two 911 callers who reported hearing gunfire said they heard it intermittently for an hour.
Murder suspects Frederic Rogers (left), 22, and John Legg (right), 19, were arrested Sunday on suspicion of shooting dead seven people at a home in Alabama on June 4
Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office observed the suspects and initiated a traffic stop on a Silver/Grey Dodge Charger with Alabama license plate in Stayton, Oregon at 12.30pm on Sunday
When authorities arrived at the scene the home was only partially set alight.
Firefighters extinguished the flames and the victims were later found deceased, some with multiple wounds.
At the time Madison County Sheriff's Office's public information officer Mike Swafford said it was a 'horrific scene' that would 'take some time' to process.
Swafford said it's believed the suspects went to the property with the intention of carrying out the 'incredibly heinous... cold-blooded' crime.
The Madison County Sheriff's Office, investigated in collaboration with the Somerville Police Department and the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force.
Sheriff Ron Puckett said in a media briefing on Monday that the two suspects and three of the victims, Jones Jr., Roberts and Benford, were part of a self-made 'club' named 7 Deadly Sins.
The Sheriff did not reveal any more details about the club.
They are believed to have been in a Seven Deadly Sins club with three of the victims, including Roger Lee Jones Jr., 19 (pictured left) and Jeramy Wade Roberts (right)z. James Wayne Benford, 22, is not pictured
Other shooting victims were (left to right) Emily Brooke Payne, 21, Tammy England Muzzey, 45, Dakota Green, 17, and William Zane Hodgin, 18
However it was previously reported that neighbors said it was known for heavy drug activity and authorities had been called to the home on multiple occasions.
Authorities believe the suspects started the fire to get rid of evidence.
The suspects went on the run and investigators issued a BOLO alert to law enforcement nationwide.
They obtained information on the travel and potential whereabouts of the suspects and once warrants were obtained, agencies identified a home in Salem, Oregon as a potential destination.
Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office observed the suspects and initiated a traffic stop on a Silver/Grey Dodge Charger with Alabama license plate in Stayton, Oregon around 12.30pm on Sunday.
The suspects were detained at gunpoint by a SWAT team and taken into custody without incident.
They are currently located in the Marion County Jail awaiting extradition to Alabama where they face capital murder charges.
The Morgan County Sheriff's Office said: 'We followed up on every lead, reviewing every tip and piecing together what lead up to the events of June 4.'
A neighbor reported hearing gunfire intermittently for an hour before the house was set alight. Neighbors said it was known for heavy drug activity and authorities had been called to the home on multiple occasions
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NEW HAVEN - Police have identified the victim in Saturday homicide as Luis Nelson Perez, 27, of Naugatuck.
Capt. Anthony Duff said New Haven Police are continuing the investigation of the homicide on Elliot Street between Sylvan Avenue and Davenport Avenue in the Hill neighborhood.
ALBANY The citys Community Police Review Board is proposing a set of reforms that would give the board and public an expanded view of the citys police department.
The recommendations are the next step as the city takes a closer look at its police departments practices in response to weeks of protests against police brutality both locally and across the country. The proposed reforms focus mainly on improving access to police department information but also include proposals such as giving the board the power to make referrals for criminal charges if they believe an officer has violated the law.
The Common Council and Mayor Kathy Sheehan have publicly backed some of the proposals but how the recommendations will be implemented remains to be seen. Both Sheehan and council members say they want to reimagine how the department operates, part of which means looking at the number and types of calls officers respond to and whether other agencies can be brought in to help handle those calls.
In taking a look at the recommendations and looking at how the board operates, these are all going to be part of the discussion, Sheehan said.
According to a draft of the recommendations, the five areas the board is requesting more information on are public access to police department policies, greater access to information on when and how officers are disciplined, access to department members body camera footage, more oversight on departmental drone use and data collection as well as publicizing data on police stops.
The nine-member board is charged with reviewing the police departments investigations in civilian complaints against officers but both board members and Common Council members have said it is hampered by an inability to gather enough information and has to rely only on what the department provides. Up until two weeks ago, board members weren't allowed to know the name of the officer named in a complaint.
Some of those concerns, including learning the officers' identities, were removed when the state Legislature repealed section 50-A of the state's Civil Rights law, which hid police disciplinary records from public view.
The recommendations also include changes to board policies as well as other general recommendations, such as push for legislation that would make it a criminal or civil offense for officers to turn off their body cameras during an incident.
But the proposal does stop short of recommending the board itself have the power to discipline officers and the ability to conduct investigations on its own in to police misconduct, areas that some board members and council members had advocated for.
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Earlier this month after two nights of protests turned violent, the Common Council said it would move to give the board subpoena powers, which Sheehan subsequently said she would support. That ability would give the board access to much of the information it is requesting, said Council President Corey Ellis. The council will likely introduce legislation to give the board that power next month.
Thats what were going to be doing as a council, is putting that into law, he said. Most of the recommendations were already looking at instituting as policy.
Sheehan said she sees the recommendations as a starting point for the city to comply with Gov. Andrew Cuomos executive order on police reform.
The order, issued earlier this month, requires cities to come up with plans to change how their departments operate in order to receive state funding in 2021. Part of the order requires the public input into the plan, which has to be approved by the Common Council.
My preference is to do it in that forum, she said.
As a student, Mr. Farley was a very tall, beautiful looking young man, very regal, the schools chairman of faculty, Kay Mazzo, said. He had this hunger, and he wanted to learn as much as he could and pass it on. Hes been so involved with the history of ballet, and I think he wants to be such a big part of its future, which he will be an important part of it. He is just the epitome of really taking ones art form to the highest level.
Hell also continue to choreograph. In keeping with these social distanced times, he has created digital dances for the Works & Process virtual commissions project, a Guggenheim series (out this summer) and the Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York; he will also create a piece for the Washington Ballet.
Its wild Ive become a dance filmmaker because of all thats happened, Mr. Farley said. Im able to be right at the cutting edge of whats happening in the art form because we have to adapt. We have to think creatively.
Mr. Farley, who hails from Charlotte he grew up in a house with nine people including his parents knows how to do both. We need to keep the art form thriving, not just on life support, he said. I want to be part of that. So if that means its Zoom, lets do it. If that means its socially distanced and I teach the same class three units a day just to get the same amount of students through as one, Ill do it. Whatever it takes.
While visiting his family at his parents spacious new townhouse in Charlotte a gift from Matthias, his brother, who plays for the New York Jets Mr. Farley spoke about his plans and hopes for his former company.
What follows are edited excerpts from that conversation.
The Gurugram administration has retracted its earlier prediction that stated that the number of Covid-19 cases in the district may touch 35,000 by June end which basically would have meant the district adding more than 30,000 cases in the next seven days.
Instead, administration officials now based on existing test positivity rate data, trends seen in Delhi and Mumbai and extrapolation done over two months insist that Covid-19 projection is a dynamic process and a truly reflective figure might be difficult to arrive at.
Independent health experts believed that the tally in Gurugram is likely to may be reach up to 7,000 cases by month-end. They agreed with district administration officials and said that predicting Covid-19 cases is a complex process, while adding that such forecasts aid in public health decision making, like augmenting facilities and beds required for tertiary care.
According to the forecast of Covid-19 cases in Gurugram prepared by the district administration on June 13, at least 35,000 Covid-19 cases were likely to be reported by June 30. Out of these, nearly 80% would need isolation beds, 15% would need general ward beds and the remaining 5% would need to be admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for ventilator support.
As per estimates, the count of infected people in the district was likely to touch 1.5 lakh by July-end and almost 2.5 lakh by August. On the other hand, the adjoining national capitals future projections were almost 5.5 lakh cases by July 31 alone.
Vivek Kalia, nodal officer, hospital management, said, It would be premature to divulge any quantified figure for Covid-19. However, based on the analysis of data of testing undertaken, doubling rate and the number of positive cases needing hospitalisation, medical facilities have been assessed and requisite provisions have been made.
Even Ashok Sangwan, divisional commissioner, in a press conference earlier this week, had said, The projected numbers are high but making projections is a dynamic process. Testing has increased in the city to identify cases. With new cases pouring in daily, we are prepared with our healthcare facilities, if the numbers surge..
Confirming Sangwans view, a senior state official, confirmed that the projected figures were inflated. Nobody can make exact Covid-19 future projections. But based on the increasing number of cases and our projections, we are trying to arrange treatment facilities.
Data expert, Dheeraj Singh, who has been closely monitoring Gurugrams and Haryanas Covid-19 data, said that Covid cases daily growth rate in June for Gurugram is 7.8% with positivity rate at 36.7%. It reflects a combination of high growth and likely wider infection spread with need for tripling the number of tests being conducted. Even at the current rate, total cases in Gurugram will reach 7,000 by June end.
According to him, the numbers will shoot up if testing is adequately scaled up. However recent testing numbers are seeing wide fluctuations. The lowest (169 tests) number of tests were done on June 14. On June 21, a record 930 tests were conducted in a single day, he said.
Professor Abhijit Das, department of computer science and engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, who has developed a model that predicts the Covid-19 transmission, said, The prediction problem at hand is far more complicated than weather or stock-market predictions.
Dass model relies on the daily count of infection, especially of the most affected states like Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. As per predictive study conducted by him, the disease will continue to spread till September.
He said, This is an attempt to predict the spread of Covid-19 in our country. However, a reliable and stable predictor could not be designed despite several technical improvements. Still, the current system shows close match with the past data, and can be used as an indication of how protracted the pandemic can be in India.
Every such model is inaccurate to some degree, but is at the same time capable of giving an approximate view of the future. Perhaps nothing better can be achieved at this point of time, Das added.
On the other hand, Rajib Dasgupta, professor, community health medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), said that the department of science and technology (DST) was working towards a Covid -19 Indian National Supermodel to forecast the spread and monitor future transmissions.
We do not know how soon this will be operational. But currently, two standard approaches Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model and the Logistic Growth model are being used to predict the endpoint of Covid-19 both at national level and for the three high-incidence states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi, said Dasgupta.
The challenge according to him will be to make future projections when affected states have different experiences, and within them the figures fluctuate between urban and rural areas.
The Confederate monument in my hometown, Orangeburg, S.C., was dedicated in 1893. It is a statue of a rebel soldier atop a tall column, and the inscription, attributed to the women of Orangeburg County though presumably only the white ones calls it a grateful tribute to the brave defenders of our rights, our honor and our homes. The rights in question were to own human beings, including my ancestors, and compel their uncompensated labor. The point of erecting the monument was to reassert those rights. If the statue is a homage to anything, its hate. Take it down.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has launched a political action committee to raise money for progressive candidates across Pennsylvania, rekindling speculation that he may run for governor in 2022.
Ive formed a new political action committee called Kenney PAC which will help progressive candidates in the forthcoming legislative races in Pennsylvania defeat extremist pro-Trump Republicans who are inspired and driven by the hatred and division emanating from the current occupant of the White House, Kenney wrote in an email to supporters.
Kenney, who is not well known outside Philadelphia, would need to increase his visibility in other parts of the state to mount a successful gubernatorial campaign. Backing and potentially campaigning with Democratic legislative candidates in the 2020 election cycle could help him improve his stature outside the city.
Micah Mahjoubian, a staffer for state Sen. Sharif Street (D., Phila.), on Tuesday afternoon posted the email on Facebook and commented, So, about those rumors that Mayor Kenney is running for Governor...
Kenney campaign spokesperson Marty ORourke confirmed Kenney has launched the new PAC. Asked what Kenneys current thinking is on a gubernatorial run, ORourke said, The Mayor is focused on addressing critical issues confronting the city, while also helping to bring about necessary long-term change in Harrisburg.
Kenney has spoken with confidantes about the potential of a 2022 run to replace Gov. Tom Wolf, who is in his second and final term. That news was met with skepticism from many in city politics who doubted he would pull the trigger on a statewide campaign.
Some have speculated that Kenney may be floating the potential of a run for higher office in order to maintain relevance in Philadelphia politics during his second term, which began in January. Previous mayors who were seen as lame ducks have struggled to wield influence with City Council.
The citys Home Rule Charter would require Kenney to resign if he were to seek state office. Council President Darrell L. Clarke would then become mayor.
A gubernatorial run would likely pit Kenney against state Attorney General Josh Shapiro and possibly others in the Democratic primary. Kenneys strategy would likely be to run the left of the more moderate Shapiro by capitalizing on his backing from organized labor and the growing progressive movement.
Its unclear how the Kenney administrations handling of recent crises could affect his chances at higher office.
Kenney was panned for encouraging Philadelphians to dine out as the coronavirus took root in Philadelphia, but quickly became an adamant supporter of strict measures shutting down businesses to control the spread of the virus.
And while Kenney has backed supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement and endorsed police reforms, the Philadelphia Police Department has been criticized for a lack of preparation for the demonstrations that broke out after George Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer. Kenney also opposes decreasing the size of the citys police force, a demand of many protesters.
His response to the protests in particular could be a major factor in the extent to which he is able to energize progressive voters, many of whom supported his first run for mayor in 2015 and applauded his first-term accomplishments, such as the creation of a tax on sugary beverages that funds pre-K, the community schools program, and improvements to parks and recreation centers.
Its been well past 500 days of summer, fall, winter and spring since weve seen Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a movie. The amicable actor who starred as a teen on the popular sitcom 3rd Rock From the Sun before finding big-screen success with critical darlings like Brick (2005), 500 Days of Summer (2009) and Inception (2010) hasnt appeared onscreen in a film since 2016s Snowden. (He did have a voice cameo in last years whodunit Knives Out.)
I took a couple years off when I had kids, Gordon-Levitt, 39, tells Yahoo Entertainment in a recent video chat interview for his return to film acting in the plane hijacking thriller 7500, where he was joined by writer-director Patrick Vollrath.
Gordon-Levitt has two sons with wife and tech CEO Tasha McCauley; they were born in 2015 and 2017. I knew that [with] my first job back, I really wanted to focus on finding a creative challenge, and not think about, Oh, what should my next career move be having taken some time off? I really just wanted to focus on the art of it and why I love acting so much.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in 7500 Image Courtesy of Amazon Studios
In the tense and sharply acted 7500, he stars as Tobias Ellis, an American pilot living in Germany whose flight from Berlin to Paris is highjacked by Islamic extremists. Nearly the entire film takes place within the tight confines of the planes cockpit as Tobias struggles to deal with hijackers forcing their way into the front of the plane and taking passengers hostage in the back.
Read more: JGL shares sweet throwback picture
It was really intense because were telling an extreme story, Gordon-Levitt says of the production, which was also heavily improvised. But it was really, really rewarding for me.
Its difficult to watch 7500 or any terrorist hijacking thriller, for that matter without thinking back to the tragic events of 9/11, which Vollrath says were at the top of his mind.
I was researching and thinking of all the events and all the hijackings, the German filmmaker says. 9/11 was a big influence on that. You cannot make and talk about hijacking an airplane and not talk about 9/11 in the same moment.
Story continues
Both Gordon-Levitt and Vollrath admit their film will be a tough sell for people looking at in-flight entertainment options in the months and years to come, though.
I think its even forbidden, Vollrath laughs. Every airplane movie, you cant watch on an airplane.
7500 is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Video produced by Gisselle Bances
The ban on people from different households meeting together indoors is likely to be eased, as Boris Johnson also reopens cinemas, museums and art galleries.
Families and friends would be able to visit each others homes, provided they stick to social distancing rules with no hugging but it is unclear if they would be allowed to stay overnight.
The prime minister is expected to announce there will be no limit on the numbers who can gather indoors, in England, as long as they are members of just two households, although the details were still being agreed.
It is believed that ministers recognise they cannot defend lifting restrictions, from 4 July, to allow people to stay in a hotel, but not at the homes of close family members or friends.
In the same way, without further relaxation, it could remain illegal to eat with grandparents, but allowed in a cafe or restaurant.
However, the change will fly in the face of advice delivered by the chief medical officer when only those living in single-adult homes were allowed to form a so-called support bubble" with one other household.
At that time, just two weeks ago, Chris Whitty, said limiting that relaxation to people living alone reduced the risk of coronavirus infections spreading.
Until now the lifting of restrictions imposed in March has focused on activities outdoors, where scientists are confident the risk of infection transmission is lower.
However, Northern Ireland has already gone further, allowing groups of up to six people to meet indoors, hailed by Arlene Foster, the first minister, as a new milestone.
Mr Johnson is expected to tread a similar path, as he tells MPs that cultural life in England will restart with museums, art galleries and cinemas as well as pubs and restaurants able to reopen from 4 July.
Visitors are expected to have to pre-book tickets for venues that will also have to introduce one-way systems, spaced queuing and improved ventilation.
Domestic holidays will return, with hotels, holiday homes and bed-and-breakfasts able to reopen as the two-metre social distancing rule is halved.
Ministers are also believed to be to agreeing a list of up to 10, mostly EU countries that Britons will be able to visit on holiday without having to go into quarantine for two weeks on their return.
Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, claimed no decisions on lifting restrictions had been made ahead of a Cabinet meeting today, although No 10 has effectively announced most of them.
I appreciate many people do want to see things starting to get back to whatever that new normal will be, he said.
If we are able to say to pubs, and other establishments, that they are able to open in the near future, we will be issuing guidelines as well.
So that they can have some confidence about what is expected of them to create a safe environment.
By PTI
RANCHI: For the first time in over 300 years, the three chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings were not taken out of the Jagannathpur temple here on the occasion of Rath Yatra on Tuesday due to the coronavirus-induced restrictions, a shrine official said.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said he sought "forgiveness" from the deities for not being able to perform the annual ritual this year.
The nine-day Rath Yatra is marked by a procession of the chariots, in which the three deities -- Lord Jagannath, Bhagwan Balaram and Devi Subhadra -- embark on an annual journey to their maternal aunt's place and back.
"It is the first time in the shrine's 329-year-long history that the chariots did not roll out on the streets of Ranchi to head to 'maushi ma bari' (maternal aunt's home), which is around a kilometre away, on the occasion of the Rath Yatra," said Manoj Tiwari, manager of the 17th century Jagannathpur temple.
The idols of the three deities were taken out of the sanctum sanctorum at 6 am, and placed on 'dol mandap' on the premises of the temple, where rituals were performed and offerings made, he said.
They will be placed back in the sanctum sanctorum on July 1 during the return car festival, he added.
Soren said the decision to suspend all celebrations on the occasion of the Rath Yatra was taken keeping in mind the safety of the people.
"People have been participating in the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath every year. But this year, the Rath Yatra programme could not be held, so I bowed before him and sought forgiveness," he told reporters after offering prayers at the temple.
"The world is in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The decision to suspend the age-old Rath Yatra programme this year had to be taken with a heavy heart," he said.
The chief minister said he prayed for victory over the pandemic.
The Jagannathpur temple was constructed atop a hill in Ranchi's Dhurva area in 1691 by Badkagardh Nagavanshi Raja Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo, and the first chariot had rolled the very next year.
Since then till 2019, according to Jagannathpur temple manager Tiwari, the Rath Yatra rituals had been performed without any interruption.
BOSTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MMB, Boston's award-winning independent creative agency, announced the appointment of Adam Swann as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), further strengthening the company's executive leadership team. With more than two decades of experience as a hybrid marketing leader, Swann's complex skillset will build and lead strategy for both MMB and its clients.
Adam explains that "during this time of profound change, in society and in our industry, it's my huge privilege to join MMB. As a proudly independent creative company and one with an entrepreneurial, nimble maker culture, I think we are incredibly well placed to give clients what they need most, versus large matrixed corporate agencies and networks. We are naturally integrated and digital, can problem solve quicker and produce creative solutions at the speed of culture, with fewer internal hurdles."
Swann is recognized in the industry as one of the leading entrepreneurial business builders in marketing. Most recently as EVP Strategy Director at Hill Holliday, Swann was responsible for the driving brand, digital and content strategy across the agency's premiere accounts including Bank of America and Boar's Head.
Swann joins MMB's latest hire, Executive Creative Director, David Register. Register, a boomerang employee, was one of MMB's original creative forces, returning to the agency after spending 15 years at Arnold in its Boston office. Together, Swann and Register mark MMB's commitment to evolving the agency and in progressive, modern agency leadership, with a team of Creative and Strategist at the helm. Both will report directly into legendary Co-Founders Fred Bertino and Jamie Mambro.
Fred Bertino notes that "as brands grapple with the need to transform and remain relevant we believe it is the modern partnership of strategy and creative that is the key underpinning of those engaging creative ideas that propel clients' growth. The addition of Adam and David to the heart of our leadership team has been nothing short of inspiring for us, and for our clients. It has streamlined our ability to deliver strategically led creative ideas across every medium. It's an exciting time for our agency."
Known for his role in leading creative brand transformations, Register's career highlights include personal finance company Fidelity's campaign featuring Sir Paul McCartney, insurance company Progressive's 'Flo from Progressive' campaign, as well as global brands New Balance, Dell, and CenturyLink, amongst others. Register is also a co-founder of Truth-Bullet Film/Production Company and an accomplished award-winning writer and photographer.
David is quick to add that "with our industry demanding us to work faster and faster, time for strategic planning is constantly being sacrificed. Right now, there's no more room, or time, for departments to function as they used to. It's really about getting the best creative, strategy and even production working together from the get-go."
About MMB:
MMB is one of the country's top independent creative agencies, strategically led and creatively driven by a genuine, curious, funny, eccentric, and sometimes manic problem-solving team. The company, founded in 2001, solves clients' problems with smart, original thinking and engaging creative work that is breakthrough and relevant. In a world where distractions are the norm and free choice is the rule, MMB generates awareness and drives results with creative content that strategically, conceptually, and technologically engages and resonates with people. For more information please visit: www.mmb580.com | facebook.com/MMB580 | instagram.com/mmb_580
Media contact: Bryan Kirsch, 201-686-8859, [email protected].
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DETROIT, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards today announced a list of 36 models eligible for the 2021 awards that reveals an automotive industry that is poised to launch an unusually high number of vehicles over the second half of the year.
Many automakers have delayed product launches due to COVID-19-caused vehicle development and production delays, making it likely that the total number of eligible vehicles will grow as the year unfolds.
As of today, automakers are planning to announce 10 new cars, three trucks and no fewer than 23 utilities due in dealerships by the end of this year. All of these vehicles will be eligible for one of three awards North American Car of the Year, North American Utility Vehicle of the Year and North American Truck of the Year. Of these 36 vehicles announced today, 10 are from domestic automakers, nine are European and 17 are Asian.
"Product introductions have slowed for a while, but that will change during the second half of the year as automakers release a large number of important new cars, SUVs and trucks," said NACTOY President Gary Witzenburg. "Our jurors will be very busy over the coming months as they work to drive and evaluate all of these new models."
Chosen by a panel of 50 respected jurors from print, online, radio and broadcast media across the U.S. and Canada rather than a single publication or media outlet the NACTOY awards are unique and among the most prestigious in the industry.
Jurors will conduct a preliminary vote to narrow the list to up to 12 models in each category in September, then will conduct additional driving evaluations through the rest of the year, including during an October comparison drive in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Semi-Finalists in each category will be announced at the LA Auto Show in November, Finalists in December (later than usual due to the many late-year launches) and category winners in Detroit in January.
To be eligible, vehicles must be all-new or substantially new and must be available at dealerships before the end of the year.
Here is the full 2021 NACTOY eligibility list:
Car of the Year
2021 Acura TLX 2021 BMW 330e and 330e xDrive 2021 BMW 430i, 430i xDrive and M440i xDrive 2021 BMW 545e xDrive 2021 Genesis G80 2021 Hyundai Elantra family (includes N Line and HEV) 2021 Lexus IS 2021 Mercedes-Benz E Class Sedan, All-Terrain, Coupe, Cabriolet 2021 MINI Cooper SE 2020 Nissan Sentra
Utility of the Year
2021 BMW X2 xDrive25e 2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e and xDrive45e 2021 Buick Encore GX 2021 Cadillac Escalade 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E 2021 Genesis GV80 2021 GMC Yukon/Yukon XL 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 Hyundai Venue 2021 Kia Seltos 2020 Land Rover Defender 90 and 110 2020 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring 2020 Mazda CX-30 2021 Nissan Rogue 2021 Toyota Venza 2021 Toyota Sienna 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime 2020 Toyota Highlander 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 2021 Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge
Truck of the Year
2020 Ford Super Duty 2021 Ford F-150 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
NOTE: Spanish and French versions of this release will be available on NACTOY's website. For more information about NACTOY and its history: http://northamericancaroftheyear.org.
ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN CAR, UTILITY AND TRUCK OF THE YEAR
The awards are intended to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year. These vehicles are benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. The organization gives out three awards. They are: "North American Car of the Year," "North American Utility Vehicle of the Year," and "North American Truck of the Year." The awards are unique because they are given by an independent jury of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada instead of being given by a single publication, website, radio or television station.
SOURCE North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards (NACTOY)
Related Links
http://northamericancaroftheyear.org
China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that China and India have agreed to take measures to ease tensions along a disputed stretch of their border, where a clash last week left 20 Indian soldiers dead.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also described recent media reports of 40 Chinese casualties in the conflict as "fake news". An Indian government minister said on Sunday that China had lost at least 40 soldiers in the clash.
(Newser) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said last week that "overwhelmingly Hispanic" farmworkers and day laborers were the main sources of new coronavirus infections in his state, and now Latino leaders are calling for him to apologize. "It's absolutely embarrassing, appalling," state Rep. Javier Fernandez said Monday, per NBC News. "We're living in very dark and sad times" when the governor, a Republican and ally of President Trump, blames not "his failed leadership" but instead "some of the most vulnerable members of our community here in Florida." Adds Oscar Londono, executive director of We Count!, "His messaging continues to try to stoke nativism, racism, and anti-immigrant sentiment across the state of Florida." Farmworker organizations say they asked for increased testing in rural areas, more personal protective equipment for farmworkers, and other help in April, and those pleas were ignored.
story continues below
"Months ago, actions should have been taken to prevent this," Londono said, noting that agricultural workers have been classified as essential. "The recent attempts to scapegoat workers who have been sustaining our entire food chain during the pandemic is shameful." Natascha Otero-Santiago, vice president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, called on DeSantis to put out "an announcement or a statement saying where he has gotten this information that Latinos are the ones spreading and are the cause of the exponential growth of COVID-19." DeSantis had previously said agricultural communities were the source of the state's biggest recent outbreak. But it's lately become clear cases are spiking in other areas as well. "Farmworker communities only represent 9% of the total increase. His accusations are not accurate," said Cramer Verde, Florida director for the League of United Latin American Citizens. Florida on Saturday saw its highest number of new cases in a single day, NPR reports, at 4,049. (Read more Florida stories.)
Regina King has shared an update on whether shed consider returning for season two of Watchmen, should the show get a second chapter.
The actor spoke to Reese Witherspoon in a video chat for Variety.
Watchmen creator Damon Lindelof originally appeared to have rejected the idea of a potential second season for good.
Since then, he has suggested hed be in favour of the HBO show getting more episodes with a new showrunner at the helm.
During their chat, Witherspoon asked King, who portrays Angela Abar/Sister Night in the series, whether shed return for a second season.
You know, I dont know, King said.
Honestly, I feel like I think HBO would want it back in a heartbeat, but if Damon Lindelof doesnt see an entry point for season two I think that the possibilities are infinite, but I feel that if Damon doesnt see it, then its going to be a no for me.
Last month, Lindelof told Comicbook.com hed be willing to pass the torch, should someone else want to take on the challenge of a second season.
I really do think that there should be more Watchmen and soon. I just dont think that I should be the one doing it unless Im like, I know exactly how to do so, he told the website.
Lindelof added: I would facilitate and embrace and do everything in my power to enable others to come forward and show their take on Watchmen.
Watchmen's first season was released in 2019 on HBO in the US, and on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, an honest look at President Biden's press conference.
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So much for the "block party atmosphere." So much for the "summer of love."
Summer hadn't even started on the calendar when Seattle's Mayor Jenny Durkan was forced to shut down the whole dumpster fire of lawlessness in the heart of her city down.
She praised it and praised it and somehow never guessed that a police-free zone might just be an attractive place for criminals.
After turning six blocks of prime downtown land to armed warlords who chased out an entire police station and then set up their own "autonomous zone," they did the predictable, turning the area into a hellhole, and the bodies piled up.
Durkan now is attempting to wipe the egg off her face after bona fide killings in the abdicated area, known as "CHOP," got to be too much.
She made a windy speech recorded by Q13Fox News, calling it an "update" rather than a boob's desperate U-turn.
"Uh, today, the chief and I wanted to share some of what we're doing in Seattle to lead the nation in re-imagining public safety," she began.
Lead? That's some leading, turning a chunk of the city over to marauders and then watching them maraud until the murders started piling up.
She made no mention of the line that got her lots of applause from the peanut gallery just ten days earlier:
Seattle is fine. Dont be so afraid of democracy. https://t.co/o26PkJnYhA Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 12, 2020
It was to be "a block party atmosphere," a "summer of love," as she told the press at the time.
Instead, it was Liberia, and now she's obviously hearing from someone, enough to be forced to shut the whole thing down.
But blame herself? Not on your life. Here are a few choice snippets from the things she decided to blame instead, emphasis mine:
... increasingly difficult circumstances for our businesses and residents. Most of them supported protestors right to gather at the outset. They stand with them in solidarity. But the impacts have increased, and the safety has decreased.
See, it was the residents who were to blame, not her. She just went along for the ride.
There was also understatement, as if she were some concerned Karen 3,000 miles away reading about it in the news:
... that escalatimg violence concerns me.
And mind-numbing platitudes:
No violence is acceptable.
As for the murders, which happened on their watch, they weren't really the work of these marauders who pirated city property; they were the abstract problem of "gun violence," a lefty hobbyhorse of yore.
... tragically lost his life to gun violence.
If there were stabbings, she's be up a crik, but "gun violence" pretty well gives her the booby prize of calls for gun control. No word on the rapes, lootings, robberies, and property damage that made the place unliveable. Just guns. Gun violence. Someone take away the guns, and all will be happy. Her "tragically" claim is rich, too, given that the death was preventable.
Then she went back to blaming others: "It's a violent time in our nation," she chirruped, citing bigger killing totals in the blue cities of Charlotte, Minneapolis, Chicago, and New Orleans.
Then a nod to blame:
Seattle demands that I do better, the chief do better, and that we do better, and we agree...we must do better.
Notice she shares the blame with the cops, who don't seem to be willing collaborators. Collectivizing the guilt, right?
As for confronting the disaster she wrought, she went back to blaming the guns for the violence, and said it was mainly a distraction:
[T]he gun violence unfolding at night is not only wrong it also is undermining and distracting the message for change that we are hearing at so many peaceful protests.
This won't make the families of the victims any too happy.
Then she lays out her plan of action, which is basically to say, the next time a warlord sprays a public park, call a social worker.
[W]e are working with the community to bring this to an end ... we need to disrupt the cycle of violence ... de-escalate and move people to services...we are engaging those partners now[.]
And her prospects for success?
"I am hopeful that these organizations will convince these people to leave."
This sounds like a real winner. Here's her big "or else" if the social workers can't quite persuade the thugs: "addtional steps to ensure community safety" and "we cannot let acts of violence define this movement for change."
After that, she collectivized the guilt some more with a long stream of babble about "institutional racism," not mentioning that Seattle has been run by Democrats for decades.
Anything but blame herself.
She proffered lots of pork to community organizers, and "investment in black and marginalized communities, plus free college and transit passes for students and lots of other Democratic hobbyhorses, all to 're-think and reimagine policing."
It's a stupid plan for a stupid initial decision. It won't work any more than flattering the thug takeover as a "summer of love."
It started many miles away in late 2019, at Wuhan, China, but in matter of few months the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic.
The Genesis of the Virus
Since then, it has spread to more than two hundred countries and territories across the globe, infecting over eight million people.
Of the total infected, 454,513 have succumbed to the virus, according to the COVID-19 John Hopkins dashboard.
The worse hit countries are; china, where it emerged, Italy, Spain, United States of America and the United Kingdom.
The Ghanaian situation
Locally, since the confirmation of the first cases imported from Norway and Turkey in March the rate of infection has surged to almost 15, 000 confirmed case as of June 23. Following that, the state took to contain the pandemic including; a ban on public gathering, closure of schools, religious activities, funerals as well as institution of social distancing protocols.
Many cases are currently managed at health centres and in some instances isolation and quarantine are done at homes, coupled with schools closure, the need to procure bulk food items to reduce the frequency of shopping for family consumption as well the risk of contamination, which was not planned for, brought hardships to poor families, single and non-income earning parents especially women with high burden of care work at home.
Unpaid Care workers
The burden of unpaid care work within this period at home has increased drastically due to some of the factors mentioned.
Unpaid Care work refers to all unpaid services provided within a household for its members, including; care of persons, housework and voluntary community work (Elson, 2000).
These actions are believed to be work, because hypothetically one would pay a third person to perform them. It is also Unpaid because the individual or group performing this activity (s) is not rewarded; Care because the activity offers what is important for the health, well-being and general maintenance of someone, families and communities.
It also regarded as work because the activity involves mental or physical effort and is costly in terms of time-use.
Challenges
The burden of care work has increased exponentially because, daily wage care work givers who used to commute on daily or weekly basis to work for income have lost that opportunity, the restriction on travel and movement made others unable to arrange for alternative means of support due to the fear of getting contaminated with the virus.
This compelled working mothers to juggle the stress of working from home, caring for children, cooking, cleaning and taking care of elderly in homes that have elderly people as well struggle to shop for family kitchens.
This may have a tall effect on girls and women who continue to observe partial lockdowns leading to domestic violence, accidents such as burns and create social problems even after COVID19 is wipe out.
Currently schools across the globe are closed aimed at halting the spread of the Corona virus, millions of children in rural communities and cities are mandated to stay home and this places a responsibility on mothers to do more.
Increased burden of care work
In Ghana and most parts of Africa where the nuclear family system is being practised amidst several effort geared towards womens empowerment, there is a greater possibility of increase in the demand for care workers, thereby placing more restrictions on women to take formal paid work.
Some available data indicate that globally, more women work in the health and social sectors compared to men.
Examples are nurses, midwives and community health workers, while others are health facility service staffs such as cleaners, laundry workers and caterers.
Presumably, these women will be playing the role of frontline workers, which require longer working hours, combined with increased care work at home.
In some cases, the additional burden of longer hours of work placed on these women are not adequately compensated compared to their male counterparts playing similar roles.
The disproportion in income level adversely puts women in an economically disadvantage position.
Bridging the gender inequality gap between men and women in paid jobs also means taking steps to recognizing, reducing and redistributing unpaid care work and promoting decent work for care workers including; domestic workers.
The world at large has been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic with the fact that, the worlds formal economies and the resilience to livelihoods are built on the invisible and unpaid labour of women.
The unseen economy dominated by most women especially those in rural communities indeed has real relationship on the formal economy.
Recommendations
As world fight the virus men and boys must make conscious effort to support women their every little way to reduce the burden on women by sharing some of the responsibilities at home to reduce the burden of unpaid care work.
In situations where there are other parents or care givers at home, one could negotiate childcare shifts. To further make the work easier at home, it will be advisable to create a schedule for time on and time off with other adults (including men) in the household.
We need to preach recognition and re-distribution of unpaid care work alongside stay at home since all family members are likely to be present to ensure the pressure from household chores is only on women and girls but share among men, and boys and those who are fit to work.
It is vital to use messaging like sharing is caring, care work is not womens work, participate in doing unpaid care work, men who unpaid care work are champions to educate and sensitize boys and young men to understand gender roles and create a balance in time-use for both sexes for unpaid care work.
States and governments must realize that care work both in its professional terms (health care governance and delivery) and the invisible aspects of it is what is keeping the world in this trying moment and should begin to think of new economics one that does not just measure progress by GDP growth, ignoring planetary boundaries and making unpaid work visible and part of GDP.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the new normal and as party parent should use the opportunity to bond, listen to their children and actively participate comprehensively in their growth.
Children will look to their parents for support and reassurance. Listening to children when they share their feelings, how they understand issues and how often they complain gives them a sense of security, assurance and comfort.
The writer is a Project Manager for Promoting Opportunities for Womens Empowerment and Rights (POWER) Project, Action Aid Ghana.
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.
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Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Bern, 23.06.2020 - Switzerland has been given an important role in the search for a peaceful solution to the Libyan crisis. Within the framework of the Berlin process, it will co-chair the working group on respect for international humanitarian law and human rights alongside the Netherlands and the United Nations. The Berlin process was launched in January 2020 to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Libya. This new mandate for Switzerland is consistent with its peace policy activities in Libya and furthers the objectives of its Foreign Policy Strategy 202023 in regard to peace and security.
In support of the UN peace process with Libyan parties, the Berlin process seeks to ensure international coherence in creating the conditions necessary for intra-Libyan dialogue on peace. An international follow-up committee was established to ensure implementation of the Berlin Conference conclusions. This committee comprises four working groups: security, political, economic, and international humanitarian law/international human rights law (IHL/IHRL).
The IHL/IHRL working group, co-chaired by Switzerland, the Netherlands and the UN, is mandated to promote greater respect for international humanitarian law and human rights by all parties in Libya. Specifically, it aims to protect the civilian population and infrastructure by safeguarding the medical mission, securing humanitarian access and ensuring that adequate measures are taken to protect civilians in Libya.
Switzerland will work with the member states of the Berlin process to fulfil the IHL/IHRL working group's mandate. It also calls on all parties to support the efforts of Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General Stephanie Williams in the search for a political solution, as proposed in the Berlin Conference conclusions.
As the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions, Switzerland has renowned expertise in international humanitarian law and human rights. Also, Switzerland has been active in Libya since 2011 through its peacebuilding and humanitarian aid as well as migration-related projects. It supports the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross and humanitarian organisations operating around the country. Furthermore, Switzerland plays host to the intra-Libyan peace talks under the auspices of the UN.
Peace and security is also one of the Federal Council's priorities set out in its Foreign Policy Strategy 202023. This includes contributing to conflict resolution and the promotion of human rights. Moreover, as armed conflicts lead to forced displacement, the search for peaceful solutions to conflicts contributes to reducing irregular migration.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
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Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
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The US has proposed a UN Security Council resolution condemning a devastating 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities it blames on Iran and proposing an extension of an arms embargo against the Islamic republic, sources said.
The embargo, put in place as part of a nuclear accord signed with Tehran in 2015, is set to expire in October, but Washington has been working to extend the ban as tensions with its arch-rival remain high.
On Friday, France, the UK and Germany -- all signatories to the deal -- issued a joint statement arguing against lifting the ban as scheduled, saying it could have "major implications for regional security and stability."
The US resolution -- a draft of which was obtained by AFP -- "condemns the attacks of September 2019 against Saudi Arabia carried out by Iran".
It also calls for the body to "prohibit the supply, sale or transfer, direct or indirect... of weapons and related materials," excluding those that are approved with 30 days' notice.
No date has been scheduled for a vote on the resolution and it is unlikely to pass, as veto-wielding China and Russia have already spoken out against extending the embargo.
The 2019 attacks on Saudi state oil giant Aramco's facilities caused extensive damage and briefly interrupted production of half of the country's oil output.
Parts of the cruise missiles and drones used in the attacks were either made in Iran or exported there, according to a UN report based on an examination of the debris released earlier this month.
Observers say the US attempt to extend the embargo is part of efforts to re-impose UN sanctions on Iran, lifted in 2015 when the agreement was signed.
France, the UK and Germany have already rejected any "unilateral attempt" to re-impose UN sanctions on Iran.
Iran agreed with major world powers in 2015 to freeze its nuclear program in return for the lifting of punishing international sanctions.
But in 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement and reimposed sanctions, prompting Iran to roll back its own commitments.
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Some One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Ghanaians with residents permit in Europe who were stranded in Ghana as a result of the lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic have been evacuated by the Ghanaian Community in Germany in collaboration with the German Government and the Government of Ghana.
The evacuees made up of 10 diplomats were on Monday airlifted in a chartered flight under the auspices of the German Consulate in Accra to the German city of Dusseldorf.
The exercise was the second in the series of evacuation exercises to be embarked on the Ghanaian Community in Germany.
The Ghanaian Community in Germany is expected in the next few weeks to airlift some One Thousand Ghanaians with residents permit in Europe as part of the decision of the Government of Ghana to ease the ban on travel by a special dispensation on the government to government level.
The evacuees will arrive at Dusseldorf city where they emplane to their various destinations in Europe namely Holland, Switzerland, Italy among others as the European Union (EU) has opened up its borders after the fight against Coronavirus.
Speaking to the media at the departure hall of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Jones Owusu Yeboah, a representative of the Ghanaian Community in Germany in Accra said the community in its first exercise was able to evacuate One Hundred and Seventy-Nine stranded German nationals from Ghana under the same protocols.
According to him, it was upon the fact that the first exercise was successful that the community decided to extend the opportunity to Ghanaians with residents permit in Europe.
evacuate or deportation
He said when evacuees disembark in Dusseldorf, they will be made to self-quarantine for two weeks before being tested for COVID-19 as part of the safety protocols in their various countries of destination.
He said the community, through a Whatsapp group, has identified about One Thousand stranded Ghanaians with residents permits and plans are underway to have them evacuated in accordance with the rules of engagement.
When asked why the large numbers in the plane, he explained that all beneficiaries have gone through the safety measures but the challenge with the numbers in the plane was that if we were to ensure social distancing, the cost of travel would be unbearable for the beneficiaries who have much of the money in the lockdown.
evacuate or deportation
At the moment every beneficiary is paying the amount of Seven Hundred and Fifty Euros as the cost of travel, he added.
This as an initiative to enable many of these Ghanaians who left their jobs to come on a visit in Accra to go back and continue with their jobs after spending more than three months in the country.
He said in todays exercise one woman who was travelling with the husband was rejected by Consular officials because she was unfit to travel in an aeroplane.
He took the opportunity to thank the leadership of the Ghanaian Community in Germany, the Government of Ghana and Germany government for buying into the ideas of the community to have people with legal permit evacuated though the borders of the country are still closed.
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.
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Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston has requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) investigate an incident early Tuesday involving an arrest by several sheriff deputies that he said he found "troubling."
Later on Tuesday, Sheriff Jim Hammond hit the action of the district attorney, saying he in effect "indicted" the deputies and "sensationalized" the case without allowing their side to be heard in court.
The officers involved are all white and the suspect, Ronald Arrington Jr., is black. He is from Ohio.
DA Pinkston said, "Several deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department arrested Reginald Arrington Jr. on the following charges: resisting arrest, simple assault on police, criminal impersonation, pedestrian in roadway and four counts of aggravated assault on police.
"During the arrest process, the officers and Arrington got into a physical altercation. The bodycam and dashcam footage from the officers caused enough concern to warrant an investigation."
He said, "I have not made a final determination on anything related to this case, but what I saw in the videos was troubling. That's why I'm requesting a thorough investigation to ascertain whether or not excessive force was used in this incident."
DA Pinkston added that all of the charges against Arrington were dropped later Tuesday morning.
He said he has also referred the matter to the Department of Justice for possible investigation, and notified the general counsel for Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Sheriff Hammond said, Earlier this morning, Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston released a video involving my deputies and Reginald Arrington, Jr., The video depicts my deputies actions in response to Arringtons resisting arrest. By releasing this video, along with dismissing Arringtons charges, General Pinkston essentially removed my deputies ability to offer direct testimony under oath pertaining to their actions and their training utilized in this incident.
"By hastily dismissing charges and releasing this video without allowing a legal, preliminary probable cause hearing to take place, I feel General Pinkstons actions will improperly influence and sensationalize the events of this incident to the public without allowing the legal process to effectively take place. Effectively, what General Pinkston has chosen to do is indict my deputies in the court of public opinion prior to facts being presented in a court of law.
"Many of our citizens will view this video of Arringtons resisting lawful arrest and may share concerns over how my deputies responded. Upon arrest, Arrington became combative at which time my deputies utilized compliance techniques, including the use of batons to eventually gain compliance. I ask our community to not rush to judgment based on the contents of the video, but allow for the investigation to take place at which time the actions of both my deputies and those of Arrington will be thoroughly reviewed. The dash cam video in question was taken internally by our personnel at the scene.
"Based upon preliminary review of the video, I am not placing any of the deputies involved in this incident on administrative leave. However, to ensure this event is thoroughly reviewed, I have ordered an Administrative Review to be conducted to ensure Arringtons treatment was justified and our policies and procedures were followed.
"We are a nation of law and order and in order to remain so, it is imperative we allow and encourage the legal process to take place. This includes allowing for preliminary probable cause hearings to take place so all sides can be heard. As always, we welcome an outside review and will cooperate and offer any evidence necessary to seek a legal and appropriate resolution.
"As sheriff, it has always been my intention that this agency stand firm and remain transparent even in the harshest light of public scrutiny. However, I cannot sit back and remain idle while my deputies have their right to be heard infringed upon.
The HCSO Deputies involved in this incident are:
Sergeant Mickey Rountree
Corporal Brian Killingsworth
Deputy Nick Dewy
Deputy Todd Cook
Deputy Charlene Choate
As per the TN Rules of Professional Conduct and as this is an ongoing investigation, the HCSO will not have any additional comments regarding this incident at this time.
Sheriff Hammond pointed to this section of Rules of Professional Conduct:
a) Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct 3.8 (f) (located in the Tennessee Supreme Court Rules) states, (f) except for statements that are necessary to inform the public of the nature and extent of the prosecutor's action and that serve a legitimate law enforcement purpose, shall refrain from making extrajudicial comments that have a substantial likelihood of heightening public condemnation of the accused and exercise reasonable care to prevent employees of the prosecutor's office from making an extrajudicial statement that the prosecutor would be prohibited from making under RPC 3.6 or this Rule; and discourage investigators, law enforcement personnel, and other persons assisting or associated with the prosecutor in a criminal matter from making an extrajudicial statement that the prosecutor would be prohibited from making under RPC 3.6 or this Rule.
b) In accordance with 11 (b) above, the HCSO nor its people will make statements regarding ongoing investigations. If we do make comments about an incident involving our people, it can taint the investigation and have a negative impact on the rights of the suspect, the victim, or the employee.
Deputies said they were dispatched to 4804 Waverly Court on a suspicious person. They were told a man in a blue jump suit was walking up to females and asking them questions. It was also believed that he had a weapon in his pocket.
Deputies said they found a man fitting that description walking along Old Lee Highway. He said his car was at a nearby Super 8 leaking gas. He said he had gone to see a female he knew, but she told him to leave. Deputies said a baton was used on him multiple times to try to get him under control.
Deputies said he was walking on the wrong side of the roadway. They said the man at first gave a false name and acted erratically. They said he emptied his pockets, saying he did not want to get shot. He also lay down in the roadway with his hands stretched out.
The arrest report says the man tried to jerk away from a deputy and he made several attempts to pull a deputy's gun out of his holster.
He was then struck in the leg with a police baton and he was able to knock a corporal to the ground by using his shoulder. They said he began to kick at the officers.
After he was finally subdued, officers said he was out of breath and sweating profusely so he was taken to Erlanger Hospital to be checked out. It was found he "only had an elevated heart rate."
The report says during the incident that Arrington "displayed superhuman strength and limited pain response.
One officer suffered a head injury and another a hand injury, it was stated.
THE ISSUE:
Primary day brings frustrations and some important races.
THE STAKES:
Citizens can show the right to vote matters by showing up and putting public officials on notice to get the bugs fixed.
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New York voters can add a weeklong vote count to the growing list of bugs in our electoral system - kinks that must be worked out before the general election in November.
Yes, we've written about the unprepared, sometimes-chaotic state of American democracy before. And we're doubtless going to write about it again, and again, until voters can be reasonably sure public officials have got it right.
Normally, when voters go to the polls, they would expect to have results that night. But that won't happen in Tuesday's primary, elections officials now say. An estimated 1.6 million people applied for absentee ballots after Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to his credit, lifted the usual restrictions (generally absentee voting is limited to people who are sick or out of their county on voting day). That means a massive job of logging, opening and counting ballots, a task elections boards say could take a week or more.
This matter of not having enough people to handle the work of democracy isn't just an issue in New York. Kentucky officials blame the pandemic for their shutting down most polls in the state, which left just one for Louisville's Jefferson County, population 766,000.
Some suggest - with good reason that this is the new Jim Crow. Closing polling places, purging voting records, or imposing onerous voter ID laws all has the effect, intentional or not, of suppressing the votes of minorities and poor people. Long waits for results, too, can drive a sense of frustration, leaving voters skeptical and hurting future turnout.
So states need to fix the bugs they're supposedly just discovering. That means being sure to have enough workers to open polls and secure procedures and plenty of staff to handle mail-in ballots. And President Donald Trump and many of his fellow Republicans need to stop their unfounded claim that mail-in voting is inherently corrupt. We need to shore up faith in our electoral system, not diminish it.
Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.
As for voters, they can show this matters to them by voting in spite of any frustrations. Among the primaries in the Capital Region, two Democratic races are particularly competitive: The 108th Assembly District race between incumbent John McDonald and Albany County Legislator Sam Fein, and the Albany County district attorney's contest between incumbent David Soares and attorney Matt Toporowski.
We've endorsed Mr. McDonald for the able job he's done in office. We've also endorsed Mr. Soares, both for the progressive positions and actions he has taken over the years and promises to in the future, and because Mr. Toporowski was untruthful about being disciplined and asked to resign while he was an assistant district attorney.
Whomever you prefer, if you haven't voted already, get to your poll Tuesday, wear your mask, practice social distancing, and cast your ballot, if for no other reason than to put those who run our elections on notice that you will not be deterred from exercising your right as a citizen. Oh, and wash your hands.
We will continue to deal with Chinese PLA in firm, resolute manner: Army chief
India's desire for peace is born out of strength, should not mistaken otherwise: Army Chief Naravane
Won't let any attempt to change status quo along India's border to succeed: Army chief
Indian Army Chief to visit Ladakh today, will meet with soldiers injured at Galwan Valley
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, June 23: Indian Army Chief, General M M Naravane will visit the Leh based 14 Corps in Ladakh today.
He would visit Ladakh after completing the ongoing meeting of the corps commanders. The Army Chief will be on a two day visit to Ladakh. He is also expected to meet the soldiers who were injured in the violent brawl with the Chinese on June 15 at Galwan Valley.
In talks with China, India demands restoration of status quo ante
While reviewing the situation, he would also be briefed about the military level talks between India and China.
Rath Yatra begins in Puri's Jagannath Temple amid curfew due to Covid-19 pandemic | Oneindia News
It may be recalled that military level talks between India and China were held on Tuesday. The talks went on for nearly 11 hours in which India demanded the restoration of status quo ante.
Fayaz Wani By
PTI
SRINAGAR: Two militants and a paramilitary CRPF jawan were killed in an encounter in militancy-hit south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Tuesday
A police official said a joint contingent of Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police, Armys 55 Rashtria Rifles and CRPF laid siege around Bandzoo village in Pulwama district in the early hours today after receiving inputs about presence of some militants there.
He said while security personnel were zeroing-in on a target area where the militants were hiding, the militants hiding in the area fired indiscriminately on the security forces.
The fire was returned by the troops, triggering an encounter.
In the ensuing gunfight, which continued for over two hours, two militants were killed and a CRPF jawan injured. The injured CRPF jawan was evacuated to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Defence spokesman in Srinagar Colonel Rajesh Kalia said two AK-assault rifles have been recovered from the encounter site.
He said the search operation was going on when reports last poured in.
A police official said they are ascertaining the identity of the militants killed in the gunfight.
The south Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag, which have emerged as stronghold of militants post Burhan Wanis killing in July 2016, has seen a surge in encounters this month. About 30 militants have been killed in nearly a dozen gunfights in the region this month so far.
Next-Gen Jammer Low Band Testing Prevails During COVID-19
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS200622-08
Release Date: 6/22/2020 2:22:00 PM
From Program Executive Office Tactical Aircraft Public Affairs
PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's Next-Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB) program simultaneously completed test events on schedule at two Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, facilities, despite limited staffing and significant COVID-19 restrictions.
Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234) NGJ-LB team was ready to begin its final Demonstration of Existing Technologies (DET) testing when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.
After a quick reassessment, the team held teleconference meetings with Naval Test Wing Atlantic Chief Flight Surgeon, government, and contractor participants to gain consensus on quarantine and test execution requirements. After making adjustments required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and NAVAIR, they were able to complete testing with two contractors' prototype pods at both Air Combat Environmental Test and Evaluation Facility (ACETEF) and the Facility for Antenna and RCS Measurement (FARM) in less than two months.
"Our start was delayed two and a half weeks to comply with a request from one of the contractors to delay testing in order to self-quarantine their personnel," said Dan Doster, NGJ-LB assistant program manager for Test and Evaluation. "This started a cascading effect that resulted in our test execution days being reduced from 15 to 10 days for the ACETEF test events for each contractor, but the team still managed to stay on schedule."
Other constraints included a 50 percent reduction in staff at the FARM and ACETEF control rooms.
"The reduction in staffing was a real concern for the FARM team because we were literally one-person deep in several key positions," said Greg Brannon, FARM lead. "If that one person or anyone on the team became infected and caused the rest of the team to be quarantined, or if the FARM had to be shut down for disinfecting, testing would have come to a halt, and it would have been very difficult, perhaps impossible, to recover."
Brannon said the team took mitigations to prevent that "doomsday" scenario very seriously. "We were very cautious about who people came in contact with on and off the job and performed daily health screenings for every person that entered the FARM. The mitigations may have been overboard, but they worked."
He also said the reduction in personnel was in some way a blessing.
"Limiting the number of people allowed on the FARM during testing reduced the security staff required to keep track of them. Further, the spaces in the FARM's test facilities are small, and the limitations to the number of people allowed in those spaces made it much more comfortable for those involved," Brannon said.
Despite the restrictions, the many teams involved were able to stay on task. The NGJ-LB test team was comprised of PMA-234 Program Office; L3Harris; Northrop Grumman Corporation; FARM; ACETEF; Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23; Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division; PMA-234's Jammer Technique Optimization (JATO); and Southern Maryland Crane Rental, Inc. personnel.
"The collaboration efforts of these organizations that spans across the country, have been tremendous," said PMA-234 Program Manager Michael Orr, who oversees the NGJ-LB program. "This was an incredible feat and I am extremely proud of the government and industry teams' ability to adapt and overcome. They all stepped up to make the necessary adjustments needed to complete these simultaneous test events and keep the NGJ-LB program on track to meet our next milestone."
The 22-month DET contract, awarded to L3Harris and Northrop Grumman Corporation, has been a collaborative effort with the industry partners to assess technical maturity and will conclude later this summer. The U.S. Navy is currently in source selection to choose a Prime contractor to develop the NGJ-LB Capability Block 1 tactical jamming operational prototypes with a contract award anticipated this fall.
NGJ-LB is part of a larger NGJ weapon system that will augment, and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System currently used for Airborne Electronic Attack on the EA-18G Growler aircraft.
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To address the growing need for nurses in Montana, a Washington-based nonprofit has given $1 million to St. John's United to help launch a nursing apprentice fellowship program.
St. John's is a senior living facility and has been in Billings for 57 years. The $1 million grant is the largest gift it has ever received and it was given by the Bruno and Evelyn Betti Foundation, a nonprofit based in Lacey, Washington.
"The fellowship will provide college tuition payment and health care work experience at St. John's for exceptional students pursing LPN, RN and BSN degrees," said Tom Schlotterback, vice president of mission advancement at St. John's.
Along with the announcement of the gift, the Montana Youth Apprenticeship Partnership recently announced that it approved St. John's nursing fellowship program, making it an official apprenticeship program with the state.
"We are excited to begin this apprentice fellowship program to help meet the critical need for health care professionals in out region," David Trost, CEO of St. John's said in a statement. "We designed the program to make it possible for students to pursue a career in nursing, receive on-the-job training and graduate free from tuition debt."
HKers in Shanghai unite and wish for better future
By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-06-23 10:14
Around 120 Hong Kongers in Shanghai gathered at the TX Huaihai | Youth Energy Center on June 21, calling for unity and cooperation to wish for a better future of Hong Kong.
An alliance of Hong Kong associations and societies in Shanghai was inaugurated the same day, with more than 100 attendees. Another 1,000 people watched the inauguration ceremony online.
Impacted by the radical violent activities and the coronavirus, Hong Kongs economy and society have been disrupted, with its prospect of future development being a concern for many people.
More than 20 organizations in Shanghai including the Shanghai Hong Kong Association, Hong Kong-Shanghai Youth Association, Hong Kong-Shanghai Economic Development Association, University of Hong Kong Shanghai Alumni Network, and the Shanghai HPOFA (Huangpu Overseas Friendship Association) Hong Kong Association.
It is the first time for these organizations to unite and work together for providing platforms and opportunities for young HKers to have a better future in Shanghai, said Edward Cheung, president of the Shanghai Hong Kong Association. The move is also aiming to instill confidence in HK to recover its glamour and metropolitan charm. That is also why the inauguration ceremony was held in TX Huaihai | Youth Energy Center, a place full of vigor and vitality.
Paul Mak and Gilman Too, coordinators of the newly launched alliance, said that from June to August, a series of activities will be launched to benefit around 1,000 HKers in Shanghai, covering dining, housing, transportation, clothing and lifestyle.
To celebrate the launch of the alliance, president of the Hong Kong-Shanghai Economic Development Association, Andrew Yao, together with some other people involved in Shanghai and HK cooperation, sent their messages of support for HKs future prosperity through videos.
Representatives from HK organizations in Shanghai also brought gifts to celebrate the upcoming 23rd anniversary of HKs Return to China on July 1, believing that the city will usher in a rebirth of development and have a brighter future.
Accusing Rahul Gandhi of trying to "divide the nation" and "demoralise" the armed forces during crucial situations, BJP president JP Nadda asked on June 23 if it was the "effect" of the MoU the Congress had signed with the Communist Party of China. "First, Congress signs MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. Then, Congress surrenders land to China. During Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to the Chinese embassy. During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation and demoralise armed forces. Effects of MoU?" Nadda said in a tweet.
The two parties had signed a memorandum of understanding in 2008 to facilitate high-level exchange between them and consult each other over important regional and international issues.
The BJP has cited this to attack the Congress as the opposition party has become increasingly aggressive against the Narendra Modi government over its handling of the border standoff with China.
In 2008, Rahul Gandhi, then a Congress general secretary, and Xi Jinping, then a senior functionary of his party and now China's president, had signed the MoU.
As many as 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, were killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in Galwan valley in Ladakh last week.
As per government sources, a phase-wise repatriation of the Indian nationals, stranded in Pakistan will be sent back to India through the Wagah border, starting from June 25, 2020, with overall process of repatriation being done in at least there phases.
In that process, at least 748 Indian nationals got stranded in Pakistan, who will now be returning home as the federal government has finalized the schedule for their repatriation.
The Indian Embassy, which has been in contact with the Indian nationals, had initially given Tuesday, as the date when they would be repatriated back to India. However, with change in schedule, the repatriation process will start from Thursday.
As per details acquired from the Home Ministry, the Indian nationals will be repatriated to India from the Wagah border in three phases. A list of the Indian nationals has also been provided to the relevant departments and the Punjab Rangers.
In the first phase, at least 250 Indian nationals will be repatriated on Thursday. At least 250 more will return to India on Friday and the third group of at least 248 Indians will return on Saturday.
As per the order, the Wagah Border will be opened from June 25 to 27 for the return of the Indian nationals.
Pakistan government has also notified the immigration officials to reach Wagah border on these days to ensure smooth repatriation of the Indian nationals.
It should be noted that the Indian nationals returning from Pakistan would be quarantined for at least 14 days while citizens from Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh will be quarantined in their respective states.
Pakistan has also called on India to schedule return of Pakistani nationals stranded in India. At least 250 Pakistani nationals have returned from India till date while schedule of return of the remaining stranded Pakistanis in India is yet to be given by the Indian government.
--IANS
hza/in
Funded exclusively by CBI, the 254 new homes are part of the Housing Revolution, which aims to build around 5,000 hurricane-proof homes across the island. Besides safer accommodation, climate resilience policies create an economic safety net for Dominica, particularly for agriculture, entrepreneurship, and its thriving ecotourism sector.
"We continue to focus on the business of improving the lives of Dominican people," PM Skerrit noted during the online broadcast. "On Wednesday, we handed over 64 keys to residents of Grand Fond. On Thursday, 122 residents of La Plaine and Delices received keys to brand-new homes. And on Friday, 67 residents of San Sauveur, Good Hope, [and] Petite Soufriere became proud new homeowners and I am very happy for all of them," said the PM. "Our aim is to revolutionise housing in Dominica [] We remain focused on providing our people with decent homes in which to raise their families and live in comfort," PM Skerrit concluded.
The Prime Minister also spoke with an inspiring young Dominican entrepreneur, Shane Carriere, owner of Carriere Systems, specialised in ICT solutions, surveillance systems and renewable energy innovation. The company developed a solar-powered irrigation system to assist small farmers, with affordable non-automated versions. The young entrepreneur advised those wishing to start their own businesses to discover the funding avenues already available in Dominica. "This government has demonstrated considerable commitment to small business development over the years," PM Skerrit said. Inspired by young entrepreneurs like Mr Carriere, the Prime Minister announced plans for an upcoming piece of legislation that would further support youth start-ups.
Dominica attracts reputable foreign investors who become citizens by contributing to its economy via the CBI Programme. Relying on transparency, integrity and value, Dominica remains the best country for citizenship by investment, according to the CBI Index, published by the Financial Times' PWM magazine.
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SOURCE CS Global Partners
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Efforts Underway to Hire and Train Local Team Members and Military Veterans
COLQUITT COUNTY, Georgia, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - PCL Construction Services, Inc., one of the largest contractors in North America, today announced that the company has begun construction on the 20-megawatt (MW AC ) Odom Solar Farm, located near the city of Moultrie in Colquitt County, a rural community in Southwest Georgia.
Silicon Ranch Corporation, one of the nation's largest independent solar power producers, selected PCL's solar division as the Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) contractor for the project. One of the industry's most well-resourced contractors providing EPC services, PCL's contracted solar projects in the United States, Australia, and Canada total over one gigawatt.
The Odom Solar Farm is part of a portfolio of projects that will provide power to Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) as part of the utility's agreement to supply 100 percent renewable energy for Facebook's data center in Newton County, Georgia. In total, Walton EMC and Silicon Ranch have executed six contracts totaling 435 MW AC of new renewable energy generation to support Facebook's operations in Georgia. Silicon Ranch commissioned the first of these projects, the 102.5 MW AC Bancroft Station Solar Farm in Early County, in November 2019.
PCL is responsible for the design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover of the utility-scale solar facility. Silicon Ranch is funding the installation and will own and operate the array for the long-term, a disciplined approach the company takes with every project it develops.
Both Silicon Ranch and PCL share a commitment to safety and are following CDC and OSHA guidance for preparing workplaces and responding to COVID-19 at the project site through social distancing, additional cleaning, and monitoring standards in an effort to reduce the impact of the virus. Workers supporting the energy sector through renewable energy, including those involved with construction, have been identified as "essential" by the Department of Homeland Security. More information on critical infrastructure during COVID-19 can be found here.
To construct the project, PCL and its subcontractors will hire approximately 150 craft workers, with preference given to recruits from the local labor pool and the military veteran community. Positions include mechanics, electricians, operators, foremen, safety professionals, inventory specialists, carpenters, installers, general laborers, and more. Area residents interested in working on the project can learn more by visiting the 'Skilled Craft' section of PCL's website.
"As the long-term owner of our projects, Silicon Ranch is committed to supporting the communities we serve, and we're pleased to work with PCL to execute this vision in Colquitt County," said Silicon Ranch Co-Founder and CEO Reagan Farr. "Silicon Ranch has invested significantly in the local and statewide economy over the past several years, and we are grateful to Walton EMC and Facebook for making the Odom Solar Farm and this investment possible in rural southwest Georgia."
"PCL believes in the ability of solar power producers to bring long-term value and economic development to local communities through access to low-cost, clean energy," said Rick Goldman, vice president & district manager for PCL. "As a collaborative construction partner, we are committed to driving economic opportunities to the Colquitt County community through partnership with Silicon Ranch and the local labor pool."
"Because our customers own us, Walton EMC's primary focus is serving their needs," said Walton EMC CEO Ronnie Lee. "Our partner, Silicon Ranch, has enabled us to supply Facebook with the renewable energy they desire for the Newton Data Center. Besides being good citizens and contributing to the economic wellbeing of the communities where they locate, Silicon Ranch also cares for the environment through their Regenerative Energy platform. This fits perfectly with our principle of 'concern for community.'"
According to Barbara Grogan, President of the Moultrie Colquitt County Development Authority, "Colquitt County welcomes both Silicon Ranch Corporation and PCL Construction Services to the community. Silicon Ranch will be joining the business and industry leaders of Colquitt County as an engaged member of our civic community, providing quality jobs initially through PCL Construction and expanding the tax base in the long term. The Authority looks forward to many years of community commitment by Silicon Ranch and others who wish to develop solar arrays."
The U.S. is the second-largest generator of solar power in the world, and Georgia remains one of the fastest-growing markets for growth in the country. In its 10th annual National Solar Jobs Census, the Solar Foundation reported that Georgia placed first in the nation in 2019 in the rate of solar job growth, with an increase of nearly 30 percent. According to Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, the state of Georgia is projected to see continued growth in solar construction through at least 2024.
About Silicon Ranch Corporation
Silicon Ranch is the U.S. solar platform for Shell and one of the largest independent solar power producers in the country. Silicon Ranch's work with a diverse set of customers across the country, including Fortune 500 companies and electric cooperatives, demonstrates its ability to customize solutions that ensure successful outcomes. The company's operating portfolio includes more than 135 facilities across 14 states from New York to California, including the first large-scale solar projects in Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Silicon Ranch pioneered utility-scale solar in Georgia and is today a recognized market leader, with more than 1 Gigawatt across the state. To learn more, visit siliconranch.com and go to facebook.com/siliconranch
About PCL Construction
PCL is a group of independent construction companies that carries out work across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and in Australia. These diverse operations in solar and power production, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and buildings markets are supported by a strategic presence in 31 major centers. Together, these companies have an annual construction volume of more than $6 billion, making PCL one of the largest contracting organizations in North America. Watch us build at PCL.com.
About Walton EMC
Walton EMC is an innovative, customer-owned electric utility serving accounts in 10 Northeast Georgia counties between Atlanta and Athens. In its long history of meeting customer-owners' needs, the cooperative established successful natural gas and security subsidiaries as well as nationally recognized residential consumer and commercial customer choice solar initiatives. For more information, visit waltonemc.com or facebook.com/waltonemc.
SOURCE PCL Construction
SILVER SPRING, Md., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched Project Patient Voice, an initiative of the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE). Through a new website, Project Patient Voice creates a consistent source of publicly available information describing patient-reported symptoms from cancer trials for marketed treatments. While this patient-reported data has historically been analyzed by the FDA during the drug approval process, it is rarely included in product labeling and, therefore, is largely inaccessible to the public.
"Project Patient Voice has been initiated by the Oncology Center of Excellence to give patients and health care professionals unique information on symptomatic side effects to better inform their treatment choices," said FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy, M.D., Ph.D. "The Project Patient Voice pilot is a significant step in advancing a patient-centered approach to oncology drug development. Where patient-reported symptom information is collected rigorously, this information should be readily available to patients."
Patient-reported outcome (PRO) data is collected using questionnaires that patients complete during clinical trials. These questionnaires are designed to capture important information about disease- or treatment-related symptoms. This includes how severe or how often a symptom or side effect occurs.
Patient-reported data can provide additional, complementary information for health care professionals to discuss with patients, specifically when discussing the potential side effects of a particular cancer treatment. In contrast to the clinician-reported safety data in product labeling, the data in Project Patient Voice is obtained directly from patients and can show symptoms before treatment starts and at multiple time points while receiving cancer treatment.
The Project Patient Voice website will include a list of cancer clinical trials that have available patient-reported symptom data. Each trial will include a table of the patient-reported symptoms collected. Each patient-reported symptom can be selected to display a series of bar and pie charts describing the patient-reported symptom at baseline (before treatment starts) and over the first 6 months of treatment. This information provides insights into side effects not currently available in standard FDA safety tables, including existing symptoms before the start of treatment, symptoms over time, and the subset of patients who did not have a particular symptom prior to starting treatment.
In the first phase of this pilot website, only one trial will be included while the FDA seeks public feedback on how the information is presented. The FDA will use this feedback to consider improvements to the website in order to make the information as user-friendly as possible.
The visualizations and data included on the website are voluntarily provided by the drug companies that conducted the clinical trials. AstraZeneca is the first company to provide patient-reported outcome data for one of their FDA-approved drugs and has collaborated with the FDA to identify methods to display the information in a way that is informative to health care professionals and patients.
"There have long been calls to provide information to patients about how they may feel and function when receiving a cancer treatment. By initiating Project Patient Voice, we are moving towards standardized methods to display these outcomes, starting with patient-reported symptomatic adverse events," said Paul Kluetz, M.D., deputy director of the FDA's OCE. "We encourage sponsors to collect this data systematically and look forward to welcoming additional sponsor collaboration as we work to help further serve the patient community."
Project Patient Voice is not meant to replace the clinician-reported safety information that is available as part of a drug's labeling. Data from Project Patient Voice should not substitute for advice from a health care professional. Rather, Project Patient Voice serves as a complement to FDA patient labeling and patient information, not a sole source of information on which to make decisions about medical care.
The FDA will seek public feedback regarding the Project Patient Voice pilot effort at a virtual public workshop co-sponsored with the American Society of Clinical Oncology on July 17. The "Clinical Outcome Assessments in Cancer Clinical Trials" workshop will include health care providers, patients, health outcomes researchers, industry, advocacy groups and other stakeholders interested in rigorous measurement of symptom and functional outcomes. In addition to discussing trial design considerations to obtain patient-reported symptomatic side effects, the FDA will obtain feedback on the presentation of PRO symptomatic side effect data on the Project Patient Voice website to further ensure that the information is clear and meaningful to health care professionals and patients.
Additional Resources:
Media Contact: Nathan Arnold, (301) 796-6248
Consumer Inquiries: Email or 888-INFO-FDA
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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The death has occurred of Vincent (Vinnie) O'Donnell, Hillcrest Park, St Patrick's Road.
Late of Upper Careys Road. Predeceased by father Vincent, brothers Paul and Mark. Very deeply regretted by his loving wife Rita, sons Gavin and Scott, mother Alice, sisters, nieces, nephews, and all other extended O'Donnell and Hanley families.
Due to government guidelines regarding public gatherings a private family funeral to take place on Thursday. Those wishing to express their sympathy can do soin the condolence section or can send a mass card or letters of sympathy by post to Cross' Funeral Directors.
May he rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Mary Nestor (nee Bourke), Lower Whitethorn Drive, Caherdavin.
Mother of the late Deborah. Predeceased by her brother Eugene. Very deeply regretted by her loving husband Dermot, children Michelle, Dermot, Niall and Eoin, grandchildren Amy, Enya, Erin, James, Richard, Casey, Michaela, Josh, Natan, Saoirse, Joy, Jamie and Mia, sister Anne and all the Nestor and Bourke extended families and kind neighbours.
A private Mass will take place in Christ the King Church, Caherdavin this Thursday at 1.00pm. The funeral cortege will pass Mary's residence at approximately 12.30pm. A Memorial Mass to celebrate Mary's life will be held at a later date. In line with best practice taken from government advice regarding public gatherings, a private funeral will take place. Sympathies may be expressed through rip.ie condolence section. Mass cards and letters of sympathy can be posted to Joseph Cross and Sons, Funeral Directors.
May she rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Daniel (Dan) Kennelly, Portmarnock, Co Dublin and formerly of Limerick.
Peacefully, at home. Beloved husband of the late Eileen and loving father of David, Donald, Sean, Mairead, Fiona and Deirdre. Sadly missed by his sons, daughters, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Due to government advice regarding public gatherings, a private funeral will take place. Those who wish to, may leave a message of condolence in the condolences section on the www.rip.ie page. A memorial Mass to celebrate his life will take place at a later date. No flowers please. Donations in lieu to the Society of Vincent de Paul at https://www.svp.ie
May he rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Mary Hughes (nee O'Grady), Thomas Street, Rathkeale.
Peacefully after a short illness in the wonderful care of the staff in Ennis General Hospital. Predeceased by her husband John and brother Mick. Deeply regretted by her loving daughter Rosemarie, son-in-law Mike, grandchildren Ashlee, Clodagh, Evan, Olivia and her husband Tareq, great grandchildren Malik and Omar, brothers Bill, Pat and John, sisters Kit (ORiordan), Ann Tighe, Sr Josephine, Tess Cooney, Lill Bailey and Helen, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Arriving at St Marys Church, Rathkeale for 2pm Requiem Mass this Thursday, June 25. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. A memorial Mass celebrating Mary's life will be held at a later date.
In compliance with Covid-19 guidelines Mary's funeral Mass is family only. Sympathies may be expressed using the condolence link below or by post to O'Grady Funeral Directors.
May her gentle soul rest in peace.
The death has occurred of Thomas Beville, Courtfield, Raheen.
Peacefully, at Milford Care Centre. Very deeply regretted by his loving wife Michelle, children Josh, Adam, Jamie, Thomas, Kieran, Shannon and Tiffany, grandchildren Lillymae, Paisley, Tommie, Abbieleigh and Jonathan, father Thomas, brothers Martin and Mark, sister Maria, other relatives and many friends.
A private Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, June 26 at 11am in St Saviour's Dominican Church, Glentworth Street. A Memorial Mass to celebrate Thomas' life will be held at a later date. In line with best practice taken from government advice regarding public gatherings, a private funeral will take place. Sympathies may be expressed on rip.ie condolence section. Mass Cards and letters of sympathy can be posted to Cross' Funeral Directors.
May he rest in peace.
Space tourism company Virgin Galactic has just revealed a novel extension of their business mode, through a new agreement signed with NASA enabled by the Space Act Agreement. The arrangement will see Virgin Galactic purchase seats on spacecraft bound for the orbiting International Space Station, as well as provide training and supplies and resources for those individuals. Virgin Galactic is in the process of developing its own sub-orbital space tourism program using its own spacecraft that will launch from a carrier airplane, but this deal would involve use of other spacecraft that have the capacity to reach orbit and the ISS -- which Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo can't do.
The most likely candidate for where Virgin will be procuring those seats right now is SpaceX, although Virgin's press release announcing the news does not mention the Elon Musk-led company. SpaceX's Crew Dragon, which is currently docked at the ISS after its first-ever successful astronaut-carrying launch last month, is likely to become the first human-rated private spacecraft certified by NASA upon its return to Earth, likely happening sometime around August. Crew Dragon can hold as many as seven people per launch, and NASA is only ever going to use a maximum of four seats, the agency has said, with hopes that private individuals, including researchers and tourists, will buy up remaining tickets to help offset the costs of launch.
Virgin Galactic will essentially be operating a launch services business for private astronauts, similar to the one set up by Space Adventures, which has an agreement in place with SpaceX, and which previously brokered trips to the ISS for private astronauts, including Anousheh Ansari aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. Again, SpaceX hasn't been mentioned here specifically, and Virgin Galactic will likely also be seeking access to Boeing's Starliner crew spacecraft once it's operational and certified to transport humans to the ISS, too. It is interesting to note that SpaceX's arrangement with Space Adventures thus far focuses only on orbital fly-and-return missions for Crew Dragon, and not on any flights that would involve actually docking at the ISS.
Also worth noting is that Virgin Galactic will be procuring and training private astronauts, including individual citizens, as well as government-sponsored scientific research missions. So publicly funded scientists that aren't specifically NASA astronauts will likely also go through Virgin. The private spaceflight company says it will use its Spaceport America facility in New Mexico for "some elements of the training program."
Virgin Galactic's move from being a private spaceflight launch provider to a services and procurement company working between NASA and private spaceflight launch companies is definitely a large and significant shift in its business. It should definitely decrease the company's time to revenue as it continues to develop and test its own human launch capabilities, a process which obviously carries a lot more overhead than working with existing, already certified launch providers as an intermediary provider.
Britons can expect to see temperatures of up to 28C on Tuesday as the nation braces for a heatwave and the warmest day of the year so far.
It will be sunny for the vast majority of the UK, with some rain in Northern Ireland and western Scotland.
Highs of 28C are expected in the southeast of England while the mercury will hit 25C in Cardiff and 23C in Liverpool.
Temperatures will climb into the 30s as the week progresses, with forecasters predicting the hottest day of the year could be recorded several times over by the end of the week.
However, the record for the hottest June day ever looks set to remain in tact, as temperatures will not quite reach the 35.6C seen in 1976.
Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said: Weve got high pressure to the southeast of the UK over the next few days which is going to be drawing our air up from the continent, and the warmer climates of France and Spain.
Tuesdays top temperature is expected to be around 28C in the southeast of England, with other areas quite widely getting into the mid 20s, the forecaster said.
The hottest day of the year so far was 28.9 degrees reached last month, and Mr Miall said: Its likely tomorrow will beat that in the South, do it again on Wednesday and then again on Thursday.
Thursday will probably be the hottest day in the region of 33 or 34 degrees, but he added thats not quite the June record from 1976.
Although its fairly uncommon to get 34 in June at the moment, it doesnt look like were going to break any of the records.
Things will start to cool off for the weekend, and the meteorologist explained: By Saturday most places will be seeing the fresher air coming across for the weekend, so although it might still be humid at times I think generally temperatures will be falling below heatwave.
With the dry and sunny weather expected and the governments Covid-19 alert level lowered to three, emergency services across the country are urging people to continue to respect the two-metre social-distancing restriction.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has also warned against starting campfires which can easily get out of control, and to call 999 immediately if you spot a fire.
The NFCC said: The weather is forecast to improve and, although weve had our fair share of rain recently, the risk of wildfires remains.
These fires are often preventable, so if you are enjoying the countryside please be wildfire-aware and look out for our advice.
People with elderly relatives should also make sure they are finding a way to keep cool during the lockdown, Age UK has warned.
The charitys director, Caroline Abrahams, said older people are more susceptible to heat-related illness.
Lockdown and shielding bring added complications as it can be harder to spot someone who may be getting into difficulties and in need of extra help, she said.
There are so many different ways to get in touch during the pandemic, whether its a note through the door, picking up the phone, or, for those online, messaging via social media or chatting by video message like Face Time or Skype.
The important thing is keeping in touch and to make sure older people are okay.
Additional reporting by Press Association
Kitchen appliance companies, which have been hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdown, expect a resurgence in demand in the second or third quarter of the year, as the domestic kitchens have been stressed during the lockdown period and kitchen improvement may be a top priority in households now.
TTK Prestige, the home appliance firm of the TTK Group, has said that in the last quarter of 2019-20, around Rs 70 crore worth of sales could not be executed because of the lockdown. While the results are expected to be announced on June 25, it has earlier informed the exchanges that standalone sales ...
The rehabilitation hospital will house the most current technologies available in the rehabilitation field to treat specific diagnoses such as stroke, amputation, multiple trauma, pulmonary rehab, spinal cord injury, orthopedic rehab, post-op neurosurgery, wound care, burns, arthritis and many more. Ernest's inpatient medical rehabilitation hospital will provide a safe, cheerful environment where patients benefit from their compassionate and professional round-the-clock care. "We are very excited to be an integral part of the Bakersfield medical community. Our medical rehabilitation hospital will serve the unmet rehabilitation needs of the community through pioneering medical programs and a cutting-edge facility. I would like to thank the physicians who have strongly supported the project as well as General Contactor GL Bruno and MPT for their development and financing of this state-of-the-art hospital," said Brad Hollinger, Vibra Healthcare and Ernest Health CEO. This new addition to the Rio Bravo Medical Campus will bring around 150 new jobs to the area, about two-thirds being medical staff.
Development and construction of the hospital will cost an estimated $48 million and is projected to be completed by the fall of 2021. The GLB team is responsible for all construction including a commitment to deliver the project on schedule and within budget. "We're so pleased and excited that we earned the trust of Ernest Health and Vibra Healthcare to deliver this state-of-the-art rehab hospital," said Mike Bogna, who leads GLB's construction department. "GLB is committed to continuous learning and development, and we're looking forward to applying our technical know-how, experience, and innovative techniques to deliver exceptional results."
About G.L. Bruno Associates, Inc.
Founded in 1978 by Gary L. Bruno, GLB is a vertically integrated company headquartered in Fresno,CA that develops, constructs, and manages healthcare projects. Completing projects throughout California and the western United States, GLB has represented physicians, medical groups, hospitals, and health systems in the development of complex medical facilities such as cancer, surgery, and imaging centers. GLB provides complete development services including acquiring land, forming ownership entities, creating performance projections, managing and overseeing design, obtaining entitlements, performing general construction, securing financing and managing assets. For more information regarding GLB, please visit www.glbruno.com.
About Ernest Health
Ernest Health was founded in 2004 and has been providing specialized rehabilitative services to patients since 2005, when the first hospitals opened. Ernest Health's rehabilitation hospitals treat thousands of patients every year who are recovering from disabilities caused by injuries or illnesses, such as strokes, orthopedic, brain and spinal cord injuries. The hospitals also treat individuals with chronic illnesses such as cerebral palsy, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson's disease.
About Vibra Healthcare, LLC
Vibra Healthcare, LLC is a post-acute care provider based in Mechanicsburg, PA that is focused on the development, acquisition, and operation of freestanding specialty acute care hospitals, medical rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient physical rehabilitation centers. Teams of highly trained specialists lead clinical programs at Vibra's specialty hospitals for rehabilitating patients who suffer from strokes, multiple traumas, major orthopedic, neurologic, cardiac, and respiratory conditions. Vibra and its affiliates currently employ over 6,000 employees and own, operate, and manage over 45 specialty hospitals, transitional care units/facilities, and hospital-based outpatient physical therapy locations in 14 states. For additional information about Vibra Healthcare's network of specialty hospitals and post-acute care continuum, please visit our website at www.vibrahealthcare.com.
SOURCE Ernest Health; Vibra Healthcare
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The former president of the now-defunct Sigma Pi fraternity at Ohio University has pleaded guilty to drug and hazing charges in relation to the November 2018 death of freshman Colin Wiant.
Elijah R. Wahib, 22, from Cleveland, entered a guilty plea to two counts of felony obstruction of justice, felony permitting drug use, and two counts of misdemeanor hazing on Tuesday morning, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
Prosecutors said that during his time as president of the fraternity, Wahib allowed members to haze pledges including forcing them to drink hot sauce and exercise as well as permitting drug use to take place at Sigma Pis unofficial, off-campus house, at 45 Mill St. in Athens.
Following Wiants death, a search of the premises yielded cocaine, Xanax, ecstasy and marijuana, prosecutors said.
Wahib also instructed fraternity members to not provide any information to Ohio University investigators probing the circumstances surrounding Wiant's death.
Elijah R. Wahib (Pictured in November), 22, from Cleveland, entered a guilty plea to two counts of felony obstruction of justice, felony permitting drug use, and two counts of misdemeanor hazing on Tuesday morning
The charges were levelled against Wahib in relation to the November 2018 death of freshman Colin Wiant (above), who died of asphyxiation after ingesting nitrous oxide
Wahib was sentenced by Athens County Common Pleas Judge Patrick Lang via Zoom conference on Tuesday and ordered to serve 31 days in jail for the misdemeanours and to participate in a drug and alcohol diversion program for the felony charges.
Following Tuesday mornings hearing, Wahib became the fifth member of the Sigma Pi fraternity to plead guilty to charges relating to the death of Wiant.
Wiants parents, Kathleen and Wade Wiant, filed a lawsuit against Sigma Pi last year after a coroner ruled that their son, from the Columbus suburb of Dublin, died of asphyxiation after ingesting nitrous oxide.
It is alleged members of Sigma Pi allegedly forced him to ingest nitrous oxide from canisters while doing 'whippets' inside their fraternity house on November 11, 2018.
Whippets refer to the act of huffing nitrous oxide from canisters, like whipped cream cans, to receive a quick high.
The lawsuit, filed in Athens County Court last February, also claimed the teen was beaten with a belt, pelted with eggs, deprived of sleep, and forced to drink a gallon of alcohol in an hour, as part of his first year initiation.
He was also forced to consume a toxic cocktail of cocaine, marijuana, Adderall and Xanax, according to his parents.
Wiant ominously told a friend that he knew he was going to be hazed by fraternity members on the night of his death, the suit outlined.
Wiant was found unresponsive the next morning and local authorities were called. Wiant was taken to the OhioHealth O'Bleness Hospital in Athens, where he was later pronounced dead.
Wahib was sentenced by Athens County Common Pleas Judge Patrick Lang via Zoom conference on Tuesday and ordered to serve 31 days in jail for the misdemeanours and to participate in a drug and alcohol diversion program for the felony charges
Wiants parents, Kathleen and Wade Wiant, sued Sigma Pi last year, after a coroner ruled that their son, from the Columbus suburb of Dublin, died of asphyxiation after ingesting nitrous oxide
The family also say their son was required to be 'on call' at all hours of the day for other Sigma Pi members, which contributed to an sharp decline in his academic performance and mental health.
The Sigma Pi fraternity was ordered to shut down immediately in the wake of Wiant's tragic death.
In total, nine members of Sigma Pi have been charged since. Five have now entered guilty pleas for varying charges, while four criminal cases are still pending.
Former OU student Saxon Angell-Perez, 22, of Upper Arlington, pleaded guilty in May to felony permitting drug abuse, felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor hazing charges.
Perezs plea followed that of 21-year-old Dominic Figliola, of Athens, who pleaded guilty in February to charges of drug possession, a misdemeanor charge of hazing and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws.
Cullen W. McLaughlin, 20, of Pennsylvania pleaded guilty the same day to two felony counts of LSD possession.
Zachary Herskovitz, 22, also of Pennsylvania, previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge of permitting drug abuse and a misdemeanor hazing charge. He was sentenced to a diversion program and one year of non-reporting probation.
Perez, Figliola, Herskovitz and McLaughlin did not receive jail time, but all must complete the diversion program run by the Athens County prosecutors office, the Dispatch reported.
A lawsuit, filed in Athens County Court by Wade and Kathleen (seen right) last February, also claimed the teen was beaten with a belt, pelted with eggs, deprived of sleep, and forced to drink a gallon of alcohol in an hour, as part of his first year initiation
Former OU student Saxon Angell-Perez (left), 22, of Upper Arlington, pleaded guilty in May to felony permitting drug abuse, felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor hazing charges. Perezs plea followed that of 21-year-old Dominic Figliola (right), of Athens, who pleaded guilty in February to charges of drug possession, a misdemeanor charge of hazing and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws.
Cullen W. McLaughlin (left), 20, of Pennsylvania pleaded guilty the same day to two felony counts of LSD possession. Zachary Herskovitz (right), 22, also of Pennsylvania, previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge of permitting drug abuse and a misdemeanor hazing charge. He was sentenced to a diversion program and one year of non-reporting probation.
As part of their pleas, the four men also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the remaining cases against their former fraternity brothers, Joshua Androsac, 20; Corbin Gustafson, 22; James Dylan Wanke, 25; and Stephan Lewis, 27.
Androsac, of Ohio, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, permitting drug abuse, hazing and two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants.
Gustafson, from Pennsylvania, has been charged with reckless homicide.
Wanke is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants, and distributing nitrous oxide.
And Lewis faces charges of trafficking in harmful intoxicants and improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide.
During Tuesdays hearing, Wahib briefly address the court and Wiant family, who were also present via video link.
I want to extend my sincere condolences to the Wiant family, he said, adding that he also was remorseful to the state and court for his previous conduct during previous proceedings.
Four criminal cases are still pending against other members of Sigma Pi, including that of James Wanke (above), 25, who is is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants, and distributing nitrous oxide
Joshua Androsac (left), of Ohio, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, permitting drug abuse, hazing and two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants. Corbin Gustafson (center), from Pennsylvania, has been charged with reckless homicide. And Stephan Lewis (right) faces charges of trafficking in harmful intoxicants and improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide.
Wade said that the sadness surrounding his sons death is never more evident than on Fathers Day. He said his other four children known they can never eliminate his grief for even a day, which hurts their family
Wade and Kathleen Wiant also addressed Wahib separately.
Wade said that the sadness surrounding his sons death is never more evident than on Fathers Day. He said his other four children known they can never eliminate his grief for even a day, which hurts their family.
Collins death wouldve been avoided with the right leadership in this organization, Wade said, adding that Wahib was elected to lead men and he failed.
Kathleen said that though she has lost loved ones before, nothing compares to the emotional trauma of losing her son.
Despite her unrelenting grief, she said she hopes some good can come out of her sons death and vowed to continue with her efforts to promote anti-hazing.
CHICAGO, June 23, 2020 According to the new market research report "Hydroxyapatite Market by Type (Nano-size, Micro-size, Greater than Micrometers) Application (Orthopedic, Dental Care, Plastic Surgery) Orthopedic (Synthetic and Natural Source) Dental Care (Toothpaste and Others) and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Hydroxyapatite (HAp) market is projected to grow from USD 2.2 billion in 2020 to USD 3.1 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 6.8% between 2020 and 2025.
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Increasing demand for orthopedic and dental implants, the growing popularity of bioactive materials, and continuous R&D activities to increase the applicability of hydroxyapatite are expected to drive the growth of the Hydroxyapatite market across the globe during the forecast period.
Among types, the nano-size Hydroxyapatite market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
The recent developments of Hydroxyapatite based biomaterials for biomedical application is mainly attributed to the advancement in nanotechnology. This advancement in technology helps overcome the shortcomings of micro-size Hydroxyapatite, such as a large surface area in relation to volume and unusual chemical synergistic effects. Nano-size Hydroxyapatite exhibits improved sinterability and enhanced densification, due to which, the fracture toughness and mechanical properties improve. These properties of nano-size Hydroxyapatite increases its demand in various applications such as orthopedic, dental care, plastic surgery, food, and pharmaceuticals.
Among applications, the orthopedic segment of the Hydroxyapatite market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
Among applications, the orthopedic segment of the Hydroxyapatite market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2020 and 2025. Hydroxyapatite is used as a natural bone substitute in orthopedic applications. It is also widely used to coat metal implants to increase their biocompatibility. The aging population and growing accessibility and affordability of orthopedic treatments are fueling the growth of the orthopedic application segment of the Hydroxyapatite market.
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The North American region accounted for the largest share of the Hydroxyapatite market in 2019.
The North American region is the prime consumer of hydroxyapatite, globally. It accounted for the largest share of the Hydroxyapatite market in 2019. The US is projected to lead the North America Hydroxyapatite market between 2020 and 2025. The growth of the North America Hydroxyapatite market can be attributed to the rising geriatric population across the globe and the increasing number of arthroplasty and dental implant surgeries performed in the region.
The key companies operating in the Hydroxyapatite market are FLUIDINOVA (Portugal), SofSera Corporation (Japan), Berkeley Advanced Biomaterials (US), Taihei Chemical Industrial Co. Ltd. (Japan), SigmaGraft (US) and CAM Bioceramics (Netherlands).
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DENTAL BIOMATERIALS MARKET GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2023
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MEDICAL CERAMICS MARKET - GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2022
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PHOENIX The combined total of county jail inmates, state prisoners and federal immigration detainees in Arizona who have tested positive for the coronavirus has surpassed 1,100 cases.
Authorities report 496 positive cases among inmates in county jails, 318 among state prisoners and 317 among immigration detainees. More than 90% of the county-jail cases came in Maricopa County.
Three-hundred and sixty-nine employees at jails, prisons and immigration detention centers in Arizona also have tested positive, with 147 at state prisons, 131 at detention centers and 91 in county jails.
Officials attribute the rising numbers over the last month to more testing and contract tracing. Critics say the figures also are higher because the virus is spreading rapidly at corrections facilities, where people who live in close quarters often are unable to practice social distancing.
Once its in the jails, its very difficult to stop, said Jared Keenan, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona who is pressing a lawsuit against Maricopa County that seeks the release of medically vulnerable and disabled inmates who cant afford bail.
Critics say the government was unprepared to protect incarcerated and detained people from the virus, while officials maintain theyre following governments recommendations for protecting inmates and employees.
Officials say they are screening all people coming into facilities, providing cleaning supplies to inmates and detainees, have set up quarantine areas and reduced the overall size of county jail populations. The reductions were made through a series of steps, such as police agencies making fewer arrests and the courts temporarily suspending the sentences of inmates who were allowed to leave jail to go to work.
Critics say inmates often cant practice social distancing while in lunch and medication lines, dont have enough cleaning supplies to protect themselves and arent being given adequate instructions on guarding against the virus.
Maricopa County and its sheriffs office both declined to comment on criticism that the county wasnt doing enough to protect inmates.
All state corrections employees are being tested for the virus, and officials announced plans last week to test all state prisoners. Maricopa County officials are considering whether to test all county jail inmates.
Corrections officials said there have been four confirmed and five suspected deaths from COVID-19 among state prisoners.
Arizona has emerged as a COVID-19 hot spot since Republican Gov. Doug Ducey lifted his stay-home orders in mid-May.
Across the state on Monday, the number of new cases was slightly down from a day earlier.
There have been 2,196 additional cases, down from 2,592 on Sunday, pushing the statewide total to more than 54,000 cases. Three more deaths were reported, bringing Arizonas total so far to 1,342.
The states surge in additional cases the past week set daily records for hospitalizations, ventilator use and use of intensive care beds for coronavirus patients.
Arizona hit a daily new-case record of 3,246 on Friday.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some especially older adults and people with existing health problems it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
BRASILIA, June 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. government is prepared to help finance in telecom companies in Brazil and other countries to acquire fifth-generation technology that is not provided by "untrusted" Chinese companies, its top diplomat in Brazil said on Tuesday.
Ambassador Todd Chapman said Ericsson, Nokia Oyj and Samsung were companies that have successfully provided "appropriate" 5G technology that adequately protects information, data flows and intellectual property.
The funding would come from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a government agency that provides financing for private development projects, he said.
Chapman told correspondents in a virtual briefing that China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, the world's largest telecoms equipment maker, was not to be trusted as a partner in building out 5G networks around the world.
Huawei did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Huawei has consolidated its presence in Brazil over the last 20 years and local telecoms operators have already tested its 5G technology and built significant parts of their backbone infrastructure using Chinese equipment.
Huawei has successfully conducted 5G tests with major carriers - Telefonica Brasil SA, TIM Participacoes SA , America Movil's Claro and Oi SA - and is helping them modernize their infrastructure ahead of a long-awaited 5G spectrum auction.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has urged governments worldwide, including Brazil, to shun Huawei because of spying concerns.
Chapman has publicly warned in Brazil that including Chinese companies in the country's 5G deployment could discourage investments by other foreign companies that do not trust the technology, and his message is getting through.
"More and more are understanding the challenges to the Brazilian economy moving forward should it choose to move further with 5G implementation using these untrusted providers," Chapman said.
"We are simply alerting our friends and allies in Brazil that we have those concerns shared by many countries around the world that such technology is not the way to go," he said. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 21:33:41|Editor: huaxia
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A health worker wearing personal protective equipment assists market workers on their way to a hospital for COVID-19 swab test in San Juan City, the Philippines, on June 24, 2020. The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines rose to 32,295 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 470 more infections on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
HONG KONG, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A number of Asia-Pacific countries reported more COVID-19 cases on Tuesday as the Philippines saw its biggest daily jump of 1,150.
The total number of confirmed cases in the Philippines rose to 31,825 after the country's Department of Health (DOH) reported a record-high daily rise of 1,150 infections.
The DOH said in its bulletin that the number of recoveries rose to 8,442 after 299 more patients survived the disease.
The death toll also increased to 1,186 after nine more patients succumbed to the viral disease, the DOH added.
South Korea reported 46 more cases compared to 24 hours ago as of 0:00 a.m. Tuesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 12,484.
The daily caseload rebounded due to a sharp hike in imported cases after falling below 20 in the previous day. Of the new cases, 30 were imported, lifting the combined figure to 1,471.
Head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control Jung Eun-kyeong said the first wave lasted up until April, and a holiday weekend in early May marked the beginning of a new wave of infections focused in the greater Seoul area, which had previously seen only a few cases.
Bangladesh reported over 3,400 new cases, bringing the total in the country to nearly 120,000.
Senior health ministry official Nasima Sultana said in a briefing on Tuesday afternoon that "3,412 new COVID-19 positive cases and 43 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh."
The total number of positive cases is 119,198 and death toll stands currently at 1,545 with the fresh fatalities of 38 men and five women.
In Indonesia, the total cases rose by 1,051 within one day to 47,896, with the death toll adding by 35 to 2,535, Achmad Yurianto, a health ministry official, said at a press conference on Tuesday.
He also said that 506 more people had been discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 19,241.
The Afghan Ministry of Public Health confirmed 324 new cases, bringing the total number of the patients in the country to 29,481.
Twenty patients died within the period, taking the death toll to 618, the statement added.
Malaysia announced three new cases, pushing the national total to 8,590, the country's health ministry said.
No new deaths have been reported, leaving the total deaths at 121.
Cambodia confirmed a newly imported case, bringing the total number of infections in the kingdom to 130, according to a health ministry statement.
India's death toll crossed the 14,000-mark, reaching 14,011, as the total cases stood at 440,215, said the latest data issued by the federal health ministry.
The ministry said 312 new deaths and 14,933 new cases were reported during the past 24 hours across the country, taking the number of deaths to 14,011 and total cases to 440,215.
New Zealand reported two new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total active cases in the country to 10, which were all linked to overseas travel, according to the country's Ministry of Health.
23.06.2020 LISTEN
Numerologist, Philosopher Mallam Sham-una Uztaz Jibril, has revealed that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in a comfortable lead as far his assessment in the spiritual realm is concerned.
Mallam Sham-una Uztaz Jibril is credited for accurately predicting in 2012 and also 2016 with numbers that Trump, Akufo-Addo and Buhari will win the polls.
He has made another prediction for this year's general elections.
I am yet to come out with the figures but in the spiritual data, the NDC and Mahama is leading in the 2020 polls, Mallam Sham-una Ustaz Jibril revealed on Tamale-based Television station, Sagani TV.
He warned that any political party that will attempt to rig the 2020 elections will be defeated at the polls.
Mallam Sham-una Uztaz Jibril has predicted that this year polls will make Ghana a centre of attraction for the international community reiterating that attempts to manipulate the Electoral Commission (EC) to escape the outcome will not save the said party of impending defeat.
Any political party that relies on hacking or rigging the elections (2020) or focusing on the support of the electoral commission, should start mourning its loss before the voting day.
"This year is a police on its own spiritually, the length and breadth of the country will be full of unexpected desperate international observers and other local and international concern democratic groups I foresee.
"There is no election that will have eyes, ears and hearts in the democratic dispensation of the 21st century than the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections of Ghana and that of America respectively.
"Citizens of these two respective countries must have confidence in God that their legal vote of their choice will be reflected in the system (whether manually or electronically) god willing. Finally if any party is having track record to base on or convince the people on their side together with prayers and supplication is the last option but nothing else, he revealed in an article posted later last year and few weeks ago.
Ghanaians have been urged to change their mentality and appreciate the presence of the coronavirus in the country and adhere to the preventive protocols to help contain the further spread of the disease.
Mr. Johnson Opoku, Programmes Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), who gave the advice, said most Ghanaians were failing to appreciate the reality of the disease - a situation that had the tendency to escalate community and institutional spread.
Ghana has over the last three months recorded more than 14, 500 COVID-19 confirmed cases and 95 deaths - ranking the country as one of those with the highest number of confirmed cases in Africa.
The fact is that the pandemic has come to stay with us and we should learn to live with it as we observe all the safety protocols for our protection, Mr. Opoku told staff of the Kumasi Metropolitan Office of the National Service Scheme (NSS), at a days sensitization workshop.
It was designed to create awareness on the COVID-19.
The programme formed part of the Commissions outreach project to educate institutions to engender attitudinal change amongst the people towards the pandemic.
The participants were taught the history of pandemics, effects on humanity, and protective measures in place to protect the people.
Mr. Opoku kicked against stigmatizing COVID-19 patients, saying that practice tends to discourage people from opening up for testing and treatment when they show signs and symptoms of the disease.
Ms. Margaret Konama, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of the NCCE, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of the programme, said the Commission had so far engaged the majority of religious organizations in the metropolis.
They include the Apostolic Church Ghana, Roman Catholic Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, amongst others, with plans in place to also meet Islamic organizations soon.
Source: GNA
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Piers Morgan and Dizzee Rascal clashed on ITVs Good Morning Britain, when the rapper refused to share his views on Black Lives Matter.
The musician accused the TV host of portraying him as an aggressive black man during the breakfast television interview.
Dizzee, real name Dylan Kwabena Mills, was on the show to discuss live shows he will be performing at drive-in.
When asked about the issue, he replied: Ive got a bunch of views but its early, if Im honest.
When Morgan told him: Your view matters, he replied: I know it does, but today we are talking about the drive-in.
And I hope this isnt a missed opportunity to speak up on a lot of the badness that has been happening, but its really nice and sunny outside today and I cant really be bothered to be in all of this this morning.
Ive got my afro out so I know Im looking a bit natural and that, so maybe thats why youre asking the question.
Looking forward to being back on the road in August with @livenationuk for #livefromthedrivein this ones gonna be maaaad!!! Check dates and tickets here https://t.co/wAGBBD2Ywj pic.twitter.com/jVnK6DnnG0 Dizzee Rascal (@DizzeeRascal) June 22, 2020
When Morgan told him: Youre a high-profile black man in this country and its a huge issue in this country, Dizzee said: Lets keep it calm. Im just saying Ive got a bunch of views but right now is not the time.
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I can personally take any opportunity when I want, because of social media, but right now its really early and its just going to cause a bunch of whatever, unnecessary.
The conversation continued as Morgan said: I think thats completely fair enough, I think youre completely entitled to say that and I dont want to force you to say anything, if youre concerned about doing it this early in the morning.
Dizzee replied: You cant force me, to which Morgan responded: Ive got no intention of forcing you, you are reacting very aggressively to a very polite question, Im just asking you what you think.
The musician then said: This is what happens, I become the aggressive black man, as Morgan replied: You have not become the aggressive black man.
The presenter later tweeted a picture of himself, co-host Susanna Reid, and Dizzee all laughing together and wrote: Dizzee, youre a rascal.
When one viewer said he had been mugged off by the star, Morgan replied: I didnt feel mugged off. I asked @DizzeeRascal about #BlackLivesMatter & he said he didnt want to talk about it. Entirely his prerogative.
He also added he thought it was a strange reaction from the music star.
OPINION: "This should be a no-brainer, so whats the problem? Some members of the RTA board are hesitant to change the scope of the First Avenue project. They appear to want Tucson to build a six-lane roadway because it was the project scope promised in the 2006 plan and the RTA must do what was promised no matter the need or the cost. Decisions by the RTA Board should be made based on facts and data, not out of fear of public perceptions and long ago promises," write Tucsonans Ruth Reiman and Jane Evans.
MUNISING, MI Federal agents are investigating a possible drug operation at a Michigan prison. A search of a prison cell in Alger turned up methamphetamine, LSD, a medication for opioid addiction and a digital scale, investigators said in uncovering a drug operation behind bars, the Associated Press reports.
The drug conspiracy includes former prisoners who have been deported to Mexico, AP reports, citing federal court records.
No one has been arrested, and there is no mention of how drugs got into the Alger prison in the Upper Peninsula.
"There has been nothing found to suspect staff involvement at this time, and no staff have been suspended/disciplined/fired," Corrections Department spokesman Chris Gautz said in an email.
Investigators last year discovered someone was using JPay, an electronic system to communicate and send money, to talk with a drug supplier in Mexico, the Drug Enforcement Administration said in an affidavit.
On May 20, Alger prison officers found drugs in a cell as well as a cellphone hidden under an electronic keyboard.
Today marks 35 years since 329 people died when a bomb exploded on an Air India flight 120 miles off the Cork coast.
Flight 182 was en route from Montreal to New Delhi when 280 Canadian, 27 British and 22 Indian citizens were killed.
Dignitaries will lay wreaths on behalf of Canada, India and Cork for families who cannot travel to the memorial in Ahakista this year.
Cork County Council Mayor, Ian Doyle says it is a vital ceremony for the relatives of those who died.
"The warmth and the gratitude they were getting from them but also obviously the sorrow," he said.
"As you know we have the memorial garden down in Ahakista in West Cork that we set up and we maintain and that we've promised to maintain. This year the families are having a virtual remembrance day."
Mr Doyle will lead the online memorial.
"As Cork County Council laid a wreath at the memorial, we are also laying a wreath on behalf of the Canadian government and the families of the Air India disaster and the Indian government asked us to lay a wreath as unfortunately, they couldn't be here at this time."
Mr Yovich has moved on to the Telecom knife recovered from the side of the road near where Jane's body was found.
The Telecom knife found near Jane Rimmer's body. Credit:Supplie
The knife was found on the side of Woolcoot Road, near Mortimer Road on the same day Jane's body was found on August 3, 1996.
It was located about one kilometre from Jane's body.
Between 1993 and 1996 there were 58,900 of the pocket-knives used to Telecom employees in Australia and 4200 were in Western Australia.
The trial heard evidence from Mr Edwards' Telstra colleague David Minchin that the accused had been assigned similar knives through his employment at Telecom.
Mr Yovich has pointed out there is no evidence that Mr Edwards was ever issued with the specific knife.
He also questioned why, if Mr Edwards was the killer, he would discard of the knife and leave evidence at the scene, describing the theory as "outlandish".
If Mr Edwards accidentally dropped the knife, Mr Yovich asked, "how and when?"
The state does not suggest the knife is the murder weapon and no forensic evidence was recovered linking it to the murder.
"Either it was used in the attack that led to Jane Rimmer's death, or it wasn't, if it was, then is it conceivable that her killer dropped it, not at the scene, but hundreds of metres away?" Mr Yovich said.
"And if it wasn't the murder weapon ... then how did it get onto the road ... was it in the killer's pocket? If it was in his pocket, I can hardly imagine it was open, in our submission it makes no sense."
He said the evidence of the knife "at its highest" points towards a Telstra employee and the presence of it near the body could point to the culprit being "some other unidentified Telstra employee" as it was never established Mr Edwards was assigned the knife.
Justice Hall also noted the fact the knife was found on the side of the road on the same day as Jane's body, may have made it appear more likely it was connected to that event, when it may not have been.
Six Republican members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday asked President Donald Trump to reconsider his order to dramatically draw down the American troop presence in Germany, warning that following through will "place U.S. national security at risk" and embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin. "This is not the time to take any action that might cause the Putin regime to question the credibility of the NATO deterrent or might lead our NATO allies and partners to doubt the U.S. commitment to our collective security," they wrote.
The letter, obtained by The Washington Post, was led by Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the committee, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, the top Republican on the European affairs subcommittee and a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard. GOP Reps. Ann Wagner of Missouri, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and John Curtis of Utah also signed.
Hawks in both chambers of Congress have tried to get Trump to retreat from what many privately see as a repudiation of the hallmark of Republican foreign policy since World War II, a betrayal of the transatlantic alliance and another strategic gift for Putin. It comes on the publication day of former Trump national security adviser John Bolton's book, which depicts a president friendly toward the Kremlin but wobbly toward Western European allies.
Congressional Republicans may be distancing themselves from Trump as the November election nears, particularly if his standing does not markedly improve. Recent polls, nationally and in battleground states, have shown Trump losing support. GOP strategists privately fear that the president's current standing imperils their Senate majority and makes winning back the House next to impossible.
Trump approved a plan this month to permanently withdraw up to one-third of about 34,500 U.S. troops based in Germany, bringing the total down to no more than 25,000. Defense Department officials are working on a plan to implement the directive, which was signed by national security adviser Robert O'Brien. The Germans have still not been officially notified.
Leading congressional Democrats are as upset, and vocal, as their GOP counterparts. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., who is trying to fend off a strong primary challenge Tuesday, said in a statement that he's working with his colleagues "on both sides of the aisle" to see what they can do legislatively "to reverse the decision." Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has called Trump's order "petty and preposterous," as well as "another favor to Putin."
Congressional aides in both major political parties speculate that there will be an effort to insert language into the defense reauthorization bill to make it harder to move troops away from Germany.
The move to pull troops from Germany had been under consideration in the administration for months, pushed hardest internally by the former ambassador to Berlin, Richard Grenell, according to administration sources, but Trump made the announcement this month partly out of pique after Chancellor Angela Merkel declined to attend an in-person Group of Seven summit Trump wanted to hold in Washington this month. Merkel raised public health concerns about all the world leaders gathering amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the number of U.S. infections so high, forcing the cancellation of the meeting and undercutting Trump's narrative that the country is ready to "re-open."
Trump's public rationale for pulling out troops is that Germany has been "delinquent" in defense spending. The Republican signatories on the Foreign Affairs letter commend Trump for pushing NATO members to spend more on their defense, and they say Germany ought to increase defense spending to 2% of its gross domestic product, up from 1.3% last year.
"However, we fear this partial U.S. withdrawal from Germany will fail to convince Berlin to spend more, while putting U.S. strategic interests at risk," they wrote. "Our adversaries understand that the American alliance network is at the heart of the U.S. comparative advantage and will seek to exploit any cracks in transatlantic ties. Therefore, we are troubled that many of our allies had not been consulted on U.S. force re-posturing. To ensure that free and open societies triumph over the likes of Vladimir Putin's regime and the Chinese Communist Party, the United States must continue to build and maintain a united coalition of likeminded allies. The withdrawal of thousands of troops from Germany will only complicate this crucial effort and in turn place U.S. national security at risk."
Conservatives explain that the point of the American presence has never been primarily about protecting Germany. It's always been about advancing American interests and projecting U.S. power. For 75 years, there has been a bipartisan Washington consensus that a large troop presence there was beneficial. The U.S. Army's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany cares for American soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Stuttgart, Germany, is home to U.S. Africa Command, which focuses not just on counterterrorism but on checking Russian and Chinese expansionism on that continent.
This new plea follows a letter to Trump from 22 Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee, led by ranking member Mac Thornberry of Texas. "We believe that such steps would significantly damage U.S. national security as well as strengthen the position of Russia to our detriment," they wrote. "In Europe, the threats posed by Russia have not lessened, and we believe that signs of a weakened U.S. commitment to NATO will encourage further Russian aggression and opportunism."
Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said pulling U.S. troops out of Germany is such a terrible idea that he cannot believe Trump would go through with it. He has blamed O'Brien for it and also complained that he was not alerted in advance. Trump "has a passionate love for our troops and he would not do anything that would impose an unbearable hardship on our troops," Inhofe told Politico.
The highest-ranking House GOP lawmaker to publicly chastise Trump's move as "a serious error" is Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the No. 3 House Republican and a hawk in the tradition of her father, former vice president Dick Cheney. "Withdrawing our forces and abandoning our allies would have grave consequences, emboldening our adversaries and making war more - not less - likely," Cheney said in a statement after signing onto the Thornberry letter.
- - -
The Washington Post's Mariana Alfaro contributed to this report.
Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal
The coronavirus slowed some activities at Spaceport America this spring, but commercial operations are gaining traction again.
A new tenant, HAPSMobile Inc., launched operations this month at the southern New Mexico installation after investing $8 million to build a runway and hangar to test and develop a novel, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle that, by 2023, could offer internet connection to remote regions across the globe.
Virgin Galactic also completed two more pilot proficiency flights this month for its VMS mothership, which will carry the companys VSS Unity spaceship part way to suborbit when commercial flights for paying passengers begin.
And the company announced Monday a new agreement to help NASA build a pipeline of private commercial missions to the International Space Station. It will develop a new flight readiness program to train ISS-bound astronauts, with some instruction done at Spaceport America.
Financial terms of the Space Act Agreement with NASA were not disclosed, but Virgin Galactic said it would eventually arrange for passengers to travel to the space station. The company said it would recruit candidates interested in purchasing private missions to the space station, and provide end-to-end resources and astronaut training.
Spaceport spokeswoman Alice Carruth said the coronavirus has interrupted activities since April, causing the postponement of planned launches by tenants at the facilitys vertical launch site, and forcing cancellation this month of the annual Spaceport America Cup, an advanced rocketry and engineering competition.
The coronavirus slowed us down considerably, Carruth told the Journal. It interrupted progress for our tenants, and many launches had to be rescheduled. But the coronavirus restrictions are lifting, and companies are now starting to reschedule launches that were scrapped in the spring.
New tenant
More than a half dozen companies conduct operations at the vertical launch site, which lies southwest of the horizontal launch area where Virgin Galactic is based. That includes two new companies TMD Defense and Space, and White Sands Research and Developers LLC which announced in January that it would initiate launch activities this year at the spaceport.
Most of those companies operate elsewhere, but use spaceport facilities to conduct flights.
Until now, the spaceport had only three full-time tenants Virgin Galactic, UP Aerospace and SpinLaunch. UP regularly shoots microgravity payloads into suborbit on a reusable rocket, and SpinLaunch is building a 10,000-square-foot center to test and develop new satellite launch technology.
HAPSMobile is the fourth full-time tenant to join the spaceport, setting up operations in the horizontal launch area just north of Virgin Galactic, Carruth said.
Japanese telecommunications firm SoftBank Inc. created HAPSMobile in 2018 in partnership with aircraft development company AeroVironment. The partners have built a new, solar-powered vehicle, the HAWK30, that could fly for months at a time in the stratosphere at 65,000 feet up to provide internet service in remote regions around the world, similar to a cell tower in the sky.
Creating a high-altitude platform station, or HAPS network, is an emerging concept that Googles parent firm, Alphabet Inc., has also pursued over the past decade through its subsidiary, Loon LLC, which uses stratospheric balloons to provide internet service in remote areas. Last year, Loon and HAPSMobile joined forces to build the telecommunications technology that will fly on the HAWK30.
HAPSMobile, which signed a lease agreement in March, received $500,000 in Local Economic Development Act funding from the state. Its since invested $8 million in a new runway, hangar and office complex that opened at the spaceport this month, creating 65 local construction jobs and generating about $500,000 in gross receipts taxes.
They already moved the (HAWK30) vehicle to the spaceport, Carruth said. They have a 29-member staff there now thats assembling the aircraft to begin testing in the next few weeks.
Spaceport Executive Director Dan Hicks said the spaceports location next to White Sands Missile Range, which provides access to 6,000 miles of restricted airspace, helped entice HAPSMobile to New Mexico.
The project is an exciting concept that can positively impact communities and relief efforts throughout the world with internet connectivity, Hicks said in a statement. We are tremendously proud to have this program, along with their high-tech staff, as our newest collaborator at the spaceport.
Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic, meanwhile, continues flight testing in New Mexico for the VSS Unity and the VMS Eve, the mothership that will carry the six-passenger Unity to about 45,000 feet, at which point the spaceship detaches from the carrier plane and fires its motors to shoot into space. The company conducted a non-powered glide test for the Unity on May 1, whereby the spaceship broke away from Eve and glided back down to the spaceport without firing its engines. And, on June 13, Eve flew twice more without the Unity to continue preparing pilots for commercial launch, the company said in a tweet last week.
Virgin Galactic now has nearly 180 people working in New Mexico. And with coronavirus restrictions easing, the spaceport is bustling again, with some 200 employees working daily onsite, Carruth said.
I cant discuss Virgin Galactics operations, but they continue to test, although at a slightly slower pace, like all companies affected by the coronavirus, Carruth said. I believe theyre on track to launch commercial activities by early next year, at the latest, if not by the end of this year.
Protesters tried to tear down a statue of former US President Andrew Jackson on Monday near the White House, scrawling killer scum on the base and pulling at ropes around the figure of Jackson on a horse before police intervened.
Video footage posted to social media also showed demonstrators climbing on the bronze monument in Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House, in the latest bid to destroy images of historical figures considered racist or divisive.
Police in riot gear are then seen moving in to drive the crowd back and form a protective ring around the statue, which was erected in 1852 on a white marble base and depicts Jackson astride a rearing horse.
Earlier, protesters clashed with police in the nearby streets, the latest in a string of demonstrations against police brutality and racism following the death of a 46-year-old Black man, George Floyd, under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer.
Jackson, the seventh US president, was a former general in the US Army and a populist politician nicknamed Old Hickory, whose political style has sometimes been compared with that of President Donald Trump.
Native American activists have long criticized Jackson, a Democrat, for signing during his 1829-37 presidency the Indian Removal Act, in which thousands of people were driven from their land by the US government.
Forced to march West in what was described as the Trail of Tears, thousands of Native Americans died before reaching their intended destination.
N ewborn triplets have tested positive for coronavirus in Mexico.
They were tested in the first hours of their lives and had not been in contact with anyone known to be infected. Two were said to be in a stable condition while the other was being treated for a respiratory illness. The parents have been isolated pending results of their own tests.
US President Donald Trump has extended a pause on some green cards and suspended visas for other foreign workers until the end of the year, to try to create more jobs for Americans during the pandemic. The US death toll passed 120,000 overnight as cases spike in southern and western states.
Australias Victoria state recorded 17 new cases, with two primary schools in Melbourne closed after students tested positive. Health minister Greg Hunt said Australias borders would remain closed for a very significant amount of time.
World Health Organisation director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the pandemic is still accelerating as global cases approached 9.2 million. He told a virtual health forum that the biggest threat to the world was not the virus itself but a lack of global solidarity and global leadership.
We cannot defeat this pandemic with a divided world, he said. The politicisation of the pandemic has exacerbated it.
South Korea was testing workers at the southern port of Busan after an outbreak on a Russian cargo ship that arrived on Sunday, with 16 crew members out of 21 taken ill.
China has reported 22 new cases, including 13 in Beijing. An outbreak in the capital has so far infected more than 200 people.
[June 23, 2020] Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan Administrative Cost Growth was Stable in 2019
Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans had costs in 2019 that increased by 6.6% per member, down from an increase of 6.7% in 2018. This comparison is between continuously reporting plans and eliminates the effect of product mix differences between the two years. The results are published in Plan Management Navigator, and are posted at sherlockco.com/navigator. It excerpts from the 2020 Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan edition of the Sherlock Benchmarks. The Sherlock Benchmarks analyzes and reports on the in-depth surveys of 20 Blue Plans serving 55 million members. Surveyed Plans comprise 83% of the members of Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans not served by publicly-traded companies. Cost trends on an as-reported basis reflected a shift in favor of higher cost products as Medicare Advantage was typically the fastest growing product. The Corporate Services Cluster was the only cluster to experience an acceleration in growth and the decline in growth was especially notable in Account and Mmbership Administration.
Staffing ratios were stable year-over-year, as compensation increased by 0.7%. Non-labor expenses increased more sharply, as outsourcing decreased to 10-11% overall. We will discuss the results via free web conference on Wednesday, June 24th from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. Douglas Sherlock will offer a brief presentation, followed by questions and answers. To participate in the web conference, please register at sherlockco.com/webinar. Once registered, dial-in information and a link to connect will be provided in a confirmation email.
The employment trends that are secondary effects of COVID-19 create a volatile operating environment for health plans. The Sherlock Benchmarks can assist in adapting to this environment and achieving operational efficiency. The Sherlock Benchmarks reflect approximately 895 health plan years of experience spanning 23 consecutive years. They are "the gold standard" of benchmarks used to measure and manage health plan administrative activities. Planning, budgeting and cost benefit analyses are credibly informed by the Sherlock Benchmarks. Besides the Blue Cross Blue Shield universe, other universes include Independent/Provider-Sponsored plans, Medicare plans and Medicaid plans. Collectively, the approximately 37 participating plans serve 68 million insured Americans. Sherlock Company (www.sherlockco.com), based in North Wales, Pennsylvania, provides informed solutions for health plan financial management. Since its founding in 1987, Sherlock Company has been known for its impartiality and technical competence in service to its clients. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005698/en/
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Prabhu Chawla and N C Bipindra By
Express News Service
There is a need for realignment of diplomacy between India and China following the June 15 clash at the Galwan Valley, that claimed 20 Indian soldiers, said former Indian ambassador to China and Pakistan Gautam Bambawale and Lt General (retd) Narasimhan, member of the National Security Advisory Board and D-G, Centre for Contemporary China Studies. While there is a need for talks and trust-building between the two neighbouring countries, New Delhi should continue to remain on its toes in terms of surveillance, said the experts in conversation with Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, The New Indian Express, and N C Bipindra, defence and strategic affairs analyst on TNIEs Expressions, a series of live webcasts with people who matter.
Is China trustworthy?
Bambawale: In a relationship between any two countries, there is no question of asking if you trust each other. Ronald Reagan had once said yes, you can trust but verify. I think verification is more important that trust. Dont expect any trust between any two countries in the world, but you must be able to verify what the other is doing and has especially promised you to do in the deals or MoUs or inter-governmental agreements.
Narasimhan: I maintain the same stance. But without trust, you cant have a bilateral ties. It is for the countries to build trust and mending the relationship.
What China was doing for the last 15-20 days?
Bambawale: Because we know there is no agreed boundary between the two nations. Since 1993, we have signed many pacts and built-up architecture in those agreements of basic principles and tenets which were aimed at ensuring that peace and tranquillity are maintained at the borders. In 2020, something new has happened and that something new is the Chinese PLA, which tried to change the status quo. As a result, the architecture has now collapsed.
We have seen Chinese trying to nibble or take over land... Why are we not taking any action?
Narasimhan: They may keep trying, but they have not been able to nibble at anything...
The deals have worked for almost 25 years. But this year, it has been violated by China.
Why there is a sudden provocation? Is it strategic?
Bambawale: The time is correct when India is battling with the Covid-19. But it is all speculative.
Narasimhan: I dont think so.... He (Xi Jinping) is trying to fix the LAC as per his imagination... On the second question why now, the road construction was not an objection. The objection came when we were wanting to do the feeder infrastructure. That was one reason we can say... The LAC in Ladakh has been someway worrying him since 2013. Before that, there were no major incidents since 1986.
Is it a bad move for China diplomatically?
Bambawale: He (Xi) has done it for a few kilometres of Ladakh... It is a minor tactical game from China. It has strategically lost to India. China by this action has pushed India in to the hands of the West and the US. We will have a much strong partnership with also countries like Japan, Austria, South Korea and even Indonesia. I am not saying India will break-off all ties. We will resolve through diplomacy.
Does India becoming UNSC member give us more elbow to handle China?
Bambawale: I would recommend and suggest that one of the steps available to India is to disallow China from participating in our 5G trials.
Is it a diplomatic failure?
Bambawale: I dont think it is an intelligence or diplomatic failure. We always knew there could be this possibility, but we did not know it would deteriorate so much that soldiers on both sides would die.
Is India capable of handling Chinese militarily?
Narasimhan: India is quite capable, but the use of military should be the last option.
Rotavirus is responsible for more than 130,000 deaths in infants and young children younger than five years, every year. The virus causes severe, dehydrating diarrhea as it replicates in viral factories called viroplasms that form inside infected cells. Viroplasms have been difficult to study because they normally form very quickly, but a serendipitous observation led researchers at Baylor College of Medicine to uncover new insights into the formation of viroplasms.
The researchers created a mutant rotavirus that unexpectedly replicated much slower than the original virus, allowing them to observe the first steps of viral assembly. The findings, published in the Journal of Virology, open new possibilities for treating and preventing this viral disease and for understanding how similar factories of other viruses work.
"The formation of viroplasms is indispensable for a successful rotavirus infection. They form quickly inside infected cells and are made of both viral and cellular proteins that interact with lipid droplets, but the details of how the parts are put together are still not clear," said first author Dr. Jeanette M. Criglar, a former postdoctoral trainee and now staff scientist in the Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor in Dr. Mary Estes's lab.
To get new insights into the formation of viroplasms, Criglar and her colleagues studied NSP2, one of the viral proteins that is required for the virus to replicate. Without it, neither viroplasms nor new viruses would form.
Like all proteins, NSP2 is made of amino acids strung together like beads on a necklace. 'Bead' 313 is the amino acid serine. Importantly, serine 313 is phosphorylated - it has a phosphate chemical group attached to it. Protein phosphorylation is a mechanism cells use to regulate protein activity. It works like an on-and-off switch, activating or deactivating a protein. Here, the researchers evaluated the role NSP2's phosphorylation of serine 313 plays on viroplasm formation.
A serendipitous finding
Using a recently developed reverse genetics system, Criglar and her colleagues generated a rotavirus carrying an NSP2 protein with a mutation in amino acid 313, called a phosphomimetic mutation, by changing serine to aspartic acid. The name phosphomimetic indicates that the mutant protein mimics the phosphorylated protein in the original rotavirus. Reverse genetics starts with a protein and works backward to make the mutant gene, which then is made part of the virus to study the function of the protein on viral behavior.
"In laboratory experiments, our phosphomimetic mutant protein crystalized faster than the original, within hours as opposed to days," Criglar said. "But surprisingly, when compared to non-mutant rotavirus, the phosphomimetic virus was slow to make viroplasms and to replicate."
"This is not what we expected. We thought that rotavirus with the mutant protein also would replicate faster," said Estes, Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair and Distinguished Service Professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor. "We took advantage of the delay in viroplasm formation to observe very early events that have been difficult to study."
Early steps: NSP2 and lipid droplets come together
The researchers discovered that one of the first steps in viroplasm formation is the association of NSP2 with lipid droplets, indicating that NSP2 phosphorylated on position 313 alone can interact with the droplets, without interacting with other components of the viroplasm.
Lipid droplets are an essential part of viroplasms. It is known that rotavirus coaxes infected cells to produce the droplets, but how it does it is unknown. The new findings suggest that rotavirus may be using phosphorylated NSP2 to trigger lipid droplet formation.
"It was very exciting to see that just changing a single amino acid in the NSP2 protein affected the replication of the whole virus," Criglar said. "The phosphomimetic change altered the dynamics of viral replication without killing the virus. We can use this mutant rotavirus to continue investigating the sequence of events leading to viroplasm formation, including a long-standing question in cell biology about how lipid droplets form."
"This is the first study in our lab that has used the reverse genetics system developed for rotavirus by Kanai and colleagues in Japan, and that's very exciting for me," Estes said. "There have been very few papers that use the system to ask a biological question, and ours is one of them."
###
Other contributors to this work include Sue E. Crawford, Boyang Zhao, Hunter G. Smith and Fabio Stossi, all at Baylor.
This work was primarily supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant R01 AI080656. Further support was provided by Advanced Technology Core Laboratories at Baylor, specifically Integrated Microscopy Core with funding from NIH (DK56338, CA125123 andES030285), CPRIT (RP150578, RP170719), Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and John S. Dunn Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday said that Indian Muslims will not be sent to Saudi Arabia this year for Haj. All the applicants will get their money back without any cancellation fee.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday informed that India has honoured the decision of Saudi Arabia Government to ban international pilgrims to perform Haj. Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj due to COVID-19 impact, he said. Naqvi informed that he had a telephonic conversation with Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, Saudi Minister for Haj and Umrah who suggested not to send pilgrims from India to the pilgrimage this year due to coronavirus pandemic.
We have honoured Saudis decision and keeping in mind health and well being of people, it has been decided that Indian Muslims will not for Haj, added the Minister. This when India and Saudi had signed bilateral Haj 2020 agreement on December 1, 2019.
However, to give impetus to the Narendra Modi governments decision to allow Muslim women to perform Haj without a male companion, they would be eligible to go on 2021 Haj on their application of this year.
We have decided that Haj pilgrims from India will not be sent to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020. Application money of more than 2.3 lakh pilgrims will be returned without cancellation deductions through direct transfer: Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/I5LdufNOhs ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
Also Read: 50,000 Made in India ventilators to be distributed in Covid-19 hospitals through PM-CARES Fund
Also Read: Impose lockdown in Bengaluru, otherwise it would be another Brazil: HD Kumaraswamy
Its tough for women to get together and make arrangements as they go in groups without Mehram (male companion). So, we have decided they will be allowed to go on Haj next year if they want to perform Haj, said the Minister who informed that 2,143 women had applied for Haj without Mehram.
The ministry had done elaborate arrangements for Haj pilgrimage this time. It had added one more embarkation point in Vijayawada. In total there are now 22 Embarkation points. The ministry had paid Rs 160 crore to Air India for Haj 2020 and three airlines Air India, Saudi Arabian Indian and FlyNas had been selected. Even after removal of haj subsidy 2 lakh, Muslims performed Haj in 2019.
The Minister informed that 2 lakh Indian Muslims had performed Haj in 2019. These pilgrims include 50 per cent women and a total of 3,040 women performed Haj without Mehram.
Also Read: Rajnath Singh arrives in Moscow to attend 75th Victory Day Parade
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FRANKFURT (Reuters) - More than 1,000 employees at German meat processing firm Toennies have tested positive for coronavirus, prompting local health authorities to order all 6,500 employees and their families to go into quarantine. The localised lockdown is a setback for Germany's reopening strategy.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - More than 1,000 employees at German meat processing firm Toennies have tested positive for coronavirus, prompting local health authorities to order all 6,500 employees and their families to go into quarantine.
The localised lockdown is a setback for Germany's reopening strategy. Chancellor Angela Merkel had favoured maintaining lockdown discipline for longer, but eased restrictions following pressure from regional premiers.
Even though its management of the coronavirus crisis has been among the most successful in Europe, Germany has seen repeated outbreaks in slaughterhouses, whose employees are often
migrants living in crowded company-provided accommodation.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, the meat company's proprietor, Clemens Toennies, said the outbreak presented an "existential crisis" for his firm, which has suspended operations as authorities seek to control the outbreak.
"As a company we thought we had done everything right," Toennies said, adding that his firm had struggled to collect the personal data of employees and contractors so that authorities could trace the outbreak.
"As an entrepreneur I can only apologise. We have caused this and are fully responsible for it," Toennies said.
The outbreak may force the German state of North Rhine Westphalia to impose a broader lockdown.
The outbreak near Gutersloh was first reported on Wednesday, when 400 workers tested positive. By Friday, that number had doubled to 803 and it climbed further to 1,029 by Saturday.
On Thursday, China banned meat imports from the plant.
(Reporting by Edward Taylor; Editing by Christina Fincher)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Joshua Franklin
(Reuters) - Billionaire investor William Ackman said on Monday he was looking to raise $3 billion and commit at least $1 billion from his hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management LP for a new blank-check investment vehicle, the largest of its kind.
Ackman, whose New York-based hedge fund manages more than $10 billion in assets, can make additional commitments and boost the size of the capital raise to $6.5 billion, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, Ltd, plans to go public with 150 million units at $20 each, according to the filing. Reuters first reported Ackman's plans earlier this month.
A SPAC uses IPO proceeds and borrowed funds to acquire a company, typically within two years. Investors are not notified in advance which company a SPAC will buy. Ackman said in the filing it will seek to acquire a venture capital-backed company that he called a "mature unicorn" which has chosen to remain private.
Ackman's vehicle will handily beat out former Citigroup Inc executive Michael Klein's Churchill Capital Corp, which raised $1.1 billion, as the largest ever SPAC.
The deal will give Ackman firepower to compete for a big acquisition against some of the largest private equity firms, such as Apollo Global Management and Blackstone Group.
"The theory has been up to now you don't want to get too big as a SPAC because then you're competing with all the private equity firms for assets," said Douglas Ellenoff, partner at law firm Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. "He's saying, 'Bring it, we're prepared to compete.'"
Ackman is raising the SPAC after his hedge fund gained roughly 30% since January despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
SPACs have raised $10.4 billion through U.S. IPOs so far in 2020, according to SPAC Research, on track to exceed the record $13.6 billion in all of 2019.
Ackman is looking to list the SPAC's shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PSTH.U".
(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston and Joshua Franklin in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
Former Vice President Joe Biden lit into President Trump at a virtual fundraiser Monday night for his statement in an interview with Axios that he's open to meeting with Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro.
He doesnt think that Maduro is that bad of a guy? Biden mused to donors on a Zoom call. Hes not really a dictator, or something to that effect. Good Lord.
The big picture: Trump had to backtrack today after he told Axios' Jonathan Swan that he had second thoughts about recognizing Juan Guaido as the leader of Venezuela. Trump appeared to reverse U.S. policy by expressing a willingness to meet with Maduro, who has been labeled a "narco-terrorist" by his own administration.
Trump tried to clarify his administrations position by tweeting today that he would only meet with Maduro to discuss one thing: a peaceful exit from power!"
Between the lines: Biden continues to let Trump drive the news and then slice him for positions that have also been condemned by congressional Republicans.
Biden also seized on allegations in former national security adviser John Boltons new book, The Room Where it Happened, that Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for agricultural purchases that could help his reelection.
MINNEAPOLIS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CVRx, Inc., a private medical device company, announced new BeAT-HF trial results from late-breaking clinical science presented virtually at the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure 2020 Scientific Sessions. The BAROSTIM NEO provided significant improvements in quality of life and exercise capacity, with high responder rates in women.1
Heart failure affects millions of women worldwide. It is the leading cause for hospitalizations and a major cause of death in women over 65 years of age.2 There is a need for advances in heart failure therapies for women to improve their symptoms and quality of life. Women have been historically underrepresented in clinical trials.3 Some treatments for heart failure are not as effective in women as in men. Furthermore, despite being more symptomatic than men, women with HFrEF are often undertreated.4 JoAnn Lindenfeld MD, BeAT-HF clinical trial steering committee member, has been active in increasing participation of women in clinical trials for more than 20 years, since one of the early trials with beta blockers for heart failure.5,6,7
"These new results from the BeAT-HF trial demonstrate that the BAROSTIM NEO works quite effectively in women," said JoAnn Lindenfeld MD, Professor of Medicine, Director of Heart Failure and Transplant at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "In symptomatic heart failure patients with a reduced ejection, the BAROSTIM NEO improved multiple measures of functional status and was associated with very high responder rates. The treatment was as effective in women as it was in men. The results support BAROSTIM NEO's use in all indicated patients."
The late breaking presentation can be accessed on the ESC-HF website. A copy of the full abstract and presentation can be accessed at: https://www.cvrx.com/newsroom/response-by-gender/.
About BeAT-HF
BeAT-HF was a multi-center, prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Patients were randomized one-to-one to receive BAROSTIM NEO plus optimal medical management or optimal medical management alone (Control)8.
Key Qualifications:
NYHA Class III or Class II (with recent history of Class III)
Left ventricular ejection fraction 35%
On current heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy
NT-proBNP < 1600 pg/mL
Excluded patients indicated for CRT according to AHA/ACC/ESC guidelines
About Heart Failure and BAROSTIM NEO
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) affects over 3 million people in the United States and 13 million people worldwide.9,10,11 It is associated with poor life expectancy, frequent heart failure hospitalizations, poor quality of life and substantial limitation in exercise capacity. The BAROSTIM NEO is designed to treat these patients by electrically activating the baroreflex, the body's natural mechanism to regulate cardiovascular function. The BAROSTIM NEO device is the world's first neuromodulation device approved for heart failure patients.
About CVRx, Inc.
CVRx, Inc. is a privately held company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company has developed the BAROSTIM NEO. It is a minimally invasive implantable system approved for use in heart failure in over 30 countries, including the United States and approved for use in resistant hypertension in the European Economic Area, Colombia and New Zealand.
References:
ESC-HF https://www.escardio.org/Sub-specialty-communities/Heart-Failure-Association-of-the-ESC-(HFA)/Research-and-Publications/HFA-Discoveries#live https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm Walsh MN, Jessup M, Lindenfeld J. Women With Heart Failure: Unheard, Untreated, and Unstudied. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019; 73(1):41-43. Dewan P, Rrth R, Jhund PS, et al. Differential impact of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction on men and women. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019; 73:2940. Lindenfeld J, Krause-Steinrauf H, Salerno J. Where are all the women with heart failure? J Am Coll Cardiol. 1997; 30(6):1417-1419. Merrill M, Sweitzer NK, Lindenfeld J, Kao DP. Sex Differences in Outcomes and Responses to Spironolactone in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Secondary Analysis of TOPCAT Trial. JACC Heart Fail. 2019; 7(3):228-238. Vaduganathan M, Tahhan AS, Alrohaibani A, et al. Do Women and Men Respond Similarly to Therapies in Contemporary Heart Failure Clinical Trials?. JACC Heart Fail. 2019 ;7(3):267-271. BeAT-HF results https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf18/P180050b.pdf https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000757 Savarese G, Lund L, Global Public Health Burden of Heart Failure Card Fail Rev, 2017 Apr; 3(1): 7-11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28834669/
CVRx, BAROSTIM NEO and BAROSTIM THERAPY are trademarks of CVRx, Inc. registered in the United States Trademark Office. CVRx, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved.
SOURCE CVRx, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.cvrx.com
Granted, the provincial government has had a lot of issues to deal with in the past few months, and nearly all of them start with the word COVID-19.
But can it finally get around to handing over that special 'pandemic pay' it promised to front-line workers way back on April 25?
Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff promises it will, saying it should just be a few weeks more and the cheques will start arriving.
The money has to wend its way through government bureaucracy and then be shared among numerous private and public funders, he said, describing the reason for the delay.
That's good to know, but this weekend it will be eight weeks since Premier Doug Ford committed the money, saying "these people put themselves in harm's way to care for our sick and vulnerable citizens.
"I am truly grateful, as are the people of Ontario, for their service, and it's time we give something back to those who sacrifice so much day in and day out."
It is time.
It's actually a long time. In those eight weeks since Ford's promise, Canada's COVID-19 caseload has more than doubled to about 100,000, from the 42,000 recorded back then.
The number of dead, meanwhile, has grown nearly four-fold to 8,300 as of early Friday, from approximately 2,200 on April 25.
It's time.
When workers complained in late May that the payments hadn't arrived, they were told it would be mid-June.
The pay - an extra $4 per hour, plus a lump sum $250 per month for workers who put in more than 100 hours that month - runs from April 25 to Aug. 13.
It's for workers in places like retirement and long-term care homes, emergency shelters, jails and youth justice facilities and for some hospital staff.
It wasn't perfect. Groups like paramedics and some hospital staff say they should have been included, and they've got a pretty good argument for it.
Regardless, the province has found ways to send out a lot of money to a lot of groups since COVID hit in mid-March. It's time to pay these front-line workers the money that was promised.
All this comes as that other group of people so often hailed as "heroes" in the early days of COVID - grocery and retail workers - is learning there's a limit to gratitude when money is involved.
The Toronto Star reported Thursday the province is making plans that could reduce the number of mandatory statutory holidays for retail workers to as few as three, from the current nine.
These heroes would be left with only Christmas, Good Friday and Canada Day as sure days off. For some, it means more days to earn money; for others who like to enjoy the same holidays the rest of us get, it could feel like a kick in the teeth.
On Friday, Premier Doug Ford rejected the idea. Good.
That plan came on the heels of several retail chains last weekend ending the $2-per-hour bonus pandemic pay they instituted at the start of COVID for their own front-line workers.
Walmart, Sobeys, the Loblaw chain that also includes places like No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart, all declared that, in effect, the risk the workers face is basically over and the extra pay isn't warranted now.
The risk, of course, is far from over. The curve is looking better and most stores have added safety measures to protect staff, but the virus is still spreading.
So thanks for your service. And the cheque is in the mail.
- Grocery chains shouldn't cut pandemic pay before the crisis is over
- Nurses demand promised pandemic pay
- Grocery chains play the Grinch in springtime
- Pandemic pay on its way to Niagara's front-line workers: Oosterhoff
Solitude may cause false impressions, fantasies or optical illusions. Were those tens of thousands of rioters appearing on TV a documentary, rehashing the 1960s Civil Rights Movement?
It took a while to realise that this was happening right now around the globe with crowds hollering and howling anti-racist slogans.
Racism has once again raised its evil voice, igniting the flames of hatred, violence and destruction.
The killing of a black man at the hands of a white policeman is always inflammatory, regardless. It matters little that the black man was in prison nine times, suffered from Covid-19, had the drugs metaphetamine and fentanyl in his system, and the autopsy report listed the primary cause of death was heart failure no, it matters not at all. The extreme rage exhibited by the white policeman is inexcusable and he must pay the price.
This was a heinous act, whatever the circumstance, which resulted in the loss of a human life.
The police force kills 5,000 black people annually. Prisons house five to one blacks.
Does that mean that crime is higher in black communities? Yes.
Does that mean that police brutality should be excused? No.
While US citizens were roiled in daily protests against a white man killing a black man, in the city of Chicago 25 people were killed and 80 wounded on 31 May, the most violent day in violent Chicagos history. They were young black men, killed by young black men. No rage, no riots, no fires, no fury. They were black lives and Black Lives Matter.
In 1994, 800,000 black people of the Tutsi tribe were massacred by another ethnic group, the Hutus.
The systemic slaughter of men, women and children was perpetrated in full view of the international community. No international protest. Worse yet, the UN failed to respond, despite the request of the Human Rights Watch. No one was blamed.
Something is rotten in the state of our minds. Well- meaning protesters, sincere as they may be, have no idea that they are all racist, to one degree or another.
International scientists broadly agree that racism is a historically specific phenomenon that varies according to place and time, because racism is everywhere, a deeply anti-human and sound practice, either in form, structure, process or effect.
The theory of naturalism particularly illustrated by Godenot and Darwin in the 19th century, argues that humanity is divided into different unequal groups. The process of this natural difference has the function to transform the other into the other.
This is the basis of any bias or discrimination, being fearful of the other, not simply in colour, but in creed, faith, dress, food, culture, language we have continued to be phenotypical.
The majority would object to being called racist but, welcome to the human race. It is a normal process about how all of us process information. Centuries of hierarchy has left its mark. It is a process embedded in the consciousness and impacted by centuries of bias.
Historys oldest hatred is that of the Jewish race. It is an ancient and deeply buried hostility that has driven them out of almost every country they have resided in. Alexandria was home to the largest community in the world. Anti-Semitism is just a name for a mystery. This was a race designated as the chosen race, perhaps that is the reason for their persecution. Here we must stop to differentiate between Judaism and Zionism.
Slavery existed in the ancient world, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, the bastions of our modern civilisation. None has taken slavery as far and as long as the British. Cheap labour was needed as they expanded their dominions. British history of colonisation is replete with bias and discrimination against the other. They ransacked the wealth of India, Africa, the Middle East, degraded Jews, Scots, Irish, Arabs, or whoever was not British. Despite protestations, it still exists to some degree.
The Brits brought slavery to their American colonies, which contributed to the very vivid racial discrimination, because it is so recent.
Who amongst us would admit they were racist? No one. Yet we all are. You may call us closet-racists. We are educated, open-minded, informed, who believe all men are created equal, but our innermost thoughts can be dark and ugly.
Many prefer white over black, young over old, thin over fat, able over disabled. Such biases exist and we must admit it in order to improve it.
A test developed in 1996 by several sociologists and psychologists, the Implicit Association Test, is available on Google. You can take the test whether you are white, black or whatever you will turn out to be a racist.
Bias lies deep in our brain and methinks those rioter dost protest too much, since they, as well as all of us, harbour implicit bias that is difficult to eradicate.
Rioting may well be an expression of their guilt for the feeling that consciously or unconsciously lies deep within.
What we need is equality, justice and love for the other. Loving is hard but we must try. Perfection maybe unreachable, but progress is possible.
God created us differently, that we cannot change.
Just in case it did not cross your mind, all lives matter.
There are things which a man is afraid to tell even to himself.
Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881)
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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"Hamilton" the movie, which will be premiering on July 3 in Disney+, will be removing expletives, so it would be safe for kids. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has given it a PG-13 rating for the language used and some suggestive material. If there is no change from the musical, the "Hamilton" Disney+ version would likely require an R rating.
"Hamilton" as a Broadway film
Actors on the Broadway version of the iconic "Hamilton" use the f-word many times in the film. The MPAA rates a movie PG-13 if it uses the f-word once and if it does not have any content that would require an R rating. The R rating is required if the show used the f-word many times.
The "Hamilton" Disney+ film version is supposed to be a big-screen version. "Variety" noted that the rating of MPAA suggests that the "Hamilton" Disney+ version should remove almost all of its expletives.
Read also: "The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II" to Launch on Mother's Day
Disney+ designed for kids
In the film industry, Disney+ has become a popular streaming service. Even though it has some adult-oriented content. Its contents are mostly to entertain kids. Over the years, Disney has been careful to exclude expletives from its films whenever possible. It only allows more expletives in its other film studios, such as Touchstone, 20th Century, and Spotlight.
Some industry pundits questioned how it would work when Disney started buying different studios and properties over the years. Disney has been proud of having a clean image. When they started buying films and properties with more expletive contents, they did not appear to be "on brand."
Read also: Robin Williams' Daughter Zelda Posts a Sweet Father-Daughter Photo
"Hamilton" Disney+ taking out expletives for kids
It is not clear yet what might happen to the film "Hamilton" Disney+. Disney might have taken out some expletives from the film to fit most of Disney+'s existing content, making it safe for kids to watch. No one is sure if it might affect the millions of people across the globe who loves "Hamilton."
"Variety" noted that the creator of "Hamilton," Lin-Manuel Miranda might not be against it. He had an interview with "New York Times"' reporter Kyle Buchanan in February. He said that he would gladly accept it if there is a need to mute a word from his film to reach the largest audience possible.
He believes that they are not depriving anyone of anything if they will mute "f-bomb" here or there to get their ratings up. Based on the decision of MPAA, what Buchanan has said might likely happen.
Read also: Barbra Streisand Makes George Floyd's Daughter a Disney Shareholder
Just wait for the release of "Hamilton" Disney+ in July to see what happens.
"Hamilton" story revolves around a Founding Father who is determined to make his mark on the new nation. From a bastard orphan to Washinton's right-hand man, rebel to war hero, a loving husband who got caught in a sex scandal, to a Treasury head who made the world believe in the American economy.
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. The trial of former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and other ex-officials over the 2008 March 1 case was postponed for a week.
The decision was made as Mihran Poghosyan, attorney of Yuri Khachaturov, didnt attend the court hearing.
Prosecutor Gevorg Baghdasaryan filed a motion requesting the court to limit the attorneys right to file various motions. According to him, such actions of attorneys do not allow them to read the final part of the accusatory speech.
Judge Anna Danibekyan said the prosecutors motion includes issues which are impossible to discuss without the presence of all attorneys, therefore she postponed the hearing.
The next hearing will take place on June 30, 13:00.
Robert Kocharyan has been charged with overthrowing Constitutional order during 2008 March 1-2 events in Yerevan.
The case also includes former defense minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan, former chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Yuri Khachaturov and former chief of staff of the Presidential administration Armen Gevorgyan.
The US Department of Transportation on Monday announced that it has barred Air India from operating chartered flights between India and the United States from July 22 without its prior approval. The strong decision from the US came in an apparent retaliation for the Indian government not allowing American carriers to operate between the two countries.
In an apparent move to simmer down the tension, Aviation Ministry on Tuesday announced that India is considering establishing "individual bilateral bubbles" with the US, the UK, Germany and France allowing airlines of each country in the pact to operate international passenger flights.
This essentially means that a Green Corridor will be setup between these countries allowing passengers from both sides to travel at respective locations. The Aviation Ministry said, "As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK.
A green corridor, or Travel bubble is a bilateral agreement between two countries to expedite the travel process of travellers of both the countries amidst the travel restrictions due to COVID-19. Such corridors are being created where both countries have successfully curbed the growth of the virus. However India and US is planning to open the corridor before the cases become zero.
While the scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Air India started international chartered flights under Vande Bharat Mission from May 6 to help people stranded abroad return home amid the pandemic.
It has been operating chartered flights on Indo-US routes since May 18 where tickets on both the legs are sold.
This repatriation drive, however, does not allow international air carriers to fly to India and take passengers back, allegedly irking the US DOT.
"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," said the DOT order.
"On May 26, 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.
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.
MoCA, on the other hand, said: "We have received requests from authorities in several countries including the US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in the transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission. These requests are being examined."
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, said DOT.
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 June 22.
With Inputs from PTI
How close is too close in the age of COVID-19?
As countries, including Canada, slowly emerge from lockdowns, social-distancing rules have eased as authorities try to strike a balance between keeping people safe and being realistic while social interactions and commercial activities resume.
On Tuesday, England became the latest country to join the one-metre club as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced the new physical-distance recommendation, paring it down to 100 centimetres from 200.
Currently, some countries such as China, Denmark, France and Singapore are following the one-metre rule of the World Health Organization; while others fall anywhere between one and two metres.
In the United States, the CDC recommends a minimum of six feet or 1.83 metre.
The Public Health Agency of Canada follows the two-metre rule.
So, why the difference, and whats safe?
Heres what the experts said.
Two metres is more a theoretical number based on our best assessment of how far droplets can travel, said Dr. Alon Vaisman, an infectious-disease physician at Torontos University Health Network.
Its possible for droplets to travel further or shorter, depending on the individuals, but that two metres is the rough estimate of what it should be and what we recommend.
While theres a general consensus among scientists about the two-metre safe-distance rule, Vaisman said government policymakers dont always base decisions on scientific evidence and often take into account other factors, such as practicality.
If two metres is not practical for the majority of people where they work and live, youre better off staying at one metre, he said, maintaining that a two-metre distance strikes a reasonable balance between reducing risks and practicality.
According to Toronto infectious disease specialist Dr. Michael Gardam, up until a decade ago, the standard distance of isolation that was required for droplet-spread infections was actually just one metre. That optimal distance was based on clinical evidence from studies that go back to the middle of last century.
In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended that to two metres during the H1N1 pandemic, based on experimental evidence in labs.
Both clinical and experimental evidence are important, and one doesnt trump the other, said Gardam, the chief of staff at Humber River Hospital.
(Clinic evidence is based on findings from treatment of patients while experimental evidence derives from experiments in a controlled environment.)
Currently experimental evidence is suggesting that people can get airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus when they create airborne aerosols while singing, coughing or breathing.
The problem is epidemiologically that doesnt fit. We are not seeing evidence of airborne transmission. We are seeing large droplet transmission, noted Gardam.
With the case of the two-metre distancing thing, if you can, follow the precautionary principle, which is, until its absolutely proven theres no risk, you should assume theres a risk.
Some health authorities also advise people to stay about two arms length from others, which Gardam said is not the most precise way to assert a social distance because shorter individuals, such as children, have shorter reach but still need to observe the safe distance.
Safe distance doesnt vary based on height, Gardam said, noting that the concentration of particles dilutes with distance from the source.
The further, the better.
Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto, said he believed the U.K. government adjusted the recommended social distancing in order to make the practice sustainable in the new normal.
We dont know what effect this may have. People are not good at judging distance. We dont have magic compliance in telling distance. Its really about how safe people feel and trust (the distance), Furness said.
The experts said Canadas two-metre rule is conservative but appropriate, and Ottawa should stick to that approach.
The public is going to find it confusing every time theres a change, Vaisman said.
From a practical point of view, for them to buy your message from public health, changes will probably be more harm than good because you start losing credibility.
Furness said social distancing is among many new rituals such as wearing masks and washing hands people need to keep observing and following in this new age.
You cant substitute one with another. You cant take your mask off because you keep your social distance and think you dont need it, said Furness. The stakes are too high.
A research group led by Professor Kenneth K.Y. Wong of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), in collaboration with Bielefeld University in Germany, has developed a compact fibre laser microscope that brought breakthroughs to analysing molecules in cells and clinical applications.
The newly innovated microscope generates far less noise than customary designs, and the compactness and stability make it suitable for use in operating rooms in hospitals. The innovation was presented in the journal 'Light: Science and Applications,' published by Springer Nature.
When investigating how tumors grow, or how pharmaceuticals affect different types of cells, researchers have to understand how molecules within a cell react - and interact. This is possible with modern fluorescence microscopy. However, molecules in cell specimens had to be labelled with fluorescent substances to make them visible, and this can distort the very behavior of the molecules. Also the staining with fluorescent markers is generally unsuitable for in vivo tissues.
Label-free microscopic imaging has always been a hot topic in biomedical research. The newly invented laser microscope does not require fluorescent markers to obtain a clear image of cell molecules. Instead, cell molecules with different level of characteristics are uniquely presented via a Raman Imaging System.
Professor Kenneth Wong, who led the research said: "We use fiber laser as the light source of the optical microscope to replace the traditional solid-state laser, which is a brand new concept. Traditionally, the laser needs to be amplified in a free space of several meters, so the instrument is very big. With fiber lasers, light is amplified and transmitted through glass fibers, and the instrument design becomes light and compact. The volume is only one-eighth to one-tenth of the traditional solid-state laser instrument. Due to the size of the instrument, there is a limitation on where it can be used currently, but this will no longer pose a problem in future."
Professor Wong explained: "Fiber lasers were previously not favorable for microscopes because they were less powerful and very noisy compared to solid state lasers. To obtain molecule-specific imaging with their microscope, the team used two synchronized optical resonators (laser cavities), both with short picosecond pulses - one picosecond being one thousand billionth of a second."
"One challenge here was to control the lasers so that both beams with different wavelengths are synchronized, and hit the specimen at exactly the same time and position," said Professor Thomas Huser in Germany, a biophysicist at Bielefeld University.
Professor Huser believes that the new microscope is likely to be used in clinical applications in the coming years. Preliminary studies in cooperation with the Evangelisches Klinikum Bielefeld Hospital in Germany are already underway to use the microscope to analyze liver tissue samples."
"Our project partners are amazed by what this microscope can do." said Professor Huser. "Label-free microscopy can be used, for instance, to investigate how various new types of cells develop from stem cells. It also allows for a tumor to be demarcated from normal tissue without staining. Furthermore, we can ascertain how pharmaceutical compounds react with molecules in the muscle tissue cells of the heart and liver, as well as other cells."
Professor Wong believes the new technology can be applied in many biomedical applications, such as the endoscopy of the intestines and digestive system, etc., to detect early tumors and lesions.
"Using fiber laser, the image clarity can be 100 times higher than that of traditional endoscopes. It can penetrate the surface of organs and reflect the condition of deeper tissues. The light source uses harmless infrared visible light and will not affect the human body. In the long run, since it is portable, unmarked and harmless, it can be clinically used in surgical operations, such as immediate pathological detection, to mark tumor borders during an operation, or to accurately mark different parts for precise cuts during brain surgeries."
Lead author of the study Dr Cihang (Sherry) Kong said: "The prototype of the microscope will now serve as the basis from which to build portable devices. Because the molecules do not first have to be labelled, the specimen does not take a long time to prepare compared with using other microscopes, and the labelling-induced toxicity can be avoided. "Dr Kong is a former PhD student in Professor Wong's group, and currently a post-doctoral researcher of Professor Thomas Huser.
Both the University of Hong Kong and Bielefeld University have pioneering research in the biomedical and health technology fields, while HKU's Engineering Faculty is especially focused in the research of imaging technologies. This research was supported by the Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme sponsored by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong and the Germany Academic Exchange Service of Germany, the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant, project "DeLIVER", the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Innovation and Technology Fund.
###
Details of the paper:
High-contrast, fast chemical imaging by coherent Raman scattering using a self-synchronized two-colour fibre laser
Cihang Kong, Christian Pilger, Henning Hachmeister, Xiaoming Wei, Tom H. Cheung, Cora S. W. Lai, Nikki P. Lee, Kevin. K. Tsia, Kenneth K. Y. Wong and Thomas Huser
Light: Science & Applications volume 9, Article number: 25 (2020)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41377-020-0259-2
By Yew Lun Tian and Sanjeev Miglani
BEIJING/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The skirmish between Chinese and Indian troops over a long-disputed border this month is being treated in New Delhi as the country's worst diplomatic crisis in decades even as it is downplayed by Beijing.
China is already locked in diplomatic combat over a host of disputes, from the United States and Australia to Taiwan and Hong Kong, and its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. It is loath to engage on yet another front - especially one that could push New Delhi closer to Washington, some analysts say.
The two sides were working to ease tensions, China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. Chinese media coverage has been scant.
Beijing's response also points to its interest in de-escalating a crisis over a stretch of border that is less politically important than other territorial priorities, such as claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea and its tightening grip on Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
The contrast reflects the differences in two systems of government - India is the world's biggest democracy, while China is ruled by the Communist Party and tightly controls its media - as well as the domestic realities of a dispute that has little political upside for the leaders of either country.
Since the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers in hand-to-hand fighting in the Galwan Valley, in the worst combat losses on the de facto border with China in more than 50 years, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a strident nationalist, has faced heated calls for a strong response.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is under no such public pressure.
"Indians watch everything that China is doing, but most Chinese only have eyes for international issues related to the U.S. or Taiwan," said Zhang Jiadong, director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.
Both governments would prefer to play down the clash, he said, but information from the remote battlefield leaking into Indian media forces Modi's hand in a way that would not be possible in China.
Story continues
"The clash happened because troops from both sides have a different understanding of where the line of actual control lies," he said.
"This area is a barren hilltop with no economic or geostrategic value. From the Chinese government point of view, it is not worth destabilising bilateral relations over this, said Zhang.
The border clash did not crack the top 50 searches on China's Twitter-like Weibo on Tuesday.
PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL
In India, opposition leaders, former generals and diplomats have criticised Modi for failing to protect Indian lives and territory. Many have called for boycotts of Chinese goods. The story garners wall-to-wall coverage in domestic media.
The perceived threat from China - which humiliated India in a brief border war in 1962 - has overshadowed India's COVID crisis, in which the number of cases has crossed 400,000 with no sign of a peak.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India stands behind Modi, but he must bear responsibility.
"We stand at historic crossroads. Our government's decisions and actions will have serious bearings on how the future generations perceive us," he said.
Such language makes it harder for Modi to compromise without losing face, analysts say.
Modi rode to power in 2014 vowing to turn India into an economic and military power, but China has pulled further ahead on his watch. Its economy is five times the size of India's, with three times the military spending.
Control Risks said in a note that Modi's administration will likely employ economic measures against China to placate public pressure, instead of risking military conflict with a stronger adversary.
(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian in Beijing and Sanjeev Miglani in New Delhi; Writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
HADDAM Hundreds of people attended a rally over the weekend at the Higganum Green in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and to protest against racism and bigotry.
Over 300 people showed up June 20 at a HK Peaceful Protest and there were no counterprotesters, according to resident and participant Peter Baird.
Protests against racial injustice, spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 and other recent deaths of Black men and women, arent just happening in major U.S. cities, but in smaller cities as well as small towns, in Connecticut and across the country, according to a press release.
Attendees were diverse in both race and age, with many under 25. Dozens of families attended with their children, the release added.
The protest was organized by two recent graduates of Haddam-Killingworth High School, and a large number of their peers and classmates attended.
When asked why they had organized it, Connor Reardon, a 2015 graduate of the high school, said he wanted to bring attention to systematic racism especially in our town and lift up the voices of those negatively impacted within our own community, according to the news release.
Several public officials were present, including First Selectman Bob McGarry, Haddam Selectwoman Kate Anderson, state Rep. Christine Palm, D-Chester, and state Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex. None spoke at the protest, as the organizers wanted the messages to come from students and people of color, but each spent time hearing from constituents and stayed for the length of the event and afterward, Baird said.
Seven speakers, most of whom are people of color, made articulate and passionate speeches to an attentive and appreciative audience, the release continued. Younger speakers discussed racism they witnessed or experienced at Haddam-Killingworth High School and how it has impacted their lives.
Arjun Badami, this years valedictorian, took the microphone first. I chose to speak at the rally because I felt that it was important for me to speak out against racism. It is an issue that none of us can afford to remain silent on. He also discussed how happy he was with the large turnout. It was really inspiring and heartening to see so many people attend.
Other discussed the long history of racism in America, shared stories of racism they experienced as children and throughout their lives, and discussed the need for new school curriculums that accurately reflect the reality of racism and the long struggle that has defined the Civil Rights movement in America.
One shared a particularly painful story from her childhood, how her best friend was told by her father you cant play with that girl anymore because shes a (n-word). Other speakers mentioned their concern about coming to a small, largely white town, but were gratified by the warm welcome they received, Baird added.
Afterward, Palm talked about the need for change. The peaceful gathering was a testament to what people of goodwill from every walk of life can accomplish when they put community before self.
No one believes we can overcome 400 years of systematic oppression with a few gatherings on village greens, but I am enough of a child of the 60s to believe that incremental, individual change leads to greater, lasting shifts in the wider society. Its my job to help craft public policy that reflects that progress, Palm added.
President Trump brushed off the low attendance at his Tulsa rally, saying Tuesday people who showed up were 'warriors' and many 'stayed home and watched television.'
Trump talked up the rally as he left the White House for another trip, this time to Yuma, where he will view border wall construction, and Phoenix, where he will speak to an estimated 3,000 young people at a megachurch.
Trump blamed poor attendance on the media, and pointed to record viewership on television.
Trump said his Tulsa crowd was 'incredible' despite 'horrible ominous warnings' from the media, as he hailed the televised viewership nationwide on Fox News
'The Tulsa rally was incredible. Despite all of the horrible ominous warnings that you people put out over a period of two weeks, the crowd was wonderful,' Trump said. 'They were warriors. It was a great crowd.'
'But many of them stayed home and watched television,' he added. 'And what happened is Fox, on Saturday night, had the biggest ratings in the history of Fox television.'
President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center, Saturday, June 20, 2020, in Tulsa, Okla., where there were an estimated 6,200 in attendance in a 19,000 seat arenda
Empty seats are pictured during a Trump campaign rally at the BOK Center, Saturday, June 20, 2020, in Tulsa, Okla.
Trump drove home the point about the Fox ratings again again during his seven-minute remarks, contrasting the national interest when whatever factors converged to keep people away from Tulsa.
The rally happened amid a rise in coronavirus cases in Tulsa for the first mass indoor gathering since the virus hit. K-pop and TikTok fans also caused confusion by throwing off the campaign with what it estimated were 300,000 fake ticket applications for the 19,000-seat BOK Center.
'As you probably have heard, Fox had the highest ratings on a Saturday night in the history of Fox. So that's the ultimate poll I guess,' Trump said.
'The ratings on Saturday night for Fox were the highest ratings in the history of Fox News which is I guess a long history,' he added.
'We actually had a nice crowd, despite all of the warnings and everything else hat other networks were trying to do. Despite the fact that we had some pretty bad people waiting there.'
'They shouldn't have been. Maybe some of the people I just talked about,' Trump said referencing his earlier comments about 'hooligans' who tried to tear down a statue of Andrew Jackson just north of the White House.
'We had a nice crowd. Online I heard the record was unbelievable,' he said.
Fox indeed reported that the rally set a record for the 8-10pm Saturday night time slot. The estimated 7.7 million viewers were based on early Nielsen data.
On Saturday night, Looking at row after row of empty blue seats, Trump was stunned and vented his frustration to his aides, The New York Times reported. The empty seats came as a poll average shows Trump trailing rival Joe Biden by about 10 percentage points.
Washington (AFP) - The US tech sector is likely to be hit hard by President Donald Trump's decision to extend a freeze on most immigrant visas, with critics saying the move could undermine American innovation and leadership.
Trump this week said he would extend the ban through the end of the year and broaden it to include H-1B visas for highly skilled workers, as well as L visas used by companies to transfer their own employees.
The move could deal a blow to Silicon Valley and the rest of the tech sector, which has long relied on skilled immigrants to fill key positions of engineers, data scientists and other jobs in high demand.
While Trump has argued the temporary freeze was aimed at helping US workers facing high unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic, critics said the move would backfire and hurt one of the key segments of the American economy.
The freeze "stands to upend the ability of US employers -- in the tech sector and beyond -- to hire the men and women they need to strengthen their workforce, repower the economy, and drive innovation," said Jason Oxman, president of the Information Technology Industry Council, a trade group that includes more than 70 companies including Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook and Microsoft.
"At a critical time for the US economy, it will have a dangerous impact on the economic recovery and growth for years to come."
- More about politics -
Darrell West, who heads the center for technology innovation at the Brookings Institution, said the announcement was "more about politics than good policy," coming at a time when the White House is feuding with Silicon Valley over social media and other issues.
"Trump's executive order is short-sighted in that it will make it difficult for tech companies, farmers, and the hospitality sector to find the workers they need," West said.
FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group founded by tech executives including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, also said the order would be counterproductive by limiting immigrants who will contribute to science and technology.
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"This is a full-frontal attack on American innovation and our nation's ability to benefit from attracting talent from around the world," the group's president Todd Schulte said.
A senior administration official said the order would affect 525,000 jobs in the US, which is currently reeling from a high unemployment rate caused by the pandemic.
It will affect H-1B visas provided to 85,000 workers each year with special skills, many of them joining the US technology industry, as well as J visas, common for academics and researchers, and L visas used by companies to shift workers.
Trump aides said they want to restructure the H-1B visa program from an annual lottery to a system that gives priority to those foreign workers with the most value.
But a recent Georgetown University study found that the US is struggling to compete for global workers with key skills including artificial intelligence and that without easing immigration "other countries may begin to draw AI talent away from American schools and employers. "
- Personal stories -
Some tech executives added their own personal stories in countering the administration's arguments.
India-born Google CEO Sundar Pichai said "Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech."
Susan Wojcicki, head of Google-owned YouTube and the daughter of Polish immigrants, echoed those remarks.
"My family escaped danger and found a new home in America," Wojcicki said on Twitter. "We join Google in standing with immigrants and working to expand opportunity for all."
South African-born Elon Musk, who founded Tesla and SpaceX, said he disagreed with the freeze: "In my experience, these skill sets (of tech workers) are net job creators. Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad."
Andrew Ng, a British-born Chinese-American computer scientist who heads the online education firm Coursera, said the suspension "is bad for the US, bad for innovation, and will shatter dreams and disrupt lives." He added: "as a former H1B visa holder, my heart goes out to all the families affected."
As this is being written, were in the midst of phase three of reopening, and this is both relief for some and anxiety-inducing in others, possibly more of a combination for all. Weve all been through something we have most likely never encountered before, and may possibly have to go through again in the near future. Here are some thoughts based on my own readjustments and the reports of others on living in this new normal.
Wash your hands and wear a mask: This is the most obvious, but it also contributes to a reduction of anxiety and an increase in safety. The masks are uncomfortable at times, and with summer approaching, that discomfort may increase. But at this point in the evolution of knowledge of COVID-19, this is an effective but fairly easy way we can maintain control of our lives.
We are all coming from a different place: The quarantine has unbalanced our everyday experiences, yet everybody was affected differently. Some of us continued to go to our place of employment, some of us worked from home. Some of us were either taken out of work temporarily or lost our jobs completely. Those who relied on services, such as grocery delivery or home aides, found themselves limited to being home-bound. As people begin to navigate the next step, be aware that business as usual may be more complicated as people acclimate to returning to work. Things may be different. Remember that kindness is contagious. Be nice, be understanding and be patient.
Home life may be disrupted as well: School for most is done now, or ending this month. Kids have been home for awhile, and activities for the summer are still in question in regards to extent and availability. Child care may be complicated, which may create a more stressful environment. Do your best to work with your employer to come up with a viable solution, as this is a unique situation that may involve some creative problem-solving. Be open and honest about what you need to be successful.
Enjoy what you can: This will be a summer without many of the events weve come to look forward to from events at local parks to concerts to the New York State Fair. Be creative and appreciate those who continue to try to bring you those summer extras. Enjoy family and friends, and hopefully find time for the activities that bring you joy.
Oh, and wear a mask and wash your hands.
Darren Tripiciano is a certified licensed social worker at East Hill Medical Center, a patient-centered medical home in Auburn that offers pediatric and adult primary care, dental care and addiction medicine. He can be reached at (315) 253-8477, prompt No. 2. To contact East Hill Medical Center, call (315) 253-8477. Prompt No. 1 is for adult medicine, No. 2 is for counseling, No. 3 is for the pediatric office and No. 4 is if you have a dental emergency. For more information, visit easthillmedical.com.
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A revoked licence may not mark the end of the Rosslyn saga, says the homes regulatory body and a lawyer/advocate for the elderly.
The Rosslyn Retirement Residence has been the focus of public scrutiny ever since a COVID-19 outbreak devastated the King Street East facility, infecting 64 residents and 22 staff and claiming 15 residents lives. The home was evacuated May 15 amid a severe staffing shortage and deficiencies in infection prevention and control.
In the weeks since, questions have swirled around how the homes owners were allowed to continue operating care homes, how conditions at the Rosslyn got so bad and what will happen to residents now. The homes licence was revoked June 15.
The most recent death was an 86-year-old man who died in hospital Saturday.
The Rosslyn did not responded to a request for comment, nor have they responded to numerous requests.
The Spectator spoke with the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), the Licence Appeal Tribunal and the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, asking about the fate of the Rosslyn and its homeless residents.
Why did the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) revoke the Rosslyns licence?
The RHRA says it made the decision after careful review and consideration of the information collected through inspections, complaints and reports from staff and the public. Revoking a licence is a last resort and occurs when a home has demonstrated it cannot or will not comply with the law and regulations. The RHRA has revoked 14 licences in Ontario since 2011.
Can the owners appeal the RHRAs decision?
Yes. The Rosslyns owners can file an appeal with the provinces Licence Appeal Tribunal within 15 days of the revocation order June 15 but Ontarios emergency order may affect limitation periods. The tribunal said Monday it has not received a notice of appeal.
Can the Rosslyn operate during the appeal?
Yes and no. According to the RHRA, the owners can apply to the tribunal for a stay of proceedings within 15 days of the revocation order, but the stay is not automatic the tribunal must grant it. Even then, the Rosslyn could only reopen if it complied with outstanding orders from the RHRA and Hamilton public health.
Could the owners continue to operate the building without a stay?
Yes, but not as a retirement home. According to the RHRA, a licence revocation does not preclude the facilitys operation as some other form of rental housing if the owners choose to do so. The home would be considered a retirement home, and require a licence, however, if the home has more than six residents the majority of whom over age 65 and offers at least two care services, such as administering a drug and assisting with bathing.
What rights do residents have?
Graham Webb, a lawyer and executive director of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, said residents have rights under both the Retirement Homes Act and the Residential Tenancies Act. In other cases where licences were pulled, residents were allowed to stay, he said. However, the RHRA said the home is not able to readmit current residents or admit any new residents to the home during the revocation process. The RHRA said residents with questions about their tenant rights, including rent and deposit, should contact the Landlord Tenant Board. The board didnt respond to questions from The Spectator.
Where will residents go?
For now, the majority remain in hospital. St. Josephs Healthcare Hamilton has said some will need a higher level of care than a retirement home when they leave. The RHRA is offering residents up to $3,500 through its emergency fund to help residents cover costs of finding alternate accommodation, moving or paying for another care provider. The Local Health Integration Network is also helping residents make alternate arrangements.
Will police launch an investigation?
Hamilton police say they are liaising with the RHRA as it investigates allegations of abuse and neglect at the Rosslyn. If, during their investigation, these allegations reach the threshold of criminality then the appropriate criminal charges will be laid, said police spokesperson Jackie Penman. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-540-5300.
Sullivan's Brewing Company today announced the successful closing of its Series A follow-on round of investment led by investors in the United States and Europe. The company raised over $1,265,000 in proceeds in the round, including 175k in further investment from Enterprise Ireland, an Irish governmental development agency. The proceeds will be used to continue the company's investment in growth and sales across the U.S. and Europe, and for working capital. The company has raised approximately $4,600,000 in funding since its launch in Ireland in 2016.
Located inKilkenny, in the heart of the city where Irish craft brewing has been a mainstay for over 800 years, Sullivan's has fast become a premium Irish craft brewery of choice for beer enthusiasts across the world. Sullivan's was originally established in 1702, thrived until just after the First World War, and was re-launched in 2016. Sullivan's Maltings Red Ale was chosen as "Best Ale in the World" (2017-18) at the International Brewing Awards in Burton-on-Trent, renowned as the "Oscars of the Beer Industry" (out of 1,200 beers); of note, Sullivan's was the first Irish brewery to ever win that prestigious award since the contest began in 1886. Today, their beers include classic Maltings Red Ale, Irish Gold Ale, and Black Marble Stout.
Sullivan's is led by an experienced team with global premium branding, sales, and world class brewing experience that has been there since the start. The leadership team across Ireland and the United States focuses on brewing and selling great beer with real character. The team is led Alan Quane, CEO Sullivan's Global (ex-Heineken, Diageo); Michael Meade, CEO Sullivan's USA (ex-Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Citi); Dan Smithwick, CFO (ex-KPMG, Citi); and renowned Master Brewer, Ian Hamilton (ex-Diageo), who together helped execute Sullivan's re-launch back in 2016 and have steered its continued growth on to today.
And indeed, the growth has continued. Sullivan's first entered the U.S. market in Buffalo, NY in 2017, and has quickly expanded to other U.S. markets. In 2019, Sullivan's added six new markets, primarily around the Great Lakes region. In 2020, they added nine new markets, including southern Michigan, Columbus OH, Pittsburgh PA, Savannah GA, northern New Jersey, Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania, and finally New York City, and its suburbs including Westchester County and Long Island.Sullivan's currently distributes its ales in six states with live plans to add even more. The current capital raise will further enable management's continued efforts and focus on execution of its growth strategy.
"With the closing of this financing, we bring additional capital resources that further strengthen our balance sheet as we pursue continued expansion across the US and abroad," said Michael Meade, CEO Sullivan's USA. "This private placement represents another significant milestone for all of the company's stakeholders and is a testament to the full team, inside and outside of the Company, who were able to collaborate to help us get this accomplished amidst a currently challenging operating environment."
"We spent a lot of time up front working on our product, distribution partners, supply chain, operational controls, and digital investments so that we could be well positioned for the future. Our business will continue to evolve by leveraging the experience and expertise of our team with the best industry practices, while never forgetting that Sullivan's Brewing Company has a 318-year brewing history in Ireland that has thrived down through the centuries and has its eye on a future that is global in scope," said John Brown, Chairman. "Sullivan's will emerge from the Pandemic of 2020 as a team of partners delivering the World's Best Ales to our customers with a more robust business than before this crisis began. We are incredibly excited about our future and the loyal customer and investor base we've built over the last several years, and looking forward to continuing that journey and bringing joy to our strong bar partners and customers by serving up our great ales for many years to come."
Advisors to the Company included, Magstar Capital LLC, a FINRA broker-dealer (financial advisory), Panamax Capital LLC (financial advisory), Warshaw Burstein (legal), Connor Robinson (legal), and Cremin McCarthy Company (auditors).
This press release includes forward-looking statements that relate to the business and expected future events or future performance of Sullivan's Brewing Company and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause its actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005030/en/
Contacts:
United States
Michael Meade
CEO, Sullivan's USA
212-729-1567
michaelmeade@sullivansbrewingcompany.com
Ireland
Dan Smithwick
Financial Director
00-353-834741840
dansmithwick@sullivansbrewingcompany.com
www.sullivansbrewingcompany.com
https://www.instagram.com/sullivansbrewco_/
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) San Juan City will be celebrating its Wattah Wattah festival this year but without the traditional "basaan," or dousing of water, due to the coronavirus pandemic, its mayor said Tuesday.
Mayor Francis Zamora said the city will instead bless the image of its patron saint St. John the Baptist at the city hall on June 24, kicking off a parade where priests will bless people with holy water along the route.
"[P]recautionary measures against the spread of the virus in the city must take precedence this 2020," Zamora said on Facebook.
The mayor said residents can watch the parade from their homes but they must still observe physical distancing and wear face masks.
Traditionally, residents, passersby and visitors splash each other with water during the festival to honor their patron saint.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 22:51:09|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Transport has toughened information checks of travelers leaving Beijing by prohibiting those with abnormal health codes, or without a negative nucleic acid test certificate issued within the past seven days, from entering stations.
The overseas COVID-19 epidemic is still spreading, while regular epidemic prevention and control work is still arduous, Sun Wenjian, spokesperson for the ministry, told a press conference on Tuesday.
The ministry will continue to suspend inter-provincial tourist passenger bus services, as well as taxi and ride-sharing services in and out of Beijing. Passengers will also be barred from entering and leaving the city by taking illegal vehicles, Sun said.
More efforts will be made to strengthen transportation guarantees for production materials and daily necessities in Beijing, Sun added.
He said epidemic prevention and control measures will be strengthened to control imported cases of COVID-19. Enditem
Army Chief General M M Naravane on Tuesday reviewed India's military preparedness in eastern Ladakh as he began a two-day visit to the region where a border clash last week left 20 Indian soldiers dead in the midst of a tense standoff with the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
IMAGE: Army Chief General MM Naravane interacting with our gallant soldiers at Military Hospital, Leh during his two-day visit to Eastern Ladakh, in Leh. Photograph: ANI Photo
Soon after arriving in Leh, Gen Naravane visited an Army hospital where 18 soldiers injured in the clash in Galwan Valley on June 15 are undergoing treatment, Army officials said.
The Chief of the Army Staff interacted with almost all the injured soldiers and complimented them for their bravery, they added.
A surveillance post set up by the Chinese army on a narrow mountain trail in violation of an agreement was the trigger for the clash in Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
After visiting the hospital, Gen Naravane reviewed the overall security situation in the region with the ground commanders, and is learnt to have directed them to keep a high-level of alertness to deal with any Chinese misadventure, people familiar with the issue said.
SEE: Gen Naravane at the Army hospital where 18 soldiers injured in the clash in Galwan Valley are undergoing treatment
The Chief of the Army Staff is scheduled to visit a number of forward areas during his two-day visit to the region.
Last week, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria made a quiet visit to Ladakh and Srinagar air bases to review the Indian Air Force's preparedness to deal with any eventualities in the region.
Before leaving for Leh, Gen Naravane attended the final session of a two-day conference of top army commanders. The commanders extensively deliberated on the situation in eastern Ladakh.
In Leh, Gen Naravane was also scheduled to hold an extensive meeting with Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the 14 Corps that takes care of the sensitive border with China.
IMAGE: Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane leaves for Ladakh, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo
On Monday, Lt Gen Singh held a nearly 11-hour meeting with Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin. In the meeting, the two sides arrived at a 'mutual consensus' to "disengage" from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh.
The first round of the Lt Gen talks were held on June 6 during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all the standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.
However, the situation along the border deteriorated following the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 as the two sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the 3,500-km de-facto border.
On Sunday, the government gave the armed forces "full freedom" to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC.
The Indian Army has already sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border in the last one week. The IAF has also moved a sizeable number of its frontline Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 aircraft and Apache attack helicopters to several key air bases including Leh and Srinagar following the clashes.
The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9.
Prior to the clashes, both sides had been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it was necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
remaining of
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Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Monday morning that she was shocked and appalled at the placement of a noose in the garage stall for Bubba Wallaces car at Talladega on Sunday.
Wallace is the only Black driver who races full-time at NASCARs top level. NASCAR said Sunday night that its investigating the incident and that it would work to ban whomever placed the noose in Wallaces garage.
I am shocked and appalled to hear of yesterdays vile act against Bubba Wallace in Talladega, Ivey said in a statement. There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state. Racism and threats of this nature will not be condoned nor tolerated and I commit to assisting in any way possible to ensure that the person responsible for this is caught and punished. While the important conversation of racial reconciliation is ongoing all over our country, it is clear there is much work to do. Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamaians I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state. I ask the NASCAR family to rally around Bubba and his team as they compete today and I know that there are more people who are wishing him well today than ever before.
Garage access at Talladega is limited because of the coronavirus pandemic. Hours have been modified and only those with work-related access are approved to enter the garage. The limited number of fans attending Sundays race postponed to Monday afternoon because of rain are not allowed to enter the infield.
[Jay Busbee: Day of reckoning has arrived for NASCAR and its fans ]
The noose was discovered by a member of Wallaces No. 43 team and the FBI is investigating.
The U.S. Attorneys office for the Northern District of Alabama, FBI, and the department of Justice Civil Rights Division are reviewing the situation surrounding the noose that was found in Bubba Wallaces garage to determine whether there are violations of federal law, U.S. Attorney Jay Town said in a statement. Regardless of whether federal charges can be brought, this type of action has no place in our society.
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The race was set to be the first Cup Series race at Talladega and in the state of Alabama since NASCARs Confederate flag ban on June 10. Wallace was a strong advocate for the ban and said on CNN two days before the flag was officially barred from NASCAR tracks that he wanted to see it prohibited.
NASCAR called the placement of the noose a heinous act on Sunday. The sanctioning body has spoken out against racial injustice and inequality since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and even held a moment of silence before its Cup Series race on May 31.
Bubba Wallace waits for the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, June 14, 2020, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Petty attending Mondays race
Wallace drives for Richard Petty Motorsports, the team owned by the seven-time champion and NASCAR legend who won 200 Cup Series races throughout his career.
RPM said Monday morning that Petty, 82, would be in attendance at Mondays race in support of Wallace. Petty has not been at any of the races since NASCAR resumed racing on May 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
NASCAR legen Richard Petty (right) has expressed support for Bubba Wallace and was supposed to attend Monday's race at Talladega. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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Protesters tried to pull down a statue of President Andrew Jackson near the White House Monday night before being dispersed by police.
WUSA-TV in Washington reported that police used pepper spray to move protesters out of Lafayette Square, where the Jackson statue is located. Videos posted on social media showed that the protesters had climbed on the statue and tied ropes around it, then tried to pull it off its pedestal.
The statue shows Jackson in a military uniform, riding a horse that is rearing on its hind legs. The 19th century presidents ruthless treatment of Native Americans has made his statue a target of demonstrators protesting the United States legacy of racial injustice.
The Jackson statue remained on its pedestal Monday night.
With the White House and the Washington Monument in the background, a National Park Service worker cleans a statue of President Andrew Jackson, Thursday, June 11, 2020, near the White House in Washington, after protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)AP
President Donald Trump tweeted late Monday that Numerous people had been arrested for the disgraceful vandalism. He added: 10 years in prison under the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt was at the scene Monday night, and issued a statement saying: Let me be clear: we will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served.
On June 1, law enforcement officers forcefully cleared peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square so Trump could stage a photo op at a nearby church.
In the months since the coronavirus pandemic hit the US, the country has become less worried about the disease and less likely to adhere to the public heath advice to slow its spread. But have those shifts been consistent across all Americans?
Data from two months of weekly surveys finds that while compliance with behaviors is waning, the decline is especially acute among white evangelical Protestants.
White evangelicals more closely resembled the overall population earlier in the pandemic, according to findings released today from Data for Progress, a left-leaning think tank. But the gap between the two is widening.
In April, when New York City was reporting 4,000 new cases each day, three quarters of the public indicated that they were worried about contracting the coronavirus. Nearly the same share of white evangelicals (72.2%) were worried.
By June, concern among the general public had dropped by 9.4 percentage points, while the decline among white evangelicals was nearly double: 16.7 percent.
The fading concern over the coronavirus has carried over into whether Americans are complying with suggested public health protocols. People are becoming less likely to take precautions, but as they venture into public more often, they are more likely to wear masks than back in March.
Coronavirus responses have been highly politicized from the start. While white evangelicals tend to be strongly Republicanand both groups are less worried about COVID-19 than the rest of the populationthere are differences in evangelical and Republican behavior.
White evangelicals are around 7 percentage points more likely than Republicans to say that they have been avoiding personal contact and crowds over the last three months. When it comes to social distancing, white evangelicals are in line with the trend for the population overall.
However, like Republicans, white evangelicals are less likely than the average American to say they have worn a mask in public (78.4% of white evangelicals vs. 82.1% of all adults).
COVID-19 is more deadly among older Americans, which is especially worrisome because half of all weekly churchgoers are over 55. In many cases, white evangelicals are on par with the general population when it comes to complying with public health recommendations.
The one area where white evangelicals fall far behind? Mask wearing. A white evangelical under the age of 35 is 13 percentage points less likely to wear a mask in public than the same age group in the general population (58.7% vs. 71.8%). This may due to a lower level of concern about coronavirus from younger white evangelicals, as they are 9 percentage points less likely to say that they are somewhat or very worried about casting the virus than young people in general.
The gap extends among older demographics as well. Just 72.9 percent of white evangelicals who are at least 65 years old say that they are wearing a mask compared to 80.4 percent of the rest of the sample.
The publics patience with coronavirus precautions is fading, and that may put us at greater risk. We have seen a resurgence in cases in some states where restrictions have eased.
While many evangelicals diverted worship services online or kept church buildings closed during April and May, in recent weeks, more churches have reopened. These have also been the center of new outbreaks in West Virginia and Oregon. A church in Eastern Kentucky decided to return to parking lot services after an outbreak in its midst.
Some states have regulated mask wearing in churches, while in most places, churches have to make the call themselves. The Baptist Press recently reported on the dilemma. I'm preaching about fellowship and freedom, to do what you do out of love for your brothers, one pastor said. What's fascinating about this is that if you ask people who want to wear a mask and the people who dont want to wear a mask, both of them will tell you the other one is the weaker brother.
Ryan P. Burge is an instructor of political science at Eastern Illinois University. His research appears on the site Religion in Public, and he tweets at @ryanburge.
Loading Mr Heydon's lectures were scheduled to occur early each year from 2014 to 2016 inclusive. However, allegations about his behaviour would cast a dark shadow over Mr Heydons tenure. "My first introduction to him was that all the Australian law students at Oxford called him 'Dirty Dyson', that seemed to be the moniker he had widely," one former student said. One of Mr Heydons postgraduate students, whom the Herald and The Age have chosen not to name, was so upset and angry about Mr Heydons harassment of her in the Bodleian Library, that she complained to the university. The university decided not to renew Mr Heydons visiting professorship. In heavily redacted documents released to the Herald and The Age under FOI, the reason for the university's decision was not apparent.
Elizabeth Houghton, an Australian law graduate, alleges she was harassed by Dyson Heydon at Oxford University. "The Personnel Committee has already taken a decision that Dyson Heydon should not be renewed," stated Oxford Law Faculty Dean Anne Davies in an email dated June 1, 2016. "We have written to tell him this." Mr Heydons post, which included free economy airfares to Oxford plus salary and rent, had barely begun before the first alleged harassment occurred. It was January 21, 2014, and 27-year-old West Australian Elizabeth Houghton was in her second year at Oxford, studying for a Masters. The student decided to sit in on property and trusts seminars taught by Professor Heydon. Ms Houghton attended the first class, of about 12 mostly male students, just after the Christmas break. "People have to understand the power dynamic," Ms Houghton told the Herald and The Age. As the retired judge was introduced to the class, the tone was set "for the pedestal he was on and the respect he commanded" with a discussion about "which honorific we should use" to address him, she said.
Mr Heydon singled her out on that first day, Ms Houghton said, and asked her to join him at lunch following the seminar. She understood it was a lunch with other students but arrived at Quod, an elegant restaurant on Oxfords High Street, to find she was the judges only guest. He had already ordered wine and refilled her glass as they discussed her research. "He was very friendly at that first lunch and that was it," she said. "Then we went to leave, and he said Oh, I have to make another lunch booking." "He turned to me, and said The same time next week? so I realised he was talking about having lunch with me," she says. The waiter needed a mobile phone number for the booking, so Mr Heydon asked Ms Houghton to supply hers.
Loading "Then he got out a pen, and said Oh, Ill take that down at the same time," Ms Houghton said. The next morning, Ms Houghton woke to a missed call from Mr Heydon. He left a message saying: "Hi Elizabeth, this is Dyson Heydon, it was really lovely to meet you, I would like to have lunch with you again today." "I thought, OK this is weird now," she said. She arranged with a male friend to pretend they had pre-existing plans for a casual sandwich lunch, and Mr Heydon ended up joining them.
She let her male friend Thomas Pontre, a fellow student, do most of the talking. The Herald and The Age have corroborated Ms Houghtons account with Mr Pontre, now a government lawyer in Perth. Contemporaneous messages between the pair confirm Ms Houghton complained about Mr Heydons conduct when it happened. The next week, she attended Mr Heydons seminar again. As it ended, he walked past her and said "See you at lunch at one", and left the room. Ms Houghton felt under an obligation, so she again turned up at Quod, telling Mr Heydon that she was sick, so she would sit at a distance from him. "He leant over and put his hand on my leg, and rubbed it, and said in a leering way, We cant have you being ill.
Loading "Then he put his hand on my upper thigh. My brain just froze, it was like a white-out, alarm bells. I made my excuses and left." Ms Houghton, who is now practising as a barrister in London, never went back to Mr Heydons seminars. She stopped using her allocated desk in the law library, because the former judge had sought her out there before. She studied in other libraries to avoid him. She never complained to the university. "In the months after he left Oxford I discovered he was notorious for this kind of behaviour," Ms Houghton said. "I was disappointed in the fact that people can behave like that and get away with it for so long." The Herald and The Age have been told Mr Heydon harassed another student the following year, leading to his early dismissal from his Visiting Professorship. Another former Australian student studying law at Oxford told the Herald and The Age she was warned about Mr Heydons propensity to harass young women.
Now a member of the bar, the woman said Mr Heydon was "a bit of a celebrity, particularly for the Australian students". She was initially excited to have a former judge as her professor but said she was cautioned by others about Mr Heydon. "People would warn me about not shutting the door behind me and not to have tutes alone with him," she said. "I was always being warned by men too, not just women, who seemed to know about it.'' She avoided being alone with the former judge and he did not behave inappropriately towards her. Another added he was known as "Handsy Heydon".
Bernie Ecclestone hopes Ferrari "play fair" in 2020.
The former F1 supremo is a key ally and friend of quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who will be ousted by the Maranello team after this season.
"Sebastian's only goal now is to be faster than Charles (Leclerc)," Ecclestone told the Swiss newspaper Blick. "In qualifying and the race.
"Ferrari can forget about team orders, but I just hope they play fair with Sebastian," he added, referring to the obvious hierarchical shift at the famous Italian team.
But even if the situation is difficult for Vettel in 2020, 89-year-old Ecclestone is not expecting the German to fail to cope.
"Sebastian is mentally too strong and too attentive for that," he said. "He's a true professional."
(GMM)
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said India has been hit by a terrible economic crisis, a pandemic of huge proportions and a full-blown crisis on the border with China due to the mismanagement and wrong policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government.
It is said misfortunes do not come singly. The cumulative effect is widespread misery, fear and danger to the security and territorial integrity of the country, she said in her opening remarks at a virtual meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the partys highest decision-making body.
Gandhi sharpened her attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government on the border standoff with China.
True to its character, the government is in denial. The intrusion was detected and reported on May 5. Instead of a resolution, the situation deteriorated rapidly and there were violent clashes on June 15-16. Twenty Indian soldiers were martyred, 85 injured and 10 went missing until they were returned, she said.
The Prime Minister was called out when he announced that no one had intruded into Indian territory in Ladakh, Gandhi said in reference to Modis remarks at an all-party meeting on June 19, that neither anyone is present in Indian territory nor any Indian post had been captured by the Chinese.
The Congress party says Modis stand contradicted past remarks by defence minister Rajnath Singh, foreign minister S Jaishankar and army chief Gen MM Naravane on the Chinese intrusions. Former premier Manmohan Singh on Monday said a prime minister must be mindful of his words on a nations strategic interests, insisting China should not be allowed to use Modis words as a vindication of its position that it did not enter the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Gandhi reiterated her partys support to the government in its efforts to deal with the situation.
On matters of national security and territorial integrity, the nation has always stood together and this time too, there is no second opinion. The Congress party was the first to offer its total support to the armed forces and the government, she said.
However, she contended the government has gravely mishandled the situation. The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will inform the governments actions in protecting our territorial integrity, she added.
Gandhi urged the government to ensure that peace, calm and restoration of status quo ante along the LAC remain the only guiding principles in Indias national interest. We will continue to closely watch the situation, she asserted.
She criticised the government over the state of the economy and its stimulus package, saying the crisis has worsened. She stressed the need for immediate financial aid for micro, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs) and direct cash transfers to the poor.
The Modi government refuses to listen to good advice. The need of the hour is a massive fiscal stimulus, putting money directly in the hands of the poor, protecting and nurturing the MSMEs, and stimulating demand, she said. Instead, the government announced a hollow financial package that had a fiscal component of less than 1% of GDP.
On the continuous rise in fuel prices, Gandhi said the government has 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.
Oil companies hiked auto fuel rates for the 17th day in a row by 20 paise a litre and 55 paise respectively on Tuesday. Diesel is costlier by Rs 10 per litre in just 17 days and petrol by 8.50 a litre.
The result is 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. Recovery is likely to take a long time, and that too only if the government corrects its course and adopts sound economic policies, she said.
Gandhi said when the Covid-19 pandemic hit India in February, the Congress offered its total support to the government and backed the nationwide lockdown.
Within weeks, it was apparent that government was totally unprepared to manage the fallout of a lockdown. The result was the greatest humanitarian crisis witnessed since 1947-48. Millions of migrant workers, daily wage earners and self-employed were devastated. One hundred and thirty million jobs are estimated to have been lost. Crores of MSMEs have been shut, perhaps forever, she said.
Despite the assurances of Modi who centralised all authority in his hands, Gandhi said the pandemic continues to rage.
The grave deficiencies in the health infrastructure have been exposed. The promised peak is nowhere in sight, she said, alleging the Centre has passed the buck to state governments, but given them zero extra finances.
Actually, the people have been left to protect themselves as best as possible. The mismanagement of the pandemic will be recorded as one of the most disastrous failures of the Modi government, Gandhi said, and thanked Congress workers for their help and support to migrant workers and other affected people during the pandemic.
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With an uptake in online learning across age groups, IntelliPaat, an online professional training and certification platform, has registered a significant increase in the number of students enrolling for professional courses. Offering both paid as well as free courses, the company has witnessed a 25 per cent uptick in enrolments since the outbreak of COVID-19.
IntelliPaat has tied up with nearly 200 companies in India and is helping their employees' learn new skills. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, many new companies have expressed an interest in having their employees trained online by us. Recently, a leading financial player expressed an interest in having between 800 to 900 people trained by us. Some of the names include Nuance, McCormick, CommScope, etc," says Diwakar Chittora, Founder & CEO, IntelliPaat.
Available in over 55 countries, approximately 50 per cent of IntelliPaat learners are from India. "Within India, our students tend to be from Tier I cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Mumbai. Most of our students come from these cities because IT companies have a massive presence in these regions," adds Chittora.
Some of the popular courses on the platform include data science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, cloud computing and DevOps, digital marketing, and programming. In all, IntelliPaat provides training in over 150 courses in the mentioned technologies. IntelliPaat offers single courses, master courses, and PG courses. The duration of a single course is between 35 to 40 hours, a masters course duration is of 90 hours, and a PG course is nine months long. The platform expects students to commit six hours every week to attend instructor-led courses and an additional four hours each week to complete assignments.
"The Intellipaat Expert Classes has industry experts from top product and service companies deliver webinar sessions to learn new skills and provide guidance to young engineers to become high in demand software developers. We recently launched IntelliPaat, our free platform, and at the beginning of June, there were over 8,000 enrolments. The free platform has video lectures that are created by subject matter experts and students are awarded a certificate upon completion of the free courses as well," adds Chittora.
More than 500 employers are registered with Intellipaat. These companies regularly hire Intellipaat's students. "Within three months of completing their course, approximately 75 per cent of our students are employed in the area they studied or promoted internally to work in such roles," quantifies Chittora.
The company aims to raise capital and use it to hire people in marketing, launch new courses, and develop products. It will also focus on the enterprise side of the business and hire more people in every department. IntelliPaat aims to deeply penetrate in markets including India, the United States, and Canada, where they already exist and increase presence in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
Frivolous Church Zoning Case
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Liberty Counsel
June 23, 2020
VENTURA, Calif., June 23, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Liberty Counsel filed its response brief to the Ventura County Superior Court on behalf of a nonprofit foundation (Foundation) which purchased a former YMCA building and entered into an agreement to rent it to Godspeak Calvary Chapel Church.
Dos Vientos Community Preservation Association v. City of Thousand Oaks, the lawsuit brought by the Dos Vientos Community Preservation Association (Association) and Donald Armstrong, is an attempt to force the city of Thousand Oaks to discriminate against a California church and a non-profit organization.
The alleged "Association" consists of a few individuals and argued that the church should not be considered a religious organization entitled to protection under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which requires that religious organizations receive equal treatment in government zoning decisions.
However, the Foundation demonstrated that the city of Thousand Oaks followed all applicable laws and regulations in granting the building permits for Calvary Chapel, without requiring a new or amended development permit. There is nothing in the city zoning code, or any other applicable law, that requires a burdensome development permit to be obtained when a private facility changes ownership and is converted to church use. By not requiring a new or amended development permit, as the plaintiffs demanded, the city treated the Foundation and the church equally with other similarly situated non-religious groups that are also not required to obtain new development permits for similar renovations.
The demands of the plaintiffs would have been discriminatory and unconstitutional, because it would have subjected the church and the Foundation to different and more onerous burdens solely because of their religious affiliation.
The Foundation purchased the building from the YMCA in January 2018. The building is in a commercial complex that is part of a larger residential and commercial development in the city. The overall development was approved by the city in 2002. The city approved an environmental impact report and development permit as required under CEQA and other state laws. Part of the consideration for approval of the project was that the developer would donate a parcel of land to the local YMCA for it to build a center in the neighborhood. The YMCA built and operated a center before it closed in December 2017. The YMCA then sold the property, including the building, to the Foundation, which intends to make minor changes and then allow Calvary Chapel to use the facility.
Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "It is time for the Ventura County Superior Court to dismiss this frivolous lawsuit against a Christian church. It is a violation of the law to welcome a YMCA but refuse a church. The city of Thousand Oaks followed the law, but a small handful of people want the city to violate zoning laws and federal laws to discriminate against the use of the building for religious services. This will not happen."
Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.
SOURCE Liberty Counsel
CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org
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Derbyshire farmers have spread slurry around a beauty spot after locals complained over the 'huge amount' of visitors 'trespassing' to see the site.
Day-trippers from across the UK have recently visited Hoffman Quarry, known famously as the 'Blue Lagoon' - a toxic former lime quarry.
But locals have repeatedly raised concerns over visitor numbers and the health and safety of the public who get close to the site, with some people even swimming in it.
Farmers who live near to Harpur Hill have now spread slurry around the outside of the water to deter future visitors.
EH UP High Peak, a Facebook page run by locals in the area, said action had to be taken following the 'huge amount' of visitors who kept 'trespassing' and 'travelling' to see the quarry.
An illegal rave was also planned for last weekend, the page added.
"Don't visit, don't abuse locals", the post, which has been shared over 350 times, said.
"With locals receiving abuse and continued drug use, and visitors also leaving huge amounts of litter residents have had enough."
EH UP High Peak added: "The slurry is thick and is expected to last a couple of weeks before more action."
"We are truly working with the most amazing heroes and caring for our most vulnerable population," says Leisa Cawthon, Executive Director of Watercrest Newnan . "We love what we do and will continue the vigilance to protect our residents!"
Executive Director Cawthon notes several key factors played a role in maintaining a healthy community. Their concierge has acted as the first line of defense, diligently screening and following entrance protocols, while the entire staff has strictly adhered to protective equipment and sanitization requirements.
Cawthon also attributes the successful results to early and consistent education with staff, and the steady communication and guidance from their senior leadership at Watercrest Senior Living who provided the necessary tools to support the community through ever-changing guidelines.
"We are extremely proud of our Watercrest team and their commitment to putting our residents first to ensure their health and safety," says Angela Bowden, Regional Director of Operations for Watercrest Senior Living Group. "As an organization, we will continue our emphasis on knowledge and communication, utilizing expert guidance and effectively implementing those guidelines to continue protecting our residents, associates, and families."
The family members of residents at Watercrest Newnan have expressed their appreciation for the safety protocols because it means that their loved ones continue to be the top priority. The team has helped ease anxiety by providing weekly communication and updates of resident's daily activities and overall well-being.
Watercrest Newnan is a signature Watercrest product offering 75 assisted living and 32 memory care apartments with premium accommodations, resort-style amenities, and world-class care. The newly built community is ideally situated on nine picturesque acres at 285 Summerlin Boulevard in Newnan, Georgia, southwest of Atlanta. For more information, contact Leisa Cawthon at 770-637-2207.
Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living by surpassing standards of care, service and associate training. Watercrest communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming offering unparalleled service to seniors living with Alzheimer's and dementia.
A certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest Senior Living Group specializes in the development and operations management of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. For more information, visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com.
SOURCE Watercrest Senior Living Group
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The royal family of Luxembourg has shared new pictures of the adorable Prince Charles.
Born on May 10, the Prince, who is the son of Prince Guillaume, 38, and Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg, 36, looks adorable in the sweet snaps shared by the grand ducal family on Instagram.
In the sweet pictures, the royal baby can be seen enjoying a nap while resting on the side of a large white teddy bear, while others show him peacefully resting in his mother's arms at Fischbah castle.
At the time of his birth in May, the young Prince could not meet his grandparents Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa because of social distancing measure put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
But the intimate photos revealed the Grand Duke has finally been able to meet his grandson, who is now six-weeks-old.
The royal family of Luxembourg has shared new pictures of the adorable Prince Charles , who was born on May 10
'It is with great pleasure that Prince Guillaume and Princess Stephanie reveal new pictures of their son Charles,' the Instagram post read.
Dressed in an adorable pair of woolen dungarees with a matching sweater and beige woolen slippers, the second in line to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg looked relaxed and well as he enjoyed the snooze.
Charles was photographed by himself, with his mother, with both his parents and with his grandfather Grand Duke Henri.
In one sweet picture, the young prince gazes into the eyes of his mother as she tenderly cradles him with her arms on a white sofa.
In the sweet pictures, Princess Stephanie and Princess Guillaume exchange tender looks as she holds their son in her arms
In another snap, this time taken on the terrace of Fischbah castle, the happy couple exchange a tender look as Charles rest against Princess Stephanie's chest.
One photograph also captured the heir to the Grand duchy as he gently caressed his son's arm while his wife looked on.
Both parents beamed with pride as they shared more pictures of their beautiful son with the world.
But perhaps the most intense moment came when Grand Duke Henri met and was able to touch his grandson for the first time since his birth.
Prince Guillaume, first in line for the duchy of Luxembougg, could be seen gently rubbing his son's arm
Grand Duke Henri, had only met Charles by video call due to the social distancing measures put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus. He was finally able to meet him in person
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess had to stay away from the newborn due to the social distancing guidelines put in Luxembourg and around the world to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The couple were only able to meet their grandson via video call.
In heartwarming snaps, the Grand Duke could be since stroking the cheek of his grandson with his fingers as she spoke with his son Prince Guillaume.
Discussing the birth of his son back in May, Prince Guillaume said it was 'probably the most incredible day that we will have in our life', adding: 'To be able to greet the child that comes into one's life is the most magical thing, parenting, a couple can have.'
The young prince woke up from his nap to gaze into his mother's eyes as she cradles him on a sofa
The young prince, dressed in an adorable pair of white dungarees, seemed rested and peaceful
Photographs were then shared as the newborn met his grandparents the Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa over a video call.
In a statement, the Luxembourg royals said they were 'delighted to announce the birth' of their son on Sunday.
It read: 'The Hereditary couple is delighted to announce the birth of their son this Sunday, May 10, 2020 at 5:13 a.m. at the Maternity Grande-Duchesse Charlotte in Luxembourg.
'The baby will bear the first names of Charles Jean Philippe Joseph Marie Guillaume. The child weighs 3.190 kg and is 50 cm tall.'
Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa appeared delighted as they met their new grandson, and fifth grandchild, over video call
Shortly afterwards, Prince Guillaume spoke with the media about the birth from outside the hospital, with the new father bubbling with excitement over the news.
He said that the couple were 'delighted' to be 'living and sharing' the experience with Luxembourg, particularly because of the challenges of the current coronavirus pandemic.
He explained: 'We are delighted to [have this experience] at a time 'that is difficult for families that have been separated but in the next weeks will see each other again.
'A birth is a message of hope, it's a blessing. This is what we are so happy to share with Luxembourg and all the different countries.'
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 (9:50 am) - Score 1,480
Broadband ISP WightFibre, which is deploying a 1Gbps Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) network across the Isle of Wight (South Coast of Hampshire, UK), has launched a Connected Communities Programme to help fully or part fund the installation and ongoing costs of bringing fibre to community hubs and charitable organisations.
At present the provider is investing around 85m (35m from Infracapital and 50m from NatWest Bank) to ensure that their full fibre network covers 80% of the island by the end of 2022, which is then set to reach 96% by the end of 2025 (c.71,000 homes and businesses).
NOTE: WightFibre s FTTP network has so far covered 20,000 premises (28%).
The provider now intends to support those efforts via their new Connected Communities Programme, which will help to extend FTTH to reach small to medium sized not-for-profit and community focused groups and charities across the Island (i.e. community hub locations and the offices of charitable organisations). Key to this will be WightFibres commitment to help part or fully fund such deployments and their ongoing costs.
In order to be eligible for this the organisations must have a permanent base on the Island (i.e. one located within WightFibres rapidly expanding network footprint) and an ability to demonstrate a focus on improving the lives of local people.
Daniel Taylor, Digital Inclusion Officer at WightFibre, said: I am really excited by the launch of this programme, which will work to support many Island charities and community groups as we expand our full-fibre network. Having worked at Age UKIW running a Lottery funded Digital Inclusion project I have not only seen first-hand the difference technology can make to peoples lives, but also the challenges faced by groups working across our community.
John Irvine, CEO of WightFibre, added: Working with and supporting the Islands communities has always been a key part of our because we care ethos, something which is at the heart of the companys identity and now even more important during the COIVID-19 pandemic. Connected Communities is also one more step on the way to making the Island one of the best connected places in the world for everyone who lives here.
Weve seen plenty of programmes and voucher schemes that help to fund the installation costs for such deployments, although very few of those have also committed to support rental and other ongoing costs. The press release doesnt mention whether or not there is a time limit on such support.
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The pandemic has forced some leading cultural institutions -- such as the Center Theatre Group and the Los Angeles Philharmonic -- to cancel entire seasons and lay off or furlough scores of employees.
But the Los Angeles County Museum of Art says it will reopen next month with its entire staff intact, thanks to a substantial government loan.
LACMA, which receives about 40% of its operating budget from the County of Los Angeles, secured a $6.7 million loan from the federal Paycheck Protection Program. The loan expires at the end of June, meaning that the museum, like other recipients of PPP lending, would then be free to reduce staffing and still have the loan forgiven, as long as certain terms are met.
But Michael Govan, LACMA's director, said there are no plans to trim the workforce anytime soon, meaning the museum has the personnel in place not only to reopen, but also to plan future events and exhibitions. He said the PPP loan was instrumental in preventing cutbacks.
"We would have had to furlough or reduce staff," Govan said. "It's done exactly what it was intended to do -- it's kept everybody working. We have a lot of [employees] who are young and have families to support."
The museum, which bills itself as "the largest art museum in the western United States," says its current fiscal year budget is about $79 million, with about $32 million coming from L.A. County. LACMA also receives taxpayer funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. The museum has 476 employees.
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Govan said the salaries of about 12 LACMA employees are provided by the county. The rest are covered by Museum Associates, the non-profit that operates LACMA. The federal PPP loan can only be used for those salaries not paid by the county.
A museum spokeswoman said no employees have had their salaries reduced.
LACMA is also nearing the end of a capital campaign to raise $650 million for a new building to replace several older buildings that are being demolished. L.A. County is contributing $125 million for the new building, which is scheduled to open in 2024.
Govan said the museum is aiming to unlock its gallery doors possibly as soon as July 6. Visitors will be required to follow a variety of safety and social-distance guidelines, and admissions will be limited and timed to avoid overcrowding. Some LACMA programs, such as outdoor jazz concerts, won't come back immediately, Govan said.
Museum guests will have to answer health questionnaires and follow proscribed traffic patterns in galleries with defined spacing, and use touchless technology for ticketing, according to Govan.
"We do have a lot of floor space and relatively open areas," he said. But he added that total attendance, even with limited admissions, could be below projections. "Who knows who wants to come to a museum?" he said.
Some shows that closed or were postponed when LACMA was shuttered on March 14, such as "Luchita Hurtado: I Live I Die I Will Be Reborn," and a retrospective from Japan's Yoshitomo Nara, will be extended.
Govan said cuts could be forthcoming during the museum's next fiscal year, which begins in July, especially if corporate-backed events don't return at their prior levels. Already, the museum is holding off on some expenditures, such as capital improvements outside of the new building.
He said LACMA was able to use what will be four months of shutdown to reevaluate the museum's operations and plan its reopening. Studio teachers were trained to produce online lessons.
Center Theatre Group, which also receives substantial support from L.A. County, last week said its three theaters would remain closed until April, 2021. CTG said the coronavirus has cost it as much as $40 million in lost revenue, prompting furloughs of 60% of its staff while slashing nearly two-thirds of the organization's budget.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, which also receives county support, canceled the entire Hollywood Bowl season.
WASHINGTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- One-third (33%) of people across America say they're either unconfident or neutral about their ability to file and pay their taxes in 2020, according to a new survey from Clutch , a B2B ratings and reviews platform.
The level of filing discomfort was surprising, given that the new tax deadline provides three months of leeway. The wiggle room, however, was enough for 67% of people to file and pay with confidence.
How confident are Americans in filing and paying taxes this year? Filing taxes late can be 10-50 times more than the interest penalty for paying late
Joshua Rodenborn, CEO of real estate company Jax Nurses Buy Houses , expressed relief about the delayed deadline.
"The extended tax deadline is helpful because it reduces the stress of filing right now," he said. "Business is currently stressful enough as we emerge from the quarantine and start to rebuild the economy."
For those filing taxes for the first time amid the pandemic, however, the financial challenges can easily compound the stresses of filing and paying by July 15.
Clutch spoke to finance and tax experts to aggregate the most helpful tips and common tax mistakes to strengthen small business confidence during this unprecedented, challenging tax season.
Clutch found the top six tips for filing taxes are:
Hire an experienced accountant Correctly classify your business Record and keep detailed cash flow records Apply for a business credit card Amend your tax returns up to 3 years after filing Be aware of relevant deductions
Three common tax mistakes to avoid are:
Waiting until the last minute to file Forgetting different tax rules for different states Letting business and personal expenses mix
Avoid Tax Penalties With Professional Assistance, Proactive Filing
According to a 2018 IRS report, companies paid more than $6.4 billion in civil tax penalties that year.
Avoiding waiting until the last minute can keep businesses from facing preventable penalties such as charges for late filing and late payment.
Professional accounting expertise isn't found within most in-house teams. Hiring help can reduce stress about potential errors and penalties. Suzanne Vanzant-Ladas regularly works through tax stress with first-time filers with Professional Public Accountants, LLC .
"Most clients who own a business and are filing taxes for the first time experience a certain amount of anxiety due to the unknown," she said. "This is normal, but speaking to a professional who can direct you is a great start to relieving that anxiety."
Cut Costs With Classification, Deduction Expertise
There are cost-cutting benefits associated with classifying one's business as an LLC or S-Corp rather than a sole proprietorship or C-Corp.
In addition to typical expenses (vehicle, home office, equipment) that can be deducted, businesses can write off expenses relating to starting their company, explains Sherry Mae, CMO of aquarium company Tankarium .
"Business owners should declare their startup expenses, including but not limited to accounting fees, legal fees, licensing, permits, advertisements, employee training, and equipment procurement or rental," she said.
Companies can benefit further from possible carryover deductions from startup expenses.
Read the full report here: https://clutch.co/accounting/resources/filing-taxes-for-first-time .
For questions about the survey, reach out to Sydney Wess at [email protected]
About Clutch
Clutch is the leading ratings and reviews platform for IT, marketing, and business service providers. Each month, over half a million buyers and sellers of services use the Clutch platform, and the user base is growing over 50% a year. Clutch has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the U.S. and has been listed as a top 50 startup by LinkedIn.
Contact
Sydney Wess
[email protected]
(202) 840-6690
SOURCE Clutch
Related Links
http://clutch.co
Saudi Arabia will hold a very limited Hajj for citizens and residents living inside the country due to the threat of coronavirus, officials have announced.
The kingdom will go ahead with the annual pilgrimage, that traditionally draws around two million people from around the world, though the Ministry of Hajj did not specify how many people would be permitted to take part.
Saudi Arabia said its decision to limit the number of pilgrims was made due to the lack of an available vaccine for the virus or a cure for those infected, as well as the risks associated with large gatherings of people.
This decision was taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective, the ministry said.
It comes as the government announced it will end a nationwide curfew and lift restrictions on businesses from Sunday morning, after three months of lockdown.
Recommended The Middle East is using coronavirus to expel South Asian migrants
Restrictions will remain in place for religious pilgrimages, international travel and social gatherings of more than 50 people.
The kingdom has one of the highest rates of coronavirus infections in the Middle East, with more than 161,000 total confirmed cases and 1,307 deaths.
Saudi Arabia had already suspended the smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage earlier this year and closed the Grand Mosque in Mecca, home to Islams holiest site, to the public.
The city of Mecca was also under a strict lockdown for around two months.
Although Saudi Arabia has lifted some restrictions in recent days around the country, the umrah continues to be suspended and its borders remain shut to visitors and tourists.
Indonesia and Malaysia, which combined send around a 250,000 Muslims to the Hajj each year, had already announced they would not be sending their citizens to the pilgrimage this year.
The Hajj pilgrimage, which starts at the end of July, centres around five intense days of worship and rituals in Mecca, however pilgrims typically begin arriving to Saudi Arabia through its main gateway city of Jeddah weeks and even months in advance.
All able-bodied Muslims are required to perform the Hajj pilgrimage once in their lifetime.
Saudi Arabia has never cancelled the Hajj in the nearly 90 years since the country was founded.
Additional reporting by AP
Following reports that people with diabetes are among the most vulnerable to serious complications caused by COVID-19, the demand of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) is rising. According to GlobalData, the global CGM market was valued at $3.3bn in 2019 prior to the pandemic. The growth of CGM market is expected to reach mid-double digits in 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an emphasis on the use of virtual clinics and telemedicine for diabetic management. For example, the UKs National Health Service updated its clinical guide to encourage remote contact such as via telephone, email and video conferencing. This has resulted in increasing demand for diabetic care devices that can share data remotely. There are significantly more data available by using CGM devices, which can help patients and healthcare providers improve glycemic control and potentially increase patient self-management. Tina Deng, MSc, Senior Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData
The surging demand of CGM is primarily driven by growing awareness of the devices, but also partly due to companies quick responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Dexcom and Abbott have received clearance by the FDA to make their CGM systems available for use in hospital settings and other healthcare facilities. Health Canada recently announced that the Dexcom G6 CGM system has been temporarily authorized for expanded use in Canadian hospitals.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / IMC International Mining Corp. (CSE:IMCX)(OTC PINK:IMIMF)(FRA:3MX) (the "Company" or "IMC") is pleased to announce the voting results from its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders that was held on June 18, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia (the "Meeting"). Shareholders were asked to vote on several items of business as described in the Company's Management Information Circular dated April 30, 2020 (the "Circular"), and all proposals put forward to the Company's shareholders were approved. A total of 16,524,311 Common shares representing approximately 39.05% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares were voted in person or by proxy in connection with the Meeting.
The detailed voting results for the election of directors are as follows:
Director Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Brian E. Thurston 13,776,569 99.971% 3,984 0.029% Thomas E. Gregory Hawkins 11,898,073 86.349% 1,880,906 13.651% Faizaan Lalani 13,771,772 99.943% 7,835 0.057% Andreas (Andy) Graetz 12,816,571 93.012% 962,856 6.988%
All four management director nominees in the Circular received the required majority of votes to be elected as directors of the Company for the ensuing year. In addition, at the Meeting, a motion from the floor was tabled to set the number of directors of the Company at five (as opposed to four as stated in the Circular), and Samir Patel was elected as the fifth director of the Company after receiving the required majority of votes in this regard.
Following the Meeting, Thomas E. Gregory Hawkins (Chairman), Brian G. Thurston, Faizaan Lalani, Andreas (Andy) Graetz and Samir Patel will serve as members of IMC's board of directors (the "Board") until the Company's next annual general meeting of shareholders. IMC is pleased to have strengthened the Board with the additions of Mr. Graetz and Mr. Patel. Their biographies are set out below:
Andy Graetz
Mr. Graetz is a certified mining engineer with over 35 years' international mining experience having worked in Canada, the United States, the Philippines, Kazakhstan and South Africa in senior mine operational, corporate development, and CFO/finance administrative roles. He has held senior management positions with Altynalmas Gold, an affiliate of Ivanhoe Mines, Thistle Mining Inc., the Placer Dome Group of Companies, Lonrho South Africa Ltd, and the Gencor Group of Companies. For these, amongst others, he has led numerous corporate development opportunities and coordinated and managed a number of feasibility studies. Andy has served as Chief Financial Officer for public and private companies for 10 years and has been a board member of CGA Mining Ltd. and Yellowhead Mining Inc. His board responsibilities for Yellowhead Mining Inc. included the roles of Chair of the Audit and Compensation Committees. Mr Graetz holds a Bachelor of Science in the Branch of Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Masters in Business Administration from Brunel University in the United Kingdom and a South African Mine Managers Certificate for Metalliferous Mines.
Samir Patel
Mr. Patel is a securities lawyer with over 11 years of experience in securities and corporate law, particularly in relation to M&A transactions, continuous disclosure requirements, corporate governance and equity financings. He is currently General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at First Mining Gold Corp., a gold exploration and development mining company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and has been with First Mining Gold since June 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Patel spent three and a half years as Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Wellgreen Platinum Ltd. (now Nickel Creek Platinum Corp.), a Canadian PGM-Ni mining exploration company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Before joining Wellgreen, Mr. Patel spent four years at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, a leading national law firm, practising as a securities lawyer in the firm's Securities & Capital Markets Group in Vancouver. Whilst at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Mr. Patel's practice involved advising clients in a variety of sectors with respect to securities, corporate and commercial law matters, with a focus on clients in the mining sector. Mr Patel has a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from the University Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
Subsequent to the Meeting, the Board re-appointed Brian Thurston as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and further strengthened the Company's management team by appointing Jamie Lewin as the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Janet Francis as the Company's Corporate Secretary.
Jamie Lewin is a Chartered Professional Accountant, who also holds an MBA with a specialization in financial management and a Certification in Public Companies. In addition, he completed an LLB at Laval University and a BA in Economics from Western University. He has more than 20 years' experience in accounting and finance for private and public companies in the brokerage and investment, manufacturing, distribution, resources and service sectors. He has served as Chief Financial Officer of several junior mining companies and is principal of Best Fit Consulting.
Janet Francis has 15 years' experience in the field of regulatory compliance and corporate governance. She has served as a director or officer of a number of public companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, and Canadian Securities Exchange in the technology, education, and mining sectors. She is principal of a corporate secretarial firm providing services to a range of publicly listed and other reporting issuers.
Mr. Thurston, in his role as Chief Executive Officer, will continue to focus on advancing IMC's property portfolio. The additions to the Company's Board and senior leadership appointments reflect part of the effort to position IMC for the execution of its growth and development strategy.
ON BEHALF OF IMC INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.
Brian Thurston
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: +1-778-928-6565
ABOUT IMC INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.
IMC is a junior exploration and development company focused on creating shareholder value through the advancements of its current assets that include the Thane Property in north-central British Columbia, and the Bullard Pass Property in Arizona. Utilizing its heavily experienced management team, IMC continues to source and evaluate assets to further generate shareholder value.
The Thane property covers approximately 206 km2 (50,904 acres) and is located in the Quesnel Terrane of north-central British Columbia. The northern part of the Quesnel Terrane extends from south of the Mt. Milligan Mine northward to the Kemess Mine, with the Thane property located midway between these two copper-gold porphyry deposits. The Thane property includes several highly prospective mineralized areas identified to date, including the 'Cathedral Area' on which the Company's exploration is currently focused.
The Bullard Pass Property is comprised of 171 unpatented federal lode claims totaling 3,420 acres and is located in west-central Arizona, northwest of Phoenix, within the Pierce Mining District of Yavapai County. The property has a regional setting typical of detachment fault gold deposits and has geological, mining and metallurgical similarities to the Mesquite Mine in California. The claims are 100% owned by IMC International Mining Corp.
INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Email: ir@internationalmining.ca
Telephone: +1-604-588-2110
https://imcxmining.com
Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Company's business and plans, including with respect to undertaking further acquisition and carrying out exploration activities in respect of its mineral projects. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, risks related to the ability of the Company to obtain necessary approvals; the speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's formative stage of development; the Company's financial position; conclusions of future economic evaluations; business integration risks; fluctuations in the securities market; that the Company's plans and prospects will vary from those stated in this news release; that the Company does not complete any further acquisitions; that the Company does not carry out exploration activities in respect of its mineral projects as planned (or at all); and that the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.
SOURCE: IMC International Mining Corp.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594857/IMC-International-Mining-Corp-Announces-Voting-Results-from-2020-AGM-and-Management-Appointments
Chartis RiskTech Quadrant for CLO Solutions Our clients are really smart people who know what they what they want to do we shoulder the toughest aspects of automation and integration, so they get their ideal system much faster than trying to build it in-house.
For over a decade Thetica Systems has provided custom tools to price, analyze, compare, and report on a variety of structured bonds. This ranking by Chartis Research reflects the companys practice of making work easier for structured finance pros, whether in risk, trading, or IT.
We appreciate the acknowledgement of the unique role we play in this demanding market, said CEO Ariel Yankilevich. "We dont aim to be all things to all people our power lies in the way we employ expertise as an Intex partner to assist sophisticated, creative clients to maximize their results.
From its inception, the company adopted a different approach to addressing the problems commonly faced by structured finance traders and PMs, IT managers, and those responsible for risk and evaluation. As a result, its clients can easily use highly complex strategies and scenarios, building custom reports on top of IT-compliant infrastructure and leveraging their investment in data licensing.
Thetica Systems approach is unusual in that the company does not attempt to provide the business logic needed to evaluate bonds. Head of Production John Schaffner commented, Our clients are really smart people who know what they what they want to do we shoulder the toughest aspects of automation and integration, so they get their ideal system much faster than trying to build it in-house.
The report's RiskTech Quadrant for CLO Solutions highlights each vendor's position for Completeness of Offering and Market Potential and evaluates each vendors capabilities across a range of factors. Thetica Systems earned Advanced Capabilities across all aspects of evaluation including collateral data analytics, pricing engine, data infrastructure, CPM support, performance analytics, and reporting and visualization.
Those interested can see the full Chartis Research report and other accomplishments, the companys history, and its products and services.
Thetica Systems has over a decade of experience in providing clients with custom systems for structured finance portfolios and integrates a wide variety of client-licensed and proprietary data. Clients include investment banks, hedge funds, accounting firms, professional services providers, asset management, brokers, dealers, and others that invest in or monitor structured finance securities. Users range from traders and trading desks, project managers, research and product controllers to risk managers, regulatory reporting, and IT.
About Thetica Systems
The company solves the buy-or-build dilemma for those who require a unique, customized, and flexible system to price, compare, analyze, and report on bonds. A highly experienced Intex partner, Thetica Systems can implement any business logic, models, scenarios, and client-licensed data from any source for CMBS, CLO, RMBS/CRT, and ABS portfolios. The word Thetica was created from the Greek letter theta, representing thought or reason, and etica, representing ethics. Thought, reason and ethics are essential elements of any successful business and commitment to this concept is embedded in the companys name. For more information visit the company website and LinkedIn page.
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Anime is one of Japan's fastest growing exports to the West and with the recent cancellations of most of the annual conventions the anime fans at Cel-Ga.com have been searching for a substitute. They are pleased to announce Cel Auction: a live online auction to be held on the 4th of July from 14:00 BST and a chance to appreciate and own anime history.
Studio Ghibli, Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya, Sailor Moon, Original Japanese Anime Cel Kiki's Delivery Service
The focus of the auction will be on authentic vintage production cels. Until 2002 Anime series and movies were produced using animation celluloids, more commonly known as cels: transparent sheets with scenes painted on, similar to frames of a live action movie. Classics such as Ghost in the Shell and My Neighbour Totoro were all created with this method.
Anime's early history with the West was quite different from the environment that exists in the present. Early adaptations were heavily edited for a foreign audience to the point where viewers might not have been aware of the Japanese origins. Attendees might recognise series and characters that they were previously unaware were anime.
Anime's growth in the West occurred concurrently with the retirement of cel production. Through Cartoon Network's Toonami in the USA and Studio Ghibli's Oscar-winning anime movie Spirited Away, a new generation of anime fans in the West was born in the 2000's. Cel-Ga.com are certain Cel Auction will be an engaging opportunity for people who are only familiar with more recent anime.
This growth has only accelerated immensely in the past decade with industry big names like Amazon starting up their own animation studios to produce, translate and license anime. Earlier this year Netflix licensed Studio Ghibli's movies for streaming release in the UK introducing an ease of access to Miyazaki's masterpieces. Cel-Ga.com are pleased to announce that they will have a selection of authentic Studio Ghibli cels up for bidding in the auction.
Cel-Ga.com is a London-based gallery that has established itself as a platform through which anime fans can find collections of authentic and unique Japanese cels and posters to decorate their personal spaces with. Cel Auction will take place on the 4th of July from 14:00 BST on Invaluable, Easy Live Auction, or Live Auctioneers and feature 191 vintage cels from favourites such as Studio Ghibli, Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon.
The founder E. Wertheim says, "We believe Cel Auction will be an opportunity for anime fans to come together and enjoy an online gallery showcasing the best of anime's history and magic from the comfort and safety of their homes."
Media Contact
Ethan Barrett
+44(0)2072292934
[email protected]
SOURCE Cel-Ga.com
Harish Bijoor By
Neighbours dont make the best of friends. Not yours. Not mine. I am talking about countries for now. The two Koreas, the two Germanys of yore, and India, Pakistan, China and now Nepal are classic examples. Neighbours are just too close to be good friends. There are issues common that are just too contentious. And more often than not, there is history and its leftover baggage that will just never let neighbours be good friends.
At times neighbours are adjacencies due to a point of political sleight. They were one, and then they became two. At times neighbours have a political line drawn through their drawing rooms due to a completely opposed colour of ideology to boot. Neighbours therefore lead divided lives.
The India-China face-off is the latest point of contention at hand. After four decades, the incident in the Galwan Valley, where both sides faced casualties, is a point of fractious debate across the borders of the two countries.
Even as a series of political and military actions are being contemplated, there is a huge debate on economic action. The key question is whether China has shot itself in the wallet this time round. This is 2020 and the wallet seems to be more important than even the foot.
We have seen visuals of China-made television sets being thrown off balconies, smashed with hammers; Chinese brands are on the back foot. Mobile handsets of Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese companies have come out of the closet quickly. In many ways, the #BoycottChineseProducts seems to have suddenly replaced the evocative #VocalForLocal movement all in a matter of days, much to the relief of brands of every other nationality. For now.
Economic action has been quick. There is a 15-point charter of action that delineates next steps put together. And even as this charter gets debated into a point of implementation, one needs to sit back and think about what is best for the country first and the consumer next. Must this be sudden death, or a slow one?
The argument of self-reliance is a solid one. It, however, needs to be a plan based on economic reality rather than mere popular rhetoric. Possibly a 15-year plan with a purpose. A plan that seeks import substitution in every realm to be a key part. A plan that will seek self-reliance in every realm for a start. Self-reliance in the space of agriculture, manufacturing and services in totality. In the space of grains and pulses that we import today. In the space of sudden onion imports to stabilise prices, in the space of cash crops we import so happily today, and in every commodity, be it oil or bauxite.
India continues to import from everywhere, seeking out the cheap and the much-needed. And roughly 24% of our imports come from China. We are yet to substitute our dependence on China, even in the arenas of low-tech manufacturing such as fans and ovens, leave alone high-end electronics. And components are indeed a high-value part of everything we import. If we are to actually do an audit in our modern day lives, there is a little bit of China in everything.
As we ask the consumer to boycott Chinese products, the important point is that the consumer today does not go to the market looking for a Made in China product. The consumer looks for a high-quality offering that is durable and comes at a price that is affordable. Strangely and not so strangely, China has cracked that mix.
To an extent, China has today become the worlds factory. The whole world has been using it as just that. China produces products in its gargantuan factories and sends it all across the world. And many of us dont want to do what China does, at times for reasons related to the environment, and at times for reasons related to higher costs and lesser efficiencies. By and large, the biggest brands in the world have outsourced production to China.
China today is not a geography alone. It is much more than that. It is a currency. A currency that it invests all across the globe to insulate its inability to produce more for the world within its geography. China and companies of Chinese origin therefore invest across the world. China invests in nations (in terms of infrastructure projects), banks (as funders of the new global economy), businesses (of both the traditional and start-up variety) and consumers (in terms of creating new buyers and users for every application it makes for the new world, of which TikTok is the poster boy certainly).
As an endnote, the world has a fair bit of China in it today. It has happened slowly but surely since 1976. In hindsight, it does look like a part of a plan. A carefully thought-out plan that has China positioned as a factory to the world, a commodity, an infrastructure play, possibly a 5G play in the future, and most certainly as an investor in the sunrise sectors of the world.
A Boycott China plan can happen not suddenly, not overnight, but only as an equally carefully thought-out plan by India and the world at large. And it just might take all of 15 years to implement it in full, if not more.
Harish Bijoor
Brand Guru and Founder,Harish Bijoor Consults
(harishbijoor@hotmail.com)
The Georgia Legislature on Tuesday afternoon passed a hate crimes bill that will now head to the desk of Governor Brian Kemp. If signed into law, Georgia would no longer be among four states without hate crime legislation on its books.
Advocates and lawmakers renewed their push to pass the bill after the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man pursued by two white men and shot dead while jogging through a Brunswick neighborhood on February 23.
The bill, HB426, passed the state Senate by a 47-6 vote and the state house 127-38. Kemp's office said in a statement released to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he would sign the bill pending legal review.
Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president of the southern division for the Anti-Defamation League, which has pushed for a hate crime law in the state for decades, told CBS News she is "thrilled" with the bill's passage.
"Both chambers, both sides of the aisle, are standing up to bias and bias-motivated crimes and saying they want to protect their citizens," Padilla-Goodman said.
South Carolina, Wyoming and Arkansas also remain without hate crime laws. Some advocates including the ADL also include Indiana on the list, calling a law passed in that state last year "problematically broad."
Ahmaud Arbery / Credit: Family Handout
Ahmaud Arbery's killing, captured on a disturbing video, drew a national outcry. The two suspects, Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis, 34, told police they thought Arbery was a burglary suspect. Two and a half months passed before they were charged with murder. An investigator later testified that Travis McMichael was heard using a racial slur as Arbery lay dying.
Republican Senator Bill Coswert called the bill's passage a "historic" moment.
"I think we're really at sort of a tipping point right now, and this has been brought about by some of the recent events that have been put visually in front of us on video that are impossible to defend," Coswert said.
Story continues
The bill would mandate enhanced sentencing for defendants convicted of targeting a victim because of their "actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, mental disability, or physical disability." That would mean additional potential prison time or fines on top of sentences for the type of crime for which the defendant was convicted, such as manslaughter or murder.
Previous efforts to pass a hate crimes bill in the state have faltered. The Georgia general assembly in 2000 passed a hate crimes bill that called for enhanced sentencing for crimes motivated by "bias or prejudice," but in 2004, the bill was struck down by the Georgia Supreme Court as unconstitutionally vague. HB 426, crafted with more specific language, gained bipartisan support and narrowly passed the Georgia House last year. But it stalled in a Senate committee before the legislature adjourned over coronavirus concerns in March.
Since Arbery's killing there's been a "newfound resurgence of interest in making sure Georgia gets this on the books," Georgia Representative Karen Bennett, chairwoman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, told CBS News last month. When the legislature resumed this month, advocates backing the bill gathered at the state capitol, holding up signs showing Arbery and George Floyd, the black man whose death in police custody in Minnesota sparked national outrage and protests.
In speaking their support for the bill on the Senate floor, several senators shared their personal experiences with hate and discrimination. Democratic Senator Donzella James, who is black, said she was accosted as a child by a group of white students who yelled racial slurs and threw a bottle at her as she waited for a bus. Republican Senator Renee Unterman, who is Jewish, emotionally recalled having death threats and anti-Semitic literature delivered to her home when she was the mayor of the Georgia town of Loganville in the 1980s.
"It's time for Georgia to rise up and show that we will not stand for crimes done out of hate," James said. "Yes, we cannot legislate love, but we can put stronger penalties in place that may deter those who are committing these crimes from doing it."
The bill has not been without controversy. Debate erupted last week when Senate Republicans amended the bill to extend hate crime protections to law enforcement and first responders. Critics said the addition diluted the symbolic nature of hate crime legislation, which is typically intended to send a strong message condemning hate that has historically plagued marginalized communities in the U.S.
The first responders amendment was later struck from the bill in a bipartisan compromise, but some protections for law enforcement were folded into another bill that passed the House Tuesday, HB838. That proposed legislation would create a "bill of rights" for officers under investigation, and would add additional penalties for people convicted of targeting a firefighter, police officer or paramedic specifically because of their profession.
In a statement, the Democratic Party of Georgia said Republicans "forced through" HB838 even though law enforcement officials are already afforded protections under state law and "are all too often at the center of violence against the marginalized Georgians that the hate crimes law is looking to protect."
The bill's passage came the same day as the funeral for Rayshard Brooks, a black man who was shot dead by an Atlanta officer while fleeing with his Taser.
"We are thrilled that this [hate crimes] law has finally passed after years of advocacy, but let's be clear we will not forget that this bill only came to light after 14 years of delays under Republican leadership, the murder of black men before our eyes, and the pain of marginalized communities across our state," the Georgia Democrats' statement said.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Democratic Senator Harold Jones called the bipartisan efforts to pass the bill a "tremendous lift."
"We have many times talked about bipartisan legislation this is it. This is the definition of it," Jones said. "...Tempers flared at times. People got angry at times. But we always kept our focus that we are legislators."
Jones also noted that the latest version of the bill requires law enforcement agencies to report hate crimes data, something he said would benefit the effort to combat bias-motivated crimes in the state.
While states are the primary prosecutors of hate crimes, the federal government also has the authority to bring charges under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The Department of Justice can act as a "backstop" to prosecute hate crimes in states without the statutes or where state laws don't cover the crime. The Department of Justice has said it is reviewing the Arbery case to determine whether federal hate crime charges are appropriate.
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Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan ministry of Justice of the government of national accord (GNA) Monday expressed its approval of the UN human rights commissions decision to investigate developments in Libya since 2016
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Nargiz Ismayilova - Trend:
The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held a foreign exchange auction with the participation of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), during which Azerbaijani banks acquired $33 million, Trend reports citing CBA.
According to CBA, demand from the banks at the auction grew by 22.6 percent or by $6.1 million compared to the previous auction.
Considering the number of days remaining before the next scheduled auction, as well as with the aim of ensuring uninterrupted currency trading by the banks, the demand of banks at the auction will be fully provided during weekends.
The first foreign exchange auction in a long time was held with the participation of SOFAZ on March 10, 2020, during which Azerbaijani banks acquired 323.2 million manat ($190.1 million).
The CBA began to hold foreign exchange auctions through unilateral sale of foreign currency in competitive conditions since mid-January 2017.
In March 2020, it was decided to hold extraordinary foreign exchange auctions in connection with the increased demand of the population for foreign currency amid the failed OPEC+ deal, which entailed a sharp decline in oil prices.
(1 USD = 1.7 manat on June 23)
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Follow the author on Twitter: @IsmailovaNargis
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 23, 2020 | 02:16 PM | FRANKFORT
The funding will go towards supporting investigations into trafficking heroin, fentanyl, or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids. Of the funds, $1.455,320 will go towards the Anti-Heroin Task Force Program, while $1 million is going towards the Anti-Methamphetamine Program.
"These are real federal resources to the tune of $2 million to assist Kentuckys Finest in saving the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors from meth and opioids," said Russell Coleman, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.
In total, the COPS Office has awarded nearly $42 million in funding to support state-level law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and prescription opioids.
The COPS Office is a federal agency that is responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants that have been awarded to over 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to help fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 135,000 officers. They have also provided a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
You can see the full list of award recipients at the links below.
The Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has announced $2.4 million in funding for the Kentucky State Police.
On the Net:
As a surge of COVID-19 cases hit the region, Montgomery County health officials are preparing for possible hospital bed capacity issues as the availability of beds tightens by purchasing a portable shelter to add more beds if the increase continues.
Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Executive Director Jason Millsaps told county commissioners Tuesday that Montgomery County is seeing an uptick in cases as well and the portable shelter would provide needed space if capacity becomes an issue locally.
With the surge in the area with the increase in cases in the hospitals, right now, Montgomery County hospitals are not in the predicament, Millsaps said. We have seen an uptick in cases and in some of critical beds, ICU beds, are getting close to exceeding capacity.
This week, Texas Children's Hospital has begun admitting adult patients because of the surge of COVID-19 patients in the Houston area. In a statement late Monday night, Texas Children's confirmed that the pediatric hospital has taken the unusual step of providing such additional capacity through its intensive care units and acute care beds at its campuses around the area.
TAKING PRECAUTIONS: COVID-19 temporarily closes Lake Conroe restaurant
The portable shelter, which would not exceed $500,000, could hold up to 75 patients.
According to information from the Montgomery County Public Health District, the county added 90 new cases Tuesday bringing the total to 1,737. Of those cases, 678 are active.
There are 16 Montgomery County residents hospitalized with COVID-19 but as of Friday, a total of 80 patients in Montgomery County hospitals with the virus, 22 of those in ICU. Another 18 patients hospitalized are suspected of having COVID-19 according to the SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council.
The mission of the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council is to develop and sustain a powerful coalition of providers, responders, and other healthcare related partners united together to save lives and improve health outcomes through research, education and collaboration.
ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Texas coronavirus experts call for national investigation of U.S. response to pandemic
The hospital system as a whole believes in the next two week the medical center is going to surge out and that will cause patients to move to our hospitals, Millsaps said.
The commissioners also approved an agreement with the Montgomery County Hospital District to provide funding for the county voucher testing program. Currently MCHD is using grant funds to provide testing the county residents.
The MCHD/MCPHD COVID-19 Call Center is open for residents needing COVID-19 testing through the countys voucher program, or for general questions. Call 936-523-5040 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Through Wednesday, Kroger will sponsor a free testing site at the Montgomery County Fair Grounds from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kroger asks that registration be completed online to expedite the testing process at www.krogerhealth.com/covidtesting, but those unable to register online will be able to register on site.
cdominguez@hcnonline.com
Leaders from 26 Gateway Cities are asking the state to prioritize funding for their school districts, which were already struggling to make ends meet before the coronavirus pandemic triggered new costs.
These are cities that have been chronically underfunded for years, said Devin Sheehan, a member of the Holyoke School Committee. We worked hard to get the Student Opportunity Act funded. We worked closely with the teachers unions, legislators and other local stakeholders and we thought that finally there would be some relief not only for some of the most undeserved communities, but for students across the state and now it seems like that wont happen in fiscal year 2021.
The Student Opportunity Act, signed into law last fall, was supposed to have provided an additional $1.5 billion over seven years to Massachusetts schools. The funding increase is in question now because of the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic.
Roberto Jimenez-Rivera, of the Chelsea School Committee, spearheaded the effort to get signatures from school committee members, administrators and other local leaders across the state concerned about layoffs and the loss of mental health services for their students if the state does not provide funding. A letter containing 130 signatures was presented to Gov. Charlie Baker and other state officials Tuesday.
Before the outbreak of COVID-19 districts were putting together budgets for how they would use the money from the Act to improve student achievement and student growth, Sheehan said. In Holyoke we were focusing our efforts towards social, emotional learning because we have students coming to us with trauma and other emotional issues and we want to help them navigate the school system better. He added that the district has a large population of English language learners and special education students.
Chicopee was looking to fill or create about 40 positions, but that plan will be put on hold if the additional funding doesnt come through.
We were hoping to hire more counselors, said Chicopee School Committee member Donald Lamothe. In Chicopee we have had unfortunately several suicides in the past four or five years and we need to reach these kids before it gets to that. We have counselors at the high school, but we want to add those positions at the elementary school level.
Schools around the state have been closed since mid-March due to the pandemic. State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley recently issued guidelines schools will be expected to meet before they can reopen in the fall.
They include students and teachers wearing masks, smaller class sizes with desks spaced 6 feet apart, fewer students on buses and additional sanitation protocols. Implementing the guidelines is expected to cost each district hundreds of thousands of dollars, with no supporting funds offered by the state at this point.
Thats not to mention the cost of additional technology like Chromebooks we will have to purchase if we go to partial remote learning throughout the school year, Lamothe said. We are looking at $400,000-$500,000 we did not anticipate spending.
Springfield School Committee member LaTonia Monroe Naylor said the unfunded mandates would lead to major cuts for the district.
We are hoping this letter will help legislators and the governor understand that the money we would need to pay for masks and other personal protective equipment to keep our kids and staff safe would be so detrimental to us and lead to major cuts, she said. We understand the necessity of these measures, but we are just asking that they fund the mandates they are requiring of us in order to open our doors in the fall.
The letter suggests several ways to provide the funding, including dipping into the states $3.48 billion rainy day fund, increasing taxes on the wealthy, closing tax loopholes for corporations, and reducing the amount of state funding that goes to the wealthiest school districts.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association said Tuesday layoff and contract nonrenewal notices had been issued to 2,030 of its members in 47 districts across the state.
The state must live up to its constitutional obligation to provide the funding needed for schools to operate effectively and safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, union president Merrie Najimy said in a statement. She called for taxes on the very wealthy and profitable corporations to help the state close any funding gaps.
Sheehan said while Holyoke is not expecting to lay off teachers for the coming school year, budget cuts from the state would lead to problems across all of the Gateway Cities in the next few years, setting back communities that are already struggling.
The state has an ability to tap into a rainy day fund to help out our districts, he said. This is not just a Holyoke problem or a Chelsea problem or a Springfield problem. These 26 communities have been struggling for a long time and we need the states help.
At a press conference Tuesday, Baker said a portion of federal CARES Act money of which $121 million went to Boston, $90 million to Plymouth County and $500 million to other communities in the state could be spent on preparing for school in the fall.
Gateway Cities are midsize urban centers in Massachusetts with below-average income and education levels, and high rates of new immigrants. The letter identifies Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, and Worcester as Gateway Cities.
The full letter and an updated list of those who signed can be found here.
Related content:
When costs rise, most food companies adjust. Safe, fair and sustainable business practices are always a priority in this sector almost.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Opinion
When costs rise, most food companies adjust. Safe, fair and sustainable business practices are always a priority in this sector almost.
Several food science experts believe an increase in food fraud is inevitable due to COVID-19.
The Food Authenticity Network advisory board, which includes more than 1,500 food science experts from around the world, met earlier this month. Given the disruption in global supply chains caused by COVID-19 and the decrease in the level of surveillance, an increase in the number of cases of food fraud is more than likely, according to the group.
There have already been some reported cases around the world. Several packages containing counterfeit food products were seized during a recent investigation in the European Union. Over the last two months, packages came from Brazil, China and Hong Kong, Germany, Sweden and Great Britain.
Substitution of ingredients, counterfeiting, incorrect labelling and other classic strategies were among the frauds.
With physical distancing and unprecedented health measures, the food chain has faced challenges since the beginning of the pandemic. The obvious objective is to protect workers. From farm to table, each company participating in the food chain has seen its operating costs increase. No company has been immune to this.
This is essentially why food prices will go up. But a minority of companies will try to stay competitive by not following well-established rules.
There are food shortages in some parts of the world, putting additional pressure on product suppliers, so its entirely reasonable to expect an increase in fraud thats aimed at retaining customers, or even gaining new ones, by supplying goods that arent readily available on the market. Tempting, but illegal.
Indeed, each recession brings its share of criminals and food fraudsters, who are motivated by the desire for economic gains. COVID-19 is no exception in fact, it has created an ideal scenario for criminals.
Most regions of the world face extreme economic slowdowns due to COVID-19. Businesses may be tempted to take shortcuts or turn a blind eye to things that may not seem entirely right when purchasing food and ingredients.
Many consumers, financially challenged by our faltering economy, will become full-time bargain hunters. Now that buying locally is more popular than ever, the number of products whose provenance has been tampered with may also increase.
Consumers need to ask questions and monitor prices. If the price is too low, for example, ask your retailer if their suppliers have been audited since the start of the pandemic. Audits are quite common in normal times, but the pandemic may have disrupted the schedules of several companies.
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The product categories most often affected by food fraud and targeted by criminals are oils, fish, seafood and meat. Spices and liquids are also targets when the market contracts. Honey, fruit juice and organic food products are also often affected by fraud during an economic crisis.
We must be vigilant. You can report food safety or labelling concerns to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which now has a generous budget to combat fraud.
While not illegal, the reduction of the quantity per item sold, without changing the price, is another tactic to watch. This is known as shrinkflation. We risk seeing the quantity in several products decrease, or product volume reduced, without the price changing.
Food fraud has been around for thousands of years, but with better detection technologies and with greater surveillance practices, we can protect ourselves better. Governments are on the lookout, but we consumers must be, as well.
Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.
Troy Media
COLUMBIA When someone stricken by COVID-19 recovers, doctors are finding thats not always the end to their health problems. Patients in South Carolina could serve as a case study for questions of what comes after the infection ends.
A group of University of South Carolina researchers plans to analyze state health data to identify other health complications such as heart or lung disease people might experience after being infected with the novel coronavirus. They say, over time, this could inform doctors on subsequent issues to look for in their patients and what the risk factors are for those developing them.
The National Institute of Health awarded USCs Big Data Health Science Center a two-year, $1.25 million grant to develop a centralized database tracking ongoing patient outcomes, said Xiaoming Li and Bankole Olatosi, co-principal investigators on the project.
People are being diagnosed but then we don't always know what else is happening to them after recovery, Olatosi said.
We want to track what's showing up after the fact to make sure we're not missing other issues coming up, he said. "What we're seeing from other parts of the world and parts of the U.S. is other complications arise in relation to the infection."
Doctors in the United Kingdom have already raised the alarm that those who overcome the disease may be left with lasting lung damage from scarring, known as pulmonary fibrosis, the BBC reported. The UK National Health Service expects 45 percent of patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 will need ongoing medical care.
Because of the novelty of the disease, there are not yet studies about its long-term effects. Doctors are worried it could have a lasting impact to other major organs, including the heart, kidneys, brain, and blood vessels.
And past research on other coronaviruses, like SARS and MERS, show full recovery can take years.
Li said they will do most of their tracking, cross referencing different data sources with health records collected by the S.C. Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. He said office's warehousing of data puts his team in a better position to connect data points than other states that don't boast the same collection capabilities. The state's rural nature and racial diversity are another plus in broadly identifying trends.
Under state statute, the state fiscal affairs office receives hospital billing data on a regular basis, cataloging claims submitted by hospitals for inpatient stays and emergency room visits, said David Patterson, the office's director for health and demographics.
"It creates as close to a universe, in terms of hospitalization, as possible," he said, identifying the diagnosis and procedures associated with each hospital encounter while also protecting the identity of patients.
Patterson called the USC study "potentially very positive in allowing us in South Carolina to get a handle on conditions exacerbated by the virus."
All research use of the data is approved by a governor-appointed council, Patterson said, which can take a couple weeks to a couple months. Processing the data requested also lags a couple months, so Li expects preliminary results to start coming in around September or October.
Tangentially, Patterson said the state data is also being used by the S.C. Education Department to identify students who qualify for free and reduced cost lunches in order to keep reaching those students even when they're not in school.
He said the work being initiated by USC is one of the deepest reaching COVID-related studies the agency has had a request from to date.
Other research
In addition to the NHI-funded study, Li is the head researcher on another study using publicly-accessible Twitter data to measure how people's movements coincide with spikes in coronavirus cases. He said this could help evaluate how effective lockdowns and other control measures have been in curbing the spread of infectious disease.
At Clemson, biostatistics professor Lior Rennert is working with Prisma Health to develop a database tracking how patients' socioeconomic factors relate to the spread of COVID-19. This is meant to help identify the highest-risk patients and track long-term outcomes, spokeswoman Tara Romanella said.
In relation to after-effects of coronavirus, Elastrin Therapeutics Inc., a Clemson technology based start-up company, is working on ways to prevent and repair lung damage caused by COVID-19.
Like USC, the Medical University of South Carolina is planning numerous studies associated with delayed effects and unintended consequences of COVID-19, spokeswoman Heather Woolwine said, but does not have any ready to report yet.
India announced on Tuesday that it will not send pilgrims for the annual Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia because of the Covi-19 pandemic.
Union minister for minority affairs. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said money collected for application from more than 230,000 pilgrims will be returned without cancellation deductions through direct transfer. The decision was taken after Saudi Arabias haj and umrah minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten asked India not to send pilgrims this year, he told reporters.
Honouring the decision of the Saudi Arabia government in view of serious challenges of Corona pandemic and keeping in mind the health and well-being of the people, it has been decided that Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj, the minister said.
The Saudi Arabian government said it will place restrictions on foreign arrival for the Haj this year and allow only a limited number of Saudi citizens to make the pilgrimage with social distancing measures.
2.3 lakh applications had been received for Haj 2020. The process has been started today to immediately refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicant is without any deductions. The money will be refunded through online DBT mode into bank accounts of the applicants, Naqvi tweeted.
In 2018, the Union government allowed single woman to undertake the pilgrimage without a male escort. Around 2,300 women applied to perform Haj without a male companion this year and they will be allowed in 2021 on the basis of their application this year.
Some 2.5 million pilgrims typically visit the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina for the week-long Haj, a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim. Haj is due to start by the end of July.
(with agency inputs)
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A fishing boat leaves Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, Calif., which has considered a name change. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
The City Council of Fort Bragg, a small Northern California city named after Braxton Bragg, a Confederate army general and slave owner, decided that it will not place a town name change on the November ballot.
The decision came Monday night in the coastal Mendocino County town of 7,400 after more than three hours of public comment at the first in-person City Council meeting amid the coronavirus outbreak. Instead of a ballot measure, Fort Bragg Mayor Will Lee will appoint an ad hoc committee with two City Council members and residents to discuss options for the city's name.
"We cannot ignore the hundreds of comments that were given to us in two weeks' time, and especially so much [from] the young people that have come to us ... They're teaching us old folks a lot, and it's impressive," Lee said.
The Fort Bragg City Council earlier this month agreed to consider several options, including choosing another famous Bragg to honor. The debate comes amid a national reckoning with racism after the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody in Minneapolis, and a national movement to tear down Confederate statues and namesakes associated with white supremacy, slavery and colonialism.
Fort Bragg was founded in 1857 by Lt. Horatio G. Gibson, who established a military post to control the Native American population in Mendocino County. Gibson named it after Bragg, his former commanding officer in the Mexican-American War. As the story goes, Bragg never set foot in the town.
Bragg led the Confederate Army of Tennessee. A recent biography of the general, who resigned his post under pressure halfway through the war after decisive losses and is regarded as an unsuccessful military leader, is subtitled The Most Hated Man of the Confederacy.
The town's name has been challenged before. In 2015, after white supremacist Dylann Roof shot and killed nine Black worshipers at the Emanuel AME church in Charleston, S.C., the California Legislative Black Caucus asked city leaders to consider a name change. They declined.
Story continues
On Monday, scores of people weighed in at the City Council, standing behind plexiglass and wearing masks to protect against the coronavirus, and calling in via Zoom. The agenda included more than 350 pages of comments.
Some, whose families have lived in the city for decades, said the name, to them, represented home, not a long-dead Confederate general, and that they did not want to see it changed. Others suggested changing it to honor the Native American people who lived in the area long before the fort and city were established.
City officials estimated it would cost more than $271,000 to change the name. Fort Bragg's economy relies upon tourism, which has taken a severe hit because of the pandemic. The city already has cut staff.
On Monday, City Councilmember Tess Albin-Smith said she was pained by the division amid the discussion over the name change and whether it would "free residents from the albatross and embarrassment of being named after a Confederate general who owned slaves."
"This is where we do agree: I'm happy to say not one of the comments expressed approval of racism in any way, shape or form," she said. "Not one had the desire to celebrate the town's namesake ... Nobody expressed the desire to celebrate the existence of an army dispatched to this area for the purpose of subduing Native Americans."
"No one had any conviction that changing the name of our town would solve racial equality either locally or globally. It would simply disassociate us with a racist," she added.
She said she supported rededicating the city to another famous Bragg, having no celebrations or monuments to Braxton Bragg, and the creation of a multiethnic task force.
"My fear is that not supporting a name change will label us racist. But I hope we can rise above that, and I would not want to be divided and judged for my comments tonight," she said. "We should engage in careful dialogue to decide the best action. Let us not be shanghaied into a rash move for being labeled."
Sierra Wooten, a Fort Bragg resident and spokesperson for MendoCoast BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), said she preferred to see a task force of diverse voices over a ballot measure on the name change. The city's name, she said, ideally could be used to teach people about the ugly history behind it. She envisions an educational center and murals, among other things.
"The racism and hate is still here. Changing the name isn't going to change everything," Wooten, who is Black and Mexican American, told The Times.
Javier Silva, a member of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, asked the council to listen to tribal members who "never ceded this land."
"I don't agree with the name," he said. "I don't like the name myself, but I just want it to be a reminder that this was a place of oppression, not because of Bragg, not because of that, but because of the Native Americans that were here, the first peoples here. .... We have never been given a voice, and when we have gotten a voice, it's never gone anywhere."
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (CSE:MYCO) (OTC: MYCOF) (FSE:0NF) ("Mydecine" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the addition of two key strategic advisors to the company's Scientific Advisory Committee.
The new members of the science team will provide scientific expertise and corporate strategy support as Mydecine begins its R&D program at its Innovation Center in Denver, Colorado. The advisory committee will review/monitor/access specific protocols and serve as an advocate for the organization providing technical expertise and collaborating with team members to help shape the direction of the various research programs.
Vince Polito is a Research Fellow at Macquarie University and former Associate Investigator at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders. Mr. Polito's research aims to understand how self-monitoring changes, self-representation, sense of agency, belief formation and altered states of consciousness. Vince's research has been profiled in The Guardian, BBC, Buzzfeed, Nine News, Vice and many others.
Last year, Mr. Polito conducted one of the largest to date Microdosing of psychedelics studies. In this research his team investigated the short- and long-term effects of microdosing on wellbeing, cognition and agency. The study conducted was a systematic, observational investigation of individuals who microdose (regular ingestion of very small quantities of psychedelic substances). The study tracked the experiences of microdosing participants, who provided daily ratings of psychological functioning over a six-week period and completed a battery of psychometric measures tapping mood, attention, wellbeing, mystical experiences, personality, creativity, and sense of agency, at baseline and at completion of the study. Analysis of pre and post study measures revealed reductions in reported levels of depression and stress; lower levels of distractibility; increased absorption; and increased neuroticism.
Anton Gomez-Escolar is a Psychopharmacology expert based in Madrid, Spain. Mr. Gomez-Escolar has a technical understanding of neurobiology, psychopharmacology, psychedelics, nootropics, drug safety and clinical trial development. Mr. Gomez-Escolar has a Masters in Psychopharmacology from Spain's largest university Complutense University of Madrid, including a Master Thesis on the topic of "Psychedelics in psychotherapy for the treatment of depression and addiction," a Masters in International Relations by Griffith University from Australia, and many other diplomas including a certificate of Design and Interpretation of Clinical Trials from John Hopkins School of Public Health, a certificate in Drug Discovery, Development & Commercialization from UCSD and a certificate in Drug Use, Policy and Health from the University of Geneva.
Mr. Gomez-Escolar is the co-founder of the Psychedelic Society of Madrid, attended and presented many international conferences on the topic and has worked for the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the official European Union drugs information agency as well as Laboratorios Equisalud, a leading laboratory in holistic phytotherapy and nutritional supplements.
Rob Roscow, CSO and Director commented: "Our Scientific Advisory Board provides Mydecine independent, expert, multi-disciplinary, and strategic advice on scientific programs, emerging health science issues and trends in the psychedelic medicine sector. We are actively expanding our operations and we are thrilled to add these two talented individuals to our growing team."
About Mydecine Innovations Group
Mydecine Innovation's Group is a life sciences company focused on the development and commercialization of products and services that contribute to improving overall health and wellbeing. Our mission is to create a healthier world through advanced technologies, natural products, and psychedelic derived medicines. We own a group of trailblazing companies that are focused on helping millions of people live better lives and our portfolio includes:
Natural Health Products
Mycology Research & Development
Disruptive Technology
The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.
This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to completion of planned improvements at both the Canadian and US sites on schedule and on budget, the availability of financing needed to complete the Company's planned improvements on commercially reasonable terms, planned occupancy by the tenant-growers, commencement of operations, differences in yield on expected harvests, delays in obtaining statutory approval for marijuana production plans, issues that may arise throughout the grow period, outdoor crops affected by weather, the ability to mitigate the risk of loss through appropriate insurance policies, and the risks presented by federal statutes that may contradict local and state legislation respecting legalized marijuana. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. These securities have not and will not be registered under United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person unless so registered, or an exemption from registration is relied upon.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors:
Joshua Bartch
Chief Executive Officer
For Further Information Contact:
Corporate Communications
+250-488-6728
SOURCE Mydecine Innovations Group Inc.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), Mr. Joseph Boahene Aidoo has appealed to cocoa farmers in the country to adhere strictly to all the safety protocols in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that many people have still not understood the nature of the virus, hence the need to deepen understanding especially cooperative farmers in the hinterlands.
Mr.Boahene Aidoo was addressing Cocoa farmers at separate functions at Nsuaem No.2 and Wassa-Afransie in the Dunkwa and Wassa-Akropong Districts as part of a working visit to Dunkwa in the Western South Region.
The programme was under the auspices of the Western South Regional Manager of Cocoa Health and Extension Division ( CHED), Mr. Samuel Asare Ankamah.
The CEO said the virus which enters the body through the hand and mouth is very slippery like shea butter and therefore demands regular washing of hands, especially with hot water.
Mr.Aidoo reminded the farmers to stop rubbing their hands and eyes as well as ears so that they are not infected with the disease.
He asked the cooperative farmers to ensure social distancing and wear the face masks as they work together on their farms.
The CEO advised the farmers to adopt good eating habits and eating more vegetables and fruits, exercise regularly, stop smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol all to boost their immune system.
He advised Cocoa farmers who use toxic chemicals for spraying to stop since it was inimical to their health as it destroys the nervous system.
He said Cocoa beans from Ghana was once rejected in Japan under the suspicion of nurturing the farm with 24D, a toxin.
Mr. Aidoo said Cocobod would not buy Cocoa beans sprayed with chemicals such as "Condemned", adding that weedicides kill organisms in the soil and that is why Cocobod supplied farmers with motorized slashers.
He advised them to enrich the impoverished soil with organic manure.
The former Western Regional Minister also advised schoolchildren to eat cocoa-related foods since it would help boost their immune system.
He observed that some Western countries have turned Cocoa into various products and that same must be done in Ghana to boost the immune system, prolong longevity, and reduce blood pressure.
Mr Aidoo said Cocoa farming was lucrative than any venture in Ghana and asked farmers to prune their farms regularly in addition to hand pollination in a bid to harvest about 1,000 pods on one tree.
The CEO used the occasion to donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to cocoa farmers in the two communities to protect them from contracting the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: GNA
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The frustrated Buddhsits around the world may think that it is an Utopian expectation that China would yield to the moral force. But, such doubt is unnecessary and counter productive and what is called for now is action with courage of conviction, that Buddhist philosophy inculcate in every Buddhist.
by N.S.Venkataraman
While Lord Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya on Indian soil, the principles and philosophy of Buddhism was practiced from historical times in full measure in Tibet , amongst other countries. Tibet emerged as one of the principal countries in the world, where Buddhism is the sole religion. This was so, until the Chinese aggressors occupied Tibet and systematically tried to undo Buddhist culture and traditions in Tibet.
The greatest loss for Buddhist religion and Buddhists around the world was the loss of independence for Tibet, when China entered the country and massacred innocent Tibetan protestors several decades back.
While the Tibetans who had to leave Tibet after Chinese aggression have been fighting for the liberation of Tibet , the world conscience has still not heard the cry of Tibetans for freedom and to protect Buddhist culture and traditions in Tibet.
While it is said that Tibet has lost its freedom which is absolutely true , what has not been adequately said is that Buddhists around the world have lost the citadel of Buddhism, as at present no Buddhist from outside can visit Tibet and feel the inspiration of Buddhism on Tibet soil , where Buddhism in true spirit was practiced for several centuries.
This loss to Buddhists around the world have not been echoed adequately in the world arena so far and the Buddhists around the world are yet to adequately voice their sadness and unhappiness about the loss of independent Tibet ,which is an irreparable loss for the Buddhist religion.
There are reported to be around 535 million Buddhists in the world ,spread in several countries including China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Taiwan, India and others. Why have these millions of Buddhists remained silent for all practical purposes, when Tibet was lost to Buddhists due to Chinese aggression ?.
Just as Muslims think that their life would not be complete without visiting Mecca and Hindus think that their life would not be complete without visiting Varanasi, Buddhists are conscious of the fact that visit to Tibet and praying at the Buddhist monastery in Tibet is a compelling necessity for them. They are now denied this opportunity.
One gets an impression that Buddhists around the world remain largely unorganized.
When government of Sri Lanka, a predominantly Buddhist country, denied visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, obeying the dictates of Chinese government , the Buddhists in Sri Lanka did not launch any significant or meaningful protest.
While the political leaders and Buddhists in Sri Lanka utilize every opportunity to visit Bodh Gaya in India to pay respects to Lord Buddha and pray in the sanctified place, they do not seem to be adequately concerned about the harm done to the Buddhist religion by the Chinese government occupying Tibet and destroying the Buddhist culture and tradition. Why is this ?
Similar is the case with regard to the Buddhists living in other parts of the world ,who visit Bodh Gaya to pray but do not seem to be adequately concerned about the loss to the Buddhism due to the Tibet being occupied by China. Why is this? Is it due to the feeling of helplessness ?
The central theme of Buddhist philosophy is adherence to non violence, maintaining spirit of love towards everyone and compassion for the less privileged people. Certainly, Buddhists cannot take arms to defend Tibet ,even when the occupier of Tibet is an unscrupulous and dictatorial regime. But, certainly they can use the moral force that is gained by them due to their adherence to the Buddhist philosophy ,to convince the world about the need to liberate Tibet and restore the glory of the country, for the benefit of not only Buddhism but also the entire world community.
The two countries that can decisively help Tibet in getting its freedom are India and USA, where considerable section of citizens sympathise with the Tibetan cause and want to see a liberated Tibet soon.
Buddhists around the world should submit an appeal to the Prime Minister of India and President of USA to help the cause of Tibet. Not only to the leaders of these two countries, but similar appeal should be submitted to all governments in the world as well as United Nations Organisation. The appeal should be signed by cross section of Buddhists living in several parts of the world , so that unified voice of Buddhists would be heard around the world and the world conscience would be awakened. China can resist confrontation in military, economic and trade front but not when confronted with moral force.
The frustrated Buddhsits around the world may think that it is an Utopian expectation that China would yield to the moral force. But, such doubt is unnecessary and counter productive and what is called for now is action with courage of conviction, that Buddhist philosophy inculcate in every Buddhist.
Buddhists around the world should move on and utilize their moral strength attained by their adherence to Buddhist philosophy and then they will realize the potential of the moral force to undo the injustice done to Tibet.
The present time is ripe as the world community is now increasingly realizing the ruthlessness of the Chinese government. The response of the world community and several governments to the appeal of the Buddhists around the world for doing justice to Tibet would be overwhelming.
Shocking footage has resurfaced of a white police officer lashing out at a group of Aboriginal women while trying to arrest a young girl.
Footage of the chaotic scene, which happened in Charters Towers, 134km from Townsville, Queensland, shows the large male police officer grip the 14-year-old girl's wrist as two women attempt to shield her.
Disturbing screams can be heard from onlookers as the officer tugs on the girl's arm.
'Don't touch her, get your hands off her,' a woman can he heard yelling.
'Let go of my hand,' the girl screams.
The officer can then be seen hitting one of the women in the face with an open palm as another officer attempts to intervene.
Disturbing footage has emerged of a white police officer lashing out at a group of Aboriginal women while trying to arrest a young girl
The large male police officer can be seen gripping the 14-year-old girl's wrist as two women attempt to shield her
The young girl with a bloodied lip can be heard crying for help.
The woman filming the incident can then be heard asking: 'This is unnecessary, why is this happening?'
An officer responds saying: 'She's under arrest. They're investigating. All they did was ask the girl for their name and they didn't want to give their name.'
The pair can then be heard arguing about whether the girl should've been arrested.
The woman claimed the girl had done nothing wrong.
'Not allowed to do anything in this town,' she said.
Another officer can then be heard calmly speaking to the woman filming, asking her to step away from the scene so they can speak.
He explained that the police had received a call in relation to a group of girls allegedly yelling out threats, saying they were going to kill someone.
'Because we are investigating those offences we have required their names and addresses,' he said.
Footage of the chaotic scene, which happened in Charters Towers, 134km from Townsville, Queensland
The woman responded saying: 'This is not right.
'How do you think these black kids feel when you's are all coming and talking to these kids like this and then he chases her and goes come up here?'
'She's scared, she's only young.'
The footage, which was recorded in August last year, has sparked outrage since resurfacing this week amid the Black lives Matter Movement.
But according to Queensland Police, the officer did nothing wrong.
A police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday the incident was subject to assessment by the Ethical Standards Command which included a review of body worn video.
The assessment, which concluded in September last year, identified that the actions of the members were lawful and reasonable, he said.
The Black Lives Matter Movement has seen protests spring up around the western world in response to American demonstrations following the death of black security guard George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
Thousands of Aboriginal rights activists attended rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide earlier this month despite health officials warning they could cause COVID-19 outbreaks.
The International Astronomical Union has just approved an official name for a tiny asteroid satellite set to become the first-ever target of an asteroid deflection mission. The satellite is the smaller of two bodies in the near-Earth asteroid system Didymos, and will now be distinguished from its primary object by the name Dimorphos.
In July 2021, just over a year from now, NASA will launch the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. This first full-scale demonstration of asteroid deflection technology will target the smaller body in the binary asteroid system known as Didymos, and will be followed in 2024 by the ESA space probe Hera. In recognition of the asteroid moons significance in these pioneering missions, it has been given an official name: Dimorphos.
Together, the DART and Hera missions, and the international research collaboration known as the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA), will demonstrate deflection technology that could be used to protect Earth from hazardous asteroids by shunting them off a collision course. Didymos does not pose a risk of striking Earth, and is the most easily reachable asteroid system of its size, with a primary body about 780 metres in diameter. The smaller body is about 160 metres in diameter roughly the size of the Great Pyramid in Egypt.
First spotted in 1996 by Joe Montani of the Spacewatch Project at the University of Arizona, the asteroid systems binary nature was not discovered until 2003, when Petr Pravec of the Ondrejov Observatory in the Czech Republic found the characteristic signs of a binary system in his observations. It was at this point that it received its official name. As the original discoverer, Montani suggested the system be named Didymos, meaning twin in Greek, to reflect its composition, a name which the IAU quickly approved.
While the larger body and the system as a whole have gone by the name Didymos since then, the smaller body has been referred to by many names, including the provisional designation S/2003 (65803) 1 and the nicknames Didymos B and Didymoon, but was never given its own official name. When it was identified as an ideal target for AIDA, the DART and Hera teams decided to seek a permanent designation and an official name by which it could be distinguished from its larger companion.
The body that officially approves the names of minor planets and their satellites is the IAU Working Group Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN), under the IAU Division F Planetary Systems and Astrobiology [1]. The WGSBN received the proposal to name the satellite Dimorphos, with the following citation: Dimorphos, Greek for 'having two forms', is the smaller member of the (65803) Didymos system. As the target of the DART and Hera space missions, it will become the first celestial body in cosmic history whose form was substantially changed as a result of human intervention (the DART impact). The WGSBN accepted the proposal, and the object obtained its final designation as (65803) Didymos I = Dimorphos.
The name of the moon was suggested by Kleomenis Tsiganis, a planetary scientist at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a member of both the DART and Hera teams. He explains that the name Dimorphos has been chosen in anticipation of its changes. It will be known to us in two very different forms, the one seen by DART before the impact, and the other seen by Hera a few years later.
At present there are 546 077 numbered minor planets, of which 22 129 have official names [2]. The catalogue of minor planets and comets is maintained by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) [3], a service of the IAU. Most of the minor planets belong to the Main Asteroid Belt, in the region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. There are 22 735 classified as Near Earth Asteroids (NEA), many of which have orbits that approach the Earth. Didymos belongs to the NEA group. In the minor planet catalogue there are also many examples from the outer regions of the Solar System, objects known as Centaurs and Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). Many minor planets have companions; 390 binaries and 15 triple systems have so far been discovered [4]. The binary comprising Didymos and Dimorphos has become the 26th system with approved names for its components. Dimorphos, with a size of 160 metres in diameter, is also one of the smallest objects to get a permanent name.
After its launch next year, DART is scheduled to reach Dimorphos in 2022, deliberately colliding with it and creating a kinetic impact intended to alter the satellites trajectory. The ESA space probe Hera will be launched two years later and is scheduled to arrive at Dimorphos in 2027, where it will perform a close-up survey to assess the effects of the DART impact on the satellites form and orbit.
The DART impact will be recorded by the LICIACube CubeSat, provided by the Italian Space Agency, which will be carried to Didymos by DART and deployed a few days before the collision. Longer-term effects will be studied by telescopes here on Earth and in space. The Hera mission will also deploy two CubeSats, including the Juventas CubeSat, which will use a low-frequency radar to scan the interior structure of Dimorphos, the first such scan to be performed by a spacecraft. The results of Heras detailed investigation will be compared with the observations recorded by DART before the collision, providing important insights into the effects of the impact.
G. Tancredi, president of IAU Div. F and external member of the DART and Hera investigation teams, remarks that: The IAU has been closely following the development of the research on the Near-Earth Objects and their threat for life on Earth. The IAU Working Group Near Earth Objects (WGNEO) was formed in the early 1990s to coordinate the NEO studies and to provide timely advice on any objects that threaten collision with the Earth. [5]
Notes
[1] The IAU Division F Planetary Systems and Astrobiology deals with our Solar System, extrasolar planetary systems, and bioastronomy. It has 2370 members distributed all around the world. The President for the Division in the period 20182021 is Gonzalo Tancredi. The Division F WG Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN) has responsibility for the naming and designation of small bodies (except satellites of major planets) in the Solar System. It covers the naming of minor planets including Near Earth Asteroids and Trans-Neptunian Objects, comets, dwarf planets and satellites of minor planets. The WGSBN chair in the period 20182021 is Jana Ticha and the Vice-Chair is Keith Noll. The Division F WG Near Earth Objects is chaired by Patrick Michel who is one of the leading scientists of the ESAs Hera mission.
[2] Data taken from the MPC Orbit (MPCORB) Database.
[3] The Minor Planet Center (MPC) operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, under the auspices of Division F of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The MPCs operating funds come from a NASA Near-Earth Object Observations programme grant.
[4] Data from the webpage: Asteroids with Satellites, by Wm. Robert Johnston.
[5] The IAU Symposium 374: Astronomical Hazards for Life on Earth will be held during the next IAU General Assembly in Busan in 2021 and will be an opportunity to address this relevant topic for the future of humanity.
More information
The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 14 000 professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.
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By Daniel Itai The Zimbabwe Daily
Harare, Zimbabwe Zimbabwes main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is continually being gutted down by in-house divisions.
Since its inception in the political spectrum more than two decades ago, the party has now close to ten factions which include, MDC-N, MDC-T, MDC-99, MDC-Mao, MDC-M, MDC-Alliance and many more.
This has relatively contributed in the MDC failing to fully acquire the 51 percent threshold which enables them to be the ruling party.
Former co-founder and leader of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirais unfortunate passing in 2018 has now created more chaos than conformity as the partys elders battle for the captaincy of the party.
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Earlier this year, the countrys Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dr.Thokozani Khupe as the legitimate leader of the opposition party something which is not going well with the partys 2018 Presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa.
The battle of supremacy has now made its way into the Youth league with some youths vying for Dr. Khupe and some for Mr.Chamisa.
Yesterday, MDC Alliances Youth Assembly Chitungwiza North secretary, Tryvine Musokeri was arrested for threatening another Youth leader, Yvonne Musarurwa on Facebook but was later released after the former apologized something which the MDC Alliances national Youth spokesperson, Stephen Chuma commended.
In a very rare show of leadership, forgiveness and tolerance, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Chitungwiza North Secretary, Tryvine Sox Musokeri issued an apology to Yvonne Musarurwa who has since withdrew charges against the former.
The burying of hatchet between the duo is a classic case that young people can work together for the good.
As progressive young social democrats, we have a bigger task at hand of taking the illegitimate and corrupt regime head on.
Any sideshows and regressive bickerings can only elongate our suffering as a generation, the country is burning.
Corruption and looting has become rife under Emmerson Mnangagwas watch hence, as a young generation we can not afford any sideshows than to unite and fight the junta, said Chuma.
Although the next Presidential election is three years away from now, many political analysts have already tipped the ruling ZANU-PF as the ultimate winner due to the squabbles within the main opposition party.
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The World Socialist Web Site reported on Saturday that Ford Motor Company has called back its third shifts at assembly plants in Chicago; Dearborn, Michigan; and Louisville Assembly and Kentucky Truck in Louisville. The return to full production comes two weeks ahead of schedule with normal shift patterns at all of its US assembly plants starting Monday, ahead of the original target date of July 6. The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter spoke to several workers from the Dearborn Truck Plant about the risk of returning in the midst of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
A lot of people were skeptical about the reopening, said a worker we shall call Matt. There was a video with Burkie Morris, the United Auto Workers [UAW] plant chairman. He tried to ease the concerns of those who were questioning safety. We would be given hand sanitizer and breathable masks. They started putting Xs on tables to separate workers, provided temperature checks and a survey at the gate. But as people started getting in there, cases of COVID increased.
Ford Motor Co., line workers the Ford Rawsonville plant. (Image Credit AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
In the two weeks following the companys staged reopening, which began in mid-May, at least one worker tested positive for the coronavirus at each of the restarted plants. At first the company responded with partial, brief shutdowns for disinfecting. But now they are not stopping production for any reason.
Now if there is a case, they wont stop, Matt said. There is no protocol or procedure. If they have the manpower, the line will keep running. That is alarming to many people. We dont know who to trust.
Many seem to think the company and the union are covering up the spread of the virus in the factory. With the reopening, the company wanted to look like they were being safe, he said, but really they were only waiting until they could force us back to work.
Dearborn Truck began production in 2004 as the companys most technologically advanced factory to build F-150 pickups. Because COVID-19 remains viable on a metal or plastic part for up to nine hours, auto production is prone to spread the infection. Standing in close proximity on 4.2 miles of conveyor systems, 4,400 workers on three shifts handle more than 3,000 parts per truck to build 1,200 trucks every day. Thats 3.5 million pieces moving through the facility at any given time, any one of which is capable of spreading the contagion.
At first I was feeling confident about the companys safety measures, added Jasmine, a co-worker on B Crew, who works afternoons during the week. I watched the shop chairmans video saying they would supply us with PPE. Then a few weeks ago, A Crew stopped working when a worker tested positive.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines require that when a worker tests positive, the entire plant must shut down for a full 24 hours before beginning the process of sanitizing. The coronavirus particles that are airborne must first settle out of the air before they can be disposed of. Ford did not do that.
They never shut the plant down, she said. They just sent A Crew home for a three-hour cleaning, and we came right back a few hours later. I told my committeeman we should not even be running if the virus is not under control. Now there are positive cases on every shift. Thats the disgusting part of it.
Many are asking, Why the rush?
In March, as sales dropped 15 percent for the first quarter, measured against last years numbers, rating agencies cut Fords credit rating from investment grade to junk bond status. The Federal Reserve responded with the largest government purchase of junk-rated bonds on record, permitting the company to regain an investment-grade rating so that it could borrow another $8 billion from bond sales. Outstanding debt rose to roughly $157 billion.
Bondholders and corporate investors are demanding blood moneyfull payment of interest due on the companys debt. The profits to pay that bill must be extracted from the workers, no matter what the cost in sickness and death. That is the motive behind this homicidal policy, which can lead only to the further spread of COVID.
Before the full reopening, there were talks with the UAW, Matt continued. They made it seem that things were going to be tip top shape. They just reopened without talking to the workers. It is like a dictatorship. We dont agree with the rush back to work. Its the same as when we were running before COVID. We are doubled up on the job with no separation. The UAW sold us out again.
Last Friday, the UAW, working together with Ford and the other automakers, called on factory workers to stand down for eight minutes and forty-six seconds at 8:46 a.m. to reflect on the police murder of George Floyd, the African American worker suffocated to death by a Minneapolis cop on May 25.
Floyds death touched a nerve and many workers were outraged regardless of their skin color, nationality or ethnic background. Multiple police murders occur every day in the US and throughout the world. And workers who are unemployed or facing sickness and death for themselves or a family member can identify with George Floyd.
Justice for George Floyd and others murdered by police is number one, Matt said. Small changes, reforms or putting people of color in office or on the police force will not stop people being brutalized by them. Working people are seen as enemies to the police. He went on to explain some of the broader political issues that this experience raises.
The profit system and the prison system are things that cannot be addressed by the moving forward slogans of the political establishment. We need to understand the function of these systems. The police are called to suppress strikes. They are protecting capital from a revolt by the workers.
But when it comes to an initiative by UAW President Rory Gamble, who is only the most recent executive of that organization to face a federal corruption probe, workers are justifiably suspicious. Gamble went out of his way to defend the police in a statement regarding the Floyd murder. He made clear he did not intend to vilify our brave men and women in blue. We represent many police officers and they are truly untold heroes.
Gamble is out of touch, remarked Jason, another co-worker from Ford Rouge. His statement is not aligned with workers struggles in this country. It shows that he is in a different class than everyone else. The fact is that hes saying that the police are great people while protesters are being attacked by them with tear gas and batons. The police function is to squash a movement by the people to move things forward. Instead, the UAW wants more police and to get everyone back to work.
You need an understanding of who is being targeted, Matt added. There is racism, but the police are in poor, working class communities as a form of repression to stop any movement of people coming together. Detroit has a black police chief, but the job is still the same. They work for the state.
In order to destroy racism, we need to unite as a class for our interests. Rory Gamble and the UAW dont have the same struggles as workers. They are tied to management financially.
In speaking about the union, Matt mentioned a grievance that had been filed at the beginning of the COVID crisis by Gary Walkowicz of the Spark tendency, which is a pseudo-left loyal opposition within the UAW. He called for more break times, shutting the plant down if any worker gets sick and for everyone to get tested. Some people were happy about that, he explained. I told them not to hold their breath. After the filing, there was no further news about the grievance. It was a ploy to make people think the union is doing something.
Workers need rank-and-file committees to control conditions within the plant. No one else will do it. The company and the union are only thinking about profits. If safety gets in the way, we wont be protected. Theres plenty of money for new masks. Theyre putting you under pressure to go in the plant. You risk your life for corporate profit.
Another worker from final assembly had a similar sentiment. I did not receive a call back for Monday, he said. But from what I heard, there are infections every day. You risk your life when you go back to work.
Roudram Ranam Rudhiram, best known as RRR is undoubtedly a highly anticipated movie of the year. Recently, the director SS Rajamouli had announced that a trial shoot of his magnum opus will happen amid the lockdown. For the unversed, the Telangana government has given permission to the makers to resume shoot of their respective films in a phased manner. We hear that the makers of RRR are disappointed with the trial being halted due to a sudden spike in the COVID-19 cases in Hyderabad.
Looks like the team spearheaded by the ace filmmaker is going through a tough time due to the sudden outbreak of the deadly virus and also Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's untimely demise. Wondering why? Well, actress Alia Bhatt has been at the receiving end post the renowned actor's death.
She has been receiving backlash and criticism on social media, with a few calling her a product of nepotism in the industry. As per the latest report, a few netizens have been sending messages to the RRR director to replace the actress in the big project. It is also said that he received a few death threats on this matter. Well, we will have to wait and watch if Rajamouli confirms the reports and takes an action against the threat messages or not.
Bankrolled by DVV Danayya, RRR will feature Ram Charan, Jr NTR, Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, Alison Doody, Ray Stevenson and Rahul Ramakrishna. Of lately, Shriya Saran confirmed that she is a part of the highly-anticipated movie wherein she will star opposite Ajay. Set in the backdrop of 1920's pre-independent India, the fictional story is based on two legendary freedom fighters, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, essayed by Ram Charan and Jr NTR respectively.
Jr NTR- Ram Charan's RRR Trial Shoot Gets Cancelled Due To Spike In COVID-19 Cases In Hyderabad
Shriya Saran To Pair Opposite Ajay Devgn In SS Rajamouli's RRR!
US President Donald Trump banned non-immigrant visas such as H-1B and L-1 till December in an executive order on June 22 (local time). In the order, Trump also extended the ban for issuance of Green Cards till the end of 2020.
This would impact H-1B, H-2, L-1, J visa holders. However, students and optional training programmes, which foreign students can avail after graduation, remain unaffected.
What does the new order say?
The proclamation bans the entry of foreign nationals, including Indians, through skilled worker visas such as H-1B, L-1/L-2, unskilled temporary worker visa H-2B and J visa reserved for scholars, professors and exchange students.
The ban will be effective from June 24 to December 31. This is also applicable for the immigrant visas that are initially banned for 60 days.
Watch: H-1B visa ban | What does it mean for India?
What is the need for this order?
The objective is to improve unemployment in the US, which now stands at 40 million.
In the proclamation, Trump said, Between February and April of 2020, more than 17 million United States jobs were lost in industries in which employers are seeking to fill worker positions tied to H-2B nonimmigrant visas.
The order further added that during this same period, 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.
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 added.
Also Read: Prolonged ban of H-1B visa may change IT, tech ecosystem in US
Who is impacted?
The order will not impact those who are already in the US with the valid non-immigration visa and those already in the US.
However it will impact foreign nationals, including Indians, who are applying for a fresh visa. It will also affect those in India with valid skilled worker visas such as H-1B, L-1/L-2 as they will not be allowed entry into the US till the ban is in place.
In terms of Green Cards, this is unlikely to impact those in the US and will affect those applying for Green Cards from outside the country.
Are there any exemptions?
Yes, people who are in essential services in the US will be exempted.
As per the order, this will not affect those who enter the country to provide temporary labour or services essential to the United States food supply chain. The order further states that those whose entry would be in the national interest as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees.
Also Read: H-1B visas: India tops list of registrants
So, what about the tech sector?
There is no explicit mention of tech workers though the order has stated that those in the national interest determined by the respective authorities will be allowed. It is unclear if this would include the tech workforce.
In an earlier interaction with Moneycontrol, Shivendra Singh, Vice President and Head - Global Trade Development, NASSCOM, said that tech workers in critical functions should be considered as essential service given that these employees power critical infrastructure such as hospitals in the US.
So how will it impact India?
This will have a significant impact on Indians given that we are the biggest beneficiaries of the visa. There are about four lakh H-1B and one lakh L-1 Indian visa holders in the US employed in several tech and IT firms.
A Kotak Institutional Securities report said that a ban of H-1B and L-1 visas beyond September will affect the talent supply chain of the IT companies even if the companies have increased their localisation in the US, which is more than 50 percent.
Companies such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro and Cognizant are the biggest beneficiaries of the visa along with the US tech firms such as Google, Facebook and Amazon.
Prolonged ban will have an impact on the tech supply chain in the US as these companies will not have the ability to move resources at the back of the ban. This will also impact the fresh application of visa and also those with valid visa travelling to the US.
Press Release
23 June 2020
Restrictions on travel, introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, are slowly being eased, allowing tourism to restart in a growing number of destinations. The latest research by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that 22% of all destinations worldwide (48 destinations) have started to ease restrictions, with Europe leading the way. At the same time, however, 65% of all destinations worldwide (141 destinations) continue to have their borders completely closed to international tourism.
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As the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, UNWTO has been monitoring responses to the pandemic since the start of the current crisis. This latest update, the fifth edition of COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions: A Global Review for Tourism, shows that the sector is slowly restarting, though this restart is significantly more pronounced in some global regions.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "The restart of tourism is of vital importance - for livelihoods, for businesses and for national economies. This latest overview of global travel restrictions shows that growing numbers of destinations are beginning to ease the restrictions they introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is being done in a responsible and measured way. However, this crisis is not over. UNWTO will continue to work with our Member States around the world to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and to ensure that, when the time is right, tourism can help drive a responsible and sustainable recovery."
International travel within Europe restarting while other regions remain closed
UNWTO will continue to work with our Member States around the world to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and to ensure that, when the time is right, tourism can help drive a responsible and sustainable recovery
According to UNWTO, as of 15 June, 22% of all destinations (48 destinations) have now eased restrictions on travel, up from just 3% (7 destinations) on 18 May. Destinations that have eased travel restrictions for tourists include:
37 destinations in Europe, including 24 of the 26 Schengen Member States
6 destinations in the Americas, including 5 Small Island Developing States
3 destinations in Asia and the Pacific, including 2 Small Island Developing States
2 destinations in Africa
At the same time, the COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions report makes clear that many destinations are maintaining a cautious approach to lifting or easing restrictions on travel. As of 15 June, 24% of all destinations worldwide (51 destinations) have had travel restrictions now in place for 19 weeks and 37% (80 destinations) for 15 weeks.
In total, 65% of destinations worldwide (141 destinations) continue to have their borders completely closed. In Africa, the proportion of destinations where borders remain closed to tourists stands now at 85%. In the Americas, 76% of destinations maintain full border closures, as do 67% of destinations in Asia and the Pacific and 92% of destinations in the Middle East. In Europe, these full border closures are reduced now to 26% of all destinations.
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People with loved ones living in long-term care homes in B.C. could be allowed to visit at some point in the next few weeks, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in her daily briefing on Monday.
Henry said the issue has been discussed over the past few weeks, as the province works to determine how to safely allow for family visits.
Visitors have been banned from care homes since mid-March, when health officials declared a COVID-19 outbreak inside the Lynn Valley Care Centre.
"It's something that's near to my heart. [...] It's such a challenging question, and we all want to be with our loved ones and we know how important it is for them to have family with them," she said.
"But we need to do it safely, so the combination of staff availability, making sure that staff are safe, making sure we have the PPE."
B.C. seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie has also called for the easing of restrictions for visits to long-term care homes in the province
Long-term care facilities have been particularly hard-hit by the pandemic and new outbreaks continue to happen.
However experts say B.C. care homes have fared better than those in provinces like Ontario and Quebec because the province took swift, co-ordinated and decisive actions to stop the transmission of the virus, such as providing adequate protective gear and restricting long-term care home workers to one nursing home.
Even if omicron peak nears, Long Beach cases and hospitalizations will still be up for weeks, official says
A 200-plus-room inn owned by Penn State will remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in the layoffs of many of those hotel employees at University Park.
The Nittany Lion Inn had been closed since mid-March, but Penn State University officials made an announcement Monday that it will remain closed, and its 223 guest rooms will be used as isolation spaces when students return to campus in the fall.
The move will result in layoffs, officials announced, but the university is evaluating the potential for other work in Housing and Food Services or at the other university-owned hotel for displaced workers and does not expect the number to exceed 79 employees.
According to university officials, Nittany Lion Inn employees had been receiving their full salaries from the initial closure in March until May 3. After that, those who could not work from home received 50 percent of their salary, plus benefits, which they will continue to get through July 31.
The financial and other impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the university are forcing Penn State to make many hard decisions, and this one is among the most difficult because of how it affects our dedicated employees, Penn State President Eric J. Barron said in a press release. While we had hoped to reopen both of our hotels and return to full operations, extremely challenging financial conditions and the need for isolation space ultimately compelled us to make this decision. I know this is difficult news for employees of the inn, and, while it is not much consolation at this time, I sincerely thank them for their years of committed service to the university.
Hotels owned by Penn State are self-sustaining, using their own revenues to pay for expenses, so tuition and other funds cannot be used to keep the hotels open.
The coronavirus is expected to be a financial hit of $260 million to the university in the next year.
The inn will be used for isolation rooms for students who test positive with the coronavirus, officials say.
Some existing Nittany Lion Inn staff will provide services, as needed, to individuals isolating in guest rooms.
University officials say the inn will be used for isolation purposes through at least the fall semester and will be reevaluated for possible reopening later this year.
The universitys other hotel, the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, is expected to reopen in July.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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Rural residents in potentially abusive relationships could lose out on a chance to get help as a result of the RCMPs refusal to participate in an initiative dubbed Clares Law, says a Saskatchewan group that helped develop it.
Jo-Anne Dusel, the executive director for the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan, on Monday criticized the position being taken by the RCMP, which provides law enforcement for many rural communities in the province.
Rates of intimate partner violence and intimate partner homicide are higher in rural and remote areas, Dusel said.
Unfortunately, what this means is the type of service you can expect if you are a victim or at risk of intimate partner violence varies greatly depending on where you live.
Next week, Clares Law officially called the Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol Act is set to go into effect in Saskatchewan.
Its named after Clare Wood, a woman in the United Kingdom who was killed in 2009 by a partner who police knew had a record of violence. Such laws allow police services to warn someone about a partners abusive past. Partners can request the information from police and officers are permitted to share it with someone they deem to be at risk. Alberta as well as Newfoundland and Labrador have introduced similar legislation.
Dusels organization helped the province with numerous aspects of its development, such as officer training.
Despite the RCMP being involved in some discussions about the law, on Monday it was revealed the federal force will not be participating in the process.
In a news release, the Saskatchewan RCMP said it continues to be supportive of the new law, but identified early on that there could be some problems for the force.
Unlike municipal police services, the RCMP is subject to federal privacy legislation, the RCMP said. The RCMP is continuing to look into the matter, and considering how best it can support Clares Law objectives within its obligations under the federal Privacy Act.
The office of Canadas minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, the federal department that oversees the RCMP, issued a similar statement.
Dusel said she was baffled and disappointed by the decision.
While Saskatchewans two biggest cities have their own police force, the Mounties provide law enforcement to many rural communities.
In a letter to the federal minister of public safety, Saskatchewan Justice Minister Don Morgan said the RCMP is citing an undisclosed legal opinion for its position and Morgan wants the federal government to review it.
To now be advised that the RCMP, in its capacity as the Saskatchewan provincial police service, is refusing to comply with this process is beyond disappointing, he wrote.
We cannot accept that the RCMP cannot find a possible solution to their concerns, whatever they may be.
Dusel said the law does strike a balance with Canadas privacy laws while still offering protection to people in danger.
The government was able to convince the privacy commissioner here that every possible measure was being put in place to protect our privacy, she said. But the safety of a person who might be at risk from a dangerous individual was ultimately trumping that right to privacy around that disclosure (of a violent record.)
She said people should still be able to submit an application to obtain information about a potentially abusive partner from non-RCMP police forces, but they will not get the service of proactive disclosure in RCMP jurisdictions.
When combined with existing issues, such as a lack of intercity bus service in rural Saskatchewan, the decision adds to factors endangering people in rural areas, she said.
With files from The Canadian Press
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 18:33 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066107418 1 National animal-conservation,hummingbirds,smuggling,Bangka-Belitung,Pangkalpinang,Animal-Quarantine-Law,protected-birds Free
Officers at Pangkalbalam Port in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung, have foiled an attempt to smuggle hundreds of hummingbirds.
Pangkalpinang Quarantine Agency head Saifuddin Zuhri said the port officers seized around 430 hummingbirds kept inside several boxes on Sunday. The birds were found aboard the KM Sawita and were on their way in a shipment to Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta.
These birds are protected because they help pollination in the wild. We could find no health certificates for these animals, so we believe the shipment is illegal, Zuhri said on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com.
He went on to say authorities would release the birds into the wild.
We will release the birds in Pelawan forest in Namang, Central Bangka regency. Weve already cooperated with the Alobi Foundation and the local natural resources conservation agency [BKSDA].
Read also: Joining hands with Facebook, Instagram, Indonesia aims to crack down on illegal wildlife trade
The officers are investigating the smuggling attempt.
The operation on Sunday was the third time port officers have thwarted hummingbird-smuggling attempts within this year. During the last two operations, they found a total of 1,700 birds.
According to the 2019 Animal Quarantine Law, any person found smuggling or transporting animals without proper documents face up to two years imprisonment and fines of Rp 2 billion (US$142,000).
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel has signed an agreement with Moderna Inc for the future purchase of its potential COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech firm last week confirmed plans to start a trial of 30,000 volunteers of its much-anticipated vaccine in July as the company enters the final stages of testing.
It is one of several vaccines being tested around the world as drugmakers race to combat the pandemic. There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for COVID-19.
"Israel has signed with the company Moderna an arrangement that will allow us to buy vaccines," Netanyahu said, according to a statement from his office.
"The company is advancing its development, they claim they can achieve it by the middle of next year, we hope that they succeed," he said.
Financial details were not disclosed.
Netanyahu added that Israel would continue its own efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine through the Israel Institute for Biological Research.
Israel - with a population of 9 million - has reported 19,783 novel coronavirus cases and 303 deaths. It has seen a spike in new infections since reopening schools, restaurants and many businesses last month.
Other countries, including France, Germany and Italy, have signed supply deals with British drugmaker AstraZeneca for its potential COVID-19 vaccine.
(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Tova Cohen, Editing by Rami Ayyub and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
A surge in COVID-19 cases since Memorial Day could set the Houston area on track for a peak of 2,000 daily hospitalizations by mid-July, according to a model from a Baylor College of Medicine epidemiologist.
The regions intensive care units would be overwhelmed by that number of patients, a nearly 50 percent increase from current levels, though thousands of general hospital beds remain available, said Dr. Chris Amos.
City of Houston Health Authority Dr. David Persse said several area hospitals already are at or over capacity and warned that shifting patients to facilities in other cities, a common practice in natural disasters, may no longer be possible.
The difference this time is the hurricane, if you will, is infecting the entire state, Persse said.
With government restrictions on business and travel removed, the epidemiologist and hospital executives from the Texas Medical Center said the only hope for the Houston area to avoid that outcome is for residents to practice social distancing, wear masks and avoid unnecessary contact with others.
Too many residents, they said, appear to have mistaken the end of Harris Countys stay-at-home order as a cue to resume normal life, while the virus poses a greater threat today than it did May 1.
The alarming situation could be that we have rampant COVID spreading throughout our society, Houston Methodist CEO Dr. Marc Boom said. If we dont take control, it takes control for us.
Elected officials and their public health experts are grappling with the idea that Harris County may have squandered much of this springs success in slowing the growth of the virus during the six-week stay-home period.
The shutdown dealt severe damage to the economy, including half a million lost jobs. Since Gov. Greg Abbott began reopening the state in May, however, the Houston area has set new records for cases and hospitalizations.
All of the good work that we did, shutting down, closing conferences and conventions were wiping away the success that we collectively achieved, and the sacrifices that people made in March, April and in May, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.
The mayor lamented that local officials have had little authority to issue restrictions since Abbott has implemented his phased reopening plan, and urged residents, at a minimum, to follow County Judge Lina Hidalgos mask order, which went into effect Monday. The order mandates that Harris County businesses require their customers to wear face coverings.
Abbott defended his strategy during a news conference in Austin, saying it achieved its primary goal of preventing hospitals from being overrun. He said the rate of new cases across the state was unacceptable, however.
The state reported 3,280 new cases Monday, bringing Texas total to 114,881.
The 25-county region anchored by Houston set a new record for COVID hospitalizations for the ninth time in 11 days Sunday, with 1,847 patients. ICU usage crept up to 89 percent, and the Texas Medical Center warned its system could exhaust base intensive care capacity within two weeks. More than 10,000 general and ICU beds remain available in the region.
While the number of daily COVID tests has remained constant, the rate of positive results has tripled to 9 percent in recent weeks, another troubling trend, Persse said.
Without any signs that those numbers will slow, Memorial Hermann Chief Physician Executive Dr. Jamie McCarthy said he will keep anticipating a deluge of cases in his hospitals.
Theyre going to continue to fill us up, McCarthy said. We have not flattened into that steady state of growth.
Should the current new case and hospitalization rates continue, physicians warn, the regions outlook is grim. Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor, said Sunday that Houston could become the worst affected area in the country if the trajectory persists.
Boom added that Houston residents could face a shutdown of sorts even though businesses are allowed to remain open. Many companies, including restaurants, bars and retailers, may shutter again as their employees fall ill, he said, and measures like Harris Countys new mask rules simply are not enough to contain the spread of the virus.
Fifteen Houston restaurants over the weekend announced temporary closures due to an employee testing positive or fear of spreading the virus among patrons.
Amos model combines current case trajectories with projections of recovery rates to determine when the area could see a downturn. He said the model offers Houston residents, much like Ebenezer Scrooge, a chance to see what may happen while retaining the ability to change the outcome.
Now is the time where people can change their behaviors, Amos said. Its sort of like Christmas future. It doesnt have to be this way.
The increase in cases is not attributable to a single factor, Harris County Public Health Executive Director Umair Shah said. Each family picnic, crowded bar, public protest and graduation ceremony creates a layering effect where the virus spreads invisibly, often not creating symptoms in patients for a week or more.
The march and rally in memory of George Floyd on June 2, which drew more than 60,000 people to downtown Houston, is likely one of many drivers of the jump in cases, Shah said.
Shah said state leaders have not appeared to reassess whether Texas has reopened too quickly.
As restaurants went from 25 to 50 to 75 percent (capacity), we started to see increases in cases, Shah said. From a public health standpoint, you would have thought some of those areas would have been pulled back.
The worsening trends have helped Harris County meet four of the five criteria set by the health departments threat level system that would call for a return to stay-at-home rules. Since Hidalgo lacks the authority to issue new restrictions, Shah said residents must decide whether to heed the increasingly desperate requests of health officials.
Its up to all of us as a community to decide which direction were going to go, he said.
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Kaitlyn Madden, one of the head tutors, said some of her colleagues were assigned to help a class in which FOP members were enrolled. She said none complained about anything untoward happening with the police officers, but after Shealey aired her concerns, others were troubled to learn of the FOP programs existence.
PLANS to attach lights to Henley Bridge could be revived.
David Rodger-Sharp, who runs the jewellers shop in Duke Street, Henley, is considering making a third attempt to obtain planning permission.
This follows two failed bids by Henley artist and entrepreneur Clive Hemsley, who announced last month that he was giving up on the scheme.
He removed most of the two strings of unauthorised white LED lights that he glued to the bridge in 2018 and plans to strip off the rest as soon as he has access to a boat.
Wokingham Borough Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, the two planning authorities responsible for the Grade I listed crossing, said Mr Hemsley had failed to prove his proposal wouldnt damage the 18th-century stonework and that it wouldnt conserve or enhance the bridge.
Mr Rodger-Sharp, who submitted the second application jointly with Mr Hemsley, hopes to come up with something which will satisfy the authorities as well as the residents and civic groups which objected.
He is working with Henley architect Gavin Jackson and marketing consultant Daniel Bausor, from Bix, to explore options and obtain quotes. Both men also advised Mr Hemsley.
Mr Rodger-Sharp, of Reading Road, Henley, says he would hold a public meeting before submitting a third application.
He believes the idea is still popular as 2,700 people signed a petition to keep Mr Hemsleys lights after Oxfordshire County Council, the bridges owner, ordered him to take them down in 2018.
Mr Rodger-Sharp says he also wants to speak to those who were against the idea to understand their concerns and persuade them that the town would benefit.
He would prefer to stick lights to the bridge rather than lighting it from the banks with floodlights as some town councillors have suggested.
This would be achieved using an adhesive which he says would be invisible and wouldnt harm the stonework.
Mr Rodger-Sharp said: I completely understand why Clive decided hed had enough but since weve taken it this far we would like to explore the possibility of continuing.
Weve invested a lot of time and 2,700 people have said they really want it. The biggest question is funding as Clive was very generously going to pay himself but now wed like to see if we can get a proper quote and begin some kind of fundraising.
Its at a very early stage and were consulting an expert who can advise, among other things, on whether its even realistic.
We recognise that some people dont support it but we hope we can bring them round with a different design and some better lights. The county councils engineer has already confirmed that it can be done with no damage to the stone so we need to communicate that.
Any design would have to be environmentally friendly and sympathetic to the setting. We dont want it to look like Las Vegas with lots of changing colours, as some people have suggested, its about enhancing a beautiful structure without fundamentally changing it.
Clive fixed the first set of lights with tape but they were never meant to be permanent and I think some people got the wrong idea about how the final scheme was going to look.
We could appeal the rejected application but its more likely that well submit a new one.
We could also work with the town council as theyre looking at lighting around Henley more generally.
Mr Bausor, chairman of Henley Conservatives, has previously worked with lighting contractors for the Illuminated River art project in which 15 bridges in London are to be lit up by 2022.
Four have been lit up so far and Mr Bausor says this has attracted more visitors to the surrounding areas, boosting trade for local businesses.
He said the Henley scheme could follow the projects funding model in which it sought support from individuals and organisations in both the private and public sector.
Mr Bausor said: Even before this years pandemic, online trade was increasing while bricks and mortar shopping has been in decline.
I believe that every town will need to offer a unique experience if it is to continue attracting visitors and Henley cant afford to rest on its laurels.
Lighting up the bridge in a subtle and environmentally sustainable way could be one solution to the challenges posed by the economy. The whole community needs to come together around it.
We would, of course, need to observe due diligence around this listed structure but a precedent has been set in London and there has also been overwhelming public support for the idea in Henley.
I understand that people want to respect the bridges historic character and agree that it needs to be carried out sensitively.
Mr Jackson, of Ravenscroft Road, Henley, said: Its a brilliant idea and Im very keen to move it forward. I only got involved towards the end of the previous application so I couldnt really offer guidance.
I will be able to take a more active role in future and I have a few ideas which will be announced when weve had the opportunity to discuss them.
Mr Hemsley, of Hart Street, said he was tired of hearing criticism of his proposal and claimed he had been defeated by Luddites.
The Henley Archaeological and Historical Group was against the scheme while Historic England also requested more proof that the glue was safe.
A Confederate monument displayed on Mobiles streets for 120 years before it was removed on June 4, will be permanently displayed inside the citys history museum.
The move, endorsed by a majority of the Mobile City Council Tuesday, runs counter to a request from the Sons of Confederate Veterans to have the 8-foot statue of Confederate Navy Adm. Raphael Semmes relocated to private property. It also comes at a time when Sons of the Confederacy groups are threatening lawsuits in some states for the removal of Confederate monuments in the weeks following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a white police officer.
I anticipate the next step is that the statue will be placed at the History Museum and hopefully the curators will work to put it in its proper and appropriate context, Mobile City Council President Levon Manzie said. Any persons who want to offer suggestions relative to that will hopefully have that opportunity.
The councils vocal support of placing the monument into the museum followed the recommendation of Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, who authorized the monuments removal amid protests following George Floyds killing in Minneapolis by a white police officer. Stimpson has said he prefers having the monument relocated into the History Museum of Mobile, which is less than one-block from where the Semmes monument long stood at Royal and Government streets.
Joe Ringhoffer, a representative of Camp 11 Sons of the Confederate Veterans, urged the council to return the statue to his group so it could be placed on private property but where it could also be viewed publicly. He declined to say exactly where the monument would have been relocated.
Ringhoffer said he only had a two-minute conversation with Stimpson after of the monuments removal. Stimpson has said he felt there had been enough public conversation about the monuments removal and felt that its removal was made in the best interest of the citizens of Mobile.
Disappointed, especially after the mayor indicated to me there was no problem and that the city would be happy giving it back to us, said Ringhoffer, when asked to react to the councils decision and Stimpsons position. That statue is a site-specific piece of artwork. The artist came and surveyed the area and made that statue specific for the area. If it cannot be there, wed like to have taken it and put it where it will be taken care of and viewed.
A statue of Confederate Adm. Raphael Semmes had been a feature of Mobile's downtown landscape since 1900. It was removed overnight on June 4, 2020.
The statue had been defaced in the days before its removal, and at least one councilman said he spoke with Stimpson about having it relocated before it was destroyed. Confederate monuments have been toppled by protesters in the weeks following Floyds killing, including a statue of Confederate Navy sea captain Charles Linn at Birminghams Linn Park during a demonstration that occurred on June 1.
Ive been considering for some time, probably over the last two years or so, what the fate of that statue might be, said Councilman Joel Daves. It would be increasingly obvious that we might reach the day where its fate might be in peril.
Daves said after the monument had been defaced, he contacted Stimpson and told him that in my opinion, it was time for (the statue) to be moved. The best place for it is in the history museum where it can be protected.
The city was fined $25,000 by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshalls Office for removing the statue, which Stimpson has said will be paid for through online fundraisers. The removal, according to Marshall, violates the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017, which prohibits a city from unilaterally removing a monument that is older than 40 years without gaining approval from a state committee. The Semmes statues origins date back to June 27, 1900, when it was unveiled for the first time and received as a gift by then-Mayor J.C. Bush.
Ringhoffer accused the city of overseeing an illegal activity with the removal of the statue.
Its clear to me that the city has disavowed the gift given to them by their illegal actions, breaking state law and (Stimpson) breaking his oath to office, said Ringhoffer. It couldnt be more clear.
Councilwoman Bess Rich, who requested the Sons of the Confederacy be allowed to speak before the council, said there werent any questions as to the citys rightful ownership of the monument since its acceptance by Bush during the 1900 ceremony is well-documented in newspaper archives.
Ringhoffer, in a letter to the council last week, said that Camp 11 was uniquely suited for the return of the statue into their possession. The statue was commissioned in the late 1890s by the Ann T. Hunter Chapter Auxiliary of Raphael Semmes Camp 11 Sons of Confederate Veterans. Camp 11 has, over the years, provided maintenance to the structure.
Its an emotional piece of property no matter how you slice it on both sides of the aisle, said Rich, who has argued that the decision to give the property away was up to the council, not the mayor. If no longer needed (by the city), it would be given to someone else.
She added, Anything of value the city has, its up to the council to decide where that would go if its moved. Its a sensitive subject.
Rich said she was hopeful that the Sons of the Confederacy would be part of a team that would help write a narrative about Semmes that would also be displayed within the history museum.
Ringhoffer said he wasnt sure if his group would be invited.
We certainly were not involved in the decisions by the city prior to it being taken down, he said.
The Semmes monument is just one of dozens that have become a flashpoint in the aftermath of Floyds death following demonstrations against policy brutality and racism. Its also not the only one that has generated questions about ownership and future uses.
In North Carolina, the removal of Confederate statues outside the state capitol building in Raleigh has the Sons of Confederate Veterans contemplating legal action.
In Alabama, multiple cities are addressing whether to keep or remove the monuments. Monuments have been removed in Birmingham and at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. In Florence, city officials are expected on July 7 to vote to remove a Confederate monument at the Lauderdale County Courthose and place it at a city cemetery.
This story was updated at 10:37 a.m. on June 24, 2020, to show that, according to a representative with the Camp 11 Sons of Confederate Veterans, a conversation took place between them and Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson after the Adm. Raphael Semmes monument was removed.
Mobiles statue: Who was Confederate Adm. Raphael Semmes?
The history behind Birmingham monuments damaged during George Floyd protest
Watershed moment: Will removal of Confederate monuments lead to lasting change in Alabama?
A company official said work stopped temporarily only at two rigs and the remaining 34 in the offshore were operational. He added there was no impact on the companys production.
State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has halted operations at two drilling rigs in Western Coast, following the death of an employee and another 54 testing positive for coronavirus (Covid-19).
The two rigs are in two of the most lucrative assets of the company - Mumbai High and Bassein.
A company official said work stopped temporarily only at two rigs and the remaining 34 in the offshore were operational. He added there was no impact on the companys production.
Mumbai High, also known as Bombay High, is an offshore oilfield located in the Arabian Sea, approximately 160 km west of the Mumbai coast.
The field, discovered in 1974 and started production in 1976, is known primarily for its oil production.
It also consists of two blocks Mumbai High North and Mumbai High South.
Mumbai High produces around 170,000 barrels of oil per day and 12 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) of natural gas.
On the other hand, Bassein field, also called the Vasai field, is located 80 km off the Mumbai coast and is considered one of the largest gas fields in India.
The field was discovered in 1976 and put in production in 1988.
Spread across 7,300 square kilometres in the Arabian Sea, it consists of South Bassein field, NBP (D-1) field, B-193 super sour field, Vasai East field and C-Series and Daman gas field.
Bassein field produces 32 mmscmd of gas and 60,000 barrels of oil per day.
ONGC claimed that works are going on following the standard operating procedure and its staff is properly informed about social distancing.
Interestingly, ONGC employee bodies had reportedly alleged that the infection was spreading due to lack of proper guidelines.
During the lockdown, its staff in Mumbai offshore fields were working continuously for five weeks.
It was only after the lockdown restrictions were lifted did ONGC arrange for charter flights for their workers to reach Mumbai.
The companys overall production was hit badly by the lockdown due to the Covid 19 outbreak.
In April, the companys natural gas production dropped by 15 per cent while its crude oil production dipped marginally by 0.5 per cent compared to the same month in 2019.
Overall, gas output of India for April also dropped 18.6 per cent to 2.16 billion cubic metres (bcm) against 2.65 bcm a year ago.
Crude oil production also fell 6.35 per cent to 2.5 million tonnes (mt) in April.
The state-run major cut its capital expenditure (capex) by over 15 per cent or Rs 5,000 crore for 2020-21.
Indias largest oil and gas producer had budgeted a capex of Rs 32,502 crore for the financial year.
However, now it has been cut to around Rs 27,500 crore. The company had also sought a price assurance of $45 a barrel on crude oil.
Photograph: Reuters
[June 22, 2020] Fish & Richardson Wins Major ITC Patent Case for JinkoSolar
ITC rules in final determination that JinkoSolar does not infringe competitor Hanwha's asserted solar modules patent WASHINGTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fish & Richardson, has obtained a major International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling for JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, in a patent infringement case brought against JinkoSolar by competitor Hanwha Q CELLS. On June 3, 2020, the ITC issued its final determination that JinkoSolar's products do not infringe Hanwha's patent. Hanwha, which is based in Seoul, South Korea, sued JinkoSolar and two other respondents, LONGi Solar and REC Group, at the ITC and in the District of Delaware in March 2019 asserting infringement of a patent related to the composition of solar modules. Hanwha had sought a limited exclusion order at the ITC to bar the importation of JinkoSolar's solar modules into the U.S. "JinkoSolar is the leader and innovator in this industry, and we are very pleased that the U.S. International Trade Commission has confirmed that JinkoSolar's products do not infringe Hanwha's intellectual property. JinkoSolar looks forward to its continued expansion and growth in the U.S.," said Joseph Colaianni, the Fish principal who co-led the case with principal Linhong Zhang. "There was a lot at stake in this multibillion-dollar market, but we were confident that we would deliver this well-deserved victory to our client and we will continue to defend JinkoSolar's interests," added Zhang. Fish has helped China's leading companies obtain, enforce and defend their intellectual property rights in the U.S. and Europe for many years. Fish opened a Representative Office in Shenzhen, China in 2019 to better support and service its innovative clients in the region. Fish helps Chinese companies obtain patent and trademark protection in the U.S. and Europe, and represents Chinese companies in federal district and appeals courts, at the ITC and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The ITC case was In the Matter of Certain Photovoltaic Cells and Products Containing Same, 337-TA-1151. About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the U.S., Japan, Germany, the UK, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, and other countries and regions. JinkoSolar has built a vertically integrated solar product value chain, with an integrated annual capacity of 11.5 GW for mono wafers, 10.6 GW for solar cells, and 16 GW for solar modules, as of December 31, 2019. About Fish & Richardson
Fish & Richardson, the premier global intellectual property law firm, is trusted by the world's most innovative and influential companies. From patent, trademark, and copyright prosecution and counseling to our full-service litigation practice, we work together to provide our clients with exceptional advocacy across the life cycle of intellectual property needs in the U.S. and around the world. Our deep bench of attorneys with first-chair trial experience in every technology makes us the go-to firm for the most technically complex cases. Fish was established in 1878, and now has more than 400 attorneys and technology specialists in the U.S., Europe, and China. Our success is rooted in our creative and inclusive culture, which values the diversity of people, experiences, and perspectives. Visit fr.com/china or follow us on WeChat at FR_China or @FishRichardson .
Contact: Patricia Baressi
Fish & Richardson P.C.
(617) 368-2115
[email protected]
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The monthly investment juggernaut has veered off course. Fund industry experts says its just a speed-breaker. Inflows through systematic investment plans (SIPs) of mutual funds fell to Rs 8,123 crore in May. This was the second straight instance of decline since the highest ever monthly collection recorded in March and a six percent fall since then. The number of SIPs discontinued or with completed tenures increased to 6.52 lakh, up from 5.40 lakh a month earlier, as per the Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI) data. NS Venkatesh, Chief Executive, AMFI isnt too worried about the fall in SIP collections. Monthly SIP contributions still continue to be over Rs 8,000 crore. We have also seen that month-on-month, the number of SIP accounts have gone up, displaying mature behaviour on the part of retail investors, he says. But many anecdotes suggest that job losses, and salary and business income cuts have compelled people to rethink their SIPs.
SIPs can wait, an emergency corpus cannot
Ahmedabad-based architect and structural engineer, Jitayu Purani, 28, used to invest as much as Rs 75,000 every month in five equity funds through SIPs, till March 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March, his firms projects came to a standstill. Income, he says, gets staggered over the project tenure; nearly 50 percent of his payments flow through at the completion stage. Though much of the country has started to unlock slowly, liquidity problems are still there, he says. The payment cycle stretches over nine months. Jitayu says that the lockdowns impact will thus last for many more months. Jitayu stopped all five of his SIPs, effective April 2020. Hes more comfortable investing in international equities, and shares of large-sized companies, including those of banks which, he says, are too big to fail.
Jitayu Purani: Deteriorating business prospects and uneven cash flows have made Jitayu stop his SIPs. He is bullish on US-focused investments and also shares of large-sized companies.
Mrin Agarwal, Founder Director of Finsafe India, says that in these times of income or job losses, an emergency corpus becomes important. If you dont have an emergency corpus, then build one first. This is your 6-9 months worth of living expenses, she says. If you have to stop your SIPs to build one, then do it, Mrin adds.
Before COVID-19 struck, Delhi-based Anand Verma, a pilot in a low-cost airline, used to invest around Rs 70,000 in SIPs. After his airline was grounded, Anand got paid for 10 days in March. He received nothing in April and May. In his earlier tenure with the merchant Navy, he saved sizably in US dollars. But, apart from spending Rs 65 lakh on pilot training, his bank mis-sold unnecessary insurance policies to him. His goal of buying a house where he hoped to move in after marriage just got pushed back a little further. Anand is back in the cockpit now, but he flies only twice a month for now.
Diversify your investments
For those who havent lost their jobs or have faced only a small fall in their income, SIPs have continued. Nandakumar Nayak, 63, a Mumbai-based retired electrical engineer spends his days conducting online training classes. He had started his first SIP in 2005. Apart from the great bull-run, Nandakumar also survived the market crashes of 2008 and March 2020. His secret sauce: diversification. I have invested enough in fixed-return instruments like fixed deposits. I have been investing only so much that it doesnt become a burden on me, he says.
Nandakumar Nayak: He has seen multiple market cycles and understands the fluctuations in equities. Staying put for the long run is his style. He has enough fixed-income investments though.
Kalpesh Ashar, founder, Full Circle Financial Planners and Advisors, says that if you stay invested for a long period, your investment portfolio can absorb the shocks. The March 2020 market crash may have taken back our mutual fund investments back in time. But investors who have continued their SIPs for around 7-8 years or more, are still happy, he says.
Surat-based investor Vatsal Naik, 53, moved gradually from investing in fixed deposits at first. Then, he tested waters in government securities and liquid funds and then finally in equity funds. Good experience in debt funds increased Vatsals confidence in mutual funds and by May 2003, he had started his SIPs in equities. He had invested in around 400 schemes by 2009! Fortunately, he liquidated his investments for expanding his business. His SIPs still continue, but in just five schemes now.
Vatsal Naik: He tested waters with small amounts, way back in 2003. He tried liquid and gilt funds. Once he gained comfort, he started equity SIPs.
Testing investor patience
Volatility in recent years have tested investors patience say experts. CRISIL analysed SIPs over as many five-year time periods as possible between December 2013 and March 2020. All equity funds across multi-cap, large-cap, mid-cap and tax-savings funds, over a corpus of size of Rs 500 crore were considered. A few other smaller funds that later on became giants too were taken. The average five-year return was just 7.5 percent, down from the 12.8 percent for funds taken up in the Moneycontrol-CRISIL SIP study done for 2005-2020. Funds gave more than 10 percent returns between 2013 and 2020 just 26 percent of the time. For the Moneycontrol-CRISIL SIP study, the five-year return was in excess of 10 percent, nearly 63 percent of the time.
Mrin says that people invest by seeing past returns. But she agrees that the past few years volatility, coupled with COVID-induced market crash, has left many investors worried. Keep your return expectations in check. Dont expect 15-18 percent returns anymore, she says. SIPs also have a hands-off approach, which means you dont need to decide every month where to invest. Kalpesh says that after you build your emergency corpus and get suitably insured, you must start an SIP to accumulate for your financial goals.
You can still crank up the SIP engine to life with the right prescriptions.
By IANS
NEW DELHI: A day after Indian media reported that India had handed over dead bodies of 16 Chinese soldiers to the People's Liberation Army (PLA), China on Monday for the first time admitted that it lost "less than 20" troops during the violent face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh last week.
Until now, even as New Delhi had officially announced that 20 of its soldiers were killed in a clash with the PLA in Ladakh's Galwan valley, Beijing had remained tight-lipped about its casualties.
The Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Community Party regime in Beijing, in a piece quoting "Chinese experts" on Monday said that "the reason why China did not release the number" of its casualties, is that China "wants to avoid an escalation."
"If China released the number which is less than 20, the Indian government would again come under pressure," the Global Times tweeted quoting an "observer" from the piece.
The Chinese "analysts" and "observers" also accused Indian officials of placating nationalists by "making speculations on China's casualties to satisfy Indian hardliners, such as speculating that China lost more soldiers than India."
The Global Times report referred to Union minister and former Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh who on Saturday had claimed that the number of PLA soldiers killed in the stand-off in the Galwan valley was more than 40.
The analysts in Beijing also threatened India saying, "India will be more humiliated than after the 1962 border conflict with China if it cannot control anti-China sentiment at home and has a new military conflict with its biggest neighbour."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as per the observers, "is trying to respond to the nationalists and hardliners with tough talk, but he understands his country cannot have further conflict with China so he is also making an effort to cool tensions."
Quoting Chinese military observers, the Global Times said, that "an escalated, large-scale military conflict involving main Chinese troops, if that were to happen, would mean all out war just like the war in 1962, with very disproportionate casualty figures unfavourable to India."
Photo credit: Milrem
From Popular Mechanics
The Type X drone is a new robotic combat vehicle (RCV) equipped with either an 25 or 30-millimeter auto cannon or anti-tank missiles.
Inexpensive and semi-expendable, RCVs hold the key to the future of land warfare.
In the future, Army ground forces will consist of human/RCV vehicles and even some unmanned RCV formations.
A new unmanned ground combat vehicle represents the best look yet at the future of unmanned warfare. The Type X robotic combat vehicle (RCV) is a heavily armed, unmanned mini-tank that could act both independently and alongside manned vehicles. Cheap and easy to operate, unmanned combat vehicles like Type X are likely the future of armored warfare as manned vehicles grow increasingly expensive.
Milrem, an Estonian robotics company, introduced the Type X combat vehicle earlier this month. The Type X builds upon Milrems experience with robotic combat vehicles, including the THeMIS multipurpose vehicle. Unlike THeMIS, which is more of a robotic mule, Type X resembles a scaled down main battle tank. Here's THeMIS in action, firing a .50-caliber machine gun in support of dismounted infantry.
Type X is 19.6 feet long, 9.5 feet long, and 7.2 feet high. It weighs just 12 tons, making it light enough to airdrop from transport aircraft like the C-130J Hercules or carry as a slung load under a CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter. Type X has a hybrid diesel electric drive and onboard batteries that allows for one hour of silent driving or 24 hours of silent surveillance. The vehicle also uses rubber instead of metal tracks for quieter operation. According to European Defence Review, it has a maximum road speed of 49 miles an hour and can travel an average of 372 miles on a tank of gas.
The new vehicle mounts a Cockerill Protected Weapons Station Gen. II, an unmanned turret capable of mounting the same 25-millimeter gun used on the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle or the 230LF 30-millimeter cannon, a variant of the chin-mounted gun on the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The turret also includes a 360 degree thermal imager for remote viewing. Alternatively, it can carry a load of anti-tank guided missiles, including the Spanish Alcotan, French MMP, American Javelin, and the Israeli Spike.
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Photo credit: Sergei Savostyanov - Getty Images
But the Type X isnt the only remote combat vehicle out there. In 2019 Textron Systems revealed the M5 Ripsaw , a similar vehicle with the same 30-millimeter autocannon used on the Stryker Dragoon infantry carrier. The Ripsaw even comes equipped with a quadcopter drone that takes off and lands from the rear of the vehicle. Over in Russia, the Uran-9 RCV has so far been a disappointment . Uran-9 bristles with more firepower than its Western equivalents but has proven difficult to control under combat conditions in Syria.
Milrem is positioning Type X as a convoy escort vehicle, capable of riding shotgun with supply convoys and providing the firepower to repel an attack. This is largely due to the experience of the U.S. Army in Iraq and NATO forces in Afghanistan, both of whom faced ambushes on truck convoys by insurgents with anti-tank weapons. Milrem also released its new Intelligent Functions Kit, which it claims can turn any vehicle into a self-driving or remote controlled one. Coupled together the result could be completely unmanned convoys, driven and defended by human crews hundreds of miles away.
Photo credit: Sean Gallup - Getty Images
One major role for RCVs in general is as a fighting vehicle operating alongside human-crewed fighting vehicles. A RCV armed with anti-tank missiles could travel alongside vehicles carrying infantry troops, ready to defend them from enemy tanks. An RCV armed with a small caliber autocannon could pair up with main battle tanks, taking on lightly armored fighting vehicles and anti-tank missile teams. RCVs could also act in the scouting role, screening ahead of ground forces to locate enemy units. Their semi-expendable nature could see them holding their ground and engaging ambushers against hopeless odds while human crewed vehicles scuttled to safety.
Photo credit: Textron Systems
The future could also see entire formations of RCVs, fighting on without a human in sight. RCVs could be sent on dangerous diversionary operations, pining enemy defenders in place while a human formation attacks elsewhere. RCVs could even be airdropped or delivered by glider into enemy territory, fighting until their fuel and ammunition are expended and generally making nuisances of themselves in a form of robotic guerrilla warfare.
Photo credit: U.S. Army/Mark Schauer
RCVs hold a lot of promise but there are things that need to be sorted out. Armies will need jam-proof, unbreakable communications to control remotely operated vehicles. Ground forces that rely heavily on RCVs could, thanks to jamming, become combat ineffective without a single shot fired. Onboard computers, digital communications, and networking will also make RCVs vulnerable to hacking. Finally, space is at a premium on the armored battlefield and its not clear where human RCV operators would sit. A vehicle like the Armys new AMPV , an all-purpose troop and cargo carrier could seat several RCV operators, each controlling several vehicles.
All of this eventually will be sorted out, because like many unmanned weapon systems, they hold the key to making warfare affordable in an age of eye-watering weapons costs. Just as the Air Force plans to supplement $90 million dollar F-35A fighters with $3 million unmanned warplanes and the Navy plans to supplement $2 billion guided missile destroyers with unmanned warships, the U.S. Army and other ground forces will eventually need to offload some fighting capabilities to unmanned ground systems just to afford the ballooning costs of manned warfare.
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Chinese FM refutes claim prosecution of 2 Canadians 'revenge' for Meng
Global Times
Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/22 18:51:13
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday stressed that two Canadians were prosecuted in China for allegedly endangering China's national security, and that there is no such a thing as "arbitrary" detention, refuting accusations that the prosecution is revenge for Huawei's senior executive Meng Wanzhou's case.
After Chinese authorities prosecuted Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that he is "disappointed" that China has now formally charged the two men with spying.
Robert Malley, president and CEO of the International Crisis Group, the company where Kovrig works as a senior advisor on northeast Asian issues, said in a statement that "this is yet another arbitrary and baseless step in a case that has been arbitrary and baseless from day one," CBC reported.
The report quoted Trudeau as saying it's a "terrible shame" that China has tied the Spavor and Kovrig cases to the December 2018 Vancouver arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a top executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei.
Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said Canada pursues double standards on so-called "judicial independence."
China's judicial departments handle cases independently in accordance with the law, and will also protect the legal rights of Canadian citizens, Zhao said, urging Canadian leaders to earnestly respect the spirit of the rule of law, respect China's judicial sovereignty, and stop making irresponsible remarks.
"The case of Meng Wanzhou is completely different from the Canadian citizens' cases," Zhao stressed.
On Friday, Kovrig and Spavor were prosecuted by the procuratorates in Beijing and Dandong, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, respectively, for allegedly spying on China's national secrets and collecting classified intelligence.
"It is clear to anyone without prejudice that Meng's case is a serious political one. The aim of the US was to crush Chinese high-tech companies and Huawei, with Canada acting as an accomplice. We strongly urge Canada to correct its mistake as soon as possible and immediately release Meng for her safe return," Zhao said.
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In brief: Tech companies shut down websites, services, and software all the time, but few could have foreseen Microsoft's latest announcement. The company's well-known Mixer streaming platform is shutting down, with Microsoft planning to partner with Facebook Gaming for its future streaming ambitions.
Though, as mentioned before, service shutdowns are nothing new in this industry, this news will likely still come as a shock to many.
Mixer has obviously never been as popular as streaming giants like Twitch, but after securing exclusive streaming contracts with a few high-profile streamers -- such as Ninja or Shroud -- it seemed like Microsoft was going all-in on the platform's success.
Nonetheless, the company is giving up on the service now. It has explained its reasoning as follows:
It became clear that the time needed to grow our own livestreaming community to scale was out of measure with the vision and experiences that Microsoft and Xbox want to deliver for gamers now, so weve decided to close the operations side of Mixer and help the community transition to a new platform.
That new platform will be Facebook Gaming, according to Microsoft. The company has outlined a detailed transition plan for all existing Mixer streamers who are willing and able to make the switch, which you can view here.
For example, Mixer Partners will automatically be granted partner status with Facebook Gaming, and monetized streams will be eligible for the "Facebook Gaming Level Up Program," which will offer similar monetization opportunities.
Obviously, those who signed exclusive streaming contracts with Microsoft will no longer be restricted by them moving forward. Streamers like Ninja are free to go back to Twitch or move on to something else -- it's entirely up to them.
Mixer's shutdown will go into effect on July 22, so streamers only have about a month to switch to Facebook Gaming or an alternative platform (such as Twitch).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
Trend:
Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 27 times, Trend reports on June 23 referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.
The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Minneapolis Police Union Officials Say Theyre Blocked From Floyd Arrest Footage
Police union officials in Minneapolis say they havent been able to see body camera footage of the arrest of George Floyd.
Floyd, a black man, died in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day after being arrested on suspicion of forgery. One police officer, Derek Chauvin, who has since been fired, knelt on his neck for nearly eight minutes.
Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, while three other officers involved, who also were fired in the wake of the incident, were charged with aiding and abetting the killing.
Lt. Bob Kroll, president of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, said what happened to Floyd appears horrific, but that union officials have been blocked from seeing body camera footage from the arrest.
The administration broke our policy, which gives us the ability to review the video, so we were blindsided. We only saw the social media video. In all other officer-involved critical incidents, were entitled to review. What Ive seen of it is only what the public has seen on the cellphone, and it is horrific, Kroll said.
Any human being that watched that, knows that that shouldnt have ended the way that it did, Rich Walker Sr., director of the union, added. But we also know that there is more to the story. They say he never resisted in the statements released. We dont know if he never resisted because we havent seen from the time the officer stopped him until the point he was on the ground.
In this June 4, 2020, file photo, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey kneels and weeps by the casket of George Floyd before a memorial service in Minneapolis, Minn. (Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo)
Kroll said body camera footage may shed some light on what happened. Because officials have been blocked from viewing the footage, we cannot make an informed decision about our other officers that dont appear on camera, he said.
We wish we could have an early opinion in this, but its up the administration to stick with policy and give us what were entitled to under policy. It does look and sound horrible, he said.
Sherral Schmidt, the unions vice president, said she would have put Floyd on his side in a recovery position once he went unconscious.
The officials spoke during a joint interview with CBS This Morning.
The Minneapolis Police Department didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for information, including when the body camera footage might be released.
Union officials have remained silent since Floyds death, except for a short statement urging people not to rush to judgment and immediately condemn our officers.
This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office in Minnesota on June 3, 2020, shows from left J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao. They have been charged with aiding and abetting Derek Chauvin, who is charged with second-degree murder of George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by the Minneapolis police officers on May 25. (Hennepin County Sheriffs Office/AP)
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin poses for an undated booking photograph. (Minnesota Department of Corrections/Reuters)
An in-depth investigation is underway. Our officers are fully cooperating. We must review all video. We must wait for the medical examiners report, Kroll said in a statement in late May.
Officers actions and training protocol will be carefully examined after the officers have provided their statements. The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis will provide full support to the involved officers. We ask that the community remain calm and let the investigation be completed in full.
County and independent autopsies have ruled that Floyds death was a homicide.
The primary video showing the arrest was filmed by a bystander; no body camera footage from the four officers involved has been released.
Police spokesman John Elder previously told The Associated Press that all the officers had their body cameras on. Bruce Gordon, a spokesman for the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said footage from the body cameras captured portions of the incident.
A spokesman for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat leading the prosecution, told AP that prosecutors are reviewing all evidence but declined to comment specifically on the body camera situation.
(Newser) The Secret Service says it "misdirected" members of the White House press corps to immediately leave the White House grounds on Monday amid a demonstration in Lafayette Square. Two of the four journalists were from CNN, which describes the move as "highly unusual" since the press corps is typically locked down inside the White House complex during security situations. In this case, the journalists were told to immediately exit via the South side of the complex, an unusual path for the press. Protesters had gathered in an attempt to topple a statue of former President Andrew Jackson in the middle of Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House. They were seen trying to rip the statue from its pedestal, on which someone had scrawled "killer," but were pushed back by police wielding batons and pepper spray, per the Washington Post.
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Early Tuesday, the Secret Service said the journalists were "misdirected" to leave the grounds "in response to the increasingly violent demonstrations" and "were rerouted to exits on the south side of the complex for their own safety," per CNN and USA Today. On St. John's Episcopal Church, across the street from the square, protesters had spray-painted "BHAZ"the acronym for "Black House Autonomous Zone" and an apparent reference to Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), an occupied protest area of six square blocks. President Trump blasted the "disgraceful vandalism" and tweeted early Tuesday that "I have authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent." (Read more White House stories.)
Anesthesia Progress volume 67 issue 1 Of particular note was the splatter found behind the face shield and underneath the chin of the anesthesiologist, illustrating just how impactful a cough can be at releasing the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Anesthesia ProgressReceiving dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic has been extremely challenging for patients and providers alike. The virus, which is primarily found in oral, nasal, and pharyngeal mucosa and in pulmonary secretions, is an air-borne contaminant and spreads through respiratory droplets, contact contamination, or by aerosols produced during aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs). Given the transmission type, four of the top five professions at the highest risk for the contracting the virus are within the dental field. It is of the upmost importance that appropriate protective measures are put into place before routine dental care can resume as normal.
Researchers from the University of Toronto, University of Vancouver, and private practice in British Columbia published a study in the current issue of Anesthesia Progress that examined the extent of splatter produced during an AGP or coughing while receiving dental care.
To simulate a dental procedure and examine the extent of splatter, the researchers used a dental mannequin fitted with a set of model teeth coated in Glo Germ, which appears blue under an ultraviolet (UV) light. While wearing short-sleeved scrubs, goggles, a surgical mask, and gloves, a dentist and dental hygienist performed three different dental procedures on the mannequin using a high-speed handpiece, an ultrasonic scaler, and an air-water syringe; all three were done with continuous use of high-volume suction. To simulate a cough during a procedure, a ventilator was equipped with and programmed to release Glo Germ during the procedure. During this simulation a dentist anesthesiologist was introduced wearing the same personal protective equipment (PPE) as the dentist and hygienist, with the addition of a face shield. After each procedure or cough, the participants were taken to a dark room where UV light was used to examine splatter patterns and photographs were taken and analyzed to document the extent of the splatter.
The researchers found that after each AGP was performed, both the dentist and hygienist had splatter on their face, body, arms, and legs. The simulated cough showed an increased amount of splatter produced, and, in addition to their face, body, arms, and legs, the dentist and hygienist had splatter on the crown of their head, back, and shoes. The anesthesiologist had a significant amount of splatter on every surface of the body, except for the back and shoes. Of particular note was the splatter found behind the face shield and underneath the chin of the anesthesiologist, illustrating just how impactful a cough can be at releasing the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The researchers conclude that in addition to eye protection, masks, and gloves, dental professionals should also wear face shields, bouffant/surgical caps, and shoe coverings to fully protect themselves from the virus. This full set of PPE should also be changed between patients to avoid cross-contamination of the patients or staff during procedures that generate AGPs.
Full text of the article, Aerosol Generating Procedures and Simulated Cough in Dental Anesthesia, Anesthesia Progress, is now available here.
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About Anesthesia Progress
Anesthesia Progress is the official publication of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology (ADSA). The quarterly journal is dedicated to providing a better understanding of the advances being made in the science of pain and anxiety control in dentistry. The journal invites submissions of review articles, reports on clinical techniques, case reports, and conference summaries. To learn more about the ADSA, visit: http://www.adsahome.org/.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio House staff will be required to undergo diversity and inclusion training at an upcoming session, House leaders said Tuesday.
The training hasnt yet been scheduled, but will take place sometime this summer, as the workload decreases for legislative staff during the legislatures summer recess, according to a memo distributed to House staff on Tuesday. It follows a renewed call for racial bias training from the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, repeated after a white state senator asked during a legislative committee hearing earlier this month whether colored people were more likely to get the coronavirus due to poor hand-washing.
But Taylor Jach, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Larry Householder, said the training has been planned for more than a year. The diversity training is an outgrowth of a House initiative to professionalize its human resources operations following a spate of complaints in 2018.
Unlike an Ohio Senate training session last week, House members themselves wont be required to participate. Householder, a Republican, has said he doesnt believe he has the authority to place those kinds of conditions on his fellow state lawmakers, since they are elected officials.
John Fortney, a spokesman for Senate President Larry Obhof, a Republican, said last weeks training, announced in the aftermath of Huffmans comments, was performed by representatives of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. Fortney said in his session, participants discussed white privilege and what implicit biases people may hold about different groups.
For the session I was in, the discussion was very enlightening and engaging, Fortney said.
Read recent coverage by cleveland.com
Like the country, Ohios legislature has been roiled by racial, partisan divides
Leader of black state lawmakers group frustrated with no racial sensitivity training by Ohio House leaders
After senators remark about colored people and hand washing, Ohio Black Legislative Caucus again calls for racial bias training
Soon-to-be-hired HR pro to handle racism, sexual harassment complaints in Ohio House
Josie Norris / Staff photographer
As of Tuesday, Methodist Healthcare System has implemented a no-visitor policy at all of its facilities in response to the increase of COVID-19 cases in San Antonio.
The policy, which begins immediately, is to protect patients and employees from exposure to the virus, Methodist Healthcare said in a news release.
The University of Cincinnati happily took a $2 million donation from the Marge and Charles J. Schott Foundation to build a stadium and name it Marge Schott Stadium, even though it was aware that Schott repeatedly praised Hitler and admitted to having a swastika armband at home. But suddenly, the university decided it wasn't such a good idea to have a stadium named after her, after all, and said it will rename it.
From ESPN:
Schott's foundation has encouraged discussions about naming rights. "While we cannot make excuses for the rhetoric made by Mrs. Schott decades ago, we can ask you to learn from Mrs. Schott's mistakes as well as her great love for Cincinnati," the foundation said in a statement this month. "We appreciate what these great organizations bring to Cincinnati and we fully support the decisions made by the organizations who have received grants from the Foundation."
Image: YouTube
New Delhi, June 23 : In times when the webspace has been cluttered by galleries and art practitioners relentlessly holding lectures and zoom meetings, Khoj International Artists' Association in Delhi felt that this is in fact the period to do something practical to ascertain that young artists, who do not have galleries and backers are at least able to survive in face of the crisis created by the pandemic.
"It made very little sense to jump the bandwagon of webinars. After all that is not what we exist for. So, we immediately re-purposed one of our projects worth Rs. 10 lakhs and introduced 40 grants for Rs. 25,000 each so that a young kid can at least pay his room rent and feed himself. After six months, he/she can show us the notebooks, drawings, thought patterns or an experiment. We completely understand that in these times, expecting a complete art work or project makes little sense. More than 400 applications were received for 40 grants. Now we have requested some people for funds so as to introduce another grant on the same lines in the coming months. The aim is to ensure that the young practitioner does not give up on art just because he/she is not getting any work in these times," said Pooja Sood, founding member and Director of Khoj International Artists' Association, that started in 1997 as an annual workshop.
Running it from her home in the capital for many years before acquiring a building in Khirkee Extension, the organisation that came into being with stalwarts like Robert Lodler, Subodh Gupta, Bharti Kher, Anita Dubey and Manisha Parekh coming together, has been in the forefront of experimentation and is known for its non-commercial essence, thereby attracting the best of talent from India and across the world.
Lamenting that despite the fact that central and state government institutions are flushed with funds, they have failed to come to the aid of artists in these times, she added, "Almost every year they are unable to utilize a large chunk of money allotted to them. Why can't they be innovative for a change and give out badly needed grants or conceive some projects that can be given to the artists during this period? The government needs to realise that artists and artisans in urban and rural areas are losing their livelihood. Germany, England, New-Zealand and Canada understood it early on and set up emergency funds for artists. This is precisely what is expected from the government in a country like India that takes so much pride in its culture." Talk to Pooja, credited for metamorphosing the Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) in Jaipur during her stint there as the Director General about what she makes of the talk 'the new normal in the art world post Covid', and she asserted that the most visible change will be the way physical exhibitions will be viewed.
"Instead of 30 people in a room, we may witness only four to six at one time. That can be interesting in a way considering people will focus more and will be forced to spend more time with art. After all, you have stood in a long queue to enter the space... Yes, things will change radically, we just have to keep our ear to the ground and be ready to reinvent." However, she also feels that this is not really the time to deliberate on existing platforms that will diminish.
"Let's forget that as new platforms are bound to emerge, the central question is -- can we survive? The art world is so small that it is going to be even tougher for us. Only the big private people will make it through -- most small NGOs in the art sector and intimate theatre groups are bound to collapse. All shows planned by theatre and performance artists have been cancelled, not to mention the travel restrictions. People will have to start collaborating. It will not about your brand or mine. We will need to come together and help each other in order to survive," says the former regional coordinator of the International Artists' Network facilitated by the Triangle Arts Trust, England and Director of the project ARThinkSouthAsia.
For someone who has designed a course for arts management and trained more than 200 personnel in the government sector, Pooja feels that it is paramount that the top and middle level be encouraged for training so as to get them passionate about the arts. "You can get the youngsters excited, but unless their top bosses are not in favour of reforms, little can be achieved." Considering the government has major funds, and therefore its role in arts will always remain prominent, she feels that it must hire professionals to run museums and art institutions.
"Well, let's admit that the government does lack imagination. And that is where professionals come in. They will not only introduce novelty and put systems in place keeping in mind the sensibilities of the artists, but will also ensure that the ethos of the place remains intact." Like Triveni and Lalit Kala Akademi in Delhi, Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal and JKK in Jaipur, Pooja feels that the country needs many more public art spaces.
"Places where everybody is comfortable walking in, and which are not elitist. Every city in the country must have at least one such public space that boasts of high quality programming and a good library. After all, people should have somewhere to go -- shopping mall cannot be the only place." Stressing that she has always favoured more art laboratories like Khoj across India, Pooja smiled, "Well, when you are the only one around, aren't there chances of being accused as a power broker even if you are as open as possible? On a serious note, if we are looking to make the cultural quotient strong, there need to be more not for profit institutions. In the west, where there is a developed art scene, what we witness are good museums, excellent commercial art scene, and a solid not-for-profit sector. That is when the art scene becomes really valuable because it starts reaching lots of people. Out here, it is essentially commercially driven. Why are we so scared of setting up spaces in which artists are commissioned to make experimental work, even if it 'fails' from the market's perspective? Why should an artist be always in his room or small studio and not in a space where he can interact with others, and network -- locally, nationally and internationally? Also, If a person does the kind of work which we are not interested in, why shouldn't he have the possibility to go to many other institutions? And let's not forget, competition keeps you on your toes, higher benchmarks are set that way."
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Eton College has today apologised to the first black student to complete his studies there after he suffered years of racist abuse from boys who accused him of being riddled with maggots and asked him: 'Does your mother wear a bone in her nose?'.
Nigerian-born Dillibe Onyeama would eventually leave the prestigious private school in Berkshire with seven O-level passes but students refused to believe he was capable of it and accused him of cheating in his exams.
And in 1972 he received an official letter from Eton telling him he was now banned from visiting because he wrote a book describing the cruelty he had suffered there.
Today headmaster Simon Henderson apologised to Mr Onyeama and said that the school has made 'great strides' since his time there.
In his book, called 'n****r at Eton', Mr Onyeama, the son of a Nigerian magistrate who studied at Oxford University, was bullied daily during his four years at the elite fee-paying school.
Nigerian-born Dillibe Onyeama was the first black boy to complete his studies at Eton despite suffering years of racist abuse from other boys
He said today that the book, published when he was 21, was an important way to reveal the systemic racism at Eton.
He told the BBC: 'As far as the school saw it, I was indicting them as a racist institution. 'People come to Africa and write all sorts of indicting and shaming experiences and publish it in books and nobody says anything,' he added.
In his 1972 book, called 'n****r at Eton', Mr Onyeama, the son of a Nigerian magistrate who studied at Oxford University, was bullied daily during his four years at the elite fee-paying school. He was then banned from the school
Mr Onyeama said every day the white boys would ask him: 'Why are you black?' 'How many maggots are there in your hair?' and 'Does your mother wear a bone in her nose?'
He admitted that he 'gained a reputation for violence' after he once broke his hand while punching one of his abusers in the face.
After four years he passed all his exams and also excelled at sports.
He said the boys asked him: 'Tell me Onyeama, how did you do it?' I am asked time and time again,' he wrote: ''You cheated, didn't you?''
Headmaster Simon Henderson said he was 'appalled' by the racism Mr Onyeama experienced and invited him to return to the school to hear the apology in person and see how the school had changed.
Mr Henderson told the BBC: 'Racism has no place in civilised society, then or now.'
He said 'significant strides' have been made since Mr Onyeama was at Eton.
He added: 'But, as millions of people around the world rightly raise their voices in protest against racial discrimination and inequality, we have to have the institutional and personal humility to acknowledge that we still have more to do.
'We must all speak out and commit to doing better, permanently, and I am determined that we seize this moment as a catalyst for real and sustained change for the better.'
Headmaster Simon Henderson (pictured) has apologised to Mr Onyeama and invited him back to the old school to hear that apologise in person
Mr Henderson, who took up the role in 2015, invited Mr Onyeama to meet so he could apologise in person and on behalf of the school, adding that he wished to show the writer would always be welcome.
Many educational institutions have come under increased pressure to decolonise the curriculum, tackle racism and boost diversity on campus.
This follows weeks of international Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd.
Eton College, near Windsor in Berkshire, charges fees of more than 40,000 per year and has been attended by both the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.
Since 1945, five prime ministers have been educated at Eton, including Boris Johnson.
Eton is in talks with the Department of Education to invest 100million into teaching disadvantaged children in East Anglia, the Midlands and northern England.
Eton's headmaster, Simon Henderson, thinks the coronavirus pandemic would 'trigger a profound change' like the two world wars did and Eton wants to 'be on the right side of history' by sponsoring underprivileged sixth-forms.
Mr Henderson said: 'Every institution will be judged by what they did during the pandemic.
'That's particularly true in education where there's no doubt that inequality is widening.'
The elite private school's headmaster said that fight against inequality in education needs to be widened to outside of London where most of Eton and other private schools have partnered with state schools.
Mr Henderson is looking for state and private sector partners to join the five-year project currently funded by Eton's charitable endowment and fundraising.
He told the Times: 'We want to create a wider network with as many as 50 schools and youth clubs, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Mr Henderson wants this project to help change people's association of Eton, which has educated 20 prime ministers including Boris Johnson, with elitism.
General secretary of the head teachers' union ASCL, Geoff Barton, said: 'We support any initiative which creates excellent educational provision but we would urge Eton and the government to ensure that any state-funded selective sixth form college does not simply cream off the most able students from existing institutions.'
Seoul, June 23 : A group of North Korean defectors in the South on Tuesday claimed that it has sent more anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border overnight from the western border city of Paju.
Police said one of the balloons used for sending the leaflets was found in a town in the mountainous eastern province of Gangwon, reports Yonhap News Agency.
"(We) sent anti-North Korea leaflets over (to the North) between 11 p.m. and midnight on Monday (from a town) in Paju," Park Sang-hak, chief of Fighters for a Free North Korea, said.
According to Park, six members of the group, which has been active in anti-North Korea leafleting, sent to the North around 500,000 leaflets carried by 20 large helium balloons.
Some 500 pamphlets depicting South Korea's success story, 2,000 $1 bills and 1,000 SD cards were also flown to the North, along with the leaflets, he said.
At least one of the balloons, flown by defectors in South Korea on Monday, was found on a hill in Hongcheon, a South Korean county located nearly 100 kilometers southeast of Paju, on Tuesday morning, police said.
An image of the balloon showed that it was carrying images of North Korea's ruling Kim family members, including the current leader Kim Jong-un and his younger sister Yo-jong, as well as bundles of leaflets, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
The South Korean Unification Ministry called for a halt to such leaflet campaigns.
"Leaflets, whether from the North or the South, do no good for inter-Korean relations, and the two leaders agreed in the Panmunjom Declaration to stop the leafleting," a Ministry official said, referring to a 2018 summit agreement between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Taking issue with such leafleting campaigns in the South, North Korea made a series of inflammatory remarks toward South Korea and President Moon Jae-in in recent weeks.
Early Monday, the North's state media also threatened to send around 12 million propaganda leaflets to South Korea in retaliation against South Korea's "failure" to stop anti-North leaflet campaigns here.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci at the White House in Washington, on April 17, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters)
Fauci Says Trump Did Not Order Less COVID-19 Testing
"It's the opposite. We're going to be doing more testing, not less," Fauci told a House commitee
Dr. Anthony Fauci told House lawmakers Tuesday that administration officials have not been ordered to slow down COVID-19 testing, despite President Donald Trumps remarks at a rally, apparently made in jest, that he asked officials to slow the testing down.
Trump told supporters at Saturdays rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that COVID-19 testing was a double-edged sword.
Heres the bad part when you do testing to that extent, youre going to find more people; youre going to find more cases, Trump said. So I said to my people, slow the testing down please.'
Administration officials said Trump made the remarks in jest, with White House adviser Peter Navarro telling CNNs State of the Union on Sunday that the president was obviously kidding.
Fauci, who on Tuesday testified on the federal response to the pandemic before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said there had been no order from Trump to wind down testing.
I know for sure that, to my knowledge, none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing, Fauci told the panel when asked by committee chair Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) about Trumps comments. That just is a fact. In fact, we will be doing more testing.
He said testing and contact surveillance were key to understanding how the deadly pathogen spreads in the community and insisted there would, in fact, be more testing.
So, its the opposite. Were going to be doing more testing, not less, Fauci told the committee.
Joining Fauci in committee testimony was Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who told lawmakers there had been no directive to slow down testing.
One of the key things, as Tony mentioned, is surveillance, expanding surveillance, because of the asymptomatic nature of this infection, Redfield said. And in doing so, were looking at ways that can really substantially enhance testing by potentially pooling samples.
He said currently between 500,000 and 600,000 tests per day were being done across the United States and he and other White House Coronavirus Task Force members were seeking solutions that would increase this several-fold.
If we can pool samples five to one, that would bring it to three million tests per day, Redfield said, adding, so were continuing to try and enhance testing, its a critical underpinning of our response.
Trump triggered a fresh round of criticism on Monday when a reporter asked him whether he was kidding when making his comments on testing in Tulsa and he replied, I dont kid. Trump then qualified his statement by apparently seeking to clarify that he was serious about the claim that by having more tests, we have more cases.
The president explicitly told CBN News in an interview Monday that he did not order members of his administration to cut down on testing and made the comment in Tulsa semi-tongue in cheek.
No, Trump answered when asked whether he had issued such a directive, adding, but I think we put ourselves at a disadvantage by doing a lot of testing, clarifying that by doing fewer tests wed look like we were doing much better because wed have far fewer cases.
I wouldnt do that, but I will say this: We do so much more than other countries it makes us, in a way, look bad but actually were doing the right thing, Trump told CBN.
(Newser) Two men who allegedly shot seven people to death at an Alabama home earlier this month are now in custody in Oregon. The Marion County Sheriff's Office said the suspectsFrederic Rogers, 22, and John Legg, 19, neither of whom have a criminal recordwere detained "without incident" during a traffic stop in Stayton around 12:30pm Sunday. Some 10 police cars surrounded the pair as officers drew guns, per WAAY. The suspects, traveling in a silver Dodge Charger with Alabama plates, had been traced to Oregon, where Rogers has family, after authorities discovered "a horrific scene" at a home in Valhermoso Springs, Ala., in the early morning hours of June 5, per AL.com.
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Part of the home was on fire when police arrived, reports Oregon Live. Inside were the bodies of six adults, ages 18 to 45; a 17-year-old female; and a dog. All had been shot. One 911 caller said a gun had been fired intermittently for an hour, per AL.com. Police said the suspects and at least three of the deceased were members of a small club called "Seven Deadly Sins." Its purpose is unclear, though authorities say Rogers and Legg arrived at the home with the intention of shooting everyone, effectively ending the club. A warrant for their arrest was issued June 19. Charged with capital murder, they're being held at the Marion County Jail as they await extradition. (Read more capital murder stories.)
Thiruvananthapuram, June 23 : Union external affairs ministry has written to the Kerala chief secretary informing him that the state's demand of conducting TrueNat rapid covid tests on returning expatriates prior to their boarding flights is impractical.
TrueNat tests for returning expatriates in Gulf countries was impractical as some of the countries in West Asia had not recognised TrueNat tests, the centre reportedly told Kerala.
Countries like UAE and Qatar have not reportedly approved TrueNat testing.
Countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain have reportedly informed the Indian embassies that TrueNat testing is not feasible.
UAE presently does conduct rapid testing on returning expatriates prior to their boarding flights. But their law prohibits covid-positive people from boarding flights. So Kerala's demand of flying home covid-positive expats in separate flights is impractical.
Besides, the effectiveness of such tepid tests have been called into question. The expats who have already returned to Kerala from UAE had undergone rapid tests prior to boarding flights. But returnees from UAE account for nearly half of the confirmed covid cases in Kerala.
The latest developments come even as Kerala has set a deadline of June 25 for making covid-negative medical testimonials mandatory at the port of departure for expatriates.
Kerala had earlier requested that centre to direct the respective embassies to facilitate covid testing for returning expatriates.
With the centre rejecting the state's request, the return of expats from West Asia have come under a cloud of uncertainty.
Meanwhile, opposition UDF has stepped up its attack on the LDF government, accusing it of betraying the Malayali diaspora in Gulf countries.
The opposition has accused the LDF government of deliberately creating roadblocks on the return of expats to the state with the devious intention of keeping the number of covid positive cases down in the state.
BAD AXE, MI A man police say crashed his truck into a hospital in Michigans Thumb and spent days on the lam has turned himself in.
Billy J. Werth Jr., 36, on Monday, June 22, appeared in Huron County District Court for arraignment on single counts of unlawfully driving away a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an injury accident, and reckless driving. The first charge is a felony, while the latter two are misdemeanors.
Werth had surrendered to authorities shortly before his arraignment. Werth has since been released from jail on a $5,000 bond.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred June 11. About 11:20 p.m. that day, Huron County Sheriffs deputies and other police responded to a crash at the Huron County Medical Care Facility on South Van Dyke in Colfax Township.
Deputies determined a 2008 Dodge pickup had been heading eastbound when it left the roadway, struck a gas main, then a tree and finally ended up in the buildings chapel, resting on its roof.
Deputies further learned the driver who police believed to be Werth and a 5-year-old boy had fled the scene, Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson has said. Werth had apparently suffered an injury, as had a puppy that had been in the truck.
Werth and the boy had come to the area to purchase the puppy, Hanson has said.
Around 4 a.m. on June 12, deputies learned Werth and the boy had made it to the boys mothers residence in the Croswell area. Sanilac County Sheriffs deputies responded but the driver once again fled on foot.
After the crash, Werth is accused of stealing a vehicle from the Misty Meadows Trailer park, a couple of miles west of the crash scene, Hanson has said.
The stolen vehicle was later recovered and towed back to Huron County to be processed. The boy was left with his mother.
Authorities issued a warrant for Werths arrest on June 17. Hanson said Werth was outside of Michigan for part of the time police were searching for him.
Related:
Man accused of crashing truck into hospital in Michigans Thumb sought by police
Driver and boy flee after crashing pickup into Huron County medical facility
A pregnant three-legged cat found in a dirty shed has been adopted by the Queen's chauffeur and is living in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
Flo, a four-year-old white moggie, was rescued by the RSPCA in March in a 'terrible state' in Hayes, west London.
After being saved and nursed back to health, she was adopted by Victoria Fitzgerald and her father Andy, who is the Queen's driver.
Flo, a four-year-old white moggie, was rescued by the RSPCA in March in a 'terrible state' after she was found in the shed in Hayes, west London
Andy Fitzgerald (right), who is the Queen's head driver, adopted the cat with his daughter Victoria (left)
The cat had been living in a dirty basket in the outbuilding and was taken to the vets with an injury to her right front leg, which meant half of the limb was missing.
She was taken to RSPCA Putney Animal Hospital in west London for treatment where the vets had to amputate the rest of her leg.
Flo was also pregnant with one kitten which sadly did not survive birth. Her recovery was slow following two surgeries and the vets were unsure if Flo would pull through.
She was fostered by Victoria, one of the veterinary assistants at Putney, who helped care for her throughout her ordeal.
The cat had been living in a dirty basket in the outbuilding and was taken to the vets with an injury to her right front leg, which meant half of the limb was missing
After a few weeks of fostering Flo, Victoria and her father decided they wanted to adopt the three-legged feline.
As the Queen's staff, Victoria and her parents live in The Royal Mews, part of the grounds at Buckingham Palace.
Victoria said: 'She really has gone from Aristocat to Aristocrat now she is living in the life of luxury compared to where she was before.
'She is getting pampered with me and my parents and she has settled in so well and gets on really well with my other pets.'
After a few weeks of fostering Flo, Victoria and her father decided they wanted to adopt the three-legged feline
Victoria, who has worked for the RSPCA for three years also has four other pets: crossbreed dog Oscar, Albie the cat and two kittens who she is hand rearing called Maurice and Flounder.
She added: 'It is the most rewarding part of the job to see an animal who was in such an awful state like Flo was, be rehabilitated and find a loving home - and it's even better that Flo could come and live with us at Buckingham Palace.'
The animal charity's hospitals, animal centres and frontline officers have continued to work throughout the coronavirus crisis.
T he senior scientists who have guided the Government through the coronavirus pandemic issued a warning tonight that the disease is growing across the world.
Sir Patrick Vallance said the R-number, which measures the transmission rate of the virus, remains below one across the UK.
However, just hours after the Prime Minister announced wide-sweeping measures to relax the UK lockdown, the Government's chief scientific advisor warned: "Don't be fooled that this means it has gone away.
The disease is growing across the world. It is coming down in the UK but it hasn't gone away.
He said that currently around 0.06 per cent of the population of the UK, or 33,000 people, was now estimated to have the disease and that the numbers were "flattening off" rather than going down to zero.
Meanwhile, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned that the country was in it for the "long haul" and predicted that the country will still be fighting Covid-19 into 2021.
He said: "I would be surprised and delighted if we weren't in this current situation through the winter and into next spring.
"I expect there to be a significant amount of coronavirus circulating at least into that time and I think it is going to be quite optimistic that for science to come fully to the rescue over that kind of timeframe.
"But I have an absolute confidence in the capacity of science to overcome infectious diseases - it has done that repeatedly and it will do that for this virus, whether that is by drugs, vaccines or indeed other things that may come into play.
"For medium to long term, I'm optimistic. But for the short to medium term, until this time next year, certainly I think we should be planning for this for what I consider to be the long haul into 2021."
Prof Whitty also said the situation should not be considered as "static" and warned that there was a risk coronavirus cases could increase if the "one metre-plus" rules are not followed.
He added: "It is absolutely critical that every individual, every household and every firm takes these precautions seriously. If that does not happen, we will go back to a situation where transmission starts to rise again."
The two senior scientists made the comments on what was the last of the daily Downing Street briefings, which have been at the centre of the Governments response to the pandemic for three months.
The briefings have been scrapped in favour of ad hoc briefings for significant announcements, the Government said.
Earlier today Boris Johnson made a landmark statement in the Commons outlining the measures being taken to ease lockdown on July 4.
Social distancing is set to be cut from two metres to one-metre plus, while pubs and restaurants will also be allowed to reopen. However, venues will be expected to take mitigations to reduce the risk of transmission.
Tonight Mr Johnson said that he takes responsibility for those decisions to ease the lockdown.
He told the briefing: Of course, I take responsibility, the Government takes responsibility for these decisions.
"We are indebted to our scientific colleagues for their advice continually, but it is our responsibility to choose."
Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, Boris Johnson and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty during a media briefing / PA
The Prime Minister also acknowledged that Prof Whitty was "particularly worried" about the lockdown being lifted for pubs on July 4.
Mr Johnson said: "I know Chris [Whitty] is particularly worried about this - we can't have great writhing scenes in the beer gardens when the virus could be passed on.
"This has to be done in a sensible way, people should be giving their names to the pubs, to the restaurants, doing things in a way that allows us, if something does happen, to track back, to test and trace and stamp out any outbreak.
"That's the absolutely crucial thing. People should of course enjoy themselves but as Chris and Patrick have said, this is going to be with us for a while.
"We've just got to adjust and make it work."
New Braunfels, TX (78130)
Today
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 40F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..
Tonight
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 40F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
The pharmaceutical company that makes the antiviral drug remdesivir, which has shown promise as a treatment for COVID-19, will begin trials for an inhalable version of the medication this summer as officials pump up production amid a worldwide push for a cure.
Gilead Sciences, the Foster City company that developed the drug as a potential treatment for ebola, said researchers will begin screening volunteers this week for a clinical trial of the nebulized formula, which is scheduled to start in August.
If it works, the inhalant would be a major breakthrough given that remdesivir is currently given intravenously, which means only hospital patients can receive it. A breathable version could be given to patients at home while the disease is still in its early stages, when the drug has shown to be most effective.
For patients who are at high risk of disease progression, it could be particularly beneficial to start treatment outside the hospital, said Daniel ODay, Gileads CEO. Our hope is that earlier intervention could help patients avoid hospitalization altogether.
In an open letter announcing the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of the planned trial, ODay said that by waiting to administer the drug in the later stages of the disease, the bodys inflammatory response may cause some of the most life-threatening aspects.
The inhaled formulation would be given through a nebulizer which generally means patients put on a mask attached to a machine that allows them to breathe the medicinal fumes.
If remdesivir proves to be effective in an inhalable form, that would be a game changer, said Dr. Lee Riley, a UC Berkeley infectious-disease expert.
Thats in part because it would allow people to administer the drugs themselves before they need to go to the hospital.
Not only could that reduce the chances of hospitalization, but even if they end up getting hospitalized, they may not have to stay in the hospital for a long time, Riley said. The other major advantage is if they can start treating themselves early, then that would also reduce the chances of transmission.
However, Riley also cautioned that administering the drug through a nebulizer could also aerosolize the virus, meaning it would be carried through the air. He said thats something the study should monitor.
Remdesivir interferes with the process the coronavirus uses to replicate itself in human cells in order to reduce the severity of infection. Gilead has been authorized to provide the drug to the government for distribution to hospitals to treat severely ill patients under the Emergency Use Authorization Act.
Although remdesivir wasnt particularly effective against ebola during trials, it was the first drug to show success against COVID-19. More than 250 treatments for the disease are being studied worldwide.
Hospitalized patients who received remdesivir intravenously recovered faster than those who received a placebo during a large study led by the federal government in late April. A later trial investigating dosages showed some benefit for moderately ill COVID-19 patients who received remdesivir for five days, but improvement among those who got it for 10 days was not statistically significant.
Researchers believe that some of the more severe symptoms during later stages of the disease are tied more to the bodys immune response than the virus itself making an inhalable form of remdesivir particularly attractive.
Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.
Theres reason to believe that if there were a way to give it ... earlier than its currently given, then it would be more effective, because its target is viral replication, said Dr. Robert Siegel, an infectious-disease expert at Stanford University. Its possible that, by earlier treatment, we might be able to avert the most dangerous effects of the infection.
In addition to the nebulizer trial, the company is launching another trial in more than 30 locations in the U.S. and Europe to see how remdesivir works on 50 pediatric patients, from newborns to teenagers, with moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms. Studies of how the disease impacts pregnant women and ethnic minorities are also in the works.
Besides the inhalant, ODay said the company will also be studying intravenous infusions in outpatient settings, like nursing homes.
Gilead researchers are also combining remdesivir with anti-inflammatory therapies in an effort to tamp down overreactive immune responses that doctors believe are responsible for some of the more severe problems, like acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, which has killed more people than any other complication connected to the disease.
Among the drugs that will be tested in combination with remdesivir are baricitinib and tocilizumab, both of which tamp down inflammation caused by the human immune system. ODay said the company has accelerated production of the drug and now expects to have more than 2 million remdesivir treatment courses available by the end of the year.
Gilead, which is valued at about $100 billion, has previously come under fire for its pricing, particularly for its HIV-prevention drug Truvada. ODay promised to do everything he can to make the drug accessible and affordable to governments around the world.
Our best hope of beating COVID-19 is with a set of tools at our disposal: complementary therapeutics, effective vaccines and widespread testing, ODay said. Having already seen that science can deliver answers, we can be hopeful of continued progress. Gilead will do all it can to help drive that progress by exploring the full potential of remdesivir.
Peter Fimrite and J.D. Morris are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com, jd.morris@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite, @thejdmorris
Vietnam has become a good example of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response in the world thanks to drastic directions from the government, outgoing Country Director for the World Bank in Vietnam Ousmane Dione told Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during a meeting in Hanoi on Monday.
During their conversation, PM Phuc thanked the WB for its important contributions to Vietnams development, including poverty reduction projects, supply of loans, and technical consultation to the finance-banking sector.
The premier extended his gratitude to Dione for being a close friend of Vietnam and an important link between the Southeast Asian country and the WB.
With his upcoming position as WB country director for four African countries, Dione will serve as a bridge to expand Vietnams exports to Africa, Phuc suggested.
Replying to his host, the WB country director said his four-year term in Vietnam has been a memorable time.
Dione said he had conducted 140 business trips to 34 Vietnamese provinces during his office, believing that Vietnam will soon become a middle-income country.
He congratulated Vietnam on becoming an example of COVID-19 response in the world thanks to drastic directions from the government.
Dione expressed his delight that the Vietnamese government has taken note of the WBs policy recommendations and proposed that Vietnam further step up digital transformation, offer faster services to the public, and improve the operation efficiency of the state apparatus.
The official also praised PM Phucs directions to attract more foreign direct investment.
The Vietnamese premier thanked Dione for assisting Vietnam in graduating from the International Development Assistance (IDA).
The Ministry of Finance has been tasked with working with the WB on COVID-19 response loans, PM Phuc added.
On the same day, the Vietnamese head of government also joined talks with Asian Development Bank Country Director for Vietnam Eric Sidgwick in Hanoi.
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ST. LOUIS Danish American chef Lasse Sorensen will host a new series on Nine PBS, premiering next month, which explores the diversity of the St. Louis food scene by following the roots of its cultural influences.
In each new episode, Sorensen (an immigrant to the U.S. himself) spends time in the kitchens of some of the citys most celebrated restaurants, learning more about the people behind the food.
Food is what connects us all together, he said, no matter where we come from.
In the July 13 series premiere, Sorensen meets Munsok So, owner of the popular sushi spot, The Drunken Fish. So recently opened the Korean fried chicken venture Kimchi Guys. He talks about the changes in public awareness of foods, like, kimchi and his own experiences growing up in St. Louis as an immigrant from Korea.
On the surface Food Is Love is a guide to some of St. Louis most popular food spots, but as the viewer is pulled into the storyline, it becomes clear that the series is more than just recipes.
There is a lot of heart that goes into the food at these places, Sorensen said. I am very curious by nature, so finding out what influences the menu is always interesting to me.
By the end of episode one, Sorensens curiosity about kimchi finds him sharing a family dinner in the home of Sos Korean parents.
While Food Is Love gives the viewer an intimate look into the cultures that influence the vibrant St. Louis food scene, it also serves as an impromptu platform for giving the backstory of the neighborhoods that support them. Sorensen takes viewers around places like Lacledes Landing and Bevo Mill to better understand how these neighborhoods are shaped by the people who settled there.
The 13-episode series weaves many elements into a clear, positive message that will tempt the viewers with deliciously crafted dishes, while appealing to the heart with stories that everyone can relate to.
Food is Love premieres at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 13, on Nine PBS and streams at www.ninenet.org and the PBS Video app.
Nine Network of Public Media is a multifaceted organization creating a network of individuals and organizations empowered by public media to strengthen civic life. One of the nations most watched public television stations, Nine Network offers the people of the St. Louis region multiple ways to explore the world and become engaged in civic life.
Nines platforms include four distinct broadcast channels (Nine PBS, Nine World, Nine Create and Nine PBS KIDS), the Nine Center for Public Engagement, the Public Media Commons, social media and online. Nine Networks rich legacy of serving the community was launched in 1954 and continues through its vision of a strong and healthy community working together through public media and a mission of igniting the spirit of possibility.
Left to right: John Bolton, President Trump, Sir Thomas More, and King Henry VIII. ( Jabin Botsford/Washington Post ; Andrew Harnik/AP; Hans Holbein; National Portrait Gallery)
For those who believe in the First Amendment, President Trumps lawsuit against John Bolton is alarming. Its also nothing novel. The history of rulers looking to suppress speech they perceive as opposing their self-interest is long, rich and unsettling. Wherever there is power, there is someone hoarding it, and wherever there is ego, there is someone trying to protect it. A (highly incomplete, Western-focused) list of conflicts shows that it was ever thus.
Plato vs. the poets
Plato c. 428 - c. 348 B.C.E. (Universal Images Group/Getty Images)
Dispute: In his Republic, Plato argues that the ideal society must exile its poets. Balking at the idea that they are truth-tellers, he calls these rabble-rousers imitators who are thrice removed from the king and from the truth agents of corruption among the youth and of passion over logic. He explicitly calls for their banishment, unless the work makes a defense for herself as useful to a well-ordered State.
Result: No one exiled all the poets from Athens in the 4th century B.C.E.; Western culture was grateful.
Imperator Caesar Divi filius Augustus vs. Ovid
Dispute: The poet himself attributes Augustus disfavor to a song, or poem, and an error, likely referring to Ars Amatoria, a series of licentious elegies published in around 2 C.E., which in part recommends places in Rome where it was possible to seduce women including the premises of the Temple of Apollo Palatinus, Augustus patron deity. But most scholars agree that the mysterious error was the real issue; some speculated that Ovid discovered Augustus had committed incest.
Result: Ovid was banished from Rome to what is now modern-day Romania in 8 C.E. and died there a decade later. People still read his poems, though.
The Medicis vs. Niccolo Machiavelli
Italian statesman, writer and philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 - 1527). (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Dispute: Following the ouster of the Medicis from Florence, Machiavelli enjoyed nearly two decades of political influence. But in 1512, the powerful family returned to Florence for 25 years of rule. And they were not happy with Machiavellis having played both sides.
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Result: The adviser was stripped of his positions, accused of conspiracy and imprisoned and tortured for nearly a month. He later went on to write his famous realpolitik primer, The Prince, dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici with an obsequiousness now considered to have been just a little tongue-in-cheek.
King Henry VIII vs. Thomas More
Henry VIII, circa 1540. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Dispute: In the 1530s, the famously wife-happy king tried to get his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled by the Pope, which didnt go well for him, so he declared himself supreme head of a new faith, the Church of England, that was a little more lax about divorce. More, a devout Catholic, refused to swear the Oath of Supremacy, which acknowledged the ruler of England as the head of its church.
Result: Henry did to More exactly what he would go on to do to some of his wives: had him convicted of treason and decapitated.
Japanese government vs. Yukio Mishima
Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. (STF/AFP via Getty Images)
Dispute: The widely revered novelist and right-wing nationalist was very unhappy about the westernization of his country following its defeat in World War II. And he didnt just write about it. He formed an unarmed Royalist militia, the Tatenokai, and on Nov. 25, 1970, he and four others tried to storm a Tokyo military base, taking the head of the base hostage and demanding that the Self-Defense Forces overturn Japan's 1947 constitution.
Result: Mishima and his crew were mocked by the soldiers at the base; he committed seppuku, or ritual suicide. In this case, at least, the writer silenced himself.
United States v. Daniel Ellsberg et al.
Daniel Ellsberg outside the Federal Building in Los Angeles on Jan. 17, 1973. (Associated Press )
Dispute: In 1971, Ellsberg, a former U.S. military analyst, leaked the Pentagon Papers, a study detailing top-secret details of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The Nixon administration did everything it could to stop the New York Times and Washington Post from publishing it by exercising prior restraint to protect national security and prosecuting Ellsberg under the Espionage Act of 1917, which prohibits the release of information that could harm U.S. interests.
Result: The charges against Ellsberg were dismissed due to illegal gathering of evidence and other instances of government misconduct. The cases New York Times Company vs. United States and United States vs. Washington Post Co. had the same outcome: Prior restraint was deemed unjustified. Free speech 3, government 0.
21st century governments vs. contemporary writers
John Bolton, author of "The Room Where it Happened." (Philip Bermingham)
Dispute: In Egypt, novelist Ahmed Naji was accused of "violating public modesty." Among those China has persecuted are Chinese-born Swedish publisher Gui Minhai and journalist Gao Yu. Israel charged Palestinian poet Dareen Tatour with support for a terrorist organization" and "incitements to violence in her poems, and Turkey jails writers for "insulting the president," Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the U.S., of course, theres the Bolton case.
Arab poet Dareen Tatour. (Rami Shllush/AP)
Result: Naji was jailed for two years and is now in exile. Gui was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year; Gao Yu has been imprisoned multiple times. Tatour was detained for five months in 2018. Turkish prisons have recently held more journalists critical of the government than those of any other modern country. And Bolton isn't out of the woods; while his book was cleared for publication, the judge in the case suggested he gambled with national security, exposing himself to civil (and potentially criminal) liability. The fight goes on.
During these difficult times with the world threatened by a global pandemic and the associated shutdowns, publishers across the spectrum have struggled to continue producing their product. Unfortunately, Warbird Digest is no different. This issue was supposed to reach your mailbox in March, but staff illness and our inability to work from the office hampered its completion.
While publishers are having a rough go at it, some warbird operators and museums are also struggling to survive. With nearly all air shows through this July now cancelled, and Living History Flight Experiences curtailed, the organizations that rely upon these activities need help from warbird enthusiasts more than ever. We would encourage you to make a donation if you can, or even to book a flight for the future to support these fine groups.
Despite the various global crises that the world seems to be suffering at the moment, warbird sales activity remains strong, and the aircraft restoration business also seems to be continuing to thrive. This gives us a good measure of hope that we will rebound quickly too. We remain excited about many of the new projects in the pipeline that will soon take to the air.
In this issue, we take a look at a varied group of warbirds, including two of my personal favorites. While I cant claim to own a Piper L-4, I regularly fly a J-3C Cub of similar vintage. Hands down, it is my favorite airplane and one that will stay in the family long after the other aircraft are gone. I am personally fortunate to live with my airplanes, in other words I live on the airport. During the recent lock downs, I made it a point to fly the Cub as often as practical given the early spring weather conditions.
The OV-10 Bronco is another favorite of mine, probably stretching back to my college years when I read Marshal Harrisons A Lonely Kind of War. A rarity on the warbird circuit on can hope that more will join the ranks of restored airframes in the future. Still years from learning to fly, books were the outlet for my aviation interests and, to a good measure, still are.
We hope you enjoy this issue of Warbird Digest, and we would like to extend our gratefulness to our advertisers who have continued to support us during this difficult time. We hope that you will give them your support.
Tim Savage
Publisher
Inside issue #88 of Warbird Digest
ACE MAKER AIRSHOWS This trio of ex-Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair CT-133 Silver Stars not only routinely perform on the air show circuit, they also continue to serve in their intended role, providing a valuable resource training current United States Air Force and Navy pilots. Photo and text by Mike Killian
GRASSHOPPER The benign Piper Cub becomes a weapon of war. Photo and text by Leonardo Correa Luna
BEHOLD AN ASHEN HORSE A North American-Rockwell International OV-10 Bronco with an impressive history has returned to the air. Text by Stephen Chapis
WARBIRD MELTING POT Warbird Digest brings the story of how a trio of Yaks brought a diverse group of like-minded warbird pilots together. Text and photos by Stephen Chapis
TANTANLIZING TAKEOFF The ubiquitous Beechcraft Aircraft Corporation model 18 went to war in many guises, including as a bombardier and gunnery trainer dubbed the AT-11. One surviving example, the second oldest flying, belongs to John and Fran Torbett Hess, of Fayetteville, Georgia. Text and photos by Greg Morehead
23 Jun Lea Salonga recently addressed her previous Facebook post that had since sparked the "I STAND WITH LEA SALONGA" trend on social media, and dismissed the idea that she was spewing profanity against her own country of birth.
As reported on ABS-CBN News, the musical star who previously expressed her frustration over several issues plaguing the country that she summed up in a short but powerful statement that read, "Dear Pilipinas, [expletives], it's really hard to love you", took to Twitter on 22 June to further express her thoughts about the situation.
She wrote, "I stand by every single word I wrote as an expression of my frustration with certain events currently taking place in our country. However, contrary to what some of you might believe, I never, NOT EVER, cursed the Philippines."
"To serve her is one of my greatest [honours]. To be able to hold my head up high and say, 'Yes, I am Filipino' representing the hundreds of millions of brethren both here at home and all over the world is a source of pride and pleasure."
Salonga explained that her outburst and profanity was not directed to anyone or anything in particular, just her way to express her frustration in general - and that she is sorry if there are those who were hurt by her words.
"If after following this post you still decide to cuss me out, you're well within your right to do so. I totally understand and get that you're doing it as one tasked to protect our country from anyone that dares to desecrate it. Know though that that was not my intent," she added.
As for those who expressed support for her previous post and several other comments she made about the state of the country, she expressed, "You have no idea the amount of appreciation I hold in my heart for your tireless efforts to explain my side of things. Thank you so much. You will always have my gratitude."
(Photo Source: Lea Salonga Facebook)
A giant dust plume is expected to reach the United States this week after a 5,000-mile journey from the Sahara Desert.
The thick blanket of dust has already travelled more than 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, covering an area larger than the United States and western Europe.
Pictures show hazy skies in the city of San Juan in Puerto Rico and air quality across most of the region has reached record hazardous levels.
"This is the most significant event in the past 50 years," said Pablo Mendez Lazaro, an environmental health specialist at the University of Puerto Rico.
"Conditions are dangerous in many Caribbean islands."
A satellite photo shows the dust arriving in the Caribbean on Monday / AP
Hazy conditions and limited visibility were reported from Antigua down to Trinidad and Tobago, with the event expected to last until late Tuesday.
Some of the dust, which started streaming across from Africas west coast on June 13, is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico and parts of the US later this week.
Visibility in the city of San Juan is limited as the dust cloud moves in / AFP via Getty Images
Forecasters said the worst days for the US would be Monday and Tuesday as the plume heads towards the south east coast.
The cloud is expected to reach the Texas coast on Thursday and encompass the entire Gulf Coast by the weekend.
Hundreds of millions of tonnes of dust are picked up from the deserts of Africa and blown across the Atlantic Ocean each year.
The dust often reaches as far west as the Caribbean Sea, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico - a 5,000-mile-long journey.
CNN Meteorologist Haley Brink said: "Large plumes of Saharan dust routinely track into the Atlantic Ocean from late spring into early fall.
A vast cloud of dust is blanketing the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico / AFP via Getty Images
"Every so often, when the dust plume is large enough and trade winds set up just right, the dust can travel thousands of miles across the Atlantic and into the US."
The dust helps build beaches in the Caribbean and fertilises soils in the Amazon, Nasa said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools to think about the next school year differently. The Woodlands Methodist School announced on June 22 several changes and precautions as it plans to open again on Aug. 19.
The precautions the school, which is operated by The Woodlands United Methodist Church, has announced are unlikely to be the only ones taken in August. As the pandemic situation develops over the next two months the school will evaluate what the best plan forward looks like. Currently, there has not been a final decision made about whether students who are old enough will wear masks, but staff will.
We are planning different ways that we can open and make sure that the kids can be in school and feel comfortable, feel safe, and have classroom time, said Alison Whiddon, the lower and middle school nurse for TWMS. Thats where we started. What can we do to make this work within all the guidelines that we are reading that also keep all the students and the staff safe and healthy?
Whiddon said she and the school have been reviewing guidelines from the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Nurses, the Texas Association of School Nurses, and will review the guidelines from the TEA released on June 23 as well.
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY: Here's what the 2020-21 school year calendar may look like
Some of the precautions that TWMS will be implementing include: designating a new room for sick students while keeping clinic space available for other health needs, educating students and staff about the symptoms of COVID-19 and encouraging anyone who does not feel well to stay home, ordering extra supplies for the clinic and for cleaning, the facilities will be cleaned more often, and students will continue to be taught proper handwashing as well as coughing and sneezing protocols.
The changes were developed by Whiddon, along with school nurses Tamara Fedoruk and Paula Gamwell. They will continue to monitor COVID-19 in the county and adjust as necessary.
TWMS expects to have around 400 students next school year, from preschool (18-months) to eighth grade. While class sizes vary by grade, the classes have always been relatively small. The older grades typically have around 18 students per class. Whiddon said the plan is to keep each class together as much as possible to avoid students from different classes mixing.
Were trying to make sure that when the students come back to school theyre safe, theyre healthy, but theyre also going to have a positive school experience, Whiddon said. Its going to look different, but we dont want it to be a scary experience. We want it to be a happy, loving environment where they can learn.
ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Gov. Abbott warns of record-breaking 5,000 new COVID-19 infections for Texas
Whatever policies that TWMS will come up with when the school opens will be communicated to parents and students to make sure they understand what the changes are so they dont feel overwhelmed when they return.
Rebecca Coates, director of admission and community relations for TWMS, said the school had success moving to distance learning when Gov. Greg Abbott closed schools in March. Part of this success was because TWMS had a one-to-one technology ration for lower and middle school students. A letter from Ken West, the head of school, assured parents that if schools are closed again TWMS will be ready to move to distance learning again.
If we had to, at any time, either offer online -depending on the local, state and federal government, on what they tell us we need to do then well be able to transition seamlessly because we already have a really good plan in place, Coates said.
jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said on Tuesday the economic crisis in India, the coronavirus pandemic and the full-blown crisis on the borders with China was attributable to the mismanagement of the Centre.
Sonia Gandhi made the remarks during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, the partys highest decision-making body, which is meeting on Tuesday to discuss the India-China border standoff, the coronavirus pandemic and fuel price rise among other issues.
Randeep Singh Surjewala, the partys spokesperson, tweeted that CWC paid homage to Colonel B Santosh Babu and 19 other soldiers, who were killed by China during the Galwan Valley face-off on June 15. All CWC members rise to observe two minutes silence in their memory, he said.
CWC pays homage to Col. B.Santosh Babu and our brave jawans, who laid down their lives by making the supreme sacrifice.
All CWC members rise to observe two minutes silence in their memory. Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) June 23, 2020
Surjewala also tweeted comments made by Sonia Gandhi.
Now, we have a full-blown crisis on the LAC with China... The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will guide the governments actions in protecting our territorial integrity, he quoted Sonia Gandhi as saying during the CWC meeting.
Smt. Sonia Gandhi says -:
"Now, we have a full-blown crisis on the LAC with China.....
The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will inform the governments actions in protecting our territorial integrity." Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) June 23, 2020
Twenty Indian Army soldiers, including a commanding officer, were killed in the attack by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley on June 15.
Sonia Gandhi also said that the need of the hour is a massive fiscal stimulus, putting money directly in the hands of the poor, protecting and nurturing the MSMEs and stimulating demand.
Instead, the government announced a hollow financial package that had a fiscal component of less than 1 per cent of GDP, she said while slamming the government over the Rs 20 lakh crore financial package.
She also raised the issue of the fuel price, which has been raised for the last 17 days in a row.
Also read | Galwan Valley clash: Chinese commanding officer among several killed along LAC
The government has 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, she said.
The Congress leader also lashed out at the government over the mounting cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) across the country.
Despite the assurances of the Prime Minister who centralized all authority in his hands, the pandemic continues to rage. The Centre has passed the buck to the state governments, but given them zero extra finances.
The CWC had met last on April 23.
It had alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to inflame communal divisions even as the entire nation battles the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gandhi, on her part, had also accused the BJP of spreading the virus of communal prejudice and hatred in the country. The remarks were in an apparent reference to the communal colour given to the lynching incident in Palghar district of Maharashtra.
The CWC had also discussed the issues of migrant workers, farmers, the revival of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), empowering of states to devise solutions tailored to their unique situations and challenges and adequate financial package for them to fight the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh also talked about the crises.
The pandemic is not being tackled with the courage and magnitude and effort needed to tackle the crisis. Another instance is the crisis on the border, which if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation. I also endorse Soniajis remarks, he said.
He had on Monday, in his first reaction over the India-China stand-off, had said a PM must be mindful of the implications of his words on a nations strategic interests and that disinformation was no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership.
The Congress party has been relentless in its attacks on the government with Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram and others questioning the current stance of the ruling dispensation.
Nicoya, a leading provider of advanced analytical instruments for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, will receive advisory services and up to $299,190 in research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to develop a portable COVID-19 diagnostic test called Atlas. This funding comes as part of a joint challenge issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) through the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) program. The saliva-based test will be able to detect COVID-19 infection in less than 20 minutes, with an easy-to-use device that can be employed in a variety of settings.
Accessibility continues to be a large barrier in achieving population testing goals. There is an urgent need for diagnostic kits that can provide users with immediate results, rather than having to rely on testing labs that can take two to five days. Delays increase the possibility of infected people spreading the virus further, or uninfected people facing unnecessary quarantine. Atlas will fill an important void in the current testing space, as a portable COVID-19 test that can fit seamlessly into economic re-opening strategies. Ryan Denomme, Co-founder and CEO of Nicoya
Atlas will be a single-use, disposable device that will detect active infection by testing for SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins. To make the test as accessible as possible, Nicoya is powering it with smartphone technology so that it can deliver lab-quality results to an app in under 20 minutes. The test will be performed with a saliva sample, rather than the more common nasopharyngeal swab samples. With Atlas, Nicoya hopes to make testing more available everywhere, from remote communities to front-line screening procedures.
According to the World Health Organization, diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is critical to tracking the virus, understanding its epidemiology, informing case management and suppressing transmission. The NRC IRAP-ISC COVID-19 Challenge Program is expediting solutions for rapid testing in decentralized and point-of-care settings.
Our government is mobilizing resources to combat COVID-19 and Im proud that Nicoya was one of four Phase I funding recipients of the Point-of-Care Diagnostic Test Kit Challenge. Nicoya is an exemplary company already working hard on pioneering innovative research and finding solutions together, and this approach is a pillar to ensuring we have both short and long-term solutions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Raj Saini, Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre
In keeping with their mission to improve human life, Nicoyas biosensor solutions have been enabling advanced scientific research for years. The Nicoya team is now leveraging its deep expertise in areas such as nanotechnology, microfluidics and biochemistry to develop Atlas as a viable solution for containing COVID-19 and preventing the spread of future viral diseases.
The development of an Atlas prototype is currently underway for Nicoya. With this funding and support, we have the opportunity to expedite research and development of Atlas, and were working extremely hard to bring it to the public as quickly as possible, Denomme explained.
Britons will be able to take quarantine-free foreign holidays within a fortnight as the government prepares to announce 'air corridors' with a series of popular destinations.
Quarantine-free deals are on the verge of being struck with countries including France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey.
The list will be revealed within days, amid claims Downing Street is desperately looking for a way to ditch the blanket 14-day isolation rule for UK arrivals.
Businesses and airlines have voiced fury at the restrictions, while experts have branded it 'pointless' when other countries have lower infection rates.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last night that details of the air bridges will be published in 'good time' ahead of a June 29 review of the quarantine.
It came as Spain appealed for British tourists to visit saying their holidays will not be 'radically' affected. Arrivals in the country will undergo temperature checks and have to fill out health forms, as well as having a follow-up contact to see if they are still feeling well over the next fortnight.
Spain has already reopened to tourism and tried to reassure Brits it is safe to visit. Pictured, Playa de Palma beach this week
Spain is already CLOSING beaches because they're too packed Spain has already started closing its beaches because they're getting too packed, before most Britons have even had a chance to get out there. Police closed several Andalusian beaches and turned sun seekers away to ensure social distancing after they became overcrowded over the weekend. Beautiful Bolonia beach near the Costa de la Luz tourist resort of Tarifa was shut to visitors from 11.15am on Sunday, even though the number of foreign holidaymakers jetting to Spain is still a trickle because of the small number of holiday flights. Nearby Valdevaqueros Beach, a popular spot for water sport enthusiasts, was also closed to new arrivals for several hours. Advertisement
Minister Manuel Muniz insisted Spain is now a 'particularly safe place' with coronavirus rates that are 'among the lowest in the world'.
Tourists and travel firms at risk of going bust will be hoping that other popular holiday destinations are also cleared to allow travel without spending 14 days in quarantine.
Mr Hancock told the Downing Street press conference last night: 'A lot of work is being done on travel corridors, I've been working on it over the weekend.
'And we have a formal review date of the quarantine policy at the end of this month on June 29, and we'll make sure that in good time for that we publish what we plan to do next in terms of where we think - based on the epidemiological advice - we're able to formalise travel corridors.
'I know that people are really looking forward to getting this information, but we've got to make sure that we get it right and that work is going on right now.'
The first Britons started arriving in Spain this week after Madrid lifted its ban on foreign tourists and opened its beaches in glorious 100 degree-plus heat.
Travel firms have slashed the price of a one-week holiday to 300 after Downing Street signalled 'travel corridors' could be introduced to 10 countries from July 4, with no 14-day quarantine on return to the UK.
A small Ryanair fleet is shuttling people to the south of Spain this week.
Health care is consistently near the top of the list of issues voters care about. While Republicans and President Trump tend to have an edge on the economy, Democrats won the House in 2018 in large part by emphasizing health care a playbook they intend to revive in 2020. The pandemic has also put Republicans at risk of losing the Senate, said Jessica Taylor, who analyzes Senate races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
There are a lot of factors that have put the Senate into play, but the pandemic and how it has affected health care and the economy is a major one that have made these races competitive, Ms. Taylor said.
Democrats need to win three Senate seats to take the majority if they also win the White House, four if they do not. Although Cook Political deems one Democratic incumbent, Senator Doug Jones of Alabama, an underdog in his race, it also rates Senate races in five states North Carolina, Maine, Colorado, Arizona and Montana as tossups. All have Republican incumbents.
In Montana, Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, jumped into the race to defeat the Republican incumbent, Senator Steve Daines, in March, just as the pandemic was exploding. Three days later, a liberal group, Protect Our Care, announced a $250,000 ad campaign attacking Mr. Daines as dead set on taking away Montanans health care after voting five times to repeal the health law. Cook Political moved the race to its tossup column last week.
The public has been deeply divided over the Affordable Care Act since it became law in March 2010, according to surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation. But with people now worried that infection with Covid-19 will become a pre-existing condition, Democrats say the health law which requires insurers to cover such conditions is becoming more attractive to voters.
Haitian death squad leader Emmanuel Toto Constant, who once credited Vodou and the CIA for protecting him, arrived back in Haiti on Tuesday, nearly 26 years after fleeing the country on Christmas Eve for the United States.
Constants 1994 flight to freedom came with the aide of a U.S. visa via Puerto Rico, and two months after the administration of President Bill Clinton returned deposed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power with the support of 20,000 U.S. soldiers, after Constants armed attaches played a pivotal role a year earlier in the delay.
His return flight Tuesday was via a U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement deportation charter alongside 23 other U.S. deportees. It landed at 12:30 p.m.
Wearing a face mask and a black jacket over a plaid shirt, he was the first to walk off the airplane. He was immediately picked up by Haiti National police agents, handcuffed and placed in the back of a white police pickup. Under Haitian law, Constant, who was tried and convicted in absentia in 2000 for the murder of political opponents in the rural Haitian village of Raboteau, is entitled to a new trial upon his return to the country.
This is an important test for the Haitian justice system, said William G. ONeill, an international human rights lawyer who helped document Constants brutality and that of the paramilitary group he founded, the Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti, or FRAPH, in the 1990s.
Constant has been already convicted in absentia for what must be considered a crime against humanity, the massacre in Raboteau. He and the organization he controlled have been linked with similar crimes, ONeill added. There is no statute of limitations for crimes against humanity as a Haitian court has held in the case against (former dictator) Jean-Claude Duvalier.
So I hope that if there is a new trial the Haitian people will have their day in court and secure justice and establish the truth of what happened in that terrible time.
Robert Maguire, who once served as an expert witness in a New York civil suit against Constant that was brought by some of his victims, also concurred.
Hopefully now that the U.S. government has sent a death squad leader back to the scene of his many crimes, it will push very hard using all the tools in its tool kit to ensure that the government of Haiti acts responsibly in a full-throated effort to serve justice in Haiti, said Maguire, who chaired the Haitian Area Studies program at the State Departments Foreign Service Institute from 2000 to 2014.
During the New York civil trial, Maguire testified that as the leader of the FRAPH, Constant, 63, encouraged his charges to go out there and rape women and mutilate them because of political issues and he could have stopped that if he wanted to.
Constant eventually did see the inside of a prison, but it wasnt for his human rights violations.
In 2008, he was convicted of mortgage fraud and larceny in New York and sentenced to 37 years in state prison. He was released into U.S. immigration custody in April after serving 12 years.
Since then, his removal from the United States has been a source of controversy, as the Haitian government worked behind the scenes to get a stay of deportation, and U.S. lawmaker Reps. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and Andy Levin, D-Mich., urged the same.
But this week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Trump administration decided to return him, sending a flight to pick him up from the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavi, New York, on Monday where he was being detained, to take him to Alexandria, Louisiana, where the Port-au-Prince-bound ICE Air flight departed from Tuesday morning.
Im surprised and bewildered that someone with such loathsome and proven human rights violations, and a potential threat to so many Haitians would be deported back to his homeland, said Luis Moreno, a retired U.S. diplomat who was once targeted by Constants attaches while stationed in Haiti.
Constant and FRAPH rose to prominence after the 1991 military coup against Aristide. They have been linked to the killings of at least 3,000 Aristide supporters between 1991 and 1994 in Haiti, as well as the rape and torture of others and attacks against U.S. and U.N. diplomats.
Long regarded a fugitive under Haitian law, Constant once said that while leading FRAPH, he also worked for the CIA.
His return offers no guarantees that victims of the Raboteau killings will see justice or even get a day in court.
All those linked to the killings continue to walk free, including ex-paramilitary chief Louis-Jodel Chamblain, whose infamous 2004 retrial for a murder conviction in absentia caused a fury among human rights watchers and sent the U.S. Embassy reeling.
In 2000, Chamblain was tried and convicted in absentia for the murder of Antoine Izmery, a businessman, former justice minister and ardent Aristide supporter. In the same trial, he was also convicted for the Raboteau massacre.
Following a one-day trial and quick pre-dawn outcome upon his return to Haiti after ousting Aristide for a second time, Chamblain was found not guilty by a jury of 12 men and women for the Izmery conviction. He called the verdict, a true trial, just and equitable. Human rights watchers and U.S. diplomats, at the time, called it a sham and an example of Haitis failed justice system.
Today, Chamblain continues to walk free for the Raboteau massacre along with ex-FRAPH commander, Jean-Robert Gabriel, who currently occupies a high post in President Jovenel Moises revived army. Like Constant and Chamblain, he was convicted in absentia for the 1994 massacre.
Michael Atchison-Sprankle is a Texas native and retired international crisis manager currently residing with his wife in a suburb of Houston. He has published his new book The Second Project: Siberia- Steal the Money Back.
Jim Standish is a genuine tough guy. He feels the lack of fear and an inability to resist beautiful women are two of his weaknesses and is very good at solving unsolvable projects for his clients. In this book, he tackles one major project and two smaller ones that involve the Mafia in Mexico City and a drug lord in western Mexico. He gets seduced by four women and has several people try to kill him. He also winds up with custody of twins that their mother doesnt want.
Jim also solves personal problems for close friends. Here, he uses his superior intelligenceand an MIT professor--to help Ike avoid trouble from home.
A foreign group stole $740,000 from a Houston client, and Jim thinks he can steal it back. Four countries and two American cities later, he gets the chance, and almost gets killed more than once in the process. The love of his life, a beautiful attorney, comes close to being raped and murderedtwicein California. . . but shes as tough as Jim, and a black belt in karate. So, one of the criminals winds up in prison and the other gets castrated by his mob partners. The problem is that she isnt sure she loves Jim enough to marry him.
This fast-paced novel is one of a series that follow three principal characters as they try to live their uncommon lives. Jims projectsthe major ones and many of the smaller onesare fictionalized versions of actual projects the author was involved with during his years as an international crisis manager.
Published by Page Publishing, Michael Atchison-Sprankles engrossing book is an excellent choice for avid action-adventure readers.
Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase The Second Project: Siberia- Steal the Money Back at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.
For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.
About Page Publishing:
Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the state-run Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to review recent abnormal hikes in household electricity bills, stressing that mistakes that affect peoples rights must be avoided and violations, if any, must be strictly handled.
The order was made during a regular government meeting in Hanoi on Monday afternoon.
Recently, people in different localities in Vietnam have complained about unusual increases in their household electricity bills.
Particularly, Tran Viet Dung, a customer of EVN in Dong Hoi City in the north-central province of Quang Binh, was startled to see his households monthly power usage rise 33 times from 200-300 kilowatt hours (kWh) to over 18,200 kWh in June.
With the electricity bill worth over VND58 million (US$2,511), Dung filed a complaint to EVNs branch in Dong Hoi City, which then found out that its employee made a mistake in recording the customers usage.
After recalculation, Dungs household only had to pay about VND500,000 (US$21.64) for electricity for the month.
The household electricity bill of Dao Thi Gai in Van Don District in the northern province of Quang Ninh was multiplied by 243 times, from VND368,335 ($16) to VND89.4 million ($3,870), in June due to a similar mistake by the EVN Van Don branch.
The business development manager of the EVN Van Don branch was suspended following the incident.
Addressing reports of these cases at Mondays meeting, Prime Minister Phuc asked EVN to avoid making mistakes that affect electricity users rights and benefits, and clarify and strictly handle violations, if any.
In response to the prime minister, EVN chairman Duong Quang Thanh said he had directed the groups branches in the localities in question to quickly handle the reported cases and make a public explanation to its customers.
At the event, PM Phuc also emphasized the Minister of Industry and Trades responsibility for ensuring the electricity source and grid for national development, making specific plans and directing the implementation of those plans to completion.
Phuc also highlighted the importance of developing electricity resources in combination with protecting the living environment, giving priority to developing renewable energy that causes less pollution.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the costs of renewable energy, including wind and solar power, have decreased rapidly, increasing its competitiveness compared to traditional energy, thus creating conditions for stronger development.
The new requirements that the energy industry is facing are scientific planning and comprehensive evaluation for electricity projects.
The prime minister assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises, and relevant agencies to coordinate agencies, units and corporations in implementing the projects to ensure their progress.
After Mondays meeting, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall finalize a draft mechanism for the Ministry of Justice to evaluate and submit to the prime minister as soon as possible.
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Secretary-general says such a move will be devastating for hopes of fresh talks and an eventual two-state solution.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has called on Israel to abandon plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, saying such a move would be a most serious violation of international law.
The UN secretary-general made the comments in a report to the Security Council on Tuesday, a day before the 15-member body holds its twice-yearly meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it could begin the annexation process from July 1.
In the document, Guterres said an Israeli annexation would be devastating for hopes of fresh negotiations and an eventual two-state solution.
This would be calamitous for Palestinians, Israelis and the region, he said, adding that the plan threatened efforts to advance regional peace.
Guterress comments came a day after thousands of Palestinians protested in Jericho against the Israeli plans, in a rally also attended by dozens of foreign diplomats.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas holds a placard showing maps of (left to right) historical Palestine, the 1947 UN partition plan, the 1948-1967 borders, and a current map [File: Khaled Desouki/AFP]
The Palestinian leadership proposed last week a plan that seeks to create a sovereign Palestinian state, independent and demilitarised, with East Jerusalem as its capital. It also leaves the door open to border modifications between the proposed state and Israel, as well as exchanges of land equal in size and volume and in value one to one.
The Palestinian proposal came as a response to US President Donald Trumps controversial plan that gave a green light for Israel to annex large swaths of the occupied West Bank, including settlements considered illegal under international law, and the Jordan Valley.
Unveiled in late January, Trumps plan proposed the establishment of a demilitarised Palestinian state on the remaining patchwork of disjointed parts of the Palestinian territories without occupied East Jerusalem. The plan has been rejected in its entirety by the Palestinians.
The Security Council meeting, to be held by video conference, will be the last major international meeting on the issue before the July 1 deadline.
Any decision on sovereignty will be made only by the Israeli government, Israels UN envoy Danny Danon said in a statement on Tuesday.
Diplomats expect a vast majority of UN members to again oppose the Israeli plans on Wednesday.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the presentation of the latters plan [File: Brendan McDermid/Reuters]
We must send a clear message, one envoy told AFP news agency, adding that it was not enough to simply condemn Israeli policy, and raising the possibility of a case before the International Court of Justice.
For decades, Israel has enjoyed bipartisan US support that enabled it to ignore international criticism and numerous UN resolutions over its occupation of Palestinian territories.
When Trump in late 2017 shifted US policy by recognising Jerusalem as Israels capital, 14 of the 15 Security Council members adopted a resolution condemning the move but the US used its veto.
A similar resolution was then presented in the UN General Assembly (UNGA), where no nation has veto power it passed with 128 votes in favour, nine against and 35 abstentions.
Diplomats, however, seemed to rule out the idea that Israel could face sanctions over the planned annexation, as were imposed by certain countries after Russias annexation of Crimea.
Any annexation would have quite big consequences for the two-state solution in the peace process, another ambassador told AFP on condition of anonymity.
But the envoy said it was not a simple task to compare the West Bank with Crimea.
Earlier this month, hundreds of international law professors and scholars signed an open letter condemning the Israeli plans to annex territory in the West Bank, calling it a flagrant violation of bedrock rules of international law, and would also pose a serious threat to international stability in a volatile region.
Kevin Jon Heller, an international law professor, told Al Jazeera the Israeli-planned annexation is a clear and fundamental violation of international law that prohibits annexation of territories taken by force.
Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights and Jerusalem coupled with international and Arab silence have emboldened it to take further action in that direction as its contemplating now, said Heller.
The coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown brought out the best in some people. We have heard heartwarming stories of people giving up whatever they had to help those more unfortunate than them.
In a beautiful gesture, 28-year-old Eric Anton Lobo and 27-year-old Merlin of Nandakhal village in Vasai, Maharashtra, celebrated their wedding day by donating 50 hospital beds and oxygen cylinders to the rural COVID-19 care centre in Satpala village, reported Hindustan Times.
Asia News
In a typical Christian wedding, around 2,000 guests attend and the event is incomplete without wine and good food. This costs a big packet. We decided to celebrate differently, HT quoted Lobo as saying.
Given the restrictions set in place after the outbreak, only 22 guests reportedly attended the wedding and all adhered to social distancing norms by wearing a mask. Lobo pointed that many people in Palghar district have died during the pandemic and more that 1,500 have tested positive. So the couple decided to contribute in whatever way they could.
Also read: Man Bedridden For More Than 2 Years Donates Disability Pension To Kerala CM's Relief Fund
TOI
We wanted to share our joy with fellow Vasai residents by helping provide better care for patients in hospitals, he said. With the help of local MLA Kshitij Thakur and Dr Kailas Shinde, Palghar district collector, the couple managed to have the beds made.
According to the report, after the marriage ceremony, the couple went to the COVID care centre where the beds had already arrived.
Also read: When Donors Couldn't Reach Hospital, Mumbai Cop Donated Blood To 14-YO Heart Patient
YouTube
Earlier, the couple helped out at the local community kitchen and also helped the government with lists of migrants from Vasai-Virar who wanted passage on Shramik special trains to return to their hometowns.
Eric and Merlin are just the kind of people this world needs.
Also read: 82 Year-Old War Widow Donates Rs 2 Lakh To PM CARES Fund For COVID-19 Fight
Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose a further 20-day national lockdown as the current strategy of selective containment has not served the purpose of arresting the pandemic.
In a series of tweets, Kumaraswamy urged the PM not to put the economy ahead of peoples safety. Pointing out that India is among the countries with the highest number of Covid-19 cases, he said the problem must be seen in relation with our high density of population compared to other countries.
Stating that there has been a rapid increase in coronavirus cases following the lifting of the lockdown, the former CM questioned whether the country would passively wait to overtake Brazil in the number of those infected. Urging the Karnataka CM to immediately announce a 20-day lockdown especially for Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy urged the government to transfer cash of at least Rs 5,000 to all daily wage workers including cab and auto drivers apart from weavers.
Demanding that the government immediately withdraw its move to hold exams for SSLC (10th standard) students which is scheduled from Thursday, Kumaraswamy said that the state government and the education minister would be responsible if something untoward happened to the eight lakh students who are expected to take the exam.
If neighbouring Telangana could promote all its 10th standard students why is Karnataka hesitating. If we are bent on holding the exams let that be conducted in October, he said in a different tweet.
Kumaraswamys demand came in the backdrop of the state medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar acknowledging that three members of his family including his father, wife and daughter had tested positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, state health and family welfare minister B Sriramulu said that the government would consult with medical doctors and experts to decide on its next course of action.
Yes, the number of cases in Bengaluru has increased. Yesterday the CM had a meeting in which it was decided to seal down four areas in Bengaluru which had seen an increase in cases. If required we will go for lockdown (across the state) again.
On Tuesday, Karnataka registered 322 new Covid-19 cases taking the total to 9721 cases in the state which includes 150 deaths and 6,004 discharges. With 1,035 cases Bengaluru (rural and urban) account for nearly a third of the 3,563 active Covid-19 cases in the state.
The calls from Chicagos clergy-activists for elected leaders to address the problem came quickly. The Rev. Ira Acree, of the West Sides Greater St. John Bible Church, told WFLD-Fox 32 that he was calling on Lightfoot, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and President Donald Trump all three first-time elected officeholders who vowed to be change agents to act now. I wish the president of the United States cared because Chicago needs some real serious attention. This is a disgrace, it is so unfortunate and our children should not live like this, Acree said
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:59:20|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China's launch of the last satellite belonging to the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) on Tuesday, which marked the completion of the deployment of its own global navigation system, has garnered widespread attention from foreign media.
The satellite, the 55th in the family of BeiDou that means "Big Dipper" in Chinese, was launched at 9:43 a.m. Beijing Time (0143 GMT) and sent into the preset orbit by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The mission, the 336th by the Long March rocket series, was a "complete success," the launch center said.
The successful launch of the final satellite in China's BeiDou constellation marked "a further step in the country's advance as a major space power," the Associated Press reported on Tuesday.
The BDS, one of four global navigation satellite systems in the world, promises to provide navigational services and global coverage for timing, it said.
The other three global navigation systems are GPS of the United States, Galileo of the European Union, and GLONASS of Russia.
The AP noted that the Chinese government has been devoting vast resources to developing "independent high-tech capabilities" over the past two decades, with a rapid rise in its space program.
"I think the Beidou-3 system being operational is a big event," Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, was quoted by the Agence France-Presse as saying on Tuesday.
"This is a big investment from China and makes China independent of U.S. and European systems," McDowell said.
Compared with other global systems in the world, the design of the BDS constellation is unique, including its medium earth orbit, inclined geosynchronous orbit and geostationary earth orbit satellites, according to the satellite developer China Academy of Space Technology.
Press Trust of India reported that India is also "building its navigational system called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System" and said China's move brought it closer to becoming a space power.
State news agency Associated Press of Pakistan reported that Pakistan, one of the first foreign countries to use China's navigation satellite system, has cooperated with China in training and application systems as well as performance monitoring and assessment.
Reuters said the BeiDou navigation network will give China greater independence from U.S.-owned GPS.
"BeiDou was obviously designed a few decades after GPS, so it has had the benefit of learning from the GPS experience," Andrew Dempster, director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, was quoted by Reuters as saying.
"It has some signals that have higher bandwidth, giving better accuracy. It has fewer orbit planes for the satellites, making constellation maintenance easier," Dempster said.
Several media also reported on the development of China's BeiDou system and its components. According to Associated Press of Pakistan, "Pakistan has become the first foreign country in the world to use the BDS services," and related projects have "helped basic geographic surveying, land management and port dispatching with reduced costs and enhanced efficiency."
China's Satellite Navigation System Management Office said on Tuesday that once the satellite commences formal operation, it will work with other BeiDou satellites and together they will provide global users with all-time, all-weather and high-accuracy positioning, navigation and timing services.
China started to explore a navigation satellite system suited to its national conditions in the 1980s, laying down a three-step strategy.
The BDS-1 project, the first step, also known as BeiDou Navigation Satellite Demonstration System, was completed and put into operation in 2000. The second step was to construct the BDS-2 system, and it started providing regional services for users in the Asia-Pacific region in December 2012. Enditem
The EU is currently weighing whether to ban American travelers from entering Europe due to the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
European Union officials are in the process of drafting lists to determine who can enter the bloc as of July 1 based on how countries are faring with their current COVID-19 cases, the New York Times reports.
According to one draft list, Americans will be banned from entering the EU because the US has failed to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
The United States, which has the most coronavirus cases in the world and is experiencing a surge in new infections, would be in the same category as No.2 hotspot Brazil and Russia.
There was no immediate comment from the White House.
European Union officials are in the process of drafting lists to determine who can enter the bloc as of July 1 based on how countries are faring with their current COVID-19 cases. Pictured above are travelers arriving at Spain's Mallorca airport on Monday
Coronavirus infections across the US have now surpassed 2.3 million and more than 120,000 Americans have now died.
Brazil currently has 1.1 million infections and Russia follows behind with nearly 600,000 cases. The United Kingdom currently has 307,000 cases, Spain has 246,000 and Italy has 238,000.
An EU diplomat said the bloc's executive Commission had proposed three criteria for allowing in passengers from third countries, including the epidemiological situation of that country.
EU member countries, however, would have to determine what the relevant measurements and thresholds should be.
'There's no list (of countries), just a list of criteria,' another EU diplomat told Reuters.
The second diplomat said member states were considering using a country's rate of infection per 100,000 people to decide whether to allow in passengers, but had not yet agreed at what threshold to set this criteria.
The threshold would also need to account for factors influencing the reliability of this data, such as a country's COVID-19 testing capacity.
The United States would be in the same category as No.2 hotspot Brazil and Russia. Coronavirus infections across the US have now surpassed 2.3 million and more than 120,000 Americans have now died. Brazil currently has 1.1 million infections and Russia follows behind with nearly 600,000 cases
Earlier this month, the European Commission recommended that the bloc gradually reopen its borders to non-EU travellers from July and use three criteria to decide which countries to allow visitors from.
The criteria included countries having COVID-19 under at least as much control as the EU average, have containment measures during travel, and be willing to let in EU visitors.
EU states will discuss the criteria on Wednesday, although there is no guarantee that a decision will be reached then.
In March, when cases were rising in Europe, Trump banned most EU citizens from entering the United States in a bid to curb the outbreak there, angering EU officials.
While the United States appeared to have curbed the outbreak for several weeks in May, overall cases rose 25 percent last week, according to a Reuters analysis.
For a second consecutive week, Texas, Arizona and Nevada set records in their coronavirus outbreaks and 10 other states from Florida to California were grappling with a surge in infections.
Texas reported over 5,000 new infections on Monday, a single-day record for the state. It has also seen COVID-19 hospitalizations hit record highs for 11 days in a row.
While most states are increasing testing, the percentage of tests coming back positive is also rising. At least four states are averaging double-digit rates of positive tests for the virus: Arizona at 20%, Florida and Utah both at 11%, and Texas at 10%.
By contrast, New York, formerly the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, has been reporting positive test rates of around 1%. The World Health Organization considers positivity rates above 5% to be especially concerning.
Hollywood director Joel Schumacher, best known for The Lost Boys, St. Elmos Fire and 2 Batman films, has died, aged 80.
He died following a year-long battle with the cancer.
Schumacher broke into Hollywood as a costume designer, on Play It as It Lays, and Sleeper.
He wrote the screenplays for 1976s Car Wash and 1978s The Wiz before making his directorial debut with 1981s Lily Tomlin-starring satire The Incredible Shrinking Woman.
Schumacher showcased the so-called Brat Pack group of actors with St. Elmos Fire, The Lost Boys and later, Flatliners.
In the 90s, he became one of Hollywoods most high profile directors with Falling Down, Batman Forever, A Time to Kill, Batman & Robin, and 8MM. He followed with Tigerland, Phone Booth, The Number 23, Flawless and The Phantom of the Opera.
In television he made his directorial bow on the telemovie, Virginia Hill, followed by Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill and 2000 Malibu Road. In 2013, he helmed two episodes of House of Cards.
Source: EW.com, Hollywood Reporter
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Naira Marley
The FCT Mobile Court, Tuesday morning ordered the unsealing of Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja, which was locked on June 14 after the management contravened the Presidential Task Force (PTF) protocols on COVID-19 control by allowing its premises to be used for a drive in concert featuring Naira Marley.
The court ordered the management of the mall to publish an apology to the government in the national dailies for violating the COVID-19 guidelines.
The mall was shut on the order of Magistrate Idayat Akanni for the musical performance which held at the popular plaza.
The event attracted a large gathering many of who did not wear face masks or observe social distancing.
Three staff of the mall were also arraigned for organising the concert in violation of the protocols approved by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Giving the order for the opening of the mall on Monday, Akanni stated that her decision was a sequel to the application filed by the defence counsel, Nnamdi Ekwem, praying the court to unseal the business premises.
She said that her judgment was based on the overall interest of those who would be affected adversely by the closure, noting that the mall had over 100 employees and other tenants who are not co-offenders in the matter.
According to her, The order is also based on compassion, especially, in consideration of the economic losses that will be suffered by those affected, coupled with the impact of COVID-19 on the people.
Commenting on the development, the Chairman of FCT Ministerial TaskForce on COVID -19, Ikharo Attah said the FCTA had no objections to the rulings of the court because the administration wants to remain a model in obeying the rule of law.
Dunedin (New Zealand) 22 June 2020 (SPS)- New Zealander protestors decided to block entrance to Ravensdown Fertilizer company Monday morning, to protest against the company illegal import of blood phosphate from occupied Western Sahara.
The group indicated in its communication to Media that supporters of Western Sahara braved a frosty morning to close down the Ravensdown fertiliser plant in Dunedin, New Zealand. The blockade lasted for 5 hours and no fertiliser trucks entered or left the site during that time.
The protestors are members of Environmental Justice Otepoti, who are calling on Ravensdown to end their support for the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara especially as a humanitarian aid crisis unfolds in the Saharawi refugee camps, because of the shortages in humanitarian aid affected by the international pandemic of Covid-a9.
The protestors further indicated that Ravensdown led us to believe that they had plans to find an alternate source of phosphate. We were disappointed to hear that a new shipment of phosphate from Western Sahara is due to arrive in Otepoti Dunedin, and that CEO Greg Campbell intentionally lied to us.
The group recalled that the people of Western Sahara have called for New Zealand to take action and stop buying blood phosphate. We are here today to make sure their voices are harder to ignore. Environmental Justice Otepoti supports the right of the Saharawi people to self determination and to return to their homeland.
The call of the people is for Ravensdown and Ballance to stop importing phosphate from OCP until the people of Western Sahara are able to have a referendum for their independence, the protestors stressed.
Ravensdown and Balance are 2 of only 3 companies that still import blood phosphate from the Moroccan regime, which is illegally occupying Western Sahara since 1975 and committing all sorts of human rights abuses and atrocities against the Saharawi citizens under its military occupation.
The protestors considered that by continuing to purchase this stolen phosphate Ravensdown and Balance are complicit in funding the military occupation of Western Sahara, and the separation of Saharawi people from their indigenous homelands spokesperson Abby Spilg-Harris voices.
The protestors accused Ravensdown to be fully aware that they are supporting human rights violations. There is a crisis in the camps, and the money paid for phosphate is ending up in the hands of war mongers when the rightful owners are suffering. We think that is unacceptable. 6.25 million is the value of the phosphate stolen from the Saharawi people that is aboard this coming ship. 6.25 million is also the estimated amount of money needed to feed and support Saharawi people in the refugee camps which have been left without additional international aid due to COVID, the group of protestors emphasized.
Ravensdown falsely claim indigenous Saharawi people benefit from Morocco selling their resources. The 170,000 Saharawi refugees living outside of their homelands arguably highlights such claims as grossly false, the statement concluded. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
UPDATE: Houston police said Wednesday that Attallah Phillips can retrieve her property, according to her attorney Vikram Vij.
***
A Houston woman has yet to receive her cellphone and other personal belongings back from the Houston Police Department, nearly three weeks after she was arrested during a protest over the death of George Floyd, according to her attorney.
Attallah Phillips, 27, was among hundreds of protesters whose charges were dismissed earlier this month by the Harris County District Attorneys Office. She was originally charged by Houston police June 3 with criminal trespassing after an estimated 60,000 demonstrators flocked to downtown Houston to call for justice in the wake of Floyds death.
She was released from the Harris County jail the following day after posting a $100 bail. At the time, Houston police told her they did not have her personal items, including her iPhone, purse, and apartment and car keys, said her attorney Vikram Vij.
A judge has since granted a motion ordering that police give her the items back, but an attorney for the department said Monday that the Burglary and Theft Division had placed a hold on the property.
They will have to fill out the necessary information to have Ms. Phillips property released, according to an email from HPD attorney Andrea Kelley-Henry obtained by the Houston Chronicle. Since there is a lot of property connected to detention of people involved in the protest and requesting their property returned, please be patient with us. I will let you know as soon as I am told Ms. Phillips is able to come and retrieve her property from 1200 Travis.
The email did not elaborate on the necessary information. A Houston Police Department spokesperson said Monday that the burglary and theft division was looking into the reason for the holdup. Its unclear how many protesters may be facing similar delays in retrieving their personal property.
Its been (more than) two weeks since shes had her apartment keys, her purse, her wallet and her cellphone, Vij said. Those are things that people depend on every day, and not being able to get that is just a horrible inconvenience and negligence on their part.
Vij said that Phillips told him her phone contained video from the protest showing Houston police getting physical with demonstrators. He said he had not seen the video and did not want to speculate on whether it was related to the delay.
Her other property on hold includes a watch, a pocket knife and headphones.
Ive been an attorney for almost 11 years and Ive never seen a delay like this and for criminal trespassing, Vij said. Ive had clients on manslaughter cases get their stuff back quicker than that.
julian.gill@chron.com
The Rights view of government and the Lefts view of big business are both
correct.
-Robert Anton Wilson, American author
Hello Downriver,
Ive written it before, and Ill write it again: What happened to the Republican Party we used to know?
You know, the one that was in bed with big business, but also demanded fiscal responsibility in government.
Deficits? Bad.
Debt? Bad.
Balanced budgets? Good.
Line item vetoes? Good.
Yet, if the polls are to be believed, come this fall, the second Democratic president in a row will inherit an economy trashed by his Republican predecessor.
Yes, trashed, because, in large part, the GOP failed to deliver on its legacy even though the party controlled Congress and the White House for extensive stretches of time in two administrations.
Now before you start, keep in mind that if a president gets to take credit for a growing economy, then hes damn well responsible for its collapse.
Regardless of how the collapse occurred.
And lest we forget, in both recent in-stances the collapse had a big business component.
In 2008, it was too big to fail banks.
In 2020, its been opaque billion-dollar bailouts of big business with no accountability on top of a trillion-dollar tax break for the rich and powerful that broke the federal budget.
And this was before the mishandling of the pandemic crashed the economy.
Yep, in both instances, the GOP took care of its traditional constituency big business (vs. main street businesses) at the expense of individual taxpayers.
With no thought given to balancing a budget or reining in the national debt.
And in the first instance, Democrats were left with cleaning up after the elephant; and it looks like its going to happen again.
But compounding the issue is yet another regular trait of the GOP: taking care of big business, but keeping us, taxpayers, in the dark: In this instance, the U.S. Treasury Secretary says we, dont have a right to know which big businesses got stimulus money.
Our money.
But thats right out of the Republican playbook, which is a far more compelling reason to reject the party of Lincoln this fall.
Forget the nonsense coming from the presidents thumbs, or his blathering; the real story as is ALWAYS the case is to follow the money.
As in who got that trillion-dollar tax break even though they already werent paying their fair share (or any) federal income tax?
And now who got forgivable loans as part of the stimulus package even though they probably didnt need it.
These loans, if you remember, may never have to be paid back if a company meets some kind of mystical criteria.
Thats right, the Paycheck Protection Program was a loan scheme intended to provide a direct incentive for SMALL businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.
Under the stimulus plan, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) would forgive loans if all employees of a company were kept on the payroll for eight weeks and if the money were used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities.
Notice the name of the agency charged with disbursing the funds: SMALL Business Administration.
Youd think this meant that SMALL businesses would be the recipients of this money.
Ah, but you already forgot my opening: This is a Republican administration.
So, according to reports, publicly traded companies read: massive companies received more than $1 billion in stimulus funds intended for those small businesses.
According to reports, nearly 300 public companies reported receiving money from the SBA administered Paycheck Protection Program, according to the Washington Post.
The Post reported that recipients include 43 companies with more than 500 workers, the maximum typically allowed by the program. Several other recipients were prosperous enough to pay executives $2 million or more.
Further muddying the process, most recipients of the PPP loans which were funneled through (wait for it) too-big-to-fail banks were first in line precisely because of their relationships with those banks.
The result: Small businesses the intended recipients have been squeezed out of the program.
Even though we all know that small businesses are the key to our economy.
Finally, rubbing salt into this wound, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said earlier this month that were not entitled to know the names or the details about companies that received that money through PPP.
Why?
Because the Trump administration believed the names of the recipients and the amounts they received are proprietary, and confidential.
Yep, thats what Mnuchin told a Senate committee on June 10.
So, nope, were not allowed to know who got our taxpayer money.
All we do know is that big business got taken care of by the Republican Party, with the assistance of their too-big-to-fail bank cronies.
But, hey, vote GOP this fall if you like being a mushroom.
*
Theres an old saying that figures dont lie, liars figure.
And nowhere is that adage more applicable than when looking at employment, unemployment and job growth or loss numbers.
A case in point is the announcement early this month that May saw 2.5 million new jobs created.
Now, I have searched high and low for a clarification and have yet to find the answer.
My question: Were these truly new jobs created out of whole cloth, or simply people being called back to work?
Although I havent been able to find the definitive answer, I suspect the answer is the second one because of how the Bureau of Labor Statistics made the announcement: It also said the unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent.
Of course, we could have truly new jobs dilute the number of unemployed, but where would these new jobs come from that wouldnt involve bringing laid-off workers back on the job?
If youre thinking, there ARENT any truly new jobs out there, youre probably right: Experts admit that the drop in the unemployment rate is completely the result of some people getting called back as the economy ever so slightly begins to re-open.
But this numerical prestidigitation by the Trump administration was simply designed to obscure the truth of our economy: More than 40 million Americans remain unemployed.
A number that also includes those who either dont qualify for benefits, havent been able to apply for benefits because of state system failures or who are working some lesser-paying job or more than one job to make ends meet.
According to labor reports, the real unemployment and underemployment rate in the country is more than 21 percent.
But all of these numbers belie an underlying truth: They represent real people and their families; individuals struggling to make it through each day.
And thats what we should be thinking about.
*
I said at the outset, that quite probably (hopefully?) for the second time in a row, a Democrat will have to fix an economy butchered by a Republican administration.
But instead of thinking back to the Bush-Obama years, lets go back even further to nearly 90 years ago, when Republican Herbert Hoover gave way to Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Its said, of course, that you can never make perfect parallels of moments in history, but theres the companion line about being doomed to repeat history if were not careful.
Well, were now in the midst of an economic crisis that in literally the twinkle of an eye has eclipsed all the bad news from the Great Depression.
(Forget the stock market; thats not the economy.)
So what did FDR do?
He decided to put people to work on public projects and literally rebuilt our country.
Indeed, a succession of presidents have said that rebuilding Americas infrastructure would be a cornerstone of their economic plan and yet not a single piece of legislation has been introduced in the last two generations to address that.
So forget all this stimulus money to business business that is driven by consumers; put American consumers to work repairing our bridges, train tracks, national grid and other parts of our infrastructure.
Not only would we be giving money directly to the people, but wed be repairing our nation at the same time.
Just a thought as we come into another Fourth of July holiday of reflection.
Craig Farrand is a former managing editor of The News-Herald Newspapers. He can be reached at cfarrandudm@yahoo.com.
Charlotte Crosby has been accused of Photoshopping her Instagram pictures to make her stomach look flatter and her bum look bigger.
The television personality, 30, has been sharing some paparazzi shots on her account recently, but one eagle-eyed fan noticed discrepancies between the two photos.
The page named Celeb Face shared a selection of the photos as they were originally taken, alongside the ones Charlotte posted on her Instagram.
Tweak? Charlotte Crosby has been accused of Photoshopping her Instagram pictures to make her stomach look flatter, her bum look bigger and even the grass greener
In one pap shot, Charlotte was accused off changing her hairline, stomach and chin when she posted it on her account.
In another photo of the television personality washing her car, fans said Charlotte had changed the colour of the grass as well as changing her figure.
Back in 2018, Charlotte went into a furious rant where she said paparazzi photos are not 'real'.
Photoshopped? In one pap shot, Charlotte was accused off changing her hairline, stomach and chin when she posted it on her account (left)
'These edits are so unnecessary!': Fans told Charlotte she didn't need to alter her pictures because her body 'is unreal'
The Instagram account accusing the reality star of Photoshopping, captioned the post: 'Then and Now @charlottegshore I think Instagram photos of some girls aren't real, not paparazzi pictures'.
Fans told Charlotte she didn't need to alter her pictures because her body 'is unreal'.
One wrote: 'but her real body looks perfectly fine??!!! why photoshop?'
Another added: Literally WHO edits the grass... LOL'
A third chimed: 'Honestly her body is unreal she is taking the edit time for no reason'.
Happy: It comes after Charlotte credited the government's Chief Medical Officer Chris Witty behind the success of her flourishing romance with Liam Beaumont
It comes after Charlotte credited the government's Chief Medical Officer Chris Witty behind the success of her flourishing romance with Liam Beaumont.
The former Geordie Shore star insisted it was the coronavirus advisor, 54, who acted as an unlikely cupid and made her take 'the leap of faith' with her beau.
Charlotte had been dating videographer Liam for a mere few weeks when the UK's coronavirus lockdown was put in place, meaning that the couple had to make a big decision over their budding romance.
And the Just Tattoo Of Us host said that it was Chief Medical Officer Chris who made her take the plunge and begin living with Liam.
She told The Sun On Sunday: 'We had to either move in together or not see each other.
'It was hearing the Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, who advised that if you want to see your boyfriend or girlfriend you have to move in so you could say Chris made us take the leap of faith.
'Before then wed only spent about two or three weeks together in total, so we had to make that decision right then and there, which was really scary.'
And while living together so soon could spell disaster for some, Charlotte insisted that cohabiting with her tattooed beau was the best decision she's made.
TOKYO, June 23, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Showa Denko (SDK; TSE:4004) announces that Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd. (Hitachi Chemical), a consolidated subsidiary of SDK, has resolved at the annual general shareholders' meeting held on June 23, 2020 to change its firm name into Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2020. Details of the decision are as follows.1. Reason for the changeHere SDK announces the change in the firm name of Hitachi Chemical because it was resolved at Hitachi Chemical's annual general shareholders' meeting held on June 23, 2020. The new firm name "Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd." represents Hitachi Chemical's determination of opening its new chapter as a consolidated subsidiary of SDK, and now SDK and Hitachi Chemical share the idea of offering their customers and society optimum solutions by combining Showa Denko Group's wide-ranging material technology with Hitachi Chemical Group's material design technology utilizing characteristics of raw materials, ability to evaluate functions, and ability to design functions leading to process technology, including module segmentation.2. Outline of the consolidated subsidiary- Firm name: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.- Head office: 9-2, Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo- Representative: Hisashi Maruyama, President, CEO and Representative Director- Scope of business: Manufacturing, processing, and sales of functional materials and advanced components and systems- Capital: 15.5 billion yen3. New firm nameShowa Denko Materials Co., Ltd.4. Scheduled date of change in the firm nameOctober 1, 2020About Showa Denko K.K.Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; TSE:4004, ADR:SHWDY) is a major manufacturer of chemical products serving from heavy industry to computers and electronics. The Petrochemicals Sector provides cracker products such as ethylene and propylene, the Chemicals Sector provides industrial, high-performance and high-purity gases and chemicals for semicon and other industries, the Inorganics Sector provides ceramic products, such as alumina, abrasives, refractory/graphite electrodes and fine carbon products. The Aluminum Sector provides aluminum materials and high-value-added fabricated aluminum, the Electronics Sector provides HD media, compound semiconductors such as ultra high bright LEDs, and rare earth magnetic alloys, and the Advanced Battery Materials Department (ABM) provides lithium-ion battery components. For more information, please visit www.sdk.co.jp/english/.Source: Showa Denko K.K.Contact:Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Lately, Doug Satzmans AirPods have been running out of battery multiple times a day. Satzman is the CEO of XpresSpa, and like the leaders of businesses across the country, he had a rough spring as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the U.S., shutting down cities in its wake. By March 15, Satzman had begun the process of furloughing the nearly 500 employees who work at the airport spa chain. With 46 locations in 23 airports in the U.S., XpresSpa is the spot you drop into for a quick massage during a long layover, or to freshen your manicure between flights. In other words, its a luxury or in 2020 terms, a non-essential.
But even as the shops were shutting down and flight schedules were contracting, Satzman and the chairman of his board, Bruce Bernstein, decided to work toward a new and newly critical business model: COVID-19 testing. As we were listening to the news, wed hear about the need for testing, wed hear about other countries doing this 30 days ago, we heard about South Korea curbing the spread in their communities with testing. We thought: is there a way we can reactivate our closed spas to at least temporarily turn them into COVID testing facilities and lend a hand to the efforts? Satzman told TIME in mid-April. By then, he and Bernstein were making site visits to New York Citys JFK International Airport. In late May, they signed the contract to pilot their first testing program, planning to process about 500 tests a day for airport and airline employees. The location began testing its first patients on June 23, just as New York City reopened some restaurants and retail.
Getting even this single testing site up and running, which has been their singular focus for over two months and the reason for all those dead AirPods, thanks to long hours logged on calls with legal teams, health partners and coworkers has clarified the challenges that the U.S. faces in managing the coronavirus pandemic and its spread. Its not like you connect one dot to the next. Its like youre connecting one dot to the next with 16 puzzles at the same time, and trying to land in the same place, Satzman says.
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Evidence suggests that widespread testing for COVID-19 is the most critical factor in combating the viruss spread, and a vital condition for fully reopening the economy. Countries like New Zealand and Iceland and cities like Hong Kong have effectively contained the virus thanks to aggressive mass-testing regimens, contact tracing and mandatory quarantines. But in the U.S., testing capabilities have been slow to ramp up, due to a mix of regulatory delays and confusion, supply limitations and still-evolving science. Pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid and Walmart took months to open only 69 drive-thru testing centers nationwide, though theyve continued to slowly expand. As of June 13, over 27 million tests had been processed in the U.S. While thats more than South Korea, for instance, the high rate of positive results in the U.S. about 10% reflects a testing bias towards those who are already ill or obviously exposed, likely because most tests in the U.S. were initially reserved for patients showing active coronavirus symptoms, often already in hospitals and emergency rooms. By mid-June, testing for the general public had increased dramatically to include free options for residents of Los Angeles, New York and other cities, including pop-up programs for participants in recent mass protests.
XpresSpas plan, however, is to serve a different customer, for a different purpose. It will be one of the first entities providing COVID-19 sampling facilities and test results to patients primarily at the bequest of on-site employers. In fact, if youre sick, Satzman says, its preferable that you dont come in. And for now, if youre part of the general public, theyre not ready for you either. This is meant to create a proactive testing process for those who probably dont have symptoms but want to know theyre not contagious, Satzman says. Instead, XpresSpa is building a blueprint for what happens after the crisis subsides and how to manage an industrys health going forward.
A diagram showing the plan for the XpresSpa testing site. | Courtesy of XpresSpa
In the U.S., air passenger traffic dropped about 95% in April; by mid-June, airports were still only seeing about 20% of the people theyd handled in the same time frame in 2019. Airport and airline employees frontline essential workers with global exposure are particularly vulnerable to potential infection, and spreading it. Thats where Satzman sees XpresSpa fitting in: its the leading health and wellness brand in airports globally, with prime real estate already set up in terminals at ports of entry across the country. Their labor force is TSA-approved with security clearance, which is a requirement for working in an airport. And since many massage therapists, manicurists and aestheticians receive disease-containment training as a requirement for their state licensing, theyre already one step further along the path towards providing a health-compliant testing environment than other independent entrants in the field or at least, that was what Satzman and Bernstein figured in April.
Their focus is providing the services airport and airline employees need to stay operational. One of the executives at JFK said their current protocol is that if someone calls out sick with symptoms, they have to send everybody [that person has] worked with home to stay quarantined for 14 days, Satzman said in April, when the infection numbers were still climbing in New York. That remained true through June. As soon as [the airline industry] starts picking back up, having 15 people at home for two weeks when one person had symptoms? Its devastating. Now is the time to build this muscle for the workforce before the public starts returning. In the days leading up to their opening, Satzman said some airline executives were counting on the new testing program. But as hes discovered over the past three months, even eager clients, the right real estate and a licensed labor force are not enough to get a testing facility up and running quickly despite the ongoing urgent need.
Its past 10 p.m. on a Tuesday night, and Satzman is picking at his dinner after a late evening run in Central Park. Its been a typically long day in the home office of his Upper West Side apartment, as a thunderstorm raged outside. First there was the daily 8 a.m. steering committee call with Bernstein; his newly-appointed medical director Dr. Lewis Lipsey, a New-York-based hematologist and oncologist; and a newly hired business consultant who would become their project lead, Calvin Courtney Knight. Then Satzman managed calls with three different legal companies, addressing New York state licensing and regulations, brand trademarking and HIPAA compliance, and two potential partners for electronic medical record management. There are brochures and website materials to develop, facility redesigns for medical treatment to oversee and job descriptions phlebologists, nurse practitioners to publicize.
And finally there is the COVID-19 test itself. Even after signing their agreement with JFK airport in early June, the XpresSpa team was still negotiating with final testing partners. They plan to offer the proven PCR nasal swab tests, likely processed at a local laboratory. They also eventually intend to offer the second type of test currently on the market, which measures antibodies in the blood. The first type of test diagnoses active infection; the second indicates previous infection. Its a moving target, Satzman says. Keeping up with the science has been the biggest hurdle.
Initially, Satzman and his team had hoped to offer a minimally-invasive finger-prick test that returns results in minutes. By June, recognizing that testing locations around the country had struggled with faulty results using that test, they decided to go with the slower-turnaround but more proven blood draw procedure. There are about 100 antibody test options currently in the U.S. market, but only a few have FDA approval under an emergency authorization rule. Many have been subjects of recalls, or have been pulled from the market due to concerns about accuracy and processing. Early on, Satzman reached out to the first one out of the gate, Cellex. Ironically, they didnt have a test to sell, Satzman recalled of their initial communication; they didnt have a distributor and were still working on their production.
Dr. Anne Wyllie, an associate research scientist at the Yale School of Public Health who is working on a third type of COVID-19 test, says that, while frustrating, these roadblocks can be important to avoid rushing any science to market, especially as more retailers may turn to COVID-19 testing. It can be dangerous to get things wrong at a time like this, she says, expressing concerns about test sensitivity. In mid-May, the American Medical Association suggested that antibody tests should not be used to ascertain immunity or suggest an end to social distancing practices. Even months into the crisis, there remains little consensus around what widespread testing should look like that could clear buildings for occupation and maintain safe work environments for employees. In fact, some businesses are even planning to ask their own workers to sign liability waivers in case they catch COVID-19. Still, Wyllie sees XpresSpas plan as something with potential.
Before running XpresSpa, Satzman was a senior vice president of business development and retail operations at Starbucks. The world of health regulation and government bureaucracy is new to him, and filled with unexpected obstacles. We have the real estate, we have money, we have willingness, smart people are working really hard a lot of hours but its still slow and frustrating, he says. Initially, XpresSpa looked to federal agencies like the CDC, HHS and FEMA for guidance, seeing their publicity in the news. But testing standards are actually set by each state, with varying regulations in every district. They discovered they would need to contract with a medical doctor or nurse practitioner for on-site management, while some lab work would also require them to meet Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standards. Then they would need approvals from state health boards. I think the federal government could take a more proactive role in assisting the testing efforts, Satzman says. What Im seeing is states are figuring it out on their own, and they are figuring it out at different rates. The result is inconsistencies that hamper speed. When you have 50 different people trying to solve a similar problem he trails off. Its a built-in inefficiency. States want their own autonomy, but thats one of the reasons we havent been able to get testing up and running. The national patchwork of isolation rules and testing availability, which has continued well into the summer, reflects Satzmans difficulties in getting a national program functioning quickly.
Airports themselves presented a second level of complexity: they are public entities, which means city councils and mayoral offices often control their operations. After the pilot programs opening in JFKs Terminal 4, Satzman hopes to expand to LaGuardia Airport and Newark Airport with the cooperation of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Chicagos OHare are also on the map with further locations to come, but timing remains up in the air. XpresSpa has made the most progress at JFKs Terminal 4 because it is an unusual case: its operated by another private corporation. Plus, with New York as the viruss epicenter in the U.S., it felt like the most pressing need when they began the process of putting the program together.
While working through the bureaucratic necessities, Satzman has reactivated some employees a head of IT to help build out a new patient portal, his director of design and construction to retrofit their locations for use as testing centers, human resource managers to help with recruitment. On opening day, XpresSpa is bringing back some members of their preexisting work force that are interested, training them for specialized roles. But they also needed to hire new staff including lab technicians and healthcare roles which meant they needed to work through TSA approvals for a new set of employees after all. Not that hiring itself is the issue. A lot of the [potential new hires] want to get out of the hospitals, Satzman says. They are motivated to serve.
Then there is the problem of procurement of personal protective equipment, or PPE: the sterile gowns, face masks and shields that U.S. facilities nationwide, including hospitals, have struggled to obtain. We do have a line on supply, but one of the businesses weve talked to, their inventory level changes every few hours, not every few days, Satzman said back in April. It is a volatile supply chain. By June, that hadnt substantially changed.
XpresSpa has four locations at JFKs Terminal 4. Two of their biggest, one by Gate B24 and another next to a MAC Cosmetics shop, were initially prime contestants for the pilot program. But given the expected demand, the airport eventually offered 1,700 square feet of pre-security space in the Arrivals Hall for them to build out a temporary location, a modular structure of movable partitions with nine private testing rooms and six intake rooms, meaning theres no communal waiting space. They expect to turn around an impressive 500 tests a day. The beauty of an airport is you can operate long hours, Satzman says, so theyre planning for multiple eight-hour shifts per day. In other airports, they may stick to converting preexisting real estate but their spa and testing services, he stresses, will remain fully separate.
Satzman walks through the planned process: employers sign their work force up for testing, determining their own standards on who gets tested, and how often. Patients make appointments online and show up to a frictionless experience with no paperwork, shared clipboards or wait time in an enclosed space. By opening time, however, XpresSpa had decided to expand their service options to include walk-in testing for those with insurance, bypassing the employer. Either way, its insurance companies and employers who will likely foot the bill; by opening, it was still unclear where the buck would stop, however. We are hopeful the federal government will cover it, but its unclear how testing facilities can seek reimbursement and how much the reimbursement is for. Were not dependent on federal funding, but it would make things a lot more efficient once we learn the path, Satzman says.
The XpresSpa testing site in Terminal 4 of JFK Airport. | Courtesy of XpresSpa
A detail of the XpresSpa testing site in Terminal 4 of JFK Airport. | Courtesy of XpresSpa
XpresSpas pivot to provide an essential service is not just altruistic: its smart business, capitalizing on preexisting resources and a $5.6 million loan through the Paycheck Protection Program in early May. But it also potentially positions them well in the public eye, presuming their efforts are successful. Like distilleries and fragrance manufacturers switching over to producing hand sanitizer, or fashion companies churning out masks, theyre just one company attempting to salvage both their operations and our collective situation. The result: as of the third week of June, XpresSpas stock price was up over 1,200% from its March low. And beyond mustering goodwill, their change of focus might reflect a meaningful new market position or at least a roadmap to follow in future health crises.
For months, every night at 7 p.m., Satzman would stick his head out of his office window, face south towards the bright lights of Midtowns office towers and join in with the citys routine evening cheer for healthcare workers. Sometimes, he was on the phone with partners who could hear the yells through his AirPods. Theyre like, Is that really happening? And Im like, Yep, thats New York City, baby. Working from home with his two school-age kids underfoot has been an adjustment, just like for everyone else. But even as midnight neared and his dinner remained half-eaten, Satzman sounded energized. Just like 9/11 impacted security protocol afterward, this pandemic is going to create some new health safety protocol in travel, he envisions. Three months into the crisis, testing continues to be a hot topic, and the political appetite for it is only increasing: in late April, a congressional vote allocated $25 billion to testing, while National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Director Anthony Fauci suggested the U.S. still needed to double testing before considering reopening the economy. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order in March enabling independent pharmacies to conduct tests for walk-in patients; the federal government followed suit with pharmacy authorization in early April. By June, however, pharmacists faced the same concerns about supply chain access and safety that have plagued XpresSpa, with little testing made available. The latest plan from the federal government, released May 25, places the onus on testing squarely on the shoulders of states, however, and suggested current testing levels would be sufficient.
But scientific opinion is firmly on the side of increased testing, even if the federal dollars are not. Things are moving great. Its just getting through the government hoops, Satzman explained in late May, a touch wearily. By June, he was more optimistic: with the location contract in place, construction was kicking off in JFK and the road to testing was beginning to look clear at last. XpresSpa filed for a new trademark, XpresCheck, and Satzman was banking on opening before the end of June. And on June 22, he could be found handing out staff uniforms at JFK for the opening and submitting to the PCR swab test himself onsite. It wont be quite the summer travel season they expected, but its a start. And if they succeed, it will be a new model of private-public partnership meant to get a grip on the pandemics impact while still putting health first.
(Natural News) How easy it is to find fake news, read it, and get upset or confused? Every day theres a new fake poll out that will tell you Biden is in the lead, when Biden cant even remember what the word lead means. Millions of Americans, it would seem, are fighting tooth and nail to turn our Republic into a socialist nightmare like Venezuela. Its a communist playbook and the liberal extremist leaders are following it step by step.
Were all to believe that the blackface scandal was countrywide, and that all sorts of conservatives were going around like this, offending Blacks in the USA, when come to find out, its nearly all Democrats and Hollywood Leftists (theyre all Leftists minus a handful), but the fake news has you misinformed. So you turn off the news for a while, but then youre really in the dark. Its tough to find truth news these days, especially while the libtards have complete control of social media, YouTube, Google, nearly every stinking newspaper, and of course, the boob tube a.k.a. the television.
Make no mistake, FAKE NEWS has been mainstream since Vietnam
Most of us grew up watching our parents read the newspaper from front to back and still watch the 6 oclock news to find out whats going on locally and around the world. News has been, for the most part, fake, ever since Vietnam.
If you watched the television, citizens were all told were winning and were preventing the spread of communism. Meanwhile, our soldiers were being dropped in a meat grinder, and if they didnt get blown up, shot or captured, they came home with Agent Orange cancer that ate them down to the bone, then killed them. Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to blow the whistle, and the U.S. government had him shot in the head for talking about all the Blacks that were put out on the front lines.
The CDC was busy spreading lies about the polio vaccine working, when it was an abysmal failure. The polio vaccine didnt work then and it doesnt work now. Everybody was misinformed. Where was the real news then? Then, in the 1980s, genetically modified corn and soy hit the farms, the markets, the mouths. Nothing was in the news about it, so everyone was in the dark, simply uninformed that chemical pesticides in the genes of our food causes IBS, cancer and dementia.
Monsanto made the chemicals from WWII and Vietnam to kill humans, and they douse American crops with those same chemicals today
The weed killer used in conjunction with most of Monsanto/Bayers crops is called glyphosate, and it makes the other bug-and-weed-killing chemicals even more noxious and toxic to humans. All truth news about these deadly GMOs has been scrubbed, banned, blacklisted, censored and outright memory-holed from the internet. Talk about being misinformed and in the dark.
Independent media made up the term fake news for mainstream media that lies about everything to do with your health, safety and longevity. After the term got popular and started uncovering their lies, they flipped the script and began calling all truth news fake news. Finally, Trump flipped it back on them in 2015 and continued to do so, righteously, as he does now.
Fake news has commercials for toxic products (like medicine and fast food), and thats how you know. Those companies that create toxic vaccines, deadly prescription drugs (think opiates), and chemical-laced foods they pay for the advertising and thus control the dialogue of the news. The narrative. The lies.
Friends, remember, seeking only truth will we prevail. Vote these liars out of office. Stay informed, not misinformed. Stay tuned daily to Chaos.news for updates on what the Democrats are really doing to escalate the riots while suppressing Trump rallies.
Now watch the Queen of rebuttal rip into a fake news troll:
Sources for this article include:
NaturalNews.com
Chaos.news
ZeroHedge.com
Breitbart.com
Original.Antiwar.com
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Whether you call it a second wave or, more accurately, the easily foreseeable continuation of a pandemic, Covid-19 is still spreading unchecked in several American states. Florida, Arizona, Texas and other states are reporting record numbers of new cases. And many are neglecting to take steps that could prevent outbreaks from expanding into possibly unmanageable surges in Covid-19 cases and deaths.
State leaders understandably resist the notion of issuing new stay-at-home orders, which would be painful, unpopular and at this point difficult to enforce. Lockdowns averted millions of potential cases in the spring, and they may still be required if case growth gets out of hand. But blunt quarantine isnt the only way to check Covid-19. Over the past several months, scientists worldwide have come to better understand how infections occur and what specific measures can most effectively prevent them. States can and should pay attention to what the experts have learned and use it to steer public behavior toward safety.
It wont help to dismiss rising case counts as concentrated outbreaks or an illusion created by increased testing, as the governors of Texas and Florida did last week. While hot spots account for some of the case growth, and testing is up, neither of these explain why the two states are seeing thousands of new infections every day. Case growth is widespread, and the percentage of tests coming back positive a measure that indicates the level of uncontained community spread is steadily rising.
In Texas and Arizona, current hospitalizations are ticking up. The same may or may not be true in Florida, which inexcusably fails to report that data daily. While governors are keen to note that hospitals have spare capacity, that advantage could disappear quickly. Hospital beds fill up faster than they empty, and Covid-19 doesnt strike according to where beds are available. Also, as more beds and hospital staff must be devoted to Covid, other care gets pushed aside, with damaging results.
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The most potentially reassuring news is that that the death rate from Covid-19 in the four states with the largest new outbreaks is holding steady. This may be because of improving treatment, broader testing that catches cases early when theyre easier to manage, and widespread precautions that protect those most at risk, including the elderly. On the other hand, it may simply reflect the fact that death rates are a lagging indicator. It takes time to develop a Covid infection severe enough to require intensive care, and the sickest patients often spend weeks on ventilators. Many of this weeks deaths stemmed from infections that happened last month.
A younger-skewing outbreak will result in fewer deaths in the near-term. However, each case represents an avenue of possible transmission to someone more at-risk, and scientists are still assessing the long term impact of infection on people of all ages.
Governors should understand that they can lower their case rates without locking down their economies if they pay attention to what experts have observed about Covid-19 contagion: Well-spaced outdoor activities appear to pose little risk. People dont seem to easily pick up the virus from food or surfaces that others have touched. But the disease spreads readily among people who engage in prolonged close contact in crowded and poorly ventilated spaces. So its possible to limit transmission by restricting crowds and calling for social distancing indoors. People who stand just one meter (a little over three feet) away from others stand a drastically lower chance of infection than those who get closer, and the risk decreases further with greater distance.
Widespread use of masks in high-risk situations reduces the risk of infection still more. Mask mandates in 15 states may have prevented as many as 450,000 Covid cases in the U.S., a recent study reported in Health Affairs found.
Effective public health efforts to track new infections and trace and isolate the contacts of those infected can also lower the risk of infection in a population by more than half, new modeling from U.K.-based researchers suggests. While such efforts are useful in stemming any infectious disease, they are especially so for one like Covid, which often produces no symptoms and transmits readily within homes.
The caveat is, the more virus there is circulating in a community, the harder it is to stay ahead of the spread with testing and contact tracing. Targeted suppression efforts take longer to work than broad lockdowns do. To avoid the need for new stay-at-home orders, in other words, states need a greater sense of urgency about taking more targeted steps.
Of course, most states, including those seeing rising case counts, recommend social distancing and maintain some capacity limits on retail businesses. But widespread reports of careless behavior and renewed case growth suggest that either the rules are too lax or people just arent following them. Clearly, its not enough to merely ask people to protect themselves. It takes effort and consistent communication to shift behavior enough to change transmission dynamics.
This is particularly true when it comes to masks, which have become politicized in the U.S. Covering your face before entering a grocery store is properly viewed as an easy way to protect yourself and others. Unfortunately, neglecting this basic human courtesy has become a form of protest against government overreach.
State leaders can and should try to discourage such protest including by broadly mandating mask-wearing, as California Governor Gavin Newsom did last week. Governors still dragging their feet on mask use seem not to care as much as they need to about saving lives. In the face of the countrys worst new Covid outbreak, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has finally allowed local officials to require masks, but hes still leaving policy up to individual communities. Texas Governor Greg Abbott now allows local mask mandates, but only if officials impose them indirectly by placing rules on businesses, not people.
There are many ways in which state leaders can steer people toward safer behavior, bend their Covid-19 curves downward and strengthen their economies. Its simply a matter of paying attention to how the coronavirus spreads.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
Max Nisen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, pharma and health care. He previously wrote about management and corporate strategy for Quartz and Business Insider.
For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion
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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
On June 9, Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns government lifted all social distancing restrictions and declared the country free from the coronavirus, to great media fanfare in New Zealand and internationally. One week later, director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield reported two new cases, the first detected since May 22.
Two sisters who returned from Britain on June 7 were allowed to drive more than 600 kilometres from Auckland to Wellington on June 13 following the death of a family member in the capital. The Labour Party-led government had assured the public that returned travellers were required to spend 14 days in hotels that are being used as quarantine facilities. However, the women were granted a compassionate exemption to leave early and were only tested for COVID-19 after they reached Wellington, on June 15.
Bloomfield initially told the media only low-risk individuals were granted such exemptions and said he was not nervous about the possibility the women had infected others, because they had remained in their vehicle. Later it was revealed that they actually stopped to seek directions from friends, placing them at risk.
A number of similar reports have emerged. Newshub reported that 10 travellers were allowed to leave quarantine in Christchurch to attend a burial with about 150 people on June 16. Health authorities did not confirm whether they had been tested for COVID-19.
On Sunday, Bloomfield revealed that approximately 2,400 returned travellers had been quarantined for 14 days but not tested before release. He downplayed the risk that the virus had escaped into the community, but added that these people were being followed up to check that they do not have the virus.
In fact, the failure to test all new arrivals carries tremendous dangers. COVID-19 spreads extremely quickly and many carriers have no symptoms. With the pandemic raging throughout the world largely unchecked, the likelihood of travellers returning to New Zealand with the virus is high.
New Zealand has recorded 1,513 cases of COVID-19, including 22 deaths. The Ministry of Health says there are 10 active cases, all recent arrivals from overseas who are isolated in hotels.
As in nearly every country, however, the Ardern government has not carried out mass testing of the population. Tests have been restricted to people with symptoms and close contacts of positive cases. As of Monday, 344,519 people had been tested (under 7 percent of the population).
Several community testing sites in small towns have reportedly been closed in recent weeks. A plan to close Wellingtons testing centres this week was dropped after the recent quarantine breaches.
Media commentators have attacked the government over the debacle. Radio NZs Kathryn Ryan declared yesterday that tens of billions of dollars had been spent fighting the virus and failure is not an option. She asked: What the hell is going on when a protocol is instituted and it is not being carried out?
Newshubs Duncan Garner told his viewers: You have every right to stand up and hurl obscenities at those in charge, who look more than incompetent.
Such statements reflect fears in the ruling elite that a renewed outbreak of COVID-19 would further damage the economy and jeopardise plans to reopen the border with Australia and other countries.
On June 18, Bloomfield apologised for the failure to test the two sisters before they left isolation. The opposition National Party, meanwhile, is demanding that Health Minister David Clark be sacked.
Scrambling to contain the political damage, Ardern last week placed the Defence Force in charge of the quarantine hotels, which currently have more than 4,200 travellers in isolation. The public health system, after decades of severe underfunding by Labour and National governments, was incapable of managing the facilities and had already been relying on the military for assistance for weeks.
Neale Jones, Arderns former chief of staff, told Radio NZ yesterday that the government was in very dangerous territory because its entire current popularity is built on its response to COVID.
Polls showed strong support for the lockdown imposed from late March to mid-May. However, as in other countries, the government sought to appease businesses by allowing workplaces and schools to reopen earlier than health experts had recommended.
Above all, the ruling elite fears the growth of anger in the working class. Businesses, assisted by the trade union bureaucracy, have seized on the pandemic to slash jobs and restructure their operations at the expense of workers. More than a third of households have suffered a decline in income since the pandemic.
One sign of the shift to the left, particularly among young people, is the mass protests against police killings in the US and the arming of police in NZ. This radicalisation will deepen and take on a more pronounced anti-capitalist character as the economic crisis worsens.
New Zealands gross domestic product fell by 1.6 percent in the March quarter, the worst contraction in 29 years. ANZ Bank economists expect the economy to shrink by 19 percent in the second quarter, with unemployment rising to 10 percent by September.
More than 50,000 people have signed up to the Jobseeker allowance since March 20. Tourism-related businesses have collapsed and virtually every sector of the economy is in crisis.
Retail Association chief executive Greg Harford told Radio NZ yesterday about 6,700 retail businesses are at serious risk of failing. He said that job losses could be between 17,000 and 65,000 over the next six to eight months.
Thousands of temporary migrant workers who have lost jobs are barred from accessing unemployment benefits and relying on emergency relief from the government. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, from the anti-immigrant NZ First Party, has demanded that jobless migrants leave the country as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, there is unlimited cash for the financial markets, and big businesses have received billions in subsidies, bailouts and tax breaks. Defence Minister Ron Mark told Stuff on June 13 that the government remains committed to spending $20 billion on military upgrades, including new air force planes, naval vessels and armoured vehicles.
The government, supported by every party in parliament, is strengthening the armed forces in order to integrate further New Zealand into US war plans, particularly against China. It is also preparing to suppress opposition at home to the worst levels of social inequality since the 1930s Great Depression.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 19:27:48|Editor: huaxia
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Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian (L, Front) and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn (R, Front) exchange documents of a cooperation agreement in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 23, 2020. China provided 7.22 million U.S. dollars from the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund 2020 to Cambodia on Tuesday for implementing 20 projects in the kingdom. Wang Wentian and Prak Sokhonn signed the cooperation agreement on projects of LMC Special Fund in Phnom Penh. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)
PHNOM PENH, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China provided 7.22 million U.S. dollars from the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund 2020 to Cambodia on Tuesday for implementing 20 projects in the kingdom.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn signed the cooperation agreement on projects of LMC Special Fund in Phnom Penh.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Wang said Cambodia had harvested the largest number of LMC Special Fund projects for three consecutive years, with 55 projects in total.
"This clearly demonstrates Cambodia's active participation in the LMC and shows that China-Cambodia cooperation under the Lancang-Mekong framework is very effective," he said.
"We hope that the smooth implementation of these projects will help improve the livelihood of Cambodian people and accelerate socio-economic development in Cambodia," he added.
Sokhonn expressed his sincere thanks to China for approving and financing additional new projects.
"These new projects will further contribute to a broad range of cooperation activities in the fields of rural development, water resources, agriculture, air connectivity, education, and cultural heritage among many others," he said.
Since the launch of the LMC Special Fund in 2016, these projects have contributed to enhancing the socio-economic development of the Lancang-Mekong countries through narrowing development gaps, deepening mutual understanding and trust, and strengthening capacity to better respond to the needs of peoples, he added.
Sokhonn said despite the grave impact of COVID-19 crisis, Cambodia-China cooperation, bilaterally and multilaterally, has not lost any significance.
"Amidst this challenging time of global pandemic, our ceremony today is timely and of great significance to prove our resilience and to reaffirm our strong foundation of the LMC," he said.
China initiated the LMC Special Fund during the first LMC Leaders' meeting in Sanya of southern China's Hainan province in March 2016 with the aim of supporting the small and medium-sized cooperation projects put forward by the six Lancang-Mekong countries.
The six Lancang-Mekong countries include China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Enditem
Protesters attempt to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House - Drew Angerer/Getty Images
A crowd of protesters tried to topple the statue of a former US president near the White House on Monday evening as police responded with pepper spray to break up new protests that erupted in Washington.
Several-hundred protestors were pushed back by at least 100 security force personnel after they had thrown ropes around the statue of Andrew Jackson, the seventh US president, in Lafayette Park.
They scrawled the words "killer scum" on the base and pulled at the ropes around the figure of Mr Jackson on a horse before police intervened.
Video footage posted to social media also showed demonstrators climbing on the bronze monument in Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House, in the latest bid to destroy images of historical figures considered racist or divisive.
Police in riot gear are then seen moving in to drive the crowd back and form a protective ring around the statue, which was erected in 1852 on a white marble base.
"The police attacked us. They've taken the law to their own hands," Raymond Spaine, a 52-year-old black man cleaning his eyes with saline, told AFP.
A woman reacts to being hit with pepper spray as protesters clash with Park Police after they attempted to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House - Tasos Katopodis /Getty Images
Earlier, protesters clashed with police in nearby streets as part of the latest in a string of demonstrations against police brutality and racism.
A wave of nationwide Black Lives Matter demonstrations calling for racial justice has swept the United States since the May 25 death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
People react as police use pepper spray to clear out Lafayette Park across the street from the White House - MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Mr Jackson was a former general in the US Army and a populist politician nicknamed "Old Hickory", whose political style has sometimes been compared with that of Donald Trump.
Native American activists have long criticised Mr Jackson, a Democrat, for signing during his 1829-37 presidency the Indian Removal Act, in which thousands of people were driven from their land by the US government.
Forced to march West in what was described as the "Trail of Tears", thousands of Native Americans died before reaching their intended destination.
Story continues
A protester wraps chains around the neck of the statue of President Andrew Jackson - REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
Earlier this month, police broke up a peaceful protest in the same park moments before Donald Trump walked from the White House for a photo-op at a historic church damaged by arson the previous night.
Mr Trump has delivered blunt instructions to local leaders confronting the protests against police brutality, telling authorities to "dominate the streets", and he has been unapologetic about the heavy deployment of forces.
He also threatened to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act, which would mean deploying the armed forces on US soil.
Working tirelessly with the police during curfew and lockdown for the past three months, volunteers went on strike on Tuesday after Division number 4 policemen allegedly thrashed a volunteer and his brother on Monday night.
After the volunteers huddled at the police station demanding an FIR against the accused cops, the police allegedly used force to disperse them. Most of the volunteers did not come to duty on Tuesday in protest.
Volunteers lodged a complaint with commissioner of police Rakesh Agrawal seeking action.
Volunteer Rohit Kumar, 26, alleged the police had beaten him and his brother Shubham Kumar, 23, inside the Division number 4 police station.
Rohits mother, Pooja, 45, of Vishkarma Colony, said, I, along with my son, had gone to collect a payment of Rs 2lakh from Daresi on Monday evening. The police stopped us near the old vegetable market in Daresi and asked for vehicle documents. Shubham was not carrying the documents at that time, however, he called Rohit to bring them.
Pooja added, Even after the documents were produced, the police personnel demanded Rs 200 to allow us to go. After Rohit introduced himself as a police volunteer, the cops started abusing us.
When the police personnel used derogatory and vulgar language for me, my both sons objected to it. Meanwhile, inspector Satwant Singh, SHO of Division number 4 police station, came and took us to the police station, she said.
Rohit alleged the police personnel slapped his brother for at least 15 times at the police station and beat them up with sticks.
He said as soon as other volunteers received this information, they gathered outside the police station and raised slogans. The police then used force to disperse them, he added.
Inspector Satwant Singh said it was a minor misunderstanding, which was later resolved. He refuted the allegations of beating up volunteers and using force against them.
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A strong earthquake hit Mexico on Tuesday in the southern state of Oaxaca, almost three years after a tremor in the central state of Puebla killed more than 300 people.
The tremor killed five people and injured five near the earthquake's epicenter in Oaxaca, a mountainous state known for its coffee, mescal and Spanish colonial architecture.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially said the quake's magnitude was 7.7. Mexico's seismological institute put its strength at 7.5, according to Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Rockfalls blocked the winding mountain roads between the state capital of Oaxaca City and the coast. A clinic and other buildings in hill villages near the epicenter were severely damaged, images on social media showed.
An Oaxaca state agency that assessed the damages informed governor Alejandro Murat that a 92-year-old man was killed when a fence fell on top of him in the town of San Agustin Amatengo. A 53-year-old worker for PEMEX, the state-owned oil company, died when he fell off a work area at the Antonio Dovali Jaime Refinery in the municipality of Salina Cruz.
A 26-year-old man in the city of San Francisco Ozolotepec and a 22-year-old woman in the Santa Maria Huatulco neighborhood of La Crucecita were also killed after the buildings they were in collapsed.
The earthquake also killed a boy - whose age was not released - in San Juan Ozolotepec.
The earthquake caused several injuries, including one person who was treated after a transformer exploded at a state-owned oil refinery in Salina Cruze.
The tremor was felt in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Veracruz, Morelos, Estado de Mexico and Puebla, and the capital Mexico City.
Tuesday morning's earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico, destroyed the wall of a house. At least five people died as a result of the 7.5-magnitude tremor that was felt in six other states and the capital, Mexico City
A resident in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca removes debris from a building that was damaged by an earthquake
Patients from a Mexico City hospital await to reenter after they were evacuated as a precaution following Tuesday's earthquake in Mexico. Mexican news outlet Milenio reported that no COVID-19 patients were escorted into the public from any of the hospitals in the city
Residents in Mexico City stand outside their home after they evacuated as a precaution moments after a 7.5-magnitude tremor struck the southern state of Oaxaca
A man looks at a building after his car was damaged by a broken glass and objects which fell over it during a quake in Mexico City
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a tsunami alert for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The US Pacific Tsunami warning center said waves as high as 10 feet could hit anywhere within 600 miles of the quake's epicenter.
Ecuador's Oceanographic Institute of the Navy [INOCAR] issued a tsunami alert for residents living along the coast of the South American nation.
Mexican authorities confirmed an aftershock at 11:32am that registered 5.2 on the Richter scale in Oaxaca.
A building is cordoned off after it was damaged by Tuesday morning's earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico. At least five people were confirmed dead
A 7.5 earthquake hit the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca on Tuesday at 10:29am. Authorities reported two more aftershocks that registered 5.2 and 4.2 on the Richter scale
A police officer stands guard across the street from a damaged building in Mexico City
A worker removes debris from a building damaged during a tremor in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The earthquake killed five people and injured five
Murat addressed residents from his state, telling them, 'we are united. We are well.'
He asked residents to check their homes and to call 911 if they noticed any structural damages.
The earthquake, which hit at 10:29am local time, shook buildings in the center of the capital of Mexico City, hundreds of miles away and sending hundreds of people fleeing their homes into the streets.
Patients are evacuated from a public hospital following Tuesday morning's 7.5-magnitude earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico
Tenants were evacuated from a building in Mexico City after a concrete slab was separated from the structure
Mexico City residents console each other Tuesday morning after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook the southern state of Oaxaca
A resident in Mexico City records the moment the sidewalk separated during Tuesday morning's tremor
Resident mill around outside a residence in Mexico City while buildings and street poles shook
A man and a woman seek refuge along with a pet dog in Mexico City on Tuesday
Mexican television network Milenio showed a slab of concrete separating from an apartment building in the Mexico City neighborhood of Cuauhtemoc.
Inbound and outbound flights from Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City were temporarily halted. Images from local television stations showed hundreds of travelers milling outside the airport.
Residents took to social media to share footage of the powerful tremor, causing a cobblestone sidewalk in the Mexican capital to separate as the ground moved for various seconds.
The tremor was felt in six states across Mexico and the capital, Mexico City, where the exterior of a building (pictured) was damaged
Patients and medical staff head back inside a Mexico City hospital after it was briefly evacuated due to an earthquake Tuesday
A woman walks by debris from a building damaged during a quake, in Oaxaca, Mexico
As a precaution patients from hospitals were evacuated. Mexican news outlet Milenio reported that no COVID-19 patients were escorted into the public from any of the hospitals in Mexico City.
Several neighborhoods in Mexico City also reported loss of electricity.
Miguel Candelaria, 30, was working at his computer in his family home in the Oaxaca town of Juchitan when the ground began to tremble. He ran outside with relatives, but they had to stop in the middle of the street as the pavement buckled and rocked.
'We couldn't walk... the street was like chewing gum,' Candelaria said.
The earthquake caused power generators to explode at a state-owned refinery located in the Oaxaca city of Salina Cruz. Firefighters were able to bring a fire under control.
Authorities clear debris after a 7.5-magnitude tremor in Oaxaca, Mexico, on Tuesday
A patient is led back inside a hospital in Mexico City after it was evacuated as a precaution
In Santa Maria Huatulco, a laid-back beach destination known for surfing and small protected coves, the earthquake knocked goods off shelves and some rubble from buildings.
Mari Gonzalez of the Princess Mayev hotel in Huatulco said staff and guests were able to evacuate the building before the quake, but that 45 minutes after the initial quake they were still outside as strong aftershocks continued.
'It was strong, very strong,' she said.
Gonzalez said there was some visible broken glass and mirrors, but no major damage. The staff was waiting for the aftershocks to dissipate before fully evaluating the property.
The earthquake surpassed the 7.1 tremor that shook Puebla on September 19, 2017, killing 370 people and injuring 6,011.
Firefighters battle a blaze at a state-owned refinery in Oaxaca, Mexico. An employee died after falling from a work station
A man clears the debris left on a street after Tuesday morning's earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico
Tullamore woman and the Director of Communications and Fundraising for World Vision Ireland, Fiona OMalley, has called for an end to child marriage after the publication of a worrying new report.
A report released today by international aid agency, World Vision Ireland, reveals that child marriage has significantly increased in northwest Syria since conflict began ten years ago, as a result of conflict, displacement, poverty, and cultural pressures.
The report, called Stolen Future: War and Child Marriage in Northwest Syria, found that: Child marriage has become more common since the conflict in Syria began, according to 99% of girls and 94% of boys surveyed; More than half of women and girls surveyed said that the fear of sexual exploitation, and extreme poverty drove child marriage.
In northwest Syria, an estimated 2.8 million people are in need, out of a total population of 4 million. Children are being exposed to a number of threats, including forced marriage, as households are driven to new depths of vulnerability, poverty and desperation. Over a third of girls in the developing world are married before their 18th birthday, oftentimes as a means for their impoverished family to make money.
The impact of COVID-19 is already pushing displaced people living in extreme poverty to new depths of destitution and we expect to see child marriage figures increase even further in the future, said Eleanor Monbiot, World Visions Regional Leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The report found that social media is being increasingly used to set up girls as young as ten with potential husbands, who are often two, three, and even four decades older.
Many respondents of the survey stated that fear of exploitation and extreme poverty were key drivers of child marriage. However, the reality is that child marriage offers little protection from abuse and is accompanied by significant physical and psychological harm, mental health challenges, increased domestic violence, early withdrawal from education and multidimensional, intergenerational poverty, said Eleanor Monbiot.
World Leaders are meeting virtually on the 29th June for the Brussels IV Conference on the Future of Syria where they hope to work towards a lasting nation-wide ceasefire and to pledge much-needed resources to respond to the crisis.
Child marriage is usually driven by desperation, vulnerability and tragic circumstances. Tullamore woman, Fiona OMalley, the Director of Communications and Fundraising for World Vision Ireland, said.
If global leaders are serious about the future of Syria, they cannot ignore the issue of child marriage. We hope that the Brussels IV Conference will help to bring real, positive change to these vulnerable Syrian children.
World Vision Ireland is calling on the public to donate whatever they can to help the worlds most vulnerable children by going to https://www.worldvision.ie/transaction/where-the-need-is-greatest
JACKSON, MI Roadhouse Grill & Bar was established in 1967, and in the 53 years since, it has seen its fair share of history.
Owned by Leah Denda, who took it over from her father, Al Kalis, in 2002, it was once a family farm and now has a little bit of a ghost problem, too, but that doesnt stop patrons from enjoying the popular bar and eatery. Roadhouse is located at 4112 Lansing Avenue in Jackson and is open Tuesday through Sunday.
MLive spoke to Denda about owning and operating the restaurant for the last 18 years and how a pandemic, ghosts and the bars 53-year history are just the icing on the cake.
You can the view menu here.
Peek Through Time: Blackman Townships Roadhouse rife with legends, and maybe ghosts
What led to the roadhouse opening and why did you get into the business?
Its been open since 1967, we purchased it. It used to be the Meadow Lark inn, if you go to our website there is a whole page about the history there with photos. My mother, after my father passed away, sold it to my brother and he decided he didnt want to be in that line of business. So, she was going to sell it. At the time, my husband and I lived in South Carolina. I worked for a newspaper as a designer and my husband worked in textiles. We had a son and we wanted to move closer to home so thats how we started in 2002.
What has reopening been like? Good and bad?
Were very lucky, the people in our area our customers, are really great. Theyve been very supportive of us. We do have a fairly large building so moving tables and creating space, we are very lucky in that case. We are building a patio, something weve wanted to do for years but a couple different times things happened, and we werent able to continue. So, we should have a patio this summer which should really help our business. The challenges are the food, there are so many outages, we did make a smaller menu so that it would be easier to keep track and cook things. More flexibility then what we have.
Its so nice to see people we havent seen in months. It was just really wonderful seeing everyone, hearing peoples laughter and them talking. To go into the business when it was empty was maybe, sad. Its nice to hear the laughter again.
Theres a lot of stories of ghosts at the bar, Whats the history?
We get quite a few people, ghost hunters, who want to spend the night there and things like that. There is one book thats published that has a story in it. And a lot of people who have worked there for a longer term, have stories about stuff happening there. Now its just part of the business.
Michigans Best Neighborhood Bar: A look at the Roadhouse in Jackson
People have seen different things and heard different things. Even my husband will tell you a story that he was sitting there actually making fun of it, saying, Oh yeah the place is really haunted. And he got pushed in the chair and it pushed him forward. Another cook was saying hamburger buns kept flying off the shelves. Hear laughter, people talking.
What makes you different? What are some of your top items?
One of the things that makes us different is weve been doing this for a long time. Theres a lot of authenticity. Its a casual, comfortable place and a place where everyone is welcome, all ages and types of people.
If youve ever tried our Sticky Burger, its one of the most popular burgers we have. All of our hamburgers do well, and we are doing a fish fry later, too. We have Polish food too.
The Powering Positivity campaign by MLive Media Group highlights how Michiganders are supporting one another during the coronavirus pandemic. It is sponsored by The MediLodge Group.
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Local Eats: How Dr. Rolfs in Muskegon kept moving during the stay-at-home orders
North Korea to launch balloons loaded with 'retaliatory' leaflets into South
Iran Press TV
Monday, 22 June 2020 9:24 AM
North Korea is prepared to launch thousands of balloons carrying millions of "retaliatory" leaflets to its southern neighbor as inter-Korean relations take a nosedive.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will soon distribute 12 million leaflets to South Korea "to make them pay dearly for their crime," the official Korean Central News Agency KCNA) said on Monday as quoted by Xinhua news agency.
"As of June 22, various equipment and means of distributing leaflets, including over 3,000 balloons of various types capable of scattering leaflets deep inside South Korea, have been prepared," and 12 million leaflets of all kinds have been printed out, the report said.
"The preparations for the largest-ever distribution of leaflets against the enemy are almost complete," the report said, adding that "the time for retaliatory punishment is drawing near."
Recently, Pyongyang cut off all communication lines with Seoul and blew up a liaison office building near the border with South Korea to demonstrate its outrage at the ongoing distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by defectors and other activists in the South.
Seoul: Bolton's memoir distorted
Just ahead of the release of a book by former White House national security adviser John Bolton on Tuesday, South Korea protested that what Bolton has reflected of the negotiations between US President Donald Trump and the two Koreas' leaders are inaccurate and a distortion of facts.
"It does not reflect accurate facts and substantially distorts facts," South Korea's national security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, said in a statement referring to Bolton's revelations in regard to the meetings and top-level consultations held before and after the summits between the leaders.
Bolton has in his memoir, titled "The Room Where It Happened", given details surrounding the three meetings between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to media outlets that have released excerpts of the book.
According to Bolton, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who was keen back then on ameliorating inter-Korean relations, had given false hope to both Kim and Trump in order to push his own "unification" agenda.
Bolton has refered to Moon's perception of the reality of the situation as distorted and "schizophrenic."
The top official in Moon's office hit back, saying maybe Bolton himself was "schizophrenic."
"Perhaps he is in that condition," Chung said.
Chung refrained from elaborating on what was assessed by Seoul as distorted facts, but noted that the release of Bolton's book would not only be "dangerous", but also "violate" the principles of diplomacy.
"Unilaterally publishing consultations made based on mutual trust violates the basic principles of diplomacy and could severely damage future negotiations," he complained.
Trump and Kim met for the first time in Singapore in June 2018, as part of efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
But their second summit, in Vietnam in early 2019, collapsed when Trump rejected an offer by Kim to lift some of the crippling sanctions in return for Pyonyang's dismantling of a nuclear facility.
Bolton has reportedly written in his memoir that Kim's decision to dismantle the facility was a "very meaningful first step" toward "irreversible" denuclearization.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 06:05:33|Editor: huaxia
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DUBLIN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A senior airport official here on Tuesday described the impact of the COVID-19 on Irish airports as "enormous".
Dalton Philips, chief executive of Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), told local media RTE that DAA has been suffering a daily loss of around one million euros (1.13 million U.S. dollars) since Saint Patrick's Day, which fell on March 17.
DAA is a semi-state company which owns and operates two largest airports in Ireland, namely Dublin Airport and Cork Airport, in addition to some other business related to aviation industry.
Philips said that the impact of the COVID-19 crisis could eventually result in a loss of an estimated 750 to 1,000 permanent jobs at two DAA airports.
He said that all staff members of DAA, including himself, have received a 20-percent pay cut.
He also predicted that it could take up to three years for passenger numbers of the two DAA airports to return to normal.
In 2019, Dublin Airport alone handled close to 33 million passengers, accounting for over 85 percent of 38.1 million passengers handled by all the airports in Ireland.
During the first five months of this year, Dublin Airport only handled over 5.2 million passengers, down 57 percent when compared with the same period last year. (1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollars) Enditem
Jade Goody was the subject of a touching tribute from Davina McCall and Rylan Clark-Neal on Monday as they hosted Big Brother: Best Ever Shows.
The tragic reality star was just 27 when she lost her battle to cervical cancer in 2009, seven years after finding fame on the third series of Big Brother.
And as former hosts Davina and Rylan joined forces to look back on some of the highlights from the 2002 series, they brought viewers to tears as they rounded out their coverage by dedicating some heartwarming words to Jade.
Touching tribute: Late reality star Jade Goody was the subject of a touching tribute from on Monday as they hosted Big Brother: Best Ever Shows
'We need to just take a minute and talk about Jade,' Rylan said. 'Because in BB3, she was probably the perfect housemate. If we had a factory where we had to build housemates she'd be one of the first.'
Sharing her own thoughts on the south London native, Davina added: 'She was beautifully flawed. And I think all of us could relate to her in some form or another.
We felt for her, we cried with her, we laughed at her, then we started laughing with her, then we loved her with all of our hearts. She was just an extraordinary person.'
Looking back: The nostalgic episodes have been hosted by former Big Brother presenters Davina McCall and Rylan Clark-Neal, and they rounded out Monday's coverage with a tribute
Happier times: A former dental nurse, Jade sprang to overnight fame on Big Brother in 2002, with her success seeing her invited back onto the show five years later
Their brief tribute yet heartfelt sparked a flurry of emotional tweets from viewers, who took to the micro-blogging platform to share their reactions.
'Jade Goody FOREVER,' wrote one viewer wrote shortly after the broadcast concluded. 'So many tears. That's all that needs to be said really.'
Wrote another: 'Miss seeing #jadegoody she was just a normal girl & she grew on our hearts she made a great business woman R.I.P.JADE ALWAYS IN MY HEART XX.'
'Feels bittersweet watching Jade Goody again,' stated a third, followed by another who penned: 'Good bless her. Jade Goody beautiful young girl so innocent and through her illness and vlogs she changed a law to bring smear tests forward.'
Heartbreaking: The tragic reality star was just 27 when she lost her battle to cervical cancer in 2009, seven years after finding fame on the third series of Big Brother
Reaction: Fans took to Twitter in droves to their share their reaction to the touching moment
Jade, who proved to be a controversial figure on the show, was seen mingling with a number of her housemates who would go on to become household names, including Alison Hammond, Kate Lawler, and Adele Roberts.
She placed fourth on the series, after making it to the final, from which Kate Lawler emerged as the victor. However, she returned to the Big Brother fold five years later.
A former dental nurse, Jade sprang to overnight fame on Big Brother in 2002, with her success seeing her invited back onto the show five years later to take part in the Celebrity version, alongside her mother Jackiey Budden and boyfriend Jack Tweed.
During her time in the house she formed a friendship with Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara, but the trio were accused of bullying fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty.
Ofcom received 44,500 complaints from the public - a record at the time - with the trio accused of making racist remarks by referring to her as 'Shilpa F***awalla' and 'Shilpa Poppadom', among other comments.
Hugs: The reality star is seen hugging her co-star Kate Lawler during an episode of the show
Tears: Viewers revealed they were moved to tears after seeing Jade return to their screens
Such was the scandal at the time that although Shilpa did not lodge an official complaint about racist behaviour with Big Brother, her allegations compelled police to investigate the possible classification of her treatment as 'racial hatred'.
In a Channel 4 documentary about Jade last year, Davina McCall recounted the moment she realised Jade's popularity had waned as a result of the scandal.
She explained: 'I felt such enormous joy at Jade's popularity. Then, "Oh my God, what happened? How can it all turn in a nanosecond? She's now become the most hated girl in Britain?"'
Discussing how she felt before Jade's infamous eviction interview - in which there was no studio audience for the star's protection - Davina added: 'It was a bit like knowing you're about to ruin someone's life forever, but they don't know it yet. Ooof.'
Amends: Jade was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 while she was appearing on the Indian version of Big Brother in a bid to make amends for her row with Shilpa Shetty
Jade was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 while she was appearing on the Indian version of Big Brother in a bid to make amends for the race row.
After her diagnosis, Jade's cancer spread to her bowel, liver and groin and she died on Mother's Day in March 2009.
She left behind two sons, Bobby and Freddy, now 16 and 15, respectively, who are cared for by their father and Jade's ex, Jeff Brazier.
In the year of Jade's very public battle with cancer, just as attendance at screenings was beginning to decline, 0.4 million extra attendances occurred.
Jade's Legacy was a campaign set up to echo her call for more women to go for screening.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 13:00 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660eab30 1 Entertainment Reply-1988,Netflix,Korean-drama,park-bo-gum,series,South-Korea Free
A small reunion held by the cast members of the hit South Korean television series Reply 1988 has caused quite a commotion on the internet.
Lee Dong-Hwi, who plays the role of Ryu Dong-ryong in the series, posted pictures on his Instagram account on Monday, showing him and costars Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo, Lee Hye-ri and Ryu Hye-Young posing in a photo booth and in front of a mirror.
Park, Go and Lee are seen wearing matching tops of green and white stripes.
Fans could not contain their excitement upon seeing the photos, making Reply 1988 a trending topic on Twitter.
@mesrasimatupang tweeted: A drama that is always close to my heart. [I feel] like living in Ssangmun-dong and growing up with them.
Drama yg selalu melekat dihati ngerasa tinggal di Ssangmun-dong wkwkw dan tumbuh dewasa bareng mereka
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Pict : IG (dlehdgnl) #Reply1988 pic.twitter.com/POZyR9XkNN -MEsra Simatupang- (@mesrasimatupang) June 23, 2020
User @greenteacoffe__ said that its one of the best dramas ever produced for television.
Read also: Dont know Park Bo-gum? Well, you should
When the photos were first posted, fans searched for traces of Ryu Jun-yeol, who plays Kim Jung-hwan, one of the main characters. Humorous remarks of how he was stuck at a traffic light emerged, referring to one of the most popular scenes in the series.
However, a fan photo shows that Ryu possibly joined the gang in a restaurant.
"The year was 1988, a time when it was chilly, but our hearts were fiery, a time when we didnt have much but peoples hearts were warm."
-Deok Sun
YESSSS we're going crazy over this low quality photo,LOW QUALITY BUT IT TOUCHES OUR HEART PURELY.#Reply1988 #Ssangmundongsquad pic.twitter.com/o1Wi0zKavk Deok-sun #JunkTerrorBill (@_sngdksn) June 23, 2020
Directed by Shin Won-ho (Prison Playbook, Hospital Playlist), the series follows the everyday lives of five friends and their families living in the same neighborhood, Ssangmun-dong in Northern Seoul in 1988. It also highlights the love triangle between Deok-sun (Lee Hye-ri), genius Go player Choi Taek (Park Bo-gum) and Kim Jung-hwan.
The final episode aired on Jan. 16, 2016, achieving a rating of 19.6 percent and making Reply 1988 the fourth highest-rated Korean drama in cable television history.
Reply 1988 is currently available on Netflix. (jes/wng)
PHOENIX Attorney General Mark Brnovich is going to begin enforcing Arizonas civil rights laws against private employers who discriminate based on someones sexual orientation.
In a new court filing, Brnovich said he now considers last weeks ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to be binding in all cases of sex discrimination in the workplace. The filing said Brnovich will interpret the law that way even though state legislators have not amended Arizonas own statutes.
The attorney general did acknowledge that the Legislature is free to come in and amend the Arizona Civil Rights Act to specifically say that sexual orientation or transgender status is not covered under the state law. But, absent some legislative direction, Brnovich said thats how hell enforce the law from now on.
Sen. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Chandler, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he first wants to see how broad the Supreme Court decision is. He said a lot of what happens next could depend on whether the ruling covers only employment discrimination or other forms, like housing or public accommodation.
Oralia Loza, Ph.D., public health sciences associate professor at The University of Texas at El Paso, and the Borderland Rainbow Center (BRC) have collaborated on a survey that examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the LGBTQ+ population in Texas.
Led by Phillip W. Schnarrs, Ph.D., at The University of Texas at Austin's Dell Medical School, the survey involved a statewide coalition of community and research partners, including UTEP and El Paso's BRC, to better understand the needs, concerns and challenges of LGBTQ+ Texans and their allies during the coronavirus outbreak.
Preliminary results from this first-of-its-kind survey found that gender diverse people and queer people of color are experiencing a number of disparities. They include higher rates of COVID-19, more difficulty accessing a variety of services, and higher rates of anxiety and depression, as well as high unemployment compared with white participants.
The results, which are broken down by race, ethnicity and gender identity, are available here. Researchers plan to release the findings by individual Texas counties later this year.
"The purpose of the study is two-fold," said Loza, who collaborated with the BRC to include representation from El Paso in the survey data. She is currently translating the survey and preliminary findings of the study into Spanish. "One is to understand what are the needs of the LGBTQ population in our community because it has never been assessed before, especially statewide. But also, community organizations such as the BRC can use that data to show evidence of the need to advocate for those services. Other community organizations also can use the data to generate findings that are specific to the work they do. If their focus is mental health, they can look at the mental health data and report the needs for their city."
The survey, which launched May 4, 2020, will continue to recruit participants until July 30, 2020. To date, researchers have gathered data from 1,000 LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies, including 111 respondents from El Paso. The survey is available here.
Researchers said the data collected will be given back to community partners to use for future planning, as well as the development and delivery of programs to support LGBTQ+ individuals and allies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FWD Group has agreed to buy a minority stake in the life insurance arm of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), taking another step towards building a pan-regional insurance company.
The Hong Kong-based life insurance company said on Monday that it would buy a stake in Indonesia's PT Asuransi BRI Life, finally securing a company it has been chasing for years by winning a fiercely contested auction.
FWD, which is backed by Hong Kong-based entrepreneur Richard Li Tzar-kai, Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing's younger son, bid about US$300 million for a 30 per cent stake in the business, according to a person familiar with the matter. The deal values the Indonesian life insurer at about US$1 billion, the person added. An FWD spokeswoman declined to comment on the valuation.
Since its foundation in 2013, FWD has been weaving together an insurance platform across Southeast Asia's underserved and fast-growing markets. A significant presence in Indonesia, the region's largest market by GDP and the world's fourth most populous country, has long been a treasured prize.
"We are now in all the major markets that we aimed to build in," Huynh Thanh Phong, FWD's chief executive, told the South China Morning Post. FWD now spans Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia. "The BRI Life acquisition fits exactly into the same approach and strategy that we've adopted over the years," he said.
Huynh Thanh Phong, FWD's chief executive. Photo: Handout alt=Huynh Thanh Phong, FWD's chief executive. Photo: Handout
FWD will continue to look for deals and licences that enhance its distribution and scale in markets. For example, it is waiting for China to approve its application for a majority-owned insurance company on the mainland.
The deal also showcases FWD's financial wherewithal at a time when credit rating agencies are warily examining insurance companies globally for any damage wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.
Story continues
"We are in pretty robust health," said Huynh, who believes the industry will come out of the coronavirus pandemic stronger than ever before, as behaviour shifts. "People will be much more mindful about protection and health going forward," he said.
Regarding capital raising to bolster the balance sheet further, including a potential initial public offering, Huynh would only say that FWD's shareholders were constantly assessing capital market conditions for potential fundraising.
While FWD plans to grow its stake in BRI Life gradually, state-controlled Bank Rakyat will remain the majority shareholder. The deal offers FWD access to BRI's extensive network across the archipelago through a 15-year life insurance distribution agreement. BRI, the country's largest commercial bank by assets, has more than 120 million customers, including an extensive rural distribution network.
"Overnight, from the combination of BRI Life and FWD Life, we will have access to nearly half of the population of Indonesia, and even if we convert a small percentage of these customers into a life insurance policy owner that would be significant in terms of new business sales," Huynh said.
BRI has flirted with the sale of its insurance arm several times. "This deal didn't happen overnight, we've been pursuing this opportunity for years," Huynh said. He felt that FWD finally managed to seal the deal because it could demonstrate a track record of being a sound partner for banks around the region, its digital capability as well as paying an attractive price for the business.
FWD has signed 12 bancassurance partnerships across Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam in recent years. Just last year, it signed partnerships with Siam Commercial Bank and Vietcombank.
The company first entered the Indonesian market through PT FWD Life Indonesia, a joint venture it set up in 2015. The joint venture had a market share of less than 1 per cent by life gross premiums as of the end of last year.
According to credit rating agency Fitch, the company expects to turn profitable within the next five years and plans to focus on sales of regular premium unit-linked policies and protection-based products to improve profitability.
FWD's investment in BRI Life follows its acquisition of a majority stake in PT Commonwealth Life, the Indonesian life insurance arm of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). It also signed a 15-year distribution partnership with Bank Commonwealth, the Indonesian banking arm of CBA.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
CINCINNATI, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KYOCERA SENCO Industrial Tools, Inc. (Senco), the nation's largest staple manufacturer, announced today that the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted 5-0 reaffirming the U.S. industry has been injured by unfairly traded collated steel staple imports from China. With today's vote, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) will issue antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders in the coming days.
Senco petitioned Commerce and the ITC to investigate certain collated staple imports from China in July 2019. This vote finalizes the cases.
"We welcome today's final vote and commend the ITC and Department of Commerce for their hard work on this case," said Cliff Mentrup, CEO of Senco. "Chinese producers have been defying the rules of international trade law to the detriment of U.S. producers for far too long. Today's decision sends a strong message that foreign governments and producers engaging in these practices will be held accountable. This is good news for our industry, for our business, our workers, and their families."
Last month, Commerce determined that producers and/or exporters from China have sold collated steel staples at less than fair value in the United States at rates ranging from 96.15% to 122.55%. In addition, Commerce determined that producers and/or exporters from China received countervailable subsidies at rates ranging from 12.32% to 192.64%.
In 2018, U.S. imports of certain collated staples from China were valued at an estimated $88.8 million, according to Commerce.
"We can compete on a level playing field," Mentrup continued. "Thanks to the support of Commerce and the ITC, it looks like we are going to get the chance to do that again. We are very happy about that."
About KYOCERA SENCO Industrial Tools, Inc. (SENCO)
KYOCERA SENCO Industrial Tools was formed in August 2017 when Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) acquired SENCO Holdings, Inc., a leader in creating fasteners and power fastening tools for residential, commercial, manufacturing and construction applications. Originally established in 1948, SENCO is renowned for its excellent product quality and diverse line, which includes pneumatic and electric nailers, staplers, screw systems and compressors, as well as nails, staples, screws and specialty fasteners. KYOCERA SENCO's manufacturing and marketing are concentrated in the U.S. and Europe, with products sold in more than 40 countries worldwide.
Contact Elizabeth Heaton, [email protected], 202-445-9858
SOURCE KYOCERA SENCO Industrial Tools, Inc.
New Delhi, June 23 : A Delhi court on Tuesday junked the interim bail application moved by the wife of former Uttarakhand Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari's son Rohit Shekhar Tiwari, who was allegedly murdered by her last year.
Apoorva Shukla Tiwari knocked on the doors of the court seeking bail for two months on the ground that she suffered from a slipped disc injury after falling in Tihar Jail.
Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav, after rejecting her bail, directed the Tihar Jail Superintendent to take her to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital "for consultation and medical treatment".
The jail authorities told the court in a report that her health condition is "good and satisfactory and that she was receiving all prescribed medicines from the jail dispensary".
She was arrested last year for allegedly murdering her husband, who was smothered and strangled to death allegedly on the night of April 15-16 last year.
Somalia's ministry of foreign affairs office has told the BBC that they had no comment to make in response to US President Donald Trump's criticism of the country during a campaign rally on Saturday night.
While bashing Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born US congresswoman, Mr Trump alleged that she wanted to reshape the US like the "anarchy" that was Somalia "where she came from":
"She would like to make the government of our country just like the country from where she came. Somalia. No government, no safety, no police, no nothing. Just anarchy. And now she is telling us how to run our country. No thank you.She would like to make the government of our country just like the country from where she came. Somalia. No government, no safety, no police, no nothing. Just anarchy. And now she is telling us how to run our country. No thank you.
The BBC Somali service asked the ministry of foreign affairs if it had a response, but it said that it was not making any comments.
Somalia's UN-backed government in the capital, Mogadishu, does not control the whole of the country's territory. It is battling with militant group al-Shabab and the country is often beset by security problems.
Mr Trump described Ms Omar as a "hate-filled, American bashing socialist" who will be part of deciding the fate of America should the Democrat's presidential candidate, Joe Biden, win the November election.
Ms Omar, who has been targeted by the president before, described Mr Trump's remarks as "racist", adding that he was angry because polls had shown that he was losing to Joe Biden in her state, Minnesota.
Mr Biden is likely to be the president's challenger come November's presidential election.
Ms Omar, 37, has been an ardent critic of Mr Trump.
She and her family fled Somalia after civil war broke out and spent four years in a refugee in Kenya before relocating to the US in 1995.
Her father, who had relocated the family to the US, died last week from Covid-19 complications.
Source: BBC
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 21:33:10|Editor: huaxia
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COLOMBO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- One leopard was killed and another seriously injured when they were trapped in a snare in Pussellawa in Sri Lanka's central highlands on Tuesday, making it the third leopard killed in weeks, the Department of Wildlife Conservation said.
Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation M.G.C Sooriyabandara was quoted by the local media as saying that officials were engaged in retrieving the injured leopard and doctors on ground had sedated the animal.
Rescue operations were ongoing to save and treat the injured animal.
Sooriyabandara said an investigation had been launched as to who had set up the snares and legal action would be taken against the poachers.
Earlier this month, a rare black leopard died from injuries after being trapped in a snare in Sri Lanka, after which another brown leopard was found dead in the southern coastal town of Galle.
Wildlife officials said the survival of the Sri Lankan leopard is threatened due to habitat loss and fragmentation primarily with some levels of poaching and human-related leopard deaths. Enditem
OTTAWA - Iran has promised to hand over the flight recorders from the civilian airliner it shot down in January "without further delay" and begin compensation talks with the families of those killed in the incident, the federal government said Monday.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/6/2020 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A man pauses to look at photographs of some of the people who died in the downing of Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 in Iran, during a vigil for the victims of the flight at the Har El synagogue in West Vancouver on January 19, 2020. The federal government says Iran's foreign minister has committed to sending the flight recorders from the civilian airliner it shot down in January to be analyzed in France without delay. The commitment by Iranian Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif reportedly came during a conversation with Canadian counterpart Francois-Philippe Champagne earlier today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
OTTAWA - Iran has promised to hand over the flight recorders from the civilian airliner it shot down in January "without further delay" and begin compensation talks with the families of those killed in the incident, the federal government said Monday.
Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the promise during a telephone call with Canadian counterpart Francois-Philippe Champagne, according to a summary of the conversation provided by Global Affairs Canada.
The readout said Champagne underscored the need for a transparent investigation of the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752.
There were 176 people killed including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents when the Iranian military shot down the plane shortly after takeoff from Tehran on Jan. 8.
"Minister Zarif committed to Iran sending the flight recorders to France for analysis without further delay," reads the summary. "Iran will detail its progress on this issue at the International Civil Aviation Organization this week.
"He also agreed to enter into negotiations for reparations, and to provide an update to Canada and the other grieving nations at the next meeting of the International Co-ordination and Response Group."
Iran has been repeatedly accused of refusing to co-operate with efforts to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and hold those responsible to account, including by initially refusing to hand over the plane's black boxes.
The Islamic Republic's representative to the Montreal-based ICAO promised in March that the flight recorders would be handed over to Ukraine within two weeks, but the country missed that deadline. Iran later blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for not delivering on that promise.
Iran's representative, Farhad Parvaresh, then told The Canadian Press earlier this month that Iran would bypass Ukraine and send the flight recorders directly to France as soon as all the parties that want to be there when they are downloaded can travel.
Several victims' families put pressure on the federal government last week as they launched the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, saying they wanted to know what Ottawa was doing to pressure Iran to co-operate with investigators.
They said they planned to question Champagne during an upcoming meeting about the government's plan to hold Iran to account and called for the International Court of Justice to step in if Iran does not send the flight data recorders to France.
Iran initially denied responsibility before admitting its role in the aircraft's destruction.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 22, 2020.
US President Donald Trump believes that China is responsible for the spread of deadly coronavirus that has killed more than 4.56 lakh people globally and over 1.22 lakh in the US, his spokesperson has said. The president never regrets putting the onus back on China -- pointing out that China is responsible for this and, in the process, standing up for US troops who are being blamed by China in a campaign of misinformation, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters at a news conference on Monday.
She was responding to a series of questions on the use of term Kung flu by Trump during his Tulsa rally last week, which many believe as a racist comment. Asked why Trump used the phrase, she said: The president doesn't (use racist phrases). What the president does do is point to the fact that the origin of the virus is China.
It's a fair thing to point out as China tries to ridiculously rewrite history, ridiculously blame the coronavirus on American soldiers. This is what China is trying to do. And President Trump is saying, No, China, I will label this virus for its place of origin', she said. Using such a phrase, she asserted is not about Asian-Americans but Trump linking the virus to its place of origin.
It's important that we totally protect our Asian (American) community in the US and all around the world. They're amazing people, and the spreading of the virus is not their fault in any way, shape, or form. They're working closely with us to get rid of it. We will prevail together. It's very important, she said, quoting Trump. So, it's not a discussion about Asian-Americans, who the president values and prizes as citizens of this great country; it is an indictment of China for letting this virus get here, she said.
McEnany also pointed out that the media blames Trump for using the terms "China virus" and "Wuhan virus," when they themselves have used these very terms. The New York Times called it the Chinese coronavirus', Reuters, the Chinese virus', CNN, the Chinese coronavirus' on January 20, Washington Post on January 21 called it Chinese coronavirus' and I have more than a dozen other examples, she said.
McEnany alleged that the media is trying to play games with the terminology of this virus, where the focus should be on the fact that China let this out of their country. The same phrase that the media roundly now condemns has been used by the media. I can give more examples and we can go on and on and on. So, while the media wants to focus on nomenclature, the president is going to focus on action, she said.
Also read: Debt levels may increase nearly twice of 2009 financial crash: Moody's
Also read: Donald Trump says he held off Xinjiang sanctions due to trade talks
Mumbai:
Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday raised doubt over the veracity of the Armyas surgical strikes across the LoC suggesting it was afakea even as he accused BJP of indulging in politics over national interest.
aEvery Indian wants surgical strikes against Pakistan but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by BJP.A Politics over national interest (sic),a Nirupam tweeted.
Later talking to reporters, Nirupam said it is upto the government to prove the surgical strikes did take place. He said his party was of the view that Pakistan should be punished.
aThe way BJP was indulging in politics, putting up banners and taking credit gives a view whether such strikes did happen. In Goa, the Defence Minister (Manohar Parrikar) is being publicly felicitated. Why were earlier surgical strikes not announced in a press conference? Why was a press conference done now (by DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh)? Was there any pressure from the government?a he asked.
Army conducted surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads along the LoC on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, inflicting asignificant casualtiesa on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.
Every Indian wants #SurgicalStrikesAgainstPak but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by #BJP.
Politics over national interest pic.twitter.com/4KN6iDqDo5 a Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) October 4, 2016
The next morning, the DGMO had given this information to the media in a press conference. Pakistan, however, has been dismissing the claim as afabrication of trutha and said India was creating amedia hypea by re-branding cross-border fire as surgical strikes.
For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
(Natural News) If your employer says that you have to get tested for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in order to go back to work, know that you do not have to comply, thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has confirmed that employers are in violation of the law if they try to force their employees to take the coronavirus antibody test as a condition to work because the test is not a medical necessity.
In addition to the tests not being accurate in the first place, holding them over employees heads as some kind of medical requirement does not even meet the ADAs basic guidelines for business necessity.
To bar someone from working for refusing the test, in other words, is a form of workplace discrimination that is prohibited by law. Consequently, employers that violate this law are to be held accountable.
An antibody test constitutes a medical examination under the ADA, the EEOC says.
In light of CDCs interim guidelines that antibody test results should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace, an antibody test at this time does not meet the ADAs job related and consistent with business necessity standard for medical examinations or inquiries for current employees.
Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how patients with positive Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnoses are being deliberately killed by doctors at hospitals:
CDC: Antibody tests for coronavirus are unreliable, and thus cant be mandated
The EEOC went on to declare that, based on all of this, requiring employees to be tested with an antibody test is not allowed under the ADA, which is great news for those concerned about things like contact tracing and forced quarantines.
By avoiding the test entirely, these same concerned folks can basically fly under the radar of the governments draconian spying and surveillance programs being set up in response to the pandemic, including the future possibility of forced vaccination.
Even the CDC admits that antibody tests, as well as serology tests, are flawed at best and often produce false positives. They likewise cannot differentiate between someone who once had the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and is now immune, and someone who is actually sick with a coronavirus-associated illness.
There is also no way to tell who has immunity to the virus and who does not, which makes testing pretty much useless when it comes to determining much of anything that would be relevant in a workplace environment.
Serologic testing should not be used to determine immune status in individuals until the presence, durability, and duration of immunity is established, the CDC says.
The bad news is that coronavirus testing could potentially be mandated in the future if all of the kinks can be ironed out. This is according to the EEOC, anyway, which has warned that a new guidance could be adopted later on down the road depending on further developments.
The key words in this first guidance are for now, the implication being that it is subject to change. Perhaps a determination can be made long before then that testing is erroneous, period, allowing people to return to a mostly-normal life as opposed to an endless contact-traced prison.
As the Tanzanian president (who has a doctorate in Chemistry) pointed out, the tests cant tell the difference between a human that is COVID-19 positive and a papaya plant! noted one Breitbart News commenter.
Im not handing my DNA over to the government.
To keep up with the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), be sure to check out Pandemic.news.
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
NaturalNews.com
"Countries are understandably eager to open up their societies and their economies. But the virus is still spreading fast. It is still deadly and most people are still susceptible," says World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
WASHINGTON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 120,000 on Monday with nearly 2.3 million infections, while new cases continue to increase across the country over three months into the pandemic.
A total of 2,289,168 cases were reported in the country with the fatalities reaching 120,044 as of 12:04 p.m. (1604 GMT) on Monday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
New York state reported 388,488 cases with 31,125 deaths. Other states with over 5,000 COVID-19 deaths include New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and California, showed the JHU data.
Worldwide, COVID-19 cases topped surpassed 9 million and the death toll from the virus was 469,122.
People spend their afternoon by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C., the United States, June 21, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)
In the United States, the virus spread has trended downward in some of the hard-hit places including New York City, once the epicenter of the U.S. COVID-19 outbreak.
The Big Apple entered phase two of reopening on Monday, during which hair salons, real estate sales, vehicle sales and rentals, some in-store retails are allowed to reopen. Restaurants can serve customers in outdoor space, according to New York state's phased reopening strategy.
However, several U.S. states in the South and Southwest are seeing upticks in their coronavirus case counts.
As of Sunday, the nation's seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases increased more than 24 percent compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of JHU data. Cases were growing by 5 percent or more in 25 states across the United States, including Arizona, Texas, Florida and Oklahoma.
Wearing face masks, protesters take part in a demonstration in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the United States, on June 20, 2020. U.S. President Donald Trump held his first rally in more than three months in Tulsa on Saturday evening, amid COVID-19 concerns and a national reckoning over racism. (Photo by Alan Chin/Xinhua)
According to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project, hospitalizations from COVID-19 were growing in 14 states as of Sunday.
In Texas, there were 2,913 people hospitalized with COVID-19 based on a seven-day moving average, a 37 percent increase compared to a week ago. Arizona reported 1,702 people hospitalized on a seven-day average, a near 29 percent increase compared to a week ago.
"We're seeing a resurgence in the south and the southeast, they really never got rid of their epidemics," Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration, told CBS News "Face the Nation" on Sunday.
Calling the situation "very unsatisfactory," Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned economics professor at Columbia University, recently told Xinhua that as the virus continues to spread rapidly, the federal government has "basically lost interest" in controlling the virus.
"The results are likely to be very bad: a big resurgence of disease and deaths," said Sachs, also a senior United Nations advisor.
Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) of Columbia University's Earth Institute, speaks during a press conference on the Deep Decarbonization Pathway Project (DDPP) interim report , at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 8, 2014. (Xinhua/Niu Xiaolei)
Public health experts believe that states' hasty efforts to reopen their economies, weeks of nationwide protests over the death of unarmed black man George Floyd, as well as some Americans' unwillingness to practice social distancing or wear a mask, have all contributed to the recent surge in cases.
Since late April, U.S. states, facing record unemployment, have gradually started to reopen their economies, despite not seeing a significant downward trend in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
An influential model produced by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington recently revised its projections, forecasting nearly 170,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States by Oct. 1.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA), held virtually, in Geneva, Switzerland, May 19, 2020.(WHO/Handout via Xinhua)
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday warned that the world has moved into a "new and dangerous phase" of the global coronavirus pandemic as countries have lifted lockdowns and other measures intended to curb the virus' spread, and several have seen their rates of newly reported cases of the virus accelerate.
"Countries are understandably eager to open up their societies and their economies. But the virus is still spreading fast. It is still deadly and most people are still susceptible," he said.
UC Davis researchers are adapting technology to make self-assembling protein scaffolds to combat coronavirus. The self-assembling proteins are based on a natural antifreeze amyloid protein related to the proteins found as plaques and tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimers disease. At left, electron microscope image of the proteins. On right, a representation of how these proteins could be used to carry other proteins, such as the ACE2 protein that is the target for the COVID-19 virus. Credit: Michael Toney and Dan Cox/UC Davis
Two researchers at the University of California, Davis, are adapting their technology for amyloid-based, self-organizing protein scaffolds to combat coronavirus. They hope the technique could be used in diagnostic tests or for virus-neutralizing masks and other protective equipment.
Daniel Cox, professor of physics, and Michael Toney, professor of chemistry, are inventors of a patented technique for using beta amyloid proteins to grow tiny fibrils. The plaques and tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and related conditions are described as beta amyloid proteins. The researchers used antifreeze proteins with a similar structure to make their fibrils.
The artificial fibrils act like scaffolds and can be engineered to create new materials with specific functions. Cox and Toney developed the technology for applications such as nanowires and biomaterials. Now their goal is to capture the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
"The amyloid polymerization process is responsible for diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and mad cow, but can be harnessed in this fashion to make proteins act as controllable molecular building blocks," Cox said.
Platform to help diagnose the new coronavirus
Cox and Toney's prototype centers on protein polymer fibrils engineered to carry a piece of the ACE2 protein. Found on the surface of human cells, ACE2 is the gateway for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter cells. They are testing whether the ACE2 fibrils will lock onto the SARS-CoV-2 "spike" protein, which coats the outside of the virus.
Amyloid proteins naturally self-assemble (or polymerize) into fibrils. To manufacture the ACE2-amyloid proteins, Toney inserted synthetic genes into bacteria. After growing and harvesting the bacteria and isolating the proteins, the purified protein molecules, called monomers, were incubated for several days to encourage fibrils to form. The monomers knit together like Velcro, forming fibrils about 10 micrometers long with the spike-binding piece of ACE2 protein attached along their length.
"Because each monomer has the spike-binding segment of ACE2, these long polymers should serve as really efficient grabbers of the virus," Toney said.
Rapid and sensitive COVID-19 detection
The team hopes their work will contribute to the development of simple, rapid tests to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For example, the polymer fibrils could replace antibodies in existing tests, and boost sensitivity and specificity by capturing more viral proteins and concentrating those proteins for testing, Cox said. The technology could also be used to coat personal protective equipment, such as fabric masks, and boost their effectiveness against the virus, he said.
"We're motivated by the chance to make a difference in protecting people until an effective vaccine is developed," Cox said.
If the prototype polymers succeed, Cox and Toney will need a pharmaceutical partner to manufacture the fibrils and test them in clinical trials. And before any test is deployed, it must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Female adults lay their fertilized eggs in rivulets, or mini cold-water streams, fed by a groundwater source, Mason said. The hatchlings must then find a crayfish burrow to call home for the next two to five years. No place else will do. The trouble is, besides other predators, their crawdad roommate might decide to eat them at any time.
(Representative Image: PTI)
A senior Chinese army general authorised his troops to attack Indian soldiers in Ladakhs Galwan Valley on June 15-16, according to a report by US News & World Report.
The violent face-off had led to 20 Indian soldiers, including an officer, getting killed. There were casualties on the Chinese side too, details of which remain unclear. The clash also escalated border tensions between the two sides further.
Also Read | Opinion: Chinas insecurities have played out in Ladakh
General Zhao Zongqi, who is the head of Chinas Western Theatre Command and among the few combat veterans still serving in the People's Liberation Army (PLA), approved the operation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), according to the news report.
The report, citing United States intelligence, suggests that the senior officer has overseen prior stand-offs with India and had previously expressed concerns that China must not appear weak to avoid getting exploited by the United States, its allies and India. Zhao ordered the June 15-16 face-off as a way to "teach India a lesson", the report adds.
Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.
Also read | Opinion: Is China facing a Xi Jinping-Li Keqiang rivalry amidst a job crisis?
This contradicts China's earlier claim that Indian soldiers had twice crossed the LAC the de facto border and launched an attack, triggering a fierce physical confrontation.
Zhao Lijian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, had said that "the Indian side severely violated our consensus and twice crossed the border line and provoked and attacked the Chinese forces."
On June 23, China termed reports that more than 40 Chinese soldiers were killed in the face-off as "fake news".
Two Covid-19 deaths in two days have sent shockwaves through Goa, which until Sunday had maintained a perfect record of zero deaths despite mounting coronavirus cases.
On Sunday, an 85-year old bed-ridden man became Goas first Covid-19 casualty followed by a 58-year old mans death. The latter had underlying heart conditions that aggravated his condition.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant, however, sought to allay fears that the number of deaths would increase in the coming days.
Barring the two persons who have died, all the rest in Covid hospital are stable, Sawant said while speaking to reporters on Monday.
Goas coronavirus count mounted to 902 with the addition of 45 new cases on Monday, one less than the 46 cases recorded on Sunday and 19 less than the 64 cases registered on Saturday. The recent spate in Covid-19 infections has resulted in 462 cases per million ratio for Goa, the fourth highest in the country behind Ladakh, Delhi and Maharashtra.
A former health minister, too, was found positive for the disease and moved to the Covid-19 Hospital on Monday night; his condition is said to be stable.
90% of Goas 705 cases have been registered in the month of June with the daily growth rate now comparable with much larger states.
Goas 30-40 cases per day puts it in the same league as Jharkhand, which averaged around 60 cases per day and Chhattisgarh, averaging around 49 cases a day.
Goa has, however, conducted a lot more tests, nearly 55,000, amounting to 30,000 tests per million people.
Besides a dedicated Covid-19 Hospital, Goa has six Covid care centres where asymptomatic patients -- who make up around 95% of Goas all cases -- are being treated.
Litterers are currently fined 49 in Luxembourg. The fine is likely to become heftier in the future.
Luxembourg's federation of leisure fishers brought up the question of environmental pollution, littering, and corresponding fines in the RTL TV programme Journal last Sunday. They demanded that the political and judicial systems take more concrete measures.
In her reply to a parliamentary question, Minister for the Environment Carole Dieschbourg explained that 190 out of 441 litterers were successfully identified. She opposed the claims of the federation that concrete consequences for polluters are lacking in Luxembourg. The minister argued that the ministry is coordinating efforts with the police and other authorities to battle fly-tipping and other forms of environmental pollution. Each incident is handed over to the public prosecutor's office, she stressed.
Littering, and this also includes smaller offenses such cigarette butt and chewing gum littering, leads to a 49 fine. This fine is likely to be increased in the near future, Dieschbourg said. She explained that the public plays an active role in the fight against littering. Many private individuals have reported incidents to the authorities. "We investigate each incident that is reported to us," she argued. The Ministry of the Environment then hands over each case to the public prosecutor's office.
The minister added that Luxembourg was actively promoting the prevention of littering and pollution through its legislative framework and advantages for companies that adhere to the environmental standards.
H-E-B announced that six more San Antonio employees have tested positive for the coronavirus since Monday, according to the grocery store's website.
In June, more than 60 H-E-B employees working at grocery stores in San Antonio have been infected with COVID-19, including 16 this past weekend.
Since March, the grocery store chain has regularly announced when one of its employees test positive and has done so because it believes "transparency is important," according to an email response to mySA.com. H-E-B does not reveal the employee's identity and only let's the public know at what stores there was a positive case.
RELATED: Transparency is important: H-E-B announces 16 more employee coronavirus cases since Saturday
Stores like Walmart or Target do not regularly make it publicly known if one of their employees test positive. Walmart said via email that the retail/grocery chain can not confirm COVID-19 cases at San Antonio stores becaus the privacy of its associates is "important."
In an email to mySA.com, Target said stores are cleaned and sanitized soon after learning one of it employees test positive. Target does inform employees who work at a location where an infected employee works.
However, Target does not release that information to the public because it says details can increase the likelihood of a team member's privacy being compromised.
Here are the H-E-B stores with COVID-19 cases that were announced since Monday:
- Potranco and 1604 H-E-B plus!: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 10718 Potranco Rd. on Monday, June 22.
- Loop 1604 and Blanco Rd. H-E-B plus!: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 1150 NW Loop 1604 on Friday, June 19.
- Babcock H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 5910 Babcock Rd. on Friday, June 19.
- Military and Goliad H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 3323 SE Military Dr. on Friday, June 19.
- Grissom and Tezel H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 9255 FM 471 West on Sunday, June 21.
- Zarzamora and Military H-E-B plus!: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last working in the store on 6818 South Zaramora St. on Friday, June 19.
It is unclear when the employees tested positive. H-E-B said it has cleaned and sanitized all stores multiple times. Employees who had contact with the infected employee have been notified, the grocery chain said.
Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Mukesh Ranjan By
Express News Service
RANCHI: After being denied treatment on the charges of spreading coronavirus in Purulia district in West Bengal, Hari, a rickshaw-puller, took a bicycle on rent and peddled 100 kilometers to Jamshedpur in Jharkhand with his ailing wife and seven-year-old daughter for treatment.
Doctors at Ganga Memorial Hospital said that the patient Bandini (29) was crying of abdominal pain and when she was examined, it was found to be a case of appendix burst which required immediate surgery. The doctors there operated on her free of cost and saved her life.
When I took my wife to the hospital in Purulia, the doctors were not even ready to touch her and charged us of spreading coronavirus. They asked us to take her to elsewhere while she was crying of acute abdominal pain, said Hari. He said he felt like committing suicide after hearing this from the doctors on duty, but somehow gathered courage and took her to Jamshedpur, he added.
In the past, I had taken her to MGM hospital in Jamshedpur, but every time we went there, doctors would give some medicines and send us home. When the pain became unbearable for my wife this time, I took her to a local government hospital but was denied treatment, said the rickshaw-puller. He said: Looking at the agony of my wife, some of my acquaintances advised me to take her to a private hospital in Jamshedpur as the treatment at MGM did not work earlier.
Finally, after reaching here, people asked me to go to MGM hospital saying the treatment cost there is very reasonable. But when I came here, they treated my wife free of cost, said the man. Hari said that his wife would also have died like many others, had he not brought her to Jamshedpur as there is no one to care for poor patients in West Bengal and people are left on gods mercy.
Doctors said that Bandini was discharged from the hospital after she fully recovered and sent back to her home by a hospital ambulance after a weeks treatment.
Looking at the seriousness of the patient, we decided not to wait further and performed the operation to remove her appendix as it had already busted and might put her in danger, said Dr. N Singh who performed the operation. As Hari did not have money to pay for the rental of the bicycle he had hired, the doctor also gave him money for it and also gifted a bicycle, he added.
Dr. Singh said as he had lost his father due to lack of treatment before he started practicing in 1990 in Jamshedpur, he had promised his mother that he will not deny treatment to anybody for not having money.
Local MLA Saryu Roy also lauded this gesture saying that doctors are considered God in India, which has been proved right by Dr. N Singh. Roy also asked the corporate hospitals, which have been charging higher than the actual cost of treatment, to learn a lesson from Ganga Memorial Hospital.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) - The controversial anti-terrorism bill is still being reviewed by his legal team, President Rodrigo Duterte has said.
My legal [team] is still reviewing it, my legal team in Malacanang, he said in a late night address on Monday.
The enrolled bill, which will repeal Human Security Act of 2007 by giving more surveillance powers to the government forces, is now in the Presidents desk and only his signature is needed before it becomes a law.
Its always automatic, kapag nasa akin (if its already with me), I endorse it to legal, even without reading it. Its legal who will return it to me with a recommendation, whether I will approve it or not, added Duterte.
READ: House OKs on final reading controversial anti-terrorism bill
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier told in a press briefing that Duterte is expected to receive the legal opinions on the bill this week.
So, sa tingin ko po by now, by this week eh mai-piprisinta na ang Bill itself at ang mga rekomendasyon ng ibat ibang ahensiya kay Presidente, said Roque.
[Translation: I think the bill itself will be presented this week along with the recommendations of other agencies to the President.]
He noted that the Department of Justice has already submitted its recommendations.
Roque said before in an interview with CNN Philippines that the President is inclined to sign the bill.
Under the new anti-terrorism bill, suspected terrorists can be detained without a warrant of arrest to up to 14 days.
Critics argued that this can be used on individuals who express dissent against the government. However, lawmakers and security officials assured that human rights will be safeguarded.
TDT | Manama
The Court of Cassation announced yesterday its decision with regards to the appeal of 13 Bahraini men convicted of forming a terrorist cell. The Court upheld the imprisonment sentences and fines previously issued against the appellants, but dropped the verdict on the revocation of their Bahraini citizenship.
The 13 men were among 24 defendants who stood trial for the charges of forming a terrorist cell, receiving military training in Iraq and Iran, attempted murder of public security officers, and detonating explosives. They received sentences ranging from three to 10 years of imprisonment, in addition to stripping them of their Bahraini nationality.
Court files indicate that four of the convicts are the prime defendants in the case. They formed a terrorist group with the aim of targeting policemen and killing them using Improvised Explosive Devices. Investigations showed that the four men succeeded in expanding the group by persuading the rest of the defendants to join.
It was also shown that the prime defendants facilitated the travel of gang members to Iran and Iraq to receive military training, in order to carry out attacks against police forces here. Some of the defendants were also convicted of storing, transporting and planting explosives.
Additionally, one of the defendants collected more than BD5,000 from his accomplices and invested in a commercial company registered in his fathers name. The defendant allocated five per cent of the companys monthly profit to spend it on the group and cover its needs and spending.
The group was responsible for several terrorist bombings carried out in different parts of the Kingdom, including planting a roadside bomb on King Hamad Highway near Jau town, where the Reformation and Rehabilitation Centre (Central Jail) is located.
The explosion targeted a bus carrying policemen who were returning from the prison.No fatalities were reported. However, seven policemen sustained multiple injuries due to the blast.
The "Data Center Construction Market in Nordic Industry Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
In-depth Analysis and Data-driven Insights on the Impact of COVID-19 Included
The study considers the present scenario of the Nordic data center construction market and its market dynamics for the period 2019-2025. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The report offers both the demand and supply aspect of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market.
The Nordic data center construction market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 1% during the period 2019-2025
The Nordic data center market has been a favorable destination for data center developments and investments for hyperscale data center operators, colocation providers, and cryptocurrency operators. The adoption of cloud-based services, big data analytics, and IoT services has grown significantly by local enterprises across countries in the Nordic region, boosting local colocation demand in the market. Public cloud and hybrid infrastructure services have witnessed strong growth in recent years.
The market is witnessing significant investments in submarine cable projects from service providers. Telecommunication providers are investing heavily to strengthen the broadband services in the region. The availability of renewable sources of energy is the major market driver, with majority of data centers powered through renewable energy sources.
The rapid spread of COVID-19 has significantly increased data traffic from March 2020 onwards. The global data center construction market is facing a major slowdown due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19. To provide high availability services, operators are taking precautionary measures for their on-site employees. Colocation data center operators have reduced onsite staff and postponed non-critical maintenance and construction projects.
The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the Nordic data center construction market during the forecast period:
Increasing Adoption of Distinct Heating Concept
Growing Construction of Cryptocurrency Data Centers
Rising Modular Data Center Deployment
Increasing Adoption of Cloud-based Services
Nordic Data Center Construction Market Segmentation
This research report includes a detailed segmentation by electrical infrastructure, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, tier standards, and geography.
The increased data centers construction in Denmark is expected to observe the demand for intelligent and efficient power infrastructure solutions during the forecast period. The redundancy in infrastructures such as UPS systems and PDUs is likely to be over 2N, whereas for switchgears it will be N+1 configuration with dual power line inside and outside facilities. Several facilities in Sweden have adopted N+N redundant power infrastructure. Data centers must be flexible enough to facilitate additional redundancy. A majority of facilities will be powered by dual power lines, and rural developments will include on-site substations. The use of redundant diesel generators might reduce due to a strong power grid supply in the Nordic region. Generators and switchgears with N+1 redundant configuration are being adopted in the facilities. The UPS and PDUs in N+N, 2N, 2N+1 configuration are being installed due to their flexible designs.
In terms of cooling, data centers in Denmark have an advantage as the region offers 85% free cooling annually. This reduces electricity consumption by cooling units by up to 50%. The data centers in Norway use free cooling chillers, adiabatic dry coolers, and evaporative coolers to cool down the IT infrastructure. The adoption of cooling techniques is highly dependent on the location and design of the facility. It is expected that most future investments will involve evaporative coolers, whereas the possibility of using an abundance of water resources is also high.
In Nordic, the market is completely dominated by greenfield development. In these projects, building development is carried out by major construction contractors in coordination with design and infrastructure providers and service operators. The involvement of sub-contractors is high as they have strong expertise in building structures in a particular location. Denmark continues to dominate with hyperscale greenfield development. These data center projects provide high revenue opportunities for general contractors. Local sub-contractors are also expected to witness continuous growth in their revenues during the forecast period. With the increased construction of hyperscale facilities, the demand for skilled professionals is likely to grow in the country. The growth in greenfield hyperscale facilities will generate more revenue for installation and commission service providers in Nordic.
The Tier I Tier II data center market is expected to register a negative CAGR during the forecast period. The number of Tier I and Tier II facilities has reduced significantly over the past five years because of the increasing awareness of the use of redundant infrastructure. UPS and PDU systems in Tier II data centers are equipped with minimum N+N redundancy. A majority of under-developed projects across the Nordic region fall under the Tier III category. This trend is likely to continue during the forecast period. Many operators are expected to move to the Tier IV category based on the growth in rack power capacity and critical applications. In Finland and Iceland, there are three data centers that are Uptime Institute Certified under the Tier III category.
Segmentation by Electrical Infrastructure
UPS
Generators
Transfer Switches Switchgears
Rack PDUs
Other Electrical Infrastructure
Segmentation by Mechanical Infrastructure
Cooling Systems
CRAC CRAH Units
Chillers
Cooling Towers Dry Coolers
Other Units
Racks
Other Mechanical Infrastructure
Segmentation by General Construction
Building Development
Installation Commissioning Services
Building Designs
Physical Security
DCIM
Segmentation by Tier Standards
Tier I Tier II
Tier III
Tier IV
Insights by Geography
Facebook investments in its Odense Data Center Facility in Denmark is followed by Google broke ground on its first Denmark data center, which is likely to be functional by 2021. In terms of colocation providers, Bulk Infrastructure invested in its DK01 Campus along with investments from DigiPlex, GlobalConnect, and Interxion are investing in the data center market in Denmark. In Norway, Microsoft and Equinor contributed to the investment along with Green Mountain with investments in facilities such as DC2 Telemark and Telemark Stavanger Data Center.
In 2019, Stockholm was the major investment destination Sweden that includes seven facility development activities with an estimated investment of over $350 million. Hyperscale renewable procurement is growing YOY in the region. For instance, Google has signed a 12-year contract with a power company in Norway to supply 160 MW of wind energy to power its data centers in Europe. The country has ample renewable energy sources to support large facilities.
Segmentation by Geography
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Finland Iceland
Insights by Vendors
The Nordic data center construction market is witnessing a steady growth in terms of greenfield and modular data center construction, with the high adoption of efficient and modular data center infrastructure solutions. The market has evolved over the years with multiple innovations focused on reducing power and water consumption and decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. Schneider Electric, Eaton, Rittal, Vertiv, and ABB are leading vendors in the electrical infrastructure market. Vendors are also partnering with modular data center developers and direct liquid cooling providers to increase revenues. This trend is likely to continue during the forecast period.
Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers
ABB
Airedale Air Conditioning
Alfa Laval
Asetek
Bosch Security Systems (Robert Bosch)
Caterpillar
Cummins
Delta Group
Eaton
KINOLT (Euro-Diesel)
Hitech Power Protection
KOHLER (SDMO)
Legrand
Piller Power Systems
Riello UPS
Rittal
MTU On Site Energy (Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG)
Schneider Electric
Socomec Group
STULZ
Trane (Ingersoll Rand)
Vertiv
Prominent Construction Contractors
AECOM
Arup Group
Bravida
COWI
Dornan
DPR Construction
ENACO
Etix Everywhere (VANTAGE DATA CENTER)
Fortis Construction
Granlund
HDR Architecture
KMCS
Mace Group
Mercury Engineering
MTH GROUP
NCC
Ramboll
Royal HaskoningDHV
Skanska
SRV Group
Sweco
Prominent Data Center Investors
Bahnhof
BorderLight AB (GoGreenHost)
Bulf Infrastructure
Digiplex
Equinix
Facebook
GlobalConnect
Interxion
Microsoft
Multigrid
Green Mountain AS
EcoDataCenter
Conclusion: Key Questions Answered?
1. What is the Nordic data center construction market size and growth forecast?
2. What are the factors impacting the growth of the Nordic data center construction market forecast?
3. What are the leading drivers, trends, and restraints in the Nordic data center construction market?
4. Who are the leading vendors and what are their market shares?
5. What impact is COVID-19 having/will have on the market?
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Latin America
Twenty-four-hour strike by Argentine tire plant workers over spread of COVID
Workers at a Bridgestone tire plant in Llavallol, a district in Buenos Aires province, struck for 24 hours, beginning at 2:00 p.m. June 17, after a worker tested positive for COVID-19. The workers union, Sutna, claimed that the walkout was based on management noncompliance with the most elemental and basic means of prevention. Despite registering symptoms, the worker was obliged to continue working. Later, another worker, who had been at close quarters with the former, was found to be infected. So far there have been six cases of COVID-19 at the plant.
Workers had struck all the plants in the district the previous Friday, June 12, to demand improvements in safety and prevention measures. Sutna proposed a specific proper protocol for identifying and dealing with cases of infection. Management did not take these demands into account and neither did they comply with the basic regulations determined by the authorities, according to Sutna head Alejandro Crespo.
State workers in Argentine city strike march to demand parity talks, end of repression
State workers in the city of Mendoza, capital of Argentinas province of the same name, struck on June 18 and marched to the capitol building. The demands of the action, called by the State Workers Association (ATE), were a resumption of parity talks, fullas opposed to partial and phasedpayment of the year-end bonus, and the end of repression, as occurred in previous demonstrations.
The strike and march were joined by other unions and organizations, including the State Unity Front, judicial workers, educators and casino workers unions. At the gathering in front of the capitol building, one ATE speaker declared that nobody can live on basic salaries of 10,000 pesos [US$143], and denounced the governor for ordering repression against protesters in previous protests, for refusing to recognize licensed nurses and for nonpayment of a 5,000 peso bonus to municipal workers.
Organizers claimed 80 percent participation in the mobilization and vowed to keep fighting together with the workers defending their rights.
Brazilian delivery workers plan strike over pay, conditions
Bicycle and motorcycle delivery workers in Brazil announced that they will strike on July 1 to demand that the businesses that use their services assume the costs of safety equipment and pay leave for their colleagues who have been infected by COVID-19.
Among their demands is a minimum pay scale for each delivery. Since delivery workers are classified as self-employed and autonomous, they are often short-changed and subject to sanctions and violations of their rights. They are demanding that they be classified as employeesnot associates or entrepreneurswith full labor rights. They also are calling for an end to the punctuality list, which is used to intimidate them and absolve the companies of any responsibilities for their welfare.
Other issues include personal security, since the delivery workers are vulnerable to robberies and attacks, as well as lack of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) and designation of specified locations for rest and meals. They have continued to work throughout the pandemic crisis.
Uruguayan bus drivers union declares pre-conflict over proposed wage cut
The Transport Workers and Cooperativists Syndical Association (Ascot) of Uruguay declared itself in pre-conflict June 17 over proposals by bus company owners in the Montevideo Transport System and the Montivideo Intendency (IM) regarding wage and benefit issues.
The owners and the IM have proposed a 7.5 percent wage cut, using the effects of the pandemic as a rationale. Ascot has proposed that the companies prolong unemployment insurance and, when service fully resumes, an end to overtime, 24 obligatory workdays and other demands. The companies have not responded.
Ascot called for an assembly on June 23 to decide what course of action to take next to avoid the cut. In the meantime, Ascot head Geovanni Spinetti said that they would continue negotiating, but already the workers cannot take more of this; all that we could put [on the table] we put. Were not going to keep giving away gains that cost us workers so much.
Hospital workers in Peru protest lack of PPE and other supplies
Hospital personnel in the Lambayeque region of Peru held their fourth protest June 16 against delays in the delivery of PPE and other COVID-19-related supplies. The protesters demanded equity in the distribution of the needed materials by the Regional Health Agency.
Wilmer Anton Mayanga, head of the General Workers Confederation of Peru (CGTP), slammed the policy of the agency, which only gives equipment to professionals who have contact with infected patients. The danger is in all levels of attention. You cannot neglect the personnel, since the contagion is in the community.
Anton Mayanga blamed corruption for the inadequate provision of masks and other supplies. While corruption continues to take over state resources, doctors, nurses and technicians continue to be forgotten and exposed to the coronavirus. For this reason, he said that the CGTP and other unions would call a general strike.
Trinidad and Tobago: Nurses, midwifes, home health aides protest for overdue pay, job stability
Protests by nurses, midwives and home health aides (HHAs) in Trinidad and Tobago have been ongoing since June 13 over a number of issues. Health workers employed by the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) began protests to press demands, among them the payment of arrears in increments, some dating back to 2013. The overdue moniesstudent stipends, gratuities, come to about 39 million T&T dollars (US$4.3 million).
On June 17, NCRHA authorities promised to begin phasing in payments on July 1 but did not address a slew of other issues: permanent status for staff instead of temporary contracts, improved working conditions, a nurses hostel, motor vehicle tax exemptions, traveling allowance, health insurance and other benefits.
Meanwhile, at San Fernando General Hospital, part of the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), nurses and midwives held a mid-morning protest, chanting, If compensation is good for the teachers, its good for the nurses, a reference to teachers who were offered a stipend to work during the summer, while nurses have gotten no such an incentive in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the issues of the NCRHA protest, the SWRHA protesters added that nurses were told to work on ambulance details, which they say is illegal.
The T&T Registered Nurses Association and the Public Service Association have said that they will continue the protests until they can arrange a meeting with the Minister of Health.
Protest in Puerto Rico against governors insufficient response to pandemic, unemployment
A group of protesters demonstrated in front of the Fine Arts Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico on June 18. The protest, called by the Socialist Workers Movement (MST), decried the poor response of the government of Wanda Vazquez, to the COVID-19 pandemic and to the resultant massive unemployment.
MST criticized the Labor Departments foot-dragging on responding to the needs of unemployed workers and called the governments policy of ceding before the designs and interests of big business to open the economy in a shoddy manner while the procedures and recommendations of the islands medical task force are not followed. The effect that is going to have is that many sectors of the working class are going to see themselves affected with exposure in workplaces.
A protester denounced the government for the predicament that parents have been put in, first with delays or refusals in paying unemployment benefits, then with the push to reopen the economy going forward, but without guarantees of safe spaces for children, a situation that she said puts a specific sector up against the wall.
United States
Mass absenteeism at Sioux Falls Tyson plant
Up to 1,200 workers are still off work at the Tyson Food Sioux Falls, South Dakota pork plant are still off work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The workers involved are either infected, quarantined or fall into the high-risk category, meaning they are over age 60 or have a medical condition such as diabetes. There are 3,700 workers at the plant.
Management had insisted that workers return to work by June 15, but has agreed to push forward that date until June 29. Absenteeism was still running at between 30 and 50 percent at some meatpacking plants. Food processing facilities across the US have become vectors for COVID-19 transmission.
Canada
Ontario frontline workers confront government austerity
Hundreds of thousands of nurses, health care and retail workers are fighting against the Conservative government of Ontario Premier Doug Fords continuing attempts to force workers to pay for the coronavirus crisis. Last week it was revealed that the government was moving forward with a policy to slash the number of statutory holidays of retail workers from 9 to 3 days per year in order to boost the bottom-lines of business owners. But after strong opposition from retail workers and outrage from the general population, Ford was forced to withdraw the proposalat least temporarily.
Also last week, registered nurses saw an arbitration decision on their wage claim held to a meager 1 percent per year, which was in line with the Conservative governments austerity legislation limiting public sector wage increases to no more than that amount. The starting wage for nurses in Ontario is currently only C$33 per hour. The arbitrator gave no consideration to the longer hours and grueling work schedules forced upon nurses, not just due to COVID-19 but also due to continued cuts to jobs in the provincial health care system.
Nurses pointed out that despite the cynical praise handed out by government officials, they were being treated like zeroes not heroes. Workers still report sporadic resupply of proper PPE throughout the health care system.
At the same time, nurses and thousands of other health care and social service workers are demanding that the government make good on its April promise to temporarily boost wages with a $4 per hour special coronavirus increase over the next four months. Workers have yet to see a penny of this money, even as the virus has ripped through the health care system, although 375,000 workers qualify for the increase. A promised $250 per month bonus for working over 100 hours each month over the next four months has also not yet been paid.
In addition, workers protested the failure of the government to include all public health care workers in the scheme. Virus premiums will not be paid to a whole number of professions and job classifications in the hospitals including therapists, front-line intake clerks and the radiologists who conduct the lung x-rays on COVID patients.
Intu Properties, which owns the Trafford Centre in Manchester, has put KPMG on standby as administrator
Trafford Centre owner Intu Properties has warned its shopping centres across the UK may close if it is forced to call in administrators as it remains locked in crunch talks with lenders.
The group, which also owns the Lakeside shopping centre in Essex, confirmed it has put KPMG on standby as administrator and is negotiating details with lenders as it looks to secure vital breathing space ahead of a deadline on Friday.
Intu is hoping to arrange a so-called standstill agreement on terms of up to 18 months, but said at this stage it is unlikely to be more than 15 months.
It cautioned that if it cannot reach an agreement and is placed in administration, then without critical up-front funding from its lenders, "there is a risk that centres may have to close for a period".
Intu said: "Notwithstanding the progress made with lenders, Intu has also appointed KPMG to contingency plan for administration.
"In the event that Intu Properties plc is unable to reach a standstill, it is likely it and certain other central entities will fall into administration.
"In this situation, all property companies would be required to pre-fund the administrator to provide central services to the shopping centres.
"If the administrator is not pre-funded then there is a risk that centres may have to close for a period."
The Metro system saw 171 policing shifts unfilled last week after Los Angeles Police Department officers called in absent nearly 700 times, the agency said. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Dozens of policing shifts on Los Angeles County's transit system went unfilled last week after Los Angeles Police Department officers called in absent nearly 700 times, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said.
The absences, for overtime shifts with premium pay, came after Chief Michel Moore temporarily froze overtime for the LAPD.
The department spent $40 million in overtime during a week of protests over police brutality, systemic racism and the death of George Floyd, Moore told officers earlier this month. He said future overtime would be paid out with time off, rather than cash.
The LAPD's $369-million, five-year contract to patrol Metro buses and trains in L.A. includes an agreement to staff 1,008 shifts per week, said LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein. Those shifts are filled by officers working overtime, he said.
From June 12 to June 19, LAPD officers called in absent for 696 transit policing shifts, Metro spokesman Rick Jager said. Most were filled through substitutes, but 171 went unfilled, he said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Long Beach Police Department, which patrol the rest of the transit system, did not have scheduling problems last week, officials said.
Some LAPD officers canceled their shifts after they learned they would be paid with time off, not with cash, said Dustin DeRollo, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank-and-file officers.
"It was a huge shock," DeRollo said.
Other officers were sick, or were tired after working consecutive 12-hour days during the demonstrations, said Ron Dickerson, Metro's deputy executive officer for system security and law enforcement. He said he there was "no kind of rebellion ... no 'blue flu,' that type of thing."
Officers do not have to explain why they are canceling their scheduled shifts, and they could have called in for "a hundred different reasons," Rubenstein said.
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Once Metro pays LAPD, officers will have the option of converting their time off into cash, Rubenstein said.
"Based on past history, youll get paid up to six months later," DeRollo said. "Frankly, theres a trust issue right now, with how officers feel because of how quickly the about-face happened."
Metro's policing contract does not include any penalties for not meeting the required staffing levels, Rubenstein said. If the absences continue, he said, Metro officials could demand in writing that LAPD fix the issue.
When Metro overhauled its policing system three years ago, the LAPD's bid for the lucrative contract relied heavily on overtime. Providing overtime shifts would be more enticing to officers, and would be cheaper for Metro than paying the full cost of their salaries and benefits, officials said.
Critics questioned the plan at the time, saying a reliance on overtime could create a police force that didn't really know the system.
The new policing plan which shares duties among the Sheriff's Department, LAPD and Long Beach police almost doubled the number of uniformed officers on the system.
The approach has recently come under fire from advocates who want Metro to scale back police spending and spend more on homeless outreach workers, better transit service and free fares.
Saudi Arabia said only a very limited number of people currently living in the kingdom may take part in Haj
New Delhi: The government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested not to send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, Naqvi told reporters.
Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic. It said only a very limited number of people currently living in the kingdom may take part.
"This decision was taken to ensure haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective," a Saudi government statement said.
[June 23, 2020] TELA Bio Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock
MALVERN, Pa., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TELA Bio, Inc. ("TELA"), a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on designing, developing and marketing a new category of tissue reinforcement materials to address unmet needs in soft tissue reconstruction, today announced the commencement of a proposed underwritten public offering of 3,000,000 shares of its common stock. In addition, TELA expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 450,000 additional shares of common stock in the offering. All shares of common stock are being offered by TELA. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or the actual size or terms of the offering.
Jefferies LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Canaccord Genuity LLC is acting as lead manager and JMP Securities LLC is acting as co-manager. A registration statement relating to these securities was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 23, 2020 but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the preliminary prospectus, when available, may be obtained from: Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at 1-877-547-6340 or by email at [email protected] , and from Piper Sandler & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 800 Nicollet Mall, J12S03, Minneapolis, MN 55402, by email at [email protected] or by phone: 1-800-747-3924.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that state or jurisdiction. About TELA Bio, Inc.
TELA Bio, Inc. is a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on designing, developing and marketing a new category of tissue reinforcement materials to address unmet needs in soft tissue reconstruction. TELA's products are designed to improve on shortcomings of existing biologics and minimize long-term exposure to permanent synthetic material. TELA's portfolio is supported by quality, data-driven science and extensive pre-clinical research that has consistently demonstrated advantages over other commercially available products. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may, "might, "will, "should, "believe, "expect, "anticipate, "estimate, "continue, "predict, "forecast, "project, "plan, "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations are forward-looking statements and reflect the current beliefs of TELA's management. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, references to TELA's expectations regarding the timing, size and completion of the proposed public offering. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially and adversely from those indicated by such forward-looking statements including, among others: risks and uncertainties related to market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the public offering, and other risks and uncertainties related to the proposed public offering, as well as the risks and uncertainties set forth in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the preliminary prospectus related to the public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this announcement speak only as of the date of this press release, and TELA assumes no obligation to updates forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release, except as required under applicable law. TELA Bio Contact
Stuart Henderson
Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations
TELA Bio, Inc.
484-320-2930 Investor Contact
Greg Chodaczek
347-620-7010
[email protected]
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Oswego, N.Y. The J.C. Penney store in Oswego has been removed from the troubled department store chains list of stores to close this summer.
A sign on the stores door on Monday stated that the Oswego J.C. Penney location is no longer closing, according to a Facebook post. Thank you for shopping with J.C. Penney. We look forward to continuing to serve this community.
J.C. Penney announced June 4 that it planned to close 154 stores nationwide, including seven in New York, as part of a downsizing plan that is part of its reorganization under Chapter 11 of U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The list included two Syracuse-area stores the Oswego store and the Destiny USA store in Syracuse.
However, the companys website on Tuesday said only 149 stores will close and that a handful of previously announced store closing locations remain on hold pending further review. The Destiny USA store remains on the closing list, but the Oswego store does not.
J.C. Penney officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Oswego County News Now reported on Monday the Oswego store was saved because of a public outcry and a reasonable landlord.
I firmly believe a lot of it was the customers, Carol Peters, general manager of the store, told The Palladium-Times, according to the website. There were a lot of phone calls, a lot of prayers and a lot of support.
While the Oswego store has been removed from the closing list, the number of J.C. Penney stores in New York that will close has increased from seven to nine, with the Penney stores at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, Poughkeepsie Galleria in Poughkeepsie and South Shore Mall in Bay Shore added to the list.
In addition to the Destiny USA store, the Penney stores previously on the list and remaining on it are in the Finger Lakes Mall in Auburn, Batavia City Centre in Batavia, Roseland Shopping Center in Canandaigua, Sangertown Square Mall in New Hartford and Freedom Mall in Rome.
Liquidation sales at most closing store locations began June 17, with liquidation sales at additional locations scheduled to begin around July 3, according to the company.
Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis joined the list of local officials calling for the preservation of statues of our first and third presidents at City Hall.
The statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are being reviewed by the Mayor Bill de Blasios new Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation, which is headed by his wife First Lady Chirlane McCray.
De Blasio announced the review Friday, a day after five City Council members -- including City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) -- called for the removal of Jeffersons statue from the Council chambers citing the fact that Jefferson owned human beings.
In a media release, Malliotakis noted their owning of slaves, but said that fact needed to be put in context with their other contributions to the nation.
In recent weeks, America has witnessed mobs in a state of frenzy attack, deface and topple a wide range of statues of historic figures including those of a former President, Thomas Jefferson, Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) said.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were two of the founders of this nation who fought for our independence from Britain and helped create the greatest experiment in democracy the world has ever seen, she continued.
Staten Islands other two city council members, Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) and Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), have voiced their support for the Jefferson statue.
Malliotakis also called for the citys congressional delegation, including Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), to weigh in on the statues inside City Hall.
Rose said that of course he doesnt support the removal of the presidents statues from City Hall, and hoped that Malliotakis, who will participate in Tuesdays Republican primary for the partys nominee for Roses seat, will take a stand on the calls for removal of Confederate monuments and memorials around the country.
She refused to weigh in on whether Confederate traitors should be honored in this country, but magically found her voice on these specific statues, Rose said. She is a fraud who represents everything we hate about our politics.
Rob Ryan, a spokesman for Malliotakis campaign, did not weigh in as to whether the assemblywoman supported removing Confederate monuments and memorials, but suggested it was a moot point, because New York City doesnt have any such statues.
Two streets at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn -- Stonewall Jackson Drive and General Lee Avenue -- are named for Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Rose and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) have called for those streets to be renamed.
Several months ago I started a series on the recent book by Ben Witherington III, Isaiah Old and New: Exegesis, Intertextuality, and Hermeneutics. It has been a rather interesting time since the last post on the book, and I have not had the time or mental energy to dig into it. But today we return to look at Isaiah 49:1-13. Chapters 49-55 in "Eschatological Isaiah" are among the most significant passages for us as Christians.
Hear the NIV translation of verses 1, 3-6:
Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the Lord called me;
from my mother's womb he has spoken my name.
...
He said to me, "You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."
But I said, I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand,
and my reward is with my God." And now the Lord says
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord
and my God has been my strength
he says:
"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."
In this passage we read the words of a prophet, called and commissioned by God before he born. The servant is called to represent Israel (v. 3) and to bring Israel back to God. This servant may be the prophet, writer of this portion of Isaiah (although not the Isaiah who prophesied to Hezekiah), but it isn't entirely clear. And, Witherington argues, there is a clear eschatological focus, at least in part.
We must stress that the nation is not replaced by the individual servant, indeed the individual servant is supposed to help restore the nation Israel to her place as Gods chosen servant. The dialectic between the one and the many is maintained when it comes to the servant, but what is new here is that it becomes clear that these passages are not simply talking about the collective entity Israel as Gods servant. No, there is now clearly an individual servant as well on the scene and active. We are not told that this new individual servant is Second Isaiah himself, but this may be the case, in part. It all depends on whether the prophet here is speaking about both the immediate and the eschatological horizon, or just one or the other. The problem of course with the identification of the servant with Second Isaiah is that when one gets to Isaiah 5253, Second Isaiah can hardly be chronicling his own demise after the fact, and suggesting that that oracle comes from a later redactional hand is probably artful dodging of the issue.
It is the eschatological focus of these chapters that is of the most significance for us as Christians. The possibility of an immediate servant at the time of writing (around the time of the return from exile) is less important and does not eliminate the long-term horizon of the passage. Luke (in 2:25-35) records Simeon taking the infant Jesus into his arms and citing the promise of this passage of Isaiah
Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.
Simeon continues to Mary "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed - and a sword will pierce even your own soul - to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
Jesus is a light of revelation to the Gentiles.
Jesus also connects his mission with the servant in Isaiah 49-55. One example is seen in Mark 10 where Jesus describes leadership in the kingdom of God, servant leadership extending even to Jesus himself.
Jesus called them together and said, You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mk 10 42-45
While no specific quote here there is a clear allusion to a revolutionary style of leadership that will transform the world and one that is part of Isaiah 49:7 as well as additional passages in chapters 49-55 to be considered soon.
But the New Testament use of the servant in Isaiah is not limited to a "this" is "that" identification of Jesus with the servant. In fact, Paul can see himself as the servant in places. In particular, Paul sees in his mission (with Barnabas) a fulfillment of Isaiah 49 where salvation includes Israel, but extends also to the ends of the earth. He and Barnabas are called ... "For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."" (Acts 13:47) Paul himself is made a light for the Gentiles.
The promise remains. Things will change in ways the confound human ways and God himself - the Holy One of Israel - is the active agent behind this change.
If you wish to contact me directly you may do so at rjs4mail[at]att.net
You may comment on this post at Musings on Science and Theology if you wish.
HOUSTON, June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Sysco announced it has donated 30 million meals across eight countries since mid-March as part of its community response strategy to the COVID-19 pandemic. These donations were valued at over $100 million and included nearly 16 million pounds of fresh produce and approximately six million pounds of fresh dairy products.
With millions more people around the world seeking food assistance, Sysco worked closely with suppliers, customers and government entities, along with key partners like Feeding America in the U.S., Second Harvest in Canada, FareShare in the U.K. and FoodCloud in Ireland, among others, to distribute food to those who need it most.
When the pandemic reduced demand for restaurants and other food-away-from-home establishments worldwide, Sysco associates acted quickly to re-direct millions of cases of food to local organizations dedicated to getting nutritious food into the hands of those in need, said Neil Russell, Syscos vice president, corporate affairs. This massive effort demonstrates an extraordinary level of partnership, agility and compassion by our global associates in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
In addition to providing food, Syscos comprehensive community response strategy aimed to help address a broad set of other needs facing food redistribution efforts, including providing direct delivery to food banks and other hunger relief organizations, loaning refrigerated trucks and facility storage space to increase capacity for local food distribution, and providing volunteer and staffing support for mobile distribution efforts. Through food donations and these other efforts, Sysco supported more than 900 community organizations in their efforts to address hunger and food insecurity.
Sysco also donated $150,000 to No Kid Hungry through its Take Out To Give Back campaign, a program that launched a social media movement to support local restaurants during COVID-19 while generating awareness about child hunger. The campaign encouraged diners to support local restaurants by ordering takeout and delivery meals from across the U.S. and beyond. For every meal photo posted and tagged with #TakeOutToGiveBack, Sysco donated 50 cents to No Kid Hungry, helping to ensure nutritious meals reach kids in need. No Kid Hungry is a campaign run by Share Our Strength, a non-profit working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world.
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About Sysco
Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates more than 320 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 650,000 customer locations. For fiscal 2019 that ended June 29, 2019, the company generated sales of more than $60 billion. Information about our CSR program, including Syscos 2019 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, can be found at www.sysco.com/csr2019report .
For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation or Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sysco. For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the companys Internet home page at investors.sysco.com, which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. Investors should also follow us at www.twitter.com/SyscoStock and download the Sysco IR App, available on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Market . In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.
For more information contact:
The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted raids at premises of suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain in connection with money laundering probe in northeast Delhi riots earlier in February this year.
The ED officials said that at least six premises in Delhi, Noida and few other locations in the national capital region were searched. The raids are aimed at collecting evidence in the case, they said.
The agency in March had filed two cases to investigate the alleged funding of the Delhi riots - one against Hussain and another against Popular Front of India (PFI).
Hussain, who is facing charges of killing an Intelligence Bureau official, has been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Hussain, who was an AAP corporator from ward number 59 under the Mustafabad assembly seat in Delhi, was booked by the police in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma in North-East Delhi amid the violence over the new citizenship law that degenerated into a communal riot.
He was arrested in March after an FIR was filed against him by Sharmas family. The ED is probing Hussains alleged links with PFI.
The Delhi Polices crime branch had earlier this month filed charge sheets in connection with riots in North-East district of the city stating that Hussain had led the mob that killed IB staffer Ankit Sharma on February 25.
One of the charge sheets alleges a deep rooted conspiracy behind Sharmas murder in which 10 people have been arrested so far.
Ankit Sharma, an intelligence bureau staffer, was killed by a mob during riots that broke out in north east Delhi on February 25 this year, when groups supporting and opposing the Citizens Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens clashed with each other for close to three days leading to at least 53 deaths.
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Linkedin Ait-Allah Mejri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 08:17 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660d0a27 3 Opinion Insight,healthcare,healthcare-reform,COVID-19,pandemic,data,healthcare-infrastructure,Research-and-Development,healthcare-policy Free
Over the past few years, Indonesia has made great efforts to improve its national healthcare system. Additionally, since the inception of the National Health Insurance (JKN) in 2014, Indonesia has invested substantially in healthcare services. As a result, over 215 million people are now covered by the national health scheme.
It is also inevitable that there will be a fair number of challenges ahead, despite these commendable reforms and their concrete results on the ground. These include sustainable funding, disparities between rural and urban areas in terms of access to health services and health outcomes and persistent understaffing in regard to adequately trained healthcare professionals.
There is no doubt that the government is well aware of these challenges and is consistently strengthening its efforts to tackle them.
However, what the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed is that the inadequate national response to the crisis is imputable to the same persistent and structural problems that have afflicted the countrys healthcare system over the past two decades.
These are mainly the ineffectiveness of creating a culture of data collection and use at regional and national levels, the inability to sustain and strengthen operational disease-surveillance mechanisms and infrastructure and the lack of effective strategic collaboration and partnerships to truly drive change.
Like many developing countries, Indonesias healthcare system is experiencing a huge data problem. Some think its origin is decentralization and a lack of national coordination, while others claim it is due to inadequate funding, lack of human resources and weak infrastructure and technology, while officials often brandish the 17,000 islands excuse.
However, the fact of the matter is that rigorous collection of data and a well-coordinated system to disseminate it are neither systemic nor structurally entrenched. Most of the data sources are estimations, a product of statistical modeling or global monitoring; and only a fraction of data is locally generated.
Manually recorded health data serve only for healthcare delivery or administrative purpose. They are rarely used for epidemiologic research or for studying and improving patients care. This suggests that for years, health decisions in Indonesia have been based on data that were not credible, accurate or timely.
Therefore, in such circumstances, it is understandably difficult for the government and national institutions to accurately plan, budget, fund, monitor and evaluate national health programs or generate evidence about the effectiveness of existing policies.
The coronavirus outbreak and the initial testing fiasco have highlighted the need to strengthen the National Center of Disease Control and Environmental Health (P2PL). The center has been sitting on the sidelines in the fight against COVID-19, thus depriving the nation of benefiting from its accumulated knowledge and experience in disease-outbreak response.
Yet, there are ample arguments and a strong case to support urgent and adequate investment in public health surveillance. Both infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases are a major driver of morbidity and mortality in Indonesia. Beyond the toll on health, they also impose a significant burden on the national economy since the productivity loss to disease is estimated at close to 30 percent of gross domestic product annually
More than 700,000 Indonesians a year travel to Singapore and Malaysia for medical treatment. The direct and indirect costs of such medical tourism amount to nearly US$4 billion a year. This problem has neither been acknowledged nor addressed head-on. Denying it illustrates the insular and inward-looking approach characterizing national healthcare strategy.
In a vast country like Indonesia, health partnerships could play an important role in addressing the existing disparities with regard to the availability of trained health personnel across the archipelago and the need to improve clinical and service quality to a level that meets the populations expectations. However, it requires keeping an open mind about the sources that learning and value can come from, and being receptive to collaborating with others. It also requires leadership to harness the potential for international collaboration and to make it more sustainable.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) is an opportunity for Indonesia to create more jobs around the digital economy and join the top-10 largest economies in the world by 2030. However, the countrys current state of health care represents one of the largest impediments to achieving its economic potential. COVID-19 represents an excellent opportunity for effective root and branch healthcare reform.
Quality has eclipsed access as a driver of survival and Indonesias focus on a volume-based healthcare development path is proving inefficient and expensive. There is no doubt that technology presents huge potential in solving some of the systems perennial problems and enabling value-based measurement, delivery and payment.
However, creating a culture of accountability, tracking quality or outcomes and greater collaboration will not be attained through shiny technology alone. To achieve real transformation, public health leaders need vision, courage and purpose, to not only identify the right decisions supported by scientific evidence, but also to ensure that the right decisions happen and are implemented.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has made it clear that efforts need to be made to build a more resilient healthcare system. The current COVID-19 crisis holds lessons for what we can do differently in the future.
While it may be too soon to know what this future will look like, it is not too soon to start looking for opportunities to help shape it together.
-------------------------
Public health physician and president director of PT Roche Indonesia. The views expressed are personal.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
CLARE, MI - Police in Nebraska found a missing teenage girl from Michigan and arrested a Michigan man she was traveling with following a brief highway chase.
About 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper was heading west on Interstate 80 between Lincoln and Omaha, his vehicles lights and sirens activated as he was responding to a call. As he was on his way, a Chevrolet Malibu swerved into his lane, struck the patrol vehicle, and kept driving, according to reports from The Lincoln Journal Star.
The trooper pursued the Malibu as it exited the highway and stopped at a gas station. The trooper arrested the 22-year-old male driver from Farwell on charges of willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, criminal impersonation, possessing between an ounce and a pound of marijuana, possessing drug paraphernalia, and multiple traffic violations. Farwell is in Clare County, about 20 miles north of Mount Pleasant.
With the driver was a 15-year-old girl who had been reported missing out of Michigan and had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. The girl was to be returned to her home state with help from the Michigan State Police.
Advertisement
Urban photographer Jeroen van Dam does take pictures of regular famous landmarks.
But the supremely talented snapper he was shortlisted in this year's Sony World Photography Awards prefers to shoot hidden, darker and grittier environments.
And when he does he makes them look absolutely epic, sometimes even glamorous.
This slice of monumental architecture in the Noisy-le-Grand suburb of Paris is a housing complex called Espaces Abraxas that was designed by Ricardo Bofill - and used as a set for The Hunger Games
Pictured left is the madcap, seemingly impossible Hotel Inntel Zaandam, which is like a building from a surreal fairytale. On the right is a dramatic picture of a former gasometer in Vienna that has been turned into swanky dwellings
A hypnotic high-rise in Hong Kong, one of many shots of mindboggling architecture in Jeroen's portfolio
His breathtaking portfolio, some of which we're showcasing here, includes shots of huge storm drains, lost railways, collapsed Second World War bunkers and an abandoned power plant used for movie Blade Runner 2049.
There are also shots of architecture that boggles the mind, including the astonishing Parisian apartment block used as a Hunger Games set and an impossibly higgledy-piggledy hotel in the Netherlands.
Jeroen, who lives in Rotterdam, says that he likes to show the appeal of a city's darker side or to take a photograph of something famous from an unexpected angle to help people appreciate where they live more.
The seemingly infinite floors of an apartment block in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world - Macao, China
On the left, a Hong Kong market glows hypnotically. On the right, Jeroen captures a spot of urban mountaineering in Vienna
He tells MailOnline Travel: 'I'm not the kind of photographer who is happy shooting beautiful, romantic places or tourist destinations. I am more intrigued by places that people find unattractive, or never bothered to enjoy in the first place. With my photography, I want to show how gritty, dark and dirty places can be appealing too, in their own way.
'I also find it interesting to take photos of a well-known place in a different way, so people are put on the wrong track. That's why I often try to find a higher point of view, like a rooftop, to shoot a familiar spot from an unexpected angle. Sometimes I get comments from people who live right around the corner, but never realised what was hidden right under their noses.
'I feel satisfied when because of my work, people start looking around more carefully and appreciate the city they live in better.'
Inside the basement of a massive cooling tower in Belgium. Jeroen says he is drawn to shooting places 'that people find unattractive' and showing how they can be appealing, too
On the left, inside a collapsed Second World War bunker in Vienna. Pictured on the right is an abandoned power plant in Hungary that was used for the filming of Blade Runner 2049
In a mystery subterranean location in the Netherlands. Jeroen says: 'Urban exploring opened my eyes to the world around me. It made me step out of my comfort zone and helped me become a more open-minded person'
A construction site in Paris that looks uncannily like a missile silo. Jeroen says: 'The people on my photos are usually other explorers, portrayed in their (un)natural habitat. I really like to have one person in frame: small and vulnerable in that big and hostile space, as if he or she doesn't belong there'
An other-worldly tunnel in Stuttgart. Jeroen says his journey into the world of urban photography began in 2014
On the left - lighting up an abandoned gasometer in Belgium. On the right is a picture of a lost and overgrown railway in Paris
Jeroen has a veteran's eye for a great shot but he actually only started down the photography road in 2014.
And his background as an architect and urban designer had big influences on his subject matter and how he shot it.
He reveals: 'I trained as an architect and was happy designing buildings for a few years. But in 2014 one of my friends lent me his DSLR camera to try out and shortly after we went to Hong Kong together, to explore the city with our cameras.
'That trip gave me so many good memories that I became addicted to photography and travelling. I decided to quit my job as an architect to only focus on cities as an urban photographer and an urban designer for Rotterdam.
Exploring Stuttgarts controversial railway tunnel project, due to be completed in 2021
On the left is a picture that captures New York subway trains breaking cover around a bend - and on the right, rooftopping in Rotterdam
'Wanting to understand how cities work as a living system, I started travelling to major cities all over the world to find out.
'My camera became the main tool to record all the wonders that I discovered.'
But these wonders aren't necessarily structures he would incorporate into a design for a city.
He continues: 'When still an architect, I was already drawn to tall, modern buildings, especially the dark and sinister-looking ones, and later they became one of my favourite subjects to shoot. Being an architect surely helps in understanding complex buildings or urban sites, and finding good compositions easily.
'But in my new job as an urban designer I also learned to mistrust modern architecture: no matter how cool it looks on photos, it often doesn't contribute to good city life.
One of the Notre Dame gargoyles in a mesmerising picture that has something of the Ghostbusters about it
This image, says Jeroen, shows the hidden beauty of storm drain tunnels. This picture was taken in Madrid
On the left is a shot taken on top of the iconic De Rotterdam building in Rotterdam. It comprises offices, apartments and a hotel. On the right is the 'magnificent' City Hall in London, which is HQ for the mayor
'So, there is a big contradiction between what I look for in cities as a photographer, and what I want a city to look like when you live there.
'However, photography made me realise that a good city doesn't have to be all polished and shiny, and that unpolished and rough areas might be more interesting and even more attractive than you would imagine. In that sense, my own rugged port-city of Rotterdam offers the best of both worlds.'
Some of Jeroen's photographs feature a solitary person, sometimes gazing at the view, or perhaps holding a flare.
They are usually other urban adventurers, reveals Jeroen.
A stunning view of Vienna at night. Jeroen says: 'When you are high up on a rooftop, it's like you experience the city a hundred times more - the wide views, the noises, the lights, they make you feel so alive'
An urban explorer takes in the view in an RER train tunnel deep beneath Paris. This system was developed from the 1960s onwards
Stockholm's subway system is akin to one gigantic art gallery. This picture was taken at the city's T-Centralen station
He says: 'The people on my photos are usually other explorers, portrayed in their (un)natural habitat. I really like to have one person in frame: small and vulnerable in that big and hostile space, as if he or she doesn't belong there, questioning our relationship with the city as tiny, insignificant inhabitants.
'Urban exploring opened my eyes to the world around me. It made me step out of my comfort zone and helped me become a more open-minded person. I've always been curious about everything, but photography made me adventurous, too. The moment I discovered the existence of those locations, I wanted to experience them in real-life. And I cannot deny that I got attracted a bit to the risks involved in visiting them.
'In a way, these places became my hide-out of ordinary life. When you are in a tunnel, there are no lights or sounds coming down, and yet you still sense the presence of the city above, soft and faded.
'On the contrary, when you are high up on a rooftop, it's like you experience the city a hundred times more - the wide views, the noises, the lights, they make you feel so alive.'
None of this would have been foreseen even a few months ago, but it is the reality of the nation we live in, today. Add to that the same mayors and governors who refuse to act to protect their cities impose draconian stay at home orders on the law-abiding population, who, generally, accept these orders and comply. A great many U.S. citizens will comply with anything. They have lost the lust for freedom, the demand for liberty. They seek to placate their persecutors and appear reasonable on Twitter and Facebook when the demands of the mob and the government have become completely unreasonable.
Communist organizations form as tax-exempt 501 (c) 3, or get some like-minded tax-exempt organization to collect their money. They are tax-exempt while formulating revolution, paying soldiers, organizing protests and riots to use as cover for more serious actions. They distribute that money to other radical organizations willing to take part in the chaos.
People are bullied off of social media, lose their jobs and are occasionally assaulted for their off-hand comments that once upon a time in America, was the normal means of discourse. Offensive things were often said, countered, argued out and a resolution arrived at, but the last thing these overlords want is resolution. It is a necessary chaos.
My pastor asked me last weekend what I thought of the 2020 election. I told him I didnt think it would ever be legitimate. A straight up vote for one candidate or the other is not possible in a nation where military leaders come out publicly against a sitting president. Where the media is a constant stream of lies and defamations. Where riots can be turned off and on like a tap by well-funded organizations with the listed and express purpose of turning the United States of America into a smoking hole upon which to coax their communist phoenix.
The Supreme Court is a joke told over two hundred plus years and only now getting ridiculous enough to inspire laughter. There is no way to obtain peace, security or justice. That is not the future, not here, not in a land where coups are organized at the highest levels of federal law enforcement. One really needs to read Shakespeare to get an understanding of the intrigue that is taking place in the United States. We are standing on the brink of a combination of the French Revolution and the Haiti massacre of 1804. The only thing that will stop it now is armed resistance.
Read more at: TwelveRound.com and Truth.news.
The recent border clashes between India and China have led analysts, habituated to conventional warfare, to compare the relative strengths of the two adversaries in terms of the number of tanks, aircraft and other military paraphernalia.
It appears that Indian strategic discourse has yet again discounted cyber operations as an instrument of power projection, which could have offered a degree of flexibility when it comes to coercing, compelling and imposing costs on the contentious neighbour. This is unfortunate considering how much Indian think-tanks have glamourised the cyber domain.
Unlike conventional means, cyber power projection exploits the delicate interfaces between society and technology. Such operations are best suited to create a mix of effect and perception.
The Australian prime ministers dramatic public disclosure of an ongoing State-sponsored cyber-attack highlights accurately the perception factor. And, as was evident during the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, switching off a power grid may lead to more panic than an actual loss of productivity, thus demoralising the adversary.
Cyber operations broadly fit into the template of a hybrid, multi-dimensional offensive waged by militaries wary of breaching acknowledged redlines. This is exactly the case with India and China.
From influencing narratives, disrupting missile launches to breaking nuclear deterrence, the malleability of the cyber option makes it very potent. It relieves the defending military of the burden of maintaining a comparable capability that is driven by a strict numbers-based assessment.
The cyber vulnerabilities of each nation are unique, asymmetrical and closely tied to its body politic. The rigid socio-political hierarchies of the Chinese State make it increasingly susceptible to information warfare.
After the damning hack of a sensitive database storing the background checks of government employees, the United States (US) had plans of temporarily disrupting Chinese Internet censors such as the Great Firewall as a mode of retaliation. The totalitarian regime of the Communist Party of China would have considered such a manoeuvre as a severely existential threat.
The simple act of making hitherto forbidden information available to the masses, already unsettled by the coronavirus pandemic, would have struck at the heart of the adversary. Yet, it would have carefully skirted the quantifiable, time-tested thresholds of war.
The stark absence of the cyber option in the Indian discourse does not come as a surprise. Even during the Balakot escalation, this was an element which was conspicuously ignored.
On the other hand, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has employed cutting edge cyber operations, endorsing these as the strategic pivot of an informationalised battle space.
The last two decades have witnessed the breathtaking formalisation of how power is accumulated and projected in cyberspace. The Indian cyber apparatus seemed to have squandered that opportunity, thanks to inertia and a lack of organisation.
Contrary to popular belief, the cyber option cannot be exercised as an afterthought. You cannot whip up a team of hackers to respond in kind. Subversive or punitive actions require years of covert pre-positioning into adversarial networks and societal structures.
That is exactly why a substantive element of cyber power is still driven by access. It is for not for nothing that the Huaweis of the world are risking life and limb to consolidate access to the nodal constructs of digital infrastructure such as 5G, in the process sparking the most bitter global trade war.
There is only one parameter of effectiveness for cyber operations cohesiveness, or jointness in military terms. The cyber option requires a sharp convergence of awareness around the political, diplomatic and military organs, more so than the conventional ones whose effects are qualified and known.
The US Naval War College made a crucial observation on the importance of Presidential personalities in determining cyber operations in crises, following wargames conducted over a period of seven years. Cyber operations require a seamless, fluid command structure right from the head of state.
It is fine to struggle with the technical intricacies of the domain, but its potential and expendability must be carefully drawn up as a doctrine. The Indian cyber doctrine, which was slated to be released early this year, has still not seen the light of day.
While China may profess hegemony in access-based operations with its broad commercial reach, India can still muster up formidable capability with expeditionary cyber manoeuvring.
However, expeditionary cyber operations are volatile and intense, requiring a degree of risk appetite, rigour and hardiness. And most important, a slight misstep or an overreaction could lead to a spiralling escalation, which may result in a ruthless cyber retaliation by China.
As such, the Indian doctrine must spell out its escalatory and declaratory thresholds very clearly so as to moderate the reactions of the adversary, which could be tempted to behave irrationally. Unlike nuclear deterrence, there is no science available to deduce such thresholds. They need to be calibrated with experience.
Indias institutional memory of cyber operations is literally non-existent. And institutional memory is institutional capability in this knowledge-driven domain. General James Cartwright, the earliest cyber commander, had bet that cyber operations could reset diplomacy. It is time that India puts that option on the negotiating table.
Pukhraj Singh is a cyber intelligence analyst who has worked with the Indian government and response teams of global companies
The views expressed are personal
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Mumbai: The Shiv Sena Bhavan on Tuesday (June 23, 2020) is sealed for 8 days after a party worker tested positive.
It is being said that the party worker regularly used to visit Shiv Sena Bhavan. The party office is now fully being sanitized as a preventive measure to stop the spread of virus.
Earlier there were also reports saying that two drivers of Shiv Sena party chief Raj Thackeray's have tested positive for COVID-19. One of them has been admitted to a hospital in suburban Mumbai, while details of the other one are not yet known.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra remains the worst-hit state in India with the total number of cases at 135796 which includes 61807 active cases, 67706 recovered cases and 6283 fatalities.
The towers carefully modulated setbacks, emphatic verticality and sculptural adornments including its crowning statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain would make it a powerful presence on any block. But its placement at the foot of LaSalle, which the Board of Trade secured in the 1880s when it won permission to close a portion of the street for its first building on the site, amplifies the visual impact of all those elements.
Guaranteed Returns (GRx) is pleased to announce the official launch of a new website for GRx Inventory, the premier solution for physical inventory service in the healthcare industry.
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The Inventory Auditors are certified in pharmaceutical count methods, trained in handling of medications and well versed in HIPAA regulations. They are true inventory specialists - which means you will get the most accurate inventory count and reporting in the industry. We survey our customers after each inventory. I always love hearing our customers tell us how our teams and process have made their inventory experience easy and pleasant. It never gets old. Our goal is, and always has been, to exceed our customers expectations. Our auditors and support staffs experience and attention to detail ensure we achieve that goal every time, said Bruce Shappe, GRx Inventory Regional Sales and Account Manager.
As the leader of pharmaceutical inventory services, its very important to make information used to help a decision maker select their service provider easy and accessible. The new website gives a clear snapshot of exactly who we are.
The new company website is part of the ongoing evolution of the GRx Inventory brand, created with our customers in mind. Visit the new website at http://www.grxinventory.com.
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Hadibu city on the capital island of Socotra on Nov. 21, 2013. (Mohamed al-Sayaghi/Reuters, File Photo)
Yemen Separatists Seize Remote Socotra Island From Saudi-Backed Government
ADENSouthern separatists have seized control of Yemens island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea, deposing its governor and driving out forces of the Saudi-backed government which condemned the action as coup.
The Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared self rule in the south in April, complicating U.N. efforts to forge a permanent ceasefire in a war that has separatists and the government fighting as nominal allies in a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi group, who control the north.
On June 20, the STC announced it had seized government facilities and military bases on the main island of Socotra, a sparsely populated archipelago which sits at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden on one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes.
The government which is led by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi condemned the action as a full-fledged coup on the island and accused STC forces of attacking government buildings in gang-style behavior.
Socotra Governor Ramzi Mahroos accused coalition leaders in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates of turning a blind eye. The UAE has previously backed STC forces with air strikes in fighting against the government in the south.
The coalitions Saudi spokesman and the UAE foreign ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Sources told Reuters last week that Saudi Arabia, which has tried to broker a deal between the STC and Hadis government, had presented a proposal to end the separatist stand-off, but the STC subsequently denied receiving it.
Riyadh wants to prevent another front developing in Yemens multifaceted war, which has been locked in military stalemate for years.
The coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Iran-aligned Houthis ousted the Saudi-backed government for power in the capital, Sanaa, in late 2014. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system.
Socotra, a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its unique fauna and flora, is located in the shipping lane linking Asia to the Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
By Mohammed Mukhashaf
Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress Tuesday that he's seeing a 'disturbing surge of infections' of the coronavirus and said it's something he's 'quite concerned' about.
'Right now the next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surgings that we're seeing in Florida, in Texas, in Arizona, and in other states,' Fauci told members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Fauci also denied he was ever asked by President Trump to slow down COVID-19 testing.
'I, as a member of the taskforce, and my colleagues on the taskforce to my knowledge - I know for sure - to my knowledge none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing,' Fauci testified Tuesday. 'That is just a fact.'
Fauci also wouldn't publicly scold the president for refusing to wear a mask.
'I don't think I can comment on what the president's - the multiple factors that go into the president's not wearing a mask,' the doctor said. 'Certainly I wear a mask in public all the time, not only because I want to protect others and to protect myself, but also to set an example.'
Fauci brought not one but two masks to the hearing - a black one and then another advertising the Washington Nationals, the doctor's favorite baseball team.
He also testified he's never instructed Trump to put one on.
'I have not directly recommended to the president to wear a mask, but I think it's very clear to anybody in the country, because I talk about it so often, of the importance of having physical distance with a mask,' Fauci said. 'And if you are going to be either - beyond your control or by your own choice - in a crowd, then it is imperative to wear a mask at all times.'
Testifying before Congress Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he's seeing a 'disturbing surge of infections' of the coronavirus in states including Florida, Arizona and Texas
Dr. Anthony Fauci arrives at a hearing Tuesday in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. During his testimony he denied ever being asked by President Trump to slow down COVID-19 testing in the United States
Dr. Anthony Fauci is captured taking a selfie as lawmakers begin to show up for Tuesday's House hearing before the Energy and Commerce Committee
Dr. Anthony Fauci wouldn't comment on President Trump's refusal to wear a mask, while saying he's never 'directly recommended' the president put one on - but Fauci said he wore a mask to lead by example, bringing two to the hearing including a Washington Nationals one
President Trump answered, 'I don't kid,' when asked about comments he made Saturday night that suggested he had ordered government officials to slow down COVID-19 testing in the U.S. so the country would have lower case numbers
Since the president made the comments, his staff has had to play clean-up, including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany who said Monday that President Trump was speaking 'in jest'
At Monday's press briefing, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president was speaking 'in jest' when he said he ordered coronavirus testing to be slowed down so the country had fewer cases
President Trump originally made the comments during Saturday night's rally in Tulsa, which marked the first time he officially returned to the cmpaign trail since the coronavirus pandemic cancelled large-scale gatherings
The president has long refused to wear a mask.
He's been in hot water for commenting at his Saturday rally that he'd asked government officials to 'slow the testing down, please,' in order for the U.S. to have lower coronavirus case numbers.
Earlier Tuesday, Trump denied that he was making a joke - which has been the White House's official defense of his remarks.
'I don't kid,' the president said as he departed the White House for Arizona - one of the burgeoning coronavirus hot spots. 'By having more tests. We find more cases,' he continued, adding that testing was a 'double-edged sword.'
On Capitol Hill, Fauci said the U.S. planned to do more testing, as it was a way to get some of the 'community spread' under control.
Fauci said the U.S. could be conducting 'much more surveillance if you want to get your arms around and understand exactly what's going on in community spread.'
'You have to have the manpower, the system, the testing, to identify, isolate and contact trace in an effective way,' Fauci said. 'So when you see those increases you can understand where they're coming from and do something about them.'
And even though there's been a decrease in deaths, Fauci warned the country wasn't out of the woods yet.
'It's too early to make that kind of link,' Fauci said. 'Deaths always lag considerably behind cases.'
Still on Tuesday, Trump tweeted out a chart that showed the dip in deaths.
'Cases up only because of our big number testing,' Trump wrote. 'Mortality rate way down!!!'
Other witnesses on Capitol Hill included coronavirus taskforce members Dr. Robert Redfield, Dr. Stephen Hahn and Admiral Brett Giroir.
Fauci and Giroir said the last time they had spoken with Trump was about two and a half weeks ago, while Redfield wouldn't say.
Giroir, the coronavirus taskforce's testing czar, echoed Fauci when asked about Trump's testing comments.
'Neither the President nor anyone in the administration has instructed or suggested that we should do less testing,' Giroir said.
Despite Dr. Anthony Fauci saying it was too soon to celebrate a decrease in deaths from the coronavirus, President Trump tweeted out a chart Tuesday afternoon that showed the dip. Trump also continued to push the line that more testing led to the uptick in cases
Trump's political rival, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's campaign, continued to hit him Tuesday over the testing comments, calling them 'stunning and outrageous.'
The White House has played clean-up since Saturday, with Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro saying Sunday on CNN that the president was being 'tongue-in-cheek.'
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany used similar phrasing at the briefing Monday, saying the president's comments were made 'in jest.'
'Any suggestion that testing has been curtailed is not rooted in fact,' she said.
She added that 26.7 million coronavirus tests have now been administered.
'The president was trying to expose what the media oftentimes does is they ignore the fact that the United States has more cases because we have more testing,' she explained. 'We are leading the world on testing.'
'It was a comment that he made in jest. It was a comment that he made in passing,' she added.
McEnany was then asked if the president should be making jokes about the coronavirus when more than 122,000 Americans have died.
'He was not joking about coronavirus, I just said he was joking about the media and their failure to understand the fact that when you test more you'll also find more cases,' she replied.
Before the briefing Monday, Trump was interviewed by broadcast journalist Joe St. George and he twice dodged the question of whether he told government officials to slow down COVID-19 testing.
When a reporter pointed to the president's Monday comments - and how he didn't say anything about making them 'in jest' - McEnany replied, 'The president instead used that opportunity to extoll the fact that we've done more than 25 million tests.'
He boasted about those numbers on Tuesday as well.
'We did 25-plus, 25 million tests. Think of that - 25 million. If you look at other countries they did 1 million, 2 million, 3 million. Big countries. We did 25 million, way more by double, triple, quadruple any other country,' Trump said.
'Therefore, with tests, we're going to have more cases. By having more cases, it sounds bad. But actually what it is, is we're finding people, many of those people aren't sick,' the president continued.
Trump added that because the U.S. is finding all these cases 'we have a very low mortality rate.'
'Just about the best in the world,' he said.
On Monday, the World Health Organization pushed back on Trump's assertion that cases were rising because of increased testing.
'We do not believe that this is a testing phenomenon,' said Mike Ryan, the executive director of WHO's emergencies program. 'Clearly when you look at the hospital admissions, [they] are also rising in a number of countries and deaths are also rising.'
'Theyre not due to increased testing per se. So there definitely is a shift in the sense that the virus is now very well established on a global level,' Ryan said at a press conference in Geneva.
Fauci made this point as well, pointing to the fact that the percentage of positive cases has increased in states including Arizona and North Carolina.
'The percentages that you are speaking of are clearly an indication that there are additional infections that are responsible for those increases,' Fauci said answering a question posted by Rep. G. K. Butterfield, a North Carolina Democrat, who brought up the upward trend in his own state.
'Because when you get an increase in the percentage of your tests that are positive that's an indication that you do have additional infections,' Fauci said.
Concerns are growing that the recovery package promised by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will fall short if the firepower fails to match what the British government has delivered for its struggling businesses.
The concerns from business groups and leading economists come as the UK Treasury released figures that showed that lending to UK firms has so far reached 41bn (45.3bn) during the Covid-19 crisis.
Dermot OLeary, chief economist at broker Goodbody, said lending through Britains Bounce Back Loan Scheme, the main source of funding for SMEs through a 100% government guarantee, implies 4.1bn in loans ought to have been made available to SMEs in the Republic, whereas an estimated total of only 95m of debt has been advanced.
The British scheme spluttered under the original plan under which the British state guaranteed less than 100% of the commercial loans but has since been hugely successful.
In this context, the need for similar levels of support for Irish SMEs is highlighted once again, Mr OLeary said.
Brian Keegan, director of public policy at Chartered Accountants Ireland, said the Government will have to deliver a large package of grants to help businesses from closing down.
Industry was told to shut down by Government and they have to make redress for that, Mr Keegan said.
The thrust of the supports will need to be direct grants and not loans, even as the proposed programme for government by the three party leaders focused on loans and lending guarantees, he said.
Businesses responded to the Government to shut down and they have to be helped back, and loans are not going to be sufficient, he said.
Citing the cut in the 350 pandemic unemployment payment for part-time workers, Austin Hughes, chief economist at KBC Bank Ireland, said he worried about the mixed messaging from Minister Donohoe around the costs of many of the interventions so far.
There does seem to have to be a very strong messaging that businesses, which were viable beforehand, will be given the opportunity to prove their viability in the new normal world, Mr Hughes said.
If your capacity is reduced by 50% you may no longer be viable. But you need some sort of guarantees that help businesses survive, he said.
To boost consumer sentiment, the wage-subsidy scheme will have to continue even if it is renamed as a retraining scheme, and guarantee-loan schemes will have to be linked to the nature of the business, he said.
Ronan Lyons, assistant professor of economics at TCD, said he agreed with the business group Ibec chief economist Gerard Brady that any recovery package needs to target SMEs because the smaller firms will not survive otherwise.
We do not need any further economic shock -- it was effectively a Government-imposed recession, for good reasons -- and the aim presumably is to get the unemployment rate down below 10% at the end of the year, Prof Lyons said.
The response has to be different. If we dont supply the supports, there is no easy win.
"The taxpayer will have to pay one way or the other, he said.
When students return to the University of Massachusetts Boston in the fall, they wont be physically in the classroom together.
The university announced that the campus will continue remote learning for the fall semester.
Interim Chancellor Katherine Newman said the decision was in part due to the universitys location as well as the number of commuter students.
UMass Bostons physical location and transportation patterns, as well as its relationship to the surrounding, large urban area, make it difficult to execute and enforce standards vis a vis social distancing and health/safety rules compared, for example, to a fully residential campus in a more removed setting, Newman said.
She added, Our community members commute every day from some of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in the commonwealth, those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic. We have a responsibility to ensure their safety and that of their older relatives.
Certain lab courses required in the sciences and nursing program will be taught in person on campus.
The flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system in Amherst shared with faculty last week a portion of the fall plans.
Classes will begin on Aug. 24 and conclude before Thanksgiving, on Nov. 20. Students will not return to campus after Thanksgiving recess, the plan states, and final exams will be conducted remotely.
The 2020 fall semester was previously scheduled to begin on Sept. 8 with the final day of classes held on Dec. 14.
The plan states that classes will be held through a combination of remote and in-person instruction and that plans for on-campus housing are still being finalized.
UMass Amherst Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy shared a preliminary fall 2020 planning report with the campus community earlier this month.
As we plan for fall 2020, the coronavirus pandemic poses a continuing threat to every assemblage of people, university campuses included, Subbaswamy wrote in the report. In the absence of a proven vaccine, social distancing is one of the essential behaviors needed to mitigate the risk of infection and spread of the virus. For fall 2020, the number of students we can have on campus is capped not by our campus capacity, but limited by social distancing norms (stated generally in terms of individuals being six feet apart).
UDEME, the social accountability and transparency project of Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, has concluded a five-day virtual training exercise for student journalists in Nigeria.
The students, who are referred to as Udeme Monitors (U-Monitors), will be deployed across the country to track, monitor and ascertain the conditions of government-owned projects in the states.
The training held between Monday and Friday last week under topics such as Social Accountability, Budgetary Processes, Accountability Journalism, Investigative Reporting, Understanding BPP Processes, Journalistic Writing, Impact Tracking, Freedom of Information (FOI) among others had 26 university students in attendance.
The project officer, Ijeoma Okereke, said the training is very important, not just for the organisation, but also for the U-Monitors who are pursuing different degree courses in different universities.
We deemed it necessary to train them on issues relating to procurement/contracting processes in Nigeria vis-a-vis budgetary allocations to certain projects across the 36 states because they are the next generation who will bring about the social change we so desire,. Ms Okereke said
It would interest you that these young folks volunteered to become agents of change in their respective communities and this is quite commendable. It is our hope that they put into practice everything they have learnt these few days and contribute to the growth of democracy and accountability in Nigeria, she concluded.
U-monitor virtual training session
The participants applauded the exercise and spoke of their experience in it.
It was an amazing training and I am glad that I took part, Amah Hannah, a student at the University of Uyo, said.
Another participant from the Federal University Oye Ekiti, Iretomiwa Dele-Yusuff, said, the focus on accountability journalism shed more light on formerly vague issues. Although the task ahead is daunting, I am ready to give it my best.
Asuquo Cletus, a student of Cross River University of Technology, said most of the lessons they received from the training were not taught in school classrooms.
Fine Gael councillor Noel Cribbin has welcomed the inclusion in the Programme for Government, of a proposal that Edenderry and North Offaly be designated a Green Energy Hub.
Speaking this week, he said, "It is fantastic to see that Edenderry and North Offaly are finally getting the recognition deserved on a national level. I am hopeful that my proposal for a Green Energy Hub will form the foundation of an exciting roadmap for the future of Bord na Mona in North Offaly. The proposal has the potential to bring opportunities for new industries and jobs into the area.
"The impact of the news of the immediate cessation of peat production by BNM last week cannot be underestimated. The proposal for a Green Energy Hub has the potential to fill the massive employment and industry void left by the announcement," he added.
"The proposal involves the transformation of Edenderry Power Plant to 100% biomass. Its inclusion in the Programme for Government means that it is on the table and supported by the government in their 5-year plan for Ireland."
Cllr Cribbin went on to say, "A transformation to a 100% biomass plant will not only retain the plant for possibly the next 20 years but will also retain all present jobs in the plant and outdoors. The replacement of peat with biomass is critical in transforming the area to a Green Energy Hub."
"Alongside the proposed five windfarms, it would make the area capable of producing over 600 MW of pure green energy."
Cllr Cribbin said, "There is no other site in Ireland with this potential, and when this is combined with a massive landbank, motorway access, proximity to Dublin and grid connection, it has the potential to make the area a leading location for industry investment, and the much-needed jobs that would follow.
"I intend to fight tooth and nail to keep BNM very much to the fore at a national level, and to build on the employment record the company has retained in the area for the last 70 years. With this plan, Bord na Mona has the potential to create jobs here for the next 20 years and I am going to do everything possible to ensure that happens," he concluded.
Farmers in parts of Asia are spraying antibiotics deemed "critical" for human medicine on rice crops, raising fears they may be fuelling antibiotic resistance, say researchers.
A 32-country survey of agricultural advisers found that many are prescribing the common human antibiotics streptomycin and tetracycline for insect infestations, fungal diseases and as general protection, as well as for bacterial infections.
In some years, nearly ten per cent of the management recommendations for rice in one region contained an antibiotic, found the study, published today in the newly-launched journal CABI Agriculture and Bioscience.
The usage is "alarmingly high" according to Phil Taylor, co-author of the research and training manager for the global plant clinic network,Plantwise. "They use it like a general tonic almost," he says.
"These data appear to indicate that the use of antibiotics in crop production is more extensive than most of the literature would suggest," Taylor and co-author, Rob Reeder, write.
Streptomycin is deemed "critically important" for human medicine by the World Health Organization (WHO); while tetracyclines are "highly important".
Antibiotics, and resistant bacteria, may remain in the harvested crop and enter the human food chain, especially in food that is not thoroughly cooked.
Additionally, after spraying, much of the antibiotic can remain unspent in the soil. There are growing concerns this creates a reservoir of resistance in the environment.
The research provides rare data on the use of antibiotics in arable farming in the developing world and supports anecdotal reports of their widespread use on crops in Vietnam, Cambodia and China, as well as claims by a leading research and advocacy organisation in India, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) that crop farmers are flouting national protocols and liberally using streptomycin and tetracycline.
Erik Millstone, a science policy expert and specialist in food safety policy at the University of Sussex who was not involved in the study, says: "Food safety regulators nationally and internationally have been doing a sloppy job letting this slip under the radar and the very least I hope the publication of this paper achieves is triggering a wave of attention and action on the part of national and international regulatory authorities."
The research was carried out by plant pathologists from the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), an intergovernmental agricultural research and dissemination organisation.
CABI, the parent organisation ofSciDev.Net, trains grassroots agricultural advisers in lower-income countries, who are often employed by national agricultural ministries.
Taylor and Reeder, Plantwise data manager, examined more than 430,000 consultation records these 'plant doctors' submitted between 2012 and October 2018.
There were no records of antibiotic recommendations in any of the 12 African countries in the study, nor in most of the countries from South and Central America; and use in eastern Mediterranean countries was low.
But in South-East Asia (which, using the WHO categorisation, includes India and Nepal) and the Western Pacific, plant doctors regularly recommended antibiotics - most commonly for rice, followed by tomato and citrus fruit.
While 65 per cent of these recommendations were for bacterial diseases - over which experts are divided on efficacy - one in five were for insects or mites, against which antibiotics have no effect.
In many cases, especially in South-East Asia, "the recommendations were identical regardless of the diagnosis," say the researchers.
"We speculate that the agricultural advisors in South-East Asia routinely combine an insecticide with a fungicide and an antibiotic in a single application so as to deal with the current issue and to prevent/control other problems not yet present or residing at a low level."
Reeder and Taylor say there was "enormous variation" between the six South-East Asian countries in the study (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand) but national figures were not included.
The data supports reports of widespread use in some countries.
Ricardo Oliva, an expert in plant resistance at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, says he has often seen streptomycin on sale to farmers in markets in Vietnam and Cambodia. "You see the boxes thrown in the field it's part of the culture," he says.
And in November the Delhi-based CSE reported on its visits to 15 farmers across India chosen to represent a variety of terrains and produce.
All acknowledged using streptomycin on their crops, according to Amit Khurana, director of the CSE's food safety and toxins programme.
Subsequent interviews and desk research revealed that different agricultural boards and government colleges in a variety of states recommend their use.
The degree of risk is controversial. Advocates of antibiotic use argue there is "no proven evidence of resistance having spread from plant pathogenic bacteria to human or animal pathogens despite 50 years of use", say Reeder and Taylor.
But Jan Leach, an expert in plant-pathogen interactions at Colorado State University says transmission in the opposite direction (resistance genes from bacteria that infect humans have been found in plant pathogens) has been demonstrated, meaning that "we know that there is movement of antimicrobial resistance between plant pathogens and human pathogens".
"We see the spread of diseases all the time and the big concern is that if you get these resistances into these pathogen groups and then they move from country to country, or in wind patterns we don't know how widespread these things can become," says Leach.
Experts disagree about whether it is ever justifiable to use antibiotics in crops.
Common diseases such as rice bacterial blight can be devastating, says Leach. "These are resource-poor famers and they are dealing with very tiny pieces of land. And if they lose their crop they don't have food for their families ... so these diseases are bad and they have a high impact."
But antibiotics often do not work even against bacterial diseases. Leach says it is better to adopt new varieties bred for resistance to local diseases and use good management practices.
Oliva adds: "It's my personal opinion but I would never advise the use of antibiotics [on rice]."
The researchers highlighted the lack of data on antibiotic use on crops.
An investigation by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health and WHO found that only three per cent of countries did regular assessment of the types and amounts of antibiotic used on crops.
Regulations also vary widely. Many countries have no legislation and some encourage the practice as a valuable tool against infection, the investigation says. The European Union and Brazil do not approve any antibiotic as an active ingredient in pesticides; some countries, such as the United States, allow their use in emergencies.
Last year the US Environmental Protection Agency controversially allowed farmers to spray hundreds of tonnes of human antibiotics, including streptomycin, in orchards to combat the disease citrus greening.
The FAO convened an expert meeting in 2018 to assess the risks posed by antibiotics entering the soil and the environment.
Jeffrey Le Jeune, food safety and quality officer at FAO, says: "We don't have very much data to say what is the relative contribution to the whole human exposure through crops. That's the bottom line.
"We do know that they are used on crops and then they get in the environment. We do know that you can find antimicrobial resistant organisms on foods of plant origin that are intended for animal feed or human consumption."
"And we do know some outbreaks of food-borne illnesses associated with vegetables have had antimicrobial resistant organisms.
But is that a red herring? How did those resistant organisms get there? Was it because they used antibiotics or antimicrobials? Or was it because there were antimicrobial resistant organisms coming in the irrigation water from a faulty wastewater treatment plant? We don't know." Jeffrey Le Jeune, Food Safety and Quality Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization
"The point is it needs to be looked at and evaluated... but I think you could be safe to say that if you don't need it you shouldn't use it."
The Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme is drawing up a revised code of practice on antibiotic use in food production, which will include new components on plant health. Meetings and working groups are planned into 2021.
Khurana, from India's CSE, adds: "It's difficult to understand how the global scientific community is really not focussed on this. The FAO [needs to] show a similar kind of aggression [towards crop antibiotic use] to the way they are showing it on the animal side."
Its really tough to create something that has both the gut-punch impact of good literary fiction, and the sheer kinetic energy associated with genre masters. Megha Majumdars A Burning is that rare debut.
Theres a reason why a lot of literary novelists try their hand at genre fiction-adjacent stories late into their careers (look at Ian McEwan or Kazuo Ishiguros recent work) quite simply, its really tough, to create something that has both the gut-punch impact of good literary fiction, and the sheer kinetic energy associated with genre masters. For a debut novel to be blessed with both qualities, therefore, is a seriously impressive achievement: Megha Majumdars A Burning is that rare debut.
A gruesome train-burning claims the lives of 100 passengers near Jivans home in Kolabagan, on the outskirts of Kolkata. After the young woman uploads a controversial video of the incident, shes arrested and faces terrorism charges. Nobody is interested in her version of events and she fights against time to avoid becoming the perfect scapegoat. Meanwhile, the lives of Lovely, a hijra who Jivan gave English lessons to, and PT Sir, her old physical education teacher, get intertwined with her ongoing ordeal. Through their stories we learn more and more about the circumstances that led up to Kolabagan train stations incendiary moment. A Burning is a no-nonsense portrait of contemporary India that refuses to avert its eyes, no matter what.
Edited excerpts from a recent conversation with Majumdar:
The chapters narrated by Lovely are the ones where A Burning makes its most visible shifts in register the characters thoughts (as well as her descriptions of the days events) are expressed in present continuous, for the most part. Talk me through this writing choice. Was it more of a character-driven decision (because Lovely is all about optimising the ongoing moment; even in her train commute shes making my body straight and tall for Mr Debnaths acting class) or was it more along the lines of mimicking the speech patterns of Indian English (something that weve seen in books as different from each other as The Inscrutable Americans and The White Tiger), the way a beginner would speak it?
I was interested in engaging the particular status of English in India, where the language has a complicated colonial history. Adapting English to this particular Indian register felt like an act of agency to me, a claiming of a language that's marvelously one's own. At the same time, I hope it also signals how there is so much striving and aspiration connected to English. So I wanted to try writing in a kind of non-standard English which settles into the nooks and crannies of this person's life, an English which offers up some of that striving.
When Jivan bribes her entrepreneurial cellmate American-di in order to smuggle a message out of prison, her sudden resourcefulness is met with a telling remark: When did you become a rich person? To me it seemed that the emphasis here is on become as though Jivan has been physically transformed. In a different prison scene, Jivan feels that with the toiletries gifted by Purnendu the journalist, shell be able to be his equal by their next meeting. This does seem to be a recurring concern in the novel, doesnt it physicality in this context, in the ways rich and poor bodies are treated differently (talking about India here, although I suppose its just as true for America)?
Thats a great read, thank you for raising this point. Rich and poor bodies are treated differently everywhere, you're right, and in this book it felt to me to be connected also to the question of who is worthy of believing. Whose story do we listen to? Whose narrative do we trust? It's connected to how someone is able to present themselves. And from a craft perspective, paying attention to physicality is a way of drawing the reader closer to the character, isn't it? If you're able to draw a reader close to a character's body, then perhaps they're able to feel the character's joy and pain and surprise with a little more nuance. I'm thinking through this, and I'll keep thinking about it!
Its very tempting to see PT Sir as an analogue for the RSS its not merely that he starts working for a Muslim-baiting political party. Its also that his storys decidedly innocuous starting point happens to be the exact same place where every shakha (the RSS was, after all, supposed to be structured like a paramilitary organisation) story begins: a playground and a man imposing rudimentary physical discipline upon a group of youngsters. Were connections like these on your mind during the creation of this character?
For me, I was thinking through the lens of this character. He's at a railway station; a train is delayed; how might he stumble upon a rally? Well, perhaps he's out looking to buy some tomatoes, and he finds this traffic jam, and from there he realises that there's a rally going on, so he goes to have a peek at the movie star who's speaking, and so on. I'm a novelist, not a political commentator, and while reading the news and following good journalism fueled this book, my interest is in the terrain of imagination and the terrain of my character's story arc. I hope that PT Sir comes across as a complex character who is not easily put into a box, somebody who helps us expand our imaginative capacities, which is so much the task of fiction.
PT Sir is tempted to join the Jana Kalyan Party after noticing the exuberance of the hangers-on around Bimala, a well-know leader; theyre brandishing weapons and generally puffing up their chests, so to speak. PT Sir thinks to himself: How different from the other schoolteachers he knew. How free. Theres a fair bit of emasculation involved here, isnt there? I also ask because his wife, too, seems to have that ego-puncturing effect on him, as you mention elsewhere.
One could think about the links between a kind of toxic masculinity and the allure of such power for a person who feels himself quite powerless in this society. For those who have read the book, they might recognise that PT Sir felt rejected in some ways by Jivan (why didn't she ever express gratitude to him?) and the steps he took after that came in part from this place of personal grievance. I think readers will recognise that that place of feeling rejected, and seeking to act upon that feeling, is often the place where toxic masculinity begins.
Im going to ask you about a deceptively low-key scene: the one where Jivans mother is unreasonably happy at her water supply being restored in a matter of days, and not weeks. She tells Jivan: The system doesnt always work for us. But you see that, every now and then, you can make good things happen for yourself. That line is, by any standards, a crushing indictment of seven decades of democratic governance Im deliberately restricting the geographical scope of the question here, but just when did things go this bad in Bengal? Most longtime Calcuttans I know treat this as a sort of floating, ahistoric axiom a we-were-always-this-way nihilism
The question you're asking has to do with how characters respond to a system which does not serve them. How do these characters move forward when they face such daily, systemic constraints? Part of it is recognising the ways in which they're rendered powerless, and seeking to move past that. Sometimes their act of courage is daring to raise their voice in an office, making a case for why they need a reliable water supply, before a bureaucrat who has greater power than they do.
I found the other characters attitudes towards Purnendu the reporter very interesting indeed. At one point early in the book, American-di expresses her skepticism about the profession, but Jivan remains convinced that her truth can only reach the right ears via journalism. Its an interesting show of faith by a Muslim woman, towards a group of people that vilifies her community with bad-faith arguments and outright inventions every single day in India. Why is Jivan so convinced about this? Do social media and its veneer of democratic freedoms (short-lived, of course, in Jivans case) have something to do with it?
As we have seen in many cases and across countries, it is media attention that brings injustice to light. It is media attention that causes widespread outrage and mobilises people. So that's part of it. The other part is, there is great power in telling your story. I think Jivan is a character who understands that, having seen how false stories about her gained traction. She is also, despite everything, an optimistic character, a character who holds on to hope. So to me it felt right that she would be hopeful about this a chance to tell her story would dispel the untruths that the public believed about her.
Stella Maxwell stunned while getting in touch with nature Monday.
The Victoria's Secret stunner, 30, showed off her world-class abs while visiting a park in the hip Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.
She made the most of the outing, enjoying an impromptu photoshoot with a male friend.
Abs-olutely fabulous! Stella Maxwell showed off her stunning abs during a visit to an LA park on Monday
Stella was fashion-forward in a pair of spray-painted dad jeans and a baby tee. She masked up and pulled her hair back into a half-ponytail, finishing her outfit with a pair of high-top Converse sneakers.
After relaxing on the grass and sipping on a green drink, the statuesque Kiwi climbed up into a tree to strike a pose.
Her model instincts were clear as she leaned up against a thick branch and vamped it up for the camera.
After getting their fill of the sun, the duo left the park.
Hip: Stella was fashion-forward in a pair of spray painted dad jeans and a baby tee
Model behavior: After relaxing on the grass and sipping on a green drink, the statuesque Kiwi climbed up into a tree to strike a pose
It seemed the beauty was happy to get some fresh air.
Stella opened up about life during isolation in a recent interview with V Magazine.
Reflecting on the situation she said: 'I think this has changed everyone's outlook on life. Really one can not help but be reminded of the fragile nature of our existence.
'I have certainly been reminded that we should appreciate every moment we have both with others and our own self. To appreciate the liberties we sometimes take for granted.'
Feeling grateful: Stella opened up about life during isolation in a recent interview with V Magazine, revealing: 'I think this has changed everyone's outlook on life. Really one can not help but be reminded of the fragile nature of our existence'
Cute couple: The Victoria's Secret Angel dated Miley Cyrus in 2015
Maxwell made her mark as a Victoria's Secret Angel and as the face of the cosmetics brand Max Factor.
She has also made headlines when she briefly dated Miley Cyrus in 2015.
She also had an on-and-off relationship with actress Kristen Stewart from December 2016 to July 2019.
By Park Jae-hyuk
The relationship between analysts and listed firms has come under the spotlight again, after Shinhan Investment analyst Kwak Sang-jun temporarily left a YouTube channel dealing with the economy after making a negative comment on LG Chem.
The analyst had complained of the attitude of the chemical company's investor relations team, predicting its stock price would go down.
Although he apologized for his remarks and stepped down from his role with the channel, subscribers speculated he was forced to do so, saying it is an open secret that domestic analysts are not allowed to issue negative reports on listed companies.
Unlike foreign investment banks issuing sell-reports freely, local brokerage houses have lost the trust of investors as they have tended to publish buy-reports only.
Korean securities firms say they have no other choice, because analysts issuing negative reports are barred from accessing company data and visiting their offices.
In 2016, HanaTour reportedly threatened to prohibit a Kyobo Securities analyst, who lowered the travel agency's target stock price to 110,000 won ($90) from 200,000, from visiting HanaTour offices.
In 2015, a Hyundai Department Store executive urged a Taurus Investment & Securities analyst to take down a report that was unfavorable to the retailer.
Following a series of controversies, research center heads of the nation's 32 securities firms issued a statement in 2016, saying, "Healthy investment is only possible on condition of free discussion and rational criticism."
The Financial Supervisory Service also came up with guidelines that year with the Korea Listed Companies Association, the Kosdaq Listed Companies Association and the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA) to protect analysts from unfair treatment by listed firms.
According to the KOFIA, however, 28 out of 32 local securities firms did not publish a single sell-report from the second quarter of last year to the first quarter of this year.
The four that issued sell-reports NH Investment & Securities, Daishin Securities, KTB Investment & Securities and Kiwoom Securities also had their sell-reports account for only 0.5 percent of their entire reports published during the period.
In contrast, sell-reports published by foreign securities firms accounted for over 10 percent of their entire reports published over the past year.
Both listed firms and analysts here may say the long-standing custom of issuing optimistic reports is inevitable for the sake of investors who have already invested their money in listed companies.
However, this practice will harm all market participants in the long run, because investors will lose trust in listed companies and analysts.
In order to correct the distorted market structure, consumer groups have called for the financial authorities to take action, saying it is still hard to expect listed firms to guarantee analysts' freedom.
For the development of the country's capital market, Financial Consumer Agency President Cho Nam-hee advised the financial authorities to set up an independent analysis institution that can compete with securities firms.
A Delhi court will pronounce verdict on the interim bail of Apoorva Shukla, the main accused in the murder case of Rohit Shekhar, the son of former Congress leader N D Tiwari, on Tuesday (June 23).
The verdict will be delivered by Saket court at around 4 pm. Apoorva has sought interim bail of four months. According to Apoorva, she is suffering from slipped disc after she fell inside the jail. Delhi Police has already submitted a 518-page chargesheet in this case on July 18.
Shekhar, the son of former Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh chief minister ND Tiwari, was smothered to death on the intervening night of April 15-16. Apoorva was arrested in connection with this case on April 24. Delhi Police has claimed in the chargesheet that Apoorva had killed Rohit Shekhar.
During the interrogation, Apoorva had reportedly said that Rohit's mother Ujjwala's interfering nature affected her relationship with her husband.
Rohit's mother Ujjawla, however, alleged that Apoorva and her parents were eying her son's property. "Apoorva's family wanted to take control of the properties of my both sons -- Siddharth and Rohit -- because this house is nearer to the Supreme Court where Apoorva was practising law," she said.
On the night when Rohit died, he had teased Apoorva saying that while he was returning from Uttarakhand, he and his sister-in-law drank alcohol from the same glass. This, apparently had triggered Apoorva to an extent that she attacked her violently and smothered him to death.
According to police, while Apoorva stayed in a different room on the same floor, she has been caught on CCTV camera making several rounds to Rohit's room after his death. According to the police, Apoorva strangulated Tiwari with bare hands and then used the pillow, so that he could not shout for help.
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SIOUX CITY -- One of the biggest options for summer fun became available in Sioux City again Monday, as city officials decided coronavirus spread had lessened locally and would not knock out the swimming season after all.
During the first hour of the three pools opening for a six-week season, five women swam laps in the big pool at Leif Erikson Park. A few children and family members were in the kiddie pool for a lesson, while lifeguards stood on the deck a few feet away and offered suggestions, which is the new required way for lessons.
"We will give the public every opportunity to safely recreate," said John Byrnes, the city's interim recreation supervisor. "Whether they choose to do so or not, we don't know."
Since social distancing is encouraged by public health officials, residents may forgo visiting the city's pools entirely. To ensure cleanliness, Byrnes said staffers have a checklist of procedures.
"This is literally so unprecedented," he said.
Among the recommendations: only allow the pools to reach 25 percent capacity -- which at Leif means a maximum of 180 people, instead of the 720.
Monday, there was a chance of showers in the afternoon, but the open swimming portion set for 3 p.m. was able to play out.
"Even with the ominous weather, all three pools had about 100 people show up in the first hour. No pool has hit capacity yet, although we are expecting an uptick in visits as it get warmer," Byrnes said in a second interview later in the day.
Paula Hamp, a Sioux City native who has worked as a lifeguard and pool manager, swam laps for most of the fitness hour. Hamp was pleased to have the lap swimming option, something she has regularly done five times a week for three decades.
"I'm glad that they are doing it. Kids have to have something to do. Swimming is so important," Hamp said near the end of her workout.
Previously, city officials had announced pools would not open for regular operations this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan was to limit usage of pools to adult fitness classes and swimming lessons for children on select times of the day, beginning in late June.
But a shift in the decision by city officials was announced June 15, shortly after Gov. Kim Reynolds lifted COVID-19 restrictions on the state's swimming pools and water parks.
Other Northwest Iowa pools that previously planned to be closed have opened sooner than Sioux City. The Sioux Center water park, for example, opened on June 15.
Stephanie Kramer, of Sioux City, brought her children, Ellie, 10, and Wade, 6, to swim lessons Monday. Kramer signed the children up on first day possible to avoid being put on a waiting list.
"First of all, I was grateful they had swimming lessons. I was afraid they weren't going to get them," she said.
"It gives (kids) a place to go have fun in the summer, with supervision."
The pool season in Sioux City will last through Aug. 2 at Leif Erikson, Lewis and Riverside pools. However, the city splash pads will not open for the summer, and the slide at Riverside Pool will not be open.
Procedures were set in consultation with Siouxland District Health to provide a safe environment for pool users.
A distance of six feet is recommended in the pool and on the decks, to maintain a degree of social distancing. Wearing masks on the pool deck is highly encouraged, although they should not be worn by people who are in the water. Only family members can be in the water with children during lessons.
One key element is that all swimmers must sign in with their names, for information that will be used by staff for contact tracing, in the event a positive case is confirmed.
New cleaning procedures will be in place, such as pool workers cleaning high touched surfaces every half hour, with deep cleaning happening before and after each session. Guests are encouraged to maintain six feet of distance from others and use hand sanitizer.
On Mondays through Fridays, open swimming will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on weekends, the three-hour sessions will be from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., then again from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
Amazon and Flipkart might soon have to display country of origin against products listed on their platforms
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is planning to discuss the proposal with all e-commerce entities shortly
70% of the items sold on Amazon and Flipkart platforms are of Chinese origin
Domestic manufacturers will benefit from the move since buyers might prefer to pay a little extra for Made in India products
India is likely to demand online retailers like Amazon and Flipkart to display the country of origin against products listed on their e-commerce platforms. The move is part of India's policy measures targeting Chinese goods after recent border clashes.
Display of country of origin is expected to influence consumer preference for locally-manufactured items as 'Boycott China' chorus grows louder.
Retail sector experts, however, say local products need to be cost competitive and good quality to generate consumer interest. Anti-China sentiments would soon dissipate and so would calls for Swadeshi, they reckon.
Traders' lobby group Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and small manufacturers under the banner of Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) had proposed to make display of country of origin mandatory while giving their suggestions on e-commerce policy.
"We have received suggestions. As you know the policy is not yet finalised but our priority is to cut unnecessary imports and boost local manufacturing. We will take all possible steps to promote local industry," said an official.
"We are planning to discuss with all e-commerce entities to see what needs to be done in this regard," he added.
The official spokesperson of the Commerce Ministry declined to comment as the policy is not final as yet.
The industry bodies claim that as much as 70% of items sold on Amazon and Flipkart are of Chinese origin. They claim local manufacturers are not benefitting from the boom in the e-commerce sector.
Domestic manufacturers hope to gain if the country of origin is made mandatory on products since consumers would not mind paying a little more for locally-manufactured items.
Avneet Singh Marwah, Director and CEO, Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL) which is the exclusive brand licensee of Kodak TV in India says that the proposed move to mandate e-commerce players to display information about country of origin will help his company.
"We have invested so much on creating manufacturing facility in India. We are not trading. We are manufacturing and giving so much employment to people. The local manufacturers must be given some benefits," Marwah says.
In a significant development, the government on Tuesday made it mandatory for sellers to enter the country of origin while registering all new products on GeM (Government e-marketplace) portal.
While an official statement says that GeM has taken the step to promote 'Make in India' and 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat', the decision is largely being seen as a targeted action on Chinese goods.
India has a huge trade deficit with China and the government wants to cut it substantially through import substitution. India imported goods worth $65.1 billion in FY20 from China while its exports to the neighbouring country stood at $16.6 billion.
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Mubadala is one of the world's leading investment funds, with over US$850 billion worth of assets.
Lucknow, June 23 : The district magistrate of Agra has reacted sharply to a tweet by Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in which she claimed that 28 deaths have been reported within 48 hours in the city.
DM Prabhu Narain Singh, in a letter emailed to Priyanka Gandhi, has said that these claims were "baseless and misleading".
The letter lso said, "Corona warriors and fighters are working round the clock to check the spread of the pandemic and such reports will serve to demoralize them and also have an adverse impact on the common man." The district magistrate Gandhi to issue a corrigendum within 24 hours so that the truth would be known to the people.
He said that in the past 109 days, Agra has reported 1,139 cases of which 79 have succumbed to the virus.
"The report of 28 deaths in 48 hours is completely false," he added.
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In the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic this spring, entrepreneurs Rebecca Cahua and Vivian Qu joined forces, skills, and teams to create and bring to production an innovative new product the O2 Nano Mask, a reuseable nanofiltration mask that combines a high level of filtration with unique breathability and comfort.
Together, Cahua and Qu founded a O2 Brands, Inc., and the two used their combined skills and experience in textiles and technology to bring the O2 Nano Mask to Kickstarter in May. The campaign was successful, and the mask is currently in production.
Before they joined forces, the two women had been running their own successful companies Cahuas DaD Sewing House and Qus Viaex Technologies. Their experience with these companies inspired and continues to inform their vision for O2 Brands.
02 Nano Mask CreatorsVivian Qu (L) and Rebecca Cahua (R)
The E-Commerce Times spoke with Cahua and Qu to hear their story, learn about the impulse behind their new mask, and get a glimpse into their plans for the future.
E-Commerce Times: Could you describe your career trajectory? How did you get to where you are today?
Cahua: I started in the fashion industry, and when I left college, my first project was providing merchandising to nonprofits. Thats when I got the idea of designing for a difference, and ultimately creating employment in the Bay Area and sustainable domestic manufacturing in San Francisco. Thats been my business for the last three years, working with small brands to large corporations.
Vivian met me through my business. She came in right before the shelter-in-place order happened here, and we quickly decided to collaborate, since we were both separately working on a mask project. People were reaching out to me since I had the ability to sew. We both had people reaching out to us to figure out how to make masks. We thought we would partner together and start O2 Brands Inc. to create products together.
Qu: My background is in material science engineering. We have been very interested in using biopolymers in new products. Viaex Technologies has been working on biopolymer solutions for anti-microbial applications in water and air.
The main thing about working together with Rebecca is that we have good synergy, since she has specific textile experience and is used to sourcing materials from all over the world. On our end, weve been looking for good applications for our materials. Were able to piece that together and do something greater with it, which has cumulated in our initial product.
ECT: Where did the idea for O2 Brands, Inc. come from? What inspired you to start this company?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Qu: For us it was clear that we could make premium PPE not in the medical sense, but something everyone could use to protect themselves. We thought that if we wanted to do this, instead of doing it in a rushed or oversimplified way, we could do a better job by combining our backgrounds in technology and design to make a better product. The products available today are not all that comfortable, and we thought there needed to be a better product, and thats why we created it.
Cahua: We wanted to produce a product that we could be proud of. We couldnt do it alone, but when we worked together, we were able to make a premium product that could really protect and help people during this time.
Before Covid-19 happened, we never would have done this. Weve basically launched a company and a brand in a month, which is amazing. We trust each other and believe in what were doing.
Our goal is to grow O2 Brands, and thats our newfound passion. Right now, our focus is to see where this path takes us. Its something we both wanted, to get behind a product we really wanted. It was exciting for both of us to find someone to work with.
ECT: What is your companys mission?
Qu: Our mission is to integrate materials, technology, and the supply chain to create amazing products that focus on sustainability. Because of these unique times, were doing the Good Mask Project, where were donating masks. Thats been part of our DNA, even before we met. Its something that drives us, and were excited to work more on the social responsibility side.
ECT: What makes the masks your company is producing unique?
Qu: It has to do with our design and technology. A lot of the cloth masks and bandanas we see arent that effective, but if you have a premium filter inside, the material will block much more.
The efficiency of our mask is around 80 percent. Our goal was to create a product that has the fit and comfort of a casual mask, with premium filtration material inside.
What we want to do for our customers is to maximize their protection. Even though N95 masks are very good, theyre created for professionals, and theyre not very comfortable to wear for the entirety of a day. That prevents people from doing so. We wanted to bring that much higher level of protection to the average user.
Cahua: What makes our product unique is the science that went into creating it. In particular, the higher filtration level makes it unique. At a time when you couldnt find filters on the market, for Vivian to have that kind of filter accessible made me jump on this project right away.
Anyone can make a cloth mask, but the combination of the two is what takes it to a higher level. We did at least fifty samples of the mask, testing for breathability and fit. We feel like weve achieved one of the highest levels of filtration and comfort that weve seen, and the response has been amazing.
Each mask almost looks like its handmade, with the detail it has, and you can be heard and seen while you speak through the mask. We put a lot of thought into the mask, and we worked hard to make sure our mask is a premium mask that we can really be proud of.
ECT: Why did you decide to launch the Kickstarter campaign for your masks?
Qu: We found that we have a story that is uniquely suited to Kickstarter. The fact that we were still iterating and making this a better product made it especially good for Kickstarter. Kickstarter is very supportive of human-made products that are in a pre-product phase.
Weve enjoyed communicating with the community, as well as having the chance to improve the product before we send it out.
Cahua: Kickstarter was a great platform that we both understood would be the best way for us to respond at the highest capacity to get masks out to the market as quickly as possible. We understood there was a need for consumers and essential service workers.
Our Buy One Give One project, we figured, would be effective using Kickstarter, since we are able to engage the community through that platform.
ECT: How would you describe the response to the Kickstarter campaign? Has it been successful?
Qu: Its been successful in many ways, but a couple that are especially meaningful. Its meaningful to interact with the community and hear from future users about what their needs are, and weve heard a lot of things from them. It gave us the courage to incorporate that right away, and we continued to improve the product.
Cahua: The human-to-human interaction was great, since its not very often that you get that kind of community engagement when youre developing a product at this level.
ECT: How do you see your business evolving? Whats in the future?
Qu: We have a good vision of where we want the next set of masks to be. Broadly, we want to integrate our own materials into the next major product. What we mean by that is using some sort of recycled biowaste fibrous materials. Thats something were excited to do, and we have a customer base that cares about the same things.
We will still be focused on consumer protection and textile products, and we will make premium and user-friendly version of those products and incorporate our sustainable materials into them.
Were also looking forward to increasing the convenience of our products for customers. If youre going to wear something anyway, we want to make this experience better. Were not ready to launch those ideas formally, but we know, for instance, that people like bandanas and scarfs, and those are things were interested in.
We also found that lot of masks represent something, almost like a piece of real estate. Were interested in helping customers make masks more their own. We also want to have the similar attention to detail before launching our next product, so its even more sustainable and user-friendly, and we hope that by being successful with this product we can reinvest to make a good next product.
ECT: In what ways has the coronavirus pandemic changed the world of business and technology? How can innovators and entrepreneurs most effectively respond to these changes and be successful in this new era?
Qu: For us, its about being able to dig down on our locally-based supply chain. A locally-based supply chain is better for the environment, because it reduces our carbon footprint.
Now because of the fact that Covid-19 hit the entire globe in phases, the global supply chain has been affected. A lot of our focus has been to shed light on the fact that we have a globalized supply chain and not much recourse if something disrupts that supply chain. Thats one thing well focus on.
As a small company, we will continue to invest in our locally-based supply chain to ensure that were providing a premium product and will continue to be able to do so.
Cahua: For designers or other entrepreneurs, my advice to pivot is to listen to the consumer pay attention to societys needs and be aware of any gaps. The supply chain has been disrupted, so theres someplace your business.
Qu: Another major point that Ive thought about is how weve been relying on essential workers during this time. Hopefully in the future, the business community will be more appreciative of these essential workers, acknowledging the fact that it is those people who make everything possible.
We want to find ways to support that community in the short term and continue to play a role in helping service workers in the future.
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 didn't 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 China's 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 administration's insistence that China should be a part of the talks casts doubt on whether it is serious about reaching an accord.
Scientists searching for aliens have released a catalogue of objects found in space that they hope could locate intelligent life.
The list of objects, or "Exotica", aims to include one of every kind of object in the known universe, in the hope that they can be studied by astronomers who are looking for indications of the kind of technology that could indicate extraterrestrial intelligence.
It has been assembled by Breakthrough Listen, the project backed by scientists including Stephen Hawking and funded by Yuri Milner, an Israeli-Russian billionaire who is hoping to find proof of alien life. It has used its funding to increase the search for radio signals coming from space, as well as developing new technologies to improve that search.
Despite that work, astronomers have found no confirmed technosignature that could indicate there is alien life elsewhere. That could suggest that there is no other civilisation to be found, but it could also mean that astronomers have not looked through all of the possible targets that could serve as home to extraterrestrials.
Until now, astronomers have largely focused on looking for other forms of life that resemble ours, in places similar to the conditions that gave rise to life on Earth. But the catalogue could allow researchers to consider that there could be other kinds of environments that could give rise to technology that we may be able to discover from Earth, the researchers hope.
Many discoveries in astronomy were not planned, said the lead author of the new paper, Dr. Brian Lacki. Sometimes a major new discovery was missed when nobody was looking in the right place, because they believed nothing could be found there.
"This happened with exoplanets, which might have been detected before the 1990s if astronomers looked for solar systems very different than ours. Are we looking in the wrong places for technosignatures? The Exotica catalog will help us answer that question.
The catalogue includes everything from the most mundane objects to very rare and violent phenomena. Astronomers hope that can be used to more precisely understand what habitats could support alien life, as well as giving more information on whether those objects might appear natural but are in fact artificial.
Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Mystic Mountain, a pillar of gas and dust standing at three-light-years tall, bursting with jets of gas from fledgling stars buried within, was captured by Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope in February 2010 Nasa/ESA/STScI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever selfie taken on an alien planet, captured by Nasa's Curiosity Rover in the early days of its mission to explore Mars in 2012 Nasa/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Death of a star: This image from Nasa's Chandra X-ray telescope shows the supernova of Tycho, a star in our Milky Way galaxy Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Arrokoth, the most distant object ever explored, pictured here on 1 January 2019 by a camera on Nasa's New Horizons spaceraft at a distance of 4.1 billion miles from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory in January 2012. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever image of a black hole, captured by the Event Horizon telescope, as part of a global collaboration involving Nasa, and released on 10 April 2019. The image reveals the black hole at the centre of Messier 87, a massive galaxy in the nearby Virgo galaxy cluster. This black hole resides about 54 million light-years from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Pluto, as pictured by Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft as it flew over the dwarf planet for the first time ever in July 2015 Nasa/APL/SwRI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures A coronal mass ejection as seen by the Chandra Observatory in 2019. This is the first time that Chandra has detected this phenomenon from a star other than the Sun Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Dark, narrow, 100 meter-long streaks running downhill on the surface Mars were believed to be evidence of contemporary flowing water. It has since been suggested that they may instead be formed by flowing sand Nasa/JPL/University of Arizona Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Morning Aurora: Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station in October 2015 Nasa/Scott Kelly
When it comes to the search for intelligent life, its vital to have an open mind, said S Pete Worden, executive director of the Breakthrough Initiatives. Until we understand more about the forms another civilization and its technology could take, we should investigate all plausible targets. Cataloging them is the first step toward that goal.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 05:57:19|Editor: huaxia
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Combo photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron delivering their respective speeches on different occasions. (Xinhua)
"President Trump and President Macron reiterated that military escalation on all sides must stop immediately to prevent the Libyan conflict from becoming even more dangerous and intractable," says the statement.
WASHINGTON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for a ceasefire and resumption of negotiations over Libyan conflict.
In a phone conversation on Monday, the two leaders agreed on the urgent need for a ceasefire in Libya and the rapid resumption of negotiations by the Libyan parties, the White House said in a statement.
"President Trump and President Macron reiterated that military escalation on all sides must stop immediately to prevent the Libyan conflict from becoming even more dangerous and intractable," the statement added.
The phone conversation came as the situation in Libya faced a risk of further escalation. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi Saturday announced availability for the Egyptian army to intervene and help Libya against terrorists and armed groups.
Smoke rises from Abou Slim area in Tripoli, Libya, on May 6, 2020. Indiscriminate shelling on Wednesday killed three civilians and injured 19 others in Libya's capital Tripoli, said a Libyan official. (Photo by Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua)
Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), which supported by Turkey and Qatar, responded on Sunday that Sisi's remarks were a "declaration of war."
Libya has been locked in a civil war since the ouster and killing of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The situation escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rival governments with warring forces: the UN-backed GNA based in the capital Tripoli and a government in the northeastern city of Tobruk allied with the Khalifa Haftar-led Libyan National Army (LNA).
Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France, and Russia support Haftar's LNA, while the GNA is backed by Turkey and Qatar as well as Italy.
Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.
To receive B Corp Certification, Prima participated in the rigorous B Impact Assessment process, which evaluated Prima's entire social and environmental performance, from operations and business model's impact on workers, community, environment, and customers to supply chain, charitable giving and employee benefits.
"As one of the very first brands in the CBD industry to achieve this rigorous certification, we are setting a bold example of responsible business practices for this category in order to inspire a deeper and more meaningful approach to functional, preventative healthcare. Now, more than ever, it's imperative that businesses are transparently accountable for the health of individuals, our environment and our collective wellbeing. As a socially and environmentally conscious Public Benefit Company, these are the essential principles that Prima was founded upon, and ones now validated by our B Corp Certification. We're incredibly proud to be part of a global movement of businesses enacting the change they wish to make in the world and using business as a tremendously important force for good," said Christopher Gavigan, Founder and CEO of Prima.
B Corp is made up of over 3,000 businesses in over 70 countries, across 150 industries, inspiring others to balance purpose and profit. Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. Additional brands who are B Corp certified include Patagonia, Ben and Jerry's, Danone and Allbirds.
"We're beyond pleased to welcome Prima, as they stand clearly ahead as poised leaders of consciousness, credibility, responsibility, sustainability and transparency in the quickly developing CBD category. As veterans of the B Corp movement, Gavigan and the Prima team will surely capture new attention to our higher governance standards that are designed to inform and influence the core DNA of a company's inclusivity, equity and sustainability practices. Prima's certification demonstrates their unyielding commitment to consciousness and mission work innovation, as they are setting a course for bold social and environmental action which showcase their deepest beliefs and responsibilities for a more equitable, impactful and brighter future," said Lindsey Wilson, Senior Associate, Business Development at B Lab.
Prima's unwavering commitment to responsible business practices that further their mission to advance health and cultivate wellbeing is evidenced by the following:
BEYOND CLEAN: Prima is 100% Clean, 0% Questionable, as evidenced by their uncompromising ingredient standards and industry-leading list of 2800+ chemicals and materials they choose not to use, many of which have potential for health, eco-toxicity and/or contamination concerns.
CLIMATE POSITIVE: Prima is 100% carbon neutral across the entire operations and supply chain, and is proud to be certified as such by Climate Neutral Certified. The certification validates that they measure, reduce and offset their entire carbon footprint (and then some) as a company. In the last year, Prima offset more carbon than they used by investing in verified reforestation projects with Carbonfund.org.
REDUCE WISELY: Prima is dedicated to continual innovation in sustainable packaging, with a high use of glass and recyclable materials 85% of packaging is recyclable, 75% of packaging is glass, and 14% of packaging is made from recycled materials and no ABS or PVC.
SOURCE RESPONSIBLY: Prima maintains the highest standards of accountability and reporting for their supply chain partners, evaluating and auditing each for working conditions, environmental practices and labor policies ensuring that they uphold a strong code of values towards quality, transparency, ethical sourcing and fair labor.
GIVE MORE: Prima donates 1% of annual revenue to nonprofit partners, including Sierra Club, Wholistic Research & Education Foundation, and Children & Nature Network in order to directly fund positive mission-aligned activities and research.
PEOPLE FIRST: Prima is steadfast in its commitment to take care of its team members and their families, providing comprehensive healthcare, equity ownership, heartfelt leadership and a flexible working environment.
Prima launched in June 2019 and now offers 11 products available on prima.co, Sephora.com, and other specialty retailers.
About Prima:
Prima is the science-led, purpose-driven holistic wellness brand elevating hemp-based CBD and functionally innovative botanicals. Its core mission is to rise up against the modern day stress epidemic through education and products made with the highest standards of purity, potency and transparency. Prima is built on the essential principle that balance is a critical part of health, healing, and happiness and that we all deserve better. Prima is a privately held Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) based in Santa Monica California.
About B Lab:
B Lab is a nonprofit that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. B Lab's initiatives include B Corp Certification, administration of the B Impact Management programs and software, and advocacy for governance structures like the benefit corporation. B Lab's vision is of an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system for all people and the planet. To date, there are over 3,000 Certified B Corps in 150 industries and 70 countries, and over 70,000 companies use the B Impact Assessment. Visit bcorporation.net for more information.
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Kolkata-headquartered restaurant chain, WoW! Momo, has recently redeployed 400 of its employees to lifestyle brand, Wildcraft. The lifestyle brand which has forayed into making masks has been setting up mask kiosks across cities for which it needs manpower. "We didn't do job cuts, but we had to suitably employ our people as our business came to a standstill. Therefore, we gave 400 of our employees who were not being utilised, to Wildcraft," explains Sagar Daryani, CEO and Co-founder, WoW! Momo.
The retail sector employs close to 46 million people, whose livelihood has been at stake due to the coronavirus lockdown. As the retail sector is gradually opening up in the Unlock 1.0 phase, one is hearing about lay-offs, but the retail community is also doing its bit by trying to redeploy unutilised staff in those businesses which are short of employees. Many retailers are facing a staff crisis as lot of their employees, especially those in junior levels, have gone back to their villages because of the pandemic scare. Food delivery company, BOX8, has hired 200 people from other retailers as bulk of its delivery staff have gone back to their respective homes. "The larger understanding is that they are temporary hires; they would go back to their respective employers when their businesses bounce back. At the same time, we are also hoping that our own employees would also be back in action," says Anshul Gupta, Co-founder, BOX8.
ALSO READ: 2 in 5 professionals in India uncertain about jobs in future: LinkedIn survey
Similarly, a Bangalore-based e-commerce company, hired 3,000 people from retailers which were looking at laying off their front-end employees. Even companies such as Future Group and Trent, which are into food and essentials retailing (Big Bazaar and Star Bazaar) are known to be hiring staff from their sister companies, FBB and Westside, which have been non-functional due to the lockdown.
"The industry is facing layoffs, but there is also a shortage of manpower. If we do proper role-mapping we can curtail job losses," says Ameesha Prabhu, CEO, TRRAIN (Trust For Retailers & Retail Associates of India). The manpower crisis in the retail sector due to the lockdown is two-pronged. On one hand, the business itself is at 50-60 per cent of its original levels so the number of people required are not high. Therefore, retailers are hesitant to keep too many people on their pay rolls. "Since its mandatory to maintain social distancing within the stores, most of them are functioning at 50 per cent of their staff strength. Moreover, most stores are open only between 10 am and 5 pm, so the second shift staff doesn't come in at all," Prabhu further explains.
ALSO READ: Only 5% employers looking to hire in next 3 months, hiring sentiment lowest in 15 years
On the other hand, there are retailers and companies such as BOX8 or even large format retailers which are grappling with shortage of staff. "Companies are struggling to get their staff back. They have either gone back to their villages or are unable to travel as there is not much public transport available. We are in talks with the Government of Maharashtra to help us get back some people back at least within Maharashtra," says Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of Retailers Association of India.
AD Singh, MD, Olive Group of Restaurants, says that several of its employees have gone back to their respective homes and the company has assured them that their jobs are safe. "Today, we have no revenue and we are not in a position to pay salaries. We have told them it will take a while for the new normal to emerge and once it does, we will take them back." The Olive Group, (which owns brands such as Olive and SodaBottleOpenerWala), currently has only eight out of its 37 restaurants operational. "Out of the eight, only four are open for dining. The business is quite slow, but if 50 per cent of our business comes back and 60 per cent staff are willing to come, then we can hire back everybody, pay 5/6th of their salaries and keep the business going," says Singh.
ALSO READ: Coronavirus lockdown: Unemployment hits women harder than men
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 08:09:59|Editor: huaxia
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UNITED NATIONS, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) until Aug. 31, 2020.
Under Resolution 2527, UNSOM will continue to implement the mandate as set out in paragraph 1 of Resolution 2158 (2014), and further decides that UNSOM should continue to implement that mandate in accordance with Resolution 2461 (2019).
The resolution requested the secretary-general to continue to keep the Security Council regularly informed on the implementation of this resolution, including through oral updates and written reports every 90 days as set out in Resolution 2461 (2019), with the next report due by Aug. 13, 2020, on the situation on the ground and progress towards achieving key political benchmarks.
Previously, the Security Council decided unanimously on March 30 to extend the mandate of the mission until June 30, 2020.
UNSOM was established on June 3, 2013 by Security Council Resolution 2102, following a comprehensive assessment of the United Nations in support of the establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia. The secretary-general keeps the Security Council regularly informed of the implementation of UNSOM's mandate through quarterly reports. Enditem
New Delhi, June 23 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Jamia Coordination Committee member Safoora Zargar in a case relating to the riots that broke out in the national capital's north east district in February this year.
A single judge bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdhar granted bail to Zargar, who is four months pregnant, after the Solicitor General expressed no objection in her release on humanitarian grounds.
"Neither going into the merits, nor considering this as a precedent, we have no problem with the petitioner being released on bail," the Solicitor General (SG) told the court on behalf of the State adding that Safoora shall not misuse the said relief for indulging in similar activities for which she is being probed.
Following SG's submissions, the high court granted bail to Safoora and directed her to furnish a bail bond of Rs 10,000 and one surety of like amount. "The accused shall not indulge in acts of tampering with evidence or influencing the witness," the court added.
The court also asked Safoora to be in touch with the investigating officer and shall call the officer every 15 days. "The petitioner shall not leave the territory of Delhi and if doing so prior permission of the concerned court shall be sought," the bench ruled.
Earlier on Monday, the Delhi Police in its response to the regular bail plea moved by the JMI scholar had stated that "there is no exception carved out for pregnant inmate, who is accused of such heinous crime." "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," a status report filed by the Delhi Police before Justice Shakdher read.
"It is extremely crucial to note here that accused (Safoora) has been lodged in a separate cell, all alone, and therefore, the chance of her contacting Covid from any other person does not arise. In fact, more care and caution are being practiced in jail so far as social distancing norms are concerned than would be available to her outside the jail premises," the police had said, adding that till date 39 deliveries have taken place in Delhi prison in last 10 years.
Safoora was arrested by the Delhi Police's Special Cell and is accused of hatching a conspiracy to incite communal riots in the national capital's north east area. The trial court had dismissed the bail plea filed by her saying that it found "no merit" in her petition.
"When you choose to play with embers, you cannot blame the wind to have carried the spark a bit too far and spread the fire," Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana had said while dismissing her bail.
The court had also stated, "If there is a prima facie evidence of conspiracy, the evidence of acts and statements made by one of the conspirators in furtherance of the common object is admissible against all..even if no direct evidence of violence is attributable to the applicant/accused, she cannot shy away from her liability under the provisions of the UAPA." The case relates to the organising of the anti-CAA protests in the Jaffrabad area where the agitators, the majority of whom were women, had started the protests against the amended Act last year.
Violence had later broken out between the protesters and the CAA supporters this year in which at least 53 people, including IB official Ankit Sharma and Head Constable Rattan Lal were killed.
An employee at an air conditioning company in Iowa has been fired after he was caught on video driving a truck through Black Lives Matters protestors during an event on Saturday.
Jeff Boucher who worked at Wyckoff Comfort lost his job after several clips posted to Twitter showed him carrying out the reckless maneuver after arguing with protesters.
Boucher can be seen asking those blocking his pickup truck to move out of the way and quickly lost his temper.
Jeff Boucher was seen driving through a crowd of protesters in Des Moines over the weekend and has now lost his job. He was wearing a t-shirt for Wyckoff, the company he worked for
Protesters tried to get him to turn around and take an alternative route, but he eventually accelerated and drove through the crowd. No injuries were reported
'Get the f*** out of my way!' he yelled at the protestors.
'Reverse the car!' they ordered, but Boucher ignored their request.
'What are you trying to do? Kill everyone?' one protester asked.
Boucher who was wearing a company-branded T-shirt during his tirade eventually lost patience and deliberately drove on through, despite several standing directly in front of the hood.
Bosses at the company where he worked, based in Carlisle just outside of Des Moines, saw the footage and terminated his employment. They tweeted about Boucher's firing on Monday.
'His actions over the weekend were unacceptable and do not represent the values Wyckoff has built our business on,' the company said in a statement on Twitter. 'Wyckoff disapproves of his behavior and in no way condones his actions.'
The company said it 'will do our best to educate our employees to make sure something like this doesn't happen again.'
Boucher was fired from Wyckoff, an HVAC company after seeing footage of the incident
Boucher could be clearly seen in his pickup as he attempted to drive through a road that was being blocked by the protest
Several of those present posted the shocking video to Twitter
Protesters attempted to block the path of the pickup truck and urged Boucher turn around
Saturday's protest was held specifically to show support to a former employee who had claimed she had been experiencing racial discrimination at work according to the Des Moines Register.
Boucher wasn't the only person who tried to disrupt the protest.
Another man who was driving a white truck also tried to drive through a group of protesters and refused to move until told to do so by a police officer who asked him to back up.
No arrests were during Saturday's protest much to the shock of some on Twitter.
'At a protest against Hyvee's racist and unsafe practices multiple trucks tried to run over protesters who were standing in the street. This is just one instance. DMPD was there, watched, and did nothing,' one protester tweeted.
WOOD RIVER While the numbers of both COVID-19 cases and deaths increase, the Metro East, along with all the other regions of the state, are hitting the criteria that would allow each region to enter into Restore Illinois plans Phase 4.
Under Phase 4, gatherings of 50 people or fewer are allowed, restaurants and bars reopen, travel resumes, child care and schools reopen under guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The Madison County Health Department reported Monday a total of four new coronavirus cases, and one death, bringing the total to 816 and 67, respectively.
The deceased was identified as a woman in her 60s.
Over the weekend there were 12 new cases reported Saturday and 10 on Sunday.
More Information COVID-19 by the numbers Illinois - 137,224 (6,671) Madison County - 816 (67 deaths) Jersey County - 33 (1 death) Calhoun County - 1 Greene County - 8 Macoupin County - 47 (3 deaths) Montgomery County - 41 (1 death) St. Clair County - 1,610 (126 deaths) Clinton County - 224 (17 deaths) Bond County -12 (1 death) Monroe County - 116 (12 deaths) Washington County - 19 Cases by zip code 62002 (Alton) - 132 62010 (Bethalto) - 39 62035 (Godfrey) - 30 62012 (Brighton) - 12 62052 (Jerseyville) - 19 62095 (Wood River) - 27 62018 (Cottage Hills) - 11 62024 (East Alton) - 12 62025 (Edwardsville) - 120 62034 (Glen Carbon) - 75 62062 (Maryville) - 13 62294 (Troy) - 25 62040 (Granite City/Pontoon Beach) - 125 62234 (Collinsville) - 135 62060 (Madison) - 44 62090 (Venice) - 13 62249 (Highland) - 19 62088 (Staunton) - 8 62069 (Mt. Olive) - 9 62056 (Litchfield) - 14 62049 (Hillsboro) - 6 7 Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health and Madison County Health Department. See More Collapse
Statewide there were 462 new cases and 26 deaths reported Monday. The IDPH reported Saturday 634 new COVID-19 cases and 45 deaths. On Sunday that rose by 658 new cases and 23 deaths.
According to the IDPH website, there are now 137,224 cases statewide and 6,671 deaths. In the past 24 hours, 18,219 tests have been completed, for a statewide total of 1,379,003. The seven-day statewide positivity rate for June 15-June 21 is 2%, well below the number required to move to Restore Illinois Phase 4 of the states plan on Friday.
According to IDPH data, all the states regions are meeting all the criteria to move into the next level of recovery.
The Madison County figures include 107 people hospitalized and 496 released, meaning they have completed isolation. A total of 13,102 tests have been completed in the county.
Information by ZIP code shows additional cases in the Alton, Bethalto, Godfrey, Jerseyville, Cottage Hills, Edwardsville, Granite City/Pontoon Beach, Collinsville, Madison and Highland areas. The number of cases in the Hillsboro area was reduced by one to six cases and in Troy to 25 cases from 26.
The IDPH is releasing case numbers by ZIP code for areas with more than five cases. Numbers are not released in ZIP codes with fewer cases to protect the privacy of patients.
The information is available on the IDPH website www.dph.illinois.gov. Click on the coronavirus banner, then COVID-19 statistics in the drop-down menu on the left side.
Additional cases also have been reported in Jersey, St. Clair, Clinton and Monroe counties, according to the IDPH website. The number of cases in Montgomery County was reduced by one to 41. There also were three additional deaths reported in St. Clair County.
The state also has released new data on clusters of coronavirus cases in long-term care facilities.
Statewide, nursing homes account for 21,476 cases and 3,649 deaths. In Madison County those account for 249 cases and 56 deaths, up from 233 cases and 55 deaths one week ago.
Facilities cited include Eden Village Care Center, 68.7 cases and 20 deaths; Edwardsville Care Center, 97 cases and 22 deaths; Riverside Rehab and Healthcare, 61 cases and 14 deaths; Cedarhurst of Bethalto, eight cases; Cedarhurst of Godfrey, seven cases; Cedarhurst of Highland, four 4 cases; Highland Healthcare, two cases; and, University Care Center, two cases.
In Macoupin County, clusters have shown up at Heritage Health, which had four cases; and Sunset Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, which has two reported cases.
For the latest information on COVID-19 or coronavirus resources, visit the Madison County Health Department online at www.madisonchd.org or on Facebook @MadisonCHD. Also visit www.co.madison.il.us or Facebook @MadisonCountyIL for more news and a daily update.
Lang Son proposed two options to mobilise investment for Huu Nghi-Chi Lang Expressway
According to the plan, the construction of Huu Nghi-Chi Lang Expressway would cost VND7.6 trillion ($330.43 million), with VND1.6 trillion ($69.57 million) of investors' equity, while capital from the provinces budget will be VND1 trillion ($43.48 million) and capital from the state budget VND3 trillion ($130.4 million). The remaining VND2 trillion ($86.96 million) will come from commercial loans. The construction would be implemented under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.
The time for investors to recoup investment capital and interest will be 19 years and 5 months.
To ensure the financial plan, the Peoples Committee of Lang Son province requests the Ministry of Planning and Investment to adjust the central budget and the 2021-2025 medium-term investment plan to provide about VND3 trillion ($130.43 million) to support the Huu Nghi-Chi Lang Expressway project.
Earlier, at the end of November 2019, the provincial leaders proposed the prime minister two options for investment in the Huu Nghi-Chi Lang Expressway component project.
According to the first option, the project would include four lanes with the length of 43km. The total investment cost was estimated at VND8.79 trillion ($382.17 million), VND1.75 trillion ($76 million) would come from the investor, VND1 trillion ($43.48 million) from the provinces budget, VND2.16 trillion ($93.9 million) from the state budget, and VND3.4 trillion ($147.83 million) from commercial loans.
Under the second option, the construction would be divided into two sections, including section Km1 + 800-Km17 + 420 (intersection with NH.4B) with two lanes and 13.5m wide roadbed and the section of Km17 + 420-Km44 + 750 with four lanes. The total investment of VND5.94 trillion ($258.26 million) including VND1.6 trillion ($69.57 million) from the investor, VND1 trillion ($43.48 million) from the provincial budget, VND1.34 trillion ($58.26 million) from the central budget, and VND2 trillion ($87 million) of commercial loans.
However, the Ministry of Transport did not agree with these plans after spotting several disadvantages. According to the ministry's initial plan, the project should be built with four lanes and a total investment of VND8.74 trillion ($380 million), using commercial loans from ADB. However, with the risk of increasing public debt, the prime minister has agreed to add this route to the Bac Giang-Lang Son Expressway BOT project and assigned the Peoples Committee of Lang Son province as the competent state agency.
However, the project implementation faced many difficulties when the donors refused to lend the initial investment scale due to concerns that they could not repay the capital.
Welland Downtown BIA will be shining a light on local graduating high school and post-secondary students this week.
Starting Monday at sundown and continuing until Saturday night, Bridge 13 at East Main and King streets will be illuminated with the respective colours of the citys four secondary schools, as well as Niagara College and Brock University.
Welland Centennial Secondary School graduates will be celebrated Monday when the bridge is turned orange, blue, and white.
On Tuesday, the bridge will be red and black to congratulate the 2020 graduating class at Eastdale Secondary School.
Navy and gold will be the theme Wednesday to acknowledge Notre Dame College School students.
Wellands francophone high schools graduates will also be paid tribute with the span being lit red, navy, and white on Thursday the colours of Ecole secondaire Jean-Vanier. Red, black, and gold will cover the bridge for Ecole secondaire Franco-Niagara graduates on Friday.
Brock University and Niagara College grads will be shown appreciation with a red, white and blue display Saturday.
BIA executive director Alexis Higginbotham said the idea started early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and all the involved schools were on board right away.
Graduation ceremonies are a rite of passage that students dont get to enjoy in 2020, she said, adding that the bridge-lighting events are not a place for people to gather, referring to physical distancing restrictions that are in place.
Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Anna Maiuri (Member, Environmental, Energy & Sustainability Practice Group Co-Chair) has been named a Woman Worth Watching by Profiles in Diversity Journal.
The 19th Annual Women Worth Watching leadership issue recognizes dynamic professional women who are using their talents and influence to change our workplaces and our world. Nominated by their employers or colleagues, these accomplished executives are from corporate organizations, world-class educational institutions, the armed forces, and nonprofit groups. Ms. Maiuri is the third Dickinson Wright attorney to receive this recognition in the past several years. The 2020 Women Worth Watching edition of Profiles in Diversity Journal will be available to the public in August.
Ms. Maiuri is Co-Chair of Dickinson Wrights Diversity and Inclusion Committee. When she joined the Firm seven years ago, Ms. Maiuri was asked to revamp the Firms Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) efforts. She was instrumental in making the Committee much more active in firm policymaking, and establishing and advancing affinity groups in the Firm to address the nuances and challenges faced by minorities and/or parents in the big law firm environment. Another of her initiatives resulted in a gender-neutral parental leave policy with substantially enhanced benefits for both attorneys and staff.
Anna Maiuri is highly deserving of this recognition, said Michael Hammer, Dickinson Wrights CEO. She has brought great leadership, and tireless energy and enthusiasm to our diversity and inclusion efforts, and has been instrumental in helping us adopt several progressive policies and programs to advance these important goals, both within the firm, and in the communities that we serve.
Ms. Maiuri is also a nationally recognized leader in the field of Environmental Law. Ms. Maiuri has received many awards through the years but most notably in 2015, she was honored with the National Law Journals 2015 Energy and Environmental Trailblazers Award. She was named as a Lawyer of the Year for Environmental Law by Best Lawyers in America for 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2020. She also has been recognized as a notable practitioner and leader in the law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Michigan Super Lawyers, and DBusiness Magazine. Ms. Maiuri received her B.A. from Wayne State University and her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School.
About Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC is a general practice business law firm with more than 475 attorneys among more than 40 practice areas and 16 industry groups. Headquartered in Detroit and founded in 1878, the firm has 18 offices, including six in Michigan (Detroit, Troy, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Saginaw) and 11 other domestic offices in Austin and El Paso, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Lexington, Ky.; Nashville, Tenn.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Silicon Valley, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. The firms Canadian office is located in Toronto.
Dickinson Wright offers our clients a distinctive combination of superb client service, exceptional quality, value for fees, industry expertise, and business acumen. As one of the few law firms with ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification and one of the only firms with ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification, Dickinson Wright has built state-of-the-art, independently-verified risk management procedures, security controls and privacy processes for our commercial transactions. Dickinson Wright lawyers are known for delivering commercially-oriented advice on sophisticated transactions and have a remarkable record of wins in high-stakes litigation. Dickinson Wright lawyers are regularly cited for their expertise and experience by Chambers, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and other leading independent law firm evaluating organizations.
Local News, Business & Finance
By Ls Cohen Published: June 23 2020
Capri Motel to be replaced by an 80-unit rental building.
After delays due to Covid-19, the demolition of the Capri Motel is underway to make room for a new 80-unit apartment complex being built by Terwilliger & Bartone Properties.
The 4-story luxury rental apartment complex - being called The Cornerstone at Yorkshire - will be constructed on the site of the Lynbrook Motor Inn at 5 Freer Street in Lynbrook, also known as the Capri Motel.
Click here for previous coverage of the project.
Leasing is slated to begin next summer with an anticipated opening in Fall 2021.
A ceremonial groundbreaking on June 15 was attended by officials from the Village of Lynbrook, Chamber of Commerce and Nassau Countyalong with representatives for Terwilliger & Bartone.
This property has long been a nuisance for the Village, and I am thrilled to be here today to help bring a welcome revitalization that not only will add foot traffic for local businesses, but also bring the kind of smart development that strengthens the community as a whole, said Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beach in a statement released by the developer.
You can watch a video of the groundbreaking ceremony here.
The Cornerstone at Yorkshire includes 80 modern luxury studio, one- and two-bedroom residences. They will include high-end finishes like Quartz counters, stainless appliances, open floor plans and balconies in select units. The developer said that the community will emphasize green and healthy building initiatives and offer elevated resident amenities, such as a modern fitness center with outdoor yoga area, spacious clubroom with billiards, lush courtyard with firepit, parking on-site and more.
Construction on-site will adhere to the strict guidelines for reopening issued by New York State.
Over the weekend, a flap arose about the removal of Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. On Friday evening, Attorney General Barr announced that Berman had resigned. As Andy McCarthy has said, it is a conventional indulgence to [a] dumped public official to frame the removal as a resignation, or to couch it ambiguously, so it is unclear whether the official decided to leave or was pushed out.
Berman, however, was having none of it. He said he had not resigned, and intended to stay in the job to ensure that the cases his office is working on continue unimpeded. Barr then fired Berman, saying that President Trump had directed the decision.
At that point, Berman said he was resigning. He also pronounced himself satisfied that his deputy, Audrey Strauss whom he described in glowing terms, would carry on in an exemplary fashion.
Thus, it seems clear that, with Strauss succeeding Berman, the operation and course of the U.S. Attorneys office wont change appreciably. Why, then, did Barr fire Berman?
One theory is that Barr hoped to change course by replacing Berman on an interim basis with Craig Carpentino, currently the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. In particular, the theory goes, Barr wanted to protect close Trump associates including Rudy Giuliani from investigation.
Barr did, in fact, initially seek to install Carpentino. However, as McCarthy says, Carpentino has a good reputation. There is no reason to believe he would protect Giuliani or anyone else from a proper investigation.
The real reason for Bermans sacking can probably be found in this report by The Hill. Citing the Wall Street Journal, The Hill says that Berman refused to sign a letter criticizing New York Mayor Bill de Blasio for placing major restrictions on religious gatherings. Bermans refusal reportedly occurred a day before Barr announced that he would be replaced.
Justice Department supervisors asked both Berman and Eric Dreiband, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, to sign the letter. But Berman objected. Eric signed the letter, and it was sent to de Blasio on Friday evening, a few hours before the sacking of Berman.
The Hill says that Barr views Berman as stubborn and difficult to work with, and that the Attorney General was already looking for a replacement. Apparently, Bermans refusal to sign the letter was the straw that broke the camels back.
Bermans initial response to Barrs announcement tends to confirm the attorney generals assessment. In any event, the conspiracy theory that Barr made the decision to remove Berman in order to protect anyone from investigation appears to be utterly without basis.
"With Don Fulano's mission of producing exceptional tequila, and Gallo making a name for itself in the luxury spirits category, the partnership seemed natural," said Britt West, Vice President and General Manager for Gallo Spirits. "We recognize the demand for luxury tequila, which is growing at twice the rate of whiskey, and we see the potential for Don Fulano to flourish in the market. We couldn't be more excited for this partnership," he added.
The Fonseca family has been dedicated to agave farming for five generations, which led to their venture in tequila production. They are one of only two producers to offer 100% estate grown and bottled tequila. All of the agave plants are hand selected for maturity, plant by plant. The tequila is crafted using a dual distillation process, comprised of a double column still and a traditional copper pot still, which is used exclusively by Don Fulano to produce consistent, high-quality tequila.
"We are honored to partner with E. & J. Gallo," said Sergio Mendoza, Founder of Don Fulano. "We know this partnership will accelerate the visibility of our brand throughout the U.S. and will forge our brand's place among the leaders in the luxury tequila category."
The brand's range includes Don Fulano Blanco ($50), Don Fulano Blanco Fuerte 100 Proof ($60), Don Fulano Reposado ($60), Don Fulano Anejo ($80) and Don Fulano Imperial Extra Anejo ($190).
Don Fulano joins Gallo's growing lineup of luxury spirits brands, including The Dalmore Single Malt Scotch portfolio, Diplomatico Rum, Jura Single Malt Scotch, Amaro Montenegro, and Argonaut and Germain-Robin Brandy.
About E. & J. Gallo Winery
Founded by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo in 1933 in Modesto, California, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world's largest family-owned winery with more than 6,500 global employees and is the acclaimed producer of award-winning wines and spirits featured in more than 110 countries around the globe. A pioneer in the art of grape growing, winemaking, sustainable practices, marketing and worldwide distribution, Gallo crafts and imports wines and spirits to suit a diverse range of tastes and occasions, from everyday offerings to boutique, luxury bottlings.
Gallo Spirits currently offers New Amsterdam Vodka and Gin, High Noon Sun Sips Hard Seltzer, Familia Camarena Tequila, RumHaven, Lo-Fi Aperitifs, E&J Brandy, Argonaut Brandy, Germain-Robin Brandy, Diplomatico Rum, the Gruppo Montenegro portfolio including Amaro Montenegro, Select Aperitivo and Vecchia Romagna Brandy as well as imported Scotch whiskies from Whyte & Mackay, including The Dalmore, Jura and John Barr. Premium wine offerings include J Vineyards & Winery, Louis M. Martini, MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Orin Swift, Talbott Vineyards, and William Hill Estate, along with highly acclaimed imports, such as Alamos, Brancaia, La Marca, Las Rocas, Martin Codax, Whitehaven, and LUX Wines, importers of Allegrini, Argiano, Jermann, Pieropan, Renato Ratti and Tornatore.
2020 Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery, Modesto, CA. All rights reserved.
Contact:
Megan Stockton
E. & J. Gallo Winery
(303) 378-5394
[email protected]
SOURCE E. & J. Gallo Winery
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(Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission on Monday said it rejected the request of a radio station in Mexico to continue broadcasting Mandarin Chinese language programs to southern California and ordered it to cease operations within 48 hours.
The FCC said the broadcast studio is used by Phoenix Radio, a company wholly owned by Phoenix TV, but not listed as an applicant. The FCC rejected the request as "deficient" but said the applicants - and Phoenix Radio - could refile the request.
In July 2018, to ensure continuity of service for XEWW-AM listeners, the FCC granted a temporary authorization to permit broadcasts pending FCC review. The following month, a group running a community radio station in southern California asked the FCC to deny the application, saying it might allow the government of the Peoples Republic of China to "provide its own propaganda programming."
Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, praised the FCC's decision to reject the bid.
"Phoenix TV is a puppet of the Chinese Communist Party that broadcasts propaganda across the United States," Cruz said in a statement. Todays decision sends an important message to the world that the U.S. will not allow China to exploit FCC loopholes and spread its propaganda over our airwaves."
A lawyer for applicants GLR Southern California and H&H Group USA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Chinese embassy in Washington also did not immediately comment.
Phoenix TV bills itself as the largest Chinese language television provider in the United States and Canada, transmitting programming to more than 200,000 subscribers on cable and satellite systems.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Son of prominent boxer Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali Jr., addressed the New York Post in an interview this week that his father would have been against the Black Lives Movement and dubbed the movement as racist.
He added that Antifa can be considered an equal to Islamic terrorists, reported Daily Wire.
Muhammad Ali would have been displeased with "devils" who are protesting.
Ali is renowned as "The Greatest of All Time" who was a long-running activist who campaigned against racism, but Black Lives Matter is a different matter, according to The Mix.
The famed boxer died at the age of 74 in 2016 due to Parkinson's disease and joined the Malcolm X-led Nation of Islam as an activist in 1964.
According to Muhammad Ali Jr., he was in support of President Trump and believed his father would have supported Trump along with him, reported Yahoo News.
The 47-year-old only biological son of Ali said to the New York Post that his father "would have said, 'They ain't nothing but devils.'"
He added, "It's not just black lives matter, white lives matter, Chinese lives matter, all lives matter, everybody's life matters. God loves everyone. He never singled anyone out. Killing is wrong no matter who it is."
Ali continued that "Black lives matter" is a racial statement as it pits African-American people against every other race. This surmounts to racial things to transpire that he hates.
He reiterated disapproval towards how the Black Lives Matter movement has established itself and advised to not "trash the place" and resort to peacefully protests instead.
Also Read: Rayshard Brooks Death Aftermath: Atlanta Police Resigns, Officer Fired, Wendy's Set Ablaze
The late boxer as he said would have been displeased by the prevalence of brutality and looting.
"Not all the police are bad, there's just a few. There's a handful of police that are crooked, they should be locked up," Ali Jr. stated.
As he pointed out violent actions of a number of protest participants recently in support of his unfavorable regard of the Black Lives Matter movement, as earlier protests resorted to destructive actions, numerous demonstrations have been carried out peacefully.
His relationship with the legendary icon saw its downfall in the final decade of his life. Ali Jr. even noted in an interview that he has no concern over Ali's wellbeing, a few years prior to his father's death, Jr.
"I know that the last thing about Parkinson's is being bedridden, and he's been laid up in bed for months," according to Ali Jr. "It's just not something that I worry about, I've got more things to worry about than my father, I got to live life, I've got to have a roof over my head, whether someone else is doing good or not, is no concern to me."
The son remarked that most police officers do not wake up and think of murdering a black or white man as they are simply trying to stay alive and go home to their family.
He agreed with President Donald Trump that the Antifa were terrorists.
Related Article: George Floyd Death a Hoax? Racist Memes Spreading Online Suggests His Death is a Ploy Against Trump
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The National Communications Authority (NCA) says no mobile network operator or telecommunication company has breached any personal data or privacy of customers in compliance with the requirements of law.
A statement issued by the NCA said the attention of the Authority had been drawn to some misleading media reportage regarding the breach of privacy of consumer information.
The NCA said in March, 2020, it requested passive mobile positioning data logs from mobile network operators for undertaking historical and current analysis of persons potentially infected with COVID-19 for contact tracing purposes in accordance with the establishment of Emergency Communications Systems Instrument, 2020 (E.I. 63).
It noted that the Instrument required network operators or service providers to cooperate with the NCA Common Platform to provide information to state agencies in the case of an emergency including a public health emergency.
All MNOs (All Mobile Network Operators) i.e. AirtelTigo, Glo, MTN and Vodafone, complied with the request for information, which was subsequently processed and forwarded to the Ghana Health Service for contact tracing purposes, the statement said.
There was no objection by any Party in respect of COVID-19 contact tracing data request until an application for injunction order was filed.
The NCA was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 524, in December 1996, but has been repealed and replaced by the NCA Act, 2008 (Act 769).
The Authority is the statutory body mandated to license and regulate electronic communication activities and services in the country.
AN initial report on the police use of tear gas against a group of protesters on Sunday has been completed.
The report, compiled by officers involved, is expected to be reviewed and recommendations made on if any protocols were breached by the officers engaged in the activities at the Queens Park Savannah in Port of Spain.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:34:58|Editor: huaxia
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Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem speaks during a press conference in Damascus, capital of Syria, on June 23, 2020. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Tuesday that the U.S. new sanctions against Syria aim to affect the next presidential elections in Syria. At a press conference, al-Moallem said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will remain in power as long as the Syrian people want that. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
DAMASCUS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Tuesday that the U.S. new sanctions against Syria aim to affect the next presidential elections in Syria.
At a press conference, al-Moallem said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will remain in power as long as the Syrian people want that.
He stressed that the new tightened U.S. sanctions on Syria aim to affect and overshadow the presidential elections that will take place in 2021.
Additionally, al-Moallem said the new sanctions aim to open the road for the return of terrorism to Syria, stressing the Syrian government will continue to fight against terrorism.
Al-Moallem said the new round of sanctions by the U.S. "will not be less vicious than its predecessors." Syria is used to deal with the unilateral sanctions that have been imposed since 1978 all the way till the new Caesar Act.
He said dealing with the Caesar Act will not be impossible, adding that the Syrian government is working to secure the needs of the people and enhance the livelihood of the Syrians.
"We must make the Caesar Act an opportunity to advance our national economy, achieve self-sufficiency, deepen cooperation with friends and allies in various fields, and our fight against terrorism will not stop," al-Moallem said.
He said that the Syrian government has already started taking steps to face the sanctions through contacting "friendly countries."
The U.S. Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act aims to sanction the Syrian government, including President al-Assad, for its alleged "war crimes" against the Syrian people.
The law also includes sanctions on any party that might aid the Syrian government.
Businesses that had to lock their doors to customers in mid-March now are preparing to welcome back their loyal customers.
All four regions in the state are poised Friday to move into Phase 4 of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers Restore Illinois plan. The new phase will allow for the reopening or expansion of several business sectors, including fitness centers, movie theaters, museums and zoos. Indoor dining in restaurants also will come back.
The new phase comes as a relief to businesses that either were closed or only open for curbside pickup, outdoor dining or delivery.
Teri Hayes, owner of The Handlebar Pizza & Pub, said the restaurant has prepared for Phase 4 by undergoing some remodeling and adjustments to the distance between tables to adhere to social-distancing guidelines.
Indoor dining still will be required to remain at or below 50% capacity, she said.
Along with providing delivery and curbside pickup during the shutdown, The Handlebar Pizza & Pub added an outdoor dining area and installed a door on the north side of the building to make the new space more accessible. Opening the dining room will attract customers who wish to go somewhere to eat but dont want to sit outside in the summer heat, Hayes said.
We can now accommodate those ones that want to come inside, she said. This will accommodate more customers and friends who dont want to sit outside.
According to a post on the Illinois Theaters Facebook page, the theater will be open with alternating rows blocked off and customers will be asked to leave at least two seats between groups if sitting in the same row.
Gathering sizes during Phase 4 will expand to 50 people or fewer for activities such as meetings, events and funerals.
The state released a common set of standards expected of all employers along with industry-specific guidelines.
Venues, movie theaters, fitness centers, meeting spaces and indoor recreation can resume with 50 people or less or 50% of overall room capacity. Indoor dining will return with groups of 10 people or less and tables spaced at least 6 feet apart in seated areas and with standing areas at no more than 25% capacity.
Museums and zoos will reopen at 25% occupancy with interactive exhibits and rides closed. Guided tours should be limited to 50 people or fewer.
Retail, service counters, offices, personal care and manufacturing industries that opened in Phase 3 will continue to operate at a reduced capacity.
The move to Phase 4 is expected to bring about 400,000 Illinois residents back to work across all industries.
Mysuru: Mysuru, which was considered corona-free after all its 90 cases were cured and discharged, and its 43 containment zones nullified a month ago, has once again become a coronavirus hotspot. The number of cases have doubled in the past one month, especially since the last week.
Earlier, a cluster related to a Nanjangud-based pharma company, Dubai returnees and Tablighi Jamaat returnees were major vectors of the virus. Now, the sources have multipled, with Maharashtra returnees, travellers from Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and people who visited Bengaluru testing positive for COVID-19.
In the past three days, as many as five cases of Influenza like Illness (with no contact with COVID positives or travel history), including a fruit vendor of Rammanahalli in Mysuru taluk and a textile owner at Hullalli of Nanjangud taluk have created the fear of community spread in Mysuru.
Two city-based doctors, including a lady doctor from Bharath Cancer hospital who had returned from Bengaluru, a Syndicate Bank employee, and a merchant from Krishnavilas road here, have tested positive for COVID-19, creating panic.
After a cop from Nanjangud rural police station, who had worked for 15 days at the Southern Range IGP and Mysuru SP office building in Mysuru, tested positive for Covid 19, Southern Range IGP Vipul Kumar, Mysuru district SP Rishyanth, ASP Sneha and entire team of officers who served at the building have been home quarantined and told to work from home.
The Nanjangud rural police station cop is among the 18 cops from Mysuru, including 16 KSRP cops who had returned from duty in Bengaluru (including containment zones there) and a CISF cop of the RBI printing press, who have tested positive for COVID-19.
With a 32 year-old-man, who had come from Delhi to Organic Research Centre at Bylkuppe Tibetan settlement in Periyapatna taluk, and a person from Ankanahalli in Narsipur taluk (with Influenza like Illness), COVID-19 has now spread its wings across all taluks of Mysuru district except HD Kote taluk.
In fact, the number of COVID-19 cases have doubled in less than a week in Mysuru. Since June 17, 50 cases have been reported and more than 10 containment zones have sprung up across the district.
In just three days, 26 returnees from Bengaluru (including 17 cops), a BMTC driver and his wife, who is a staff nurse at a quarantine facility at Hura in Nanjangud taluk, and a Bengaluru returnee with ILI have tested positive.
Mysuru district now has 58 active cases, out of the total of 80 cases reported in the past one month.
Before the onset of the second wave of infections, at least 90 cases were cured and discharged, including 74 related to cluster case of a pharma company, 10 religious preachers from Tablighi Jamaat from Delhi in January, one person who returned from Dubai, one Keralite from Dubai, one primary contact of the Keralite, and two cases of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) who later tested positive for COVID-19.
When Deccan Chronicle contacted and asked if ILI cases indicate community spread in Mysuru, Mysuru DC Abhiram G Shankar said, "That's something the experts should say. But all we can say now is we have to be prepared for tougher times".
A bitter man has been jailed for posting intimate photos of his ex-girlfriend without her consent after police took two years to unlock his phone and found the pictures.
Daniel Davies, 27, of Ebbw Vale, Gwent, refused to give the police his PIN code for his phone hiding the non-consensually posted photos, bestiality porn and details of a cocaine deal.
Davies has been jailed for three years and also has a restraining order set against him for three years.
Daniel Davies (pictured), 27, of Ebbw Vale, Gwent, has been jailed for three years and had a restraining order set against him for three years
Although Cardiff Crown Court heard iPhones are 'almost impossible' to unlock without the right PIN code Metropolitan police managed to get in.
Davies posted nine sexual photos of his ex-girlfriend, without her consent, on Tumblr under the false name 'Daniel Kray'.
In a victim impact statement the victim said: 'I have been worried and anxious about the images being shared on the internet and I have been worried my family and children will see them.
'I feel helpless as I have no control over who views and sees the images.
'When I go out I feel like people are looking at me and I feel embarrassed and violated.
'It has made me feel paranoid and has affected my self-esteem.
'I'm trying to move on from this but people keep sending links to the photographs so I still know they're out there.'
Davies had threatened to post the images and then later claimed he had deleted them.
Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) heard that iPhones are 'almost impossible' to get into without a PIN code
But the victim's friend saw the photos on Tumblr and the victim contacted the police.
His phone was seized in 2017 after his home was searched but his refusal to cooperate meant police had to work on unlocking it for two years.
The court heard the police found the sexual photos on Davies' phone as well as a picture of a man having sex with a cow and offers to supply cocaine.
Davies pleaded guilty to disclosing private sexual photographs with intent to cause distress, possessing an extreme pornographic image and being concerned in making an offer to supply cocaine.
Stephen Thomas, mitigating, said his client understood he had caused 'very serious distress' to the revenge porn victim.
The majority of revenge porn victims are women. Pictured: Stock
He added that Davies accepted posted the sexual images as an 'act of revenge' and 'out of anger' and accepts it was wrong.
Judge Richard Twomlow told Davies: 'You caused your victim a great deal of embarrassment.
'Revenge porn is a callous and mean offence and this is an example of that.'
In April this year the Revenge Porn Helpline saw a surge in reports with their website's traffic doubling towards the end of March.
The majority of revenge porn victims are women according to a 2019 report, by the UK Council for Internet Safety, revealing that 60 to 95 percent are females.
Revenge porn was made an official offence in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 in England Wales with similar laws coming into action a little later in Scotland and Ireland.
The first eight months after criminalising revenge porn in England Wales saw 1,160 reports of the crime.
Representative image
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are likely to be most affected by reverse migration of workers due to the coronavirus pandemic. Together, they account for a bulk of the migrant labourers who returned to their hometowns from cities after the lockdown.
The states have a majority 63 districts (Bihar 32 districts, UP 31 districts) of the 116 chosen for the Centres Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyaan (GKRA).
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As many as 4.1 million of the total 6.7 million reverse migrants over 50 percent, entered these 63 districts (Bihar 2.36 million, UP 1.75 million). The 116 districts received 25,000 migrants on an average, government data showed.
Given that the scheme aims to provide jobs to those rendered unemployed due to the pandemic, this may have political implications in Bihar, where assembly elections are scheduled in October and November, Mint reported.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
GKRA aims to provide employment opportunities to workers within their own states over a period of 125 days and covers Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Rs 50,000 crore has already been allocated for the same.
There is no doubt that Bihar is one of the worst-affected states because of reverse migration and during our discussion with these migrants, it is clear that most do not want to return to other states at least for some time. As such, providing employment to these people is of immediate concern, senior Bihar cabinet minister told the paper.
They added that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also conveyed to Prime Minister Modi that the state will not need the Centres help.
Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.
Besides jobs provision, both local administrations in both states would now also be burdened by extra demand on resources. At least 10 district had 100,000 returnees each where UPs Siddharthnagar had 160,000 returnees, and Bihars East Champaran and Katihar had 150,000 and 140,000 returnees respectively.
Experts say the reverse migration will have strong socio-economic implications and long term unemployment problems all returnees may not go back to cities. Shashikant Pandey, head of department of political science at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow told the paper that while plight of migrant workers has been brought under the spotlight, analysing how well the scheme functions at ground-level would take time.
[June 23, 2020] Hitachi Vantara Federal Names Gary Hix Chief Technology Officer
Hitachi Vantara Federal, a leader in data-driven solutions and services for the Federal Government, today announced Gary Hix as the company's new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). A trusted advisor to federal civilian, defense and intelligence agencies with decades of experience successfully solving unique IT challenges to achieve results, Hix will drive strategy execution, thought leadership, and innovation management of the company's technology portfolio for Federal customers. "Gary is uniquely suited to solving the complex information technology demands facing federal agencies today. He brings not only a wealth of experience and expertise to the senior leadership team but the exceptional ability to optimize the performance capabilities of our data-driven technology assets to further the company's command of the Federal IT space," said Dave Turner, president and CEO of Hitachi (News - Alert) Vantara Federal. As CTO, Hix will capitalize on his deep understanding of federal data infrastructure roadmaps and industry trends to ensure Hitachi Vantara products meet stringent federal government requirements. In addition, he'll work hand-in-hand with Hitachi Vantara Federal's government customers to develop solutions that are customized to their specific needs. Gary previously led and will continue to lead the Hitachi Vantara Federal Solutions Consultant team, which is comprised of seasoned storage veterans who are at the forefront of developing customer solutions that ensure government agencies can meet their mission requirements. By simply listening to customer needs, Solutions Consultants can identify the correct approach to needs and provide the results the agency is looking for. "As we've learned over the last fewmonths, technology demands can turn at any moment, and it's important to be flexible and creative in solving those challenges. I'm excited to continue to work with an organization that embraces innovation and look forward to helping Hitachi Vantara Federal's government customers leverage our exceptional technology capabilities to architect, implement, and maintain IT data outcomes in which they can have confidence," added Hix.
Prior to joining Hitachi Vantara Federal, Hix served as a program architect at IBM's (News - Alert) Cloud Services Division where he was responsible for a $500 million cross brand sales strategy. Earlier in his career he held the role of Channel Technology Executive at Novus Consulting Group where he oversaw a $16 million book of business, ongoing presales, and delivery of new solutions. In addition to these professional accomplishments, Hix has developed patents for management complexity factors delivering services in an IT environment and tier-based data management storage solution. About Hitachi Vantara Federal Corporation
Hitachi Vantara Federal, Corporation, implements data and analytics solutions that meet the federal government's needs today and tomorrow. Hitachi Vantara Federal provides pathways to the cloud and converged IT systems through virtualization, storage and DCC to reduce IT complexity and increase the efficiency of the U.S. government. Hitachi Vantara Federal is able to offer the best information and operation technology from across the Hitachi family to provide exceptional value to government agencies. Hitachi Vantara Federal Corporation is headquartered in Reston, Virginia. For more information, please visit: www.hitachivantarafederal.com. Follow Hitachi Vantara Federal on Twitter (News - Alert) @HVFederal. About Hitachi Vantara Hitachi Vantara, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., helps data-driven leaders find and use the value in their data to innovate intelligently and reach outcomes that matter for business and society. We combine technology, intellectual property and industry knowledge to deliver data-managing solutions that help enterprises improve their customers' experiences, develop new revenue streams, and lower the costs of business. Only Hitachi Vantara elevates your innovation advantage by combining deep information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and domain expertise. We work with organizations everywhere to drive data to meaningful outcomes. Visit us at www.HitachiVantara.com. About Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society's challenges. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal 2016 (ended March 31, 2017) totaled 9,162.2 billion yen ($81.8 billion). The Hitachi Group is a global leader in the Social Innovation Business, and it has approximately 304,000 employees worldwide. Through collaborative creation, Hitachi is providing solutions to customers in a broad range of sectors, including Power / Energy, Industry / Distribution / Water, Urban Development, and Finance / Government & Public / Healthcare. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com. HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005770/en/
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On this auspicious occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his greetings to the people of the country. This is for the first time in history that the devotees will not participate in the event due to coronavirus outbreak.
One of Indias biggest religious festivals, The Jagannath Puri Yatra started this morning with priests and temple attendants gathering in huge numbers but , for the first time in history, the devotees are not allowed to attend the function due to the social distancing norms, given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
PM Modi has extended greetings to the people of the country on this auspicious occasion. PM Modi tweeted that he hopes that the 7-day Rath yatra journey is filled with happiness, devotion, and prosperity. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also extended his greetings to everyone and said may Lord Jagarnath bless us all with good health, happiness and prosperity.
As the day began, priests and sevayats took the idol of Lord Balabhadra to chariot for the Rath Yatra followed by Lord Jagannath. In the videos that are surfacing on social media, performing artists can also be seen participating in the Rath Yatra. Some Rath Yatra rituals are also being conducted in ISKCON temple premises of West Bengal.
My heartiest greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra. I wish that this journey filled with reverence & devotion brings happiness, prosperity, good luck and health to the lives of the countrymen: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/FyXY7GOdfj ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
Greetings and warm wishes to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Jagannath Yatra. May Lord Jagannath bless us with good health and bring happiness and prosperity in our lives. Jai Jagannath! Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 23, 2020
#WATCH Odisha: Priests and 'sevayats' taking the idol of Lord Balabhadra to chariot for the #RathYatra from Jagannath Temple in Puri. pic.twitter.com/ohoWKlTwmm ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
#WATCH Idol of Lord Jagannath being brought to the chariot by priests and 'sevayats' for the Rath Yatra from Jagannath Temple in Puri#Odisha pic.twitter.com/b26LHX2jAi ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
Kolkata: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) conducts 'Rath Yatra' rituals in the temple premises, amid COVID19 pandemic#WestBengal pic.twitter.com/YkaYksHpRR ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
Also Read: India China standoff: Army Chief to visit Leh, review on-ground situation
Ahead of the Rath Yatra, a sanitisation drive was also conducted ahead of the Rath Yatra. Speaking about the safety measures undertaken by the state government, Odisha Law Minister Pratap Jena said earlier in the day that all the sevayats have been tested for Covid-19. One of them tested positive and he is not allowed to participate in the Rath Yatra.
Odisha: Sanitisation conducted at Jagannath Temple in Puri earlier today. #RathYatra is being carried out today in Puri after Supreme Court granted permission to hold annual chariot festival amid #COVID19 pandemic. No more than 500 ppl allowed to pull chariots as per SC's order pic.twitter.com/DbKaCJEMdG ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
As per the Supreme Court's order, #COVID19 test was conducted for all 'sevayats' (priests) at Puri's Jagannath Temple. One sevayat has tested positive, he is not allowed to participate in the Rath Yatra: Odisha Law Minister Pratap Jena pic.twitter.com/cFqcViEF25 ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday allowed Odisha to hold the 7-day chariot festival in a restricted manner. Earlier the SC stalled the function because of the contagious coronavirus but later modified its order, giving a green signal for the Yatra to take place in Odishas Puri.
The SC further instructed the state and temple committees to take the onus of conducting the Yatra with proper safety measures and without compromising with the health issues pertaining to Covid-19. The order also stated that only 500 persons will pull the Rath (chariot) and all of them will be tested for coronavirus.
After the decision, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik thanked the SC and the central government on granting permission to conduct the festival amid the virus. He further reiterated and emphasised on implementing strict lockdown measures.
Also Read: Odisha govt welcomes SCs decision on Jagannath Rath Yatra
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The Bachelorette star Sasha Mielczarek secured a plot of land in Bowral, NSW for an estimated $420,000 to build his dream home in June 2016.
And after four years, the 36-year-old former reality star has revealed he's almost completed his home - which he had been planning to live in with his former girlfriend Sam Frost before the pair split in 2016.
Speaking to Property Confidential on Monday, building manager Sasha said: 'It's been a long time coming but it's almost there and I couldn't be happier.'
Home sweet home! The Bachelorette's Sasha Mielczarek (pictured) has revealed he's finally finished building the home he purchased while dating Sam Frost
He added:'I was going to live in it and I designed it as if I would live in it. To be honest I probably will live in it for a while, to make sure it's all in working order, but it will eventually be a holiday let.'
Sasha went on to say he wasn't expecting the build to take such a long time, but the process was delayed after indigenous artefacts were discovered on the site.
'It took two-and-a-half years to settle [and] there were a number of issues with the development,' he said.
Process: He said he wasn't expecting the build to take such a long time, but the process was delayed after indigenous artefacts were discovered on the site
The plot is in the historic Retford Park Estate, separating blocks of land from 1000sq m to 4.8ha.
The lots at the time were priced between $365,000 and $810,000.
Just six months after Sasha purchased the plot in 2016, he and Sam confirmed their split after dating for 18 months.
History: Sasha had been planning to live in the home with his former girlfriend Sam Frost. (pictured) but the pair split just months after he purchased the plot in December 2016
'After 18 months together, Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek have come to a mutual decision to end their relationship,' their talent manager Georgine Haerrop told Daily Mail Australia at the time.
'It is important to stress that there is no bitterness or scandal, they have just come to the realisation that the best way forward is to separate.'
The pair famously met on the set of The Bachelorette in 2015.
The city of Galveston has issued a mayoral order requiring face coverings in all businesses that serve the public, following a similar measure implemented by Harris County last week as COVID-19 case totals continue to soar throughout Texas.
The order, which was signed by Mayor Jim Yarbrough on Monday and goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, requires all commercial entities in Galveston to develop a health and safety policy that requires employees and visitors over than age 10 to wear face coverings when inside a business and in close contact to others. Face coverings may include homemade masks, scarves, bandannas or handkerchiefs.
Business owners who violate Galvestons mask order will face a fine of up to $1,000, but will be given a grace period of five days after the orders effective date to comply. The order will be in effect for seven days, although that is a technicality as the City Council is expected Thursday to extend Galvestons emergency mayoral orders for one month, at least until its next monthly meeting in July. Yarbrough said the city marshals office would be the primary entity enforcing the order, but said any local law enforcement agency could do so.
The bottom line is, we dont have many tools left available to us, and we have to do everything we can to slow this thing down, Yarbrough said in a phone interview.
Yarbrough added that he would have implemented the same order weeks earlier if he had known Gov. Greg Abbott would have allowed it, and he criticized the governor for not providing clearer guidance on face-covering orders.
Abbotts executive orders reopening Texas beginning May 1 left local leaders across the state with the impression that they lacked the authority to require masks. The governor last week endorsed Bexar Countys proposal to require businesses to enforce face coverings, adding that cities and counties always had the ability to do so. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo followed suit, issuing a similar order days later.
Show us how we can do it, dont just leave us out here guessing, Yarbrough said. To me, thats six weeks lost, and it was the worst six weeks of the whole (pandemic). If we had been smart enough to figure it out earlier, we wouldve done it a month ago.
Galvestons mask order comes amid a surge in COVID-19 case totals in Galveston County, mirroring a similar uptick across Texas over the last several weeks. As of Monday, the Galveston County Health District reported 1,247 active cases, 60 percent of which were reported after June 1. Last week, Dr. Philip Keiser, the countys local health authority, held a press conference saying the county is at a critical juncture and pleaded for residents to change their behavior to help alleviate the strain on local hospitals.
Galveston is the second city in Galveston County to issue a mask order. The city of La Marque issued a proclamation on Saturday urging people to wear masks in public, although it will not fine issue fines for violations.
Yet county officials remain reluctant to impose a mask order countywide.
Galveston County will not be issuing such an order, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said Sunday in a lengthy Facebook post. Individuals and businesses need to take personal responsibility in following the recommended best practices in slowing the spread of COVID-19. If you find that a business doesnt appear to have taken steps that have been recommended in Governor Abbotts reopening plan, then dont reward them by doing business with them. Its that simple.
Yarbrough, a former county judge who recently announced his resignation as mayor effective July 15 due in part to health concerns stemming from the pandemic, said ideally the county would have consistent rules in place to prevent people from finding loopholes in COVID-19 restrictions. But Yarbrough was able to coordinate his mayoral order with Harris County officials, reasoning that Galveston attracts many visitors from the Houston area and he anticipates a large crowd from the mainland traveling to the island for July 4 weekend.
Ive had telephone conservations with (Houston Mayor) Sylvester Turner and Judge Hidalgo early on in this thing because I didnt want (Galveston) to be a more relaxed environment than Harris County, he said. I wanted to make sure we were in sync and try to stay a step ahead of it, where they wouldnt be coming down here because they have rules in Houston we didnt have.
Brooke A. Lewis and Julian Gill contributed to this report.
nick.powell@chron.com
Ontarios math curriculum is getting a makeover with students learning coding and financial literacy in Grade 1, and a new focus on dealing with kids stress on the subject.
The new curriculum, unveiled Tuesday by Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce, was two years in the making and updates and streamlines the 2005 discovery math lessons into more of a back-to-basics approach on learning and recalling math facts.
There are a total of 465 expectations of learning for students from Grades 1 through to 8, about 150 fewer than the current curriculum.
It also includes a new strand on social and emotional learning skills such as teaching children to learn from their mistakes and persevere despite math challenges, and build their confidence in the subject.
In Grade 1, students will look at sequential coding, possibly programming the image of a caterpillar that they can move a few steps forward or backwards using arrows.
The new curriculum also moves some concepts and lessons, including telling time on a clock from Grades 1 to 3, when students have a better grasp of patterns.
As part of financial literacy, students will also start learning that in Grade 1, and over the years it will cover personal budgeting and even e-transfers.
The government says the new curriculum was created after wide consultations with math experts, teachers and is meant to address the continuing drop in math scores in standardized testing, which is an issue many countries around the world are grappling with.
NDP Education Critic Marit Stiles slammed the government for introducing such major change during the COVID-19 pandemic and all the planning that needs to be done for schools to reopen in the fall, urging them to postpone the reforms.
Dropping a new math curriculum during the middle of a pandemic is completely irresponsible, she said.
The government has not bothered to consider the additional burden this will cause for teachers, and for parents who are already struggling to help their children learn from home. Educators are focused on meeting student needs during the COVID-19 crisis, and September will already be a big challenge.
She said adding new demands at this point is setting up students to fail. The Ford government must pause this decision, listen to parents and educators, and concentrate on better supporting students during this stressful period.
The smallest U.S. state has the longest name, but it is considering a change due to connotations of slavery amid protests from supporters of Black Lives Matter.
Officially, Rhode Island was incorporated as The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when it declared statehood in 1790. Now officials there are looking to make a change.
On Monday, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order taking the 'first steps' to change the state's full name, dropping the phrase 'Providence Plantations'.
The order, Executive Order 20-48, will change the name to just 'Rhode Island' in official communications from the governor's office, and calls on all state executive agencies to remove the 'plantations' reference from their websites.
On Monday, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo (above) signed an executive order taking the 'first steps' to change the state's full name
The order does not change the state's official name permanently that will require voters to amend the Rhode Island Constitution.
The state Legislature has indicated it will move forward with the referendum after the Rhode Island Senate passed a measure last week calling for a statewide vote on the name change.
Historians say the term 'plantations' in Rhode Island doesn't reflect slavery in the same way it would in the Deep South, but was more of a reference to land that was settled or colonized.
Even so, the state's ties to the slave trade are undeniably deep. Rhode Island merchants played a key role in the transatlantic slave trade, launching more than 1,000 voyages to buy and transport slaves from Africa to the Americas.
Brown University researchers say around 60 percent of all slave-trading voyages launched from North America came from Rhode Island.
The Brown family for whom Brown University is named were among the most prominent Rhode Island merchants involved in the triangle slave trade.
An illustration depicts slaves aboard a slave ship being shackled before being put in the hold. Rhode Island merchants were heavily involved in the transatlantic slave trade
Supporters of changing the state's official name say that the current connotations of the word 'plantation' are more important than its historical meaning in Rhode Island.
'It's all about the modern perception now,' said Tyson Pianka, a University of Rhode Island sophomore who organized a petition to change the state's name.
'If you ask anyone, 'Whats the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word 'plantations,' its slavery. If we can just remove that, it would send a message of unity,' Pianka said in an interview with the Associated Press.
The bill to hold a referendum on the state's name was introduced by Rhode Island's sole black senator, Harold Metts.
'Whatever the meaning of the term 'plantations' in the context of Rhode Island's history, it carries a horrific connotation when considering the tragic and racist history of our nation,' Metts said in a statement to the Providence Journal.
'In no way am I trying to erase history. But we shouldn't glorify our shameful past,' said Pianka.
'I've been trying to find a place where I can make a difference,' said Pianka, 20, who is half black. 'Now is a perfect time to do it.'
Name alterations have been attempted before - most recently in 2010, when nearly eight in 10 voters rejected the shorter name in a referendum.
'Providence Plantations' was the name of the first European American settlement in Rhode Island, founded in 1636 by a group led by Roger Williams, who left Massachusetts Bay Colony in order to establish a colony with greater religious freedom.
A colorized engraving, based on a painting by Alonzo Chappel, shows a group of Native Americans (possibly the Narragansett) as they offer the pipe of peace to British theologian and future founder of Rhode Island Roger Williams as his ship comes ashore
When Providence merged with Portsmouth, Newport, and Warwick in 1663 it was recognized in a royal charter as the 'Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations'.
Following American independence, it became officially known as the 'State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations'.
The origin of the name 'Rhode Island' itself is obscure, and historians are divided on the subject.
Some believe it dates to early descriptions from explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who noted the presence of an island near the mouth of Narragansett Bay in 1524 which he likened to the island of Rhodes off the coast of Greece.
Others assert that it is probably a corruption of a Dutch description of a 'reddish island', or 'Roodt Eylant', in the bay.
The state of Rhode Island itself is part of the mainland U.S. and is not actually an island.
Mayor John Tory says he wants to explore the idea of equipping TTC officers with body-worn cameras in order to help fight discrimination on the transit system.
During a discussion about the transit agencys anti-racism strategy at a meeting of the mayors executive committee on Monday, Tory said outfitting the TTCs roughly 200 fare inspectors and special constables with cameras could be an important accountability and protection measure.
Tory said that as a result of systemic racism, Black Torontonians experience a degree of fear and anxiety when doing everyday activities like riding transit, and recent anti-racism protests show how much hurt and anguish and built up frustration there is over the issue. He said he hoped the TTC would act quickly to move ahead with its anti-racism strategy and take some steps, which could include body-worn cameras.
He said it would likely be more cost-effective if the TTC were included in the Toronto Police Services plan to equip its officers with body cameras rather than the transit agency procuring its own.
The mayors comments came after a member of his executive, Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 21, Scarborough Centre), raised the idea of having transit officers wear the devices.
Proponents say cameras help prevent officer misconduct while protecting law enforcement from spurious allegations, but some experts say the devices are a drain on municipal budgets and havent been proven effective.
In an interview, Thompson said that while body cameras arent foolproof, they could help hold transit officers accountable by ensuring theyre aware and the public are aware that their actions are being monitored.
Surveillance cameras are already in place across Torontos transit system but they dont record audio, which Thompson said means they could miss important aspects of officers interactions with riders.
Although its not clear how much the cameras would cost the TTC, Thompson said the expense would be worth it, even as the transit agency faces a crippling financial crisis caused by historic ridership drops during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When young people, particularly racialized, young Black kids, are being affected and (even assaulted) as a result of racial bias on the transit system, I actually think that safety is a huge priority that justifies spending on cameras, said Thompson, who is the only Black representative on Torontos 26-member council.
The TTC launched its anti-racism strategy last July after the city ombudsman found serious flaws in an internal investigation into three fare inspectors who violently accosted a Black teen at a streetcar stop in February 2018. The strategy also followed a series of Star investigations into TTC data that raised concerns transit officers have ticketed and recorded personal information of Black riders in disproportionately high numbers.
The strategy includes plans to reform the agencys public complaints protocol, conduct system-wide anti-racism training, and diversify the TTC workforce.
TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said equipping transit officers with body-worn cameras is something that is very much a topic of conversation at the TTC and the agency is examining the legal and financial impacts of introducing the technology. In general, the TTC supports additional accountability and transparency in our operations, he said.
The Toronto police force has long intended to equip its officers with body cameras, but has yet to do so. Last month, following outcry over the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Chief Mark Saunders announced the force was fast-tracking the program.
According to a budget estimate submitted to the Toronto police board at the end of 2019, Toronto police project the devices would cost $4.8 million to procure, plus $2.5 million annually for cloud-based storage.
Police spokesperson Meghan Gray said while Saunders supports body-worn cameras for all front-line police officers to enhance transparency and protection for both the public and our officers, any expansion of the program would have to be evaluated by the police force and its board.
Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr
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We know the airline business is suffering.
But should airlines be able to keep a customers money if the booked travel cant actually happen because the government has closed the border because of the coronavirus?
Gabriel Eisner and his fiance Jordana Reich, both of Bedminster, made plans to visit Banff National Park in Canada from July 3 to July 11.
Eisner booked the trip with Expedia, paying $1,474.76 for non-stop flights.
He surprised Reich with the trip for two reasons: to celebrate her 30th birthday and to celebrate her completion of a rigorous and very stressful neurological residency program for her job as a physical therapist.
Our plans are very much in the air due to the virus, Eisner said. We were planning on going on this great trip, however things have changed, obviously.
They both work with COVID patients, so they said theyre not necessarily nervous about travel but we just want everyone else to be safe when traveling and obey the appropriate precautions, Eisner said.
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First, Air Canada made substantial changes to the flights. The departing flight was to leave Newark and arrive in Calgary, but the airline changed their tickets to a flight with a layover in Toronto, and they would arrive more than seven hours later than initially planned. Similar changes were made to the return flight.
And until June 1, the national park was fully closed. Now its only partially open with many roads, trails and amenities still shut down.
But even if the park was open, the border between the U.S. and Canada remains shut down to almost all non-essential travel until at least July 21.
Canada also requires a 14-day quarantine for anyone coming into the country, so even if the border was open, the couple would have to pay for a place to stay for two weeks before heading to the park or anywhere else in the country.
The cancellation is just a big mess. We were initially told by Expedia that we could be offered a credit, but wait to see if the policy changes with the U.S.-Canada border, Eisner said. We wanted a refund for the trip because it is such a large sum of money, and we really dont know when/if we would be able to go back to Banff.
They were given three choices: to keep the reservation open to see if Air Canada would later allow a refund, to try to get a refund directly from Air Canada which basically said no or to accept a travel voucher.
The couple is also on hold with their wedding, planned for October, so having all that money out there hurts their wallets.
They reached out to Bamboozled for help.
ASKING FOR HELP
The U.S. Department of Transportation says if an airline cancels a flight, the passenger is entitled to a refund.
And if there is a significant delay, the passenger is also entitled to a refund.
But if the passenger is the one who cancels, the rules are different.
Passengers who purchase a non-refundable ticket on a flight to, within, or from the United States that is still being operated without a significant change, but would like to change or cancel their reservation, are generally not entitled to a refund or a travel voucher for future use on the airline, it said. This is true even if the passenger wishes to change or cancel due to concerns related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Both domestic and overseas carriers are subject to the rules, DOT said.
It also said airline obligations do not cease when the flight disruptions are outside of the carriers control (e.g., a result of government restrictions).
The Air Canada website says if a ticket was purchased through a third-party seller Expedia in this case any refund requests must be processed through them.
So we started with Expedia, which checked with Air Canada. It would not refund the fares.
They advised they only provide refunds when they cancel the flight and fail to provide an alternate option in this case they offered a few alternatives so their policy is to provide a flight credit instead, an Expedia spokeswoman said. Were sorry we couldnt do more for this customer.
She was right about Air Canadas refund policy.
It allows customers with tickets purchased before June 30, 2020 for travel from March 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 to choose a different flight, get a voucher that never expires for future travel or to convert the ticket into miles with the airlines travel program.
Air Canada didnt respond to multiple inquiries, so the couple is stuck.
Gabriel Eisner said they did file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
We will be fine financially, but I would rather not tie up almost $1,500 for two years, Eisner said. Im sure that there are plenty of people in this world that this has happened to. I just hope none of them really need the money.
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Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com.
As Katy resident Titus Benton stretched for the 22-mile trek ahead, rain clouds rolled in. He was excited for a break in the summer heat and the opportunity to help supply clean water to a community in East Asia.
Benton and The 25 Group, the nonprofit he founded in 2014, are partnering with Attack Poverty, another nonprofit that serves under-resourced communities. The two organizations are trying to raise $22,000 from Bentons long walk on Monday, June 22.
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He said the world has a lot of injustice and that he was looking forward to righting a little bit of that for a couple hundred families whose water pipe freezes during the winter, leaving them to walk a mile up a mountain during winter for their only water source.
So when we have an opportunity to fix one, like, to recognize that theres going to be a day when the people in this village and surrounding villages dont have to walk up a mountain to get pretty dirty water to drink and to wash their hands, clean waters an easy problem to fix, Benton said.
He said The 25 Group has given out about $500,000 in grants to support around 25 organizations to serve the least of these that Matthew 25 of the Bible speaks about. The nonprofit also sends out interns to work and provides professional services.
Benton said a lot of people are fairly discouraged with the current state of the world, but giving a small community better health and lives through clean water creates meaningful change in its peoples lives.
Attack Poverty Director of Development Ashley Cadis said that nonprofits vision is to empower people to attack poverty in their life and community. She said they strengthen communities through encouraging members spiritually, educationally and through providing for basic needs.
And so the big picture is that were a global organization, and we serve locally where we adopt pockets of poverty, Cadis said.
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Attack Poverty works in Uganda and East Asia but also closer to home, from the northeast side of downtown Houston out to Richmond. Its headquarters is in Stafford. Cadis said the organization uses a model called asset-based community development, in which they understand that communities they work with can determine what their needs are.
Its not just us going out and finding what problems exist where we are in the communities, and weve been in these communities for a while, where we have relationships, Cadis said. And the projects like this that pop up really pop up from the voices of the community.
Knowing that he wanted to walk 22 miles to raise $1,000 per mile to cover the cost of the pipe fix, Benton learned that the headquarters for the two nonprofits were 19 miles apart and then added some outstretches to come up with the route. Once the money is raised, hopefully by the end of July, Attack Poverty will work with the community in East Asia to get the pipe repaired.
The past few weeks, there have been water campaigns where people and their friends to go for a walk and donate some money toward the cause. Benton said they are around 25 to 30 percent of the way toward the goal and that any additional funds raised above the goal would go toward a future project. He added that so far, it is The 25 Groups largest project this year.
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Benton said other than going on some walks with his dog, he had not really trained for walking the 22 miles in one day. While some of the people in his life had said he was going to be just fine and only warned him about blisters, others called him crazy.
Ive just decided, you know, most of us only have to walk to our refrigerator to get some clean water, and theres a couple billion people in the world that cant do that, you know, Benton said. And so if I end up with some blisters or some muscle spasms or whatever, so be it if it helps shine a light on this problem.
Attack Poverty and The 25 Group urge the Houston-area community to give to the cause. You can sponsor the walk at $1 or $10 per mile or make a one-time donation of any amount at www.the25group.org or on Venmo (@The25Group).
tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
A mystery person in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal begged a federal judge today not to turn over a trove of confidential papers listing some of the dead pedophile's closest associates to the celebrity attorney Alan Dershowitz.
The bombshell papers are part of a historic defamation case that Virginia Giuffre, previously known as Virginia Roberts, brought against the warped financier's alleged madam and facilitator, Ghislaine Maxwell.
The cache is subject to a historic protective order but Dershowitz argues it contains depositions and materials crucial for his own defense as he battles Giuffre in a separate, ongoing defamation case.
Close to a dozen attorneys assembled by teleconference on Tuesday to debate whether the order, signed by deceased New York Judge Robert Sweet, could be loosened to accommodate the 81-year Harvard professor's request.
But his motion was strongly opposed by legal teams representing Giuffre, Maxwell and also a mysterious 'John Doe' who is believed to be one of numerous public figures who are petrified of being drawn into the Epstein maelstrom.
A mystery person in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal begged a federal judge today not to turn over a trove of confidential papers listing some of the dead pedophile's closest associates to the celebrity attorney Alan Dershowitz
The bombshell papers are part of a historic defamation case that Virginia Giuffre, previously known as Virginia Roberts, brought against the warped financier's alleged madam and facilitator, Ghislaine Maxwell
But his motion was strongly opposed by legal teams representing Giuffre, Maxwell and also a mysterious 'John Doe' who is believed to be one of numerous public figures who are petrified of being drawn into the Epstein maelstrom
In a letter to the court, his or her attorneys Nicholas Lewin and Paul Krieger argued it would derail the painstaking legal protocol already agreed upon to decide how and when materials in the Maxwell-Giuffre case should be unsealed.
'This marks Dershowitz's second or, by some measures, third attempt to make an end-run around this Court's carefully constructed unsealing protocol,' the letter stated.
'Just as the Court denied Dershowitz's prior attempts, it should deny this one.'
Lewin repeated his position on the call, backed by lawyers for Maxwell and Giuffre who all agreed that giving Epstein's outspoken former attorney confidential materials and depositions from a case he was not involved in, would spark 'leakage concerns.'
They agreed that Dershowitz who says he wants the secret documents to become public as they exonerate him had all the usual legal mechanisms at his disposal to depose witnesses and apply for disclosure.
However his attorney, Howard Cooper, said there was a 'compelling need' for the Giuffre-Maxwell materials as his client was facing 'an adversary who has in her custody, possession or control, all of the materials he seeks'.
Cooper assured Southern District of New York Judge Loretta Preska that Dershowitz was 'unequivocally' committed to keeping any disclosed materials private but Preska chose to reserve judgement for now.
The Giuffre-Maxwell case ended in 2015 but Giuffre's attorneys have fought a protracted legal battle to have documents containing the names of numerous 'non parties' unsealed.
Preska ruled last May that she would unveil portions of documents on a rolling basis once the named individuals had been notified and given the opportunity to lodge legal objections.
Giuffre was allegedly recruited to become Epstein's sex slave in 1999, and has been at the center of much of the Epstein scandal since it first came to light, most notably for her claims against Prince Andrew, who has denied all wrongdoing
Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell last August 10, the official verdict of suicide by hanging still hotly still disputed by his family and former legal team
Maxwell continues to protest her innocence and has resisted Giuffre's motion, claiming the papers should be 'afforded the lowest presumption of public access'.
The British-born socialite, accused of recruiting young girls for the multi-millionaire predator and being present herself while abuse was taking place, has not been seen in public since Epstein's death.
Giuffre claims she was among those trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with rich, powerful men including Britain's Prince Andrew and Dershowitz.
Dershowitz, one of the attorneys who secured a much-criticized plea deal more than a decade ago in Florida, has called Giuffre a 'complete, total liar.'
Insisting the pair never met, let alone had sex, he has repeatedly challenged his accuser to voice her allegations publicly and unequivocally, claiming she was afraid of perjuring herself.
But in the recent documentary series, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, Giuffre did just that, saying on camera: 'I was with Alan Dershowitz multiple times. At least six that I can remember. I was trafficked to Alan Dershowitz from Epstein.'
Dershowitz also counter-sued last November, claiming Giuffre 'spread malicious lies' and falsely smeared him as a 'sexual predator, pedophile, abuser, child molester and other negative epithets' to extort a settlement.
He also made an appearance in the same Netflix show, saying: 'Let me state categorically: I never had sex with an underage person in my life.
'Even when I was an underage boy, I never had sex with an underage girl. I never had sex with anyone related to Jeffrey Epstein.'
Giuffre was allegedly recruited to become Epstein's sex slave in 1999, and has been at the center of much of the Epstein scandal since it first came to light, most notably for her claims against Prince Andrew, who has denied all wrongdoing.
In his pomp, Epstein was a close associate of some of the world's richest, powerful men, including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, director Woody Allen and Saudi leader Mohammad bin Salman
Donald Trump and future wife Melania Knauss, Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000
In his pomp, Epstein was a close associate of some of the world's richest, powerful men, including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, director Woody Allen and Saudi leader Mohammad bin Salman.
In 2008 he became a registered sex offender after pleading guilty to Florida state charges of unlawfully paying a teenage girl for sex.
However Epstein served a mere 13 months in jail, much of the time allowed out on work release, after agreeing to a controversial 'sweetheart deal' to avoid federal charges.
Clinton and Trump both said they hadn't seen Epstein in years and knew nothing of his misconduct when new charges were brought against him in July 2019, accusing him of trafficking girls as young as 14 to provide 'massages and sex acts' in Florida and New York.
More than a dozen more women, not previously known to law enforcement, came forward to accuse him of sex abuse after the charges, which carried a prison sentence of up to 45 years, were made public.
However Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell last August 10, the official verdict of suicide by hanging still hotly still disputed by his family and former legal team.
UK Commercial Property REIT Ltd - Notice of AGM
UK Commercial Property REIT Limited
(an authorised closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey with registration number 45387)
LEI Number: 213800JN4FQ1A9G8EU25
(The "Company")
23 June 2020
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Aberdeen Standard Investments, Bow Bells House, 1 Bread Street, London, EC4M 9HH on 27 August 2020 at 11:30 AM.
The Notice of AGM together with the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2019 has been posted to shareholders.
In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.3, the Notice of Annual General Meeting, proxy form and accounts have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism
Enquiries:
Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited
The Company Secretary
PO Box 255
Trafalgar Court
Les Banques
St Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 3QL
Tel: 01481 745001
END
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Benjamin Rees The Painter and the Thief, Johann Johanssons Last and First Men, Oliver Hermanus Moffie and Amanda Kernells Charter are some of the titles announced for the upcoming 10th Atlantida Film Fest, the largest online film festival in Europe, organized by Spains Filmin platform.
The event will take a double format one on-site in Palma de Mallorca from July 27 to Aug. 2, and another longer online version from July 27 through Aug. 27.
Mainly focused on Europe, final selection will see about 95 titles online including TV series, and 4o titles will be screened in theaters in Mallorca, where the Atlantida Film Fest has been taking place for the past five years.
Benjamin Rees The Painter and the Thief will open the festival. Premiered in Sundance this year, it won the world cinema documentary special jury prize for creative storytelling. Neon-distributed, it is a stranger-than-fiction friendship story in which verite techniques produce unbelievable results, according to Variety.
The Atlantida Film Fest will be extended online to Portugal, Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia where a reduced lineup will be accessible, Filmin and Atlantida fest director Jaume Ripoll told Variety.
Premiered at the Berlinale, the first and last film by Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson, Last and First Men depicts a hyper-evolved eighteenth-species world reaching us from a world some way past 2,000,000,000 A.D. Its adapted from the same-titled novel by U.K. writer Olaf Stapledon.
With Venice-premiered Moffie, South Africas Oliver Hermanus achieves his masterpiece with this brutal but radiant story of young gay desire on the Angolan war front, Varietys review ran. Other announced titles include Amanda Kernells anticipated second feature Charter, the feature debut as a director of actor Tom Cullen, Pink Wall, and documentaries such as Yung Changs This is not a Movie, Aneil Karias Surge and Boris B. Bertrama Photographer of War.
Story continues
Russian director Aleksei Balabanov will be honored with a complete retrospective of his films.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Filmin hosted other events such as Docs Barcelona scoring 130,000 views and Barcelona arthouse DA Film Festival, earning 215,000 views.
The Atlantida Film Fest grants three main prizes an Audience Award, Critics Award and Jury Award. Fest bestows also an honorary award, received in the past by Roland Joffe, Vanesa Redgrave and Ken Loach.
I believe that giant festivals will maintain their physical integrity with some occasional online experiences, Ripoll said about future festivals. Medium-sized festivals with a very strong identity are going to explore this hybrid route, especially with titles that are not distributed nationally.
We need to begin to think that the Internet is not the final stage a films commercial cycle, Ripoll added, noting that Atlantida closing feature last year, Marc Collins The Chock of the Future, went on to be selected by SXSW.
Founded in 2008, Filmin is currently available in Spain, Portugal and Mexico and offers a huge catalog of independent cinema and TV series and a diverse selection of classic titles.
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A young girl has suffered an 11cm laceration to her face after she was slashed with a knife while trying to stop an alleged fight between her boyfriend and another teenager.
The alleged incident occurred at Kawana Shoppingworld on Queensland's Sunshine Coast about 4pm on Monday when an argument between an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old got physical.
The 16-year-old girl was stabbed in the face when she attempted to intervene.
She was rushed to hospital for surgery for the horrific one-centimetre-deep wound which was 11cm long and could need plastic surgery.
The wound was described by police as a 'significant laceration from her chin to ear'.
The alleged incident occurred at Kawana Shoppingworld (pictured) on Queensland's Sunshine Coast about 4pm on Monday when an argument between an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old got physical
The girl suffered a one-centimetre-deep, 11cm long wound her face when she was slashed
'It was a gruesome injury,' Detective Sergeant Chris Eaton told media.
'The injury, we believe, is 10-11 centimetres in length and one centimetre or so in depth.
'She will be required to undergo surgery and most likely plastic surgery to have that wound attended to.'
The 18-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed her ran away while the 17-year-old teenager was not injured.
Police arrived shortly after and established a crime scene.
They believe the altercation started online before it escalated.
'What we believe was that there was an argument that occurred over social media and that argument has spilled over into a physical altercation,' police said.
Police established a crime scene and are on the lookout for the alleged attacker (paramedics are pictured outside the shopping centre)
The 17-year-old has since taken to Snapchat to give his version of events following his girlfriend's horrific stabbing.
'He (the man) walked up to me, pulled that type of knife out. I seen (sic) it and stood my ground, he got close and started trying to stab me,' the boy wrote, according to The Courier Mail.
'I was pumping him then my gf tried to break it up and he did that to her. Then this guy broke it up while I had him by his jumper not letting him go uppercutting him.
'Then he finally got out of his jumped (sic) and ran off. I couldn't do s*** because the guy who broke it up had a hold of me.'
He claims police told him that he was lucky his nose wasn't cut during the altercation as the other man 'swung it [the knife] at my nose and missed'.
He took to social media a second time expressing his love for his girlfriend and said he will 'always be by her side'.
Police are urging the alleged attacker to come forward, saying there is 'nothing to be gained' from hiding.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
His book offered a vivid picture of the racist taunts he endured, including classmates attributing his bad grades to his race, accusing him of cheating and attacking his mother.
In his book, Mr. Onyeama recalled being asked, Has your mother got a bone through her nose?
The BBC interview spurred the school to issue the apology.
Simon Henderson, who has been the principal at Eton since 2015, said in a statement that his priority was for the college to be an inclusive, compassionate and supportive community for all our pupils.
Eton College, which is near Windsor, west of London, was founded by King Henry VI in 1440 and is well known for educating the elite in Britain Princes William and Harry attended, as did many of Britains past prime ministers, including current Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, is another former student.
Mr. Henderson said that significant strides had been made since Mr. Onyeama was at Eton, but as millions of people around the world rightly raise their voices in protest against racial discrimination and inequality we have to have the institutional and personal humility to acknowledge that we still have more to do.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HALO Sport ("HALO") is delighted to welcome Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull), GRAMMY-winner, education advocate, entrepreneur and motivational speaker to the team. As a result of a cash injection into the Company, the international super-star will become a significant shareholder, and will work with the HALO team to advise on brand development, strategic investor relations, international expansion, as well as marketing initiatives and retail expansion & distribution strategy.
"When we were introduced to HALO, we were excited to be part of the next hydration revolution and new generation of VitaminWater," said Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull). "We're delighted to officially announce our partnership with Team HALO and look forward to actively working with them in keeping the world hydrated while at home and on the road. Dale!"
Both HALO (a minority and female-owned business) and Pitbull have a passion for inclusion, equality and a shared vision to help the world hydrate better. And so, in a ground-breaking addition to the partnership, Pitbull's revered six-woman dance team, "The Most Bad Ones", will also become shareholders in HALO. The beverage's unrivalled functionality, health benefits and delicious taste, will keep the dancers hydrated all day (and all night). The broad-based collaboration also includes donating a portion of sales to Pitbull's SLAM! Academy.
Speaking of his newest investor partner, CEO and Co-Founder Anshuman Vohra, said - "As someone who has long been inspired by Armando's music, his self-made story, and his selflessness for and on behalf of the community at large, I am also very impressed with his entrepreneurial endeavors and astute eye for venture capital investments." Robin Shobin, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, added, "I am excited that Pitbull has taken a strong interest in supporting a business that aims to better the health of Americans. Sugar laden drinks continue to bring a host of health problems globally and Pitbull's support in our mission is invaluable." HALO is available in select retail outlets across the country and nationwide on www.halosport.com and Amazon.
Ciara McDevitt Jessica Markowitz Tom Muzquiz HALO Brand Director HALO Commercial Director Artist Contact +44 7930 379 006 +1 917 32 6478 +1 323 337 6563 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
SOURCE HALO Sport
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https://halosport.com
State Treasurer John Schroder said Monday he hopes to start in July distributing about $300 million in federal coronavirus aid funds to small businesses, under a program for which more than 450,000 businesses are estimated to be eligible.
Hes still working out the details for the grants of up $15,000 per business since Gov. John Bel Edwards last week signed legislation pushed by Republican lawmakers to divert some of the federal money aimed mostly at local governments. Schroder wants to distribute the funds by December.
Our job is to get this money out as quickly as we can, Schroder said.
The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act, allocated $1.8 billion to Louisiana. Much of the money filled shortfalls in state revenues used to pay for state services to balance the state operating budget. Another $811 million was destined for local governments.
Republicans took about $300 million from the local governments pot, over the objections of the Edwards administration, to give to small businesses. Edwards eventually came around and signed the legislation.
About $40 million of that amount will go to companies owned by minorities, women, and veterans. The treasurer can keep up to $15 million to administer the program, which is expected to pay a private vendor to run the grant program. Schroder is looking to hire a contractor to handle the day to day operations.
Edwards is in charge of distributing the remaining $565 million allocated to local governments for expenses related to coronavirus. The figure was $511 million but lawmakers added an additional injection to the funds. The first $153 million will start going out next week, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne said.
For the first 21 days, Schroder told the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, the Main Street Restoration Program will focus on those businesses that are too small and have not received any federal grants, such as from the Paycheck Protection Program, or received business interruption insurance.
Schroder estimates about 450,000 small business owners about 64,000 of whom are minorities, women, or veterans could be eligible for the program. They employ about 905,000 people and account for 53% of the states employment.
Doing the math and asking about Schroders priorities, Slidell Republican Sen. Sharon Hewitt said, Were going to run out of money.
Local governments apply for $165M in Louisiana's 1st round of coronavirus aid; see distribution plan Local governments have applied for $165 million in federal coronavirus aid, exceeding the amount of money available under the first batch of f
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Schroder said he doesnt know how many applications to expect. Mississippi received 15,000 claims during the first couple of days, he said.
After 21 days, the program then will open up, on a first come, first serve basis to fill the gaps between what businesses already have received from the federal government and the $15,000 limit. For instance, if a business received a $3,000 from, say, the Paycheck Protection Program, it could be eligible for $12,000 through the state.
The businesses who qualify must have less than 50 employees, be owned and located in Louisiana, and can document their losses.
Schroder said hes looking to build a computer system that doesnt crash on the first day when a tsunami of applications is expected. He also is hoping to have call centers, field agents and advisory councils to reach out directly to small business owners who either dont have access to the Internet or are intimidated by computers. The program will have a marketing program but he said earlier recovery efforts relied too much on radio and televisions ads.
Republican-led bill to send $300M in aid to Louisiana businesses wins governor's signature About $300 million in federal coronavirus aid will go to small businesses in Louisiana, after Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards signed legislat
Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzalez, criticized recovery programs set up after the 2005 hurricanes and the 2016 floods, saying Road Home and Restore, respectively, didnt efficiently get the money to the people to all the people who needed it. Both were administered by governors offices.
Weve seen programs like this come through the legislature, whether it was the Road Home program or the Restore program, that on the back end of the program were failures to many people in this state. They believe they didnt get the job done, Cortez said
Though many of the legislators are concerned about fraud, Schroder said he wouldnt be able to stop all of it.
I am not going to design a program that puts so much red tape on the 90% just to stop the 10% bad actors, Schroder said, adding that its important to be careful but not too cumbersome.
Are we going to stop all the fraud, Mr. President? No. But well do our best, Schroder said.
The program is employing the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, which is facile with all the various details and strings that come with the federal grants, Schroder said.
A third of Covid-19 survivors may suffer long-term damage to their lungs that leaves them struggling to breathe, according to research.
Other nasty coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS are already known to cause 'persistent' harm to the lungs.
But evidence on Covid-19 is murky, given scientists only spotted the life-threatening pathogen six month ago in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Doctors say the respiratory disease will be similar to other coronaviruses and lead to pulmonary fibrosis, the irreversible scarring of the lungs.
Leaked NHS guidance says up to 30 per cent of Covid-19 survivors may suffer long-term lung damage, if it takes the same path as SARS or MERS.
And it warns survivors could face 'persistent physical, cognitive and psychological impairments', including chronic fatigue syndrome.
Other studies have shown SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid-19 can attack organs, such as the heart, liver, kidneys and blood vessels.
Other nasty coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS are already known to cause 'persistent' harm to the lungs. But evidence on Covid-19 is murky, given scientists only spotted the life-threatening pathogen six month ago in the Chinese city of Wuhan
Physiotherapists have repeatedly warned patients can suffer a loss of mobility if they are stuck on hospital wards for weeks, or endure flashbacks.
The NHS guidance, seen by The Telegraph, was sent to primary care and community services, which includes GPs and district nurses.
It said: 'Approximately 30 per cent of survivors of the global SARS outbreak caused by SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV experienced persistent physiological impairment and abnormal radiology consistent with fibrotic lung disease.
'It is envisaged that pulmonary fibrosis [lung damage and scarring] is likely to be an important sequela/condition which is the consequence of Covid-19.'
The guidance also reportedly warned that one in seven patients who fought for their lives on intensive care may be struck down with lasting brain damage.
Seventy per cent of them will suffer delirium which will lead to 'established cognitive impairment' in one in five cases, the memo said.
Only 300,000 Brits have actually tested positive for the disease meaning 100,000 could face lasting damage, if the estimates are correct.
But health officials estimate the size of the outbreak may be in the region of 5million cases, leaving 1.5million Brits at risk of permanent harm.
World Health Organization (WHO) figures, however, show that both SARS and MERS are more lethal than Covid-19, with death rates at least 10 times higher.
How long does it take to recover from coronavirus? Doctors say it's unclear how long it takes people to truly recover from COVID-19, however anecdotal evidence suggests it can take months. Indeed, when the Prime Minister was rushed to intensive care, experts issued grave warnings about how long he would be out of action for. One medical precept holds that for every week a patient is in intensive care, there will require double that time to fully recover once discharged. The more serious someone's illness is, the longer it takes, and those who end up in intensive care may be left with permanent damage to their lungs and liver. Scientists think it is likely people become immune to the virus in at least the short term, meaning they won't catch it twice, but they are not certain. COVID-19 is caused by a virus which mainly attaches to and attacks cells in the lining of the airways and the lungs, which is why sufferers find it so difficult to breathe. The body's immune reaction is what causes symptoms - swelling in the areas where the virus is attacking makes the airways close up and make it hard to breathe, and patients cough to try and expel the viruses and dead lung tissue from their bodies. The immune system also causes a high temperature and aches and pains as it tries to make the body too hostile for it to survive. And patients become exhausted as the virus makes the lungs unable to get enough oxygen into the blood, depleting muscles' energy supplies. While the vast majority of people who catch the coronavirus survive - some with medical help, but many without - the effects of it can linger on for weeks afterwards. Advertisement
Government scientists have called for studies to investigate the lasting effects of the illness, which some experts have branded 'post-Covid disability' and likened to polio.
NHS bosses last month opened a rehabilitation centre to help thousands of Covid-19 patients recover from the long-term damage caused by the virus.
The head of the NHS Seacole Centre admitted she was worried about how little was known about just how long the consequences could last for.
Dr Hilary Floyd told The Telegraph she was shocked by just how young many patients were, revealing some had been in their forties and fifties.
She added: 'These are people who were independent, they might be running their own business, going to the gym, swimming, active. Now they are at the point they cant get out of bed.
'We have a couple of patients in their 40s at the moment; we really didnt expect that. We were expecting them to be older.'
In a stark warning about the potential damage Covid-19 could pose, Dr Floyd added: 'They may always have some level of debilitation.'
She added that some of the patients are only able to do 10-minute bursts of physical activity because of their fatigue and breathlessness.
Dr Janet Scott, an post-viral sequelae expert and clinical lecturer at the University of Glasgow-MRC Center for Virus Research, told the newspaper some patients would get 'post-traumatic stress, anxiety or depression'.
Scientists are currently clueless as to how long it takes infected patients to fully recover from Covid-19, which has killed 450,000 people worldwide.
Health officials earlier this month announced a ground-breaking trial to examine the long-term damage inflicted by Covid-19 on major organs.
The two-year study, the first of its kind in the UK, hopes to solve the mystery around the lasting effects of the disease using scans of coronavirus patients.
Government scientists have already warned coronavirus patients could be left short of breath for months after their battle with the disease.
SAGE, a panel of exerts who advise Number 10 in emergencies, also warned Covid-19 survivors may endure weeks of fatigue in a meeting on May 7.
Brits who have fought off the virus have revealed throughout the outbreak that they have been wiped of energy and left struggling to walk up the stairs.
Evidence is emerging that the coronavirus may affect the brain, causing seizures and stroke, as well as harming the liver, kidneys, heart and blood vessels.
A paper in the journal JAMA Cardiology in March reported one in five of 416 Covid-19 patients hospitalised in Wuhan, China, had suffered heart damage.
The researchers also found problems could occur even in those without underlying heart problems.
Another study from Wuhan, published in February, said 16 of 36 patients transferred to intensive care were suffering from arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats).
The heart problems are thought to occur as a result of the virus triggering a 'cytokine storm', where the immune system overreacts to the infection.
This leads to inflammation of the heart muscle. As a result, the heart pumps more weakly, causing symptoms such as breathlessness.
Burma Monk Charged with Murder of Teenager in Myanmar's Magwe Region
Ko Ko Zaw, the victim of a stabbing in Aung Lan township, Magwe Region. / Supplied
A teenager was stabbed to death in Aung Lan township of Magwe Region last Thursday. The perpetrator has been detained and police have filed a case against him pressing murder charges.
The perpetrator is a monk in his forties who is a resident of Aung Myay Kone Village in Aung Lan. He is now in Thayet Prison as police are compiling the case against him.
The monk stabbed 17-year-old Ko Ko Zaw in his throat and back while the teenager was helping to move a highway express bus stuck in the mud near Aung Lans Sakhan Gyi Village.
Ko Ko Zaw, also a resident of Aung Lan, was on his way to Tapala Village to sell goats, travelling together with his three elder brothers from their home in Aung Lan last Thursday morning.
At about 10:30 a.m., the road was blocked by a highway bus stuck in wet sand. Ko Ko Zaw and his elder brother, Ko Ko Maung, went to help lift the bus out of the mud.
We were helping with other men when the monk came and asked which religion we practice. We told him that we practice Islam. He started verbally threatening us, said Ko Ko Maung. We did not do anything and the other men also counseled us to ignore him.
We were about to leave when my little brother Ko Ko Zaw was stabbed. He was behind us. After he was attacked, we took him to Aung Lan Hospital. But he did not make it and died on the way, said Ko Ko Maung.
Despite the familys account, Aung Lan Police Major Khin Soe told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the monk murdered the teenager out of anger and there is no other reason, such as religious belief.
The Police Maj. Khin Soe said the perpetrator has confessed to his crime and the police will be able to bring the case before the court within a month.
The man is charged with Article 302 of Penal Code. If found guilty, he faces twenty years in prison or a death sentence and a fine.
Ko Ko Maung said the family wants the culprit to get what he deserves.
It is such a great loss for me, and I urged the government to protect our Muslim children from such kind of incidents happening again, said Daw Aye Myint Zaw, the mother of the victim.
He was murdered in front of a couple dozen people. It is not an unintentional attack and the attacker already had in his mind that he would attack any Muslim who used the road, as we transport and sell chickens, goats and cattle in the area, she added. My son was stabbed in life-threatening parts of his body multiple times. Therefore, I do not want a light punishment.
The case is the first of its kind in Aung Lan and some locals and politicians are worried, as the victim and the perpetrator had no history of a personal grudge or similar motive.
U Aye Kyaw, the regional parliamentarian representing Aung Lan Constituency 2, said, As the murder case is between the monk and a follower of Islam, we are concerned about what might happen as a consequence as elections are near, and there is no history of a grudge between them.
Dr. Khin Maung Aye, the social affairs minister of Magwe Region, told The Irrawaddy that although he does not know the case in detail yet, the perpetrator will be punished according to the law.
We, the regional government, encourage the rule of law and any cases need to serve justice regardless of religious, criminal or political [intentions], he said.
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JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Only three Mississippi coast schools made the states top 10 in the annual rankings of public high schools by U.S. News & World Report, with Ocean Springs High School the only Jackson County representative in the top 10.
Of Jackson Countys seven public high schools, five -- Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Vancleave, East Central and Moss Point -- saw their rankings drop from the 2019 list. Only St. Martin and Gautier moved up.
According to the report, graduation rates and college readiness, both key factors for the path to a higher education, are among the many metrics U.S. News used to determine the 2020 Best High Schools.
U.S. News ranked approximately 17,790 public high schools, out of a review of more than 24,000 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; the number of ranked schools is up by more than 500 from last year. U.S. News coordinated with North Carolina-based RTI International, a global nonprofit social science research firm, to rank the 2020 Best High Schools.
The methodology used relies on both state and federal data. In addition, the College Board and International Baccalaureate provided data on their respective college-prep programs, Advanced Placement and IB.
The six metrics examined to determine the rankings are:
College readiness, based on the proportions of 12th grade students who took and passed AP and/or IB exams.
College curriculum breadth, based on proportions of 12th grade students who took and passed AP and/or IB exams in multiple content areas.
Math and reading proficiency, based on student performance on state-required tests.
Math and reading performance, based on whether performance on state assessments exceeded expectations given the school's proportion of underserved students.
Underserved student performance, based on how black, Hispanic and low-income students performed on state assessments compared with those who are not underserved in the state.
Graduation rates, based on the proportion of students who entered ninth grade in 2013-2014 and graduated four years later.
The highest-ranked schools, according to the report, are those whose students excelled on state tests and performed beyond expectations; participated in and passed a variety of college-level exams; and graduated in high proportions. U.S. News assigned numerical ranks to schools performing in the top 75 percent.
Our of more than 24,000 U.S. high school reviewed by the publication, 17,790 met the criteria to be ranked. Schools were assessed across the six indicators with each indicator weighted to reach a 0-100 score. The overall scores indicate how well each school performed on a national percentile basis.
For example, Ocean Springs overall score of 85.88 means that only 14.12 percent of schools nationwide are performing at a higher level than Ocean Springs.
Ocean Springs, which two years ago was ranked as Mississippis top high school, saw its ranking drop for the second year in a row to #9 statewide, after a #7 ranking a year ago. Two other coast high schools -- Biloxi at #4 and Pass Christian at #6 -- made the top 10.
Schools ranking lower than 140th in Mississippi were not assigned an individual ranking and were simply listed alphabetically.
Here is a snapshot of each Jackson County schools ranking (last years state ranking in parentheses):
Ocean Springs High School
#9 (7) in Mississippi rankings
#2,512 in national rankings
91 percent graduation rate
30.7 college readiness index
Overall score: 85.88 out of 100
Gautier High School
#15 (17) in Mississippi rankings
#3,615 in national rankings
88 percent graduation rate
16.7 college readiness index
Overall score: 79.68 out of 100
Pascagoula High School
#42 (26) in Mississippi rankings
#6,695 in national rankings
88 percent graduation rate
18.2 college readiness index
Overall score of 62.37 out of 100
St. Martin High School
#58 (83) in Mississippi rankings
#8,267 in national rankings
88 percent graduation rate
7.1 college readiness index
Overall score of 53.53 out of 100
Vancleave High School
#76 (57) in Mississippi rankings
#9,506 in national rankings
92 percent graduation rate
6.6 college readiness index
Overall score of 46.57 out of 100
East Central High School
#104 (71) in Mississippi rankings
#11,555 in national rankings
87 percent graduation rate
No score assigned for college readiness index
Overall score of 35.05 out of 100
Moss Point High School
Unranked (137) in Mississippi rankings
Unranked in national rankings
70 percent graduation rate
No score assigned for college readiness index
Overall score less than 25 out of 100
Mississippi School for Math and Science was ranked as Mississippis top public high school, followed by Lewisburg HS, Natchez Early College Academy, Biloxi HS, Central Hill HS, Pass Christian HS, DeSoto Central HS, Booneville HS, Ocean Springs HS and Petal HS in the top 10 statewide.
Rankings of other coast schools included West Harrison (11th), Long Beach (19th) Gulfport (29th), Bay High (31st), DIberville (39th), Harrison Central (41st), Hancock (50th) and Pearl River Central (90th).
In addition to the overall high school rankings, U.S. News also ranked the nations top 250 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) high schools. No school from Mississippi made the list.
A woman who once worked as a field engineer for oil-field services giant Schlumberger has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the company claiming that a male coworker allegedly told others it would be OK for them to break into her bedroom and sexually assault her.
The former worker, Sara Saidman, filed the lawsuit Tuesday in federal court in Houston.
They've been the focus of romance rumours, after it was reported that they'd enjoyed a enjoyed a cosy weekend locked down together.
And Chris Taylor appeared keen to fan the flames on Monday, when he posted a cheeky snap in which he mimicked Maura Higgins in response to her Instagram post.
Days after Maura, 29, shared a shot of herself posing in a pink mouse-themed robe and said she 'just [needs] to find a Mickey', Chris, also 29, uploaded his own version.
Fanning the flames: Chris Taylor intensified rumours of a romance with Maura Higgins on Monday, when he shared an Instagram post in which he mimicked her
The tattooed hunk was seen posing for his selfie in a black bathrobe while donning a pair of mouse ears as he wrote: 'Just need to find a Minnie.'
Showing off his best smouldering pose, Chris even went as far as to mirror Maura's pose, resting his hand on one side of his face as he pouted.
The post quickly drew reactions, with Maura commenting: 'Interesting,' followed by a trio of laughing emojis.
The original: Days after Maura, 29, shared a shot of herself posing in a pink mouse-themed robe and said she 'just [needs] to find a Mickey', Chris, also 29, uploaded his own version
'I wonder who,' commented fellow Love Island alum Joseph Garrett, while Greg O'Shea wrote: 'Excellent banter out of you.'
The amusing post comes days after it was reported that Chris and Maura had spent a cosy weekend together.
In pictures obtained by The Sun, the Love Islanders were seen leaving Maura's home on Monday, with the funnyman reportedly wearing the same clothes he'd worn two days earlier during a night out together in Essex.
Amused: Chris' post attracted amused comments from his co-stars, including Maura herself
Adding fuel to the fire this weekend, Chris took to Instagram on Saturday to share funny videos of the pair larking around in his car.
Speaking about the duo leaving Maura's flat on Monday morning, an onlooker told the publication: 'Chris looked bleary-eyed but he definitely had a spring in his step. He skipped to his car.'
Another source added: 'Chris seems besotted. And now a lot of people who know them won't be shocked that it seems to have grown into something more.'
Maura's rep told MailOnline that their friendship is 'simply platonic'. Chris Taylor's representatives have been contacted for comment.
Cosy: Maura and Chris, both 29, reportedly enjoyed a cosy weekend locked down together
Feeling good: Speaking about the duo leaving Maura's flat on Monday morning, an onlooker told The Sun: 'Chris looked bleary-eyed but he definitely had a spring in his step'
Maura has been single since splitting from her Love Island beau Curtis Pritchard earlier this year, while Chris split with Harley Brash shortly after leaving the Love Island villa.
Their relationship speculation comes after Maura herself said that she would consider going back onto Love Island because she 'needs a man'.
The former grid girl to Instagram last month to rubbish claims linking her to Dancing On Ice partner Alexander Demetriou after he separated from his wife of four years, Carlotta Edwards.
Maura said during the Q and A: 'It doesn't bother me. We're in 2020 and a man and woman cannot just be friends...'
All over: The revelation comes after Dancing On Ice star Alexander Demetriou confirmed he has separated from wife Carlotta Edwards (pictured together last November)
Sad times: The reality star was asked by a fan if she's bothered by the speculation surrounding her and Alexander's relationship following the news he and his wife had split
She then zoomed in on her face and said: 'Pure sh*** you know.'
Maura also revealed that she has struggled with adjusting to fame since leaving the Love Island villa but assured fans that she is still single.
Asked if she would ever return to Love Island, the Irish beauty replied: 'Well, to be honest, I need a man. So maybe I'll go back in next year, you never know.'
Last month, Alexander, 28, took to Instagram stories to confirm he had split from Carlotta, denying reports that he became 'besotted' with Love Island beauty Maura.
Confirmation: The professional skater took to Instagram stories to confirm the news and revealed to his followers that it had been a 'tough time' for him
In a statement posted on Instagram stories, Alexander said: 'I'm sorry I have been quiet on social media recently but it's been a tough time for me personally.
'Carlotta and I have separated. Although it saddens me that we can no longer be together, I feel this is best for both of us.
'I'm looking forward to what the future will bring but in the meantime let's all say home and stay safe.'
A friend of the former couple recently told their marriage troubles 'came as a shock', as they were so close before the last Dancing On Ice series.
Stanley Fish, postmodernist literary scholar and professor of legal theory. (Barney Cokeliss)
Donald Trumps sneering attitude toward freedom of speech has been a feature, not a bug, since long before he descended the golden escalator. During his presidency, he has painted journalists as the enemy of the people and, according to John Boltons new tell-all The Room Where It Happened, called for them to be executed. He has also been litigious (before and after running for president), attempting to block the publication of a number of unflattering books, likely including a forthcoming book by his niece, Mary Trump. And, of course, theres The Room Where It Happened, which was cleared for publication by a judge on June 19, though the former national security advisor might still be liable for having published without a White House sign-off.
All this has made a lot of work for 1st Amendment scholars, including Stanley Fish. A literary theorist and legal scholar associated (sometimes unwillingly) with postmodernism, Fish is most recently the author of 2019s The First: How to Think About Hate Speech, Campus Speech, Religious Speech, Fake News, Post-Truth, and Donald Trump. (His publisher, Simon & Schuster, is also Boltons.) Fish spoke with The Times by phone from his home in Florida, in a conversation edited for clarity and length, on the case of Trump v. Bolton, the Twitter bully pulpit, the era of fake news and deep fakes, and the possibility that speech may be too free.
Did the president have a real case against John Bolton?
On the historical record, I would say that the case was very weak. There is a longstanding hostility, older than the United States, to prior restraint, by which we mean restraining publication rather than attacking something after it has been published. There is always a suspicion that the act of prior restraint has been committed not in order to provide safety to the commonwealth, but to avoid embarrassment.
What do you think of the judges decision so far?
Leaving open the possibility that the administration might have some recourse in putting a lien, as it were, on the potential profits of Bolton's book think it was a nice judicial split down the middle. He didn't want to have his decision criticized either by political commentators or levels above him in the Judiciary. So he's being evenhanded. I think it was a perfectly OK.
Story continues
Could Bolton be convicted under the Espionage Act?
No, there has to be absolute evidence that the country was somehow in imminent danger from this publication. And that's that's too high a bar to hurdle. I also don't believe the Trump administration is going to follow through on this, although I expect them to continue making lots of noise about it.
Why did the president even bother?
I think he wants to signal to his core voters that he will not allow the forces of the "Deep State" to harass him or prevent him from carrying out the policies he believes in. And he is confident, I'm sure, that this is a posture that his fervent supporters want him to assume. They wish to see him as someone who and this is of course, a semi-technical term will not take any [crap].
John Bolton at right with his former boss and current legal adversary, Donald Trump. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press)
Recently, the president said he will "consider every conversation with me as president highly classified." Is that even legal?
That fits into another argument, under the rubric of the so-called unitary executive: The idea that some people have that the president's powers are extraordinarily great. Richard Nixon gave voice to a version of this when he famously said that if the president does it, it cant be wrong. That turned out, in his case, not to be true. But that seems to be a point of view that is attractive to Trump. You recall that he approved the premier of China making himself, in effect, the lifetime leader of that country. So this is all of a piece. Now as political theater, this may end up being effective, because John Bolton is not the most attractive person in the public square, and never has been.
Bolton was forbidden to speak about the book during the review process, but Trump had been tweeting about it constantly. Does that present some sort of legal conflict?
Not that I can see. Does it suggest one to you?
You're the expert! I just found it interesting that a president insisting that the entire situation is classified is going out of his way to speak about how classified it is on Twitter.
This is part of the general and in some ways extremely sophisticated strategy behind the president's use of Twitter. At times, he and his supporters say that it's just the moment-to-moment exclamations of someone reacting and that we shouldn't take them seriously. And there are other times he and his supporters insist that certain of the tweets are pronouncements of the head of state. Now, if you have these two positions firmly established, you can bounce back and forth between the two of them.
Does the power of the speaker matter when it comes to free speech?
In legal terms, probably not. The 1st Amendment does not make distinctions on the basis of the status of the person speaking. But politically, of course, it makes a huge amount of difference. Many of those who have been the targets of Trump's tweets and have spoken of how distressing it is to be excoriated by the president of the United States in public. Whereas if I excoriated that same person, he or she wouldn't care less, because I'm just a guy sitting in my study in Florida, as opposed to a guy who's sitting in his luxury resort about 25 miles from where I am at this moment.
Twitter has been slapping labels on Trump's tweets, and Trump and others have been arguing that this restrains free speech. Do they have an argument, legally or morally?
The deeper issue is whether or not Twitter or Facebook are merely devices for displaying messages or whether they are more like newspapers or books. This is a battle that's been going on for a long time, around Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, where it is said that servers do not have editorial responsibility they're merely relays. That's the position Mark Zuckerberg has long taken and the position that Twitter used to take. Jack Dorsey seems now to have turned the page. There's now a public will, it seems to me, to somehow curb and control this hugely powerful engine of communication. And I would suspect that Congress will be increasingly sensitive to the public's unease.
(Atria / One Signal Publishers)
Which do you think is right, Twitter or Facebook?
I just published a book that expands on my longstanding position against 1st Amendment absolutism. First Amendment rights are extremely important, but they are not, I believe, to be placed in the position of a deity. Chief Justice Roberts often does this in his 1st Amendment decisions: If it's free speech being infringed in any way, that's the end of the case. For me, the wise course was announced long ago by the great American jurist Learned Hand, who said that when it comes to matters of free speech, what you have to do is calculate the possible harms of allowing the speech in question to flourish and then calculate the possible harms of censoring or monitoring it. Then add up the two columns and see where the preponderance of harm lies.
When Twitter decides to be a gatekeeper, conservatives argue its biased making a fact-based move political. What does one do with that?
Well, if I were conservative, which I sometimes am in some areas, I might ask, "Are they tagging the statements made by..." and then you list a whole bunch of people. They have to be doing this in a way that doesn't suggest that it's directed at the president or his supporters. But the president, from the beginning, has said that the press is out to get him. He's right. The press is out to get him! Every president has had his difficulties with the press, but the designation of the press as the enemy of the people is something that we haven't had before. If you declare someone to be your enemy, then it's not surprising that they agree to act as your enemy.
You've written a lot about fake news. Do stories about deepfakes and other manipulated media trouble you?
We should always fear that, we should just not believe it's new. Manipulation has always been happening. What's different now is that the institutions in which we used to repose our trust mainstream newspapers, TV networks, scientific experts, universities, the Library of Congress, etc. have in recent years been subjected to a campaign of distrust, and of course the internet abets this campaign. The result has been the possibility of many, many narratives being presented and no trusted, authoritative institution acting as a check. Fake news has been with us forever, but I'm not worried about fake news. I am worried about the fact that, for example, there are people who believe that the scientists who are talking to us about social distancing and the importance of wearing masks are somehow part of a conspiracy against the president. That's disturbing.
Is there too much speech right now?
The mantra that has for a long time ruled 1st Amendment discussions has been "the more speech the better." The idea is that the more speech is free and unfettered, the less it is curated or monitored or given to us by gatekeepers, the better it is. The general word for this is transparency. And I think that that entire way of thinking is a disaster. Because if what you have is the proliferation of speech without any mechanism for determining which forms of speech are worth attending to, all you have is the proliferation of perspectives and the disinclination of everyone to make any distinction between them. And that's where the internet, to some extent, has brought us.
There's a 1st Amendment theorist at Columbia, Timothy Wu, who wrote a really good essay last year called "Is the First Amendment Obsolete," and his large point, which I agree with, is that the 1st Amendment was formulated when the opportunities for speech were scarce, and the enemy was the government, which was attempting to arrogate to itself all the opportunities for speech, as perhaps Trump is trying to do now in his conflict with John Bolton. But Wu says that now, the danger that we face is produced by the endless proliferation of speech, which acts as a kind of censornot in the heavy-handed way of government forces, but because it reduces everything to a matter of indifference and sameness. Truth has receded as an effect of the proliferation of speech, so much so that perhaps the 1st Amendment is out of date.
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Last Thursday's fatal shooting of 18-year-old Andres Guardado by an Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy has led to calls for an independent investigation by his family, many in the community and two members of Congress.
Hundreds of people spent their Father's Day marching from the auto body shop where Guardado was shot and killed to the Compton Sheriff's station where that deputy who fired six rounds is based.
Reporter Josie Huang and photojournalist Brian Feinzimer covered the protest for LAist.
Here are some key images and moments from the day.
***
Christopher Guardado addressed protesters in Spanish and English outside the auto body shop where his son was shot. It was Father's Day, and Andres had been dead for less than 72 hours.
"You know, I feel very very bad to talk. I don't feel very good you know," he said.
Christopher Guardado, father of #AndresGuardado, thanks protesters in Spanish and English. His son was killed less than 72 hours ago. Im feeling really bad to talk, you know? pic.twitter.com/4BgelTgAGL Josie Huang (@josie_huang) June 21, 2020
The family asked for a peaceful march to the sheriff's station. There were bikers, Aztec dancers and lowriders.
Anthony Lee Pittman, an artist from Compton, marches down Compton Blvd. with an American flag he painted. (Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
(Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
Hundreds of people spent their Father's Day marching from the auto body shop where 18-year-old Andres Guardado was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy last week to the Compton Sheriff's station were that deputy is based. (Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
(Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
(Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
(Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
Once the marchers got to the Compton station, Guardado's father and cousin were among the speakers.
The cousin of Andres Guardado speaks to the crowd. (Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
Community members Guardado's cousin (Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
Christopher Guardado, father of Andres Guardado speaks to the crowd at a protest at the Compton Civic Center. (Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
But tensions rose between deputies and protesters.
(Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
(Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
(Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
Protesters demanded to see footage of what happened to Guardado.
(Josie Huang / LAist)
The Sheriff's Department has said that Guardado ran from two deputies and produced a firearm after they pulled up to the auto shop. His family says he was working as security.
Sheriff's officials have said there was nothing on the surveillance cameras they took. Sheriff Alex Villaneuva said he blamed L.A. County supervisors for not supporting his request for body cameras.
After facing down deputies for more than an hour, most protesters left. But then a confrontation erupted between deputies and a smaller group.
A small group of demonstrators seperated from the main group had an altercation with deputy's who fired what appears to be tear gas pic.twitter.com/7UipXR1P7Y Brian Feinzimer (@bfeinzimer) June 22, 2020
Deputies fired teargas and non-lethal projectiles at those protesters. Devin Sejas was shot in the temple and the abdomen -- he says -- after he tried to stand between deputies and another protester who had been shot.
Devis Sejas (Brian Feinzimer for LAist)
Sejas said he came to speak up for Guardado.
"A child got killed. He was a baby. My little brother just turned 19. My little sister turned 17. It could have been them."
Minutes later, Sejas watched as deputies arrested one of the protesters and moved the rest to the sidewalk. Meanwhile, miles away where Guardado was shot, people lay flowers and lit candles.
Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Nanette Barragan are calling on California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to investigate Guardado's death.
Relatives say sister of jailed blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah forced into van outside general prosecutors office in Cairo.
Authorities in Egypt have detained prominent activist Sanaa Seif as part of an ongoing crackdown on dissidents, according to her relatives and lawyer.
The 26-year-old, sister of well-known blogger and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah who has been in arbitrary detention since last year, was forced into a minivan outside the general prosecutors office in the capital, Cairo, on Tuesday.
Seif and family members were there to file an official complaint about being physically assaulted outside Cairos Tora prison complex the previous day.
Sanaa was just abducted by a microbus from in front of general prosecutor office! Seifs older sister, Mona, said in a Twitter post.
Seifs lawyer and relatives later said she had been referred to prosecutors for investigation.
Authorities refused to let us see her and we do not know where she will be jailed, Mona Seif said on Twitter.
Using the term "arrested" implies a legality to the process
Sanaa Seif was not "arrested", Sanaa was ABDUCTED, and her abduction was facilitated by the official guards of the general prosecutors office. Mona Seif (@Monasosh) June 23, 2020
Family and supporters gathered outside the office of Supreme State Security Prosecutions subsequently learned that prosecutors had questioned her over the charges of disseminating false news, inciting terrorist crimes and misuse of social media, Amnesty International said in a statement.
Sanaa Seif and her family have suffered years of harassment and intimidation for their human rights activism, but the events of the past two days mark another new low, said Philip Luther, Amnestys research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa. The fact that Sanaa Seif was taken from right outside the Public Prosecutors office shows just how brazen the Egyptian security forces have become.
There was no immediate comment by Egyptian authorities.
Beaten up
On Monday, Sanaa Seif along with her sister and mother, the rights activist Laila Soueif, were outside the prison complex in Cairo to receive a letter from Abdel Fattah, who was imprisoned in September last year after rare, small-scale protests erupted demanding President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi step down.
We have been beaten up, dragged by the hair, clothes torn in front of Tora by women thugs on the watch of all police there, Mona Seif wrote on Twitter on Monday.
She added that they had also been robbed of their personal identity cards and money, as well as some other belongings.
Amnesty said the assault on the women left visible marks on their bodies, citing photos it had examined.
We have been beaten up, dragged by the hair, clothes torn infront of Tora by women thugs on the watch of all police there pic.twitter.com/pvcGNVynNp Mona Seif (@Monasosh) June 22, 2020
Egyptian authorities had banned visitors from seeing relatives in prison as part of coronavirus containment measures.
Rights groups and activists had repeatedly called for the government to release prisoners amid the outbreak, but to no avail.
At the best of times Egypts prisons are clusters for disease, Mona wrote back in March.
Rights groups have repeatedly criticised Egyptian prisons for overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.
Human Rights Watch said in March an epidemiological disaster could be spared if authorities granted prisoners conditional release.
Abdel Fattah rose to prominence with the 2011 uprisings that swept the region and in Egypt toppled former President Hosni Mubarak.
He was previously released in March last year, after serving five years in prison for taking part in a peaceful protest.
Rights activists say el-Sisi has overseen an unprecedented crackdown on freedoms in Egypt since taking power in 2013 and then taking office in 2014. The Egyptian president and his backers say the measures are needed to keep the country stable and counter threats from armed groups.
Thousands of people have been arrested both secular-leaning activists and members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood all while scaling back freedoms won after the 2011 uprising.
Egypt banned all unauthorised protests in 2013, months after el-Sisi led the militarys removal of the countrys first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, following mass protests.
A major fire broke out at a scrap compound in Mankhurd area here on Tuesday, a fire brigade official said.
The fire was confined to scrap material and waste oil drums, the official said.
Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot, he said, adding the cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained.
There are no reports of casualties, the official said.
#WATCH Mumbai: Level-3 fire breaks out at a scrap godown in Mandala on Mankhurd-Ghatkopar Link Road. Four fire tenders present at the spot. Fire-fighting operation underway. More details awaited. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/SoCanyxnWB ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
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The Office of the Head of Local Government Service has informed the public that the Service has not issued any recruitment advert neither has it contracted any institution or individual to do so on its behalf.
A statement issued by Mr Joseph A. Ankama, the Head, Public Affairs Unit of the Service, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra urged all to disregard the said advert and treat it as a scam.
The statement said the attention of the Service had been drawn to an advertisement that has gained wide circulation on social media platforms that it is inviting applications from suitably qualified Ghanaians to fill eleven vacant positions in some specified Regions.
The Service wishes to assure the public that when such opportunities turn up in future, due processes and procedures will be followed and be informed accordingly through appropriate channels, the statement said.
The Local Government Service is a public Service Institution with the mandate to secure the effective administration and management of decentralised local government system in the country.
Source: GNA
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Dr Anthony Fauci said Tuesday he is cautiously optimistic there will be a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year or early 2021, but warned that the next few weeks will be critical to tamping down coronavirus hot spots around the country.
Fauci and other top health officials also said they have not been asked to slow down testing for coronavirus, an issue that became controversial after President Donald Trump said last weekend that he had asked them to do just that because it was uncovering too many infections. Trump said Wednesday that he wasnt kidding when he said that.
We will be doing more testing, Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, told a House committee.
The U.S. has tested more than 27 million people, with about 2.3 million or 8.4% -- testing positive.
The health officials returned to Capitol Hill at a fraught moment in the nations pandemic response, with coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations.
We've been hit badly, said Fauci, infectious diseases chief at the National Institutes of Health. He said he was really quite concerned about rising community spread in some states.
The next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges, he said.
Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was testifying along with Centers for Disease Control director Dr. Robert Redfield, Federal Drug Administration chief Dr. Stephen Hahn and the head of the US Public Health Service, Adm. Brett Giroir.
Since Fauci's last appearance at a high-profile hearing more than a month ago, the U.S. has begun emerging from weeks of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. But it's being done in an uneven way, with some states far less cautious than others. A trio of states with Republican governors who are bullish on reopening Arizona, Florida and Texas are among those seeing worrisome increases in cases.
Last week, Vice President Mike Pence published an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal saying the administration's efforts have strengthened the nation's ability to counter the virus and should be a cause for celebration.
Then at Trump's weekend rally in Tulsa, many of his supporters didn't wear masks, which for some was an act of defiance against what they see as government intrusion. White House officials later tried to walk back Trump's comment there on slowing down testing, suggesting it wasn't meant to be taken literally.
Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, said during Tuesday's hearing that Trumps testing comment at the rally was an extremely reckless action, and unfortunately it continues the presidents pattern of ignoring the advice of his own public health experts.
Trump, departing the White House for a visit to Arizona on Tuesday, played down those comments, saying under his administration the U.S. is doing more testing than any other country. Trump's trip includes a rally at a megachurch.
Fauci has recently warned that the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic and has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing. And, in a recent ABC News interview, he said political demonstrations such as protests against racial injustice are risky to all involved. Asked if that applied to Trump rallies, he said it did. Fauci continues to recognize widespread testing as critical for catching clusters of COVID-19 cases before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community.
About 2.3 million Americans have been sickened in the pandemic, and some 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Giroir was tapped by the White House to oversee the expansion of coronavirus testing. But he gained notoriety after a whistleblower complaint flagged him for trying to push a malaria drug touted by Trump to treat COVID-19 without conclusive scientific evidence. The FDA has since withdrawn its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine.
There have been a lot of unfortunate missteps in the Trump administrations response to the COVID-19 pandemic," Pallone said. "As communities across the country ease social distancing guidance and reopen their economies, it is critically important that both the administration and Congress remain focused on containing the spread of the coronavirus and providing the resources and support Americans need during this time of crisis.
There is still no vaccine for COVID-19, and there are no treatments specifically developed for the disease, although the antiviral drug remdesivir has been shown to help some patients, as well as a steroid called dexamethasone, and plasma from patients who have recovered.
Since Fauci last testified, hospital physicians have become more skilled in treating coronavirus patients with the techniques and medications at their disposal. The U.S. continues to ramp up testing, with some 27.5 million Americans, or more than 8% of the population, tested thus far. But most communities still lack enough health workers trained in doing contact tracing, the work of identifying people who have had interactions with an infected person. That could make it more difficult to tamp down emerging outbreaks.
The Energy and Commerce Committee has oversight over drugs and vaccines, among other facets of the U.S. health care system. Committee Democrats have been harshly critical of the administration. However, not all Republicans have lined up to defend the White House. Some GOP members were growing concerned early in the year that the administration wasn't doing enough to prepare.
The degree of control was chilling, reflecting the unstated but perfectly clear logic of a confident, contemptuous power. It was not just that in any contest for the street, the government and its forces enjoyed a lopsided advantage and would use it a position hardly unique to authoritarian rule. It was that the kleptocracy wanted this crackdown seen and transmitted, so any would-be Azeri activists would know what to expect if they challenged the states central tenet, which was that the Aliyevs would never willingly yield what they saw as theirs. Brute force and the ability to command it not elections determined who got to hold power and run the national rackets. State violence did more than clear the streets. It served as lesson and show. Almost 15 years later, Ilham Aliyev is still president.
For all Trumps tilts toward authoritarianism and his intolerance of dissent, the United States has not yet descended to anything like this. But the tools at hand for confronting public outrage and civil disobedience have changed, with political consequences of their own. Police departments have undergone decades of arming up and mission creep, putting officers in intimidating kit and giving governing officials, in moments of tension, command of organizations that in some cases resemble the crackdown squads of countries like Azerbaijan.
It is easy to trace the lines from Pentagon failures in Iraq and Afghanistan to the distribution of military weapons and equipment, and sometimes the attitudes that accompany them, to police departments at home. After the invasion of Iraq, small-arms ambushes and improvised bombs began killing and gravely wounding American troops in Humvees at a startling pace, exposing the Pentagons unpreparedness for occupation at the expense of its volunteers lives. Military contractors responded by rushing into production a new family of heavier armored vehicles, known as MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected), and smaller, more maneuverable armored military trucks called M-ATVs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles). Within a few years of these vehicles becoming ground-force mainstays for American troops fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan, tactical vehicles from both families were on offer for civilian police agencies, at times with Department of Defense assistance or encouragement. So was other equipment developed for combat forces: sniper rifles, holographic sights, bomb-disabling robots, night-vision devices, upgraded ballistic helmets, body armor and more.
The up-the-arsenal mentality was in part a function of the enduring post-Sept. 11 mind-set that in an age of global terrorism, even small municipalities had to be ready for anything. But the momentum toward militarization dates back further.
One root reaches to the mass shooting in Stockton, Calif., in 1989, in which a white racist opened fire with a semiautomatic Kalashnikov rifle on an elementary-school playground, killing five children and wounding at least 30 other people. The attack became an impetus for restrictions on military-style weapons, including the federal assault-weapons ban, which prohibited the manufacture and purchase of several types of rifles and certain magazines from 1994 to 2004. Another root extends to North Hollywood in 1997, when two bank robbers wearing body armor and carrying rifles modified to fire automatically fought an extended gun battle with officers from the Los Angeles Police Department. Images of officers pinned down behind cars, and reports that officers rushed to a gun store to get more weapons for the fight, helped spur police agencies to arm themselves more heavily.
(TNS) -- The surge of coronavirus infection is accelerating in Jefferson County, which set a seven-day record for new cases nearly every day over the past week.During the stretch that ended Monday, 176 new cases were confirmed across the county. That is 69% higher than during the seven-day period that ended April 25, the previous local peak before the mid-June surge. Hospitalizations have continued to rise as well.Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie, a frequent critic of state efforts to reopen restaurants and other businesses while constricting local officials authority to enforce safe practices, described an I-told-you-so moment.In May when we were opening back up I said, At the end of June were going to be in bad shape said Bartie, whose city has recorded 130 cases while struggling to add testing sites.Now here we are.Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick and Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames did not respond to requests for comment Monday afternoon.Sounding the alarm was Gov. Greg Abbott, who in May ordered a phased-in reopening of the businesses that had been shuttered for two months in an attempt to control the outbreak.In a news conference Monday afternoon, Abbott issued his strongest warning since the reopening began. He did not rule out shutting the state down again, though he called it always the last option.The governor reiterated the importance of washing ones hands, wearing a face covering in public places and exercising proper social distancing in his public comments.Officials also stressed that Texas hospitals have adequate capacity to treat coronavirus patients.Locally, the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council reports that while coronavirus-related hospitalizations in Jefferson County continue to rise, bed capacity here can more than handle the current surge.Mondays coronavirus case report showed the city of Beaumont topped 700 cases after confirming 16 new cases on Saturday, 14 on Sunday and 22 on Monday.Port Arthur confirmed an additional 11 cases on Monday, while a total of seven were confirmed across Port Neches, Nederland and Groves.This brings Jefferson County to 932 confirmed cases. Three Texas Department of Criminal Justice units in the county have reported an additional 520 cases. The county also has a federal prison.While cases across the state have continued to rise, Abbott has noted that local leaders have a few additional tools to curb transmission, such as requiring local businesses to require customers and staff members to wear masks.Harris County, which includes Houston, put that rule into effect on Monday.No leaders in Jefferson County have issued such an order.Bartie said Monday that he does not think it would do much without leadership from officials higher-up than him.Bartie also said the governor took the teeth out of his own enforcement plans at restaurants and other businesses by prohibiting arrests for violators.I understand people have to take responsibility for themselves, but we need to see leadership, too, Bartie said.Meanwhile, opportunities to be tested for the virus run by the state, local authorities and some nonprofits continue to expand across Beaumont and Port Arthur.The Texas Department of Emergency Management has a tool on its webpage for more information about available testing sites that is updated as more are established. That information can be found at tdem.texas.gov/covid-19.kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.comtwitter.com/KaitlinBain2020 the Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, Texas)Visit the Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, Texas) at www.beaumontenterprise.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Representative image
Jyoti Singh Rathore and Nihit Gupta
COVID-19 has badly impacted and continues to impact our economy. The pandemic has resulted in significant trade disruption, with trade activity coming to a near standstill.
The nature of impact has been such so that many countries, including India, are now thinking of how to reduce their dependency upon some trade partners, mainly China. For India, reducing dependency on China has another dimension its bitter border dispute along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) where in a recent clash with the Chinese PLA at Galwan Valley, in eastern Ladakh, 20 Indian soldiers were killed. This has ignited questions about Indias dependence on China and Chinese products.
There have been calls (predominantly on social media channels) to boycott Chinese products. It is fair to talk about a boycotts only if it does not hurt our economy.
Chinas share in Indias total imports is around 25-30 percent put otherwise, more than quarter of Indias total imports are at present from China! Some parts of this constitute commodities wherein India does not have significant capacities, however, a majority of imports from China are due to unfair trade practices, such as dumping, and constitute low-end, non-essential goods. With low-priced imports, the Chinese have left no stone unturned to penetrate the Indian market. Chinese imports has been affecting many MSMEs, and have wiped off some such as toys, footwear, etc.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
India can't deny the fact about its current dependency on China for many products such as medical equipment, pharmaceutical ingredients, APIs, chemicals, automobile components, technologically-advances goods, etc. Trade data reflect the figures. Chinese imports have influenced some of the major industrial sectors significantly, thereby creating market distortion.
In these sectors it is important for the government to change domestic and international policies, to attract investments; and, to protect these investments. While a well-balanced strategy shall slowly reduce Chinas influence on the Indian market, we cannot wish away the products that have already flooded in Indian markets.
Looking at the current scenario, it seems unrealistic that India can do away with Chinese products overnight. Rather than the single track of boycott, India must look for multiple options. Industries and related associations are demanding for restricting Imports by imposing quantitative restrictions or imposing WTO-compliant tariff barriers on imports, such as border tax, anti-dumping duty, anti-subsidy/countervailing measures or simple import tariff.
The Government of India must listen to these demands, and at the same time implement its procurement strategies in consultations with the industry to ensure no deeper penetration of Chinese items. At the same time it has to be careful in making policy changes so as to not effect bilateral trade ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised on the idea of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat or a Self-Reliant India. The campaign vocal for local will encourage Made in India products, which in turn will help the local economy and even attract foreign direct investment. This will help the economy get back on its feet.
The standoff at the Galwan Valley has changed the mood of the nation towards China and Chinese products. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has demanded a complete ban on Chinese goods and proposed a ban on Chinese companies participating in tendering processes in India. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is working on strategy to stop the import of non-essential, cheap and low-quality goods from China. The ministry of commerce and Industry is likely to fast-track measures to cut down on Chinese imports and a proposal will be presented soon. At present, India is probing around 35 cases of dumping of goods from China, and the government has cancelled projects worth Rs 471 crore having Chinese investment in it.
Currently, Chinas presence in the Indian market is huge, and we cannot at least for the moment completely boycott Chinese products. What is required are structural reforms and appropriate policy interventions across sectors. A strong strategy based on a well-researched policy is required it will be a gradual process but with constant political and economic will India can become self-reliant, and Chinese products could even be a rarity in India.
Chiang Wei Chih and the drug haul (Photo: VNA)
Chiang Wei Chih, 32, and Yeh Ching Wei, 34, were arrested while transporting 606 kilograms of meth - the largest ever haul in Vietnam.
On April 12, traffic cameras at the Huynh Man Dat - Vo Van Kiet intersection in District 5 detected a car and two trucks backed up to each other and a load being transferred.
When officers approached, the truck onto which the consignment was being loaded and the car quickly drove off but they were later intercepted by pursuing police.
Inside the truck were 60 unusually heavy speakers packed in cartons.
The two Taiwanese were not able to provide documents for the goods and were taken into custody.
Officers checking the speakers the next day found 10 sealed packs with 606 kilos of meth inside each.
Covid-19 contract tracing of 230 suspect cases so far has been the central plank in the handling and prevention of the coronavirus among prisoners at jails Portlaoise other parts Ireland, according to the authors of a study which has been published by Oxford University.
the Irish Prison Service won international recognition for what researchers say may be a solution to strict social distancing in jails after sharing its experience with other countries through the submission of a paper to the World Health Organisation.
Establishing prison-led contact tracing to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19 in prisons in Ireland was published on June 22 in the Journal of Public Health by Oxford University Press.
In a statement, the IPS said its National Infection Control Team, in collaboration with the National Quality Improvement (QI) team and Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland, implemented a programme to develop and train in-prison contact tracing teams (CTTs).
It said CTTs were run by prison staff with experience of working with detainees, prison IT systems and CCTV. It added that Protocols for undertaking contact tracing for both detainee and staff cases of COVID-19 were established.
It found that the partnership approach, that included prisoners, with development of prison-led CTTs can provide an effective mechanism for contact tracing of Covid-19 cases within the prison setting.
The authors said that by taking a collaborative approach, the prison service and the national public health agency in Ireland were able to achieve the rapid creation and deployment of in-prison CTTs in every estate within the IPS. Working to agreed contact tracing protocols, CTTs have undertaken contact tracing for 230 cases within the IPS to date.
While the study found that Ireland's smaller prisons might restrict the use of the approach in other countries the authors did recommend the methods adopted.
"As countries look to explore alternatives to stringent social distancing measures, in-prison CTTs offer a potential solution to the significant resource burden of implementing contact tracing in prisons and other PPDs," it said.
Read also: FULL STUDY HERE
The Irish Prison Service adds that there have been no positive cases of Covid-19 amongst the prisoner cohort. It outlined a range of measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 into our prisons including:
- The introduction of a basic health check, including taking of temperatures for all persons, including staff, entering prisons from 29 March;
- Suspension of physical family visits, replaced by the introduction of video visits;
- Quarantining for 14 days of all newly committed prisoners, in order to reduce the risk that a new committal who might be incubating the virus could spread Covid-19 to the general prison population;
- Isolation of suspected case or prisoner with symptoms to prevent the risk of transmission of infection;
cocooning of vulnerable prisoners including all prisoners aged 70 years or more or those that are deemed medically vulnerable;
- Comprehensive training for IPS staff and the provision of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across the prison estate;
- Strong communication with staff and prisoners, including two prison newsletters published weekly and regular Covid-19 information leaflets for prisoners and newsletters for staff regarding actions taken; and
- Establishment of a robust contract tracing model which has been acknowledged by the World Health Organisation as best practice.
- The introduction of new electronic money transfer arrangements and An Post BillPay Service to allow families to lodge money to prisoner accounts.
TROY Thursday evening, a crowd gathered in Troy's Riverfront Park for a vigil marking the killing of Donnovan Clayton, an 18-year-old hit by a bullet as he walked on Sixth Avenue toward his home.
The event was one part memorial service, with prayer, spiritual songs, grieving family and testimonies to Clayton. But it was also an exhortation that included pleas for the violence in this region's poorest neighborhoods to end.
"Stop Shooting!" yelled Lisa Good, 55, her chanted words echoed by the crowd. "Stop the Violence! No More Shootings! No More Killings! Choose Life! Not Death! Choose Books! Not Guns!"
With the Capital Region experiencing a terrifying spike in gun violence, have those words ever felt more urgent? In Albany alone, 18 people were shot in the one-week span that ended Sunday. Two died, including a 24-year-old shot Sunday morning at the corner of North Lake Avenue and First Street.
"People are hurting," Good said. "There are lives that have been forever changed."
Good is the founder and executive director of Urban Grief, an unusual nonprofit that steps in once violence has occurred. The Albany-based group tries to help grieving families through their trauma, recognizing that survivors of gun violence often have nowhere to turn for help. Frequently, their wounds are left undressed.
Without Good, there wouldn't have been a vigil for Clayton. She organized the gathering, believing that the death of the teenager, set to graduate from Troy High School this month, needed to be publicly acknowledged that the terrible end of his life and the grief of his family shouldn't be ignored, dismissed or forgotten.
Police say Donnovan Clayton simply was at the wrong place at the wrong time; the deadly bullet apparently wasn't meant for him. Clayton was a good kid, the primary caretaker of his sick mother, and a sympathetic victim in the eyes of the media and the public.
But Good doesn't deal in the world of "good victims" and "bad victims." Urban Grief doesn't judge what got somebody killed or what he might have been involved in beforehand. In its eyes, a troubled victim is still a victim.
That idea will be difficult for many to accept, I imagine. We often prefer to see the world without shades of gray. We may think some victims of gun violence received what was coming to them, without thinking about what got them there.
But Good notes that the young men involved in the violence of the streets are themselves products of trauma. They were children who grew big against a backdrop of gunfire and violence. They are the result of their environment, shaped by levels of stress, fear and anxiety that no child should know.
"No child is born to be a shooter," Good said when we talked on Monday. "No child is born to be killed."
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And even if someone is a quote-unquote "bad victim," Good said, the family still grieves and needs help just the same. A mother has still lost her son. A child may have lost his father, a wound that, if left to fester, could contribute to the violence of the next generation. On and on the cycle rolls.
Good, an Albany native, knows that violence firsthand. Her own cousin was murdered when she was 17. She saw the grief of her family, and how its members had nobody to help them with their enduring pain.
From those roots, Urban Grief was born. Now operating under the Trinity Alliance umbrella and funded in part by a state grant, Good's group has three paid staffers and two interns. Armed with a masters in social work from the University at Albany, Good wants to help her city and region heal.
As Good noted, it's important to remember that the effects of a killing last long after the cameras are gone and the attention has faded. A bullet, in a sense, is like a boulder dropped into a pond. Its ramifications ripple outward, affecting even the distant corners of its neighborhood.
Gun violence has economic effects, Good said, making it less likely that businesses will come to poor neighborhoods. It causes retreat called disinvestment, leading to more boarded-up homes and adding to the general feeling of despair. It causes pain for the families of victims, of course, and fear for those living amidst the gunfire.
Gun violence is the fruit of long-term systemic racism and all the problems affecting poor neighborhoods, Good said. But the cruel irony is that it also makes those problems worse, contributing with time to even more violence. The circle remains unbroken.
cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill
Press Release
Nokia selected by TOYOTA Production Engineering for 5G private wireless network
Initiative to assess potential of private wireless in TOYOTA Production Engineering Corporations manufacturing sites
Private network to support IoT devices, equipment digitization and visualization
23 June 2020
Espoo, Finland Nokia, working with local systems integrator NS Solutions (NSSOL), has been selected by TOYOTA Production Engineering Corporation (TPEC) to deploy an industrial-grade private wireless network at its manufacturing design center in Fukuoka, Japan.
TPEC uses leading-edge digital engineering technology, hardware and software to introduce new tools and processes to drive world-class vehicle manufacture. Following this contract award, TPEC will assess the use of LTE/4.9G and 5G private wireless networking across its manufacturing sites, with the aim of designing innovative production processes.
Initially, a private LTE/4.9G network will be deployed at TPECs site supporting a range of IoT-based devices that enable equipment digitization and visualization. Over time, the network will be upgraded to 5G, featuring ultra-low latency to support even faster throughput.
5G networking will help the manufacturing process to evolve into a more automated operating environment. With super-fast speeds, ultra-low latency and multiple simultaneous connections via Massive MIMO, 5G is a major step forward to delivering the manufacturing industrys transformational applications, services and workflows.
Donny Janssens, Customer Team Head of Enterprise, Nokia Japan said: Working with NSSOL as our systems integration partner, our 5G-ready private wireless network solution will enable TPEC to integrate next-generation manufacturing use cases that help accelerate its digital transformation, and realize its future automotive IoT vision. Together with NSSOL, and TOYOTAs closest partner TPEC, we are delivering a breakthrough in the domestic automotive industry.
Akihiro Onishi, Engineering Fellow, Engineering Innovation Division, TOYOTA Production Engineering Corporation said: TPEC conducts R&D on cutting-edge facilities and technologies, and is responsible for production preparation, facility development and design, and quality data management. By adding Nokia 5G private networking to our capability, we will contribute to TOYOTA's manufacturing through this new digital engineering technology.
Nokia will provide Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC), an industrial-grade global digital automation service platform that provides a reliable, secure, and high-performance private wireless network, which is scalable according to needs. A compact, plug-and-play system, it includes 4.9G/5G network equipment (core network, base station) and a cloud-based operation monitoring system. With Nokia DAC, users can securely collect, process and host all generated proprietary data on site.
NS Solutions Corporation (NSSOL) will provide wireless area design, license application support, system construction, and on-going maintenance and operation.
Toshiaki Yoshida, General Manager, Telecom Solutions Business Department, NS Solutions, Inc said: We are pleased to play a part in the realization of TPEC's advanced digital transformation initiatives. Through this project, together with TPEC and Nokia, we would like to do our utmost to support digital transformation in the automobile manufacturing industry.
The contract award builds on an existing business relationship between TOYOTA Production Engineering Corporation, NS Solutions and Nokia.
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About Nokia for Industries
Nokia has deployed over 1,300 mission-critical networks with leading customers in the transport, energy, large enterprise, manufacturing, webscale and public sector segments around the globe. Leading enterprises across industries are leveraging our decades of experience building some of the biggest and most advanced IP, optical, and wireless networks on the planet. The Nokia Bell Labs Future X for industries architecture provides a framework for enterprises to accelerate their digitalization and automation journey to Industry 4.0. Nokia has also pioneered the private wireless space with many verticals, and now has over 150 large enterprise customers deploying it around the world.
About Nokia
We create the technology to connect the world. Only Nokia offers a comprehensive portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing opportunities across the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks.
Our communications service provider customers support more than 6.4 billion subscriptions with our radio networks, and our enterprise customers have deployed over 1,300 industrial networks worldwide. Adhering to the highest ethical standards, we transform how people live, work and communicate. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.com and follow us on Twitter @nokia.
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ATLANTA - Georgias legislature on Tuesday passed hate crimes legislation deemed essential by business and many political leaders, sending the measure to Gov. Brian Kemps desk.
The price Republicans exacted for moving that legislation forward was simultaneous passage of a separate bill that would mandate penalties for crimes targeting police and other first responders.
The action comes after Senate Republicans had added police as a protected class to the hate crimes legislation last week in committee, but then later moved those protections to a separate bill in a deal between the parties.
Democrats on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly against House Bill 838, which includes the increased protections for first responders. The hate crimes legislation, House Bill 426, had bipartisan support, though some conservatives voted against it.
Kemps office said in a statement that the Republican will sign the hate crimes bill, pending a legal review.
Victims need protection against any attack motivated by hatred due to bias or prejudice, said Sen. Donzella James, a Democrat from Atlanta, who spoke about her own experiences facing discrimination as a Black woman. House Bill 426 is a measured approach at doing all of the things that we need to do to treat this injustice. Its time that Georgia rise up and show that we will not stand for crimes done out of hate.
A push for passage of the hate crimes bill has gained momentum after the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, as well as nationwide protests of racial injustice and police brutality. Arbery, a Black man, was pursued and fatally shot near Brunswick, Georgia, in February. Three white men, including a father and son, are charged in his death.
The hate crimes bill would impose additional penalties for crimes motivated by a victims race, colour, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender or disability. Georgias Supreme Court overturned an earlier state law in 2004, leaving the state as one of four without specific anti-bias protections.
House Speaker David Ralston, who had heavily pressured the Senate to act on the measure, congratulated lawmakers after the House agreed 127-38 to the Senate changes on the hate crimes legislation.
Today we can all stand together. Today we have said that we will not be defined by a senseless act of evil, and by the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, but that our Georgia is better than this, said Ralston, a Blue Ridge Republican.
Bipartisan support for the hate crimes measure was thrown in doubt after Senate Republicans added status of being or having been a first responder as a protected class in a committee last week. The ACLU, NAACP and House and Senate Democratic caucuses are among groups that came out against the bill with the first responder provision added. But the language protecting police and other emergency responders was removed Monday in a deal that saw police protections split off into a separate bill.
Ralston told reporters that he had rejected the Senate Judiciary Committees vote along party lines to add police and emergency personnel and that he communicated that to Senate leaders.
Frankly that disturbed me because I thought it was extremely important that this be a bipartisan bill, Ralston said. You dont pass a hate crimes bill, which is a piece of legislation with this kind of historic nature and consequence, along party lines.
But the speaker said he told senators that they could bring the language in a separate bill if they wanted.
Some of the groups seeking hate crimes protections said they were more concerned with keeping police protections out of the hate crimes law than blocking them entirely.
Having it not in the hate crimes bill is acceptable, said Allison Padilla-Goodman, the southern division vice-president of the Anti-Defamation League.
Most of the no votes on the hate crimes bill came from Republicans. Some have a philosophical disagreement with the measure, like Rep. Matt Gurtler, a Republican from Tiger who is seeking the GOP nomination in a congressional race.
We should not be lowering and highering the standard of justice based on immutable factors such as race, ethnicity and gender, Gurtler said.
Many critics of the legislation containing enhanced police protections say that the law isnt needed because Georgia already has strong protections for law enforcement.
Marissa McCall Dodson, public policy director for the Southern Center for Human Rights, urged lawmakers to vote down the bill providing increased protection for police, saying in a statement that it creates a hate crime for cops and other first responders.
Dodson added, There is no need to increase punishments for people who commit crimes against first responders because Georgia law already provides adequate protection as well as enhanced penalties when first responders are the victims of crime.
Former top Robert Mueller prosecutor is set to tell Congress of political interference from the 'highest level' of the Justice Department during the prosecution and sentencing of longtime Donald Trump advisor Roger Stone, according to prepared testimony.
Aaron Zelinsky, one of the career prosecutors who resigned from the Stone case after main Justice directed in a reversal on sentencing for Stone, plans to tell the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday that he saw 'significant pressure' on prosecutors working the Stone case.
That pressure came despite Stone making false statements to Congress that obscured the picture of his contacts with purported intermediaries to WikiLeaks over hacked Democratic emails during the 2016 elections, Zelinsky will say. Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering.
Roger Stone leaves Federal Court after a sentencing hearing February 20, 2020, in Washington, DC. Aaron Zelinsky is one of four prosecutors who took themselves off the case when top DOJ officials did a 180 on their recommended sentence for the longtime Donald Trump advisor. Zelinsky says there was 'heavy pressure' to go easy on Stone
'What I saw was the Department of Justice exerting significant pressure on the line prosecutors in the case to obscure the correct Sentencing Guidelines calculation to which Roger Stone was subject and to water down and in some cases outright distort the events that transpired in his trial and the criminal conduct that gave rise to his conviction,' Zelinsky said, in testimony released by the House Judiciary Committee in connection to its probe of alleged politicization in the Justice Department.
'What I heard repeatedly was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the President,' said Zelinksy.
'Such pressure resulted in the virtually unprecedented decision to override the original sentencing recommendation in his case and to file a new sentencing memorandum that included statements and assertions at odds with the record and contrary to Department of Justice policy,' he added.
Aaron Zelinsky was a top prosecutor for former Special Counsel Robert Mueller who had himself taken off the Roger Stone case after the Justice Department changed its posture. He says he saw 'significant pressure on the line prosecutors in the case to obscure the correct sentencing'
Pressure came from the 'highest levels' of the Justice Department, Zelinsky will testify. Attorney General Bill Barr has criticized the original sentencing memo
Stone is a longtime friend and advisor of Donald Trump's
Zelinsky did not name his sources in his written statement, but he leveled serious charges amid calls outside Congress to rev up impeachment probes if not for the president then for Attorney General Bill Barr.
'I was told that the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Timothy Shea, was receiving heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break, and that the U.S. Attorneys sentencing instructions to us were based on political considerations,' he said.
'I was also told that the acting U.S. Attorney was giving Stone such unprecedentedly favorable treatment because he was afraid of the President.
Zelinsky quit the case after Shea came out for a lighter sentence than had been recommended. A federal judge is now continuing to review the matter.
Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of up to nine years in prison before DOJ intervened. But Zelinsky says he learned the U.S. Attorney's office was being 'pressured' to make an 'inaccurate Guidelines calculation that would result in a lower sentencing range,' in part by dropping 'enhancements' for Stone's conduct before trial.
Those enhancements related to such activity as witness intimidation and obstructing a House Intelligence Committee probe.
Zelinsky writes that he 'immediately and repeatedly raised concerns, in writing and orally, that such political favoritism was wrong and contrary to legal ethics and Department policy,' as did other prosecutors. 'Our objections were not heeded,' he will testify.
Another witness, John Elias, plans to tell the committee he reported antitrust investigations undertaken by Barr to the DOJ's Inspector General.
John Elias
'I have undertaken whistleblower activity, and am here today, because I recognize the imperative for law enforcers to operate even-handedly and in good faith,' Elias will say.
He mentioned a series of antitrust probes of the cannabis industry, undertaken not due to their involvement with a controlled substance.
'While these were nominally antitrust investigations, and used antitrust investigative authorities, they were not bona fide antitrust investigations. Nonetheless, they accounted for 29 percent of the Antitrust Divisions full-review merger investigations in Fiscal Year 2019,' he will say.
Barr ordered a 'second review' of a merger that required a burdensome response. 'The rationale for doing so centered not on an antitrust analysis, but because he did not like the nature of their underlying business' says Elias, who serves as the chief of staff of the top anti-trust official at DOJ.
He also testifies that political leadership in the division undertook an investigation of automakers who announced they would collaborate on stricter air standards a day after the president fired off angry tweets on the subject. The New York Times had reported Trump was 'enraged' by the deal.
'Barrs conduct is disgraceful. He should resign,' said House Intelligence Committee chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
Trump in February congratulated Barr for 'taking charge' of the case, which he has called part of the 'witch hunt.' Barr publicly asked Trump to stop tweeting about ongoing criminal cases.
Robert Richardson, a prizewinning biographer who chronicled the lives of Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and William James, reconstructing their intellectual development in part through an unconventional method - devouring almost everything they had ever read, from Persian poetry to abolitionist tracts - died June 16 at a hospital in Hyannis, Mass. He was 86.
His wife, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Dillard, said the cause was complications from a fall.
Richardson was an English professor at the University of Denver before embarking on a career as a biographer, drawing praise for works of vivid prose and authoritative scholarship. He wrote widely on literature, film and poetry, but his specialty was the "intellectual biography," in which he aimed to understand the life through the work, as he put it, and "not the other way around."
His reputation rested largely on three books, accounts of American intellectual giants who, like Richardson, graduated from Harvard University and spent years in New England: "Henry Thoreau: A Life of the Mind" (1986), "Emerson: The Mind on Fire" (1995) and "William James: In the Maelstrom of American Modernism" (2006).
The books were split into roughly 100 chapters, each only a few pages long, making for a propulsive reading experience that drew rapturous reviews. In a 2009 article for the New York Review of Books, Irish novelist John Banville called Richardson's biographical trilogy "one of the great achievements in contemporary American literary studies."
"Aside from his learning, which is prodigious," Banville continued, "Richardson writes a wonderfully fluent, agile prose; he has a poet's sense of nuance and a novelist's grasp of dramatic rhythm; he also displays a positive genius for apt quotation, the result of a total immersion in the work of his three very dissimilar yet subtly complementary thinkers. Can there be any more exciting critical writing than this?"
Richardson drew on the meticulous journals and diaries of his subjects to reconstruct their reading lists, then spent years working through the books himself. "He went and read every single book that they read and filled his own notebooks with quotations from passages that may have given them this idea or that idea," Dillard said in a phone interview.
While he gave a narrative account of his subjects' lives, he largely avoided analysis and speculation, focusing instead on their growth as writers and thinkers while making room for surprising personal details, such as Emerson's fondness for pies at breakfast.
"It was Nabokov who pointed out that the most interesting part of a writer's biography is the biography of his style," he wrote in the preface to "William James," his chronicle of the psychologist, philosophical pragmatist and older brother of novelist Henry James.
Richardson wrote his doctoral thesis on "Spoon River Anthology," a collection by American poet Edgar Lee Masters, before turning toward Thoreau, an author he had initially dismissed during his years as a college student.
He began reading Thoreau more seriously while teaching American literature in Denver, where he found himself moved by the author's descriptions of muskrats and other wildlife in the nature classic "Walden," chronicling a year spent living near a pond outside Concord, Mass.
"Denver was my real Concord," said Richardson, who recalled his shock at spotting a muskrat in the middle of the city - "2,000 miles from Walden Pond" - shortly before he began work on "Thoreau," his first major biography.
The book's fans included Dillard, whose 1974 nonfiction work "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek" won a Pulitzer and drew comparisons to "Walden." She sent Richardson a fan letter, and after "two lunches and three handshakes," as she once put it, they were married in 1988.
Richardson drew further acclaim for "Emerson," which Washington Post book critic Michael Dirda called "one of those exciting books that flash bolts of lightning across an entire intellectual era and up and down modern history." A decade in the making, the biography drew out the "Sage of Concord's" various sides as a suitor, widower, father and friend while examining his influence on writers such as Walt Whitman and Virginia Woolf.
"Emerson lived for ideas, but he did so with the reckless, headlong ardor of a lover," Richardson wrote in the book's preface. The author's "main project," he added, "was to write a natural history of intellect; I have tried to honor this aim by reconstructing the natural history of his enthusiasms."
The biography received the Francis Parkman Prize, a top honor for works of American history, and was a National Book Critics Circle finalist. Richardson later received the Bancroft Prize, another leading honor in American history, for "William James," which the prize jury praised as "a virtual intellectual genealogy of American liberalism and, indeed, of American intellectual life in general."
The first of three sons, Robert Dale Richardson III was born in Milwaukee on June 14, 1934, and later joked of petitioning to change his birth date because it matched President Donald Trump's. Despite his birth name, he used the name Robert Jr. for many of his books, apparently because he thought it sounded less pretentious.
His father was a Unitarian minister whose work led the family to settle in Massachusetts. The younger Richardson spent part of his childhood at a parsonage in Medford, across the street from where Emerson and Thoreau attended a meeting of the Transcendental Club. He later lived in Concord, where he rolled his eyes at buildings, streets, restaurants and bars named after Thoreau.
"My chief interests were not Emerson and Thoreau but getting a car and meeting girls," he later told an interviewer with the Key West Literary Seminar, which Richardson helped lead as an honorary board member.
Richardson studied English at Harvard, where he received a bachelor's degree in 1956 and a PhD in 1961. In the late 1980s he left the University of Denver for New England, teaching at schools including Wesleyan University before focusing on his books.
With Allen Mandelbaum, he edited the 800-page anthology "Three Centuries of American Poetry" (1999), later republished as "A Treasury of American Poetry."
His other books included "First We Read, Then We Write" (2009), about Emerson's approach to writing; "Splendor of Heart" (2013), about his Harvard mentor Walter Jackson Bate, a Pulitzer-winning biographer; and "Nearer the Heart's Desire" (2016), a dual biography of Persian poet Omar Khayyam and "Rubaiyat" translator Edward FitzGerald.
Richardson's first marriage, to Elizabeth Hall, ended in divorce. He later traveled up and down the East Coast with Dillard, splitting their time on Cape Cod, in Key West, Fla., and in his-and-hers cabins separated by a few yards in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia.
"He liked gentlemanly stuff: good whiskey, good cigars," Dillard said. Richardson climbed the Matterhorn as a young man and later sailed an old wooden schooner, the Alamar, around Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. "It was slower than any other boat," his wife added, "and still is."
In addition to Dillard, survivors include two daughters from his first marriage, Lissa Richardson Biddle of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Anne Richardson of Los Angeles; three stepchildren, Carin Clevidence of Northampton, Mass., Shelly Clevidence of Virginia Beach; and author Cody-Rose Clevidence of Winslow, Ark.; a brother; and three grandchildren.
"Biography begins in the mysteries of temperament, lives in narrative, but aims beyond it, as the historian Jules Michelet understood, to resurrection," Mr. Richardson wrote in "William James." He went on to quote James himself, in a line that seemed to inform his approach to biography:
"Individuality is founded in feeling; and the recesses of feeling, the darker, blinder strata of character, are the only places in the world in which we catch real fact in the making, and directly perceive how events happen, and how work is actually done."
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The Benue State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of 60 suspected cult members and recovery of arms, military camouflage and bulletproof jackets, a press statement said.
The statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Anene, a deputy superintendent of police, in Makurdi, disclosed that other items recovered during the arrest include P-cap bag and red berets.
Sixty suspected cultists were arrested, four locally made guns, five axes, three black and two red berets, a pair of military camouflage trousers, P-cap bag, bulletproof jacket and other items were recovered from them.
On June 14, at about 0100hrs, eight suspects who are suspected to be members of different cult groups were arrested at different locations in Makurdi metropolis.
Two Dane guns, packs of dried leaves suspected to be Marijuana, a pair of military Camouflage trousers, two berets and assorted charms were recovered from them.
On June 15 the police arrested one Ogenyi Okeke also known as Smooky and 17 other suspects within the North Bank area, she said.
She added that three axes, one military Camouflage hat, two other hats and three desert boots were recovered from them.
The PPRO said the Force on the same day arrested one Eze Mathew and four others at High Level in Makurdi and that one locally made pistol was recovered from them.
On June 20, at about 0200hrs one Timothy Tsegba and one other were arrested at New GRA, Makurdi. One axe, one military Camouflage bulletproof jacket and bag, one red and one black beret were recovered from them.
On June 21, Raymond Ortese and 26 other suspects were arrested within the old bridge, Wadata area of Makurdi. One locally made revolver pistol, one Camouflage p-cap and two black berets were recovered from them, she said
Anene assured members of the public that the command was committed to the fight against criminality in the state.
She said the command needs useful information from the public that would assist in the apprehension and prosecution of offenders.
She appealed to parents and guardians to watch over their wards to curtail cult cases in the state.
(NAN)
One time when I was sitting in my college dormitory, I heard a whoop of joy from down the hall. My dormmate announced that he had just made $500,000 trading in the stock market, after having invested only a few thousand dollars. When I asked him how he did it, he grinned and simply said: "Call options." I spent the rest of the day reading about how this marvelous financial instrument could be used to make a fortune in a day with just a small initial stake.
Of course, my lucky dormmate doubled down on his investment and ended up losing most of his money when the dot-com bubble burst a couple of months later.
This saga illustrates the danger of day trading, especially with leveraged instruments such as options. After the 2000 tech bust, day trading declined, but the coronavirus pandemic seems to be driving something of a renaissance. Goldman Sachs Investment Research reports that the percentage of trading volume in the stock and option markets from small trades has increased a lot since January, while discount brokerage TD Ameritrade reports that visits to its website teaching people how to trade stocks have nearly quadrupled. Robinhood, a trading app that offers zero-commission trades and a simple, video-game-style interface, had 3 million new accounts opened in the first quarter. Half of its new customers are first-time investors. Many online communities are filled with the standard elements of day-trader culture - stories of fabulous fortunes gained, hot tips, trading systems and theories and so on.
The novel coronavirus probably isn't the only reason for the boom in day trading. Brokers realized that they could offer zero-commission trades and make up for it with interest earned by lending out their cash balances. Mobile apps made trading easier and more fun than ever, and allowed new traders to start off with small amounts of cash. A new generation of speculators has no painful memory of the dot-com bust.
But whatever the reasons, the new day-trading mania is not likely to result in a happier outcome than the last one. There are many theoretical reasons and a wealth of empirical evidence to suggest that most day traders are wasting their money.
One of the most important concepts in finance - and yet seemingly one of the hardest to understand - is that there are two sides to every trade. For a day trader to make money, someone else has to lose money. In the most optimistic case, the loser could be a normal person who needs to put money in or take money out of their retirement account, and who therefore doesn't worry much about the price at which they buy or sell. But most trades are not this. Instead, day traders are usually buying and selling either from one another, or from algorithms programmed by skilled, experienced financial professionals. If it's the former, their trading is a zero-sum game. If it's the latter, human day traders are very likely to lose because the people who program trading algorithms are typically very smart, and their computers can spot market-moving developments faster than people can. This is why professional human traders have been increasingly driven out of the market.
A related problem is the idea of slippage. Day traders might think that because they're paying zero commission, their trades are free. But when a day trader places an order, a trading algorithm somewhere quickly figures out that they want to buy or sell, and raises or lowers the price accordingly so the day trader gets a less favorable price.
Another reason day trading is a bad idea is that people often fail to understand when they're winning and losing. If the market as a whole goes up (as it has recently), many stocks will be winners. That can make a day trader feel like they won, even if they would have made as much or more money if they had simply bought an index fund and held onto it. This is especially true right now, when correlations between stocks are very high - in this case, meaning many stocks are rising or falling together.
Finally, day traders often don't understand the amount of risk they're taking. Call options of the type my college dormmate bought, for example, are a form of leverage - you might make fabulous riches, but you're very likely to lose your money. One young novice investor tragically died by suicide after seeing his account generate large losses; though he probably misread the account statement, this incident drives home the point that investors may not be prepared for how much money they can lose with the trades they're making.
A large amount of empirical evidence confirms that most day traders lose money. A very large 2004 study of Taiwanese day traders found that more than 80% lost money. A tiny number - about 0.03% - earned consistently large profits, but the odds of possessing this kind of skill are slim. Most studies of day traders in the U.S. and Finland yield similar results - a few traders are consistently good, but most lose out.
Day trading might therefore be a fun way of gambling for those who are locked inside waiting out the pandemic. But if regular Americans start betting large amounts of their money on individual stocks and options, they're courting financial ruin. If you want to day trade, the best thing to do is to bet only a small percentage of your money to learn whether you're one of the few who has the skill to beat the market. Day trading should be treated like an expensive video game, not like a way of getting rich quick.
- - -
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He was an assistant professor of finance at Stony Brook University.
Placing approximately 2.6 billion of gross written premium in the 12 months ended March 31, Bravo consists of the Broker Network, Compass, and Ethos Broking brands. Arachas, meanwhile, is the largest commercial insurance broker in Ireland, with 139,000 policies under management as of the end of last year.
Read more: Ardonagh unveils Rural Insurance Group deal
Aside from the acquisitions, Ardonagh also announced a US$500 million (around 400.5 million) notes offering, a credit facility agreement, and the reorganisation of certain equity schemes.
Chief executive David Ross said these all represent an important step in the continued development of the companys multi-product and multi-channel offering. The CEO cited sustained focus on organic growth and selective acquisition strategy, as Ardonagh continues in its ambition to excel as the largest independent insurance broker in the United Kingdom and among the largest globally.
Ross commented further: Bravo and Arachas are two strong, resilient businesses which are highly complementary to the Ardonagh platform and will allow us to further increase our diversification across products, channels, carriers, income producers. Our highly diversified business has enabled us to remain resilient as we navigate the recent challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
An LAPD cop has claimed to find a tampon in his Starbucks Frappuccino after drinking half of it in what police unions are calling a 'disgusting' assault on an officer.
The cop was off-duty but used his police credit union debit card to pay for the drink, according to Fox. It is unclear if he was in uniform.
He had bought it in a Starbucks inside a Target in Los Angeles. Halfway through drinking it, the officer found the tampon.
He went back into the store to complain and now the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is investigating.
The cop was off-duty and not in uniform but used his police credit union debit card to pay for the drink. He drank half of it then found this
The sheriff's department said it was pulling surveillance footage from the store.
'Walnut Station Detectives are investigating an incident of alleged poisoning of food or drink at a local business. The incident was reported to have occurred Friday, June 19, 2020 at approximately 2:30 p.m., on the 700 block of Grand Avenue in the city of Diamond Bar.
'The victim was a male White 36 years-old. This is an ongoing investigation.
'No further information is available at this time,' the department said.
Last week, there was uproar over police officers who were believed to have become ill after drinking Shake Shack milkshakes.
The NYPD tweeted that they'd been targeted but it turned out the officers never actually suffered any symptoms and the tweet was an 'overreaction'.
The incidents come amid a backdrop of outcry over America's policing and widespread calls to overhaul it.
The LA Police Protective League said the Starbucks incident was '[a] disgusting assault on a police officer carried out by someone with hatred in their heart'.
'We hope they are publicly exposed, fired, arrested, and prosecuted for their cowardly and repugnant actions,' the League said.
Neither the cop nor the employee allegedly involved has been identified.
The Starbucks was inside this Target store in Los Angeles
On June 15 three officers, who were based in the Bronx but on protest duty in Lower Manhattan, ordered milkshakes from Shake Shack but found they smelled and tasted odd and they suspected they had bleach in them.
However, those officers never felt sick and threw the drinks away.
Yet the mishap escalated into a crime scene investigation where caution tape was put up, evidence was collected, and the Detective's Endowment Association claimed the cops were 'intentionally poisoned'.
The NYC Patrolmen's Benevolent Association tweeted that 'NYC police officers cannot even take a meal without coming under attack'.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Councilman Ritchie Torress are demanding a probe into the unions 'inflammatory' behavior.
In Georgia, a female police officer was dubbed 'Officer Karen' for tearfully claiming that she thought her McMuffin from McDonald's had been tampered with.
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- New Dorp High School Assistant Principal Deborah Morse-Cunningham remains on the job and has not been suspended by the Department of Education after she used racist stereotypes to talk about people living in public housing and on government assistance in a viral rant on social media about privilege, the DOE said Monday afternoon.
Privilege is living in public subsidized housing where you dont have a water bill, where rising property taxes and rents and energy costs have absolutely no effect on the amount of food you can put on your table, Morse-Cunningham allegedly wrote in a Facebook post which has since been deleted.
Privilege is the ability to go march against, and protest against anything that triggers you, without worrying about calling out of work and the consequences that accompany such behavior. Privilege is having as many children as you want, regardless of your employment status, and be able to send them off to daycare or school you dont pay for, she continued.
The Department of Education is investigating Morse-Cunningham and has referred the case to the Special Commissioner of Investigation as more than 6,000 people signed a petition calling for Morse-Cunninghams removal from the school as of Monday afternoon.
MAYOR HAS YET TO SEE VIRAL POST BUT SAYS HES CONCERNED'
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday morning he had yet to see the viral post but said he is concerned about what she allegedly said.
I have not seen the remarks. Im very concerned when I hear anything like that, because no one in a position of authority should use racially insensitive language, especially someone whos an educator and kids look up to, de Blasio told reporters during a press conference. But I dont know the facts and so I cant comment on the specifics.
This is the Assistant Principle at New Dorp High School. This is the person that edits the curriculum and says if teachers are affective (good) or not.
Smh
(This post is from Facebook, but fb dont know how to get people booted like twitter does. So do yall ting) pic.twitter.com/fDr6iSolTY T a n a j e a (@SusieDaGem) June 20, 2020
Morse-Cunninghams post comes on the heels of police accountability and anti-racism protests across the country, including on Staten Island, in support of Black lives matter, which were sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis man who died at the hands of a white cop who kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
As of Sunday, Morse-Cunninghams Facebook page was no longer available, including the Facebook post. Attempts to reach Morse-Cunningham by phone have been unsuccessful.
New Dorp High School Principal Deirdre DeAngelis called assistant principals post highly inappropriate in a statement on the schools website.
We are taking this matter very seriously and have reported it to the appropriate investigatory office, DeAngelis said. We want to assure you that New Dorp High School does not stand for or condone language that promotes intolerance or hatred of any kind.
The words contained in the post go against the beliefs and values of our school and do not represent us in any way. New Dorp High School will continue to work extremely hard to establish a supportive, uplifting, and caring community that prides itself on inclusion, understanding, and acceptance, DeAngelis continued.
FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.
Liberal MPs across the country are backing major changes to superannuation as part of a plan to allow workers to tap into their retirement balances early to buy a first home.
The changes would help first-home buyers use their standard super balances in an extension to the current First Home Super Saver scheme, which allows the withdrawal of voluntary super contributions up to $30,000.
Liberal MPs are backing proposals to expand the First Home Super Saver Scheme. Credit:Daniel Munoz
NSW senator Andrew Bragg proposed an expansion to the super saver scheme in early-June in his book Bad Egg as one of several major shifts in the retirement system, which is currently subject of a wide-ranging review.
Liberal member for Mackellar in NSW Jason Falinski said the idea "makes a lot of sense".
India on Tuesday slapped definitive anti-dumping duty on certain steel products imported from China, South Korea and Vietnam after a probe found that these items caused injury to domestic producers.
The revenue department said in an order that flat rolled product of steel coated with alloy of aluminium and zinc was exported from these countries below their normal value, resulting in dumping and causing injury to domestic producers. The rate of duty imposed varies from country to country and from exporter to exporter with the highest rate applicable on exports from China at $128.9 per tonne. Provisional anti-dumping duty imposed on the product in October 2019 had expired in April this year and the definitive duty imposed on Tuesday is applicable for five years starting from last October, said the order.
The imposition of antidumping duty on exports from China comes at a time India is having a raging border dispute with China resulting in the death of at least 20 Indian soldiers in clashes with Chinese forces earlier this month.
Mahesh Jaising, partner at Deloitte India said that the Directorate General of Trade Remedies had in its detailed investigation concluded that import of these goods from the subject countries has led to deterioration in performance of the domestic industry in terms of profits, cash flow and return on investments.
While low cost imports edge out competing local producers from the market, they enable those industries using these imports as raw materials to become competitive. This competing interest among primary and secondary producers is pronounced in the domestic steel industry where producers of finished goods prefer low cost imports. Policy makers weigh the competing interests of the entire value chain while deciding on tax policy.
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Bihars main opposition party Rashtriya Janata Dal- reeling from the defection of five of its MLCs, appeared to suffer yet another major jolt on Tuesday senior party member and former Union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh deciding to step down from the post of the national vice president, according to sources.
Sources said the former MP, who is in hospital after falling sick recently, has communicated his decision to resign from the party post to top RJD leaders.
Yes, Raghuvansh ji has resigned from the party post. I cannot comment on it much, said PK Choudhary, a close aide of the former MP.
Earlier on Tuesday, five RJD MLCs -Radha Charan Shah, Sanjay Prasad, Dilip Rai, Md Kamar Alam and Ranvijay Kumar Singh- switched over to the ruling Janata Dal (United), leaving Lalu Prasad Yadavs party with just thee MLCs in the state legislative Council.
Prasads move is being seen as a backlash as the 75-year-old leader, considered a Rajput face, is reportedly unhappy at the likely induction of former MP Rama Kishore Singh in the party in next few days.
Rama Kishore Singh, another Rajput leader from Vaishali, has several criminal cases against him. Political observers feel that his entry a move by RJD to consolidate its traditional Muslim- Yadav- Rajput combination in the forthcoming assembly polls- could further marginalise Raghuvnash Prasad in the party.
On the other hand, Rama Singh said he was all set to join the RJD on June 29. I will be joining the RJD on June 29. That is confirmed, he said.
Asked about the resignation of Raghuvansh Prasad from the partys post apparently in protest against his induction in the party, Singh said it was just a ploy by the veteran leader to play pressure politics. There are many good reasons why Singh is annoyed with my induction in the RJD. But it would not matter as I am a grass roots leader, he said. He also scoffed at speculations that he or any of his family members could be given a RJD ticket from Mahnar in Vaishali. I am not joining RJD with any conditions, the former MP said.
Reacting to the reports of Raghuvansh Prasad Singhs decision to step down, leader of opposition in Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said on Tuesday evening that he will soon meet the ailing senior RJD leader once the latter recovers.
Raghuvansh ji is our guardian and nursed the RJD. He is very much in the party. I will soon meet him, he said
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that localised lockdowns may be necessary to contain the coronavirus in a particular part of the country.
Speaking on RTE Prime Time tonight, in potentially his last televised interview as Taoiseach, Mr Varadkar said localised lockdowns may be required to avoid a national lockdown.
I certainly dont want the country to go into lockdown either.
But if it is necessary to contain the virus in particular place or in a particular area, that is what we may need to do and I think that if that was necessary, people would understand that, because the alternative would be to let the virus spread out of that area and then we could potentially end up in a national lockdown again, he said.
A report today stated that quarantine periods for travellers into Ireland should be lifted next week, however Mr Varadkar said that caution was needed.
I think we need to be very careful and cautious about that.
Weve got our caseload of this virus down so low now, so low, that there is a real risk of re-importing it from countries where the virus is still prevalent."
He added that air-bridges from Ireland and other countries who are in a similar stage of containment of the virus when it comes to travel abroad may be a way to allow summer holidays abroad.
I think if were going to open air travel between Ireland and other countries, we need to do it safely, and we need to do it through what we call air-bridges, pairing Ireland with countries in a similar level of control on the virus."
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Mr Varadkar also defended his use of a quote from teenage film Mean Girls in his speech last Friday after being put to the challenge to incorporate a line from the film by actor Sean Astin.
In his speech, the Taoiseach stated "the limit does not exist".
I think any quote is appropriate if its appropriate in its context, if it was written in a movie or by a poet.
It was the context of our missions as a country and I know some people may be snobbish about those things, that a quote from a movie is different to a quote from a poet or a great author.
But I dont see it that way.
I think any quote is appropriate if its in the right context."
With the programme for government being currently voted on by members of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party, he also added that he believes that the country needs a coalition government.
"If it doesn't go through, then there is no coalition," Mr Varadkar said.
"The country needs a majority government.
"We're heading into a very difficult recession where difficult decisions will have to be made.
"What's in the country's interest is a majority government," he added.
23.06.2020 LISTEN
The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) has reiterated its calls to government for the establishment of more COVID-19 testing centres with more enhanced equipment.
According to the Association, the country stands at high risk of putting health workers involved in testing for the disease in danger looking at the limited number of testing centres the country has amidst the constant spike in the number of infections.
The leadership of GAMLS is very much concerned about the continuous increase and spread of the SARS COV-2 infection in Ghana as the situation poses a risk to Ghanaians including medical laboratory professionals who provide COVID-19 testing, routine and additional complementary testing to manage COVID-19 patients in our hospitals. They are directly and frequently exposed to the virus in high concentration, GAMLS said in a statement.
The Association has over time, urged the government to expand the COVID-19 testing centres with GeneXpert equipment which can test a huge number of samples in the shortest possible time, as this is the surest way to identify COVID-19 cases and readily isolate them to prevent further transmission of infections to others.
But even though the President promised to recalibrate 100 Regional and District Tuberculosis Gene Expert Laboratories across the country to help ensure that we have a minimum situation of one testing centre per region in his national address on April 19, the association said nothing has been done yet.
Expressing disappointment in the lack of commitment from the authorities to heed to professional advice, the Association called on authorities to as a matter of urgency, take steps to get the COVID-19 cartridges and to use the GeneXpert equipment as well as enough reagents for the established COVID-19 testing centres to operate.
It is also asking the government to take immediate steps to engage the services of the qualified but unemployed professionals to augment medical laboratory services in our health facilities. Click here to read full statement.
GAMLS had earlier suggested that there need to be at least one more testing centre in Accra and one in Tamale or Bolgatanga to augment the testing capabilities for the virus at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research.
President of the Association, Dr. Ignatius Awinibuno said we are afraid. Once the numbers keep going up, we will be faced with this particular problem [of not having enough testing points].
But since then, the government has activated additional testing centres to fast track testing of samples picked from persons suspected to have the disease.
These centres include the National Reference Lab Korle Bu, VSD (Accra, Kpong Tamale) and the Council For Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
---citinewsroom
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Linkedin Patrick Galey (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Tue, June 23, 2020 14:15 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660f1394 2 Environment Brazil,investment,investment-climate,deforestation Free
Investment funds managing close to $4 trillion in assets called on Brazil Tuesday to halt deforestation of the Amazon in an open letter warning that biodiversity loss and carbon emissions from the practice posed a "systemic risk" to their portfolios.
The managers from countries across Europe, Asia and South America expressed their fears that the government in Brasilia was using the COVID-19 crisis to push through environmental deregulation that could "jeopardize the survival of the Amazon".
"We are concerned about the financial impact that deforestation and the violation of the rights of indigenous peoples may have on our clients and investee companies, by potentially increasing reputational, operational and regulatory risks," the letter said.
While lockdowns linked to the coronavirus pandemic are likely to see the world's carbon emissions fall several percentage points, increased deforestation in the Amazon could actually increase Brazil's annual contribution to global warming.
Environmentalists warn 2020 is on track to be the most destructive year ever for the world's biggest rainforest, with even more losses than in devastating fires that triggered a global outcry last year.
A total of 829 square kilometers in the Brazilian Amazon, 14 times the area of Manhattan, was lost to deforestation in May alone, according to satellite data from Brazil's National Space Research Institute (INPE).
That was a 12-percent increase from last year, and the worst May since record keeping began in August 2015.
Activists accuse Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right climate change skeptic, of emboldening those responsible for deforestation with calls to legalize farming and mining on protected lands.
The fund managers, who collectively control more than $3.75 trillion worth of assets, urged Bolsonaro's administration to show "clear commitment" to reducing deforestation and to protect indigenous rights.
Seiji Kawazoe, from Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management -- one of more than two dozen firms to sign Tuesday's open letter -- said avoiding negative impacts from climate change had become a prime concern of the holding.
"The Amazon is one of primary areas of rainforest which impacts the global climate and we joined the letter to call for urgent action from the government to avoid taking actions that have a negative impact on climate change," he told AFP.
Most of the signatories are members of the Investor Initiative for Sustainable Forests, which engages firms that are exposed to deforestation by their investments in soy and cattle production.
Funds represented in the letter include Britain's LGPS Central, France's Comgest, and KLP, Norway's largest pension fund.
"As financial institutions, we see deforestation and the associated impacts on biodiversity and climate change as systemic risks to our portfolios," they wrote.
New Delhi, June 23 : BJP President JP Nadda questioned the Congress on Tuesday over the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the party and the Communist Party of China in 2008.
Sharing clippings of a series of news articles, Nadda insinuated that Congress and CPC are on the same page. This attack comes at a time when the Congress alleged that the BJP-ruled Centre has "surrendered" to the China.
Nadda tweeted: "First, Congress signs MoU with Chinese Communist Party. Then, Congress surrenders land to China. During the Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to Chinese embassy. During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation & demoralise armed forces. Effects of MoU?" Issuing a timeline, Nadda alleged that right after the signing of the MU in 2008, the Chinese army occupied 640 square kms in three Ladakh sectors. Nadda further alleged that in 2017 Rahul Gandhi had met the Chinese envoy during the Doklam crisis. He went on to cite two more news reports to claim Gandhi took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 over Balakot strike and now in 2020, Nadda alleged, Rahul Gandhi has politicised the latest India-China standoff.
The BJP President in fact called it "Then story of an MoU and its effects".
This counter charge comes soon after Gandhi, in a controversial tweet of his called Modi as "Surender Modi" that evoked a strong response from the BJP.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will not hold any bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of a grand parade in Moscow, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Singh is currently on a three-day visit to Moscow to attend the grand military parade on Wednesday to mark the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War. Chinese State Councilor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe is also expected to attend the parade.
China's state-run Global Times on Tuesday claimed Wei may meet his Indian counterpart on Wednesday.
"Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe will attend Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow on Wednesday, and likely hold a meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh over resolving border tensions," the publication quoted sources as saying.
However, Singh's office in Delhi rejected the claims, saying no such meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.
"Our Defence Minister would not be meeting the Chinese Defence Minister," said Defence Ministry Spokesperson Bharat Bhushan Babu when asked about the Chinese media report.
The development comes as India and China attempt to de-escalate tensions at the Line of Actual Control following bloody clashes last week in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley.
Singh's visit comes in the midst of the escalating border standoff with China. Officials said Singh went ahead with the visit due to India's decades-old military ties with Russia. Russia has been one of India's key suppliers of arms and ammunition.
A tri-service 75-member Indian military contingent has already reached Moscow to participate in the parade. The Indian team will participate alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries, including China.
"The visit of the defence minister will strengthen the longstanding special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia," the defence ministry had said earlier. "The Indian participation in the victory day parade will be a mark of tribute to the great sacrifices made by Russia and other nations in the Second World War in which Indian soldiers also participated and made supreme sacrifice."
Russia rules out interference
Russia on Tuesday ruled out mediating between India and China, saying the two nations do not need any kind of assistance to resolve their disputes.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks came after a virtual conference of the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also attended the conference.
"I do not think that India and China need any help, any kind of assistance specifically aimed at helping them to resolve disputes," Lavrov said.
"As soon as the border incidents took place, meetings were held and contact was established between the military command on the ground and the foreign ministers," Sputnik News quoted Lavrov as saying.
"As I understand, these contacts are ongoing, and neither party has made any statement indicating a lack of willingness to negotiate based on generally acceptable approaches. We naturally expect it to continue that way," he said.
India and China have rejected any role for other parties in finding a peaceful resolution to their boundary issue. Russia has maintained close ties with both China and India.
This is the first visit abroad by a senior Union minister in four months as foreign travels were restricted in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Singh travelled by an Indian Air Force aircraft, while strictly following all laid precautions against the coronavirus infection, the officials said.
(With inputs from PTI)
North Korea Has 12 Million Leaflets Ready to Be Spread in South Korea Reports
Sputnik News
00:45 GMT 22.06.2020
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - North Korea has printed 12 million leaflets intended to be distributed in South Korea as part of an information campaign against Seoul, the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Special equipment will be prepared in order to spread the leaflets, including over 3,000 air balloons of various types, KCNA said on Monday, adding that printing houses in North Korea are accelerating preparations for the printing of an additional several million leaflets.
North Korea understands that the spread of leaflets is a violation of the inter-Korean agreement but it does not intend to change its plan at a time when relations between the North and the South had already been destroyed, KCNA cited a spokesperson of United Front Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea as saying on Sunday.
On Saturday, KCNA reported that North Korea had started to prepare leaflets for an information campaign against South Korea. Students of all universities were standing ready to distribute the leaflets, when the border area was opened and they got access to it, KCNA said, adding that Pyongyang had once again accused Seoul of failing to support the reconciliation process, adding that the South Korean authorities would face horrible times soon.
Seoul had promised to take some urgent measures to ease tensions with Pyongyang and to stop South Korean activists from sending leaflets to North Korea.
Tensions in the region spiked after North Korea cut off communications with its southern neighbor and blew up the joint liaison office in the border town of Kaesong in response to a long-time campaign of certain groups in South Korea that have been sending leaflets across the border from the South, criticizing the policies of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
On Wednesday, North Korea's General Staff said that it would redeploy troops to Kaesong and the Mount Kumgang joint tourist zone on the east coast, as well as restore guard posts in the demilitarized zone, which were removed after the inter-Korean summit in 2018.
A Sputnik
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The majority of Carlisle area families who responded to a recent online survey want their child to return this fall to a traditional in-person classroom setting.
Carlisle Area School District surveyed families, students and staff members in late May as a step in the process to formulate a plan to reopen school buildings that were closed this spring due to COVID-19.
In filling out the survey, families had the option of submitting one response for the whole family or a separate response for each child they have enrolled in the district, said Michael Gogoj, director of curriculum and instruction. He did not have a precise figure on the number of families that participated in the survey.
Of the 1,523 responses the district received from families, 48% definitely want their child to return to school, while another 24% were undecided but leaning toward a return to in-person instruction.
Only 4% of the responses favored remote online instruction while another 7% were undecided, but leaning toward remote instruction. Fourteen percent of the families prefer a blended learning approach that combines elements of in-person and online instruction.
The student survey was limited to students enrolled at Carlisle High School or at one of the two middle schools, Lamberton or Wilson, Gogoj said. Of the 656 responses from students, 65% said they would rather learn in a traditional classroom setting, compared to 7% who favored a return to online instruction and 28% who would like to try blended learning.
Most of the 277 staff members who responded say they have some degree of anxiety over returning to school but favor in-person over online instruction. On the first question, 26% of the staffers described themselves as highly anxious while another 48% were mildly anxious. The remaining 26% say they are completely comfortable about going back to a school building.
As a follow-up to the survey, Gogoj interviewed individual teachers and groups of teachers. He found that much of their anxiety stems from medical concerns over the spread of COVID-19 and uncertainty over how they can deliver quality instruction next year in the midst of the pandemic.
Planning
District administrators plan to present a health and safety plan to the school board for review at its July 9 committee meeting. Gogoj said administrators are developing a tiered continuum of delivery options that range from total in-person to blended learning to total remote instruction.
One focus has been to improve and update the virtual academy of online courses the district had in place for years prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Gogoj said. One goal is to encourage families to stay with a Carlisle Area School District education instead of transferring their student to a cyber school.
As for teaching preferences, 26% of responding staff members want a return to in-person instruction while another 31% are undecided but leaning toward in-person instruction. Only 6% of staffers prefer remote online instruction, while another 16% were undecided but learning toward online instruction.
The outbreak this spring forced schools to close across Pennsylvania. To allow for the continuity of education, school districts had to pivot from traditional in-person instruction to remote online instruction. Much of the recent survey was geared toward gathering feedback on that spring program. Below is a breakdown of other survey results:
About 75% of families agreed or strongly agreed that the amount of learning activities provided during online instruction was appropriate for their child. A similar percentage agreed or strongly agreed that the activities were meaningful and valuable to their childs education.
About 90% of families agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that they found it easy to communicate with their childs teacher during remote learning.
83% of families reported having a reliable internet connection, while 15% reported having a reliable connection sometimes. Two percent did not have a reliable connection.
59% of students felt the online workload was just about right while 40% described it as too much work and 1% percent as not enough work.
63% of students agreed or strongly agreed that the online activities were interesting and engaging.
34% of students said it was true or extremely true that they enjoyed online learning.
61% of the students said they felt less motivated during remote learning while 11% said they felt more motivated.
Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.
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MM Naravane
New Delhi: Army Chief Gen MM Naravane will visit Ladakh on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss with ground commanders the six-week standoff with Chinese military, army sources said.
The Chief of the Army Staff will visit forward locations and interact with troops on the ground, they said.
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MM NaravaneThe visit comes a week after 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in a brutal assault by the Chinese military in Galwan Valley which escalated the border tension.
New Delhi, June 23 : Congress general Secretary on Tuesday once again slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over the rising deaths due to novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in Agra and said that the death rate in the Taj city is much more than that of Delhi and Mumbai and questioned the Agra model.
"The death rate from Covid-19 in Agra is higher than that of Delhi and Mumbai. Here the death rate of patients from Covid-19 is 6.8 per cent. Of the 79 patients who lost their lives from Covid-19 here, a total of 35 per cent i.e. 28 people died within 48 hours of hospitalization. Who is responsible for spreading the lie of Agra model in these odd situation?" Priyanka Gandhi, who is also the in-charge of the eastern Uttar Pradesh said in a series of tweets in Hindi attaching a news report.
"The Chief Minister should clarify this to the public within 48 hours and create accountability on the condition and number of Covid-19 patients being manipulated," she said in another tweet also attaching a government order from the Chief Minister's Office dated June 18 to the district administrations to present the Covid-19 death rate accurately.
On Monday, Priyanka Gandhi had questioned the Yogi Adityanath government in the state over the death of 28 Covid-19 patients in Agra in the last 48 hours and accused the government of trying to bury the truth by propagating the "Agra model".
"In Agra, 28 Covid patients died who were admitted in the last 48 hours. How shameful this is for the UP government that they tried to bury the truth by propagating this model. Questions were raised on government's no test, no corona policy but the government did not answer," Priyanka Gandhi, who is also party in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, said in a series of tweets attaching a news report.
"If the UP government continues to act carelessly, consequences are going to be very dangerous," she said in another tweet. According to news reports, at least 28 Covid-19 patients died in Agra's SN Medical College (SNMC) in the last 48 hours.
However, Agra DM on Monday reacted sharply to a tweet by the Congress general gecretary in which she claimed that 28 deaths have been reported within 48 hours in the city. DM Prabhu Narain Singh, in a letter emailed to Priyanka Gandhi, said that these claims were "baseless and misleading".
The letter also said, "Corona warriors and fighters are working round the clock to check the spread of the pandemic and such reports will serve to demoralize them and also have an adverse impact on the common man." The district magistrate asked Priyanka Gandhi to issue a corrigendum within 24 hours so that the truth would be known to the people.
He said that in the past 109 days, Agra has reported 1,139 cases of which 79 have succumbed to the virus. "The report of 28 deaths in 48 hours is completely false," he added.
By Express News Service
Our years have passed, but the corner around the Udumalai town bus stand remains fresh in public memory for the bloody attack that took place there in the March of 2016. Gowsalya and Shankar lived together hardly for eight months, after they got married without the consent of her parents. Marrying a Dalit boy had earned Gowsalya the enmity and hatred of her entire extended caste-Hindu family.
But, that did not matter to the couple. She had quit her studies and taken up a job at a tiles factory to support her husbands education. On that fateful day, March 13, 2016, they had gone to the town to buy a new shirt for Shankar, for his college annual day celebrations. On their way back, on the busy main road, amid a traffic jam, the couple was attacked by machete-wielding goons.
A security camera installed at the junction captured the attack in vivid detail. The couple being surrounded, hacked repeatedly, bystanders running away, all of it in vivid detail. But when the video went to court, the lawyer representing the accused argued it was recovered after a gap of four days and hence there was a possibility that it could be manipulated.
The expert who analysed the video, they argued, was not a proper one. The prosecution, on its part, had argued that Chinnasamy paid `20,000 to the henchmen to kill Shankar. It supported the claim with the statement of a bank staff confirming the accused had withdrawn the cash from an ATM. The prosecution also claimed that it was Chinnasamy who arranged accommodation for the assailants in a lodge. The court, however, felt the chain of events had not been proven beyond doubt.
One, the prosecution failed to prove the accused had withdrawn money from the ATM, as it had failed to produce CCTV footage from the booth. The prosecution also failed to prove its claim about accommodation, or about Chinnasamy having frequent contacts with the assailants. The court said the prosecution had also failed to explain the delay in registering the FIR and its dispatch.
We marshalled witnesses and submitted several evidences, including his call records. All were overlooked at the High Court, says C Emiliyas, Additional Advocate General who represented the prosecution. Today, only those who attacked and murdered Shankar at the spot remain convicted. Those who ordered the murder, conspired with the attackers, have not been brought to justice. Gowsalya is still very sure that it was her father behind the murder.
Acquitting Chinnasamy (her father) from the case is gross injustice done to Shankar, she says. I will not remain silent. I will fight till Shankar gets justice. Gowsalya says that if her parents Chinnasamy and Annalakshmi had not conspired against them, Shankar would still be alive. We would have led a peaceful life. Annalakshmi believes its gods grace that saved her. We did no harm to anyone, and we welcome the court order.
Shankars younger sibling Yuvaraj is distraught. Murderers being punished will not bring the dead back to life, but it makes us feel the society is standing with us, he says. My parents were inconsolable when Shankar died. When the district court in Tirupur sentenced six of them to death, they felt a mild relief. They thought such verdicts would put an end to caste-based killings.
Mondays verdict, Yuvaraj says, is a big blow. Those who killed a person for no reason but his caste, have walked free. Of the 11 accused, the Tirupur district sessions court awarded death sentence to six persons. Three Annalakshmi, her brother Pandithurai, and a minor were acquitted. Those convicted filed an appeal in the higher court, after which the acquittal of Chinnasamy came. All charges against him have been dropped.
I dont want to comment on the verdict, says Velusamy, Shankars father. I had planned to pack the couple off to Bengaluru after Shankars classes got over. Days before that they killed him. Nothing said and done now can replace the loss the crime has caused in our lives. Velusamy now has a government job in Udumalaipet given as solatium, but he does not feel like he got justice.
The government advocate has decided to appeal against the verdict, says DSP Vivekanandan, who investigated the case. We conducted investigated over 120 people in connection with the case, he tells Express. We submitted five strong evidences against Chinnasamy, the prime accused. Besides, we even gave CCTV visuals, as a result of which death sentences were awarded by the session court.
Vivekanandan says he saw the High Court verdict on TV. As an investigating officer, I can only produce the evidence gathered. Only the prosecution and the government can decide if it wants to appeal against the case. The verdict is a shocking blow for the prosecution, and hence there will be an appeal
When reducing the capital punishment awarded to the henchmen, the High Court bench said it was considering that they had no bad antecedents, and was offering them an opportunity to reform themselves upon release and contribute to the society.
K Balakrishnan, state secretary of the CPI(M) expressed concern that the outcome of the case could embolden casteists to commit more such crimes. He recommended the State government to review the role of prosecutors in the case. Thol Thirumavalavan of VCK and actor Kamal Haasan also condemned the outcome, but neither of the Dravidian majors or Congress reacted to the verdict.
Justice has been denied. This verdict shows that only henchmen get punished, while conspirators behind the crime walk away scott-free, says Kathir of Evidence, a non-profit organisation. This is not over. We will fight till justice is delivered.
Looking back
July 12, 2015: Kausalya marries Shankar in Dindigul despite opposition from her parents Chinnasamy and Annalakshmi
March 13, 2016: A gang attacks Kausalya and Shankar near Udumalai Town Bus Stand.
Shankar dies in the attack
March 14, 2016: Chinnasamy surrenders in court
March 15, 2016: Three gang members arrested by a police team
March 29, 2016: Annalakshmi surrenders in court
April 2016: Trial of the 11 persons begins in Tirupur district sessions court
December 12, 2017: Tirupur district sessions court sentences six accused Chinnasamy,
Jegadeesan, Manikandan, Selvakumar, Kalai Tamilvaanan and Madan to death;
Annalakshmi, maternal uncle Pandithurai and a 16-year-old relative acquitted
(With inputs from Madurai,Tirupur, and Chennai.)
In a big relief to over two lakh Indian students in the US, President Donald Trump exempted the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme or F-1 visa category from suspension in his latest executive order on US visas.
Trump on Monday signed the executive order suspending non-immigrant visas such as H-1B and L-1 till December with the possibility of a further extension. The move was aimed at improving the employment opportunities for US citizens, as COVID-19 caused the unemployment rate to shoot up to over 40 million.
The new order will impact H-1B, H-2, L-1, J-1 and H-2B visa categories. However, optional training programme, which foreign students avail after graduation was left untouched.
Most Indian graduates in the US avail the OPT programme, which allows them to secure temporary employment in the US for up to three years after graduation.
What is OPT?
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services defines OPT as temporary employment that can be availed by foreign students (F-1 visa) before or after the completion of studies. The time period of OPT is one year. However, if you are a Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) student, you can get a 24-month extension.
In essence, STEM graduates get three years of temporary employment in the US. This is beneficial for both company and student as they are exempted from paying taxes. According to the DHS site, STEM OPT participant is not considered a resident for five calendar years in F-1 status. So companies that hire save on taxes to some extent.
What could be the reason for not suspending OPT?
A suspension of OPT would have hurt US higher educational institutions. Indians are the biggest student population in the US after China. There are about 250,000 Indian graduates in the US.
According to a report by Breitbart, close to 70,000 Indian graduates got work permits for OPT jobs in 2018. These can be effectively converted to H-1B and then the Green Card. That was one of the reasons why the visa was under scrutiny.
However, suspending OPT would have made higher education in the US unattractive. With no prospects of jobs, students might not have pursued masters in US institutions, which costs roughly Rs 40-50 lakh.
According to a report by Open Doors, international students contributed $44.7 billion to the US economy in 2018, an increase of 5.5 percent over the previous year.
So OPT is exempt. But what about job prospects?
The exemption could benefit fresh graduates as companies would be open to employing them in place of H-1B workers.
While those completing their third year OPT might face challenges in finding jobs, for others, this does offer opportunities. But with so many uncertainties, there is no guarantee that companies will be willing to sponsor the coveted H-1B visa for Indians in the coming years.
Watertown, NY (13601)
Today
Periods of snow. Snow will be heavy at times especially this evening. Low 17F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected..
Tonight
Periods of snow. Snow will be heavy at times especially this evening. Low 17F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected.
A RECIDIVIST thief and burglar who stabbed an inmate at Limerick Prison with a brush handle has been jailed for three and-a-half years.
Michael Blondie McNamara, 44, of no fixed abode had pleaded guilty to assaulting the 18-year-old on a landing in the D wing of the prison on December 7, 2018.
During a sentencing hearing, Garda Seamus Murphy told Limerick Circuit Court, the incident occurred at around 8pm a short time after the injured party had been involved in an altercation with another inmate.
He said Mr McNamara, who has more than 200 previous convictions, attacked him from behind and struck him with such force that he broke the brush handle which he then used to stab the teenager.
The attack was unprovoked and without warning, he said.
John OSullivan BL, instructed by state solicitor Padraig Mawe, said the injured party sustained a number of lacerations and abrasions and was treated at University Hospital Limerick afterwards.
Following his arrest, Mr McNamara told gardai he did not know why he had struck the injured party.
Barrister Aaron Desmond said this client had stopped taking methadone around the time and the incident was out of character.
It was quite a reactionary incident. It was over in a matter of seconds, he said noting his client has no history of violence.
He said he had cooperated with gardai and that his version of events was corroborated by CCTV.
Imposing sentence, Judge Tom ODonnell said the nature of the assault was very nasty and that the use of a weapon was concerning. However, he accepted it was a new departure for Mr McNamara.
However, he said his previous record was appalling and that shopkeepers and businesses in Limerick and entitled to be protected from him.
He imposed a two and-a-half year prison sentence in relation to the assault while sentences totalling three and-a-half years were imposed in relation to a number of burglary and theft offences which were committed after Mr McNamara was released from prison.
by Sumon Corraya
In the country, the coronavirus mortality rate for health care workers is around 4 percent, the highest in the world, where the average mortality rate for doctors is 2.5 percent. It appears that in the first phase doctors, nurses and health workers did not have any PPE and this is why many of them were infected, but although the government now supplies PPE, the quality is not standard.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) - In Bangladesh, around 50 doctors have died of coronaviruses in the past two months. Nationally the coronavirus mortality rate for doctors is around 4 percent, the highest in the world, where the average mortality rate for doctors is 2.5 percent.
About 4,000 health workers - doctors, nurses, pathologists and technicians - have been infected so far. Experts say that the main reasons for the infection among healthcare professionals are the lack of supplies of quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and the hiding of information from patients who are coronavirus positive.
"I received two PPE from my office which are of poor quality, so my husband bought me two quality PPE from Dhaka and I use them," says a Catholic nurse who works in a state hospital in Dhaka. The 32-year-old nurse does not want to reveal her name and says that her colleagues have been infected with this virus. She is also spending days in fear of getting infected, but is committed to continuing to serve sick people.
It appears that in the first phase doctors, nurses and health workers did not have any PPE and this is why many of them have been infected, but although the government now supplies PPE, the quality is not standard.
Research also indicates that many health services have not obtained quality PPE. 24% of health workers in Bangladesh have yet to receive PPE and 44% of those who have PPE are not satisfied with the quality. The research was conducted by the James P Grant School of Public Health of the University of Brac and the Bangladesh Health Watch (BHW). The communication was made during the presentation of the results of two researches on PPE and health financing in an online media briefing on June 20.
The report says 76% of healthcare workers currently have PPE, but only 56% are satisfied with the quality.
Muzaherul Huq, a former regional adviser to the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the rate of coronavirus infections among healthcare professionals is very high in Bangladesh compared to other countries.
It seems that the main reason behind the growing infections among healthcare professionals is that they come into direct contact with patients and their carers without adequate protective equipment. "The doctors - he explains - worked for many hours under heavy pressure and suffering from anguish and fatigue. "That's why they sometimes lose their heads and erroneously manage patients, causing infection."
According to the deputy chancellor of Kanak Kanti Barua of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), most doctors become infected while dealing with patients who go to them but hide information about their symptoms. Many patients - he says - together with their companions, come to the doctors without wearing masks. They also hide their infection."
In Bangladesh, up to June, 1502 people died and 115,786 were infected. Among them, five Christians died of coronaviruses. Archbishop Moses M Costa has also been infected; yesterday his second exam turned negative and is being treated.
Kolkata, June 23 : The Kolkata Police has recovered a 67-page suicide note from the posh Kankurgachi apartment where a Bengaluru-based private sector employee shot dead his mother-in-law and then killed himself on Monday. Police sources said that the suicide note said that Amit Agarwal had also killed his wife in her flat in Bengaluru on Saturday and then flew down to Kolkata with their son.
Officials of the city police immediately contacted their Bengaluru counterparts and his wife Shilpi's body was recovered, police sources said.
Sources said Agarwal returned from Bengaluru on Monday and came to his in-laws', the Dhandhanias, with an intention to kill them. He booked a cab from Belgharia and arrived at their 2B, Rameswaram Building apartment in Kankurgachi at around 5.30 p.m. and started arguing with them.
When his mother-in-law Lalita Dhandhania tried to pacify him, he took out a firearm and shot her from a very close range.
His scared father-in-law Subhas Dhandhania hurriedly bolted, closed the door from outside and took shelter with one of his neighbours. The residents of the apartment later informed the local Phoolbagan police station. The police entered the flat and saw Agarwal lying in a pool of blood on the bed. The firearm was also seen on the floor, along with his suicide note.
Now the sleuths are trying to find out from where he procured the murder weapon, a 7mm pistol.
Sources said the suicide noted mentioned about the differences between Agarwal and his wife who used to stay separately in Bengaluru with her son. Police have also interrogated his brother Pradip Agarwal at Phoolbagan police station on Tuesday.
Sources said Agarwal, a resident of Hooghly's Uttarpara, and his wife were going through a tough phase for the past two years and the divorce suit was pending. The couple used to work in a private chartered accountant company.
India's desire for peace is born out of strength, should not mistaken otherwise: Army Chief Naravane
Indian Army Chief meets soldiers injured at Galwan Valley
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, June 23: Indian Army Chief, General M M Naravane had arrived at Leh. He went to the General Hospital of the Army and interacted with the soldiers who were injured in the violent brawl at Galwan Valley on June 15.
The Army Chief is on a two day visit to Ladakh. While reviewing the situation, he would also be briefed about the military level talks between India and China.
Delhi Riots : Pregnant Jamia Student safoora Zargar granted bail on humanitarian grounds | Oneindia
It may be recalled that military level talks between India and China were held on Tuesday. The talks went on for nearly 11 hours in which India demanded the restoration of status quo ante.
[June 23, 2020] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of The People's Insurance Company of China (Hong Kong), Limited
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" of The People's Insurance Company of China (Hong Kong), Limited (PICC HK) (Hong Kong). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect PICC HK's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings also reflect the lift that the company receives from its parent, The People's Insurance Company (Group) of China Limited (PICC Group), as well as its affiliates. The balance sheet strength of the company is supported by its risk-adjusted capitalisation being at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The company's share capital of HKD 640 million (USD 82 million) was strengthened by an HKD 140 million (USD 18 million) capital conversion from retained profits and general reserves in 2019. PICC HK was owned 75% and 25% by PICC Group and Asia Insurance (Investments), Limited, respectively, as of year-end 2019. The company expanded its investment in equities in 2019 to enhance yields, although the majority of its assets remain allocated to investment-grade bonds and cash and cash equivalents. PICC HK reported an after-tax net loss of HKD 9.4 million in 2019. The company's loss ratio has been increasing since 2016, partially owing to claims related to Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. Moreover, in 2019, its loss ratio peaked at 68.9%, mainly due to the unfavourable claims experience in the domestic construction employees' compensation (EC) line. Nonetheless, stable and favourable investment returns generated by a liquid investment portfolio have partially offset underwriting losses over the past five years. PICC HK remains a small property/casualty insurer in Hong Kong's highly competitive commercial lines market. The company's gross and net premium written dropped by 3.1% and 5.9% in 2019, respectively, as a result of its shift in underwriting strategy during the year. The compan stopped underwriting its loss-making construction EC business and expanded its third-party inward reinsurance book of business, which was driven by overseas infrastructure projects under China's Belt and Road initiatives.
As the sole overseas insurance subsidiary within the PICC Group, PICC HK plays a strategic role in supporting the execution of the group's overseas development strategies. The company received business support from PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited via 1) an affiliated inward reinsurance business that has contributed to a stable stream of premiums over the past five years; 2) referral of third-party inward reinsurance business that is expected to be the main growth driver going forward. Negative rating actions could occur if PICC HK's operating performance continues to deteriorate such that it no longer supports the current assessment at the adequate level, or the company's ERM fails to contain emerging risks from the evolution of its business profile.
Negative rating actions could occur if PICC Group and its affiliates reduce the level of support to PICC HK, or if there is a deterioration in the group's credit profile. Ratings are communicated to rated entities prior to publication. Unless stated otherwise, the ratings were not amended subsequent to that communication. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005748/en/
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As the area counties wait on President Donald J. Trump to decide as to whether to declare a major disaster declaration, FEMA personnel urge residents to continue to make insurance claims.
Sandy Jasmund, external affairs officer for FEMA, said the main message theyre communicating now is residents need to continue to clean up and apply for flood insurance as residents only have 60 days post-flooding to file a claim.
Its already been a month and the clock is ticking so we want to make sure people realize they should apply for flood insurance and contact their insurance agent, she said.
Last week on Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer officially requested a major disaster declaration for Midland, Gladwin, Arenac, Isosco and Saginaw counties after dam failures and flash flooding devastated properties and homes.
In her letter to President Trump, Whitmer outlined the scope of the damage and explained that outside financial assistance was needed. If approved, it could mean financial assistance from FEMA, however, as FEMA states on its website, the individual assistance program cannot pay for all losses caused by disasters.
It is intended to meet basic needs and help you get back on your feet, the website states. FEMA is not empowered to make you whole.
If the declaration is approved, Whitmer will be notified and it will be on the responsibility of her office to notify the counties and residents. Jasmund said at that time, a phone number will be provided that residents can call and begin registering for the available individual assistance.
From the day the declaration is signed, residents have 60 days to register a claim with FEMA.
However, until the declaration is made, Jasmund said they cant provide any specifics as to what the immediate next steps taken by FEMA will be. She said its premature to go into details.
At this time, the declaration request is under process and we normally dont talk about what-ifs because we dont want to lead people the wrong way, Jasmund said.
Although, Jasmund said normally after a declaration is made, the Small Business Administration will provide low-interest loans to victims, including homeowners and renters, not just business owners.
In 2017, Midland County was included in a major disaster declaration for flooding that similarly was requested about a month after the flooding, and declared about a week-and-a-half after Gov. Rick Snyder had made the request.
According to FEMAs website, 1,579 individual assistance applications were approved and about $5.2 million was approved for individual and household programs in 2017.
Kristi Noem is a four-term Congresswoman and the current Governor of South Dakota. In todays authoritarian environment, with governors issuing diktats purporting to organize every facet of our lives, she has stood tall as a voice for freedom. Early in the COVID epidemic, Governor Noem gave a press conference in which she said that South Dakotans are free Americans, not subject to arbitrary orders from politicians. They are also smart: South Dakotans can look after their own health better than any government can. So her administration has put out a steady stream of data and advice, but she has refused to order anyone to do anything. And guess what: South Dakota has a very low level of COVID fatality and, last time I checked, the lowest unemployment rate in the country.
For her refusal to join the authoritarian tide, Governor Noem has been subjected to unending abuse from the likes of the Washington Post and the Associated Press.
When looting and arson erupted across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd, a riot began in Sioux Falls. Within minutes, Noem called out the National Guard to suppress criminal behavior. Rioting and looting will not be tolerated in South Dakota, she said.
With monument destruction the far-left craze of the moment, some have wondered whether Mount Rushmore will come under attack. Someday, perhaps, but not this day:
Not on my watch. https://t.co/U6gGap5Ib6 Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) June 23, 2020
On July 8, Center of the American Experiment will host Governor Noem in a webinar where she will explain her freedom-first approach to the COVID epidemic, and review the results she has obtained by respecting the intelligence of her constituents. I personally am looking forward to it, and will post the registration link as soon as it is available.
This week in Christian history: Jonathan Edwards dismissed, Reformation leader born, Moravians
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Christianity is a faith with a long and detailed history, with numerous events of lasting significance occurring throughout the ages.
Each week brings the anniversaries of significant milestones, horrid tragedies, unbelievable triumphs, telling tribulations, inspirational progress, and everything in between.
Here are just a few things that happened this week, June 21-27, in Church history. They include the birth of a Protestant Reformation leader, Jonathan Edwards being dismissed from the pastorate, and the first recorded Moravian worship service in Alaska.
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Dr Anthony Fauci said coming weeks critical to address rising number of cases across half of US states.
Dr Anthony Fauci has told a House committee there could be a COVID-19 vaccine later this year or early in 2021, but warned that the next few weeks will be critical to tamping down coronavirus hot spots around the country.
Fauci and other top health officials also said they have not been asked to slow down testing for coronavirus, a controversial issue after President Donald Trump said last weekend he had asked them to do just that because it was uncovering too many infections. Trump said earlier in the day that he was not kidding.
We will be doing more testing, Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, told a House committee on Tuesday.
Fauci is testifying before a House committee along with the heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and a top official at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert told a House committee that the increase in US cases is a disturbing surge and the next couple of weeks will be critical in addressing it [Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP Photo]
Weve been hit badly, Fauci said. He said he was really quite concerned about rising community spread in some states, including Arizona, which Trump was visiting on Tuesday to view the construction of a border wall and for a rally at a megachurch.
The next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges, Fauci said.
Since Faucis last appearance at a high-profile hearing more than a month ago, the United States is emerging from weeks of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns.
Reopening businesses and loosening restrictions have been done in an uneven way, with some states far less cautious than others. A trio of states with Republican governors who are bullish on reopening Arizona, Florida and Texas are among those seeing worrisome increases in cases.
Steep increases
Twenty-five US states reported more new cases last week than the previous week, including 10 states that saw weekly new infections rise more than 50 percent, and 12 states that posted new records, according to the analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer-run effort to track the outbreak.
Texas reported one of the largest rises in new cases at 24,000 for the week ended June 21, an increase of 84 percent from the previous week. The number of COVID-19 tests that came back positive in the state rose from 7 to 10 percent.
New cases in Florida rose 87 percent last week to almost 22,000, with the states positive test rate nearly doubling to 11 percent.
Arizona reported 17,000 new cases, a 90 percent increase, with 20 percent of tests coming back positive, according to the analysis.
Cases are going up in the U.S. because we are testing far more than any other country, and ever expanding. With smaller testing we would show fewer cases! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020
The governors of all three states have attributed the increases in new cases to more testing, and to younger residents not following social distancing guidelines.
Last week, Vice President Mike Pence published an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal saying the administrations efforts have strengthened the nations ability to counter the virus and should be a cause for celebration.
Supporters participate in the Pledge of Allegiance during a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma where social distancing and face masks appear to have been loosely considered [Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP]
Then, at his weekend rally in Tulsa, President Trump called for slower testing rates. White House officials later tried to walk back Trumps comment, suggesting it was not meant to be taken literally.
Fauci has recently warned that the US is still in its first wave of the pandemic, and he has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing. And, in a recent ABC News interview, he said political demonstrations such as protests against racial injustice are risky to all involved.
Asked if that applied to Trump rallies, he said it did. Fauci continues to recognise widespread testing as critical for catching clusters of COVID-19 cases before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community.
Fauci remains optimistic
About 2.3 million in the US have been infected in the pandemic, and more than 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
As head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci will be joined before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce by CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield, FDA chief Dr Stephen Hahn and the head of the US Public Health Service, Admiral Brett Giroir.
Giroir was tapped by the White House to oversee the expansion of coronavirus testing. But he gained notoriety after a whistle-blower complaint flagged him for trying to push a malaria drug touted by Trump to treat COVID-19 without conclusive scientific evidence.
The FDA has since withdrawn its emergency use authorisation for hydroxychloroquine.
There have been a lot of unfortunate missteps in the Trump administrations response to the COVID-19 pandemic, said House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey.
As communities across the country ease social distancing guidance and reopen their economies, it is critically important that both the administration and Congress remain focused on containing the spread of the coronavirus and providing the resources and support Americans need during this time of crisis, Pallone said.
There is still no vaccine for COVID-19, and there are no treatments specifically developed for the disease, although the antiviral drug remdesivir has been shown to help some patients, as well as a steroid called dexamethasone, and plasma from patients who have recovered.
Since Fauci last testified, hospital physicians have become more skilled at treating coronavirus patients with the techniques and medications at their disposal.
The US continues to ramp up testing, with some 27.5 million citizens, or more than 8 percent of the population, tested thus far.
But most communities still lack enough health workers trained in doing contact tracing, the work of identifying people who have in recent weeks had interactions with an infected person. That could make it more difficult to tamp down emerging outbreaks.
The House Energy and Commerce panel has oversight over drugs and vaccines, among other facets of the US healthcare system. Committee Democrats have been harshly critical of the administration. However, not all Republicans have lined up to defend the White House. Some GOP members were growing concerned early in the year that the administration was not doing enough to prepare.
Admit it: at some time in the past few months, you either wrote or thought of writing some version of (X) in the time of COVID-19.
Youd be in good company. Forbes used it in headlines for Grieving In The Time Of Covid-19, Compassion in the Time of COVID-19, Biotechnology In the Time of COVID-19, Traveling by Air, Healthcare, Privacy We could go on, but why pile on Forbes?
The Washington Post had headlines for Courtesy questions in the time of covid-19, Love and medicine, Life, and, just to be sure the audience got the reference, Love in the time of coronavirus.
NPRs headlines included Cooking, Clubbing, Nicaragua, and, just to be sure the audience got the reference, Love In The Time of COVID-19.
Numerous other outlets used it in body copy, sometimes numerous times. (By the way, why hasnt journalism yet agreed on how to render Covid/COVID/covid?)
How clever, to give a twist to the title of the novel Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Except that its not clever if so many other people think of it.
RECENTLY: Crowd size is not a moral metric
(X) in the Time of COVID-19 has quickly become a cliche, but not just any cliche. This type of cliche is a multi-use, customizable, instantly recognizable, time-worn, quoted or misquoted phrase or sentence, the lexicographer Geoffrey Pulliam wrote in 2003. You create it by taking a well-known phrase, like in space, no one can hear you scream, and substituting one or more words that leave the original altered but recognizable: in space, no one can hear you snore.
Whats needed, Pulliam wrote, is a name for this kind of reusable customizable easily-recognized twisted variant of a familiar but non-literary quoted or misquoted saying. (I say or misquoted because there is actually no original source for The Eskimos have N words for snow, people only think it once appeared in some reputable source.) Cliche isnt narrow enough these things are certainly cliches, but a very special type of cliche. And literary allusion wont do: these things dont by any means have to be literary.
A few months later, apparently using Pulliams reference to N words for snow, Glenn Whitman, a California economics professor, gave this lexicographical construct a name: snowclone.
A snowclone is not an eggcorn, when a word or phrase modified by a soundalike word somehow still makes sense, like beckon call instead of beck and call, or the almost-normalized hone in on instead of the more accurate home in on.
The snowclone is closer to an obvious, groaning pun than it is to the elegant wordplay many good writers and headline artists produce. Writers reaching for the latter often find the former.
A snowclone is also not a mondegreen, classically defined as a misheard lyric (Scuse me while I kiss this guy); or a spoonerism, switching two sounds in a phrase (former president Hoobert Heever); or a malapropism, when a similar-sounding word is substituted but makes little sense (the government needs to abolish the Electrical College).
No, the snowclone is aimed directly at you, the journalist. As Pulliam wrote before the construct had a name, it can be used in an entirely open array of different jokey variants by lazy journalists and writers. After it got its name, Pulliam wrote that snowclones are some-assembly-required adaptable cliche frames for lazy journalists.
Ouch.
The snowclone is closer to an obvious, groaning pun (new measles cases have been spotted in our area) than it is to the elegant wordplay many good writers and headline artists produce. (One of our favorite headlines was on a New York Times article on people who collected and grew palm trees in Florida: With Fronds Like These, Who Needs Anemones?) Writers reaching for the latter often find the former.
Luckily for journalists, snowclone has moved beyond journalism. As dictionary.com notes, Although snowclone was created to describe a phenomenon of news writing, snowclones themselves have found a new home in memes with the rise of internet humor.
Even so, the next time you find yourself reaching for (X) is the new (Y); the overused (X), (Y), and (Z), oh my; or something that sounds familiar, take a second and search The Snowclones Database. If its there, step slowly away from the snowclone.
ICYMI: Honestly, everything is not burning.
Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today
Merrill Perlman managed copy desks across the newsroom at the New York Times, where she worked for twenty-five years. Follow her on Twitter at @meperl.
Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane visited Leh on Tuesday and interacted with injured soldiers at the base hospital. A total of 76 soldiers were injured and 20 were killed after Chinese People's Liberation Army troops attacked Indian soldiers at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh last week.
Sources said that General Naravane talked to the soldiers and assured them that the entire force was standing by them in case of need.
General Naravane's visit comes amid heightened threat in eastern Ladakh region where thousands of Indian Army troops have been deployed a few meters away from Line of Actual Control against Chinese People's Liberation Army.
He will review the force preparedness as well deployment across the Line of Actual Control with China.
The Army Chief will also visit Kashmir on Wednesday and will review deployment of forces across the Line of Control with Pakistan.
On Monday, the Army Chief held second phase of Army Commanders Conference in the national capital to review the operational situation on both the northern and western fronts.
All commanders, including Northern Command's Lieutenant General Y.K. Joshi, took part in the two-day meet.
The Army commanders have come together to discuss the whole gamut of India's operational situation on both the northern and western fronts.
It was a two-day second phase of the conference. The first phase was held from May 27 to May 29.
After attending Army Commanders Conference on Tuesday, General Naravane left for Leh to meet the injured soldiers.
The ground situation is volatile in Ladakh and Pangong Tso is another flashpoint after Galwan Valley patrolling point 14 where the barbaric attack was carried out on Indian troops by the Chinese army. A ferocious build up at the Line of Actual Control has started backed by artillery and tanks in the depth areas.
At Pangong Tso, there is an attempt by the PLA to alter the LAC unilaterally. The prolonged camping and a heavy presence of Chinese troops at Pangong lake at a point which has been under Indian control has emerged as the biggest roadblock for a possible resolution to the ongoing tussle between India and China at the Line of Actual Control.
The Chinese have built defences in several parts between Finger 4 and 8 that have been grey zones in the past. The Chinese action in Pangong lake is seen as an attempt to change the status quo.
The Indian Army has also enhanced deployment at Hot Springs, Demchok , Koyul, Fukche, Depsang, Murgo, and Galwan.
In the midst of the growing tension India is exploring all possible military options as a response if the Chinese aggression continues.
India has also ramped up preparations on its side along the 826-km front of the LAC in Ladakh.
New UW Primary Care Residency Training Prepares Physicians for Rural Practice
Dr. Travis Bomengen, site director and chief medical officer with the new rural training track in Thermopolis, stands with Megan Olson, the first resident physician to begin the tracks residency position. (The Bomb Photography Photo)
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded $2.1 million to the University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency Program at Casper to expand primary care residency training in Wyoming.
The grant supports the creation of a rural training track to better prepare physicians who will practice in rural communities throughout the state.
The grant, known as Primary Care Training and Enhancement: Residency Training in Primary Care Program, will extend over five years, with a focus on hands-on, full-scope training for family medicine physicians planning careers in rural medicine.
The rural training track is the first of its kind in Wyoming and will be centered in Thermopolis. Culminating nearly five years of preparation, the new program is a partnership between the UW Family Medicine Residency Program at Casper and Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital.
The first resident to enter into the rural training track will spend a robust first year at the residency program at Casper. This intern year is set up with a traditional block-rotation format to take advantage of training with specialists and all that Caspers Wyoming Medical Center has to offer. The intern also receives experience in the Casper core program clinic -- a federally qualified health center known as the Educational Health Center of Wyoming (EHCW), which serves as a safety net for the community. Afterward, the resident will live and train in Thermopolis during the remainder of the second and third years.
Megan Olson, a native of Cheyenne and a 2020 graduate of the Wyoming WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) Medical Education Program, will be the first to begin the rural training track, starting July 1.
As a first-year resident physician, Olson is no stranger to rural medicine in Wyoming. As part of the Wyoming WWAMI program, she completed many rotations in rural communities, including two monthlong rotations in Thermopolis.
It is an honor to return to Thermopolis as the first rural training track resident, Olson says. I look forward to continuing to grow the program and advance my education so that I will be equipped to provide quality health care to residents in Wyomings rural communities.
While in Thermopolis, Olsons curricular experience will be longitudinal, as she will be fully integrated into all aspects of medical care at the Red Rock Family Practice clinic in Thermopolis, as well as outreach clinics in the neighboring communities of Basin and Worland. Olson also will be involved with all of the medical services at Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital, from the emergency room to labor and delivery to the surgical suite.
Olson will experience firsthand what a physician in any rural setting in Wyoming might see: walk-in patients at the community clinic level; serving in the emergency room at Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital; delivering babies; and whatever else comes along with being a physician in rural health care.
With funding from the grant, Olson and other future rural training track residents also will receive training in the treatment of opioid use disorder and telehealth services.
Megan is a Wyoming native and a graduate of UW and WWAMI, says Dr. Beth Robitaille, designated institutional officer for the Family Medicine Residency Program and chief medical officer for the EHCW. She exemplifies Wyomings efforts to grow its own physicians by receiving each step of her training through Wyomings medical education pipeline.
The overall mission of the rural training track is to expand graduate medical education in Wyoming with a heightened focus on training for full-scope, rural family medicine to help meet the health care needs of rural Wyoming communities.
Despite being a new resident training program, the mission of the rural training track is not vastly different from the Casper residencys core mission: to provide a high-quality, comprehensive educational experience, providing residents with the knowledge and skills necessary to practice frontier medicine.
The Casper residency program has flourished within the areas network of health care providers for more than 40 years, Robitaille says. Established in 1977, the Wyoming Family Practice community-based program serves more than 8,000 people each year with a full spectrum of family medicine to patients of all ages.
Dr. Travis Bomengen, the site director and chief medical officer with the rural training track in Thermopolis, says the aim is to be the best and most sought-after rural training track in the United States.
The vision we have for our graduates, he adds, is to become highly skilled rural physicians.
Continued challenges in keeping primary care physicians in Wyoming include lack of access to modern equipment, staffing budgets, patient/physician access and the lure of more attractive circumstances out of state.
With the enhanced training Olson and other residents will receive, their knowledge and appreciation of patient care in rural locations throughout Wyoming will better prepare them to meet the health care needs of their communities.
We want to support and grow rural training for Wyomings family medicine residents, medical students and other health care professional students, Bomengen says. We want to set a standard of excellence as Wyomings first rural training track graduate medical education program.
To learn more about the Thermopolis rural training track, visit http://thermopolisrtt.com/.
With support from Manufacturing PA Innovation Program, industry-academic partnership through Lehigh's Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD) will work on novel polymer coating for surfaces to prevent COVID-19 transmission
Lehigh is one of four universities to receive funding through the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program COVID-19 Challenge supporting innovative research projects that could potentially impact Pennsylvania's pandemic response.
In a June 17 news release, Governor Tom Wolf announced seven projects that will receive funding of approximately $25,000 each. We are fortunate to have some of the brightest minds in our higher education system, Wolf said, and they rose to the challenge in supporting our commonwealth during this unprecedented time.
Lehighs project will address the transmission of SARS CoV viruses, including COVID-19, through contact with common surfaces, such as in healthcare settings and in public spaces. The team seeks to chemically functionalize these surfaces with a novel polymer coating that will incapacitate the virus and prevent further transmission. The coating, which will disable the outermost lipid or fatty envelope of the virus, will have long-lasting effects compared with typical disinfectants and cleaning products that primarily destroy the existing virus but become ineffective after a short time.
The proposal was generated through Lehighs Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD), a hub for interdisciplinary research. The research team brings together expertise in virology, materials surface engineering, disinfection in health care, and virus detection. Industry partner Solvay USA, Inc. (Bristol, PA) will help develop and translate the technology to the market and manufacture new polymers.
Developing this virucidal technology to disrupt the indirect transmission of novel coronavirus becomes increasingly more important as our communities move toward resuming normal activities and movements in public, says Himanshu Jain, who serves as director of I-FMD. A functional material will be much more effective than having to rely on frequent cleanings with standard disinfectants in high-traffic areas, such as entrances to restaurants, restrooms, etc.
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Leading the project, entitled A Novel Technology for Disrupting the Spread of Coronavirus, are P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science faculty members Frank Zhang, an associate professor of bioengineering and mechanical engineering and mechanics; Xuanhong Cheng, a professor of materials science and engineering and bioengineering; and Jain, the Diamond Distinguished Chair and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. Other members of the team include K.P. Ananth, a professor in the University of Cincinnatis James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy; Lehigh bioengineering professors Anand Jagota and Yaling Liu; and industry partner Solvay USA, a major manufacturer of coating polymers.
Through the COVID-19 Challenge program, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) engaged Pennsylvania colleges and universities in the rapid development and deployment of new technologies, products, and processes with the potential to positively impact the commonwealths response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD)
Lehigh Universitys Institute for Functional Materials & Devices (I-FMD) pursues innovative new materials and devices that underpin many of societys greatest challenges, from detecting and treating disease, to implementing large-scale renewable energy sources, to securing food and fresh water for all. I-FMD brings together Lehighs interdisciplinary expertise in the synthesis, fabrication, processing, and materials characterization as applied to sensors, actuators, and other devices that have critical functionality across mechanical, electronic, photonic, and chemical domains.
Related Links:
Manufacturing PA Innovation Program: COVID-19 Challenge
Website: Solvay
Faculty Profile: Himanshu Jain
Faculty Profile: Frank Zhang
Faculty Profile: Xuanhong Cheng
Faculty Profile: Anand Jagota
Faculty Profile: Yaling Liu
University of Cincinnati: K.P. Ananth
Gov. Wolf: Four Universities Receive Funding for COVID-19 Response Through Manufacturing Innovation Challenge
Institute for Functional Materials and Devices
Our collective emphasis on personal service, premier-level partnerships and professional thought leadership while delivering business value to our customers is clearly resonating with our existing and new customers.
Focus Technology, a leading provider of next-generation IT infrastructure, managed IT services, cyber security and cloud solutions, announced today it has once again been named to the CRN Solution Provider 500 list. Coming in at number 277, Focus has moved up 119 spots on the prestigious CRN 500 rankings since 2017, when it retooled its offerings to add more business value for customers.
Each year, CRN releases its list of top 500 solution providers, a ranking of the leading IT channel partner organizations across North America by revenue. CRNs Solution Provider 500 list serves as the industrys benchmark for recognizing the top-performing technology integrators, strategic service providers, and IT consultants, and as a valuable resource for technology vendors looking to partner with top solution providers.
I am extremely proud of the tremendous company growth we have experienced, and attribute our consistently rising level of success to the outstanding team that comprises Focus Technology, said Doug Alexander, CEO of Focus. Our collective emphasis on personal service, premier-level partnerships and professional thought leadership while delivering business value to our customers is clearly resonating with our existing and new customers.
CRNs Solution Provider 500 list showcases the top IT channel partner organizations across North America, said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. This year, companies on this list represent a combined revenue of $393 billion, a data point that underscores the impact and influence these solution providers have on the IT industry. On behalf of The Channel Company, Id like to congratulate these companies for their outstanding contributions to the growth and success of our industry.
Click here to see the complete 2020 CRN Solution Provider 500 list.
About Focus Technology
Founded in 1997, Focus Technology is a leading Boston-based information technology firm that offers organizations new ways to consume technology. By designing and implementing innovative IT solutions through personalized service, Focus Technology delivers positive results that support the customers strategic vision. Our team of experienced industry-certified solutions architects provides customized solutions specifically designed to address each clients unique business requirements.
With expertise in next-generation data center infrastructure, managed IT services, cloud solutions and cyber security, Focus Technology is one of the top IT solution providers in the Northeast. The company has earned numerous awards and accolades, including CRN MSP Elite 150, CRN MSP Security 100, CRN Fast Growth 150, CRN Tech Elite 150, CRN Triple Crown Winner, Boston Business Journals Best Places to Work and Boston Business Journal Fast 50.
For more information visit focustsi.com, Twitter @FocusTSI or LinkedIn
EDWARDSVILLE The DREAM (Dismantling Racism through Education, Advocacy and Mobilization) Collective at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host a webinar featuring LaWanda Ward, JD, PhD, at 2 p.m. Friday, June 26.
Ward, an assistant professor of education and research associate in the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the Penn State College of Education, will speak on the topic Still Searching for Justice: Free speech and anti-Blackness in U.S. Higher Education.
Photo credit: Malte Mueller - Getty Images
From Oprah Magazine
Theres a quote I've seen often attributed to author John Green thats deeply resonated with me lately. Reading forces you to be quiet in a world that no longer makes place for that.
There's been a lot of quiet over the past few months as we've all struggled through a global pandemic that's filled us with anxiety and uncertainty. On the flip side, the anger and unrest over the killing of Black lives, including George Floyds, has demanded that we all speak up and use our voices. With everything thats been going on, I reached a point where it became almost impossible to silence my mind.
Over the past few months, I've tried everything to find a little bit of peace. Ive done some writing, Ive cooked delicious meals, Ive had dinner parties with my two roommates, Ive meditated. Ive even made it a point to work out every single morning since we began sheltering in place in New York back in March. Still, since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, I found that nothing put me at easeuntil one day I picked up a novel.
When I was a little girl, I always loved the escape I experienced whenever I dove into fiction. It was comforting to read something adventurous and exciting to help me escape to another placeespecially when my reality wasnt necessarily ideal. But as I got older, I began to reach for non-fiction instead. Recently, I realized that was because at some point in my life, I stopped relating to the protagonists of some of the most popular bestsellersbecause they didn't look like me.
Sure, there were novels written by brown and Black authors whose characters more closely mirrored my own experiences. In fact, some of my favorite works of fiction include The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, In The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, and The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, just to name a few. But finding novels that really spoke to my experience as a Dominican-American born and raised in New York was harder to come by. And even the novels I did find often featured Puerto Rican or Mexican protagonists; rarely did any center on Dominican women with brown skin and curly hair.
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So by my 20s, I had moved on from fiction. To be honest, I couldn't even tell you the last time I read a novel before the coronavirus pandemic. It was then that, after months of feeling overwhelmed by CNN and New York Times news updates, I decided I needed a true escape. Over the years, I had bookmarked a few titles that intrigued me, and finally, nowwith a bit more free time on my handsit felt like the moment to jump back in and fully immerse myself in a world other than my own.
After a few industry friends had highly recommended it, I began in mid-May with Dominicana by Dominican author Angie Cruz. The book is set in the 1960s and follows Ana Cancion, a young woman who is married off to an older (and, we eventually learn, abusive) man so that her family could migrate from the Dominican Republic to the United States. Being a first-generation Dominican-American, so much of this storywhich was inspired by Cruz's own motherresonated with me, from the intergenerational trauma of immigration so many of my relatives experienced to the Dominican slang used throughout.
My journey to meeting Ana began with seeing the words Dominicana written across a cover featuring a brown-skinned Afro-Latina with curly hair looking out a New York City window. That image alone was enough to immediately grab my attention, but it wasnt something I was ever able to find growing up. And there was more to this story than its cover; Dominicana captures what it means to be an immigrant in America, a story I could relate to that also helped me forget, if only for a few hours, that Im currently living in a pandemic. As soon as I closed the book, I was thirsty for more books about Latinas like me, written by Latinas like me.
My next read was by Afro-Dominican poet and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo, who I have been a fan of ever since her spoken word reading of her poem Hair went viral in 2014. Clap When You Land is her third novel, following her critically-acclaimed debut novel The Poet X and her 2019 YA read With The Fire On High. Clap When You Land was inspired by the 2001 crash of Flight 587, a plane en route to the Dominican Republic with 260 passengers who dieda story that was largely lost in mainstream media since it closely followed the September 11 attacks.
The novel follows two 16-year-old sisters: Yahaira, in New York City, and Camino, in the Dominican Republic. Both are Afro-Latinas with curly hair who are completely unaware of the others existence until they discover their father's secret after his death.
I was raised so damn Dominican. Spanish my first language, bachata a reminder of the power of my body, platano and salami for years before I ever tasted peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, the character of Yahaira thinks to herself. If you asked me what I was, & you meant in terms of culture, Id say Dominican. No hesitation, no question about it. Can you be from a place you have never been? You can find the island stamped all over me, but what would the island find if I was there? Can you claim a home that does not know you, much less claim you as its own?
It was passages like thisand many morethat made me feel seen, making my experiences as a Dominicana from Nueva York feel more real while reminding me that my story and stories written by women like me really do matter. Suddenly, I realized that seeing myself in these pages was like anti-anxiety medication, doing far more for me during the quarantine than any prescription or meditation app could. At this point, I decided to commit to a journey of reading novels not just by Latina authors, but specifically Dominican women with shared experiences like myself.
The third book I chose was A Taste of Sage by Dominican writer and food lover Yaffa S. Santos. After seeing an Instagram post by the Dominican Writers Association, I decided to pre-order the novel centered on Lumi Santana, a chef who can perceive a persons emotions by tasting their cooking. Its a gift she learned when she was just a little girl but didnt quite understand until a visit to a curandera (a traditional healer of Latin American descent). Eventually, she finds herself taking a sous chef position at a traditional French restaurant in New York owned by a grumpy chefand what happens next is a love story about both romance and food.
Not only did I very much relate to Lumis character, but I was also comforted by the Dominican recipes like sancocho in each chapter that I grew up eating and cooking myself with my abuela. Stir with purpose, my friends, Lumis character says, a line that immediately reminded me of my abuela's frequent message to me: Cocina con amor.
The irony of all this is that I dove into reading fiction by authors like me to escapebut these books have actually made me feel more present than ever. Being a journalist who writes mostly about Latinx culture, diversity, and race, I am constantly aware of the importance of representationand the power it gives those of us who have been underrepresented.
But books like Dominicana, Clap When You Land, and A Taste of Sage for me have been the proof. They have served as personal reminders of how seen, alive, and empowered we can feel when we read about characters that look and speak like us and share our culture. Its no wonder Afro-Latina-owned bookstores like Cafe con Libros in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and The Lit Bar in the Bronx owned have experienced so much success recently. (Both were even recently featured in Beyonce's directory of Black-owned businesses.) Both bookstores highlight the importance of creating safe spaces where folks can find books written for them, by themincluding the Afro-Latinx community.
Im proud to be living in a time stories like these are not just available, but getting some must-deserved recognitionand you better believe Ill be ordering more novels by Latina authors throughout this quarantine. If you need me, Ill be curled up in a corner somewhere with a hot cafecito, getting lost in the pages of Julia Alvarezs latest novel, Afterlife.
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By Express News Service
BENGALURU: This Independence Day, celebrations are likely to be muted. The Karnataka Covid-19 war room anticipates 20,000 to 25,000 active cases across the State by mid-August, as against an earlier projection by some experts of a whopping 2 lakh cases by then.
This data was released by the state war room. Munish Moudgil, in charge of the war room, said, The expected active cases by August 15 is 20,000-25,000, however, it is extremely difficult to make accurate projections, particularly beyond 15-20 days, as it is dependent on the behaviour of individual citizens as well as action points the state government takes.
Active cases are those which currently test positive and are under treatment. As of Monday, there were 3,523 active cases in Karnataka, and it is this number the Covid-19 war room anticipates going up to 25,000 by mid-August.Simply put, the number of active cases is arrived at by subtracting the sum of those discharged so far, and the total number of deaths, from the tally. The total number of those who tested positive since the first case was reported on March 8 is 9,399, and includes those who have recovered.
Moudgil said that in July, the number of active cases is expected to reach 10,000. But he pointed out that such projections are very sensitive if the daily growth rate is 3 per cent, the tally by mid-August would be 17,000. But if growth rate is 4 per cent, the number of cases would reach 25,000 in about 50-60 days.
He said that every successful effort to reduce growth rate would exponentially reduce numbers. But conversely, we could pay heavily for any slip-up, he said. Preventive measures could make a huge difference too. Citizens can make a major difference by masking up, washing hands and observing hygiene and social distancing practices, he said.
Some of the preventive
action points are to trace all contacts of Covid patients within 24 hours and effectively quarantine them, quarantine every interstate arrival for 14 days, increase both quantity and quality of testing, besides selecting and testing vulnerable and infectious groups.
Army Chief Naravane is on a two-day visit to Eastern Ladakh to review on-ground developments with China as Army Commanders meet in New Delhi to discuss border situation.
Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday interacted with gallant Indian Army soldiers at Military Hospital, Leh during his two-day visit to Eastern Ladakh. Taking to the twitter, Indian Army said, General MM Naravane #COAS interacting with our gallant soldiers at Military Hospital, Leh during his two-day visit to Eastern #Ladakh.
Army chief during his visit is scheduled to review the on-ground situation and the progress in talks with the Chinese military. The Army chief had on Monday discussed the security situation with the top Army commanders in Delhi, officials said.
According to Army officials, all commanders are in the national capital for the second phase of the commanders conference. Army Commanders Conference was held from June 22-23 to review the operational situation on both the northern and western fronts.
General MM Naravane #COAS interacting with our gallant soldiers at Military Hospital, Leh during his two day visit to Eastern #Ladakh. pic.twitter.com/pG22J7kIs4 ADG PI INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 23, 2020
Also read: US Intel claims Galwan attack was planned by China to teach India a lesson
Also read: Mutual consensus to disengage: India-China at military talks
The meeting comes at a time when India and China are holding military-level talks to defuse the border tensions after the violent face-off in Ladakhs Galwan valley in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives.
Indian intercepts have revealed that the Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured.
Also read: Cong, BJP shadow boxing continues over LAC standoff with China
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A trial of AstraZenecas experimental Covid-19 vaccine in pigs has found that two doses of the Oxford University-developed shot produced a greater antibody response than a single dose, scientists said on Tuesday.
Research released by Britains Pirbright Institute found that giving an initial prime dose followed by a booster dose of the shot elicited a greater immune response than a single dose - suggesting a two-dose approach may be more effective in getting protection against the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine was originally developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, who are now working with AstraZeneca on development and production.
The vaccine is already in mid-stage human trials, and AstraZeneca has said it hopes to have data showing efficacy later this year. Pigs are a useful research model for this type of vaccine and other trials have been able to predict vaccine outcomes in humans, particularly in studies of flu.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:47:46|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Working Committee for the Accreditation of Medical Education (WCAME), Ministry of Education, the agency that accredits medical education programs in China, has been awarded recognition status by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).
The move signals that China's medical education field has put in place standards and an accrediting system with international substantive equivalence, winning international recognition for its quality of medical education accreditation, according to the Ministry of Education.
Jointly founded by the World Health Organization and the World Medical Association, the WFME plays an important role in developing standards for medical education and promoting medical education reform.
Only when a medical education accrediting agency is recognized by the WFME can its accrediting decisions be recognized and graduates from its accredited medical schools be accepted by the global health sector, the ministry noted.
A ministry official has hailed the WFME's awarding of recognition status to the WCAME as another milestone achievement for Chinese higher education after the country's engineering education received the Washington Accord accreditation four years ago.
At the 2016 annual meeting of the International Engineering Alliance in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, China, represented by the China Association for Science and Technology, became a full member of the Washington Accord, an international agreement between bodies responsible for accrediting engineering degree programs.
The Washington Accord recognizes the substantial equivalence of engineering degree programs accredited by its member bodies and is important for Chinese engineers competing internationally. Enditem
Malawian voters defied the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday to return to the polls for the second time in just over a year after President Peter Mutharika's re-election was annulled in a dramatic court ruling. The hotly-anticipated re-run was ordered by the Constitutional Court, which declared that the May 2019 vote, narrowly won by Mutharika, was fraught with "grave and widespread irregularities" including the use of correction fluid on results sheets. It ordered new elections be held within 150 days of its February ruling. The new polling deadline coincided with the coronavirus pandemic raging across world, but that did not deter candidates who staged rallies attracting tens of thousands of supporters across the country. The landmark verdict reverberated across African politics, for it made Malawi just the second country south of the Sahara to have presidential poll results set aside, after Kenya in 2017. But that decision sent Mutharika into a frenzy, accusing judges of working with the opposition to steal the election through what he dubbed a "judicial coup d'etat". On Tuesday, he accused the opposition of inciting violence following unconfirmed reports of isolated incidents. - Two-horse race - "It's obvious that the opposition is doing this. This is totally unnecessary," he told reporters after voting in Blantyre. He claimed some of his party monitors were "chased away, some were beaten". "It's obviously people that are afraid of the will of the people that are engaging in these barbaric acts. I condemn it completely." Tuesday's election was practically a two-horse race between the president and Lazarus Chakwera, who lost the election by 159,000 votes. Mutharika, who turns 80 next month, won with 38.5 percent of the ballots against Chakwera's 35 percent, according to the now-discredited results. Victory in the rerun will be determined by whoever garners more than 50 percent of the votes -- a new threshold welcomed by the Public Affairs Committee, an influential quasi-religious civic group. "This election is unique. First, this election is born out of a court ruling and second, they will follow the 50-percent-plus-one system," the group said. "I am happy because this re-run is the will of the people. I just hope that the best person wins," said Peter Chadza, 26, a businessman who voted in the capital. - 'Our date with destiny' - Chakwera, 65, enjoys the support of nine political parties in his bid to unseat the president. "I believe that Malawians' quest for justice is being answered today (and)... that rights will be respected," said Chakwera after casting his ballot at a primary school in Lilongwe. "This is our date with destiny and this is (the) time for the beginning of a new Malawi," he said, expressing "confidence" the electoral commission will do what is right. A new electoral commission was appointed on June 8, with Chifundo Kachale replacing the controversial Jane Ansah as chairman. Kachale described the voting which ended at 1600 GMT as "generally peaceful with some unfortunate incidents but this did not disturb the process". He gave no details of the incidents but vowed to deliver "a credible and transparent election". Army chief General Peter Namathanga told reporters: "We will jealousy guard peoples' votes. We will take measures to deter all those with ill intentions." In a statement, the UN called on Malawi's "political actors and stakeholders to renew their commitment to credible and peaceful elections, while observing all preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19". The coronavirus pandemic has killed 11 people and infected at least 730 in the poor country of 18 million. The electoral commission has provided hand-washing points at each of the 5,000 polling stations to guard against the spread of COVID-19. At Malembo Primary School in the capital, voters washed their hands with soap and water before lining up to vote, but none wore face masks or kept their distance in the long queue. "People really want to vote, whether we have coronavirus or not," said Innocent Maguya, a 34-year-old driver, queueing up to cast his ballot. "We would rather risk the disease than run the risk of having a president that people don't want. We cannot stop this crucial vote because there are no face masks," he said. Some 6.8 million people were registered for voting, which was due to end at 1600 GMT after 12 hours. The electoral commission has until July 3 to unveil the results, although the announcement is widely thought likely to come on Wednesday or Thursday. At Malembo Primary School in the capital, voters washed their hands with soap and water before lining up to vote, but none wore face masks or kept their distance in the long queue The election is practically a two-horse race between President Peter Mutharika, left, and his main rival Lazarus Chakwera, who lost the last election by 159,000 votes Chakwera wore a mask as he cast his ballot at a school in Lilongwe Malawi's vote took place amid the coronavirus pandemic that has killed 11 people and infected at least 730 in the country of 18 million Malawi's ranking on a range of indicators compared with some neighbouring countries
PITTSBURGH, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Two inventors from Duncanville, Tex., wanted to fulfill the need for a fitness belt that would help trim the waistline and strengthen the lower abs, while providing support for back pain.
The patent-pending MIRACLE WAIST TRAINER BELT soothes back pain and promotes healing with magnets, copper, and added weight resistance. It is adjustable, easy to use and effective. It also targets problem areas directly, including lower belly bulges and side saddle bulges. A prototype is available.
"We wanted to design something that would trim one's waist and help their back at the same time," said one of the inventors.
The original design was submitted to the Dallas office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-DLL-3699. InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
SOURCE InventHelp
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As humans, we have always tended to think of ourselves as exceptional. Our ability to reason deeply, our capacity to send and receive vast quantities of information through speech, and especially our potential for self-awareness have all rightly given us a sense of superiority over other creatures. But the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has somewhat changed these calculations, as machines have surpassed humans in many tasks (e.g., in chess). The significance of the AI revolution could be staggering: Might not the importance of our affairs, so predicated on our exceptionalism as a species, diminish if we dont even retain our place as the finest exemplars of thought and reason?
Consider creativity, the conventional beacon of hope for humans in the battle for superiority over AI. While we have ceded much ground to AI in memory and computation, academics such as Memorial University sociology professor Anton Oleinik argue that creativity lies outside the reach of machine intelligence. Something about creativitys demand that one shatter the norms of an artistic field, says Oleinik, is incompatible with AIs tendency merely to master the data it is given and to produce variations on this data. At first glance, recent developments in AI music composition would seem to disprove Oleiniks theory: The Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist (AIVA) has been flaunting its recent AI-driven compositions, which do not sound entirely devoid of style or form. But by examining more typical examples of AIs musical output, the popular classical-music-analysis channel Inside the Score concludes, in line with Oleinik, that music composed so far by mechanical intelligence is dry, unintelligent, incoherent, and thoroughly uncreative. As for the famous examples of AI compositions, Inside the Score contends that these are either doctored or produced by sheer luck after thousands of poor attempts monkeys and typewriters! Neither possibility speaks well of AIs creative capacities.
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There are several reasons why AI has yet to match humans in creative endeavors. Unlike in more quantifiable fields, humans must necessarily judge the success of AI at producing art in a slow and subjective way. This makes for inaccurate and inefficient feedback to the machines algorithms. And while machines thrive on parameters and instructions, art is open-ended and infinite in its potential. But there is a deeper reason for AIs lack of creativity: It lacks true understanding, a necessary requisite for the emotion and passion present in great works of art.
In 1980, philosopher John Searle crafted a thought experiment in his essay Minds, Brains, and Programs that aimed to disprove the hypothesis that machines could truly have understanding. Searle imagines himself in a locked room, with men standing outside the door and feeding him a story in Chinese characters through a slot. The men receive Searles questions about their story (also in Chinese) through the same slot and conclude that he must understand the Chinese language. However, unbeknownst to the men, Searle has a large sheet in front of him on which instructions are printed for receiving certain combinations of characters and returning others in response. Searle is mindlessly receiving sequences of characters, following his sheets instructions, and returning other sequences of characters. He need not understand the story, or even know that the characters are Chinese, to feign comprehension. In representing a computer through his parable, Searle shows that a program-running machine does not really understand it only shuffles symbols mechanically.
In the same way, AI lacks the understanding of what it means for sound to be emotive. There is no concise value that can be assigned to the passionate ardor one feels at the opening of Mendelssohns Piano Trio No. 1, nor to the tristesse one undergoes in the Funeral March of Chopins Piano Sonata No. 2. And even if we could train AI to produce motifs that sound pleasant and authentic as we have started to the stretch from short phrases to a long work imbued with an underlying artistic message is vast. There seems to be something unquantifiable and ineffable about the artistic license displayed by the greatest composers, something we can understand only by virtue of having a mind that feels emotion and grasps sound beyond the mechanical plane.
Yet we have been wrong about AI before. It is not unimaginable that, through the brute force of its computing power, machine intelligence will find a way to surpass humans someday even in creativity. Still, our fierce pride would be left with some consolation.
First, a creative AI would still leave us as the only understanding beings on Earth. Devoid of a neural network, AI does not have consciousness or reason it is a mindless if incredibly efficient machine.
Second, even if we manage to construct a neural network for a machine, and this machine can think in a way a computer running programs cannot, we can still lay claim to the glory of causal precedence. When we invented the automobile, we did not lose our minds at being surpassed so dramatically in speed, but rather reveled in our ingenuity and craftsmanship at having created this apparatus. In the same way, even if we are surpassed by machines both in creativity and understanding, we can take comfort in the fact that they would not exist if not for our exceptional ability to innovate. We are the true creative beings, and no machine can take this away from us even if it out-composes Bach one day. So lets go ahead and make a toast to our robotic friends: You wouldnt exist if not for us, derivative ones! But please, please, dont become sentient.
More from National Review
The Australian Tax Office has sent out chilling text messages warning millions of people it would be cross-checking all details that are lodged in your next tax return.
In text messages sent out on Tuesday, the ATO reminded people it could cross-check all lodged information with outside sources including your employer and bank.
Additionally, the watchdog said it would pre-fill tax returns with information obtained from various sources to make completing the application easier.
The Australian Tax Office has sent out chilling text messages warning people it will check details lodged on tax returns with a long-list of external sources
'Tax time starts soon. We make it easier by pre-filling your tax return with information from employers, banks, health funds, and government agencies,' it said.
'We'll send a message to your myGov Inbox when your pre-fill information is ready.
'If you are lodging your own return you have until 31 October to lodge.'
It is understood the ATO has been automatically cross-checking information lodged in tax returns with other agencies for over a decade.
The ATO said it would pre-fill tax returns with information obtained from various sources to make completing the application easier
If the watchdog discovers an inconsistency, such as a tax return falsely claiming a lower income compared to other data, the person can be audited.
The pre-filled application is a visual reminder at the amount of personal financial information the ATO has access to at tax time.
According to its website, pre-filled tax returns will be available from late July.
It is the latest sign the ATO is ramping up its efforts to clamp down on those abusing the system after it announced that Australians could face fines of more than $12,000 if they wrongly dipped into their superannuation during the pandemic.
'We have seen some COVID-19 early release of super examples where people are doing the wrong thing,' the ATO said.
'In some cases, we have stopped applications and prevented super money from being released.'
Citizens and permanent residents financially impacted by coronavirus were able to access $10,000 of their super until June 30 and an additional $10,000 from July 1.
They must meet strict criteria to access the cash. This could include being unemployed, being made redundant or having working hours reduced by 20 per cent.
There was a boom, then the house shook. Daylan McLee thought for a minute it might have been a small earthquake until a relative came running inside to say there had been a car crash involving a police cruiser outside the apartment in Uniontown, Pa., about 45 miles south of Pittsburgh.
McLee ran outside and pulled an officer from the mangled patrol car as flames began to spread into the cabin. Police officials and others have credited McLee with saving the officer's life after the Sunday evening crash.
"I don't know what came across me, but I ripped the door open and just pulled him to safety across the street," McLee said Monday.
Protests over police brutality following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that have gripped the nation for weeks have laid bare tensions between police and the communities they serve, exposing grave mistrust by civilians, and frustration by law enforcement officers who say they are being painted with too broad a brush. But for McLee, the issue broke through the larger questions on race and policing; it was about saving a life.
Uniontown Police Lt. Thomas Kolenciks voice cracked as he told WTAE-Pittsburgh at the scene Sunday that the department was thankful McLee was nearby when the crash happened.
"Daylan actually said, 'I'm not going to let him die,'" Kolencik told the TV station. "There's just no words to describe, you know."
Several of Officer Jay Hanley's relatives had thanked McLee on social media Sunday and Monday, noting the officer was undergoing surgery after the crash for a serious leg injury.
McLee said Hanley's sister had called to thank him, along with a handful of officers and even the police chief.
The 31-year-old said it wasn't a complicated decision to help another human being. But even some of his close friends wondered if he hesitated because of his previous interactions with a few law enforcement officers.
No. There is value in every human life. We are all children of God, and I cant imagine just watching anyone burn, he said. No matter what other people have done to me, or other officers, I thought, this guy deserves to make it home safely to his family.
McLee filed a lawsuit in late 2018 against four Pennsylvania State Police troopers for wrongful arrest after he spent a year in jail related to a March 2016 fight outside an American Legion bar.
McLee had rushed to the bar in Dunbar, Pa., after his sister called saying she needed a ride home because she had been drinking and a fight had broken out. When McLee arrived, he disarmed a man who was standing in the parking lot with a gun and threw the weapon aside.
At least one trooper fired shots at McLee as he fled. The trooper said McLee pointed a weapon at him twice, but security footage showed McLee disarming the man, discarding the gun quickly and fleeing when shots were fired.
McLee, a Black man with tattoos visible on his neck and arms and twisted dreads that reach below his chin, spent a year in jail before a jury acquitted him on the charges after reviewing the video. That was a year away from his children, and a year away from his mother, who was ill at the time. She died last year.
McLee had another run-in with officers a few months ago, when he ran from a porch gathering after officers in plain clothes and vests approached with guns drawn. He said they did not announce they were officers, and he stopped running and put his hands behind his head when they yelled they were police.
He said he was charged with fleeing and resisting arrest, but said during that arrest an officer kicked him in the face through a fence, splitting his lip. He said the use of force was caught on a security camera and he plans to fight the charges.
But McLee stressed forgiveness, saying he couldn't blame every police officer for bad interactions he had with any others.
We need to work on our humanity ... thats the main problem of this world. Were stuck on how to get up or to get even, and that is not how I was raised to be. You learn, you live, you move on and I was always taught to forgive big, he said. You cant base every day of your life off of one interaction you have with one individual.
McLee's attorney Alec Wright said he isn't surprised his client acted quickly and without being jaded.
Over the course of his life, Daylan McLee has had multiple, unjustified encounters with police officers just because of the color of his skin, Wright said. Those encounters make him the perfect candidate to hate and resent the police. But, that is not Daylan ... The answer is not to disregard human life; the answer is to accept it for all that it is. That is Daylan.
Police said the officer McLee helped rescue was flown to a hospital in West Virginia where he underwent surgery and is recovering. McLee said he realized after the crash that he had spoken to Hanley maybe three weeks earlier when the officer was on patrol.
"I realized after, that I'd seen him. He speaks to people; he says hello; he isn't an officer that harasses anybody. He commented to me about the heat was coming for us," he said.
Daylan McLee, left and son Avian, 13, stand on the sidewalk in front of their home in Uniontown, Pa., Monday, June 22, 2020. On Sunday McLee helped pull Uniontown Police Officer Jay Hanley from his burning patrol car following a collision. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
McLee has a 13-year-old son, Avian, who he is trying to teach not to judge anyone for the color of their skin, for the job they hold or for what other people might say about them, but to instead look at people as individuals.
Some people may think I look intimidating ... and I cant hate the trooper who shot at me for what he doesnt know, McLee said.
"I don't want to be called a hero. I just want to be known as an individual who is an upstanding man. No matter... what or where, just an upstanding person," he added. "And I hope (that trooper) sees this and knows he's forgiven."
Uniontown police would not comment Monday on the crash or McLees actions, saying questions should be directed to Pennsylvania State Police who are investigating the crash. Phone calls and emails to a Troop B spokesman were not returned.
By CLAUDIA LAUER, The Associated Press
Dubai, UAE-based operator Delta World Charter transported a group of Cuban medical professionals in Conakry, Guinea on an A318-ACJ aircraft earlier this month.
Aziz Ghorbani, general manager of Delta World Charter said, The aid was sent to support the country in controlling the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. Our team immediately worked on the best options and offered a suitable solution within 3 hours of receiving the inquiry.
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The air charter business is built on trust and long-lasting relationships. This is critical when it comes to last minute flights. We needed to act quickly in making the right decisions and work with reliable partners to make it happen.
Despite the Covid-19 restrictions, we secured all necessary permits with the help of the airlines operations department who worked with us side by side, 24/7 to ensure this critical job gets done in time.
According to official data, Cuba has sent over 2,600 medical collaborators, divided into 33 brigades to 26 nations to help fight Covid-19.
Delta World Charter operates private jets, air ambulance / medical flights, emergency evacuations, head of state missions and air freight / cargo aircraft charters and short to medium term leases.
A Kenyan policeman has been charged with the murder of a 13-year-old boy while enforcing the COVID-19 curfew order.
Officer Duncan Ndiema Ndiwah, who is accused of shooting Yasin Hussein Moyo on March 30th on a balcony at his parent's home, denied the charges on Tuesday.
Court proceedings were being held in a makeshift tent because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Yasin Hussein Moyo's death has caused widespread protests in Kenya, and calls by the public for an end to police brutality.
In recent weeks, hundreds have turned out to protest in solidarity with those allegedly killed by police in Kenya, as well as the killing of George Floyd in the United States.
Rights activists claim that 19 people, all from low-income areas, have died from police enforcement of the coronavirus curfew including Yasin Hussein Moyo.
Yasin Hussein Moyo's mother likened Floyd's killing to that of her son.
"This has been going on for too long and it has to stop", she said as she looked at photos of her son with her family.
Kenya's Independent Policing Oversight Authority said it is investigating another six deaths allegedly linked to the police since May 29th.
Even as the issue of reinstatement of retired IAS officer Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar as Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner (SEC) is pending before the Supreme Court, a video footage showing the former top poll official meeting two senior BJP leaders at a hotel in Hyderabad 10 days ago has kicked up a political storm in the state.
The video clip, obtained from closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras of the hotel, went viral on social and electronic media on Tuesday.
It shows the former Union minister and present BJP MP YS Chowdary entering into a room on the eighth floor of the hotel, followed by former BJP minister in Andhra cabinet Kamineni Srinivas and Ramesh Kumar one after the other within a gap of two hours.
The ruling YSR Congress Party, led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, was quick in alleging that the meeting exposed the political and caste connections of Ramesh Kumar. YSRCP parliamentary party leader V Vijaya Sai Reddy tweeted without naming anybody, saying: Details of the fourth person who spoke through Facetime? Details soon.
Ambati Rambabu, YSRCP official spokesman and lawmaker, demanded that the government order a detailed inquiry into secret meeting held by Ramesh Kumar with YS Chowdary and Kamineni Srinivas. Rambabu said it reeks of a conspiracy against the Jagan government. He demanded that Ramesh Kumar be arrested immediately.
While Ramesh Kumar did not respond to the calls and messages, Chowdary said there was nothing secret about the meeting. He said Kamineni Srinivas and Ramesh Kumar had met him at different hours in the hotel room, from which he had been carrying out official and business activities since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kamineni had come to my room first and we briefly discussed the BJP activities in the state. After he left the room, Ramesh Kumar had dropped in to meet me and we spent a little time over a cup of coffee. Our conversation had nothing to do with our official or political roles. Our families have known each other for more than one generation, he said.
He condemned the attempts of some vested interests in the media and political circles to show - on the basis of CCTV footage acquired by questionable means - that the three had met.
It may be recalled that the Jagan government had removed Ramesh Kumar from the post of SEC on April 10 by promulgating an ordinance to amend AP Panchayat Raj Act, after the latter postponed the local body elections stating Covid-19 as the reason.
Subsequently, Ramesh Kumar challenged the ordinance in the high court, which struck it down on May 29. The Jagan government moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on high court order, but the SC did not grant the same while posting the case to a later date for further hearing.
Prince Albert of Monaco has hailed a 2 billion land extension project to increase the principality's coastline as the solution to the its 'future private housing needs'.
For the BBC2 series Inside Monaco: Playground Of The Rich, Prince Albert has waived strict privacy rules to give a rare glimpse into the luxurious life of the tiny country's super wealthy.
Viewers branded the Principality a 'utopia' and 'fascinating', and praised the Prince's commitment after the episode aired last night.
The elite tax haven is the most densely populated sovereign state in the world, with average property prices costing twice as much as in London's most exclusive district, Mayfair.
In a bid to tackle the country's need for housing, construction has now begun on a 2 billion project to extend Monaco's coastline a further 15 acres into the Mediterranean sea, with work set to be finished in 2025.
However director of public works in Monaco Jean Luc Nguyen later revealed that the largest sea view villas on the extension will only be within reach of 'ten buyers in the entire world', at an estimated 100 million for one of the properties.
In a bid to tackle the country's need for housing construction has now begun on a 2 billion project to extend Monaco's coastline a further 15 acres into the Mediterranean sea. Pictured: Architectural visualisation
Prince Albert of Monaco (pictured) has opened up about the 2 billion land extension project which he says will accommodate country's 'future private housing needs'
Prince Albert of Monaco explained that their waterfront is the only place that could accommodate such an extension. Pictured: Architectural visualisation
Speaking of the project, Prince Albert said: 'We did a quick projection of our future needs in terms of private housing.
'It became clear that where the land extension is happening now, is the only place on our waterfront that could accommodate such an extension.
'We have a lot of demand for water-view apartments, so this answers that need but creates a public space area everyone can enjoy.'
The extension's seafront homes will range from 100 square meters to 1500 square meters, while the average house on the extension will be 400.
Viewers branded the Principality a 'utopia' and praised the Prince's commitment to the country after the episode aired last night
Prince Albert of Monaco revealed they have a lot of demand for water view apartments. Pictured: The expansion in process
Jean Luc Nguyen explained that they usually use the ratio per square meter to price properties. Pictured: Port Hercule de Monte Carlo
The extension's seafront homes will range from 100 square meters to 1500 square meters, while the average house on the extension will be 400. Pictured, Prince's Palace of Monaco
Speaking of the biggest homes, Jean said: 'I don't know the price, usually we use the ratio per square meter.
'But when you reach this kind of product, there are only ten buyers in the entire world who will be able to afford it, maybe more than 100 million euros for one villa.'
However until the extension is complete, properties continue to be built on the tiny sovereign state - including a two bed apartment for 19 million.
Why is Monaco extending its coastline?
Monaco is planning to reclaim 15 acres of land from the sea so that thousands more millionaires can move to the tax haven. The 1.5billion project will provide luxury apartments at a time where the housing demand in the principality has peaked meaning the supply has run dry. It is estimated 2,700 more multi-millionaires will call Monaco home by 2026, but as it stands there is nowhere for them to move in. Although this is nowhere near enough to account for the entire estimated population swell, the new Portier Cove ecologial neighbourhood is seen as a vital commodity for Monaco's growth. It will be situated near the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the building is being carried out by construction company Bouygues. The firm have taken extra measures to preserve the wildlife in the Mediterranean including moving important species to a new reserve and creating an artificial reef for the animals that remain. The project includes the construction of an eco-neighbourhood primarily consisting of housing, public facilities, an extension to the Grimaldi Forum, a public car park, a marina, a landscaped park, a seafront promenade and a shaded, planted walkway running the length of the Japanese Garden. Those who snap up the apartments, of which only 70 will be placed on the marked with the developers keeping hold of the remaining 50, will join some of the high-profile figures who already call Monaco home. It is an obvious pull for Formula One stars past and present in Lewis Hamilton, David Coulthard and Jenson Button given the city-state's affiliation with the sport. But tennis great Novak Djokovic, singers Shirley Bassey and Bono, and businessmen Philip Green and his wife Tina and Mohamed Al Fayed all live in Monaco. Advertisement
Graham Halsall, a property developer, appeared on the documentary to show off his plush flats, and offered a 'reasonable' deal buying both two bed apartments for the discounted price of 29.9 million.
He told: 'If the client wants to buy the two apartments, i'm selling those for 29.9 million, which is under 100,000 per square meter, which is very reasonable for the best building in Monaco.
'A lot of people will buy this and come for the odd weekend they may not even have residency it's a good investment.'
One of the main reasons for the sky-high property prices in Monaco is because qualify for official residency in Monaco you have to own or lease a residence so demand outstrips supply.
The largest sea view villas on Monaco's land extension will only be available for 'ten buyers in the entire world'. Pictured, Prince's Palace of Monaco
Citizens of Monaco receive subsidised rent, meaning they won't pay over a third of their monthly earnings.
For this reason, Prince Albert plans to make it more difficult for residents to become citizens, extending the time period from 10 to 20 years to become a citizen by marriage.
He told: 'If we continue in this way, we will have an increasing population that will simply be unsustainable for us in terms of providing housing and job opportunities.
'The other processes is naturalisation, roughly between 150 demands every year and only about 20 per cent are accepted.'
The world is now in the grips of a historic pandemic. The death toll from the novel coronavirus has climbed to more than 117,000 in the United States and 448,000 around the world. Total cases of the disease, called COVID-19, have soared past 2 million in the US and 8.3 million globally. Debates are now raging about whether US states have begun to move too quickly to reopen restaurants, stores, barbershops, and the myriad other engines of life and commerce after weeks of lockdown.
But there is one area of widespread agreement, says Robert Tjian, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator at the University of California, Berkeley: the safe path out of the pandemic requires enormous amounts of testing. In the May 1, 2020, issue of the journal RNA, Tjian, study coauthor Meagan Esbin, and their colleagues reviewed recent advances in COVID-19 testing techniques and highlighted barriers facing widespread testing. To trace the pathogen's spread and stop the chain of transmission, it's crucial to test both for the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself and for evidence that people have previously been infected, Tjian explains.
The countries that have so far successfully quashed their outbreaks, such as New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea, and Iceland, have done the best job of identifying cases. In contrast, "the United States has done quite poorly," says Lawrence Gostin, professor of medicine and public health expert at Georgetown University.
That failing is not for lack of effort in the scientific community. Scores of researchers around the country have dropped what they were doing to tackle the challenge in the US, Tjian says. In fact, he adds, in compiling the many studies described in his group's paper, he was "surprised at how quickly so many labs have converted to working on COVID-19."
These labs have devised innovative new approaches for testing, as well as for overcoming the bottlenecks that hampered testing efforts early in the pandemic. Some labs, like at Berkeley, have set up their own rapid testing operations to serve local communities, quickly publishing their methods "so that everyone doesn't have to reinvent the wheel," says Tjian. These and many other efforts are helping to answer some of the basic questions about fighting the pandemic.
Why is testing so important?
SARS-CoV-2 is an especially pernicious virus. It is both highly contagious and relatively lethal, with a mortality rate that's still uncertain but higher than that of flu -- 10 times or more higher, some data suggest. But the virus's wiliest feature is that it can be spread by people who don't even know they are infected. In contrast, victims of the original SARS virus in 2003 weren't contagious until severe symptoms struck, making it easy to isolate those people and cut the chain of transmission.
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In the United States, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has surpassed two million. Case density shown in red. View full dashboard with case tally by country. Credit: Johns Hopkins University
"That people can have COVID-19 without symptoms is one of the most challenging aspects of preventing spread," explains Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. One unknowingly infected person can infect dozens of others, as shown by "superspreading" events like a choir practice in Washington state, with 32 confirmed cases, and a man who visited several South Korean nightclubs, infecting more than 100 people.
In addition, testing may spot SARS-CoV-2 only when an infected person is actively producing lots of the virus, says Tjian. That's why three types of testing are vital, he says. People with any COVID-19 symptoms should be tested, to spot new cases as soon as possible. People who have been in contact with an infected person also should be tested, even if they have no symptoms. And finally, he says, health care providers should test people for antibodies to the virus, to identify those who may have already been infected.
How do scientists test for the new coronavirus?
SARS-CoV-2 reproduces by getting into human cells, then hijacking the cells' machinery to make many copies of its genetic material, called RNA. Scientists have designed several testing methods to spot this distinctive viral RNA. The method used in almost all testing to date and considered the "gold standard" relies on a technique for amplifying tiny amounts of viral genes. First, a swab collects infected cells from a person's throat, gathering bits of viral RNA. That genetic material is typically purified and then copied from RNA into complementary DNA. The DNA is then copied millions of times using a standard method known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, a fluorescent probe is added that emits a telltale glow when DNA copies of the viral RNA are present.
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PCR isn't the only viable approach. Scientists at MIT and other universities have also repurposed the gene editing technique called CRISPR to quickly detect SARS-CoV-2. CRISPR uses engineered enzymes to cut DNA at precise spots. The testing approach harnesses that ability to hunt for a specific bit of genetic code, in this case a viral RNA, using an enzyme that fluoresces when it finds the distinctive SARS-CoV-2 target. In early May, the Food and Drug Administration gave emergency authorization to the test developed by the MIT team, which is led by HHMI Investigator Feng Zhang.
Another testing technique quickly reads each RNA "letter" of the viral genome, using a process called genetic sequencing. That's overkill for detecting the virus, but it has been particularly helpful at charting the virus's relentless march around the globe. And some researchers are experimenting with clever DNA "nanoswitches" that can flip from one shape to another and generate a fluorescent glow when they spot a piece of viral RNA.
Scientists can also see telltale signs of infection in the blood. Once people have been infected, their immune systems respond by creating antibodies designed to neutralize the virus. Antibody tests detect that immune response in blood samples using a protein engineered to bind to SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Creating an antibody test that's both sensitive and accurate can be tricky, however.
Though coronavirus testing in the US has struggled to reach the levels needed, "the science is not the complicated part," says Tjian. "Like anything else in research, there is more than one solution." Instead, the real problem has been accelerating the pace of testing.
What is the US's track record on testing?
Even as the virus rampaged through Wuhan, China, in January 2020 and started to kill Americans in February (or perhaps even earlier), the US government failed to prepare for the spreading pandemic. There was essentially "no response" from the federal government, Tjian says. "You could not have imagined a worse leadership team to be dealing with this worldwide pandemic."
The Trump Administration declined to use a PCR-based test developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), for example, and a test produced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) turned out to be faulty. The lack of a coordinated national effort left states, companies, and university labs scrambling to fill the gap.
As labs and states in the US raced to boost their testing capabilities, they ran into bottlenecks and roadblocks. For example, "only a few supply houses were providing the reagents [needed for the PCR reactions] and supplies were woefully inadequate," says Tjian. Even basic equipment, like the swabs used for collecting samples, was hard to find. "That was one thing that caught us by surprise," recalls Tjian. "Who would have imagined that the most rate-limited piece of this whole puzzle was the swab?" It turned out that the major producer of swabs approved by the CDC was a factory in northern Italy, a region among those hardest hit by the virus.
Without sufficient testing, there was a "tragic data gap undermining the U.S. pandemic response," writes health service researcher Eric C. Schneider in a commentary in the May 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Instead of being able to test every person with symptoms and all those they had been in contact with, as countries like South Korea did, the shortage meant reserving tests for hospitalized patients and for helping prevent health care workers from transmitting COVID-19, he explains.
The lack of data on case numbers has made it challenging to model the path of the pandemic, writes Schneider, of the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation aimed at improving the health care system. As a result, it has been difficult to anticipate where emergency medical services, hospital beds, and ventilators are most needed.
By mid-May, the testing capacity in the US had finally risen from a few thousand a day to about 300,000 a day. Still, that's far short of what's needed. The Harvard Roadmap to Pandemic Resilience estimates, for example, that the country will require testing at a rate of "20 million a day to fully remobilize the economy." To safely reopen, "we need massive testing capacities don't currently exist," says Georgetown's Gostin, one of the authors of the report.
How can scientists overcome testing bottlenecks?
Scientists around the world have responded to the challenges posed by the novel coronavirus. The Berkeley group, for example, dramatically boosted its testing capacity and reduced costs to near $1 per test with improvements such as skipping one step -- RNA purification -- and making their own reagents. "It's not rocket science, but it took us five weeks to figure out the details because commercial companies don't tell you what's in their reagents," explains Tjian. The research team has made their home-brewed test freely available to any lab that wants to replicate it.
Meanwhile, groups at Rutgers, Yale (including HHMI Investigator Akiko Iwasaki), and other centers have eliminated the need for throat swabs by showing that saliva samples work just as well. That opens the door to home testing wider, since spitting into a tube and mailing it to a lab is far easier than swabbing.
Progress is also being made in testing for antibodies. Most of the dozens of so-called serology tests initially on the market didn't have the sensitivity and specificity to pick out only those antibodies directed at SARS-CoV-2. The challenge is that the tests require using copies of a viral protein that binds to the antibodies. One key to solving that problem, it turns out, is using mammalian cells to make the viral protein with the precise shape needed to home in on just the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
How will testing help tame the pandemic?
The basic strategy for overcoming COVID-19 is identifying infected people, finding and testing anyone they came in contact with, and quarantining infected individuals. That's not practical for big cities or entire countries, given the staggering numbers of needed tests, logistical challenges, and thorny privacy issues. But there are clever ways to cast a wider net without so many individual tests.
One is lumping together many samples in a pool, so that large groups of people can be monitored with only one test. Then, if the virus does show up in the pool, public health officials can test the individuals in that group to pinpoint the infections.
Perhaps even more powerful is monitoring sewage. The virus can appear in a person's feces within three days of infection -- far earlier than the onset of first symptoms. Scientists could use the standard PCR test on sewage samples to detect the virus. And by collecting samples from specific locations, such as manholes, scattered throughout a community, it would be possible to narrow down the location of any infections to a few blocks or even individual buildings, like an apartment complex or a college dorm. "You can determine the viral load and how it is changing over time with one test a day," says Tjian. "That would be amazing."
Tjian and many others are now figuring out how these approaches might be used to safely reopen a university or a business. Large-scale testing efforts would be labor-intensive and not inexpensive, he says, but far cheaper than locking down a whole economy -- and far safer than reopening without adequate testing, as some states are now doing. And as scientists continue to increase testing capacities and create cheaper and better tests, this strategy should soon be within reach.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission gave preliminary approval to extend $548,000 for sage grouse conservation projects. The states eight sage grouse local working groups can submit proposals to the commission and any approved projects could launch as early as July 1.
The South Central Sage Grouse Local Working Group met both virtually and in person Monday afternoon to advance a selection of conservation projects, which included research into the effects cheat grass, wind turbine development and other activities can have on sage grouse population numbers.
The speckled, round bird has captured the attention of the West for decades. Regulators across the country have turned to Wyoming to set a protection plan for the imperiled animal. The state is home to more sage grouse than anywhere else in the world. But that ranking comes with heavy responsibilities.
Working groups have sought to balance the need to protect the states dominant energy and agricultural industries, while also avoiding sage grouse population slumps. Sage grouse-friendly habitat has been severely compromised for several years, relegated to smaller and smaller parcels of land across the country. The bird often avoids even the slightest of human disturbances. Official lek data for 2020 will not be published until August, according to Leslie Schreiber, Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologist, but some initial population monitoring numbers show the bird is still in trouble.
New orders, mitigation and court rulings
The past year has been significant for the bird in Wyoming on both the state and federal level.
Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order in August to amend the rules governing development in 15 million acres of sage grouse core habitat. The order not only upheld existing conservation strategies from a previous order but also added new data collection requirements and outlined guidelines for reclamation of disturbed habitat.
The Wyoming Legislature also passed a bill this year that gives the state statutory authority to uphold its compensatory mitigation program. The governor signed the bill into law on May 18. Though the state now oversees a compensatory mitigation program as a way to offset some of the human-caused damage to greater sage grouse, Wyoming regulators technically do so without the statutory authority. The Greater Sage-Grouse Compensatory Mitigation Act changed that.
The state encourages developers to avoid or minimize the impact of activity on land leased in core sage grouse habitat. If thats not possible, developers may be required to offset negative impacts in core areas, like loss of habitat or disruption, by participating in the compensatory mitigation program. Put simply, compensatory mitigation requires developers to offset disruption to sage grouse core areas by supporting the preservation of the birds habitat in other ways.
The Board of Land Commissioners will oversee the compensatory mitigation credit system and institute rules. The Office of Lands and Investments has drafted proposed rules and they are now open to public comment.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Land Managements public comment period for several draft environmental impact statements related to a revised sage grouse management plan closed last month. Many conservation groups said the contested sage grouse plan weakened 2015 protections for the bird. (Last year, the BLM introduced amendments to the 2015 protections, but a U.S. District Court judge issued an injunction to block the rollout of the changes due to violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.)
Advocates for stronger sage grouse protections said the latest management plan still fails to address the courts concerns or adequately protect the habitats critical to the survival of sage grouse.
Wyomings Sage-Grouse Implementation Team, a group of two dozen experts from some 20 different agencies, will be meeting virtually on Thursday.
Follow the latest on Wyomings energy industry at @camillereports
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A 'sea gypsy' who has spent the last 13 years sailing around the world has told Ben Fogle that he makes his lifestyle work by not setting too many goals.
Rick Page, 53, from London, sold his horse training business in Spain and moved to Australia in 2007. There, he bought a boat for 39,000 and took to sailing around the world.
The globetrotte is almost completely self-sufficient, relying on fishing and harvesting fruits for sustenance and using an old wind turbine for electricity.
When Ben first visited him for New Lives in the Wild back in 2015, he had a sailing partner in his girlfriend Jasna, 34.
Ben paid Rick a visit four years after their initial meeting to see how Rick was getting on for the latest season of the Channel 5 show, airing tonight. He found out that the sailor and Jasna had parted ways, and that Rick was happy still sailing on his own around Fiji, following where the waves took him.
Reflecting on his lifestyle, he Rick told Ben the key to being a happy nomad is not to set too many goals for yourself.
Rick Page, 53, from London, sold his business and moved to Australia in 2007. There, he bought a boat for 39,000 and took to sailing around the world. He told Ben Fogle he did not mind being away from his friends or family when the presenter visited him for New Lives in the Wild back in 2016. Ben returned to meet Rick four years on for the show's newest season
When Ben visited him in 2015, Rick shared his life with Jasna, whom he had met in 2010.
The pair lived on fish and fruit and were happy living by themselves on the boat.
However, Ben was surprised to find that Rick now was a lone sailor after parting ways with his Slovenian partner in 2017.
Rick informed the TV presenter that Jasna was now living in Italy, while he continued on with his travelling.
Rick used to share his boat and his life with Slovenian-born Jasna, but the pair split up three years ago
The experienced sailor did not seem to mind his solitude, proudly saying he was single, though he joked saying 'he was on the market' made him feel like cattle.
'What a lot of changes,' Ben observed, and the big thing is Jasna,' he added.
'That's a huge profound change in his life. Not only are you in a new country and you're on a new vessel, but he's also on his own,' Ben told the camera.
'But he seems very upbeat and positive, so I think that's very much a new chapter.'
Later on, while the two men discussed the fact that Rick's travels very much depended on the sea, he said he had accepted not to make too much plans.
'I like the freedom of moving whenever you want to, but I'm not daft enough to come up against sea,' he said.
'If you put your will up against the sea, it'll be the sea who wins. A lot of people do that wishful thinking and they forget, you can't make that deal with the sea,' he told Ben.
'You're forced then to take gambles with the weather that you would not normally take and you get into these situations you wouldn't normally get into.
The experienced sailor told Ben he had learned not to make plans in order to life his dreamed nomadic life
'I think the absence of that goal setting behaviour is definitely the key to this nomadic watery wandering that I do,' he concluded.
Rick already had a nomadic mindset when living in the UK, where he tried his hand at different careers.
It was revealed during Ben's first visit that he had worked as a professional musician in the UK and a safari guide in West Africa, before setting up a horse training business in Spain.
Speaking to Ben he said he had always felt the need to move and had been 'daydreaming of a simpler life,' before eventually buying his boat, the Calypso in 2007.
Ben found that a lot had changed in Rick's life since their initially meeting in 2016. But he said Rick was optimistic and happy
Putting his diverse set of skills to good use, he could earn a bit of money or work on car repairs for locals who would pay him in fruit.
In 2016, Jasna and Rick were trying to be as self-sufficient as possible, fishing their meals and doing their laundry by kayaking to a fresh water stream.
A resourceful man, Rick relied on clever tricks to make his life easier, such as creating a fishing rod with some string attached to his boat and a beer can full of marbles to alert him if anything had bitten.
When the weather was bad and the sea hard to navigate, even at night, the couple were not phased and instead would continue with their travel, using 300 year old techniques used by Captain Cook to find their way in the dark and troubled water.
In 2015, Ben, while he admired the couple's lifestyle, said he could not keep it up for longer than six months without missing his close ones.
Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 5
As protesters take to the streets to demand a reckoning with police brutality and systemic racism, the journalists tasked with covering those protests have taken to social media to demand a reckoning of their own. Journalists of color, most of them Black, have shared their experiences with pay inequity, discrimination, and hostile management at media companies like Refinery29, the New York Times, Complex, and Bon Appetitleading to decades-late mea culpas and high-level departures across the industry. At the heart of the conversations playing out in newsrooms across the country is the double bind that Black journalists find ourselves in: Were expected to do our jobs along with the additional, unpaid, and invisible work of making our workplaces more equitable. Were labeled as affirmative action hires, solicited as sensitivity readers for others work, and enlisted as diversity consultants for our newsrooms, all while we cover the deaths of people who look more like us than our colleagues do. Slate convened a panel of Black journalists to discuss the double bind and this long-overdue moment of reckoning. Rachelle Hampton
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Jelani Cobb is a staff writer at the New Yorker.
Errin Haines is editor at large at the 19th, a new media outlet about the intersection of gender, politics, and policy. She was previously the national writer on race for the Associated Press.
Alex Samuels is a political reporter for the Texas Tribune.
Carvell Wallace is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine. Previously, he was a parenting columnist for Slate and a host of the podcast Mom and Dad Are Fighting.
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Rachelle Hampton: As journalists who have been covering unrest for a while, and also just as Black people who have probably been talking about police brutality for a long time, to what extent do you see this moment as different?
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Errin Haines: Ive covered a lot of protests, starting with Ferguson in 2014. These are a lot more diverse. There are a lot more white people in the streets. Im seeing Asian Americans in the streets. Im seeing Latinos in the street. I think over the course of those protests, peopleespecially people of colordid kind of start to see themselves as having a shared destiny. And even white Americans are starting to understand that their fate is tied to the fate of Black and brown people in this country. It remains to be seen how long that solidarity kind of holds, right?
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Jelani Cobb: I think part of whats different is that unfortunately weve become accustomed to seeing Black people die on video. We can list a number of them: Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, and down the line. But all of those deaths had some way people could finagle plausible deniability and turn this into a conversation about Black overreaction, and to make it a kind of Rorschach test. Look at this video, what do you see? But to kill someone over the course of nearly nine minutes is an excruciating way to die. And for people to witness that, theres no way you can get around the fact that it took an extraordinary level of commitment to extinguish his life. And so it was, I think, the absence of any other narrative that could be connected to it that made people say, Oh wait, maybe this is something. Maybe what people have been saying all along has been true. And then I saw, at least with people I was talking to, a counter-reaction among some African Americans, who were angry that it took something that brutal and macabre to shock peoples consciences into believing what weve been saying all along.
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Carvell Wallace: My observation over the years has been that when it comes to issues of race, white people dont respond to our pain; they respond to theirs. And I think that for all the reasons you just mentioned, Jelani, this caused pain in white people in a way that maybe these other things didnt. But I also think, against the backdrop of COVID, one of the things that really strikes me is that this is the first time a lot of white people have ever experienced the America that we experience all the time. An America in which forces you cant control are controlling you, are threatening your livelihood, are threatening your health.
My initial reaction to the George Floyd video, which I still have not watched, was that I saw a still picture and I just was like, No, Im not doing this today. Jelani Cobb
I was at a protest with my kids the first night. Theyre teenagers, so this was their first time out, really, in the streets. And they were like, Is this what its always like? And I was like, Well, this one has a little bit of special sauce on it, because people have been cooped up for three months. And thats just the energy. People were like, Im out of my house. Im with other people. I dont ever want this to stop. The other thing is that capitalism makes it really hard for people to protest and assemble on the streets, because youve got to get to work, and you cant take the time off, and your boss isnt really sympathetic to your situation. And now people have all the time in the world.
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Alex Samuels: This is the first protest Ive ever covered or been a part of, just because when everything was happening in 2014, I was still in college. COVID disproportionately harms Black and brown people, and those are the people primarily out protesting in the streets. I am cautious but also curious to see what this means for Black people going forward.
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Hampton: Weve talked about how this moment feels different, but at the beginning, it felt sickeningly familiar. Jelani, your coverage of George Zimmermans trial was one of the first pieces of journalism I ever really connected with. But does it ever feel like youre writing the same story over and over?
Cobb: Yes, to the point where you can actually recognize the life cycle of it. Theres a video that gets some attention on social media, bounces around, then it gets picked up by progressive media. Then, you start seeing activists generating attention around it, people get into the streets, media people start picking it up on mainstream outlets. Then, theres invariably a press conference with a grief-stricken family begging for justice. There is an attempt from, typically a police union, to defend the actions even when they are abjectly indefensible. And then, from there, potentially things explode into violence, potentially things dont. And then you have the calls for reforms that often dont get heeded. Ive been through that cycle enough times to know where we are, based on whats happening at any given point in time. And my initial reaction to the George Floyd video, which I still have not watched, was that I saw a still picture on social media of him lying on the ground and the officers knee on his neck. And I saw his face, and I just was like, No, not today. Im not doing this today. And it probably took me two days to actually start engaging with the story.
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Haines: I also have not watched the George Floyd video in its entirety. And prior to the job I have now, I was the Associated Presss national writer on race. A lot of my job was to cover these killings and the countrys response to those killings. So, I did have to watch those videos for work, even though they were very difficult for me to watch as a Black person in America.
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I left that job to take the job I have now as editor at large at the 19th, thinking Im going to be able to lean more into my gender, not that I wouldnt still care about race, but that gender was something I could have the luxury finally of focusing on a lot more. Obviously, that has not been the case whatsoever.
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When the George Floyd story broke, because I knew that that was not going to be a 19th story, I knew I did not have to watch that video if I didnt want to. And I didnt want to. But Breonna Taylors death was very much a 19th story, because this was a Black woman, an essential worker in the pandemic, gunned down in her apartment because of a no-knock warrant that was served on the wrong home. I am still amazed that the only thing that was able to break through wall-to-wall coverage of the pandemic was racism, and specifically, the racism inherent in our policing system in this country. But thats just how important and how urgent that felt to the country and to Black America specifically.
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I dont want to write about trauma and pain. I want to write about relationships and heart and love and birds and trees and stuff. Carvell Wallace
When I started writing about race almost 20 years ago, I thought I was going to be writing about the vestiges of the Jim Crow era, the gains that have been made during the civil rights movement, and how those were playing out in our society. But what I find myself writing about in this stage of my career is the retrenchment of racism and the loss of those gains.
Samuels: As journalists, I feel like we try to look for ways to cover Black joy. Juneteenth [was] Friday. One of our reporters was like, What are the happy things that are happening? How can I tell a story of Black joy that isnt a story of someone dying or being a victim of police brutality? Its so hard to be covering so much trauma, because theres this idea that as a Black journalist you have to cover these Black stories. Or if a white person is covering this story, then you need to read behind them and make sure that everything is sensitive and written in the way it should be and thats just an added burden.
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Wallace: Everyones all excited now, and all the corporations are like Black lives matter and your life matters. Im getting all these emails from Wendys or whatever, and thats never happened before. My first introduction to this topic was Rodney King when I was 15, and it has been nonstop since then. And Ive never seen corporations getting involved. So, on the one hand, you want to be like, Well, thats new. Maybe that means somethings changing. But having seen the short window for the larger societys attention span for Black issues and the way those issues are held as an incidental, ancillary thing, as opposed to a daily lived experience, if Im being honest, that doesnt give me a lot of hope.
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As a writer, youre always questioning, Am I even doing any good here? I feel like what I want to do is write the thing that heals all Black people and heals all racism. I want to just write a thing that makes everything better for all of us in this conversation and for all the people we love and for all of our families. Knowing that I cant do that sometimes is incredibly frustrating. And then I remember: But also part of my job as a writer is to put stuff on the record so that people know what happened. If we dont write, then who tells what happened and can they be trusted? And thats the thing that keeps me going. So, its not an optimism; its more a grim sense of duty.
I dont want to write about trauma and pain. I want to write about relationships and heart and love and birds and trees and stuff. Thats what Im interested in. And one of the things I find really tricky for me as a Black writer who has a lot of white readers is that when I write stuff like that, then white people get really excited. I think part of it is that theyre like, Oh, heres some Black stuff where no ones mad at me. Let me share this. And Im like, No, Im plenty mad at you, but Im not really talking about you right now. And so, theres the question of how to be authentic to my experience of life and write about the way I view the world, which is through relationships and love and intimacy and beauty and so forth. My desire to write about that comes from my experience of Blackness for these 45 years now. That feels authentic to me, but theres this difficulty of mistrusting what white readers are going to do with that. I dont know if anyone else has this, but for me, I find myself constantly struggling with having to sort out how white people are going to use and misuse what Ive written to serve their own gains. And thats just exhausting, too.
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Haines: Thats real. I definitely was where you are maybe 10 years ago. And what I decided was that my role is to bear witness for my people. Period. If white people get something out of what Im writing, thats great, but I dont write for white people. Shout out to my white readers: We love you, we appreciate you, but its not for you. I write for my people.
Hampton: Along with the audiences youre writing for, theres also the question of whos editing you, and very rarely is it somebody who looks like you. And so not only are you trying to adapt your writing for the audience; youre also trying to adapt your writing and your identity for your editor, to make them understand.
Within media, weve recently seen a widespread internal reckoning around race, with several high-profile editor departures at places including Bon Appetit and the New York Times op-ed page. How have you all seen that reckoning play out where your work?
If a white person is covering a story about race, then you need to read behind them and make sure everything is sensitive and thats an added burden. Alex Samuels
Haines: We became the first newsroom in the midst of what is going on right now to establish Juneteenth as a company holiday, which is something Id pushed for. That was important to me as one of our few Black employees, but the 19th is only about 140-ish days oldwere trying to create the newsroom that a lot of us wish wed had. It would be one thing if [the higher ups] saying, Oh yeah, well make Juneteenth a company holiday, was going to be the extent of their effort. But I have the good fortune of working with and for white women who were thinking about these issues long before George Floyd ever became a hashtag. I would hate to be in a newsroom where I was trying to confront issues of inequality and systemic racism in my work only to have to also confront it in the newsroom. Thats a lot.
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Cobb: Conde Nast is also recognizing Juneteenth as a company holiday. In one way, it comports with a concern that Ive had for a long time, which is that its bizarre that Black people celebrate emancipation in this country or that the idea of celebrating Juneteenth was sequestered to Black people and specifically to Texans, and now in recent years, more broadly to other African Americans. But emancipation didnt say anything about us. It said a great deal about white people. If we were looking at someone who was an arsonist who said, Ive burned down these communities, and then that person swore off of arson, should the communities really celebrate that? Maybe that person can privately commemorate it and say, Ive gone five years without setting anything on fire. So recognizing Juneteenth has to be paired with a more sophisticated understanding of what this country is and what it has been.
Wallace: Newsrooms and other companies recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday sits in my mind the same way the idea of representation sits in my mind. I often get asked to talk about the importance of representation. And that word always hits me wrong maybe because it feels adjacent to a kind of tokenism. I feel like theres a difference between representation and having one person need to represent all this stuff. Oftentimes, when Ive been one of the few Black people in the newsroom, I have felt the pressure to do that. To me, Juneteenth feels symbolic in a way that I look at when Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a holiday, and here we are in 2020.
Haines: Somebody in this country was killed, who we now celebrate.
Wallace: Exactly. If people think that thats going to make me be like, Well, now our newsrooms are in good shape. Thank you for a Friday off, then as my mother used to say, they have another think coming. To me, it has much more to do with: Can we change the culture, the way things are shaped? And I think the size of that change possibly eludes a lot of peoples thinking.
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Cobb: Its also just, on the level of the workplace, theres this other dynamic: After everything started jumping off, there was this rush to find the nearest Black person who could explain this for you. And nobody wants that. Ive told people again and again, do not do this, especially dont do this with your employees. Because if youre talking to a Black person about this, very often the calculation theyre making when someone poses that question is, how much truth can they tolerate? If I tell you all the truth, youre going to be angry at me for upsetting you. If you had to walk around thinking about just how far off the mark this society is and the ways in which even this company or you personally have been implicated in it, then that then becomes something that may impair my own future here or my own career ascent. And so it comes with a side helping of race interpreter work that nobody really wants to do. And we find ourselves positioned to do it again and again.
Hampton: There was something I had been thinking about recently, as someone whos pretty new to journalism, which is the resentment thats bred when youre forced to teach people at a time when youre theoretically supposed to be learning, when youre being forced to explain to senior editors why a piece was bad and why Black people on Twitter came for them. Recently, my brother was almost hit in the eye with a pepper pellet at a protest, and I posted it on Twitter, and an editor messaged me on Monday like, Ive been thinking about how theres no separation of work and life for you. I appreciated it, but I also had a second thought of, it took me being here for two years for this to happen? I was like, Ive written about this for two years, I talk about this consistently, I appreciate that this made you think about this, but I dont know what to do with this either.
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Haines: Where have you been? is what I often find myself saying to folks who are coming to me right now and saying, How can I support you? I really didnt know. Im sorry that I didnt see this before. Well, Im sorry too. What are we going to do about it? We are not the help. Can we encourage them to keep going and learn on their own? Sure. Did you just order that copy of White Fragility, or did you actually open it? You actually going to start reading it? Oh, and by the way, are you going to take this past the book club? What are you willing to do right now to prove that this is your country too?
Samuels: I think thats what a lot of Black journalists and Black people are getting right now is that, Im sorry. How can we support you? But then it ends at that. People are coming out of the woodwork when this all happened. People I hadnt talked to since high school were coming out to say, Im sorry. How can I help you? And its like, This has been going on since before George Floyd. Right now, were having the conversation at the Texas Tribune about whether we should capitalize the B in Black. [Editors note: Slate also recently changed its policy to capitalize the B in Black.]
Haines: Were having that conversation as well.
Samuels: A concern I brought up with the newsroom was that I worry were going to have these passive gestures without any real dedication to diversity. We had one diversity training a couple years ago. That was really it. But then you start to think about, OK, in newsrooms, who are the gatekeepers? Who are the people writing these stories? Who are the people editing the stories? I feel like these gestures of, Im sorry. How can we take care of you? Blah, blah, blah, theyre great and theyre cute. But at the end of the day, it is not even close to what allies need to be doing to support Black journalists in the newsroom.
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Haines: And not only that, but just because Black journalists are not in the streets does not mean they are not pissed. And I think thats something that white mainstream newsrooms need to understand. When they ask how they can be supportive or what they can do, they should be prepared for the answer, because the answer is, pay me, hire and promote more people who look like me, and dont stop covering this when the protests stop.
Hampton: It feels like one of the stopgaps editors often use to deal with the lack of diversity in a newsroom, especially in moments like these, is to reach out to freelancers. And Carvell, I think you have the longest career as a freelancer here. Im curious as to what the asks look like in moments like these and how you feel about them.
Shout out to my white readers: We love you, we appreciate you, but its not for you. I write for my people. Errin Haines
Wallace: Ive been telling a lot of people no. The asks, if Im being really honest, are kind of infuriating. And I know its happening to me and other freelancerspeople just showing up and expecting you to write something in the next 23 hours for $300. And youre just like, literally where were you a month ago? I was there, I was writing, I had bylines. But theres been this uptick, this flurry of outreach from people who clearly werent familiar with my work in any serious way. You could just tell by the way they were asking me and what they were asking me to write about and what they were offering me in return for that. It was frustrating, to put it lightly. Then I got a few emails like, Oh, can you recommend someone else? And Im like no. Ive already given too much time to this already. I heard from another writer friend of mine that someone tried to get them to write about Juneteenth. Emailed them the day before at 3 p.m. and were like, Can you write about the history of Juneteenth by tomorrow at noon for $300? Its this, I havent done my homework, I havent done the assignment, I havent done the reading. Now I just need to find the nearest Black person I can find on Twitter and get them to bail me out.
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Samuels: One of the things about Black people being called up to write about Juneteenth or called up to write about the Floyd case is when there are job openings and opportunities at newsrooms and there becomes a question of diversity, of course people want a diverse hire, even though I dont know what a diverse hire is. Does that mean you want more women, more Black people, more Indigenous people? What is it you want? And then people are asked to go through their Rolodex trying to find good people who they feel would be a good fit for the job. And then those candidates often get passed over for someone who is not a person of color, or is a lot younger, because newsrooms want to go the cheaper route.
Hampton: Some have framed the reckoning around race in newsrooms as a generational dividelike young activist journalists coming in and shaking shit up. I think we have a pretty decent mix of ages here, so Im curious how you all feel about that frame.
Haines: What you trying to say?
Hampton: Nothing at all.
Wallace: Whos who here? Whos the old people? Whos the young people?
Haines: Elder Haines, could you please respond? I actually had this sweatshirt when Shirley Chisholm ran, by the way, just so you know.
Hampton: After the blow-up at the New York Times opinion page over Tom Cottons op-ed, [NYT columnist] Bari Weiss tweeted, The civil war inside The New York Times between the (mostly young) wokes the (mostly 40+) liberals is the same one raging inside other publications and companies across the country. And in the frame for Ben Smiths New York Times piece, it was like these young journalists who have been radicalized by Ferguson now want to change everything, and now they finally can as they age into power structures. That frame irritated me because I feel like Black journalists have been fighting for this forever.
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Wallace: The whole time. Listen, journalists were 23 in 1965. Journalists were 23 in 1971. Journalists for the Pittsburgh Courier were 21, 22, 23. This is not generational. This is not age. This is people continually trying to fight the same battle over and over and over again because you keep getting in the way.
Haines: We are on a continuum here. And this is a shared struggle. Yes, when I look at the young wokes who are shaking the table, I see myself at their age fighting the same fights, just as the people whove mentored me saw me as somebody who was fighting the same fights that they had to fight.
Wallace: Im curious to hear any Black folks make the argument that this is a generational thing. Years ago when I was first starting out, I wrote this piece about hipsterism for Vice. And I ended up having all these conversations with all these Black folks in my life about the way hipsterism deals with the past ironically and playfully. And I was talking this piece out with a Black friend and he said, Well, we dont have the same relationship with the past and our parents music that maybe white folks do. To them, its this old thing thats funny. Itd be funny if I repurposed it, itd be funny if I wore these glasses or this sweater. For us, we look at that past and were like, this was the spiritual driver of our peoples, of our parents and our grandparents and our ancestors fight for freedom. So we dont look at the past and say that this is some other generation, that they dont know what theyre talking about. I would hope that we look at the previous generation as people who were engaged in the same spiritual fight that were engaged in, and it is our turn to fight it.
Haines: And also, look at how many Black journalists, period, of all ages, regardless of their career experience, signed onto the #IStandWithAlexis hashtag. Alexis Johnson is a young Black woman at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [who was banned from covering protests after one of her tweets went viral]. She has the backing of Black journalists across this country, because they see in her a shared struggle.
Hampton: Theres a way in which Black struggle gets relegated to the youth in an infantilizing way. White people often dont acknowledge that there are people who are the same age as them who may not have stayed in journalism as long as they have, or even stayed in that specific newsroom as long as they have, because of the abuse. And so they can just write it off as a bunch of twentysomethings coming in and wanting change.
Haines: Or because the push for change looks different. Just because it looks different, please dont think that your colleague of 15 years is not pissed.
(Newser) One of the most prolific actors in adult movie history is facing rape and sexual assault charges that could send him to prison for up to 90 years. Ron Jeremy has been charged in California with raping three women and sexually assaulting a fourth in separate incidents between 2014 and 2019, Deadline reports. Prosecutors say the 67-year-oldwho was charged under his full name, Ronald Jeremy Hyattraped a 25-year-old woman at a West Hollywood home in 2014, sexually assaulted a 33-year-old woman and a 46-year-old woman in separate incidents at a bar in West Hollywood in 2017, and raped a 30-year-old woman at the same bar last year, reports the AP.
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Jeremy faces three charges of forcible rape, three charges of forcible penetration by a foreign object, one count of forcible oral copulation, and one count of sexual battery, reports Variety. Prosecutors said they also received a claim against Jeremy from a 2016 incident, but there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. Los Angeles County District Attorney says the case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson of the Sex Crimes Division, who is also prosecuting Harvey Weinstein. Prosecutors say they will ask for bail to be set at $6.6 million. (Read more Ron Jeremy stories.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 19:05:11|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Tuesday renewed a yellow alert for rainstorms across vast stretches of the country for the next 24 hours.
From Tuesday night to Wednesday night, heavy rain and rainstorms are expected in the regions of Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Heilongjiang and Yunnan, the National Meteorological Center said.
Some of these regions will see up to 70 mm of hourly precipitation accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, the center said, warning that some areas in Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi will experience downpours with up to 180 mm of rainfall in the next 24 hours.
China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
Local authorities should take necessary precautions against possible flooding, landslides and mudslides caused by heavy rain and halt outdoor operations in hazardous areas, the national observatory said. Enditem
DALLAS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kanter Financial Forensics is expanding its forensic accounting, data analytics and litigation consulting capabilities with the addition of data analytics expert Darrell Lane.
The former technical leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers' Forensic Technology Solutions group in Dallas, Mr. Lane has been on the forefront of efforts aimed at developing technical solutions to complex investigative and data analytics issues. He has extensive financial, accounting and investigative experience in a range of business sectors, including financial institutions, broker dealers, telecom, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate and energy. In addition, he has provided expert testimony in cases ranging from capital murder to contract disputes and theft of trade secrets.
"Increasingly complex business litigation and investigations demand that legal teams have the ability to analyze vast amounts of data from a variety of sources," said Kanter Financial Forensics founder Larry Kanter. "Darrell's skills and experience compliment the work that we're doing and allow us to provide high-level analysis that few beyond the very largest accounting firms can match."
Kanter Financial Forensics works with businesses and legal teams to perform complex multidisciplinary forensic investigations in response to contract disputes, fraud investigations, damage quantification, earn-out disputes, compliance and regulatory actions, and a variety of other dispute related engagements.
"Today's litigation must deal with data from a variety of sources. The art that we practice is our ability to find common threads across each of those sources to link data together to create useful information for our clients. Without the ability to understand and analyze complex data, the sheer volume of records can be unwieldy, ignored and ultimately underutilized," Mr. Lane said. "Retrieving data is just the start. We are able to take nuggets of data from multiple sources and turn those nuggets into useful information by linking data sets together. What makes a difference is our ability to analyze large amounts of data and peel back the layers to support our work."
About Kanter Financial Forensics
Operating at the intersection of technology and forensic accounting, Kanter Financial Forensics serves a range of organizations, from Fortune 10 international businesses to locally owned enterprises and even governmental organizations. From international financial investigations to calculating damages as a result of a dispute involving the acquisition of a business, we know how to get to the facts efficiently. We know what questions to ask, what evidence to request and where and how important financial information is stored. Our prior experiences allow us to immediately begin to address our client's issues because we have likely seen similar issues in the past. More at kanterforensics.com.
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Robert Tharp
Androvett Legal Media
800-559-4534
SOURCE Kanter Financial Forensics
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The eighth court hearing in the MH17 trial has started at the Schiphol Judicial Complex in the Netherlands at 10:00 local time, according to an Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague.
Judges, prosecutors, lawyers, relatives of the victims, and journalists are present in the courtroom. Everyone observes mandatory social distancing rules due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The lawyers of one of the four suspects, Oleg Pulatov, lieutenant colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, who expressed a desire to participate in the trial, will speak today. Sabine Ten Doesschate from the Sjocrona Van Stigt law firm is first to speak.
On June 8, 2020, the second block of court hearings in the MH17 trial began. Prosecutors revealed details of the investigation in the courtroom. In particular, it was noted that there is a witness who saw the Buk missile system and the launch of a missile. The prosecutors also told about studying the operation of Buk missiles, in particular, two types of missiles were tested - 9M38 and 9M28-M1. Intercepted telephone conversations, in which the militants could be identified, were also heard in the courtroom.
The hearing was adjourned for a week, until June 22, 2020, to give the defense time to prepare.
The number of people present in the courtroom is limited due to the coronavirus quarantine restrictions. The livestream of the hearing is available in Dutch and English.
In March this year, the District Court of The Hague began the consideration of the case of the downing of flight MH17 in the sky over Donbas.
On June 19, 2019, the international Joint Investigation Team named four suspects believed to be involved in the transportation and combat use of the Buk missile system, from which MH17 flight had been downed. Three of them are Russians: Igor Girkin (Strelkov), former colonel in Russia's FSB intelligence service and former so-called defense minister of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic"; Sergey Dubinskiy, general (at the time of downing colonel) of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and head of the so-called "Main Intelligence Directorate of the Donetsk Peoples Republic"; Oleg Pulatov, lieutenant colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. The fourth suspect is Leonid Kharchenko, a Ukrainian civilian, who fought on the side of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic."
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over conflict-hit Donbas in July 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. All of them died. The JIT reported that the plane had been shot down from a Buk missile system that belongs to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk.
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Wireless Earbuds. It has its pros and cons. While it may be handy for some, others see it as an incovenience given the fact you have to charge it every now and then. Here are some factors provided by Forbes to help you decide which Bluetooth earbud is right for you.
Cost
This is the first and foremost thing to consider. Check your budget. How much are you willing to set aside to invest on a good pair of wireless earbuds of excellent quality? There are expensive ones and there are cheap ones. Unless you buy from a secondhand electronics store, then please stay away from deals that are too good to be true.
Codecs
The next thing to consider would be the specifications. But it's crucial to choose carefully. After all, some wireless earbuds won't work on certain models. Forbes' own Mark Sparrow, a tech journalist for 35 years mentioned that the most basic models will only work with SBC, a codec which doesn't support higher resolution music and often sounds a bit flat due to the limited transmission speed that the codec uses.
Ear-Tips
Most earbuds use silicone ear-tips. But there are some brands that have memory foam ear-tips available. But there are pros and cons for kind of ear tip that you use. Sometimes silicone ear-tips are too small or too shallow won't form a decent seal with your ear canal which will result into a not-so-good sound with a lot of external noises interfering with your jam. On the other hand, memory foam ear-tips expand with the warmth of your ears and create a really good sonic seal. At the end of the day, it's all about fit and comfort and making sure it doesn't drop out the moment you start running.
Battery Life
Most wireless earbud manufacturers will quote a playing time of between three and five hours. Once the power is used up, you must pop the earbuds back in their charging case. Ideally, you need to know how long you can listen to the earbuds before they need to go back in their case for a recharge.
Noise Canceling
This feature of any wireless earbuds is a bonus which a lot of people are looking for. No one wants to be disturbed when they're in the moment. But it's also important to remember that noise-canceling circuitry eats batteries.
Now that you have most of the factors in choosing the appropriate wireless earbuds, here are some of the topitions that you might consider buying.
Read Also: 3 Best 5G Phones 2020 and Guide on Choosing Your Internet Provider
This noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds is perfect if you can afford it with a 6-hour battery life.
This pair of wireless earbuds offers incredible sound and has a sleek design that also supports Hi-Res Audio, but is certainly more expensive than most.
Not only does this pair of earbuds offer outstanding audio quality, but it also has good value for money and a comfortable design being the cheapest one in the list.
Read Also: [REVIEW] AI- Enabled Adobe Photoshop Camera For Android Now on Google Play Store:Here's Why it Rocks!
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday hinted that there could be a surge in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive cases in July and August.
He urged the public to be extra cautious while stepping out of their homes, as the next two months would be a challenge while reminding them to strictly follow the social distancing norms amid the healthcare crisis.
Its been more than three months since Maharashtra is grappling with the viral outbreak. July and August are likely to be more difficult. If people dont take enough precautions, then we will be inviting more trouble. I appeal to the public to follow all norms such as wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing, etc. Well face the consequences, if theres any laxity, Pawar said while speaking to media persons at the headquarters of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in south Mumbai.
Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of Covid-19 positive cases and deaths in the country at 1,35,796 and 6,283, respectively.
Pawar also urged the public to boycott Chinese-made goods amid a violent stand-off along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley on June 15 that had left 20 Indian soldiers dead.
Action must be initiated against such a country (China). Id urge the public to boycott the goods manufactured by Chinese firms. China will be shown the place, if India, a country of over 1.35 billion people, starts boycotting Chinese goods, said Pawar, who holds the finance ministry portfolio in the Uddhav Thackeray-led coalition government.
Earlier on Monday, Maharashtra industries minister Subhash Desai had said in a statement that the Maha Vikas Aghadi a three-party coalition government comprising the Shiv Sena, the NCP, and the Congress has decided to temporarily put on hold the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth Rs 5,020 crore recently signed with three Chinese companies.
The MoUs with three Chinese firms are worth Rs 5,020 crore, including Hengli Group (Rs 250 crore), Great Wall Motors (Rs 3,770 crore) and PMI Electro Mobility Solutions, a joint venture with Foton (Rs 1,000 crore).
We have decided to put the MoUs signed with the three Chinese firms, worth Rs 5,020 crore, on hold. However, this doesnt mean that they have been cancelled. We will be waiting for a clear policy from the Central government on this issue, Desai had said in a statement.
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Delhi on Tuesday recorded the highest single-day hike with nearly 4,000 fresh Covid-19 cases registered in the last 24 hours to take the coronavirus tally in the capital to 66,602, according to data released by the health department. It also reported 68 new deaths in the same period, taking the death toll to 2,301 since the outbreak of the disease. The city-state currently has 24,988 active coronavirus cases.
The capital has also crossed 4 lakh tests conducted in the city to detect Covid-19 patients with tests conducted on 16,952 samples in the last 24 hours, according to the health bulletin.
Delhi is tasked with a major challenge to ramp up its medical infrastructure in the wake of the rising Covid cases, expected to cross 5.5 lakh by the end of July by one estimate, requiring close to 90,000 beds. The health bulletin on Tuesday didnt give any information on the number of beds currently available at the disposal of the authorities for treatment of coronavirus patients.
The departure from normal practice comes on a day when the Union home minister Amit Shah and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal exchanged tweets over a new facility created for temporary use as a Covid-19 treatment centre.
It all started with Kejriwal requesting Amit Shah to inspect the facility with 10,000 beds and to deploy doctors and nurses from ITBP and Army to the facility. It invited a retort from Shah, who said that the decision to operationalise the centre had been taken three days ago in a meeting attended both by Shah and Kejriwal apart from other officials while taking stock of Delhis preparedness.
He also reminded the Delhi CM that the centre erected at Radha Swami Beas facility in south Delhi will be run by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Dear Kejriwal ji, it has already been decided in our meeting three days back and MHA has assigned work of operating 10,000 bed COVID Care Centre at Radha Swami Beas in Delhi to ITBP. Work is in full swing and a large part of the facility will be operational by June 26, Shah said in a tweet, which was seen as a counter to Kejriwal.
Shah also announced that another 1,000 bed hospital with 250 ICU beds was being prepared to be operationalised in the next 10 days. This facility, he added, will be managed by armed forces personnel.
An expert committee set up to aid the governments Covid-19 containment efforts had earlier this month claimed that Delhi will need 15,000 beds by the end of June and around 42,000 by mid-July. It also estimated that the number of positive cases in Delhi will touch the 100,000 mark by the end of June.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update of recent progress made on its Canadian Projects and the acquisition of the Birch Lake West Project.
HIGHLIGHTS
Acquired strategic land package of 1040 hectares west of the Birch Lake Property and north of First Mining Gold's Springpole Deposit. Note, mineralization on adjacent and or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's property - Red Lake Mining District
Completed initial 693 meter ("m") drilling program at the Grenfell Property with high-grade intercepts of 314 g/t over 1.74 m gold (uncut) and 2.50 g/t gold over 26 m.- Kirkland Lake Mining District
(uncut) and 2.50 g/t gold over 26 m.- Kirkland Lake Mining District Outlined a number of high priority targets by completing mobile metal ion, induced polarization, and magnetometer surveys on the Dalton property in order to initiate drilling - Porcupine Mining District
Completed an initial 543 m drill hole which returned 3.21 g/t gold over 1.25 m including a higher-grade intercept of 4.754 g/t gold over 0.75 m on the Dome West property - Porcupine Mining District
Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO of Pelangio, commented, "The successful drill program on the Grenfell property was completed just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, Pelangio encouraged its geologists to work safely from home to review and evaluate data and complete target development on priority projects, in preparation for summer and fall drilling programs. We also prioritized certain projects for potential joint ventures in the rising gold market. We recently completed an over-subscribed financing of $1,450,000, permitting Pelangio to initiate our 2020 exploration programs".
BIRCH LAKE WEST Property Acquisition
Birch Uchi Greenstone Belt
The Birch Lake West Property is located approximately 110 km northeast of Red Lake Ontario in the Birch Uchi Greenstone Belt. In May of 2020 a package of strategic claims became available for acquisition immediately north of First Mining Gold's Springpole Deposit and west of and adjacent to Pelangio's Birch Lake Property allowing Pelangio to acquire an additional 1040 hectares of land. With this newly acquired ground, Pelangio now has a total property position of approximately 3400 hectares or 34 square kilometers ("km2") contiguous with First Mining Gold's 4.67 million ounce Springpole Gold Deposit (Reference: First Mining Gold PR June 11, 2020); Pelangio's land holdings are located approximately 3200 m north the actual deposit (see Figures 1 and 2). Note, mineralization on adjacent and or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's property. Renewed interest in First Mining Gold's Springpole project is anticipated to generate renewed exploration interest for junior exploration companies with established, prospective large-scale land holdings in this exploration camp.
Both Pelangio's Birch Lake and Birch Lake West Properties host significant gold mineralization in various geological environments. These include gold bearing quartz veins in banded iron formation, high-grade gold mineralization in shear hosted quartz veins associated with felsic intrusives and gold hosted within crystal tuffs. Some select examples of this mineralization are as follows:
The best result from the Birch Lake Property to date was at the High Grade Island gold zone where Trade Winds drill hole DDH 96 returned 34.54 g/t gold over 9.85 m (Reference: R.Wells, P.Geo. Trade Winds Ventures Report, 2005 and Pelangio Press Release October 31, 2016).
On the recently acquired Birch Lake West Property Goldfields drilled two drill holes on the Rodman Island Occurrence. These drill holes returned 0.14 oz per ton gold over 5 feet and 0.11 oz per ton gold over 10 feet within a crystal tuff (Reference: Ontario Geological Survey Open File Report 5835).
Figure 1: Birch Lake and Birch Lake West Properties Regional Geology
Figure 2: Birch Lake and Birch Lake West Properties Claim location map
Grenfell Property
Abitibi Greenstone Belt Kirkland Lake Area
Pelangio's Grenfell Property is located 10 km northwest of Kirkland Lake Gold's Macassa Mine in Kirkland Lake Ontario. The property is comprised of 38 mining cells and 8 leased claims covering an area of 6.7 km2 (see Figure 3). Note, mineralization on adjacent and or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company's property.
In early 2020 Pelangio completed a series of short holes in the vicinity of the historical shaft area. The holes targeted the historical northwest striking No.6 Vein system. Hole JS2004 returned 26m of 2.50 g/t Au including a shorter intercept which assayed 3m at 9.39 g/t gold. Hole JS2004 which was undercut hole JS2005 returned a cut value of 1.32 g/t gold over 26m including a higher-grade uncut value of 314 g/t gold over 1.74m (see details in Pelangio Press Release dated March 1, 2020).
Hole Northing Easting Azimuth Dip From To Meters Au g/t JS2004 5336214 560318 198 deg -47 deg 19.00 45.00 26.00 2.50 37.50 40.50 3.00 9.39 JS2005 5336214 560318 198 deg -60 deg 33.00 59.00 26.00 1.32 (cut) 36.26 38.00 1.74 314.00 (uncut)
2020 Exploration Plans
A summer drill program is planned for the project to further evaluate the No.6 Vein system along strike and at depth. Final review of the program is under way and consideration is also being given to further drill testing two similar gold bearing northwest trending systems designated the Shea Vein and the Central Target (see Figure 4). Drilling on the Shea Vein and Central Target will evaluate both near surface bulk tonnage potential as well as the narrow vein high grade potential similar to that found in the recent drilling on the No. 6 Vein. The known northwest trending systems may represent a new target group that has not had significant evaluation across the entire property by past exploration groups.
Summer access to the Grenfell Project is somewhat challenging due to high water levels in creeks and streams; Pelangio will be making application for a creek crossing permit and the program will be initiated as soon as possible after receipt of this permit.
Figure 3: Grenfell Project Location and General Geology
Figure 4: Grenfell Project Surface Plan Map
Dalton Property
Abitibi Greenstone Belt Timmins Area
Pelangio's Dalton Property covers approximately 3.3 km2 of land in the main Timmins Camp (see Figure 5). More specifically the property is located 1.5 km southwest of the historic Hollinger Gold Mine currently being operated as a surface open pit operation by Newmont Corporation ("Newmont").
In the summer of 2019, Pelangio completed a mobile metal ion ("MMI") geochemical survey over the heavily overburden covered eastern portion of the property to develop new gold targets within the prospective Tisdale Group stratigraphy known to exist in this area from geophysics and limited outcrop exposure. The MMI survey outlined a number of high priority targets.
In June of 2020, an induced polarization ("IP") and magnetic survey was completed over the most prospective portions of the soil sampling grid and these surveys outlined three IP targets coincident with MMI gold and silver anomalies.
2020 Exploration Plans
The two highest priority IP targets with coincident MMI targets are now slated for a summer drill program and further evaluation is being considered for the third target.
Dome West Property
Pelangio's Dome West Property is comprised of 10 mining cells covering approximately 56 hectares of land in the main Timmins Gold Camp. (see Figure 5) The project is located 800m due west of the Dome Mine Super Pit and is contiguous with the north boundary of the former Paymaster Mine.
In early 2019 Pelangio drilled a 543m drill hole (DDH DW1901) to test the Tisdale Group stratigraphy and an associated porphyritic intrusive, extending northwards from the Paymaster Mine. This hole was the first hole and deepest hole to be drilled on the property since the 1930's. Hole DW1901 returned 3.21 g/t gold over 1.25m including a higher-grade intercept of 4.754 g/t gold over 0.75m. This gold intercept is believed to be the first gold intercept recorded on the property. The hole also confirmed the presence of the prospective Tisdale Group stratigraphy, marker horizon variolitic flows and the presence of numerous quartz veins.
Hole Northing Easting Azimuth Dip From To Meters Au g/t DW1901 5367651 480357 360 deg -88 deg 471.00 472.25 1.25 3.21 471.5 472.25 0.75 4.754
2020 Exploration Plans
The drilling program for this property has been rescheduled to the late fall of 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation and resulting access restrictions through Newmont's Dome Mine Property. Pelangio intends to carry out a further 700m of drilling in two separate holes proximal to the recent intersection obtained in 2019 in order to further evaluate the known mineralization and potential new vein systems.
Figure 5: Dome West and Dalton Property Location Map
Hailstone Property
La Ronge Area Northern Saskatchewan Canada
The Hailstone Property covers an area of 7459 hectares or 7.459 km2 and is located in the La Ronge Area, Northern Saskatchewan proximal to historical gold mines and deposits.
From a geological perspective the project is situated within the Central Metavolcanic Belt of the La Ronge Domain of north-central Saskatchewan, which represents a portion of the Paleoproterozoic Trans-Hudson Orogeny. The Property comprises a southwest-northeast trending metavolcanic succession intruded by multi-phase intrusive rocks of the Berven Lake Pluton. Gold and copper mineralization on the Property is hosted within quartz veins and quartz rich pegmatite dikes associated with southwest-northeast trending shear zones subsidiary to the terrane-bounding McLennan Lake Tectonic Zone.
The principal focus of exploration efforts at Hailstone is the Asbell Bay Target where recent prospecting efforts by both Pelangio and previous explorers outlined a mineralized trend in sparse outcrop exposure over 1600m. Significant grab sample values of up to 15.9 g/t gold on the Asbell target by Pelangio geologists in 2019 confirmed the presence of gold mineralization in 2019 and extended the strike length of the trend from approximately 800m. to about 1600m (see Figure 6) with the discovery of the Luiza showing which returned 2.06 g/t gold (see details in Pelangio Press Release dated October 7, 2019). Note, grab samples are selected samples and not necessarily representative of mineralization hosted on the property.
2020 Exploration Plans
Pelangio will be conducting a drone airborne magnetic survey consisting of 94-line km of survey at 30m line spacing over the Asbell Bay target in the next few weeks. This work will be immediately followed up with till sampling for gold grain analysis. Upon completion of these programs the more prospective areas will be followed up with induced polarization surveying in order to define drilling targets.
Figure 6: Hailstone Property 2019 Rock Sample Location and Results
Quality Assurance Quality Control QA/QC
Core logging and sampling of NQ drill core on Pelangio's Dome West and Grenfell projects was completed in secure logging facility under the direction of K. Filo P.Geo and adhered to 43-101 protocols and industry standard best practices. Drill core was sawn in half with a diamond saw, tagged and placed in securely sealed bags and then transported by Pelangio personnel to Actlabs facilities in Timmins Ontario. Half to core was retained for reference purposes. Gold analysis was conducted using a standard fire assay with an AA finish (Actlabs Procedure 1A2-50 and 1A2-30) and or gravimetric finish for samples over 5 grams per ton. A series of standards and blanks were also submitted with each batch of assays for QA/QC and these samples were within acceptable tolerance levels. For further details pertaining to QA/QC on these projects the reader is referred to the original Pelangio press releases June 13, 2019, and March 9, 2020 for the Dome West Project and Grenfell Projects respectively.
Prospecting and sampling programs on the corporations Hailstone Property in Saskatchewan also adhere to 43-101 protocols and industry standard best practices. All sample locations were located and recorded for reference. The samples were then transported by Pelangio personnel to the ALS geochemistry Lab in Vancouver and analysed using procedures ALS ME-MS61, ME-OG62 and AU-ICP-21. For samples over 10 ppm Au a 30 g fire assay with a gravimetric finish was completed (Procedure Au-GRA21). Pelangio also submitted its own blanks and standards for QA/QC purposes which fell within acceptable tolerances. Full details on QA/QC for Hailstone can be referenced in the original Pelangio Press Release dated Oct. 7. 2019.
Certain historical results have been quoted in this press release which may pre-date 43-101 standards and/or data on QA/QC protocols carried out are unknown. The author has relied on the work of other professionals in these instances.
Qualified Person
Mr. Kevin Filo, P.Geo. (Ontario), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Filo approved the technical data disclosed in this release.
About Pelangio
Pelangio acquires and explores land packages in world-class gold belts in Canada and Ghana, West Africa. In Canada, the company is focusing on the 6.7 km2 Grenfell property located approximately 10 km from the Macassa Mine in Kirkland Lake, the Dome West property located 800 metres from the Dome Mine in Timmins, the 34 km2 Birch Lake and Birch Lake West properties located in the Red Lake Mining District and the Dalton Property located 1.5 km from the Hollinger Mine in Timmins. In Ghana, the Company is focusing on two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo Property, the site of seven recent near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi Property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine. Ghana is an English speaking, common law jurisdiction that is consistently ranked amongst the most favourable mining jurisdictions in Africa.
For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact:
Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO
Tel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's ability to complete the planned work programs, the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, the Company's plans to follow-up on previous work, and the Company's exploration plans. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.
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.
SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594837/Pelangio-Exploration-Canadian-Projects-Corporate-Update-and-Plans-for-the-2020-Exploration-Season
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev on Monday directed officials to implement all directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, including re-mapping of containment zones and aggressive contact-tracing, to effectively fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the national capital.
Sources said that in his directions to Principal Secretary (Health) Vikram Dev Dutt and Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar, the chief secretary also asked them to ensure enhanced testing and patient-friendly medical care.
These directions come a day after a high-level committee set up by Union Home Minister Amit Shah recommended quarantine of contacts of all COVID-19 positive cases in Delhi and re-mapping of all containment zones to check the rapid spread of the coronavirus infection in the national capital.
"The chief secretary has issued directions to the principal secretary (Health) and the divisional commissioner to scrupulously implement all the directions of MHA to aggressively fight COVID-19, including enhanced surveillance, re-mapping of containment zones, enhanced testing, aggressive tracking and patient-friendly medical care," a source said on Monday.
The committee had recommended that containment zones be drawn afresh and strict vigil and control be maintained on their borders and activities inside them, the home ministry had said in a statement.
It had also suggested that contact-tracing be done for all infected people and once identified, such contacts should be quarantined.
The Aarogya Setu and Itihaas apps should be jointly used to accomplish this task, it had said.
The Union home minister had advised the Delhi government to implement the containment strategy recommended by the V K Paul Committee.
Shah had asked Delhi government authorities to take technical help for drawing the new or amended limits for containment zones in Delhi.
Delhi recorded 2,909 fresh coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the tally in the city to over 62,000-mark, while the death toll from the disease climbed to 2,233, authorities said.
A total of 3,000 or more fresh cases were reported per day in the national capital in the last three days.
Fifty-eight fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours, the Delhi health department bulletin said on Monday.
The death toll from COVID-19 stood at 2,175 on Sunday.
The bulletin said, the death toll from coronavirus infection has risen to 2,233, and the total number of cases mounted to 62,655.
Ambassador George Johannes, South Africas representative to the Holy See, reflects on the deep-rooted realities of racism and inequality that are currently being so forcefully expressed by the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and beyond.
By Linda Bordoni
The Black Lives Matter movement has gathered strength and resonance since the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on 25 May.
Demonstrations have been taking place in the United States and across the world to demand justice and equality for minority communities.
Protests are also taking place in South Africa where, notwithstanding the anti-apartheid struggle that led to democracy in 1994, a legacy of division and injustice still undermines a society where millions of mostly black people live in poverty.
South Africas Ambassador to the Holy See, George Johannes, himself an anti-apartheid activist during the years of the regime and a member of the African National Congress, spoke to Linda Bordoni about his thoughts regarding the Black Lives Matter movement today:
Listen to the interview with Ambassador George Johannes
Ambassador Johannes, who spent many years of his life in forced exile while he continued to be part of The Struggle against apartheid in South Africa, noted that the current social upheaval triggered by the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis is disastrous for America at a time when authorities should have been able to cope and focus mainly on Covid-19.
But it is important, he said, because it has also highlighted the fact that the black population in the US has always been on the receiving end as demonstrated, not only by the long list of African Americans who have been killed by police officers or who have died in police custody, but have also been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Race and social inequality
I found it very interesting to find out why, he said, and certainly its to do with the social conditions in which people live because they are at the lowest rung of the ladder and are severely affected by health issues because they cant afford to pay for health care.
All of this, Ambassador Johannes continued, has channelled the anger of people who are frustrated with the leadership they have.
And, he added, its significant not only for the United States, noting that anger and demands for justice expressed by the Black Live Matter movement have escalated globally for the first time in years forcing people to focus on the issue of race thats always been skirted around, left aside and ignored, and now all governments have been challenged to rectify the situation.
Reconciliation process
Asked whether he thinks America has any lessons to learn from South Africa, the Ambassador recalled the reconciliation process that took place when the apartheid regime was dismantled allowing people to speak openly about their pain and grievances.
Maybe America also needs a reconciliation process where people can speak about what has happened to their families, he said.
The fact that issues of injustice and anger are coming to the surface is very helpful, he reiterated, as the United States isnt seen as a racially divided country, but is dealing with deep-rooted questions that need to be urgently addressed.
Global issue
It is helpful, he added, also because it is raising issues connected to colonialism and the slave trade , in many other countries as well, including the UK.
It brings the deprived, the people on the peripheries to centre stage, saying we too have to be counted, not just the privileged few, he said.
The fact that all this has come to the fore during the lockdowns imposed by the pandemic, the Ambassador said, means that people have the time to reflect on what is happening and perhaps take note that in their own countries there may be injustices to address, because if not: it's going to be far more dangerous than the coronavirus.
From his perspective as an anti-apartheid activist, as a member of South Africas ruling ANC party and as a diplomat, Johannes voiced his opinion that racism should be addressed by international organizations that aim to safeguard fundamental rights.
Maybe the UN and other multilateral bodies have to start addressing the issue of racism:
during the 80s apartheid was seen as a Crime Against Humanity, he said. So, he continued systemic racism and racial harassment should perhaps also be considered crimes to be brought before the International Criminal Court of Justice.
The Struggle continues
Finally, thinking back to the long years of the South African Struggle for democracy and to the struggles of many other oppressed peoples in the past century, Ambassador Johannes expressed his belief that the Black Lives Matter movement is going to be with us for much longer because, he said, it regards the lives of One Human Family as Pope Francis describes humanity in his encyclical Laudato si.
So, I think we must never lose sight of the fact that the struggle continues.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 02:18:15|Editor: huaxia
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DAMASCUS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A booby-trapped vehicle went off in a Turkey-controlled area in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah on Tuesday, killing eight people, a war monitor reported.
The vehicle exploded in a marketplace in the city of Ras al-Ayn in the countryside of Hasakah, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The UK-based watchdog group said in an earlier report that four people were killed in the blast.
Three of the slain people were civilians while the rest are pro-Turkey fighters, the report said.
It added that 15 other fighters were wounded and taken to hospitals in Turkey and in Ras al-Ayn.
Ras al-Ayn is controlled by the Turkey-backed rebels and Turkish forces after a Turkish campaign against Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria in last October. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:19:12|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Shenhua captain Giovanni Moreno said on Tuesday that he is going through a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a hotel after flying back to Shanghai.
The 33-year-old Colombian international said in a video he posted on social media that he returned to Shanghai on Monday and is staying at a quarantine hotel.
"Hope all this will finish soon so that I can join up with the team," he said.
A video released on Monday showed that Moreno walked down the stairs of a small plane alone greeted by three persons in medical protective suit at a Shanghai airport.
It was reported that Mereno paid the expense of the chartered plane, which cost around USD 300,000.
The Chinese Super League 2020 season, which has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is rumored to restart in July. Enditem
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) arrives as Senate Republicans hold their weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 16, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
A slate of primary elections Tuesday will decide who faces the top Senate Republican in November and whether two notable House Democrats can win another term in office. In Kentucky, state Rep. Charles Booker and Marine veteran Amy McGrath lead the field of Democrats hoping to challenge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Booker, a Black man running on a sweeping liberal platform, has earned endorsements from the likes of Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren during a national reckoning over systemic racism. McGrath, a White woman backed by Senate Democrats' campaign arm, was once seen as an overwhelming favorite to win the primary as she ran on more centrist policies and anti-McConnell sentiment among Democrats fueled a fundraising bonanza. In New York, Democratic House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Eliot Engel will try to hold off a strong primary challenge from middle school teacher Jamaal Bowman. The longtime representative has faced backlash for an extended absence from his district, which includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester County, when the coronavirus pandemic was ravaging the area. Bowman, a Black man supported by leading national and local progressives, has cast Engel's views on a range of policies as backward. Next door, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will aim to beat back a primary challenge of her own though the threat of her losing her seat by all accounts appears less serious than the one Engel faces. Two years after the democratic socialist shocked longtime Rep. Joe Crowley to win the Bronx and Queens district, Ocasio-Cortez will face former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, who has leveraged support within parts of the New York business community. Those races, along with others Tuesday, will help to assess Democrats' appetite for reimagining institutions as the pandemic and police brutality put a spotlight on racial inequities in areas including health care, housing and the justice system. Generally, Democrats with more progressive platforms fare better in primaries in blue areas such as New York City than they do in red-leaning states like Kentucky. The Kentucky and New York elections will be the latest to go forward after delays due to the coronavirus. Results will likely come in slowly as the states process more mail-in ballots during the outbreak.
The race to take on McConnell
The killing of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman shot dead by Louisville police officers in March, reshaped the election between Booker and McGrath. Taylor's death is among the killings that sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and a push to ban "no-knock" search warrants. (One of the three officers involved in the shooting has been fired.) Booker, who has spoken at anti-racism rallies as he gains traction in the election, has criticized McGrath for not appearing at demonstrations. Asked at a debate earlier this month why she did not attend protests, McGrath in part cited the ongoing pandemic. Booker, who at 35 is the youngest Black state lawmaker in Kentucky, represents a Louisville-area district. McGrath, 45, previously challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr in 2018, losing by about 3 percentage points. At a policy level, the two Democratic Senate contenders represent differing visions for the party. For instance, Booker backs a "Medicare for All" single-payer health-care proposal and the Green New Deal, a sprawling climate change and jobs proposal. McGrath has called for bipartisan plans to fix the Affordable Care Act and more modest investments in clean energy. McGrath took a commanding position in the race early as she enjoyed more fundraising success than any other Senate candidate this election cycle. She has raised more than $40 million in all, and had $19.3 million in the bank as of June 3. Booker raised just under $800,000 by the same date and had about $285,000 on hand. But he has raised roughly $3 million this month as his profile increased, according to reports. The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that a Civiqs poll commissioned by progressive think tank Data for Progress found Booker leading McGrath by a 44% to 36% margin. For either candidate, unseating the Senate majority leader will prove a tougher task than winning the primary. McConnell's campaign has raised nearly $33 million and had more than $15 million in the bank as of June 3. He last won election in 2014 by more than 15 percentage points. The Civiqs surveyed showed McConnell, 78, leading Booker and McGrath by 14 and 20 percentage points, respectively.
New York House races in focus
But by early Wednesday morning almost as soon as police pulled back their line protesters appeared to try again to re-create the zone.Using electric scooters, plywood from boarded-up windows, debris and a giant coil of rubberized material used on escalator handgrips, they tried to block off their zone. At about 1:45 a.m., police on bicycles moved in. When they went to arrest a woman near 16th and K streets NW, several protesters intervened. Another was taken into custody. Police then fired stun grenades and some sort of smoke to clear the intersection.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:42:36|Editor: huaxia
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-- The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is infamous for churning out anti-China propaganda in Australia.
-- With its academic credibility seriously questioned, it has come under criticism for its strong ideological bias and "one-sided, pro-American view of the world."
-- The ASPI's stance against China is believed to be linked to its sources of funding, a lot of which reportedly come from defence contractors and foreign governments.
-- "ASPI runs a hawkish line on China in a bid to hype up the fear index and make it possible for its donors to sell more weapons to countries in the Asia-Pacific region."
Photo taken on June 23, 2020 shows the office building in which the Australian Strategic Policy Institute is located, in Canberra, Australia. (Xinhua)
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- In a yellow three-storey building in the capital Canberra, so inconspicuous that one could easily miss it, dwells an institute behind plenty of anti-China campaigns in Australia.
It pumps out a "one-sided, pro-American view of the world," said Bob Carr, former premier of the New South Wales. "I see it as very much the architect of the China threat theory in Australia," said ex-ambassador to China Geoff Raby.
The two men are referring to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said earlier this month that with such strong ideological bias, the institute is actually spearheading anti-China forces and its academic credibility has been seriously questioned.
ANTI-CHINA PROPAGANDA
About two weeks ago, Twitter removed thousands of pro-China accounts following a study by the ASPI.
The institute has fabricated reports on policies in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which the Chinese government has repeatedly refuted.
A member of the ASPI was a bylined contributor to the coverage of Wang Liqiang, who was reported by Australian media to have defected to Australia and confessed that he had worked as a secret agent in Hong Kong and Taiwan, but later proved to be a convicted fraud with a fake ID.
"The Wang Liqiang story is just the latest example of claims running ahead of an evidence base in Australia," said James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney.
In fact, ASPI executive director Peter Jennings is a frequent contributor to Australian media, producing articles like "A new cold war will force changes in Australian behaviour," "Party's over for the bullies of Beijing," and "China will be surprised how long it took us to act on foreign investment laws," all of which visibly embody a Cold War mentality.
Photo taken on June 23, 2020 shows the logo of Australian Strategic Policy Institute in an office building, in Canberra, Australia.(Xinhua)
FOREIGN FUNDED
Many believe that the ASPI's stance against China is linked to its sources of funding, a lot of which reportedly come from defence contractors and foreign governments.
When the think tank was founded in 2001, it was funded by Australian government through the Department of Defence.
However, it "was taking nearly 450,000 Australian dollars (about 311,000 U.S. dollars) from the U.S. State Department to track Chinese research collaborations with Australian universities," according to an article by Myriam Robin carried by the Australian Financial Review (AFR), citing Kim Carr of the Labor Party.
Although the exact number is yet to be verified, the AFR report said that the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme, which was introduced to monitor the alleged influence of the Chinese government in Australia, "ironically captured some more recent sources of ASPI funding, including NATO, the U.S. State Department and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office." The list also includes the Embassy of Japan, said the article.
Defence contractors such as Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Thales and Raytheon are also among the ASPI's sponsors, along with some technology companies.
"These other sources have grown far faster than its funding from Defence, meaning in the most recent financial year it accounted for a record-low 43 percent of ASPI's 9 million Australian dollars total budget," said the AFR article.
Photo taken on June 23, 2020 shows the mailbox of Australian Strategic Policy Institute outside an office building, in Canberra, Australia.(Xinhua)
OBJECTIVITY QUESTIONED
On the front page of the ASPI's official website, the think tank describes itself in bold as "an independent, non-partisan think tank that produces expert and timely advice for Australia's strategic and defence leaders."
The institute's claims have come under criticism.
An article on iTWire, an Australian IT and telecommunications news website, said "ASPI runs a hawkish line on China in a bid to hype up the fear index and make it possible for its donors to sell more weapons to countries in the Asia-Pacific region."
"This is an old strategy," said the article written by Sam Varghese. "It was used by the U.S. in the Middle East and still is."
John Menadue, a former diplomat and ex-Qantas CEO, said the ASPI "lacks integrity and brings shame to Australia."
"Think of how insidious that is," said Geoff Raby in the AFR article. "When the U.S. wages a war, the military industrial complex benefits."
An outsider has been chosen to run the City watchdog with interim boss Chris Woolard shunned by the Treasury.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced yesterday that Nikhil Rathi boss of the London Stock Exchange was the 'outstanding candidate' to lead the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Woolard had been in charge since Andrew Bailey stepped down in March to become governor of the Bank of England.
'Outstanding': Nikhil Rathi boss of the London Stock Exchange has been chosen to run the FCA
And though he was a strong favourite to assume the chief executive role permanently, Rathi, who worked at the Treasury for five years until April 2014, will start at the FCA in the autumn for an initial five-year term.
Sunak said: 'Nikhil is the out standing candidate. We have conducted a thorough, worldwide search for this crucial appointment and, through his wideranging experiences across financial services, I am confident that [he] will bring the ambitious vision and leadership this organisation demands.'
One City source said there was 'some surprise' that Woolard had not made the grade, but suggested Rathi's time at the Treasury representing the UK's financial services interests abroad would stand him in good stead to lead the regulator through Brexit.
Another source in the investment industry suggested there was a perceived need to shake up the top ranks of the FCA, after the incumbent officials failed to preempt issues such as the London Capital and Finance mini bonds scandal and the Neil Woodford savings debacle.
But Catherine McGuinness, policy chair of the City of London Corporation, welcomed the appointment, adding that Rathi's 'depth of experience' will be vitally important.
India says it will expel half the staff in Pakistan embassy over alleged spying as Islamabad says it will do the same.
India has said it will expel half the staff in Pakistans embassy in New Delhi over alleged spying by officials there, prompting Islamabad to say it would respond in kind.
Relations between the nuclear-armed rivals are strained and tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, often on charges of espionage, are common.
Neither country has a permanent ambassador in place and in the last month each country has accused the other of illegally arresting and torturing its diplomats.
They [Pakistan] have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement mentioned the recent abduction at gunpoint of two Indian officials, whom New Delhi accused Islamabad of torturing following an alleged hit-and-run incident in the Pakistani capital.
The men returned to India on Monday, where they provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies, the foreign ministry said.
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.
Therefore, the government of India has taken the decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 percent.
The ministry said it would also reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion.
Pakistan dismisses allegations
Pakistans foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday it completely dismisses allegations its staff in New Delhi had violated any diplomatic conventions.
Pakistan also rejects the insinuations of intimidation of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad, a Pakistan ministry statement read.
The Indian governments smear campaign against Pakistan cannot obfuscate the illegal activities in which the Indian High Commission officials were found involved in, the statement added an apparent reference to a June 16 traffic incident in Islamabad that two Indian officials allegedly fled.
Last week, Pakistans government rejected Indian assertions that the two Indian diplomats had been forcibly abducted, saying the men had been involved in a hit-and-run traffic accident and had been returned to Indian custody after legal formalities were completed.
Pakistans statement on Tuesday said it was Islamabad and not New Delhi that had ordered the reciprocal 50 percent reduction to the Indian diplomatic presence in the Pakistan capital.
Both countries said the staffing cuts must be made within seven days.
The Pakistan high commission in New Delhi was allowed to have up to 106 personnel, but in recent months Islamabad reduced staff levels to about 80, diplomatic sources told AFP news agency.
New Delhi has stepped up military operations in the disputed territory of Indian-administered Kashmir since the nationwide coronavirus lockdown was imposed in late March [STR/EPA]
Pigeon temporarily detained
The latest round of hostility began when New Delhi expelled two Pakistan embassy officials on May 31 for alleged spying, claims Islamabad said were baseless.
Last month Indian police released a pigeon belonging to a Pakistani fisherman after an investigation found that the bird, which had flown across the contentious border between the two countries, was not engaged in spying.
Tensions were already high after India in August scrapped Muslim-majority Indian-administered Kashmirs semi-autonomous status and imposed a major security clampdown.
Kashmir was split between India and Pakistan in 1947 when they gained independence from Britain but is claimed by both.
Indian government forces have also been conducting numerous military operations in Kashmir since a nationwide virus lockdown was imposed in late March, killing dozens of fighters.
New Delhi regularly blames Islamabad for arming and training rebels before sending them across the border into Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan denies the charges.
Markus Braun, chief executive officer of Wirecard AG, arrives for the company's annual news conference in the Aschheim district of Munich, Germany, on Tuesday, April 25, 2019.
Former Wirecard CEO Markus Braun has been arrested on charges of inflating the company's balance sheet, prosecutors in Munich said on Tuesday.
Braun resigned on Friday after the German payment service provider said auditors at EY couldn't locate 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) of cash on its balance sheet. On Monday, the company said it was likely that those funds do not exist.
Prosecutors said that Braun turned himself in on Monday evening after a warrant was issued for his arrest. On Tuesday, prosecutors said he would be released from custody as soon as he has posted 5 million euros in bail. He would have to report to police weekly, they added.
When contacted by CNBC Tuesday, a spokesperson for Wirecard said it was "currently not making any further statements."
Braun is accused of having inflated Wirecard's total assets and sales volume through "feigned income" from transactions with third parties to make the company appear more attractive to investors and customers, prosecutors said.
They are investigating a 1.9 billion-euro black hole in the company's balance sheet after its search to find the missing funds appeared to hit a dead-end last week.
JP Nadda attacks Rahul Gandhi citing 2008 MoU between Cong, China's Communist Party
India
pti-PTI
New Delhi, Jun 23: Accusing Rahul Gandhi of trying to "divide the nation" and "demoralise" the armed forces during crucial situations, BJP president J P Nadda asked on Tuesday if it was the "effect" of the MoU the Congress had signed with the Communist Party of China.
"First, Congress signs MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. Then, Congress surrenders land to China. During Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to the Chinese embassy. During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation and demoralise armed forces. Effects of MoU?" Nadda said in a tweet.
First, Congress signs MoU with Chinese Communist Party.
Then, Congress surrenders land to China.
During Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to Chinese embassy.
During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation & demoralise armed forces.
Effects of MoU? pic.twitter.com/Z3WJhpt4Ol Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 23, 2020
Rath Yatra begins in Puri's Jagannath Temple amid curfew due to Covid-19 pandemic | Oneindia News
The two parties had signed a memorandum of understanding in 2008 to facilitate high-level exchange between them and consult each other over important regional and international issues.
India trusts Modi to handle China, but want befitting reply: Survey
The BJP has cited this to attack the Congress as the opposition party has become increasingly aggressive against the Narendra Modi government over its handling of the border standoff with China. In 2008, Rahul Gandhi, then a Congress general secretary, and Xi Jinping, then a senior functionary of his party and now China's president, had signed the MoU.
As many as 20 Indian soldiers, including a colonel, were killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in Galwan valley in Ladakh last week.
"Its the most playful ground I've ever trodden." She laughs, explaining how her latest novel Misk al-Tal (Musk of the Hill) was extremely hard yet quite revealing to write. "I started with fictional characters but didnt have a plot, and each chapter would be written on the spot.
Novelist and university professor Sahar al-Mougy waltzes between different times and places effortlessly in her latest novel. A thorough reflection of life, its three main characters move forward in a sort of harmonious chaos. Despite being fiction, she explains, the main characters of the novel reflect the background of the novelist. Amina, taken from the Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz, Catherine, taken from UK novelist Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights, and Mariam, a modern day psychiatrist, these women were often the topic of studies on al-Mougy's own creative journey.
Born in 1963, al-Mougy grew up in a liberal home. The daughter of Saad al-Mougy, a famous cultural figure, and Gamalat al-Zayadi, a radio presenter, al-Mougy's intellectual perspective was as rich and diverse as the Egypt she lived in. Now a professor in the Faculty of Arts at Cairo University, a story-teller, radio presenter, and a facilitator in the psychodrama workshop of Australian drama therapist Ben Rivers, al-Mougy's rich knowledge of the human self is revealed in her latest novel.
Al-Mougy's literary works are written in her mother tongue, Arabic, rather than in the English she teaches at Cairo University. She is the author of five published works: Saiedat al-Manam (Lady of the Dream) (1998), Daria (1999), Aleha Saghira (Little Gods) (2003), Noon (2007) and Misk al-Tal (2017). Her first novel, Daria, was awarded the Sharjah Women's Club Award in 1999. Noon was awarded the Cavafy Prize for Literature in 2007.
Like Alices in Lewis Carrolls famous novels, al-Mougy's wonderland holds mythological symbols, fragments of history, and characters that rebel against their own writers.
The assertion that "we always have a choice" is a cross-cutting theme in almost all of her works. Though her lead characters are usually women, al-Mougy's writings are not feminist works per se, but are more designed to give women's perspectives on life in general. They contain a human perspective with all its shortcomings regardless of gender, and that's what makes them so vivid and dynamic.
Another subtle theme is the quest to hold on to one's individuality. One of the stories that continues to inspire al-Mougy is The Emperor's New Clothes by Danish writer Hans Christian Anderson. " We all fall into the trap of moving with the mainstream. We give up our individuality for the sake of others. It is very difficult to be an individual, and there is a high price we pay to be individuals and to make our own choices," she says.
For al-Mougy herself, one of her most difficult decisions that upset the world around her but reset her own inner one was a personal one: Divorce. Aside from her gratitude for her "second life" after her divorce, she is also grateful for the past ten years of her life in particular. "I became able to make more adventurous choices. I am usually happier in comfort zones, and I am not a risk-taker. Positive risks, like in 2005 [the aftermath of the Beni Sweif theatre fire that left dozens of college students dead] when I took to the streets, are unlike my idea that a writer is not an activist," she says.
Al-Mougy was one of the early members of the March 9 Movement among academics in Egypt that called for the independence of the universities in 2003. She sided with the 25 January Revolution and had her share of experiences in Cairos Tahrir Square. "When I decided to go back to being a writer in 2014, I was not sad. I believe I have given each of my roles their proper time, and I will always have a place in each, she says.
Studying yoga, transcendental meditation, and drama therapy have all impacted al-Mougy's literary work. She has taken a few months off to research the theory of trauma as well. "Psychodrama [drama therapy] is at its core a way of activating the spontaneity of people. Its about having a new reaction to a recurrent action or a proper reaction to a new action, she explains.
Over the past few years, al-Mougy has become a facilitator for the Ben Rivers Psychodrama Workshop in Cairo. "For many years, I missed the presence of a mentor and that was not a nice feeling to be a mentor and not to be mentored. I have learnt a lot from Ben as he is a humanitarian who conducts psychodrama sessions in camps amidst the bombings and gunshots in Palestine. The fact that he works with compassion among his students is also inspiring. I am still learning from him in fact, she says.
She held numerous writing workshops, out of which Seshet (the ancient Egyptian goddess of wisdom and writing) that enhanced the capabilities of many talented Egyptian writers. Her story-tellers workshop was also a step in which al-Mougy helped writers tell their own stories.
"Qalat al-Rawia (Said the Woman Story-Teller) is the text I started with, and it has a lot to do with Misk al-Tal. We allowed ourselves the freedom to play with the characters and retell their stories. This really had an impact on my personality and on the way I see the world, since anything could be revisited your own past, this moment, a literary work, anything."
Story-telling itself matured immensely through the workshops. "Until I wrote Ana al-Hekaya [I am the Story] I was a story-teller in a group with a director. Later, I became the director. This gave me the pleasure of seeing other discover their own stories and push their imaginations boundaries," al-Mougy says. "To me, writing and telling stories are almost the same thing, and in the workshops we tell the stories of writers themselves. That was different from telling a folk story, for example. Its a very important experience that I hope will continue.
Of her work on radio, al-Mougy says that "Ever since I graduated from college, I've read the news on the radio." In 2000, she joined the European Radio Programme of the Egyptian Radio Service which gave her air time until the end of last year. "I loved it. I would go to the Radio building because I am still very attached to my mother and this is how I maintain contact with her," she confesses. "To me, radio is a creative space, a cubic room, where you are alone yet you address the world. I also like the silence very much and understand the different types of silence radio involves.
Al-Mougy stopped her radio programmes because they were going against her biological clock as the programmes were from 12 midnight to 2 am twice a week. "It was a form of training in letting go of the things you love to give room for new things to come," she says. However, new technology might be the solution for her. "I want to make sound cloud meditation clips. I would like to make them for people in Arabic. This is where I want to put my passion for radio meditation, she says.
"I also love teaching," she exclaims, revealing her passion for her students, the English Department at Cairo University, and the history it represents. "Teaching taught me compassion. I learnt that when you give love, you get not only love in return, but you also get people who are not afraid to ask and are able to hold themselves up in facing life. I also learnt how to be realistic. How many people you touch does not matter, even if it's only one in a hundred students, she says.
As she continues her literary journey she reflects on inspiring family members and what they have left behind. "My grandmother on my father's side succeeded in making a home with very meagre means after my grandfather died. Al-Mougy adds that in her view her grandmother stands for an era.
"Our old house is still there in the Al-Azhar district of Cairo. That place is reflected in my early writings, and all its details often come back to me.
"My mother died when I was 24, and I always said that our time with each other was not that long and my perception of things at that time was not strong, but I still find things of her in me and I appreciate how she was both a career woman and also a farmers daughter from Mansoura in the Delta. She kept a balance. She represented innocence and the ability to maintain the child within and believe in the goodness of life. I cherish this innocence in myself as well, she says.
"My father grows in me as well. 11 years after he died, I still never feel that he isnt there. He left in me things that make me feel safe, that I will be alright no matter what.
He left me the curiosity to learn and understand. He had a gift for people to help them reach insights. I am so happy to find this gift in myself as well, regardless of when it will bloom.
This is my true happiness: to see love growing and shading other people in different spheres," she concludes.
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To avoid having to reinstate a stay-at-home order, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued coronavirus guidance for residents to follow as the number of pandemic cases surges in the state.
'To state the obvious, COVID-19 is spreading at an unacceptable rate in Texas and it must be corralled,' Abbott said Monday during a press conference.
On Monday, there were 3,280 confirmed cases reported in Texas, down from Sunday's more than 3,800 reported cases. Saturday, however, had a record 4,430 reported cases, CBS News reported.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued new guidance for combating the spread of coronavirus as the number of cases spiked in Texas over the weekend. He's pictured at the press conference Monday
Abbott encouraged hand washing, social distancing and the wearing of masks. He is seen wearing a mask as he leaves the press conference Monday
The Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission and other authorities would increase patrols of venues disregarding social distancing regulations and shut them down if overcrowded. An example of a venue that was closed for overcrowding over the weekend
A patient is seen being wheeled into Houston Methodist Hospital on June 22. Over the weekend, Texas saw a dramatic spike in confirmed coronavirus cases
Texas has seen a dramatic increase in confirmed coronavirus cases over the last 11 days
The number of coronavirus hospitalizations has also ramped up in recent weeks, although Abbott said 'hospitals have abundant capacity to treat COVID-19'
The weekend's coronavirus case load was a far cry from the state's end of May numbers, when there were an average 1,500 new coronavirus cases a day.
Overall, the state's coronavirus positivity rate has increased from 4.5 per cent in late May to more than nine per cent in recent days, Abbott said.
The recent positivity rate is twice what it was in late May, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The World Health Organization considers positivity rates above five per cent to be especially concerning.
As of Monday, the state has 3,711 people hospitalized with coronavirus, as Abbott said that 'hospitals have abundant capacity to treat COVID-19.'
The increase in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations is believed to be attributed to spikes in the state's biggest metro areas, such as Dallas and Houston.
Abbott urged all state residents to stay home, practice social distancing and frequent hand sanitizing.
He also encouraged all Texans to don masks, despite having banned local governments from making mask-wearing mandatory on June 3.
Abbott said that he is aware that 'some people feel wearing a mask is inconvenient and an infringement of freedom.'
Priests are seen practicing social distancing at San Juan, Texas' Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle on June 20 while attending a Priestly Ordination Ceremony
Theme park enthusiasts have their temperatures checked before entering Six Flag Fiesta Texas in San Antonio on June 19
Roller coaster riders at Six Flags Fiesta Texas are seen wearing masks as they enjoy the rides
'Wearing a mask will help us to keep Texas open, because not taking action to slow the spread will cause COVID to spread even worse, risking peoples lives and ultimately leading to the closure of more businesses,' he said.
He said that he had started wearing a mask more frequently throughout June, than he did in May after seeing 'additional scientific and medical data that has shown that wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of COVID-19.'
As the number of coronavirus cases increased to record numbers over the last 11 days, officials in cities and counties including Dallas, Galveston, El Paso, Cameron, Hidalgo and Bexar instituted policies requiring store customers and employees to wear masks.
Additional measures that would be taken to slow the coronavirus spread, Abbott said, included increasing testing in hotspots and having authorities - including the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission - increase patrols of venues disregarding social distancing regulations and shuttering them if they're overcrowded.
He said that he was also speaking with local leaders about limiting the sizes of gatherings, especially with July 4 celebrations on the horizon, according to The Hill.
Last week, Abbott had said that people under 30 made up a majority of new coronavirus cases in several Texas counties, which he thought could be related to young people going to Memorial Day parties, hitting bars or attending other gatherings.
From the beginning of the pandemic up through May 30, the median age of COVID-19 cases was 48, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Aside from Texas, health officials and lawmakers in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi have also reported spikes in the number of people in their 20s and 30s getting infected with the virus.
Texas was one of the first states to reopen its economy, ending its stay-at-home order on April 30. It entered Phase 3 of reopening plan on June 3, allowing bars to open at 50 per cent capacity and restaurants at 75 per cent capacity.
The measures Abbott outlines Monday were aimed at avoiding 'having to return to stay-at-home policies,' he said, although he noted that 'closing down Texas again will always be the last option.'
Should the number of coronavirus cases continue to increase as they over the last 11 days, however, he said 'additional measures are going to be necessary to make sure we maintain the health and safety of the people of the state of Texas,' according to CNBC.
He added that if the number of coronavirus cases in Texas were to double into July, 'that would mean were in an urgent situation where tougher actions will be required to make sure that we do contain the spread of COVID-19.'
LOS GATOS, Calif., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PACE Funding Group, LLC, a California-based specialty finance company, announced today that it completed a $ 107 million securitization of residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) assets. The assets were originally sold to a subsidiary of Rosemawr Management and the company partnered with Rosemawr to complete the transaction. The "Green Bond" transaction represents the fourth asset-backed securitization completed by the Company and its first Rule 144a transaction, following its first three transactions in 2018 and 2019 for a total of $165 million. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. acted as Structuring Agent and Sole Bookrunner on the transaction, and DBRS Morningstar provided ratings across the issued classes.
"We continue to pride ourselves on our commitment to consumer protection and policing the contractor channel, and believe that has enabled us to continue to grow our company during these unprecedented times. We were very pleased with the reception we received from investors during this process and are thrilled to close our inaugural 144a deal," said James Vergara, Chief Investment Officer at PACE Funding Group.
An audit of the assets revealed that almost 80% were for property improvements that supported energy efficiency and the remainder were in renewable energy, with smaller sectors in California for water conservation, and in Florida for hurricane resiliency measures. More than 1 million kWh of energy will be saved annually by the energy efficiency improvements, with over 5.5 million kWh of renewable energy to be generated annually. The measures involved contributed to annual savings of 5,666 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and 7.3 million gallons of water. Property owners in Florida will benefit from storm mitigation projects that protect their homes and contribute to insurance premium savings. Kestrel Verifiers provided a Second Party Opinion to support the green bonds designation for the senior notes. Kestrel found that the notes conform with the Green Bond Principles published by the International Capital Market Association.
About PACE Funding Group:
PACE Funding Group, LLC is a leading renewable energy and energy efficiency financing provider with a focus on consumer protection and conservatism, and the only company in the space backed by a chartered bank. The company's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing enables property owners to invest in their buildings and a healthier environment. PACE has proven to be a successful tool for supporting public policy initiatives across the country, without the use of taxpayer funds. While PACE programs are enabled by state legislation and must be approved by local governments, PACE Funding is not a government program.
Based in Los Gatos, California, PACE Funding Group has assisted more than 9,000 homeowners and their families. They work with the California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) and the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG). Outside of California, PACE Funding Group has partnered with the Florida PACE Funding Agency (FPFA).For more information contact Rachel Hobbs at [email protected], or at www.pacefunding.com
SOURCE PACE Funding Group, LLC
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Retail Entitlement Offer Heavily Oversubscribed
Brisbane, June 23, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - NOVONIX Limited ( ASX:NVX ) ( FRA:GC3 ) refers to the equity raising announced on 27 May 2020, which included an institutional placement to raise $5.65 million and an entitlement offer to raise approximately $37.91 million. The Company is pleased to advise the results of the Retail Entitlement offer.The Entitlement Offer comprised an accelerated institutional component (Institutional Entitlement Offer) and a retail component (Retail Entitlement Offer).As previously announced, a total of approximately 82.69 million New Shares have been issued to applicants under the Institutional Placement and the Institutional Entitlement Offer, on 5 June 2020, at an issue price of $0.29 per New Share (Offer Price).The Retail Entitlement Offer closed at 5.00pm (Sydney time) on 18 June 2020. The offer was heavily oversubscribed with applications under the top-up facility significantly exceeding the New Shares available under the Retail Entitlement Offer. As a result, only a very small amount of shortfall was available for allocation ($1.3 million or 3.3%).The Board wants to recognize the support of the shareholders who took their rights in full and applied under the top-up facility and also the priority sub-underwriters who have also been long-term supporters of the company and whose early support provided confidence to launch the transaction when market conditions were very different.As a result and in accordance with the allocation policy disclosed in the Retail Entitlement Offer booklet, the Board believed it fair and appropriate to allocate a portion of the small amount of shortfall to each qualifying shareholder applying for top-up, with the balance to each priority sub-underwriter on a prorata basis. Accordingly, the Board has resolved to allocate up to the lesser of an additional 1,724 New Shares or the top-up application to each eligible shareholder applying for New Shares under the top-up facility with the remaining 3,609,650 New Shares allocated pro-rata to Priority Sub-Underwriters.Refunds in respect of scaled back applications under the top-up facility will be paid to retail shareholders on or around 26 June 2020. The issue of New Shares under the Retail Entitlement Offer (including topup Shares) will occur on 25 June 2020, with the dispatch of holding statements to occur on 26 June 2020.New Shares issued under the Retail Entitlement Offer are expected to commence trading on ASX on 26 June 2020. Shareholders wishing to trade any New Shares prior to receiving their holding statement should confirm their allocation before doing so.About NOVONIX Limited
NOVONIX Limited (ASX:NVX) (FRA:GC3) (OTCMKTS:NVNXF) is an integrated developer and supplier of high-performance materials, equipment and services for the global lithium-ion battery industry with operations in the USA and Canada and sales in more than 14 countries. NOVONIX's mission is to support the global deployment of lithium-ion battery technologies for a cleaner energy future.
U.S. President Donald Trumps march to electoral victory in November was looking more like a sinking ship this week after the crowd at his Saturday night rally in Tulsa, Okla., fell far short of his expectations. He was flinging insults at his opponents, as usual, boasting of his own amazing achievements, as usual, but somehow the magic wasnt working the way it used to.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/6/2020 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
U.S. President Donald Trumps march to electoral victory in November was looking more like a sinking ship this week after the crowd at his Saturday night rally in Tulsa, Okla., fell far short of his expectations. He was flinging insults at his opponents, as usual, boasting of his own amazing achievements, as usual, but somehow the magic wasnt working the way it used to.
The Tulsa fire department reported that 6,200 people attended. The president had previously said he would fill the 19,000-seat arena to capacity and also fill an overflow area outside. News coverage of the event focussed on the acres of empty seats in the upper level of the building.
Patrick Semansky / The Associated Press U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House early Sunday.
The risk of COVID-19 contagion in large indoor gatherings is well-known and was driven home by the Trump campaigns requirement that anyone attending the rally must promise not to sue the campaign if they caught the disease. The current wave of protest demonstrations in American cities, coupled with Mr. Trumps threat of violent suppression, warned people they might get a whiff of tear gas near the Tulsa arena.
In these circumstances, a crowd of 6,200 could be considered a pretty good turnout. Those acres of empty seats, however, totally spoiled the effect Mr. Trump wanted to create the appearance of a huge, unstoppable tidal wave of loyal Americans sweeping him back into office at the November election. He and his supporters on Saturday evening looked entirely stoppable.
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The United States has reported more than 2.3 million cases of COVID-19, with 122,000 deaths. Americans want their president to protect them from such things, or at least seem to be trying to protect them.
Mr. Trump has focused his efforts on blaming China and the World Health Organization for the pandemic, promising early relief through a pill or a vaccine, and encouraging state governors to lift their public health restrictions quickly. Now the public is watching the infection numbers climb in several states that followed his advice.
Former national security adviser Johns Boltons revelations about the unhinged, chaotic character of Mr. Trumps administration have been filtering out in dribs and drabs in advance of publication of his book, The Room Where It Happened. Mr. Bolton clearly has a score to settle after the humiliation of his dismissal, but he does speak with the authority of an insider who was formerly an admirer of Mr. Trump. He is just the latest ex-insider to cast doubt on Mr. Trumps motives and his fitness for the office of president.
Much of the U.S. population has been outraged this spring by police killings and maltreatment of African-American civilians. Mr. Trump has telegraphed his unwavering support for the police and his contempt for street demonstrators who seek curbs on police impunity. His hard-core supporters some of whom were seen at the Tulsa rally agree with him, but the evidence of unfairness and cruelty toward African-Americans has grown stronger every week. Mr. Trump seems not to care.
Former vice-president Joe Biden, the Democrats candidate for president, has been ahead of Mr. Trump in voting-intention polls for a year now. His lead widened lately, with 35 per cent of registered voters saying they will vote for Mr. Trump and 48 per cent for Mr. Biden.
Mr. Biden has been lying low, keeping out of sight, allowing Mr. Trump to self-destruct. The presidents best hope now is that Mr. Biden will start campaigning more actively, misjudge the countrys mood and remind swing voters why they preferred Mr. Trump four years ago.
In the 1920s, these three shops were part of the Metropolitan Gas Company and Croft Stores. They have recently been leased. Two 135 sq m showroom offices were taken by Grace Loves Lace and The Bridal Atelier and the third, a 512 sq m office studio, was taken by interactive software design house Ignition Immersive. The deals were struck by Dixon Kestles Simon Regan at $500 and $410 per sq m net with incentives at less than 10 per cent. Three South Melbourne period shops at 230 - 236 Bank Street have been leased. Credit: Malvern After operating for 15 years as Assaggi restaurant, 99 Glenferrie Road has a new foodie tenant. The two-level premises have been leased for five years at a rental of $75,000 per annum. Given current virus-related regulations, rent was deferred, Gorman Kellys Gerry Gleeson said. Campbellfield
A local transport company has leased 18a Metrolink Circuit for $112,000 per annum. The 1356 sq m property leased on a 2+2+2 year term through Colliers Internationals Mitch Purcell and Corey Vraca. Fitzroy Twisted Dessert Bar will lease a single-level shop at 329 Brunswick Street in a deal brokered by Teska & Carsons Reece Israel. The property was leased on a three-year term with two thee-year options at $35,000 per annum net. It was a great fit for the tenants requirements, Israel said. Hampton Community carer Bayley House is taking more space at 922-924 Nepean Highway in a lease negotiated by Gray Johnsons Rory White. Bayley House signed for the vacant 325 sq m ground floor shop and studio space, which provides a double-fronted street exposure. The new lease is for three years with a three-year option at an annual rental of $62,750 net plus GST and outgoings. The property was previously occupied by a vegan restaurant, which appears to have closed as a result of COVID-19.
Parkville The Australian Medical Associations building at 293 Royal Parade is now fully leased, demonstrating the demand for smaller-sized offices across the inner city. Fitzroys Lewis Waddell negotiated the leases of two office suites, each 130 sq m, to Mayfair Property Management and M&T Chartered Accountants. Asking rents in the building can range from $450 to $500 per sq m gross. Port Melbourne LG is leasing 550 sq m of office space at 36 Fennell Street in a deal negotiated by JLLs Shane Keogh. The five-year lease is valued at $160,000 net per annum. This pocket of Port Melbourne is slowly transitioning away from pure office warehouse to accommodate more commercial tenants, Keogh said. Fitzroy
WASHINGTON President Trump threatened protesters who topple statues with arrest and lengthy prison sentences after a night of protests in front of the White House, in which some demonstrators attempted to tear down a statue of President Andrew Jackson.
I have authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent..... Trump tweeted Tuesday morning.
The statue of Andrew Jackson stands in Lafayette Square, which is located directly across from the White House complex.
According to federal law, damage to federal property that exceeds $100 could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000, though it would be rare for a judge to impose the full term. Cases involving graffiti are usually prosecuted as misdemeanors, and many of the statues being targeted by protesters in recent weeks belong to the states and would not be covered under the federal statute.
Protesters attach a chain to a statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square in front of the White House in an attempt to pull it down on Monday. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)
The area around Lafayette Square has been a focal point of the protests in Washington, D.C., following the death of George Floyd on May 25. Protesters there have clashed with law enforcement from a slew of federal and local agencies, which on June 1 cleared the crowds with aggressive methods including tear gas to allow Trump to have a photo op in front of St. Johns Church.
In the weeks since the initial demonstrations spread around the country, protesters have increasingly focused on removing monuments of figures in American history associated with racism.
Protesters who clashed with officers from the U.S. Park Police and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department on Monday night told Yahoo News that law enforcement used pepper spray and batons when they tried to clear tents erected in the middle of H Street near 16th Street, at the edge of Lafayette Square.
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The Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Protesters clash with U.S. Park Police near the White House on Monday. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
For the past few weeks, traffic through the area has been disrupted, and protesters have been allowed to congregate on H Street and some surrounding blocks by Lafayette Square. On June 5, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser even renamed a two-block stretch that included space near Lafayette Square as Black Lives Matter Plaza.
On Monday evening, protesters attempted to topple the statue of Jackson, a president with a record of owning slaves and oppressing Native Americans who has nevertheless been celebrated by Trump. Graffiti sprayed by some of the protesters labeled the area BHAZ, or Black House Autonomous Zone, in a clear echo of demonstrators in Seattle.
Amid the Monday evening protests, the Secret Service in an unusual move told reporters to leave the White House complex. A spokesperson for the Secret Service said that four members of the media were misdirected during the demonstrations.
A woman near Lafayette Square reacts to being hit with pepper spray. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
The members of the press were rerouted to exits on the south side of the complex for their own safety, the spokesperson said.
Typically, the press corps is locked inside the facility during security incidents.
Demonstrators who spoke to Yahoo News on Monday evening and early Tuesday morning said they were focused on preventing police from removing them from the streets on the edge of Lafayette Square. They spent hours facing off with Park Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police who were clad in riot gear.
We aint about to let them take back this street, said a woman wearing a gas mask who said her name was Zeus X. This is our headquarters for protesting.
As they attempted to hold their ground, the protesters used equipment many had brought, apparently prepared for skirmishes with the police, including helmets, goggles, gas masks, respirators and large wooden shields that were being distributed through the crowds. As demonstrators chanted and shouted at the lines of police officers, one young Black woman with closely cropped hair used a megaphone to criticize them for protecting Jacksons statue.
You werent even protecting us, the woman said. Youre protecting metal marble s*** that dont matter.
Protesters on Black Lives Matter Plaza in front of St. Johns Episcopal Church on Monday. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)
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Read more from Yahoo News:
(Natural News) Cornell Law School Professor William A. Jacobson has condemned insinuations he is racist simply because he criticized the Black Lives Matter movement.
The professor, who is considered a top expert on securities arbitration and investment protection, said that liberals are carrying out a coordinated effort against him after he wrote a blog post that was critical of the movement. The conservative professor is the voice behind the influential website Legal Insurrection, where he wrote about his awkward relationship with the liberal atmosphere in academia.
Although he said he has always gone out of his way to keep his work at Cornell separate from Legal Insurrection, the two careers collided in dramatic fashion when he dared to mention the tactics and history of the Black Lives Matter movement. Thats when the calls began from alumni and fellow professors to have him formally denounced or fired from his job. The effort, he says, is coordinated as some of the emails appear to be written with templates.
The school announced that it would not be disciplining Jacobson for speaking freely, but now he is facing student boycotts of his classes, with one student organization encouraging peers to avoid taking his classes in a letter posted to the law school communitys Facebook page.
The group added that their executive board would not be participating in a Securities Law clinic supervised by the professor and asked students to reconsider studying under an individual whose views perpetuate hatred towards their fellow students.
A letter was published in the Cornell Sun on June 9 that was cosigned by 21 of Jacobsons colleagues. Although they didnt name him directly, they called out commentators attached to Ivy League Institutions for being defenders of institutionalized racism and violence. He feels its pretty clear they were talking about him.
Silence is violence is totalitarian
Jacobson stands behind his posts, saying they accurately detail the movements history and the agenda of the founders which is playing out in the cultural purge and rioting taking place now. He feels that the efforts to discredit him arent just about his own views and curriculum; they are also an attempt to intimidate students into silence when it comes to divisive issues.
He said: This is an attempt not just to scare students away from my course, but to scare students away from speaking their minds, and to create a faculty and student purity test. This isnt activism, its anti-intellectualism. I dont think it will work, and there will be a backlash.
Speaking to host Joel Pollak on SiriusXMs Breitbart News Sunday, he said his inbox has been flooded with emails sent by people saying they were scared of speaking out at work.
He said this is different from political correctness as the motto of silence is violence is being embraced. This means that it is no longer enough to just keep your head down and stay out of trouble. People arent just being criticized for speaking out, he said theyre being criticized for keeping quiet, and its totalitarian.
He told Pollak: The people who founded [Black Lives Matter] are basically Marxists and extreme radical leftists whose goal is to tear down our society. Thats not just hyperbole; Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors has admitted in past interviews that she and co-founder Alicia Garza are trained Marxists.
Jacobson believes that what we need right now is open inquiry and debate rather than publicly shaming people who are not on board. He issued an open invitation to the professors and students who are petitioning against him to participate in a public debate to address their positions, but so far no one has taken him up on his offer.
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
FoxNews.com
TheFederalist.com
Spot gold advanced 0.8% to close at $1,755.61 on Jun 22 the highest closing price since 2012. Gold futures for August delivery rose 0.8% to settle at $1,766.40 an ounce, after touching a high of $1,779 an ounce. This upsurge can be attributed to massive inflows into gold-backed ETFs in the United States. Anticipation of a second wave of coronavirus infections and stimulus measures are also bolstering gold prices.
Per the World Gold Council, there was a massive inflow of Gold ETFs on Jun 19, at 27.3 ton (974,000 ounces). SPDR Gold Shares the largest physically backed gold exchange traded fund commanded a major share of the inflows at 23.1 metric tons or 742,492 ounces as the June contract for options expired. The total month-to-date inflows is at 55.6 tons (1.96 million ounces), with the majority originating in North America. During the January-May period, global gold ETFs witnessed record inflows of 623 tons trumping the previous high of 591 tons witnessed in 2009.
Gold is on a Roll This Year
The bullion has gained 15.5% so far this year. Everything seems to be working in favor of gold in 2020, starting with the U.S-Iran tensions, the coronavirus pandemic, strained U.S.-China relations and the civil unrest in the United States.
On the back of the gold-price rally, the Gold Mining industry has gained 22.5% year to date, against the S&P 500s decline of 3.1%. The industry falls under the broader Basic Material sector, which declined 9.4%.
As governments begin to ease restrictions and reopen their economies, it has triggered worries of a spike in coronavirus cases. With the pandemic showing no signs of dying down any time soon, the uncertainty regarding the impact on the global economy will continue to trigger safe haven demand for gold. The bullion also received a boost from stimulus measures, including the Bank of England adding to its bond buying program and the Federal Reserve signaling rates will remain low.
The pandemic has impacted gold production as miners had to suspend operations in accordance to government mandates. Per the World Gold Council, gold production in the first quarter declined 3% year over year the steepest decline since first-quarter 2017. Consequently, an impending demand-supply imbalance bodes well for gold prices.
The gold mining industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #72, which places it at the top 28% of 256 Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Using the Zacks Screener we have picked promising gold stocks, which have a combination of a VGM Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and offer solid investment opportunities. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
4 Promising Gold Miners
AngloGold Ashanti Limited AU: Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the company currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of A. The company has a long-term estimated earnings growth rate of 21.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 earnings indicates year-over-year improvement of 109.9%. The estimate has been revised upward by 4% over the past 60 days.
Barrick Gold Corporation GOLD: Based in Toronto, Canada, this company currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of B. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings suggests year-over-year growth of 55%. The estimate has moved north by 10% in the past 90 days. The company has a trailing four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 15.4%, on average. The stock has a long-term anticipated earnings growth rate of 2%.
Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited HMY: This Randfontein, South Africa-based company currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings suggests year-over-year improvement of 28.6%. The stock has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 45.8%.
Galiano Gold Inc. GAU: The company was formerly known as Asanko Gold Inc. changed its name to Galiano Gold Inc. in May 2020. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, the company currently has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 1100%. The company has a trailing four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 75%, on average. The stock has a long-term anticipated earnings growth rate of 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.
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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.
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The federal government is giving dairy businesses $20,000 to upgrade their equipment. (The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward)
Aussie Government Provides $20,000 Grants to Help Dairy Farmers Amid Pandemic
The Australian government is giving dairy cow farmers up to $20,000 (US$14,000) as part of the governments Energy Efficient Communities Program that will enable them to upgrade to more energy-efficient equipment and help to reduce their power bills.
The grant can be used for replacing equipment, upgrading parts, and seeking better energy use through investing in monitoring and auditing systems. This may include purchasing new solar hot water heaters or installing remote equipment to monitor water storage and pasture conditions.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said dairy farming businesses are a huge asset to regional economies.
These grants will provide financial support at a time when so many in the dairy industry are struggling. Supporting the long-term sustainability of our dairy farmers is critical to the sustainability of regional Australia and our food security, he said.
Applications are open at business.gov.au and will close on Aug. 17.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said in a statement on June 22 that the grant will help dairy farmers battling Australias recent crises.
Related Coverage Thousands of Australians Apply for HomeBuilder Grants in First Week
Farmers have long been at the forefront of innovation to reduce their cost of doing business and their emissions output. But energy costs remain high for many in our dairy sector, especially where farmers are doing it tough on the back of bushfires and COVID19, Taylor said.
The largest operating expenses in the dairy industry is milk cooling, harvesting, and hot water production, costing dairy farmers as high as $12,800 (US$8,900) per 100 cows each year.
Supporting the long-term sustainability of our dairy farmers is critical to the sustainability of regional Australia and our food security, Littleproud said in the statement.
While there was growth during the outset of the pandemic, the Australian dairy market looks bleak for the rest of the year due to the reduced movement of people, food service industries being shut down, and the falling incomes of consumers, according to RaboResearchs global dairy outlook.
The outlook is a 2.5 percent decline in 2020 in dairy consumption and remaining in negative territory through much of 2020, Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey said.
Four other soldiers wounded and material damages caused after several raids in different parts of country, SANA says.
At least two Syrian soldiers have been killed and four others wounded in Israeli missile attacks on southern and eastern Syria, according to state media.
State news agency SANA cited a military source as saying on Tuesday several hostile missiles were fired at our military positions in Kababej, near Deir Az Zor, and in the al-Sukhna region.
At the same time, one of our military positions was targeted near the town of Salkhad in the southern city of Sweida, resulting in the death of two martyrs and the wounding of four other soldiers, the source added.
The attacks, which hit at approximately 9:17pm local time, also caused material damages, SANA reported.
No further details were provided and there was no comment by the Israeli army.
Israel has in the past acknowledged carrying out dozens of air raids in war-torn Syria over the years, most of them aimed at alleged Iranian weapons shipments believed to be bound for Hezbollah, which fights alongside Syrian government forces.
In recent months, Israeli officials have expressed concerns that Hezbollah is trying to establish production facilities to make precision-guided missiles.
Last month, an Israeli air attack on a military position near Masyaf wounded six soldiers and destroyed several buildings, SANA reported.
Regional intelligence sources say Israels attacks on Syria are part of a shadow war approved by Washington and part of the anti-Iran policy that has undermined in the last two years Irans extensive military power without triggering a significant increase in hostilities.
Israeli defence officials have said in recent weeks that their country would step up its campaign against Iran in Syria where, with the help of its proxy armed fighters, Tehran has expanded its presence.
Tiberis returns to Rome river bank for third year.
Rome is seeking private sponsorship to reopen Tiberis, the city's artificial beach on the banks of the river Tiber, reports online newspaper RomaToday.
Sponsorship proposals must be valued at between 15,000 and 38,000, with a deadline of midday on 3 July.
This will be the third summer that Rome will host the 10,000-sqm riverside space which will be equipped with sunbeds, umbrellas and showering facilities.
However this year there is be a question mark over the beach volleyball courts due to the health regulations aimed at containing the spread of covid-19.
To make up for this - reports RomaToday - there is provision for sponsors to fund an area for dogs as well as a reference to catering, including seating, to replace the food vending machines of previous years.
Located under Ponte Marconi, Tiberis was created in 2018 on reclaimed marshland between the S. Paolo and Marconi districts south of the city centre.
Seen as a 'pet project' of the city's mayor Virginia Raggi, Tiberis is free to visitors and in the first two editions it was open every day until October.
Tiberis is not the first man-made beach on the Tiber: in 2005 former mayor Walter Veltroni launched the Tevere Village beach under Castel S. Angelo, between Ponte S. Angelo and Ponte Umberto I.
Ph. Kraft74 / Shutterstock.com
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Senate Democrats Say GOP Police Reform Bill Is Not Salvageable
Senate Democrats indicated they plan to block a police reform bill authored by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), one of three black senators.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that the bill is not salvageable.
We will not meet this moment by holding a floor vote on the JUSTICE Act, nor can we simply amend this bill, which is so threadbare and lacking in substance that it does not even provide a proper baseline for negotiations. This bill is not salvageable and we need bipartisan talks to get to a constructive starting point, Schumer wrote, along with Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), the other two black lawmakers in the Senate.
The group championed a bill proposed by Harris, Booker, and other lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate that calls for more dramatic reforms to law enforcement.
Republicans plan to bring Scotts proposal to a vote later this week. Republicans need the support of at least seven Democrats to pass the legislation, which would then move to the House. Republicans control the Senate 5347, while Democrats have a majority in the lower chamber.
Republicans say the bill balances police accountability while preserving law enforcement.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is flanked by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as he speaks about his new police reform bill unveiled by Senate Republicans during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 17, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)
I hope the Democrats finally are willing to come to the table. A successful vote to proceed to the JUSTICE Act speaks volumes. A vote against proceeding shows the American people that politics are more important than people, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said on the Senate floor on June 23.
McConnell said Scotts bill contains modest steps such as increasing transparency in reporting and record keeping. It also discourages the use of chokeholds and no-knock warrants.
Tomorrow, well find out whether even these modest steps are a bridge too far for our colleagues on the Democratic side, the Republican leader told colleagues in Washington.
Schumer, Booker, and Harris said in their letter that the act doesnt contain any mechanisms to hold police officers accountable in cases of misconduct, nor does it create a national use-of-force standard.
The Democrats bill, which was introduced in the House, calls for the creation of a national task force on law enforcement oversight, the establishment of a national police misconduct registry, and the implementation of certification requirements for agencies to refer to when hiring officers, among other measures.
Schumer said the bill will be put to a vote on the House floor this week.
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)
Speaking on the Senate floor, he said Scotts bill is so much weaker on nearly every single count.
Harris criticized pundits who questioned whether Democrats want police reform, saying lawmakers are responding to the cries in the street and taking them seriously.
And we have proposed a prescription that actually has responded to not just their demands but the specific cases and the bodies that have most recently been buried, much less the generations of black bodies that have been buried because of this issue, she said.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) challenged Harris, noting the Republican-led legislation includes the anti-lynching proposal she and Booker introduced and that Democrats could offer amendments if they agree to bring the bill to the floor on June 24.
Harris said she disagrees with the bulk of the proposal and will join Schumer and Booker in voting against the motion to proceed.
Of the 22 hospitals listed on this Government Order, the number of private players catering to COVID-19 patients in and around Chennai has increased to 45 in a period of two months. Yet, there is uncertainty regarding the functioning of these hospitals.
It's 8 pm. The streets of Chennai are dead. The checkpoints have multiplied for this 12-day lockdown, so have the cops on the street. Every vehicle is being stopped, scanned, questioned.
Near the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), one of the four main facilities which is treating COVID-19 patients in Chennai, this reporter saw an MTC bus leaving with a few healthcare workers. All of them looked like they were about to pass out. As we parked next to the canteen, this reporter spotted a doctor in blue scrubs and a green mask, walking with her head bowed down. In 2017, this reporter had interviewed a bunch of newly-christened doctors at this very spot. Three of them had animatedly spoken about throwing themselves headlong into the profession, in spite of the various drawbacks.
Opposite the parking, a board read: new PG Hostel. I wondered how many of the 42 PG doctors from Madras Medical College, who had tested positive for COVID-19 almost two weeks ago, stayed there.
Meanwhile, my friends cousin got out of the car and was waiting to catch a glimpse of her husband, who had tested positive a few days ago. He had almost recovered from fever when he experienced a bout of breathlessness and had to be rushed back to the facility. Since he has been at the COVID facility inside the RGGGH campus. She was bringing him a change of clothes, some medicines and was seeing him for the first time since he was admitted at the facility. They exchanged a few nervous words, as my friend and I tried to look away.
The COVID Outpatient Block is two towers away from where we stood in Tower 1. These towers have a raised entrance, which makes the reception visible from the road, as well. As we started driving past the campus, I looked at the bright lights coming from the tower. Nothing poetic came to my mind but the dead silence, which is unusual to the hospital because usually it is bustling owing to Chennai Central Railway Station which is located right across the road. The jarring lights coming from the COVID Outpatient Blocks, only added to the general uneasiness that one had started to feel in Chennai.
Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai
The COVID-19 Outpatients Block at the RGGG Hospital is built like a wedding hall. It has huge steps leading up to a hall-like reception. On either side are ramps. Ambulances stop at the right corner, from where patients can be wheeled in. Before you enter, there is an assistance kiosk outside labelled May I Help You.
Those entering were made to sanitise their hands at the kiosk. The healthcare workers, manning the kiosk, also answer questions if you are confused. This kiosk though is not manned at all times. While we were there, a few people had to look around for help. Diagonally opposite the kiosk is a space to wash hands. Inside the hall, there are rows of chairs, all placed at a distance of 4-5 feet, facing a reception area. Patients have to wait their turn to make their entry at the reception, following which doctors on duty will assess the patients. Some have attendees helping them, while most of them are there by themselves.
There are huge windows on either side of the entrance. This is where the family and friends of those whove gone inside are waiting.
Pushpa, a resident of Thideer Nagar in Besant Nagar, was here with her husband K*, who was diagnosed with blood cancer in September 2019. He was just about to commence radiation therapy at Cancer Institute in Adyar when another patient at the institute was tested positive for COVID-19. Since April, as many as seven patients and three healthcare workers from the institute had tested positive.
All the patients from that ward were told to test themselves for COVID 19 before seeking further therapy. Ks first test was negative but a second test confirmed their worst fears. After this, K was advised to seek help from RGGGH.
"Now, they have said even though he is not showing any symptoms, he will be taken to an isolation ward for 14 days as he is a cancer patient," said his brother Suresh. Pushpa is worried that postponing radiation therapy will adversely impact K. "We already pushed it by three months. Now I am not sure when we can actually get to it," she said. As Pushpa continues to tell her story while waiting for the ambulance which would take K to the isolation facility, a doctor in a blue PPE darts out, a nurse in a green PPE at her heels, signalling for a stretcher.
"Why isnt it here yet, it's been half an hour," the doctor asked the nurse. No maam, Ill get it, just a moment," the nurse said before signalling furiously to a group of healthcare workers standing 100 meters away, next to a few stretchers. Two of them, with a face mask and no PPE, hauled it across the ramp, while the doctor looked around, clicking her feet. While waiting for the stretcher, the doctor glanced over to this reporter, and almost as if reading the reporter's mind she quickly looked away before there was a question. It was almost a telepathic no.
Close to a month of tailing healthcare workers on COVID duty across the state will teach you to steer clear of them when they were working. Interrupting the nurses or the doctors on duty inside the OP was out of the question.
"You need to understand that everybody is in a lot of tension. There is a lot of work. Just during my eight-hour shift, more than 600 people trickle in," said Palanisamy*, a contract worker from Korukpet, who was overseeing security arrangements outside the OP. "It wasnt so much in the beginning, but now it is 24/7. This place doesnt sleep anymore, he added, explaining that asymptomatic patients from RGGGH were sent to facilities outside, whereas those with moderate to severe symptoms were housed within the hospital. "People are scared. Look at his face, cant you see panic in it," he remarked, pointing at a middle-aged man who walked past us.
There is no reason to panic, we are very much in control. The uncertainty is going to be there because we dont know how this pandemic will turn out but that doesnt mean one should panic, Dr K Narayansamy, Director of the Hepatology Department at MMC, said. He was recently appointed the Dean of MMC and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital after the former Dean Dr R Jayanthi went on leave until further notice.
MMC and RGGGH have been through choppy waters in the past few months, with many doctors, PGs, nurses and healthcare workers testing positive for COVID-19. It seemed a little ironic to be sitting inside a building with a possibly high viral load but being told that RGGGH is dealing with the pandemic head-on, minus the panic.
Asking about F's experience, a COVID-19 positive patient who had told this reporter that he was turned away from RGGGH when he had shown up there with his results. F had said that he was denied admission due to lack of beds in the hospital. Dr Narayanswamy says that it must have been a misunderstanding. "Weve close to 1,000 beds, half of them equipped with oxygen supply. We are constantly upping our capacity, there is no way anybody would have said there are no beds," Narayanswamy said, explaining that doctors make an assessment of patients in the OP block. If a person shows moderate to severe symptoms, they are admitted to the COVID care unit. If they dont, they are sent to isolation wards outside RGGGH for observation. "This is how we ensure that facilities are available to those who are in actual need, without burning it all out," added Narayanswamy.
Eventually, F was admitted to RGGGH and is at the moment, stable. F said he is happy with the facilities now and feels that he is well taken care of.
Whether or not his problem was a wrong assessment of the patients symptoms or if the patient had misunderstood the doctor, what was told to him doesnt seem easy to figure out. This problem though has been mentioned by many doctors on duty. Some of them, across several districts in Tamil Nadu, said that they assess ILI (Influenza-Like Illness) symptoms in patients and to ensure that the system isnt overburdened, admit those who absolutely need hospital care. If not, they are told to rest and recover at home. A few patients are also not very forthcoming which hinders the process further. But since the decision largely rests on discretion, as there are no guidelines set in stone, there is room for error.
***
Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Chennai
The waiting area outside the COVID OP Block in Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (KMCH) was an open space, like a sit out in a park. It had an enclosure on top but was open otherwise. Ambulances were lining up right in front of the waiting area, from where patients were being taken into the OP.
The ones waiting their turn had worry written all over their faces. Approaching a young woman seated alone, the reporter asked her in Tamil, "Neenga positive patient ah (Have you been tested positive)?" She first shook her head and then nodded. She introduced herself as C* from Nepal. The reporter switched to Hindi and asked her if she wanted to speak to her. She said yes, and pulled out a piece of paper from her bag. She pointed to the section which said POSITIVE. "I dont know where they are going to take me," she said.
C has been living with her son in Chennai for more than a year now. The lockdown had been a drag as she was out of work. But she had managed until she developed a fever a few days prior. Though her fever subsided, she tested positive for COVID-19. So, she packed up, told her son to stay home and set out for Kilpauk Medical Hospital.
What will they do now, how long will I have to wait here? she asked. She had two young teens to keep her company. Their uncle, who was on dialysis, had tested positive for COVID-19. "He is in there, getting it done. They usually do it on the arm, but this time they are going through his neck, one of them said explaining the process of dialysis. Two rows away, an individual who was waiting his turn, spat onto his side. Everybody looked, a few hissed.
Twenty-four hours later, C had been allotted a room at a COVID isolation facility in Pulianthope. She was first lodged at a facility within KMCH, and then the next day transferred. It has been three days and she seems okay.
The problem that patients seem to face at government facilities is only at the beginning. Stricken by panic in the beginning, most patients are confused and need reassuring. Healthcare workers, however, seem overworked and not in a position to do so.
***
Government Order 174 issued by the former health secretary Beela Rajesh, dated April 3 of 2020 reads:
1. In the G.O. read above, the Government has notified the list of designated Government Hospitals for treatment of COVID-19 patients. Further, treatment for COVID-19 is being offered in all Government Medical College Hospitals, District Head Quarters Hospitals and Key Sub-District Hospitals completely free of cost.
2. It has been brought to the notice of the Government that certain patients/public desire to have treatment for COVID-19 in Private Hospitals also.
3. Considering the spread of CoronaVirus Disease (COVID-19) in the State, the Government have decided to include the Private Hospitals in the State for treatment to COVID-19 patients to prevent the spread of this communicable disease.
4. Accordingly, the willing patients are hereby informed that they may approach the Private Hospitals listed in the Annexure to this order to receive treatment for COVID-19, at their own cost. The hospitals are directed to follow the treatment protocol prescribed by the Government of India from time to time.
Of the 22 hospitals listed on this Government Order, the number of private players catering to COVID-19 patients in and around Chennai has increased to 45 in a period of two months. Yet, there is uncertainty regarding the functioning of these hospitals.
First, a few videos emerged saying that these hospitals are charging exorbitant and unaffordable rates. This was followed by another government order, which capped the price for private hospitals. For non-critical cases, the cost was to be capped at Rs 5,000 per day. For critical cases, the cost was fixed at Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 depending on whether the patient required ICU and ventilator facility.
Another video by a news anchor and television actor S Varadharajen went viral, where he claimed that a friend of his, who had severe breathing problems and fever, was unable to secure a bed for himself at either a government or a private hospital. Health Minister Vijay Bhasker immediately got into a damage control mode and announced his team was making all efforts to ensure that facilities are adequate. "There are 75,000 beds in Tamil Nadu and 5,000 in Chennai alone," he announced a day after the video went viral. Provisions of IPC, the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act were invoked against Varadharajen for the offence of falsifying information to create panic.
Two weeks since and all the damage control later, the feeling of panic in Chennai is far from gone. A flurry of transfers, including that of the health secretary hasnt helped matters. 'Mismanagement' is the word on the street and the rumour mills have become difficult to track. It's mostly hearsay as very few "go on record" to say anything. The fear among doctors and bureaucrats keeps them from speaking out aloud. But statements by those leading the state are hard to miss. For instance, chief minister E Palaniswamis transition from "our positive cases will be zero in a few days" to "God alone knows when this will end."
"Strong leadership and a clear line of command is crucial to managing any public health emergency. When people are clueless as to who to turn to for a decision, you know there is a problem," said Dr Aiswarya Rao, public health consultant and former joint director of Tamil Nadu State Aids Control Society (TANSACS).
In April, there were multiple teams comprising bureaucrats who were put in charge of managing the situation. Then came the appointment of another committee. There was also the health secretary who was issuing directions on one side, while the ministers did their own thing. This is pretty much how April and May went by for Chennai. Even after the appointment of Dr J Radhakrishnan, who has managed to control multiple crises in Tamil Nadu, this crisis seemed all over the place. His reinstatement as health secretary seems to have given many within the department hope.
What about frontline workers in Chennai?
The basic fear, reiterated both private and government healthcare workers, doctors, nurses and technicians, is the fear of exposure. April witnessed many protests by government doctors and nurses in Chennai, demanding basic preventive protective equipment and post-duty quarantine facilities, after a bunch of them tested positive at RGGGH.
In a few weeks, healthcare workers at Government Stanley Medical Hospital tested positive. While government doctors have to work irrespective of fear of exposure, the same isnt the case with private practitioners. Many private establishments have sought help from the government stating that they are not able to take on the costs required to operate a COVID-19 facility. Sanitary workers organised a strike this week after one of them died following exposure to COVID-19 positive patients.
While the government has been saying that it is meeting these demands, how the government hopes to sustain meeting these demands remain unknown. So does the expenditure over COVID-19 so far.
During his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Palaniswami sought a grant of Rs 9,000 crore and a sanction of Rs 3,000 crore for medical equipment during a pandemic. An official statement by the chief minister also said that 2.75 crore triple-layer face masks, 38.85 lakh N-95 masks, 21 lakh PPE kits and 15.45 lakh RT-PCR testing kits have been ordered by the Tamil Nadu government. There is no official figure on how much the government has spent on personal protective equipment.
The biggest challenge for the government continues to be how it will bring about some level of accountability from private hospitals in the middle of this pandemic, which doesnt seem like will abate any time soon.
Many non-COVID patients have spoken out about how cumbersome it has become to get private hospitals to cater to them, even under serious circumstances like deliveries. The norm at every private hospital since April has been that almost all procedures only after a COVID 19 clearance. Two months since the lockdown, yet private hospitals have not figured their way out, and that's worrisome.
Many seem to be treading the safer path by staying away. But senior doctors say that media trying to put the entire blame on private hospitals is unfair. "The costs are high, the usual patient load less. We are doing what we can to keep the hospitals running with the bare minimum," said a private practitioner, "When will the government step in and help out?"
Real situation at private hospitals listed as COVID-19 designated centres
Firstpost looked at the Tamil Nadu live dashboard and spoke to all the 45 hospitals (four from Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram districts) listed under Chennai district.
Of these 45, many of the hospitals are already operating at full capacity. Doctors at some of these hospitals said "that isnt the case but dont want to say anything further." In the case of some hospitals, authorities said there were no beds available anymore. Even though in some cases the live dashboard says the opposite. Some of them tailor their answers after asking a routine set of questions, which are common to all:
How old is the patient?
Are they obese?
Do they have any existing conditions or co-morbidities?
Do theyve breathlessness?
A positive answer to the fourth question brings forth this answer: We are out of ventilators or Where are you at the moment?
Okay, then go to the closest government facility, that would be the safest for you.
Here is a brief of what Firstpost found
The Live Dashboard says these hospitals are running at full capacity: Apollo Hospital, Be Well Hospital, Bharathiraja Hospital, CSI Kalyani General Hospital, Dr Kamakshi Memorial Hospital, Dr Mehtas Hospital, Fortis Malar Hospital, Kauvery Hospital, Lifeline Hospitals, Maya Nursing Home, Venkateshwara Hospital, Noble Hospital, Panimalar Hospital, Prashanth Hospital, MIOT Hospital, Medway Hospital.
For other hospitals, the dashboard, as on 22 June (some updated on 21 June) say has 1,865 beds, 89 ICU beds and 71 ventilators. Here are the responses of the hospitals, when contacted regarding beds:
Apollo Hospitals: No beds Sri Ramachandra Medical College Hospital, Porur: Dashboard says 184 beds are available, hospital authorities said there are no beds. Bharath Medical College: Dashboard shows as having 60 + 2 ICU beds. Authorities said that they arent admitting any patients as they dont have the staff or the resources to handle the situation. Be Well Kilpauk: Asked if the patient has insurance. Then said beds are available, will quote fees only after consultation with the doctor. Chettinad Hospital: Dashboard says 161 empty beds at the hospital whereas the hospital authorities say that there are no beds available. Kanchi Kamakoti Child Trust Hospital: Facility available for children. Aysha Hospital: Will assess the patients and admit according to need. If oxygen is stable, patients can home quarantine and recover. Gleneagles Global Health City: Authorities said patient can come for a check up, cannot confirm if there is a bed. Mint Hospital: Said beds available at the cost of Rs 35,000 per day. Vijaya Hospital: No beds, if there is a discharge and a slot opens, can contact. Cost Rs 30,000 to 40,000 a day. With ventilator will cost Rs 70,000 a day. Tagore Medical College: Beds are available, costs are Rs 12000/day for asymptomatic patients, Rs 14000 with oxygen support, Rs 21000 if ventilator is used. Sundaram Medical College: Full, there are patients waiting in the ER. St Thomas Hospital: There are beds but they will decide after it's communicated how serious the patient is. SRM Medical College: Dashboard says 103 beds + 3 ICU beds is incorrect, they are running at full capacity. Sathya Sai Medical College: Not a super speciality, can only admit mild cases as they dont have resources to take care of severe cases. Will cost Rs 15,000 to 20,000 a day. Balaji Hospital: Can only admit mild cases as ICU beds are full. SIMS hospital: Full, cant admit. National Hospital: Overflowing, government hasnt updated dashboard. Muthu Hospital: Beds are available, cost will be communicated after assessing the patient. Meenakshi Medical College: Not admitting private patients at the moment, only admitting patients from government hospitals. Karpaga Vinayaga Medical Science & Research Facility: Beds available; Rs 5,000/ day is the base amount, exclusive of oxygen support or investigation/scan charges. Melmaruvathur Aadhiparasakthi Medical College: Is a Trust Hospital, all charges will come up to Rs 10,000/day GLB Hospital: Beds available, will cost Rs 35,000/day Appasamy Hospital: 1 bed available, will cost Rs 23,000/day.
***
J Radhakrishnan IAS, the newly reinstated health secretary says that the health department is pushing its limits to ensure that facilities are coping with the increase in numbers. We are increasing beds in government hospitals for people who depend on us. Many non-COVID beds are lying vacant, as most arent coming for routine procedures, so we are constantly in the process of switching that dormant lot to our COVID bed strength. Weve added 25 percent of those beds into COVID care, he told Firstpost.
The health department is also trying to create a call centre for access to private facilities, in addition to 104 services, so that they can cross monitor, Radhakrishnan explains.
We held an open meeting with private hospitals, and the estimate of beds with them is 5000. We are attempting to provide dynamic data of these beds, in order to facilitate a smoother process for COVID patients, he adds. When I inform him that many of the hospitals arent admitting patients even if they have beds, he says, Close to 170 hospitals are registered with us for treating patients. If they are not admitting COVID patients or even non-COVID cases, we will take action against them under the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act of 2010.
*Names withheld to protect the identities of COVID-19 patients
Gov. Phil Murphy will hold another 1 p.m. press conference on Tuesday to provide more updates on the states recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly 12,900 since March.
The gathering at the Trenton War Memorial will be streamed live on the governors YouTube channel.
Murphy will be joined by state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, state epidemiologist Dr. Christina Tan, and acting State Police Superintendent Colonel Pat Callahan.
Murphy said last week that guidance on the reopening of the states more than 2,500 kindergarten through 12th grade schools was expected to be provided this week, but that may not come Tuesday as no one from the state Department of Education is slated to attend.
On Monday, Murphy announced more steps in New Jerseys reopening Atlantic City casinos can welcome back gamblers and indoor dining can resume July 2. Both will be limited to 25% capacity. He also immediately increased the limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings.
Murphy will give two other interviews this afternoon after wrapping up the press conference. At 5 p.m. hes scheduled to appear on CNNs The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. Then at 5:30 p.m., the governor will be on WABC-7.
Health officials announced 27 additional COVID-19 related deaths Monday to push the states total to 12,896 since the outbreak began in March. There were 1,091 people hospitalized in New Jersey with a confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases as of Monday night, up slightly from the day before. But thats still down significantly from the peak of 8,065 on April 14.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Aztec Minerals Corp. (TSXV:AZT)(OTCQB:AZZTF) announces the voting results from its Annual and Special General Meeting ("AGM", the "Meeting") held on June 22, 2020 in Vancouver, BC.
Shareholders voted in favour of all items of business, including the re-election of each director nominated, the ratification of the Company's stock option plan and re-pricing of certain stock options. Smythe LLP were reappointed as auditors.
Following the AGM, Aztec's Board of Directors reappointed its officers for the coming year, namely: Joey Wilkins as President and CEO, Stewart Lockwood as Secretary, and Philip Yee as Chief Financial Officer.
About Aztec Minerals - Aztec is a mineral exploration company focused on the discovery of large mineral deposits in the Americas. Our core assets include the prospective, district scale Cervantes porphyry gold-copper property in Sonora, Mexico, and the Tombstone CRD silver-lead-zinc-copper district in Arizona. The Company board and management have successful track records of value creation through discovery, development and production in the mining sector. Aztec's shares trade on the TSX-V stock exchange (symbol AZT) and on the OTCQB (symbol AZZTF).
For more information, please contact:
Joey Wilkins, President and CEO
Tel: (604) 685-9770
Fax: (604) 685-9744
Email: joey@aztecminerals.com
Website: www.aztecminerals.com
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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
SOURCE: Aztec Minerals Corp.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594864/Aztec-Minerals-Announces-Results-of-Annual-and-Special-General-Meeting
WASHINGTON - Former national security adviser John Bolton said Tuesday that it may have been a "mistake" not to challenge President Donald Trump more aggressively during his tenure at the White House but that he tried to focus on U.S. foreign policy rather than on Trump's actions.
"I'm not an investigator," Bolton said during a Washington Post Live event. "I had plenty of stuff to do. . . . I told other White House advisers of my concern [and] I tried to do my job."
Bolton, who has come under intensifying criticism about the motivations behind his new book, "The Room Where It Happened," said Americans have a misconception about the ability of White House advisers to challenge the president, suggesting that such pushback may have been futile but that he couldn't say for certain.
"Service in the White House is not like the 'West Wing,' " he said, referring to the TV drama. "There aren't dramatic confrontations with the president."
"It's easy from the outside to say that was wrong, and maybe it was a mistake," Bolton added.
The lifelong Republican released his memoir on Tuesday after a high-profile legal battle with the White House and advanced excerpts of the 592-page book ensured its place on best-seller lists.
Bolton's book has quickly achieved a rare feat in the Trump era: uniting a divided political system - against John Bolton.
The renowned foreign-policy hawk has come under sustained attack from the president, who on Tuesday called him a "washed up Creepster" and a "lowlife."
The White House has accused Bolton of publishing classified information and is seeking to claw back the $2 million advance Bolton received. A judge on Saturday rejected a request to block the sale of the book but said Bolton probably "jeopardized national security" and exposed himself to criminal prosecution.
Republicans in Congress have also impugned Bolton's motives, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California saying, "Money drives a lot of people to say a lot of things," and tweeting that the book "could jeopardize our national security. Appalling."
Democrats, meanwhile, have expressed disgust at Bolton's decision to wait until the publication of his book to reveal his allegation that the president's wrongdoing went far beyond the scope of the House impeachment probe, an assertion to which Bolton did not testify.
"I don't want to pay money for a book that was a substitute for testifying before Congress about the well-being of the American people," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Bolton told The Post that he entered the Trump administration hoping the then-ubiquitous stories of Trump's chaotic and fickle management style were exaggerated, but soon found out that they were accurate.
Bolton said the "most disturbing moment in the early days" of his tenure was at the NATO summit in Brussels in 2018 when Trump was "really was very close to withdrawing" from the alliance. Bolton said he, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis did everything they could to prevent him from doing so.
"We all worked in various ways to help persuade the president not actually to withdraw," he said. "That whole incident, which played out over a 48-hour period, was very unnerving to me."
The book itself has spawned a media bonanza with pages upon pages of palace intrigue and detailed accounts of a rock-ribbed conservative expressing amazement at the president's lack of knowledge about the world and gleefulness in breaking the law to protect himself in a pattern of actions that amounted to "obstruction of justice as a way of life," Bolton wrote.
In the book, Bolton accuses Trump of being obsequious to authoritarians and dictators, offering to lessen sanctions on the Chinese firm ZTE and the Turkish bank Halkbank to curry favor with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Bolton says Trump approved of China's jailing of more than 1 million Chinese Muslims in "reeducation camps" in Xinjiang and likened negotiating with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to dating women - always wanting to break with the "girl" first rather than risk being dumped.
Democrats, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, described Trump's actions in the book as "revolting" but said "I would have preferred Mr. Bolton to tell these stories under oath at the impeachment trial."
On Tuesday, Bolton accused the Democrats of failing to build bipartisan consensus during the impeachment process, and because of that "partisan" quality, he didn't think it would be worth it to jump "off the cliff" in service of their cause.
"If the goal was removing him from office, they did it in 180 degrees the wrong way," said Bolton.
Some Democrats have said Bolton, whose conservative credentials are not in doubt, would've been the ideal witness for bringing Republicans into the fold.
In interviews given since the book has come out, Bolton has called Trump unfit for office and said he should not be reelected, but ruled out voting for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
"I'm going to figure out a conservative Republican to write in," he said.
By Trend
The development of the alternative energy sources in Azerbaijan will not depend on changes in the volume of the countrys oil production, Head of the Environmental Policy Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources Rasim Sattarzade told Trend.
"In turn, the decline in oil prices does hinder the development of renewable energy. This is due to the fact that the price of energy obtained by burning fossil fuels is reduced, and, of course, competitiveness is falling," noted Sattarzade.
The head of the department said that the European Commission estimates that 2.8 million new jobs in the renewable energy industry will be created in the EU countries by 2020, adding that the alternative energy industry will create over 1 percent of GDP and, in other words, green energy has bright prospects.
"Assessing the situation in the world, we can definitely say that the future lies with alternative energy. The era of clean energy is ahead. Coal, natural gas and oil are a thing of the past. Azerbaijan should focus not on diesel and gasoline, but on electric cars. Therefore, we need not just understanding, but a clear plan of action, based on the balance of electric energy generation and its consumption," he said.
Speaking about forecasts of the development of renewable energy in Azerbaijan in the next 10 years, Sattarzade emphasized that the generation of wind and solar energy in the country will gradually increase in volumes.
"For Azerbaijan, oil and gas remain the main source of electricity production. However, in accordance with plans, half of the country's total energy consumption should be generated by renewable energy sources by 2050. Azerbaijan has the potential to draw up this indicator to 6 percent by 2025, and to 10 percent - by 2030," said the departments head.
"The 'clean' energy overcomes its current problems by the massive attraction of investments, despite political or geopolitical conditions. Renewable energy has no alternative. This can be said when assessing the present situation with oil and gas," he stressed.
Touching upon the topic of environmental protection and expanding the possibilities of using alternative energy sources, along with such important strategies as maintaining macroeconomic stability, accelerating industrialization, creating industrial towns, expanding the use of intensive methods in the agricultural sector, effectively using the country's transit potential, increasing urban areas, expanding opportunities to use information and communication technologies, and carrying out innovative activities, Sattarzade noted that Azerbaijan has a serious potential for the active development of alternative energy in the coming years.
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T housands flocked to Kent and Bournemouth beaches at the start of a heatwave that is expected to see temperatures climb into the mid-30s this week.
Footage of Bournemouth beach showed thousands of people soaking up the sun on Tuesday afternoon, hours after Boris Johnson announced that the two-metre social distance rule would end on July 4.
Met Office forecasters have predicted soaring temperatures this week, reaching as high as 34C.
It comes as the Prime Minister also announced pubs, restaurants and cinemas can reopen from July 4.
But Mr Johnson also stressed that the pandemic is not over the Government will not hesitate to apply the brakes and re-introduce restrictions even at national level if required.
With the dry and sunny weather expected to continue, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant.
Thousands flocked to Bournemouth as Britain braces for a June heatwave / PA
Thanet Council urged Brits to park responsibly and take care when disposing of litter when at the beach.
The local authorities' communication team said on Twitter: "Social distancing rules still apply at the beach.
Margate beach in Kent was also packed / PA
"Please remember to help stop the spread of #covid19 you must stay 2 metres away from anyone who is not in your household."
Under the new Government guidelines, mass gatherings are still banned and Brits are expected to maintain social distancing where possible when outside.
Despite warning that the rules which also include the opening of campsites, hotels, holiday cottages and churches were "conditional and reversible", Mr Johnson said: Today we can say that our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end."
Where the two-metre rule cannot be applied it will be replaced with a one metre-plus measure, with the protection offered by the physical distance enhanced by other mitigation measures such as the use of face coverings, increased hygiene or layout changes in premises.
Mr Johnson acknowledged that the two-metre rule effectively makes life impossible for large parts of our economy.
The first time I heard about Business and Human Rights I was in a popular restaurant on the main avenue of Maputo, Mozambique. I had just returned from a short and disappointing field mission.
While meeting rural communities in the Sofala Region, we were received by the Regulo, the local word for a traditional leader. He had requested an audience to discuss recent events affecting his village.
A few months earlier, this community of around 30 families that had been living for generations on the coast, had been relocated inland to free up space for a new commercial seaport. A company in the extractive sector that would have benefited from the new infrastructure had arranged to compensate them with new housing units located two days of dusty bicycle rides away from their former settlement. The new houses were much more comfortable than those they were asked to leave, and had come, very conveniently, with a plot of arable land for each family and a well.
Unfortunately, those who had organized the relocation had not consulted the villagers, and had missed a crucial bit of information; those moved inland were very skilled at fishing; they had been making a decent living for generations catching and selling the famous Mozambican tiger-prawns, and they had no idea of how to cultivate land.
I dont remember if I was eating tiger-prawns in that Maputo Restaurant while debriefing with the Director for Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice, but I do remember him telling me about the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). They had been adopted by the Human Rights Council one year earlier and OHCHR had recently offered to organize a seminar in Maputo on what has now become the internationally-accepted framework for standards and practices with regard to business and human rights.
Protect, respect and remedy
A few months later, Lene Wedland, a member of the team that had drafted the UNGPs, protect, respect and remedy framework delivered a passionate presentation to us in Maputo. Thereafter, Mozambique became the first country in Africa which started working, with UNDP support, on a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
One year later, I brought that experience with me to Bangkok when I was appointed Regional Human Rights Specialist for Asia Pacific.
In this region, exceptional levels of economic growth have in the last decades lifted millions out of poverty. But these gains have also come with costs. Some business operations in Asia have been closely associated with ongoing land grabs, forced labour, child labour and displacement of indigenous communitiescausing some to question the sustainability of Asias economic trajectory.
Awareness raising and advocacy
In 2016, UNDP launched B+HR Asia, a regional programme on the UNGPs supported by the Government of Sweden and more recently by the EU. After a strong investment in awareness raising and advocacy, UNDP is now working on Business and Human Rights in 11 countries in Asia. Through our Regional Office in Bangkok and our country offices, we have been supporting National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human Rights.
In the last four years we have also made stakeholders engagement and empowerment of civil society a priority, including by providing grants to organizations that support human rights defenders.
Moving the needle of Business and Human Rights requires close engagement with companies so UNDP developed due diligence tools, conducted training for employers, and supported impact assessments.
We invested in National Human Rights Institutions and strengthened their ability to respond to claims of Human Rights abuses from companies that they are receiving in increasing numbers.
Important milestone
Perhaps the most important milestone in Asia was the adoption in November 2019, by the Government of Thailand, of the first NAP on Business and Human Rights in the continent.
Thailand set very ambitious objectives in its NAP and raised expectations that will require hard work and continued political will to fulfill. UNDP has just launched a new programmatic initiative to monitor the implementation of this policy document and verify that commitments are translated into actual positive impact on the rightsholders.
The adoption of the first NAP in Asia encouraged many other governments in the region to engage in similar efforts. Ministries in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Mongolia are working with the help of our country offices on their own policy frameworks on the UNGPs to be launched in the next 12 months.
The road ahead
While it is heartening to look back at what has been achieved in Asia, there is also a strong sense that the road ahead is still very long and steep. The number of Human Rights Defenders subject to strategic litigation against public participation are increasing, while due to COVID-19 migrant workers and others, are subject to higher levels of exploitation. Across all continents, women face discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace.
Encouraged by the initial progress, it is now time to support those countries and companies that have made courageous policy commitments in putting standards into practice.
While EU member states and most recently countries in parts of Asia-Pacific and Latin America have shown increased willingness to embrace the UNGPs, it is time to leave no region behind in demanding responsible business practices. A baseline study conducted by UNDP in January 2020 confirmed a pressing need to engage with African governments and companies. The pandemic has highlighted more than ever the urgency to focus on the grievances of migrant workers in the Middle East.
A year of reflection
The UNGPs will turn 10 next year, and UNDP is engaging, with the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, the custodian of the UNGPs, in one year of reflection to look at the future of Business and Human Rights. We accepted the challenge to help designing a roadmap for the next decade.
It will be critical to inform this way forward through regional consultations with stakeholders across the globe. UNDP will not spare resources and leverage on business and human rights expert capacities that, already very robust in HQ and in Asia, are now being built also in our regional offices in Panama, Addis, Istanbul, and Amman.
One thing is clear, the initiative of the roadmap for the new decade of Business and Human Rights will be a very sterile exercise if we wont succeed in bringing in the stakeholders to co-create it with us: the governments, the business sector and, perhaps most importantly, the rightsholders across all regions.
Given current movement restrictions, I dont know how deep well be able to go in our consultation outreach over the next 12 months, but if there is a chance to bring the discussion to Mozambique, I know one affected community we should consult with first.
Pichai said he would stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all
Washington: Google CEO Sunder Pichai has expressed disappointment over the proclamation issued by US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend foreign work visas, including the H-1B, and said he would stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.
Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today, Indian-American Pichai said in a tweet hours after Trump issued his proclamation in this regard.
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
Disappointed by today's proclamation - we'll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all, Pichai said.
In a separate statement, Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, slammed the latest move of the Trump administration.
The latest travel ban is a new season of the same racist, xenophobic show put on by Donald Trump and Stephen Miller, she said.
But Trump's transparent effort to rally his base and distract from his innumerable failures, including his disastrous response to COVID-19, will not work. Indeed, the courts will stop his unlawful actions targeting immigrants, Gupta said.
Like the past versions of this overused script using a pandemic to justify white nationalist policies, it deserves to be cancelled, she said.
Alice G Wells, who till a few weeks ago was the point person of the Trump administration for South and Central Asia, also opposed the move.
Being able to attract the best and the brightest through the H1-B visa programme has made America more successful and resilient. Knowing how to tap foreign talent is a US strength, not a weakness! Wells said.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A British relief worker with an Islamic aid group was seized on Monday night by militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in northwest Syria, according to the aid group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and activists in the area.
HTS is a jihadist group that controls parts of Syria's northwest, a rebel-held area still at war with Damascus. Formerly known as the Nusra Front, it has been designated a terrorist group by the United States, Turkey and others.
Tauqir Sharif, a relief worker with the group Live Updates From Syria (LUFS), was captured in Atmeh, a town north of Idlib province near the Turkish border, according to activists in the area.
"LUFS team member...was kidnapped tonight around 9.30PM by HTS and taken to an unknown location," the group wrote in an Instagram post.
On its Facebook page, LUFS describes itself as a Muslim Western charity supporting displaced people in Syria.
The motive for his seizure was not immediately clear.
Sharif has been living in Syria since 2013, according to a LUFS post on YouTube.
Syria's northwest is home to a mix of Islamist militant and opposition groups, many of which have fled other parts of Syria as President Bashar al-Assad, with Russian backing, has seized back territory during the roughly nine-year-old war.
The area is also populated by hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons that rely heavily on humanitarian assistance.
(Reporting by Khalil Ashawi in Syria and Eric Knecht in Beirut; Writing by Eric Knecht, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
When Mr. Big surprised his fashionista fiancee Carrie Bradshaw with a dressed-to-the-nines walk-in closet in the Sex and the City 2 movie, it gave David Tausendfreund an idea.
I can make a better closet than that, he thought while watching the romcom with his wife Lanelle in 2010. So he stayed up all night, secretively drawing plans for her own walk-in wonder in their St. Catharines mansion on Lake Ontario.
The 280-square-foot room, which became part of a major renovation that year, exemplifies the thought, planning and attention to detail that characterizes the entire four-level house.
Bright, white and envy-inducing, the closet is the epitome of well-organized space with built-ins, open shelves and glass-fronted compartments, topped off with a sparkling chandelier.
But the real spectacle starts outside, where the regal residence built in the late 1990s is rooted in another, pre-pandemic world. Styled after Queen Anne architecture from a century earlier, the brick house boasts big gables, decorative millwork and numerous windows outlined with small squares of glass in nine colours.
We wanted a house that looked like an original in Port Dalhousie, Ont., when it was a little shipping community, Tausendfreund explained. We spent months drawing it and getting it absolutely perfect.
The couple knows a thing or two about design. He owns a company called Tradewood that manufactures high-end windows and doors for clients all over the world, including famous people and past (U.S.) presidents. Lanelle is the firms graphic director, and an artist and fashion designer.
We just love colour and art, Tausendfreund said, adding he likes mixing classical and ultra modern, whether its architectural details, furnishings or finishes. The old warms the space while the new invigorates it.
On the main floor, furniture, accessories and artwork take their colour cues from the jewel tones in the windows while black pillars, built-ins and accent walls add dramatic flair.
Listing agent Doug Widdicombe of Sothebys International Realty Canada describes the opulent hilltop home as a feast for the eyes.
An hours drive from downtown Toronto, It is the premier waterfront property of the Niagara Region.
When people go through it, I just get Wow! Wow! said Widdicombe.
From a showstopper kitchen where 24-karat gold leaf adorns a black tile backsplash to authentic plaster mouldings and intricate motifs in the limestone and hardwood floors, theyve thought of everything, he said of the owners.
That includes an elevator, hobby room and top-floor playroom for the couples now 15-year-old daughter.
One of Tausendfreunds favourite spaces is his pretty spectacular mahogany-lined den/library where he spent hours on his back installing a 1900s tin ceiling. He repeated the feat in the billiards room downstairs, and also built the backyard conservatory for his wedding 17 years ago.
Hes particularly proud of the estimated 75 windows, worth $750,000. While theyre historically authentic, their manufacture is strictly 21st-century, with energy-efficient, shatter-proof laminated glass.
Tausendfreund calls the mansion their houttage: a grand house full of comforts, conveniences and amenities in a cottage-like setting. With a big backyard, kayaking and beautiful sunsets, you dont have to drive anywhere. You just open the door and walk outside, he said. One of the things thats so cool about living on the lake is every day is different.
As COVID-19 restrictions loosen, its tailor-made for summer soirees, backyard picnics and luncheons in the conservatory. But the Tausendfreunds are passing the torch to new hosts; in a bittersweet move, theyre relocating to Texas, where Lanelle is from.
The numbers
Price: $6.9 million
Size: 7,975 sq. ft. plus 2,650 sq. ft. on the lower level
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms 3 + 2
By Joseph Rembert, former Historic Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church pastor who now leads a congregation in Houston County
It was not a difficult thing to sense the fervor and furor of some prominent political activists who, a few days ago, raised their voices to a fortissimo level in their push for a name change of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in historic Selma, Alabama. Some observers of activists efforts might conclude that this is simply a reaction to the brutal murder of Mr. George Floyd by a white policeman, while his cohorts, through their silence, gave consent. However, five years have past since black leaders in Selma made a strong push for the change. I stated my opposition to the name change through an opinion offering to the Selma Times Journal newspaper. Permit me to share with you a few of the reasons for my opposition to the move.
It was Governor George C. Wallace who sent Al Lingo and the rest of the state troopers across the bridge to join Sheriff James (Jim) Clark and his posse as they brutalized John Lewis, Amelia Boynton, and other peaceful protestors on that bridge. Selma is home to one of several two year colleges named for Wallace or his wife, but no discomfiture is ever displayed or a name change ever demanded regarding this institution of learning. The college is led by an African American and boasts of a state of the art Hank Sanders Technology building. Rather than changing the name of the college, leaders have expanded its reach by establishing a Demopolis branch.
While pastoring Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in 1982, I joined SCLC protestors as they made a 180 mile trek from Pickens County to Montgomerys capitol steps in protest of the unfair treatment of voting rights activists Maggie Bozeman and Julia Wilder. They were sentenced to 4 years and 6 years respectively for voter fraud regarding 39 absentee ballots. We did not disband after a photo-op at the foot of the Edmund Pettus bridge, but continued to Montgomery. When we finally made it to the St. Jude campus where scores of dignitaries showed up to lead the marchers to the capitol. However, a police officer requested of Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, our leader, that he let a police decoy walk in his place as three KKK members had vowed to kill Dr. Lowery before he reached the capitol. Lowery refused to travel incognito and told the police to do whatever they would do to protect the decoy to protect him. Instead, I, along with former Selma City Councilman Raymond Majors, walked in front of Dr. and Mrs. Lowery until we reached Dexter Avenue. I didnt want to but was willing to die for our brave leader. I was so honored when Dr. Lowery requested that I give the invocation during the service on the capitol steps.
I joined Atty. Rose Sanders (Faya Rose Toure) and other Selma protesters in demanding a name change to NBF homes in Dallas County. NBF was in honor of Nathan Bedford Forest. Forest, a confederate general, lost the Battle of Selma, and wounded, escaped to Tennessee and founded the Ku Klux Klan. Yet, the housing authority had several hundred blacks living in housing bearing his name. Any fair-minded person of any political ideology knows that is wrong.
I mentioned the fact that in Montgomery, Alabama Dr. Joe Reeds name was removed from the Acadome at Alabama State University because he made the wrong people mad. I doubt seriously if there would have been an Acadome were it not for Reed, John Knight, et al.
I was not in Selma in 1965. However, I have made the journey for righteous reasons several times since 1982. Martyrs are not made by their own actions, but by the inhumane actions of those who oppose them. I have seen people who have never taken a public position on behalf of the oppressed and never suffered financial loss, on the pretense of a dollar did highjack the struggle for a full measure of freedom. I am not a member of the bourgeoisie band of black leaders who are called upon to tell others what to do during times of financial failings and political posturing.
On August 27, 2015, the honorable Terri Sewell, congresswoman for the seventh congressional district, and member of Brown Chapel, sent a letter to me expressing thanks for my position on maintaining the name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. At the conclusion of her letter she penned, Reverend Rembert, again than you for stepping up and voicing your opinion with such authority on issues that are so relevant to the citizens of Selma, Dallas County, and the state as a whole. Please continue to stay vigilant and above all, keep submitting those op-eds. Although I am a 72 year man with failing health, Ill try.
The idea that modern Britain is not as bad as the US when it comes to racial injustice is just a fallacy.
In the United Kingdom, we tend to look at the United States with smug contempt over the police brutality and overt racial injustice on display there. Yet, Black people account for 3 percent of the population, but 8 percent of deaths in custody in the UK. Moreover, since 1990, just one police officer has been convicted for their role in the death of someone in their care. This, despite almost 2,000 people dying in police custody, or otherwise following contact with the police, in England and Wales during the same period.
For all of the diversity initiatives, government reports with limited actionable outcomes, and box-ticking exercises that have followed them, racial discrimination continues to permeate throughout British society. Research shows ethnic minorities in Britain are facing rising and increasingly overt racism, with levels of discrimination and abuse continuing to grow in the wake of the Brexit referendum.
Racism in the UK is systemic. It is daily. It is tiring. We see it both in the language and methods used for dealing with anybody who is labelled other. It was evident in the Windrush scandal and the anti-immigrant rhetoric in the Brexit vote. It is evident in the education system, employment market, and the healthcare system. It is evident in Englands higher BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) COVID-19 rate.
So the UK is in no position to look at the other side of the Atlantic with contempt. As the saying goes, The British invented racism, the Americans perfected it.
Leroy!
As a Black man who served in Her Majestys Armed Forces, where ethnic minorities make up just 2.5 percent of all officers, I experienced British racism first-hand in its many forms.
In its most common form, it was masked by humour.
Ask any British soldier who Leroy is and what he does. Their response will be the same. Leroy is a mythical, hulking, Afro-Caribbean bogeyman, equipped with a larger-than-life appendage, who will sleep with your partner while youre away.
I was introduced to Leroy for the first time at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where most of my white colleagues considered jokes about this hypersexual, deviant, Black male figure normal. It was an accepted everyday trope there.
Perhaps the myth of Leroy was born out of the indignation some English men and women felt when the first wave of post-war Afro Caribbean migrants settled in the UK and found English partners. Or maybe it is a representation of the even older white nationalist fears about Black people mixing with a white population and sullying the blood. The same fears that surfaced when Prince Harry married, and had a child with, Meghan Markle, an African American woman.
On one occasion, I recall hearing of a woman leaving her soldier partner for another man. Well, at least hes not Black was the lotion offered by the soldiers white colleagues for the burn of being ditched. In British society in general and the British military in particular, a hidden but commonplace sense of white supremacy places Black and brown people at the bottom of the social pecking order. For many British soldiers, being replaced by a Black man, a Leroy, is an insult worse than any other.
It is just banter, get on with it
Much of what the military does is behind closed doors for operational reasons. Beyond the battlefield, this culture of concealment allows behaviour that would be deemed anachronistic by wider society to continue unabated within the military bubble.
British society reached the consensus that blackface is unacceptable some time ago. But the armed forces apparently did not get the memo. Just a few years ago, a colleague attended a costume party supposedly impersonating me, with their skin covered in black shoe polish and red golliwog lipstick. Senior commanders at the event looked on amused, awaiting a fiery response from me. These commanders preached the importance of moral courage, yet were complicit in normalising inappropriate behaviour steeped in racism under the guise of banter.
Later, when photos surfaced online, the blackface aficionado begged to have them instantly removed. They knew what they did was wrong and feared exposure to the judgement of those outside of the military bubble.
In the military context, the onus is often placed on the person who has been aggrieved to make light of the situation and get on with it we see this in recent UK military discrimination cases won in civilian courts, having been originally quashed by internal investigations. Individuals are being forced to go outside of the bubble of their organisations to seek justice.
A recent investigation found that within the last five years, just more than 17 percent of racially aggravated crimes investigated by military police resulted in guilty verdicts at court martial. The Ministry of Defence admitted the number of cases investigated by military police services for the army, navy and air force was already low. Not many people dare to report racially motivated crimes in the military, because personnel who issue a formal complaint mark themselves an outcast from their colleagues.
And things are not getting any better.
Just last year, the service complaints ombudsman for the UK military, Nicola Williams, stated that within the UK military incidents of racism are occurring with increasing and depressing frequency.
Black Lives Matter, UK
Britons are not in a position today to watch the protest over George Floyds killing, and the wider Black Lives Matter movement in the US and say we are beyond all this.
Those who fail to recognise racism, just because they benefit from it and see it as the norm, cannot negate the experiences of the Black and brown citizens and residents of the UK who have to deal with overt and covert racism on a daily basis.
To eliminate racism, the UK first needs to acknowledge that it exists, that it is systemic, and that it is affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of Britons on a daily basis.
The British military prides itself on reflecting the best elements of society, but in reality, it also harbours some of the worst. It cannot continue to preach morality, justice and loyalty while allowing racism to fester within its barracks, academies and offices under the guise of banter. It cannot continue to allow racially aggravated crimes to go unpunished.
Today, as said many times before, it is not enough to not be racist. One needs to be actively anti-racist to help defeat systemic racism both in the US and the UK.
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Youth pastor protects unconscious victim during Syracuse mass shooting
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A youth pastor in Syracuse, New York, said he helped protect and shield an unconscious teenager fighting for his life during a mass shooting Saturday night that involved six shooters and appears to be gang-related.
Nitch Jones, the pastor of youth and young adult affairs at Syracuses Zion Hill World Harvest Baptist Church, took to Facebook Sunday morning to unload his thoughts following the horrifying shooting the night before that ended a large party attended by hundreds on the citys Near West Side.
I have never been inside of a live warzone in my life, Jones said in the Facebook video.
I have been around or in the vicinity of someone shooting. But I have never been in the middle. Literally, we were in the middle of a warzone, a battle, where guns were spraying all around us, where guns were spraying right in front of us and people were getting hit and there were feet in front of us.
After shooters opened fire at the annual Rye Day party held by a well-respected area businessman in honor of his birthday, pandemonium ensued as hundreds fled for their lives.
Jones, a 32-year-old father of one child who most of the day ran a voter registration booth at the gathering, detailed the moments when the shooting occurred.
Jones recalled his friend screaming at him to lay down. Jones knew that his family was also at the scene and if he was scared, they must have been even more scared. But Jones said that every time he tried to get up to run to his family, bullets would fly.
I seen a kid lying down unresponsive in front of me and there was nothing that I could do besides just lay there with him and wait for help and run for help. There was nothing that I could do, Jone explained. That hurt me beyond belief.
Jones said he was so shook up that he couldnt sleep Saturday night.
I seen people from my city. I seen kids. I seen women. I say kids because I am 32. A 17-year-old boy to me, he is a kid, Jone added.
These are horrible times, he continued. We cant even go to a cookout, we cant even go to a gathering without something like this happening. This is sad, man.
Jones said he and his cousin, who is a nurse, aided the teenager who was unresponsive as he laid on the ground. Jones recalled that the teen's pulse was very weak.
We cant do CPR because he is laying on his stomach and we dont move him. All we are doing is laying there to make sure nobody touches him or nobody moves him and we are continuing to check his pulse, Jones explained. [My cousin] sat there the whole time.
Jones said that he went to flag down a paramedic after the shooting.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said eight people suffered minor injuries in the shooting. The 17-year-old boy is still in critical condition.
Syracuse.com reports that witnesses said the outdoor party was wrapping up around 9 p.m. when a gunfight broke out. However, the district attorney has not said which gangs were involved in the conflict. No arrests have been announced by the district attorneys office.
According to Jones, the party was monitored by two police officers for most of the day.
The decision to host the party this year had come under scrutiny due to the coronavirus pandemic. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said at a press conference Monday that the event never should have happened with that many people.
Jones pushed back against those blaming prominent Syracuse business owner Ryedell Davis.
Jones argues that the police had ample opportunity to stop the party before the shooting, had the mayor forbidden it.
Jones called on those who recorded the gunfight with their cell phones to step up and give videos or photos to the police to help identify the shooters.
You a punk if you sitting up here and allow these people to fight for their lives in these hospitals but you not gonna say something, Jones said. Your phone caught a video; your phone caught a picture or something. If you seen something, you need to say something. There is an anonymous tip line.
The Rye Day party came as protests have been held nationwide for the past month in the wake of the police-involved killing of African American George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jones called on protesters and demonstrators in Syracuse, a city that has for decades faced a gang war, to figure out what it is they are protesting for.
I am talking about for issues like this right here in Syracuse, Jone said. We want the violence to stop. But march after march, rally after rally, protest after protest, it continues.
Jones questioned: What are we doing inside of our community?
Where is the neighborhood watch? Where is the community police? he asked. The same people that we just said to defund, the same people that we are trying to defund, are the same people that we called yesterday to protect us. What are we going to do? How do we handle moments and situations like this? Thats a real question to everyone.
The United Nations Security Council's arms embargo on Libya should not focus on one warring party exclusively, the head of the Department of International Organisations at the Russian foreign ministry, Pyotr Ilyichev, said on Tuesday.
In remarks to Sputnik International, Ilyichev said that the European Union's sea monitoring has not been highly effective so far.
The conflict in Libya is at a very tense stage and the country is being flooded with weapons, the senior Russian diplomat said, which makes a peaceful settlement difficult.
The arms are delivered to Libya by the sea, in particular," he said.
The UN Security Councils Resolution 2292 in 2016 introduced a special inspection regime off Libya's coast, which was expected to make control over illegal arms flow more efficient, Ilyichev said.
"As part of this regime, the EU naval Operation Sophia was carried out until this year, but its results regarding weapons were meagre. This spring, Sophia was transformed into Irini, but the 'first steps' of this mission can hardly be qualified as impressive so far. Let us see how the situation develops," he said.
Libya is currently split between two rival administrations in the east and the west.
Russia, along with Egypt and the UAE, backs Libya's eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar, who is fighting the forces of the Government of National Accord (GNA), which is backed militarily by Turkey.
Earlier this month, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi proposed a new peace initiative to end the war in Libya.
Report of Russian mercenaries in Libya 'inaccurate'
A report on Russia's military presence in Libya was based on questionable sources and inaccurate information, the Russian foreign ministry said on Tuesday, demanding an investigation into the report, the RIA news agency reported.
A United Nations report in May said Russian private military contractor Wagner Group had up to 1,200 people deployed in Libya.
Ilyichev claimed the data had been falsified and that the group of experts who published the report were seeking to misrepresent Moscow's policy in the region.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also discussed the Libyan conflict on Tuesday, saying the crisis could not be solved militarily.
"I have discussed this with many colleagues, and they agree ... that there is no military solution to this conflict. This is the key pillar of all the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council and all the declarations adopted at multiple events, including the Berlin conference, held in January," Lavrov said at a press conference, held after his talks with the foreign ministers of India and China.
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MINNEAPOLIS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As a result of its 2019 community health needs assessment, Children's Minnesota has identified five key issues that will guide the health system's work going forward. Partnering with community stakeholders, Children's Minnesota will prioritize addressing structural racism, health disparities, economic opportunity and income, mental health and developmental well-being and access to resources.
Recognizing that eighty percent of what impacts the health of children happens outside hospital and clinic walls, the community health needs assessment serves as a call to action to more actively engage with partners across various social sectors to identify and address key needs in the community. The recent findings build upon the previous 2016 assessment and further refines Children's Minnesota's understanding of existing health priority areas as well as identifying emerging needs. In 2016, Children's Minnesota became the first health institution in Minnesota to explicitly name structural racism as a priority health issue. This critical issue remains a top priority in its most recent assessment and requires even greater urgency.
Read the Children's Minnesota 2019 community health needs assessment.
It is imperative to work with the community to address deeply entrenched structural inequities that are negatively impacting our kids health and impeding their ability to reach their full potential, said Dr. Marc Gorelick, president and CEO of Childrens Minnesota. The tragic death of George Floyd and the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on children of color further demonstrates the urgency of addressing these systemic shortcomings in health care and beyond.
Over the last several years, Children's Minnesota has made progress in addressing the needs of the community. Milestones include:
In 2017, Children's Minnesota launched Community Connect, an innovative initiative that goes beyond basic medical care to support the social determinants of health impacting kids by connecting families to existing community resources, including housing, food and other needs. Since its inception, the program has helped more than 5,200 families. Through the Healthcare Legal Partnership, which launched the same year, Children's Minnesota has also provided legal services in more than 620 cases to address the health-harming legal needs experienced by patients and families.
launched Community Connect, an innovative initiative that goes beyond basic medical care to support the social determinants of health impacting kids by connecting families to existing community resources, including housing, food and other needs. Since its inception, the program has helped more than 5,200 families. Through the Healthcare Legal Partnership, which launched the same year, Children's has also provided legal services in more than 620 cases to address the health-harming legal needs experienced by patients and families. In 2018, Children's Minnesota became the only health care system in Minnesota to join the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion.
became the only health care system in to join the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion. In 2019, Children's Minnesota hired its first chief equity and inclusion officer. The equity and inclusion team has since worked to develop, implement and advocate for a comprehensive health equity, inclusion and diversity strategy at Children's Minnesota .
Children's Minnesota's community health needs assessment findings are a result of dialogue with staff and clinicians, community stakeholders, parents, and secondary data analysis. Input was gathered through neighborhood events, individual interviews with community leaders and members and moderated employee and parent focus groups. A broad and holistic definition of health was used throughout the process to consider not only diseases and health outcomes as potential priority areas, but also the social and environmental factors that contribute to health and well-being.
About Children's Minnesota
Children's Minnesota is the seventh largest pediatric health system in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children's serves kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, 12 primary and specialty care clinics and six rehabilitation sites.
Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrensMN.org.
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Brittany Banks and Yazan finally reunited on last nights episode of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way. Their reunion should have been a moment of complete joy and happiness. Unfortunately, it was only minutes before the relationship hit a potential breaking point. Having such a huge argument so early on in a relationship is a huge red flag and unfortunately for Banks and Yazan, it isnt the only one.
Brittany and Yazan | TLC
How did Brittany and Yazan meet?
Brittany lives in Florida while Yazan lives in Jordan. The two werent exactly running in the same circles, so their meeting was really by chance. Banks sister and Yazans sister happened to live in the same building. One day, Yazan was FaceTiming his sister while Banks was visiting hers. As soon as the two locked eyes, they knew they wanted to get to know one another. A few weeks later, Yazan sent Banks money to meet him in Jordan. After a week, Yazan proposed.
What are the red flags in Brittany and Yazans relationship?
There are a number of signs that Banks and Yazan just cant work. First, Yazan and his family are very conservative. Banks, on the other hand, is a rapper who enjoys wearing revealing clothing and posting twerking videos on the internet. She also, reportedly, has an OnlyFans page, which is a site where people can post adult videos.
Yazan has been hopeful that Banks will convert to Islam and become more conservative, but Banks has no plans to submit to a new religion.
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Im such an independent person, she told the cameras. I have my own thoughts and feelings, and I dont want to go by any book telling me what to do.
On top of this, Yazan has no idea that Banks is still married. The last time she was in Jordan, she promised Yazan and his family that she would bring her divorce papers with her when she moved to Jordan. Without the divorce papers, she and Yazan cannot get married. Banks did not bring the paperwork with her to Jordan because she has yet to get divorced, and according to her lawyer, the divorce could take ten months to be finalized.
Why did Yazan get mad when Brittany arrived in Jordan?
Perhaps the most blatant sign that Banks and Yazan are not a good match was their fight at the airport. After Banks arrived in Jordan, she greeted the production team by hugging them and showed them some alcohol in her bag.
Yazan immediately flipped out and began cursing at Banks because he told her that she was not allowed to bring alcohol there. He was also upset that she was hugging the crew.
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Ive never seen him act like that and it was scary to me, Banks said to the camera.Im not proud of his behavior at all. Im actually very disappointed.
Yazan was outraged.
This is exactly what my parents warned me about, he said. Brittany either doesnt understand or doesnt care about the traditions or the country I live in.
Banks, on the other hand, didnt understand Yazans reaction.
Of course I respect his culture and his choices but at the same time I am not Muslim, she told the cameras. It reminded me of the way my ex behaves and so if hes going to behave like my ex then I dont want anything to do with him.
Russia has said that it doesnt believe that India and China need help from outside--a reference to third party involvementto resolve bilateral issues and added that both the countries have showed their commitment to peaceful resolution of the recent incidents of boundary dispute that has led to violent clashes between the armies of the two neighbours. The statement comes on a day when India-Russia and China were engaged in a RIC trilateral to discuss several issues including cooperation to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia hoped that the (border) situation between India and China will continue to be peaceful as neither side had given statements to indicate that any of them would pursue non-diplomatic solutions.
Earlier today, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who is representing India in the summit, had said that the worlds leading voices should act in an exemplary manner by respecting international law and recognising the interests of partners. This was seen as an indirect reference to Chinas unilateral actions at the LAC which led to violent clashes between the two sides on June 15, resulting in deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an undeclared number of Chinese casualties.
I dont think that India & China need any help from the outside. I dont think they need to be helped, especially when it comes to country issues. They can solve them on their own, it means the recent events, Lavrov was quoted as saying at the RIC foreign ministers meeting.
The RIC meeting is being held through video conference and it was expected that it wont delve on the issue of Indo-China border stand-off. Lavrov suggested that Russia recognised efforts from both sides to defuse the tensions through diplomatic options.
New Delhi-Beijing showed their commitment to peaceful resolution. They started meetings at the level of defence officers, foreign ministers and neither of the two sides made any statements which would indicate that any of them would pursue non-diplomatic solutions, ANI quoted him as saying.
He added that Russia hopes for a peaceful solution of disputes between the two countries.
We hope that the situation will continue to be peaceful and they will continue to be committed to peaceful resolution of disputes, ANI quoted Lavrov.
Russia is considered to have good relations with both Beijing and New Delhi. Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh is on a three day trip to Moscow to attend a grand military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the soviet victory over Germany in the second World War. He is expected to hold talks with Russias top military leadership.
Also Watch: Need to respect international law..: Jaishankar in a meet with China, Russia
Earlier today, external affairs minister S Jaishankar took a dig at China without naming the country and said that India believed in time-tested principles of international relations while advocating practice of multilateralism and common good as the only way of building a durable world order.
Russian foreign minister Lavrovs comments also come in the backdrop of a meeting between senior Indian and Chinese commanders at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC, where a mutual consensus to disengage from all friction areas was said to a have been reached, according to officials privy to the details.
Also Read: India takes another step to block China products with new rules
The delegations were led by Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region.
The Indian side was demanding the pullback of Chinese troops from the Finger Area, where the PLA has set up bunkers, pillboxes and observation posts, withdrawal of the PLA troops from Galwan Valley and the restoration of status quo ante in key strategic areas, according to the two officials aware of the developments. India was also seeking an assurance that the Chinese side will end aggression along the LAC and reduction of Chinese deployments in depth areas on their side of the disputed border, the officials said.
Eric Gay/Associated Press
Environmentalists with the Sierra Club are asking a federal judge to halt construction of a $2 billion natural gas pipeline being built by Houston pipeline operator Kinder Morgan through the scenic Texas Hill Country.
Arguing that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers skirted federal environmental laws when it issued a federal permit to Kinder Morgan, the Sierra Club is asking U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman for an injunction to stop ongoing construction on the Permian Highway Pipeline, a 430-mile project to move natural gas from the Permian Basin of West Texas to the Katy Hub near Houston.
Appointment
23 June 2020
As of 22 June 2020, Dr. Carole Ackermann will join the Board of Directors of EHL Holding SA as President and the EHL Board of Governors as "President-Elect". She succeeds Mr. Andre Witschi who will leave office after having served a maximum of three terms of office as defined by the Articles of Association.
Dr. Carole Ackermann, takes over as President of the world's leading hospitality education group. She will bring her great expertise and enthusiasm for innovation to EHL at a pivotal time when major changes are taking place in the world. She holds a PhD in business management and has more than twenty years of management experience on the executive board of SMEs and large corporations. Currently CEO of the private investment companyDiamondscull AG, she invests in young companies in the ICT and technology sectors. Dr. Ackermann is a member of the Board of Directors of Allianz Switzerland, BKW, BNP Paribas Switzerland and BVZ Holding. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Bern-based innovation agency be-advanced and is on the faculty of the University of St. Gallen. This charismatic woman of proven success will succeed Mr. Andre Witschi, who has been on the Board since 1999. The entire EHL Group community warmly thanks Mr. Witschi, whose vision and quest for excellence have taken EHL far beyond the Swiss borders. The Lausanne-based school has become an international education group, now the undisputed leader in hospitality management, offering courses from apprenticeships to Master's degrees. Under his presidency, in 2019 and 2020, EHL was ranked No. 1 in the QS World University Rankings in the "Hospitality and Leisure Management" category, obtained and confirmed a Michelin star, prepared the opening of its first campus abroad, in Singapore, and integrated the Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality into the EHL Group, thus also enabling ambitious apprentices to access the much sought-after EHL Bachelor's degree. This lover of the Vaud region also worked on the development of the new Lausanne Campus, which will be inaugurated in 2021.
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on Tuesday reviewed India's military preparedness in eastern Ladakh as he began a two-day visit to the region where a border clash last week left 20 Indian soldiers dead in the midst of a tense standoff with the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Soon after arriving in Leh, Gen Naravane visited an Army hospital where 18 soldiers injured in the clash in Galwan Valley on June 15 are undergoing treatment, Army officials said.
The Chief of the Army Staff interacted with almost all the injured soldiers and complimented them for their bravery, they added.
A surveillance post set up by the Chinese Army on a narrow mountain trail in violation of an agreement was the trigger for the clash in Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
After visiting the hospital, Gen Naravane reviewed the overall security situation in the region with the ground commanders, and is learnt to have directed them to keep a high-level of alertness to deal with any Chinese misadventure, people familiar with the issue said.
The Chief of the Army Staff is scheduled to visit a number of forward areas during his two-day visit to the region.
Last week, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria made a quiet visit to Ladakh and Srinagar air bases to review the Indian Air Force's preparedness to deal with any eventualities in the region.
Before leaving for Leh, Gen Naravane attended the final session of a two-day conference of top Army commanders.
The commanders extensively deliberated on the situation in eastern Ladakh.
In Leh, Gen Naravane was also scheduled to hold an extensive meeting with Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the 14 Corps that takes care of the sensitive border with China.
On Monday, Lt Gen Singh held a nearly 11-hour meeting with Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin.
In the meeting, the two sides arrived at a mutual consensus to "disengage" from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh.
The first round of the Lt Gen talks were held on June 6 during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all the standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.
However, the situation along the border deteriorated following the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 as the two sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the 3,500-km de-facto border.
On Sunday, the government gave the armed forces "full freedom" to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC.
The Army has already sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border in the last one week.
The IAF has also moved a sizeable number of its frontline Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 aircraft and Apache attack helicopters to several key air bases including Leh and Srinagar following the clashes.
The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6.
The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9.
Prior to the clashes, both sides had been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it was necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
PTI MPB RT 06231801 NNNN
After weeks of lashing rain and grey skies, the sun has finally come out. And boy is it shining.
Temperatures could soar as high as 34c tomorrow, making it hotter than Ibiza. So in good old British fashion, many of us will be flocking to the beach to make the most of the sun before the heatwave is predicted to break this weekend.
And theres more good news, too. We may be able to go on holiday abroad within a fortnight, as ministers negotiate air bridges with countries including Spain, Greece and Italy. And for millions of women such as myself, that means one thing: its time to dig out your bikini.
Im already dreaming of lying on a beach in Saint-Tropez, drink in hand, wearing my favourite pink triangle bikini, with gold rings on the hips with at least a couple dozen more to see me through the week, so I never have to sit in a wet swimsuit. And the scores of celebrities modelling their beachwear on Instagram shows me Im not alone.
However, while lithe 20-somethings will be throwing on their skimpy swimwear with abandon, many older women will be reaching for a more modest swimming costume, convinced that their bikini days are behind them.
Swimwear designer Melissa Odabash (pictured) has shared her top ten tips to help over-50s women get it right in a bikini as temperatures in Britain soar to 34C this week
Well, Im here to tell you this doesnt have to be the case. Just look at the fabulous bikini pictures posted by Brooke Shields, 55, recently. Looking glamorous and exuding confidence in a bright two-piece, she was a sight for sore eyes. And thats not just because the bikini in question was one of mine.
If ever an image were to challenge the perceived wisdom that a woman over 50 should consider her bikini days behind her, then this was it. She looked amazing; a true celebration of womanhood.
Ah, but she is an actress and former model, you cry. She looks nothing like your average middle-aged mortal. She doesnt have to worry about a sagging bottom, wobbly thighs or a deflated cleavage. I hear you.
Brooke stands alongside Cindy Crawford, 54, Helen Hunt, 57 who dazzled in a black bikini in Malibu this month Christie Brinkley, 66, et al, a stable of beautiful women whose supermodel bodies appear ageless. Of course she still looks good in a bikini.
But, as a former swimwear model due to enter my 50s later this year, I know her body will have its own flaws and idiosyncrasies, just like any other womans. She chooses to work with them.
How deeply it saddens me that so many women reach a certain age and decide their bodies must be covered up somehow convinced fellow beach-goers must be spared whatever particular imperfections they happen to bear.
Who says you must be physically perfect to be allowed to experience the simple pleasure of feeling the sun and air against bare skin? By the age of 50, a woman is ready to shake off the mantles of self-loathing; able to embrace the changes that the years have brought as emblems of a life well-lived, and to hell with what anyone else thinks.
After more than 20 years as a swimwear designer, selling bikinis to the discerning public as well as celebrities including Beyonce, Rihanna and Halle Berry, I can assure you no woman thinks her body is beyond improvement.
But the secret of bikini confidence is this: accept your imperfections and work with what youve got.
Here, I share my top ten tips to help over-50s women get it right in a bikini as you head back to the beach this summer...
Ms Odabash's top ten tips include sticking to a Sixties straight across, low-cut look like Brooke Shields (pictured)
STICK TO FLATTERING BOTTOMS
My golden rule for over-50s applies to the cut of their bikini bottoms.
Avoid the high-leg look, which is hard enough to pull off even at 25, because its so unforgiving and wont make your legs look longer.
Stick to that Sixties straight across, low-cut look like Brooke Shields. It will create the impression of an hourglass shape, whatever your figure, and wont leave you feeling exposed.
Instead of following pattern trends go for a block colour like Cindy Crawford (pictured), 54 a timeless classic that will last years
DONT SCRIMP ON YOUR SWIMWEAR
See your next bikini as an investment piece. While younger bodies are more forgiving, at 50-plus that bargain you got for 20 wont hold you in properly in all the right places, because its Lycra content will be too low.
After too many wears the colours will fade and the fabric will disintegrate.
Instead of following pattern trends go for a block colour like Cindy Crawford, 54 a timeless classic that will last years. Then, whether you are 50, 60 or 70, you will still look a peach on the beach in your bikini.
Pictured: Salma Hayek, 53, wears a turquoise bikini with side ties as she relaxes on the beach
TRICK TO HIDE ROUNDER TUMS
Many of us find that, as we get older, our waist gets wider, giving you a rounder middle lacking in curves. You can still create the illusion of them with side ties, a style favoured by Salma Hayek, 53.
Ties at the neck and hips draw the eye to these points and detract attention from your tummy.
Want more coverage? High-waisted bottoms help smooth out any lumps.
The straps worn by Melanie Griffith, 62, look substantial here, but still sexy, writes Ms Odabash
HIDDEN SUPPORT TO AVOID CHUNKY STRAPS
Sadly, unless youre fortunate, your days of wearing barely-there wisps of fabric bikini tops are behind you, and your boobs will need support.
But you dont want to look like youre wearing a bra on the beach, or and this is my pet hate to appear matronly. Go for hidden underwiring for support and adjustable straps, so you can get the lift that feels right for you without having to go too wide.
A bikini top that ties at the back also means you can go as tight as you need to feel properly held in.
The straps worn by Melanie Griffith, 62, look substantial here, but still sexy.
Go for higher-waisted, ruched bikini briefs like Shirley Ballas (pictured), 59, ideally ones that can be rolled up or down so you can get the right height for you
HIGH WAIST COVERS A MULTITUDE OF MARKS
Stretch marks, C-section scars, and general sag around the belly can sap anyones confidence.
Go for higher-waisted, ruched bikini briefs like Shirley Ballas, 59, ideally ones that can be rolled up or down so you can get the right height for you.
Avoid the temptation to go too high, as this will make you look out of proportion no higher than the top of your belly button is a good guide.
Detail on your top triangular shaped like Christie Brinkley, 66, is wearing works well such as a central ring or an embellishment on the straps, tricks the eye into thinking theres more cleavage
BOOST FOR YOUR CLEAVAGE
Use clever tricks to feel more voluptuous.
Detail on your top triangular shaped like Christie Brinkley, 66, is wearing works well such as a central ring or an embellishment on the straps, tricks the eye into thinking theres more cleavage.
Padded inserts will also leave your bust looking perkier.
A tan, whether it comes from the sun or out of a bottle, is a bikini wearers best friend. It evens out blemishes while hiding cellulite and scars (Pictured: Helen Hunt)
GOLDEN TAN FOR INSTANT GLAM
A tan, whether it comes from the sun or out of a bottle, is a bikini wearers best friend. It evens out blemishes while hiding cellulite and scars.
Apply a layer of fake tan before even trying on a bikini and youll feel more confident.
At the start of your holiday, or throughout if youre pale-skinned and dont tend to tan, go for swimwear in darker colours such as navy blues, warm browns and black. Avoid bright colours yellow and orange as they will wash you out.
Helen Hunt, 57, ticks both boxes with her even tan and dark bikini.
Dry brushing is a brilliant way of tackling cellulite. All you need is a good natural bristle brush, firm enough to create friction (Pictured: Elle Macpherson)
SMOOTH AWAY DIMPLES
Dry brushing is a brilliant way of tackling cellulite. All you need is a good natural bristle brush, firm enough to create friction.
Without wetting the brush, start at your feet and move in slow upward motions for natural exfoliation that smooths out little bumps.
It also boosts your circulation. Fellow bikini wearer Elle Macpherson, 56, is a fan.
For pear-shaped ladies with small shoulders and larger hips, avoid halter necks. Pull your straps out wide across your shoulders, aligning them with your hips like Jennifer Lopez
DITCH HALTERNECKS TO HIDE WIDE HIPS
While a loss of curves are a problem for some, for others they can be something we want to detract attention from.
For pear-shaped ladies with small shoulders and larger hips, avoid halter necks. Pull your straps out wide across your shoulders, aligning them with your hips like Jennifer Lopez, 50.
Youll find your shoulders look wider and your hips instantly narrower, which will balance proportions really nicely.
Buy your bikini true to size like Courtney Cox, 56, in this well-fitting number youll look better for it
MAKE SURE THE SIZE IS RIGHT
Many larger women make the mistake of going up a size or two, thinking theyll look better the more covered up they appear.
Its a bad move: skin is neutral its the fabric you notice and so a larger size will only make you look bigger.
Buy your bikini true to size like Courtney Cox, 56, in this well-fitting number youll look better for it. Youll also avoid a saggy bottom, which is a terrible look, whatever your size.
NEWS FLASH
Croatia Airlines will be restoring additional routes and increasing frequencies on existing services up until mid-July as it continues to rebuild its network. The Croatian carrier has outlined plans to reinstate international flights from Dubrovnik, as well as expand its operations out of Zagreb and Split. This will include the reintroduction of flights from the Croatian capital to Paris and Brac, as well as from Split to Osijek, Vienna, Lyon, Paris, Copenhagen and London next month. The full list of service resumptions can be viewed below.
May 11 - July 12 operations (correct as of June 23)
Departing Zagreb
Destination Resumption date Dubrovnik, Split May 11 Amsterdam May 25 Copenhagen June 1 Zurich June 8 Pula, Zadar June 8 Munich, Sarajevo, London, Rome, Brussels June 15 Dublin June 16 Vienna June 18 Paris July 03 Brac July 07
Departing Split
Destination Resumption date Rome June 15 Frankfurt June 24 Munich. Zurich June 26 Dusseldorf, Berlin June 27 Osijek July 03 Vienna, Lyon, Paris, Copenhagen, London July 11
Departing Dubrovnik
The caretakers of Marion Square in Charleston say they will not step into City Council's vote tonight on removing the statue of John C. Calhoun.
In a statement, the group said there are no grounds for a legal course on their part.
"The Washington Light Infantry Sumter Guards Board of Officers has no ownership interest in the Calhoun Monument, and with assurances that the Boards ownership and interest in Marion Square will not be impacted by the Citys anticipated removal of the statue, has no legal basis to challenge the Citys actions," their statement reads.
It was attributed to attorney M. Richardson Hyman Jr.
Charleston City Council is expected to take a historic step Tuesday night by authorizing the removal of the Calhoun monument.
Last week, on the fifth anniversary of the Emanuel AME Church massacre, Mayor John Tecklenburg stood at the base of the statue with 10 City Council members to announce the statue's relocation.
City officials have not publicly announced when the statue will be removed. It is unclear where the statue will be moved to.
City staff are talking to different museums and academic institutions to find it a new home. In the meantime, it will be stored at an undisclosed location.
Because of the ongoing concern of spreading the novel coronavirus, City Council will hold their Tuesday night meeting via teleconference.
The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. and will be streamed live on the City's YouTube channel. Those who want to tune in can also call and listen to the meeting by dialing 1-929-205-6099 and using 912096416 as the passcode.
City officials contend the statue is not covered by the state's Heritage Act, which gives the Statehouse authority over moving, altering or renaming period monuments, streets or other landmarks.
S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson last week was asked to file an opinion on the constitutionality of the act, though there is no guarantee his decision will come today before the meeting; it could be later this week, his office has said.
As part of the legal examination, Wilson's office will look at the city's power to unilaterally move the Calhoun statue, his spokesman said.
The Calhoun monument, dedicated to the 19th century South Carolina political figure who was an unabashed defender of slavery, has been targeted for removal by those who see it as a symbol of white supremacy.
RACINE Another alleged member of the Northside For Life gang has been charged in connection to the June 2 shooting at North Beach that injured five.
Qyntavious Parks, 20, of the 600 block of Hagerer Street, was charged with five counts of first degree reckless injury with use of a dangerous weapon, a count of first degree recklessly endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by adjudicated delinquent and two counts of felony bail jumping.
The criminal complaint does not confirm that Parkss actions directly caused the injuries to the victims of the shooting. Multiple people were allegedly seen firing weapons at the scene.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Racine Police Department:
Five people were injured by gunfire at North Beach on June 2.
Officers first arrived on scene and located the victims:
One victim suffered a life-threatening shot to the chest.
Another suffered a grazing shot to the head that was not life-threatening.
A third person was shot in the lower back.
The fourth victim was shot in the foot.
The fifth victim was shot in the leg.
The oldest victim was 20 years old. The youngest victim was 13. Authorities have not disclosed specific ages for each victim.
Prior to the shooting, a large number of young people were in the parking lot behind The Oasis, near the Kids Cove Playground. The criminal complaint states that all of those young people were members of the gang Northside For Life, or NFL.
At about 7:20 p.m., three alleged members of the Dirty P gang (ages 20, 18 and 16) arrived at North Beach. One of the Dirty P members had taken his relatives truck without permission and drove the other two to the area, according to the complaint. They parked the truck near the playground and started walking toward The Oasis.
Parks was an adjudicated delinquent of armed robbery on Feb. 16, 2016, online court records show. He was also out on bond after being convicted of fleeing and eluding police, first degree recklessly endangering safety and possession with intent to deliver less than or equal to 200 grams of THC on Feb. 4 with the condition that he commits no new crimes and doesnt possess any weapons.
As of Monday morning, Parks remained in custody at the Racine County Jail on a $150,000 cash bond. He has a status conference set for July 8 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center.
Two Racine teenagers, who police say are members of north side gang, charged in North Beach shooting According to a criminal complaint filed Monday, the June 2 altercation at North Beach that left five people shot appears to have been ignited by tensions between the gangs Northside For Life and Dirty P.
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This article was originally published in Convivium.
It was a crash of catastrophic consequences that reverberated around the world. Six years later, many of its survivors are still picking up the debris of their shattered lives, and appealing to the world for help.
It was the summer of 2014 and on June 10, after four days of fighting, Mosul, Iraqs second largest city, had fallen to ISIS (Islamic state) terrorists. Unfurling black flags across the city, the invaders ran amok, killing, torturing, and enslaving thousands of Christians, Yazidis, and other minority faith groups, desecrating churches, and toppling statues and crosses.
On July 2, in a chilling act of hatred, the extremists painted the first letter of the Arabic word Nazarene (Christian) on the doors and businesses of Mosuls Christian inhabitants, marking them as targets for their cruelty.
Thousands of Christians, Yazidis, and others fled in shell-shocked, panic-stricken terror. The international Organization for Migration reported the number of those who left as 500,000, which included 200,000 Christians and 200,000 Yazidis.
The world was slow to wake up to this unfolding genocide, says Nuri Kino, a Syriac Christian journalist and activist based in Sodertalje, Sweden, who had been one of the first to alert the world of the gravity of the situation. He had warned through his reports, of the impending catastrophe, but neither the UN for the U.S. did anything to avert it.
That day, Kino gathered a group of concerned volunteers and coordinated a social media blitz, sending 15,000 emails to key people around the world: major news outlets, lawmakers, politicians (including Canadians), UN officials and NGOs. They attached reports and proof of the unfolding genocide in Iraq.
Our message was that nobody could claim they were unaware of the situation, he says. It was a crisis that demanded immediate action, and if the world did not come to the aid of these persecuted people, they were complicit in the persecution.
Echoes of the same message resounded across the world in the weeks that followed, as activists independently or in concert with A Demand for Action, the international advocacy organization that Kino founded gathered for peaceful protests in major cities.
On September 6, an estimated crowd of 2000, many with the letter N (for Nazarene or Christian) in Arabic pinned to their lapels, assembled in front of Ottawa's Parliament Hill to heighten public awareness of the unfolding tragedy in Iraq, and to appeal to the Canadian government and public for help.
We put this together in three weeks, Keith Bell, one of the organizers told Convivium. My wife Anne and two other couples close friends of ours and devout Catholics like ourselves were discussing the situation of Christians, and other faith minorities of the Middle East, and decided that the best way to make a difference was to hold a demonstration.
He added that the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and Archbishop Terrence Prendergast came through with flying colors when approached for support, and even paid for the required insurance.
I think all people of faith were devastated by the Islamic state attacks on Christians, said Carl Hetu, National Director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, discussing his memories of the event in an interview with Convivium.
In one sense, it mobilized not only Christians of Latin and Eastern rites but all other religions who had representatives at the rally to say no to persecution, no to violence, yes to respect, yes to peace.
Attending the rally and helping with some organizational details was the least I could do, said Rabea Allos, a Baghdad-born Iraqi Christian activist who had traveled all the way from Toronto to Ottawa for the rally.
What we are facing today is not persecution, but genocide, Father Niaz Toma, keynote speaker at the rally, said six years ago.
An immigrant from Iraq himself, Father Toma, who was the pastor of St. Thomas Chaldean Church in Hamilton at the time, pleaded eloquently for Canadian help and support for Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac Christians, as well as for Yazidis and other Middle Eastern minorities.
If Canada wants to be a beacon of hope to all humanity, the Canadian government and people can do more to restore the dignity of our people, he said.
Six years have passed since these grassroots protests and desperate cries for help drew the worlds attention to the debacle in Mosul.
In reply to a Convivium question on what difference, if any, the flurry of civil society activism has made, Kino said that with relentless and sustained campaigning, his organization has had a hand in getting the European Union and the U.S. to recognize the genocide officially.
We were able to get international media coverage of the issue, and also convinced some countries (such as the U.S.) to send aid directly to these genocide survivors (rather than through UN channels), he added.
Canadian activists, by contrast, expressed disappointment at their governments lackluster response, particularly during the past five years.
A motion introduced by Rona Ambrose, then leader of the Opposition, in June 2016 to declare ISIS atrocities against Christians and other Middle Eastern minorities a genocide was defeated by the Liberal government.
The Canadian government did not take the issue seriously for political reasons, said Allos. The government refused to declare what happened to Iraqi Christians by ISIS a genocide. Iraqi Christians are the indigenous people of Iraq, and since Canada signed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2016, the government is obligated to protect indigenous people not only in Canada but worldwide.
Six years later, the help is still desperately needed, because Middle Eastern Christians, Yazidis and other persecuted groups are in dire straits, despite the defeat of ISIS by U.S.-led troops in 2017.
Iraq is currently facing several crises simultaneously, including high unemployment, sectoral division and corruption, said Carl Hetu. He added that the collapse of oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated these problems.
Another major threat hanging over the heads of these Christians and other minorities is the ever-present shadow of ISIS.
ISIS may be gone, but the ideology of ISIS remains strong and the identities of current and former ISIS members remains masked, said Claire Evans, regional manager for the International Christian Concern, a Washington-based NGO.
This, of course, is a concern for Christians, Evans explained. But the more immediate threat facing Iraqi and Syrian Christians are the Islamic ideologies of foreign governments. In Iraq, that means Iranian expansion into Christian areas to promote Shia Islam. In Syria, that means Turkish expansion into Christian areas in order to re-establish the territory of the (former) Ottoman Empire.
Because of these factors, Christian families are leaving Iraq each month, going mainly to Lebanon and Jordan, Carl Hetu said. They could be stranded for years before they can find a home in Canada, Europe or other parts. They wont go back to Iraq. With the Covid-19 crisis they might be there for years to come, living in limbo.
Those who have fled to Lebanon and Jordan are still struggling for survival in harsh conditions. With no work permits and no chances of building a safe, stable life for themselves, they are dependent, for their basic needs on NGOs such as the Catholic Near Eastern Welfare Association and A Demand for Action, which help them with food, housing and healthcare.
Accepting more refugees into Canada is not the only solution to their problems, says Allos, when asked what the Canadian government can do to help displaced people caught in the quagmire of Middle Eastern politics.
Canada can help in efforts to rebuild the Christian villages and help to get the internally displaced refugees to their homes, he suggested. It is financially more viable to help refugees to return to their homelands and help them build their lives in their native land rather than relocate them to Canada or other countries.
The road back home, however, looks long and rough for most people whose world was shaken to its very foundations when they lost everything families, homes, livelihoods and more, to the terrorist invasion.
They fled from terrorists and genocide. Now they are trapped in lockdown, without food and water, because of the corona virus, says Kino of the refugees that A Demand for Action helps in Lebanon.
CAIRO - The Arab League on Tuesday pressed Libyas warring parties and their foreign backers to halt fighting and restart peace talks, as regional tensions threaten a new escalation in the oil-rich countrys years-long conflict.
Following an emergency meeting requested by Egypt, Arab League foreign ministers warned against a continuation of military action that alters existing front lines. The statement came as a coalition of Turkish-backed forces based in the capital, Tripoli, pushed toward the key coastal city of Sirte.
Over years of war, Libya has become divided between west and east, with the United Nations-supported government based in Tripoli, in the west. Rival military commander Khalifa Hifter is based in the eastern city of Benghazi.
Turkey has escalated its support in recent months for the Tripoli-based government, supplying armed drones, military experts and thousands of Syrian fighters to shore up its presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Its efforts have rattled its regional rivals, especially Egypt, which shares a long and porous desert border with Libya.
Retaking Sirte, the birthplace of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi, would open the door for Turkish-backed forces to advance even farther eastward, to potentially control vital oil installations, terminals and fields now under Hifters control.
The refusal by Tripoli and the Turkish-backed forces to back down stirred fears of a wider war over the weekend, when Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi called Sirte a red line and threatened to intervene directly on behalf of Hifters forces if the city came under attack.
All of our forces are working hard at preparations for the operation to liberate Sirte, said Mustafa al-Mujie, a spokesperson for the Tripoli forces, on Tuesday. We are sending reinforcements and expect the offensive to launch very soon.
Tripoli forces have also vowed to capture al-Jufra, Hifters air base in central Libya, where the U.S. military has accused Russia of sending at least 14 fighter jets.
In recent months, Turkish-backed Tripoli militias have turned the wars momentum against Hifter, compelling his forces to retreat from most of the territory they seized since starting their campaign to capture the capital in April last year. Hifter and his foreign backers, including Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, have pushed for a return to the negotiating table to stem their losses and head off a larger conflagration.
The Arab League ministers expressed grave concern over a military escalation that threatens the security of the entire region, and emphasized the need to stop foreign interference, whatever its type or source.
They appealed for an immediate return to UN-mediated ceasefire talks and for all foreign forces to be sent out of Libya a daunting task in a country where thousands of mercenaries, mainly from Syria, have been deployed to both sides of the battlefield.
I spent 22 years in the Army and was stationed at places such as Baumholder, Erlangen and Ansbach, and never once wondered why they werent named after a person. I also spent a couple of tours at Fort Hood, and I love the place. But I have no issues with renaming it. Why not rename Fort Hood as Army Post Killeen or Fort Benning as Army Post Columbus or something similar? As a soldier for life, I associated with my regiment or unit I was assigned to, not the post or fort I was stationed at. Maybe its time to join our communities.
[June 23, 2020] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a National Class Action Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (COG) 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 Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation ("Cabot Oil" or "the Company") (NYSE: COG) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your Cabot Oil 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/cabot-oil-gas-corporation/. 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 June 15, 2020, following a grand jury investigation, the Pennsylvania attorney general's office charged Cabot Oil wih 15 criminal counts due to its failure to fix faulty gas wells, which polluted Pennsylvania's water supplies through stray gas migration.
On this news, Cabot Oil's stock price fell $0.67 per share, or 3.34%, to close at $19.40 per share on June 15, 2020. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Cabot Oil should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC (News - Alert) Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email [email protected]. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times (News - Alert), Bloomberg 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/20200623005823/en/
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A policeman was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife by shooting her in the head. Police Major Songklod Boonsong initially claimed that his attractive partner Pimchadaporn Pooyamsai, 30, shot herself at home in Bangkok, Thailand. Her blood-splattered body was taken away in an ambulance the next morning on Saturday (June 20) after the policeman raised the alarm. However, Pimchadaporn's family pointed out that she was right handed - and at the alleged crime scene she was holding the weapon in her left hand and the wound was in her left temple. Officers arrested the cop and allegedly found gunshot residue on his hands. He has now been remanded in custody at the Lat Phrao district station. Pimchadaporn's sister Panita Boonchote, 31, said the family suspected that the officer had killed their relative as she had allegedly previously complained of domestic violence, with him attacking her. She said: "The family knew about the beatings that my sister had suffered from her husband. "She was also found holding the gun in her left hand and the wound was on her left temple despite her being right-handed.'' Police Major Songklod made the initial report at his local station and requested forensic officers examine the body. He told investigating officers that his wife had recently been stressed about her mother's illness. The cop was later sent to the hospital for an alcohol blood level check, the results of which were not disclosed but detectives said they would ''be used in the investigation''. Police later revealed that the suspect had gunshot residue on his hands. Police Colonel Rungsakul Boonkrapue said: "The officer will be charged with reporting false evidence and he will be placed under investigation for the incident as he is now a murder suspect.'' The dead woman's mother Thongsai Phukongnam, 56, said she wants the police to take the case seriously as she wants justice for he daughter. She said: "I do not believe that my daughter had committed suicide because she had never showed any sign of being suicidal. "I also want the police to investigate the case without and bias and bring justice to my daughter."
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court could rule this week on whether Republican legislators can end Gov. Tom Wolfs pandemic emergency declaration.
If the court rules for the GOP, both Wolf and Republican legislators say that evictions and utility shutoffs will resume and the governors ability to suspend regulations to manage the crisis will be curtailed. But Wolf says his business shutdown orders and phased reopening plan will remain because they rest, in part, under the authority of the Secretary of Health to contain and control disease. Republicans, though, say that authority is limited, and believe business closure orders would end.
The collision course between legislators and the governor began back in May when the state House of Representatives passed a version of HR 836 that would have terminated the governors coronavirus disaster declaration, specifically to the extent it treated some businesses differently than others. Two weeks later, the state Senate passed a resolution to terminate the declaration entirely, and the House quickly concurred.
That set up a standoff. Republicans argued that Pennsylvania law requires the governor to issue an order terminating the declaration immediately, while Democrats countered that Article Three of the state constitution gives the governor discretion to disapprove of the resolution to veto or sign it as he does with any other resolution.
The case reached the high court at Wolfs request through a centuries-old paradigm known as Kings Bench jurisdiction, which allows the states highest court to rule on an issue without it first going through the lower courts.
Republicans have requested that the court hold oral arguments to address what they say may be the most significant separation of powers case to be before the Court in some time, but Wolf opposes that request, and, in a filing Monday, urged the court to rule quickly. Although there is no mandated timeline for a ruling, the high court uses Kings Bench jurisdiction only for matters of immediate public concern, so the ruling should come soon.
Amicus briefs
Last week, four outside parties petitioned to be heard as friends of the court to offer arguments. All four support the arguments put forward by Wolf.
The Pennsylvania chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) argued that ending the disaster declaration would restrict the governors authority to protect frontline workers.
The members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania are among the most exposed to COVID-19 infection through their work and are also especially needed to remain healthy during the duration of this pandemic in order to serve the needs of their patients and residents, their filing says. They are at risk of losing their lives due to COVID19, not just their livelihoods. They need this public health emergency to be effectively managed and, based upon their experience, believe that the Governors Disaster Declaration remains the means to do so.
In a separate brief, a coalition representing tenants, senior citizens, and low- and moderate-income consumers contended that the court ought to consider the impact on vulnerable Pennsylvanians of allowing for utility shutoffs and evictions during a pandemic.
A third brief came from the Keystone Research Center and Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning think tank that analyzes fiscal policy. That brief defended the Wolf administrations response and asserted based mostly on policy, rather than legal, grounds a need for the administration to have ongoing flexibility to respond to COVID-19.
Finally, state House and Senate Democratic leadership filed a brief that asserted Corman and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) lack the standing to represent the legislatures institutional interests because they do not represent a veto-proof legislative majority in both chambers. They cited a federal case to support that suggestion, though not one in which senators asked the court to implement an action on which the body had already affirmatively voted.
In a reply brief, Corman and Scarnati wrote, To the extent the [Democratic leaders] are claiming the General Assembly as a whole has not spoken at all, they are quite incorrect: a majority of the Legislature has definitively demanded that Governor Wolf fulfill his mandatory duty under [the Emergencies Act].
A new question of severability and the path forward
Corman and Scarnati also, for the first time, raised the question of whether an unconstitutional part of a statute means that the entire statute is unconstitutional, or whether what the legislature hoped to achieve with the law can be accomplished without the unconstitutional provision, a concept known as severability.
If the court buys the governors argument that the statute is unconstitutional because it does not require that the legislature presents its resolution terminating the declaration to the governor for approval, then the entire statute must be unconstitutional because, without that provision, the legislature never would have passed the law, Republicans contend.
Because they contend the statute clearly does not require the resolution to be presented to the governor, Republicans say the court has two options: accept their argument that the resolution does not need to be presented to the governor, or rule the statutes provision that circumvents the governor unconstitutional, which would require ruling the entire statute unconstitutional since the legislature would not have passed it without that provision. If the court rules the entire statute unconstitutional, a governor would lose the ability to declare emergencies, whether for a pandemic or a hurricane, entirely unless the legislature were to pass and the governor were to sign a new law.
Duquesne University Professor of Law Bruce Ledewitz, who directs the law schools website on the Pennsylvania Constitution, said the Republicans argument makes sense on its face, but he anticipates the high court will consider the practical implications of striking down the entire concept of gubernatorial emergency powers and be reluctant to take that step.
As a practical matter, I think a court would find it severable, said Ledewitz shortly after the original filing. And the reason is, because otherwise, it would be open season there would be no authority for the governor to issue any orders at all to deal with a pandemic.
PA Post is an independent newsroom covering policy and government in Pennsylvania. For more, go to www.papost.org.
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The British Prime Minister is to set out plans to allow pubs, restaurants, museums and cinemas to begin reopening in the latest easing of the coronavirus lockdown in England.
Boris Johnson is publishing the Governments keenly-awaited review of the two-metre social-distancing rule on Tuesday, amid widespread expectations it will be cut to one metre.
He will brief his Cabinet on the proposals due to take effect from July 4 before setting out details in a statement in the House of Commons.
The move follows intense pressure from some Conservative MPs who have said easing the two-metre requirement is key to reopening the hard pressed hospitality sector.
Many pubs and restaurants have warned that it would simply not be viable for them to operate as long as the rule remains in place.
Some scientists have, however, expressed concern the Government is moving too quickly, and that its track-and-trace system to contain any fresh outbreaks is not fully up and running.
... we were never so much listening to the Government as doing what we thought was right at the right time
Lucy Yardley, professor of health psychology at the University of Bristol and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told BBC Newsnight there was a danger that some people thought lockdown had ended.
Professor Yardley said you could argue that we were never so much listening to the Government as doing what we thought was right at the right time and added it would be much harder to impose lockdown for a second time.
The review of the two-metre rule drew on advice from economists as well as medical and scientific experts.
By Lisa Shumaker
June 22 (Reuters) - Global cases of the novel coronavirus surpassed 9 million on Monday, as Brazil and India grappled with a surge in infections, and the United States, China and other hard-hit countries reported new outbreaks, according to a Reuters tally.
The first case was reported in China in early January and it took until mid-May to reach 4.5 million cases. It has taken just five weeks to double to 9 million cases, the tally shows.
The United States leads the world with the highest number of infections, at about 2.2 million or 25% of all reported cases.
The tally shows the disease is spreading fastest in Latin America, which now accounts for 23% of all cases.
Brazil has the second most cases behind the United States, and India is on track to overtake Russia as the third most affected country by cases.
The number of global infections continues to rise at a rate of around 1%-2% a day since the beginning of June, even as many countries are taking steps to ease lockdown measures.
On Friday, global cases rose by a record 176,000 in a day, according to the tally, when Brazil reported over 54,000 cases in a single day, the most of any country throughout the pandemic.
Global deaths stand at over 464,000 and have doubled in seven weeks.
The crisis is deepening in Brazil where the death toll is over 50,000, widespread testing is absent, and the country is still without a permanent health minister.
In the United States, which has about 120,000 deaths, cases are rising again after declining for more than a month and wearing a mask is not mandatory in most states.
China is also trying to contain a fresh outbreak in Beijing, where it asserts it has a capacity to test over 1 million people a day in the city alone.
On its best day, the United States tested over 594,000 people nationwide but often tests fewer than half a million a day.
Even in Germany, a country seen as successful in curbing the virus and limiting deaths, infection rates are rising above the level needed for long-term containment. Australia is also battling a spike in cases in Victoria where other states have seen few, if any, new cases in weeks.
Story continues
Still there are bright spots such as Spain reopening its borders, death rates plunging in the former hot spot of Italy, and Greece welcoming a return of foreign tourists.
Just under half of all reported cases have recovered, though the number is likely higher as some countries do not report the statistic.
(Writing by Lisa Shumaker and Cate Cadell; Editing by Howard Goller)
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has removed Yehor Bozhok from fulfilling the duties of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"To support the application of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Bozhok Yehor Valeriyovych on his removal from office as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine," government's decree No. 706 of June 19 said.
As reported, Bozhok is a defendant in a case in which the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) handed a suspicion to Ukrainian MP, former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. The Prosecutor General's Office said that according to the investigation, MP Poroshenko is suspected of the fact that being the president, he impelled the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of Ukraine (Yehor Bozhok served as the head then) to exceed his authority and official powers in 2018, by issuing an obviously criminal order committing actions that clearly go beyond the rights and powers granted to him, committed in a special period (Part 4 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 41, Part 4 of Article 426-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
On June 19, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yehor Bozhok asked to be suspended from his duties due to the fact that Ukraine's Prosecutor General has decided to extend the investigation in the proceedings on the suspicion of a criminal offense entered in the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations.
"Due to the fact that the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) decided to extend the investigation in the proceedings on the suspicion of a criminal offense entered into the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations, in order to ensure a transparent investigation of the situation that has developed, I ask you to remove me from my duties as Deputy Foreign Minister Of Ukraine," Bozhok said in a statement to the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, which he posted on Twitter.
Bozhok also noted that he asked for removal himself, "in order to remove the ministry from the PGO's attention."
On Juneteenth, June 19, 2020, Black men participated in a march to Malcolm X Park at 52nd and Pine. At the park, the men took off their protective masks which featured words like fear, anger, and lies and let out a cry to release their pain. L-R: Jarrad Gholston, Taj Murdock, and Kyle Morris, three of the organizers. Read more
Last week, through West Philadelphia, Black men marched mostly in silence.
As they reached Malcolm X Park, one of the organizers of the Juneteenth commemoration, Taj Murdock, turned to his fellow marchers and demanded of them:
Release that pain, brother!
A weight, lifted.
Ive been thinking a lot about the weight of things lately.
The literal weight of a white police officers knee fatally pressed into a Black mans neck. But also the weight of oppression, shouldered alone, suffered in silence, and too often barely survived.
Daily indignities piled on injustices piled on dehumanization, until eventually, something has to give.
Oh, the damage it does to the body and soul.
More likely to be killed by police.
More likely to be locked up.
Less likely to attend quality schools.
Less likely to receive decent health care.
Humanity, denied over and over.
If you pay attention, you can hear the sound of this weight in voices that sometimes crack while trying to conceal disappointment and frustration and righteous rage.
In tears, trapped in throats, or twisting in the pits of stomachs. Shed in private.
In usually stifled screams.
In the daily struggle to breathe in a society still weighed down by centuries of racism, still expecting those most marginalized to carry the baggage and burden.
It takes a toll, said Bianca Lazuli, who organized with others a community scream scheduled for Wednesday night at Clark Park, meant to offer a needed outlet for people trying to navigate the current uncertainty and injustice.
Holding this stuff in, trying to keep your composure, it retraumatizes you every single time. Its too much.
Caution: The following video contains explicit language.
You can see that in a video of a Black FedEx worker who describes a driver spitting on him and calling him the n-word while he was on the job in rural Lisbon, Ohio.
The Facebook Live video that Brandon Brackins posted about that June incident is six minutes long.
But about a minute in you can hear him break under the weight of what he has endured on that day and on many other days before as he shields his tear-streaked face and cries out.
Why? Why so much hate? Why so much hate? Why? Why?
He is distraught and angry and so tired.
In the reckoning for racial justice that followed the police killing of George Floyd, its become so common for people to say, I am tired, that I worry that those who have never experienced this kind of exhaustion may write off the declaration as rhetoric or hyperbole.
Or worse, as a trendy catchphrase instead of a desperate plea for long-overdue accountability and action.
What the f is the point of all of this protest s if it dont work?! Brackins cried out, echoing the fear so many have of the recent uprising.
What if nothing changes?
Imagine carrying this weight, day after day after day?
Here, come share the load.
I think, too, of what it takes to lift this weight, and what it looks like when it does lift, if only for a moment.
Earlier this month, a Philadelphia couple whod just gotten married emerged from the Logan Hotel and were enveloped by a crowd of protesters on the street.
A celebration of Black love in the midst of a fight for Black lives.
Surrounded by cheering demonstrators holding signs that read Black Lives Matter and Say His Name, Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins and Michael Gordon held hands and kissed. And then in a moment Ive watched over and over, this:
Perkins, her hands still cupped in her husbands, tips her head back ever so slightly and inhales in such a way I felt my own lungs fill with air.
The symbolism as stunning as the bride.
I cant breathe. Those were the words George Floyd said before dying under the weight of it all.
And yet, for one fleeting, joyous moment, in the middle of a protest in the name of a Black man, a Black woman stood on a Philadelphia street and reclaimed Black love and Black life with one single breath.
The T-Mobile US Inc. network went down for about 13 hours beginning Monday afternoon, and it wasnt until almost a full day later that the company explained why. The interim provided plenty of time for baseless rampant speculation of a cyber attack on a nation thats already on edge without any official source acting to dispel it. The series of events points to continued shortcomings by the industry and the Federal Communications Commission in providing reliable data, transparency and sufficient oversight when it comes to the health of Americas networks.
Internet and phone connectivity has never been more important than its been in the last three months, with many Americans still working from home and social distancing to stem the spread of Covid-19, and yet so little information is ever disseminated about the status of the countrys networks. Helpful third-party websites track things like internet speeds around the U.S., but they all use different methodologies and there isnt any official authority for such data not even at the FCC. Its often left up to the network operators to decide when and what to disclose publicly.
T-Mobile is known for having a highly active Twitter presence and for communicating directly with customers in a way that most other companies dont. That culture, which has earned it high regard with consumers, was created by former CEO John Legere, who stepped down in April as T-Mobile completed its acquisition of Sprint Corp. But when it came to Mondays technological difficulties, which began just after noon New York time, the company was initially vague. Later that day, Neville Ray, T-Mobiles president of technology, tweeted only that engineers are working to resolve a voice and data issue that has been affecting customers around the country.
Meanwhile, confused subscribers took to social media to complain about issues making and receiving calls and texts, including some AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. users who mistakenly thought the connection issues were on their end. Because sites like DownDetector.com scrape Twitter for these types of reports, it wasnt long before a scary-looking map of a mass internet outage was circulating online, suggesting that it wasnt just a T-Mobile problem. The map helped to inadvertently fuel false theories about a giant cyber attack on U.S. tech institutions broadly. And by Monday evening, Instagram feeds where many young people get their news were riddled with posts like this from meme accounts spreading misinformation:
In a post to the news section of its website at around 9:30 p.m. New York time on Tuesday, T-Mobile explained that there was a circuit failure at one of its third-party fiber providers in the Southeast and that backup efforts failed, overloading the network. The situation was then compounded by other factors, Ray wrote. Our engineers worked through the night to understand the root cause of yesterdays issues, address it and prevent it from happening again.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai tweeted that the outage was unacceptable and that hes demanding answers, vowing to launch an investigation into the matter.
In some ways, its too little, too late, and thats partly a result of Pais generally hands-off approach to regulation that entails asking questions later and giving slaps on the wrists after companies trip up. That can be seen in decisions such as repealing net neutrality the concept of treating all web traffic equally and, alongside Makan Delrahim, the Justice Departments chief antitrust enforcer, approving T-Mobiles takeover of Sprint with difficult-to-enforce concessions. Its an administration that has prioritized the possibilities of faster 5G networks over the potential harm of market consolidation. Its also been more concerned about content on the internet than the behavior of internet providers themselves, even though the whole of the U.S. economy is virtually dependent on their services.
At the end of March and start of April, as the virus lockdowns were getting under way, Pai checked in with companies such as T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Comcast Corp. to see how their networks were holding up amid the sudden onslaught of demand. By March 21, BroadbandNow had found that 88 of the top 200 cities had some degree of network degradation, with places such as Austin, Texas, parts of California, Rochester, New York, and even Sprints home of Overland Park, Kansas, experiencing significant declines in internet speeds (they later improved). Still, the message from the carriers at the time was that everythings all good, and Pai seemed comfortable taking their word for it, which he summarized in his own upbeat public statement.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, an outspoken advocate for greater oversight of the telecommunications industry, has called for the agency to issue daily updates on network status amid the Covid-19 crisis, just as it would during a hurricane or other events that activate its Disaster Information Reporting System. Getting a few reports using different methods from a handful of companies is useful, but its not enough, Rosenworcel said in a statement in April responding to questions sent to her office.
Things sometimes go wrong with technology, and thats to be expected. But this weeks breakdown in communications digital and verbal shows why consumers would benefit from better industry oversight and a more formal system for reporting network failures with greater urgency and transparency.
Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
The regions number one troublemaker, as critics have dubbed the Turkish president, is still in raptures over what he and the pro-government press in Turkey have unabashedly called conquests in the Arab world. Turkish military adventurism in Iraq, Syria and Libya has triggered alarm in the region and mounting concern (at least on the surface) in Europe. Most recently, Ankaras bid to acquire a foothold in Yemen has triggered Saudi anger, especially given that the Turkish expedition to Sanaa has to pass via Tehran.
Much of Erdogans euphoria relates to his defeat of the plans of the Libyan National Army and the project of its commander, Khalifa Haftar, in the words of a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Typical of the bloodthirsty rhetoric from those quarters, the pro-Erdogan Yeni Safak added: The greatest honour one can offer a dead man is to bury it. Attempts to save a decaying body by holding its feet will only cause it greater harm. Hiding behind a corpse serves nothing.
Yeni Safak columnist Zeki Kursun is a great adulator of Erdogan whom he describes as a gift from heaven who will not only save Turks but all Muslim peoples. As for that leaders immediate task in Libya, it is to revive the Maghreb Union, which could become stronger and more effective if stability is restored in Libya. It could serve as an alternative to the Arab League and create better conditions for lasting regional peace and for Turkey, of course. In his opinion, the Arab League never solved the problems of the Arab world and only exacerbated the situation in Libya. This was because instead of confronting the real crises, it chose to stand up against Erdogan.
Erdogans Chief Adviser Yasin Aktay was the source of the amazing news flash that Haftar, the war contractor, had made a secret visit to Venezuela to transfer sums of gold and money, suggesting possible designs to leave the country. The narrative, which Aktay at least admits comes from unconfirmed sources, is telling, less because of its mudslinging intent than how it brings to mind the types of shenanigans the Erdogan government gets up to, such as the scheme to purchase millions of dollars worth of Venezuelan gold to help Maduro evade sanctions.
If pro-Erdogan pundits in Turkey expressed their surprise at President Al-Sisis remarks concerning the threat from Libya and the possibility of Egyptian intervention to protect the Sirte-Jafra line, the opposition media in Turkey took advantage of the little space available to it to point out that the Tarhouna tribes have pleaded for Cairos urgent intervention and that the UAE and Saudi Arabia fully back the Egyptian position.
The opposition Peoples Republican Party (CHP) also drew attention to approximately $16 billion worth of Turkish business contracts in Libya, including $400-500 million in projects that have not begun yet. Of course, the firms and their CEOs are all close to the Erdogan clique. CHP officials also drew attention to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenbergs announcement last Thursday that NATO would launch a probe into an incident in which the naval targeting radar on a Turkish warship set its crosshairs on a French frigate participating in a European operation to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya.
In a statement prior to the announcement, the French Foreign Ministry said that the main obstacle to the establishment of peace and stability in Libya today lies in the systematic violation of the UN arms embargo, in particular by Turkey, despite the commitments made in Berlin.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu quickly tried to deflect the charges, calling the EUs Irini operation biased. It does not take into account the demands and fears of the GNA, he said in a press conference with his Italian counterpart in Ankara, referring to the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord based in Tripoli.
Perhaps because the French government and press have been so outspoken about Erdogans megalomanic designs, French newspapers have acquired increasing popularity among the Turkish opposition. Le Points cover stories, such as The Dictator: How Far Will Erdogan Go? and Erdogan: From Dictator to Eradicator, and numerous articles in Le Figaro warning of the Turks return to the Mediterranean in the framework of Erdogans vision to reconstitute the Ottoman Empire, have been circulating widely over social networking sites.
Certainly, Erdogans adviser, Yasin Aktay, has been a chief advocate of a vision for re-establishing Turkey at the centre of a resurrected caliphate with the Muslim Brotherhood as a main proxy in the Arab region and beyond. Are the policies based on this vision losing Turkey friends and influence?
In recent years, the foreign policy of Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been defined by promoting a pro-Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan) position rather than by national interests. This ideological attitude has been stubbornly maintained, despite the cost of confrontation with neighbouring countries, writes Haluk Ozdalga, an academic and former member of the AKP who has served parliament for two terms. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Syria turned hostile because of Ankaras pro-Ikhwan policy. Similar ideological stances damaged relations with Israel. And now these states have moved to align themselves with Greece and Greek Cyprus to counter Ankaras moves in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.
Ozdalga urges a new policy outlook that prioritises national interests over Ikhwan interests. Turkey should stop acting like a partisan in Arab conflicts. We need friends not enemies.
Meanwhile developments in the US are affecting Turkey in various ways. One is the release of former National Security Adviser John Boltons memoirs, The Room Where It Happened, which has several segments on Turkey and Erdogan whom Bolton likened to the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Another is the demonstrations that have rocked the US following the murder of African American George Floyd by a white policeman. Speaking by video linkup to a seminary organised by the Turkish American National Steering Committee while Turkish planes bombard northern Iraq, Cavusoglu noted that the US was not the only place where violence was used to stop peaceful protests. He cited the French polices use of violence against Yellow Vest protesters, and Greek security agencies use of violence against refugees Turkey amassed at the Greek border.
The purpose of such remarks was twofold. Apart from taking digs at Paris and Athens, they deflected attention from the violence Turkish police used to disperse peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators. The march, which set off from Silivri in northwest Turkey, was organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) after two of its MPs and a deputy from the secular Republican Peoples Party (CHP) were barred from parliament. Police fired tear gas and plastic bullets at the demonstrators.
The HDP, which has long spearheaded the advocacy of the political, social and cultural rights of Turkeys large Kurdish minority, as part of a larger pro-democracy movement, has been the prime target of a government campaign to shutter the third largest party in parliament. Since the last municipal elections, 45 popularly elected HDP mayors have been dismissed by interior minister edict and replaced with AKP-appointed trustees. The EU has vehemently condemned the actions primarily targeting predominately Kurdish municipalities in southwest Anatolia. Perhaps a small breath of hope for a large swathe of Turkeys population comes with the Turkish Constitutional Courts ruling calling for the release of the former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas on the grounds that his lengthy detainment exceeded a reasonable period and his right to freedom had been violated.
It remains to be seen whether the ruling will be implemented. It would not be the first time that Erdogan thumbed his nose at that court and the constitution it is tasked to uphold.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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Vice President Mike Pence and his wife reportedly voted in April using a ballot system blasted by President Donald Trump as corrupt mail-in voting.
Pence, whose voting record was exposed Monday by Business Insider, joins a long list of White House and Trump campaign officials and Trump family members who have voted by mail. That includes the president, who on Monday criticized mail-in ballots as the scandal of our times!
Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, used the address of the Indiana governors mansion for their mail-in ballot, according to the Insider. The couple hasnt lived there for four years since Pence left the governors office in 2016. Its not illegal to use a former address, as long as they dont also register in Washington, D.C.
The news comes as Trump declared Monday that millions of mail-in ballots will be printed by foreign countries and the 2020 election will be RIGGED.
RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2020
Some critics have accused the president of attacking the ballots which are good enough for him as part of a Plan B if hes voted out of the White House. Theyre convinced he would declare the election invalid and refuse to leave the White House.
I think this is a setup, I think theyre going to lose the election, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said Monday on CNN.
I think theyre going to claim fraud, and theyre going to go back to these states with the mail-in voting and theyre going to use that as an argument. I just hope they dont do that. (Check out the video above.)
Trump initially claimed that ballots would be stolen wholesale from mailboxes. Now hes insisting foreign nations send in fake ballots. He hasnt presented any evidence for either claim.
State voting records reveal that Attorney General William Barr also
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks were sharply higher on Tuesday after U.S. President said that the U.S.-Chine phase one trade deal was 'fully intact' and the latest batch of business activity data suggested early signs of economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis.
Following a record downturn, Germany's private sector showed signs of a turnaround in June, flash data from IHS Markit showed.
The flash composite output index climbed to 45.8 in June from 32.3 in the previous month. This was the highest reading in four months and above economists' forecast of 44.2.
The survey highlighted the effects of easing lockdown restrictions and also an improvement in business confidence.
The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index advanced to 44.6 from 36.6 a month ago, while the services PMI came in at 45.8 versus 32.6 in the previous month and well above forecast of 42.0.
The benchmark DAX jumped 267 points, or 2.18 percent, to 12,530 after declining 0.6 percent in the previous session.
Wirecard AG soared more than 17 percent after consecutive plunges amid an ongoing accounting scandal.
The payments firm said that its Supervisory Board has terminated employment contract of the member of the Management Board Jan Marsalek, who had been suspended on a revocable basis on June 18, 2020.
Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology rose 1.3 percent. The manufacturer of vacuum pumps expects sales to be in the range of around 140 million euros to 145 million euros in the second quarter 2020 ending June 30, 2020, compared to 157.4 million euros reported last year.
Hospital operator Rhoen-Klinikum decline half a percent. The Chairman of the Management Board, Stephan Holzinger, resigned from his position on the Management Board and other offices within the company, effect today.
Bayer AG climbed 2.2 percent after a U.S. court blocked California from requiring the company to label its glyphosate-based weed killer, Roundup, with a cancer warning.
Metals trader Kloeckner & Co soared 19 percent after a positive trading update.
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KYODO NEWS - Jun 23, 2020 - 18:41 | All, Japan
A team of researchers said Tuesday it has discovered the world's smallest dinosaur egg fossil, measuring about 4.5 centimeters by 2 cm, in western Japan.
The fossil of the egg, estimated to have weighed only about 10 grams more than 100 million years ago, was found in a stratum dating back to the Early Cretaceous period in Tamba, Hyogo Prefecture, according to the team.
The researchers at the University of Tsukuba and the Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo, among others, who have analyzed the fossil, said it likely belonged to a non-avian small theropod.
Skeletal remains of small dinosaurs are far less common than those of large dinosaurs, such as the Tyrannosaurus, which was also a theropod, and Kohei Tanaka of the University of Tsukuba, a member of the team, said he hopes the discovery will "help shed light on how small dinosaurs reproduced and nested."
The team surveyed the stratum, which dates back 110 million years, between 2015 and 2019 and found four fossil eggs and over 1,300 scattered eggshell fragments.
It has confirmed the findings, including the newly discovered one, which has been named Himeoolithus murakamii, can be categorized into four different types.
The team said the discovery suggests that various small dinosaurs were nesting together in the area, known as one of the world's richest Lower Cretaceous fossil egg sites.
Fossilized dinosaur eggs have been found elsewhere, including Spain and Mongolia, but many of them are 5 to 7 cm in length and weigh about 30 g.
Celebrity The Daily Beast
Reuters/Arnd WiegmannTheatrical rock superstar Meat Loaf, whose Bat Out of Hell is one of the bestselling albums of all time, has died at the age of 74. Reports say the singer and actor had recently fallen sick with COVID-19.In an emotional statement posted to Facebook early Friday, the performers family said he was with his wife when he died and had said his final goodbyes to his two daughters in the past 24 hours. The star sold 100 million albums in his five-decade career and starred in movie
Expats will be treated like 'second class citizens' and find it 'difficult' to make friends with locals if they move to Australia, a Canadian woman who emigrated almost four years ago has claimed.
Lauren Meisner, 29, left Ontario in central Canada on September 29, 2016 for the sunnier climes of Sydney to live with her Australian boyfriend, Sean. The couple got engaged in December 2018.
Since then, Lauren has founded a beauty news website, launched her own podcast and secured a partnership visa, but it seems life hasn't always been easy.
Earlier this week, a series of YouTube videos resurfaced of the blogger revealing the culture shocks she struggled with and everything she wishes she'd known before relocating - from the weather and apartments to saving and career progression.
Lauren warned others it's likely they'll need to take a 'step back' in their career and accept a lower quality of life for the first few years after moving Down Under.
Scroll down for video
Lauren Meisner, 29, who left Ontario in central Canada on September 29, 2016 for the sunnier climes of Sydney to be closer to her boyfriend, Sean
What she wishes she had known
IT'S 'DIFFICULT' TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH AUSTRALIANS
Lauren said she found it unexpectedly difficult to forge meaningful friendships, especially with Australians whose social circles she found it hard to break into.
'It's quite difficult to make friends with locals they have groups already established and it's really difficult to penetrate them,' she said.
She said it's easier to make friends with backpackers who are 'in it together', but expats typically move on to other destinations and rarely plan to stay forever which can leave the temporary residents who remain feeling lonely and isolated.
THE STRESS AND UNCERTAINTY OF VISAS
Lauren came to Australia on a working holiday visa and then accepted sponsorship from her employer, before eventually securing a partnership visa through her relationship with Sean.
And despite the white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and laid-back lifestyle that Australia is renowned for, she said being on any kind of visa makes things extremely stressful.
'If you're moving here thinking that you won't be kind of a second class citizen, you will be - you're not native to that country [so] your status is up in the air and you have to work extra hard to get what you want,' she said.
If she was starting again, Lauren said she would apply for a second year working holiday visa instead of immediately accepting sponsorship from her employer
If she was starting again, Lauren said she would apply for a second year working holiday visa instead of immediately accepting sponsorship, which left her feeling trapped in a job she hated for as long as she wished to remain in Australia.
While the partnership visa freed her to work elsewhere, those rights would be revoked if her relationship with Sean ever ended, adding a constant undercurrent of insecurity to her life Down Under.
'So many things are up in the air when you're on a visa and it makes your time in that country much more stressful,' she said.
Lauren (pictured at Sydney's Circular Quay) said expats should expect life to be 'really difficult for a long time' because people who aren't native Australians are like 'second class citizens'
IT WILL BRING YOUR LIFE 'BACKWARDS'
Lauren said expats should expect life to be 'really difficult for a long time' because people who aren't born in Australia are treated like 'second class citizens' due to the previously mentioned limitations of visas and working rights.
'You're not going to have the same quality of life back home,' she said.
She warned those considering emigration that it's likely they will need to take 'a step back' in their career or even change industries entirely to secure sponsorship or find a well-paid job.
Lauren (pictured on the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk in Sydney's east) warned those considering emigration that it's likely they will need to take 'a step back' in their career
YOU'LL ALWAYS FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE
Despite filming the video in August 2018, two years after relocating to Sydney, Lauren said she still felt 'displaced' living in a foreign country.
She felt her nationality put her at a disadvantage in job interviews and apartment viewings because realtors are less likely to offer properties to overseas visitors.
'You're still not born and raised here and that can trickle down into employers not hiring you, landlords not wanting to rent to you and not understanding certain things about the culture,' she said.
Lauren (pictured in a YouTube filmed in August 2018) felt her Canadian nationality put her at a disadvantage in job interviews and apartment viewings where realtors were less likely to offer to overseas visitors
Myths about living in Australia 1. 'Australia has crazy spiders, snakes and bugs' Lauren said this reputation is exaggerated, because the likelihood of encountering poisonous wildlife in an urban area is very slim. 2. 'It's always summer' Lauren said she couldn't believe how cold Sydney and Melbourne get in winter. She advised travellers to bring warm clothes because it's 'not a permanent summer vacation'. 3. 'Australians are big drinkers' Lauren said while Australians certainly enjoy drinking, she doesn't feel they drink more than Canadians, Americans or Europeans. 4. 'Australians love sunbathing' Lauren said if you try to sunbathe to the same extent as you would in America or Canada in Australia, you will suffer extremely intense sun damage. She said most Aussies spend less time in the sun and wear high factor SPF. Source: Lauren Meisner via YouTube Advertisement
What she'd do differently
DRINK LESS
If she was moving again, Lauren said she would steer clear of boozy nights out and the constant cycle of socialising that's easy to fall into when you first move to Australia.
She said she missed out on exploring much of the country in her first two years because she was either 'drunk or hungover' from partying.
'It's the expat culture here it's easy to get caught up in that lifestyle,' she said.
Lauren (pictured at Sydney's Luna Park) warned that it's easy to fall into a constant cycle of partying when you first move to Australia
LIVE CLOSER TO THE BEACH
The next thing she would do differently is rent an apartment right beside the beach.
She said it's easier to 'reap the benefits of Australia' by living close to the water, especially in iconic beach-side suburbs like Bondi and Coogee which are filled with lively cafes, bars and restaurants where backpackers typically meet.
'It's not that I want to live near the beach to actually go to the beach, it's because I just want to be near it,' she said.
Lauren said she would move closer to the beach to 'reap the benefits of Australia' if she was starting again
SAVE MORE MONEY
Australia is a difficult place to save in, Lauren said, and she wishes she had been more responsible with her finances when she first relocated.
She said even those working in corporate jobs will treat their first year in Australia as a 'bit of a holiday', which makes it difficult to budget for the long-term.
'I wish I had treated it less like a temporary phase in my life, because I wouldn't have been spending money like that if I was living at home, that's for sure!' she said.
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A deputy speaker of Armenias parliament has been infected with the coronavirus amid the continuing spread of the disease in the country.
Dear compatriots, I had a COVID-19 test and was informed a short while ago that the test came back positive, Vahe Enfiajian wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. I must say that I feel well and have no worrying symptoms at the moment.
Enfiajian, who is affiliated with the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), is the first member of the 132-seat National Assembly who is known to have tested positive for the coronavirus. He most recently attended a parliament session last week, sitting next to speaker Ararat Mirzoyan and the two other vice-speakers.
The leadership of the parliament did not immediately announce plans have other lawmakers tested for the virus due to Enfiajians announcement. Nor did the BHK say whether any of its parliamentarians will self-isolate or have such tests.
The Armenian Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday morning 418 new COVID-19 infections, raising to 21,006 the total number of confirmed cases in the country of about 3 million. The latest figures released by it show that almost one-third of 1,274 coronavirus tests carried out on Monday came back positive.
The ministry also recorded the deaths of 21 more people infected with the grave respiratory disease. It said nine of them died primarily because of other, pre-existing conditions. The total number of such fatalities thus rose to 126. This figure is not included in the official death toll from the epidemic which stands at 372.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian continued to urge Armenians to practice social distancing, wear face masks in public and frequently wash their hands. Citing official statistics, he warned that one in 50 infected people in the country dies from the disease.
At least we have managed to ensure that today there are no [COVID-19] patients awaiting hospitalization at home, Pashinian wrote on Facebook. But our potential for expanding hospital capacity is not unlimited.
Authorities are searching for an 82-year-old man who disappeared Friday, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Tuesday.
Franklin Francis Shirley, 82, was last seen around noon Friday near Doug Campbell Drive in Hazel Green, in Madison County, ALEA said. Shirley may have a condition that impairs his judgment.
Shirley, who talked about going to Arkansas, may be driving a red 2000 Ford Winstar ban with the Alabama tag 47B68R6. He was described as 5-feet 10-inches tall, 162 pounds with gray or partially gray hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on Shirleys whereabouts was asked to call the Madison County Sheriffs Office at (256) 722-7181 or call 911.
Tailoring South Asia Regional Anti-Terrorism Toolkit for Judges in Pakistan
UNODC
Islamabad (Pakistan), 23 June 2020 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), Sindh Judicial Academy (SJA) organized a virtual meeting for anti-terrorism judges from Sindh, Pakistan, on the South Asia Regional Toolkit for Judges: Supporting the Development of National Bench Books for the Effective Adjudication of Terrorism Cases.
The regional toolkit was developed by the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) with the active support and engagement of judges from all South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, including Pakistan. It elaborates and builds on relevant Security Council resolutions and international instruments on counter-terrorism.
It also provides practice-oriented guidance to judges and judicial training academies of SAARC countries on the foundations for effective adjudication, judicial management of proceedings and international cooperation in terrorism matters in the South-Asian region.
Recognizing that law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in Pakistan face unique challenges and evolving threats posed by terrorism and its financing, UNODC is working in close partnership with stakeholders in the country under Pakistans Action to Counter Terrorism (PACT) project, to deliver technical assistance to the police, prosecution and judiciary in the Province of Sindh to strengthen their collective response to preventing and countering terrorism. This project receives financial support of the European Union.
One of the key activities under the project involves customizing this toolkit in close consultation with the Sindh Judicial Academy for the anti-terrorism judges of Pakistan. During this initial online consultative meeting attended by over 20 anti-terrorism judges from Sindh, two United States District Court judges along with a magistrate from Australia participated as subject-matter experts.
Pakistan has come a long way in the last decade in its criminal justice systems response to terrorism. Pakistan-UNODC cooperation is producing results through targeted training and tools. One such tool is The South Asia Regional Toolkit, customized for Judges in Pakistan, which will serve as a reference guide tailored towards meeting the needs of Judges in the country, said Masood Karimipour, Chief of Terrorism Prevention Branch, UNODC.
NACTA member Asif Paracha expressed appreciation for the technical assistance being delivered by UNODC under the framework of PACT.
The Charge dAffaires a.i. Anne Marchal from the European Union stressed the important role which judiciary plays in the criminal justice system especially in terrorism cases for upholding rule of law and human rights. She acknowledged the challenges judges encounter during the adjudication process and highlighted that the toolkit gives us an opportunity to learn from the knowledge and experiences of our fellow colleagues from this region for incorporating good practices during the proceedings.
Under the framework of PACT Sindh, UNODC is well-positioned to recognize the judiciarys needs for specialized national tools, specifically designed to address their unique and emerging requirements, said Jeremy Milsom, UNODC Country Representative. This initiative would also complement the Government of Pakistan and Sindhs efforts under the National Action Plan and the Provincial Rule of Law Roadmap initiatives.
Further information
South Asia Regional Toolkit for Judges: Supporting the Development of National Bench Books for the Effective Adjudication of Terrorism Cases
UNODC Pakistan
The 134-year-old statue of North-West Rebellion soldier Pte. Alexander Watson wont be going anywhere at least for three weeks.
A motion for St. Catharines city council to remove the controversial statute from outside city hall was deferred Monday to the next council meeting on July 13.
St. Patricks Coun. Karrie Porter, who was presenting the motion and requested the deferral, said council received a lot of calls and emails about the issue and needed more time to talk to people.
People are very passionate about this subject and I think more passionate than a lot of us expected, she said during councils Zoom video conference meeting. Weve been getting emails up until right before the council meeting.
Porter said she was asking for the deferral because of technology glitches which caused the meeting to start 80 minutes late, the fact a few more members of the public wanted to speak to the matter and her belief the decision needed some time and thought.
I do appreciate the thoughtful emails and phone calls Ive been receiving for and against this motion, Porter said.
I think this is a really important community conversation that we need to have and I would like to actually continue it and I think we need to keep talking about it. Rather than rush it tonight, lets take some time and defer it to the next meeting.
The seven-metre tall statue of Watson, a member of the 90th Winnipeg Battalion Rifles, stands at the corner of James and Church Streets on the lawn of city hall.
Raised in St. Catharines, Watson died in May 1885 in Saskatchewan at age 28 fighting in the North-West Rebellion for the government of Canada against Metis leader Louis Riel and his followers. Riel was hung for treason by the Canadian government later that year.
At the time the statue was erected in 1886, Riel was considered a traitor by many, but today he is seen by many historians as a defender of Metis rights who had legitimate grievances.
Porters motion was made after St. Catharines resident Gavin Fearon started an online petition last week at avaaz.com calling for the removal of the statue from city hall because of its relationship to the North-West Rebellion. The petition argues the statue is an image of Canadas ongoing genocide of First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.
By Monday night, the petition had more than 800 signatures.
Others want the statue to stay.
The St. Catharines Artillery Foundation wrote a letter to council, sent to The Standard, which opposes the proposed move, saying Watson died in the service of his country.
Chair Robert Sears wrote that the citizens of St. Catharines were so moved by Watsons death that they raised money to build a memorial to him, which city council granted permission to be placed at old city hall in 1886.
By accepting the deed for the memorial from the Memorial Committee the City entered a social contract to maintain the memorial, Sears wrote.
He also noted the memorial is not to one person but commemorates others who died in the North-West Rebellion and in the Boer War.
The July 13 meeting will be held at 6 p.m. and can be viewed on the citys YouTube channel.
Porter told council she needed to talk to some more people about the issue and thought the rest of council probably wanted to do the same thing.
I think its smart and wise to give council more time with this decision and the community some more time to think about it.
Microphone and US Flag View Photo
During the Democratic Weekly Address, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) discussed the Trump administrations push to have the Supreme Court strike down the Affordable Care Act.
Durbin was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:
We face so many challenges today. This pandemic, COVID-19, the state of the economy, and systemic racism in law enforcement. Americans across the country are asking for leadership and action and sadly, this president, this Administration is failing them.
To date, weve lost more than 115,000 American lives to COVID-19, more than two million people have been infected nationwide.
While Congress has passed several bipartisan bills to help those affected by the pandemic, weve not done nearly enough to help the American peoplemany of whom are trying to figure out how theyre going to pay for that mortgage or that rent, put food on the table, educate their kids, or find the needed health care for their family.
Over the duration of this pandemic, more than 36 million Americans have lost their jobs, tens of millions also have lost their health insurance.
I have heard from hundreds of constituents about their personal stories about losing health insurance in this pandemic theyre scared to death for their families safety and asking for the peace of mind we all want.
Emily from Oak Park, Illinois, wrote to me about how she recently lost her job and is not eligible to enroll in the Affordable Care Act plan because the federal government has not created a new special enrollment period.
Jon from Yorkville, Illinois, told me he lost his job and cant afford health care coverage for himself and his family. Hes worried about losing his wife if she catches the virus at work.
I was once a young father of a child with a serious health condition and I didnt have any health insurance. I know how terrifying that experience can be, let alone in the midst of a global pandemic.
At a time of great uncertainty, the last thing people need is for their government to rip health insurance away from them.
The last thing we need is President Trump trying to eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions, including the 2.2 million Americans who have now been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Yet, thats exactly what the Trump Administration wants to do in their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
After years and years of trying and failing to undo the Affordable Care Act in Congress, the Trump Administration and Republican officials are fighting in the Supreme Court to strike the law. There is a case pending just across the street from Congress in the Supreme Court right now that could be handed down any day.
And this week, Senate Majority Leader McConnell has scheduled votes on two judicial nominees with records of open hostility to the Affordable Care Act. Think about that. In the midst of a national health emergency, Senator McConnell is looking for judges for lifetime appointments who want to do away of the one guarantee of protection for millions of Americans.
The Affordable Care Act has provided 20 million Americans with quality health insurance, protecting people with pre-existing conditions from the abuse of insurance company.
We need it nowmore than ever to ensure that all communities, especially families of color, continue to have access to critical health care coverage.
Perhaps those most hard hit by this Administrations mismanaged pandemic response are the communities of color.
Black and Latinx families are bearing the brunt of this virus crisis, once again reminding us of the unacceptable and devastating inequality in our nations health care system.
Its a system that too often sees communities of color left behind without any health insurance, without access to affordable health care, and with higher rates of chronic conditions.
Not only that, but the devastating killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other Black Americans have reminded us yet again how the crushing effects of racial injustice weigh on communities of color every day.
Democrats in the Senate have been working hard to pass legislation to address racial injustice and get the American people the resources they needmore testing, additional resources for health care providers, financial security for struggling families and small businesses and improved access to health insurance coverage.
I just hope the Republican Party will stop its misguided attack on the Affordable Care Act and join us in a bipartisan effort to address the challenges America faces.
The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Sudan said Tuesday the Arab resolution on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was drafted after full coordination with Egypt.
Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia agree on 90 percent of the points of contention over the Renaissance Dam, Sudanese Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Omar Qamar El-Din told an urgent meeting of the Arab League Council at the level of foreign ministers.
Sudan is ready to narrow the divergencies in views between Ethiopia and Egypt, he added.
Qamar El-Din urged Egypt and Ethiopia to continue their constructive negotiation and avoid escalation.
He affirmed Ethiopia's right to benefit from its water resources, and the right of Sudan and Egypt to maintain their water security.
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Massive road development projects in the Tibet Autonomous Region have led to rivers changing their course and expanding Chinas boundary into northern territories of Nepal, a document by Nepals agriculture department has warned.
The document, accessed by Hindustan Times, said patches of Nepalese territory in several districts had already been encroached by China and cautioned that Beijing could take over more territory in the north if the rivers continue to change course. The loss of Nepalese territory due to the rivers changing course could run into hundreds of hectare land, it said.
There is a high possibility that over the period of time, China may develop its Border Observation Post of Armed Police in those territories, the document by the agriculture ministrys survey department said.
Nepal, which shares a boundary with China in the north, has 43 hills and mountains from the east to west, that act as the natural boundary between the two countries. The two countries have six check posts, essentially for trade.
The survey department has assessed that the changing course of 11 rivers had already cost Nepal 36 hectare, or 0.36 sq km, across four of its districts; Humla, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk and Sankhuwasabha.
The encroachment of 36 hectare land by China had been first reported to the KP Sharma Oli-led government last year. There were some street protests after the loss of Nepalese territory to China emerged in the local media But the Oli government, who is accused by his detractors of attempting to cosy up to Chinas communist party, played down the encroachment by the Chinese and channeled the public outrage against India over the new maps issued by New Delhi in November last after the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was split into two union territories.
Instead, PM Oli went on to amp up the differences with India over Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh spread across 330 sq km in May this year after Chinese intervention helped him survive a rebellion within the party in April. That intervention, however, meant that he had to scrap two ordinances promulgated just five days earlier.
Also Read: Nepal PM Olis new map tactic had three key objectives. China is the common factor
PM Oli had seized the opportunity after defence minister Rajnath Singh opened an 80-km road that ends at Lipulekh Pass on the border with China.
Analysts in New Delhi and Kathmandu believe that PM Olis hard push to Nepals new political map was an effort to whip up ultra-nationalistic sentiments targetted at India to consolidate his position in the government and the party. This is why he did, a diplomat in New Delhi said, PM Oli did not inform Parliament before it voted on the map earlier this month that he had ignored an offer of dialogue between the foreign secretaries of the two countries. Instead, he gave parliamentarians the impression that his government was forced to push the envelope since New Delhi had declined his offer for dialogue.
New Delhi hardened its position after the map was cleared by parliament this month, asserting that it was for him to create a conducive atmosphere in case he is interested in a bilateral dialogue on the boundary issue.
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Gravitational wave scientists grapple with the cosmic mystery of GW190814
A highly unusual gravitational wave signal, detected by the LIGO and Virgo observatories in the US and Italy, was generated by a new class of binary systems (two astronomical objects orbiting around each other), an international team of astrophysicists has confirmed.
Scientists from the LIGO and Virgo Collaboration, which includes researchers from the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, detected the signal, named GW190814, in August 2019.
In a new paper, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, the team has announced that the signal was generated by a compact object (a neutron star or a black hole) 2.6 times the mass of our sun (2.6 solar masses), merging with a black hole of 23 solar masses.
The new observation is important because it challenges astrophysicists' understanding both of how stars die and how they pair up into binary systems. Although the precise nature of the lighter member of the binary that generated GW190814 is unknown, scientists have confirmed that it is a record breaker: it is more massive than any neutron star and lighter than any black hole yet observed.
"This merger event is one of the most unusual ones observed in gravitational waves to date", says Dr Patricia Schmidt, Lecturer at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy and member of the LIGO team. "It pushes our understanding of the nature of the lighter companion and how it is formed to the limits. This will keep astrophysicists occupied for a while."
Scientists have so far believed that dying stars do not leave remnants, whatever their nature, with a mass between 2.5 and 5 times the mass of the Sun. Now this desert has been populated by one of the objects that produced GW190814.
"From the very outset it was clear that this was a special event," says Dr Geraint Pratten, a researcher at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, who was involved in producing the initial sky-maps for optical telescopes' follow-ups. "It highlights the need for ever better theoretical models of the emitted gravitational-wave signal, such as those produced here in Birmingham, to mine as much information as possible from the data and understand how such high mass-ratio binaries are formed."
An additional aspect requires further investigation. The disparity in masses between the two objects, with the black hole nine times more massive than its companion object, challenges existing theories about how binary systems of black holes and neutron stars are formed. What is certain, according to the research team, is that GW190814 was produced by a binary system that is quite different from other systems detected so far by LIGO and Virgo.
"We have been itching with excitement since this candidate showed up on our screens," says co-author Professor Alberto Vecchio, director of the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy. "We thought the Universe would be kind of lazy in producing binaries of objects with such different masses, if it did so at all. And guess what, we were wrong! We now know there are cosmic factories hiding somewhere that are actually rather efficient at generating these systems. The journey to figure out what they are and how they work is going to keep us busy for quite some time, but more and better data from LIGO and Virgo are just about a year away, and we are bound to have new surprises".
A further mystery surrounding GW190814 has been its elusiveness for astronomers looking for light from the event. When new gravitational waves are detected, an alert is sent to astronomers world-wide, triggering dozens of ground- and space-based telescopes to start searching for a fireball ignited by the collision. For GW190814, no such glow has yet been detected.
Dr Matt Nicholl is a Lecturer at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, and followed up the event as part of the European ENGRAVE team using the ESO Very Large Telescope, and the US-led team using the Magellan telescopes. He says: "Observatories around the world carried out an intensive search for any light-show produced by the merger. We were able to show that if any light was released, it must have been extremely faint to avoid detection. This means that if the lighter companion was a neutron star, its more massive black hole partner may have simply swallowed it whole! On the other hand, if the collision involved two black holes, it's not likely that it would have shone with any light."
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LIGO research activities at the University of Birmingham are supported by the U.K. Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Additional funding was received from the Royal Astronomical Society, the NWO (Dutch Research Council), and the Royal Society and Wolfson Foundation.
Notes to editor:
Research funding information
Dr Matt Nichol is funded through a Royal Astronomical Society Research Fellowship
Dr Patricia Schmidt is partially funded through a NWO VENI Fellowship
Prof Alberto Vecchio is supported by a Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship
LIGO research activities at the University of Birmingham are supported by the U.K. Science and Technology Facilities Council.
About the gravitational-wave observatories:
LIGO is funded by NSF and operated by Caltech and MIT, which conceived of LIGO and lead the project. Financial support for the Advanced LIGO project was led by NSF with Germany (Max Planck Society), U.K. (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and Australia (Australian Research Council-OzGrav) making significant commitments and contributions to the project. Approximately 1,300 scientists from around the world participate in the effort through the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration. A list of additional partners is available at https:/ / my. ligo. org/ census. php .
The Virgo Collaboration is currently composed of approximately 520 members from 99 institutes in 11 different countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) hosts the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy, and is funded by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy, and Nikhef in the Netherlands. A list of the Virgo Collaboration groups can be found at http://public. virgo-gw. eu/ the-virgo-collaboration/ . More information is available on the Virgo website at http://www. virgo-gw. eu .
About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is part of UK Research and Innovation - the UK body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. For more information visit UK Research and Innovation.
STFC funds and supports research in particle and nuclear physics, astronomy, gravitational research and astrophysics, and space science and also operates a network of five national laboratories, including the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the Daresbury Laboratory, as well as supporting UK research at a number of international research facilities including CERN, FERMILAB, the ESO telescopes in Chile and many more. Visit https:/ / stfc. ukri. org/ for more information. @STFC_Matters
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
For the longest time, I was under the impression that Donald Trump saw the world in strict terms of us vs. them.
I believed that in his limited imagination, there were clear lines Black vs. white, rich vs. poor, Republican vs. Democrat.
But in the days since Trumps sparsely attended political rally in Tulsa, Okla., I am convinced that there is no us in Trumps vision of the world. There is only Trump. Everyone else is a tool to be used for Trumps own personal gain. How else to explain Trumps attempt to put thousands of his most staunch supporters into an enclosed arena where they could contract and spread a deadly virus thats already killed upwards of 120,000 Americans?
In my view, thats a frightening reflection of Trumps actual persona. If he could risk the very lives of his most loyal followers by using them as extras in his attempt to mount a political comeback, what would he do to the rest of us for his own personal gain?
The answer, I suppose, is that Trump would do anything he could imagine. Thats why I need Trumps right-wing, working-class supporters to stop for a moment and think about this question: Suppose Trump is just using racism as a means to gain your political support? This is not to say he wholeheartedly embraces Black and brown people. His record of racial bias goes back to the 1970s, when the Justice Department sued him for refusing to rent to Black people.
But what if Trump is using racism to convince his working-class white supporters that they are somehow just like him? That their white skin connects them to his businesses, his power, and his success? Suppose all of it is a con game meant to make his followers believe theyre something theyre not?
I am convinced that Trump, in trying to convince his followers that a potentially fatal disease is not real, has shown his true feelings for them. I dont believe Trump is any more concerned for white people than he is for Black people, Latinos, or Asians. I think that when he says African countries are sholes, or that Mexico sends us rapists and criminals, or that the novel coronavirus is kung flu, he is stating his true sentiments, but more than that, he is seeking a connection with other white people.
However, that connection cant be real. If it were, he wouldnt risk his followers lives by bringing them into a place where they could contract a life-threatening disease. He wouldnt ask them to sign waivers saying they wouldnt sue Trump or his campaign if they did contract the disease. He wouldnt pretend that there is no risk in gathering in such a large group.
I believe that when Trump pretends to care about his white followers, he is engaging in the same behavior as any con man. He is attempting to disarm them. He is trying to make them let their guard down. He is setting them up for the con.
Donald Trump doesnt care about his white followers any more than he cares for his Black detractors. They are simply a means to an end, and when hes through with them, he will dispose of them in the same way he disposes of anyone for whom he has no further use.
Ask former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, or former national security adviser John Bolton, or former fixer Michael Cohen, or any of the former Mrs. Trumps.
I just wonder if Trumps white followers will wake up to that reality before its too late. If they dont, they wont be the only ones to suffer the consequences.
Syracuse, N.Y. - Syracuse University chemistry professor Dr. Robert P. Doyle has developed a new drug lead to treat type 2 diabetes in millions of patients who are seeking to better control their blood sugar without the common side effects of nausea, vomiting, and in select cases, undesired weight loss.
Doyle's research article, "Corrination of a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist for Glycemic Control without Emesis," was published recently in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Cell Reports.
A common group of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists. While they do lower blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, their side effects include nausea, vomiting, and weight loss.
Through grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Doyle and his collaborators found a way to combine two molecules into a new substance that lowers blood sugar without those undesired side effects.
In technical terms, Doyle's team developed a new area of bioconjugation, a chemical technique used to combine two molecules. By binding together exendin-4 (Ex4), an FDA-approved GLP-1R agonist, to dicyanocobinamide (Cbi), which is a small piece of the complex vitamin B12 molecule, they produced Cbi-Ex4 in a technique they call "corrination" - a play, of course, on "coronation."
Data collected from testing Cbi-Ex4 in the musk shrew (Suncus murinus) - the mammal used in this study due to its ability to vomit (rodents and many mammals lack that ability) - revealed beneficial effects as evidenced by improved blood sugar levels during glucose tolerance tests and a profound reduction in vomiting compared to Ex4. Importantly, no weight loss was noted, again in stark contrast to the currently approved GLP-1R agonist, making this new drug ideal for patients who require glucoregulation without affecting their body mass index (BMI) levels.
This drug could therefore benefit diabetes patients who also live with cystic fibrosis, COPD, sarcopenia, cancer, or HIV, where weight-loss is counter-indicated.
The next step in the development of this groundbreaking drug is to move it through the pre-clinical phase into phase I human studies. Doyle and his team have submitted a new grant proposal to the NIH to fund this effort.
Alongside this work, Doyle has also been awarded a three-year, $3 million grant through the federal Department of Defense (DoD) to help military veterans with comorbid diabetes and obesity. Nearly 25 percent of veterans receiving care at VA medical centers are diagnosed with diabetes (compared to about 9 percent of the general population).
"This is what the military would call dual-use technology, applicable to all civilians if it works," Doyle said. "The grant is specifically aimed at making researchers look at major problems within the veteran community, and the hope is that we would see a significant weight loss method that is better than what is currently available.
"There's no treatment out there now that can keep weight off for a long period of time without illness behaviors such as nausea," Doyle added. "So, my group is pushing to expand on GLP-1R agonists to treat diabetes with obesity (DoD project) and then separately to treat diabetes without affecting nutritional status ('corrination')."
Doyle is the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor in the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University and an adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Doyle's research was conducted in collaboration with the labs of Matt Hayes, professor from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania; Bart C. De Jonghe, professor from the Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania; and Dr. Christian Roth, a pediatric endocrinologist and professor at Seattle Children's Hospital.
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Friends of the late Cameron Blair have paid tribute to the murdered Cork student, with a graveside vigil to mark his 21st birthday.
Cameron Blair died on the Bandon Road in Cork City last January, when he was stabbed, as he tried to act as a peacemaker at a house party.
James McCarthy, a close friend of Blair's, has started a blog paying tribute to his late friend, while also raising awareness of the increase of knife crime in Cork.
Speaking to Patricia Messinger on C103's 'Cork Today' show, McCarthy described the night Blair lost his life, and recounted Snapchatting with his friend from his home in Bandon.
"The news broke then, and we didn't know what to do. We met up at one of the lads' houses and just sat there for hours on end. I don't think any of us slept right for a couple of days. We were in disbelief."
Last week to mark Cameron's 21st birthday, his friends decided to spend the entire day at Cameron's grave in different groups to ensure there was no large gatherings at the graveside amid the current Covid-19 restrictions.
"We had the question of what we would have done with Cameron, if Cameron were still around. We couldn't spend the day and night with him, so we came and went in groups, so there was always 3 or 4 people there, spending his birthday with him and making sure he wasn't on his own.
"It was probably the best thing we could do. We weren't really sure how to approach it, but that's what we went with."
James McCarthy's Blog, and its entry on Cameron Blair, is available to read here.
REGINAHundreds of workers at Reginas Co-op oil refinery complex will be returning to work after ratification of a tentative contract.
The agreement brings an ends to a six-month labour dispute that began after refinery owner Federated Co-operatives Ltd. locked out more than 700 workers last December following a strike vote.
The company says the new contract is a seven-year deal and that employees will return to work in the coming weeks.
Unifor Local 594 had encouraged members to vote in favour of the deal, which the union says maintained the defined pension plan.
It says the new collective agreement also includes wage improvements that meet the standards agreed to by Unifors energy sector unions.
For weeks, union members and the Saskatchewan NDP had called on Premier Scott Moe to intervene and end the dispute by legislating binding arbitration.
The company says the labour disruption was difficult for everyone and the deal reflects the fiscal realities for refineries.
- Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said Kenya would experience an upsurge in COVID-19 cases by end of July 2020 since people would be travelling more
- He nonetheless clarified he did not know when President Uhuru Kenyatta will lift cessation of movement and the 9pm to 4am curfew
- The CS said the reopening was going to be determined by the behaviour of the virus in the country and also how other countries will approach reopening
- He disclosed that his mother and even the president's mother were among people blocked from travelling upcountry by the cessation of movement order
Even as Kenyans eagerly wait for the review of current COVID-19 containment measures by President Uhuru Kenyatta on July 6, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has suggested that citizens could still be headed for another long haul.
Kagwe said the country would register more COVID-19 cases up to August 2020 and the only way the government would avert a full-blown health crisis would be to impose more stringent measures.
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Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe (c). Photo: MoH.
Source: Facebook
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Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Monday, June 22, Kagwe said the expected surge in cases will be caused by increased travel across the country.
The CS was, however, uncertain whether or not there was a possibility of the president opening up the country by lifting cessation of movement and the 9pm to 4am curfew.
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"We have not yet hit our pick. You have seen us going up beyond the 200 mark that we thought we will never get to. I expect more cases to be reported towards the end of June and July the reason being people are going to travel more and more around the country...The more they travel the more the transmission rate.
I, however, have absolutely no idea on when the cessation of movement and curfew will be lifted. It depends on so many things among them what will be happening in the country as far as figures are concerned. It will also be influenced by global patterns," said Kagwe.
Kagwe said Kenya was set to experience an upsurge in COVID-19 cases by end of July. Photo: MoH.
Source: UGC
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The CS underscored the fact the ban on travel into and out of the expanded Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Mombasa and Mandera counties had affected many livelihoods but was quick to note it was the delicate balance the government was trying to strike between life and livelihoods.
He revealed that his mother and the mother to the president are among people who had been locked inside Nairobi despite being in dire need of travelling upcountry.
"My mother has been in Nairobi since this thing started. She has never been able to go home. She blames me of closing her in Nairobi. I, however, tell her that even the president's mother has the same problem and many other people.
It can really get frustrating when such things affect you on a personal basis. But such measures have to be taken especially when you are sure when a person travels to another place, then the next thing that will be reported are positive cases from the area," the CS said.
READ ALSO: Jalang'o leaves Milele FM
President Uhuru Kenyatta (pictured) will review current COVID-19 containment measures on July 6. Photo: State House Kenya.
Source: Twitter
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Shortly after he took over the helms of health docket in March 2020, Kagwe said he was compelled to research deeply about coronavirus especially when it became evident the virus was getting closer.
"I did not expect COVID-19 despite the disease having broken out in China in December 2019. When I was appointed health CS, the first thing I did was to do a lot of reading. It was mind-boggling hearing of a strange city called Wuhan and it was impacting Nairobi.
After reading more, I knew this disease was going to come to Kenya. But as it is in any sphere of management, it is important to be ready for the most unexpected things," the CS explained.
As of Monday, June 22, Kenya had recorded 4,797 cases of COVID-19 since March 13. Out of the cases, 1,680 were recoveries while 125 were deaths.
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Center Parcs Ireland has today announced it will re-open Center Parcs Longford Forest from Monday 13 July 2020.
The announcement comes after Center Parcs Longford Forest closed its doors on Friday 13 March in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.
In line with government guidance, there will be social distancing and new safety measures in place to protect the families who visit each week and the companys 1,000 employees.
Center Parcs CEO, Martin Dalby, said: Although it was disappointing to have to close our forest resort within nine months of opening in Ireland, it was the right thing to do to keep our guests and staff safe. The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant effect on the whole country and we always said we would only re-open once we were 100% satisfied it was safe to do so. Weve had our teams working around the clock to review everything we do, right down to the smallest detail, and were now ready to open our doors again.
We know that a lot of families were looking forward to their first Center Parcs break and we cant wait to welcome you to the forest. Those families who have visited us before will notice some changes to the way were doing things, but the essence of a Center Parcs break will remain the same, offering a fantastic short break experience within 400 acres of natural woodland.
The new measures to keep guests and staff safe include:
Reduced numbers of guests on each break
Changes to some activities to maintain social distancing
An enhanced cleaning regime for accommodation and central areas
Changes to arrival and departure times to allow more time for enhanced cleaning
Cashless payment only across the village
Online-only bookings and payment for activities
New takeaway service offering contactless delivery to lodges
Initially, the village will open without the Subtropical Swimming Paradise or Aqua Sana Spa. However, subject to government guidance, both facilities are planned to re-open from Monday 27 July.
CEO Martin Dalby said: We know that the Subtropical Swimming Paradise is one of the biggest things our guests are looking forward to experiencing. We have been planning the changes needed to maintain social distancing, but the Subtropical Swimming Paradise has many different elements, including flumes, rapids and numerous changing rooms. We are working through what new capacities we will need to apply and how best to do that. Were committed to re-opening these facilities as soon we are 100% satisfied were ready to do so. However, we know families have been looking forward to their breaks and we wanted to give our guests the option to visit us as soon as we could.
Center Parcs has also introduced a book with confidence guarantee which allows guests to cancel their break up to six days prior to arrival and still receive a full refund.
During the four-month closure period, the majority of the companys 1,000 employees have been supported by the Governments Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme, and work is now ongoing to bring employees back to work and deliver a comprehensive training programme around new ways of working and safety procedures.
Martin Dalby said: The successful closure and maintenance of Longford Forest has been a real testament to the commitment and adaptability of the team. Its a huge undertaking and something of this scale has never been done in the history of our business, let alone by a team with less than one year of experience. Weve all been impressed by the way people have quickly got used to new ways of working. I know the team are so excited to welcome our guests back to the forest!
Martin has also been involved with the national Tourism Recovery Task Force. He said: I was delighted and honoured to be asked to join the Tourism Recovery Task Force. Its been hugely rewarding to be able to bring our 33 years of experience in the tourism sector to the table and I hope we are adding valuable insight. Hopefully were starting to see the first steps towards helping get Irelands fantastic tourism industry back up on its feet.
Center Parcs five UK villages remain closed in line with the UK Governments timeline for easing lockdown.
23.06.2020 LISTEN
The closure of borders affected the export of produce to neighbouring countries. At local level consumption was also affected as most of the restaurants, hotels, and food outlets were closed, especially tourist hotels and other conference halls. Whereas these provide huge market to farmers daily.
Some farmers could not harvest their farm produce owing to the fact that lockdowns were unpredictable, consequently changing timeframe, and plans.
Projection in production meant for export has also been affected by the lockdowns. This propelled the horticulture industry, perishable products like vegetables and flowers to hike prices due to shortage of supply amid poor market opportunities.
A large number of businesses were on life support and most of them were forced to close. Farmers also find it difficult to transport products to the markets.
To farmers in poultry production, the lockdowns meant loss to them. Sharing her experience Priscilla Maki, who is in animal production in Soweto, South Africa, one of the most hard-hit countries in Africa said, "Restrictions in accessing the central business district (CBD) to get feeds, vaccines and drugs for poultry made me lose my birds and there was an unnecessary increase of cost of production."
Responding to the question on implications of the Covid-19 pandemic Mr Edison Tendekayi Sabeta, a smallholder farmer based in Bulawayo said,
"The pandemic has thrown people out of sync with their normal routines. In all sectors, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought confusion. Most productivity is achieved where there is organised human resources". He says social distancing is another hindrance to production.
Quoting the bible in Romans 8:28, "All things work together for the good".
Others have been disadvantaged while others have been awakened. Those who have previously done little or no serious backyard farming, have suddenly been galvanized into action by the Lockdowns that came because of the pandemic. Not accessing their normal supply of essential products like vegetables, they started growing for themselves.
Mr. Sabeta is of the view that backyard farms that have sprouted shall give rise to an appetite for real farming which will translate to better land utilisation in communities and make the world food secure in the next 5 years.
All these considerations are still at the mercy of the climatic conditions.
Mr. Sabeta encouraged farmers not to watch the clouds, lest they wont plant. He goes on to say, "farmers need to adopt new tactics. If seed houses have been disturbed let the farmer plant from his last season's harvest."
To minimise the impact of food insecurity arising from the pandemic governments should introduce prediction models which are necessary to project the impact on national economies particularly of import commodities.
Lack of essential data collection is a major gap for regulators to come up with viable policies, and measures to reduce the impacts of the pandemic.
For instance, food prices need to be continuously collected, monitored, and shared to Policy regulators or Ministries responsible Agriculture, Trade and commerce.
Credit: Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Chemical Engineering
Every time you flex your bicep or stretch your calf muscle, you put your cells under stress. Every move we make throughout the day causes our cells to stretch and deform. But this cellular deformation can be dangerous, and could potentially lead to permanent damage to the DNA in our cells, and even cancer. So how is it that we're able to keep our bodies moving without constantly destroying our cells? Thanks to a new study by Carnegie Mellon University Chemical Engineering (ChemE) Professor Kris Noel Dahl, and Associate Professor Sara Wickstrom of the University of Helsinki, we now know that the answer lies in a humble mineral we consume every day.
"Basically, every time we flex a muscle, we're risking DNA damage that could lead to cancer," says Dahl. "Or we would be, that is, if it weren't for the calcium in our cells."
Their recent paper published in Cell marks the first time that researchers have definitively shown how cells maintain their structural integrity despite the strain of mechanical forces.
"As cells stretch and compress through the course of our daily activities," says Dahl, "they have to rearrange their internal structures to compensate. Our study found that they are able to do this through the use of calcium. It's kind of like when you're tying a bow in a ribbon. When you have to shift your hands, you ask someone to put their finger on the knot to hold it in place and make sure it doesn't come apart. For our cells, that 'finger' is calcium."
In particular, calcium is essential in protecting the nucleus of the cell and the DNA it contains. When mechanical stretch acts on the cell, it deforms the nucleus, putting the DNA inside at risk. Healthy cells are able to counteract this deformation using a calcium-dependent nuclear softening, which allows the nucleus to stretch without breaking. But failure to mount this response can result in DNA damage, which can lead to cell death, loss of proper cell function, or in extreme cases, cancer.
"Our colleagues who research materials science are often trying to find materials that are force-responsive," says Dahl. "But here we've found actively responding materials inside of living cells. Not only is there the quick response using calcium, but there's also the longer-term response that cells use to withstand persistent, high-amplitude stretch, by changing the epigenetics of the cell. This has exciting implications for how cells respond genetically, as well as how tissues respond mechanically."
"This entire research project is truly a testament to the collaborative spirit here at Carnegie Mellon," says Dahl. "The project was conceived during a conference in Singapore, where Professor Wickstrom and I met. We gathered the data using a microscope in Finland, and analyzed it here at Carnegie Mellon using algorithms we developed in Pittsburgh. This is a truly global collaboration, the kind that the culture of CMU really encourages."
Next, the researchers will use this new understanding of how cells respond to stretch to consider what happens to cells during the aging process. As we age, our cells and tissues don't deform as well as they used to, and the consequences of this reduced deformation can lead to an increased risk of cell damage. The question is, do cells not deform as well because they are stiffer, resulting in cellular dysfunction? Or does cell dysfunction lead to reduced deformation? The next step will involve studying cellular deformation at different points throughout the aging process, to determine if it's possible to interrupt this cellular stiffening, and improve cell function during as we age.
Explore further Tissues protect their DNA under mechanical stress
More information: Michele M. Nava et al. Heterochromatin-Driven Nuclear Softening Protects the Genome against Mechanical Stress-Induced Damage, Cell (2020). Journal information: Cell Michele M. Nava et al. Heterochromatin-Driven Nuclear Softening Protects the Genome against Mechanical Stress-Induced Damage,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.03.052
City council voted a final time Monday to consider four new proposals for using more than $50 million in proceeds from the upcoming sale of the city-owned electricity distribution system to Hydro One.
The deal to sell Peterborough Distribution Inc. is expected to close Aug. 4. Although the sale price is $105 million, the city anticipates receiving somewhere between $50 million and $55 million once fees and debts are paid.
Council also voted a final time Monday to investing the sale proceeds and spending only the returns but beyond that, no decision has been made yet on where exactly to invest.
Councillors had previously considered banking the proceeds in a Toronto investment firm or backing its own renewable energy company, but now they may also think about four new ideas:
Creating a home energy retrofit program, as proposed by climate activist and physicist Al Slavin. He gave a presentation to council on Monday, saying that one of the hurdles for people to retrofit their homes to be more energy efficient is cost which can add up to $25,000.
Banking most of the money but investing at least $10 million with the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. John Good, executive director of the foundation, spoke to council on Monday about how this idea could generate grants for projects such as fighting homelessness or curbing climate change.
Creating a trust to support renewable energy projects, as proposed by Transition Town Peterborough founding director Fred Irwin. (There was no presentation to council Monday.)
Investing the money locally at BMO Nesbitt Burns, as proposed by investment adviser George Ripoll. (No presentation to council on Monday.)
City council approved the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc. (PDI) more than three years ago after a contentious debate. The deal was finalized in the summer of 2018 and approval from the Ontario Energy Board came in April.
PDI is the distribution arm of Peterborough Utilities Inc., which will continue to exist as a power generation company.
The agreement to sell PDI to Hydro One includes the wires, poles and transformers of Peterborough Utilities, which delivers electricity to 37,000 customers in Peterborough, Lakefield and Norwood.
Although the sale closes this summer, council may not have settled yet on a final plan yet and if thats the case, city staff suggests the money be placed in a short-term investment.
PDI is a branch of Peterborough Utilities Inc., which was founded 105 years ago.
The previous councils decision to sell it wasnt popular with some residents who said at public meetings they didnt want the city to lose control of the asset because electricity rates could increase over time.
But City of Peterborough Holdings Inc., which governs PDI, had advised council at the time that replacement of PDIs aging infrastructure would cost so much it would soon threaten the distribution systems viability and so the city was better off to sell.
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DUBLIN, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Making India an Alternative Supply Chain Option for the World: COVID-19 Triggered Global Supply Chain Chaos and Opportunity for India" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
China is India's largest source of imports with $70 billion worth of products reaching Indian markets from Chinese shores. From $41 billion in 2010, the imports have grown by 1.8X in 9 years. The country was also India's third-largest export destination with outbound shipments valued at $16.5 billion.
Massive Chinese imports have undermined capacity utilization, technological advancement and dented CAPEX. Markets for electronics, electrical goods, solar panels, chemicals, bulk drugs, metals, furniture, many household/gifts items, toys, footwear, hardware, tiles, automobile components, tires, bicycle parts, bearings, and machinery are dominated by Chinese products. Make-in-India is swamped by Made-in-China.
Despite this, a significant share of Indian importers across a broad range of sectors has continued to rely on regular trips to manufacturing hubs in China to place orders for products. With these visits now called off, importers fear they would lose out once the situation normalizes and importers from other nations scramble to call in their own orders. Chinese imports have led to the closure of many businesses, switching from manufacturing to trading and over-dependence on Chinese inputs.
Post COVID-19, that World will have to move towards the new normal. In this new normal, Globalization template will have to be relooked at. This not only in India and worldwide, as a result, it's a mega opportunity for Indian companies to not only move towards creating redundancies but also to reduce reliance on imports and focus on large scale indigenization, this to be able to play a key role in the imminent major reshuffle of the global supply chain.
COVID-19 completely decimated the critical mass of value chains that have built up in China. According to experts, large volumes of manufacturers are experiencing supply problems due to the outbreak, with companies increasing the use of force majeure' a contract law which refers to exceptional events which prevent or hinder the performance of an obligation.
Worldwide, companies look to diversify their strategy when it comes to sourcing, India stands to gain from this move which will break the concentrated supply chain mould to spread out supply chain mould in the best possible efficient and effective manner. India stands to gain in this wave of supply chain re-construction after COVID-19 led de-construction.
This research report aims to provide a detailed view of:
What China exports to the world
What India imports from China
imports from China What India can indigenize under Make in India
can indigenize under Make in What India cannot indigenize under Make in India
Post COVID-19 is an opportunity for India to scale up its Make in India program under the premise of Decentralized Supply Chain World.
Key Topics Covered
1. Executive Summary
2. Approach & Methodology
3. Impact of COVID-19 (Scenario Analysis)
Impact on the Economy
Impact on Sectors
Impact on Capital Availability
Impact on Discretionary Spending
4. Overview of Chinese Imports in India
By Value
By Volume
By Ports
By Commodity
By Sector
5. Overview of Chinese Exports to the World
By Country
By Commodity
By Sector
6. China - India Trade Agreement Contours
7. Commodity Wise Imports from China in India
Coverage of Commodity by Industry
Telecom
Machinery/Equipment
Automotive Components
Minerals
Precious Metals
Steel
Cement
Pharma
Electronics
Electrical Goods
Pipes
White Goods
Bearings
Textile
Lighting
Others
Import Value & Volume
Port wise Imports in India
Respective Commodity local manufacturing/supply capability
Trigger for imports
Locally not manufactured
Price Competitiveness
Supply Agility
Others
Make in India - Possible
- Possible Possible Scenario
Not Possible Scenario
8. Potential for India to be an alternative to China
Optimistic
Pessimistic
Realistic
9. Chinese Companies Presence in India
Sector-wise
The proportion of M&A trade deals
Investments in India
10. Detailed analysis of
Commodity to focus on indigenization
Commodity to focus on for the export opportunity
11. ViewPoint: Can India Become an Alternative to China
12. Improving Manufacturing Sector Attractiveness in India
Policies
FDI Since Corporate Tax Cuts
Private Sector Investment
Cost of Power
Credit Cost
13. Government Push for Indigenization & Initiatives taken
Lower Tax Rates
Investment in Infrastructure
Roads, Ports, Logistics
Access to raw materials
Land Availability
Focus on SMBs
14. Factors that make India in Sweet Spot
Geo-political factors
US-China Trade Deal Contention
15. Competition from India
Indonesia
Vietnam
16. Lessons from China Case Study
Scale
Labour Laws
Agile Manufacturing
Cost of Manufacturing
Creation of SEZs
Industrial Clusters
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/55q3t4
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The Egyptian Doctors Syndicate has demanded Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly apologise for saying that the absence of a number of doctors from their posts at hospitals is the reason behind the recent surge in the number of coronavirus fatalities.
In a statement on Tuesday, the syndicate said that the prime minister had ignored the real reasons behind the surge: a lack of capacity, medical supplies and ICU beds.
In a televised briefing earlier on Tuesday to announce the easing of some restrictions put in place in light of the pandemic, Madbouly said that a number of doctors and medical staff had been absent from work, and instructed governors to deal with the matter.
Since the start of the pandemic, Egyptian doctors have presented the greatest examples of sacrifice at work, under huge pressure from these difficult circumstances, a lack of PPE in some hospitals, and the continuous attacks on medical teams, while everybody is watching, read the syndicate statement.
The syndicate said the premiers comments would incite additional anger directed at doctors and would increase attacks by patients and their families on medical staff.
The syndicate, which functions as a union for the countrys physicians, has previously said a law criminalising attacks on doctors should be issued.
We call on the prime minister to check the lists of doctors deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The number of doctors who have been martyred has reached 100, while the number of cases among doctors is over 3,000, the syndicate said.
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New Delhi, June 23 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday once again sharpened his attack on the Centre over the India-China face off and questioned whether China occupied the Indian land.
"We stand united against the Chinese invasion. Has China occupied Indian land?" Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet. His remarks came ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting to discuss the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) situation in the country. The India-China border face off is also going to be discussed in the meeting.
On last Monday night, at least 20 Indian soldiers, including an officer were killed in an unprecedented attack by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops in Ladakh's Galwan valley. The former Congress chief has been critical of the government over the India-China face off and has continuously launched attack on the government.
On Monday, he attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Chinese media praising the Prime Minister. Citing news reports Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet said, "China killed our soldiers. China took our land. Then, why is China praising Mr Modi during this conflict?" Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a statement on Monday also criticised the Centre and said, "The Prime Minister cannot allow them to use his words as a vindication of their position and must ensure that all organs of the government work together to tackle this crisis and prevent it from escalating further." However, the Prime Minister's Office had clarified on Saturday and countered the opposition's attack, saying "attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation" to his remark at the All-Party Meeting held on Friday on Galwan standoff." The Prime Minister's Office said the PM had specifically emphasized that Indian forces now decisively counter any violations on the LAC (unhe rokte hain, unhe tokte hain) in contrast to the past neglect of such challenges.
Human history is a race between education and catastrophe, according to H. G. Wells. If the humanities sector is about education, not just training, then we mess with it at our peril. It seems pretty clear the governments undergraduate fee changes will adversely affect the sector. The law of unintended consequences will no doubt play its part, as it always does when governments attempt workforce planning, or "picking winners", instead of leaving things to the market. But the sudden plunge in high-margin overseas student enrolments was already having a major and disproportionate effect not only on commerce and business faculties, where most international students gravitate, but on the unprofitable humanities as well, through the loss of internal cross-subsidies from those other faculties. This new price shock will almost certainly make things worse. Even if the decisions of students and their families are cushioned by HECS, and even if enrolments in English and languages rise, its hard not to conclude that in the sector as a whole they will fall, perhaps drastically. Paul Ramsay's bequest means the centre he established is one of the few places pumping money into the humanities. Credit:Peter Braig Of course, this new fee policy is designed to send a clear vocational signal in a time of recession indeed it is meant to help alleviate the recession, which in itself is a good intention. But we know where roads paved with good intentions often lead. The Dawkins reforms of the late 1980s had the effect of lowering the status of VET (vocational education and training) relative to arts degrees, with lasting ill consequences; this reform is intended to have the opposite effect. STEM and teaching degrees mean jobs: they represent professional skills training, if not technically VET. As for philosophy, history, classics: these are not what we need just now (or ever?). Thats the messaging; thats the intention. Thanks to the strange combination of a global pandemic and the generosity of a great philanthropist, therefore, the Ramsay Centre now finds itself as the only significant source of growth in the sector, possibly for years to come. Thirty new staff hires and hundreds of student scholarships across three universities over at least eight years are beginning to look like not just a lifeline but the whole darn lifeboat. Not quite what we expected when we set out on this voyage three years ago.
In these strange new circumstances, however, our two-part message for government, business and the universities has not changed. If anything it seems even more relevant now than it did in 2017. The first part of the message is that the humanities are critically important not just to our economy but to our lives, our very civilisation. We defund and devalue them at our peril. As far as the economy is concerned, they are essential engines of creativity and strategic thinking. Steve Jobs famously said: It is in Apples DNA that technology alone is not enough its technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our heart sing. The worlds three greatest concentrations of hi-tech innovation are Silicon Valley, the Boston Ring, and the Oxford-Cambridge-London triangle; the North Carolina triangle is catching up fast. All are dominated not just by major agglomerations of techies, but by world-leading humanities institutions: Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, UNC, Duke, Oxford, Cambridge. What are we doing to emulate these innovation hubs? Loading The more AI-driven the global economy becomes, the more we need HI. This means strategic, creative thinking with an educated awareness of the human dimension. As employees move up the ladder in public or private sector institutions, they increasingly need the capacity to absorb large amounts of complex human (not just technical) information, and to communicate clearly and creatively what they have absorbed. At the corporate coalface, in the boardroom, in policy formulation, in cabinet committees, this nearly always happens, in the end, in language, not numbers. Persuasiveness, finding the right words, presentational sophistication, well-articulated strategy: this nearly always means language. Criticism in its true sense means judgment. Critical thinking is the exercise of strategic common sense based on the assimilation and representation of complex arguments and concepts: especially in written form. Reading a lot of complex texts in small argumentative groups is a very good way to learn these skills. Its also how you learn about our civilisation. Many of its classic texts are complex exercises in open-minded, truly critical thinking-in-language (though lets not forget the art and music!). But collectively, and read for themselves, without prejudice, they also help undergraduates discover who they are (education in its true sense), while also learning who we all are: our history (warts and all), our philosophy, our literature, our science.
A man was beaten up by a group of men in a north London bar after defending his female friends against their "inappropriate behaviour", police said.
Officers have released a new photo of three men they want to speak to in connection with the assault at a bar in Camden.
A group of men approached the 23-year-old victim and his friends at the venue on Chalk Farm Road at around 2am on January 5.
The men then reportedly behaved inappropriately towards some of the victims female friends.
When the 23-year-old intervened and asked them to stop, he was attacked and left with a broken nose, Met Police said.
The group of men then left the bar.
PC Martin Edwards, leading the investigation, said: As a result of an earlier appeal, we have identified one of the men we needed to speak with.
"I am now urging people to take another look at this photograph, which now includes a further male we need to identify, and give us their names.
"We believe all the men are from the Albanian community.
"A man was injured in an unprovoked assault. We need to speak with these three men.
On June 17, officers arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. He was later released under investigation.
Detectives are keen to speak to the three men in the image as it is thought they may be able to help.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 774/05Jan.
[June 23, 2020] Unbound Tech Announces Key Security-Rooted Hires to Support North American Market Growth and Continued Global Expansion
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Unbound Tech, the global leader in cutting-edge cryptographic key management for enterprises, today announced the addition of three seasoned staff members to its North American headquarters: Michael Hughes as Chief Business Officer, Marcella P. Arthur as Vice President of Global Marketing, and Rocco Donnino as Vice President of Strategic Alliances. With an expanding customer list composed of the "who's who" in banking and finance, Unbound Tech made these hires as a long-term investment in both its corporate leadership and its North American presence. This new, security-bred leadership bolsters Unbound Tech's global expansion efforts to provide more local support to its Fortune 500 customers and also addresses the increased demand for its services within the enterprise space. "As we continue to expand our global customer footprint, adding seasoned leadership and a North American headquarters was a logical next step for us," said Professor Yehuda Lindell, co-founder and chief executive officer of Unbound Tech. "These individuals each have a long career trajectory in security and have led the expansion efforts for many major organizations focused on enterprise growth." Michael Hughes, joined Unbound Tech last year, bringing with him over 20 years of software sales and executive management experience. Prior to this role, Hughes led his last six firms through either successful acquisition or IPO including companies such as Bonfire (acquired by GTY Holdings), WatchDox (acquired by IBM), Watchfire (acquired by Blackberry) and Delano Tchnology.
"I am thrilled to bring my experience in enterprise go-to-market expansion to Unbound Tech," said Hughes. "We've already won the trust of many of the world's largest financial services organizations who have relied on us for their cryptographic security needs. By firmly establishing our roots in North America, we further demonstrate our commitment to supporting enterprise businesses globally." Named to Channel Reseller News (CRN) Magazine's Women of the Channel Power 100 list, Arthur is known in the industry for her ability to deliver proven and measurable sales-centric marketing strategies. In her new role, Arthur is tasked with implementing a sales-enabled marketing strategy that will ensure growth and the continued acquisition of new customers. Prior to Unbound Tech, Arthur spearheaded two successful IPOs and led the marketing strategy of several of the world's technology security innovators, including Sybari, Mimecast and Microsoft.
"International marketing in practice has been an essential part of my remit for over 20 years," said Arthur, who joined the company in May 2020. "I'm looking to take my industry knowledge and expertise to market in order to better support of our growth objectives." Donnino, also hired in 2019, brings with him over 20 years of business development, corporate development and executive sales management experience. This includes a successful track record of driving incremental revenue growth through strategic partnerships in enterprise and SME security markets for organizations like TitanHQ, AppRiver, AVG Technologies, McAfee, and Microsoft. He currently oversees Unbound Tech's relationships with dozens of strategic partners, including major organizations such as Citi, KPMG and Venafi. "Strategic alliances are critical to executing a successful growth strategy, and I look forward to leveraging my vast expertise and knowledge to expand our partners ecosystem as well as foster existing relationships," said Donnino. To learn more about Unbound Tech and its impact on the cybersecurity landscape, visit?www.unboundtech.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. About Unbound Tech In a world moving towards everything encrypted, signed, and authenticated -- Unbound Tech's solutions leverage the latest in MPC technology and have been selected to secure many global banks and Fortune 500 companies. With a headquarters in Tel Aviv, an international headquarters in New York, and satellite locations throughout the world, Unbound Tech and its NextGen Key Orchestration Platform provides the cryptographic infrastructure to enable enterprises worldwide to easily secure and manage all their information and digital assets. Media Contact: Tova Dvorin
Unbound Tech
[email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unbound-tech-announces-key-security-rooted-hires-to-support-north-american-market-growth-and-continued-global-expansion-301081746.html SOURCE Unbound Tech
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Malaysias political problems have increased in the last two years although hopes were high in 2018 that the country was making democratic gains.
In 2018, a new political coalition defeated the United Malays National Organization that had ruled the country for more than 50 years. That year, a former prime minister was arrested in one of the worlds biggest cases of graft. And the nation rejected costly development projects pushed by China through its Belt and Road program. The program promises big loans to countries for development and infrastructure projects they may not be able to pay for.
But now, almost two years after the historic election, much has changed.
The United Malays National Organization is back its power. The former prime minister, Najib Razak, is still facing trial for corruption. And, the canceled Malay-China projects appear to be moving forward.
In addition, human rights activists say the country is using the coronavirus crisis as an excuse for authoritarian controls.
Reporters and other citizens have been arrested for criticizing how the country has dealt with the health crisis. Malaysia also has arrested thousands of people for violating stay-at-home orders. The country has the highest rate of such arrests in Southeast Asia outside of The Philippines.
'Democracy is dead
Phil Robertson is the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. He told VOA that Malaysian authorities have returned to rights-abusing.
For some, the country is going in the opposite direction of the hope for democracy brought on by the 2018 vote. That election surprised observers around the world. Hopes were high for Malaysia because, at the time, the group Freedom House worried there had been a retreat from democracy. Freedom House is a U.S.-supported organization that pushes for democracy and human rights.
In 2018, Freedom House even called Malaysia a good example of democracy to the world. Mahathir Mohamad, who had been prime minister before, regained the position in that 2018 vote.
But he lost this leadership again in a power struggle in March. Since then, he has criticized of the government that ousted him.
Democracy is dead, he wrote last month on his blog. The whole world is laughing at Malaysia.
He continued, saying the world called Malaysia a kleptocracy when Najib was prime minister. But now the kleptocrats are back.
One-day parliament
Mahathir also said that Parliament is being silenced. The lawmaking body has met for only one day this year. In May new Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin stopped attempts by the new government to hold a vote of confidence.
Instead, critics said he used the coronavirus crisis to bring together Parliament on May 18 for a speech by the king. He then put off any additional meetings until July. This led to questions about the administrations aims.
Muhyiddins political party is the United Malays National Organization, or UMNO. His rise to the nations top office in March marked a return of the old ruling party.
Joel Simon is the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. In April, he wrote Muhyuddin a letter requesting that he improve the UMNOs relations with the media. He also strongly urged the Malay government not to bring back a law that made fake news a crime.
The law was supposed to stop misinformation but risked quieting critics in newspapers and on social media. Human Rights Watch said Malaysia has begun to detain or question critics on social media, opposition politicians and members of civil society.
Im Alice Bryant.
VOA News reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.
________________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
graft n. taking advantage of your political position or government job by taking money or property in dishonest or fraudulent ways
infrastructure n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country or region to function properly
authoritarian adj. enforcing or pushing for strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom
retreat n. the act or process of moving away from something
kleptocracy n. government by those who seek chiefly status and personal gain at the expense of the governed
vote of confidence n. a vote showing that a majority continues to support the policy of a leader or governing body.
fake adj. meant to look real or genuine but not real or genuine
Medical Supplies from the Chinese Government Handed Over to the Office of the First Lady of Sierra Leone
2020/06/22
On June 22, 2020, the medical supplies donated by the Chinese government to help mothers and children and young people in Sierra Leone combating COVID-19 pandemic were handed over to the Office of the First Lady of Sierra Leone.
H.E. Ambassador Hu Zhangliang conveyed greetings from H.E. Prof. Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, to H.E. Fatima Bio and presented the Chinese government items. Ambassador Hu said that China would continue to work with Sierra Leone to enhance the wellbeing of women, children and youth. H.E. the First Lady Fatima Bio received the items and extended her heartfelt appreciation through the Ambassador to the Chinese government as well as her warm greetings to H.E. Prof. Peng Liyuan. She said that the items, coming at the right time, would be put to good use for helping the disadvantaged.
On the same occasion, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone also donated some stationeries and school bags etc. to the Office of the First Lady for further delivery to those who are in need.
Zaliv Shipyard in Kerch will lay down two new universal landing ships (UDK) of project 23900. These warships will join the Russian Navy by the end of 2027 and are the most expected ships in the past fifty years.
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Priboy LHD scale model showcased by Krylov during Army 2016 exhibition (Picture source: Navy Recognition)
The USSR attentively studied the US experience and produced a universal landing ship of project 1174. It had a bigger size and carried a small airpower, but was designed for classical landing ashore. However, in late 1980s the Soviet Navy offered its own universal landing ship of project 11780. It was designed by Nevsky Bureau and had to be built by Nikolaev Shipyard in Ukraine. However, the Soviet collapse ruined the project.
The concept of amphibious assault continued to be revised. As the support to the ground forces in Europe was no longer vital, the fleet began considering expeditionary operations in distant waters. The capability was envisaged by the naval strategy based on geographic security zone concept discussed at the threshold of 1999-2000. It called for a universal expeditionary force capable of combined operations at sea, in the air and on the ground. It had to be armed with a universal landing ship for the purpose.
The design proceeded according to foreign experience. Various conflicts ranging from the 1991 Gulf War to 2003 intrusion into Iraq were thoroughly studied, including the engagement of amphibious assault.
The own experience of expeditionary/amphibious operations in the period boiled down to the engagement of the fleet and marines in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. The Black Sea fleet evacuated civilians, delivered humanitarian aid, protected commercial navigation. It also urgently evacuated the logistical base from Nokra Island in Dahlak Archipelago in the Red Sea in the winter of 1991.
Russia returned to the idea of expeditionary forces in the second half of 2000s due to a long anti-piracy operation in the Horn of Africa. As there were no nearby bases, the fleet had to engage warships which were not properly fit for the mission. They were mostly antisubmarine and escort ships. Pacific, Northern, Baltic fleet warships were mostly engaged. The operation of the Black Sea fleet was limited because of a lack of modern warships.
Priboy LHD scale model showcased by Krylov during Army 2016 exhibition (Picture source: Navy Recognition)
The absence of naval bases made the Russian military leadership negotiate with France a possibility to deploy Il-38 aircraft in Djibouti. However, the talks yielded no result. An aircraft or helicopter carrier could replace a naval base, but Russia did not have it.
The five-day 2008 war against Georgia gave the main impulse to a new attempt to revive amphibious assault. The participation of Black Sea fleet marines was limited by raids in seaports to destroy Georgian warships. It would be difficult to expect something more like a stronghold seizure and advance into the country even if a political decision was made. A complete lack of air support would make any large-scale amphibious assault extremely risky, as Georgia had its own Air Force.
The US-style universal landing ships, including project 11780, were not fit because of a high cost and the absence of a serial vertical takeoff airplane. However, in 2000s, the construction of amphibious assault ships on the basis of civilian technologies which decreased the construction cost boomed in the world.
Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief V. Vysotsky said at Euronaval in Paris in 2008 there were plans to buy foreign landing ships. The Dutch Rotterdam Landing Platform Dock, the Spanish Juan Carlos I, and the South Korean Dokdo were considered. However, in July 2009, it was reported that Russia was negotiating the construction of four Mistral-class warships. It was initially reported that France would build one and Russia three ships due to localization. Later a 2+2 scheme emerged. A contract was signed in the autumn of 2010 to build two ships in France and another two in Russia by a license.
Copyright 2020 TASS Navy Recognition. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Days after the Maharashtra government declared 1,328 extra deaths, including 862 were in Mumbai, post a massive data reconciliation exercise, the mismatch in the daily number of Covid-19 related fatalities continues in the financial capital.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation keeps adding past deaths with the updated figures of deaths of Covid-19 patients, causing public health experts to question why the country's richest municipal corporation has failed to timely collate data.
The opposition has claimed that the government is trying to fudge data in order to hide the reality in Indias worst hit state. Maharashtra has so far reported over 1.35 lakh cases and 6,283 deaths.
It has been a fortnight since Mumbai municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal issued a letter to all the city hospitals, asking them to report Covid-19 deaths within 48 hours of the their occurrence. The hospitals were then given a few days to report all the pending deaths.
GOI has issued a mandatory reporting of death of COVID-19 positive cases within 48 hours of occurrence. Hence, all hospitals are requested to send information of death cases within 48 hours of the occurrence in "Death Summary Format" to the Epidemiology Cell of MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai)," the order issued on June 8, 2020, had stated.
The BMC said that it was after this order that the hospitals had started sending all the death reports pending for March and April. A whopping 862 deaths were reported from the city after the reconciliation exercise.
A week later, the municipal commissioner had issued another order. This time, it was a warning. The circular issued on June 16, 2020, stated that it will now be presumed that there are no unreported death cases pending with any of the hospitals.
One last and final chance is given to all the hospitals under the jurisdiction of MCGM to come out clean and report any Covid-19 positive death cases if still pending for reporting for more than 48 hours."
It has been seven days since that stringent warning to all the city hospitals that they will now stand to face strict action under the Epidemic Act if they report the deaths late. And yet, Mumbai's Covid-19 data has been showing a mismatch almost every day.
On June 22, the city reported that 66 Covid-19 patients had died. But of these, 20 deaths were in the last 48 hours. It was noted that 46 deaths were from an unspecified period before June 19.
On June 20, the BMC reported 136 total deaths. Of them, 61 deaths were from before 16 June, and 75 deaths were between June 16 and 19.
While public health experts have raised concerns pertaining to accurate and timely data reporting for getting a realistic picture, the opposition has come down heavily on the government.
"We are at war with Corona, not with the figures. There has to be transparency in sharing data about Covid-19. I have brought it to the notice of the State government several times that during a pandemic of this scale, data has to be consistently shared accurately," BJPs Devendra Fadnavis, leader of opposition and former Chief Minister, told CNN-News18.
When asked about the data mismatch, the BMC said it was still trying to streamline the process of reporting deaths accurately.
"It is an ongoing process. There is so much data. The ID has to be tagged on the ICMR website. We are trying to streamline it so it can be live. This is taking time, but we hope it will be streamlined in a week. There is severe staff crunch in the hospitals too, and their first priority is saving the patients," Dr Daksha Shah, Deputy Executive Health Officer of BMC, told CNN-News18.
Responding to the story, Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said there is zero pendency with his department and that the hospitals are giving the data late.
The death toll from the novel coronavirus reached over 120,000 in the United States, according to a Reuters tally on Monday, as new cases spike in several states, Trend reports.
More Americans have now died from COVID-19 than were killed fighting in World War One.
About 800 Americans have died on average each day so far in June, down from a peak of 2,000 a day in April, according to the tally of state and county data on COVID-19 deaths.
Total U.S. coronavirus cases are over 2.2 million, the highest in the world, followed by Brazil with more than 1 million cases, and infections are rapidly rising in India.
After weeks of declining, U.S. coronavirus cases nationally are rising again with 12 states reporting record increases in cases last week as all states moved forward with reopening their economies. On Saturday, over 30,000 new cases were reported, the highest daily total since May 1, according to a Reuters tally.
Among states with record increases was Oklahoma, where President Donald Trump on Saturday addressed a less-than-full indoor arena in Tulsa, where only a handful of attendees wore masks.
In remarks that his campaign said later were a joke, he told cheering supporters he had asked U.S. officials to slow down testing for COVID-19, calling it a double-edged sword that led to more cases being discovered.
A White House official said Trump was obviously kidding. We are leading the world in testing and have conducted 25 million-plus in testing.
Health experts say expanded diagnostic testing accounts for some, but not all, of the growth in cases. They also call it a key tool in fighting the spread of the disease.
Of the 20 most severely affected countries, the United States ranks seventh based on deaths per capita, according to a Reuters tally. The United States has 3.6 fatalities per 10,000 people. Belgium is first with 8.5 deaths per 10,000, followed by the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and Sweden.
Four top U.S. public health officials and members of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force said on Tuesday that he has not asked them to slow down testing for the virus.
Testifying before the House Energy & Commerce Committee, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, and the Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Brett Giroir all said that the president had not asked them to slow down the testing.
Trump has repeatedly said that better U.S. testing has led to a higher number of identified coronavirus cases across the country, and at a political rally on Saturday he said he had asked for a slowdown in testing.
Fauci also said on Tuesday the U.S. was currently seeing a disturbing surge of infections in a number of states like Texas, Florida and Arizona. He said one reason infections were rising in those states was an increase in community spread.
"Right now the next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges we are seeing in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and other states," he said.
Experts have raised concerns that the reopening of the U.S. economy could lead to a fresh wave of infections.
A number of U.S. states including Texas and Arizona have relaxed social distancing rules while grappling with a rising number of coronavirus patients filling hospital beds.
U.S. health officials last week warned that states seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases may need to reimpose strict restrictions similar to what was implemented in March.
By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state on Monday reported 138 new Covid-19 cases, its highest on a single day. This is for the fourth consecutive day that new cases have crossed the 100-mark. Of the new cases, 134 are returnees 87 from abroad and 47 from other states. Health officials feel this could be considered a beginning, as they expect a high plateau trend with around one lakh expats expected to come to the state in the coming weeks. No fall is expected in the number of cases. But it cant be considered alarming.
A majority of those testing positive are returnees. But when they violate quarantine and contact cases climb up, we will be staring at a worst-case scenario, said a health official. Some officials said if the state widens its testing ambit, more cases within the community will get reported as silent transmission is occurring in society. To corroborate the projection of high plateau trend, the department said that in a presentation before the chief minister last Thursday, it was said only 149 of the 840 flights expected to arrive in the state had reached so far.
This comes to around 18 per cent. Around 60,000 Keralites have arrived from abroad till date. The rate of positive cases is higher among those who came from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman, says an excerpt of the presentation which is with TNIE. Meanwhile, Mondays new cases are from Malappuram (17), Palakkad (16), Ernakulam (14), Kollam and Kottayam (13 each), Alappuzha and Thrissur (12 each), Thiruvananthapuram (11), Kasaragod (nine), Kozhikode and Wayanad (five each), Pathanamthitta and Idukki (four each) and Kannur (three). Eighty-eight people recovered.
They are from Malappuram (26), Kannur (18), Palakkad (11), Ernakulam (nine), Kozhikode and Kasaragod (seven each), Kottayam and Thrissur (four each) and Idukki (two). Parappanangadi municipality in Malappuram, Kattapana municipality and Rajakumari in Idukki and Vellangaloor in Thrissur were declared hostpots.
(LR) Conservative Party leadership candidates Erin OToole, Peter MacKay, Derek Sloan, and Leslyn Lewis practise social distancing while waiting for the start of the French leadership debate in Toronto on June 17, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn)
Tory Leadership Candidates Tout Their Foreign Policy Ideas in Wake of Ottawas Failed Bid for UN Seat
If it wasnt for the pandemic, the Conservative Party would have had a new leader by this weekend. Instead, the race goes on with the final four candidates to be decided by mail-in ballots in August.
Canadians witnessed both agreement and clash as the four leadership candidates had their first televised debates last week. The timing of Ottawas failed attempt at getting a seat at the United Nations Security Council provided an opportunity for the candidates to discuss foreign policy.
The candidates agreed Canada needs to improve its relationship with the United States but disagreed on how best to engage with the United Nations.
Both Erin OToole and fellow front-runner Peter MacKay believe Canada needs to change its stance toward the U.N. but disagreed on the approach.
We should have Taiwan in the World Health Organization and not be standing in their way, said MacKay, who spent six years as Canadas defence minister. We should be advocating at the United Nations, not pandering to them. And frankly, we dont have time to reform the United Nations as suggested by Mr. OToole.
OToole, the official opposition critic for foreign affairs, retorted, Mr. MacKay, Ive been saying for four years you reform the United Nations by holding your money back. Weve seen the World Health Organization corrupted. Weve seen trading and scandals of corruption within the U.N. The free countries of the world need to unite and say were no longer going to let the bad actors of the world run these institutions.
The candidates had greater agreement when moderator Lisa Raitt, a former Conservative cabinet minister, asked them how they would relate to the current and next administration in the United States.
All four candidates promised a more respectful relationship with the United States, including MacKay, who said: To get things done, you have to take an approach that isnt insulting, that isnt confrontational, that isnt seen as speaking behind somebodys back on the world stage as we saw Mr. Trudeau do. Those types of behaviours dont advance Canadas interests.
Leadership candidate Derek Sloan agreed. We shouldnt insult the president of the United States when were the prime minister of Canada.
Sloan, a lawyer first elected to Parliament last year, believes failed diplomacy is part of the reason that Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor remain jailed in China. The two were charged with spying on June 19, but were arrested in China 18 months ago following Canadas arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request.
Sloan said that in order to entice the United States to do more to help Canada, Ottawa needs to take our closest, closest ally seriously.
We need to forge an excellent relationship with them. We need to work with them to constrain China, he said.
The candidates were also critical of Ottawas Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) trade negotiations.
We have made concessions when it came to supply management. We have made concessions with respect to aluminum with intellectual property. We have opened ourselves up to vulnerability. In fact, we have even foregone some of our sovereignty, said MacKay, who led the Progressive Conservative Party before it merged with the Canadian Alliance party to become the Conservative Party of Canada.
The CUSMA prevents the signatories from holding free trade talks with non-market economies. OToole said American fears led to this stipulation because the Trudeau government was too close with the Communist Party of China.
He said China has dumped aluminum and steel at the cost of Canadian jobs, which led to his push to reform the World Trade Organization. OToole also wants Canada to pursue CANZUK, a proposed free trade agreement between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Leadership candidate Leslyn Lewis, who is a lawyer, said her platform is about courage, compassion, and common sense. She challenged MacKay and OToole on their support for spending 2 percent of GDP on military spending as part of the commitment they made to NATO.
While they were both in the defence positions for our government, they never reached that spending level and Im curious as to why, she said.
The recession of 0809 is essentially the answer, MacKay replied.
Well we have COVID now, Lewis said. We have greater problems than we did in the recession of 2009, so why should Canadians believe that promise?
Lewis has a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and a masters degree in environmental studies from York University. She believes Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus environmental bills C-48 and C-69 are too onerous on oil extraction and pipelines. She also opposes OTooles proposal for a national regulatory pricing system on carbon emissions.
It does seem like its a double tax, she said. I also have problems, Mr. MacKay, with your policy because you have given a 100 percent capital cost allowance to the manufacturing sector. What about the oil and gas sector?
Sloan declared himself the only candidate who would designate Antifa as a terrorist organization. He also said: I wont cede an ounce of our sovereignty to international organizations. Im the only candidate who is committed to defunding the World Health Organization and getting Canada out of the Paris Agreement.
Ill bet most Americans dont know who Pol Pot was.
Pol Pot was a Marxist-Leninist, a student of Mao, and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea from 1963 to 1981. He turned Cambodia into a one-party dictatorship. He dreamed of converting his country into an agrarian socialist society he believed would evolve into a communist society. In order to realize that objective, millions were forced to toil in the countryside. Bad elements and New Peopleintellectuals, government officials, Buddhists, shopkeepers, disfavored ethnicitieswere either worked to death in rural collectives or executed outright.
Between 1975 and 1979, it is estimated between 1.5 and 2 million peoplenearly a quarter of the populationlost their lives. The Khmer Rouge made Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety during the French Revolution look like amateurs by way of comparison.
Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge called their terror campaign waged against civilization Year Zero, the idea that culture, heritage, religion, and history must be utterly destroyed to make way for a communist vanguard and the implementation of revolutionary culture. In China and Russia, similar revolutions resulted in the death of around 100 million people. The Nazis came in a distant secondthey murdered a paltry 16 million people.
Fast-forward to 2020. The founder of Black Lives Matter proudly admits she is a trained Marxist.
I see Black Lives Matter and Antifa as part of a global Marxist effort to destroy the United States, Dr. Carol M. Swain told Sputnik.
Their goals are more about attaining political power and money than protecting minorities and improving society. Their organizational goals might be quite different from the goals of the protesters concerned about police brutality and discrimination.
Lenin wrote, When it comes time to hang the capitalists, they will vie with each other for the rope contract. This is certainly the case now as transnational corporations jump on the George Floyd bandwagon. The Ford Foundation (CIA), Amazon, Citibank, Facebook, Apple, YouTube, and many other large corporations are underwriting the effort to take down America under the banner of social justice and the destruction of capitalism.
BLM and Antifa are now involved in the sabotage and dismantling of American history and culture. At its core, BLM is a revolutionary Marxist ideology, writes Andy Ngo, a journalist attacked and beaten by Antifa goons in Portland. The US is getting a small preview of the anarchy Antifa has been agitating, training and preparing for. Ending law enforcement is a pre-condition for Antifa and BLMs success in monopolizing violence.
Pulling down statues of Confederate generals and former presidents is only the beginning. The BLM-Antifa Marxists are more attuned to Herbert Marcuse than Lenin or Trotsky.
A policy of unequal treatment would protect radicalism on the Left against that on the Right, Marcuse wrote in 1965. Liberating tolerance, then, would mean intolerance against movements from the Right and toleration of movements from the Left, he continued.
Marcuse dismissed the idea of individual liberty protected by law in favor of a Marxist society favoring ostensibly oppressed groups at the expense of everybody else. Such a society, Marcuse wrote, would demand the withdrawal of toleration of speech and assembly from groups and movements, notes Joseph DHippolito. Marcuse even justified violence: there is a natural right of resistance for oppressed and overpowered minorities to use extralegal means if the legal ones have proved to be inadequate, Marcuse wrote.
The BLM-Antifa Marxist revolution under the cover of ending systemic racism is controlled by the ruling elite through foundations, progressive think tanks, wealthy liberalsand corporate CEOs youd think know better.
Success depends on the help of opportunistic Democrat politicians who believe raising a clenched fist and parroting BLM will get them elected or re-elected, thus perpetuating a system of crony capitalism and endless war behind a kinder and gentler Democrat facade that is now falling away.
As I have previously noted, socialism and communismtwo sides of the same coinrepresent a near-perfect social and political control mechanism.
Gary Allen wrote in 1971:
If one understands that socialism is not a share-the-wealth program, but is in reality a method to consolidate and control the wealth, then the seeming paradox of superrich men promoting socialism becomes no paradox at all. Instead it becomes the logical, even the perfect tool of power-seeking megalomaniacs. Communism, or more accurately, socialism, is not a movement of the downtrodden masses, but of the economic elite.
The ruling elite, the financial class that has profited so mightily from theft and violence, will not allow Marxists and black hoodie nihilists to spawn a violent revolution.
After Donald Trump is deposed, the rulers and their political class will turn on the more radical elements of the left. A watered-down version of socialism will be rolled out to placate the masses now facing a Greater Depression and a final nail in the coffin of a battered middle class.
GAIL (India) announced that Fitch Ratings, Singapore on 22 June 2020 has informed that they have revised the outlook on the Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of GAIL (India) from stable to negative.
However GAIL's Long Term IDR is affirmed at BBB -.
The revision in the outlook to the rating was done as Fitch Ratings has revised the outlook of various Government Related Entities (GREs) from stable to negative including that of GAIL.
This revision in the outlook to the rating is in line with the revision in the outlook of India's Sovereign Rating from BBB- with stable outlook to BBB- with negative outlook carried out on 18 June, 2020 by Fitch Ratings. The ratings of GREs are closely linked with the Sovereign Rating of India.
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Srinagar: Two unidentified terrorists and a Central Reserve Police Force jawan were killed in an encounter in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Bundzoo in Pulwama, in South Kashmir, on Tuesday morning after receiving specific information about the presence of terrorists in the area, a police officer said.
'Taliban killed over 290 Afghan security personnel in past week'
Iran Press TV
Monday, 22 June 2020 2:55 PM
The Taliban militants have killed at least 291 Afghan security personnel and injured 550 more over the past week, a top government official says.
In a Twitter post on Monday, Javid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council, accused the militants of unleashing a wave of violence ahead of potential talks.
He said the past week was the "deadliest" in the country's 19 years of conflict.
Faisal said the Taliban carried out 422 attacks in 32 provinces in the time.
"Taliban's commitment to reduce violence is meaningless, and their actions inconsistent with their rhetoric on peace."
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's spokesman in Afghanistan, rejected the latest government figures.
"The enemy aims to hurt the peace process and intra-Afghan talks by releasing such false reports," he said.
"We did have some attacks last week, but they were mostly in defense."
Kabul and Taliban have signaled that they were about to launch much-delayed peace talks.
President Ashraf Ghani has vowed to complete a Taliban prisoner release that is a key condition to beginning the peace negotiations.
The Taliban have said they are ready for peace talks but only after the release of the remaining 2,000 militants.
The authorities have already released about 3,000 Taliban prisoners, and plan to further free 2,000 as stipulated in a deal the militants signed with Washington in February. Under the agreement, the US will withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, and the Taliban will refrain from attacking international occupation forces. The militants, however, have made no pledge to avoid attacking Afghan forces and civilians.
The United Nations has recently warned of an alarming rise in violence against civilians and a "striking deterioration" in upholding international humanitarian law in Afghanistan.
On Sunday, the UN mission in Afghanistan released a report, raising concerns about 15 attacks on health workers and health care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic.
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The Southern District of New York is historically known for its independence from the government. That independence has not been appreciated by the Trump administration or Attorney General William Barr, as became clear this past weekend when Geoffrey Berman, the lead prosecutor at the SDNY, was dismissed, in a confusing two-day episode. What makes the incident so troubling is two different factors: one, that Berman succeeded Preet Bharara, whose dismissal from SDNY was also extremely suspicious; two, that Berman was first personally interviewed by President Donald Trump for his position, a big no-no when it comes to political interference. It all goes to show how, in the years since Bharara left office, the rules and norms about how the Department of Justice operates have been twisted, and the sudden firing of a U.S. attorney seems to fit into a larger pattern.
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On Tuesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Jeremy Stahl, a senior editor at Slate who covers the Department of Justice, about what Bermans leaving signifies about Barrs grip over the DOJ, and what this could mean for cases Barr is charged with prosecutingincluding those against his own boss, the president. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Mary Harris: Lets explain exactly what happened this weekend, because I think if youre a casual observer, it seemed really confusing.It started on Friday when Bill Barr announced that Geoffrey Berman was resigning.
Jeremy Stahl: Barr said on Friday evening, in this highly unusual announcement, that Berman would be stepping down and that he would be replaced in this highly unusual way outside of the normal appointment procedure. Very quickly, Berman put out this statement saying he wasnt resigning.
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This is really uncommon, right?
Im trying to think of a parallel situation where a U.S. attorney explicitly rebuked the sitting attorney general as he was maneuvering to remove the U.S. attorney from office. The closest I can think of is the Saturday Night Massacre that President Richard Nixon initiated when he tried to have the special prosecutor who was investigating Watergate fired and just got rid of attorney general replacement after attorney general replacement until he got a person who would do his bidding. Outside of that, its hard to think of something similar, even though these two things are obviously quite distinct.
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On Saturday, Barr stated that the president said Berman was fired. And then Trump said, Im not involved. Which all seems strange on their end.
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The president does have the ability to fire a U.S. attorney if he wants to. And by Sunday, apparently, everyone had straightened out their stories. The president told Fox News that it was a procedural thing that Barr had asked him to do, in terms of stepping in to fire Berman. More importantly, Barr then said hed follow the normal successor procedure. Audrey Strauss, Bermans deputy, will take over that office until a permanent successor is approved and confirmed by the Senate. What that did was allow Berman to feel OK stepping down from this position in the midst of the chaos: As long as this person is in charge of this office, I feel comfortable leaving it to her.
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It seemed all along that what was important to Berman was ensuring this chain of command, that someone he trusted took over the office. Do we have any idea why that was the hill he wanted to die on?
All we know are these tea leaves and little clues that he left in his Friday note saying he would not be leaving. The major one is that he said that he was going to stay on to ensure that ongoing investigations would be protected and essentially free of political interference. So the implication, I guess, was that he did not trust others, outsiders, to take on cases that he and the office were currently working on and that Strauss, whom he does trust, now will be in charge of.
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Berman had this protection: Only the president could fire him. Does Strauss have that protection?
She does not. She could be fired by Barr, which would allow him to once again do the presidents dirty work if there comes a situation where her being in that office is an inconvenience to anyone.
Part of the reason this Geoffrey Berman vs. William Barr episode raised so many flags is that the SDNY has been a driving force behind many independent investigations of the Trump administration: into Rudy Giuliani, into Trump donors who were ensnared in the presidents impeachment, and into Michael Cohen. But a lawyer doesnt have to actively thwart the president to get his attention. Simply allowing an investigation into Trump to move forward unimpeded has ended careers, too. That may be what happened here.
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I think that speaks to how Trump has famously described often what he wants from a DOJ: He wants a protection racket, a Roy Cohn, a personal attorney to do what he wants, operate to protect his friends, and possibly even go after his adversaries.
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Who leads these offices is really important. This isnt the first time Barr has put, or tried to put, someone whos close to him in charge of an office. This happened in Washington, and it did end up having a real impact on cases involving the Trump administration. Can you tell that story?
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It was a similar dynamic in the U.S. Attorneys Office in the District of Columbia, when Jessie Liu, whos considered to be a very conservative Republican, was in charge. The line prosecutors in that office came with the cases that Robert Mueller presented, which directly affected Trumps friends and political allies. Liu was involved in those cases, and she didnt interfere. She didnt put those cases to a stop. She didnt protect the president in any real way. Those cases did go forward.
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Youre talking about cases against Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, specifically.
Yes. In February of this year, she was weirdly replaced under an unusual appointment scenario where she was told she was getting a position that she ultimately didnt get. Then Barr picked Timothy Shea, this very close confidant, to directly replace her. Immediately you saw what he did with that office in terms of those cases, working on behalf of the criminal defendants, one of whom had pleaded guilty and one of whom had been convicted, and working to protect these people who were, again, political confidants and allies of the president.
And in both of those cases, the DOJ attorneys working on them resigned.
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Yep. In one of the cases there was an outright resignation for that from a DOJ official, and I believe that official is soon testifying before Congress. Otherwise, the prosecutors on those cases just stepped down from the cases.
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So you can see how these decisions are putting these attorneys in between a rock and a hard place, making them choose whose side theyre on.
To their credit, the people who are working in the institution day to day, it seems, have done whats right, for the most part, in terms of doing their jobs and, when their jobs were thwarted, doing the crucial step of showing to some extent what was happening by stepping down. They created a scenario where people were more aware of what Barr was doing and how he was interfering in the levers of justice to protect the president. But also it resulted in multiple letters from thousands of former DOJ officials who outright said Barr is abusing his power and must go.
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What are the mechanisms by which other branches of government could intervene at this point? Youve been quite critical of the Democrats in the past for not holding Barr to account.
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Well, its hard because, to give them credit, they did try to impeach the president, and that didnt turn out as they wanted. So its difficult when the Republican majority that controls the Senate has shown no interest in holding this administration legally accountable.
And when was the last time Barr was even in Congress giving testimony, doing the basics?
Were going to have this very strange circumstance this week, where the House Judiciary Committee that has jurisdiction over all of this is going to be interviewing members of the DOJ about improper political influence and interference, and the attorney general is refusing to show up to defend himself or speak or even explain himself.
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The guy the Trump administration originally wanted to replace Berman with hasnt gone away: Jay Clayton from the SEC. The Senate does have the power to approve a nomination like that. What do we know about how that process might go?
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In those cases, if your home-state senatorthe senator from the state of the office that is open for the appointmentobjects to that appointment, historically, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee has given home-state senators privileges to reject the nomination outright. The current committee chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, for now has said he will honor that. And that means Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have vetoes over this and have the opportunity to say no to this appointment. Theyve already said that they would be exercising that. It remains to be seen whether Graham is going to stick by what he said.
I wonder if you see that as a success or whether you see it as weak sauce.
It really depends on what happens next with the current U.S. attorney, Audrey Strauss, and if shes allowed to do her job.
Listen to the full episode using the player below, or subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
[June 23, 2020] Intellipaat Partners With IIT Guwahati's E&ICT Academy to Boost Professionals' Careers
BANGALORE, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellipaat proudly announces its partnership with IIT Guwahati's E&ICT Academy to train professionals in cutting-edge technologies like Big Data Analytics, Cloud and DevOps, and Full-Stack Web Development. E&ICT Academy IIT Guwahati has been formed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the E&ICT Academy at IIT Guwahati in 2016. The certification programs offered jointly will serve as a stepping stone for professionals in shaping their career. Professionals who enrol in these courses will stand to fast-track their careers by these programs. Big Data Analytics Course is ideal for professionals who want to work in Big Data Analytics. This course will provide necessary skills using tools and programming languages like Spark, Hadoop, Python, and Tableau. Cloud and DevOps will equip for learning high in demand tools like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. They will also learn about DevOps methodology which is ust in almost all software companies.
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Speaking about the launch of courses, Mr. Diwakar, Founder & CEO at Intellipaat, said, "These courses are meant to provide the academic rigor along with Industry exposure. The courses will be taught by experienced resource persons from Industry and Academia. One reason we're so excited about these certification programs is that they are designed to create employability hence the kind of rigor and exposure learners receive will help them to land in their dream jobs. Intellipaat 24X7 support, high quality course material with assignments and project work along with guaranteed job assistance will definitely be an extra edge learners will receive for full filling their upskilling objectives." About Intellipaat Intellipaat is the leading e-Learning platform that offers more than 150 courses for professional's up-skilling on technology and non-technology domains. Intellipaat has more than 150 corporate clients and has more than 6, 00,000 learners from +55 countries learning on their platform. Intellipaat also offers short-term courses on latest technologies like Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for professionals who are looking to quick start their career in these domains. Media Contact:
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As people continue to regularly disinfect and wash their hands during the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government is warning consumers not to use several potentially toxic hand sanitizers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning Friday telling people that nine hand sanitizers manufactured by ESK Biochem SA de CV, a company located in Mexico, may contain methanol, also known as wood alcohol.
The substance can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested, the FDA noted in its warning. Substantial exposure to the chemical can even cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, comas, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
The agency tested samples of two of the companys hand sanitizers and found 81% of one was made up of methanol and the other contained 28% of the chemical, according to the FDA.
Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects, the FDA wrote.
People who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate medical treatment, the agency wrote.
Although all persons using these products on their hands are at risk, young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute, are most at risk for methanol poisoning, the FDAs warning said.
On Friday, the agency noted ESK Biochem had not taken any actions to remove its potentially dangerous products from the market despite being told by the FDA on June 17 to do so.
Therefore, the FDA said, the agency recommended people stop using the companys nine hand sanitizers and dispose of them immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers. The FDA urged consumers to not flush or pour the products down the drain.
The agencys warning against ESK Biochems products comes as the FDA remains on the look out for false and misleading claims about hand sanitizers.
Some people have alleged these products can provide prolonged protection of up to 24 hours against viruses, including Covid-19. There is no evidence to support such claims, though.
The following products manufactured by ESK Biochem were identified by the FDA as potentially toxic:
All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)
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Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has called a high-level meeting on Tuesday with officials of the water resources department after Nepal refused to allow the state to carry out flood prevention work, news agency ANI reported.
Sanjay Jha, the states water resources minister, had said on Monday that the neighbouring country had been obstructing the flood prevention measures taken up by the Bihar government.
Jha had said Nepal is not allowing the state to complete the remaining flood protection work on the Gandak barrage and the embankment along Lal Bakeya river, which originates from the neighbouring country and cuts through parts of north Bihar.
Rivers flowing from Nepal into downstream Bihar have been a bane for the state during the monsoon season. Last year and also in 2008, the Kosi River breached its embankment in Nepal and caused a flood in Bihar.
Bihar carries out repairs of embankments on such rivers in Nepal every year but this year, Nepalese authorities have refused to allow flood prevention work.
Jha on Monday wrote to the minister for external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to intervene at their level and talk with the Nepalese counterparts to resolve the issue.
The work on the Gandak barrage is crucial. It has 18 gates on the Indian side and 18 on the Nepal side. For decades, Bihars water resources department has been carrying out restoration work on both sides. There has never been an issue. But this time, Nepal has put up barriers to prevent anti-erosion work on their side, Jha said.
The minister said on the right side embankment on the Lal Bakeya river, work has been stopped for about 500 metres connecting India with Nepal.
Nepalese authorities are claiming it to be no mans land, while there has never been any issue here in the last 30 years, he said.
In April, the Nepal government had given its nod to the Centre for carrying out anti-erosion work on its side in the midst of lockdown.
The Bihar government had taken up the matter with the Centre after there were hurdles created in carrying out routine anti-erosion work at vulnerable points on the Kosi river before the monsoon.
Indias ties with Nepal have, of late, turned for the worse after the Himalayan neighbour staked a claim on Indian territories of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in Uttarakhand.
The Nepalese parliament passed a constitutional amendment earlier in June to show the disputed areas as part of Nepal.
Before that, an Indian was killed by Nepalese border guards in Sitamarhi, a first such incident in the area.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:04:14|Editor: huaxia
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TASHKENT, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Two Uzbek banks have recently attracted loans from international lenders, with the aim of helping the landlocked country improve enterprises' access to financing and reform its financial industry.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide a loan worth 40 million U.S. dollars to UzPromstroybank, one of the largest banks in Uzbekistan, for on-lending programs to the private sector in the country, the EBRD said Tuesday.
Access to finance remains a key challenge for the private sector in Uzbekistan -- a major contributor to the country's GDP, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the EBRD said in a statement, adding that the loan will also help with the commercialization of leading domestic lenders.
On Monday, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced that it was providing a pre-privatization loan of up to 35 million dollars for Uzbekistan's Ipoteka Bank to improve its financing abilities to help small and medium-sized enterprises.
The loan will also help the state-owned bank transform into a commercially viable private bank, the IFC said.
The Uzbek government has announced earlier that it would sell its shares in state-owned banks to investors as part of the efforts to reform the country's financial industry. Enditem
Nearly 300 Afghan Security Forces Killed Over Past Week, Official Says
By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan June 22, 2020
KABUL -- A top Afghan government official has accused the Taliban of unleashing a wave of attacks ahead of potential talks between the warring sides, saying the insurgents had killed 291 local security personnel and wounded 550 others over the past week.
"The past week was the deadliest" in Afghanistan's 18-year war, Javid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council, tweeted on June 22, adding that the Taliban carried out 422 attacks in 32 provinces.
"Taliban's commitment to reduce violence is meaningless, and their actions inconsistent with their rhetoric on peace," Faisal also wrote.
A Taliban spokesman rejected the latest government figures, saying "the enemy aims to hurt the peace process and intra-Afghan talks by releasing such false reports."
The militant group launched "some attacks last week, but they were mostly in defense," Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP.
Violence in Afghanistan had dropped after the Taliban announced a three-day cease-fire that ended on May 26 to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, but officials have accused the militants of stepping up attacks in recent weeks.
Kabul and the Taliban have signaled they were getting closer to launching much-delayed talks aimed at putting an end to the Afghan conflict.
Earlier this month, President Ashraf Ghani vowed to complete a Taliban prisoner release to pave the way for the negotiations.
The government said it had so far released 3,000 Taliban prisoners and vowed to free another 2,000.
The insurgents have released 500 prisoners they were holding.
With reporting by AFP
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nearly-300-afghan- security-forces-killed-over-past-week -official-says/30684672.html
Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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CLEVELAND, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools, announced today that it is acquiring the assets of RBmedia's library business, including the RBdigital platform in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia.
The acquisition of RBdigital will bring enhanced content and features to the OverDrive platform, enabling it to better serve the needs of libraries around the world, including access to new release Recorded Books audiobooks. Moreover, OverDrive will be exploring the addition of popular RBdigital services like digital magazines from ZINIO to the OverDrive platform. As the owner of both RBmedia and OverDrive, KKR is uniquely positioned to facilitate this transaction and help bring libraries the best solutions possible.
"Combining the RBdigital library business with OverDrive's industry-leading technologies will greatly benefit libraries and their readers worldwide," said Steve Potash, founder and CEO of OverDrive. "We're proud to enhance our value proposition for libraries by delighting readers with this new content on the award-winning Libby and Sora reading apps."
There will be no change to RBmedia's market-leading publishing businesses which will continue to supply their titles to libraries and direct-to-consumer services worldwide. These brands include Recorded Books, Tantor Media, HighBridge, Kalorama Audio, ChristianAudio, Gildan Media, GraphicAudio, W.F. Howes in the United Kingdom, and Wavesound in Australia.
The terms of the acquisition were not announced.
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In the book, Bolton accuses Trump of being obsequious to authoritarian leaders and dictators, offering to lessen sanctions on the Chinese firm ZTE and the Turkish bank Halkbank to curry favor with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Bolton says Trump approved of Chinas jailing of more than 1 million Chinese Muslims in reeducation camps in Xinjiang and likened negotiating with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to dating women always wanting to break with the girl first rather than risk being dumped.
In an information request directed to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri on Sunday, independent MP Osama Sharshar asked: What if Ethiopia refuses to abide by any UN Security Council [UNSC] resolutions on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam [GERD]? What legal and political moves does Egypt intend to take in such a case? Are we going to resort to the International Court of Justice in response to Ethiopias bullying moves, or take other measures?
After negotiations over GERD ground to a halt Egypt opted to refer the file to the UNSC. During a visit to a military air base on 20 June, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said the decision demonstrated that Cairo remains committed to finding a diplomatic and political solution to the dispute. I hope that the Ethiopian leadership and people will get this message because we need to move quickly to finish the negotiations and reach an agreement, he said.
Parliamentary Spokesperson Salah Hassaballah told Al-Ahram Weekly that Egypts decision to formally refer the GERD file to the UNSC aims to show the world that it wants a peaceful solution to this issue. The problem is that Ethiopian officials insist on imposing a fait accompli on Egypt and Sudan. This is why Egypt has asked the UNSC to intervene to help resolve the crisis.
Ethiopias Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew told the Associated Press on 19 June that for us, it is not mandatory to reach an agreement before starting filling the dam we will commence the filling process in the coming rainy season, and added his government wants to make it clear that Ethiopia will not beg Egypt and Sudan to allow it to use its own water resource for its development.
This is a very arrogant and provocative statement, insists Hassaballah, and shows ill intentions on the Ethiopian side.
Article 35 of the UN Charter gives member states the right to alert the Security Council to potential crises that might endanger international peace and security. So what Egypt did was a very correct move. The Nile water file could be an explosive one, and in this respect we expect the UNSC to move quickly to take all the measures necessary to help reach a peaceful solution to this issue, says Hassaballah.
He believes Washington might intervene to press Ethiopia to reach a binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan.
The US National Security Council (NSC) said on 17 June it is time to reach a deal over the disputed GERD before Ethiopia starts filling the dams reservoir. Some 257 million people in East Africa are relying on Ethiopia to show strong leadership, which means striking a fair deal.
The technical issues have been resolved, the NSC said, and it is time to get a GERD deal done before filling it with Nile River water.
According to Hassaballah, the NSC statement is very strong and came in time to remind Ethiopia that the US is closely following the issue and it can pressure Ethiopia to reach an agreement with Egypt and Sudan before filling the dam.
The parliamentary majority Future of Homeland Party issued a statement on Sunday saying that for Egypt GERD is not just a national security issue, it is rather a matter of life and death, and this is what the Ethiopians do not want to understand.
Alaa Abed, deputy chairman of the party, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the UN has previously asked Ethiopia not to fill the dam before reaching an agreement with Egypt and Sudan..
The US, Russia, France, the African Union, the World Bank and South Africa were all closely following the GERD negotiations and all agree that Ethiopia should not take unilateral action to fill the dam.
Tamer Al-Shehawi, deputy chairman of parliaments Defence and National Security Committee, said Egypts policy in the coming period is based on involving the international community to help resolve the GERD crisis.
Egypt wants the US, Russia and the World Bank to exert pressure on Ethiopia.
Al-Shehawi believes Washington might play a strong role in this respect after Ethiopia refused to sign the agreement reached in January after months of strenuous negotiations brokered by the US Secretary of Treasury.
Tayseer Matar, head of the Will of a Generation Party, told the Weekly that Egypts resort to the UN Security Council offers Ethiopia a last chance, after which Egypt will be free to do what is necessary to preserve its rights in the Nile water.
Matar heaped praise on Sudans position. Egypt and Sudan have a united stand right now, and this will strengthen Egypts message to the UNSC and bring Ethiopia under greater international pressure.
Sudans Foreign Minister Asmaa Mohamed Abdallah said on Saturday that the last round of negotiations achieved progress on technical issues, but there is still a dispute on essential legal issues, and so the file was referred to the prime ministers of the three countries.
The Conservatives Party issued a statement on Sunday saying Ethiopias refusal to sign a legally binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan exposes its bad intentions. The Ethiopians were not honest from the start of negotiations, and sought to waste time. The referral of the issue to the UNSC offers a final chance to reach a peaceful solution to the GERD crisis.
Ghad Party head Moussa Mustafa Moussa said in a statement that the Ethiopian foreign ministers statement on the GERD talks was provocative, showing his countrys intransigence on this issue and its lack of willingness to reach a negotiated settlement.
Professor of international law Ayman Salama said in a press interview that the reaction of the UNSC to Egypts request to intervene will be in line with the sixth chapter of the UN Charter and initially take the form of a non-binding recommendation.
But if Ethiopia then insists on continuing to reject moves to reach an agreement with Sudan and Egypt the UNSC could move to use the seventh chapter to impose a binding resolution on Ethiopia, just as it did when Iraq invaded Kuwait.
Salama is not optimistic, and expects Ethiopia will turn a deaf ear to international pressure and go ahead with filling the dam without reaching an agreement.
Ambassador Ahmed Haggag, secretary-general of the African Society, an Egypt-based forum that discusses pan-African issues, said in a TV interview that Egypt had sent a message to the UNSC weeks ago explaining its position on the GERD.
Ethiopia and Sudan also sent messages to the UNSC, each explaining its position, and in reaction the council advised Ethiopia not to fill the dam before reaching an agreement with Egypt and Sudan. In its 19 June message, Egypt did not ask the UNSC to impose penalties on Ethiopia. Rather, it asked the council to exercise its role and promote a fair agreement between the three countries and so prevent an armed conflict on this issue.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with some of the worlds leading infrastructure investors and operators, sovereign wealth and pension funds, ARMENPRESS reports, citing the Emirates News Agency.
A consortium of investors comprising Global Infrastructure Partners, GIP; Brookfield Asset Management, Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC; Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board, Ontario Teachers; NH Investment & Securities and Snam, the Consortium; will invest in select ADNOC gas pipeline assets valued at $20.7 billion.
In one of the largest global energy infrastructure transactions, the Consortium will collectively acquire a 49 percent stake in ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets LLC (henceforth referred to as "ADNOC Gas Pipelines"), a newly formed subsidiary of ADNOC with lease rights to 38 pipelines covering a total of 982.3 kilometres, with ADNOC holding the 51 percent majority stake.
The innovative transaction structure allows ADNOC to tap new pools of global institutional investment capital, whilst maintaining full operating control over the assets included as part of the investment.
Under the terms of the agreement, ADNOC will lease its ownership interest in the assets to ADNOC Gas Pipelines for 20 years in return for a volume-based tariff subject to a floor and a cap. The transaction will result in upfront proceeds of over $10 billion to ADNOC and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
The gas pipeline network connects ADNOCs upstream assets to local UAE off-takers. Ownership of the pipelines, management of pipeline operations, and all responsibility for associated operational and capital expenditures will remain with ADNOC. For ADNOCs partners, this transaction represents a unique opportunity to invest in quality energy infrastructure assets with a low-risk profile that generate stable cash flows.
Commenting on the transaction, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, said, "We are pleased to once again partner with some of the worlds leading global infrastructure and institutional investors in what marks the regions largest energy infrastructure investment. This milestone transaction demonstrates the trust and confidence placed in ADNOC by the global investment community and unlocks significant value from our pipeline portfolio, following last years groundbreaking oil pipeline infrastructure investment partnership.
"Todays landmark investment signals continued strong interest in ADNOCs low-risk, income-generating assets, and sets another benchmark for large-scale energy infrastructure investments in the UAE and the wider region. It solidifies ADNOCs position as an attractive partner and reinforces the UAEs track record as the regions go-to foreign direct investment destination, even during the current unprecedented circumstances."
Adebayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and Managing Partner of GIP, commented, "We are delighted to be entering into this strategic partnership with ADNOC, one of the worlds leading energy companies. ADNOCs gas network is a core piece of midstream infrastructure in the UAE and this transaction presents a unique opportunity to invest in an asset of this quality and importance, while also supporting ADNOC in their smart growth strategy. This transaction underscores GIPs strategy of investing in high quality infrastructure assets and developing long term strategic partnerships with industry leaders."
Bruce Flatt, CEO, Brookfield Asset Management, said, "We are pleased to invest in this strategic pipeline system, which serves as the critical link between UAE low-cost natural gas supply and robust in-country demand."
"This transaction aligns with our strategy of investing in high quality, essential assets generating stable and predictable cash flows in a sector we know well. ADNOC has established itself as one of the worlds leading natural gas producers, with an exemplary operational record. We look forward to partnering with them in support of this critical asset and sector."
Ziad Hindo, Chief Investment Officer, Ontario Teachers, said, "This strategic transaction is attractive to Ontario Teachers as it provides us with a stake in a high-quality infrastructure asset with stable long-term cash flows, which will help us deliver on our pension promise."
"This new partnership with ADNOC and a group of world-class institutional and infrastructure investors expands our global presence and provides further geographic diversification to our portfolio."
Young-Chae Jeong, Chairman & CEO of NH Investment & Securities, stated, "Investing into ADNOCs gas infrastructure and supporting Abu Dhabi's energy initiatives reinforces our investment diversification strategy and demonstrates Korea's growing presence in the global infrastructure space. I am confident this milestone transaction can become a stepping-stone to broaden Korean investments in the region."
Snam CEO, Marco Alvera, said, "With this strategic transaction, we strengthen our international footprint by entering a country and a region that are key to our sector. Our aim is to promote further cooperation opportunities, particularly in the energy transition. We will work with ADNOC and the Consortium partners by leveraging our industrial skills, know-how and innovative solutions in natural gas infrastructure management and provide our contribution to the UAEs energy system. This transaction was carried out remotely over the past months, testifying the resilience of our company and its willingness to continue its growth path."
This agreement is the largest transaction since ADNOC announced the expansion of its partnership and investment model in 2017, which aims to unlock value for ADNOC.
Since then, ADNOC has entered the debt capital markets for the first time, issuing a $3 billion bond backed by the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline; partially floated ADNOC Distribution, the first-ever IPO of an ADNOC Group company; and entered into several strategic partnerships in its drilling, refining, fertilizer and trading businesses, amongst others. These transactions and todays landmark announcement are part of ADNOCs ongoing delivery of its value creation strategy.
This milestone agreement reinforces ADNOCs focus and role as a catalyst for responsible and sustained investment and value creation for Abu Dhabi and the UAE in this challenging period. The partnership unlocks significant capital that can be deployed into strategic initiatives to support ADNOCs smart growth strategy.
The strategic joint venture will see ADNOC pay ADNOC Gas Pipelines a volume-based tariff for the use of pipelines that transport sales gas and natural gas liquids, NGL, from ADNOCs upstream assets to Abu Dhabis key outlets and terminals. The tariff will be charged on the total volumes transported through the pipelines, together with liquefied natural gas, LNG, flows, subject to a volume cap. The new subsidiary will distribute 100 percent of free cash to the investors in the form of quarterly dividends.
Bank of America Securities, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Mizuho Securities acted as financial advisors to ADNOC while Moelis & Company acted as an independent financial advisor to ADNOC.
The UAE holds the worlds sixth-largest natural gas reserves. ADNOCs gas strategy aims to meet in-country gas demand and support the UAE in achieving gas self-sufficiency. Dynamics for the UAE gas market are attractive, driven largely by domestic utilities and growing industrial production, in addition to the demand created by ADNOCs own upstream and downstream activities.
ADNOC has a legacy of responsible oil and gas production and long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship. Earlier this year, it announced a comprehensive set of sustainability goals, which included plans to decrease its greenhouse gas, GHG, emissions intensity by 25 percent by 2030, strengthening its position as one of the least carbon-intensive oil and gas companies in the world.
[June 23, 2020] C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute Announces COVID-19 Awards
C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute (C3.ai DTI (News - Alert)) today announced the first C3.ai DTI awards for artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. C3.ai DTI, jointly managed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of California, Berkeley, and in partnership with Microsoft (News - Alert) Corp., invited researchers in March to take on the challenge of abating COVID-19 and advancing AI-based science and technologies for mitigating future pandemics. After a rigorous peer review process, C3.ai DTI selected 26 research proposals that address COVID-19 across the disciplines of medicine, urban planning, public policy, and computer science, several of which focus on the study of the disease's impact on racial, economic, and healthcare disparities. A total of $5.4 million in cash will be awarded to the following research projects. In addition, research teams will gain access to the C3 AI Suite, Microsoft Azure computing and storage, as well as data resources such as the C3.aiCOVID-19 Data Lake in support of their research. C3.ai DTI Awards: AI for Epidemiology, Social Good, and Clinical Use: Housing Precarity, Eviction, and Inequality in the Wake of COVID-19 (Karen Chapple, UC Berkeley) Improving Fairness & Equity in COVID-19 Policy Applications of Machine Learning (Rayid Ghani, Carnegie Mellon University) Modeling the Impact of Social Determinants of Health on COVID-19 Transmission and Mortality to Understand Health Inequities (Anna Hotton, University of Chicago) Bringing Social Distancing to Light: Crowd Management Using AI and Interactive Floor Projection (Stefana Parascho, Princeton University) Using Data Science to Understand the Heterogeneity of SARS-COV-2 Transmission and COVID-19 Clinical Presentation in Mexico (Stefano Bertozzi, UC Berkeley) Detection and Containment of Emerging Diseases Using AI Techniques (Alberto Sangiovanni Vincentelli, UC Berkeley) COVID-19 Medical Best Practice Guidance System (Lui Sha, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Mathematical Modeling, Control, and Logistics: Modeling and Control of COVID-19 Propagation for Assessing and Optimizing Intervention Policies (H. Vincent Poor, Princeton University) Reinforcement Learning to Safeguard Schools and Universities Against the COVID-19 Outbreak (Munther Dahleh, MIT (News - Alert)) Pandemic-Resilient Urban Mobility: Learning Spatiotemporal Models for Testing, Contact Tracing, and Reopening Decisions (Saurabh Amin, MIT) Toward Analytics-Based Clinical and Policy Decision Support to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic (Dimitris Bertsimas, MIT) Dynamic Resource Manaement in Response to Pandemics (Subhonmesh Bose, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Algorithms and Software Tools for Testing and Control of COVID-19 (Prashant Mehta, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Targeted Interventions in Networked and Multi-Risk SIR Models: How to Unlock the Economy During a Pandemic (Asuman Ozdaglar, MIT) Spatial Modeling of COVID-19: Optimizing PDE and Metapopulation Models for Prediction and Spread Mitigation (Zoi Rapti, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Vaccine and Drug Discovery: Effective Cocktail Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Based on Modeling Lung Single Cell Response Data (Ziv Bar-Joseph, Carnegie Mellon University) Machine Learning-Based Vaccine Design and HLA-Based Risk Prediction for Viral Infections (David Gifford, MIT) Scoring Drugs: Small Molecule Drug Discovery for COVID-19 Using Physics-Inspired Machine Learning (Teresa Head-Gordon, UC Berkeley) Data-Driven, High-Dimensional Design for Trustworthy Drug Discovery (Jennifer Listgarten, UC Berkeley)
Computational Biology: Medical Imaging Domain-Expertise Machine Learning for Interrogation of COVID-19 (Maryellen Giger, University of Chicago) Mining Diagnostics Sequences for SARS-CoV-2 Using Variation-Aware (News - Alert), Graph-Based Machine Learning Approaches Applied to SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS Datasets (Nancy Amato, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) AI-Enabled Deep Mutational Scanning of Interaction Between SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein S and Human ACE2 Receptor (Diwakar Shukla, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Imaging/Computer Vision: Adding Audio-Visual Cues to Signs and Symptoms for Triaging Suspected or Diagnosed COVID-19 Patients (Narendra Ahuja, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Machine Learning Support for Emergency Triage of Pulmonary Collapse in COVID-19 (Sendhil Mullainathan, University of Chicago)
Intelligent Databases and Search: COVIDScholar: An NLP Hub for COVID-19 Research Literature (Gerbrand Ceder, UC Berkeley)
Distributed Computing: Secure Federated Learning for Clinical Informatics (News - Alert) with Applications to the COVID-19 Pandemic (Sanmi Koyejo, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
"The enormous potential of AI algorithms to help us derive actionable information and make well-informed decisions is truly exciting," said Dr. Saurabh Amin, Robert N. Noyce Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "We have a unique opportunity to design scalable decision-making algorithms to learn how to reopen transportation systems in a safe way and to bridge the gap between desirable policy interventions and realistic operational strategies."
"The enthusiastic response among scientists and researchers coupled with the diverse, high-quality and compelling proposals we've received suggests that we have the potential to alter the course of this global pandemic," said Thomas M. Siebel, CEO of C3.ai. "In the face of this crisis, the Institute is proud to bring together the best and brightest minds and provide direction and leadership to support objective analysis and AI-based, data-driven science to mitigate COVID-19." "It is encouraging to see the large number of high-quality proposals, spanning promising areas of research, on directions of effort needed now more than ever," said Eric Horvitz, Chief Scientific Officer at Microsoft. "I'm looking forward to following the research as it progresses and hopeful that the funded teams will make significant contributions in the fight against COVID-19." Award Criteria
C3.ai DTI selects research proposals that inspire cooperative research and advance machine learning as well as other AI subdisciplines. Projects are peer reviewed on the basis of scientific merit, prior accomplishments of the principal investigator and co-principal investigators, the use of AI, machine learning, data analytics, and cloud computing in the research project, and the suitability for testing the methods at scale. In March of this year, C3.ai, Microsoft, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of California, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National Center for Supercomputing Applications at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Princeton University, and the University of Chicago established C3.ai DTI, a research consortium dedicated to accelerating the socioeconomic benefits of artificial intelligence for business, government, and society. Stanford University is the consortium's newest member. Visit C3DTI.ai to learn more about its programs, award opportunities, and selected research proposals. About C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute
The C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute (@C3Dti) is a research consortium dedicated to accelerating the benefits of artificial intelligence for business, government, and society. The Institute engages the world's leading scientists to conduct research and train practitioners in the new science of digital transformation, which operates at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, internet of things, big data analytics, organizational behavior, public policy, and ethics. Consortium members include: C3.ai, Microsoft, and nine leading universities and national laboratories: the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of California, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National Center for Supercomputing Applications at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Princeton University, Stanford University, and the University of Chicago. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200622005758/en/
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The global coronavirus pandemic is spiraling out of control. Six months after the first case of COVID-19, new cases are at record highs. As a direct consequence of the actions of governments throughout the world, combining indifference, incompetence and conscious policy, the situation is dire and getting worse.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global catastrophe, whose impact on the history of the twenty-first century will be no less than the impact of World War I on the twentieth century.
The experience of the last five months has made all too clear that the response of the major capitalist governmentswith the United States in the leadhas been nothing short of disastrous. The class interests of the corporate financial oligarchies that dictate imperialist-capitalist policies do not allow for a scientifically guided, socially progressive, democratic, egalitarian and humane response to the pandemic. The drive for profit, personal wealth and, therefore, the unbounded exploitation of the working class takes absolute priority over the social interests of the overwhelming majority of the worlds population.
As we enter the final week of June, more than 450,000 people have already died, according to official figures, which undercount fatalities. The premature and reckless return to workthe abandonment, in effect, of any systematic effort to contain the spread of the coronavirushas led rapidly, as the World Socialist Web Site repeatedly warned, to an explosive upsurge in new infections.
In the United States, the pandemic is sweeping through the country, exacting a terrible toll in human life. The fact that the richest country in the worldhome to nearly 300 billionaires with a combined fortune of approximately eight trillion dollarshas recorded the largest number of deaths of any country in the world is a searing and unanswerable exposure of the rotten state of American society and the historic failure of the capitalist system.
Since the beginning of March, more than 2.3 million people have been infected in the US. The death toll has passed 120,000. On June 21, 25,000 new cases were recorded, up 20 percent from two weeks ago. Nearly two dozen states are reporting a rise in cases. In California, new cases are up 48.3 percent over the past two weeks, Texas 114 percent, Florida 168 percent, Arizona 142 percent, and Georgia 47 percent.
At this rate, in the absence of any coordinated plan to stop the spread of the virus, the number of Americans who will have succumbed to the virus by the end of the summer will be in the area of a quarter million. The vast majority of victims will be workers, with the largest number of victims being drawn from the poorest sections of the working class.
In Western Europe, which claimed that it had stopped the spread of the pandemic and could safely reopen its economy, there are dangerous indications that the infection rate is again on the rise. More than 1,300 workers at a large slaughterhouse in western Germany, mainly immigrant workers from Eastern Europe, tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. There have been several outbreaks at meatpacking and other factories, following the end of lockdown measures. Particularly significant is the continued spread in Sweden, held up as a model for herd immunity, where new cases are up 22.2 percent over the past two weeks.
Given the massive poverty in countries with a belated capitalist development, historically oppressed by imperialism, the pandemic threatens to overwhelm their limited health care system and fragile social safety nets.
New cases and deaths are rising sharply in South Asia. In India, there are now 440,000 reported cases and 14,000 deaths. On June 21, there were 11,484 new cases, according to Stat News, up 32.8 percent from two weeks ago. The number of new deaths has soared 88.5 percent in the same period. In Delhi, the countrys capital, new cases have increased by 87.6 percent. Hospitals in the city are overflowing, and people are dying from other conditions because they cannot be treated.
In Pakistan, with 3,590 reported deaths, the number of new cases has increased 63.6 percent over the past two weeks, and the number of deaths has increased by nearly 70 percent. In Bangladesh, the number of new cases has increased by 43.6 percent, and the number of new deaths by 33.3 percent. The total number of cases has risen above 115,000 in Bangladesh, with over 1,500 deaths.
In Africa, it took 98 days from the first reported case to the initial 100,000 cases, but it has taken only 18 days to double from 100,000 to 200,000. There are now more than 100,000 cases in South Africa alone, with the number of new cases increasing by 86 percent over the past two weeks. There are more than 50,000 cases in Egypt, with a rise in new cases of 22.2 percent over the past two weeks.
The pandemic is taking a heavy toll in Latin America. In Brazil, where the countrys fascistic president Jair Bolsonaro has rejected any measures to stop the virus, there have been more than 1.1 million reported cases, the second highest number in the world. There were nearly 30,000 new cases reported on June 21, up 30 percent from two weeks ago. More than 51,000 people have died, with the daily death toll surpassing 1,000. In the hardest-hit state, Sao Paulo, more than 220,000 people have been infected, with the number of new cases up 32.7 percent from two weeks ago.
In Mexico, the number of reported cases stands at more than 180,000, with 21,825 deaths. New cases are up more than 100 percent from two weeks ago, and new deaths are up a staggering 155 percent. In Chile, new cases are up 66.7 percent, and in Ecuador they are up more than 20 percent from two weeks ago.
The global catastrophe that is unfolding is the direct outcome of policies adopted by the ruling class. When it was first proposed, the program of herd immunity was broadly considered to be inhumane and reckless. It was universally condemned by scientists and epidemiologists. But it has now been adopted by governments throughout the world. As one commentator acknowledged, the policy toward the COVID-19 pandemic is now let it rip.
From the beginning, the response of the Trump administration and other world governments was dictated not by public health and safety, but by the interests of the corporate and financial oligarchy. After trillions were poured into Wall Street beginning in late March, a campaign was immediately launched to end all restrictions on the spread of the coronavirus.
The aim of the ruling class is to exploit the situation to slash wages, increase exploitation, impose massive austerity measures to pay for the bailout of the rich, and carry out a fundamental restructuring of class relations on a world scale. The chasm between the interests of the financial oligarchy and the vast majority of the population finds grotesque expression in the continued rise in stock and equity markets during the pandemicthe contemporary equivalent of war profiteering.
The implementation of the necessary measures to stop the coronavirus depends on the intervention of the international working class. All the actions required to stop the virusthe shutdown of nonessential production, quarantining, mass testing and contact tracingrun up against the profit interests of the ruling class. Ensuring support for all those impacted by these measures requires a massive redirection of social resources.
Moreover, an effective fight against the pandemic requires the systematic coordination of economic, scientific, industrial and information resources. This essential international collaboration is impossible under capitalism, which is rooted in the nation-state system. The ruling class of every country is preoccupied, above all, with its own national interests.
Pharmaceutical companies compete against each other, protecting their business secrets rather than sharing information that might, through collective effort, facilitate the development of effective treatment techniques and, eventually, an anti-COVID-19 vaccine.
The Trump administrations withdrawal from the World Health Organization is a glaring example of the destructive character of national imperialist politics. But still more dangerous is the cynical efforts, in pursuit of geopolitical advantage, to blame China for the pandemic and thereby legitimize the preparations of the United States for war against its principal rival.
What must be done to stop the pandemic and save millions of lives?
Control over the response to the pandemic must be taken out of the hands of the capitalist class. Mass action by the working class, coordinated on an international scale, is necessary to bring the pandemic under control and save millions of lives that are now at risk. The fight against the pandemic is not only, or even primarily, a medical issue. It is, above all, a matter of social and political struggle.
The potential for the development of such a movement arises out of the logic of the crisis itself.
Opposition is mounting in the working class throughout the world. Anger is growing over the absence of any systematic plan to bring the pandemic under control, the disastrously inadequate state of health care facilities, the unsafe working conditions that place countless lives at risk, the refusal of capitalist governments to provide necessary levels of social support for the millions who have lost their jobs, the rampant social inequality, the relentless growth of militarism, and the escalating attacks on basic democratic rights.
The ruling class is aware that a political radicalization of the working class is underway. Trumps rants against left-wing extremists and his attempt to deploy the military against protesters must be taken as a warning.
The growing social anger, which has found initial expression in the eruption of protests against the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota and other incidents of police brutality, must be developed into a global class-conscious movement of the working class against capitalism and for socialism.
When the apologists for the ruling class insist, Dont let the cure be worse than the disease, workers must reply that the underlying social disease is capitalism, the pandemic is a symptom of this disease, and the cure is socialism.
The massive sums accumulated by the wealthy must be seized and redirected to fund emergency measures to stop the pandemic and provide full income to those impacted. The gigantic banks and corporations must be placed under the democratic control of the working class, run on the basis of a rational and scientific plan. The enormous resources squandered on war and destruction must be diverted to finance health care, education and other social needs.
The International Committee of the Fourth International is convinced that a powerful revolutionary movement of the working class is now underway. The task of the ICFI is to assist this movement by providing the essential tactical, strategic and programmatic direction. But this is an immense task that requires the building of sections of the Fourth International in every country. We appeal to the working class, students, and all those who recognize the need for the socialist reorganization of the world to secure the future of humanity, to join us in this struggle.
A report prepared by the economic wing of State Bank of India (SBI) says that inequality gap in India will narrow down post COVID-19 as decline in income of rich states will be much greater than the decline in income of poor states.
"A similar type of experience of decline in inequality was witnessed in Germany after the collapse of Berlin war (1989). Post-collapse the per capita GDP of West Germany (which was already higher than the East Germany) had decelerated while per capita GDP of East Germany increased resulting in decline in inequality," it said.
India's per-capita income (PCI) is estimated to decline by 5.4% to Rs 1.43 lakh in FY21 from Rs 1.52 lakh in FY20. This decline in PCI is higher than the nominal GDP decline of 3.8%, SBI Ecowrap said in its latest report.
As per the report, rich states (states whose per capita income is greater that all India average) will be most affected in per capita income terms. A total of 8 states and Union Territories, which constitute as much as 47% of India's GDP, are expected to see an alarming decline in PCI in double digits in FY21, it highlighted.
State-wise, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Gujarat will be worst hit with PCI projected to drop by 15.4%, 13.9% and 11.6%, respectively in FY21. Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, and Manipur are expected to see the least drop in PCI during the period under review.
In Delhi (-15.4%) and Chandigarh (-13.9%), the decline in PCI will be almost thrice than the fall at all-India level (-5.4%), the SBI report said.
These states and Union Territories are the urban areas (and red zones also) where coronavirus lockdown was implemented most severely. The closure of markets, shopping complexes and malls adversely affected income in these areas, the report said. Even after opening of markets (in staggered manner), the number of customers is still 70-80% less than the normal times, it added.
Also Read: Coronavirus effect: India's GDP may contract by 3.1% in 2020, says Moody's
States like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu are expected to witness a decline of 10-12% in PCI in FY21.
However, in the relatively less well off states like Madhya Pradesh, UP, Bihar, Odisha, etc. (where per capita income is below the national average) the decline in PCI is expected to be less than 8%. This was attributed to larger number of green zones, prominence of agricultural activity and already low levels of income.
Also Read: Fitch Ratings revises India's outlook to negative from stable; retains sovereign rating 'BBB-'
SBI forecasted that India's GDP will decline by 6.8% in FY21, while it expects a 'statistical V-shaped recovery / Swoosh' in FY22 primarily due to the favourable base effect. "Beyond such base effect, it would however take at least till FY24, if India replicates the best case example in history, if not more before India gets back to pre-pandemic level growth rate," the report added.
COVID-19 pandemic has sent GDP growth of most countries in contraction mode at least for FY21. Globally, a 6.2% decline in per capita GDP has been pegged for 2020, which is significantly greater than the 5.2% fall in global GDP, says SBI report.
Feintuch Communications has been selected to implement a strategic communications campaign in the United States and Canada for Nexans, which provides customers with advanced cable technologies for power and data transmission. Feintuch will work with Nexans North American headquarters in Markham, Ontario, Canada in support of business groups in the U.S and Canada, as well as executing a broad range of corporate media relations and thought leadership initiatives. The agencys Nexans team will be led by president Henry Feintuch and supported by senior managing director Rick Anderson and senior account director Doug Wright. Collectively, the team has supported such technology, energy, manufacturing and infrastructure organizations as HDMI Licensing Administrator, Leclanche, NCR and International Paper. Headquartered in Paris, Nexans employs nearly 26,000 people with an industrial footprint in 34 countries and commercial activities worldwide.
Carolyn Izzo Integrated Communications has been named agency of record for Florida Wine Academy, which offers programs in wine, spirits and sake education. CIIC will work to generate brand awareness for the organization, positioning it as a leader in the wine & spirits industry through content development, media and influencer relations, partnerships and social media. The academy is an approved program provider for WSET (Wine Spirits & Education Trust), the Wine Scholar Guild, and the Sake Sommelier Association. It also owns and operates digital wine shop 305 Wines, and manages the VinoSummit conference and Miami Champagne Week.
Caliber Corporate Advisers has been named agency of record for Engage People, a global technology provider that allows consumers to pay for items or experiences using loyalty points. Caliber will work with the Toronto-headquartered company to increase awareness of its technology, which converts loyalty points to fiat currency, enabling consumers to pay with points as easily as theyd pay with a debit or credit card during the online checkout process. Engage People also focuses on helping financial institutions maximize the value of their loyalty programs. The team at Caliber really understands the banking and payments space, as well as how our company is taking a leading approach to demonstrating the value of loyalty points as currency, said Engage People CTO Len Covello.
R&J Strategic Communications has been selected as public relations agency of record by Larken Associates, a family-owned and operated real estate firm based in Branchburg, NJ. The agency will work to boost Larkens market position by increasing brand recognition and awareness, enhancing their digital presence and fostering engagement among target audiences to drive qualified leads. Larken Associates manages over 800 commercial tenants across three million square feet of office, industrial, retail and mixed-use properties throughout the northeast.
India 'Seeks Early Delivery of S-400s', Fighter Jet Spare Parts Amid Border Stand-Off With China
Sputnik News
05:33 GMT 22.06.2020
New Delhi (Sputnik): Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh left for a three-day visit to Russia on Monday to participate in the Victory Day parade on 24 June. Rajnath's visit was finalised in consultation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid New Delhi's border tensions with China.
India is considering the option of urging Russia to ramp up the delivery of S-400 air defence missile systems, a defence ministry source said on condition of anonymity. It's believed that Moscow had planned to delay delivery until December 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The speeding up the delivery of the $5.4-billion systems, for which India completed a large payment last year, is expected to be discussed during Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's slated bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.
While leaving for Moscow to participate in the Victory Day parade on 24 June, the Indian Defence Minister tweeted that his visit is an opportunity to further deepen the India-Russia defence and strategic partnership.
The Indian government's decision to send the defence minister to participate in Moscow's 75th Victory Day parade comes in the wake of India's planned purchase of 33 fighter jets, including 12 Su-30MKI and 21 MiG-29, from Russia under an emergency order and amid border clashes between India and China in the Ladakh region in the far north of the country.
India is also considering the event as an opportunity to engage with Russia during this critical juncture because Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe is also likely to be present at the event. Russia and China share strong defence ties and adding to India's concern, Beijing has already acquired its own S-400 systems from Moscow.
Rajanth is also scheduled to meet Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov, who also handles military and aerospace affairs.
A Sputnik
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A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday ordered Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary to pay $2.1 billion in damages to women who blamed their ovarian cancers on the companys talcum products, including its iconic baby powder.
The decision slashed by more than half a record award of $4.69 billion in compensatory and punitive damages to the women, which was made in July 2018.
Johnson & Johnson still faces thousands of lawsuits from consumers who claim its talcum products were contaminated with asbestos that caused cancer. The company announced last month that it would stop selling baby powder made from talc in North America, though it would continue to market the product elsewhere in the world.
A spokeswoman said Johnson & Johnson would seek further review of the ruling by the Supreme Court of Missouri and defended its talcum products as safe.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Netherlands plans to ban flavoured electronic cigarettes from next year to make vaping less attractive to young people, the government said on Tuesday.
Flavours currently available range from mojito and strawberry ice cream to mango and chocolate, the government said.
With its sweet tastes and perceived lower health risks, vaping has rapidly become popular among young non-smokers, who are often seen to use them as a stepping stone to regular tobacco products.
"It is unacceptable that 20,000 people die every year in our country from the effects of smoking and that every day around 75 kids start smoking", deputy health minister Paul Blokhuis said.
"The smoke-free generation we see coming also needs to be free of electronic cigarettes."
The government will refine the tobacco law to include the ban on flavoured e-cigarettes, which is likely to take effect in the first half of next year, the government said.
Tobacco-flavoured vaping products will remain available, mainly to help regular smokers kick their habit, it said.
E-cigarettes, which electrically vaporize a nicotine-infused solution, are defended by proponents as a healthier alternative to regular cigarettes. But studies have shown the devices were more damaging to health than expected.
In 2015, the Dutch Institute for Public Health showed smoke from e-cigarettes contained all kinds of chemical substances which could cause cancer. Late last year, U.S. researchers said the use of them increased the risk of developing chronic lung conditions such as asthma or emphysema. [nL1N28R0JW]
A Dutch government report in 2017 said that over a quarter of people aged 12-16 said they had tried vaping at least once.
Electronic cigarettes and water pipes have been banned in the Netherlands for anyone under the age of 18 since 2016.
(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Susan Fenton)
Microsoft has announced the launch of Tomoh, a unique programme designed to empower Emiratis to pursue careers in technology, in bid to help accelerate employability and skills among the UAE nationals.
Tomoh offers Emirati students, graduates, and job seekers the opportunity to embark on a professional development journey that includes Microsoft trainings and certification, and on-the-job experience.
The programme was launched at a virtual event 23 held in the presence of Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources & Emiratisation.
It was attended by senior officials and executives from both the Ministry and Microsoft, including participants who enrolled in the first batch of the Tomoh programme.
Coinciding with the event, a MoU was also signed between Ahmad Yousuf Al Nasser, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Human Resources Development and Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE for expanding collaboration on Emiratisation initiatives and contribute to enhance skillsets and employability amongst local talent of the country.
Al Hamli, lauding the Ministrys partnership with Microsoft, said: "Tomoh will contribute to the efforts of empowering young citizens in increasing their competitiveness in the technology sector and lead to its rapid growth in the UAE."
The initiative reaffirms Microsofts commitment towards Emiratization efforts that are centred on developing partnerships between the government and private sectors.
"Tomoh is aligned with our strategic goals of Emiratisation as it provides appropriate training opportunities for citizens, whether students or researchers on the job, developing and honing their skills, and enhancing their employment opportunities in one of the world's leading technology companies," stated the minister.
He called upon the youth of the country to make the most of the opportunities that are available to them to equip themselves with skills of the digital revolution and technologies such as artificial intelligence to contribute effectively to the future of the country.
Microsoft (UAE) General Manager Sayed Hashish said: "With a shared vision to support the governments emiritisation efforts, Tomoh is a unique initiative designed to boost employability amongst Emirati youth by equipping them with globally recognized skills."
"Together, we will empower local talent with technical specialties and work experience to pursue careers in both, public and private sectors," he added.
SANDY, Utah, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Angie Franks, CEO of Central Logic , the healthcare industry's innovator in patient orchestration and tools to accelerate access to care, will deliver a presentation during the virtual American Telemedicine Association (ATA) Conference & Expo, which takes place this week from June 2226. Franks will look at use cases for various types of telemedicine that leading health systems are incorporating into their healthcare workflows to enhance care access and clinical decision-making.
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a massive increase in care delivered through telehealth technology, most commonly through video- and phone-based encounters between clinicians and patientsalthough many other types of telemedicine, such as physician-to-physician specialty consults, also are being used more widely. The market is expected to grow by more than 64% this year alone, according to analyst firm Frost & Sullivan.
Franks will deliver her presentation at 2:15 pm Eastern Daylight Time today, June 23. It will also be recorded and available on-demand to ATA members and registered participants following the conference. This is the first time that Franks has spoken at ATA, and 2020 also marks Central Logic's first year as an ATA member; the company has joined as a Level 5 member, the highest membership designation.
While Central Logic does not offer its own telehealth solution, the company's technologywhich is used by health systems nationwide to improve care access and orchestrationfrequently intersects with telemedicine. Central Logic's clients use telemedicine in a number of innovative ways to improve their patient transfer processes and their "Access Centers," which are powered by the company's technology and enable systems with multiple locations and hospitals to operate as one.
"We are honored to speak at the ATA's annual conferenceespecially at a time when an increasing number of health systems are recognizing that telemedicine is now an integral part of the healthcare ecosystem for care delivery inside and outside of their facilities," Franks said. "The ATA's leadership and foresight in this space are commendable. Given the huge adoption rate telehealth is experiencing by health systems, it made sense for us to engage with this important organization and its membership."
In her presentation, "How Telehealth Fits into a Coordinated Access & Orchestration Strategy," Franks will describe how telehealth improves patient care by enabling patients to be evaluated earlier in the care episode, even while still at home, to help ensure they receive the appropriate level of care in the right location without delay. She will share several examples of how Central Logic clients have incorporated telehealth within their Access Centers to accelerate the pace of care, lower costs and improve outcomes. For example:
One health system client connects patients experiencing stroke symptoms in rural or distant hospitals with neurologists through video consults so they can be evaluated before they arrive at a health system's specialty center for advanced care.
Another large health system client is incorporating more telehealth in the triage phase of care within its Access Center to evaluate patients before a transfer to ensure the patient receives care in the optimal location.
"Central Logic and the ATA are fully aligned with the vision that telehealth must be effectively incorporated throughout healthcare to ensure that everyone has access to safe, effective and appropriate care when and where they need it," said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the ATA. "We are grateful to Angie Franks for sharing her insights and best practices being implemented by Central Logic's clients at health systems across the country and are pleased to welcome Central Logic to the growing list of market-leading companies committed to supporting telehealth by joining our organization."
This year's virtual ATA Conference & Expo features more than 100 educational sessions and 300 speakers. Registration is available here.
About Central Logic
For health systems, managing patient transfers is a life-saving endeavor. Central Logic is a pioneer in the space and was founded solely to support this mission. Our flexible, purpose-built solution provides superior real-time visibility and unmatched business intelligence to optimize the operations of health system Access Centers. Clients count on Central Logic to deliver strong growth, find new ways to improve patient outcomes and make their operations more effective, today and into the future. Based in Minnesota and Utah, Central Logic is an industry leader with a 93% customer retention rate. The company has been named a "fastest growing private company" by both Inc. 500 and Utah Business Magazine. For more information, visit www.centrallogic.com .
About the ATA
As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the ATA is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of health care delivery systems, technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models. Visit the ATA COVID-19 Resource Center. @americantelemed #gotelehealth
Media Contact
Tara Stultz
Amendola Communications for Central Logic
440-225-9595
[email protected]
SOURCE Central Logic
The fee regulatory body of Chandigarh has issued fresh show-cause notices to all 79 private schools of the city, district education officer Alka Mehta said on Tuesday.
The schools have been asked to send compliance reports before July 4 regarding uploading of balance sheets online, along with the undertaking that they charged only a tuition fee for the last academic year.
This is the second round of mass show-cause notices issued to the schools for non-compliance of the provisions of the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institutions Act, 2016. Previously on May 26, 51 private unaided schools of Chandigarh were asked to explain their position within seven working days.
SOME SCHOOLS ISSUED TWO NOTICES
The notices were issued by the DEO, who is also the member-secretary of the fee regulatory body. Some schools have been issued two show-cause notices, first to upload the balance sheet online and the other one to comply with the directions regarding charging of only tuition fees. We have also asked schools to clarify that they have not increased the fees.
Hindustan Times accessed the copy of the notices that read, The schools still failed to comply with the instructions of the fee regulatory body and contravened the provision of act despite so many notices and reminders.
The notice further demanded that a compliance report regarding the provisions of the act be sent before July 4, categorically stating that no further chance will be given and the matter will be submitted to the fee regulatory body for the penalty.
The standoff between the UT education department and private schools started when the UT directed the schools to defer the collection of school fees during the lockdown period. The schools,however, ignored the directive saying they wont be paying salaries to their staff unless they were allowed to collect fees. Later, invoking the fee regulation act, Mehta asked the schools to upload their balance sheets online.
VIOLATING ACT PROVISIONS A PUNISHABLE OFFENCE
As per the Act, which was notified in 2018 in Chandigarh, if any school contravenes the provisions, it shall be punished with a fine between 60,000 to 4 lakh depending on the number of violations and the level of school (primary, middle, secondary).
HS Mamik, president, Independent Schools Association (ISA), said, The matter is subjudice and the education department should be patient and await the decision instead of issuing notices.
It seems that the department has extended the vacations in government schools and hence, is free to spite the private schools by sending notices, he added.
New Jersey-based retailer Bed Bath & Beyond is laying off 148 employees, according to a WARN notice filed with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The WARN notice lists an effective date as Aug. 22 and the city as Union, where Bed Bath & Beyonds headquarters are located.
Bed Bath & Beyond also is looking to sell its Christmas Tree Shops and Cost Plus World Market stores, according to a report by Bloomberg. There are currently 10 Christmas Tree Shops and five Cost Plus World Market stores in New Jersey, but its unknown if any of these locations will be impacted.
A Bed Bath & Beyond spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.
There are currently 38 Bed Bath & Beyond stores in New Jersey, according to its website. Select locations are now open.
It has been a newsworthy few months for the company.
--Bed Bath & Beyond said in 2019 it was closing 40 underperforming stores, along with 20 of its other concept stores, which include Harmon Face Values, buybuy Baby and World Market.
--In February, Bed Bath & Beyond said two New Jersey stores would close: locations in Newton (17 Hampton House Road, Ste. 8) and Sewell (141 Tuckahoe Road).
--Also in February, Bed Bath & Beyond agreed in February to sell its e-commerce flower and gifts business, PersonalizationMall.com, for $252 million.
--And in March, the company announced plans to cut 500 jobs as part of a restructure.
The brick-and-mortar retail industry already had been suffering, but the coronavirus has wreaked additional havoc on chains.
The Childrens Place, 24 Hour Fitness, Signet Jewelers, Zara, Nordstrom, Party City and JCPenney are among the companies that recently have announced store closures.
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Union human resource development minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will interact with students on June 28 at 11 am through a webinar. The minister will answer to their queries on physical and mental fitness.The webinar is named Fit Hai to Hit Hai India running under hashtag #FitIndiaTalks.
Ministry of HRD tweeted on Wednesday to inform about the webinar. Students will be able to ask questions in the comment box using #FitIndiaTalks. They can either comment on todays tweet using the hashtag or comment on his live webinar on June 28. The webinar will also be live on his Facebook Page at Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. His official twitter handle can be searched by @DrRPNishank.
Students, Union HRD Minister @DrRPNishank will be going LIVE via a webinar to answer your queries on physical & mental fitness. Ask him your questions in the comments below using #FitIndiaTalks now! Watch him LIVE on his Twitter & FB pages (@DrRPNishank) When: 28 June | 11 AM, MHRD tweeted.
Students, Union HRD Minister @DrRPNishank will be going LIVE via a webinar to answer your queries on physical & mental fitness. Ask him your questions in the comments below using #FitIndiaTalks now!
Watch him LIVE on his Twitter & FB pages (@DrRPNishank)
When: 28 June | 11 AM pic.twitter.com/jM0GQBeIef Ministry of HRD (@HRDMinistry) June 23, 2020
HRD minister has earlier hosted two webinars during the lockdown period to interact with the students and answer their queries regarding their exams and results.
(Natural News) The Nazi Brownshirts rose to power in much the same way that Antifa and Black Lives Matter are rising to power today. The Browshirts used violence against their political opponents, demanding submission, while using media propaganda to embellish their crusade.
In cities across the U.S., the Left is using violence to get what they want, rioting, looting and threatening those who do not agree with them. To fully rise to power, the anarchist storm troopers of today need a charismatic and domineering leader someone who will endorse their street mob violence, allowing it to dominate political opponents, while forcing everyone to kneel.
And all around the country, democratic mayors and governors are kowtowing to the demands of the leftist mob, as Antifa and Black Lives Matter become a political tool of destruction an army of modern day Nazi Brownshirts that can terrorize the country and suspend the rule of law.
The violence of Antifa, BLM and the radical Left is being used by the Democratic party to take power and submit their political opposition
When Adolf Hitler rose to power, he seized upon the opportunity to use a violent political force to his advantage. Hitler used the Storm Troopers and Protection Squads to terrorize and intimidate political opponents. Todays Antifa and Black Lives Matter brigades now roam US cities intimidating and terrorizing their political opponents. Theyve even taken over an entire police precinct in Seattle and are intimidating the city into submission.
The Left currently seeks racial purification and conquest, demanding reparations from white people, while shaming an entire race for its sins. If you do not agree with the Left that white people are inherently guilty of white supremacy and white privilege, you are their enemy; your silence is deemed an act of violence against them. If you dont agree, they will publicly humiliate you, destroy your business, censor you off the internet, vandalize your property and threaten your very life. Adolf Hitler sought racial purification and conquest as well, demanding compliance to his ideas of racial justice in similar ways. If you do not agree with Antifa and Black Lives Matter, you can be beaten in the streets. In much the same way, the Storm troopers of Nazi Germany were allowed to arbitrarily beat or kill persons they deemed to be opponents.
Once Hitler took power, the SA and Gestapo agents went to the homes of their opposition. Anyone who spoke out about the Nazi party was targeted and murdered. Today, Antifa and BLM go to the homes of mayors and demand they submit. If these mayors speak out against the violence, they are threatened further. The continued calls to defund the police and abolish law enforcement would eliminate the rule of law and allow Antifa and BLM to continue to seize public property and set up autonomous zones where they can persecute their political enemies and make demands.
If todays terrorists continue to get away with their violence, if they continue to be endorsed by the Democratic party, they will ultimately become the only legal political party in America. By the summer of 1933, the Nazi party had intimidated and assassinated their opposition so they could become the only legal political party in Germany. Democracy died there in Germany and could falter in America if the anarchist leftist mob is not stopped in their tracks.
Eventually SS chief Heinrich Himmler gained control over the regular (nonparty) police. Today, leftists want to gain control over the police. The police in Germany were then nationalized under Himmler and centralized into a new agency called the Gestapo. As they gained power, they targeted political opponents who did not conform to the new policies of the Nazi regime.
If the mob continues to obtain power by forcing democrats to submit to its violence, more people will live in fear and submit, turning in their fellow citizens to the mob and the authorities that are slowly being taken over. In Germany, the citizens were terrorized to the point of denouncing their fellow citizens for not following along with the Nazi party; the Jewish and non-Jewish were turned in to the police.
On March 20, 1933, the SS established their first camp in an abandoned munitions factory in southwestern Germany. In America, the violent leftist mob took over their first territory on June 2020. These terrorists cordoned off six city blocks in Seattle, took over a police precinct, and began making demands to the mayor and the city.
The first concentration camp in Germany, the Dachau concentration camp, became the model for a vast system of SS-managed camps. If Antifa and BLM continue to get their way inside cities, then they will be able to set up the infrastructure to facilitate modern day concentration camps, where they can intimidate their political opponents, extort, threaten and kill them. As they take over police precincts, they become modern day Brownshirts, demanding obedience. As the democrat party permits this abuse and condones Antifa and BLM behavior, they embellish their terrorism and initiate a modern day version of a political party rising to power by use of violence.
Americans must not kneel to this violent uprising and political intimidation. Americans must prevail with powerful resolve, understanding history, and respecting the rule of law and the right of due process.
Sources include:
Encyclopedia.USHMM.org
NaturalNews.com
NaturalNews.com
TheGuardian.com
NaturalNews.com
NaturalNews.com
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: U.S. Park Police keeps protesters away after they attempted to pull down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House on June 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. Protests continue around the country over the deaths of African Americans while in police custody.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
The US Secret Service asked reporters to leave the White House on Monday night, CNN reported.
CNN's Kaitlan Collins said that no reason was provided.
"It's actually incredibly unusual," she said.
The Secret Service gave a statement to Yahoo News' Hunter Walker, saying that "four members of the media were misdirected by the Secret Service to leave the White House grounds. The members of the press were rerouted to exits on the south side of the complex for their own safety."
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Reporters were asked to leave the grounds of the White House on Monday night after police earlier pushed back protesters at nearby Lafayette Square, CNN reported.
The US Secret Service did not give journalists a reason for the request, according to CNN's Kaitlan Collins.
"It's actually incredibly unusual," she told CNN host Anderson Cooper. "That is so rare," Collins continued, adding that "I don't think that's ever happened" since she began covering the White House.
The Secret Service gave a statement to Yahoo News' Hunter Walker, saying that "four members of the media were misdirected by the Secret Service to leave the White House grounds. The members of the press were rerouted to exits on the south side of the complex for their own safety."
Before the evacuation, some protesters attempted to use ropes to pull down a statue of former US President Andrew Jackson, sparking a confrontation with US Park Police and DC, who used batons and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
One sign at the protest declared the area the "Black House Autonomous Zone," a reference to a protest site in Seattle.
Story continues
"Protesters threw things at police as they retreated, and officers shoved people in the melee," The Washington Post reported.
A White House spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment.
On Twitter, President Donald Trump lamented "the disgraceful vandalism, in Lafayette Park, of the magnificent Statue of Andrew Jackson."
That appeared to be a reference to the fact someone wrote "killer" on the statue.
Among other things, Jackson was responsible for the "Trail of Tears," when tens of thousands of indigenous people were forcibly removed from their land and marched west of the Mississippi River to make way for white settlers. Thousands died along the way.
"Jacksonian Democracy... was about the extension of white supremacy across the North American continent," historian Anthony Wallace wrote in a book about the seventh US president, as noted by Vox.
Trump has compared himself to Jackson, who he claims "had a big heart."
Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com
Read the original article on Business Insider
Yemens Houthi rebels fired a volley of missiles at Saudi Arabia on Tuesday with one reaching as far as the Saudi capital, as violence flared across the country following the expiry last month of a ceasefire brokered during the coronavirus pandemic.
Two large explosions sounded above Riyadh at dawn, while smoke billowed into the sky during the barrage, which the Houthis claimed had pounded the Saudi defence ministry and a military base.
The Saudi-led military coalition, which has fought the Iran-backed Houthis for more than five years in support of Yemens recognised government, said it had shot down one missile, but made no reference to targets. The coalition also said it shot down three missiles headed towards Najran and Jizan along with a number of drones.
Dominic Raab, the UK foreign secretary, condemned the attacks, saying they cast further doubt on [Houthi] claims to want peace.
Violence has soared in Yemen since the expiry of a six-week ceasefire, which was prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, between Gulf-backed government forces and the Houthis.
The Houthis have repeatedly fired on Saudi Arabia during the conflict, but they had not targeted Riyadh since late March, when Saudi Arabia said it shot down a missile and two residents were injured by falling debris in the capital.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech that on Tuesday the group had fired several missiles and drones targeting military headquarters and centres in Riyadh, including the defence ministry and King Salman airbase. Attacks were also launched against military sites in the southern Saudi cities of Najran and Jizan, the Houthis said.
Colonel Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, called the attack on Riyadh a deliberate hostile action designed to target civilians.
Mr Raab said that, with more than 1 million Yemenis believed to have contracted the coronavirus, it was now more vital than ever that the Houthis cease their hostilities and allow the UN-led humanitarian response to get on with saving Yemeni lives.
Fighting has also erupted in the south of Yemen involving anti-Houthi factions once allied to the Gulf coalition, further deepening the countrys woes.
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders said its trauma hospital in the southern port of Aden received more than 20 patients on Tuesday, injured during shelling in nearby Abyan province where clashes were ongoing between forces of the recognised government and its one-time ally, the southern separatists.
Riyadh tried to broker a truce between the two sides on Monday after southern separatists seized control of Yemens remote Socotra island over the weekend. After losing control, the Saudi-backed government condemned the action as a coup.
The Southern Transitional Council (STC), which declared self-rule in that part of Yemen in April, announced it had seized government facilities and military bases on the sparsely populated archipelago. Nicknamed the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, Socotra sits at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden on one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes.
The government, which is led by the president, Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, condemned the action as a full-fledged coup and accused STC forces of attacking government buildings in gang-style behaviour.
Socotras governor, Ramzi Mahroos, meanwhile accused coalition leaders Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates of turning a blind eye.
Members of the STC defended their actions, telling The Independent that it was government forces that had violated the ceasefire, in what they claimed was an irresponsible escalation.
Tribesmen in the neighbouring mainland province of Mahra, who are opposed to the separatist movement, said the STC and its Abu Dhabi backers were implementing their mission to sweep the south of the country.
Sources told Reuters that the STC had denied receiving Riyadhs attempted truce agreement. Saudi Arabia wants to prevent yet another fracture in Yemens increasingly complex war, which has been locked in military deadlock for years.
Socotra island: The Unesco-protected 'Jewel of Arabia' vanishing amid Yemens civil war
With only half the countrys health facilities still functioning, the country had already limped through the worst outbreak of cholera in modern history, before being hit by Covid-19.
Yemen has been ripped apart by fighting since late 2014 when the Houthi rebels seized control of the capital Sanaa, forcing the recognised government to flee.
Fearing Irans encroachment in the region, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi launched a bombing campaign to reinstate President Hadi in March 2015. Five years on, there is little hope of an end to a conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people and sparked what the UN calls the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.
PHOENIX, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) recently contributed $10,000 to assist the Navajo Nation in Arizona in its efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus. The funds will help the tribe purchase critical medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) that can help prevent the continued spread of COVID-19.
The Navajo Nation is home to the largest American Indian tribe in the U.S. and spans across four states, including Arizona. The reservation has one of the highest per-capita rates of COVID-19 infections in the country, with more than 4,000 confirmed cases in Arizona. Funds provided by BCBSAZ will directly benefit the Navajo Nation's Dikos Ntsaaigii-19 (COVID-19) relief efforts as tribal leaders continue working to reduce infection rates.
"The Navajo Nation has some of the most immediate COVID-related health needs in Arizona," said Pam Kehaly, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. "We stand alongside our strong tribal communities and their leaders in the fight against COVID-19."
"The Navajo Nation is grateful to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona for their donation of more than $10,000 in funding and personal protective equipment to our COVID-19 response efforts," said 24th Navajo Nation Council Speaker Seth Damon. "With the help of our partners, the Navajo Nation has been able to consistently expand the scope of testing and donation distribution for our most remote members of our communities. We continue to work tirelessly to flatten the curve of the coronavirus, which is still very much a part of our reality."
BCBSAZ has also donated 4,000 masks that will be distributed to shoppers at Bashas' and Bashas' Dine Market locations on the Navajo reservation, as well as masks to be used as needed by employees and critical members of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA). The ITCA is a nonprofit organization comprised of leaders from Arizona's Indian tribal governments that advocate for self-reliance through public policy development.
For more information about how BCBSAZ is helping communities throughout Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit azblue.com/coronavirus.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is committed to helping Arizonans get healthier faster and stay healthier longer. With a focus on connecting people with the care they need, BCBSAZ offers health insurance and related services to more than 1.7 million customers. Through advanced clinical programs and community outreach, BCBSAZ is inspiring health in Arizona. BCBSAZ, a not-for-profit company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The company, and its subsidiaries, employ more than 2,400 people in its Phoenix, Chandler, Flagstaff, and Tucson offices. To learn more, visit azblue.com.
SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Related Links
http://www.azblue.com
On the day of Luxembourg's National Celebrations, a new video has been shared on Social Media
"The country is one of the founding members of the EU and home to part of the European institutions." says the post on Twitter before an animation of Luxembourg's most recognizable places and exports.
Starflamedia/iStockBy GIO BENITEZ, AMANDA MAILE and MINA KAJI, ABC News
(LOS ANGELES) -- A new screening procedure will monitor temperatures of passengers traveling to and from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), making the program the first of its kind in the United States.
LAX launched the Terminal Wellness Project -- a new pilot program that utilizes three types of thermal camera technology to screen arriving and departing passengers at certain locations.
"These different types of technologies will be able to identify in groups of people as opposed to one-on-one individually what their temperature is, and identify those passengers who have an enhanced body temperature," Justin Erbacci, interim CEO of LAX said in an interview with Gio Benitez, ABC News transportation correspondent.
If a camera reveals a passenger has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, they will be asked to undergo a second screening. However, should a second screening show their temperature is still above the limit, that passenger wont be told they cant fly.
"We will not prevent anyone from flying," Erbacci said. "But during this program, we're just testing the technology and we're testing the processes to see how this works."
In addition, travelers on arriving international flights who have a high temperature may be referred to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff on site.
While these temperature checks are currently voluntary, Erbacci said LAX is considering making the technology permanent.
"If this pilot is successful, as we believe it will be, then what we would do next is begin working with the airlines to understand how we handle people who do have elevated temperatures such that we would then work out how to stop them from either entering the terminal or to prevent them from getting on the airplane," Erbacci said.
While LAX is the first U.S. airport to deploy this technology, similar programs are already in place at airports across the globe.
Heathrow International Airport in London conducted a similar trial in May that utilized thermal camera technology to take passengers' temperatures.
Incheon International Airport in Seoul began conducting temperature screenings for all departing passengers in early March.
Recently, the Canadian government announced it would require temperature screenings for all international and domestic passengers.
Frontier Airlines is currently the only U.S. airline that has implemented temperature screenings for all passengers and employees prior to boarding.
Starting June 1, the carrier said it will use touchless thermometers and those with a temperature 100.4 degrees or higher will be denied boarding in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19. Frontier said if a passenger's temperature exceeds that number and flight departure time allows, customers will be "given time to rest" and receive a second temperature check.
Major U.S. airlines called for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct temperature screenings at U.S. airports in May in order to "add an extra layer of protection" for both passengers and employees, according to Airlines for America (A4A), an industry trade organization.
TSA said that "no decision has been made regarding specific health screening measures at airports," and that it continues to "rely on the health expertise of HHS and the CDC."
Democratic lawmakers have expressed doubts that the administration has the power to require temperature checks.
"I cannot find any law that gives TSA the authority to perform temperature checks as reported," Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security Bennie Thompson said. "The health and safety of our Transportation Security Officers have already been put at great risk the past few months -- the Administration should not put these frontline workers in further danger in order to provide passengers a potential false sense of safety."
Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
(Natural News) Because a growing number of Americans simply do not trust the wishy-washy advice he continues to dispense, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is convinced that there is some kind of anti-science bias conspiracy afoot.
That the general public is even questioning Faucis shift from no masks necessary to everyone should wear a mask, among other shifty advice, automatically means that Americans hate science and refuse to trust those who apparently know everything there is to know about it.
One of the problems we face in the United States is that, unfortunately, there is a combination of an anti-science bias that people are for reasons that sometimes are, you know, inconceivable and not understandable they just dont believe science and they dont believe authority, Fauci contends.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Learning Curve podcast, which is produced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Fauci explained how it frustrates him to see many Americans tuning out what he has to say. In his view, people should listen to him because of his position.
So, when they see someone up in the White House, which has an air of authority to it, whos talking about science, that there are some people who just dont believe that and thats unfortunate because, you know, science is truth, Fauci believes.
Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks to Dr. Paul Cottrell about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), among other pertinent topics:
Fauci is also frustrated with anti-vaxxers because the data supposedly proves that all vaccines are safe and effective
Another thing that really bothers Fauci is the fact that more and more Americans distrust the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Since there has never been a single double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing any vaccine to an inert injection, there is simply no concrete evidence that vaccines work at all but Fauci contends otherwise.
Its amazing sometimes the denial there is, he claims. Its the same thing that gets people who are anti-vaxxers, who dont want people to get vaccinated, even though the data clearly indicate the safety of vaccines. Thats really a problem.
Fauci failed to specify the data he was speaking of, presumably because it is mere fiction invented by the government as part of the illusion of scientific authority. The irony of this could not have gone unnoticed by the programs more observant listeners.
At the end of the day, Fauci is really just lashing out because he realizes that his perceived authority is also an illusion. If Americans reject what he has to say and do their own thing, then he is completely powerless and effectively useless, which seems to be the thing with which he is now having to come to terms.
Fauci is also obviously bitter that President Trump sidelined him during the latter part of the plandemic, ending the once-daily briefings that apparently made Fauci feel like someone important on the world stage. This would explain Faucis answer to the question as to whether or not he would be attending Trumps first post-pandemic rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Im in a high-risk category, the 79-year-old told his audience about his decision not to attend the Trump rally. Personally, I would not. Of course not.
As for the Trump rally that Fauci is so concerned about, the Trump campaign indicated before the event that all rally-goers would be given face masks and hand sanitizer if they wanted to use it, along with water bottles to stay hydrated in the Oklahoma heat.
More of the latest news about the deception coming from health authorities concerning the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at Pandemic.news.
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
NaturalNews.com
"That provision in our contract, more so than anything else, is an incentive not to sell," Webb said. "And to behave properly. You've got a million and a half dollars into a property and somebody gets a dividend check and goes to [Cabo San Lucas] and doesn't come back, you want to at least disincentivize that kind of behavior."
The Bright Armenia Party (LHK) seemed reluctant on Tuesday to join the other parliamentary opposition group in trying to scuttle the ruling political teams efforts to replace three of the nine members of the countrys Constitutional Court.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians My Step bloc pushed relevant constitutional changes through the National Assembly during an emergency session held on Monday. All opposition lawmakers representing the LHK and the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) boycotted the session in protest against the amendments.
The BHK condemned the amendments as unconstitutional. It said the parliamentary majoritys refusal to send them to the Constitutional Court for examination before passing them in the final reading also violated the Armenian constitution.
The party led by embattled businessman Gagik Tsarukian went on to announce that it will try to challenge the legality of the amendments in the Constitutional Court.
Under Armenian law, appeals to the court have to be signed by at least 27 members of the 132-seat parliament. The BHK controls only 25 seats, meaning that it needs the LHKs backing for such a move. Consequently, the BHK asked LHK parliamentarians to join the court challenge.
A senior BHK figure, Naira Zohrabian, said on Tuesday that her party is now awaiting the LHKs response. They are having internal discussions and will respond to us in due course and in an appropriate manner, Zohrabian told RFE/RLs Armenian service.
LHK leader Edmon Marukian said afterwards that his party is still discussing the matter and will hold another leadership meeting late in the evening. He said it will announce its final decision on Wednesday.
Marukian and another senior LHK member suggested on Monday that Armenian laws do not allow parliamentarians to ask the Constitutional Court to assess the legality of constitutional changes. Marukian said such an appeal should be filed instead by President Armen Sarkissian.
Zohrabian insisted in this regard that very serious legal experts believe the parliamentary opposition can appeal to the Constitutional Court.
We believe that what happened in the parliament yesterday was an attempted constitutional coup, said Zohrabian. We believe that the country has entered a very bad period a period of repressions and legal anarchy.
Other opposition groups, which are not represented in the current parliament, also urged the LHK to join the BHK initiative. One of them, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians administration of violating the constitution in a bid to gain control over Armenias highest court.
Pashinian and his bloc have been locked in a bitter standoff with the Constitution Court for the past year. They have accused the courts chairman, Hrayr Tovmasian, and six other judges of being linked to the countrys corrupt former leadership.
Pashinian hailed the passage of the constitutional changes late on Monday. He said he is proud of our political team which controls at least 88 parliament seats.
When the most massive stars die, they collapse under their own gravity and leave behind black holes; when stars that are a bit less massive die, they explode in supernovas and leave behind dense, dead remnants of stars called neutron stars. For decades, astronomers have been puzzled by a gap that lies between neutron stars and black holes: the heaviest known neutron star is no more than 2.5 times the mass of our sun, or 2.5 solar masses, and the lightest known black hole is about 5 solar masses. The question remained: does anything lie in this so-called mass gap?
Now, in a new study from the National Science Foundation's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the Virgo detector in Europe, scientists have announced the discovery of an object of 2.6 solar masses, placing it firmly in the mass gap. The object was found on August 14, 2019, as it merged with a black hole of 23 solar masses, generating a splash of gravitational waves detected back on Earth by LIGO and Virgo. A paper about the detection is being published today, June 23, in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
"We've been waiting decades to solve this mystery" says co-author Vicky Kalogera, a professor at Northwestern University. "We don't know if this object is the heaviest known neutron star, or the lightest known black hole, but either way it breaks a record."
"This is going to change how scientists talk about neutron stars and black holes," says co-author Patrick Brady, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration spokesperson. "The mass gap may in fact not exist at all but may have been due to limitations in observational capabilities. Time and more observations will tell."
The cosmic merger described in the study, an event dubbed GW190814, resulted in a final black hole about 25 times the mass of the sun (some of the merged mass was converted to a blast of energy in the form of gravitational waves). The newly formed black hole lies about 800 million light-years away from Earth.
Before the two objects merged, their masses differed by a factor of 9, making this the most extreme mass ratio known for a gravitational-wave event. Another recently reported LIGO-Virgo event, called GW190412, occurred between two black holes with a mass ratio of about 4:1.
"It's a challenge for current theoretical models to form merging pairs of compact objects with such a large mass ratio in which the low-mass partner resides in the mass gap. This discovery implies these events occur much more often than we predicted, making this a really intriguing low-mass object," explains Kalogera. "The mystery object may be a neutron star merging with a black hole, an exciting possibility expected theoretically but not yet confirmed observationally. However, at 2.6 times the mass of our sun, it exceeds modern predictions for the maximum mass of neutron stars, and may instead be the lightest black hole ever detected."
When the LIGO and Virgo scientists spotted this merger, they immediately sent out an alert to the astronomical community. Dozens of ground- and space-based telescopes followed up in search of light waves generated in the event, but none picked up any signals. So far, such light counterparts to gravitational-wave signals have been seen only once, in an event called GW170817. That event, discovered by the LIGO-Virgo network in August of 2017, involved a fiery collision between two neutron stars that was subsequently witnessed by dozens of telescopes on Earth and in space. Neutron star collisions are messy affairs with matter flung outward in all directions and are thus expected to shine with light. Conversely, black hole mergers, in most circumstances, are thought not to produce light.
According to the LIGO and Virgo scientists, the August 2019 event was not seen by light-based telescopes for a few possible reasons. First, this event was six times farther away than the merger observed in 2017, making it harder to pick up any light signals. Secondly, if the collision involved two black holes, it likely would have not shone with any light. Thirdly, if the object was in fact a neutron star, its 9-fold more massive black-hole partner might have swallowed it whole; a neutron star consumed whole by a black hole would not give off any light.
"I think of Pac-Man eating a little dot," says Kalogera. "When the masses are highly asymmetric, the smaller neutron star can be eaten in one bite."
How will researchers ever know if the mystery object was a neutron star or a black hole? Future observations with LIGO, Virgo, and possibly other telescopes may catch similar events that would help reveal whether additional objects exist in the mass gap.
"This is the first glimpse of what could be a whole new population of compact binary objects," says Charlie Hoy, a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and a graduate student at Cardiff University. "What is really exciting is that this is just the start. As the detectors get more and more sensitive, we will observe even more of these signals, and we will be able to pinpoint the populations of neutron stars and black holes in the universe."
"The mass gap has been an interesting puzzle for decades, and now we've detected an object that fits just inside it," says Pedro Marronetti, program director for gravitational physics at the National Science Foundation (NSF). "That cannot be explained without defying our understanding of extremely dense matter or what we know about the evolution of stars. This observation is yet another example of the transformative potential of the field of gravitational-wave astronomy, which brings novel insights with every new detection."
###
Webinar Series
For those wishing for a deeper dive into these LIGO-Virgo results and other research from the latest observing run, the team has scheduled a webinar intended for a scientific audience. Called the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Webinar Series, this will be the first in a series of webinars discussing the gravitational-wave network's results in-depth. The one-hour Zoom webinar will be on June 25 at 14:00 Universal Time Coordinated (7:00am Pacific Daylight Time; 10:00am Eastern Daylight Time; 16:00 Central European Summer Time; 23:00 Japan Standard Time).
To register, visit: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3315925939436/WN_rsJximZ8R36WqZnMH16IrA
The Zoom webinar will also be live streamed and a recording will be available upon request.
Additional information about the gravitational-wave observatories:
LIGO is funded by the NSF and operated by Caltech and MIT, which conceived of LIGO and lead the project. Financial support for the Advanced LIGO project was led by the NSF with Germany (Max Planck Society), the U.K. (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and Australia (Australian Research Council-OzGrav) making significant commitments and contributions to the project. Approximately 1,300 scientists from around the world participate in the effort through the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration. A list of additional partners is available at https://my.ligo.org/census.php.
The Virgo Collaboration is currently composed of approximately 550 members from 106 institutes in 12 different countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) hosts the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy, and is funded by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy, and Nikhef in the Netherlands. A list of the Virgo Collaboration groups can be found at http://public.virgo-gw.eu/the-virgo-collaboration/. More information is available on the Virgo website at http://www.virgo-gw.eu.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Cyberattacks from China are up 200 per cent in June as compared to May
PSUs are the prime targets for Chinese hackers
Indian agencies have alerted about possible large cyberattack from the Chinese army
The deadly fight between the Chinese and Indian military forces at the Galwan Valley has resulted in 200 per cent increase in cyberattacks from China towards India. Hacker groups in China are targeting Indian institutions like ministries, large businesses, and media organisations for attacks on their IT infrastructure.
As per Cyfirma, a cyber threat intelligence firm, the conversation in the dark web expressing interest to hack Indian assets has increased substantially, and attacks are nearly up 200 per cent since the beginning of June.
That's not all. India now tops the list of countries that are on the radar of Chinese hackers. "Since the border conflict at Ladakh, we are witnessing the Chinese hackers' communities becoming even more active. Typically, the US, Japan, Canada and Australia are the prime targets for Chinese hackers. But in the last six days, India has taken a lead whereby hackers are identifying assets, and going after them," says Kumar Ritesh, founder and CEO, Cyfirma.
ALSO READ: Notorious Chinese hackers attack Indian entities; Defence Ministry, Jio, Airtel, Cipla, L&T top targets
The nature of Chinese attacks is also getting sophisticated. For instance, if the hackers were defacing websites of these institutions earlier, they are now trying to exfiltrate data from servers that pose national security risks. "Imagine the impact of sensitive data leaks from SBI, Air India or Nuclear Power Corporation which are now the target entities for Chinese hackers," says Ritesh.
According to Cyfirma, a host of companies like SBI, ICICI Bank, Air India, LIC, Nuclear Power Corporation, Indian Oil, Reliance Jio, Amul, Karbonn Mobiles, HAL, Hero MotoCorp, Dabur, SAIL, Wipro, and others are being targeted by Chinese hackers.
Singapore-based Cyfirma noted that till about last week, the number of attacks was far lower and concentrated around just a few companies. But in just six days to June 23, the amount of attacks has grown manifold covering a wide variety of companies, especially more public sector units (PSUs). The hackers have also targeted central government ministries like ministry of foreign affairs, ministry of defence, and ministry of information and broadcasting with a motive of naming and shaming them.
Experts believe that the intensity of attack will remain high in the days to come. For instance, a June 21 advisory from central agency CERT-In says that the two million Indians are at the risk of cyberattacks. These individuals would be subjected to phishing campaigns from malicious actors who would use COVID-19 bait for their attacks. In addition, the Indian security agencies have alerted about a possible cyberattack from the Chinese army.
ALSO READ: China-sponsored hacker groups could target Indian businesses, media, govt
Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups are one of the largest in the world. They first started in 1990s and have grown bigger over the years. Chinese threat actors supported by the state government includes scientists and hacktivists. These groups are made up of intelligence operatives and patriotic hackers.
"The telemetry shows more targets have been identified, the scale has expanded, and more compromised IP (internet protocol) addresses have been discussed as vulnerabilities for technical exploits," says a June 23 note from Cyfirma. The firm has analysed that these attacks are attributable to Chinese hacking groups 'Gothic Panda' and 'Stone Panda' who have close links with the Chinese government. Gothic Panda specialises in targeting strategic sector; Stone Panda, on the other hand, has expertise in stealing trade secrets and supply chain information.
"Our research has uncovered a clear set of IOC [indicators of compromise] which are predominately used for hosting Command and Control centre, malware, and malware hashes...We strongly recommend CERT-IN to send out a public advisory to all given the scale of the potential cyberattacks. The impacted organisations should monitor and block these IP addresses and hashes immediately," Cyfirma note says.
ALSO READ: Ageing devices biggest threat to cybersecurity as work from home becomes norm
She spoke out on social media earlier on Monday in defense of her Riverdale costars after Cole Sprouse, Lili Reinhart, Vanessa Morgan and KJ Apa after were accused of sexual misconduct by anonymous Twitter users.
Camila Mendes was spotted out in Los Angeles the same day as she picked up a cup of coffee.
The 25-year-old actress rocked a simple all-black ensemble while on the go.
On the move: Camila Mendes, 25, was spotted out in LA getting a coffee on the same day she defended her Riverdale costars against multiple anonymous accusations of sexual misconduct, which she claimed were false
Camila had on a black graphic T-shirt which she tucked into her high-waisted black jeans.
She added a splash of color with white Reebok sandals and wore a mask decorated with daisies to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The 5ft2in Palm Springs actress wore a black leather handbag over one shoulder and had her black cat-eye sunglasses perched over her long raven locks.
On social media, the actress said it was 'sickening' and 'incredibly destructive to falsely accuse people of sexual assault' in response to allegations made against multiple Riverdale actors.
Back in black: Camila wore a black graphic T-shirt tucked into her high-waisted black jeans. She added a splash of color with white Reebok sandals and wore a mask covered with daisies
Camila's statement in full said: 'It's incredibly destructive to falsely accuse people of sexual assault. Whatever point this person was trying to make about how quickly people believe what they read, it was not worth damaging the integrity of the me too movement.
'It's sickening and doesn't prove anything except that there are twisted people in this world who have no concern for the consequences of their harmful actions,' she continued.
Camila concluded: 'Sending love to my castmates who had to deal with this nonsense. love you guys.'
Accusations: On social media, the actress said it was 'sickening' and 'incredibly destructive to falsely accuse people of sexual assault' in response to allegations made against multiple Riverdale actors
College days: One of the anonymous accusers, a user calling themself Victoria, claimed that Cole Sprouse had sexually assault them at a party in 2013 at New York University, where he was then a student
Quite a change: Ironically, earlier this month another Twitter user told a flattering story about another NYU party at which Sprouse allegedly slapped another man for groping a woman
Statement: Cole and Lili denied sexual assault allegations made against them and their Riverdale co-stars Vanessa Morgan and KJ Apa by several anonymous Twitter users on Sunday
One of the anonymous accusers, a user calling themself Victoria, claimed that Cole Sprouse had sexually assault them at a party in 2013 at New York University, where he was then a student.
Ironically, earlier this month another Twitter user told a flattering story about another NYU party at which Sprouse allegedly slapped another man for groping a woman.
Cole denied the allegations in a series of tweets soon after the accusations were made, and he said he and his costar Lili Reinhart, who was accused of sexual misconduct by another anonymous Twitter account, were looking into legal action.
The actor, 27, wrote: 'Earlier today myself and three other cast mates were falsely accused of sexual offense by anonymous accounts on twitter. I take these accusations very seriously, and will be working with the right teams to get to the root of it.
'False accusations do tremendous damage to victims of actual assault. Furthermore, I would never silence anybody. I encourage that people look into the accusations themselves, as the events detailed were factually untrue,' he continued
'This seems to be the latest claim in a series of incidents seeking to baselessly cancel cast mates and me.'
Speaking out: Cole wrote: 'False accusations do tremendous damage to victims of actual assault. Futhermore, I would never silence anybody. I encourage that people look into the accusations themselves, as the events detailed were factually untrue;' KJ, Camila, Cole, Lili and Vanessa pictured on Riverdale
New home: Prior to the allegations, the publication Dirt reported that Camila had purchased a lovely yet modest (by celebrity standards) home in LA's popular neighborhood Silver Lake
Prior to the allegations, the publication Dirt reported that Camila had purchased a lovely yet modest (by celebrity standards) home in Los Angeles' hipster-friendly neighborhood Silver Lake.
The .17-acre property, which she purchased for $1.9 million, was constructed in 1924 and is hidden away from the street by gates and large ficus plants.
The home's kitchen opens out onto a balcony with gorgeous views of both Century City and the Hollywood sign.
Nurses moved their children and didn't see them for up to eight weeks during the Covid-19 outbreak, the Oireachtas committee on the virus has heard.
Phil Ni Sheaghda, General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), told the committee nurses made "an extraordinary sacrifice" in order to go to work at the height of the outbreak.
Ms Ni Sheaghdha told the committee nurses were "meeting resistance" to their children returning to childcare providers. She said the public needed to be informed that children of healthcare workers are not infectious and better testing for nurses was needed.
Ahead of the appearance at the committee, the INMO today released the finding of a survey it carried out, which showed that:
62% of nurses have taken annual leave to care for children
22% are using paid childminders
10% are using grandparents
69% did not have a partner available to provide childcare - due to being a single parent or their partner is a frontline worker
The INMO has recommended that any expenses on childcare be reimbursed and annual leave be compensated as well as priority access to childcare for frontline workers.
Ms Ni Sheaghda said nurses now "feel abandoned" and were taking care of children after long overnight shifts. She said that fatigue was a "huge issue" and impacted infection controls in healthcare settings.
"There has rightly been applause and praise for frontline healthcare workers over the past three months. Yet when the applause dies down, many will be left out of pocket and without any leave. Our members say they feel abandoned.
We have long sought a solution to the childcare problem facing our members. They want to do their jobs, while also knowing that their children are being looked after. This is not an unreasonable demand.
Nobody doubts that childcare in a pandemic is a difficult issue, but so far that difficulty has landed on those who are taking the greatest risks during the pandemic.
One in ten Covid cases in this country are nurses. We must support them better.
Ms Ni Sheaghda told the committee that staffing levels were further affected by both travel restrictions and a world-high infection rate among healthcare workers.
"Last year 1,819 of the nurses who registered in Ireland were from non-EU countries, predominantly the Philippines and India. Given the travel restrictions imposed since Covid-19, they are obviously not in a position to travel and help us to maintain staffing in our health service.
"The second major issue that has affected staffing levels has been the infection rate among healthcare workers. At the moment Ireland is top of the league, with the highest infection rate of healthcare workers globally. That is an absolute scandal."
Ms Ni Sheaghda said that the infection rate was attributable to a lack of PPE. She said that one nurse had been sent home for wearing a mask in the early days of the outbreak due to it not being HSE policy to wear one.
Later the committee heard that creche facilities may have to reduce capacity because newer staff will not be covered by the government's Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.
The Association of Childhood Professionals told the committee that extra staff would be needed to maintain adult-to-children ratios in the new "play pod" models but without the subsidy, capacity would be reduced. The association's chair Marian Quinn told the committee this would cause "sustainability issues" in the sector.
"If their staff are not eligible under the wage subsidy scheme the providers will have to find the full level of funding to be able to pay the wages for those staff members. Effectively, their employers will have to pay the full wage.
"All those things are going to add to the providers' financial outlay while there will be limitations on their incomes because they will not come back with 100% capacity for children. We will only see over time how that capacity will increase across the summer. Without a doubt, there will be sustainability issues."
Kremlin Denies Eyeing Territorial Claims After Putin's Comments In Documentary
By RFE/RL's Russian Service June 22, 2020
MOSCOW -- The Kremlin has denied it has any territorial claims on former Soviet republics after President Vladimir Putin appeared to question the redrawn borders of Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union.
"No, Russia does not have territorial claims against its neighbors," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on June 22.
Peskov was responding to a question about Putin's statement during the documentary "Russia. Kremlin. Putin." that some republics were able to leave the Soviet Union with "gifts" during the country's disintegration in 1991.
In the documentary, which aired on June 21, Putin did not say exactly which of 14 republics other than the Russian Federation "took" what he called "Russia's traditionally historic territories," stressing that "when the Soviet Union was created, the right to quit the Union was written in the agreement, but the procedure was not outlined."
Putin also said that Moscow's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 was "a democratic choice of the peninsula's population."
"Crimea has always been ours. Even from the judicial point of view," Putin said.
Russia's takeover of Crimea in February-March 2014 and subsequent support of pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine in a conflict that has killed some 13,200 people have strained Moscow-Kyiv relations, sparking concerns among other former Soviet republics, especially Belarus and Kazakhstan, which have long borders with Russia and a significant ethnic-Russian population residing in the areas close to the borders.
"[Putin] talked about previous systemic mistakes in the constitution that failed to envision a whole number of situations, developments which could have negative consequences for our state," Peskov said, though he refused to comment on Putin's use of the phrase "gifts."
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-denies-eyeing -territorial-claims-after-putin-s -comments-in-documentary/30684797.html
Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Strict observance of COVID-19 safety protocols took centre stage yesterday when senior high schools (SHSs) reopened for final year and second-year Gold Track students.
In a number of schools that the Daily Graphic visited across the country, it observed that all the protocols from the no mask, no entry, checking of temperature and placement of Veronica buckets to enable regular handwashing, were activated at the entrances of all campuses as students arrived.
Teachers were not left out in the observance of the protocols.
As early as 7 a.m. when the Daily Graphic team began their rounds, students had started arriving and by noon, most of them had reported, ready to go through the rest of the academic year to complete their programmes.
Guidelines
The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, told Daily Graphics Severious Kale-Dery that guidelines on how the heads should manage the schools had been shared with them and they were expected to follow them to the letter.
Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said all the personal protective equipment (PPE) had been dispatched to all schools and it was the expectation that every school would receive its allocation by the close of today.
Under the guidelines, apart from the prescribed protocols,students observe social distancing of at least one metre and avoid handshaking or body contact as well as register their details, including phone numbers with school authorities.
Visits to schools
Some heads of the schools confirmed to the Daly Graphic that they had received the safety and hygiene products that the government dispatched to them.
The visit revealed that students had been given the nose masks, while there were Veronica buckets all around to facilitate handwashing.
There were thermometer guns at the entrance of some of the schools to take the temperature of the students before they were allowed to enter, as part of measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Bono Region
From Sunyani, Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah and Biiya Mukusah Ali report that many students had arrived.
At the Sunyani Senior High School, Twene Amanfo Senior High/Technical School, Sunyani and the Odomaseman Senior High School where the Daily Graphic visited, there were posters at the entrances of the schools, educating the students about protective measures against the disease such as Use hand sanitiser, Observe Social Distancing and No Handshake.
At the Sunyani SHS, the school had designated a registration desk at the entrance where the data of each student were being collected.
The Senior Housemaster for Special Duties of the school, Mr Abraham Opoku, told the Daily Graphic that administration had arranged to provide orientation on COVID-19 to the students before academic work commenced in a bid to allay fears and increase their knowledge of the preventive measures.
A final-year student at the Twene Amanfo SHTS, Master George Adjei, appealed to the government and the authorities of the school to sustain the various protocols in order to protect students from contracting the disease.
Ashanti Region
At the Kumasi High School, the Headmaster, Mr Bernard Hall-Baidoo, said Veronica buckets, hand sanitisers and tissue paper had been placed at vantage points for students to access, a claim that was verified by the Daily Graphics Emmanuel Baah.
Mr Hall-Baidoo noted that three nose masks and a hand sanitiser would be made available to each student after they had registered.
He said considering the numbers, social distancing protocols would be strictly enforced to ensure that students did not get crowded in their assigned dormitories.
From the Opoku Ware Senior High School (OWASS) in Kumasi, Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports that the school had taken delivery of all the logistics promised it by the government.
The Headmaster of the school, Rev. Fr Stephen Owusu Sekyere, said accommodation arrangement had been planned such that 15 students would be in one dormitory, while the large classrooms would take a maximum of 30 students and smaller ones, 25 students.
Upper East
From Bolgatanga, Vincent Amenuveve reports that some final-year students of the Bolgatanga SHS at Winkogo in the Talensi District and the Bolgatanga Girls SHS started arriving in their respective schools before 8 a.m. yesterday.
The Upper East Regional Director of the GES, Mr Augustine Ayirezang, expressed the hope that by today, the schools would start getting the items.
He attributed the delays in distribution to lack of transportation.
Western Region
From Sekondi-Takoradi, Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu reports that at the Sankor Senior High School in the Ahanta West District, students were in school early to clean up the compound in readiness for academic work.
At the Regional Education Directorate, the Officer in charge of SHS in the Western Region, Ms Betty Etroo, said schools management had been briefed to take their students through the protocols.
Volta Region
From Ho, Bright Selase Afavi observed that the students trickled in.
As of 8 a.m., only eight students had turned up at the OLA SHS, out of the expected 1,140 students, made up 702 final years and 444 Gold Track students. The situation was not different at the Mawuli SHS, which saw the resumption of 50 students instead of 1,625.
All students had been taken through registration procedures in preparation for the start of academic work.
The Headmistress of OLA SHS, Ms Regina A. M. Coffie, expressed the school's readiness to receive the students.
Northern Region
From Tamale, Mohammed Fugu reports that the students arrived to strict COVID-19 safety protocols.
Some students who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed satisfaction with the measures put in place by authorities to ensure their safety.
The Headmaster of the Tamale SHS, Rev. Edward Azika, said adequate measures had been put in place to protect the students, adding that all the students who are reporting are expected to go to the sick bay for their temperatures and records to be taken before they can report to their housemasters.
He also confirmed receiving all the PPE from the GES yesterday.
Upper West Region
Emmanuel Modey writes from Wa that a visit to three of such institutions in the region showed that all arrangements had been made for the resumption of academic work.
The institutions are the Wa SHS, Wa Senior High /Technical School and Wa Technical Institute.
According to the various authorities, they had taken delivery of the necessary equipment to ensure the safety of the students and staff.
Greater Accra
The Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tema, Mr Felix Nii Mensah Annang-La, toured some selected schools in the metropolis to monitor how the schools were observing the protocols, reports Benjamin Xornam Glover.
The MCE was accompanied by the Metropolitan Directors of Health and Education, Dr Sally Quartey, and Mrs Bernice Ofori, respectively as well as the Presiding Member of the TMA, Mr Joseph Korto.
At the Chemu Senior High Technical School, a day second cycle institution, the MCEs team observed that 36 classrooms had been allotted for the class of 25 students.
Also, arrangement had been made to provide students with a hot meal a day.
Students would, however, have to arrange their own means of transport to and from school daily.
Achimota School
From the Achimota SHS, Desmond Kofi Tawiah reports that many of the students arrived in the company of their parents, clad in nose masks.
The protocols were triggered at the entrance of the various houses, where the students had to wash their hands and had their temperatures taken before they were allowed to send their luggage in.
Parents were not allowed entry into the houses with their children as was usually done and the students had to help one another to carry their luggage to their dormitories.
At Accra Academy, Juliet Akyaa Safo observed that many students who had already reported for school were in their nose masks.
In an interview with some students, who were heading to the classroom, they said they had already been informed that active teaching and learning would begin the next day.
They said there were text messages from the school that notified them about the reopening, however, students who had underlying health conditions would be allowed to commute to school from home instead of the directive that said both boarding and day students must all be in the boarding house.
At Accra High School, a predominant day school, Ruby Delanyo Buafor reports that students had arrived in their numbers ready to resume lessons.
The Headmistress of the school, Rev. Mrs Lydia Anim-Nketia, said the school had procured some PPE although it had received some from the government.
The school has provided some 2,000 nose masks plus some thermometer guns in addition to what was brought in, we also bought some 11 Veronica buckets as we are yet to receive some from the government, she said.
Touching on how the school was going to ensure social distancing out of the classroom, she mentioned that teachers were tasked to monitor students, adding that, students go on break for an hour in batches together with teachers, so it is not crowded at the canteen.
She revealed that one classroom block had been set aside as an isolation centre and students who came from outside Accra would be admitted to the schools hostel.
For lessons, students have their names posted on the classroom doors for easy access and it will be strictly 25 in a class, Rev. Mrs Anim-Nketia said.
Source: Daily Graphic
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Featured Video
We found that misplaced fears are deflecting attention from other real concerns, resulting in missed opportunities for leveraging technology and online communication to address adolescent mental health problems.
With or without physical separation due to COVID-19, youth are using social media to connect and support each other, according to a report released today. Three leading researchers have just published Youth Connections for Wellbeing, an integrative review paper that illuminates how teens support each other through digital media during times of stress and isolation.
Leveraging their expertise across the fields of cultural anthropology, developmental psychology, and clinical psychology, scholars Mimi Ito, Candice Odgers, and Stephen Schueller discuss the potential of digital media to support youth wellbeing.
The work underlying the paper was completed prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The physical isolation that has resulted from shelter-in-place orders has yielded a seismic shift, making it even more critical to understand and leverage technology in a way that benefits youth.
The position paper summarizes current knowledge and redirects the conversation about adolescent social media use and wellbeing in three ways that are particularly relevant today:
1. Refocusing the debate over the relationship between youth social media use and wellbeing to reflect existing evidence, varied youth perspectives and backgrounds.
2. Identifying teen vulnerabilities and assets that may influence problematic and healthy social media engagement.
3. Suggesting opportunities where youth social engagement might mitigate vulnerabilities and leverage assets.
In the position paper Ito, Odgers, and Schueller highlight the need to move beyond the simple question of whether more time spent using social media causes mental health problems in adolescents. Instead, people should consider the specific forms of social media engagement that amplify or mitigate mental health risks for different adolescents. The team integrates findings from existing large-scale reviews, the voices of youth who have grown up on social media, and a systematic review of digital mental health apps available for youth.
The team finds that adolescents online risks often mirror offline vulnerabilities. They note that it is particularly important for messages, interventions, and strategies to be targeted and tailored to the most vulnerable youth and those underserved by traditional mental health services.
A number of relevant findings, opportunities, and benefits are outlined in the paper, including:
Evaluating claims about whether social media use is leading to greater vulnerability for mental health problems for youth, including harassment and bullying, sleep disruption, and exposure to idealized images that may lead to envy.
Identifying factors such as poverty, discrimination, instability, social marginalization, and other forms of stress as more significant influences on mental health than technology.
Revealing that Black and trans youth have reported that online sources of empowerment are sources of support and strategies for coping with and discussing racism and prejudice.
Offering evidence that extending parental support to online spaces can be more effective in supporting youth wellbeing than restricting technology access, which can create more tension between youth and parents.
Recognizing that youth experience positive social support in many online settings, which may reduce their feelings of social isolation and social anxiety, increase their social skills, and augments their offline friendships.
Sharing details on how online communication and affinity networks including fandoms, gaming communities, and creative communities can help marginalized young people benefit from unique friendships and forms of social support.
Highlighting evidence that young people are actively seeking support for mental health information online and using online tools to elicit socio-emotional support. Most teens and tweens say social media helps support social-emotional wellbeing, boosting confidence, and alleviating anxiety, loneliness, and depression.
Describing ways to provide online mental health support to youth, especially those who are difficult to reach through more traditional clinical supports.
For example, one student interviewed shared how they experienced a supportive community online, saying: I think a lot of my mutuals on Instagram, they're very open to being emotionally vulnerable on Instagram, so they'll actually say, I'm not doing fine. I like it because it's a very nice community, just spreading love whether it be through comments or someone will actually say through messages like, Are you okay?
A freshman adjusting to life away from family shared how online connections made her feel close to them: My mother just started using Messenger. I taught her how to use it. And so she texts me here and there. She's like, Good morning, or, How are you doing?, and then we FaceTime. Then my siblings, we use Instagram because that's where we're mostly at. We send each other videos and memes, and then we kind of comment just to make our day.
Given the rising rates of mental health concerns among young people in the U.S., Ito, Odgers, and Schueller encourage a sense of urgency in focusing research, investment, and public attention on how digital spaces and tools can be better designed and used to support youth's mental health.
The paper, which was supported by Pivotal Ventures (https://www.pivotalventures.org/), a Melinda Gates Company, was published by the Connected Learning Lab at the University of California, Irvine, and is available at https://youthwellbeing.online/ReportRelease.
About the Authors
Mimi Ito is a learning scientist and a cultural anthropologist of technology use, examining children and youths changing relationships to media and communications. She is Director of the Connected Learning Lab, Professor in Residence and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Chair in Digital Media and Learning at the University of California, Irvine.
Candice Odgers is a developmental psychologist who studies adolescent mental health and how digital technologies can be leveraged to understand and support wellbeing. She is the Co-Director of the Child and Brain Development Program at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, a Professor of Psychological Science at University of California, Irvine, and a Research Professor at Duke University.
Stephen Schueller is a clinical psychologist and mental health service researcher who focuses on using technology to expand access to and improve the accessibility of mental health services. He is an Assistant Professor of Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine.
Utilties stocks were trading with gains, with the S&P BSE Utilities index rising 17.08 points or 1.1% at 1576.15 at 09:53 IST.
Among the components of the S&P BSE Utilities index, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (up 5%), Reliance Power Ltd (up 4.97%),Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd (up 4.95%),A2Z Infra Engineering Ltd (up 4.91%),Rattanindia Power Ltd (up 4.61%), were the top gainers. Among the other gainers were GE T&D India Ltd (up 4.06%), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (up 2.27%), GVK Power & Infrastructure Ltd (up 2.22%), NTPC Ltd (up 1.79%), and Adani Transmission Ltd (up 1.01%).
On the other hand, Adani Power Ltd (down 1.96%), Tata Power Company Ltd (down 1.61%), and PTC India Ltd (down 1.6%) moved lower.
At 09:53 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 20.13 or 0.06% at 34891.19.
The Nifty 50 index was up 17.8 points or 0.17% at 10329.
The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 55.41 points or 0.45% at 12499.36.
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On BSE,1382 shares were trading in green, 517 were trading in red and 72 were unchanged.
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I was born at the end of World War II, into the Boomer generation. At that time, there was systemic racism throughout the United States, not just in the South, as some in other parts of the country would have you believe.
The country functioned under laws that divided blacks from all other ethnic groups (even other minorities; Mexicans and Asians were part of white America). My parents' generation and those who came before them experienced even more injustice than did my generation.
That said, today, what is transpiring is not systemic racism, but rather a skillful manipulation of poorly educated (including some who have college degrees), resentful American blacks, who are oblivious to being used. They are "useful idiots." Documentation abounds revealing Democrat party complicity in the destruction of the black community, so I will not reiterate those facts here.
One must have lived through systemic racism to know that what we have today is not it, but is rather a sinister, malevolent plan to destroy America as founded.
Much of the current problem with American blacks stems from pathologies introduced into the community by ideological progressives, primarily Democrats.
These pathologies include a dearth of fathers in homes, where children need them; the willingness to kill black children in the womb before they are born; brainwashing that's pawned off as "education" in school systems; a complete lack of respect and honor for the traditional family and its virtues; an even more complete lack of respect for the law and any of its representatives; and the denial of the same God who enabled our ancestors to endure Hell on Earth, that they might pass on to us later generations the immense potential this nation offers.
From this vantage point, I will proceed with my conception of what's going on and how the nation should respond.
America cannot survive with guilt-conflicted white leaders and decision-makers across the political spectrum, who pander to racist minorities (blacks or any others).
We all, to the degree we don't have it, must develop the will to reject bogus claims of racism in policing, touted by blacks who are themselves racists. There is no "systemic racism" in police departments throughout the nation. That is a lie. It is perpetrated to cover over the genuine problems in the black community.
Police officers and other law-enforcers are not hired to be psychiatrists or social workers or spiritual leaders. That is not what they should be "retrained" to do. People who already have those skills should be called upon for that duty. I contend that such professionals working earnestly in troubled communities will free police officers to manage law and order properly. That is the job for which they are hired, and why many are drawn to law enforcement. They want to enforce the law and protect citizens, because they are, after all, a part of the citizenry.
I'm fully aware that in a perverted, twisted culture as America's has become, many will push back from any positive, especially spiritual steps to heal the black community. This kind of healing will greatly reduce the effectiveness of the "racism" narrative, which progressives sorely need to further their cause of destroying America from within. The resentment and hatefulness of so many blacks today is an effective tool for achieving that end: America's destruction.
Centuries ago, blacks were slaves. Now they are pawns bondage is still bondage, whatever name you ascribe to it.
Therefore, my sincere admonition to President Trump and all those working with him is to reject completely any calls to single out blacks for more attention than he would grant to other Americans, especially those suffering pain from violence that has touched their lives. To do otherwise is to pander. He must continue to speak of blacks in the context of all other Americans and how what he does is for the good of all citizens.
President Trump must not accept the weak position (put forth by Dick Morris, a supporter) that he must show more sympathy toward the unique plight of American blacks.
Colin Powell, a retired military general, and others of his stature, I'm told, have been looked upon suspiciously on more than one occasion in their lives because they are black men. Some have been stopped by police officers on suspicion. I heard recently that Senator Tim Scott, who is black, is sometimes delayed when he comes into the Capitol Building, even with his congressional ID pin on display. To this, I say, "That's life."
If these men want sympathy (and neither has asked for it), I question their masculinity. A man does not get very far in life if he's a wimp, and these men have excelled in their fields. Contrary to what Dick Morris thinks, I don't think mature black men need that kind of coddling. Neither do independent-thinking blacks, in general.
Male relatives of mine, in previous generations, were physically attacked, with the intent of displaying hatefulness, and with the law on the perpetrators' side. This is very different from someone individually displaying insensitivity toward a black person, sometimes without intent.
I would wager that many encounters with black people involve unintentional slights. As a black female, I am aware that how white people respond to me (especially white men) differs from their response to black men.
Young black men, today, have a reputation for violence; that statistical fact plays into how people respond to black men in general. Even Jesse Jackson, a former black Democrat candidate for president of the United States, admitted a few years back to being inclined to move to the other side of the street if he saw a group of black males approaching at night.
I too have occasionally encountered behavior from white people that some would interpret as "racist," but I choose to ignore it. Thin skin is not one of my traits. There could be multiple reasons someone comes across as unaccepting of me, and not one of them has to involve my race.
It is despicable for us as a nation to allow every perceived affront from a white person to a black person to be codified as "systemic racism." This tactic weakens our ability to identify and dissolve true racism when it does occur. It also enhances the strength of race hucksters.
My thinking is that the only thing President Trump must do, now, is what he has done over the past four years. He has provided equal opportunity for blacks and all Americans to take advantage of what this nation offers. Lest we forget, other groups have suffered discrimination in this country, Irish, Japanese, and Jews among them. Emphasizing blacks over others breeds envy and hatred.
Patriot conservatives must never kneel to anyone except Almighty God. Kneeling implies subservience, no matter the circumstances.
I was greatly disturbed by law officers kneeling before the mobs of protesters across the nation. It doesn't matter that some in the mob also knelt.
I understand why some officers chose to interpret the behavior as a sign of peace. And I think those who initiated the stance did so more out of fear than anything else. These men and women charged with maintaining order have families and obligations. It probably seemed prudent not to risk being maimed or killed, given the makeup of the thugs surrounding them. They probably also knew that leftist city officials did not have their backs. I get it.
What we must never lose sight of, however, is that we are in a war for the soul of this nation. The current battle (thugs protesting and rioting in the streets) is not at all about race, and it's not about police; that's the ploy. Sinister forces, powerful and wealthy, seek to take this nation down and replace it with something dark and deadly.
I choose to fight those forces, and I sincerely hope a majority of my fellow Americans, whatever their ethnicity, will do the same.
The war has recently heated up with the travesty of Supreme Court justices Roberts's and Gorsuch's lethal blow to Judeo-Christianity and individual freedom in this country. They have decreed that sexual orientation (that is, homosexuality and transgenderism) is included in the definition of "sex" (male and female) written into current civil rights law. This travesty is akin to the Court's past decree that unborn children in America can be murdered with impunity.
It is time, my fellow Americans and especially Bible Christians, to say, "We will not conform," either to racist activism or to judicial tyranny. May the God of the Universe be at our backs, because we are in a pitched battle for our survival.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A state investigation into Lakeside Academys handling of the death of a student found that, from the top down, staff were in violation of proper de-escalation techniques and medical protocol.
On April 29, Cornelius Fredericks,16, threw part of his sandwich at a peer. Staff asked him to stop. He did not. He was then restrained by seven staff members for 12 minutes, according to the report from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
As he lay there unresponsive, staff members tapped him, splashed water on his face and lifted his head before checking his pulse. Some staff interviews indicate Fredericks was foaming at the mouth and appeared to be choking on his tongue.
Video footage shows it took 12 minute before nurses and staff members began CPR and called 911, according to the MDHHS report the department released to MLive on Monday, June 22.
Fredericks was eventually transported to Bronson Methodist hospital. He died two days later from cardiac arrest.
MLive received and reviewed a copy of the written investigation that references information from video footage, incident reports, law enforcement reports and interviews with staff and residents.
But MLive did not receive a copy of the footage that shows the restraint. The state is not releasing that footage as it is being used by the Kalamazoo County Prosecutors office in reviewing whether criminal charges should result, MDHHS spokesperson Bob Wheaton said. Prosecutor Jeff Getting said previously his office expects to announce that decision sometime this week.
Related: Criminal investigation into student death at Kalamazoo youth facility nears conclusion
The investigation lists 18 employees at the facility, including the chief administrator, the director of nursing and multiple supervisors and directors, who lacked the ability to perform the job duties.
11 employees separated'
Lakesides chief administrator, director of nursing and a supervisor have been fired, according to the MDHHS investigation.
Sequel Youth and Family Services, the company that contracts to provide staffing at Lakeside Academy, said 11 employees have been separated from the organization, counting the facilitys executive director and director of nursing among those.
Repeat violations listed in the states investigation include improper restraints specifically in terms of how many staff members should be involved and how long restraints should be held.
The MDHHS investigation states that Safe Crisis Management (SCM) training identifies using body weight during a restraint as a risk. The training allows for a two-person or three-person supine hold. Training also advises that youth be released at the soonest possible opportunity and states restraints should not last more than 10 minutes.
In addition to looking into the April incident, the MDHHS report also details an earlier violation at the facility, from January, where seven staff members, including a case manager, pushed and forced Fredericks onto a couch and then the ground. All seven restrained him, including some who laid across his body. The report says this went on for an excess of 30 minutes.
Staff inaccurately reported this restraint lasted 10 minutes a recurring problem MDHHS found in incident reports from the facility.
The investigation found that management failed to review the video for this restraint or to identify that this documentation had been inaccurately completed by the staff involved.
The investigation shows a pattern of wrongful restraints, which is reflected both in student and staff interviews. In one interview, a student tells a detective the April 29 restraint he witnessed involving Fredericks in the cafeteria was not normal but, Lakeside does what they want.
The same student said staff act differently depending on if they are in view of security cameras. He told investigating officers, if youre off camera youre f***ed. Youre getting f***ed up.
Policy answers varied
Following the April incident, detectives asked all of the staff members who restrained Fredericks or witnessed it how many people should be involved in a restraint. The answers varied, and many of their answers did not adhere to the Safe Crisis Management guidelines. Some staff members said they did not know if there was a limit on the number of people who should restrain a student.
Similarly, detectives asked Lakeside staff if throwing food was a justifiable reason to restrain a student. The majority of those interviewed said no. They instead cited de-escalation techniques.
The MDHHS investigation points out that Fredericks treatment plan outlines anger management needs and he is triggered or antagonized if people put their hands on him. The report states Lakeside was aware of a history of abuse, and Fredericks family has said the teen suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of trauma early in his life.
Two staff members answered yes to the question, telling detectives that throwing food is a justifiable reason for a restraint. In its report, MDHHS unequivocally disagrees, stating throwing bread is not a demonstration of imminent threat of harm to self or others and did not warrant physical management.
One of the staff members who said the restraint was justified was holding down Fredericks arm during the restraint. The staff member told law enforcement the restraint was justifiable because it could have escalated the other kids and led to a riot, according to the MDHHS report.
That staff member also said he spoke to the chief administrator in her office after the incident and she couldnt stress enough there was no problem with the restraint. The chief administrator denies saying this, according to the MDHHS investigation.
The accounts from students and staff vary on what was or was not said when Fredericks was restrained. Some of those interviewed for the investigation said the teen said nothing during the incident, while others say he was threatening and mocking staff.
One student said he could hear Fredericks saying he could not breathe. This student was outside of the cafeteria when he saw Fredericks restrained. He said he heard the teen yell when staff opened the doors.
Fredericks died on May 1, which was 25 days before George Floyd, a Minneapolis man fatally restrained by police, was filmed saying I cant breathe.
The student who told investigators he heard Fredericks say something similar was interviewed on June 1, as protests demanding justice for Floyd were occurring across the country.
Lawsuit claims negligence
Fredericks family is suing Lakeside Academy for $100 million. The lawsuit draws many parallels between the incident in Kalamazoo and the one in Minneapolis. Similarities include the type of restraint, the time of the restraint, the resulting fatality and reports the person being restrained pleaded for help.
During a news conference announcing the lawsuit, Detroit-based attorney Jon Marko said he reviewed the MDHHS investigation and interviewed parents of the students who recalled hearing I cant breathe. Marko has not seen the security footage, he said.
The family is represented by Marko and Geoffrey Fieger, known for his practice on personal injury, civil rights litigation and medical malpractice cases.
Related: Death of student at Kalamazoo facility subject of wrongful death lawsuit
Sequel Youth and Family Services is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The company has faced legal and legislative scrutiny in at least three states.
After the lawsuit was filed, Sequel offered the following statement:
We cannot comment on pending legal matters. That said, we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Cornelius and acted quickly to terminate all staff involved. Additionally, we have removed the former executive director of Lakeside from the organization. We have been in regular contact with law enforcement and state officials to help ensure justice is served and have accelerated the work that was already underway across our organization to move to a restraint-free model of care. We take our obligation to meet the significant behavioral health needs of all our students incredibly seriously and remain focused on our mission of providing the absolute best care and treatment possible for our clients.
The company is contracted to provide services at one other Michigan facility, in Albion. Sequel personnel are still staffed at the Starr Commonwealth, which houses 143 youth, Wheaton said.
After suspending Lakeside Academys license last week, the state is exploring our legal authority to exclude Sequel from Michigans child caring institution continuum, Wheaton said Tuesday.
In response to MDHHS suspending the license of Lakeside Academy, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement saying she directed MDHHS Director Robert Gordon to take every step necessary to ensure Sequel Youth and Family Services no longer provides services for facilities licensed by the department.
She called Fredericks death intolerable and heartbreaking. In the wake of the incident, MDHHS announced it will eliminate the use of restraints against youth in its care, and review and reform its policies to prevent future tragedies.
There is a recommendation for Starr Commonwealth to be placed under a provisional license, which means the facility is under heightened scrutiny and must create and implement a corrective action plan, Wheaton said. Failure to secure appropriate administrative management that ensures child safety and well-being may be a reason to terminate MDHHSs contract with Starr and revoke their license, Wheaton said.
Criminal charges are still pending as Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting reviews the MDHHS investigation. He issued a statement on Thursday, June 18 ahead of the states investigation.
Presuming we have received the information from the state agencies as expected we anticipate being able to make charging decisions in the case next week, Getting said.
More on MLive:
Family of Lakeside Academy student seek answers about his death
Nothing like this has happened before, Lakeside Academy board chair says of student death
37 students, 9 staff members test positive for coronavirus at Lakeside Academy
Google is now rolling out labels to help users fact-check results discovered via its Search platform, specifically for Image search. As implied, the newly reported labels appear when users search using that tab on Google.com or via Google Images. More directly, theyll appear just below the thumbnail for an image after thats been clicked through to show more details.
The end goal for Google with this latest change follows on others it has recently made. Summarily, it wants to help its users make more informed judgments about what they see on the web.
To that end, Google says that the labels will appear in two places in particular. Namely, thats for fact check articles that have been written about a specific image or images. Or for those that include an image in the story. Now, images that may not, in fact, be real will showcase a brief summary of the fact check in question.
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By way of example, a user might search Google image tools to discover pictures of a shark swimming down the highway in Houston and be met with a fact-check. Thatll be shown in addition to the preview of the image. In this case, it would pull the summary from somewhere such as a PolitiFact article on the matter. Then, it would showcase that the fact-checkers rated the claim as pants on fire since it was clearly photoshopped.
The source of the fact-check information will vary from image to image. But it will always come from independent, authoritative sources on the web, Google says.
Google Images isnt the first case of the company resorting to fact-check things
While the fact-check feature on the image side of Google search might be new, this is not the first time the company has decided to take these kinds of measures. In fact, as far back as 2017, the search giant introduced a fact-checking tool for its news results to a wider range of countries. And in mid-2017, it built on those tools again.
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That case was a bit different, however, owing to the fact that the news itself was being marked as fact-checked if it had been. But the premise is the same. Googles effort on that front was a bid to ensure that users knew for certain whether the article they were reading had been checked for factual accuracy. With the new tool, its hoping to do the same for imagery.
In April, the company pushed a similar initiative, donating $6.5 Million to fund fact-checking activities about the ongoing health concerns sweeping the globe.
When will this arrive and where?
As with the above-mentioned health initiative, this new image search fact-checking effort is kicking off globally right from the start. But users wont necessarily see it soon or at all. The search giant has clarified that, as with its more general fact-checking in Search, the labels will have no impact on search results ranking.
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That means the images are appearing naturally as part of the underlying algorithm. They wont be pushed to the top or suppressed because they have the labels. Thats arguably going to be a good thing for the company. It currently faces strong opposition in government, taking the form of what equates to an anti-censorship bill. By ensuring that the underlying algorithm remains unchanged, it may be able to keep itself from getting into too much hot water over the new labels.
Moglice Dam and Reservoir
Moglice dam and reservoir, part of Moglice hydropower plant in Albania.
Moglice dam and reservoir, part of Moglice hydropower plant in Albania.
Moglice site visit
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku together with Statkraft staff on site.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku together with Statkraft staff on site.
(Tirana/Oslo, 22 June 2020) Statkrafts Moglice hydropower plant in Albania has started commercial operations, delivering its renewable power to the Albanian grid.
Moglice is the largest of the two hydropower plants in the Devoll hydropower project and will generate approximately 450 GWh per year. Together with Banja hydropower plant, Statkrafts hydropower production in the Devoll valley will reach 700 GWh per year, equal to approximately 13% of Albanias total electricity generation.
In addition to the increased renewable power production, the project has contributed to significant developments in the Devoll valley in the form of new infrastructure, livelihood support and social development.
Finalising the Moglice hydropower plant marks an important milestone for Statkrafts activities in Albania. The country is developing to be the electricity hub of the region, opening up to further opportunities, says Christian Rynning-Tnnesen, CEO of Statkraft.
The power plant was officially opened today, with a site visit by Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku.
Located on the Devoll river in the south-eastern part of Albania, Moglice hydropower plant comprises a 167 meters high asphalt-core rock-filled dam, a 10.7 km long headrace tunnel, an underground powerhouse with two main generators of 91.5 MW each and a 1 MW eco-flow unit at the foot of the dam.
A timelapse video of the Moglice construction is available here.
About Statkraft
Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europes largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has 4,000 employees in 17 countries.
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For further information, please contact:
Lars Magnus Gunther, press spokesperson, Statkraft AS
Phone: +47 91 24 16 36
E-mail: lars.gunther@statkraft.com
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Three Afghan refugees who claim to have been locked in UK immigration removal centre 'cells' for 11 hours every night are suing the Home Office.
The men believe they were detained in 'unlawful' conditions during their time at Brooke House IRC, West Sussex, which was then run by private security firm G4S.
A 'lock-in regime', referred to by government officials as the 'night state', saw the refugees confined to their rooms between 9pm and 8am, which they say infringed their liberty.
The Afghans' legal case also alleges the 'draconian' system was particularly distressing to practicing Muslims, who were forced to pray in their cells.
They were all held at Brooke House in either 2017 or 2018 and have now each been granted humanitarian or refugee status in Britain.
Their action against the Home Office opened today in the High Court, which heard that the government department had 'surrendered its responsibilities' to private companies whose profits 'dictate the regime'.
Three Afghan refugees who claim to have been locked in UK immigration removal centre 'cells' at Brooke House, West Sussex, (pictured) for 11 hours every night are suing the Home Office
A 2017 BBC Panorama report showed undercover footage of alleged assaults, humiliation and verbal abuse of detainees at the hands of Brook House officers
Brooke House was already under the microscope following a damning 2017 BBC Panorama expose which lifted the lid on alleged assaults, humiliation and verbal abuse of detainees by officers.
Footage showed staff allegedly mocking detainees who were receiving medical treatment after self-harming or taking drugs.
Staff were filmed allegedly choking a detainee - while others were caught mocking asylum seekers.
Fourteen members of G4S staff were dismissed or resigned following the broadcast and Home Secretary Priti Patel later announced a public inquiry to investigate the 'mistreatment of detainees' at the centre.
G4S - which made 14.3million in profit from Brook House between 2012 and 2018, according to the National Audit Office - pulled out of running any more IRCs last September and the Brook House contract has since been taken over by outsourcing giant Serco.
Stephanie Harrison QC, representing the Afghans today said the Home Office has 'operated regimes and conditions of administrative detention across the detention estate which, over time, have become increasingly divergent and varied, but also increasingly restrictive and draconian'.
She told the court: 'From its outset, Brook House has operated and continues to operate the most restrictive regime, based on a category B prison, of prolonged and multiple lock-ins which significantly curtail and restrict the residual liberties and freedoms of administrative detainees.'
A 'lock-in regime', referred to by government officials as the 'night state', saw the refugees confined to their rooms between 9pm and 8am, which they say infringed their liberty.
Ms Harrison said the lock-in regime 'compounds and/or risks exacerbating the recognised adverse impact of indefinite immigration detention', in particular for detainees 'with histories of torture, other serious ill-treatment and mental illness'.
She added: 'It is the contractual arrangements in existence and costs, including G4S profits, that dictate the regime, not the statutory requirement for relaxed and humane conditions which respect detainees' status as administrative detainees and their human dignity.'
Ms Harrison argued that the 'wide variation' between IRCs was a result of the Home Office having 'in effect surrendered and/or abdicated its responsibilities to set the minimum standards and conditions required for a relaxed and humane regime appropriate for administrative detention and to set appropriate constraints on how the balance should be objectively be struck with security'.
She said: 'It is the staff levels and therefore the cost that have dictated the decision-making about the nature of the lock-in hours, rather than ... the requirements of the rules.'
Thomas Roe QC, for the Home Office, said in written submissions that 'many immigration removal centres, including Brook House, are run by private contractors' and that 'all immigration removal centres have a night state'.
He told the court that the Home Office's contract with G4S 'expressly empowered the Secretary of State to amend any obligation of G4S under the contract'.
G4S - which made 14.3million in profit from Brook House between 2012 and 2018, according to the National Audit Office - pulled out of running any more IRCs last September and the Brook House contract has since been taken over by outsourcing giant Serco
Mr Roe said: 'The Secretary of State could therefore alter the hours of the night state if she so wished.
'It follows that the night state at Brook House prevailed at the material time in the form it did because the Secretary of State wished it to, and not because she had put it out of her power to change it.'
He added: 'While it is true that Brook House is a secure environment and was built to Prison Service category B standard, it does not follow that detention there is like incarceration as a prisoner at a category B prison.
'This would be to overlook the considerable freedoms detainees enjoy at Brook House.'
Mr Justice Cavanagh, who will hear the case over three days, is expected to reserve his judgment.
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LOBAMBA Government has no plans of postponing the 2020 academic year, but will make a few adjustments.
In fact, the Ministry of Education and Training believes that the 2020 academic year can still be salvaged if all teachers were to resume their duties and work as a team to push the syllabus and prepare learners for the end of year examinations. This is according to a report tabled by Minister Lady Mabuza in the House of Assembly yesterday. The report was a response to the Members of Parliaments (MPs) concerns about the reopening of schools following the outbreak of the coronavirus. Instead, Mabuza said adjustments would be made to the schools calendar and hinted that the ministry had already engaged the Examinations Council of Eswatini (ECESWA). The engagement with ECESWA was for the purpose of postponing examinations which it had under its control such as those for Grade VII, Form III and some subjects at Form V level. The report is yet to be debated and adopted by the House.
Budget
The minister said a budget of E56 million for school infrastructure and personal protective equipment had been submitted to Cabinet. Mabuza stated that the ministry was of the view that using the remaining school days, holidays and some Saturdays would contribute to more teaching or learning time and the recovery of lost time. Recent analysis indicate that the school system requires approximately 65 days to recover lost time, she said. She said the ministrys plan in consultation with the Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders was for the resumption of learning for Form Vs on July 6, 2020. Dates for resumption of Grade VII and Form III will be done two weeks later and will be guided by lessons learnt after Form V reopening, said Mabuza.
The report states that working with stakeholders, they would then explore the possibility of reopening other grades. The minister said reopening of schools included resumption of work by all teachers in line with social distancing measures. She said this would include schools revising their timetables to ensure that teachers delivered at optimum level. Teachers will be there to also ensure that the school environment is safe. There are a number of adjustments that will have to be in place including class sizes, meeting the social distancing measures of 20 learners (with estimated 1.5m - 2m space between learners, reads the report. The report states that schools are expected to follow the procedures regardless of school size enrolment. The minister said more teachers would be then needed to manage the extra streams that would have been formed. In addition, there will be need to monitor learners during their stay in the school to ensure they are COVID-19 compliant, for example physical distancing during break, school feeding, screening and assisting with revision, said the minister.
Alternative
The minister stated that introducing alternative learning modes, would ensure that all learners continued to progress through the system. She stated that completing classes needed to take the end of year external examinations for a number of reasons, including that they needed to create space for the next cohort to enrol (Grade I). If they do not write the examinations and exit the system, the entire education system will have challenges as they will not have graduated from secondary, she stated. The minister said repetition would not be a solution because many pupils may opt out and quit education while some may not have the means to repeat and the system would clutter and new Grade I learners would be unable to enrol.
- Kim Chiu once again proved that she has a generous heart for the less fortunate
- She went out of her house to distribute relief goods to jeepney drivers affected by COVID-19 crisis
- The actress made sure that she was complying with health standards while conducting her charity work
- The photos showing how generous Kim is immediately surfaced in the online world
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Kim Chiu has once again proven that she is one of the celebrities in the country who is willing to lend a hand to those in need.
KAMI learned that the gorgeous actress was spotted distributing relief items to jeepney drivers who are greatly affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
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The former Pinoy Big Brother winner made sure that she complied with all the safety protocols set by the Department of Health (DOH).
Several photos showing how generous Kim is were recently uploaded on social media and they immediately became viral.
The transport group PISTON was the one who shared the good news through a much-talked-about Facebook post.
Tignan: Lumabas si Kim Chiu para sa ating mga jeepney driver! the caption said.
Kasalukuyang namimigay ng relief goods ang PISTON kasama ang kanyang team sa mga tsuper ng Monumento- Baclaran- Avenida, it added.
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In a previous article by , Kims first-ever performance of Bawal Lumabas on ASAP stage went viral online.
Kim Chiu is a well-known actress, recording artist, and commercial endorser in the Philippines. She became the subject of criticism a few weeks ago because of her sa classroom may batas analogy.
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Hengli Engineering was to invest Rs 250 crore and PMI Rs 1,000 crore in the auto sector
In what is seen as a fallout of Indias border conflict with China, the Maharashtra government has put on hold its three projects, worth more than Rs 5,000 crore, with the Chinese companies. It has asked the Centre to issue clear policy directions on the matter.
Maharashtras industries minister Subhash Desai on Monday said, Status quo will be maintained on the MoUs with the Chinese companies for the moment. This does not mean that they have been rescinded or cancelled. We are awaiting further developments on the same.
Mr Desai clearly indicated that the decision to freeze the Chinese projects was taken in the wake of Indias current standoff with the communist nation over the border issue.
The Maharashtra government is awaiting clear policy directions from the Union government on these three projects, he said.
The memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 5,020 crore were signed on June 15 under the Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 investor summit between the state industries department and three Chinese companies Hengli, PMI Electro Mobility Solutions (joint venture with Foton) and Great Wall Motors (GWM)
According to state officials, Hengli Engineering was to invest Rs 250 crore and PMI Rs 1,000 crore in the auto sector. The GWM, Chinas largest SUV maker, was to set up an automobile company with an investment of Rs 3,770 crore. All three Chinese companies were to invest in projects in Talegaon, an industrial hub in Pune district.
Mr Desai, who is from Shiv Sena, made it clear that the MoUs were signed prior to the killing of 20 Indian soldiers on the Indo-China border. The ministry of external affairs has advised not to sign any further agreements with Chinese companies, he said.
The relationship between India and China has become very tense following clashes between the soldiers of two countries in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, in which 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred. Following the conflict, the Sena supported the call to boycott Chinese products, describing China as Indias biggest enemy, bigger than Pakistan.
Michigan Chief Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh S. Khaldun had some criticisms of President Donald Trump and his administration during a U.S. Senate committee hearing on the nations response to the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, June 23.
Inaccurate and inconsistent are adjectives Khaldun ascribed to the messaging coming Trumps White House regarding the true threat of the disease and potential treatments since the coronavirus pandemic began.
On March 10, the day Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer first declared a state of emergency following confirmation of the states first two cases, Trump told reporters, just stay calm. It will go away. Trump has also received criticism for pushing hydroxychloroquine, a malaria pill, as a potential treatment for the coronavirus before it had undergone any clinical trials.
There should be a clear, accurate, and consistent message at the national level alerting people to the risks of the disease, how and when to get a test, the importance of contact tracing, and basic public health messaging relaying the benefits of wearing masks and practicing social distancing, Khaldun told members of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Tuesday. As with previous outbreaks such as Ebola, or H1N1, we must make sure our nations top public health leaders are the face of this pandemic and are given full authority to swiftly implement the most scientifically sound practices and to communicate this information to the public.
Khaldun went on the to say the nation failed to expand COVID-19 testing quickly enough, and as Michigan ramped up its capabilities in February, the Centers for Disease halted the process to work through unexpected inconsistencies in the testing platform.
Since that time, Michigan has increased its testing capacity exponentially, now capable of testing more than 14,000 people per day with more than 70 250 sample collection sites.
Khaldun thanked the assistance of various federal agencies that have increased their responsiveness and assistance to Michigan since early on in the crisis.
They have consistently answered our calls and Michigan is now regularly receiving testing supplies, Khaldun said. However, we still struggle with the lack of detail provided on the timing, quantity, and type of supplies coming to the state, and often the supplies we receive are not compatible with the laboratory systems that exist in the state.
This makes planning and coordination challenging.
Early testing should have been a priority at the federal level, according to Khaldun.
When it was clear in other countries that the disease could rapidly spread, the U.S. should have swiftly established a national testing strategy and set up clear testing criteria and infrastructure for state and local governments to easily obtain testing supplies, Khaldun told the committee. Instead, state and local governments were left to compete for limited supplies and people who likely had the disease were turned away from testing, resulting in the disease spreading like wildfire in our communities.
Even today, Michigan has not reached the CDC-set testing goal of 30,000 per day and laboratories still struggle to keep adequate test-kit supplies.
Going forward, the federal government should institute a national supply-chain strategy to resolve bottlenecks that no state alone can address and ensure an ample supply of test kits and reagents, Khaldun said. " ... Public health experts have been gloomily warning of our lack of preparedness for a global infectious disease pandemic for years.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 has turned those warnings into a real-life public health nightmare, killing over 120,000 people in the U.S.
Khalduns full remarks and video from the committee hearing are available online.
She also discussed a need for more public health investment and elimination of policies that contribute to health disparities based on race.
The nearly three-hour hearing was conducted by video conference.
Michigan health officials reported 61,630 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 5,864 deaths as of Tuesday, June 23.
COVID-19 Prevention tips:
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
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When thousands in Europe caught Covid-19 in March, France began collecting information on everything from early symptoms and drug sales to lab tests.
In a country noted for its strict approach to data protection, these efforts have gained the attention of regulators. On Friday, Frances top court cited these concerns when it asked Microsoft Corp., which is hosting the hub project, to hand over details on what data is migrating to the US and whether it can assure confidentiality.
The virus forced us to accelerate things, Stephanie Combes, the hubs director, said in an interview. This crisis shows us why we were created: to have actionable data. But we have to go much further. We need to rethink how we collect health data.
Frances data project project began in March 2019 after a Fields medal-winning mathematician warned that the country needed to up its AI game. The hub, created in December, inherited 20 years of pharmacy and hospital data, and in April an emergency law was signed for gathering virus data.
The hub will be the central point for data from the countrys clinical trials, prescriptions and disabilities research. For a fee, academics, private companies, and health authorities will be able to analyze the data. EYs health expert Loic Chabanier said Frances data value could be potentially colossal -- from benefits for the health-care system to royalties on molecules and licenses.
Governments from France and Finland to Germany and Italy have been collecting health data for decades, but the pandemic focused attention on the need to use the data to make medical and economic decisions in weeks rather then years.
All this is a competitive advantage, eventually, Jukka Lahesmaa, a senior adviser to Finlands Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, said in an interview. It will change the economy of health data in Europe. The EU data space will bring clarity and standards.
Now the hub is being criticized. Privacy lawyers and activists too much data was taken concerning Covid-19 data from hospitals, pharmacies, labs and care-house records. The privacy watchdog CNIL said it was worried about potential data transfers to the US after the hub picked Microsoft to host the data.
Weve made sure it can be reversible, to be able to change tomorrow, if needed, Combes said, alluding to the Microsoft contract following queries from Frances top court.
In the UK, which is ahead in its health data digitization, the NHS started issuing licenses about two years ago -- without sufficient privacy safeguards, critics say. Transfers of UK health data are also in the balance of trade talks with the US Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Palantir Technologies Inc. have signed contracts with the NHS to process virus-related data, and attracted the attention of privacy activists.
Similar projects are emerging elsewhere in Europe. Findata has been up and running in Finland since April, allowing permits and licences to be bought to use the data -- something pharmaceutical company Oriola, telemedicine firms Terveystalo and Mehilainen and Helsinki University are doing. In Germany -- the other country with potentially huge data sets -- the Medical Informatics Initiatives is expected to be operational before mid-2021.
Meanwhile, France is just getting started, Combes says.
The (hub) is just in its beginning stages, she said. Weve identified missing data links through this crisis, data collection that needs to be upgraded.
New Delhi:
In the wake of rising cases of dengue and chikungunya in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Delhi government to convene a meeting and chalk out strategy to curb vector-borne diseases.
The apex court warned the government against playing any blame game and directed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendra Jain to hold a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung by Wednesday.
There is no question of playing any blame game. You have the responsibility to look after the people of Delhi. You may be great but you have to do something to maintain that stature. Nothing digging of the past should happen. You have to look at the future, a bench of justices M B Lokur and L Nageswara Rao said.
It refused to go into the allegations and counter-allegations over power tussle between the LG and Kejriwal-led government and said no substitute should attend the meeting with LG, except whose names have been proposed.
The court also asked Union Health secretary P K Mishra, Chief Secretary K K Sharma, commissioners of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and New Delhi Municipal Council, CEO of Delhi Cantonment Board to attend the meeting with LG.
Apart from the officials and office bearers of civic bodies, the court also asked Amicus Curiae Colin Gonsalves, Chairman of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and General Manager of Northern Railway and Vice Chairman of Delhi Development Authority to attend the meeting to discuss the steps to be taken to check the menace in the city.
The bench expressed annoyance after senior advocate Chander Uday Singh appearing for Delhi government and Health Minister Satyender Jain alleged that officials are not reporting to the minister and not coming to the meetings.
There cannot be two Delhi governments. Officials are not reporting to us they are not coming to the meeting. We should know with whom we should sit and talk, Singh said.
To this, the infuriated bench said, Dont beat around the bush. Do we tell you with whom you should sit and talk? Who is the elected government? There cannot be two elected governments. The elected government has responsibility to look after the people.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 16:01:06|Editor: huaxia
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In this aerial photo, villagers compete during a bucket rowing contest at Quanxin Village of Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 23, 2020. The water chestnut bucket is a traditional water labor tool that every household in typical Chinese watertown has. Villagers use it when fishing, picking water chestnut and lotus. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
Working from home should have liberated employees from toxic workplace behavior such as bullying and harassment. Amid the lockdowns, gone are undesired office encounters, business trips, round-the-clock conferences and much after-hours socializing. Yet, far from ending misconduct, the pandemic lockdowns have displaced it at best and fueled it at worst.
Early anecdotal evidence in the financial services industry which has all too often silenced victims of harassment does not paint a pretty picture. SteelEye, which makes surveillance tools for securities trading and communications in banking, told me its clients have witnessed a notable increase in potential impropriety amid a surge in activity and heightened stress in financial markets. While the alerts mostly flag potential insider-trading and market abuse, offensive or hostile language that points to bullying and harassment has shown up too, according to SteelEyes Chief Executive Officer Matt Smith.
Suzanne McKie, a London-based employment lawyer, whose clients work predominantly in finance, concurs. She told me that she has heard of more occurrences of harassment than before lockdown. This intimidation has not been physical, but it has moved to WhatsApp and text messages on personal phones, which are just as, if not more, difficult for employers to monitor.
McKie says she is also seeing a distinct uptick in complaints of gender harassment and racial intimidation. For example, her clients have reported being excluded from meetings and bullied over video calls provocations that would have been harder to do in an office with bystanders present. Abruptly leaving a meeting room, for example, is not as easy as hanging up a video call.
Also specific to the coronavirus crisis, McKie says, managers have used furlough as a form of bullying minorities, either by forcing them to take it or by denying the option when its been requested. (In the latter case, the hope is this will lead the employee to resign.)
According to another London-based employment lawyer, whose clients also work predominantly in finance, remote working during the pandemic has given rise to harassment in two key ways. First, virtual communication provides a degree of anonymity that can lead people to act in ways they would not do so in person similar to how the internet and social media produced cyber-bullying, which then became an issue in schools.
Second, stressful conditions from the pandemic have led some working relationships to break down. Inappropriate comments that denigrate an individual, be it over the phone, by text message or by e-mail, are proliferating, the lawyer told me.
If history is any guide, economic vulnerability can breed harassment. In the U.S., workplace harassment charges spiked in the Great Recession to a two-decade record, says Alexandra Kalev, an associate professor in sociology and anthropology at Tel Aviv University. Using data from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Kalev calculated that the rate of harassment charges in 2008 shot up to 33 per 1,000 employees, a jump that was four times higher than the rate of increase in the decades before. Harassment rises in line with insecurity, Kalev explains.
And right now we are all more vulnerable. Some jobs that have been lost may never return. Those fortunate enough to stay employed are still concerned about their future financial wellbeing. And we are worrying about our physical survival and that of our loved ones, as Covid-19 infection rates continue to ebb and flow. Add in the stress of coping with closed schools and remote working, and its easy to see how many people may be at their wits end.
Crucially, just as many are at their most strained emotionally, the boundaries between work and private life have blurred, which can facilitate harassment. Take the explosion of video calls and meetings. Colleagues, as well as customers and other contacts, are now regularly brought into the intimacy of our homes. Working out of our kitchens and living rooms can lead people to let their guard down and be more informal or in some cases inappropriate. A comment about a nice bookcase in the background can all too easily be followed by unsolicited remarks about a persons appearance or by an improper joke an uncomfortable situation I have experienced myself.
McKie says that some firms have postponed investigations into harassment cases due to the pandemic, which is not an encouraging sign. In the U.S., some states, such as Connecticut, have extended deadlines to conduct mandatory sexual harassment training that were introduced after the #MeToo movement.
Company executives should pay attention. As many people continue working remotely and others begin transitioning back to the office, employers will have to prioritize rooting out improper behavior and mistreatment of employees. Industries like finance have to improve their dire record on harassment.
Bullying and harassment perpetuate inequality in organizations, typically by preventing women and minority groups, who are most often targets, from advancing. This behavior hurts productivity, damages mental and physical health, produces absenteeism and high staff turnover and distracts management.
There is no quick fix. Filling management positions with more women one commonly cited solution is no panacea. A recent study into harassment in Sweden, the United States and Japan found that women promoted into leadership positions can face even more harassment.
But employers can step up by putting more effort into offering anti-harassment training and following up on complaints. At a time like this, Kalev says, companies need to send a strong anti-harassment message and get more people involved in rooting out misconduct.
Bystander training, for example, can teach staff to speak up when they spot inappropriate behavior. This should be beefed up online and reinforced as an important way to empower employees and establish health work cultures. Companies can also create easier, non-adversarial reporting mechanisms for employees to share concerns and complaints. Longer term, Kalev and her coauthor Frank Dobbin, a professor of sociology at Harvard, also suggest creating task forces and publishing data that reveal the extent to which harassment permeates a firm.
As company executives shift their focus from the health crisis to returning to work, employment conditions need to be firmly in their sights. Concerns about harassment cant go ignored.
Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Topics COVID-19 Training Development
Washington: Twitter on Tuesday placed a warning notice on a tweet from US President Donald Trump which threatened "serious force" against protesters in the US capital, saying it violated the company's policy against abusive behaviour.
"There will never be an 'Autonomous Zone' in Washington, D.C., as long as I'm your President. If they try they will be met with serious force!" the President's tweet read.
Twitter put the warning on a tweet by US President Donald Trump. Credit:AP
The company said it had hidden Trump's tweet behind its "public interest" notice because there was a threat of harm against an identifiable group.
It was only the second time Twitter has deployed the public interest label on a tweet by the US President, after announcing its creation last summer. Chief executive Jack Dorsey was informed of the decision before the notice was applied, a Twitter spokeswoman said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Yusif Aghayev Trend:
The amount of calendar contributions deducted by insurance companies to the Azerbaijani Compulsory Insurance Bureau greatly increased in 2019, Trend reports referring to the Bureaus financial report.
According to the data, the total amount of these contributions amounted to 9.2 million manat ($5.4 million) in 2019, which is 1.3 million manat ($764,705) or 17 percent more than in 2018.
At the same time, calendar contributions for compulsory liability insurance of motor vehicle owners amounted to 4.9 million manat ($2.9 million), which is 252,000 manat ($148,235) or 5.3 percent more than in 2018; on compulsory insurance against loss of ability to work as a result of industrial accidents and occupational diseases - to 2.2 million manat thats $1.3 million (an increase of 470,000 manat thats $276,470 or 28 percent); and on compulsory real estate insurance - to 2.07 million manat ($1.2 million), which exceeds the figures for 2018 by 622,000 manat ($365,882) or 43 percent.
The calendar contributions for compulsory insurance of liability associated with the operation of real estate amounted to 16.4 million manat ($9.6 million), increasing by three million manat ($1.8 million) compared to 2018 (an increase of 23 percent) while contributions for compulsory insurance of passengers decreased by 165 manat ($97), amounting to five million manat ($2.9 million).
In accordance with the Azerbaijani legislation on compulsory insurance, insurance companies involved in this segment make periodic calendar contributions to the Compulsory Insurance Bureau in the amount of five percent of the total insurance premiums for the reporting period within the corresponding type of compulsory insurance, which is one of the main revenues of the Bureau.
The Compulsory Insurance Bureau has been established and has been operating as an association of legal entities in accordance with the Azerbaijani Civil Code, taking into account the requirements established by the law "On Compulsory Insurance" to protect the interests of the insured people and third parties who suffered damage, to ensure stability and development of the compulsory insurance system, as well as for the implementation of other tasks established upon the relevant legislation.
There are five compulsory types of insurance in the non-life segment and one type in the life insurance segment in accordance with the legislation in Azerbaijan.
Moreover, several special types of compulsory insurance are envisaged for military personnel, law enforcement officers and other groups, which are dealt with exclusively by the State Insurance Commercial Company of Azerbaijan.
The compulsory insurance in Azerbaijan is carried out by the insurance companies licensed for a certain type of compulsory insurance included in the Compulsory Insurance Bureau.
Currently, there are 15 insurance companies licensed to carry out compulsory types of insurance, four of which are involved in the field of life insurance, eleven - in the field of non-life insurance.
Today, 21 insurance companies and one reinsurance company operate in Azerbaijan.
(1 USD = 1.7 AZN on June 23)
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Follow the author on Twitter: @yusif62610338
BRENTWOOD, Calif., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the City of Brentwood announced its implementation of Dispel's remote access product. As part of the City's infrastructure modernization, Brentwood chose Dispel to improve utility service uptime, availability, and safety. Located 55 miles east of San Francisco and home to over 60,000 people, the city operates its own public water and wastewater services.
Dispel
Previously, Brentwood's water plants required physical access to manage and consisted of a cumbersome technological process. Now, after implementing Dispel, workers securely access their control systems remotely in under 20 seconds. This change improves response and remediation times, helping the city provide its citizens with better services.
"The Dispel platform is secure, simple to use, and very efficient. Dispel has truly simplified remote SCADA access for the city of Brentwood," said Eric Brennan, Water Operations Manager from Brentwood.
Operators and vendors can now access the City of Brentwood's SCADA systems remotely and securely, with the help of Dispel. A remote access and management tool specialized for the OT/IT demands of utilities and manufacturers, the Dispel installation allows access to Brentwood's SCADA networks from a phone or tablet. Rather than use traditional static VPNs and jump hosts to connect to SCADA systems, Moving Target Defense SD-WANs provide non-persistent encrypted connections, ensuring critical assets remain protected.
To learn more about Dispel, visit https://dispel.io.
About Dispel
Dispel is the world's leading provider of Moving Target Defense Networks; designed, built, and maintained in the United States. Founded in 2015, the cybersecurity company has offices in Austin, New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Denver, and Tokyo. Dispel's technology deploys custom networks to OT/ICS protecting utilities globally. Learn more at https://dispel.io.
Press Contact
McKenna Cosway
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As temperatures rise, electricty bills rocket
Due to hot weather, families often use more electricity for cooling equipment, leading to a rise in electricity bills at the end of the month. Recently, a man in the central province of Quang Binh was stunned to see his familys electricity bill increase by 33 times from the previous month. Tran Viet Dung, who resides in Dong Hoi City, said his household used more than 18,000kWh in June, meaning he had to pay VN58.5 million (US$2,513). Thats a big jump from the previous month only 248kWh or VN489,000 ($21). Dung reported the incident to the Central Power Corporation under Vietnam Electricity (EVN) who asked Quang Binh Power Company to verify the electricity consumption of his family. After checking the figures over the last 12 months, it was found the household usually consumes 210-300kWh a month and pays VN460-700,000 a month. The cause of the error was later revealed as, by the end of May, customers had their electric meter replaced periodically. A worker of EVN recorded the wrong number for Dungs family electricity usage. The Quang Binh Power Company acknowledged the error and apologised to Dung's family. Statistics from EVN showed that more than 3.1 million customers nationwide saw their electricity consumption in May increase by 30 per cent compared to April. Notably, there were nearly 1 million customers with electricity consumption that was 50 per cent higher than the previous month and more than 215,000 customers with a hike by 300 per cent. According to the EVN, electricity consumption of customers increased due to the prolonged hot weather in recent weeks, especially the heat waves with temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius in the north as well as the central region. VNA/VNS
Lucknow: Agra district magistrate Prabhu N Singh has issued a notice to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over an alleged misleading tweet and has asked for clarification from the Congress leader. In the notice issued, it has been alleged that Gandhi's tweet created confusion among people on the actual situation of Coronavirus in the district.
The DM has also asked for a corrigendum within 24 hours for the tweet that created confusion and also allegedly hurt the morale of Corona warriors.
The notice has drawn sharp reaction from the Congress party with Akhilesh Pratap Singh alleging that the state bureaucracy was working under government pressure.
"The state bureaucracy is working under the pressure of the government. Whoever raises voice against the government, a notice and a case are filed against him," he said.
Meanwhile, countering the allegations of Congress party, BJP spokesperson Dr. Chandramohan said, The Congress is working to break the morale of the warriors during the period of Corona epidemic. An attempt is being made to spread the rumor through false news.
The AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had attacked the Yogi Adityanath government in a tweet and said that of the 79 patients who lost their lives due to COVID-19 in Agra, about "35 per cent -- 28 people -- died within 48 hours of hospitalisation".
What a shame for the UP government that the false propaganda of this model was tried to suppress the truth. Questions were raised on the government's no test-no corona policy, but the government did not answer it. If the UP government continues to suppress the truth in the Corona case like this, then it is going to be very fatal.
"Who is responsible for spreading the lie of 'Agra model' and pushing people into these adverse circumstances?" she asked.
After this tweet from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Agra DM Prabhu N Singh, responded by tweeting that the media report cited is wrong. A death audit has been cited in relation to the deaths of the total corona positive patients so far. A total of 1,136 cases and 79 deaths have occurred in Agra in the last 109 days. The news of the death of 28 Corona patients admitted in the last 48 hours is untrue, tweeted DM Agra.
Hiscox has partnered with Thimble, a short-term liability insurance provider for small businesses, to offer coverage available by the hour, day or month.
The partnership will allow Hiscox to give businesses flexibility, with customers having control of their policy via Thimbles insurance app that allows them to modify their coverage based on a projects needs, add additional insureds or pause coverage as necessary.
The Hiscox short-term general liability insurance coverage offers protection against claims by someone else that allege bodily injury or property damage. Short-term professional liability coverage (or E&O insurance) offers protection against claims alleging negligence.
The on-demand insurance coverage is available with an ACORD certificate online. Insureds can also change their limits, add an insured, and more.
According to Kevin Kerridge, executive vice president of Small Business Insurance for Hiscox in the US, small businesses now have a flexible option through Thimble that can adapt to the changing needs of their business.
The two companies are planning further integrations for later this year.
Thimble was founded in 2016 and has since sold over 100,000 policies to small businesses all across America through its app, partner APIs, and broker tools. Thimble is based in New York City and has raised over $29 million in funding from investors including IAC. All commercial general liability and professional liability policies are underwritten by Markel Insurance Co.
Thimble business insurance policies can be purchased on-demand in less than a minute, in rolling monthly increments, by-the-day, or for just one hour. Service providers can add workers, extend coverage, pause or cancel policies directly via the Thimble mobile app.
Hiscox is a global specialist insurer, headquartered in Bermuda.
Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance
FREMONT, Calif., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Even prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the $4 billion Gesa Credit Union had difficulty recruiting qualified mortgage loan officers and processors to the team because of the tight labor market. When the Fed dropped rates 150 basis points in response to the coronavirus, the credit union's mortgage applications went through the roof.
Don Miller Raj Bandaru
Gesa Credit Union called on Digital Align to begin identifying bottlenecks in the mortgage process in January 2020 and by March of 2020, Digital Align, a business process strategy and business transformation firm, went to work transforming the end-to-end mortgage process. The efficiencies gained helped Gesa CU through the skyrocketing volume. Currently, 60% of Gesa's mortgage processes have been automated, implementing digital assistants for all aspects of the mortgage process, from application through closing.
"At Gesa, we are always looking to streamline our processes to serve more members, control expenses and increase revenue all while providing the best member experience possible," Gesa CU CEO Don Miller said. "Digital Align's domain expertise and solutions aligned really well with our needs."
Gesa CU CIO Raj Bandaru continued, "We're handling the highest mortgage volumes ever in the history of Gesa, and we're not adding staff." Gesa increased its funding volume by 4X a month, even with staff working from home due to coronavirus, and growing.
Gesa Vice President of Mortgage Lending Randy Wacker has been pleased with the results. "At 125 applications, we used to be overwhelmed. Now, we're at 300, and they're busy, but it's not hair-on-fire busy."
Automation has helped keep employees focused on serving Gesa's members rather than repetitive task work. A mortgage application might have 1 field missing or 25 fields missing, which took significant staff time. After Digital Align installed Gesa's digital assistants, the assistants identify those and gather the information. Data has become more consistent, creating fewer compliance issues, and the credit union is experiencing a decrease in overtime.
Automation is a great tool, but the domain expertise and strategy really make a difference. "We're very pleased with the results Gesa Credit Union has achieved by modernizing and streamlining its processes," Digital Align Co-Founder/CEO Rajesh Patil said. "Our team's blend of experience in both the credit union's and the tech world gives us the insight necessary to diagnose issues and apply the appropriate tools to fix them. We're looking forward to seeing what solutions we can provide to Gesa's consumer lending, commercial lending and back office teams next."
About Gesa Credit Union
From modest beginnings in 1953, Gesa Credit Union has grown from a part-time office operating out of a shoebox to the second largest credit union in Washington State, serving more than 255,000 members around the world. Gesa as a community-chartered credit union continues to experience explosive growth.
About Digital Align
Digital Align is an experienced team of experts who streamline processes so financial institutions can do more with less. Our Digital Transformation and Solution experts understand how to deploy innovative solutions to enhance capabilities across all departments within financial institutions. We have decades of experience building digital strategy roadmaps, developing executable plans and implementing digital solutions to generate better ROIs for financial institutions.
Media contact:
Sarah Snell Cooke
[email protected]
443.472.6276
SOURCE Digital Align Inc
Army soldiers shot and killed Thiraviyam Ramalingam, a 24-year-old Tamil youth, last Saturday evening at Muhamalai near Pallai. The killing took place about 30 kilometres south of Jaffna, in Sri Lankas military-occupied and war-ravaged north.
The young man, who was from Kilali, was taken to the Pallai Divisional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Tamil Guardian reported that witnesses said a doctor was not sent to treat Ramalingam at the scene for at least 45 minutes.
Angry residents organised a sit-down protest, blocking the Kandy-Jaffna A9 highway, and outside the hospital. When protesters demanded to know the whereabouts of other Tamil youth arrested by soldiers during the incident, the police showed them a video in an attempt to convince people that the youth were in their custody.
Police and Special Task Force commandos were deployed to disperse the demonstrators and block others from joining the protest.
There are many conflicting reports about the killing. The Sunday Times on June 21, citing police sources, reported that a motorcyclist was killed after soldiers opened fire when he defied orders to stop. The newspaper said soldiers felt he was going to knock them down and ordered him to stop. They then opened fire when he tried to flee.
Citing Pallai police, Lankadeepa published a different version on June 21. It reported that a conflict developed after soldiers cracked down on a group of illegal sand miners in the Muhamalai area. The confrontation resulted in a soldier killing one sand racketeer.
The newspaper claimed that the men had tried to flee in vehicles, running over the soldiers, while another group attempted to attack the soldiers and grab their firearms. The story appears to have been concocted by the police or military to justify the killing.
Yesterday, the Jaffna-based Udayan newspaper reported that four arrested youth had given evidence at Ramalingams post-mortem. They said they had been travelling in a vehicle with the deceased when an army soldier demanded that they halt. They stopped the vehicle and came toward the soldiers with their arms raised in the air. When one of them panicked and tried to run away, a soldier shot him.
According to the post-mortem, there were injuries on the young mans bodyone above the knee and one where a bullet had entered from behind and damaged his lungs, causing his death.
Ramalingams funeral was held yesterday amid tight security. Police in Kodikamam, which is close to Ramalingams home village, took out a court order banning all protests in the area. To deflect the anger of residents, Northern Province Governor M. S. Charles yesterday called for a report into the shooting.
Like all previous official inquiries, this report will not punish those responsible for the death of the young man but will cover up and justify the fatality, which is part and parcel of Colombos ongoing military occupation of the North and East of the country.
Sri Lankan police and the military are notorious for cooking up stories to validate their actions. Irrespective of whether Ramalingam was involved in illegal sand mining or not, he was shot and killed by a soldier, one of numerous fatalities perpetrated by the military occupation forces.
The shooting also occurred under conditions of President Gotabhaya Rajapakses intensifying militarisation of the country and a mounting anti-Tamil racialist campaign orchestrated by Colombo and the media. Rajapakse has given a clean slate to the military, encouraging its repressive actions and repeatedly insisting that the army be given immunity from any war crime allegations.
While workers, young people and the poor in the North and East face continuous police and military harassment, surveillance and anti-Tamil chauvinist rhetoric, these authoritarian conditions have worsened under Gotabhaya Rajapakse.
Colombos nearly 30-year war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended in May 2009 with the death of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians and the disappearances of hundreds who surrendered. Rajapakse oversaw these bloody assaults as the countrys defence secretary.
Eleven years after the LTTEs defeat, the military occupation of the North and East continues. The Colombo establishment and the media are whipping up claims that terrorism and the LTTE are reemerging in order to impose even more repressive measures.
On June 12, the media reported that two people on a motorbike dropped a parcel with a doll near Velliveli Army camp, 20 kilometres from Jaffna. A military officer and two soldiers walking along the road saw the parcel and it blew up, injuring one of the soldiers, who tried to open it. On June 17, the media claimed that Kopay police had arrested a 25-year-old suspect following a search operation the previous day.
On June 15, the pro-government Hiru TV channel reported that a parcel of explosives had been found and deactivated near the Army Brigade headquarters in Kandavalai, Kilinochchi.
The channel said security forces suspect that somebody may have brought the parcel in front of the camp for the purpose of sabotage. A report in Divaina claimed it was a large bomb that had been manufactured in Sri Lanka. The media has not explained how it was possible to plant a sizeable bomb in a high-security zone.
Police and military violence, however, is not limited to the North and East. After coming to power late last year, Rajapakse began rapidly militarising his administration, appointing serving and retired generals to key government positions.
This year he has seized on the COVID-19 pandemic to mobilise soldiers in large numbers to Colombo and its suburbs. Early this month, Rajapakse established a 13-member taskforce with far-reaching powers, answerable only to him and chaired by the defence ministry secretary, retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne.
In the name of suppressing the underworld and the drug mafia, the government has also renewed its deployment of police commandoes in raids to target specific areas, accompanied by the extrajudicial killing of suspects, a practice that began long ago in Sri Lanka.
The Rajapakse government faces an escalating foreign debt, growing unemployment and a deepening economic crisis intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. It fears the eruption of unified political and industrial action by the working class, across all ethnic and religious lines.
Rajapakses moves toward a military-based dictatorship and the increasing state violence against the population are clear warnings of how the ruling elite is preparing for the bitter class struggles that lie ahead.
30 illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Africa were massacred by human traffickers in Libya on May 28. These migrants were exploited by local traffickers.
By Vatican News
Bangladesh police have arrested more than 50 people accused of extorting money from people on false promises of jobs overseas, in a major crackdown on human trafficking after 30 migrant workers were murdered in Libya.
According to the Thomson Reuters Foundation reported, the series of arrests began after the migrants, including 26 Bangladeshis, were abducted and killed by traffickers in the strife-torn north African nation, at the end of May.
The carnage
The group of 42 migrants, including 38 Bangladeshis, was held captive in a trafficking warehouse in Mizdah, around 180 kilometres from the Libyan capital Tripoli, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya said, quoting one of the survivors of the carnage.
The survivor said that they had paid between $8,000 and $10,000 to the traffickers to reach Europe through Libya. However, as the trafficking gang began torturing them to extort more money, the hostages attacked and killed one of the traffickers. In retaliation, the gang opened fire on them killing 30 and injuring 12.
The Libyan government has issued arrest warrants for suspects following the deaths.
Bangladesh arrests
The arrests in Bangladesh were mostly made in Dhaka, the capital, and included a ringleader who sent about 400 Bangladeshis to Libya illegally in the last decade, police said.
"(Arresting traffickers) is a part of the regular duty of Bangladesh Police but obviously this is the strongest operation against traffickers in recent times," Sohel Rana, spokesman of the Bangladesh Police said on Friday.
He said most of the accused were being charged under a 2012 law that criminalized trafficking in Bangladesh with penalties ranging from five years to life imprisonment.
Last week, Dhaka Tribune daily newspaper reported the arrest of as many as 52 suspected human traffickers responsible for sending the Bangladeshis who were killed in Libya. One of them who lived in Libya for 13 years is said to be the owner of 2 trafficking camps in the African country.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, more than 2 million illegal migrants from different Asian and African countries have entered Europe through the Mediterranean Sea since 2014.
Bangladesh depends heavily on remittances
Bangladesh is one of the world's largest exporters of labour and depends heavily on money sent home by its overseas workers. More than 10 million migrants sent $18.32 billion to Bangladesh in 2019, the third highest recipient of remittance in South Asia.
International remittances, which normally represent around 7% of Bangladeshs GDP, are the nation's second-largest source of foreign earnings after its massive garments industry.
According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), in 2019 alone, over 700,000 migrant workers left the country in search of employment abroad and over 73 percent of remittances were sent from the 7 Gulf Cooperation Council countries alone.
Exploitation by brokers
However, unlicensed brokers are known to charge workers thousands of dollars with promises of good jobs abroad that don't exist. Campaigners say that the country's dependency on unofficial brokers for recruitment opens the path to exploitation.
The United Nations' International Organization for Migration(IOM) estimates there are about 21,000 Bangladeshi migrants in Libya, accounting for about 3% of the migrant population.
The IOM said migrants from Bangladesh reported the highest costs of journey to travel to Libya in comparison to migrants from other countries, who pay on average $3,200 per person.
Low conviction rate
While the police said progress is being made, some human rights activists voiced concerned that many of those arrested this month may walk free due to the country's low conviction rate for trafficking crimes.
The rate of convictions in Bangladesh was 0.4% between 2013-2019, according to the U.S. Trafficking in Persons report.
Tariqul Islam, country director for the anti-trafficking charity Justice and Care, said there needed to be more coordination between the investigating authority and the prosecutor to build strong cases against criminals.
The Church with people on the move
The Holy See and Pope Francis have been vigorously advocating the rights, dignity and safety of migrants and refugees as the Church accompanies them in all stages of their journey. To this end, the Vatican has a special Migrants and Refugees Section, and the Catholic Church worldwide celebrates its own World Migrant and Refugee Day on the last Sunday of September.
Pope Francis on Sunday asked Catholics to join him in praying for a renewed and effective commitment to protect refugees and migrants. Recalling the United Nations World Refugee Day celebrated on the previous day, June 20, he appealed for respect and care for displaced persons, especially during the current Covid-19 pandemic. (Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation)
16-Year-Old Boy Charged With 4 Murders in DC
District of Columbia police arrested a 16-year-old boy who is suspected of killing four people during a series of crimes throughout the Washington area.
Michael Mason, the suspect, is also accused of carrying out six separate shootings dating back to April of this year, police said in a news release on Monday. Mason was charged as an adult in the slayings and shootings, the Metropolitan Police Department added.
The department noted that at least five other people were injured in the shootings, according to The Washington Post.
Overall, Mason is suspected of killing 31-year-old Terrance Griffin, 20-year-old Jaszel Henderson, 21-year-old Brea Moon, and 18-year-old Antwuan Roach, officials said. Moon lived in District Heights, Maryland, while Griffin, Henderson, and Roach lived in southeast D.C.
The fatal shooting of Moon occurred about 11 days after Mason was released from juvenile detention, officials told the Post.
The suspect was identified after authorities used facial recognition software to compare a photo handed to authorities by a victim to images of Mason that were posted on social media, according to court documents, the Post reported. Authorities said Mason also tried to sell a .40-caliber gun on Instagram after one of the killings.
Other than Mason, 19-year-old Daquan Jones was charged with first-degree murder in relation to Moons death.
These individuals terrorized our communities and we thank all who assisted in their arrest, D.C. police said on Twitter.
Authorities said an investigation into the slayings is ongoing.
The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information that leads to the arrest of a suspect involved in a homicide in D.C. Anyone with information about the case can call police at 202-727-9099 police or anonymous tips can be sent by texting to 50411.
ALBANY A group of about 20 people gathered in front of City Hall Monday morning, the day housing courts reopened, to demand elected officials extend the eviction moratorium further and cancel rent.
"We are here because evictions are violence in the midst of a pandemic," said Rev. Joe Paparone, a lead organizer of the Labor-Religion Coalition. "People are about to be evicted from their home, dragged out of their homes for their inability to pay when we've seen absolute record numbers on employment cases, we have record numbers of people who are unable to continue to pay their rent."
So far in Albany, there are 150 eviction notices for unregulated tenants and 250 for supportive housing, protesters said, citing the United Tenants of Albany. They emphasized that those are just the number of cases individuals impacted by these cases are likely double those figures.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the states eviction moratorium from June 20 through August 20, but the extension only applies to tenants who are either unable to pay rent due to COVID-19, or are receiving unemployment insurance. The earlier moratorium didnt limit which residential and commercial tenants were protected.
Numerous state legislators sent the governor's office a letter June 17 expressing concerns about the extension, saying it unduly puts the onus on tenants to prove that they shouldn't be evicted. "This means large numbers of tenants will still be sued in non-payment eviction cases and they will have to face intrusive inquiries into all their personal financial information, just to get dismissal of an eviction case that should never have been brought in the first place," the letter reads.
Protesters stressed that a number of New Yorkers remain financially unstable as the state transitions into reopening the economy after coronavirus shutdowns, with many still underemployed or seeing their wages reduced as the economy picks back up.
In New York City, housing rights groups estimate that in the coming days, 50,000 to 60,000 cases could be filed in housing courts there. In addition, thousands of cases that were already in progress but were paused in March can now resume, according to the New York Times.
Speakers at the Albany protest Monday pointed to Ithaca as an example, which is seeking to cancel unpaid rent for residents.
Nominate your favorite people and places now Its the 25th anniversary of our Best of the Capital Region readers survey. Nominate your favorite people, places and businesses between Jan. 21 and Feb. 4.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan's chief of staff David Galin said Sheehan supports the state's extended moratorium on evictions - and has implemented her own emergency suspension of evictions in the City of Albany since mid-March. "Mayor Sheehan also deeply understands the rent and mortgage burden many residents in our city and across the nation face due to rising unemployment as a result of COVID, which is why the citys community development agency has made $250,000 available to organizations to provide rental and mortgage assistance to City of Albany residents," Galin said in a statement.
Paparone acknowledged concerns among landlords that they would be unable to pay their mortgages or property taxes if tenants do not pay rent. However, he stressed, landlords have a choice.
"Landlords and tenants are in different positions," he said. "Landlords need to pick which side they're going to be on are they gonna side with their tenants and fight against the banks who are gonna make out on this no matter what happens, or are they gonna try and deal with the bank ... and meanwhile throw people out on the streets today?"
The Ohio museum consultant who has spent three years championing the controversial $450 million public-private project to overhaul Alamo Plaza has decided unexpectedly to leave his post as CEO of the historic mission and battle site.
Douglass W. McDonald has been Alamo CEO since 2017. Based in Cincinnati, he was been working in San Antonio a maximum of two weeks per month.
In advising the Alamo Trust board that he didnt want to renew his contract, which expires Sept. 30, McDonald said he wanted to spend more time with his wife and children, travel and raise cattle.
But he has been at odds with a wide range of groups in high-profile matters: the Conservation Society of San Antonio over preservation of the 1921 Woolworth Building on the plaza; the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation over handling of human remains at the site; and Alamo defender descendants and supporters who dont want to see the historic Cenotaph moved.
Everything that talked about local history of San Antonio pre-1836 was irrelevant to Douglass McDonald, said Ramon Vasquez, executive member of Tap Pilam. He was completely disconnected from our history here.
While much of McDonalds focus has been on celebrating the 1836 events that have made the Alamo famous as a Texas shrine he started his career as operations director of a historic village in Indiana that recreated life in 1836 and often talked about the Alamo there he acknowledged the importance of prior cultures in a statement issued Tuesday announcing his impending departure.
I came to Texas believing this is one of the most important projects in the United States and that the history told here should be told correctly in a world-class setting, McDonald said.
The men who died at the Alamo are Texas heroes, the women who survived the battle are heroines, and the people who lived at the Alamo for centuries are the foundation of everything Texan.
To some, the Alamo is a symbol of Anglo dominance that set the tone for mistreatment of Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people in the 19th and 20th centuries. They want that recognized as the Alamo site is reimagined.
In explaining why its important to preserve the Woolworth Building, site of one of seven lunch counters downtown that peacefully desegregated in 1960, conservation society president Patti Zaiontz said African American history has been underrepresented in San Antonio and needs to be included in the Alamo project.
She hopes that will be a priority under the Alamos new leadership.
The events of recent have brought more focus on the importance of telling our whole history, including that of African Americans who settled San Antonio, Zaiontz said.
Proponents have been urging Alamo project organizers to keep the Woolworth Building facade as part of a new museum at the site that is a major part of the plaza makeover.
We are still championing the cause for preserving the Woolworth Building and repurposing it into their museum plan. It has a great potential for telling the whole story of Alamo Plaza, including its very significant place in civil rights history, Zaiontz said.
As for the Cenotaph, McDonalds support for relocating the 56-foot monument 500 feet to the south has drawn the ire of many Texas independence groups. The proposed relocation is a controversial element of the Alamo project; the Texas Historical Commission is expected to consider whether to issue a permit to move the crumbling memorial at its meeting in September.
On ExpressNews.com: Alamo burials to be exhumed to save historic church
Vasquez said he would like to see a new leader who understands the different cultures and complex history of the Alamo and includes the guiding principles developed five years ago by a citizen advisory committee into every aspect of the project.
Appointed to the citizen committee by then-Mayor Julian Castro, Vasquez still is on the panel.
Right now, we have the whole world talking about equity and racial issues across the country. Well, in San Antonio, we really need to pay attention, Vasquez said. Whatever comes out of this project, were going to have to live with all the decisions that have been made.
The vision and guiding principles of the Alamo project, crafted before McDonald was hired, include interpretation of the forts original development and use as the Mission San Antonio de Valero, one of San Antonios early founding sites of the 1700s, and an honest portrayal of the role of slavery in the 1835-1836 Texas Revolution.
Close observers have noted some board members have been unhappy with slow progress on the huge project, targeted for completion in 2024
And McDonalds critics have questioned why he had a contract that paid $2,000 per day for each day he worked, typically staying at the Emily Morgan Hotel while away from his home in Ohio. The contract limited his billing to 14 days per month, providing a potential annual compensation up to $336,000.
On ExpressNews.com: Alamo CEO makes $2,000 a day to run Texas shrine
But McDonald also has had numerous achievements worthy of praise, officials said Tuesday.
We appreciate the enthusiasm and passion Doug has devoted to the Alamo, and we all understand Dougs desire to devote more of his time and energy to his family and travel, said Welcome Wilson Jr., Alamo Trust board chairman. Doug McDonald has many accomplishments at the Alamo that he can point to with pride, not the least of which is the outstanding team he has assembled.
Wilson gave McDonald kudos for managing a complicated project and overseeing the Alamo during unprecedented times.
During his tenure, McDonald oversaw safety and security site improvements at the Alamo, guided preservation of battle-era cannons and made key hiring and programming decisions. He played a crucial role in negotiating a long-term lease for the Alamo to manage the mission-fort footprint of the plaza.
He also has been a lead salesman for the Alamo project, building alliances with lineage organizations such as the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Alamo Society, an international group of Alamo devotees with a particular interest in the battle.
City Councilman Roberto Trevino, who leads a six-member committee guiding the Alamo project, said McDonalds expertise and professional experience have been invaluable in informing how we moved the project forward to tell the complete story of the Alamo site.
We have met frequently throughout the years to discuss the broad history of the Alamo and how to best convey its complexity, Trevino said.
McDonald had served as an adviser on the Alamo master plan for six months before he began work in August 2017 as CEO of the popular historic site, leading a 109-member staff and reporting to the Texas General Land Office, which oversees the state-owned Alamo, and the Alamo Trust, its operations manager.
The Alamo has been closed to the public since March 16 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Before he came to the Alamo, McDonald was president and CEO of the Cincinnati Museum Center for nearly 16 years, and credited with guiding the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center through a financial rebound.
On ExpressNews.com: State agency recognizes Alamo church as cemetery
When he became Alamo CEO, McDonald said his career began in 1836 the year of the famed siege and battle for Texas independence since his first 12 years in the museum business were as director of operations at Conner Prairie, a historic village in Fishers, Ind., with shops, animals, re-enactors in period dress and a one-room schoolhouse, all intended to represent life in 1836.
Every year, we talked about the Alamo because it was one of the important, iconic, historic events of 1836, McDonald told the San Antonio Express-News in 2017.
McDonald said Tuesday it has been a true honor to serve at one of the most important historic sites in the world.
McDonald said he and his wife, Kay, had made plans to travel, spend time with their family and raise cattle on their farm when the Alamo sought his help with the public-private project.
I am proud of what we have accomplished and believe in the vision of the Alamo plan and all it will do for Texas. Today however, is a day to look to the future the future of the Alamo, and Kays and my future, he said.
The Alamo Trust board, in consultation with the Land Office, is launching a wide-ranging search for a new leader who will help us emphasize Texas struggle for independence, telling the story of heroism and bravery at the Alamo to the world.
The organization said a posting for the position will soon be published on the Alamo website at thealamo.org/jobs/index.html.
Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. To read more from Scott, become a subscriber. shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
(Bloomberg) -- More than 1,600 Google employees demanded Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai end the sale of the companys technology to law enforcement, in a move they say would provide action to buttress statements against police brutality.
The workers, in a signed letter to Pichai, cite a software contract with a police department in suburban New York and some of Googles investments as conflicting with the Alphabet Inc. companys opposition to racism and police misconduct. Last week, Pichai announced that the company is creating a $175 million package for Black businesses and job seekers in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the anti-racism protests that followed.
We have a long way to go to address the full legacy of racism but to begin with -- we should not be in the business of profiting from racist policing, the Google employees letter said.
After the letter was published, Google released a statement that said the company wouldnt agree to its demands. We have longstanding terms of use for generally available computing platforms like Gmail, G Suite and Google Cloud Platform, and these products will remain available for governments and local authorities, including police departments, to use, a spokeswoman said in an email.
Were committed to work that makes a meaningful difference to combat systemic racism, and our employees have made over 500 product suggestions in recent weeks, which we are reviewing, the statement also said.
Some other major technology companies have recently backed away from partnerships with police. Amazon.com Inc. suspended the sale of its facial-recognition systems to law enforcement for a year, while Microsoft Corp. said it wouldnt offer the technology until the government regulates it. Google stopped offering its off-the-shelf facial recognition services in 2018.
Google has trailed those two rivals in selling cloud technology to government agencies, but is trying to catch up. One contract with a police force Google has touted is with the department in Clarkstown, about 40 miles north of New York City, for the use of Gmail, Google Drive and other G Suite services.
Story continues
In the letter to Pichai, the Google staff cite a 2017 lawsuit from the Black Lives Matter group against Clarkstown and its police department that officers illegally surveilled protesters there. Additionally, the Google staff called out investments from Gradient Ventures, one of the companys investment arms, which were tied to work with the military and police.
In recent years, Google employee activism has shelved projects with the U.S. Defense Department and in China, as well as prompted new policies in the treatment of contract staff. However, Google hasnt responded to employee demands from last summer to ban work with U.S. border patrol agencies.
We want to be proud of the company we work for, the newest letter reads.
(Updates with Google comments in fourth paragraph.)
For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com
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CLEVELAND, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UVeye, an Israeli supplier of contact-free vehicle-inspection systems, has named two executives to head its North American management team for the launch of cost-saving products designed for car dealers, used-car auction houses and major vehicle fleets.
Glenn Hemminger joins UVeye as managing director of North American Operations, and Bob Rich will be North American sales director. The company recently announced plans to establish new offices in Ohio and New York and expects to open production and warehouse facilities in the U.S. next year.
Sites under consideration for future UVeye production facilities include locations in Michigan, Ohio and Texas, as well as several locations in the southeastern United States.
A West Point graduate, Hemminger had been director of international business development at Cleveland-based Dealer Tire. He previously had served in senior management positions at Cliffs Natural Resources and Gas Natural Inc.
Prior to joining UVeye, Rich had been a regional sales manager at Frogdata, a provider of advanced data analytics platforms for car dealerships. His sales and marketing experience includes work at DealerSocket, CDK Global, Cars.com and The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
"Hemminger and Rich bring us a wealth of retail automotive experience and will be focused on successfully introducing UVeye products to a broad range of new- and used-car dealerships, vehicle auction houses and major fleets," said Amir Hever, the company's co-founder and CEO. "The deep-learning technology embedded in our inspection systems identifies exterior and underbody defects within seconds, while significantly improving profit margins and customer satisfaction levels."
A resident of Mentor, Ohio, Hemminger holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, and a master's degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Rich lives in Chardon, Ohio, and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio.
UVeye's vehicle-inspection systems are equipped with high-speed cameras and artificial-intelligence technology to check for sheet metal damage, underbody component problems and tire wear. Its technology also is used by automakers to improve manufacturing quality and by security professionals to detect bombs, weapons and other onboard-vehicle threats.
The company's 360-degree Atlas quality-control technology was shown for the first time in North America earlier this year at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.
Equipped with software developed for use by car dealerships, Atlas systems are able to capture paint and sheet-metal defects, component damage, missing parts and other quality-related issues within seconds.
"Our deep-learning technology will dramatically change how dealers, major fleet operators and used-vehicle auctions inspect vehicles," Hever predicted. "We already are working with a number of car manufacturers and vehicle-resale businesses in Europe and the Asia Pacific region."
He noted that UVeye systems are based on a unique combination of proprietary algorithms, cloud architecture, sensor fusion, artificial intelligence and machine-learning technologies that will help standardize and speed up new- and used-vehicle inspection processes.
In addition to Atlas, other break-through products UVeye has developed for fleets and vehicle aftermarket use include:
Helios An underbody scanning system that captures problems such as frame damage and fluid leaks, as well as brake and exhaust system issues.
Artemis Camera-based technology that automatically identifies tire specifications and checks for quality issues, including tread wear and sidewall flaws.
The company's technology initially was developed for the security industry to detect weapons, explosives, illegal drugs and other contraband. Today its inspection systems are in place at hundreds of high-security locations throughout the world and have generated millions of vehicle scans.
"We currently have several major automotive- and security-industry pilot programs underway in North America," Hever concluded. "Combined with development projects underway in Japan and Europe, we expect those programs will lead to a significant amount of new business over the next 12-24 months."
About UVeye
The company develops and provides automated inspection systems for vehicles, powered by artificial intelligence and proprietary hardware.
UVeye's deep-learning-driven platforms provide an objective, scalable and efficient standard for identifying problems as a vehicle moves through the automotive lifecycle. UVeye's anomaly detection and quality-control solutions support OEM assembly-line and paint shop operations, as well as aftermarket applications, including systems for insurance providers, fleet managers, rental agencies, dealerships and used-vehicle auctions.
UVeye's first line of products, deployed all over the world in homeland-security and defense markets, allows customers to automatically scan, detect and identify anomalies, modifications or foreign objects in the undercarriage of virtually any vehicle.
The company today is setting new standards for vehicle inspection in the automotive and security industries by changing basic approaches to vehicle inspection through automated processes, improved accuracy and standardized inspection systems. Additional information is available at www.uveye.com.
SOURCE UVeye
Qatar has informed Israel that it will suspend money transfers to Gaza next month because of Israel's pending plans to annex parts of the West Bank, Western diplomats briefed on the matter tell me.
Why it matters: Qatar transfers money to government employees and poor families in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, as part of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. Suspension of the payments could lead to renewed violence.
Qatar will not resume the payments until the situation around possible annexation becomes clearer, the sources say.
The backstory: Israel's government has been debating plans to annex up to 30% of the West Bank as soon as July 1, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping for a green light from the White House to proceed.
Any unilateral Israeli annexations would be widely considered a violation of international law and fiercely opposed by the Palestinians, countries in the region including Jordan, as well as the European Union.
Behind the scenes: Qatar has conveyed its message through multiple channels over the past two week, including in a Zoom meeting of donor countries to the Palestinian Authority.
The Qatari representative in the meeting stressed that any Israeli annexation step in the West Bank will have consequences.
The Western diplomats said his message was directed at senior Israeli officials who were also on the Zoom meeting.
The bottom line: The Qataris are concerned that Israel will implement its annexation plans on July 1 Netanyahu's deadline and dont want to be perceived as enabling Israeli annexation by sending money to keep the peace in Gaza.
Go deeper: Netanyahu privately presents 4 plans for West Bank annexation
[June 23, 2020] Propel Announces Training Records to Maintain Regulatory Compliance and Manage Return-to-Work Safety Regulations
SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Propel, the only product success platform built on the cloud, today announced the launch of Training Records, its latest product innovation designed to save time, streamline regulatory compliance and keep employees safe. Companies can now assign and audit employees completion of training programs on the latest processes, documentation, product updates, work instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Propel ensures employees are quickly trained on critical, time-sensitive updates. Employees can easily access and complete training from any browser, allowing companies to assign training plans to teams across the globe. Companies can also assign site-specific and role-specific requirements, ensuring compliance with all local regulations and safety policies. Early adopters are already using Training Records for employees returning to work as shelter-in-place orders are lifted all before setting foot on the manufacturing floor, using Propels cloud-native solution remotely. Michael Farr, Vice President of Operations at Sierra Monitor, an MSA Safety Company, has been using Propel to shorten his timeline of meeting those requirements. Like many organizations, COVID-19presented new challenges for our company and our employees, said Farr. With Propel Training Records, we were able to develop comprehensive employee training plans to meet county and city requirements in order for our workforce to safely return to work. Propel enables us to stay efficient and flexible as we navigate the current climate.
Manufacturers like Sierra Monitor easily integrate Training Records across their value chain to maintain regulatory compliance as updates are needed, eliminating time spent on manually distributing and auditing training assignments using email or shared files. Companies can also improve employee safety by immediately issuing training for new safety regulations as conditions change. Managing employee certification is critical for manufacturers looking to maintain compliance and eliminate risk using a simple process thats fully integrated with their existing product platform, said Ray Hein, CEO of Propel. Training Records help organizations ensure employees are certified and trained on the latest changes and processes, allowing them to save time while remaining compliant for future audits.
About Propel
Propel helps companies achieve product success by connecting the people, systems and processes needed to deliver products from concept to customer. Propels flexible and easy-to-use platform deploys quickly to serve as the single source of product truth for an entire value chain, including sales, service and partners. Get products to market faster while maximizing customer satisfaction and meeting local requirements needed to compete globally using secure and transparent collaboration. Propel is built on Salesforce, the industry's top-rated cloud SaaS platform, and integrates all the capabilities of its modern cloud infrastructure. Salesforce's multi-tenant architecture is future-proof, ensuring Propel will always be the next generation product success platform. For more information, visit www.propelplm.com . For more information, contact: Mel Bolton, 510.847.8781, [email protected]
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MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - As per media reports, Markus Braun, former CEO of Wirecard AG (WRCDF.PK), has been arrested by German police. The arrest is reportedly part of an investigation related to the suspected financial manipulation with respect to the sales figures of the German payment firm. Last week, Markus Braun resigned as member of the management board of Wirecard as the auditor Ernst & Young found that no sufficient audit evidence could be obtained of cash balances on trust accounts to be consolidated in the consolidated financial statements in the amount of 1.9 billion euros. Later, Wirecard said the missing 1.9 billion euros of cash probably does not exist. The company withdrew its preliminary results for the financial year 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. On Friday, Wirecard confirmed that it is in constructive discussions with its lending banks with regard to the continuation of the credit lines and the further business relationship. On Monday, the company's Supervisory Board terminated employment contract of the member of the Management Board Jan Marsalek. 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.
At a time when restructuring activity is reaching unprecedented levels, this honor telegraphs the expertise of these firms to the market.
New Generation Researchpublisher of BankruptcyData, The Turnaround Letter and other bankruptcy and distressed securities-related content and data platformsannounced the winners for its 2020 Industry Best Awards. BankruptcyDatas third annual Industry Best Awards identify the leading firms in each of the following categories: Investment Banks, Law Firms, Financial Advisors, and Claims Agents, based on information collected over the course of 2019. The winners this year are Houlihan Lokey, Kirkland & Ellis, Alvarez & Marsal, and Prime Clerk.
A winner in 2019 as well, Houlihan Lokey again claims the BankruptcyData Industry Best Award for Best Investment Bank in 2020. The firms renowned restructuring group served as investment banker for two of the years highest-profile bankruptcies, Ditech and Bristow, and worked on other notable cases including Bumble Bee, Barneys, and Shopco. Companies Houlihan worked with last year represented over 22.6 billion in liabilities. The firms restructuring group earned 353 million in 2019, accounting for about 30% of overall revenue. The 45 managing directors in the restructuring group represented 7.9 million per head, the highest per capita among the firms three divisions.
Kirkland & Ellis wins top honors for the Best Law Firm of 2020. The firm represented a variety of companies through bankruptcy last year, most notably including Windstream Holdings, Vanguard Natural Resources, Philadelphia Energy, and Forever21. Kirkland's performance in BankruptcyData's 2019 league tables had them leagues ahead of their next competitor in every metric including billings and mandates.
Alvarez & Marsal repeats as the top firm in the Financial Advisor category for 2020. Notable cases included Windstream Holdings, Weatherford International, Sanchez Energy, Bristow, and Southern Foods Group.
Finally, Prime Clerk claims the BankruptcyData Industry Best Award for Best Claims Agent in 2020, repeating for the third year in a row. The agency scored with the biggest filings of the year, including PG&E, Weatherford, Hexion, and EP Energy. Indeed, PrimeClerk was named in six out of the top ten filings of the year.
Full details of cases and rankings are published in the Bankruptcy Data Yearbook and Almanac.
New Generation Research CEO James Hammond applauded the winners and acknowledged the relevance of this years awards: We congratulate the winners. At a time when restructuring activity is reaching unprecedented levels, this honor telegraphs the expertise of these firms to the market. While we could not recognize them in our usual way at the American Bankruptcy Institutes annual meeting, we look forward to including their award presentation next year when hopefully that event takes place.
About New Generation Researchs BankruptcyData:
Boston-based New Generation Research, Inc. (NGR), is a leading provider of corporate bankruptcy and distressed securities publications, products and services. Founded in 1986 by George Putnam, III, NGR has established itself as the preeminent source for in-depth information on turnaround investing, corporate bankruptcy data, and distressed companies.
If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases please contact the company listed in the press release. Our complete disclaimer appears here BankruptcyData is a division of NGR. BankruptcyData hosts the industry's most comprehensive business bankruptcy database housing 30+ years of corporate bankruptcy statistics and analysisoffering an invaluable resource to monitor and research historic and real-time U.S. Bankruptcy Court activity.
For additional information on BankruptcyData's Industry Best Awards, visit BankruptcyData.com. For further details on New Generation Research's full range of product offerings and research services, contact New Generation Research, Inc. 88 Broad Street, Second Floor; Boston, MA 02110.
DANBURY - Graduates of Henry Abbott Technical High School received their diplomas on Monday during a drive-thru celebration.
Decorated cars drove through the parking lot of the school and under an arch of blue and white balloons.
Students were told to arrive at designated times based on their field of study. At their turn, they got out of their cars, heard their name read, accepted their diplomas and posed for photos in front of 2020 balloons.
There were 158 students expected to graduate during the six hour event, which was livestreamed on Instagram. A virtual ceremony with speeches was also planned.
This is one of the last graduation ceremonies to be held in the Danbury area this year, which was marked by the coronavirus pandemic.
A pregnant woman and her young daughter who were found shot to death in a car last week were mourned Sunday in Maryland by family and friends, according to multiple reports.
Shiand Miller, 23, and her 3-year-old daughter Shaniya Gilmore were found dead inside a vehicle in the citys Westgate neighborhood in southwest Baltimore around 12 a.m. on June 19.
Devon Sample, 24, Millers boyfriend and the father of her unborn child, was arrested in connection to the homicide, police said.
Sample was arrested shortly after the bodies were found and has been charged with 16 counts, including first-degree murder. He is currently at Central Booking waiting to see a court commissioner.
I needed her, Gilmores grandmother told FOX5 at Sundays vigil.
I changed my life for her, she said. You all took so much from me taking her away. I could barely brush my teeth this morning. All I see is her on my toilet saying grandma I got to rinse my mouth too.
A GoFundMe fundraiser page was set up by family members to raise money to cover funeral expenses.
News just broke that my sister Shiand Miller and my niece Shaniya were tragically murdered, Millers brother Eric Jenkins wrote on the page. My family is grieving right now as we search for answers, he added.
Jenkins said Miller was eight months pregnant and Gilmore would have turned four in October. This senseless violence needs to stop, he added.
Police Commissioner Michael Harrison released a statement following the family tragedy and arrest of Sample:
This is a tragic situation where family and friends are left suffering and mourning over the loss of loved ones. I want to commend the hard work of our dedicated Homicide detectives for quickly apprehending the suspect for this despicable act of violence. I can only pray that family and friends of the victims and our city can begin the healing process.
Gilmores grandmother said she is mourning the loss of three family members and hopes this tragedy and pain is a wake-up call for others.
Detectives said the case is still an active investigation and have not released a possible motive at this time.
Gilmores great grandfather told CBS Baltimore the young couple didnt get along very well and frequently argued.
Viewers of new BBC series The Luminaries have slammed the show's bewildering' plot, complaining that they can't see or hear anything due to 'awful' lighting and a mumbling cast.
The miniseries launched on Sunday night and was watched by an audience of 5.3 million, but they were quick to voice their disdain on Twitter afterwards.
The drama is an adaptation of Eleanor Catton's 2013 Booker-winning novel of the same name, and stars the likes of Eve Hewson, Eva Green and Himesh Patel.
Hard to watch: Viewers of new BBC series The Luminaries - starring Eve Hewson - have slammed the show's 'awful' lighting and 'bewildering' plot
Set in New Zealand at the height of the 1860s gold rush, Dublin-born actress Eve, 28 - who is the daughter of U2 frontman Bono and and his wife, activist Ali Hewson - plays Anna Wetherell - a young woman who sails to the country from Britain in 1965 to begin a new life.
She is taken under the wing of a brothel owner Lydia Wells, played by Eva Green, and takes a romantic interest in fellow passenger, Emery Stains, played by Himesh Patel.
The storyline is intricately woven with another set nine months later - which sees a murder investigation after a body is discovered in a hut alongside a woman passed out after taking opium.
Popular: The drama is an adaptation of Eleanor Catton's 2013 Booker-winning novel of the same name, and stars the likes of Eve Hewson, Eva Green (pictured) and Himesh Patel
BBC dramas such as Poldark, Taboo, SS-GB and Jamaica Inn have all been criticised for their poor sound quality, and containing 'mumbling'.
It is a problem that has plagued the BBC for years, with BBC director general Tony Hall saying in 2013: 'I dont want to sound like a grumpy old man, but I also think muttering is something we could have a look at.
'Actors muttering can be testing - you find you have missed a line - you have to remember that you have an audience.'
Adaptation: Set in New Zealand at the height of the 1860s gold rush, Eve plays Anna Wetherell - a young woman who sails to the country from Britain in 1965 to begin a new life
As complaints over sound issues arose again 2016 when Happy Valley aired, Lord Hall told executives to look into 'audibility' issues.
The following year, Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC TV Channels and iPlayer, told the Voice of the Listener and Viewer conference that they were going to do everything they could to prevent the problem again, including creating a new set of guidelines.
However, these issues have not only carried on with The Luminaries, but several viewers complained that they weren't able to understand the plot, because this time, they couldn't see what was going on.
Talking point: The miniseries launched on Sunday night and was watched by an audience of 5.3 million, but they were quick to voice their thoughts on Twitter afterwards
Taking to Twitter in their droves, viewers penned: 'What was the matter with sound quality in #TheLuminaries? It sounded as though everybody had bags on their heads. Made it even harder to follow a plot that changed direction so often. Miss a second and whoops! Lost!'
'The Luminaries BBC 1 intriguing and beautifully shot but anybody know what the hell is going on ????'; ''I'm gonna put this out there.. I've not got a Feckin Clue What's Actually going on!! #TheLuminaries'; 'Giving #TheLuminaries a go, but it's looking dreadfully like one of those series where it's perpetually dark and I can't actually see anything that's happening!'
'Is the book as weird and confusing as this BBC adaptation ?? #TheLuminaries'; 'Is it really a new BBC show if there aren't people all over Twitter complaining that they don't understand what's going on? #TheLuminaries [sic]'.
Confused: Several viewers complained that they weren't able to understand the plot, as they couldn't see what was going on
'Need to turn brightness up on tv. Haven't a clue what's going on #TheLuminaries'; 'Thank you BBC for making the opening few minutes of The Luminaries so dark it's impossible to work out what's going on. Fingers crossed it gets better
I'll stick with it but I'm getting bored with muddled time-lines (can't we just have a beginning, middle and end) and awful lighting. #TheLuminaries';
'I was left disappointed+underwhelmed.All the expense of a lavish production,but a heavily convoluted plot+a lack of relatability makes this series highly forgettable.Eve Hewson did her best, but once you think she looks like Emily Blunt's Sister, you just wish it was Emily Blunt.'
'Beautiful costumes and setting. Bewildering plot and not found affinity for any characters yet. I sold it to my family as Poldark- esque. We were not gripped and it was humorless and I missold it.'
Atmospheric: There was some support for the drama, however, with some viewers praising the beautifully shot scenes and tense plot
There was some support for the drama, however, with viewers penning: 'Well I enjoyed the #Luminaries and I'll watch again. Atmospheric and mysterious. I hadn't much clue what was going on but the lighting and costumes and acting were gorgeous to watch';
'The Luminaries: Warm reviews, but was it (literally) too dark? Not for me. I thought it was visually stunning. Now't wrong with it on my LG TV.'
Director Claire McCarthy, previously said about the lighting: 'The colour palette is more gothic and grounded in the shadows. We wanted a sense of mystery and intrigue and a kind of burnished golden world inside the interiors.
'We were trying to inhabit the kind of world and the resources that they would have at that time so we were embraced that as a visual aesthetic.
'We wanted there to be a visceral quality to the show, rather than it to feel typically period or dusty, and so there needed to be an energy and a dynamism to the way the camera captured the world.'
Racy: Among the dimly-lit scenes in the opening episode was a raunchy part starring Eve, who was seen romping with another woman's husband
Among the dimly-lit scenes in the opening episode was a raunchy part starring Eve, who was seen romping with another woman's husband.
The actress - who plays an Irish prostitute in the series - was filmed having sex on a beach in the racy scenes.
The screen star made her acting debut in 2005 alongside her sister Jordan in the short film Lost and Found.
She has also appeared in The 27 Club in 2008, Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies and more recently starred in 2018 action-adventure film Robin Hood as Marion - the protagonist's love interest and girlfriend of Will Tillman.
Time to catch up: The Luminaries continues on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One
Speaking to Radio Times about landing the roles, Eve admitted that having a famous father in Bono helped open doors for her.
She confessed: 'That's never been a problem for me, and I think that's because of my family.
'That's not the way the system should work, of course, but if the door is open, walk through the door.
'It can then become a bit of a hindrance, because they can't separate you from your father or see you as an individual.
'Often, they have very low expectations, and they really don't think you're going to be good. And then you are quite good, and they are quite surprised.'
The Luminaries continues on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One
The Lumanaries review by Daily Mail's Claudia Connell
Rating:
Flashback, as a method of bridging time and filling the viewer in on a narrative, can be a highly effective method in film.
If overused though, it can be frustrating, confusing and downright annoying.
In new BBC drama The Luminaries, the time-jump trick was constantly employed to the point where it started to fry your brain.
The first of six episodes opened with Anna Wetherell (played by Eve Hewson) running along a beach in the dead of night.
Her clothes were in rags, a man lay dead, and what appeared to be liquid gold, rather than blood, was oozing from her wounds.
Not a fan: In new BBC drama The Luminaries, the time-jump trick was constantly employed to the point where it started to fry your brain
Nine months prior to that, Anna, a bold Irish woman travelling alone to New Zealand to seek her fortune at the height of the gold rush, stood on the deck of a boat where she met prospector Emery Staines (Himesh Patel). He invited her to meet for a drink at his hotel after their arrival. She never showed.
Instead, she hurried to her own lodgings but on the way encountered Lydia Wells (Eva Green), a bewitching brothel owner and fortune teller who stole Anna's purse knowing it would mean she had no choice but to work for her as a prostitute.
Based on the Man Booker Prize- winning novel, author Eleanor Catton adapted her work for TV and made drastic changes from what was a complicated, 832-page oeuvre divided into 12 parts and centred around signs of the zodiac and celestial charts.
If the plan was to make it easier to follow, then it failed. The mystery and mysticism that dominated the book had been chipped away but there was still too much unfathomable talk about 'astral twins' and 'cosmic fingerprints'.
Hewson, as Anna, wasn't called upon to do much more than stare and pout in the opening episode, and if Emery Staines really was as we were led to believe her astral twin, her soulmate and her destiny, then there was precious little chemistry between them in the one scene they shared.
The excitement of the gold rush, the dangerous characters it attracted and the hot, dusty, dirty towns they inhabited were all conveyed well.
Shot on location in New Zealand, the scenery was beautiful, it's just a shame that the story was an unfathomable mess.
The Maharashtra Police forces toll for Covid-19 reached the 50 mark, after an assistant sub-inspector from Mumbai Police succumbed to the disease on Tuesday. This has brought the city police forces casualty to 34.
The deceased, a 56-year-old assistant sub-inspector, was attached to the Marine Drive police station. He was on leave, as the commissioner of police has exempted police personnel over 55 years of age from duty, as they are more vulnerable to contracting the virus.
The deceased had fallen sick around two weeks ago, and tested positive for the virus. He was admitted in Gurunanak Hospital in Bandra (East).
He was admitted in intensive care unit and was put on ventilator after developed breathing issues. He succumbed to the disease at 1am on Tuesday, said Mrityunjay Hiremath, senior inspector of Marine Drive police station.
So far 2,510 policemen from city police department have tested positive for Covid-19. 1,785 Covid infected policemen have recovered completely, while 692 are undergoing treatment at various hospital and Covid care centres. The Maharashtra state police reported total number of coronavirus cases in the force to 4,048.
Vinayak Deshmukh, assistant inspector general of police (law and order), said that the police department has successfully contained the growth of Covid among policemen by adopting multiple preventive and precautionary measures.
Cyber cops issue advisory
Yashashvi Yadav, special inspector general of police (cyber-crime), Maharashtra, on Tuesday released a video and said, In last four-five days resources on cyberspace of India, especially related to information, infrastructure and banking have been under attack from China. At least 40,300 such cyber attacks were attempted, most of them can be traced to Chengdu area of China. The state cyber police department also issued an advisory alerting citizen about a possible phishing attack by Chinese cyber attackers. The advisory states that the Chinese attackers have plan to attack 20 lakh email IDs.
The advisory states that the attackers may impersonate government agencies and department. They could use spoofed email IDs such as ncov2019@gov.in for phishing.
The phishing email may contain content such as free Covid-19 testing for all residents of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.
They may ask to fill in your personal details and to click on a link. Cyber police officers have appealed the citizens to be more cautious and vigilant while using the internet.
Three burglars tests positive
Three accused arrested for house breaking by the Juhu police, have tested positive for Covid-19. Report of one other accused is still awaited. One of the three burglars include a 25-year-old man who broke into the house of film director Soham Shah and had stolen his two mobile phones and cash on May 26.
Pandharinath Whaval, senior inspector from Juhu police station confirmed the development and said, We are taking all precautionary measures.
(With inputs from Suraj Ojha and Vijay Kumar Yadav)
(Photo : Amazon ) Olympus Seeks You! Here Are Amazon's Top 5 Greek Mugs (Photo : Amazon ) Olympus Seeks You! Here Are Amazon's Top 5 Greek Mugs (Photo : Amazon ) Olympus Seeks You! Here Are Amazon's Top 5 Greek Mugs (Photo : Amazon ) Olympus Seeks You! Here Are Amazon's Top 5 Greek Mugs (Photo : Amazon ) Olympus Seeks You! Here Are Amazon's Top 5 Greek Mugs
When 'Greek' crosses your mind, what is the first thing that pops in your head? For most of us, Greek mythology is the answer. Learn to be the most powerful men in the Universe like Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, and Atlas! To make that, let's have the first step by purchasing these Amazon's top five ceramic Greek mugs made just for you!
Looking for Greek giveaways? Here are top 5 Greek mugs!
Lunarable Mythology Mug
If you are a fan of Greek mythology, you would know exactly how great these mugs are for your every morning! Lunarable Mythology Mug is available on Amazon today!
This ceramic mug has its classic Greekish style that has an illustration with a ship on ocean and Sun, like the Greek Lords. Make yourself feel like a Greek god with this mug on Amazon. Check the prices now!
Greece Flag Coffee Mug
If you want to visit Greece for its spectacular tourist spots, but don't have enough budget for the trip. Why not purchase a souvenir, first?
Luckily, Amazon has Greece Flag Coffee mug on the stock. This ceramic mug has a blue and white strip flag that represents the official Greek flag. Feel like a real Greek using this mug every morning! Check the prices now on Amazon!
Exceptionlab Inc. 10-ounce Ceramic mug
Exceptionlab Inc. features a 10-ounce ceramic mug that can be yours on Amazon for the best prices. This mug has a fun retro design like a to-go cup, so you will feel like Greek sipping with his coffee in the morning.
It has a certified lead free material and could be great as a great novelty gift. You will also feel special using this mug with its 'we are happy to serve you' tagline. Check the prices now on Amazon!
3d Rose Greek Church Domes Mug
For a great price on Amazon, you can already visit Greece every morning at your house! Purchase and have this 3d Rose Greek Church Domes Mug that can be yours once you click that add-to-cart button on the store.
This white ceramic mug has a blue interior and a handle with printed both sides. It has 11 oz for your juice, teas, or coffee. You can microwave it to heat your beverage and even hand-wash it without having troubles to ruin the design. Check the prices now on Amazon!
3d Rose 'I can't keep calm, I'm Greek' Mug
If you're a Greek, here's the best gift to give with your Greek friends! No offense to the mug, 3d Rose mug has a funny tagline to keep your officemates away from you during work, especially if you're Greek.
Check the prices now on Amazon!
ALSO READ: Amazon Prime Day 2020: Everything You Need To Know About the Best Deals and Discounts
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When you are a week out from finishing your intern year, you start to feel pretty confident. When you are a week out from finishing your intern year, and you spent the last four months of it on a COVID floor in a major New York City hospital, you start to feel particularly confident. Whether youre about to become a senior resident, with interns of your own, or about to start your categorical program after a prelim year like me, youve achieved a lot this year. You survived a grueling year of waking up early, pre-rounding, seeing your patients, getting grilled on rounds, and cranking out notes until theres no tomorrow. You rolled with the changes and kept calm in the chaos when COVID first erupted, and all the procedures had to change. On the first day of the intern year, you arrived worried, even afraid that you would not know what to do. The patient is hyperkalemic, do you give K-Dur or Kayexalte? Both of them have a K, right? Now those decisions are second nature. Now, youre ready.
At least thats what I thought until last night. While on the night shift, we had a patient who was awaiting a small procedure the following morning and had been stable for several days. Around 3 a.m. the patient called me into the room because she just wasnt feeling right. After a thorough assessment, physical exam, EKG, labs, and another exam, I figured that it was anxiety, so I was standing with her, holding her hand, and reassuring her. Then, around 3:15 a.m., everything changed. She became bradycardic and unresponsive. The nurse who was with me turned to me and said, Doctor, what should we do? I froze. My first thought, Wheres my senior? The nurse snapped me out of it by asking if there was a pulse. I felt a faint, but present pulse and we called a rapid response. Things quickly escalated from there, and my responses were more fluid and practiced, but I distinctly remember breathing a deep sigh of relief when my senior arrived. By 4 a.m., she had coded, twice, and ultimately passed.
Besides the grief of losing a patient, one feeling stood out to me: disappointment. After all these months and all this practice, I kept thinking to myself, Im not ready. I froze when a patient needed me the most. One of the fellows noticed I was standing off to the side and asked what was wrong. I explained what was going through my mind, and he told me what I least expected, You are ready. I still freeze for a moment when something goes wrong, and youre still just an intern. You will continue to get better with these scenarios, and moving forward, you will always remember this moment to remind you what needs to be done. I still felt disappointed, but his words certainly helped and reminded me of something If we were expected to be ready after one year, then residency wouldnt be multiple years. There is still plenty of learning and growing to do.
So, to those of you who are wrapping up the year and feeling worried, feeling confident, or feeling anything in between, remember that we might not be ready yet, but we are ready to take the next step.
Shane Stone is a resident physician.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Ambassador Le Dung, Vietnams permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reaffirmed Vietnam commitment to maintaining close cooperation with the agency
to promote the application of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and to serve sustainable development, especially in resolving global issues such as disease, climate change, and environmental pollution.
Ambassador Le Dung, Viet Nams permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), attended a teleconference of the IAEA Board of Governors from June 15 to 19.
Addressing a teleconference of the IAEA Board of Governors from June 15 to 19, Dung welcomed the IAEAs building of the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action Project.
He expressed his belief that the project would help member nations develop nuclear technology so as to better manage pandemic threats such as COVID-19.
He told participants that Viet Nam gained initial success in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming 334 cases of infection by June 16 with zero fatalities.
The ambassador took the occasion to thank the IAEA for supporting Viet Nam in applying RT-PCR, a nuclear-derived method, to detect the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, as well as financial and technical contributions from countries such as the UK, the US, Japan, Canada, and Norway to help the agency provide its support.
During the teleconference, delegates discussed the main issues in the IAEAs operations, such as its nuclear technical cooperation programmes with members and the enforcement of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Safeguards Agreements between the IAEA and Iran, Syria, and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The Board of Governors is one of the two policy-making bodies of the IAEA, along with the annual General Conference of IAEA Member States.
The 35-strong board examines and makes recommendations to the General Conference on IAEAs financial statements, programmes, and budget. It considers applications for membership and approves safeguard agreements and the publication of the IAEAs safety standards. It also appoints a Director General of the IAEA, with the approval of the General Conference.
Viet Nam has been elected to the IAEA Board of Governors many times and was Chair of the Board in 2013-14. VNS
The Suspects
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested three brothers identified as Emmanuel Ushie 23; Henry Ushie, 30 and a graduate of Statistics from Anambra State University and Matthew Ushie, 28, and an OND graduate from Federal Polytechnic Oko, for running a fake Frank Mba Foundation bank account with FCMB.
A statement released by the spokesperson of the Force, Frank Mba, said the trio used a fake Facebook account and then fraudulently operated bank accounts to defraud innocent Nigerians of their hard-earned monies under the pretext that the Foundation is raising money to help vulnerable Nigerians during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Investigations by officers attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) reveal that the brothers engage extensively and serially in such frauds and other related cybercrimes.
During the unrelenting manhunt of the fraudsters, Henry Ushie, an elder sibling to Emmanuel Ushie, was identified as the gang leader of the syndicate behind the scam. He went underground as his younger siblings also involved in the crime were arrested.
Following weeks of intense follow-up and meticulous investigations, Henry was arrested on Thursday, June 11 at a hideout in Ihiala, Anambra State. His arrest eventually led to the arrest of his younger brother Mathew Ushie m who is also an active member of the syndicate.
Further investigation revealed that Mathew Ushie had been arrested in Ghana last year in a well-publicized bust of fraudsters where he and other international fraudsters used the name of the Inspector General of Police of Ghana, John Kudalor to defraud unsuspecting Ghanaian policemen in the guise of providing an opportunity for them to attend United Nations peacekeeping mission using a fake Facebook account. Information about his arrest and parading before the press in Ghana is available on the internet.
Similarly, Henry Ushie had also been arrested in 2017 by the IRT for impersonating then ACP ABBA Kyari, the Commander IRT on Facebook, and defrauding many innocent Nigerians before he was arrested and subsequently charged to court for impersonation. He eventually got bail from the court and went back to the same crime.
Mba said all the suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
The police spokesperson added that 21 other suspected fraudsters including a woman, have been arrested for their involvement and indictment in cases of romance and online dating scams, generating and deployment of fake bank alerts, hacking and fraudulent wire transfers, cyberstalking and impersonation of high-profile personalities in Nigeria and across the world.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects include:
i. 11 Laptop Computers
ii. 37 Mobile Phones
iii. 11 SIM cards of different telecoms networks
iv. 5 International passports
v. 12 ATM Cards
vi. Fake US Dollar notes.
vii. Quantities of dry leaves suspected to be Marijuana
Estelle Mouzin disappeared on her way home from school in January 2003. AFP/CBA
Experts sealed off a former home of killer Michel Fourniret, dubbed the "Ogre of the Ardennes", in northern France - more than 200 kilometres from the town east of Paris where Estelle Mouzin disappeared on her way home from school in January 2003.
Fourniret was jailed for life in May 2008 for the murder of seven girls and young women, and charged over Mouzin's disappearance last November after his ex-wife contradicted his alibi.
Detectives first considered Fourniret a suspect in the girl's disappearance in 2006, after they found a photo of Mouzin on his computer.
A white van resembling the one he drove had been spotted in the area where she vanished, in the town of Guermantes, east of Paris.
But no DNA evidence was ever found to link him to the case, and Fourniret maintained for years that he was at home in southern Belgium, near the French border, on the day Mouzin disappeared.
Then in November last year, Fourniret's former wife Monique Olivier told investigators that a phone call he claimed to have made from his home the day the girl vanished, was actually made by her at his request.
FOCUS ON THE CELLAR
And in March, Fourniret confessed Mouzin's murder to investigating magistrates, without revealing the location of the body.
Ex-wife Olivier is also serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 28 years for her role in some of the abductions and killings.
On Monday, investigators descended on Fourniret's former house in the Ardennes in northeast France.
There were about 50 police officers as well as forensics experts, an archeologist and army engineers, preparing for excavation of the property that has never been searched until now.
Investigators are particularly interested in the cellar, covered with concrete by Fourniret, and came armed with radar equipment to scan the ground before they start any digging.
They were joined at the scene by advocates for the missing girl's family.
Police also cordoned off another former home of Fourniret, in nearby Chateau de Sautou, where the remains of a 12-year-old girl and a 22-year-old woman were found in 2004.
Fourniret was found guilty of seven killings committed between 1987 and 2001. He confessed to the kidnapping, rape and murder of his victims and his life sentence carries no possibility of parole.
He was also convicted of attacks on three girls who managed to escape.
This map shows where active coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Victoria. These are cases that have been identified by the health department in recent days but which have not yet recovered:
Keep in mind that the map shows the area of residence of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 - this does mean the area was where they were infected or where they currently reside. People in hotel quarantine at the moment are likely from all throughout Victoria (and other states, for that matter), but are staying in the Melbourne CBD.
Here is the current tally on the number of active cases in the six local government areas that have been identified as coronavirus hotspots:
Brimbank: 15 (four more than yesterday)
Hume: 14 (three more than yesterday)
Moreland: 7 (one more than yesterday)
Darebin: 4 (no change since yesterday)
Casey: 8 (one fewer than yesterday)
Cardinia: 5 (no change since yesterday)
You can also view the change in the number of active cases in these areas over the course of this month using the interactive graph below.
Other areas with a considerable number of active cases include the City of Melbourne council area (20), Moreland (8), Maribyrnong (6) and Moonee Valley (5).
Nigeria on Monday said West African regional body ECOWAS had backed its choice to head the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the continent looks to get behind one candidate.
The WTO this month kicked off the process for selecting a new director-general, after its current chief Roberto Azevedo decided to leave a year early.
Diplomats acknowledge that Africa may be in line for the post since the continent has never before provided a WTO director-general.
Nigeria is lobbying for its former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to get the top job.
She currently serves as board chair of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and as a special African Union (AU) envoy to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Nigeria's foreign ministry said in a statement that ECOWAS heads of state had thrown their support behind her candidacy due to "her long years of managerial experience at the top echelons of multilateral institutions".
The AU has voiced the ambition to settle on a single African candidate to put forward, but it remains unclear if it will manage to do so before the July 8 deadline.
Several other candidates from the continent appear likely to be in the running, including former Egyptian diplomat Hamid Mamdou, who worked with the WTO for years.
The AU, like everyone else, believed it had more time on its hands, since the search for Azevedo's successor had been scheduled to start in December.
However, the surprise announcement of his early departure has left everyone scrambling.
Spikes, a 40-year-old Atlanta native who now lives 20 miles south in Fayetteville, Ga., said rising activism against police brutality in recent years exposed deep racial divisions in American society that could no longer be ignored. Wary of protests that could turn violent, she took her 12-year-old daughter Morgan to the Wendys, which was burned down and has turned into a memorial for Brooks, and to the viewing. Spikes wanted her daughter to see history unfold.
Shimla, June 23 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday greeted six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on his 87th birthday.
"Praying for his good health and long life," BJP leader Thakur said in a tweet.
This time the senior Congress leader celebrated his birthday with special prayers at his private residence, Holly Lodge, located in the Jakhu hills in the state capital with his family members alone.
On earlier occasions, a large number of party activists and well-wishers used to pour into his residence to celebrate the occasion in a grand manner.
Virbhadra Singh, who started his political career by entering the Lok Sabha in 1962, belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Bushehr state. He is popularly known as "Raja Saab".
Virbhadra Singh often says there might be an ideological difference with his political opponents, but he didn't have personal difference and animosity with anyone.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
WEST HAVEN Mayor Nancy R. Rossi is commissioning a special committee to create, organize and oversee events for West Havens 100th anniversary next year. The West Haven Centennial Committee will celebrate the 1921 birth of Connecticuts youngest town with a series of commemorative events 100 years in the making.
The centennial will include a kickoff ceremony and other events that observe West Havens rich and diverse heritage, Rossi said.
In addition to Rossi, the committee members are city Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo, mayoral aide Ruth G. Torres, Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy, city Treasurer Michael P. Last, Charter Revision Commissioner Rohan Smith and West Haven Historical Society President Jon E. Purmont.
The honorary members are state Sens. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, and James Maroney, D-Milford; state Reps. Charles J. Ferraro, R-West Haven, Michael A. DiMassa, D-West Haven, and Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven; City Council Chairman Ronald M. Quagliani, D-at large; and council members Bridgette J. Hoskie, D-1, William X. Conlon, D-2, Elizabeth K. Johnston, D-3, Mitchell L. Gallignano, D-4, Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5, Peter V. Massaro, D-6, Trenee McGee, D-7, Chrystal Fanelli, D-8, Robert Bruneau, D-9, Barry Lee Cohen, R-10, Gary T. Donovan, D-at large, and Colleen OConnor, R-at large.
Rossi said the committee will meet in the coming months to plan various centennial events for 2021. The committee will announce the events once they are finalized, she said.
West Haven, now a city, incorporated as Connecticuts youngest in 1961, is also one of the states oldest communities.
In 1648, West Haven, then known as West Farms, was settled by farmers from the New Haven Colony. West Farms became the separate parish of West Haven in 1719 through a petition granted by the General Assembly. In 1822, the parish united with North Milford to form the town of Orange before separating from Orange in 1921 to become the town of West Haven.
According to the Historical Society, West Haven was founded by several New Haven Colony leaders who recognized the value of the extended shoreline, unadulterated forests and potential farmland. The historic crossing into West Farms was by horse bridge over the West River near New Haven Harbor. The West River Crossing is an event that is commemorated to this day both in ceremony and in a master mural in the post office on Campbell Avenue.
Soon after, according to information on the societys website, guilds built six large post-medieval houses within a short distance of the communitys central Green, a common grazing and meeting site. The earliest settlers shared the lands with three major Native American tribes that historically summered in West Farms, using the resources of forests, three tributaries and a shoreline abundant with both freshwater and saltwater life.
Scouts launch remote summer camp
MILFORD - Boy Scouts Connecticut Yankee Council is introducing an innovative way to camp this summer. Camp Phoenix is a remote camping experience that allows Scouts to safely camp from their backyards and connect remotely for official Scouting activities and programs.
Camp Phoenix brings what Scouts love from traditional camping to their backyards, said Michael Morrell, director of camping, Connecticut Yankee Council. This is a creative and innovative way to camp and work on merit badges, accept Firebird challenges, join in camp lore and other official Scout programs. We may be physically apart, but this is a way to connect during these challenging times.
Registered Scouts will experience hikes, runs and walks as well as community service and other initiatives utilizing their Scout training to meet challenges and complete programs. Scouts can choose from 60 merit badges to complete ranging from astronomy, photography, landscape architecture, music and more. Scouts also will learn basic Scout Skills while working on advancement requirements. Topics of instruction include knots, first aid, physical activities and many more. In addition, Scouts will receive a creative swag bag a t-shirt, patch and other camp-related items.
Above all else, this is about having fun and enjoying the outdoors safely this summer versus being tethered to televisions, smart devices or video games, added Morrell. In fact, up to 60 percent of the activities for Camp Phoenix take place offline.
Registration is now open and camps run weekly starting June 28. For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.ctyankee.org/camp-phoenix
Program awards $2.98 million in grants
NEW HAVEN - The Community Foundation for Greater New Havens 2020 responsive grant program has awarded $2.98 million to local nonprofit organizations working for the benefit of the community. The 36 local organizations receiving the awards provide a broad range of services to Greater New Haven residents including emergency food and shelter, mental and physical health care, early childhood and youth programs, education and the arts.
The Community Foundations annual responsive grant program is a competitive process open to nonprofits serving Greater New Haven. As part of its larger response to the unprecedented hardships resulting from COVID-19 and the economic shutdown, The Foundation changed its timeline to make the responsive grant awards this spring. The awards in past years were made in the fall.
The grant awards all provide general operating support, giving the organizations flexibility in how to best use the resources in support of their missions. Both single-year and multiyear grants were awarded. A total of $1.28 million will be distributed in the first year.
The responsive grant awards are in addition to the $2 million that was distributed in April and May from the Greater New Haven COVID-19 Community Fund, a joint philanthropic effort with United Way of Greater New Haven. Responsive grants at The Community Foundation are funded by unrestricted funds and preference funds.
Two of the grants, to Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven and Massaro Farm, are partnership grants with support from both The Community Foundation and the Valley Community Foundation.
Omg shoes werk yaaas Beauty trainer!!!
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Zara is outrageously overpriced for how bad their quality is. A few years ago I brought a sweater that was $50 and it literally fell apart in the washing machine and I had it in a little wash bag and everything
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Their quality is trash when they have sales tho they be having SALES
Ive literally only bought one thing from them directly that wasnt from a thrift store tbh
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I dont even bother getting their stuff secondhand, I can find way better quality stuff for the same prices
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I went to Zara HOME the other day and left after 2 minutes laughing at the prices.
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Did the sweater have any wash instructions? That should not be happening if it was washer safe.
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i feel the opposite... but i'm not from the us? but that isnt supposed to make a difference, so. I really like their jeans, and I feel like their fabric doesnt look 'aged' even after years.
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I used to shop there too, everything was crap. I was so dumb!
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Zara uses slave labour. Nobody should be buying from them
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Zara doesn't pay a living wage across its supply chain.
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Those boots are cute.
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Pokedrip?
The shoes are not it but the bags are cute.
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the shoes are ugly but the bag is cool
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Related because it involves shoes but are there shoes that work in hot weather besides sandals?
I recently got rid of all the sandals I own because they were really old and worn out and at the time I intended to replace them. but when I look on thredup to see if they have any I wanna order all I see is how flat and unsupportive the sandals all look.
Most of the time right now if I leave the house I'm in allbirds or toms but if I want to look a little nicer my only option is my birdies which are a little too hot.
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hm, maybe some espadrilles?
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maybe desert boots? i know there's some that are more of an espadrille type material as opposed to suede or leather. or boat shoes/moccasins?
if you're looking for new sandals, then i really recommend skechers. my mum has to wear memory foam shoes and she swears by them.
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Tevas have stepped up their game with sandal designs, I also like Born
Last summer I was really into the two strap sandal look and most designs have a thicker sole, not as flat
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I feel like those shoes are great for your Instagram feed but would get fucked up if you walked on the streets more than 5 feet in them.
As with a lot of Zara items- quality is probably not worth the cost. (Which is saying something since they are going for $30)
Edited at 2020-06-23 09:24 pm (UTC)
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I love pokemon, but i'm very meh on zara, so it's a no from me dawg
i'd love to see future fashion collabs tho
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ive gone cold turkey with zara and i dont like pokemon \o/ YASSS
tho ngl if it was a sailor moon collab, id be such a disappointment :/
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Oh shit only if sailor moon collab x everything goodness in high quality Thatd make the entire year.
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omg yes i'd buy every piece if it was Salior Moon related
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I'd laugh at anyone who wears those shoes
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the shoes are hideous, you guys need to stop lol
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mte omg
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The bag is ok. I have no shame I would totally wear Pokemon clothes in public.
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are those shoes even safe?
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that pokeball is gonna pop right off as soon as they put the sock on lbr
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:44:39|Editor: huaxia
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CAIRO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Arab foreign ministers stressed on Tuesday that foreign military presence in Libya threatens the security and stability of the whole region.
In an Arab League emergency video conference, the Arab countries said that a political solution is the key to solving the Libyan crisis.
The Arab ministers affirmed the pivotal role of neighboring countries in ending the tensions in Libya while hailing the "Cairo Declaration."
Cairo Declaration, the Egyptian initiative announced by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on June 6, sought a cease-fire between warring Libyan parties, an UN-supervised election of a Libyan presidential council, and drafting a constitutional declaration to regulate elections for the later stage.
The meeting also reiterated that unity, sovereignty, safety, and security of the Libyan territories would promote the country's democratic future.
The Arab ministers stressed that the infiltration of the "terrorist and extremist fighters" violated the international resolution which banned arms exports.
Libya has been locked in a civil war since the ouster and killing of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The situation escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rival governments, namely the UN-backed Government of National Accord based in the capital Tripoli and the other in the northeastern city of Tobruk allied with Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed Egypt's fixed stand towards the Libyan crisis.
He emphasized the significance of restoring the strength of the ailing Libyan economy and warned against foreign intervention, which is "the main threat to the Libyans as well as the Arab security and stability."
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit also voiced rejection for all foreign military intervention in Libya.
In his speech for the video conference, Aboul-Gheit called for preserving the unity and independence of Libya.
The main objective of the meeting should be "stopping the fight, reducing the dangerous military field escalations and reaching an immediate truce at all fighting lines especially around Sirte," he added.
Any arrangements for a cease-fire wouldn't stand for long unless they are accompanied by kicking the foreign fighters and mercenaries out and dismantling the military militia, added the pan-Arab body chairman.
On Monday, the Arab League also hosted a virtual meeting calling for ending hostilities in Libya.
The meetings came after Sisi said on June 20 that "Cairo has a legitimate right to intervene in the neighboring country to restore security and stability." Enditem
Beirut's nightlife on the brink as pandemic compounds financial crisis A bartender wearing a protective mask is seen inside a pub in Beirut
By Ayat Basma and Issam Abdallah
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Beirut loves to party, even when the going gets tough. Which is often. The city and its nightlife has weathered wars, bombing campaigns and assassinations, and prides itself on always bouncing back.
But this time is different, say Beirut bar and restaurant owners, who fear that a devastating financial crisis, compounded by the global coronavirus pandemic, may finally be their undoing.
At Le Pecheur, a 20-year-old seafood restaurant, a veteran waiter stood at the entrance, armed with a faceshield and antiseptic spray, on the first weekend after the government lifted restrictions on June 1. There were no customers.
"I have been through the civil war as a child...We saw dead people and shells exploding, but wherever you went, no one ever said they had no money or they can't afford to eat," said Ahmad Kassem, 49, Le Pecheur's owner.
"Now, we have people around us with empty stomachs. No work, no money."
Since late last year, Lebanon's local currency has lost more than 60% of its value, as prices soar. The crisis has slashed jobs, fuelled unrest and pushed the government to seek aid it badly needs from the IMF.
Hundreds of restaurants, cafes and bars have closed in a country where the service industry was long a pillar of the economy and employed a big chunk of the workforce.
Meanwhile waiters at Baron, a restaurant that can seat 200 people in a hip district of Beirut, served a lone table.
"We're living day by day, we're trying our best to plan ahead but every plan we have can change in a matter of seconds," said Baron's founder Etienne Sabbagh, 37.
He said industry leaders had only received empty promises of help from the government as banks cut access to cash and credit facilities.
Across the city in the Hamra district, home to some of Lebanon's oldest nightlife spots, Barometre was one of the few drinking holes open that weekend. The bar, open for 24 years, has lived through all that has befallen Beirut in that time, including two wars with Israel.
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A few customers relax at the bar, while some people have dinner and others sway to the music. Still, the mood is tinged with sadness.
As he pours drinks behind the bar, owner Rabih al-Zaher says he has come to terms with making less profit as a result of not hiking prices.
"You have to build a place that resembles the city, that is able to cope with its ebbs and flows...What can we do? Give up?" he said. "Now, shall I pour you a drink?"
(Reporting by Ayat Basma and Issam Abdallah; Editing by Ellen Francis and Raissa Kasolowsky)
Patrons of Microsoft's game-streaming platform Mixer may not fall in line with the company's plans to migrate them to Facebook Gaming.
According to a report from The Verge, many Mixer partners have expressed interest in joining the Amazon-owned Twitch in the wake of Microsoft's announcement that Mixer would be shut down next month.
Of the 30 partners interviewed by The Verge after Mixer's announcement, only one committed to switching to Facebook Gaming.
Facebook Gaming was attempting to court partners from Mixer by offering them $2,500 according to a report on Twitter
That exodus from Mixer to Twitch is reportedly taking place despite Facebook's attempt to court partners with a $2,500 signup bonus.
While many of the partners interviewed by The Verge say they'll be defecting to Twitch - by far the biggest platform of its kind - major streamers like Ninja, who joined Mixer last year, have yet to commit.
Ninja, whose real name is Tyler Blevins, left Twitch last year on a deal with Microsoft that was reportedly worth between $20 to $30 million.
Microsoft announced an expedited shutdown of Mixer this week, saying that it will close up shop on July 22.
It also said that it will transition all of its partners to Facebook Gaming immediately. Customers with credit or outstanding Mixer subscriptions will be credited with Xbox gift cards.
According to the company, its decision was fueled by a lack of demand for the service, especially in the face of competitors like Amazon's Twitch and YouTube.
Additionally, however the move of partnering with Facebook Gaming was meant to be a strategic one.
Theoretically, the partnership could help set up Microsoft's cloud gaming service, xCloud by helping the company find an audience via Facebook's platform.
If you currently survived Coronavirus and you're a man, the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) wants you to donate your plasma for testing. This was after studies shown that men have more antibody-rich plasma compared to women. It also means that once men get diagnosed with COVID-19 and healed from it, his blood will be more helpful to heal other people experiencing the virus.
Study: Men have more antibodies than women but more prone to getting the virus
Everything bad that happens in our life may have a silver lining on it. For men, specifically.
The Guardian reported that the U.K. hospitals are now seeking more donations of blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors in the country. It was explained that blood plasmas with antibodies can help other patients to fight against the virus.
Anyone infected with the virus has its own antibodies. These cells are the main fighters of our body when an unexpected virus takes over the human organs. Most of the time, the convalescent plasma, wherein the antibodies were found, are formed when someone recovered from COVID-19.
Though every person could have these antibodies, not everyone has strong units of it. And men are the usual population that got the stronger ones.
Study shows that out of the 600 plasma donations in the past months in the U.K, 43% from men have more antibodies. This was compared to women only having 29%.
"We'd still like to hear from anybody who had coronavirus or the symptoms," said Prof David Roberts, associate director for blood donation at NHS Blood and Transplant. "More plasma donors are needed. But we would especially want to hear from men."
The reason behind this fact is that men are more likely to acquire the virus than women. Therefore, it produces more antibodies that are stronger to fight the virus.
Can you donate your plasma?
Not all people are allowed to donate their plasma to hospitals. Of course, patients are needed to be survivors of the virus.
All the organ donators are required to take a few days after their recovery from the virus to make sure that the antibodies are fully developed inside the bodies.
The process is also quick. The report says that it only takes 45 minutes to separate plasma from the blood that you will be donating.
'It was a no-brainer.'
BBC interviewed one of the plasma donators to share his experience. Simon Callon, 51, from St Helens, Merseyside, said that donating plasma is a 'no-brainer' and very easy to do.
His father died from coronavirus, so he wanted to make sure that no one else would be dying from the same disease.
"I don't want anybody going through what happened to my dad. He died in a hospital ward with no family or friends, with a nurse holding his hand. Only 10 people were allowed at his funeral," he said. "If you can save somebody or help somebody, you would do it."
ALSO READ: [COVID-19 Update] Mutation Makes Coronavirus More Infectious; Recovered Patients Remain at Risk
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Doosan Group headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul / Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
Doosan Group and its two state creditors are considering selling equipment subsidiary Doosan Bobcat in a "one-time deal" to ensure the group's future sustainability, sources familiar with the issue said Tuesday.
The Korea Development Bank (KDB) and Export-Import Bank of Korea, have outlined restructuring guidelines for Doosan Group to possibly become an eco-friendly energy conglomerate.
Specifically, the state creditors have asked the group to put more focus on gas and wind turbines, and other equipment- and renewable energy sources-related businesses and abandon existing businesses that don't fall into this segment.
Officials familiar with the issue said the guidelines are interpreted as pressuring Doosan Heavy to unload its construction equipment subsidiaries Doosan Infracore and Doosan Bobcat.
Doosan Group has selected Credit Suisse as the lead manager for the sale of Doosan Heavy's 36.27 percent stake in Doosan Infracore, although officials have remained silent about this. Reports said the planned sale does not include Doosan Infracore's 51 percent stake in Doosan Bobcat, leading analysts to assume that the former will be spun off and sold while the stake in the latter will be held by an investment entity.
This entity is then expected to be merged into Doosan Heavy, and profits generated by Bobcat could be used directly for its normalization, according to the reports.
After Doosan's self-restructuring plans primarily the unloading of non-core assets received a lukewarm response from the financial market, the state-run creditor banks opted to sell off Doosan Bobcat to speed up the group's normalization.
Doosan earlier promised to raise 3 trillion won through restructuring in return for receiving 3.6 trillion won in additional loans from the banks.
So far, Doosan Group has put materials unit Doosan Solus, Doosan Corp's hydraulic components business division, chemical equipment firm Doosan Mecatec and construction firm Doosan Engineering & Construction up for sale.
However, the group has yet to see any substantial progress as no potential buyers have shown interest in purchasing them.
"While the bailout is seen as a quick remedy for Doosan Heavy's 4.2 trillion won in debt scheduled to be repaid by the end of the year, the restructuring is more focused on a long-term strategy for the group, which is the transformation into an eco-friendly power generation conglomerate," an industry official said.
DONETSK, Ukraine -- A blue upholstered wooden chair and a chrome-and-plastic barstool stand in a spartan display window under the flag that Russia-backed forces use for the land they control in Ukraines Donetsk region. In the adjacent window, a sign boasts in Russian of furniture from the Czech Republic above the name of the firm, Hanak, and its official logo.
The shop is located on a main thoroughfare in the regional capital, Donetsk, which the separatists have held since April 2014, around the start of an ongoing war that has killed more than 13,000 people in eastern Ukraine and displaced more than 1 million.
The European Union and the United States imposed sanctions on Russia for its actions in the area known as the Donbas and its seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014, which came after the Euromaidan protests pushed a Moscow-friendly president from power in Kyiv.
Experts said the Czech firm may or may not be in violation of sanctions imposed by the EU, which has an investment ban on Crimea but not so explicitly in the Donbas.
It may also be in violation of Ukrainian law and could create a public-relations headache for Hanak, especially given how word of the shop came to the attention of much of the outside world.
Mercenaries
Two former Czech mercenaries who fought as volunteers alongside the Russia-backed forces filmed a video inside the Hanak showroom in Donetsk and later said they were friends with its Russian owner.
It is unclear what relationship the two have with the store, if any, although some Czech media reports suggested the two went from fighters to furniture salesmen.
The Ukrainian Embassy in the Czech Republic has reacted cautiously, saying it is seeking answers from Prague.
Attempts to reach Hanak for comment were unsuccessful. The Donetsk store was listed on the company's website as of June 23.
Roman Maca wrote one of the first stories on the Hanak store in Donetsk for the Czech news website Hlidaci Pes (Watchdog), which posted it on June 9.
He told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service that his interest was piqued by the video in the Hanak store of the two former Czech mercenaries who fought on the side of the separatists.
Jiri Urbanek, 42, and Pavel Botka, 29, traveled to eastern Ukraine in 2015. In August 2019, Botka, known by his nom de guerre Kavkaz -- which means Caucasus in Russian -- had a leg amputated due to a mine explosion, according to Hlidaci Pes. The two said in the video they had given up their soldier-for-hire life and converted to Islam, although they added that they would fight again "if needed."
Tomas Forro, a Slovak journalist who interviewed Botka in 2016, said that Botka, among other things, adheres to false claims that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down in July 2014 by a Ukrainian jet fighter -- not by a Russian missile fired from separatist-held territory, as international investigators have said -- and that the Euromaidan movement was organized by CIA agents.
The owner of the Hanak store in Donetsk is reported by Czech media to be Valery Vorobyov, a Russian national who is thought to have lived several years in Donetsk.
According to Maca, Urbanek is a "good friend" of Vorobyov.
"When I spoke to Jiri Urbanek, he said that Vorobyov was a good friend of his and that he had the keys to the store. But Urbanek did not say what he is doing now or plans to do in the near future," Maca said.
Investigation
Whether or not the store is in violation of Ukrainian law, is something the Ukrainian Embassy in Prague is examining.
"The overall case needs to be examined first before any conclusions can be drawn, because it will depend on the circumstances. After a first glance, it appears there was a violation of [Ukrainian] legislation. We are discussing the extent [of this violation], so we have sent inquiries to this company, as well as the relevant Czech government agencies and business groups to get a complete picture. Based on this information, we will make relevant proposals to the Ukrainian authorities," Ukrainian Ambassador Yevhen Perebyinis told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service.
Hanak could be in trouble if the goods and materials sold in the Donetsk showroom were moved across the section of the border between Ukraine and Russia that is currently not controlled by Ukraine's border service, said Ukrainian economist Oleksiy Kushch, or if the firm paid any type of "taxes" to the Russia-backed separatists who control Donetsk. Control of the international border by Russia and the separatists is a major obstacle to a peace settlement.
"Here, you need to look at the whole chain of events of the firm's activities. Its business operations; where it pays taxes; how it delivers goods; how it is paid for those goods; how customs agreements are drawn up.... It could be that some of these actions are illegal, according to [Ukrainian] legislation. But the very fact of the physical presence of a business in Donetsk does not violate any of our Ukrainian laws," Kushch explained.
While doing business in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine may be murky, Western countries have been caught getting around sanctions by doing business in Crimea, where the rules are clearer.
A joint investigation by Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, and the anti-corruption project Municipal Scanner found in 2019 that scores of European companies -- primarily offshore holding firms -- continued to operate and invested in Crimea since the adoption of EU sanctions in response to the Russian land grab.
Written by RFE/RL correspondent Tony Wesolowsky, based on reporting by the RFE/RL Ukrainian Service's Donbas Desk
New Delhi, June 23 : Three Indian developers have joined top 10 winners of Google Android Developer Challenge that encourages developers around the world to build apps using machine learning.
The three apps developed by Indians are AgroDoc, Leepi and UnoDogs.
Developed by Navneet Krishna from Kochi, AgroDoc helps farmers diagnose plant disease and make treatment plans.
Leepi, developed by Prince Patel from Bengaluru, helps students learn hand gestures and symbols for American Sign Language.
UnoDogs which helps owners better support their pet's wellness, providing customized information and fitness programmes has been deve;loped by Chinmany Mishra from New Delhi.
The machine learning technology "is becoming more accessible to the developers who build the apps you use every day," said Jacob Lehrbaum Director of Developer Relations, Android.
To encourage more developers around the world to build apps using machine learning, Google launched the Android Developer Challenge last year.
"And after months of hard work, today the 10 winners of the Android Developer Challenge are launching their apps ready for you to try out," Lehrbaum said in a statement.
One app called AgriFarm helps farmers detect plant diseases and prevent major damage in fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, corn and potatoes which has been developed in Balochisan.
"As Android continues to push the boundaries into emerging areas like ML, 5G, foldables and more, we need your help to bring to life the consumer experiences that will define these new frontiers," said Google.
Mr. Mathason "had a kind soul and was a dreamer who had a passion for creativity, photography, poetry, chess, butterflies, magic, and dad jokes, his son, Brian, wrote in a tribute. Read more
People Weve Lost Harvey Mathason
79 years old
Lived in Bensalem
His calling cards were kindness and creativity More Memorials
Linda and Harvey Mathason met on a blind date back when computer dating was a novelty. They didnt meet online, but friends who introduced them did. So Linda still credits computer dating with their hookup.
They both lived in Northeast Philadelphia. Mr. Mathason was a Central High School and Albright College graduate, and their first date was around New Years Eve. By the following October, they were married.
You could say we hit it off, Linda said. He was my best friend.
Mr. Mathason, 79, died on Friday, May 29, of COVID-19 at Jefferson Torresdale Hospital. He had fallen ill at home and was diagnosed with the coronavirus when he arrived at the hospital.
His wife said the response to his death has been overwhelming.
Everybody who ever met him said he was a good person, said Linda Mathason, who also tested positive for COVID-19 but suffered few effects. Im still getting phone calls and cards all the time.
Mr. Mathason was a quality assurance analyst at the former Rohm & Haas chemical company, but his other interests drove him to achievements, too. He gave seminars on creativity. A professional photographer, he chronicled many weddings, and Linda has piles of photos from nature hikes and family gatherings.
Mr. Mathason received a letter of thanks after he sent a photo of the American flag to then-President Jimmy Carter.
He had a kind soul, and was a dreamer who had a passion for creativity, photography, poetry, chess, butterflies, magic, and dad jokes, his son Brian wrote in a tribute.
Mr. Mathason and his wife lived in the Indian Creek section of Levittown until they needed a bigger home for sons Brian and Mark and daughter Lisa. So they moved to Bensalem, where Mr. Mathason built a fourth bedroom in the basement.
He was tough, Linda said. He overcame depression and cancer. He had part of a leg amputated, so he used an artificial one. But he never lost his sense of humor or decency.
He was just a nice, kind person, Linda said.
Whether he was being playful, loving, mischievous or challenging, he looked at everyone with a twinkle in his eyes, his son wrote. He was a hero to many.
In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Mathason is survived by two grandchildren, two sisters, and other relatives.
A celebration of his life is to be later.
Gary Miles, gmiles@inquirer.com
Governor Greg Abbott warned Monday that the coronavirus is now spreading in Texas at an unacceptable rate and pleaded with residents to wear masks in public and continue practicing social distancing.
To state the obvious, COVID-19 is now spreading at an unacceptable rate in Texas, and it must be corralled, Abbott said at a news briefing.
Texas has seen more than 25,000 new coronavirus cases over the past week and on Friday recorded a one-day record of 4,600 new positive cases. The spike in cases comes after Texas allowed businesses to reopen at 75 percent capacity earlier this month.
Abbott urged the public to take precautions against spreading the virus, even as people return to work and frequent public places. He did not, however, announce any new social distancing rules.
Wearing a mask will help us to keep Texas open. Not taking action to slow the spread will cause COVID to spread even worse, risking peoples lives, and ultimately, leading to the closure of more businesses, Abbott said.
The way 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 we maintain the health and safety of the people of the state of Texas, the governor added.
Texas has averaged more than 3,200 daily coronavirus hospitalizations over the last several days, a sharp increase from the latter half of May, when about 1,600 people were hospitalized daily for the virus. Abbott suggested that if those numbers double again, the state may reimpose social distancing restrictions.
If we were to experience another doubling of those numbers over the next month, that would mean were in an urgent situation where tougher actions will be required to make sure that we do contain the spread of COVID-19, Abbott said.
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The women were identified as Frances Neal, 56, and Jasmine Neal, 27, both of Chicago, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. The two were shot to death in the 8600 block of South Wood Street in the Gresham neighborhood Monday afternoon, and police said they were looking for a suspect but did not have him custody as of Tuesday afternoon.
A petition filed by criminal lawyer Surendra Gadling and poet Sudhir Dhawale, both accused in the Elgar Parishad case, before the Bombay high court (HC), has challenged the case being transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), claiming it to be politically motivated as a charge sheet and a supplementary charge sheet were already filed by Pune police. In the petition filed last week, Gadling and Dhawale alleged that the transfer of the probe was done by the Central government as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost power in Maharashtra.
The case, in which several other rights activists have been arrested and accused of having Maoist links, was transferred from the Pune police to the NIA on January 24 this year. According to the prosecution, inflammatory speeches and provocative statements made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, triggered caste violence at Bhima-Koregaon the next day.
An HC division bench of justices SS Shinde and Abhay Ahuja on Tuesday asked the Central government and NIA to respond to the petition. Additional solicitor general Anil Singh and advocate Sandesh Patil, appearing for the Centre and NIA respectively, sought time from the court to take instructions and file their response to the petition, which the court accepted, and posted the matter for hearing on July 14.
The petitioners claimed that no doubt the scheme of the act does not expressly stipulate the stage at which the investigation needs to be transferred to the NIA, however, the same cannot be read to grant to the Central Government an unbridled and unguided power to direct investigation of scheduled offences by NIA long after the charge sheet was filed in the Court by the Investigation Agency of the State Government, purely for political concerns.
The petition went on to state that the Central government had specific knowledge about the offence as early as 2018, but had not directed the NIA to investigate for a period of one- and-a-half years.
On the contrary, it [Central government] allowed the state police to continue with the investigation and showed complete faith in it and defended the investigation by state police machinery before the Supreme Court(SC) in a petition filed by Romila Thapar, read the petition.
The petitioners went to state that Tushar Mehta, additional solicitor general appearing for the Union of India, had vehemently argued before SC that the integrity of the investigating officer cannot be doubted as there was enough material against each of the accused.
According to him [Mehta], the request to set up the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was completely against the cardinal criminal jurisprudence, read the petition.
The petition further stated that the Centre, Maharashtra state and an intervenor had opposed a court-monitored investigation or an SIT, claiming that the investigation was being conducted responsibly and impartially by an officer of the rank of an assistant commissioner of police and the same was carried out under the supervision of a deputy commissioner of police and was being monitored by the joint commissioner of police who was of the rank of an additional director general. The case was then being investigated by Pune police.
The petition went on to state that once the Centre had then refused to exercise the powers available to transfer the case to NIA within 15 days, it could not have subsequently exercised the same, particularly when there was no change in circumstance in the real sense.
The petition claimed that the only change that prompted the Centre to direct NIA to investigate the case was after the BJP-led government in Maharashtra was voted out of power, and a new government formed by the Maharashta Vikas Aghadi, comprising Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Indian National Congress (INC), was intending to constitute SIT to enquire into the circumstances that led to violence at Bhima-Koregaon.
The petitioners claimed that no new statement was recorded or evidence was gathered by Pune police after it had filed a supplementary charge sheet on February 21, 2019. Thus there was no new material that could have prompted the much delayed and curiously timed decision of the Central Government to transfer the investigation only after BJP lost power in the state, claimed the petition.
Meanwhile, the bench also heard the application of activist Sudha Bharadwaj, another accused in the Elgar Parishad case too. Bharadwaj, through senior advocate Yug Choudhary, has challenged the rejection of her interim bail application by a special court.
After hearing the application, the court posted the hearing on Friday as copies of the petition were not served to all parties.
Gadling and Dhawale were arrested in June 2018 and are currently lodged at the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai.
Apart from Gadling, Dhawale and Bharadwaj, the other arrested accused include Rona Wilson, Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, Shoma Sen, Vernon Gonsalves, Varavara Rao and Arun Ferreira.
They were booked under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Mumbai, June 23 : Manoj Bajpayee has opened up on the problem of child trafficking, calling it a "blot on the society". The actor took to Twitter to express his opinion.
"Child trafficking not only a menace but it is also a blot on the society. We as a society should put all our will and force in place to stop it immediately," tweeted Manoj Bajpayee on Tuesday.
The actor's tweet comes in response to a tweet by filmmaker Nikkhil Advani who mentioned how the number of child marriages has gone up during the pandemic.
"Just to put it in perspective. A very credible source tells me 'the number of child marriages have increased as #COVID19 gets tackled..' What's the connection? GIRLS ARE BEING SOLD FOR FAMILIES TO SURVIVE. #ChildTrafficking," tweeted the filmmaker.
Manoj Bajpayee has earlier worked in the film "Love Sonia" that deals with child trafficking.
Making history for the second time this month, the Air Force on Friday became the first military service to pick a woman as its top enlisted leader.
The selection of Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne S. Bass as chief master sergeant of the Air Force comes less than two weeks after the Senate confirmed Gen. Charles Q. Brown to be the next Air Force chief of staff. Brown, who will take over in August, will be the first African American to lead a U.S. military service.
The military has historically promoted relatively few women to senior positions. None have ever served as a service chief or served as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In her new role, Bass will be the senior enlisted adviser to Brown and to Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett on matters relating to the welfare and use of the services enlisted airmen.
Bass, whose hometown is Mililani, Hawaii, has been serving as Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 2nd Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. She joined the Air Force in 1993.
Im honored and humbled to be selected as the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, and follow in the footsteps of some of the best leaders our Air Force has ever known, Bass was quoted by the Air Force as saying. The history of the moment isnt lost on me; Im just ready to get after it. And Im extremely grateful for and proud of my family and friends who helped me along the way.
Epoch Times contributed to this report.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said the current crisis on the border with China is attributable to the "mismanagement" of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government and the "wrong policies" pursued by it.
The crisis on the border, if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee on the situation along the Line of Actual Control -- the 3,500-km de-facto border with China.
Addressing the meeting, Gandhi also hit out at the government for "mercilessly" raising petrol and diesel prices for 17 consecutive days, even when global prices of crude oil were falling.
She also noted that the "mismanagement" of the COVID-19 pandemic will be recorded as one of "most disastrous failures" of the Narendra Modi government.
"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 National Democratic Alliance government and the wrong policies pursued by it," she said.
On the LAC crisis, Gandhi said, "The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will inform the government's actions in protecting our territorial integrity."
"Undeniable fact is that since April-May, 2020 till date, Chinese troops have committed brazen transgressions into our territory in Pangong Tso area and the Galwan Valley, Ladakh. True to its character, the government is in denial. The intrusion was detected and reported on May 5, 2020. Instead of a resolution, the situation deteriorated rapidly and there were violent clashes on June 15-16," she said.
Indian and Chinese armies have been on a six-week standoff in several areas of eastern Ladakh. The ties between the two countries came under severe strain after Chinese military killed 20 Indian Army personnel and injured around 76 in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15.
She said though the Congress party was the first to offer its total support to the armed forces and the government, there is "a growing feeling among the people that the government has gravely mishandled the situation".
"We urge upon the government that peace, calm and the restoration of the status quo ante along the LAC be the only guiding principles in our national interest. We will continue to closely watch the situation," she said.
On the COVID-19 pandemic, Gandhi said, "The grave deficiencies in the health infrastructure have been exposed. The promised 'peak' is nowhere in sight. The Centre has passed the buck to the state governments, but given them zero extra finances. Actually, the people have been left to protect themselves as best as possible."
Despite assurances of "the prime minister, who centralised all authority in his hands, the pandemic continues to rage", she said.
Endorsing Gandhi's remarks, Singh said, "The pandemic is not being tackled with the courage and magnitude and effort needed to tackle the crisis. Another instance is the crisis on the border, which if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation."
As the coronavirus-induced lockdown halted economic activities, the Congress president said the economic crisis has only become worse. "The Modi government refuses to listen to good advice."
She said the need of the hour is a massive fiscal stimulus, putting money directly in the hands of the poor, protecting and nurturing MSMEs, and stimulating demand.
"Instead, the government announced a hollow financial package that had a fiscal component of less than 1 per cent of GDP. The government has 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," she said.
The result, she said, is 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. Recovery is likely to take a long time, and that too only if the government corrects its course and adopts sound economic policies," she said.
The meeting of the CWC, the highest decision-making body of the Congress, started by paying homage to Col B Santosh Babu and the brave soldiers, who laid down their lives in the clash with Chinese troops.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Defense lawyers for a Russian charged with involvement in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 said Tuesday that the nearly six-year investigation into the deadly incident still has not produced a definitive picture of what happened and further investigations are needed.
The claim came at the trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian charged with crimes including murder for their alleged involvement in what prosecutors say was a missile attack that blew the Amsterdam-to-Kuala Lumpur flight out of the sky, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board on July 17, 2014.
In a move that could significantly delay the trial, Dutch lawyers representing Russian suspect Oleg Pulatov asked for clarifications and translations of evidence already produced by prosecutors and more investigations, including questioning more than 100 witnesses.
Lawyer Sabine ten Doesschate said she and the defense team would have more requests for further investigations in the future after they have been able to travel to Russia to speak with Pulatov. She said lawyers have not been able to visit Pulatov because of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
After years of investigations by an international team, prosecutors last year named four suspects: Russians Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinskiy and Pulatov as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko. None of them have appeared for their trial, which started in March and is still at a preliminary stage.
At trial hearings earlier this month, prosecutors outlined in detail how the international investigation ruled out other theories and concluded that a Buk missile trucked into Ukraine from a Russian military base was used to shoot down the plane.
But another of Pulatov's defense attorneys, Boudewijn van Eijck, accused investigators of tunnel vision in focusing on that theory and not adequately checking out other possible causes, such as the possibility that MH17 was shot down by a Ukrainian fighter jet or another missile.
Presiding Judge Hendrik Steenhuis adjourned the case until Friday, when judges are expected to rule on the defense requests.
Editors note: The project is designed as an apartment complex, not a condominium development as stated in this report. For details of the new apartment and townhouse project, click here.
BAY CITY, MI A new project at the Uptown Bay City development will bring 100 new condominium units and a new parking garage to the site. The project includes a 5-story residential building on the Saginaw River.
[June 23, 2020] Aperity Expands Latin American Division to Provide Data Management and Analytic Solutions to Fast Moving CPG Industries
Aperity, Inc., an innovative provider of data management and analytic solutions for supply chain partners, today announced that it is expanding its presence in Latin America to support its growing business in a variety of fast moving CPG industries. According to Juan Reffreger, Managing Partner for Aperity Latin America, "For the past several years, our team on the ground has been supporting our growing wine and spirits relationships with customers including Beam Suntory and the Patron Spirits Company as well as expanding relationships with Guatemala-based Lanquetin Pharmaceutical Company, one of Central America's largest wholesale drug distributors, and other CPG companies. We are delighted to expand our presence and introduce industry-specific Data Exchanges to meet the growing demand in Latin America." Aperity's Latin American team has both commercial and operations capabilities in Guatemala, Mexico and throughout Central America including developers, data analysts and engineers, project managers and business intelligence consultants. Leveraging its expertise in machine learning to automate data collection and harmonization, Aperity helps its customers incorporate highly relevant data sources immediately, preserve the quality and clarity of the data and develop data-driven business strategies. "Aperity provides our wholesale drug distribution business with constatly-updated sales and brand performance reports and analytics that immediately meet our business needs," said Fernando Sotovando, Brand Manager and Marketing Coordinator at Lanquetin. "Thanks to these actionable insights, we have been able to quickly identify better opportunities in our market and maximize our profitability. We are very pleased with Aperity's level of service, follow-up and immediate support which gives us absolute confidence in the valuable solutions that they provide." Please visit the recent case study "Aperity's Data Analyzer Identifies Actionable Sales and Marketing Insights for Lanquetin" for more information about Aperity's relationship with Lanquetin.
Since its founding, Aperity has been a data analytics provider focused on accelerating accurate insights. It learned over time, however, that as strong as its customer support and innovative products were, they were essentially useless if the customer data provided was slow and inaccurate. Aperity refocused on the "plumbing" of the analytics business, utilizing machine learning and data prediction to ingest, cleanse and harmonize data to ensure accuracy and usability. Aperity's recently launched its revolutionary Beverage Data Exchange, the industry's first open community-centric data solution that helps facilitate business insights between supply chain partners. Aperity's Beverage Data Exchange makes it simple to connect, clean, harmonize and deliver.
"The industry is demanding new and innovative solutions to improve data quality and governance in terms of visibility, accuracy, speed and transparency and Juan and his team are ready to deliver," said John Madalon, Aperity Founder and CEO. "We are excited to create revolutionary products to facilitate improved business insights between supply chain partners in Latin America and around the globe." For more information, please visit https://aperity.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005118/en/
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The mayors response to the dramatic increase in illegal fireworks being set off throughout the city at all hours of the night is to focus on education and going after the suppliers, leaving the NYPD to enforce more serious concerns like the uptick in shootings.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that all people need to know that fireworks are not only illegal but dangerous.
We intend to go to the root cause and that is the people who are supplying the fireworks and profiting off of illegal fireworks, de Blasio said. Were going to start a huge sting operation to go and get these illegal fireworks at the base.
Suppliers in the city as well as in neighboring states where New York City residents are purchasing them and bringing them back will all be subject to the sting.
The Sheriffs office, FDNY and the NYPD have formed a task force that will consist of over 40 officers from each department, including 12 FDNY Fire Marshalls and the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, Deputy Sheriffs.
The NYPD Intelligence Bureau will help identify where the illegal fireworks are coming from, the mayor said, and there will be undercover buys and sting setups.
The FDNY will also lead a public safety campaign aimed at all New Yorkers with a focus on young people.
Theres a lot to do and we have to do it quickly, he said. Its more than weve ever seen and earlier but its not new.
The mayor said enforcement at the street level from the NYPD is difficult because its often people setting off fireworks and then leaving the area.
The most important thing is for the NYPD to work on the most important issues and right now given the other challenges were facing I want them working on the most fundamental issues of public safety so Im concerned about the shootings, he said.
NYC AND MACYS BRING FIREWORKS TO EACH BOROUGH
De Blasio announced the city will partner with Macys to bring a legal fireworks show to each borough beginning on Monday, June 29.
Specific information about each show will not be released until shortly before the fireworks show and each show will only be five minutes each.
We want to get them where people can see them from the own homes, from rooftops, not something where people go to a single location, he said.
The July 4th finale will take place from the top of the Empire State Building and be aired live on NBC.
This July 4th is going to take on added meaning; weve been through so much, he said.
Its going to something that will be special for the city; different but very special, very powerful, very moving but also very safe.
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The High Court in Pietermaritzburg has cancelled an arrest warrant against South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma after his lawyer handed in a doctor's letter confirming his ill-health.
The arrest warrant was issued in February after Mr Zuma failed to appear in court for a hearing.
His legal team had said the former president had gone to Cuba for a medical procedure, but the court was not satisfied with the explanation.
Pre-trial proceedings began on Tuesday regarding the corruption trial in which Mr Zuma is accused of receiving bribes from French arms company Thales 20 years ago.
The hearing has now been postponed to September.
Source: BBC
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In a thinly veiled dig at China against the backdrop of a tense border stand-off, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the worlds leading voices should act in an exemplary manner by respecting international law and recognising the interests of partners.
Jaishankar didnt name any countries in his remarks during his address at a virtual meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia-India-China (RIC), but there appeared to be little doubt about whom he was referring to.
He also made a strong case for a greater role for India in the decision-making of international organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and in what India has been describing as a reformed multilateral world order.
Watch | Need to respect international law..: Jaishankar in a meet with China, Russia
The special RIC meeting, Jaishankar said, reiterates Indias belief in the time-tested principles of international relations.
But the challenge today is not just one of concepts and norms, but equally of their practice. The leading voices of the world must be exemplars in every way, he said.
Respecting international law, recognising the legitimate interests of partners, supporting multilateralism and promoting common good are the only way of building a durable world order, he added.
A violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley on June 15 had left 20 Indian soldiers dead the countrys first fatalities in a confrontation along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 45 years.
In a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on June 17, Jaishankar had said the violence and casualties were the outcomes of premeditated and planned action by Chinese troops aimed at changing the status quo along the LAC.
China has repeatedly sought to blame India for the tensions, saying Indian troops had crossed to the Chinese side of the LAC.
It has also claimed sovereignty over the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, though the region has been under Indias control for decades.
The RIC meeting, originally scheduled for March but put off due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, was organised at Moscows initiative to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War-II and the foundation of the UN.
Jaishankar referred to the shaping of the world order in the 1940s by the victors of World War-II and said the political circumstances of that era didnt give India due recognition.
This historical injustice has stood uncorrected for the last 75 years, even as the world has changed. Thereforeit is important for the world to realise both the contribution that India made and the need to rectify the past, he said, noting 2.3 million Indians had fought in the war and another 14 million had participated in the war production.
International affairs, he said, must come to terms with contemporary reality. The UN began with 50 members, today it has 193. Surely, its decision-making cannot continue to be in denial of this fact. We, the RIC countries, have been active participants in shaping the global agenda. It is Indias hope that we will also now converge on the value of reformed multilateralism, Jaishankar said.
Besides losing its soldiers in battlefields from Tobruk, El Alamein, and Monte Cassino to Singapore, Kohima, and Borneo, India helped keep key supply lines open to Russia and China, he said.
So tomorrow, when our military contingent marches through the Red Square, it would be an affirmation of the difference that we made, he said, referring to an Indian contingents participation in the Victory Day parade in Moscow on Thursday.
Defence minister Rajath Singh is in Moscow to participate in the parade and hold meetings with Russias top defence leadership.
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A n American man who is suing the police for wrongful arrest is being thanked for saving a police officer's life, after he helped pull him from a burning car.
Daylan McLee, 31, a black man from Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit against the state police in 2018 after he was wrongfully imprisoned for a year.
He is being credited with saving the life of Officer Jay Hanley in Uniontown, near Pittsburgh, after a car crash on Sunday evening.
Mr McLee spent a year in jail before being acquitted, after video proved that he had disarmed a gunman, not pointed a gun at officers, during an incident outside a bar in 2016.
He said he wants more people not to judge all police based on one interaction, but to look at individuals instead.
On Sunday night, Mr McLee said he thought there had been a small earthquake, until a relative ran into his house to say there had been a collision involving a patrol car outside the Uniontown apartment.
Mr McLee ran outside and pulled Officer Hanley from the wreckage of the police cruiser as flames started spreading into the car.
Daylan McLee is suing the police after he was wrongfully arrested and jailed for a year / AP
Police officers say Mr McLee saved the officer's life.
I dont know what came across me, but I ripped the door open and just pulled him to safety across the street, Mr McLee said.
Tensions between US police and civilians have risen recently after global protests over police racism and brutality, following the death of African-American man George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.
But for Mr McLee, the pressing issue on Sunday evening was simply about saving a life - not his past encounters with the police.
Uniontown Police Lt Thomas Kolenciks told WTAE-Pittsburgh on Sunday that the department was grateful Mr McLee had been nearby when the crash occurred.
Daylan actually said: Im not going to let him die,' Lt Kolencik told the TV station, with his voice cracking. Theres just no words to describe, you know
Several members of Officer Hanleys family have expressed their gratitude Mr McLee on social media, noting that the officer is undergoing surgery for a serious leg injury he received in the crash.
Mr McLee said the police chief, several officers, and Officer Hanleys sister had all called to thank him for his actions.
Daylan McLee was wrongfully charged after an incident at a bar in 2016 / AP
"There is value in every human life," he said. "We are all children of God and I cant imagine just watching anyone burn.
No matter what other people have done to me, or other officers, I thought: This guy deserves to make it home safely to his family.'
Mr McLee filed a lawsuit in late 2018 against four Pennsylvania state police troopers after he was jailed for a year after a fight outside an American Legion bar in Dunbar in March 2016.
Daylan McLee saved a police officer from his burning patrol car / AP
Mr McLee had rushed to the bar after his sister called, telling him she needed to be driven home because a fight had broken out. Mr McLee arrived at the bar and disarmed a man standing in the car park with a gun, and threw the weapon aside.
At least one trooper fired shots at Mr McLee as he ran away. The trooper said Mr McLee pointed a weapon at him twice. However, security footage showed McLee disarming the man, before discarding the gun quickly and fleeing when shots were fired.
As millions of children worldwide wait for their schools to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations finds many countriesthe United States includedcould face an uphill road to find, include, and engage their most vulnerable students after classes restart.
Even before the crisis, we knew that almost 260 million children and young people around the world were not in education, said Manos Antoninis, director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations Global Education Monitoring Report, released today . And now, when we think about COVID-19, the question globally is whether some of those students who were in school may not return after the academic alarm is off. ... This is a big risk which we know very little about.
Thats because a significant number of students worldwide felt disconnected from or unsafe in school even before the widescale school closures this spring, and some of the most marginalized studentsthose in poverty, or from racial, ethnic, or sexual minorities, and those with disabilitiesare less likely than their peers to connect with education remotely during the disruption.
Since 2015, UNESCO has tracked global progress on establishing quality education for all children by 2030, one of the groups Sustainable Development Goals. This years report focused on countries capacity for inclusive education, not just for students with disabilities but for all educationally marginalized groups.
Among the reports findings:
More than 40 percent of countries, representing 13 percent of people worldwide, cannot track education data by student characteristics such as gender, race, income, and disability status.
Students with disabilities make up 15 percent of all children who do not take part in schooling at all, and only 10 percent of countries have laws calling for full classroom inclusion.
The United States has smaller gaps in reading and math achievement by income and gender than the global average
Countries efforts around inclusive education have by and large focused on literal infrastructure"the right doors and ramps, Antoninis saidbut the report called for education systems to identify ways to make students and their families feel safer and more connected to school communities.
Often children get alienated, especially in poor countries, because the education offered is not very relevant, he said. They need to see themselves reflected in school: their group, their background, where they come from. If you want to achieve the learning outcomes, we need to ensure that children around the world feel a sense of belonging through the education experience.
That includes in the United States, where UNESCO noted a third of 15-year-olds reported feeling like outsiders on campus.
The United States ranks alongside the Dominican Republic among countries with the highest degree of students who feel they dont belong in school, Antoninis said. Thats well above the global average and is something that is for them to investigate and do something about.
This spring has not even been a perfect storm, but more of rolling wavesCOVID, the economy, the [racial] unrestthat are just layering on more and more anxiety, particularly for students of color, said Sandra Timmons, the interim executive director of the Steve Fund, a nonprofit focused on mental health supports for marginalized children.
School support interventions during school closures may be treating vulnerable groups of students as separate and discrete, ignoring how different kinds of marginalization pile up, Timmons said. In many cases, they are very much related: poverty and racism in various forms such as microaggressions or stereotypes, as well as displacement from school. As you continue to layer on some of these pieces, you see the trauma about them increasing and being perhaps harder to address and deal with.
The report urges countries to reevaluate how their policies and budgets support education and engagement for vulnerable student groups, as well as how schools and teachers work to connect with students during the pandemic.
There has been, we believe, a little bit too much focus [during the pandemic] on all the distance-learning solutions that are being used right now around the world, because to some extent people imagine that maybe this is the answer for the future, Antoninis said. However, its very important to know many marginalized young people lost any touch with their teachers during this, even in the richest countryeven in the Los Angeles school district, we know that almost one-third of the secondary-school population lost contact with their teachers during the pandemic. And if you look at the poorest countries, only 12 percent of households have access to the internet at home. ... So were talking globally about a major crisis that has completely rooted these young people out of education all together.
UPDATE: Authorities on Wednesday said they had found Williams family.
EARLIER: Authorities are asking for the publics help in finding family members of a man who died earlier this month on Birminghams Southside.
Kenneth Fitzgerald Williams, a 58-year-old Black male, was found dead shortly after 9:30 a.m. June 15. His landlord discovered him while performing a welfare check. Authorities have not said how Williams died.
Williams lived at his home at 1494 Milner Crescent South for about 20 years, but a search of his personal records failed to yield family members or emergency contacts.
Anyone with information on his relatives is asked to call the Jefferson County Coroners Office at 205-930-3603.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 21:34:32|Editor: huaxia
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MOSCOW, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday that the United States made it clear at a meeting held in Vienna that it has not yet decided on whether to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).
"We did not feel that the Americans are ready to accept our logic in favor of an extension without preconditions," Ryabkov was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.
He noted that there is little time left for the discussions as the New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty in force between Russia and the United States, expires on Feb. 5, 2021.
He said that the United States insisted on China joining the agreement, while Russia explained to the Americans "in sufficient detail" that this is unrealistic.
Ryabkov said that Moscow respects Beijing's well-known position of not participating in any trilateral arms control talks with the United States and Russia.
Therefore, the only way forward at this stage is to continue the discussion in the bilateral Russia-U.S. format, he said.
On Monday, Russia-U.S. consultations on arms control and strategic stability were held in Vienna, with delegations headed by Ryabkov and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea.
Ryabkov said the next round of consultations with Billingslea may take place at the end of July or beginning of August. Enditem
The ABC has offered hundreds of permanent roles to casual staff even as it prepares to make more than 200 staff redundant because of a budget freeze imposed by the Morrison government.
More than 350 casual staff have been offered permanent positions in the months leading up to the national broadcaster's announcement of its five-year strategic plan, which ABC sources said could be revealed as early as Wednesday.
ABC boss David Anderson is expected to unveil the company's five-year strategic plan this week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The national broadcaster last week confirmed it would pay $600,000 in penalties and another $12 million in repayments to casual staff, but has separately offered permanent roles to casuals after a review.
Community and Public Sector Union's ABC section secretary Sinddy Ealy said many of the casuals have been offered permanent positions because they had been working regular shifts over long periods, unlike the irregular employment that casual work is intended for.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
As COVID-19 restrictions loosen this summer, Canadians will spend more time outdoors and make the most of the sunshine. A new study from McGill University suggests why men may be more genetically prone to develop skin cancer.
The research led by Professor Ian Watson of McGill's Goodman Cancer Research Centre (GCRC), published in the journal Nature Cancer, identified three genes on the X chromosome with significant mutations. Females have two X-chromosomes whereas males have an X and a Y chromosome. "Of the three significantly mutated genes we found on the X-chromosome, only one gene had a specific type of mutation found only in males," says Prof. Watson.
Females can develop other types of mutations in the gene in question, but since they have two X chromosomes (males have one), they have two copies, allowing the second to serve as a backup if the first becomes mutated. "These mutations may help explain why male melanoma patients have higher incidence and worse survival rates," says Rached Alkallas, a Ph.D. student at McGill and the study's co-first author.
Genetic changes and UV
One of the most important risk factors for melanoma skin cancer is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and indoor tanning. By shedding light on specific genetic changes caused by UV exposure, advances in gene sequencing techniques have given researchers the ability to dig deeper into the underlying causes for the sex differences in melanoma. After analyzing genetic mutations in more than a thousand melanoma cases, researchers have provided some insight behind this mysterious sex bias. "We're continuing to do more research in this area, including determining how these mutations affect melanoma biology and respond to immunotherapy," explains Mathieu Lajoie, Ph.D., research associate and study co-lead.
More effective personalized treatment on the horizon
"Immunotherapy has been life-changing for many melanoma patients," Prof. Watson says of the form of treatment that reactivates a cancer patient's immune system to get rid of cancer cells. "Unfortunately, a large subset of patients still don't respond to this treatment and we're working in collaboration to understand where the problems lie in order to connect all the dots."
In addition to the role gender plays in different incidence and survival rates, data is beginning to emerge that suggests they may also have different response rates to the latest forms of therapy. Watson is investigating whether the sex difference in mutations he uncovered might help explain the reason. Deepening our knowledge of the genetics of various melanoma subtypes could also go a long way in providing personalized treatment whereby patients are matched with the therapies that are most likely to treat their specific cancer.
Explore further Melanoma risk in young Australians goes beyond the burn
More information: Rached Alkallas et al. Multi-omic analysis reveals significantly mutated genes and DDX3X as a sex-specific tumor suppressor in cutaneous melanoma, Nature Cancer (2020). Journal information: Nature Cancer Rached Alkallas et al. Multi-omic analysis reveals significantly mutated genes and DDX3X as a sex-specific tumor suppressor in cutaneous melanoma,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s43018-020-0077-8
RESTON, Va., June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, was awarded a new contract by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to design and implement a regional consolidated mail outpatient pharmacy system (CMOP). The standard contract holds a total approximate value of $79 million and includes a two-year period of performance followed by 20 three-month option periods. Work will be performed in Shawnee, Kan.
"We are excited to build on our six-year legacy supporting the VA's national pharmacy systems," said Debbie Opiekun, Leidos Military and Veterans Health Solutions senior vice president. "This contract accelerates the VA's mission to modernize their pharmacy infrastructure through an integrated, automated pharmacy system with cutting-edge technology and superior integration services. Leidos looks forward to enabling VA CMOPs to achieve their growth goals, meet patient safety requirements, and maintain extremely high quality."
Leidos will establish a new, state-of-the-art CMOP for the VA to replace its legacy Leavenworth, Kan. facility. The company will provide a highly-automated capability that uses robotic devices and conveyor systems to accurately fill and ship more than 80,000 prescriptions per day for U.S. military veterans and other eligible patients. The Leidos team will build and maintain an end-to-end automated prescription fulfillment system that provides reliable production processes, increased efficiencies of scale, and robust platforms for future use.
This release does not, in any respect, state or imply the Department of Veterans Affairs' approval or endorsement of Leidos' products or services nor does it state or imply that the Department of Veterans Affairs considers Leidos' products or services superior to other products or services.
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500 information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 37,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $11.09 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2020. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 3, 2020, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Contact:
Melissa Duenas
(571) 526-6011
[email protected]
Thomas Doheny
(571) 474-4735
[email protected]
SOURCE Leidos
Related Links
http://www.leidos.com
Posted June 23, 2020
We are collaborating with FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to identify misinformation and to ensure news consumers get the facts.
Although President Donald Trump had expected to fill the 19,000-seat arena for his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma with overflow crowds next door there were whole sections of empty seats at the June 20 event.
The Tulsa Fire Department reported that about 6,200 tickets were scanned for the event. The Trump campaign has disputed that number, saying that the attendance figure was actually closer to 12,000.
Whats not in dispute, though, is that the campaign canceled speeches that were planned for an outdoor overflow crowd when that crowd didnt materialize.
But you wouldnt know that by looking at Trump fan accounts on social media, which have been posting a picture of an outdoor crowd near Washington, D.C. in 2019 with the bogus claim that it shows the overflow crowd in Tulsa.
Video: Iowa woman's TikTok urged followers to take up President Trump rally tickets
Many of the pictures were shared with a caption attached that claimed: "A small crowd has gathered for the Trump Rally in Tulsa."
The Berks County Republican Committees Facebook page posted the picture the day after Trumps rally with this claim: SHARE THIS FAR AND WIDE AS THE LEFT IS TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE TRUMP SUPPORTERS DIDNT SHOW UP FOR TRUMP!
But the picture actually shows the start of an annual motorcycle ride through Washington, D.C. that highlights veterans issues and honors prisoners of war. Its hosted by an organization called Rolling Thunder. The picture shows a crowd of participants gathered in the north parking lot of the Pentagon, where the ride began on May 26, 2019.
Other photos from that day, some of which were featured on the Facebook page for Rolling Thunder Washington, D.C., show a similar angle of the scene as is featured in the picture now being shared with the false information. The same white Jeep is visible in the foreground as is the black truck in the crowd and the white-topped tents.
Artie Muller, executive director of Rolling Thunder confirmed to FactCheck.org that the photo being shared on social media shows the event. Thats how it always looks, he said.
So, the picture shows a crowd near Washington, D.C. in 2019, not the crowd for Trumps Tulsa rally.
Editors note: FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebook to debunk misinformation shared on social media. Our previous stories can be found here.
HALIFAXIndigenous communities in Atlantic Canada are creating their own utility to take charge of water systems in First Nations around the region.
The Atlantic First Nations Water Authority is expected to be up and running independently by the spring of 2022, with a leadership team appointed by next April.
Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller announced Tuesday that the federal government will provide $2.5 million to assist in the formation of the agency, saying it will be the first Indigenous-owned and operated water authority in the country.
Indigenous communities in Canada currently pay 20 per cent of the operating and maintenance costs of their water and wastewater systems, with about 80 per cent of the operating funds provided by Indigenous Services Canada. The federal government also funds capital infrastructure.
Ottawa will continue to provide this funding, but management of the systems and the assets will shift to the First Nations water authority over the next two years.
Many communities, including Potlotek First Nation in Cape Breton, have for decades struggled with inferior water quality, and have lobbied strongly for upgraded systems and more local control.
Potlotek Chief Wilbert Marshall, the first chair of the water authority, called Tuesdays signing of a framework agreement a historic day, adding he expects Indigenous control of the systems will lead to improvements in operations.
A lot of times government steps in and gives you no choice ... But now, its going to be based on our communities (needs), the best experts in the field and the best water money can buy, he said.
Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada have in the past been responsible to operate and maintain their own small systems, though some First Nations such as Membertou in Cape Breton have negotiated agreements with neighbouring municipalities to provide service.
To date, 15 communities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island including all of the larger First Nations in the region are part of the framework agreement announced Tuesday. Others, including communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, may join in the future.
Miller called the authority a major step forward towards greater First Nations-led delivery of essential services, describing the East Coast model as one his department would be eager to see spread across the country.
Carl Yates, the former head of Halifax Water, will be the interim chief executive of the new authority, and will lead its setup and initial planning.
He said the water authority will assume ownership of the water systems and put together a business plan that will bring them up to the highest standards in the land.
Yates and Marshall said the authority will use expertise from non-Indigenous consultants and experts, but the goal is to hire local Indigenous people to work for the utility and for Indigenous leadership to take charge in the years to come.
We have a clear mandate to hire a First Nations workforce to the fullest extent possible, Yates said.
Marshalls Potlotek community has repeatedly faced water quality issues.
The Mikmaq community of about 750 people at the southern end of Bras dOr Lake formerly known as Chapel Island First Nation received funding from Indigenous Services Canada to build a new water treatment plant after repeated boil water advisories in recent years.
The plant is now in its commissioning phase, but Marshall said if the water authority had been in place, he believes the plant would have been up and operating sooner.
Eventually were going to have our own people doing this ... and hopefully well be self-sufficient, he said.
The concept of a joint Indigenous authority emerged after studies prepared by Dalhousie University, Halifax Water and the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat, Yates said.
The Atlantic Policy Congress includes representatives from the Mikmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Innu chiefs, nations and communities, and it is governed by a board of directors comprised of the chiefs.
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The five defendants in the federal "Cream Scheme" case will be sentenced separately in July.
Judge Sandy Mattice, who heard the lengthy case without a jury, will conduct the hearings at the Federal Courthouse in Winchester.
The judge in early March found all five defendants guilty of some of the 178 charges brought in the healthcare fraud case.
Prosecutors said the scheme involved signing up family, friends and others to receive creams produced at a compound pharmacy. The creams were billed to private insurance companies and the government insurance program for the military for as much as $15,000 a jar.
Here is the sentencing schedule:
Jayson Montgomery: Sentencing set for 7/15/2020 11 a.m.
Billy Hindmon: Sentencing set for 7/17/2020 11 a.m.
Michael Chatfield: Sentencing set for 7/23/2020 11 a.m.
Kasey Nicholson: Sentencing set for 7/27/2020 11 a.m.
Jerry Wayne Wilkerson: Sentencing set for 7/28/2020 11 a.m.
Prosecutors said Wilkerson made over $14 million from the scheme and Chatfield raked in $5.4 million.
In addition, Wilkerson made $400,000 in charges to the Hamilton County Schools for creams billed at exorbitant prices.
Prosecutors Piper and Franklin Clark said Chatfield also got $1.5 million for passing on his "book of business" to Jimmy Collins. Collins and his wife, Ashley, formerly lived at Birchwood, but moved to San Diego. They were also arrested in the healthcare fraud and are awaiting trial. Ashley Collins asked to be tried separately, but that motion was denied.
They said insurance companies and Tricare paid a total of roughly $35 million for the compounded medications in the locally-based scheme. Private insurance paid roughly $22 million for prescriptions written by Candace Michele Craven, Toni Dobson, and Suzy Vergot.
Of this number for private insurance, Ms. Craven was responsible for roughly $21 million. She has been scheduled to be sentenced in San Diego on Friday. However, it was delayed until June 12. Attorneys said they wanted to wait until the cases of co-defendants had been settled.
Likewise, Tricare (the health agency for the military) was billed roughly $13.8 million for prescriptions written by Ms. Craven, Ms. Dobson, and Ms. Vergot as part of the scheme, it was stated.
They said Wilkerson (through his Top Tier corporation) made roughly $13 million in commissions from four pharmacies: Willow, Central Rexall, Florida Pharmacy Solution and Soothe. They said, "This number did not include the commission paid by Hamilton County Schools on the $954,000 that was billed to them."
Chatfield made $5,400,000 through his corporation Top Shelf, the government said.
Ms. Nicholsons commissions were $938,740, of which she paid $204,000 to Matthew Perkins.
Hindmons commissions were $1,031,296, and Jayson Montgomerys commissions were listed at $337,068.17.
Wilkerson was also found guilty of 21 counts of wire fraud, and Chatfield was ruled guilty of 21 counts of wire fraud as well.
Ms. Nicholson was found guilty of seven counts of wire fraud, while Hindmon was found guilty of 22 counts of wire fraud. Montgomery was found not guilty of all the wire fraud counts.
Wilkerson was found guilty of five counts of mail fraud, while Chatfield was found guilty of eight counts of mail fraud.
Ms. Nicholson was found not guilty on mail fraud charges. Hindmon was found guilty of a single mail fraud charge.
Wilkerson, Chatfield, Ms. Nicholson and Hindmon were found guilty of healthcare fraud, and Montgomery was ruled not guilty of healthcare fraud.
Wilkerson and Chatfield were both found guilty of five counts of payment of illegal remuneration.
Ms. Nicholson was found guilty of three counts of payment of illegal remuneration, and Hindmon was found guilty of two counts of payment of illegal remuneration.
Wilkerson was ruled guilty of three counts of receipt of illegal remuneration. Chatfield was found guilty of one count of receipt of illegal remuneration. Ms. Nicholson was found guilty of two counts of receipt of illegal remuneration. Hindmon was found guilty of two counts of receipt of illegal remuneration. Montgomery was found guilty of two counts of receipt of illegal remuneration - his only convictions.
Wilkerson was found guilty of one count of money laundering, while Chatfield was found guilty of five counts of money laundering.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:23:53|Editor: huaxia
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COLOMBO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's national air carrier, SriLankan Airlines is planning to resume flights to South Korea, China and Australia from August once the country's international airports open for foreign tourists, local media reports said here Tuesday.
Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Ashok Pathirage told journalists that the airline plans to resume flights from August 1, but it may not go back to the same destinations.
"Our idea is to fly to destinations like China, which is much safer and we are also looking at new destinations like (South) Korea, Seoul," Pathirage said.
SriLankan Airlines is also planning to start flights into Sydney, Australia in addition to Melbourne which it was already flying to and is also looking at resuming flights to the Maldives which is expected to re-open for tourists in July.
SriLankan Airlines is already operating cargo flights to Seoul and over 20 other destinations.
The Sri Lankan government last week said it is aiming to open its international airports before the set time frame of August 1 as no community transmission of the COVID-19 has been reported in the country since late April.
The country closed its airports in March for passenger arrivals to prevent the spread of the virus. Enditem
A 22- year-old man, Ayokunbi Olaniyi, on Tuesday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates Court for allegedly having sex with a pig.
The police charged Mr Olaniyi, who resides in EletiOdo area, Iwo Road, Ibadan, with one count of unnatural offence.
The Prosecution Counsel, Opeyemi Olagunju, told the court that on April 2, at about 4 p.m. at ElewiOdo , Ibadan , the defendant allegedly had sex with a pig against the order of nature.
He alleged that the defendant worked in Adenike Taiwos pig farm in ElewiOdo area, Ibadan.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 214 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II , Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The Defence Counsel, Mumin Jimoh, prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.
Mr Jimoh said the owner of the pig has forgiven the defendant.
Chief Magistrate Olaide Amzat said: if the owner has forgiven the defendant, has God forgiven him or the pig forgiven him?
The law must take its course.
Mr Amzat admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the matter until July 21, for hearing.
(NAN)
(Bloomberg) -- Gojek, the ride-hailing and delivery giant competing with Grab Holdings Inc., will cut 430 jobs or 9% of employees as it grapples with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
Many of the staff reductions hit newer divisions GoLife and GoFood Festivals, Indonesias largest startup said in a statement. The household services and dining divisions will shutter in July, it said.
The move underscores Gojeks effort to streamline its core businesses to focus on digital payments, transport and food delivery, which are aimed at helping the so-called super app move toward profitability. Gojek goins arch-rival Grab in culling stuff, as Asias largest technology startups grapple with global corinoavirus lockdowns.
The biggest challenge is the level of uncertainty ahead and the hard fact that this will forever change how some of our businesses and products need to operate, Co-Chief Executive Officers Andre Soelistyo and Kevin Aluwi said in an internal email to employees Tuesday.
The staff reductions come after Gojek managers pledged to funnel 25% of their salaries over the next year into a fund designed to support drivers, merchants and partners. The budget assigned for annual employee salary increases was also redirected, producing a total pool of roughly $6 million.
Read more: Grab to Cut 5% of Employees in Another Setback for SoftBank
Technology companies across the globe have been shedding workers in large numbers since the coronavirus was declared a pandemic three months ago. In Asia, Grab and Oyo Hotels were among the largest startups so far to have culled staff. A tracker maintained by Layoffs.fyi estimates that 500 tech companies have cut about 64,400 jobs as of mid-June.
Facebook Inc. and PayPal Holdings Inc. this month revealed they had invested in Gojek, showing confidence in its efforts to create a digital payments platform in the region. Gojek is now backed by some of the worlds largest internet companies, including Alphabet Inc.s Google and Chinas Tencent Holdings Ltd.
Story continues
Gojek made the announcement Tuesday evening after a series of 16 internal townhall meetings attended by employees.
Today, in each townhall, I felt like Id failed so many of our colleagues, said Aluwi. Id like to personally apologize for what we unfortunately had to do.
(Updates with comments from co-CEOs from the fourth paragraph.)
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A vandal wraps chains around the neck of the statue of former President Andrew Jackson during an attempt by protesters to pull the statue down in the middle of Lafayette Park in front of the White House during racial inequality protests in Washington, on June 22, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)
Senators: Far-Left Radicals Causing Anarchy by Tearing Down Statues
Republican senators on June 23 harshly criticized groups who toppled or defaced statues of former Presidents Ulysses Grant, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.
A crazy fringe is treating their monuments like vanity statues of tinhorn tyrants. Our Founding Fathers are being roped to the ground like they were Saddam Hussein, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor in Washington.
There could be no clearer sign that these far-left radicals have severed any connection to the righteous cause of racial justice. Theyve literally tried to succeed where Robert E. Lee failed and bring General Grant to the ground.
A statue of Grant was among those toppled in San Francisco late June 19.
McConnell described towering figures in American history like Grant, who forced the surrender of the Confederacy, as imperfect heroes, while the United States is an imperfect union thats still the great nation in world history.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington on June 16, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
While vandals pull down statues of Grant and his peers, a statue of Vladimir Lenin, the former communist leader of the Soviet Union, remains standing, untouched, in Seattle, a city run by Democrats, the senator noted.
Apparently people claim with a straight face that this communist statue has survived because it is locatedwait for iton private property. So the founding father of the mass-murdering Soviet Union watches over Seattle streets, but our own Founding Fathers are dragged in the dirt, he said.
Americas past is complex, McConnell said, calling the claim that bigotry is its deepest founding principle, absurd.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), one of three black lawmakers in the Senate, said during an appearance on Fox & Friends on June 23 that he opposes tearing down history for the sake of anarchy.
He described the people involved as not a part of any protest.
Theyre simply agitators and simply trying to find their way to create anarchy, chaos, and lawlessness, he said.
Communities that are the most vulnerable, in a chaotic world, suffer the most, Scott said.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) speaks during a press conference in Washington on June 17, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Efforts to remove statues started with those portraying soldiers or others who served in the Confederacy but have quickly moved on to others who had no link with the South.
Scott said America can have a debate over how to rename military bases named after Confederate officers but shouldnt purge all of history because it was ugly or negative.
He suggested keeping the name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, to preserve the reality of how vicious people could be. The senator supports President Donald Trumps efforts to crack down on people removing or defacing statues and monuments.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, and Trump have differed on the renaming of the bases, with Biden supporting the efforts and Trump opposing them.
Democratic lawmakers have largely supported or led efforts to remove Confederate statues and havent weighed in on the removal of other statues.
People stand around the statue of Confederate Gen. Albert Pike after it was toppled by vandals in Washington on June 19, 2020. (Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images)
Trump told a rally in Oklahoma on June 20 that Biden remains silent in his basement in the face of this brutal assault on our nation and the values of our nation.
Joe Biden has surrendered to his party and to the left-wing mob, he said.
During widespread riots in May, Biden, who hasnt addressed the removal of statues, said in a statement that protesting police brutality is right and necessary, but added, Burning down communities and needless destruction is not.
Violence that endangers lives is not. Violence that guts and shutters businesses that serve the community is not, Biden said.
India has retained and consolidated its position as the third-largest economy after China and the US in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) for 2017, said the government on Tuesday quoting the World Bank data.
PPP of the rupee per dollar at the gross domestic product (GDP) level rose to 20.65 in 2017 from 15.55 in 2011, while the exchange rate of a dollar to a rupee rose to 65.12 from 46.67 during the period.
Also, the Price Level Index (PLI), the ratio of a PPP to its corresponding market exchange rate, which is used to compare the price levels of economies, improved to 47.55 in 2017 from 42.99 in 2011.
"In 2017, India retained and consolidated its global position, as the third-largest economy, accounted for 6.7 percent ($8,051 billion out of world total of $119,547 billion) of global GDP in terms of PPPs as against China (16.4 percent) and the US (16.3 percent), respectively. "India is also third-largest economy in terms of its PPP-based share in global actual individual consumption and global gross capital formation," said the release of the National Statistical Office (NSO).
The World Bank has released new PPPs for the reference year 2017, under the International Comparison Program (ICP), that adjust for differences in the cost of living across economies of the world.
Globally, 176 economies participated in 2017 cycle of ICP. The ICP is the largest worldwide data collection initiative, under the guidance of UN Statistical Commission (UNSC), with the goal of producing PPPs, which are vital for converting measures of economic activities to be comparable across economies.
Along with the PPPs, the ICP also produces PLI and other regionally comparable aggregates of GDP expenditure. India has participated in almost all ICP rounds since its inception in 1970.
As per the release, in 2017, India retained its regional position, as the second-largest economy, accounted for 20.83 percent of the regional gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of PPPs where China was at 50.76 percent (first) and Indonesia at 7.49 percent (third).
India is also the second-largest economy in terms of its PPP-based share in regional actual individual consumption and regional gross capital formation, it added. The next ICP comparison will be conducted for the reference year 2021.
Citi Second Quarter 2020 Earnings Review
Citigroup will issue its second quarter results via press release at approximately 8:00 AM (ET) on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. At 10:00 AM (ET), results will be reviewed via live webcast and teleconference.
The press release, webcast and presentation materials will be available at www.citigroup.com/citi/investor. A replay and transcript of the webcast will be available shortly after the event.
To dial-in to the live teleconference, please call (866) 516-9582 (for U.S. and Canada callers) or (973) 409-9210 (for international callers). Conference ID: 4199384. A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning approximately two hours after the event until Tuesday, July 21, 2020, by calling (855) 859-2056 (for U.S. and Canada callers) or (404) 537-3406 (for international callers). Conference ID: 4199384.
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer acounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter (News - Alert): @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook (News - Alert): www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn (News - Alert):www.linkedin.com/company/citi
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005859/en/
Amazon, Google and Twitter are among the leading tech firms to have slammed Donald Trump's latest immigration crackdown claiming his visa freeze would make the US less competitive.
The President has banned new H-1B visas, which are used by major companies to bring over highly-skilled engineers from abroad. Around 18,000 H1-B visas were given to Google and Apple last year.
Amazon said the measures 'put America's global competitiveness at risk' while the CEO of file-sharing firm Box dubbed it 'unbelievably bad policy'.
A Facebook spokesperson said it will be even more difficult' for the US to recover after coronavirus because of the measures.
Donald Trump has banned new H-1B visas, which are used by major companies to bring over highly-skilled engineers from abroad
CEO of Alphabet - Google's parent company - Sundar Pichai (left) tweeted: 'Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today.' Box founder and CEO Aaron Levie (right) wrote that Trump's measures are 'unbelievably bad policy on every level. It will only mean more jobs move outside the US, and in no way makes America better or more competitive'
An Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider: 'Preventing high-skilled professionals from entering the country and contributing to America's economic recovery puts America's global competitiveness at risk.'
CEO of Alphabet - Google's parent company - Sundar Pichai tweeted: 'Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today.'
Box founder and CEO Aaron Levie wrote that Trump's measures are 'unbelievably bad policy on every level. It will only mean more jobs move outside the US, and in no way makes America better or more competitive.'
Twitter's vice president of public policy Jessica Herrera-Flanigan added: 'This proclamation undermines America's 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.'
Facebook said the visa freeze could slow the US economy's recover post-coronavirus, telling NBC: 'President Trump's latest proclamation uses the Covid-19 pandemic as justification for limiting immigration.
'In reality, the move to keep highly-skilled talent out of the US will make our country's recovery even more difficult.'
The ban on new visas applies to H-1B visas, H-2B visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers, J-1 visas for exchange students and L-1 visas for managers of multinational corporations.
A senior official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity estimated the restrictions will free up to 525,000 jobs for Americans.
There will be exemptions for food processing workers, which make up about 15 per cent of H-2B visas, the official said.
Health care workers assisting with the coronavirus fight will continue to be spared from the green-card freeze, though their exemption will be narrower.
Trump extended a 60-day ban on green cards issued abroad in April, which was set to expire on Monday.
The freezes on visas issued abroad are designed to take effect immediately.
Other changes, including restrictions on work permits for asylum-seekers, will go through a formal rule-making process that takes months.
The administration is proposing a new way of awarding H-1B visas, which are capped at 85,000 a year and used by Indian technology giants as well as companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Apple, the official said.
The administration wants to award them by highest salary instead of by lottery.
The official stressed the H1-B visa freeze was temporary while the program is restructured, from an annual lottery that feeds coders and other specialists to Silicon Valley, to a system the gives priority to those foreign workers with the most value.
Even after the rally was over, the bad news kept coming for the president, because it was revealed today that two of his staff members who attended the Trump rally on Saturday have tested positive for the coronavirus. Wow, imagine how dangerous that wouldve been if people had shown up. STEPHEN COLBERT
You can tell the Trump campaign may be lowering expectations because the next rally is being held inside the birthday room at Dave & Busters. JIMMY FALLON
Trump also talked about the other pressing national issue on everyones mind: that time he couldnt walk down a ramp last week. STEPHEN COLBERT
Trump talked about rampgate for a whopping 10 minutes and 23 seconds, which is almost as long as it took him to get down that ramp. STEPHEN COLBERT
He spent so much time on this story that now Im more suspicious than I was. Like, before I thought yeah, maybe Trump has some trouble walking down ramps, but now Im not even sure he has feet. TREVOR NOAH
Ontario nursing homes need an extra $1.8 billion a year to hire more staff and improve care of vulnerable residents in the wake of COVID-19 horrors, says the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
The increase of 41 per cent would allow the 626 long-term-care homes to provide at least four hours of hands-on care daily for their 80,000 vulnerable residents, a new study from the think tank recommends.
The study was released Tuesday as Premier Doug Ford prepares to launch a promised independent commission in July into the pandemics impact on nursing homes, where the killer virus spread easily.
The most potent factor shaping quality of care and safety of both residents and staff working in long-term-care facilities is staffing levels, the centres senior economist, Sheila Block, said in the 12-page study called What Does It Cost to Care?
COVID-19 infected almost 5,400 nursing-home residents and killed 1,803. Another 2,205 staff members caught the virus, and seven of them also died.
The study by the left-leaning think tank also called for wage increases to bring non-unionized nurses, personal support workers and other staff up to levels of unionized staff, which would cost $285 million out of the $1.8 billion.
The premier has heaped praise on front-line health care workers for their work during the pandemic, and rightly so, says the study. Now is the time to go beyond words and support them in a very real way, and that means better jobs and more co-workers.
The Ontario Long-Term Care Association has said Fords pandemic pay boost of $4 an hour was not enough to entice many long-term-care workers to stay on the job when they feared for their health, and is calling for a provincial strategy to help replace thousands of workers who have fled the sector, along with better supplies of personal protective equipment and an army of infection control staff to prepare for a second wave.
Block estimated long-term-care residents are getting about 2.7 hours a day of care from registered nurses, registered practical nurses, personal support workers and others, ranging from dispensing medications by nurses to toileting, grooming and dressing.
New Democrats and Green Leader Mike Schreiner have been calling for a minimum standard of four hours a day.
Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton said it will take time to fix problems in long-term care, which include a waiting list of 35,000 people the government is trying to ease by building thousands new beds, and staff shortages that predated the pandemic.
Years of neglect cannot be turned around in a matter of days, she told MPPs in the legislature Tuesday. Nobody was prepared for the aggressive, infectious nature of COVID-19.
The high toll the virus took on nursing-home workers left some facilities desperately short of staff, with the hardest-hit down as low as 20 per cent and prompting Ford to call in medical teams from the Canadian Armed Forces.
Hospitals sent SWAT teams of doctors, nurses, infection control, cleaning and other staff into dozens of long-term-care homes, with several becoming the subject of provincial takeover orders and under day-to-day management of local hospitals to stabilize care levels.
A military report on five homes, including Orchard Villa in Pickering, found problems including the dispensing of long-expired medications, residents malnourished or fed forcefully to the point of choking and left unturned in beds for long periods, developing painful skin ulcers, with cries for help ignored for hours at a time, along with being left in soiled diapers.
Although festivities could not compare to those of previous years, a small ceremony was still held at the national solidarity monument.
Grand Duke Henri, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, and Chamber president Fernand Etgen were all present to commemorate the Luxembourgish national day on Tuesday morning.
In case you have missed our live stream, here is a summary of what the country's representatives had to say in their speeches.
Grand Duke Henri
The monarch started his speech by underlining the importance of Luxembourgish solidarity, both in light of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the corona pandemic. He praised both the administration for their quick actions and the citizens for their discipline in handling the recent crisis.
RTL
The Grand Duke thanked all health care workers for their enormous efforts during these times of uncertainty. Although too early to give a final verdict on the situation, he used the opportunity to underline a series of positive moments: governmental efficiency, cooperation and civility between parties, relentless efforts by essential workers, and social solidarity throughout the country.
The Grand Duke further emphasised that the crisis should be considered a wake-up call to invest into a sustainable way of life in the future. He praised the European Union for overcoming their initial troubles in coordinating the situation and reminded people of the importance of European values.
He then took the time to address the cross-border workers directly in French and thank them for their commitment to the Grand Duchy during the crisis. He ended his speech thanking all citizens for welcoming the most recent addition to the royal family, Prince Charles, with open arms: "Long live Luxembourg, long live Europe!"
Xavier Bettel
The prime minister began his speech by acknowledging the limitations of personal freedom that everybody had to suffer this year. He conveyed that the administration had not known what to expect from its citizens upon the introduction of the safety regulations, but that the people had reacted formidably in their adhering to the rules.
RTL
An overburdening and collapse of the national health sector was avoided, thanks to the solidarity of workers from abroad and the numerous volunteers in the country, Bettel noted. He emphasised that the boarders of the Grand Duchy would always remain open and that the multicultural influences made up the core of our society.
Bettel further acknowledged the levels of financial, social, and economic uncertainty troubling the population, but conveyed his confidence that adequate solutions could be found to master the situation in the months to come.
The prime minister ended his speech by underlining the importance of personal freedom and European solidarity, which are not to be taken for granted, as the crisis had proven: "These are exceptional times and we have learned a lot over recent months. We should now try to remember and maintain the positive aspects."
Fernand Etgen
The president of the chamber of deputies used his speech to underline the country's moments of solidarity, both in war times and now in face of a pandemic. Lessons of solidarity and European civility were learned in Luxembourg, which have to be maintained and cultivated.
RTL
He thanked all citizens and essential workers for their commitment to the cause and the sacrifices they had to make: "The corona crisis has created a lot of suffering, but it has brought along a lot of humanity, creativity, and hope!" Etgen used the opportunity to congratulate the royal family for the birth of Prince Charles, a bright light in these uncertain times.
He reminded people that although the state of crisis had come to an end, the virus was still present and we have to find a way to live with it. Etgen conveyed his optimism that the administration would manage to find a way out of the crisis and that now more than ever, European solidarity remained paramount.
Bengaluru, June 23 : In a gruesome act, a chartered accountant allegedly smothered his estranged wife to death in this tech city and killed his mother-in-law before shooting self in Kolkata on Monday, police said on Tuesday.
"On an alert from Kolkata police, we found the body of Shilpi, 36, near the kitchen in an apartment building in the city's eastern suburb after we broke open the flat's main door as there was no response from inside,' Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP-East) N.M. Anucheth told IANS here.
The police registered a homicide case under section 302 of the IPC against the 42-year-old deceased accused, Amit Agarwal, who committed the crime on Sunday and flew to Kolkata on early Monday along with his 10-year-old son, staying with his mother.
"We have sent the body for autopsy to ascertain the cause of death. As there were no injuries on her body from any weapon, it appears the accused smothered her to death after a scuffle," Anucheth recalled after visiting the crime spot.
The city police learnt from their counterparts in Kolkata police that Agarwal went to Shipi's parents house at Poolbagan locality after leaving the son with his brother in the eastern city and shot his mother-in-law Lalita Dhandhania, 62, dead before shooting self after a fight with the in-laws reportedly over property.
Shilpi's father Subhash Dhandania, 70, rushed out and bolted the house from outside and called the police with the help of neighbours.
"We also learnt that the couple separated and filed for divorce. Shilpi was working in a private firm in the city and the son was staying with her while Agarwal was living separately after shifting to Kolkata," said Anucheth.
The Kolkata police is reported to have found a suicide note at the scene of crime in which Agarwal had confessed to have killed his wife in Bengaluru before flying to the city to kill her mother.
Last week, senior House Republicans urged the Trump administration to reconsider its decision to terminate U.S. relations with the World Health Organization. While there is no strong evidence substantiating President Donald Trump's claim that the WHO has become "China-centric," the U.S. pullout may actually push the organization in that direction.
How does China engage with the WHO? Here's what you need to know.
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Beijing isn't a top contributor of WHO funding or personnel
The WHO has 40 Chinese staff members, less than 1% of the organization's employees. The headquarters leadership team has only one member from China, compared with two from the United States. Based on financial contributions and earmarks, the U.S. government has had more leverage than China in setting WHO program priorities - China contributes 1.5% of the total WHO budget, compared with 16% from the United States.
About those earmarks - the WHO's program budget portal shows that nearly three-quarters of U.S. government contributions are voluntary, and earmarked for programs that reflect U.S. global health funding priorities, such as polio eradication, health and nutrition services, and vaccine-preventable diseases.
To some extent, U.S. voluntary contributions have a heavy influence on the WHO agenda. Polio eradication accounts for 27% of WHO program funding, and contributions from the U.S. government and organizations have supported this effort for three decades. Numbers-wise, there have been 68 cases worldwide of wild poliovirus Type 1 to date in 2020, and other strains appear to have been eradicated. Tuberculosis control received 2.3% of the funding, despite 1.5 million TB deaths in 2018.
- - -
China's influence within the WHO has grown
But the WHO still has concrete reasons to take China's priorities into account in its decision-making. China has been the origin point of several major disease outbreaks, for instance. The WHO stepped up its China presence after the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak and has been working closely with Beijing on pandemic response in recent years. Also, China's huge population and position as a manufacturing giant in the global supply chain suggest the country plays a central role in addressing complex global health, development and security dynamics.
As China broadens its capacity and procedures in disease prevention and control, it becomes even more imperative for the WHO to seek China's cooperation to effectively coordinate the global response to public health emergencies of international concern, like covid-19. Organizations such as the Gates Foundation and the World Bank have increasingly challenged the WHO's role as a guardian of global health. This suggests that vocal support from a major power means a lot to the WHO.
During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the WHO refused to chastise Beijing for instituting travel restrictions on Mexican citizens and banning North American pork products, in defiance of WHO recommendations. The Chinese government then referenced WHO support in justifying its aggressive outbreak response. Two years later, in 2011, Beijing hosted the first BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting, which pledged to "improve the leading and coordinating role" of the WHO in international health cooperation.
- - -
China has important - but not decisive - influence over the WHO leadership
In 2006, Beijing mobilized its diplomatic resources to help Margaret Chan, the director of health in Hong Kong, beat out the other 12 candidates and become the WHO director-general. In 2012, Chan ran unopposed for reelection - potential contestants realized that with China throwing its support to Chan, they had little chance of winning.
Five years later, with the change to a more transparent, one country/one vote election procedure, China was no longer the dominant influence in the WHO director-general selection. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ethiopia's public health minister, in June 2017 became the new WHO head largely because of the strong support of the African countries as a bloc.
But Tedros has also sought Beijing's cooperation and support. The day after his WHO electoral victory, Tedros reiterated his adherence to the "One China" principle - this is "code" for a reassurance to Beijing that the WHO will not invite Taiwan to formally participate without China's approval.
In July 2018, Tedros went to Beijing to discuss with senior Chinese officials how to build "stronger and more strategic WHO-China collaborations." These discussions involved improving the health of people in countries covered by China's Belt and Road Initiative and an agreement to "further expand the number of Chinese health professionals seconded to WHO."
- - -
Trump's pullout will help, not hinder, China's influence
China's influence over the WHO became clearer during the novel-coronavirus outbreak. In exchange for China's compliance on information sharing as stipulated in the International Health Regulations - the widely adopted global agreement on ways to prevent the international spread of disease - the WHO not only used China's rhetoric on the nature of the virus spread but also was reluctant to criticize how Beijing initially mishandled the crisis. Despite its frustration over China's failure to provide complete information, the WHO praised China for "setting a new standard for outbreak control."
Since all the conditions that allow Beijing to influence WHO decision-making remain in place, U.S. withdrawal won't make the organization less subject to China's influence. On the contrary, the U.S. move is likely to mean the WHO will increasingly look toward China for leadership and support. After Trump's initial April announcement that the United States would suspend WHO funding, China pledged a $30 million donation for the WHO's coronavirus effort.
What happens now? Some experts suggest that the United States could work with other stakeholders to push for crucial WHO reforms, such as ensuring member state compliance with WHO norms, to make the WHO stronger and more responsive. Indeed, on Sunday, Tedros gave the commencement speech for the Tsinghua University school of economics and management. Instead of lavishly praising Beijing's approach to the virus, he emphasized that the pandemic taught us "the best" and "only" way forward is to "be together."
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Huang is a professor at Seton Hall University's school of diplomacy and international relations and a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. For other analysis and commentary from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage.
T he Prime Minister has given the hospitality industry much-needed news today (June 23): two-metre social distancing rules will be relaxed to one metre from July 4, allowing pubs and restaurants to reopen from lockdown.
Firms in the sector have had little or no income since the government ordered sites to close in March, and they have been seeking reopening details, including any new health and safety measures needed.
A number of chief executives have spoken to the Evening Standard in recent weeks on why they felt social distancing rules needed to be relaxed.
Here is what some of the bosses and companies have said recently:
Youngs
The London pub groups chief executive Patrick Dardis said: Having a one metre guideline would allow us to open more pubs and employ more staff.
Wahaca
Mexican restaurant chain Wahacas co-founder Mark Selby estimated that under the two-metre rule, businesses would need large sites, with extensive outside space and flexible rent terms available, to make reopening economically viable.
Pizza Express
A company spokesman said: The optimal solution would be for social distancing to be reduced to one metre if it was safe to do so.
Fullers
The pub company led by Simon Emeny, had urged the Government to consider using a one-metre guidance. It said: This will allow us to open a much larger number of our pubs at the earliest opportunity.
YO!Sushi
The dining chains boss Richard Hodgson said: Two metres is excessive and beyond the guidelines elsewhere. We believe one metre is sufficient. Customers can choose to come in if they feel safe and choose not to if they dont. We have stool covers that will be placed on either side of seated customers to stop anyone invading their space so they can dine in comfort and safety.
Facebook Still Allows Death Threats Against Right-Wing Personalities It Blacklists, Former Moderator Says
Facebook allows death threats against persons and groups it puts on a special blacklist, a former Facebook content moderator said. A number of right-wing personalities have been put on that list, but there were no left-wing personalities or groups on it, the person said. Its not clear whether Facebook changed its policy regarding the threats since the moderator lost his job in February.
Facebook has a rule against death threats, which are also illegal and not covered by First Amendment protections.
But around July 2019, Facebook updated its content policy to add an exception to allow threats that could lead to death (and other forms of high-severity violence) against people and groups that the company puts on its list of Dangerous Individuals and Organizations.
Aside from groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and individuals tied to Nazism, Facebook also placed on the list people such as populist commentator Paul Joseph Watson, InfoWars host Alex Jones, and conservative activist Laura Loomer.
Watson publicized at the time dozens of examples of threats, including death threats, he said hed received on Facebook.
After some public backlash around July 910, Facebook quietly removed the Dangerous Individuals exception from the publicly available version of its policy.
But this change was never communicated to Facebooks content moderators, and, in practice, the exception remained in place, according to Zach McElroy, who used to work as a Facebook content moderator at Cognizant, a company hired by Facebook to perform part of its manual content moderation.
The truth is they never actually changed it for the moderators. The policy is such that, yes, you can still make these calls to violence, he told The Epoch Times in a phone call.
McElroy was laid off in February, together with all other moderators in his team at Cognizant office in Tampa, Florida.
He couldnt say if the policy has changed since then.
McElroy said moderators like him were provided with Facebooks Dangerous Individuals and Organizations list. He noticed there were no left-wing personalities or even far-left groups on the list.
Facebook didnt respond to a request for comment. Its officials have previously stated, including during congressional testimony, that its platform doesnt favor one political viewpoint over another.
McElroy first came with his story to Project Veritas, an investigative journalism nonprofit. In a Veritas video released June 23, he said that at least one Facebook algorithm seemed designed to flag predominantly right-leaning content.
Moreover, he and several Veritas undercover reporters secretly recorded a number of Facebook moderators talking about political bias in content policing, either their own or that they observed in others.
Several moderators were recorded as saying that they were removing any content that came their way that was conservative or supporting President Donald Trump, even if the content didnt violate Facebook policy.
McElroy noted that part of the reason the moderators at his office were doing this and openly talking about it was that they learned in November 2019 that they were all to be laid off. His perception was that at least some of the moderators were likely doing it already before they learned about the layoff.
McElroy said that by sharing his story, hes breaking a nondisclosure agreement he signed at Cognizant. He said he doesnt know how high a penalty he could potentially face. He set up a GoFundMe page for people whod like to support him.
On Thursday of June 18, U.S. Senator Rob Portman honored the life of Otto Warmbier, an American student who was imprisoned in North Korea for allegedly stealing a North Korean propaganda poster.
Otto Frederick Warmbier was an American college student who was on a China-based budget tour of North Korea with a group that included ten other U.S.
citizens. Warmbier was imprisoned and mistreated under the North Korean regime. Warmbier was finally released after 17 months of imprisonment only to be stuck in a comatose state. After six days of returning back home to the U.S. on June 19, 2017, he died in a vegetative state.
Senator Portman introduced a resolution to commemorate the life of Otto, to condemn the North Korean regime, and to call for the United States to utilize its voice to vote in the United Nations to condemn systemic human rights violations in North Korea.
"Our resolution calls for the United States to continue to use our voice, including at the United Nations and other forums to speak out against the human rights abuses of the North Korean government," Portman shared on the Senate floor.
"It calls for the sanctions enacted under the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions and Enforcement Act of 2019 to remain fully implemented. But most importantly, this resolution honors and remembers Otto Warmbier, lest we forget what the North Korean dictatorship did to him," Portman said.
The resolution was passed unanimously by the Senate.
In 2018, a U.S. federal court found the North Korean government liable for Warmbier's torture and death in a default judgment. In 2019, President Trump received criticism from the Warmbier parents by announcing that he believed the word of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and claimed that Kim was not responsible for Warmbier's death.
The filing names Ms. Trump and Simon & Schuster, and it seeks to stop publication on the grounds that Ms. Trump is violating a nondisclosure agreement related to the settlement of the estate of Fred Trump Sr., the father of Donald and Robert Trump and Mary Trumps grandfather.
Officials at the Trump Organization declined to comment on the legal efforts to stop the book, which is described by the publisher on its website as a revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him.
Ms. Trump, the website says, will show the dark history of their family in order to explain how her uncle became the man who now threatens the worlds health, economic security and social fabric.
In the book, Ms. Trump, 55, is expected to say she was a chief source for The New York Timess coverage of the presidents finances, and that she provided the newspaper with confidential tax documents. A spokeswoman for The Times declined to comment.
Robert Trump said in a statement that he was deeply disappointed in his nieces decision.
Her attempt to sensationalize and mischaracterize our family relationship after all of these years for her own financial gain is both a travesty and injustice to the memory of my late brother, Fred, and our beloved parents, he said. I and the rest of my entire family are so proud of my wonderful brother, the president, and feel that Marys actions are truly a disgrace.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Citing the loss of millions in local public education dollars through an unconstitutional reduction in state funding, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District has signed on to a potential lawsuit over the Ohio EdChoice scholarship voucher program.
A resolution recently approved by the CH-UH school board authorizes the district to initiate or join litigation challenging the state on the EdChoice private tuition program that local officials say has diverted as much as $7.2 million in the 2019-2020 school year.
The tuition vouchers provide up to $6,000 a year for private high school students, and as much as $4,650 to K-8 pupils, "more than 93 percent of those living in the district who have never attended a CH-UH school," the resolution states.
District officials also referred to the landmark Ohio Supreme Court ruling more than 20 years ago that found the state funding formula to be unconstitutional, and at this point, yet to be fixed.
"The Ohio Supreme Court holds that the state's school-funding scheme that requires local school districts to rely too heavily on local property taxes for revenue is unconstitutional," the resolution states, adding that over the past 20 years, that reliance has only increased.
While the state legislature planned to take action by April 1, the coronavirus outbreak and public health emergency that shut all Ohio schools down has led to a freeze on the current EdChoice policy for the foreseeable future, leaving affected districts in the same boat.
The CH-UH school district should not have to carry an undue tax burden imposed by the state as part of its efforts to subsidize private and parochial schools operating in Ohio, the resolution adds.
Amid financial uncertainty from the state legislature about EdChoice that preceded the COVID-19 emergency, the CH-UH school board placed a 7.9-mill operating levy on the March 17 ballot.
But the polls were closed out of public safety concerns and the election was then postponed until April 28, when final mail-in ballots were counted and the levy lost by about 600 votes.
With the school board attempting "numerous non-litigious means of challenging the unconstitutional reduction of state funding through EdChoice to no avail," district officials surmise that they are left with no other option but to sue the state.
This Heights High Class of '20 grad, identified only as "Ranch," also took full advantage of her sun roof for the June 22 parade down Lee Road from Fairfax Elementary to her alma mater.Tom Jewell/Special to cleveland.com
The resolution adds that the cost of litigation will be significantly less than the financial harm the school board has encountered and is guaranteed will continue without judicial intervention.
The CH-UH school board has since joined the "Vouchers Hurt Ohio" coalition, where a spokesman was unavailable but in an article appearing on Ideastream, released a list of other participating school districts, including Richmond Heights, Crestview and Canton in Northeast Ohio.
"The CH-UH school board will use whatever means necessary to pursue litigation against the State of Ohio including working cooperatively with other affected school districts and supporting organizations," the resolution adds.
Exacerbating an already egregious situation is the notion that private schools receiving the EdChoice vouchers are "not held accountable to the same grading standards of education as public school districts.
"This forces the public to fund private, unregulated entities while leaving the public school system without proper and adequate funding and under a public-only grading system that is fundamentally flawed and negates the whole basis upon which EdChoice legislation is built," the resolution adds.
On a side note, the state also announced around the time of the EdChoice funding freeze that it would not be issuing district-by-district public school report cards this year after the statewide COVID-19 shutdown.
The board action further asserts that CH-UH families deserve and are entitled to a school district that is appropriately and fairly funded by the state.
Read more from the Sun Press.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Grand Canyon Education Corporation (Grand Canyon or the Company)(LOPE) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and indexed under 20-cv-0XXXXX, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise, acquired Grand Canyon securities between January 5, 2018, and January 27, 2020, inclusive (the Class Period). The claims asserted herein are alleged against Grand Canyon and certain of the Companys senior executives (collectively, Defendants), and arise under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and the rules promulgated thereunder, including SEC Rule 10b-5, 17 C.F.R. 240.10b-5.
If you are a shareholder who purchased Grand Canyon securities during the class period, you have until July 13, 2020, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
Grand Canyon is an education services company incorporated in the State of Delaware. This case concerns the Companys July 2018 spin-off of its education assets through a sale to a purported non-profit entity, Grand Canyon University (GCU). Before the spin-off, Grand Canyon had owned and operated a for-profit university with a physical campus and through online programs. After the spin-off, Grand Canyon would purportedly become a third-party provider of education services to GCU and potentially other universities, and GCU would operate as a separate, non-profit entity no longer owned or operated by Grand Canyon.
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The Class Period begins with Grand Canyons January 5, 2018, announcement that it had applied to regional accreditation body the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for recognition of GCU as a non-profit institution. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Grand Canyon told investors that GCU would be independent from Grand Canyon, that the relationship between the two entities would no longer be as owner and operator, but as a third party contract party, and that GCU was not a related party to Grand Canyon. Following the spin-off, Grand Canyon consistently reported growth in net income and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), and touted the success of its transition into the role of a third-party services provider.
In reality, GCU functioned as an off-balance-sheet entity to which Grand Canyon was able to funnel expenses and costs in exchange for a disproportionate amount of revenue, thereby inflating Grand Canyons financial results. In addition, GCU was not a proper non-profit organization but rather remained under the control of Grand Canyon through the Master Services Agreement (MSA) and by virtue of Grand Canyons employees serving as the executives who managed GCU.
The truth was revealed in a series of corrective disclosures. First, on September 9, 2019, short-seller Citron Research (Citron) published a report examining Grand Canyons financials and concluding that the Company is stuffing GCU with expenses to inflate its profitability and as a result bankrupting GCU. In response to this disclosure, the price of Grand Canyon stock declined approximately 5% intraday on September 9, 2019, to a low of $104.20 per share, and closed at $109.62 per share on September 10, 2019.
Then, after the close of the market on November 6, 2019, Grand Canyon announced that it had received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) denying its application for designation of GCU as a non-profit. In response to this disclosure, the price of Grand Canyon stock declined approximately 4% to close at $88.08 per share on November 7, 2019.
On January 28, 2020, Citron published a second report expanding on the DOEs findings based on hundreds of pages of supporting documentation from Grand Canyon, which Citron obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Citron concluded that Grand Canyon was the educational Enron, using a captive non-reporting subsidiary to dump expenses and liabilities while receiving a disproportionate amount of revenue at inflated margins in order to artificially inflate the stock price. Following this disclosure, Grand Canyon shares declined approximately 8% to close at $84.07 per share on January 28, 2020.
The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
The megachurch hosting President Donald Trumps rally in Phoenix, Arizona, have released a video claiming it had installed technology that killed 99.9 per cent of Covid within 10 minutes.
Dream City Church in Phoenix where Mr Trump will hold his rally 23 June posted a video to its Facebook page on Monday in which pastor Luke Barnett and chief operations officer Brendon Zastrow claimed they have installed technology that kills the coronavirus in under ten minutes and that prospective attendees will be safe.
Yeah, weve installed clean air EXP. We have a local Arizona company it was technology developed by some members of our church, and weve installed these units, and it kills 99.9 per cent of Covid within 10 minutes, Mr Zastrow said in the video.
Mr Barnett said the church was probably the first in the nation to use the technology.
Mr Zastrow referred to the technology as CleanAir EXP, likely a reference to an air purification company of the same name selling an air quality management system that claims it can eliminate 99.9 per cent of coronavirus from the air in less than 10 minutes.
The church removed the video from its Facebook page on Monday evening after users began leaving critical comments.
According to CleanAir EXPs website, the system combines the most sophisticated sensors with the latest air purification technology to clean indoor air of allergens, pathogens, odours, smoke, mould, ozone and harmful chemicals.
The company claims that lab tests confirm the claim, noting that the system was tested on an active coronavirus 229E test surrogate.
Coronavirus 229E is better known as the common cold.
While the two viruses are very different, the American Society for Testing and Materials called for recommendations from researchers as to which surrogate should be used in testing against Covid-19. Coronavirus 229e was the most recommended surrogate for testing, and has been used as a surrogate for other coronaviruses for many years.
In May, the Australian government also cleared coronavirus 229e as an acceptable surrogate for manufacturers wishing to make label claims of efficacy against Covid-19 that are either hard surface disinfectants or disinfectants that are medical devices.
While CleanAir EXPs product likely wouldnt meet that criteria as its neither a medical device or a hard surface disinfectant, it does appear that coronavirus 229e is a supported surrogate for Covid-19.
A request for comment from the company was not immediately returned on Monday.
The church leaders claimed that the technology works through ionisation.
So when you come into our auditorium, 99 per cent of Covid is gone killed, Mr Barnett claimed. If it was there in the first place. So you can know when you come here youll be safe and protected.
The church did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Even if the purification system can deliver on the hefty claims, it would only be clearing the church auditorium of the virus prior to the event. It would not stop inter-person transmission of the virus should someone carrying the coronavirus attend.
At least eight members of Mr Trumps staff have tested positive for coronavirus in the last week. Six of his advance team setting up his rally last Saturday in Tulsa tested positive, and two members of his reelection campaign tested positive on Monday.
The campaigns communications director Tim Murtaugh told The Hill that the affected staff had been quarantined and that contact tracing protocols were being executed.
A statement released by Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix said the church would be providing masks and taking attendees temperatures at check-in, but noted the event was not sanctioned by the city and that it does not meet US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
While I do not believe an event of this magnitude can be held safely, particularly as Arizona sees rising Covid cases, the President has decided to continue with this rally, she wrote.
The mayor called on everyone attending to wear a mask, including Mr Trump.
Everyone attending tomorrows event, particularly any elected official, should set an example to residents by wearing a mask. This includes the President, Ms Gallego wrote.
Bismah Malik By
Express News Service
US President, Donald Trump has issued a proclamation banning various non-immigrant visas including the H-1B, most sought after by the Indian tech professionals, till this year-end. The move will impact nearly 85,000 workers who were issued H-1B visas this year out of 2,25,000 applicants. Trump has also sought to reform the current immigration system to prioritise the employment of local Americans as well as make it more merit-based. A White House spokesperson said that the measure would help reserve 5,25,000 jobs for Americans.
Under the new system, the administration would allow the highly skilled and highest-paid workers to avail H1-B visas first and enter the US in place of the lottery system. Mondays proclamation issued by Trump said that the unemployment rate in US has increased by four times between February-May, 2020. It added that the entry of additional workers through various non-immigration visa programmes like H-1B, H-2B, J and L presents a threat to the employment opportunities for Americans affected by extraordinary economic disruptions caused by COVID-19 outbreak.
Meanwhile, major stakeholders in the US tech industry have opposed Trumps move which will hurt the countrys economy in the long term by reducing the market competitiveness. Google CEO, Sundar Pichai said that he is disappointed by todays proclamation and that they will continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.
Immigration has contributed immensely to Americas economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today, Pichai said.
ALSO READ: Google CEO Sundar Pichai 'disappointed' by Donald Trump's immigration proclamation to freeze visas
How will the ban affect Indian IT industry?
With three out of every four H-1B visa holders Indians, the ban will surely impact the prospects of the H-1B visa applicants from top Indian IT services firms including TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant. Nearly 3-4 lakh H-1B visa holders are currently being employed by top tech firms in India and more than 60% of engineers in the Bay area are H-1B visa holders.
With Trump supporting stricter immigrant, non-immigrant visa regimes, the Indian IT firms have reduced their applications for H1-B visas considerably since last couple of years with efforts to hire more locals in the US. An annual report of Indias largest IT services provider, TCS said that it has nearly 20,000 US nationals on its payroll.
However, industry analysts fear that a long term ban of H-1B visas which recruit workers for specialist positions in fields such as IT, science will hurt the project deliverability of Indian IT services firms because of shortage in the talent.
We know members of the royal family have specific guidelines and protocols for how to dress when theyre on duty. But when Prince Charles was married to Princess Diana there was one thing she was banned from wearing around him that didnt have anything to do with a rule fashion rule.
Read on to find out what that was and why Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is permitted to wear what Diana never could.
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles | Chris Jackson/Getty Images
RELATED: Camilla Parker Bowles Rejects Title of Queen When Prince Charles is King, What She Wants To Be Called Instead
Princess Diana could not wear these shoes around Prince Charles
When Prince Charles and Diana were together, the princess was banned from wearing heels around the future king. Thats because she and Charles were the same height at 5 foot 10. Therefore, if Diana wore shoes with high heels she would tower over the prince so she had to refrain from wearing them.
This explains why the princess was seen in flats most of the time when she stood right next to Charles. However, wearing heels isnt a problem for Camilla.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
RELATED: The Clever Trick Princess Diana Always Used To Avoid Having A Wardrobe Malfunction
Camilla wears a brand Diana avoided
Prince Charles current wife almost always wears heels around him with no noticeable height issue because she is a couple of inches shorter than him at 5 foot 8. The duchess seems to be mindful that her heels are never too high though and usually opts for lower block heels or pumps.
One of Camillas favorite brands is Chanel as she been spotted many times over the years sporting heels by the french fashion label. Diana fans may recall that the princess avoided wearing the brand after she found out Charles and Camilla were having an affair.
Designer Jayson Brundson relayed a story that Diana told him after he suggested she wear Chanel for an event in 1996.
I found a pair of Chanel shoes, and I said, Well these would look great with the Versace, Brundson told Harpers BAZAAR Australia. She said No, I cant wear linked Cs, the double C. So I asked why, and she said, Its Camilla and Charles.
Camilla Parker Bowles and Prince Charles | Karwai Tang/WireImage
Camilla has had her heels flown to her while she was abroad
Like most women, Camilla is particular about her shoes and has her favorite pairs she likes to bring along when she travels. But unlike most women, if the Duchess of Cornwall forgets to pack them she can have them shipped halfway around the world to her. This was the case when a pair was flown from the U.K. to her when she was in Kuwait.
The Express noted that a palace spokesman later said that The duchess did not ask for the shoes to be sent, but a member of her staff did arrange for them to be flown over to her after they realized that they had forgotten to pack them. They were not specially couriered, but were sent along with a number of items and paperwork as is often the case on royal tours.
RELATED: The Real Reason Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles Travel With a Stash of Alcohol
Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Hu Zhangliang said the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 is an initiative and proposal that demonstrates the firm determination of China to work with Africa to defeat COVID-19 with solidarity and cooperation.
Hu Zhangliang, Chinese ambassador to Sierra Leone
Speaking at an Online Press Conference, the Chinese Ambassador pointed out that the summit addressed the way forward for epidemic response and practical cooperation between China and Africa, charting the course for the future of China-Africa relations, and unleashing strong, positive energy for the international community to secure an early victory against COVID-19 through solidarity and cooperation.
The Extraordinary Summit is a concrete step to deliver the commitment made at the FOCAC Beijing Summit. Its a solid step in building an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future, boosting the cooperation between China and Africa in fighting COVID-19.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of FOCAC. In the next stage, China will continue to actively implement the relevant measures proposed at the Extraordinary Summit, helping African countries, including Sierra Leone, fight against the pandemic within capacity.
Lets work together to contribute to the new development of China-Sierra Leone and China-Africa friendship, Ambassador Hu said, and quoted President Xi Jinping as saying at the summit, humanity will ultimately defeat the virus, and the Chinese and African people are poised to embrace better days ahead.
FWD Group has agreed to buy a minority stake in the life insurance arm of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), taking another step towards building a pan-regional insurance company.
The Hong Kong-based life insurance company said on Monday that it would buy a stake in Indonesias PT Asuransi BRI Life, finally securing a company it has been chasing for years by winning a fiercely contested auction.
FWD, which is backed by Hong Kong-based entrepreneur Richard Li Tzar-kai, Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shings younger son, bid about US$300 million for a 30 per cent stake in the business, according to a person familiar with the matter. The deal values the Indonesian life insurer at about US$1 billion, the person added. An FWD spokeswoman declined to comment on the valuation.
Since its foundation in 2013, FWD has been weaving together an insurance platform across Southeast Asias underserved and fast-growing markets. A significant presence in Indonesia, the regions largest market by GDP and the worlds fourth most populous country, has long been a treasured prize.
We are now in all the major markets that we aimed to build in, Huynh Thanh Phong, FWDs chief executive, told the South China Morning Post. FWD now spans Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia. The BRI Life acquisition fits exactly into the same approach and strategy that weve adopted over the years, he said.
Huynh Thanh Phong, FWDs chief executive. Photo: Handout
FWD will continue to look for deals and licences that enhance its distribution and scale in markets. For example, it is waiting for China to approve its application for a majority-owned insurance company on the mainland.
The deal also showcases FWDs financial wherewithal at a time when credit rating agencies are warily examining insurance companies globally for any damage wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.
We are in pretty robust health, said Huynh, who believes the industry will come out of the coronavirus pandemic stronger than ever before, as behaviour shifts. People will be much more mindful about protection and health going forward, he said.
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Regarding capital raising to bolster the balance sheet further, including a potential initial public offering, Huynh would only say that FWDs shareholders were constantly assessing capital market conditions for potential fundraising.
While FWD plans to grow its stake in BRI Life gradually, state-controlled Bank Rakyat will remain the majority shareholder. The deal offers FWD access to BRIs extensive network across the archipelago through a 15-year life insurance distribution agreement. BRI, the countrys largest commercial bank by assets, has more than 120 million customers, including an extensive rural distribution network.
Overnight, from the combination of BRI Life and FWD Life, we will have access to nearly half of the population of Indonesia, and even if we convert a small percentage of these customers into a life insurance policy owner that would be significant in terms of new business sales, Huynh said.
BRI has flirted with the sale of its insurance arm several times. This deal didnt happen overnight, weve been pursuing this opportunity for years, Huynh said. He felt that FWD finally managed to seal the deal because it could demonstrate a track record of being a sound partner for banks around the region, its digital capability as well as paying an attractive price for the business.
FWD has signed 12 bancassurance partnerships across Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam in recent years. Just last year, it signed partnerships with Siam Commercial Bank and Vietcombank.
The company first entered the Indonesian market through PT FWD Life Indonesia, a joint venture it set up in 2015. The joint venture had a market share of less than 1 per cent by life gross premiums as of the end of last year.
According to credit rating agency Fitch, the company expects to turn profitable within the next five years and plans to focus on sales of regular premium unit-linked policies and protection-based products to improve profitability.
FWDs investment in BRI Life follows its acquisition of a majority stake in PT Commonwealth Life, the Indonesian life insurance arm of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). It also signed a 15-year distribution partnership with Bank Commonwealth, the Indonesian banking arm of CBA.
Sign up now for a 50% early bird discount on the 100+ page China Internet Report 2020 Pro Edition, which includes deep-dive analysis, trends, and case studies on the 10 most important internet sectors. Now in its 3rd year, this go-to source for understanding China tech also comes with exclusive access to 6 webinars with C-level executives. Offer valid until 30 June 2020.
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New agreement will leverage CAS information management capabilities to grow critical safety resource pioneered by the Pistoia Alliance for the chemical community
COLUMBUS, Ohio and BOSTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific information solutions, and the Pistoia Alliance, a global, not-for-profit members' organization that works to lower barriers to innovation in life sciences R&D, announced today the signing of an agreement under which CAS will develop and host the Pistoia Alliance Chemical Safety Library. The Chemical Safety Library is a community crowd-sourced database of hazardous reaction incidents launched by the Pistoia Alliance as a prototype in 2017. Based on an initiative submitted by Bristol Myers Squibb and funded by Pistoia Alliance members, including Bayer Pharma AG, Bristol Myers Squibb, Glaxo Group LTD, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Merck KgaA, Pfizer Inc. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche, the database currently has over 1,000 registered users from industry, academia, and government entities.
"F. Hoffmann-La Roche has been a long-time supporter of precompetitive collaboration in Pharma R&D. Cross-industry data sharing to promote laboratory safety is an excellent application," notes Dr. Thomas Woltering, Section Head Medicinal Chemistry at the Roche Innovation Center in Basel. "We are pleased to see what started with just a handful of Pistoia Alliance member companies helping each other is expanding across the wider chemical community. The expertise CAS brings to the partnership will greatly enhance the service itself as well as expand the reach of this important effort."
The Chemical Safety Library provides a repository for scientists to capture and confidentially share hazardous reaction information based on their experiences in the laboratory, with the goal of improving safety and reducing incidents across the chemical enterprise. "The safety of employees and researchers is a top priority at Bristol Myers Squibb," said Alastair Binnie, Vice President, IT for R&D at Bristol Myers Squibb. "Based on an initial project designed to eliminate repeat incidents and increase safety at Bristol Myers Squibb, Chemical Safety Library has grown to become an important safety resource for the entire global research community thanks to the stewardship of the Pistoia Alliance and its members. We look forward to seeing this important industry database continue to grow and thrive under the management of CAS."
CAS and Pistoia Alliance are tackling this effort because they believe that openly sharing critical safety data can make the entire chemical community safer. "Information sharing has no greater purpose than ensuring the safety of the researchers doing the critical work of innovation," said CAS President Manuel Guzman. "We look forward to partnering with Pistoia Alliance and the wider chemical community to grow and enhance the Chemical Safety Library, ensuring every organization can confidently and efficiently contribute to and use this critical resource." Under this agreement, the Chemical Safety Library will continue to be a free resource for the entire chemical community, enhanced with a new deposition and search interface developed by CAS.
The Pistoia Alliance engaged with CAS to manage the Chemical Safety Library because of CAS's unique scientific information management expertise and technology capabilities. With over a century of experience building and managing high-quality scientific databases, including the largest available curated collection of published chemical reactions, CAS is a respected authority in the chemistry space, providing confidence that this critical data can be shared confidentially and deposited and accessed efficiently.
"I cannot think of a better organization to entrust with the Pistoia Alliance's Chemical Safety Library than CAS, and I am pleased they have agreed to support this important effort," said Dr. Steve Arlington, President of the Pistoia Alliance. "The Chemical Safety Library is one of the most important initiatives the Pistoia Alliance has launched, and it has always attracted considerable interest from our members. We believe that every area of research can benefit from collaboration, and CAS has deep expertise in managing this type of data resource. I look forward to seeing the growth and further development of the Chemical Safety Library through this partnership."
The hazard information that is being collected for the Chemical Safety Library is freely available to the public, and is also uploaded to PubChem, an open chemistry database sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, for additional accessibility. Anyone can contribute reaction incident information to the database, which will be overseen by an advisory panel made up of CAS, ACS, Pistoia Alliance management and member companies, as well as outside experts. Professor Richard Hartshorn, Secretary General of The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), noted "IUPAC is fully supportive of this effort, and plans to encourage its national, company and individual members to contribute and use this safety resource once available."
About CAS
CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific information solutions, partners with R&D organizations globally to provide actionable insights that help them plan, innovate, protect their innovations, and predict how new markets and opportunities will evolve. Scientists, patent professionals and business leaders rely on CAS solutions and services to advise discovery and strategy. With more than 110 years' experience, no one knows more about scientific information than CAS. Visit www.cas.org.
About The Pistoia Alliance
The Pistoia Alliance is a global, not-for-profit members' organization made up of life science companies, technology and service providers, publishers, and academic groups working to lower barriers to innovation in life science and healthcare R&D. It was conceived in 2007 and incorporated in 2009 by representatives of AstraZeneca, GSK, Novartis and Pfizer who met at a conference in Pistoia, Italy. Its projects transform R&D through pre-competitive collaboration. It overcomes common R&D obstacles by identifying the root causes, developing standards and best practices, sharing pre-competitive data and knowledge, and implementing technology pilots. There are currently over 150 member companies; members collaborate on projects that generate significant value for the worldwide life sciences R&D community, using The Pistoia Alliance's proven framework for open innovation.
CAS Media contact:
Tina Tomeo
614-447-3600
cas-pr@cas.org
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Rally: Empty seats behind President Donald Trump as he arrives on stage to speak at a campaign rally in Tulsa at the weekend. Photo: Evan Vucci/AP Photo
US President Donald Trump has warned his niece against releasing a tell-all book on their "toxic" family as details of a damaging lawsuit at the centre of the Trump family feud emerged.
The lawsuit dates back to the early 2000s, when Trump and his siblings were accused of cutting off financial support for their disabled great-nephew after calling it "expensive babysitting".
The family feud has come back into the spotlight as the US president is facing the fallout from another tell-all book by his former national security adviser, John Bolton, as well as political pressure over poor turnout at a recent rally.
Mr Trump's niece Mary, daughter of the president's late brother Fred, is releasing her own tell-all book, 'Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man', at the end of July.
Speaking to the website Axios, the US president said Ms Trump was violating a non-disclosure agreement she signed as part of a legal settlement with him, saying: "She's not allowed to write a book".
The bombshell book, due for release on July 28, is described by its publisher Simon & Schuster as a "revelatory, authoritative portrait" of Mr Trump "and the toxic family that made him".
The agreement was signed in 2001 as part of a legal settlement after Mary and her brother Fred Trump III filed a lawsuit against Mr Trump and his two siblings disputing their inheritance from their grandfather's estate.
The pair filed another lawsuit after their health insurance, which had been provided by the Trump company for decades, was cancelled in apparent retaliation. Details of that lawsuit have now come to light, revealing the full extent of the bitter relationship between the president and his eldest brother's offspring.
In the lawsuit Mary and Fred III accused the president and his siblings of refusing to pay for the healthcare of Fred III's disabled son William, despite the fact that he was born with a disorder known as Infantile Spasms, which can cause violent seizures and slow down a baby's development.
According to copies of the lawsuit seen by Mail Online, Donald Trump and his siblings claimed William did not need round-the-clock care, which they labelled "expensive babysitting".
Instead, the Trump family argued that Fred III should take a CPR course from the American Red Cross in case baby William suffered another cardiac arrest.
They also claimed that Mary and Fred III had already received millions of dollars from them saying that rather than suing them, a "thank you would be extremely appreciated".
Fred III and Mary claimed the Trumps acted in "retaliation" for them challenging the will of Donald Trump's father, Fred Trump Senior.
Donald Trump appeared to confirm the decision to cut his niece and nephew's health insurance was a response to their dispute over his father's will in an interview with the 'New York Daily News' at the time.
"When [Fred III] sued us, we said, 'Why should we give him medical coverage?" he told the newspaper in 2000.
But in his interview with Axios website on Sunday, Mr Trump claimed that he was on very good terms with Fred III, even claiming he had recently visited the White House.
Meanwhile, President Trump opened a new front in his fight against mail-in voting last night, making unsubstantiated assertions that foreign countries will print up millions of bogus ballots to rig the results and create what he called the "scandal of our times."
The claims not only ignore safeguards that states have implemented to prevent against widespread fraud but they also risk undermining Americans' faith in the election, spreading the very kind of disinformation US authorities have warned foreign adversaries could exploit to foment doubt in the voting process.
The rhetoric, coming as states scramble to adjust voting processes because of the coronavirus pandemic, represents a two-track approach of trying to both block mail-in balloting in advance and setting the stage for challenging the results once it's over.
"It's a way of trying to turn the foreign interference claims that have been made on their head," said Richard Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Irvine.
"This potentially lays the groundwork for him contesting election results," he added.
"We have extradited 108 Iranian prisoners from Georgia and transferred a number of foreign prisoners to their respective countries in the past two months," Abbasi said on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Tehran, June 22 (IANS) Iranian Deputy Minister of Justice for Human Rights Mahmoud Abbasi said that Iran is ready for the exchange of prisoners with other countries on humanitarian grounds amid the COVID-19 pandemic, official IRNA news agency reported.
More than 2,000 Afghan convicts in Iran can be transferred to their country, he added.
Iran has also announced its readiness to extradite 44 Pakistani prisoners and is awaiting the response from the Pakistani authorities, the deputy minister noted.
Meanwhile, Abbasi expressed concerns over the situation of Iranian prisoners in the United Arab Emirates.
"Our prisoners in the United Arab Emirates are deprived of the minimum human rights, including consular services and fair trial," he explained.
Recently, Iran and the United States swapped prisoners.
--IANS
rt/
Washington, June 23 : US COVID-19 deaths has surpassed 120,000 with over 2.3 million infections, while new cases continue to increase across the country after more than three months into the pandemic.
With 2,310,786 cases and 120,393 deaths, the US continued with the world's highest number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities as of Tuesday, according to the Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
New York state reported 388,488 cases with 31,125 deaths, reports Xinhua news agency.
Other states with over 5,000 COVID-19 deaths include New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and California, showed the JHU data.
In the US, the virus spread has trended downward in some of the hard-hit places including New York City, once the epicenter of the US COVID-19 pandemic.
New York City entered phase two of reopening on Monday, during which hair salons, real estate sales, vehicle sales and rentals, some in-store retails are allowed to reopen.
Restaurants can serve customers in outdoor space, according to New York state's phased reopening strategy.
However, several US states in the South and Southwest were seeing upticks in their coronavirus case counts.
As of Sunday, the nation's seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases increased more than 24 per cent compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of JHU data.
Cases were growing by 5 percent or more in 25 states, including Arizona, Texas, Florida and Oklahoma.
According to the CNBC analysis, hospitalizations from COVID-19 were growing in 14 states as of Sunday.
In Texas, there were 2,913 people hospitalized with COVID-19 based on a seven-day moving average, a 37 per cent increase compared to a week ago.
Arizona reported 1,702 people hospitalized on a seven-day average, a near 29 per cent increase compared to a week ago.
Calling the situation "very unsatisfactory", Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned economics professor at Columbia University, recently told Xinhua that as the virus continues to spread rapidly, the federal government has "basically lost interest" in controlling the virus.
"The results are likely to be very bad: a big resurgence of disease and deaths," said Sachs, also a senior UN advisor.
Public health experts believe that states' hasty efforts to reopen their economies, weeks of nationwide protests over the death of unarmed black man George Floyd, as well as some Americans' unwillingness to practice social distancing or wear a mask, have all contributed to the recent surge in cases.
Since late April, US states, facing record unemployment, have gradually started to reopen their economies, despite not seeing a significant downward trend in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
An influential model produced by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington recently revised its projections, forecasting nearly 170,000 COVID-19 deaths in the US by October 1.
Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
The first Covid-19 vaccine trial in South Africa begins
The first participants in South Africa's first clinical trial for a vaccine against Covid-19 will be vaccinated this week.
The first clinical trial in South Africa and on the continent for a Covid-19 vaccine was announced today, 23 June 2020, at a virtual press conference hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits).
To watch the full Zoom recording of the press conference, click here and enter the password: 5n?p3Z*?
The South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial aims to find a vaccine that will prevent infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
In South Africa, at least 80,000 people have already been diagnosed with Covid-19 and more than 1,674 have died from Covid-19 since March, when the President declared a state of disaster and national lockdown.
By 17 June 2020, South Africa (population: 59 million) contributed to 30% of all diagnosed Covid-19 cases and 23% of all Covid-19 deaths on the African continent (population: 1.34 billion). These statistics emphasise the urgent need for prevention of Covid-19 on the continent.
Shabir Madhi, Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University and Director of the South Africa Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (VIDA), leads the South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial.
Wits University is collaborating with the University of Oxford and the Oxford Jenner Institute on the South African trial.
This is a landmark moment for South Africa and Africa at this stage of the Covid-19 pandemic. As we enter winter in South Africa and pressure increases on public hospitals, now more than ever we need a vaccine to prevent infection by Covid-19, said Madhi at the launch of the South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial, which is being run at multiple sites in South Africa.
We began screening participants for the South African Oxford 1 Covid-19 vaccine trial last week and the first participants will be vaccinated this week, says Madhi, who is also the National Research Foundation/Department of Science and Innovation SARChI (South African Research Chairs Initiative) Chair in Vaccine Preventable Diseases, based at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice Principal and Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Postgraduate Affairs at the Wits University, who facilitated the virtual press conference, said: Wits University identified vaccinology as a key institutional flagship project in 2016. Vaccines are amongst the most powerful tools to mitigate life-threatening diseases. Without a vaccine against Covid-19, there will likely be ongoing contagion, causing severe illness and death. Wits is committed to developing a vaccine to save lives in collaboration with the University of Oxford.
Prior to launch, the South African study was subject to rigorous review and has been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Witwatersrand.
Furthermore, after eliciting and considering public comment, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) approved import of the investigational vaccine for use in the trial.
South African participation in international trials
The vaccine is already being evaluated in a large clinical trial in the UK where more than 4,000 participants have already been enrolled. In addition to the South African study, similar and related studies are about to start in Brazil. An even larger study of the same vaccine of up to 30,000 participants is planned in the USA.
It is essential that vaccine studies are performed in southern hemisphere countries, including in the African region, concurrently with studies in northern hemisphere countries, says Professor Helen Rees, Chair of SAHPRA and Executive Director of the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI).
This allows evaluation of the efficacy and safety of candidate vaccines to be assessed in a global context, failing which the introduction of many life-saving vaccines into public immunization programmes for low-middle income countries frequently lags behind those in high-income countries.
Rees also co-directs the Wits African Leadership in Vaccinology Excellence (ALIVE) flagship programme and is engaged in global discussions with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organization to ensure equitable access for all countries, including those in Africa, should a successful vaccine be developed.
About the South African vaccine on trial
The technical name of the vaccine is ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, as it is made from a virus called ChAdOx1, which is a weakened and non-replicating version of a common cold virus (adenovirus). The vaccine has been engineered to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
The vaccine was developed at the Oxford Jenner Institute and is currently on trial in the UK, where over 4,000 participants are already enrolled into the clinical trial and enrolment of an additional 10, 000 participants is planned.
The vaccine being used in the South African trial is the same as that being used in the UK and Brazil.
The vaccine was made by adding genetic material called spike glycoprotein that is expressed on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 to the ChAdOx1 virus.
This spike glycoprotein is usually found on the surface of the novel coronavirus and is what gives the coronavirus its distinct spiky appearance.
These spikes play an essential role in laying a path for infection by the coronavirus. The virus that causes Covid-19 uses this spike protein to bind to ACE2 receptors on human cells.
ACE2 is a protein on the surface of many cell types. It is an enzyme that generates small proteins that then go on to regulate functions in the cell. In this way, the virus gains entry to the cells in the human body and causes Covid-19 infection.
Researchers have shown that antibodies produced against sections of the spike protein after natural infection are able to neutralize (kill) the virus when tested in the laboratory.
By vaccinating volunteers with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, scientists hope to make the human body recognise and develop an immune response (i.e., develop antibodies) to the spike glycoprotein that will help stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering human cells and causing Covid-19.
Local application of a global response
In addition to the more than 4,000 people already vaccinated in the UK with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, other vaccines made from the ChAdOx1 virus have also been given to more than 320 people to date. These vaccines have been shown to be safe and well-tolerated, although they can cause temporary side effects, such as a temperature, headache or a sore arm.
There are currently over 100 candidate Covid vaccines in development around the world and many of South Africas best vaccine research institutions will soon be involved in a range of vaccine studies evaluating other types of potential Covid vaccines.
As the world rallies to find health solutions, a South African endeavour for the development of an effective Covid-19 vaccine is testament to our commitment of supporting healthcare innovation to save lives, says Professor Glenda Gray, President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council.
Dr Sandile Buthelezi, the Director General of Health in the National Department of Health, said: The National Department of Health is excited at the launch of this vaccine trial, which will go a long way to cement South Africa's leadership in the scientific space. With Covid-19 infections increasing every day, the development of the vaccine will be the last solution in the long term, and we are fully behind the team leading this trial.
Mark Owen, Howard Donald, Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams and Jason Orange of Take That visit the Statue of Liberty in New York, 1995 (Photo by DaveHogan/Getty Images)
Ruth Wilson, Cush Jumbo, and Rosamund Pike are in talks to join Greatest Days, a movie musical inspired by the music of Take That.
Its an adaptation of Tim Firths jukebox musical The Band, which features music and lyrics by the pop group. It opened in Manchester in 2017 before touring the UK and eventually hitting Londons West End in 2018. The musical tells the story of five women who were hardcore fans of fictional pop group The Band, who reunite years later to see the group perform one more time.
Hit songs which will be featured in the film include Patience, Back For Good, A Million Love Songs, Relight My Fire, and Could It Be Magic. The group is in talks to pen an original song for the feel-good movie.
Ruth Wilson and Rosamund Pike, 2018. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for IWC Schaffhausen)
A statement from Take That said: Greatest Days is a film dedicated to all those who have supported us throughout the years. It puts a mirror on our audience its a celebration of our music but its literally all about the fans and their friendships. Our fans have been on a 30-year journey with us and we have an incredibly strong bond with them, so seeing that they will be represented on screen by such a strong, talented cast is incredibly exciting.
Read more: Mamma Mia creator teases third film
Formed in 1989 by members Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange, Take That is one of the biggest boy bands of all time, having sold over 45 million records worldwide with 12 number 1 UK hits. The bands current line up consists of Barlow, Owen and Donald.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 10: Actress Cush Jumbo holding her OBE during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, on October 10, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Heres a synopsis: Inspired by the songs of Take That, one of the worlds biggest pop acts, GREATEST DAYS is a feel-good universal story of love and friendship. Developed with the support of Universal Music Group, the film focuses on five schoolgirls who have the night of their lives at a concert from their favorite boy band. 25 years later their lives have changed in a myriad of ways as they reunite to reminisce about their past and discover their future.
Story continues
The project is currently seeking finance at the virtual Cannes Film Festival which is taking place online after the physical event was cancelled due to coronavirus.
Take That band members, from left, Mark Owen, Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow and Howard Donald pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the musical 'The Band', in London, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)
Directed by Coky Giedroyc (How To Build A Girl), written by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots), and choreographed by Drew McOnie, Ruth Wilson (His Dark Materials), Cush Jumbo (The Good Fight) and Rosamund Pike (Radioactive) are all said to in negotiation to star,
Danny Perkins and Kate Solomon will produce via their Elysian Film Group banner alongside Damian Jones and his DJ Films banner. Take That, David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers will executive produce the project.
One size fits all may work for a facemask these days, but James E. Wright II, Ph.D. is working to prove a similar, universal program does not work as an overall response to the virus causing the need for the PPE.
The coronavirus COVID-19 has affected nearly everyones daily life in one way or another, from plummeting stock markets and rising unemployment on a macro scale to social distancing to closed parks in your own neighborhood. Some communities have implemented curfews while some states have put mandatory stay-at-home orders into place.
Resources are being distributed to fight COVID-19 on a massive scale, but the data shows marginalized and underrepresented peoples people of color, native peoples, the elderly, low-income people are particularly vulnerable, said Wright, an assistant professor at the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy. We have been analyzing early data from several Florida counties and the initial results are startling. In Leon County, the state-reported number of diagnosed cases of African Americans and whites with COVID-19 is nearly equal, but there are twice as many whites living in the county. Im convinced this is not a one-size-fits-all situation.
To establish a stronger baseline, Wright is collecting and analyzing information from all 67 Florida counties as part of a grant-funded from Florida State University. The dataset and analysis will be completed by August 2020. The information includes how many tests have been administered, who has tested positive for the virus, who is hospitalized, and how many people have died from complications of the virus. The medical data will be combined with demographic and economic data from the county level in an effort to understand how economic and racial disparities may affect populations at the local level as well as Florida Department of Health data with American Community Survey data.
This dataset will be able to track COVID-19 data at the county level, Wright said. That can be much more local and much more responsive than a state-level or national-level project. When you match the COVID-19 data up against demographic indicators and economic information, you can develop tools to more efficiently distribute financial and medical resources to help alleviate any inequities in these areas. To put it bluntly, you have a better chance of getting the right resources where they will do the most good.
The data will give us a localized look at how communities in Florida are handling COVID-19, Wright continued. The end result should allow specific counties and local communities to base their policy decisions on data specific to their communities and their needs. Florida, or California or New York, is not a single, monolithic community. The needs of Cape Canaveral are going to be different than Key West. Local data can help local leaders help their community.
Wrights team is also working on drafting a policy brief to address the specific social and economic impacts of COVID-19, again based on the local dataset.
The model could then be used by any state to examine the same local data for the same targeted response, Wright said.
The initial Florida statewide dataset is the basis for the application for a COVID-19 Russell Sage Foundation grant. This second grant will fund the exploration of racial and socioeconomic disparities related to COVID-19 in the Southeastern United States and how those factors can impact economic stability for African Americans.
Wright teaches in the Master of Public Administration Program at Askew School of Public Administration and Policy. His work sits at the intersection of racism, policing, and protests.
Outside of his COVID-19 work his published and current projects include an examination of police policies and practices regarding the use of force, the implementation of body cameras programs by police departments, and the affect school resource officers can have on student performance.
About Dr. James Wright
James E. Wright II, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, where he teaches courses in the Master of Public Administration Program. Dr. Wright seeks to address how organizational behavior impacts goals and outcomes, primarily for people of color. Dr. Wrights research projects focus on topics within the field of public administration, public policy, criminal justice and sociology. His current projects include examining police use of force policies and practices, the use and implementation of body-worn cameras by police departments, and the impact that school resource officers have on student performance. For more information, please visit
https://www.drjamesewright.com.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Food and Agriculture has endorsed the new draft National Policy on Aflatoxin Control in Food and Feed.
The sector minister describes it as a timely document that will help in regulating cereals, especially maize that was in surplus.
The Policy, developed by the National Steering Committee for Aflatoxin Control (NSCAC), comes with a comprehensive action plan, expected to improve the harmonisation and coordination of activities among all stakeholders for effective management and control of aflatoxins in food and feed.
A delegation of the National Steering Committee for Aflatoxins Control [NSAC] paid a working visit to the Minister of Agriculture in Accra, where they presented the draft policy to the Minister to seek his endorsement.
In welcoming the team for a good work done, Dr Afriyie Akoto decried the fact that Ghana did not have enough warehousing and agro-processing facilities at present "to be able to handle the grains as we should have".
He said currently, his concern, was the many food surpluses produced by farmers and the threat of some going bad due to the lack of proper storage facilities and enough warehouses.
He however stated that the problem was being resolved in the interim through a partial outlet by the exportation of some of the surplus grains to neighbouring countries as well as storing the rest in some of the few ware houses across the country.
The Minister said because agriculture was being engaged in mostly by the poorest in society who did not have a voice to articulate their challenges the sector was being overwhelmed.
Admitting that Agriculture production was critical for the country, the Minister said the government came out with the Planting for Food and Jobs programme targeting the small holder farmers and providing them with the needed tools to increase their productivity especially in grains as a measure to addressing the challenges in the sector.
However, he said more needed to be done, stating that, Ghana was currently working to manage the surplus by adding value to generate more quality and high paid jobs through agriculture.
He said the government was also working to bring down machines for and agro-processes to package the surpluses of maize, rice and other grains.
He said the African Development Bank was consulted and agreed to provide working capital to millers to process the surplus grains.
Dr Rose Omari, Project Coordinator of the National Policy and Technical Regulation for Aflatoxins, explained to the Minister that the goal of the policy was to protect human and animal health and also increase the income of food value chain actors by reducing aflatoxin concentration in food and feed.
Dr Omari, who also doubles as a Senior Research Officer, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research- Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI) said copies of the Policy would be presented to other three stakeholder ministries.
They were, the Ministry of Health, the Trade and Industry Ministry, as well as the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for their endorsement too, and to seek leadership among the four implementing ministries on the implementation of the Policy when it was finally approved.
Aflatoxins have been detected in various food products including; groundnuts, groundnut paste, maize, maize flour and dough, agushie (white melon seeds), rice, sorghum, millet, kokonte, khebab powder, pepper power and other species.
However, groundnuts and maize were the most highly affected staple food products in the country.
The exposure of human and livestock to very high levels of aflatoxins is said to result in acute health effect known as aflatoxicosis.
They present symptoms such as internal bleeding, acute liver damage, vomiting, abdominal pains, coma and death in severe cases.
---GNA
New Delhi: Just hours before the Congress Working Committee was to begin, the BJP released pictures of Rahul Gandhi signing a MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. BJP president JP Nadda in fact attacked Gandhi asking him to come clean on it. The strategy is clear. BJP seeks to discredit the Congress's high-pitched campaign against the government and PM on the China issue.
But its clear that Congress is in no mood to tone down. In fact moments before the CWC, Gandhi tweeted a picture of the Pangong lake, made famous in the movie '3 Idiots'. The picture was clicked by Gandhi's father Rajiv and the Congress former president wrote: "We stand in solidarity against China. Has china intruded into our territory?"
Inherent in this tweet is the repeated questioning by Gandhi and Congress to the government and PM over the China issue. Congress alleges that the government is hiding facts on the extent of Chinese intrusion.
The special Congress Working Committee headed by Sonia Gandhi met over several issues but the focus remained China. Sonia Gandhi said, "The PM was called out when when he announced that 'no one had intruded into the Indian territory in Ladakh'. There is a serious belief among people that the situation was mishandled by the government. Now, we have a full blown crisis on the LAC with China. The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will inform the government's actions in protecting our territorial integrity," Dr Manmohan Singh added "another instance is the crisis on the border which if not tackled firmly can lead to a serious situation. I also endorse Soniaji's remarks".
Apart from China, Sonia raised the issue of Covid-19 and rising fuel prices as well. And the fact that the economic stimulus package announced by the government was not sufficient.
At the CWC, Rahul Gandhi stuck to his line that the government wasn't revealing much of the actual picture. Gandhi made the point that Indias economic prowess earlier gave us a strong point as far as diplomatic relations are concerned. But both have now been compromised. Sources say Gandhi said, "Congress owes it to the country to tell the truth."
Gandhi's statement captures the essence of the party's strategy on the issue: Why congress wants to use the dragon to take on the government and PM.
One in three patients who recovers from Covid-19 could be harmed for life, with long-term damage to their lungs, as well as chronic fatigue and psychological disturbances, research suggests.
Experts say there is growing evidence that the virus could cause persistent or even permanent trauma, including impairment to the brain and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
In Britain, NHS guidance suggests that around 30pc of patients who recover from Covid-19 may be left with damaged and scarred lung tissue, if it follows patterns of similar diseases.
In an interview with 'The Daily Telegraph', the head of the new NHS centre for Covid-19 recovery said she was worried about how little was known about how long the consequences could last.
Dr Hilary Floyd, clinical director at the NHS Seacole Centre in Surrey, said she had been shocked by how young many of its patients were. Healthy people in their 40s and 50s when the virus struck were now facing long-term fatigue and disability.
She said: "These are people who were independent, they might be running their own business, going to the gym, swimming, active - now they are at the point where they can't get out of bed.
"We have a couple of patients in their 40s at the moment; we really didn't expect that. We were expecting them to be older, we have seen a lot in their 50s and 60s, who are really struggling, particularly because their expectation of getting back to normal is much greater.
"They may always have some level of debilitation," she warned.
The NHS guidance for GPs and community services warns that up to half of patients treated in intensive-care units in Britain for the virus may be left with "persistent physical, cognitive and psychological impairments" including chronic fatigue.
One in 10 of those discharged from hospitals in England after treatment for Covid-19 had been left with acute heart injury, it said.
Last month, the NHS opened its first hospital dedicated to helping Covid-19 patients recover from the long-term effects. Its clinical director said loss of mobility and chronic fatigue were two of the most common problems seen in patients who had come through Covid-19, with physiotherapy one of the main treatments for recovery.
In many cases, fatigue and breathlessness were so severe that patients were able to do only 10 minutes of activity at a time, Dr Floyd said.
Many patients were also struggling to cope with the psychological impact from the changes to their health, she said. "There is a lot of anxiety." For clinicians, the most frightening aspect is that so little is known about the long-term consequences of the virus.
"I think what is worrying is that there is so much we just don't know," Dr Floyd said. "We don't know how long-term 'long-term' is. We don't know if the generation who is in their 50s and 60s now will be much more frail or have an increased risk of dementia in 20 years' time."
Prof Peter Openshaw, who sits on the UK government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NerveTag), said: "We are quite alarmed about the number of people needing follow-up treatment after being hospitalised. Many are suffering quite prolonged effects, particularly those who had severe disease."
He said that intensive care patients would normally take about a year to get back to full health, while some never do.
Prof Openshaw, an immunologist at Imperial College London, said there was particular concern about patients who suffer extensive blood clots, which can cut off blood supply to parts of the lungs, leading to a slow recovery.
Others were found to be suffering "chronic scarring pneumonia" due to inflammation of the lungs, he said. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends the opening ceremony of the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2020. The Standing Committee of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, China's top political advisory body, opened its 12th meeting on Monday to discuss winning the battle against poverty. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, opened its 12th meeting on Monday to discuss winning the battle against poverty.
Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening ceremony.
Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting on invitation, and delivered a report. He said that decisive achievements have been made in the battle against poverty, with all major goals and tasks close to being completed.
However, Hu said the country still faced difficulties and challenges with regard to securing a decisive victory, and urged efforts to help the poor remain within the workforce or become employed amid the epidemic.
He also called for the establishment of long-term mechanisms to help regions that have shaken off poverty achieve overall vitalization and common prosperity.
The meeting was held partly on site and partly via video link. The main venue setting was in Beijing, with branches in Hong Kong and Macao.
Violence against children increased sixfold in first three months of 2020 compared with the last three months of 2019.
The escalation in fighting between Myanmars military and ethnic Rakhine rebels in recent months has triggered a surge in violence against children and left some villagers facing starvation.
The humanitarian group, Save the Children, said in a report on Tuesday that the conflict in the far west of Myanmar has left children increasingly exposed.
The widespread use of mines and improvised explosive devices poses a specific threat to children, Duncan Harvey, Save the Childrens top official in Myanmar, said in a statement.
The numbers paint a stark picture, Harvey said, pointing to the report, which verified dozens of incidents of children being killed or maimed.
Between January and March this year in the central part of Rakhine State alone, 18 children were killed and 71 children were physically injured or maimed, according to the report. In comparison, there were three recorded cases of children being killed and 12 others injured between October-December 2019.
Killing, maiming as well are extortion are the top three abuses affecting children in central Rakhine, the report said, noting that the real number of casualties could be higher because of severe under-reporting and the restrictions placed by the military on independent observers.
Myanmars armed forces, also known as Tatmadaw, have been battling the Arakan Army, a rebel group seeking greater autonomy for the countrys western region. Clashes in Rakhine and neighbouring Chin state have lefts dozens dead and thousands displaced.
Rakhine is also home to tens of thousands of mostly Muslim Rohingya, many of whom were forced to flee to Bangladesh after a brutal military crackdown in 2017.
John Quinley III, Senior Human Rights Specialist at Fortify Rights that monitors the welfare of Rohingya, told Al Jazeera that in recent months, there have also been instances that Rohingya communities were caught in crossfires between the military and the Arakan rebels.
He also noted that the deadly landmines and other explosive ordinances laid on the ground both by the military and rebels in conflict zones do not discriminate who it could kill, including women and children.
Child soldiers and labourers
Save the Childrens report mirrors an earlier report by the UN which recorded at least 432 incidents of grave violations against children in recent months, including the killing of at least 41 children and maiming of 120 others, some as young as six months old.
The UN had also reported 12 attacks against schools, and the abduction of 12 children by non-state armed actors. Previously, the UN had accused Myanmars military of recruiting child soldiers, as well as employing child labourers to carry bricks and harvest rice at their barracks.
The report described as shocking the decision of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to delist Myanmars military for grave violations of recruitment and use of children, and called for an independent assessment on the decision.
The UN is expected to debate the issue in New York later on Tuesday.
We cannot forget the children of Myanmar who continue to face daily risks to their safety, health and wellbeing, Save the Childrens Harvey said.
The only way forward is for all parties to the conflict to stop the killing and maiming of civilians, commit to a ceasefire and take all necessary steps to hold the perpetrators of grave violations accountable for their crimes.
Quinley III of Fortify Rights also appealed to the Myanmar military to talk to the rebels.
The Arakan Army has political aims, not just military aims, so the Myanmar military should be able to meet them at the table, and they should be able to discuss together and end this ongoing conflict, Quinley said, while urging the military to immediately stop the stockpiling and the laying down of deadly landmines.
Meanwhile, the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), which monitors the conflict in Rakhine and Chin states, says that more than 12,000 displaced civilians are facing starvation due to the blockade imposed by the military.
The group said the Tatmadaw is concerned that the food items heading towards the region will end up in the hands of the rebels.
In Ann Township in Rakhine, at least 42 villages with an estimated population of 12,139 are facing food shortages due to an ongoing blockade imposed since the beginning of this year.
CHRO is appealing for systematic relief and response team to address the impending crisis, pleading with the government to give them special access to the villages caught in the conflict.
For nearly a month, protests against the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and systemic racism have taken place across Oregon.
In some places, city officials are being called out for racist words and actions. Some are facing consequences.
Here is an ongoing list of those officials.
Are we missing something? Send an email to trending@oregonian.com.
Salem school board chair: Community members and a school board member are calling for Salem-Keizers school board chair Marty Heyen to resign over what they see as a pattern of dismissiveness toward students of color and an unwillingness to address racism, according to a report by The Salem Reporter.
In one incident in March, school board member Paul Kyllo held a popsicle stick mask of former Portland Trailblazers Cliff Robinson, a Black man, over his face during almost an entire school board meeting. Heyen did not publicly speak out afterwards.
Kyllo told the Salem Reporter he was holding up the mask to protest the lack of security during online meetings.
I was trying to make the point that they didnt know who was at the Zoom meeting, he said.
It was basically something that was honoring to him and thats why I wore it, Kyllo said about the choice of the Robinson mask. I didnt think anything of it.
Kyllo wrote in an apology, I apologize that my choice offended anyone, and sincerely regret any discomfort my action may have caused. I apologize for my insensitivity and promise to make no such mistake again.
At a time in our history when we should all come together to stand up to racist words and behaviors, you as the board chair have failed to lead our board in any kind of affirmation that our schools, our teachers and administrators, our classified staff, our executive team, and our board oppose racism and will work harder and strive to do better for our students who have been made to feel less than the amazing child that each one is, Director Sheronne Blasi wrote in her rebuke of Heyen.
Estacada mayor: After a post on a forum called Neighborhood Watch Uncensored, some are calling on Estacada Mayor Sean Drinkwine to resign, according to a report from KGW.
As your mayor of Estacada, I would not and have not condoned these BLM vigils in our community, he wrote in the post. All city staff and I are working tirelessly to shut these vigils down... our number one concern is to keep our city safe and free from conflict.
The post has been removed and Drinkwine apologized for it during an Estacada City Council meeting Monday.
I am not a racist. Let me just clarify that as best I can, Drinkwine said. I love my citizens and this city and I was trying to make things safe so there wouldnt be an altercation-- I was just trying to keep it civil. But in the process, I failed because I am not the best writer and unfortunately that worked against me and now here I sit, apologizing. But again, Im sorry for what I wrote.
Oregon City mayor: An effort is underway to recall Oregon Citys embattled mayor, whos faced criticism for downplaying the significance of police brutality against black people.
Mayor Holladay has lost the faith of the city that he is attempting to lead, with even his fellow commissioners calling for his resignation, Adam Marl, manager of the recall campaign, said in a statement. His refusal to resign for the good of the city has prompted this nonpartisan grassroots campaign to lead the concerted efforts of those who believe in a better future for Oregon City.
Woodburn police officer: A Woodburn school resource officer is on administrative leave after concerns over social media posts, according to a Facebook post from the City of Woodburn and a post from the Portland Tribune.
The information I read and saw is troubling and disturbing and we are committed to a full and transparent investigation, said Woodburn Police Chief Jim Ferraris according to the Facebook post. The content of the complaint does not reflect the values of the Woodburn Police Department, nor do we condone any violence as suggested from the information in the complaint.
Gold Beach mayor: Gold Beach Mayor Karl Popoff resigned from the board of Oregon Coast Community Action after an email he sent to all staff in which he told the executive director Kim Brick, Black lives dont matter to Black Lives Matter people.
According to a statement signed by all five councilors, the city council voted 3 to 2 to public censure the mayor and voted unanimously to withdraw funding for the Popoffs future participation on all committees, boards and associations for the remainder of his term.
Gresham mayor, city manager and police chief: Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis, city manager Erik Kvarsten and Police Chief Robin Sells all stepped down in the space of a week.
The resignations come after complaints surfaced about racism within Gresham city offices, including its police bureau, following a letter from deputy city manager Corey Falls, in which he called out racism and lack of support toward him and other employees of color. The Outlook, Greshams local paper, first reported about the letter.
Sells revoked her retirement on June 23 and said she would return to her previous job.
Sells, who joined the department in 2015 as a deputy chief, abruptly announced her retirement on June 11, effective immediately. In a statement released by the city, Sells said the moment has come for me to spend time with my family.
But in a private letter to city leaders, obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Sells said she had been forced out of the job after facing accusations of racism.
Part of her agreement with the city included a provision giving her a seven-day window to change her mind. Last week, she asked the city for an extension of that window and, on Tuesday, exercised it, according to City Manager Erik Kvarsten.
Chief Sells notified me today of her intention to return to Greshams Police Department, Kvarsten said in a statement. Her retirement agreement contained a revocation period, and she has informed me that she intends to exercise that revocation provision after reconsidering her previous decision to retire.
Phoenix mayor: The mayor of Phoenix, Oregon, is under investigation after a woman said he struck her with his car during a Black Lives Matter protest in Medford.
Mikala Johnston made the accusation against Chris Luz in a Phoenix commission meeting earlier this week. Johnston spoke directly to the mayor, who was leading the meeting.
Video of the incident shows the driver of a yellow sedan keeping pace with the march, repeatedly blaring the horn. Johnston turned and stopped, holding up a sign.
He then proceeds to drive his car right past me, hitting me with the front left of his vehicle and again with the side view mirror, Johnston said at the meeting. I couldnt believe this man would avoid slightly turning his wheel to not hit me. He then proceeded to try to drive through a crowd of peaceful protesters.
South Lane County Fire & Rescue Fire Chief
A Facebook page for John Wooten, head of South Lane County Fire & Rescue, was taken down after displaying posts saying rioters should be shot, according to KEZI-TV.
In one post, he wrote, "So I made the comment we should shoot the rioters and someone asked me how I could possibly do that. I replied it depended on distance, wind, temp, humidity and a few other variables but once I had the calculations done it would be a matter of breathing control and trigger squeeze."
The agencys board of directors said in early June that it was reviewing the Facebook posts and that Wooten had been put on non-disciplinary administrative leave.
-- The Oregonian
A Baystate Health executive and the CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers are among the officials joining the states COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, which was created to examine health disparities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Frank Robinson, vice president of Baystate Health, and Michael Curry, CEO and general counsel at the league, were appointed by Senate President Karen Spilka, her office announced Tuesday.
Spilka tapped two lawmakers to serve on the task force: Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, a Boston Democrat, and Sen. Julian Cyr, a Truro Democrat. She also appointed Dr. Milagros Abreu, founder and executive director of the Latino Health Insurance Program, and Dr. Cassandra Pierre, an infectious diseases physician at Boston Medical Center.
The formation of this task force and its recommendations will help provide a road map for improving health care services across the commonwealth, particularly in our communities of color who were disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus, said Senate President Karen E. Spilka, an Ashland Democrat.
The House has not yet announced its appointments. A source in House Speaker Robert DeLeos office said he plans to appoint Rep. Jose Tosado, also a Springfield Democrat, and Rep. Chynah Tyler, a Boston Democrat. The task force will also include Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, a Springfield Democrat and chair of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, as required by statute.
The names of other appointees were not immediately available.
Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law the data collection bill in early June, and filed his own data collection bill shortly after. The new data collection law imposed daily reporting requirements for long-term care facilities and the state Department of Public Health.
When the pandemic began, DPH started publishing the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths but resisted sharing information broken down by town. Eventually, the department expanded its daily reports to include breakdowns by town, race, age and gender.
The data collection law also created a 16-member task force that reflects the states diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, language, geography, gender identity, sexuality and age. The group is supposed to include six appointees by the Senate president, six appointees by the House speaker, one minority leader appointee of each legislative body, the Massachusetts Asian-American Legislative Caucus chair or a designee and the BLLC chair or a designee.
The task force is required to make recommendations on improving safety for at-risk populations, removing barriers to health care services and treatment, increasing access to medical supplies and COVID-19 testing, making information about available and affordable health care resources known to to underserved or underrepresented populations and any other factor the task force deems relevant.
This pandemic has been particularly devastating for Black, brown, and immigrant communities across the state, and this bill is a vital step towards helping us craft an equitable recovery, Chang-Diaz told the State House News Service in a statement after the bills passage.
The announcement of task force appointees comes a week before the groups first deadline. The task force has until June 30 to file an interim report on initial recommendations and concerns about health disparities in Massachusetts. Additional recommendations are due Aug. 1.
The task force is expected to hold at least one public hearing and accept public comment before its interim filing report, as well as two subsequent public hearings before the final report deadline. Spilkas office said the full task force will convene after all the appointments are made.
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Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) at a border security discussion hosted by Center for Immigration Studies in Washington on July 30, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)
Sen. Cotton Calls on DOJ to Bring Charges Against Mob Vigilantes Taking Down Statues
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Monday called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring charges against people who have been destroying statues and monuments across the United States.
For weeks violent mobs have roamed our streets destroying property, in most cases with neither resistance from police nor legal consequences, Cotton announced. I call upon the Department of Justice to bring charges against these mob vigilantes, prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law.
We cannot tolerate mob rule, and we cannot allow it to go unpunished, Cotton said in a speech in Congress on Monday.
There must be consequences for mob violence, Cotton reiterated. Because if you give the mob an inch, they will take a mile.
The senator said that the Anti Riot Act and the Veterans Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act can provide legal grounds in some cases.
He noted that over the recent days, mobs have torn down a George Washington statue in Portland, Oregon, as well as a statue of former President Ulysses S. Grant in San Francisco, California.
When you tear down statues of Washington and Grant, its not about the Civil Warits because you hate America, he commented. And, indeed, these rioters hate America.
Cotton noted that some people may celebrate the destruction of disfavored statues and monuments, but asked how such people may feel about other cases such as the recent destruction of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment memorialwhich commemorates the first all-volunteer black regiment of the Union Army during the Civil War.
What of the outlaws in Philadelphia, who defaced a statue of Matthias Baldwin, a devout, passionate abolitionist? he added. Mobs dont discriminate between legitimate and illegitimate targets of their destruction. Thats because they are mobs.
In an open letter to Attorney General William Barr urging the DOJ to press charges, Cotton wrote, These criminals masquerade as protestors exercising their lawful right to peaceably assemble, but there can be no right to destroy public or private property.
They arent exactly criminal masterminds, typically filming their crimes and posting the videos on social media, he added later in the letter.
President Donald Trump explicitly denounced the recent wave of statue-toppling at his first reelection campaign rally in months at Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20.
This cruel campaign of censorship and exclusion violates everything we hold dear as Americans, he said at the rally. They want to demolish our heritage so they can impose their new oppressive regime in its place.
Trump added that an unhinged left-wing mob is attempting to vandalize our history tear down our statues, and punish, cancel, and persecute anyone who does not conform to their demands for absolute and total control.
Were not conforming, he said.
It is unclear who has been behind each monuments vandalism and attack. However, Barr said recently that the DOJ has evidence that Antifa and other similar groups have hijacked initially peaceful protests triggered by the death of George Floyd.
Bowen Xiao contributed to this report.
SOUTHWICK Army National Guard helicopters joined firefighting efforts Monday to extinguish a large brush fire that was first reported Saturday in a remote area near Shaker Farms Country Club.
The helicopters, based at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, began water drops in the area as the fire continued to grow, according to a post on the Southwick Fire Departments Facebook page.
The fire, first spotted by aircraft Saturday afternoon, was initially reported to have scorched about five acres near the bike trail. As of Monday, it had grown to about 22 acres of a 65-acre area, according to the post.
Firefighters from Westfield, Granville and Granby and Suffield, Connecticut, as well as from the state Department of Conservation fire control unit, working with hand tools and water backpacks, also joined the effort.
Fire officials were not immediately available Tuesday morning to update the status of the fire.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be posted as soon as it is available.
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23 2020
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has made it clear that he wants technology to play a central role in his government.
In 2018, he launched the "Making Indonesia 4.0" road map to encourage automation and data exchange in manufacturing. One year later, he announced that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would take over the jobs of civil servants to cut red tape and create more efficiency.
The President has also called for a greater role for start-ups in driving the country's economic growth. On a trip to Silicon Valley in 2015, he enlisted CEOs of top start-ups, including Gojek founder Nadiem Makarim and William Tanuwijaya of Tokopedia.
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On August 1, 1958, a few minutes before midnight, an intense flash of white light tore across the night sky illuminating everything it touched for miles around Johnston Island, a tiny atoll located smack in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The black sky turned blue, and personnel at the air force base instinctively ducked for cover.
The source of the light was a nuclear test conducted high up in the atmosphere. It was one of two conducted under Operation Hardtack to study, among other things, the effect of the earths rarefied atmosphere on nuclear detonation, as well as to investigate defensive tactics against ballistic missiles. This particular test, codenamed Teak, was the most powerful one at 3.8 megatonequivalent to 250 Hiroshima-grade nuclear bombs.
The fireball from Operation Hardtack Teak.
The high altitude of the detonation (76 kilometers) enabled the flash of light to be seen from far away. In Hawaii, 1,500 km away, a thousand startled residents called the police to report strange lights on the sky. The sky had turned from dark to yellow to orange and then red.
The red spread in a semi-circular manner until it seemed to engulf a large part of the horizon. A cloud rose in the center of the circle. It was quite large and clearly visible. It remained visible for about a half-hour, a witness in Honolulu described.
Military and civilian air traffic communications were knocked out for several hours, and many trans-Pacific high-frequency communication networks that utilized the ionosphere for transmission were disrupted for up to nine hours. In distant Western Samoa, 3,200 kilometers to the south, the explosion produced a brilliant display of aurora. Astronomers at Apia Observatory measured the strength of the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and found it to be four times stronger than any created by solar storms.
Four years later, the United States conducted another series of high-altitude nuclear tests. This time, the purpose of the tests was to study and measure the effects of nuclear detonation on the earths magnetic field. Mostly, they wanted to understand the effects observed during the Teak testthe EMP generated during the blasts, the strange auroras generated thousands of kilometers from the explosion, and the nature of the Van Allen radiation belts that were only recently discovered.
Known as Operation Fishbowl, the tests were conducted at a much higher altitude, in the region where satellites orbit. The first two attempts ended up in failure, and the rockets were destroyed. The third attempt, codenamed Starfish Prime, took off from Johnston Island on July 8, 1962, at eleven oclock Hawaii time. The nuclear warhead the Thor rocket was carrying was rated at 1.4 Megatons.
The rocket went straight up and exploded at a height of 400 kilometers, about 36 kilometers southwest of Johnston Atoll. At the precise instant of the explosion, streetlights in Hawaii blinked out. Radios stopped working. Telephone lines went dead. Elsewhere in the Pacific, high frequency communications systems malfunctioned as a powerful electromagnetic pulse (EMP) surged through the vast region below the blast. In the minutes following the blast, a blood-red aurora spread across the horizon caused by ionization of air molecules. The visual phenomenon was intense and widespread, illuminating a large area of the Pacific.
The fireball created by Starfish Prime as seen through the cloud cover from Honolulu.
The flash created by the explosion of Starfish Prime as seen through heavy cloud cover from Honolulu.
The debris fireball of Starfish Prime stretching along Earth's magnetic field with air-glow aurora as seen from a surveillance aircraft.
At high altitudes, nuclear blasts behave differently than those closer to the ground. Near the ground, the atmosphere absorbs the tremendous amount of energy a blast releases in the form of thermal radiation, high-energy x-rays and gamma rays, fast neutrons, and the ionized remnants of the fissile materials themselves. Up high in outer space, the fireball grows larger and faster as there is no air to slow down and absorb the energy of the detonation products. A strong EMP results when gamma rays collide with air molecules in the upper atmosphere to produce fast-moving, high energy electrons that generate transient electric fields and currents. These electric fields can produce potentials of several thousand volts.
Scientists had anticipated EMP interference, but the EMP blast from Starfish Prime proved to be too powerful. There was another effect they failed to predict. A large number of charged particles did not fall down to earth or dissipate, instead they became trapped by the earths magnetic field and lingered in space for months, frying electronics onboard earth orbit (LEO) satellites. At least six satellites were lost to Starfish Prime, including one British and one Soviet.
The EMP mechanism for a 400 km high altitude burst: gamma rays hit the atmosphere between 20-40 km altitude, ejecting electrons which are then deflected sideways by the earth's magnetic field. This makes the electrons radiate EMP over a massive area. Because of the curvature of earth's magnetic field over the USA, the maximum EMP occurs south of the detonation and the minimum occurs to the north.
The Soviets conducted their own high-altitude nuclear tests with similarly disastrous results. On October 22, 1962, a 300 kiloton device was detonated at an altitude of 290 km. The resulting EMP fused 570 km of overhead telephone line with a current of 2,500 ampere, shut down 1,000 km of buried power cables and burned down a power plant. Although the weapons used by the Soviets had much smaller yield compared to the US tests, the damage caused by the resulting EMP was much greater because the tests were conducted over populated land mass, and at a location where the Earth's magnetic field was greater.
The following year, in 1963, both countries and a host of others signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty and agreed to end atmospheric and exoatmospheric nuclear tests. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 banned the use of nuclear weapons in space, and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty of 1996 prohibited all kinds of nuclear explosions whether over- or underground, underwater or in the atmosphere.
EMP weapons like Starfish Prime are no longer a real threat, believes Elizabeth Quintana, director of Royal United Services Institute, a British defense and security think tank. Space is already a hostile environment electromagnetically, with satellites and spacecraft being continuously bombarded with cosmic rays and charged particles from the Sun. Modern satellites are therefore hardened against radiation, and an EMP weapon like Starfish Prime would have little additional effect.
Besides, any aggressive nation wanting to knockout the communication system or the power grid of another could do it more easily and cheaper with conventional explosives.
If a foreign power detonated a 100 or more kiloton in an electromagnetic attack on America, then the world is at war and theres little strategic benefit for the aggressor to not just go ahead and nuke a city, Matthew Gault wrote in National Interest.
It's not that EMPs are not a threat, military analyst Sim Tack told Vice. It's just thatalthough the effect would be massivecurrently they're not really a risk apart from nuclear strikes, so highlighting them as the greatest threat there is might not be entirely realistic.
References:
# https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a995428.pdf
# https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a955411.pdf
# Scientific American, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nuclear-explosions-in-orb/
# Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Project_K_nuclear_tests
# BBC, https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20150910-the-nuke-that-fried-satellites-with-terrifying-results
# National Interest, https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/world-wont-end-danger-emp-attack-more-fantasy-fact-94681
# Vice, https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/kwxq4v/we-asked-a-military-expert-how-scared-the-us-should-be-of-an-emp-attack-508
Army Chief General MM Naravane on Tuesday reviewed Indias military preparedness in eastern Ladakh as he began a two-day visit to the region where a border clash last week left 20 Indian soldiers dead in the midst of a tense standoff with the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army.
Soon after arriving in Leh, General Naravane visited an Army hospital where 18 soldiers injured in the clash in Galwan Valley on June 15 are undergoing treatment, Army officials said.
The Chief of the Army Staff interacted with almost all the injured soldiers and complimented them for their bravery, they added.
A surveillance post set up by the Chinese Army on a narrow mountain trail in violation of an agreement was the trigger for the clash in Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
After visiting the hospital, General Naravane reviewed the overall security situation in the region with the ground commanders, and is learnt to have directed them to keep a high-level of alertness to deal with any Chinese misadventure, people familiar with the issue said.
The Chief of the Army Staff is scheduled to visit a number of forward areas during his two-day visit to the region.Last week, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria made a quiet visit to Ladakh and Srinagar air bases to review the Indian Air Forces preparedness to deal with any eventualities in the region.
Before leaving for Leh, General Naravane attended the final session of a two-day conference of top Army commanders. The commanders extensively deliberated on the situation in eastern Ladakh.
In Leh, General Naravane was also scheduled to hold an extensive meeting with Lt General Harinder Singh, the commander of the 14 Corps that takes care of the sensitive border with China. On Monday, Lt General Singh held a nearly 11-hour meeting with Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj General Liu Lin. In the meeting, the two sides arrived at a mutual consensus to disengage from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh.
The first round of the Lt General talks were held on June 6 during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all the standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.However, the situation along the border deteriorated following the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 as the two sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the 3,500-km de-facto border.
On Sunday, the government gave the armed forces full freedom to give a befitting response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC. The Army has already sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border in the last one week. The IAF has also moved a sizeable number of its frontline Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 aircraft and Apache attack helicopters to several key air bases including Leh and Srinagar following the clashes.
The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9. Prior to the clashes, both sides had been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it was necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
On Jan. 6, 2019, Pollos a la Brasa El Inka posted a heartfelt goodbye on Facebook, marking the end of a decade as Greshams top restaurant and one of the best places to eat wood-fired rotisserie chicken and other traditional Peruvian fare in the metro area.
That Facebook page remained dormant until this morning, when the restaurant began posting updates to their phone number, hours and address.
And then, three hours ago, an announcement:
A while ago, full of sadness, we said goodbye. It was when we closed the doors of our beloved restaurant, but thanks to the affection of our dear friends, our valued customers, who never stopped cheering us on, with their messages, their calls, and their wishes, it was that El Inka reopened its doors and here we are again to share the joy of enjoying Peruvian food.
El Inka chef Claudia Fernandez fell in love with Peruvian food after eating at a restaurant in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, then studied the cuisine with the family of her Peruvian husband, Luis Cabrera. Soon, Cabreras family started asking Fernandez to cook for dinners and parties, because they liked it better than the food they cooked themselves, according to Mark Cabrera, Luis and Claudias son.
Fernandez and Cabrera opened the original El Inka restaurant near downtown Gresham in 2009 with a few Guatemalan dishes hiding out on the mostly Peruvian menu.
The Gresham restaurants menu was built around gorgeous roast chickens that were marinated, rubbed with cumin and black pepper and slowly cooked in a fragrant wood-fired rotisserie built into a dining room wall. But the new El Inka isnt yet equipped with a rotisserie, and might not be for some time, Mark Cabrera said. Instead, the menu will focus on papa a la huancaina, lomo saltado, arroz chaufa and other dishes from Perus unique blend of Incan, Spanish, Chinese and other influences.
According to Cabrera, the new El Inka space in Southeast Portland sits in front of a garden decor store and has been home to a half-dozen tenants over the past decade, including a scratch-made tamale shop, a jazz bar, a boba tea cafe, a Polynesian fusion restaurant and a karaoke lounge. The space is about half the size of the previous location.
Its been a bit of a rocky road, to be honest said Mark Cabrera. We closed partly because of a lack of traffic inside of the restaurant. Now that we have the funds, were starting small and seeing how it goes.
Pollos a la Brasa El Inka, better known simply as El Inka, will reopen for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday, starting Wednesday, June 24, with social distancing and other COVID-19 precautions in place at its new home, 8560 S.E. Division St.
-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell
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CLAYTON St. Louis County, after a two-year delay, has officially recognized the Ethical Society of Police, an organization formed in 1972 to represent minority police officers and fight race-based discrimination.
County Executive Sam Page signed a memorandum of understanding with the organization on Monday. The group, known as ESOP, can now represent its 65 members during internal investigations and have regular meetings with county officials. Previously, ESOP had been recognized only by the city of St. Louis.
We are trying to improve the lives of the people of our community and our police departments, but to do that we must have a voice. We must have a say at the table, Sgt. Heather Taylor, president of ESOP and a detective with the St. Louis police department, said Monday during a news conference.
The announcement comes at a critical time for the department. The country is roiled by protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. Protesters have clashed with police here, too, on several nights this month. At the same time, Page is up for re-election, and the new county police chief recently denied the existence of systemic racism in her department.
ESOP has been waiting for county approval for years. At one point, the county refused to sign the agreement, said ESOP attorney William Dailey, because it said ESOPs mission was to address race-based discrimination within the community and area police departments.
We were told to take out the very essence of what we stand for, Dailey said.
Officer Shanette Hall, an ESOP St. Louis County chapter board member, said that Page signed the agreement only after ESOP announced its Monday press conference.
A spokesman for Page declined to comment on the negotiations but said that Page is excited that ESOP will have a larger voice now.
Page said in a statement Monday that systemic racism is the biggest challenge facing St. Louis County. As county executive, Ive insisted that all policy decisions be made through a lens of equity, and that diverse voices are at the table when we make those decisions, he said.
St. Louis County police Chief Mary Barton recently denied the existence of systemic racism in the police department. Two council members then questioned whether Barton could effectively lead the department.
ESOP has asked Barton, County Council Chairwoman Lisa Clancy, and retired judge William Ray Price Jr., chairman of the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners, to sign a copy of the agreement. Pages signature ratified the agreement, but ESOP says there must be an understanding with each official, especially Barton.
The county police board approved the formation of a chiefs committee earlier this month to promote coordination between Barton and nonsupervisory personnel. The committee includes representatives from the police union and different units and precincts, but not ESOP.
In a May 28 memo, Barton wrote that ESOP is not a recognized labor group, and their participation in the committee may then lead to other groups wanting a seat.
Taylor said she hopes the nonbinding memorandum of understanding will offer ESOP a formal communication outlet with the county police department.
When we say theres systemic racism, youre witnessing it right now, said Taylor. We will sue, we will file EEOC complaints, we will do anything legal to make sure we are heard.
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The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is glad to announce that on October 19, 2020, a special Gratitude in Action luncheon will be organized in New York City to celebrate Auroras fifth anniversary by honoring the five Aurora Prize Laureates and paying tribute to New York City COVID-19 heroes.
A hundred years ago, $200 million (over $2 billion in the modern world) was raised to help the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and other persecuted communities. New Yorkers were among the most ardent supporters whose benevolence helped to save a generation of the oppressed. It was also in New York City that the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative was launched in 2015. It is therefore symbolic that the Gratitude in Action luncheon marking Auroras fifth anniversary will be held in the same city. This fundraising event will bring the Aurora community together in solidarity and allow the Initiative to continue its efforts.
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, seeks to empower modern-day heroes who offer humanitarian assistance to those who urgently need it. Auroras five-year mission has been to spotlight global humanitarians through the Aurora Prize of Awakening Humanity and support people in need through educational, health, and skills development programs promoted by the Laureates. The Prize Laureate receives a US $1,000,000 award which gives the Laureate a unique opportunity to continue the cycle of giving and support the organizations that have inspired the humanitarian action.
For the last five years, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative has been reminding us of our common humanity, uniting people, and transforming the way we deliver humanitarian aid to those in need across the globe. To date, it has supported 28 projects in 16 countries, benefitting almost a million vulnerable people. As we celebrate this fifth anniversary, I urge everyone to join and empower this movement in these trying times when we need more heroes, said Lord Ara Darzi, Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London and Chair of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee.
Today, when the world deals with the grave challenges of COVID-19, refugees and other vulnerable communities supported by Aurora continue to suffer and grow in numbers under the added pressures caused by the pandemic. The Aurora movement encourages those fortunate enough to have been rescued and given a new chance on life to express their own gratitude by becoming the next generation of saviors, continuing the cycle of giving.
Aurora stands for Gratitude in Action. It provides a universal message and concept that resonates with peoples around the world. Its message and platform evoke human solidarity. Today, when humanity confronts the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all seek human solidarity, cooperation, and inspiration to bring us together, to allow us to transcend our differences and provide us with a common platform for action. During the past four years, Aurora has provided us with such an international platform that embodies solidarity, hope and action. We are proud to celebrate our 5th anniversary in New York where we began. We are honored to be in New York where hundreds of new heroes have emerged during this pandemic bearing witness to courage, self-sacrifice, integrity and human solidarity, said Vartan Gregorian, President of Carnegie Corporation of New York and Co-Founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.
You can join Aurora and support Gratitude in Action by making a contribution or purchasing a table or tickets to the luncheon in New York City. The funds raised at the Gratitude in Action event will help to continue the efforts of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and the Aurora Prize Laureates. For additional information about the luncheon, please contact Aurora at [email protected]
The Maharashtra government has put on hold three major agreements signed with Chinese companies at the recently concluded Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 investor meet, officials said.
The proposed projects entail investments of around Rs 5,000 crore in the state.
"We have taken this decision in consultation with the Central government. These agreements were signed prior to the development on the Indo-China border and killing of 20 Indian soldiers," Industry Minister Subhash Desai said.
He added that the Ministry of External Affairs has advised the state government against signing any further agreements with Chinese companies.
It may be recalled that at the online Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 meet, the state government signed agreements worth over Rs 16,000 crore with global companies including Chinese groups.
They include a Rs 3,770-crore MoU with the Great Wall Motors to set up an automobile manufacturing unit in Pune' Talegaon and a Rs 1,000-crore in partnership with Foton (China) and PMI Electro Mobility.
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Besides, Henglu Engineering made a commitment of Rs 250-crore for the expansion plans at its unit Phase II in Pune.
Apart from China, the state signed around nine other MoUs with companies from the US, South Korea, Singapore and various domestic entities, with huge employment generation potential.
There is no clarity that these children will be able to go back to school anytime soon.
by Vijay Prashad
The Great Lockdown lingers month upon month. The virus continues its march across the world; the disease continues to infect people and take lives. Uncertainty grips all of us, unsure if the diseases peak has been reached and if the Great Lockdown will soon slowly lift. In places such as Brazil, India, and the United States, the irresponsible and incompetent governments are eager to open things up to galvanize economic activity; they do not appear as concerned about breaking the chain of the infection. U.S. President Donald Trump said that he wanted testing to be slowed down, a dangerous statement that goes against all the advice from the World Health Organization. No sense in ending the Great Lockdown if such an opening is only going to continue to infect people and prevent a proper end to the pandemic.
Future of the world?
There are immense casualties from this Great Lockdown. Incomes have collapsed for half the worlds population, while hunger rates are on the rise. But there are other casualties, other victims, often less remarked upon.
Digital Divide
Parents around the world have been confounded by the school closures. Their children have been at home, experimenting with different forms of home schooling. Schools have closed in 191 countries, with at least 1.5 billion students and 63 million primary and secondary school teachers out of the classroom. Where the internet is widely available, children have been able to do their schooling through web-based platforms, although the character of the learning is doubtful. Concentration has diminished, and the depth of the educational experience has become shallow.
Where the internet is not available, children have been unable to continue with their studies. A UNICEF study from 2017 showed that 29 percent of youth worldwideabout 346 individualsare not online; on the African continent, 60 percent of children are not online compared to 4 percent of European children who are not online.
Many of these children can go online with a phone and with expensive cellular data; they do not have a computer or wireless internet connections at home. A UNESCO study recently found that half of the children who are not in a classroomnamely 830 million studentsdo not have access to a computer; more than 40 percent of children have no internet at home. In sub-Saharan Africa, almost 90 percent of students have no household computer and 82 percent cannot get online through broadband at home. The digital divide is real, and it continues to impact the educational opportunities of children during this pandemic.
There is no clarity that these children will be able to go back to school anytime soon. Creative ways to continue distant learningsuch as the use of community radio stations and television channelsare being studied. But there has been no will to impose a mandate for educational programming on private television channels and radio stations.
Violence
In June, the WHO, along with other UN agencies, released a landmark study, Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020. Sadly, this studylike so much about the status of children in our timehas received almost no news coverage.
The data on violence against childrenbefore the Great Lockdownis shocking. One out of every two children aged two to seventeen experienced some form of violence each year. A third of students between the ages of eleven and fifteen have been bullied by their peers during the past month, while about 120 million girls have suffered from forced sexual contact before the age of twenty (it is important to note that there are no global numbers on the rates of sexual violence against boys). The report offers the first-ever global homicide number for children under the age of 18; in 2017, 40,000 children were victims of homicide. Laws exist in 88 percent of the worlds countries that forbid all these atrocities; yet, reporting rates are low, and in at least 47 percent of the countries, enforcement is miserable.
The WHO study says that violence rates against children have increased during the pandemic and such violence is likely to have long-lasting negative consequences. In many countriessuch as the United Statesthere is a decline in reporting of child abuse cases to child protection services; this, the studys authors argue, is because the frontline providers in the community such as teachers, social workers, nurses, physicianswho under normal circumstances would recognize the signs of abuseno longer [have] direct contact with children, and therefore [are] unable to report suspected abuse. In the United Kingdom, calls to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children rose by 20 percent.
Movement restrictions, unemployment, isolation, overcrowding, and other factors, the report notes, have heightened levels of stress and anxiety in parents, caregivers and children. For those households where family violence is already a problem, this is a nightmare scenario. Stay-at-home measures have limited the usual sources of support for families and individualsbe they friends, extended family, or professionalsfurther eroding their ability to successfully cope with crises and the new routines of daily life. Writing in the Atlantic, Ashley Fetters and Olga Khazan say that this is the worst situation imaginable for family violence.
Solutions
While the Great Lockdown continues, no good solutions exist for either the digital divide or the violence inside homes. Without a robust public sector that invests in free and universal internet access and provides computers to each child, there is going to be no real breakthrough of the digital divide.
Similarly, unless governments transform their public health systems and social worker programs to have routine contact with households in communities, there will be no real way to identify cases of child abuse and protect the children.
No amount of privatization or philanthropy can solve the problems of the digital divide and of violence against children. What is needed are well-funded programs of a decentralized but robust state, with free Wi-Fi and neighborhood public health and social work offices. In a post-COVID-19 world, such policy demands should be at the tip of the worlds tongue. It is the only approach that will be able to provide children with protection.
This article was produced by Globetrotter, a project of the Independent Media Institute.
Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter, a project of the Independent Media Institute. He is the chief editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He has written more than twenty books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest book is Washington Bullets, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma.
The federal government is advising consumers not to use nine hand sanitizers made by a Mexican manufacturer because they could contain a toxic substance.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a notice about the potential presence of methanol, or wood alcohol, in sanitizers produced by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico. Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested, according to the FDA.
The toxic effects of methanol poisoning include nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
The FDA identified the following potentially toxic products manufactured by Eskbiochem:
All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
Samples of Lavar Gel and CleanCare NoGerm were tested by the FDA. Lavar Gel contains 81% methanol and no ethanol. CleanCare NoGerm contains 28% methanol, the notice said.
Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate medical treatment, which is critical to reverse the effects of methanol poisoning, the notice said. Anyone who has used these products on their hands is at risk. However, children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol substitute are most at risk for methanol poisoning.
On June 17, the FDA contacted Eskbiochem to recommend the company remove its hand sanitizer products from the market. To date, the company has not acted to that affect. The FDA advises consumers stop using these hand sanitizers and dispose of them immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers - do not flush or pour these products down the drain, the notice said.
The FDA has not received any reports of methanol poisoning associated with these products.
The FDA is on the lookout for quality issues in hand sanitizers, including false and misleading claims. For example, some sanitizers have claimed prolonged protection, such as 24-hours, against viruses including COVID-19 - there is no evidence to support these claims, the FDA says.
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
Unemployment in Central New York reached 11.9% in May, compared to 3.8% in May of 2019, according to new numbers released today by the NYS Labor Department.
The number is lower than the statewide rate of 14.5%. New York City had the highest rate 18.2%.
The U.S. unemployment rate in May was 13%.
More than 36,000 people were unemployed in May in Onondaga, Madison and Oswego counties. That is compared to 11,400 in May 2019.
More Central New Yorkers are returning to work as the region moves through the phases for restarting business after the coronavirus pandemic. The region is in phase three and could reach phase four this weekend.
Destiny USA mall one of the regions largest workplaces continues to be closed.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources
Frustrations rise for bar owners who follow rules while others dont: A huge problem
Restarting NY: State issues rules for youth and adult sports, skills camps, yoga, tennis
What CNY schools could look like in fall: Fewer in classes, staggered days, temp checks
Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com
Contact Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186.
President Moon Jae-in salutes the national flag prior to a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, right, Incheon Mayor Park Nam-choon, second from right, and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, third from right, participated in the meeting to discuss measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 in the capital and surrounding area. Yonhap
By Kim Rahn
President Moon Jae-in has called for close cooperation between the central government and local administrations in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area to come up with measures to prevent any further spread of COVID-19, as the area has emerged as a new hotbed for the highly contagious virus.
Moon invited Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, Incheon Mayor Park Nam-choon and Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung to a regular Cabinet meeting, Tuesday, for an urgent discussion on the issue.
The three were invited following concerns that if infection control measures are not properly implemented in the densely populated capital area, the virus could easily spread to other parts of the country, with the health authorities saying the second wave of the pandemic has already arrived.
"The stabilization of the coronavirus pandemic depends on how the situation in the capital area will developed. I request close cooperation between the quarantine authorities and municipalities in the capital and surrounding areas," Moon said at the meeting in Cheong Wa Dae.
Stone Path Malts at Beer & Wine Hobby
More About Stone Path
From the companys about page:
Who We Are
We are a North American craft malt company operating in New England, USA. Using world-class malting technology, and in partnership with Germanys leading malt supplier, we locally craft and supply premium malt that enables craft brewers to create unique and distinctive beer.
We build strong relationships with craft brewers, providing excellent service to their breweries and then proudly serve their creations in our malt house taproom. Our passion is supporting craft brewers.
Why a Stone Path?
Centuries ago, ancient civilizations traveled on stone paths that guided them on their journeys and took them to their lofty destinations. Paths that previously brought uncertainty and hardship were paved with stone to enable a certain and reliable journey. Stone Path Malt provides craft malt products with the quality, consistency and supply capacity that are required for every brewers journey.
Whether your brewing journey is creating a new seasonal beer or crafting a year-round favorite, Stone Path Malt enables a certain and reliable path to the color, flavor, and aroma that uniquely defines your beer and keeps your customers coming back for more.
Setting Out on the Path
The journey began in the fall of 2014 with a phone call to a friend that led to a late-night in Bostons South End a lot of things begin that way! The idea was to help elevate the local craft brewing community with a unique and differentiating malt product and experience. And so, with a passion for craft beer and local New England traditions, Stone Path Malt was founded. The founders, Mike Schroth and Mark St. Jean, grew up in Central Massachusetts. Because of this, they chose to locate the company in New England, where their passion, experience, and commitment to service would pave the path for the future of local craft malting.
Finding the Right Partners
To launch Stone Path Malt, the founders traveled to Germany in early 2015 to explore a newly developed prototype state-of-the-art malting system. While in the region to explore the innovative system, they met with a 5th generation craft maltster operating a malthouse in the Franconian region of Germany. Their shared vision established the first partnership of Stone Path Malt.
To produce the highest quality malt we partnered with Kaspar Schulz, the 10th generation and world-renowned German brewing and malting equipment manufacturer serving malt houses since 1677. The latest Kaspar Schulz Malting System combines both tradition and innovation at the highest level.
The system now in operation at Stone Path Malt is one of six Kaspar Schulz Malting Systems installed in the world. Today, it is meticulously operated by their North American and European trained maltster. To learn more about our innovative malting system, visit our process technology page.
To complement their locally crafted malt products and strengthen our malting expertise, Stone Path Malt formed a second important partnership with IREKS, a leading malt company headquartered in Kulmbach, Germany. IREKS has been a world renowned and original producer of Bavarian base and specialty malts since 1856. As a strong partner for its brewing customers, some of the most notable breweries in Germany, Europe and across the world choose IREKS for their malt.
Through these important partnerships, Stone Path Malt is able to combine traditional malting methods with innovative process technology to produce the highest quality locally crafted malt. for locally crafted beer. The best craft beer deserves the best craft malt.
Better Malt. Better Beer.
Twelve of the 36 coronavirus outbreaks detected in Spain since May 11, when a new reporting system was introduced, remain active. Thats according to Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts. For the first time in nearly three and a half months, Simon, who has been one of the most visible faces of the government during the crisis, appeared in person at a press conference on Monday.
Things are going well. I like seeing you instead of a blank wall with a camera, he said to a room full of journalists at the Spanish Health Ministry.
On Sunday, Spain emerged from the state of alarm after nearly 100 days and entered the so-called new normality. The new normality implies that we have to worry about outbreaks, said Simon on Monday, adding that the situation is fluid. Tomorrow there could be nine or 13 [outbreaks].
Although there are outbreaks, it is difficult for the speed of transmission to be like it was before. Now we are detecting more quickly: 24 to 48 hours after symptoms begin Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts
Of the dozen active outbreaks, two are in Andalusia, two in the Basque Country, and the rest have been detected in the Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Murcia, Castilla y Leon, Galicia, Navarre and Aragon. In the region of Aragon, nearly 68,000 residents of three comarcas administrative divisions smaller than a province are back in Phase 2 of Spains deescalation plan due to fresh outbreaks of the coronavirus. The most concerning outbreak has been detected among fruit pickers in Huesca province, with authorities rushing to track down all the contacts of the positive cases.
With the exception of one outbreak in Andalusia, which has been detected in a senior care home, most of the cases do not represent a threat to at-risk communities. In Aragon, they are young workers who are healthy, no one has needed intensive care, explained Simon, who added that the average age of coronavirus patients has fallen from 62 to 50 in one month. This means that we are seeing a much less severe disease, he said.
Although the origin of some coronavirus cases is still unknown, most new infections are connected with the outbreaks. They are going to be a threat throughout this period, both local and imported [cases], said Simon.
The last time Simon appeared before journalists at the Health Ministry, on March 11, he said the pandemic would last between two and five months. More than two months have passed since then, and there is just a month and a half before the pandemic reaches the five-month deadline. According to Simon, it is unlikely that the virus will be completely eradicated from Spain by this deadline, but he said the country was on a positive path.
We have better detection capacity, better knowledge, we understand how the virus behaves, he explained. Although there are outbreaks, it is difficult for the speed of transmission to be like it was before. Now we are detecting [cases] more quickly: 24 to 48 hours after symptoms begin; back then it was 10 or 15 days. We are better prepared. Im not saying that things cant happen, but it is more difficult for them to.
One of the biggest challenges continues to be imported cases, in other words people who were infected in another country and who traveled to Spain carrying the virus. Spain reopened its borders to European Union and Schengen-area countries on Sunday, and will loosen travel restrictions for tourists outside the EU from July 1. On how to contain imported cases, Simon said that it would be logistically challenging and not useful to test all tourists who arrive in the country, given that they could develop the disease after their arrival.
We need to be disease-free but we also need to eat every day, and Spain lives from tourism, he said.
Simon also spoke about the Moroccan governments decision to suspend Operation Gibraltar Passage (OPE), which regulates the entry of 3.5 million Moroccan passengers and 800,000 vehicles from Europe into the country. They have done us a favor with this measure, because having thousands of people in Algeciras waiting to board a ship [to Morocco] was a risky situation.
Latest figures
According to the Health Ministry report released on Monday, 125 infections were detected in the previous 24 hours. In the past seven days, 21 coronavirus-related deaths were reported and there were 10 new intensive care admissions and 150 new hospitalizations. These figures are a little higher than those reported in previous dates, when hospital admissions fell below 100. Simon, however, said the overall trend is of a slow decline. Now that the state of alarm has come to an end, the figures on the coronavirus outbreak in Spain will be released twice a week, instead of daily.
English version by Melissa Kitson.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Talk about cutting off the nose to spite the face: For a second time, India wants to ban cryptocurrencies.
Harnessing the power of tokens residing on distributed ledgers can save the worlds biggest recipient of money transfers billions of dollars annually. Regulating digital assets and allowing the industry to grow can also keep India in the reckoning as both China and Silicon Valley try to reshape the global payments industry.
But instead of trying to match President Xi Jinpings resolve to make blockchains the focus of Chinas next big technological push, New Delhi wants to retreat when it was just about to move forward. Earlier, a central bank directive had ordered commercial lenders to stay away from customers dealing in digital assets. But after the Supreme Court overruled the monetary authority in March, the Finance Ministry has decided to introduce a law to prohibit cryptos, the Economic Times reported recently.
Any such law might still get challenged. Binance Holdings Ltd., the top spot exchange for virtual currencies by trading volume, is joining a crypto lobby group in India. The industry doesnt want to go down without a fight in an important future market. Yet for a nascent local talent pool just beginning to feel hopeful about its prospects, an existential crisis has arrived instead.
A perverse outcome will be to drive Bitcoin and other private alternatives to fiat money underground; transactions will occur outside the banking system and stay under the radar of regulators. Money-laundering and terror-financing risks wont go away. Theyll just become harder to detect. Bad crypto will drive out good crypto. Top brains will leave India or look for other problems to solve.
Who stands to lose the most? Last year, Indian families received $83 billion from members working overseas, more than any other country. Capital controls make it harder to take funds out, but at $19 billion, outbound flows for education, travel, or overseas asset purchases by residents were still significant.
Story continues
The coronavirus will no doubt make 2020 the annus horribilis for migrants. The World Bank Is forecasting a 23% slump in remittances to India. In these times, every dollar saved by a nurse from Kerala whos helping Covid-19 patients in the U.S. and supporting a family thousands of miles away matters more than ever.
Yet it costs in excess of $10 to send $200 to India. And 5.3% is the average. Singapore-to-India transfers are cheap at 2% because the two countries allow each others major lenders a presence. By contrast, the Thailand-India corridor, which requires handovers across a chain of correspondent banks, could cost 12%. Or $24 on a $200 transfer.
Expenses pile up as sending institutions must maintain idle liquidity with correspondent banks in foreign countries, earning little and running the risk of currency depreciation. Cryptography is helpful in such situations. Establishing ownership of funds with hard-to-crack secrets bypasses the need to establish trust with costly pre-funded accounts.
And if hackers can steal hundreds of millions of dollars of digital assets, blind trust in an accounts-based system often costs more. As the Wirecard AG scandal shows, investors can wake up one morning and realize that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) they thought had gone to the German payment processors accounts in the Philippines probably didnt exist.
Meanwhile, the Philippines, which also gets large remittances, allows money to come in as XRP virtual tokens and get converted into pesos. It takes seconds and is 40% to 60% cheaper than traditional means, according to Ripple Labs Inc., the U.S. digital money transfer firm behind XRP.
As Ripple argues, for crypto processors to operate in India, the government needs to follow the Singapore model of categorizing digital assets. Some, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, are means of payment. Others are security tokens that give the holder rights similar to stocks or bonds. The regulatory noose around them has tightened after many initial coin sales defrauded investors. In between are utility tokens, which are like in-store vouchers. They give rights, but only on a blockchain.
Allowing rupees to be swapped for permissible payment tokens in regulated quantities, and for the latter to be used without contravening the countrys foreign-exchange management law, would be the logical next steps. Instead, Indias regulators seem to be living in a fantasy land where they hold blockchain to be good, but crypto assets to be evil.
At first glance, they seem to be copying the Chinese playbook. While elevating distributed ledgers to a strategic frontier technology since 2016, Beijing has rejected the notion that bitcoin is legal tender. However, it hasnt banned people from holding it as a commodity. This year, it even started piloting a central bank-issued digital yuan. If U.S.-China relations continue to nosedive, Beijing wants to be prepared with an alternative to the Western financial system, a parallel track to Swift(1) .
Soon enough, Facebook Inc.-sponsored Libra will come in with its own vision of a modern payment system. Even a small nation like Singapore is exploring the potential of central bank virtual currencies with its Project Ubin. If New Delhi wants a voice in a world of two clashing superpowers, and competing networks for moving money as cheaply as information, it needs to build its own capabilities. A ban will be self-defeating. India needs crypto, both for financial inclusion today and strategic heft tomorrow.
(1) Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, or Swift, is a member-owned cooperative that provides the infrastructure for movement of money around the world.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
Andy Mukherjee is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies and financial services. He previously was a columnist for Reuters Breakingviews. He has also worked for the Straits Times, ET NOW and Bloomberg News.
For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion
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Mumbai, June 24 : Noted choreographer Saroj Khan was hospitalised after she complained of breathing trouble. The 71-year-old has been admitted in Guru Nanak Hospital, Bandra, since Saturday.
A relative close to the Bollywood veteran has confirmed the news. "She is fine now and recovering. She had breathing issues and was taken to hospital for that. A COVID-19 test was done, which turned out negative. She doesn't have any symptoms. She is likely to be discharged in a day or two," the relative said, according to a timesofindia.com report.
Saroj Khan shot to fame in the late eighties, choreographing Sridevi superhits such as "Main naagin tu sapera" (Nagina") and "Hawaa hawaai" ("Mr India"). She has also given Madhuri Dixit some of her biggest hits including "Ek do teen" ("Tezaab"), and "Dhak dhak" ("Beta") among numerous others.
Lately, she has been selective with signing new projects. Her recent works include choreographing Kangana Ranaut in "Manikarnika" last year and "Tanu Weds Manu Returns" in 2015. Her last major assignment has been directing Madhuri's moves in last year's release, "Kalank".
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Two woman narrowly avoided prison after they were caught on camera attacking a man with a hammer and a glass bottle.
Rebecca Tantrum, 28, and her partner Chantelle Bennett, 30, launched a 'disgraceful' attack on Paul Sutton in Newport city centre in broad daylight.
Prosecutor Matthew Roberts told Cardiff Crown Court that the pair set upon him after an argument over his dog and theirs.
Mr Sutton had been out for an evening stroll with his partner Louise Elliott and their pet pug, when the defendants' much larger dog bit Mr Sutton on the arm and attempted to get to his pug.
Two woman narrowly avoided prison after they were caught on camera attacking a man with a hammer and a glass bottle in Newport city centre
But when he tried to lead the dog away by its chain, it caused Bennett to shout at him.
Mr Roberts said: 'Chantelle Bennett was shouting at Mr Sutton "Let go of my dog". She was screaming at him.
'The defendant approached with a bottle in her hand and she was trying to hit his partner with it. Mr Sutton pushed her to the back of the neck and to the floor.'
Shocking video of the incident then shows Tantrum leave the nearby home she shares with her co-defendant - armed with a wooden-handled claw hammer - and attack Mr Sutton with it until the police arrived.
Mr Sutton had been out for an evening stroll with his partner Louise Elliott (right, in pink) and their pet pug, when the defendants' (left, together) much larger dog bit Mr Sutton on the arm and attempted to get to his pug
The pair both admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Tantrum also admitted possessing an offensive weapon and possessing a controlled Class B drug
Mr Roberts said: 'She grabbed him by the arm and Bennett gave words of encouragement, saying: "Go on whack him", while Tantrum said: "I'm going to f****** kill him".
Tantrum is seen hitting Mr Sutton to the body with the hammer and Bennett throwing punches before they all fall to the pavement.
The police arrived and wrongly arrested Mr Sutton, but after seeing CCTV footage of the incident on July 5 last year they arrested Tantrum and Bennett.
The pair both admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Tantrum also admitted possessing an offensive weapon and possessing a controlled Class B drug.
The court heard the women, both of Commercial Street, Newport, 'regretted' the attack which left Mr Sutton with minor injuries and bruising.
Shocking video of the incident then shows Tantrum leave the nearby home she shares with her co-defendant - armed with a wooden-handled claw hammer - and attack Mr Sutton with it until the police arrived
Rosamund Rutter, representing Tantrum, said her client was told by Bennett she had been assaulted by a man who had taken hold of their dog and she gone to 'deal' with the matter.
She added: 'It was totally unacceptable and she does accept that and she is ashamed of her actions. She is described as showing remorse.'
Jeffrey Jones, for Bennett, said his client was 'manhandled' to the ground by Mr Sutton but said she regrets what she had done and should not have got involved.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins said both women deserved to go to jail but because of a delay in the case coming to court he suspended their sentences.
He said: 'I hope the images from the CCTV stick with you and you can see the disgraceful way you presented yourselves.
'It was a disgraceful fight and a very violent confrontation and involved a bottle and a hammer used by you to inflict injury on Mr Sutton.
'I hope you can both reflect on what you were doing and how you both behaved in the middle of Newport on that evening.'
Tantrum was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months and Bennett was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
Workers have a right to expect they wont be killed on their jobs, Dr. Bingham told The Washington Post in 1977.
When she took over OSHA, the agency was something of a laughingstock for having promulgated thousands of rules that had little to do with making workplaces safer. They required that toilet seats have open fronts, for example, and that telephone linemen use tool belts with no more than four tool loops.
In an effort to pursue what President Carter called common sense priorities, Dr. Bingham eliminated more than 1,000 regulations that she considered nit-picking and that industry regarded as a nuisance. This freed the agencys inspectors to focus on serious threats to go after whales, not minnows, in the parlance of the day.
She put OSHA on the map, Dr. Philip Landrigan, a friend who worked with her in government starting in 1979, said in an interview. She was a strong-willed woman who understood the levers of government.
In her campaign for workplace safety Dr. Bingham clashed with business, Congress and even fellow members of the Carter administration, though she usually had the backing of the president. Perhaps her hardest-fought battle was over cotton dust, which threatened the health of Southern textile workers, many of them poor, black and nonunion.
Texas Children's Hospital has begun admitting adult patients because of the surge of COVID-19 patients in the Houston area.
In a statement late Monday night, Texas Children's confirmed that the pediatric hospital has taken the unusual step of providing such additional capacity through its intensive care units and acute care beds at its two biggest campuses in the area.
"Yes, Texas Children's is admitting adult patients," said the statement. "We are committed to doing our part to assist the city as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise."
Adults with the disease will be cared for in an expanded special isolation unit at the hospital's west Houston campus, said a spokeswoman. She said that as part of its assistance freeing up space for other hospitals, the flagship campus in the Texas Medical Center also is taking care of some adult patients who don't have COVID-19.
Texas Children's would not say how many adult patients are receiving care at the two locations.
This is the first time during the pandemic that Texas Children's has had to invoke the plan. The plan was prepared in advance of the April surge of patients but turned out not to be needed then.
Earlier Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott pleaded with Texans to better protect themselves against the coronavirus, acknowledging that the virus is now spreading at an unacceptable rate. The message marked a change from a week ago, when Abbott downplayed rising caseloads, citing abundant medical resources and anomalies in the data.
The state reported 4,515 new cases Monday, its second highest single-day increase. The increase brought Texas' total to 118,462.
Meanwhile, experts warned Houston could be the next epicenter of the national pandemic. The area added 2,425 cases Monday, bringing its total to 31,917.
On Sunday, a 25-county region anchored by Houston set a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations for the ninth time in 11 days, with 1,847 patients. ICU usage crept up to 89 percent, and the Texas Medical Center warned its system could exhaust base intensive care capacity within two weeks. More than 10,000 general and ICU beds remain available in the area.
Adult COVID-19 patients receiving care at the isolation unit at Texas Children's west campus are being transferred from other hospitals in the area after testing positive for the disease. The unit, a state-of-the-art biocontainment space built in 2015 following the international Ebola virus crisis, was specifically designed to care for individuals with infectious diseases that are highly contagious and may require specialized intensive care.
Adults patients who don't have COVID-19 but are being cared for at Texas Children's medical center campus are also being transferred from other area hospitals.
The Texas Children's statement added that the hospital continues to carefully monitor the ongoing active transmission and increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the area and across the state.
todd.ackerman@chron.
T he Government has revealed plans about how lockdown measures will be eased in England from July 4.
Boris Johnson updated the nation on Tuesday and shared new rules and procedures for businesses and the public.
Pubs, restaurants, museums and cinemas will be allowed to reopen from next month, while weddings can also go ahead.
The Prime Minister briefed the Cabinet on the proposals which will take effect from July 4 before setting the details out in a Commons statement.
Let's take a look at the Covid-19 lockdown rules in place and what has changed.
What has opened and what will open on July 4?
On Monday, June 15 non-essential retail reopened in England, with people flocking back to high streets and retail parks, which had social distancing measures in place.
Zoos and safari parks also reopened, as did places of worship for private prayer.
From July 4, hotels, restaurants, pubs, cinemas and hairdressers can reopen, providing they are Covid-secure and theatres and concert halls can open but cannot stage live performances.
Nightclubs, indoor gyms and beauty salons, however, must remain closed for now.
What are the rules for meeting up outdoors?
From July 4, two households will be allowed to meet indoors and stay overnight.
It does not need to always be the same two households, Mr Johnson said.
"Two households of any size should be able to meet in any setting inside or out," the PM said.
That does not mean they must always be the same two households, it will be possible for instance to meet one set of grandparents one weekend, the others the following weekend."
Rule changes to single households:
The rules allow households to join another in a support bubble if an adult lives alone or with a child.
People belonging to the same support bubble can spend time in each other's houses as well as outside.
Pubs have been closed since March / PA
The Government said you will also be able to be less than two metres apart and stay overnight as if you were members of the same household. Individuals who form a bubble with one household may not form a bubble with anyone else.
They also now permit people to be present at births and to visit people who are seriously unwell.
How far can I travel?
According to the Government, people are allowed to travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance, as long as they return the same night and do not put others at risk because of services they need in the time you are away.
If visiting other parts of the UK Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland you must adhere to the laws and guidelines of the devolved administrations at all times.
What are the rules on public transport?
Public transport should be avoided if possible with the Government urging people to cycle, walk or drive whenever possible.
From June 15, it became mandatory for anyone using public transport to wear a face mask.
A Government spokesman said: "This will mean you can be refused travel if you dont comply and could be fined. You should also be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to do so by police officers and staff for the purposes of identification."
Can I travel in someone else's car?
The Government said sharing a private vehicle should be avoided as social distancing guidelines will not be able to be followed.
However, people in support bubbles can now share a vehicle.
Is there a limit on the number of people attending funerals?
The guidance on people attending funerals has not changed, except that members of a support bubble would also count as household members from June 13.
Are weddings back on?
Weddings can now take place, but only 30 people can attend the ceremony.
People should also continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines, Mr Johnson said.
Are places of worship open?
Since June 13, people have been allowed to independently pray in a church, mosque, synagogue, temple or other places of worship.
From July 4, churches will be allowed to hold services for small groups of worshippers.
Will pubs, restaurants and hairdressers reopen in July?
Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, hotels and campsites will be allowed to reopen from July 4.
When they do reopen, they will have to meet "Covid-19-secure" guidelines.
Mr Johnson said guidance for businesses will be published later.
Can children go back to school?
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 are back at school and from June 15, Year 10 and 12 pupils who have key exams next year are back at secondary schools.
The Government said only a quarter of these pupils will be in school at any one time.
Mr Johnson said all pupils will be back at school in September.
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The Prime Minister said wraparound care for school-age children and formal childcare will restart over the summer.
"Primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance and those children who can already go to school should do so because it is safe," he said.
Photo credit: Ramin Talaie - Getty Images
From Delish
China announced that it will no longer be accepting imports from a Tyson Foods facility. The move was made after a Tyson Foods poultry plant found a number of employees had tested positive for coronavirus.
China's General Administration of Customs announced the suspension in a news release yesterday. According to USA Today, Tyson confirmed the location in question was a food plant in Springdale, Arkansas. In the announcement, China said that specific Tyson location "recently occurred employees with new coronary pneumonia aggregation infection."
Experts and the FDA have confirmed that there is no evidence the novel coronavirus can spread through food of any sort. Still, any products from the Springdale Tyson Foods will be suspended upon arrival to the Hong Kong customs department.
A spokesperson for Tyson told the Associated Press that they are working with officials in China to resolve this issue.
"At Tyson, were confident our products are safe and were hopeful consultations between the U.S. and Chinese governments will resolve this matter, a spokesperson told The Associated Press: Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, and we work closely with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service to ensure that we produce all of our food in full compliance with government safety requirements."
The AP reported that results of COVID-19 testing at different Tyson locations showed the majority of employees who tested positive did not show any symptoms. The testing sample size was 3,748 employees, with 481 employees testing positive455 of them were asymptomatic.
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Tenant farmers in England could end up being 'locked out' of the post-Brexit 'public money for public goods' schemes, the Tenant Farmers Association has warned.
Defra is planning to relaunch its consultation on plans for a new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme over the next few days.
ELM is the new way in which the government intends to reward farmers for the work they do in managing the environment, landscapes and animal welfare.
At the same time, the Agriculture Bill, providing the underpinning legislation for the new scheme, will be progressing through its stages in the House of Lords.
But the TFA has now warned that some tenant farmers in England could face 'difficulty' in accessing such post-Brexit schemes.
This is especially where they are occupying under long-standing agreements with restrictive clauses, preventing them accessing schemes without their landlords consent," said George Dunn, TFA chief executive.
New arrangements are to be introduced within the Agriculture Bill to prevent landlords from denying consent on an unreasonable basis.
However, no such protection is to be afforded to tenants occupying under more recent Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs), the TFA explained.
"FBTs are often very short term and contain extremely restrictive terms," Mr Dunn explained, "Even though nearly half the tenanted farmland in England is let under these newer arrangements, the government is resisting the need for legislative protection.
It comes as an amendment to the Agriculture Bill seeking to strengthen FBT arrangements was voted down by the government in its Committee Stage in the House of Commons.
Despite this, an amendment has also been tabled for the Committee Stage of the Bill in the House of Lords, and the TFA is now encouraging the government to accept it.
Tenant farmers want to play their full part in schemes which enhance the environment, landscapes and animal welfare," Mr Dunn said, adding that there was 'no reason' why they should be 'locked out' from schemes.
"There is also no reason why the government should reject the amendment to the Agriculture Bill, which serves only to ensure maximum levels of participation and that no one is excluded, added Mr Dunn.
NEW DELHI (dpa-AFX) - AES Corp. (AES) said Tuesday that it has agreed to sell its entire equity interest in the 1,740 MW OPGC 1&2 coal-fired power plants in Odisha, India to Adani Power Limited. Through this sale, AES' generation in MWh from coal will be reduced to 35 percent of total generation, from 45 percent. 'Today's announcement is a very significant step toward achieving our ambitious short- and longer-term decarbonization goals. By continuing to sell and decommission coal plants, while building 2-3 GW of renewables per year, and creating and implementing new technologies, we are fulfilling AES' mission to accelerate the transformation to a greener and more sustainable world,' said Andres Gluski, AES President and Chief Executive Officer. AES had previously said it plans to reduce its generation from coal to below 30 percent by the end of this year, and to less than 10 percent by the end of 2030. AES owns a 49 percent equity interest in OPGC 1&2, while the Government of the State of Odisha owns the remaining 51 percent stake. This transaction is subject to customary approvals and the consent of the Government of the State of Odisha. AES said it had previously assumed the sale of these power plants in its 2020 guidance and longer-term expectations. Accordingly, the company reaffirmed its outlook for 2020 adjusted earnings per share of $1.32 to $1.42, its 2020 Parent Free Cash Flow expectation of $725 million to $775 million, and its expectation for average annual growth of 7 percent to 9 percent in adjusted earnings per share and Parent Free Cash Flow through 2022. 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.
In another major blow to the RJD ahead of the Bihar Legislative Council polls, party national vice-president and Lalu Prasad Yadav loyality Raghuvansh Prasad Singh resigned from his post today
In a major blow to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ahead of the Bihar Legislative Council polls, party national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh resigned from his post on Tuesday, 22 June.
According to news agency ANI, Singh is currently admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna after being tested positive for COVID-19.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national vice president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has resigned from his post. He is currently admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna as has tested positive for #COVID19. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/AXW0QD4fFD ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
According to PTI, Singh has been upset over reports that Rama Singh, a mafia don-turned-politician who was formerly associated with Ram Vilas Paswans LJP and had defeated the RJD veteran in his pocket borough of Vaishali in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, might join the party.
He sent a letter to the party leadership conveying his decision to resign from the post as he was unhappy over the type of people being inducted into the RJD off late, the report added.
Singh, a staunch supporter of former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, is said to be one of the founding members of the RJD.
According to reports, five sitting RJD Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) also joined the Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), led by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.
The MLCs who have switched to JD(U) are Radha Charan Shah, Sanjay Prasad, Dilip Rai, Ranvijay Kumar Singh, and SM Qamar Alam, a national general secretary of the RJD.
With this, the RJD, which had eight MLCs is now left with mere three members in the state Legislative Council, a report in Hindustan Times said.
The MLCs who have joined JD(U) do not face the anti-defection law as they constitute the two-third of the total number of MLCs of the RJD.
The report said that a letter about the formal joining of the RJD MLCs was being sent by chief whip of the JD(U) Reena Devi to acting chairman of the legislative council.
The Legislative Council poll in Bihar for nine seats is scheduled on 6 July.
With RJD MLCs defecting to the JD(U), the ruling party in the state now has 21 MLCs. JD(U) is now 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.
With inputs from agencies
COVID is the thing that works differently. Its not our experience of the illness that works differently. A recent observation by Hannah Alcock
We both spend a lot of time in hospital Emergency Departments (EDs). We know the moods, the smells, the human tableaus played out in a loop with each new intake, each new shift. As a medical anthropologist, Jennifer frequently passes through EDs located anywhere from Boston to Atlanta for her research on opioids and overdose. Hannah is a certified nurse technician and an EMT-B. She works in a pediatric ED at a hospital in an urban area of North Carolina while completing her bachelors degree in public health. On paper, we do very different kinds of work. In a more practical sense, however, we both pursue the same goal: as Clifford Geertz once quipped, we strive to figure out what the devil the people around us in the ED think they are up to.
The hospital where Hannahs pediatric ED is located is one of the few locations in our region of North Carolina where individuals can receive diagnostic testing for the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. When the earliest tests became available, parents engaged in a veritable scramble to get their kids tested. The fresh panic of the pandemic combined with a limited capacity for testing created a demand that far outstripped supply, leaving many feeling angered, violated, and scared. In a recent contribution to Somatosphere, Alice Street and Ann H. Kelly traced this social discontent with diagnostic testing capacity in the U.S. back to its origin point: the biomedical fiction that testing is readily available, and that the test simply and reliably works. Testing also holds social value, they argue, as a source of certainty in uncertain times. They write:
In the consultation room, the traditional role of diagnosis is to establish what is wrong with an individual patient. In an outbreak scenario, the primary purpose of diagnosis is to know who has it; to distinguish people hosting a specific infectious pathogen from everyone else, sick or healthy.
Testing, in this pandemic sense, felt like a defense against an unknown threat. Testing promised an ontologicaland also perhaps performativeguarantee that our questions about our physical health are fundamentally answerable, and that a true answer to those questions is right at hand. In blunt terms, North Carolinians were desperate to know whether their kids were safe, and the test offered an allure of certainty.
With time, however, as weeks that have felt like years passed by and we have begun normalizing to our new, peri-pandemic reality, new patterns have begun to emerge in the pediatric ED. Many children come to the ED who are visibly ill, often presenting with symptoms known to be associated with COVID-19. These children often could not receive a diagnostic test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In the earliest weeks of the pandemic, strict requirements had to be met, such as known contact with another infected person, in order for testing to be ordered. Therefore, some children left the ED with a presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19 but were unable to receive any laboratory-confirmed testing.
As testing became more available, and families were able to receive initial results in a matter of hours, initial test results could come back inconclusive or be positive only to later be contradicted by confirmatory testing that showed clearly negative results. The tests are imperfect. The virus can be hard to detect. Nothing about this scenario is unusual. What captured our attention, though, was how frequently the parents of such childrenclearly symptomatic yet without a clear diagnosisleft the ED to quarantine at home appearing fully satisfied with this clinical ambiguity. Throughout both of our professional careers, we have seen adult patients and the parents of pediatric patients, alike, respond to inconclusive diagnoses with a fervent advocacy for more clinical work. Biomedicines aura of factuality so often empowers us to demand definitive knowledge of our physical states. We want to positively know if we have this or that disease. The parents who left the pediatric ED in possession of both a calm satisfaction with their predicament and a fundamentally undiagnosed child appear in stark violation of this principle.
Similarly confounding were the parents who brought perfectly healthy-looking children to the ED with some kind of accidental injurykids who had tripped and broke a wrist while running through the kitchen, for examplebut left with a completely unexpected yet laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. While hospital staff assessed the childs injuries, a medical history would be taken. It might be discovered, for instance, that a grandparent had been providing childcare while the parents worked, and that this grandparent had been under the weather for a week or so. Also, upon being asked by medical staff, the child might admit to a tummy ache that they had not previously reported to their parents or had otherwise not drawn notice. This would result in a SARS-CoV-2 test being ordered, and that test would occasionally come back, to the shock and consternation of the entire family, conclusively positive.
In contrast with those parents of sick children with an inconclusive COVID-19 status, the parents of asymptomatic children often seem to struggle with the unwelcome certainty that the test results have produced. Though a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is surely not welcome news to anyone, the assurance that testing ostensibly provides is not given the epistemological value by these parents that an overly-simplistic read of Street and Kelly might lead one to predict. Instead, these adult family members seem eager to begin assailing the alleged unassailability of the test. Some disbelieve. Some bargain. Some deny. And hospital staff are suddenly engaged overtime to help these parents accept the reality that their child needs to be quarantined, that they might have to stay home from work, that a complication they never planned for is now very much ruling their lives.
These scenes, increasingly common in Hannahs pediatric ED, reveal a nuance in our social relationships with COVID-19 and diagnostic testing. First, the risks faced by children in the COVID-19 pandemic were not held in equal esteem by all parents. Some brought symptomatic children to the ED in a panic that they might have contracted the virus; others brought their injured children to the ED with no concern for the infection risk of that hospital environment. The objective results of diagnostic testing can, therefore, trouble the risk narratives of the parents to very different degrees. Furthermore, the symbolic weight of testing shifts when we move between questions of population health and individual wellbeing. When testing can serve as an information source about our risk environment, when testing can be deployed on a massive scale to tell us where the virus is concentrated or who amongst us is most at risk, the test can reduce a society-wide uncertainty, answer questions, and resolve fears that are widely shared. After all, the stories that we tell about the populations around us are often cloaked in statistical trends and measurements. We know how to parse these data. On an individual level, however, the externally produced reality of a test result must contend with many more symbolic registers. We must find ways to square that result with our understanding not only of the risk environment in which we live but also with the intimate, embodied experiencesour own or, perhaps, our childrenswith which we are so familiar. In other words, when a test result indicates something about our own, individual bodies there is a deeper, embodied knowledge about whether or not we are sick must be made commensurate with the test results for our lived experiences to make sense.
Making sense of our experiences requires, in large part, the crafting of coherent stories about what is happening to us. We have to produce meaning out of things for which meanings are not yet settled. Medical anthropologist Zane Line-Ozola has theorized that the constant flurry of meaning-makingthe classification of objects, spaces, activities, proximities, and bodies into categories of risk in response to the seemingly unknowable nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus acts a collective attempt on all our parts to render the virus knowable and therefore containable. This knowledge we produce symbolically ostensibly holds the promise of control, of successful risk management, of the ability to achieve the Pasteurian dream, of pure social relationships without a third [pathogenic] agent.
Life during the COVID-19 pandemic has felt, at times, like an onslaught of symbolic work as we labor to make the realities of the pandemic commensurate with our cultural narratives and lived experiences. In the earliest days of the pandemic, Kate Mason rightly observed that the politically motivated habits of state authorities in perceiving, acknowledging, and responding to invisible threats shape pandemics as much as the biological mechanisms of viral transmission. Kimberly Sue has repeatedly called attention to the tenacity of our beliefs about the risks posed by bad guys in prisons to override our stories about the risks of COVID-19, fostering complacency for the profound structural violence meted out on incarcerated populations in this pandemic. Maryam Banikarim has discussed how community identity and engagement have changed as a result of COVID-19, how our own identities as neighbors evolve as we come to better know and understand who our neighbors are. In this online forum, Adia Benton has shown how political and racialized narratives have been applied to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure these events conform to:
the conventional outbreak narrative, where a new, deadly virus emerges in the scandalous co-mingling of Asian or African native species and man, circulates along well-traveled business routes, and is unleashed on the Western world through illicit intimacies occurring on multiple registers.
In sum, we try to find what comfort or certainty we can by forcing the bits of knowledge we do have about the virus into the narratives we already know, the stories that already make sense, because nothing is so deeply, psychologically unsettling as lived experience that has no coherent story.
Parents in the pediatric ED likewise strive for coherence between the structural and the personal. Of course, we expect the test to be widely available and my child should definitely receive one, but how can they be sick when they arent actually sick? Yes, we expect the test to work, especially when give to my child, but how can a test come back negative when they are so clearly and seriously ill? Despite the allure of certainty that diagnostic testing appears to embody, the results of diagnostic testing, when performed on individual bodies, presents this confounding possibility that clinical fact and bodily experience may be at odds.
In the wake of this ontological conflictdiagnostic tests telling them one thing and their childrens bodies telling them anotherparents in the ED often seek a path forward that is clear and coherent, and that responds above all to the embodied realities of their childs health, which exist right in front of them. For the parents of children who appear healthy but test positive for SARS-CoV-2, these test results represent an unexpected and unwelcome disruption. Accepting the positive diagnosis means staying home and quarantining with their child, who is not acting sick. It could mean separating from the family they have relied on for childcare. It could mean missing work. It could mean losing income, losing financial stability, putting the entire family at risk. For these parents, learning that the test is unreliable would be good news. A laboratory confirmed diagnosis certainly provides the social justification for taking these actions, but can every job, every employer be relied on to be as generous? Such questions fuel the bargaining and the disbelief that puts hospital staffs medical and social work skills to the test. Any thread of uncertainty in the positive result is a thread that parents, quite understandably, want to unravel until every alternative explanation is exhausted.
For the parents of sick children with inconclusive or negative SARS-CoV-2 tests (or, early on, no test results at all), the narrative weight of COVID-19, its pervasiveness in media, in public discourse, in our lives, acts as a stand-in for the assurance that testing ostensibly promises to provide. The children are so sick, their symptoms so severe. They present like cases of COVID-19. Even if the test is negative, even if there is no test, what else could this illness possibly be? Their medical care wont change. There is still no medical therapy specific to the treatment of COVID-19. Healthcare providers will respond to and treat the symptoms of COVID-19 the same way they would treat those symptoms in any patient with any other illness. For parents, this reality can be empowering, rather than discomforting, as many confidently possess the skills to manage COVID-19s more minor symptoms in their children in their own homes or are ready and willing to learn with support from hospital staff and local nursing hotlines. Children who are able to go home will be sent home to quarantine, their parents assured that they dont need the intensive care the hospital offers. Children who require more intensive intervention will be admitted to the hospital for inpatient care. The plan of action wont fundamentally change. The sick role is clear. The marching orders firm. That the child probably does have COVID-19 is a story that everyone can support.
Though many of us do, as Street and Kelly observed, [expect] too much from diagnostic technologies, these scenarios illustrate how the potential unreliability of diagnostic testing, the discrete possibility of false positives and false negatives. This creates discursive space in which parents can negotiate with the facts that biomedical technologies produce, and contest the stories those facts construct about the health of their children. Parents engage this slippage to create meaning about their childrens health with not only biomedical but also social, emotional, and bodily salience. And that salience emerges directly from narratives of doubt in the reliability of diagnostic tests.
One might be led to wonder how the findings of diagnostic technologies could be dismissed so readily in a culture that fervently centers biomedical knowledge and practice. But a fundamental insight brought to bear on questions of health and illness by critical medical anthropology is this: the stories that we tell about our health dont have to conform to the rules of biomedical science; they just have to make sense to the people who are telling them. This was Arthur Kleinmans great insight in his book The Illness Narratives: the same constellation of symptoms can lend itself to multiple, sometimes contradictory explanatory models of a particular illness episode. Some of those models might be strictly biomedical in their logic. Others may not. But they all reveal, in one way or another, our tolerance (or lack thereof) for things that cannot be explained or that contract the explanations in which weve already invested.
By considering the challenges faced by parents in this pediatric ED and the discursive work they pick up in response to those challenges, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the human capacity to render meaningful experience out of the most confounding situations. Even under biomedicines long shadow of technological certainty, we are capable of undertaking a rich, cultural, even clinical bricolage for the sake of building truth where there isnt necessarily much certainty to offer. Yes, biomedical and diagnostic technologies offer us the allure of certainty. When given a choice between coherence and confusion, we choose coherence. When many stories are available to us, we choose the story that makes the most sense. Perhaps that is the thing that connects us, the drive we all share in our human condition in the midst of a pandemic that would seek to drive us apart.
Jennifer J. Carroll, PhD MPH, is an assistant professor of anthropology at Elon University. Her first book, Narkomania: Drugs, HIV, and Citizenship in Ukraine, details the lived experience of drug use and role of addiction treatment in establishingand disruptingsovereignty in Ukraines 2014 revolution and ongoing war with Russia.
Hannah Alcock is a recent graduate of Elon Universitys Public Health Studies Department with a sociocultural focus and minor in poverty and social justice. One of her notable undergraduate projects included structuring the development of an opioid case review team for Alamance County through the local health department and collaboration with other local and state agencies. She is also a certified EMT-B and Nursing Assistant in North Carolina with practical experience working in both Pediatric and Adult Emergency Departments at the local trauma center.
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Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart announced Monday that police street checks of city residents and visitors have decreased by 89 per cent this year and that he wants to put an end to the practice for good.
The mayor said in a news release that recent measures implemented by the Vancouver Police Board and others ordered by the provincial government have led to the decrease in checks, where officers stop and question people on the streets.
Now is the time to bring the practice to a complete end, Stewart said.
Black, Indigenous and other communities of colour have long called for an end to this practice, and that is what I hope to see happen at the police board.
The mayor said he will introduce a motion to council to make that happen, but the move puts Stewart in an awkward spot since he doubles as chairperson of the police board, an automatic position when elected mayor.
Stewart cannot move motions at police board and only votes in the event of a tie. But the board will nonetheless receive a letter from the mayor and chairperson himself calling for an end to the street check practice, if he gets the support of council.
Const. Tania Visintin, a VPD media relations officer, said in an email Monday that street checks continue to be a valuable proactive crime prevention tool for police, even though they are used infrequently.
Visintin said a street check occurs when a police officer encounters someone believed to be involved in criminal activity or a suspicious circumstance, and documents the interaction.
They are not random or arbitrary checks, she said. If this trend continues throughout the year, it will equate to less than one street check per frontline officer in a calendar year. In comparison, for every street check conducted, there are 500 calls for service for police.
Teens' technology use and mental health: New report released
With or without physical separation due to COVID-19, youth are using social media to connect and support each other, according to a report released today. Three leading researchers have just published Youth Connections for Wellbeing, an integrative review paper that illuminates how teens support each other through digital media during times of stress and isolation.
Leveraging their expertise across the fields of cultural anthropology, developmental psychology, and clinical psychology, scholars Mimi Ito, Candice Odgers, and Stephen Schueller discuss the potential of digital media to support youth wellbeing.
The work underlying the paper was completed prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The physical isolation that has resulted from shelter-in-place orders has yielded a seismic shift, making it even more critical to understand and leverage technology in a way that benefits youth.
The position paper summarizes current knowledge and redirects the conversation about adolescent social media use and wellbeing in three ways that are particularly relevant today:
Refocusing the debate over the relationship between youth social media use and wellbeing to reflect existing evidence, varied youth perspectives and backgrounds.
Identifying teen vulnerabilities and assets that may influence problematic and healthy social media engagement.
Suggesting opportunities where youth social engagement might mitigate vulnerabilities and leverage assets.
In the position paper Ito, Odgers, and Schueller highlight the need to move beyond the simple question of whether more time spent using social media causes mental health problems in adolescents. Instead, people should consider the specific forms of social media engagement that amplify or mitigate mental health risks for different adolescents. The team integrates findings from existing large-scale reviews, the voices of youth who have grown up on social media, and a systematic review of digital mental health apps available for youth.
The team finds that adolescents' online risks often mirror offline vulnerabilities. They note that it is particularly important for messages, interventions, and strategies to be targeted and tailored to the most vulnerable youth and those underserved by traditional mental health services.
A number of relevant findings, opportunities, and benefits are outlined in the paper, including:
Evaluating claims about whether social media use is leading to greater vulnerability for mental health problems for youth, including harassment and bullying, sleep disruption, and exposure to idealized images that may lead to envy.
Identifying factors such as poverty, discrimination, instability, social marginalization, and other forms of stress as more significant influences on mental health than technology.
Revealing that Black and trans youth have reported that online sources of empowerment are sources of support and strategies for coping with and discussing racism and prejudice.
Offering evidence that extending parental support to online spaces can be more effective in supporting youth wellbeing than restricting technology access, which can create more tension between youth and parents.
Recognizing that youth experience positive social support in many online settings, which may reduce their feelings of social isolation and social anxiety, increase their social skills, and augments their offline friendships.
Sharing details on how online communication and affinity networks including fandoms, gaming communities, and creative communities can help marginalized young people benefit from unique friendships and forms of social support.
Highlighting evidence that young people are actively seeking support for mental health information online and using online tools to elicit socio-emotional support. Most teens and tweens say social media helps support social-emotional wellbeing, boosting confidence, and alleviating anxiety, loneliness, and depression.
Describing ways to provide online mental health support to youth, especially those who are difficult to reach through more traditional clinical supports.
For example, one student interviewed shared how they experienced a supportive community online, saying: "I think a lot of my mutuals on Instagram, they're very open to being emotionally vulnerable on Instagram, so they'll actually say, 'I'm not doing fine.' I like it because it's a very nice community, just spreading love whether it be through comments or someone will actually say through messages like, 'Are you okay?'"
A freshman adjusting to life away from family shared how online connections made her feel close to them: "My mother just started using Messenger. I taught her how to use it. And so she texts me here and there. She's like, 'Good morning,' or, 'How are you doing?,' and then we FaceTime. Then my siblings, we use Instagram because that's where we're mostly at. We send each other videos and memes, and then we kind of comment just to make our day."
Given the rising rates of mental health concerns among young people in the U.S., Ito, Odgers, and Schueller encourage a sense of urgency in focusing research, investment, and public attention on how digital spaces and tools can be better designed and used to support youth's mental health.
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The paper, which was supported by Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda Gates Company, was published by the Connected Learning Lab at the University of California, Irvine, and is available at https:/ / connectedlearning. uci. edu/ youth-connections-for-wellbeing/ .
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A security guard of GTB Hospital was injured after being assaulted with a brick by a neighbour who accused him of spreading the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in north-east Delhis Harsh Vihar, the police said on Tuesday.
The security guard, 35-year-old Vijay Kumar, required multiple stitches in the head, but is out of danger and has been discharged from the hospital.
Ved Prakash Surya, the deputy commissioner of police (north-east), said that the 24-year-old suspect, Vikas, has been arrested and booked for voluntarily causing hurt and wrongful restraint.
Kumar lives with his family in B-block of Harsh Vihar and has been working as a security guard for the last three years at GTB Hospital, one of the designated Covid-19 hospitals.
Though he performs his duty near the Covid ward of the hospital, he said that he never faced trouble from the patients and their relatives. In my neighbourhood too, people never caused me any trouble. This is because there are at least three guards and two other staffers working at GTB Hospital from my neighbourhood, Kumar said.
His sister also works as a ward assistant at the same hospital.
The alleged assault took place while Kumar was exercising on his terrace on Sunday evening, minutes before he was to leave for work. His terrace shares its boundary wall with that of his neighbour Vikas.
In his statement to the police, Kumar said that Vikas asked him where he worked. When I told him that I was a guard at GTB Hospital, Vikas told me that I worked at a corona hospital and that I would spread the virus in the neighbourhood, Kumar alleged.
DCP Surya confirmed that Kumars allegation was related to his work at the hospital. Vikas accused him of spreading the virus and told him to be careful, the officer said.
That led to a war of words between the two men and was allegedly followed up by Vikas and five-six of his friends barging into Kumars home and launching an attack that included hitting his head with a brick.
But Vikas, who is out on bail, had a different sequence of events to narrate.
While Kumar was exercising, he was leaning against my terrace wall and risking its safety. When I told him to be careful, he threatened to infect me and get me admitted to the Covid ward of the hospital, Vikas, a 24-year-old college student, said.
Vikas said that it led to an abusive exchange and eventually a fight, in which he too was assaulted, but he struck back with a brick. Vikas denied that he had any problems with Kumar working at a Covid-designated hospital.
The DCP said that further investigation would clear the actual sequence of events.
The overwhelming positive vote of the Vietnamese National Assembly on the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) confirms the strong Vietnamese commitment
to the agreements and represents the completion of a journey started 10 years ago. It embodies an extraordinary step ahead in the relations between the European Union and Vietnam and it comes at a perfect time, as in a few months we will be celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations.
Giorgio Aliberti - Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam
These two agreements will undoubtedly help to deepen and strengthen the partnership between Vietnam and the EU, and serve as a platform for boosting trade and investment ties.
The EVFTA is expected to enter into force this summer. So what are the expectations on both sides? Vietnam has massive potential for EU exporters and investors to do business. It is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, with a vibrant market of more than 96 million consumers, an emerging middle class and a young, dynamic workforce.
The EU continues to be a very important destination for Vietnamese products, and in 2019 some 16 per cent of goods exported by Vietnam were destined to that market. With the rules-based, free-trade agreement, there will be an increase in exports both ways. For Vietnam, the trade agreement represents a step to consolidate its long process of integration into the global economy.
By promoting trade and investment links with the EU, the worlds largest trading bloc, Vietnam makes sure that openness continues to be at the centre of its development strategy to sustainably steer the country into a middle-income economy. Since day one of the entry into force of the EVFTA, businesses in both Vietnam and Europe will be immediate beneficiaries. The cut to tariffs which can sometimes be very substantial, in the range of 25 per cent will apply to 71 per cent to Vietnamese export to the EU and to 65 per cent of EU export to Vietnam. Gradually, practically all other tariffs will then be phased out over seven years for Vietnamese exports and 10 years for EU exported products.
Both the EVFTA and EVIPA can trigger a surge of new types of European investment never before seen in Vietnam, Photo: Le Toan
This may sound technical for the layman. For our businessmen and women, this means a substantial reduction of their costs and will result in more money in their pockets. As we all know, any tax and tariff reduction, as a relief in coping with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, is an important ingredient for relaunching our economies. The FTA is, therefore, an important element in nurturing the resilience of our economies. Not to forget that Vietnamese consumers will have a bigger choice and the opportunity to buy products of top quality with reasonable prices from the EU.
The dismissal of bilateral tariffs and export taxes, together with the reduction of non-tariff barriers affecting cross-border exchanges of goods and services, is expected to boost bilateral trade considerably. The export gains are estimated at 8 billion ($9.1 billion) by 2035 for EU firms, while Vietnamese exports to the EU are expected to grow by 15 billion ($17 billion). Vietnamese exports to the EU are estimated to grow by around 18 per cent according to an economic impact study from 2018. These figures fall short however to capture many of the dynamic gains that will result both for economies and societies.
With regard to services, there is significant untapped potential for greater commercial links in the future. Services activities make up the largest share of the EU economy and with the rapid urbanisation and growing middle class, the demand for services in Vietnam will only continue to rise.
It is likely and desirable that both agreements with the European Union will trigger a new wave of foreign direct investment (FDI) from the EU into Vietnam. Investments from the EU are of top quality. European companies bring high skills, best practices of organisation, and world-leading technologies to Vietnam.
European investment comes with high standards of corporate social responsibility for protecting and training workers and employees, as well as for respecting and protecting the environment. It allows Vietnam to promote economic growth and create better jobs while ensuring sustainable development. These spillover effects are essential for economies like Vietnam to avoid the middle-income trap.
Both agreements offer Vietnam a perfect platform for transforming its economy into a regional production hub. Compared with similar economies in the region, Vietnam has the first-mover advantage of 7-10 golden years of privileged access to the EUs market. Only Singapore, which has concluded and ratified the FTA before Vietnam, is in a similarly advantageous position but its economy is mostly based on services, not on production.
With the foundations of the new economic agreements with the European Union, and taking into account the lesson from the COVID-19 crisis on the need to diversify the sources of production, Vietnam has now a golden opportunity to establish itself as a production hub. Consequently, the trade agreement will also facilitate EU-Vietnam value chain integration. Through increased FDI and expanded bilateral trade in intermediate goods and services, Vietnam will benefit from a closer economic relationship with the EU.
These positive effects and expected gains will only materialise if the promises and obligations of the agreements are swiftly put into practice. The customs officials, the regulatory authorities, and the enforcement agencies will have to be aware of these new rules and follow them in their daily contacts with importers and distributors. This may imply changes to the current ways of dealing.
It needs to be noted however that the benefits of the agreements will directly depend on the level of transparency and predictability of government behaviour in contact with business. Business people and investors are quite sensitive and may easily relocate to other places if the overall business environment is not offering stable and favourable conditions for business operations.
The COVID-19 crisis showed some vulnerabilities in the process toward uncontrolled globalisation. We all have to learn our lesson and find the most appropriate remedies. But if we believe that the future is to close ourselves behind national barriers, we would risk missing the huge opportunities that come with economic interdependence. Reducing economic interdependence would make everybody poorer.
If you take a closer look into the features of complementarity of our two economies, greater interdependence is really a win-win situation. Actually, Vietnam would reduce its vulnerability by engaging more with Europe. This is the way ahead and this is the spirit of the two trade and investment agreements just approved by the National Assembly, which indeed will lay very solid foundations on which Europe and Vietnam can further strengthen their relations.
Key contents of the EVFTA The European Commission has described the EVFTA as the most ambitious free trade deal ever concluded with a developing country. - Near complete removal of tariff barriers: elimination of over 99 per cent of customs duties on exports in both directions; - Reduction of non-tariff barriers: Vietnam will align more closely with international standards on motor vehicles, and pharmaceuticals. As a result, EU products (which already comply with these standards) will not require additional Vietnamese testing and certification procedures. Vietnam will also simplify and standardise customs procedures; - EU access to Vietnamese public procurement: EU companies will be able to compete for Vietnamese government contracts (and vice-versa); - Improved access to Vietnamese service markets: the EVFTA will make it easier for EU companies to operate in the Vietnamese postal, banking, insurance, environmental, and other service sectors; - Investment access and protection: Vietnamese manufacturing sectors such as food, tyres, and construction materials will open up to EU investment. The deal establishes an investor-state tribunal to resolve disputes between EU investors and Vietnamese authorities (and vice-versa); and - Promoting sustainable development: the EVFTA includes commitments to implement International Labour Organization core standards (for instance, on freedom to join independent trade unions - potentially a momentous change as Vietnam does not at present have any such unions) and UN conventions (for instance, on combating climate change and protecting biodiversity). VIR
Giorgio Aliberti
DALLAS, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Le Duff America, Inc. ("Le Duff") is providing notice of a recent data privacy event that may have affected certain personal information. The confidentiality, privacy, and security of information is one of Le Duff's highest priorities and the organization takes this matter seriously.
What Happened? Le Duff became aware of unusual activity involving certain employee email accounts. Le Duff immediately began an investigation with the assistance of third-party computer specialists. The investigation determined that certain employee email accounts were accessed without authorization between August 28, 2019 and September 21, 2019. While the investigation did not determine that personal information had been viewed by an unauthorized actor, Le Duff could not rule out the possibility of such activity. Therefore, Le Duff immediately began a thorough review of the contents of the email accounts to determine whether sensitive information was present in the accounts at the time of the incident. The results of the email account review indicated that personal information was present in an affected email account at the time of the incident. To date, we are unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of any personal information as a result of this incident.
What Information Was Involved? Le Duff determined that the information present in the affected email accounts impacted by this event may include affected individuals' name, address, Social Security number, financial information, health insurance information, as well as medical history and treatment information.
What We Are Doing. Le Duff is individually notifying those whose information was present in the affected email accounts. As an added precaution, the organization is offering these individuals access to credit monitoring and identity protection services at no cost.
What You Can Do. Le Duff encourages individuals to review the information below related to "Steps Individuals Can Take to Protect Against Identity Theft and Fraud," which provides detail on how to better protect against possible misuse of information. Affected individuals can find guidance in the letters being sent to them.
For More Information. Individuals who may have questions about the incident, may contact our dedicated call center at (855) 907-2098, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central Time, or find additional information at https://www.lamadeleine.com/notice-of-data-breach.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO PROTECT AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT AND FRAUD
Le Duff encourages individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review account statements, and to monitor credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect error. Under U.S. law adults are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report.
You have the right to place a "security freeze" on your credit report, which will prohibit a consumer reporting agency from releasing information in your credit report without your express authorization. The security freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a security freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a security freeze on your credit report. Should you wish to place a security freeze, please contact the major consumer reporting agencies listed below:
Experian PO Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com/freeze/ center.html TransUnion P.O. Box 160 Woodlyn, PA 19094 1-888-909-8872 www.transunion.com/credit-freeze Equifax PO Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 1-800-685-1111 www.equifax.com/personal/ credit-report-services
In order to request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information:
Your full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; If you have moved in the past five (5) years, provide the addresses where you have lived over the prior five years; Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, military identification, etc.); and If you are a victim of identity theft, include a copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft.
As an alternative to a security freeze, you have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on your file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the agencies listed below:
Experian P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com/fraud/ center.html TransUnion P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resource/place-fraud-alert Equifax P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348 1-888-766-0008 www.equifax.com/personal/ credit-report-services
Additional Information
You can further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, security freezes, and the steps you can take to protect yourself, by contacting the consumer reporting agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General.
The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.identitytheft.gov , 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.
For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, 1-888-743-0023, www.oag.state.md.us.
For New Mexico residents, you have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in your credit file has been used against you, the right to know what is in your credit file, the right to ask for your credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to your file is limited; you must give your consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; you may limit "prescreened" offers of credit and insurance you get based on information in your credit report; and you may seek damages from violator. You may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage you to review your rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf , or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.
For New York residents, the Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; https://ag.ny.gov/.
For North Carolina residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6400, www.ncdoj.gov.
For Rhode Island Residents: The Rhode Island Attorney General can be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, www.riag.ri.gov, 1-401-274-4400. Under Rhode Island law, you have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this incident. There are 9 Rhode Island residents impacted by this incident.
SOURCE Le Duff America, Inc.
Sarah Silbiger | Bloomberg | Getty Images
A political fight is brewing on Capitol Hill over what the next coronavirus stimulus package will look like. Trump answered affirmatively when asked in an interview this week whether Americans will receive more checks. "We will be doing another stimulus package," Trump said. "It'll be very good. It'll be very generous." Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin echoed that sentiment Tuesday and said legislation could get passed by Congress by late July. But Americans may face another wait before they see the money from a second set of stimulus checks.
What comes next
There are several possibilities for what could go into the next stimulus package, including expanded unemployment benefits and back-to-work bonuses. The support for these initiatives are drawn very clearly along party lines. House Democrats passed a generous bill called the HEROES Act, which would include extending the extra $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits to January and sending another round of $1,200 stimulus checks worth up to $6,000 per family. Meanwhile, Republicans have taken a more cautious view on spending, calling for prioritizing incentives like back-to-work bonuses instead of enhanced unemployment benefits, which they say could discourage people from returning to work. Now, however, talk of more direct payments to individuals is gaining steam within the administration.
White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said this week that both tax rebates and more stimulus checks are on the table for consideration in the next relief bill. The first round of stimulus checks cost an estimated $300 billion. Despite the hefty price tag, Trump's blessing may help usher in a second set of checks, said Bill Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center. "While such payments are not always best targeted on those needing such payments and will add to an already significant federal deficit for the current year, in a recession and an election year, the probability of them be enacted with the president's support is high," Hoagland said.
What the timeline could look like
Charlize Theron has likely become used to clarifying rumors about her love life over the years.
And the Academy Award winner is setting the record straight on her brief relationship with Sean Penn.
She revealed Monday on The Howard Stern show that she and Penn were never engaged, despite reports that he popped the question in Paris back in November of 2014.
Not true: Charlize Theron revealed Monday on The Howard Stern show that she and Sean Penn were never engaged (pictured in July, 2014)
Bulls***: The 44-year-old addressed the rumors: 'What? Thats not true. no. I did not "almost get married to Sean," thats such bulls***. No, we dated, that was literally all we did, we dated'
The 44-year-old addressed the rumors: 'What? Thats not true. no. I did not "almost get married to Sean," thats such bulls***. No, we dated, that was literally all we did, we dated.'
She continued: 'It was a relationship, for sure. We were definitely exclusive, but it was for barely a year. We never moved in. I was never going to marry him. It was nothing like that.'
Theron began dating Penn, 59, back in December of 2013, later breaking it off in June of 2015.
Us Weekly reported in December of 2014 that the couple secretly got engaged in Paris, a source saying: 'Theres no ring, but they are committed.'
Brief romance: She continued: 'It was a relationship, for sure. We were definitely exclusive, but it was for barely a year. We never moved in. I was never going to marry him. It was nothing like that' (pictured in May, 2015)
Year of love: Theron began dating Penn, 59, back in December of 2013, later breaking it off in June of 2015 (pictured in May, 2015)
No ring: Us Weekly reported in December of 2014 that the couple secretly got engaged in Paris, a source saying: 'Theres no ring, but they are committed' (pictured in January, 2014)
She told Vogue earlier that year: 'Lets put it this way: I never had the dream of the white dress. And watching other people getting married? I think its beautiful for them, but to be quite honest, usually Im sitting there just devastated.'
When Stern asked about her desires to get married, she responded: 'I never wanted to get married. Thats never been something thats important to me. On the lives of my children, Ive never been lonely. Ive never felt alone.'
She added: 'My life right now just doesnt allow a lot of room for something like that to happen. But in saying that, theres not this thing that drives me [to have a romantic relationship].'
Last January, Theron was subject of another romantic rumor that she was dating Brad Pitt, 56, before a source told E! News that it wasn't true.
The insider said: 'They know each other, but it doesn't go beyond that. They aren't dating and never were.'
June 22 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has allowed struggling oil and gas company Chesapeake Energy Corp to suspend production from more than 100 federal drilling leases without losing ownership of the assets since the outbreak of the coronavirus, according to a federal database.
The assistance for the cash-strapped shale pioneer, which is widely expected https://www.reuters.com/article/exclusive-chesapeake-enrgy-bankruptcy-te/exclusive-chesapeake-energy-to-file-for-bankruptcy-as-soon-as-this-week-sources-idUSKBN23N0B0 to become the biggest U.S. oil and gas company to go bankrupt since the health crisis hit the global economy, accounts for nearly a third of the lease suspensions granted by the U.S. government in the last two months.
Companies typically are required to forfeit their leases if they stop working on them.
Company officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which oversees drilling on federal lands, has been approving individual requests for lease suspensions and royalty reductions to help companies weather low energy prices.
While suspensions allow companies to stop producing without losing their leases, companies are still required to make rent payments. BLM has approved more than 350 lease suspensions related to fallout from the pandemic, according to the agency's online database, LR2000.
Chesapeake applied for the lease suspensions in late April and had received 108 approvals by mid-May, according to an analysis of the data by the conservation group Center for Western Priorities.
Most of the suspensions expire on July 1. BLM allows suspensions to be extended "if conditions so warrant," though it was unclear whether that policy would extend to a company in bankruptcy.
BLM officials were not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Dan Grebler)
WASHINGTON - Sen. Kamala Harris of California says that Democrats need to listen to young voters seeking change and that she wont be played by Republicans when it comes to police reform legislation.
Shes a top contender to be presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Bidens running mate. But she wont directly address whether she thinks Biden should choose a Black woman as his vice-president.
Harris spoke Tuesday with The Associated Press about her efforts and the Democratic Partys relationship with Black voters. The following Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.
AP: Do you think that swift compromise is still possible (on police reform legislation)? And if you do have to compromise, what do you think are the pieces in your bill that have the most potential to save lives?
HARRIS: The problem is that we have American lives that have ended at the hands of excessive force and police brutality. And we need to address it, and (Democrats) bill, the Justice in Policing Act, is frankly quite narrowly tailored to specifically address the need for accountability and consequences when there is the situation where police officers have broken the rules and broken the law.
You have the Republican leader, (Mitch) McConnell, essentially saying that he is not going to invite any kind of conversation or discourse before a vote (on the Republican bill) Wednesday. The two lead senators on the Justice in Policing Act, Sen. Cory Booker from New Jersey and myself, both serve on the Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee was designed just for this type of issue.
So if there was an intent to have a meaningful dialogue and discussion toward real solutions that have teeth, it should have gone there. And instead its Were in leadership, we hold all the cards, you take it. You take what were offering you even if its crumbs on the table. Well, were not going to go for that. And frankly, I will speak for myself, Im not going to be played that way.
AP: Some of these things that are in the Justice in Policing Act are things that are either still allowed in California or were only recently reformed. Could you have pushed harder for some of these things to happen earlier in California?
HARRIS: The point of your question actually speaks to the issue at hand, which is even in a state like California, which has been a leader on reforming the criminal justice system, we still arent where we need to be. And it speaks to the fact that I know well that there are a lot of folks and a lot that is invested in the status quo, it is deeply rooted. Within the system, there is a real hesitance, if not hostility, to reform and change.
One of the greatest, I think, counterforces to that status quo ... has been Black Lives Matter and the brilliance of that movement and its leaders. That has created this kind of counterforce, so that those who are within a system can have greater leverage to force or compel change. But theres still so much more to do and that speaks to exactly our bill, the Justice in Policing Act, which is these are the things we need to institute at a national and at a federal level.
AP: Vice-President Biden has overwhelming support among older Black voters, but hes struggled to gain more widespread support from young Black and Latino progressive voters. What do Democrats need to do to get those voters energized and come out in November?
HARRIS: We need to listen. The strength and the beauty of this movement around policing is, I think, an extension of what I know from being on the campaign trail for a year, which is that there are a lot of issues that are impacting so-called younger voters that have gone unaddressed. One of the best ways to actually address those issues is to listen and let the people tell you their needs and tell you what they want. We have to listen to them, and we have to respond to their needs in a way that we provide them with their rightful role of leadership as opposed to expecting them to just follow.
AP: Beyond policing, what do you think needs to be done to address inequalities that have been laid bare in the Black community as a result of the COVID-19 crisis that were in? Do you think that the Democrats need a more robust agenda when it comes to Black America?
HARRIS: Theres a lot that needs to be addressed, and it relates to everything from public health and long-standing disparities based on race. It is about what we need to do around the economy, it is about what we need to do around education. Its about environmental policy and environmental justice and a number of other issues.
One of the things that we need to do is obviously fight to keep the Affordable Care Act. But we also need to address the long-standing disparities that exist when we know that African Americans are 20% more likely to have asthma, 40% more likely to have high blood pressure, that Black women are three times more likely to have lupus than white women, when we know that Black women are three to four times more likely to die in connection with childbirth than other women. So theres a lot of work to do there, and it is about accessibility, it is about affordability, it is about bias in the health care delivery system racial bias, institutional and systemic racism.
I have proposed the Racial Disparities Act. It would track where these disparities exist as we continue to deal with the coronavirus pandemic because we still are at a place where hundreds of people are dying in our country a day.
AP: A lot of voices in your party have begun to say Biden needs to have a Black woman on the ticket. Do you think that is what is necessary to kind of rise to the occasion of this moment?
HARRIS: I will tell you and I say this with all sincerity and honesty and candour: I want Joe Biden to pick whoever is going to help him win. Period. He has to win. There is too much at stake in our country right now. Donald Trump has been a failure as a president on almost every level. He came into office trying to sow hate and division among us. He has been dishonest with the American people tens of thousands of times. He has failed to lead on the greatest public health crisis and therefore economic crisis weve seen in generations, where he was in abject denial and then basically tried to muzzle the health care experts and mislead the American people. We need a president of the United States who has in their DNA the ability and the desire to lift up the condition and the spirit of the American people. And I know Joe Biden can do that, and he needs to win.
___
Ronayne reported from Sacramento, Calif.
UK govt suffers heavy defeat on post-Brexit fishing policy as Lords push for more environmental protection
by Kit Heren
June 23,2020 | Source: Evening Standard
The United Kingdom Government has been heavily defeated in the Lords over demands to put environmental sustainability at the heart of post-Brexit fishing policy.
Peers backed a cross-party amendment to the Fisheries Bill aimed at making this the prime objective to prevent over-fishing and damage to the marine environment.
The Lords approved the amendment by 310 votes to 251, majority 59, in the report stage debate on the legislation and peers voted remotely and in Parliament.
The Bill enables the UK to become an independent coastal state post-Brexit, with foreign fishing boats barred from fishing in UK waters unless licensed to do so.
But independent crossbencher Lord Krebs said that, as currently drafted, it did not guarantee the protection of fish stocks and the wider marine environment.
To be absolutely sure the Bill does what it claims to say on the tin, lets get the commitment to protecting the natural environment written into it, he said.
Lord Krebs, a former chairman of the Food Standards Agency, said whenever there was a trade-off between short-term economic and employment considerations and long-term environmental sustainability, short-term factors nearly always won.
This is what has led to over-fishing and long-term damage to the marine environment in many of the worlds fisheries.
He said this was Parliaments big chance to get the management of our fisheries on a genuinely sustainable footing and avoid the mistakes of the past.
Backing the move for the Opposition, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch said sustainability of Britains fishing stock must be the number one priority.
Lady Jones said: It leaves behind the deals and the compromises that were an inevitable part of the common fisheries policy and will put our fisheries on more long-term assured footing, with fish stocks to fish for generations to come.
But Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister Lord Gardiner of Kimble warned the amendment would undermine the Bills carefully balanced approach to sustainability.
Lord Gardiner said peers were all seeking the same thing a vibrant and sustainable fishing industry with a greatly improved marine environment.
The industry could only be viable if it was environmentally sustainable and this was why the Bill gave equal weight to environmental, social and economic considerations, he added.
He said the amendment would create a hierarchy of objectives and mean that in any circumstances short-term environmental considerations would need to override even critical economic and social needs.
Lord Gardiner warned the change could have a severe impact on parts of the UK fishing industry and could lead to the closure of mixed fisheries where most fish stocks were at a sustainable level but some were in recovery.
Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade.
Cloud computing is booming. The changes in the technology landscape have allowed it to flourish and become a key part of corporate IT strategy alongside some of its more high-profile technology cousins such as AI and IoT.
The ability to connect to a wide range of data sources across the internet in a fraction of a second was unthinkable even just a few years ago. And the technology is now so well embedded that cloud-based operations are a cornerstone for tens of thousands of companies across the world, fuelling their growth and expansion.
Huawei is playing its part in the growth of cloud computing, building an ecosystem to include partners of different types to examine innovative ways to deploy cloud.
Increasing Internet Usage Leads to Easier Global Access
The growth of cloud is driven by the rapid increase in Internet usage worldwide, as Mark Chen, Director of the International Business Department at Huawei Cloud believes. The number of Internet users is in excess of 480 million in Southeast Asia, 380 million in the Middle East and North Africa, and 450 million in Latin America. Despite these numbers, there are still vast opportunities to be explored. Huawei Cloud is leveraging its technical edge, know-how, and partner programs to provide support for Internet companies that want to take advantage of the opportunity.
SHAREit, for instance, is enjoying global success. This one-stop content distribution platform is gaining popularity worldwide, with a total of 1.8 billion users 600 million in India and Indonesia across the globe. In Google Play, the app has been downloaded more than 1 billion times, backing up a 650-million-strong monthly active user base.
Henry Yu, Data R&D Director of SHAREit, attributes the success to Huawei Cloud and its high-performance infrastructure.
The big data and AI-powered intelligent recommendation services also allow us to deliver a personalised experience to users, he says.
Robust Cloud Services Open Global Opportunities
Gaming firm NetEase has also been able to expand rapidly thanks to the robust cloud services Huawei provides. Like SHAREit, the NetEase-produced online game Conquerors Blade runs entirely on Huawei Cloud nodes outside China. Such cloud service nodes are also deployed in Latin America to provide network coverage there.
Indeed, Huaweis services span the world. Huawei Cloud has deployed more than 2,500 CDN nodes and more than 100 POP nodes deployed across 45 availability zones in 23 regions, including China, Southeast Asia, Russia, and West Europe.
While these are just some of the many successful stories, Huawei looks to provide partners with even more assistance both financially and technically under its HMS Ecosystem Support Program. Incentives include development and testing coupons plus cloud resources and migration tools.
Huawei
Brilliant Plan Turns Brilliant Ideas into Brilliant Reality
Huaweis cloud ecosystem also includes a host of Asia Pacific Internet-Telco partners. This is where Huaweis Brilliant Plan comes into play by accelerating the creation of alliances between Internet companies and global telecom operators, leveraging Huaweis global presence.
Zhang Jing, Director of the Carrier Business and Network Consultancy Department at Huawei Asia Pacific, expects this scheme to make it easier for Internet companies to develop partnerships with top telecom operators around the world, expanding business globally and accelerating user acquisition.
White Paper Details Changes and Chances
Within the ever-changing landscape of the international market lie tremendous opportunities, as outlined in Huaweis 2020 Go Global White Paper for Internet Companies. The document details how Asia Pacific markets (Southeast Asia in particular) will evolve and highlights the role of Huaweis technologies and the experience of its ecosystem partners.
As Feng Qiyou, VP of Huawei Cloud China Region, describes it, the tech giant will provide developers with 2+4 capabilities, referring to One global cloud + One global network + Four ecosystems: the Huawei Cloud HMS ecosystem, the Huawei Cloud developer ecosystem, the Internet-Telco partner ecosystem, and the Huawei Cloud local services ecosystem.
Huawei Cloud is also helping companies navigate the complexities of international expansion. In particular, it provides guidance on the laws and regulations that apply to data storage and the associated compliance needs. Xu Zhidong, Compliance VP of Huawei Asia Pacific, comments: With Huawei Cloud, we believe that enterprises can create value around the world.
Showcasing its strategies in helping enterprises to expand internationally through its advanced technology, Huawei Cloud hosted the Asia Pacific Internet Industry Summit online in early June. Themed Go Cloud, Go Global, Huawei experts, along with representatives from a number of renowned companies in the region, shared their views on how organizations can utilize cloud technology to reach across the world. The tech giant also introduced its plans to establish new ecosystems and open up tremendous business opportunities to its partner ecosystem.
For more information about the online summit, visit https://activity.huaweicloud.com/intl/en-us/go_global_Summit/index.html.
ALBANY Rep. Elise Stefanik on Tuesday distanced herself from the executive order issued by President Donald Trump that suspends several visa programs for foreigners hoping to work in the United States.
"I disagree with the executive order," Stefanik said in an interview with the Times Union. "I have a strong record advocating for these strong workforce visas."
The suspension affects four types of visas crossing a variety of industries, from housekeepers and landscapers to doctors and scientists. H-1B visas are held by people in specialty occupations that require higher education; H-2B visas are for temporary, non-agriculture workers; L visas are typically held by folks who work at multi-national companies and wish to move to a U.S.-based work location, while J visas are held by exchange visitors, including teachers and students.
The move represents the latest effort by the Trump administration to curb legal immigration to America, following another executive order in 2017 barring travel from several Muslim-majority countries and a ban this April on the issuance of new green cards, which was also extended to the end of the year as part of this week's executive order.
"Some of the biggest employers seasonally, like Water Safari in Old Forge, they rely on the J-1 visa program," Stefanik said. "Many of the hotels that are locally owned in Lake Placid rely upon the J-1 visa program."
Stefanik said she had previously worked with colleagues across the aisle to urge the White House to support the H-2B visa program. Congress was not consulted before the president signed his proclamation on Monday, Stefanik said.
The executive order marks a rare departure from Trump by Stefanik, typically a strong ally of the president. Last year, she also signed a statement disagreeing with Trump's decision to remove troops from Syria.
Stefanik attended and was recognized by name by the president at his rally in Tulsa, Okla. on Saturday.
Michael.Williams@timesunion.com
BERLIN When Inspector Martin Halweg was a young cadet, his class met a Holocaust survivor who had spent almost four years in a Berlin attic hiding from the Nazis and from police officers like him.
He described what it felt like running from the police, his fear, his absolute terror, said Mr. Halweg, who was only 16 when he started training in 1992.
Hearing this firsthand, he said, changes you as a person and changes you as a police officer.
Visiting a former concentration camp is mandatory for every future police officer in Berlin. It is one of the ways in which policing was fundamentally overhauled in Germany after World War II. Cadets are taught in unsparing detail about the shameful legacy of policing under the Nazis and how it informs the mission and institution of policing today.
After the war, we had to start from scratch, said Klaus Weinhauer, a historian and police expert at Bielefeld University. The country had to break with its history and so did the police.
A police supervisor in the Portland Police Bureau has tested positive for the coronavirus, the first reported case in the approximately 950-member agency.
Portland police Lt. Tina Jones, a bureau spokeswoman, confirmed that a bureau member had tested positive for COVID-19 recently, but would not identify the rank or assignment of the person involved.
This was not a member who had regular contact directly with the community,' Jones said.
The supervisor works in the internal affairs division, according to sources within the bureau speaking on condition of anonymity.
Jones said the bureau has taken steps to notify others who may have been in contact with the employee in the prior two weeks.
The bureau also is deep cleaning any affected work spaces, Jones said.
In late May, the Police Bureau began requiring all officers and non-sworn civilian staff to have their temperatures taken with infrared thermometers before starting their work shifts . Trained employees were to serve as screeners and maintain social distance to take the temperature of their colleagues.
As of Monday, the state reported a total of 7,083 confirmed or presumptive cases of the novel coronavirus, and 192 deaths.
Officials with the Oregon Health Authority have said theyre concerned about the elevated numbers over the past few weeks. More than one-third of the states cases have been reported since June 7.
-- Maxine Bernstein
Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212
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A former German CEO has been arrested over a missing 1.9billion in a financial scandal which could be one of Germany's biggest-ever frauds.
Markus Braun, the former boss of payment provider Wirecard, was arrested on suspicion of market manipulation last night and released on 5million bail today.
Braun resigned on Friday after the company said it could not find the 1.9billion supposedly sitting in its accounts, and the firm admitted yesterday that it probably 'does not exist'.
Prosecutors claim that Braun artificially 'inflated' the figures with 'fake transactions' in order to to make the company seem financially stronger and more attractive to investors and customers.
The case has drawn comparisons with the early-2000s Enron scandal in the United States when several executives were found guilty of fraud after the firm went bust.
Markus Braun (pictured), the former boss of payment provider Wirecard, was arrested on suspicion of market manipulation last night
The Enron scandal that rocked America The Wirecard crisis has been compared to the Enron scandal in the early 2000s, when the Texan energy company's collapse shook the US economy and led to revelations of accounting fraud and complicity from auditors. The FBI says that Enron cheated investors using 'complex accounting gimmicks' which made the company more appealing. Investors lost millions when the company declared bankruptcy in 2001, prompting US authorities to investigate. Investigations uncovered a complex system of hiding debt and inflating profits. 22 people were convicted for their role in the scandal, including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling who was released from prison after a 14-year term last year. Skilling was convicted of 19 counts of conspiracy, securities fraud, insider trading and lying to auditors for his part in the collapse of Enron. The company's president and chief operating officer Greg Whalley was also convicted along with Enron's chief financial and accounting officers. Advertisement
The 1.9billion ($2.1 billion) supposedly sitting in trust accounts in the Philippines made up a quarter of Wirecard's balance sheet.
But 'on the basis of further examination... there is a prevailing likelihood that the bank trust account balances in the amount of 1.9billion do not exist,' Wirecard said.
Prosecutors in Munich said Austrian-born Braun had voluntarily presented himself to the authorities on Monday evening after an arrest warrant was issued.
Braun is suspected of 'inaccurate presentation concurring with market manipulation', prosecutors said in a statement.
Braun may have acted 'with other perpetrators', they said.
The company also announced on Monday that it had dismissed chief operating officer Jan Marsalek, days after suspending the top executive.
The missing cash was intended to cover the risks of trading that was supposedly carried out by other companies on Wirecard's behalf.
But the board said it is unclear 'whether, in which manner and to what extent' this business 'has actually been conducted' in recent years.
On Sunday, the Philippines central bank had said that none of the missing funds had entered the Philippine financial system.
The names of two of the country's biggest banks - BDO and BPI - were used to try to mislead eventual investigators, it added.
Wirecard has been the subject of investigative reporting by the Financial Times for more than a year.
The company had initially disputed the reports, which first emerged in February 2019, and said it was the victim of speculators.
But the hammer blow came when auditors Ernst and Young said on Thursday that the 1.9billion was missing from Wirecard's accounts.
Payment provider Wirecard (whose headquarters near Munich are pictured) said it could not find the 1.9billion supposedly sitting in its accounts
The head of German financial markets watchdog BaFin, Felix Hufeld, said 'we are in the most horrifying situation I've ever seen a DAX company have,' referring to Germany's leading stock index.
The scandal marks a fall from grace for the Bavarian start-up, set up in 1999 and growing to prominence in the electronic payments industry.
The firm entered the prestigious DAX 30 with great fanfare in 2018 after elbowing out traditional lender Commerzbank.
But Wirecard is now in crisis talks with creditors and is 'examining a broad range of possible further measures to ensure continuation of its business operations'.
Shares in Wirecard were trading below 16 on Monday afternoon - down from almost 100 last Wednesday.
The firm, which employs nearly 6,000 people, has also withdrawn its preliminary results for 2019 and the first quarter of this year.
Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the border standoff with China, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused him of 'destroying' India's position and 'betraying our Army' by accepting Beijing's stand that it did not occupy any Indian land.
Addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, he said there has been a 'complete and total failure' of foreign policy under the Modi government.
"The established institutional structure of diplomacy has been demolished by the prime minister. Our relations with our once friendly neighbours lie in tatters. Our time tested relationship with our traditional allies has been interrupted," he said.
Gandhi suggested that India should build a good relationship with the United States and other countries and must also maintain its ties with its old friends.
"China has brazenly occupied our territory. The prime minister has destroyed our position and betrayed our army by accepting their position that they occupied no Indian land.
"The Chinese can't be permitted to get away with this unacceptable usurpation of our land," he said, adding that everything needs to be done to ensure that sacrifice of our martyrs is not in vain.
Later in a tweet, he asked why is the prime minister is backing China after it took away our land.
He quoted a report saying India has demanded PLA's withdrawal from Pangong Tso area during top-level military talks.
"China took our land. India is negotiating to get it back. China says it's not Indian land. PM has publicly supported China's claim. Why is PM backing China and India and our army," he asked.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi asked the government whether China has occupied Indian territory.
'We are standing united against Chinese aggression. Has China occupied Indian territory?' Gandhi tweeted along with a photograph of the Pangong Tso lake clicked by his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Gandhi has been attacking Modi over his statement at an all-party meeting last week that neither is anyone inside India's territory nor has anyone captured its posts while referring to the Ladakh face-off.
Earlier too, the Congress leader had asked the government whether China has occupied any Indian territory.
The Prime Minister's Office has already clarified Modi's comments, and said attempts are being made to give a 'mischievous interpretation'.
Gandhi on Monday asked as to why China is 'praising Mr Modi during this conflict'.
A couple of vehicle crashes in the Conroe area on Sunday evening took the lives of a man and woman when motorists drove on opposite directions of the road.
Just before 7 p.m., five vehicles became involved in a wreck after a man in a 2004 Cadillac Escalade reportedly struck a Ford truck while speeding east on the wrong side of Texas 242 approaching Stonecrest Drive in Conroe. The man died at the scene after being ejected from the Escalade when the driver side tore open upon collision with the truck, according to the Montgomery County Police Reporter.
The man has been identified as Hector Herrera Torres, of Conroe, according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Sgt. Erik Burse.
It was a large scene. It was a very sad scene, Burse told The Courier. I aint ever seen someone ejected in their seat in their seat belt. Never seen that.
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The Ford trucks ATV-hauling trailer came loose when the vehicle was hit by the Escalade. The trailer impacted multiple other vehicles. The road was closed to traffic in both directions until past midnight as DPS troopers investigated the crash, according to the MCPR.
The wreck remains under investigation, Burse said.
Less than an hour later and about 15 miles north on Cut and Shoots Willis Waukegan Road at Mann, another crash where a driver was traveling on the opposite side of the road was reported.
An 87-year-old man driving a blue KIA Optima hit a Ford F-250 head on. The Kia driver was coming southbound around a curve and entered the northbound lane, DPS determined in their investigation of the crash, according to the MCPR.'
'CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS': Conroe man charged with murdering girlfriend after saying she accidentally shot herself
A female passenger was found in the Ultima with no pulse by DPS, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office and the North Montgomery County Fire Department. CPR was performed on the woman with medics working for more than half an hour to save her to no avail, the MCPR reported.
The woman was identified as Patricia Ann Socha, 80, of Humble, Burse said.
The Optimas driver was taken to HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe. The driver of the Ford F-250 was uninjured. Authorities investigated the crash as Willis Waukegan remained closed past midnight, according to the MCPR.
Andrew James, vehicular crimes chief at the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office, told The Courier the crash on Willis Waukegan remains under investigation but no charges are expected.
jose.gonzalez@chron.com
twitter.com/jrgzztx
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on June 25, 2010
What a day: Australia gets its first female PM
What a day. Who would have thought they would live to see a female prime minister sworn into office by a female governor-general? And not only that. The man Julia Gillard vanquished for the top job, Kevin Rudd, declared that God was a goddess, too.
"To the great God and creator of us all, I thank him - or her - as well," Rudd said during a poignant, at times tearful, valedictory speech to the nation.
Australia s first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard poses for a portrait in her Parliament House office in Canberra on June 25, 2010. Credit:Glen McCurtayne
Gillard, 49, said before going to visit Quentin Bryce at Yarralumla she was well aware of being the first woman to become prime minister.
Hong Kong: Businesses reassured of security law
Chief Executive Carrie Lam
It gives me great pleasure to be speaking at this online briefing session of the China Development Forum (CDF). Last year, for the first time, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was invited to attend and speak at CDF's annual forum held in Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. That was a privilege for me and interacting with many multinational companies was a real opportunity for promoting Hong Kong. Subsequent to that, with the support of CDF, Hong Kong was supposed to have a special session in this year's forum which unfortunately could not materialise because of COVID-19.
At the forum in March last year, I talked about the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on which an Outline Development Plan was promulgated just a month before then. It was some 15 months ago, but it felt like more distant past because it has been so eventful for Hong Kong since then. I believe that this is an opportune time for me to give you an update about our city.
Significant development
The most significant development in Hong Kong recently is no doubt the National Peoples Congress decision to establish and improve legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong SAR to safeguard national security, which is also the theme of todays briefing session.
This decision, which is the first one made by the National Peoples Congress in respect of Hong Kong matters, is being hailed as the most significant development in the relationship between the central authorities and the Hong Kong SAR since Hong Kongs return to the motherland 23 years ago. Its significance is multifaceted. It shows that the central government is determined to restore stability in Hong Kong, after a year of escalating violence and riots since last June. It shows that the central government is determined to protect the vast majority of law-abiding citizens in Hong Kong from the minority who attempted to undermine national security. It also shows that the central government is determined to preserve and better one country, two systems, a principle underlying Hong Kongs stability and prosperity since the Hong Kong SAR was established 23 years ago.
As you all know, national security is a matter under the purview of the central authorities, whether it is in China or in any other countries in the world. As the highest organ of state power in China, and Hong Kong SAR being an inalienable part of China, the National People's Congress no doubt has the power under the Constitution of the People's Republic of China to enact legislation for the Hong Kong SAR to safeguard national security. It is true that as provided for under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the Hong Kong SAR has been given the duty and obligation to enact local legislation to safeguard national security. But this act of faith in the SAR does not mean that the central authorities have given up their constitutional power, nor should they continue to tolerate risks posed to the nation's sovereignty, security and development interest as a result of a legal vacuum in the Hong Kong SAR. After all, national security is not only about the 7.4 million people in Hong Kong, it affects our country's 1.4 billion population.
As the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, directly accountable to the Central People's Government and the Hong Kong SAR, I have to acknowledge and confess the hard fact, that is, the Hong Kong SAR is unable to enact laws in relation to national security under Article 23 of the Basic Law under the present circumstances. The almost malfunctioning of the Legislative Council, the anti-establishment camp's open resistance of any national security legislation and the demonisation of Article 23 over the years render it almost impossible to complete the task in the foreseeable future.
Without the necessary legal system and enforcement mechanisms in place, Hong Kong has become a gaping hole in national security. This has become intolerable when our city has been traumatised by the escalating violence fanned by external forces since last June. The emergence of various incidents involving explosives and firearms has posed the risk of terrorism, seriously jeopardising public safety. During this period, organisations advocating Hong Kong independence and self-determination incited protesters, especially young people, to desecrate and burn the national flag openly, vandalise the national emblem and storm the Central People's Government's office in Hong Kong. These acts smeared the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and challenged openly the authority of the central government and the Hong Kong SAR Government.
Further, some of the political parties' members proclaimed many times that they would paralyse the Hong Kong SAR Government. Some other people begged for foreign governments to interfere with Hong Kong's affairs or even to impose sanctions on Hong Kong. This kind of behaviour has crossed the baseline of "one country", sabotaging the relationship between the Central People's Government and the Hong Kong SAR, threatening China's sovereignty and national security and challenging the authority of the central government and the Basic Law. It is impossible to expect the central government to turn a blind eye to all these. So, the National Peoples Congress decision to enact legislation for the Hong Kong SAR to safeguard national security is a strong and direct response to the situation in Hong Kong. It is a decision not taken lightly, and is a decision which is urgently needed to restore stability in Hong Kong and to protect the people's interests.
Reassuring provisions
Given the significance of the National People's Congress decision, it is only natural for people to be eager to know its impact and implications on Hong Kong's future. For many multinational companies which have presence in Hong Kong, I believe that your key concern would be whether Hong Kong will continue to be the ideal place for your companies to thrive. To this, my response would be a resounding yes.
First, the legislation only targets acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security. Obviously these are not acts and activities that law-abiding companies or citizens will be engaged in. The vast majority of people, including the law-abiding multinational companies, should welcome the return of stability and law and order which have made Hong Kong one of the world's safest cities for many years.
Second, the National Peoples Congress has made it clear in its decision and the relevant explanatory statement that the legislation will be guided by a number of fundamental principles. These principles include firmly safeguarding national security; upholding and improving "one country, two systems"; adhering to governing Hong Kong in accordance with the law; resolutely opposing external interference; and substantially safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong residents. From the summary of the explanatory statement to the draft legislation presented to the National People's Congress Standing Committee on June 18, which was carried in a Xinhua report released on June 20, these fundamental principles are clearly enshrined in the proposed legislation which embraced important legal concepts as well as the protection of the legitimate rights and freedoms of individuals. Enactment of national security legislation will not change the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by the Hong Kong SAR; it will have no impact on the Hong Kong SARs judicial independence, including that of final adjudication as enshrined in the Basic Law. I believe that both businesses and Hong Kong people should find these provisions very reassuring.
When you read some overseas media reports or comments by foreign governments and politicians, you might feel this was not the impression you got. There are allegations that Hong Kong is facing a death knell or the principle of "one country, two systems" is proclaimed dead. But let us pause for a moment and ask: who has the greatest stake in ensuring the continued success of "one country, two systems"? And who has been supporting Hong Kong over the past 23 years to ensure its stability and prosperity? The answer should be obvious. Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong's capitalist system, free economy and trusted legal system remain as robust as ever, and the free flow of capital within, into and out of Hong Kong is guaranteed. Hong Kong continues to thrive as an international financial centre, and as a gateway between the Mainland and the world. In short, "one country, two systems" has proved itself to be the best constitutional arrangement for the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. Both the central government and the people of Hong Kong are determined to uphold "one country, two systems".
Since the decision has been made, the Hong Kong SAR Government has been fending off quite a lot of unfair criticisms against it, including those from foreign governments. My observations on those behaviours could be summed up by two terms - one is double standards and the other is hypocrisy. On the former, all those countries which have pointed their fingers at China have their own national security legislation in place. And their governments have been using national security reasons to justify many of their awkward acts and decisions. Hong Kong is an inalienable part of the Peoples Republic of China and why would it be inhibited from enacting legislation to protect its own soil and its own nationals? On point about hypocrisy, we have heard vocal remarks about granting citizenship to Hong Kong people or threatening sanctions in order to stand with the people of Hong Kong. We await the likely outcome of these gesturing rhetoric when their own people or domestic politics render those acts unpopular at home.
On our part, we are not unduly worried by such unilateral threat of sanction. Hong Kong will continue to rely on her fundamental strengths of the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, free and open trade policy, level playing field, free flow of capital, etc. Hong Kong will remain a welcoming, resilient and competitive global economy, playing an irreplaceable role in bringing international and Mainland markets and companies together.
But I will not shy away from acknowledging the damage done to Hong Kong's competitiveness and international reputation by the escalated violence and perceived insecurity since last June. Since early this year, we lost a few world laurels: the Washington-based Heritage Foundation ranked Hong Kong second in the world in its latest Index of Economic Freedom. The result, after a quarter century of topping the index, was disappointing but not unexpected. The drop in our score was mainly due to security issues which brought down Hong Kong's score in investment freedoms.
In the latest Global Financial Centres Index, Hong Kong dropped from third to sixth, but our strengths on the financial services aspects remain obvious, which cover our freely convertible currency, our world-class banking system and stock market and the professionals who power our financial sector. It helps that Hong Kong again topped the world last year in funds raised through initial public offerings, taking in some US$40 billion. This year, despite an exceedingly challenging environment, we are optimistic as the Hong Kong Exchange has welcomed a couple of major Mainland firms which are listed in the United States to come to Hong Kong for secondary listing.
Just a week ago, the Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development released its annual World Competitiveness Yearbook ranking. Hong Kong placed fifth, still ahead of such nations as Sweden, Canada, the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. While that was down from second last year, our rankings in government efficiency and business efficiency remained unchanged, at first and second respectively. Moreover, our rankings rose from second to first globally in the legal and regulatory framework indicator, and from 19th to first in exchange rate stability. Such top-of-the-world ratings only reaffirm Hong Kong's institutional strengths, particularly in legal and monetary affairs.
Talking about exchange rate stability, I would like to take the opportunity to squash any rumour surrounding Hong Kong's Linked Exchange Rate System, which ensures that the Hong Kong dollar's exchange rate remains stable with respect to US dollar. The system has served Hong Kong and the world well since it was implemented in 1983, and it will continue to do so. We do not need the United States' approval to implement the system, and we have no plan to change it. We also have the ability to defend it from any malicious attack, given the robust health of the Hong Kong banking sector, and the US$440 billion in our foreign exchange reserve. That, by the way, is more than twice our monetary base.
Unique advantages
Further to our fundamental strengths, we continue to enjoy unique advantages brought about by the continuous opening up of the Mainland economy, and our active participation in major national initiatives including the Belt & Road and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Also, in recent years, we have been doubling our efforts in diversifying our markets, including more focus on the fast-growing ASEAN economies, which as a whole was Hong Kong's second largest trading partner and destined to grow.
So Hong Kong does have a lot of opportunities going forward. What we need most now is for the society to get back to normal. This is not only about what the national security legislation aims to achieve that I mentioned at length, but also about the COVID-19 epidemic. So far, our response has worked well. Hong Kong has never had a complete city lockdown or entirely closed our borders; except the suspension of classes for over four months and the practice of work from home by the Hong Kong SAR Government and many private enterprises, Hong Kong people are generally able to move around. Hong Kong has been among the global communities least affected by the virus in terms of the total number of confirmed cases and the number of deaths, which stood at 1,177 and six respectively. This is due to a collective coming together, with all sectors of the Hong Kong community doing our part for the common cause.
Since a month ago, we have moved into the state of relaxation under the suppress and lift strategy. Most of the social distancing measures have been eased, transit and passenger transfer services at the Hong Kong International Airport resumed, theme parks reopened, and students back to school. Subject to the necessary precautionary measures, basically all business premises can operate now.
Hopefully the easing of the social distancing measures would inject some much needed impetus to the economy. Our economy plunged 8.9% in the first quarter year-on-year, which was a record collapse. Unemployment recently soared to 5.9%, which was the highest in more than 15 years, and the reality is that the figure may go further up, amid hopefully at a slower pace. The latest forecast for 2020 is negative growth of 4% to 7%.
In view of the unprecedented challenge, my Government has taken some exceptional measures to support our enterprises and our people. These measures involve a total of US$37 billion, including the establishment of an Anti-epidemic Fund of over US$20 billion. One of the measures is the Employment Support Scheme, which offers a 50% wage subsidy to employers for a period of six months up to November this year with a view to retaining the jobs of the employees.
In short, we are determined to mitigate the economic fallout of the epidemic, to safeguard businesses and employees as best we can in the short term. In doing so, we hope to ensure Hong Kong's long-term economic recovery. Hong Kong's advantages and the many national initiatives that I talked about just now will serve us well down the road. Above all, Hong Kong people's resilience and our Lion Rock spirit will continue to ensure our success.
To conclude, Hong Kong is determined to conquer the political, social and epidemiological crises that have so harmed our economy and shaken our community over the past year. The national security law is our antivirus software and a beacon of hope. It will guide us to a better future and restore our glory as the Pearl of the Orient, a proud Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the online briefing session of the China Development Forum on June 23.
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Food media is having a reckoning with racism. The editor in chief of Bon Appetit resigned earlier this month after an old photo surfaced of him cosplaying a Puerto Rican stereotype and amid reports of unfair treatment of people of color on staff. Black cookbook authors have written mini-essays detailing publishing woes. Screenshot Slack messages and old emails are becoming more valuable than gold. I bear witness to the rise and fall of the white-dominated culinary world.
I owe it to my lineage and to nameless blue-collar workers to speak up, even as it makes me uncomfortable. Merely thinking about the invisible boots that crushed the dreams of previous women isnt enough. Remembering the water hoses that knocked down black Americans or the violence they encountered while merely trying to integrate lunch counters isnt the only way to honor individuals who held a mirror up to our nation.
For 381 days, the Montgomery boycotters risked their lives and livelihoods. For modern-day black professionals, if your mortgage payments arent at risk and your kids will continue to enjoy their favorite snacks, protest. We must get on one note.
In 2020, black professionals are up against a different kind of white supremacy. More often than not, this racism isnt hooded or carrying a burning cross; its dressed as wage disparity. Saying your truth isnt cancel culture, its changing the culture. Workplace ills rooted in racism are a disease; we need a vaccine.
Its a debt paid to our living and dead ancestors. My mother worked for over 30 years at a poultry plant in Georgia. It wasnt her plan to cut chicken livers for life; she wanted better for me, a good job with insurance. A career where I didnt have to make bill arrangements, stand in line for a money order and eat my lunch all in an hour. I saw her rise before the sunset and come home in the dark.
She never spoke about her job except for the strict rules around performance and attendance. The accumulation of points or demerits meant you were out; the union or Twitter army couldnt save you. We are repaying our aunties, who were the church secretaries on the weekends but the real-life help during the week. They had no employer 401(k) accounts or an office manager to mail their belongings when the office reopens.
Our disruption is for them. And as we hold companies accountable when they share we believe Black Lives Matter statements, we must demand that black people feel empowered to share their stories of feeling sidelined, ignored and racially discriminated against. I stand with the labor activists, like the unions representing Conde Nast employees, who are calling for the ban of NDAs in such cases. I stand with my black peers like Tiffany Wines, who recently broke her NDA to publicly recount her painful experiences while working for Complex magazine.
The Trump administrations attempts to implement longstanding policy goals on immigration in the name of fighting the coronavirus pandemic has helped spread the deadly virus to Central America, according to a new report from an international refugee organization provided to The Daily Beast.
Among the findings, a staggering one in five cases of COVID-19 in Guatemala can be traced back to migrants that the United States has deported.
The report from Refugee International, a non-governmental organization that advocates for displaced people, published on Tuesday morning, has found that despite being given a clean bill of health by the U.S. government, would-be asylum seekers and deportees from the United States are increasingly being returned to their countries of origin and testing positive with the coronavirus once they arrive. The organization pins the blame on crowded conditions in American detention centers, the spread of the virus among immigrant communities forced to live and work in cramped environments, and the living conditions for those seeking asylum at the U.S. borderall of which amount to a public health disaster in the making.
Nearly 20 percent of those returned to Guatemala from the United States and the U.S. southern border have tested positive for the virus since arriving, the report found. Increasing fears of those being forcibly returned has led to the social and economic isolation of deportees in their native countriessome have even faced physical assault from fellow Guatemalans afraid that they have brought the virus with them.
Policies that address protection needs rather than exacerbate them require humanity, political will, and flexibility to achieve, concluded the reports authors, Yael Schacher and Rachel Schmidtke. Now more than ever, policymakers must ensure that Guatemalans fleeing harm have access to refuge in the United States and Mexico and that Guatemalan returnees have access to safety, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
Story continues
The Bizarro-World Immigration Courts Where the Constitution Isnt Applied
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty
Despite those warnings, President Donald Trump on Monday demonstrated that he continues to see access to the immigration and asylum system as a nail in need of a hammer, as the White House announced that the president intended to sign an executive order extending and expanding restrictions on both certain visas and the eligibility of asylum seekers to obtain work permits. The order was described to reporters on a background call with a senior administration official as free[ing] up more jobs for Americans, but has infuriated both immigrant-rights advocates and economic supporters of increased legal immigration, who have called the moves bad for both public health and the nations fragile economy.
This is not a COVID-19 response or an economic response. Its the exploitation of a pandemic to institute divisive policies and reshape immigration law, said Andrea Flores, deputy director of immigration policy for the American Civil Liberties Union, who said that immigrants are instrumental to our nations economic recovery.
Putting up a not welcome sign for engineers, executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses and other workers wont help our country, it will hold us back, said Thomas J. Donohue, CEO of the U.S Chamber of Commerce. We have long advocated for a rational immigration system that meets the needs of our economy and reflects the values of our country. Todays proclamation serves neither of those interests.
There is a straight line to be drawn, Schacher and Schmidtke write in the report, between the conditions that have further spread the virusboth among immigrant communities in the United States and in Central Americaand the immigration policies of the Trump administration. Some of the issues predate the virus appearance, although public health experts have warned for years that Trumps remain in Mexico policy, for example, was creating a public health nightmare south of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Deportations and returns carried out in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic compound these challenges and contribute to the spread of the virus, write Schacher and Schmidtke, noting that asylum seekersbeing almost definitionally poor and lacking in access to medical assistanceare among the most likely to suffer complications from COVID-19 infection. Deportees from the United States made up nearly 20 percent of the 500 coronavirus cases in Guatemala and, as of early June, deportees continue to test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Guatemala despite having clean bill-of-health documents from the United States.
These risks have been exacerbated, Refugee International found, by the invocation of the Public Health Safety Act in late March, which has allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to refuse to accept protection requests for those seeking asylum at the U.S. southern border. Under that order, those seeking asylum can be returned either to Mexico or to their countries of origin without screening, and children at the border have been routinely expelled without being referred to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement. Between March and early May, the report found, at least 417 minors were deported from the United States to Guatemala without referral.
For months, public health experts have made common-sense recommendations to curb the spread of COVID-19: Release people held in ICE and CBP detention; suspend civil immigration enforcement; and provide access to testing and treatment for everyone who needs it, regardless of immigration status, said Flores. Instead, while ignoring these recommendations, the Trump administration has banned asylum seekers at the border, green card applicants, foreign students, and now even more immigrants... Congress should immediately investigate the true purposeand ramificationsof these Stephen Miller bans.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 09:50:52|Editor: huaxia
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WASHINGTON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States "has hamstrung itself" by "piecemeal, politicized approach" in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. media reported Monday, citing public heath experts.
"The collective recovery of the European nations -- punctuated by Italy's apparent turnaround -- stands in stark contrast to the muddle facing many parts of America, where the death toll has now topped 120,000," said a report of U.S. news outlet Politico.
After initial surges in COVID-19 cases, European Union members' tally of daily new cases is about one-eighth that of the United States -- despite having roughly the same population, it said.
"America's piecemeal, politicized approach to fighting coronavirus has left the United States ever-further behind the Western European nations that were similarly threatened by the virus but moved more judiciously to fend it off," said the report, citing public health experts, the report said:
The experts pointed out multiple reasons why the fortunes of the United States have differed from that of Western Europe, such as "the intense politicization that worked against a disciplined response," and "the federal government's decision to let individual states take the lead in reopening."
"The decisions of some states to end their lockdowns as early as possible ... appear to have consigned the United States to a far longer battle with the virus," the report said.
The cohesive role of a federal government to centralize priorities and goods as well as policies like when to test for coronavirus has been lacking in the country, said the report, citing Alexandra Phelan, a member of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University.
According to the report, several public health experts, including Phelan, said that "they'd already begun incorporating the U.S. response into their classes as a lesson on public health failures."
"I know for my course, this is pretty much going to be all we'll talk about," said Phelan, who teaches national and global health law at Georgetown.
Jennifer Kates, senior vice president and director of Global Health and HIV Policy at the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation, told Politico that the United States "has in the past, and could in the future, shown tremendous leadership in health crises ... The fact that we couldn't do it in this case -- it is depressing, as a global health person."
Ashish Jha, head of Harvard University's Global Health Institute, was quoted as saying that "We may end up being the worst of any country in the world in terms of our response." Enditem
U.S. servicemen in civilian clothes stage an anti-war demonstration on the steps of Cosmos Department Store in Myeong-dong, May 18, 1971. / Korea Times archive
By Matt VanVolkenburg
Several Black Lives Matter rallies were held in Korea in the second weekend of June taking place in Seoul and at U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, where a race riot took place in 1971.
Race relations in the U.S. military were volatile in the early 1970s, particularly in Korea. Protests against "discrimination in the barracks" at Camp Kaiser near Cheorwon in May 1970 led to a clash with military police (MPs) and the burning of five buildings.
On the morning of Jan. 15, 1971, 600 black soldiers from various units held a memorial service for Martin Luther King on the third anniversary of his assassination at a base in Paju. Two hundred of them then marched in the streets, "chanting Negro spirituals and shouting anti-racial discrimination slogans" before gathering for five hours in a nightclub and demanding Jan. 15 be legislated as a holiday, according to The Korea Times.
In response to this, despite the club owner describing them as being "rather in good order," more than 30 U.S. Army armored personnel carriers were rushed to the scene: "30 U.S. military policemen surrounded the night club and blocked more black soldiers outside from joining the rally. Several helicopters continuously hovered over the town."
U.S. Army APCs pass through Paju's Yongjugol, where some 200 black soldiers rallied shortly after holding a memorial service for Dr. Martin Luther King on Jan. 15, 1971, on the third anniversary of his assassination. / Korea Times archive
This mobilization stands in contrast to what happened when an anti-Vietnam War sit-in was held in Myeong-dong on May 17, 1971, by mostly white GIs, 31 of whom were arrested and questioned for three hours by KCIA agents. In that case, U.S. military sources said they would likely not take any action against protesters because they "had violated no American military statutes."
Two days later, on May 19, 1971, around 200 black soldiers held a sit-in rally on Knight Field on USAG Yongsan to protest racial discrimination on post. As The Korea Times reported, "The ralliers showed clenched fists and waved three-colored flags, both symbols of the black power movement in the US." When participants tried to eat lunch in a mess hall, however, soldiers who were not from the base were refused service, and some of the protesters destroyed furniture in the mess hall in response.
While newspapers reported tight surveillance by 150 MPs and attempts to block soldiers from attending the protest by stopping bus services from bases outside Seoul, a soldier in the 19th Aviation Company at Camp Humphreys remembered that his unit was "tasked by the 8th Army to bring armed infantry from Camp Casey on the DMZ to Seoul to quell the rioting in Seoul by black soldiers." He added, "We stayed for two days [and] slept in our helicopters on Kimpo Airfield."
Three days after the protest in Seoul, grenades exploded around Camp Humphreys in the mess hall and at the front gate, injuring Korean guards. Helicopters were also booby-trapped with grenades, and one went off, severely injuring a crewmember. According to the aforementioned soldier, the helicopters were targeted "because we transported the troops to stop the rioting in Seoul." It was soon discovered that a box of 50 grenades was missing, and weeks later five black soldiers were arrested, three of whom were charged with two counts each of attempted murder.
On June 8, two days after the arrests, a "brawl broke out between 30 black and white GIs" in Itaewon "during which soldiers fought with knives and clubs and had to be subdued by Korean riot police." The quarrel began "between two GIs at a night club when one of them, black, asked a hostess with a white soldier to serve him a glass of beer." A week or so later, a brawl broke out between black and white soldiers in Incheon.
Things turned worse when a white soldier was stabbed to death in "Texas Town" in Busan during a "racial clash" at a bar on July 4. It took place "after an attempt to hold a demonstration in Pusan by some 50 black GIs from US Army units in Taegu and Waekwon was thwarted by MPs."
Tensions erupted in bars and clubs because, unlike official U.S. military policy, camp town clubs in Korea were segregated based on the music they played and by the willingness or unwillingness of the hostesses to serve black soldiers. The situation was particularly severe outside Camp Humphreys, where only one of the four largest clubs served black soldiers, despite them making up a third of the base's population, but it closed abruptly that summer.
According to Robert Gardner, an African American soldier who also served in the 19th Aviation Company, "It was later discovered that the other club owners had pressured the closure because they didn't want a club that catered to Black G.I.s in the alley," and with the club closed, "the Black soldiers were left with no place to go in the alley since their treatment in the other clubs was made plain."
Tension came to a head on the night of July 9, 1971, when a group of black soldiers stormed into the other clubs and, as one club owner remembered it, "began destroying everything in sight." Soon, hundreds of Koreans gathered, began beating black soldiers and surged toward the gate of the base, where throughout the night MPs backed by other hastily mobilized soldiers fired tear gas and hundreds of rifle rounds over the heads of the crowd to keep them at bay.
Police check villagers of Anjeong-ri in modern-day Pyeongtaek, as they protested on July 10, 1971, against African American soldiers' "rioting" earlier in protest of racial segregation in Korean-owned nightclubs. / Korea Times archive
Kia's latest offering the Kia Sonet compact SUV is expected to launch in India in August. The starting price of the Kia Sonet Compact SUV at the time of launch is expected to be around Rs 8 lakh.
Kia Sonet was revealed to the world at the Greater Noida Auto Expo 2020. The Kia Sonet is expected to intensify the competition in the compact SUV market segment. The compact SUV segment is currently dominated by Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford Ecosport among others.
Earlier this year, Kia had hinted that the Kia Sonet would be launched around the festive season which is slated to begin in August and last till November. Head of Marketing and Sales at Kia Motors India Manohar Bhat has said that the date of the launch of the car has not been pushed back despite the COVID-19 outbreak. "We intend to go with our pre-existing idea of launching it in the festival season irrespective of COVID issues. Our vendors, our suppliers, everyone is on track for us to come out with the vehicle in
the festive season which is August-October period," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.
Talking about the vehicle's design and features, Bhat said that the Kia Sonet would bring never-before-seen features to the compact SUV segment. Among these is a clutchless gearbox. "Sonet has a clutchless manual gearbox which is new for the segment. Basically, it will have a manual gear but won't have a clutch at all. So, it will have the fun of engaging gears without the tedium of having to press the clutch - best of both worlds," Bhat added.
The Kia Sonet compact SUV like all other vehicles form Kia has the company's signature tiger-nose grille at the front and the two-part headlight design. Under the headlamps are a pair of large air dams. The bumper of Kia Sonet has silver elements running across, giving it a rugged look. Kia Sonet has a horizontal red LED strip that runs below the rear glass. It links the tail-light clusters on both sides of the Kia Sonet.
Inside the car is a large touchscreen infotainment system which allows phone connectivity, interior climate control. It has a steering-mounted control system among other features. Features that are exclusive to the top model of the car include ventilated seats, cruise control, sunroof and a wireless phone charger. Kia Sonet comes with a 1.2 lire petrol and a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine.
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The Boone County Sheriffs Office, which had been leading the investigation into his disappearance, confirmed that Gordon was last seen in Joliet, but declined to discuss the case further.
The upcoming 36th ASEAN Summit will focus on the development of the ASEAN Community in the immediate future and measures to address the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the region,
Deputy Foreign Minister and General Secretary of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee Nguyen Quoc Dung has said.
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Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on June 23 regarding the summit, he emphasised Vietnams preparations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the region and the world.
To take place in Hanoi on June 26 in the form of a video conference, the summit will be the first official summit hosted by Vietnam as ASEAN 2020 Chair, he added.
At the plenary session that will be chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, participants will hear reports and give opinions on cooperation among ASEAN member nations in the three pillars of the ASEAN Community - political security, economics, and socio-cultural issues. They are also expected to propose measures for stronger cooperation between ASEAN and its partner countries in the time to come.
ASEAN leaders will also compare notes on regional and international issues of common concern, with a focus on how to effectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic while promptly recovering socio-economic development in ASEAN member countries at the same time.
According to the Deputy FM, ASEAN leaders will hold dialogues with representatives from the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) on coordination between the two organisations in building a people-oriented ASEAN Community.
Dialogues between ASEAN leaders and ASEAN youth and representatives from the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-ABAC) will be arranged within the framework of the summit.
In particular, the ASEAN Leaders Special Session on Womens Empowerment in the Digital Age - an initiative from Vietnam to affirm ASEAN leaders commitment to promoting gender equality and enhancing the role of women in building the ASEAN Community - will also be organised as part of celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the approval of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for advancing womens rights, Dung said.
ASEAN leaders will adopt an ASEAN Chair Statement on the outcomes of the 36th ASEAN Summit, a Vision Statement on ASEANs cohesion and proactive adaptation, and an ASEAN Declaration on human resources development for the changing world of work, he added./.VNA
SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Presidio Dance Theatre's "The Little Lantern Ballet" has been selected by the United Nations Association and United Nations Foundation as the culminating event in the 75th anniversary celebration of the signing of the UN Charter, on June 27th, 2020.
Presidio Dance Theatre Presidio Dance Theatre
On June 26th, the United Nations Association SF and United Nations Foundation will host a live streamed reading of its Charter. The following day, June 27th, the UNA-SF Partners, United Religions Initiative and Grace Cathedral, will host an interfaith service at Grace Cathedral, followed by a screening of "The Little Lantern Ballet." Both events will be broadcast online.
The Charter of the United Nations was signed on June 26th, 1945, in San Francisco at the conclusion of the UN Conference on International Organization. Presidio Dance Theatre's two decades of commitment to cross-cultural dialogue, preservation of intangible heritage, women's empowerment, human rights, and social justice make the organization a perfect fit for the event. "Dance becomes a common language, a shared language of the soul," says Presidio Dance Theatre's Executive and Artistic Director, Sherene Melania. Melania was appointed ambassador to the western region of the U.S. by UNESCO's Conseil International de la Danse in December of 2019. She founded CID West in January 2020, only the second U.S. CID location in UNESCO's CID history.
In 2006, Melania fell in love with Ghassan Kanafani's children's story, "The Little Lantern", and its ability to present how collaboration, despite gender, social standing, or pre-existing borders, transcends difficult circumstances and unifies us. Melania created a dance adaptation that exposed audiences to the rich cultural traditions of the Near and Middle East, and generated an appreciation for our mutual humanity. With a captivating score by composers George Somi and Fathi Aljarah, and featuring the Aswat choir, The Little Lantern Ballet is interspersed with narration and audience participation. Showcasing costumes and sets designed and created by artists of the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia, this fusion of Near-Middle Eastern folkloric music and dance with classical ballet has thrilled audiences since its premiere in 2014.
Registration for the event is available at https://www.un75-sf.org/ .
Media Contact: Zina Goodall
[email protected]
(510) 421-0919
SOURCE Presidio Dance Theatre
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Linkedin Deng Xijun (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 09:22 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660d548b 3 Opinion China,Hong-Kong,Hong-Kong-protests,democracy,legislation,security Free
On May 28, the 13th National Peoples Congress (NPC) of China adopted at its third session the Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to Safeguard National Security.
The decision has since been violently criticized by some Western countries and anti-China elements in Hong Kong in an attempt to stigmatize and demonize the decision and confuse the public.
Since the turbulence over the proposed legislative amendments last June, Hong Kong has suffered violent demonstrations and protests, as well as smashing and burning everywhere. Its aviation, retail and tourism industries were dealt a heavy blow. British and American flags and foreigners were seen among the demonstrators.
The prosperity, peace and stability that a law-based Hong Kong is well known for and the national security were seriously threatened. In this context, the National Peoples Congress acted decisively and applied the legislation to Hong Kong. We believe this will fulfill immediately the obvious loopholes and deficiencies in national security law in Hong Kong and maintain its prosperity and stability.
Its absolutely justified for the National Peoples Congress, Chinas highest legislative body, to make the decision on the national security legislation for Hong Kong. National security is the very foundation for a country to survive and thrive, and no country will ever turn a blind eye to illegal acts that may jeopardize its national security.
National security legislation is within the purview of the central authorities. This is a common practice in all countries, and China is no exception. It has been 30 years since the promulgation of the Basic Law of the HKSAR and 23 years since Hong Kongs return to China. Yet the legislation required by Article 23 (stating that Hong Kong shall enact laws on its own to prohibit seven types of acts that endanger national security) of the Basic Law is yet to materialize, because of the obstruction by the anti-China, destabilizing elements both in Hong Kong and from the outside.
The legislation targets only acts of secession, subverting state power and organizing and carrying out terrorist activities, as well as interference in Hong Kongs internal affairs by external forces. It is the small minority of criminals jeopardizing national security that will be punished, while the overwhelming majority of law-abiding Hong Kong citizens and foreigners will be protected.
The legislation will not undermine the one country, two systems principle. Article I of the NPCs Decision states clearly, The country will unswervingly, fully and faithfully implement the principles of one country, two systems, the people of Hong Kong administering Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy.
The NPCs decision to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR will better guarantee the lawful rights and freedoms that Hong Kong residents enjoy under the law. These include the capitalist system, the high degree of autonomy, the legal system, the independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, as well as the rights and freedoms such as speech, press, publication and assembly.
The national security legislation for Hong Kong has nothing to do with the so-called breach of international obligations. The core of the Sino-British joint declaration is about China resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. The basic policies on Hong Kong stipulated in the joint declaration are policy statements made by the Chinese side, which has been fully reflected in the Basic Law of the HKSAR promulgated by the NPC.
ASEAN and Hong Kong are important trading partners of each other. Trade between the two sides grew at an annual average rate of 6.7 percent from 2014 to 2018, reaching HK$1069.7 billion (US$137.9 billion) in 2018. ASEAN has become Hong Kongs second-largest trading partner, only second to the Chinese mainland, and an important source of investment.
Hong Kong is also a key entrepot for trade between ASEAN and the Chinese mainland. ASEAN and the HKSAR signed a free trade agreement and an investment agreement in 2017, and the part concerning Indonesia will come into effect early next month. The prospect for cooperation between the two sides is highly bright.
However, the turbulence in Hong Kong has disrupted its normal commercial exchanges with ASEAN, with a decline in the trade volume between the two sides for the first time in 2019.
ASEAN countries give top priority to national sovereignty and firmly adhere to the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations, such as mutual respect for sovereign and territorial integrity and non-interference in each others internal affairs. To date, ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines, have publicly stated their respect for Chinas sovereignty, support for Chinas national security legislation for Hong Kong and aspiration for the early resumption of prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, which is highly appreciated by the Chinese side.
Sooner rather than later well be able to dispel the clouds and see the sun, as we often say in Chinese. Im convinced that with the firm determination of the central authorities and the strong support of people from all walks of life in Hong Kong, the national security legislation for Hong Kong will be put in place as soon as possible, providing sound protection for the financial stability, economic development and the enduring success of one country, two systems in Hong Kong!
***
The writer is ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to ASEAN.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
The global death toll from the coronavirus is almost 473,000, with more than 9.1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.
Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions.
Kyrgyzstan
The mayor of the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, Aziz Surakmatov, has temporarily stepped down after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.
The city administration's press service said on June 22 that during Surakmatov's absence, his deputy, Almaz Baketaev, will serve as acting mayor.
Surakmatov wasn't the only official to test positive.
The chief of the press service of the Central Asian nation's parliament, Ibraim Nurakun-Uulu, and several lawmakers said on June 22 that their COVID-19 tests also came back positive.
Meanwhile, Bishkek airport remains closed for flights except for charter planes bringing Kyrgyz citizens home from abroad.
The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said on June 23 that 19 Kyrgyz nationals returned to Bishkek from South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines via Seoul, aboard a charter plane belonging to Kazakhstan's Air Astana.
Kyrgyz Health Ministry officials said on June 23 that the number of coronavirus cases in the country was 3,519, including 41 deaths.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service and Kaktus
San Antonio officials warned that the coronavirus is putting a strain on local hospitals, as hundreds of new infections pushed Bexar Countys total past 7,000 since the start of the pandemic.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg said all indicators measuring the severity of the local COVID-19 outbreak are trending in the wrong direction, as he reported 274 more positive cases Monday.
In the past week, the number of people hospitalized has more than doubled, surging to 446 on Monday up 40 from the previous day. The number of patients receiving intensive care and breathing support from mechanical ventilators dipped slightly Monday, to 124 and 60, respectively. But admissions to intensive care units have nearly doubled in a weeks time, and the use of ventilators has more than tripled, Nirenberg said.
These numbers are not good. Were not close at all to meeting our goal of seeing a sustained decline in cases over the next two weeks. The increase will continue unless we work together to contain the virus, he said.
More people will end up in critical condition if proper action is not taken to prevent the spread of this disease from devastating our communities, our health and our livelihood, he added.
On ExpressNews.com: Before spike, Bexar Countys death rate was much lower than similar areas
No new deaths were reported Monday, keeping Bexar Countys COVID-19 fatalities at 97.
Since the pandemic spread to San Antonio in March, 7,156 people have tested positive for the coronavirus. More than 4,300 of those infections have been identified since the beginning of June.
The weekly positivity rate the percentage of tests coming back positive for COVID-19 now stands at 17 percent, having nearly doubled for a second consecutive week. Since San Antonios outbreak began accelerating this month, the time for cases to double has dropped to 13 days from nearly 30 days.
County Judge Nelson Wolff called the latest numbers really, really disturbing. He said the wave of new hospitalizations is affecting people regardless of age, including teenagers and people in their 20s and 30s.
Anita Kurian, head of the communicable disease division at the Metropolitan Health District, said the availability of staffed hospital beds, about 28 percent, was fast diminishing, raising the possibility that hospitals would need to curtail elective procedures, as they did at the beginning of the pandemic.
If we keep seeing the same trend of new infection that weve been seeing in the past two weeks, we are going to be in deep trouble pretty soon, she said.
She said the health district is expanding its workforce dedicated to contact tracing, which identifies the recent movements and interactions of an infected person. At the current level, workers have been unable to keep pace with the enormous onslaught of new cases. As of Monday, 2,365 coronavirus infections were under investigation by the district. Initial calls had been made in the majority of those cases, Kurian said.
Of the cases Metro Health has investigated, Kurian said, there isnt a specific trend. People reported having visited all manner of public places, including grocery and retail stores, restaurants and bars. Many infections were the result of close contact with another person, she said, indicating that people were relaxing their physical distancing.
Coronavirus hospitalizations have been rising rapidly across Texas. On Monday, 3,711 patients with COVID were in hospitals statewide the highest number since the pandemic began.
The states death toll reached 2,192, with 10 fatalities reported Monday.
On ExpressNews.com: Despite COVID surge, Wolff does not expect second lockdown
Bexar County ranks fourth among Texas counties reporting the most confirmed cases. Harris County, home to Houston, tops the list, with more than 21,000 cases. Dallas County ranks second, with nearly 17,000 cases, followed by Tarrant County, which includes Fort Worth, with almost 9,000.
Among Texas counties reporting the most COVID deaths, Bexar County ranks sixth. Harris County leads the state with 325 deaths, followed by Dallas County with 314, Tarrant County with 208, El Paso County with 120 and Travis County with 110.
The coronavirus is leaving its mark elsewhere in the San Antonio area.
On Monday, the Comal County Office of Public Health closed to the public after two employees there tested positive for the coronavirus, county officials said Monday. The office will remain closed for the next two weeks, with staff working in closed-off areas to schedule COVID tests, conduct investigations and answer the publics questions by phone and email.
A total of 280 cases have been confirmed there, and an additional 66 probable cases are under investigation. Seven people have died.
Guadalupe County has had 231 positive cases since the start of the pandemic, and 29 more probable cases are under investigation. One death has been reported.
Nirenberg said the virus is more prevalent now than it ever was, cautioning residents that high rates of community transmission means they can contract it anywhere.
The ability to control this pandemic is in each of our hands, he said.
Lauren Caruba covers health care and medicine in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Lauren, become a subscriber. lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba
Editor:
Dear Elise Stefanik,
Are you still honored to be chairing Donald Trumps NYS re-election campaign?
Look at some important and scary reasons why he is so dangerous to our country and our democracy:
More than 110,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus: Trump was informed about COVID-19 as early as January. By late February, he said, Its just going to disappearand Well have a vaccine. March 13: No, I dont take responsibility at all.
Health officials the world over warned of the importance of socially isolating and wearing masks. He encouraged reopening America. Trump has never been seen wearing a mask. Much of the Re-Open America protests by gun-wielding protesters was bankrolled by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Trump was fine with these protesters.
George Floyds murder by Minneapolis police resulted in thousands of protesters. Trump called them thugs and wanted the U.S. military brought in to break them up. Mr. Trump, demonstrations are a part of our American rights.
AG William Barr ordered the violent clearing of peaceful protesters in DC with rubber bullets and tear gas so that Trump could get the photo op of himself holding a Bible in front of St. Johns Church.
The churchs Bishop Buddes response: The president just used a Bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, at one of (my) churches, without permission, as the backdrop to a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that our churches stand for. I am outraged. The president did not pray when he came to St. Johns nor did he acknowledge the agony of our country right now.
I am appalled by the behavior of the self-serving, hate-mongering president who shows no compassion for other human beings.
Elise, where is your morality and character?
Judy Beers, Lake George
Love 8 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3
A 58-year old man identified as Mallam Aminu Ado, has been arrested by men of the Nigeria Police for impersonating the widow of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, in a bid to swindle unsuspecting Nigerians.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Frank Mba, who paraded him before newsmen on Monday, June 22, gave insight on the situation.
According to Mba, Ado had an app on his phone that changed his voice to a womans which he used to perpetuate the criminal act.
When he was arrested, Ado claimed he was a family friend and was trying to organize a prayer for the soul of the departed.
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READ ALSO Akeredolu Says He Didnt Ask Police To Restrict Movement Of His Deputy
He however could not explain why he had to pretend to be a woman to solicit for assistance. He admitted he did it without the consent of the family.
Among those he contacted so he could swindle were the Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.
Watch The Video Here:
The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) said it has unearthed an alleged goods and services tax (GST) evasion of over Rs 500 crore by chewing tobacco (pan masala and gutka) manufacturers, dealers, and distributors in Indore.
Kishore Wadhwani, a trader who has been named one of the main accused in the case, allegedly used his media outlet to obtain curfew passes which were misused to transport gutka and cigarettes during the Covid-19 lockdown when only the transportation of essential goods was allowed, officials said on Tuesday.
DGGI said in a statement that Wadhwani was arrested on June 15 and has been remanded to custody until June 30 in Indore. He has been booked for allegedly making fraudulent bills and using press stickers obtained from the district administration on vehicles used to transport gutka and tobacco, an official investigating the matter said on condition of anonymity.
In the statement, DGGIs Bhopal unit added that searches were conducted on the premises of gutka and tobacco dealers and distributors from June 9 to June 12, leading to the seizure of stocked non-GST paid pan masala and tobacco. The statement said the raids led to the detection of an estimated GST evasion of Rs 400 crore. One of the masterminds and financial beneficiaries of the pan masala/tobacco GST evasion, who was arrested from Mumbai on June 15, was also found involved in manufacture and supply of cigarettes from a unit named M/s Ellora Tobacco Company Limited, Indore.
The statement said the unit has paid only Rs 3.55 crore over the last two financial years as GST. Investigations conducted by DGGI has unearthed a major tax/ duty/ cess evasion estimated to be about Rs 105 crore only for the period from April 2019 to May 2020.
The statement added: Hence the total revenue evasion, which would be clear only after completion of the investigation, is suspected to be multiple times higher. The tax evasion syndicate, in this case, involves directors of the company, transporters, supporting manufacturers, and raw material suppliers.
The statement said a number of accused were absconding and have not joined DGGI investigations. It added that a search at a factory of the company revealed a secret exit used to bring in unaccounted raw materials and toship out finished goods.
The statement said DGGI located one of the clandestine and unregistered godowns used by the alleged tax evaders. It added there could be several other such undeclared godowns in and around Indore.
The statement said Wadhwani started a media company and allegedly used it to book fictitious advertising to show income.
DGGI additional director, PL Singh, declined comment and said he has nothing to add to the statement.
Indore collector, Manish Singh, said the district administration issued passes to 500-600 traders during the lockdown but has nothing to do with any taxation.
Wadhwanis lawyer, Avinash M Sirpurkar, rejected the allegations against his client. I am unable to understand how DGGI could unearth such a huge tax evasion during just five days of his remand. The charges regarding tax evasion against Wadhwani are completely baseless. Even if it is presumed that he indulged in tax evasion, it is a civil law matter related to GST, but Wadhwani was booked under the Indian Penal Code over alleged bills and press stickers just to harass him.
(With input from Neha Jain in Indore)
Megan Fox called the movie industry 'ruthlessly misogynistic' as she responded to a viral discussion on how she has been mistreated by Hollywood and sexualized as a young actress.
The 34-year-old Transformers actress took to Instagram on Monday to set the record straight with a long note which clarified some of the stories that have been emerging from her early career.
'Please hear me when I thank you for your support. But these specific instances were inconsequential in a long and arduous journey along which I have endured some genuinely harrowing experiences in a ruthlessly misogynistic industry.' she wrote.
'Harrowing': Megan Fox has spoken out about the stories circulating about her mistreatment by Hollywood and the media early in her career
In a long note on Instagram, Megan clarified some of the stories circulating and also talked about the 'ruthlessly misogynistic industry'
Megan addressed the rumors of her mistreatment at the hands of directors Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg, who feature in several anecdotes circulating online.
Referencing the time Bay asked her to wear a bikini and dance under a waterfall in Bad Boys II, Megan wrote, 'I was around 15 or 16 years old when I was an extra in Bad Boys II. There are multiple interviews where I shared the anecdote of being chosen for the scene and the conversations that took place surrounding it. It's important to note however that when I auditioned for Transformers I was 19 or 20.'
She goes on to describe her experience auditioning for Transformers in response to fans who say she was taken advantage of.
'I did 'work' (me pretending to know how to hold a wrench) on one of Michael's Ferrari's during one of the audition scenes. It was at the Platinum Dunes studio parking lot, there were several other crew members and employees present and I was at no point undressed or anything similar.
Greatly appreciated: The actress had a lot to say as she thanked fans for their support after highlighting the sexualization she's suffered since she was a teen
'So as far as this particular audition story I was not underaged at the time and I was not made to 'wash' or work on someone's cars in a way that was extraneous from the material in the actual script.
'I hope that whatever opinions are formed around these episodes will at least be seeded in the facts of the events.
'When it comes to my direct experiences with Michael, and Steven for that matter, I was never assaulted or preyed upon in what I felt was a sexual manner,' she continued.
Hinting at more traumatic experiences in the industry, Megan teased the 'many names' that 'deserve to be going viral in cancel culture'.
She ended her note, 'I'm thankful to all of you who are brave enough to speak out and I'm grateful to all of you who are taking it upon yourselves to support, uplift, and bring comfort to those who have been harmed by a violent and toxic societal paradigm.'
'I was never preyed upon': Megan also addressed rumors of mistreatment at the hands of directors Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg, who feature in several anecdotes circulating online
Her lengthy post came after fans rushed to her defense after a 2009 interview with Jimmy Kimmel resurfaced on Twitter.
In the 2009 interview, Megan shared a disturbing story about being sexualized in a Michael Bay film when she was just 15 but rather than sympathizing or seeming troubled by the story, Jimmy, now 52, cracks an inappropriate joke about her teenage sexuality.
Commenters called the clip 'disgusting' and 'terrible,' with one making a convincing case for how unfairly Megan was treated in Hollywood in her 20s.
Outrage: Megan's lengthy post came after fans rushed to her defense after a 2009 interview with Jimmy Kimmel resurfaced on Twitter in recent days
Re-examined: In a 2009 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Megan shared how she was chosen by director Michael Bay to dance in a bikini under a waterfall at age 15
Yikes: When she tells the story, though, Kimmel replies with a sexual joke and the audience laughs
Twitter user Liz W shared the clip, which has been viewed over six million times.
'Megan Fox tells a story about Michael Bay sexualizing her as a 15 y/o. The crowd laughs, and Kimmel makes gross jokes. Teen girls being preyed on by older men has never been taken seriously and still isnt,' she wrote.
In the clip, Megan recalled being on the set of Bad Boys II, for which her credit read 'Stars-and-Stripes Bikini Kid Dancing Under Waterfall.'
'I had just turned 15 and I was an extra in Bad Boys II. They were shooting this club scene and they brought me in, and I was wearing a Stars-and-Stripes Bikini and a red cowboy hat. And six-inch heels,' she said.
'And he approved it, and they said, you know, "Michael, she's 15, so you can't sit her at the bar and she can't have a drink in her hand.
'So his solution to that problem was to then have me dancing underneath a waterfall getting soaking wet,' she concluded with a straight face.
Not OK: Viewers are now looking at the interview with horror, pointing out that Megan was trying to share a troubling story and it wasn't taken seriously
Flashback: Megan was 15 and in tenth grade when she filmed this scene in Bad Boys II
Movie biz: She appeared in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen the next year (pictured, 2004)
When the crowd laughed, she reiterated: 'At 15. I was in tenth grade. So that's a microcosm of how Bay's mind works.'
Kimmel then responded: 'Well that's really a microcosm of how all our minds work.'
Megan looked uncomfortable, running her hands down her legs and cringing at the audience while Jimmy added that 'some of us have the decency to suppress those thoughts and pretend that they don't exist.'
The interview doesn't appear to have spurred much outrage online at the time, but now Twitter users are expressing their horror at the way Megan's experience was made light of.
'His response is even worse what the hell,' wrote one. And another: 'WTF were they doing casting a 15 year-old as a bikini-wearing clubber?'
'I think Foxs reaction shows a lot,' said a third. 'Shes so clearly visibly upset by Kimmels reaction but cant say anything to his awful joke. This is terrible to watch, its a kind of abuse in real time. Even a high star celebrity is not immune.'
Speaking out: People are calling it 'disgusting' and 'disturbing'
'That single nod she did after his joke was the exact moment she realized all men are the same and it probably scared the shit out of her to get that response from a tv host with so much power,' another agreed.
One more chimed in: 'What an utterly disgusting take by Kimmel. Why is, "I'm so sorry that happened to you", something that is beyond his imagination to say. Instead he offers, "We all have those thoughts, but we repress them". God damn, she was 15. Who the Hell is "We"?
And yet another wrote: 'The way Hollywood and the media treated Megan Fox in general was deeply disgusting.'
The thread appears to have inspired another one from Twitter user Ephraim Winslow, who shared a lengthy retrospective on similar instances from Megan's career.
'Megan Fox has been sexualized from the age of 15 when Michael Bay made her dance in a bikini and wash his car as part of her audition for Transformers. When she spoke out, she was labelled ungrateful by the media and her career was destroyed by Bay and Steven Spielberg,' he wrote.
Looking back: The video inspired another thread about the ways in which Megan was mistreated in Hollywood
Megan is pictured in 2007's Tranformers. In the sequel, Bay repeatedly told her to just 'be sexy' when she asked about her character's motivations
'In an open letter written by Bays crew that was published on his website (although many people believe it was written by Bay himself due to the language used ), she was called dumb as rocks, trailer trash, a porn star, a narrative the media fully embraced and perpetuated.
'Megan made extremely misguided comments about Bay that led to her getting fired by Steven Spielberg but I think its important to note that many other male actors have gotten away with far worse.
'The media also did its best to make sure Megan was seen as a bad actress, although anyone who has seen Jennifers Body will tell you that is not the case. I wonder what her career would look like now if it wasnt purposely destroyed by the industry because she dared to speak out.
'On the set of Transformers 2, for which she received a Worst Actress nomination, Megan frequently tried to start a conversation with Bay about her character and her motivations in order to improve her performance. His response? Just be sexy,"' he went on.
'A scene in "Jennifers Body" required her to wear nude underwear / pasties. She was assured that the set was clear but one photographer who received a tip about the nature of the scene got on set and took photos.'
Not taken seriously: She was oversexualized at a young age, and when she spoke out and made objections, powerful people turned against her
Here, he included Megan's response to the incident, in which she said: 'The last thing I had that was mine, the last bit of privacy that I had was my body and I didn't want to show it.
'I felt so violated,' she went on. 'It was so much more than I ever wanted to give the world. I wanted to keep that for myself and it was taken from me and so I was really devastated. I broke down, I cried.'
In his thread, Ephraim says that Megan 'was the victim of an industry that took advantage of and forced an image and a narrative onto her, and when she tried to stand up for herself, they ostracized her. The media was complicit and the general public just stood by and watched.'
'I will never forget the interview where Megan said she didnt want to speak up about her experiences in the industry in light of the "Me Too" movement because she didnt think shed be a sympathetic victim based on how she was treated in the past,' he went on.
That interview was given to the New York Times in 2018, in which she said, 'Even with the #MeToo movement, and everyone coming out with stories and one could assume that I probably have quite a few stories, and I do I didnt speak out for many reasons.
Justice for Megan! Ephraim's thread, paired with the Kimmel clip, have some people looking at Megan anew
'I just didnt think based on how Id been received by people, and by feminists, that I would be a sympathetic victim. And I thought if ever there were a time where the world would agree that its appropriate to victim-shame someone, it would be when I come forward with my story.'
Ephraim's thread, paired with the Kimmel clip, have some people looking at Megan anew.
'I feel like Im looking at all of this information with fresh eyes. We shouldve fought for Megan Fox,' wrote one.
'Everybody failed Megan. It makes me so angry because she always has been outspoken about it and something should have been done but now feels like she cant and its all so f***ed,' wrote another.
'Megan Fox deserved better than being overly sexualised from the time she was a child by male directors and then being blacklisted when she spoke up about it while those men continued having careers,' tweeted yet another.
With the start of the main July and August holiday season just four days away, the government has changed tack on easing its no-holiday policy.
Relaxation of the UKs quarantine rules and travel advice will not now come until the week after next, Downing Street signalled, as it announced a new traffic-light system that will open up routes to popular destinations like France and Spain.
Critics of the blanket quarantine policy have accused the government of a U-turn and are asking why a targeted approach was not used from the start.
Current government measures are preventing all but a handful of holidaymakers going abroad. For the past 100 days, the Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel anywhere abroad, which mean travel firms cannot send package holidaymaker overseas. Any traveller ignoring the warning is likely to find their insurance is void.
The quarantine rules brought in on 8 June mean they will face two weeks of mandatory self-isolation on their return to the UK just as incoming tourists and business travellers do. The measures have already triggered the cancellation of millions of trips and stifled new outbound and inbound bookings.
Millions more holidaymakers are uncertain whether their summer plans can go ahead, while hundreds of thousands of travel industry staff face an uncertain future.
A spokesperson for British Airways parent company, IAG, said: The impact on the aviation industry and jobs is devastating. Europe is opening up and the UK will be left behind.
The government has moved away from talk of air bridge deals with individual countries. Instead, the Joint Biosecurity Centre which was set up to coordinate the governments response to the pandemic is categorising countries with a traffic light system.
Each country is rated green, amber or red, depending on the prevalence of coronavirus, the trajectory of disease and the centres assessment of the datas reliability. Quarantine will apply only to nations rated red.
Dozens of countries, particularly in Europe, will expect to be rated green or amber, with quarantine reserved for locations with records similar to, or worse than, the UK.
The government has already signalled that travellers from France, Spain and Greece will be exempt.
A senior source said the change will allow those who need to travel for work to do so without the need to self-isolate on their return.
The mention of work indicates that a wide range of business destinations, such as Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, are likely to be quarantine-free.
All inbound travellers will still be required to complete a passenger locator form in order to enter the UK, so they can be traced if necessary.
A government spokesperson said: Our public health measures at the border were put in place to manage the risk of imported cases and help prevent a second wave of the virus, and will continue to support our fight against coronavirus.
Our new risk-assessment system will enable us to carefully open a number of safe travel routes around the world giving people the opportunity for a summer holiday abroad and boosting the UK economy through tourism and business.
But we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if any risks re-emerge, and this system will enable us to take swift action to re-introduce self-isolation measures if new outbreaks occur overseas.
Separately, a senior Foreign Office source confirmed that the blanket no-go ban will be eased in countries and territories where the public health risk is no longer unacceptably high.
The source said: Implementation of the exemptions will be set out next week, likely beginning on 6 July.
It is presumed that on the same date, the quarantine rules will be lifted for travellers from safe countries.
The quarantine policy must be reviewed on Monday, 29 June. On Wednesday the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, indicated to MPs that a list of countries from which travellers may avoid quarantine would be published on that day.
It was understood that the Foreign Office would lift its blanket no-go advice at the same time.
But the government is now thought likely to delay an announcement until Wednesday, 1 July, with the eased restrictions taking effect from the following week.
The news that certainty about summer plans could be delayed still further has infuriated senior figures in Britains travel industry, which is severely weakened because of the coronavirus pandemic.
We are beyond frustrated, said a senior executive from a giant travel firm. We want to take people on holiday and the government wont let us.
A spokesperson for Abta, the travel association, said: The travel sector remains in a perilous state, with redundancies announced each week.
We need a more comprehensive roadmap as soon as possible that includes time frames for relaxing international travel restrictions too so businesses and customers can plan ahead.
The process of sending people on holiday is not like turning on a tap; as much advance notice as possible from the government is required for travel companies to restart operations.
Paul Charles, spokesperson for the Quash Quarantine group, said: The government has continued to ensure the travel sector is flying through fog.
There is no visibility over when the industry can take bookings without any risk attached. Consumers are unable to book with confidence.
Most European Union countries will lift restrictions on incoming tourists from elsewhere in Europe on 1 July.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation announced it will award more than $8.5 million in academic scholarships to over 2,750 children of Marines and Navy Corpsman for the 2020-2021 school year. After experiencing a significant increase in submitted applications, this year's announcement is particularly monumental as it marks both an increase of 18% in the number of awards and the highest total scholarship value in the Scholarship Foundation's nearly 60 year history, all done amid a global pandemic.
"The Scholarship Foundation was established to serve our nation's Marine families and thank them for their innumerable sacrifices," said President and CEO Lieutenant General Robert Ruark USMC (Ret.). "In that spirit, we are extremely proud to award a record-breaking amount of scholarships to the children of Marines. To the thousands of donors who made this level of support possible: thank you. With your generous contribution, the future of this Nation has never been brighter, and I am confident these children will move forward with their education and professional careers forever grateful. It speaks volumes on how we, as a community, continue to rally for the greater good in light of these incredibly challenging times."
A financial need based scholarship, the Foundation's recipients reflect the diversity characteristic of the United States Marine Corps; students from all walks of life and destined for leadership and service in a variety of professional fields. Scholarship Foundation recipients are top-tier scholars with a 90% overall graduation rate, well above national performance averages. Notably, half of recipients are first-generation college students and 45% pursue STEM degrees.
Messages of gratitude have poured in from recipients who are facing an uncertain school year. "You have allowed me to focus on the most important aspect of college, learning, without the burden of student loans," said Jake Lane, a rising sophomore at the University of Michigan and son of a veteran Marine. "I am eternally grateful for your kind-hearted and generous spirit and one day hope to change someone's life in the way you have changed mine."
About the Scholarship Foundation: Established in 1962, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the Nation's oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships for military children. Since its inception, the Scholarship Foundation has provided over 47,000 scholarships valued at more than $145 million to the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen. For more information on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, please visit www.mcsf.org.
CONTACT: Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Dana Umbach
[email protected]
571.384.2821
SOURCE Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Related Links
http://www.mcsf.org
SHANGHAI, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai will firmly support the development of foreign enterprises in the city, local authorities said at the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai (IBLAC) convened recently online.
During this significant event, Shanghai authorities discussed the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic and global economic recovery with 24 council members from 15 cities across Asia, Europe and America.
According to Shanghai authorities, with the epidemic largely under control, the citys economy continues to rebound and may even see a positive trend.
Shanghai will continue to enhance its opening-up efforts to create a favorable environment for foreign investors.
Local authorities also invited all council members to take part in the third China International Import Expo scheduled in November this year.
The IBLAC, initiated in 1989, is an international think tank of global entrepreneurs.
U p to six people will be able to meet indoors from today in a "milestone" for Northern Ireland's recovery from coronavirus lockdown, ministers have said.
Suppression of the virus' spread has prompted the devolved government to quicken its relaxation of social-distancing restrictions.
People will still be required to maintain social distancing when meeting indoors with family and friends.
The announcement means Northern Ireland will become the first part of the UK to permit limited indoor gatherings.
First Minister Arlene Foster said: "The Executive has reached another new milestone."
Earlier this month, ministers approved the creation of indoor social bubbles involving one person living on their own and another household, without the need for social-distancing restrictions, to combat loneliness and isolation.
The announcement came after one new case of Covid-19 was recorded by Stormont's Department of Health since Sunday, and no more deaths.
From July 6, vulnerable people who are shielding from infection will be able to meet up to six people outside the home, as long as social distancing is strictly observed, the health department said separately.
People who are shielding and living alone will be able to form a support bubble from July 6 with one other household.
Boris Johnson to reveal next steps for coronavirus lockdown on Tuesday
Ministers have been under pressure for weeks to enable freer association to enable families to reunite after months apart.
Tasks like informal childcare will become easier as part of the flexible and common sense measure, the powersharing administration at Stormont said.
Mrs Foster added: "Many of you have been desperate in recent weeks to visit your family and friends inside your homes and you will very much welcome this announcement."
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the change was intended to make informal, flexible, childcare possible.
She added: "This arrangement provides a balance between enabling much-needed social contact, enhancing support networks and allowing informal childcare arrangements to resume.
"This is a crucial development in alleviating some of the childcare pressures being felt by parents at present."
The Executive is continuing to maintain two metres for social distancing, and has not made face coverings mandatory in enclosed places like public transport.
Ms O'Neill said: "The advice today from both the chief scientific officer and the chief medical officer was that we're in a position where we should be strongly recommending face coverings, and particularly in circumstances where you can't socially distance or the room isn't well ventilated, or indeed public transport."
Traffic wardens were back on the beat on Monday after the suspension of on-street parking charges was lifted.
From June 26, caravan parks, campsites and self-contained tourist accommodation will be able to reopen.
A week later, on July 3, hotels, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, pubs and bars will be able to welcome customers back.
Church services are set to resume on June 29, while a provisional date for hair salons, barbers and nail bars to reopen has been set for July 6.
Guidance advising people in high-risk categories to shield indoors is to be paused at the end of July.
Stormont ministers have also announced plans for childcare services to start to look after more children over the summer.
They also want to maximise the number of children who can return to school on a full-time basis in the autumn by reducing the social- distancing measure for pupils from two metres to one.
Sen. Lamar Alexander told CNBC on Tuesday the federal government should provide additional funding to schools and colleges to help them reopen for in-person class this fall.
"The surest step back to normalcy in our country is when 70-75 million college and high school and elementary school students go back to school," the Tennessee Republican said on "Squawk Box." "If we need more money for that, I'm for that."
Alexander's comments come as lawmakers debate the need for additional relief packages to offset the impact of Covid-19. The $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed in March provided $13.5 billion in grants for K-12 schools in an Education Stabilization Fund. Funding also was made available to colleges and universities.
Schools need funding to help cover services such as expanding busing, as well as personal protective equipment and coronavirus testing, Alexander said. "We should spend that money for schools and for colleges."
Education administrators at all levels are developing plans for fall classes, after the coronavirus pandemic prompted many schools to switch to remote instruction beginning in mid-March.
Nearly 65% of colleges are planning for in-person classes this fall, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, which is tracking the decisions of more than 1,000 schools.
Colleges are taking various approaches, such as moving up the semester's start date in order to finish classes before Thanksgiving break, citing concerns of a second wave of Covid-19 cases. Many universities also say they are reducing class sizes to allow for social distancing and instituting strict policies on face masks.
Adaptations are taking place at the primary and secondary education levels, too. Detroit Public Schools Community District, for example, has proposed turning cafeterias and auditoriums into classrooms while instituting daily screenings for Covid-19 symptoms.
At a time of dramatic upheaval in how they teach students, many districts also are facing cuts in state funding as states grapple with a steep decline in tax revenue brought about by the pandemic. There has been a back-and-forth in Washington about whether to provide additional funding to states. An already-passed Democratic relief bill in the House does so, but the broader piece of legislation has been a nonstarter for the Republican-controlled Senate.
Iranian Ship Carrying Food, Medical Supplies Enters Venezuelan Port
Sputnik News
16:59 GMT 22.06.2020(updated 17:13 GMT 22.06.2020)
The vessel, one of six Iranian ships sent to the Latin American nation in recent weeks to help relieve fuel shortages and restore Caracas' oil refining capabilities, is also said to be carrying equipment to help Venezuela tackle the coronavirus crisis.
The Golsan general purpose cargo ship has entered the port of La Guaira in Venezuela after a 36 day journey from Bandar Abbas, Iran, MarineTraffic has confirmed.
Tweet reads: "According to the latest GPS position update, Iran's Golsan cargo ship is already docked at the port of La Guaira. #ThankYouIran"
Earlier, the Iranian Embassy in Caracas confirmed via Twitter that among other things, the Golsan is carrying food supplies "to open the first Iranian supermarket in Venezuela," and said that the ship's mission is "another success in friendly and fraternal relations between the two countries."
The Golsan, a 168.5 meter bulk carrier, has a carrying capacity of 22,882 tons, and in addition to food, is believed to be transporting supplies to help Venezuela in its coronavirus response. Earlier, The Washington Post reported that the ship was also carrying fuel, and equipment to help Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA restore its refining capacity, which collapsed last year amid US sanctions pressure.
Before the Golsan's arrival, Iran already delivered an estimated 1.5 million barrels' worth of gasoline to Venezuela aboard five tankers between late May and early June. The US responded to the goodwill gesture by threatening tanker operators with sanctions, and even reportedly considered intercepting ships at sea. Iran later warned that it would respond if any of its ships were threatened, possibly through tit-for-tat actions against US vessel in the Persian Gulf.
On Saturday, Iranian media confirmed that Iran would continue to supply Venezuela with fuel on a monthly basis to help it recover its independent production capability, and noted that Tehran would continue to trade with other countries regardless of US sanctions pressure or threats.
Even though it possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, and a capacity to refine up to 1.3 million barrels of oil per day, Venezuela has produced just a fraction of that amount in recent months the wake of crushing US sanctions, which led to shortages of spare parts and skilled workers, as well as the recent global collapse of oil prices.
Earlier this month, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he felt obliged to personally thank the Iranian people for Tehran's assistance in Venezuela's time of need. A concrete date for the visit has yet to be announced.
Listed as pariah states by Washington in the 2000s, relations between Iran and Venezuela have flourished over the past two decades, with Caracas and Tehran considering one another strategic allies and signing a multitude of agreements in areas including energy, technology and science, medicine, agriculture, housing and infrastructure.
A Sputnik
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PITTSBURGH, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "I work in the health care industry and help patients to shower which leaves me soaking wet for the rest of the day," said an inventor from Fairburn, Georgia. "When I could not locate a means to remain dry, I was inspired to develop a covering that could keep wearers protected."
She developed the PATIENT ASSISTANT PROTECTIVE WEAR AND SHOWER GOWN to provide enhanced comfort for the work day that may lead to added productivity and a more positive outlook. This easy to position invention could prevent workers from being soaked while assisting patients. Additionally, it may protect them from hospital-acquired infections and diseases.
The original design was submitted to the Atlanta sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-All-1975, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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Yongqing Fang, a historical street in Guangzhou, capital of South Chinas Guangdong Province, has taken on a brand new look and is increasingly popular among young people, thanks to the mini-transformation program implemented by the local government to upgrade and renovate old city.
Bruce Lees ancestral home near Yongqing Fang, which was built by Lees father Li Haiquan in the 1940s, was renovated by the program.
While its previous architectural features were restored, the renovated residence is now a tourist attraction where visitors can get a close contact of the ancestral home of the Kung Fu master, watch clips of Lees movies, and experience orthopedics treatment of traditional Chinese medicine in a newly-built martial art health center.
Enning Road centering around Yongqing Fang is a historical and cultural block covering an area of 120,000 square meters. Boasting the most well-preserved Qilou buildings, or arcade-style buildings in Guangzhou, the block had witnessed the convergence and prospering of traditional culture and many folk handicrafts.
However, as the center of the city has moved eastward, buildings of the block were long neglected and fell into disrepair. Surface of the roads were damaged, and the cables and underground sewage network also became aged.
Even the once flourishing traditional culture and folk handicrafts faded, and most young people started to leave the place for the outside world.
In 2016, Guangzhou put forward an idea of mini-transformation, which aimed to renew and repair old buildings while maintaining the original structure and exterior of them.
Modern architectural elements were adopted to better the space structure and transform the interior of the buildings, so that they can better meet the needs of modern activities.
The phase one transformation of Yongqing Fang was completed in October 2016, when the roads had been newly paved with granite stones; the cables, once interweaving with each other overhead, had been buried underground; and meadows and public spaces were also planned in between of buildings.
The ancillary facilities, including community health service centers, drainage, illumination, fire extinguishing and communication systems had also been drastically upgraded.
Li Yuqiongs and her brothers families have lived in the houses inherited from their parents for six decades on No.20 Yongqing street. In the past, the street was troubled by poor road condition and frequent traffic congestion.
Water gathered easily near their doors in rainy days, Li disclosed, adding that they had lasting safety concern about the cables under the eaves whenever there was a thunder.
After the mini-transformation program was implemented, tourists started to visit the block in droves. Therefore Li gave up the idea of moving out, and even started a stall outside her home to sell traditional local snacks, such as beef offal with turnips and pig trotters stewed with ginger. Sometimes she can make several hundred yuan a day.
Whats more, a once dilapidated residence across the way of Lis house has been turned into a fashionable cafe.
It was more difficult to renovate such a building than to replace it with a new one, a member of the renovation team from China Vanke Co., Ltd., told the Peoples Daily, disclosing that the bricks in the walls were tailored to match the original color, and those with color difference from the original ones were not used.
A carp-shaped outfalls on the roofs were restored, too, said the member, adding They are the characteristics of architectures in South China, though they are not necessarily functional now.
The mini-transformation program was designed to remove the dilapidated parts and keep peoples memories of the old buildings, for which meticulous efforts are required.
Its way better than large-scale demolition and reconstruction, as the original structure, features, and spatial environment were maintained, said Jiang Weihui, a researcher of the housing and urban-rural development bureau of Liwan district, Guangzhou.
A movable-type printing shop beside the ancestral residence of Bruce Lee is now very popular among the young people since its opening. Customers can have a go on the ancient printing method in the shop and print their own names with the movable components at a cost of 20 to 30 yuan ($2.8 to $4.2).
Lai Zhaoyang, owner of the shop, has worked in printing and publishing industry for 20 years, and opened the shop as he has always been fascinated by movable-type printing, one of the four great inventions of ancient China.
He selected Yongqing Fang as the location of the shop because the street highly matches with his idea of bringing the traditional technique back to life in the modern age.
A block will lose vitality inevitably if it lacks young people, said Ma Xiangming, chief engineer of Guangdong Urban and Rural Planning and Design Institute.
From the perspective of urban development, a neighborhood gets old because industries and living conditions there can no longer meet the needs of modern society, Ma said, adding that young people will not return to old blocks if the businesses environment isnt improved, no matter how well the buildings are renovated.
The transformed Yongqing Fang is now the cradle for young entrepreneurs. The completed phase one transformation project of the street has attracted 60 shops and businesses, including cultural and creative shops, boutique home-stay hotels, light meal restaurants, and media companies, becoming a popular base for young makers.
Today, Yongqing Fang has become a must-visit tourist spot in Guangzhou, with popular cafes, cultural and creative shops, and home-stay hotels attracting a great number of young visitors.
Last year, the average number of visitors to the ancient street hit 3,000 per day during weekdays and 5,000 on weekends at the peak time.
(Newser) The was-he-kidding debate continues, this time with input from President Trump himself as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci. The controversy stems from Trump's weekend rally in Tulsa and comments the president made during it about coronavirus testing. When you do testing to that extent, youre going to find more people, he said, per Politico. Youre going to find more cases. So I said to my people, Slow the testing down, please.'" (See the video here.) Afterward, White House officials including press chief Kayleigh McEnany and trade adviser Peter Navarro said Trump was kidding about asking his staff to slow testing. VP Mike Pence also downplayed the remarks. But on Tuesday, Trump appeared to contradict them when asked whether he was, in fact, kidding, reports the Hill.
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"I don't kid, let me just tell you, let me make it clear," Trump told a reporter on the White House lawn, per CNN. He reiterated that he thought increased testing was a "double-edge sword."
But wait: Later Tuesday, Fauci and three other top health officials told a House panel that Trump never made such a request, reports the Washington Post. I know for sure none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing. That is just a fact, Fauci said. In fact, we will be doing more testing.
What Fauci said is in line with what Trump said Monday in an interview with CBN. "Just to clear up, there wasn't a direct order, if you will, to staff, to stop the testing," asked the interviewer. "No," said Trump. "But I think we put ourselves at a disadvantage."
In the same interview, when asked if the slow-down remarks were "tongue-in-cheek," Trump said, "No. It's semi tongue-in-cheek. I say it all the time. I know some people thought it was tongue-in-cheek. It's unfair. We're doing so much testing, so much more than any other country."
(Read more President Trump stories.)
President Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center Saturday in Tulsa, Okla. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)
In 1961, the American scholar Daniel J. Boorstin coined the term "pseudo-event" to describe an emerging tactic in the field of public relations: Saying or doing something with the sole purpose of generating media attention and publicity.
Nearly 60 years later, pseudo-events seem to comprise the majority of President Trump's public utterances. He specializes in manufacturing outrage, and some would say we in the mainstream press have been slow to adapt ourselves to his nonstop outrage cycle, tailor-made for the era of 24/7 cable news and, now, social media.
And yet Trump's latest ethnic slur calling the deadly coronavirus "kung flu," as he did at an anemically attended political rally in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday deserves our condemnation, not least because of the pathetic and disingenuous defense his press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, offered on Monday. Asked by the CBS News journalist Weijia Jiang why Trump was using a racist nickname for the virus, she replied: The president doesnt. What the president does do is point to the fact that the origin of the virus is China.
Later, when Jiang asked about the widespread outrage in the Asian American community, McEnany responded with astounding condescension that Asian Americans are amazing people and the spreading of the virus is not their fault in any way, shape or form. She added, Theyre working closely with us to get rid of it. We will prevail together."
That defense is, if possible, even worse than the original offense. By not specifying what she means by "us," McEnany contributed to longstanding and pernicious stereotypes of Asians as dangerous outsiders. Xenophobia and racial animus contributed to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, the World War II-era incarceration of Japanese Americans and hate crimes like the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin.
McEnany and the White House are not wrong to point out this new strain of coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan, China, nor is the Trump administration wrong in pointing out the deficiencies in the Chinese government's handling of the pandemic in its early phases. But calling the coronavirus the "China virus" or the "Wuhan virus" terms that are not used by the scientific community, which has called the virus SARS-CoV-2 will only backfire, as it inhibits the very international cooperation needed to combat the wave of zoonoses diseases that jump from animals to humans that will continue to pose profound challenges to global health.
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But there's also a larger point that's worth noting as we respond to Trump's latest pseudo-event. Anti-Black racism and anti-Asian racism have often gone hand in hand, serving similar functions of distracting Americans from the common values and interests that should unite them. And the "kung flu" comment is but a taste of the kind of verbal abuse that Black Americans routinely face in our society.
It was in the years after Reconstruction, when the hopes and aspirations of Black freedom were dashed across the South, that the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was adopted. It was at the height of the Jim Crow era, in the 1920s, that Congress passed laws choking off immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, motivated in part by fear of Catholics and Jews. And it was in the 1960s, in the same years that domestic activism and Cold War pressures prompted an expansion in civil rights, that immigration restrictions were finally eased. We whose families came to the United States following the adoption of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act owe a moral debt to the generations of African Americans whose agitation for political equality helped expand the definition of who gets to be American.
Madeline Y. Hsu, a scholar at the University of Texas who studies the history of transnationalism and Chinese migration to the United States, was momentarily speechless when asked Monday for a reaction to Trump's remarks.
"It reads like a cheap pun used as a low-level jibe from someone who is ignorant and poorly educated, rather than the assessment of an extremely powerful leader who has for months had the fullest array of information about the nature and dangers of COVID-19," Hsu said in an interview. "Its something that a 6-year-old might say, trying to bully a classmate. Unfortunately the crudeness of the statement echoes the extreme mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic and the callous endangering of millions of American lives. Even those who survive the illness suffer terribly, some for the long-term. It is even more of a tragedy that this illness arose with such a heartless demagogue in power."
Frank H. Wu, who was the first Asian American to serve as a faculty member of a historically Black law school (at Howard University), has thought deeply about the need for solidarity between Black Americans and Asian Americans, noting that both communities have suffered from violent attacks, housing segregation, and even lynchings, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chinese immigrants had to carry permits to prove they had entered the United States legally, just as Black people in an earlier era had had to prove that they had permission to be away from places where they were enslaved or employed.
"Asians, especially Chinese, have faced a history in America of being described as dirty, the source of contagion," wrote Wu, now a professor at UC Hastings College of the Law. "In San Francisco before the 1906 earthquake, for example, the bubonic plague outbreak was attributed to Chinese immigrants. The characterization of Chinese as filthy, living in a squalid Chinatown, as if they had chosen hyper segregation, was used in turn to justify continuing exclusion and further discrimination."
While Asian Americans have not in the aggregate experienced the level of racism and violence that Black Americans have, rising anti-Chinese sentiment has been associated with hate crimes, including a recent stabbing in Texas.
K. Ian Shin, an assistant professor of American culture and history at the University of Michigan, noted in an interview the ways in which white supremacy and xenophobia have operated in tandem.
"History shows us that the way we talk about scientific phenomena can lead to the dehumanization of minority groups," Shin said. "Whether it's the 'Oriental scale' that afflicted citrus trees at the turn of the 20th century or the 'Japanese beetles' that infested the East Coast in the 1920s and 1930s, racist terms justified and enabled the containment and even eradication of Asian communities in the U.S. They paved the way for anti-Asian immigration legislation and wartime internment of Japanese Americans that we recognize today to be unjust and un-American."
Trump's usage of "kung flu" is a pseudo-event, intended to shock and distract. But if it has any use, it is in reminding us of how far we need to go to achieve racial progress. In describing Asian Americans as "amazing people," McEnany was echoing inadvertently, I imagine Trump's bizarre 2017 observation that "Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody whos done an amazing job and is getting recognized more and more."
Douglass was indeed amazing, for his expansive and capacious view of American freedom. And it would be amazing indeed if all Americans followed the moral example he set in resisting racism and xenophobia.
Karen Pierce has asked military experts to weigh in on the British tea debate after an American womans version of the beverage sparked outrage.
In May, a woman named Michelle, who goes by the username @jchelle36 on TikTok, uploaded a clip to the site where she shared her sugar-laden recipe for hot tea.
The recipe, which included instant tea, Tang orange mix, powdered lemonade, sugar, cinnamon and cloves, prompted backlash on social media, where British citizens condemned the resulting drink.
On 22 June, the British ambassador to the United States responded to the number of requests to show how to make a real cup of tea on Twitter, where she wrote: I see theres huge interest in how to make a British cup of tea. So Ive called in my military advisers to get this in the record.
In the clip, which has been viewed more than 76,000 times, Ms Pierce explains: The Anglo-American relationship is defined by tea before panning to several military advisors who share their recipes.
According to a member of the British army, who is pictured wearing fatigues, you dont need a microwave to make a cup of tea.
All you need is a naked flame, tea bag, sugar, he continues, adding: You can use fresh milk but this time were using powdered milk. Cheers!
A member of the Royal Navy also weighed in, reiterating that you do not use a microwave, but a kettle to make hot tea.
Leave your tea bag to brew, he explains. Then you just add milk and there you are. A proper British cup of tea.
The video also features advice from a Royal Air Force member, seen flying a plane, who acknowledges that making tea at altitude is complex because water boils at quite a different temperature.
However, through adversity we produce quite a palatable product for the enjoyment and education of our delightful US hosts. Chin, chin! he concludes.
The informative video prompted people to express their gratitude for the definitive answer to the tea-making question.
Setting the record straight! one person commented.
Another said: Great to finally have the definitive take on this.
A coalition of State Street businesses pleaded with the city on Monday to improve safety, offer subsidies to attract new businesses and to temporarily convert the street into a pedestrian mall.
In a letter to the city titled Save State Street and signed by your concerned local State Street business and property owners, the group, which had been meeting for nearly two weeks, also encouraged the city to fund programs to increase the number of Black and other minority-owned businesses; add more security cameras, remove rocks from planters and to replace the glass at the now boarded up visitor center adjacent to Lisa Link Peace Park.
The list of 19 requests come in the wake of closures due to COVID-19 followed by rioting and looting during protests over the killing of George Floyd. Business owners say they fear for their safety, havent been listened to by the city and worry about the streets vibrancy as several businesses have indicated they may not return.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:06:47|Editor: huaxia
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CAIRO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian Foreign Ministry welcomed on Tuesday the agreement between Yemen's Saudi-backed government and Southern Transitional Council on ceasefire and talks in Saudi Arabia on implementing a peace deal.
In a statement, the ministry hailed the "sincere efforts of Saudi Arabia for supporting the people and government of Yemen."
"Those efforts will pave the road for resuming the political process among the Yemeni parties that aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution for the crisis," the statement added.
It stressed Egypt's full support for all endeavors that seek to achieve peace, security and stability, guaranteeing unity and safety of territories and alleviating the suffering of the people in Yemen.
Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in early 2015 to support Hadi's government.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million, and pushed more than 20 million to the brink of starvation. Enditem
CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga County on Tuesday approved a $3 million settlement to the father of Aniya Day-Garrett, who accused the county of failing to protect his 4-year-old daughter from the abuse that led to her death.
County Council on Tuesday signed off on the settlement with Mickhal Garrett, more than a year after he filed a wrongful death lawsuit accusing the county and two Euclid daycares of ignoring clear signs of abuse and neglect against Aniya prior to her March 2018 death.
Aniyas mother, Sierra Day, and Days boyfriend, Deonte Lewis, were sentenced to life in prison last year after they were convicted of aggravated murder and other charges associated with the girls death.
The countys Division of Children and Family Services received at least six reports that Day was abusing Aniya in the 13 months preceding her death, according to Garretts lawsuit. Garrett accused the agency and its employees of failing to properly investigate those reports.
A state report found that county social workers dismissed Aniyas statements that her mommy had hurt her and allowed her to return home with Day. The state also found that social workers failed to follow protocols, made few face-to-face contacts with the child and ignored two years worth of injuries reported by Aniyas daycare provider.
China issues regulations on economic responsibility audit of military officials
PLA Daily
Source: Xinhuanet
Editor: Chen Zhuo
2020-06-22 09:23:50
BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The general office of the Central Military Commission has issued a set of regulations on the economic responsibility audit of senior military officials, which will take effect on July 1.
The regulations lay out an overall plan on the work on economic responsibility audit, and will restructure the current system of economic responsibility audit.
The regulations will be significant to governing the military with strict discipline in every respect, improving the systems for conducting checks and oversight over the exercise of power, and enhancing the officials' loyalty, integrity and sense of responsibility, according to the office.
The document highlights the audit in senior military officials' implementation of decisions, major decision-making, task-performing and problem-solving in military economic activities.
Encouraging innovation and the sense of responsibility, the regulations read that the audit results should be important criteria in officials' performance evaluation, appointments and dismissals, as well as rewards and punishment.
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US troops in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan: EPA
Federal prosecutors in New York announced the arrest of a US Army solider charged with planning a "murderous ambush" against his own unit with help from neo-Nazi occultists as part of a "hate-fuelled" terror attack.
The 22-year-old Army private who is alleged to have sent sensitive information about his unit to violent racists in the Order of the Nine Angles admitted his role in plotting the attack and "described his conduct as tantamount to treason," according to prosecutors.
"Ethan Melzer, a private in the US Army, was the enemy within," said acting US attorney Audrey Strauss, who replaced outgoing US attorney Geoffrey Berman following his resignation under pressure from Donald Trump's administration. The indictment marks her first announcement since taking the role.
Mr Melzer is charged with conspiring and attempting to murder as well as providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, among other charges. He faces life in prison, if convicted.
He joined the US Army in 2018 and was involved with the Order in 2019, according to prosecutors. The UK-based Order, which lionises Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich as well as Osama Bin Laden, promotes violence to usher in a "Satanic empire" through the destruction of western society, according to antifascist advocacy group Hope Not Hate.
Mr Melzer "consumed propaganda from multiple extremist groups" including Isis, coordinated with Order members through encrypted messaging apps, and planned a "jihadi attack" to cause a "mass casualty" event while describing his "willingness to die", prosecutors said.
"Who gives a f***," he wrote in messages to Order members, according to a federal indictment. "It would be another war ... I would've died successfully ... Another 10-year war in the Middle East would definitely leave a mark."
In May, he sent messages to a suspected member of al Qaeda, and described deployment information including travel, size, locations and surveillance and defences, prosecutors said. The alleged plot was discovered later that month and he was arrested on 10 June.
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Mr Melzer was influence by a "diabolical cocktail of ideologies laced with hate and violence," Assistant Attorney General John C Demers said in a statement.
Organisations studying the movements of extremist hate groups have linked the Order to other neo-Nazi groups like the Base and Atomwaffen, whose members have also been targeted by federal prosecutors.
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Threat from right wing extremists as strong today as ever, say experts
We came today to protest in front of our county public health officers house, and some people might have issues with that, that we took it to their house, one woman said in a video. But I have to tell you guys, theyre coming to our houses. Their agenda is contact tracing, testing, mandatory masks and ultimately an injection that has not been tested, she said, apparently referring to a vaccine even though none have been approved.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Minister of VSA Richard Panneflek would like to ensure the protection of residents and visitors from the spread of COVID-19. The government is working jointly with the various stakeholders to take responsible incremental steps towards the reopening of the borders; with the aim to restart the local economy. We urge all residents to comply with the preventative advice; maintain 2 meters social distance, wear masks, wash your hands frequently, practice sneezing and coughing in tissue, and immediately discard it in a garbage bin and wash your hands. If experiencing flu-like symptoms; stay at home and do not attend public gatherings, consult your physician and inform your employer(s), be conscious of the spread of the virus, and take the necessary actions to stay safe.
Negligent actions can have severe consequences for the lives of persons within your family circle or direct environment, especially if they are at high risk. Remind your family, friends, and colleagues of the measures to protect themselves and others within your community. Follow the guidelines at your workplace, in school, at home, and in church. If you have any concerns related to the COVID-19 guidelines, please feel free to call 914 or visit the governments website for additional information.
To date, we have 77 positive cases, with zero cases reported within the last 4 weeks. The number of deaths associated with COVID-19 remains at 15. We are jointly managing the situation and making progress in the right direction towards a COVID-19 free country.
The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Border Control, will continue the process of repatriating local residents who wish to return home, with the conditions of being quarantined for 14 days in a designated quarantine facility.
All persons who wish to return to Sint Maarten should send an email to the Department of Foreign Affairs with the following information:
1. Name
2. Number of persons in youre traveling party
3. Contact information
4. Country of departure
5. Proof of legal status
As government, we are working on a vigilant and responsible plan, guided by what is the safest approach to ensure early detection and prevent the resurgence of the virus on Sint Maarten. Our main goal and vision is to keep our country safe, healthy, wealthy and strong. Government will continue to collectively discuss ways of minimizing the risks of transmission, and find creative ways to cope and live with COVID-19, as the medical experts globally continue to seek ways to minimize the mortality rate for COVID-19. We are eager to welcome back visitors to our shores, but we wish to do so in a safe and responsible manner.
Let us stay safe, protect others by adhering to the set guidelines and let us continue to collectively strive to improve our economy and ensure a healthy community.
May GOD be with us all on our path to reopening our border and may GOD protect Sint Maarten and the rest world to continue seeing COVID-19 free days ahead.
Clark said that the policy is a vital component of Ontarios post-pandemic recovery strategy.
This legislation will allow us to protect small businesses and help them get back on their feet so they can continue to create jobs and participate in the rebuilding of the provincial economy, Clark said, as reported by Toronto Storeys.
Earlier this month, RBC Economics said in an analysis that the commercial sector must brace itself for significant losses in its tenant base, as small- and medium-scale businesses will be forced to go online to remain operational amid the coronavirus outbreak.
This may seem ambitious, given the immediate challenges of survival that confront many business owners and operators, RBC said. But to be unprepared for a very different kind of recovery could be just as costly as the unprecedented collapse.
Dawn Desjardins, deputy chief economist at RBC, said that there is no way to tell how long the economic turmoil will last.
- Sofia Andres recently shared in an interview how she found out that she was already pregnant
- She narrated that on a busy shooting day for an endorsement in February 2019, she asked her road manager to buy four pregnancy test kits for her which later on showed positive results
- Sofia did not immediately tell her boyfriend Daniel Miranda about it for he was in Thailand at that time for a racing competition
- After the competition, she finally opened up about it to Daniel who later on manifested a man enough reaction
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Sofia Andres recently shared how her boyfriend Daniel Miranda, a 23-year-old race car driver, reacted after learning that she was pregnant with their child.
In an interview with Metro magazine, the actress shared she found out that she was already pregnant on a busy shooting day for an endorsement last year in February. She asked her road manager to buy four pregnancy test kits for her then all of the devices showed positive results.
She told her parents right away, and their initial reaction is telling Sofia to reflect on how it will affect her life and her future as she was a rising celebrity.
I realized, Oo nga no? But at the same time, at the back of my mind, I knew I could do all that with my baby. Shell be my inspiration. So whats wrong with it? Sofia said.
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Sofia did not immediately tell Daniel about it who was in Thailand for a racing competition because she wanted him to focus on that. So, she told Angelique Lhuillier first, Daniels very nice, supportive, and loving mother.
I waited for him to finish his race first, and he won. Then I called him and said I was pregnant. I showed him the ultrasound picture, and then he cried. He cried like a baby, and Ive never seen him like that. Then he said kaya ko, tanggap ko. Hindi siya nagpakita ng anything that could get me upset or offended, she narrated.
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In a previous report by KAMI, Sofia Andres cried in her first video interview after introducing her baby Zoe.
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.
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This summer, many are staying home and looking for somewhere to cool off. Pool sales are on the rise, but that fun can come with risk.
The Comrie family was supposed to be heading to Disney this summer, but COVID-19 changed that. Instead, they used the money to buy a pool last month.
Were very lucky because if we had gotten it a week later I think it would have been in August trying to install, Linda Comrie said.
With more people home and some public pools closed this season, the pool business is seeing a rise in business. That demand means a lot for first-time pool owners. Safety being a priority, especially for the children.
They dont go on the pool deck unless theres an adult there, Comrie said. We ensure that they dont go near the sides of the pool and try to pull themselves up with the floating devices that we have in there.
New Hampshires Bureau Chief of Emergency Medical Services Justin Romanello said parents need to be extra careful and encouraged they take a CPR class.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10 people die from unintentional drownings every day in the United States. One in five of those deaths are among children ages 14 and younger.
Simple precautions can prevent an injury or save a life.
Super vigilance with little kids, with older kids, with anybody, for that matter, is important, Romanello said. We all have fun on the weekends and that sort of thing, and adults can have accidents just as much as kids can.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has told aides he is largely supportive of sending Americans another round of stimulus checks, believing the payments will boost the economy and help his chances at reelection in November, according to three people aware of internal administration deliberations.
However, leading congressional Republicans and some senior White House officials remain skeptical of sending more checks, creating a rift within conservative circles that could have significant consequences for the stimulus package set to be taken up by lawmakers in July. The White House has not officially taken a position on the matter.
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In March, Congress approved stimulus payments of up to $1,200 per person for every American citizen earning less than $75,000 per year as part of the Cares Act. The Internal Revenue Service had, as of the beginning of June, sent these payments to more than 159 million American households.
Many economists say the checks provided needed relief as unemployment surged across the country, but they also generated significant controversy because of glitches in getting the money to taxpayers and the Treasury Department's decision to put Trump's name on the mailed checks, as well as a gushing letter that included his 2016 campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again."
House Democrats included another round of $1,200 stimulus checks in the bill they approved last month, but the GOP position on the measure has remained murky.
Internally, the president's advisers and allies are split. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has advocated sending another round of checks, two people with knowledge of internal deliberations said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to frankly discuss matters they weren't authorized to comment on publicly. Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, is skeptical of sending payments out to as many people who received them in the first round, said one person familiar with internal matters who also spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Other conservative White House officials and influential congressional Republicans oppose the plan, expressing concern with the impact of tremendous levels of new spending on the deficit. Some White House officials have also argued internally that the checks were pocketed by Americans rather than spent in the economy, pointing to an enormous increase in Americans' personal savings rate after the payments went out, one person aware of internal discussions said.
One senior administration official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly discuss internal deliberations, said the White House may support a round of stimulus checks that is smaller than the initial package and targeted more directly toward lower-income Americans.
The president has emphasized in public his desire to cut payroll taxes for businesses in the next stimulus package. Asked on Monday whether the administration will be sending Americans a second round of stimulus checks, Trump said "we are" but then quickly shifted the discussion to a different matter, making it unclear what he was referring to. White House officials said the administration continues to study the checks and that the president is hearing from different advisers, but has not reached a final decision.
Even if the president formally backs the idea, it is not clear whether congressional Republicans will go along with the plan.
MAINSTAYS CLOSE: Big names among new wave of Houston restaurant closings
Senate Republicans have already rejected the president's call for a payroll tax cut. Most opposed the initial round of $1,200 payments despite voting for the Cares Act and are even more likely to oppose another round now that the economy has begun recovering from its lows in March and April, said Jason Pye, the vice president of legislative affairs for FreedomWorks, a conservative organization. The initial round of payments cost approximately $300 billion.
"There's likely to be widespread opposition to something like another round of this. The cost is just too much," Pye said.
Congressional Republicans may be more likely to support another round of stimulus checks if it is paired with a substantial reduction to the $600-per-week increase in unemployment benefits approved by Congress in March, aides said. Stephen Moore, an outside economic adviser to the White House, said the administration is studying this approach as officials push for a reduction in unemployment benefits.
The White House is looking at another stimulus package in part because the coronavirus pandemic is expected to be a long-term drag on the U.S. economy. The Federal Reserve and Congressional Budget Office have both projected that unemployment could remain as high as 10 percent for the rest of the year. Many economists say the $1,200 checks and the increase in unemployment benefits helped shield low-income Americans, with one study finding poverty dropped in April, despite the economic contraction, because of the massive infusion of government cash.
Democrats have called for the stimulus checks to be bigger and criticized the original plan for not sending payments to undocumented immigrants. They have largely unified behind the idea that the payments quickly got money to people in need.
"The Economic Impact Payments proved to be a very effective way to get people money given our rickety administrative systems," said Matt Bruenig, founder of the People's Policy Project, a left-leaning think tank. "Given that the public health and economic crisis has not yet abated, another round of these payments would be a good idea."
Vikram Desai, an IT professional on H-1B visa cleared for Green Card, says when he and his wife first heard of President Donald Trumps order suspending work visas, they panicked.
We have parents in the high-risk category of those vulnerable to Covid-19 and our first thoughts were that if one of us had to leave the US for India we may not be able to return until the end of the year, he said.
His H-1B visa has expired and he is on extension, which is being granted easily by US authorities in view of the Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns. But if he or his wife were to travel to India or anywhere out of the US, they will be unable to return without getting their passports stamped with renewed visas.
That was already a problem with consular operations closed at US missions, and now with the suspension until end of the year, its an even worse.
It feels just safer to stay in the US, Desai said, adding, things are so uncertain at this time.
Many Indians on H-1B or in line for Green Cards are stranded in India already because of no commercial flights. They have begun to make their way back, slowly.
This is a Hindu Ban much like the Muslim Ban, said one of those impacted by the suspension, referring to the controversial ban imposed on the entry of people from some Muslim majority countries by Trump early on in his presidency, which remains in force, in a version diluted by legal challenges.
This person may have actually meant an India ban, not a Hindu ban, because Indians, irrespective of their religion, have been the largest beneficiaries of the suspended H-1Bs and H-4, that are given to spouses of H-1B visa-holders cleared for the Green Card. It allows the spouses to work.
Indians are the largest beneficiaries of both H-1Bs (more than 70% of the annual 85,000) and H-4 (for spouses and unmarried children). Indians accounted for 93% of the 126,853 H-4 EAD (employment authorization document) applications approved till December 2017, according to a study by the Congressional Research Service, a non-partisan provider of data and analysis to US congress, based on numbers from the USCIS.
This is because the queue for Green Cards is the longest for Indians and the current waiting time is statistically estimated to be over 100 years. H-4 was introduced by President Barack Obama in 2015 as an incentive for these Green Card hopefuls. The Trump administration wants to rescind it.
Pramila Jayapal, the Indian American congresswoman who led an joint appeal by lawmakers to the administration to not cancel H-4, slammed Trumps new order in a post on twitter: For months, Trump has been desperately trying to do anything to open the country back up and return to normal. EXCEPT for those who are immigrants seeking to contribute to this country, she wrote, and added, We must defeat Trumps racist and white nationalist agenda.
But for some IT services companies that use H-1Bs to hire workers from India, or elsewhere, the Monday order was not as bad as feared.
I breathed a sigh of relief,, said Deepali Khadakban, owner of New Jersey-based Precision Technologies. Based on news reports and speculation, they had expected a hike in H-1B visa processing fee, which is paid by the employer, a change in the qualification for H-1B, and an end of work authorization for graduates as part of their course.
As of now, the suspension will only push the joining date for new hires coming from India, from October, the usual starting time, by a few months to December.
When you listen to a major Australian orchestra play, what are the chances the composer is decomposing?
Melbourne composer Ciaran Frame, 25, set to find out and discovered that last year, fewer than one in five works performed were written by living composers and fewer than one in 10 by Australians.
Young Melbourne composer Ciaran Frame has compiled the inaugural Living Music Report. Credit:Chris Hopkins
This week he publishes the inaugural Living Music Report - a 43-page labour of love that picks apart the 2019 repertoire for the country's biggest orchestras and measures the representation of music by living, Australian, women, First Nations and CALD artists. It finds, for example, that the average year of composition for a performed work was 1885, and the average year of birth for a composer was 1843.
Mr Frame hopes the report will spark discussion at a "perfect time" for the industry to rethink plans and priorities.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 19:39:54|Editor: huaxia
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Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov arrives at the Niederoesterreich Palace in Vienna, Austria, June 22, 2020. The first round of new disarmament talks between the United States and Russia has ended here with no tangible results, as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) will expire in months. (Photo by Georges Schneider/Xinhua)
VIENNA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The first round of new disarmament talks between the United States and Russia has ended here with no tangible results, as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) will expire in months.
After full-day talks at the Niederoesterreich Palace in the Austrian capital, the Russian Foreign Ministry only said that "discussion on prospects for arms control continued, including the question of extending the New START treaty and maintaining stability."
Nevertheless, U.S. chief negotiator Marshall Billingslea described the negotiations with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Monday as "very positive," saying on Twitter that there were "detailed discussions on full-range of nuclear topics," and that technical working groups were launched.
In 2010, Washington and Moscow signed the New START, which stipulates the limits to the numbers of deployed nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems by both. The New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty in force between the two nuclear superpowers, will expire on Feb. 5, 2021.
The agreement can be extended for at most five years with the consent of the two countries. Russia has expressed willingness to extend the treaty, while the U.S. administration has yet to officially reply.
The current U.S. administration has already withdrawn from several treaties with Russia, including those on overflights and on intermediate-range nuclear forces.
If the New START is not renewed prior to its expiry date, the nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia will be unconstrained for the first time since 1972.
The Ashanti Regional branch of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has constituted a team to reconcile aggrieved members of the party in the region after the just ended party's parliamentary primaries held over the weekend.
The action followed calls for the need to ensure peace in the party, especially in the Ashanti Region (the stronghold of the party), at the instance of the internal polls that might have triggered factions on the line of aspirants.
A four-member reconciliation committee headed by former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Robert Yaw Amankwa, has been set in motion to re-establish cordial relations among party faithful.
It has the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, Henry Kwabena Kokofu, as its secretary. The other members of the committee are Osei Prempeh, Managing Director of Goil Company Limited, and Nana Adwoa Dokua, a board member of the Ghana Cocoa Board.
Mr. Kokofu told DAILY GUIDE that the committee had commenced its work and was poised to deliver on its mandate.
According to him, the reconciliation team has been tasked to resolve all issues in the 44 constituencies and has the mandate to carry out the duty from now to the time the Electoral Commission (EC) opens nominations for parliamentary candidates.
The NPP held its parliamentary elections in 44 out of the 47 constituencies in the region on Saturday to elect its parliamentary candidates for the December polls.
There were reports of violence, confusion and insults in some constituencies, especially during voting time, and Mr. Kokofu indicated that this necessitated the formation of a reconciliation committee.
He said the committee had not targeted any particular constituency in the region and explained that any constituency where a problem exists would be invited.
Besides, he disclosed that the committee would investigate and figure out troubled constituencies and invite the affected party people for talks and amicable settlement.
Kokofu noted that any party member in the region who is also aggrieved or has issues with the NPP parliamentary primaries could also report to the committee.
He indicated that the committee sits on a daily basis at the Beauty Queen Hotel at Santasi in Kumasi, so every aggrieved party member can go there. He added that the committee is expected to give its report to the Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako.
----Daily Guide
Jair Bolsonaros presidency has captured global attention for three ongoing crises: deforestation in the Amazon, deaths from COVID-19, and doubts about the future of Brazilian democracy.
The big picture: Brazil is now the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, registering more new cases each day than any other country and the second-most deaths to date, after the U.S.
The president has downplayed that crisis but been forced to confront another as Brazil's Supreme Court has approved a sprawling investigation into his inner circle.
That investigation reportedly involves two of Bolsonaros sons and other close associates. It centers on the so-called office of hate allegedly a coordinated operation to smear Bolsonaros critics online, spread fake news, and promote protests against the courts and congress.
Bolsonaro is also being investigated for obstruction of justice after the outgoing justice minister, Sergio Moro, accused him of interfering with the police to gain more control over sensitive investigations like an embezzlement probe involving another son, Flavio.
The arrest of a close Bolsonaro ally, Fabricio Queiroz, in connection with that investigation on Thursday was seen as another signal that the walls were closing in on the family. Queiroz has been described as a fixer for the Bolsonaros and used to work for Flavio.
Bolsonaro has railed against the investigations and claimed to be the victim of a witch hunt.
Flashback: Bolsonaro embraced comparisons to President Trump during his campaign, and the Trump administration greeted his election as a major opportunity to further its interests in the region.
A senior official with the State Department Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs tells Axios it has been a remarkable 18 months for the alliance, particularly on economic cooperation, though the pandemic has forced a change in focus.
The official said the current like-mindedness with Brazil was allowing for deeper cooperation on regional issues like Venezuela.
Asked about the controversies surrounding Bolsonaro at home and abroad, the official said Brazil was an ally of ours in every sense of the word" and stressed that the country had "strong institutions."
Photo: Andressa Anholete/Getty Images
Those institutions are under growing strain. Each weekend, Bolsonaro's supporters gather in front of the presidential palace and call for Congress and the Supreme Court to be shut down. Bolsonaro recently greeted them on horseback.
Bolsonaro has an unwavering base of around 30% of the electorate, who echo his support for guns, god and the military.
Where things stand: Bolsonaro continues to aim his rhetoric directly at his core supporters, says Mauricio Moura, a pollster for IDEIA Big Data.
"He was one of the very few world leaders who did not manage to gain popularity during the pandemic," Moura says. While Bolsonaro has a formidable political base, Moura says, "he's not adding anyone."
Moura says the president's political fortunes will be determined not by how many coronavirus cases and deaths Brazil records, but by the success of its economic recovery.
The pollster expects the base to stick with Bolsonaro through the investigations, unless direct links to organized crime groups are uncovered.
Concerns are rising over what Bolsonaro and his supporters will do if the situation truly comes to a head.
The Economist and FT have both raised fears about the survival of Brazilian democracy.
A Supreme Court justice, Celso de Mello, warned his fellow justices in a leaked message that they must avoid what happened in the Weimar Republic, when Adolf Hitler rose to power.
Many insist such fears are overblown. Though Bolsonaro is a staunch defender of military rule, retired generals have issued assurances that the military would not go along with any coup attempt.
What to watch: While there is growing speculation that Bolsonaro will be impeached or indicted, Brazilian political scientist Leonardo Barreto isn't expecting either in the short term.
"There is still no smoking gun against Mr. Bolsonaro and he still commands around one-third of the electorate, he writes for the Brazilian Report. Barreto anticipates "a long process of turbulence" instead.
The bottom line: 18 months into Bolsonaro's presidency, turbulence is one thing Brazilians have grown accustomed to.
Go deeper: The eye of the COVID-19 storm shifts to Latin America
Calaveras Public Health View Photo
San Andreas, CA The Calaveras Supervisors heard an update about the number of coronavirus cases during a report from Public Health Officer, Dr. Dean Kelaita.
At todays meeting he noted that there are now 28 confirmed cases, half have now recovered and the others are still in quarantine. The most recent cases have been residents of Valley Springs. There have been nine positive tests over the past two-week period, equating to a 30-percent rise in coronavirus cases. Around 2-percent of the tests being administered locally are coming back as positive. Dr. Kelaita noted that it is lower than some of the hot spots in the state, which are seeing around 8-percent come back as positive.
He added that there have been 5,515 COVID-19 deaths in California, and none locally.
Dr. Kelaita also detailed Governor Gavin Newsoms new directive on face coverings, and stated that it is important to follow the rules in order to limit the local spread, and keep businesses operating.
In light of reports of various health officers across the country leaving their positions due to threats and verbal abuse, Supervisor Chairwoman Merita Callaway asked Dr. Kelaita how he is holding up.
He noted that he has served the community for 20 years, and his job, and that of other public health officers, is to provide scientific guidance, and medical expertise, to help steer the community through this pandemic.
Dr. Kelaita added, Barring any other threats on my personal safety, or other kinds of abuses, which I have suffered at the hands of this community, a very small and vocal minority of this community, Ill continue to be here to serve the public.
Acknowledging the challenging role, Callaway stated she considers him as the Incident Commander of the countys local COVID-19 response, adding there can only be one.
For the first time, new images of the naval version of the 3rd of Khordad Air Defense Shield were released for the first time. Precisely one year after a US intruding drone was shot down over the Southern coasts of Iran by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force.
For the first time, new images of the naval version of the 3rd of Khordad Air Defense Shield were released for the first time. Precisely one year after a US intruding drone was shot down over the Southern coasts of Iran by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force.
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Khordad 3 missile system on the deck of Shahid Siavoshi naval vessel published by Iran's Revolutionary Guard on June 19, 2020.(Picture source: Iran's Revolutionary Guard)
Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and reached self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite coping Western sanctions and economic pressure. The Islamic country has produced different powerful missile defense systems in recent years, including Third of Khordad.
Images of the anti-aircraft missile stationed on a small naval vessel have appeared in Iranian media amidst official claims that Tehran has test-fired a sea-based version of the Khordad air defense system. Third of Khordad missile system mounted on the IRGC Shahid Siavoshi frigate is capable of target lock and missile fire with the frigate on the move.
Latterly, Commander of the Air Defense Force Brigadier, General Reza Shaban announced IRGC plans to manufacture long-range high-altitude air defense systems.
Khordad 3 missile system launched by Iran's Revolutionary Guard on June 19, 2020. (Picture source: Iran's Revolutionary Guard)
About Khordad 3:
Khordad 3 is a domestic Iranian design which was first unveiled in 2014.
The Third of Khordad Air Defense Shield fires Taer-2 Missiles which have also been developed and mass-produced at the IRGC Aerospace Force. The system has an operational range of between 50 and 75 kilometers and can intercept airborne targets as high as 25 to 30 kilometers.
Equipped with a powerful phased array radar, the system can engage and intercept 4 active targets at each round and has been assigned for countering tactical and strategic aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and drones and can also shoot down its targets under electronic warfare conditions.
India told Pakistan on Tuesday to slash its embassy staff in New Delhi by half -- saying it would do the same in Islamabad -- as a diplomatic spat continued between the nuclear-armed rivals.
The fractious relationship between the neighbours has worsened since New Delhi expelled two Pakistan embassy officials over spying claims in late May.
After that, New Delhi accused Islamabad of torturing two Indian diplomats arrested following an alleged hit-and-run in the Pakistani capital.
The men returned to India on Monday, where they "provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced", the foreign ministry claimed.
"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," the ministry said in a statement.
"Therefore, the government of India has taken the decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 percent."
The ministry said it would also "reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion".
Pakistan's foreign ministry said it "completely dismisses" allegations its staff in New Delhi had violated any diplomatic conventions.
"Pakistan also rejects the insinuations of intimidation of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad," a Pakistan ministry statement read.
"The Indian government's smear campaign against Pakistan cannot obfuscate the illegal activities in which the Indian High Commission officials were found involved in," the statement added -- an apparent reference to a June 16 traffic incident in Islamabad that two Indian officials allegedly fled.
The Pakistan statement said it was Islamabad -- and not New Delhi -- that had ordered the reciprocal 50 percent reduction to the Indian diplomatic presence in the Pakistan capital.
Both countries said the staffing cuts must be made within seven days.
Story continues
The Pakistan high commission in New Delhi was allowed up to have up to 106 personnel, but in recent months Islamabad reduced staff levels to about 80, diplomatic sources told AFP.
Tensions were already high after India in August scrapped Muslim-majority region Kashmir's semi-autonomous status and imposed a major security clampdown.
Kashmir was split between India and Pakistan in 1947 when they gained independence from Britain, but is claimed by both.
Indian government forces have also been conducting numerous counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir since a nationwide virus lockdown was imposed in late March, killing dozens of alleged militants.
New Delhi regularly blames Islamabad for arming and training rebels before sending them across the border into Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan denies the charges.
The chairman and two other members of Armenias Constitutional Court questioned on Tuesday the legality of government-backed constitutional amendments designed to replace them by other judges.
The embattled chairman, Hrayr Tovmasian, said that that under Armenian law the National Assembly should have sent the amendments to the court for examination before passing them in the second and final reading on Monday.
If enacted, the amendments will bar all high court judges from serving for more than 12 years. Such term limits were already set by other changes to the Armenian constitution which took effect in April 2018.
However, the countrys former leadership made sure that they do not apply to those judges who were installed prior to that. A clause in the amended constitution allowed them to retain their positions until reaching retirement age.
The bill approved by the government-controlled parliament and condemned by the Armenian opposition would eliminate this clause. This would lead to the immediate resignation of three of the nine Constitutional Court judges who had taken the bench in the mid-1990s.
Also, Tovmasian would have to resign as chief justice and keep serving only as an ordinary member of the countrys highest court. The court would elect a new chairman after the replacement of the three judges.
In a written opinion also publicized on Monday, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe endorsed the amendments in principle. However, it called for a transitional period which would allow for a gradual change in the composition of the Court.
The commission also noted that the Constitutional Court is legally required to review and validate constitutional changes before they can be enacted.
The parliamentary majority refused to send the amendments to the court, however, saying that he high court judges must not determine the amendments conformity with other articles of the constitution because of what it called a conflict of interest.
Tovmasian effectively described this stance, strongly backed by the Armenian government, as unconstitutional when he spoke to journalists. Our existing constitution does not stipulate that if constitutional changes apply to the Constitutional Court [judges] they cannot be examined by the court, he said.
Asked whether he is ready to resign as court chairman, Tovmasian said: Like I said, I havent seen such a bill.
Nor do I believe in what you are saying, he added jokingly.
Meanwhile, Alvina Gyulumian, one of the three judges facing resignation, said that she will not have to step down even if the controversial amendments do come into force. They cannot apply to me because I have served since October 2014, she told journalists.
Gyulumian had also served as a Constitutional Court judge from 1996-2003. She insisted that those years cannot be added to the length of her current tenure. Thats an arbitrary interpretation [of the law,] she claimed.
Both Gyulumian and another affected judge, Felix Tokhian, warned that they will take legal action if they are forced out of the high court.
Does anybody doubt that I will be fighting against any violation with all legal means? said Tokhian.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian hailed the constitutional changes late on Monday, saying that he is proud of our political team.
Pashinians administration decided to amend the constitution after a yearlong standoff with the Constitutional Court and Tovmasian in particular. Pashinian has repeatedly accused Tovmasian and six other judges of maintaining close ties to the countrys former government and impeding judicial reforms.
Tovmasian and opposition figures have dismissed these claims, saying that Pashinian is seeking to gain control over the court.
A Justice Department official said over the weekend that Clayton was preparing to leave the SEC and that the New York job was seen as an avenue to compel him to remain with the administration. Congressional Democrats have refused to accept that explanation and demanded an investigation into Bermans dismissal, calling the move an attempt by Barr to put the presidents personal interests above those of the American public.
By Associated Press
DUBAI: Muslims around the world hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Mecca to perform the hajj will have to wait until next year, after Saudi Arabia drastically curtailed the pilgrimage due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The kingdom said late on Monday that only a very limited number of pilgrims would be allowed to perform the hajj in Mecca from among residents of various nationalities already inside the country.
While the decision to drastically curb this years hajj was largely expected, it remains unprecedented in Saudi Arabias nearly 90-year history and effectively bars all Muslims from outside the kingdom from travelling there to performing the pilgrimage.
Its a blow to those whove waited and saved money for years to afford the journey. The hajj is not only a requirement for all Muslims to perform once in a lifetime, but it is also a chance to wipe away past sins and connect with Muslims from all walks of life.
ALSO READ | Indian pilgrims won't travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 due to COVID-19: Union Minister Naqvi
The hajj typically draws 2.5 million people from inside Saudi Arabia and around the world. It's a profound experience, with the faithful standing should-to-shoulder in prayer, often weeping, their palms stretched toward the sky for five intense days of worship around Mecca.
Each country is allocated a specific quota of hajj visas according to its population of Muslims, with Indonesia having the largest contingency at close to 221,000. In countries like Egypt, Pakistan and India, securing a slot can require hefty fees, a connection to a local official or simply years of patience.
Pakistani officials said Saudi authorities had been in touch to inform them about the decision to limit this year's hajj. Pakistan usually sends around 180,000 pilgrims to the hajj each year.
Instead, Pakistan said its diplomats already in Saudi Arabia will represent the country during the pilgrimage this year, which begins at the end of July.
Saudi Arabia's borders have been shut to foreigners since late February as the kingdom tries to slow down the spread of the virus. The government suspended the smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage earlier this year, imposed a nearly three-month-long 24-hour curfew in Mecca, shuttered mosques during the holy month of Ramadan and restricted businesses.
Still, Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of infection in the Middle East, with more than 161,000 confirmed cases so far, including 1,307 deaths.
The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most people, who recover within a few weeks. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death, particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj said the decision to curtail the hajj was aimed at preserving global public health because of the risks associated with large gatherings.
The government said its top priority is to enable Muslim pilgrims to perform the hajj safely and securely. It defended its decision on religious grounds, as well, saying that the teachings of Islam require the preservation of human life.
The kingdom has faced smaller epidemics like the MERS virus and had taken precautions by barring pilgrims from African countries striken by the Ebola virus in recent years.
There have been major disruptions during the hajj in past years, including a deadly stampede and a crane collapse in 2015 that killed more than 2,500 people. In 1987, Saudi security forces killed more than 400 people, mostly Shiite Muslims, in a clash sparked by Iranian pilgrims protesting during the hajj.
The most dramatic closure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, however, took place in 1979 when religious extremists stormed Islam's holiest site, which houses the cube-shaped Kaaba that Muslims pray toward and circulate during pilgrimage. Thousands of worshippers were trapped inside and hundreds were killed in a siege that lasted two weeks.
[June 23, 2020] Honeywell Enabled Services Powered by Forge to Help Industrial Customers Ensure Control System Health, Performance and Compliance
HOUSTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced its Enabled Services program powered by Honeywell Forge, a new automation lifecycle services offering focused on ensuring Industrial Control System (ICS) health, reliability and compliance. For today's manufacturers, limited access to operational insights can put their plants, profits and people at risk. Honeywell's new program will enable industrial customers to focus on what they do best -- running plant processes -- without worrying about ongoing control system maintenance and support. Honeywell's best-in-class remote support capabilities and deep process industry domain expertise to assess, manage and optimize their automation assets without having to be physically onsite. "Honeywell developed the Enabled Services program as a subscription-based service for ICS users dealing with increasing system complexity, an aging industrial workforce and the constraints imposed on plant operations by global health concerns," said Mark Dean, director of offering management, Honeywell Process Solutions. "Through this Enabled Services offering, Honeywell's experts can conduct rapid analysis and make fast recommendations to solve the issues and be onsite only when necessary. Honeywell has created a powerful tool for customers to significantly improve maintenance efficiency and redirect expensive resources to high priority corrective maintenance." Honeywell estimates it's Enabled Services solution can deliver increased value by reducing the number of incidents per year by 40%, with a net decrease in total cost of ownership of 15%. These capabilities not only help improve system health, performance and compliance, but also allow customers to redirect existing high skill resources to use more time to work on systems improvements and to focus on their core business. Based on Honeywell's step-change Lifecycle Solutions & Services delivery model, which responds to customer-driven feedback from around the world, the Enabled Services solution is designed around three key pillars: System health and performance in other words, what is going wrong in the plant
System compliance -- why it is going wrong
Prescriptive maintenance and remediation how the issues can be resolved. p>Honeywell's program uses intuitive and consistent dashboards powered by Honeywell Forge technology, which provides users with real-time intelligence to enable peak performance. It also employs remote connection and/or local data collection, predictive and diagnostic tools, and global resource centers all to support improved operational and business performance.
Enabled Services remote support capabilities were specifically developed with security in mind. The services employ protected network connections built on industry recognized standards, such as IEC 62443, to transfer data from the customer's site to Honeywell's global resource centers. Through its proactive approach, Enabled Services offer improved efficiencies compared with ad hoc maintenance regimens, homegrown solutions that compromise migration readiness, and/or delaying service and repairs until assets fail. This comprehensive solution can help company executives, plant managers and control engineers to:
Understand and improve operational effectiveness and risk profiles
Leverage operational benefits from systems, applications and people
Focus efforts on core competencies by deploying suitably skilled resources
Improve the health, security and stability of control assets Honeywell's Enabled Services offering includes two levels of support to meet diverse customer requirements. Enabled Services Enhanced employs fully connected systems and offers continuous insights on system health, performance and compliance with actionable recommendations. Enabled Services Essential is intended for a non-connected system and offers less frequent updates. For more information about Honeywell automation solutions, please visit: www.honeywellprocess.com About Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT)
Honeywell PMT develops process technologies, automation solutions, advanced materials and industrial software that are transforming industries around the world. PMT's Advanced Materials businesses manufacture a wide variety of high-performance products including environmentally preferable materials used for the production of refrigerants, blowing agents, aerosols and solvents, pharmaceutical packaging, fine chemicals, additives and high strength-fiber for military, law enforcement and industrial use. Technologies developed by Honeywell UOP ( www.uop.com ), a leading provider in the oil and gas sector, form the foundation for most of the world's refiners, efficiently producing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, petrochemicals and renewable fuels. Honeywell Process Solutions ( www.honeywellprocess.com ) is a pioneering provider of automation control, safety systems, field instrumentation, fuel delivery and burners, connected plant offerings, cybersecurity, tissue and packaging materials control systems, connected utility and metering solutions, and services for a wide range of industries. About Honeywell
Honeywell ( www.honeywell.com ) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom . View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honeywell-enabled-services-powered-by-forge-to-help-industrial-customers-ensure-control-system-health-performance-and-compliance-301082060.html SOURCE Honeywell
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) The Department of Health on Tuesday is eyeing to test the Japanese anti-flu drug Avigan next month to determine its effectiveness in treating COVID-19 patients.
Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told a media forum that the conduct of the study, known as the Avigan trial, is pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration as well as the DOHs ethics committee.
Hopefully pagdating ng July, sana mga second or third week, makakaumpisa na tayo ng Avigan trial, Vergeire said.
[Translation: Hopefully, by the second or third week of July, we could start the Avigan trial.]
President Rodrigo Duterte has said in one of his weekly reports to Congress on the countrys COVID-19 response that the DOH has allocated P18 million for the study.
The Philippines is also participating in the solidarity trial of the World Health Organization, which aims to test the safety and effectiveness of three therapies in treating COVID-19.
The DOH said 330 COVID-19 patients across 21 hospitals are currently enrolled in the trial.
HALIFAX - SaltWire Network says it is letting go 109 employees who have been permanently laid off because of the hit to advertising caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The newspaper chain based in Atlantic Canada says 61 of the employees are based in Nova Scotia, 25 in Newfoundland and Labrador and 23 in Prince Edward Island.
SaltWire will provide health benefits and salary continuation for those with longer service.
The affected employees come from all areas of the business.
The move comes three months after Saltwire laid off nearly 40 per cent of its workforce or about 240 people as it suspended all weekly papers in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador for 12 weeks, as well as combining two daily papers.
Chief operating officer Ian Scott says the employees contributed to SaltWires mission to provoke thought and action for the betterment of our communities in innumerable ways and they will be greatly missed.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2020.
Australia's youngest billionaire almost doubled her personal wealth in months after her tech company's popularity soared during the coronavirus pandemic.
Melanie Perkins, originally from Perth, founded the Sydney-based digital graphics business Canva with her fiance Cliff Obrecht in 2014 after dropping out of university.
The company expanded to Manila and Beijing in five years that followed, with Ms Perkins amassing a personal fortune of an estimated $1.3billion by October in 2019.
But Canva increased in popularity exponentially when people working from home during COVID-19 lockdowns started utilising the software, The Australian reported.
Melanie Perkins, originally from Perth, founded the Sydney-based digital graphics business Canva with her fiance Cliff Obrecht in 2014 after dropping out of university
The growth took the 32-year-old's wealth to $2.5billion, making Ms Perkins Australia's third richest woman.
She is only trumped only by mining magnate Gina Rinehart who owns Hancock Prospecting, valued at $16.25billion, and Vicky Teoh - the founder of telecommunications company TPG Telcom - worth $2.6billion.
Canva is now worth $8.77billion after raising an estimated $87million in its latest investor round from existing shareholders, including Australian company Blackbird Ventures and Sequoia Capital, from China.
Ms Perkins previously told Daily Mail Australia that she dreamed up the idea for a graphics design business from her mother's couch while studying a first-year digital media subject at university in 2005.
Melanie Perkins (pictured with her fiance Cliff Obrecht) is the founder and CEO of Canva, an online graphic design app
She fell in love with graphic design and developed skills that far exceeded those of her peers, to the point where she was invited to teach graphic design workshops to students in other faculties.
Ms Perkins found most people struggled to use the clunky software, so she developed a business idea.
'It was really complex and difficult, and it would take the entire semester to just learn where the buttons were on the software,' she said.
'At the same time Facebook was taking off, and it was so easy to use and everyone was on it.
WHAT SETS THE CANVA OFFICE APART? Ms Perkins wanted to create the perfect workplace for her employees. Canva staff are offered free overseas trips with the entire office and are allowed to work the hours they wish to work. Other extravagant incentives for more than 80 staff members include 'elaborate celebrations' when the team hit their target goal, free gym and yoga membership cards and free meals. Lucky employees treated to freshly-made meals cooked by top chefs and Ms Perkins strongly believes siting down with the entire team in a lunch room is a great way to bond over work. 'One of the Canva perks people hear about a lot is the chef cooks lunches every day,' she previously told Daily Mail Australia. 'The chefs are very talented of course, but the real value and exciting part of the lunches is the team sits down with a changing range of people every day and connect as people. 'That feeling of community and connection is really important for any business that wants to try to achieve big things, because you're going to need to take risks and try things together, and so trust is very important.' Pictured: The Canva office where employees are treated to an in-house chef who cooks lunch Advertisement
Ms Perkins found most people struggled to use the clunky software, so she developed a business idea
'And I just had this belief that in the future it wasn't going to be as complex to do design work.'
In 2007, Ms Perkins came up with the idea to create easy-to-use graphic design software which allows schools and students to make their own yearbooks.
She had no business or marketing experience but said her inexperience gave her confidence that it wouldn't be too difficult to start a company from scratch.
'My boyfriend became my co-founder and we started in my mum's living room,' she said.
Ms Perkins and Mr Obrecht are still together after starting up two successful companies
CANVA TIMELINE 2005: Melanie Perkins found her love for graphic design at university. 2007: She came up with an idea to create easy-to-use graphics software to help schools make their own yearbooks. Ms Perkins and her now-fiance developed a plan for Fusion Yearbook on her mother's couch in Perth. 2008: Fusion Yearbook makes its first sale to a French school in Sydney. 2008-2010: The couple sold the software to more than 120 schools. 2010: Ms Perkins and Mr Obrecht went to the Innovator of the Year awards in Perth to present Fusion Yearbooks, and met Silicone Valley investor Bill Tai. 2011: The couple travelled to o the US to meet with Mr Tai and Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen. 2012: Ms Perkins attended a MaiTai Global conference in Hawaii where she met with a range of investors. 2013: Canva closed its first funding round of $3million and officially launched. 2014: Canva had reached one million users, and last month the company reached four million users and raised $12.6million in investment. 2014-2020: The company has raised more than $400m from investors and increases in value with each investment round. Advertisement
'Our naivety in some ways helped us If I knew at the time all the things I didn't know it would have been intimating.'
The couple stared with a bank loan and a tax rebate of $5,000, which they used to advertise online and send sample yearbooks to school.
Their first sale was to a French school in Sydney in 2008.
'When we got our first $100 cheque, it was the most exciting moment ever, knowing people were prepared to pay for what we had built,' Ms Perkins said.
'We never took on external financing but we kept putting every cent back into the business.'
They sold to 15 schools in their first year, 30 in their second and 80 in their third.
In 2010, Ms Perkins and Mr Obrecht went to the Innovator of the Year awards in Perth to present Fusion Yearbooks where she met MaiTai Global founder and San Francisco investor Bill Tai.
'He was the first investor I'd met who had insights into the whole world of technology and venture capital. It was a window to another world,' she said.
'He also said if I ever came to San Francisco he would meet with me.'
Meanwhile, she had been having ideas about expanding the Fusion model beyond school yearbooks.
The following year she travelled to the US to meet with Mr Tai and Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen.
She pitched them the idea for her second company Canva, a free online tool that allows people to design web graphics, including posters, business cards, and invitations.
A two-week trip turned into a three-month trip as Ms Perkins met with as many investors and software engineers as she could.
Canva closed its first funding round of $3million in early 2013, and after more than a year of development launched in August of the same year. Pictured: Ms Perkins and Mr Obrecht (left)
Mr Tai ended up coming on board as an investor, and he invited Ms Perkins to a MaiTai conference in Hawaii in 2012 where she met a lot of the people who ended up investing in Canva.
Canva closed its first funding round of $3million in early 2013, and after more than a year of development launched in August of the same year.
By the end of 2014, Canva had reached one million users, and last month the company reached four million users and raised $12.6 million in investment.
The company has since raised more than $400m from investors and increases in value with each investment round.
The National Investigating Agency (NIA) court in Mohali on Tuesday remanded one of the key conspirators of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) outfit for recruiting radical Sikh youths in custody till June 29.
Pargat Singh, 23, a resident of Tarmala in Muktsar, was arrested on June 22. An NIA spokesman said that Pargat was recruiting Sikh youth on the directions of foreign handlers in a bid to create unrest in the country.
A case was registered at Sultanwind Police Station, Amritsar (City), on October 19, 2018, under Sections 124A, 153-A, 153-B and 120-B of the Indian penal Code (IPC). During investigations, Sections 17, 18, 19 of UA (P) Act and Section 25 of Arms Act were added.
Punjab Police had filed a chargesheet against 11 accused in the case in March 2019. This case was subsequently re-registered by the NIA on April 5 this year for further investigation.
The NIA said the case is related to series of acts of violence, including acts of arson in Punjab during 2017-18. Carrying out of propaganda activities, both online and on ground, campaigns in support of SFJs Referendum 2020, including pasting of posters in Delhi and various parts of Punjab, committed by groups of radicalised youths under direction of and financial assistance from SFJ handlers located abroad.
Investigation has revealed that arrested accused, including Pargat, had received funds from their foreign handlers through various money transfer service scheme platforms.
A post on social media inspired a Niagara Falls woman to launch a campaign to provide books on diversity and inclusivity to teachers across Niagara.
Nineteen-year-old Alyssa Brew recently read a post on Instagram. A teacher had recalled a Black student say, "If I grow up."
"The impact of that statement was so heavy," she said. "We need to come together and teach the message of 'when,' not 'if.'"
To that end, the future teacher has launched the When I Grow Up book drive.
"I've always loved books and I feel all children have a right to experience education in an inclusive, anti-oppressive environment that celebrates diversity," said Brew, who recently completed her first year in the primary/junior concurrent education program at Brock University.
People can purchase a book from a list Brew created and she will arrange to have it picked up, or donate to her Go Fund Me page.
Brew launched the page last month and, to date, has raised more than $700 toward her $1,000 goal. All funds will be used to purchase books from the list, which is available on Instagram - @whenigrowup.books.
"You can also choose a book that you already love if it is not included in the list," she said, adding gently-used books are also welcome.
Among the Saint Paul High School graduate's recommendations are "They Both Die in the End," a young adult novel by author Adam Silvera and "Another," by author Christian Robinson, for children ages four to eight.
The books will be distributed to teachers and future teachers across the region.
"I want to help create classrooms where every single child feels loved, celebrated, and welcomed," Brew said. "It is in an environment such as this that children will thrive and learn to their full potential."
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GOP leaders plan to put nearly $3 million into the effort to unseat Fresno Democratic Rep. TJ Cox in what promises to be one of the most visible political battles in the state, if not the country.
The National Republican Campaign Committee has reserved $1.16 million of ad buys in Bakersfield for the fall campaign and another $1.78 million in Fresno. This is on top of a $1.6 million buy announced in April by the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC with close ties to the GOP House leadership.
The ad money will go to boost Republican David Valadaos effort to take back the congressional seat he lost to Cox two years ago, when the Democrat squeaked out an 862-vote victory.
Coxs 21st Congressional District is the only California Democratic seat rated as a tossup by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, and Republicans view the contest as a chance to stop the bleeding in a state where they lost seven seats half of their total in 2018.
Even President Trump has weighed in, telling a crowd in Bakersfield in February that Valadao is an incredible guy. ... We really need him badly in Washington.
Tulare GOP Rep. Devin Nunes, a top Trump supporter who is sitting on an $8.7 million campaign war chest, has also called on his donors to back Valadao, saying, Anything you give will go straight to our fight to reclaim the House majority and prevent us from enduring two more years of socialist leadership.
Its also telling that while the GOP committee announced more than $23 million in ad reservations nationwide, the ones supporting Valadao were the only buys in California.
Some of that focus can be explained by the economics of TV advertising. Five of the seven seats Republicans lost in 2018 are in Los Angeles and Orange counties, the second-most-expensive TV market in the nation after New York. While $3 million in political ads would barely register there, its a sizable buy in Fresno-Visalia (the nations 55th-largest TV market) and Bakersfield (No. 125).
But the Republicans didnt commit any money to the other targeted race in the Central Valley, where Democratic Rep. Josh Harder of Turlock (Stanislaus County) is facing GOP candidate Ted Howze in his bid to win a second term. The Republican Party disowned Howze after it was reported that his social media accounts formerly contained anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant and conspiracy theory messages.
Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.
Cox isnt going into his re-election effort unarmed. Both he and Valadao had about $1.26 million in the bank as of March 31, and the House Majority PAC, which is closely aligned with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, has reserved $1 million in ad buys for the Central Valley race.
Cox is also using the GOP money as a spur for his own donors.
The Republicans announced ad buy puts us at a grand total of $4.6 million in outside spending ... and were not even in the fall yet, Coxs campaign said in a fundraising email last week. This is quickly turning into the most expensive House race in the state.
Theres still a long way to Nov. 3 and the latest announced ad reservations from both Republicans and Democrats are likely only the opening ante for whats likely to be one of the most closely watched congressional contests in the nation.
John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
When it comes to selecting kitchen countertops, marble remains the top choice for many homeowners. Its no surprise that marble countertops and backsplashes are so popularthe material has been attracting fans for millennia.
Marble is a natural material with great variety, depending on which species you select and how its cut, says Russell Groves, the principal architect behind Groves & Co. It creates a really lovely natural pattern, which you dont get with a lot of artificial materials.
Among marble options, white marble takes the cake. You wont find anything as white in nature as white marble, adds Evan Nussbaum, a vice president at Stone Source in New York. You just dont get that color and kind of figuring in any other type of natural stone."
But marble is not a perfect product. While good-quality marbles, such as the world-famous products from Carrara, Italy, are dense and relatively nonporouswhich makes them durable and stain-resistantthey also have weaknesses. A nonfoliated metamorphic rock, marble is generally composed of calcium carbonate (the same ingredient used in antacids such as Tums) or magnesium carbonate, which react to acids. An acidic kitchen liquid like lemon juice or vinegar can etch marble, leaving a dull, whitish mark where it has slightly eaten away the surface, even after the marble has been sealed.
But as long as you choose carefully, know what to expect, and care for white marble countertops, they can be a beautiful, functional choice for your kitchen design that lasts a lifetime.
Ahead, we've rounded up expert tips on how to choose the perfect slab of marbleso if you're on the market for marble countertops, keep reading!
1. If you're concerned about stains, stick with white marble.
Although many people automatically think of creamy, white stone when they think of marble, there are hundreds of varieties, says Jason Cherrington, founder and managing director of the U.K.-based stone company Lapicida, including types that are taupe, green, gold, red, and black. For marble kitchen countertops, however, Nussbaum generally recommends sticking with white marble. Because acid etching leaves a whitish mark, it is much more noticeable on colored marble than on white marble. We put a thousand caveats on any dark marble or nonwhite marble being used for kitchen countertops, he says, but its a personal choice.
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While classic Italian white marbles like Calacatta and Statuario are generally excellent quality and a great kitchen idea, Nussbaum points out that equally high-quality marbles are available closer to home, including Vermont Danby and Colorado Yule.
2. Consider how the different marble slabs will come together.
Every stone slab is slightly different, so its ideal to select the exact pieces of stone that will be used for your countertops. Theres an art to marbleselecting the slabs and understanding where the veining is going to be located on the countertop, says Groves. You want to artfully place the markings so that its almost like a painting.
At the same time, its important to consider how different pieces come together. The longer the piece you can get without any seams, the better, says Groves. If you do have seams, its always nice to book-match the marble, so adjacent pieces have a mirrored appearance.
Montclair Danby A piece of Montclair Danby cross-cut marble. Photo courtesy of Stone Source
3. Take veining patterns into account.
Every quarry is different, but its possible to cut certain types of marble blocks two different ways to achieve unique veining patterns. Cross cut, or fleuri cut, results in stone slabs with an open flowered pattern, says Nussbaum, which looks fairly random and is ideal for book-matching. Vein cut, or striato, slices the block the other way to achieve a linear, striped appearance.
Designers have used both cuts to create some fantastic looks, says Cherrington. They may use vein cut on the wall and cross cut on the floor.
Vein-cut Vein-cut marble results in a linear, striped appearance. Photo courtesy of Stone Source
4. You can transform the look of marble with different finishes.
The whole stone industry has been going through a massive wave of technology, and its transforming the product, says Cherrington, noting that there are now more ways than ever to finish stone, including different brushing and polishing techniques. An orange-peel-like texture is possible, he notes, which might be called a leather, brushed, or river-wash finish.
But the most popular choices remain polished, which looks glossy, or honed, which appears matte. For homeowners concerned about acid etching, Nussbaum recommends a honed finish. On a polished finish, etching is going to turn it dull and be more visible, he says. With honed, youre dulling an already dull finish, so it disguises it.
5. Consider curving the edges of your marble countertop.
Besides its natural beauty, theres a reason marble has historically been so popular for sculpture: Its easy to work with tools. Add modern computer numerical control milling machines to the equation and almost anythings possible for kitchen decorating.
There are countless edge profiles to choose from, but Groves prefers a simple eased edge, which takes the sharpness off a straight 90-degree corner. Cherrington points out that a bulls nose, which has the profile of a half circle, is also a timeless favorite and functional winner. Hard stones like marble are brittle, so if you hit a 90-degree corner with something hard, it will chip, he says. With a curve, its highly unlikely that its going to chip.
To give thin -inch stone the look of a thicker slab, Groves says its possible to use a miter joint at the edge of the countertop to add a thicker face with an almost seamless appearance. You can build up a really nice thick-looking piece without having to use a thick slab, he says.
Its even possible to engrave the edge of a white marble countertop with a pattern of your choosing, says Cherrington, noting that Lapicida has developed marble tables featuring a carved brogue pattern on the edge in collaboration with designer Bethan Gray.
A Carrara-top dining table A Carrara-top dining table by Lapicida features a carved edge. Photo courtesy of Lapicida
However, the best way to live with marble countertops may simply be to accept that they will patina over time. If youve been to an old bakery or pizza shop and seen how white marble patinas, and like it, says Nussbaum, then it could be the perfect material for you.
6. Call the marble facility ahead of your visit.
"Call the slab marble facility in advance to inquire about whether they have marble slabs that meet the color, type, square footage, and dimensions you require," suggests Toronto-based interior designer Ferris Rafauli. "Let them know when you're coming and ask them to organize a tour [where someone] points out the various slabs of marble they have. This will also allow the supplier to pull out their various slab marbles in advance, so that when you arrive they are taking you directly to the selections that meet your needs."
7. Know the difference between cracks and fissures in your marble.
Cracks are a sign that the marble has been dropped or improperly handled. Fissures, though, are entirely different. "A fissure differs from a crack in that its a naturally occurring feature in the stone and does not change the plane of the marble surface," says Rafauli. "You should be able to slide your nail across a fissure without it catching. Depending on the look you are trying to achieve, fissures may be acceptablesay, if you're looking for stone that will give you a more rustic look. Fissures dont change the integrity of the stone; they are part of the stones character."
8. Ask about the origin of the marble.
"These days, white marble such as Calacatta and Statuario is currently in high demand. As such, some marble suppliers will call their white marble with veins Calacatta marble. But it wont be authentic, rather just white stone with veins that originates from China or some other part of the world," explains Rafauli. "True Calacatta originates from mountain quarries in Carrara, Italy. The same is true for Statuario: True Statuario marble originates from Italy."
9. Maintain your marble countertops by getting a sealed finish.
Finishing marble countertops with a penetrating sealer is essential for long-term performance. Acids will still etch the surface, but if the countertop has a honed finish, an etched mark can usually be removed by scrubbing with a Comet paste using a Scotch-Brite pad, he says.
If its a polished surface, it will require different abrasives and technical skill to clean the marble, which might best be left to a professional. If the marble does get a stain, it can often be removed with an alkaline poultice that gradually pulls the offending material out of the stone as it dries. But any of these interventions will also strip the sealer, he notes, so it needs to be reapplied after the repair.
The good thing about marble is that you can always sand it down or polish it again, says Groves. With a lot of other materials, once you damage it, you cant do that.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
She said that having a legacy designation could be useful in branding and in economic-development activities.
The goal is to have the airport prepared should money become available for legacy airports in a proposed federal infrastructure bill, which could reach up to $2 trillion in funding.
While most federal dollars go to international airports, legacy airports in our state could try to leverage that status to obtain funds to advance the utilization of these important assets in our state, Conrad said. We would be able to use legacy in the branding and marketing of Smith Reynolds.
The legacy designation could make the airport more attractive to aviation tenants or low-fare airline carriers, supporters say.
Were trying to put North Carolina out on the curve on this nationally, Conrad said. We would have to see where this takes us and try to better utilize our assets.
Any branding through the state legislature is likely to be a benefit particularly regarding public relations and marketing, said Keith Debbage, a joint professor of geography and sustainable tourism and hospitality at UNC Greensboro.
Hopes of a coronavirus vaccine were raised today after scientists found giving two doses of one of the most promising candidates offers more protection against the disease than just one.
Researchers gave pigs Oxford University's experimental jab, which is currently being trialed on humans to determine whether it is safe and effective.
Results showed pigs given two doses known as a 'prime' and then a 'boost' produced more antibodies, substances made and stored by the immune system to fight off a pathogen in the future.
It is not uncommon for a jab to be split into two doses - it is done with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the pneumonia jab given to babies.
The Oxford University vaccine, being developed by AstraZeneca and called AZD1222, is currently being trialed on humans. No evidence yet exists to prove it works even though the pharmaceutical giant has already began mass-manufacturing it.
It comes as it was revealed yesterday one of the scientists working on the vaccine played down hopes that it could be rolled out in September, which had been set as a 'reasonable target date'.
Professor Adrian Hill said the 'best scenario' would now be for it to be delivered from October. That delay would be closer to winter, when the flu season coinciding with a second peak of coronavirus could threaten to overwhelm hospitals.
Scientists around the world are racing to find a vaccine, which is considered to be the only way to safely stop the pandemic and end draconian lockdowns designed to contain the virus. But experts fear one won't be ready until 2021.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock last week announced frontline NHS and social care workers, over-50s and Britons with heart or kidney disease would be the first in line to get a Covid-19 vaccine.
Oxford University's jab was known as ChAdOx1 nCoV but has now been called AZD1222 since a partnership was pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca was secured
The AZD1222 vaccine was tested by academics at the Pirbright Institute, a research institute dedicated to studying infectious diseases in farm animals.
AstraZeneca's chief executive has already admitted he believes the vaccine which will be trialed on 10,000 humans will offer protection for a year.
WHAT IS THE OXFORD VACCINE? The vaccine is called AZD1222 and is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) from chimpanzees that has been genetically changed so it is impossible for it to grow in humans. The intellectual rights to its vaccine are owned by the University of Oxford and a spin-out company called Vaccitech. Clinical teams at the Oxford University's Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group began developing the vaccine in January. It's a type of immunisation known as a recombinant viral vector vaccine. Researchers place genetic material from the coronavirus into another virus thats been modified. They will then inject the virus into a human, hoping to produce an immune response against SARS-CoV-2. This virus, weakened by genetic engineering, is a type of virus called an adenovirus, the same as those which cause common colds, that has been taken from chimpanzees. If the vaccines can successfully mimic the spikes inside a person's bloodstream, and stimulate the immune system to create special antibodies to attack it, this could train the body to destroy the real coronavirus if they get infected with it in future. It was developed so rapidly by Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology, and her team because they already had a base vaccine for similar coronaviruses. The team have gone through stages of vaccine development that usually take five years in just four months. However, Professor Gilbert said that none of the normal safety steps had been missed out. Advertisement
But no concrete evidence about long-term immunity currently exists because the virus, called SARS-CoV-2, has only been known to science for six months.
Pigs were chosen for the Pirbright research because swathes of studies have shown they produce human-like antibody responses to flu vaccines.
They are also more similar to humans than other animals routinely used in scientific testing, such as mice, because they weigh similar amounts.
And pigs have a similar metabolic rate the rate at which they burn energy which is closely linked to the immune system.
Researchers wanted to test whether giving two doses of the vaccine how the MMR jab is proven to work provoked a stronger immune response.
Pigs given two doses had higher levels of neutralising antibodies, substances made by the immune system to block the virus from infecting cells.
Academics argue it is crucial to know whether two doses results in a better immune response, in case a single dose fails to offer any protection.
Results also showed the vaccine caused a small boost in the activity of T cells, a key part of the immune system which fight off invading pathogens.
Professor Simon Graham, the lead author of the study, said the demonstration that it induces both neutralising antibody and T cell responses is 'very encouraging'.
He added: 'It is likely that a combination of these responses would act in synergy to prevent and control infection.'
The study has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning the findings have yet to be critiqued by fellow scientists.
The pigs were split into two groups. Both received an initial dose of the vaccine and one group got an identical booster immunisation on day 28.
For the MMR jab, the delay is much longer. Children are meant to get the first dose of at one before getting a top-up shortly after turning three.
Oxford University experts will also assess the effects of giving humans two doses in the next part of the AZD1222 trial.
The original study designed to test its safety and whether or not it provokes any immune response started with a small group of 510 people in April.
Data on monkeys also showed the vaccine strengthened the immune system in six rhesus macaques without causing any side effects.
How the vaccines from Imperial College London and Oxford University would work
Academics began recruiting adults aged over 55 and children for a larger trial of up to 10,260 people last month, which will also be carried out in Brazil.
The AZD1222 vaccine is made from a weakened version of an adenovirus that infects chimpanzees, with genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 placed inside.
It has been genetically changed to make it impossible for it to grow in humans and is known as a recombinant viral vector vaccine.
OXFORD'S COVID-19 VACCINE MAY NOT BE READY UNTIL OCTOBER A vaccine for coronavirus being developed by Oxford University may not be ready to be rolled out until October. Researchers working on the vaccine had set September as a reasonable target date to produce tens of millions of doses for people in the UK, and many had hoped it could be in use by then. But Professor Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, has reportedly now said the best scenario would now be for the vaccine to be delivered from October. That delay would be closer to winter, when the flu season coinciding with a second peak of coronavirus could threaten to overwhelm hospitals. Hopes had been raised that an early vaccine, which will be prioritised for over-50s and people with certain health conditions, could provide some protection. Professor Hill was speaking to a webinar of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology when he said the best scenario would be results from clinical trials of the vaccine in August and September, according to the Daily Telegraph. Under that scenario, the vaccine would be available by October. The Oxford trial started with a small group of 510 people in April and began recruiting adults over 55 and children for a larger trial of up to 10,260 people last month. Drugs company AstraZeneca has already begun manufacturing the vaccine, before scientists even know if it works, such is the demand for a solution to the pandemic. Professor Hill told the webinar: This vaccine has shown very good results in trials with chimpanzees, and has already moved on to the next phase of human trials. One of its advantages at the beginning was to demonstrate in previous tests that similar inoculations, including one last year against a previous coronavirus, were harmless to humans. In an online lecture for Oxford Universitys Centre for Personalised Medicine last month, Professor Hill said the UK Government has booked in for 40 million doses of the vaccine, which uses a chimpanzee virus. Advertisement
If the vaccines can successfully mimic the spikes inside a person's bloodstream, this could train the body to destroy the real coronavirus if they get infected in future.
Dr Stephen Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds, called the results on pigs an 'encouraging advance' and described them as 'heartening'.
He added further proof is needed on humans and warned 'the precise nature and longevity of the responses may require further investigation'.
Professor Bryan Charleston, director of The Pirbright Institute also said the findings were 'encouraging' but added: 'It is the response in humans that is important.'
Scientists are currently baffled as to how long immunity against Covid-19 lasts, with speculation it may not be as long-lived as experts first hoped.
Dutch research published last week showed humans are able to get reinfected with other weaker types of coronaviruses after just six months.
But a study in China, carried out at the beginning of the pandemic, found monkeys can't be reinfected, in a discovery considered promising for humans.
Hopes had been raised that an early vaccine, which will be prioritised for over-50s and people with certain health conditions, could provide some protection.
But Professor Hill poured cold water over the plans during a webinar of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, The Telegraph reports.
The newspaper claims he said the 'best scenario' would be results from clinical trials of the vaccine in August and September delaying a jab until October.
Frontline health workers, over-50s and Brits with heart or kidney disease will be the first in line to get a Covid-19 vaccine, Matt Hancock revealed last Friday.
The Health Secretary announced the priority list in a Downing Street briefing, where he admitted the best way to defeat the disease is by discovering a vaccine
And he aid the priority groups were not set in stone, saying others may be added as the science becomes clearer about who is most vulnerable to the infection.
The list was drafted by a government advisory body, who also insisted obese Britons and dementia patients were the most vulnerable.
Mr Hancock said AstraZeneca's decision to make the jab now before any evidence to prove it works will allow officials to 'build up a stockpile'.
AstraZeneca has already started mass-manufacturing the jab, with the UK and US having bought 100 and 400million does, respectively.
The advice came after Imperial College London scientists became the second British team to begin human trials of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine last week.
The science behind both vaccine attempts hinges on recreating the 'spike' proteins that are found all over the outside of the COVID-19 viruses.
Both will attempt to recreate or mimic these spikes inside the body. The difference between the two is how they achieve this effect.
The Imperial jab will deliver genetic material (RNA) from the virus, which programs cells inside the patient's body to recreate the spike proteins.
The Oxford University vaccine, on the other hand, will genetically engineer a virus to look like the coronavirus - but be unable to cause any infection.
Covid-19 vaccine for pets and livestock could soon be on the cards after two potential animal treatments are shown to successfully eliminate the virus in lab tests
Two possible vaccines to tackle Covid-19 in animals have proved successful in laboratory tests, scientists say.
In-vitro trials have shown the two vaccine candidates, developed by UK-based firm The Vaccine Group, induced immunity at sites where the coronavirus replicates.
The trials were conducted outside the animal a process known as 'in vitro' rather than in a live organism known as 'in vivo'.
The company's aim is to now develop vaccines that eliminate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, in living animals.
The vaccines could be used to ensure cats and other pets do not become 'a reservoir' for future outbreaks.
While the threat of catching Covid-19 from our pets is low, animals infected with coronavirus could lead to a second outbreak of the disease in humans, scientists say.
It follows reports of infected mink on fur farms in the Netherlands passing the virus on to human workers, leading to closures and culls.
Dr Michael Jarvis at work in The Vaccine Group's labs. The University of Plymouth spinout company has revealed its first two possible vaccines have proved successful in pre-animal trial laboratory testing
'Like all other human coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 emerged originally from animals,' said Dr Michael Jarvis, associate professor in virology and immunology at the University of Plymouth and founder of The Vaccine Group.
'There have already been a number of reported cases of human to animal transmissions of the virus and recently what appears to be the first evidence of animal to human transmission from mink.
'Although not from animal sources, the recent re-emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Beijing underlines the importance of being able to control this virus for the long-term.
'The ability to control SARS-CoV-2 and prevent Covid-19 re-emerging from animal populations might become a key tool in the fight against this pandemic.'
The company is also investigating the longer-term potential of human vaccines and the next stage of development will assess the technique's safety for use in humans, the company said in a statement.
The Vaccine Group aims to now develop vaccines so as to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in existing animal sources
'Whilst we are initially testing the efficacy of our vaccines in animals, positive data would open up the possibility of rapidly moving to a human vaccine,' said Dr Jarvis.
A vaccine works by training the immune system to recognise and combat pathogens, either viruses or bacteria.
To do this, certain molecules called 'antigens' from the pathogen must be introduced into the body to trigger an immune response.
By injecting these antigens into the body, the immune system can safely learn to recognise them as hostile invaders, produce antibodies and remember them for the future.
If the bacteria or virus reappears, the immune system will recognise the antigens and attack them before the pathogen can spread and cause sickness.
The Vaccine Group's vaccines are based on safe forms of herpesviruses, which occur in nearly all animals including humans.
The vaccines are created by inserting regions of the targeted pathogen DNA into the herpesvirus, which then stimulates an immune response against the disease when delivered into the animal.
Scientists have made significant steps in the development of vaccines that could be used to tackle COVID-19 in animals
Testing found SARS-CoV-2 antigens were successfully incorporated in the company's vaccine platform, meaning the vaccines should stimulate an immune response once in the target animal.
The company's current vaccine candidates are two of four for SARS-CoV-2 currently under development.
Success with the first vaccine candidate was reached within eight weeks of the company first receiving antigen protein sequences.
'In-vitro expression of the SARS-CoV-2 antigens demonstrates they have been successfully incorporated into TVGs vaccine platform, meaning the vaccines should stimulate an immune response once in the target animal,' the company said.
'Work is now underway preparing stocks of the first two candidates for animal trials.'
The company is developing a range of vaccines to test different antigens and approaches to stimulating immunity.
This is important as it is 'still unclear' which approaches to creating effective and long-term immunity will work in both animals and humans.
'It is impressive to see the speed with which the team has developed these vaccine candidates,' said Matthew White at investor firm Frontier IP.
'Based on previous work with the same vaccine delivery platform we are hopeful that animal trials will demonstrate positive results.'
According to the British Veterinary Association (BVA), there is no evidence that pets can pass COVID-19 to their owners in fact, humans pose more of a risk to cats than the other way round.
The BVA suggested pets from infected households are more likely to carry the virus on their fur, through microscopic droplets that have been coughed or sneezed out by their human owner.
BVA, the UKs national body for veterinary surgeons, and other experts are keen to outline the distinction between cats carrying the virus on their fur, as opposed to being infected or showing symptoms themselves.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) says 'there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19', although it said 'it appears the virus it can spread from people to animals in some situations'.
This is despite the source of the current outbreak originally came from an animal, likely a bat, said CDCP, the US's national public health institute.
There must be something special this week with the Blue Oval as they are launching two versions of the Ford F150, one being the 2020 Ford F150 that will soon be catered to the local market, and the 2021 F150, which would the latest generation model for the highly-sought model.
Well, for starters, the Philippine reveal would only be just "relatively new", knowing that the newest will be released a few hours after the local version was unveiled.
Well, it is still considered as all-new since the last version of the F150 was back in late 1990s to early 2000s. That said, there is still a lot to be excited about though with the Philippine market reintroduction.
Going back, the local version of F150 will be similar to the one currently in the United States.
Ford F150 US
The 2020 version Ford F150 in the US is being offered in six powermill offerings: naturally aspirated V8 gas with advanced twin independent variable cam timing, Turbocharged and port-fuel/direct-injected (PFDI) gas EcoBoost V6 engines and 3-liter Power Stroke Turbo Diesel, so we are praying that diesel country like the Philippines to get one.
Further, the prices for the 2020 Ford F150 in the US starts at P1.44 million for its base model up to the top-most variant (which is the Raptor) at P2.67 million, which is just local pricing for the Ranger Raptorthat is taxes and duties aside.
Of course, we will have to wait for its official price in the country, and what variants are we going to see here in the country, just to be sure to make sure what comprises the local offering.
While waiting for its grand reveal, we just have settle for this US-spec photos.
Ford F150
However, days before the official reveal, we tried to scourge the internet for 2020 F150 and we saw prices ranging from nearing P5 million up to as much P7 million (which in this case, is the F150 Raptor variant).
These variants being offered on social media, have diesel engines offerings.
Back in February this year, a safety recall has been made for the 2018-2020 Ford F150 with LED headlamps and on April, select 2020 F150 modelsbuilt at Dearborn Truck Plant from February 18 to March 19, 2020, and Kansas City Assembly F-150 vehicles with 10-speed automatic transmission over a "clip that locks the gearshift cable to the transmission that may not be fully seated."
Story continues
The good thing about recall made is that we can be quite sure that it has been addressed in the US thoroughly before it was introduced in the Philippine shores.
Ford f150
Also, do watch out for the 2021 version of the F150, because as far as we have learned this could be as exciting as there might see some features that could be similar to the recently-revealed vehicles in the US.
As for now, your guessour dear readerswill be as good as ours.
Photos from Ford Motor Company
Also read:
Take a Peek at What the New 2018 Ford F-150 Has to Offer
Ford Brags about the Power of the F-150
Ford Everest Sport Launch Postponed
Saudi Arabia will allow only a limited number of its citizens and foreigners already in the country to perform the Haj pilgrimage this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic and risk of infections spreading in large gatherings.
In a statement issued on Monday, Saudi Arabias ministry of Haj said a very limited number of pilgrims of various nationalities who already reside in the country will be able to perform the Haj since the pandemic has spread to more than 180 countries and there is no vaccination or a cure for Covid-19.
This means no foreigners will be allowed into the country for the pilgrimage.
The decision was taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols to protect human beings from the risks associated with this pandemic and in accordance with the teachings of Islam in preserving the lives of human beings, the statement said.
It added that this decision stems from the top priority [the Saudi government] accords [to] maintaining the safety of pilgrims on its land until they depart to their home countries.
There had been widespread speculation that Saudi Arabia could put off this years pilgrimage because of the Covid-19 crisis the first time such a step would have been taken in history. The country had earlier suspended the entry of Umrah pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia has registered 161,000 Covid-19 cases and 1,307 deaths. More than 105,000 people have recovered. Saudi authorities do not release data on infections among expatriates, though hundreds of Indians have been infected and 17 had died till April. Saudi Arabia is home to nearly 3 million Indians.
In New Delhi, union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said he had been informed of the Saudi decision by Haj minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten. Naqvi said fees collected for applications from more than 213,000 pilgrims will be returned without cancellation deductions through direct transfer.
He tweeted, The process has been started today to immediately refund full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction. The money will be refunded through online DBT mode into bank accounts of the applicants.
In 2019, Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman accepted the Indian governments request to increase the countrys Haj quota from 170,000 to 200,000. Of the 200,000 Indians who performed the Haj last year, 140,000 went through the state-run Haj committee.
In 2018, the Indian government got permission from Saudi authorities for single woman to perform the pilgrimage without a male escort. Naqvi tweeted 3,040 Indian women had done the Haj without a male escort since then. He said this practice will continue when the pilgrimage resumes.
Aarya marks the comeback of actress Sushmita Sen, who is basking in the glory of praises coming her way for the performance.
She plays the titular role of a woman who goes to great extents for the sake of her family.
The former Miss Universe shared interesting artworks made by her fans, who cant stop praising her for the portrayal of a gutsy and fierce Aarya.
The tribute work has popular Bollywood film posters that have been reimagined to fit her bold character. These recreated posters of Gangs of Wasseypur, Agneepath, Tanhaji, Sooryavanshi etc bring out the essence of Aaryas daring personality and have impressed Sushmita beyond words.
Sharing the post, the Main Hoon Na actress wrote, You guys are AMAZING!!! Had to share some of your creative versions of #Aarya (from Instagram) #superfun I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! Thank you for all the love & honest feed back!!! You guys make every journey WORTH IT!!! #duggadugga (sic).
The Biwi No 1 actress returns to the screen a decade after the 2010 comedy, No Problem directed by Anees Bazmee.
Aarya is the Indian adaptation of Dutch crime-drama, Penoza created by Pieter Bart Korthuis. The show traces clashes in family and their relationships which are tarnished with betrayal and treachery. In the show, Sushmita plays the wife of Chandrachur Singhs character, who is involved in an illegal narcotics business.
Namit Das, Sikander Kher, Manish Chaudhary, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Ankur Bhatia and Sugandha Garg play key characters in the series.
Aarya is the brainchild of Ram Madhvani, who directed Sonam Kapoor-starrer Neerja. The show started streaming June 19 onwards on Hotstar.
Talking about the inspiration behind Aarya, Madhvani recently said, "I saw Penoza 9 years ago with my wife, Amita, now my co-producer. When we saw it, we immediately knew that this is the character that we really had to bring onto the screen for the Indian audience. For a couple of years, I was clueless on how to adapt it. Around 7 years ago, we were undertaking a train journey and I happened to ask the TC the whereabouts of some flowers blooming outside. Upon being informed of them being opium fields, it occurred to me how to root this. I knew how to make it culturally relevant to India."
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Wage subsidy payments of almost $8 million weren't enough to keep 73 businesses from folding in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
A Stuff investigation found 73 companies which received support through the Government-funded scheme have gone into receivership or liquidation since its launch on March 17.
According to the Ministry of Social Development, the companies were paid a total of $7,714,311 to support 1164 employees.
Payments ranged from $17,574 to a Foxton refrigeration manufacturer to more than $3.1m paid to homeware retailer Smiths City.
The average payment was $105,675.50.
The figures do not include more than $11m paid to Burger King operator Antares Restaurant Group to support 1918 of the fast food chain's staff.
While its parent shareholding companies, Tango Finance, Tango New Zealand and Antares New Zealand Holdings, are in receivership, Antares Restaurant Group is not.
Other large subsidy claims include $185, 244 paid to high-end stationery retailer Kikki.K, despite the company going into liquidation on March 24, the day before lockdown began.
Liquidator Andrew McKay says the failure of the business was partly caused by "a particularly low domestic December-January 2020 trading period".
West Coast mining company Capital A & M also received $84,335 before its director, Jacobus Kotze, disappeared and the business went into receivership.
Receiver Thomas Rodewald says $55,000 of that payment had been recovered. The company's wage subsidy now stands at $36,384.80, according to MSD.
Rodewald says Capital A & M was not the only receivership he had taken on which involved a wage subsidy and there were others where "there would be questions" over the use of the scheme.
MSD group general manager for employment Jayne Russell says employers were obligated to pass on the wage subsidy to all employees named in their application for the scheme.
"If a company has applied for a wage subsidy and passed on the funding to their employee before going into liquidation, there is no onus on the employee or employer to repay that money," she says.
"In relation to any excess wage subsidy that has not been passed on to named employees, Government is an ordinary unsecured creditor."
At least a dozen others have had applications to liquidate filed against them since March.
They include Diversity Foods, which claimed $659,234.40 in subsidies, and Format Limited, which received $264,206.40 under the scheme. Both applications were filed on March 19.
However, Format Limited is now in Covid-19 Business Debt Hibernation, a process allowing businesses affected by disruption related to the pandemic to place their existing debts on hold for up to seven months to help them start trading normally again, rather than go into liquidation.
Business NZ chief executive Kirk Hope says the businesses in liquidation or receivership were a tiny proportion of the hundreds of thousands that had applied for support through the subsidy scheme.
Even if we had ended up with 100 or 200 in this position, it's still a very small proportion.
These figures show the scheme worked.
Kirk says the Government had been clear from the start that businesses found to be exploiting the scheme or their workers would be held accountable.
As a business organisation, we wouldn't endorse that [exploitation] at all. There will be some that are found to have been in breach of the law and if they have done the wrong thing, they will be held accountable.
But we know the vast majority of employers haven't behaved poorly, they've tried to do the right thing and the data shows that.
The Government-funded wage subsidy was available for businesses that experienced a minimum 30 per cent decline in revenue over a month, when compared with the same month in 2019, and that decline was related to Covid-19.
-Stuff/Esther Taunton
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They starred together in 2016's crime drama Hell Or High Water as bank robber brothers on the run from Jeff Bridges' Texas Ranger.
And Chris Pine and Ben Foster teamed up once again for the thriller Violence Of Action which, Deadline.com reports, has just been acquired by Germany's Leonine Studios in a multi-million dollar deal.
The film is currently in post-production after completing principal photography in Bucharest, Hungary, late last year.
Lands distributor: They starred together in 2016's crime drama Hell Or High Water (pictured), And Chris Pine and Ben Foster teamed up once again for the thriller Violence Of Action which has just been acquired by Germany's Leonine Studios in a multi-million dollar deal
In Violence of Action, Pine stars as a former Marine who joins a paramilitary organization in order to provide for his family.
He is sent on a black ops mission as part of an elite team investigating a mysterious threat in Poland.
But the mission goes awry and he finds himself alone and hunted in Eastern Europe, trying to survive in order to get back home to the States and find out who betrayed him and why.
The cast also includes Gillian Jacobs, best known for TV series Community, and British actor Eddie Marsan, known for White Boy Rick, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw and Showtime's Ray Donovan.
Thriller: In Violence of Action, Pine stars as a former Marine who joins a paramilitary organization and is sent on a black ops mission to Poland. But the mission goes awry and he finds himself alone and hunted in Eastern Europe. The movie was shot in Bucharest last year
Supporting role: The cast also includes actress Gillian Jacobs, best known for TV series Community (pictured in December 2019)
Pine, who is best known for playing Captain Kirk in the rebooted Star Trek movie franchise, has a string of movies either in the can or waiting to begin shooting once the coronavirus pandemic permits.
He has signed on to join the cast of Olivia Wilde's film Don't Worry, Darling, her directorial follow-up to last year's Booksmart.
Pine is attached as well to the biographical drama Newsflash in which he'll play Walter Cronkite opposite Mark Ruffalo as Don Hewitt.
The actor returns next to the big screen in Wonder Woman 1984, reprising his role as Steve Trevor opposite Gal Gadot's superhero.
The sequel's theatrical release has been pushed back now to October 2 when studios hope movie theatres will be back and up and running again in major cities.
Coming soon? Pine returns to the big screen in Wonder Woman 1984, reprising his role as Steve Trevor opposite Gal Gadot's superhero. The sequel's theatrical release has been pushed back now to October 2
Pine has recently been tipped to breathe new life into the iconic Simon Templar in a remake of The Saint.
It was reported in April that he is in negotiations to headline Paramount's new version of The Saint to be directed by Rocketman helmer Dexter Fletcher.
The character, created in the 1920s, by novelist Leslie Charteris was last played on the big screen by Val Kilmer in 1997.
Before that, Roger Moore starred as Templar in a long-running British TV series from 1962 to 1969.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. John Dramani Mahama has indicated that he will create permanent and dignifying jobs for the youth of Ghana when voted as president in the 2020 General Elections.
The former President of the West African country lost the 2016 elections to H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with the current President assuming the seat on the back of a landslide victory.
Now targeting reclaiming the seat at the Presidency again, John Dramani Mahama has made quite a number of commitments to the Ghanaian citizenry which he says he will deliver when given another chance to serve.
Amongst the many commitments, the ex-President has stressed that he will create permanent and dignifying jobs for the teeming youth and not ad-hoc ones that lead to no productivity.
According to him, he will create digital jobs and through major capital investments in health and education, create additional job opportunities for health and education sector.
In addition, John Mahama has made the commitment to 'channel borrowed funds into capital investments and the productive sectors of the economy and not consumption as is being done by the Akufo-Addo government'.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has said there "is no magic plan B" if the programme for government is rejected.
Members of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party are currently voting on whether or not they should support or oppose the proposed coalition.
Mr Martin said he is unsure where the "room" is to renegotiate the programme for government, adding: "We'd be in a very difficult situation if it emerges that this does not get support."
He told RTE's Morning Ireland: "An enormous amount of time has been put into the negotiations to get this programme to government together. And so therefore, there is no magic Plan B."
When asked if Fianna Fail would look for the support of other parties, Mr Martin said: "The most practical thing so far is we've had a lot of discussions with independent groupings, some of whom have indicated a desire that there would be a government formed, and that it would last five years."
"That's very, very uncertain and there's no commitment on others to to engage in such a process," he added.
He said he has received a "very positive" response to the programme for government within the Fianna Fail party and is "struck by all of the negative speculation."
Mr Martin said another general election is "always a possibility in a politically unstable situation," but added that "in the context of Covid-19, we do not need another general election."
He said it will be a "political crisis" if the programme for government is not passed.
PHOENIX At the start of 2020, optimistic Democrats already thought this might be the year when a presidential election turned Arizona blue again.
Many suburban moderates were fed up with President Trump; in 2018, they sent a Democrat to the Senate from their state for the first time in more than three decades. Young Latino voters who now make up 24 percent of eligible voters in Arizona were casting ballots at record rates, angered by the presidents anti-immigrant rhetoric. And the party was fielding a strong candidate for Novembers Senate race.
Now, four months until Election Day, that optimism is hardening into sustained confidence.
Mr. Trump is scheduled to campaign here on Tuesday, in a state whose 11 electoral votes he badly needs to hold to be re-elected, especially if he loses any of the three Midwestern states he flipped in 2016.
Democratic officials believe that frustrations over Mr. Trumps immigration policies and his handling of the pandemic, as well as polling trends, indicate that Joseph R. Biden Jr. has the best shot of any Democratic presidential candidate to win Arizona since Bill Clinton carried the state in 1996. And the Biden campaign sees winning Arizona as not just a path to victory, but also a confirmation that Latino and immigrant voters are a strong and dependable part of the party.
While a mutual consensus to disengage from all friction areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was reached during a meeting between Indian and Chinese commanders on Monday, it is the restoration of status quo ante in the Finger Area on the north bank of Ladakhs Pangong Tso lake that will determine the success of efforts to cool tensions along the contested border, officials and China watchers said on Tuesday.
The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has set up permanent bunkers, pillboxes and observation posts between Fingers Four and Eight and getting it to pull down those structures and move back to their original positions at Finger Eight will be the toughest part of the disengagement process, said an official asking not to be named.
The Finger Area refers to a set of eight cliffs jutting out of the Sirijap range that overlooks the Pangong lake.
Before Chinese forces occupied vantage positions on Finger Four in early May, Indian Army soldiers would patrol right up to Finger Eight, which New Delhi considers to be its territory, said another official asking not to be named. The new Chinese positions have restricted the scope of Indian patrols. Fingers Four and Eight are eight kilometers apart. Satellite imagery shows that several of these positions came up after the current round of border tensions erupted on May 5-6.
The Indian claim line in this sector extends to Finger Eight, while the Chinese claim is up to Finger Four till where PLA has constructed a vehicle track.
Getting PLA to pull back from Finger Four to Finger Eight will be a huge challenge. Their intentions can be discerned from their military posturing in the sector and the new positions and structures that have come up, said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd).
The army is concerned about PLAs presence in the Finger Area, especially its activities between Finger Four and Finger Eight over the last seven weeks. It is not just about the Finger Area. You could next see PLA creating the same situation in Depsang, Chumar, Demchok and areas in the eastern sector on the basis of their perception of the border, Hooda said.
The Finger Area was the only sector, where limited disengagement did not begin after the two sides reached an understanding to implement a de-escalation plan to ease rising tensions along the border during a meeting between senior Indian and Chinese commanders. The area has been at the centre of the weeks-long border standoff between India and China that has plunged the bilateral relationship to a new low.
The PLA has entrenched itself in the Finger Area. It will be the biggest challenge that the disengagement process will encounter, said Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd), a former director-general of military operations.
The modalities for disengagement from all friction areas were discussed at the meeting between senior Indian and Chinese commanders at Moldo on Monday.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rahul Singh Rahul Singh covers military affairs. He has been a journalist for 18 years. ...view detail
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has commended frontline workers of Ghana for their diligence and sacrifice in fighting the spread of the Coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic.
They said despite the grave risks involved in their line of duty especially since the outbreak of the disease, the stakeholders at the forefront especially the health workers including; doctors and nurses have been giving everything within their abilities to minimize the impact of the virus on humanity.
The legal association made the commendation, when the Upper East Regional branch of the Association donated some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hygiene materials to the Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Services in Bolgatanga.
The items valued at GH7,000.00 included; liquid soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, boxes of surgical gloves, boxes of nose masks, bleach, face shields and gun thermometers among others.
Mr Amoak Afoko, the Regional President of the Association explained that the infectious disease was fast spreading, however, as a result of the good works of the frontline workers many more people were recovering.
We must appreciate the Ministry of Health and the frontline staff who risk their lives to help others who are in bad situations, even though it is quite dangerous because people get easily infected, he said.
Whilst reiterating the Associations commitment to supporting the health facilities to boost their efforts at handling the pandemic, the Regional President noted that the virus was real and dangerous and therefore appealed to other institutions to support the fight.
Mr John Ndebugre, a member of regional branch of the Association, noted that there was law on the safety protocols against the virus and urged members of the public to adhere strictly to principles to avoid being infected.
The law states that if you are found at public places without a mask, you will be arrested and when convicted will be sentenced to a fine of GH12,000.00 Minimum and GH60,000.00 maximum and if you are unable to pay you will spend a minimum of four years and maximum of 12 years in jail. This is something we the lawyers cannot defend, he added.
Receiving the items, Dr Winfred Ofosu, the Regional Director, Ghana Health Services, expressed gratitude to the regional branch of the association for the support and said the items would be prudently used to protect the frontline health staff as they continued to put their lives on the line.
Dr Ofosu said in recent days, the number of confirmed cases shot up, creating fear among residents of the region, however, all persons infected with the virus although are being managed at their various homes, were quarantined and could not infect others in the region.
He said the treatment centre at the regional hospital was temporarily closed and with the adoption of the new discharge policy, where infected persons not showing symptoms after 10 to 14 days could be discharged, a lot more people in the region would be discharged soon.
The Regional Director urged the citizenry to adhere to the safety and precautionary protocols including; the wearing of masks, social distancing and use of hand sanitizers among other recommended measures.
Source: GNA
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Ankara, June 23 : Turkey started to impose fines of up to 900 liras (US $131) on those who don't wear face masks in public places as part of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The measure came after a slight increase in new cases, covering outdoor spaces as well as shops and restaurants in 81 provinces of Turkey, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.
Turkey confirmed 1,212 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number in the country to 188,897, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced Monday.
Meanwhile, 24 more died from the virus, taking the death toll to 4,974, while 1,293 patients recovered in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of recoveries to 161,533, the minister tweeted.
Koca also said 41,413 tests were conducted over the day, increasing the overall number of tests to 2,986,653.
Turkey is currently treating 846 patients in intensive care units, with 345 being intubated, he added.
Turkey reported the first COVID-19 case in the country on March 11 and has stepped up the normalization process since June 1.
Turkey and China have supported each other in the fight against COVID-19. Chinese doctors and medical experts held a video conference with their Turkish counterparts to share China's experience in treating coronavirus patients, protecting medical workers and controlling the spread of the deadly virus.
I knew him very well. In the party, he was invariably non-controversial, low-profile, well-mannered and always very guarded and measured in his utterances.
A perfect description of the late George Michael Chambers, the countrys second prime minister and political leader of the Peoples National Movement (PNM), from Ferdie Ferreira, a foundation member, in his book Political Encounters 1946 -2016.
Ahead of RIC, Jaishankar says meet is about international relations, no specific mention of China
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, June 23: External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar will joint his counterparts from Russia and China for a virtual meeting of the RIC (Russia-India-China)
Jaishankar, without naming China thanked Russia for convening the meeting and said that he was looking forward to the discussions.
This is a special meeting and reiterates our belief in the time-tested principles of international relations. But the challenge today is not just one of the concepts and norms, but equally of their practice.
In talks with China, India demands restoration of status quo ante
The leading voices of the world must be exemplars in every way. Respecting international law, recognising the legitimate interests of partners, supporting multilaterism and promoting common good are the only way of building a durable world order, Jaishankar also said ahead of the meet.
Army sources revealed there was a mutual consensus to disengage at India China top military talks
The RIC meet is being held under the shadow of the India-China border standoff. There are clear indications that there may not be a joint statement following the meet. India was not keen on joining the RIC. However it was at the behest of Russia, which is a key strategic and military hardware supplier, India agreed to be part of the meeting.
Both India and Russia had indicated that the virtual meeting is a trilateral affair and this would mean that bilateral issues relating to the India-China standoff will not be on the agenda.
The Ministry of External Affairs had said that the RIC meet will focus on the fallout of COVID-19 pandemic and cooperation within the grouping to tackle the challenges.
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Story first published: Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 14:44 [IST]
Christian Cooper was just an American kid, born in 1963, who loved birds and superheroes.
Now, everyone wants to talk about the incident in Central Park, the one that went viral because he dared ask a woman to leash up her dog in an area full of signs that said that was the rule - prompting her to call the police and emphasize that "an African American man" was recording her. He is ready to talk about it - when he can catch up to the media requests.
"My phone has been ringing off the hook with people who want me to talk and talk and talk and talk," he told The Washington Post. "And you know what? As long as the talking helps move the ball forward in terms of finally addressing racial bias and maybe making some progress, I'll keep talking."
Cooper's experience is a master class in why generation after generation of black Americans know that one day, no matter their education, where they live, what they've achieved, someone just may take offense to the very idea of their existence and try to weaponize it against them. But as his poise in the infamous video reveals, Cooper is well-suited to this teachable moment for America. As a gay black birder, and as someone who has helped comic books become more inclusive, he knows the cultural forces that try to reduce him to something he's not - and has the will and the confidence to defy them.
He owes the birdwatching habit to his late parents. His father taught science. His mother, English. As a child they nudged him to a wood shop class. He had two options: build a footstool or a bird feeder. He chose the latter. During a cross-country road trip starting from his childhood home on Long Island, a young Cooper started reading a book on birds. After his family arrived in California, he pointed out a magpie, to the surprise of his parents.
His interest in superheroes also began as a child, with frequent viewings of the Marvel Comics cartoons of the '60s, featuring Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk.
"It just touched me," Cooper said. "I guess I've always had a mind-set that was geared towards the mythic, and superheroes are the last bastion of mythmaking in Western culture, if you ask me. Here was something that sort of brought, granted, a very pop culture form of myth, but still a form of myth to life on the TV screen when I was but a wee lad of all of 5 years old. It totally grabbed me."
During high school, he walked into a 7-Eleven, back when you could find comic books there for sale on a spinner rack for less than a dollar, and saw the African mutant weather goddess Ororo Munroe, aka Storm, on the cover of an X-Men comic. "I'm like, wait, there's a black X-Man? And she's got white hair?" Cooper said.
Cooper recognized that comics were attempting to be inclusive - but falling short. There were few black comics writers or artists then. The Black Panther was around, but he was starring in "Jungle Action," and wasn't being written by Reggie Hudlin, Christopher Priest or Ta-Nehisi Coates just yet. Storm was progress that came with a palm to the forehead.
"She's a fantastic character. But she's aesthetically incorrect," Cooper said. "This goes back to the whole thing of racial bias. There's a subtle implication that a black woman can only be beautiful if she's got blue eyes and straight white blonde hair. But yes, it was amazing to see Storm on that comic."
And so began a lifelong love of the X-Men, through comics by John Byrne and Chris Claremont and viewings of every X-Men movie ever made. (He admits most of the X-films are not great but stands by 2003's "X2: X-Men United" as a Marvel mutant movie masterpiece.)
When he arrived at Harvard in 1980, he became a frequent customer at the Million Year Picnic, the comic shop in Cambridge, Mass. Cooper wrote superhero fiction about his dorm mates, and used it to decorate the hallways. "I think everybody got a kick out of it because they knew they were written in as some alternate character and there was always some adventure going on," he said.
His college friend Tony Davis, who now owns the Million Year Picnic, recalled watching sci-fi films together in the '80s, waiting in line at midnight for "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" in Boston. He remembers Cooper's preferences for choosing seats: The width of your vision should always equal the width of the screen.
On that recent May morning, Davis saw the hashtag #BirdWatchingWhileBlack trending. Who could it involve but Cooper, the only black birder he knew?
While watching the Central Park video, Davis instantly recognized Cooper's sense of calm, never shouting, never angry, but standing his ground for something he believed in.
"Chris is a very gentle soul," Davis said. "To see her attempt to transform him into that stereotype of the scary black person. ... There are many Chris Coopers and Christina Coopers throughout the history of this nation who have not survived such situations."
After graduation, to the surprise of no one, Cooper became an assistant editor at Marvel, despite co-workers telling him repeatedly that he was overqualified and could easily make more money elsewhere. "Just the idea of getting my foot in the door at Marvel Comics," Cooper said. "What fan wouldn't (want) that?"
Cooper edited some X-Men comics, including "Excalibur," and was involved in Marvel's very '90s swimsuit specials. He was an editor on "Alpha Flight" when its superhero Northstar revealed he was gay, paving the way for the character's headline-grabbing wedding in 2012.
And in his writing he created the first gay human character in Star Trek history, Yoshi Mishima, for the series "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," and Marvel Comics' first openly lesbian character, the dark magic expert Victoria Montesi.
A couple years after leaving Marvel in 1996, he created the online comic "Queer Nation." In the over-the-top political satire, as he describes it, a comet comes within striking distance of Earth and emits rays that give gay people superpowers.
Cooper later went "cold turkey" on reading comics, but remains a "Star Trek" fan (loved "Discovery," not a fan of "Picard"). And his newfound fame has led to discussions about bringing "Queer Nation" back. "There's more story to tell and I'm itching to tell it," he said.
Now a senior editorial director at Health Science Communications, he hasn't lost his connection with nature, which is what led him to Central Park on May 25. When he saw a dog walker not obeying leash laws, he pressed record - as many other birders have been doing.
"I think it depends on the birder and their level of comfort with confrontation," he said, adding, "It has a dual purpose: to try to get enforcement (from the parks committee), and to push back a little and put these people on notice."
When the dog walker threatened Cooper, it didn't matter that he was an Ivy Leaguer. A birder. A Marvel geek. He knew his accolades wouldn't swoop in like the Avengers to protect him from prejudice.
"I don't try to speculate. I don't know what was going on in her head," Cooper said. "If I had to guess, I'd say she was just looking for any way to get an advantage in the situation. It was a stressful situation. We were at odds, and she was looking for a way to get a leg up. ... And she just went to a place that she should not have gone."
His sister Melody shared the video on Twitter, which helped it spread. When she first saw it, "I was so incensed," she said. But her shock was mixed with pride in seeing the teachings of their parents on display. Melody, who writes for TV, film, theater and comic books, said their father believed in science fiction's power to open a horizon he didn't see the real world giving his children.
"Our parents taught us to move through the world as if we had a right to be there. I know that a lot of people don't learn that until later, but we were taught that very young," she said.
What she couldn't get out of her mind after viewing the video were the other possibilities that could have transpired.
"My imagination took me to see him face down on the ground, with police around him, and - this is ironic - in a chokehold, but I didn't know about George Floyd yet. I just imagined them having him face down in the dirt and killing him that way."
The racial bias that made the dog walker highlight that he was a black man, Cooper said, is "the same racial bias that made this white cop think it was OK to keep his knee on George Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds until he was dead," he said. "It happened on the same day and it sprang from the same wellspring."
There are only certain parts of the United States where Cooper feels safe as a gay black man. Central Park is one of those places - despite its history of racial mistreatment that he now joins, including the Central Park Five and the predominantly black residents of 1850s Seneca Village, who were forced to leave so the park could be built. If his presence there should irritate someone in the future, his suggestion is to evolve.
"I am going to keep birding," Cooper said. "If your dog is off the leash, I'm going to have something to say about it. You're just going to have to deal with that. That's not going to change."
By Express News Service
BENGALURU: Former Karnataka chief minister and JDS legislative party chief HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday lashed out at the state government for its allegedly ineffective sealing down strategies to contain spread of coronavirus.
In a series of tweets, HD Kumaraswamy insisted that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa should order a complete lockdown, at least in Bengaluru for the next 20 days to save lives of citizens and warned that the state will head the Brazil way if lockdown is not implemented. The Karnataka government on Monday had decided to seal off adjoining roads from where cases emanate in wards that have reported more than 3-4 cases. Kumaraswamy called this strategy futile.
"Today India is among the countries with highest number of COVID-19 cases and the problem must be seen in conjunction with our high density of population compared to other countries. A rapid increase is observed in the days following the lifting of the lock-down. The question is, do we passively wait as the country is all set to overtake Brazil?," HD Kumaraswamy tweeted on Tuesday morning. He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that selective seal-down in clusters had not served any purpose.
"I urge the Prime Minister to notice that the selective seal-down in containment zones has not served its purpose of arresting the pandemic and to impose a further 20 days national lock down. Lets not put economy ahead of peoples' safety. I urge @CMofKarnataka to immediately announce lockdown for 20 days, especially for Bengaluru. I also urge him to grant a compensation of at least Rs 5000 through DBT to all daily wage workers including cab/auto drivers and weavers.(SIC)" the former chief minister said.
The scathing statements from JD Kumaraswamy come barely two days after the Union Health and Family Welfare ministry lauded Karnataka's contact tracing mechanism and use of technology in containing the spread of COVID19.
Homicide investigators in London, Ont., have an international murder mystery on their hands as they probe the weekend murder of a Toronto man in a home invasion in the citys second homicide of 2020.
Its not random, Det. Supt. Chris Newton said in a telephone interview. It was a targeted attack.
Police have identified the man who died from gunshot wounds early Sunday morning in a quiet East End neighbourhood as Bill Horrace, 44, of Toronto.
Newton said that investigators are hearing from Africa that the slain man is the same Bill Horrace who was wanted for war crimes and who fought under former Liberian president Charles Taylor, now serving a 50-year-term in a British prison for atrocities in the neighbouring West African nation of Sierra Leone.
Horrace was shot after four suspects three of whom wore medical masks arrived at 232 Pochard Lane in two vehicles and forced their way into the home at 4:40 a.m. Sunday, police say.
There was a physical confrontation and Horrace was shot. Relatives of the victim were home at the time and he was pronounced dead soon after in hospital.
Newton said in a telephone interview that he has a very strong suspicion that the murdered man is the former general, but said hes interested in evidence about Horraces death, not the history of his life.
Were concentrating on his death and the evidence relating to how he died, Newton said.
The evidence is leading to other priorities, he said.
Newton said he is also aware of reports the former general had been involved in counterfeiting while in Canada.
Thats another aspect of the investigation that we are following, Newton said.
The Bill Horrace who served under Taylor was accused of executing civilians. The father of four moved to Toronto around the time that Taylor was tried in the Hague for war crimes.
Taylor was found guilty in 2012 by the the Special Court for Sierra Leone, in a trial held in the Hague, of 11 counts of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced to 50 years in a British prison.
The Liberian Bill Horrace was accused by that countrys Truth and Reconciliation Commission of war crimes, including the beheading and crucifixion of civilians near the border with the Ivory Coast. He never stood trial for those killings and moved to Toronto.
The weekend shooting was big news in Liberia, where the news organization FrontPageAfrica ran a story headlined, General Bill Horrace, Commander in Charles Taylors NPFL, Gunned Down in Canada
In an email to the Star, Liberian human rights activist Hassan Bility said he is aware of the new, and I sympathize with, and feel sorry for, his family.
Bility, a former editor who was tortured by the Taylor regime, called the slaying sad and regrettable in an interview with FrontPageAfrica.Even though Mr. Horrace stood accused of committing war-related crimes in Liberia, during Liberias first civil war, this is really not what we wanted, Bility said. He was never tried and found guilty.
Bility, who was tortured in 2002 after being arrested by Taylors forces, said he wanted justice and not revenge to prevail.
The brick house where the murdered man lived was on a quiet street in the east end of London, Ont. It was purchased last summer for $283,500.
Correction - July 9, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Charles Taylor is serving a 50-year-term in a British prison for committing atrocities in the West African nation of Liberia. In fact, the prison term is for atrocities committed in neighbouring Sierra Leone. As well, he was found guilty in 2012 by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, not the International Criminal Court. The trial took place in The Hague.
Update- July 10, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version to update the spelling of Bill Horrace's surname from the previous spelling provided by the police.
Peter Edwards is a Toronto-based reporter primarily covering crime for the Star. Reach him by email at pedwards@thestar.ca
Ireland and Luxembourg, European headquarters to Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon, need a substantial boost in resources to deal with data breaches by US tech giants, a European Union report said.
The report by the European Commission, seen by Reuters, sought to assess the effectiveness of the EU's landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules adopted in 2018.
GDPR requires companies to seek people's consent before using their personal data or face steep fines. European Vice President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova has previously lauded the rules as a compass to guide the EU into the digital age.
The report said that data protection agencies across the 27-country bloc had increased staff by 42% increase and budgets by 49% between 2016-2019, but the Irish and Luxembourg governments needed to do more.
"Given that the largest big tech multinationals are established in Ireland and Luxembourg, the data protection authorities of these countries act as lead authorities in many important cross-border cases and may need larger resources than their population would otherwise suggest," the report said.
The Irish watchdog has opened cases into Facebook, Facebook-owned Instagram and WhatsApp as well as Twitter, Apple, Verizon Media, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn and US digital advertiser Quantcast.
The report urged national watchdogs to launch joint investigations that would lead to more harmonised rules and approaches.
It said some of the challenges were reconciling data privacy rights with the right to freedom of expression, and how to apply the rules to technologies such as artificial intelligence, facial recognition, blockchain and the internet of things.
Enforcement continues to be the weak link, said Eva Simon at the Civil Liberties Union for Europe.
Reuters
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I am a slow reader. I like to attribute this to the fact that I write for a living and so I value every word. Others might have a different explanation, but I am sticking to my theory and was relieved recently when a writer I regard highly admitted to me that he too is a slow reader
Nevertheless, when I peruse the packed bookshelves that surround me in my workspace, I sometimes panic at the number of tomes I haven't read.
Since Zoom became the platform of choice for social and business gatherings, these bookshelves form the background to my on-screen presence and I inevitably get a slagging about it.
A group of friends I connect with once a week are champion pokers of fun and don't take prisoners when they hunt as a pack.
Half-way through our first virtual gathering and two-thirds of the way down a large glass of wine, I was asked whether my background was just wallpaper or real books.
After assuring the inquisitor that the books were real, I had to deal with a more forensic probe: "Have you read them all?" Thankfully another participant came to my rescue and said: "I suppose, like myself, you've read all of some of them and some of all of them?"
As a slow reader I am a fan of digestible books, the ones you can read a chapter at a time, whenever you want to, without feeling you have to keep going until the final full stop.
Compendiums lend themselves to this, as do collections of short stories or poetry.
Recently, I came across a wonderful and fascinating book entitled In Our Time - Celebrating Twenty Years of Essential Conversation.
Published in 2018 and co-authored by Melvyn Bragg and Simon Tillotson, the book is based on a BBC Radio 4 programme of the same name presented and produced respectively by the pair. Broadcast every Thursday morning it features various panels of academics exploring ideas from the worlds of history, science, religion, philosophy and culture.
The 50 short chapters are distilled transcripts of the more well-received shows across the topics.
Each one features a brief introduction and a summary of the discussion. The conversations often continue after the programme has gone off air, and snippets of these post-broadcast discussions are included.
In the history section there is a fascinating account of the death of Elizabeth I and the panic to find a successor in order to avoid a dangerous vacuum.
According to one member of the panel, in her final months Elizabeth knew she was ill and refused to go to bed as she feared she would never get out of it.
In an echo of the current racial tensions plaguing the US, a chapter deals with the Lancashire cotton famine that came about as a result American Civil War.
In the 19th century, 75pc of cotton supplied to the Lancashire textile industry was imported from the southern states of America, where 1.8 million slaves were enchained in its production.
In 1861, at the start of the American Civil War, the Confederate states halted cotton exports in a bid to pressurise Britain and other European powers into supporting the southern cause.
The extreme shortage of the commodity led to widespread unemployment and distress in Lancashire.
Heroism
Nevertheless, between Christmas and New Year 1862-63, the citizens of Manchester sent a message of support to President Lincoln in his efforts to emancipate the slaves and he replied, describing their statement as "an instance of sublime Christian heroism".
Other topics covered in this lovely book include: the intricacies of bird migration; the life and philosophies of thinkers from Simone De Beauvoir to Confucius; the gin craze that plagued the early decades of 18th-century Britain (thanks to the arrival of William of Orange); the mystery of dark matter; the Icelandic Sagas 'charting the feuds and loves of early Icelandic life'; the 12th-century works of German composer and visionary Hildegard of Bingen; and intriguing natural events like 'the year without a summer' in 1816.
The publication is packed with unique gems of information and replete with exquisite nuggets of high-grade tittle tattle. It will certainly add to one's knowledge and enhance one's capacity to add scintillation to conversation across a range of topics.
China is now the single biggest foreign owner of Australian water as farmers struggle to afford the precious resource due to hiked up prices.
A new report on foreign ownership on water entitlement has revealed Chinese investors have surged ahead of the US to own 1.9 per cent of our nation's water.
Around 10.5 per cent or almost six Sydney Harbours of the nation's water is now foreign owned, according to the report.
China now owns 756GL of water after a three per cent boost of its share in 2018-19 to be well ahead of previous joint leader the US (713GL), followed by the UK (394GL).
More than a tenth of the Murray Darling Basin, Australia's largest river system is foreign-owned, according to the latest foreign ownership on water entitlements report
Australia's most important trading partner China previously owned 732GL.
Canada, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Belgium and the Netherlands round out the top 10.
Agriculture is the predominant use of water for Chinese and US investors.
Around 10.8 per cent of Australia's largest river system, the Murray Darling Basin is now foreign-owned after a 16.6 per cent rise in 2018-19.
Almost a third of surface water in the basin's north is foreign owned.
Farmers struggling to afford the price for water hiked up by foreign buyers have called for transparency. Pictured is a drought-stricken farmer in north-western New South Wales
Drought-crippled farmers who need to buy a licence for water struggle to compete in the $2 billion market where they're regularly outbid by foreign companies.
Many overseas buyers hang onto water licences to resell to the highest bidder when demand grows.
'When farmers in NSW put their hand up to bid for water, they've had to pay $1.30 to have $1 to spend on a licence when taxes are factored in,' NSW Farmers' Water Taskforce chair Xavier Martin told the Daily Telegraph.
In central NSW, Mudgee vineyard owner Paula Hanson has first-hand experience of being priced out of the market and is now calling for transparency.
Despite rising tensions with Australia, China is now single biggest foreign owner of our nation's water. Pictured is Chinese President Xi Jinping
'Prices can be very volatile, there was one point where we decided to buy more water but the cost had doubled in a week from $300 a megalitre to $600,' she said.
'More transparency in the system would really help smaller operators navigate buying water, particularly now after dealing with the drought, bushfires and COVID-19.'
Water Minister Keith Pitt said he engaged with stakeholders throughout the Murray Darling Basin.
He added the federal government was commitment to transparency by updating foreign ownership registers on a regular basis.
Malawian voters defied the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday to return to the polls for the second time in just over a year after President Peter Mutharika's re-election was annulled in a dramatic court ruling.
The hotly-anticipated re-run was ordered by the Constitutional Court, which declared that the May 2019 vote, narrowly won by Mutharika, was fraught with "grave and widespread irregularities" including the use of correction fluid on results sheets.
It ordered new elections be held within 150 days of its February ruling.
The new polling deadline coincided with the coronavirus pandemic raging across world, but that did not deter candidates who staged rallies attracting tens of thousands of supporters across the country.
The landmark verdict reverberated across African politics, for it made Malawi just the second country south of the Sahara to have presidential poll results set aside, after Kenya in 2017.
But that decision sent Mutharika into a frenzy, accusing judges of working with the opposition to steal the election through what he dubbed a "judicial coup d'etat".
On Tuesday, he accused the opposition of inciting violence following unconfirmed reports of isolated incidents in the central towns of Salima and Nkhotakota.
"It's obvious that the opposition is doing this. This is totally unnecessary," he told reporters after voting in Blantyre.
He claimed some of his party monitors were "chased away, some were beaten".
"It's obviously people that are afraid of the will of the people that are engaging in these barbaric acts. I condemn it completely."
The election is practically a two-horse race between President Peter Mutharika, left, and his main rival Lazarus Chakwera, who lost the last election by 159,000 votes. By AMOS GUMULIRA (AFP/File)
Tuesday's election was practically a two-horse race between the president and Lazarus Chakwera, who lost the election by 159,000 votes.
Mutharika, who turns 80 next month, won with 38.5 percent of the ballots against Chakwera's 35 percent, according to the now-discredited results.
Victory in the rerun will be determined by whoever garners more than 50 percent of the votes -- a new threshold welcomed by the Public Affairs Committee, an influential quasi-religious civic group.
"This election is unique. First, this election is born out of a court ruling and second, they will follow the 50-percent-plus-one system," the group said.
"I am happy because this re-run is the will of the people. I just hope that the best person wins," said Peter Chadza, 26, a businessman who voted in the capital.
'Remain vigilant'
Chakwera, 65, enjoys the support of nine political parties in his bid to unseat the president.
Chakwera wore a mask as he cast his ballot at a school in Lilongwe. By AMOS GUMULIRA (AFP)
"I believe that Malawians' quest for justice is being answered today (and)... that rights will be respected," said Chakwera after casting his ballot at a primary school in Lilongwe.
"This is our date with destiny and this is (the) time for the beginning of a new Malawi," he said, expressing "confidence" the electoral commission will do what is right.
A new electoral commission was appointed on June 8, with Chifundo Kachale replacing the controversial Jane Ansah as chairman.
Malawi's vote is taking place amid the coronavirus pandemic that has killed 11 people and infected at least 730 in the country of 18 million. By AMOS GUMULIRA (AFP)
Last week Kachale vowed "the highest commitment... to deliver a credible election whose results will be acceptable by all stakeholders".
In a statement, the UN called on Malawi's "political actors and stakeholders to renew their commitment to credible and peaceful elections, while observing all preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19".
The coronavirus pandemic has killed 11 people and infected at least 730 in the poor country of 18 million.
The electoral commission has provided hand-washing points at each of the 5,000 polling stations to guard against the spread of COVID-19.
At Malembo Primary School in the capital, voters washed their hands with soap and water before lining up to vote, but none wore face masks or kept their distance in the long queue.
Malawi's ranking on a range of indicators compared with some neighbouring countries. By (AFP)
"People really want to vote, whether we have coronavirus or not," said Innocent Maguya, a 34-year-old driver, queueing up to cast his ballot.
"We would rather risk the disease than run the risk of having a president that people don't want. We cannot stop this crucial vote because there are no face masks," he said.
Some 6.8 million people were registered for voting, which was due to end at 1600 GMT after 12 hours.
The electoral commission has until July 3 to unveil the results, although the announcement is widely thought likely to come on Wednesday or Thursday.
Three years since the Doka La standoff, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has witnessed a series of skirmishes that had culminated in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers on 15 June
Three years since the Doka La standoff, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has witnessed a series of skirmishes that had culminated in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers on 15 June. As the news broke, Indians were shocked and their reactions were unified in essence. In this context, there is a stark difference in how India has retaliated to aggression by China as compared to India's border skirmish with Pakistan in February last year.
While Pakistan's aggression was met with an armed conflict as response, Chinese aggression so far is being managed within the economic realm. This article will make the argument that India's divergent approaches stem from the image of the two countries in the imagination of the Indian majority and the overt influence of domestic political reckonings in India's foreign policy.
A tale of two images
Most Indians perceive Pakistan as India's arch-enemy, a source of constant conflict both before and after Independence and perhaps the only way to cause tangible damage to Pakistan's assets is by destroying them a clear security issue driven by the history of the two countries. The prevalence of such antagonism is evidenced by the results of the Lokniti-CSDS pre-election survey. The survey observed that the air strike carried out by India was one of the three main reasons for a seven percent spike in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity in comparison to 2014.
The Indian majority however does not hold such animosity for the Chinese. India and China have had amicable relations in the past both nations loathed imperialism and had similar growth objectives. In spite of the 1962 war, generations of people on both sides grew up referring to Indians and Chinese as brothers. Hindus who form the majority in India further hold little animosity towards Buddhists, but that is not the case with Muslims. In addition to the socialist leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and George Fernandes who have been apprehensive of China, currently a small section of the educated class is also wary of China.
More than anything, Chinese products have significantly bothered Indians. It is impossible not to find a cheaper Chinese alternative to any product being sold in Indian markets and this has often caused trouble to domestic manufacturers. India, in fact, pulled out of RCEP because it feared that the Chinese would flood Indian markets with their products. Perhaps destroying the historic omnipresence of Chinese goods in India and depriving the Chinese of a billion potential Indian consumers seems to be a substantial retaliation in the minds of a majority of Indians.
This feeds into India's foreign policy towards China, hence, the call for import bans. For instance, many Indian officials have continued to advocate the use of economic measures to 'teach the Chinese a lesson'. While voices in the army suggested an armed retaliation, ex-army chief General VK Singh too, in contrast, said, "Let's hurt them economically." This is, however, only half the picture. India's economic retaliation is superficial and aimed at appeasing a majority of Indian sentiments while protecting its position within the global value chain, which in turn depends on Chinese goods.
Dependence: Domestic investments, goods and technology
While the extent of Chinese investments in India is far-reaching, the pace at which the investments grew in the recent past is also pertinent. At the outset, to begin with, Chinese FDI in India has risen by 324.5 percent between 31 March, 2014 and 31 March, 2020, amounting to Rs 54,480 crore. Further, investments in the Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) market have risen by 2,281.68 percent between 31 December, 2015 and 31 March, 2020 which amounts to Rs 3,257.67 crore. Moreover, Chinese investments are considerable in over 15 unicorn startups that are valued over $1 billion (Rs 7,500 crore) each, which include Paytm, Ola Cabs and Byjus to name a few.
Furthermore, an economic boycott of Chinese products may not be an effective retaliation. Considering the basics, India only accounted for three percent of Chinese exports in 2019 the Chinese are not dependent on India to run their economy. Indian dependencies on China are, in fact, much higher, with China being India's third-largest export destination. It is also arguable whether boycotting Chinese products is viable. Chinese integration within the value chain extends it a share in manufacturing a plethora of goods in some form or the other if not manufacturing goods, China engages in assembling. Similarly, the Chinese are dominant in digital technologies they are either the developers or the investors, therefore uninstalling or reporting a few applications is futile. So despite knowing the blatant shortcomings in an economic boycott, why does the Indian government continue to bank on it?
Nationalist discourse on both sides and domestic political ramifications
The politics of Modi and President Xi Jinping are both predetermined by nationalism rooted in pride. In this context, the populist leaders tread a tightrope characterised by domestic aspirations and international compulsions. In such cases, war is often never an option, also owing to nuclear capabilities on both sides, owing to the extensive damage it would yield. The trade wars with the US and Australia, a rough patch with Canada, and a blow to the Chinese image over the spread of COVID-19 have unsettled Chinese dominance. The repercussions of the global developments on China's domestic politics are unmissable. Professor Taylor Fravel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology remarked that the Chinese incursion is an act of assuaging the domestic pressure in the context of a rattled Chinese nationalist fervour. Thus, irrespective of the distrust and the subsequent long-term economic impact that the incursion portends to cause to China, the move does have its share of domestic dividends for Xi.
In India, Modi's image is at stake among the vast majority of voters, should there be a palpable feeling of defeat among people. When such a feeling was creeping in, the prime minister immediately intervened to convey a note of assurance. He observed that there was no Chinese incursion in India and that the Indian borders are intact. Even a short battle with a country whose defence budget ranges between Rs 13.5 lakh crore and Rs 19.8 lakh crore would be an unintelligent move and could cost the prime minister his strongman image, which, in turn, is central to his domestic politics.
And by playing cards that completely align with what a majority of Indians believe is an effective solution, the ruling populist leadership saves its public image. In fact, such a move would also preserve India's place within the global supply chain by not disrupting prevalent Indian-Chinese relations, with China being the dominant one. It is safe to argue that the politics around people's notions has served as a respite to the leadership.
Vignesh Karthik KR is a doctoral researcher at King's India Institute, King's College London. He tweets @krvtweets. Vihang Jumle is is an associate at Ikigai Law, New Delhi. He tweets @vihangjumle
Company invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend real-time, interactive presentation at virtualinvestorconferences.com
CENTENNIAL, Colo., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (TSX: NB;OTCQX: NIOBF) is pleased to announce that the Company's Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project will be highlighted during an OTC Market Group-sponsored global investor webcast at 2 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
Mark A. Smith, NioCorp's CEO and Executive Chairman, and Scott Honan, NioCorp's VP of Business Development and President, Elk Creek Resources Corp., will provide an update on the Project and discuss trends associated with the critical minerals the Company plans to produce.
DATE: Tuesday, June 30th
Tuesday, June 30th TIME: 2 p.m. Eastern
Eastern LINK: https://tinyurl.com/MiningVIC063020
This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.
It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.
Recent Company Highlights
June 22 , 2020: Company sees potential boom in demand for critical minerals like Niobium and Scandium because of infrastructure programs being launched by nations around the world. More info.
, 2020: Company sees potential boom in demand for critical minerals like Niobium and Scandium because of infrastructure programs being launched by nations around the world. More info. June 3, 2020 : NioCorp receives construction air permit from the State of Nebraska for its Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project. More info.
: NioCorp receives construction air permit from the for its Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project. More info. April 29 , 2020: NioCorp secures an extension agreement on land where it plans to conduct primary mining and processing operations. More info.
, 2020: NioCorp secures an extension agreement on land where it plans to conduct primary mining and processing operations. More info. April 13 , 2020: A large integrated U.S.-based steel producer signs non-binding Letter of Intent with NioCorp for up to 25% of NioCorp's production of ferroniobium over the first 10 years. More info.
@NioCorp $NB $NIOBF #Niobium #Scandium #ElkCreek #infrastructure #OTC #virtualinvestorconference
For More Information:
Contact Jim Sims, VP of External Affairs, NioCorp Developments Ltd., 720-639-4650, [email protected]
About NioCorp
NioCorp is developing a superalloy materials project in Southeast Nebraska that will produce Niobium, Scandium, and Titanium. Niobium is used to produce superalloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy ("HSLA") steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a superalloy material that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium also is a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various superalloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor and medical implants.
About Virtual Investor Conferences
Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to meet and present directly with investors. A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this document may constitute forward-looking statements, including expectations that the Project will reach production stage and will produce critical minerals in accordance with the Company's plans. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause a change in such assumptions and the actual outcomes and estimates to be materially different from those estimated or anticipated future results, achievements or position expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause NioCorp's plans or prospects to change include risks related to the Company's ability to operate as a going concern; risks related to the Company's requirement of significant additional capital; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; changes in economic valuations of the Project, such as Net Present Value calculations, changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining or development activities; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; and the risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business and the risks set forth in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators at www.sedar.com and the SEC at www.sec.gov. NioCorp disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE NioCorp Developments Ltd.
Related Links
http://www.niocorp.com
Maharashtra government and prison and correctional home authorities informed the Bombay high court (HC) on Tuesday that inmates would have access to email communication with their respective lawyers with prior permission from the superintendent of a jail apart from the existing calling facilities.
Email access is a part of the modified draft guidelines prepared by the state authorities as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak among inmates and jail staff.
A two-member division bench of the court, comprising chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice MS Karnik, while hearing a clutch of public interest litigations (PILs) via video-conference was informed that the email access to inmates have been included after considering the petitioners recommendations.
Maharashtra advocate-general (A-G) Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, who was assisted by additional government pleader Jyoti Chavan, informed the bench that the modified draft guidelines were consistent with the periodic recommendations being made by both the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the state health department authorities.
The A-G said all recommendations, pertaining to precautionary measures against Covid-19 for inmates and jail staff, have been incorporated in the modified draft guidelines.
He, however, clarified that the recommendations made by senior advocate Mihir Desai on behalf of the petitioner, Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), related to prison reforms were not considered by the state government, as the Supreme Court (SC) is looking into the matter.
The court was also informed that postal correspondence with prisoners would also be permitted in the non-containment zones, where such services are operational.
The modified draft guidelines stated that an inmates family members would be informed within 48 hours if the prisoner tests Covid-19 positive and the inmate would be shifted to a makeshift quarantine centre inside a jail for further treatment.
The bench went through the modified draft guidelines and directed the petitioners to submit their suggestions and objections before the next date of the hearing of the case on Friday.
Pakistan on Tuesday rejected what it called "baseless allegations" by India of any violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations by its High Commission officials in New Delhi and asserted that they always function within the parameters of international law.
Indian Charge d' Affaires in Islamabad was summoned to convey Pakistan's rejection and condemnation of the "baseless Indian allegations", the Foreign Office said.
"Pakistan completely dismisses allegations of any violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by the officials of the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi and reiterates that they always function within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms," it said.
"The Indian Charge d' Affaires was also informed of Pakistan's decision to reduce the Indian High Commission's staff strength by 50 per cent as a reciprocal measure," the FO said, adding the Indian diplomat was asked to implement the decision conveyed to him within seven days.
Earlier on Tuesday, India asked Pakistan to reduce the staff in its high commission in New Delhi by half in next seven days, and announced a reciprocal trimming of staff strength in its high commission in Islamabad.
The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said the Charge d' Affaires of Pakistan High Commission was summoned and informed about the decision which was based on instances of involvement of Pakistani officials in "acts of espionage" and "dealings with terrorist organisations".
The activities of the two Pakistani mission officials caught red-handed and expelled on 31 May 2020 was one example, MEA said in a statement.
The last time India downgraded diplomatic ties by asking Pakistan to reduce the staff strength in its high commission was after the Parliament attack in December 2001. However, as relations improved by 2005, the staff strength at both missions returned to the normal level.
Pakistan had downgraded diplomatic ties by expelling the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad following India's decision to withdraw special status to Jammu and Kashmir in August last year. The Foreign Office also rejected the insinuations of intimidation of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad.
Google may be closer to launching the Pixel 4a than some people think. If information from a new report is accurate.
Recently, French retailers had listed possible pricing for the Pixel 4a in that region. The phone was listed at a different price from each retailer. So make of that what you will. One site, Ordimedia, has it listed for 509.56.
The second site, eStock.fr, has the phone listed for 441.65 Both listings are for the 128GB model of the phone. Which probably means it should be around this price once the phone actually does launch in what is probably the very near future.
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The more interesting part about these listings is the potential date of release. As it should be the same for any country where Google plans to sell the phone.
Google may release the Pixel 4a in early July
In addition to potential pricing for the phone in France, each site also has a potential date for the phones on sale time frame. With both being in early July
Ordimedia shows that Google may release the Pixel 4a on July 7. Meanwhile eStock.fr says that the phone will be released on its site for sale on July 5. With that being the case, it seems that Google may end up announcing the phone very, very soon.
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Perhaps sometime this week. And at the very least sometime before the potential dates listed on the websites of both French retailers. Because if the dates are accurate, then Google will no doubt want to formally announce the phone before that time.
One thing to keep in mind is a report from June 15 which stated that Google may announce the phone on July 13. With a launch date to follow that would happen in October.
Potential colors could include Blue and Just Black
Aside from prices and release date, both French retailers list a Just Black model of the Pixel 4a. Just Black has been a common color for the Pixel lineup of phones for a few years. So it shouldnt be surprising to see it continue.
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Both retailers also list that the phone will come in a Blue color. Blue hasnt been an option since the original Pixel phone. And it was a limited edition color option that was extremely hard to come by as Google didnt make a whole lot of them.
Which begs the question of whether or not Google would do the same thing this time around. Google was originally suspected to announce the new phone at its annual developer conference. But since that was cancelled everything had been pushed back.
Now it seems the Pixel 4a announcement may be just around the corner.
The timing is ripe for the creation of multiple special situations realty focused vehicles/funds that can act as catalysts to provide the much-needed boost of liquidity and impetus to the sector, says Shekaar Subramanian.
Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
Mike Tyson, the world-acclaimed boxer, once famously exclaimed: "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face."
The real estate industry is no different.
The property sector was pounded by the triple tsunamis of demonetisation, the Real Estate Regulation Act, and goods and services tax, which left the industry in a much weaker position, given the toxic highs it witnessed during the earlier years.
Before Covid-19, the sector was grappling with multiple headwinds of customer reluctance, inventory overhang and half-baked projects across the country.
The sector was reeling from a mountain of unsold inventories, flagging sales, tepid demand, and demoralised investors, not to mention weak balance sheets of various developers, many of whom have simply disappeared.
The collapse of IL&FS and DHFL further compounded the woes of the sector.
A quick rewind of the events would shed light on the fact that till about a year ago, the developers were functioning on the backbone of high-rolling octane-fuelled debt financing, which was the mainstay of many large non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), which simply kept the monies coming in for refinancing one project after the other.
Alas, with the collapse of a few large NBFCs, the music had to come to a halt.
The fuel called liquidity suddenly became an extremely precious commodity and as a result many NBFCs started to scramble for funds and desperately endeavoured to set their own houses in order lest they too meet with a similar fate like many of their own borrowers.
It's no secret that many of the financial institutions had made the cardinal sin of borrowing short and lending long, especially on illiquid realty assets, many of which didn't even take off and as a result several of the once high-flying thematic NBFC/HFCs and renewable energy-focused wholesale NBFCs were staring at a massive asset-liability mismatch.
A simple glance at the numbers produced by various stakeholders, research institutions and international property consultancies would more than suffice to drive home the point of a grim and distressed property market.
According to the latest reports, developers in the top seven cities of India are sitting on unsold inventories worth a staggering Rs 3.7 trillion.
According to other reports, more than 600,000 homes are currently lying unsold.
With such a huge pile-up of unsold stocks that are finding no takers, the time to sell these has been estimated at approximately 3.3 years.
With the advent of the current crisis, there are no prizes for guessing that this figure is highly likely to shoot up even higher.
Many projects would be facing severe delays in re-starting work owing to the ack of cash and labour because most of the workers on these sites have left for their home states.
The situation is so uncertain and grim that the doyen of housing finance, Deepak Parekh, himself had to champion their cause and go on record, requesting the Reserve Bank of India and other respective stakeholders to consider a one-time restructuring of all the loans and reclassify the non-performing assets recognition norms to 180 days from the current 90 days.
However, there is hope.
As they say, every crisis also brings with it an opportunity.
The timing is ripe for the creation of multiple special situations realty focused vehicles/funds that can act as catalysts to provide the much-needed boost of liquidity and impetus to the sector.
These special situation funds (SSFs) can be structured in a holistic fashion such that they constitute the bringing together of bulge-bracket private equity funds, especially those which have been consistently investing in the richer cousin of residential real estate, namely commercial properties with large listed/corporate developers who can provide their expertise in terms of project execution and marketing and sales.
The idea is to enable the sponsored vehicles backed by large foreign PE shops and large developers to cherry-pick and acquire sizable projects that are currently stuck for want of liquidity and other resources.
Given the relatively low valuations of unsold inventory with stressed developers, these specialised funds/vehicles can acquire stressed project portfolios at deep discounts, thereby creating enough incentives for their economic models.
A few examples of this manifesting into an effective vehicle could be the teaming up of large private equity/sovereign wealth funds such as Blackstone, Brookfield, or the GICs and ADIC (Abu Dhabi Investment Council) of the industry together with established players such as Godrej Properties, Prestige Group, Mahindra Lifespaces and Oberoi Constructions, which have executed large and complex projects in the past.
The teaming of the special PE funds, together with large listed/corporate developers, can enable them to buy out existing stressed developers' projects and take them to the finish line by injecting the required amount of financing coupled with project development and execution brought in by the development partner.
Not only would this restore confidence in the buyer who is now assured of a timely delivery, given the reputed brand associated with the project, but also with the financing in place, the banks can look at providing construction finance or home loans to the prospective customers of the said project.
Additionally, the recent announcement by the finance ministry with regards to the suo motu extension of all realty projects timelines by six months may give an added incentive and time cushion for the special situation funds to consider stuck proposals in a better light.
Special situation funds in themselves may not be a one-size-fits-all approach for the sector but it can surely alleviate the existing pains with respect to large stuck projects across the country.
After all, one should not ignore the fact that the construction sector is the second largest employer in the country after agriculture.
And as far as the resurgence of investors in realty is concerned, as one wisely said, "The best investment on Earth ... is earth".
Shekaar Subramanian is head of structured finance at an NBFC.
Two years after Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs shocking upset, progressives are plotting to shake up New Yorks congressional delegation again in Tuesdays primaries.
While Rep. Eliot Engels (D-N.Y.) race represents their best shot to oust another incumbent, nearly every sitting House Democrat in New York City and its suburbs faces some level of threat from the left. And progressive candidates are in contention to win a pair of open seats.
"This is literally the best opportunity in the United States of America to elect a progressive to Congress," said Mondaire Jones, a top candidate to replace retiring Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), of his race in the northern New York City suburbs. "We can't think about winning the presidency if we dont build a bench of progressive candidates."
Only a handful of the seats on the ballot Tuesday are truly competitive. Jamaal Bowman, a middle school principal challenging Engel, is seen as the one best equipped to take down a sitting member, following weeks of missteps by the House Foreign Affairs Committee chief.
"Three years ago, when we challenged [then-House Democratic Caucus Chair Joe] Crowley, everyone told us we were crazy, and it was impossible. Lots of people told us the same thing about Engel," said Waleed Shahid, Justice Democrats' communications director, of their endorsed candidate, Bowman. "You never know how vulnerable someone is until youre actually campaigning."
The races have made Tuesdays New York primaries the latest battlefield in a Democratic showdown between its liberal old guard and progressive upstarts aiming to pull the party to the left. Crowley's defeat in 2018, as well as close calls in other races, sent a warning flare to senior Democrats like Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerry Nadler who both hold key gavels in the House who feared they could be next. But others, like Engel and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), were slower to ramp up their campaigns.
Story continues
Clarke is perhaps the most endangered incumbent after Engel. The Brooklyn Democrat faces a rematch with progressive challenger Adem Bunkeddeko, who lost to Clarke by fewer than 2,000 votes in 2018. Bunkeddeko, a housing advocate, has raised close to $440,000 by June. Though hes picked up few notable endorsements, Clarke has still outraised him by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.
Rep. Yvette Clarke said she could see similar tactics to the Russian bots in the 2016 election being deployed when it comes to getting an accurate census count.
"She's taking this race very, very seriously," said Krysten Copeland, campaign spokesperson for Clarke. "Last time around, she looked into some of the criticism, understood it and decided, 'There are some things I can do better.' ... She does not lead with ego at all.
In a show of force for the left, Bunkeddeko and Bowman each picked up a coveted New York Times endorsement, which backed a progressive slate across a handful of competitive primaries.
Bunkeddeko has forcefully pushed back on the idea that Clarke has changed in a meaningful way, calling her recent actions window dressing during the campaign season.
"The analogy I think thats most apt here is: Its like a patient that didn't have a pulse is now comatose," he said in an interview.
But unlike in 2018, Bunkeddeko won't get a one-on-one shot against Clarke. There are three other candidates on the ballot in the Brooklyn district, including City Council Member Chaim Deutsch, a self-described conservative Democrat who is running an under-the-radar campaign especially targeted toward the districts Orthodox Jewish community in Crown Heights.
Ocasio-Cortez, too, has a well-funded primary challenger as does moderate Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi on Long Island though neither race is expected to be as competitive.
In the two open seats, the progressive-endorsed candidates are struggling to break free in crowded primaries, complicating what might have otherwise been easy pickups for the left.
In the Bronx-based 15th District, a dozen candidates are on the ballot to replace retiring Rep. Jose Serrano in the bluest district in the country. But the fractured field has led many to worry that City Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr., a Bronx political mainstay, could slip through and win the nomination.
Diaz, who is the father of the popular Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., has a long history of homophobic comments and has also publicly voiced his support for President Donald Trump. Diazs campaign could not be reached for comment.
"This was predictable. From day one, I have been sounding the alarm about the threat of Ruben Diaz Sr.," said City Council Member Ritchie Torres, another leading candidate in the race, who expressed frustration with the large field. "Instead of taking those concerns seriously, there are some self-proclaimed progressive individuals and institutions that chose to unwittingly aid the election of Ruben Diaz Sr."
Torres has picked up the backing of the political arms of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the House LGBT Caucus, but he is far from the only credible candidate in the race.
State Assemblymember Michael Blake is running with the backing of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. The field also includes former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and community organizer Samelys Lopez, who has the backing of both Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
In a late-May poll from Data for Progress a progressive polling firm that has also conducted surveys for Bowman Diaz Sr. and Torres were the only candidates to break double-digits, with Diaz Sr. at 22 percent and Torres at 20 percent. A wave of outside spending has also flooded into the race, with much of it has been anti-Diaz Sr. or pro-Torres.
Diaz Sr. "has a real shot," said Sean McElwee, a Data for Progress co-founder. "The poll did wake up a lot of people and ... there started to be pretty big" outside spending after it, he noted.
Lopez rejected the notion of a divided liberal vote, saying she was the true progressive in the race. "I don't think it's the Congressional Progressive Caucus that's going to decide this race. I don't think it's consultants that are going to decide it," she said. "There's a lot of outside money that's coming into this district, telling people here how to vote. And I feel like that is incredibly paternalistic."
Mark-Viverito also said she was pressured to drop out which would consolidate the field against Diaz Sr. But she refused, saying outside interests were trying to play kingmakers by "acting very imperialistic and colonialistic."
In the affluent suburbs north of the city, a competitive primary in the 17th District to replace the retiring Lowey has also declined to show a clear frontrunner.
National and local progressives have rallied around Jones, who is also the beneficiary of the first-ever independent expenditure from the political wing of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
But the competitive field also includes New York Assemblymember David Buchwald, self-funding attorney Adam Schleifer, Obama-era Defense Department official Evelyn Farkas, former NARAL Pro-Choice America Chair Allison Fine and state Sen. David Carlucci.
Preventing a Carlucci victory is of particular importance for progressives. He was formerly a member of the Independent Democratic Conference in the state Senate, which effectively turned over control of the chamber to Republicans. Most former IDC members were wiped out by liberal primary challengers in 2018.
Unlike the other open seat, prominent progressives have united behind Jones, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez though not Justice Democrats, the insurgent group that propelled Ocasio-Cortez to victory in 2018, which has focused instead on head-to-head matchups. Still, a recent Data for Progress poll in the district showed a split field.
EMILYs List is backing Farkas, but progressives have tried to tar her as too moderate, pointing to donations she has garnered from GOP defense officials like former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), who served as President Barack Obamas defense secretary.
"It's not helpful if we go so far to the left that it's considered 'bad' to have Republican support," she said. "Then we will get nothing done in Congress, and we will only end up further dividing our country."
Tehran Ships Food To Venezuela To Establish Country's First Iranian Supermarket
By RFE/RL June 22, 2020
An Iranian cargo ship was expected to dock in Venezuela on June 21 with food that will stock the first Iranian supermarket in the South American country, Iran's embassy in Caracas said.
The delivery marks "another success in friendly and fraternal relations between two countries," officials at the embassy announced in a tweet on June 20, which provided no further details.
The food shipment comes after Iran supplied 1.5 million barrels of fuel to Venezuela last month, helping to alleviate a shortage amid a collapse of refinery operations and tightening sanctions by the United States.
Venezuela, once South America's top oil-producer, is suffering from a gasoline shortage amid a deep economic crisis.
Iran also provided Venezuela with key ingredients needed to restart refineries and resume producing its own gasoline.
Both Iran and Venezuela are under U.S. sanctions, and Washington has warned governments, seaports, shippers, and insurers that they could face measures if they aid the tankers.
President Donald Trump softened his tone toward Venezuela slightly in an interview last week in which he said he would consider meeting Maduro.
"I would maybe think about that," Trump said in the interview on June 19 with the news website Axios.
He expressed an openness to meeting Maduro once before, in 2018, and the Venezuelan leader also made overtures for talks, but nothing materialized and the United States instead added extensive sanctions that have added to the South American country's economic woes.
He also indicated waning confidence in Juan Guaido, who was recognized by the United States and other Western countries as the legitimate leader of Venezuela in January 2019 after what most consider a sham election that kept Maduro in power.
While the United States has maintained pressure on the Maduro regime, largely through sanctions, Maduro has retained the support of the military as well as the backing of Russia, Cuba, China, and Iran.
Maduro earlier this month said he would visit Iran shortly to sign cooperation agreements in energy and other sectors after Iran sent the oil, which arrived in five tankers.
With reporting by AP, Reuters, and Axios
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tehran-ships-food- to-venezuela-to-establish-country-s-first- iranian-supermarket/30683699.html
Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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SALT LAKE CITY, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker Edison, a leading provider of RTA furniture, announced today that Joana McKenna has been named President effective immediately and reporting directly to Brad Bonham, CEO of Walker Edison.
The company said the transition is occurring at a "pivotal time" for the business, a leader in the furniture industry, as it seeks a new stage of growth.
Ms. McKenna was most recently the Vice President of Growth at Walmart Inc., where she led marketplace business growth strategy, fueled record development for Walmart's e-commerce front, and spearheaded numerous successful and forward-thinking initiatives.
"I am thrilled to have someone of Joana's expertise join our senior management team at Walker Edison," said Mr. Bonham. "Her initiatives have led to billions of dollars in growth across some of the largest e-commerce retailers in the world. Joana's commitment to her teams and to lifting the communities around her also mirrors our passion for charitable giving and cultivating an inclusive and fulfilling work environment."
A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Ms. McKenna brings over 20 years of e-commerce experience to Walker Edison in building global brands and businesses, inspiring innovative thinking, and driving international growth. She is a dynamic, people-first leader who has held several senior positions at Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, and Walmart.
"I am honored to join this extraordinary company at a time of tremendous opportunity to capitalize on its core business and innovate for the future," Ms. McKenna said. "Walker Edison is in a unique position to not only transform but lead the industry in best-in-class products. Their focus on data and innovation is inspiring and offers endless potential. I believe Walker Edison is well-positioned to become the leader in this space and I'm excited to get started."
Walker Edison was established 15 years ago by Mr. Bonham and has quickly become not only one of the fastest-growing companies in Utah but also a leading partner and a drop-ship solution for some of the biggest names in the e-commerce furniture space.
"Ms. McKenna's expertise in high-growth e-commerce businesses, as well as her passion for people, are symbiotic with our focus at Walker Edison," Mr. Bonham said. "To have someone of her expertise running multi-billion-dollar e-commerce businesses is invaluable as we continue to scale our data-driven model."
About Walker Edison:
Established in 2006, Walker Edison quickly became a leading partner and a drop-ship solution for the biggest names in e-commerce. We are a data centric organization that is committed to deliver more than just innovative furniture - we are committed to help our customers Live Outside the Box. Walker Edison is a global organization with operations in Brazil, Asia, the UK and Germany. To learn more visit walkeredison.com
SOURCE Walker Edison
Related Links
www.walkeredison.com
Voting machines are supposed to be cleaned regularly. Voters will receive a new pen, which they can keep after voting.
Its too late to request an absentee ballot. But if you have one, it must be postmarked, or delivered in person to your polling site or your boroughs Board of Elections, by Tuesday. If you requested but did not receive an absentee ballot, you are still eligible to vote in person.
Who can vote? You must be a registered member of a political party that has a contested primary. Go here to see if youre registered.
Who is running? More than 50 state and federal races are being contested in New York City alone.
Registered Democrats will receive a ballot with 11 presidential candidates, even though former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is the partys presumptive nominee.
[A special election in Western New York may be another test of President Trumps support.]
There are also high-stakes congressional primaries. Representatives Eliot L. Engel and Yvette Clarke, both Democrats, are facing serious challenges. There are also multicandidate races to effectively fill the seats of longtime members of Congress who are stepping down, including Representatives Nita Lowey and Jose E. Serrano.
In the State Legislature, about 30 Democrats are facing primary challenges, while a handful of Republican primaries have become competitive. The most viable challenges against entrenched state lawmakers have unfolded in Queens and Brooklyn, where left-wing insurgents are vying to topple a slate of Democratic incumbents.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) listens next to House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) during a press conference to announce articles of impeachment for President Donald Trump during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 10, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
Nadler Intends to Subpoena Barr Over Firing of US Attorney in New York
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) intends to subpoena Attorney General William Barr over the controversial dismissal of a Manhattan U.S. attorney, according to a ranking member of the panel.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) stated in a letter that Nadler is preparing to issue a subpoena to compel Barrs testimony at a July 2 committee hearing if the attorney general does not come forward to testify voluntarily.
Daniel Schwarz, a spokesman for Nadler, confirmed to Axios that the committee wants Barr to testify and plans to issue a supboena if the attorney general refuses.
Nadler himself said during an appearance on MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Show: We have begun the process to issue that subpoena. It is very much true. We are doing that.
Republicans on the committee pushed back against the subpoena, arguing in the letter that there is no legitimate basis for you to compel his testimony at this time.
Jordan, a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, explained in the letter that Barr earlier expressed willingness to give testimony and that the attorney general still remains willing to testify voluntarily once the pandemic concludes.
The Department of Justice originally agreed to let Barr to testify before the committee on March 31, but that hearing was put off because of the pandemic.
Jordan called Nadlers plans to issue a subpoena part of an odd and decidedly partisan posture toward Attorney General Barr ever since his confirmation. The Republicans on the committee said in a statement on Twitter that by rushing to a subpoena, Chairman Nadler is needlessly choosing confrontation over cooperation.
Democrat staffers on the House judiciary committee held a conference call June 22 and discussed the subpoena, The Hill reported, citing a source on the call. The source indicated Democrats expect Barr to ignore the subpoena.
The threat of a subpoena comes after the firing of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) Geoffrey Berman, who initially resisted calls for his resignation, before conceding to his removal after the attorney general invoked the authority of President Donald Trump.
Bermans dismissal sparked controversy because the SDNY, under his leadership, oversaw the prosecution of Trumps former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, and indicted two associates of Rudy Giuliani, the presidents personal attorney. Critics have accused Barr, who heads the Justice Department, of partisanship in Bermans dismissal.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman at a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington on Oct. 26, 2018. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
Shortly after Bermans firing, Nadler said his committee would launch an investigation into the matter, claiming Barr certainly deserves to be impeached but would probably escape such a fate because the Republican-controlled Senate would be unlikely to remove him from office.
Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss is expected to remain Bermans acting successor until the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Jay Clayton, is installed as the new head of SDNY.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a briefing on June 22 that Bermans firing was not connected with his investigations into and prosecutions of several Trump associates.
No investigation will be affected by this, as was made clear by Attorney General Barr, McEnany told reporters.
Manitoba students will get their summer vacation in full before returning to school after Labour Day. Teachers will be called back to classrooms a few days beforehand for public health and recovery learning planning for 2020-21.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/6/2020 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Manitoba students will get their summer vacation in full before returning to school after Labour Day. Teachers will be called back to classrooms a few days beforehand for public health and recovery learning planning for 2020-21.
In a series of tweets Monday, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced the upcoming academic year will start Sept. 8; he said the province is acting on feedback from recent back-to-school surveys of parents, teachers and students.
"As expected, the experience with at home learning has been difficult for many. While there will be a need for supplemental learning opportunities for many students in the next school year, the desire was that it be accommodated within the school year," states a tweet posted to Goertzen's government-run account, which boasts more than 700 followers.
CP In a series of tweets, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced the upcoming academic year will start Sept. 8. (John Woods / Canadian Press files)
The province previously floated an earlier start (Aug. 31) to address learning loss an announcement met with mixed reactions from staff and students who have grown accustomed to a post-Labour Day start since 2003.
James Bedford, president of the Manitoba Teachers Society, told the Free Press the union is happy for families, but disappointed summer will be cut short for teachers.
"The minister has said everybody needs a complete summer; we thought teachers would be part of everybody," Bedford said Monday.
Goertzen said on Twitter schools will reopen for staff Sept. 2 to prepare spaces, learn health protocols and collaborate on recovery learning plans.
That means teachers will have used up three of their allotted 10 non-instructional days for 2020-21 before students arrive for "a very different school year," Bedford said, adding recovery learning planning is already underway. Non-instructional days are used for everything from preparing report cards to participating in professional development.
Goertzens office did not respond to requests made before and after the Monday tweets for comment on September plans. On Twitter, however, the minister hinted a school reopening plan would be announced soon.
"It seems like a wise approach is to start schools up in some way, but not in a fullblown way and then see what the impact (is)." Dr. Terry Klassen, CEO and scientific director of the Childrens Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba
Teaching principal Byron Dueck said Monday his independent K-12 school near Arborg is planning for a "normal" return since he doesn't know what other direction to take, given few details released by the province.
"We hope that we can have full-fledged classroom learning, at the same time, were waiting to hear," said Dueck, who works at the Interlake Mennonite Fellowship School.
Bedford echoed those sentiments, calling it "concerning" Manitoba is behind other jurisdictions in unveiling guidelines, as educators need to plan.
Last week, Ontario announced three possible scenarios for fall: ongoing remote learning; a mixed approach with classroom caps of 15 students; and regular school days with new public health protocols.
Saskatchewan is planning for a resumption of in-person classes. The provinces guidelines detail new measures for everything from sanitation to transportation; parents are asked to transport their children to school, while students who rely on bussing will be assigned seats beside their siblings.
Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.
In New Brunswick, K-5 and 6-8 students will attend school daily (in reduced class sizes and regular sizes, respectively). High schoolers will attend class on a rotational basis; otherwise, they will participate in online learning, guided projects and experiential learning.
The balancing act of trying to resume classes safely is "a wicked problem," said Dr. Terry Klassen, chief executive officer and scientific director of the Childrens Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. Klassen said he suspects researchers himself included will have more answers about what makes children at risk of developing COVID-19 and their relationship to transmission in the coming months, but current data and analysis is limited.
"It seems like a wise approach is to start schools up in some way, but not in a full-blown way and then see what the impact (is)," he said.
Seven children aged nine or under have tested positive for COVID-19 in Manitoba, while 11 people in the 10-19 age category have been confirmed with the novel coronavirus.
maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
Seattles municipal authorities have blessed the takeover by left-wing radicals of a section of the city in which thousands of citizens live. Police are more or less banned from the CHOPor, better, Pelosivilleand armed men subservient to a warlord maintain a primitive, essentially fascist, order. We all know how this is going to end.
I am not certain how many murders have been committed in Pelosiville. These tweets by the Seattle Police Department itemize several shootings:
17-year-old shot near Cal Anderson park, detectives investigating.https://t.co/BdVps0A3wm Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 22, 2020
Police investigating reported shooting inside CHOP zone. One person at HMC with gun shot wound. Hearing reports of a second shooting, but have not be able to verify at this time. Conflicting reports, will update with more information when available. Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 22, 2020
Updated information on overnight homicide, with video and timeline. https://t.co/AcmOeR06ZW Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 20, 2020
There has also been at least one reported sexual assault. Im guessing that Pelosiville is one place where the canard that most sexual assaults go unreported is actually true.
One of the shootings followed a drunken brawl that was recorded on video:
It is easy to see why they dont need the police. Although, to be fair, Pelosiville is an oasis of quiet compared with Minneapolis. Maybe that is because Minneapoliss government is farther to the left than Pelosivilles.
The pandemic can be stressful for some families who must stay inside together at nearly all hours of the day, which is why one group is offering free classes to help parents during this turmoil.
Restaurant employees test positive for COVID-19: Houston restaurant closures flooded in over the weekend
Online classes, available in English and Spanish are being provided free to CPS and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services client families during the crisis by Harris County Protective Services for Children and Adults and The ARKGroup, a nonprofit dedicated to building positive relationships between parents and their children.
The missions of HCPS and The ARKGroup are virtually the same, The ARKGroup President Glenn Wilkerson said. Both entities want to help parents become better and better at the most importantand most difficultjob in the world.
Wilkerson said they had received more inquiries from families since the start of the pandemic.
The fact that people are trying to observe the social distancing recommendations, then the families who already might be struggling with issues are at home 24/7, it just adds a whole lot of stress, Wilkerson said.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Six Flags Fiesta Texas reopened as Texas saw a surge in cases. Heres how that went.
The ARKGroups program is research-based, Wilkerson said, and won the Texas Governors Award for Excellence in Programming.
More Information Learn more about The ARKGroup and their classes here. See More Collapse
Wilkerson said the classes focus on communication skills and how parents can live with their children on an ongoing basisdoing activities like reading or playing games.
Its really important that parents provide structure to the kids during this time, he said. Kids thrive on structure. They need it.
That structure involves time for the family gathering together, time for homework, for reading, and a consistent bedtime, Wilkerson said.
Most of all, Wilkerson said his group encourages families to give and receive unconditional love.
Recovered doesnt mean healthy again: What they dont tell you about surviving COVID-19
Research at the University of Texas School of Public Health shows kids self-esteem is not predicated on performance, its predicated on the child receiving unconditional love from adults who are primary in their lives, he said.
The group tells parents to make sure their child feels loved, respected and appreciated, which means spending time with them each day, doing an activity with them like playing a game or going for a walk.
Some sort of special time each day with each child that says to the child youre loved and appreciated for who you are rather than what you do, Wilkerson said.
Many people are experts at reading a newspaper or watching television while carrying on a conversation with their child, but Wilkerson said its important to make eye contact with the child while conversing.
When were smart enough to give our eyes to the child, its almost like something electric surges in the body, Wilkerson said. It says to the child that what Im saying is important to my parents.
The point of the eight-week course is to help parents be intentional about giving unconditional love to their children, he said.
If parents play it right, this COVID crisis can be one of the most important things in the life of the family because it gives them a chance to bond, he said. Our kids may look upon this as one of the most precious times in their childhood, but the parent has to be intentional about making it so.
paul.wedding@chron.com
A grandfather of seven busted by Australian Border Force officers with thousands of explicit photos on his laptop and computer has escaped prison time.
David Clive Whitehead, 69, pleaded guilty to possessing and accessing child exploitation material and attempting to export goods without approval when he faced Brisbane District Court on Tuesday.
ABF officers found 88,249 child abuse images on his laptop when Whitehead was stopped at Brisbane International Airport on May 11, 2018.
Australian Border Force officials found 88,249 child abuse images on his laptop when he was stopped at Brisbane International Airport (stock image)
Queensland Police found more photos on his home computer during a search warrant at his Sunshine Coast property the next day following an admission from Whitehead to ABF officers.
The court was told most of the photos were on the lowest scale in terms of severity of child exploitation material, Quest Newspapers reported.
Whitehead's barrister told the court it was his client's first appearance before a judge and was well respected in the community as a collection driver for several charities.
He added Whitehead didn't distribute or make a profit from the vile material in his possession.
Judge Julie Dick told the court Whitehead's offences were still very serious.
'As attenuated as it might seem when you're looking at it on a computer screen, these are real children and they are being exploited,' she told the court.
'And if there wasn't a demand, there wouldn't be a market.
Judge Dick took Whitehead's lack of criminal history and vow to undergo rehabilitation into account as she handed him a 15-month suspended jail sentence.
Whitehead was also placed a two year good behaviour bond.
COMMERZBANK AG (London Branch) - Pre Stabilisation - Symrise AG EUR500mil 7yr
Pre-Stabilisation notice
23 June 2020
Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.
Symrise AG
EUR 500mil Fixed Rate Notes due 01 July 2027
Standalone documentation
LEI: 529900D82I6R9601CF26
Commerzbank AG (contact: Ian Turner, telephone: +44 207 475 1817) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).
The security to be stabilised: Issuer: Symrise AG Guarantor (if any): n/a Aggregate nominal amount: EUR500,000,000 Description: EUR500mil Fixed Rate Notes due 01 July 2027 Offer price: tbc Other offer terms: payment date 01 July 2020, denoms 1k/1k, listing Luxembourg. Stabilisation: Stabilisation Coordinator:
Stabilising Managers: Commerzbank AG
Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch
LBBW
Rabobank Stabilisation period expected to start on: 23 June 2020 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Regulated Market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange
In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilising Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.
This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.
END
Resigned: Scandal has forced Wirecard CEO Markus Braun to quit after two decades in the job
Wirecard was left fighting for survival after acknowledging that 1.9bn it had reported as assets probably don't exist, deepening an accounting scandal that has rattled Germany's financial industry.
The payments processor said it is in discussions with creditors and considering a full-scale restructuring after pulling its financial results for fiscal 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. Previous descriptions of its business with third parties, which process transactions on Wirecard's behalf, were "not correct".
Even before yesterday's statement, the unfolding scandal had seen Wirecard's shares and bonds collapse, its chief executive depart, and left the company renegotiating debt terms with its lenders.
In less than a week, the fintech once hyped as the future of German finance has lost almost 90pc of its market value, with shares slumping for a third day yesterday.
"It's a complete disaster we're looking at," said Felix Hufeld, head of BaFin, Germany's top financial regulator. "It's a shame that something like that happened."
Wirecard said it was in "constructive discussions" with its lending banks, including the extension of lines coming due at the end of June. It is working with investment bank Houlihan Lokey on a sustainable financing strategy.
Also under consideration are cost reductions, a restructuring, and disposal or termination of business units and product segments, according to the statement.
"There is a prevailing likelihood that the bank trust account balances in the amount of 1.9bn do not exist," Wirecard said.
The firm had repeatedly delayed announcing its financial statements, and last week warned loans of as much as 2bn could be terminated if its audited annual report wasn't published by June 19.
Moody's Investors Service yesterday decided to withdraw Wirecard's credit ratings because it "believes it has insufficient or otherwise inadequate information to support the maintenance of the ratings." It had already cut the ratings six levels on Friday, putting it one step from the lowest tier of junk.
Wirecard's lenders are demanding more clarity from the company in return for the extension of almost $2bn in financing after it breached terms on the loan, people familiar with the matter said.
At least 15 commercial lenders, including Commerzbank and ABN Amro, are in hectic negotiations about the steps to take.
The missing cash "could trigger an event of default and allow creditors to withdraw lines of credit," said Justin Tang, head of Asian research at United First Partners in Singapore.
Wirecard has an outstanding revolving credit facility of 1.75bn, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. About 90pc of that has been drawn by the firm, according to people familiar with the matter.
The scandal has prompted the resignation of Markus Braun after almost two decades as CEO. He was replaced on an interim basis by James Freis.
Bloomberg
After her Democratic opponent highlighted connections between her family's political campaigns and Boyce Hydro, Midland's local state representative has distanced herself from the owner of the failed dams.
In a Facebook post on June 16, Democrat Sarah Schulz, who is challenging incumbent Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, as representative of the 98th State House District in the 2020 election, claims the Glenn family has had "a long history" with Boyce Hydro and its owner Lee Mueller.
"Annette Glenn has a responsibility as a public servant to disclose her relationship to Boyce Hydro," Schulz stated. "These dams failed after years of knowing that they were in hazardous condition. Our community is owed an explanation of (Glenn's) involvement."
Schulz then lists several "facts" regarding the relationship between the Glenns and Mueller, such as that Annette Glenn's husband Gary Glenn who served as the local state representative before her said Mueller was particularly "instructive to him while he was representative.
In addition to claiming the Michigan House Republicans recently removed all photos and articles of Gary Glenn and Mueller off of their website, Schulz claimed Mueller has donated thousands of dollars to support the Glenn political campaigns through the years.
According to State of Michigan campaign finance records, Mueller donated to Gary Glenn's campaign for state representative in 2015 and 2017 both times to the amount of $1,000 and donated another $1,000 to Gary Glenn's race for state senate in 2018. Mueller also contributed to Gary Glenn's PAC, "Growth Liberty Enterprise Now Network," on four occasions between May 2016 and August 2017, to a total of $4,500.
There are no contributions from Mueller to Annette Glenn's campaign.
"While taking time to say so distracts from my efforts to actually help people, I don't appear in four-year-old photos touring the Sanford Dam, haven't worked with the owner on alternative and renewable energy issues and haven't been contacted for assistance or received contributions from him, because unlike our previous state representative, I'm not chairman of the House Energy Policy Committee, who apparently some Democrats still think they're running against," Annette Glenn said in a statement to Midland Daily News on Friday. "My role, on which I trust voters will judge my efforts, is chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, from whose budgeted emergency funds I won overwhelming bipartisan support this week for sending $6 million in flood relief to Midland County."
Glenn said the last thing people want is "cheap political game-playing" at this point in time.
"What they desperately need and deserve is real, responsible, mature and adult leadership, and that's what I'll keep delivering for the people of Bay and Midland counties as long as I have the privilege of representing them," Glenn said. "Together, we will rebuild."
Gravitational wave scientists grapple with the cosmic mystery of GW190814
A highly unusual gravitational wave signal, detected by the LIGO and Virgo observatories in the US and Italy, was generated by a new class of binary systems (two astronomical objects orbiting around each other), an international team of astrophysicists has confirmed.
Scientists from the LIGO and Virgo Collaboration, which includes researchers from the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, detected the signal, named GW190814, in August 2019.
In a new paper, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the team has announced that the signal was generated by a compact object - a neutron star or a black hole - 2.6 times the mass of our sun (2.6 solar masses), merging with a black hole of 23 solar masses.
The new observation is important because it challenges astrophysicists' understanding both of how stars die and how they pair up into binary systems. Although the precise nature of the lighter member of the binary that generated GW190814 is unknown, scientists have confirmed that it is a record breaker: it is more massive than any neutron star and lighter than any black hole yet observed.
This merger event is one of the most unusual ones observed in gravitational waves to date, says Dr Patricia Schmidt, Lecturer at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy and member of the LIGO team. It pushes our understanding of the nature of the lighter companion and how it is formed to the limits. This will keep astrophysicists occupied for a while.
Scientists have so far believed that dying stars do not leave remnants, whatever their nature, with a mass between 2.5 and 5 times the mass of the Sun. Now this desert has been populated by one of the objects that produced GW190814.
From the very outset it was clear that this was a special event, says Dr Geraint Pratten, a researcher at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, who was involved in producing the initial sky-maps for optical telescopes follow-ups. It highlights the need for ever better theoretical models of the emitted gravitational-wave signal, such as those produced here in Birmingham, to mine as much information as possible from the data and understand how such high mass-ratio binaries are formed.
An additional aspect requires further investigation. The disparity in masses between the two objects, with the black hole nine times more massive than its companion object, challenges existing theories about how binary systems of black holes and neutron stars are formed. What is certain, according to the research team, is that GW190814 was produced by a binary system that is quite different from other systems detected so far by LIGO and Virgo.
We have been itching with excitement since this candidate showed up on our screens, says co-author Professor Alberto Vecchio, director of the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy. We thought the Universe would be kind of lazy in producing binaries of objects with such different masses, if it did so at all. And guess what, we were wrong! We now know there are cosmic factories hiding somewhere that are actually rather efficient at generating these systems. The journey to figure out what they are and how they work is going to keep us busy for quite some time, but more and better data from LIGO and Virgo are just about a year away, and we are bound to have new surprises.
A further mystery surrounding GW190814 has been its elusiveness for astronomers looking for light from the event. When new gravitational waves are detected, an alert is sent to astronomers world-wide, triggering dozens of ground- and space-based telescopes to start searching for a fireball ignited by the collision. For GW190814, no such glow has yet been detected.
Dr Matt Nicholl is a Lecturer at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, and followed up the event as part of the European ENGRAVE team using the ESO Very Large Telescope, and the US-led team using the Magellan telescopes. He says: Observatories around the world carried out an intensive search for any light-show produced by the merger. We were able to show that if any light was released, it must have been extremely faint to avoid detection. This means that if the lighter companion was a neutron star, its more massive black hole partner may have simply swallowed it whole! On the other hand, if the collision involved two black holes, its not likely that it would have shone with any light.
LIGO research activities at the University of Birmingham are supported by the U.K. Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Additional funding was received from the Royal Astronomical Society, the NWO (Dutch Research Council), and the Royal Society and Wolfson Foundation.
Notes to editor:
For media enquiries please contact Beck Lockwood, Press Office, University of Birmingham, tel: +44 (0)781 3343348.
Research funding information
Dr Matt Nichol is funded through a Royal Astronomical Society Research Fellowship
Dr Patricia Schmidt is partially funded through a NWO VENI Fellowship
Prof Alberto Vecchio is supported by a Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship
LIGO research activities at the University of Birmingham are supported by the U.K. Science and Technology Facilities Council.
About the gravitational-wave observatories:
LIGO is funded by the NSF and operated by Caltech and MIT, which conceived of LIGO and lead the project. Financial support for the Advanced LIGO project was led by the NSF with Germany (Max Planck Society), the U.K. (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and Australia (Australian Research Council-OzGrav) making significant commitments and contributions to the project. Approximately 1,300 scientists from around the world participate in the effort through the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration. A list of additional partners is available via the LIGO website.
The Virgo Collaboration is currently composed of approximately 520 members from 99 institutes in 11 different countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) hosts the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy, and is funded by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy, and Nikhef in the Netherlands. A list of the Virgo Collaboration groups can be found via the Virgo website.
About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the worlds top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is part of UK Research and Innovation the UK body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. For more information visit https://www.ukri.org/.
STFC funds and supports research in particle and nuclear physics, astronomy, gravitational research and astrophysics, and space science and also operates a network of five national laboratories, including the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the Daresbury Laboratory, as well as supporting UK research at a number of international research facilities including CERN, FERMILAB, the ESO telescopes in Chile and many more. @STFC_Matters
Publication details
B.P. Abbott et al [LIGO and Virgo Collaborations] (2020). GW190814: Gravitational Waves from the Coalescence of a 23M_ Black Hole with a 2.6M Compact Object. Astrophysical Journal Letters.
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Market Research Future Published a Research Study on Calcium Chloride Market Research Report, Size, Share and Industry Analysis - Forecast to 2025
Calcium Chloride Market- Overview:
The global market for calcium chloride, as for the analysis made by Market Research Future (MRFR), is showing substantial scope to surpass a valuation of USD 1.53 billion with a moderate CAGR of 4.3% a between 2016 and 2025, that would be considered as the forecast period. The calcium chloride market size would increase even further in the coming years. It is a compound of calcium and chlorine.
As the report suggests, this growth in the calcium chloride market would get ample traction from the various uses, especially from dust control and de-icing activities. Especially, this would be the case in countries with cold weather. In the oil & gas industry, calcium chlorides application as drilling fluid can also spur the global demand. The growing calcium chloride application in the food industry as a preservative is providing the market an opportunity to diversify and increase its market percolation. In various other projects like water treatment, construction, agricultural, and animal sterilization, the demand for calcium chloride would lure in more market players.
But the excessive consumption of calcium chloride compound can cause health-hazards like irregular heartbeats, muscle spasms, kidney stones, and joint pains. This can slacken the growth pace of the market. This can dampen the calcium chloride market demand.
Segmentation analysis:
The global Covid-19 Analysis Calcium Chloride Market, as had been reported by MRFR, can be segmented by grade, form, end-use industry, and application.
These segments play crucial roles in determining how the market is going to profit in the coming years.
By form, the global market for calcium chloride can be segmented into hydrated solid, liquid, and others. These segments have their niche clients who can make sure that the market gets strong tailwinds.
By grade, the global report including details of the calcium chloride market has been segmented into agriculture grade, industrial grade, food-grade, and pharmaceutical grade. The second-largest segment has a remarkable scope in fetching higher revenues in the coming years.
By raw material, the global report on the calcium chloride market can be segmented on the basis of the Solvay process (by-product), natural brine, and limestone and hydrochloric acid (HCL).
By application, the global calcium chloride market report studies the market by having it segmented into oil & gas, de-icing & dust control, construction, healthcare, animal sterilization, food & beverages, agriculture, and others.
Regional Analysis:
The North American market had the highest market share in 2017. It was governing the market with 40% of the global market share. The current projection for the market suggests a recording of a significantly strong CAGR to score well during the forecast period. Its intake as a de-icing agent can make sure that the market grows significantly. In addition, the impact created due to the demand from the pharmaceutical industry and the production of drilling fluids can bolster its market growth.
The European market can be termed as the second-largest market in terms of revenue share. Its growth in Germany and other countries like Spain, Italy, and France can secure better prospects for the market. The Asia-Pacific market has the potential to score a high CAGR during the forecast period. The growth would depend mostly on the industrial revamping process that is witnessing a surge in the investment from emerging economies. China would lead the market as the high demand from agriculture and food processing applications can trigger a better growth rate. In the Middle East & Africa, the market would fetch revenues from its profits in the oil & gas industry.
Calcium Chloride Market- Competitive Analysis:
Players, with their performance set to uplift the global calcium chloride market outcomes, are Solvay (Belgium), Occidental Chemical Corporation (US), TETRA Technologies, Inc (US), Tangshan Sanyou Group Co., Ltd (China), Weifang Haibin Chemical Co., Ltd (China), Ward Chemical Ltd (Canada), Auro Chemical Industries Pvt. Ltd (India), Nedmag B.V. (The Netherlands), Zirax Limited (UK), and Sulaksh Chemicals (India). MRFRs inclusion of these companies in the report discusses their impact on the market quite efficiently.
In December 2019, Nuberg EPC announced that it would build a calcium chloride plant for Oman Chlorine.
Browse Key Industry insights spread across 135 pages with 59 market data tables & 14 figures & charts from the Report, Calcium Chloride Market: Information by Form (Liquid, Hydrated Solid, and Others), Grade (Food Grade, Industrial Grade, Agriculture Grade, and Pharmaceutical Grade), Raw Material (Natural Brine, Solvay Process (by-product), and Limestone and Hydrochloric Acid (HCL)), Application (De-Icing & Dust Control, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Construction, Agriculture, Food and Beverages, Animal Sterilization, and Others), and RegionForecast till 2025 in detail along with the table of contents@ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/calcium-chloride-market-2049
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NOTE: Our team of researchers are studying Covid19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required we will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Montreal, Canada Tue, June 23, 2020 08:33 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660d2564 2 World Chinese,Canadian,Racism,racial-discrimination,racial-issues,racial-divide,racial-incidents,coronavirus,COVID-19,coronavirus-effect Free
Half of Chinese-Canadians say they have been targets of racial slurs and other discriminatory behavior since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a poll released Monday.
Attacks, threats and graffiti directed at people of Chinese descent since the pandemic was declared amount to a "shadow pandemic," the Angus Reid Institute said in a statement.
It has left many feeling dejected, believing that their compatriots do not view them as "fully Canadian," the polling firm said.
And 61 percent said they changed their daily routines to avoid run-ins and harassment, while just over half fear their children will be bullied over the COVID-19 outbreak when they return to school.
The survey of 516 Chinese-Canadians, conducted in partnership with the University of Alberta in Edmonton, found that half have been called names or insulted in recent months.
Forty-three percent further reported being threatened or intimidated.
Three in 10 also said they were frequently exposed to racist graffiti or messaging on social media, or were made to feel as though they posed a threat to others' health and safety.
More than 1.7 million Canadians or five percent of the population are of Chinese descent.
Among those who responded to the June 15 to 18 online survey, 44 percent were born in Canada, while 22 percent immigrated from Hong Kong or mainland China.
More than 100,000 cases of new coronavirus have been reported in Canada since mid-March, including nearly 8,500 deaths.
Canada is closely influenced by media and social trends in the neighboring United States, where Asian-American health care workers, for example, have reported a rise in bigoted incidents, according to The Washington Post.
President Donald Trump blames the crisis on China and for a long time insisted on calling the sickness the "Chinese virus," a term which he repeated at a rally on Saturday, when he also called it "kung flu."
Kim Kardashian has become the shapewear icon thanks to her line Skims, inspired by her signature curves.
But the KKW Beauty mogul turns to other artisan designers for her own extreme hourglass needs.
She squeezed into an impossibly tiny Mr. Pearl corset in a throwback video she posted Monday to Instagram from a recent London fitting.
Tiny waist: Kim Kardashian squeezed into an impossibly tiny Mr. Pearl corset in a throwback video she posted Monday to Instagram from a recent London fitting
The 39-year-old filmed herself in a round mirror as she worked her angles in the tiny nude singlet.
She wrote in the caption: 'Just found this in my phone from my special trip to London last year to meet w Mr. Pearl.
'I wore a corset like this for the Met Ball for my @manfredthierrymugler Camp look but the corset was misplaced that night and I want it so badly preserved for my archive that I flew to London to have another made for the archive.
'We also might have started making a few more looks including my special 40th bday look. Cant wait to show you the LOOKSSSS weve been cooking up.'
Serving body: The 39-year-old filmed herself in a round mirror as she worked her angles in the tiny nude singlet
Throwback: She wrote in the caption: 'Just found this in my phone from my special trip to London last year to meet w Mr. Pearl'
Red carpet chic: Kim turned a memorable look at last year's Met Gala in a similar dripping wet nude look by designer Thierry Mugler
Hollywood inspiration: Mugler came out of retirement to make the dress especially for Kim, spending eight months on the process. The silicone ensemble was inspired by Sophia Loren in a scene from the 1957 movie Boy on a Dolphin
Kim turned a memorable look at last year's Met Gala in a dripping wet nude look by designer Thierry Mugler.
Mugler came out of retirement to make the dress especially for Kim, spending eight months on the process.
The silicone ensemble was inspired by Sophia Loren in a scene from the 1957 movie Boy on a Dolphin.
She said in a video from her fitting for Vogue: 'I wont be able to pee for about four hours, so were coming up with a plan on what to do in case of an emergency and theres no other options.'
Kim later told The Wall Street Journal: 'I have never felt pain like that in my life. Ill have to show you pictures of the aftermath when I took it offthe indentations on my back and my stomach.'
The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, said he would no longer be part of the effort to get Governor Godwin Obaseki secure the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state.
The party is holding its primary in Edo on Thursday.
Some PDP governorship aspirants in Edo State have insisted they would not step down for Mr Obaseki who defected to the party a few days ago after he was disqualified by his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) from taking part in its primary.
One of the PDP aspirants has filed a case in court, seeking to bar the embattled Edo governor from contesting the PDP primary.
Mr Wike stated on Twitter on Tuesday that he was withdrawing from Mr Obasekis case because of some senseless accusation made against him in ThisDay newspaper.
Mr Wike posted a photo of himself brandishing a copy of ThisDay newspaper with a banner headline, With a Friend Like Wike, Obaseki Meets His PDPs Waterloo; Almost.
The story, published on Tuesday, alleges a connection between Mr Wike and the moves to use a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to stop Mr Obaseki from participating in the Edo PDP primary.
The report said Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, the Edo PDP governorship aspirant who filed the court case, is Mr Wikes ally.
As a result of this senseless accusation, I have pulled out of Edo State settlement, Mr Wike said on Tuesday via his personal Twitter handle @GovWike. My integrity matters.
Mr Wike said he had sleepless nights, making attempts to resolve Governor Obasekis issues in PDP.
The Governors of Edo, Adamawa, and Delta states, know what I have done to resolve the issues in Edo state, he said.
I am brought up not to accept injustice, and that is why I keep speaking out on national issues. Nobody in PDP can intimidate Rivers State.
Nobody can threaten me because I said things must be done constitutionally. I will always continue to satisfy my conscience.
Mr Wike said some members of the PDP National Working Committee were behind the ThisDay story.
They are tax collectors. Let them challenge me and I will come out with more facts, he said, adding that he has asked his lawyers to write to the paper.
Nobody will rubbish me by raising false accusations against me. I will fight back.
I will no longer participate in any reconciliation and I wonder why the NWC now wants to consult Governors of the party.
From Mr Wikes outburst, it appears the trouble of getting a party ticket is not yet over for Mr Obaseki whose ambition for a second term as governor came under serious threat after he fell apart with his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, the suspended national chairman of APC.
Defeated parliamentary candidate for the Nsawan Adoagyiri constituency in the Eastern Region, David Adu-Tutu Jnr, popularly known as Lawyer JD, has denied chasing delegates for gifts he shared to convince them to vote for him.
Reports making the rounds indicate that lawyer JD after his defeat had deployed some people to chase delegates for his package.
However, in an interview on Peace FM's The Platform programme, Monday, denied engaging in such acts.
"News reports that I went chasing for the gifts are not true. Such allegations don't help in forging for unity in the party. those spreading such rumors should stop," he urged.
Hon. Annoh-Dompreh Frank, incumbent MP retained his seat with 428, representing 73.04%. and Lawyer JD had 154, representing 26.28%.
Listen to him in the video below
Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmoline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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A care home for elderly people in southern Brazil has come up with a creative way to bring some love to its residents amid the CCP virus pandemic by creating a hug tunnel that allows relatives to safely embrace them.
The idea emerged last month, shortly after Mothers Day, when staff at the Tres Figueiras facility in the state of Rio Grande do Sul noticed some residents were feeling down.
We noticed that our senior residents were feeling sad, Luciana Brito, one of the owners of the facility, told CNN. We thought they would be much happier if we found a way for them to hug their relatives.
A daughter hugs her mother at the Geriatric Clinic Tres Figueiras on June 16, 2020, in Gravatai, Brazil. (Lucas Uebel/Getty Images)
The facility is home to 28 senior residents who have been in isolation since March 17, with communication with the outside world limited to video calls.
Brito told CNN the idea for the hug tunnel came from a viral video, where a woman in the United States created a plastic curtain in order to hug her mother.
The tunnel consists of a large plastic sheet with four arm holes in it, which is attached to one of the facilitys entrances. The arm holes are also covered in plastic and allow visitors to hold their loved ones without coming in direct contact with them.
Eraldo Quintana, an 81-year-old retiree living at the home, told CNN that he thought it was a great invention.
My two daughters came to visit me and I was very happy to see them, Quintana shared.
Quintana said it was different to hug someone when there is plastic between you both, but added: If we didnt have this we would be scared to embrace due to the coronavirus.
To keep the hug tunnel safe, the visits are scheduled ahead of time and the area is disinfected every 30 minutes, the facilitys administrator Rubia Santos said in a video posted on the homes official Facebook page.
She said all visitors have their temperatures checked and apply hand sanitizer before accessing the tunnel.
If anyone out there runs a senior living home or facility, I recommend you do this, Santos added. It is so gratifying to see them hugging each other and so important.
At the time of writing, 46,500 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 in the country. President Jair Bolsonaro, however, has dismissed the virus as a little flu, and parts of Brazil began easing lockdown measures at the start of June despite fears from some experts.
The CNN Wire contributed to the report.
[June 23, 2020] Three Dials Up Customer Experience with Yext Answers
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud company, and Three, one of the UK's leading mobile networks, today announced significant improvements to Three's online customer experience since integrating Answers, Yext's revolutionary site search product. Three, one of the first UK brands to enhance its website experience with Yext Answers, set out to make it easier for customers to find answers to their questions via the website for improved customer service accessibility. In the first two weeks of implementing Yext Answers, Three saw a 42% reduction in the number of customer support contacts initiated due to incorrect, irrelevant, or "no results" responses delivered to customer queries on Three.co.uk. Additionally, Three fielded more than 400,000 searches and drove more than 253,000 clicks within the first month of integrating Yext Answers. "Our customers were visiting our website and weren't able to find the answers they needed using our existing search bar," said Graham Johnston, Head of Omnichannel at Three. "That ultimately led them to exploring other customer service options such as calling our contact centre or walking in-store. This is inconvenient to customers and adds additional layers to the customer experience where we want to be able to resolve their queries as quickly as possible. Yext Answers has been the perfect solution to help our website do the heavy lifting, resulting in more conversions and a better first-time resolution rate for customers." "People have been even more dependent on their mobile devices during this current COVID-19 crisis, so it's critical that our website is up-to-date with important information that is easy to access," Johnston added. "Having the abilty to understand what questions are being asked on our website and across third-party platforms means we can move quickly to ensure we're responding to our customers swiftly when they need us the most."
"Retail footfall has been hugely impacted by this pandemic, so the online experience has never been more important," said Jon Buss, Managing Director of Yext UK. "By using Yext Answers, Three has been able to react quickly to the current situation to build consumer trust, improve performance, and deliver results." In addition to Yext Answers, Three has leveraged other solutions within the Yext Search Experience Cloud, including Listings, Reviews, and Pages. In the 16 months since adopting these products, this has resulted in more than 1.3 million clicks to their online listings, a 25% increase year-over-year.
Read more about Three's success with Yext here. About Yext The ultimate source for official answers about a business online should be the business itself. However, when consumers ask questions on company websites, too often they are left in the dark with wrong answers. Yext (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud, solves this problem by organising a business's facts so it can provide official answers to consumer questions wherever people search. Starting with the company website, then extending across search engines and voice assistants, businesses around the world, like Tesco, Marriott, and Jaguar Land Rover as well as organisations like the U.S. State Department trust Yext to radically improve the search experience on their websites and across the entire search ecosystem. Yext's mission is to help businesses and organisations around the world deliver official answers everywhere people search. Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work, as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Miami, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the Washington, D.C. area and work-from-home offices all around the world. About Three Three launched in 2003 as the UK's first 3G only network, laying its foundations as the network that was born to be different. Today Three is a connectivity company that connects people to people, people to things and things to things and has more than 10 million customers. An average Three customer uses 3.5 times more mobile data than the industry average and its network today covers 99% of the UK population. It has the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS) of any of the mobile network operators at +14, alongside +24 for its Employee NPS. Three also has the UK's leading 5G spectrum holdings with more than the rest of the industry combined. Three is the only operator able to meet the International Telecoms Union (ITU) 2020 standard for full 5G services. From July 1, 2020, Three will be the official shirt sponsor of Chelsea FC and this will include making Stamford Bridge a 5G enabled stadium. Three was voted the Best Network for Data at the Mobile Choice Consumer Awards, as well as Best Network for Roaming by uSwitch, and the Best High Street Retailer at the Mobile Industry Awards. Three is part of the CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd group of companies which has mobile operations in 11 countries. We employ more than 4,800 people across our offices in Maidenhead, Glasgow and Reading and our 326 retail stores. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/three-dials-up-customer-experience-with-yext-answers-301081520.html SOURCE Yext, Inc.
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A report released today by international aid agency, World Vision Ireland, reveals that child marriage has significantly increased in northwest Syria since conflict began ten years ago, as a result of conflict, displacement, poverty, and cultural pressures.
The report, called Stolen Future: War and Child Marriage in Northwest Syria, found that: Child marriage has become more common since the conflict in Syria began, according to 99% of girls and 94% of boys surveyed; More than half of women and girls surveyed said that the fear of sexual exploitation, and extreme poverty drove child marriage.
In northwest Syria, an estimated 2.8 million people are in need, out of a total population of 4 million. Children are being exposed to a number of threats, including forced marriage, as households are driven to new depths of vulnerability, poverty and desperation. Over a third of girls in the developing world are married before their 18th birthday, oftentimes as a means for their impoverished family to make money.
The impact of COVID-19 is already pushing displaced people living in extreme poverty to new depths of destitution and we expect to see child marriage figures increase even further in the future, said Eleanor Monbiot, World Visions Regional Leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The report found that social media is being increasingly used to set up girls as young as ten with potential husbands, who are often two, three, and even four decades older.
Many respondents of the survey stated that fear of exploitation and extreme poverty were key drivers of child marriage. However, the reality is that child marriage offers little protection from abuse and is accompanied by significant physical and psychological harm, mental health challenges, increased domestic violence, early withdrawal from education and multidimensional, intergenerational poverty, said Eleanor Monbiot.
World Leaders are meeting virtually on the 29th June for the Brussels IV Conference on the Future of Syria where they hope to work towards a lasting nation-wide ceasefire and to pledge much-needed resources to respond to the crisis.
Child marriage is usually driven by desperation, vulnerability and tragic circumstances, Fiona OMalley, the Director of Communications and Fundraising for World Vision Ireland, said.
If global leaders are serious about the future of Syria, they cannot ignore the issue of child marriage. We hope that the Brussels IV Conference will help to bring real, positive change to these vulnerable Syrian children.
World Vision Ireland is calling on the public to donate whatever they can to help the worlds most vulnerable children by going to https://www.worldvision.ie/transaction/where-the-need-is-greatest
- UMass Amherst Students and Alumni Gain Access to All Simplilearn Digital Economy Skills Courses
SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn , a global provider of digital skills training, today announced its partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) to provide digital and tech-based skilling programs for the students and alumni of the university. This collaboration with UMass Amherst's University Without Walls (UWW) gives UMass Amherst's students and alumni access to the complete catalog of programs offered by Simplilearn, covering a range of topics including artificial intelligence, data science, digital marketing, and many other digital economy skills.
All the programs offered by Simplilearn through this partnership are delivered via a blended learning approach that combines expert instructor-led live virtual classrooms, self-paced on-demand lessons, and integrated hands-on labs. Learners also benefit from industry-certified Capstone projects based on real-world challenges, which give them work samples for their portfolios; Independent research has shown this blended learning approach drives significantly better student outcomes than conventional e-learning. On successfully completing programs, learners receive certificates of completion from Simplilearn and related partner companies like IBM. Simplilearn's programs are fully online, so UMass Amherst students and alumni can access them from anywhere across the globe.
Commenting on the partnership with UMass Amherst, Mr. Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer, Simplilearn said, "With technology changing constantly, there is a greater need for companies and especially professionals to stay ahead of the curve. This process has led to building an environment of constant learning and upskilling. The alumni learning program introduced by the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a one-of-a-kind initiative, showing that learning does not stop at the university level alone. We are happy to collaborate with UMass Amherst in its commitment to building an accessible learning environment for current students and graduates alike. Through our programs, we aim to empower learners with industry-relevant skills, preparing them for jobs of the future."
"Learning doesn't end when a person receives their college degree," said John Wells, UMass Amherst senior Vice Provost for lifelong learning. "By expanding our online offerings for our students and alumni through our partnership with Simplilearn, we can provide affordable, convenient ways for them to continuously upgrade their job skills, making them even more prepared to take on the fast-paced global economy," he added.
About Simplilearn
Simplilearn enables professionals and enterprises to succeed in the fast-changing digital economy. The company provides outcome-based online training across digital technologies and applications such as big data, machine learning, AI, cloud computing, digital marketing and other emerging technologies. Based in San Francisco and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn has helped more than 1 million professionals and 1,000 companies across 150 countries get trained, acquire certifications, and reach their business and career goals. The company's Blended Learning curriculum combines self-paced online learning, instructor-led live virtual classrooms, hands-on projects, student collaboration, and 24/7 global teaching assistance. For more information, visit Simplilearn.com
About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst is one of the major public research universities in America. Nestled in Amherst, Massachusetts, the campus is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation, and offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. Working with the UMass Amherst schools and colleges, University Without Walls (UWW) is a leader in online education offering degrees and certificates in a number of subject areas. The vision for UWW at UMass Amherst is to create a learning experience that supports the needs and goals of lifelong learners. UWW will expand access to education by creating high-quality, innovative pathways that meet the unique needs of future learners anytime, any place.
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/535442/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg
SOURCE Simplilearn
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday. Read more
WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps call for another round of stimulus checks to most taxpayers is getting a lukewarm endorsement from his GOP allies on Capitol Hill, but its emerging as an early area of potential agreement with Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the next coronavirus bill.
In a fractured Washington, that could be a foundation of a winning coalition as lawmakers inch toward talks on the fifth, and possibly final, coronavirus relief measure before November's elections.
Trump told an interviewer Monday that he supports another round of direct economic stimulus payments similar to the $1,200 checks issued to most individuals earlier this year.
Yeah, we are," Trump told a correspondent for Scripps television stations. We will be doing another stimulus package. It'll be very good. It'll be very generous."
On Tuesday, neither Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin the lead White House negotiator on the first package nor Trump's GOP allies raced to endorse the idea.
As weve said before, were talking about a bunch of different ideas that we may need to do in another bill," Mnuchin said after a lunch meeting with Senate Republicans where the topic received little discussion. Were going to take our time and make sure that were thoughtful. Whatever we do, it will be much more targeted, much more focused on jobs."
Congress passed the first round of checks nearly unanimously in March as part of a coronavirus response bill, at a cost of almost $300 billion. Both parties said the aid was essential as coronavirus lockdowns brought the economy to a near standstill. The jobless rate is still high at almost 15% nationwide, though retail sales have rebounded.
House Democrats are fully onboard with another round, having included direct payments in a more than $3 trillion measure that they pushed through the House in May. But views in the GOP are more mixed, despite Trump's support.
Hes always wanted a second round of stimulus checks, and probably for good reason," said Sen. Ken Cramer, R-N.D., who mostly endorsed the idea. What we do next in addition to something like that should be very targeted, very specific to restarting, really restarting the economy. ... I think direct contribution installments to individuals could be a nice, a nice stimulus."
Skeptics of direct stimulus payments say they are not targeted enough, but they have an undeniable political appeal, especially with the elections less than five months away.
Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has made it clear that he does not want negotiations with Democrats and Pelosi on another COVID-19 response bill to begin until next month.
Negotiations on the legislation are also likely to center on providing another round of aid to states and local governments and extending unemployment benefits though not the $600 per week supplement enacted in March.
My preference would be to extend unemployment insurance, but to do that in a more limited way, and a more targeted way," said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who also wants adjustments to payroll subsidies for businesses and aid to states and local governments seeking help with their ballooning budget deficits.
Most Republicans know that Trump's posture means it's likely a cinch that another round of direct payments will make it into the upcoming bill, despite their reservations. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., discounted a reporter's suggestion that there's pretty strong skepticism by Republicans toward another set of stimulus checks.
I dont think it got to the point you can say that," Blunt said.
Several Republicans, however, said they want to tighten eligibility for the stimulus payments to try to control costs.
But we need targeted tailoring of any kind of stimulus measures if we really want to get it to the people who are hurting the most, said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.
A case that began with the U.S. Coast Guard intercepting a shipment of cocaine worth $190 million ended this week with a 30-year prison sentence for one of men charged with smuggling it.
According to information provided by the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of Alabama, U.S. District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer pronounced the sentence to Ecuadorian citizen Luis Eduardo Montenegro Martinez on Monday. Martinez had entered a guilty plea in December 2018.
The case began in August 2018, when a Joint Interagency Task Force South patrol aircraft detected a low profile go-fast vessel about 300 miles northwest of Ecuador on a common seaborne smuggling route from Colombia to Central America. The boat was intercepted by U.S. Coast Guard units, including the cutter Tahoma. Coast Guard personnel found the vessel to be flying no flag, had no vessel registration documents and no other indicia of nationality. They recovered more than 1,900 kilograms of cocaine with a retail street value of approximately $190 million in the United States.
Several other smugglers received lesser sentences. According to the U.S. attorneys office, Martinez received a higher sentence because of a previous conviction. In 2003 hed been caught in international waters with more than 2,300 kilograms of cocaine. Hed been sentenced to serve more than 10 years in prison in that case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George F. May.
Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked the government whether China has occupied Indian Territory.
"We are standing united against Chinese aggression. Has China occupied Indian territory?" Gandhi tweeted.
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PhotoRahul Gandhi has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his statement at an all-party meeting last week that neither is anyone inside India's territory nor has anyone captured its posts while referring to the Ladakh face-off.
Earlier too, the Congress leader had asked the government whether China has occupied any Indian territory.
Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi
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The Prime Minister's Office has already clarified Modi's comments, and said attempts are being made to give a "mischievous interpretation".
Rahul Gandhi on Monday has also asked as to why China is "praising Mr Modi during this conflict".
A US judge ruled that placing a cancer warning on Roundup is not "purely factuel and uncontroversial"
A US judge permanently barred California from placing a cancer warning on Bayer's Roundup, handing a victory to the German company as it battles litigation over the product.
The case concerned California's Proposition 65, which requires a warning on products known by the state to cause cancer.
Although a World Health Organzation body in 2015 classified glyphosate, which is used in the herbicide Roundup, as "probably carcinogenic," District Judge William Shubb said there are "several other organizations," including the US Environmental Protection Agency and other WHO bodies that "have concluded there is insufficient or no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer."
California cannot require the warning based on the WHO body's statement "when the great weight of evidence indicates that glyphosate is not known to cause cancer," Shubb said in a 34-page ruling released late Monday.
Shubb, who in 2018 had issued a preliminary injunction against California on the matter, made the order permanent and rejected the state's argument.
The decision is a victory for Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018 and has seen tens of thousands of lawsuits filed over Roundup since the deal closed.
"This is a very important ruling for California agriculture and for science as a federal court, after weighing all the facts, has concluded that the evidence does not support a cancer warning requirement for glyphosate-based products, which farmers all over the world depend on to control weeds, practice sustainable farming, and bring their products to market efficiently," Bayer said.
The California Attorney General's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Bayer has suffered high-profile losses in the US but massive jury damage awards over Roundup were later reduced by judges.
Shubb said the jury rulings against Bayer do not affect the current question before the court.
"The juries in those cases were tasked with determining whether the evidence, as presented in those cases, showed that it was more likely than not that glyphosate caused cancer in those plaintiffs," Shubb said.
"While those juries ultimately decided that it did, whether a reasonable juror could find that glyphosate causes cancer is a separate question facing the court todaywhether a statement that glyphosate is known to cause cancer is purely factual and uncontroversial," Shubb said.
Explore further US judge blocks weed-killer warning label in California
2020 AFP
PLEASANT HILL, CA With coronavirus restrictions loosening, business is slowly returning to normal in Pleasant Hill and Contra Costa County. However, the number of local coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise.
The health department on Tuesday said that 75 cases have been confirmed in Pleasant Hill . As for deaths, the county now reports a total of 62. Contra Costa Health Services has gone 2 days without reporting any new deaths. That's a huge relief after last week when 18 deaths were reported over a 6-day period. On Sunday, 6 deaths were announced, and there were 5-each announced on Tuesday and Thursday.
Around the county, the city of Richmond has recorded the most cases, with 587. Bethel Island has had only one confirmed case.
The virus is surging statewide, with Los Angeles County leading the way with more than 86,000 confirmed cases while recording its largest single-day increase in cases on Monday. The state has recorded nearly 185,000 confirmed cases, and 5,566 deaths.
>> Newsom: Hospitalizations Threaten Reopening
The U.S. has confirmed 2,325,000 cases, and 120,770 deaths.
While California has the second highest number of cases in the nation, we have fared far better than other states on deaths. Here are the latest statistics compiled by Johns Hopkins University:
New York: 31,198 deaths New Jersey: 13,026 deaths Massachusetts: 7,873 deaths Illinois: 6,671 deaths Pennsylvania: 6,464 deaths Michigan: 6,097 deaths California: 5,566 deaths Connecticut: 4,263 deaths Florida: 3,238 deaths Louisiana: 3,136 deaths
The bottom five states for deaths are Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, Montana, and Vermont.
Worldwide, more than 9,150,000 cases had been reported by midday Tuesday, and 473,650 deaths.
Meanwhile, if you are interested in a change of scenery, the San Francisco parking lots for the Golden Gate Bridge have partially reopened.
>>Golden Gate Bridge Parking Lots Reopen In San Francisco
And here's a resource for parents: you may download free mindfulness apps for your children/
Story continues
>>Mindfulness Training For Students: Stability In Stressful Times
Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know
Don't miss updates about the coronavirus in California as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.
This article originally appeared on the Pleasant Hill Patch
Unsuspecting surfers and a kayaker had a brush with death when a man-eating Great White shark swam right below them as they waited to catch a wave.
Drone footage shows the fearsome predator estimated to be 10ft long - cruising among the group of seven who have no idea that a lethal attack could be just seconds away.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at Plettenberg Bay in Western Province, South Africa, in just six foot deep water.
The shark goes undetected for 25 seconds until the kayaker in a green canoe nearly bumps into its tail and suddenly realises a Great White is right beneath them.
He shouts an alert to a friend on a surfboard whose legs are just a couple of feet from the jaws of the Great White and, realising the danger, he suddenly paddles furiously away.
These surfers had no idea that a Great White shark was swimming just beneath them as they waited to catch a wave on Tuesday at Plettenberg Bay in Western Province, South Africa, in just six foot deep water
Drone footage shows the fearsome predator estimated to be 10ft long - cruising among the six surfers and a lone kayaker who have no idea that a lethal attack could be just seconds away
The surfer catches a wave to take him safely from the shark, which casually turns away from what could have been an easy meal and glides off back along the coast.
As the warning reaches the other surfers, they too paddle towards the shore and alert the lifeguards who clear the beach and order everyone out of the water.
National Sea Rescue Institute press spokesman Craig Lambinon said they were appealing to all surfers, paddle boarders and bathers to be on full alert for Great White sharks.
He said: 'Those using the water around the Southern and Eastern Cape need to be cautious due to a high number of Great White shark sightings and close encounters at present.
'The increase of sharks at this time of the year is part of the normal aggregation of these animals that take advantage of natural prey like seals and fish coming close in shore.
The shark goes undetected for 25 seconds until the kayaker in a green canoe nearly bumps into its tail and suddenly realises a Great White is right beneath them. The others in the group are alerted and they all paddle back to shore unharmed
'A large amount of shark sightings and some encounters have been reported close in shore along the Plettenberg Bay coastline over the past few weeks and on Sunday and today.
'Drone footage of a large Great White shark in close proximity to surfers in Plettenberg Bay today highlights the urgency of this safety appeal as they are in very close,' he said.
Fearsome predator of the deep: Great White sharks Great Whites swim at up to 37mph at full pelt and burst out of the water from below their prey. (File photo) Great white sharks have such a strong sense of smell that they can detect a colony of seals two miles away.
Great whites give birth to up to ten 'pups' but mothers will eat them if they don't swim off fast enough.
They swim at up to 37mph at full pelt and burst out of the water from below their prey.
They attack 5-10 humans every year but usually just take a 'sample bite' out of curiosity before swimming off.
Great whites can live to up to 70 years old.
They are coloured white underneath to make them harder to see from below with sunlight shining down.
They have several rows of teeth that can number into the thousands.
As their teeth fall out, they are replaced by razor sharp teeth in the row behind. Advertisement
Sarah Waries of City of Cape Town Shark Spotters programme said: 'The behaviour seen in this drone footage shows the shark is aware of the surfers and is investigating them.
'It is important for people to remember that Great White sharks are naturally inquisitive apex predators and that although shark bites are rare, water users must understand the inherent risk associated with sharing the ocean with these animals and change their behaviour accordingly to avoid encountering sharks'.
The NSRI carry emergency medical shark kits on all their sea rescue craft and rescue vehicles, and their medics carry the kit in their private cars to respond quickly.
Plettenberg Bay resident Michael Herbst said on social media: 'The drone footage is just mental and these guys said they had no idea the Great White was there until one of them yelled "shark".
'They said they came out the water so fast and the beach was cleared by the lifeguards. For these surfers, it was their lucky day and they will never forget what happened out there as it is on film'.
In the past ten years, 12 people have been attacked and killed by sharks in South Africa - five by Great Whites; four by Bull sharks; one by a Tiger shark; and two by unknown sharks.
There is an average of six shark attacks a year in South Africa with 15% proving fatal and the main culprit is the biggest of them all - the Great White, of which there are thought to be 300 to 500 along the coast.
They can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh up to 2 tons and the largest ever seen was a Great White dubbed 'Deep Blue' off the coast of Hawaai last year - estimated to be about 23 feet.
The Great Whites have only one known predator in the oceans which is the Killer Whale and can have as many 3,000 teeth growing in rows in their jaws at any one time up to three inches long.
In 2011 Tim van Heerden, 49, was killed by am 8ft Great White at the Keurboom River Mouth, Western Province, after being pulled off his surf board twice, suffering horrific injuries and dying later in hospital.
The year before, Lloyd Skinner, 37, was attacked by a Great White at Fish Hoek in the Western Province while swimming in chest-deep water and was dragged out to sea after being bitten several times.
in 2012, David Lilienfield, 20, was attacked while on his body board in False Bay, Western Province by a 15ft Great White shark which bit off his leg at the hip and, despite being rescued, he bled to death.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that there werent enough state troopers immediately available to prevent an act of vandalism at the Ohio Statehouse last week, and vowed that wouldnt be the case again.
DeWine said he spoke earlier in the day with State Highway Patrol leaders to check in on the status of an ongoing investigation into the incident, during which protesters on Thursday put red handprints and painted messages on the Statehouse, including on a marble column, and on nearby statues.
State troopers have said they responded as quickly as they could after protesters began applying the paint. State employees have worked to remove it.
Its clear to me they did not have enough troopers who were there at that time that it occurred. ... They will have enough people there, DeWine said during his coronavirus briefing on Tuesday. This damage will not take place in the future. This is damage that we should not tolerate, and will not tolerate. We will be able to protect the Statehouse.
DeWine also addressed what he said was a minority of protesters who have acted violently and broken laws. Some protesters in downtown Columbus in recent days have surrounded cars, blocked traffic and set a fire in the street, according to media reports and police.
Demonstrators meanwhile have accused police of using excessive force against them. The protests against racism and police violence have been a regular feature since they first began nearly four weeks ago.
Demonstration is a positive thing they have every right to do that, DeWine said. But when youve reached the point to have violence, that is simply not to be tolerated.
DeWine, a Republican, has faced intensifying criticism from state lawmakers within his own party, including House Speaker Larry Householder, for not doing more to protect the Statehouse.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted also addressed protests on Tuesday.
All of us can either escalate or de-escalate a situation with their words and with their actions, Husted said. And thats what were encouraging: more peacemakers with this process.
Read recent cleveland.com coverage:
After Statehouse vandalism, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder leans into condemning insurgent demonstrators
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine angry over Statehouse vandalism
Like the country, Ohios legislature has been roiled by racial, partisan divides
State officials assessing damage to Ohio Statehouse after Thursday protests escalate
Plan International Ghana, in partnership with Days for Girls, both child welfare advocacy have called on Government to expedite the acquisition of a short code for lodging of complaints of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) acts.
The NGOs also appealed to government to develop policies to put standards in place for reusable sanitary pads.
They made the call on Tuesday, at a stakeholder meeting organised to give a post-project report on a COVID-19 Gender Emergency Response Programme implemented to ensure the welfare of vulnerable and deprived children, especially girls after Ghana recorded her first cases of COVID-19.
The programme saw the two bodies train needy girls, including; kayayei (female potters) on production of reusable sanitary pads, facial masks, and portable backpacks with African print.
The skills would enable them to earn extra income by selling the items in their communities and also promote easy access to sanitary pads and face masks among their communities and families.
Mr Solomon Tesfamariam, the Country Director of Plan International Ghana, said the project was aimed at upholding the dignity of girls, who were hard hit by the global crisis.
During the COVID-19 period, he said there were pressures on women and girls as they were out of school.
The level of violence, abuse and exploitation of children is still high despite the existence of progressive laws to protect children. We are also witnessing a surge in sexual and gender based violence cases which have spiraled out of control and resulted to the harming and sometimes loss of lives of children.
Moreover, menstrual hygiene health to date remains a taboo topic that is rarely discussed in public fora as it is often treated as a 'woman's issue' and is not addressed in the mainstream media,leaving stigma, misconceptions, and misinformation surrounding menstruation to continue to exist, he said.
He said it was important for Ghana and all stakeholders to work towards promoting better menstrual hygiene management since it kept young girls and women from attaining their full responsibility.
It also exposes them to health risks like reproductive tract infections, toxic shock syndrome and poor waste management, which affected the environment.
Madam Malonin Asibi, Director of the Domestic Violence Secretariat, MoGCSP, commended the two NGOs for helping to reduce the effects of the COVID-19 on vulnerable girls.
She said the Ministry was working towards implementing a document to control teenage pregnancy, due to the increasing number of domestic and sexual violence and child marriage cases since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana.
She said the Ministry was also working on producing an operational framework for a 10-year strategic framework on ending child marriage, to reduce the injustices girls faced in the country.
Mr Solomon Koranteng, an official with Days for Girls, explained that to support government in reducing child injustices, they engaged the Ghana Health Service and District Health Management teams as well as the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service on the need to advocate sexual reproductive health right and educate vulnerable people on SGBV.
---GNA
Oil closed above $40 a barrel Monday for the first time in more than three months, providing another sign of optimism as Houstons energy-dependent economy tries to claw its way back from the coronavirus-driven oil crash.
Oil rose 3 percent to settle at $40.46 a barrel, propelled by growing demand for petroleum products as more states lift coronavirus-related restrictions on business and travel. In two months, a barrel of crude has recovered by nearly $80, making a 180-degree swing after plunging to a record-low minus $36.98 on April 20.
Were in a better place now than many of us thought even a month ago, said Karr Ingham, a petroleum economist with the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. At $40 oil, were a whole lot closer to keeping smaller operators in business. Their chances for survival are vastly improved.
But hardly assured.
Oil at $40 a barrel still poses a challenge for most shale producers, which typically require $50 to $60 a barrel to turn a profit. The steep cuts to production, spending and employment by energy companies portend prolonged pain for the industry, which faces another wave of bankruptcies.
In addition, no one is certain whether a second wave of coronavirus cases will depress economic activity and with it, energy demand and prices. Several states, including Texas, have seen sharp spikes in cases in recent weeks, raising the risk that oil markets could slide.
The demand risk is still very much real, said Jennifer Rowland, a senior energy analyst with Edwards Jones, an financial research firm.
The industry also faces a long-term risk that the pandemic might forever transform the way the world conducts business and consumes energy, Rowland said. For example, if more people work from home, both commutes and gasoline demand would be reduced.
We could find ourselves with permanent crude demand loss, she said. Its too soon to know.
Nevertheless, analysts said $40 oil is a significant milestone for an industry recovering from the second oil bust in six years and an important psychological booster for energy companies, some of which have begun restarting oil and gas production on wells that were shut in, or closed, a couple of months ago.
Analysts have been surprised by the pace of oils recovery. Most economists, including Ingham, had predicted oil prices would climb back to $40 later in the summer or fall as more office workers and students returned to their respective campuses. The most dire prediction of the pandemic running out of space to store the glut of oil never came to pass.
At $40 a barrel, most shale companies are covering the cost of operating existing wells, and some of the most efficient operators are restarting production. Concho Resources and Parsley Energy are reopening existing wells while ConocoPhillips and EOG Resources said they are looking to increase production in the third quarter.
Most shale producers, however, will still have to cut costs significantly to operate at $40 a barrel, Rowland said.
Companies cant grow at $40, Rowland said. They can sustain and survive, but its not a price level where they are going to be growing and viable for the long term.
It will take sustained oil prices in the $50-$60 range for energy companies to feel confident to start drilling new wells, analysts said. The U.S. rig count has fallen 15 straight weeks to a record low of 266 rigs in operation, according to Baker Hughes, a Houston oil field services company.
The rig count, a leading indicator of U.S. oil and gas production, has plunged by more than 60 percent since mid-March and by more than 72 percent compared with a year ago, when there were 967 rigs in operation. The count is well below the bottom of the last oil bust in May 2016, when there were 404 operating rigs nationally.
I dont see the industry adding new rigs to any great degree at $40, Ingham said. Its more about restarting wells that were shut in. Thats the first domino to stand back up due to rising prices.
paul.takahashi@chron.com
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New Delhi, June 23 : Prime MInister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national President J.P. Nadda on Tuesday paid tributes to the founder of Jana Sangh Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his death anniversary.
"Tribute to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the great son of India on his death anniversary," Modi said in a tweet.
Shah also recalled the works of Mookerjee and said that he never compromised on the integrity of India and laid his life for the country. In a series of tweets, Shah said, "Mookerjee, was a hero who not only fought for the country's independence but also fought for the integrity of the country and laid his life. His tenacity and struggle to keep Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India is praiseworthy." "He did not take time to resign from the government without compromising on the people and country's interest. His life and works will inspire crores of people like me, tributes to such a unique symbol of national identity," Shah said in another tweet in Hindi.
Nadda also took to Twitter and wrote, "Tributes to Mookerjee on his death anniversary, who opposed one nation, two constitutions, and was a source of inspiration for the abolition of Article 370 and 35A for all round development of Jammu and Kashmir." Mookerjee had given the slogan of 'no two Constitutions, no two Prime Ministers and no two flags in one nation'.
Mookerjee, who was known to be a harsh critic of the Congress party in independent India, was against Article 370 and 35A had expressed his displeasure at special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
He founded Bharatiya Jana Sangh that later became the BJP.
Islamabad: Former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and others accused in a money laundering case will be indicted by the accountability court here on July 7. Accountability Judge Mohammad Azam Khan on Tuesday announced that the accused who are already in jail can attend the hearing through video link, while others will have to appear in person during the framing of the charges against them.
Zardari, who is the president of Pakistan Peoples Party, was arrested in 2019 for probe in two cases of money laundering and Park Lane but was later set free on bail. The 64-year-old former president has rejected all the charges against him and termed them politically motivated.
Those who are in prison include Khawaja Anwar Majeed, who is in judicial custody at the district jail in Karachi, and Hussain Lawai, Taha Raza and Mohammad Umair, who are in judicial custody in Adiala jail, Rawalpindi. An FIR in the case was lodged on July 6, 2018, by the Federal Investigation Agency, alleging that a huge amount of money was being laundered through fake and forged accounts.
The companies and persons involved in the forged accounts were named in the FIR and it was alleged that the scam is worth about Rs 4.145 billion. Separately, the accountability court is scheduled to indict Zardari and others in the Park Lane case on June 26.
The Park Lane land case is being investigated against Zardari for his alleged involvement in extending the loan and its misappropriation by M/s Parthenon Private Limited, M/s Park Lane Estate Private Limited and others
A United States Army private has confessed to conspiring with a UK-based neo-Nazi group to kill fellow American servicemembers stationed in Turkey by handing them classified information about troop movements, federal prosecutors said.
Ethan Phelan Melzer, 22, of Louisville, Kentucky, is the first of several suspects likely to be arrested and charged with terrorism-related offenses, according to a statement released by the US Attorney's Offfice in the Southern District of New York.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss called Melzer 'the enemy within.'
'Melzer was motivated by racism and hatred as he attempted to carry out this ultimate act of betrayal,' Strauss said. Strauss became the acting head of the Manhattan federal prosecutor's office when Geoffrey S. Berman resigned after Attorney General William Barr told him in a letter Saturday that he wanted him out and so did Donald Trump.
Federal prosecutors allege that on or around May 23, Melzer used an encrypted messaging app to 'solicit assistance for a mass casualty attack on his US Army unit once it deployed to Turkey.'
Melzer is alleged to have 'provided confidential and sensitive information to a user of the app about his unit's size, anticipated travel routes in Turkey, its weaponry, and its defensive capabilities.
Federal prosecutors say Melzer understood that this information would be used to 'facilitate' a 'mass casualty attack' on the unit.
Melzer is alleged to have used a username, 'Etil Reggad,' in his communications with an 'anarchist, neo-fascist, neo-Nazi, and anti-Semitic' organization known as the Order of Nine Angles, or O9A.
According to the federal government, O9A has expressed extremist views including one which claims Adolf Hitler 'was sent by our gods to guide us to greatness' and that the 'story of the Jewish 'holocaust' is a lie to keep our race in chains and express our desire to see the truth revealed.'
United States military personnel are seen above in Adana, Turkey, in December 2015. A US Army soldier confessed to providing details about his unit's troop movements and weaponry to extremists who were plotting an attack on American servicemembers in Turkey, federal prosecutors say
Nazi occult group which dreams of creating a 'Satanic Empire' through heinous violence Behind its absurd fantasies of dominating the solar system, lurks a terrifying Nazi-Satanist group which is finding followers across the world. The Order of Nine Angles, believed to have been founded in the UK in the 1960s, deifies Hitler and the Third Reich. The Mass of Heresy, which is written in the group's Black Book of Satan, is spoken before an altar shrouded in a banner of the swastika, with a framed photo of Adolf Hitler and Mein Kampf on top. The followers chant: 'We believe Adolf Hitler was sent by our gods to guide us to greatness. We believe in the inequality of the races and in the right of the Aryans to live according to the laws of the folk.' Their rituals involve the eating of cannabis cakes, drinking wine, sexual acts performed by a priestess and the sacrifice of animals, according to UK-based pressure group Hope Not Hate. The image above shows the logo for the Order of Nine Angles, or O9A, a UK-based neo-Nazi extremist group that is also believed to be active in the United States The order's Black Book is considered so dangerous its three volumes are kept vaulted in a special section of the British Library. The book asks for the Spring Equinox to celebrated by sacrificing a human being and suggests this could be 'a Nazarene, such as an interfering investigative journalist.' The group believes that the world is controlled by a Zionist Occupation Government, an anti-Semitic term used by neo-Nazis during the 1980s to describe Jewish control of the state. The order aims to subvert society by urging its followers to commit random acts of violence, rapes and to 'cull' victims. There are believed to be 'Nexions' (cells) throughout the world amid fears that online trolls are seeking out the most extreme positions possible. O9A aims to recruit a 'certain type of rebellious young person' who is prepared to take action and incite others to commit violence. The order seeks to surround itself in mystery and make its aims obscure and terrifying to outsiders. Hope Not Hate described it in a 2019 report as 'unquestionably the world's most extreme Nazi Satanist group.' Advertisement
The government says O9A has also expressed support for the views of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden as well as backing for his organization's terrorist attacks including the bombing of American embassies in Africa, the attack on the USS Cole, and the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Federal prosecutors said they obtained messages sent by Melzer on his phone in April in which he expressed a desire not to 'end up' like a US soldier who was arrested for being affiliated with a neo-Nazi group.
Melzer, who was stationed in Vicenza, Italy, with his unit, is alleged to have communicated with a co-conspirator on or around May 17.
The co-conspirator asked Melzer if the unit had deployed to Turkey because another co-conspirator 'needs to know' since he 'has plans inshallah my brother, allahu akbar.'
'Allahu akbar' means 'God is great' in Arabic, and 'inshallah' translates to 'God willing'.
The co-conspirator then asked Melzer: 'Are we literally organizing a jihadi attack.'
To which Melzer replied: 'Yes probably...As long as I get the info I need to give you all.'
The co-conspirator then asked Melzer if he was worried about 'gett[ing] shot' in the attack on his unit.
'Who gives a f***...The after effects of a convoy getting attacked would cover it...It would be another war...I would've died successfully...Cause if another 10 year war in the Middle East would definitely leave a mark.'
A confidential informant communicated with Melzer on or around May 23.
Melzer messaged the source, asking: 'I mean if you know some kinder weird Italian groups that would be willing to do something to stir something up I wouldn't mind.'
To which the source replied: 'Stir something up with what? I'm confused you said you were in Turkey in the military.'
Melzer replied that he was 'stationed in Vicenza' and that he was 'going to Turkey for a deployment.'
When the confidential source asked Melzer what he meant by 'stirring up,' Melzer replied: 'Ok let me be as direct as possible...IF YOU KNOW ANYONE IN TURKEY TELL THEM THIS INFO there.'
Melzer was then asked what information he was referring to, to which Melzer replied: 'that you know that there is a convoy coming through Turkey soon and date and time will be given soon. Goddamn.'
The federal government alleges that the 'convoy' was Melzer's unit.
In another text message intercepted by the government, Melzer claimed that he 'used to be cool with a couple IS members who lived in France' and that '3 of them are dead now and the last 2 I've lost contact with lately.'
The federal government alleges that 'IS' stands for Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
The confidential source then wrote to Melzer: 'So for the sake of clarity (and because I'm an idiot so I want to make sure I'm not misunderstanding)you currently stationed in Vicenza with U.S. army will be deployed to Turkey soon.
'A 'convoy' (your own convoy?) will be going through Turkey, and on Monday you'll be receiving the date and time the convoy will be going through Turkey.
'And you're going to dm me said time and date so that I can pass it along to any jihadis in Turkey. Right?
'And [redacted] you're going to do the same with your 'hajis' (lol).'
Melzer replied: '[y]ou just gotta understand that currently I am risking my literal free life to give you all this.'
He also wrote that he was 'expecting results.'
When told that arranging an attack on his convoy could jeopardize his life, Melzer wrote: 'Your kidding right. If we were to trigger this the right way the amount of s*** this would cause would cover it.
'My life would be absolutely meaningless in the amount of s*** it would cause after.
'Ok that sounds retarded but really it's true.'
Melzer also told his co-conspirators information about his unit's weaponry and defensive capabilities. He said that his unit lacked firearms including machine guns, grenade launchers, and anti-tank weapons.
The only weapons his unit was said to be armed with were M4 assault rifles, according to investigators.
William F. Sweeney Jr., head of the FBI's New York office, said: 'Melzer declared himself to be a traitor against the United States, and described his own conduct as tantamount to treason. We agree.'
The charges against Melzer represent the first case that will be overseen by the new acting US attorney in charge of the Southern District of New York.
Berman stepped down only after he was assured Strauss, his second-in-command, would replace him and that the office's ongoing probes would not be disturbed.
Melzer, who enlisted in the Army in December 2018 and allegedly reached out to the extremist group in 2019, was arrested on June 10. He faces charges including trying to support terrorists and conspiring to murder military members.
It was not immediately clear who will represent him in court.
The complaint said that during a May 30 interview, Melzer confessed to his role in plotting the attack, admitting he planned for it to cause the deaths of as many of his fellow service members as possible.
The complaint said he also declared himself to be a traitor against the United States whose conduct was tantamount to treason.
The largest outdoor, family-friendly concert series in the Tennessee Valley continues in Chattanooga on Aug. 1 at the Tennessee Riverpark. Marking its twenty-second year, Jfest welcomes positive music enthusiasts to enjoy its outdoor music festival with artist and Grammy Award winner Zach Williams. Other artists include, American Idol finalists Danny Gokey and Colton Dixon, Unspoken, The Afters, Caitie Hurst, CAIN, and local band, The Union Chattanooga with an after party featuring Aaron Cole and Nobigdyl following fireworks.
This year presents unique guidelines due to COVID-19. The staff at Partners for Christian Media,
who are the organizers of Jfest, is in constant contact with the Hamilton County Health Department to ensure all safety regulations and protocols are followed. A multi-level plan that will fulfill current mandates has been produced and will be followed.
If there has ever been a time when a family music festival of hope and encouragement is needed, it is now," said Festival Director Ted Gocke. "We are so thankful to have been working with the local government officials to follow Governor Bill Lees Tennessee Pledge and are looking forward to celebrating with everyone at Jfest."
In addition, a sellout is expected early, said organizers. Wristbands, which serve as the entry into Jfest, will be limited to 25 percent of the venue capacity to allow for social distancing. Partners for Christian Media staff is encouraging festival goers to buy their wristbands now at jfest.com before they sell out.
For more information, please contact Mr. Gocke at 424-1294 or ted@jfest.com.
Bamboo Systems, a provider of transformative Arm-based servers, today announced the availability of its newest systems, the B1000N Series, based on a revolutionary new system architecture, Bamboo PANDA.
Bamboo Systems patent-pending Parallel Arm Node Designed Architecture (PANDA), is a revolutionary new approach to server design, crafted to meet the demands of both modern software structures and the challenge of energy-hogging data centers. PANDA-based servers use embedded systems methodologies designed to run modern microservices-based workloads while consuming minimal energy and delivering industry-leading density for high throughput computing. Kubernetes-based applications, edge computing, data analytics and AI/ML deployments are solutions that are well suited for Bamboo.
Bamboos PANDA-based systems utilize Arm processors and deliver individually balanced servers by reducing many of the well-known traditional server architecture bottlenecks, often caused by very large processors having to share limited resources. Each B1000N system can be configured with either one or two blades in 1U, with each blade containing four compute nodes and a non-blocking embedded L3 switch exposing dual 40Gb QSFP uplink ports. Each compute node is an independent Arm-based server capable of running Linux, or other compliant operating systems. Nodes use a SolidRun COM Express Type 7 module utilizing the NXPSemiconductors Layerscape LX2160A with 16 Arm Cortex-A72 processors with up to 64GB of DDR4 ECC DRAM, hardware accelerated dual 10Gb/s network interfaces and an integrated PCIe NVMe drive, up to 8TB.
A fully configured B1008N consists of 8 servers providing 128 cores, 16 DDR4 memory channels to 512GB DRAM, 24GB/s to 64TB of NVMe storage, fed through 160Gb/s network bandwidth all in a single rack unit at approximately 50% of the cost of a traditional Intel-based server.
Bamboo servers include a web-based interface, the intuitive Pandamonium Management Software, based on Bamboos REST API for integration with orchestration platforms. Pandamonium provides control over system configuration, status updates of components, and the ability to power off individual compute nodes if they are not being used, enabling additional energy savings.
B1000N Series benefits include:
Typical savings of 50% of acquisition cost as compared to equivalently configured x86 systems
Up to 75% less energy consumption
Up to 80% less rack space used
Directly attached NVMe flash storage to every application processor to reduce the need for large amounts of DRAM or network bandwidth, delivering high performance throughput to large locally cached datasets
Integrated NIC with hardware encryption/decryption and compression/decompression offloading work from the application processor
Dedicated network resources for each node
Significantly reduced external switch and cable management costs
Balanced system resources deliver the computing infrastructure for high-throughput and modern microservices-based software designs
The x86 system architecture hasnt particularly changed since the 1980s and can no longer cope with the demands of modern application workloads or data center energy challenges, said Tony Craythorne, chief executive officer, Bamboo Systems. Without the constraints of legacy designs, we are able to deliver servers that are built for todays microservices-based software, but which consume a fraction of the energy of traditional systems. This enables compute densities never before seen and for a far less cost than that of legacy x86 systems. Our servers are the future of data center and enterprise computing.
The B1000N starts at under $9,995 and will be available in the USA and Europe in Q3.
For more information about Bamboo Systems, please visit http://www.bamboosystems.io
# # #
About Bamboo Systems:
Our mission is to revolutionize server architecture to meet the demands of modern software design while disrupting the status quo on energy consumption. Bamboo servers are optimized for microservices-based software making them ideal for high performance workloads and processing at the edge, while saving one-half the typical acquisition cost of a legacy server, 75% of the energy consumption, and 80% of the rack space. Find out more at http://www.bamboosystems.io
A big-cat lover's two lions and a puma face an uncertain future as planning bosses decide whether to allow him to keep them in a 12-foot-high enclosure.
Reece Oliver, 29, drove more than two thousand miles to rescue African lion cubs Rocky and Rora from a Czech Republic circus last February.
The former show-jumper was originally granted planning permission for the use of the enclosure as a home for big cats. But the land registry has since revealed the land doesn't belong to Reece.
His case has been hauled back to the planning committee and a decision will be made tomorrow.
Several months after he rescued the cubs Reece applied for retrospective planning permission for the 4306-square-foot enclosure at his home in Strelley, Nottinghamshire.
Reece Oliver (pictured with his girlfriend Annie), 29, drove more than two thousand miles to rescue African lion cubs Rocky and Rora (pictured) from a Czech Republic circus last February
The enclosure is now home to both lions and a Canadian puma called Rogue.
At the time of the first application some 14 neighbours complained the enclosure was too close to a bridleway and would be 'unsafe' as a home for big cats at just 147 feet from the nearest house.
Despite this, permission was granted on the understanding all parties would work on a legal document - called a unilateral undertaking - over the future of the cats.
The agreement made Reece promise only to use the enclosure for the three cats he currently had, and to get rid of it when they died or moved.
The former show-jumper was originally granted planning permission
But when it was submitted earlier this year, Land Registry showed the owner of the land was not Reece.
Reece lives in the nearby barn conversion with his parents; Karen, who owns a string of childrens nurseries and his heating engineer father Gary. His girlfriend Annie and his grandparents also live there.
The family have two squirrel monkeys called Ronnie and Reggie.
Previously a stable yard, the 12-foot high encased mesh enclosure was built on land officially registered as 'equestrian'.
Last year he was asked to apply for retrospective planning permission to change the use of the land to allow for big cats.
At the time, Reece, who is licenced to keep wild animals, said he didn't realise he needed to apply to the council for planning permission.
The permission was granted by Browtowe Borough Council in June 2019.
Planners who visited the enclosure in January this year - following up on 'reports of unlawful development' - found the enclosure was 'material different' from the originally design.
A report into the enclosure said there were worries over 'enforceability issues' since the land and cats were owned by different people.
It added: 'Members will be aware that the decision made on 26 June 2019 was made on the understanding that the applicant owned the land as well as the cats.'
It also said a site visit in January revealed 'a number of inconsistencies with the plans of the puma enclosure'.
Several months after he rescued the cubs Reece applied for retrospective planning permission for the 4306-square-foot enclosure at his home in Strelley, Nottinghamshire. Pictured, enclosures can be seen from the lane near Reece's home
The report added: 'A number of inconsistencies with the plans of the puma enclosure were observed including the subdivision of the enclosure, the addition of a second link from the enclosure to the stables, and a small addition to the north west corner of the enclosure to create a security door.'
The changes were found to be so significant a new planning application would have to be made.
It added: 'These additions constitute a material change to the scheme originally considered and therefore an amended planning application would be required to legitimise the enclosure.
'However, this does not affect the ability of the Council to grant planning permission for the enclosure as originally proposed.'
Reece lives in the nearby barn conversion with his parents; Karen, who owns a string of childrens nurseries and his heating engineer father Gary. His girlfriend Annie and his grandparents also live there. Pictured with his puma Rogue
Planning bosses will only be considering the unilateral agreement issues - not the alleged changes to the enclosure - when they make a decision tomorrow.
Speaking when he was granted permission last year, Reece said: 'It's the best feeling in the world. It's the best result ever.
'It's aged me though. These last few weeks have been extremely stressful, but I know those animals would have had to have been put down.'
It was previously reported that details around the lions' rescue were unclear.
On his Just Giving fundraising webpage, where he asked for donations to help feed the cats, Reece first claimed the cubs mother had died.
He later said they were not siblings and could be mated.
Planners who visited the enclosure in January this year - following up on 'reports of unlawful development' - found the enclosure was 'material different' from the originally design
Animal charities have also questioned his insistence that he was rescuing the lions to stop them being put down.
Wild animal welfare charity Born Free Foundation said the animals would not have been killed if hed surrendered them to its care. Instead, they would have been sent to a sanctuary in South Africa.
Reece denied paying for the animals beyond the costs of driving to collect them from the Czech Republic in a quarantine van used to transport his horses.
He has previously worked with big cats in Germany and has a European Zoo Keepers Licence.
Reece said he was told the cubs needed help by a colleague from the network of UK private keepers he keeps in contact with through Facebook.
Reece with his puma Rogue. He has previously claimed he rescued the animals because there is 'no where for them to go that's safer'
The Born Free Foundation found nearly 5,000 wild animals officially classed as dangerous living in private homes in the UK.
All insist their actions benefit animals and that their exotic pets are no threat to anyone.
I know one guy who has two bears, cheetahs, clouded leopards and everything, Reece said. He has just built a bear enclosure that cost him 150,000. The top private keepers keep the animals better than zoos, where its quantity over quality.
In private collections, the animals can get more attention, more security, more enrichment, more time, better facilities.
'For me, this is about conservation. Theres nowhere for them to go thats safer. I love these animals like they were my own children. I would have made their enclosure bigger if I could, but I always have the authorities to answer to.
KAMPALA While most Ugandans describe land as the key to wealth, leaving it idle for years is not a smart idea.
In Uganda, it is not unusual for one to leave their piece of land vacant for years because they do not have funds to develop it.
Even though it appreciates in value over time, the returns may not be commensurate if it had been developed.
To help more Ugandans harness the potential of their land assets, Buladde, a Savings and Credit Co-operative organisation (Sacco) was born in 2016, to help the Buganda Land Board staff to improve their security of tenure, develop their land and improve their way of living through savings and borrowing.
We discovered that most people did not have money to secure their land, they cannot get money to survey their land or even finish their houses. So we decided to start a Sacco where people could save and take credit to develop their land, John Mark Golooba, the Buladde Financial Services manager said.
From 80 members in 2016, Buladde currently has a total membership of 2,553 members as of December 2019 and about sh1.12 billion has been disbursed out in loans in the last 4 years.
Although credit was initially for land-related developments, Golooba said that they later realised that people need credit to do other developmental projects such as business.
Despite the growth, Golooba said the Sacco has been grappling with a number of challenges including some people wanting to access credit yet they do not want to save.
Most of our people do not have a good saving culture and we discovered that such people also find it had to re-pay loans. However, Buladde came to change this narrative; we empower our members to develop themselves, borrow at affordable rates and repay in a convenient period, Golooba said.
He, however, said that the saving culture is constrained by the manual process of saving and accessing credit, which makes it hard for members from far districts such as Masaka to diligently save and also access their savings when they need to.
Technology
Golooba, however, noted that the Covid-19 pandemic which forced the government to institute measures to constrain movement of people has opened their eyes about the importance of adopting the use of technology.
Technology is very important for Saccos; banks and mobile money come in handy as we deliver our services. We are pleased to be part of the 40-days-40-FinTechs project and looking forward to improving our systems to further serve our clients, he said.
Buladde is one of the entities participating in the 40-days-40-FinTechs project, an initiative of HiPipo, in partnership with Crosslake Tech, ModusBox and Mojaloop Foundation.
The initiative seeks to enable FinTechs to innovate solutions that facilitate cross-network financial transactions at minimal risks to enhance access to financial services.
Running for 40 days, the project will see the participating 40 FinTechs acquire interoperable development skills to improve access to financial services, using the Mojaloop open source software.
The HiPipo CEO Innocent Kawooya commended Buladde for the initiative to promote savings and credit through a niche product land, but urged them to embrace technology, saying that currently, it relates to every sector.
This is an intriguing product; you realised that you are in control of land that is usually an asset for security in every financial institution. If you are to give a loan, you know where to start from in case you need any recoveries. This is a niche centric product that is not only helping people understand finance but are also helping people learn good financial habits like savings, Kawooya said.
He added: The main role of financial technology is to improve financial inclusion and you are already doing that; you are already encouraging very many people to save money and also extending out credit to help people improve their businesses.
Kawooya pledged to help Buladde get a test platform free of charge within about six months, so as to onboard its members on a digital system, powered by Mojaloop.
Related
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 10:52:31|Editor: huaxia
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KAMPALA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Monday said some COVID-19 lockdown measures would remain in place in a bid to prevent the virus from spreading in the community.
In a televised address, Museveni said that the country was now entering a dangerous stage where more community cases were being registered.
He said lockdown measures announced in March such as the closure of schools, worship centers, salons, night clubs, bars and shopping arcades would remain in place.
The night curfew would also be in force until scientists advise otherwise.
Uganda has so far registered 774 cases with no deaths. Enditem
Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, speaks during a July 8, 2019, news conference about the arrest of Jeffrey Epstein on sex-trafficking charges. (Jason Szenes / EPA/Shutterstock)
Atty. Gen. William Barrs abrupt decision to remove a prosecutor who had overseen investigations into President Trumps allies understandably has aroused alarm about the politicization of the administration of justice. It demands investigation by Congress and the Justice Departments inspector general.
On Friday, Barr announced that Geoffrey Berman, who was appointed U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York by a federal court, was stepping down and that Trump would nominate Jay Clayton, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to the position. Meanwhile, Barr said, the Manhattan office would be headed by Craig Carpenito, the U.S. attorney in New Jersey.
A defiant Berman protested that he hadnt resigned and would remain in office until the Senate confirmed his successor. Until then, Berman said, our investigations will move forward without delay or interruption. The obvious inference was that the attempt to dismiss Berman threatened those investigations, which reportedly include a probe of Rudolph W. Giuliani, Trumps personal lawyer.
Barr announced the next day that Trump had fired Berman but that the office would temporarily be run by Audrey Strauss, a respected prosecutor who played a key role in the prosecution of Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer and fixer. Berman then agreed to leave office. Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, indicated that it was unlikely that the Senate would act on Claytons nomination if it were opposed by New York's two Democratic senators.
But this is not necessarily a case of alls well that ends well. Strauss could be removed in the future. And there remain legitimate questions about why Barr suddenly moved to oust Berman, especially given Barrs history of taking actions that benefited Trump and his friends. They include the attorney generals misleading characterization of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs conclusions about the Russia investigation, his intervention to soften a sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone and the Justice Department's effort to exculpate Michael Flynn.
Story continues
Benign explanations have been offered for Barrs move against Berman, including that his primary motivation was to install Clayton in the Manhattan position. But as Berman noted, he could have remained in charge while the Senate considered Claytons nomination. The Wall Street Journal reported that Bermans removal might have been related to his refusal to sign a letter criticizing New York Mayor Bill de Blasio for COVID-19 social distancing rules that supposedly treated religious gatherings differently from street protests. (A Justice Department spokeswoman insisted that Barr didnt know that Berman did not sign the letter, and that the letter played no role in the decision to remove Berman.)
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called for Berman's firing to be investigated by the Senate Judiciary Committee as well as the Justice Departments Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility. The latter two offices investigated the firing of nine U.S. attorneys during the George W. Bush administration. Meanwhile, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) has pledged to conduct his own inquiry, saying the firing fit into a pattern by Trump and Barr of interfering with investigations.
To Barr's credit, his letter to Berman rejected the implication that Bermans departure would jeopardize the appropriate handling of pending cases in the Southern District. The attorney general added that he had authorized Inspector General Michael Horowitz to investigate any future claim of improper interference.
But given all that has come before in this administration and especially in Barr's tenure, that's just not enough. The inspector general, and Congress, must also scrutinize the decision to remove Berman. When it comes to the impartial administration of justice, this administration cant credibly claim the benefit of the doubt.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:40:01|Editor: huaxia
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KATHMANDU, June 23 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 cases in Nepal crossed 10,000 on Tuesday, formally entering into the worst case scenario as defined by the Nepali government, a senior official of Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population said.
"With new 538 cases in the last 24 hours, the number of total COVID-19 cases in Nepal reached 10,099," Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, said told a press briefing.
The Health Sector Emergency Response Plan against COVID-19 prepared by the health ministry has categorized the scenario where the country sees more than 10,000 cases as the worst case scenario.
As per the plan, the Nepali government could declare a health disaster, put all the confirmed mild cases of COVID-19 into home isolation and call for enhanced international humanitarian support.
In just the last 11 days, the number of cases doubled from just over 5,062 on June 12 to over 10,099 on June 23. The number had soared after the Nepali government relaxed lockdown on June 10, allowing most economic activities to be operated.
"We are now preparing to arrange testing kits and other medical items in anticipation that the country could see 30,000 COVID-19 cases soon," Sameer Adhikari, joint spokesperson at the Health Ministry, told Xinhua. The pandemic has also spread in 76 out of 77 districts of the country, according to the ministry.
But, Nepali officials said that most cases are confined among returnees from abroad, particularly from India with which Nepal shares an open border. Right after arrivals, they are taken to the quarantine centers where most of the COVID-19 cases have been identified.
According to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), 95 percent of the total infected had come to Nepal from abroad.
"Of the returnees, a maximum number of people entered Nepal from India, but 98 percent do not have symptoms which mean there are very less serious cases in Nepal," said Basudev Pandey, director of the EDCD.
Nepal has so far reported 24 deaths from the pandemic. Enditem
Freezing and storing embryos during fertility treatment using a technique called vitrification is safe, although women are less likely to become pregnant and have a live birth the longer the embryos are stored, according to new research published today (Wednesday) in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world's leading reproductive medicine journals.
There have been concerns that vitrification technology could be unsafe for the embryo, leading to complications at the time of birth and later, including preterm birth, low or high birthweight and birth defects.
Until now, it was also unclear whether storage time after vitrification affected embryo viability, pregnancy outcomes or neonatal outcomes. The study, which is the largest to investigate these questions, found that the chances of becoming pregnant and giving birth to a live baby significantly decreased with longer storage time.
The researchers from the Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital (Shanghai, China) analysed outcomes from 24,698 patients who had vitrified embryos transferred for the first time between January 2011 and December 2017.
They compared patients who had vitrified embryos stored for up to three months (group one) with patients whose embryos were stored for 3-6 months (group two), 6-12 months (group three) and 12-24 months (group four). They found that the implantation rate fell from 40% in group one to 26% in group four; the clinical pregnancy rate fell from 56% in group one to 26% in group four; and the live birth rate fell from 47% in group one to 26% in group four.
This means that among women who had embryos stored for less than three months, 47 out every 100 women would achieve a live birth. Whereas among women who had embryos stored for between 12-24 months, 34 out of every 100 women would achieve a live birth.
The rate of miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies also increased with longer storage time. However, these associations were not statistically significant after taking into account factors that could affect the results such as the mother's age, mother's body mass index, the cause of infertility, parity and embryo quality and stage of development. There was no evidence that storage time affected neonatal outcomes.
Groups three and four had a greater proportion of older women or patients with a poor prognosis due to smaller numbers of available eggs than groups one and two; so the researchers carried out a second analysis to investigate whether it could be the women's ages and the amount of viable eggs they had in their ovaries at the time of vitrification and embryo transfer that led to the lower pregnancy and birth rates.
They analysed a subset of 7,270 women who were younger than 36 years and whose infertility was caused by blocked or damaged fallopian tubes. This produced similar results; there was a 50% live birth rate among women in group one, compared to a 38% live birth rate in group four.
Dr Qianqian Zhu is a research assistant who led the study. She said: "We think the results from this sub-analysis support our main results about the relationship between the duration of storage with pregnancy and neonatal outcomes."
Co-author, Professor Qifeng Lyu is deputy director of the department of assisted reproduction at the hospital. He said: "Our study suggests that although the storage time of vitrified embryos negatively affected pregnancy outcomes, including clinical pregnancy and live birth rates, it did not affect neonatal outcomes. Concerns have arisen over the safety of prolonged storage time of vitrified embryos worldwide following the wide application of vitrification, and neonatal health is related to growth, development and health in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Our study demonstrated the safety of using long-stored embryos after vitrification on neonatal health.
"This is reassuring news for couples seeking fertility treatment. The reduction in live birth rates can be overcome through additional embryo transfer cycles. If we had found that neonatal health was adversely affected by vitrification, it would impose a heavy burden on individuals, family and society."
The study is unable to show the effect of storing embryos for longer than 24 months, and the researchers did not undertake long-term follow-up of babies, so do not have information about their growth and development. As the study was retrospective, the researchers say that prospective studies with long-term follow-up are needed to investigate the safety of vitrification for longer periods of time.
Dr Zhu said: "Our results suggest that clinicians should consider the effect of storage duration before making decisions about the numbers of embryos to freeze and store. This is especially important for cancer patients, who may have their ovaries destroyed by cancer therapies and who have to delay fertility treatment until they have recovered from their disease."
Vitrification involves placing embryos briefly in a solution to dehydrate them before they are rapidly frozen into a glass-like state. Chemicals called cryoprotectants are used during this process to prevent ice crystals forming, which could damage the embryos. Then the embryos are immediately exposed to liquid nitrogen to freeze them rapidly, ready for storage. When needed, this process is reversed to thaw and warm the embryos quickly. Vitrification is a simple, fast and inexpensive technique, which has become a fundamental tool in fertility treatments in recent years because of its higher embryo survival rates and better clinical outcomes.
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[1] "The effect of storage time after vitrification on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes among 24,698 patients following the first embryo transfer cycles", by Jianghui Li et al. Human Reproduction journal. doi:10.1093/humrep/deaa136
OPEC+ nations that had been pumping more oil than their quotas allow for are starting to fall in line and provide details to other members of the cartel on how theyll make extra reductions to compensate.
Nigeria, Angola, Gabon and Brunei have submitted plans to the OPEC secretariat in Vienna this week showing that output will be throttled back, according to delegates who asked not to be identified. Iraq and Kazakhstan delivered their schedules at an OPEC+ meeting last week.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners committed to cutting supply by 9.7 million barrels a day -- about 10% of global production -- until at least the end of July to offset the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus crisis.
PRICES: Oil crosses $40 milestone, but not out of the woods yet
Implementation of the accord has been patchy. At a monitoring meeting last week, countries that hadnt fulfilled their curbs promised to make up the shortfall with additional reductions over the coming months. That amounts to 1.26 million barrels a day, spread out between now and September.
Iraq, a habitual laggard, will account for just under half of the total. Having implemented only 46% of its promise to reduce supply by 1.06 million barrels a day in May, it will now cut an additional 573,000 a day over the next three months. Its obligated to lower production by an extra 57,000 in July, and then 258,000 in August and September.
Nigeria, the next-biggest transgressor within the OPEC cartel, has pledged to make up for its 180,000 barrel-a-day overproduction in May by cutting an extra 45,000 a day each month between June and September.
FUEL FIX: Our energy news. Your inbox. A perfect combination.
Despite the stumbles, overall implementation of the new curbs by OPEC+ was strong last month, at 87%. Oil prices have strengthened as a result of the measures and a recovery in fuel demand in nations such as China. Brent crude has more than doubled since late April to around $43 a barrel, though its still down this year almost 35%.
Saudi Arabia and Russia, the leading members of the 23-nation OPEC+ coalition, planned to hold a press conference once the details on compensation cuts were provided. Timing of the event has yet to be finalized.
2020 Bloomberg L.P.
The banking sector performance improved at the end of March 2020, but there are emerging signs that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is beginning to weigh on the industrys performance adversely, the latest Bank of Ghana report has revealed.
Total assets grew by 20.1 per cent year-on-year, underpinned by sustained growth in deposits and shareholders funds. Credit and investments also achieved comparable respective annual growth rates.
However, the growth rates in these key performance indicators show a contraction during the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019.
Total assets grew by 3.5 per cent in the first quarter 2020, lower than the 5.7 per cent growth recorded same period last year. In addition, deposits, credit, investments and profit-after-tax recorded similar lower growth rates.
The lower-than-expected growth rates in the key performance indicators during first quarter 2020 reflect the challenging operating environment for the banking sector due to COVID-19.
Notwithstanding this, the financial sector soundness indicators remain healthy. The latest stress tests conducted in April 2020 suggest that banks remain well-positioned to withstand mild to moderate liquidity and credit shocks based on strong capital buffers and high liquidity positions.
Capital Adequacy Ratio was well above the revised regulatory limit of 11.5 per cent, liquidity remains strong and efficiency indicators have improved.
The non-performing loans ratio of the industry inched up in March 2020 due to commercial banks decisions to slow credit extension while monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.
In the outlook, the evolving economic and operating environment could pose some challenges to the sector. Banks continue to project tightening of credit stance to protect their balance sheet although credit demand could pick up.
The policy measures recently announced by the central bank are expected to help boost the sectors credit operations and moderate emerging risks in the outlook.
Measures by banks to control operational costs, minimise operational losses and contain credit risk while supporting credit expansion to critical economic sectors will be crucial in balancing growth and stability in the sector.
Banks balance sheet
The banking industry posted a strong annual growth in total assets as of March-end 2020 compared with same period last year.
Total assets increased by 20.1 per cent year-on-year to GH133.5 billion in March 2020, higher than the 13.2 per cent growth recorded a year ago.
The increase in asset size was driven mainly by domestic assets, which recorded a doubling in the growth rate at March-end 2020 compared to May 2020.
Accordingly, the share of domestic assets inched up to 93.8 per cent from 91.4 per cent over the period. Gross loans and advances grew by 19.6 per cent to GH44.82 billion in March 2020, higher than the modest 3.7 per cent growth a year earlier.
Similarly, net loans and advances (gross advances adjusted for provisions and interest in suspense) grew by 19.8 per cent to GH39.28 billion against a 6.8 per cent growth in March 2019.
The industrys investments in bills, securities and equity as of end-March 2020 stood at GH52 billion, reflecting a slower year-on-year growth of 15.7 per cent compared with the 27.4 per cent growth at end-March 2019.
The slowdown in investments growth is due both to the base effects of the special resolution bonds issued to Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), which increased the investment balance as at end-March 2019, as well as a contraction in short-term bills investment.
The share of investments in total assets accordingly dipped by 150 basis points but remains the largest asset component.
Total deposits grew by 15.1 per cent year-on-year to GH84.1 billion as at end-March 2020, suggesting sustained confidence in the sector, although lower than the 20.5 per cent increase recorded a year earlier.
Deposits continue to be mobilised mainly from the domestic economy, with domestic deposits accounting for a share of 99.5 per cent of total deposits.
Foreign Currency Deposits (FCD) saw a sharp decline in growth of 9.5 per cent compared to 32.1 per cent a year earlier, suggesting lower holdings of FCD due to the relative stability of the local currency .
The industrys loan-to-deposit ratio, a key measure of financial depth, was 53.3 per cent in March 2020 compared with 51.3 per cent a year ago, indicating an uptick in intermediation.
Key developments in DMBs' balance sheet banking sector developments
Banks increased borrowings to support credit growth. In line with the rebound in credit, and with credit growth outpacing growth in deposits, banks increased borrowings to support credit expansion. Accordingly, total borrowings increased by 22.8 per cent compared with the contraction of 8.4 per cent in the prior year.
The growth in borrowings, however, came mainly from the short-term end, with short-term domestic and short-term foreign borrowings accounting for about 77.5 per cent of the increase.
Banks shareholders funds position remains strong, with higher capital levels supported by profit retention.
Profit retention boosted reserves of banks and contributed to the increase in shareholders funds by 19.2 per cent to GH18.4 billion as at end-March 2020, higher than the prior years growth of 13.5 per cent.
The strong capital base and level of shareholders funds enhance the stability and resilience of the banking sector. Total assets recorded a year-to-date growth of 3.5 per cent in Q12020, lower than the 5.7 per cent in Q12019.
Similarly, deposits inched up only 0.7 per cent, lower than the 6.9 per cent growth over the corresponding period. Credit growth also dipped due to the slowdown in demand for credit and tight credit stance by banks.
The slower growth rates recorded during Q12020 reflect the emerging impact of the economic slowdown and rising risk aversion because of COVID-19. On an annual basis, the industrys balance sheet growth performance was strong, but banks quarterly assessment points to a slowdown in business activity emanating from COVID-19.
However, the latest stress tests suggest banks are resilient and well-positioned to withstand mild to moderate liquidity and credit shocks, which could emanate from the emerging operating environment.
Asset and liability structure
The asset mix of the industry was broadly unchanged; investments dominated with a share of 38.9 per cent in March 2020, marginally lower than the 40.4 per cent share in March 2019. Loans and advances (net) followed with its share virtually unchanged at 29.4 per cent over the two periods.
The share of Cash and Due from Banks inched up to 23.9 per cent from 23.0 per cent. Non-earning assets (fixed assets and other assets) also edged up marginally to 7.8 per cent.
The share of deposits declined to 62.9 per cent in March 2020 from 65.7 per cent in March 2019, in line with the slowdown in the growth of deposits.
The share of borrowed funds, on the other hand, recorded a marginal increase from 13.7 per cent in March 2019 to 14.0 per cent in March 2020.
Shareholders funds relative share remained broadly unchanged at 13.8 per cent in March 2020. Other liabilities increased its share from 6.7 per cent to 9.3 per cent over the corresponding period due mainly to funds from the Receiver to CBG.
Source: Daily Graphic
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The wintry blast lashing Australia is set to bring snow and rain to the country's east coast, while Queenslanders are bracing for their coldest temperatures of the year.
Brisbane has already shivered through its chilliest day of 2020 - with the thermostat dropping to a minimum temperature of 9.1C on Tuesday.
The Bureau of Meteorology says temperatures in Brisbane and the Gold Coast will drop further still on Thursday to 6C as cool, dry air moves through the east coast.
Temperatures are expected to dip below zero degrees in the granite belt high country dividing New South Wales's New England and the Sunshine State's Darling Downs regions.
Two people play in the snow at Victoria's Mount Buller on Tuesday. Australia's east coast is bracing for a further wintry blast later this week - with the mercury in high-altitude parts of Queensland set to drop below zero degrees
The cold temperatures are being driven into across southern Queensland from south-western Australia, Queensland Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Peter Markworth said
Across the eastern seaboard Australians can expect a cold and wet end to the week, with Sydney forecast for showers and Canberra bracing for a -1C day on Friday.
Melbourne meanwhile is forecast for possible rain on Thursday and 7C lows on Friday.
Queensland BoM forecaster Peter Markworth told Daily Mail Australia three locations in the state - Roma, Kingaroy and Miles west of Brisbane - had already recorded sub-zero temperatures as low as -1C this week.
He said the low winds and dry air being driven across southern Queensland from south-western Australia were leading to lower than average minimum temperatures.
'Maximum temperatures are staying around the average for June so during the day it will be warm, but mornings are going to be chillier - about 4-6C below average,' Mr Markworth said.
'Most parts of Queensland have already seen their lowest temperatures of the year and we expect Thursday to be the coolest before we see a return of moisture.'
Snow could also hit parts of the state on Wednesday in flurries across the granite belt according to BoM forecasts, while frost is forecast for central Queensland.
Pictured: A vehicle is seen covered in snow on Monday at Mt Buller Ski Resort in Victoria
A woman covers up with a hooded coat while walking along the sand at Bondi Beach on Tuesday
The Bureau of Meteorology warned earlier this week parts of north-east NSW and south-east Queensland 'are in for a taste of a Tassie-like winter this week'.
'A cold air mass will see snow across NSW's central and northern tablelands, with snow flurries possible in Qld's Granite Belt,' they wrote on Twitter.
Two women rug up as they walk along Bondi Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Tuesday
The Bureau of Meteorology warned parts of north-east NSW and south-east Queensland 'are in for a taste of a Tassie-like winter this week'
Sydney can expect cool mornings this week, with moderate daytime temperatures around the high teens.
Victorians will need umbrellas and jackets, with cloud cover and showers limiting daytime heating for most of the state.
Melburnians can expect rain from Tuesday until Thursday with minimum temperatures around 9C.
Although the wet weather will ease heading into the weekend, minimum temperatures will drop to 4C on Saturday and Sunday.
Pictured: Two women play in the snow at Mount Macedon, north-west of Melbourne
A cold air mass will see snow across NSW's Central and Northern Tablelands
Canberra will be the coldest capital city this week, with a low of zero degrees.
Minimum temperatures will hover around 1C for the entire week, with Wednesday and Thursday, the warmest days, climbing to a brisk 14C, as the city is shaded by clouds.
A front barreling across the southwest over the next few days will generate rain and strong winds along the southern west coast.
Chilly temperatures are forecast in New South Wales on Thursday (pictured)
Scattered showers in Perth, Hobart and Adelaide will bring cool temperatures just below 10C for the first half of the week before temperatures fall going into the weekend.
It was dry and sunny across south-west parts of Western Australia on Monday, before a cold front hit on Tuesday.
Darwin is in for some sunny weather this week with temperatures ranging from the 20s into the 30s.
PHOENIX Long renowned for electing maverick politicians such as Democrat Mo Udall and Republican John McCain, Arizona voters now find themselves in the epicenter of a 2020 campaign that may alter the political balance in the country.
And longtime Republicans here are growing pessimistic, not only about President Donald Trumps chances for winning Arizona in November, but also the future prospects for the state party.
Trump only won by 3 percentage points last time and does not appear to have expanded his base of support since, former GOP Sen. Jon Kyl said in an interview. And he may be losing some of the independents he needs to win by the things he says to motivate his base.
From 2008 to 2020, the number of registered independents in Arizona grew by more than 50 percent, according to data released by the office of the Arizona secretary of state, while the number of registered Republicans and Democrats increased by just 25 percent. And Kyl said the shift in party leanings among that growing bloc of voters is what should concern the state party the most, noting Republican Martha McSallys struggle to garner traction in this years Arizona Senate race after narrowly losing statewide in a 2018 Senate bid by 55,000 voters.
McSally suffers from the divisions surrounding Trump. She needs support from both pro- and anti-Trump Republicans, and its not easy to get that given the difference in feelings most have about Trump, Kyl said. The Senate race should be more concerning to Arizona Republicans since it is more reflective of baseline Republican versus Democratic support than the presidential race.
Now, with polls showing a virtual dead-heat between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, Republicans are worried that those divisions will sap them of suburban votes in both that race and the almost equally important U.S. Senate race here.
The president will travel to the state Tuesday for a tour of border wall construction in Yuma and a Students for Trump Convention in Phoenix. And he is certain to get a warm reception from the Arizona state GOP, which has hewed closely to him throughout his presidency.
Story continues
But some Republicans see less upside in the president's approach than the winning one politicians such as the Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and McCain have used.
Pretty much the Republican orthodoxy has become Trump orthodoxy, which is a reaction to identity politics in a factionalized country and state, Chuck Coughlin, a longtime Arizona Republican operative, said. McCain was about bringing people together.
Trump won Arizona by 3 points in 2016, earning 78,000 fewer votes than McCain in his final Senate race. But that was the closest margin of victory in the state since Bill Clinton won it by just a 2-point margin in 1996 the last Democratic presidential candidate to win it.
The stakes are high outside of Arizonas 11 electoral votes, with the critical Senate race between McSally, who was appointed to fill McCains seat after his death, and Democrat Mark Kelly, an astronaut and the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords.
And for observers like Coughlin, its the down-ballot race that has them most concerned as the number of independent voters continues to grow. He noted that in 2018, the states Republican Gov. Doug Ducey a more traditional, measured conservative easily won his own re-election bid by 14 points while McSally who campaigned as a close ally of the president, lost the Senate race to Sinema.
I think she's capable of that other [McCain] path, Coughlin said of McSally. [But] she succumbed to the identity politics of the Trump era.
Now in 2020, Democrats smell blood in this once-ruby-red state.
Id be ringing the alarm bell, Phoenix-based pollster Mike Noble of OH Predictive Insights said. Theres a reason prior to the 2018 elections that every statewide office in Arizona was held by a Republican. And its because independents have historically voted center-right. Not only are they now center-left, but theyre moving much farther to the left in this current political environment.
A Fox News poll this month showed Kelly beating McSally among independents, who make up nearly one-third of the Arizona electorate, by a margin of 59 percent to 28 percent. In 2018, NBC News exit polling showed that McSally lost independents by 3 percent to Sinema.
She essentially has a six- to eight-week campaign to remain viable in the national conversation as competitive, said Republican Kirk Adams, the former speaker of the Arizona House and the former chief of staff to Ducey.
Most observers will tell you McSally needs a softer image. She is a warrior, and it shows. Which is good as far as it goes but, people also want to see dignity in their senator and a person who cares about them as their representative, Kyl said.
Ironically, McSally the person embodies these qualities; but, she has been at a disadvantage in convincing the voters, Kyl added.
McSally is presently underperforming Trumps own polling numbers in no small part because she has not captured to the same extent as Trump the enthusiasm within the registered Republican base in the more rural areas of the state, Republican operatives say. Trump has dug in to drive the turnout of his base of supporters.
He is anything but moderating, Coughlin said. He is who he is. Hes Popeye. His goal will be to use that fortune that he has in his campaign to make Biden and the Democrats look so unappealing and so unattractive and such a threat to the America that that older generation knows and values.
That message from Trump, and other firebrand Republican candidates in the state, has taken a significant electoral toll in the states most populous county, Maricopa County, which encompasses the mass of suburban neighborhoods across the greater Phoenix area and a growing Latino electorate. Only one candidate in the last decade has won statewide while losing Maricopa County.
The Republican Party saw its first sign of deteriorating support in the county when voters ousted Sheriff Joe Arpaio in 2016 after 24 years in the role and Trump won it by just 3.4 percent. In 2018, McSally lost the county to Sinema by 3.2 percent.
By contrast, McCain won the county by 11 percent in his 2008 presidential bid and by 15 percent in his 2016 Senate victory.
To counter this drop, the Trump campaign believes it can drive up turnout in the rural counties to make up for some of the losses it expects to concede in the suburbs of Maricopa County.
Theres no doubt that theyre running that strategy right now, Coughlin said. But if hes not within 1 or 2 points in Maricopa County, that strategy wont be enough.
By mid-June, Bidens campaign had yet to place a single staffer on the ground solely dedicated to the state, and the former vice president has not visited since July 2018. The campaign, however, announced last week its first three hirings in the state, including Sinemas 2018 campaign manager, Andrew Piatt.
Instead, the campaign has heavily relied on the sizable campaign operation built by Kelly and the Arizona Democratic Party, which also doubled its number of active local organizers from 2016 levels. The Priorities USA super PAC is also already running television ads in support of Bidens campaign in the state.
The Trump campaign has acknowledged its need to defend the territory. It already has 70 staffers on the ground and restarted its door-knocking operation this month.
Sidney (Australia), 22 June 2020 (SPS) - Polisario Front representative in Australia and New Zealand, Kamal Fadel, said Morocco's refusal to respect the international legality and UN silence are a "danger to peace and security in the region," and which, according to him, may lead to a war, and "Morocco and its allies will be the only side to blame."
The Saharawi diplomat, in a virtual conference held Saturday by the group of solidarity with Saharawi people in Australia, denounced "the existence of an occupying power in Western Sahara, which refuses to uphold the resolutions of the international legality."
Kamal Fadel said the silence of the international community is "one of the reasons that led the Moroccan regime to ignore the settlement plan sponsored by the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations."
Asked about the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Saharawi people, Polisario's representative in Australia and New Zealand said the Moroccan regime "takes advantage of the pandemic to further suppress (the local population) in the occupied Saharawi territories and violate the human rights of Saharawi civilians, such as the repression of a peaceful demonstration in El-Aaiun on June17." (SPS)
062/SPS/APS
At a time when our overworked government-run medical facilities are battling the Covid-19 pandemic on the front lines, it is imperative to revisit and review our public healthcare fundamentals. Primary healthcare is the fulcrum around which our entire healthcare delivery system is organised. It is also one of the most fundamental steps toward the chimera, that is universal healthcare.
On the infrastructure front, primary healthcare in India lies chiefly in the domain of sub-centres (SCs) and primary health centres (PHCs). As of March 2018, there were 1.39 health centres (either of SCs and PHCs) per 10,000 people nationally with a shortage of 32,900 SCs & 6,430 PHCs.
Besides the existing 46 per cent shortfall of doctors in PHCs, 74 per cent of the current graduate doctors reside in urban India leaving a large chunk of the rural population underserved. The vacancy rate of doctors is 24.9 per cent across rural PHCs.
Over 10 lakh Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers are the first point of contact between the community and the public health system, even in remote parts of our country. They are demotivated as they are treated in a subpar manner by the government and other health personnel.
Unflattering numbers
India ranks 145th among 195 countries according to a Lancet study on quality and accessibility of healthcare (2016). Indias per capita government health expenditure in 2017 was USD 18.8 per individual (roughly Rs 1,420), which is substantially lower than what BRICS nations or populous countries like China (USD 249.8) spend. A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) estimates that India would require an additional 30 lakh doctors and 60 lakh nurses by 2035, which would cost us 16.22 lakh crore rupees or about 7.48 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2018.
A study by PRS Legislative Research has revealed that the entire healthcare expenditure (both central and all state governments put together) in India as a percentage of GDP has only been around 1.2 to 1.6 between 2008-09 and 2019-20. Though health is a state subject, the budget allocation of the union ministry of health and family welfare hovers around a paltry 0.3 per cent of GDP in the past decade. Most of the Non-Empowered Action Group (Non-EAG) states spend 0.76 per cent of their GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) for health expenditure while EAG states spend 1.36 per cent of GSDP.
The National Health Policy [2017] suggests that the central government must spend 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2025 and state health spending must rise above 8 per cent of their budgets by 2020. The government of Indias High-Level Expert Group on Universal Healthcare [2019] has recommended allocating 70 per cent of the healthcare budget for PHCs.
The way forward
Public health should indeed be deemed non-excludable and non-rivalrous and hence a public good similar to national defence as defined by the economist Paul Samuelson. The Supreme Court has interpreted in many instances on Right to Health being an integral part of Right to Life under Article 21. A constitutional amendment to explicitly ensure that Right to Primary Healthcare is a fundamental right of every Indian citizen is an idea whose time has come. Instead of just being meretricious tokenism, it will in fact be a constitutional covenant of commitment by the Indian State to our people.
While the government has announced a slew of privatisation measures in the backdrop of the coronavirus crisis, public investment is the immediate need of the hour to transform our healthcare system. On the lines of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, we would do well to commit an increased percentage of our GDP for healthcare by an Act of Parliament and also mandate all states to pass consonant laws.
One cannot turn a Nelsons eye towards the dichotomy of the current rural vacancy of doctors when making a case for expanding primary health infrastructure and human resources. While a 2019 Supreme Court ruling upheld mandatory rural service after education as implemented by 12 states like Rajasthan and West Bengal, it also urged the Centre and Medical Council of India to frame a uniform national policy regarding the same.
Sri Lanka offers interesting insights on other factors impacting the success of rural postings. On completing their internship, doctors can choose their place of posting and the government decides on a point-based merit system. A well-maintained system of rotation and voluntary transfer also exists. Allowing private practice has also ensured better rural retention rate. A similar policy calibrated according to the Indian context would be a step in the right direction.
ASHA workers can be recognised with government employee status and provided with other benefits like insurance, pension, etc. In 2011-2012 out of the 5.5 crore people impoverished due to health costs, out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines pushed about 3.8 crore of them back into poverty. In response, the model of centralised pooled procurement of medicines introduced in states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala could be examples to emulate to ensure affordability and availability of medicines.
The experiences of multiple countries in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic have made an emphatic case for an increased public investment in health expenditure. That primary healthcare needs to be a near exclusive domain of the State, both at the central and regional level, is a sine qua non.
CR Kesavan is a former member of the Prasar Bharati Board. @crkesavan
Vignesh Karthik KR is a doctoral researcher at Kings College, London. @krvtweets
Views expressed are personal.
New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyessaid that the underlying issues of poverty and injustice in the community need to be addressed, but not with the police.
Some people say to me, Youre a cop; youre almost talking against having more police, Reyes said. Well, yeah I am. Because the communities dont need the police. If you want healthy communities, they are devoid of police.
Reyes and other community leaders spoke at a virtual forum, Policing in This Current Age: A Conversation, hosted by the Jewish Federation of New Haven, Rev. Stephen Cousin and Rep. Themis Klarides. Reyes focused his remarks on the problems that communities face that police cannot solve and in some cases, are exacerbated by police.
Our goal should be to rid our communities of police, Reyes said. Thats how we know we have gotten somewhere, the question is, are we ready for that right now?
Reyes, who grew up in New Haven, said that there is much less crime on the streets than when he was a little boy. But he noted that the amount of poverty has remained the same and in some cases increased.
The social economic issues that are still making it difficult for people to come out and succeed, education issues, all these systemic issues if we want to stop the prison pipeline and we continue to have a large presence of police in a community and you have you have a community that is impoverished with kids who resort to selling drugs, youre going to have police arresting kids for selling drugs, Reyes said.
Adding law enforcement to the equation creates a cycle that ultimately results in more arrests and more people in prison, and Reyes said the way to stop the cycle is to take a look at the role of police.
Do we need to hire good cops? Reyes asked. Of course we do. Do we need to make sure that we have good community-police relations? Of course we do. But to a hammer, everything looks like a nail. When you put law enforcement out there to handle community issues, they see drug issues and they address it. But in the same breath we say we dont want our kids going to jail for low-level drug offenses.
Reyess comments followed a discussion between other leaders and activists about the idea of defunding the police which has risen in popularity in the wake of George Floyds death and subsequent protests.
Rev. Keith King of Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hamden said he is not in favor of defunding police.
I think that is a term to suggest we dont need the police, King said. There are times when people are committing crimes of violence when I think all of us would want someone with a firearm.
He said the idea of defunding should not be so much about getting rid of the police as it is about determining the role of police alongside other professionals
Are the police engaged in activities that other social professionals, other social services could handle? King asked.
Issues like domestic abuse and traffic violations should not be handled by a police officer King said. For example, King suggested that it wouldnt take an armed officer to deal with a counterfeit $20 bill, George Floyds simple infraction that started the movement.
Assistant Chief of Police at Yale University Anthony Campbell said there is a range of meanings for defunding the police, but he agrees that America needs police in some form.
Funding for police and policing has to be reimagined and changed drastically, Campbell said. Many in the black community do not get the service that they should from the police. Some of that funding should go to social services, education but I also think it needs to be part of the educational process for anyone thinking of taking a police position.
Police officers must learn about the history of policing in America and how this history still impacts policing today, Campbell said.
Students at Yale University, where Campbell works, have launched a petition to defund the Yale Police Department which has about 6,000 signatures.
Defunding the police is not a new term, but it has risen in as a rallying cry after several highly visible incidents of police brutality. Dori Dumas, present of the Greater New Haven Branch of the NAACP, said the phrase has so many different meanings for different people that it is important to have conversations about it with everyone at the table.
Those of us that are community activists who are really trying to see the change, we need to hear all views, Dumas said. Then we need to sit down with people who have expertise about how we can execute and get some of these things in place. If we just keep talking about it and not moving to action, were not going to see it. I feel like the time is now.
The biggest disadvantage, Hirsch said, is the time it takes.
But Im retired now so thats no problem for me, Hirsch said. I donate 24 times a year.
Hirsch remembers when he first started donating at the office on Willow Street.
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I dont remember how many chairs there were, but we only had one TV set, Hirsch said. Id come in after school was out and wed all gather around there to watch Jeopardy. Now we all have our own TVs and ear phones so we dont interfere with each other.
The process is different now than when he began.
When they first started, they would use two tubes, one to take the platelets out and one to return my blood so I couldnt use either arm, Hirsch said. Now its just one arm and they take my blood out and run it through this piece of equipment and that spins my platelets out, then I get my blood back.
On Monday, the process for Hirsch to actually give the platelets was scheduled for 102 minutes.
They give me a mini-examination when I come in here to check my blood pressure and my iron, Hirsch said.
Tripoli (AFP) - Libya's coastal city of Sirte, hometown of ex-dictator Moamer Kadhafi and a strategic gateway to oil export ports, is now at the centre of tensions between rival forces and regional powers.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Saturday that Sirte and Al-Jufra to the south represent a "red line" which Turkey-backed forces should not cross as they support the UN-recognised government in the battle against strongman Khalifa Haftar, a Sisi ally.
- Buffer between GNA and Haftar -
Haftar, who controls most of eastern Libya, seized Sirte in January months after launching an assault on the capital Tripoli, base of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).
The Mediterranean city had been held by GNA forces since December 2016 when they ousted Islamic State group jihadists after six months of fighting.
Haftar's forces, backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia, entered Sirte almost unopposed by buying the allegiance of a local salafist armed group.
Backed by Turkey, GNA fighters have pushed Haftar forces from most of western Libya recapturing a string of strategic cities and positions.
And they have vowed to retake Sirte, the last major settlement before the traditional boundary between western Libya and Haftar's stronghold in the east.
- Strategic importance -
Sirte lies on the Mediterranean coast roughly half-way between Tripoli and Libya's second city Benghazi in the east.
The port city is just 300 kilometres (190 miles) from the shores of Italy.
It is also a mere 150 kilometres west of Libya's main oil export terminals.
In May 2016, pro-GNA forces used Libya's third largest city Misrata as a launchpad for their operation to oust IS from Sirte, fearful the jihadists were seeking to control the so-called "oil crescent" to fund their North Africa operations.
The traditional boundary between Libya's western Tripolitania and eastern Cyrenaica regions lies just east of Sirte.
Story continues
Sirte's only importance for centuries lay in its geographic position as the largely desert region separated Roman provinces from Greek ones.
- Kadhafi's birthplace -
Kadhafi, who was born in Sirte in 1942, made great efforts to turn his birthplace into the capital of his "Jamahiriya" -- a "state of the masses" run by local committees.
He created a new province around the town in addition to the three existing regions of Cyrenaica in the east, Fezzan in the south, and Tripolitania in the west.
In the 1990s, he ordered ministries to be created in Sirte, and even set up a parliament there, but eventually gave up on his plans.
Kadhafi was captured and killed in the town on October 20, 2011.
- Jihadist bastion -
After Kadhafi's ouster in the NATO-backed uprising, Sirte was largely left to its own devices until it fell to IS in June 2015.
The jihadists' black flag was raised over public buildings and their fighters roamed the streets in pickup trucks checking that people were praying at the correct times and that women were not venturing out of the home without a male minder.
In December 2016, GNA forces backed by US aircraft drove the jihadists out of the city after six months of heavy fighting.
US warplanes, drones and helicopters conducted more than 460 strikes.
- Population -
Sirte consisted of several villages spread along the coast with a mostly rural population, including cattle breeders, farmers and a few craftsmen.
Most of its people belong to four major tribes: including the Kadhadfa tribe of Kadhafi, the powerful and large Werfalla who populate the west, the Forjane and the Magariha who were closest to the Kadhafi regime.
Before the uprising, the city had a population of around 120,000, but after years of conflict only about 50,000 remain.
There were three speakers, the last being the hapless Minister for Agriculture, Mr Waller. Apart from playing to what most have been the biggest audience of his career, and an unfriendly one at that, Mr Walker had the galling knowledge that further up the steps Mr Kennett and the Liberal Party were viewing proceedings with the satisfaction of a headmaster and his staff on speech night.
There was no lack of hard luck stories among the marchers for those wishing lo record them. One of the march stewards, 35-year-old Craig Stevens from Robinvale, earned a gross income of $2,800 in the 12 months before be abandoned his farm in December last year. He transferred to selling farm machinery, but the bottom has dropped out of that as well and he is again facing hard times. "I'm only one,"' he says. "There are bloody hundreds up where I come from."
Bill McNamara, 55, from the Camp Hereford Stud at WhorouIy, is a fourth-generation farmer. He once employed five men, but now he cant afford to employ his son. "I have to do the lot myself with just the help of the occasional casual," he said.
Max Fehring, from Cohuna, believes yesterday's march was the beginning of a new political awareness among Victorian farmers. "Governments stand or fall on the vote of the middle class and the middle class vote on what affects them financially." he said. "We've got to become a political pressure".
Then it was over. The march, which had abounded in the symbols of Australian political consciousness (including hawks with an optional "e"), disbanded to a rousing version of 'Waltzing Matilda', a song which takes the side of a vagrant who steals a sheep from a farmer.
While many municipalities have canceled their annual fireworks shows to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus, the bright colors of exploding powder and mortar shells still will be seen in a few places across central Illinois.
Franklin, Beardstown, Jerseyville and Grafton all plan to proceed with their firework displays.
Franklin Lions Club has raised funds through the community and will set off an aerial display of fireworks off of Schoolhouse Road.
Darin Seymour and Tami Thompson, members of the clubs fireworks committee, said the club felt there needed to be some display of patriotism for the Fourth of July.
They always say everyone goes to Franklin for the Fourth and people have lost out on so much the last few months, Seymour said. We felt it was important to have this one thing.
The show has been moved from its traditional location within Franklins city limits out into the county to allow for more people and more spacing.
We are not encouraging people to gather in town, Thompson said. We ask people to sit in their cars, or near their cars.
The club is working with the Morgan County Sheriffs Department on traffic control, Seymour said. Parking for the show will be along Loami Road, Kenny Road and the Franklin-Alexander Blacktop.
If you are within one or two miles of Schoolhouse Road, youll be able to see the show, Seymour said. We normally have ground displays, but we will not be having any this year.
Traffic along Loami and Kenny roads will be adapted from 7 p.m. to the end of the show to help with the flow of traffic and safety, Thompson said.
Traffic on Loami Road will be one-way traveling east while Kenny Road will be one-way traveling west starting at 7 p.m. July 4.
The show will begin about 9:30 p.m. once it is dark.
Beardstowns Elks Club and Beardstown Parks Department also will be setting off a fireworks display.
Richard Jokisch, fireworks chairman for the Elks Club, said the club will be setting off an aerial display from Jones Park on July 4, and it will be visible for several miles.
Its about the idea of freedom, Jokisch said. We figure an aerial display is a safe way to celebrate.
The community always has a good turnout for the fireworks display and often will see people from other communities come to watch the display, Jokisch said.
We may get a few more from other towns, but well handle whatever turnout we get and keep everyone safe, Jokisch said.
Beardstown Mayor Leslie Harris said the city council gave the club $1,000 to help with the display.
Its the American way, Harris said. This is something we needed to have after months of being inside and everything being canceled or closed.
Viewers will be able to watch from their vehicles or homes while practicing social distancing.
Jokisch said no one outside of the support team will be allowed in the park.
Other shows:
The City of Grafton will have its fireworks event from 9 to 11 p.m. July 2 at the Grafton Riverfront.
Fireworks will be set off from the Lake Springfield Marina at 9:30 p.m. July 4.
Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department will set off a display at the Jersey County Fairgrounds at dark on July 4.
Only three daughters and a friend of Waldemir Pereira, attended his funeral at the Nova Iguacu Municipal cemetery on Monday.
The 70-year-old died this past weekend, infected with COVID-19.
Pereira is one of the more than 51,000 Brazilian victims of COVID-19 since the outbreak hit the country.
His daughters don't know how he got sick, he had some pre-existing health problems and was remaining at home to avoid the virus, but it was not enough.
Cintia de Carvalho, one of his daughters, said that the country was not and still not prepared to deal with the pandemic.
Each one of the victims of the virus left a history, a family, friends and memories behind, and artist Edson Pavoni, decided to keep those memories alive.
He created a site called "Innumberables" (Inumeraveis in Portuguese), a kind of memorial to allow people to write something about the loved ones who died, and show that the victims are not just number but human beings.
"Numbers can move us, can move the society until a certain point, but people's histories can touch the heart," Pavoni said.
By Monday, Brazil registered 51,407 deaths and more than one million and one hundred confirmed cases.
While the number of cases and victims keeps growing, some cities decided to ease the restrictive measures.
(Representative Image)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 13:19:04|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Water Resources has called for all-out efforts to prevent floods as continuous downpours in the country's southern areas threatened to inundate rivers and cause damage.
Effective measures should be adopted to prevent the flooding of small and medium-sized rivers with strengthened inspection of key sections and weak links, the ministry said in a statement.
The statement added that more attention should be paid to the scientific operations of reservoirs to allow them to play a vital role in flood control.
The ministry stressed the protection of small and medium-sized reservoirs and a detailed emergency response plan to mitigate potential mudslides, calling for better flood forecasts.
Since June, continuous downpours have lashed large parts of south China and many rivers in the affected regions saw water levels exceed the danger level.
Authorities have dispatched six teams to the affected areas, including the provinces of Anhui and Hunan, to facilitate flood prevention and control. Enditem
SES S.A. announced today the successful launch and pricing of a bond offering in which it has agreed to sell senior unsecured fixed rate notes due in 2028 for a total amount of EUR 400 million. The notes will bear a Coupon of 2.00% per annum and were priced at 99.445% of their nominal value.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200622005589/en/
SES Successfully Prices EUR 400 Million 8-Year Euro Bond (Photo: Business Wire)
SES is rated Baa2 by Moodys (with negative outlook) and BBB- by Standard & Poors (with stable outlook). Proceeds of the issuance will be used for general corporate purposes which includes the refinancing of existing debt.
With this transaction, which was oversubscribed by 2.5 times, SES has taken advantage of the current attractive market conditions to further strengthen its liquidity profile ahead of a EUR 650 million senior debt maturity in March of next year, whereby the residual EUR 250 million will come from cash at hand. As a result of todays transaction, SES has no senior debt maturities to be refinanced until 2023.
BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, ING, J.P. Morgan, SMBC Nikko and Societe Generale acted as Joint Bookrunners. The settlement is scheduled for 2 July 2020 and application has been made for the notes to be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The securities were placed with a broad range of institutional investors across Europe.
Sandeep Jalan, Chief Financial Officer of SES, commented: We are pleased to have secured this financing which allows us to proactively refinance an upcoming debt maturity at more favourable terms. The successful conclusion of this bond offering reflects the market's view of SES as a strong investment grade credit, and underlines the ability of SES to secure funding at attractive terms."
The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or unless pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws. No public offering of securities will be made in the United States of America or in any other jurisdiction where such an offering is restricted or prohibited. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
This announcement does not constitute and shall not, in any circumstances, constitute a public offering nor an invitation to the public in connection with any offer within the meaning of the Directive 2003/71/EC of the Parliament and Council of November 4, 2003 as implemented by the Member States of the European Economic Area (the Prospectus Directive). With respect to the member States of the European Economic Area which have implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant member State), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of the securities requiring a publication of a prospectus in any relevant member State. As a result, the securities may only be offered in relevant member States: (a) to qualified investors (as defined in the Prospectus Directive, including as amended by directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent that this amendment has been implemented by the relevant member State); or (b) in any other circumstances, not requiring the issuer to publish a prospectus as provided under article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive.
In addition to (and without prejudice to) the foregoing, in the European Economic Area this press release is directed only at persons who are not retail investors. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive 2002/92/EC, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) a qualified investor within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive (Directive 2003/71/EC as amended by Directive 2010/73/EU).
With respect to the United Kingdom, this press release is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order) or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as relevant persons). Any securities will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
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About SES
SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the worlds only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the worlds leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SESs video network carries over 8,300 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 367 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200622005589/en/
With the sudden and extensive spread of COVID-19 all over the world, scientists have been seeking to identify the routes of transmission so as to flatten the curve of the pandemic. A recent report by scientists in the United Kingdom and Poland and published on the preprint server medRxiv* in June 2020 describes the presence of stable severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in water for up to 25 days, with the risk of infection by the contaminated water varying by the countrys environment.
NIAIDFollow Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a VERO E6 cell (tan) exhibiting elongated cell projections and signs of apoptosis, after infection with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (green), which were isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID
This could have severe implications for the state of freshwater systems, the seacoast ecology, and the re-emergence of the virus. Today, it is thought that above 40% of infection goes undetected because of the absence of symptoms.
This comes off the back of another recent study by scientists in Ecuador, previously reported by News-Medical, that showed that SARS-CoV-2 to be present in rivers flowing through Quito, implying an enormous transmission risk in developing countries without adequate sanitation facilities.
Waterborne Viral Infections
Waterborne pathogens are substantial health risks, and viruses in this class include adenovirus, astrovirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis E, rotavirus, norovirus, and other enteroviruses. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are known to survive in water, and viral loads in untreated sewage correlate with the population prevalence. Viruses are likely to survive in cold water for more extended periods than in hot. Available evidence suggests that water contaminated with sewage is a potential route of orofecal transmission.
Many possible routes exist for sewage contamination of water used for human cooking and drinking. For instance, the overflow from sewers combined with the leakage of sewage from containing pipes; failure of sewage processing systems; lack of infrastructure in impoverished regions of the world; can all provide ways in which viruses are transmitted to other people by water.
Even during the present pandemic, sewage spills have contaminated houses, shared community spaces, and temporary settlements, which probably lack safe sanitation systems, thus encouraging spread via this route. Another cause of increased viral load in sewage systems is the presence of superspreaders in the population contributing to that sewage, even when the rest of the population has a low prevalence.
The Study: Examining the Viral Load After Sewage Spills
The current study examined in vitro data to first establish the survival capability of the virus, finding that it could remain viable and stable for up to 25 days.
The researchers then used a pollution analysis technique called down the drain to find the level of expected dilution of the sewage by the river water. This yielded an estimate of how much risk humans in 39 countries could expect from sewage spills.
The relative risk (RR), which is the normalized country comparable risk, associated with a sewage spill after dilution by river water, varies with the extent of domestic water use, as well as the weather, the locale, and topography of the area. Those areas with high water usage and high dilution, like Canada and Norway, have the lowest RR. The highest RR is in countries like Germany and Spain where domestic water use is low to medium, but dilution is also low.
Based on the proportion of cases, on May 3, 2020, for the population of 21 countries, they estimated the upper and lower concentration limit of the waterborne virus in the first 24 hours of a sewage spill. Based on the ratio of infectious virus to genome copies, they selected a high, medium, and low estimate, at one in ten, one in a hundred, and one in a thousand, respectively. This agrees with the 10-3 value that is used in other studies to evaluate the risk of virus load, as in one study examining the risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 to sanitation workers.
The researchers found that these estimates showed concentrations of waterborne virus in a viable form that posed a high risk of infection in case of fecal contamination. In countries with a higher RR, if the water was colder, and the rate of population infection was high, the absolute concentrations of the viable virus were higher. During winter, the risk will go up, but the age of the sewage and the temperature during the last few days or hours will be required to understand the impact of detected virus loads.
How This Affects Transmission Risk
On the assumption that 100 copies would be necessary for infection, the researchers estimated that an inhabitant of any of the three countries with the highest virus concentrations who drank 100 ml of contaminated water within 24 hours would get about 470 copies, which carries a high probability of infection.
Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com
To put things in perspective, this is the equivalent of drinking just one or two mouthfuls of water, whereas swimmers often swallow almost three times this much, approximately 280 ml, during a swim of 45 minutes.
Following the first 24 hours after spill, the virus concentration will change depending on the river water concentration. Thus, in hotter climates like Morocco, the concentrations will drop rapidly over this period, to 15% by 48 hours post-spill. Still, in Spain and the UK, the colder temperatures mean a more prolonged period of survival, with about 50% of the virus remaining detectable at this point.
Animals may also be infected by feeding on grass or shrubs growing in contaminated areas downstream of the spill.
How Does This Affect Drinking Water Safety?
The survival capacity and transportability of the virus in rivers could affect the supply of drinking water in countries which depend primarily on rivers or river reservoirs for potable water, or in communities living with low sanitation facilities near the water source, implying a high possibility of source contamination with sewage.
Filtering and chlorination or ultraviolet disinfection are the best ways to ensure safe drinking water. However, the dose of chlorine or ultraviolet irradiation applied may vary from one region or country to another, and may not meet the minimum limits required for reducing SARS-CoV-2 loads to undetectable levels.
The researchers recommend, Reviewing of regional or countrywide drinking water processing approaches is recommended to reduce the potential for SARS-CoV-2 surviving through drinking water processing systems. The boiling of drinking water will result in the virus being deactivated. Refrigerated food that becomes contaminated (e.g., through washing or handling) could remain infectious for up to 25 days.
What Does This Mean for Marine Life?
The stability of the virus at different pH and salt concentrations in cold water could mean that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive in both fresh and seawater without much difference. In fact, the virus has been found in seawater exposed to untreated sewage and may build up within scavengers like mollusks, which are known for their biomagnification capabilities.
Cetaceans, especially whales, are known to express ACE2 receptors with high similarity levels to humans, which means they can be vulnerable to the infection. Whales have large throats, swallow large amounts of water as they filter-feed, and eat along the coastline on sea animals that are found at sites where sewage enters the ocean. For instance, minke whales feed on mackerel and orca whales on chinook salmon.
Dwarf minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Image Credit: aquapix / Shutterstock
This could expose them to large doses of the virus it is estimated that a medium-sized whale could receive 5.65 million copies of the virus every second, and this could, in turn, reflect in increased exposure of humans to the virus through seafood a circular path of transmission.
The study concludes, The analysis suggests that public interactions with rivers and coastal waters following wastewater spills should be minimized to reduce the risk of infection. The main risk is human-to-human spread, but it could also allow the virus to infect new animal species and, in turn, result in a future re-entry of the virus into the human population.
*Important Notice
medRxiv 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.
Kansas City Racial Story Remembered And Marked
What Kansas City's History Can Teach Us About 'Both Sides' When It Comes To Race In Case Park, way up high on the bluffs overlooking rivers and highways from downtown Kansas City, a plaque memorializing Levi Harrington was found vandalized on June 14, 2020. Harrington, a Black man and father of five, described as an honest man by his employers, was lynched in April of 1882.
Kansas City Newsie Winning
KSHB's Cynthia Newsome, Matt Reeb receive award at AACR conference KANSAS CITY, Mo. - 41 Action News anchor Cynthia Newsome and photojournalist Matt Reeb received the June L. Biedler Award for Outstanding Television Journalism on Monday during the American Association for Cancer Research virtual annual conference.
Golden Ghetto Toasts To Togetherness
Owners of Shawnee bar and grill hope to be uniting force in community As we deal with racial injustice, a pandemic and an economic crisis, there is a Shawnee business that is trying to make a difference. Garrett's Bar and Grill calls itself a melting pot -- a safe zone. It prides itself on its homemade food.
Fashion Hotness Peek
Lindsey Pelas Sizzles In A White Top & Promotes Her 2020 Calendar For A Good Cause Lindsey Pelas took to her Instagram account on Friday, June 5, showing off her "genetically gifted" assets in a low-cut white top. She promoted her calendar in the clip, revealing that all proceeds will go to a foundation that helps underprivileged youth and adults.
Past Haunts Progressive Talker
Jimmy Kimmel slammed online over N-word controversy As racial tension continues to build across America and beyond, several celebrities are finding themselves the subjects of public criticism for inappropriate behavior. In recent weeks, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is among those finding backlash for their past actions.
Election 2020 Drill Down
'The stakes are high': After Tulsa rally, Trump heads to battleground states looking for a boost WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump will visit the battleground states of Arizona and Wisconsin this week as his campaign tries to regain its footing after a tough week that culminated with a smaller-than-expected rally Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Prez Trump Defends Health
Trump increasingly preoccupied with defending his physical and mental health WASHINGTON - The early June meeting in the Cabinet Room was intended as a general update on President Donald Trump's reelection campaign, but the president had other topics on his mind. Trump had taken a cognitive screening test as part of his 2018 physical, and now, more than two years later, he brought up the 10-minute exam.
Germans Suffer 2nd Wave
Germany imposes fresh lockdown after coronavirus outbreak at meat factory Germany placed more than 360,000 people in the western state of North-Rhine Westphalia back into lockdown on Tuesday, after a coronavirus outbreak at a meat processing factory.
Crime Boss Orders Native Massacre In Mexico
Fifteen killed in brutal attack on indigenous village in Mexico MEXICO CITY - Assailants killed 15 inhabitants of an indigenous village in southern Mexico that has been plagued by local disputes, authorities said on Monday, in one of the most brutal attacks to shake the countryside in recent years.
Hong Kong Continues Fight For Democracy Against China
Telling the Stories of the Protests Here and in Hong Kong There comes a moment in every foreign correspondent's life when she must confront whether the story that she is telling is hers to tell. This much was apparent to me when I went to Hong Kong last September, to report on the protests that had engulfed the city.
Cowtown Helping Hand
FeedKCNow food drive is underway in Kansas City KMBZ is joining with Continental Siding Supply to support the City Union Mission's FeedKCNow campaign - supporting local Kansas City Metro individuals and families with much needed food and groceries. You can drop-off non-perishable can goods now until July 17th at City Union Mission's Food Warehouse in KCMO - or - at Continental Siding Supply's showroom in Independence, MO Green Beans, Corn and Carrots are preferred.
Kansas City Twinkle Toes Remembers Upscale Career
Amaya Rodriguez Reflects on Swan Lake - KC Ballet Dancing the role of Odette/Odile in is every little ballerinas dream. It's one that Kansas City Ballet Dancer Amaya Rodriguez had very early on growing up in Cuba. "I became a dancer because of my dad," she remembers. "At around 7 years old, my dad asked me to see Swan Lake with him.
Tuesday Weather Peek
Cooler, gorgeous day ahead with lower humidity Hide Transcript Show Transcript YOU GOT TO START EARLY WITH THAT. LIKE THIS MORNING. THANKFULLY, TODAY WILL NOT BE A HOT HUMID DAY. WE MIGHT HAVE A FEW PASSING CLOUDS LIKE WE SEE THIS MORNING. 63 DEGREES. LIGHT NORTHWEST WIND AS SEVEN MILES PER HOUR.
Right now we pay tribute toand collection headlines from pop culture, community news along with info from across the nation and around the world . . .is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . .
Monuments are symbols, and in times of trouble they prompt symbolic action. They went up as political statements, and they come down as political statements. But it is far easier to topple a monument or change a name than to eradicate racism or counter its long legacy.
In the East, Confederate monuments are the target, but in the West, protesters attack explorers, their sponsors, missionaries, soldiers and settlers. In the past week the California Legislature with uncommon alacrity banished statues of Queen Isabella and Christopher Columbus. Ulysses Grant and Junipero Serra have come down in San Francisco.
But some monuments escape notice. Activists in Marin County, California, have demanded the renaming of places commemorating Francis Drake, an English explorer and naval hero as well as a slave trader and pirate. But so far they have not yet targeted Drakes Cross (also known as the Prayerbook Cross).
It stands nearly 60 feet tall, sits in San Franciscos Golden Gate Park and honors Drake. His slave trading has understandably gotten him in trouble, but what Drake is doing in Golden Gate Park is the more interesting question.
Los Angeles Public Health Department Confirms Significant Increase in the Spread of COVID-19
Monday, June 22, Los Angeles County Officials shared updated news regarding the coronavirus outbreak. The numbers reflect a level of stabilization, but the current daily rate has been showing significant increase in community transmission. L.A. officials are taking precautionary steps and staying align with the California State Resiliency Road Map, however the inner-city residents are feeling the devastation coronavirus provided. famine would be the closest description to encapsulate what people are seeing below the poverty line. Los Angeles Director of public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer shared the latest numbers surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak.
The last COVID-19 case count was given publicly on Monday, June 22 by Dr.Ferrer. latest numbers surrounding coronavirus reflected 18 additional deaths, 13 of these individuals were between the ages of 65 and over, nine of them with underlining health conditions. Four people who died were between the ages of 41-65, they all had preexisting health concerns. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 3,137.
The relationship between COVID-19 infection and ethnicity were provided. The racial background collected from 2,918 fatal cases shown 11% were African American, 17% were Asian, slightly less than 1% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 42% were LatinX, 29% were white, and 1% identified as a different race or ethnicity. 14% of all positive cases were hospitalized at some point. Fatal cases within congregational settings such as assistant living represent 52% of overall COVID-19 deaths. 94% of those who died due to COVID-19 had preexisting health concerns.
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Ferrer disclosed on Wednesday, there were 2,571 new COVID-19 reports. She confirmed the number shows an increase in community transmission, within ten days the weekly average ratio jumped 3%. In summary, there is a total amount of 85,942 coronavirus cases in the Los Angeles region. 2,982 incidents were reported in the city of Long Beach and 1,162 cases in the city of Pasadena. Amid the unsheltered, there were 571 positive cases, 231 victims were temporarily housed in a shelter and have been properly isolated.
Throughout our recovery journey, we have said it is likely that the number of cases will increase as more people are out of there homes and around other people. Now its going to be very important to watch how this increase in cases translates into our daily hospitalization over the next few weeks. Ferrer stated.
Chairwoman of L.A. board of supervisors Kathryn Barger brought light to the tremendous need for the help of the community, to service their neighbors with food and provisions. The L.A. Regional Food Bank in collaboration with the County Office Emergency Management continues to host food distributions throughout Los Angeles.
The Department of Work Force Development Aging and Community Services provided nearly 500 thousand pounds of food through the community and senior centers. Small businesses also have stretched out palms for assistance, over 2-million dollars in resources for brick-and-mortars has been given on a countywide level. With the provided information, it is imperative to stay vigilant and alert with the following waves of information. The re-opening of businesses has already affected the spread of COVID-19 in an undesirable way, the city must continue striving for a new reality in addition to the safety of every Angeleno.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Western Michigan University students will return to in-person classes in September, the university president announced this week.
The university will reopen the campus to students and staff for the fall semester on Sept. 2, President Edward Montgomery said in a message to campus.
The university closed in March to stop the spread of COVID-19 and opted to offer instruction in the spring and summer via online classes.
Our first thought in every decision is for our students health and safety, Montgomery said in the message sent Monday, June 22.
Related: More staff cuts expected as Western Michigan University grapples with multimillion-dollar losses
Once back on campus, students, faculty and staff will be required to wear masks when indoors. Everyone will also be asked to monitor their own health and stay home if sick, wash their hands frequently, disinfect surfaces and try and maintain 6 feet of distance between others at all times, Montgomery said.
These are the foundational tools that we are employing to keep everyone safe; but its not enough for us to set up these guidelines its incumbent on everyone to use them so that we can protect one another and keep our campus healthy, Montgomery said.
Montgomery said the fall 2020 semester will follow a new academic calendar to limit student travel and possible exposure to the virus. Students will work through the fall semester without the usual October break and in-person instruction for most classes will end on Nov. 20, about a week ahead of Thanksgiving, Montgomery said.
The last weeks of classes and final exams will be conducted remotely and the semester will end on Dec. 19, he said.
Foregoing the fall break and ending in-person instruction early will prevent employees and students from potentially bringing the coronavirus back to campus after traveling to other communities, the president said.
Some classes wont be able to be provided in person, Montgomery said. For example, some lecture hall style classes enroll more than 70 people. In these instances, the university will provide a hybrid model of some in-person and some online instruction, he said.
Students will also be in smaller in-person classes, and restrictions on the size of gatherings in student housing and dining have been planned, the president said.
Thank you for your patience as we have painstakingly developed our plans and made these decisions, Montgomery said. Individuals across our campus have been working diligently to ensure that every effort is focused on protecting your well-being while providing you with an outstanding educational experience.
Montgomery plans to share more information about the fall semester during a virtual town hall 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 1.
The coronavirus pandemic has also brought financial troubles to WMU and other institutions across Michigan. WMU has lost more than $45 million due to the crisis this year so far, Montgomery said during a WMU Board of Trustees meeting Thursday, April 23. The school could lose another $45 to $85 million next fiscal year, Montgomery said.
The university must cut 20% from each department and is undergoing substantial layoffs to balance the budget, the president said.
WMU previously announced in April that it was laying off 240 employees from one of its unions, and implementing 2.5% wage reductions for all benefits-eligible, non-bargaining staff.
Also taking a pay cut are the universitys senior executives, including the university president and seven vice presidents, who each took a 10% salary cut. In addition, all associate and assistant vice presidents, associate provosts and vice provosts and deans will take a 5% pay reduction, the university said.
The university also implemented a hiring freeze, travel freeze, canceled construction and cut special projects.
Also on MLive:
8 things to know about the University of Michigans plans for in-person classes in 2020-21
Western Michigan University board approves professor contract, salary reduction
Citing coronavirus, Michigan State University cuts pay for professors and faculty
Industry body Nasscom on Tuesday termed the work visa suspension proclamation as "misguided" and said this could be harmful to the US economy, possibly forcing more work to be performed offshore since the local talent is not available in the country.
The comments came after US President Donald Trump issued a proclamation to suspend issuing of H-1B visas - popular among Indian IT professionals - along with other foreign work visas for the rest of the year, aimed at helping millions of Americans who have lost their jobs due to the current economic crisis.
The proclamation that comes into effect on June 24 is expected to impact a large number of Indian IT professionals and several American and Indian companies who were issued H-1B visas by the US government for the fiscal year 2021 beginning October 1.
"The proclamation issued today barring the entry of certain non-immigrants into America and setting new conditions for others is misguided and harmful to the US economy...This new proclamation will impose new challenge and possibly force more work to be performed offshore since the local talent is not available," Nasscom said in a statement.
It highlighted that the association's members provide essential services to hospitals, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, state and local government agencies, financial institutions, technology and communications firms, grocers, manufacturers, and thousands of other businesses across the US.
"Highly skilled non-immigrants are playing critical roles in the delivery of these services and the development of these services and products."
"Without their continued contributions to the US economy, the economic pain would worsen, industry would slow, and the timeline for a treatment and cure of COVID-19 would lengthen," Nasscom said.
It added that those on H-1B and L-1 visas pay taxes and contribute to their communities and to local economies in many ways as well.
Nasscom urged the US administration to shorten the duration of these restrictions to 90 days, saying lengthening these "burdensome restrictions" on US companies that are trying to recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic will "only serve to harm" the economy.
"...We hope that the administration will rethink its stated plans to move forward on a series of regulatory changes that would place additional restrictions and costs on visa programs while doing little more than amplifying the harm already being done to the US economy," it added.
Nasscom noted that many US corporations, universities, medical facilities, research institutions, directly and through their associations, have asked the President not to take such action because of the harm it would do as the country reopens and recovers.
Such sentiments were also echoed by dozens of Republican and Democratic members of Congress and governors.
Google CEO Sunder Pichai has also expressed disappointment over the proclamation and said he would stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.
Human rights bodies, in particular those working among immigrant communities, as well many American lawmakers have also urged Trump to revoke the suspension.
Nasscom said American workers are facing greater challenges than they have in years, but that does not mean that talent shortages do not continue to exist.
Nasscom added that despite national unemployment trends across the economy, the National Foundation for American Progress found that the unemployment rate for computer professionals went down from 3 per cent in January 2020 to 2.8 per cent in April 2020, according to its analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey.
"In this time of COVID-19 crisis and recovery, the administration's policies that impact American businesses should follow the oath taken by healthcare professionals: first do no harm," it emphasised.
NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP >> Newtown Township will be applying for federal funding to bolster its career firefighting force. And its crossing its fingers and hoping the third times a charm. At its Jan. 12 meeting, the board of supervisors voted unanimously to resubmit its SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to...
A Derry barber has hit out at the Northern Ireland Executive for not providing clear guidelines on how his business will operate when it reopens on July 6.
Denis McDermott, owner of Muckers & Co barbers on Carlisle Road, said people in his industry have been left in the dark about what the 'new normal' will look like for them.
With a lack of government guidance, Mr McDermott says he has been forced to look to the Hair Council, a professional body for registered hairdressers in the UK, for advice.
"It's great to get reopened again but we haven't been given any clear guidelines," he said.
"My friend is a barber in Spain and he said for the first two weeks they all had to wear masks and gloves and he spent a lot of money getting the stuff and now the whole thing has just been forgotten about and no one is using them.
"But in Germany everyone is wearing masks by law and they have gone completely cashless.
"As barbers and hairdressers we need to know what will be expected of us."
Like most barber shops, Muckers & Co operated on a walk-in basis, but following a recommendation by the Hair Council they have implemented an online booking system.
"I don't really know how well it will work," said Mr McDermott.
"We need to be busy all day to build our money back up again."
Mr McDermott believes the hair and beauty industry may have changed for good.
"A lot of barbers who were self-employed and working in shops aren't going to go back again. They will just work from home.
"And a lot of people have bought their own clippers too and they might never be back. There is still a lot of fear out there and it might take people a while to adjust.
"We're excited to get back to business and we have been getting the shop done up to get ready but there aren't that many people up the town, even with the shops open again.
"We have our regulars but it's going to take us a while to get our business up and running again.
"Some businesses were doing cuts on the sly but none of my staff have been cutting and we've lost a lot of money."
Mr McDermott believes the timing of the reopening may see local barbers and hairdressers losing out.
"Caravan parks are reopening on June 26 and half of Derry has a caravan so lots of our customers might be on holiday," he said.
"And if barbers in the South open first we might lose a lot of business to them too."
Pals Amanda Stanton, 30, and Andi Dorfman, 33, spent a girls weekend together getting some sun in Palm Springs, California.
The Bachelor Nation stars were spotted packing up and hopping into the car following a little R & R together on Monday before heading for a full day of spa treatments in Orange County.
Their outing comes as Nick Viall recently put the kibosh on rumors that he and Dorfman were having a fling after being spotted on a run together.
Getaway: Bachelor Nation stars Andi Dorfman and Amanda Stanton were spotted wrapping up their girls weekend in Palm Springs on Monday before heading for a full day of spa treatments in Orange County
Amanda sported a creamy toned monochromatic look for her car ride from Palm Springs to the O.C. for some spa treatments.
The blonde beauty was makeup free with her long waves swept back in a sleek low ponytail with her sunglasses on the top of her head.
She wore a matching athleisure ensemble of ivory sweat pants and a loose fitting long sleeve top and a pair of sneakers. The mother of two accessorized with a cross body Chanel purse.
Her vacation mate, Andi, also sported a casual but trend forward ensemble with olive colored joggers and a black tank top.
Casual momma: Amanda sported a creamy toned monochromatic look for her car ride from Palm Springs to the O.C. for some spa treatments
Fancy: Both reality stars opted for swanky accessories with Amanda choosing a Chanel cross body bag and Andi wearing a Louis Vuitton fanny pack
Comfy style: Andi, sported a casual but trend forward ensemble with olive colored joggers and a black tank top with a straw hat
The pretty brunette had her long hair down in waves with a straw hat and she rocked a Louis Vuitton fanny pack slung over her shoulder and midriff.
During their trip the Bachelor Nation darlings shared some poolside snaps of each other from their swanky hotel.
Each reality star opted for one-piece swim suits on their trip. Andi modeled a stylish red number with a plunging neck line and thick statement straps along with a silk scarf tied around her head.
Meanwhile, Amanda sported a high cut modern strapless one-piece with a taupe and white tie dye print.
Stunning: During their trip, Andi modeled a stylish red swimsuit with a plunging neck line and thick statement straps along with a silk scarf tied around her head
Glam! Amanda sported a high cut modern strapless one-piece with a taupe and white tie dye print while laying poolside
Learning the ropes: Andi was schooled on some Southern California locales by Amanda now that she has made the move from New York City to the west coast permanent
The vacation didn't stop for the ladies after they left Palm Springs. The pair headed right for a day of beauty at various salons and spas in Orange County.
Amanda and Andi shared with their millions of Instagram followers just how much work it takes to maintain their camera ready looks.
'Is this real life?!? Glow up let's go!' Andi declared on social media as they headed in for treatments at Facial Lounge in Newport.
That was followed by vitamin infused IV's for 'much needed' hydration at The Hydration Room and then brow lamination and lash extensions at Coastal Beauty Bar.
Glow up! The vacation didn't stop for the ladies after they left Palm Springs -the pair headed right for a day of beauty at various salons and spas in Orange County
First up: Both reality darlings stopped by for treatments at Facial Lounge in the upper crust town of Newport
Safety first: Andi made sure she kept her protective mask on while getting intravenous vitamin and hydration treatments
The stars were accompanied on their full service spa day by Amanda's two daughters, Kinsley and Charlie.
Amanda and Andi will have lots of time to spend together these days as Dorfman recently relocated to the west coast from New York City just last week.
She documented her big move on social media with an airport snap and a long caption about leaving the city she called home for the last five years.
'NYC, I love you,' she said in the caption. 'I will forever be indebted to you and your magical city. You gave me shelter from my own storm. You breathed life back into me. You were the setting for so many incredible milestones. My rock, my roll, my place of reinvention.'
Group outing: The stars were accompanied on their full service spa day by Amanda's two daughters, Kinsley and Charlie
Learning early: Amanda's daughter sported a trendy cross body bag just like Andi
Grooming: The girls also went for brow lamination and lash extensions at Coastal Beauty Bar
Ending with: 'An incredible chapter of my life. Now, I turn the page and know ... that the rest is still unwritten.'
Not long after the former Assistant District Attorney touched down in the Golden State, Bachelor Nation was a twitter with rumors about her and Nick Viall.
Viall competed for Andis heart back in 2014, when he came in second on season 10 of The Bachelorette and they sparked new rumors of a romantic reunion when they were spotted running together in Santa Monica.
'NYC, I love you,' Andi wrote in her farewell letter to New York. 'I will forever be indebted to you and your magical city. You gave me shelter from my own storm. You breathed life back into me. You were the setting for so many incredible milestones. My rock, my roll, my place of reinvention.'
However, Nick cleared up any speculation of their relationship status last Thursday as he responded to a post by Us Weekly on Instagram, regarding their recent outing.
The 39-year-old wrote: 'Sorry for the buzz kill.. not dating. Additionally, the only benefits that come from this friendship is conversation and running tips. Enjoy the day.'
A source subsequently told Us Weekly: 'Andi and Nick are friends; theyve been friends for a while now.'
Permanent action to make the US visa system more merit-based underway, says senior official, as Trump suspends temporary work visas till the end of the year citing "expanding unemployment".
The Trump administration on Monday (local time) suspended the temporary work visas, including H-1B, for foreigners till the end of the year.
It marked the latest effort to bar the entry of immigrants to the country.
The new policy is extending and expanding on President Donald Trumps April pause on issuing new green cards, which will continue beyond the initial 60-day period until the end of the year, according to a senior administration official.
H-1B action is temporary but permanent action being taken on reforming the US visa system to one that is more merit-based, a senior administration official told reporters at a briefing.
Also read: Slow down testing: Trump receives flak for Tulsa address
Also read: Global Covid-19 count crosses 8.7 million: WHO
Trump is also expected to sign an executive order on Tuesday directing new restrictions on most H-1B, H-4, H-2B, J and L visas, with some exceptions, lasting through December 31 frankly, because of the expanding unemployment, the official told reporters.
The officials said that any abuses with H-1B visas will be investigated by the US Labor Department (USDOL).
The president has instructed us to get rid of the lottery for such visas, the official added.
The US government said that the new visa restrictions through the end of the year will affect nearly 525,000 American jobs.
Were hopeful that this is going to see broad, bipartisan support, the official said.
The new restrictions, however, have been exempted for medical workers, especially those involved in COVID-19 care or research.
Pegged as the COVID -19 or economic response, it is the administrations concerted effort to roll back the visas available to people overseas as a result of high unemployment in the US resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, the official noted.
Also read: China hurries to pass HK national security law
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 22:42:49|Editor: huaxia
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People look at the sculpture of Prometheus adorned with a face mask at Rockefeller Center in New York, the United States, on June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
Israel: international research team suggests use of ultraviolet light indoors to prevent COVID-19 spread
Kuwait: 742 new cases and four more deaths in past 24 hours
South Africa: confirmed cases exceed 100,000
Australia: possible tighter lockdowns in some local government areas
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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JERUSALEM -- An international research team suggests the use of ultraviolet light indoors to reduce the transmission of coronavirus, the northern Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) said on Tuesday.
The recommendation is included in a study published in the journal ACS Nano, written by researchers from the Technion, the University of Southampton in Britain, and three institutions in Spain.
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Customers sit with a certain distance away from each other as they wait to enter a bank in Kuwait City, Kuwait, June 2, 2020. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)
KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwait on Tuesday reported 742 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 41,033 and the death toll to 334, the Health Ministry said in a statement.
The new cases included 385 Kuwaiti nationals and 357 residents of other nationalities, the statement said.
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MOGADISHU -- The number of people visiting health centers for routine care in Somalia has significantly dropped due to fear of contracting COVID-19 as well as lack of public transport or other means to access facilities, the UN said on Tuesday.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which cited its partners said the high COVID-19 caseload in Somalia is straining the country's fragile health care system.
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A resident goes shopping at a supermarket in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)
CAPE TOWN -- The cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa has exceeded the 100,000 mark to reach 101,590, according to the latest official update released early Tuesday.
Sixty-one more deaths related to COVID-19 were added to the national death toll which now stood at 1,991, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.
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HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's Hospital Authority reported on Tuesday the sixth death case of COVID-19 in Hong Kong.
A 72-year-old male who was confirmed with COVID-19 infection and admitted to hospital on June 4 passed away early Tuesday morning at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
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A swing facility is closed in Sydney, Australia, on March 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
CANBERRA -- Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt has flagged that COVID-19 hotspots could be locked down to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Addressing the spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria, Hunt said Tuesday that there's a possibility of tighter lockdowns in some local government areas.
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SEOUL -- South Korea reported 46 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of 0:00 a.m. Tuesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 12,484.
The daily caseload rebounded due to a sharp hike in imported cases after falling below 20 in the previous day. Of the new cases, 30 were imported from overseas, lifting the combined figure to 1,471.
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NEW DELHI -- Deaths due to COVID-19 crossed the 14,000 mark, reaching 14,011, as the total cases reached 440,215 in India, said the latest data issued by the federal health ministry on Tuesday.
The ministry said 312 new deaths and 14,933 new cases were reported during the past 24 hours across the country, taking the number of deaths to 14,011 and total cases to 440,215.
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MUMBAI -- Mumbai has launched a rapid action plan called "Mission Zero" to bring down the COVID-19 positive cases in the city, a statement by the city's civic authority said late Monday.
The ambitious project by BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation will comprise 50 mobile dispensary vans going to different areas to conduct preliminary check-up and identify patients in the country's financial capital where the positive cases are over 67,000 and active cases are close to 30,000.
[June 23, 2020] Ontario Science Centre honours five Canadian youths for innovative science projects
15-year-old Ethan Chan of Victoria, BC, wins $15,000 first prize for kidney data monitoring device TORONTO, June 23, 2020 /CNW/ - Watch these young innovatorsthey're already leaders in their communities! The Ontario Science Centre today announced the five winners of the 2020 Weston Youth Innovation Award for their work developing innovative projectsincluding a machine to monitor kidney disease data, prototypes to lower noise levels of hand dryers in public washrooms, a wearable device to measure anxiety and depression, and a portable shelter for homeless people. The winners, from across Canada, used science, technology and innovationeverything from data collection and computer coding to engineeringto develop projects that can bring positive change to their communities. An online award ceremony for the winners is being planned for July. The top prize of $15,000 goes to Ethan Chan, 15, of Victoria, BC, who created a device that accurately monitors and records kidney disease data. It uses photo-based colour measurement to provide digital readings that improve on traditional urinalysis test strips and offer more detailed data that will benefit researchers. "I'm super thankful. I'm also so surprised. I never envisioned I would win," said Ethan, who described working on his device a few hours every day after school for five months. "I had tons of challengeswhen the code didn't work, the model didn't print clearly, when I didn't know which wire wasn't workingbut I just kept working at it." Nora Keegan, 14, of Clgary, AB, wins the second-place prize of $8,500 for her work on measuring the sound volume of hand dryers in public washrooms, research she started when she was only 9 years old, which has led to a prototype to reduce noise levels.
"I noticed my ears were hurting when hand dryers were on, and I saw other kids would cover their ears. I wondered if it was too loud," Nora said. "It was a big moment to see a quieter hand dryer installed at my school this year. I was very happy to see it." And national finalists, with a $3,500 prize each, are:
Adrianna Vutrano and Pasha Jones, both 16, of Pincourt, QC , developed the Portable House, a 2-kilogram backpack that expands like an accordion to help people experiencing homelessness survive a harsh Canadian winter.
and Pasha Jones, both 16, of , developed the Portable House, a 2-kilogram backpack that expands like an accordion to help people experiencing homelessness survive a harsh Canadian winter. Nethra Wickramasinghe , 17 of Sudbury, ON , spent three years developing a wearable device that alerts users to physiological changes associated with depressive and anxiety disorders. The device then connects with an app that uses biofeedback and cognitive behavioural therapy to provide support. "These young innovators have shown creativity, hard work and determination in developing their projects. They each pursued a challenge, often because of a personal interest, and sought to find answers and real-world solutions, grounded in science," said Paul Kortenaar, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre. "We believe science, technology and innovation will help us shape a better future for society and our planet. We are so proud of these young innovators who truly epitomize this ideology." "We are so inspired by this year's Weston Youth Innovation Award recipients," said Emma Adamo, Director, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation. "Each of these young Canadians responded to a real need with hard work, creativity, and tireless tenacity. Our Foundation is delighted to support this award to spark curiosity and to encourage scientific innovation that improves the well-being of Canadians." The annual award, established in 2008, is open to individuals between 14 and 18 who pursue science, technology and innovation to make a positive impact in the world. Applications for the 2021 Weston Youth Innovation Award open October 1, 2020. About The W. Garfield Weston Foundation
For three generations, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has pursued its mission to enhance and enrich the lives of Canadians. With a focus on medical research and the environment, the Foundation aims to catalyze inquiry and innovation to bring about long-term change. Now in its seventh decade, the Foundation continues to collaborate with a broad range of Canadian charities to further world-class research, explore new ideas and create tangible benefits for the communities in which it works. About the Ontario Science Centre
Guided by our mission to inspire passion for the human adventure of discovery, the Ontario Science Centre strives to be a global leader in lifelong learning, a vital link in Ontario's education and innovation ecosystems and a convener of public dialogue about technology, science and society. The Centre has welcomed more than 54 million visitors since opening as a Centennial project in 1969, pioneering an interactive approach now adopted by science centres around the world. An agency of the Government of Ontario, the Centre relies on funding from the province, as well as donations from generous individuals, corporations and foundations that share the Centre's vision to contribute to a more curious, creative and resilient world. Learn more at OntarioScienceCentre.ca. SOURCE Ontario Science Centre
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The meeting, postponed from March, was a first for new European leaders. The talks were intended to break the impasse on issues from state subsidies and technology transfer to climate change and equal opportunities for European companies.
But agreement has been more difficult as China has tightened control over its domestic economy and turned more combative in relations with Western powers, our diplomatic correspondent in Brussels writes.
Context: The European Union is Chinas largest trading partner, and China is the second-largest for the bloc. China promised last year to create a more level playing field with Europe but implementation has been lagging, one senior European official said.
Also: European leaders said they had registered their concerns about Chinas crackdown against the Uighurs and its proposed security law in Hong Kong. But among the blocs members, only Sweden has proposed European sanctions on China if it proceeds with the security law.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:19:17|Editor: huaxia
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by Xinhua writer Gao Wencheng
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China launched the last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) on Tuesday, marking the completion of the country's independently developed orbital navigation network, and a landmark step of its peaceful exploration of space.
The BeiDou network, a major infrastructure independently constructed and operated by China, can better meet the demands of the country's national security, economic as well as social development. It can also provide more stable and reliable services, as well as an alternative to the U.S.-owned Global Positioning System (GPS) for global users.
Given national security concerns due to the GPS's dominance, China is not the only one in the world that strives to develop its satellite navigation systems. For many years, the European Union, Russia and others have all been working on their own projects.
Thus one of the BDS's prominent principles is indigenous innovation. Core technologies as well as key components and software of the BDS are independently developed and manufactured by China.
Such an independent drive in the field of scientific and technological research and development echoes the very spirit pursued by many Chinese scientists who once dedicated themselves to the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project during the Cold War era when China was under nuclear threats by some major world powers.
In recent years, Washington has been stepping up its high-tech blockade against China. America's descending technological iron curtain has further underscored the importance of indigenous technological advancement in key areas, which is imperative to China's national security and development.
The BeiDou system also features openness and compatibility. The system provides open satellite navigation services free of charge, encourages international exchanges and cooperation, and strives to enhance compatibility and interoperability with other navigation satellite systems, so as to provide better services to users worldwide.
After 26 years of arduous work, the BDS has now earned a global reputation for its high-accuracy service and various service capabilities in positioning, navigation and timing, short message communication, and international search and rescue.
In a congratulatory video message, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Director Simonetta Di Pippo said: "The services provided by BeiDou are already driving social and economic development around the world."
Indeed, the BDS-based solutions have already been successfully adopted in such fields as land registration, precise agriculture, digital construction, monitoring and management on vehicles and ships, intelligent port management in regions like Asia, East Europe, and Africa.
Also, the BDS-enabled products have been exported to more than 100 countries, providing users with a variety of choices and enhanced application experience.
Thousands of years ago, the Chinese invented the compass, which had made long-range voyages on rough and vast seas possible, and helped usher in the Age of Discovery.
Today, the BDS network is primed for facilitating an even stronger global connectivity in this age of globalization, and helping countries worldwide to chart their own courses into a better future. Enditem
A massive Russian military parade postponed by the coronavirus pandemic will roll through Red Square this week to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, even though Russia is still registering a steady rise in infections.
President Vladimir Putins insistence on holding the parade reflects not only his desire to put Russia's power on display but also to bolster patriotic sentiments a week before a constitutional referendum that could allow him to remain in office until 2036.
The Victory Day parade normally is held on May 9, the nation's most important secular holiday. This year's date of Wednesday, June 24, coincides with the day in 1945 when the first parade was held on Red Square after the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union and its allies.
The Soviet Union lost a staggering 27 million people in what it called the Great Patriotic War and the enormous suffering and sacrifice of that era has left a deep scar in Russia's psyche.
Victory Day is a rare event in the nation's divisive post-Soviet history that is revered by all political sides, and the Kremlin has used that sentiment to encourage patriotic pride and underline Russias role as a global power.
The show is particularly important this year for Putin. The Kremlin hopes it will help secure public support a week before the July 1 nationwide vote on constitutional amendments that effectively reset the clock on his tenure in office and will allow him to seek two more six-year terms if he chooses.
For Putin, the parade has a symbolic meaning, a symbol that the epidemic is over and so the vote can be held, said Dmitry Oreshkin, a Moscow-based independent political analyst. And even more importantly, Victory Day serves as a positive symbol of people's unification, economic mobilization, strong leadership and consolidation the things that Putin wants to claim credit for.
The plebiscite was initially set for April 22 but, like the parade, was postponed by the coronavirus outbreak. When the first signs of a slowdown in the contagion appeared, Putin rescheduled the vote for July 1, eager to consolidate his power before the economic fallout from the pandemic further eroded his popularity.
His approval rating plummeted to 59% in April, its lowest level in more than two decades, according to the Levada Center, the nation's top independent pollster.
Three months later, the ratings will be lower as the economy is going downhill, Oreshkin said. It's essential to hold the vote right now.
While the pandemic has shattered the Kremlin's hopes to get top world leaders to attend the parade, the heads of several ex-Soviet nations and Serbia's president are still scheduled to show up Wednesday. The celebration will feature 14,000 troops, about 300 military vehicles and 75 warplanes in a display of the country's military might.
Russian officials have insisted that all necessary precautions have been taken to protect the health of its troops, elderly veterans and foreign guests at the parade.
Russia has the world's third-highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases after the United States and Brazil and still reports about 8,000 new infections a day. Its reported virus death toll is nearly 8,200, a number that experts say is much too low for a country with over 590,000 confirmed cases.
With this in mind, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has cautioned the public against coming to see the show. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also advised Moscow residents, who usually converge on central avenues to see the tanks and missiles roll by, to watch it on TV this time.
While the parade is politically important for the Kremlin, Putin's persistence in holding it despite the risks of contagion also reflects his strong personal preoccupation with World War II.
The 67-year-old Russian leader views the war from a deeply emotional angle, often invoking dramatic memories of his parents, Vladimir and Maria, and his brother Viktor, nicknamed Vitya, when the Nazis besieged his hometown of Leningrad, now called St. Petersburg, for nearly 2 1/2 years.
For my parents, the war meant the terrible ordeals of the Siege of Leningrad where my 2-year-old brother Vitya died, Putin wrote in an article published in the U.S. journal The National Interest. It was the place where my mother miraculously managed to survive. My father, despite being exempt from active duty, volunteered to defend his hometown.
The Kremlin has tapped that history to rally patriotism at home but has also regularly used it against foreign opponents.
For many years, Russian officials have chastised the West for the failure to condemn annual demonstrations in Estonia and Latvia honoring veterans of Waffen SS, as well as Ukraine's adulation for nationalist leaders who sided with the Nazis in the war.
Amid a bitter strain in relations with Poland, Putin this year zeroed in on Warsaw, denouncing its prewar leaders of colluding with Nazi Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Poland criticized Putins article as part of his information war against the West.
Causing outrage in Warsaw and the Baltics, Putin also staunchly defended a 1939 pact between Soviet leader Josef Stalin and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler that carved up Poland and the Baltic states. World War II began when Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939, a week after the pact was signed. On Sept. 17, the Soviet Red Army rolled into Poland from the east.
Repeating a Soviet-era argument, Putin described the deal as an attempt by Stalin to buy time for strengthening the country's defenses, arguing that Moscow had no other choice after Britain and France stonewalled Soviet proposals for a military alliance. Nazi Germany broke the pact and invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.
Putin has pointed out that every seventh Soviet citizen was killed in the war, while the United Kingdom lost one out of every 127 and the United States lost one out of 320.
The Soviet Union and the Red Army, no matter what anyone is trying to prove today, made the main and crucial contribution to the defeat of Nazism, Putin wrote in The National Interest.
Fortum and Metsa Group to Launch Joint EUR 50 Million R&D Programme to Develop Bioproducts from Straw and Wood The 4-year joint R&D programme, called ExpandFibre, aims to develop ground-breaking technologies and smart business concepts that are required to convert straw and wood pulp fibre into novel bioproducts. June 23, 2020 (Press Release) - Fortum and Metsa Group join forces with Business Finland to create a world-class R&D programme with pulp fibre from renewable and sustainable sources as its node. The 4-year joint R&D programme, called ExpandFibre , aims to develop ground-breaking technologies and smart business concepts that are required to convert straw and wood pulp fibre into novel bioproducts, such as textile fibres. The R&D programme has been granted EUR 20 million from Business Finland. ExpandFibre will be part of a global innovation ecosystem. The ExpandFibre partners Fortum and Metsa Group want to encourage the members of the ecosystem to significantly accelerate their efforts within the circular bioeconomy. Members of the ecosystem can apply for financing from Business Finland or from the EU. Already today, Finland is a leader in the circular bioeconomy. In addition to production and export of physical bioproducts, such as pulp, paper, board, and solid wood products, Finland is also known for having one of the highest standards in terms of biomass management, for its technology suppliers, and its education curriculum, as well as for its engineering and R&D services. ExpandFibre builds on this profound knowledge platform with a mission to provide selected markets with new, high-volume bioproducts that have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to similar (but fossil-based) products available today. We are excited to enter into this innovative partnership through ExpandFibre and are looking forward to a mutually rewarding cooperation within the whole ecosystem. With this setup, Fortum will continue building on its pioneering bioproducts vision: bringing residual straw raw material into industrial processing and further into environmentally friendly materials and chemicals. Our aim is to develop high-value end-products from all the main components of straw cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, explains Risto Sormunen, Head of Bio2X Development at Fortum. Metsa Group is firmly rooted in the sustainably managed Finnish forests. Finding new, added-value applications for pulp fibre obtained from our Northern wood is a key R&D target for the group. We are thrilled to partner up with Business Finland and Fortum in the ExpandFibre programme and we are very much looking forward to co-creating new technologies and concepts within the partnership and as part of the larger innovation ecosystem, says Niklas von Weymarn, CEO of Metsa Groups innovation company Metsa Spring. ExpandFibre is a unique collaboration scheme to be launched during the summer of 2020 and extending until August 2024. The programme focuses on seven research themes: Textiles
Biocomposites
Packaging materials
Other new fibre products
Hemicellulose
Lignin
Sourcing and fractionation of straw The value chains of interest to the ExpandFibre programme are all based on renewable and sustainable raw materials, namely straw and Northern wood. Importantly, ExpandFibre is challenging other actors of related value chains to accelerate their efforts in building a world-leading innovation ecosystem together and, subsequently, enabling new bioproducts and green businesses to reach commercial maturity. Fortum is a leading clean-energy company developing and offering solutions for our customers in electricity, heating, cooling, as well as solutions to improve resource efficiency. For further information, visit: www.fortum.com . SOURCE: Fortum
Five nuclear-weapon states issue first joint statement: N-war cannot be won, must never be fought
Russia will have to pay 'heavy price' if it invades Ukraine, warns US president Joe Biden
India-China dont need anybodys help to resolve issues says Russia
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, June 23: Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has said that India China don't need help to resolve issues. They have good ongoing dialogue he also said ahead of the Russia-India-China meet.
They have everything to resolve the issues together. New Delhi and Beijing have shown commitment for a peaceful resolution after the recent incident at the border, Lavrov also said.
Earlier External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, without naming China thanked Russia for convening the meeting and said that he was looking forward to the discussions.
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This is a special meeting and reiterates our belief in the time-tested principles of international relations. But the challenge today is not just one of the concepts and norms, but equally of their practice.
The leading voices of the world must be exemplars in every way. Respecting international law, recognising the legitimate interests of partners, supporting multilaterism and promoting common good are the only way of building a durable world order, Jaishankar also said ahead of the meet.
The RIC meet is being held under the shadow of the India-China border standoff. There are clear indications that there may not be a joint statement following the meet. India was not keen on joining the RIC. However it was at the behest of Russia, which is a key strategic and military hardware supplier, India agreed to be part of the meeting.
Both India and Russia had indicated that the virtual meeting is a trilateral affair and this would mean that bilateral issues relating to the India-China standoff will not be on the agenda.
The Ministry of External Affairs had said that the RIC meet will focus on the fallout of COVID-19 pandemic and cooperation within the grouping to tackle the challenges.
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Story first published: Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 15:49 [IST]
Sara Wittner had seemingly gotten her life back under control. After a December relapse in her battle with drug addiction, the 32-year-old completed a 30-day detox program and started taking a monthly injection to block her cravings for opioids. She was engaged to be married, working for a local health association and counseling others about drug addiction.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The virus knocked down all the supports she had carefully built around her: no more in-person Narcotics Anonymous meetings, no talks over coffee with a trusted friend or her addiction recovery sponsor. As the virus stressed hospitals and clinics, her appointment to get the next monthly shot of medication was moved back from 30 days to 45 days.
As best her family could reconstruct from the messages on her phone, Wittner started using again on April 12, Easter Sunday, more than a week after her originally scheduled appointment, when she should have gotten her next injection. She couldnt stave off the cravings any longer as she waited for her appointment that coming Friday. She used again that Tuesday and Wednesday.
"We kind of know her thought process was that 'I can make it. I'll go get my shot tomorrow,'" said her father, Leon Wittner. "'I've just got to get through this one more day and then I'll be OK.'"
But on Thursday morning, the day before her appointment, her sister Grace Sekera found her curled up in bed at her parents home in this Denver suburb, blood pooling on the right side of her body, foam on her lips, still clutching a syringe. Her father suspects she died of a fentanyl overdose.
However, he said, what really killed her was the coronavirus.
"Anybody that is struggling with a substance abuse disorder, anybody that has an alcohol issue and anybody with mental health issues, all of a sudden, whatever safety nets they had for the most part are gone," he said. "And those are people that are living right on the edge of that razor."
Sara Wittner's death is just one example of how complicated it is to track the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic and even what should be counted. Some people who get COVID-19 die of COVID-19. Some people who have COVID die of something else. And then there are people who die because of disruptions created by the pandemic.
While public health officials are trying to gather data on how many people test positive for the coronavirus and how many people die from the infection, the pandemic has left an untold number dying in the shadows, not directly because of the virus but still because of it. They are unaccounted for in the official tally, which, as of June 21, has topped 119,000 in the U.S.
But the lack of immediate clarity on the numbers of people actually dying from COVID-19 has some onlookers, ranging from conspiracy theorists on Twitter all the way to President Donald Trump, claiming the tallies are exaggerated even before they include deaths like Wittner's. That has undermined confidence in the accuracy of the death toll and made it harder for public health officials to implement infection prevention measures.
Yet experts are certain that a lack of widespread testing, variations in how the cause of death is recorded, and the economic and social disruption the virus has caused are hiding the full extent of its death toll.
How to count
In the U.S., COVID-19 is a "notifiable disease" doctors, coroners, hospitals and nursing homes must report when encountering someone who tests positive for the infection, and when a person who is known to have the virus dies. That provides a nearly real-time surveillance system for health officials to gauge where and to what extent outbreaks are happening. But it's a system designed for speed over accuracy; it will invariably include deaths not caused by the virus as well as miss deaths that were.
For example, a person diagnosed with COVID-19 who dies in a car accident could be included in the data. But someone who dies of COVID-19 at home might be missed if they were never tested. Nonetheless, the numbers are close enough to serve as an early-warning system.
"They're really meant to be simple," Colorado state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said. "They apply these black-and-white criteria to often gray situations. But they are a way for us to systematically collect this data in a simple and rapid fashion."
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Sara Wittner completed a 30-day detox program and started taking a monthly injection to block her addiction cravings. Yet the virus destroyed the support system she had built, including stopping her in-person Narcotics Anonymous meetings and delaying that monthly shot of medication. Wittner died in April, and her death is just one example of how complicated it is to track the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic.(Courtesy of Leon Wittner)
For that reason, she said, the numbers don't always align with death certificate data, which takes much more time to review and classify. And even those can be subjective. Death certificates are usually completed by a doctor who was treating that person at the time of death or by medical examiners or coroners when patients die outside of a health care facility. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines allow for doctors to attribute a death to a "presumed" or "probable" COVID infection in the absence of a positive test if the patient's symptoms or circumstances warrant it. Those completing the forms apply their individual medical judgment, though, which can lead to variations from state to state or even county to county in whether a death is attributed to COVID-19.
Furthermore, it can take weeks, if not months, for the death certificate data to move up the ladder from county to state to federal agencies, with reviews for accuracy at each level, creating a lag in those more official numbers. And they may still miss many COVID-19 deaths of people who were never tested.
That's why the two methods of counting deaths can yield different tallies, leading some to conclude that officials are fouling up the numbers. And neither approach would capture the number of people who died because they didn't seek care and certainly will miss indirect deaths like Wittner's where care was disrupted by the pandemic.
"All those things, unfortunately, are not going to be determined by the death record," says Oscar Alleyne, chief of programs and services for the National Association of City and County Health Officials.
Using historical data to understand today's toll
That's why researchers track what are known as "excess" deaths. The public health system has been cataloging all deaths on a county-by-county basis for more than a century, providing a good sense of how many deaths can be expected every year. The number of deaths above that baseline in 2020 could tell the extent of the pandemic.
For example, from March 11 to May 2, New York City recorded 32,107 deaths. Laboratories confirmed 13,831 of those were COVID-19 deaths and doctors categorized another 5,048 of them as probable COVID-19 cases. That's far more deaths than what historically occurred in the city. From 2014 through 2019, the city averaged just 7,935 deaths during that time of year. Yet when taking into account the historical deaths to assume what might occur normally, plus the COVID cases, that still leaves 5,293 deaths not explained in this year's death toll. Experts believe that most of those deaths could be either directly or indirectly caused by the pandemic.
City health officials reported about 200 at-home deaths per day during the height of the pandemic, compared with a daily average 35 between 2013 and 2017. Again, experts believe that excess is presumably caused either directly or indirectly by the pandemic.
And nationally, a recent analysis of obituaries by the Health Care Cost Institute found that, for April, the number of deaths in the U.S. was running about 12% higher than the average from 2014 through 2019.
"The excess mortality tells the story," said Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. "We can see that COVID is having a historic effect on the number of deaths in our community."
These multiple approaches, however, have many skeptics crying foul, accusing health officials of cooking the books to make the pandemic seem worse than it is. In Montana, for example, a Flathead County health board member cast doubt over official COVID-19 death tolls, and Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson questioned the death rate during an April broadcast. That has sowed seeds of doubt. Some social media posts claim that a family member or friend died at home of a heart attack but that the cause of death was inaccurately listed as COVID-19, leading some to question the need for lockdowns or other precautions.
"For every one of those cases that might be as that person said, there must be dozens of cases where the death was caused by coronavirus and the person wouldn't have died of that heart attack or wouldn't have died until years later," Faust said. "At the moment, those anecdotes are the exceptions, not the rule."
At the same time, the excess deaths tally would also capture cases like Wittner's, where the usual access to health care was disrupted.
A recent analysis from Well Being Trust, a national public health foundation, predicted as many as 75,000 people might die from suicide, overdose or alcohol abuse, triggered by the uncertainty and unemployment caused by the pandemic.
"People lose their jobs and they lose their sense of purpose and become despondent, and you sometimes see them lose their lives," said Benjamin Miller, Well Being's chief strategy officer, citing a 2017 study that found that for every percentage point increase in unemployment, opioid overdose deaths increased 3.6%.
Meanwhile, hospitals across the nation have seen a drop-off in non-COVID patients, including those with symptoms of heart attacks or strokes, suggesting many people aren't seeking care for life-threatening conditions and may be dying at home. Denver cardiologist Dr. Payal Kohli calls that phenomenon "coronaphobia."
Kohli expects a new wave of deaths over the next year from all the chronic illnesses that aren't being treated during the pandemic.
"You're not necessarily going to see the direct effect of poor diabetes management now, but when you start having kidney dysfunction and other problems in 12 to 18 months, that's the direct result of the pandemic," Kohli said. "As we're flattening the curve of the pandemic, we're actually steepening all these other curves."
Lessons from Hurricane Maria's shifting death toll
That's what happened when Hurricane Maria pummeled Puerto Rico in 2017, disrupting normal life and undermining the island's health system. Initially, the death toll from the storm was set at 64 people. But more than a year later, the official toll was updated to 2,975, based on an analysis from George Washington University that factored in the indirect deaths caused by the storms disruptions. Even so, a Harvard study calculated the excess deaths caused by the hurricane were likely far higher, topping 4,600.
The numbers became a political hot potato, as critics blasted the Trump administration over its response to the hurricane. That prompted the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ask the National Academy of Sciences to study how best to calculate the full death toll from a natural disaster. That report is due in July, and those who wrote it are now considering how their recommendations apply to the current pandemic and how to avoid the same politicization that befell the Hurricane Maria death toll.
Leon Wittner with his daughter Sara as a child. "We kind of know her thought process was that 'I can make it. I'll go get my shot tomorrow. I've just got to get through this one more day and then I'll be OK,'" Leon Wittner says of his 32-year-old daughter's struggle to beat her addiction after COVID-19 began impacting her sobriety supports. Sara Wittner died in April, and Leon Wittner suspects it was from a fentanyl overdose. But he also blames the coronavirus pandemic.(Courtesy of Leon Wittner)
"You have some stakeholders who want to downplay things and make it sound like we've had a wonderful response, it all worked beautifully," said Dr. Matthew Wynia, director of the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities and a member of the study committee. "And you've got others who say, 'No, no, no. Look at all the people who were harmed.'"
Calculations for the ongoing pandemic will be even more complicated than for a point-in-time event like a hurricane or wildfire. The indirect impact of COVID-19 might last for months, if not years, after the virus stops spreading and the economy improves.
But Wittner's family knows they already want her death to be counted.
Throughout her high school years, Sekera dreaded entering the house before her parents came home for fear of finding her sister dead. When the pandemic forced them all indoors together, that fear turned to reality.
"No little sister should have to go through that. No parent should have to go through that," she said. "There should be ample resources, especially at a time like this when they're cut off from the world."
Mumbai, June 23 : As the number of Covid-19 cases in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region crossed the 1 lakh mark on Tuesday, the state government effected a major bureaucratic shake-up by transferring four civic bodies chiefs in theregion's worst-hit Thane district, an official said here.
They include Thane Municipal Commissioner Vijay Singhal who has been replaced by another IAS officer Dr. Vipin Sharma.
Thane - with 26,506 cases and 751 fatalities - has emerged as the second worst-hit district after Mumbai in the state.
Additional Divisional Commissioner, Nagpur Abhijit Bangar has been posted as the new Municipal Commissioner of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, replacing Annasaheb Misal.
Gadchiroli Zilla Parishad CEO, Dr. Vijay Rathod, has been assigned as the new Municipal Commissioner of Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation, to take the place of Chandrakant Dange.
Gondiya Zilla Parishad CEO, Dr. M. Raja Dayanidhi, has been posted as the new Municipal Commissioner of Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation in place of Samir Unhale.
In mid-May, the state government had effected a similar operation by abruptly replacing the then high-profile Greater Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi with another senior IAS officer I. S. Chahal, and later around 9 IAS officers were deployed in Mumbai to oversee various aspects of the war against the virus.
"Our Board of Trustees is comprised of some of the most talented and accomplished business and civic leaders in Minnesota and beyond," says Dr. Craig Samitt, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. "These appointments expand on our commitment to having a board that reflects the vibrant, distinct and diverse backgrounds of our members and the communities we serve. I'm honored to have them be part of our mission to inspire change, transform care and improve health."
Emily Johnson Piper
Emily Johnson Piper currently serves as the executive director of government relations and contracting for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the nation's largest nonprofit substance use and mental health treatment provider. In her role, Piper develops and executes the organization's federal and state government relations, public policy and public contracting strategies.
Prior to joining the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Piper served as commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) under former Governor Mark Dayton from 2015-2019. Before being appointed commissioner, Piper served as general counsel and deputy chief of staff in the Office of Governor Mark Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith. She worked at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, first as general counsel focusing on insurance regulation and health reform implementation, then was promoted to chief of staff and deputy commissioner. Piper began her career as an attorney at McGrann Shea Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chtd. in Minneapolis.
Piper holds a Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. and a J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis. She is an alumna of the Minnesota Young American Leaders Program, which began in 2019 through a partnership between the Itasca Project, the University of Minnesota's Center for Integrative Leadership and the Harvard Business School. Piper has participated in numerous efforts to influence federal policy to support state innovation, including through the National Governor's Association's Bipartisan Health Reform Learning Network. She has been recognized multiple times by Minnesota Physician magazine as being among the 100 most influential health care leaders in the state.
Teddy Bekele
Teddy Bekele is the chief technology officer at Land O'Lakes, Inc., a member-owned agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $14 billion. In this role, Bekele is responsible for developing and implementing technology solutions for retail and farmer customers to help them produce more sustainable outputs. Prior to his current role, Bekele served in information technology leadership roles for WinField United, a Land O'Lakes brand and wholesaler of crop protection and performance solutions. Before joining Land O'Lakes in 2013, Bekele spent more than 16 years at Ingersoll Rand, where he led teams in IT program management, developed technology strategies for engineering and innovation and custom software development.
Bekele holds an MBA from Indiana University and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University. Most recently, he was appointed as chairman of the Minnesota Broadband Task Force as well as chairman of the FCC Task Force for Precision Agriculture Connectivity and Adoption. A thought leader in emerging technology, Bekele has been featured in Fortune, ComputerWorld, MIT Sloan Management Review, BBC and 60 Minutes. In 2017, Bekele was selected as a Minnesotan to Meet by WCCO-TV.
Jeffrey Kang, M.D.
Dr. Jeffrey Kang is the founding CEO of WellBe Senior Medical, a geriatric home care group.
Dr. Kang has worked in medical groups, commercial health insurance, the federal government and retail health to drive change and improve care. While at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, he was responsible for national coverage decisions, regulation of the health care industry, and health plan and provider quality measurement and improvement. In his tenure at Cigna as chief medical officer, Dr. Kang led the development of several initiatives designed to improve patient care while managing costs. And, as senior vice president of Walgreens health and wellness services and solutions, Dr. Kang also served as senior vice president of health and wellness services and solutions for Walgreens. Prior to starting WellBe Senior Medical, he was president of ChenMed, a primary care medical group for disadvantaged seniors.
Dr. Kang holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard, a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and a Master's in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. He completed his clinical training at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and remained on the clinical faculty at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Kang serves on the board of directors of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and ChenMed and on the advisory boards of the Center for Healthcare Incentives and Behavioral Economics (CHIBE) and UCSF's Institute of Health Policy Studies.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A nonprofit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.9 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Plus are nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago.
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BERLIN - In nations around the world that saw new coronavirus infections decline in recent weeks, spikes in confirmed case numbers have alarmed officials, and sent Australia Germany, Portugal and South Korea, among other countries, scrambling to respond to resurgent outbreaks.
Within the countries in question, the new flare-ups are mostly rooted in identifiable regions, where officials launched or expanded aggressive containment efforts this week.
German authorities said Tuesday that they would impose a new regional lockdown in a district of the country's northwest to contain an outbreak linked to a meat-processing plant, after more than 1,500 workers were infected. Portugal cracked down on mass gatherings. Australia's Victoria state re-shuttered several schools. An area in the northeast of Spain reintroduced restrictions. Even New Zealand, which has just 10 confirmed, active cases, tightened border measures as an increasing number of citizens abroad began to fly home.
The swell of responses to new outbreaks around the world stood in stark contrast to the U.S. approach. With cases on the rise in nearly half of states and with Arizona, Florida and Texas recording record new case numbers in recent days, states have continued to reopen and the White House has continued to signal its desire for a return to normal.
President Donald Trump has maintained that the United States will not shut down a second time, despite a clear spike in infections over the last week in the South and West of the country. The number of daily new coronavirus cases remains at a far higher level in the United States than in Europe, where stringent lockdowns have helped to slow the spread of the virus.
In Germany, by comparison, policymakers imposed regional thresholds based on new case numbers or strain on hospital capacity that trigger a snap back in restriction or put reopening on hold. The announcement Tuesday that lockdown measures would be reimposed in a district in northwestern Germany saw this system put to use.
Schools and kindergartens had already shut their doors as the number of cases climbed in recent days. Starting Tuesday, people will only be able to meet with one other person or members of their own household. Gyms, bars, galleries and museums will be closed. Health officials remained optimistic that localized outbreaks could be contained through testing, contact tracing and quarantines.
In some countries, new measures are not yet in place, but rising infection numbers have prompted officials to warn that strict control measures could return in the coming days.
The mayor of Seoul said this week that social distancing measures lifted last month may once again be necessary in the metropolis if a second wave of cases linked to a holiday in May continues to grow. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged compliance with social distancing measures on Sunday, warning that the country could otherwise return to lockdowns.
In Lisbon and Seoul, nightlife has faced growing scrutiny, after new outbreaks were linked to clubs, bars or mass gatherings in public.
South Korea has been hit by a second wave of cases, initially expected for fall or winter, said Jeong Eun-Kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon warned that social distancing measures would need to be re-implemented if cases continued to climb this week or if hospital admissions reached more than 70 percent of capacity.
"If the R-number stays at the figure seen 10 days ago, daily new infections are expected to reach around 800 a month later," he said, according to the Yonhap news agency, urging citizens to wear face coverings and to avoid crowded spaces.
During the initial phase of the pandemic, South Korea only exceeded or came close to 800 new confirmed cases per day twice.
The country avoided full lockdowns throughout its first wave of infections, relying instead on a test-and-trace strategy along with stringent quarantine measures. The country has recorded a relatively low coronavirus death toll, with 281 reported fatalities.
Portugal, which has seen 1,540 confirmed fatalities, has faced fading compliance with social distancing guidance in recent weeks.
The number of young people infected with the virus has spiked since social distancing requirements were eased. Last weekend, police officers dispersed hundreds of people who had gathered illegally.
Restrictions snapped back in some parts of the country on Tuesday in response to the breaches. Limits on the maximum number of people allowed to gather were lowered from 20 to 10 in districts that have seen case numbers rise, among other efforts to crack down on the sale or consumption of alcohol in restaurants or in public.
"The nucleus of the problem is centred in just 15 neighborhoods," said Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, according to Reuters.
Officials in the Australian state of Victoria also blamed large gatherings for climbing case numbers.
Over the weekend, officials there already lowered the cap on gatherings following four consecutive days of double-digit rises in infections. As during the first phase of reopening, no more than 10 people can meet in public and no more than five can assemble inside homes.
On Tuesday, officials also closed two primary schools after a flare-up of more than a dozen coronavirus cases prompted concerns about "significant" community spread.
"I know and understand that all Victorians want this to be over," Victoria State Premier Daniel Andrews said at a news conference, "but we simply can't pretend the virus is gone, that the virus is somehow not in our state."
His comments echoed a growing rift that has emerged between nations that are doubling down on trying to contain the virus and countries like the United States, where scientists fear that economic recovery is being prioritized over virus containment efforts.
Much like Washington, Pakistan's government has also pushed to further reopen its battered economy this week, even though confirmed cases of the coronavirus have surged. More than 3,600 people have died, according to figures shared by the Health Ministry on Tuesday.
Restrictions meant to contain the pandemic earlier this year drove millions of Pakistanis toward hunger and starvation, putting pressure on the government to change course.
But aid groups are have warned of an increasingly dire coronavirus situation that is forcing hospitals to turn patients away, as shopping malls and most businesses are now once again fully operational.
- - -
The Washington Post's Jennifer Hassan in London, Shaiq Hussain in Islamabad, Teo Armus in Washington, and Loveday Morris and Luisa Beck in Berlin contributed to this report.
Democratic Senate bellwethers on policing reform have thrown down the gauntlet, announcing they will oppose the Republican majority's proposed legislation scheduled for a procedural vote on Wednesday.
"This bill is not salvageable and we need bipartisan talks to get to a constructive starting point," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a letter on Tuesday.
Mr Booker and Ms Harris, the only two black Senate Democrats, have been leading voices on criminal justice and policing reform in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and other black people who have died in altercations with police this summer.
Their decision to oppose the GOP bill proposed by Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only other black senator and the lone GOP black senator, is a strong indicator other Democrats in the chamber will also vote to torpedo the bill.
Although Republicans control the Senate, they need 60 votes to block a filibuster and move the bill into the amendment phase. That means seven Democrats or Democratic-caucusing independents must vote with Republicans to keep the bill alive.
Mr McConnell has needled his Democratic counterparts, accusing them of partisan gamesmanship to block what he believes is a good starting point for negotiations.
I hope that whatever strange political calculations are making this difficult for our friends across the aisle will yield to common sense and to the American peoples hunger for progress," the majority leader said on Monday.
But bipartisan cooperation to get Mr Scott's bill, the so-called JUSTICE Act, to the floor debate and amendment process appears less and less likely.
"We will not meet this moment by holding a floor vote on the JUSTICE Act, nor can we simply amend this bill, which is so threadbare and lacking in substance that it does not even provide a proper baseline for negotiations," Mr Booker, Ms Harris, and Mr Schumer wrote to Mr McConnell on Tuesday.
Chief among the Senate Democrats' concerns is that Mr Scott's bill reforms neither police departments' criminal nor civil liability when officers use violent or deadly force on people.
"It is absolutely imperative that any meaningful policing reform contains accountability provisions to ensure that no one, including law enforcement officers, is above the law and the JUSTICE Act does nothing to meet that urgent need," the Democratic senators wrote.
House Democrats, meanwhile, are expected to vote this week on their own policing reform legislation that Mr Booker and Ms Harris also helped to introduce.
That legislation would reform qualified immunity laws to make it easier to sue police and other government agencies for misconduct, a proposal the Trump administration has dismissed as non-negotiable. Democrats' bill would also change the language of section 242 of title 18 of the US criminal code to make it easier to prosecute law enforcement officers for misconduct.
At the national level, it would ban choke holds and no-knock warrants in drug cases, while incentivising state and local entities to institute similar restrictions in order to receive federal funding. And it would create a national database of police misconduct so problematic officers cannot simply move to a different part of the state or country and get a new policing job, among many other provisions.
Senate Republicans' bill also attempts to curb choke holds by withholding funding for departments that do not institute restrictions. But those restrictions are more narrowly defined than the ones in House Democrats' bill.
The Republican bill would not ban no-knock warrants, but it would compel law enforcement to report their use of no-knock warrants for oversight and transparency.
Despite the frosty rhetoric in both parties, the Democratic and GOP bills overlap on many issues, which had sprung hope for a rare legislative compromise in a highly contentious presidential election year.
Both bills include:
an anti-lynching measure aimed at protecting minorities from hate crimes;
provisions to either incentivise or mandate local law enforcement entities to report use-of-force incidents to a nationally centralised database at the Justice Department; and
incentives for de-escalation and racial bias training.
An executive order signed by Mr Trump this week calls for the DOJ to create a national database to track documented officer misconduct, a provision codified in the Democrats bill.
Mr Booker, Ms Harris, and Mr Schumer ended their letter on Tuesday with a plea to Mr McConnell to bring "meaningful legislation" to the floor for a vote.
"This is a serious challenge requiring serious solutions. Bringing the JUSTICE Act to the floor of the Senate is a woefully inadequate response," the senators wrote.
Manila (CNN Philippines Life) On the second day of the implemented lockdown over Luzon, it seems internet users in the Philippines were feeling quite hot and bothered. Research shows that website traffic for Pornhub.com in the country increased to 2.3 million the highest spike since early this year.
PornHub sees a spike in traffic on the second day of the lockdown. This graph measures website traffic. Data from SIMILARWEB
The lockdown enforced on March 16 turned Metro Manila into a desolate metropolis. Main highways were abandoned, a deafening silence replaced traffic noises, and public transportation operations, once filled with snaking lines of commuters, were parked. As businesses, offices, and schools closed, people were forced to transition to life online. The Philippines has one of the most engaged internet users in the world, with 73 million people spending an average of 10 hours a day online the highest record globally. However, it is also a country that struggles with a steep digital divide. We look at usage data from digital research companies SimilarWeb and Apptopia to see how the country used the internet in a time when everyone was stuck at home, and explore what role the internet has within these households, including for those who struggled to go online.
More than a month into the lockdown, Ella, 4, and Erin, 2, try ballet class online for the first time. Their mom, Pamy Velilla-Hernandez, 37, signed them up to courses through Zoom. Ella is patient for the first few minutes, watching as her teacher demonstrates some poses. But Erin looks like she has completely lost interest.
Velilla-Hernandez works as a client service director at a creative digital agency. When the community quarantine came into effect, it wasnt so hard for the office to adjust. "Because my work does not necessarily require physical presence, deliverables can be done remotely, so work was continuous and did not stop," says Velilla-Hernandez.
She reorganized her apartment to integrate both her and her husbands workplaces, her childrens playschool, and a home for them all. She goes to work by signing in at 10 a.m. to answer emails and attend meetings, and ends work by going offline when the clock hits five. When she can, she'll squeeze in a quick workout, eat with the girls, or sweep around the house.
In the first two weeks, she says, it was insane. "It felt that there were no boundaries between work and personal lives. With work set up at home, she says that it felt like we were on call until hours beyond the usual work shifts. Clients also knew that we were constantly online, so they would message and engage with us to their convenience. Knowing that we were home 24/7, the kids also expected more time with them, so it was definitely a struggle at first.
Ella stopped attending playschool, which moved online to teach kids through the video platform Zoom. Now she is taking online summer classes. Weve been successful with that since the adjustment was not too big for her, meaning she was with familiar faces and the kids are only a maximum of four a class which is good so theres less distractions, says Velilla-Hernandez with relief. To ensure that Ella sits through the whole class, they both have to stay inside the same room, each working with their laptop. With this kind of set up, Ella is aware that she needs to listen to her teacher while mom is at work.
Filipinos have become reliant on video chats like Zoom as many users find ways to gather socially online and work from home. This graph measures app sessions: the number of times a user opens the app on the phone. It can be multiple sessions a day. Data from APPTOPIA
For many households like Velilla-Hernandezs, video chats like Zoom have become a crucial platform for groups to gather, an online venue to replace the old public grounds. Aside from school and offices, old friends have reunited to drink together on Zoom; birthday parties are celebrated here, and fitness studios have moved to video gatherings too.
The extended amount of time at home means more time is spent online, and Velilla-Hernandez finds she is visiting some websites more frequently than before. Because gyms are closed, she logs onto YouTube for free exercises. She frequents e-commerce websites to stock up on necessities.
Changing social media habits
I look at Lazada for online affordable indulgences, especially for the house, and Ive looked at BeautyMNL more lately because Ive been running out of skincare or hair care supplies," shares Velilla-Hernandez. Many online businesses suffered logistical issues in the first few weeks due to an increase in demand. The lockdown caused delays in deliveries, forcing some to suspend operations completely. But as weeks went by, companies made adjustments, and Filipinos became more accustomed to the idea of shopping online, much more than they were even before the lockdown began, data shows.
Velilla-Hernandez feels hapless about being very reliant on the internet. She and her husband pay 3,500 a month, and subscribe with two different service providers for fiber internet connection. The nature of their jobs demand that they are online all the time, but even with one of the more premium internet connections in Manila, Lately, both ISPs have been faulty, and its so hard if connection is not seamless because I cant hear and present well, she says. I cant live without the internet now. Otherwise, we will be forced to work back in the office."
With the fears of the global pandemic looming in the back of everyones minds, its a particularly uncanny time for fashion and beauty influencers, whose work revolves around social media. The mood isn't ripe for jet-setting and selfies, and research shows Filipinos are checking news websites more frequently.
Influencers learned to adapt content to become sensitive to the grim situation. As a content creator, I want my followers to connect with me and if theyre also staying home like me, you really have to give them something theyll be able to learn from and hopefully be able to do at home as well. At the end of the day, you want them to stay positive, hopeful, and creative too, says fashion and beauty vlogger Laureen Uy, who maintains one million followers on Instagram. Thats why I started producing more home videos: from new recipes to share, to decluttering tips.
Radio DJ and events host Jazmin Reyes, who also maintains a following online, says the lockdown had made her reflect about the work she was sharing. Being a responsible netizen, I think, is an adjustment everyone had to do. Peoples emotions are heightened during these unprecedented times and aggravating [their emotions] is as simple as poking someone on the shoulder. Everyone is [online]. Everything is highlighted. So you better make sure that you dont offend anyone with your posts and you have to be extra careful with what you say and how you say it. She says she still uses Instagram primarily for work, but that she has also changed her content since the pandemic began. [I] still focus on fashion but, with a certain socio-political twist.
How content is being consumed has changed as well. Now that Filipinos are not commuting, YouTube mobile apps seem completely disregarded, as users move to viewing it on the computers screens.
But it looks like they are still enthusiastic about mobile apps like Instagram, Tiktok, and Netflix, and are spending more time on it as well. Dance challenges have spread like wildfire as new users join the TikTok bandwagon, including a rather unusual appearance from presidential spokesperson Harry Roque whose debut post is an attempt at SZAs The Weekend.
Filipinos are using Instagram, TikTok, and Netflix more than ever during the lockdown, with session usage increase for each reaching almost 1M. Sessions refer to the time a user opens the app on the phone. It can be multiple sessions a day. Data from APPTOPIA and SIMILARWEB
Its also evident that people are moving their conversations online. Uy relies on her social media accounts to keep up with the latest news. She says, Since I dont have cable TV, I heavily rely on the internet to know whats happening with the world. Its my main source of news update. Business manager Lourisse Miller, 30, based in Metro Manila, recently reactivated her account on Twitter because she says it gets the news fastest. People are using Twitter to show their dissent against the government dealings, she says, particularly with regard to the pandemic. When asked why she thinks Twitter is the chosen platform to protest, she explains, "It seems to be more real with how people convey their feelings. Its instant, raw and unbridled. Whereas Facebook and Instagram are filtered and staged. Its safer as well as Twitter is better with detecting troll accounts."
These graphs measure app sessions (left) and website traffic (right) on Twitter. Sessions refer to the time a user opens the app on the phone. It can be multiple sessions a day. Data from APPTOPIA and SIMILARWEB
Digital divide
But for others in the Philippines, having access to the internet or a reliable connection is not an option. Despite a high penetration of internet users, the Philippines is still falling behind with the digitization of services. Many establishments still function on a cash-basis only, and some government processes still require paperwork. The pandemic brought forth not only new digital spaces and internet habits, but also the existence of a consequential inequality in the country.
Academic researchers Eszter Hargittai and Paul DiMaggio have posited that despite high internet penetration, there is still a divide that separates those who has access to the internet, from those who don't. They referred to this as the digital divide encompassing dimensions such as having the right equipment, the right know-how, and the right freedoms to use the internet whenever needed aspects that set Filipinos apart from one another.
Ervine Jules Beltran Sape, a 20-year-old student from Saint Louis University in Baguio City, decried for his school administration to be considerate of its students. As the coronavirus pandemic was getting worse, the city government executed an order to suspend classes in all educational institutions, and his university announced they would finish the remaining semester online. While the school had an existing online system in place, Sape says, it was unreliable, rarely updated, and only used for administration announcements. For example, when the students wanted to access the student portal to see their released grades, the system was always crashing.
Sape has to budget 1,000 a month so that he can access the internet in his dormitory; though his other classmates, he says, cannot even afford this. I have groupmates for various projects [who] are really unreachable because they do not have laptops or smartphones, says Sape. I have no other choice but to do the task supposedly assigned to them. But my capacity to do this is also limited, so the whole group suffers. He shares that he often finds students in computer shops when they need to go online. There are students who really go to computer shops and pay for their stay just to do their assignments, research, and have access to updates." When some of his classmates went back to their hometowns just as the university decided to close, he says it was harder to reach those who lived in far-flung areas due to erratic phone signals.
In Antipolo City, 28-year-old Jhoniel Parol has been driving a tricycle for five years. He was shocked to learn he had to stop working because the lockdown meant public transport services like tricycles were no longer allowed to operate. Nadismaya po at natakot kasi may anak po ako na may sakit sa puso at nag-gagamot, says Parol. Without other sources of income, he relies on relief goods during the lockdown to feed his family. Then he found out about a Facebook group called "Super Tsuper," created to allow tricycle drivers like Parol, who needed financial support due to job loss, to call for help. The group connected them to other Filipino citizens eager to help, encouraging users to send a small amount of money through GCash, a subsidiary of telecommunications company Globe that functions as an e-wallet for online money transfers and utility bill payments. In the start of the year, G-cash was assertive in pushing more Filipinos to use the app to pay for essential goods. The concept of an e-wallet though is unfamiliar to many Filipinos, ninety-nine percent of whom were still using cash for local transactions by the end of 2018.
However, the lockdown saw a spike in downloads and usage for the app. With people forced to stay indoors, GCash became an easy method for people to send money to one another, and was used widely in sending financial relief.
An e-wallet app, GCash, has a significant number of downloads after the lockdown is announced. The app allows people to make mobile payments, send money, and pay utility bills. This graph measures the number of app downloads. Data from APPTOPIA
On the Facebook group "Super Tsuper," Parol shared the photos of his two children, Meigan and Biel Liam, aged 7 and 2, including pictures of the prescribed medications that he has to pay for. His daughter Meigan was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. Parol doesnt have internet access at home. His main source of news is the television. He was able to make the post on Facebook by accessing the site through his phone. When he has extra money, he applies for a promo called "Facebook 10" through his service provider, which costs 10 and allows him to use the Facebook app for three days. The promo doesnt let him access any other website except for the social media platform. Through "Super Tsuper," he was able to receive 2,000. Nakabili po ako ng gatas, diaper, at ulam," he says. But Parol airs some regret at the fact that the app requires internet access to open and collect the money, access that he cannot afford at all times.
New normal
Today, the government has eased certain quarantine restrictions despite the number of COVID-19 cases still being reported. Parol now goes out twice a week to drive the tricycle to earn money for his family. Velilla-Hernandez is ready to brace this new routine as her company considers adopting the work-from-home set-up indefinitely. Meanwhile, the disparate inequality in Philippine society continues to deepen, as the autonomy of use over internet access oppresses and separates during a particularly turbulent political climate. The country merely braces itself to wake up to a grim new normal, one which sees changes in the way the internet is both used and abused.
***
Update: The first graph has been corrected to reflect the correct usage increase of 2.3 million instead of 1.3 million.
A 'poorly designed' bike lane has caused anger among cyclists after a picture was shared online.
The new bike lane on Eldridge Street in Footscray, Melbourne, was only finished in early June but cyclists say they are already being hindered.
A local cyclist posted a picture of the bike lane being blocked by five garbage bins to Reddit.
A 'poorly designed' bike lane in Melbourne has caused confusion and some anger among cyclists just weeks after it was finished after residents started leaving bins in the lane (pictured)
'This separated bike lane seems suboptimal,' the user wrote alongside the picture.
The post prompted a number of people to share their own frustrations at perceived oversights.
'Why do councils always forget about bins?' one user wrote.
'Whoever designed this road infrastructure really didn't think it though,' another added.
'I'd be very tempted to move those bins into the car lane,' a third wrote.
However not everyone found the bins to be an issue for passing cyclists.
'Took me a few seconds before I figured out what was wrong ... I reckon there's enough space for cyclists,' the user responded.
'I dunno. I just see someone complaining about nothing,' another chimed in.
'That's plenty of room. You guys ride on those tiny lines anyway,' another added.
The City of Maribyrnong's director of infrastructure services Steve Hamilton said the lane was designed for the safety of riders and bins weren't to be left in their path.
'Residents in this street are expected to leave their bins on the nature strip as is common throughout the municipality,' he told Yahoo News.
'The separator is part of our commitment to deliver bicycle improvements over the next 10 years in the City of Maribyrnong, as outlined in our Bicycle Strategy.'
On streets like Eldridge garbage men are responsible for wheeling the bins out to the truck and back to the nature strip.
Mr Hamilton said letters would be sent to residents and body corporate along the path of the bike lane to ensure bins are being left on the nature strip.
'We will continue to monitor the bicycle lane to ensure that it remains clear,' he said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Maribyrnong City Council for further comment.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has invited ecommerce players such as Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal to discuss displaying the origin of a product available for sale on these websites, as anti-China sentiment run high in the country.
The meeting will be chaired by joint secretary Ravinder, DPIIT said in an email to e-commerce companies. The meeting will be held through a video conference on June 24, said the email, a copy of which was seen Moneycontrol.
Calls for the boycott of products made in China, Indias biggest trading partner, have only grown louder after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troops in Ladakhs Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control.
ALSO READ: Railways terminates project contract awarded to Chinese company
The move also comes two days after the Confederation of All India Traders urged Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to make it mandatory for every ecommerce portal to mention the country of origin of each product sold on their platforms.
Most ecommerce companies were selling Chinese goods and consumers was not aware of it. Sharing information on the country of origin would help them make an informed decision, it said.
Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal didn't immediately respond to queries seeking their view.
The government has already mandated its own online marketplace, GeM, to enter the country of origin while registering new products.
The government says the move is aimed at promoting Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat plans but it is likely to have a bearing on products of Chinese origin.
The government has also mandated that sellers, who have already uploaded their products to update the country of origin, failing which the products would be removed.
GeM has also enabled a provision for an indication of the percentage of local content in products. With this new feature, the country of origin as well as the local content percentage information are available for all items.
"The Make in India filter has now been enabled on the portal. Buyers can choose to buy only those products that meet the minimum 50 percent local content criteria," the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.
In the week after the Galwan clash, the government has reviewed several contracts given to Chinese companies and states like Maharashtra have put some investment plans on hold.
Why Bostock will never have the final word on human sexuality
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Our rapidly changing moral landscape presents a daunting challenge for Christians committed to biblical sexual ethics. The LGBT movement continues to challenge centuries of norms concerning the family, marriage, and human sexuality. And a recent Supreme Court decision means legal definitions and understanding regarding human sexuality are changing, too.
Secular progressives often criticize conservative Christians for their alleged obsession with sexual ethics. But secular and progressive elites are increasingly forcing the issue, insisting everyone embrace their worldview and the full spectrum of LGBT policy positions or face social ostracizing, public shaming, loss of jobs, or other increasingly dire consequences. Those in positions of cultural and political influence are willing to use the coercive power of government to accomplish their political objectives. This was evident this week in the U.S. Senate as Democrats argued for the immediate passage of the Equality Act, legislation that represents one of the greatest threats to religious liberty ever introduced in Congress. It would gut our nations flagship religious liberty law, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was passed nearly unanimously by Democrats and Republicans alike.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a 6-3 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. The majority ruled that employment discrimination on the basis of sex prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should be understood to include actions based on sexual orientation and gender identity. By reinterpreting the statute in this way, the Court essentially rewrote civil rights law.
Many conservatives were surprised by the decision and considered Justice Neil Gorsuchs majority opinion to be a betrayal of the originalist and textualist approach he had previously insisted guided his judicial philosophy. As both Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh pointed out in their respective dissents, the majority opinion authored by Gorsuch imposed a meaning that would have been foreign to those who authored the Civil Rights Act and ignored the plain meaning of the statute.
The consequences of the Bostock decision will play out for many years. In the immediate future, there are significant questions about how the ruling will affect religious liberty. Can religious institutions such as colleges and seminaries continue to have have sex-separated dormitories and housing? Are sex separated private spaces like bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities now discriminatory? Will women athletes be forced to compete against biological males in both scholastic and professional sports? Will employers be forced to cover treatments and surgeries that are not medically necessary and that are in opposition to their religious beliefs on human embodiment?
Originalism and textualism are methods of interpreting the law. But as theologically conservative Christians, we hold to a form of originalism and textualism when reading and interpreting Scripture the historical grammatical method. In other words, we believe Gods Word is authoritative, infallible, and inerrant. Because the Bible is breathed out by God, followers of Christ are called to obey and align their lives with it (2 Tim. 3:16). In order to obey and align our lives with the Bible, we must read and interpret it.
The historical grammatical method of interpretation means we take seriously the grammar and syntax of the words and phrases that appear in the Bible because we want to know what the text says and what it means. We also want to place the text in its historical context. The Bible was written in a culture that is very different than our own. To understand many of the stories, we need some understanding of the ancient world in which it took place. Although this process of reading the Bible takes effort, there is no other faithful way to read Scripture.
As theologically conservative Christians, we know our views on marriage and sexuality are increasingly unfashionable and go against the cultural zeitgeist. But we hold to these views anyway, because we believe the Bibles teachings about marriage and human sexuality are clear.
Transgender activists posit a distinction between the biological reality of sex and the subjective, internal feeling of gender identity. The biblical worldview, however, affirms the goodness of the material creation and the human body. In fact, the doctrines of creation, incarnation, and bodily resurrection provide strong theological affirmation of our physical bodies. Genesis 1:31 says that everything God created, including the human body, is very good. In other words, our bodies (including our maleness or femaleness) are essential, integral components of who we are.
In a world disordered by the fall, the goodness of the body may be difficult for many to affirm, and the church should show grace to those who struggle with accepting their bodies. But Christians must also speak the truth in love and stand on our convictions, which biology and anatomy support.
Christians cannot and should not compromise their Bible-informed beliefs about human sexuality. Why? Because we believe in the authority of Gods Word. And because we believe the Bibles teachings are what is best for society and individual flourishing.
The real reason theologically conservative Christians disapprove of the LGBT movement has nothing to do with wanting to deny people rights or oppressing a group of people. Our convictions come from our compassion for them and our concern about the consequences of certain chosen behaviors. Both the Old and New Testaments prohibit homosexual conduct, and since God created us male and female (Gen. 1:27), we have no right to recreate ourselves any more than the clay has the right to tell the potter what to do (Is. 45:9).
As evidenced by the muted outcry to the Supreme Courts decision on Monday even among many conservative groups conservative Christians are increasingly on the periphery when it comes to our convictions on human sexuality. Christians, especially pastors, will continue to face mounting pressure to compromise or at least downplay the Bibles teaching on marriage and sexuality. However, we cannot compromise our beliefs because we are committed to Scripture. While the Courts decision is deeply discouraging, we do not give up. We know that we are advocating and fighting for timeless truths revealed to us in Scripture.
So, let us continue to articulate a biblically robust, theologically informed perspective on how Christians think about the major issues facing our nation in order to promote the true flourishing of individuals and of society.
Twitter Inc on Tuesday placed a warning notice on a tweet from U.S. President Donald Trump which threatened "serious force" against protesters in the U.S. capital, saying it violated the company's policy against abusive behavior.
"There will never be an 'Autonomous Zone' in Washington, D.C., as long as I'm your President. If they try they will be met with serious force!" the president's tweet read.
The company said it had hidden Trump's tweet behind its "public interest" notice because there was a threat of harm against an identifiable group.
It was only the second time Twitter has deployed the public interest label on a tweet by the U.S. president, after announcing its creation last summer. Chief Executive Jack Dorsey was informed of the decision before the notice was applied, a Twitter spokeswoman said.
Anti-racism protesters on Monday declared a Black House Autonomous Zone - referencing a Seattle area known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) zone or the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone - near the White House in front of St. John's Church.
The company first attached its public interest notice to one of Trump's tweets last month, when he used the phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" to threaten deadly force against protesters in Minneapolis.
Twitter said that message violated its rules against "glorifying violence." It has also appended fact-checking and manipulated media labels to Trump's tweets in the last month, after taking no action against his use of the app for years.
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The literal meaning of our usual openers could be casually ignored when most people's health was likely to be fine. If we knew that someone was sick or going through a tough time, we could change our tone and emphasis when saying "How are you?" or say something else. Now, no one takes health for granted, and everyone is going through at best a tough time and possibly an awful one. That forces us to notice the meaning of the words in these greetings - and to change them. Now it's much more common to hear "I hope you're managing" or "doing OK" or "hanging in there" - or any of myriad other ways of implying what a fellow linguist used parentheses to convey while preserving this familiar formulaic expression: "I hope you're doing (as) well (as one could expect under the present circumstances)."
HAMEL A pregnant woman has been airlifted to a St. Louis hospital after Hamel emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle crash involving a minivan and a flatbed truck at Illinois Route 140 and Staunton Road Monday afternoon.
The initial call came in around 12:30 p.m., Hamel Police Sgt. Brent Stewart said. Two women and two children were traveling eastbound on Route 140 in a Hyundai Entourage when a man driving an Isuzu flatbed truck, which had been southbound on Staunton Road, attempted to cross 140.
At approximately 1 p.m., an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter landed at nearby Hamel Elementary School to transport the pregnant woman, the front-seat passenger of the minivan, to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for precautionary measures.
Stewart said Edwardsville Ambulance transported two children with non-life-threatening conditions to Childrens Hospital in St. Louis while Staunton Area Ambulance transported the minivan driver, whose condition was not life-threatening, to Anderson Hospital in Maryville. The truck driver suffered some minor abrasions but Stewart said he refused treatment at the scene.
Stewart said according to the Isuzu driver and to witnesses, he looked both ways, looked again, didnt see any oncoming traffic so he started to cross Route 140. Just before impact, he saw the minivan but it was too late to avoid a crash. Stewart said the truck driver is at fault.
The truck appears to be the property of S.M. Lawn and Landscaping Inc., an Edwardsville-based landscaping business. The trucks cab was loaded with lawn care equipment, including at least one riding lawnmower. Stewart said the minivans front end was severely damaged and the van struck the Isuzu on the passenger side, causing at least moderate damage.
The Hamel Volunteer Fire Department and Hamel Police responded to the incident.
Stewart said he had no further information to provide about the accident. He said the crash is still under investigation.
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Google has undertaken a pilot program for Voice Match, a new voice confirmation feature for purchases made in Assistant, the company confirmed this week.
In the United States, a select number of users can now make purchases in certain apps and restaurants with Voice Match on Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers and smart displays, a Google spokesperson said in a statement company rep Joshua Cruz provided to the E-Commerce Times. This is an early pilot that were running.
Currently the feature is limited to in-app digital purchases on Google Play and purchases from restaurants that enable food ordering through Google. Google has imposed a ceiling on the maximum amount per transaction, and on the total number of daily transactions allowed.
For security, participants have to re-authorize their Google account when enabling Voice Match purchasing.
Making Purchases Convenient
Consumers have been able to make voice purchases through Google Assistant since 2018 and verify them through fingerprints or facial recognition on their phones.
One of the main benefits is that this update lets you use your voice to purchase items on a smart speaker or smart display without needing to then confirm the transaction on your mobile device, especially since many of them do not have a fingerprint or facial recognition sensor, the Google spokesperson said. This extra step was always frustrating for users. Additionally, voice match makes it possible to complete the transaction entirely by voice.
Removing friction in an order usually results in higher order sizes, higher transaction volumes and more profit, observed Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research.
Many folks used to Google Assistant will take advantage of this convenience, he told the E-Commerce Times.
For retailers, Voice Match may help with contactless commerce at the store, minimizing human-to-human contact for simple requests, Wang added.
One of the largest trends in the past eight weeks is the need for contactless or touchless commerce, he noted. Voice is one tool being deployed in post-pandemic commerce road maps.
Google last month introduced ways to get personalized results on Google Assistant-powered devices for up to six users.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
This makes it easier for contactless commerce via devices such as home speakers and in other environments such as cars and office buildings, Wang pointed out.
Taking On Alexa
About 90 percent of consumers are more likely to make purchases from Amazon than from other e-commerce sites, Feedvisor has found.
Amazon is better positioned than Google to leverage voice purchases, noted Wang. From Kindle to Echo to embedded deals for Alexa, Amazon has a 70 percent market share for smart speakers while Google has 30 percent.
Still, voice hasnt been the barrier to shopping on Google in the same way talking to Alexa isnt why you order on Amazon, suggested Liz Miller, principal analyst at Constellation Research.
Convenience is one of the top attributes raised by consumers regarding their dependence on Amazon as a shopping destination of choice. They already have all my billing and shipping information, as an example, she told the E-Commerce Times.
That said, Voice Match will help boost Googles online sales because its Assistant has a higher accuracy rate than Alexa when it comes to understanding different languages, Wang said. It can even differentiate between British English, Canadian English, American English and even Singaporean English.
Further, Google Assistant gives SMBs and their partners an opportunity to compete with Amazon, he remarked.
Thats important, because we want to be able to talk instead of type, Miller pointed out. Thanks to consumer demand for voice interaction, voicebots will be yet another common expectation for e-commerce, much like expedited shipping, supply chain visibility and virtual dressing rooms.
Avoiding Unwanted Purchases
Over the years, there have been reports of unwanted purchases made when Google Assistant or Alexa picked up what seemed to be commands to make a purchase.There also have been several highly publicized incidents involving kids ordering items by voice, either accidentally or deliberately,
The Voice Match feature can be explained as a move to protect the customer and give the shopper an added layer of control and protection, but I suspect it also gives Google a greater layer of risk protection and proof they have included protection layers for explicit consent, Miller said.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
It is more about gaining explicit consent and not allowing little Suzie to order all the cookies or the dollhouse by just saying yes again, she added.
Both Google and Amazon are fighting lawsuits over invasion of privacy involving their voice-enabled devices.
A potential class-action complaint alleging Google Assistant violates users privacy is still pending in federal district court in San Jose, though the judge has issued a partial ruling against it.
Meanwhile, a federal district court judge in Seattle has dismissed Amazons argument that a lawsuit over its capturing and storing of childrens voiceprints without permission should be arbitrated under the companys terms and conditions.
The Google Voice Match feature is less about customization and personalization than it is about risk mitigation, Miller said.
Thats critical, because consumers are accelerating adoption of voice-enabled purchasing, she noted.
Lawsuits will slow down arbitrary application of voice without guiderails around consent, privacy and trust, Miller added.
The Voice Match feature ensures that Google will cover its legal requirements, said Wang, along with any other issues that may require a product return.
CLEVELAND, Ohio As temperatures soar this summer, we are all looking for some relief from the heat. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, most communities have opted to keep their swimming pools and splash pads closed this season.
Though a bit more limited this summer, there are still opportunities to enjoy the water. Below is a roundup of options.
By Sandip Kumar Mishra
With all of its financing now in place, Merit Functional Foods is poised to enter a burgeoning market for plant-based protein additives with the only canola protein offering on the market.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
With all of its financing now in place, Merit Functional Foods is poised to enter a burgeoning market for plant-based protein additives with the only canola protein offering on the market.
Its $150-million, 94,000-square-foot plant joins Roquettes $400-million plus Portage la Prairie plant both of which are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year in making Manitoba one of North Americas plant-based protein production centres.
Merits plant will produce both pea and canola protein and is already creating demand from packaged food and beverage companies, where it can be included as an ingredient in everything from meat and dairy alternatives to beverages and snack food.
The company has benefited from about $100 million worth of financing from a host of federal government programs, including loans totalling $55 million from Export Development Canada and $25 million from Farm Credit Canada, $9.2 million from the Protein Industries Supercluster that was announced in January, and most recently a $10-million interest-free repayable loan from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadas AgriInnovate Program.
"When you are a startup business it is very difficult to access senior term loans from the big banks," said Merit CEO Ryan Bracken.
"AgriInnovate is a great program because it allows you to leverage that capital to go after additional capital from the banks."
Merit is a 60-40 partnership between an investor group made up of Bracken, Shaun Crew and Barry Tomiski all veteran senior management and founders of Hemp Oil Canada Inc./Manitoba Harvest and Burcon NutraScience Corp., a publicly traded Vancouver company with strong links to Winnipeg where it has had a research lab for 20 years.
"In our case, being entrepreneurs and having a track record with significant capital of our own at stake, these programs through EDC and FCC were vital to allow us to get started," he said.
Once they are up and running, Merit and Roquettes production plants will make Manitoba North Americas plant protein hub.
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Merit CEO Ryan Bracken said by the time all the expansions are complete, it will be about the same size as Roquettes plant in Portage la Prairie and will create about 175 jobs over the next three years.
Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, said Merits project will help put Canada in a leading position in the field and provide an important underpinning to agricultural production in the Prairies.
"When we speak to the pea and canola producers we are always looking at diversifying our markets," she told the Free Press. "Another goal we are achieving through this project is adding value and not exporting only raw agricultural production."
An international "virtual" conference on plant-based protein kicked off in Toronto on Monday and even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau weighed in on the Merit development.
"This facility will be a world leader in plant-based proteins and will create good jobs in a fast-growing field," Trudeau said Monday. "And by using 100 per cent Canadian inputs, it will also support farmers who produce the canola and yellow peas used in Merits products."
Bracken said the plant is designed to be able to double in size in every respect. He said by the time all the expansions are complete it will be about the same size as Roquettes plant in Portage la Prairie and will create about 175 jobs over the next three years.
(Last week it was announced that Roquette received a similar level of funding from Protein Industries Canada.)
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Jean-Philippe Nolet, director of the renewables and sustainable technologies group at Export Development Canada, said the Merit loan is typical of the kind of loans EDC provides.
"What really differentiates this one is the impact this company can have," he said. "We see that plant-based protein is a large, growing sector with a huge addressable market in the U.S. and Europe for the food and beverage industry."
Merit signed a development agreement with Nestle in January to use Merits pea and canola protein products in Nestles food offerings and the company has already signed about 100 non-disclosure agreements with some of the worlds largest food companies.
Outside of a US$100-million investment Cargill has made in a company called Puris, which has pea protein production plants in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, the new Manitoba production from Merit and Roquette is the most significant addition to the market outside of soybean protein.
"There is a significant amount of growth and demand for all things non-soy in plant proteins, so your choice right now is either buy from Europe or China," Bracken said. "There is a very finite North American supply and North Americans would prefer to have their food supply chain coming from North America."
martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
It is hard to believe only four senators opposed the confirmation of Robert Califf, who was approved Wednesday as the next Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner. Vocal opponent Bernie Sanders condemned the vote from the campaign trail. But where was Dick Durbin? Where were all the lawmakers who say they care about industry and Wall Street profiteers making money at the expense of public health?
It is hard to believe only four senators opposed the confirmation of Robert Califf (left), who was approved Wednesday as the next FDA commissioner. Photo credit: Les Todd / Duke Photography
Califf, chancellor of clinical and translational research at Duke University until recently, received money from 23 drug companies including the giants like Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Merck, Schering Plough and GSK according to a disclosure statement on the website of Duke Clinical Research Institute.
Not merely receiving research funds, Califf also served as a high level Pharma officer, say press reports. Medscape, the medical website, discloses that Califf served as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for Genentech. Portola Pharmaceuticals says Califf served on its board of directors until leaving for the FDA.
In disclosure information for a 2013 article in Circulation, Califf also lists financial links to Gambro, Regeneron, Gilead, AstraZeneca, Roche and other companies and equity positions in four medical companies. Gilead is the maker of the $1000-a-pill hepatitis C drug AlterNet recently wrote about. This is FDA commissioner material?
Califf has gone on record that collaboration between industry and regulators is a good thing. He told NPR, Many of us consult with the pharmaceutical industry, which I think is a very good thing. They need ideas and then the decision about what they do is really up to the person who is funding the study. What?
He is known for defending Vioxx which is reported to have caused at least 50,000 heart attacks and events before its withdrawal. (Merck is said to have known about Vioxx cardio effects but marketed the blockbuster drug anyway).
Califf was instrumental in the Duke drug trial of the blood thinner Xarelto and a cheerleader of the drug despite medical experts objections to its approval and 379 subsequent deaths. Xareltos serious and foreseeable risks were back in the news this week.
Duke, where Califf directed clinical research, is still recovering from a major research fraud scandal that resulted in terminated grants, retracted papers and a 60 Minutes special. It is the least appropriate place from which to choose an FDA commissioner.
Many had high hopes for the FDA when Margaret Hamburg was confirmed as commissioner in 2009 because of her public health background. But she swiftly moved to loosen conflict-of-interest rules governing those who can serve on FDA expert advisory committees and appointed Califf the FDA deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco as she was leaving.
Califf was also Obamas choice for FDA Commissioner.
This is not the first time the FDA has brought in a Big Pharma cheerleader to lead the agency that regulates Big Pharma.
In 2005, a 33-year-old Wall Street insider known for recommending hot medical stocks, Scott Gottlieb, was named FDA deputy commissioner for medical and scientific affairs. When a multiple sclerosis drug trial was stopped because three people lost blood platelets and one died, Gottlieb called it an overreaction because the disease, not the drug, might be to blame. He rushed Chantix, Pfizers stop-smoking drug, varenicline, to market, which was linked to a string of 2006 suicides and the violent death of Dallas musician Carter Albrecht. Gottlieb was forced to recuse himself from planning for a possible bird flu epidemic because of his financial ties to Roche and Sanofi-Aventis and had to bow out of work related to Eli Lilly, Proctor & Gamble and five other drug companies.
Even without a Pharma-funded FDA commissioner, many dangerous drugs approved by the agency have been withdrawn due to great harm. Who remembers Vioxx, Bextra, Baycol, Trovan, Meridia, Seldane, Hismanal, Darvon, Mylotarg, Lotronex, Propulsid, Raxar or Redux?
Califfs confirmation amounts to a handover of the agency to Big Pharma.
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Bolton's scathing disclosures distort facts
Excerpts from John Bolton's memoir on his nearly two years as national security adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump are creating small waves in Korea. The memoir talks at length about the two summits and impromptu meeting in Panmunjeom between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The "undiplomatic disclosure" puts the future of the denuclearization talks and involved parties including South Korea on discomforting footing.
In the memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," the hawkish Bolton described the U.S.-North Korea summit held in 2018 in Singapore as an idea pushed by South Korea and almost accepted on the spur of the moment by the U.S. president. Of his former boss, Bolton said Trump was not prepared for the Singapore summit but expected "great theater."
There is a strong amount of criticism toward the Moon Jae-in administration's strong "driver-role" approach in mediating the U.S.-North Korea summits. "This whole diplomatic fandango was South Korea's creation, relating more to its unification agenda than serious strategy on Kim's part or ours." He added that the "South's understanding of our terms to denuclearize North Korea bore no relationship to fundamental U.S. national interest."
It is hard to fully determine the veracity of the claims in the memoir. We will have to wait some time for the declassification of materials to cross-check with government documents. Needless to say, Bolton's disclosures are a violation of diplomatic practice. Cheong Wa Dae called it a violation of "diplomatic principles."
That is why National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong said Monday that Bolton expressed his "views" related to the consultations between the leaders of South Korea, the United States and North Korea, in a change from its initial stance of keeping silent on Bolton's memoir. "It doesn't reflect the exact facts. Much of it distorts the facts." Chung urged the United States to take relevant measures to prevent future disclosures.
The novelty of some of the claims should not tempt people to turn away from the past two years of peace talks and denuclearization. The memoir does offer glimpses into a rift, and a lack of cohesion regarding North Korea within the Trump administration. Albeit written more like a sketch story, there is a sense of the political calculations running through North Korea, Japan and China in the memoir. With tensions high between the two Koreas again with North Korea frustrated over Seoul's inability to lift U.S.-led international sanctions, these are aspects that Seoul could revisit to break out of the inter-Korean tensions.
New Delhi, June 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted the citizens on the occasion of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra and said that this journey filled with reverence brings prosperity and good luck.
"My heartiest greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra. I wish that this journey filled with reverence and devotion brings happiness, prosperity, good luck and health to the lives of the countrymen," Modi said in a tweet.
On Tuesday, for the first time ever, the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings began in the absence of devotees in Odisha's Puri.
The annual Rath Yatra is being taken out after the Supreme Court's nod to organise it in a limited way without public attendance.
In Puri, the three deities were taken atop the three traditionally decked up wooden chariots -- Nandighosa (for Jagannath), Taladhwaja (for Balabhadra) and Devadalana (for Subhadra). The chariots will be pulled to the Gundicha temple in Puri, which is around three km away from the main Jagannath temple.
This year, no more than 500 people, including the temple servitors and police personnel, have been be allowed to pull the chariots. They have been permitted to do that only if they have tested negative for COVID-19.
The festival marks the annual journey of the three deities -- Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra -- from the 12th century Jagannath temple to the Gundicha temple. The festival ends after nine days when the deities make their way back to the Jagannath temple.
Following the Supreme Court direction, a partial curfew has been imposed in Puri and all the entry points to the town have been sealed since Monday night.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
President Donald Trump is tweeting that an initial trade agreement with China is still on after a top White House advisers comments seemed to suggest it was over, spooking markets late Monday.
Trump tweeted: The China Trade Deal is fully intact. Hopefully they will continue to live up to the terms of the Agreement!
The Trump administration has been extremely critical of Chinas efforts to contain the novel coronavirus early on and the president repeatedly blames China for the pandemic in his remarks, leading to questions about future cooperation in areas such as trade.
Peter Navarro, director of trade and manufacturing policy at the White House, told Fox News its over, when asked a question that was focused on the China trade deal.
(Trump) obviously really wanted to hang onto this trade deal as much as possible. And he wanted them to make good on the promises, because there had been progress made on that trade deal, but given everything thats happened and all the things you just listed, is that over? Navarro was asked.
Its over, yes, Navarro replied.
But when contacted by The Associated Press, Navarro said his comments had been taken out of context and had nothing to do with the deal.
I was simply speaking to the lack of trust we now have of the Chinese Communist Party after they lied about the origins of the China virus and foisted a pandemic upon the world, said Navarro, a longtime critic of the Asian country.
In January, the US and China reached an interim trade deal to reduce tariff tensions. China agreed to buy massive amounts of US products.
United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer testified on Capitol Hill last week that he is confident China will live up to its purchase commitments even though its economy has been weakened by the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdowns and travel restrictions imposed to contain it.
(Bloomberg) -- Daimler AG unit Mercedes-Benz said it will use Nvidia Corp. technology in all vehicles starting with the 2024 models, part of a push toward automated cars.
Nvidias Drive software and chips will give Mercedes-Benz cars the most sophisticated and advanced computing architecture ever used in an automobile, the companies said Tuesday in a statement.Automakers and semiconductor companies are increasingly joining forces as the car industry tries to progress rapidly from adding electronics that help drivers to vehicles that dont need a human behind the wheel. Nvidia, based in Santa Clara, California, and led by founder and Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang, is looking to parlay its dominance of computer graphics into a leading position in the market for automotive silicon.Unlike other cars that require physical upgrades, the companies said the new systems will feature updates through software. That may allow owners to configure their vehicles in the way that smartphone users customize their handsets, will provide remote safety and maintenance updates and give manufacturers a way to sell services after the car has been purchased.Huang said in a statement that the companies share a vision of the automobile of the future that will come with a team of expert AI and software engineers continuously developing, refining and enhancing the car over its lifetime.
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[June 23, 2020] Aptean Attracts Strategic Growth Capital to Accelerate Innovation and Global Expansion
ALPHARETTA, Ga., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Aptean , a global provider of mission-critical, industry-specific enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain solutions, announced that funds affiliated with Charlesbank Capital Partners , a leading private equity firm focused on middle-market companies, has signed a definitive agreement to make a strategic growth investment in the company. Charlesbank will join existing investors TA Associates and Vista Equity Partners as institutional shareholders in Aptean. As part of the transaction, TA Associates will also make a further investment in Aptean. The funding provides additional capital that will enable Aptean to increase its investment in innovation and accelerate its global growth. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2020, pending customary regulatory approval.
TVN Reddy, CEO of Aptean, stated, Charlesbank is an experienced and successful investor in middle-market growth companies. The firms investment in Aptean reflects confidence in our growth plans and our ongoing expansion, even amid todays turbulent market forces. We believe that our ability to meet the mission-critical needs of specific industries with cloud-hosted, purpose-built ERP and supply chain software is unmatched in our sector. These added investments by Charlesbank and TA Associates will enable us to accelerate the development of our next-generation cloud solutions, as well as our organic and inorganic growth initiatives. Aptean has more than 4,100 enterprise clients in over 20 industries across more than 50 countries who rely on its mission-critical ERP, supply chain and compliance applications to run their daily operations. Key industries for Aptean include both process and discrete manufacturing, as well as distribution. Charlesbank is investing in Aptean during a rapid growth phase for the software company. Over the past 15 months, through significant investment in organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions, Apteans total revenues have almost doubled and its international footprint now represents almost half of the total company. Equally important, Aptean has grown its talented employee base to more than 1,700 individuals across the globe. Further, significant investments have been made at the leadership level, recruiting several experienced, world-class executives to the management team to help support Apteans rapid global expansion. Hythem T. El-Nazer, a Managing Director at TA Associates, said, Since making our investment in Aptean in April of 2019, the business has accelerated its growth through continued innovation in new applications and strategic acquisitions. Apteans significant investment in cloud applications has led to an almost 100% growth in SaaS bookings over the last 36 months, providing significant tailwinds for the future. We are thrilled to welcome Charlesbank as a new investment partner, and are excited o make a further growth capital investment in Aptean, solidifying our commitment to its future.
Marc Teillon, Co-Head of the Foundation Fund and a Senior Managing Director at Vista, stated, We could not be more excited to continue our nearly decade-long support of Aptean as the company expands both its innovation roadmap and geographic footprint. Aptean is poised to add next-generation cloud solutions that complement its existing offerings and is well-positioned to further expand its global reach. Vista looks forward to continuing to work with the executive management team and TA Associates, and we are pleased to have Charlesbank join us, as we build on Apteans strengths in serving the ERP and supply chain software markets globally. Hiren Mankodi, Managing Director at Charlesbank, commented, Now is the perfect time to invest in Aptean, joining TA Associates and Vista Equity Partners to accelerate the companys growth. Apteans strong brand, rapid expansion, industry-specific solutions and forward-looking strategy have made it a clear success story in enterprise software over the past several years. Fellow Charlesbank Managing Director Ryan Carroll added, Aptean perfectly exemplifies the type of investment we look for at Charlesbank: a strong-performing company with an experienced management team and a well-defined area of focus. We are excited to be backing TVN Reddy and the Aptean management team on the next phase of their journey.
Charlesbank Capital Partners, TA Associates and Vista Equity Partners will have equal representation on the Aptean Board of Directors. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal advisors to Aptean, Vista Equity Partners and TA Associates. Ropes & Gray LLP is acting as legal advisor to Charlesbank Capital Partners. About Aptean
Aptean is a global provider of mission-critical, industry-specific software solutions. Apteans purpose-built ERP and supply chain management solutions help address the unique challenges facing process and discrete manufacturers, distributors and other focused organizations. Apteans compliance solutions are built for companies serving specific markets such as finance, healthcare, biotech and pharmaceuticals. Over 4,100 organizations in more than 20 industries across 54 countries trust Apteans solutions at their core to assist with running their operations. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com . Aptean is a trademark of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. About Charlesbank Capital Partners
Based in Boston and New York, Charlesbank Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity investment firm managing more than $6 billion of capital. Charlesbank focuses on management-led buyouts and growth capital financings and also engages in opportunistic credit and technology investments. The firm seeks to build companies with sustainable competitive advantage and excellent prospects for growth. For more information, please visit www.charlesbank.com . About TA Associates
TA Associates is a leading global growth private equity firm. Focused on targeted sectors within five industries technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services TA invests in profitable, growing companies with opportunities for sustained growth, and has invested in more than 500 companies around the world. Investing as either a majority or minority investor, TA employs a long-term approach, utilizing its strategic resources to help management teams build lasting value in high quality growth companies. TA has raised $33.5 billion in capital since its founding in 1968 and is committing to new investments at the pace of over $2 billion per year. The firms more than 85 investment professionals are based in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com . About Vista Equity Partners
Vista is a U.S.-headquartered investment firm with more than $57 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Vista exclusively invests in enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled organizations across private equity, credit, public equity, and permanent capital strategies. As a value-added investor with a long-term perspective, Vista contributes professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies to realize their full potential. Vistas investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions, and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com . For Media Inquiries Please Contact: For Aptean
Nicole ORourke
Chief Marketing Officer
770-715-0362
[email protected] For Charlesbank Capital Partners
Maura Turner
617-619-5457
[email protected] For TA Associates
Marcia OCarroll
TA Associates
617-574-6796
[email protected] Philip Nunes
BackBay Communications
617-391-0792
[email protected]mmunications.com For Vista Equity Partners
Dafna Tapiero
202-776-7776
[email protected]
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Administering the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine could serve as a preventive measure to dampen septic inflammation associated with COVID-19 infection, say a team of experts in this week's mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Long-time collaborators and spouses Dr. Paul Fidel, Jr., Department Chair, Oral and Craniofacial Biology, and Associate Dean for Research, Louisiana State University Health School of Dentistry and Dr. Mairi Noverr Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans co-authored the perspective article based on ideas stemming from research in their labs. Vaccination with MMR in immunocompetent individuals has no contraindications and may be especially effective for health care workers who can easily be exposed to COVID-19, say the researchers.
"Live attenuated vaccines seemingly have some nonspecific benefits as well as immunity to the target pathogen. A clinical trial with MMR in high-risk populations may provide a low-risk-high-reward preventive measure in saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dr. Fidel. "While we are conducting the clinical trials, I don't think it's going to hurt anybody to have an MMR vaccine that would protect against the measles, mumps, and rubella with this potential added benefit of helping against COVID-19."
Mounting evidence demonstrates that live attenuated vaccines provide nonspecific protection against lethal infections unrelated to the target pathogen of the vaccine by inducing trained nonspecific innate immune cells for improved host responses against subsequent infections. Live attenuated vaccines induce nonspecific effects representing "trained innate immunity" by training leukocyte (immune system cells) precursors in the bone marrow to function more effectively against broader infectious insults.
In Dr. Noverr's laboratory, in collaboration with Dr. Fidel, vaccination with a live attenuated fungal strain-induced trained innate protection against lethal polymicrobial sepsis. The protection was mediated by long-lived myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) previously reported inhibiting septic inflammation and mortality in several experimental models. The researchers say that an MMR vaccine should be able to induce MDSCs that can inhibit or reduce the severe lung inflammation/sepsis associated with COVID-19. Mortality in COVID-19 cases is strongly associated with progressive lung inflammation and eventual sepsis.
Recent events provide support for the researchers' hypothesis. The milder symptoms seen in the 955 sailors on the U.S.S Roosevelt who tested positive for COVID-19 (only one hospitalization) may have been a consequence of the fact that the MMR vaccinations are given to all U.S. Navy recruits. In addition, epidemiological data suggest a correlation between people in geographical locations who routinely receive the MMR vaccine and reduced COVID-19 death rates. COVID-19 has not had a big impact on children, and the researchers hypothesize that one reason children are protected against viral infections that induce sepsis is their more recent and more frequent exposures to live attenuated vaccines that can also induce the trained suppressive MDSCs that limit inflammation and sepsis.
The researchers propose a clinical trial to test whether the MMR vaccine can protect against COVID-19, but in the meantime, they suggest that all adults, especially health care workers and individuals in nursing homes get the MMR vaccine. "If adults got the MMR as a child they likely still have some level of antibodies against measles, mumps, and rubella, but probably not the myeloid-derived suppressor cells," said Dr. Fidel. "While the MDSCs are long-lived, they are not life-long cells. So, a booster MMR would enhance the antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella and reinitiate the MDSCs. We would hope that the MDSCs induced by the MMR would have a fairly good life-span to get through the critical time of the pandemic."
Dr. Noverr was recently awarded a "Fast Grant" (part of Emergent Ventures at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University) to test the efficacy of MMR directly in a nonhuman primate model of COVID-19 infection.
Five years after Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner decided that they no longer want to be married to one another, one of them still couldn't handle the thought of the other who is now extremely happy.
Recently, Affleck and his current girlfriend Ana de Armas have been photographed out and about in Los Angeles. The pair, together with the children Affleck shares with Garner, Violet, 14, Seraphina 11, and Samuel, 8, were giggling and seemed to be having a lot of fun.
According to Star Magazine's June 29, 2020 issue, the "Alias" actress was reluctant about her children meeting their dad's new woman. But she has moved past that.
Garner is said to be heartbroken to see that Affleck, who is the love of her life, is doing so great without her.
A tipster told Star, "She's always wanted him to be happy, but seeing Ben and Ana's love story play out so publicly is hard for her."
They further said, "Jen remembers when she and Ben first fell in love, and it stings."
After all, the 48-year-old Hollywood A-list actress has stuck through the hard times with the "Daredevil" actor since they married in 2005.
Affleck was in and out of the rehab when he was still married to Jennifer Garner, but now, it seemed like the actor has been living his best life with de Armas that Garner can't help but to reminisce of all the good times they had with each other.
"She's pleased to see Ben finally find peace and happiness, especially since he's kept his word and stayed off the booze," the tipster revealed.
"Jen did everything she could to set him on the right path and save their marriage. It hurts that he's taking such good care of himself with Ana but couldn't do that with her."
Luckily, Jennifer Garner is happy and welcoming to the Cuban-born actress. It was revealed by the tipster that the two ladies have met each other a couple of times and have been respectful and cordial with one another; however, "a little awkward."
However, the awkwardness stems from the strict rule Garner asked them to follow, as no relationship talks in front of the children.
Ana de Armas really changed Ben Affleck. Both physically and spiritually. pic.twitter.com/sAY5n5mYxO Ana de Armas Lovers (@armaslovers) June 22, 2020
But it's not like Jennifer Garner doesn't have a boyfriend, as she has dated 41-year-old John Miller for two years now.
Unfortunately, their relationship is said to be on lockdown as well, said the tipster.
"The relationship's been practically put on hold during a lockdown. And now that the kids are spending more time with Ben and Ana, Jen's at home by herself watching TV at night with a glass of wine. It's hard not to feel melancholy."
In the winter of 2019, Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas play husband and wife in a psychological thriller, "Deep Water."
The two were first spotted vacationing in Cuba in March, where sources confirmed to People that the pair have been making out in the airport before boarding a private jet.
An onlooker told Page Six, "They were beaming. I saw Ana grab Ben's arm as they walked out together; they looked super happy."
Since then, the couple has been photographed numerous times by the paparazzi, where it could be seen that they are definitely dating and getting serious.
READ MORE: Megan Fox Justice: Hollywood Owes Her An Apology for Ruining Her
Sirisia Member of Parliament John Waluke has been found guilty over the Sh297 million National Cereals and Produce Board fraud scandal.
Also found guilty is Walukes co-accused, Grace Wakhungu, the mother of former Environment CS Judi Wakhungu.
Trial Magistrate Elizabeth Juma on Monday ruled that prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused fraudulently acquired the monies. The MP was, however, acquitted on two counts of uttering documents by false pretence.
Magistrate Juma directed that the two be remanded at Kileleshwa Police Station until Thursday, June 25 for sentencing.
Waluke and Wakhungu are listed as co-directors of Erad Suppliers Ltd, which won a contract to supply 40,000 tonnes of maize in 2004. The duo fraudulently acquired the money on March 19, 2013, as costs of storage and loss of profit/interest purportedly incurred by Chelsea Freight.
Should the MP be sentenced to more than six months in prison, he stands to lose his seat.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution noted that the case has taken less than 2 years to conclude.
This is among the first cases approved for prosecution by DPP Noordin Haji upon taking office in April 2018, the ODPP said on Twitter.
The Service Chiefs and Heads of Security and Intelligence Agencies met on Tuesday to map out new strategies on tackling the current security situation in the country.
The Coordinator of the Directorate of Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, a major general, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mr Enechie said the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, was to re-strategise and enhance existing synergy among security agencies towards addressing the security challenges in the nation.
He said the meeting deliberated on developing and mapping out new strategies to promptly address terrorism, banditry and other criminalities, particularly in the northern part of the country.
Mr Enechie solicited the cooperation of Nigerians for the Armed Forces and security agencies in tackling the security challenges in order to speedily restore sanity to the troubled regions.
He said those at the meeting were the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas; Chief of the Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
Also in attendance were the Director General, Department of State Service Yusuf Bichi; Director General, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Muhammed Usman and the Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Mohammadu, he said.
(NAN)
BRUNSWICK, Ohio --- The city of Brunswick and Medina County will share the costs of the construction and operation of a decanting station at the city service garage, in order to comply with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
The decanting station essentially a concrete pad with three concrete walls will be used dewater material vacuumed out of the city sanitary sewer system, before properly disposing of the material.
A couple years ago, the EPA came out to our facility on West 130th Street and inspected our (operation), Brunswick Service Director Paul Barnett said. Our vacuum truck collects (debris) which is then dumped on the ground to allow water to leach out. Then we load the debris into roll-off containers.
Using a decanting station, Barnett explained, is a more environmentally safe way for the water to leach back into a sanitary sewer, where it is treated. The remaining debris is then loaded into the roll-off bins.
Since the city is serviced by the county sanitary sewer system, Medina County Commissioners have agreed to split the costs of the estimated $140,000 project, including the countys payment to the city of a usage fee.
The county has other decanting stations, but they are a distance away, Barnett said, adding that the Brunswick station will cut travel time and costs for the county.
Brunswick will pay 79 percent of the decanting station project costs, based upon anticipated usage, with Medina County paying the remaining 21 percent.
Brunswick City Council approved an agreement June 22 to share the engineering, construction and usage costs of the decanting station with the county. Council also approved a motion to seek bids for the estimated $84,000 construction of the decanting station.
COVID-19 relief funds
Council also approved two pieces of legislation related to the acceptance of the citys portion of Federal Coronavirus Relief Distribution Fund aid. Funds received must be used for costs associated with the COVID-19 crisis.
The first resolution affirms that the city will comply with regulations of the CARES Act. The second piece of legislation is an ordinance establishing a fund for the Coronavirus Relief Distribution Fund.
Finance Director Todd Fischer explained that both are required to be approved in order for the city to be eligible to receive its share of the funds.
Other actions
Council also approved:
The Ridgeline Chase Single Family Cluster Development preliminary subdivision plan.
A memorandum of understanding with the Medina County Soil and Water Conservation District for assistance with performance items related to the national pollutant discharge elimination system phase II permit, in an amount not to exceed $4,000.00.
The extension of a temporary moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications for zoning, occupancy, and building permit approvals for warehousing and motor freight garages and truck or transfer terminal uses in the citys light industrial district.
An ordinance authorizing the City Manager to forward a petition for detachment to the Medina County Commissioners to adjust the city boundary lines to include an annexation into the city.
The advertising for public bids for first phase of the Plum Creek Greenway project. City Engineer Matt Jones said the planned 10-foot wide shared use path will connect Plum Creek Park to Mooney Park and Huntington Elementary School and is being partially funded by and Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant.
Read more news from the Brunswick Sun.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 23:21:37|Editor: huaxia
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DAR ES SALAAM, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The government of Tanzania is planning to construct a state-of-the-art storage facility for banana in Kilimanjaro region before the crop is exported overseas, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Agnes Hokororo, Rombo district commissioner, said the government has already approached potential development partners to acquire funds for the project.
"Our target is to build a modern storage facility for bananas before they are exported at international standards," said Hokororo.
She said authorities in Kilimanjaro region were mobilizing banana growers to embark on cultivation of the crop and sell it to the global market upon completion of the storage facility.
Hokororo said the storage facility will be constructed in tandem with the construction of a special center for attaining additional value chain for banana.
According to the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, the future of the banana industry is promising as most farmers in the country are using modern farming techniques to grow the crop. Enditem
French schools opened their doors to greet pupils on Monday for what the government says is two weeks of obligatory lessons before the summer break, although many parents may yet defy the decision and keep their children at home.
Schools began reopening when the government eased its lockdown rules six weeks ago, but parents were allowed to keep their children at home and a strict health protocol meant that classes could only be half full.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a full and obligatory return to school for primary and middle schools in an address to the nation earlier this month and the restrictions have now been amended.
The objective is for 100% of primary school pupils and middle school students to return, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer told France Inter radio on Monday, although the government has implied that no sanctions will be taken against rebellious parents.
The summer holidays begin in two weeks, but the government has argued that it is essential that children see their teachers and classmates again to end the year properly before breaking up for the two-month long break.
Im so pleased to be going back to school! said 8-year-old Adele in front of a Parisian school, after her first morning with all her classmates.
Not far from Adele, 7-year-old Annika was also delighted. Im so happy to see my friends and teachers again. Learning at home isnt the same thing, school is better!
Mixed response from parents
Parents dropping their children off were thrilled too.
Oh, the joy! Ive been waiting for this for a long time. My daughter is happy to go back and see her friends, and my wife can go back to work, said Maxime Aubin, father of two who lives in the northwest city of Rennes, in Brittany.
But not all parents are pleased.
A poll on Thursday by Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting for France Info and Le Figaro showed that only 45 per cent of parents were going to send their children back to school.
And 56 per cent think the obligatory return announced by Macron is a bad decision.
Many families wont take the risk of sending their children back to middle school, said Philippe Vincent from the majority union SNPDEN for headteachers.
In some middle schools, he pointed out, schoolbooks had already been returned and end-of-the-year teacher-student sessions completed.
From Monday, children from the same class can play together again, while ball games make their comeback on playgrounds.
Other precautionary measures will however remain thorough and frequent handwashing is obligatory and playing equipment must be disinfected daily or left in isolation for 24 hours.
SOURCE: AFP
New Delhi, June 23 : Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of destroying India's position and betraying the Indian Army by admitting that China did not occupy Indian land, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday once again launched a scathing attack on the government over the India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC) face- off. He said that China cannot be permitted to get away with this "unacceptable usurpation" of India's land.
Speaking at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, the party's highest decision making body, Rahul Gandhi said, "China has brazenly occupied our territory. The Prime Minister has destroyed our position and betrayed our army by accepting their position that they occupied no Indian land. The Chinese cannot be permitted to get away with this unacceptable usurpation of our land," he said, adding that everything needs to be done to ensure that the sacrifice of our martyrs is not in vain.
His remarks came after the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Saturday said that Modi was clear that India would respond firmly to any transgression attempts at the LAC.
The PMO said that "attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation" to his remarks at the All-Party Meeting (APM) held on Friday on the Galwan stand-off and the killing of 20 Indian soldiers by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops on June 14-15 night.
The Prime Minister's Office said the PM had specifically emphasized that Indian forces now decisively counter any violations on the LAC (unhe rokte hain, unhe tokte hain) in contrast to the past neglect of such challenges.
Hitting out at the government, the Congress MP from Kerala's Wayanad said, "One reason why China has acted is a complete and total failure of foreign policy." He said the established institutional structure of "diplomacy" has been demolished by the Prime Minister. "Our relations with our once friendly neighbours lie in tatters. Our time tested relationship with our traditional allies has been interrupted. India should build a good relationship with the US and others countries and must also maintain good relations with its old friends," he added.
The CWC meeting comes in the wake of the all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister last week. India and China are engaged in a diplomatic resolution of the stand-off while Nepal on June 13 unanimously adopted the Constitution Amendment Bill, paving the way for accommodating the updated political-administrative map in the national emblem which includes the Indian areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
[June 23, 2020] LendingHome Survey: Real Estate Investors Optimistic Despite COVID-19
A majority of U.S. real estate investors who participated in a recent survey have an optimistic outlook about the strength of their business and the industry despite COVID-19. That is the topline finding of a survey of current, past, and prospective borrowers conducted by LendingHome, one of the nation's largest financial lenders to real estate investors. LendingHome's survey focused on three segments of the industry: house flippers (who buy, renovate, and resell homes), landlords of single family rental homes, and real estate investment mortgage brokers. More than 600 respondents took part. Of those who answered the question - "How long do you think the COVID-19 situation will affect your business?" - 80% thought the impact would be short-lived: 42% answered "1-6 months"
26% answered "7-12 months"
12% answered "no impact" When asked to rate how positive they were feeling about their business, using a scale of 1 (negative) to 5 (positive), 57% answered positively: 29% selected a 4
28% selected a 5 When asked to rate how positive they were feeling about the real estate industry, using a scale of 1 (negative) to 5 (positive), 55% answered positively: 25% selected a 4
30% selected a 5 "There was more optimism than we expected, and we were a bit surprised," said Matt Humphrey, co-founder and CEO of LendingHome. "When we asked people to tell us how they were adapting, some folks said they were slowing their business as a precaution. Some said they had picked up the pace of home buying because there was less competition. Every corner of the U. S. had a differnt view on things. But overall, within the next year or less, people expect to be fully back in business, which was great to hear."
Here are some direct quotes in reply to LendingHome's question: "Have you adjusted your business strategies during this time?" "No. Most Americans are working from home for the first time in their lives, and they realize their current home is not adequate for working from home and a change is needed." ~ Texas Borrower
"Having well-qualified tenants (intimate understanding of their financial picture) in place with a 3 month deposit ready." ~ Florida Borrower
"I am looking for properties that are quicker in and out, so smaller projects are my focus right now. But, I'm still seeing good offers on listings priced right and marketed well." ~ California Borrower
"We had a very brief pause, then the market picked back up and is actually busier now than it was prior to quarantine. We have made adjustments to how we market and work with clients. The team has remained positive." ~ Arizona Borrower
"No, we haven't changed anything. We just continue to run the numbers and make sure everything works out." ~ Washington Borrower For more information about LendingHome's 30-year loans for rental properties, please visit lendinghome.com/rental. For more information about short-term loans for fix-and-flip properties, please visit lendinghome.com/bridge-loans.
About LendingHome: LendingHome's built-from-scratch technology simplifies every stage of the loan process, ensuring easy financing for both novice and experienced real estate investors. In 2014, the company started with short-term mortgage loans and, by 2018, became the nation's No. 1 lender to house flippers. In 2019, LendingHome started offering fixed- and adjustable-rate 30-year mortgages to landlords of single family rental homes. The company is headquartered in San Francisco with an office in Pittsburgh, Pa., and has funded more than $5.5 billion in loans to date. To learn more, go to www.lendinghome.com or www.lendinghome.com/careers. NMLS ID #1125207 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005273/en/
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Keep the monument
With regards to the Confederate Monument, I am reminded of the words of Golda Meir, One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present. The monument exists to remember our 600-700 forefathers from Iredell County who were killed during the Civil War, not to honor the Confederacy.
Herb Poole
Statesville
In rebuttal to What should be done with Confederate Statues?
As I sit here in my living room, nestled near the old court house, I ponder the fate of our statue to the Confederate dead. I am a product of the Confederacy. Five generations deep on both sides, in the land that you find under your feet here in Iredell County. My family, too poor to own slaves, did not join the Confederacy to fight to keep slaves. They fought to keep an invading army of marauding, raping pillagers from destroying their homes and families. They had heard the gossip of the brutality of the conscripted Union horde. They fought to defend what they held dear. They were maimed, captured and died as POWs in the North, or came home to an entirely new reality.
If the nurses go on strike, the action would come as hospitals continue to deal with the financial fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals across the state and nation have suffered revenue losses because of canceled elective surgeries and fewer non-COVID-19 patients.
Public school students were 2.5 times more likely than Catholic or independent school students to be without internet access at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They were also more likely to experience factors such as insecure housing or crowded homes that make remote learning difficult.
An independent national report by education researcher Barbara Preston, based on 2016 census data, has found 5 per cent of public school students did not have home internet access compared to 2 per cent of Catholic and independent school students.
Correna Haythorpe, president of the Australian Education Union which commissioned the report, said the pandemic was a "wake-up call" for the federal government to close long-term gaps in internet access and IT affordability for about 125,000 Australian public school students.
A Los Angeles judge denied a request for a mistrial Tuesday in the murder case against New York real estate heir Robert Durst after a three-month delay from the coronavirus outbreak.
Judge Mark Windham said Durst's right to a fair trial has not been compromised by putting the case on hold in March just days after it began.
It is scheduled to resume in July in an Inglewood courthouse that has a larger courtroom to accommodate social distancing.
Defense attorney David Chesnoff argued by phone that Durst would not be able to get adequate legal representation because he and two other members of his legal team have been told by doctors not to appear in court because of the virus.
Attorneys for Robert Durst (pictured in court on March 4) have asked a Los Angeles judge to declare a mistrial in the case that was put on hold mid-trial because of coronavirus closures
He also argued that jurors, court staff, prosecutors and spectators could be exposed to the virus in the courtroom, restrooms, elevators and cafeteria.
Deputy District Attorney John Lewin said the defense was making a strategic move because Durst wants a 'do over.'
Windham noted that it took months to whittle 1,000 prospective jurors down to 23, including 11 alternates.
Durst, 77, is on trial in the killing of his best friend, Susan Berman, who was shot in her home in 2000.
He has denied any role in her death, but his lawyers acknowledged he sent a note with the word 'cadaver' written on it directing police to her body.
Prosecutors allege he killed Berman because he feared she was going to tell New York police that she knew he had killed his wife in 1982 and helped him cover up the crime.
Durst is on trial for the December 2000 murder of his best friend Susan Berman (left)
The body of Kathleen Durst has never been found, though she has been legally declared dead.
Durst has never been charged with any crime related to her disappearance and has denied any role in her death.
Berman was killed just days before she was to give an interview to New York investigators looking into Kathleen's disappearance.
Durst's defense lawyer told the jury in March that his client found her body, 'panicked,' and wrote an anonymous note to the police, which included Berman's address and the word 'cadaver,' leading them to his friend's home.
Berman was shot dead just days before she was set to be interviewed about the 1982 disappearance of Durst's first wife, Kathleen (pictured on their wedding day). Kathleen's disappearance is still unsolved
In 2003, Durst was acquitted in Texas of the murder of his neighbor Morris Black, whom he admitted to dismembering after shooting him in self-defense during a struggle inside the Galveston apartment they shared.
The trial had been in the works for five years, since Durst's arrest on the eve of the airing of the final episode of The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.
The HBO documentary included interviews with Durst that helped lead to the charges against him.
In one pivotal scene, Durst was overheard mumbling to himself, 'Killed them all, of course.'
The Indian reality show Bigg Boss is always full of controversies. This is perhaps one of the main reasons why it's so popular. Over the years, the show has witnessed overly dramatic fights, violent outbursts, and random feuds over the most trivial of things. Some claim it's to get the TRP rating of the show high, while others believe it is only natural to lose one's sanity when locked in a house with a bunch of strangers for days on end. While these fights have been largely entertaining, there might be a new sense of empathy that you might find yourself feeling towards these contestants as we find ourselves sitting at home amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Here's a refresher of the most controversial fights in the history of Big Boss.
1. Rakhi Sawant
In the first season of Bigg Boss, Rakhi Sawant had a major rivalry against Kashmira Shah. In fact, apparently Kashmira had turned everyone in the house against Rakhi. Rakhi also got into a fight with actor Amit Sadh over something as trivial as a mug but then again, it's always something that trivial that starts a fight in this particular reality show.
Big Boss/ YouTube
2. Sambhavna Seth
Sambhavna Seth got in one of the major fights known from the second season of Big Boss. When she didn't respond well to Payal Rohatgis accusations, she started the fight which also involved Raja Chaudhry that became a long drawn feud that lasted a few episodes.
3. Kamaal Rashid Khan
Kamaal Rashid Khan or popularly known as KRK got into a huge fight with Rohit Verma in Bigg Boss Season 3. In the fight, KRK famously threw a bottle at Rohit out of anger, which rightfully led KRKs immediate eviction from the house.
4. Dolly Bindra
Dolly Bindra fought in almost every episode that she was featured in the fourth season of Bigg Boss. One of her more controversial showdowns was with the Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari over a couple of eggs that soon escalated to a huge fight.
She also got into a physically violent fight with Shweta Tiwari when she was on the show. Here's her famous 'Baap Pe Mat Jaana' fight.
5. Pooja Misra
What has now become a household meme started off as a loud fight on Big Boss between contestants Pooja Misra and Shonali Nagrani that went viral on social media. Back in Bigg Boss Season 5, Pooja Misra was called 'violent' by other contestants, when she broke a plastic broom to scare Shonali Nagrani. Here's the iconic video in case you've missed it.
6. Imam Siddique
In Season 6 of Big Boss, Imam Siddique was popular in Big Boss for his over-the-top costumes. The fight that he will be remembered for in Big Boss history was with actor Urvashi Dholakia. Here take a look:
7. Kushal Tandon
In the seventh season of the reality show, actor Kushal Tandon got into a violent fight with VJ Andy. During a task VJ Andy had to irritate his fellow housemates, however, his remarks on Gauahar Khan were inappropriate and triggered Kushal. The fight later resulted in Kushal's eviction.
8. Sonali Raut
In Bigg Boss Season 8, Sonali Raut slapped fellow contestant, Ali Quli Mirza after he said something inappropriate about her. Following that, Ali tried to climb the roof of the house and leave saying that violence shouldn't be permissible in the house as it is against the rules of the show. Sonali was later nominated for eviction.
Big Boss/ YouTube
9. Priya Malik
In Season 9 of the show, Kanwaljeet Singh passed remarks against Priya for having Australian origins, and the latter then accused Kanwaljeet of racism which resulted in a big fight.
Big Boss/ YouTube
10. Swami Om
In Season 10 of the show, Swami Om turned out to be one of the most controversial participants amongst the lot. Here's a clip titled 'Swami Om's shocking outburst' that proves it.
11. Madhurima Tuli
In Bigg Boss Season 13, Madhurima Tuli and Vishal Aditya Singh had a huge fight. In the teaser released by the channel, Madhurima hits Vishal with a 'chappal' after being provoked by him. This makes the latter furious, and he demands to leave the house.
Google has said that it will begin fact-checking images that appear from its search results.
Starting today, a Fact Check label will start appearing under thumbnails.
Clicking on the thumbnail will show a quick summary of the fact check, including the claim and a rating from a fact-checker such as Politifact.
This tool is organised using ClaimReview, which is a method used by publishers to indicate fact-checked content to search engines, which are already used by Google Search and Google News.
Fact-checkers have to meet Googles criteria before they can be used as the source. These include that the publisher of the fact check must be a trusted source of information (determined by Google's algorithm).
The content must also inform users:
Which claims are being checked
Conclusions about the claims
How conclusions were reached
Citations and primary sources of information
Google also points out that it does not endorse any of these fact checks itself, and as such cannot be appealed. If you disagree with a fact check, contact the website owner that published it, a Google support page reads.
Much like in Search, adding this label into Google Images does not affect image ranking.
Photos and videos are an incredible way to help people understand whats going on in the world. But the power of visual media has its pitfallsespecially when there are questions surrounding the origin, authenticity or context of an image, wrote Googles Group Product Manager of Search, Harris Cohen in a post announcing the feature.
Google is, of course, not the only company currently fact-checking information on its platform. Twitter is currently under fire from the Trump administration due to fact-checking labels that it has placed over Donald Trumps tweets.
Facebook had to establish a new oversight board in order to deal with these types of conflict on its own platform and its subsidiary, Instagram, but not WhatsApp.
Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty
It is also developing artificially-intelligent tools to try and detect messages in memes.
Hyderabad: A local court on Tuesday (June 23) sentenced a 32-year-old Arabic teacher at a private school to 10-years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) for sexually abusing a minor boy in November 2015.
First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Suneetha Kunchala found the man guilty under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sentenced him to 10 years.
The court also sentenced him to 10-years RI for the offence under IPC section377(unnatural offences), Additional Public Prosecutor K Pratap Reddy said.
It also slapped a fine of Rs 4,000 on him.
The sentences will run concurrently, Reddy said.
According to the prosecution, on November 9, 2015 the teacher asked the 12-year-old boy, a fourth class student at the school, to come to his house to get some books
When he went there the teacher sexually abused him. After the boy raised an alarm, the man dropped him at the school.
The boy later narrated the matter to his father, who filed a complaint with police, following which he was arrested.
Energy Department to Fund National Laboratories to Establish Industry Partnerships for Battery Manufacturing Innovation
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is soliciting proposals from the National Laboratories and industry partners that pursue radical innovations for American battery manufacturing leadership. Manufacturing competitiveness is a priority for the Trump Administration, and under this opportunity, DOE will directly fund the National Laboratories to establish public-private partnerships that solve engineering challenges for advanced battery materials and devices, with a focus on de-risking, scaling, and accelerating adoption of new technologies.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energys Advanced Manufacturing Office and Vehicles Technologies Office will jointly invest up to $12 million in projects that address capability gaps for enhanced lithium-ion batteries, next-generation lithium-ion batteries, and next-generation lithium-based battery technologies through the following four areas:
Materials processing and scale-up; Innovative / advanced electrode and cell production; Designer materials and electrodes; and, Formation.
Interested industry partners should reach out directly to the National Laboratory contacts listed below about opportunities to collaborate. Proposals are limited to submission by the National Laboratories. Full applications from the National Laboratories are due on July 17, 2020.
Individual projects awards will range from $500,000 to $3 million over 24 to 36 months. A 50/50 cost-share will be required between DOE and the private partner, which can include an in-kind contribution. Funds will be awarded directly to the National Laboratories to support work with companies under Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs).
This funding opportunity is a part of the Energy Storage Grand Challenge, a DOE-wide effort to create and sustain global leadership in energy storage utilization and exports, with a secure domestic manufacturing supply chain that does not depend on foreign sources of critical materials. Visit the Energy Storage Grand Challenge website to learn more.
National Laboratory Contacts and Capabilities
Ames National Laboratory Capabilities: Electrode Manufacturing; Battery Cell Testing Contact: Iver Anderson, andersoi@ameslab.gov
Argonne National Laboratory Capabilities: Cell Manufacturing; Electrode Manufacturing; Electrode Materials Scale-up; Electrolyte Manufacturing / Scale-up; Failure Analysis Testing; Machine Learning; Materials Processing Contact:
Venkat Srinivasan, James Miller, james.miller@anl.gov Venkat Srinivasan, vsrinivasan@anl.gov
Brookhaven National Laboratory Capabilities: Electrode Manufacturing; Electrode Materials Scale-up Contact: Xiao-Qing Yang, xyang@bnl.gov
Kansas City National Security Campus Capabilities: Battery Cell Testing Contact: Rocco Covello, rcovello@kcnsc.doe.gov
Idaho National Laboratory Capabilities:
Electrode Manufacturing; Failure Analysis Testing; Battery Abuse Testing; Machine Learning Contact: Seth Snyder, seth.snyder@inl.gov
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Capabilities: Advanced Formation; Electrode Manufacturing; Electrolyte Manufacturing / Scale-up; Materials Processing Contact:
Vince Battaglia, Thomas Kirchstetter, TWKirchstetter@lbl.gov Vince Battaglia, vsbattaglia@lbl.gov
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Capabilities: Electrolyte Manufacturing / Scale-up Contact:
Tony Van Buuren, Matthew McNenly, mcnenly1@llnl.gov Tony Van Buuren, vanbuuren1@llnl.gov
Los Alamos National Laboratory Capabilities: Electrode Materials Scale-up; Electrode Manufacturing Contact: Rodney Borup, Borup@lanl.gov
National Energy Technology Laboratory Capabilities: Electrode Materials Scale-up; Electrode Manufacturing Contact: Bryan Morreale, bryan.morreale@netl.doe.gov
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Capabilities: Advanced Formation; Cell Manufacturing; Electrode Manufacturing; Electrolyte Manufacturing / Scale-up; Materials Processing; Battery Abuse Testing Contact: John Farrell, john.farrell@nrel.gov
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Capabilities: Cell Manufacturing; Electrode Manufacturing; Electrolyte Manufacturing / Scale-up; Battery Cell Testing Contact: Claus Daniel, danielc@ornl.gov
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Capabilities: Cell Manufacturing; Electrode Materials Scale-up Contact: Johnathan Holladay, john.holladay@pnnl.gov
Sandia National Laboratories Capabilities: Electrode Manufacturing; Cell Manufacturing; Battery Abuse Testing Contact: Christopher Moen, cmoen@sandia.gov
Savannah River National Laboratory Capabilities: Machine Learning Contact: Charles James, charles.james@srnl.doe.gov
New Delhi: Rejecting reports that over 40 were killed on Chinese side, Beijing on Tuesday called the numbers "fake news". Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian added that China and India were in dialogue and talks with each other to resolve the border issue through diplomatic and military channels.
Lijian's reaction came after some reports stated that Indian intercepts revealed Chinese side suffered 43 casualties, including dead and seriously injured, in the violent face-off in Ladakh's Galwan Valley.
The violent face-off happened on late evening and night of June 15 as a result of an attempt by the Chinese troops to "unilaterally change" the status quo during de-escalation in eastern Ladakh and the situation could have been avoided if the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side, India later said.
At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the violent face-off.
Indian and Chinese militaries on Monday held a second round of Lt General-level talks in an attempt to ease tensions between the two countries.
The first round of the Lt Gen talks was held on June 6 at the same venue during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley. However, the situation along the border deteriorated following the violent clashes on June 15 as the two sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the 3,500-km de-facto border.
Portugal reimposed restrictions in and around the capital Lisbon on Tuesday to check fresh coronavirus outbreaks, prompting fears the summer tourist season will take a major hit. Prime Minister Antonio Costa had said Monday some coronavirus curbs would be reimposed in the Lisbon even if the country of 10 million people has limited casualties to some 1,500 deaths and some 40,000 cases to date. The new measures came after official data showed 9,221 new COVID-19 cases detected, notably in the capital and the wider Lisbon region, between May 21 and June 21. Among new measures being introduced Tuesday in a region of some 2.8 million people are restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people -- 20 in other areas -- while cafes and shops must close at 8pm in the capital. "I prefer that rather than close completely," said Amandio Oliveira, owner of a kiosk with a terrace in the trendy Principe Real district. "I hope tourists will come back in the end -- these new measures are bad for the economy," said the 66-year-old, wearing a plastic face visor. With the virus still a threat he told AFP that "some people don't take care and it's the others who have to pay the penalty." Portugal took restrictive measures fairly early in the pandemic, hence its comparatively low toll of deaths and cases. But the past four weeks had seen more cases emerge there than in any other European country bar Sweden per 100,000 population, according to data compiled by AFP from local authorities. - 'Serious situation' - Portugal would normally at this time of year be receiving a welter of sun-seeking foreign visitors -- but this year is different, and the tourist sector is worried. "With air ticket prices where they are now who is going to want to come here and find bars closed and then risk being placed in quarantine when they go home?" asked Miguel Barros, a 38-year-old who lost his job in the tourism industry as the health crisis took hold. After receiving some good news with the announcement that Lisbon will host the final stages of the Champions League -- which the government took as a nod to its efforts to keep the virus well in check -- the new restrictions mean "a state of alarm has returned," Publico daily said in an editorial. "The government has done its duty -- it has recognised the situation in the Lisbon region is serious and has taken measures to deal with it," Publico's director Manuel Carvalho nonetheless noted. - Fines, stepped up surveillance - As part of the new measures to fight the virus Costa's government last week adopted legislation stipulating police may fine those who organise or attend unauthorised public gatherings while health officials are to step up visits to people who have tested positive and who thus must stay at home. Outside the Lisbon region, a state of emergency will be lifted Thursday. It will be extended in the greater Lisbon towns of Sintra, Odivelas, Loures and Amadora. Like authorities in Portugal, those in Germany on Tuesday ordered fresh lockdowns in parts of western Germany over a coronavirus outbreak at a slaughterhouse. The World Health Organization has warned that the pandemic is accelerating even as many countries in Europe and elsewhere ease lockdowns. People sit at a terrcae bar in downtown Lisbon -- a slew of new virus cases in and around the city have seen the Portuguese government impose new restrictions Outside the Lisbon region, deconfinement will be stepped up with a state of emergency being lifted Thursday
After eight years of negotiations with Addis Ababa ended in failure, Cairo has taken its dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
In a letter to the top UN body on 19 June, Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri described that situation as an imminent threat to international peace and security which required immediate consideration.
In referring the matter, wrote Shoukri, Egypt wants the UNSC to urge Ethiopia to conclude a fair agreement on the workings of GERD and refrain from taking unilateral action on the filling of the reservoir.
Egypts response came hours after Ethiopian authorities declared they will begin filling the dam in July. A UNSC session is expected to be convened on Thursday or Friday, according to the Jordanian news website Dar Al-Hayat newspaper. A UN source said African member states, including South Africa, the current chair of the African Union and a non-permanent UNSC member, had requested time to address the dispute.
According to Al-Hayat, South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa is conducting talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. The United States, it said, supports a UNSC session to discuss the GERD crisis.
The massive hydroelectric dam is Ethiopias biggest national project and comes with promises to significantly improve the Ethiopian economy. Located on the Blue Nile which meets the White Nile in Sudan and then flows north to Egypt GERD will affect 90 per cent of Egypts water supplies dependent on the Nile.
Almost a decade of Egyptian-Ethiopian-Sudanese negotiations have failed to reach an agreement. Addis Ababa continued with the dams construction anyway.
Today, the $6 billion dam is 73 per cent complete and Ethiopian officials say the filling of the reservoir will begin in July the rainy season with or without an agreement with downstream countries.
In his three-page letter to Frances Nicolas De Riviere, the president of the UNSC, Shoukri said Cairo was resorting to the council after exhausting innumerable rounds of negotiations that had sought an agreement on GERD that preserves the rights and interests of the riparian states of the Blue Nile.
He said negotiations had failed due to Ethiopias unilateralism and desire to establish a fait accompli.
In unilaterally filling the reservoir, Shoukri argued that Ethiopia is seeking to establish unfettered control over a transboundary river, a material breach of the 2015 Declaration of Principles signed by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan which stipulates that the filling and operation of GERD be pursuant to guidelines and rules agreed between the three countries.
The appeal to the UNSC comes under Article 35 of the UN Charter which entitles member states to alert the Security Council of any situation that might lead to international friction, or that is likely to endanger international peace and security.
Attached to the letter was the Washington-brokered agreement on Guidelines and Rules for the Filling of GERD that Egypt initialed on 28 February following tripartite negotiation sponsored by the US Treasury Department and the World Bank. Shoukri explained that the operational rules in the agreement were in the main proposed by Ethiopia, ensure GERD operates at an optimal level, and include drought mitigation measures that ensure sustainable generation of hydropower from the dam while assisting downstream states to minimise the impact of droughts.
The agreement also addresses the other contentious issue in the GERD negotiations Ethiopias right to undertake water projects upstream of GERD in accordance with the applicable rules of international law. Shoukris letter argued that Addis Ababas rejection of this provision reveals its intention to codify an unregulated and unrestrained right to exploit the riches of the River Nile without considering the impact on downstream states.
A source close to the negotiations told Al-Ahram Weekly that Cairo could not continue to engage in meaningless negotiations with no end in sight while Ethiopia starts filling the reservoir in July.
By appealing to the UNSC Cairo is internationalising the dispute to increase the pressure on Addis Ababa, he said.
There are no guarantees the UNSC will exercise that kind of influence but it is the only political avenue available, said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the press. Cairo, he added, is not holding its breath.
On 22 June, Ethiopias Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew responded to Egypts appeal with a four-page letter of his own. Andargachew rejected Egypts misrepresentation of the dispute, arguing that GERD does not constitute a threat to international peace and security.
In his letter, the Ethiopian foreign minister made no mention of Addis Ababas decision to unilaterally start filling the reservoir in a few weeks, the escalation that prompted Egypts appeal for UNSC intervention. Instead, Andargachew argued that recent tripartite negotiations had made progress, and were suspended only because the Sudanese delegation wanted to consult with its leadership.
He blamed Cairos insistence on historic rights and current use, and reference to the 1959 colonial era agreement, for the slow progress of negotiations. Colonial is mentioned repeatedly in Andargachews response, a nod to the Ethiopian political narrative surrounding the GERD dispute.
Andargachews letter denied taking unilateral action (an indirect reference to the decision to begin filling the dam next month) and accused Egypt of building the Aswan High Dam (1970) without consulting Ethiopia 50 years ago.
Shoukris 19 June appeal to the UNSC refuted this claim, citing the Washington Agreement which explicitly states that it is not a water-sharing agreement. His letter also included references to previous agreements signed by a sovereign Ethiopia, none of which include the 1959 treaty the colonial context of which is highlighted by Andargachew.
Bringing up issues related to so-called colonial treaties is a political ruse designed to distort facts and deflect attention from the real issue, Shoukri wrote.
In Cairo, expectations about the results of the appeal to the UNSC are modest. The council is currently chaired by France, a state inclined towards indecisive diplomacy.
Diplomatic sources expect the council to task the UNSC secretariat to compile a report on the dispute for distribution among its 15 member states. An open or closed session is expected Thursday or Friday when Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan make their cases.
What happens later is unclear.
After a closed debate, the UNSC president might make informal comments to the media on the issue. Or the Security Council could opt for a statement by its president. The strongest, and least likely, UNSC response to the Egyptian appeal would be a decision.
In his daily briefing on Monday, the UNSC spokesman told reporters the council is closely watching developments. He urged Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to intensify their efforts to peacefully resolve outstanding differences.
The UNSCs paralysis when faced with international crises in the past decade has led many diplomats and commentators to question its continued relevance. A 2019 briefing by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) argued that new and surprising divisions between the UNSCs five permanent members the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France underlay the councils reduced effectiveness.
Many Security Council members do not have a deep understanding of the dispute, and are wary of intervening strongly at this stage, ICGs Richard Gowan told the Weekly.
At least in the first instance, the council seems likely to respond to the Egyptian letter by holding a closed discussion rather than a big public debate, and may not even make a public statement on the situation.
If the council does make a statement it is likely to be neutral and focus on the need for further diplomacy, he said.
The risk of Egypts appeal to the UNSC is that it may harden Ethiopias resolve to not make the concessions needed, said ICG senior analyst for Ethiopia William Davison.
Instead, it could proceed with filling as planned in July, which is very likely to happen whether there is a deal or not, he told the Weekly in an e-mail.
In an interview with the Associated Press on Sunday, Shoukri said Cairo is not seeking coercive action by the Security Council.
But, he said, if the UNSC cannot bring Ethiopia back into negotiations and filling begins, we will find ourselves in a situation that we will have to deal with.
When that time is upon us, we will be very vocal and clear in what action we will take.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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Thousands of students join a protest march campaigning for climate action in Dublin last year
The State's plan for reducing carbon emissions is a "ladder without bottom rungs", the Supreme Court has heard.
Seven judges of the country's top court are hearing a challenge by environmentalists to the State's failure to adequately address the climate crisis.
The challenge by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) centres on the 2017 National Mitigation Plan which was drawn up to tackle carbon emissions.
FIE argues that the plan lacks clear targets or strong enough practical actions to do the job.
Barrister Eoin McCullough, who represents FIE, told the court there was no dispute between the group and the Government on the science of climate change or that it represented the single biggest threat to humanity.
With agreement on those key issues, several judges sought to clarify the points of difference.
Useful
"We are all grasping for a metaphor," said Judge John MacMenamin. He asked if the case could be summarised as follows: "The State is saying it has built a ladder but you are saying the ladder has no bottom rungs."
In other words, it aimed high but didn't provide a strong starting point to begin the climb. Mr McCullough agreed that was a useful summary.
The National Mitigation Plan remains the only statutory, or legally binding, plan for carbon reduction although it has been largely overtaken by the 2019 Climate Action Plan, which also has been criticised.
The mitigation plan allowed carbon emissions to continue increasing, even though scientists say they have to reduce by at least 7pc-8pc a year with immediate effect if we are to slow global temperature rise and avoid the worse effects of climate breakdown.
FIE argues that the lack of an adequate plan also breaches human rights by failing to protect people's lives and the environment from climate breakdown.
The case was heard in the High Court last year but FIE lost and appealed to the Supreme Court.
The State rejects the claims.
The company Augustus Intelligence (AI) became known to a wider German audience on June 12 when Der Spiegel reported that the Christian Democrat (CDU) MP Philipp Amthor was engaged in lobbying activities for the US company. In return he was rewarded with luxury travel, stock options and a directors post. Since the publication of the article an aura of corruption is hanging over Amthor.
In the meantime, however, the question has arisen whether Augustus Intelligence is a genuine commercial enterprise or rather a covert intelligence service operation? Journalists investigating the company have repeatedly come across new oddities.
Augustus Intelligence appears to have unlimited funds. It puts up its guests in expensive luxury hotels, flies them across the Atlantic in a private jet and maintains office space in the New York World Trade Centerestimated annual rent: half a million dollars. At the same the company appears to have no detectable economic activities.
Philipp Amthor at a 2019 CDU conference (Credit: OlafKosinsky / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Although the company is based in the US, it consists almost entirely of Germans. The executive staff and business partners include high-ranking representatives from Germanys security apparatuses and business world, including former Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg; former president of Germanys domestic intelligence agency (Office for the Protection of the Constitution) Hans-Georg Maassen; the former head of Germanys foreign intelligence service BND, August Hanning; the leading management consultant Roland Berger; and billionaire heir August Francois von Finck. Most of these figures maintain close ties to the ruling German grand coalition government and stand on the far right of German politics.
On its website, Augustus Intelligence declares its business aim is to provide secure solutions for artificial intelligence. It claims to operate data centres in the United States and sell facial and object recognition software. Journalistic research in the US and on the internet, however, has failed to find any signs of significant business activity.
Two former managers who were fired last December and are now suing the company accuse it of business practices permeated with fraud, illegality and corruption. Der Spiegel quotes from the legal complaint: In truth the company did not have the funding it claimed, it had no product, and lacked both substantial customers and revenue.
Nevertheless, Augustus Intelligence was able to move from its former more modest address to the expensive World Trade Center, where it resides in the immediate vicinity of the consulting and investment company Spitzberg Partners headed by Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. The former German Minister of Economics and Defence is the most likely head of AI as well. He owns shares in the company and was named President in charge of General Affairs on the companys website until March this year. The designation has since disappeared from the companys website.
Augustus official boss, Wolfgang Haupt, on the other hand, appears to be a mere frontman. The 33-year-old studied medicine and claims on LinkedIn to have already founded several companies across a wide range of businesses.
Guttenberg is the living embodiment of the connection between Germanys aristocratic elite, which, over a hundred years after the fall of the Empire, still forms an extremely reactionary closed society, and the government parties in Berlin. Born into a wealthy Franconian family of nobles, he joined the Bavarian-based Christian Social Union and became its general secretary in 2008. In 2009 he moved from Munich to Berlin and became economics minister and then defence minister in governments led by Angela Merkel. He was obviously aiming for higher positions. His political career suffered a downturn in 2011, however, following revelations that he had faked his doctoral thesis. He then moved to the United States while remaining politically active and clearly looking for the right opportunity to return to German politics.
Guttenbergs wife Stephanie, born countess of Bismarck-Schonhausen, is a direct descendent of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Guttenbergs own mother is also a countess from a long-standing aristocratic family that possessed extensive property in Croatia, until the land was expropriated in 1945. Her father, Jakob Graf zu Eltz, worked closely with the reactionary Croatian nationalist Franjo Tudjman and became a member of the Croatian parliament after the breakup of Yugoslavia. In 1985 Guttenbergs mother married a second timeAdolf Henkell-von Ribbentrop, the son of Hitlers foreign minister.
A central role at Augustus Intelligence is played by Roland Berger, the founder of the management consultancy bearing his name. Berger cultivates a dense network of relationships in German business and political circles. He advised the Treuhandanstaltthe organisation set up by the German government to privatise East German industry following the reunification of Germany in 1989. He was also active in drawing up Chancellor Gerhard Schroders Agenda 2010, which replaced Germanys existing unemployment benefits system with miserly welfare payments. Charles Edouard-Bouee, the long-time CEO of Bergers company, was named President in charge of Business Affairs at Augustus Intelligence at Bergers request. A photo published by Der Spiegel shows Berger together with Amthor, Maassen and AI founder Haupt at a five-star hotel in the Swiss luxury holiday resort of St. Moritz.
August Francois von Fink is one of the most important donors to Augustus Intelligence and is said to have invested $11.2 million in the company. Fink inherited his fortune from his grandfather, the banker August von Fink, who commenced financing Adolf Hitler in the 1920s and benefited from the Aryanization of Jewish property after Hitler assumed power.
The Fink family remains one of the richest in Germany. For many years August von Fink junior, the father of August Francois, has provided financial support, amounting to many millions, to a range of far-right parties and movements which eventually led to founding of the extreme-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). He has also invested huge sums in the AfD itself. In 2009, the Movenpick company, which was then owned by Fink, transferred 1.1 million to the neo-liberal pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), which in return reduced VAT tax for the hotel industry, directly profiting Movenpick.
Hans-Georg Maassen, who headed the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution until November 2018 and had worked closely together with the AfD, has repeatedly been associated with Augustus Intelligence, including at the aforementioned meeting in St. Moritz. According to Der Spiegel, Massen also flew with company founder Haupt in a private jet to the United States. He also provided help when an employee of the company sought to regain German citizenship.
Maassen was forced to take early retirement in 2018 due to his proximity to the AfD. Since then he has been the mouthpiece of a stock reactionary grouping, the CDU Values Union, which has numerous supporters within the CDU and CSU, including Philipp Amthor.
August Hanning acknowledged to Die Zeit that he has a written agreement with Augustus Intelligence, involving advice if you like to call it that. In return, he received stock options. Hanning did not reveal what exactly the content of his advice is.
Like Maassen, Hanning is a central figure in the German security apparatus. From 1998 to 2005 he headed the BND and from 2005 to 2009 he was responsible for police affairs, the federal police, internal security, migration, integration and refugees in the Federal Ministry of the Interior. In 2015 he published a right-wing paper against the refugee policy of the federal government
Amthor was apparently chosen as the figurehead for this right-wing conspiracy. According to Der Spiegel, he received at least 2,817 stock options from Augustus Intelligence and was a member of its board of directors from May 2019. He flew to New York for meetings at least twice, with further meetings taking place in Corsica and St. Moritz. In October 2018, he wrote to the German Economics Minister Peter Altmaier requesting political support for the company.
The 27-year-old, right-wing politician is currently being groomed by the CDU as a political boy wonder and had been chosen as the only candidate to chair the party in the state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, the constituency of Angela Merkel. In the wake of the AI scandal he has now declared he will stand down as the partys candidate in the state.
The Augustus Intelligence case sheds light on the right-wing character of the grand coalition. In order to implement its policy of militarism, social inequality and the suppression of all opposition, it is promoting the most right-wing forces in the state and political apparatuses. All those involved in the affairAmthor, Guttenberg, Maassen and Hanning and Roland Bergerare closely connected to the ruling coalition in Berlin.
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Airavat reached Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday afternoon with 198 Indians from Male in Maldives under 'Operation Samudra Setu', said the Navy on Tuesday.
'Operation Samudra Setu' was initiated by the Indian Navy on May 8 to bring stranded citizens from abroad.
The Navy, in a press release, said, "The evacuees were received by local authorities at Tuticorin and arrangements were in place for speedy disembarkation, health screening, immigration and transportation of the evacuees."
"INS Airavat, deployed by the Indian Navy for 'Operation Samudra Setu', entered Tuticorin harbour early morning today, Jun 23, 2020 with 198 Indian nationals embarked from Male, Maldives," it added.
Till date, the Indian Navy has brought back 2,386 Indians from Maldives to India under this operation.
A total of 64 people who arrived on Tuesday hailed from Kanyakumari district while the rest were from other districts, said officials of the Tamil Nadu government.
Upon arrival, the passengers were screened by Port Health officials and their luggage was sanitised as part of COVID-19 health protocols.
On the issue of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to all passengers by Port authorities, they boarded waiting buses and transited to the passenger terminal.
Later, before proceeding to their respective destinations in designated buses, self-declaration forms were obtained from the passengers and they were also asked to
download and configure 'Aarogya Setu' app in their phones.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Hubei provincial government clearly stated that it will remove the restrictions on pickup trucks entering cities so as to help further spur local automobile consumption.
The government resolves to vigorously boost the development of the consumption credit for automobile and home appliance industries, and steady expand the scope of personal consumption loan. The balance of consumer loans in 2020 should be not less than that of 2019.
(Dongfeng Fengshen E70, photo source: Dongfeng Motor)
Moreover, Hubei government stresses the implementation of the exemption of vehicle purchase tax on new energy vehicles and the preferential value-added tax policy for used car transaction launched by China's central government. The restrictions on the movement of pre-owned cars will be canceled.
Local authorities of eligible regions are encouraged to hammer out the supporting policies for the sale of Hubei-manufactured new vehicles, said Hubei government.
To create a sound consumption environment, a city's manager should adopt accommodative regulations on the temporary parking conducts for consumption purpose. Owners who park cars between 8 o'clock p.m. to the next day's 1 o'clock a.m. will not be fined or get their license plates added with demerit points.
To optimize the service of oversight, the government has allowed tricycles bearing the same mark to be deployed to deliver goods. For those express cars that provisionally park at some improper spots, city's inspectors should adopt more generous methods like offering tips or warning to drivers as long as they do not hamper the pandemic prevention and control or harm the public safety.
Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and the hardest-hit region amid the fight against coronavirus, announced in mid-May that consumers who buy PVs produced by Wuhan's local enterprises and have their vehicles locally licensed would be granted cash handouts. To be specific, those who buy and register fuel-powered PVs shall enjoy a subsidy equivalent to 3% of a vehicles original price at a maximum of 5,000 yuan ($702) per car, and NEV buyers will receive 10,000 yuan ($1,404) per car worth of subsidy. The incentive will be ended at the end of December 31, 2020.
ALBANY - Progressive candidates for several state Assembly seats are looking to shake up the Democratic establishment in this years primary election, buoyed by an upheaval that rocked the Senate two years ago.
On Tuesday, New Yorkers will cast votes for 50 primaries in state legislative races, including third-party challenges, with several of those races featuring progressive candidates challenging long-time incumbent Democrats.
The 2018 primaries were a cathartic cycle for the state Senate where the IDC was basically wiped out and where challengers helped establish and helped solidify a progressive voice of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said Evan Stavisky, a partner at the Parkside Group political consulting firm. This year the battleground is in the Assembly.
John Hudak, senior fellow and deputy director for the Center for Effective Public Management at The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., said progressive challenges to incumbent Democrats are happening across the country as demographics change in many communities.
It reflects a couple of trends that are happening in Democratic politics. The first is that there is some divide between whats often called the more establishment Democrats and the progressive wing of the party, Hudak said. You have some incumbents in Congress and state Legislature races and elsewhere who have represented places for long periods of time and their constituency has gotten more liberal over time.
But Hudak cautioned against linking the individual campaigns to an overall trend, as some challengers may have entered a race due to the incumbent casting a vote that riled constituents or getting wrapped up in a scandal that discredited the legislator, he said.
While most of the challenges are centered on Assembly races in downstate districts, the Capital Region has its own contested race for the 108th Assembly District, currently represented by Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes.
Albany County Legislator Sam Fein is seeking to unseat McDonald, who is in his fourth two-year term with the legislative body. Fein, who was elected to his second, four-year term in the county Legislature last year, has been endorsed by the progressive advocacy group Citizen Action, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and also the Working Families Party.
Fein said residents in the district are tired of business as usual politics and contends he would be a voice for the people.
People want change and they really want a representative who answers to them, he said. I will be a champion of issues that really impact people in the district. I wont be afraid to stand up to the interests there.
The Assembly district encompasses the cities of Albany and Troy, along with several other smaller cities along the Hudson River, including Cohoes and Rensselaer, as well as suburban and rural areas of Rensselaer, Saratoga and Albany counties.
Fein has been critical of what he said have been McDonalds slow response to champion issues that Fein says are important to constituents, including legalizing adult use of marijuana, reforming police policies such as the recent repeal of a statute that shielded police records, and increasing taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers.
McDonald said he takes a more deliberative, measured approach because the district is not heavily progressive and constituents political leanings are scattered across the spectrum. He also noted that the measures Fein is pushing for he supports.
Thats why I should be back in office because, quite frankly, its not about running to represent one small faction of a political party, he said. Government is not about yelling and screaming. The reality is God gave me two ears and God gave me a mouth. I use the ears first and then I use the mouth. Its not actually what I say, its what I do.
Other contested legislative races strike a similar tone: challengers asserting the incumbents have not represented constituents on the issues that matter most to the district and incumbents pointing to their records.
The coronavirus pandemic and the recent anti-police protests across the country also are playing a major role in primary elections, with some incumbents facing criticism for their response to the pandemic that disproportionately impacted communities of color and left over 2 million New Yorkers jobless.
Amid the pandemic, protests against police brutality and systemic racism following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes, also indicate a shift in public opinion.
Working people, immigrants and black and brown New Yorkers are bearing the brunt of our state's failed response to both coronavirus and racist policing, Working Families Party State Director Sochie Nnaemeka said in an emailed statement. In this moment, it's clearer than ever that we must shift the balance of power in Albany back to working people by electing leaders who will deliver for our communities.
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, who is challenging Assemblyman Michael DenDekker in the 34th District, criticized the Democratic incumbent for voting for the state budget, which included reductions to Medicaid and a $10 million cut to Elmhurst Hospital.
In a community that is 88 percent people of color, we cant afford any more failures. Representation matters when inequality kills, Gonzalez-Rojas said in an emailed statement. I will be a champion to fight for the resources that our communities need to live, work and raise a family in our district.
DenDekker, who has represented the district since 2008, did not respond to a request for comment by deadline. Three other people also are seeking the Democratic line: Nuala ODoherty-Naranjo, Angel Cruz and Joy Chowdhury.
Gonzalez-Rojas is among several candidates who have received the backing of the Working Families Party.
Other incumbents already considered further to the left than longtime Democrats, also are facing challenges for the party line, including Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, who is being challenged by Grace Lee.
Whether the progressive candidates will be successful in their respective districts remains to be seen, but they could have an impact on the incumbents themselves, Hudak said.
I think liberal challenges, whether successful or not, tend to move the Democratic party more to the left, he said. Nudging incumbents to be a little bit more liberal than they would have been without a challenge.
An earlier version incorrectly stated that Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas had received the backing of the political group Democratic Socialists of America.
The U.S. Army confirmed Tuesday that the soldier charged with plotting a deadly ambush on his unit is a paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Brigade's Sky Soldiers.
The Department of Justice indicted Army Pvt. Ethan Phelan Melzer on charges including conspiring and attempting to murder military service members and providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, according to an indictment that was unsealed Monday.
Read Next: The Air Force Is Getting a Replacement for Its Cold War-Era Pistols
Melzer is a 22-year-old infantryman assigned to the 173rd Airborne's 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, in Vicenza, Italy, 173rd spokesman Maj. Chris Bradley told Military.com.
After joining the Army on the delayed-entry program in late 2018, Melzer started his active-duty enlistment in June 2019. He arrived at the 173rd in November 2019, Bradley said.
His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Parachutist Badge and Army Service Ribbon, according to Bradley.
The 173rd worked with the DOJ and other Army and federal agencies during the investigation of Melzer, who allegedly leaked sensitive information -- such as the unit's location, movements and security -- to members of the Order of the Nine Angles (O9A), an occult-based neo-Nazi and white supremacist group based in Europe.
"It's still an ongoing case," Bradley said, adding that he couldn't provide further details.
"We are concerned with the safety of our troops, and that is our highest priority," he added.
During a voluntary interview with military investigators and the FBI, Melzer admitted his role in plotting an attack "to result in the deaths of as many of his fellow service members as possible," according to a DOJ news release.
DOJ officials said Melzer joined O9A in 2019. They described it as a group whose members and supporters have embraced violent neo-Nazi, anti-Semitic and satanic beliefs and have expressed admiration for both Nazis, such as Adolf Hitler, and Islamic jihadists, such as former al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden, who was killed in May 2011 when U.S. special operations forces raided his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
In April, the Army informed Melzer and other members of his unit that they would be deployed to guard a U.S. military installation in another foreign country, according to the indictment from the United States District Court, Southern District of New York.
Melzer, also known as "Etil Reggad," used an encrypted application to send messages to members and associates of O9A and a related group known as the RapeWaffen Division that included information related to the unit's anticipated deployment and "for the purpose of facilitating an attack on his unit," according to the indictment.
Neither the Army nor DOJ would comment on the location of the planned deployment.
Melzer and his alleged co-conspirators planned what they referred to as a "jihadi attack" during the deployment, with the objective of causing a "mass casualty" event victimizing his fellow service members, according to the DOJ news release.
"Melzer promised to leak more information once he arrived at the location of the new deployment in order to try to maximize the likelihood of a successful attack on his unit," the release states.
Army officials would not comment on any aspect of the investigation and referred all questions to the DOJ. Military.com asked the DOJ if the investigation suspected any other soldiers of working with Melzer in plotting the attack, but DOJ spokesman Marc Raimondi would not comment on that possibility.
Melzer faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on each of the following charges: conspiring to murder U.S. nationals; conspiring to murder U.S. military service members; and conspiring to murder and maim in a foreign country, according to the release.
He also faces up to 20 years in prison for attempting to murder American nationals and another 20 years for attempting to murder U.S. military service members, according to the release. In addition, he faces 15 years in prison for attempting to provide and providing material support to terrorists, the release adds.
"Melzer declared himself to be a traitor against the United States, and described his own conduct as tantamount to treason. We agree," William F. Sweeney Jr., assistant director-in-charge of the FBI's New York Office, said in the release.
"He turned his back on his ... unit while aligning himself with members of the neo-Nazi group O9A. Today, he is in custody and facing a lifetime of service -- behind bars -- which is appropriate given the severity of the conduct."
-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
Related: US Soldier Charged with Planning Deadly Ambush on His Army Unit, DOJ Says
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 worldwide 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 TV 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.
By Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press (TNS)
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Pirates first-round pick Nick Gonzales will take a physical on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. Assuming there arent any issues, Gonzales plans to sign with the team, according to Mackey. As the seventh overall pick, hes expected to sign for the slot value of $5,432,400, per Mackey.
The 21-year-old Gonzales was a star at New Mexico State, where he played in the middle infield (primarily second base) and slashed .399/.502/.747 with 37 home runs in 596 plate appearances from 2018-20.
On the heels of his stellar college career, Gonzales entered the draft as a top seven prospect according to MLB.com (No. 5), Baseball America (No. 5), FanGraphs (No. 6) and Keith Law of The Athletic (No. 7). Gonzales has as much pure hitting ability as just about any bat in the 2020 class, per MLB.com, which notes that some compare him to Brewers second baseman Keston Hiura.
Lori Vallow's sister has broken her silence for the first time since the bodies of her niece and nephew, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and Tylee Ryan, were found buried in the 'cult' mom's husband's backyard two weeks ago.
Summer Shiflet shared her anguish over the devastating discovery in a Facebook post on Monday, writing: 'The last few months have been hard. The last week has been excruciating. Losing our precious Tylee and JJ in this horrific way is more than we can bear.'
It's been just over a month since Shiflet and her mother, Janice Cox, defended Lori in a CBS interview and insisted that the children were safe because their mom would never hurt them.
Now, Shiflet says: 'I was wrong.'
Lori Vallow's sister Summer Shiflet has broken her silence for the first time since the bodies of her niece and nephew, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and Tylee Ryan, were found buried in the 'cult' mom's husband's backyard two weeks ago. Shiflet is pictured with 17-year-old Tylee
Shiflet shared her anguish in a Facebook post Monday, writing: 'The last few months have been hard. The last week has been excruciating. Losing our precious Tylee and JJ in this horrific way is more than we can bear.' She included several family photos of the children in the post
Police dug the remains of seven-year-old JJ and 17-year-old Tylee on Lori's husband Chad Daybell's property in Salem, Idaho, on June 9.
The discovery marked the conclusion of a seven-month, multi-state search for the children, who hadn't been seen since September 2019 but were never reported missing by their mother.
The story captured nationwide attention with the revelations that police were also investigating at least three suspicious deaths linked to Lori and Chad, as well as relatives' claims that the couple are members of a dangerous doomsday cult.
Lori was arrested in February and has spent the past four months behind bars on felony charges for abandonment and desertion.
Chad was arrested the same day the bodies were found and was charged with two felony counts for destruction or concealment of evidence.
Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to add additional charges in light of the bodies being found.
Lori has spent the past four months behind bars on felony charges for abandonment and desertion
Speaking out last month, Shiflet and Cox said they didn't know where the children were or why Lori was refusing to cooperate with investigators.
However, the women were confident that JJ and Tylee would be found unharmed and that Lori had a reason for her noncompliance.
'She's invested her whole life in those children,' Cox said. 'So we know there's another whole side to this. We don't know what it is. But we know her.'
In her Facebook statement this week, Shiflet briefly addressed her prior misconceptions.
'We have prayed for the truth to come to light, but we never thought it would look like this,' she wrote. 'Believe me when I say, this has looked very different from my perspective than what the public has seen.
'It's easy to jump on a bandwagon when you don't personally know all the people involved. When you have been up close and personal, you can't discount your own interactions, and just go by what everyone else says and thinks.
'I know there are people waiting for me to admit I was wrong. If that's all you want to know... here it is... I was wrong. I am an extremely imperfect person that loves my family with all my heart, and I wanted to believe the best in them, and I held out hope for the best possible outcome. I have always said things truthfully as I understood them, and will continue to do that as I learn new information.'
Last month Shiflet (left) and her mother Janice Cox (right) defended Lori in a CBS interview and insisted that the children were safe because their mom would never hurt them
This undated family photo shows Lori with her family - including her sister Shiflet (back center), brother Alex Cox (back left) and mother Janice Cox (front left)
Lori's husband Chad Daybell (left) was arrested for two felony counts of destruction of evidence after the children's bodies were found in his yard on June 9. A probable cause affidavit alleges that Lori's brother Alex Cox (right) helped bury the bodies
This aerial photo shows investigators digging up the remains of JJ and Tylee on Chad's property on June 9. In her Facebook post Shiflet wrote: 'We have prayed for the truth to come to light, but we never thought it would look like this'
Shiflet thanked investigators for their enduring efforts to find the children, and JJ's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, who requested a welfare check that sparked the search in November.
'I have a tremendous amount of gratitude to all of the law enforcement that have worked so hard to find Tylee and JJ,' she wrote.
'When I first heard that remains had been found, I immediately felt the need to pray for those who found them. And I continue to pray for those who were on the scene, removed the remains, and have to analyze them to try to piece together what those poor babies endured.
'I feel for those who do this work and am so grateful they are willing to do this, to help bring peace and closure to families.
'I am also grateful to the Woodcocks for ordering the wellness check. I pray for them to have peace and comfort as well. My mother has been here with me the past few days and we both feel the same about this.
'I feel so incredibly grateful to all of our friends and family and even the strangers that have reached out to offer their love and support. I have leaned on them more than they know.'
She continued: 'Tylee and JJ are completely irreplaceable in our family. I have loved them greatly all of their lives. There are no words that can capture this loss.
'We had prayed our hearts out for them and hoped with all of our hearts they were safe. But we sadly have to face this new reality and our family will never ever be the same.
'Sadly, there is no way to go back and undo what has been done. We can only go forward. As much as we miss them here, I know my beautiful Tyty and precious JJ are in a beautiful place with people they love.'
Shiflet included several family photos with the children in her post - though none of them featured Lori.
'Tylee and JJ are completely irreplaceable in our family. I have loved them greatly all of their lives. There are no words that can capture this loss,' Shiflet wrote in her Facebook post
The post included several photos of JJ and Tylee growing up. Tylee, who was 17 when she died, is seen as a toddler one photo (left). Another photo shows a young boy holding baby JJ
Tylee is seen with her grandmother Janice Cox and an unidentified man in the photo above
Timeline of JJ and Tylee's disappearance July 11, 2019: Lori Vallow's husband, Charles Vallow, is killed by her brother, Alex Cox, in Arizona. August: Lori moves children JJ and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho, where Chad Daybell lives with his wife Tammy. September 8: The last time Tylee is seen during a trip to Yellowstone National Park with Lori, JJ and Alex. September 23: The last time JJ is seen at his school in Rexburg. October 19: Chad's wife Tammy, 49, dies at their Idaho home. October 25: A friend of Tylee receives a vague 'miss you' text from her phone but says that it didn't sound like the teen. November 5: Lori and Chad tie the knot on a beach in Kauai. November 26: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on JJ and learn both he and Tylee have not been seen for months. November 27: Police execute a search warrant related to the children at Lori's home and discover that she and Chad have fled Idaho. December 11: Tammy's body is exhumed from a Utah cemetery and her death is reclassified as suspicious. December 12: Lori's brother, Alex Cox, is found unresponsive in Arizona and dies. December 21: Rexburg police issue the first press release about JJ and Tylee, revealing they believe their disappearance could be linked to Tammy's death. December 24: Lori and Chad issue a statement through an attorney saying they love their son and daughter and look forward to addressing 'allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor'. December 30: Police accuse Lori and Chad of lying to investigators and say they believe the couple know where the kids are or what happened to them. January 3, 2020: Police search Chad's home in Salem and remove 43 items. They also comb over sections of the snow-covered yard with rakes and metal detectors. January 26: Lori and Chad are seen for the first time in months as police serve them with a court order to produce the children to authorities in Idaho in five days. January 30: Lori misses the court deadline to produce the children to Idaho authorities. February 20: Lori is arrested in Kauai. March 5: Lori is extradited to Idaho, where she is held on $1million bond at Madison County Jail. April 9: Authorities reveal they are investigating Lori and Chad for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy in connection with Tammy's death. June 9:Police search Chad's home in Salem for the second time and discover human remains in the backyard. Chad is taken into police custody and charged with destruction or concealment of evidence. Advertisement
Two weeks after JJ and Tylee's remains were found on June 9, many questions in the complicated case remain unanswered.
Chilling new details about the investigation emerged last week when two probable cause affidavits linked to Lori and Chad's arrests were unsealed.
One of the affidavits, filed the day after Chad was arrested, alleges that Lori's brother, Alex Cox, brought the bodies to the property to bury them.
A ping from Cox's cellphone showed him at the site where Tylee's remains were found on September 9, the day after she was last seen.
Two later pings on September 23, the day JJ vanished, showed Cox at the site where the boy's remains were found a few feet away in the yard.
It wasn't until nine weeks later that Rexburg Police learned the children were missing when officers performed a welfare check at Lori's apartment in Rexburg on November 26, after relatives said they hadn't seen JJ in months.
During that welfare check Chad 'acted as if he didn't know Lori very well and stated he didn't know her phone number', Lt Ron Ball wrote in an affidavit.
Investigators soon discovered that was a lie when they came across photos of Chad and Lori's wedding three weeks earlier on a beach in Hawaii.
Lori and her brother told detectives that the children were visiting relatives, which was also determined to be a lie.
She and Chad fled from Idaho to Hawaii the day after the welfare check.
The affidavits also describe how Lori complained that her 'Satan-loving' son JJ was 'acting like a zombie' and knocked a photo of Jesus off her refrigerator just hours before he vanished.
Cox mysteriously died in Gilbert, Arizona, on December 12, about a month after police began searching for the children.
An autopsy determined that the 51-year-old died of natural causes but noted that he had the overdose drug Narcan in his system at the time.
His death is one of at least three that cops began investigating in connection with the kids' disappearance.
Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow was shot dead by Cox in Arizona on July 11.
Charles and Lori had gotten into an argument when the father came to pick up JJ at the mother's home in Chandler.
Lori's brother intervened and fatally shot Charles.
Police initially determined that he acted in self defense - but the case was reopened amid the multi-state search for JJ and Tylee, who had moved to Idaho, where Chad lived, with their mother in August.
A couple of months later, Chad's first wife Tammy Daybell was found dead at the home they shared on October 19.
An obituary stated that Tammy passed away in her sleep and her cause of death was ruled as natural after Chad reportedly declined an autopsy.
Investigators reopened the case after learning that JJ and Tylee were missing, as their mother had married Chad just two weeks after Tammy died.
They believe the two cases could be linked.
Tammy's body was exhumed on December 11 and the autopsy results have not yet been released.
Police tracked Lori and Chad down in Princeville, Hawaii, in late January and served the mother with a court order requiring her to physically produce the children to authorities in Idaho by January 30.
Lori failed to meet the deadline, prompting her arrest and extradition to Idaho, where she is currently being held at Madison County Jail in lieu of $1million bond.
Read the probable cause affidavits for Chad and Lori's arrests below:
Brisbane's popular kerbside hard rubbish collection scheme, dumped for two years to claw back cash in a coronavirus-hit budget, could return sooner if the council books take an upward turn.
Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said last week the saving was needed, alongside the council's pay freeze, to claw back a combined $50 million from the expected $142.5 million hole in revenue.
Brisbane City Council announced last week it would scrap its popular kerbside collection program for two years. Credit:Ken Irwin
The move sparked almost instant criticism, with the Labor opposition launching a petition to reinstate the scheme and waste management groups warning it could lead to an increase in illegal dumping, which would end up costing the council more.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Cr Schrinner indicated kerbside collection could return sooner than expected.
After recommending provisional anti-dumping duty be imposed on import of Ciprofloxacin HCL from China, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has initiated a probe into the alleged dumping of aluminium foil from countries like China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, following a complaint by domestic manufacturers.
In a notification, DGTR said that on the basis of prima facie evidence submitted by the applicants, "the authority, hereby, initiates an investigation".
The application was filed by Hindalco Industries, Raviraj Foils and Jindal India. "These companies wanted an investigation on imports of aluminium foil of 80 micron and below, for anti-dumping from these countries," a senior government official said.
Dumping of aluminium has adversely impacted the local industry and the applicants requested for imposition of the anti-dumping duty on the imports, the official said.
The period of investigation is from April 2019 - March 2020. It would also look into the data of April 2016-19 period.
In international trade parlance, dumping happens when a country or a firm exports an item at a price lower than the price of that product in its domestic market.
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Dumping impacts price of that product in the importing country, hitting margins and profits of local manufacturing firms.
According to global trade norms, a country is allowed to impose tariffs on such dumped products to provide a level-playing field to domestic manufacturers. The duty is imposed only after a thorough investigation by a quasi-judicial body, such as DGTR, in India.
In its probe, the directorate has to conclude whether the imported products are impacting domestic industries.
Imposition of anti-dumping duty is permissible under the World Trade Organization (WTO) regime. These countries are members of the Geneva-based organisation, which deals global trade norms.
The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.
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A national group representing Indigenous women is urging the RCMP to quickly take steps including equipping Mounties with body cameras to end what it calls needless killing and assaults by police.
In a letter to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, the Native Women's Association of Canada also calls on the force to make non-violent apprehension the imperative when a suspect has no gun and to ensure social workers, health professionals or elders be called when an Indigenous person is suffering a mental health crisis.
The letter to Lucki comes as a House of Commons committee prepares to meet today to consider doing a study of systemic racism in policing.
New Democrat MP Jack Harris has been pressing the public safety committee to reconvene to get an examination underway.
Harris wants Lucki and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, a former Toronto police chief, to be among the witnesses.
Lucki recently said she was struggling with the notion of systemic racism in the RCMP, only to acknowledge its existence days later.
New Democrats have already called for a review of the RCMP budget and for more spending on mental health and addiction supports to prevent crises from becoming police matters.
Concerns about police brutality and discrimination have sparked rallies and cries for change around the world since the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by Minnesota police.
The recent police killings of Chantel Moore and Rodney Levi in New Brunswick, and the battering of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam by RCMP in Alberta, have highlighted the issue in Canada, the association notes.
In the letter to Lucki, association president Lorraine Whitman invites Lucki to take "the first steps to end the needless deaths and assaults of Indigenous women and men at the hands of Canadian police."
"We, as Indigenous women, did not need to read the recent spate of tragic news to understand the tragic outcomes that can occur when our people have encounters with law enforcement in this country," Whitman writes.
"But we ask that you use this moment to begin taking the steps necessary to prevent further lives from being lost."
The association also wants the RCMP and other Canadian police forces to join in forming a task force to rewrite the relationship between police and Indigenous women.
"We want culturally appropriate protocols that will keep our women, girls and gender-diverse people safe, not just from street killers and other assailants who have targeted them as prey, but from the police themselves."
Today is Monday, June 22, 2020. Let's get caught up.
These non-virus headlines are in the news this morning: NASCAR and the FBI have launched an investigation after a noose was found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver in the elite Cup Series; two people were killed and seven others were wounded in an early Monday shooting in Charlotte, N.C.; and President Donald Trump's weekend rally in Oklahoma highlighted growing vulnerabilities.
Read on for these stories, other top headlines, celebrity birthdays and more.
Top stories
FBI investigating noose left in NASCAR stall
NASCAR and the FBI have launched an investigation after a noose was found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver in the elite Cup Series who just two weeks ago successfully pushed the stock car series to ban the Confederate flag at its venues.
NASCAR said the noose was found on Sunday afternoon and vowed to do everything possible to find who was responsible and eliminate them from the sport. Read the full story here:
***
2 dead, 7 wounded in shooting at North Carolina block party
Two people were killed and seven others were wounded in an early Monday shooting in North Carolina's largest city, police said, while five others were hit by vehicles.
The shooting happened at an impromptu block party" that was a continuation of Juneteenth celebrations, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Deputy Chief Johnny Jennings told reporters.
Police responding to a call about a pedestrian hit by a car found hundreds of people in the streets around 12:30 a.m., a police statement said. As officers arrived, they heard several shots nearby. Read the full story:
***
Trump rally highlights vulnerabilities heading into election
President Donald Trump's return to the campaign trail was designed to show strength and enthusiasm heading into the critical final months before an election that will decide whether he remains in the White House.
Instead, his weekend rally in Oklahoma highlighted growing vulnerabilities and crystallized a divisive reelection message that largely ignores broad swaths of voters independents, suburban women and people of color who could play a crucial role in choosing Trump or Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
The lower-than-expected turnout at the comeback rally, in particular, left Trump fuming. Read the full story here:
In other news today ...
A statue of President Theodore Roosevelt in front of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City will be removed, a statement from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's office said Sunday. The announcement comes as several states grapple with how to handle removals of confederate monuments and other controversial statues.
in front of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City will be removed, a statement from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's office said Sunday. The announcement comes as several states grapple with how to handle removals of confederate monuments and other controversial statues. An American man was among the three victims stabbed to death in a park in the English town of Reading that is being treated as a terror attack, the U.S. ambassador to Britain confirmed Monday.
in a park in the English town of Reading that is being treated as a terror attack, the U.S. ambassador to Britain confirmed Monday. One person was wounded in what was the second shooting in Seattles protest zone in less than 48 hours , police said. The shooting happened late Sunday night in the area near Seattles downtown that is known as CHOP, for Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, police tweeted, adding that one person was at a hospital with a gunshot wound.
, police said. The shooting happened late Sunday night in the area near Seattles downtown that is known as CHOP, for Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, police tweeted, adding that one person was at a hospital with a gunshot wound. A preliminary official vote count Monday of Serbias parliamentary election confirmed an overwhelming victory for populist President Aleksandar Vucics right-wing governing party, the state RTS television said.
confirmed an overwhelming victory for populist President Aleksandar Vucics right-wing governing party, the state RTS television said. Wildlife advocates fear that poor families are turning to hunting animals such as gazelles for food or chopping down trees to eke out a living. Authorities in India worry about endangered tigers and leopards as well as the species those big cats depend on to survive.
or chopping down trees to eke out a living. Authorities in India worry about endangered tigers and leopards as well as the species those big cats depend on to survive. The Black Lives Matter protests have encouraged a reckoning in the fashion world , with insiders saying the industry must confront its decades of racism.
, with insiders saying the industry must confront its decades of racism. Eight children drowned in a river in southwestern China after one fell in and the others jumped in to help, state media said. The children, described as elementary-school age, had gone to play at a beach Sunday on the Fu River, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Their bodies were recovered by Monday morning.
after one fell in and the others jumped in to help, state media said. The children, described as elementary-school age, had gone to play at a beach Sunday on the Fu River, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Their bodies were recovered by Monday morning. No red carpet, no house band or monologue poking fun at the past year's top athletes and moments. This was a different version of The ESPYS. The focus of Sunday night's show on ESPN was hope and inspiration.
Click on the links below for full versions of these stories and scroll further for trending stories, a look at today in history and celebrity birthdays.
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Almost a third of Americans could see storms that could be severe. CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam has the details on who will be impacted by the worst of the weather. Watch here:
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Kansas City, MO (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri is urging school districts to remove police officers from schools. St. Louis Public Radio reports that the ACLU has circulated a letter to nine school administrators so far, mostly in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.
The big leap millennials are taking as the housing affordability crisis peaks, and coronavirus removes the barriers to remote work. Source: Getty
Aussies are ditching capital cities in droves as the housing affordability crisis continues, with millennials making up a large cohort of the outflow, new research has revealed.
Between 2011 and 2016, Sydney and Melbourne lost more residents to regions than they gained, data from the Regional Australia Institutes (RAI) The Big Movers report revealed.
In the five years to 2016, Sydney lost 64,756 people to regional Australia, while Melbourne lost 21,609, and Adelaide lost 1,000.
And millennials in particular are moving in droves, with 200,000 moving between regions compared to 178,961 who moved to capital cities.
Sydney also saw a net outflow of millennials. Some 37,000 millennials moved from Sydney to regions, with 32,500 moving the other way, RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said.
Also read: Dont fall prey: Warning to Gen Z home-buyers
Also read: The 28-day Millennial Money Challenge: Do it if you dare
Where are millennials moving to?
The top three regional destinations millennials were moving to during the last census period were the Gold Coast, Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast.
Greater Geelong, Cairns, Toowoomba, Ballarat, Maitland, Greater Bendigo and Lake Macquarie were also popular destinations.
Coronavirus removes barriers to regional moves
Coronavirus has forced employees around the world to work from home. And rather than stifling the workforce, it has proven that remote work is a viable option.
In the US, 75 per cent of Facebook employees indicated they would move state if they were given the option to work from home permanently, and all Twitter staff were given the option to remote work full-time after the pandemic subsides.
And if the pandemic continues to remove barriers to remote work here in Australia, the population shift to regional Australia is expected to continue, Ritchie said.
Over the last few months, weve all had to change how we work and this has allowed staff and employers to see that location is no longer a barrier for where we choose to work, Ritchie said.
Story continues
Australias population mobility puts it ahead of 80 per cent of other OECD countries, with more than 39 per cent of Australians changing their address every five years compared to an international average of 21 per cent.
As a country, we are an extremely mobile nation, and we have a propensity to change our address at twice the rate of people in most OECD countries, Ritchie said.
If location is no longer a barrier for employment, its possible that the trend line over the next decade could see an even greater swing to regions and this is the RAIs ambition.
Yahoo Finance Breakfast Club episode 7.
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Demonstrations over high unemployment in southern Tunisia continued Monday with police reportedly firing tear gas on protesters pelting rocks in their direction.
Nine years after the uprising that toppled Tunisias longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and set off the regions Arab Spring revolutions, the country is once again gripped by anti-government protests. In the city of Tataouine, where unemployment hovers around 30%, protesters are demanding the government fulfill promises made in June 2017 to create more jobs in the oil and gas sectors.
A three-month-long sit-in that year, during which protesters blockaded two oil and gas pumping stations, ended with the unemployment minister pledging to create thousands of jobs and allocate more than $30 million for a development fund.
The trade union in Tataouine says the government never followed through on its promise, and it has called for a strike among its members.
The widespread unemployment is set to worsen across the North African country by the end of the year, from 15% to 21.6%, a United Nations study estimated. The International Monetary Fund expects Tunisias economy in 2020 to contract by 4.3%, its deepest recession since independence in 1956.
The largely peaceful demonstrations turned chaotic Monday as protesters demanded the release of Tarek Haddad, an activist they say was arrested during the previous nights unrest. Agence France-Presse reports protesters hurling stones were met with tear gas from police.
According to the Interior Ministry, 10 people were arrested for attacking police stations with Molotov cocktails.
The latest examples of systemic racism in Canada occurred last week in the heart of Canadas democracy. It involved the only racialized leader of a federal political party, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and how he was treated in the House of Commons, as well as how the story was covered by the media.
On June 17, House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota expelled Singh from the House for refusing to apologize for calling Bloc Quebecois MP Alain Therrien racist. The incident occurred after Therrien became the only MP to vote no on Singhs motion calling on the government to investigate the issue of systemic racism within the RCMP, their budget and their training of officers on the use of force. In addition to voting no on the motion, thereby denying it unanimous consent and causing it to fail, Therrien used a hand gesture that Singh found to be dismissive of the seriousness of the issue being discussed, which resulted in Singh using the word he did.
This incident, and how media covered it, not only showed Canadians an example of racism played out at the highest level of politics, it also demonstrated that a racialized minority in a position of privilege was not immune to systemic racism. For many people of colour across the country, it was another example of how they are treated when they try and challenge racist behaviour in their own lives.
The image of the only political party leader who is a visible minority being thrown out of Parliament by the white Speaker of the House, for challenging what he considered racist behaviour by a white MP, was a glaring example of systemic racism and white privilege at the highest level of politics. To add insult to injury, the MP who instigated the incident was allowed to remain in the House of Commons, and was defended by the white members of his caucus. It was as though Therrien, the Bloc Quebecois caucus, and the Speaker were blind and deaf to the calls of Canadians, particularly Black and Indigenous Canadians, protesting in the streets and calling for an end to systemic racism and police violence.
In addition to Singhs treatment in the House, another layer of systemic racism was evident in the way that editors and producers at Canadas major media outlets framed the story.
In a scan of more than 50 different headlines in Canadian media since the story broke, including multiple stories by the CBC, CTV, Global, the National Post and the Globe and Mail, there was only one instance in a Toronto Star headline where Therrien was mentioned by name. While there were details about him contained in the body of the story, to the public the headlines made it seem that the story was purely about Mr. Singh rather than the actions of Therrien that created this controversy.
The headlines and coverage of the incident are part of a pattern that communities of colour have seen often where insufficient media attention is given to the underlying racism that is the catalyst for racist acts. In Singhs case, the fact that the media largely ignored Therrien, allowed his BQ colleagues to run interference for him, and didnt dig into why he was the lone BQ MP to vote no on Singhs motion, raises questions about the decision makers in the newsrooms of the nation, and why they and their news teams framed the story as they did.
Why was there singular media focus on Singh rather than Therrien, the man who set off this chain of events? Why didnt the media ask Therrien about why he opposed Singhs motion when his entire caucus supported it? Why did the rules of the House of Commons sanction the person of colour who called out the racism, and ignore the person who instigated this furor?
What happened in the House of Commons and how media covered the story brought racism to light in Parliament in a way that has infuriated many Canadians. It showed that even in one of the most privileged places in Canada, a chamber of equals, systemic racism and white privilege go hand in hand, and that comes through in how media covered that privilege as well.
Huntsville police said Tuesday that more "more disturbing graffiti" was discovered overnight at a Memorial Parkway overpass near downtown.
Police did not disclose the nature of the graffiti but said it was similar to graffiti spray painted under an overpass earlier this month. At that time, the graffiti messages said Black Lives Dont Matter and White Rights Matter with accompanying swastikas.
The graffiti overnight Monday was found at the overpass of Memorial Parkway and Governors Drive, police said.
Police said it had a person of interest that was provided through an anonymous tip on the graffiti spray painted at the Airport Road overpass on June 13.
Police asked for anyone with information in these cases to call Criminal Investigations at 256-213-5448 or 4537. Crime Stoppers is working on placing these cases on their reward list at this time. You can call 53-CRIME or submit a tip on their website at www.53Crime.org by clicking the submit a tip link on the homepage.
Mexico City: A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck southern Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday, killing at least six people and cutting off isolated villages, and causing tremors hundreds of miles away in Mexico City.
The fatalities were near the quake's epicentre in Oaxaca, a mountainous state known for its coffee, mescal and Spanish colonial architecture.
Rockfalls blocked the winding mountain roads between the state capital of Oaxaca City and the coast. Rescue workers have not reached all villages reported to have suffered damage, raising fears that more people may be hurt.
An Oaxaca state official said rescue workers were trying to get to the settlement of Santa Catarina Xanaguia, near the epicentre, where the quake brought down homes or parts of the mountainside, trapping people. People had sent messages for help by phone, the official added.
Medical staff and patients gathered outside Alvaro Obregon Hospital in Mexico City during the earthquake. Bloomberg
A clinic and old churches in hill villages near the epicentre were severely damaged, images on social media showed.
The dead included a worker from state oil company Pemex, who suffered a bad fall, Mexico's civil protection agency said. Pemex was forced to briefly shutter the country's biggest oil refinery in Oaxaca.
Hundreds of kilometres away in Mexico City, buildings shook strongly and people ran out into the streets when an early warning seismic alarm sounded. Two people were injured and more than 30 buildings in the capital suffered damage, officials said, including buildings still scarred from a 2017 7.1-earthquake that killed 355 people in the capital and the surrounding states.
Water from rooftop pools or tanks cascaded down residential buildings in the city, and construction workers on the 56th story of a new residential tower clung to each other as it swayed.
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The ocean receded on Oaxaca's Pacific coast and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned of a possible tsunami as far away as South America but later said the danger had passed.
Miguel Candelaria, 30, was working at his computer in his family home in the Oaxaca town of Juchitan when the ground began to tremble. He ran outside with relatives, but they had to stop in the middle of the street as the pavement buckled and rocked.
"We couldn't walk... the street was like chewing gum," said Candelaria, 30.
A policeman removes rubble from a building damaged by an earthquake in Oaxaca. AP
Neighbours screamed in terror and some shouted out warnings to run from the electricity poles that looked poised to fall, said Candelaria, who works in telecommunications marketing.
Quakes of magnitudes over 7 are major earthquakes capable of widespread, heavy damage.
People brace themselves against a wall in Mexico City during the earthquake. AP
The US Geological Survey said the epicentre of Tuesday's quake was located 69 km north-east of the town of Pochutla. It was very shallow, only 26 km below the earth's surface, which would have amplified the shaking.
The USGS estimated that some 2 million people felt strong or moderate shaking and another 49 million felt weak or light shaking.
The quake was felt in Guatemala and throughout south and central Mexico.
Near to the epicentre, Magdalena Castellanos Fermin was in the village of Santiago Astata when the "really intense" quake struck, sending large rocks tumbling down from the hillside and alarming residents.
In Huatulco, a laid-back beach destination known for surfing and small protected coves, the earthquake knocked goods off shelves and some rubble from buildings.
Mari Gonzalez of the Princess Mayev hotel in Huatulco said staff and guests were able to evacuate the building before the quake, but that 45 minutes after the initial quake they were still outside as strong aftershocks continued.
"It was strong, very strong," she said.
Eunice Pineda, a 26-year-old teacher in Juchitan, said the quake "was two minutes of torture," as she feared her house would collapse.
But residents in one of Mexico's most seismically active regions have learnt to "live one day at a time," Pineda said. "We learn to appreciate, to treasure every moment."
Situated at the intersection of three tectonic plates, Mexico is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. The capital is seen as particularly vulnerable due to its location on top of an ancient lake bed.
Reuters, AP with staff reporters
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said Monday that the city will begin dismantling the autonomous zone set up downtown by protesters, citing incidents of violence in the zone.
The cumulative impacts of the gatherings and protests and the nighttime atmosphere and violence has led to increasingly difficult circumstances for our businesses and residents, Durkan said at a news conference. The impacts have increased and the safety has decreased.
We have to make sure that any resident, any business, or any visitor that calls for help gets the help they need, Durkan said.
Protesters barricaded off the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone, or CHOP, an area of several blocks in the citys downtown Capitol Hill neighborhood, earlier this month after police abandoned their East Precinct building. Police have agreed not to respond to calls from within the zone unless they are life-threatening.
Seattle police will peacefully return to the East Precinct building soon, the mayor said, a message echoed by Police Chief Carmen Best.
There should be no place in Seattle that the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department cant go, Durkan said.
Best added that the police department is committed to improving the relationship between police and the community.
We all know that policing is never going to be the same as it was, Best said. It cant be. And it shouldnt be.
We cannot move forward as a community, as a city, or as a police department unless all of us work together, the police chief added.
Durkan previously predicted the autonomous zone would usher in a summer of love and said that her decision to withdraw police from the area reflected her trust in protesters.
Police responded to a second shooting in Seattles autonomous zone that occurred late Sunday night, the second shooting inside the zone in just two days. A shooting on Saturday in the zone left a 19-year-old dead and another critically injured. Police said they were met by a violent crowd that blocked their access to the victims on Saturday.
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President Trump has criticized Seattles Democratic mayor as well as Washington Governor Jay Inslee, also a Democrat, over the zone, saying it is run by anarchists.
Last week, Portland police quickly dismantled another autonomous zone that protesters attempted to set up outside the mayors residence in the city the previous night.
More from National Review
The President of the United States Donald Trump on Monday kicked up concerns among immigrants after he directed his administration to reform the H-1B visa system and move in the direction of merit-based immigration. He further suspended H-1B, L-1, and other temporary visas given to the immigrants seeking to live and work in the US citing the protection of local workers facing unemployment amid pandemic.
The move has reaffirmed Trump's former anti-immigration agenda and yet again raised questions on the welfare of immigrants and minorities in the US, which is headed for Presidential elections in November this year with Trump running for reelection.
The move has brought to light yet another old debate - about how Donald Trump's wife and First Lady Melania Trump, a Slovenian national at birth, became an American citizen.
If it weren't for the H1B visa, the President might never have met the then Slovenian model and actor whom he was introduced to at a party in 1998.
READ: Hello, Mr Trump: Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Indra Nooyi Went to America on 'Temporary' Visa
Though the H1B visa is particularly meant to ensure the flow of skilled technicians and workers into the US and is offered to those working in specialist professions such as computer science, biotechnology, research, etc, overseas models back in the 1990s required VISAs to live and work in the US.
After arriving in the US in 1996 on a tourist visa, the First Lady, then known by her maiden name Melania Knauss, applied for several visas for skilled workers in the US before finally getting an EB1 visa (known colloquially as the Einstein Visa) in 2001. She became an American citizen in 2006.
Once a citizen, Melania was able to sponsor her parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, who arrived on Slovenia on similar working visas. As per reports in 2018, they were under the process of filing for citizenship.
With Trump suspending the H1B and other VISAs for skilled workers, many on social media recalled that had such rules existed previously, Melania would probably never become the First Lady. Questions were also raised on her eligibility for the "Einstein Visa" (EB-1) which is usually reserved for person of great skill such as Oscar, Pulitzer or Nobel winners and other accomplished and gifted individuals.
Never forget that Melania Trump is a birther. She and her orange hubby spent years calling for Obamas birth certificate. I am calling for her legal immigration papers: How the hell did you get an Einstein visa despite your blatant lie under oath about college degrees, @FLOTUS? Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) June 19, 2020
Many also wondered whether Melania and her parents would now be deported after the visa suspensions.
#POTUS, trump BECAUSE YOU ARE SUSPENDING WORKING VISAS; DOES THAT MEAN MELANIA AND HER FAMILY MUST GO BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM? pic.twitter.com/mZ5N4R7HR2 Carrot (@Carrotrabbit18) June 23, 2020
Where was this idea when Melania Trump was on a visa? Michael (@iammikejv) June 22, 2020
Isn't H1-B the visa that Melania Trump claimed she came to the U.S. on? The visa that's supposed to be reserved for highly skilled people? https://t.co/pdev1YR4zQ LaurenBaratzLogsted (@LaurenBaratzL) June 22, 2020
This is not the first time that such questions have been raised against Melania Trump's citizenship. Previously, questions have been raised not just on the allegedly dubious process of her green card approval and citizenship via the EB-1 visa but also the initial visas she had aquired to come to the US and work as a model.
Several accusations of her alleged illegal immigration to the US surfaced in 2016 during the last leg of husband and then the Republican Part's Presidential nominee's election campain in 2016.
Melania, however, has always maintained that she arrived in the country legally and never violated the terms of her immigration status. During the presidential campaign, she has cited her story to defend her husbands hard-line on immigration.
Melania, who sometimes worked as a model under just her first name, has said through an attorney that she first came to the U.S. from Slovenia on Aug. 27, 1996, on a B1/B2 visitor visa and then obtained an H-1B work visa on Oct. 18, 1996.
The White House, nevertheless, said in a statement that the changes to visa laws would help protect the salaries of American workers and ensure that foreign labour coming into the US is high-skilled and do not undercut the United States labour market.
READ: 'Economically Stupid': Donald Trump's Ban on H-1B Visas Has Left Immigrants Worried About Future
The statement went on to say that the Trump administration would reform the system to prioritise skilled workers and protect American jobs.
(With inputs from AP)
The US Secret Service (USSS) has said that reporters had been misdirected when told to leave the White House amid new protests.
In a statement, the USSS said that four members of the media were misdirected to leave the White House complex on Monday night after police pushed back protesters in Lafayette Square.
Protesters had attempted to pull-down the president Andrew Jackson statue positioned outside the White House, when four reporters were told to leave, said CNN.
We were inside the White House and Secret Service officers came round to the reporters and said that we had to leave the White House grounds, said CNNs Kaitlan Collins whilst on air.
"It's actually incredibly unusual, she added. I dont think weve ever been asked to actually physically leave the White House at a time like that".
According to the USSS statement, reporters were told to use the south side exit on Monday for their own safety despite ongoing demonstrations outside.
On Monday evening, in response to the increasingly violent demonstrations in Lafayette Park, four members of the media were misdirected by the Secret Service to leave the White House grounds, said a Secret Service spokesperson to CNN. The members of the press were rerouted to exits on the south side of the complex for their own safety.
Despite that, CNN cameras showed demonstrators arguing with police outside the White House, in what appeared to be an active situation on Monday night.
Its probably 150 to 200 protesters here in front of the White House, if I just do a count from where Im standing, Ms Collins told CNN host Anderson Cooper.
The Andrew Jackson statue, which was not toppled on Monday night, had earlier been surrounded with police using chemical irritants to push back protesters in Lafayette Square, said CNN.
It comes three weeks on from Donald Trumps controversial staged St Johns church photo which saw police clear protesters from the same square with tear gas so that he could pose with a bible.
The US president used Twitter late on Monday to condemn 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.
He added: 10 years in prison under the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!
The Government should 'seize the opportunity to curb drink driving' by forcing pubs to close off their car parks as lockdown eases, a star road traffic lawyer has urged.
Bars and pubs should be told to seal off their parking facilities and use the space to provide more outdoor seating if they are given the green light to open on 4 July, says Nick Freeman - who has been dubbed 'Mr Loophole' for getting a string of celebrities of driving charges.
He said the move would not only help provide extra space for social distancing and increase capacity for businesses to serve more punters, but discourage drinkers from driving to and from the pub.
'Close pub car parks to curb post-lockdown drink driving': Celebrity road traffic lawyer, Mr Loophole, says the government should tell landlords to seal off their car parks when they're allowed to reopen on 4 July
'The reopening of bars and pubs is a welcome move for both the public and the economy,' according to the 63 year-old lawyer, whose A-list clients include David Beckham, Paddy McGuiness and Jeremy Clarkson.
'But inevitably there may well be those who by default or design get behind the wheel after having one too many. '
He added: 'The closing of pub car parks is a very visible sign that drinking and driving don`t go together.
'In fact the Government could use this opportunity to launch an anti-drink-drive campaign, citing the fact that pubs are open but car parks are closed.'
While Mr Freemans idea would send a message on drink driving, it would also impact those driven by someone else who stays sober and seriously hamper country pubs, many of which rely on customers travelling some distance and have reshaped their businesses around food.
Mr Freeman said that ministers could recommend to landlords to provide additional social-distancing availability, which also use it as a 'strategic and powerful opportunity' to remind people to leave the car at home.
A decision on reopening hospitality businesses such as bars, pubs, cinemas, museums and hairdressers on 4 July is expected to be rubber-stamped by Prime Minister Boris Johnson today, along with new rules for one-metre social distancing.
It has been estimated that as many as one million hotel, pub and restaurant jobs could be saved if the two-metre social distancing limit is halved to allow for extra business.
And capacity could be increased if car parks are commandeered as a place for tables and chairs.
Independence Day...for pubs: Businesses are expected to be allowed to reopen their doors from 4 July, with the two-metre social distancing rules halved if extra measures are in place
'We need to make people feel a little more uncomfortable about bringing their car to the pub,' Freeman told This is Money.
Closing pub car parks post-lockdown would be a 'strategic and powerful opportunity' to remind people to leave the car at home, says motoring lawyer, Nick Freeman (pictured)
'Closed car parks will be a visible reminder of that whilst having the double whammy effect of helping pubs boost capacity and revive their battered revenue.
'It has to be a win-win situation.'
While the lockdown has seen traffic levels plummet by as much as 80 per cent at the start of April, bad habits behind the wheel have far from disappeared.
High profile speeding offences rose as daredevil motorists took advantage of deserted roads.
Footage of motorists using motorways as their personal race tracks emerged during lockdown, with one driver filming himself at the wheel of an Audi RS6 Avant clocking a staggering 201mph on the M23 in West Sussex.
Police forces earlier this month revealed the worst cases of recorded speeding in their areas, with two in three responding to an FOI request confirming that they had caught at least one driver at speeds in excess of 100mph since the lockdown was put in place on 23 March.
WORST LOCKDOWN SPEEDING CASES FOR EACH POLICE FORCE Police Force Highest recorded speed detected Limit of road where recorded Mph over speed limit Stretch of road Time of day West Yorkshire Police 151 70 81 M62 21:55 Suffolk Constabulary 140 70 70 A14 Not provided Northamptonshire Police 138 70 68 M1 J17-J16 21:11 Gwent Police 136 70 66 M4 J23a-J24 Not provided Staffordshire Police 135 70 65 Not provided Not provided Kent Police 132 70 62 M20 16:00-17:00 Humberside Police 130 70 60 M60 J35 11:43 Police Scotland 128 70 58 A77 Southbound btwn Monkton & Sandyford 13:56 Metropolitan Police 125 70 55 M1 Gateway Morning Lancashire Constabulary 120 70 50 M6 J35-J33 & M65 05:30 & 21:30 Merseyside Police 115 70 45 M6 Southbound J24-23 15:21 North Wales Police 111 70 41 A55 12:46 Norfolk Constabulary 110 70 40 A11 Not provided Derbyshire Constabulary 108 40 68 M1 (N) 20:33 West Midlands Police 108 70 38 M5 J3-J4 Not provided South Wales Police 108 50 58 M4 - Port Talbot 23:51 Gloucestershire Constabulary 106 70 36 M5 08:00 & 12:00 Bedfordshire Constabulary 104 40 64 Airport Way Luton 10:02 Devon & Cornwall Police 101 70 31 A38 Haldon Hill 14:00-18:00 Hampshire Constabulary 101 70 31 A331 18:28 Cheshire Constabulary 95 70 25 M56 & M6 - 5 vehicles 5 vehicles West Mercia Police 92 60 32 M5 J5-J6 05:07 Cumbria Constabulary 89 60 29 A590 Morning South Yorkshire Police 88 60 28 A616 (T) East past A629 Exit Barnsley Not provided Dyfed-Powys Police 88 60 28 A483 - Belan 12:26pm Cleveland Police 86 70 16 A19 16:25 Northumbria Police 86 70 16 A1 Felton by Pass Midday Dorset Police 73 50 23 A31 St Leonards 10:00-11:00 Leicestershire Police 58 50 8 A47 Uppingham Road, Billesdon 09:07 Durham Constabulary 44 30 14 Watling Street, Consett 11:52 Source: FOI issued to all police forces in England, Scotland and Wales. All are speeding offences caught between 23 March and 13 April 2020. Missing police forces failed to respond to the RAC's FOI request
But Mr Loophole claims it isn't just speeding offences that are likely to have become more common over the last three months.
Drink driving has remained an issue during lockdown, despite bars and restaurants being shut, he believes - and that some of it may be unintentional the morning after.
Home drinking has reportedly doubled to 100 million pints of beer a week while people have been told to restrict their socialising.
This could mean that many have been jumping into their cars to join early morning supermarket queues for essential supplies, potentially unaware of alcohol in their system from the night before.
A survey last month by the RAC found that some five per cent of drivers admitted to taking their car out specifically to buy alcohol during lockdown.
This comes after Government statistics at the end of last year revealed an increase in drink-drive related deaths in Britain which were now at an eight-year high.
A new study claims that summer sunlight at high noon can kill up to 90 percent of coronavirus in most US and international cities within 34 minutes.
The study authors - a pair of retired US government scientists, one of whom worked for the Army and a second who worked for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National institutes of Health (NIH) - believe that lockdowns may have actually done harm to citizens who were not exposed to virus-inactivating sunlight.
Their article, published in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology, is among a growing body of evidence that suggests coronavirus may in the cold and fares more poorly at higher temperatures and humidity.
And ultraviolet light - the same radiation the sun emits - is now being used to sterilize surfaces, including New York City subways.
But while many scientists contend that the dose of UV light needed to kill coronavirus is unsafe for humans and that summer heat may slow but not stop the pandemic, Dr Jose-Luis Sagripanti and Dr C David Lytle insist the sun will keep us safe.
It echoes President Trump's assurances that warm weather would drive away coronavirus outbreaks.
But two experts told DailyMail.com that, while the research is interesting, the lab-based data is unlikely to translate directly to the real world, and sunshine is unlikely to save us from infection this summer.
The debate over how heat affects coronavirus rages on in the US. One study claims summer sunlight can kill 90% of the virus, but two experts say that will do little to stop transmissions
'There's a little scientific truth there, but it's not the kind of truth that's going to make a difference to the infection rate,' Texas A&M University Texarkana biologist Dr Ben Neuman told DailyMail.com.
Sunlight, he said, 'will clean up some of the virus that's going to be laying around, but it's in the stuff that comes out of someone's mouth, hangs briefly in the air, and goes right into someone else's nose or mouth.'
Dr Neuman, most of whose research is specifically on coronaviruses, explained that UV rays can kill naked virus, but are much less effective at inactivating the virus when it is in droplets of mucus from infected people's noses or mouths.
The researchers behind the new study used data from exposures of the virus to UV light in labs and ran them through a model that was made for 'biodefense' purposes to estimate how sunlight would affect various viruses.
According to their estimates, the virus could stay infections for a day or more between December and March in 'most cities.'
But in the summer, 90 percent or more of the virus would be inactivated - meaning that it would no longer be infectious - within just 11 to 34 minutes of midday sunlight in the summer months, they estimate.
They also speculate that this would hold true in many cities throughout the world (but do not specify which ones).
To bolster their argument, the researchers point to the trends in the virus's spread in various parts of the world over the past six months.
'The viral persistence estimated here for cities at northern latitudes where COVID-19 expanded rapidly during winter 2019-2020 and relatively higher viral inactivation in more southern latitudes receiving high solar radiation during the same period, suggests an environmental role for sunlight in the COVID-19 pandemic,' they wrote.
Florida's temperatures are now well above those that most studies suggest coronavirus thrives in, but cases are spiking in the sunshine state, where more than 100,000 people have tested positive. Pictured: beachgoers in Clearwater, Florida on May 4
Dr Sagripanti and Dr Lytle are not the first to observe this patten.
Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine published a study in JAMA Network Open demonstrating the narrow 'band' of cities where coronavirus spread like wildfire between November and March (although it wasn't necessarily present in all eight of the cities they looked at for the duration of that time period).
From November 2019 to March 2020, the eight cities that had substantial spread were all within a narrow band of latitudes between 30 N and 50 N.
Results showed that in January 2020 in Wuhan and in February 2020 in the other seven cities, the average temperature at airport weather stations was between 39F (4C) and 48F (9C).
Average temperatures 20 to 30 days before the first death resulting from the virus's spread in each city were roughly the same, ranging from 37F (3C) to 48F (9C).
However, COVID-19 was unsuccessful in spreading as widely among cities north of this band such as in Moscow, Russia, which sits at 56.0 N, and south such as in Bangkok, Thailand, sitting at 13.7 N.
'We think that the virus is behaving like a seasonal respiratory virus,' Dr Mohammad Sajadi, an associate professor at the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, told DailyMail.com in a recent interview.
'What this means is that the virus has temperature and humidity requirements that aid in its transmission.'
Based on experiments exposing coronavirus and seasonal influenza to UV light, Dr Sagripanti and Dr Lytle estimate that SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is about five times more sensitive to sunlight flu.
Experts say that being close to other people will determine your risk, not the weather. Pictured: Beachgoers sunbathe at Miami Beach without face masks or social distancing
That would suggest that coronavirus's activity levels would fall even lower than flu during the summer in the US, when the country gets the most direct and potent sunlight.
Indeed, as summer has begun in the US, the original hotspots - cities like New York and Seattle, which fall into the 'band' of vulnerability identified by the University of Maryland team, have seen new cases and deaths slow.
And Brazil, which is entering its winter, has seen a surge in cases in recent weeks, suddenly becoming the second hardest hit country in the world.
But these are just observational links.
'The virus grew at the same rate in Ecuador on the equator as in Iceland, which is cold,' said Dr Neuman.
In Brazil, temperatures rarely fall below 68. In the US, states like Arizona and Texas are hitting record highs. Daily high temperatures those states average around 100 or 90 degrees F in June.
'Now [the virus] is in the sunbelt of the US, in Arizona, Texas and Florida - you can't tell me those people don't get a lot of sunlight,' Dr Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
The new study is documenting 'a lab phenomenon,' he asserts.
He echoed Dr Neuman's sentiments, saying: 'All these models are really cool and interesting, but probably not that relevant right now.'
When the virus is less prevalent in communities, heat may have some marginal effect on 'cleaning up' spare virus in the environment.
But even if it's seasonal, like the flu, that doesn't necessarily mean that summer and high temperatures have anything to do with the peaks and valleys of coronavirus outbreaks.
Dr Neuman notes that most viruses - such as polio and HIV - are not seasonal and it's not clear what makes flu and coronavirus seasonal, and it may not be explained by climate.
'The fact is we don't know,' he said.
'Coronaviruses also have a season, but it's shifted off by about three months and they're often around in the spring, but there's no reason or rhyme. '
Both scientists agree that whatever the effect of sunlight, nothing can currently replace social distancing and mask-wearing.
Sellbyville, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/23/2020 -- Calcium silicates Market size is anticipated to attain significant growth from 2020 to 2024. Calcium silicates apparently have low bulk density and high physical water absorption capabilities due to which these products have wide applications across various sectors including construction, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and insulation materials.
Calcium silicate-based cement is also used in the field of dentistry for performing endodontic surgeries and calcium silicate boards are utilized for decorative applications and heat isolation purposes in the field of construction.
Get sample copy of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4161
Calcium silicate is also used in the manufacture of calcium silicate boards and panels, that are fireproof, water proof, and compliant with sound absorption and heat isolation features. These boards are extensively used for building external and internal walls and ceilings, partitions, and as underlay boards for floor and wall tiles. Calcium silicate boards are made from a combination of fine silica, Portland cement, and special cellulose fibers and are used for imparting durability, toughness, fire and moisture resistance.
Company Profiles in the Calcium Silicate Market:
1. American Elements
2. Thermal Ceramics
3. Industrial Insulation Group
4. Skamol
5. Promat
6. Chaitanya Chemicals
7. Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing
8. Mil-Spec Industries
9. Pyrotek
10. ZIRCAR CERAMICS
Owing to rapid industrialization worldwide, there has been a surge in construction of chemical manufacturing facilities and refineries which has reinforced calcium silicate market outlook from insulating applications. Calcium silicate insulation is suited for high-temperature equipment and pipe infrastructures, such as in an oil refinery or at steam electric power generation plants.
The substance boasts of extreme robustness and is non-combustible, boosting its adoption across a wide range of industrial units. Consistent rise in global economy and incessant demand for chemicals, petroleum products and electricity will fuel calcium silicate industry size.
Get this report Customized to your requirements @ https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4161
Reportedly, the population in Saudi Arabia is estimated to surpass 36.84 million by 2025, a nearly 5 million increase over 2015 numbers, suggesting tremendous demand for calcium silicate from pharmaceutical and food & beverage applications over the projected timeframe. Steady expansion of retail sector in the region will facilitate the growth of local and global food & beverage sectors, strengthening the demand for calcium silicate market for food additives.
Some of the companies mentioned in the report include Mil-Spec Industries, Chaitanya Chemicals, Thermal Ceramics, American Elements, Industrial Insulation Group, Pyrotek and Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing. Players can be expected to seek mergers and joint venture agreements to expand global reach and enhance their product portfolio.
Browse More News:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flow-chemistry-market-value-to-hit-2-5-billion-by-2026-global-market-insights-inc-300961694.html
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/04/01/2010390/0/en/Titanium-Dioxide-Market-is-slated-to-surpass-27-billion-by-2026-Says-Global-Market-Insights-Inc.html
Korea's exports in the first 20 days of this month declined 7.5 percent on-year to reach US$25 billion, the Korea Customs Service said Monday. That contrasts with a 20.3 percent decline in the first 20 days of May.
Average daily exports fell 16.2 percent on-year factoring in the difference in weekdays this month. There were 16 working days during the first 20 days of June this year but only 14.5 in June 2019.
Exports of semiconductors even grew 2.6 percent, ships 35.5 percent, and mobile communication equipment 10.9 percent, but shipments of cars plunged 36.7 percent and petroleum products 40.9 percent.
Exports to China rose 14.5 percent and to Singapore 16.7 percent, but to the U.S. they fell 10 percent, the EU 13.9 percent, Vietnam eight percent, Japan 16 percent and the Middle East 19 percent.
Meanwhile, imports in the first 20 days of this month declined 12 percent on-year to $24.5 billion.
The surge of coronavirus infection is accelerating in Jefferson County, which set a seven-day record for new cases nearly every day over the past week.
During the stretch that ended Monday, 176 new cases were confirmed across the county. That is 69% higher than during the seven-day period that ended April 25, the previous local peak before the mid-June surge. Hospitalizations have continued to rise as well.
Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie, a frequent critic of state efforts to reopen restaurants and other businesses while constricting local officials authority to enforce safe practices, described an I-told-you-so moment.
In May when we were opening back up I said, At the end of June were going to be in bad shape said Bartie, whose city has recorded 130 cases while struggling to add testing sites.
Now here we are.
Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick and Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames did not respond to requests for comment Monday afternoon.
More Information At a glance Confirmed coronavirus Jefferson County cases: Beaumont714 LeBlanc Prison Unit241 Larry Gist State Jail237 Port Arthur130 Mark W. Stiles Prison Unit42 Nederland31 Groves25 Port Neches17 China6 Cheek2 Nome4 Hamshire2 Fannett1 Source: asdfgh See More Collapse
Related: What they dont tell you about surviving COVID-19
Sounding the alarm was Gov. Greg Abbott, who in May ordered a phased-in reopening of the businesses that had been shuttered for two months in an attempt to control the outbreak.
In a news conference Monday afternoon, Abbott issued his strongest warning since the reopening began. He did not rule out shutting the state down again, though he called it always the last option.
The governor reiterated the importance of washing ones hands, wearing a face covering in public places and exercising proper social distancing in his public comments.
Officials also stressed that Texas hospitals have adequate capacity to treat coronavirus patients.
Locally, the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council reports that while coronavirus-related hospitalizations in Jefferson County continue to rise, bed capacity here can more than handle the current surge.
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Mondays coronavirus case report showed the city of Beaumont topped 700 cases after confirming 16 new cases on Saturday, 14 on Sunday and 22 on Monday.
Port Arthur confirmed an additional 11 cases on Monday, while a total of seven were confirmed across Port Neches, Nederland and Groves.
This brings Jefferson County to 932 confirmed cases. Three Texas Department of Criminal Justice units in the county have reported an additional 520 cases. The county also has a federal prison.
While cases across the state have continued to rise, Abbott has noted that local leaders have a few additional tools to curb transmission, such as requiring local businesses to require customers and staff members to wear masks.
Harris County, which includes Houston, put that rule into effect on Monday.
Related: COVID-19 scares close 2 restaurants in Beaumont, 1 in Nederland
No leaders in Jefferson County have issued such an order.
Bartie said Monday that he does not think it would do much without leadership from officials higher-up than him.
Bartie also said the governor took the teeth out of his own enforcement plans at restaurants and other businesses by prohibiting arrests for violators.
I understand people have to take responsibility for themselves, but we need to see leadership, too, Bartie said.
Meanwhile, opportunities to be tested for the virus run by the state, local authorities and some nonprofits continue to expand across Beaumont and Port Arthur.
The Texas Department of Emergency Management has a tool on its webpage for more information about available testing sites that is updated as more are established. That information can be found at tdem.texas.gov/covid-19.
kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com
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New Delhi: Amid increasing tension between India and China following clashes in the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India Army Chief General MM Naravane's visit to Ladakh holds a great significance.
In case of a war between India and China, experts believe that the Indian Army is likely to give a befitting reply to the Chinese troops. A report by Howard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, published in March 2020, explains that Indian forces in the Himalayan range can defeat China's army and may prove the assessment of experts wrong that India lags behind China in the military strength.
A comparison of the troops of China and India shows that China has deployed a total of 200,00-230,000 ground forces under the Western Theater Command, Tibet, and Xinjiang Military districts. This apparent numerical near-equivalence with that of Indian regional ground forces is misleading. Experts say that a significant proportion of these forces will be unavailable, as they reserved either for Russian taskings or for countering insurrection in Xinjiang and Tibet.
The majority of forces are located further from the Indian border, posing a striking contrast with the majority of forward-deployed Indian forces with a single China defense mission.
The Indian Army divides its ground and air strike forces facing China into Northern, Central, and Eastern Commands. The Air Force is organized into Western, Central, and Eastern Air Commands. The total available Army strike forces near Chinas border areas are assessed to be around 225,000 personnel.
This incorporates the roughly 3,000 personnel attached to a T-72 tank brigade stationed in Ladakh and the estimated 1,000 personnel attached to a BrahMos cruise missile regiment in Arunachal Pradesh. For the Army, the total deployment near Chinas border areas is divided as; about 34,000 troops in the Northern Command; 15,500 troops in the Central Command; and 175,500 troops in the Eastern Command
The report published on Strategic posture of China and India states that the Western Air Force Command of the Chinese Air Force, PLA Air Force (PLAAF), which has operational control of fighter jets, close to the Indian border also suffers from a numerical disparity to the IAF. Unlike the tripartite organizational division of Chinese ground forces facing India, the Western Theater Command has assumed control of all regional strike aircraft. In total, this amounts to around 157 fighters and a varied drone armory.
The Indian Air Force has an estimated 270 fighters and 68 ground attack aircraft across its three China-facing commands. It is also expanding its network of Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs), which constitute small air bases in the forward locations to provide staging grounds and logistics hubs for aircraft strike missions.
In the Western Air Command, the IAF possesses around 75 fighters and 34 ground attack aircraft, besides 5 ALGs close to Chinese Tibetan areas. The Central Air Command features around 94 fighters, 34 ground attack aircraft, and one ALG. The Eastern Air Command hosts around 101 fighters and 9 ALGs. The Eastern Air Command, which is deployed only to deal with China, alone has 101 fighter aircraft.
A comparison of the Air force of both countries suggests that Chinas J-10 fighter is technically comparable to Indias Mirage-2000, while Indian Su-30MKI is superior to all theater Chinese fighters, including the additional J-11 and Su-27 models. China hosts a total of around 101 4th-generation fighters in the theater, of which a proportion must be retained for Russian defense, while India has around 122 of its comparable models, solely directed at China.
China, however, is ahead of India in terms of aerial drones. It has deployed over 50 drones against India which are capable of electronic surveillance ranging from reconnaissance to ground attack.
The most significant PLAAF forward air bases and airfields near Indian border areaswhich will be pivotal in combat operationsare located at Hotan, Lhasa/Gonggar, Ngari-Gunsa, and Xigaze. Each hosts regular PLAAF detachments, and these are the nearest facilities to Indian targets in Kashmir, northern India, and northeast India. They are vulnerable to a dedicated Indian offensive. Ngari-Gunsa and Xigaze reportedly have no hardened shelters or blast pens for their aircraft, which sit in the open. Lhasa/Gonggar has recently developed hardened shelters able to protect up to 36 aircraft, while Hotan reportedly hosts two aircraft shelters of unknown capacity.
According to the report, an Indian early initiative to destroy or incapacitate these four basesand achieve air superiority over themwould compel China to rely more upon aircraft from its rear-area bases, exacerbating its limited fuel and payload problems. Moreover, China lacks the redundancy and related force survivability compared to India in their comparative numbers of regional airbases.
The report sums up that India has a stronger regional air position, with a large number of airfields in the east and west, so even if some airfields are down, operations can continue from other locations.
To address its force shortfalls in the event of war, China could surge air and ground forces from its interior towards the border. However, experts suggest that the IAFs superiority would mean that critical logistical routessuch as airbases and military road and rail linkscould be cut by bombing or standoff missile strikes, limiting the extent to which Chinas position could be reinforced
The report further adds that 104 Chinese missiles could strike all or parts of India. These include about a dozen DF-31A and six to twelve DF-31 missiles capable of reaching all Indian mainland targets. Another dozen DF-21s hold New Delhi at risk, while the remaining missiles can target sections of Indias northeast and east coast. As China deploys more road-mobile missiles over time, it will become easier to move further missiles from Chinas interior to new survivable positions within the range of India.
On the other hand, the bulk of Indias missile forces are located closer to Pakistan than China. Ten Agni-III launchers can reach the entire Chinese mainland. Another eight Agni-II launchers could reach central Chinese targets. An estimated two squadrons of Jaguar IS and one squadron of Mirage 2000H fighters, totaling around 51 aircraft, are assessed to be tasked with nuclear missions. These aircraft could most likely reach Tibetan airspace equipped with nuclear gravity bombs.
Indias professed goal has always been to field a credible second-strike capability. This assured retaliation doctrine depends on the creation of sufficient doubt in the adversarys calculus that a disarming the first strike would succeed, the report added.
On the most recent episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick spoke with Luis Cortes-Romero, an attorney who was part of the team that prevailed in last weeks ruling on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The decision had particular resonance for Cortes-Romero, who is also a DACA recipient himself. Cortes-Romero shared what it was like becoming a lawyer under DACA, how he got involved in the case, and what it means to him. You can read a portion of their conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, below.
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Dahlia Lithwick: I know youve told it a thousand times, but can you start with your own story?
Luis Cortes-Romero: I was born in Mexico, and I was brought to the United States when I was about 1. I knew from a really early age that I was not born here, but I never really understood what that meant. My whole life has been a series of events of trying to figure out what it means by its limitations and complications, from not being able to get a drivers license in California until, eventually, when I went to college. As someone without legal status, [I] cant get financial aid. So we had to pay all of it out of pocket. It was in my first year of law school when I read an article in the L.A. Times about another undocumented law student who was unable to take the bar because of his status. And I had not thought about it before then. My first year of law school was very difficult. Its a lot of work to then not get to practice law.
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I called my mom, and I said, I think, come Thanksgiving break, Im going to pack up my stuff. Im going to head back to California, and then I dont think Im coming back. And Ill figure out something else to do. And she gave me the most stern talking-to I think Ive ever had. And she ultimately said, Its hard for people like us to make it in those spaces. And regardless of whether you get to practice law, they cant unteach you what theyve taught you. You go in there, and you study, and youll finish, and then well figure the rest of it out later.
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I was sobbing in my car because I really wanted to go home. I toughed it out, and my law school career was really me trying to make the most out of trying to be a lawyer. It was in the summer of 2012, right when I was going to go into my third year of law school, that DACA was announced. And it seemed the timing could not have been better. I was very cautiously optimistic about what it was, because the ask was, Give us all your information, all of your background, come into the ICE office. And if you give us all that information, we promise that well let you stay and give you this temporary permit.
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It seemed a bit too good to be true. I was like, Ill wait and see what happens. I started to see other people starting to get their DACA protections and a work permit, and some of the basic building blocks that we need to participate in our society. So I applied. I went into the office, very nervously, gave them all my information. And a few months later I was approved. And I know that DACA itself is a temporary protection, but I think its oftentimes overlooked the profound, permanent change that it does to the soul. I didnt know how heavy that sword of Damocles was of the threat of deportation until I didnt have it anymore. And it changed me forever.
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I think theres a story we like to tell where we say this all starts with Donald Trump. But you grew up in the shadow of deportation threats. Your dad was deported.
Oh, absolutely. And DACA was really a response to that fear. One of the things that President Obama ran on in 2008 was this protection of immigrants. But what we saw by 2012 is that he was on pace to deport more people than any other president in historyhe reached those numbers. In the immigrants rights movement, the direction kind of veered off a little bit from lets try to get legal permanent residency and citizenship for as many people as we can to lets stop deportations of young people, because young people are being deported en masse. DACA was not a gift from Obama; it was a political concession during an election year, 2012. And so it was very, very important to protect DACA, because it provided us the safeguard that we had lived under for so, so long.
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It sounds to me as though throughout law school you were thinking about doing immigration. And then one of the first things you did led you to DACA. Can you talk about that path?
This is my favorite story. It was February 2017, President Trump had just been inaugurated, and we were all nervous about what that was going to mean on all fronts, but particularly the immigrant front. And so there was a young man, Daniel Ramirez, who got picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And we get a call from his brother, very panicked, on a Friday afternoon. He said, ICE picked up my brother. He has DACA. He told them he has DACA, and they still took him. He was detained at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, [Washington,] one of the largest for-profit detention centers in the U.S.
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I went to go see him because I immediately imagined what Daniel must have felt like as a DACA recipient, knowing that you thought you were protected and then you werent. His story didnt make any sense: They were there for somebody else, and they saw Daniel, and they just picked him up. Later they tried to accuse them of being a gang member. Daniel would be the worst gang member in the world. Hes such a sensitive soul. I started asking around to see if maybe this was the new normal.
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This is on Friday. I then got contacted by Mark Rosenbaum, who was with the ACLU for 40 years. He says, I heard about your client Daniels case, and I want to help if its possible. Sunday, he calls me and he goes, I am here in Seattle. I flew up here. And would you mind if we meet with Daniel? I pick them up at the airport. We head down to the detention center. We meet with Daniel. Were leaving the detention center, and Mark says, Lets go to your office and lets meet for a little bit. We get to my office, and its there where I meet Ethan Dettmer, a partner at Gibson Dunn. So us three, we start meeting in my conference room about: What is DACA, really? What are its legal contours? What are its jurisdictional provisions? And we start getting into the real nitty-gritty of what DACA is and it isnt.
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We cant wrap our brains around it. Mark says, I know who we can call, and he puts his phone on speaker phone, he calls somebody, and he starts asking about constitutional provisions, and I hear the voice. And I recognize it immediately, almost from like a post-traumatic stress disorder from the bar prep, because it was [UC Berkeley School of Law] dean Erwin Chemerinsky on the phone. And I was star-struck. Then Mark called professor Leah Litman. And then he had called professor Laurence Tribe. We were trying to all figure this out together, and this Sunday is moving now a lot faster than I thought it would.
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Later that night, Mark calls me, and he says, I think we figured it out. Lets jump on a phone call all together. And we have to draft this right away and file it by tomorrow, Monday. And I laughed, because I thought he might have been kidding [about] drafting all night. But no, we had got a team together, and together, overnight, we drafted a complaint about the protections of DACA.
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So when DACA was terminated, we saw that the state of California filed a lawsuit, but we wanted to make sure that we filed a lawsuit that told the stories of the DACA recipients. We already had a great team to begin with. So we decided, OK, lets stick together. We were doing it with Daniels case. Now were going to take this on a more national scale. And thats how it all started.
You said something that becomes in a weird way the spine of John Roberts opinion, which is theres this reliance interest, that a lot of people changed their lives in reliance on DACA.
I think thats exactly right. And one of the things that was important to us was that it wasnt just the DACA recipients that relied on it. It was the entire community that relied on itthe teachers and their students, the doctors and their patients, the lawyers and their clients. Were talking about millions of people here who relied on the governments promise. And in order to shift sharply that policy, there needs to be much more consideration than just an overnight change of heart. Thats why it was so important to tell the stories of what DACA recipients are contributing to our community, because it becomes a fabric of what makes America work. Im so glad that Chief Justice Roberts saw that, because that was really the message that we were trying to get across.
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This is not just telling your story. This is making yourself visible as also subject to deportation yourself. This is not what ordinary lawyers subject themselves to.
I would be lying if I said that I wasnt scared. What it came down to is doing it anyway. I know that theres a lot of people before me who risked themselves to get DACA protections. Theres a lot of people who were deported over it. And I knew that I was in a position of immense privilege of not just having DACA but being a lawyer. When I was going through law school, I didnt know any other DACA recipients. I didnt know any other undocumented lawyers. And I feel so lucky to get to do this. I knew that I couldnt let that go to waste. I had talked about it with the rest of our legal team, our colleagues, about what this would mean. And we knew that this was important.
To hear the rest of their conversation as well as a discussion with Pam Karlan about the LGBTQ employment rights case also decided last week, listen below, or subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
George Washington
New York: George Washington, the first president of US, statue near the entrance of Druid Hill Park was vandalised overnight with red paint, Black Lives Matter markings and anti-police statements.
The vandalism comes amid calls to remove similar statues of prominent slave owners across the country.
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George Washington In addition to red paint covering the bust of Washington, the words "Destroy Racists" were also spray painted on the pedestal of the monument.
According to Baltimore Police, the department hasn't received any "calls for vandalism yet" in the park. Spray cans and a bottle of red paint were a dumped below the monument.
An international team of researchers has studied the role of the changing climate in ancient events that caused political unrest. Joe Manning of Yale, along with the team members, analyzed historical accounts and climate proxy records to determine the effect of global climactic changes to the momentous political events throughout the history of western civilization.
The researchers used environmental history's natural preservers like ice cores to uncover significant evidence related to the volcanic eruption of Alaska's Okmok in 43 BCE. They have determined that the explosion has caused drastic global climactic transitions that are strongly linked to social and political unrest that altered the course of history.
The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on June 22.
In 44 B.C.E., Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March, which resulted in a 17-year power struggle. The political challenges of this time eventually led to the rise of the Roman Empire.
On the other hand, in Egypt, Cleopatra was trying to regain the state's foothold as a superpower in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, the country was ravaged by several catastrophes such as the Nile flood, plagues, famine, and diseases.
Based on the analysis of volcanic fallout records in six Arctic ice cores, the team discovered that the most massive volcanic eruption of the past 2,500 years in the Northern Hemisphere happened in early 43 BCE. The team found that the geochemistry of rock fragments and particles called tephra, which has been ejected by a volcanic eruption, originated from the Alaskan volcano, Okmok.
Around 43 and 42 BCE were among the coldest years in the Northern Hemisphere during the recent millennia. Climate proxy records show that these happened at the beginning of one of the coldest decades ever documented.
In addition, research shows that a volcanic eruption in a high-latitude location like Okmok in Alaska resulted in drastic changes, particularly in hydroclimate, and colder seasonal temperatures within two years, post-eruption in Mediterranean regions.
The researchers cross-analyzed their scientific results with archaeological and historical materials from this period, which portrayed eccentric climate, crop failures, diseases, famine, and social and political unrest in the Mediterranean post-eruption.
This suggests that climactic shocks and changes due to a volcanic eruption made even the most potent and highly-civilized ancient states to become extremely vulnerable. Despite being located on the other side of the earth, these sophisticated states were also susceptible to the impact of climate change.
The reign of Cleopatra during the decade of the 40s BCE was marked by famine and food insecurity. These events took place when the Nile River failed to flood. The limited rain in the region was not sufficient for agriculture to survive since the Egyptians depended heavily on the Nile River flood to water their plants and crops.
Joe Manning has determined that the annual Nile River flood did not occur in 43 BCE and 42 BCE, and the researchers concluded that the Alaskan volcanic eruption had severely impacted not just the Nile watershed but also significantly altered the climate during this era.
Spains Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo said on Tuesday that the government could reimpose emergency measures in all or parts of the country if there are any coronavirus outbreaks that spiral out of control.
If there is ever a time when we have a serious situation, the government could easily decree a state of alarm in part of the territory, if not in all of it, she said in an interview on Spanish television channel Antena 3. Hopefully we wont have to do that. But we are categorical about protecting health. If the moment comes, the government will show responsibility.
But soon after, government spokesperson Maria Jesus Montero insisted that there are no short- or mid-term plans to reintroduce a state of alarm in Spain again.
Government spokesperson and finance minister Maria Jesus Montero at a news conference on Tuesday. EUROPA PRESS/E. Parra. POOL - Eu (Europa Press)
Spain has been experiencing several local outbreaks that are reported to be in check. If new spikes should spiral out of control in any part of the country, existing legislation enables limits on mobility for very reduced groups and in very reduced areas, added Montero.
However, restriction of movement in very large areas would require the government to declare another state of alarm. There is no substitute, said Montero. That kind of limitation of a fundamental right cannot be done with ordinary legislation.
The statements come after Germany reintroduced local confinement measures in areas that recently experienced coronavirus outbreaks, including one in a meatpacking plant.
There are going to be outbreaks. Whats important is that we control them as fast as possible Deputy PM Carmen Calvo
The 1981 law that regulates the state of alarm, which is the lowest of three emergency states under Spains legal system, allows the government to declare the emergency measure in all or in part of the national territory in situations like the current health crisis. When a region or part of a region is solely affected by a crisis, a regional premier can ask the central government to declare a state of alarm. The emergency measure must be then passed by the Spanish Cabinet, which determines its territorial scope. The state of alarm is introduced for 15 days, after which point Spains lower house, the Congress of Deputies, must approve its extension.
In mid-March, the Spanish government declared a state of alarm in a bid to curb the coronavirus pandemic, and secured congressional support for several extensions. The emergency measure officially came to an end on Sunday, June 21, coinciding with the reopening of the countrys borders with all European Union and Schengen-area countries. The state of alarm is the only law that allows authorities to restrict citizens freedom of movement, which is key to controlling the spread of the coronavirus.
Calvo said on Tuesday that the active coronavirus outbreaks in Spain are controlled, and that the country is in within an expected situation. I have to say that there are going to be outbreaks. Whats important is that we control them as fast as possible and that everyone with symptoms reacts quickly going to medical centers. Speed is whats important, she said.
The deputy prime minister added that the government acted swiftly and decisively as soon as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. We went for the toughest measure, which was confinement, and we said that it was this way because there was no other.
PP requirements
The leader of the main opposition Popular Party (PP), Pablo Casado, said on Tuesday that he is willing to support the governments new normality decree, which will be subject a congressional vote on Thursday, if certain conditions are met.
The PP wants to create a national agency to coordinate Spains healthcare which is currently devolved to the regions as well as a specific unit for the prevention and monitoring of pandemics. Other requirements include more primary healthcare personnel, creating a unit of healthcare professionals ready for action in any part of the country requiring immediate medical support, and a follow-up plan for Covid-19 survivors.
The Spanish conservatives also want an action plan for patients with other conditions whose treatment has been delayed due to Covid-19, and greater support for online remote medical appointments to avoid burdening the hospitals.
New outbreak in Catalonia
The Catalan health department on Tuesday recorded an outbreak of the coronavirus at a senior care home in Lleida. According to the department, 18 people 13 residents and five workers have tested positive for Covid-19, after PCR tests were carried out on all staff and residents at the center.
The news comes after Spanish health official Fernando Simon reported on Monday that 12 coronavirus outbreaks remain active. In the region of Aragon, nearly 68,000 residents of three comarcas administrative divisions smaller than a province are back in Phase 2 of Spains deescalation plan due to fresh outbreaks of the coronavirus.
With reporting by Natalia Junquera and Carlos E. Cue.
English version by Melissa Kitson.
MetaMetrics, developer of the Lexile Framework for Reading, today announced a new partnership with Beable, the new multi-dimensional system that connects literacy to life-readiness and closes the literacy and the opportunity gap. The partnership with MetaMetrics enables districts to use a computer-adaptive placement assessment as the basis for a customized instructional plan for each student.
Beable is a first-of-its-kind system that combines social-emotional growth with literacy acceleration in core content areas, career exposure and ACT/SAT prep. By doing so, Beable takes a giant step forward to close the literacy and opportunity gap.
Within Beable, the Lexile reading measure is administered in both English and Spanish to supports learning recommendations for each student that are unique to that child. The Lexile-linked assessment is among several the Beable system uses, including a RIASEC career aptitude test and a survey of students hobbies and interests, to enable uniquely tailored paths for each student based on academic, career and personal goals.
Beable brings a new level of literacy and life-ready success to K-12 students and educators, leveraging next-generation technology to deliver multi-dimensional solutions based on the whole child.
We have worked together with Saki Dodelson and her team for more than a decade to improve literacy for millions of students, said Malbert Smith, CEO, president and co-founder of MetaMetrics. We look forward to collaborating with the Beable team to continue Sakis quest to provide a multi-dimensional approach to improving literacy, closing the gap and enabling life-readiness for the whole child.
Our long history with MetaMetrics affirms they are the gold standard for their adaptive reading assessments, said Saki Dodelson, founder and CEO of Beable. We are continuing to work with the MetaMetrics team to further innovate and expand our offerings to help millions of kids improve their lives.
The full Beable Life-Ready Literacy System is available for the 2020/21 school year for middle school and high school, followed closely by its elementary school offering. A special Summer FastStart remote learning program is available to help districts identify and bridge student gaps. Learn more about Beable and request a product demonstration here.
About MetaMetrics
MetaMetrics is an award-winning education technology organization that offers the only scientifically valid, universal scales for measuring reading (Lexile) and math (Quantile) with future plans to develop measures for listening, oral reading fluency and writing. The Lexile and Quantile Frameworks measure student ability and the complexity of the content they encounter. Lexile and Quantile measures and related technologies link assessment to instruction and provide next steps for students of all ages and abilities. The measures also provide valuable insights about students potential for growth. MetaMetrics measures, products and services are licensed to dozens of education product companies to help achieve that growth. For 35 years, MetaMetrics work has been increasingly recognized for its research-based approach to improving learning. For more information, visit metametricsinc.com.
About Beable
Beable is a woman-owned public-benefit corporation launched by ed-tech visionary Saki Dodelson and the founders of Achieve3000, which pioneered online differentiated learning, helping millions of kids improve their lives by increasing their Lexile levels. Now, with Beable, Dodelson and her team are pursuing an even more ambitious and essential mission: to enable lifelong success for all learners regardless of their starting points. Beable delivers on its charter by providing K-12s first Life-Ready Literacy System, a revolutionary, multi-dimensional system that intertwines social-emotional growth with literacy acceleration in core content areas, career exposure, ACT/SAT prep and credit recovery. Powered by the proprietary BeableIQ engine, which combines data science, automation, artificial intelligence and virtually unlimited scalability, Beable is a system and approach created especially for the educational challenges of 2020 and beyond. Learn more about Beable here.
The decision of the Constitutional Court may have an impact on the case instituted against second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan. This is what Kocharyans attorney Hayk Alumyan told reporters today.
Yesterday the Constitutional Court decided to start examining Robert Kocharyans application regarding constitutionality of Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code. The court of general jurisdiction had submitted a similar application in the past, and both applications are part of the same proceedings.
Yesterday the National Assembly of Armenia passed a bill on constitutional amendments that envisage changes in the composition of the Constitutional Court, resignations of several judges and change of the president.
Alumyan stressed that the authorities are doing everything possible to makes sure the Constitutional Court doesnt exist as such before the decision on the case of Kocharyan is rendered. Nobody knows if this will work out, but the authorities are doing everything they can to make it happen. I wouldnt like to present scenarios since there is simply no time, but everyone knows that the purpose of these encroachments against state institutions is to subject one person to liability, Alumyan said.
A terror suspect watchlist has doubled in size from last year but expert estimates and new figures suggest far-right extremists are just a tiny part of the problem.
Britain's top anti-terror officer Neil Basu has repeatedly said that right-wing extremism poses the fastest growing terror threat to the UK.
But while MI5's watchlist has doubled to 43,000 this year, experts say nine-tenths of these are jihadis.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has vowed to deport foreign criminals who abuse the hospitality of the UK
New separate statistics from the Home Office on terrorists in custody, also show that of 238 people held for terrorism in Great Britain, 183 were Islamist extremists while just 44 were far-right. It is an increase of just 11 people from the same period last year.
They include a 17-year-old schoolboy jailed in January after a manifesto listing 'Areas to Attack' was found in his room.
The numbers came a day after senior military and intelligence expert Colonel Richard Kemp told the MailOnline he believed the focus on far-right terror was a 'false emphasis'.
Both sets of figures emerged in the aftermath of the Reading terror attack, which killed three people and saw another trio seriously hurt.
Top counter-terror officer Neil Basu has said far-right extremism is his biggest growing problem
Richard Walton, former head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, told the Telegraph the watchlist number was too big.
He said: "It is a ridiculously high number.
'The bigger question is why are there 40,000 people who think it is acceptable to consider murdering people. It tells you the scale of the problem.
'Nine-tenths of the people on that list are Islamist extremists.'
Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday promised new laws to remove foreign criminals from Britain, declaring anyone who "abuses our hospitality" would be deported.
She said she would accelerate legislation on foreign offenders by making it easier to remove them, following the terror attack in Reading.
Schoolboy convicted of being Nazi terrorist A teenage neo-Nazi terrorist was locked up from six years and eight months after he identified possible targets in his home city. The boy, 17, drafted his own manifesto which listed 'Areas to Attack' in Durham such as schools, pubs and council buildings. He also wrote of planning to conduct an arson spree with Molotov cocktails on local synagogues. In November, jurors found him guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between October 2017 and March last year. He was also unanimously found guilty of disseminating a terrorist publication, possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism and three counts of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful to a terrorist. Analysis of his computer devices and mobile phone uncovered numerous internet searches on firearms, explosives and knives. The defendant, who cannot be named, said he had no intention of carrying out any attacks and claimed he adopted a fake right-wing persona for 'shock value'. In the month before his arrest in March, he repeatedly searched for and visited websites related to 'lone wolf' attacks by the likes of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, the Norwegian far-right terrorist Anders Breivik and Columbine High School shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. He had also purchased the manifestos of Breivik and another terrorist, Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber. In journal entries the youth wrote of his admiration for Adolf Hitler - 'a brave man to say the least', Moors murderer Ian Brady - 'how wonderful it is to be an amoral individual' and murderous cult leader Charles Manson. Advertisement
Funding for counter-terrorism policing is also set to increase to 906 million for next year - a rise of 90 million.
The two different sets of figures relating to counter-terrorism have emerged over the past few days.
Home Office figures show as of March 31 this year, there were 238 persons in custody for terrorism-related offences in Great Britain, an increase of 14 compared with the previous year.
A further 18% - 44 people - were categorised as holding far right-wing ideologies with the remaining prisoners (5%) holding beliefs related to other ideologies.
The government's watchlist document from March this year titled Transparency Report: Disruptive Powers 2018/2019, said MI5 was investigating approximately 3,000 subjects of interest (SOIs) across 600 priority investigations.
The document said as soon as MI5 judged an SOI no longer posed a threat, it was downgraded and placed in a "closed" category called Closed Subject of Interest (CSOI).
It went on to say the public figure for the number of CSOIs in 2017 was 20,000, and that there are now currently more than 40,000 CSOIs.
But it admitted although the cases were closed it was possible the subject of them could become dangerous again.
It added: 'This does not mean these SOIs will never pose a threat again, but merely that their current level of threat is not judged to be sufficient to prioritise allocating investigative resource against them.'
It continued to say the public figure for the number of CSOIs in 2017 was 20,000, and that there are now currently more than 40,000 CSOIs.
The report said: "A substantial element of the increase to over 40,000 is the inclusion of individuals who have never travelled to the UK but whose details have been passed to MI5 by foreign intelligence services, in order that MI5 be alerted should they enter t he UK.
"This new figure is not, therefore, directly comparable to the previous 20,000 figure and it does not mean there are now over twice as many CSOIs at risk of re-engagement."
"Nevertheless, by its very nature, the CSOI figure will always increase year on year.
"MI5 is constantly opening new investigations into individuals who come to its attention.'
A Delhi HC bench of Justices Hima Kohli had Subramonium Prasad noted that present per day RAT numbers were 'abysmal' as they were not even reaching 50 per cent of the target of 22,000 tests per day set by the Delhi government.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the AAP government to try and increase the Covid-19 testing methodology, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), in view of rise in coronavirus cases in the national capital.
A bench of Justices Hima Kohli had Subramonium Prasad noted that present per day RAT numbers were "abysmal" as they were not even reaching 50 per cent of the target of 22,000 tests per day set by the Delhi government.
"See if you can expand the Rapid Antigen Testing numbers. Looking at the rate the (Covid-19) numbers are going up, the sooner you do, the better," the bench said.
Delhi government additional standing counsel Satyakam, appearing for the health department, said the RAT methodology was started on June 18 and was in its trial phase.
He said the testing methodology was presently confined to hot spots and containment zones and asked the court to wait for a week after which the RAT numbers would go up.
During the hearing via video conferencing, the high court also suggested that the RAT methodology be permitted in the designated Covid-19 hospitals as well so that testing numbers can be ramped up.
The bench was hearing an application by advocate Sanjeev Sharma who has contended there have been several instances where non-Covid patients needing surgery or emergent procedures are required to undergo testing before that, but hospital concerned is unable to conduct the test as they are not permitted to do so by Delhi government.
In the same matter, the high court had earlier asked the private labs to inform it about difficulties faced by them in carrying out Covid-19 tests.
On June 18, the labs placed before the high court the various difficulties faced by them and it had asked an expert committee, set up by the Lieutenant Governor to advise Delhi Disaster Management Authority, to examine the issues raised and resolve them.
On Monday, the bench directed the Chief Secretary of Delhi government to convene a meeting of the committee to discuss the issues raised by the labs and directed that the panel's recommendations be conveyed to the high court before the next date of hearing on June 26.
Of the several difficulties highlighted by the labs, one was that the process of uploading patient registration data was cumbersome and time and manpower consuming as it has to be uploaded on the RT-PCR app, the Covid app, ICMR portal and the integrated disease surveillance portal linked to the office of the chief minister.
The labs said that all this required engaging several data entry operators so that information can be provided to multiple government agencies on a daily basis, thereby wasting valuable time and diverting their energies from the testing process.
They suggested that the process be simplified and a single point agency be designated for all private labs to furnish the requisite information to be shared with all the other government agencies.
The other difficulties included, duplication in the process of registration of phlebotomists (who collect samples), NABL's insistence on re-accreditation by accredited labs for testing for Covid-19, and that some of the symptoms of coronavirus like loss of smell and taste not being mentioned in the advisory for testing or in the forms that are required to be filled up.
The application by Sharma was filed in the main petition of advocate Rakesh Malhotra who had sought swift testing of Covid-19 cases and declaration of results within 48 hours.
The high court had on May 4 disposed of the petition with a direction to the Delhi government to publish on their websites correct data of tests conducted, number of positive results and pending outcomes.
The application has also alleged that the high court's May 4 direction was not being complied with properly by the Delhi government.
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Quebec Precious Metals Corporation ("QPM" or the "Company") (TSXV:CJC)(OTCQB:CJCFF)(FSE:YXEP) is pleased to announce that it is has resumed exploration activities on its 100%-owned Sakami project in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory of Quebec. The activities include a 7,000 m diamond drilling program in the area of the La Pointe Extension discovery using one drill rig. Drilling can be performed year-round (see press releases of January 14, April 21 and June 18, 2020).
The objective is to expand the La Pointe Extension discovery, which consists of several significant drill hole intersections, including 1.15 g/t Au over 80.1 metres. The recent drilling at the La Pointe Extension discovery indicates a gold mineralized system and significant exploration potential 2 km to the southwest of the La Pointe deposit. The drilling targets are defined by spatially correlated induced polarization ("IP") and gold-arsenic soil geochemical anomalies as well as gold-bearing surface showings along a well-defined mineralized trend.
The activities during June comprise:
an IP survey to expand the known anomalies to the southwest;
capture of down-hole wall imaging data in selected drill holes to assist with the geological interpretation; and
a bathymetry survey near the shoreline of the La Pointe deposit area.
QPM has implemented a rigorous protocol to ensure the protection of all stakeholders in the region and in accordance with the INSPQ and CNESST guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company's protocol has been communicated to and reviewed by the Cree Nation Government. QPM recognizes the excellent cooperation on the part of the Cree authorities to help with exploration programs during this challenging period. The Company concluded its winter program exploration programs on March 25, 2020, to respect the Government of Quebec's decree in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Qualified Persons
Normand Champigny, Eng., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Jean-Sebastien Lavallee (OGQ #773), geologist, Vice-President Exploration, director and shareholder of the Company, both Qualified Persons under NI 43- 101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects, have prepared and approved the technical content of this release.
About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation
QPM is a gold explorer with a large land position in the highly-prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. QPM's flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPM's goal is to find the next gold mine in this territory.
For more information please contact:
Jean-Francois Meilleur
President
Tel.: 514 951-2730
jfmeilleur@qpmcorp.ca
Normand Champigny
Chief Executive Officer
Tel.: 514 979-4746
nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca
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.
SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594797/Quebec-Precious-Metals-Corporation-Resumes-Exploration-on-the-Sakami-Project
Georgia's Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that allows police officers to be prosecuted under the hate crime law.
The move came just days after the state officials stoked the anger of many supporters of the bill.
It was widely criticized by civil rights groups and Democratic politicians after Republicans in the Senate added "status of being or having been a first responder" that removed protections for police from hate crimes legislation.
Senator Bill Cowsert of Athens introduced the changed in the bill.
According to a report by ABC News, first responders were removed as a protected class after lawmakers reached a compromise with the minority party.
The senators also added "sex" as a protected factor in the law.
Calls for the state to impose hate crime laws grew following the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man fatally shot by two White men, while he was jogging in Brunswick in February.
Nationwide protests over police brutality further fueled the calls.
The hate crime legislation or House Bill 426 was passed over a year ago.
Under the bill, suspects may receive additional penalties for crimes motivated by the victim's gender, race, color, or disability.
Dissolving Police Departments
On Friday, the state's House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow residents to vote on whether they want to dissolve county police departments.
If the police department is dissolved, the authority would be given to the county sheriff's offices.
Should the Senate pass the bill, it would fall to Governor Brian Kemp to decide how much power county voters would have, the Fox News reported.
Glynn County has a history of tampering with crime scenes and retaliating against whistleblowers.
In February, the Glynn County Police Department allegedly allowed Arbery's killers, Gregory and Travis McMichael, to go home following the fatal shooting.
According to a report by the New York Times, the officers encountered their former colleague, who allegedly had the victim's blood on his hands, took down his version of events, and then let him and his son walk free.
Later that day, the 25-year-old victim's mother, Wanda Cooper, received a call from investigators, who said her son was involved in a burglary and was killed by the homeowner -- a version the suspects told police.
Glynn County officials never formally charged or arrested anyone in connection with the February 23 shooting.
The case also received very little attention until the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which took over two months after the incident, arrested former investigator, Gregory, and his son, Travis, for murder and aggravated assault.
In mid-May, investigators also arrested William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. on charges of felony murder.
Bryan, who is also White, recorded the encounter between Arbery and the McMichaels.
Activists claimed his video, which garnered the attention of millions online, and proved that Bryan was more than a bystander.
Bryan had been considered a participant before footage of the crime appeared online.
The suspect appeared in the initial police report of the killing, which was based on the statement given by the McMichaels.
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The Trump administration is considering reimposing tariffs on aluminum imports from Canada and an announcement could come by the end of the week, according to people familiar with the matter.
If Canada refuses to impose export restrictions on aluminum, the U.S. will announce Friday the reimposition of 10 per cent tariffs on aluminum from the country and implement the tariffs by July 1, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information isnt public.
That would be just days before the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal enters into force on July 1. U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer has expressed concern about recent struggles by American aluminum producers, which have seen sales drop and all-in prices sink as demand evaporated amid the global pandemic.
Lighthizer told the Senate Finance Committee in a hearing last week that recent surges in metal imports from North American neighbours are of genuine concern to us now, and that his office was looking at the issue.
I would say there have been surges on steel and aluminum, substantially from Canada, some from Mexico, and it is something that were looking at and talking to both Mexico and Canada about, he told the panels top Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley from Iowa.
A spokesman for the USTR didnt immediately respond to an emailed request for comment outside office hours.
Under the May 2019 agreement, which resulted in initial tariffs being lifted, Canada has to limit its retaliation to the U.S. metals sector and cannot hit American agriculture, Lighthizer told Grassley.
Ironically, the only three U.S. aluminum producers Alcoa Corp., Century Aluminum Co. and Magnitude 7 Metals LLC disagree whether tariffs should be reimposed.
The American Primary Aluminum Association, which represents Century Aluminum Co. and Magnitude 7 Metals LLC., has asked Lighthizer to reimpose a 10 per cent tariff on imports of Canadian aluminum, saying a rise in metal coming from the country has caused the price to collapse.
The Aluminum Association of the U.S., which represents Alcoa Corp., Rio Tinto Group and dozens of other aluminum parts makers, argues that imports are virtually unchanged since 2017.
Alcoa CFO William Oplinger said at a virtual bank conference in June that Chinas overcapacity subsidized by the government is the real problem, and that he supports free trade with those who trade freely, especially the Canadians.
[June 23, 2020] Cora And RIS Launch First InkCenters In Belgium And Luxembourg
InkCenter offers superior quality and cost savings while good for the environment CARLSBAD, California, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Retail Inkjet Solutions (RIS) is partnering with Cora to roll out its inkjet cartridge refill service at all Cora retail locations throughout Belgium and Luxembourg (Benelux). Cora customers can now drop off their empty inkjet cartridges at the InkCenter service area to be refilled while they shop saving time, money and the environment. "With the already proven success of the ink refill service at Cora hypermarkets across France, RIS is excited to partner once again with Cora in more countries, especially as eco-friendly products and services are becoming more widely popular within the retail space," said David Lenny, RIS President and CEO. "Our innovative refill technology is designed to be convenient and efficient, while simultaneously reducing single-use plastic. The Cora brand offers a wealth of credibility and like-minded strategic thinking as we work together to bring high-quality ink and print clarity to the public in a much more affordable way. In the current Covid-19 landscape, facilitating lower cost inkjet printing for home offices is more important now than ever for many workers who are practicing social distancing through working from home." Lenny and his team have aspired to expand RIS throughout continental Europe in recent years by working with several major retailers such as Auchan, Boulanger and Media Markt. The addition of Cora Benelux to the RIS InkCenter network is another significant step toward achieving that objective, and RIS is confident that ink cartridge refilling will serve Cora customers well. The RIS InkCenter features a patented, precision refill system that professionally cleans, fills, and tests each cartridge to ensure flawless performance while maximizing cartridge life for refilling the same cartridge multiple times over, at up to 60 percent in cost savings over buying a brand new cartridge each time. Ink cartridges are refilled by a qualified service team member while a customer shops inside any participating store. The InkCenter system will be available at all nine Cora locations in Belgium and Luxembourg from June 2020. "We are delighted to join forces with Cora Benelux to launch this rollout of the InkCenter," said Vincent Hormovitis, RIS Vice President of Sales & Business Development. "The Cora management team is passionate about offering its customers unbeatable added value especially during this world crisis. With the demand for ink increasing as consumers work from home and students learn from home, Cora Benelux is now able to offer the best quality ink cartridge solution to their customers at up to 60% off branded cartridge prices, saving them money and helping the environment." "We are delighted to be able to offer the first Ink Bar in Benelux to our customers" said Stephanie Pohl Weber, non-food director Cora Benelux. "Since the beginning of June, the 9 Cora Benelux stores will offer this new innovative and exclusive service. We always strive to be as close as possible to the reality of our customers. In recent weeks, with the Covid-19 crisis, we have seen sales of ink cartridges explode, up more than 104% in value compared to the same period last year. We are therefore delighted to be able to offer our customers this quality and advantageous alternative from an economic and environmental point of view. " "Every day, our experts passionately select the best assortment at the best price to offer an unrivaled choice and a personalized consumption experience to our customers. We offer 511 different cartridges (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother and TX compatible cartridges) on the shelf or on order. By working our assortment in depth, we aim to make each purchase a unique act" added Henri Devreux, Marketing Director Cora Benelux. "In this context, the association with RIS and the launch of the Ink Bars were obvious to us." About RIS Retail Inkjet Solutions, Inc. (RIS) is the industry leader in retail on-site inkjet cartridge refilling services. The patented RIS InkCenter kiosk is deployed in more than 500 participating retail locations across the United States, Canada, and Europe - including Auchan, Boulanger, CORA, Costco, E.Leclerc, Systeme U, Intermarche, Media Markt, Saturn, Schiever and select University Bookstores. RIS provides customers with unmatched printing quality while delivering incredible savings. RIS was founded in 2004 by former HP engineers with a vision to create a better printing solution for customers at a lower price and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, visit www.Go2RIS.com . About Cora CORA is a hypermarket chain belonging to the Louis Delhaize group. CORA operates 61 hypermarkets in France, 7 in Belgium, 2 in Luxembourg and 11 in Romania. CORA is the first and only retailer offering the InkCenter service in Benelux. For more information on Cora, visit www.cora.be.
Contact Ashley McGinty Telephone 858.753.0233 Email [email protected] Website www.Go2RIS.com
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China said on Monday it reserves the right to respond to a Japanese city's decision to rename the administrative area that includes remote islands claimed by both China and Japan and have long been a source of friction between the neighbours.
The row over the uninhabited East China Sea islets may add to recent tension caused by Japan's criticisms of Beijing's plan to impose a new national security law in Hong Kong.
China has said Japan should not interfere in Beijing's internal affairs.
The disputed islands are known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.
Japanese broadcaster NHK reported earlier that the Ishigaki City assembly in Okinawa, in southern Japan, had passed a bill to change the name of the administrative area covering the islands to Tonoshiro Senkaku from Tonoshiro, from Oct 1.
The bill was "a serious provocation to China's territorial sovereignty, is illegal, invalid, and cannot change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China", the Chinese foreign ministry said.
"China's resolve and determination to protect its territorial sovereignty is unwavering," ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing.
China has lodged a complaint with Japan and reserved the right to take further action, Zhao said.
NHK said the name had been changed to avoid administrative mistakes as another location in Ishigaki City was also called Tonoshiro.
The High Court of Australia ruled early this month that four young men who were tear gassed at Darwins Don Dale youth detention centre in 2014 are entitled to compensation.
The decision overturned Northern Territory Supreme Court rulings that the use of CS gas (commonly referred to as tear gas) on detained youths did not constitute unlawful battery.
While CS gas was banned in war by the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997, it is commonly used to suppress dissent, both in prisons and on the streets. It causes a strong burning sensation in the eyes and on the skin, restricted breathing, and in high doses, severe coughing and vomiting. In some cases, symptoms can persist for months, or result in permanent scarring.
While one of the five judges found that the use of tear gas on children was within the powers of corrections officers, he agreed that the four victims bringing the appeal were entitled to damages.
The High Court also ordered the Northern Territory (NT) government to pay the appellants court costs for all related proceedings over the years since the incident.
The four former inmates were previously awarded damages of between $12,000 and $17,000 for their treatment subsequent to the gassing, but were ordered to pay the governments legal costs, which would have exceeded the compensation they were to be paid.
The young men were sprayed with tear gas while confined in tiny cells inside Don Dales Behavioural Management Unit (BMU) during a violent incident on August 21, 2014. Two of the four boys were playing cards at the time.
The target of the gas was a 14-year-old boy who had slipped out of his cell after 15 days of solitary confinement. The boy had pleaded with guards to be allowed outside, before attempting to beat down another door with a broken light fitting.
An officer from the neighbouring adult prison sprayed ten bursts of tear gas from behind the locked door, filling the cell block with the toxic gas for almost eight minutes. The boys were then handcuffed, hauled outside and washed down with firehoses.
After the incident, the Don Dale centre was relocated to a former adult prison, which had been abandoned because it was riddled with asbestos and only fit for the bulldozer.
The incident was the subject of a 2016 report on the Australian Broadcasting Corporations (ABC) Four Corners program, which exposed the brutal treatment of child detainees at the facility.
In addition to the use of tear gas, the program featured footage of other assaults carried out at Don Dale, including the use of leg shackles and spit hoods that covered a detainees entire head.
In an effort to shut down public outrage over the footage, a federal Royal Commission was hastily ordered into the treatment of detained children in the NT. Such inquiries are customarily employed to suppress dissent and disguise political responsibility.
Authorities at every level of government feigned ignorance of the horrific conditions at Don Dale, but a 2015 report by former NT Childrens Commissioner Dr Howard Bath showed that the use of restraints at the facility had been widely known since at least August 2012.
The Royal Commissions final report, released in March 2018, called for the relocated Don Dale facility to be closed within three months. More than two years later, construction of a new youth detention centre has not begun.
The site for the new facility selected by the NT Labor government is just 300 metres away from the Darwin Correctional Precinct, despite the Royal Commissions specific recommendation that the new centre should not be built near an adult prison.
The chosen site is 30 kilometres from Darwin, and, unlike the present facility, is not accessible by public transport, making family visits impractical and increasing the isolation of the young detainees.
An earlier plan to build the new youth detention centre near the current Don Dale site was scrapped after a developer complained that it would lower the value of a new residential and commercial precinct nearby.
While more than $70 million will be spent on the new facility and renovations to another in Alice Springs, the Labor governments program to divert young people from crime and stop future offending receives less than $2.5 million per year.
The Royal Commission also recommended increasing the age of criminal responsibility to 12, and the minimum age of detention to 14. Australian governments have so far refused to do so, meaning children as young as 10 can still be detained.
Each year, around 600 children under 14 are incarcerated in Australia. More than half are indigenous.
Any suggestion that minor reforms introduced since the Royal Commission have changed the situation for detained youth in the NT has been proven false.
In November 2018, Territory Response Group riot police stormed Don Dale with an armoured vehicle after an alleged riot.
CCTV footage obtained months later by the ABC revealed the aggressive character of the response. Police dressed in military fatigues aimed assault rifles at unarmed children, and tear gas was again deployed.
A relative of one of the detainees told reporters at the time: Were born poor, we die poor. These kids are institutionalised from birth We need industry out there, we need jobs and opportunities for these young kids. We dont need to be locking them away here.
We should be building TAFE centres and things like that so kids can get educated. And what are we doing? Nothing. Because the CLP [Country Liberal Party], the ALP [Australian Labor Party], and every other political party are just the same.
These comments help place the horrific treatment of the NTs detained children in the context of much broader class oppression.
These child prisoners are almost exclusively Aboriginal, the most incarcerated indigenous population in the world. Across Australia, 2.48 percent of Aboriginal people are held in custody, higher even than the 2.3 percent figure for African Americans in the US.
This cannot be explained merely as a matter of racism within the judicial system. The incarceration rate for all Australians has increased rapidly since the mid-1980s, despite a fall in the serious crime rate over the same period.
This coincides with the slashing of jobs, wages, and social services carried out by the Hawke and Keating Labor governments, and the closure of mental health facilities by Labor and Liberal state administrations around the country. Mental illness, drug addiction, unemployment, homelessness, and low levels of education are all disproportionately common among people in custody.
Aboriginal people are among the most oppressed layers in Australian society. Many live in abject poverty, with high unemployment, limited access to health, education, and other basic services.
The response of Labor and Liberal governments over decades has been to target the symptoms of these conditionsaddiction, truancy, family breakdown, and crimes of desperationwith welfare quarantining, criminalisation of alcohol, excessive policing, and mandatory sentencing.
The children currently in detention in the NT are the product of Canberras infamous Northern Territory Intervention, having lived their entire conscious lives since it was introduced by the Howard Coalition government in 2007, and extended by the following Labor government.
Welfare quarantining and mandatory sentencing have since been extended to poor working-class areas throughout the country.
In recent weeks, more than 100,000 Australian workers and young people have defied government and police suppression to protest the 432 Aboriginal deaths in custody since 1991.
Despite the multi-ethnic character of these rallies, organisers have sought to present the issue as solely one of race. The refusal to discuss the class questions at play ultimately serves the ruling elite by dividing the only force capable of bringing about equality and justice for Aboriginal people, the working class.
An ashen-faced Sally Obermeder has revealed she was "understandably shocked" when she learned Ryan Phelan, her Channel Seven co-star, had been charged with allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.
As The Daily Edition went to air on Tuesday afternoon, Obermeder greeted viewers sitting alone at the desk she had shared with Phelan.
The Daily Edition co-presenter Sally Obermeder. Credit:Dave McKelvey
"Before we go on," she told viewers. "I want to take the opportunity to address Ryan Phelan's absence from the program."
"Ryan will not be returning to The Daily Edition due to the serious allegations that have been made against him. Now, the network was unaware of these allegations until notified last night.
Kevin Kavanagh was the head of one of the province's largest companies, but he was also a leader in both education and the arts.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/6/2020 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Kevin Kavanagh was the head of one of the province's largest companies, but he was also a leader in both education and the arts.
Kavanagh, the president and CEO of Great-West Life Assurance from 1979 to 1992, died on June 15. He was 87.
Kevin Kavanagh was the head of one of the province's largest companies, but he was also a leader in both education and the arts. (Ken Gigliotti / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Winnipeg South Centre MP Jim Carr, who is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's special representative to the Prairies, said Kavanagh was "a wonderful man and a close and dear friend.
"This community has lost a great citizen, a gentleman and scholar with intellect, and a gentleman with a great heart." MP Jim Carr
"It is a real loss, not only for those who knew him, but for so many people in the community, and not just Winnipeg and Manitoba... this community has lost a great citizen, a gentleman and scholar with intellect, and a gentleman with a great heart."
Carr said not only were Kavanagh's business and philanthropic accomplishments stellar, but his marriage of almost six decades to Els "was a model for so many about the power of partnership".
In a statement, Premier Brian Pallister said Kavanagh "left an indelible mark on every corner of our province. His vision, leadership and compassion made a positive difference in the lives of countless Manitobans, myself included.
"Kevin was a stimulating conversationalist and a true leader. His stern demeanour belied an unparallelled sense of humour and wit. I join all Manitobans in expressing my condolences to his widow, Els, and to his children, grandsons and many friends who will miss his unwavering friendship and thoughtful guidance."
Kavanagh was born in Brandon and at 17 moved to Winnipeg to go to the University of Manitoba for a commerce degree and to join the Royal Canadian Naval reserve.
After graduating, Kavanagh joined Great-West Life Assurance in 1953 and rose to be appointed president and CEO in 1979, and was a member of the board of directors until 2009.
Kevin Kavanagh (right) served as chancellor of Brandon University from 1996 to 2002. (Supplied)
Kavanagh served as chancellor of Brandon University from 1996 to 2002, and, in the early 2000s, he and his wife were honourary campaign chairs of the BU and You campaign, the university's most successful fundraising initiative up to that time. The university thanked them by awarding them its Apex Award, presented to outstanding fundraisers, as well as naming the Kavanagh Courtyard in their honour.
In a statement, Brandon University president David Docherty said Kavanagh's "contributions and connections with Brandon University extend over decades and are among the most significant in our history.
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"Our sincere condolences go to his family."
Kavanagh also served on numerous boards including the Conference Board of Canada, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Banff Centre for Arts, and he was also the Asper School of Business executive in residence. He was a member of the Roblin Commission on post-secondary education in 1993, which recommended doubling enrolment at the province's community colleges.
Kavanagh was named to the Order of Canada in 2002 for his time as president and CEO at Great-West Life Assurance, but also because "he has given generously of his time and expertise to many community causes, in particular to higher education and the arts."
He was named to the Order of Manitoba in 2009, and received a degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 1990.
Besides his wife Els, Kavanagh is survived by his children, Sean and Jennifer, and two grandsons.
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is calling for the resumption of physical prison visits as a matter of priority.
Visits were suspended on March 27 to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has confirmed they will resume, but has not yet put a timetable on this process.
While five prison staff were reported to have contracted the virus, it did not make its way into the prisoner population.
Mr Flanagan said he is "acutely aware of the supportive role" played by friends and families in the "rehabilitation of prisoners and in their preparation for life in the community after release from prison".
Despite this, Mr Flanagan said "the risk continues and must be managed".
"The Director General has assured me that the Irish Prison Service is committed to reintroducing physical visits as soon as it is safe to do so," Mr Flanagan said.
"The Irish Prison Service has started a detailed assessment of the ability of each prison, within its physical and resources confines, to resume some family visits, with appropriate safeguards in place having regard to the need for infection control.
"While no date has yet been identified and the safety arrangements that will be put in place have yet to be finalised, the Irish Prison Service will provide further information and a date for the gradual recommencement of visits to prisoners and their families in the coming weeks."
IPRT said it is important that restrictions are "safely eased in line with public health advice and in line with the easing of measures in place in other residential settings".
The group said: "Decisions on the reinstatement of visits particularly children's visits must be continuously guided by public health advice rather than security concerns."
"While the Irish Prison Services response to Covid-19 has been successful in keeping prisoners Covid-19-free, it now has the opportunity to extend its use of best practice to the easing of restrictions across the prison estate.
"While many of the measures introduced by the Department of Justice and Equality and the Irish Prison Service in response to Covid-19 were proportionate to the risk posed, IPRT, led by international human rights guidance, believes that these restrictions should be in place for the shortest possible timeframe."
During the suspension of physical visits, a number of "new innovations" including video calls were introduced.
Mr Flanagan hopes to continue these even after the reintroduction of physical visits.
The Eason Sinead and Ricks Must Reads series is back and ready to help you relax and unwind just in time for summer. In the latest installation of the popular book selection, best-selling author Sinead Moriarty, and broadcaster and booklover Rick OShea have chosen eight page-turners with something to suit everyone.
Each season, Sinead and Rick choose four books each that they feel are unmissable for the months ahead. They read, review and recommend their chosen titles and give customers an authentic and honest insight into their experiences of the books.
Rick OShea said; The current situation around the world is giving people time to rediscover their passion for reading and the positives it can bring to their life.
Sinead Moriarty added: The summer Eason Must Reads selection for 2020 showcases the books I havent been able to put down over the last few months.
We Begin at the End Chris Whitaker
This is a beautiful story, set-in small-town America with the most fantastic, kick-ass, unforgettable heroine, 13-year-old Duchess Day Radley. Duchesse has been dealt a very bad hand in life but she is the fierce protector of her little brother Robin and her alcoholic mother. The Chief of Police, Walk, is the closest thing Duchesse has to a parent. Their relationship is complex, yet also full of compassion and love (it very much reminded me of the wonderful friendship between Eleven and Jim Hopper in the Stranger Things TV series).
We Begin at the End is about how hard it is to try and save someone who doesnt want to be saved and how one mistake can ruin so many peoples lives. But most of all, its about the incredible Duchesse, who you will fall in love with, and who is one of the most memorable characters in any book Ive read. This beautifully drawn out story has everything - love, loss, secrets, murder and retribution. It will break your heart, and then stick it back together again.
Hamnet Maggie OFarrell
Maggie OFarrell wrote her latest novel because of a lifelong fascination with the story behind Shakespeares famous play, Hamlet. Set in 1580, this is a fascinating tale which will pull you in from the first page, and interestingly, the main character in this novel is not Shakespeare, but his enchanting wife, Agnes, with whom he falls in love at first sight, and marries after a brief courtship. Their marriage, however, is not straightforward and is put under huge strain, and is made difficult by Shakespeares frequent absence from the family home.
Perhaps unusually, Shakespeares name is never actually mentioned in this story it is Agnes who is the star. The plot follows the devastating grief Agnes, Shakespeare and their daughters suffer when eleven-year old Hamnet dies, a grief which is so profound that it almost rips their family apart. Ultimately, however, the loss of Hamnet inspires the playwright to write one of his most famous dramas, and, in this novel, it is this play that ultimately saves the Shakespeares marriage. This is an extraordinary novel by a very gifted storyteller.
Love after Love Ingrid Persaud
Set in Trinidad, it takes a page or two to get into the swing of the island dialect in this vibrant novel, but once you do, it adds so much colour to the story. Betty is a fierce woman, who has a dark secret, something that she did to protect her beloved son, Solo. But when Solo finds out what Betty did to his alcoholic father; the discovery shatters their once beautiful relationship. The rest of the book is spent with Betty trying everything to re-connect with her precious son who runs away to America.
Ultimately Love After Love is about a mothers unconditional love for her son. Its also about a very unconventional family that you will fall in love with and never forget. I became so invested in the characters in this book and their lives, I could not put this down. I guarantee you will love this tender, heart wrenching book - its an absolute gem!
The Butchers Ruth Gilligan
Set in 1996, this very original story seamlessly moves between the traditions of both ancient and modern Ireland and revolves around the eight male members of The Butchers, who each follow the custom of travelling around Ireland slaughtering the cows of those farmers who still believe in the old ways. One of these butchers is Cuch, father to twelve-year-old Una, who herself has a deep desire to become the first ever female to join the clan. We follow the journey of Unas coming of age and her desperate desire to join The Butchers against the backdrop of Irelands own coming of age as a country.
Taking in ancient curses, secret societies, borderlands, the BSE (Mad Cow) crisis and a broken family, this deeply engrossing and multi-layered novel defies genres, is populated with fascinating characters, and has so many twists and turns its a cracker of a read.
Notes from an Apocalypse- Mark OConnell
To describe Mark OConnells new book as timely is a grand understatement. For him, it all started with the birth of his son, - having a first child made him look more closely at the world that his firstborn might be inheriting, and some of the darker, stranger and more bizarre paths it might take.
His journey takes him as far afield as disaster tourism in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, and then travels to the wilds of New Zealand in search of land being bought by American tech billionaires with a view to it being a good spot to hole up in in the event of the end of the world.
Mars features too, as well as the whole idea of a Planet B (again, for the ultra-rich) as a new Wild West frontier where citizens can make their own laws and live lives that are free. This was brilliant when I read it in January, now in Summer 2020 its even more relevant - an absolute must read.
Our Little Cruelties- Liz Nugent
It is the easiest thing in the world for me to recommend the new Liz Nugent book to you, because it may just be her best one yet. It begins, as all her books do, with an unforgettable opening. Luke, Will and Brian are three brothers, all at a funeral. One of them is in the coffin..
See?
This has everything you have come to love from Lizs writing - toxic families, ruthless sociopaths, unspeakable acts and protagonists that you vehemently dislike. We find ourselves intertwined in their lives as much as they are, desperate to know which twist happens next, and into which circle of their own personal hell one of them will fall (or will be pushed!).In the time of Covid 19, if you are a reader in need of a book to just lose yourself in, then this may just be the perfect one with which to escape from the real world.
How Much of These Hills Is Gold- C Pam Zhang
How Much of These Hills Is Gold is my surprise find of the lockdown and its a beautifully unique book. Lucy and Sam, young children of immigrant parents in 19th century gold rush California, have just suffered the death of their father, leaving them orphaned.
They soon find themselves on the run from the ramshackle mining village where they once lived, leaving them to try to find peace with who they are and with who their parents were, as well as trying to find their place in a hard, unkind world. This is such an elegant, slow burning, and intimately detailed family story. By the time I made it to the end I was boggled at the overall sweep of this tale which is condensed into a relatively short book and was also fascinated by the extraordinary lives of the two main protagonists. This is a one of a kind hidden gem, and I urge you to read it.
Exciting Times- Naoise Dolan
Maybe I should start by telling you that this is the best debut novel by an Irish author in ages?
Eva is an Irish girl in Hong Kong, disillusioned with home and teaching TEFL just to keep herself ticking over when she meets British banker Julian. They have a sort-of-relationship - but strange and unconventional as it is before, it becomes even more complicated when Eva meets and falls for a Hong Konger, Edith, whilst Julian is away on extended business. The ensuing triangle of connections means that Eva has to evaluate what she wants, who she wants and even where she wants to be.
I adored this book for so many reasons. The way the authors thought processes work, the way she sees the world and the gorgeously readable way she expresses all those things.
To check out full reviews , visit www.easons.com/sineadandrick.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday he was assured by the Russian leadership that all ongoing contracts for military supplies will proceed as scheduled and be completed speedily despite the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.
Singhs remarks, made during a media interaction in Moscow, came against the backdrop of reports that India is pushing Russia to speed up the delivery of S-400 missile defence systems following a tense standoff with Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Russia, which accounts for more than 60% of the military hardware used by the Indian armed forces, has called for the easing of tensions between China and India. The tensions spiked after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent face-off at Galwan Valley on June 15.
I have been assured that ongoing contracts will be maintained, and not only will they be maintained, they will be completed quickly and in less time, Singh said, describing his talks with Russian deputy prime minister Yury Borisov as very positive and productive.
All our proposals have received a positive response from the Russian side. I am fully satisfied with my discussions, he said, without giving details about the proposals.
Singh arrived in Russia on Monday the first trip abroad by an Indian leader since foreign travel was restricted four months ago due to the pandemic with a high-level delegation to participate in the Victory Day parade on June 24. He is scheduled to hold several meetings with Russian leaders though no talks are planned with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe, who is in Moscow for the parade.
India plans to seek the advanced delivery of the S-400 missile defence systems, currently due by mid-2021. India and Russia signed a $5.4-billion deal in 2018 for five systems. New Delhi is also expected to ask Moscow to cut delays in supplying spares for key Russian-origin platforms such as tanks, combat jets and helicopters.
New Delhis request could potentially place Moscow in a difficult position due to its relations with Beijing. Its becoming increasingly tricky for Russia to maintain good ties with India and China, Alexander Gabuev, a China expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center, told Bloomberg.
Its a very important test overall of Russias ability to balance its relationships amid growing dependency on China, which is becoming increasingly assertive and pushing its partners to choose sides, Gabuev said.
The sale of the S-400 and more combat jets to India wont spoil relations with China, said Igor Korotchenko, head of the Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. The Indian arms market is a top priority for us, he said. Theres no problem here for our ties with China.
Singh described defence cooperation as one of the important pillars of the India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership and said he and Borisov had reviewed the defence relationship. The traditional friendship between India and Russia remains strong and the mutual interests of the two sides are solid, he added.
On Tuesday morning, defence secretary Ajay Kumar also held talks with his Russian counterpart, deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin.
Pointing to the 75th anniversary of the Victory Day parade, which marks the end of World War 2, Singh said Indian soldiers too participated in the war effort in the millions and suffered immense causalities. Many of them were part of the efforts to assist the Soviet Army. Therefore, it is a great honour that an Indian military contingent will be marching in the Red Square tomorrow. This is a sign of the everlasting friendship between the armed forces of our two countries, he said.
Singh also said India is looking forward to a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year.
On Tuesday, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov also hosted a virtual trilateral meeting with his Chinese and Indian counterparts, Wang Yi and S Jaishankar. Following the meeting, Lavrov said, India and China have every means to solve any problems that arise in their relationshipI dont think India and China need any help.
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Within the next few days Egypt is hoping to have secured the scheduling of a UN Security Council (UNSC) session to discuss the impasse that Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia hit while trying to find a negotiated agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
As Al-Ahram Weekly went to press, sources were suggesting that the meeting could convene as early as Thursday evening.
On Monday Egypt secured a closed session of informal consultations. The spokesman for the UN secretary-general said UNSC members hoped the three countries would reach an amicable agreement.
On 19 June Egypt made good on its declared intention to pursue UNSC intervention to secure a fair and legally binding deal on the dam after the failure of the most recent round of negotiations. In a letter addressed to the current chair of the UNSC, French Permanent Representative Nicolas de Riviere, Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri drew attention to Ethiopias continued intransigence and its desire to fill and operate GERD without any meaningful protections that could minimise the adverse impact of the dam on downstream countries.
Underlining that this is a matter of greatest consequence to Egypt, Shoukri asked the UNSC to urgently consider this matter at the earliest possible opportunity.
An informed Egyptian official said that the UNSC meeting could pressure Addis Ababa to be less intransigent. While no one expects more than non-binding recommendations to emerge at this stage, the session will prompt leading capitals to push towards the completion of the negotiations mediated by the US and the World Bank that by February had produced a draft agreement that Egypt initialed but Ethiopia ignored.
On 22 June Ethiopia sent its own letter to the UNSC deploring the Egyptian appeal for intervention and arguing that no deal could be reached as long as Egypt continued to insist on its historic rights and current use.
During the lengthy negotiations initiated with the signing of the 2015 Declaration of Principles by Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, Cairo and Khartoum have consistently said an agreement over the dam had to take into account existing Nile treaties.
The immediate task, according to one Cairo official, is for the three riparian countries to work in good faith towards a legally binding agreement with clear cut language on the mitigation of droughts and a dispute settlement mechanism.
Cairo is hoping that by placing the issue before the UNSC its leading members will press Ethiopia to negotiate and reach an agreement before it starts filling the dam.
The agreement that Cairo is pursuing, say officials, is based on the deal negotiated by the three riparian countries in Washington earlier this year. The problem is Ethiopia has shown no inclination to sign a legally binding text before it begins to unilaterally fill the dams reservoir next month.
This week, Ethiopian officials again announced they would start filling the dam during the current rainy season, with or without an agreement with Egypt and Sudan.
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew stated unequivocally his government rejected any agreement that would limit its use of Nile water.
This is precisely the point that is blocking a deal: Ethiopia kept saying that it was pursuing a hydrological project but now that GERD is almost built Ethiopia is not talking about power generation but rather about control over the Nile, according to an informed Egyptian official.
Ethiopia has been trying to twist our arm by tabling either unacceptable deals and partial deals on the first filling. We will not allow Ethiopia to do this.
In garnering international support, Egypt has courted the Arab League to press Ethiopia to negotiate a fair and comprehensive legally binding deal that focuses on the filling and operation of GERD without getting into debates over historic rights to, or current use of, Nile water. On Tuesday, Arab League foreign ministers discussed the issue, at the request of Egypt, during a video conference.
Prior to addressing the impasse on GERD Arab foreign ministers had discussed developments on the ground in Libya, also at Egypts request.
The Arab League ministerial meeting came three days after President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi indicated Egypts willingness to pursue military intervention in Libya to stop the advance of Turkish-supported Government of National Accord (GNA) militias in the east of Libya.
While the GNA was battling with the Egyptian-supported Libyan National Army (LNA) around the city of Sirte, 1,000 kilometres from the Egypt-Libya border, Al-Sisi said speaking to Egypts top military brass that the Libyan town represented a red line for Egypt.
For Egypt, Sirte and adjacent Jufra are far too close to Egyptian territory to be allowed to fall into the hands of militias that owe loyalty to Ankara, Cairos regional archenemy.
We cannot turn a blind eye to having jihadi militias that [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan flew over from Syria positioned in Sirte from where they can launch terrorist attacks against Egypt, said an informed source.
The source shrugged off a GNA response that qualified Al-Sisis statement as an attempt by Cairo to prevent the GNA from exercising its control over Libyan territories as unconvincing rhetoric.
The GNA, he said, is not acting as an internationally acknowledged unity government, and it is not the GNA that is controlling Libyan territories, but Erdogan.
According to another Egyptian source, Erdogan is just trying to show off his power on the ground in Sirte.
Well, Egypt is now showing Erdogan it is increasing its combat readiness for a possible head-on intervention in Libya to make sure that Ankara doesnt get its militias to bypass the red line Egypt has defined.
Erdogan will only budge if he knows that he cannot twist our arm. He will now stay away from Sirte because he knows that if Egypt decides to step in it will do so forcefully, added the source.
On Saturday Al-Sisi had said any possible intervention in Libya would be based on a request from the only elected Libyan body, the House of Representatives. On Monday Aguila Saleh, the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, welcomed the willingness of Egypt to support the wish of the Libyan people to free their country from foreign militias. Several Arab Gulf countries also reiterated their support for Egypt and its right to preserve its strategic interests.
Government sources in Cairo say President Al-Sisi has not yet given the go-ahead for any military action and is still giving room for a political settlement, though they added Al-Sisi had conveyed clear messages during a round of phone calls with leaders of countries with direct influence on Libya, including the presidents of the US, Russia and France, the German chancellor and the prime minister of Italy.
Meanwhile, the International Follow-Up Committee on Libya convened on Monday under the co-chairmanship of Hossam Zaki, assistant Arab League secretary-general, and Stephanie Williams, representative of the UN Support Mission in Libya.
According to a statement put out by the meeting, participants expressed their profound alarm at the serious ongoing military escalation around Sirte, and renewed their calls on the GNA and the LNA to de-escalate immediately, cease all hostilities and military movements, and swiftly conclude the ongoing negotiations on the military, political and economic track as specified by the Berlin Conference.
The statement also referred to the request of its participants for all external actors to strictly adhere to their commitments to cease all forms of foreign military intervention in Libya and desist from any destabilising activities in the conflict.
Similarly, the Arab League in its resolution on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire.
For Cairo, Turkey is the main target of the reference to all external actors and if Turkey refuses to take heed of the appeal, there is no reason why Egypt should feel bound.
According to Abdel-Rahman Salah, a former assistant foreign minister, Egypt is too consequential to regional and international peace and security to be overlooked by the international community.
Egypt is at the forefront of the war on terrorism, it protects the maritime routes used by military ships to and from the Arab Gulf and East Asia. Egypt, says Salah, is also a country that has long promoted regional peace and cooperation.
It is inconceivable that the worlds leading powers will allow Egypts security and the welfare of Egyptians to be threatened to a point that prompts Egypt to change course on its long-established policies because if it does everybody, including those leading world powers, will stand to pay a heavy price.
Salah adds that the sooner the worlds leading powers come to realise that Egypt cannot, and will not, allow either Ethiopia or Turkey to twist its arm, the better off everyone will be.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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The number of reported coronavirus cases in India rose 7 percent over the last two days to 440,215, latest data from the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) showed.
The death toll has reached 14,011 after growing 6 percent over the last two days. While the rate of growth of infections is slightly slower than the previous 48 hour period (8 percent), the rate of growth of deaths is slightly faster than earlier (5 percent).
The death count in India has nearly doubled in the last sixteen days. The number of infections is now twice what it was nineteen days ago, and given the rate of growth in this period, could hit the 500,000-mark in four days.
The continuing rise in cases poses a severe challenge for Indias strained medical capacity and overburdened health system .
Over the past few weeks, new infections and deaths have been rising faster in India than in other badly-hit countries. The countrys death toll is now the eighth worst in the world. Among countries with more than 5,000 deaths, India has recorded the biggest spike in deaths and the biggest jump in confirmed cases over the past week.
Maharashtra now has 6,283 deaths, and Delhis toll has risen to 2,233. Gujarat is next on the list with 1,684 deaths, followed by Tamil Nadu (794). At number five are the states of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, with 569 deaths in both. These six states have recorded 87 percent of all covid-related deaths in India so far. Deaths have surged the most in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka in the last seven days.
The case fatality rates vary widely. At 6.1 percent, Gujarat has the worst fatality rate, followed by Maharashtra, where 4.6 percent of those who tested positive for coronavirus have died. Madhya Pradesh is next with 4.3 percent. Indias case fatality rate is 3.2 percent. Among all states and union territories that have had deaths, the case fatality rates are the lowest in Tripura (0.1%), , Goa (0.1%), and Ladakh (0.1%).
It is worth noting that data quality on cases and deaths vary across countries and regions because of factors such as differences in testing standards, and in protocols being followed for recording covid-related deaths.
Maharashtra has 61,807 patients still under treatment, the most in the country, followed by Tamil Nadu with 27,181 active cases and Delhi with 23,820. Gujarat is fourth on the list with 6,231 active cases and Uttar Pradesh fifth with 6,152 cases. Out of the 178,014 active cases in India as of Tuesday morning, the top five states together have 70 percent and the top ten states account for 83 percent. Active cases exclude deaths and recoveries from the list of confirmed cases.
As many as 248,190 patients (56%) have now been discharged in India.
Among the ten states and union territories with most active cases, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh,and Tamil Nadu have seen the highest percentage spike over the past seven days. In Telanganas case, the jump in active cases may simply reflect a reporting effect. Telangana had seen a slowdown in testing earlier. But the number of tests went up 36 percent over the past week after courts intervened in the matter.
Among districts, Chennai, Mumbai, Thane, Hyderabad, and Pune have seen the biggest jump in confirmed cases in the last two days. These five districts account for 42 percent of the new cases over this period, data compiled by howindialives.com last evening shows. Other districts that have seen a sharp spike over the past two days are Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Palghar in Maharashtra, and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu.
View Full Image 397 districts have confirmed covid-19 cases so far
View Full Image Chennai,Mumbai and Thane saw the highest jump number of casses in the last two days
So far, 397 districts have had deaths in the country. Mumbai (3,668 deaths) has reported the most deaths among all districts, followed by Ahmedabad (1,346) in Gujarat, Thane (720), and Pune (640) in Maharashtra, and Chennai (624) in Tamil Nadu. These five districts now account for 61 percent of deaths in the country.
Kolkata (336) in West Bengal, Indore (200) in Madhya Pradesh, Jalgaon (189), Aurangabad (187), and Solapur (186) in Maharashtra, are the other districts with the highest tolls. The top ten districts account for 70 percent of all the deaths nationally. District-wise data for Delhi are unavailable and hence not part of this list.
The number of coronavirus infections is likely to keep increasing in the coming days, as Indias testing numbers continue to grow. According to the Indian Council for Medical Research, over 7.1 million samples have been tested so far, including 187,223 on Monday. Meanwhile, the global coronavirus case count has crossed 9 million, with close to 500,000 deaths, and more than 4.5 million recoveries (50%).
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Germanys interior ministry cracks down on far-right group that operates through social media channels.
Germanys interior ministry has banned neo-Nazi group Nordadler, or Northern Eagle, and conducted police raids in North Rhineland-Westphalia, Saxony, Brandenburg and Lower Saxony.
The group uses social media channels such as Telegram, Instagram and Discord to promote its ideology, attract new members and condone far-right attacks.
Steve Alter, the ministrys spokesman, on Tuesday announced the move against Nordadler on Twitter, saying right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism have no place on the internet.
According to the ministrys assessment, the group follows a Nazi ideology and operates under several names.
Its members pledge themselves to Adolf Hitler and other high-profile Nazis, as well as using symbols and language from the Nazi regime.
They were also planning a Nazi settlement project with like-minded people in rural areas. The group is described as highly anti-Semitic.
Halle attack
Its leader expressed sympathy for last years attack on a synagogue in the German city of Halle in a public group on messaging service Telegram, according to the ministry.
The attack in Halle saw a 28-year-old German man try to force his way into a Jewish place of worship. When he failed, he killed two people on the street and at a kebab shop. He is due to appear in court in July.
Nordadler is the third neo-Nazi group to be banned by the interior ministry this year, coming after crackdowns on Combat 18 as well as United German Peoples and Tribes.
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has declared far-right violence the biggest security threat facing Germany and promised tougher security measures, including a crackdown on online hate speech.
Mondays demonstration felt like a prelude to Tuesdays upcoming injunction hearing in Chancery Court. UTC professor Courtney Cholovich has filed suit against the city, claiming that the city and council did not give enough notice they were voting on an amended budget.
We observed that City Council actually violated what we see as several state and local statues in accordance for how they are supposed to give public notice, said Ms. Cholovich. Yes, the public knows there is a Council meeting every Tuesday, but Mayor Berkes alternate budget was not announced until the day before. It wasnt even announced by City Council they were bringing it on to the agenda. So thats a huge violation, since they arent supposed to be able to take that vote, and that is a state statute under the Sunshine Law.
She outlined how much time the community requires for the Council to vote on the amended budget. Inside this new budget, around $2 million of the $71 million allocated from the police will be put into other places, including the newly-formed Office for Community Resilience.
You have to give your constituency time to look over these proposals and then come back with their opinion of these things, in order to have an educated opinion about them, said Ms. Cholovich. Per city code and state law, City Council is required to give at least 10 days public notice.
After she spoke, Cameron C-Grimey Williams took the microphone, and alluded to the stormy could looming above the Miller Park crowd.
We see who are the warriors, who come out even in the midst of weather concerns, youre still out here with a willingness to fight, he said. We have work to do this week and moving forward.
Next up was organizer Marie Mott, who praised Ms. Cholovich for filing an injunction on behalf of the protesters. She said the teacher has put her livelihood and life on the line to file it. She said, "Everybody doesnt agree with power belonging to the people.
They should have just negotiated, because were going to go to court tomorrow, and were dragging the City Council and attorney, and if the odds are in the people's favor that renders this budget that is lopsided for the police null and void. That means we will be able to start from the top and have participatory budgeting and the voice of the people will be heard when it comes to where you want your tax dollars to go.
Ms. Mott mentioned the upcoming Friday rally at Chamberlain Field on UTCs campus. She said colleges and high schools have become active, which in her words highlighted how a multitude of demographics have been active in protests.
Every step of the way we keep showing them were not done, weak, giving up, or turning around, said Ms. Mott. This moment is so significant because weve had high school students who have protested, and now we have college students protesting. Were now having the LGBTQIA community. Weve had so many demographics come together to raise their voice. That is what democracy looks like.
A Southborough police officer who was attacked Monday night in the communitys public safety complex was released from the hospital Tuesday morning, authorities said.
In a Facebook post, the towns police department also disclosed the injured policeman was investigating a threats complaint with another officer around 8:57 p.m. prior to the assault.
The investigation led to an interview in the lobby of the public safety building, the post said. One of the officers interviewing the original complainant was assaulted with a weapon. The suspect fled outside the building to the rear of the complex and was taken into custody after a brief struggle.
The officer was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where he was treated, police said.
The suspect was charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon and is being held at Bridgewater State Hospital.
Police did not say what type of weapon the officer was assaulted with, but WCVB reported the violent incident involved a knife.
Massachusetts State Police is investigating the incident, authorities said.
Further information will be released in conjunction with MA State Police Investigators and the Attorney Generals Office, the department said in its Facebook post.
Related Content: Police officer injured in Southborough after violent incident involving a knife at towns public safety building
MUMBAI, India, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Larsen & Toubro Infotech (BSE code: 540005) (NSE: LTI), a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, today announced an Accelerated Migration Program for customers of SAP with Amazon Web Services (AWS). As part of this program, LTI will help customers move their SAP ERP, SAP S/4HANA, and other SAP workloads from on-premise to AWS leveraging its intelligent, automated, migration acceleration platform and services.
To enable faster migration to AWS, the program offers Discovery Module, Build and Deployment Module, and Validation Module to enterprises across industry segments. The Add-on components of the program include an SAP profiler, analyzer for SAP S/4HANA, Auto-code remediation for SAP HANA compliance, Security Module and Smart Testing module with a vast repository of test scenarios and test cases.
"LTI has a successful track record of enabling AWS cloud transformations across highly complex SAP customer landscapes," said Siddharth Bohra, Chief Business Officer, Tech, Media, Consumer & Head of Digital and Analytics, LTI. "Working with AWS will help us digitize the core and bring this expertise to other SAP clients, leveraging our highly automated approach."
LTI has achieved AWS SAP Competency status which establishes LTI as an Advanced Consulting Partner in the AWS Partner Network (APN) with certified technical proficiency and proven customer implementation success in migrating SAP environments to AWS.
The Accelerated Migration expertise reflects the highest standards of LTI's depth of knowledge in the functional and technical aspects of AWS cloud migration for SAP solutions. LTI itself is a very large and long-standing SAP customer and has migrated its internal SAP systems to AWS.
As an SAP customer, an AWS SAP Competency Partner, and global strategic services partner with SAP, LTI is positioned to be an ideal partner for any SAP customer migrating to AWS. LTI's Accelerated Migration Program for SAP solutions speedily migrates and transforms SAP-based enterprises by lowering infrastructure costs while simultaneously improving agility, customer experience, and innovation.
In October 2019, LTI acquired Powerup Technologies, an APN Premier Consulting Partner, bolstering its cloud consulting and digital transformation capabilities. LTI recently won the 2020 SAP Pinnacle Award as Industry Innovation Partner of the Year.
About LTI
LTI (NSE: LTI) is a global technology consulting and digital solutions company helping more than 420 clients succeed in a converging world. With operations in 32 countries, we go the extra mile for our clients and accelerate their digital transformation with LTI's Mosaic platform enabling their mobile, social, analytics, IoT and cloud journeys. Founded in 1997 as a subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited, our unique heritage gives us unrivalled real-world expertise to solve the most complex challenges of enterprises across all industries. Each day, our team of more than 30,000 LTItes enable our clients to improve the effectiveness of their business and technology operations and deliver value to their customers, employees and shareholders. Find more at http://www.Lntinfotech.com or follow us at @LTI_Global
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Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.
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LTI Wins 2020 SAP Pinnacle Award as the Industry Innovation Partner of the Year
LTI to Acquire Powerupcloud Technologies
LTI Unveils Intelligent Enterprise Solutions for SAP S/4HANA
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Brazil's ex-education minister Abraham Weintraub, a top ally of President Jair Bolsonaro, drew accusations of fleeing investigation Monday when he tweeted his thanks to the "dozens of people" who helped him leave for the United States.
Weintraub announced last Thursday he was stepping down as education minister -- officially to take a job at the World Bank -- and left Brazil the following day, before his resignation took effect.
However, critics accused Bolsonaro of helping him flee the country in order to dodge a Supreme Court probe into allegations that members of the president's inner circle ran a fake news campaign to slander the high court's judges.
Weintraub's resignation came a day after the Supreme Court rejected his request to be excluded from the investigation.
It is unclear how Weintraub entered the United States, which currently restricts arrivals from Brazil because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Opposition politicians called for an investigation into whether he used his diplomatic passport, which they said would be an abuse given that he was no longer serving in government.
The ex-minister, who has a flare for landing in controversy, fueled accusations of trying to flee from justice with his latest Twitter remark.
"Thank you to all those who helped me reach the United States safely, whether directly (there were dozens of people) or by praying for me," he wrote.
Weintraub, whose brother Arthur is a special adviser to Bolsonaro, had become one of the president's most polemical ministers since taking office in April last year.
He made headlines by tweeting anti-Chinese comments that were widely deemed racist, appearing to make light of Nazi atrocities, misspelling words in official documents and on Twitter, and saying the Supreme Court's justices are "criminals" and should be "thrown in jail."
Brazilian media reports said he was in Miami.
His spokeswoman did not respond to a question from AFP on whether he had traveled with his diplomatic passport.
Bolsonaro opponents have called on the World Bank to reject the president's nomination of Weintraub as a director.
Tension is running high between the president and the Supreme Court, which is currently overseeing a series of investigations involving Bolsonaro and his inner circle.
Rayshard Brooks was fatally shot during a traffic stop on June 12, after a struggle with police when they tried to arrest him following a sobriety test.
US Stewart Trial Attorneys/Handout via REUTERS
Atlanta police officer Devin Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault following the June 12 fatal shooting of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks.
Brosnan was seen on video footage of the incident putting his foot on Brooks after he had been shot by police officer Garrett Rolfe, who has since been fired and charged with murder.
Brosnan told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the move was "just an instinctual thing" and believes he "didn't do anything wrong" in the events surrounding Brooks' death.
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An Atlanta police officer who was charged the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks has spoken out about the incident, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he believes he "didn't do anything wrong."
"I have full faith in the criminal justice system," Devin Brosnan told AJC. "I really do. I have 100 percent faith the truth will come out. People will see this for what it is. They will understand I didn't do anything wrong. I know the truth is what counts."
Brooks, 27, was fatally shot during a traffic stop on June 12, after a struggle with police when they tried to arrest him following a sobriety test. The incident happened in a Wendy's parking lot, after an employee called 911 to report Brooks had fallen asleep behind the wheel of his car in the drive-thru line.
Both officers involved in the shooting Brosnan and Garrett Rolfe now face criminal charges.
Brosnan, who has since been put on administrative leave by the police department, was charged with aggravated assault after footage of the incident showed his foot on Brooks following the shooting. Rolfe, the officer who shot Brooks, has been fired from the force and charged with felony murder.
Brosnan has been released from jail on a $50,000 bond, and he spoke to AJC for an interview that was published on Tuesday, the same day as Brooks' funeral.
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"I feel like my side wasn't really heard and given the short timeframe it's hard for anybody to understand all the facts and the whole circumstances around it," he told AJC. "That being said, I'm still willing to cooperate."
He called Brooks' death "heartbreaking" and a "tragedy," but said he doesn't think he would do anything differently if he was put in the situation again.
He said that he put his foot on Brooks' head because Brooks had taken his Taser, and he was "trying to figure out what's going on."
Brosnan was knocked down on to the pavement during a struggle with Brooks, and his attorney told AJC that he had a concussion, which left him disoriented.
Video footage from the incident shows Brooks appearing to point the Taser at Rolfe before he was shot.
"It's totally just an instinctual thing for my own safety," Brosnan said of putting his foot on Brooks. "When I realized I was safe that's when I take it off. In no way shape or form was I trying to hurt this man."
Video footage from the night of the shooting showed that Brosnan and Rolfe took two minutes before administering aide to Brooks after he was shot in the back by Rolfe.
Brooks' widow, Tomika Miller, told CNN she was appalled by Brosnan and Rolfe's actions on the night of her husband's death.
"I don't know what I would have done if I would have seen it for myself. But I felt everything he felt just by hearing what he went through. And it hurt. It hurt really bad," she said.
Read the original article on Insider
If we needed any reminders of the tech sectors outsized power to shape how we live, 2020 has provided us with an avalanche of them, from the global pandemic to a social justice movement to address systemic racism and pressing debates about the boundaries of free speech in an election year. On the innovation and competition front, we have seen the rise of some interesting newer playersthink TikTok or Zoomin markets that seemed dominated by a few incumbent behemoths. And yet many Americans continue to feel uneasy about their growing level of dependence on tech giants like Amazon, Facebook, and Google, even as employees within these companies engage in social and political activism. The tech sector in this country is unlike any other in terms of the power it wields to improve and/or control our lives, and the amount of scrutiny devoted to its motives, the sense of its own identity, and its ability to sustain American economic competitiveness. How will 2020 shift our answers to these questions, if at all?
On Tuesday, June 30, at 4 p.m. Eastern, New America CEO Anne-Marie Slaughter and LinkedIn co-founder and New America board member Reid Hoffman will have an online discussion about to what extent this eventful year will revolutionize American Tech. For more information and to RSVP, visit the New America website.
Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
One CRPF jawan was martyred and two unidentified terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bandzoo area of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday (June 23).
According to Army, two AK-47 have been recovered from the site of encounter and the joint operation is still in progress.
Jammu and Kashmir police GDP said, On a credible police input an operation was initiated by Pulwama police at village Bandzoo early this morning along with local Army and CRPF units. He added that two terrorists were killed while one CRPF jawan was injured who later succumbed to the injuries. The CRPF jawan got injured when the terrorists opened fire at the cordon party.
A major tragedy averted in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday 9june 22) night after a grenade hurled by terrorists at a Central Reserve Police Force camp in Pulwama missed its target.
PTI quoted officials as saying that the grenade exploded near the camp. "Terrorists hurled a grenade at the CRPF camp at Batagund in Tral area at around 8.30 pm," police officials said.
The CRPF personnel fired a few rounds in the air following the blast. No loss of life or injury to anyone was reported in the incident, they said.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and Kiribati President Taneti Maamau - Reuters
The eyes of the worlds major powers are resting on the remote Pacific atolls of Kiribati this week as its 110,000 inhabitants go to the polls in a bitterly contested presidential election that will define whether the nation aligns itself with China or the West.
Polls opened on Monday across the 32 atolls that are dispersed across 1.3 million square miles in the central Pacific, but the results will not be released until Tuesday.
A win for President Taneti Maamau, the pro-Beijing incumbent, would be a victory for China, helping it to consolidate its hold over the strategic country, whose Christmas atoll is just 1,300 miles south of Honolulu, home to the US Pacific Command, at a time when it seeks to expand its influence over the Indo-Pacific region.
Electoral success for opposition candidate Banuera Berina, who broke away from the government over the presidents decision to switch diplomatic allegiance last year from Taiwan to China, could offer some relief to Washington and Canberra over their concerns about Beijings strategic, military and territorial ambitions.
The village of Tebunginako - Justin Mcmanus/The AGE/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
The presidents decision to shift diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China last September without consulting the public or, reportedly, much of the government, resulted in street protests and the eventual loss of his parliamentary majority.
Taiwan, a staunch US Pacific ally which operates like any other nation with its own democratically elected government and foreign policy, had enjoyed formal diplomatic relations with Kiribati since 2003.
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and seeks to annex it, persuaded President Maamau to cut the relationship in favour of ties with China, in an effort not only to further isolate Taipei but to gain a bigger foothold in waters dominated by the US and its allies since World War Two.
Kiribati, an ex-British colony made up mainly of atolls in the central Pacific, is believed to be of interest to China because of its proximity to US military installations, and due to Christmas Island, which has a spare runaway and lagoon which could easily be turned into a port.
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Young Kiribati workers collect salt in salt paddies on the Christmas Island - AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara
The nation also plays host to a strategic but mothballed Chinese space tracking station, in a part of the world where the US tests missiles and other military hardware. Prior to 2003 the station played a role in tracking Chinas first manned space flight.
Chinese officials have not confirmed if it will be reopened but the possibility has stoked anxieties among western powers.
Indo-Pacific experts have pointed to the high stakes that elevate the presidential elections beyond just national interests.
"Today's Presidential elections in Kiribati offer its citizens the chance to reject the PRC's [Chinas] strategy to expand its presence into the Mid-Pacific. The PRC has made it clear that one of their Belt and Road Initiative's three 'blue economic zones' is into the South Pacific, James Fanell, a former director of intelligence of the Pacific Fleet told the Telegraph.
Beijing's strategy doesn't just threaten to engulf Kiribati into an economic 'debt trap' relationship, but is also designed to establish a future military outpost that would allow the Peoples Liberation Army to threaten US forces in Hawaii or isolate Australia and New Zealand in the event of a future conflict in the Indo-Pacific."
Victory for the opposition under Mr Berina could pave the way Taiwan to reclaim its strategic ally.
The presidential run-off has been the most aggressive in the history of the island nation because of the Taiwan-China issue, Anote Tong, a former president, told Reuters, describing a barrage of combative claims over whether or not Kiribati will benefit from relations with Beijing.
Natasha Kassam, a research fellow at Australias Lowy Institute, said the domestic political implications in Kiribati had proven to be a cautionary tale for Taiwans remaining allies who might be considering a switch of allegiance to China.
For Taiwans remaining partners in the region, the parliamentary turmoil in Kiribati will serve as a warning to any other Pacific leader looking to upset the status quo, she told the Telegraph.
And for China, Kiribatis election poses a high risk of embarrassment at a time when Chinas leadership is already challenged on many fronts. But these setbacks are unlikely to deter China, as isolating Taiwan is seen as too important a goal.
REUTERS
Federal prosecutors in New York accused a U.S. soldier of giving sensitive information on U.S. troop movements to a satanic white-supremacist group as part of a criminal conspiracy to murder U.S. military service members and provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
According to an indictment released Monday, Private Ethan Phelan Melzer provided confidential U.S. Army information to an infamous organization known as the Order of the Nine Angles (O9A), a British occult Nazi group whose works have been promoted by white-supremacist militia Atomwaffen and which has expressed support for al Qaeda. Melzers contacts within O9A described their plans as literally organizing a jihadi attack.
Prosecutors say that Melzer shared information about his Army units location, movements, and security with the satanic neo-Nazi group because he was allegedly planning an ambush attack on his fellow soldiers alongside O9A.
The indictment alleges that Melzer messaged members of O9A in mid-May through the RapeWaffen channel on the encrypted Telegram messaging app and sent them sensitive information about his units upcoming deployment to Turkey, where they were preparing to guard U.S. military facilities. According to the indictment, one of Melzers interlocutors has been an FBI informant since last month.
Satanism Drama Is Tearing Apart the Murderous Neo-Nazi Group Atomwaffen
Specifically, according to Faye Stephen, an Air Force officer tasked to the FBI, the plot Melzer is alleged to have discussed involved concocting an attack by local jihadist militants on his own unit. Melzer told an FBI informant to tell anyone they know in Turkey, there is a convoy coming through Turkey soon and date and time will be given soon, federal prosecutors said.
It did not appear from Mondays court papers that more detailed planning had occurred. The documents showed that a magistrate judge issued a warrant for Melzers online accounts on May 30.
Story continues
The recovered messages allegedly show that Melzer told members of the group that he was risking [his] literal free life to send the information for an attack which he expected to trigger a new war and result in mass casualties. Prosecutors say Melzer accepted the possibility that he could die in the attack on his unit because causing another 10 year war in the Middle East would definitely leave a mark.
Melzer allegedly confessed to his role in the conspiracy during an interview with law enforcement on May 30, and prosecutors say he declared himself to be a traitor against the United States whose conduct was tantamount to treason.
If true, its the latest example of white-supremacist reach within the U.S. military. But its the first alleged example of service members acting in a tactical intelligence capacity for a white supremacist organization.
Previous cases have concerned military veterans joining white-supremacist outfits for combat. Last month, three current or retired service members were arrested for allegedly plotting so-called Boogaloo violence against civil-rights protesters and government installations. At least seven others have been identified as part of the white-nationalist organization Identity Evropa. A Marine veteran affiliated with the white-supremacist group Patriot Front has provided his co-ideologists with military training.
Last year, an active-duty Coast Guard lieutenant, Christopher Hasson, stockpiled an arsenal for a race war; he received a 13-year prison sentence. The closest antecedent to what Melzer is accused of may be Jarrett William Smith, a U.S. soldier who discussed constructing homemade bombs with white supremacists on Facebook. Smith pleaded guilty in February.
The Bizarre Downfall of a Neo-Nazi Who Used a COVID Protest to Target Jews
Most infamously, a generation before, decorated Desert Storm veteran and white supremacist Timothy McVeigh committed the worst pre-9/11 terrorist attack on U.S. soil when he bombed Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma in April 1995. More recently, a February poll of service members found that more than one in three has encountered white nationalism inside the military.
And in 2009, the Department of Homeland Security suppressed a report by analyst Daryl Johnson, who warned of a rising tide in far-right extremism. Johnson explicitly predicted that right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to boost their violent capabilities.
The Order of the Nine Angles or O9A was founded in the U.K. by former neo-Nazi David Myatt in the '70s. Myatt authored a guide for like-minded racist terrorists, "A Practical Guide to The Strategy and Tactics of Revolution," which told followers that they are engaged in a real war for freedom and for the very future of our race and listed anti-Nazi activists, Zionists, judges, police officers, and government officials as appropriate targets for assassination. British police found a copy of the manual in the home of David Copeland in 1999, after he was arrested for a bombing spree across London intended to spark a race war.
While the group denies the Holocaust and believes, per court papers, that Adolf Hitler was sent by our gods to guide us to greatness, the Orders Satanism has occasionally proven distasteful to its fellow neo-Nazis.
Myatt converted to Islam in 1998 and became a supporter of al Qaeda, but has since publicly claimed to have renounced extremism and Islam.
The U.K. anti-racism activist group Hope Not Hate urged the British government to ban O9A as recently as March and cited the recent court cases involving six far-right activists linked to the group.
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Gandhinagar, June 23 : Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday performed the 'Pahind' ritual before flagging off the Rath Yatra inside the premises of the the Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad following a High Court order.
The traditional procession was allowed only inside the temple premises.
The Gujarat High Court, following seven applications from various Hindu outfits and individuals and one from the Gujarat government, had an urgent hearing at around 1.30 a.m. Tuesday.
The High Court once again maintained its June 20 order on staying the traditional procession of Rath Yatra, which normally circumvents the old Ahmedabad city, with lakhs of devotees participating.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Gujarat High Court decided to put a stay on it.
Following the order, the procession was carried out only inside the temple premises.
Prior to the procession. the 'Mangla Aarti' was performed at 4 a.m. in the morning, after which idols of Lord Jagannath, sister Subhadra and brother Balram were place inside chariots.
At 7 a.m., the ritual of 'PaHind' was performed by Rupani.
"Every year, on this auspicious day, the Lord takes his visit to the city according to the tradition. This year, we could not do so. Following the apex court's modified order on Odisha Rath Yatra, we had sought similar permission from the Gujarat High Court yesterday, but that was not granted. Expecting permission, we had also prepared for imposing curfew," he said.
"I congratulate Mahant Dilipdasji Maharaj of the Lord Jagannath temple and also the trustee Mahendrabhai and his associates, for coming out with a practical solution of having the procession inside the temple premises.
"May the Lord Jagannath free the country and Gujarat from the coronavirus outbreak and bless Gujarat with more and more prosperity. Today is also the the new year of Kutchi community. I wish the entire Kutchi community across the globe greetings for the New Year," he added.
Ahmedabad:
The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday admitted for final hearing the appeals filed by 16 of the 24 convicts in the 2002 Gulberg society riot case.
Sixty-nine people including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri were killed in the violence at Gulberg society here during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The appeals of these 16 convicts will now come up for final hearing before the division bench of justices Anant S Dave and B N Karia. Others have not filed the appeals yet.
On June 17, the special court for the riot cases sentenced 11 convicts to life imprisonment, 12 persons to seven years jail term and one person to 10 years in jail. The court acquitted 36 others.
VHP leader Atul Vaidh and Mangilal Jain (who is the only convict to get 10 years jail term) are among those who have filed the appeals.
The Gulberg society massacre took place on March 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident which led to communal riots in Gujarat.
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L ondoners have been working up to three hours more a day outside of the office during the Covid-l9 lockdown, according to a new study.
Property agent Savills asked clients about their experiences since the government in March urged people to work from home where possible.
The company said 45% of London respondents are working for up to three hours more per day than they would in the office.
The firm pointed out that this time would previously have been spent on travelling to and from work for a number of people, with the average London office workers commute time longer than those working in other UK cities. According to Savills' research 70% of Londoners spend between 30 minutes to 1.5 hours (one way) travelling.
But the study also found people in the capital do not want their commute removed entirely. 88% said they believe a physical office is necessary in the future with the option to work from home when required. There is a preference for working 1-2 days from home per week.
The study found Londoners could carry out individual tasks, focused work and reading better at home, while working in the office came out best for maintaining a daily routine and structure, fostering a sense of belonging within a business, career development, and team meetings.
The questions were sent to 65,000 people across Savills UK clients in late April. The company did not specify how many of the respondents were in London.
The research comes in the same month that some companies are beginning to invite staff back into central London offices, but with social distancing measures in place.
The name of the pretty park on the northern bank of the American River in Folsom, Calif., makes some people feel uncomfortable, others angry and insulted.
Negro Bar State Recreation Area, also known as Negro Bar State Park, draws kayakers, swimmers, anglers and picnickers year-round. The 63 Yelp reviews of the park are mostly positive. Only one, posted June 16, suggested renaming it.
But a name change may be in the works nonetheless.
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement that has called out monuments, landmarks and other symbols of racial injustice, the California State Parks system is again considering renaming the park, according to the Sacramento Bee. Before any change is approved, the parks director will hear from the public, Black community leaders and historians.
Negro Bar was originally a large gravel bar on the south side the American River named for the African American gold miners who discovered gold there during the 1849 California Gold Rush. For a few years, it rewarded the prospectors with a steady yield of coarse gold dust.
The settlement was not called "Negro Bar," but rather "(N-word) Bar well into the 20th century. Sometime in the late 1920s to early '30s, the San Francisco Chronicle apparently decided to stop using the racist term in favor of "Negro Bar when referring to it in articles.
According to U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the slur version continued to be used on at least some maps into the 1960s.
When SFGATE asked California State Parks officials in 2017 about a possible name change, spokesman Jorge Moreno replied that the park system previously consulted the Juneteenth Celebration and the past president of the Sacramento African American Historical and Cultural Society about the name.
"The Society's Juneteenth celebration focused on the forgotten history of African Americans along the American River during the Gold Rush era," Jorge Moreno wrote in an email. "The Society was clear that Negro Bar is very significant and that the name should not be changed.
"Many feel that a name change would reduce the cultural significance and important contribution that African Americans made in the region."
In September 2018, Stockton resident Phaedra Jones started a petition to rename Negro Bar that has since collected more than 67,000 signatures. She began the drive after noticing a sign for Negro Bar Picnic Area while traveling through Folsom.
When I saw that sign, I IMMEDIATELY felt uncomfortable, my stomach started hurting, I rolled up my windows and made sure I looked in my mirrors every 10 seconds. I couldn't wait to find the nearest freeway out of that town, Jones wrote in the post for the petition.
Terrance Walker, a Black man, wrote the following on the park's Facebook page in 2017: "Stumbled on Negro Bar. I guess it's better than stumbling upon a Whites-only bar. ... Not a bad spot though."
Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate
I am a confused resident of Albuquerque, unable to make any sense about what happened with the Albuquerque Police Department on the evening of June 15 at the Albuquerque Museum protest of the Onate statue.
I have received information about that night from national and local news sources, including the Daily Lobo at UNM. They all tell critically different accounts of what happened. The videos, shot from different perspectives at different times, could lead one to think that different events happened in parallel universes. While the blow-by-blows need to be straightened out for a clearer account to emerge, one thing is above all else most important and irrefutable: APD was not there when it should have been.
The armed militia group, New Mexico Civil Guard, is well known to law enforcement and was an obvious presence a few weeks earlier at a Black Lives Matter peaceful rally on Central Avenue. Members are known to claim a right to be armed and present to protect property at public demonstrations. They constitute a provocative and dangerous presence.
When they turned up on June 15, and when it became apparent that some demonstrators wanted to remove the Onate statue, all the ingredients were there for a violent and deadly confrontation. It was vocally tense from the moment the militia showed up, even before any movement was made toward the statue.
Where was APD? Why did they cede the authority to keep peace to an avowedly aggressive and armed private vigilante group? APD was nearby and knew what was happening. APD is certainly a visible presence at all other such protests and rallies, but not seen (this time). APD should have been a visible presence. When the militia turned up, there should have been one APD officer toe-to-toe per each militia member, with a shield up between the militia and the protesters, protecting the peace and protecting the protesters.
I warrant if APD was there, Steven Baca would not have been emboldened to (allegedly)assault protesters and throw them to the ground, and would not have been emboldened to shoot his gun. If he had nevertheless assaulted protesters, then he would have been detained on the spot.
It does not matter if there are tensions between some protesters, who may have called for defunding of police and APD. That is constitutionally protected speech, and it does not allow APD as a force or as individual officers to take an oppositional view of protesters. Their job is still to protect the community, and that community includes protesters.
There needs to be a public hearing that sheds a bright light on all aspects of the decisions that were made that night by the APD. There is no room for procedural niceties about who can or cannot call for or conduct such a hearing. The community should demand it.
Praising Delhi Police official Rajat Rathor's rendition, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has shared that Teri Mitti is one song that always gives him goosebumps.
Actor Akshay Kumar on Tuesday lauded the Delhi Police official Rajat Rathor who became an Internet sensation after he put out a video of him singing Teri Mitti from Akshay Kumars Kesari. While the original song was sung by B Praak, cop Rathor had recently uploaded the video of himself singing the soulful patriotic number on Twitter with the clip receiving lot of love from Twitterati in a short span.
Kumar took to Twitter to share a video of himself lauding the cop that sings. Hi Rajat, this is Akshay, yaar you sing so good. I was delighted to hear your rendition of Teri Mitti. Also, the song itself is so beautiful that it causes one to shed a few tears, and then your voice has such pain, Kumar said.
I can see that you are a uniformed man. Lots of good wishes for the work that you are doing. Keep doing good and keep up the talent. Well done, he added. The Mission Mangal actor ended the video by clapping for the police official.
Teri Mitti is a song which always gives me goosebumps, no matter how many times I hear it, this time was no different Thank you Rajat ji for sharing. #CopThatSings https://t.co/JTmy6qiSjs pic.twitter.com/FymUgo7u4U Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) June 23, 2020
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Teri Mitti is a song which always gives me goosebumps, no matter how many times I hear it, this time was no different. Thank you Rajat ji for sharing. #CopThatSings :), he tweeted along with the video. Delhi Police official Rajat Rathor had uploaded the video of himself singing the soulful patriotic song on Twitter and the video received a lot of love from Twitterati in a short amount of time.
Also Read: Shahid Kapoor pens a thank you note as Kabir Singh completes one year
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Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday announced that the state government has requested the Advocate General (AG) to seek permission from the Gujarat High Court to allow the Ahmedabad RathYatra to pass, similarly to the apex court's order on Jagannath Puri Yatra on Monday.
Talking to media persons, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, "The Yatra has over a century old tradition and looking at the traditional procession, we have asked the Advocate General, Kamal Trivedi, to seek permission from the Gujarat High Court to allow the Rath Yatra ' title='Ahmedabad Rath Yatra '>Ahmedabad Rath Yatra on the lines similar to the apex court's modified order on Odisha Jagannath Puri Yatra. The state government will abide by all the restrictions, the Gujarat High Court will impose, to allow the procession to be carried out."
Meanwhile, the lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad had carried out all the preparations to hold the Yatra inside the temple premises. According to sources, if the HC allows the Yatra to be carried out in a restricted manner in the city, the chariots will be pulled by tractors instead of devotees.
According to sources, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be participating in the 'Mangla Aarti' at the temple at 4 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Shah will be arriving at the Ahmedabad airport at around midnight with his family from Delhi.
Gujarat Chief Minister Rupani will also participate in the 143rd RathYatra and perform the ritual flagging off of the procession, 'Pahind Vidhi'.
The Gujarat High Court is expected to hear the petitions regarding the Yatra on an urgent hearing basis.
Mercedes-Benz and Nvidia are partnering to develop the next-generation of the automaker's in-vehicle computing systems that will assist with remote, or over-the-air, updates and automated driving capabilities.
The companies announced the cooperation Tuesday with promises of developing "the most sophisticated and advanced computing architecture ever deployed in an automobile."
The electrical architecture, or brains, of a vehicle essentially enables the vehicle's systems to communicate. It also allows the vehicle to receive and send information to outside sources for things such as remote upgrades or service alerts.
Mercedes-Benz will begin to deploy the new architecture across its fleet in 2024, according to the companies. It will use Nvidia's "Drive" platform, enabling features such as the vehicle's driver-assist systems to be upgradable. It's much like how Tesla remotely upgrades systems on its vehicles.
"The entire product is going to be designed differently," Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, said during a webcast Tuesday. He described the vehicles as being "perpetual, upgradeable" machines powered by supercomputers.
Customers, the companies said, will be able to purchase and add capabilities, software applications and subscription services through over-the-air software updates during the life of the car.
Such upgrades could provide additional revenue opportunities for the automaker as well as assist in expediting safety recalls or other upgrades.
Nvidia shares were up less than 1% Tuesday afternoon to about $383. Shares earlier in the day hit a 52-week high of $385.70.
The fourth meeting of the Ukrainian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission co-chaired by Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto will take place in Kyiv on June 25.
"Dmytro Kuleba and Peter Szijjarto agreed to resume the work of the commission, which has not convened for almost seven years, at the beginning of the year. The meeting was scheduled for March, but was postponed due to the coronavirus crisis. In early June, the ministers set a new date for the meeting," the Government portal reports.
The parties are expected to discuss the development of trade and investment between Ukraine and Hungary, consider a number of joint economic and transport projects, improvement of border and cross-border infrastructure, revival of cooperation in agriculture, energy, and environmental protection.
Following the meeting, a joint briefing of Kuleba and Szijjarto is planned.
As reported, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba made a visit to Hungary on May 29, where he met with his colleague Peter Szijjarto.
The ministers signed a number of bilateral documents, including a protocol between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Hungary amending the framework agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Hungary on the provision of tied aid loan and a memorandum of understanding between the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine and the Ministry for Innovation and Technology of Hungary.
Earlier, Hungary-Ukraine relations deteriorated again after the Verkhovna Rada passed the Law On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language. Hungary reacted negatively to the adoption of this law.
The Hungarian side also sharply criticized the adoption in Ukraine of the law On Education on September 5, 2017, which provides, in particular, for the wider introduction of the Ukrainian language, including the educational institutions of national minorities.
Despite numerous attempts of the Hungarian and Ukrainian sides to resolve the disputed issues through diplomacy, a full understanding has not been reached. Official Budapest continued to block Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic initiatives.
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BAY CITY, MI - The mooring site of the retired USS Edson naval destroyer on the Saginaw River has lost out on $200,000 in state funding to help pay for a new seawall.
The museum and ship docking site near Bay Citys Independence Bridge has been partially flooded in recent months due to high water on the river and Lake Huron.
"Mark's deal with Trump is highly utilitarian," he said. "It's basically about getting free rein and protection from regulation. Trump needs Facebook's thumb on the scale to win this election." Jesse Lehrich, the co-founder of Accountable Tech, a new nonprofit group pushing Facebook to tighten controls on its platform, suggested that the two men have a tacit nonaggression pact. "Trump can rage at Big Tech and Mark can say he's disgusted by Trump's posts, but at the end of the day the status quo serves both of their interests," Lehrich said. Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg have a better relationship with the Trump White House than his Silicon Valley contemporaries. Credit:Bloomberg Officials at Facebook and in the administration scoff at the notion that there is some kind of secret pact. And it's hard to imagine that anyone certainly not Zuckerberg would be dumb enough to make a secret deal with a president known for keeping neither secrets nor deals. Trump and Zuckerberg had met just once before the dinner, an Oval Office encounter last September. Afterward, the president boasted about his giant following on the platform. But October was a hot political month at Facebook: Zuckerberg was in an open battle with a leading Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Elizabeth Warren, who was threatening to break up Facebook and whom he called "an existential threat" to the company. The morning of their dinner, a top British official demanded answers on why Facebook would tolerate false political advertising.
Zuckerberg, a Facebook executive said, seems to view Trump as a peer. By contrast, he told amused top aides at one of his regular Monday meetings in March that Kushner was calling him so often about help with the administration's coronavirus response that he couldn't keep up, two people familiar with the meeting said. ("Mark does not think of himself as a peer to this president or any president," a Facebook spokesman, Tucker Bounds, said, adding that Zuckerberg had initiated the conversation with Kushner about the coronavirus response.) Zuckerberg has played the high-stakes and unpredictable politics of the Trump years as well as any other corporate executive. And a week before the dinner last October, he made clear in a speech that his interests and the president's aligned: Zuckerberg would reject a growing movement to limit the false or inflammatory statements of the American president. Mark's deal with Trump is highly utilitarian. It's basically about getting free rein and protection from regulation. Trump needs Facebook's thumb on the scale to win this election. Early Facebook investor Roger McNamee "I don't think it's right for a private company to censor politicians or the news in a democracy," he said in the address at Georgetown University on October 17. "We don't do this to help politicians, but because we think people should be able to see for themselves what politicians are saying." Trump, for his part, has been notably softer on Facebook than on Amazon, Google, Twitter or Netflix at a moment when his regulatory apparatus often focuses on the political enemies he identifies in tweets.
Still Facebook, like other tech giants, finds itself in a political bind: Democrats hate and distrust them because they spread right-wing misinformation and helped elect Donald Trump; Republicans hate and distrust them because they're run by California liberals and delete some right-wing speech. But Facebook has avoided that trap deftly over the last three and a half years, by moving faster and more earnestly than its competitors to mollify conservatives. Facebook has always had a keener ear to the right side of Washington than much of Silicon Valley, directed in part by Joel Kaplan, a Zuckerberg friend and former Bush administration official who is Facebook's vice president of global public policy. But it began focusing intently on winning over the conservative media in the spring of 2016, when Gizmodo alleged that the content moderation on the short-lived Trending Topics product on Facebook "suppressed conservative news." A right-wing apparatus that had spent decades claiming bias in the media turned its sights on the tech giant. And Zuckerberg gave them the response they'd always hoped for he shut down the product, welcomed his critics to meetings and signalled that he shared their concerns. The next year, Trump continued to push the norms of truth and civility, and the social media platforms began reckoning with their broader misinformation and harassment problem. That set him on an inevitable and to his supporters, welcome collision course with the new gatekeepers. Trump's dependence on Facebook as an advertising vehicle he spent $US44 million on the platform in 2016, and is expected to far exceed that this year means that he needs the company as much as it needs him. And, as Mike Isaac, Sheera Frenkel, and Cecilia Kang reported in May, Zuckerberg increasingly embodies his company. So Zuckerberg's warm relationship with the president and his family is a victory for the company's internal policy team led by Kaplan. But the company, people involved in its political strategy say, has been having an internal debate over balancing the reality of Republican control of regulatory agencies with the fact that Democrats are far more likely, in the long run, to actually push through new oversight or try to break up the company by forcing the sale of Instagram or WhatsApp. The balance, in the Trump years, has shifted right. Sheryl Sandberg, a leading Democrat and Zuckerberg's powerful deputy, has seen her connections with Democrats fray as the company defies them and her power in the company fades as well. Trump's administration has reciprocated. The Justice Department is currently conducting antitrust investigations of the tech giants. But while Google and Amazon face "mature investigations," the Facebook inquiry is "not real at all," a person who has been briefed on the investigation said. And Facebook has acted like a company with no worries in Washington. It has continued to acquire companies, as Isaac reported last week, and moved to allow users to send messages between Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram a merging of the services that could further fuel monopoly concerns. (Facebook's view is that it's far less dominant in any market than the other big tech companies and has less to worry about than Google or Amazon.)
The summer of 2020 is one of those moments when corporate Washington starts to panic. What had looked like deft Trump-era politics now looks like exposure and risk. Top Democrats, including Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi who was infuriated when a distorted video of her went viral have singled out Facebook as a bad actor. Trump is, at the moment, viewed by Washington's insider class as likely to lose in November, though Biden poses less of a threat to Facebook than Warren would have. While executives across Facebook insist that Zuckerberg's position on free speech on the platform is a matter of long-term planning and principle, not political expediency, his political team also recognises that they are badly out of position for a Democratic administration. And in recent days, Facebook has been eager to show its independence from the White House. The company has been unhesitatingly enforcing existing policy against Trump's posts, and has been quick to point it out to the media, as it did last week, when a Trump ad used a symbol associated with Nazi Germany. Zuckerberg has not budged, however, on his core insistence that Trump should be able to say what he wants on the platform, and most of what he wants in ads including false statements, as long as they aren't misleading on specific, narrow topics, like the census. But he did reportedly tell Trump that he objected, personally, to Trump's warning that "when the looting starts, the shooting starts." And he and Chan wrote to scientists funded by their nonprofit organisation that they were "deeply shaken and disgusted by President Trump's divisive and incendiary rhetoric." Those gestures may have appeased Facebook's workforce, but they've gone largely unnoticed in Washington.
The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath began on Tuesday in Odishas Puri without the usual throng of devotees in view of the coronavirus pandemic after the Supreme Court modified its earlier order to give a nod to the annual ritual.
The top court had on Monday allowed the state to hold the festival with restrictions in the wake of coronavirus pandemic and said only 500 people shall pull each of the chariots.
A curfew has been imposed across Puri district from 9pm on Monday till 2pm on Wednesday, according to Abhay, the director general of police (DGP).
More than 50 platoons of the police forceone platoon has 30 personnelhave been deployed and CCTVs installed at various locations as part of the security arrangement for the nine-day festival, officials said, adding, all entry points to Puri were sealed.
Priests and police personnel, who were part of the chariot pulling ritual, underwent mandatory Covid-19 testing on Monday night and only those whose reports came out negative were allowed to participate in the festival, they said.
Rituals, sanitisation
A huge crowd could be seen outside the centuries-old temple as people took part in the colourful procession.
Several customary rituals like Mangla Arati and Mailam were held before the presiding deitiesLord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadraset out from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
The temple complex was sanitised before the rituals began.
The three deities descended from the Ratna Sinhasana or the bejewelled throne and were taken out of the temple down the 22 steps known as Baisi Pahacha through the Lions Gate in an elaborate royal ritual called Pahandi.
The deities moved amid blowing of conch shells and the ringing of bells.
Sudarshana, the celestial wheel of Vishnu, was taken out and placed in the chariot of Devi Subhadra followed by Lord Balabhadra and finally Lord Jagannath.
Draped in layers of red, black, green and yellow, the three wooden chariots, ready to carry the deities for their annual nine-day sojourn to the Gundicha Temple, waited outside.
The 45-feet high Nandighosh, the chariot of Lord Jagannath, stood with 16 huge wooden wheels and Lord Balabhadras Taladhawaja is 44-feet high with 14 wheels. Devi Subhadras chariot, Darpadalan, is 43-feet high with 12 wheels.
Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb performed the special Chhera Panhara ritual with a golden broom ahead of the pulling of the chariots.
News agency ANI tweeted videos, which showed sevayats or those who perform the rituals, playing traditional musical instruments and dancing as others carried the idol to the chariot.
Lord Jagannath likes to watch dance and Im here to do the same and offer my prayers, an artist said according to ANI.
We have come for the darshan of Lord Jagannath. I believe that now the corona will go away, a participating priest was quoted as saying by the news agency.
Jai Jagannath
Lakhs of devotees, who have been barred from participating in the grand festival, witnessed the Rath Yatra on television.
President Ram Nath Kovind, vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Union home minister Amit Shah greeted people on the occasion of Rath Yatra.
My heartiest greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannaths Rath Yatra. I wish that this journey filled with devotion brings happiness, prosperity, good luck and health to the lives of the countrymen. Jai Jagannath! the Prime Minister tweeted.
The Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for the Rath Yatra after taking note of the Odisha governments assurance that it can be held in a limited way without public attendance.
A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde on Monday directed the Odisha government to impose curfew in Puri city during the chariots procession after modifying its June 18 order that had said the Rath Yatra cannot be permitted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
(With agency inputs)
The Chinese government's top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday proposed a "fast track" arrangement for the movement of people and goods with India and Russia. Ministers from China, Russia and India should together discuss trade, energy, transport, education and health, Wang said in a statement on the foreign ministry's website.
A notice on precautions against the new coronavirus is displayed at a subway station in Korea, Monday, June 22, 2020. AP
At least 16 cases of the new coronavirus were reported Monday on a Russia-flagged ship which entered the southeastern port city of Busan late last week, according to health authorities and a union of port workers.
Of 21 sailors aboard the 3,401 ton-refrigerator vessel, 16 people tested positive for COVID-19, according to health officials.
The ship, which departed from Russia's Vladivostok, arrived at Busan Port on Friday and has been docked at Gamcheon Port in the city since early Sunday.
The crewmembers took tests earlier in the day after the Busan authorities were informed that the captain, who returned a week ago to Russia after showing symptoms, tested positive.
The 16 patients are isolated inside the ship.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with the murders of four different people in a separate incidents that are believed to be gang-related.
Michael Mason, 16, of Southeast Washington D.C. was taken into custody last Wednesday and is being charged as an adult.
He is suspected of killing Terrance Griffin, 31, Jaszel Henderson, 20, Brea Moon, 21, - who was pregnant - and 18-year-old Antwuan Roach.
Brea Moon, 21, (left) and Jaszel Henderson, 20, (right) are two of the four people shot dead in the Washington DC area in April and May.
Video footage shows on the crime scenes that suspect Michael Mason (not pictured) is said to be involved in. Mason has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to kill and assault with a dangerous weapon. He denies the allegations
The crimes cover their sixth and seventh districts.
An affidavit says in one incident in April a pregnant woman, identified as Moon, was used as a 'human shield' for someone who was being shot at.
The mother-to-be lived in District Heights, Maryland and the other victims lived in Southeast DC.
In that incident of the pregnant woman, Mason blames the driver of the vehicle he was in.
He claims he was in the back of a Honda Crosstour when the driver shot into another car where Moon sat.
The driver continued on into Maryland and Moon was later found in her car. She died in hospital.
Mason said he 'did not even know there was a female in the car they shot at', according to the affidavit. 'The defendant admitted the intention of the killing was someone else who had been causing problems in his neighborhood.'
However investigators who found four shell casings in the street say the shells would have fallen in the car if the driver reached over to shoot through the passenger side window where Mason was.
An affidavit says Brea Moon, 21, was pregnant and was used as a 'human shield' during a shooting in April
Daquan Jones, 19, was also charged in relation to Moon's death.
Video from NBC 4 shows one of the crimes scenes.
The Metropolitan Police Department announced Mason's arrest on Monday and said the murders took place in April and May.
Mason is also suspected in a number of other shooting incidents within the same months. Cops have connected him to nine shootings.
It's reported he is a member of the Simple City crew and the incidents could be related to a feud with a rival gang named 37th.
The first shooting incident took place 11 days after he was released from juvenile detention for a prior absconding incident.
The motive for Roach's killing is that he was blamed for the 2019 shooting of a Simple City member. Roach and Mason has previously met inside a juvenile detention center.
Mason was identified as the suspect after one victim gave cops a photograph of someone they believed to be the shooter and police used facial recognition software to come up with a match.
Mason is linked to the crimes by a .40-caliber gun and detective claim he tried to sell one on Instagram after the homicides.
They also looked into cell phone tower pings after interviewing witnesses.
Mason has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to kill and assault with a dangerous weapon. He denies the allegations.
Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for anyone with information that helps the investigation.
New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday (June 23) wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding doctors and nurses from the ITBP and the Army to run a 10,000-bed COVID-19 care facility being set up in south Delhi, sources said.
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 (RSSB).
Kejriwal has sought doctors and nurses from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) 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.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (dpa-AFX) - More than 1,600 Google employees have signed an internal petition demanding that the company stop selling its technology to police departments, according to reports.
The petition, which was started by a group of Google employees called 'Googlers Against Racism', reportedly urges Google CEO Sundar Pichai to stop selling the company's technology to police forces.
The internal petition by Google's employees comes amid intensified protests in the U.S. over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in police custody and the campaign BlackLivesMatter that arose with the protests seeking racial justice.
The employees reportedly said in the letter they were disappointed that Google is still selling technology to police forces and advertising its connection with them as progressive, instead of severing ties with them.
The letter criticized Google for citing the New York-based Clarkstown Police Department as a featured user of Google Cloud, noting that the agency that 'has been sued multiple times for illegal surveillance of Black Lives Matter.'
The Google employees' dissent comes after Amazon and Microsoft said recently that they will not sell their facial recognition technology to police agencies. Amazon announced a one-year moratorium on police use of its facial recognition technology, Rekognition, to give ample time to the governments to implement stronger regulations for racial equality and justice.
Google employees have raised their voice against the company's participation in controversial deals earlier too.
Google, in October 2018, decided not to compete in Pentagon's multi-billion dollar JEDI cloud computing contract, saying that the project might not align with its artificial intelligence or AI principles. Google's AI principles prevent the use of its AI software in weapons and services that violate international norms for surveillance and human rights.
In April 2018, thousands of Google employees urged Pichai to pull out of Project Maven, a Pentagon program that uses artificial intelligence to analyze video imagery used by military drones. Google later said in June that it will not allow its artificial-intelligence products to be used in military weapons.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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R&B sensation Otile Brown launched a swooning charm offensive on social media in praise of his girlfriend, Nabayet.
Like a typical Casanova, the highflying hitmaker also made big promises to his Australia based Ethiopian ride or die, vowing to build or buy her a mansion as well as her favorite car.
In addition to making promises, Otile Brown also told his over 1.3 million Instagram followers to forget about Nabbis beauty for a sec as he listed 8 virtues that made him fall head over heels for Nabbi.
According to Bad Man Shivo, Nabbi is not only caring and understanding but unproblematic as well.
Forget the beauty she is a sign of 1.peace 2.humility 3.happiness 4.love 5.smart 6.unproblematic 7.caring 8.understanding, Mr Otile shouted at the top of his lungs.
He went a step further and used hyperbole to gas Nabbi, saying her smile and laughter can cure cancer. Crazy!!!
Her smile and laughter can even cure cancer so therapeutic. Thats what I ride forI promise, soon putting you in a mansion with your favorite car parked outside #inshallah ? , he wrote.
For someone who publicly confessed to strangling the monkey due to their long-distance relationship (simp mentality if you ask me), lets hope it does not end in premium tears for Otile Brown.
Im dying to say Wataachana Tu but my therapist says I need to see the glass as half full.
While Youre Still Here, Check Out: Nabayet Encourages Otile Brown to Continue Strangling the Monkey
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau strongly reacted to Chinas arbitrary imprisonment of two Canadian citizens, including a former diplomat accusing the nation of using these detentions to advance its political goals.
China has denied that the detentions of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig are not connected to the arrest of Chinese telecommunications firm Huaweis CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in December 2018. Analysts have continued to accuse China of using the detentions as a lever to try and get her freed.
Meng, daughter of Huaweis founder Ren Zhengfei, is facing a trial that may culminate in her extradition to the United States, in a case related to defrauding a bank to illegally conduct business with the Iranian regime.
Ren Zhengfei, is facing a trial that may culminate in her extradition to the United States, in a case related to defrauding a bank to illegally conduct business with the Iranian regime.
While Trudeau did not react to a query related to hostage diplomacy during the daily media briefing, he was far more direct than in the past in confronting China, as he said, It has been obvious since the beginning this was a political decision by the Chinese government, and we deplore it.
He stressed that China had made those links between the Meng case and those involving the two Canadians, who were charged with spying last week by Chinese prosecutors, and continue to put political pressure on Canada by connecting them. He asserted that the use of arbitrary detentions as a means to advance political goals is fully unacceptable in a world based on rules.
How the escalation of friction between Ottawa and Beijing has become a major political matter in Canada and has featured prominently in Trudeaus interaction with other world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It figured in his discussions on Monday with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. A statement from the Canadian PMO noted, Prime Minister Trudeau thanked President von der Leyen for the European Unions expressions of concern for two Canadians who have been arbitrarily detained in China.
She announced her engagement to boyfriend Richard Lavender on Sunday.
And lucky Sunrise host Samantha Armytage was presented with a stunning diamond engagement ring when the equestrian businessman got down on bended knee.
A jeweller from House of K'dor has estimated the cushion-cut sparkler may have cost as much as $80,000.
How much is Samantha Armytage's ring worth? A jeweller has estimated the diamond sparkler could be as much as $80,000
'The stone size looks to be about 2 carat [and] based on other factors such as clarity and colour, this could set you back anywhere between $20-80K,' the jeweller told Daily Mail Australia.
The expert continued: 'It's slightly elongated shape and soft round edges create the illusion of a larger stone that a round-brilliant cut stone of the same carat weight may due to larger surface area reflect light.'
The jeweller also said that the cushion-cut is 'brilliant as it showcases a diamond's fire and sparkle with its 58 facets.'
Aris Arzumanian from Arman's Fine Jewellery also told Confidential on Monday, the pillow-shaped ring is about 1.5 to 2 carats and could be worth at least $35,000.
He did good! The expert revealed 'the stone size looks to be about 2 carat [and]... this could set you back between $20-80K'
On Tuesday, Samantha returned to hosting Sunrise after getting engaged to Richard over the weekend.
She proudly showed off her diamond ring and revealed details about the engagement and her 'romantic weekend' with Richard, 60, in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Sam confirmed that Richard had actually proposed 'a few weeks ago', but she waited until Sunday to announce it.
The horse breeder had popped the question while they were picking firewood and pulling weeds in their paddock, she added.
Rather than ask 'Will you marry me?', Richard had apparently said: 'How about it?'
Exciting! On Tuesday, Samantha returned to hosting Sunrise after getting engaged to Richard over the weekend and proudly showed off her wedding ring
Sam announced her engagement to Richard in an Instagram post on Sunday. She uploaded two photos of herself posing in the arms of her fiance, with a diamond ring on her wedding finger.
'What a year...' she wrote in the caption, adding several emojis including a ring, heart and a dog.
The sweet photos appear to have been taken at a rural property. Both Samantha and Richard own estates in the New South Wales Southern Highlands.
Wedding bells: Samantha revealed that she's set to marry her boyfriend Richard (pictured) on Sunday on Instagram
The couple, who have been reportedly dating since April 2019, officially confirmed their romance in November last year.
They are said to have met at socialite Skye Leckie's 60th birthday party in April last year.
They sparked engagement rumours in September, after they were spotted shopping for expensive jewellery in Sydney's Double Bay.
A group of Elks Lodge members and members of local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts troops gathered outside the Lodge Saturday morning to ceremoniously retire what was believed to be at least 200-plus American flags.
Harrison Hart, exalted ruler of the Plainview Elks, said flags are retired for numerous reasons. They may have touched the ground, they may have been torn, they may be worn or maybe they violated the flag code in other ways. Simply throwing out a flag violates the flag code.
Disposing of them in the ritualistic way organized by The Elks is the best way to do away with them honorably.
The ceremony is traditionally hosted on Flag Day, which was June 14. With all the area COVID-19 activity, plans had to be rescheduled, Hart noted.
The ceremony began with members of the Lodge starting a controlled burn in a fire pit situated in the parking lot. Hart, who is also a Plainview Firefighter, was one of the Elks members who helped tame the fire.
Following a group salute to the flags, the Scouts commenced taking the flags one by one to the firepit where the flags were individually saluted before being thrown in.
Its unclear how many flags made it in the pit but there were countless still waiting when the club chose to cut the retirement short due to the volume of flag material not burning adequately inside the pit. The ceremony was cut short and Elks members told the Scouts the remaining flags would be officially retired at a later date.
The Elks then recited a history of the evolution of the American flag and offered one last group salute before dismissal.
The Covid-19 pandemic has created a pivotal moment for Government to adopt sustainable practices for working from home, which means an urgent need for new low-cost home heating solutions, including mass retrofitting of existing stock.
Those are some of the conclusions from scientists at the International Energy Research Centre (IERC) at the Cork-based Tyndall National Institute, who compared Irish homes with four other European countries to gauge housing stocks and heating analysis.
The EuroHeat Report, a joint project with Ervia and Gas Networks Ireland, has "significant and urgent policy recommendations that are now even more timely as Ireland begins phased recovery from Covid-19".
Report author and senior energy market analyst at the IERC, Piyush Verma, said: "With both employers and employees realising the benefits of remote working over the past few months, work from home looks set to become a common practice in Ireland.
"This change creates a pivotal moment for Government to adopt the significant policies needed for us to make our new work from home lifestyles sustainable.
The EuroHeat report examined Ireland against Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the UK because of similar climates and social practices.
Mr Verma said heating already accounts for 60% of domestic energy consumption in Ireland, the highest among the five countries compared.
This percentage is set to significantly increase as more of the Irish workforce works from home instead of commuting to an office, he added.
Nobody wants to see a huge increase in home heating bills because were spending an extra 40 hours a week in our houses.
"Ireland already has a significantly higher proportion of people struggling to keep their homes warm compared to the Netherlands, France and Belgium, so we need to urgently look to low cost, sustainable energy solutions.
Sustainability researcher and advisor at the IERC, Rosemarie Mac Sweeney, said as recommended in the Joint Oireachtas Report on Climate Action and by the EU Strategy on Heating and Cooling, city or municipal level targets and strategies for domestic heating should be developed.
According to the EuroHeat report, providing significant support for energy efficient retrofitting of existing housing stock is a key priority for neighbouring EU countries who share a similar temperate climate to Ireland.
The report also endorses a vastly expanded role for local authorities to deliver national heating energy targets along with an intensive marketing, promotion and information campaigns for new technologies.
According to the report, the UK has developed a community heat network toolkit to support community-led heat network projects, backed by significant Government investment.
It said that in France, local authorities have been made responsible for the public distribution of heating and cooling.
In the Netherlands, the report said, the Environmental Assessment Agency expects that 20-30% of homes should be connected to this kind of local district heating by 2050.
In Belgium, the government is considering the possibility of a ban on the installation of cooking, heating and domestic hot water appliances that use natural gas or butane/propane from 2030, the report added.
D isneyland Paris has announced it will reopen on July 15 after three months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The French theme park will begin a phased reopening from this date, where day visitors will be allowed and Newport Bay Club Hotel will be open.
Hotel Cheyenne will reopen on July 20, while Hotel Santa Fe will open from August 3.
The Disneyland Hotel will open on September 7 but both the Davy Crocket Ranch and Sequoia Lodge Hotel will remain closed until further notice.
Natacha Rafalski, President of Disneyland Paris, said: "All of us at Disneyland Paris are excited to be on the path to reopening over the next few weeks. Making magic means even more, as we reflect on the resilience of our Cast Members and community, the enthusiasm of our guests and fans, and the positive momentum of many reopenings in the tourism industry across Europe.
"We are looking forward to the return of our Cast Members and reopening our gates for guests to once again enjoy."
The reopening will see the introduction of new safety measures, including mandatory face masks for those aged over 11, advance ticket bookings and limited daily capacity.
Some aspects of the park wont be available initially either, including Fast Passes, some shows and meet and greets with the characters.
While the UK Foreign Office still advises against all non-essential travel for Brits, France is expected to be one of the UKs air bridge partners which will be announced next week.
People living in wealthy beach-side suburbs in Australia's biggest cities are more likely to be on JobKeeper wage subsidies, a new study found.
Analytics firm Taylor Fry has mapped out the suburbs and postcodes where workers are particularly reliant on $1,500-a-fortnight handouts to survive.
Rich postcodes with ocean views will be in particular danger when the $70billion JobKeeper program ends in September, while poorer outer suburbs are remarkably resilient, at least on face value.
In Sydney, wealthy areas by the beach are coloured cherry red to denote where the highest proportion of JobKeeper recipients live.
Analytics firm Taylor Fry has mapped out the suburbs and postcodes where workers are particularly reliant on $1,500-a -fortnight handouts to survive. Bondi in Sydney's east (pictured on June 22, 2020) is marked in dark red, denoting it has a higher proportion on JobKeeper
Rich postcodes with ocean views will be in particular danger when the $70billion JobKeeper program ends in September while poorer outer suburbs are remarkably resilient
Bondi, in the city's east, and areas of the Northern Beaches - including Dee Why, Collaroy and Newport - are in the danger zone.
So is Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, which falls within Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Cook electorate.
In another surprise, areas of south-west Sydney like Fairfield and Cabramatta, once the heroin capital of Australia, were coloured in darker shades of green, indicating a smaller amount of people on the benefit.
Alan Greenfield, an actuary who founded Taylor Fry, said richer suburbs typically had more hospitality workers on JobKeeper while poorer areas already had higher unemployment before the COVID-19 crisis.
'In those middle and upper-income suburbs, they are more likely to have had employment,' he told Daily Mail Australia.
Areas of Sydney's Northern Beaches - including Dee Why, Collaroy and Newport - are in the danger zone
Trendy areas near Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay were shaded in red, including St Kilda (pictured on March 27, 2020) and Elwood
'The industries that are in those areas, in those beach-side suburbs you get a higher proportion of hospitality and retail and accommodation - the hotels and backpackers.'
Where COVID-19 has caused most job losses 1. Inner Melbourne: down 10.6 per cent 2. Inner Sydney: down 10.57 per cent 3. Tasmania south east: down 10.47 per cent 4. Melbourne north west: down 9.43 per cent 5. Warrnambool and Victoria south west: down 9.4 per cent 6. Hobart: down 9.33 per cent 7. Launceston and Tasmanian north-east: down 9.33 per cent 8. Victoria north west: down 9.07 per cent 9. Melbourne north east: down 8.98 per cent 10. Gold Coast: down 8.82 per cent Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics payroll data showing job losses between March 14 and May 30, 2020 Advertisement
The story was similar in Melbourne with the working class suburb of Broadmeadows, in the city's north, also coloured green.
Trendy areas near Port Phillip Bay, however, were shaded in red, including St Kilda and Elwood.
Tourist beach areas like Torquay, south-west of Melbourne, and Geelong, were marked in dark red.
The situation was replicated in Queensland with large areas of the tourist-focused Gold Coast coloured in red, including Mermaid Waters.
Further inland from Brisbane, parts of Ipswich were coloured in green, including Riverview.
Mr Greenfield said the end of JobKeeper wage subsidies in September could see a surge in hospitality workers apply for JobSeeker unemployment benefits as coronavirus restrictions stifled an economic recovery.
'It's a problem across the country. It won't be constrained to any particular type of suburb - it will be people struggling across the board,' he said.
Despite the grim news for parts of Australia's biggest cities, Michael Matusik, the director of real estate advisory group Matusik Property Insights, predicted Sydney and Melbourne would between them generate two-thirds of Australia's new capital city jobs during the next five years.
'There has been some commentary about more people moving out of the major capitals and living in regional centres,' he said.
'This has been already happening when it comes to people downsizing or retiring, but it isnt commonplace when it comes to the most working households.'
In Melbourne, the working class suburb of Broadmeadows, in the city's north, was highlighted in green while St Kilda and Elwood by Port Phillip Bay were in red
Inner-city areas of Sydney and Melbourne have suffered a 10.6 per cent plunge in job numbers between March 14, shortly after the World Health Organisation in March declared a COVID-19 pandemic, and the end of May, Australian Bureau of Statistics payroll data showed.
Unemployment at a glance in May 2020 The jobless rate surged to 7.1 per cent in May - the highest since October 2001 This occurred as 227,700 people lost their job or gave up looking for one The ranks of the unemployed swelled to 927,600 - the highest number since December 1993 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force data for May Advertisement
Australia's unemployed rate surged to a 19-year high of 7.1 per cent in May, up from an upwardly revised 6.4 per cent in April.
Both the Reserve Bank of Australia and Treasury are expecting the jobless rate to hit ten per cent by the end of June, a level unseen since April 1994.
After Australia's last recession in 1991, unemployment stayed in double-digit figures for almost three years, at one point reaching the highest levels since the 1930s Great Depression.
ABS labour force data showed 227,700 people lost their job or gave up looking for one last month, following the second full month of coronavirus shutdowns.
The official number unemployed, where recipients are either receiving the dole or looking for work, rose in May by 85,700 to 927,600 - a 30.9 per cent increase compared with a year earlier.
The ranks of the unemployed are now at the highest level since December 1993, during an era when the jobless rate stayed in double-digit figures for almost three years after Australia's last recession in 1991.
The participation rate continued to plunge, falling from an already-low 63.6 per cent in April to 62.9 per cent in May - the lowest since January 2001 following the dot com bust.
PAW PAW, MI -- Students at Paw Paw Public Schools will soon be known as the Red Wolves, the district announced Monday.
The new mascot name will be presented to the Board of Education for approval at the July 13 meeting, the district said in a news release.
The announcement of the new mascot comes three months after the board voted to respectively retire the long-standing Redskins name, which officials said drew controversy and divide the community.
The Red Wolves nickname was selected after a process that began in early March and included more than 700 submissions and thousands of votes, community input and the guidance of a task force of 27 students, the district said.
The task force agreed the chosen nickname and imagery needed to be respectful, inclusive, and non-controversial and it had to bring people together in a unique way, the district said.
We wanted a mascot that represents our community that students can be proud of, said Paw Paw Middle School student Avery Miller, a member of the task force. It gives us an opportunity to be united and show unity in our community.
Related: Native American tribes applaud mascot change at Paw Paw schools
Superintendent Rick Reo said he was pleased to recommend the new name to the board because its a unique nickname for Paw Paw.
In choosing the Red Wolves, Paw Paw will be the only school district in the State of Michigan with the Red Wolves nickname, Reo said. We also see this as a way to stress the close connections between our school district and community. Red wolves are social animals and they run in packs. They are intelligent and loyal, and when hunting or protecting their territories or each other, they go all out. These are all qualities we want to develop in our students and programs.
The district is also currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education because the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan complained of a racially hostile educational environment. The investigation remained open as of May 29, according to the most recently updated information available on the Office of Civil Rights website.
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Ruckus was witnessed at an event attended by Union Minister Mahesh Sharma and J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday. Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra asked her if she considered Burhwan Wani and Afzal Guru as terrorists or not, inviting protests from her entourage.
Mishra said: It cant be that you dont accept Burhan Wani as a terrorist and then expect tourism to increase."
A teary eyed Mehbooba launched a counter attack and made strong statements on increasing number of rapes in Delhi.
Girls are very safe in Kashmir than any place in the world including Delhi, countered Mehbooba. "We can fight Pakistan, but how do we fight with people who give shelter to terrorists in J&K, Mishra asked.
In response, Mebooba said: Kashmir needs you, I don't know whether you need us. Biggest confidence building measure is if you visit our state; it will show that you trust us.
Mishra left the venue, saying he does not want to share the dais with her after he was forced to stop his address following strong protests from some in the audience and officials accompanying Mufti. Earlier, Mishra had said that tourism and terrorism cannot go together.
(With PTI inputs)
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Sacramento, CA While details are limited, Governor Gavin Newsom says he has reached an agreement with legislative leaders on a 2020-21 budget.
The state legislature passed a proposed new budget last week, but it had failed to garner Newsoms support.
Regarding the revised plan, to close a 54-billion shortfall, Newsom states, In the face of challenges, we have agreed on a budget that is balanced, responsible and protects core services education, health care, social safety net and emergency preparedness and response. This budget also invests in California small businesses harmed by the pandemic.
The spending plan calls for furlough days and reductions for various state employees. Higher education is also anticipating a 10-percent cut. It also cuts $4.4 billion in manufacturing tax breaks for businesses. Medi-Cal funding is expected to avoid cuts, and schools and community colleges would maintain current funding levels, but $12-billion would be deferred to future years, allowing districts to borrow against the money, with the state planning to pay them back later.
The plan also relies on billions of dollars in federal funds from the US Congress, but it is currently unclear if that money will materialize.
More details are expected to be announced in the coming days ahead of a vote.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 11:34:09|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Tuesday renewed a yellow alert for rainstorms across vast stretches of the country for the next 24 hours.
From Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, heavy rain and rainstorms are expected in the regions of Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Heilongjiang, as well as the Tibet Autonomous Region, the National Meteorological Center said.
Some of these regions will see up to 60 mm of hourly precipitation accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, the center said, warning that some areas in the provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan, Anhui and Guizhou will experience downpours with up to 180 mm of rainfall in the next 24 hours.
China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
Local authorities should take necessary precautions against possible flooding, landslides and mudslides caused by heavy rain and halt outdoor operations in hazardous areas, the national observatory said. Enditem
New Delhi, June 23 : After 11 hours long Corps Commander level talks between India and China, government sources on Tuesday said that the dialogue was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere and there was a "mutual consensus to disengage".
"Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed," government sources added.
The corps commanders of two countries' military met at Moldo on Monday to resolve the border issue and ease tension in Eastern Ladakh. This is the second such meeting after the first one on June 6 to defuse the tensions in Eastern Ladakh.
The meeting between 14 Corps commander Lieutenant General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin happened on the lines of the one they held at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting (BPM) point in eastern Ladakh on June 6.
Before this, Major General level dialogue took place for three consecutive days after the barbaric attack at patrolling point 14 in Galwan Valley on June 15 night where 20 Indian soldiers were killed. The three talks were to ease out the tense situation and to get released 10 Indian soldiers, including four officers, who were in Chinese captivity.
Major General Abhijit Bapat, who is the Commander of the 3 Division of the Indian Army, had raised several points with the Chinese with regard to the incident on the night intervening June 15-16.
The clash occurred at the South bank of Galwan river, which flows in an east-west direction before its confluence with Shayok river, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
It is the first casualties faced by Indian Army in a clash with the Chinese People's Liberation Army since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.
Sources said Indian Army troopers were outnumbered by 1:5 ratio when they came under attack from the Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers at patrolling point number 14 on the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.
China's PLA troopers "savagely attacked" Indian Army personnel, according to sources in the government with knowledge of the details of the June 15-16 night clashes between the two army soldiers.
"The numbers were stacked up against the Indian Army troopers. Yet, the Indian side decided to fight the PLA troopers. The Indian soldiers were outnumbered 1:5 by the Chinese troopers," the sources said on Wednesday.
China is also said to have used thermal imaging drones to trace the Indian Army soldiers scattered on the treacherous terrain before brutally attacking them.
"It was the deadliest attack carried on Indian Army personnel by the Chinese military personnel to our memory," the government sources said.
Indian Army said the soldiers went to the spot where the clashes happened without any animosity and were displaying friendly gestures to the Chinese side when they were there to check if the de-escalation agreement was being followed as promised.
Several Indian Army soldiers are currently "critically injured" and are undergoing treatment.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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Priti Patel has promised new laws to bar and remove foreign criminals from Britain, as she says anyone who abuses our hospitality will be deported.
The Home Secretary said she would accelerate legislation to crackdown on foreign offenders by making it easier and faster to remove them following the terror attack in Reading by a suspected Libyan asylum-seeker.
In a Commons statement on the knife attack in which three people died, she said: The Governments position is if you abuse our hospitality and commit crimes in the UK, we will do everything in our power to remove you.
I am also clear that tougher action is needed to speed up removals and deter foreign criminals from entering the UK. Its not always easy, there are barriers to overcome. That is something we will be looking at through other legislative means.
Ms Patel promised further and greater criminality checks at the border with new laws to bar any foreign national seeking to live or work in the UK who has been jailed for more than a year.
New legislation will also make it easier to deport those convicted of minor offences. At present, only those guilty of offences over 12 months face automatic deportation, which excludes offences like assaulting a police officer with its maximum one year sentence.
The changes could lower the 12 month limit or allow officials to take action on a case by case basis. The public would probably think that if you assault a police officer, you should be deported, said a source.
A new bill is expected to propose automatic prison sentences for any deported foreign criminal who returns to the UK. Currently they only face six months or a 5,000 fine. About 400 to 500 return each year.
Another option is to place time limits on asylum claims to force asylum seekers to put everything on the table in the first place to prevent cases being dragged out over years and years.
The moves follow evidence that the number of serious offenders deported from the UK has dropped by 40 per cent in the last four years from 5,218 in 2015 to 3,225 last year.
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President Trump followed up his underwhelmingly attended Tulsa rally this weekend by blocking visas for foreign workers coming into the U.S. The executive order, signed Monday, is expected to hit the tech sector especially hard and could ripple through others like, fashion, beauty and retail.
Trump inked the order as his previous suspension of green cards, also signed by executive order this spring, was due to expire. But this earlier move didnt target workers visas, reportedly thanks to pressure from American business leaders.
According to Rebecca Bernhard, a partner at international law firm Dorsey & Whitney in its immigration and labor and employment practices, the latest executive order builds on the restrictions the Trump administration implemented in April. In addition to extending those earlier restrictions, this new order now curtails the issuance of new work visas for H1B professional workers, H2B nonagricultural workers, nonphysician J-1 visas, and L-1 intra-company transferees, as well as their dependent family members, she said.
Trump casts the latest ban as a necessary measure, in light of spiking unemployment numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the order, he described these nonimmigrant visa programs as an unusual threat to American employment. Trump administration officials elaborated, telling reporters that the order would save as many as 525,000 jobs for American citizens in the face of this crisis.
But critics note that H1B workers tend to fill jobs that suffer from an applicant deficit. And the latest ban may just be the beginning.
The order hints at more immigration restrictions to come, although additional restrictions will not likely be issued through an executive order, Bernhard explained. Further policy is likely to be issued through the federal rule-making process which could take several months. President Trump has made it clear that he sees restricting immigration as a key campaign issue, so it is likely that as the election draws closer we will see further action on these issues.
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According to Thomas J. Donohue, the chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the order is tantamount to putting up a not welcome sign for engineers, executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses and other workers, and would send investment and economic activity elsewhere, ultimately curbing job growth.
BREAKING DOWN THE RESTRICTIONS
The scope of the latest executive order covers an array of jobs. While the immediate reaction from the tech sector focuses on H1B, the effect of the entire order could impact more than just Silicon Valley.
Bernhard broke down the visas at stake, as follows:
H1B visas affect positions demanding specialized education in fields like technology and science.
H2B visas cover seasonal workers in nonagricultural positions, including grounds keeping, housekeeping, meatpacking and production-oriented activities.
J1 visas span various areas, but generally apply to candidates seeking training or cultural experience in the U.S. Exemptions to J1 suspensions include doctors, medical researchers and, more obscurely, secondary school students.
L1 visas apply to international companies that want to transfer managers and executives from their foreign branches or subsidiaries to the U.S., she said.
Bernhard pointed out a few key exceptions, such as visa holders already in the U.S., workers in the food supply chain and production and health-care workers researching or treating COVID-19.
But the implications for fashion, retail and other industries seem apparent. H2Bs target seasonal and production workers, among others, while L1 visas may interfere with operations for global brands and other companies with worldwide locations and offices.
Meanwhile, H1B visas dont apply to the likes of Google and Amazon alone though as many as 9,000 H1B visa applications were green-lighted for each company last year.
It takes world-class engineering and scientific talent to elevate research and development efforts across a range of operations, from beauty and skin-care labs to apparel brands innovating in areas like textile technology, wearables, production and sustainability.
Also consider the hard lessons pushed on the retail community during the pandemic: As brick-and-mortar sales plummeted during massive lockdowns and tech-enabled businesses found themselves suddenly in pole position to serve homebound consumers, retails adoption of technology has only accelerated by as much as years, numerous experts have told WWD.
Suddenly artificial intelligence and machine learnings capacity to understand shoppers isnt a hard sell, nor are new experiences and interactions via augmented and mixed reality, chat bots and many other vehicles.
In other words, tech companies and their partners are looking at a policy that will throttle a key talent pipeline at the very moment when innovation and adoption is about to jump forward.
SWIFT AND FURIOUS REACTIONS
There is no doubt that the tech sector is showing concern over the ban. The reactions have been swift, furious and consistent.
A statement from Amazon called the action shortsighted and detrimental to the U.S.s interests.
Preventing high-skilled professionals from entering the country and contributing to Americas economic recovery puts Americans global competitiveness at risk, the company wrote. The value of high-skilled visa programs is clear, and we are grateful for the many Amazon employees from around the world who have come to the U.S. to innovate new products and services for our customers. Welcoming the best and the brightest global talent to the U.S. is more important than ever, and we will continue to support efforts that will preserve their ability to strengthen our economy.
Sundar Pichai, ceo of Google parent company Alphabet, tweeted that 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 was born and raised in India, and received degrees from Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania before eventually joining Google.
Salesforces top legal officer, Amy E. Weaver, didnt mince words, tweeting that H1B workers generate innovation and growth that benefits us all and it will hurt the U.S. economic recovery and U.S. innovation leadership to further restrict H1B visas.
Hot off of Apples developer conference keynote on Monday a presentation that kicked off with a pledge to support diversity and equality ceo Tim Cook shared his disappointment with Twitter followers: Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream. There is no new prosperity without both. Deeply disappointed by this proclamation.
Companies from YouTube, Twitter and Facebook to Tesla, Uber and many others have issued similar sentiments.
Susan Wojcicki, ceo of Alphabet-owned YouTube, noted that Immigration is central to Americas story, and its central to my own familys story. My family escaped danger and found a new home in America. Sundar Pichai is right at YouTube, we join Google in standing with immigrants and working to expand opportunity for all.
In public comments, Facebook called the order nothing short of a justification for limiting immigration.
Trump has railed against immigration and related matters for years, turning it into his administrations marquee issue. He endorsed a Republican Senate bill that aimed to cut legal immigration in half in 2017, the same year he introduced a travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Since then, the matter of immigration has yielded numerous controversies for the U.S., including attempts to build a wall on the Mexican border, steeply restrict asylum requests, separate families and detain migrants including children in conditions the United Nations Human Rights chief said last year might violate international law.
Congressional Republicans have largely lined up behind the administrations actions. But a surprise twist popped up in May: Nine Republican senators, including South Carolinas Lindsey Graham and John Cornyn from Texas, wrote a letter asking President Trump to reevaluate his looming immigration restrictions on guest workers, explaining that they are needed to boost American business, not take American jobs.
As for timing, pundits have noted Trumps knack for changing the national conversation when hes unhappy with news coverage, so that may have had some effect. On Saturday, after setting expectations of nearly a million attendees at Trumps Tulsa rally, his campaign saw far fewer in attendance.
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Drones can take spectacular photos of whales and other marine life or they can harass them to the point of distress.
To help drone operators observe animals without inadvertently harming them, Alicia Amerson founded the San Diego-based company AliMoSphere, which trains drone pilots to fly safely in marine environments.
She aims to provide guidance about drone flights in wildlife areas, in the absence of clear state or federal rules governing the practice.
Theres no rule for flying drones over marine wildlife, she said. Its very confusing and vague. Theres just a lot of gray space here. What we want to do, until we have regulations, we want to promote very conscious, safe and reliable flying.
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As whale-watching season approaches, more ship captains and private boat owners are deploying drones to view the animals. But the drones may confuse migrating whales, and disturb other marine life.
Drones flown over rookeries can provoke seals and sea lions to flush, crushing or abandoning pups, she said. Hovering too close to cliff-side nests, they can cause sea birds to flee their nests.
However, they can also be useful tools for scientific research and wildlife observation.
One of the great things about this technology is it allows scientists to collect data in 30 minutes that would take a day to collect, Amerson said.
Researchers with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts announced that they recently captured a sample of the exhalation from humpback whales blow using a hexacopter a method less distressing for the animals than approaching in a boat. Other researchers use them for photographic surveys of the animals.
In a photo shot by a DJI Phantom 4 hexacopter drone, a humpback whales surfaces and exhales a rainbow breath (Geoff Shester)
I think theres a major opportunity to get closer to wildlife to better understand them, to learn about them and to experience them through the use of these drones, said Geoff Shester, California program manager for the conservation group Oceana, who has shot aerial photos of whales with drones. But we want to make sure, before anyone promotes that, to do it responsibly.
Amerson developed the idea for AliMoSphere to help drone pilots navigate those issues. The company provides a three-day pilot training session for drone operators working toward commercial licenses, as well as seminars on the use of drones in whale-watching cruises and conservation areas.
Amerson, 39, became interested in the issue while completing a masters degree in marine conservation and biodiversity at Scripps Institution of Oceanograpy at UC San Diego. For her masters thesis, she studied practices of whale-watching tours along the West Coast. During one of those cruises, she saw something peculiar on the water.
I was on a boat, watching another boat watching a whale, when she saw what appeared to be a strange bird hovering over the whale. I thought, what a funny seagull then I got my camera out and it was actually a drone, like a robotic seagull.
Thats not uncommon said Christopher FitzSimmons, an education specialist for Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. Whale-watching season now extends nearly year round, as gray whales migrate earlier in the fall sometimes as soon as mid-November and boats seek other species such as humpback, blue, minke and fin whales at other times of year.
We are seeing an increase in the use of drones with both private and commercial vessels, he said. There are concerns about safety, and there just isnt enough information.
Two years ago, Amerso completed a California Sea Grant fellowship as a resource consultant for Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. In his office, she worked on a variety of projects concerning marine conservation and marine mammal safety. As part of that, she convened a marine wildlife task force for unmanned aerial systems, to establish best practices for flying drones in marine habitats.
Right now, the best rule of thumb is just dont fly over marine wildlife, she said. Just keep your distance. Dont fly close, dont fly overhead. Minimize your exposure time.
Drone pilots should also understand air space regulations and seek information on sensitive areas and wildlife in the areas where theyre operating, she said. They should also maintain the same 100-yard distance that boats must observe near marine mammals. And pilots should educate themselves about air space regulations, and sensitive wildlife in areas where they operate.
Plan ahead to reduce your impact to wildlife what wildlife you may encounter and any flight restrictions, such as in a sanctuary, Amerson said. Reach out to (wildlife) experts and ask them to identify key disturbance behavior. If you see (animals) acknowledging the drone, you should back off.
deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
New Delhi, June 23 : Almost a month after the Delhi government approved the appointment of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and other Central government counsel as Special Public Prosecutors in a case relating to the Delhi riots, the Delhi High Court was again witness to another battle of words between the lawyers of the Centre and the state as to who will represent the Delhi Police.
The Delhi government had last month appraised the high court that as per a communication dated May 29 issued by the Deputy Secretary, Home, Mehta, Additional Solicitors General Maninder Acharya and Aman Lekhi besides government counsel Amit Mahajan and Rajat Nair were appointed as special public prosecutors to represent Delhi Police in one of the riot cases.
On Monday, while the high court was hearing the bail application of Jamia Millia scholar and Jamia Coordination Committee member Safoora Zargar through video conferencing, Delhi government's Standing Counsel (Criminal) Rahul Mehra clashed with the SG and Lekhi.
Objecting to the appearance of the two senior law officers on behalf of Delhi Police in the case, he stated that unlike another matter pertaining to the Delhi riots in which requisite approval was sought by the Delhi Police to be represented by the SG and his team, no such procedure was followed in the present case.
"I am an officer of the court and I am not supposed to be a mouthpiece of the police. They know that my approach in such a case would be more humanitarian and not according to their whims and fancies," Mehra submitted.
In response, Lekhi said: "A client chooses the advocate, the lawyer can't impose himself on the client." While the matter ended with the court posting the hearing on Tuesday, the fight also entered another courtroom where a separate matter connected to the said riots was being heard.
The next incident occurred before the court of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, who was hearing an application filed by the police seeking cancellation of bail granted to Rajdhani school owner Faisal Farooqui who was among 18 people who were arrested in a case of rioting and for burning down an adjacent school in the area on February 24.
When the matter began, Mehta appeared for the Delhi Police, but, simultaneously Mehra too also entered his appearance and submitted before the court that the Central government has no power to file the present petition.
Responding to the same, Mehta submitted that he has received instructions from the Central government to file the present petition and to appear before this court. However, Mehra disputed this and the Solicitor General, "out of disgust" submitted before the court that in such a situation, he seeks permission to withdraw his name from the present case.
The court then renotified the matter for a later hour in the day to resolve the issue.
In the second half, Lekhi entered his appearance in place of Mehta and APP Amit Chadha appeared in place of Mehra, who was appearing in another court.
Chadha told the court that the controversy will be resolved during the course of the day and jointly sought adjournment, following which the court also posted the matter for Tuesday.
This isn't the first time the counsel of both governments are at loggerheads. In March, the never-ending tussle between the Centre and the Delhi governments was in full display inside the high court over the same issue.
The debate had led to a heated argument between Mehra and Additional Solicitor General Maninder Kaur Acharya when the former submitted that he is the designated counsel to represent Delhi Police in the case.
Mehra had also said that he has not been issued any written intimation about Acharya in this regard. "I deserve this much dignity. If you route it through my office, I would cooperate. In three cases, I withdrew on request." As at this the ASG commented: "He has a bit of a politician in him", Mehra, objecting strongly to the statement, replied: "I am an officer of the court. I won't take such statements. ASG should take back her words." The bench asked the two lawyers to calm down and said: "Put your house in order by the next date of hearing." On February 27, Lt Governor Anil Baijal appointed Mehta, Acharya and few others to represent Delhi Police in the matters relating to the violence that erupted on February 23.
While this year, it was the Delhi riots that became the cause of "Mahabharata" between the Modi and Kejriwal government, back in 2016, former JNUSU President and left leader Kanhaiya Kumar and his case regarding the seditious remarks became the reason of the rift.
As soon as the hearing on Kanhaiya Kumar's bail plea commenced before a bench of Justice Pratibha Rani, Mehra opposed the appearance of then ASG Mehta, ASG Sanjay Jain and others. Mehra said that he was a senior standing counsel appointed by the full court reference of the High Court and if there was no notification empowering the ASGs to appear in the matter, they cannot represent the state.
"If they don't have the notification, they can't stand on their legs before this court," Mehra said. ASG Jain had then responded: "Once the ASGs are appearing in this matter, you have no business to interfere in it." Mehra, then in rage, said: "They have crossed the 'Laxman Rekha' and I will not allow this unless the court passes an order. I am appointed by the full court reference of this court. As a senior standing counsel, I am not allowed to argue in the matter and they are here on LG's unofficial order."
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Taking a cue from the previous government that led the ambitious 701-km Mumbai-Nagpur expressway or Samruddhi corridor, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government has taken the first step towards constructing a 500-km greenfield Konkan expressway.
The states infrastructure arm, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) on Tuesday issued a request for proposal to appoint consultancy services to prepare a feasibility report and detailed project report on the expressway.
In March, state urban development minister Eknath Shinde had announced that a greenfield expressway will be constructed along the Maharashtra coastline, connecting the three districts of Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The state is looking at starting the expressway from Chirle in Raigad where the under-construction 22km sea-bridge the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) ends.
The expressway will extend till Patradevi at the Maharashtra-Goa border in Sindhudurg district.
Shinde had said that the project would help boost coastal tourism and reduce stress on the Mumbai-Goa National Highway.
Radheshyam Mopalwar, vice-chairman and managing director, MSRDC, said, The consultant will be expected to look at the feasibility of the project along with the social and environmental impact. It will also propose a financial model that can be adopted.
MSRDC has undertaken the construction of the Samruddhi corridor at 55,000 crore. It will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Nagpur to eight hours.
The corporation has also undertaken the construction of the Versova-Bandra sea link at 7,000 crore and is looking to extend it till Virar at an additional cost of 24,000 crore.
Transport experts said that the expenditure on a new mega project needs to be justified by the government.
Any road project means high expenditure. If the project is looking at boosting public transport, then it can benefit people. Also, the Konkan railway is still not utilised to its full potential, so there needs to be a better reason for the new project, said Paresh Rawal, a Mumbai-based transport expert.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tanushree Venkatraman Tanushree Venkatraman is a Multimedia Correspondent covering civic issues and governance in Mumbai. ...view detail
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Linkedin Rachel Savage (Reuters) London Wed, June 24, 2020 01:07 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406611a128 2 Lifestyle jk-rowling,transgender-rights,feminism,books,authors Free
Three authors who left J. K. Rowling's literary agency over her views on transgender issues said on Tuesday they were disappointed that it had not taken up their offer to discuss trans rights or made a statement in support of the community.
Trans writers Fox Fisher and Ugla Stefania Kristjonudottir Jonsdottir, known as Owl, gay novelist Drew Davies and a fourth unnamed author said they were "saddened" to leave The Blair Partnership because of its refusal to speak up for trans rights.
Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling sparked controversy with an essay this month linking her experience of sexual assault to her concern over trans women's access to women-only spaces, which she said offered cover to "predators".
"It was never about changing anyone's opinion or censoring anyone," Jonsdottir told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a joint phone call with partner Fisher.
"But for us it was about having an open and an honest conversation within the agency about trans rights and being trans people within the agency, for us as clients but also potential other clients or even staff."
A spokeswoman for The Blair Partnership, which also represents boxer Tyson Fury and retired Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy, said in an emailed statement that the agency was "disappointed" the four authors had left.
"We believe in freedom of speech for all; these clients have decided to leave because we did not meet their demands to be re-educated to their point of view," she said.
"We value all our authors' voices and, as an agency, champion equality and inclusivity."
J. K. Rowling declined to comment.
In Britain and the United States, there is heated debate over what it means to be a woman, pitting trans activists against some feminists who believe hard-won rights for women should remain ring-fenced for those born into that gender.
Access to single-sex spaces such as domestic violence refuges and bathrooms is a key flashpoint, with opponents of trans rights saying predatory men could pose as trans women to gain access to such places.
US women's rights groups said in 2016 that 200 municipalities that let trans people use their shelters and services saw no rise in sexual violence or public safety issues as a result.
"Agencies bring authors like me into their agency to be part of that diverse voice," said Davies. "But when it comes down to having meaningful conversations in terms of diversity that becomes much more challenging."
The Blair Partnership declined to comment further.
Kildare Co Council is to hold a special one-day event across the county soon to spruce up local areas following the Covid-19 lockdown.
Residents Associations, Tidy Towns groups and individuals are being encouraged to take pride in their local areas.
The Council also hopes to motivate people who mightnt ordinarily get involved in clean-ups of this type.
A Council spokesperson said: We intend to hold a local National Spring Clean day in the county as the event planned for earlier this year didnt go ahead due to the public health restrictions around Covid-19.
As part of a designated clean-up day last year, the Council collected waste by agreement with local organisers in the days following.
Another clean-up initiative cancelled due to the lockdown was the National Spring Clean event which encouraged communities to tackle the problem of litter.
National Spring Clean
The National Spring Clean is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in partnership with local authorities and supported by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
Nationally, hundreds of thousands of volunteers took part in 2019 and several tonnes of litter was collected, of which a large portion was recycled.
The issue of lockdown litter was raised at a recent meeting of Clane-Maynooth Municipal District when Cllr Darragh Fitzpatrick called for the Council to provide free skips to local communities to discourage litter and illegal dumping.
Councillors agreed that because of the national Tidy Towns Competition being cancelled, local groups needed an impetus to continue to maintain their local areas.
The politicians also insisted that funding to local groups working in this area should continue if possible.
The White House is defending the use of kung flu after President Donald Trump used the phrase to describe the coronavirus at a campaign rally over the weekend.
If you could have heard the reports, the reports, oh, its Covid its a disease without question that has more names than any disease in history, Trump told an audience of 6,200 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday. I can name Kung flu. I can name 19 different versions of names.
On Monday, Syracuse University alumna and CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang asked White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany why Trump is using the racist phrase.
Last July, President Trump declared himself the least racist person there is anywhere in the world, Jiang said. Why does he use racist phrases like Kung flu?
The president doesnt, McEnany responded. The president points to the fact that the origin of the virus is China. Its a fair thing to point out as China tried to ridiculously rewrite history, ridiculously blames the coronavirus on American soldiers. This is what China is trying to do.
Thats what hes saying by using the racist phrase kung flu? Jiang asked. What does he have to say to Asian-Americans who are deeply offended and worry his use will lead to further attacks of discrimination?
McEnany deflected, saying Trump has said very clearly that it is important that we protect our Asian community in the U.S. and around the world. They are amazing people and the spreading of the virus is not their fault in any way, shape or form. They are working closely with us to get rid of it.
Deadline reports McEnany also pointed to some mainstream media outlets referring to the coronavirus as the China virus. To be clear, I think the media is trying to play games on the terminology of this virus, McEnany added.
.@weijia asks McEnany why President Trump "uses racist phrases, like 'kung flu'" when discussing coronavirus.
McEnany doesn't answer whether the White House believes the phrase is racist, and says "the media is trying to play games with the terminology" https://t.co/Nj065CIsxp pic.twitter.com/Ti6wzUVqJH CBS News (@CBSNews) June 22, 2020
Trump was previously criticized for calling coronavirus the Chinese virus as reports of hate crimes against Asian-Americans increased since the pandemic began. Jiang said in March that a White House official referred to Covid-19 as kung flu to her face.
Jiang also clashed with President Trump last month when he claimed that the U.S. is doing better than other countries in coronavirus testing.
Why does that matter? she asked. Why is this a global competition to you if every day Americans are still losing their lives and we are still seeing more cases every day?
Maybe thats a question you should ask China, Trump responded. Dont ask me. Ask China that question, OK?
Jiang was born in Xiamen, China, and raised in West Virginia, where she immigrated with her parents at age 2. She graduated from SUs Newhouse School in 2006 with a masters degree in broadcast journalism and is an active member of the Asian American Journalists Association.
In a New York Post interview last month, Trump singled out Jiang and her CBS News co-worker Paula Reid as two reporters who particularly irritated him during White House briefings.
It wasnt Donna Reed, I can tell you that, Trump told the Post, referring to the Its A Wonderful Life actress who later played a mother in the 50s and 60s sitcom The Donna Reed Show.
Paula Reid, shes sitting there and I say, How angry. I mean, whats the purpose? Theyre not even tough questions, but you see the attitude of these people, its like incredible, Trump said.
The U.S. has confirmed more than 2.3 million cases of coronavirus and over 120,000 deaths from Covid-19, which was first reported in China in December 2019. As of Tuesday, China has reported just 84,000 cases and less than 5,000 deaths.
Just now I asked the President if he was kidding when he said he told his people to slow down testing, which is how White House officials explained the comment.
He said, I dont kid.
He also said again testing is a double-edged sword, and praised the job the U.S. has done. Weijia Jiang (@weijia) June 23, 2020
Cambodias Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation notified the Vietnamese Embassy on June 22 of the termination of the validity of a March diplomatic note on restricting cross-border travel between the two countries.
People in Cambodia wear face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19
The ministry issued a six-point announcement on March 18 related to cross-border travel between the two countries amid the spread of COVID-19, with entry by Vietnamese and Cambodian citizens into the other country by road, waterway, or air suspended from March 20. The restriction was not applied to those holding diplomatic and official passports.
The announcement also said that Cambodia proposed local agencies in both countries coordinate to ensure that cross-border transportation of goods was not disrupted.
In its latest dispatch, the Cambodian ministry said the March diplomatic notes validity was terminated on June 19.
It added that measures in an announcement dated May 20 by the Cambodian inter-ministry committee for COVID-19 combat as well as relevant measures the committee issued later are applicable to all countries, and they will be applied on cross-border travel between Cambodia and Vietnam.
On May 20, Cambodias Ministry of Health said it had lifted the ban on entry into the country for visitors from Italy, Iran, Germany, Spain, France, and the US, which was originally imposed to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Foreigners still need to produce certificates affirming that they are free from the coronavirus 72 hours prior to entry and prove that they have health insurance covering costs of 50,000 USD during their stay in Cambodia. They will also be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival at areas designated by the Cambodian Government and must undergo testing./.VNA
A Brazilian federal judge on Tuesday ordered President Jair Bolsonaro to comply with local rules to wear a face mask whenever he is outdoors in the capital of Brasilia.
In recent weekends, a sometimes unmasked Bolsonaro has joined throngs of people protesting against Brazil's Congress and Supreme Court and he has often visited bakeries and outdoor food stalls, drawing crowds around him.
Brazil's federal district requires people to wear face masks in public to help control the spread of the new coronavirus. Failure to comply carries a possible daily fine of USD 390.
Judge Renato Coelho Borelli said in his ruling that Bolsonaro "has exposed other people to the contagion of a disease that has caused national commotion."
Bolsonaro often appeas in public events with a mask, unlike some other heads of state, including US President Donald Trump, Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Argentina's Alberto Fernandez, who has often hugged supporters and taken selfies with them while not wearing a mask, although use of a mask is mandatory in Argentina's the capital.
The Brazilian president has downplayed the risk of COVID-19 and insisted the negative economic impacts of social isolation will be worse than the harm caused by the virus. More than 51,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Brazil.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a US$4.65 million grant to Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) to help the school reach its goal of international accreditation.
The award signing ceremony, hosted at FUVs Crescent Plaza campus in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink, USAID Vietnam mission director Michael Greene, and FUV president Dam Bich Thuy.
This new two-year assistance grant to FUV follows successful USAID funding of $7.2 million from 2017 to 2020.
While previous U.S. government support from USAID and the State Department helped FUV to build its initial foundations, from establishing its institutional governance structure to developing its academic program and providing financial assistance to incoming students, the new grant will support investments that advance the universitys goal of international accreditation.
USAID will also help FUV develop executive education and other programs so the university may begin serving Vietnams professional community and labor force.
Additionally, the grant will support FUVs efforts to develop shared value partnerships with the Southeast Asian countrys technology, manufacturing, and service industry sectors.
I am proud of all that we have accomplished together, and I am confident that the coming two years of this USAID-FUV partnership are going to deliver long-term impacts to this university and benefits to Vietnam, Ambassador Kritenbrink was quoted as saying at Mondays ceremony in a USAID press release.
On behalf of the school, FUV president Thuy said she was grateful to continue receiving support from USAID to develop Fulbright University Vietnam, not only in institutional development but also in gaining international recognition.
With this grant, FUV will continue to lead the way in building a rich and innovative teaching and learning environment in Vietnam, for Vietnamese students, Thuy was quoted as stating.
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BIG RAPIDS The JCPenney store in downtown Big Rapids is closing its doors.
The Big Rapids location recently reopened its doors back up to in-store shoppers, but will likely be closing by September.
"It was definitely a surprise," Elizabeth Keena, a store supervisor, told the Pioneer.
Keena said said was informed of the closure on Monday
"It seemed like a last minute decision," she said.
The decision to permanently close the Big Rapids location was part of Phase II of JCPenney's store closures. The company filed for bankruptcy last month.
These decisions were made based on a comprehensive evaluation of our retail footprint and a careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for JCPenney, Dione Martin, corporate communications director, stated in an email to the Pioneer.
The first phase closed 136 stores nationwide, and a third phase of closures is to be expected in the future.
Related: JCPenney in Big Rapids is closing
According to Keena, about 10-20 employees returned to the store after its temporary closure caused by the coronavirus. Now, after less than two weeks of being back up and running, many of these employees will once again be without a job.
"It's like being hit by a bus," Keena said.
While the store likely will not close until September, a store-wide closing sale is set to begin July 3.
JCPenney is located at 125 S. Michigan Avenue.
Curbside pickup is only available for existing online orders at closing stores. The service will no longer be available on new orders.
Other stores in Michigan to close include Greenville, Alma, Bay City, Mount Pleasant, Okemos and Owosso.
Artificial intelligence has been one of the fastest-growing technologies in recent years. AI is associated with human intelligence with similar characteristics, such as language understanding, reasoning, learning, problem solving, and others. Manufacturers in the market witness enormous underlying intellectual challenges in the development and revision of such technology.
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AI is positioned at the core of the next-gen software technologies in the market. Companies, such as Google, IBM, Microsoft, and other leading players, have actively implemented AI as a crucial part of their technologies.
The increase in number of innovative start-ups and advancements in technology have led to rise in investment in artificial intelligence technologies. Moreover, escalating demand for analyzing and interpreting large amount of data boosts the requirement of artificial intelligence industry solutions. Moreover, development of more reliable cloud computing infrastructures and improvements in dynamic artificial intelligence solutions have a strong impact on the growth potential of the AI market.
However, lack of trained and experienced staff hinders the growth of the enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) market. Furthermore, increase in adoption of AI in developing economies, such as China, and India are expected to provide major opportunities for the market growth in the upcoming years. Also, on-going developments in smart virtual assistants and robots are anticipated to be opportunistic for the growth of the enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) market.
The global enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) market is segmented on the basis of deployment type, technology, organization size, industry vertical, and region. Based on deployment type, the market is bifurcated into cloud and on-premise. Based on technology, the market is divided into machine learning, natural language processing, image processing, and speech recognition.
Based on organization size, the market is classified into large enterprises and small & medium enterprises. Depending on industry vertical, the market is segmented into media & advertising, BFSI, IT & telecom, retail, healthcare, automotive & transportation, and others. Based on region, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
The report includes the profiles of key players operating in the market analysis. These include Alphabet Inc. (Google Inc.), Apple Inc., Amazon Web Services, Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, IPsoft Inc., MicroStrategy Incorporated, NVIDIA Corporation, SAP, Verint, and Wipro Limited.
KEY BENEFITS
The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) market trends, key driving factors, and potential areas for product investments.
Key players are analyzed with respect to their primary offerings, recent investments, and future development strategies.
Porters five forces analysis illustrates the potency of buyers and suppliers operating in the industry.
The quantitative analysis of the global enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) market share from 2018 to 2026 is provided to determine the market potential.
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KEY MARKET SEGMENTS
BY DEPLOYMENT TYPE
Cloud
On-premise
BY TECHNOLOGY
Machine Learning
Natural Language Processing
Image Processing
Speech Recognition
BY ORGANIZATION SIZE
Large Enterprises
Small & Medium Enterprises
BY INDUSTRY VERTICAL
Media & Advertising
BFSI
IT & Telecom
Retail
Healthcare
Automotive & Transportation
Others
BY REGION
North America
or US
or Canada
Europe
or UK
or Germany
or France
or Russia
or Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific
or China
or Japan
or India
or Australia
or Rest of Asia-Pacific
LAMEA
or Latin America
or Middle East
or Africa
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KEY MARKET PLAYERS PROFILED IN THE REPORT
Alphabet Inc. (Google Inc.)
Apple Inc.
Amazon Web Services, Inc.
International Business Machines Corporation
IPsoft Inc.
MicroStrategy Incorporated
NVIDIA Corporation
SAP
Verint
Wipro Limited
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) The Philippine government has created a task force which will assist and facilitate the return of thousands of Filipinos stranded in Sabah, Malaysia, Malacanang said Tuesday.
The task force will manage and handle the concerns of the 5,300 Filipino returnees in Sandakan, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his virtual media briefing.
The group will be comprised of officials from lead agencies Social Welfare Department, the Health Department, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the Bureau of Quarantine.
Roque noted the trips which will start on June 30 will be done in batches of 400 persons, with 15-day interval in between travels. The processing area will be in Zamboanga City, he added.
The spokesman likewise thanked Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco for the move. Climaco earlier raised concerns on the local governments capacity to let in thousands of Filipino evacuees from the said area.
A report by Kuala Lumpur-based news website Malaysian Insight earlier this month identified the Filipinos as illegal immigrants who were "stranded" in temporary detention centers in Sabah after the Philippine government refused to accept their repatriation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ: Zambo City gov't wary on repatriation of thousands of Sabah evacuees
Over 60,000 overseas workers have been sent back home to the Philippines from various countries from May 3 to June 22, national government data showed.
To date, the country has recorded over 30,000 cases of the infectious disease.
The findings released Monday are based on billing records for people on Medicare who have contracted the virus. They echo the commonly understood pattern that black Americans are more likely to test positive for the virus and to be hospitalized for covid-19, the disease it causes, than other racial and ethnic groups. But they also point to the role of poverty as the pandemic has sped through U.S. communities in the winter and spring.
TOKYO, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Popular Japan-based real-estate developer Global Agents announced last week that they would implement an industry-defining health and safety program at all of their hotels across Japan. In addition to improved cleaning measures, the company revealed new guidelines, a contactless check-in process and COVID-19 contact tracing methodology. The company developed this new program to ensure that guests enjoy a safe, clean and stress-free travel experience this summer.
Global Agents has developed a new App to ensure the safety of their guests and employees.
"For over 15 years, Global Agents has been dedicated to taking care of our guests with a focus on exemplary service and trust. Today, these values are more critical than ever. As we begin to welcome back guests to our hotels across Japan, we are committed to providing them with a safe environment that aligns with new expert protocols. We want everyone to know that when the time comes to travel once again, we will be ready to welcome you back to a completely safe environment with outstanding hospitality," said Takeshi Yamasaki, President and CEO of Global Agents.
Global Agents is going above and beyond normal protocols in order to meet the CEO's vision of a safe and clean experience for their guests. The company states that they are increasing the frequency that they clean and disinfect all high traffic common areas. Stations with hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are also available throughout the property, including but not limited to entrances and exits and high traffic areas. Signage in public spaces offers friendly reminders to guests to maintain safety protocols and social distancing. Finally, common areas are now equipped with a 24-hour ventilation system that completely replaces the air inside every 20 minutes.
In guest rooms, the company added to its rigorous protocols to ensure all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants and updated practices for cleaning tools and managing in-room amenities, linens and more.
In addition, the group is also enforcing guest regulations with new safety protocols in order to protect the safety and security of both guests and team members. Those include a temperature check of each guest at check-in and the right to refuse guests with a body temperature exceeding 37.5.
Global Agents has also developed a new application that will present guests with a brand new contactless hotel experience, starting with a more personalized and convenient way for guests to check-in and check-out through their own personal devices that will save them time, bypass reception and avoid the usual check-in queues. During their stay, guests can use this application to call the front desk, browse through the restaurant menus and order food. Global Agents is also using technology to aid in these efforts, with limited-contact services in place at their dining locations.
The application will also allow guests to know if they have been in close contact with someone who has contracted the coronavirus during their stay at the hotel. If a current or previous guest is found to be infected, people who stayed during the same period of that individual will be notified that they were in close contact with a coronavirus-infected person, and be prompted to seek medical consultation. Such a message will be sent only if the infected individual gives consent, and the person with a positive diagnosis will remain anonymous to anyone who receives a notification. This system allows guests to get early support from a public health center. Global Agents is actually the first company in Japan to introduce this technology in the private sector.
Global Agents was founded in 2005 and has enjoyed great success in the Japanese rental market with Social Apartment, their brand of co-living spaces. The company has grown at an exponential rate with the opening of five new lifestyle hotels in 2019, including three new branches of their urban street-art brand "THE LIVELY." Global Agents' portfolio now includes a total of 11 lifestyle hotels and more than 40 co-living properties across the country.
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GLOBAL AGENTS - NEW TECHNOLOGY SERVICE
Global Agents has developed a new App to ensure the safety of their guests and employees.
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SOURCE Global Agents Co. Ltd
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) A military officer was killed, while nine other soldiers were wounded in a clash with local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf in Patikul, Sulu.
The Western Mindanao Command said the soldiers of the 32nd Infantry Battalion clashed with an unknown number of local terrorists in Sitio Tubig Bukayon, Barangay Pansul on Monday.
It remains unknown how many were killed or wounded on the Abu Sayyaf side, but the military said there has been no let up in its operations against the group amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"As we actively support the civil government in preventing the spread of COVID-19, we also ensure that the people in the community are safe and secured from the terrorism," WesMinCom Commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said in a statement on Monday.
On the same day, President Rodrigo Duterte said terrorism is "number one" among the government's concerns. However, he said that he doesn't view the Abu Sayyaf as the top terrorist group in the country. He said the top concern in terms of terrorism are the "high-value target communists."
The Abu Sayyaf has been blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization. The group has a history of ransom kidnappings, brutal beheadings, bombings, and extortion.
Belarus has come under international pressure for a crackdown on media in which at least 14 journalists were detained and three convicted for their coverage of protests against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka last week.
Dozens of trials, including around 50 in the capital, Minsk, were held on June 22 for participants of the so-called chains of solidarity protests. Most were charged with participating in an unauthorized event or disobeying the police.
Some of those who faced trials were journalists who were covering protests on June 19-20 supporting potential independent and opposition presidential candidates.
In an e-mail to RFE/RL, the U.S. State Department called on the government of Belarus to improve its record with respect to human rights and democracy and meet its human rights obligations and OSCE commitments, including those related to free and fair elections.
"Free and fair elections are about more than what happens on election day. We call on the government of Belarus to ensure a level playing field for all who wish to take part in the election, including in regards to candidate registration, access to media, and other aspects of the campaign," the State Department said, adding that "respecting fundamental freedoms, including the freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression, and association is crucial to strengthening the U.S.-Belarus bilateral relationship."
People turned out on June 19, the last day to sign ballot petitions for those seeking to run in the Belarusian presidential election on August 9, when Lukashenka, 65, will be seeking a sixth term in office.
The harassment of media comes as Lukashenka widens a crackdown on opposition leaders and activists, including the arrest of a top potential presidential candidate, in what experts say is the biggest challenge yet to Lukashenka's rule.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists and 40 media outlets in the country issued a joint statement on June 23 demanding from the government stop the "persecution of journalists" and accused authorities of violence against media members.
"Some of the detained reporters, namely Alyaksandr Paznyak and Syarhey Bahrou in [the southwestern city of] Hantsavichy, were beaten during detention. And often police attacked journalists even during live broadcasts, and the violations of the journalists' rights were obvious," the statement said, adding that Belarusian laws guarantee journalists the right to carry out their professional duties.
Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) accused the Belarusian authorities of trying to gag the media and keep suppressing all forms of pluralism, both political and journalistic.
In a statement, the head of the Paris-based media freedom watchdogs Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, Jeanne Cavelier, urged the European Union to press the Belarusian government to end the harassment of journalists and release of all those held behind bars.
A day earlier, the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) decried Minsk's crackdown on the media ahead of the election.
Belarusian authorities should stop the detentions, arrests, and prosecutions of journalists covering protests in the run-up to Belarus presidential election, and ensure their safety, said Gulnoza Said, CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. Journalists should be allowed to freely report on important public events without fear of arrest or harassment.
The CPJ said Paznyak and Bahrou, journalists for the independent news website Hantsavitski Chas (Hantsavichy Time) were convicted. Paznyak was fined $340 and Bahrou was sentenced to 15 days in detention.
A court in Babruysk, in eastern Belarus, convicted Syarhey Latsinski, a journalist for the human rights news outlet Viasna, and sentenced him to 10 days in jail for allegedly participating in the protests.
The CPJ said it had learned of the convictions from Barys Haretski, the head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
Haretski said police beat both Bahrou and Paznyak while in detention.
Among those detained on June 19 were RFE/RL reporter Alyaksandra Dynko and her cameraman, Andrey Rabchyk.
Acting RFE/RL President Daisy Sindelar condemned the journalists' detention.
"These are direct attacks on the independent press and the rights of Belarus citizens to be informed about important developments in their country," she said on June 20.
Belarus is ranked 153rd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2020 World Press Freedom Index.
(Natural News) You cant find much truth anymore on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Google, as the evil tech giants have censored or deplatformed nearly every voice of truth and reason.
Now, the alternative platforms like Brighteon.com, Parler.com, Gab.com and others are experiencing a surge in new users as intelligent people are fleeing the evil tech giants and moving to freedom to think platforms where they can find compelling information.
Over the last several weeks, Ive made it a point to interview some of the most intriguing and well-informed people in the world on issues of economics, censorship, liberty, health freedom, government tyranny and more. Below, youll find a selection of recent interviews with many of these people. Watch and learn.
Note that you will not be able to share any of these interviews on Facebook, Instagram, etc., because those monopolistic tech giants are banning all links from alternative platforms as a form of blatant viewpoint discrimination and anti-competitive behavior. This is why you need to move your accounts and followers over to Parler.com, Brighteon.com and other platforms as soon as possible, then share these interviews there.
A list of the interviews:
John Rubino from DollarCollapse.com, who warns about the coming economic chaos:
Brighteon.com/2602ad83-42d9-48cd-9384-baa58d60256a
Congressional candidate Laura Loomer from Loomered.com, on the extreme censorship of the tech giants:
Brighteon.com/0ff143c7-649f-4933-98fa-da617641deba
Sheriff Richard Mack on liberty vs. lockdowns:
Brighteon.com/0ce7467a-82ed-4939-bb56-42544b15f798
Kerri Rivera on health freedom and chlorine dioxide:
Brighteon.com/b18b1dac-513d-4f85-9b53-55fb00de832e
Zach Vorhies, the Google whistleblower, on Big Tech censorship and tyranny:
Brighteon.com/0fa30a23-dfd2-40a1-a95e-78266cc5fb3a
Pete Santilli from The Pete Santilli Show, about the selective terrorism designations of the corrupt U.S. government:
Brighteon.com/bf5f2973-3d94-428b-9d5f-1928a04ee429
Maryam Henein about the FDA quack hack attacks on natural products:
Brighteon.com/9e5bc191-24a1-42c3-bc07-2a8154e5c79a
Many new interviews are on the way, including a new interview with Stewart Rhodes from Oath Keepers.
All these interviews are posted on the Health Ranger Report channel at Brighteon.com:
Brighteon.com/channels/hrreport
Watch, learn and share. Join the human resistance against tyranny and censorship.
Celebrity star kids by the virtue of being born to prominent Bollywood personalities draw a lot of attention and coverage from an early age. Be it the paparazzi or the attempts by celebrity parents to keep them in the public eye, star kids are introduced to the world of glitz, glamour and limelight right from the onset.
Vogue India
Many glossy magazines also work to become the perfect launchpad for these star kids, who are made Cover Stars for these established publications much before they even make their Bollywood debuts or become legit celebrities in the true sense of the word.
HT Brunch
While this very arrangement has been questioned by many stating the star kids lack of merit to land on cover pages, here are 6 such star kids who successfully graced magazine covers even before their first Bollywood movies were released.
1. Sara Ali Khan
Hello Magazine
Sara made her debut in December 2018 with Sushant Singh Rajput starrer Kedarnath. However, when it comes to making her first cover star debut, she had done it way back in 2012 when a 16-year-old Sara appeared on the cover of Hello magazines January 2012 cover alongside her mother Amrita Singh.
2. Ishaan Khattar
The Peacock Magazine
Ishaans Bollywood debut movie Dhadak came out in July 2018, but months before the film even hit the theatres, Ishaan was seen gracing the cover page of The Peacock Magazine in their April 2018 issue following his previous filmy stint with Beyond The Clouds.
3. Jhanvi Kapoor
Vogue India
Just like Ishaan, his Dhadak co-star Jhanvi too became the face of the well-known Vogue magazine in their June 2018 issue ahead of her debut in July alongside Ishaan. Given that her Bollywood debut had been the talk of the town for the past year, her cover girl outing got a lot of attention.
4. Suhana Khan
Vogue India
This one ruffled a lot of feathers. When Vogue announced Suhana as their August 2018 issues cover star people on social media lost it. And no, not because of the photoshoot or the cover story, but because nobody understood why she was chosen to be on it.
5. Ibrahim Ali Khan
Hello Magazine
Well, Ibrahim too joined this club last year when he made his first magazine cover debut for Hello in October 2019. Seen alongside his sister Sara, Ibrahim graced the cover for designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla as their muse.
6. Ananya Panday
Elle
Like the rest of them on the list, Ananya too got lucky with her very own magazine cover shoot ahead of her Bollywood debut. Ananya was the cover star for Elles April 2019 issue that was published ahead of the release of Student Of The Year 2 in May 2019.
Can you recall more instances where star kids became cover stars even before making their Bollywood debuts? Let us know.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:45:44|Editor: huaxia
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A soldier patrols on USS Gerald R. Ford before its commissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, the United States, on July 22, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
The current disarmament deal between the world's two largest nuclear arsenals will expire in 2021. Russia has expressed willingness to extend the treaty, while the U.S. administration has yet to officially reply.
VIENNA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The first round of new disarmament talks between the United States and Russia has ended here with no tangible results, as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) will expire in months.
After full-day talks at the Niederoesterreich Palace in the Austrian capital, the Russian Foreign Ministry only said that "discussion on prospects for arms control continued, including the question of extending the New START treaty and maintaining stability."
Nevertheless, U.S. chief negotiator Marshall Billingslea described the negotiations with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Monday as "very positive," saying on Twitter that there were "detailed discussions on full-range of nuclear topics," and that technical working groups were launched.
The 9M728 missile container (front) and the 9M729 (back) missile container are demonstrated at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center, outside Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 23, 2019. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)
In 2010, Washington and Moscow signed the New START, which stipulates the limits to the numbers of deployed nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems by both. The New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty in force between the two nuclear superpowers, will expire on Feb. 5, 2021.
The agreement can be extended for at most five years with the consent of the two countries. Russia has expressed willingness to extend the treaty, while the U.S. administration has yet to officially reply.
The current U.S. administration has already withdrawn from several treaties with Russia, including those on overflights and on intermediate-range nuclear forces.
If the New START is not renewed prior to its expiry date, the nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia will be unconstrained for the first time since 1972.
Raises 2024 Revenue and EBITDA targets while positioning the Company to be a global leader in green hydrogen solutions
LATHAM, N.Y., June 23, 2020. and GinerELX These acquisitions are in line with the Company's vertical integration strategy in the hydrogen business laid out in September of 2019 with plans to have more than 50% of the hydrogen used to be green by 2024. These activities further enhance Plug Power's position in the hydrogen industry with capabilities in generation, liquefaction and distribution of hydrogen fuel complementing its industry-leading position in the design, construction, and operation of customer-facing hydrogen fueling stations. These activities establish a clear pathway for Plug Power to transition from low-carbon to zero-carbon hydrogen solutions.
Given these acquisitions, the Company is raising its 2024 financial targets to achieve $1.2 billion in revenue (up from $1 billion), $210 in operating income (up from $170 million), and $250 million in Adjusted EBITDA (up from $200 million). These improved financial metrics highlight the value of this vertical integration, underscoring significant margin enhancement potential in the hydrogen fuels business and the expected global growth of the electrolyzer market while meeting customers increased focus on sustainability and carbon reduction goals. Plug Power is focused on becoming one of the largest green hydrogen generation companies in the United States over the next five years and globally thereafter, and plans to continue to work with existing and new partners to accomplish this goal.
This planned capacity addition of green hydrogen will serve the significant and rapidly growing demand from current customers as well as position the Company to target existing large and growing hydrogen markets. Plug Power projects that its existing customers will use almost 100 tons of hydrogen per day by 2024 and expects over 50% of that to be green hydrogen. This planned green hydrogen generation capacity expansion provides Plug Power with an opportunity to serve its existing customers and potentially serve large industrial customers in the steel, fertilizer and ammonia manufacturing markets. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the cost of green hydrogen is expected to decline by over 50% by 2030 and will be at parity with traditional ways of producing hydrogen today.
Today, United Hydrogen is one of the largest privately held merchant hydrogen producers in North America. The company has the capability to produce 6.4 tons of hydrogen each day with plans to increase that capacity to 10 tons daily in the near future, as well as plans for further expansion. Bringing a wealth of talent and expertise, the acquisition of United Hydrogen Group significantly enhances Plug Power's capabilities in hydrogen generation, liquefaction and distribution logistics.
Giner ELX includes one of the most experienced teams in the world in PEM electrolysis: most have worked for two decades or more in the field. The company's offerings include one of the world's largest, most efficient and cost-effective PEM hydrogen generators; grid-level renewable energy storage solutions, and on-site hydrogen generation systems for fuel cell vehicle refueling stations and industrial uses. Giner ELX also has a strong sales channel in the European market. Plug Power expects the Giner ELX acquisition to dramatically increase its overall green hydrogen supply capabilities and the Company can add significant manufacturing capabilities immediately to serve the global market for electrolyzers.
"Plug Power is working to build the modern clean hydrogen economy," said Plug Power CEO, Andy Marsh. "Every decision we make is with an eye to the future, not the past. This closely aligns with the efforts that companies like United Hydrogen and Giner ELX have made to secure broad participation in the hydrogen economy, and to achieve the objectives of a clean environment and reduced dependence on foreign oil. We welcome these organizations into the Plug Power family where, as a team, we can accelerate the adoption of low carbon and zero carbon hydrogen on a global scale."
About Plug Power
Plug Power is building the hydrogen economy as the leading provider of comprehensive hydrogen fuel cell turnkey solutions. The Company's innovative technology powers electric motors with hydrogen fuel cells amid an ongoing paradigm shift in the power, energy, and transportation industries to address climate change and energy security, while meeting sustainability goals.
Plug Power created the first commercially viable market for hydrogen fuel cell technology. As a result, the Company has deployed over 32,000 fuel cell systems for e-mobility, more than anyone else in the world, and has become the largest buyer of liquid hydrogen, having built and operated a hydrogen highway across North America. Plug Power delivers a significant value proposition to end-customers, including meaningful environmental benefits, efficiency gains, fast fueling, and lower operational costs.
Plug Power's vertically integrated GenKey solution ties together all critical elements to power, fuel, and provide service to customers such as Amazon, BMW, The Southern Company, Carrefour, and Walmart. The Company is now leveraging its know-how, modular product architecture and foundational customers to rapidly expand into other key markets including zero-emission on-road vehicles, robotics, and data centers.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure, to supplement the Company's unaudited financial data presented on a generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") basis. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating income, as forecasted, plus stock-based compensation, plus depreciation and amortization. With respect to the forward-looking guidance, no reconciliation between Adjusted EBITDA and operating income, the most comparable GAAP measure, is included in this press release because the Company is unable to quantify certain amounts that would be required to be included in the GAAP measure without unreasonable efforts and the Company believes such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors.
Plug Power Safe Harbor Statement
This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve significant risks and uncertainties about Plug Power Inc., including but not limited to statements about our expectations regarding the effects of the acquisitions on our company, including our 2020 full-year revenue target and 2024 financial targets; capabilities in hydrogen generation, liquefaction and logistics; moving the hydrogen economy from low-carbon to zero-carbon solutions; reduction in the cost of hydrogen; the amount of hydrogen used by our customers by 2024; the amount of hydrogen that is green by 2024; expansion of United Hydrogen's hydrogen production capacity; and Giner ELX increasing our overall green hydrogen supply capabilities and growing our servable addressable market. You are cautioned that such statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will have been achieved. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the risk that we continue to incur losses and might never achieve or maintain profitability; the risk that we will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations and such capital may not be available to us; the risk of dilution to our stockholders and/or stock price should we need to raise additional capital; the risk that our lack of extensive experience in manufacturing and marketing products may impact our ability to manufacture and market products on a profitable and large-scale commercial basis; the risk that unit orders may not ship, be installed and/or converted to revenue, in whole or in part; the risk that pending orders may not convert to purchase orders, in whole or in part; the risk that a loss of one or more of our major customers, or the delay or inability of payment by one of our customers, could result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition; the risk that a sale of a significant number of shares of stock could depress the market price of our common stock; the risk that our convertible senior notes, if settled in cash, could have a material effect on our financial results; the risk that our convertible note hedges may affect the value of our convertible senior notes and our common stock; the risk that negative publicity related to our business or stock could result in a negative impact on our stock value and profitability; the risk of potential losses related to any product liability claims or contract disputes; the risk of loss related to an inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; our ability to attract and maintain key personnel; the risks related to use of flammable fuels in our products; the cost and timing of developing, marketing and selling our products; our ability to obtain financing arrangements to support the sale or leasing of our products and services to customers; the ability to achieve the forecasted gross margin on the sale of our products; the risks, liabilities and costs related to environmental, health and safety matters; the risk of elimination of government subsidies and economic incentives for alternative energy products; the cost and availability of fuel and fueling infrastructures for our products; market acceptance of our products and services, including GenDrive, GenSure and GenKey systems; the volatility of our stock price; our ability to establish and maintain relationships with third parties with respect to product development, manufacturing, distribution and servicing and the supply of key product components; the cost and availability of components and parts for our products; general global economic and political conditions that harm the worldwide economy, disrupt our supply chain, increase material costs or reduce demand for our component products (including changes in the level of gross domestic product in various regions of the world, natural disasters, terrorist act, global conflicts and public health crises such as the coronavirus); the risk that possible new tariffs could have a material adverse effect on our business; our ability to develop commercially viable products; our ability to reduce product and manufacturing costs; our ability to successfully expand our product lines; our ability to successfully market, distribute and service our products and services internationally; our ability to improve system reliability for our products; competitive factors, such as price competition and competition from other traditional and alternative energy companies; our ability to protect our intellectual property; the risk of dependency on information technology on our operations and the failure of such technology; the cost of complying with current and future federal, state and international governmental regulations; our subjectivity to legal proceedings and legal compliance; the risks associated with past and potential future acquisitions; the volatility of our stock price; and other risks and uncertainties referenced in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by us, see disclosures contained in our public filings with the SEC including, the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 as well as any amendment or update to our risk factors reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included in this press release and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements as a result of new information.
SOURCE: PLUG POWER
European Union countries rushing to revive their economies and reopen their borders after months of coronavirus restrictions are prepared to block Americans from entering because the United States has failed to control the scourge, according to draft lists of acceptable travellers seen by The New York Times.
That prospect, which would lump American visitors in with Russians and Brazilians as unwelcome, is a stinging blow to American prestige in the world, and a repudiation of president Donald Trumps handling of the virus in the United States, which has more than 2.3 million cases and upward of 120,000 deaths, more than any other country.
European nations are currently haggling over two potential lists of acceptable visitors based on how countries are faring with the coronavirus pandemic. Both lists include China, as well as developing nations like Uganda, Cuba and Vietnam. Both also exclude the United States and other countries that were deemed too risky because of the spread of the virus.
Travellers from the United States and the rest of the world already had been excluded from visiting the European Union with few exceptions mostly for repatriations or essential travel since mid-March. But a final decision on reopening the borders is expected early next week, before the bloc reopens on 1 July.
A prohibition of Americans by Brussels partly reflects the shifting pattern of the pandemic. In March, when Europe was the epicentre, Mr Trump infuriated European leaders when he banned citizens from most EU countries from travelling to the US. Mr Trump justified the move as necessary to protect the United States, which at the time had roughly 1,100 coronavirus cases and 38 deaths.
World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty
In late May and early June, Mr Trump said Europe was making progress and hinted that some restrictions would be lifted soon, but nothing has happened since then. Today, Europe has largely curbed the outbreak, even as the United States, the worst afflicted, has seen more infection surges just in the past week.
Prohibiting American travellers from entering the European Union would have significant economic, cultural and geopolitical ramifications. Millions of American tourists visit Europe every summer. Business travel is common, given the huge economic ties between the United States and the EU.
Despite the disruptions caused by such a ban, European officials involved in the talks said it was highly unlikely an exception would be made for the United States. They said that the criteria for creating the list of acceptable countries had been deliberately kept as scientific and nonpolitical as possible.
Including the United States now, the officials said, would represent a complete flouting of the blocs reasoning. But they said the United States could be added later to the list, which will be revised every two weeks based on updated infection rates.
It was unclear if American officials were aware in advance of the exclusion of the United States from the draft lists, which have not been made public.
The draft lists were shared with The New York Times by an official involved in the talks and confirmed by another official involved in the talks. Two additional EU officials confirmed the content of the lists as well the details of the negotiations to shape and finalise them. All of the officials gave the information on condition of anonymity because the issue is politically delicate.
The forging of a common list of outsiders who can enter the bloc is part of an effort by the European Union to fully reopen internal borders among its 27 member states. Free travel and trade among members is a core principle of the bloc one that has been badly disrupted during the pandemic.
Countries on the EU draft lists have been selected as safe based on a combination of epidemiological criteria. The benchmark is the EU average number of new infections over the past 14 days per 100,000 people, which is currently 16 for the bloc. The comparable number for the United States is 107, while Brazils is 190, and Russias is 80, according to a New York Times database.
Once diplomats agree on a final list, it will be presented as a recommendation early next week before 1 July. The EU cant force members to adopt it, but European officials warn that failure of any of the 27 members to stick to it could lead to the reintroduction of borders within the bloc.
The reason this exercise is additionally complex for Europe is that, if internal borders are open but member states dont honour the same rules, visitors from nonapproved nations could land in one European country and then jump onward to other EU nations undetected.
European officials said the list would be revised every two weeks to reflect new realities around the world as nations see the virus ebb and flow.
Earlier this year, Mr Trump infuriated European leaders when he banned citizens from most EU countries from travelling to the US (Nicholas Kamm/AFP.Getty)
The process of agreeing on it has been challenging, with diplomats from all European member states hunkering down for multiple hours-long meetings for the past few weeks.
As of Tuesday, the officials and diplomats were poring over the two versions of the safe list under debate and were scheduled to meet again Wednesday to continue sparring over the details.
One list contains 47 countries and includes only those nations with an infection rate lower than the EU average. The other longer list has 54 countries and also includes those nations with slightly worse case rates than the EU average, going up to 20 new cases per 100,000 people.
The existing restrictions on nonessential travel to all 27 member states plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein were introduced March 16 and extended twice until July 1, in a bid to contain the virus as the continent entered a three-month long confinement.
Discussions are happening very intensively, to reach consensus in time for 1 July, said Adalbert Jahnz, a spokesman for the European Commission, the blocs executive branch. He called the process frankly, a full-time job.
The EU agency for infectious diseases, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, warned negotiators that the case numbers were so dependent on the level of truthfulness and testing in each country that it was hard to vouch for them, officials taking part in the talks said.
China, for example, has been accused of withholding information and manipulating the numbers of infections released to the public. In parts of the developing world, case numbers are very low, but its hard to determine whether they paint an accurate picture given limited testing.
Many EU countries are desperate to reopen their borders to visitors from outside the region to salvage tourism and boost airlines revenue while keeping their own borders open to each other. Some have already started accepting visitors from outside the bloc.
At the other extreme, a few European nations including Denmark are not prepared to allow any external visitors from non-EU countries and are likely to continue with this policy after 1 July.
Germany, France and many other EU nations want non-European travellers to be allowed but are also worried about individual countries tweaking the safe list or admitting travellers from excluded countries, officials said.
The New York Times
(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)
Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said there are no particular restrictions on judges to be selected by the Chief Executive as part of the future group to adjudicate national security cases.
Mrs Lam, ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, made the statement in response to concerns over the nationality of judges who will be designated to handle such cases.
She said: Under the Basic Law there are only two positions in the Judiciary that have a nationality requirement, that are the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court.
That's why I said that while many people have been advocating that only Chinese-citizen judges should adjudicate over national security cases, this is simply not quite realistic because we do not know how many judges now sitting on the bench have foreign nationality.
Mrs Lam explained that judges in Hong Kong are appointed on the basis of their judicial and professional qualities.
So with those safeguards in place, the answer should be obvious: there are no particular restrictions on the judges to be designated by the Chief Executive on to the future group to adjudicate these national security cases.
Noting that the Court of Final Appeal has 15 judges who came from the UK, Canada and Australia, Mrs Lam emphasised that Hong Kong is blessed with a large number of distinguished foreign judges sitting on the court.
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editor's pick centerpiece featured
Young people in Texas under fire for spread of coronavirus
STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Brandon De Los Santos, a Ball High School class of 2020 graduate, is concerned about the spike in coronavirus cases. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Brandon De Los Santos, a Ball High School class of 2020 graduate, is concerned about the spike in coronavirus cases.
GALVESTON COUNTY
Its been tough for recent Ball High School graduate Brandon De Los Santos.
Prom was canceled, the state band competition never happened, and he had to finish his senior year online, he said.
De Los Santos, 17, misses his friends, but he still wants to stay safe from the coronavirus, even though many of his friends are going out and doing things, he said.
I think thats risky, De Los Santos said. To them, they just see the world as free right now.
Gov. Greg Abbott, while discussing rising cases in Texas, last week said younger people, mainly under age 30, arent being vigilant about social distancing or wearing masks in public. In the same week, while addressing rising cases in Galveston County, Dr. Philip Keiser, local health authority for the Galveston County Health District, also said younger people were helping to increase the spread in the county.
What were seeing there is that people of that age group, theyre not following these appropriate best health and safety practices, Abbott said in an interview Monday with Lubbocks KLBK-TV. Theyre not wearing face masks, theyre not sanitizing their hands, theyre not maintaining the safe distancing practices. And as a result, they are contracting COVID-19 at a record pace in the state of Texas.
Although younger people on the whole have only mild COVID-19 symptoms, they can take the virus home to older relatives or those with compromised immune systems, who are at higher risk of serious illness and complications.
In Galveston County, the spread among families is on the rise, as both local and out-of-town young people forgo social distancing practices, health officials said.
Houston resident Brianna Mills agrees that young people arent playing it safe when it comes to coronavirus precautions.
Mills and her friends all in their late 20s visited Galveston Friday afternoon. They wear masks inside but will take the masks off when theyre outside, they said.
People arent taking coronavirus seriously enough anymore, Mills said.
People are so concerned with what things used to be that theyre not adapting to what things are, Mills said.
Mills thinks young people should take the virus more seriously, she said.
Just put on a mask, Mills said. It takes two seconds. Theres so many cute ones out there.
PEER PRESSURE
In Galveston County, 33.5 percent of the population is between the ages of 10 and 34 109,187 people of the 327,089 population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
There are a few reasons many people under 30 have been somewhat cavalier, said Dr. Asim Shah, a professor and executive vice chair in the Baylor College of Medicines Menninger Department of Psychiatry.
At the beginning of the virus outbreak, there was a belief that young people didnt get the disease, a myth that still lingers, Shah said.
Teenagers especially are typically a little more adventure-seeking, Shah said.
They like to defy things, Shah said. They are a little bit rebellious.
Its also typical for young people to spend their leisure time in the company of their peers, Shah said.
The other challenges comes from peer pressure, he said.
It one person in the group suggests an activity or doesnt wear a mask, the others are more likely to participate in the activity or not wear a mask, Shah said.
If you say no, then other friends, other teenagers are going to make fun of you, Shah said.
Aaliyaa Welch and Cheyla Wilson, eighth-graders who were visiting the island Friday from Spring, are a little worried about the coronavirus, they said.
Kind of, but not really, Welch said.
Its better to be outdoors, but Wilson doesnt really think masks work that well, she said.
UNDER FIRE
When Abbott criticized younger residents of the state for their role in a spike of the coronavirus, he also was answering questions about his decision to open the economy.
The state began reopening about two months ago with some businesses allowed to operate at limited capacity. In May and June, Abbott released a series of orders that increased capacity at a variety of businesses.
There are more young people traveling to Galveston Island than the city is normally used to, Mayor Jim Yarbrough said last week.
In the past decade, Galveston has built a reputation as a friendly getaway for families, but pandemic restrictions have led to more young people visiting the island, he said.
Even if young people feel generally healthy, they have to be careful not to spread the virus, Keiser said.
Young people are going out, Keiser said. Theyre going out. Theyre feeling good.
But then theyll bring the virus home, he said.
The health district has been noticing a lot of transmission among families, Keiser said.
And cell phone data shows that people arent social distancing properly in Galveston County, he said.
There was just this mad rush for everyone to come to the beach, and social distancing went out the window, Keiser said.
SMALL GROUPS OF FRIENDS
As cases have begun to rise, Galveston resident Ashley McDonald has been a little more cautious, she said.
McDonald, in her 20s, is keeping to a select group of trusted friends who shes starting to see more often, she said.
I was basically going to lose my mind in my house, McDonald said.
When they socialize, McDonald and her friends typically go to one persons house or to a few businesses they trust, she said.
Its not fair to pin the responsibility on one age group, because its really only a select group of people who arent following masking or distancing guidelines, she said.
De Los Santos has started seeing a few more friends, too, but they arent going out much, he said.
They went out to eat in a restaurant for a few special occasions such as graduations or a birthday but thats it, De Los Santos said.
De Los Santos is worried about some of his classmates who are going out more often, he said.
It makes me nervous that its going to spread to their family, De Los Santos said. Sometimes, it makes me mad. Sometimes it makes me nervous.
The mother of one of his friends tested positive recently, he said.
I was shocked because theyre usually safe, De Los Santos said. If they got it, then whos next?
A mysterious balloon-like structure was spotted floating around the skies of Japan. The UFO-like object has captured attention in the country with various theories and memes hovering around.
2020 has been a year full of unprecedented events. A new one that has added to the list is a mysterious balloon-like object floating in Japans skies. The peculiar object was spotted in the Sendia and Murata areas of the country. Soon after, netizens took social media by a storm with their take on spotting a balloon-like UFO in the sky.
The officials at the Sendia Weather Bureau have called it an unmoving object and have suspected that it may be used to monitor weather conditions. But, they have also simultaneously clarified that it is not theirs. Pictures and videos of the white object soon went viral online, with speculations ranging from it being a UFO to a North Korea propaganda.
There have been various memes and jokes curated on the UFO by the netizens, with many of them blatantly calling it a balloon. It is the third most trending topic on twitter in Japan with various theories being curated by people.
This balloon-like strange object in the sky above the City of Sendai in Japan was captured into the camera on June 17, 2020. The object sparked Japanese social media platforms and the authorities stated they did not even recognize what actually it was.#worldwidestories #ufo pic.twitter.com/rUmkKybweq World Wide Stories (@WorldWideStori) June 19, 2020
Also Read: Two suns appear on US-Canada border? Heres the truth behind this viral video
A balloon-like white object in the sky is pictured in Sendai, Japan. #UFO pic.twitter.com/eVxLnTdA2A Karen (@KarenSakura_i) June 17, 2020
Unidentified object in Japan leaves people asking if it's a UFOor a coronavirus contraption#object https://t.co/eG1ukdL9SV Baljeet Singh (@je3Tr0ck) June 22, 2020
Mysterious balloon UFO appeared in Japan drifts towards Pacific as authorities remain clueless https://t.co/FCfz2nMmOO pic.twitter.com/QCM48D4qTI Enigmati.ca (@Enigmatidotca) June 22, 2020
MAKE UFOs GREAT AGAIN #Japan pic.twitter.com/QyFGQhDjd8 D of the North (@wildnorther) June 18, 2020
One of the users on Twitter said that it may be a coronavirus spreading object while the other user tweeted saying that he feels as if Godzilla might suddenly appear. A bureau spokesman further said that he has no idea about the eery object floating in the sky.
Also Read: Baba in MPs Ratlam, claiming to treat Covid-19 by kissing hands, dies of Covid-19
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Highlights:
Multiple highly conductive anomalies identified off-hole from sulphide stringers that include copper, zinc, gold and silver mineralization;
These anomalies are interpreted to occur within the Centennial mine horizon, which hosts the past producing Centennial Mine and the Sourdough VMS deposit; and
The location, modeled size and conductivity of these anomalies represent an exceptional exploration opportunity that warrants immediate follow-up.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Callinex Mines Inc. (the "Company" or "Callinex") (TSXV: CNX) (OTC: CLLXF) is pleased to announce results from its 2019/2020 drilling campaign (the "Campaign") at its Pine Bay Project (the "Project") located 16 km away from processing facilities in Flin Flon, Manitoba ( See Figure 1 ). The Campaign encompassed 5,906m of diamond drilling at the Project to test eight target areas that have the potential to host high-grade zinc, copper, gold and silver-rich Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") deposits. The target areas were generated from a recently completed Induced Polarization ("IP") and magnetic survey completed along favourable geologic trends. Subsequent borehole pulse electromagnetic surveys ("BPEM") completed as part of the vectoring process identified highly conductive anomalies off-hole from sulphide stringers that include copper, zinc, gold and silver mineralization ( See Figure 2 and Figure 3 ). These anomalies are interpreted to occur within the Centennial mine horizon, which hosts the past producing Centennial Mine and the Sourdough VMS deposit located 7.5 kms and 4 kms to the south ( See Figure 4 and Figure 5 ).
Max Porterfield, President and CEO of Callinex, stated, "We are eager to drill test the newly identified BPEM anomalies as soon as possible. We are optimistic, based on the geologic location, size and conductivity, that these anomalies have the potential to represent Flin Flon's next discovery." Mr. Porterfield continued, "The introduction of Induced Polarization to our exploration toolset and reinterpretation of historic data has proven to be exceptionally valuable as our team vectors towards a discovery. Electromagnetics is the best geophysical tool for directly vectoring to high-grade base and precious metals rich massive sulphide mineralization in the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt."
Target Area 1
Hole PBM-033 was drilled to test Target Area 1 which was highlighted by a large 700m by 300m, strong chargeability isoshell (>40mV/V) coincident with a deep magnetic low believed to be related to intense footwall alteration ( See Figure 2 and Figure 3) . The hole intersected a thick favourable package of altered quartz and feldspar-phyric rhyodacite flows, hyaloclastites and pyroclastics intermittently cut by sulphide stringers dominated by pyrrhotite, pyrite and trace chalcopyrite and sphalerite. In addition, the hole intersected 40m thick, megacrystic quartz and feldspar-phyric rhyolitic intrusions which can be found in footwall assemblages situated immediately below and/or adjacent to VMS deposits found in the Flin Flon and Snow Lake Greenstone Belts.
A BPEM survey completed in drill hole PBM-033 provided a vector to a highly conductive 260m by 600m anomaly ("Anomaly A") possessing a conductivity thickness ("CT") of 450 siemens that sits off-hole, within the known interpreted Centennial mine horizon and 600m below surface ( See Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 ). Any EM conductor with a strike extent over 100m and a CT of over 100 siemens in a known mine horizon is regarded as a highly prospective target within the Flin Flon Mining District.
Subsequently, drill hole PBM-037 was completed in late May to test Anomaly A identified from PBM-033. However, hole PBM-037 (along with drill hole PBM-036) deviated from its intended path and failed to test the anomaly ( See Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 ). PBM-037 intersected chlorite-altered rhyodacite flow-hosted, coarse red-brown sphalerite and chalcopyrite-bearing sulphide stringers between 945.8 and 946.8 metres in a setting typical of a footwall alteration zone ( See Core Photo 1 ). Red-brown sphalerite often is an indication of higher temperatures and close proximity to VMS systems than its iron-poor and lighter yellow coloured variety of sphalerite. This sulphide stringer intersection is located 170m off-hole and immediately adjacent to the interpreted plane of Anomaly A. Intermittent stringers and disseminated sulphides with weakly anomalous gold values were also noted in drill hole PBM-037 between 940m and 1050m, including a 0.61 g/t Au-bearing interval from 997.75m to 998.0m (See Table 1). Elevated gold (>0.5 g/t Au) levels are also frequently noted in very close proximity to significant VMS deposits within the Flin Flon and Snow Lake Greenstone Belts.
In addition, a subsequent BPEM survey completed on hole PBM-037 identified a second anomaly ("Anomaly B") 20m off-hole to the north and in the same plane as the interpreted Centennial mine horizon. The newly identified Anomaly B is modeled to be 200m by 500m with a CT of 350 siemens and located 720m below surface. Anomalies A and B are located off-hole and on the same plane as the disseminated to semi-massive sulphide stringers intersected by PBM-037. It should be noted that VMS deposits generally consist of multiple plunging sulphide lenses and can be modeled as separate conductive bodies through BPEM surveys.
Of geological importance are the 650m left-lateral offsets displayed by the fold repeated Pine Bay and Cabin VMS deposits and the likelihood that the next fold repeat of those two deposits to the southwest would be in the immediately area of the track of drill hole PBM-037, where Anomalies A and B are located, along an assumed mineralized-controlling, gently folded (concave southeastward) traverse paleofault corridor ( See Figure 9 ). It is important to note that late dyke swarms following this same southwestern left-lateral orientation were noted in late-2016, where the Company discovered a 10.3m thick high-grade zone that assayed 6.0% Zn, 1.8 g/t Au, 60.4 g/t Ag, 0.7% Cu and 0.4% Pb by extending a historic Placer Dome Inc. drill hole an additional 38m (See News Release dated October 18, 2016) . Parallel dyke swarms are commonly associated with the growth faults controlling VMS mineralization in the Flin Flon area. Another impressive Electromagnetic feature in the Pine Bay area, that is likely directly related to transverse growth faults regularly spaced at 2 to 4 km intervals, is the locally stronger, more conductive and thicker massive sulphides +/- graphitic argillite marker horizons apparent in the VTEM survey data ( See Figure 4 , Figure 5 ). Stratigraphically below or east of those locally thicker barren 'marker' Centennial hanging wall sulphide +/- graphite accumulations noted in the VTEM survey are the felsic volcanic associated A and B Anomalies along with a series of fold equivalent and/or stacked VMS deposits beneath (i.e., the Pine Bay, Cabin, Baker Patton, North Star and Don Jon VMS deposits).
Two other holes from the 2019-2020 drilling campaign, PBM-034 and PBM-035, were designed and completed to test the shallow, northern extension of the Target Area 1 IP chargeability anomaly. Both of those holes cut a thick favourable package of feldspar-phyric rhyodacite flows and hyaloclastites that locally contained appreciable disseminated sulphides (up to 8% pyrite and lesser pyrrhotite) along with significant sericite/chlorite alteration and the odd semi massive pyrite band, as noted from 37.66m to 39.43m in PBM-035. A 0.9m interval within that interval occurs from 38.5 to 39.4m and contains 0.32 g/t Au, 1.28 g/t Ag, 0.03% Cu, 0.41% Zn, 0.01% Pb and 16.39% Fe (See Table 1). Additionally, PBM-007DPN was drilled to test a chargeability anomaly associated with Target Area 1 coincident with a modeled BPEM anomaly ahead of the end of the original hole. PBM-007DPN intersected a favorable package of weakly altered, feldspar-phyric rhyodacite flows and hyaloclastites locally containing up to 15% disseminated pyrite between 715.85 and 904 metres (with gradually increasing sulphide contents towards the middle and lower parts of that interval) before the hole was eventually abandoned. Excessive hole flattening made it quite difficult to extend the hole to the favourable Centennial mine horizon and a subsequent BPEM probe was not able to get down to survey the end of the drill hole.
Target Area 2
Drill hole PBM-031 tested a large 350m by 300m, strong chargeability isoshell (>40mV/V), associated with a magnetic low signature, and situated along the known northeastern strike extension of the Pine Bay VMS deposit. The hole collared into a minor chalcopyrite-bearing andesite flow marker unit interpreted to form the immediate hanging wall of the northwest-facing Cabin VMS horizon ( See Figure 2 and Figure 9 ). The southeast-facing Pine Bay VMS horizon that occupies the opposite limb of the tight isoclinal fold with the marker hanging wall andesite flow unit in its axial core was readily apparent and intersected between 518m and 536.2m in hole PBM-031. Up to 15% sulphides (mainly pyrite with lesser pyrrhotite and traces of sphalerite and chalcopyrite) were intermittently encountered in that 18.2m sulphidic interval and readily provided an explanation for the IP chargeability anomaly being tested in Target Area 2. Although the quartz and feldspar-phyric rhyodacitic hyaloclastite host rocks for the Pine Bay VMS horizon were quite highly sericite-altered, there were no appreciable precious and base metals intersected.
A BPEM survey completed on hole PBM-031 identified an untested, new anomaly ("Anomaly C") located 220m off-hole to the northeast and along the interpreted overturned Pine Bay horizon ( See Figure 10 ). Anomaly C has been modeled to be 400m by 200m with a CT of 35 siemens and 80m below surface. This anomaly will require additional ground work to accurately locate the source of the anomaly for further follow-up.
Target Area 3
Drill hole PBM-032 tested Target Area 3, a strong chargeability anomaly (>40mV/V) located in the southeast portion of the Pine Bay mining lease and considered to occur along strike from the northwest-facing Cabin VMS horizon and its underlying extensive Baker Patton VMS alteration system. Two thick intervals of disseminated to stringer sulphides (with up to 18% pyrite and lesser pyrrhotite with traces of chalcopyrite and sphalerite) hosted by highly sericite and chlorite-altered, feldspar-phyric rhyodacitic hyaloclastites were cut by drill hole PBM-032 from 7.5m to 138.0m and from 188.25m to 345.4m. Although these sulphides readily explain the Target Area 3 IP chargeability anomaly and collectively represent the southernmost explored and mineralized extension of the Cabin VMS horizon, there was only one significant 2.0m interval containing 0.65 g/t Au and 0.02% zinc from 120.0m to 122.0m (See Table 1). PBM-032 was shut down in typical hanging wall andesite flow marker rocks that started at 351.9m.
Target Area 4
Target Area 4 is located roughly 350m west of Target Area 1 and is a slightly weaker, but still rather strong, mostly untested chargeability version of the Target Area 1 anomaly. The locally stronger IP chargeability anomaly in Target Area 4 occurs along a much longer, formational pyrite and/or graphite -caused EM anomaly that collectively forms a regional geophysical and geological "marker" unit immediately above the favourable Centennial mine horizon. The most proximal and favourable portion of the Centennial mine horizon likely occurs along its northeastern termination area where the thickest package of felsic volcanics are concentrated, namely the Baker Patton Complex ("BPC") in the Pine Bay area. This means any untested gaps along that mine horizon, adjacent to any drill holes returning appreciable precious and base metal values should be drill-tested. Historic drill holes S-122 and S-123 are two of those such holes and are located approximately 200m along strike from where the newly proposed drill hole will intersect the local Target Area 4 chargeability high. While Target Area 4 was not drill-tested near the surface in the latest drill program, it likely has now been adequately explained by the pyritic +/- pyrrhotitic graphitic argillite bands intersected near the end of drill hole PBM-037 between 1293.90m and 1390.66m. It seems likely that these weakly conductive and IP chargeable sulphidic graphitic argillite marker horizons represent the rocks that define the immediate hanging wall of the Centennial mine horizon. If so, the sulphide-rich felsic volcanics cut between 940m and 1050m in PBM-037 definitely represent favourable Centennial VMS horizon opportunities to follow up.
Callinex's Pine Bay Project encompasses the majority of the Baker Patton Complex, the largest exposed felsic (rhyolitic) volcanic accumulation in the Flin Flon portion of the Flin Flon-Snow Lake Greenstone Belt. This is especially important since the majority of the VMS deposits occurring within the Flin Flon Belt of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are almost always hosted by rhyolitic flows and volcaniclastic rocks within predominantly mafic terranes. Of additional importance is that these felsic (rhyolitic) rocks only account for a small portion of the total volcanic pile (5-10%). Of particular exploration interest to Callinex's Pine Bay Project, is the very large exposure of intensely altered (chloritic, sericitic and silicic alteration) felsic rocks that have collectively been called the Baker Patton Alteration Zone, encompassing an area with a minimum of a 700m by 1000m footprint. A very large footwall alteration system such as this would normally be expected to be accompanied by a large VMS system and has consequently been the target of many exploration companies preceding Callinex. Using all of this historic work and applying new search techniques may improve the potential for Callinex to make a discovery. As an example, recently confirmed by 3D geophysical inversions performed on ground magnetic data covering the Baker Patton Alteration Zone, a very large directly coincident 3D magnetic low anomaly shows up over the Baker Patton Alteration Zone. Similar magnetic lows (likely the result of demagnetization within strongly and extensively silica-flooded deep footwall alteration zones) coincident with IP chargeability highs are therefore excellent new VMS targets in the BPC.
For these reasons and more, the dominantly felsic, approximately 50km, BPC is believed to represent one of the largest and most favourable felsic volcanic centers and relatively underexplored VMS target areas remaining in the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt.
J.J. O'Donnell, P.Geo, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 and a Consulting Geologist for Callinex, has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.
Figure 1: Flin Flon Mining District Region Overview
Figure 2: Pine Bay 2019 IP Chargeability Isoshells with 2019/2020 Drilling
Figure 3: Pine Bay Plan View with Magnetic Low Contours and 2019/2020 Drilling
Figure 4: Pine Bay Regional Plan View with VTEM Channel 30
Figure 5: Northern Pine Bay Area Plan View with VTEM Channel 30
Figure 6: Pine Bay 3D Plan View Looking Down the Plane of BPEM Plates A & B
Figure 7: Pine Bay 3D View Looking NE with BPEM Plates A & B
Figure 8: Pine Bay 3D View Looking Westerly with Plates A & B
Figure 9: Pine Bay Plan View with Geology and Growth Fault Corridor
Figure 10: Pine Bay 3D Plan View with 2019/2020 Drilling, Geology and BPEM Plates
Core Photo 1: PBM-037 at 944.5m ~1.5cm Solid Red-Brown Sphalerite Stringer Hosted in Strongly Altered Chloritized Rhyodacite Flow
Table 1: Pine Bay Assay Results from 2019-2020 Drilling Campaign
Highlighted 2019-2020 Pine Bay Project Assay Intervals Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Zn% PBM-037 945.8 946.8 1.0 0.06 1.21 0.25 0.84 PBM-037 997.8 998.0 0.2 0.61 0.09 0.01 0.01 PBM-035 38.5 39.4 0.9 0.32 1.28 0.03 0.41 PBM-032 120.0 122.0 2.0 0.65 1.00 0.01 0.02
Note: (1) True widths will require further drilling to determine
QA / QC Protocols
Individual samples were labeled, placed in plastic sample bags, and sealed. Groups of samples were then placed in security sealed bags and shipped directly to SGS's lab in Vancouver, BC for analysis. Samples were weighed then crushed to 75% passing 2mm and pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns in order to produce a 250g split. 35 elements including lead, zinc and silver assays were determined by Aqua Regia digestion with a combination of ICP-MS and ICP-AES finish, with overlimits (>100 ppm Ag, >10,000 ppm Zn, and >10,000 ppm Pb) completed by fire assay with gravimetric finish (Ag) or Aqua Regia digestion with ICP-AES finish (lead and zinc). If gold was analyzed a Fire Assay of a 30 gram charge by AAS, or if over 10.0 g/t were re-assayed and completed with a gravimetric finish. QA/QC included the insertion and continual monitoring of numerous standards, blanks, and duplicates.
About Callinex Mines Inc.
Callinex Mines Inc. (TSXV: CNX) (OTC: CLLXF) is advancing its portfolio of zinc rich deposits located in established Canadian mining jurisdictions. The portfolio is highlighted by its Nash Creek and Superjack deposits in the Bathurst Mining District of New Brunswick. A 2018 PEA outlined a mine plan that generates a strong economic return with a pre-tax IRR of 34.1% (25.2% post-tax) and NPV8% of $230 million ($128 million post-tax). The projects have significant exploration upside over a district-scale land package that encompasses several high-grade mineral occurrences along a 20km trend. Click here to view a video overview of the Nash Creek Project.
Callinex has a project portfolio that also includes projects within the Flin Flon Mining District of Manitoba that are located 25km to an operating processing facility that requires additional ore.
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.
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, the ability to complete the proposed drill program and the timing and amount of expenditures. Except as required under applicable securities laws, Callinex does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
SOURCE Callinex Mines Inc.
Related Links
http://www.callinex.ca/
Members of the self-proclaimed eastern Libyan National Army (LNA) special forces gather in the city of Benghazi, on their way to reportedly back up fellow LNA fighters on the frontline west of the city of Sirte, facing forces loyal to the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), on June 18, 2020. (Abdullah Doma/AFP via Getty Images)
Italy, Germany, US Seek Libya Cease-Fire After Egypt Threat
ROMEItaly, Germany, and the United States pushed on June 22 for a cease-fire and deescalation of tensions in Libya following a warning by Egypt that it would intervene militarily if Turkish-backed forces attack the strategic city of Sirte.
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, said after talks in Rome that a cease-fire is urgent given the Egyptian threat. Di Maio also called for the quick naming of a new U.N. envoy and the strong enforcement of a U.N. arms embargo on Libya.
If we stop the arrival of weapons, or strongly reduce them, we will be able to reduce the aggressiveness of the Libyan parties in this conflict, Di Maio said.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi warned over the weekend that any attack on Sirte or the inland Jufra airbase by Turkish-backed forces loyal to the U.N.-supported but weak government in Tripoli would amount to crossing a red line.
He said Egypt could intervene militarily with the intention of protecting its western border with the oil-rich country, and of bringing stabilityincluding establishing conditions for a cease-fire.
The Tripoli-based government dismissed el-Sissis comments as a declaration of war while authorities in the east welcomed his support.
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of Africa Command, and U.S. Ambassador Richard Norland meanwhile met June 22 with Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj in the Libyan capital, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy.
It said the two U.S. officials stressed the need for military pause and return to negotiations.
All sides need to return to U.N.-led ceasefire and political negotiations because this tragic conflict is robbing all Libyans of their future, Townsend said.
Norland called for foreign countries supporting Libyas rivals to stop fueling the conflict, respect the U.N. arms embargo, and uphold commitments made at the Berlin Summit earlier this year.
The German foreign minister said the Egyptian threat indicated that a further escalation was possible, making it all the more urgent to agree on a cease-fire now.
Di Maio, for his part, said Italy was prepared to provide even more contributions to a naval and air mission to enforce the U.N. arms embargo on Libya, saying it will be crucial even after a cease-fire is signed.
In the coming days we will have talks with the Libyan parties to try to bring forward as soon as possible the signing of a cease-fire, Di Maio said. Even once there is a cease-fire, I think the [arms embargo] mission will continue to be important because especially with a cease-fire, we have to limit the arrival of weapons in Libya.
Italy is particularly concerned that any escalation of the conflict will unleash more waves of migrants onto smugglers boats headed for Italian shores. The pandemic in hard-hit Italy stemmed their arrivals, but authorities fear that the numbers will swell again with the health emergency easing and the return to the Mediterranean Sea of humanitarian rescue ships.
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 when a civil war toppled long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. The country has since split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments.
Eastern-based forces under Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive to try to take Tripoli in April last year. Haftars forces are backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Russia, while the Tripoli-allied militias are aided by Qatar, Italy, and Turkey.
Tripoli-based forces with Turkish support gained the upper hand in the war earlier this month after retaking the capitals airport, all main entrance and exit points to the city, and a string of key towns near Tripoli. They threatened to retake Sirte, which could allow them to gain control of oil fields and facilities in the south that Haftar seized earlier this year as part of his offensive on Tripoli.
By Nicole Winfield
New Delhi: The US Transport department has asked Air India to halt the ongoing repatriation under Vande Bharat mission from the US alleging the mission as "discriminatory" as only India's state carrier is allowed. The order said, "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."
The order will come into effect 30 days from the service date. The main plea of the US transport authority is that India has "imposed restriction" that prevents US airlines to conduct the flight operations and while noting that Air India is conducting "self-described evacuation", it has "gone beyond true evacuations".
India began repatriation flights from the US since May 18 and on May 19, the matter was raised by the US with Air India. In fact, on May 26, US airline Delta Airlines had requested permission from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to perform repatriation charter services similar to those provided by Air India but hasn't received approval.
On June 10 and July 3, Air India advertised for 59 repatriation flights between India and the US which the order called as "Air India may be using its passenger repatriation charters as a way of circumventing the GoI-imposed prohibition of all scheduled services" and this creates, "competitive disadvantage for US carriers vis-a-vis Indian carriers". So far, the Indian government hasn't reacted to the development.
The US registered its objections with India regarding this "competitive imbalance" via its mission on May 28. India announced the suspension of international flights from March 25. The US transport department has also called for "close scrutiny" and will give prior approvals on "case by case basis" to Air India passenger charter operations. Before that Air India operated 34 round trips flights per week to the US.
The Lawyer X royal commission has been granted the power to vary more than 50 gag orders, some that protect long-held secrets about gangland killers and drug dealers who cut "sweetheart" deals with police.
But the variation, made in the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, will not mean that the public will find out the identities of the underworld informers who helped end Melbournes gangland war.
Nicola Gobbo during an interview with the ABC's 7.30 program last year. Credit:ABC
The Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants is investigating Victoria Polices use of former gangland barrister Nicola Gobbo, dubbed Lawyer X, as a police source with the registration number 3838.
Ms Gobbo gave up information about her own clients, some of whom were key players in the tit-for-tat gangland war who then became police informers themselves in exchange for deals that resulted in heavily discounted sentences. Ms Gobbo's alleged involvement raises questions about whether the criminal justice system was perverted.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VR Resources Ltd. (TSX.V: VRR, FSE: 5VR; OTCBB: VRRCF), the "Company", or VR, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Reveille silver property located approximately 75 kms to the southeast along trend from the Companys Big Ten epithermal gold project in west-central Nevada.
As shown on Figure 1, the Reveille property is located in the southern part of the Walker Lane mineral belt in Nevada, host to numerous Tertiary-aged epithermal gold and silver deposits with production spanning some 160 years, from the days of the Comstock lode at Virginia City in 1860 to the Round Mountain deposit today. Road access to Reveille is from Highway 6 leading east from Tonopah, with local roads and trails around and within the property.
The broad terms of the proposed acquisition of the Reveille silver property include:
Agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Reveille property (the Acquisition) from a private vendor (the Vendor), pursuant to a binding acquisition agreement dated June 22, 2020;
An initial payment of US$20,000 and the issuance of 100,000 common shares in the capital of VR to the Vendor on closing of the Acquisition (the Closing);
An additional payment of US$50,000 and issuance of 100,000 common shares in the capital of VR to the Vendors upon commencement by VR of a diamond drill program on the property;
The Vendor will be granted a Net Smelter Returns royalty of 3% on Closing, and;
Closing is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.
The Reveille property occurs in a setting of nested Tertiary volcanic centers in the Walker Lane. It is on the western margin of the Goblin Knobs Tertiary volcanic center where it is disrupted by the resurgent growth of the Kawich caldera. Silver occurs in veins, mantos and breccia bodies within completely altered Paleozoic limestone which occurs in the outer ring complex of the Goblin Knobs caldera. There is artisanal production of silver dating back to 1870, but there has been no modern, systematic exploration of the district, and no diamond drilling of the various surface showings of silver.
Story continues
Commenting on the news today, VRs CEO Dr. Michael Gunning stated: While the Company continues to work towards a full Plan of Operations permit for a drill program planned for later this summer at our Amsel gold target, we are excited about using the time to explore Reveille on the ground this summer. We have been evaluating this opportunity for more than a year now, and our work in the Big Ten caldera and epithermal system during the past three years provides an expertise and momentum for Reveille, and we intend to commence exploration immediately. Although the various silver showings all have stand-alone merit for exploration, and several have been the focus of production potential in the past, the opportunity for VR is to be the first to apply modern CRD (carbonate mineral deposit) models and exploration technology to the entire mineral system at Reveille, and be the first to drill test any number of vein, manto and breccia-pipe silver occurrences within the framework of a district-scale, integrated exploration model. We thank the vendor for his persistence over the past decade in consolidating this land package for the first time in its history, for it is that consolidation that gives VR the real opportunity for an exploration strategy with scale. The purpose of this news release is simply to provide the agreed-upon terms for the acquisition. We will illustrate our conviction on the potential of this target shortly, in a follow-up news release once requisite approvals are obtained and the Agreement is Closed. We believe that the untested potential of this complex for a large-scale CRD silver system is significant, and we look forward to providing further updates as our work proceeds.
The Reveille property is located approximately 90 kms east of Tonopah, Nevada. It consists of 57 mineral claims in one contiguous block covering 1,157 acres (468 hectares) over an area of approximately 2 x 2 kms. The properties are on federal land administered by the BLM, and are outside of the BLMs broadly defined area of sage grouse protection. There are no underlying annual lease payments on the property, nor are there any joint venture or carried interests on the property.
Technical information for this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101. Justin Daley, P.Geo., Principal Geologist at VR and a non-independent Qualified Person oversees and/or participates in all aspects of the Companys mineral exploration projects, and the content of this news release has been reviewed on behalf of the Company by the CEO, Dr. Michael Gunning, P.Geo., a non-independent Qualified Person.
About VR Resources
VR is an emerging junior exploration company focused on greenfields opportunities in copper and gold (TSX.V: VRR; Frankfurt: 5VR; OTCBB: VRRCF). VR is the continuance of 4 years of active exploration in Nevada by a Vancouver-based private company. The diverse experience and proven track record of its Board in early-stage exploration, discovery and M&A is the foundation of VR. The Company focuses on underexplored, large-footprint mineral systems in the western United States and Canada, and is well financed for its exploration strategies and corporate obligations. VR owns its properties outright, and evaluates new opportunities on an ongoing basis, whether by staking or acquisition.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Michael H. Gunning
_____________________________
Dr. Michael H. Gunning, PhD, PGeo
President & CEO
For general information please use the following:
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, and similar expressions or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. Forward looking statements in this release include but are not limited to: if VR completes a diamond drill program on the Claims, and; assumption that TSX Venture Exchange approval will be received.
Although the Company believes that the use of such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. All of the Companys public disclosure filings are available at www.sedar.com ; readers are urged to review these materials.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Figure 1 is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e6474db-14cf-4764-949e-208ce365b811
Deputy Economy Minister Kachka rigs trade commission's meeting supposed to protect fuel market from Russian expansion
14:20, 23.06.20 3182
In fact, the meeting was "virtual", some commission members claim.
In the wake of a federal judges refusal Saturday to block publication of John Boltons White House memoir, The Room Where It Happened, the book by Trumps former national security advisor will go on sale today at bookshops and newsstands. It is likely that the Trump administrations failed attempt to suppress the book will generate windfall profits for the author and his publisher.
US District Judge Royce Lamberth expressed some agreement with Justice Department lawyers criticism of Bolton for sending his book to press without final White House clearance. But he declined to issue an injunction halting publication because the book has already been printed and widely distributed, as well as being made available on the internet.
The judge suggested that Bolton could be vulnerable to a civil suit seeking to sequester his share of the books profits, and perhaps even criminal charges. While Boltons unilateral conduct raises grave national security concerns, the government has not established that an injunction is an appropriate remedy, Lamberth wrote. For reasons that hardly need to be stated, the Court will not order nationwide seizure and destruction of a political memoir.
John Bolton talks to reporters Wednesday, In 2019 outside the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)
Trump had made no secret that he viewed the Bolton book not as a threat to national security, but as a blow against his reelection campaign due to its depiction of him as an incompetent ignoramus and liar. At one point in the negotiations over clearance of the volume, according to Bolton, Trumps representatives suggested that the book simply be delayed until after the November 3 election.
Bolton, a ferocious war hawk who has called for the bombing of North Korea and Iran, has given a series of press interviews since the books hostile characterization of Trump became public knowledge through press reviews and advance excerpts. He has done so both to promote the book, which has already netted him an advance of $2 million, and to influence a layer of right-wing Republicans, particularly in Congress but perhaps also at Fox News and other Republican-oriented media.
The fullest presentation of Boltons views came in an interview with Martha Raddatz of ABC News, broadcast Sunday night, during which he declared that he would not vote for either Trump or Biden for president, although he made clear that he regarded a second term for Trump as the greater threat.
The former Trump aide claimed that a reelected Trump would be a danger to the Republic. By this he was not referring to Trumps clear turn toward dictatorship in recent weeksparticularly his attempt to launch a full-scale military intervention against the protests over police violence that have swept the United States since the police murder of George Floyd on May 25.
Instead, Bolton was warningin much the same terms as the Democratic Party impeachment drivethat Trump was such a poor manager of American foreign policy that antagonists like Russia and China were having their way with him. He told Raddatz: I think the concern I have, speaking as a conservative Republican, is that once the election is over, if the president wins, the political constraint is gone. And because he has no philosophical grounding, theres no telling what will happen in a second term.
As elaborated in his book, and repeated in the ABC interview, Bolton indicts Trump for having no coherent foreign policy and no strategy for advancing the interests of American imperialism around the world. Instead, according to the former national security adviser, Trump is preoccupied entirely with advancing his personal political interests and the financial interests of himself and his family.
This largely dovetails with the Democratic impeachment of Trump for withholding military aid to Ukraine in order to gain a partisan edge on the Democrats by having Ukraine investigate his presumed, and now actual, Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Trumps delay in releasing the aid, approved by both parties in Congress, to the right-wing, anti-Russian regime in Kiev was one of a number of foreign policy differences that led Bolton to resign his post last September.
Boltons confirmation of the Democrats charge that Trump sought to blackmail Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into investigating Biden and his son by withholding the military aid has sparked bitter complaints by the Democrats that Bolton should have come forward in January and helped them make the case for removing Trump at his Senate trial.
While the Democrats focused on Trumps alleged ties to Russia and his effort to pressure Ukraine, Bolton adds China and Turkey to the list of countries where Trump has sought assistance for his political and family fortunes at the expense of the national interesti.e., the global interests of Wall Street and the Pentagon-CIA complex.
In a widely quoted passage in the interview, Bolton told Raddatz that his narrative of the Trump White House was important, Because I think it shows a pattern quite contrary to the image he would like to convey of a decisive president who knows something about what hes doing. There really isnt any guiding principlethat I was able to discernother than whats good for Donald Trumps reelection theres no coherent basis, no strategy, no philosophy. And decisions are made in a very scattershot fashion, especially in the potentially mortal field of national security policy. This is a danger for the republic.
Bolton went out of his way to praise Vice President Mike Pence, both as a more consistent political conservative and foreign policy hawk than Trump, and as someone who had the thankless task of walking back the incoherent and self-contradictory statements and actions of the president. He also suggested that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in significant agreement with him and Pence over steering Trump away from undue concessions to North Korea, China, Russia and other countries that Bolton would prefer to target for bullying, subversion and outright military action.
In contrast, he appears to harbor resentment toward Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has been assigned significant roles in foreign policy, particularly in relation to Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as China, all spheres normally handled by the national security advisor. In his interview with Raddatz, Bolton even suggested that Kushner might prevail upon a reelected Trump to name a liberal Supreme Court justice in the event of a vacancy caused by the departure of one of the four nominal liberals currently on the court. The suggestion is preposterous, but its purpose is to arouse hostility towards Kushner in the Christian fundamentalist right.
The most striking aspect of both the book and the interviews is the viciously personal character of Boltons attacks on Trump, to which he clearly expects the president to respond in kind. This underscores the utterly reactionary character of both Boltons perspective and the media fascination with him: it represents the further degradation of politics through the methods of gossip, character assassination and intrigueor, as the WSWS has repeatedly described it, the methods of palace coup.
Bolton told Raddatz outright, I dont think hes fit for office. I dont think he has the competence to carry out the job. I dont think hes a conservative Republican. Im not gonna vote for him in November. Certainly not gonna vote for Joe Biden either. Im gonna figure out a conservative Republican to write in.
I hope [history] will remember him as a one-term president who didnt plunge the country irretrievably into a downward spiral we cant recall from, Bolton told Raddatz. We can get over one term. I have absolute confidence Two terms Im more troubled about.
He has been close to inseparable from his Pit Bull Kuma since he rescued her two years ago.
And Justin Theroux was spotted with his little one during a walk around his local area in New York City on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old kept protected in a mask and gloves while flaunting his bulging biceps in a tank top.
Fit! Justin Theroux showcased his bulging biceps in an Alicia Keys tank top during a walk around his New York City neighborhood on Tuesday
Justin opted for a vintage Alicia Keys shirt that drew attention to his toned and fit physique.
The Emmy-winning actor teamed the look with jeans and accessorized with a cream colored beanie and a pair of sades.
The Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle star recently gave fans a glimpse of what the past few months of lockdown has looked like for him.
Safety first: The actor ensured full safety with a mask and a pair of gloves for the stroll
Best pal: He has been close to inseparable from his Pit Bull, Kuma, since he rescued her two years ago
Justin took to social media to get all dressed up for a dinner date with Kuma.
'Day 97. We had a fight today.. but worked through it,' he hilariously began.
'Oh... and dinner was spaghetti with pesto. Baby tomatoes. Salad. Kuma is wearing a bow tie and tux bib.'
Justin rose to fame for his directorial work in the 2001 film, Mulholland Drive.
In 2011 he began dating Jennifer Aniston after they worked together on the film, Wonderlust.
Date night: The Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle star recently gave fans a glimpse of what the past few months of lockdown has looked like for him
Man's best friend! Justin regularly shares photos online with his pup, Kuma
Justin and Jennifer announced their engagement in August 2012 before marrying three years later in August 2015.
The Hollywood couple called it quits at the end of 2017 and announced their separation in February the following year.
Both Jennifer and Justin have spoken fondly of their split and have remained friends.
Justin told The New York Times in his first interview after their announcements: 'The good news is that was probably the most Im choosing my words really carefully it was kind of the most gentle separation, in that there was no animosity.'
'In a weird way, just sort of navigating the inevitable perception of it is the exhausting part.'
TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / GlobeX Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF)(CSE:SWIS) ("GlobeX" or the "Company"), the leader in Swiss hosted cyber security and Internet privacy solutions for secure data management and secure communications, is pleased to announce that it has received increased interest for its upcoming Secure Email and Messaging Solutions, PrivaTalk Messenger ("PTM"), the Company's Swiss hosted encrypted and private instant messaging application for all devices on web and mobile devices, equipped with privacy tools and anti-phishing technology.
With the exponential increase in recent Business Email Compromise ("BEC") attacks for business emails and the latest phishing campaign targeting Office 365, exploits brand names, published on the website threadpost.com on June 18 2020, the Company has received increased interest in its PTM solution. Additionally, recent data breaches in messaging applications and in particular in the WhatsApp application have created a certain urgency for businesses to protect their communications form cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile devices.
The Company is already receiving interest in India as India is grappling with a surge in the number of cyber-attacks. Recently, the Company announced a distribution agreement in India and the demand has been swift. The projects revolve around healthcare and financial sectors for larger enterprises. The Company is also working with its other distributors in Sri Lanka as that country is coming out of confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alain Ghiai, CEO of GlobeX Data said: "We are seeing an urgent need for cyber security and secure cloud and communications solutions, such as the ones we provide. Business is coming back in India and Sri Lanka, and we are in daily communications with our distributors. We expect to do better than we thought in the region, considering the huge economic impact COVID-19 has had in the South Asia region. India looks to be bigger than we though, as their cyber-attacks have increased by more than 35% from Q4 2019 to Q1 2020. Our new PTM solution is popular and simple to use, while it protects users' data and comes with our proprietary technologies, including anti-phishing technology. COVID-19 has put global businesses under pressure and has created an increased awareness for secure cloud business solutions such as GlobeX's. We believe that this trend will only continue moving forward, and India is no exception as we expect robust sales growth in the coming quarters for the region."
PrivaTalk Messenger or ("PTM"), is the Company's Swiss hosted secure communications suite, which includes encrypted messaging with self-destruct timer and the Company's encrypted email service called Custodia. Custodia is a secure email with proprietary SecureSend and SecureReply anti-phishing and privacy technology. SecureSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Custodia's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same SecureSend manner, called SecureReply, without the recipient having to purchase PrivaTalk Messenger or Custodia. This process is revolutionary as no information is traveling on the open internet and the privacy and security of both the sender and recipient are guaranteed. A sender can also add a password protection, a limit on the reads by the recipient and a self-destruct timer for each email sent. This is also a guarantee to eliminate BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks.
One of the many Privacy and security features of PrivaTalk Messenger is that the user does not register with their phone number, eliminated a huge loophole in security and privacy. Just recently, according to an article written by Lindsey O'Donnell and posted on the website threatpost.com on June 5 2020, it was disclosed that WhatsApp phone numbers and users were searchable on Google, creating a massive security and privacy breach. Earlier in the year, an article was written about a similar flaw affecting all businesses, NGOs, UN and non-profit organizations, where WhatsApp Group members were also compromised and searchable in a reverse engineering trick done on Google.
PrivaTalk Messenger eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well. PrivaTalk Messenger issues each user a username and a PTM number. The PTM number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other PTM users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including GlobeX's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers.
GlobeX's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.
Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.
About GlobeX Data Ltd.
GlobeX Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure data management and secure communications. The Company distributes a suite of secure cloud-based storage, disaster recovery, document management, encrypted e-mails, and secure communication tools. GlobeX Data Ltd. sells its products through its approved wholesalers and distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. GlobeX Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.
On behalf of Management
GLOBEX DATA LTD.
Alain Ghiai
President and Chief Executive Officer
+1.416.644.8690
corporate@globexdatagroup.com
For more information please contact GlobeX Data at corporate@globexdatagroup.com or visit us at https://globexdatagroup.com.
For more information on DigitalSafe visit us at: https://digitalsafe.com.
For more information on PrivaTalk and PrivaTalk Messenger visit us at: https://privatalk.com.
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. GlobeX cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond GlobeX's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in GlobeX's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, GlobeX undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.
SOURCE: GlobeX Data Ltd.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594884/GlobeX-Data-Receives-Increased-Interest-for-its-Anti-Phishing-Secure-Email-and-Messaging-Solution
By the time classrooms reopen in the fall, many students will have spent a half-year without in-person education due to an academic hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Some students, usually in better-funded districts, continued to receive virtual instruction while quarantined in their homes; others across the state, often kids who were already behind academically, saw access to meaningful education vanish abruptly, a new study of Michigans education system found.
The most vulnerable students in Michigan are going to be the most impacted... said Brian Gutman, director of external relations for the Education Trust-Midwest, the nonprofit that created the report. These are students that were the furthest behind to begin with. In may cases, theyre students whose communities have had disproportionate economic impacts of the pandemic and theyre going to return to schools that might not be ready to support their needs.
The Education Trust-Midwest is funded by the national Education Trust, which has about $23 million in assets and received $20 million in revenue, mostly through grants, in 2017, according to the most recently available tax documents online. The organization speaks up for students, especially those whose needs and potential are often overlooked, and operates as a nonpartisan, data-driven education policy, research and advocacy organization, its website says.
Its latest report named, A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education, was released Tuesday, June 22.
A Marshall Plan: Reimagining Michigan Public Education:
The report focuses on equitable, well-tracked spending of the reduced education funds, creation of a testing program to gauge where students are academically as they return to class; extending learning time for students through summer school, tutoring or other options, improving and expanding access to virtual learning and related training for teachers, developing plans for inclusivity to address growing racism and bullying and making plans to assist students headed for college or other post-high school educational programs.
Once schools are reopened, students need to be evaluated to determine their level of learning and provided with the appropriate instructional supports, remediation and resources to meet their unique learning needs, the report says. This is not only true for students who are behind but also for students who need and are ready for acceleration.
A common, unified interim assessment system should be deployed across the state to better understand student learning levels in the fall.
The report calls for sharing results of the testing with parents and administrators to better determine how to proceed in light of the coronavirus closures.
The educational blow from the coronavirus pandemic is further compounded by huge budget deficit projections. The State Senate Fiscal Agencys economic outlook and budget review released on May 14 shows a $1.2-billion shortfall in school aid funding for the 2019-20 school year, along with a $1.1-billion decrease in school aid anticipated for 2020-21.
And schools are going to have different costs, Gutman said. It may cost something more to transport students next year, we arent used to having schools need to procure significant amounts of personal protection equipment and not to mention that, with students out for so long, the learning needs are going to be greater.
Were going to need more extended learning, things like summer school ... Some students may need one-on-one tutoring or small-group instruction to make sure the learning loss thats accrued over the last six months can be overcome.
The Michigan Department of Education is slated to receive $390 million in U.S. Department of Education emergency relief funds and $90 in Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund grants to help offset some of the budget deficit but Gutman said its not nearly enough to actually make up for the loss were going to have.
The Tri-County Alliance for Public Education, a nonprofit that advocates for public schools in Michigan, conducted a study of expected new costs to state educators.
The expected requirements, based on preliminary guidance from federal and local health departments, will add more than $1 billion in new costs for school districts statewide for the upcoming school year, Tri-County Alliance for Public Education said. Without additional support, this equates to $665 per-pupil that would be diverted from students education.
Here is a breakdown of the new cost projections.
We are hearing loud and clear from parents that they want their kids back in the classrooms this fall, and that they will, understandably, demand schools meet or exceed health and safety guidelines in order to do so, said Tri-County Alliance for Public Education President Mark Greathead, who is also the superintendent of Woodhaven-Brownstown Schools. Schools, as it stands, are not prepared to take on new costs related to COVID-19 and are in critical need of immediate funding from the state and federal government.
Due to this money crunch, the Education Trust-Midwest recommends officials ensure stronger oversight and accountability of all funds that become available.
In an unprecedented crisis, Michigan students will need an unprecedented level of investment to recover lost learning and close long-standing achievement gaps, the Education Trust-Midwest report said. This investment needs to be made around equity and what research has told us is necessary for all students to succeed.
Gutman said there are silver linings to impact the coronavirus has had on education.
Its no less tragic, but I think its important to have the inequities that have long persisted (be) exposed, he said. Theres a renewed conversation about important topics, like: How can we make sure every student has meaningful access to high quality instruction, even when they arent at school.
With school closures came a heavy reliance on virtual learning. This revealed internet deficiencies in some communities that left students unable to reliably access the internet or participate in learning.
Some districts ... could quickly deploy a device for every student, he said. There are other districts that still havent been able to do so.
Gutman said the group is looking toward what is shaping up to be a very unusual school year and we now have time to plan.
Districts should be taking steps to make sure having a device and an internet connection is the baseline, he said, and make sure things like quality aligned curriculum and resources are in place to be used whether learning is taking place in person or needs to shift online for a period of time.
He wants schools to learn from this pandemic so the next time there is a significant gap in classroom teaching the education gap doesnt grow so disproportionately.
The reality is that next fall were going to have some students who come back to school who have largely not skipped a beat, Gutman said. Were going to have other students who are going to come back to school who have largely not engaged in education in six months.
... They are going to have massive gap.
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
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Mask rule places retailers in no-win situation
US Economic Downturn Eases in June as Lockdowns Lift
Wall Street climbs on upbeat data
Business activity in the United States, as measured by purchasing managers index (PMI) data, hit a four-month high, reflecting the lifting of lockdowns and fueling hopes that the economy is roaring back to life.
IHS Markit, which released its PMI numbers on June 23 (pdf), said all four measures of U.S. business activity that it tracks showed a significant rebound in June. Despite contracting for a fifth straight month, the pace of decline of business activity eased substantially and above expectations, supporting the view that the pandemic-driven recession is drawing to an end.
Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said the data showed the U.S. economic downturn abating markedly in June, adding that the improvement will fuel hopes that the economy can return to growth in the third quarter.
The flash Composite Output Index, which tracks both the manufacturing and services sectors, rose to a reading of 46.8 from 37 in May. A reading below 50 indicates contraction in private-sector output.
While still in contraction territory, the decrease in the Composite Index was the softest since February, before the COVID-19 outbreak hit.
As more firms and states began to reopen following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, offsetting weak demand faced by many other companies, the overall pace of decline eased among goods producers and service providers, IHS Markit noted.
The PMI for the services sector, which accounts for some two-thirds of the U.S. economy, rose to 46.7 in June from 37.5 in the prior month.
Manufacturing was the surprising bright spot, with the contraction in activity coming in above expectations. The flash Manufacturing PMI rose to 49.6 from a reading of 39.8 in May. Economists polled by Reuters forecast the index for the sector, which accounts for 11 percent of the economy, rising to 47.8 in June. The Manufacturing Output Index rose to 47.8 from 34.4 in May.
IHS Markit attributed the marked softening in the pace of overall decline in manufacturing activity to substantially slower falls in output and new orders.
Williamson said threats to economic recovery rest chiefly in the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, along with depressed demand associated with high unemployment and concerns about the future.
Any return to growth will be prone to losing momentum due to persistent weak demand for many goods and services, linked in turn to ongoing social distancing, high unemployment, and uncertainty about the outlook, curbing spending by businesses and households, Williamson said.
The recovery could also be derailed by new waves of virus infections, he said, adding that continual vigilance by the Fed, U.S. Treasury, and health authorities will therefore be required to keep any recovery on track.
A separate report from the U.S. Commerce Department showed sales of new homes jumped by 16.6 percent in May, far better than the 2.9 percent consensus.
IHS Markits PMI data for the eurozone also blew past economist projections, similarly rising to four-month highs and stoking hopes of a quick, V-shaped recovery.
Wall Street followed European and Asian stocks higher on June 23 and longer-term U.S. Treasury yields gained ground following the upbeat economic data from both the United States and Europe.
Iran Looking to Establish Permanent Naval Base in Indian Ocean by Next Spring, Commander Says
Sputnik News
14:14 GMT 22.06.2020
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps plans to set up a permanent naval base in the Indian Ocean by mid-March, the Guard's navy commander was quoted as saying on Monday.
"The IRGC is looking to establish a permanent base in the Indian Ocean by the end of the current Iranian year," Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said, according to the Mehr news agency.
The navy commander said the move would be in line with the guidelines provided by Iran's spiritual leader and commander-in-chief, Ayatollah Khamenei.
Iranian merchant vessels and fishing boats have been routinely harassed by pirates and foreign ships, Adm. Tangsiri said. By establishing a base in the ocean, Iran hopes to secure a "powerful and strong" presence there, he added.
A Sputnik
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2020 Nissan Rogue Road Trip Review by Larry Nutson +VIDEO
Road Trip in the 2020 Nissan Rogue
By Larry Nutson
Senior Editor and Bureau Chief
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel
Another wedding weekend. This one was for the marriage of the daughter of one of my wifes roommates from her university days. Weve been longtime friends with this couple. We were at their wedding and they at ours.
How time flies!
Our wedding weekend road trip would take us from our Chicago home to Petoskey, Michigan, near the northern tip of Michigans lower peninsula. Its about 370 miles and roughly a 6 hour drive each way.
Ive done this drive a number of times. The best plan is to leave Chicago after morning rush hour and make a stop along the way for lunch. To go north in Michigan from Chicago you first head south and then east to pass around the southern shores of Lake Michigan. Most of the trip is on multi-lane highways except a bit north of Cadillac where the road reduces to two-lanes making for a slower pace.
Saugatuck is about two hours from our home and is a good stopping point for lunch and to rest the mind. There are a number of nice restaurants with outside patios where you can watch the boats on the Kalamazoo River making their way out to Lake Michigan.
North of Grand Rapids the four-lane divided highway, US 131, is posted at 75 mph speed limit. Vehicle traffic moves fast, helping to knock off the miles quickly. US 131 eventually narrows to two lanes with a drop in speed. Our route crosses the 45th parallelhalf way between the equator and the north pole.
A 2020 Nissan Rogue would be getting us there. The 2020 Nissan Rogue comes in three models S, SV and SL, each in a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices start at $25,200 and climb to $32,940. Wed be driving an SV with AWD priced at $27,970. The destination charge adds $1,045.
I was most interested to drive the Rogue on the trip since it would give me a lots of miles and different traffic conditions to test out Nissans ProPILOT Assist system.
Pilot Assist mates steering assist with adaptive cruise control to keep the car centered in the lane. All you need is to keep a comfortable grip on the steering wheel and the system steers you along the highway, even on mild curves. The driver must stay engaged in the driving task and ready to take over if the traffic situation warrants.
I found that ProPILOT does do a nice job of steering so the driver can be a bit relaxed. We did a couple full stops using the active cruise control without touching the brake pedal...wife says, "are you sure." I liked the ProPilot system best in light traffic with about 1/8 to 1/4 mile between vehicles. Smart or adaptive cruise control is also best, in my view, in lighter traffic. The programming for the distance to the vehicle in front of you is conservative, often leaving too much space resulting in another vehicle cutting in. As I mentioned, the driver must stay engaged in the driving task. Nissan describes some limitations of ProPILOT, which will cause the system to disengage. Rain or snow may interfere with sensors. Lane markings (which the camera needs to see) may be faded. Even driving into direct sunlight or shadows on lane markings can cause problems. Sharp curves may require that you to steer through. Exit and entrance ramps can be confusing. ProPILOT is a hands on system for highway use. Its not an autonomous self-driving system. There are no autonomous vehicles on the market today.
Our Rogue SV road-tripper was also equipped with Nissans Safety Shield 360 suite of features which includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), radar-based Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and High Beam Assist (HBA). Intelligent Around View Monitor (I-AVM) and Intelligent Lane Intervention (I-LI) were also equipped.
As you can tell, there is a complete array of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) safety features that really make driving easier and safer. They all dont come in to use all the time, but many provide a distinct advantage in certain driving conditions that one may experience over many miles of driving in various traffic or weather conditions.
The Rogue proved quite comfortable for my wife and me. I did all the driving while she caught up on some work. I like a power drivers seat on long road trips because you can make minor tweaks in seat position that helps reduce fatigue. We enjoyed the Sirius XM radio and also switched to Apple CarPlay to listen to a couple podcasts. Even though I knew our route, I plugged the destination into the navigation system to see how many minutes I could knock off of the predicted arrival time.
We had weekend luggage and two garment bags, which laid perfectly across the shelf in the rear cargo area. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with its 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque proved very adequate in moving the two of us and our stuff in the trunk. Cabin sound level is very comfortable with no annoying engine, wind or tire noises.
Rogue AWD models are EPA test-cycle rated at 25 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined. We didnt do much conserving on our drive. It was about getting their in as little time as possible.
More information and detail on the 2020 Nissan Rogue can be found at www.nissanusa.com.
Overall the 2020 Rogue proved to be a good road tripper. Our trip back home to Chicago included a brief post-wedding stop at the 19-mile long Torch Lake with a further reunion with my wifes college roommates and their husbands. Its Michigans longest lake and the second biggest inland lake.
One last note on self-driving cars. Take another look at the limitations I mentioned on this ProPILOT system and the same apply to making a self-driving car function all the time under every driving and weather condition.
2019 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
Vladimir Putin has today announced a tax hike for Russia's top earners to fund the economic costs of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Russian president said the tax rate would rise from 13 to 15 per cent on incomes over five million roubles (58,000) from January 2021.
Putin himself would be liable for the tax, having raked in 8.6million roubles (100,000) in 2018 when the Kremlin last announced his earnings.
The move is Russia's first step away from a flat tax system which was introduced in 2001 during Putin's first term as president.
Russia has finally seen a decline in its infection rate in recent days after weeks of stagnation, but the country faces its deepest recession since 2009.
Vladimir Putin (pictured) has today announced a tax hike for Russia's top earners to fund the economic costs of the coronavirus pandemic
Russia has started to ease the lockdown this month with cafes re-opening and more exercise permitted in Moscow and other regions.
But the economic damage is already severe, with retail sales falling by 23.4 per cent in April during the first full month of lockdown.
Joblessness jumped to 5.8 per cent while GDP slumped by 12 per cent in April, its deepest fall since May 2009.
GDP is expected to shrink by five per cent this year even once economic activity starts to resume.
Russia has earmarked five trillion roubles (58billion) to jump-start its economy through end-2021, its premier Mikhail Mishustin said earlier this month.
'By the end of the recovery period we should achieve stable, prolonged economic growth above pre-crisis levels,' Mishustin said, without giving details or figures.
Putin said in his televised announcement today that the tax hike would bring an extra 60billion roubles (700million) into Russia's budget.
Before the coronavirus crisis, Russian GDP was forecast to grow by more than three per cent in 2021-22.
Russia has started to ease lockdown restrictions as coronavirus cases gradually decline (pictured here are people sitting at tables on a pleasure boat in Moscow today)
The pandemic has dealt a serious setback to the economic and social policy goals Putin set out after his re-election in 2018.
Economic plans at a total cost of nearly more than 300billion through 2024 were intended to make Russian GDP growth exceed the global average by then.
Russia has piled up 599,705 infections in the world's third-largest outbreak after the US and Brazil, although its death toll is comparatively low at 8,359.
The daily infection count hovered between 8,000 and 10,000 for 32 consecutive days from mid-May to mid-June but has now been in the 7,000s for the last week.
Meanwhile, the death toll yesterday fell below 100 for the first time since May 25, although it was back up to 153 today.
Putin's tax proposal comes just days before the country is due to vote on constitutional reforms that could allow him to stay in power until 2036.
The 67-year-old would normally hit the limit of two consecutive terms in 2024, but lawmakers have backed a plan to reset the counter to zero so he could run again.
Putin previously served two terms from 2000 to 2008, then became PM before returning to the presidency in 2012 and winning a fourth term in 2018.
A City Council meeting tonight was abruptly canceled today after Mayor Regina Romero cited questions about the death of a man in April while in Tucson police custody.
No details of the death in April were released today, and the department had not previously publicly disclosed that it happened.
"After viewing a video yesterday of a Tucson Police Department in-custody death, I do not feel that it would be appropriate to carry on with business as usual in light of this event. I am anguished and deeply troubled by what I saw in the video yesterday," Romero said in a written statement. "Out of respect for the familys wishes, I have been informed that the City will not be immediately sharing the name of the victim, details of the incident, or the video per the familys request."
Tucson police, she said, have scheduled a news conference Wednesday to discuss the circumstances of the death.
During Tuesdays meeting, the Council planned to vote on the city's contract with TPDs union, the Tucson Police Officers Association, as well as review the city budget, which included potential funding for the police department.
Stones attorneys said they were told by prosecutors that they did not oppose a 60-day extension based on Justice Department guidance on the handling of voluntary surrender dates during the pandemic. Legal analysts said it is not uncommon for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District to agree to delaying a defendants sentence, especially for inmates considered at higher risk for the virus, which could include Stone because of his age.
On your marks, get set, click! The eagerly awaited sneaker collaboration between Nike and Dior will be available soon, but only the fastest web shoppers will get their hands on a pair. The French brand will shortly be launching a mini-site, where sneaker addicts can register to be first in line for the much-coveted new shoes.
Presented for the first time last December in Miami on the occasion of the 2020 Dior pre-fall runway show, the Air Jordan 1 OG Dior sneakers will shortly be available from a selection of pop-up stores. The exact date for the launch has yet to be disclosed, however, the French luxury house is about to set up a mini-site, which is not for sales, but rather for pre-sales of the sneakers. Only internet users who are among the first to register on this website will have a chance of getting their hands on a pair of the new shoes.
Designed by Dior menswear creative director Kim Jones, the Air Jordan 1 OG Dior sneakers, which have been created in low and high versions, are instantly recognizable. The limited-edition footwear is characterized by neutral discreet colors -- unbleached white and Christian Dior's favorite pearl gray -- and the French luxury house's logo features on Nike's iconic Swoosh.
Those who wish to acquire the sneakers will have to register on the mini-site as soon as it is unveiled by Dior. Potential customers will have to indicate their preferred version, i.e., high or low, their size, and the pop-up store where they would like to collect the shoes. The lucky shoppers will receive a unique QR code that will allow them to pick up their Air Jordan Diors when they present it along with proof of identity at the store. The others will just have to console themselves with the Air Dior ready-to-wear and accessories capsule created in collaboration with Jordan Brand, which will hit the shelves in a selection of Dior boutiques at the beginning of July.
We'll be publishing more details about the mini-site as and when they become available. So stay tuned.
As many as 48 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh, taking the state's tally to 776, officials said on Tuesday.
Of these, 23 cases were reported from Hamirpur, 17 from Kangra, three each from Shimla and Una, and two from Chamba, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman said.
The number of active cases in the state now stands at 324, he said.
So far, 432 people have recovered, while 11 have migrated out of the state. Himachal Pradesh has reported seven deaths due to COVID-19.
In Hamirpur, most of the fresh cases have a travel history to Delhi-NCR, District's Chief Medical Officer Archna Soni said.
A 72-year-old man and his 36-year-old son quarantined at Kanjyan, a 44-year-old woman and her 14-year-old daughter, a 57-year-old man and his 50-year-old wife in home quarantine in Kulehra village, a 51-year-old man and his 22-year-old son, and a 41-year-old man and his 39-year-old wife have tested positive, she said.
Similarly, a 29-year-old Bahrain-returned man, a 26-year-old man quarantined at Doongri, a 31-year-old man in home quarantine, a 15-year-old girl, a 21-year-old man, a 29-year-old man, a 31-year-old man, a 30-year-old man who returned from Ahmednagar Army base and a 33-year-old man have also tested positive, Son added.
Besides, two women ,aged 14 and 38, from Nadaun block and two men, aged 43 and 55, from Badsar and Sujanpur blocks also tested positive, she said.
The total number of positive cases in Hamirpur now stands at 205, while 111 of them recovered, one had succumbed to the virus, Soni said.
In Kangra, too, most of the fresh cases include people who recently returned from Delhi, a district official said.
In Shimla, three of a family in Sunni tested positive, a district official said, adding that they had returned from Gurugram recently.
Three patients -- two in Kinnaur and one in Kullu -- also recovered from the disease on Tuesday, Dhiman added.
In Kullu, an eight-month-old girl recovered from novel coronavirus on Tuesday, Kullu superintendent of police Gaurav Singh said.
Hamirpur has the maximum number of active COVID-19 cases in the state at 93, followed by 87 in Kangra, 47 in Solan, 40 in Una, 20 in Shimla, 14 in Bilaspur, 10 each in Chamba and Sirmaur, two in Mandi, and one in Kullu.
The pandemic has brought many players in the fashion industry to their knees but a group of Australian designers is putting aside their own struggles to help in-need communities back on their feet.
Bec Cooper and Bridget Yorston, of Bec & Bridge, this week donated several hundred pieces of excess stock to Thread Together, a non-profit that works with charity groups in disadvantaged communities to distribute clothes to people in need.
Hitting the road ... Thread Together's Anthony Chesler and Andie Halas (right) with Bec Cooper (left) and Bridget Yorston, from Bec & Bridge. Credit:Louise Kennerley
Recently, Bec & Bridge's dresses found their way to a group of Year 12 students from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mentoring program who needed formal outfits, while when it comes to helping bushfire-affected communities, they're more likely to give ex-season coats and knitwear.
"It's not about just giving whatever we have," says Cooper. "It's about ... being more thoughtful about it. It's not completely 'dead' stock. It's still relevant, it was in stores last year."
Daniel Duku
23.06.2020 LISTEN
An Accra High Court has rejected an agreement between the Attorney General's (AG's) Department and the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF), Daniel Duku to refund money stolen from the state.
The trial judge, Justice Anthony Oppong, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, said having looked at the terms of the agreement, the court is not impressed with the arrangement, especially when the accused person is supposed to pay the money in tranches and not at a go.
Trial
Mr. Duku, together with six accused persons, including former Member of Parliament (MP) for Keta, is standing trial for allegedly misappropriating funds in excess of GH42 million belonging to the VCTF, a state agency.
The other four are Irene Anti Mensah, an investment officer of VCTF, who doubled as executive assistant to Mr. Duku; Frank Aboagye Mensah, businessman; Kofi Sarpong, former investment officer of VCTF; and Charity Opoku, aka Charity Ameyaw, an accountant at VCTF.
However, just as full trial was getting set, Mr. Duku, Irene Anti Mensah and Frank Aboagye Mensah reached an agreement with the AG's Department under Section 35 of the Courts Act to refund their stolen monies to the state.
The three, per their agreements with the AG's Department, will refund the entire amounts and also pay compensations over a period of time.
Per the agreement struck by Mr. Duku's counsel Addo Atuah, the ex-CEO was to pay a total of GH15 million to the state as the money he stole and embezzled while in charge of the fund and was to pay it within three months.
Besides, the other two accused were willing to pay up to GH5 million bringing the total to GH20 million which the state would have recovered.
Order
Justice Oppong, on June 6, 2020, ordered the AG to 'restructure' the original agreement to include the accused persons admitting guilt and why they are giving up their constitutional right to trial.
According to the court, the current agreement between the two sides is unclear as it does not also specify the principal sum the accused persons stole and misappropriated and how much reparation they are paying back to the state which lost money as result of their actions.
Filed Agreement
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, yesterday told the court that the AG's Department filed the new agreement per the orders of the court and the terms had been clearly spelt out.
Justice Oppong then called the DPP and lawyers for the three accused persons into his chambers after the DPP made the announcement.
The judge after the court resumed stated that although Section 35 of the Courts Act gave the accused persons the opportunity to pay restitution and reparation, subsection 5 of Section 35 also gave the court the discretion to consider the agreement.
He said having looked at the terms of the agreement he is not impressed with them, especially when the accused persons were going to pay the many in installments and not at a go.
Justice Oppong subsequently rejected the deal and ordered that the trial should proceed.
The case was adjourned to July 3, 2020 for case management.
---Daily Guide
TDT | Manama
Private organisations in Bahrain are organising 16 private charter flights from Bahrain to three different Indian cities over two days at the request of many stranded Indian citizens. All the flights are operated by Gulf Air. Of these, 13 flights are headed to cities in the coastal Indian state of Kerala, one is set to fly to the city of Bangalore in Indias Karanataka state and the remaining two flights will depart to the capital city of Hyderabad in Telangana.
Five of the approved flights are organised by the Bahrain Keralyeeya Samajam (BKS), three under the initiative of the Indian Club Bahrain and the rest by other regional community organisations. The private charter flights which are scheduled to take off today and tomorrow have been approved by the Indian Embassy.
Two Indian Club flights today are flying to Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Telangana Cultural Association and Bangalore, in collaboration with the Kannada Sangha Bahrain. The flights are scheduled to depart at 16:00 and 19:00 this evening.
Their third flight, in association with the Indian Youth Cultural Congress is to fly out tomorrow to the city of Cochin, Kerala at 11.30 am. Scores of people travel from Bahrain to India on a regular day but now, they are all stranded here, many of whom have lost their jobs, have medical emergencies or other urgent needs to get back home.
Liverpool's 30-year wait to win the English title could come to an end this week, but the Reds must rely on Manchester City dropping points at Chelsea. Jurgen Klopp's men host Crystal Palace in the first Premier League game at Anfield for 110 days. A 0-0 draw at Everton in their first match for three months on Sunday means the champagne will remain on ice even if Liverpool return to winning ways. However, victory for Klopp's side will leave City needing to win at Stamford Bridge 24 hours later to deny Liverpool the title. Palace were the last team visiting team to win a league match at Anfield over three years ago. The Eagles impressed in their comeback with a 2-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday to close to within four points of the European places and Klopp was impressed with what he saw. "I saw Crystal Palace and they look like a proper-oiled machine," said the German. "They have four times in a row now a clean sheet, so it will be a tough job 100 per cent, I know that. But that is how the Premier League is always, so no problem with that." Liverpool are hopeful of having Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson back fit after both were badly missed in the Merseyside derby. City's strength in depth was on show as Pep Guardiola was able to make eight changes for Monday's 5-0 thrashing of Burnley. Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling are among those expected to come back into the side for the stiffer test of Chelsea, who will be looking to cement their place in the top four. Frank Lampard's men came from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 on Sunday to open up a five-point lead over Manchester United and Wolves. "Now we have three points when some teams have lost points around us," said Lampard. "We played well in patches but when they put us under pressure slightly, I thought we gave it away too easily - things we will definitely have to clean up on in the future games coming up." - Pogba back - Depending on the outcome of City's appeal against a two-season ban from European competition, fifth place could be good enough to qualify for next season's Champions League. United are in pole position to take advantage of their local rivals' punishment and made an impressive return despite being held to a 1-1 draw at Tottenham on Friday. Paul Pogba won the penalty, converted by Bruno Fernandes, for United's equaliser on his first appearance since December 26 as a substitute. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expected to pair the two star midfielders together from the start for the first time against Sheffield United on Wednesday. The Blades have taken just one point from their opening two games of the restart, but can still move above the Red Devils with victory at Old Trafford. Wolves picked up where they left off by beating West Ham 2-0 to move into the top six and will be confident of another victory when they host Bournemouth at Molineux. Fixtures (all times GMT) Tuesday Leicester v Brighton (1700), Tottenham v West Ham (1915) Wednesday Manchester United v Sheffield United, Newcastle v Aston Villa, Norwich v Everton, Wolves v Bournemouth (1700), Liverpool v Crystal Palace (1915) Thursday Southampton v Arsenal, Burnley v Watford (1700), Chelsea v Manchester City (1915) Liverpool could seal a first Premier League title in 30 years this week Bruno Fernandes could start alongside Paul Pogba for Manchester United for the first time on Wednesday
A man who was jailed two months ago as a risk to society for an attempted bank robbery where he carried a tin of butane gas and had a lighter taped to his left hand has been described as recovering good mental health and playing chess in prison.
Defence solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, said Noel Cambridge of 22 Willow Park, Douglas Road, Cork, had been suffering delusions and paranoia when he was first before the court.
In prison he is playing chess and catching up on lost education and trying to work on his fitness. He is like a changed man in terms of his mental health, Mr Kelleher said.
Two months ago at Cork Circuit Criminal Court he was sentenced to three years with the last year suspended for an attempted bank robbery on August 21 2019 at the Allied Irish Bank branch on Douglas Road, Cork.
Cambridge pleaded guilty to a number of other charges today at Cork District Court including counts of driving off without paying for petrol and driving without insurance. Judge Olann Kelleher sentenced him to a total of five months in prison which run concurrently with the two years imposed on him at the circuit court. The judge also banned him from driving for ten years.
Mr Kelleher, solicitor, said the defendants serious mental health problems stemmed from a motorcycle accident. The solicitor said the defendant was put on strong medication following this accident and afterwards he suffered serious mental health problems.
Mr Kelleher said that after speaking to Noel Cambridge about the matters before the district court it was clear that the defendant had stabilised significantly and was now doing much better in terms of his mental health.
Garda Barry Lawton previously testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that Noel Cambridge arrived at the counter of AIB on Douglas Road, Cork, on August 21 2019 and put a bag-for-life on the counter and told the cashier to put cash in it.
The cashier asked, Is this a joke? The defendant then said, I have blades, Garda Lawton said.
Cambridge left the scene empty handed. When he returned, Garda JP Twomey who was off-duty at the time was present in the bank. The defendant had three knives in an open position, He had glass wrapped in plastic, a Tesco bag, a tin of butane gas, a water bottle cut in half.
And on his left hand he had a lighter taped with duct tape. In a follow-up search of his car there was a balaclava, a large knife and a BB gun for shooting ball-bearings.
To understand why physical crude oil prices are rising across Europe, look to Russia.
The country, one of the world's largest producers, is curbing its exports to multiyear lows. That's helped to increase demand for other European grades and recently boosted their values in the market where actual barrels of oil are traded.
Combined shipments of Urals crude from Russia's Baltic and Black Sea ports are set at about 880,000 barrels a day in the first 10 days of July, according to Bloomberg calculations from loading programs. If that rate holds for the remainder of the month, it would be the lowest since at least 2008. The curbs come as the nation reduces supply under the OPEC+ pact that's seeking to eliminate a global glut with demand still muted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Derivatives contracts for Russia's flagship grade soared to a premium of more than $2 a barrel to the Dated Brent benchmark last week, compared with a discount of about $4.50 during oil's rout in April. That's the strongest level since at least 2015, according to brokers and ICE Futures Europe data. They traded at $1.85 on Monday, higher than the previous day's close.
"The market looks to be in full recovery mode," said Eugene Lindell, senior analyst at JBC Energy GmbH. Output cuts from major producers and a demand rebound are "just what the market needs to draw down storage and rebalance."
While producers have been quick to slash supply in a bid to balance the market, there has also been a gradual recovery in consumption. Demand figures in Italy, Spain, France and the U.K. have continued to rise in recent weeks as the region's economies emerge from their respective shutdowns during the pandemic.
As a result, the lack of availability of a key grade like Urals is also lifting the value of other oils in Europe. North Sea crude jumped last week as a spate of buying from European major Total SA helped lift prices, with the availability of oil dwindling.
The mother of a Co Down teenager who died in a two-vehicle crash has paid tribute to her "beautiful son".
Samuel McCullough (18), from Crossgar, was involved in a crash on the Coily Hill Road in Killyleagh in the early hours of yesterday.
Police said the former pupil of St Colmcille's High School was a passenger in a Peugeot 207 which collided with a Volkswagen Polo just after midnight.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said one doctor, one Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), a rapid response paramedic and six emergency crews were dispatched to the scene.
After initial treatment, three patients were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, one to the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children and two to the Ulster Hospital.
A spokesperson for the South Eastern Trust said the two patients at the Ulster were treated and discharged. No further details were available from the Belfast Trust.
Posting a tribute on her Facebook page, Pamela McCullough wrote: "Can't believe I'm having to write this, my beautiful son Samuel tragically passed away in the early hours this morning. Our hearts are absolutely broken, we'll love and miss you always and your memory will forever live on, sleep tight son."
Hundreds of family friends soon passed on their condolences to the family, and friends started a fundraising page to pay for funeral costs which had raised over 4,000 by yesterday afternoon.
Family friend Marian McMullan, who started the appeal, said: "It's with a heavy heart I'm writing this. Our wee village has been devastated by the sudden passing of an incredible young man," she said.
"We have set up this page to help raise money to give Sam Man the send off he deserves. What a wee gentleman he was. Please give as little or as much as you can."
Another friend added: "I cannot believe that such a young man has been taken so soon from his loving family."
SDLP councillor Terry Andrews visited the family yesterday and thanked the local community for their support. "I've known the family for many years and Sam since he was young. He has another brother and two sisters and he was a very cheerful, bright and bubbly young man who would never have passed you without saying hello.
"Words just cannot describe the sadness and heartbreak his family are going through now. As I understand, he had been studying at the local tech in Downpatrick."
DUP councillor Kathryn Owen said: "I have a son around the same age and I can't begin to imagine what his mother is going through. My heart is broken for his family."
Earlier, Alliance councillor Patrick Brown said he was "horrified" by the tragic news.
"My thoughts are with the loved ones of the deceased and those injured in the crash. I hope they make a full recovery from this incident, which has led to yet another young person losing their life on our roads," he said.
The police appealed for witnesses who saw either vehicle prior to the collision to call 101, quoting reference 12 for June 22.
Cyrus Poonawala (Image courtesy: cyruspoonawalla.com)
'Vaccine king' Cyrus Poonawalla's wealth grew the fastest among Indian billionaires and fifth fastest in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the strong business potential of his company, Serum Institute of India, according to a report by Hurun Research.
Poonawalla has climbed 57 places to be the 86th richest person in the world as of May 31 on the back of a 25 per cent rise in his net worth during the four months of the pandemic, the report said.
The Pune-based entrepreneur's unlisted company is already the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world and the network has been helped by vaccine distribution and manufacturing potential of his business, it added.
Recently, Serum struck an agreement with AstraZeneca to manufacture 1 billion doses of coronavirus vaccine being developed by Oxford University.
Richest Indian Mukesh Ambani continues to hold the numero uno ranking as the wealthiest Indian. After sharp losses in the first two months on market rout, the next two months saw an $18 billion surge in his fortune on the back of over Rs 1.69 lakh crore worth of deals struck by Reliance Industries in selling stakes in its telecom arm, it said.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
However, despite the late surge, his wealth was down 1 per cent as compared to the pre-COVID levels, it said.
Ambani saw a "V-shaped recovery" in his wealth, wherein the networth plummeted during the first two months and made up nearly all the losses in the next two months, it said.
Despite the networth being marginally lower, Ambani climbed up one place to be the eighth richest person in the world as of May 2020, it said.
Jeff Bezos continues to be at the top of the list of the world's richest individuals with a 14 per cent gain in his fortune to $160 billion in four months to May, and is followed by Bill Gates at $100 billion (down 6 per cent), Bernard Arnault at $89 billion (down 17 per cent), Warren Buffet at $84 billion (down 18 per cent), Mark Zuckerberg at $84 billion (unchanged), Steve Ballmer at $67 billion (up 1 per cent) and Amancio Ortega at $67 billion (down 17 per cent), it said.
Ambani's wealth erosion is the smallest as compared to other Indian billionaires in the top-100 list, like HCL's Shiv Nadar (16 per cent decline to $16 billion) and Gautam Adani and family (18 per cent decline to $14 billion), it said.
Apart from Ambani, Poonawalla, Adani and Nadar, there are no Indians in the top-100 list.
From a sectoral perspective, the biggest winners from the coronavirus pandemic seem to be online retailers, pharma, home improvement retailers, and also chocolate, soya sauce and pork producers, it said.
Both the US and China have gained marginally when one looks at the top-100 wealth owners, though the Asian country's growth has been a bit stronger between the two, the statement said.
The Indian stock market dropped 20 per cent during the pandemic and has made some gains lately, while the rupee has depreciated 5.6 per cent, it said.
By Fanny Potkin and Anshuman Daga
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Indonesian ride-hailing and payments firm Gojek announced on Tuesday it would lay off 9% of its employees, or 430 workers, and close down its lifestyle services arm, GoLife.
A spokesman said the company would "prioritise its high-impact core businesses of payments, transport and food delivery in a long-term response to the COVID-19 pandemic."
Reuters reported earlier on Tuesday that the firm would announce layoffs, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Gojek said it was cutting 9% of its employee headcount, with the layoffs being primarily in its lifestyle division, which offered cleaning and massage services.
Shutting the units is expected to have a knock-on impact on contractors providing services to GoLife, which numbered around 60,000 in 2019.
The startup said it would also close down the food courts it operates, known as GoFood festivals.
Sources familiar with Gojek's finances said it was finalising an over $3 billion investment round at a $10 billion valuation; Facebook and Paypal announced investments in Gojek's fintech arm earlier in June, and it also counts Google and Tencent among its backers.
Founded in 2010 as a ride-hailing firm, Gojek has since evolved into a one-stop app through which users can make online payments and order food and services, and claims 170 million users in Indonesia.
Widespread closures over the coronavirus pandemic have battered the ride-hailing industry and the gig economy, with firms cutting jobs globally.
Last week, Singaporean rival Grab announced it would cut under 5% of its workforce as it looks to ride out the impact of the outbreak.
The impact in Southeast Asia has been severe, with 11 drivers for Grab and rival Gojek earlier telling Reuters their income had dropped by more than half during the outbreak.
(Reporting by Fanny Potkin and Anshuman Daga; Editing by Kim Coghill, Clarence Fernandez and David Evans)
Haiti - Justice : Emmanuel Toto Constant could be expelled by the USA this Tuesday
For the 3rd time, the expulsion from the United States of Emmanuel "Toto" Constant, the former paramilitary leader of the Revolutionary Front Armed for the Progress of Haiti, which later became the "Haitian Front for Advancement and Progress" FRAPH, condemned in absentia by the Haitian justice for his numerous crimes https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30845-haiti-flash-usa-will-expel-78-haitians-including-the-former-head-of-fraph-emmanuel-toto-constant.html his arrival is announced in a returnee flight which should arrive in Port-au-Prince at 11:25 am
Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe relayed the information on Monday in a virtual meeting with representatives of the human rights sector, while informing them that he was still fighting for a postponement in the dismissal of Constant.
Lucmanne Delille, the Minister of Justice had recently declared that Constant would be immediately imprisoned on his return to Haiti if the Government did not succeed in postponing the deportation flight of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Air...
The United States Department of State declined to comment and referred all inquiries regarding the Constant expulsion to the Department of Homeland Security, which did not respond to requests for comment.
See also :
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30845-haiti-flash-usa-will-expel-78-haitians-including-the-former-head-of-fraph-emmanuel-toto-constant.html
https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30751-haiti-usa-50-haitians-including-14-criminals-aboard-the-3rd-deportation-flight-from-the-usa.html
SL/ HaitiLibre
US President Donald Trump in his latest executive order, a follow-up of the earlier April order intended to protect American jobs, has suspended the entry of several categories of visa holders including H1B and L which most IT firms apply for to send their workforce to the United States. Though the proclamation has a sunset clause at the end of the year (December 31), it also states that the effect of the order may be continued if found to be necessary. The order suspends and limits the entry of 'aliens' into the US, to those who are outside the country and also those seeking visas at the time of the order being passed.
The Indian IT industry body National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) in its statement said that the new proclamation which imposed new conditions for immigration was misguided and harmful to the US economy. "American workers are facing greater challenges than they had in years, but that does not mean that talent shortages do not continue to exist," it stated.
Further, even at the current unemployment rates, an analysis of the Bureau of Labour Statistics' Current Population Survey by the National Foundation for American Progress found that the unemployment rate for computer professionals actually went down from 3 per cent in January 2020 to 2.8 per cent in April 2020.
New York-based immigration attorney, Anand G. Sinha , Founder & Principal Attorney at Anand Sinha Law, P.C says the biggest concern for IT companies is not whether they could hire or retain talent, but to find the right talent in the US. "It takes time to grow homegrown talent," he says. While the Indian IT firms have been making steady investments in localisation efforts, over the past two years the increased H-1B rejections, local hiring, higher sub-contracting and lower onsite utilisation have also increased the onsite cost structure. For companies in the US, however, the worrying factor is not just talent but also the subsequent financial implications that they have to bear for non-availability of the same.
A report by HDFC Securities dated March 18 stated that the rise in H-1B wages in last two years was at 7.8 per cent CAGR due to higher H-1B rejections and shortage of talent trained on newer technologies. According to an analysis by the brokerage, every 1 per cent increase in US cost has -27bps impact on operating margins of IT firms . The report further noted that even though IT firms aim at higher localisation and on-site delivery centres, the H1B applications have shifted to lower cost destinations like Texas, Virginia, Florida, and Connecticut from high cost destinations like California, Washington, New York and New Jersey.
H-1B COUNT FOR FY19 (IT SERVICES)
However, with the pandemic bringing huge changes to delivery and sales at IT companies, the uncertainty around travel for this year has already been factored in. A former executive of a Bengaluru-based listed mid-tier IT firm, who did not wish to be named, said that in such unprecedented times when clients are renegotiating prices, cost is of paramount importance . "Whether off-shoring or distributed delivery models, clients now will be more than open to explore all options. It's about getting work done," he said.
Iran's Currency Faces Its Biggest Devaluation In A Tumultuous Forex Market
Radio Farda June 22, 2020
Reports from Iran say that that the value of Iranian currency rial has fallen to a record low June 22, as the U.S. dollar traded at the open markets in Tehran for 200,000 rials or even more.
This could be the biggest devaluation of Iran's national money since records have started.
However, while some Iranian websites have said that the rate of exchange for the U.S. dollar was 199,900 rials for a few hours on Monday morning 22 June, the decline in the value of rial has been continuing throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the rate of exchange for euro set a new record of 224,000 rials on Monday. At the same time, the value of a standard gold coin went as high as 844,000,000 rials and reaching the 900,000,000 peak around mid-day.
Iranians on social media have been posting sarcastic comments in criticism of the government all Monday. @Mohsen Ahmadian wrote on Twitter: "What is more frightening than the 200,000 rials per dollar rate, is that we are going to feel happy after the rate comes down to 180,000 rials."
Another Twitter user writing under the alias @Patrick_jane77 wrote: "The bazaar in Tehran is half closed. Many shops do not sell anything and even refuse to quote the prices of what they sell. Those who give you a quote, make it known that prices are valid for only one hour. Or they quote prices in dollars. And still some idiots believe that the country will progress under the Islamic Republic."
And @Drx66q1 asked: "Where the hell is the man who said the United States cannot do a damn thing?" This is a slogan that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei likes to repeat now and then.
Meanwhile, @mojaban posted a picture of the 1979 Iranian revolutionaries whose revolution was hijacked by the mullahs and said: "We owe the 200,000 rials per dollar exchange rate to you."
Monday morning, the governor of the Central bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnasser Hemmati and the Minister of Economy Farhad Dezhpasand were summoned to the Iranian Parliament (Majles) to explain the situation.
Hemmati attributed the most recent decline in the value of the Iranian currency to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, as well as the recent IAEA board of governor's resolution against Iran. However, he promised that the economy would recover soon, but did not say how.
Still many Iranians believe that the government is manipulating the exchange rate, by devaluating its own currency to earn money when sells dollars and euros to bridge its budget shortfall.
The rise in the price of gold and the rates of exchange gained a new momentum following the IAEA resolution about punitive measures against Tehran. Prices had already been on the rise for several weeks but the new development regarding Iran's nuclear program led to a major surge as economists had predicted earlier.
Hemmati had tried to rule out the prediction and wrote in a commentary that the CBI will provide the foreign currency needed by businesses at the right price. He warned that "the psychological atmosphere created by the IAEA resolution should not lead people in the market to take it as a wrong signal."
At the same time, it appears that Iran is facing a decline in its foreign currency reserves. The International Monetary Fund has predicted that Iran's foreign currency reserves will fall to $85 billion this year with a $19.4 billion decline. The IMF further predicted that the figure will reach $69 billion next year with a further 16 percent fall.
On Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani promised to reveal the identity of those who have taken foreign currency at a preferential rate from the government but have not returned what they owed to the banking system.
He also attributed the situation of foreign exchange in Iran to the coronavirus pandemic and the obstacles in repatriating Iran's oil money from other countries.
The United States left the nuclear agreement with Iran in 2018 and imposed sanctions on Tehran and implemented a maximum pressure policy against Iran, accusing it of destabilizing the region, supporting terrorism, and developing ballistic missiles.
Subsequently, according to Iranian Vice-President Es'haq Jahangiri Iran's oil revenues dropped from $100 billion to $8 billion last year. Meanwhile, Iran's non-oil exports declined by 35 percent in the winter of 2018 and another 48 percent during the winter of 2019.
Jahangiri criticized U.S. sanctions last week as the biggest cause of Iran's economic problems. Nevertheless, a few days later he promised to the Prime Minister of Syria to send even more resources.
Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/ iran-currency-faces-its-biggest -devaluation/30684956.html
Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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For years, animal rights activists in China have lobbied policymakers, 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 rights activist. So we are using the epidemic as an opportunity to try to push through as much legislation as possible.
You'd think that any American president would be delighted to welcome hard-working and ambitious young adults clamoring to join the American family. But President Donald J. Trump has been openly hostile to black and brown people he could paint as "other" dangerous, lazy, lawless, un-American.
Resurrecting the rage, resentment and racism of George Wallace for an era in which immigration has changed the nation's demographics, Trump has created concentration camps at the southern border, bottlenecked asylum requests and deported people for traffic offenses. He has even gone after the young adults known as "Dreamers," mostly darker-skinned residents who are citizens in every way but the most technical: They weren't born here.
Happily, in another stunning defeat for the Trump administration, the U.S. Supreme Court has halted the president's attempt to deport them to countries they don't remember, to cultures they don't consider their own, to communities in which they could not speak the language. That's a triumph not only for the 700,000 or so who can continue to pursue their dreams, but also for the rest of us. They make the nation stronger.
According to one study, more than 90% of Dreamers have jobs. Many have gone to college, majoring in fields from early childhood education to computer science. By some estimates, upward of 25,000 of them are employed in health care, where workers are desperately needed. Nearly a thousand are veterans or currently serving in the U.S. armed forces.
Yet they are still in limbo since the Supreme Court's ruling merely stays Trump's hand for now. That means Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, should come out campaigning hard on immigration reform in general and keeping the Dreamers in particular. Even in this deeply polarized era, polls show broad bipartisan support for allowing the Dreamers to stay.
President Barack Obama enacted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program after he could not persuade a GOP-controlled U.S. Senate to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The rules for eligibility are stringent. When the program was started in 2012, it required that Dreamers must have come to the U.S. before their 16th birthday.
They had to have high school diplomas, be enrolled in school or be veterans. They could not have criminal records. The program doesn't provide a path to citizenship or permanent residential status, but it defers deportation and allows its beneficiaries to gain a Social Security card and a driver's license so they can work, drive and travel without fear. Still, Trumpists detest the program. Jeff Sessions, who wants to curb even legal immigration, attacked DACA when he was attorney general. The president himself once tweeted: "Many of the people in DACA, no longer very young, are far from 'angels.' Some are very tough, hardened criminals" a malicious falsehood.
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As Obama belatedly came to understand, a Republican Party that had long been complicit in illegal immigration if not exactly welcoming toward brown newcomers had turned belligerent toward the undocumented.
The Republican Party spent decades pandering to white Americans who were uncomfortable with the changes wrought by the civil rights movement, courting a racially resentful cadre of white voters with code words and stereotypes, and placating those voters by pretending to elevate their interests. By the dawn of the 21st century, the party had caved to its most racist elements. The GOP relies on the votes of a hardy band of haters who don't believe that Mexicans or Guatemalans or Haitians or Ghanaians belong here.
Those xenophobic Republicans clearly are not troubled by white immigrants, considering that Trump is married to one. First Lady Melania Trump was born in Slovenia and moved to the United States in 1996. (She is the second immigrant to whom Trump has been married. His first wife, Ivana Trump, emigrated from Czechoslovakia.) Furthermore, Melania Trump brought her parents over by taking advantage of rules that allow naturalized adults to sponsor residency for family members the "chain migration" that Trump has decried publicly.
If Trump were a pragmatic politician, he'd drop his opposition to the Dreamers. But his presidency has been built on racial resentment, and he can hardly change course now. That's all the more reason for immigrants and their advocates to help defeat him in November.
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis blamed the Hispanic farmworkers last week of the state's COVID-19 increase. Latino leaders and democratic lawmakers are now demanding an apology from the DeSantis.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said last week that the number one COVID-19 outbreak they have seen so far is from the agricultural communities, comprised of immigrants, specifically Latinos, and Hispanics.
This week, the Florida Governor again asserted that the "overwhelmingly Hispanic" farmworkers were the leading source of COVID-19 cases in the state.
However, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried opposed Florida Governor DeSantis's statement and said that the increase of COVID-19 in the state should not be blamed towards the Hispanic and Latino farmworkers because most of them left the country several weeks ago after the harvests ended.
Fried also made it clear that the increase of COVID-19 cases in the state is not coming from the agricultural sector, according to a published report in Tampa Bay Times.
Latino Leaders and Democratic Lawmakers Demanded an Apology
The Hispanic and Latino farmworkers played a crucial role in maintaining the country's food chain even before the pandemic. Their essential part in the community became even more significant when the country was in a nationwide lockdown.
NBC News published in its report that Rep. Javier Fernandez strongly condemned the rhetoric statement of Florida Gov. DeSantis. He said that it is very embarrassing that DeSantis blamed his failed leadership in controlling the contagion towards the most vulnerable groups in Florida.
Meanwhile, Vice President of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida Natasha Otero-Santiago demanded the Florida Governor to divulge information about where he got the data that Latinos and Hispanics are the groups who are spreading and are the cause of the exponential growth of the virus in the state.
For the Florida Director for the League of United Latin American Citizens Cramer Verde, he said that the statement of DeSantis was not accurate because only nine percent of the total increase was coming to the Agriculture Sector.
Expanding Testing in the Rural Areas
A coalition that is mainly comprised of 50 groups sent a letter to the Florida Governor and state lawmakers in late April asking them to expand the testing in rural areas and provide more Personal Protective Equipment. They also requested for alternative housing options for farmers who lived in crowded places.
In fact, due to the lack of medical support and assistance from the federal government, this is the very first time that the "Doctors Without Borders" stepped in to help the migrant farmworkers in Florida.
Moreover, the farmworker organizations blame the increase of COVID-19 cases in Florida to the state officials who ignored the organization's pleas for help, knowing that their community is one of the most vulnerable because they are always in the American field planting and planting harvesting without enough and sufficient protective equipment.
Florida has recorded more than 100,000 cases and a death toll of more than 3,000, according to Worldometers. This makes them the 7th state with the highest number of cases in the country.
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SANFORD, MI Carl Hamann was working in his garage on Monday morning, sorting through the tools hes collected over several decades. The tools are some of the only belongings the homeowner has left after catastrophic flooding wiped away parts of his neighborhood.
Detroit attorney Ven Johnson met with Hamann during a tour of Sanford on Monday, June 22, to see the impact of the Edenville and Sanford dam failures that led to massive flooding in Midland and Saginaw counties.
On June 1, Johnson filed a mass tort lawsuit with the Midland County Circuit Court against the owners of the dams on behalf of residents impacted by the catastrophic flooding. He joins other high profile attorneys filing similar lawsuits regarding the flooding, including Detroit attorney Geoffrey Fieger, Buckfire Law Firm and Bernstein Law Firm.
The dam owners are the obvious ones that are at fault and then they will ultimately point fingers and blame, said Johnson.
The plaintiffs in the suit include six residents who own homes throughout Midland County. The defendants in the suit are several owner of the dams, including JP Morgan Chase and Co. and Boyce Trust Hydro Property, according to the lawsuit.
Between the time they first assumed ownership and responsibility for the dam and the present, defendants refused to pay for much-needed repairs and upgrades, despite knowing full well that the Edenville Dam could fail at any moment, endangering life and property at any moment. Instead of repairing these critically important repairs and upgrades, defenders instead intentionally sought to hide the further deteriorating condition of the Edenville Dam, the lawsuit states.
The pair stood in what was left of Hamanns home of nearly 30 years. Everything has been torn out and only the beams to hold the structure up are left inside. Evidence of how high water reached in Hamanns home are marked by water stains that cover half the window.
Hamann, a Sanford City council member, was one of the last residents to evacuate his home on May 19 when flooding and failure of the two dams on the Tittabawassee River occurred after heavy spring rainfall.
I just lost everything I had worked for 50 years, Hamann said. " Im fortunate enough that this is still standing.
Hamann now lives above his home in an apartment.
Hamanns neighbor, who lived directly across from him, completely lost his home. Only debris sits in a large rectangular shadow where the home used to stand.
The village of 859 residents has buildings marked for demolition, flood-damaged items on every other corner and a destroyed road.
So far, Hamann has received $5,000 from his home owners insurance. Hamann notes many of his constituents only received $750 due to loss of food when residents lost power.
Johnson, a Saginaw native, said the legal team is seeking compensation for the flood victims, which he believes could add up to billions.
These folks also need a long form solution, Johnson said. Whos going to fix this? Whos going to make sure all this doesnt happen again? Were going to be a part of all of that.
Johnson said the legal team plans to add many more defendants to the case over time.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also has asked President Donald Trump to declare the regional a federal flood disaster to unlock some federal relief funds. In her letter, she states more than 3,700 properties were affected and more than $190 million in damage to private property was caused by the dam failure and flooding rains.
Hamann hopes to rebuild the village, but hes not sure if its possible. He added homeowners were still working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to get compensation from a 2017 flood.
Related news:
Attorney Geoffrey Fieger joins in lawsuits seeking damages in wake of Midland dam failure and flooding
Gov. Whitmer calls for state investigation into Midland County dam failures
Binhai will cultivate more high-tech enterprises, leading innovation-driven companies and intellectual property databases and build a graded system to support sci-tech firms. It will also help "young eagle enterprises"and "gazelle enterprises" with tailored funding channels after classified selection.
The China Intellectual Property Protection Center in Binhai is to improve its services in patent examination, confirmation and right protection and further cut time needed for patent examination and authorization in some key fields.
Meanwhile, the new area will further boost the innovation ability of major platforms and accelerate the construction of a group of state-level nationalinnovation projects, such as a technological center, an industrial center and a manufacturing park.
According to the conference, Binhai will expand its industrial clusters in the petrochemical, automobile and equipment manufacturing, new generation information technology, and new energy and new materials industries.
It plans to incubate clusters in the bio-medicine, energy conservation and environmental protection, modern metallurgy, grain, oil and food industries anddevelop 26 segmented sectors in emerging industries so as to grow the new area into a world-class innovation hub.
To make the goal more specific, it will transfer the major scientific and technological achievements into such projects as a new generation super computer and bring the number of digital workshops and intelligent factories to 40.
A "cell valley" with the characteristics of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will be built and construction of a national synthetic biotechnology innovation center will be promoted. Binhai will also speed up construction of an innovation center for the modernized traditional Chinese medicine industry.
The new area will accelerate the construction of a high-end semiconductor industrial park and a global research and development center for theUS-based coatings and specialty materials company PPG Industries.
A listing information and data sharing mechanism will be launched for state-level high-tech enterprises, small and medium-sized sci-tech firms, companies invested by angel funds and venture capital guidance funds, as well as emerging enterprises boasting cutting-edge advantages.
The new area will offer more listing channels for companies, follow up the multi-level capital market reform, and support enterprises to go public abroad.
Binhai will encourage incorporated financial institutions in the new area to increase their capital, broaden expansion and financing through listing, and sharpen their strengths in serving the real economy.
In addition, measures will be taken to attract more talents to develop the local economy, such as preferential policies and service improvement. A more efficient and convenient mechanism will be launched to bring in investment while inviting talents.
Officials' performance in stimulating economic vitality will also be assessed so as to better ensure policy implementation.
SOURCE China Daily
Silver Saddle Steakhouse, an institution on Tucsons south side for 40 years, has decided to delay its July 1 grand reopening after the states coronavirus cases more than quadrupled since businesses reopened in mid-May.
Orlando Alva, who runs the familys restaurant with his brother Mario and other family members, said in a Facebook post Monday that after meeting with employees, we feel at this time its best to take extra precaution.
In an interview, Alva said they will wait to see if Pima Countys days-old order requiring people to wear masks in public helps to slow the increase in COVID-19 cases before they set a new reopening date. He said he hopes they will see some progress to that end in the next couple of weeks and can reopen the restaurant at 310 E. Benson Highway in mid-July.
All we can do now is hope that the experts who say that you wont see results from masks for a couple weeks are right, Alva said. We are hoping we will see a downward trend then and, if thats the case, we will feel a whole lot more confident opening the doors.
Arizonas coronavirus cases as of Tuesday had jumped to more than 58,000 and deaths from the disease rose to 1,384 up from 13,169 with 651 deaths when the state reopened May 15 after nearly two months of a state stay-home order.
Pima County back on May 15 had 1,750 confirmed cases and 155 deaths, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services; as of Tuesday, the county had 6,089 confirmed cases and 247 COVID-19-linked deaths.
Since Beijing revealed plans to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, defenders of the bill have argued that fears of what it could do to the city's political freedoms and civil liberties are overblown.
The law is simply plugging a loophole, they claimed, and is no different to what many other countries have on the books. Local officials and prominent businesses threw their weight behind the bill -- sight unseen -- promising that it would leave the city better off, and in any case, would only affect a handful of people.
On Saturday, China's National People's Congress (NPC), which is expected to pass the law in coming weeks, gave Hong Kong its first glimpse of what it contains. The critics may have been right to be worried: as drafted, the law appears to upend the city's prized independent legal system, allowing Beijing to override local laws while enhancing its ability to suppress political opposition.
Most controversially, the law gives Beijing the power to exercise jurisdiction over select criminal cases, raising the prospect that for the first time in Hong Kong's history, suspects could be extradited across the border to face trial, and potentially prison time, in the mainland.
Fears of just that were what drove protests against an extradition bill last year that was proposed by the Hong Kong government. Those protests eventually forced the abandonment of that law, but spiraled into broader anti-government unrest that, Beijing says, required the imposition of the new national security regulations.
Antony Dapiran, a lawyer and political analyst based in Hong Kong, described the new law as a "broad-based power grab by Beijing" over many of the key elements of government and society.
Writing on Twitter, he said the new law "effectively sets up a parallel judiciary (and) takes interpretation and final adjudication power away from Hong Kong courts."
In a statement, the city's chief executive, Carrie Lam, said the law would ensure "the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong," reiterated that it would "only target an extremely small minority of people" and said the proposed bill was "in line with the rule of law" and the "rights and freedoms which are applicable in Hong Kong under the Basic Law and relevant international covenants."
New system
When Hong Kong was handed over from British to Chinese rule in 1997, the city's common law system remained largely intact. Precedent remained in force, and protections under the new de facto constitution, Basic Law, as well as various international treaties, guaranteed a degree of fairness and freedom not seen in China, where the conviction rate is north of 90%.
While the NPC did gain the ability to "interpret" Basic Law, essentially rewriting it in certain cases, the central government did not have any jurisdiction over individual cases, nor could people be tried for crimes against Beijing that were not illegal in Hong Kong.
The new national security law would change all of that. According to details published over the weekend, Chinese security organs will have the power to "exercise jurisdiction" over national security cases "under specific circumstances," while other prosecutions under the law will be heard by a panel of judges picked by the city's Beijing-appointed leader.
It does not say explicitly whether suspects could face extradition to mainland China under such circumstances.
Though the draft did make reference to upholding the "rule of law" and various civil liberties, it also subordinates existing law to the national security bill, so that where there is a conflict, the national security law prevails. In practice, this could mean that when a national security prosecution contravenes human rights protected under Hong Kong law, those rights are suspended.
Writing after the Saturday announcement, Jerome Cohen, an expert on Chinese law, dismissed the "eye candy" on human rights, pointing out that the "very provisions in the draft (law) would appear to violate those protections."
"The Handover has clearly become the Takeover," Cohen added.
Kevin Yam, a Hong Kong-based solicitor and former convenor of the Progressive Lawyers Group, said the proposed law was not worth legal interpretation, adding "there's nothing to analyze."
"It's just whatever they say it is," he added. "And if they cannot make it whatever they say it is when they want something, they will just change it in whatever way they like."
Judicial maneuvers
While there has been no suggestion of a true public consultation or referendum on the bill, multiple provisions revealed Saturday appeared geared towards allaying Hong Kongers' fears over it, or at least easing its selling to the public.
Such provisions come amid a massive propaganda effort to sell the bill, with posters and adverts promoting it plastering Hong Kong, as well as an apparent push by Beijing for Chinese firms to re-list on the city's stock exchange, boosting the local economy.
In particular, the creation of a panel, nominated by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, to hear national security cases, may have been a sop to those who were expressing alarm at reports the bill would bar foreign-born judges from hearing them. As part of the wider common law system, which also includes the UK, Canada, Australia and a number of other jurisdictions, Hong Kong periodically appoints distinguished "non-permanent" judges to the Court of Final Appeal.
These judges are appointed by the chief executive, but their presence in certain cases has been controversial in China, leading to calls for their removal, or barring them from certain sensitive cases. By giving Lam the power to nominate judges to hear national security cases, the government essentially sidesteps this issue, enabling her to choose those judges deemed most loyal.
The Hong Kong Bar Association has blasted the plans as "extraordinary" and a major blow to judicial independence, pointing out that Lam will be appointing a panel to oversee cases in which she herself is an interested party.
Speaking to local media, Bar Association head Philip Dykes said the law was a "recipe for conflict of interest," and would allow Lam to "cherry-pick" which judges heard the most controversial cases.
Alvin Yeung, an opposition lawmaker and barrister, said the proposal was a "clear departure from common law traditions."
Political prosecutions
Expanding the power of Chinese courts and security services to Hong Kong carries with it even more concerns.
Permitting China's security apparatus to operate in the city raises the specter of extralegal persecution. Dissidents and activists in China are often disappeared by the authorities or threatened with arrest around sensitive events, and many journalists and lawyers are dragged in to "take tea" with the security services, during which they receive thinly-veiled threats about the potential consequences of their work.
Giving Chinese courts jurisdiction "under specific circumstances," meanwhile, will likely guarantee convictions in those cases. China's legal system has been widely criticized for its lack of human rights protections, nakedly political prosecutions, and a nearly universal conviction rate. The country's own national security law has been interpreted broadly in the past to imprison activists, intellectuals and journalists.
Two Canadians prosecuted last week for spying are a pertinent example of this. Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were arrested in late 2018 shortly after the detention in Canada of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. While China argues there is "solid" evidence against the two men, Canada views the case as "arbitrary" and politically-motivated.
Kovrig and Spavor are also an example of how national security legislation in China differs to that in democratic countries. Canada, for example, has laws against espionage and spying, and people have been prosecuted under them.
The difference is that those laws and the corresponding prosecutions must conform to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the country's bill of rights, and could be struck down were they found by a court to be unconstitutional.
This is not the case in China, and may soon not be the case in Hong Kong, if the proposal for the law goes ahead. While China does mention certain rights in its constitution, these are subordinate to the law, not overriding. Freedom of expression, religion and the press exist in principle, but "may not infringe upon the interests of the State."
Similarly, Hong Kong guarantees rights under Basic Law and through being a signatory to international conventions, but the national security law as drafted would override these protections.
Those who attempt to assert their constitutionally-protected rights in China are often prosecuted on the grounds of national security, such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, who died in 2017 after years in prison on charges of "inciting subversion of state power." Liu's most famous work, Charter 08, of which he was a co-author, called in part for judges to be able to "uphold the authority of the Constitution."
Western Australia's top politician has thrown his support behind a mullet-wearing teenager who was denied entry into a trendy beachside bar.
Perth man Cooper Allin sparked debate after he headed to tequila bar El Grotto in the city's north to celebrate his 18th birthday on Friday but was refused entry because of his hairstyle.
When asked his opinion on Monday, WA's Premier Mark McGowan said some of his best mates sported the 1980s inspired look.
'I think you should be free to have a mullet and go to the pub. I don't think there should be rules around that,' the MP for Rockingham told reporters.
'I'd just encourage people with mullets to rise up and rebel,' he said.
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Perth man Cooper Allin sparked debate after he headed to tequila bar El Grotto in the city's north to celebrate his 18th birthday on Friday but was refused entry because of his hairstyle
Mr Allin began his 18th birthday celebrations by having a beer with his mother before heading to the Scarborough bar.
Dressed in thongs, a Bush Chook tee shirt and shorts he joined the queue for 10 minutes but was then stopped by a bouncer.
'He came and had a chat to me, he said he wasn't fussed about my pluggers, which was what I was worried about, but it was the mullet that did it for him,' he told 7 News.
'He just said it was the owners' rules so he wouldn't let me in.'
Mr Allin said his night was ruined by the experience and he was shocked to be discriminated against in the usually welcoming suburb of Scarborough.
'I reckon it's a bit silly, it's a mullet, I mean heaps of people have mullets,' he said.
'To have one beer [at a different pub] and get told, 'no, you can't come in because of your hair' was a bit devastating.'
He also revealed he thought the decision to ban mullets was hypocritical as one of the bars's owners, Kane Hipper, was photographed in 2018 rocking his very own mullet.
Cooper Allin headed out to the beach-side bar of El Grotto, in Perth, last Friday after having a beer with his mother Sonia Allin to celebrate his coming of age with his mates
Mr Allin also said the decision to ban mullets from the venue was 'contradictory' after a photo surfaced of one of the pub's owners, Kane Hipper, in 2018 sporting his very own mullet
The teenager who grew the mullet to look 'fierce on the field' during weekend footy games said he has not had a problem with venues other than El Grotto.
And Mr Allin said there is no chance he will be cutting off his beloved mullet.
'Not a chance, I wasn't there to have a haircut I was there to sink frothies,' he said.
But according to the Australian Hotels Association WA it is perfectly legal for pub owners to enforce their own dress codes, which can include haircuts.
'There are venues that are mullet friendly so it is just a question of finding the right bar or pub that likes mullets,' said CEO Bradley Woods.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted El Grotto for comment.
The Trump administration has added four Chinese media outlets to a list of organisations that should be considered foreign missions because of their ties to the government and the Communist Party.
The move could force some of the outlets to cut staff in the US and is likely to further aggravate relations between the two countries.
State Department officials said the four organisations, including the state-run CCTV, would be required to submit a list of all staff working for them in the US and any real estate holdings, just as they would if they were foreign embassies or consulates.
The other three added to the list of foreign missions are the China News Service, the Peoples Daily newspaper and the Global Times.
None are being ordered to leave the US and no limits on their activities were announced.
But five other Chinese organisations were directed to cap the number of people who could work in the United States in March a month after they were designated as foreign missions.
State Department officials said the organisations were essentially mouthpieces for the Communist Party and Chinese government, not legitimate news outlets.
The Communist Party does not just exercise operational control over these propaganda entities but has full editorial control over their content, said Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell.
This foreign mission designation is an obvious step in increasing transparency of these and other PRC government propaganda activities in the United States.
David Stilwell says the designation move is aimed at increasing the transparency involving the four organisations and any other Chinese propaganda activities in the US (Eugene Hoshiko, File/AP)
It was not yet clear how many journalists work in the US for the organisations.
The US designated Soviet outlets as foreign missions during the Cold War. That precedent reflects the bitter state of relations between the US and China, which are at odds over the origin and response to the coronavirus, trade, human rights and other issues.
President Donald Trump highlighted the dispute over the coronavirus when he spoke to a rally on Saturday in Oklahoma and used a racist term for Covid-19, calling it the kung flu.
Story continues
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Mr Trumps use of the term on Monday, telling reporters the president was merely pointing out that the origin of the virus was China.
Its a fair thing to point out as China tries to ridiculously rewrite history, she said.
What President Trump is saying, No China, I will label this virus for its place of origin.
US officials say the designated media outlets should be considered foreign missions under American law because they are substantially owned or effectively controlled by the government of the Peoples Republic of China and should not be treated like traditional news organisations.
These arent journalists. These are members of the propaganda apparatus in the PRC, Mr Stilwell said in a conference call with reporters.
During the call, the chief State Department spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, ordered the line muted of a reporter who asked a question related to the new book by former national security adviser John Bolton, who wrote that Mr Trump had pleaded with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a 2019 summit to help with his re-election.
When another reporter on the call noted the apparent contradiction of refusing to discuss Mr Boltons allegations during a call about press freedom, the spokeswoman chastised the journalist and called it a pretty offensive question.
Donald Trump has been ramping up tensions with China, including by referring to the coronavirus as kung flu (Sue Ogrocki/AP)
Asked about potential Chinese retaliation, Mr Stilwell noted American journalists working in China already faced tight restrictions on their activities.
China had no immediate reaction to the announcement but its foreign ministry accused the administration of harbouring a Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice when it applied the same designation to five media organisations earlier this year.
At that time, the administration applied the label to the Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, the China Daily Distribution Corporation and Hai Tian Development USA, which distributes the Peoples Daily newspaper.
The Trump administration capped the number of journalists from the five allowed to work in the US at 100, down from about 160.
At the time, the US cited Chinas increasingly harsh surveillance, harassment and intimidation of American and other foreign journalists in China.
China announced in response that it would revoke the media credentials of all American journalists at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
The military has ended its deployment to Hawthorne Place Care Centre, a 269-bed nursing home in the Jane-Finch area that has had 48 deaths due to COVID-19.
The Canadian Armed Forces ended its deployment to Hawthorne Place on Monday, the facilitys executive director Gale Coburn said.
Were obviously very pleased to be out of outbreak and we hope that things will continue to improve as they have been over the last several days, she said in a brief phone interview Monday.
Military personnel, dispatched to the facility to help during the pandemic, observed forceful feeding by staff causing choking, patients crying for help with staff not responding for hours and an insect infestation, according to a report released last month.
Protocols in place have a near 100 per cent contamination rate for equipment, patients and overall facility, the report said. Nurses/PSWs (personal support workers) are often observed not changing PPE (personal protective equipment) for several hours while moving between numerous patient rooms. Equipment is seldom/ever observed to be disinfected.
Coburn said in a statement Monday that vigilance around the processes and protocols that have helped us turn the corner in the COVID-19 pandemic will be ongoing, as well as the partnership with (North York General Hospital), which is providing temporary management oversight at Hawthorne Place for a period of approximately 90 days.
A small closing ceremony was held at Hawthorne Place on Friday to signal the end of the military deployment and to show gratitude.
Following several weeks of assistance providing hands-on care and support to residents and staff, as well as support from North York General Hospitals Infection Prevention and Control team, the outbreak of COVID-19 at Hawthorne Place has ended, Coburn said in the statement. On June 17, Public Health confirmed no active COVID-19 cases among residents or staff.
Andrew Palamarchuk is a reporter with toronto.com. Reach him via email: apalamarchuk@toronto.com
Les McCoy hoped to celebrate his businesss 25th anniversary with a big outdoor bash.
Then the COVID-19 crisis came. It became clear that a party for a few hundred people wasnt practical.
So he asked his employees at DesignPoint in Hanover Township, Northampton County, for ideas on how to spend $5,000 on something other than a party.
They suggested recognizing caregivers in facilities that house senior citizens. DesignPoint is an interior architecture and design firm and about 75% to 80% of its clients are senior living facilities housing for seniors who live independently or need some assistance.
Workers in these sorts of facilities are essential to local seniors, and they continue to work despite the risk of contracting COVID-19.
The employees made up 650 gift bags to be distributed to employees at DesignPoints four largest clients: Phoebe Ministries of Allentown, Moravian Hall Square of Nazareth, Juniper Village in Bucks County and Logan Square in Philadelphia.
Employees of DesignPoint in Hanover Township, Northampton County, deliver gift bags to caregivers who work at various nursing homes.Courtesy DesignPoint
Its our way to say Thank you to people who probably get little thanks for what they do, said McCoy, who is the president and founder of DesignPoint.
The gift bags were distributed in late May, around the same time the party would have taken place. They contained goodies from Chocolate Works in Bethlehem Township and Bethlehem bars from the Granola Factory.
McCoy said DesignWorks has a staff of 15. His company maintains its Lehigh Valley roots but has gradually expanded to provide design work for clients in California, Virginia, Florida and Texas.
Everyone in the company participated in the gift bag project.
Its one of those things we really felt good about doing, said McCoy, who lives in Eastons College Hill neighborhood.
Employees of DesignPoint in Hanover Township, Northampton County, deliver gift bags to caregivers who work at various nursing homes.Courtesy DesignPoint
Employees of DesignPoint in Hanover Township, Northampton County, deliver gift bags to caregivers who work at various nursing homes.Courtesy DesignPoint
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THE National Communications Authority (NCA), has allayed the fears of telecom consumers and the general public with an assurance that there has been no breach of personal data and privacy in the compliance of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to the requirements of law.
Reacting to what it described as misleading consumer privacy breach claims the telecoms industry regulator said its attention was drawn to some negative media reportage regarding breach of privacy of consumer information and described the allegations as false.
Regulator explains
The NCA would like to clarify that in March, 2020, we requested passive mobile positioning data logs from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) for undertaking historical and current analysis of persons potentially infected with COVID-19 for contact tracing purposes in accordance with the Establishment of Emergency Communications Systems Instrument, 2020 (E.I. 63), a release issued in Accra at the weekend said.
The NCA categorically explained that the Instrument required network operators or service providers to cooperate with the NCA Common Platform to provide information to state agencies in case of an emergency, including a public health emergency.
It said contrary to claims that only one out of the many complied with that directive All MNOs i.e. AirtelTigo, Glo, MTN and Vodafone, complied with the request for information which was subsequently processed and forwarded to the Ghana Health Service for contact tracing purposes.
There was no objection by any party in respect of COVID-19 contact tracing data request until an application for injunction order was filed.
Earlier developments
Earlier in the week, Vodafone Ghana also issued a statement to reassure its customers of the resolve of the company to protect their data at all times in compliance with the Data Protection Act.
Subsequently, it cautioned its customers to disregard information circulating on social media and online news websites concerning breaches in the privacy rights of its customers.
In a release issued by the company on June 15 in Accra, the telecommunication company said the information was a gross misrepresentation of the facts.
It also made reference to the fact that In March 2020, The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, passed an Executive Instrument (E.I. 63) that mandated the mobile network operators, including Vodafone Ghana, to submit subscriber information known as call data records (CDRs) to the National Communications Authority (NCA).
This formed part of the governments contact tracing initiative in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. All the mobile network operators complied with the E.I 63, the released tacitly explained.
Analysts position
Some industry analysts have attributed the developments in the sector to the fierce competition within the sector which is creating room for some form of what they described as nothing but complete mischief.
They also noted that some political pundits had taken advantage of the situation to paint the government in a negative light by purporting that there were deliberate attempts to tap into the conversations of some political opponents.
They described the situation as most unfortunate and urged calm describing the sector as sensitive and one that needed to be protected because of its value to the socio-economic development of the country.
They also warned that there was the need for the faceless telcos which are using some unorthodox means to dent the image of a worthy competitor for their selfish interest to desist from the practice.
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.
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The government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested not to send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, he told reporters.
Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic.
Naqvi said 2,13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020 and the process to refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction has been started immediately.
The money will be refunded through online Direct Benefit Transfer mode into bank accounts of applicants, the minority affairs minister said, adding this will be the first time since Independence that pilgrims from India will not be going for Haj due to the unprecedented situation posed by the pandemic.
More than 2,300 women had applied to perform Haj without mehram (male companion) this year and now they will be allowed to go for Haj in 2021 on the basis of their application this year. Besides them, more women, who apply to go for Haj without Mehram next year, will also be facilitated, he said.
A total of 3,040 women have performed Haj after the Narendra Modi government ensured that Muslim women can perform Haj without mehram in 2018, Naqvi said, adding that a total of 2 lakh Indian Muslims had performed Haj in 2019, about 50 per cent of them being women.
In a statement, Saudi Arabia's ministry of Haj and Umrah said that due to coronavirus pandemic and the risks of it spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year will be held whereby a "very limited number" of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it.
"This decision is taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols," the statement said.
Naqvi said honouring the decision of the Saudi government because of serious challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and keeping in mind the health and well-being of the people, it was decided that Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj this year.
The entire world is facing challenges from the coronavirus pandemic and Saudi Arabia has also been affected by it, he noted.
Haj 2020 is proposed in the period between late July and early August
The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.
Facebook's chief AI scientist has revealed why the social media giant decided to open an AI research lab in Paris as opposed to London or another European city.
The Facebook AI Research (FAIR) unit was first announced in late 2013 and the company said at the time it would set up a European branch. After considering its options, Facebook launched FAIR Paris in 2015.
"The original idea was to open it in London," said Yann LeCun on a press call. "It would be the logical place for Facebook given that Facebook has a large engineering lab in London."
Facebook has thousands of staff in London and it employs more technical people in the U.K. capital than it does in any other European city.
LeCun said after some analysis it turned out that "the ecosystem of talent was much more open and available in continental Europe, and particularly in Paris."
"Clearly, there is a lot more competition in London than there is in Paris," LeCun told CNBC in a follow up Q&A. "In London there was DeepMind, Microsoft Research in Cambridge, and there were a couple of others."
He said they "occupied the terrain" and there were some concerns about "going on their turf."
FAIR Paris is now one of Facebook's three main AI labs worldwide along with New York and Menlo Park, California.
It is home to about 30 permanent research scientists and 20 research engineers, LeCun said. Unlike Facebook's other AI labs, FAIR Paris is also home to a large number of resident PhD students.
Tech companies have spent the last decade aggressively bulking up their AI teams with machine-learning experts capable of building software that can learn how to perform tasks itself.
Google acquired DeepMind for a reported $600 million in 2014 and today it competes directly with the Facebook AI Research group and other AI labs like OpenAI, which was cofounded by Elon Musk.
DeepMind, which sits under Google parent company Alphabet today, employs around 1,000 people and the overwhelming majority of those are based in London.
FAIR also now has smaller sites in Seattle, Pittsburgh, Tel Aviv, Montreal and London.
South Africa: Minister commends essential service workers
Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu has commended all government essential service workers for their dedication and commitment in providing services to the people during the lockdown.
Mchunu said government is aware that the lockdown has caused great disruption to lives, to the economy and to the efficient and effective delivery of public services to citizens.
We are going through one of the most difficult periods in the history of humankind. We are learning a lot through this process and we are taking those lessons to the future, Mchunu said.
Speaking at the launch of Africa Public Service Day in Pretoria on Tuesday, Mchunu said the nationwide lockdown is necessary to save lives.
This years Africa Public Service Day is celebrated under the theme, The Role of Public Administration in Building and Sustaining Peaceful Co-existence among Communities.
To minimise the effect of this disruption on the delivery of essential public services, the DPSA [Department of Public Service and Administration] has provided government departments with a guide on what should be viewed as critical and essential services during the nationwide lockdown.
These services are being delivered to our citizens by a cohort of essential public service workers at great risk to themselves and their immediate families, Mchunu said.
This years Africa Public Service Day celebration is being used to affirm the importance of quality service delivery to communities, even during the pandemic.
Delivering quality services in a sustained manner is what the public administration is all about - whether it is the delivery of basic services to households at a municipal level, the delivery of face-value documents such as birth certificates and passports to citizens or delivering quality basic education to our children, Mchunu said.
Africa Public Service Day aims to promote public sector innovations, reward excellence in the public sector, motivate public servants to promote innovation, enhance professionalism in the public service, raise the image of Public Service, enhance trust in government and encourage the sharing of best practices for possible replication within a country as well as across the African continent.
Mchunu said in celebrating the continuous and sustained delivery of quality services to citizens, government must recognise the hard work and commitment of all those public sector officials at the frontline of service delivery who, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, report to their respective work stations to deliver essential goods and services to the people.
Mchunu commended all government essential workers, who are heeding the call to stop the spread of Coronavirus, while providing uninterrupted essential services to the people.
We salute these officials for their dedication and service to the nation. As a caring and consultative government, we continuously engage with officials working in the public administration system through various structures, including their labour union bodies, and we have heard their concerns and calls for more support in the containment and management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister said.
Africa Public Service Day is an event entrenched in the African Union calendar. It originates from the conference of African Ministers for Public or Civil Service held in Tangier, Morocco, in 1994.
It was agreed at the conference that 23 June should be celebrated annually as Africa Public Service Day to recognise the value and virtue of service to the community. SAnews.gov.za
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
(Natural News) A report published last week by researchers from the University of Hildesheim revealed a horrific child abuse scandal spanning three decades in which German officials knowingly placed children with pedophile foster fathers who abused them.
According to Deutsche Welle, people in certain circles in 1960s Germany viewed sex with children as progressive. One popular psychology professor at the time, Helmut Kentler, advocated this type of behavior. He believed children were sexual beings who had the right to express their sexuality, and he had quite a following; he was a frequent guest on radio and TV, and his books on education sold well.
He believed that allowing children to express their sexuality would unleash energies that would in turn lead to political protest and the true democratization of German society that Kentler believed was still necessary.
In what is now known as the Kentler Experiment, homeless children were systematically placed with pedophile men in shared apartments and foster homes under the pretense that they would make particularly loving foster parents to these boys. Authorities in Berlin not only condoned this practice for nearly three decades, but they also gave the foster fathers a regular care allowance.
One perpetrator, who is known in the report as Fritz H., was given access to at least nine boys who the government-backed scheme placed with him in a fostering arrangement. The children were typically six or seven years old when they were first placed with him, and the youth welfare officers in Berlin continued to choose him as a foster father despite extreme warning signs that something was amiss. The Berliner Zeitung paper reported that his abuse spanned from the 1970s until 2003.
Two of the boys who were placed under his care have recently spoken out about the abuse they suffered at the hands of this monster. After sharing their heartbreaking stories, researchers went through countless files and carried out a slew of interviews that uncovered the network across various educational institutions, the Berlin Senate, and the state youth welfare office, revealing that pedophilia there was accepted, supported, defended.
Now in their 40s, the victims are struggling as adults and depend on state welfare payments. Although they are encouraged by the fact that these unconscionable crimes are being brought to light, they will never see Fritz H. brought to justice as he died in 2015.
Child abuse extended to German schools
Systematic abuse also took place at one of the most progressive schools in West Germany, the Odenwald boarding school in Hesse. At this school, up to 900 students were sexually abused between 1966 and 1989. It is absolutely shocking that this type of behavior was able to go on for so long without anyone being brave enough to put a stop to it.
In both the cases of the school and the Kentler project, youth welfare officers in Berlin were sending boys who were viewed as difficult to a place where they were abused.
Sandra Scheeres, Berlins senator for youth and children, has said the findings are shocking and horrifying. Although the Berlin Senate did not seem to show much interest in investigating this horrific story when it was initially reported in 2016 by the University of Gottingen, authorities have now promised to shed light on the abuse.
However, one politician, Marianne Burkert-Eulitz of the Green Party, has accused the Senate of stalling on the investigation because they fear a potential political backlash if other prominent politicians are found to have been involved. She added that these networks still exist and that political parties need to admit their culpability in these scandals.
Sources for this article include:
Breitbart.com
DW.com
DW.com
NEW HAVEN The Board of Education voted to change the name of Christopher Columbus Family Academy and to change the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.
The schools name will go before a committee, which will be tasked with collecting input and providing a recommendation on a new name. The change to the holiday name will only impact what is recognized on the districts own calendar.
Board members were unanimous in their opposition to Columbus, who has been a lightning rod of controversy for violent colonization of the Americas while also being a symbol of pride for many Italian-Americans for his navigational skills and formative role in the foundation of modern America.
But the discussion was heated as board member Darnell Goldson spoke out about how the board was using its authority.
Im certainly not going to let them take the Italian name off without having Italian input, he said.
The discussion follows several days of renewed interest in Columbus in the city, state and nation. A statue of Columbus in Wooster Square was vandalized with red paint over the weekend. Mayor Justin Elicker said he agrees with calls from the community that the statue should be moved out of the park, with the Parks Commission later taking a vote to do so. A rally objecting to the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue is slated for Saturday.
The motion regarding the changing of the schools name was explicit in deciding the name would change. Goldson said it would be unfair for the board to make that decision without consulting with Italian-Americans.
Ive had people come to me and say Barack Obama killed thousands of people, Goldson said.
Former President Obama, the namesake of the newly-opened Barack H. Obama School, has been criticized for authorizing drone strikes that killed and injured civilians in the Middle East, including a Yemeni wedding.
I dont want 20 years from now someone saying to me they will change Barack Obama because hes a war criminal. I want to make sure my race is represented in that decision-making process, said Goldson, who is black.
Elicker said he agreed with the point Goldson made about getting more feedback on the name change.
Its a significant thing for celebrating Italian heritage, he said.
Board President Yesenia Rivera said the vote would begin a process by which there would be opportunity for community feedback on the name change.
Goldson said he would not miss the Columbus name, but he felt it was unfair for a name intended to reflect Italian-American pride could be replaced with something unrelated to Italian-Americans.
Other board members were unrelenting in their eagerness to get rid of the Columbus name immediately.
I am for taking this murderous name off of the calendar, said board member Tamiko Jackson-McArthur. We are finally at a place where we are looking at ourselves as a whole and saying lets be kind and compassionate to everyone in the open.
Board member Ed Joyner, who is black, said he would not feel affronted if someone were to take down acknowledgments of Clarence Thomas or Ben Carson, two living conservative black political figures.
Its going to help us all when we purge ourselves of these people we have unfairly put on pedestals as if theyre heroes, but theyve committed crimes against humanity, he said.
Elicker said that no decision would be made without serious input about how best the city can honor its Italian-American heritage.
Before Mondays meeting, nearly 30 Fair Haven leaders sent an open letter calling on the school board to change the name of the school, to remove Columbus Day from the district calendar and to make several changes to curriculum to reframe the power dynamics of colonization.
Since 1968, Christopher Columbus Family Academy has stood at the corner of Blatchley Street and Grand Avenue in the heart of Fair Haven, New Havens landed immigrant community, the letter said. Seen by many as a symbol of Italian heritage, historians now know that Columbus directed the torture and genocide of over three million Indigenous Taino, Caribe, and Arawak peoples in what is today South Florida, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and other nations of the West Indies as part of his mission to deliver gold back to the Spanish crown.
Additionally, the letter notes, Columbus initiated the slave trade in the Americas. Its authors argue that Columbus is an important historical figure and it is important for students to learn about him, but the name of the school is an inappropriate heralding of a violent figure.
It adds insult to injury that the majority of the children currently attending Columbus Academy are of Indigenous heritage, with a significant percentage of Puerto Rican heritage specifically, making them the descendants of those slaughtered for profit by their schools namesake, the letter said.
The signatories include the schools current principal Roy Araujo and its former principal Abie Benitez, state Rep. Juan Candelaria, three Fair Haven alders, two former members of the Board of Education, three staff members of the school, community organization leaders, organizers and several parents.
In addition to a name change for the school which the letter asks be conducted in an open process the letters authors requested that Columbus Day be replaced with Indigenous Peoples History Month in October on school calendars, that teachers be trained in a historically accurate version of Indigenous history and European colonization and to replace all materials that present Columbus as a hero or explorers as peaceful or harmless, to decenter European-origin knowledge and to focus on local Indigenous history and to include a land acknowledgment at all official school events.
brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
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Bahrain International Airport (BIA) is rolling out additional health and safety measures to protect the wellbeing of passengers and staff at the terminal, said a report citing an announcement from Bahrain Airport Company (BAC).
The CAA guidelines are in line with the International Civil Aviation Organizations (ICAO latest guidelines for combating the coronavirus (COVID-19) and support preventative measures recommended by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The measures will be regularly updated based on new scientific findings as the situation evolves, said a report in BNA.
BAC Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, said: Since the start of the pandemic, BAC has implemented a number of precautionary measures recommended by the Ministry of Health and worked closely with its partners at the airport to ensure the health of passengers and airport staff and the protection of public health in the kingdom."
"As the world moves towards the recovery phase of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resumption of flights, we are determined to put in place effective control measures to reassure and welcome both staff and passengers safely."
"We are taking careful steps to support the kingdoms aviation sector during this time. We remind passengers that they also have an important role to play in this process and look forward to their ongoing understanding and support, he said.
In line with the new health and safety measures, access to the terminal is restricted to airport and airline staff and passengers, although exceptions will be made for those accompanying passengers with reduced mobility or unaccompanied minors.
Wearing face masks is mandatory for all passengers and airport staff at the airport and these can be obtained from PPE vending machine that also offers hand sanitizer and disposable gloves, the report said.
Passengers will need to arrive to the airport up to three hours in advance of departure due to additional screening procedures put in place during the coronavirus pandemic.
Temperature screening is also mandatory at all entry points to the terminal and before boarding. Passengers must adhere to social distancing measures at the terminal and offices, and footprint stickers and seat blockers are in place to remind them to keep their distance.
In addition to general cleaning and approved disinfection programme, all frequently touched surfaces are sanitized, and plastic security trays are sanitized at the entry and exit of the security locations, it said.
The BCAA Advisory Circular also covers precautionary measures to be addressed by Airline operators and ground handlers.
Bahrain Airport Company is committed to support the efforts of the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (Covid-19) and to continue working and coordinating its plans with its airport partners.
Please wear dark clothes if you can, bring a candle, and some small token to leave in Crystal Lake Park for the spirits of these brave and faithful animals, organizer Susan Parenti said in an email.
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Though it was released a few weeks ago, everyone is still talking about Da 5 Bloods, the latest film from iconic director Spike Lee. The film is his second project for Netflix, following his Shes Gotta Have It series. Like most filmmakers, Lee has a group of regular actors that he commonly works with. From Samuel L. Jackson to Roger Guenveur Smith, to Veronica Webb, when you work with Lee once, youll likely appear in more of his films.
Da 5 Bloods cast was full of Lee regulars, and a recent interview, it was revealed that this cast was initially supposed to look very different.
Spike Lee | Ethan Miller/FilmMagic
Da 5 Bloods is a huge hit
Lees latest film, Da 5 Bloods, dropped on Netflix earlier this month. The film, tells the story of Black Vietnam war veterans as they return to the country to find the remains of their late leader, as well as tons of gold.
It stars Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Chadwick Boseman. The film is getting a lot of positive reviews, particularly for the performance of Delroy Lindo, who often appears in Lees films.
The film currently has a 91% rating from critics on review aggregator, Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, Fierce energy and ambition course through Da 5 Bloods, coming together to fuel one of Spike Lees most urgent and impactful films.
RELATED: New Spike Lee Film Coming to HBO Following His Netflix Success with Da 5 Bloods
The film was originally set to star other actors
According to a new interview, the cast of Da 5 Bloods was going to look much different than the final version. Speaking with Collider, Giancarlo Esposito, who is a frequent collaborator of Lee himself, said that he was initially in talks for the film.
The actor says that he was going to star in the film and that Denzel Washington was also going star in it, as well as Denzels son, John David Washington. Denzel has starred in multiple Spike Lee films, including Malcolm X. John David starred in Lees last film before Da 5 Bloods, which was BlacKkKlansman. It was me and Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington, and Denzels son, explained Esposito. This likely means that Denzel and John David would have played father and son, with the former playing Lindos role and the latter portraying Majors character.
Heres what Giancarlo Esposito said about the film and Lee
Esposito says that he thinks he was going to play the role that ended up being portrayed by Lewis. Hes the gentleman that I believe he steps on a mine and gets blown up I would have played that particular character. I was looking forward to that film, he said.
RELATED: The Real Reason Netflixs The Crown Is Ending Early
The actor added, I just love and adore Spike Lee, and the messages that he created in his films that are so powerful and strong, and also because the cast he was talking to at that time. But it didnt work out for any of us because the shoot got pushed, and Spike was wanting everyone to be there the whole time overseas when he shot it, and I was still shooting Better Call Saul, and was juggling that with Godfather of Harlem, so it didnt work out. It was so hard for me not to be able to do that film.
Da 5 Bloods is currently streaming on Netflix.
A black man has been hailed a hero after he saved the life of a white cop who got trapped in his burning patrol car during a horror crash - despite being wronged by police in the past.
Daylan McLee, 31, from Pennsylvania, ran to help Jay Hanley after he heard the officer get into a crash while having a Father's Day barbecue at his house on Sunday.
McLee 'ripped open' the patrol car's door and dragged Hanley to safety as the vehicle burst into flames, meaning he escaped with non-life threatening injuries.
McLee risked his life to save Hanley despite suing the Pennsylvania police department for wrongful arrest in 2018 after he spent a year in jail because officers mistook him for a gunman during a brawl.
He is currently fighting a charge of resisting arrest against the same department, claiming he was kicked in the mouth during his arrest.
Daylan McLee, 31, from Pennsylvania, ran to save a police officer from his burning car after hearing a crash take place as he had a Father's Day barbecue at home on Sunday
Officer Jay Hanley (pictured) suffered a serious leg injury in the crash and was trapped in the burning vehicle, until McLee ripped open the door and dragged him out
McLee said: 'We need to work on our humanity... that's the main problem of this world.
'We're stuck on how to get up or to get even, and that is not how I was raised to be. You learn, you live, you move on and I was always taught to forgive big.
'You can't base every day of your life off of one interaction you have with one individual.'
The incident comes amid anti-racism protests across America sparked by the killing of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis.
Speaking about the rescue itself, McLee said: 'I don't know what came across me, but I ripped the door open and just pulled him to safety across the street.'
Uniontown Police Lt. Thomas Kolencik's voice cracked as he told WTAE-Pittsburgh at the scene Sunday that the department was thankful McLee was nearby when the crash happened.
'Daylan actually said, `Im not going to let him die,' Kolencik told the TV station. 'Theres just no words to describe, you know.'
Several of Officer Hanley's relatives had thanked McLee on social media Sunday and Monday, noting the officer was undergoing surgery after the crash for a serious leg injury.
McLee said Hanley's sister had called to thank him, along with a handful of officers and even the police chief.
The 31-year-old said it wasn't a complicated decision to help another human being. But even some of his close friends wondered if he hesitated because of his previous interactions with a few law enforcement officers.
McLee ran to the scene of the crash to help despite suing Pennsylvania police for wrongful arrest which saw him jailed for a year (pictured, the scene of the crash)
'No. There is value in every human life. We are all children of God and I can't imagine just watching anyone burn,' he said.
'No matter what other people have done to me, or other officers, I thought, `this guy deserves to make it home safely to his family.'
McLee filed a lawsuit in late 2018 against four Pennsylvania State Police troopers for wrongful arrest after he spent a year in jail related to a March 2016 fight outside an American Legion bar.
McLee had rushed to the bar in Dunbar, Pennsylvania, after his sister called saying she needed a ride home because she had been drinking and a fight had broken out.
When McLee arrived, he disarmed a man who was standing in the parking lot with a gun and threw the weapon aside.
At least one trooper fired shots at McLee as he fled. The trooper said McLee pointed a weapon at him twice, but security footage showed McLee disarming the man, discarding the gun quickly and fleeing when shots were fired.
McLee, who has tattoos visible on his neck and arms and twisted dreads that reach below his chin, spent a year in jail before a jury acquitted him on the charges after reviewing the video.
That was a year away from his children, and a year away from his mother, who was ill at the time. She passed away last year.
McLee had another run-in with officers a few months ago, when he ran from a porch gathering after officers in plain clothes and vests approached with guns drawn.
He said they did not announce they were officers, and he stopped running and put his hands behind his head when they yelled they were police.
He said he was charged with fleeing and resisting arrest, but said during that arrest an officer kicked him in the face through a fence, splitting his lip.
He said the use of force was caught on a security camera and he plans to fight the charges.
But McLee stressed forgiveness, saying he couldn't blame every police officer for bad interactions he had with any others.
McLee is also fighting a new charge of resisting arrest in recent months, during which he says an officer kicked him in the mouth. 'We need to work on our humanity,' he said
McLee's attorney Alec Wright said he isn't surprised his client acted quickly and without being jaded.
'Over the course of his life, Daylan McLee has had multiple, unjustified encounters with police officers just because of the color of his skin,' Wright said.
'Those encounters make him the perfect candidate to hate and resent the police.
'But, that is not Daylan... The answer is not to disregard human life; the answer is to accept it for all that it is. That is Daylan.'
Police said the officer McLee helped rescue was flown to a hospital in West Virginia where he underwent surgery and is recovering.
McLee said he realized after the crash that he had spoken to Hanley maybe three weeks earlier when the officer was on patrol.
'I realized after, that I'd seen him. He speaks to people; he says hello; he isn't an officer that harasses anybody. He commented to me about the heat was coming for us,' he said.
McLee has a 13-year-old son, Avian, who he is trying to teach not to judge anyone for the color of their skin, for the job they hold or for what other people might say about them, but to instead look at people as individuals.
'Some people may think I look intimidating... and I can't hate the trooper who shot at me for what he doesn't know,' McLee said.
'I dont want to be called a hero. I just want to be known as an individual who is an upstanding man.
'No matter... what or where, just an upstanding person,' he added. 'And I hope (that trooper) sees this and knows he's forgiven.'
Uniontown police would not comment Monday on the crash or McLees actions, saying questions should be directed to Pennsylvania State Police who are investigating the crash.
Phone calls and emails to a Troop B spokesman were not returned.
LANSING, MI At least 14 people who visited an East Lansing bar during a nine-day period have tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus.
Harpers Restaurant & Brew Pub has been linked to 14 known cases of the virus; all 14 people visited the bar between June 12-20, according to a June 23 news release from the Ingham County Health Department. The infected individuals are all between ages 19 and 23. About half of them are also connected to Michigan State University and some have permanent residency in other counties.
The health department advises people who visited Harpers from June 12-20 to watch for coronavirus symptoms, which can develop up to 14 days after exposure. Those with symptoms, including cough, shortness of breath and fever, should be tested for the virus.
People without symptoms may also request testing as asymptomatic infections do occur and can be contagious.
Anyone could have COVID-19, said Ingham County Health Officer Linda S. Vail. You never know because some people with coronavirus are not yet sick, and some people never have signs of the disease. We need people to treat every person they encounter as a potential carrier. That means wearing masks and keeping six feet away from others. I strongly urge everyone to take precautions so that we can keep infections down and keep businesses open.
Harpers was following safety procedures related to employees, capacity and table spacing when inspected by the health department after the cases were linked to it. The bar voluntarily closed late Monday to enhance safety, including modifications to its HVAC system.
People wishing to be tested for coronavirus can contact their primary care physician or visit a no-cost testing site.
On Monday, June 22, Michigan health officials reported 179 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and seven new deaths. The additions upped the states totals to 61,409 known cases of COVID-19 and 5,853 deaths linked to the infectious respiratory disease. New deaths continue to track down, with the seven-day moving average reaching 12. Thats down from the mid-April peak of 145 deaths reported per day.
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
READ MORE:
Tuesday, June 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan
FDA issues warning for 9 hand sanitizers with toxic ingredient
One person died and two others were hurt after two trucks collided Friday night in Clackamas County.
Kelly Ann Mumby, 59 of Estacada, was driving on Oregon 224 east of Barton when her truck crossed the center line and hit a tow truck just before 11:30 p.m., according to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office.
Mumby was killed. The other driver, Gary Smith, 56 of Portland, was pinned inside the two truck when a deputy arrived at the site of the crash.
The deputy and a bystander helped pull Smith out of the truck and away from flames pouring out of Mumbys vehicle, the sheriffs office said.
A driver who called 911 to report the crash said Mumbys truck had just passed their vehicle before hitting the tow truck, according to the sheriffs office.
Deputies said Smith was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, as was the passenger in Smiths truck. They did not disclose the current conditions of Smith or the passenger.
-- Celina Tebor
ctebor@oregonian.com
@CelinaTebor
Six Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee are urging President Donald Trump to reconsider his plan to cut the number of U.S. troops in Germany, arguing that the move would harm national security and weaken the deterrent to Russia and China.
In a letter to the president, the lawmakers said Russian troops invaded Ukraine and annexed the Crimean peninsula after President Barack Obama withdrew some U.S. troops from Germany in 2012. They warned Trump against taking any action that would give Russia reason to question the U.S. commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
"The U.S. forward presence in Germany serves as a cornerstone of NATO's deterrent against Russian aggression," said the lawmakers, led by Michael McCaul, the committee's top Republican, and Representative Adam Kinzinger. "This is not the time to take any action that might cause the Putin regime to question the credibility of the NATO deterrent or might lead our NATO allies and partners to doubt the U.S. commitment to our collective security."
Trump announced the planned withdrawal earlier this month. He said at a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday that Germany doesn't spend enough on defense and supports the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia.
"I said, let's get it down from 50,000 to 25,000 because they're delinquent," Trump said. "They haven't been paying what they're supposed to be paying."
The GOP lawmakers wrote to Trump that the U.S. presence in Germany serves as a hub for operations in the Middle East and Africa and that an Army hospital there treats American troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. They said the U.S. troops serve as a deterrent to China and Russia and expressed dismay that U.S. allies weren't consulted about the potential withdrawal.
While the lawmakers commended Trump for trying to get NATO allies to spend more on defense, they said withdrawing troops from Germany would harm the effort.
"We fear this partial U.S. withdrawal from Germany will fail to convince Berlin to spend more, while putting U.S. strategic interests at risk," they wrote. "The United States should continue to lead by example and remain fully committed to the NATO alliance, which has successfully deterred the outbreak of another costly world war on the continent since its formation."
In addition to McCaul and Kinzinger, the other signatories to the letter are Rep. Ann Wagner, Joe Wilson, Brian Fitzpatrick and John Curtis.
The connections of 38 Standardbreds entered their charges to contest Woodbine Mohawk Park's Tuesday, June 23 qualifying session, and thus a compact, six-race docket was conducted over a 'fast' track at the Campbellville, Ont. raceway.
Three-year-old Trixton filly Spirit Of Deo caught the attention of onlookers in Race 2, as the bay recorded her first charted mile since returning to Ontario.
Spirit Of Deo hosted Anthony MacDonald in the sulky, and, after a Post 3 start, the duo would go on to trot to a strong, gate-to-wire victory. The filly strode out early and was first down to the quarter (:28.2). MacDonald got a second-quarter breather into his charge, as the battery orchestrated a :58.2 opening half mile. MacDonald asked for trot into the final turn and Spirit Of Deo responded. The filly made her way along the turn with a :28 third panel and clicked off the three-quarters clock in 1:26.2. Spirit Of Deo, who had opened up many lengths on her rivals, continued to charge home, as she made her way to the wire with an in-hand :28.2 final quarter. When all was said and done, Spirit Of Deo posted a sharp, 1:54.4 win, and the margin of victory was six lengths. Jason McGinnis trains Spirit Of Deo for Thestable Spirit Of Deo.
Three-year-old Hes Watching colt Shelton Seelster was nominated to the Pepsi North America Cup, but was not sustained. Although Shelton Seelster no longer has 'Cup' aspirations, that did not stop the Bill Budd trainee from recording an opportunistic win for driver Jody Jamieson in Race 3. After having gotten away in fourth, Shelton Seelster watched as horses mixed it up on the front end through the fractions (:28.3, :58.2, 1:27.2). Jamieson positioned his charge second over for the journey home. When asked, Shelton Seelster kicked home in :27.2 and was one and three-quarter lengths clear at the wire in 1:55.2. Shelton Seelster, who was purchased for $130,000 at the 2018 London Selected Yearling Sale, is now owned by Menary Racing Inc., Kenneth Ewen, Bruce Norris, and Michael Guerriero.
Replays of the qualifying session appear below. Please note that Spirit Of Deo's race begins at roughly the 42:30 mark, while Shelton Seelster's race gets underway at roughly the 51-minute mark.
Joe King (1:54), Kenogami Coco (1:56.4), Chappiesboy (1:55.1) and Cue Hall (1:56) also recorded wins during the morning session.
To view the harness racing results from the Tuesday qualifying session at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).
JERUSALEM (AP) The chairman of Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and Memorial said Sunday he will be stepping down after 27 years.
Avner Shalev, 81, said in a letter to Yad Vashem employees that he made the decision to leave the position after nearly three decades following thorough self-examination. He said was stepping down by the end of year and gave no further details on his reasons for leaving.
Shalev guided a period of dramatic transformation at one of the world's foremost Holocaust remembrance institutions. During his tenure, the site expanded to include a sleek new museum, a centerpiece that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, and the solemn Hall of Names, a collection of 4.8 million names of Holocaust victims, which is a mainstay during visits of foreign dignitaries to Israel.
He also oversaw the creation of an international school for Holocaust studies and an institute for Holocaust research.
According to his letter, a successor has not been designated.
Yad Vashem is an almost sacred institution in Israel, where students, soldiers and company outings tour regularly and where the country holds its annual Holocaust remembrance day ceremony.
Still, during Shalev's term, it has weighed in on a number of controversies.
In 2015, Yad Vashem challenged the accuracy of a claim by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggesting that a World War II-era Palestinian leader persuaded the Nazis to adopt their Final Solution to exterminate 6 million Jews.
It lambasted an Israeli-Polish compromise over a Polish Holocaust hate speech law, saying a joint statement by the countries' prime ministers contained grave errors and deceptions over Poland's role in the Holocaust.
It also came out against a government plan in 2018 to deport tens of thousands of African migrants, saying it saw the issue as a national and international challenge that requires empathy, compassion and mercy."
"The experience of the Jewish people over generations heightens this obligation, it said.
ST. LOUIS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Real-time technology innovators VelociData Inc. today released the landmark report, The Desktop Diaspora: Fixed Broadband After COVID-19 , documenting the rapid growth of permanent Work from Home (WFH) and detailing its likely business impact on fixed broadband providers. The 19-page report details the gathering threat of 5G to the home service hegemony of cable and fiber network operators and prescribes the technology transformations needed by Multi-System Operators (MSOs) to win the home worker.
Workers sent home by COVID pandemic.
"The global pandemic has given enterprises of all types a crash course in remaining productive while office workers are displaced to their homes, and it has highlighted the costs that companies can save by leaving them there," said Chris Galvin, VelociData Chairman and former Motorola Chairman and CEO. "For fixed broadband providers, this once in a generation shift represents an enormous net-new market for services dedicated to home-based workers," he added. "But to win in WFH, fixed operators must up their data analytics game starting now - and this report shows them how," Mr. Galvin concluded.
Written for executives and strategists in cable and fiber MSOs, the report shows that within two years, in the U.S. alone, there will be 25-30M or more new home-based workers in the 100M+ households now served by MSOs, and it offers a view of the new services and support that will be demanded by those users, which the report calls "prosumers." The report goes on to reveal how the provider-to-person business model of mobile operators may give them a critical information advantage over the provider-to-household model now employed by fixed broadband operators.
"The coming battle between fixed and mobile network operators for new WFH subscribers will not come down to technology that's a toss-up," observed tech analyst and author, Robin Bloor, concluding, "The first mover advantage will go to the providers having the best understanding of the individual home-based worker, and mobile may have an edge there."
To close that user insight gap, the report offers MSOs a prescription for three essential technology transformations:
From Periodic Monitoring to Continuous Intelligence From Statistics and Heuristics to Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence From BSS/OSS Data Silos to the Real-time User Experience Cloud
The report concludes by outlining a simple strategy for leveraging the network data assets accumulated during the COVID-19 shutdown to gain insight into how user behaviors, support requests, and service requirements are being changed by WFH, and to reveal the needs that are unmet by current consumer offerings.
"MSOs are blessed with an untapped wealth of network information that will allow them to expand their knowledge perimeter from the household to its occupants, especially to the high-value residents working from home," observed Barry Rudolph, VelociData CEO and co-author of the report, adding "In the past, the hard part has been doing it at scale, but now a bounty of new tools built for cloud-scale analytics is making that much easier, and this report makes the path to insight clearer for fixed broadband network operators."
Read and download the report here.
About VelociData and the authors of the report:
VelociData, Inc. is an innovator in real-time streaming data collection and integration software for large communications networks. VelociData software is currently in use in some of the world's largest MSOs.
Barry Rudolph is the CEO of VelociData. For three decades, he held senior executive roles at IBM, managing the Storage and Networking business lines. Following IBM, he served on the board of Dot Hill Systems through their acquisition by Seagate Systems and founded Corralitos Technologies. He is currently a strategic advisor to Solix Technologies and an independent director at Spectra Logic and FalconStor Systems.
Tim Negris is a VelociData advisor and veteran technology product and marketing strategist in Database, Networking, IoT, and Artificial Intelligence. He served as the first product manager for SQL Server, now a major Microsoft product, VP of Server Marketing at Oracle, VP of Software Sales and Marketing at IBM, Strategic Advisor to Dell, HP, and D&B, and as a senior executive in numerous technology startups and public companies. He is best known as the co-originator with Larry Ellison of the Thin Client concept, a key precursor to Cloud Computing.
For more information, contact:
Press Contact:
[email protected]
Related Images
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Empty Desks
Workers sent home by COVID pandemic.
SOURCE VelociData Inc.
Dreams come in all shapes and sizes and refuse to be curbed by all forms of restrictions, be it socio-economic or gender-based. Maybe that is why they say that those who dare to dream have the power to turn those dreams into reality.
The same is true for 24-year-old Madhya Pradesh resident Aanchal Gangwal who was recently commissioned into the Indian Air Force as the top Flying Officer from her batch.
However, this journey leading up to her success hasnt been a cakewalk for Aanchal.
Twitter Abhilas Singh
Born into a humble family to a father who works as a tea seller at a bus stop in the Neemuch district of MP, Aanchal grew up with two other siblings. There were times when Aanchals father really struggled to pull through and gather enough funds to pay for her school fees.
Twitter ANI
Recalling the tough times, Aanchals father Suresh Gangwal told PTI, One can understand my financial condition. At times, I faced problems with depositing her school or college fee. I had to borrow money from others on many occasions to deposit the fee. Sometimes I had to pretend to be out of town to delay fees deposition.
Twitter ANI
Still a young girl, the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy inspired Aanchal to join the defence forces and serve her country. "When I was a school kid, I had decided to be in the defence," reported IANS. So, after completing her higher secondary education, Aanchal did her graduation degree in Computer Science from Sitaram Jaju Government Girls College, Neemuch and briefly worked as a labour inspector with the state government as well as a sub-inspector with police before finally clearing the competitive exam in her sixth attempt.
Twitter Nagendra Singh
Now, she has become the proud recipient of the President's Plaque at the combined graduation parade, chosen amongst fellow 123 cadets at the Air Force Academy in Dindigul.
Speaking about her latest achievement Aanchal said in an interview, It still feels surreal. It is a dream come true. I used to dream of this day almost every night. To stand in my uniform, in front of my father and mother, who have fought all the difficulties in their lives to get me here. However, I will have to wait for some time. I am happy that they could see the ceremony on television."
Twitter Chintan Mistry
We are extremely proud of you, officer Aanchal. Your journey and hard work will inspire numerous youngsters to pursue their dreams and stop at nothing, no matter how difficult things get.
Jaipur, June 23 : In a heart-rending incident, a COVID-19 patient who slipped in a puddle of dirty water died even while his teenaged daughter -- who too was corona positive -- kept pleading in vain for help at the Covid care centre in Bikaner in Rajasthan.
The patient was hospitalised at the PBM COVID centre and collapsed outside a restroom on Monday after slipping in dirty water outside. However, none of those present at the centre -- neither the staff not others -- allegedly came to his rescue even though his 14-year-old daughter kept pleading, officials said.
A video clip on the shocking incident has gone viral, showing the man lying in a pool of dirty water even as his daughter can be seen crying and yelling for help.
After lying on the ground for around half an hour, the patient died, but still no one came to their rescue.
A hospital staff said: "No one wanted to pick or touch the COVID-19 patient, fearing transmission of the virus. Covid-19 has changed human sentiments and changed the definition of humanity. That is why the man kept lying in hospital with no help." Both the man and his daughter had tested corona positive two days ago and lodged at this COVID-19 centre.
It was learnt that the girl had even called up her mother, who then contacted their landlord. He further contacted the Chief Medical Health Officer, who asked the hospital staff to act, but to no avail. In the meantime, the patient had passed away.
Finally, the District Collector was told about the incident, who ordered the staff to pick the body.
CMHO Dr BL Meena told IANS that the family's landlord had called him up and he in turn called Medical Superintendent Dr Mohammad Saleem to help the patient to be moved from the washroom.
"After a call from the landlord, I immediately called up the MS at 8.35 am and asked him to bring the man back to his bed. However, by 10 am, I received the information that the man had died." Dr Saleem maintained that the patient had fever and had gone to the washroom along with an attendant. "When he did not come out for some time, he knocked the door, but there was no response. We had to break open the door. The patient had collapsed. We brought him to his bed and tried to revive him, but he did not gain consciousness." Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma on Tuesday said that strict action shall be taken against "negligent" officials after investigating complaints against them. "Carelessness of some people will not be tolerated. Further, a Nodal Officer will also be appointed for speedy redress of complaints," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 04:47:03|Editor: huaxia
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AMMAN, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Monday launched the 2020-2022 Jordan Response Platform (JRP) for the Syrian refugee crisis, with a total budget of 6.6 billion U.S. dollars.
The JRP aims to meet the needs to mitigate the impact of hosting Syrian refugees, and support host communities and institutional capacity building for refugees.
During the launch event of the plan, Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz highlighted the importance of the international community's support that helps Jordan remain resilient and maintain services for the refugees, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"The resilience of Jordanians, as well as our commitment to meet our obligations toward those who see Jordan as their safe haven, were the bases for our solidarity," Razzaz said.
However, he said providing basic needs, such as education, health services, cash assistance and protection, has increased the pressure on Jordan's resources.
"The impact of the war in Syria is still ongoing, and the voluntary return rate is weak, with more refugees living in host communities in the kingdom," Razzaz stated.
Meanwhile, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan Anders Pedersen said the JRP's hard work over the last six years has proven a cornerstone of the strong partnership between the international community and the Jordanian government.
"Jordan remains a global hospitality model, hosting more than 657,000 Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations," he noted. Enditem
Innocent Idibia, known by his stage name, 2Baba, has been appointed as a regional Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
A statement by the agency and also on his social media handles said 2Baba, a musician, producer and philanthropist has been a steadfast supporter of the UNHCR LuQuLuQu campaign.
He had done so since its inception in supporting and uplifting the narrative of the African refugee.
The UN agency wrote on twitter: He met displaced peoples families to hear their stories. He wrote & recorded a song to raise funds for refugees.
He is the first Nigerian to be appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Welcome to the family, Afropop music legend @official2baba,.
He met displaced peoples families to hear their stories
He wrote & recorded a song to raise funds for refugees
He is the first Nigerian to be appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
Welcome to the family, Afropop music legend @official2baba! https://t.co/90N64Y5jRq pic.twitter.com/1eepay8BG6
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) June 23, 2020
As an Afropop music legend, 2Baba has given his voice to refugee and IDP causes. In 2017 he wrote and recorded the song, Hold My Hand, a dedication to internally displaced persons.
The song helped raise funds for UNHCRs humanitarian response. He has also generously contributed his own personal funds to support refugees and IDP families in Africa.
While continuing to use his celebrity status to raise awareness and support for UNHCRs work.
We are asking our GWAs to join us in congratulating him on social media, the UNHCR said.
The UN agency listed the social media handles on which to congratulate the music legend to include: Facebook @official2baba; Instagram @official2baba and Twitter @official2baba.
The agency also called on the public to also tag the UNHCR on social media: Facebook @UNHCR; Instagram @refugees and Twitter @refugees.
(NAN)
The statement comes a day after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said that the trade deal with China is "over," and he linked the breakdown in part to Washington's anger over Beijing's not sounding the alarm earlier about the coronavirus outbreak. Counter that statement, Trump said on Twitter: "The China Trade Deal is fully intact. Hopefully they (China) will continue to live up to the terms of the Agreement." "It's over," Navarro told ...
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The Republic of Ghana is a nation but the nationality of the nationals of this nation is always in contention when it comes to fundamental issues, like voting in the Ghanaian General election (Ghanaian Nationals' Election).
The challenge is not about having a problem with every Ghanaian citizen of 18 years old and above, exercising their right of registering and voting in the Ghanaian general election. The contention is in identifying who a Ghanaian national is and who is not? It is about how to establish who is a Ghanaian and therefore, who is the national of the nation Ghana? How then must a Ghanaian be idenitify and how is a Ghanaian currently being idenitify?
The answer to this question starts with, what is Ghana, since it is only when we are very clear of what is Ghana, are we able to know who is a Ghanaian and who is not?
There is a serious challenge with the layman understanding of Ghana which is different from the formal meaning of what is Ghana. The lay man conceptualizes Ghana as a localize version of United Nation. So as the UN is an umbralla of loose nations, so does the lay man in Ghana hold the view that Ghana is an umbralla nation of tribal nations indigenous to the area. Therefore the nationals of Ghana to the layman are the members of the tribal nations, whether they are officially Ghanaians or not.
However the official position is, Ghana is a nation in its own right and a national of Ghana is any one officially recognise as a Ghanaian.
The nation Ghana assum its status of sovereign nationhood in 1957, when what started as the British colony called the Gold Coast, was officially registered at the United Nation as a nation that was accorded a sovereign status, under the formal name Ghana. The natural thing that followed is, the inhabitants of the colony on the day the entity assume a sovereign status, automatically become the nationals of new Ghanaian nation, since every nation must have its nationals, and it will be stupid to ship in people from space to be the citizens. The law on the subject of who must be a national of Ghana were made and enshrine in the Ghanaian independent Constitution, as approve by elected members of the then Ghanaian parliament. This document of who a Ghanaian national is, among other documents were then formerly deposited at the UN.
The law then was very clear that "every one who is an inhabitant of the Gold Coast, on its assumption of independence, shall be a Ghanaian national and therefore, a citizen of Ghana. Every one in Ghana at the time is expected to be officially issue with a documentary evidence of citizenship.
The assumption at this point is, every one in Ghana on being issued with a documentary evidence, will be a documented person, to result into a collated data, for reference at any point in time when the identity of a Ghanaian require verification. So with the first generation of documented Ghanaians as citizens on independence, subsequent generations of Ghanaian nationals shall be registered at birth, for every child to have a Birth Certificate bearing the nationality of their parents and therefore, the children.
This certificate shall be indicating the" name of an individual at birth, sex at birth, place of birth, nationality at birth, date of birth, parents names, parents' nationalities, date and place of issue. The nationality of every Ghanaian will be un-contentiouly Ghana, except where an individual opt to be a national of a different/another nation.
The birth certificate shall therefore be the basis of establishing the nationality of every Ghanaian and this certificate shall be the first point of reference to any other document of identity the Ghanaian shall need, in the course of his or her life, to end with a Death Certificate.
Since the birth certificate is always a paper that could easily be destroy by constant use and cannot be use as a photo ID Card, a national Identity Card for any Ghanaian of 18 years and above, helps with instant idenitification on demand, to establish a national of Ghana.
The birth certificate is simply a reference, as certificate given to a citizen, to allow any official of the state to know where to serach in the archives for the record of an individual, to facilitate the location of other records. For example, if a citizen as a national of a nation needs a Passport to gain access to other nations, the birth certificate is required to allow officials of the state to refer to the person's records and know the details to be included in the passport, as well as ensuring the document is issue to the right national.
This birth certificate also serve as the basis for issuing a drivers licence, to ensure the one the document is issue to, is the right person. So where the birth certificate genuinely prove the nationality of a citizen, on the basis of which national ID Card, passport and drivers licence are issue, the birth certificate legitimises all these documents, to make every one of them subsequently legitimate enough, to legitimise all usage. So National ID Card, drivers licence and passport can stand for one another, where and photo identification is a requirement.
It is very important to remind ourselves that using a document of identity that does not belong to one, is an act of impersonation which is criminal, illegal and illegitimate enough to criminalise all actions of the impersonator.
In a country like Ghana where election require a photo identification for Electoral ID Card to be inevitable, the authentication of the Voters' ID Card must be the same with all the above mention photo ID documents. So since the birth certificate is the basis of legitimising all the documents mentioned above, so must this same Voters' ID Card be legitimise to serve as a photo ID. What will then happen here is, the voters' ID Card will then become as good as all the other photo identification of a Ghanaian national. This only increase the list of what can be use as photo IDs of the Ghanaian for the right reasons.
The fact is, it is easy for an adult to get a birth certificate in Ghana and use it to claim anything, than for one to get a tissue paper. This easy access in acquiring birth certificate in Ghana has made the document worthless, thereby de-legitimatising the photo identity documents whose legitimacy depend on the authenticity of the birth certificate.
The contention before us all is, it is very easy for some one from the Ghanaian border areas of Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Togo, to cross into Ghana and vote in a general election, while it is totally impossible for a Ghanaian to cross into Burkina Fasso, Ivory Coast or Togo to participate in their elections. The question is, why is this so?
The simplest answer to the above question is, the nationals of Togo, Burkina Fasso and Cote D'Ivoire are well documented for easy idenitification, while the nationals of Ghana are not properly documented. It is therefore easy for the people on the other side of the Ghanaian national borders, who share the same tribal nationality with those on the Ghanaian side of the border, to cross and vote in Ghana. In fact they qualify for "dual nationality" as members of a common tribal nation.
First, the nation of Ghana is not a tribal nation with tribal nationals, for tribes to be basis for identifying a Ghanaian national. The nation of Ghana is a formal state with its own unique nationality. Like any modern nation in the world, the nation of Ghana was form out of serveral tribal nations, each with its unique characteristics and nationals. The understanding is, every one of the nation in place before the formation of the nation of Ghana, is an informal nation and therefore, the nationals of these nations are also informal by their tribal identities. So the only formal nation in Ghana and its nationals, is the nation of Ghana, with Ghanaians as its nationals. The identity of a Ghanaian can not and must not be Dagbani, Gonja, Dagati, Fanti, Ga, Ewe or Twi, as all these are informal nationalities and characterisations. The formal nationality of a Ghanaian must be a Ghanaian and clearly back by documentation to establish the individual's identity.
Eighty five per cent of those who are suppose to be the nationals of Ghana today do not have any form of documentary idenity, because they identify themselves as nationals of the informal tribal nations within the territory of Ghana, than the nationals of the formal nation of Ghana. Interestingly enough, tribes do not issue their members with documentary identity. And in Ghana where every thing formal, also has it informal alternative, accepted as normal, almost everything is acceptable as formal in Ghana, even when it is actually informal. So as bribe is a crime in its formal sense, gift is not an offence in its informal sense. Therefore, an average Ghana is confuse about what is formal and what is informal.
So 63 years into the Project Ghana, 85% of the inhabitants of Ghana are actually the nationals of their tribal nations who exist without any formal documentation.
This life of living in the terroritory of Ghana without formal document is made very easy because the informal way of doing things in Ghana is just as recognise, even than the formal way of doing things.
This is very shocking to a United Kingdom or German citzen, to learn that inhabitants of Ghana in 2020 are being identify by their tribal chief or kins men or junkies loitering at the public toilet, to be registeted and issue with a Ghanaian national ID Card or Voters' ID Card, to vote in an election. So if the tribal chief or kins men are unable to identify a person as a tribal national, then identifying such a person as an inhabitant of the area will be impossible, unless he or she pay the junkies to step in. Often than not, payment of bribe resolve it all.
The Togolese, Burkinabe and Ivorian national do not need any chief, relations, or tribal kins men to identify him or her, as nationals of the state in their countries. Every one at birth is registered and given their national birth certificate with which the individual is idenitify as a national. Unlike the inhabitants of Ghana who are identify by their tribal nations, the Ivorian, Burkinabe and Togolese national are able to use their documentary proof to self-idenitify as nationals without resorting to any filial favour.
So while the inhabitants of Ghana and their fellow tribal kins men from across the border could easily have the chiefs and kins men to vouch for them on the Ghanaian territory to claim Ghanaian nationality, base on their tribal affinity, it is totally impossible for the kins men on the territories of Togo, Burkina Fasso and Cote D'Ivoire to assist their Ghanaian tribal fellas.
The nationality of a modern citizen is so important that using tribal languages, association or tribal marks, as basis to idenitify nationals, is the most irresponsible thing to do. It is simply insulting for any inhabitant of Ghana to boost by saying that he or she speaks Twi or Ga, and that is enough evidence to claim to be a Ghanaian. Where nationality is critical to national development, and identity play a key role in building credible data for national planning, mere tribal instinct is way out of the window.
Tribal Ghana is enimical to the Project Ghana. Tribal Ghana is a threat to the Project Ghana. Like the Biblical Moses said "my God is a jealous God and cannot be shared with any other gods". The insult we heap on the deity call Ghana is unhelpful. Its time we meke better sense of the nationality of the Ghanaian, as inform by the 1992 Constitution, chapter 3, Article 6, clause (1) that states "Every person who, on the coming into force of this constitution, is a citizen of Ghana by-law, shall continue to be a citizen of Ghana". What clause 1 of Article 6 is saying is, citizenship of Ghana is by-law and not by tribal affiliation, assume on independence, remain the same. So all those recognised by all the constitutions before the one in 1992, as citizens of Ghana and issue with documentary proof, will have their documentary proof of citizenship recognise as valid base on the independence Constitution of citizenship. Therefore any one born in or outside Ghana whose parents or grand-parents have their birth certificate or any document in line with 1956 Constitution, shall be legitble to also assume their citizenship of Ghana. So subsequent clause of Article 6 and 7, explain this.
This means, if Ghanaian officials all these years have been religious about official documentary form of idenitifying the Ghanaian citizen, than using the cheap informal means, we shall not be where we are today.
Since birth certificate are issued to children, while adults can naturalize to become Ghanaian nationals, document of naturalization can serve as the basis of acquiring photo IDs in Ghana.
So, as the challenge of registration to vote in the upcoming Ghanaian general election is not something that can be delay, every adult of 18 years and above who does not have a birth certificate, must be allow to have one free of charge, so that they can use the birth certificate to obtain other photo IDs, including national card and voters IDs. One year period must be set aside for this to be the last of its kind. The law that follows this, will then be, every citizen must be able to present their National ID Card on demand to the police or any designated authority. Since the birth certificate is the only document in the future that will make replacement of photo IDs possible, every one will be religious about the safety of their birth certificate.
Again, after the expiration of this mass documentaton of every one who claim to be a national of Ghana, like amnesty to all undocumented people, a law must be made by parliament to state that "no birth certification issue to any one who is 18 years and above can be use for the acquisition of any photo ID, till the certificate is 5 years after the date of issue". This will stop people from across the borders getting birth certificate issue in less than a month, to have access to all Ghanaian photo IDs. The challenge here will be drivers licence and national ID Cards. Since ECOWAS ID Cards and drivers licence are acceptable in all member states, drivers using such ID could freely reside in Ghana without resorting to desperate means to acquire Ghanaian IDs.
The citizenship of the Ghanaian national must be documented to legitimise it if democratic elelction in Ghana must mean anything.
(Apology to anyone who might have been offended by outlook)
Kofi Ali Abdul-Yekin
Chairman ECRA
(ECOWAS Citizens Right Advocated)
[email protected]
ALBANY Members of the state's Joint Commission on Public Ethics are contemplating whether a criminal complaint should be filed in connection with a leak investigation last year by the state inspector general's office that failed to confirm allegations Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had received details of JCOPE's confidential vote on a matter involving a former top aide to the governor.
The apparent leak which would be a criminal offense surfaced when Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie's top counsel, Howard Vargas, called commissioner Julie Garcia and told her that Cuomo had complained to the speaker about how his appointees to the commission had voted on the matter.
Garcia, as required, reported the apparent breach of confidentiality to JCOPE Executive Director Seth Agata, who notified the inspector general's office and triggered the investigation, which was kept secret until it was disclosed last fall by the Times Union.
"Since the IG report is in the public domain there is no question that an individual commissioner can make a criminal referral without full commission approval," said JCOPE Commissioner Gary Lavine. "I have not yet determined if individual action is otherwise appropriate."
Albany County District Attorney David Soares has said his office has not examined the matter because it did not receive a complaint. The State Police have jurisdiction to launch an investigation of the leak, but have not done so.
The allegations of misconduct may not involve only the alleged leak that came to Garcia's attention.
Some JCOPE commissioners are deliberating whether the inspector general's investigation of the alleged leak, which was closed without Cuomo or Heastie being interviewed, had been scuttled before it issued a letter last October saying the office had been "unable to substantiate" the allegations. The release of the letter preceded Garcia's resignation from JCOPE; Agata resigned as executive director a year ago.
Earlier: Inspector general probed ethics panel's alleged leak to Cuomo
Heastie contacted JCOPE commissioner after January meeting
Lackluster proves followed alleged ethics leak to Cuomo
Seiler: Anatomy of a total tank job
A 2017 decision by New York's highest court upheld the conviction of a Nassau County police officer who had taken part in a plot to prevent the arrest of a teenager accused of burglary and whose father had personal connections to the department. The Court of Appeals decision found that it is not "discretionary" for a government official to abdicate their responsibility to pursue wrongdoing if that decision is being made to benefit someone personally.
"Certainly, a public servant's knowing refusal to perform a mandatory action coupled with an intent to obtain a benefit constitutes nonfeasance," the court ruled in upholding the police official's conviction. "However, when a public servant, with the intent to obtain a benefit, knowingly refuses to perform a discretionary duty, the performance of which is so obviously fundamental to accomplishing the goals of the public servant's office, that refusal cannot legitimately be understood to be an exercise of discretion; rather, it constitutes an abuse of discretion, which equates to nonfeasance."
In the letter to the ethics commission last year, Deputy Executive Inspector General Spencer Freedman wrote that "the investigation was unable to substantiate whether or by whom confidential information was in fact improperly disclosed. Specifically, the referral from JCOPE set forth general allegations with no supporting facts; no individual was able to provide firsthand knowledge of any leak or potential perpetrator; and any information provided was admittedly based on supposition and speculation."
Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.
The matter that was discussed by JCOPE on the day of the alleged leak involved a complaint filed against the governor's former top aide, Joseph Percoco, who is serving six years in prison for his federal conviction on bribery and corruption charges. The panel had considered whether to probe Percoco for allegations he had used the governor's office to conduct campaign business information that surfaced in testimony at his federal criminal trial.
Heastie, who last year acknowledged that he had also called another JCOPE commissioner the same day that his chief counsel called Garcia did not respond to a request for comment on whether he would support an independent investigation of the alleged leak. Heastie has declined to say what he and the commissioner discussed.
A spokesman for Cuomo did not respond to a request for comment.
Last week, the Times Union reported that six members of the commission had called on the panel's chairman, Michael K. Rozen, to conduct a search for an "independent" executive director amid longstanding criticism that the commission's leadership and operations have been too closely aligned with Cuomo and the Legislature.
A search committee within JCOPE that had been tasked with finding Agata's successor received more than 100 applications from candidates, many of them highly qualified and with no apparent ties to the governor or Legislature. But last year, as that list was whittled to about nine contenders who were to be interviewed, the committee's effort to hire a replacement suddenly ended.
The candidate favored by the governor, Monica J. Stamm, is JCOPE's general counsel and has been largely serving as the acting executive director since Agata's departure. Stamm worked with Cuomo when he was state attorney general, serving as his office's deputy bureau chief in the public integrity unit.
Despite six of the commission's 12 sitting members being appointed by Cuomo, including Rozen, sources said there are not enough votes in favor of appointing Stamm, who is regarded as a highly qualified attorney, to the executive director position.
"Impressive credentials aside, the appearance of any possibility of any continuing political allegiances runs contrary to JCOPE's mission and hampers its capacity to inspire public trust," states a March 6 letter that was sent to Rozen and signed by six JCOPE commissioners, all of whom are legislative appointees. "Given the voting structure embedded in JCOPE, it is imperative that we select someone free of encumbrances. We call into question independence from the executive and legislative branches of government."
Hanging by a thread: A 1.7billion black hole in the firm's accounts leave its future in doubt
Two years ago, Wirecard was being hailed as one of Germany's great technology stars.
Under Markus Braun, the payments firm had just achieved a market capitalisation of more than 19billion and rocketed past Deutsche Bank to become the country's most valuable financial services business.
But fast-forward, and today Wirecard faces a starkly different reality, with a 1.7billion black hole in the firm's accounts throwing its future into doubt. Yesterday bosses admitted that a frantic search for the missing money had reached a dead-end in the Philippines, where it was supposed to be held in trust accounts at two Asian banks.
It prompted them to admit the cash may simply 'not exist', sending Wirecard's market value tumbling to below 2billion. Shares have been in freefall since Thursday, when auditor EY refused to sign off Wirecard's books after evidence of potential fraud was discovered.
Braun, chief executive and chief technology officer since 2002, resigned the next day, marking a stunning fall from grace for the 51-year-old. He had been credited for transforming Wirecard from a small operator processing payments for pornography and gambling websites into one of the world's most successful financial technology firms.
Munich-based Wirecard, which was founded in 1999 and employs 5,800 staff, makes money from processing tens of billions of pounds in digital payments.
But it has been battling allegations of fraud for years, with articles published by the Financial Times newspaper claiming its divisions in Singapore and other Asian countries had cooked the books by inflating revenue and profits.
Before its acknowledgement on Thursday that 1.7billion was missing from the balance sheet, Wirecard had previously accused the FT's journalists of 'irresponsible' and 'false' reporting and taken legal action against the paper. EY, the firm's auditor, had also given it a clean bill of health until recently.
But investor confidence took a hit in April when an independent probe by KPMG was unable to confirm the existence of more than 1bn in revenue from 2016 to 2018. That report was seized on by activist investors such as Britain's Sir Chris Hohn, who demanded Braun's removal.
And last week, EY was unable to verify the money supposedly held by Asian banks prompting Wirecard's finances to unravel overnight.
The revelations have been hailed as a vindication of short sellers, who were questioning the company's finances as far back as 2016.
Fraser Perring and Matthew Earl alleged in an anonymous report that Wirecard was linked to money laundering for offshore poker websites aimed at the US where online gambling was still illegal at the time.
But their claims were dismissed as 'baseless' by Wirecard and the pair soon found themselves accused of share price manipulation by Frankfurt's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, better known as Bafin. The German regulator launched similar action against FT journalists after their reports of suspected accounting fraud at the company.
Yet it is Wirecard that is being investigated for alleged market manipulation now. The firm's Munich headquarters was raided by Bafin officials on June 5 and its board has been named in legal proceedings.
Earl, who runs the hedge fund Shadowfall and is known in the City as the 'Dark Destroyer', tweeted yesterday: 'If Bafin had put 10 per cent of the time it spent investigating myself and subsequently others into investigating Wirecard, this would've been over long ago.'
And Crispin Odey, the British hedge fund manager who took short positions against Wirecard, said: 'The Germans institutionally were just determined to rally around and just not look at the facts.'
David Savage, a partner at Stewarts Law specialising in financial crime, said: 'It is of course easy to just blame the accountants, but EY is certainly going to come in for a lot of scrutiny about why this wasn't picked up sooner.'
The company has withdrawn its results for 2019 and says an impact on previous years cannot be excluded. 'Wirecard is assessing options for a sustainable financing strategy for the company,' it said yesterday.
KENOSHA Chrystul Kizer is out of custody after a Chicago-based aid organization posted her $400,000 bond.
Kizer, 19, was released from Kenosha County Jail on Monday afternoon. She has been in custody for two years, awaiting trial for the June 2018 shooting death of a man prosecutors admit had been sexually assaulting Kizer and other underage girls.
The man she killed, Randall Volar III, 34, was under investigation by Kenosha Police for child trafficking and possession of child pornography at the time of his death.
An organization called the Chicago Community Bond Fund posted Kizers bond Monday.
Sharlyn Grace, executive director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund, said Kizer was released Monday afternoon. Chrystul is looking forward to being with her family, she said.
Kizers case has received national attention, with advocates for trafficking victims pushing for charges against her to be dropped. Supporters have attended Kizers hearings, organized protests, circulated online petitions about her case and worked to raise money for her bond.
At her most recent court appearance, District Attorney Michael Graveley said there is no doubt that Volar was guilty of sexually assaulting Kizer, who was 16 when she met Volar, and other girls. Volar videotaped some of the assaults, those videos seized by police before he was killed. However, Graveley has argued there is evidence that Kizer planned Volars shooting death, and that her motive was to steal his BMW.
According to past statements in court, Volar paid for an Uber driver to bring Kizer to his home in Kenosha the night he died. She spent several hours with him, and the two shared a pizza before Kizer allegedly shot Volar in the head, then set his house on fire. She left in his BMW, which was later found in Milwaukee.
Graveley has said that there are text messages and social media posts that show Kizer planned to kill Volar.
Defense attorneys are pushing to use an affirmative defense available to trafficking victims at her trial. Their ability to use that defense is being considered by an appellate court.
Bond originally $1 million
Kizers bond was originally set at $1 million. In February, Judge David Wilk lowered the bond to $400,000.
At a hearing June 8, Wilk defense attorney Jennifer Bias asked the court to lower the bond again, this time to $15,000, with the hope that Kizer could be released to stay with her mother in the Milwaukee area so she could receive therapy to address the substantial trauma she has endured over the last several years.
Wilk denied that motion.
Grace said the Chicago Community Bond Fund has a history of working with defense committees and support groups for victims of trafficking and sexual abuse who have been further harmed by prosecution, having posted bond for eight women in similar circumstances in the past.
The state has failed to protect Chrystul and others who are disproportionately black women, Grace said.
She said holding people in jail awaiting prosecution is an ongoing form of punishment and another way the state is letting them down. They should be in the community and receiving care.
The $400,000 paid for Kizers bond exceeds the total annual amount spent toward bond for people freed from jail by the project in all but one year since it was launched in 2015. Grace said an influx of donations, mostly in small amounts, associated with the Black Lives Matter movement made it possible to post bond for Kizer.
We wanted to support Chrystul as an individual, she said. The connection to the Black Lives Matter movement is in the way that it illustrates that policing and prosecution are not a focus for safety in this community.
The prosecution of Kizer is essentially on hold as the appellate court considers the affirmative defense issue. Wisconsin law shields sex trafficking victims from prosecution for offenses that are a direct result of trafficking. At the circuit court level, Wilk limited use of that defense in the case. Defense attorneys appealed his ruling.
Kizer is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 11 for a status hearing.
Mainstay Medical, a medical device company focused on developing a treatment called ReActiv8, aimed at stopping chronic lower back pain, has cleared another hurdle in its move into the United States health market.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company's premarket approval application for ReActiv8 and commercialisation of the treatment in the US is expected to start next year.
The approval means Mainstay now has the right to market ReActiv8 in the US as an aid in the management of lower back pain associated with muscle dysfunction in adults who have failed therapy, including pain medications and physical therapy, and are not candidates for surgery.
Based on the FDA approval, Mainstay said it is building out its commercial team and inventory procurement "as well as evaluating the financial resources necessary to fund its planned activities".
The company plans to host an investor event later this year to provide an update on its commercial plans for the treatment.
Jason Hannon, CEO of Mainstay, said: "This therapy has the potential to improve quality of life for the most severely affected patients, and we look forward to making it available to US patients and physicians beginning in the first half of 2021. This will build upon our growing business in Europe and our upcoming launch in Australia."
Headquartered in Dublin, Mainstay has subsidiaries operating in Ireland, the US, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands.
It estimates there are currently approximately two million people in the European Union and the US who could be candidates for ReActiv8.
Earlier this year, Mainstay said it was de-listing from Euronext Dublin and Paris due to a lack of liquidity in its shares and the costs associated with being a listed company, including expenditure on legal and regulatory advice.
Last year Mainstay, which listed in 2014, reported revenue of $1.1m (970,000), an increase on $600,000 in 2018.
Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019, were $19.2m, down from the $29.6m the previous year, according to its annual results.
The decrease in expenditure was driven primarily by reduced costs relating to activities and personnel following the completion of all implants in the ReActiv8 B clinical trial.
Mainstay had cash of $17.4m at year-end.
US would love to see tensions in Asia around Diaoyu Islands: expert
Global Times
By Wang Qi Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/22 20:50:27
A Japanese local government's bill approved on Monday to change the administrative designation of the disputed Diaoyu Islands can't change China's sovereignty and control over the islands, as Chinese Coast Guard vessels still conducted patrol missions in the territorial waters of the islands the same day, experts said, noting that the bill would not affect the status quo much.
The city council of Inshigaki, Okinawa Prefecture on Monday approved the bill to change the administrative designation of the area containing the so-called Senkaku Islands, China's Diaoyu Islands, from Tonoshiro to Tonoshiro Senkaku, Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported, noting the name will change on October 1.
The China Coast Guard said after the bill's approval that its ships patrolled the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands on Monday, and experts said more routine patrols can be expected.
The bill is unlikely to have a major impact on the status of the waters surrounding the islands, and the Japanese government will be reluctant to see new issues interrupt the recovery of its ties with China, Chinese observers said.
However, the US, which is in trouble with protests and a devastating COVID-19 epidemic, would love to see the territorial dispute in the West Pacific and new troubles to interrupt China-Japan ties, so it could influence political forces in Japan to create trouble, Chinese analysts noted.
Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, blasted Japan's audacity at a routine press conference a few hours after the proposal was approved on Monday, saying the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory. Japan's move is a serious provocation against China's sovereignty.
"The bill is illegal, invalid and can't change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China China has made solemn representations to Japan through diplomatic channels, and reserves the right to further respond," Zhao said, noting China is firmly determined to safeguard its sovereignty.
Lu Yaodong, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Japanese Studies, told the Global Times on Monday that Japan has a history of playing tricks on disputed territories with other countries, as they hope to nibble away at the Diaoyu Islands.
Japan has sovereign disputes with many countries. Russia in 2019denounced Japan's move of marking the disputed territories as Japanese territory on a map of the Tokyo Olympic Games website. The South Korean government also protested over Japan's labeling of the disputed Dokdo Islands, known as Takeshima in Japan, as Japanese territory in a roadmap for the Torch relay of Tokyo Olympic Games, Xinhua reported.
Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Monday that the Chinese and Japanese governments have a tacit understanding on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, and neither side hopes that the Diaoyu Islands row affects the overall stability of relations.
"Perhaps the US is the one most willing to see the discord between the East Asian countries," Li said. "Closer cooperation between China and Japan would dilute US influence in the West Pacific. By creating trouble for China through Japan, it would reinforce its position in the region. The US element can never be ruled out."
Japan's actions cannot change China's position or the status of the dispute over Diaoyu Islands, but Tokyo should pay close attention to such acts initiated by local governments which could threaten the stability of East Asia, Li said.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press briefing on May 24 that China, Japan and South Korea have worked together to effectively contain the spread of the coronavirus in East Asia. China will ramp up free trade negotiations with the other two countries and strive to sign the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement by the end of the year, Chinanews.com reported.
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Boy Rafli Amar, the then-spokesman the Indonesian National Police, speaks during a news conference in Jakarta about the killing of Santoso, who led the militant group known as the Eastern Indonesia Mujahidin, July 19, 2016.
Indonesias new counterterrorism chief sought congressional backing Tuesday for a 65 percent hike in his agencys budget, saying it needed more cash and resources as he warned that the militant threat remained active during the coronavirus pandemic.
The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) was looking to increase its 2021 budget by 361.6 billion rupiah (U.S. $25.5 million) and hire more staff because militants were trying to expand their ranks and plot attacks, Boy Rafli Amar told a hearing of a House of Representatives committee that oversees security affairs.
Radical groups are still actively carrying out recruitment propaganda both online and offline during the COVID-19 pandemic, the BNPT chief said. We are seeing today the rampant abuse of the cyberspace to spread the ideology of terrorism.
To be able to achieve the performance targets that have been set, BNPT has submitted a proposal for additional funding in 2021 to the finance minister and the head of Bappenas [National Development Planning Agency] in the amount of 361.6 billion rupiah, he said.
The additional funding would be used for surveillance, deradicalization, victim identification, and to strengthen the center for analysis and crisis control, Boy said.
The extra money would come on top of 551 billion rupiah ($38.9 million) already allocated for the agency under the 2021 budget.
Boy said he also planned to appoint three new deputies to make the agency more effective.
If this is approved, BNPT will have six deputies one each in charge of policy systems, counter-radicalism, national preparedness, deradicalization, law enforcement and monitoring, and international cooperation, he said.
Boy, who was sworn in as BNPT chief on May 6, has said he would focus on domestic and foreign cooperation to combat terrorism because it is an organized transnational crime.
He previously held key posts at the national police including as its public relations officer, the deputy head of the National Police Education and Training Institute, chief negotiator at Densus 88 and as police chief in Papua, a restive region in far-eastern Indonesia.
During Tuesdays congressional hearing, Boy named Central Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and East Java provinces as among the locations most prone to militant activities.
Since January, at least 84 people have been monitored and investigated across Indonesia over suspected militant recruitment activities, Boy testified. But he did not say if any of those people had been arrested.
Meanwhile, national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Argo Yuwono said members of the elite anti-terrorism unit Densus 88 had carried out arrests since the start of the year, but he declined to give more information.
On Monday, police arrested three suspected militants in Kampar, a regency in Riau province, Argo told BenarNews. He did not name the suspects or release details about their alleged crimes.
On June 1, a man armed with a sword and carrying the Islamic State (IS) groups black flag killed a police officer and seriously wounded another in South Kalimantan province before he was fatally shot. The suspect, identified as Ana Abdurrahman, torched a police car and then went after officers during the pre-dawn attack at a police station in South Daha, police said.
Militants find opportunities
Adhe Bhakti, a researcher at the Center for Radicalism and Deradicalization Studies, a Jakarta think-tank, said militant groups in Indonesia had different views about the pandemic. Some saw the pandemic as an opportunity to expand their influence through social activities while others viewed it as punishment sent by Allah to their enemies, he said.
Other groups see the pandemic not only as a blessing but are actively waging a war to take advantage of the governments moment of weakness, Adhe told BenarNews.
Writing in The Diplomat on Tuesday, security analysts Zachary Abuza and Alif Satria focused on efforts by three militant groups Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) to take advantage of the pandemic.
JI, the group responsible for 2002 Bali bombings, was most poised exploit COVID-19, the analysts wrote. While JAD suffered from intra-organizational discord, JIs structure is more resilient and better able to implement a pandemic response.
The pair said MIT, on the other hand, had conducted four attacks in Central Sulawesi despite losing members and it saw the pandemic as an opportunity to attack the government.
[M]IT has been doggedly resilient since the government declared its destruction in mid-2016, and COVID-19 has played into their resilience, Abuza and Alif wrote.
As the current MIT chief, Ali Kalora, told his supporters: Taghut [tyrants] will fall because of the coronavirus and the war in the near future.
Will assume leadership for EFIs market-leading industrial inkjet portfolio across display graphics, textiles, packaging and building materials
FREMONT, Calif., June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Industry digital inkjet leader Scott Schinlever has re-joined Electronics For Imaging , Inc. in a new role as chief operating officer for EFIs global inkjet business. Schinlever, who starts in his new position today, has been charged with further expanding EFIs market-leading industrial inkjet portfolio, while facilitating the analog-to-digital transformation throughout the industry for EFIs current and future customers. Schinlever will be responsible for all equipment, ink, and service solutions throughout the vast EFI portfolio in Display Graphics, Textiles, Packaging and Building Materials.
Schinlever, who most recently was president and COO of Automation Solutions for Tolland, Connecticut-based Gerber Technology, had a long career managing the marketing, growth and development of EFI VUTEk printers and other EFI inkjet technologies. He joined the digital print industry in the late 1990s, working with the Xerox Office Systems Group. In 2001, he took on a marketing position at the pioneering superwide-format printer manufacturer VUTEk, a company EFI acquired in 2005. Schinlever continued to rise through the ranks at EFI following that acquisition, becoming senior vice president and general manager for EFI Inkjet Solutions the companys largest business unit before joining Gerber Technology in 2018.
We are thrilled to have Scott back in the EFI family, said EFI Chairman and CEO Jeff Jacobson. Our industry is at a critical inflection point. I joined EFI one year ago because I clearly understood that EFI is the best positioned company in the industry to drive the analog-to-digital transformation in the industrial inkjet space. Under Scotts leadership of the Inkjet Business, I am convinced that EFI will attain that leadership position across the diverse segments of display graphics, packaging, textiles and building materials.
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Scott has an innate understanding of and expertise in the portfolio and solution set that will enable our customers to excel as the industry quickly migrates to industrial inkjet, Jacobson added. We are confident he will lead our global industrial inkjet operations to the next level in his new Inkjet COO role.
Driving growth in digital print
During Schinlevers previous time with the company, EFIs inkjet business grew significantly through organic growth and strategic acquisitions of innovative digital printer and ink companies. He expanded EFIs successful move into ink manufacturing, leveraging EFIs 2006 acquisition of digital ink and printer technologies from Flint Ink. That purchase set the stage for EFIs breakthrough position in high-quality, production-class UV LED inkjet superwide-format printers and ink technology that provides superior versatility and energy cost savings for a broad range of applications. The business was further strengthened with the acquisition of Matan, bringing strong systems technology to EFI. Overall, EFIs revenues for its superwide-format inkjet products more than doubled under Schinlever, with increased profitability.
Schinlever not only expanded the companys strengths and presence in superwide-format display graphics printing, he also helped manage the companys strategic industrial project to develop the packaging markets leading single-pass inkjet corrugated board printer the EFI Nozomi C18000 . He also helped spearhead acquisitions of EFI Reggiani, a leading developer of industrial textile printers, and EFI Cretaprint a digital ceramic tile printer market share leader with a strong position in the ceramics industrys most competitive geographies, including India and China.
It feels great to be back at EFI, Schinlever stated. In the two years that I have been away, much has changed, but the spirit of innovation and the strong desire to make our customers successful has remained strong and is increasing every day. I look forward to digging in, getting caught up, and working to take our inkjet businesses to a new and even more successful future.
Schinlever, who works from EFIs Londonderry, N.H., facility, has an MBA from Duke Universitys Fuqua School of Business and a bachelors degree in managerial economics from the University of California, Davis.
About EFI
EFI is a global technology company, based in Silicon Valley, and is leading the worldwide transformation from analog to digital imaging. We are passionate about fueling customer success with products that increase competitiveness and boost productivity. To do that, we develop breakthrough technologies for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles, and personalized documents, with a wide range of printers, inks, digital front ends, and a comprehensive business and production workflow suite that transforms and streamlines the entire production process. ( www.efi.com )
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NOTE TO EDITORS: The EFI logo, VUTEk and Cretaprint are registered trademarks of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. EFI is a trademark of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. Xerox is a registered trademark of Xerox Corp. All other terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, and are hereby acknowledged.
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BISHKEK -- A Kyrgyz court has sentenced former President Almazbek Atambaev to 11 years and two months in prison for the illegal release of notorious crime boss Aziz Batukaev in 2013.
On June 23, judge Emilbek Kaipov of the Birinchi Mai District Court in Bishkek found Atambaev guilty of the organization of corruption and sentenced him the same day.
The 63-year-old Atambaev refused to make a final statement in the courtroom.
Throughout the case he has denied any wrongdoing.
The judge also ruled that Atambaev be deprived of all state awards and ranks, while property belonging to him and his family members is to be confiscated.
The property to be taken from the Atambaev family includes five vehicles, houses in the northern regions of Chui and Issyk-Kul, 10 parcels of land, and several companies, including a television channel.
Atambaevs co-defendants, former Prosecutor-General Indira Joldubaeva, former chief of the Hematology Center, Abdukhalim Raimjanov, and Kalybek Kachkynaliev, a former adviser to the State Penitentiary Service chief, were also found guilty in the case.
Joldubaeva was ordered to pay a fine of 5 million soms ($66,000). Kachkynaliev was sentenced to two years in prison, but the judge freed him from custody because of time served in pretrial detention. Raimjanov was not sentenced due to the statute of limitations.
Aziz Batukaev, who suddenly was released from prison and immediately left the Central Asian nation for Russia in 2013, was convicted of several infamous crimes -- including the murders of a Kyrgyz lawmaker and an Interior Ministry official.
Atambaev is the first Kyrgyz president who was tried while physically present in the country in the Central Asian nation's history,
In 2014, another former president, Kurmanbek Bakiev, was sentenced in absentia to life for involvement in the 2010 killing of protesters during the uprising that ousted him.
Bakiev and members of his family have been living in Belarus since then.
Kyrgyzstan's first President Askar Akaev, who fled the country amid anti-government protests in 2005 and currently resides in Moscow, is wanted in Kyrgyzstan on corruption charges and his alleged involvement in the deadly dispersal of protesters in the southern town of Aksy in March 2002. He has not been tried yet.
Atambaev was arrested in early August last year after he surrendered to police following a deadly two-day standoff between security forces and his supporters.
The move to detain Atambaev was sparked by his refusal to obey three subpoenas calling him to the Interior Ministry for questioning in the case of Batukaev's illegal release.
The standoff between security forces and his supporters resulted in the death of a top security officer and injuries to more than 170 others -- including 79 law enforcement officers.
The violence underscored a power struggle between Atambaev and his handpicked successor, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, which has raised fears of instability in the Central Asian nation.
The former president is currently also on trial in another case linked to last year's violence, in which he and 13 others were charged with murder, attempted murder, threatening or assaulting representatives of authorities, hostage taking, and the forcible seizure of power.
Kyrgyzstan saw a smooth and peaceful transfer of power in 2017 from Atambaev, a northerner, to southerner Jeenbekov, which was welcomed by the international community after presidential changes in 2005 and 2010 came after revolts that ousted Akaev and Bakiev.
.
We need to work on our humanity... thats the main problem of this world. Were stuck on how to get up or to get even, and that is not how I was raised to be. You learn, you live, you move on and I was always taught to forgive big, he said. You cant base every day of your life off of one interaction you have with one individual.
Summary "Middle East and Africa Renewable Energy Policy Handbook 2020" offers comprehensive information about the renewable energy policies of the Middle East and African countries.
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It provides information regarding the financial incentives, renewable energy auctions, net-metering, renewable targets and other plans implemented by the government or utilities of seventeen countries- Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania, and UAE.
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Reasons to Buy
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It will allow you to -
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The old system of assessing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients at their residence to determine if they are fit for home isolation must be brought back, the Delhi government said in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday, reiterating the practical difficulties in a new protocol that senior as well as grassroots health staff separately said was virtually impossible to implement.
The administration on Monday formalised the new health assessments protocol that says every new Covid-19 patient must visit a government facility, a process that requires special ambulances and increased deployment of medical staff, and raises the risk of infection among anyone who is involved in the exercise.
There is a lot of panic among people because of the new guidelines. Earlier, they tried to stop home isolation and a consensus on continuing it was reached after a lot of dialogue. Now, [there is] this new guideline Why should a Covid-19 patient be made to stand in a queue at a quarantine centre? I have written to the L-G to continue with the earlier system of the medical team visiting the home of coronavirus patients instead, said Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia at a press briefing.
On Tuesday, Delhi recorded its largest single-day spike of Covid-19 cases so far with 3,947 people testing positive. While at least some of these were possibly through antigen tests at a health facility, a large proportion are likely to have been identified through RT-PCR tests carried out by labs. These results usually come a day or more later, and it is these people who need to be taken to a facility, according to the rule put into force on Monday.
The guidelines were first suggested by the L-G-led Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) over the weekend. According to these rules, a doctor at a Covid-19 Care Centre (CCC) will check severity of symptoms of each patient and, from health history of any comorbid condition, determine if they can be allowed to recover at home.
A separate team will carry out house checks to see whether there is a stand-alone room and bathroom that a Covid-19 patient needs for home isolation so that other members of the family are not infected.
The new rules led to such chaos that at least three of the 11 districts of Delhi have not been able to adopt the protocol since they have too many new cases to handle, officials from these districts told HT on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.
Currently, around 3,000 people on an average are testing Covid-19 positive in Delhi per day through swab tests. If they have to be taken to CCCs, the government will have to arrange 3,000 trips of ambulances in addition to the distress calls that they are presently catering to. This seems impossible at this juncture. So, we have no alternatives but to continue with the old method for now until further orders are received, said one of the three district magistrates, asking not to be named.
Delhi has 163 ambulances on special corona duty that requires its staff to be in full personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow special sanitisation procedures. Given the strength of the fleet, each ambulance will need to carry out more than 18 trips in 24 hours if all of these patients are to be taken to these centres as per protocol.
Coronavirus patients will have to go to the quarantine centres and stand in long queues, which will aggravate their illness and pass it on to others. How will they reach the centres? Ambulances should be kept for taking severe patients to hospitals rather than transporting people with mild symptoms to these centres, said Sisodia.
I am hopeful that the L-G will soon call a meeting of the state disaster management authority to change this decision and resolve the problems of the patient, he added.
The LGs office did not respond to requests for a comment on Sisodias letter.
The letter follows a protracted row between the L-Gs office and the Delhi government, triggered by an order on Friday that virtually scrapped the practice of home isolation. The order was reversed a day later, but the DDMA the nodal agency for Covid-19 response measures that is led by the L-G introduced the mandatory assessments.
A second area of confrontation was on the choice of an agency that is meant to carry out followup checks with people in home isolation. The Friday order scrapped the arrangement with Portea Medical and, according to Mondays guidelines, the task can now involve medical students or be outsourced. Officials said the process of outsourcing will require new tendering.
The tussle has led to a situation where many patients were moved to CCCs and are not requesting to be allowed to go back.
I feel weak and breathless. I thought Id be kept under observation. But the doctor only checks up on me over the phone. The facility is good, but I think I would have taken better care of myself at home, as there is no special medical treatment for this, said 35-year-old Anita from the Terapanth Bhawan CCC in Chattarpur.
A majority of the CCCs lack air conditioning and some particularly the ones setup in schools require residents to use common lavatories.
ANKARA, Turkey - A Turkish government spokesman shot back at French President Emmanuel Macron and blamed France on Tuesday for allegedly dragging Libya into chaos.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy accused Macron of losing reason and of making unfounded accusations against Turkey a day after the French leader said Ankara was involved in a dangerous game in Libya.
Macron also urged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to end Turkeys activities in the the conflict-torn country.
Due to the support it has given to illegitimate structures for years, France has an important responsibility in dragging Libya into chaos, and in this respect, it is France that plays a dangerous game in Libya, Aksoy said in a statement.
The comments referred to Frances support of Libyas eastern-based forces, which under Khalifa Hifter launched an April 2019 offensive to try to take the capital of Tripoli.
Turkey backs the U.N.-recognized Tripoli-based administration in Libya. The Tripoli administrations forces, with Turkish military support, gained the upper hand in the war this month after retaking the capitals airport, all main entrance and exit points to the city and a string of key nearby towns.
Aksoy added, The people of Libya will never forget the damages France has inflicted on this country.
The ministry spokesman also called on France to end steps that he said put the security and future of Libya, Syria and the eastern Mediterranean under risk and to enter into a dialogue with Turkey, a NATO ally.
Tensions between France and Turkey escalated following a June 10 incident between Turkish warships and a French naval vessel in the Mediterranean, which France considers a hostile act under NATOs rules of engagement. Turkey has denied harassing the French frigate.
France accused Ankara of repeated violations of the U.N. arms embargo on Libya.
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a NATO-backed uprising toppled leader Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 15:59:28|Editor: huaxia
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SANAA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi militia said they attacked Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.
"A military statement on the operation would be broadcast within hours," it said.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television cited a statement by the Saudi-led coalition forces as saying that they had "intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles and eight bomb-laden drones launched on Tuesday morning from Yemen by the Houthi militia towards the Saudi border regions of Jizan and Najran."
It was the latest in a series of cross-border attacks by the Yemeni Houthis against Saudi Arabia since the Yemeni civil war erupted five years ago.
Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in early 2015 to support Hadi's government.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million and pushed more than 20 million to the brink of starvation. Enditem
Air Force civilian cooks, who have to stay away from their families 28 days in a month including 14-day quarantine, cannot be permitted to return home after duty hours every day as they are likely to bring COVID-19 infection on reporting back for duty which will endanger the Air Force personnel, the Delhi High Court has said.
A bench of Justices Rajiv Sahai Endlaw and Asha Menon, conducting hearing through video conferencing, said the cooks cannot seek enforcement of employment terms as in the normal times when the entire country is going through abnormal situation.
The court passed the order while disposing of a petition by the All India Association of Air Force Civil Cooks in which they said that during the coronavirus pandemic, they are being made to live at the Air Force station of their posting and a roster of 14+14+7 is being followed.
For the first 14 days they are kept in quarantine, next 14 days they are made to work as cooks and thereafter, they are given 7 days to go home after which, the same roster commences, the plea said.
The plea contended that they are thus being forced to stay away from their homes for 28 days in a month and out of which, for 14 days their services are not utilised, by keeping them quarantined.
"It appears to us that the petition has been filed without regard to the prevalent circumstances and the large scale loss of employment and resultant hardships being faced by those without assurance of employment."
The members of the petitioner (association) though having surety of employment are making grievances of inconveniences allegedly being suffered by them, again forgetting that the members of the petitioner, as cooks, if permitted to return to their respective residences after duty hours every day, are likely to bring with them the COVID-19 infection, when reporting back for duty, endangering the personnel of the Air Force, the bench said.
The court said it was unable to see as to how the civilian cooks of the Air Force, who are described as Group C 'non-industrial employees of Air Force, are entitled to be treated as Corona Warriors' and the benefits thereof.
While working in the kitchen at the Air Force Stations, the members of the petitioner cannot be said to be exposed in any manner to the coronavirus, to claim themselves to be 'frontline workers' as the counsel for the petitioner argues. We are thus not satisfied that any ground for entertaining the petition is made out, it said.
The court also did not agree with the prayer that the cooks be allowed to quarantine for 14 days at their respective residences.
Regarding the petitioner's grievance that the cooks were being charged for their meals during their stay at the Air Force Stations, the court asked the authorities to explore a better arrangement for it or if the charges for the meals could be dispensed.
The counsel for the Central government said he has no instructions but will convey this order to the authorities to consider, in consultation with the cooks at each Station, whether any better arrangement as per exigencies can be worked out.
"We do not find any merit in the petition. We dispose of the same requesting the respondents to, either centrally or regionally or at each station, hold consultations with the representatives of the members of the petitioner and to explore if any other arrangement, satisfactory to the members of the petitioner, can be worked out. However merely because this direction has been issued, would not confer any right in the petitioner or its members," the bench said.
After months of restrictions on international travel, including a ban on most Europeans visiting the U.S. and vice-versa, the European Union is getting set start opening its borders again but Americans are not likely to be welcome for a while.
Even within the normally wide-open E.U., member nations have imposed restrictions on travel from one country to another. Some nations started to ease up on those bans for other Europeans in mid-June as the coronavirus situation eased on the continent, but Europeans are still faced with a patchwork of different rules for intra-regional trips, and the E.U. wants to end that.
The blocs goal is to make Europe a region of fully open borders for internal travel starting July 1. The E.U. also wants to start welcoming some non-European visitors next month, and according to The New York Times, officials there are currently trying to decide which foreign nationals should be allowed in and which ones should not, based mainly on how effective their governments have been in battling the coronavirus pandemic.
And given the failure of the U.S. to bring COVID-19 under control, with new cases continuing to surge in many states this month, the odds are that Americans will not be getting Welcome to Europe invitations any time soon. The same will likely be true for residents of other hard-hit countries like Brazil and Russia.
The prospect of a ban on American travelers by the EU is, "A stinging blow to American prestige in the world and a repudiation of President Trumps handling of the virus," according to The Times story.
For what its worth, the U.S. still restricts entry by European nationals, and is unlikely to lift that rule without reciprocal action for Americans by the E.U.
The Times notes that in the view of European leaders, "the imperatives of restoring the internal harmony of the E.U. and slowly opening up to the world are paramount, even if it threatens rifts with close allies including the United States, which appears bound to be excluded, at least initially."
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The newspaper said that Europes borders are most likely to reopen to nations that currently have a rate of new COVID-19 infections similar to Europes, which is 16 per 100,000 people over the past 14 days. The comparable rate for the U.S. is 107; its 80 for Russia and 190 for Brazil. The E.U. is likely to review the numbers every two weeks or so to decide whether to add more countries to its so-called "safe list." You can monitor changes to EU travel restrictions on the European Commission page here.
Greece jumped the gun last week by opening up its borders to all travelers, although arrivals from the U.S. and U.K., among other countries, are subject to mandatory coronavirus testing and a possible quarantine of one to two weeks after arrival. Anyway, its possible that Americans could still be allowed back into Europe later this summer or fall but it all depends on the numbers, and right now, theyre not looking good.
As Burkhard Kieker, the CEO of visitBerlin told SFGATE, "All Americans are very welcomed to Germany and especially to Berlin; however, these are times when decisions are not made from the heart but are based on scientific data. We truly hope that this situation be short term and are waiting for our American friends to return."
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One day after the ending of its temporary program to increase worker pay during the pandemic, H-E-B announced that it will make permanent investments in employees worth twice that amount over the next year including raises.
The company issued a statement Monday announcing that it will transition from the Texas Proud Pay program to "different long-term, permanent investments" in employees.
While H-E-B did not specify a dollar amount, the investments will include "accelerated and enhanced pay increases" for hourly workers, according to the release.
END OF AN ERA: Famed Houston restaurant announces it will operate one last year before closing
The company instituted paid medical leave for all workers, and promised pay for anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.
"We believe this crisis will be around for an indeterminate amount of time and our goal is to reward our Partners for their hard work and dedication with more than temporary bonuses," H-E-B said in the release.
The Texas Proud Pay program began in March as the pandemic spread through the state, giving H-E-B "partners," as the company calls its workers, a $2 per hour pay bump. It ended Sunday.
In its release Monday, H-E-B said the new permanent pay increases are worth more than twice that program for the average employee over the next year, and "considerably" more over the course of their career.
H-E-B said the move constitutes the largest pay increase in company history.
NEW BRITAIN, Conn., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) will broadcast its second quarter 2020 earnings conference call on Thursday, July 30, 2020. The call will begin at 8:00AM ET.
A news release outlining the financial results will be distributed before the market opens on Thursday, July 30, 2020. A slide presentation which will accompany the call will be available at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com and will remain available after the call.
The call and an accompanying slide presentation will be available through a live webcast on the "Investors" section of Stanley Black & Decker's website, www.stanleyblackanddecker.com under the subheading "News & Events." The event can also be accessed by telephone within the US at (877) 930-8285, from outside the U.S. at +1 (253) 336-8297. Please use the conference identification number 8870445. A replay will also be available two hours after the call and can be accessed on the "Investors" section of Stanley Black & Decker's website, or at (855) 859-2056 / +1 (404) 537-3406 using the passcode 8870445.
Stanley Black & Decker, an S&P 500 company, is a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, electronic security solutions, healthcare solutions, engineered fastening systems, and more. Learn more at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.
Stanley Black & Decker Investor Contacts
Dennis Lange
Vice President, Investor Relations
(860) 827-3833
[email protected]
Cort Kaufman
Director, Investor Relations
(860) 515-2741
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(Bloomberg) -- SoftBank Group Corp., under pressure to raise capital after record losses in its investment business, is unloading part of its stake in wireless carrier T-Mobile US Inc. in a $21 billion deal.
The transaction, along with a plan to sell a 5% stake in its Japanese wireless subsidiary, is part of a broader $42 billion push by SoftBank to unload assets to finance stock buybacks and pay down debt. Masayoshi Son, the companys founder, is dealing with steep losses in his Vision Fund after writing down the value of investments in the sharing economy from WeWork to Uber Technologies Inc.
SoftBanks shares gained as much as 3% in Tokyo. The Japanese investment giant will now turn its attention to other assets in its portfolio and may pursue an outright sale of part of its stake in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Son has said $11.5 billion raised from issuing contracts to sell stock in Asias largest corporation was a first step toward unwinding more of its holdings.
SoftBank needs to further enhance its cash reserves, the Japanese company said in a statement on Tuesday, citing concerns for a second and third wave of spread of Covid-19. The company may invest the proceeds in high-quality securities until they are used for buybacks or debt reductions, it added.
Read more: SoftBank Wraps Up $4.7 Billion Share Buyback in Three Months
The Japanese company is trying to shore up a balance sheet devastated by writedowns that triggered a record 1.9 trillion yen ($18 billion) loss last fiscal year at the Vision Fund. As concerns about investments mounted, Son responded with share repurchases in rapid succession, completing a $4.7 billion buyback program in just three months.
As part of a complex series of transactions unveiled Tuesday, T-Mobile will hold a public offering of 133.5 million shares of its common stock, the carrier said in a statement. It also will grant the underwriters 10 million shares. Additionally, T-Mobile intends to sell as many as 30 million common shares to a Delaware statutory trust.
Story continues
Five million shares will be sold to an entity controlled by Marcelo Claure, a SoftBank executive and T-Mobile board member, with funding coming from SoftBank. And T-Mobile will have the right to buy almost 20 million shares. Altogether, as many as 198.3 million shares owned by SoftBank will be transferred.
SoftBank secured the stake in T-Mobile US just this year, after U.S. regulators approved the American wireless carriers $26.5 billion takeover of Sprint Corp. T-Mobiles market value is about $132 billion.
Read more: SoftBanks Vision Fund Loses $17.7 Billion on WeWork, Uber (2)
T-Mobile stock closed at $106.60 Monday in New York, putting the value of the 198 million shares at about $21 billion. They had been up 36% this year through Mondays close.
Both companies had said earlier they are discussing a possible deal. Even before the transaction, Deutsche Telekom AG was the controlling shareholder of T-Mobile due to how voting rights were structured following the Sprint deal.
The stock offering, due to trade June 24, will be overseen by Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley, Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Barclays Plc, Bank of America Corp., Deutsche Bank AG and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. PJT Partners served as financial adviser to T-Mobiles board. SoftBank said it will pay T-Mobile $300 million as part of the transaction and will cover all fees and expenses related to the deal.
(Updates with SoftBanks shares from the third paragraph)
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A positive finding in any of the cases could dramatically rewrite the narrative of COVID-19 in the United States. Researchers tracking the virus' genetic mutations peg its jump from an unknown animal host to humans as occurring in November. China's first documented illnesses began in early December. Loading It was well into March before most California coroners and medical examiners began to routinely test decedents who fell under their jurisdiction for COVID-19, using now-familiar nasal swab tests that must be done within days of death. Even then, testing is limited to a fraction of cases those who had symptoms of respiratory failure, travelled to China or died without witness. Checking for missed cases of COVID-19 requires examining preserved tissue, a test available only through the CDC. It took months for CDC pathologists to realise the virus had already killed people in the United States in early February. At the time, US health officials believed they could control the virus spread by monitoring international travellers and isolating a dozen known infected individuals in California and four other states.
DeLap, 39, worked as a house painter in Basalt, Colorado, near the Aspen ski area. He returned to his inland Riverside County hometown for Christmas, and was at the home of his roommate's parents in nearby Orange County on January 3 when he became sick. He thought the cause was something he ate the night before. "He was having trouble breathing and I told him he should try and go to the urgent care," Cortez said. "He told me he'd talk to me later and he went and [lay] down." He was found dead in bed hours later, his lungs filled with fluid and his body still burning from fever. The Orange County coroner ruled DeLap's death the result of severe acute lobar pneumonia, one lung so congested it had doubled in weight. But the coroner did not identify the organism infecting DeLap. The thought that it might have been the coronavirus haunted Cortez as she heard story after story of similar deaths. DeLap was an organ donor, so four weeks ago Cortez called the organisation that received his tissue to ask if they would test it for COVID-19.
Unknown to Cortez, the Orange County coroner harboured similar questions. DeLap's death is among nine cases from late December to March the county has asked the California Department of Public Health to consider. The deceased range in age from 33 to 61, and include an elderly homeless man found in his campervan and a surfer who collapsed. Initial autopsies attributed their deaths to congested lungs, pneumonia or blood clots. If the state agency agrees, the cases will be forwarded to the CDC for more review before preserved tissue is tested for COVID-19. Los Angeles County's medical examiner has forwarded nine cases for review but county lawyers blocked the release of details. The CDC is limiting California to just eight to 10 test cases a week. Credit:Bloomberg After the CDC confirmed a Silicon Valley tech worker's death on February 6 as the US's first known COVID-19 fatality, Newsom called on medical examiners statewide to hunt for missed cases extending back to mid-December. But the CDC is limiting California a state of 39 million people to just eight to 10 cases a week. The state health department has stepped in as a gatekeeper between county morgues and the federal lab.
Such restrictions did not exist before the COVID-19 pandemic. They are new to Dr Deirdre Amaro, the Shasta County sheriff's forensic pathologist who relies on the CDC lab for infectious disease analysis when someone dies inexplicably in her rugged, deeply forested Northern California county. People wearing protective masks walk down the stairs on Pier 39 in San Francisco, California. The state recorded a jump in reported cases this week. Credit:Bloomberg Amaro was jolted this winter by the back-to-back deaths of two children, one an infant, and local accounts of other sick children. She called a January 29 meeting with county health and hospital officials. She remembers someone in the room theorising that it was a "bad year" for respiratory syncytial virus, usually referred to as RSV. It is a common childhood disease that seldom kills. "Since I've been here ... we have never had sequential cases that are paediatric deaths. I do NOT want to practice forensic pathology in a setting where that is the norm," Amaro said. "The emotional/psychological toll is too great."
She had already sent tissue from one of those paediatric deaths to the CDC for testing when the California health department set up hurdles. She has since sought virus testing for another paediatric death and is awaiting a decision on whether the CDC will accept the cases. Early reports out of China and California suggested COVID-19 had very low infection rates among children. Loading "What has emerged now, the experience we've had on the East Coast and in Europe has been markedly different," said Dr Roberta Lynn DeBiasi, chief of the paediatric division at Children's National Hospital in Washington and a co-author of several studies on COVID-19 and children. DeBiasi is among researchers who in May began documenting growing numbers of hospitalised children with COVID-19 and symptoms normally associated with an otherwise rare inflammatory illness called Kawasaki disease. Some had high fever, joint pain and rashes. Others had abdominal pain. An alarming number show organ failure and heart damage, DeBiasi said.
Amid those reports, a California health department physician called Amaro, who in addition to her department's own two deaths told her of others two infants sent from Shasta County to hospitals in Sacramento. Dr Chante Buntin, the state health department medical consultant, wrote to Sacramento County's coroner expressing interest in infants and children who died with what might have been "COVID-like symptoms, Kawasaki-like symptoms in California during the period of December to present." Sacramento County's coroner has sent a single case to the CDC for testing but would not provide further details. California has no confirmed child deaths from COVID-19. The CDC in early April listed three suspected virus-related deaths of children nationwide, but has since not updated that information. The federal health agency has, however, alerted paediatricians to watch for signs of what it now calls "multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children," or MIS-C. The state Health Department's press office defended the state's reliance on the CDC and the federal agency's 10-case weekly limit. Medical examiners in other states are not only testing many more dead, but using other methods such as postmortem testing for antibodies.
The state agency's press office said the CDC testing is "highly specialised and requires careful validation." San Diego officials said that a review of more than 700 deaths turned up none that met the state's written criteria deaths from December 17 to March 16, with signs of respiratory failure, fever or cough, or known exposure to COVID-19 or international travel. San Mateo County, a part of Silicon Valley home to California's earliest COVID-19 cases, identified one suspect death. According to agency emails, a county pathologist checked the freezer for tissue to send to the CDC, and discovered the samples had been "tossed" along with tissue from everyone else who died prior to March 11.
For those having high hopes for antibodies as a shield against COVID-19, a Chinese study discovered that antibodies may not be as effective as we hoped.
While looking for a coronavirus cure, researchers are using antibodies hoping to unlock their long-lasting benefits for COVID-19 patients. But it seems that it is not the case, as the antibodies in the recovered patients have drastically reduced in 2 to 3 months according to Reuters.
Antibodies may not hold the cure
This was true for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients that were concluded in a study by Chinese researchers. If immunity for the coronavirus is brief and it declines within months, this means that discovering a vaccine fast is truly vital. Hopes of creating a vaccine from anti-bodies is now under re-examination.
For a while, researchers have been harvesting plasma from recovered patients to get the precious antibodies, that apparently they will need replenishment.
According to the study that was recently published on Nature Medicine, combating this highly-communicable disease will be effective with continued social distancing measures. This includes the separation of high-risk individuals from the general population as well.
It should be noted that in Germany, there is a move to argue over permitting anyone with an incidence of anti-bodies to move about. This is an effort to guard against transmission of the COVID-19.
Also read: Anti-Body Based COVID-19 Drugs May Have More Advantages Than Drug Based-Cures Like Hydroxychloroquine
Antibody study yields surprising results
The objective of the study is the observation of patients that were symptomatic and asymptomatic, and both categories had 37 subjects each. During the course of the study, those who tested positive for amounts of the IgG antibody were cited.
These IgG antibodies were produced after the body encountered the COVID-19. Evidence points out that 90% had reductions in antibodies that will lessen in 2-3 months after infection, as reported by Tribune India.
One of the observations from the researchers is the decrease of antibodies is more than 70%, which includes both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. As of now, researchers are still trying to figure out why the antibodies are decreasing for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
In the case of neutralizing serum antibodies, the middle percentage of the reduction in symptomatic individuals is 11.7%, but asymptomatic individuals would be at 8.3%.
The research was done by scientists at Chongqing Medical University. Jin Dong-Yan, a virology professor from the University of Hong Kong, was also a part of the group that conducted the study. He said that even if antibodies were limited, there might be elements of the immune system that will protect from COVID-19, according to Plataforma.
If infected, some cells will know how to deal with pathogens. The second round of infections will elicit an immunological response. Most of the data is new and scientists are still finding out how to deal with the coronavirus.
More studies are revealing how the COVID-19 works and how to stop the infection from getting more virulent.
Related topic: The Best Way to Detect Anti-Bodies Are Blood Tests to See the True Scale of the Coronavirus Pandemic
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A federal judge has denied Trump's attempt to block the publication of John Bolton's tell-all book. John Bolton was Trump's former national security adviser who spilled about what the Trump administration did in the White House for the past four years.
The distribution will proceed
Judge Royce Lamberth of the DC District Court wrote in a 10-page decision on June 20. He stated that the Justice Department's arguments were not enough to justify the desire to stop the release of Bolton's book. He cited how the book had already been widely distributed and it could easily be distributed further on the internet even if the court decides that it could not be.
Judge Lamberth also noted that John Bolton could still be exposed to criminal liability. Before he departed for his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, President Trump praised Judge Lamberth and said that the judge was indignant at what Bolton did. He said that he thinks that the judge was smart and the ruling was great.
The judge criticized Bolton for proceeding with the publication of the tell-all book before he got any approval. Lamberth said that Bolton did not undergo the proper review process and he immediately went into the publication and distribution of the book, stating that Bolton is after the sales and the publicity.
On June 19, a day before the judge's decision was released, Lamberth met with the lawyers of the Trump administration and Bolton's team. CNN reported that the hearing went on for almost 2 hours, and according to Judge Lamberth, Trump's lawyers convinced him that the sensitive national security information was still included in Bolton's book.
The judge's decision came on June 20 because he waited for additional details from the Justice Department. Lamberth then wrote that after reviewing the classified materials, the Court was persuaded that Bolton jeopardized national security because he disclosed classified information in violation of his nondisclosure agreement obligations.
Also Read: Fact Check: Did Trump Tweet a Doctored Video of a 'Racist Baby'?
Because of this, a reviewer from the National Security Council will remove all classified information from the book before it gets published. However, the White House still deemed the book to be confidential since there are still details on the book that is classified information.
On June 20, after the decision was given, Trump posted on Twitter that even though the book will be published, Bolton will still face the consequences of violating his nondisclosure agreement. Trump called it a "big court win."
In a separate statement, the White House stated that the Government will hold Bolton accountable for his actions and they will make sure that he won't get any profit from the sales of the book. They added that was Bolton did was shameful because he placed his desire for publicity and money ahead of his obligation to protect national security.
Tell-all book
Bolton made stunning accusations against President Trump, claiming that he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help him win the upcoming 2020 US presidential election. Bolton also said that Trump supports China's concentration camps.
Several news outlets were able to obtain copies of the book before its worldwide release because before the Justice Department sued, Bolton's publisher, Simon & Shuster, had already distributed 200,000 copies domestically. Thousands more were distributed in Australia, Canada, India, and the UK.
Related Article: Fact Check: All Trump's Claims on His Tulsa Rally That May Have Been Misleading
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Despite being told she'd never play again, Lisa Spector didn't give up on her music
Much like surgeons, musicians livelihoods depend on their hands; the dexterity required to perform beautiful, moving music requires healthy, strong, flexible fingers. Tragically, when musicians severely injure their fingers and hands, they often give up their instrument altogether. But Lisa Spector, a professional pianist from Half Moon Bay, California, learned to adapt and kept on playing following her own traumatic accident.
The piano has been a lifelong love. From the first moment she first heard her mother play, Spector was hooked.
I just heard these sounds coming out, and it was like a magnet to my fingers, said Spector, who has been playing since she was seven.
Spector took to piano quickly, eventually attending Juilliard before receiving her graduate degree from the University of Southern California. She has fond memories of playing both domestically and abroad during her 35-year professional career.
A Young Pianist
On her 17th birthday, Spector won a local concerto competition and had the opportunity to play at a three-night concert with a 3,000-strong audience. In her early 20s, she won both the New York and Los Angeles Chopin competitions in graduate school. She also had the opportunity to play abroad in China, Poland, Spain, France, and Italy.
Lisa Spector has been playing piano since she was seven years old. (Courtesy of Farha Akhtar)
In Spain she was able to visit the place on the island of Mallorca where composer Chopin wrote much of his music. She also had the chance to perform with an orchestra in China in 1994 in front of 23,000 people.
It was like an extravaganza where I brought four gowns, and I had costume changes. I had a bodyguard because I was swarmed on stage afterwards, not because of my name, but just because I was American. At that time, that was novel. That was new to them, so that definitely stood out as an unusual experience, Spector recalled.
In 1997, Spector became an entrepreneur and opened her own music school. She taught students ages 4 to 94, and had a faculty that taught a variety of instruments. During the same time, she was creating music to relieve anxiety in dogs. For a while she found herself juggling too many projects at once and her concert career took a back seat.
It would be years before a traumatic accident drove her to return to performing.
The Fall
On June 27, 2017, Spector was walking outside of a shopping mall when she tripped over a curb. She was holding a water bottle in her right hand, and the way she fell crushed her right hand and fingers. The fall happened so rapidly that she thought her fingers had fallen off.
How am I ever going to play piano again? was the first thought that went through Spectors mind after falling.
During surgery, doctors discovered she had seven complex fractures in her right hand and fingers. Her first hand therapist told her she would never play the piano again. However, she learned to become her own health advocate and underwent a variety of both Western and Eastern therapies.
Lisa Spector has been playing professionally for 35 years. (Courtesy of Photogra-V)
Sometime during the six weeks after her surgery, Spector started to learn how to play short pieces with her left hand if only to keep her passion alive. She was at a party, and someone asked her to play. She played a short prelude with her left hand, and someone approached her after she finished.
A guitarist with tears in his eyes told her that he hadnt touched his instrument in three years because of arthritis in one of his fingers. He told her that watching her play with her left hand only made him realize he didnt have any excuses and told her he was going to pick up the guitar again.
That was so memorable because that really provided the impetus for my theme that Ive created to just play on. Play on no matter what because you just never know whos going to be affected and how its going to change their life, Spector said.
Lisa Spector smiles during a performance. (Courtesy of Photogra-V)
Spector soon discovered that half of injured musicians give up their instruments, and was determined to make music any way she could.
Thats when I realized it only looks like I play piano with my fingers. I really make music with my heart, she said.
Adapting
Playing with only her left hand came with a variety of challenges. She had trouble maintaining her balance. For the first several months, the left side of her body ached; she was building strength but had to take breaks frequently. She was no longer able to use the middle C note on the keyboard as a reference point, so it was easy to find herself in the wrong octave.
Normally, one would play the melody with the right hand, but Spector was now forced to play both the melody and the harmony with her left hand. The experience made her realize that she might not become a better technician, but she knew shed become a better musician.
So Id had some very challenging, fun, creative music challenges, and I believe that alone has really made me a better musician because its caused me to listen to myself more creatively, Spector said.
Lisa Spector bows before an audience. (Courtesy of Photogra-V)
As she had different casts removed and replaced, she gradually began playing with her available right fingers. She continues to work on her right hand and has learned how to adapt her technique for certain pieces of music. The transition back to playing with both hands has been euphoric for Spector.
It was a high. It was the best high in the world, she said.
Now Spector is in the middle of self-editing her memoir Left Hand Lemonade: A Musicians Journey from Tragedy to Triumph. Shes also currently performing a live concert series on Facebook entitled Left Hand Lemonade Live With Lisa Spector, which features a reading from her memoir and left-handed, right-handed, and ambidextrous piano playing, at 6 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday nights. The live concerts have been met with tremendously positive responses.
You hold our hearts while you play, one viewer commented. Your concert was the best thing Ive seen since the crisis began. I was in tears at several points, said another.
The comments Im getting are so wonderful because theyre all about how much Im inspiring people, and Im telling my stories of resilience at a time where its really helping people, Spector said.
The prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann was not interviewed by police in 2007 because he was not at home when officers knocked on his door, a former lead detective has claimed.
Christian Bruckner was one of 600 people of interest investigated by police in the wake of Madeleine's disappearance, but officers who were dispatched to speak with the convicted paedophile returned with no information and never followed him up.
In a television interview, Goncalo Amaral, the controversial police chief who blamed the McCanns for Madeleine's disappearance, admitted that it was not possible to investigate every potential perpetrator in enough detail.
"I have been told that, yes, they had come knocking on the door, that person [Bruckner] was not at home," he told the Portuguese TV channel TVI. Amaral was taken off the McCann case for a series of crucial mistakes including not securing the crime scene properly, and launching a bungled investigation into Madeleine's parents, which was dropped after eight months.
Defending his force's missed opportunity with Bruckner, Mr Amaral said: "We are doing a survey of people known for theft, namely thefts in apartments. And apparently this man was not on the list of thefts in apartments; he had stolen fuel."
By May 2007, when Madeleine went missing, Bruckner had spent eight months in prison for siphoning 321 litres of diesel out of parked lorries in the nearby town of Portimao. He had one other charge of civil disobedience on his criminal record in Portugal.
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But last week it emerged that as he stood trial for the fuel theft, he told a judge that he had historic child sex convictions in Germany from when he was a teenager. This was apparently never passed on to police, so the officers investigating Madeleine's disappearance had no idea that a convicted paedophile had been living a kilometre from her apartment.
Amaral also claimed that Bruckner was being made a "scapegoat", German authorities had doctored photos of his campervan and that the McCanns were liars.
"He's an almost perfect suspect, or scapegoat. All that's missing for him to become the perfect suspect is for him to be dead," said Mr Amaral.
When asked if he thought the German had taken Madeleine he said: "To answer that question it has to be proven first that an abduction took place." He also pointed to his own photo of the VW Westfalia campervan which was covered in stickers and drawings on the side, which he claimed was taken in Portugal.
"I think it's important to ask why the photo put out by the authorities of the van was altered. Would that vehicle have gone unnoticed in Praia da Luz with those markings on it? I don't think so."
It was noted that the van may well have looked different in 2007.
Yesterday, it emerged that Bruckner was also the registered owner of a white Mercedes-Benz 205D van and a grey Opel Ascona when Madeleine went missing. The whereabouts of both vehicles is unknown but neither is thought to have been examined by forensic experts.
Bruckner has now been linked to six vehicles, with only three searched by police. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
Detail from the poster for The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run. (Paramount)
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, the latest big screen SpongeBob outing, will skip cinemas and launch digitally instead.
The third film based on Stephen Hillenburgs hit Nickelodeon cartoon was due in cinemas on 31 July, but today Paramount has confirmed it will no longer be distributing the film theatrically in the UK and has removed the title from its slate.
This follows news out of North America that The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will be made available on premium digital rental services (iTunes etc) early 2021 over there, before streaming exclusively on CBS All Access, the streaming platform of Paramounts parent company ViacomCBS.
CBS All Access, which is unavailable in the UK, is the home of Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard and The Good Fight.
A spokesperson for Paramount UK tells Yahoo it is currently re-formulating plans for international distribution.
In the past Paramount has enjoyed a healthy relationship with Netflix, with a number of its titles The Lovebirds, The Cloverfield Paradox being offloaded to the streaming service in lieu of a theatrical release. Beverly Hills Cop 4 is also heading to Netflix rather than receiving theatrical distribution from the studio. Aaron Sorkins The Trial of the Chicago 7 could also end up at Netflix.
Written and directed by Tim Hill, Sponge on the Run is set to be the first fully CGI SpongeBob film and will see SpongeBob and Patrick embarking on an epic adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to bring his kidnapped pet snail Gary home.
Hans Zimmer has overseen the music for the film which is being touted as a musical, and fans will get to see the beloved characters as children for the first time ever when it visits Camp Coral, the summer camp where they all met.
It also features cameos from Keanu Reeves, Awkwafina and Snoop Dogg.
Fans first heard her deliver the hilariously deadpan response in an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashian's in 2018.
And Kourtney Kardashian provided major nostalgia on Monday by reenacting that now iconic scene on Tik Tok with one of the app's biggest stars, Addison Rae, 19.
In the short clip, the 41-year-old POOSH founder donned a luxurious grey robe and held a cocktail glass in her hand as she mouthed her famous quip.
Nostalgia: Kourtney Kardashian provided major nostalgia on Monday by reenacting a scene from KUWTK on Tik Tok with one of the app's biggest stars, Addison Rae, 19
Kardashian had her rave toned tresses parted in the center and appeared to be wearing minimal makeup.
Addison was seated next to Kourtney and sported a pink version of her luxe, feather-clad robe.
'I mean I feel fine. I just cry myself to sleep every night,' mouthed Kourtney.
She quickly tossed her hair back and took a sip from her glass.
Luxurious: In the short clip, the 41-year-old POOSH founder donned a luxurious grey robe and held a cocktail glass in her hand as she mouthed her famous quip
Fine: 'I mean I feel fine. I just cry myself to sleep every night,' mouthed Kourtney
'Yeah, that's TOTALLY normal,' mouthed Addison in reply, as she shrugged repeatedly.
The Tik Tok - uploaded to Kourtney's personal page - has since amassed 1.3million views and has been 'hearted' nearly 400,000 times.
This was not Kourtney's first Tik Tok video with Addison Rae, the unlikely duo uploaded two videos together to Addison's page this past Saturday.
In season 15 of Keeping Up With The Kardashian's, the now retired reality star had admitted to 'crying herself to sleep' as a result of hormonal fluctuations she was experiencing from 'doing the shots for egg freezing.'
Totally: 'Yeah, that's TOTALLY normal,' mouthed Addison in reply, as she shrugged repeatedly
Not their first rodeo: This was not Kourtney's first Tik Tok video with Addison Rae, the unlikely duo uploaded two videos together to Addison's page this past Saturday
'I've been so up and down emotional because I've been doing the shots for egg freezing. And it's, like, crazy. I feel like I want to jump out of my skin! Like, I'm so crazy. I just -- I can't take it,' explained Kourtney in the episode.
'I think everything was just really heightened and some days I would feel so anxious,. It's just very emotional. So that, I think, is the hard part.'
'I mean, I feel fine. I just cry myself to sleep every night. Honestly, I don't know if I'm going to have more kids. I just feel like it's just for safety,' concluded the mother of three.
Context: In season 15 of Keeping Up With The Kardashian's, the now retired reality star had admitted to 'crying herself to sleep' as a result of hormonal fluctuations she was experiencing from 'doing the shots for egg freezing'
Up and Down: 'I've been so up and down emotional because I've been doing the shots for egg freezing. And it's, like, crazy. I feel like I want to jump out of my skin! Like, I'm so crazy. I just -- I can't take it,' explained Kourtney in the episode
Kourtney shares her three children, daughter Penelope, seven, and sons Mason, 10, and Reign, five, with her ex Scott Disick, 37.
The family of five are currently vacationing at Kim and Kanye's lavish $14 million ranch in Wyoming amid COVID-19.
And on Monday, Kourtney caused a major stir online when she was seen wearing one of Disick's shirts in a slew of glamorous portraits she shared to Instagram.
Scott - who is newly single - could not help but tease fans with a flirty comment, telling the mother of his children 'Cute shirt.'
Stir: And on Monday, Kourtney caused a major stir online when seen wearing one of Disick's shirts in a slew of glamorous portraits she shared to Instagram
Cute shirt: Scott - who is newly single - could not help but tease fans with a flirty comment, telling the mother of his children 'Cute shirt'
Disick broke up with his girlfriend of three-years Sofia Richie, 21, last month.
While it's not unusual for Scott to join Kourtney and their kids on trips away, fans of the pair are going wild with speculation they may be getting back together.
Kourtney honored Scott on Father's Day by posting a family portrait and expressing how 'thankful' she is for him.
'Happy Father's Day, thankful for you and these three special ones,' captioned the brunette beauty on Sunday.
PHOENIX The House Ethics Committee chairman is weighing whether to hold hearings into its investigation of state Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, assuming the matter gets that far.
State Rep. John Allen, R-Scottsdale, said he is still reviewing the evidence presented by outside investigators as well as the response submitted by Cooks attorneys. That response, in particular, demanded a full hearing.
If you dont, then you will make the House a country club, where only those who are in the majority get to determine who sits and who doesnt, wrote attorneys Dennis Wilenchik and Carmen Chenal Horne on Cooks behalf.
Allen said there are issues to be resolved about how to handle the two basic complaints against Cook.
The first, in essence, stems from allegations Cook had a romantic relationship with AnnaMarie Knorr, who was a lobbyist with the Western Growers Association, a relationship he did not disclose.
The second is that Cook called Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb to discuss a pending sale of property in which Knorr had an interest due to unpaid taxes.
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on the occasion of his birthday, the Armenian Presidents Office told Armenpress.
The Russian Presidents congratulatory letter reads:
Dear Mr. President,
I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday.
Russia highly values your active interest in the development of the Russian-Armenian allied relations. I am convinced that the further expansion of the bilateral constructive cooperation, the partnering cooperation within the Eurasian integration processes are in accordance with the fundamental interests of our brotherly peoples.
Dear Mr. President, I sincerely wish you good health, welfare and success in your state activity.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
We are excited to have been chosen as the recipient of these handmade masks. This thoughtful donation will help us stay safe and healthy as we care for all those who come to us during this unprecedented time, said Octavia Bonds, community relations coordinator, OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center.
Saudi pressures former intelligence officials family, seeks access to documents FILE PHOTO: Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz attends the 14th Islamic summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Mecca
LONDON (Reuters) - As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved to tighten his grip on power over the past few years, detaining senior royals and opponents, one person has eluded him: a former top-ranking intelligence official who was close to a key rival to the throne.
In recent months, the crown prince -- known by the initials MbS -- has increased pressure on relatives of Saad al-Jabri, including detaining his adult children, to try to force his return to the kingdom from exile in Canada, the former intelligence officials family say. In the crown princes sights are documents Jabri has access to that contain sensitive information, according to four people with knowledge of the situation.
Jabri was a long-time aide to Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who the crown prince ousted as heir to the throne in a 2017 palace coup that left MbS the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter and a key U.S. ally.
Saudi authorities detained bin Nayef and two other senior royals on March 6, the latest in a series of extraordinary measures seen aimed at consolidating MbSs strength within the ruling Al Saud family and removing perceived threats to his power ahead of an eventual succession upon the kings death or abdication.
Multiple top Interior Ministry officials were also detained in March, said two of the people with knowledge of the situation - both well-connected Saudis.
Days after bin Nayefs detention, according to Jabris family, Saudi authorities arrested two of his children, 21-year old Omar and 20-year old Sarah, in a dawn raid on the family home in the capital Riyadh. That was followed by the detention of the former intelligence officials brother in early May, the family said. Three of the people with knowledge of the situation confirmed Jabris relatives had been detained.
According to the four people with knowledge of the situation, the crown prince believes he could use the documents in Jabris possession against current rivals for the throne. He also fears they contain additional information that could compromise him and his father, the king, the four people said.
Story continues
The documents include information on bin Nayefs assets abroad, which also potentially could be useful to MbS in putting pressure on his predecessor, said the two well-connected Saudis and a former regional security official. Jabri also has access to sensitive files relating to the financial dealings of senior royals, including King Salman and MbS, said one of the well-connected Saudi sources, the former regional security official and a diplomat.
The diplomat said some of the information related to land deals and transactions, without elaborating beyond saying that they related to King Salman during his time as governor of Riyadh, a position he held for nearly four decades prior to his 2015 ascension to the throne.
One of the well-connected Saudi sources said the crown prince wants to press charges against bin Nayef relating to allegations of corruption during bin Nayefs time at the Ministry of Interior. Reuters was unable to determine the details of those allegations.
"They have long wanted Jabri as the right-hand man of MbN, the person said, referring to bin Nayef.
The Saudi government has not confirmed or publicly commented on the seizure of Jabri's children or his brother, Abdulrahman al-Jabri. The Saudi government media office did not respond to detailed questions from Reuters about the detentions or the reasons behind them.
Jabris family and one of the well-connected Saudis said Saudi authorities had accused Jabri of corruption but did not elaborate on the nature of the allegations. The family says the allegations are false.
Saad al-Jabri declined to comment via his son.
Reuters couldnt determine where bin Nayef and the other two princes are being held and was unable to reach them for comment.
A U.S. official said Washington had raised the issue of detention of the children with the Saudi leadership. The official added that many U.S. government officials had worked directly with Jabri over a long period of time and that he had been a very, very strong counterterrorism partner.
A second U.S. official in Washington said the United States was in contact with Jabris family in Canada and were exploring ways to assist.
We are deeply concerned by reports of the al Jabri childrens detention and would strongly condemn any unjust persecution of family members whatever the allegations against Saad Al-Jabri may be, the official said.
Canada was also concerned about the detention of Jabris children, said Syrine Khoury, a spokeswoman for Canadas foreign ministry. She didnt elaborate on whether Canada was taking specific steps.
HE HAD ALL THE FILES ON EVERYTHING
For nearly two decades, Saad al-Jabri had worked closely with bin Nayef, helping to overhaul the kingdoms intelligence and counterterrorism operations and building close ties with Western officials.
He had all the files on everything and everybody," said the former regional security official. Jabri coordinated relations between Saudi intelligence and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, the former official said. The CIA declined to comment.
When King Salman ascended the throne in January 2015, he appointed Jabri to a cabinet-level position. Bin Nayef became crown prince in April 2015. Jabri's son, Khalid al-Jabri, said that at that time the relationship between his father and MbS was initially really good but the relationship soon soured, spurred by opponents close to MbS who alleged that Jabri was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. The family strongly denies it.
Four months later, in August 2015, Jabri learned he had been fired from his post via a state television announcement, said Khalid Al-Jabri, who now lives in Canada along with his father.
Saad al-Jabri became a personal advisor to MbN, a position he held until the royal was deposed as crown prince and removed as head of the interior ministry in June 2017. The two well-connected Saudis and the diplomat described Jabri as fiercely loyal to MbN.
Since 2017, when Jabri moved to Canada, Saudi authorities have made repeated attempts to lure the former intelligence official back to the kingdom, both directly and through interlocutors, Khalid Al-Jabri told Reuters.
He added that his siblings had been barred from leaving Saudi Arabia for more than two years prior to their detention and were questioned by authorities on more than one occasion regarding their father. The crown prince had made an offer in 2017 to Jabri senior to allow the children to travel in exchange for his return, he said.
The family said they dont know where Jabris children are being held and arent able to reach them. Every time we ask people inside (Saudi Arabia), weve been told MbS is handling their detention himself. Dont bother asking for details, Khalid Al-Jabri said.
LOBBYING WASHINGTON
Jabris deep knowledge of some of the kingdom's most sensitive information, coupled with his popularity in Western political circles and among some long-serving Saudi security officials, made him a target, according to his son, the diplomat, the former regional security official and a former Western intelligence source.
The diplomat said Jabri could be perceived as a threat to MbS if U.S. President Donald Trump, who defended strategic defence and energy ties with the kingdom during the global uproar over Khashoggi's death, failed to win re-election. The White House declined to comment.
The family said it is lobbying U.S. lawmakers for help. Senators Marco Rubio and Patrick Leahy have spoken with the family, according to their offices. Members of Congress are concerned that two young people have disappeared after being seized by Saudi state security forces, said Tim Rieser, senior foreign policy aide to Democratic Senator Leahy. It seems that theyre being used as hostages to try and coerce their father to return to Saudi Arabia, he said. He added that the Senators office is seeking information about their whereabouts and calling for their release.
The crown prince is officially next in line to the throne to his 85-year old father, King Salman. His efforts to diversify the kingdoms economy away from its heavy reliance on oil and lift social restrictions, including on women, were welcomed by many Western officials and Saudis. But the crown prince has also drawn criticism for attempts to silence dissidents and marginalize rivals. He came under international criticism over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdoms Istanbul consulate, which the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has said the crown prince ordered.
The crown prince has denied ordering Khashoggis killing but said he ultimately bears full responsibility as the kingdoms de facto leader.
Saudi watchers and diplomats said that MbS has grown increasingly concerned with his standing, both at home and abroad following the Khashoggi killing. Some members of Saudi Arabias ruling family and business elite expressed frustration with his leadership following the largest-ever attack on the kingdoms oil infrastructure in September, as Reuters previously reported.
There is also discontent at home, where the economy has been struck hard by the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices, leading to austerity measures. The crown prince nevertheless still has staunch supporters and is popular among young Saudis for opening up the conservative kingdom and pledging to diversify the economy.
(Editing by Cassell Bryan-Low and Jason Szep)
Black parents have always dealt with the added burden of talking to their children about racism but some are now struggling with whether to broach the topic sooner, says the founder of a parenting group.
Tanya Hayles of Toronto-based Black Moms Connection said some members are starting to talk to their kids as early as age four because of what theyve been called on the playground.
She said global outrage following George Floyds death in the United States spurred her to start being more open with her seven-year-old son, Jackson, though shes feared losing the innocence of a child who still believes in the tooth fairy.
He attends a school where Hayles said there may be only one other Black student, adding her son would likely be targeted even in schools with a diverse student population, such as the Toronto-area Peel District School Board, which has been accused of systemic racism.
On Monday, Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce appointed a supervisor to the board following two recent reports on widespread anti-Black racism, including one that showed a lack of action by administrators.
The second report, by a human rights advocate, found that while Black students make up 10.2 per cent of the secondary school population, they account for about 22.5 per cent of students receiving suspensions, in some cases for wearing hoodies or hoop earrings.
Hayles said she has told her son he will be judged differently than other students because of his skin colour, long before he gets to high school, so she is preparing herself to delve deeper into what he could expect.
He does not get to get away with the same things that his classmates do, he has to be mindful of that. It probably went in one ear and out the other, Hayles said.
I know that talk that Black parents have always had to have with their kids is inevitable. Im not going to be able to avoid having it, she said.
Hayles said she fears her son and his Black friends will be followed and harassed by security in malls, so she will tell him not to loiter in them, and she has concerns about him being targeted by police when he is driving.
Eventually hes going to be 16 and driving, and Im going to have to have a conversation with him about that, she said.
The talk will focus heavily on the need to answer questions respectfully and know his rights, Hayles said.
Dont escalate, dont raise your voice, dont hide your hands, dont run.
Hayles said many non-Black parents might be having uncomfortable conversations about racism with their children because anti-Black racism education in their schools may be limited or non-existent.
Its up to parents to ensure their kids are exposed to other cultures including through the types of books they read, the movies they watch or the friends they have, she said.
If your circle is only white people and their circle is only white people then of course they have no understanding of how to interact with Black people because you have not made sure their circle is as diverse as the country they live in.
Stephanie Okoli, 20, of Calgary said shell be tasked with having the racism talk with her 12-year-old brother, Emmanuel.
It hasnt come up because its a hurtful conversation but hes getting to that age where it could happen to him and hes a little big for his age, so its very stressful, she said.
I got the talk from my brother, she said of an experience when she was in high school.
But even that wasnt concise. He just texted me one day and said, Be careful. If the police stop you just do what they say and dont talk. And that was that.
The RCMP in British Columbia released a statement last week from Sgt. Maj. Sebastien Lavoie, a half-Black officer, who said his heart broke for George Floyd when he saw the video of the officer in Minneapolis with his knee on the mans neck but also for every officer that has sacrificed so much for the collective good.
Lavoie urged officers to understand that society is heartbroken, angry and unable to take the emotional step back.
Lavoie said in an interview that the public immediately concluded the white officers actions were based on racism.
What if this guy did that to a white guy? Could this guy be a jerk? Does he have to be racist? he asked.
He said bias against police is the only acceptable bias now, adding acts of racism by police in the United States cant be equated to police in Canada.
The RCMP has provided cultural sensitivity training to its officers and increased diversity among its ranks, Lavoie said.
For me to say the RCMP could do a better job of reinforcing cultural respect or ethnicity respect or anything like that would be completely asinine because we have done that very, very strongly.
However, Lavoie said he understands anti-Black racism in schools because he was a victim of regular violence in the Montreal-area suburb of St. Jerome and got the the talk about what he may experience from his mother.
She wasnt able to protect me from what hit me, but she certainly tried, he said.
I had a very difficult time through the school system. There was plenty of intimidation, plenty of beatings.
A former director of an Australia-wide automatic teller machine company that collapsed owing more than a million dollars to investors has been jailed.
Stephen John Anderson, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud after he falsely stated that OneCash had purchased 143 ATMs, which did not exist, the Brisbane District Court was told.
It was a sophisticated, protracted and serious crime, according to the judge. Credit:Mayu Kanamori
All up, 11 investors lost $1,247,524.58 between March 2014 and May 2015 after the once-profitable Brisbane-based business devolved into a Ponzi scheme.
"I have no doubt that when the business started [Anderson] thought it would be really good for investors and good for him," Judge David Reid said.
On Tuesday, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton is in talks to play Batman for the Warner Bros.' DC movie The Flash.
Keaton played the character in Tim Burtons 1989 Batman and the 1992 sequel Batman Returns.
If a deal can be made, Keaton could appear as Bruce Wayne in other DC-oriented films, The Hollywood Reporter says.
The Hollywood Reporter goes on to say that according to its sources, the role for the veteran actor is similar to the role played by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in Marvel Cinematic Universe films -- something of a mentor or guide. A Batgirl film is one of the projects in development that could fall into that category. (Warner Bros. had no comment.)
Ezra Miller is on board to return to the role of Barry Allen, also known as the Flash, in the feature directed by Andy Muschietti.
Keaton was mainly known as a comedic actor when he nabbed the main role in 1989s Batman. He initially took heat from fans that didnt see him as imposing or chiseled, but the movie did well and Keaton reprised the character in the 1992 sequel. He was ready to return to the role a third time, but decided not to return when Burton was dropped as director.
Although he continued acting and producing after that, his career had a significant resurgence when he starred in the 2014 Birdman film when he played a faded Hollywood actor who once starred in superhero movies.
The part earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and he won his first Golden Globe Award, winning for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. While he didnt win the Oscar, the film won four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography.
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Martin Griffiths, 59, took his own life in 2013 after he was falsely suspected of stealing money from a Post Office in Ellesmere Port
The family of a postmaster who killed himself after being wrongly accused of theft has demanded Post Office bosses are held accountable.
Father-of-two Martin Griffiths, 59, took his own life in 2013 after he was falsely suspected of stealing money from a Post Office in Ellesmere Port, where he had worked for around 20 years.
Mr Griffiths was one of hundreds of postmasters who were suspected of false accounting and theft, with some fired or wrongfully convicted, after amounts appeared to vanish from their tills.
It later emerged that shortfalls in the accounts of local branches were the result of flaws in the Post Offices IT system, Horizon.
The family of Mr Griffiths said he delved into his own savings and those of his parents to pay back around 60,000 he was wrongly suspected of taking from the branch.
The turmoil lasted for four years, between 2009 and 2013, and had a huge impact on the father-of-two's physical and mental health, his family said.
In 2013, Mr Griffiths parked his car on the A41 in Ellesmere Port after leaving a note for his loved ones and took his own life.
Today, his family have called for a stricter line of review from the Government and asked for a judge-led enquiry to get to the bottom of the injustices behind the scandal.
Mr Griffiths' nephew Samuel Caveen said: 'The weeks after Martin died were the worst weeks of our lives. When my uncle passed away, I got a phone call in the middle of the night from his wife, Gina.
'That was horrendous. Looking back, his death seems to have stolen away such precious time. He should be a proud grandfather now as his son had a child last year and his daughter is expecting, but he's not been here to see that.
'I feel like it's a significant portion of my family taken away from me. Family gatherings were and have been curtailed.
'My uncle had his life and his reputation torn apart by the Post Office and his mental health was completely destroyed. It's an absolute tragedy.'
Mr Griffiths was one of hundreds of postmasters who were suspected of false accounting and theft after amounts appeared to vanish from their tills (stock image)
Mr Caveen, 29, formerly of Eastham, Wirral, added: 'People want a formal enquiry and a more robust compensation package. But most importantly, nobody has been held accountable at the Post Office.'
Mr Griffiths worked at Hope Farm Road post office in Ellesmere Port, and had spent about two decades with the company, with 18 of those as a sub-postmaster.
Among his responsibilities were the tills and book-keeping, but at one point financial shortfalls emerged, and suspicion fell on sub-postmasters across the country.
It later emerged the shortfalls were due to a fundamental problem with the Post Office's computer system, Horizon.
Last year, the Post Office paid out a 57.75 million settlement after more than 550 claimants brought group legal action over the system, which was found to contain software flaws that caused financial shortfalls in the sub-postmasters' branch accounts over a number of years.
It was revealed earlier this month that bosses at the Post Office were told Horizon could be to blame in 2011.
Some prosecutions had already taken place but managers still went ahead with up to 98 further cases between 2011 and 2015.
A total of 960 convictions linked to the scandal are being reviewed in what has been dubbed the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK history.
Mr Griffiths was never held criminally liable, but bosses still launched a process to remove him from his post, according to his family.
It had a huge effect on his pride, his loved ones said, and he kept what was happening from them for a long period of time.
Mr Caveen, who has defended his uncle for many years, added: 'Pregnant women have gone to prison, parents have missed the birth of their children, people have died, reputations and lives ruined by what seems to be the venal and corrupt practices and excesses of the Post Office.
'The Horizon scandal has been described by some leading figures as the worst miscarriage of justice in British history.
'People have gone 20 years so a few more years so we can get an independent judge-led enquiry is something people involved will be prepared to accept.
'The current government review will not deliver justice and accountability.'
It later emerged that shortfalls in the accounts of local branches were the result of flaws in the Post Offices IT system, Horizon (stock image)
A Post Office spokesman said: 'We have taken determined action to address past events and we are working to reform the Post Office, to forge an open and transparent relationship with the thousands of current postmasters providing customers with vital services in the UK's communities.
'We agreed a comprehensive resolution last year with claimants in group civil litigation, following successful independent mediation. We sincerely apologise to those affected.
'We subsequently set up the Historical Shortfall Scheme to provide redress for other postmasters who may want to make claims.
'We have made wide-reaching improvements in the support we provide, from initial recruitment and training, through to the support for daily transaction accounting.
'These are being set out for every postmaster, detailing responsibilities and commitments which support them to build thriving businesses.'
Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson has spoken on the issue in Parliament, and said: 'Many innocent sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses have been bankrupted, imprisoned and wrongly accused of theft due to the Post Office's heavy-handed approach, when accountancy issues with Horizon reported financial irregularities.
'What new procedures have the Post Office introduced to protect sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses as a consequence of this scandal?
'What protections has the Post Office put in place to ensure accountancy software is fit for purpose?
'What action will be taken against those in positions of leadership in the Post Office during the scandal?
Paul Scully, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy replied: 'The fact is that we have now got the Post Office to accept its wrong position and the fact that the Horizon software could make mistakes - things were being changed there.
'That is why it is important to get that acknowledgement. It is also important that we continue to build trust with sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses in their relationship with the Post Office.
'That is why every time I speak to the chief executive, I make sure that that is at the top of our agenda.'
Australians feel less safe, increasingly distrustful of China, disappointed in the United States and fear the economy is about to tank, according to an annual survey by the Lowy Institute, but there is some good news.
As coronavirus continues to ravage countries around the globe, faith in Beijing has fallen to record lows with only 23 per cent of Australians trusting China to act responsibly in the world, a 29-point drop in only two years.
Australians are losing trust in both China's Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. Credit:AP
Only 22 per cent say they have confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping to do the right thing in world affairs, down from 43 per cent in 2018, while nine in ten Australians want the government to look for other markets to reduce our economic dependence on China.
According to the think tank's annual survey of local attitudes towards the world, a bare majority of Australians (51 per cent) trust the United States "a great deal" or "somewhat" to act responsibly in the world, 30 percentage points lower than the high point in 2009.
The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC) seems to be getting deeper as the police have sealed off the national Secretariat of the Party on Tuesday morning.
This is coming barely 24 hours after some protesters stormed the secretariat and demanded that the NWC be dissolved.
The members of the national working committee (NWC) of the party have been in disagreement after an appellate court upheld the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the APC.
Read Also: APC Primaries: Well Not Appeal Outcome Of Unjust Screening Exercise Obaseki
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Since Oshiomholes suspension, no fewer than three acting national chairman of the party have surfaced.
SANAA, Yemen (AP) - The Saudi-led coalition embroiled in a years-long conflict in Yemen announced on Monday that Emirati-backed southern separatists and the countrys internationally recognized government have agreed to a cease-fire after months of infighting.
The agreement aims to close the rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, nominal allies in a war against Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki said delegates from the separatists Southern Transitional Council and the Yemeni government are meeting in the Saudi capital of Riyadh to push the implementation of a November 2019 deal that ended earlier fighting.
Violence has flared between the separatist group and government forces since the Southern Transitional Council declared self-rule over the key port city Aden and other southern provinces in April. The renewed clashes reopened a new front inside the larger civil war, which has killed over 112,000 people and ignited what the United Nations has labeled the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.
The intensifying split in the south has also hobbled authorities response to the coronavirus pandemic and complicated attempts to jump-start a wider peace process.
Al-Maliki denounced recent clashes in the remote island of Socotra in the Gulf of Aden, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the southern province of Abyan.
FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2019 file photo, supporters of southern separatists gather with the flags of south Yemen and the United Arab Emirates during a rally to show support for the UAE amid a standoff with the internationally recognized government, in Aden, Yemen. A bid by separatists funded by the UAE to assert control over Yemen's south has reopened a dangerous front in the country's civil war and pushed Yemen closer to fragmentation. The separatists' recent declaration of self-rule over the key port city of Aden and other southern provinces also throws into question the roles of Saudi Arabia and the Emirates in the conflict, now in its sixth year. (AP Photo/Wail al-Qubaty, File)
The STC appointed a new Socotra governor Monday after the separatists effectively seized control of the area amid fighting that threatened to cause irreparable harm to the island's rare plant and animal species. The Yemeni government rejected the secessionists' advances as a "coup" and on Monday called for the release of local journalist Abdullah Badhan, who was arrested in a sweep of civilians who opposed the Emirati presence on the archipelago, according to the Information Ministry.
The secessionists sudden victory in Socotra appears to have given the group leverage in truce negotiations.
The coalition urged all parties to "stop the bloodshed by adhering to the Riyadh agreement," which stipulated the handover of heavy weapons, the withdrawal of rival forces and the formation of a new government. Al-Maliki said the coalition would deploy forces to monitor a cease-fire in the flashpoint Abyan governorate, which lies between government and separatist forces.
Nizar Haitham, a spokesman for the STC, welcomed the coalitions calls for a cease-fire and de-escalation across Yemens southern governorates. In a statement, he emphasized the urgent need to implement the Riyadh deal and thanked Saudi Arabia for its diplomatic role.
Three officials in the councils leadership said that while the separatists stood by their declaration of self-rule, they were open to Saudi-led negotiations. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to brief the media.
Rajeh Badi, a spokesman for Yemen's government, said it welcomed the move and would work toward de-escalation across the southern provinces. UAEs Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, tweeted his appreciation for Saudi Arabias "relentless efforts to achieve stability in Yemen."
Yemens descent into turmoil started in 2014 when the Shiite Houthi rebels overran the capital, Sanaa, and much of the countrys north, driving the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi into exile.
A U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition intervened the following year to try and restore Hadi's rule. The costly war has settled into a stalemate, compelling major regional players to seek a way out. This spring, Saudi Arabia declared a unilateral cease-fire, which quickly collapsed.
As the rebels gain ground in the north, near the Saudi border, the kingdom "wants to invest in seeing a unified Yemeni front against the Houthis," said Fatima Abo Alasrar, a non-resident scholar at the Washington-based Middle East Institute. The government has rapidly lost credibility, she said, leaving Saudi Arabia "in an embarrassing position," caught between Hadi and the separatists even as the Houthis escalate their attacks.
Late Monday, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted "a number" of bomb-carrying drones launched by the Houthis targeting the kingdom. A brief statement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency suggested other drones may have slipped passed Saudi air defenses, without elaborating. The rebels have struck the kingdom with both drones and cruise missiles during the years-long war.
Last summer, the UAE withdrew its forces and said it was ending its role in the conflict. But experts say it continues to wield influence through its proxies to ensure control of key areas on Yemens 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) of coastline. The country lies on a strategic waterway leading to the Persian Gulf, through which much of the worlds oil flows.
The secessionist council, which is an umbrella group of heavily armed and well-financed militias propped up by the UAE since 2015, hopes to restore an independent southern Yemen, which existed from 1967 until unification in 1990.
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Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Isabel DeBre in Cairo contributed to this report.
A total of four Louth charities have received donations as part of Aldis Community Grants Programme across the last 12 months.
The programme has seen Aldi donate a total of 2000 to charities across Louth who provide vital services and make a huge difference within their community.
Cara Cancer Support Centre, S.N.A.P, St. Itas Special School and Drogheda Animal Rescue each benefitted from a 500 donation from one of Aldis four Louth stores.
Aldis Community Grants programme helps fund local charities and organisations that contribute vital work and services in their local communities. Each local charity supported is chosen by Aldi employees, enabling them to help the local good causes they are passionate about.
Over 250,000 has been donated to more than 340 different local charities across Ireland since the programme began four years ago. To mark its 20th anniversary in Ireland in 2019, Aldi staff across its Naas and Mitchelstown regions also voted for two charities, The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul and Pieta House Cork, to receive a further 5,000 in Aldi vouchers late last year.
Commenting, John Curtin, Group Buying Director, Aldi Ireland said: At Aldi supporting the local communities that our stores serve is hugely important. Each charity selected as part of our Community Grants Programme offers fantastic services to those in need. Their dedicated staff and volunteers offer their time and care and now, more than ever, it is vital that we support them.
Our local store staff are an integral part of the selection process for the donations, meaning they are passionate about the charities chosen in their local community.
Aldis four Louth stores are deeply involved in their local community. Through its partnership with FoodCloud, its Louth stores have donated over 71,100 meals to local charities to date. Since 2015, Aldi has helped support initiatives including the Aldi Foroige Youth Citizenship Awards and the Aldi Foroige Junior Baking Competition.
In 1988, Lester Donaldson was shot dead by a police officer in the Toronto rooming house where he lived. Donaldson, a 44-year-old Black man, was holding a small paring knife and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
On Saturday, Ejaz Choudry, 62, was shot dead by Peel Regional Police in his Mississauga apartment. According to Ontarios police watchdog, officers had come to the apartment to check on the well-being of a man. Investigators with the Special Investigations Unit recovered a knife from the scene.
Choudrys family has said he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had other illnesses that made him frail. They have demanded to know why the police did not de-escalate the situation, and why his family was not allowed to try and speak to him before he was killed.
The similar circumstances of Donaldson and Choudrys deaths along with many others in the intervening 30 years Edmond Yu, Byron Debassige and Andrew Loku, one among a disproportionately high number of Black male victims have been examined in several inquests, producing familiar recommendations all aimed at the same question: what must change so another person in crisis does not die?
Until now, the focus has largely been on how to improve the police response, as uniform officers remain often the first to arrive at the scene. Emphasis has been placed on more training in de-escalation and crisis communication, which has been widely criticized as being inadequate and inconsistent.
For instance, the Toronto Police Service year released a mental health and addictions strategy that included officers receiving regular training on de-escalation, bias-free policing and harm-reduction.
But following the recent deaths of Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Toronto and DAndre Campbell and Choudry in Peel, advocates say it is well past time to have a non-police alternative.
So far, in Ontario, a hybrid approach has emerged through the creation and expansion of Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams, which pair a mental-health professional with a specially trained police officer. Several Ontario police services now use variants of the program.
Toronto police introduced MCITs in 2000 and expanded coverage to the whole city by 2015. There are now 10 teams of a police officer and a mental-health nurse covering 16 divisions in partnership with local hospitals. Most of the teams operate seven-days-a-week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Peel meanwhile launched a Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team in two divisions earlier this year, intending it to respond to mental-health calls directly.
The programs are intended to shift typical front-line police officers away from responding to mental-health calls. And rather than police transporting a person in crisis to the emergency department, the mental-health professional would be able to assess them and connect them with the right support at the time.
But many of the teams act as a secondary response, arriving after police are already at the scene. In Toronto the teams can arrive alongside police priority response unit but only if the call doesnt involve weapons.
Earlier this year, an MCIT response team was not sent to 911 calls about Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a 29-year-old Toronto woman who died after falling from a balcony shortly after police arrived in her apartment. Her family has said she was in distress.
At a news conference, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders has said this is because two of the 911 calls included comments about a knife. There is no way that I would put a nurse in a knife fight, he said.
The MCIT units cant be called directly and are also limited by call volume and working hours.
The 2014 Iacobucci report on police use-of-force involving people in crisis found that specialized training given to officers on the mental-health crisis teams and the nature of the work, including followup visits, presented a significant opportunity to foster a (police service) culture that understands and prioritizes mental health, and cultivates more effective relationships among the police, the mental-health treatment system, and people living with mental illness.
Recommendations from the report, including training about the MCIT units, best practices for interacting with people in crisis and treating apprehensions under the Mental Health Act differently than a typical arrest for example, not using handcuffs were implemented by 2015, according to the Toronto Police Service.
But many advocating for defunding the police say the real issue is that police shouldnt be the first responders in these cases at all.
The very presence of officers can escalate the situation, and the presence of guns and Tasers increases the risk of harm to the person in crisis, they say.
The police officer still has his uniform on. He still has his gun there. Hes still wearing his badge, right? said Idil Abdillahi, an assistant professor of social work at Ryerson University. There are people who on a day-to-day basis are doing front line work, who go to work every day with people that are living with severe and persistent mental-health issues and are not killing those people.
She said the use of conducted energy weapons by police cannot be considered a simple alternative to guns and that their use on people in crisis, who are vulnerable and in need of help, is dangerous and potentially lethal.
Prior to police fatally shooting Choudry after entering his home on Saturday, the SIU has said police first Tasered him and fired an anti-riot weapon using less-lethal plastic projectiles.
When these had no effect, an officer discharged a firearm and the man was struck, the SIU said in a statement Sunday.
Abdillahi said the system has to shift away from making the police the default response to mental-health crises, particularly outside of normal working hours.
The default message on a front-line mental-health workers answering machine says: Im not available at this time. If your call is urgent please dial 911, she said. What can we learn from models that centre care and understand that the world operates on a 24-hour clock and not a 9-to-5 clock?
With files from Wendy Gillis and Star Staff
Shares in a little known ASX-listed maker of battery technology for electric vehicles and energy storage systems have gone on a tear in recent weeks amid twin rumours of a deal with Tesla and the US government.
Loss-making Novonixs market capitalisation has jumped from $69 million, or 41 cents a share, at the start of June to $345 million (or $1.30 per share) on June 10, according to Bloomberg data.
Driving the share price were rumours on social media and stock forums that Tesla would announce at its "battery day" it would be using Novonix's technology in its new batteries.
Tesla rumours have revved the engine of ASX-listed Novonix. Credit:AP
But as the rumours dissipated and Tesla delayed its battery day to later this year, Novonixs market capitalisation ramped down to just over $230 million, with its shares closing on Friday down 9 per cent at 90 cents. On Monday the stock shot up again, this time 17 per cent to $1.07 the same day two executives told The Australian Financial Review it was working with "some folks in Washington on understanding the opportunity" for its products in the wake of limits on Chinese made products by the Trump administration. Its shares closed 8.4 per cent lower at 98 on Tuesday.
Campus News
Intent, engagement, transparency part of real conversation about race
Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington (right) speaks during his "Real Talk about Race" online talk last Friday. At left is Despina Stratigakos, vice provost for inclusive excellence.
By MICHAEL ANDREI
What is our willingness to learn the terms and language of racism, have these conversations and engage the topic of racism in our classrooms? It is important to ask yourself, Am I ready? Real talk is action.
Delivering the lead-off lecture in a new series of university-wide events centered on race, diversity and inclusion, Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington told a UB online audience that real talk is action.
Washingtons presentation, Real Talk about Race, was livestreamed Friday to a UB audience of 700 students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Washington, president and founder of the Washington Consulting Group, was named by The Economist as one of the top 10 global diversity consultants in the world.
Over the coming year, the Office of Inclusive Excellence is presenting Lets Talk about Race, a series of university-wide lectures, town halls and other events to discuss racism and overcoming institutional barriers to further UBs goal of maximizing the effectiveness of ongoing diversity and inclusion initiatives, and more deeply integrating inclusivity into all aspects of the university.
This is the launching of the next level of a conversation that has been ongoing at UB, Washington said. And it is entirely appropriate that we are having this conversation on Juneteenth.
Many of you know what Juneteenth is about. But if you want to start a conversation about Juneteenth with someone in a class, or with a friend or family member and need to know more, I invite you to learn about it, he said.
We honor all of what Juneteenth means. We honor our ancestors and all those who came before us. We also honor George Floyd and so many others.
You may feel, Here we go again. As you look at your Facebook and Twitter pages and ask, How is this moment going to be different? Why are we in this space again?
I am here to share my thoughts with you, he said. To create a space to breathe, as a community. And to consider this perfect storm, which gives us the opportunity to have real conversations about race.
Many of us have been talking about race for a very long time, Washington told the livestream audience. And through that time, over and over, people have been talking at each other.
But we need to talk with each other to have real conversations not always light or pleasant to enact real transformation and change, he said.
And it is kind of hard to have real talk about race without asking each other what are sometimes very uncomfortable questions.
Collaborative COVID-19 Vaccine Project Between ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Europe and LiteVax BV, Funded Through TRANSVAC2
Details Category: Vaccines Published on Tuesday, 23 June 2020 11:05 Hits: 1897
OSS, The Netherlands I June 22, 2020 I IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD. (the "Company" or "IPA") (TSX VENTURE: IPA) (OTCQB: IPATF) (FSE: TQB2), and LiteVax BV ("LiteVax") (the Netherlands), today announced that a preclinical study to analyze the immunogenicity, safety and potency of IPA's novel SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates, when formulated with LiteVax's Adjuvant (LVA), has been granted funding by TRANSVAC2, which is expected to cover the complete costs of a preclinical vaccine study. TRANSVAC2 is a network of leading European groups working in the field of vaccine development, which itself is funded by the European Commission.
That effort is one of a number of preclinical programs currently being undertaken by IPA to assist in the efforts against SARS-CoV-2. On March 12th, 2020, IPA first announced details of its research on SARS-CoV-2 to develop a PolyTopeTM monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy for the treatment of patients with COVID-19, which could also be used prophylactically in high risk patients who may have been exposed to the virus. The Company also disclosed its intent to develop a PolyTope vaccine, to be rationally designed based on large subsets of data obtained during the development of the PolyTope mAb Therapy. IPA then announced its intent to begin development of a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic and then, on May 27th, 2020, IPA announced that, in collaboration with the University of Victoria, the Company had sought and received a grant from NSERC towards the costs to develop a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic kit. Today's announcement aims to provide an update to the Company's progress on the first SARS-CoV-2 program announced by IPA, namely the efforts toward the development of a PolyTope vaccine.
The purpose of the collaboration announced today between IPA and LiteVax is to conduct a pre-clinical study to determine whether IPA's protein-based vaccine candidates, formulated with LVA (adjuvant), results in potent, neutralizing antibody responses that confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a swine animal model. IPA will supply protein-based vaccine candidates and LiteVax will supply its LVA. Both parties will retain full rights to their respective proprietary assets and know-how used for the study. It is anticipated that pre-clinical vaccine trials will begin in August, 2020, and that data will be compiled by mid-November, 2020. Should the preclinical study prove successful, IPA and LiteVax may then negotiate the terms for a preclinical study in a second animal model, as well as details the around the potential commercialization of any resulting vaccine.
IPA's extensive therapeutic programs targeting the SARS-CoV-2 are providing the Company with unique and comprehensive data points which are expected to be useful in the formulation of IPA's anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential vaccine candidates. In addition, this data is intended to inform the development by IPA of future therapies and vaccines against novel coronavirus strains and variants.
There is no assurance that ImmunoPrecise and LiteVax will be successful in the development of a vaccine and/or therapeutic against the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.
Jennifer Bath, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ImmunoPrecise, has reviewed and approved the scientific disclosure of this news release.
Board Director Retires
Robert Beecroft has announced his resignation from the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Beecroft was the founder of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies and led the company for over two decades, building quality services and products for customers across the globe. He has served on the board since the Company went public in 2016, assisting in the Company transition and continuing to offer his expertise.
"None of what ImmunoPrecise has become today would be possible without Rob Beecroft's vision, perseverance and hard work," stated Dr. James Kuo, Chairman of IPA's board of directors. His commitment to excellence is only matched by his sense of camaraderie, which we were all privileged to experience. On behalf of the entire board, we owe him our profound gratitude and wish him well.
About TRANSVAC
TRANSVAC2 is a European vaccine research and development (R&D) infrastructure that aims to accelerate the development of safe, effective and affordable vaccines that shall be one of the most successful and cost-effective public health tools for disease prevention. However, vaccine development is time-consuming and complex, requiring a combination of specialized skills and technical capacities not readily available at a single organization. In order to facilitate access to these skills and capacities, and to promote collaborations in the European vaccine landscape, TRANSVAC2 offers high quality technical services across four different service platforms: Technology (for process development and GMP production), Immunocorrelates & Systems Biology, Animal models, and support for Clinical Trials.
TRANSVAC2 has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement N 730964.
About LiteVax
LiteVax BV is a Dutch biopharmaceutical SME with the mission to impact global health by developing and exploiting novel immunoadjuvants to increase vaccine efficacy. New and more effective vaccines against a wide range of infectious diseases are needed as evidenced by the recent outbreaks. For further information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
About ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.
ImmunoPrecise is a full-service, therapeutic antibody discovery Contract Research Organization offering species agnostic, multi-format, characterized and engineered, human monoclonal antibodies, on an abbreviated timeframe, for its pharmaceutical clients. For further information, visit www.immunoprecise.com or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There is no assurance that ImmunoPrecise will be successful in the development of a vaccine and/or therapeutic against the new coronavirus.
SOURCE: ImmunoPrecise Antibodies
New Delhi, June 23 : Reliance Power Chairman Anil Ambani on Tuesday said that the company's focus will be on value accretive growth opportunities while remaining financially conservative and capital light.
"R-Power's focus will be on value accretive growth opportunities while remaining financially conservative and capital light -- O&M services for power plants, MDO services for coal mines and recently launched commercial coal mining opportunities," Ambani said at the 24th Annual General Meeting of the company.
He also said that the company is committed to cleaner and greener power and is undertaking capital expenditure of Rs 3,300 crore to install Flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) in its coal based plants.
Ambani said Reliance Power's renewable projects operated with 98 per cent availability and delivered robust operating performance He also said that all the power plants of Reliance Power remained fully operational despite facing Covid-19 and lockdown challenges.
"R-Power continues to be one of India's top 3 private power generation companies with operating portfolio of around 6,000 MW," Ambani told the shareholders.
Development of Phase-1 (750 MW) of gas based power project near Dhaka in Bangladesh is on track in partnership with JERA, the largest Power utility in Japan, he said, adding that R-Power concluded agreements with JERA to invest 49 per cent equity in RBLPL (Reliance Bangladesh LNG & Power Limited) on September 2, 2019.
Further, Samalkot Power has signed an Equipment Supply Contract on March 11, 2020 to sell one module for development of the Phase-1 project in Bangladesh and will help Samalkot reduce outstanding debt by nearly Rs 1,600 crore.
The company's focus is now on the development of Phase-2 of 1,500 MW in Bangladesh, in line with the MoU signed for development of 3,000 MW gas-based projects, the Reliance Group Chairman said.
He further said that R-Power continues to remain conservatively financed, with one of the lowest debt-to-equity ratio of 2.4:1.
Ambani also informed that although RBI has allowed banks to grant moratorium for all principal and interest payments and permitted to defer recovery of interest applied on working capital facilities, but Reliance Power has not availed moratorium of debt in any of the SPVs, as the management considers availing of such moratorium to be a financial penalty.
Regarding the legal proceedings initiated against him by the Chinese banks in London and SBI in Mumbai, Ambani clarified that the loan was not for any personal borrowing but for a corporate loan which was availed by the telecom company, Reliance Communications, in the normal course of business eight years ago in 2012 from a consortium of 3 Chinese Banks -- CDB, ICBC and C-EXIM -- for global refinancing.
The guarantee on the basis of which the claim was made was admittedly not signed by him. In actual fact, he had only signed a power of attorney limited to executing a non-binding letter of comfort to the Chinese Banks.
As per the UK Court's order, the final amount owed under the alleged guarantee will be assessed based on the outcome of the R-COM insolvency resolution process. In addition, he will avail of all available legal remedies in India to protect his interest, Ambani said As regards the proceedings filed by SBI, he emphasised that this also does not relate to any personal borrowing but arose out of a guarantee given for a loan which was availed by Reliance Communications and Reliance Infratel, way back in 2016 to repay the debts of Chinese and certain other Indian Banks.
He is defending himself against these claims and firmly believes that upon the resolution of RCOM and RITL's debt as per their resolution plans filed before NCLT, a significant proportion, if not the whole, of the said debts will stand discharged and all these matters satisfactorily resolved, the statement from the company said.
Ambani reassured fellow shareowners that none of these potential liabilities, if any, would have the slightest bearing whatsoever on the operations of the company, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, or its bright future prospects.
In another blow, its national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has sent a letter offering to step down from the post.
Patna: The opposition RJD suffered a major jolt after five of its sitting MLCs joined Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U) on Tuesday.
RJD insiders said that the MLCs resigned as they were not happy with the partys leadership in the absence of RJD Chief Lalu Yadav, who is serving a jail term in fodder scam cases.
The MLCs who defected to the JD(U) are Radha Charan Shah, Sanjay Prasad, Dilip Rai, Qamar Alam and Ranvijay Kumar Singh.
After Tuesdays development, the RJD's strength in the legislative council will be reduced to just three from eight. The JD(U), on the other hand, will become the single largest party with 21 MLCs in the 75-member council. The BJP currently has 16 MLCs in the legislative council. The polling for nine seats in the legislative council is scheduled on July 6.
We joined JD(U) because we want to be associated with a leader who has worked for the overall development of Bihar, MLC Dilip Rai said after joining JD(U) on Tuesday.
The development is also being as a major setback for Tejashwi Yadav and especially former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, who is currently the leader of the opposition in the state legislative council.
Party sources said that Rabri Devi may lose her status of leader of the opposition as the party doesnt have adequate numbers in the legislative council.
In another blow, its national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has sent a letter offering to step down from the post. The 74-year-old senior RJD leader, who tested positive for COVID-19 a week earlier after complaints of fever and cough, has been admitted to AIIMS Patna.
Sources close to him said that Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has been miffed over reports that RJD was planning to induct don-turned-politician Rama Singh in the party.
Rama Singh, who was earlier associated with Ram Vilas Paswans party LJP, had defeated Raghuvansh Prasad Singh during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in his stronghold Vaishali.
The RJD should learn to respect its leaders. Even senior leaders like Raghuvansh Prasad Singh are not getting the respect and honour he deserves. Those who have joined JD(U) want to be associated with a party which respects its leaders and works for the development of Bihar, JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 21:04:05|Editor: huaxia
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TOKYO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A limited number of flights from Japan to Vietnam will resume this week as the country begins to ease travel restrictions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday.
He told a press briefing that three chartered flights arranged by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam and operated by Vietnam Airlines will depart from Narita airport from Thursday through Saturday.
The three flights will be carrying around 440 business people and land at northern Vietnam's Van Don International Airport. The passengers will have to follow strict virus prevention measures, said Motegi.
It remains to be seen when Vietnam will decide to reciprocate by allowing flights bound to Japan.
On June 11, the Japanese government said it was planning to ease its coronavirus-linked travel restrictions this summer by allowing, at first, the entry of up to 250 business people per day from Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam.
Japan currently has an entry ban in place from 111 countries and regions, and foreign travelers who have visited countries on the banned list within two weeks would be refused entry, the foreign ministry has said.
The ministry also said that 177 countries and regions have imposed varying levels of restrictions on entry from Japan.
Australia and New Zealand have reportedly said it may still be too early to allow entry of Japanese travelers amid continued concerns over the possible spread of the coronavirus.
Travelers from the permitted overseas countries would have to undergo PCR coronavirus tests before arriving in Japan to prove they are negative for COVID-19.
Upon landing in Japan they will be required to take another PCR test, sources with knowledge of the matter have said.
Those qualifying for entry will be required to submit to officials details of their place of residence during their visit as well as an itinerary of places they intend to visit, the sources said.
They may be asked to refrain from using public transport and possibly be required to use a GPS app on their smartphones so in the case they are or do become infected, contact-tracing can be carried out.
Aside from Vietnam, Japan has also been in talks with Australia, New Zealand and Thailand as the potential first batch of travelers it reopens its doors to, although the government would like the measure to be reciprocal.
The four countries were picked owing to the fact that they have been judged to have successfully brought the COVID-19 outbreak under control in their respective countries and owing to business ties between Japan and the countries.
The Japanese government said that following its initial easing of entry restrictions for the four countries, it will look to further expand the easing of restrictions applicable to China, South Korea and the United States.
To inspire more confidence in Japan having overcome the worst of the pandemic, the government is planning to set up PCR testing centers so those planning to travel overseas can meet the requirements of foreign countries requiring negative test results from Japanese travelers prior to their departure. Enditem
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI A young Muskegon man convicted of shooting another has been given a new trial by the Michigan Court of Appeals after it ruled the judge did not properly instruct the jury about self-defense.
Carvin Levelle Bailey, 19, was convicted in 2018 of assault with intent to do great bodily harm and felony firearm carrying a firearm while committing a felony -- and sentenced to prison, where he remains.
He appealed his conviction, claiming Muskegon County Circuit Judge Annette Smedley did not properly instruct the jury about self-defense on two different occasions. The appeals court agreed and ordered him to be retried.
Bailey was 16 when its alleged he shot an acquaintance in the stomach in August 2017 outside the home where he was staying on Seventh Street south of West Summit Avenue in Muskegon Heights.
The defense argued that the man who was shot had been harassing Bailey throughout the day with phone calls, before threatening Bailey and showing up at Baileys house where they argued.
Several other teens were in the area and watched the confrontation, according to court briefs. When the man turned to leave, one of the teens yelled out at Bailey asking him if he was going to put up with being talked to that way, according to court documents. Thats when a shot was fired and the man was hit in the abdomen, according to court records.
Bailey was charged with assault with intent to murder with an alternative charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm. The court of appeals ruled that Smedley instructed the jury that self-defense was a legitimate defense for assault with intent to murder. However, she made a mistake when she declined to mention self-defense as a defense on the great bodily harm charge, the appeals court ruled.
Additionally, the court found that Smedley should have told the jury that self-defense was an acceptable defense for a charge of being a minor in possession of a firearm. Though it did not charge Bailey with that crime, the Muskegon County Prosecutors Office said because he was guilty of it, Bailey couldnt use a self-defense argument in the assault charge.
Smedley sentenced Bailey in February 2018 to a two-year sentence for felony firearm and a consecutive three-to-10-year term in prison for the assault charge. He remains incarcerated in the Saginaw Valley Correctional Facility, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections website.
When he was 15, Bailey escaped from the Muskegon County Juvenile Transition Facility in May 2016. He turned himself in a few days later. He was in the juvenile facility after having been convicted of receiving and concealing a stolen firearm and carrying a stolen firearm.
On June 4, Baileys appellate attorney asked Smedley to reduce Baileys bond from $100,000 cash or surety to personal recognizance. The attorney said the teen is indigent.
The prosecutor argued against a personal recognizance bond, pointing to Baileys record as a juvenile.
Smedley, in keeping Baileys bond at $100,000, said the facts in this case allude to the fact that he is a danger to society.
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By Brian Nguyen
Republicans have been seeking protection for employers from lawsuits if workers or customers get sick or die of COVID-19. They frame this legal immunity as a cornerstone for reopening the U.S. economy businesses will suffer if they are faced with a deluge of lawsuits. Providing immunity would help reduce the risk for businesses and give them the certainty that they can reopen. However, Democrats and worker advocacy groups say giving businesses liability immunity from COVID-19 lawsuits would encourage reckless behavior essential workers are getting sick at high rates. Employers have shown they wont protect workers. They should not be immune from the consequences.
Republicans have declared that giving businesses immunity to COVID-19 lawsuits is a red line for any additional aid packages. Their belief is that the economy going forward cannot function without widespread liability protections otherwise businesses, especially small businesses, will be swamped by frivolous lawsuits.
Heres how conservatives see the rationale for their position, according to the New York Times.
Conservative groups including the Koch network and FreedomWorks have warned of a wave of predatory, self-serving lawsuits from trial lawyers who have plotted to line their pockets with Covid-19 related lawsuits. Last month, dozens of industry trade associations, including those representing grocers, retailers and restaurateurs, told Congress that without protections, the threat of litigation could put many small businesses permanently out of business. Youve got to give the businesses some confidence here that if something happens, and it may not be their fault the disease is an infectious disease if something happens, you cant take them out of business, the White House economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, said in April on CNBC. You cant throw big lawsuits at them.
Trump says you have to have some kind of coronavirus liability protection, because, if not, "It would be litigation heaven." He says, "You go to a game and you sue the team owner?" Daniel Dale (@ddale8) May 7, 2020
Democrats and other critics of the Republican position argue that giving businesses immunity would lead to companies taking advantage of workers and customers. This isn't hypothetical, it has already happened.
According to a New York Times investigation, while American meatpackers were pushing for liability protection as they stayed open to prevent a severe meat shortage, meatpackers were actually sending record amounts of meat to China.
Instead of protecting businesses, the government should protect workers. Front-line workers continue to get sick. Many are working for low pay and without proper equipment. This crisis has shown how much we rely on essential workers we should start treating them like they are essential.
These people do not deserve immunity from civil liability. They do deserve criminal prosecution. https://t.co/Lt6DcLs1hQ Jason Kander (@JasonKander) June 16, 2020
When meatpacking monopolies release incomplete COVID-19 test results, it's not a "breakdown," it's a cover up.
Basic legal standard is reasonable care.
If they worried about workers as much as profits, they wouldnt need to be shielded from liability. https://t.co/cAHrvp3toF J.D. Scholten (@JDScholten) June 15, 2020
Sen. McConnells red line on liability immunity will allow irresponsible corporations to cut corners, putting workers & customers at risk.
Our #1 priority in reopening must be protecting the American people from #COVID19. It's the only way we will ever get back to normal. pic.twitter.com/bIhBmgfdBJ Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) May 14, 2020
The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say.
The Sony Bravia KDL-43W6603 is a 43-inch TV whereas the Bravia KD-55X7002G is a 55-inch TV. The Sony Bravia KDL-43W6603 is priced at Rs 37,990 and the KD-55X7002G is priced at Rs 63990. The Bravia KDL-43W6603 is an FHD TV while the KD-55X7002G is a 4K TV.
Sony has added two new Bravia TVs to its portfolio - the Bravia KDL-43W6603 and the Bravia KD-55X7002G. The Bravia KDL-43W6603 is a 43-inch FHD TV that supports HDR and has a refresh rate of 50Hz. It has 2 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports and even though the TV isnt an Android TV, it brings with it support for apps like Netflix, Prime Videos and more. The TV also supports HDR gaming via a PS4 or Xbox One. The Sony Bravia KD-55X7002G, on the other hand, is a 4K TV with support for HDR and a refresh rate of 50Hz. It has 3 HDMI ports and 3 USB ports for your connectivity needs. The TV also supports apps like Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video. Lets dive deeper into the features and specifications on offer on both the TVs.
Sony Bravia KDL-43W6603 Specifications and Features
The Sony Bravia KDL-43W6603 is a 43-inch Full HD TV with a refresh rate of 50Hz. It has 2 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports for your connectivity needs. The TV has 20W of sound output and brings with it Sonys ClearAudio+ technology. The TV does not run on Android but it still brings with it support for popular OTT apps like Netflix, Prime Videos, YouTube and more. Since the TV supports HDR, users can expect to enjoy gaming in HDR from their PS4 or Xbox One. The remote control that comes with the TV has a dedicated Netflix and YouTube button. Users can also connect their smartphone to the TV via the USB port. The TV also supports multiple Indian languages.
Sony Bravia KDL-43W6603 Price
The Sony Bravia KDL-43W6603 is priced at Rs 37,990 and is available in black. The TV is available on Amazon.
Sony Bravia KD-55X7002G Specifications and Features
Moving over to the Sony Bravia KD-55X7002G, it is a 55-inch 4K TV with support for HDR. The TV has a refresh rate of 50Hz. It has 3 HDMI ports and 3 USB ports for your connectivity needs. The TV has 20W of sound output and brings with it Sonys Bass reflex speaker. The TV does not run on Android but it still brings with it support for popular OTT apps like Netflix, Prime Videos, YouTube and more. Since the TV supports HDR and is a 4K TV, users can expect to enjoy gaming in 4K and HDR from their PS4 Pro or Xbox One X. The TV also boasts of Sonys TRILUMINOS Display. The remote control that comes with the TV has a dedicated Netflix and YouTube button. Users can also connect their smartphone to the TV via the USB port. The TV also supports multiple Indian languages. The feet of the TV also help with cable management to avoid the clutter of cables.
Sony Bravia KD-55X7002G Price
The Sony Bravia KD-55X7002G is priced at Rs 63,990 and is available in black. The TV is available on Amazon.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FSN Capital ("Buyer")* awarded 87 million in compensation after Procuritas ("Seller")** was found liable for fraud and wilful misconduct by the international arbitral tribunal in Denmark today. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
Today, the international arbitral tribunal in Denmark ruled in accordance with Northern European private equity firm FSN Capital's claims of fraud and wilful misconduct and sanctioned Swedish private equity firm Procuritas to pay 87 million in compensation to FSN Capital. The tribunal ruled that Procuritas in January 2018 sold its former Danish portfolio company, Gram Equipment, an ice cream equipment manufacturer, based on fraudulent financial reporting and therefore was liable to pay damages to FSN Capital. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
It should be noted that:
The compensation will help Gram Equipment create additional growth and jobs, building on significant progress under FSN's ownership.
FSN safeguarded Gram Equipment from bankruptcy and injected 23 million in additional funds to the company.
"The crux of the matter is that the financial information provided to the Buyer on behalf of the Seller at least from June 2017 and onwards was systematically manipulated through fictitious write-ups and cut-off misstatements and with the intention that the Buyer should not discover the underlying facts," the arbitral tribunal wrote in its 430-page ruling today.
"I am very pleased with the outcome of the arbitration. The compensation will greatly improve Gram Equipment's operational and competitive situation and help its employees and management team in their outstanding efforts to rebuild the company," said Thomas Broe-Andersen, partner at FSN Capital Partners (Investment Advisor to the FSN Capital Funds).
"I am also very content on behalf of our investors and their beneficiaries. Workers, pensioners, and educational institutions have now been given right to compensation for the losses initially inflicted on their pension savings," he added.
Shortly after the acquisition in January 2018, Gram Equipment's statutory auditors, EY, uncovered accounting irregularities in the company's books and records. This led FSN Capital to initiate legal and forensic investigations and to file for arbitration against Procuritas in September 2018, claiming revenues and profits had been deliberately manipulated through fraudulent accounting such as fake revenue recognition on projects, fake invoices and backdating of orders leading up to the sale.
"The Buyer has produced comprehensive and meticulous evidence on acts of alleged fraud and wilful misconduct," said the arbitral tribunal in today's ruling.
* FSN Capital GP V Limited acting in its capacity as general partner for and on behalf of each of FSN Capital V L.P., FSN Capital V (B) L.P. and FSN Capital V Invest L.P ("FSN Capital"). The Claimant in the arbitration case was a subsidiary of FSN Capital.
** Procuritas Capital Investors IV GP Limited acting as General Partner to Procuritas Capital Investors IV A, LP ("Procuritas"). The Respondent in the arbitration case was a subsidiary of Procuritas.
Note to the editor - Background
On 29 January 2018, Northern European private equity firm FSN Capital acquired Gram Equipment, a Danish based ice cream equipment manufacturer, from Swedish private equity firm Procuritas based on 2017 financial information disclosed by Procuritas. According to that information Gram Equipment had realized 107.4 million in revenues and 13.3 million in normalized EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) for the financial year 2017.
Shortly after the acquisition, the independent statutory auditors of Gram Equipment, EY, uncovered irregularities in the company's books and records while auditing the 2017 annual accounts and issued a profit warning. When the audited accounts were filed on 5 July 2018, Gram Equipment's revenues had been reduced from 107 million to 94 million and normalized EBITDA had changed from a profit of 13.3 million to a loss of -8.5 million for 2017. Hence, the audit reduced the EBITDA for 2017 disclosed by Procuritas by c. -22 million.
FSN Capital subsequently injected and secured more than 23 million in additional funds to Gram Equipment to safeguard continued operations and avoid bankruptcy. The former management was replaced and FSN Capital and the new management embarked on a major turnaround of the business.
EY's profit warning prompted FSN Capital to initiate legal and forensic investigations, which revealed that revenues and profits had been deliberately manipulated through fraudulent accounting such as fake revenue recognition on projects, fake invoices and backdating of orders leading up to the sale. Moreover, a whistleblower came forward revealing that more than one hundred fake invoices had been issued to artificially inflate revenues and profits for 2017 leading up to the sale.
On 1 June 2018, FSN Capital filed a claim under the so-called warranty and indemnity liability insurance policy it had taken out in connection with the acquisition, which covered up to 50 million in damages in the event the seller breached its warranties in the share purchase agreement (SPA). FSN Capital claimed the seller had breached several warranties in the SPA numerous times, including warranties on seller's duty of loyal disclosure and accounting material, by providing false and misleading information in the sales process. In March 2019, after extensive legal investigations, the insurance consortium led by a Liberty Mutual affiliate acknowledged cover and paid the 50 million insurance limit to FSN Capital.
By acknowledging cover and paying the full insurance sum to FSN Capital, the insurance consortium also confirmed that FSN Capital could not have been aware that the information disclosed by Procuritas in the due diligence was false and misleading, as it explicitly follows from the policy that it does not cover in that case.
On 20 September 2018, FSN Capital filed for international arbitration in Denmark against Procuritas claiming damages for wilful and fraudulent breach of its warranties and requesting the arbitral tribunal to sanction the appointment of an independent accountant to review the 2017 annual accounts and the purchase price calculation in accordance with the procedure laid out in the SPA.
On 21 January 2020, the appointed independent accountant, BDO, issued its report agreeing with all audit adjustments previously made to the 2017 annual accounts audited by EY and labelling the financial reports provided by Procuritas as "misleading". BDO concluded that Procuritas should repay more than 16 million to FSN Capital under the final purchase price calculation in the SPA.
Today, the international arbitral tribunal in Denmark issued its 430-page ruling in which it sanctioned BDO's decision and ordered Procuritas to return more than 16 million to FSN Capital under the final purchase price calculation in the SPA. In addition, the arbitral tribunal concluded that Procuritas had sold Gram Equipment based on fraudulent financial reporting and was liable to pay 71 million in damages, costs and interest to FSN Capital. This brings the total amount due from Procuritas to FSN Capital to 87 million, which together with the insurance sum already received brings the total recovery by FSN Capital to more than 138 million. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.
For more information, please contact FSN Capital Partners (Investment Advisor to the FSN Capital Funds):
Thomas Broe-Andersen, Partner
E: [email protected]
Tlf: +45-33-13-48-00
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
The following files are available for download:
https://mb.cision.com/Main/19509/3139830/1268438.pdf Release https://mb.cision.com/Public/19509/3139830/a6ef44cb19813bf0_org.jpg Thomas 2 https://mb.cision.com/Public/19509/3139830/a9cc4cf391e114e1_org.jpg MG 6570
SOURCE FSN Capital
Photo: BC gov. Flickr Dr. Bonnie Henry
British Columbia will be moving to Phase 3 of its reopening plan this week and despite an expectation that more cases of COVID-19 will follow, Dr. Bonnie Henry says she's not particularly worried.
Last week, Premier John Horgan announced that B.C. would move to the next phase of reopening this week, following Dr. Henry's press conference on updated modelling figures this Tuesday. While no travel restrictions have been put in place in B.C., the government is expected to begin encouraging travel within B.C., and encourage those from out of province to visit.
Monday afternoon, Dr. Henry said as more COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed, more cases of the virus are expected to follow.
As we're transitioning and more things are opening up, it is likely, absolutely, we are going to have more cases, so that's why it's so fundamental that we continue to do the things that we've been doing that have worked, she said.
And while provinces like Ontario and Quebec have seen far greater numbers of COVID-19 cases than B.C., Dr. Henry said those provinces are going in the right direction.
We know there's been a lot of work done across the country and that we are managing this pandemic in Canada fairly well, she said. So I'm not particularly worried, I think we all need to do our part to continue to do the foundational things that have got us here.
The U.S.-Canada border will remain closed to non-essential travellers until at least late July. Health Minister Adrian Dix said Arizona, California, and Oregon have all seen record-breaking single day case numbers in the past week. Washington has had 56 virus-related deaths in the past week, while B.C. has had one.
Through the summer, health officials in B.C. will be monitoring new cases of the virus that pop up in the province. Of particular note will be the cases that cannot be linked to other known cases.
We won't be going back in terms of phases but we may need to, in certain area, restrict some types of activities or look at certain situations that are more risky, Dr. Henry said. What I'm thinking about are things like certain work places or places where people are in common accommodation.
And for those looking to get out and travel this summer, Dr. Henry urged people to be respectful of smaller communities.
If you're going to a smaller community, make sure you check ahead what's available, what is open? she said. As we know, some communities are not prepared for visitors this year, because of the nature of their community and we need to be respectful of that as well.
(Newser) An activist who showed up at a Louisiana school board meeting has gone viral after he confronted one board member who defended keeping the name of a school named after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and seemed to be shopping online during the Thursday meeting, per ABC News. "I had intended to get up here and talk about how racist Robert E. Lee was, but I'm going to talk about you, Connie, sitting over there shopping," Gary Chambers says in the video to Connie Bernard as attendees discussed renaming Baton Rouge's Lee Magnet High School. "You sit your arrogant self in here and sit on there shopping while the pain and the hurt of the people of this community is on display, because you don't give a damn. And you should resign." He followed up later on Instagram, noting, "When we don't confront elected officials we give them permission to disrespect us and to devalue us."
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He also showed a picture of Bernard appearing to look at a shopping site. Bernard refuted that allegation Friday, telling the Advocate it was a pop-ad and that "I was actually taking notes, paying attention, reading online comments." In response, Chambers hit back on Instagram, showing Bernard scrolling on her screen for at least 15 seconds (ie, not a pop-up). Bernard has since issued an apology, though she won't resign, per WBRZ. "My comments last week ... were insensitive, have caused pain for others, and have led people to believe I am an enemy of people of color," she says in a statement, adding: "After prayerful consideration and consultation with my family and friends, I will continue to serve all students." Chambers, meanwhile, informed MSNBC Monday that the board members unanimously voted for the name change. He, other activists, and other board members still want Bernard to resign. (Read more viral video stories.)
Can a smartphone app help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Canada?
The federal government thinks so, with the recent announcement that a new contact tracing app called COVID Alert will soon be tested in Ontario, for potential use across the country.
The app, developed by the province, Canadian Digital Service, Shopify and BlackBerry, is slated for release in early July. Its meant to bolster the work of contact tracing, alerting people via their smartphones if they may have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
The problem? Experts say at least 60 per cent of the population must download and run the app for it to be effective. And thats no easy feat.
A similar app in Alberta, ABTraceTogether, which launched May 1, has more than 207,000 downloads to date, according to a spokesperson, in a province with almost 4.4 million people. This means just 4.75 per cent of the population has downloaded the app.
Canada isnt the first country to launch such an app. Singapore and Australia did so before Alberta, and the Alberta app was built using open-source code from the Singapore version. Germany launched one earlier in June, becoming the latest European country to do so.
So how do these apps work? Why arent more people using them? And how can the government convince people to take part?
The Alberta app and COVID Alert both use Bluetooth, not GPS, meaning users locations arent tracked. Instead, when two people with the app come within a certain distance of each other, the apps communicate with Bluetooth signals, logging a digital handshake as proof the two phones have been near each other.
If someone who has the app contracts COVID-19, they put that information into the app, and anyone with the app who has come into contact with that person within a certain time period will be notified on their phone. In Albertas case, users receive a phone call, but only after consent has been given to authorities to share the information.
When someone is notified, they do not receive information about where, when or from whom the contact originated, and the app does not generally collect personal information, although the Alberta app does ask for a phone number, to be used for notifications. With both apps, all data collected is designed to be destroyed within a certain number of days 14 in Ontario after its collected, and 21 in Alberta.
There are a few key differences between ABTraceTogether and COVID Alert, explained Teresa Scassa, Canada research chair in information law and policy at the University of Ottawa.
COVID Alert uses the new Google-Apple system, a partnership announced April 10 and launched May 20. Scassa said this is the most privacy-protective model.
It collects the least amount of data and ensures that that data is destroyed as soon as possible, she said.
COVID Alert is fully decentralized, she said, meaning the notification of COVID-19 contact comes through the app at the users initiation and not from a third party, such as a health official; notifications automatically come through the app once a user has notified the app that they have tested positive.
Albertas app is decentralized until the user contracts COVID-19 and notifies the app, at which point they can choose to consent to the government accessing their tracing data in order for an official to reach out to their contacts.
As Albertas app doesnt use the Google-Apple system it was launched before the system was rolled out its difficult to use for iPhone users, who must leave the app open and running with their screen unlocked for it to work. This wont be an issue for COVID Alert, said Scassa, as the app will be able to run in the background. (The iPhone problem could be fixed in future iOS updates.)
Scassa said when it comes to public health safety, privacy is never an absolute right, and users should make an informed decision about whether to download a contact tracing app. But as no country has yet to have had significant success with these apps, its hard to convince people to download one, in turn making it hard to figure out how effective they are, she said.
These apps have yet to prove themselves, Scassa said, adding that they shouldnt be seen as a silver bullet but as part of a broader approach. For example, if testing isnt widely available, the apps wont work since they rely on test results.
Florian Kerschbaum, director of the Waterloo Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute, said when it comes to contact tracing, Bluetooth is far better for privacy than GPS.
He said COVID Alert and ABTraceTogether are very similar, except that Albertas app is meant to enhance manual contact tracing done by real people, reaching out by telephone while COVID Alert isnt part of manual contact tracing, since notifications are automatic.
Kerschbaum said contact tracing apps are an example of something called the privacy paradox, where people are concerned about privacy in principle, but will willingly give up private information for a small reward.
Thats why many people will use Facebook or Google Maps or other apps that record data, even location data, but wont download a contact tracing app because the app doesnt benefit them as much as it benefits others.
The app is very similar to a face mask my face mask protects you, your face mask protects me.
Kerschbaum explained that much of the information people are concerned about sharing location, for instance is already in the hands of Google and Apple and other companies. Meanwhile, public health agencies have information such as peoples test results and contact information.
All you need to do is link the two, he said, adding that the app is essentially a social contract allowing this to happen.
He said hell be downloading COVID Alert when its available, but hes less sure about the Alberta app, mostly because of the governments approach to it.
He said transparency on the part of the government is key in developing these apps so that the public feels informed, and the Alberta app came as a surprise.
The Alberta government has made a major mistake in not involving the public from the start, he said.
Scassa said shes concerned the national app wont be able to cover the whole country, because it needs to have the buy-in of provincial health agencies, which do the testing. And if the app isnt compatible between provinces, that could severely impact its effectiveness, she said such as in places like Ottawa, where Gatineau, Que., is just a short drive across the border, and many people work in one city but live in the other.
For Fay Arjomandi, president and CEO of mimik technology, privacy is a major concern when it comes to contact tracing apps, and she thinks this will prevent their use. Like Scassa, she noted that in some apps, a users data is private until they contract COVID-19, at which point they turn their data over to the public health agency.
On May 21, Arjomandi presented to the House of Commons standing committee on industry, science and technology alongside Google and IBM. She said shes trying to show the government that her companys patented hybrid edgeCloud computing platform is a more secure way of deploying these apps.
With this technology, the phone acts as its own server, detecting exposure and storing the exposure log on the device instead of sending it to a central system, she said. If a user tests positive for COVID-19, instead of sending their test ID to a public health authority and allowing the authority to access their data, Arjomandis platform would allow the user to send out their own anonymous alerts using a token, eliminating the central third party.
If somebody gets infected, it can initiate a ... community broadcast message from the device, and without sharing any information, she said. I am the cloud, I am the provider, I am the identity and now an app can utilize this on my device.
Like Kerschbaum, Arjomandi wants more accountability from the governments developing these apps.
Its important that we have a transparent conversation.
With files from Rob Ferguson
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Summer in the Bay Area usually brings a flood of interns, students and new workers who fill spare rooms and snatch up months-long Airbnb vacancies.
But this year, the coronavirus pandemic has upended the once-hot Bay Area housing market and kept people at home, leaving landlords bereft and some renters on the hook for payments from subletters who never showed.
Karishma Gokhale, who lives with three roommates in an apartment in downtown San Francisco, has been searching fruitlessly for a subletter to take over the remainder of her lease. Before, it took only two weeks at most to fill an empty spot in her apartment. But this time is different.
Gokhale signed a new lease agreement at the beginning of March, putting her on the hook for rent through March 2021. For now, she and another roommate, who would also like to leave, plan to keep paying rent.
So essentially we could leave if we paid a lease break fee, but then the rent would fall onto our roommates, she said.
Michelle He, who recently graduated from UC Berkeley, is living alone in her two-bedroom Berkeley apartment and has struggled to find subletters to fill the extra space. If she cannot find roommates soon, she said she may break her lease and return to the loft in the house where she used to live with her parents.
Thats an increasingly common choice. A survey from the San Francisco Apartment Association estimated that 7.5% of renters in San Francisco have broken their leases in the past three months, an unprecedented number. Lease-breakers are legally responsible for rent until a landlord can find new tenants, according to state law, though not all may enforce this and a few places, including Solano County, have made an exception for coronavirus-related departures.
Other renters had planned to have summer subletters fill their apartments before they moved to the Bay Area a common tactic in the housing-poor region but are struggling to find takers. Recent college graduate Michael Bass and his roommate signed a year-long lease for an apartment in San Franciscos North Beach neighborhood, intending to sublet the three-bedroom place for July and August to interns or college students. They have found mostly radio silence in their calls for tenants a reflection of how most internships have been canceled or gone remote.
We had a very strong conviction that it would work out in April, but that quickly went sour. Very quickly, Bass said.
He and his roommate likely will remain on the hook for those summer months of rent and are now considering an earlier move to the Bay Area so the apartment does not go unused.
Companies in the business of short-term rentals are also having difficulties. Airbnb laid off a quarter of its workforce in May, and Sonder, another hospitality company headquartered in San Francisco, had major layoffs in March.
Theres been a lot who have just kind of disappeared, mailed in the keys, and just vacated, sometimes with furniture left there, said Sarah Yaussi, vice president of business strategy for the National Multifamily Housing Council, which does research and advocacy for the apartment industry.
Some management companies have terminated their contracts for short- and mid-term rentals, according to Eric Baird, managing director of a listing site called ReLISTO that offers rental units in the Bay Area. Baird said his company plans to move away from short-term rentals for now.
If theres any time to rent long-term, this is it, he said.
Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes
Jackie Tom, who rents out a furnished apartment for 30-day-plus periods and uses the money to help pay for her daughters school, has been unable to find a short-term renter despite cutting prices and offering more amenities than usual.
The furnished market overall is pretty slow, to the point where Im considering leasing my unit downstairs in my house long-term, she said, noting she observed similar trends in two businesses she runs.
Previously, I didnt always want to have someone living downstairs from me, she added. But given the change in the environment, its always nice to have extra income to pay for my daughters school.
The slack summer demand from students and interns likely will evolve into a more serious problem for the rental market as a whole in the fall if students do not return, according to Krista Gulbransen, executive director of the Berkeley Property Owners Association. UC Berkeley has said that its fall semester will take place mostly online and many property owners and rental managers around schools and colleges are beginning to wonder if they should instead offer their units to longer-term tenants, especially nonstudents, Gulbransen said. If landlords adjust, students returning in a year might have a hard time finding housing that fits their time frames and price ranges, she added.
The summers just shot. So for someone to go longer than the summer on a vacancy just to see if the students come back in January is probably not realistic and doable, Gulbransen said.
Anna Kramer is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.kramer@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anna_c_kramer
Police use pepper spray to push back hundreds of protesters trying to topple statue of Andrew Jackson near White House.
Protesters tried to pull down a statue of former US President Andrew Jackson near the White House on Monday night before being dispersed by police.
Washington, DC, WUSA-TV channel reported that police used pepper spray to move protesters out of Lafayette Square, where the Jackson statue is located.
Videos posted on social media showed that the protesters had climbed on the statue, tied ropes around it, then tried to pull it off its pedestal.
A wave of nationwide rallies calling for racial justice has swept the US since May 25, when George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The statue shows Jackson in a military uniform atop a rearing horse. The 19th-century presidents ruthless treatment of Native Americans has made his statue a target of demonstrators protesting the USs legacy of racial injustice.
Jackson, in office from 1829 to 1837, owned more than 500 slaves over the course of his life and was a key figure in the Trail of Tears, the forced relocation of at least 60,000 Native Americans.
A helicopter circled over the gathering of hundreds of people on the newly-renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza as officers continued to use pepper spray to disperse the protesters.
The Jackson statue remained on its pedestal on Monday night.
President Donald Trump tweeted late on Monday that numerous people had been arrested for the disgraceful vandalism.
He added: 10 years in prison under the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!
Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt was at the scene on Monday night, and issued a statement saying: Let me be clear: we will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served.
On June 1, law enforcement officers forcefully cleared peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square so Trump could stage a photo op at a nearby church.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday (June 22) left for a three-day visit to Moscow, Russia, and during his visit Singh will hold talks on ways to further deepen the India-Russia defence and strategic partnership. The Union minister will also attend the 75th Victory Day Parade in Moscow.
Rajnath Singh is scheduled to meet Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during his stay in Moscow and it is expected that he would raise the issue of the delivery of the S-400 missile defence systems during his discussions with the Russian leaders.
Leaving for Moscow on a three day visit. The visit to Russia will give me an opportunity to hold talks on ways to further deepen the India-Russia defence and strategic partnership. I shall also be attending the 75th Victory Day Parade in Moscow. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 22, 2020
It is to be noted that India was supposed to get the S-400 missile defense system by December 2021 but its delivery is being delayed due to coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
"During the visit, the Defence Minister will take up the issue of urgent supply of equipment and spares needed for the Russian-origin fighter aircraft including the Su-30MKIs and MiG-29s of the Air Force and the MiG29Ks of the Indian Navy, the T-90 battle ranks for the Army and the Kilo-class submarines of the Navy along with other warships," government sources told ANI.
Rajnath Singh will also ask Russia to supply the spares needed for Indian fighter jets, tanks and submarine to be dispatched by air rather than by ship to reduce the time taken for the transfer of these materials.
Russia is India's largest defence supplier and in the last couple of years, the two countries have signed several defence deals, including the USD 5.2 billion deal for S-400 missile defence systems.
BrahMos Missile System as well as the licensed production in India of SU-30 aircraft and T-90 tanks, are also the examples of flagship cooperation between the two countries.
An agreement on the cooperation in the production of spare parts for Russian/Soviet military equipment was signed by the two countries during the 20th Annual Bilateral Summit in Vladivostok in September 2019.
This illustration outlines the delicate physiological balancing act a mother's immune system must pull off to prevent a fetus from being rejected by the body. A new study in Cell Reports from Cincinnati Children's researchers indicates the processes work differently in first and second pregnancies. Credit: Cincinnati Children's
Among the holy quests of serious and mysterious medical challenges that doctors and research scientists strive to vanquish is preventing miscarriages, stillbirth and other pregnancy complications including preterm births.
"We don't understand at a cellular and molecular level what causes miscarriages or preterm births, mainly because we don't know how pregnancy works normally," says Sing Sing Way, MD, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Inflammation and Tolerance at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Way and his colleagues are part of a small army of scientists, physicians and others looking for answers to these basic questions with enormous health and scientific implications. Their goal is to devise improved therapies to stem the tide of what remains a severe and entrenched public health crisis.
Way's research focuses on how the immune system changes during pregnancy, and immunological perturbations associated with pregnancy complications. The scientists use animal pregnancy models so that variables in evaluating differences in human pregnancy outcomes including maternal age, genetic diversity between parents and number of prior pregnancies can be properly evaluated.
A mother's immune system is altered during pregnancy to prevent a fetus from being rejected by the body. It is a delicate immunological balance that, if disrupted, could cause a miscarriage or multiple miscarriages. And unfortunately, that balance does too often become disrupted by environmental exposures or physiological changes leading to pregnancy complications.
Way's team is now adding an important new wrinkle by reporting in Cell Reports that a woman's immune system behaves very differently between a first and second pregnancy.
Researchers say this could lead to more personalized and more effective therapeutic strategies.
"First and subsequent pregnancies work very differently and understanding these differences can lead to improved therapies that target the unique immunological perturbations that occur in first and later pregnancies," explained Way, the study's principal investigator.
The study shows the immune pathways that promote a healthy first pregnancy are not the same pathways that promote later pregnancies.
The authors discuss how pregnancy causes physiological exposure, and often re-exposure, to foreign fetal allo-antigens, which are expressed by the developing fetus. These allo-antigens interact directly with the mother's immune system. The consequences after pregnancy are highly varied, they note.
The researchers found evidence of both alloimmunization (where the immune system attacks) and expanded tolerance phenotypes where it does not. Their data show that pregnancy primes accumulation of fetal-specific maternal CD8+ T cells, and that mothers remember their babies immunologically in that these cells persists as an activated memory pool after she gives birth.
Expression to two proteins, PD-1 and LAG-3 by what are called memory T cells, reminds the cells to again be tolerant of the developing fetus again during subsequent pregnancies. But molecular disruptions that neutralize expression of these proteins unleash the activation of fetal-specific CD8+ T cells, causing miscarriage selectively during subsequent, but not first pregnancies, according to the study's first author, Jeremy Kinder, a research associate on Way's laboratory team.
Explore further First pregnancy complications linked to increased risk of future premature birth
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @ijustine) Apple's Update on Siri, iOS 14. App Library, and Other Things You Missed on WWDC 2020 (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter post of @tahir_diablo)
Apple revealed several significant updates on its devices and operating system including Siri's view which is getting a redesign, and iOS 14's new homescreen with customizable widgets.
According to The Verge's latest report, the first official look at the latest version of Apple's iOS 14, was announced at the WWDC 2020. Together with the update, the company confirmed its biggest change to the iOS homescreen: widgets.
#iOS14
1) Widgets on home screen
2) Picture in picture video
3) Messages w/ Inline Replies & Mentions
4) New SIRI
5) App Library IOS 14 update . #WWDC20 1) Widgets on home screen2) Picture in picture video3) Messages w/ Inline Replies & Mentions4) New SIRI5) App Library pic.twitter.com/Upv7x5fcCZ Tahir (@tahir_diablo) June 22, 2020
WWDC 2020 Update: Wigdets, Siri, iOS14
Widgets can still be viewed in the Today view. However, in the latest iOS 14, widgets will live right alongside your apps since Apple will now allow them to be added to the main Home screen. Users can easily customize and add widgets using the new "widget gallery." Relevant apps will be automatically shown by the new "Smart Stack" widget based on the time of day.
Apps can now be automatically organized into lists and groups using the newly announced "App Library" view. It will allow users to now hide their apps on their main home screen. The new update is similar to the app drawer of Android, however, it will have some additional smart grouping features that will allow users to automatically pull out their Apple Arcade games into one batch.
System-wide picture-in-picture to iOS videos was also announced by Apple. Video size can be adjusted or it can also be collapsed into the side of the display and can hover over apps in macOS, allowing the videos to continue playing in the background.
According to Apple, Carplay will receive support for new app categories, such as EV chargers, fast food takeout, and parking apps, and also for custom wallpapers.
The long-requested option from users to set their own browsers and default email is also coming soon to iOS 14. However, the company hasn't announced specific details yet on how it will work.
Instead of taking over your whole screen when you activate the digital assistant, Siri will now have a new view where a small overlay of the animated Siri icon will be displayed at the bottom.
Instead of taking over the entire screen, incoming FaceTime calls and phone calls will also appear with a less obtrusive new pop-up.
Aside from these updates, Apple will have a new Translate app, similar to Google Translate, that will be built into iOS allowing users to easily translate between languages.
The update will allow users to dictate messages and enter texts which can be translated into 11 languages: Mandarin Chinese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Arabic, and Russian.
2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) The Philippines hit a new record high single-day increase in COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with the Department of Health reporting 1,150 new infections.
The total case count soared to 31,825, with the new figures also breaking the record for the number of single-day fresh cases at 789. The other 361 are "late" cases or were part of the validation backlog.
Another 299 survivors were also logged, with total recoveries rising to 8,442. Meanwhile, the death toll stands at 1,186, after nine more succumbed to the disease.
Central Visayas continued to register the highest number of new cases at 320, as Cebu City which is located in the region grapples with a spike of locally transmitted infections.
Metro Manila came next after recording 317, while the remaining 513 came from other regions nationwide.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday announced the appointment of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to lead the COVID-19 fight in Cebu City, which has the most number of confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide at 4,479. In the latest Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) meeting, the President has attributed the upsurge in the city's cases to what he described as the peoples complacency in dealing with the virus.
READ: Duterte appoints Cimatu to lead COVID-19 fight in Cebu City
Cimatu arrived in Cebu on Tuesday, along with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and National Task Force Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., to discuss with the regional IATF strategies for dealing with the health crisis.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police also listed 17 more infections among its ranks. There are now a total of 516 police personnel who have contracted the virus, with 294 recovered patients and nine deaths.
Among Filipinos abroad, the tally of infections went up to 8,324 on Tuesday, after the Department of Foreign Affairs reported 23 new cases. Two more were added to the total recoveries which is now at 5,057, while another two were added to the death toll which climbed to 508.
The global tally of infected has reached 9.1 million people across nations, with more than 472,000 deaths and 4.5 million recoveries.
By Karen Freifeld and Alexandra Alper
WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has sent new guidance to companies struggling to understand the scope of a measure unveiled last month that aims to crack down on chip sales to China's blacklisted telecoms equipment maker Huawei, Reuters has learned.
But the guidance, included in a June 16 letter sent by the U.S. Commerce Department to some semiconductor designers and producers this month, provides little clarity, industry lawyers said.
The "Department of Commerce would like to alert you to a recent amendment to the U.S. Export Administration Regulations ... that may affect business that you may conduct with the HiSilicon, Huawei Technologies, and other Huawei affiliates," Matthew Borman, deputy assistant secretary for export administration at the department, wrote in the letter.
HiSilicon is the chip arm of Huawei, which was placed on a trade blacklist last year over U.S. national security concerns, forcing some suppliers to seek licenses before shipping to it. The United States alleges that the Chinese government could use Huaweis equipment for espionage, which Huawei denies.
Those in the Trump administration pushing for a tougher line on China became frustrated the blacklisting did not do more to upend Huawei's supply chain, prompting an internal campaign, first reported by Reuters, to tighten the rule that culminated in the new regulation in May.
Trade lawyer Doug Jacobson said the June 16 letter "translates the legalese into plain English," but added it "doesn't really shed any new light."
Commerce did not respond to a request for comment.
The new rule expands U.S. authority to require licenses for sales to Huawei of semiconductors designed by the company and made abroad with U.S. equipment. It also requires companies to seek U.S. licenses if they knowingly sell to Huawei foreign-made items developed by the company using certain U.S. technology and software.
But it leaves open key questions about the scope of the transactions it covers, lawyers say, while others point to what they see as loopholes that leave many chip sales to Huawei outside the scope of the regulation.
U.S. regulators in May opened the door to closing gaps in the rule, which went into effect the day it was released. But people familiar with the matter say changes are not imminent. (Writing by Alexandra Alper Editing by Paul Simao)
MOGADISHU, Somalia Two people were killed after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside Turkeys largest overseas military base in Mogadishu on Tuesday, Somali officials said, the latest reminder of Somalias struggle to curb the deadly attacks that have haunted the country for years.
The attack, which bears the hallmarks of the Shabab terrorist group, was carried out just before 9 a.m. as recruits lined up for enlistment at Camp Turksom, where hundreds of Somali soldiers are trained and the new enrollment of dozens was underway.
The bomber posed as a potential recruit, but when he refused to respond to the commands of guards, they shot at him, authorities said. The explosion killed one recruit and a bystander, said a Somali government spokesman, Ismael Mukhtar Omar.
A website linked to the Shabab reported that the group had taken responsibility for the attack, and the terrorist organization has previously carried out similar attacks against the Somali government and Turkish interests in Somalia.
Carla Finkielstein, a cancer researcher and an associate professor of biological sciences in Virginia Techs College of Science, will join the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC on July 1. Finkielstein, whose research focuses on the molecular basis of how circadian rhythms influence cancer initiation and progression, will move her research program and laboratory to the research institute.
Dr. Finkielstein is an internationally recognized leader in the emerging field of chronotherapeutics. Her work on breast cancer has provided important new insights into how circadian rhythms impact tumor progression and the potential importance of time of day for administration of therapeutics, said Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and Virginia Techs vice president for health sciences and technology. She is not only a passionate and innovative scientist, but she is also an equally dedicated teacher and mentor. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Finkielstein to the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.
Finkielstein is a founding member of the Virginia Tech Cancer Research Alliance (VTCRA) a cohort of more than 25 research teams studying brain, breast, colon, lung, liver, and bone cancers in humans and animals. Together, VTCRA members have already accrued more than $5 million in cancer research funding, including grants from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation.
Having Dr. Finkielsteins research program at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is an important part of Virginia Techs plan to grow its emphasis and investment in cancer research across the university, including on the Health Sciences and Technology Campus, said Friedlander. Working with the members of the VTCRA in Blacksburg and Roanoke, we have the opportunity to use highly interdisciplinary approaches to make fundamental discoveries, and to translate those discoveries to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer in people and in animals.
Finkielstein will add to the rapidly growing cancer research community in Roanoke. Other cancer researchers to recently join the research institute include Jenny Munson, an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics in Virginia Techs College of Engineering, who studies interstitial flow and brain cancer; and Samy Lamouille, an assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute who is developing new strategies to target cancer stem cells therapeutically.
These teams will complement cancer care and research programs at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicines new Animal Cancer Care and Research Center. Opening this month on the Health Sciences and Technology Campus, the center includes numerous veterinary oncologists, including interim director and assistant professor Joanne Tuohy, associate professor Nick Dervisis, and associate professor Shawna Klahn.
What I really like about the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is the energy and creativity that is palpable among all in the institute, said Finkielstein, who is also an affiliated faculty member in the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, and an associate professor in the department of surgery at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. The institute brings together basic and translational researchers examining disease from multiple angles, prime facilities, fantastic leadership, and collaborative health professionals; all of which will facilitate the implementation of our research findings into therapeutic applications.
Finkielsteins lab studies the molecular clocks that tell cells when its time to grow, divide, and die. Cells in our body have a predictable 24-hour cycle of division that is regulated by a mix of genetic and environmental cues, such as exposure to light, temperature, and hormone levels. At around sunset every day, freshly divided daughter cells undergo rigorous review, during which DNA replication is completed and an average of 20,000 daily mutations are repaired.
When a cells repair system is impaired, cancerous mutations accumulate particularly if those mutations involve the network of genes that regulate cellular repair and tumor suppression. These mutations disrupt the clock mechanism that keeps cells running in a 24-hour cycle and, as a result, cell division occurs at unscheduled times throughout the day. Left unchecked, cancerous cells are permitted to grow and divide at their own pace, resulting in tumors.
In a series of studies by the Finkielstein lab, including a 2019 paper published in Science Signaling, her team reported the unexpected link between a key circadian protein responsible for keeping the cells molecular clock running, a tumor suppressor molecule that makes sure cells do not carry harmful mutations when they divide, and an oncogene that influences the speed of the cells clock. These findings emphasize the important relationship between the molecular circadian clock and key catalysts involved in cancer initiation and progression.
Finkielsteins research offers a critical foundation for the emerging field of chronotherapeutics the study of time-of-day medicine. This new discipline integrates the cellular and molecular biology of circadian rhythms to inform decision-making about when a therapeutic should be administered to yield the best results.
By developing defined schedules so patients are administered treatment at a time-of-day likely to be more effective for example, by delivering a drug at times when its target is active or present then we will be able to reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic compounds, enhance the drugs efficacy, reduce side effects, and improve the overall quality of life of cancer patients, Finkielstein said.
Although Finkielstein focuses on breast cancer, she said the basic concepts underlying her research can be applied to other cancers.
Finkielstein also has been a leader for Virginia Techs COVID-19 testing program through her work at the Fralin Life Sciences Institute and in partnership with Harald Sontheimer at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. As part of the move of her own cancer research operations to the research institute, she will also become the scientific director of the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory. In this capacity, she will lead Virginia Techs COVID-19 laboratory analysis program through Virginia Techs Schiffert Health Center, helping it expand and optimize its COVID-19 testing capacity and continuing to work in close collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health.
The Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory will be located in the new Fralin Biomedical Research Institute building at 4 Riverside Circle. This lab integrates the universitys existing COVID-19 test analysis facilities, which have the capacity to process up to 500 patient samples per day. Finkielstein said that the brand-new facilities, located in the research institutes infectious disease wing, offer the space, equipment, and trained personnel necessary to continue scaling up the universitys testing operations.
As we continue to partner with additional health districts in Virginia to process samples, we needed to consolidate our testing enterprises to help us optimize our work and deliver results in a timely manner, Finkielstein said. When the pandemic started spreading, I knew I needed to do something. This is my way of contributing something meaningful and tangible to society and our community in Southwest Virginia, so we can detect the virus rapidly, contain the disease, and prevent its spread.
Finkielstein joined Virginia Techs faculty as an assistant professor in the College of Sciences Department of Biology in 2005. Since then, she has trained more than 120 high school and undergraduate students, and has mentored numerous masters and doctoral students at Virginia Tech.
A tremendously important aspect of our job as scientists is to make sure we train the next generation of researchers to carry our research forward, Finkielstein said. Over the years I have been impressed by the ambition, energy, and commitment of students in the translational biology, medicine, and health graduate program, and being in Roanoke and closer to this cohort of graduate students is an added benefit for my lab.
She received her bachelors degree in biological sciences and her doctoral degree in molecular biology from the University of Buenos Aires. She was a research associate at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Centers Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and a postdoctoral fellow in the University of Colorado Health Sciences Centers School of Medicine, where she worked at the interface of molecular and structural biology to study the mechanisms responsible for cellular DNA replication and cell division.
Finkielstein has received numerous awards, including the Virginia Academy of Sciences 2019 Shelton Horsley Research Award, and 2017 Mary Louise Olds Andrews Cancer Award; the Molecular Biology Society of Japan Research Award; an Appalachian Community Cancer Network Scholarship; an American Association for Cancer Research Minority Scholar Award in Cancer Research; a National Breast Cancer Coalition Scholarship; and a National Science Foundation CAREER Award.
Finkielstein maintains her faculty position in the Department of Biological Sciences, and her affiliation with the Fralin Life Sciences Institute.
A Saudi official says the hajj pilgrimage, which usually draws millions of Muslims from all over the world, will only see at the most thousands" of pilgrims next month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The kingdom's Hajj Minster Muhammad Benten said it will be a small and very limited numbers of pilgrims to ensure social distancing and crowd control amid the virus outbreak.
He added that the government is still in the process of reviewing the numbers of overall pilgrims allowed, saying they could be as low as 1,000 people or a little more. In a virtual press conference on Tuesday, Saudi officials said that no one over the age of 65 will be allowed to perform the hajj and that all pilgrims and those serving pilgrims this year will be quarantined both before and after the pilgrimage.
Benten said. This is a very sensitive operation and we are working with experts at the Health Ministry.
Muslims around the world hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Mecca to perform the hajj will have to wait until next year, after Saudi Arabia drastically curtailed the pilgrimage due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The kingdom said late on Monday that only a very limited number of pilgrims would be allowed to perform the hajj in Mecca from among residents of various nationalities already inside the country.
While the decision to drastically curb this years hajj was largely expected, it remains unprecedented in Saudi Arabias nearly 90-year history and effectively bars all Muslims from outside the kingdom from travelling there to performing the pilgrimage.
Its a blow to those whove waited and saved money for years to afford the journey. The hajj is not only a requirement for all Muslims to preform once in a lifetime, but it is also a chance to wipe away past sins and connect with Muslims from all walks of life.
The hajj typically draws 2.5 million people from inside Saudi Arabia and around the world. It's a profound experience, with the faithful standing should-to-shoulder in prayer, often weeping, their palms stretched toward the sky for five intense days of worship around Mecca.
Each country is allocated a specific quota of hajj visas according to its population of Muslims, with Indonesia having the largest contingency at close to 221,000. In countries like Egypt, Pakistan and India, securing a slot can require hefty fees, a connection to a local official or simply years of patience.
Pakistani officials said Saudi authorities had been in touch to inform them about the decision to limit this year's hajj. Pakistan usually sends around 180,000 pilgrims to the hajj each year.
Instead, Pakistan said its diplomats already in Saudi Arabia will represent the country during the pilgrimage this year, which begins at the end of July.
Saudi Arabia's borders have been shut to foreigners since late February as the kingdom tries to slow down the spread of the virus. The government suspended the smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage earlier this year, imposed a nearly three-month-long 24-hour curfew in Mecca, shuttered mosques during the holy month of Ramadan and restricted businesses.
Still, Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of infection in the Middle East, with more than 161,000 confirmed cases so far, including 1,307 deaths.
The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most people, who recover within a few weeks. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death, particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj said the decision to curtail the hajj was aimed at preserving global public health because of the risks associated with large gatherings.
The government said its top priority is to enable Muslim pilgrims to perform the hajj safely and securely. It defended its decision on religious grounds, as well, saying that the teachings of Islam require the preservation of human life.
The kingdom has faced smaller epidemics like the MERS virus and had taken precautions by barring pilgrims from African countries striken by the Ebola virus in recent years.
There have been major disruptions during the hajj in past years, including a deadly stampede and a crane collapse in 2015 that killed more than 2,500 people. In 1987, Saudi security forces killed more than 400 people, mostly Shiite Muslims, in a clash sparked by Iranian pilgrims protesting during the hajj.
The most dramatic closure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, however, took place in 1979 when religious extremists stormed Islam's holiest site, which houses the cube-shaped Kaaba that Muslims pray toward and circulate during pilgrimage. Thousands of worshippers were trapped inside and hundreds were killed in a siege that lasted two weeks.
In the wee hours before Mondays WWDC keynote, Apple managed to smooth things over with Basecamp, the two having fallen into a very public disagreement over the rejection of an app update to Basecamps cross-platform email service, Hey.
Thats the name of it. Its called Hey. Thats not just how the kids talk now, putting Hey at the end of sentences. It might be, The Macalope doesnt really know. Its not how he was using it in that sentence, hey.
He was using it that way in that sentence.
The 1.0 release of Hey had been approved by Apple but the 1.0.1 update was rejected under the argument that it should never have been approved in the first place because it didnt implement Apples purchasing mechanism so the app didnt work immediately. This rightly incensed Basecamps management which shot back on Twitter and the companys website, saying Apple was acting like gangsters.
Microsoft, which has never done anything wrong itself and was just trying to be helpful, chimed in to say that it is very concerned about app store pricing. Microsoft takes just 5 percent of revenue from apps sold on the Windows Store. Of course, it has to because the Windows Store is a ghost town that the ghosts have also have decided to leave and have gone so far as to take their favorite tumbleweeds with them.
Im taking Mr. Brambles and Spikey.
Before you even get into the the details, this argument was optically just so bad for Apple. Basecamps CTO, David Heinemeier Hansson, had previously testified before congress about this very issue. Then here comes Apple, saying This is a nice app you got here. Itd be a shame if sumpin were ta happen to it. Right before WWDC. [chefs kiss]
And it gets worse when you actually do get into the details. Apples statements during this dustup, for example, were sometimes a little hard to swallow.
These rules have been around the App Store since the day we started, said Phil Schiller
Literally the rule youre citing was added in 2018. So, maybe it was around the App Store, but it wasnt actually in the Apple Store. Maybe sitting on the fax machine or something.
Apple also said of Basecamps other apps:
These apps do not offer in-app purchaseand, consequently, have not contributed any revenue to the App Store over the last eight years.
Look at all I do for you. And this is how you repay me? Youre killing your poor mother. Just look at her!
They dont work for you, Apple. They make apps that make your platform better. No one has yet argued that any of their other apps violated the App Store rules, so why even bring that up?
Its ironic that Apples App Store Review Guidelines used to say:
If your App is rejected, we have a Review Board that you can appeal to. If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps.
Its good that they removed that because it often seems like the only thing that helps.
Ultimately, Basecamp managed to work it out by adding a 14-day free trial period with a randomized email account name, so that the app would work without having to set up an account on something gross like a webpage or something, ew. You know, like an animal. Javascript all over your hands. This seems to have satisfied some of what Apple was demanding, but not all of it. Yet the company has indicated that it will approve the update.
Which really just perpetuates the problem. This one disagreement was solved because the wheel was intensely squeaky. Weve managed to kick the can down the road. Yayyy.
The Macalope cares much less about the percentage of the revenue Apple takes than other factors. 30 percent is a lot, but it does drop to 15 percent after the first year if you use subscription-based payment. To Basecamps point, it seems ludicrous that Apple is trying to insist that if you have a multi-platform application, you must still use its payment mechanism on iOS if youre [pretends to don reading glasses] a non-reader-only consumer-oriented app as determined by Apple and only Apple.
Have they walked that part back? Its hard to tell. Which is another problem. Apples rules are arcane, confusing and applied at will. The company loves to boast about how much money flows through the App Store, but when you set yourself up as the only good place for developers to sell apps, youre effectively saying yourself that you represent a monopoly, no matter what your share of the end-user market is. Apple doesnt have a monopoly on the smartphone market, but it arguably has a monopoly on the paying part of the app market. Indeed, The Macalope has made this very point himself numerous times to show that, despite the thoughts of some pundits, the companys not going out of business any time soon. Googles executives have even made the same point themselves by repeatedly claiming people would start shipping Android first any day now until finally just dropping it.
When you make yourself a monopoly, dont get mad when people react to you like youre a monopoly.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 05:15:11|Editor: huaxia
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JERUSALEM, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Coronavirus Cabinet has decided to impose a heavier fine for not wearing a face mask in public places, the prime minister's office said Monday.
The fine will be increased from 200 new shekels (58 U.S. dollars) to 500 new shekels, as part of the efforts to deal with the recent rise in COVID-19 morbidity.
The cabinet also decided to tighten the enforcement of restrictions, and establish a national administration that includes all enforcement authorities.
It also suggested a scenario of a second outbreak with 2,000 ventilated COVID-19 patients and 2,000 other ventilated patients suffering from other diseases.
This extreme scenario was given to guide the government regarding preparations and procurement by the Israeli healthcare system.
Currently, there are 44 patients in serious condition in Israel, 29 of whom are ventilated, according to figures published on Monday by the health ministry.
The ministry also reported 304 new coronavirus cases, the highest since April 23, bringing the total number to 21,082.
Meanwhile, the death toll increased from 306 to 307, while the number of recoveries rose to 15,768, with 74 new recoveries.
Also, the number of active cases reached 5,007, the highest figure since May 7.
China and Israel have cooperated on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Feb. 11, the Tel Aviv Municipality Hall, a landmark in the Israeli city Tel Aviv, was illuminated with the colors of China's national flag, showing solidarity with China in the fight against the novel coronavirus.
On March 19 and April 1, two video conferences were held between Chinese doctors and Israeli counterparts to share experiences in containing the virus' spread and treatment of coronavirus patients. Enditem
Porn star Ron Jeremy was on Tuesday charged with raping three women and sexually assaulting another.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said the adult movie star, 67, is accused of forcibly raping a 25-year-old woman at a home in West Hollywood in May 2014.
He then allegedly sexually assaulted two more women, ages 33 and 46, on separate occasions at a West Hollywood bar in 2017.
Porn star Ron Jeremy was on Tuesday charged with raping three women and sexually assaulting another. He is pictured appearing in the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles
Ron Jeremy is pictured being led by a guard in the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles during his arraignment
The porn star, full name Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, is also accused of forcibly raping a 30-year-old woman at the same bar in July 2019.
He was arraigned in the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
The District Attorneys Office said it also declined a case against Hyatt 'due to insufficient evidence stemming from an incident in 2016'.
In a statement they said: 'Prosecutors are recommending bail at $6.6 million.'
He faces a possible maximum sentence of 90 years to life in state prison in convicted.
In a tweet, the porn actor said: 'I am innocent of all charges. I can't wait to prove my innocence in court! Thank you to everyone for all the support.'
A number of women had already alleged the 40-year porn veteran groped them without their consent. That led to Jeremy being banned from most of the adult industry's high-profile events.
In September 2017, Jeremy was accused of inappropriately touching Kristin Brodie who asked him to sign her breast at a Washington state radio station.
At the time, Brodie told the Daily Beast: 'Our Rock Girl uniforms are just torn up T-shirts. There's not a lot of coverage so you can see the top part of your chest. There's no need to move the collar but that's what he did to all three of us.
Jeremy, who did not achieve fame based on his good looks, earned the nickname The Hedgehog due to his hirsute, stringy hair and unkempt mustache
Charges were announced against porn star Ron Jeremy, 67, on Tuesday
'He pulled our shirts open and reached inside our bras, all the way to the bottom and squeezed hard almost pulling [our breasts] out of our bra, and for me it felt like he was squeezing an udder or appraising something. It was very unpleasant.
'I was nervous but I was a Rock Girl and knew I was being watched, so with that knowledge I tried to look unbothered and unfazed even though I was not.'
Following that incident, Jeremy was told he would not face charges over the allegations.
Police interviewed witnesses and reviewed surveillance videos but the Tacoma City Attorney's Office decided not to press charges.
Stuart Goldfarb, left, defense attorney for adult film star Ron Jeremy, addresses the media after Jeremy's arraignment at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Cente
Jackie Lacey's office said prosecutors are recommending bail at $6.6 million
He faces a possible maximum sentence of 90 years to life in prison in convicted
In 2017, a prominent adult film actress, who wished to remain anonymous, also accused Jeremy of sexually assaulting her.
'The first time I met him on set he put his fingers in my pu**y unexpectedly. I was brand new, outside smoking a cigarette and he comes out just being Ron Jeremy. All of a sudden hes fingering me, and Im like, whoa,' the woman told Daily Beast.
'He was just there as an extra on set, he wasnt even there performing. We joke about ittheres Ron, stay five feet away from him because he does that.
'We dont think anything of it. Unfortunately, it doesnt even register. Its like, oh great, another girl got groped by Ron Jeremy, join the club.'
Sydney Leathers, who is also an adult film actress and writer, also voiced her concerns over how much praise Jeremy recently received online.
'Im personally happy Ron Jeremy has a tree to focus his attention on instead of groping women,' Leathers told the news outlet.
Jeremy, who earned the nickname The Hedgehog due to his hirsute, stringy hair and unkempt mustache, recently made headlines for trying to save his childhood tree in Queens, New York.
The 67-year-old tweeted a picture of himself hugging a tree on May 16 with the caption: 'I need your help. help me save my tree.'
According Jeremy, the tree was planted by his father on the day he was born.
The 67-year-old tweeted a picture of himself hugging a tree on May 16 with the caption: 'I need your help. help me save my tree.' According Jeremy, the tree was planted by his father on the day he was born
'Please let Con Edison know that they cannot tear down this tree,' Jeremy pleaded with his more than 109,000 followers.
In response, Con Edison tweeted: 'Hi Ron, thanks for reaching out to us; we understand your concern. However, we are not involved with this tree's pruning or removal job. Please reach out to NYC Parks department for more information.'
A few days later, Jeremy shared a video story of his tree, tweeting: 'I've been fighting to save my tree over and over it's whole life. Sadly it has run its course and needs to be torn down tomorrow. It is not City's fault. The tree is old.'
And though several of his followers view Jeremy as a sort of hometown hero, the headlines about his tree angered others. Porn star, Janice Griffith, asked on Twitter: 'Did Ron tweet this in between bouts of sexually harassing people?'
And though several of his followers view Jeremy as a sort of hometown hero, the headlines about his tree angered others.
'It's truly horrifying for me to see men who are predators glamorized,' porn actress, Tasha Reign told the Daily Beast.
Reign added: 'Men who commit these crimes of assault should be punished for their actions but unfortunately, with our current legal system, it's extremely challenging to prove sex crimes. That needs to change.'
Porn star, Janice Griffith, asked on Twitter: 'Did Ron tweet this in between bouts of sexually harassing people? He's banned from almost all industry events for groping people without consent.'
Gilead Sciences Inc said on Monday it expects to be able to supply enough of its antiviral drug remdesivir by year end to treat more than 2 million COVID-19 patients, more than double its previous target of 1 million. The company also said it hoped to start trials in August of an easier-to-use inhaled version of the medicine, currently administered only intravenously. Remdesivir is at the forefront in the fight against the virus after the drug helped shorten hospital recovery times in a clinical trial. It was granted emergency use authorization in the United States and full ...
A man who stole 12,000 from his uncles as they were held at knife point has been jailed for five and a half years.
Derek Carrick (43), of Foxborough Close, Lucan, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary in Ballyfermot on February 11, 2019 and unlawfully seizing control of a car at James Street on October 10, 2019.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Carrick and a co-accused, armed with knives and wearing balaclavas, knocked on the door of the home of three brothers and barged their way inside.
Carrick is a nephew of the brothers, aged in their 50s and 60s, two of whom are on disability and one who is retired. Two of the brothers were held at knife point downstairs while Carrick brought the third victim upstairs and stole 12,000 kept in an envelope. A bag containing 80 was also stolen.
Detective Garda Mark Melbourne told Kate Egan BL, prosecuting, that a 68 year old woman was out on the evening of October 10, 2019 and returned to her car. She opened the car as she approached and Carrick jumped into the driver seat. The car did not need a key to start it.
As Carrick made away with the car the woman attempted to pull him but fell to the ground. The car was later recovered on Ballyfermot Road and Carrick found asleep inside.
Carrick, who has 44 previous convictions, made full admissions and apologised to the woman.
Luigi Rea BL, defending, submitted Carrick had pleaded guilty at an early stage and not sought to change his plea.
Judge Martin Nolan told Carrick that these were not very attractive crimes. He said Carrick had taken advantage of a lady in her late 60s and forced his way into her car. He noted there had been no great violence but said it had been very frightening nonetheless.
Judge Nolan said the burglary of the three brothers was a despicable crime to say the least.
He said he must infer that Carrick knew of the situation of the injured parties, knew that there was cash in the house and that the three brothers would not defend themselves.
Judge Nolan noted that some items had been recovered, but the 12,000 was not recovered.
He said the crime was no doubt very frightening and the fact that Carrick was a nephew of the three men must have been a source of disappointment to them to say the least.
He said he thought Carrick was remorseful for what he had done and probably had problems at the time. He imposed a total sentence of five and a half years imprisonment.
A massive search is underway for an 18-year-old Amish woman who disappeared Sunday after attending a church service in the Bird-In-Hand area of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, according to the East Lampeter Township Police Department.
Linda Stoltzfoos (East Lampeter Township Police Department)
Lieutenant Matt Hess told Dateline that Linda Stoltzfoos was last seen around 12:30 p.m. Sunday at a farm on Stumptown Road. She was wearing a tan dress, white apron and white cape, he added.
When Linda didnt make it back to her home on Beechdale Road on Sunday, her parents became concerned and contacted police.
Her disappearance is being treated as a missing persons case. Lieutenant Hess told Dateline that police believe that Linda could be at risk for harm or injury.
There is no reason for us to believe that she wanted to just leave, said Lt. Hess, who describes Linda as a kind and quiet girl. She did not indicate to anyone that she wanted to leave or take a trip. From what we understand, just running off without telling anyone would be very out of character for Linda.
Lieutenant Hess told Dateline that multiple search teams have been out looking for Linda. The teams are utilizing dogs, horses, ATV equipment and drones to help search the rural area.
Were interviewing family, friends and members of the community for information, Lt. Hess added. Were following up on every tip and lead we receive.
A Facebook page called Amish Girl Missing - Linda Stoltzfoos has been created to aid in the search for Linda. Several photos and videos have been shared to the page of community members volunteering to help with the search.
According to the page, a community prayer meeting for Linda will be held at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, behind the Smucker homestead in Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania.
Thank you everyone for your prayers and support, the Facebook post states. We will be holding another evening of prayer and worship on behalf of Linda, her family, and the local community. Please join us in person or on Facebook Live as we intercede for Linda this evening.
Linda is described as 5'10" and 125 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information about Lindas whereabouts is encouraged to call the East Lampeter Township Police Department at 717-291-4676 or to submit a tip on the Crime Watch website.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday said it will offer free technical and vocational education from the second cycle to the tertiary level to build the human resource base of the country.
The Party said a strong and robust technical and vocational education was critical to addressing the growing youth unemployment and therefore the need to prioritize that sector for rapid industrialization and development.
Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC National Communication Officer, said this at a press briefing in Accra.
He gave the assurance that the Party would pay all customers of the collapsed financial institutions whose monies had been locked-up and would restore indigenous Ghanaian participation in the financial sector.
Mr. Gyamfi said the NDC was committed to reducing the size of government by at least 40 ministers to bring down government expenditure and channel more resources into the productive sectors of the economy.
The Party will institute a National Apprenticeship Programme in line with the vision of rapid industrialization and job creation for the country.
The Party will also scrap the 50 percent increment in the Communication Service Tax to reduce the cost of telephoning and data. This will reduce the cost of living and the cost of doing business in the country, he said.
On the health sector, the NDC National Communication Officer said when elected into power, the Party would construct a regional hospital for each of the six newly-created regions and the Western Region.
It would also ensure improvement in access to quality and efficient health care delivery and provide districts without hospitals with fully-equipped modern health facilities.
In addition, we will take healthcare to the doorsteps of the people by building a first of its kind Onipa Nua Hospital Ship and deploy it to provide medical services to the inaccessible riverine and fishing communities on the inland Volta waterways, Mr. Gyamfi said.
We will rehabilitate the Onuador mobile vans that have been abandoned by the current government and procure more, to provide medical outreach services in underserved and hard to reach areas in all the 16 regions of the country.
Mr. Gyamfi said the Party was known for its infrastructural development and as such would construct two new international-standard Infectious Diseases Centres and two additional international research centers.
On education, he said the NDC would abolish the double-track system of secondary education through an emergency and massive infrastructure drive.
This will ensure a conducive environment and one-track qualitative learning experience for Senior High School students.
The NDC Communication Officer said the Party would abolish the mandatory national service and the licensure exams for teacher trainees and restore their automatic employment.
No teacher trainee graduate would be denied posting or employment under the next government of President John Dramani Mahama, who would prioritize the promotion and welfare of teachers.
We will establish university campuses in each of the six newly-created regions, restore the automatic employment of nursing trainee graduates and ensure that no nursing trainee graduate is denied posting or employment under the next Mahama government.
Among other interventions, the Party pledged to execute the distribution of free cocoa fertilizer and chemicals to cocoa farmers to boost yield and improve their welfare.
It would also complete the Eastern Corridor roads, dualize the Aflao, Cape Coast, and Kumasi roads, punish corruption, and end nepotism.
Source: GNA
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Cyberbullying can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder with more than a third of victims facing 'similar levels as people caught up in a terror attack', a first-of-its-kind study has found.
Targets faced intrusive, repetitive thoughts and flashbacks as a result of online bullying, as well as avoidance behaviours such as refusing to talk about an experience or evading certain people and places.
This led them to suggest that asking children about cyberbullying should become a routine part of any children's mental or psychological assessment.
Cyberbulying prevalence among teenagers is thought to be between 10 and 40 per cent.
Victims of cyberbullying face intrusive, repetitive thoughts and flashbacks a study by researchers at King's College London has found. (Stock image)
In the study, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, researchers handed questionnaires to 2,218 pupils aged 11 to 19 that were attending four secondary schools in London.
They were asked what type of bullying they had faced, how often it had happened, and how long it had lasted. Each was also screened for PTSD symptoms.
The survey responses showed that nearly half, 46 per cent, had been involved in bullying either as the victim, 17 per cent, perpetrator, 12 per cent, or both, four per cent.
As much as 13 per cent, had been cyberbullying victims while eight per cent had been cyberbullies and four per cent said they were both victims and bullies.
However, just 52 per cent of cyber victims were also victims of traditional bullying, while only 48 per cent of cyberbullies were also traditional bullies.
The researchers wrote there was some 'overlap' between both types of bullying, but that pure cyberbullies were less likely to also target individuals in person.
Traditional bullying was also more common, they said, with 16 per cent saying they had been bullied in person, 12 per cent admitting to bullying others, and 6.5 per cent saying they had been both victims and perpetrators.
The researchers found that a third of cyberbullies also experienced PTSD symptoms.
However, they also found that traditional bullying was more prevalent than cyberbullying, and that just 48 per cent of cyberbullies were also traditional bullies (Stock image)
Study co-author Dr Dasha Nicholls, from the Division of Psychiatry at Imperial College London, said: 'Parents, teachers and health professionals need to be aware of possible PTSD symptoms in young people involved in cyberbullying.
'Despite cyberbullying being less frequent than traditional bullying, it is noteworthy that more than a third of cyberbullies were not involved in traditional bullying, but mainly as traditional victims.
'This suggests that the anonymity provided to perpetrators online may constitute a new platform for bullying to occur, though this finding requires further study.'
The team concluded in their paper: 'Cyberbullying, as a victim only, or as a victim-perpetrator, seems to be associated with multiple types of PTS symptoms.
'Cyber and traditional victimisation significantly predicted intrusion and avoidance.
'Paediatricians, general practitioners and mental health professionals need to be aware of possible PTS symptoms in young people involved in cyberbullying.'
From the sample just over half were girls, 55 per cent, and two thirds were from black, Asian and other ethnic minority groups.
As much as 80 per cent of the children involved had been born in the UK.
Four cities in Upstate New York are great places to live and visit because of their great food, education, and culture.
The 2020 ranking of Americas 100 Best Small Cities is out. Ithaca lands at No. 24.
Resonance Consultancy released its latest edition of Best Cities ranking Tuesday. The group specializes in real estate, tourism, and economic development for countries, cities and communities. Among its other Best Cities include Americas 50 Best Large Cities and Americas 50 Best Midsize Cities. Albany, Syracuse, and Rochester are on those lists.
Scores measure for the worlds best cities are based on six metrics: place, product, programming, people, prosperity, and promotion. Those metrics subcategories include outdoors, neighborhoods and landmarks, university ranking, shopping, nightlife, and more. Resonances methodology also analyzes statistics and user-generated reviews and online activity in Google, Facebook and Instagram.
Here are the winning details for the following Upstate cities below.
Best Small Cities category has a metro populations between 100,000 and 500,000 people. Among the reasons why Ithaca is No. 24:
Cornell University and Ithaca College
Finger Lakes region of New York state
Downtown Ithacas restaurants and an underrated nightlife scene
More than 100 gorges and waterfalls located within 10 miles of downtown including the 215-foot Taughannock Falls
Night falls on the state Capitol, top, and downtown Albany as seen from Rensselaer, N.Y., on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. Mike Groll | AP PhotoAP
Best Midsize American Cities category has metro populations between 500,000 and a million people. Albany landed at No. 30. Among its assets include the following:
Connected by road, rail and the No. 11-ranked airport among U.S. midsize cities
Top 10 household income (No. 8) and educated citizenry (No. 9 in Resonances Educational Attainment subcategory)
Central location and a few hours from the Berkshires, Adirondacks, Finger Lakes wine region, and New York City
18th and 19th-century historic homes and compact, walkable streets to enjoying dining
The Syracuse skyline is seen from the former Nynex building in downtown Syracuse. Syracuse City Hall is on the right and the State Tower Building is in the middle of the photo. (Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com)Rick Moriarty
Syracuse landed at No. 42 in the midsize cities. Its advantages include:
Reinventing itself as The Green Apple of the state. The Clean Tech Center, a clean energy business incubator program, is one of the first of its kind in the country. It boasts 30 businessesand growing.
The city plans to remove a 1.4-mile stretch of Interstate 81 that has sliced through its downtown since the 1950s.
Syracuse University, the No. 7 ranked University in the nation among midsize cities.
Its 150 parks, two hospitals and two large summer jazz festivals.
The Best Large American Cities category has metro populations of a million people or more. Rochester is No. 50 for the following reasons:
Its history of companies like Kodak, Western Union, and Xerox.
Affordable old world charm, stately homes.
University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology have renowned research programs.
For a full list of Resonances Best Cities, visit here.
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Central New York is one of Americas most affordable places to live, with a tradition of career opportunity, exciting entertainment and outdoor recreation, and an excellent quality of life. Find out more at The Good Life Central New York.
SYDNEY, Australia For years there were private whispers and warnings from young women about a pattern of abuse by one of Australias most powerful men a judge on the countrys highest court.
Now, an internal court inquiry has found that the judge, Dyson Heydon, had indeed sexually harassed at least six young women on his staff, reigniting #MeToo outrage in a secretive, proudly masculine country where many women are still calling for a fuller reckoning.
The findings led Chief Justice Susan Kiefel to issue a statement Monday confirming the investigations conclusions. We are ashamed that this could have happened at the High Court of Australia, she said. We have made a sincere apology to the six women whose complaints were borne out.
The inquiry has cast a harsh spotlight on the relationship between senior judges and often-younger associates, who are top-level law graduates chosen for their promise and placed under intense pressure in situations where power flows one way. The investigation also laid bare what many Australian lawyers have described as a male-dominated and insular culture where harassment is rife and speaking up costly.
Indian IT industry body NASSCOM urges the US administration to shorten the visa suspension to 90 days as it will hurt the recovery US companies.
In a statement, NASSCOM said, We urge the administration to shorten the duration of these restrictions to 90 days. Lengthening these burdensome restrictions on the US companies that are trying to recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and will only serve to harm our economy.
Also Read: Donald Trump suspends H-1B, other visas till year-end
This has come at the back of a proclamation by US President Donald Trump banning non-immigrant visas such as H-1B and L-1 till December with the possibility of it extending further. This is in a bid to fight unemployment in the US, which now stands at 40 million at the back of COVID-19.
Trump in the proclamation said that, 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.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
Also Read: What is the actual impact of Trumps H-1B visa ban and other questions answered
This would mean that barring a few exceptions, Indian nationals and others who are granted new H-1Bs or L-1s as well as other visa types after June 23, will not be allowed to enter the US until the proclamation expires.
This new proclamation will impose new challenge and possibly force more work to be performed offshore since the local talent is not available, NASSCOM said in the statement.
According to NASSCOM, it will hurt the US economy as most industries across the US including manufacturing, technology, accounting, medicine, among others, employ skilled workers from other countries for the innovation, productivity, and skill they bring to their companies or for their clients.
Highly skilled non-immigrants are playing critical roles in the delivery of these services and the development of these services and products. Without their continued contributions to the U.S. economy, the economic pain would worsen, industry would slow, and the timeline for a treatment and cure of Covid-19 would lengthen, the agency said.
This move, NASSCOM in the statement said, has come despite the request to the US President not to ban these visas from thousands of US corporations, universities, medical facilities, research institutions, directly and through their associations because of the harm it would do now and going forward as the country reopens and recovers.
Also Read: H-1B visa ban: All you need to know about the move to 'protect US workers'
The agency said that its members provide essential services to hospitals, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, state and local government agencies, financial institutions, technology and communications firms, grocers, manufacturers, and thousands of other businesses across the United States.
Without their continued contributions to the US economy, the economic pain would worsen, industry would slow, and the timeline for a treatment and cure of COVID-19 would lengthen, the statement added.
"Let me reaffirm Chinas commitment to its longstanding friendship with Africa. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, China shall never waver in its determination to pursue greater solidarity and cooperation with Africa."
Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks made in his speech delivered at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit On Solidarity Against COVID-19 indicated the firm resolve of China and Africa to jointly combat the novel coronavirus pneumonia, and charted the course for the two sides' pragmatic cooperation in the future.
International public opinion holds that the summit has built a practical platform for China and Africa to learn each other's demands, as well as make and implement a task list.
Huge impacts have been exerted on Africa's economic and social development by the pandemic. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the economy in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to shrink by 1.6 percent this year. The pandemic will swipe away the positive progress achieved by the region, and even bring huge pressure on the economic growth of the region in the years to come. A World Bank report predicted that that overall sub-Saharan Africa's economy will be between 2.1% and 5.1% smaller by the end of the year, triggering the first recession in the region over the past 25 years.
Undoubtedly, African countries are facing double pressure, from both the pandemic and economy. To support them in pandemic response will help them boost economic and social development, while to support them in economic and social development will help them better fight the virus. It is urgent to defeat COVID-19, as promoting economic and social development remains a fundamental approach to improve livelihood and well-being for the people.
"To cushion the impact of COVID-19, it is important to strengthen Belt and Road cooperation and accelerate the follow-ups to the FOCAC (Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation) Beijing Summit. Greater priority needs to be given to cooperation on public health, economic reopening, and peoples livelihood." What Xi said at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit On Solidarity Against COVID-19 indicated China's unswerving determination to advance China-Africa cooperation.
For those African countries that are hardest hit by the coronavirus and are under heavy financial stress, China will work with the global community to give them greater support, as it helps African countries enhance public health spending to better cope with the pandemic at the critical moment, and is conducive to Africa's long-term and sustainable development. "China's solidarity with Africa is a vital part of this effort," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Former South African diplomat Gert Grobler also pointed out that China has played the role of a responsible major country with its concrete actions.
Extending sympathy to and helping each other, China and Africa have embarked on a distinctive path of win-win cooperation.
China has been Africa's largest trading partner in the past 10 years, as well as the biggest financier of the continent's infrastructure. China-built industrial parks, factories, schools and hospitals are seen everywhere in Africa, and the country has helped the continent construct over 10,000 kilometers of roads, 6,000 kilometers of railways and over 100 airports, ports, and power stations.
China-Africa cooperation has greatly promoted Africa's development. To help the continent get rid of the pandemic as soon as possible, China supports Africa in its effort to develop the African Continental Free Trade Area and to enhance connectivity and strengthen industrial and supply chains. China will explore broader cooperation with Africa in such new business forms as digital economy, smart city, clean energy, and 5G to boost Africas development and revitalization.
These efforts for China-Africa cooperation will lay a solid foundation for Africa's development in the post-pandemic era, and further indicate Xi's remarks made at the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit five years ago: "Friendship and justice, which defines China-Africa relations, require us to facilitate Africas development endeavor with Chinas development and ultimately deliver win-win progress and common development through mutually beneficial cooperation."
The pandemic won't impede the progress of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the FOCAC, as well as a new starting point for China-Africa joint development. All the ten cooperation plans with Africa raised by China at the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit have been implemented, and significant progress has been achieved regarding the eight major initiatives in close collaboration with African countries raised by China at the 2018 Beijing Summit of the FOCAC.
The urgent task remains that China and Africa seize the major opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative, and see to it that the Belt and Road Initiative and the AU Agenda 2063, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the development programs of African countries better complement each other, so as to expand areas of cooperation, unlock new cooperation potential, consolidate their traditional areas of cooperation, and foster new highlights of cooperation in the new economy.
Both parties agreed to chart the course for China-Africa cooperation in a post-COVID-19 era, and work together to on the 2021 FOCAC calendar, as they promised in the Joint Statement of the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19.
The logo of FOCAC indicates peace and development, as well as vitality and prosperity. It is a vivid description of China-Africa friendship and cooperation. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, China shall never waver in its determination to pursue greater solidarity and cooperation, peace and development, and vitality and prosperity with Africa.
The Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 has made a new blueprint for China-Africa cooperation and injected new energy into Africa's economic revival, signaling a bright future for the China-Africa community with a shared future that the two sides have been striving for.
Free Market
Peterboroughs Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) Peterborough has been running the Free Market, a program that provides clothing, books and small household items at no charge.
The market, which has been running for 15 years, has been located in Sadleir House, which was closed in March when the pandemic struck.
But a change is being made. The physical market space will not reopen, with the market board working to connect people with the items they need in different ways. And the call is out for community members to offer input.
This will include a refocussing on student and community involvement through engaging in the working group, hosting community and on-campus pop-ups, and other educational campaigns as determined by the future working group, states a press release from OPIRG.
The annual free giveaway day also had to be cancelled this year.
While the Store will be changing, the program is going to continue, states the release. And to do that, we need your help! We ask that students and community members who are interested in joining the Free Market working group, and/or ensuring the longevity of the program, to contact us through email or social media. You may also share your opinion/visions for moving forward using our survey, linked below. Finally, we will be continuing discussions at future pop-up events.
A survey is online at https://trentu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5AOu7cyf92KBZA1, and the OPIRG can be reached by email at opirglistings@gmail.com, on Instagram at @opirgptbo and on Facebook: @opirg.peterborough
Smoke from the Bighorn Fire is expected to linger above a swath of Tucson through late Tuesday morning as the wildfire continues to burn since it was sparked by lightning June 5, officials said.
The smoke was expected to settle into the Catalina, Saddlebrooke, Oro Valley and along Canyon Del Oro and Pedro River Valley communities by Monday evening, according to the Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program.
Program officials are suggesting people consider canceling or delaying morning activities until air improves.
The fire has grown to 58,553 acres and was 16% contained as of Monday, officials said.
Gov. Doug Ducey visited Catalina State Park Monday to learn more about the fire. Ducey thanked firefighters, local agencies that are assisting, and others during his visit. This is incredibly dangerous work in hot and extreme conditions, Ducey said. And those batting these wildfires remain in our constant prayers.
Ducey said six prison inmate crews from the state Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, are currently deployed to help with fires across Arizona. Four of those crews are helping with the Bighorn Fire.
These fully trained and talented Type II crews are a vital resource to Arizona and theyre a heroic example of how were collaborating across state agencies to protect lives, pets and property, he said.
Fire crews near Summerhaven spent Tuesday working on a spot fire that started overnight across a fire line near Carter Canyon, Rocky Gilbert, of the Southwest Incident Management Team, said in a Monday afternoon operations update.
It might have taken getting married and becoming a father to convince Prince Harry to leave the royal family, but that doesnt mean the idea wasnt always on his mind. Though many blame Meghan, Duchess of Sussex for the couples 2020 departure, Harry had always dreamt of a life where he was something other than Prince Harry. And his time in the military far from the glitz and glam of royal life reportedly solidified his eventual exit.
Prince Harry served 10 years in the military. | Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down in March
Back in November 2019, Harry and Meghan took a break from the drama of the royal family and headed to North America for six weeks. Little did the public know, the two were planning to make a major announcement upon returning home. In January 2020, Meghan and Harry officially announced that theyd be stepping back from their roles as senior royals for a more peaceful, private life.
The decision didnt go over well with the public, and many blamed Meghan for the couples departure. But in reality, Harry had spent several years in the military, all of which served as a chance for him to be something more than a prince. And those years stuck with him until he finally took control of his own life.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Ben Stansall/WPA Pool/Getty Images
RELATED: Prince Harry Is Increasingly Vulnerable Now That Hes Moved Away From the Royal Family, Expert Says
The military became a safe place for the prince
When Harry enrolled in the military, he was doing what every other British royal man had done. But Harrys years in the military werent something he did because he was required. They became some of the most important years of his life.
Suddenly, he was sleeping in the same barracks, eating the same food, wearing the same clothes, and stationed in the same war zones as people hed never rubbed elbows with before, royal commentator Kristen Meinzer told Insider. Back in 2013, after completing a four-month tour of Afghanistan and long before Meghan was in the picture he was expressing the same sentiments [about leaving the family].
RELATED: Prince Harry Reveals Heartbreaking Reason for Exit From Royal Family: There Was No Other Option for a Peaceful Life
Harrys time in the military gave him a glimpse at a normal life
While in the military, Harry was treated the same as everyone else. He wasnt a royal he was on the same level as all the others. And he once revealed that he much preferred it to being a prince. He once revealed to The Guardian that he definitely felt more comfortable in the military than at Kensington Palace, where he once lived before marrying Meghan.
Harry also credited the military for giving him some normalcy. You forget, I was in the military for 10 years, so Im more normal than my family would like to believe, he said in his 2019 ITV interview.
He was scarred by the paparazzi after his mothers death
Harrys want for a normal life stretches back far before he met Meghan. He admits to being scarred by his mothers death and that her loss took a huge mental and emotional toll on him. He lashed out, partying and drinking too much, mostly because of the life he was forced to live and that his mother wasnt there to guide him.
That, combined with his years in the military, made him always crave a life where he wasnt referred to as His Royal Highness. The couples decision to step down and move to North America might, on the surface, seem like Meghans fault, though Harry made it clear years ago that he was ready to leave at any time.
After more than six years of civil war, the warring parties in South Sudan agreed in late February to form a Transitional Government of National Unity. This is a long-delayed, but necessary step toward ending a conflict that has left some 400,000 people dead and well over 4 million others displaced inside and outside of the country.
South Sudan is a fragile state that is struggling with several challenges. Chief among them are a serious shortage of food that has pushed more than 9 million people into food insecurity and a sharp spike in the number of COVID-19 cases that has overwhelmed the countrys health care system, one of the weakest in the world. To add to these problems, the parties to the February agreement are struggling to agree on solutions, and the political impasse could be costly.
According to Caroline Sekyewa, South Sudan Country Director at the International Rescue Committee, community violence is raging in several states where the government is unwilling and unable to exercise political and administrative control. The political standoff is preventing the formation of critical institutions, including the appointment of state leadership required to lead a COVID-19 response at the local level.
The key to begin fixing South Sudans problems is political stability, and the key to political stability is strong, democratic governance.
On June 9, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway -- also known as the Troika -- issued a statement urging South Sudans fledgling Transitional Government of National Unity to take the next step and fill vacant positions in local and state governments.
The Troika noted that the increasing violence is causing immense suffering for the people of South Sudan. It hinders humanitarian access to those most in need and impedes the countrys COVID-19 response.
Now is the moment for the President and Vice Presidents, supported by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the guarantors of the peace agreement, to agree on the selection of governors and to move forward to govern together for the benefit of the people of South Sudan, said the Troika in a statement. Any further delay creates uncertainty that undermines the transition process, slows the fight against COVID-19, and holds back efforts to end the violence that now threatens the hard-won peace.
On June 17, the parties reached agreement on the selection of state governors. While this is good news, there remains an urgent need for follow-through and continued statesmanship by all sides.
SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The city stands to gain about $762,000 through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help cover local expenses from a global pandemic.
Shaker Finance Director John Potts told council Monday (June 22) that the city has already spent roughly $250,000 on the COVID-19 health emergency since early March -- and that's not yet counting any payroll for front-line workers who might qualify for reimbursement.
In setting up a Local Coronavirus Fund authorized by council on Monday, Potts said the city will need to encumber the calculated $761,850 by October and have the funds spent by Dec. 28, or else return the remainder to Cuyahoga County.
Asked by Vice Mayor Tres Roeder if it appeared likely the city would spend all of its CARES Act allocation, Potts noted that if the city is able to recoup a substantial amount of front-line payroll, there likely wont be any leftover funds.
"We've already spent a quarter-of-a-million dollars before taking into account any of those costs that are also consistent with the requirements of the CARES Act," Potts said.
According to the spreadsheet distributed by the federal Office of Budget and Management and the Ohio Department of Taxation, Shaker can expect to receive about 1.4 percent of Cuyahoga County's share of about $55.6 million.
"The good news is that there are dollars permitted through the CARES Act," Mayor David Weiss noted. "Unfortunately, it does not replace all of the revenue we've lost or had delayed."
Along those lines, council also approved a preliminary 2021 tax budget to be forwarded to the county next month, which Potts said does not yet take into account "what if any shortfalls will arise" relating to the COVID-19 health and economic crisis, "although there are some showing now. But it's still very unclear."
Without the pandemic factored in, the preliminary tax budget for 2020 shows about $55.9 million in total estimated revenue, compared with over $57.3 million in projected expenditures, leading to a shortfall and "additional need" of about $1.4 million.
Councilwoman Nancy Moore, who chairs the Finance Committee, commended Potts and other department officials for undertaking the burden from the very early going in identifying potential costs due to the outbreak.
NOPEC grant
In other business, the city is also lined up for a grant of about $52,500 from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, which will be used to replace a generator at Shaker Heights Fire Station No. 2.
City Sustainability Coordinator Michael Peters told council this amount is down slightly from the previous two years, with last year's grant being used to replace an old generator in City Hall.
Moore added that the grant is based on the number of utility customers enrolled in the NOPEC aggregation program, which drives energy prices down.
On the Finance Committee, "we asked why the numbers were down in a program where people opt in and opt out," Moore said. "And it turned out that many people in Shaker were subscribing to the '100 percent renewable energy contract.'"
New zoning
A public hearing was also held prior to council's approval of an amendment to the city zoning code to allow expanded uses in the city's Office District, primarily along the outskirts of the Van Aken District.
Principal Planner and Zoning Administrator Daniel Feinstein explained that the additions will allow laboratories and research facilities, along with limited production processing in the office zone.
City Economic Development Director Laura Englehart added that the change will also help a local biotech firm, Cellular Technologies Limited (CTL) expand into a new building just bought due east at the city limits and across Chagrin Boulevard from its current headquarters.
Plans call for CTL keeping the original HQ and expanding into its new 36,700-square-foot Chagrin Corporate Center, providing additional offices as well as analyzer production space for its ImmunoSpot technology.
Details are still being worked out, but CTL currently has a workforce of about 100 employees.
Read more from the Sun Press.
The Ashanti Regional branch of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has set up a 9-Member Committee to oversee the upcoming mass registration slated for June 30.
The Committee has the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Hon. Nana Agyemang Prempeh, as its Chairman.
Other members include CEO of Youth Employment Authority (YEA) Justin Koduah, acting Regional Youth Organizer, Dennis Kwakwa, Regional Organiser, Francis Adomako, Regional Women's Organizer, Nana Ama Ampomaa as well as Alhaji Salim Mansuru Bamba, Regional Nasara Coordinator.
The rest are Marilyn Yeboah, Secretary to the Regional Chairman, Nana Ama Poku, Deputy CEO, Exim Bank Ghana and Borris Baidoo, a financier and member of the party.
The Committee will be responsible for coordinating the party's activities and involvement in the mass registration in the region.
Speaking to the media in an interview, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, said the party was adequately prepared for the upcoming registration and would fully participate.
The Electoral Commission has set June 30 for the commencement of a new registration and will be expected to last for about 38 days.
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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Last week, Canada failed to win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. While it is a time for introspection regarding our countrys foreign policy, it is equally a time for reflection regarding the effectiveness of the United Nations system of peace and security itself.
On June 26, 1945, delegates from 50 nations gathered in San Francisco to sign the UN Charter, the foundation document of a sweeping post-World War II rules-based order. The exhausted victors of the war in Europe summoned the energy to unite the world around a new concept of human rights as the foundation for peace, backed by a powerful Security Council capable of decisively mobilizing collective action to maintain international peace and security.
Even as the ink dried on the UN Charter, U.S. President Harry Truman made a prescient remark: If we fail to use it, we shall betray all those who have died so that we might meet here in freedom and safety to create it. If we seek to use it selfishly for the advantage of any one nation or any small group of nations, we shall be equally guilty of that betrayal.
Indeed, since that remarkable day, the world has only witnessed a truly effective Security Council for a single decade: the 1990s. Neither the Cold War nor the post-9/11 counter-terrorist wars were conducive to the international rule of law. The council became the microcosm of a polarized world, exacerbated by the veto each of its permanent five (P5) members China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States exercise over the 15-member bodys decision-making.
In recent years, the 10 elected council members have voiced frustration at their weak negotiating position, while the 193-member General Assembly has even voted to publicly condemn the council for its failure to take life-saving action in Syria. Should the world resign itself to the organizations core dysfunction?
In the context of the 1950 Korean War, President Truman and his Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, called out the Soviet Union for the series of vetoes it had employed for five years as the councils ideological outcast, bringing the UN to a standstill. Acheson encouraged the General Assembly to pass the Uniting for Peace resolution, recognizing its own right to make non-binding recommendations to UN members to take collective measures to restore international peace up to and including military force in lieu of a blocked council. It was a bold move. However, the resolution grew out of favour during the 1960s onward, as the General Assembly swelled in size and would no longer generate predictable majorities for the West.
Today, the Uniting for Peace procedure may be reinstated as a safety valve for a blocked Security Council, but it would require an act of faith in the UN system. Until now, law-abiding countries such as Canada have been placed in the impossible situation of choosing between circumventing the council to take coalition enforcement action in violation of the UN Charter, and standing by while the slaughter continues.
The 1999 decision of Western states to deploy NATO air power to protect Kosovar Albanian civilians at the mercy of Slobodan Milosevic, despite the looming vetoes of Russia and China, is a prominent example. While effective and principled, that action likely constituted a violation of the Charter and undoubtedly served to dilute the councils authority, as later reflected in Afghanistan (2001), Iraq (2003) and beyond.
75 years following the signing of the UN Charter, the Security Council has reached a new low point in its international stature, and the world is evidently suffering. Even a principled approach to peace and security is not sufficient if it circumvents the UN system and undermines the long-term sustainability of the international order.
If UN member states wish to once again pursue the laudable goals set out by the founders, it is time to take a new look at its working methodology and recognize the important role of the General Assembly as a possible avenue around a veto exercised according to the narrow self-interest of a P5 member. Even without a Security Council seat, Canada could play a leading role in restoring the international rule of law.
Andrew Carswell is executive director of the International Rule of Law Initiative in Ottawa.
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India on Tuesday asserted that it is examing the requests of several countries including the US, France, Germany to allow their airlines to operate repatriation flights.
In a statement, Ministry of Civil Aviation Spokesman Rajeev Jain said, "We have received requests from concerned authorities in several countries including the US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in the transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission. These requests are being examined."
He added, "We have also had one round of negotiations with the US on 15 June 2020 with representatives of the US Department of Transportation and US Embassy on this issue. They were invited to submit precise proposals in this respect. Communication has now been received on 19 June 2020 detailing these requests."
Jain also confirmed that India is "now looking at the possibility of establishing bilateral arrangements". He said, "As we move from controlled and managed aviation evacuation of our citizens in different parts of the world and foreign nationals from India, we are now looking at the possibility of establishing bilateral arrangements."
"These evacuation flights which were primarily meant for the evacuation of our citizens from all over the world are now increasingly carrying Indians and citizens of other countries outbound to countries where they are normally resident," he added.
He also said, "As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. These are all destinations where demand for travel has not diminished. Final decisions pursuant to negotiations are expected to be taken soon."
The magnitude-7.4 earthquake near Huatulco, Oaxaca caused rockfalls, and damaged buildings in hillside villages.
A powerful earthquake centred near the southern Mexico resort of Huatulco killed at least four, swayed buildings in Mexico City nearly 700 kilometres (435 miles) away and sent thousands fleeing into the streets.
Mexicos civil protection agency said the death toll from the earthquake was four.
The fatalities were near the quakes epicentre in the mountainous state, Oaxaca known for its coffee, mescal and Spanish colonial architecture.
Rockfalls blocked the winding mountain roads between the state capital of Oaxaca City and the coast. A clinic and other buildings in hill villages near the epicentre were severely damaged, images on social media showed.
The dead included a worker from state oil company Pemex, who suffered a bad fall, Mexicos civil protection agency said. Pemex was forced to briefly shutter the countrys biggest oil refinery in Oaxaca.
Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said a building collapse in Huatulco killed one person and injured another.
Ports, airports and refineries were not damaged, he said in a video-recorded phone conversation with his civil defence chief. There had been more than 140 aftershocks, most of them small.
Employees standing outside of their work building after a powerful earthquake, in Mexico City, Mexico [Fernando Llano/AP Photo]
Seismic alarms sounded midmorning with enough warning for residents to exit buildings. Power was knocked out to some areas.
Helicopters flew over downtown Mexico City, and police patrols sounded their sirens.
Groups of people still milled around in close proximity on streets and sidewalks in some neighbourhoods of the capital about an hour after the quake. Many were not wearing masks, despite past appeals from municipal officials for them to do so as a way to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.4 quake hit at 10:29am local time (15:29GMT) along Mexicos southern Pacific coast at a depth of 26km (16 miles). The epicentre was 12km (seven miles) south-southwest of Santa Maria Zapotitlan in Oaxaca state.
A student group at Rice University, in Houston, Texas, is demanding officials fund a Black House on campus as well as remove a prominent statue of the schools slave-owner founder.
The commands were made by Rices newly formed Black Students Association (BSA) and posted publicly to the schools Graduate Student Association (GSA) official Facebook page.
Here are what Black undergraduate students have demanded from Rice University administration, author of the post, graduate research assistant Dani Perdue wrote. I hope they are listening! #NoMoreLipService #blacklivesmatter.
In addition to establishing a Black House on campus, the demands highlighted by Perdue also sought the removal of a statue of the universitys founder, William Marsh Rice, a slave owner and businessman who left the bulk of his estate to help build the university in 1912 on the grounds it would be for whites only.
Rice Universitys history has included many racist moments such as the Klu Klux Klan chapter and blackface social gatherings, the group wrote. In addition to that, sitting at the center of our university is William Marsh Rice, the owner of 15 slaves during the mid-19th century.
The group are seeking the removal of a statue of the universitys founder, William Marsh Rice, a slave owner and businessman who left the bulk of his estate to help build the university on the grounds it would be for whites only
According to its website, the majority of students at Rice University are white - at a rate of 35 percent - while Black and African American students account for just 4.93 percent of students
BSA called the statue a constant reminder to many Black students of what Rice University used to be like and what it stood for.
We believe that there could be numerous better options to represent the heart of our university and acknowledge Rices racist past.
Similar calls by other students have requested Rice's statue be replaced with an enshrinement of Raymond L. Johnson, the university's first Black student who was admitted in 1964 after Rice's 'whites only' rule was overturned.
Here are what Black undergraduate students have demanded from Rice University administration, author of the post, graduate research assistant Dani Perdue wrote. I hope they are listening! #NoMoreLipService #blacklivesmatter
The student group have said that more Black professors and other faculty members need to be hired; the inclusion of hate speech must be added to Rices code of conduct; and the schools intake of Black students needs to be increased.
According to its website, the majority of students at Rice University are white - at a rate of 35.5 percent - while Black and African American students account for just 4.93 percent of students.
The other makeup is 18.4% Asian, 10.7% Hispanic or Latino, 3.38% two or more races , 0.142% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0997% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.
A more comprehensive list of the groups demands was posted to the Rice Black Student Associations Instagram page which, in part, was titled Inaction is not an option.
Within that list, BSA explained the prospective Black House should have all the features of a residential college but be specifically made for Black students and Black organizations to congregate and hold events.
It would be best to have a central, safe space that Black students can meet and hangout in anytime of the day, BSA continued.
A more comprehensive list of the groups demands was posted to the Rice Black Student Associations Instagram page which, in part, was titled Inaction is not an option.
Similar calls by other students have requested Rice's statue be replaced with an enshrinement of Raymond L. Johnson (above), the university's first black student who was admitted in 1964 after Rice's 'whites only' rule was overturned
Who was William Marsh Rice? William Marsh Rice Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1816, William Marsh Rice came from humble beginnings to become one of Texas' richest men. Rice made his fortune investing in land, real estate, railroads, cotton and other prospects in both Texas and Louisiana. By 1860, Rice had 15 enslaves people listed 'under his property' and a fortune worth $750,000. His wife died in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1896 under peculiar circumstances. Prior to her death, she drew up a will disposing of $2,500,000 worth of community property. A man named Holt was executor of this will, which Rice contested bitterly. Drafting his own will in 1891, Rice decided he would leave his fortune to found the William M. Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art in Houston, Texas. His fortune at that time was valued at $7 million. Rice was murdered in 1900 following a plot forged by Holt and his Secretary, Charles T. Jones to attempt to secure some of his estate.
Jones saturated a small sponge with chloroform and held it over the face of a sleeping Rice for 30 minutes, until he stopped breathing. Holt and Jones were arrested shortly after Jones filled out l out checks from Rices checkbook but misspelled the recipient's name. The opening of the university commenced, and, in 1912, the William Marsh Rice Institute for the Advancement of Letters, Science, and Art opened its doors. It is known today as Rice University. In his will, Rice mandated that the university to bear his name would be for 'whites only.' This request was eventually overruled, and Rice University's first Black student, Raymond L. Johnson was admitted in 1964. Advertisement
The students are also seeking better lighting for ID photos noting that many Black students have had significant issues with the photographs that are displayed on our student IDs.
We deserve to be photographed and represented properly without having to make modifications and adjustments, the group said.
In addition, the student also assets that course descriptions should include tags that indicate what race/ethnic/cultural groups are included since many course titles do not make it clear if they include diverse perspectives in their course material.
As reported by FOX News, after a number of students began questioning whether the demand for a Black House amounted to a call for on-campus segregation, president of the Grduate Student Association, Alison Farrish, apparently deleted the objections. Eventually, the post was removed all together.
Allen Porter, a Rice Ph.D. student, told the network he was surprised that commenting was suddenly disabled, believing the discourse was civil and held among Rice-affiliated persons.
The demands of BSA come amid a time of growing racial tensions following the Memorial Day death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minnesota Police Department.
Rice University has not yet returned a DailyMail.com request for comment regarding the demands, or for how it fund the Black House demanded by the BSA.
The school has, however, issued a number of statements concerning racial inequality in the wake of Floyds death.
Rice President David W. Leebron told students earlier this month that the school would be paying increased attention to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion at Rice and in our broader society.
Contractors Question: I'm going to be working for a Danish company once coronavirus lockdown eases and was wondering how it works when an overseas client determines your IR35 status? How do they do this?
Some background -- I know the company well as I've worked for them as a permanent staff member in Denmark, but am shortly moving to the UK and will be billing them a day rate instead. I am in doubt whether I should become a sole trader or start a limited company. Any advice appreciated.
Experts Answer: A foreign client is not responsible for determining the status of a UK taxpayer, as the writ of the UK law extends only to the UK's territorial boundaries.
You say that you were formerly working with them in Denmark and so I will assume that you are going to be contracting with them with no intermediary or recruitment business between you and your client.
What you must establish is the basis on which your client is willing to contract with you. Are they willing to pay you gross as an independent supplier working remotely, or do they consider that you are their employee, albeit with you working remotely in the UK? Unfortunately, this is not a question that I can answer.
Three choices
If your client is prepared to pay you as an independent party, then you must decide how you wish to set yourself up for tax purposes, and there are three choices open to you:
Form a limited company - but do be prepared for HMRC to ask you to satisfy them that you are not an employee in disguise (caught by or inside IR35). If they come to that conclusion, they will restrict the expenses you can claim and demand NICs on any dividends that you draw. This conclusion is made more likely by your previous working for the company as one of its employees. Act as a self-employed individual paying your NICs which, as a self-employed person, are lower than an employed person, and pay your taxes under Self-Assessment, where you pay your taxes in two chunks in a year. Be employed through your company registering as an overseas company in the UK and running payroll for you. Alternatively, you could engage an umbrella company to employ you, but you would have to meet the cost of the Employer NICs unless the end-client (Danish) company agrees to meet these for you.
There are pros and cons to each of these and considerations you may want to bear in mind might include:
Is it necessary to have limited liability or not? If not, then the limited company option has a reduced attraction.
Do you want the security of being employed, rather than being the director of your own company? If you do prefer the more secure option, you will want to explore a variant of the third option (above), whether you want to be on your client's Danish payroll in the UK.
On the question of the cost of NICs in the UK, you should know that self-employed people pay:
Class 2 if your profits are 6,475 or more a year
Class 4 if your profits are 9,501 or more a year
Next, you work out your profits by deducting your expenses from your self-employed income.
How much you pay
Class Rate for tax year 2020 to 2021
Class 2 -- 3.05 a week
Class 4 -- 9% on profits between 9,501 and 50,000
(falling to just 2% on profits over 50,000)
By contrast, employed workers have Employer NICS and Employee NICs to consider and pay:
Contribution rates
An employees Class 1 National Insurance is made up of contributions:
deducted from their pay (employees National Insurance)
paid by their employer (employers National Insurance)
The amounts deducted and paid depend on:
the employees National Insurance category letter
how much of the employees earnings falls within each band
Employee National Insurance rates
This table shows how much employers deduct from employees pay for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.
120 to 183 (520 to 792 pay a month) 183.01 to 962 (792.01 to 4,167 a month) Over 962 a week (4,167 a month) A 0% 12% 2% B 0% 5.85% 2% C N/A N/A N/A H 0% 12% 2% J 0% 2% 2% M 0% 12% 2% Z 0% 2% 2%
As an example, if you are in category A and you earn 1,000 in a week you will pay:
nothing on the first 183
12% (93.48) on your earnings between 183.01 and 962
2% (0.76) on the remaining earnings above 962
This means your National Insurance payment will be 94.24 for the week.
Employer National Insurance rates
This table shows how much employers pay towards employees National Insurance for the 2020 to 2021 tax year.
120 to 183 (520 to 792 pay a month) 183.01 to 962 (792.01 to 4,167 a month) Over 962 a week (4,167 a month) A 0% 13.8% 13.8% B 0% 13.8% 13.8% C 0% 13.8% 13.8% H 0% 0% 13.8% J 0% 13.8% 13.8% M 0% 0% 13.8% Z 0% 0% 13.8%
Final thoughts
The most remunerative arrangement would be for you to be a sole trader or a limited company. In the latter case you want to make sure that the clients exercises no control over you in the manner in which the work is carried out. You will need this to cement your independent status.
If you want the most secure outcome, then ask your Danish client to register in the UK as an overseas company and employ you on a UK payroll with them meeting your employer NICs. Good luck!
MadridYou negotiate anything with the minister. You hope to get 100, he wants to give up nothing, but eventually you meet nearly halfway. A few days later he rings you back and says: no can do. It happens a lot. This is how former Catalan finance minister Antoni Castells recounted to this newspaper the reality of regional politics in Spain. Did the minister change his mind? He did not: he met resistance from a lower echelon, the mandarins that run the day-to-day affairs in the Spanish administration. The phrase deep state is an umbrella term that refers to the cogs and wheels that make the State tick along: the judiciary, the armed forces, the police, state lawyers, parliament lawyers, the diplomatic service and tax inspectors. Chiefly among them is the civil services senior management which comprises nearly 1,200 high-ranking officials spread across the ministries whose job is to manage, inform and advise government policy. Antoni Castells mentioned them, too. These mandarins have an important bearing on the daily affairs of the administration and, as a group, they present a very strong territorial bias, according to Professor Juan Rodriguez Teruel, who teaches political science at the University of Valencia. Between 2015 and 2018 out of 201 new recruits only one was Catalan. In contrast, 119 Madrid residents have joined the ranks of the top civil service in the same period, making up 60 per cent of the total number.
From 2015 to 2018 between 40 and 60 joined the civil service senior management every year and the trend has become a pattern: in 2015 65.9 per cent were from Madrid, 55.2 per cent in 2016, 59.5 per cent in 2017 and 58.3 per cent in 2018. Trailing behind Madrid are the regions of Castilla-Leon and Andalusia. The contribution from the rest of Spain is token, as the chart shows. Spains diplomatic service presents a similar dynamic, as shown by Dr Jorge Crespo of the Political Science Department at Madrids Universidad Complutense, who has researched the background of Spains embassy directors. This newspaper had asked to have access to the same information about state lawyers, one of the judicial bodies that has a key influence on public policy, but the Justice Ministry turned down our request. However, Carles Ramio (a political science professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra) claims that he has been privy to an unpublished survey conducted by Spains National Institute for Public Administration which showed a spectacular territorial bias across the rest of the civil service.
Having said that, we must realise that Madrids numbers do not include merely applicants born or raised in Madrid, but also anybody who moved there to pursue their studies and career: all ministerial headquarters are located in Madrid, as are most of the tutors who help students to prepare for civil service entrance exams, a process that takes four years on average. Some sources claim that distance-learning solutions might buck this trend.
Cliques and social class
So what sort of applicants tend to go for such positions? Experts say that high-ranking civil service vacancies tend go unnoticed. When you add to that the difficulty of securing a spot, it means that there is an element of family tradition when people consider such career options. The financial burden of having to study for so many years is another factor which means that, in general, top civil service jobs tend to attract higher-middle and upper-class applicants. Ramio says that this leads to the formation of cliques. Furthermore, being socialised in the Spanish capitals social circles means that candidates adopt an increasingly centralist mindset. The professor refers to it as the Josep Borrell effect (1). This centralist mentality is widely rejected in regions like Catalonia, so Catalans dont even consider it as a career option, says journalist Dani Sanchez Ugart, who studied this phenomenon in an article published in Media.cat. Its catch-22, he concluded.
A 1980 survey by Julian Alvarez Alvarez revealed only 22 Catalans joined the civil administrations technical management body between 1960 and 1977. Therefore, the trend has remained in place for decades. Crespo points out that, in the case of Catalonia, having a strong private sector and an enterprising tradition also play a key role. Professor Sabino Cassese studied this phenomenon in Italy. Identity issues may have had an influence, but they are hard to quantify. Internal sources point to another reason: the equivalent civil service jobs in Spains regional administrations pay better.
The resulting scenario is one where the higher echelons of the Spanish civil service do not adequately represent the relative weight of many regions which, according to Crespo, is detrimental to its legitimacy. The university professor believes that the administration should draw and welcome candidates from under-represented regions so that Spanish society can feel adequately represented in all its political, social and territorial complexity. Does the territorial bias have an effect on the agenda and government policy? Crespo argues that what is essential is the nature of the administration, rather than what it does because one hopes that top civil servants are guided by the pursuit of general interest.
Still, the pursuit of said general interest may also be skewered because of the lack of familiarity with Spains peripheral regions, says Ramio, who points out a salient issue in this new parliamentary term: They do not know what is going on in rural communities. Without meaning to, they legislate as if all of Spain were like Madrid, he claims. This would explain the rise of Teruel Existe (2), a slate that stands for one of the most sparsely populated provinces in Spain. Civil Service sources reject the idea and claim that policies are devised together with interested parties and higher-ranking administrations.
Hardly a decentralised country
Experts say that the problem with this centralist outlook is particularly serious because of the powers which the State still holds. Even though only 50 per cent of Spains total public spending is decided in Madrid 37 per cent by regional governments and 13 per cent by local councils, the central administration retains key powers in areas such as Taxation, Social Security, economic planning and foreign affairs, among others. In contrast, regional governments merely manage schools, public health and social services, which shows that Spains system of autonomous regions leaves them little room to manoeuvre.
Castells suggests three ways in which the situation could take a turn: by effectively shifting political power to the regional governments, by seeking an active role in Spains top level civil service and by creating a Catalan civil service elite, like former Catalan president Josep Tarradellas proposed in an attempt to emulate Frances Ecole Nationale. That way when wed begin a negotiation wed be able to say: look, the Catalan governments lawyer knows his stuff better than yours.
__________
Translators notes:
(1) Josep/Jose Borrell is a former Spanish minister who was born in Catalonia but carved out his political career in Madrid and is known for opposing Catalan independence fiercely.
(2) Teruel Existe [Teruel Exists] ran in the latest Spanish elections as an independent slate for the constituency of Teruel, a rural, impoverished and largely neglected Spanish province, and their candidate went on to win a seat in the Spanish parliament.
Founders Luke Silverman and Jeff Kurtzman made giving back to the local community and dog non-profits a critical part of Bark Social's mission. Kurtzman is a seasoned social entrepreneur, and familiar with purpose-driven ventures. Kurtzman co-founded Better World Books (BWB), which has donated 26.5 million books and $28.4M for literacy and libraries since its founding in 2003. In addition to BWB, Kurtzman also was the CEO of Aid Through Trade, one of the leaders in the fair-trade fashion industry and employs about 200 female artisans in Nepal.
"We believe in giving back to our local communities and the animals that bring endless amounts of joy to our lives. Bark Social is committed to creating positive change, and it's exciting that we're able to support these important organizations by offering the Give Back T-shirt before we open" said Silverman.
"Give Back" T-Shirts are available for online purchase and at Bark Social's pop-up store location at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda (opening this July).
Photos and Renderings of Bark Social are available at www.BarkSocial.com.
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BADEN The public statue of Sir John A. Macdonald must be removed because of the pain and hurt it symbolizes for Indigenous peoples, say two local Indigenous women.
The statue, and the history it represents, should instead be placed in a museum, said Lori Campbell, director of the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre at the University of Waterloo and adjunct lecturer in Indigenous Studies.
Red paint was poured on the statue of Canadas first Prime Minister at Castle Kilbride in Baden on the weekend. It was cleaned by volunteers, then paint was poured on it again overnight Monday. The statue is now covered with a tarp.
If the statue doesnt come down, it could be a target again, said Donna Dubie, executive director of the Kitchener-based agency of the Healing of the Seven Generations.
Wilmot Township Coun. Angie Hallman is calling on the municipality to pause any further spending on the statue project called the Prime Ministers Path until Indigenous groups are consulted.
Residents of Wilmot are speaking up, and want to find ways to strengthen the relationship on the basis of respect and trust, Hallman said at a township council meeting Monday night.
Hallman said her proposal will be voted on at the next council meeting in July.
To suggest we have all the answers is another colonial answer. That is not a solution, Hallman said in an interview. She reached out to local Indigenous groups to be part of the discussion.
Campbell said the pain of Indigenous peoples has been well documented by royal commissions, an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and the truth and reconciliation commission.
I dont think we need to waste money on consultation. We know that Indigenous peoples dont want to witness these figures in public spaces that remind us of the violence and trauma that they have caused us in our lives, she said.
Real transformational change means correcting the erasure in our education system, she said.
I dont think we need a community forum that is going to require Indigenous peoples to yet again say why they dont want to commemorate historical figures who have contributed to the trauma that our families are living through, Campbell said.
Macdonald helped create the residential school system that assimilated Indigenous children for more than a century. His legacy contributed to the displacement of Indigenous peoples from their land, their families and their culture.
He didnt do it for our benefit. He did it to get rid of Indigenous peoples, Campbell said. To kill the Indian within the child.
Macdonald perpetuated cultural genocide which caused trauma and harm to many including Campbell, whose grandmother went to a residential school.
The effects of his policies we are still feeling today, she said.
Dubie knows the pain firsthand. Her father was taken from his family when he was five and lived in residential schools until he was 14, trying to run away at least three times.
Dubie and her siblings lived with the aftermath of the residential schools. From her personal experience, Dubie founded the Kitchener agency almost 20 years ago and helps other Indigenous people and their descendants cope with the trauma of those residential schools, where children were starved, abused and forbidden to speak their own language.
For Dubie, the paint on the statue should kick-start a community discussion with individuals of white privilege about Indigenous peoples and the racism they face daily.
Lets talk about this and see it from our lens, she said.
The monument is part of a display called Prime Ministers Path on the grounds of the historic home and museum, which also holds the township offices.
Entitled A Canadian Conversation, the statue of Macdonald was sculpted by Ruth Abernethy and unveiled in 2016, ahead of the Canadas sesquicentennial celebration in 2017. Its one of five statues of Canadian prime ministers on the property.
The pouring of paint is the latest in a series of similar acts across Canada that have seen statues of historical figures with connections to racist aspects of Canadas history targeted. A similar incident occurred in Charlottetown.
The local statue project, first proposed in 2013, had trouble finding a home. Initially planned for Victoria Park in Kitchener, the idea was rejected after community backlash.
Two years later, Wilfrid Laurier University agreed to allow the statues to be placed on campus, but the decision was later reversed following considerable outcry and lack of consultation.
Campbell said many in the community know and understand Indigenous history and they, too, dont support controversial historical figures being commemorated.
It would be wrong to assume that it had to be an Indigenous person that vandalized the statute, she said.
Dubie hopes the time has come that Indigenous peoples will be listened to.
We are in a different time now and hopefully we can move forward with a new agenda, she said. The awakening is happening.
Waterloo Regional Police are investigating the vandalism and are appealing to witnesses or anyone with information to call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Photograph: Matt Rourke/AP
Almost exactly 10 years ago, on 28 July 2010, the United Nations declared water a human right under international law. And not just any water, but clean water and sufficient water for drinking, personal sanitation, washing of clothes, food preparation, personal and household hygiene.
Imagine a country where, 10 years years on, over two million people are denied access to running water and basic indoor plumbing.
Where another 30 million live in areas where they lack access to safe drinking water.
Where 110 million people are exposed to toxic chemicals in their drinking water.
And where 15 million people have had their supply cut off because of the countrys huge water affordability crisis.
Welcome to the United States of America.
Where running water is not available to millions, where millions more cant afford to pay their escalating water bills and where tens of millions more Americans are exposed to contaminated water.
By any metric America has a water crisis.
And it is for this reason that the Guardian in partnership with Consumer Reports and others is launching a one-year series of reports and investigations highlighting the inequality, poverty, pollution and commercial forces that are at the heart of the countrys water crisis.
In addition to reporting on access to running water, the hidden crisis of affordability and widespread issue of water contamination, we are also going to investigate the billion-dollar bottled water industry. Many of these large firms plunder public water sources at low cost and then make unconscionable profits selling bottled water sometimes to people whose public supply is contaminated.
At its most extreme, Americas water crisis impacts the two million without access to running water and indoor plumbing a remarkable, and shameful, statistic 10 years on from the UN declaration. As the authors of that report made clear: Many Americans believe access is universal. But in fact, millions of the most vulnerable people in the country low-income people in rural areas, people of color, tribal communities, immigrants have fallen through the cracks. Lacking access to safe water and sanitation makes it difficult to stay healthy, earn a living, go to school and care for a family.
Story continues
Tens of millions more Americans are at the mercy of antiquated water systems that fail to deliver safe drinking water; or are exposed to water supplies that are contaminated by industrial polluters that are insufficiently regulated. Mining, agriculture and other high-profit industries seem to have the upper hand in riding roughshod over citizens rights to safe and clean water.
Invariably it is poorer communities and people of color who are most impacted by water affordability or access to clean, safe water. Our series, funded in part by a philanthropic gift from 11th Hour, will look at the question of affordability with deep reporting. We will also tell stories of communities hit by water contamination problems of different kinds, in partnership with the non-profit media outlet Ensia.
Is it too much to ask for Americans to have access to clean water in 2020?
It seems so.
But there are some hopeful signs. There are a number of water bills making their way through both houses of Congress that are designed to address toxins, antiquated infrastructure and water affordability. The coronavirus pandemic has at least underscored the need for access to safe drinking water and brought more attention to the need for hygiene, including hand-washing.
But the history of Congress is littered with ambitious proposals which have then been decimated by powerful lobbyists who do the bidding of their commercial clients.
And so who will do the bidding for US citizens?
In addition to our investigations and reporting on Americas water crisis we will also, over the course of the next year, scrutinize the progress of these congressional bills in the hope that they will offer the promise of a safer, cleaner future for American water.
Bhopal, June 23 : Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP MP from Bhopal, fainted during an event organised on the death anniversary of the party founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee at the BJP office here on Tuesday. She was immediately rushed to the hospital.
Many leaders, including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and MLAs were present there. The cause for the sudden decline in health was being ascertained, said party officials. She had recently been hospitalised in Delhi for many days for some trouble in her eyes.
On Tuesday morning, Pragya reached the BJP office to join the event. She looked cheerful as the event began. Suddenly, some colleagues saw her falling unconscious. She was brought out of the event venue and offered water. She was partly conscious on the way to hospital, party sources said.
India on Tuesday asked Pakistan to reduce the strength of its high commission in New Delhi by 50%, saying the actions of Pakistani officials were part of a larger policy of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism.
Pakistans charge daffaires Syed Haider Shah was summoned to the external affairs ministry and informed the high commissions strength should be halved within a week. Shah was told India will reciprocally reduce its diplomatic presence in Islamabad by the same proportion, the ministry said.
In Islamabad, Pakistans foreign ministry summoned Indias charge daffaires and rejected and condemned what it said were the baseless Indian allegations. The Indian diplomat was informed of Pakistans decision to reduce the Indian missions strength by 50% as a reciprocal measure within seven days.
Indias move came weeks after two junior officials of the Pakistan high commission were expelled on charges of spying on May 31. In a tit-for-ta action, Pakistani security agencies detained two staff members of the Indian mission in Islamabad last week for allegedly causing a road accident and possessing fake currency.
India denied these charges and the two staff members returned via the Wagah land border crossing on Monday. The external affairs ministry has accused Pakistan of detaining them on false charges and torturing them.
People familiar with developments said Indias move followed security agencies uncovering several instances of Pakistani officials based in New Delhi being allegedly linked to terror activities.
While investigating the case of Jammu and Kashmir Polices deputy superintendent Davinder Singh, who was caught with two Hizbul Mujahideen commanders on January 10, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had found that all three were in constant touch with an assistant in the Pakistani mission named Shafqat, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.
Shafqat, the people said, was allegedly a conduit for hawala transactions and terror financing.
In another instance, the NIA had found that Mudassar Iqbal Cheema, posted at the Pakistani mission as first secretary (press) from September 2015 to November 2016, was allegedly involved in providing funds to several Hurriyat leaders through one Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali. Cheema and five other Pakistani officials in New Delhi were withdrawn by Islamabad on November 2, 2016, the people said.
They said Watali was in contact with Inter-Services Intelligence officials, who allegedly provided funding to the Hurriyat leaders. A document found during a search of Watalis premises by NIA had details of a total of Rs 70 lakh provided on two occasions by the Pakistani officials and payments made to several leaders. This document had mentioned Cheema, the people said.
According to a reciprocal arrangement, the current strength of the Indian and Pakistani high commissions is 110. However, both missions are not functioning at full strength and some 40-odd officials will have to be sent back by each side, the people cited above said.
Pakistan had unilaterally downgraded diplomatic relations after India scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status last August and expelled the Indian high commissioner from Islamabad. It had also decided against sending a new envoy to New Delhi. The post was vacant at the time. The missions in New Delhi and Islamabad have been headed by the deputy high commissioners since then.
The last time India had asked Pakistan to make a similar reduction in the strength of its high commission in New Delhi was in December 2001, after the terror attack on Parliament blamed on Pakistan-based terror groups.
A statement issued by the external affairs ministry said charge daffaires Shah was summoned to the ministry and informed that India had repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of officials of his mission.
They have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations. The activities of the two officials caught red-handed and expelled on 31 May 2020 was one example in that regard, it said.
Pakistan has simultaneously 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, the statement said.
The two officials, after returning to India on Monday, provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment they experienced at the hands of Pakistani security agencies.
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 said.
The treatment of diplomats of the two countries in the national capitals is closely linked to the state of bilateral ties. Indian diplomats are aggressively tailed in Islamabad whenever bilateral ties take a downturn. Indian diplomats have also complained of harassment and of being prevented from discharging their basic duties in recent months.
A statement from Pakistans Foreign Office rejected and condemned what it said were baseless allegations by the Indian side as a pretext to seek 50% reduction in the staff strength of the Pakistani mission in New Delhi.
Pakistan also dismissed allegations of any violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by Pakistani officials in New Delhi and the insinuations of intimidation of Indian officials in Islamabad. The statement said the Indian action was part of desperate attempts to divert attention from the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rezaul H Laskar Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail
Hundreds of churches, thousands of Christians protest racism, call for reforms at 'March on Atlanta'
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Thousands of Christians participated in a time of prayer and worship before marching in the streets of Atlanta Friday, where they called for an end to racism and urged lawmakers and law enforcers to ensure laws and policies are equitable for all.
The Juneteenth "March on Atlanta" was organized by the OneRace Movement, a Christian coalition that exists to "displace the spirit of racism and release a movement of racial reconciliation across Atlanta, the Southeast, and the nation."
The event began at around 9 a.m. with a time of worship and a rally at Centennial Olympic Park before participants marched down to the Georgia State Capitol building at around 11:30 a.m. and then back to the park for a closing rally.
OneRace Movement co-founder Garland Hunt, the senior pastor of The Father's House Church, told The Christian Post in an interview after the march that as many as 400 churches participated. He said the weather was "perfect" for the rally even though there had been earlier forecasts of rain.
The march was announced just over two weeks ago when the OneRace Movement held a press conference in the wake of the killings of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery to launch "The OneRace Statement on Righteousness and Justice: A call to end Racial Violence."
"This particular movement has been happening for the last four years. Two years ago, we had an event at Stone Mountain similar to this. With everything that happened, particularly with the Ahmaud Arbery killing and then of George Floyd, we felt that we had to do something now," Hunt said.
"So we hosted a press conference and hundreds of people showed up. We decided that in two weeks, we would pull off a major march. God was with us. We had people from all over the city. There were 400 churches represented and several hundred pastors here. It's just incredible: black, white, Hispanic, Asian. It's just like Heaven, to be honest with you."
Hunt said they were doing "a lot of praying all day."
"We were just praying that God would take a stronghold on racism. We realize that racism, like the COVID-19, is a virus. But it is also a spirit," he said. "We have to pray against that and pray for God to change the hearts and motivations of people. We are coming against racism, but at the same time we are saying, 'Lord, make us one.'"
Hunt said there was a moment during the march in which they prayed over Atlanta's chief of police.
"We told him that we want to support him even though we don't like bad law enforcement," Hunt said. "But overall, they still need our prayers."
Hunt said that the OneRace Movement believes that the Church should "lead the way" as much of the national attention in the last few weeks has focused around calls for racial justice and police reform.
"We are trying to reconcile ourselves together as one and at the same time, coming against racism and any type of profiling of black people," he said. "All of us are standing together with that."
The march comes a week after Rayshard Brooks was fatally shot in Atlanta during an altercation with two police officers after he resisted arrest and seized one of the officer's tasers and tried to fire it at him and another officer. Lawyers for the Brooks family said the fatal police shooting was unnecessary while others contended that it was well within police protocol and considered "lawful but awful."
Hunt said the movement also advocates for additional training for police officers.
"We are definitely for any kind of training that can be done. Anything that can help [reform] the police department or any kind of racist thinking," he said, "[We are for] whatever kind of accountability that can be had. We are not jumping behind any particular legislation. We need to reform things so that if a person does have subjectivity as it relates to race, that they will be accountable for it and that it will be taken care of and not just looked the other way."
Kalfani Ture, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut who served as an Atlanta police officer, told USA Today that the Atlanta Police Department is highly regarded for its training.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the officer who fatally shot Brooks had taken a nine-hour course on de-escalation alternatives in late April.
Hunt said the movement is simply looking for changes to "any kind of racial wrongs in law enforcement." He said that names of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Arbery were mentioned throughout the rally as examples of people "who lost their lives unnecessarily."
The national rallying cry around the police-involved killings of African Americans comes as data show that police have killed more white people than African Americans. However, African Americans represent a disproportionate number of police-involved killings when factoring that they make up only 13% of the U.S. population, and when crime statistics are excluded.
"We lament about anybody who has been killed unnecessarily, no question about it," Hunt said.
"We certainly care about that. But right now, we are lamenting because we see that there seems to be a percentage of blacks that have been on the back end of that and another life has been lost. What this has done is highlighted that in our nation, we still have racial issues that are still problems. We believe that the Church should make a stand. We are not quiet about our rights and racism and racial justice. At the same time, we are doing everything we can do to be united so the world can see the Church walking together and races coming together in the Church."
Hunt said that in the OneRace Movement, they are building relationships between leaders of different races.
"If we are going to do a movement, it has to be real," he said. "A lot of the relationships of the core people in this movement are people that literally do have relationships. We have preached at the other's churches. We have gone into fellowship with each other. We have prayer meetings at each other's churches. Therefore, we feel like we are family. We are not just coming together because of the cause. We are coming together because of relationships."
"All of us feel the same way," he continued. "The white pastors are just as angry and just as determined to speak out against racism as the black folks are. In fact, it might be even more so. It is a great thing to see that the Church can lead by example. If the pastor leads in reconciliation, then the people will follow."
Hunt believes that God is "bringing to our attention that we still have a lot of work to do."
"The Ahmaud Arberys and what we've seen certainly with George Floyd, it has let us know that we have a lot of work to do," he stressed. "It does motivate us to be more active and public with everything that we do."
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 17:14 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40661028f1 1 Business BKPM,investment-coordinating-board,task-force,China,relocation,COVID-19,Bahlil-Lahadalia,global-supply-chain Free
The government has established a special task force to attract businesses leaving China and facilitate their relocation to Indonesia.
American, Japanese and South Korean companies are reportedly in discussions with the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) over their potential relocation to the Batang and Brebes industrial districts in Central Java, which are currently under development.
According to BKPM head Bahlil Lahadalia, the agency has completed 60 percent of the relocation process for some firms.
I gave the task force three tasks, namely detecting firms planning to relocate, analyzing the ease [of doing business] offered by other countries and, importantly, making a decision in a negotiation, Bahlil stated in a press release on June 19.
The establishment of the task force was part of the governments efforts to minimize the economic impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment, which fell 9.2 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rp 98 trillion (US$6.9 billion) in the first quarter of 2020.
The coronavirus outbreak, which was first detected in China, has strained Indonesias foreign direct investment as projects have been delayed as a result of social restrictions to contain the spread of the virus. The pandemic has also disrupted global supply chains and has made some companies question their heavy reliance on China.
Bahlil, who formerly led the Association of Young Indonesian Entrepreneurs (HIPMI), declined to provide details of the businesses planning to relocate to the country, saying that he was waiting for the President himself to announce them.
BKPM data shows that Japanese firms invested $604 million in the first three months of this year, making it the fourth-largest country of origin for foreign direct investment in the period. South Korean firms were the eighth largest, investing $130.4 million, followed by the United States with $114.1 million.
Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain stepped out in matching face masks when starting their countrywide tour in the Canary Islands today.
The royal couple are hoping to promote the efforts of Spanish regions during the coronavirus pandemic as they visit different areas across the nation following the opening of Spain's borders on 21st June.
Mother-of-two Letizia, 47, looked effortlessly chic in a grey dress as she appeared alongside her husband, 52, to greet crowds of adoring fans in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria.
The king bumped elbows with people in the crowds before posing near a beach with his wife without their masks on.
Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain stepped out in matching face masks when starting their countrywide tour in the Canary Islands today (pictured)
The royal couple (above) are hoping to promote the efforts of Spanish regions during the coronavirus pandemic as they visit different areas across the nation following the opening of Spain's borders on June 21
King Felipe (pictured) bumped elbows with people in the crowds while on the outing with his wife (seen right)
During their outing, the couple visited Perez Galdos' House Museum on the occasion of the 100 year anniversary of the renowned Spanish novelists death.
Their tour of the area coincides with the usual commemoration from June 23 to 24 of the origins of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - with the city celebrating its 1478 founding every summer.
With a billowing skirt, a V-shaped neckline, and a cinched-waist detail, Letizia's frock showcased the royal's slender frame perfectly.
Letizia teamed the dress, which was embellished with floral designs, with stylish white wedges.
She tied the look together by putting her glossy brunette hair in a ponytail and wearing subtle make-up.
Mother-of-two Letizia (pictured centre), 47, looked effortlessly chic in a grey dress as she appeared alongside her husband, 52, to greet crowds of adoring fans in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria
With a billowing skirt, a V-shaped neckline, and a cinched-waist detail, the frock showcased the royal's (pictured with her husband) slender framed
Letizia (pictured waving, centre) teamed the dress, which was embellished with floral designs, with stylish white wedges
Meanwhile, King Felipe looked dapper in black trousers and a cream blazer for the outing.
During their visit to the Canary Islands, which will take place in both Gran Canaria and Tenerife, the royal couple intend to show their support for the recovery of the area after it was forced to stop tourism due to the pandemic, reports local media.
The couple held meetings with the business, union and professional representatives from the Tourism and Hospitality sector during their visit.
Letizia (pictured left) tied the look together by putting her glossy brunette hair in a ponytail and wearing subtle makeup. Meanwhile, King Felipe (seen right) looked dapper in black trousers and a cream blazer for the outing
King Felipe and Queen Letizia walk the Paseo de Las Canteras as the King holds a meeting with business, union and professional representatives from the Tourism and Hospitality sector
It is unclear at this stage where else the royals plan to visit on their nationwide tour.
Last week, the parents took their daughters, Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia, to the reopening of a Madrid theatre.
The visit, for a contemporary flamenco performance at Teatros del Canal, coincided with the sixth anniversary of the King's coronation.
[June 23, 2020] AmeriHealth Caritas CEO: We Can't Afford Inaction on Inequality. 'We the People' Doesn't Have an Asterisk
AmeriHealth Caritas Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul A. Tufano is calling on America's best minds in government, business, academia and communities to take on the dual problems of eradicating poverty as well as ending racism and racial disparities. "The risks of inaction are enormous. It means that we're comfortable that your zip code can determine whether you live 10 years longer or not, that we would be comfortable with all of those inequities and disparities that are inconsistent with what we all believe this country is about. There are issues about race in America that we need to solve, that we need to talk about as a country," said Tufano. "The Constitution says, 'We the people.' There is no asterisk. It doesn't say well, only some of the people or not minorities or not people who are overcoming poverty. It says, 'We the people' - all the people. Let's just work backwards from 'We the people.' Let's build a country, let's build an economic system, let's build a health care system that ensures that 'We the people' means everybody's included." Tufano shared this call to action during a presentation at the CTO Forum's "Rethink Innovation Strategy: Strategic Leadership of Technology & Innovation" conference, held in collaboration with Harvard Business School. His company, AmeriHealth Caritas, a Medicaid managed care organization delivering health care solutions for those most in need, has aimed to use Medicaid as an equalizer and platform for innovation in addressing the social determinants - factors such as food, shelter, education and employment - that drive both health outcomes and economic mobility. "We have to have an honest conversation that the way we've managed thigs in the past, while it's been very successful on a number of levels to give hundreds of millions of people over the last 50 plus years access to the health care system [through the Medicaid program] ... poverty continues to be a problem," Tufano said. "We think that an investment in the people that we serve, an investment in the Medicaid program, is an investment in America. We all will thrive. We all will be the country that we all want to be when all of us are enjoying as much as we can, the life that we want to live."
Tufano challenged attendees and their companies to join this national conversation and be part of the solution. "We all need to own this issue of equality and of making sure that everybody gets to truly have an opportunity at the American dream. And so I would ask you, as you go back to your companies, to think about ways that you can get involved with this the way that we're going to overcome these challenges is by doing it together." A video of Tufano's presentation can be viewed here.
"Paul's message of action strikes a chord, and calls upon more businesses to step outside of their comfort zone and do their part to create a more just society," said CTO Forum Founding Chair and President Basheer Janjua. "We are grateful he was able to share the experiences of AmeriHealth Caritas in serving individuals and communities that face immense barriers, and in creating solutions that give them a chance at lasting prosperity." CTO Forum was founded to improve cross-industry thought leadership and collaboration. It holds networking and educational events for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations. Attendees include CEOs, chief technology officers, and other executives. About AmeriHealth Caritas AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation's leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 13 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves approximately 5 million Medicaid, Medicare, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, and behavioral health services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with more than 37 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005875/en/
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The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday took four National People's Party ministers who resigned from the N Biren Singh-led Manipur government to Delhi for a meeting with central leaders to salvage the situation in the northeastern state, BJP sources said.
IMAGE: Himanta Biswa Sarma. Photograph: Kind courtesy @himantabiswa/Twitter
During a fresh round of talks with North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier in the day, the NPP leaders stuck to their demand for change in the leadership of the BJP-led coalition government, they said.
Sarma, the saffron party's key troubleshooter in the Northeast, accompanied the four to Delhi in a special aircraft.
The talks were inconclusive in Imphal and that is why they need to go to Delhi, a BJP leader said.
"The crisis will be resolved very soon," Sarma said before leaving Manipur.
The Biren Singh ministry was on a sticky wicket following the resignation of four NPP ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Y Joy Kumar Singh, three rebel BJP MLAs, the lone All India Trinamool Congress legislator and an Independent.
As the NPP has only four MLAs in the House, the party effectively withdrew support from the government.
The Congress roped in these nine rebels and formed a coalition called the Secular Progressive Front (SPF).
State Congress president Moirangthem Okendra said the party is hopeful that the four NPP leaders will not succumb to the pressure of the BJP and an SPF government will come to power dislodging the N Biren Singh dispensation.
Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP president Conrad Sangma reached Imphal in a special aircraft and met the four leaders at the farm house of L Jayantakumar, one of the ministers who resigned, at Ghari in Manipur's Imphal West district.
Sources said the BJP leader pleaded with them to change their decision but they said the leadership of the state government has to be changed.
This is the second round meeting of Sarma and Sangma with the four leaders after the one held on Sunday.
From Jayantakumar's farm house, Sarma went to meet the chief minister at his residence, but what transpired at that meeting is not known.
Sarma also met several BJP legislators.
Later, he left for Delhi, taking along the four NPP leaders, in the same aircraft that brought him to Manipur.
NPP's Manipur unit president Thangminlien Kipgen had on Monday said there could be a solution to the crisis if the attitude of the leadership of the ruling BJP-led coalition changes towards its alliance partners.
"The leadership must ensure that opinions of members of coalition partners are invited before taking major decisions," he said.
Kipgen was one of the leaders who was part of an SPF delegation that called on Governor Najma Heptulla on June 18 and urged her to call a special assembly session soon to take up a no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government.
The Congress has claimed that the four rebel BJP MLAs have joined the party.
State BJP president S Tikendra Singh exuded confidence that the party will win if a floor test is conducted in the Assembly.
After the victory of BJP candidate Leishemba Sanajaoba in the Rajya Sabha election, the party claimed that it is in command in Manipur.
The figure in support of Chief Minister Biren Singh stood at 23 -- 18 MLAs of the BJP, four of the Naga People's Front (NPF) and one MLA from the Lok Janshakti Party.
The Congress asserted that the SPF has the backing of 29 lawmakers -- 20 of its own, four of the NPP, three of the BJP who had quit, one from the TMC and an Independent.
One Congress MLA who joined the BJP-led government was disqualified from the membership of Manipur Legislative Assembly recently, reducing the strength of the house to 59. Assembly election in Manipur was held in 2017.
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Public sector lender Bank of Baroda on June 23 has turned into the black in Q4FY20 as it reported a profit of Rs 506.6 crore for the quarter, supported by lower provisions, higher operating income and tax write-back.
It had posted a net loss of Rs 8,875 crore and Rs 1,406.95 crore in the quarter ended March and December quarter, respectively.
Net interest income during the quarter under review increased 5.02 percent year-on-year to Rs 6,798 crore due to decline in interest expenses.
Global net interest margin during Q4FY20 improved to 2.67 percent from 2.62 percent YoY and domestic NIM increased to 2.78 percent from 2.68 percent YoY, the bank said in a BSE filing.
The management said domestic advances in Q4 increased 4.7 percent to Rs 5,70,341 crore and deposits rose 1.8 percent to Rs 8,08,706 crore as compared to the December quarter.
Asset quality improved with gross non-performing assets (NPA) falling 103 basis points sequentially to 9.40 percent and net NPA declined 92 bps QoQ to 3.13 percent in Q4FY20.
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"Fresh slippage for the quarter was Rs 3,050 crore, while provision for NPAs was at Rs 3,190 crore for the quarter," the bank said.
Provisions and contingencies in Q4 fell 36 percent YoY to Rs 6,844 crore, while the sequential decline was 4.4 percent.
Pre-provision operating profit (PPoP) came in at Rs 5,121 crore, up 48 percent YoY due to 23.21 percent fall in operating expenses. Q4 FY19 PPoP included amalgamation related one-off. Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank were amalgamated with Bank of Baroda with effect from April 1, 2019.
Non-interest income (other income) declined a percent to Rs 2,834 crore YoY.
Bank of Baroda saw a tax write-back of Rs 2,230 crore in the quarter against a tax expenses of Rs 1,716 crore in Q4FY19.
Thanks to their exceptional planting skills, Chinese people will soon see one of its four major deserts, the Mu Us Desert in Yulin, northwest China's Shaanxi province, be fully covered by trees and plants, WeChat account of China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
Last April, Shaanxi forestry bureau announced that 93.2 percent of the desertified land in Yulin had been put under control, signaling that the Mu Us Desert, which covers an area of 42,200 square kilometers, will be the first desert to disappear on earth.
Planting trees is the key to China's success in desertification prevention and control.
In May 1974, 54 young militiawomen, who were only 18 years old in Yulin, actively responded to the country's call for afforestation and formed a desertification control company.
Since the conditions were so harsh, the company stipulated that members should leave once they get married.
Xi Yongcui, one of the first-generation members of the company who spent eight years on the team, put off her wedding three times in an effort to work longer for the undertaking.
Xi Cai'e, the 14th commander of the desertification control company and grandniece of Xi Yongcui, demanded to join the company because of the frequent sandy weather in her hometown.
Over the past few decades, these militiawomen have collectively put over 933 hectares of the desert area under control.
Forty years ago, Guo Chengwang, a villager who is nearly 100 years old in Jingbian county, Yulin, obtained the land-use right of 3,000 hectares of uncultivated desert land by contract.
Thanks to the joint efforts of Guo's entire family, the desert of his hometown is now fully covered by green plants.
Because of people like the desertification control company and Guo's family, villages near the Mu Us Desert now not only fear high winds and sandy weather no more, but have also become well-known vegetable bases.
As the area of the Mu Us Desert reduces by 1.6 percent every year, the forest coverage rate of the desert has increased from 0.9 percent in 1949 to 34.8 percent today.
The trees planted in the desert can circle the equator of the earth 54 times if they are spaced a meter apart.
China has not only achieved remarkable results in combating desertification in the Mu Us Desert, but in other areas of the country as well, with the average vegetation coverage rate of Hunshandake Sandland, and the sandlands in Khorchin grassland and Hulunbuir in north China's Inner Mongolia reaching 42.7 percent, 38.2 percent, and 68.3 percent respectively.
Along with turning boundless deserts into an oasis, Chinese people, who have always been good at planting, have planted trees and vegetables literally everywhere they go.
The Chinese peace-keeping force has grown watermelon in Africa's Djibouti, a country that has long been troubled by deserts and droughts.
In China's Antarctica research station, scientific researchers cultivated vegetables with soilless culture methods.
The country has even brought its enthusiasm for and capability to grow plants on the moon.
To promote the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, which is marked on every June 17 worldwide, China made efforts to raise public awareness of combating desertification under the theme jointly prevent desertification and safeguard lucid waters and lush mountains this year.
Political interference discourages vital investors for the railways sector, the General Secretary of Ghana Railway Workers Union (GRWU), Mr Godwill Ntarmah, has observed.
He believed the trend, over the years had been one major factor which had affected the development and fortunes of railway subsector of the economy of Ghana.
Mr Ntarmah expressed these concerns at the second quadrennial delegate conference of the GRWU which ended at Fijai, in Takoradi, on Friday on the theme Revamping the railway sector, the role of stakeholders.
It is important to state that in the past, unnecessary political interference and influence did not allow potential investors to succeed in the quest to revamp the railway sector. he stressed.
The GRWU Secretary General declared: The ongoing construction of the Akosombo to Mpakadan railway line has really raised the appetite of Ghanaians for more railway construction and we cannot afford to fail them.
Mr Ntarmah told the conference that another major challenge facing the railway industry was the view held by most railway workers and observers that owners of the bulk road vehicles and the very influential in the society werebehind the non-revamping of the Western Railway line to Awaso.
He said, such observers wondered why there was no contract for the revamping to reach Awaso, especially when the current government had shown the commitment to revamp the railway sector.
The benefits that the nation will get by hauling bauxite and other minerals by rail far outweigh the benefits any individual will get. It is our belief that in the not too distant future our cry to get to Awaso will receive the needed response it deserves for us to have our jobs secured. Ntarmah mentioned.
He reported that from December 2019 to April 2020, Ghana Manganese Companys decision to stop the haulage manganese to Takoradi Port, had affected the operations of GRCL which now rely on Central Government for total payment of salaries of railway workers.
The General Secretary indicated that the situation could have been avoided if the GRCL had diversified its operation to include the haulage of bauxite and cocoa.
Mr Ntarmah, however, noted some positive interventions including the rehabilitation of the existing narrow-gauge line from Kojokrom to Tarkwa that has ensured resumption of passenger services, rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge from Accra to Nsawam and the award of contract to M/S AMANDI for the construction of standard gauge railway line from Kojokrom to Huni Valley.
Despite the positive initiatives, the GRCL, he added, was currently faced with challenges of old locomotive engines, inadequate rolling stock and lack of spare parts for the old locomotives and rolling stock available.
He called for an effective collaboration and cooperation of all stakeholders in the railway sector based on transparency and trust, to revamp the railway sector.
Source: The Ghanaian Times
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Linkedin Maxime Popov (Agence France-Presse) Moscow, Russia Tue, June 23, 2020 12:30 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660e8b6f 2 World Russia,World-War-II,parade,history,nazi,Germany Free
The Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 is a pillar of national pride in Russia, used by the Kremlin to stir patriotic sentiment and rebuff criticism of the USSR and its army.
Yet Russia's state-backed narratives about the war and its legacy regularly lead to disagreements with other European countries.
Russia celebrates its victory in World War II every year on May 9 with a massive military parade on Red Square in front of the president and other world leaders.
Ahead of this year's parade on Wednesday, postponed from May because of the coronavirus pandemic, here are five World War II episodes that continue to fuel tensions.
Pact with Hitler
The 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop pact between Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler remains a point of contention between Moscow and European countries to this day.
World War II erupted after Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded and carved up Poland in September 1939 under a secret clause of the pact.
The agreement, which remained classified in the Soviet Union until 1989, has been described by Putin as necessary because Western powers had abandoned the USSR to face Germany alone.
He has also lauded the pact as a triumph of Stalin-era diplomacy.
Putin was angered last year by a text published by the European Parliament saying the pact helped pave the way for World War II.
Invasion or liberation?
Soviet soldiers are celebrated in Russia for liberating Europe from Nazism, but for some countries in eastern Europe the Red Army is remembered as an occupying force.
The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were forcibly integrated into the Soviet Union, and revile Nazi and Soviet forces alike.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said last month that the war did not end until 1993 "when the last Russian soldier left" his country.
Russia says this narrative is an unacceptable rewriting of history and routinely protests at the removal of Soviet-era military monuments in eastern and central Europe.
Polish massacre
One of many points of friction with Poland is the massacre at Katyn, named after a forest near the Russian city of Smolensk where Soviet secret police shot thousands of Polish officers in 1940 on Stalin's orders.
Until 1990, the Soviet Union claimed the executions were carried out by the Nazis.
Moscow has since admitted responsibility, but the legacy of the massacre has been overshadowed in Russia by wider Stalinist repressions.
In 2010, during a thaw in relations between Moscow and Warsaw, the plane carrying Poland's president to a commemorative event in Smolensk crashed, killing all 96 people on board.
Investigations into the accident have become a new source of tension between the two countries.
Mass deportations
During the war, Stalin accused minority ethnic groups of collaborating with the Nazis and deported hundreds of thousands of Crimean Tatars, Kalmyks, Chechens, Balkars, Germans and others to Central Asia in harsh conditions.
Deported populations were rehabilitated after Stalin's death, but tensions linger with those that returned.
Crimean Tatars, for instance, were deported from their homes and as a result opposed Russia's annexation of the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.
Many Soviet soldiers and officers returning home after captivity in Germany were also likened to traitors and sent to forced labor camps.
Rape in Germany
Rapes committed by Soviet soldiers as they captured Berlin in April 1945 permeated German collective memory, but are largely overlooked in Russia.
A Russian blogger in January was charged with "Nazi apologism" for satirical social media posts that referenced Soviet abuses committed in Germany.
In 2016, a newspaper in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad was handed an official warning over an article about atrocities committed by the Red Army during the takeover of the German city in 1945.
Inviting biological weapons attacks, withdrawing the U.S. from NATO and criminalizing political dissent: John Bolton tells Axios these are some of his fears about what could come to pass if President Trump is elected to a second term.
Driving the news: In an interview on Monday at his office in downtown D.C., timed to the release of his book "The Room Where It Happened," Trump's former national security adviser elaborated on hypothetical scenarios that keep him up at night when he considers the implications if Trump wins re-election.
Biological weapons: "If Trump's response to the pandemic has proven [anything] to anybody who's contemplating acquiring a biological weapons capability, it's that he's not able to respond to it in a systematic fashion," Bolton said. "Whatever the source of this pandemic, it's a roadmap for the people who do control biological weapons, or aspire to biological weapons, what can happen."
"If Trump's response to the pandemic has proven [anything] to anybody who's contemplating acquiring a biological weapons capability, it's that he's not able to respond to it in a systematic fashion," Bolton said. "Whatever the source of this pandemic, it's a roadmap for the people who do control biological weapons, or aspire to biological weapons, what can happen." Withdrawal from NATO: Bolton says it's "highly questionable" that Trump would stick with NATO through a second term. "I'm not averse to moving 9,000, 10,000 troops out of Germany if we're going to move them to Poland or someplace else," Bolton added. "But that's not why he's bringing those troops home. My first reaction [to Trump's German troop drawdown announcement] was this is the beginning of the end."
Bolton says it's "highly questionable" that Trump would stick with NATO through a second term. "I'm not averse to moving 9,000, 10,000 troops out of Germany if we're going to move them to Poland or someplace else," Bolton added. "But that's not why he's bringing those troops home. My first reaction [to Trump's German troop drawdown announcement] was this is the beginning of the end." Alliances: " I think the alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia, are question marks at this point," Bolton said. "If you believe the world's far away, then why have these alliances at all?"
I think the alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia, are question marks at this point," Bolton said. "If you believe the world's far away, then why have these alliances at all?" Corruption: "I'm not talking about financial interests that's really the lowest level of concern," Bolton said. "It's the corruption of the judicial process, the use of the power of the federal government against people who disagree with him. Protecting people who do support him who may have run afoul of some other legal or regulatory structures. It's a degradation of the strictures of the Constitution that become harder and harder to fix."
The other side: White House director of strategic communications Alyssa Farah responded: John Bolton doesnt have a single foreign policy or national defense achievement."
"Under President Trumps leadership, our allies are contributing more than $130 billion more to NATO, weve taken two of the worlds foremost terrorists off the battlefield, restored deterrence with Iran, and we are on pace to bring American soldiers home from the longest war in American history.
Trump, in a Friday interview with Axios, described Bolton as a "nut-job" who may be the "dumbest human being on earth" for persistently supporting the Iraq War.
Why it matters: Never before in American history has a former White House national security adviser made such an assessment of the president they served less than a year ago while that president remains in office.
In our interview, Bolton also hit back at Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who called him a "traitor" for writing about sensitive national security matters in his book.
Bolton responded: "I think there were many occasions with respect to North Korea and Iran and Afghanistan, particularly North Korea and Afghanistan, where Pompeo simply gave up on trying to provide good advice."
"I cannot understand why he would allow himself to be put in that role," Bolton added of Pompeo. "But he clearly did. And he's proud of it. That's his judgment and he'll have to live with it."
The other side: Two subjects Bolton didn't wish to discuss were his evolving legal situation and his note-taking practices to construct his book.
Paul Nakasone, the director of the National Security Agency, filed a damning affidavit late last week in DC's district court.
Under penalty of perjury, Nakasone said that he had found classified information in Bolton's manuscript and that "compromise of this information could result in the permanent loss" of a valuable intelligence source and "reasonably could be expected to result in exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States."
Bolton would not comment on any aspect of his legal situation.
Between the lines: I pressed Bolton on how he can vouch for the veracity of his stories given he now says he destroyed all his government notebooks. He was cagey about his methods.
"I took lots of notes. The notes, as I said in my exit interview from the White House, were destroyed during the course of my tenure there," he replied.
But he would not say if or how he wrote a hyper-detailed, nearly 500-page book with detailed dialogue and scenes working entirely from memory. "I'm not going to get into the description of how I wrote it or anything like that," Bolton replied.
The bottom line: "I wrote the best description that I could, and Im willing to test it across the whole range of the almost 500 pages in the book," Bolton added. "I've been a litigator for many years. I know witnesses who sit in the same meeting and come away with different recollections. I'm perfectly prepared to deal with that."
A Trump admin official said the move would help US workers but tech firms strongly opposed, say it will hurt recovery.
United States President Donald Trump will suspend the entry of certain foreign workers, a senior administration official said on Monday, in a move the official said would help the economy, but which business groups strongly oppose.
Trump will block the entry of foreign workers on H-1B visas for skilled workers and L-1 visas for workers being transferred within a company through the end of the year, the official said. Trump will also block seasonal workers on H-2B visas, with an exception for workers in the foodservice industry.
Businesses including major tech companies and the US Chamber of Commerce have said the visa suspension would stifle the economic recovery after the damage done by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Critics of the measure said Trump is using the pandemic to enact his long-standing goal to limit immigration into the US.
The immediate effects of the proclamation will likely be limited, as US consulates around the world remain closed for most routine visa processing.
Trump is running for re-election on November 3 and has made his tough immigration stance a central pitch to voters, although the coronavirus, faltering economy and nationwide protests against police brutality have overshadowed that issue in recent months.
The visa suspension announced on Monday will open up 525,000 jobs for US workers, the senior official said on a call with reporters, saying it was geared at getting Americans back to work as quickly as possible.
Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia will use the departments statutory authority to investigate abuse of the H-1B visa programme, the senior official said.
The Trump administration also finalised a regulation on Monday that will lift a requirement to process work permits for asylum seekers within 30 days, a move that will likely result in longer waits for work authorisation.
Trump also will renew an April proclamation that temporarily blocks some foreigners from permanent residence in the US, the senior administration official said on Monday. The official said that proclamation freed up roughly 50,000 jobs for Americans.
Trump rolled out new health-focused rules in March that allow for the rapid deportation of immigrants caught at the border and virtually cut off access to the US asylum system.
At the same time, he announced the land borders with Canada and Mexico would be closed to non-essential crossings, a measure that has been extended several times.
Doug Rand, co-founder of Boundless, a pro-migrant group that helps families navigate the US immigration system, said the fact that visas use to bring in foreign farmworkers known as H-2As were exempt signals that big agriculture interests are the only stakeholder with any sway over immigration policy in this administration.
Many other business groups were lobbying against a temporary visa ban before it was announced.
The immigration restrictionists would like us all to believe that every single company bringing over foreign-born workers is nefarious and just wants to bring in people who are underpaid, said Rand. That is a false premise. Moreover, it is a relatively small number of employers who are using these temporary visas.
More than a week after state education minister Varsha Gaikwad announced that a separate set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) would be issued for schools that fall under red zones, the government is yet to release guidelines. Teachers said the situation has resulted in confusion among parents. While the civic bodys education department recently issued a circular asking teachers to work from home and report to work only for the purpose of textbook distribution, some private schools have asked teachers to be physically present two or three times, a week.
Schools are making their own rules in the absence of guidelines. We have been asked to come to school thrice a week at our own expense, even as online teaching work can be done from home, said the teacher of a school in Sion.
Varsha Gaikwad did not respond to calls and messages. An official from the education department said that the document is pending a nod from the state government.
The overall SOPs released for reopening of schools and to set guidelines for online learning do not mention that teachers have to report to work physically. It states that online learning could continue remotely. However, the amendments on easing of lockdown restrictions issued by the BMC on June 9, state that schools and other educational institutes can only function for non-teaching purposes including the development of e-content, evaluation of answer-sheets and declaration of results.
The education department needs to give out clear instructions stating that teachers are not required to come to end this ambiguity, said Anil Bornare, coordinator of the BJP teachers cell.
Rajesh Pandya, from the Teachers Democratic Front, said, The government should be in no hurry to open schools in red zones. Teachers should also not be asked to come at the moment considering the risks.
BEIJING, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Artificial intelligence has played a vital role in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak and been widely applied in various sectors with tremendous potential, becoming the driving force for scientific and technological development, according to speakers at the 14th Vision China event.
Organized by China Daily and the Information Office of Tianjin Municipal People's Government, the event, "Intelligence New Era: Innovation, Energization and Ecology", was broadcast online to a global audience on Tuesday night. It coincided with the ongoing Fourth World Intelligence Congress, an online event that started on the same day and runs until Wednesday in Tianjin.
The city's future development relies on the guidance of intelligent technology, said Chen Zhemin, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Tianjin Municipal Committee and head of the Committee's Publicity Department, while underlining "Tianjin has given great importance to intelligent manufacturing and AI, which play a leading role in socio-economic development."
According to Chen, the city has transformed and upgraded all factors in the whole process, the industrial chain and the life cycle of its manufacturing industry. It has completed four groups of 911 intelligent transformation projects, and cooperated with enterprises to sign 200 cooperation agreements, with a total investment of 261 billion yuan ($36.9 billion).
Chen added that they will unswervingly promote technological innovation, develop intelligent industries and promote the intelligent upgrade of Tianjin's manufacturing industry.
Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said during the pandemic a host of AI technologies have come to the fore, which have become key for China in the fight against the virus.
"AI has become a major driving force for the new round of technological and industrial revolution. It is profoundly changing the way people work, live and learn, pushing human society toward an intelligent era of human-computer cooperation, cross-sector collaboration and joint creation and sharing," Zhou added.
In particular, Zhou noted Tianjin is a pioneer in AI city construction and has become a leader in China's AI development. The intelligent technology industry gives strong impetus for Tianjin to achieve high-quality development.
Now, Tianjin is shaping up to become a high-tech hub and has rolled out a series of supportive policies to develop the AI sector.
In December 2018, the city unveiled a three-year plan to boost the innovative development of seven AI-related industrial chains, including an independent and controllable information system, intelligent security, big data, advanced communications, intelligent connected vehicles, industrial robots and intelligent terminals.
It has also set up a special 10-billion-yuan fund for intelligent manufacturing and a 100-billion-yuan industry fund for the new generation of AI.
"AI is helping a lot to deal with unprecedented situations, situations where human experience cannot help," said Ehud Levy, managing partner at Canaan Partners Israel and venture partner at Lenovo Capital, adding AI is playing an increasingly important role in various sectors across the world.
As a veteran investor, Levy pointed out that AI companies tend to have much higher valuations than other companies. "We also see that in our deal flow, about 90 percent are AI related," he said.
Public health authorities used AI to predict the spread of the disease. They also used AI to develop vaccines and model molecular structures that could result in effective drugs to treat the novel coronavirus, he added.
China has taken the lead in many areas of financial technologies, such as mobile payments and e-commerce, said Paul Schulte, founder of Schulte Research, an institute focusing on the research of financial institutions and financial technology.
He said one of the reasons for the popularity of digital payment in China is that the country doesn't have large credit card companies trying to maintain market share. As a result, China was able to create a new type of payment infrastructure from scratch, Schulte said.
In addition, the country is moving ahead in autonomous cars, battery storage and certainly in superfast 5G technology, Schulte said. "China's move into 5G is very much geared toward an industrial build to address industrial issues, like smart cities, urban planning and the integration of healthcare systems."
"AI has built a solid foundation for the intelligent system. Otherwise, relying on big data alone is like building on a foundation of soil, which is dangerous and impossible," said Wang Feiyue, director of the state key laboratory for management and control of complex systems at the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Wang added while AI is intended to reduce the use of manpower, it will result in more employment.
With the growth of big data, cloud computing and other cutting-edge technologies, AI is gradually becoming a key driving force of economic growth
In 2017, the State Council issued a plan that set benchmarks for China's AI sector, with the value of core AI industries predicted to exceed 1 trillion yuan and make the country a global leader in AI innovation by 2030.
Jose Pedro Magalhaes Lucas, dean of the Luban Workshop at the Polytechnic Institute of Setubal in Portugal, said they will strengthen cooperation with China to cultivate more high-end technical talents.
The workshop was jointly built by the Tianjin Vocational College of Mechanics and Electricity in China and Polytechnic Institute of Setubal in Portugal, to cultivate high-quality technical professionals familiar with Chinese technology, products and standards.
"The Luban Workshop is a major achievement of Tianjin's international exchanges and cooperation in vocational education. It is a wide and very complete Industry 4.0 engineering infrastructure, with full potential for collaboration with industry," said Lucas, referring to the new phase of industrial development that focuses on interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data.
Launched in 2018 by China Daily, Vision China invites renowned political, business and academic speakers to tell China's story from a global perspective and discuss major China-related topics of international interest. It is a broad platform to make China's voice better heard around the world, as well as build a new channel to respond to global concerns on major China-related issues.
Vision China has been held in several places, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Macao, New York, London and Johannesburg. The Tuesday event is the fifth Vision China session that moved online due to COVID-19.
SOURCE China Daily
A crew was cleaning up Tuesday morning after a statue of Christopher Columbus in front of Worcesters historic Union Station was vandalized.
Workers were washing what appeared to be red paint off the statue. The area was blocked off by yellow tape.
Worcester police said that two men vandalized the statue with red paint and spray paint around 3:30 a.m. The men were last seen running toward Shrewsbury Street, according to a police spokeswoman, and officers recovered a bucket of paint, a bag and spray paint near the statue.
The department release video of the incident.
On June 23rd at approximately 3:30 AM two male suspects vandalized the statue of Christopher Columbus outside of Union Station with red paint and spray paint. The males were last seen running toward Shrewsbury Street. Officers recovered a bucket of paint, a bag and spray paint from the scene. The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information about this incident they can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Operations Division at (508) 799-8669. Posted by Worcester Police Department (Official) on Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Statues of Columbus have been vandalized across the country and in other Massachusetts cities in recent weeks. In Springfield, the Italian-American Veterans Memorial Monument, which includes a statue of Christopher Columbus, was vandalized last week. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno denounced the action.
In Boston, the Columbus statue in the North End was be removed after it was beheaded earlier this month.
Discussions about what historic monuments Americans choose to honor have been revived following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in the custody of a now-former Minneapolis police officer, who is white, last month. Protests against police brutality have been held across the country and monuments of Columbus, as well as Confederate statues, have been torn down or removed.
Worcester police asked anyone with information about the incident to call the detective bureau at 508-799-8651, send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD or send an anonymous message online at worcesterma.gov/police.
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India on Monday strongly raised with China the "premediated" attack on Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley and demanded immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh, during the second round of Lt General-level talks, people familiar with the development said.
As India's border tension with China escalated, top commanders of the army carried out a comprehensive review of the entire situation in eastern Ladakh and resolved to deal with any Chinese misadventure with a "firm hand", they said.
The Lt General-level talks began at around 11:30 am at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh and lasted for close to 11 hours, they said.
The focus of the deliberations was on finalising modalities for disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh, the people said.
There is no official word on the outcome of the talks yet.
The first round of the Lt Gen talks was held on June 6 at the same venue during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.
However, the situation along the border deteriorated following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15 that left 20 Indian Army personnel dead.
Both sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the 3,500-km de-facto border after the clashes.
Though China has not revealed its casualty figure, there were reports that a commanding officer of the Chinese army was among those killed in the clashes.
There is no official confirmation about it.
In the talks, India pressed for restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh including in Pangong Tso.
Separately, the top army commanders at a conference in Delhi on Monday held a detailed deliberation on the eastern Ladakh standoff and on the overall situation along the Line of Actual Control, official sources said.
On the first day of the two day conference, Army Chief Gen M M Naravane carried out a comprehensive review of India's security preparedness along the LAC with China in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, they said.
They said Gen Naravane is likely to visit Leh on Tuesday afternoon to take stock of the operation preparedness of the Army in the region.
The government has given "full freedom" to the armed forces, deployed along the 3,500-km de-facto border with China, to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure, government sources said after defence minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation in eastern Ladakh at a meeting with the top military brass on Sunday.
The army has already sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border in the last one week.
The IAF has also moved a sizable number of its frontline Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 aircraft and Apache attack helicopters to several key air bases including Leh and Srinagar following the clashes.
The Indian delegation at the talks in Moldo was led by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh while the Chinese was headed by the Commander of the Tibet Military District.
The people cited above said India raised the issue of Galwan Valley clashes in the Lt General-level talks.
In a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Wednesday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar called the clashes a "premeditated" action by Chinese PLA and held it directly responsible for the incident.
The Chinese soldiers used stones, nail-studded sticks, iron rods and clubs in carrying out brutal attacks on Indian soldiers after they protested the erection of a surveillance post by China on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control in Galwan.
After the clashes, the two sides held at least three-rounds of Major-General level talks to explore ways to ease the situation between the two sides.
The two armies were engaged in a standoff in Galwan and several other areas of eastern Ladakh since May 5 when their troops clashed on the banks of the Pangong Tso.
The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the decision on whether to cancel the board exams or not would be out by Thursday. The apex court also allowed Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) to follow the CBSE's decision along with necessary modifications.
A three-member bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna heard a plea filed by parents of board exam candidates that sought cancellation of the remaining CBSE exams due to coronavirus.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who appeared for the HRD ministry as well as CBSE said that a formal decision will be finalised by Wednesday evening. "We understand the anxiety of the students. We can inform the Court day after tomorrow," he said, as mentioned in Bar and Bench.
The Supreme Court has now deferred the hearing to June 25.
Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta who appeared for ICSE said that the board was awaiting orders in the CBSE matter. He said that a plea concerning ICSE students was pending at the Bombay High Court, which was in turn waiting for the Supreme Court's decision.
When asked if they were willing to follow what the Centre decides for CBSE, Gupta said "We will follow what the government decides".
The petitioners have argued that according to data by AIIMS, the COVID-19 pandemic would be at its peak during this time. They said that it would be a huge risk to hold the board exams in such a situation.
Also read: CBSE Exams 2020: Govt to decide soon as anxious parents call for cancellation
Also read: Pending CBSE, CICSE, entrance exams likely to be pushed up
The Delhi High Court Tuesday granted bail to Safoora Zargar, the pregnant Jamia university student who was arrested under anti-terror law UAPA in a case related to communal violence in northeast Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta did not oppose the court's decision on humanitarian grounds.
The Delhi High Court Tuesday granted bail to Safoora Zargar, the pregnant Jamia university student who was arrested under anti-terror law UAPA in a case related to communal violence in northeast Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta did not oppose the court's decision on humanitarian grounds.
At the outset, 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, who is 23-week pregnant, on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and surety of the like amount.
The court said she shall not indulge in any activity for which she is being investigated and shall not hamper or interfere with the on-going 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.
"This sinister and nefarious conspiracy was designed in various levels according to which the facade of a civil disobedience or protest was to be maintained to buckle the government to agree to the illegitimate demands of the accused," it said.
The Bombay high court (HC) last week refused to stay the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) decision to cancel the licence of the troubled CKP Co-op Bank Ltd.
A two-judge division bench of the court, comprising Justices Nitin Jamdar and SP Tavade, rejected the plea filed by Thane resident Vishwas Utagi and upheld the central banks April 28 order.
Prima facie, we dont find that there is any fundamental error in the approach of RBI, the bench said.
The court cited that RBI is entrusted with powers to take necessary steps in the interests of depositors, banks and public, and the banking regulators measures would benefit CKP Co-op Banks depositors.
Earlier, Utagi had moved the court on behalf of 500 shareholders, account-holders, depositors, employees and other stakeholders of CKP Co-op Bank, while challenging RBIs April 28 order.
Utagi had argued that RBI passed the order on the basis of two show-cause notices issued on June 11, 2015, and again on August 23, 2017, but those notices have become infructuous and are in violation of the basic principles of natural justice and due process of law.
The petitioner contended the RBI order was an attempt to cover-up the failures of the members of the Board of Administrators, who were nominated by Maharashtra government to run the CKP Co-op Bank from May 31, 2012.
He also alleged that RBI overlooked the interests of the banks depositors and other stakeholders while passing its order.
However, the bench observed that the audits conducted by RBI revealed several irregularities, and the bank was in poor financial health, prompting the banking regulator to issue the first show-cause notice on June 11, 2015.
Though CKP Co-op Bank submitted its action plans in July, 2016, and then again in November, 2016, its financial woes were far from over.
RBI authorities carried out an inspection in March, 2019, which showed further worsening of its financial health and that led to the issuance of the April 28 order seeking the termination of its licence, which the HC upheld.
A year ago this week, Australian governments took a hard-nosed position with our retail electricity regulations: they blew most of the system and started over.
To protect vulnerable consumers from being ripped off and to make it easier for them to find cheap electricity, governments changed the rules about how power companies had to market their discounts, and created a new safety net.
Electricity reforms resulted in an immediate win for many of the most vulnerable consumers a discount for about 15 per cent of households. Credit:Bloomberg
Customers who do not shop around for the cheapest electricity are now placed on a mid-priced deal, not the most expensive.
So now is a good time to ask: did the reforms work? Are we better off now than we were a year ago and how do we use the new rules to save a buck?
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What We Believe
We must insist on real change. And, we need your help.
Black Americans suffer from police brutality and crippling fear caused by systemic racism and implicit bias that is ingrained in our legal system, law enforcement institutions, and countless other facets of American life.
This is unacceptable. Black Lives Matter. We have a responsibility to act.
Read the full statement from State Bar Leadership
What We're Doing
Stepping Up
While issues of race in the justice system are at the forefront of many State Bar of Wisconsin efforts, we know we must do more.
The State Bars Racial Justice Leadership Group, appointed in June 2020, is working to combat racial injustice and disparities, advance equal justice, and promote diversity and inclusion by:
advancing a proposal that requires Wisconsin lawyers receive elimination of bias/diversity and inclusion training;
focusing on greater diversity and inclusion within the State Bar, collaborating with affinity bar groups, the law schools, and other stakeholders to promote greater diversity of law students, faculty, and presenters, a well as racial justice education and anti-racism training at the law schools; and
reviewing existing and suggested legislation related to race equity and justice for the next legislative session.
Addressing Disparities by Advancing Policy Priorities
The State Bar has been working to address disparities throughout Wisconsins justice system, including issues related to expungement, bail reform, juvenile justice, civil legal aid funding, exoneree compensation, and adequate investment in the justice system. See our policy priorities and help take action.
Building Awareness of Mass & Disparate Incarceration in Wisconsin
When Wisconsin rose to the top in the nation for the highest incarceration rates of African-Americans, the State Bar convened a symposium of community leaders. The result was an education program and advocacy focus on how Wisconsin might change this course. Read more.
Redoubling Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
The State Bar is deliberate and intentional in its efforts to bring diverse voices to the table to influence conversations and policy decisions. It is a focus of the State Bar's guiding principles and strategic priorities. But, theres more to do.
An Action Plan ensures our accountability in creating a culture that attracts and engages diverse leaders and staff in all aspects of the organizations work. In addition, an oversight committee, along with committed leadership and staff, work together to advance diversity and inclusion.
Share Your Ideas
We welcome your ideas on how the State Bar can combat racial injustice! Contact Mike Wiltse, Public Relations Specialist, at mwiltse@wisbar.org.*
MANISTEE, MI An 80-year-old historic limestone pavilion will soon be moved from its perch atop a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan due to rapid erosion threatening the structure.
The pavilion at Orchard Beach State Park in Manistee is expected to be moved to a picnic area within the park this fall at a cost of about $1.5 million, the Manistee News Advocate reports.
If it remains in its current location, the structure would eventually crumble into Lake Michigan, even if the bluff was fortified, Orchard Beach State Park superintendent Doug Barry told the News Advocate.
Serious consideration of moving the pavilion began last fall. It sits about 50 feet back from the edge of a bluff thats eroding at an average rate of 6 inches per year, Barry told MLive previously. Higher-than-average erosion in 2019, including a mudslide, coupled with increasingly high Lake Michigan water levels spurred Barry and the Department of Natural Resources into action to save the pavilion.
Its like nothing Ive ever been in, Barry said. Its a really unique structure.
Relocation is less expensive and more reliable than armoring the bluff against erosion, he told the News Advocate. Funding for the project will come from capital outlay funding provided by the DNR, and the parks savings.
The limestone and timber pavilion was built in the 1940s. It features a picnic shelter, original restrooms and picnic tables, and two fireplaces. Its rented out for weddings, picnics, family reunions, concerts and more.
The building has a cross-gabled roof with white cedar shingles and exposed square rafters. It was constructed on a concrete foundation. Massive limestone chimneys jut out of the north and south ends of the building. The picnic shelter portion faces Lake Michigan with four floor-to-ceiling openings that can be closed off using metal roll-down doors.
The pavilion is one of the finest examples of rustic park architecture found in Michigans state parks, according to documents from the National Register of Historic Places.
Along with the park itself, the pavilion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 2009. At that time, water levels were low and there was a good-size beach at the bottom of the bluff.
Although the parks name implies a beach, it hasnt had one since 2017 due to the high-water levels that are also endangering the pavilion. The 201-acre Orchard Beach State Park now offers camping, pavilions, trails and views of Lake Michigan.
Find MLives full Great Lakes water coverage here.
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European Council President Charles Michel, right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participate in a media conference at the conclusion of an EU-China summit at the European Council in Brussels on June 22, 2020. (Yves Herman, Pool Photo via AP)
EU Presses China Over Trade, Human Rights
The European Union presidents told Chinese leaders on Monday to make good on a promise to open up the Chinese economy, pressing China to respect human rights and warning of very negative consequences if Beijing goes ahead with its new so-called national security law for Hong Kong that many have said will undermine the citys autonomy.
President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenaccompanied by EU High Representative Josep Borrellheld a summit meeting on June 22 with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, followed by exchanges with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The EU is now Chinas biggest trading partner, said von der Leyen. But despite both trading about one billion euros ($1.13 billion) a day, the trade and investment relationship has been unbalanced, Michel said at the press conference after the summit.
For our relations to develop further, they must become more rules-based and reciprocal, in order to achieve a real level playing field, von der Leyen said.
We need to resolve concrete problems such as market access, subsidies, regulatory issues, public procurement, forced technology transfers, level playing field, and WTO [World Trade organization] reforms, Michel added.
Engaging and cooperating with China is both an opportunity and a necessity. But, we have to recognize that we do not share the same values, political systems, or approach to multilateralism. We will engage in a clear-eyed and confident way, robustly defending EU interests and standing firm on our values, Michel continued.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) and Premier Li Keqiang (R) arrive for the opening session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 22, 2020. (LEO RAMIREZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Calling China a partner and a rival, von der Leyen said that Beijing had not followed up on a bilateral 2019 deal to allow greater access for European companies into the Chinese market or drop its rules requiring investors to share their know-how in Chinese joint ventures.
The EU welcomed that China stated that it would implement Phase 1 of the U.S.-China trade agreement while fully complying with WTO obligations and without discriminating against European exporters.
A previous summit planned for March was postponed due to the CCP virus pandemic and for the same reason, an EU leaders summit with Xi in September has been put off.
The EU has been reassessing its relations with China to address the challenges posed by the ruling CCP since spring 2019. But COVID-19 has exacerbated these issues, the German-based Mercator Institute for China Studies said in its China policy analysis.
The EU Commission adopted on June 17 a White Paper on preventing EU companies from foreign state-subsidized takeovers to avoid undermining competitiveness and the level playing field in the EU market, the paper said.
EU companies weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic may be especially vulnerable to such unfair practices.
On June 3, the EU political group European Peoples Party (EPP) urged EU Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager in a letter to take action to block foreign takeovers of vulnerable European companies struggling to survive the crisis.
We call on @vestager to put in place a temporary ban on foreign takovers & step up efforts to counter hostile behaviour from state-owned Chinese firms trying to acquire crisis-hit EU companies for their key technologies, infrastructure, expertise. @ManfredWeber @Esther_de_Lange pic.twitter.com/nVnRMz3zZ9 EPP Group (@EPPGroup) June 4, 2020
Vestager, who is also a competition commissioner, said in a statement, Europes economy is open and closely interlinked to the rest of the world. we need the right tools to ensure that foreign subsidies do not distort our market, just as we do with national subsidies.
The Single Market is key to Europes prosperity and it only works well if there is a level playing field, she added.
EU Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan said in a statement, [EU] openness is increasingly being challenged through foreign trade practices, including subsidies that distort the level playing field for companies in the EU.
EU Urges CCP to Respect Human Rights, Freedom
Protesters march on a road during a pro-democracy rally against a proposed new security law in Hong Kong on May 24, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)
The EU leaders also raised their concerns about the suppression of human rights in Chinain particular the treatment of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet, human rights defenders, and the CCPs restrictions on everyones fundamental freedoms.
The EU addressed with the Chinese leaders individual cases of victims of human rights violations, such as the disappearance of citizens who had the courage to alert or report about the spread of the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.
For the European Union, human rights and fundamental freedoms are non-negotiable, von der Leyen said.
The EU also addressed cyber-attacks on hospitals and computing centers, as well the rise of online disinformation, telling the Chinese leaders this cannot be tolerated, von der Leyen said.
Michel and von der Leyen said they told Li and Xi of their concerns over the CCPs national security law for Hong Kong, which democracy activists, diplomats, and some businesses say will jeopardize the former British colonys promised autonomy and role as a global financial hub.
Chinas parliament reacted angrily on Saturday to a resolution by the EU assembly protesting against the security law.
The EU presidents expressed their grave concerns about the proposed national security law for Hong Kong and urged China to live up to the promises its made to Hong Kong people and the international community on Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy and guaranteed freedoms, Michel said.
This autonomy is what has allowed Hong Kong to flourish and become successful, von der Leyen said, adding that China would face very negative consequences if it goes forward with imposing this law.
Although the Chinese side had a different standpoint on this issue, the EU leaders, along with other G7 partners, said they made it clear that the Chinese regime should reconsider its imposition of the security law on Hong Kong.
Reuters contributed to this report.
The university-wide review comes amid a nationwide movement to get rid of Confederate monuments and other symbols considered racially insensitive. McRobbie said "recent events in our country" had demonstrated that the nation's legacy of racial discrimination "can be perpetuated through those we choose to honor, in our public art, our icons, and the names we put on buildings."
"We cannot, in any way, be part of perpetuating this legacy," he added.
Trustee Patrick Shoulders, who in 2018 had cast the lone dissenting vote against removing Wildermuth's name from the intramural building, voiced support for the school's system-wide names review. But he said that throughout the country, leaders who believed and did things now considered abhorrent are still honored, citing the ownership of slaves by America's founding fathers as an example.
"I see these as complicated issues," Shoulders said. "And I want us to be consistent."
In announcing the names review, McRobbie singled out David Starr Jordan, who was IU's president from 1884 to 1891 and has a building on the Bloomington campus, Jordan Hall, named after him. It houses IU's biology department and its greenhouse.
Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to a student of Jamia Millia Islamia who was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for her alleged role in the riots in northeast Delhi earlier this year.
Safoora Zargar, an MPhil student, was granted bail on a personal and surety bond of 10,000.
The high court said Zargar shall not indulge in activities for which she is being investigated and will also refrain from influencing, hampering and interfering in the ongoing probe.
In case she requires to leave the city, she will seek the permission of the concerned court, it said. She will also have to remain in touch with the investigation officer over the phone once in 15 days.
Zargar approached the court seeking bail on the ground that she is pregnant and has severe medical complications.
On Monday, the Delhi Police asked the high court for a day to seek instructions on Zargars bail plea.
Justice Rajiv Shakdher, hearing the case through a video conference, allowed this after Zargars counsel said she has no objection to it.
The police claimed in the court that Zargar is not entitled to bail on the grounds of pregnancy as the law does not make any distinction in this regard.
Police told the court that Delhis jails have had many pregnant inmates and that 39 deliveries have taken place inside the prison in the past 10 years.
She was arrested on April 10 for allegedly conspiring with other persons to instigate and start riots in northeast Delhi.
At least 53 people had died and 400 others were injured in the riots in February.
Zargar earlier told the court she was only part of the protests and has denied the police allegations.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 24 : Kerala on Tuesday was among those honoured for tackling the Covid-19 pandemic when the United Nations celebrated the Public Service Day.
The function, held on a virtual platform, saw the participation of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and other top UN dignitaries who applauded all the leaders which included state Health Minister K.K. Shailaja for effectively tackling Covid-19.
Speaking on the occasion, Shailaja noted that the experiences of tackling Nipah virus and the two floods - 2018 and 2019 - where the health sector played a crucial role, all helped in tackling Covid-19 timely.
"Right from the time when Covid cases got reported in Wuhan, Kerala got into the track of the WHO and followed every standard operating protocols and international norms and hence, we have been able to keep the contact spread rate to below 12.5 per cent and the mortality rate to 0.6 per cent," she said.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The Ministry of AYUSH on Wednesday asked yoga guru Ramdevs Patanjali Ayurved Ltd to stop advertising and publicising claims that it has found a cure for Covid-19 till the issue is duly examined and sought details of the.medicines.
Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has been asked to provide at the earliest details of the name and composition of the medicines being claimed for COVID treatment; site(s)/hospital(s), where the research study was conducted for COVID-19; protocol, sample size, Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, CTRI registration and results data of the study (ies) and stop advertising/publicizing such claims till the issue is duly examined, the Ministry of AYUSH said in a press statement hours after Patanjali Ayurved launched its medicine, Coronil, claiming that it is a cure for coronavirus.
The ministry has also asked the Uttarakhand government to provide copies of license and approval details granted for the manufacture of Coronil. Patanjali is headquartered in Haridwar in Uttarakhand.
Ministry has also requested concerned State Licensing Authority of Uttarakhand Government to provide copies of license and product approval details of the Ayurvedic medicines being claimed for the treatment of COVID -19, the statement added.
Patanjali launched two medicines named Coronil and Swasari on Tuesday and claimed the clinical trials on affected patients have shown 100 per cent favourable results.
The whole country and the world was waiting for medicine or vaccine for coronavirus. We are proud to announce that the first Ayurvedic, clinically controlled trial based evidence and research-based medicine has been prepared by the combined efforts of Patanjali Research Centre and NIMS, Ramdev announced at a press conference in Hairdwar.
He claimed the first clinical controlled study on 280 patients took place in Delhi and Ahmedabad among many other cities. Ramdev said the recovery rate of patients was 100 per cent.
More than 4.4 lakh people have been affected by Covid-19 in India so far. The pandemic has claimed more than 14,000 lives till now.
Consolidated Bank has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and some medical supplies to the Ministry of Health in line with its commitment to help Ghana combat COVID-19.
Items donated include a set of protective gowns, ICU patient monitoring system, bedside patients monitor and Veronica buckets with unique corporate metal stands.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Managing Director of Consolidated Bank Ghana, Daniel Wilson Addo, said the donation forms part of banks 1 million commitment to help the country combat this global pandemic.
The donation is one of the many initiatives from CBG as part of our commitment to help the country combat this global pandemic. As a business, our remit goes beyond just making profits and it is our belief that through our numerous support and activities, we will be fulfilling our mandate to stand with the people of Ghana within these frustrating times.
He added that, We value the role that government has played in tackling the coronavirus in the country. The tremendous recovery stories have been very encouraging, and this is the reason we have swiftly moved in to support government equip institutions with PPE and other essential medical supplies.
He stressed that since the outbreak of coronavirus in Ghana, the bank has donated to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the Covid-19 National Trust Fund. Additionally, the bank has donated food items to about 2,000 people in some communities in Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions during the lockdown.
CBG is not only supporting the health sector, but also customers, by subsidizing the cost of using electronic payment channels and other CBG digital banking products to help mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 on customers. The bank has also reduced its lending rate by 2 percent on all qualifying loans for individuals and businesses. We will continue to support the fight against this pandemic with unique initiatives that address the countrys specific needs, Mr. Addo concluded.
Receiving the items, Ag. Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Kwabena Boadu Oku-Afari expressed appreciation to CBG for its support and commended the bank for the massive contribution to help the country in the fight against COVID-19.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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A team of U.S. paleontologists has redescribed the morphology of a long-snouted ray-finned fish called Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteri and created a more complete and accurate reconstruction of the fish as a living animal.
Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteri lived around 300 million years ago (Carboniferous period) in an estuary environment in what is today New Mexico, the United States.
The fish was between 15 and 20 cm long and had sharp, recurved teeth.
It was first described in 1984 by Michigan State University paleontologist Michael Gottfried from a single specimen collected in the Kinney Brick Quarry.
The specimen looks like someone found a fish and just pulled on the front of its skull, said Jack Stack, a researcher in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Michigan State University and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.
Many modern fish species, from the swordfish to the sailfish, have protuberant snouts that extend out in front of them, often aiding in their ability to lunge at prey. But this characteristic is much rarer in ancient fishes.
In the 2010s, several more specimens of Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteri were found in the same quarry.
In a new study, Stack and colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania, Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, and New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science examined these specimens in detail and studied other species that dated to the same period.
This sounds really simple, but its obviously difficult in execution as fossils are compressed flat when they are preserved, Stack said.
What the scientists noticed cast doubt on the conception of Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteri as resembling a pike.
While a pike has an elongated snout with its jaws at the end of it, allowing it to rush its prey head-on, Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteri has an elongated snout with its jaws at the bottom.
The whole form of this fish is similar to other bottom dwellers, Stack said.
The team also noticed canal-like structures on Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteris snout concentrated in the top of its head, suggestive of the locations where sensory organs would attach.
These would have detected vibrations to allow the fish to consume its prey, said Dr. Lauren Sallan, a paleobiologist in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania.
The scientists noted that many of the species that dwelled in similar environments possessed longer snouts.
This also makes sense because it was an estuary environment with large rivers feeding into it, churning up the water, and making it murky, Dr. Sallan said.
Rather than using your eyesight, you have to use these other sensory organs to detect prey.
Despite this, other features of the different ancient fishes morphology were so different from Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteri that they do not appear to have shared a lineage with one another, nor do modern sturgeon descend from Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteri.
Instead the long snouts appear to be an example of convergent evolution, or many different lineages all arriving at the same innovation to adapt well to their environment.
Our work, and paleontology in general, shows that the diversity of life forms that are apparent today has roots that extend back into the past, Stack said.
The teams results were published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
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Jack Stack et al. Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteri, a long-rostrumed Pennsylvanian ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii) and the simultaneous appearance of novel ecomorphologies in Late Palaeozoic fishes. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, published online June 22, 2020; doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa044
Egyptian pharmaceutical company Rameda says it has begun manufacturing a generic equivalent of Japanese anti-viral medicine Avigan for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, and the drug is expected to be available within three weeks.
Rameda is the second Egyptian company to announce the production of the drug, which recently became Russias first approved coronavirus treatment.
The pharmaceutical company started the manufacturing of Anviziram tablets on Monday, Rameda CEO Amr Morsy said in a statement.
Anviziram contains the active pharmaceutical ingredient Favipiravir, which is the generic form of the antiviral medicine released under the brand name Avigan in Japan, the statement said.
The drug will be available in around three weeks, Morsy told privately owned MBC Masr channel on Monday, stressing that it will be offered at a lower cost than its equivalent abroad.
Morsy said that the drug eliminates the major COVID-19 symptoms of cough and fever within two-and-a-half days and five days respectively.
Lung functions recover and improve in 91 percent of patients using the drug, compared to 61 percent of those not on the medication.
Favipiravir is believed to combat COVID-19 by inhibiting viral reproduction, with studies indicating that the drug assists in stabilising viral reproduction four to six days after first use.
Russia started using the drug, known there as Avifavir, earlier this month -- the countrys first approved COVID-19 treatment -- after clinical trials showed that it successfully treated the virus in most cases within a few days.
According to Ramedas statement, the companys entire production of Anviziram will focus on the Egyptian market at this time, but it also aims to export the drug to neighboring countries upon approval from the health ministry and the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA).
The announcement by Rameda came as Egyptian drugmaker Eva Pharma said on Monday that it had begun manufacturing Avipiravir.
Rameda said that it has secured the EDAs approval for intravenous Remedisvir, an antiviral medication used for treating COVID-19 patients.
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.
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.
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Feasterville, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/23/2020 -- For most people, buying a home is the most serious investment they'll ever make in their entire lifetime. Buying a home can be a long, stressful process and buying a home with hidden electrical problems can quickly become a nightmare. A-1 Electric urges anyone buying a residential property to schedule a comprehensive electrical inspection in Chester County or another area with its team of professionals.
Electrical issues can be both expensive to repair and dangerous to live with. Electrical issues may not be immediately apparent, even after a thorough walk through which is why it's crucial that buyers receive a professional inspection before they commit to a property. Homeowners trust the team at A-1 Electric to complete their home electrical inspection in a timely manner to keep closing processes on track and to spot any major or minor electrical issues before the sale goes through.
A-1 Electric is urging anyone thinking about buying a home to schedule a comprehensive electrical inspection in Montgomery County or surrounding area before finalizing their mortgage loan. Buyers and property owners who are interested in scheduling their inspections or who would like to learn more about the team at A-1 Electric are encouraged to call now to have an inspector at their door in 24 hours. Please note that while A-1 Electric cannot act as both a repair professional and an inspection service on a single visit, their team is happy to schedule multiple appointments to meet the needs of all of their clients.
About A-1 Electric
A-1 Electric is an organization of Electrical Inspectors and Master Electricians operating out of Feasterville-Trevose, PA. They service Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia and all of Pennsylvania, with electrical underwriting, reintroduction of services, installation of electrical infrastructure and implementation of electrical equipment. They also offer complete electrical inspection and authorization consulting services certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, all local AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) and all PA electrical utilities.
By Orhan Coskun and Tuvan Gumrukcu
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey and Libya's internationally recognised government are discussing possible Turkish use of two military bases in the North African country, a Turkish source said on Monday, with a view to a lasting Turkish presence in the south Mediterranean.
No final decisions have been made over possible Turkish military use of the Misrata naval base and the al-Watiya air base, which was recently recaptured by the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).
A more permanent air and naval presence in Libya could reinforce Turkey's growing influence in the region, including in Syria, and boost its claims to offshore oil and gas resources.
Turkey has also flagged possible energy and construction deals with Tripoli once the fighting ends.
The GNA has in recent months driven back Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) - supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and France - turning the tide on a 14-month conflict that has displaced an estimated 200,000 people.
While all sides say they want a truce, heavy clashes have emerged near the LNA-held coastal city of Sirte, which is close to major energy export terminals on the Mediterranean seaboard.
Russia and Turkey postponed high-level talks on Libya, scheduled for Sunday in Istanbul, due to discord over the GNA's push to retake Sirte, another Turkish official said.
"Turkey using al-Watiya ... is on the agenda," said the first source, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It could also be possible for the Misrata naval base to be used by Turkey."
Turkey has a military base in Qatar and in 2017 added troops there amid a row between Doha on the one hand and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on the other.
Ankara threw its support behind the government in Tripoli last year after the GNA signed a maritime demarcation accord that it says gives Turkish drilling rights near Crete, but that is opposed by Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the European Union.
Story continues
A Libyan naval base in particular would "institutionalise" Turkey's influence in the Eastern Mediterranean and give it leverage over Arab and European adversaries, said Galip Dalay, Fellow at Robert Bosch Academy.
DISCORD OVER SIRTE
Russia's foreign ministry said on Sunday it was pursuing a "prompt ceasefire" and that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would reschedule the meeting that was set for Sunday with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu.
"A result was supposed to come out (of the meetings), but that stage could not be reached. There are issues where the two countries are on opposing sides," the second Turkish official told Reuters.
"One of the main issues for the postponement of the Lavrov visit is the (GNA's) plan for an operation into Sirte...which has emerged as a target."
The Kremlin did not comment on the postponement. Cavusoglu said on Monday it was unrelated to any issues on "core principles".
The United Nations said last week the warring sides had begun new ceasefire talks in Libya after GNA forces, helped by Turkey, repelled a protracted LNA assault on the capital Tripoli.
Sirte, about halfway between GNA-held Tripoli and LNA-held Benghazi, is the closest city to Libya's main energy export terminals. Haftar's forces seized the city in January and the conflict's new front line has emerged just to the west.
"Russia wants Turkey and the GNA to halt military operations, particularly not attacking Sirte, Jufra and the oil crescent - and Ankara has rebuffed this demand," said Dalay.
"If Turkish-Russian talks don't bear fruit, we might then see escalation both in Libya and in Syria's Idlib region", where Ankara and Moscow also back opposing sides, he said.
(Writing and additional reporting by Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Nick Macfie)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Matanat Nasibova - Trend:
Azerbaijans industrial producer AzerTechnoline plant sold different varieties of its products, both in the domestic market and abroad this year, a source in the plant told Trend .
According to the source, its about the sale of corrugated pipes of various modifications.
This year, totally 43,991 nos. of industrial pipes were sold," the source said.
The source also noted that by the end of this year it is planned to increase the volume of production two-fold in order to fully realize the products domestically and abroad.
Currently, the plant exports its products to Russia, Georgia and Uzbekistan. By the end of the year, it plans to expand the export routes to other countries of Central Asia and also to develop new types of industrial products, in particular SN 8 DN 1000 corrugated pipes.
AzerTechnoline plant, the first resident of Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP), was commissioned in 2013.
At present, AzerTechnoline uses modern technologies for production and export of steel pipes with diameter from 400 to 2000 millimeters. Pipes of AzerTechnoline company are used for transportation of crude oil, natural gas, for the needs of oil refineries, for installation of water pipelines, as well in steel structures and as piles.
The company also produces polyethylene sewage pipes with steel reinforcement from 400 to 2400 mm in diameter, metal panel fences up to 2.5 meters wide and long, plastic fittings and products made of plastic injections, water and gas gate valves, plastic circular gate valves.
The plant has a number of obtained certificates for high quality of its products in accordance with international standards such as API, ISO 9001, OHSA 18001, ISO 14001, ISO 29001, GOST and AZS.
The US Navy gave the People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) a big shock with the dispatch of three US carrier strike groups in the South China Sea which is not so far from mainland China.
Placement of immense naval firepower is no accident as it most was stationed in the Indo-Pacific on spring patrol. Since 2017, the masses US firepower comes as Beijing becomes an aggressor to push its interest in ruling the SCS, reported in Japan Times News.
Recently, China said the US military forces were not ready and the coronavirus pandemic demonstrated that weakness. In sending the carrier strike groups to different parts of the Indo-Pacific, the US tells China it is still in the fight and ready to support allies.
As of Sunday, the US Navy reported that two carrier strike groups (CSG) are already in the Philippine Sea. Carriers now active in the region are the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Nimitz CSGs, starting double carrier flight operations over the Philippine sea, mentioned in Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The two carriers are practicing air defense drills, sea monitoring, resupply at sea, defensive air combat, long-range strike, and other drills said in a statement.
According to Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander of Carrier Strike Group 9, he said that training for joint operation in this kind of combat theatre will increase all tactics and be ready for any situation is an advantage. He added that tensions with China and the pandemic make their job more challenging.
It is not just the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the Nimitz conducting operation in the Philippine Sea, another unit the USS Ronald Reagan is also in the vicinity based on information from the Pacific Fleet.
Also read: China's Aircraft Carrier Under Construction Disappears From the Shipyard
The only information is the three carriers are in different sectors in the Philippine Sea on Sunday. There is no information where they are exactly. One place that China will react strongly is when the fleets converge in the Luzon Strait to enter the South China Sea where encounters between the US Navy and PLAN have happened.
Many parts of the South China Sea (SCS) that aren't theirs was refuted by The Hague Ruling. But it did not stop China from purloining the Paracels and the Spratlys in the SCS. They regularly harass vessel that cannot stand up to them. China would deny the use of these sea lanes if it can. According to the US, their occupation will cost trade earnings, confirmed in BBC News.
Conducting freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) has made the communist party fume, and the US has operated close to bases in the SCS. This made Beijing vent impotently while American warships pass unhindered. While the pandemic went on, the Chinese stealthily occupied parts of the China Sea, noted Reuters.
Chinese media show that China was not ready for three CSGs in the Pacific. Their own forces have not been seen on the high seas even nearby.
Global Times even said the US Naval Armada can be lethal to Chinese PLAN and PLA units in the South China Sea.
A Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie said the US carrier strike groups are a message by the US, it is still move powerful than China and the can do what they want. In the South China Sea, the three carriers can threaten Chinese assets, as they have done to their neighbors.
Rear Adm. James Kirk, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, said that the US will support its allies, also keep stability and security. To keep the seas free and to benefit all nations, not just one (that's China) nation.
Related article: China Thinks US Navy's Three Aircraft Carriers Are Merely for Show, Although It Threatens Them
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InkCenter offers superior quality and cost savings while good for the environment
CARLSBAD, California, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Retail Inkjet Solutions (RIS) is partnering with Cora to roll out its inkjet cartridge refill service at all Cora retail locations throughout Belgium and Luxembourg (Benelux). Cora customers can now drop off their empty inkjet cartridges at the InkCenter service area to be refilled while they shop - saving time, money and the environment.
"With the already proven success of the ink refill service at Cora hypermarkets across France, RIS is excited to partner once again with Cora in more countries, especially as eco-friendly products and services are becoming more widely popular within the retail space," said David Lenny, RIS President and CEO. "Our innovative refill technology is designed to be convenient and efficient, while simultaneously reducing single-use plastic. The Cora brand offers a wealth of credibility and like-minded strategic thinking as we work together to bring high-quality ink and print clarity to the public in a much more affordable way. In the current Covid-19 landscape, facilitating lower cost inkjet printing for home offices is more important now than ever for many workers who are practicing social distancing through working from home."
Lenny and his team have aspired to expand RIS throughout continental Europe in recent years by working with several major retailers such as Auchan, Boulanger and Media Markt. The addition of Cora Benelux to the RIS InkCenter network is another significant step toward achieving that objective, and RIS is confident that ink cartridge refilling will serve Cora customers well.
The RIS InkCenter features a patented, precision refill system that professionally cleans, fills, and tests each cartridge to ensure flawless performance while maximizing cartridge life for refilling the same cartridge multiple times over, at up to 60 percent in cost savings over buying a brand new cartridge each time. Ink cartridges are refilled by a qualified service team member while a customer shops inside any participating store. The InkCenter system will be available at all nine Cora locations in Belgium and Luxembourg from June 2020.
"We are delighted to join forces with Cora Benelux to launch this rollout of the InkCenter," said Vincent Hormovitis, RIS Vice President of Sales & Business Development. "The Cora management team is passionate about offering its customers unbeatable added value especially during this world crisis. With the demand for ink increasing as consumers work from home and students learn from home, Cora Benelux is now able to offer the best quality ink cartridge solution to their customers at up to 60% off branded cartridge prices, saving them money and helping the environment."
"We are delighted to be able to offer the first Ink Bar in Benelux to our customers" said Stephanie Pohl Weber, non-food director Cora Benelux."Since the beginning of June, the 9 Cora Benelux stores will offer this new innovative and exclusive service. We always strive to be as close as possible to the reality of our customers. In recent weeks, with the Covid-19 crisis, we have seen sales of ink cartridges explode, up more than 104% in value compared to the same period last year. We are therefore delighted to be able to offer our customers this quality and advantageous alternative from an economic and environmental point of view. "
"Every day, our experts passionately select the best assortment at the best price to offer an unrivaled choice and a personalized consumption experience to our customers. We offer 511 different cartridges (HP, Canon, Epson, Brother and TX compatible cartridges) on the shelf or on order. By working our assortment in depth, we aim to make each purchase a unique act" added Henri Devreux, Marketing Director Cora Benelux."In this context, the association with RIS and the launch of the Ink Bars were obvious to us."
About RIS
Retail Inkjet Solutions, Inc. (RIS) is the industry leader in retail on-site inkjet cartridge refilling services. The patented RIS InkCenter kiosk is deployed in more than 500 participating retail locations across the United States, Canada, and Europe - including Auchan, Boulanger, CORA, Costco, E.Leclerc, Systeme U, Intermarche, Media Markt, Saturn, Schiever and select University Bookstores. RIS provides customers with unmatched printing quality while delivering incredible savings. RIS was founded in 2004 by former HP engineers with a vision to create a better printing solution for customers at a lower price and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, visit www.Go2RIS.com .
About Cora
CORA is a hypermarket chain belonging to the Louis Delhaize group. CORA operates 61 hypermarkets in France, 7 in Belgium, 2 in Luxembourg and 11 in Romania. CORA is the first and only retailer offering the InkCenter service in Benelux. For more information on Cora, visit www.cora.be.
Contact Ashley McGinty Telephone 858.753.0233 Email amcginty@Go2RIS.com Website www.Go2RIS.com
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Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1179674/RIS_CORA_Logo.jpg
By Nam Sang-so
In 1933, Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany, and Albert Einstein escaped to America. In April that year Prohibition was lifted in the United States. Japan was busy invading China. I was born in Nagano prefecture, western Japan. My parents were Koreans and I faced bullying by Japanese classmates growing up.
In December 1940, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. My family moved to Osaka in 1944, shortly before U.S. B-29 bombers from Guam and Tinian islands started bombing the city. A total of 1,733 tons of bombs were dropped over the city. On Aug. 14, 1945, one day before the end of the war, eight bomb raids were executed in the Osaka air. Our family somehow survived by hiding in a shelter while the house was completely burned to ash.
My parents decided to return to their old farm village in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, in 1946. Being unable to speak Korean, I once again became the target of bullying this time by Korean students.
In June 1950, I too bent down with the farmers in the wet field and kept pushing clumps of seedlings into the mud. There came a long file of North Korean infantry. The soldiers requisitioned young men and boys to repair a damaged bridge. And I was recruited to work at night.
Then in September, once retreated South Korean soldiers came back from the South. The North Koreans escaped into mountains and became partisans. Now, the South Korean army requisitioned young men and boys to help carry ammunition at the front lines. Three truckloads of young civilians, myself included, were transported to the foot of Mount Hyangnobong north of the 38th parallel.
We carried on our backs mortar shells up to the top of the mountain where artillery fire was being exchanged. The mortars shot by the North Korean army were exploding over the South's positions.
After five days of the ammunition-carrying ordeal, I came home without any injury. Then I joined South Korean navy in the spring of 1951, and served three years aboard a destroyer and an LST.
Then in 1965, I was employed by an American engineering firm in Saigon, Vietnam. The firm had a design contract with the U.S. Navy for its military installations. Supervising Koreans, Filipinos and Vietnamese surveyors, I worked at the Mekong Delta, Qui Nhon, Long Binh, etc., on topographic and triangulation surveys which continued until October 1968, not knowing the herbicidal warfare of U.S. bombers spraying Agent Orange over the Vietnamese forest had been at its peak. So far, my body doesn't show any signs of cancer or respiratory disorders typical of Agent Orange syndrome.
June 25 this year is the 70th anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War. North Koreans are threatening South Korea again. I told my grandson, "Take your grandmother along with you when you have to seek refuge from Seoul." I'll stay, so that I can see how my fourth war would develop.
The writer (sangsonam@gmail.com) is a Korean War veteran.
A Northamptonshire care home has seen thirty-six residents contract coronavirus over the past fortnight after it unknowingly welcomed three infected hospital patients.
Cheaney House, based in Desborough, were told the three patients arriving from Kettering General Hospital two weeks ago were coronavirus-free, but a testing mishap by the hospital did not notice they were still infected.
As a result, 23 residents and 13 staff belonging to Cheaney House now have the virus, though the care home confirmed they are likely to recover.
Thirty-six residents and staff at Cheaney Court in Northamptonshire (pictured) contracted coronavirus after it welcomed three patients from Kettering General Hospital not knowing they had the virus
A Cheaney House spokesperson said: 'We require written confirmation of a negative Covid-19 test before any resident is admitted.
'Our policy also ensures that all incoming residents are placed in isolation and are tested again by us.
'As a result of these precautions we were able to identify three people admitted from NHS facilities in the past month who tested positive.
'Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, a number of other residents and staff have subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.
The Desborough care home (pictured) announced that the 23 residents and 13 staff who contracted the virus are recovering well
'The majority are now reaching the end of the cycle and medical advice, happily, indicates that everyone looks likely to recover.
'The home is coping extremely well under the circumstances and morale amongst staff and residents alike is very good.'
Kettering General Hospital's medical director Andrew Chilton admitted the hospital used the 'best tests possible' worked to national guidelines to finalise the transfer to the care home.
However, it later transpired that only 75 per cent of the tests the hospital used were accurate, which contributed to the error.
Visitors must wear facemasks and sit behind perspex plans under a phased recommencement of physical family visits to prisons in Portlaoise and other parts of the country according to the Irish Prison Service (IPS).
Following public health advice, and owing to the restriction on movements announced by the Government in an effort to curtail the spread of Covid-19, physical family visits to prison were suspended on March 27 and replaced with a new system of video visits.
The IPS issued a statement on the reason for the relaxation on measures which have meant no prisoner has contracted the disease in Ireland.
"The Irish Prison Service fully appreciates how important contact with family is to prisoners and has been committed to the early return of physical family visits as soon as it was considered safe to do so.
"In line with the Government Roadmap, and with infection control in mind, the Irish Prison Service has completed a comprehensive risk assessment on the return of physical prison visits. The Service has identified the necessary measures, which are currently being progressed, to ensure that family members and friends can return to physical visits to our prisons in a safe manner.
"In order to safely accommodate visitors and ensure compliance with social distancing requirements, in both our waiting areas and in the visiting areas, it has been necessary to limit the capacity and the frequency of visits at this time. Prior to Covid-19 over 4,500 visitors would have entered our prisons on a weekly basis. In order to ensure effective infection control and allow for appropriate social distancing, capacity in both waiting areas and visiting areas must be reduced," it said.
A statement said visits will recommence on a phased basis commencing on Monday, July 20 but movement through the phases will be subject to ongoing risk assessment and will take account latest public health advice, the range of Government restrictions in place and other factors including the prevailing transmission rate in the community.
The IPS National Infection Control Team, in collaboration with the National Quality Improvement (QI) team and Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland, implemented a programme to develop and train in-prison contact tracing teams (CTTs). CTTs were run by prison staff with experience of working with detainees, prison IT systems and CCTV. Protocols for undertaking contact tracing for both detainee and staff cases of COVID-19 were established.
Oxford University has published a paper on how the Irish Prison Service preventing outbreaks of Covid-19 in prisons in the Journal of Public health.
It found that the partnership approach, that included prisoners, with development of prison-led CTTs can provide an effective mechanism for contact tracing of Covid-19 cases within the prison setting.
Summary of Phases
Phase 1 Return of Physical Family Visits (20 July 2020)
Physical visits will recommence with effect from Monday 20th July 2020.
- All prisoners will be entitled to receive one physical family visit per fortnight, of not more than 15 minutes duration.
- Prisoners may opt for two video visits if preferred.
- Physical visits during this phase will be limited to one adult person (over 18 years of age).
- Prisoners will also be able to avail of one video visit of not more than 15 minutes duration per fortnight.
- In order to prevent the potential spread of infection all visits will be behind perspex screens and visitors will be required to wear a face-covering at all times.
- No physical contact between prisoners and family members will be permitted.
Phase 2 Monday 17th August 2020
- All prisoners will be entitled to receive one physical family visit per fortnight, of not more than 15 minutes duration.
- Physical visits during this phase will be limited to two people of which one visitor may be a child.
- Prisoners may continue to avail of one video visit per fortnight of not more than 15 minutes
- Prisoners may continue to opt to receive a video visit in lieu of a physical visit
- Visitors will continue to be required to wear a face-covering
- In order to prevent the potential spread of infection all visits will be behind perspex screens and visitors will be required to wear a face-covering at all times
-No physical contact between prisoners and family members will be permitted.
The IPS says the operation and frequency of visits will be kept under ongoing review guided both by Public Health advice and a desire to support as much contact as possible between the prisoner and their families.
It says detailed information for families in relation to the operation of visits will be published on the Irish Prison Service website www.irishprisons.ie in the coming weeks.
According to a release from the Ogden Dunes Police, paramedics were sent to the intersection of Beach Lane and Shore Drive around 10:49 a.m. Saturday to respond to a report of a man who fell from a pine tree that was around 40-50 feet high while trimming the tree.
Who is Peter Hans?
This is a question I am getting from friends who have learned that Hans has been elected the next president of the University of North Carolina.
Maybe they think that because I was once a vice president of the university system, I still know something about what is going on there. I dont.
But, yes, I did know almost 30 years ago when Hans (class of 1991) was part of a group of young activist student politicians at UNC-Chapel Hill, a group that included Gene Davis, currently a member of the board of trustees at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Tim Moore, now speaker of the state House of Representatives.
The group contained Republicans and Democrats, but they supported each other in student politics, and were mostly fast friends despite their political differences. Said another way, they did not let differences in partisan politics get in the way of helping each other when they could.
Kuchibhotla murder: Widow of Indian-techie can stay in US for now
SC asks all state govt to file reply by Feb 28 over rehabilitation of widows
Thanks to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, this J&K widow has a roof over her head after 10 years
Explained: What is International Widows Day? Why is it celebrated?
India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
New Delhi, June 23: Losing partner in life can't be expressed in words. Several women around the world after losing her life partner face challenges and do long-term struggle for basic needs, their right and dignity.
The pandemic has just worsened the situation during the past several months with a devastating human loss, and one that is likely leaving tens of thousands of women newly widowed at just the time when they are cut off from their usual socio-economic and family supports.
Army sources revealed there was a mutual consensus to disengage at India China top military talks
Experience from past pandemics, for example HIV/AIDS and Ebola, shows that widows are often denied inheritance rights, have their property grabbed after the death of a partner, and can face extreme stigma and discrimination, as perceived 'carriers' of disease.
In the context of lockdowns and economic closures, widows may not have access to bank accounts and pensions to pay for healthcare if they too become ill or to support themselves and their children. With lone-mother families and single older women already particularly vulnerable to poverty, this is an area that needs urgent attention.
International Widows Day is a United Nations ratified day of action to address the "poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents in many countries.
International Widows Day was established by The Loomba Foundation[clarification needed] to raise awareness of the issue of widowhood.
Significance of International Widow's Day :
The significance of 23 June is that it was on that day in 1954 that Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, mother of the foundation's founder, Lord Loomba, became a widow.
One of the foundation's key goals is to highlight what it describes as an invisible calamity.
A 2010 book, Invisible, Forgotten Sufferers: The Plight of Widows Around the World, estimates that there are 245 million widows worldwide, 115 million of whom live in poverty and suffer from social stigmatization and economic deprivation purely because they have lost their husbands.
As part of the Loomba Foundation's awareness campaign, this study was presented to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on 22 June 2010.
International Widow's Day 2020
The United Nations observes 23 June as International Widows Day (resolution A/RES/65/189) since 2011, to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize the unique support that they need.
The first International Widows Day took place in 2005 and was launched by Lord Loomba and the foundation's president, Cherie Blair. By the sixth International Widows Day in 2010, events were held in Rwanda, Sri Lanka, the United States, the UK, Nepal, Syria, Kenya, India, Bangladesh and South Africa.
Brandon Harrison, an officer with the St. Joseph Police Department in Missouri, was assigned to administrative duties Monday after being filmed threatening a motorist. The video sailed to millions of views over the weekend, forcing officials to launch an investigation.
Meet off duty police officer Brandon Harrison of St. Joseph, Missouri. He was in a car accident with the other man you see in this video. And this is how he responded. And yes he is wearing a Trump hat. pic.twitter.com/IzGu2sOks7 Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) June 22, 2020
Two two drivers had apparently collided in their vehicles. Harrison was off-duty at the time, but made clear his position while yelling expletives at the man"I am on vacation and I will fuck you up. See who they fucking believe, bitch." A uniformed officer on the scene ordered the man to obey Harrison's demand to sit down and "do what he says", then allows Harrison to participate in a search of the man's vehicle. Local media report that she has not been disciplined and the department has refused to release her name.
At least 353 Filipino workers have died in the kingdom in recent weeks, including 107 infected with the coronavirus.
The Philippine government has announced it is sending three chartered flights to Saudi Arabia to bring home the remains of hundreds of Filipino workers, many of whom have died of the coronavirus.
President Rodrigo Dutertes spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday the government is not sparing any expense to repatriate the deceased workers, although he added it has decided to bury the remains of at least 50 people in Saudi Arabia.
[The number] is not surprising because the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the most number of overseas Filipino workers, Roque said during his daily online briefing. There are an estimated one million Filipinos working or living in Saudi Arabia.
Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Adnan Alonto earlier said there were 353 Filipino workers whose remains are awaiting repatriation, including 107 who died from COVID-19. Another 246 died of natural causes.
Alonto was also quoted as saying many morgues and hospitals in Saudi Arabia had reached their capacity. Also complicating the situation is the prohibition of cremation in the Muslim tradition.
72-hour deadline
But the repatriation of the bodies took on an added urgency after Saudi Arabia gave the Philippines 72 hours to carry out the plan.
Philippine labour chief, Silvestre Bello III, said Manila is appealing to Riyadh to give it more time.
The Philippine government is also scrambling to accommodate the request of as many as 23,000 Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia to come home. Many have reported losing their jobs in Saudi Arabia following the pandemic lockdown.
On Tuesday, Roque said the living conditions of Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia may have contributed in the spread of the deadly infection.
He said those living in cramped dormitories may have found it difficult to maintain physical distancing.
As of Sunday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs reported at least 6,141 Filipinos working around the world have been infected with COVID-19. Of that number, at least 496 have died.
Since the pandemic triggered a global lockdown, the government said it brought home more than 51,000 Filipinos working abroad.
But it has been struggling to accommodate the new arrivals with quarantine centres in Manila facing overcapacity, prompting officials to scale down the repatriation.
WATERLOO Now that business restrictions in Iowa have eased, the owners of a pedal-car play center are holding a grand-reopening celebration this weekend.
Kids, Cars and More is housed in the 12,500-square foot warehouse that used to be Thorpe Family Fun Center, at 2720 Lackland Drive off of Texas Street, which closed in January 2019.
Tammy and Danny Harper took possession of the building Nov. 1, and opened their business a couple of months later right before Gov. Kim Reynolds mandated business closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now that theyre back open, the Harpers encourage mask wearing and social distancing, but neither is required.
The pedal cars are disinfected between riders, Tammy Harper said.
The grand re-opening celebration will be from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Specials include $2 off a general admission wristband and $12 souvenir T-shirts, and door prizes will be given away as well. Rodneys Kitchen will also be on hand serving food from its food truck.
Packages at Kids, Cars and More are normally $10.95 for ages 5 and up for an hour, $15.95 for two hours and $24.95 for an all-day wristband.
Kids younger than that will pay $6.95 for an hour, $9.95 for two hours and $12.95 for all day, while tots younger than 18 months as well as parents just watching their kids get in free.
The Harpers are also offering a 10% discount with a military identification, because Danny Harper is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He also works full time at Lone Pine Hog Farm in Fairbank.
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German express carrier DHL has contracted with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to convert three Boeing 767-300 passenger planes to all-cargo configuration.
The contract, which IAI stated is valued in the "tens of millions of dollars," also includes an option for DHL to have IAI convert a fourth 767-300 to freighter service.
IAI spun off its commercial aviation group in 2019, although the Tel Aviv-based company has been converting Boeing passenger planes to freighters for years.
"The constant increase in the e-commerce market and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have emphasized the importance of cargo aircraft," said Yossi Melamed, IAI Aviation Group's general manager, in a statement.
DHL, part of German logistics conglomerate DEUTSCHE POST A/S ADR (OTCMKTS: DPSGY), has continued to expand its freighter fleet in recent years. The company operates more than 260 aircraft with 17 partner airlines on more than 3,000 daily flights.
In February, DHL received the first of six new Boeing 777-200 freighters scheduled for delivery this year. The company ordered 14 777Fs in 2018, with four delivered last year and another four coming in 2021.
In early April, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Civil Aviation Authority of Israel certified IAI's design for converting the Boeing B737-800 aircraft from passenger to cargo configuration. The company recently delivered the first two of these converted aircraft.
Earlier this month, IAI signed a contract with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) to perform the first-time conversion of a Boeing 777-300 from passenger to cargo service, including applying to obtain the necessary certificates of airworthiness from aviation authorities.
(Click for more American Shipper/FreightWaves articles by Chris Gillis.)
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The Member of Parliament for Builsa South Dr. Clement Abas Apaak has taken a swipe at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for stating that his announcement of the government to absorb the cost of WASSCE exams for final year students was the first time it has occurred.
Read his full statement below:
STATEMENT COST OF WASSCE EXAMINATION NOT INDEPENDENT OF FREE SHS MR. PRESIDENT
Since March this year, Ghana has had to grapple with the devastating effects and threats of COVID-19. The virus, which has swept many lives across the world and is shaking the foundations of economies, has received international attention with governments adopting and modifying strategies aimed at handling the global pandemic in a manner that would minimise its impact on their respective countries.
As expected, the government of Ghana, through the President and a handful of his appointees, have engaged the general public in their quest to keep our compatriots updated while providing guides in line with the World Health Organisations developed protocols.
Ghanaians have, particularly, waited on specified times to listen to the President, Nana Akufo-Addo for directives and statements meant to provide first hand information on governments interventions.
Gradually, this important platform, has given way to partisan politics, losing focus on the purpose for which the platform came into existence.
We can all understand that there is election ahead of the President, but, the fight against COVID-19 must remain paramount as it has a clear potential to affect and shift the gears of our population.
Yesterday, June 21st, 2020, the President made an announcement to the effect that government will absorb the cost of examination of final year Senior High School students who are expected back in school to complete their various courses.
Here is what he said: For the first time in our nations history, Government will absorb the WASSCE examination fees of the three hundred and thirteen thousand, eight hundred and thirty-seven (313,837) SHS 3 students who will sit for the exam. To this end, he stated that some Ghc75.4 million has been budgeted to cater for this line of expenditure.
As far back December 2019, on or about the 15th of that month, Ghanaweb sourced a story from 3News under the heading Govt absorbs WASSCE fees for first batch of free SHS students, link provided here (https://mobile.ghanaweb.com//Govt-absorbs-WASSCE-fees-for-). The very announcement yesterday, was contained in this publication of 19th December 2019.
It makes one wonder how this very issue stated some seven (7) months ago, has resurfaced in a COVID-19 update of 21st June, 2020 when Ghanaians are expecting specific measures aimed at fighting the virus.
The fight is clearly giving way to campaign messages, which is very unfortunate for our country at this crucial moment. Ghanaians woke up on Saturday to a spike in the number of recoveries in COVID-19 from a little above four thousand on Friday, to over ten thousand by evening of Saturday.
The specific cause of this spike, which many have described as a miracle, has not been fully accounted for, nor explained. These are the issues that are of great and significant importance on the platform the president mounts to update citizens on measures taken so far.
Smuggling in issues dealt with many months ago to score political points, rather depletes the interest Ghanaians carry to sit by their television sets each time to listen to the President.
What did our President think the Ghanaian parent who was told is being offered free education expect of him? Was he in any way expecting that they were waiting on him to announce the cost of examination at WASSCE? Was the cost of WASSCE examination excluded from free SHS from day one?
It must be stated clearly that the cost of examination is part of the cost of education. And, having rolled out the free SHS programme, it was expected, a given, automatic, inter alia, that the specific cost of examination is embedded in that and was expected to have been budgeted for as a component of free SHS.
It is for the above reason that yet another announcement seeking to suggest otherwise is insincere. Indeed the free SHS budget, which funds everything to do with the programme, including fees and examination cost, (separate from the budget of the Ministry of Education), was approved by parliament Mr. President. And this had nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Signed.
Dr. Clement Apaak
M.P, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament
June 22, 2020
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Gardai are warning people not to click on a link in a text message that claims to be from the Bank of Ireland notifying them that their card has been skimmed.
The text message leads people to believe that their bank card has been skimmed and has now been deactivated by their bank.
The text message will further advice the person that they should click on a link provided in order to request a new bank card and supply their PIN, phone and card number.
Instructions are given in the text message in relation to returning the card to the bank, to a specified address after you have cut your card up, in specific manner as explained by them.
Once these details have been obtained by the fraudster they can then make withdrawals from your account and make online purchases.
Gardai are advising people to 'never, ever' click on the link in the text message which claims to be from the bank.
Gardai reiterate the warning that you never should give your PIN number or personal banking information to anyone via electronic means.
Gardai state that people would best delete the text message should they receive it.
"We need more teachers, nurses, allied health professionals, engineers, people with IT skills thats why we want to incentivise students to look to study in those areas, because thats where the jobs of the future are going to be."
So said Education Minister Dan Tehan after announcing a lowering of fees in the above-mentioned degrees, and a doubling in those of the humanities.
Abraham Lincoln once said: The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. Credit:Jonathan Carroll
He came fully armed with this well-constructed argument, holding it as if it was a riot shield against possible attacks from angry protesters. The message stuck to his shield read: "We know where the jobs of the future will be."
The message is straightforward, and yet not everyone is convinced.
US banned most EU citizens back in March, now the EU is pondering blocking US visitors, the New York Times reported.
European Union countries eager to revive their economies are prepared to block Americans from entering because the United States has failed to control the coronavirus pandemic, the New York Times reported from Brussels on Tuesday, citing draft lists of acceptable travellers.
The US, which has the most coronavirus cases in the world and is experiencing a surge in new infections, would be in the same category as the number two coronavirus hot spot Brazil and Russia, according to the Times, citing the proposal.
There was no immediate comment from the White House.
Such a ban on US travellers would be a blow to US President Donald Trump, who has blamed more testing for the rise in cases. The pandemic has killed more than 120,000 people in the US.
Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease official, said on Tuesday that he was seeing a disturbing surge in several states and pointed to community spread as one reason infections were rising.
In March, when cases were rising in Europe, Trump banned most EU citizens from entering the US in a bid to curb the outbreak, angering EU officials.
In January, Trump banned entry to the US of any foreign national who had recently visited China, where the outbreak started late last year.
Once the epicentre of the global outbreak, Europe has brought its infections under control. It has been lifting restrictions and plans to welcome international visitors again in July.
Earlier this month, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said the list of countries with allowed visitors would be based on three criteria: countries should have COVID-19 under at least as much control as the EU average, have containment measures during travel and also be willing to let in EU visitors.
Even as China continues to indulge in reckless adventurism along its borders with different countries including India, two aircraft carrier strike groups of the United States of America conducted a two-day wargame near China's maritime boundary in the Philippine Sea. The two Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers - USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz - strike groups commenced dual carrier flight operations in the Philippine Sea on June 21, 2020, and concluded the same a day later on June 22.
The warships and its lethal set of fighter aircraft are demonstrating "coordinated operations in international waters" to showcase the "United States unique capability to operate multiple carrier strike groups in close proximity". The maritime exercise saw the sailors, soldiers and aviators aboard the two USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz take part in air defense drills, sea surveillance, replenishments at sea, defensive air combat training, long-range strikes, coordinated manoeuvres and other exercises, according to a press release by the US Pacific Fleet.
"This is a great opportunity for us to train together in a complex scenario By working together in this environment, were improving our tactical skills and readiness in the face of an increasingly pressurized region and COVID-19," said Rear Admiral Doug Verissimo, the Commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is the current flagship of Carrier Strike Group 9.
Commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 Rear Admiral James Kirk called the coordinated exercise a powerful message to the USA's commitment to regional security and stability. USS Nimitz is the current flagship of Carrier Strike Group 11.
"The United States Navy has long history of operating multiple carrier strike groups as a combined force in the Pacific. Our operations demonstrate the resilience and readiness of our naval force and are a powerful message of our commitment to regional security and stability as we protect the critically important rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea for the benefit all nations," asserted Rear Admiral James Kirk.
US Navy has a long history of conducting dual carrier strike group operations in the Western Pacific including the South China Sea, East China Sea and the Philippine Sea.
Working with Rear Admiral Kirk and Carrier Strike Group 11 during their deployment is a great opportunity for us to train on how we would operate multiple carrier strike groups in a contested environment. US aircraft carriers possess flexibility, endurance, firepower, manoeuvrability and capability unmatched in the history of warfare," added Rear Admiral Verissimo.
Apart from USS Theodore Roosevelt, CSG 9 also has guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, guided-missile destroyers from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, USS Russell, USS Rafaela Peralta, and Carrier Air Wing 11.
USS Nimitz is accompanied by guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton, guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, which includes USS Sterett, USS Ralph Johnson and Carrier Air Wing 17 in CSG 11.
The massive military exercise is seen as a message to China which has been sending out its warships and combat aircraft on patrols in the disputed waters of the region. China has also been involved in a long and brutal standoff with India along the Line of Actual Control.
Soon after the US aircraft carriers reached the Philippine Sea, China issued a warning claiming that the Peoples Liberation Army had 'carrier-killing' weapons like the DF-21D and DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missiles in its arsenal. The DF-26 with its 4000-kilometre range can hit US bases in Guam with thermonuclear and conventional warheads.
It may be a challenging time for travel, but one day hopefully, soon Greenwich residents will once again enjoy visits from loved ones. And when friends, family members or colleagues come to stay, its always nice to have inviting accommodations for them, especially if they come in the form of charming and private main-house companions, like guesthouses or cottages. These value-added property features are also notably adept at multitasking, affording space for private home offices, live-in staff, or long-term rental potential in some cases.
Take, for example, the one-bedroom guest suite at 21 Harkim Road in Greenwich a four-bedroom transitional house on 1.5 acres, with garaging for up to 18 cars. This distinctive property is currently listed for $2.25 million by Julie Church, a Realtor with Houlihan Lawrences Greenwich brokerage.
Here, the guest suite comprising a bedroom and a full bath have been incorporated into the upper level of a custom-built garage. The current owners used the guest suite as private, quaint accommodations when friends and family came to stay.
Church suggested that the guest suite might also be leveraged as a private home-based office a timely need for so many businesspersons who are finding telecommuting to be the new normal.
The Sarsen Team at Compass Connecticut represents the seller of 125 Pecksland Road, a magnificent stone and brick manor situated on four acres with a private pond. Built in 2000, the grand home is replete with architectural and design details, including ceilings that soar to 25 feet, floor-to-ceiling windows, gleaming hardwood floors, hand-crafted masonry and millwork. The main house affords seven bedrooms and more than 14,500 square feet of living space, and its complemented by a quaint guest cottage, crafted in stone and topped with a slate-shingled roof.
This charming one-bedroom stone guest cottage is unique, because it could really be a standalone house, according to broker Jack Sarsen. It has its own separate entrance with a driveway off of Pecksland Road. It is on its own separate section of the estate and does not impede the property at all. The owners have previously rented the guest cottage, used it for guests and for staff.
There is an endearing cottage at 59 Zaccheus Mead Lane, Greenwich, as well. Located near Greenwich Avenue, on 2.3 acres, the five-bedroom, 4,130-square-foot colonial affords an estate feel, according to listing agent Mary-Stuart Freydberg of Sothebys International Realty. The current asking price for the property is $3.485 million.
Steps from the house, this fully remodeled studio bedroom with full bath, half kitchen, French doors, and multiple windows on three exposures is an enticing retreat, Freydberg said. The privacy, beautiful surroundings and proximity has made it a perfect space for house guests, caretakers and mother-in-law.
The current owner of 59 Zaccheus Mead Lane is using the guest cottage as a fully functional office. The outbuilding is perfect for this purpose, given that its a quiet, private space, definitively separate from the main house.
For luxury market buyers who may not see the immediate value of guest accommodations who may think of them as just another structure to maintain and improve Freydberg offered a differing perspective.
In addition to benefitting from the convenience and enjoyment it offers, the owners derive more economic value than cost, she suggested. At a prior property, the owners [of 59 Zaccheus Mead Lane] had a similar structure that was used extensively by guests and then au pairs, so they already understood the importance and value of this kind of outbuilding. Its a true luxury to have such an arrangement so close to town.
Chandigarh, June 23 : Private doctors across Punjab strike work on Tuesday in protest against the Punjab Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Ordinance of 2020 that is coming into force from July 1.
The impact was seen more in towns and cities than rural areas. However, major hospitals in cities worked normally.
The strike call was given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which claimed that it had already given an ultimatum to the state government, asking it to withdraw its decision to implement the ordinance that was brought on April 10.
However, government doctors could not join the protest owing to the Epidemic Act, but they expressed solidarity with their fellow doctors by donating blood at some places, including the Civil Hospital in Jalandhar.
IMA President Navjot Dahiya said the emergency services in the private hospitals remained closed.
He said if the government failed to accept their demands, including providing a one-year extension to the hospital to install sewerage treatment plants, the IMA would decide its further course of action on June 28.
In view of COVID-19 crisis, a day earlier state Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu appealed to the IMA to withdraw its strike.
The minister said the government was ready to discuss all issues raised by the IMA over the proposed Clinical Establishment Act.
The Cabinet led by Amarinder Singh approved the Punjab Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Ordinance 2020, to bring the private hospitals under the umbrella of the Covid-19 battle.
Amarinder Singh had said it was important to activate all the resources, in the larger interest of the state, in the light of the current battle, which threatens to be a long-drawn one.
The ordinance provides registration and regulation of clinical establishments in a professional manner to ensure compliance of clinical standards and protocols and transparency in the functioning of these establishments for fair and proper delivery of health services to the common man.
It is applicable to all clinical establishments of 50 beds and above as in the case of Haryana.
(Photo : JASON REDMOND/REUTERS) Hacktivist group Anonymous stole and leaked sensitive information from 200 police departments, released by DDoSecrets.
After the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, thousands of people from across the United States have protested the ongoing police brutality against black people and racism as a whole.
Soon enough, the movement has become global, with various people and groups supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
Hacktivists Groups Steal and Leak Information From the Force
Now, hacktivist groups Anonymous and DDoSecrets have seemingly come together to steal thousands of files from around 200 police departments and have them published on the internet, including emails, police officers' information, and internal memos.
According to Business Insider, the data dump has been dubbed the "BlueLeaks" collection with a massive 296 gigabytes size.
Based on the report, DDoSecrets published all the sensitive information stolen from the police last Friday, June 19, in time with the Juneteenth holiday.
Many of the documents they have released purport to show how the law enforcement agencies handle and share information about current events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and, of course, the death of George Floyd.
There were also details on how they handle tweets that are critical to the police force.
Speaking to WIRED, DDoSecrets founder Emma Best said that the documents came from the infamous hacktivist group Anonymous, who have come back online and have hacked and stolen from various US organizations.
Anonymous, along with other protesters and supporters of the BLM movement from around the world, has been trying to dig through the files to pull out data on how the police are tracking the activities of protesters.
The data they acquired are documents that show how the force is describing groups, including Antifa's anti-fascist movement.
Read Also: Nextdoor Ditches 'Forward to Police' Feature After Racism Accusation; Here are Other Reasons Why
The Largest Published Hack
"It's the largest published hack of American law enforcement agencies," Best said. "It provides the closest inside look at the state, local, and federal agencies tasked with protecting the public, including [the] government response to COVID and the BLM protests."
Anonymous and DDoSecrets have uncovered, and published files are showing that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement agencies are tracking the social media accounts of the people and groups they believe are organizing protests.
There was even an unclassified FBI memo shared with various police departments stating that "law enforcement supporters' safety" could be in danger.
They then cited two tweets talking about destroying "blue lives matter" paraphernalia.
There were also internal memos showing police departments sharing information about specific signs, clothes, and cars that they see as a potential threat.
With that, the police officers have made several arrests of people they tracked down via photos from the protests.
How Did Anonymous Acquire the Sensitive Information?
Reports said that the details seemed to have stemmed from a breach at Netsential, a web service provider from Houston that contracts with the state law enforcement agencies across the US.
Security reporter Brian Krebs obtained a memo saying that the hackers compromised the company's servers and stole the files that are hosted by the fusion centers, which are state agencies responsible for facilitating information sharing between police departments.
Business Insider has approached Netsential for comments, but they have not responded as of writing.
Read Also: Health Advocates Say TikTok May Promote Eating Disorders; TikTok Reveals Algorithm Secrets
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Prosecutors say they recovered cash in red envelopes with Chinese characters when authorities raided Jose Huizar's residence in 2018. (U.S. Attorney's Office)
The arrest of Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar marks the biggest domino to fall in a multiyear federal investigation of corruption and alleged pay-to-play practices at City Hall. If convicted, Huizar could face up to 20 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Many of the allegations laid out by federal prosecutors on Tuesday have been described in previous court filings. But there are some new and noteworthy allegations, including:
1. Massages, hotel stays and an affair. Prosecutors have already alleged that Councilman Huizar took cash, casino chips and other bribes from developers with business in his district. But the newest filing says that one businessman also provided Huizar with hotel stays that allowed the councilman to conduct "discreet encounters with a woman with whom he was having an affair." The same businessman also paid for Huizar to receive "massage services" on a number of occasions, which ran $300 per visit, prosecutors said in their filing.
2. Opposition research from a developer. One real estate developer provided Huizar with opposition research on two of his former staffers who were suing him for harassment, according to prosecutors. The developer, who was seeking to build a 35-story project in L.A.'s Arts District, later boasted in an email that the city had required "minimal" affordable housing compared to other local projects, the filing stated. Tuesday marks the first time an Arts District project has been mentioned in the corruption probe.
3. Cash in a closet. Federal prosecutors have now revealed at least some of what they found when FBI agents raided Huizar's home in Boyle Heights nearly two years ago: Nearly $130,000 in cash hidden in a closet, according to the filing. Photographs in the federal affidavit show cash in the pocket of his suit jacket, concealed in large envelopes and wrapped in a T-shirt, as well as money tucked into red envelopes with Chinese characters.
Story continues
4. Money funneled through family. Investigators also allege that Huizar hid money that he received as part of the pay-to-play scheme by funneling cash through his family members to deposit into their accounts, which they then used to pay his credit card bills and other expenses. Two of his relatives had initially denied that Huizar gave them cash, before admitting to it earlier this year, according to prosecutors.
5. The investigation is not over. Speaking to reporters, federal investigators repeatedly emphasized that the pay-to-play probe is "ongoing" and that they want members of the public to contact the FBI with any information at their email hotline: pctips-losangeles@fbi.gov. "We intend to bring to justice everyone who was involved in the criminal activity," said U.S. Atty. Nick Hanna.
Beyond that, however, things are murky. Hanna declined to say whether prosecutors would seek criminal charges against any of the real estate developers who figure into the case, or whether any other council members are under investigation.
He also would not say how Richelle Huizar, the councilman's wife, figures into the case.
On Sunday, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Illinois denied an effort by the Illinois State Board of Elections to reverse temporarily relaxed ballot access requirements for third parties in the 2020 general election. In particular, the state sought to reestablish an earlier deadline for nominating petitions of June 22.
The court order issued Sunday found that the state of Illinois failed to show that an extended filing deadline would irreparably harm its ability to conduct an election on November 3, while third parties would suffer clear harm if the earlier deadline was reinstated.
The court did not throw out the state of Illinois motion, and it could later take effect depending on the outcome of the states appeal.
The earlier court ruling, made in April, found that disease risk and social distancing requirements presented a nearly insurmountable hurdle to the collection of the tens of thousands of in-person signatures.
That order also extended the ballot access petition filing deadline to July 20 and made a number of modifications to petitioning. New party and independent candidates have to submit 10 percent of the usual 25,000 signatures, and electronic signatures can be submitted.
The April court ruling initially pushed the petition filing deadline back to August 7. After a complaint from the state of Illinois, the deadline was moved up to July 20
Even with the new procedures in place, obtaining ballot access is very difficult for independent candidates. There is no official online platform created by the state of Illinois Board of Elections to gather signatures, and the legality of e-signatures is not widely publicized. Additionally, someone accessing an online petition form does not have the benefit of getting their questions answered about the process or the candidates as they would in person.
Supporters of the Socialist Equality Party are working to gather 5,000 signatures in an effort to place SEP candidates Joseph Kishore and Norissa Santa Cruz on the ballot in Illinois.
The Socialist Equality Party is challenging antidemocratic ballot access restrictions in other states as well. On June 18, the SEP presidential election campaign filed a lawsuit in Michigan challenging the states ballot access requirements, which still require physical signatures.
The lawsuit notes that gathering these signatures under conditions of the coronavirus pandemic is literally impossible, and maintaining the existing requirements violates the constitutional rights of the SEP and Michigan voters.
In Illinois, as in many other states, the Democratic Party has long operated as a political mafia, opposing ballot access efforts of independent candidates, especially those mounted by left-wing parties.
In 2004, SEP candidate Tom Mackaman successfully challenged an effort to keep him from appearing on the ballot as a candidate for state representative. State employees on the staff of the Illinois House of Representatives had been directly involved in compiling objections against his campaigns petitions and oversaw the challenges to thousands of petition signatures in Champaign County.
Responding to the Illinois court decision, Kishore urged all Illinois residents to sign the petition to put the Socialist Equality Party on the ballot.
The court decision is welcome, but we require the support of all Illinois residents to sign our petition and circulate it as widely as possible, Kishore said. Even if you are not a resident of Illinois, you can help us by distributing our petition to family, friends and coworkers who live and vote in the state.
This election is being held under extraordinary conditions, Kishore said. The coronavirus pandemic had killed 125,000 people in the United States. Tens of millions are unemployed, even as the billionaires are richer than ever. The ruling class has abandoned all pretense of seeking to stop the virus, which is expanding rapidly in workplaces throughout the country.
Masses of workers and youth are moving to the left. There is growing support for socialism and hostility to capitalism. This sentiment, however, finds no expression within the existing political system. The so-called choice between the Democrats and the Republicans is in fact no choice at all. Both Trump and Biden are representatives of the financial oligarchy that rules America.
Sign our petition and help put socialism on the ballot!
Sign and circulate the SEP petition today.
Brooks, allegedly murdered by an Atlanta police officer, is remembered as a kind, fun-loving father by his family.
Friends and relatives of Rayshard Brooks gathered at the historic Atlanta church that was once Reverend Martin Luther King Jrs pulpit for a funeral on Tuesday for the Black man whose killing by a white police officer in a fast-food car park stoked protests across the United States over racial injustice.
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, the Reverend Bernice King, the civil rights leaders daughter, said at the private service at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
She noted ruefully that the killing took place in Atlanta, the black mecca and the city that is supposed to be `too busy to hate.'
But in a powerful echo of her fathers 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.
A friend of Brooks, his mother-in-law and the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Reverend Raphael Warnock also spoke.
Honored to speak at the funeral of #RayshardBrooks. We have a choice today, America. Chaos or community. pic.twitter.com/xuBdH7Zt1m Be A King (@BerniceKing) June 23, 2020
Rayshard Brooks wasnt just running from the police. He was running from a system that makes slaves out of people. A system that doesnt give ordinary people whove made mistakes a second chance, a real shot at redemption, Warnock, a Democratic candidate for Senate, said in an excerpt released ahead of the service.
Some mourners wore T-shirts with Brooks picture. Nearly everyone wore masks against the coronavirus.
Brooks, 27, was shot twice in the back on 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 Wendys drive-through. Video footage showed Brooks snatching a police Taser and firing it towards Rolfe while running away.
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 Brookss shoulder as he lay dying on the pavement. Lawyers for both men said their clients actions were justified.
Family members console each other near the conclusion of the viewing of Rayshard Brooks a day before his funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia [Curtis Compton/Pool via Reuters]
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 on May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer put his knee on Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes.
Atlantas police chief stepped down less than 24 hours after Brookss death, and the Wendys was set ablaze 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.
Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry offered financial help for the service, according to the statement.
Pallbearers bring the remains of Rayshard Brooks to the hearse after a viewing at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. His death, along with the killing of George Floyd, caused nationwide protests over racial injustice and brutality by police officers [Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesAFP]
An afternoon bail hearing for Rolfe that would have conflicted with the funeral was cancelled by a judge. Under the law, crime victims and their families are entitled to be heard at such proceedings.
Meanwhile, a new poll finds nearly all Americans in favour of 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 percent think the criminal justice system needs a complete overhaul, 40 percent say it needs major changes, and 25 percent say it needs minor changes. Just 5 percent believe no changes are necessary.
While the COVID-19-induced lockdown has been tough for some, there are those who have been taking advantage of the situation.
About 100 drinkers reportedly defied lockdown rules and gathered illegally in a pub in Liverpool, England. According to Independent, they went on to barricade themselves after cops showed up and tried to break up the session.
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The police officers who arrived at the scene were pelted with beer bottles and other items as revellers held their positions inside the Britannia Hotel pub in Liverpool.
According to the report there were more than 100 people gathered at the Vauxhall pub at around midnight, playing loud music and disturbing residents in the neighbourhood although only a number of people reportedly took part in the blockade.
Also read: The Consequences Of Defying Lockdown
Representational Image/Liverpool Echo
This is appalling behaviour and saddens me to see officers being put at risk from those flouting government guidelines. Restrictions have been eased but by no means is this pandemic over and nor should we treat it like it is, Independent quoted Detective Inspector Phil Atkinson as saying.
He further said, Regardless of the current climate, throwing things at officers will never be accepted. Eight people were arrested and prosecution is likely. If government advice had been followed, we wouldnt have had to attend this gathering and our resources could have been better used elsewhere. I hope those who both hosted and attended this event think twice about their actions and will avoid these gatherings in the future.
Also read: Romania Collects Lockdown Violation Fines Worth 69 Mn Equal To Country's Corporate Tax For Feb
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Eight people, aged between 21 and 33, were arrested for violent disorder and drugs offences, claim reports. No officers were injured.
Pubs have been shut for the last three months as part of coronavirus lockdown.
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Three members of the same family were found dead in a backyard pool following a possible electrical fault.
Neighbours reportedly heard screaming around 4pm on Monday in Middlesex County, New Jersey, and called the police.
Police said an eight-year-old girl, her 32-year-old mother, and her 62-year-old grandfather all drowned in the pool.
An electrical contractor was called by authorities to the pool to investigate if a possible electrical error contributed to the three deaths, but police have not confirmed any theory.
This is a devastating day for our entire community. It is too early to determine exactly what happened, Police Chief Frank Losacco said in a statement. We are working with the Middlesex County Prosecutor's office and will release information as it develops.
The family, who recently moved to the neighbourhood, were reportedly discovered by authorities at 4.50pm in the pool.
They were declared dead in their backyard upon discovery.
Other members of the family were said to be inside at the time of the incident.
The investigation is still ongoing with the Middlesex County Medical Examiners Office to determine the cause of death in the next few months.
Read more
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Google employees demand company cuts contracts with police in leaked l
Muslim woman arrested at BLM protest made to remove hijab for mugshot
According to the latest piece of information from China, Meizu may be getting ready to announce its first smartwatch. This rumor actually comes from the companys very own poster.
An official poster suggests Meizu is working on its very first smartwatch
Meizu shared a poster in China, well, its Flyme OS team did. In that poster, you can see a smartwatch posing next to a smartphone. Pay attention to the bottom-left corner of the poster.
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These are only sketches of a phone and a smartwatch, but the phone seems to be the Meizu 17, it even has that camera hole in the top-right corner. The watch, however, is a mystery at this point.
The watch that is shown here has a square body, and that may not mean much. On the flip side, it may be quite revealing, and suggest that Meizu is working on a square watch.
There has to be a reason Meizu included a watch on this poster, and it was also quite specific with a square watch. Companies usually use sketches of circular watches, as its more representative of a watch, in the general sense.
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This could be signaling the arrival of the very first Meizu smartwatch at some point in the future. That may even happen this year. Were only guessing at this point, though, but Meizu gave us a reason to.
We wont see a new Meizu handset in H2 2020, it seems
Now, on the flip side, the company doesnt plan to release any new phones in 2020, it seems. The company announced the Meizu 17 and 17 Pro handsets this year, and seem to think those are enough, for now.
The company said that it doesnt see a reason to release new phones, as the current ones are reasonably priced. The Meizu 17 and 17 Pro are priced at CNY3,699 and CNY4,299. They are not the cheapest Snapdragon 865 handsets, but not the most expensive either.
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The company also suggested that Flyme OS will be getting ads at some point in the future. It did note that those ads will not be intrusive, though.
In its conference summary, Meizu promised that smart home and smart wearable products are also coming. The latter part ads some more oil to the smartwatch fire, it seems.
The company is even working on a pair of truly wireless earphones. Those smart home, smart wearable, and TWS products are expected to arrive by the end of this year.
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All in all, it seems like quite a new products are coming from Meizu, even though phones are not in the companys plans for the rest of 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 06:26:30|Editor: huaxia
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UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on Tuesday announced China's financial and in-kind contribution to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Zhang announced that China will make contribution of 1 million U.S. dollars to UNRWA this year, provide anti-pandemic medical supplies to the health institutions of UNRWA, and through UNRWA, provide needed PPEs to Palestinian refugees in Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
"China commends UNRWA for its dedicated and vital service of assisting Palestinian refugees over the years. In the past several months, China has given a large amount of medical assistance to Palestinian people, shared experience on COVID-19 control and treatment with them, and sent a medical team to Palestine to help with the fight against COVID-19 on the front-lines," Zhang said at the Extraordinary Virtual Ministerial Pledging Conference for UNRWA.
Zhang emphasized that China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore legitimate national rights, resolutely opposes illegal annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory, and calls on all parties concerned to uphold the international law and relevant UN resolutions, and adhere to the "two-state solution." China will work closely with all parties in the pursuit of comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
The Foreign Minister of Jordan Ayman Safadi, Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden Peter Eriksson, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Commissioner-General of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini and representatives of around 50 countries participated in the meeting. Enditem
The US administration's move to suspend employment-based visas for the rest of 2020 comes as disappointing news for Indians aspiring to live the Great American Dream. However, it's not entirely on unexpected lines. Considering US President Donald Trump's long-standing anti-immigrant stance and contraction in the economy owing to coronavirus, the writing was always on the wall. The entry of the workers was first banned till June 23 and now has been extended until December 31.
"The US should not have taken such a step, especially at a time when we are talking about multilateralism and free trade. Software companies will definitely feel the pinch. As per me, both countries should proactively engage and find a solution to this so that many of our IT employees could be helped," SUN Group Chairman Vikramjit Singh Sahney who is also the president of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) - India told BusinessToday.In.
The announcement has come as a shock for a large number of Indian IT professionals and several Indian as well as US firms who were issued H-1B visas for the fiscal year 2021 beginning October 1. "These professionals would have to wait till the end of the current year before approaching the US diplomatic missions again. It would certainly be challenging for them," said an industry expert on condition of anonymity.
For FY21, Indians had applied for as many as 1.84 lakh or nearly 70 per cent of the total H-1B visas, according to the data by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). "Even though our companies have hired tens of thousands of Americans and invested billions of dollars in recent years, they, like others in the sector, utilise such highly skilled individuals to service their clients. This new proclamation will impose new challenges and possibly force more work to be performed offshore since the local talent is not available," NASSCOM said in a statement.
According to Trump, the move is to help millions of Americans who have lost their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic. Trump has also sought to make the current immigration system more "merit-based". The electronic lottery system, which is used to select the 85,000 successful applicants, will now be replaced by a system that will prioritise highest salary applicants to "get the best and the brightest", a senior Trump administration official told reporters. This may also hit the margins of the Indian IT companies which have lately been sending low cost employees offshore, the industry expert also said.
Not all are welcoming of the latest move by the Trump administration in America as well. The US Chamber of Commerce has shot back at Trump, saying it's a "sweeping attempt". "Today's proclamation is a severe and sweeping attempt to restrict legal immigration," CEO of US Chambers of Commerce Thomas Donohue said. "Putting up a 'not welcome' sign for engineers, executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses and other workers won't help our country, it will hold us back," he added.
Commenting on the issue, Sundar Pichai, the Indian born Chief Executive of Google and Alphabet, tweeted, "Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today's proclamation - we'll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all."
Also read: Patanjali to launch coronavirus medicine Coronil today; all you need to know
Also read: Donald Trump suspends H1B, H4 visas for rest of 2020
Two years ago, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez turned her grassroots campaign into a movement within her New York district, defeating 10-term incumbent Joe Cowley, who was the fourth-leading Democrat within the House.
Her win was covered nationwide, partly because she became the youngest woman to ever serve Congress at the age of 29.
But her momentum didnt end there.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez used her progressive viewpoint and age to connect with people through Instagram Live and Twitter, among other social platforms, nationwide. In her first term, she joined committees challenging big corporations all while pushing for the Green New Deal, which aimed to address climate change and economic inequality.
Ultimately her democratic socialist platform earned her success, but also challenges, both inside and outside her party while garnering a large public following.
Now she will be facing off against Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a former CNBC television journalist, today in New Yorks primary election.
Ms Caurso-Cabrera, a registered Republican until 2015, has called the democratic socialist a polarising, divisive force in her bid to unseat the incumbent.
As a member of the House Democrats squad -- which includes Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan -- Ms Ocasio-Cortez caused waves within her party for her more progressive and outspoken views, leading to public spats between herself and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
But Ms Pelosi has since endorsed the re-election of Ms Ocasio-Cortez over other challengers like Ms Caurso-Cabrera.
In an effort to curb the national fame surrounding Ms Ocasio-Cortez, the former CNBC journalist and fiscal conservative has accused the politician of being MIA in New Yorks 14th congressional district, which covers areas of Queens and the Bronx.
The congresswoman wants to be a national star, Ms Cauros-Cabera said in an interview with CNN. I want to be a congresswoman for the people of the Bronx and Queens.
When responding to these claims, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said: Really, it just makes the person sound tone deaf because if you think Im not around, the person whos not around is you, because you dont see us and were everywhere.
Points raised against Ms Ocasio-Cortezs re-election include the congresswoman hindering plans for Amazon to build its second headquarters.
Ms Cauros-Cabrera also found support for her campaign from deep-pocket backers like Wall Street bankers and investors, all of whom understand the district will likely stay blue in the general election but want someone more moderate compared to the democratic socialist.
Donors including Blackstones Stephen Schwarzman, Silver Lake Partners Glenn Hutchins, Firebird Capitals James Passin, and David Solomon of Goldman Sachs announced their support for Ms Caruso-Cabrera by donating to her campaign.
In total, the challenger, 53, has raised more than $2m in funding from a variety of bankers, lawyers, investors, and executives as she works to unseat Ms Ocasio-Cortez, 30.
Im pro-choice, Im pro-same sex marriage, Im very pro-immigrant, I am centrist for sure, Ms Caruso-Cabrera said during a recent interview when describing her platform.
The efforts made by the centralists campaign have been notable, but the public support shes gained in recent weeks will unlikely be enough to unseat Ms Ocasio-Cortez, whose grassroots movement has remained strong due to her name recognition and backing of prominent progressive politicians like Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Thus far, Ms Ocasio-Cortezs campaign has raised an astounding $10.5m for her re-election efforts.
To further help her lead, the New York Times recently endorsed the politician, stating she helped build a national progressive movement, becoming a leading voice on climate change, income inequality and racist policing.
Her platform, though arguably not always focused on the local level, has helped Ms Ocasio-Cortez hold her lead among voters within the New Yorks 14th congressional district a lead she wont likely lose as voters head to the polls.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 23, 2020 - 04:59 | All, Japan
Chilean authorities are likely to hand over to France a man suspected of killing a female Japanese student soon, probably in early July, in response to an extradition request from French prosecutors, a document from Chilean prosecutors and other sources showed Monday.
Four French police officials are expected to arrive in Santiago on around July 7 to extradite Nicolas Zepeda Contreras, according to the document submitted to the Chilean top court. Zepeda, 29, is suspected of killing a student from Japan's University of Tsukuba, in France in 2016.
Related coverage:
Kin of missing Japanese student welcome extradition of suspect
The whereabouts of Kurosaki have been unknown since she dined with Zepeda and returned with him to the dorm of her university in Besancon, eastern France, on Dec. 4 of that year. She was 21 years old at the time.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Zepeda will need to be quarantined for two weeks before his departure to France, and Chilean prosecutors have requested a court to place him under house arrest by Wednesday to that end.
Shortly after Kurosaki went missing, Zepeda returned to his native Chile. Kurosaki's body has not been found and Zepeda has denied killing her.
NEW YORK, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shorewood Real Estate Group announced today that in partnership with Bridge Investment Group, the firms closed on an $88 million loan to finance the construction of 1 Archer Avenue Apartments in Jamaica, Queens. The construction facility was provided by East West Bank and a syndicate of lenders to construct the first development financed with Opportunity Zone Capital from Bridge and Shorewood.
Shorewood's Opportunity Zone Fund was created shortly after the 2017 tax reform created Opportunity Zones, tracts of land across the United States that meet certain federal criteria to be considered "distressed communities." Investment in Opportunity Zones is encouragedand rewarded with significant tax benefits. The intent was to incentivize investment in areas in need of revitalization.
The Archer Avenue site is within a Qualified Opportunity Zone. The full site, located at 160-05 Archer Avenue, will be a 320,000 square foot mixed-use development that will include a 23-story building with ground floor retail, below grade parking, and 315 residential units. Under the Affordable Housing New York Program and in adherence to the Inclusionary Housing Program, 30 percent of the units will be reserved for affordable housing. Anticipated rents for those units will be well below market value. According to Shorewood CEO S. Lawrence Davis, the affordability component was a critical consideration to the overall project.
"We are committed to quality development that serves our investors, and also the communities in which we build," said Davis. "Jamaica, Queens has a rich history and unique character and our project is being developed to enhance the neighborhood."
According to Davis, Opportunity Zones were designed to bring needed capital into communities just like Jamaica.
About Shorewood Real Estate Group, LLC
Shorewood Real Estate Group LLC is a multi-strategy real estate investment platform that specializes in the acquisition, financing and development of institutional quality assets in major gateway markets. Founded in 2009, Shorewood has a cumulative project market value in excess of $900 million. For more information, visit https://shorewoodgrp.com/.
About Bridge Investment Group
Bridge Investment Group is a privately-held real estate investment management firm with $20.1+ billion in assets under management. Bridge combines its 3,600-person, nationwide operating platform with specialized teams of investment professionals focused on select US real estate verticals, which Bridge believes offer above-market opportunity: multifamily, office, seniors housing, workforce & affordable housing, opportunity zones, and debt strategies.
Contact:
David Simon
212-335-2314
[email protected]
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 14:36:11|Editor: huaxia
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CANBERRA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt has flagged that COVID-19 hotspots could be locked down to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Addressing the spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria, Hunt said Tuesday that there's a possibility of tighter lockdowns in some local government areas.
"That's why very high levels of testing are being sought in those areas," Hunt told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
"There's a possibility of tighter lockdowns, as we did in North West Tasmania, is on the table, and I think it's very important to be honest about that."
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), the key decision making committee for health emergencies, said in a statement on Sunday that of the newly confirmed cases in the past week, 116 (83 percent) were reported in Victoria.
"The Victorian government has identified the local government areas (LGAs) of Hume, Casey and Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin as the focus of current outbreaks of concern," said the statement.
"The AHPPC strongly discourages travel to and from those areas until control of community transmission has been confirmed."
Hunt said that the federal government support could be deployed to Victoria in response to the spike, describing it as a "critical juncture" in Australia's response to the virus.
"So, it's all of our task now to say we have to maintain those disciplines and I am confident that we will get there and we will get through this," he said.
"But, this is a critical juncture and it's the individual actions, coupled with the testing and the tracing and the local containment."
As at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, a total of 7,474 cases have been reported in Australia, including 102 deaths and 6,903 having been recovered, according to the Department of Health.
The department also said that over the past week, there has been an average of 20 new cases reported each day. Of the newly reported cases, the majority have been from Victoria. Enditem
OTTAWA A near-equal number of Manitoba Conservatives are opening their wallets for the federal partys two top leadership candidates, but one has a much larger pot of donations.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/6/2020 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
OTTAWA A near-equal number of Manitoba Conservatives are opening their wallets for the federal partys two top leadership candidates, but one has a much larger pot of donations.
Peter MacKay has raked in almost half the $113,876 that Manitobans donated to seven candidates during the first three months of this year, according to Elections Canada filings.
MacKays $58,760 in support is almost four times that of runner-up Erin O'Toole, who fundraised $15,277 in Manitoba between January and March of this year.
But the two are on near-equal footing in terms of how many people have offered financial support. MacKay has 154 unique donors from the province, compared with OTooles 144.
Meanwhile, social-conservative candidate Derek Sloan whose views some of his colleagues have deemed racist earned $19,157 from 111 Manitoba donors.
Manitoba MPs endorsements Click to Expand Peter MacKay James Bezan (SelkirkInterlakeEastman) Marty Morantz (CharleswoodSt. JamesAssiniboiaHeadingley) Erin OToole Raquel Dancho (KildonanSt. Paul) Larry Maguire (BrandonSouris) Dan Mazier (DauphinSwan RiverNeepawa) No endorsement Ted Falk (Provencher) donated to Derek Sloans campaign in March, but Falks office said Monday he has not made any public endorsement. MP Candice Bergen (PortageLisgar) will not endorse a candidate, as she is the Conservative House Leader, a role focused on legislative outcomes that conventionally precludes favouring any leadership candidate.
The filings show the first round of donations after current Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer announced last December hed be stepping down from the party.
Four candidates remain in the race, including another social conservative, Leslyn Lewis, who attracted $12,192 from just 75 people in Manitoba by the end of March, well before a recent jump in her popularity.
Interlake-area MP James Bezan is leading MacKays campaign, and said MacKay has the chops to hold together different factions of the party.
"He has both the demeanour and the experience to lead this country after a very challenging time, under the last five years that Trudeau's been at the helm," Bezan said
Yet his fellow Manitoba MP, Raquel Dancho, says OToole has a better shot at cracking beyond the partys base.
"He has more next-generation Conservative MPs than anybody else, so for us to say thats the guy to lead us for who knows, the next decade, speaks volumes," said the MP for Kildonan-St. Paul.
Bezan argued that MacKays larger share of big donations shows the confidence people place in his candidate, while Dancho contended that OTooles smaller donations show a more engaged base that is key to a national electoral campaign.
Both have few policies specific to Manitoba.
This month, OToole released a 50-page platform, though it promised "the construction of deep-water ports at Churchill" and in Nunavut, despite the northern Manitoba town having such a port since 1931.
MacKay, meanwhile, has only published some policy online, not a full platform. In April, he pledged to restore a military base in Churchill, which hosted thousands of soldiers during the Cold War. Bezan said it would include an air-force and navy presence.
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Both leading candidates reject carbon taxes, though Bezan argued that OTooles pledge to implement "a national industrial regulatory and pricing regime" would inevitably boost costs for consumers, even if its through cap-and-trade systems.
It appears no Manitoba PC MLAs have endorsed any federal Tory candidate. When asked if theyre barred from donating or publicly endorsing anyone, the PC Caucus would only say its MLAs are "free to support a candidate if they choose."
Dancho named a few MLAs who have quietly voiced support for OToole. "Often provincially, to not step on anyone's toes, they're often encouraged to just observe rather than get involved," said Dancho, a recent Manitoba Legislature staffer.
The federal Conservatives held their only leadership debates last week, and the party is accepting mail-in ballots until Aug. 21.
Elections Canada will publish its updated fundraising figures for April to June, shortly after the Conservatives deadline to submit the data on July 30. That means updated results should arrive ahead of the August deadline, though its unclear how many will have voted by the time those figures are made public.
dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
China and the United States are engaged in a race to build the world's most powerful computers. Now they have both been surpassed by a supercomputer in Japan.
According to a biannual ranking released Monday, June 22, by the U.S.-European TOP500 project, the latest supercomputer built by Japan's state-backed Riken research institute has the fastest computing speed in the world. The ranking marks the first time a Japanese supercomputer has grabbed the top position in nine years.
Another IBM system, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, slid from second to third in the ranking, while systems in China moved from third and fourth to fourth.
The supercomputer, named after Mount Fuji by the name of Fugaku, also took the top spot in three other categories that evaluated output in industrial use computing techniques, artificial intelligence applications, and big data analysis.
ALSO READ: Researchers Develop an Artificial Intelligence Tool to Help Doctors Make Decisions for Coronavirus Patients; Is it Time to Trust a Machine?
Fugaku computed 2.8x more than IBM's supercomputer
A long-awaited supercomputer named Fugaku, built by the government-sponsored Riken Institute in the city of Kobe, took first place in a biannual speed ranking published Monday, June 22.
At Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, the Japanese computer conducted 2.8 times more calculations a second than an IBM system. Fugaku bumped into the second position in the so-called Top500 list.
Japan Times reported Riken supercomputer had overtaken the rankings in the four groups for the first time. The report added Riken was able to stand out in all the key specifications for supercomputers and demonstrate it is the world's highest-performing.
"We expect it will aid in solving difficult social problems such as the fight against the novel coronavirus," said Satoshi Matsuoka, the institute's computational science center director.
Shinichi Kato, president of Fujitsu IT Products Ltd., expressed his satisfaction on the rankings, saying, "I [felt delighted] and honored to [be involved] in creating Fugaku." Fujitsu IT Products, a wholly-owned unit of Fujitsu, was in charge of the supercomputer's production.
Will Fugaku help fight COVID-19?
Fugaku is currently operating on a trial basis for research into new medicines to counter the novel coronavirus. It is scheduled to be fully operational in the business year starting in April 2021.
ALSO READ: Is This AI Taking A Toll on Coronavirus Pandemic? Scientists Claim This Supercomputer Found The "Most Effective Vaccine" Against COVID-19
In May, the new supercomputer Riken-Fujitsu, was transported to the Institute's Computational Science Center in Kobe. The same location housed its predecessor, the K supercomputer, which was decommissioned last summer.
The K supercomputer, which was the first supercomputer in the world to produce more than ten quadrillion computations per second, ranked No. 1 in June 2011 and kept the top spot for a year.
The US has dominated the ranking since, along with China. Unlike the United States and China, the enormous expense of building supercomputers means Japan can only budget to make one every few years.
The Top500 list, compiled by American and German researchers, is being published to coincide with a supercomputer event held in Frankfurt, Germany. However, the event will be going virtual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The K supercomputer became the subject of controversy in 2009, Japan Times reported. It challenged whether Japan continued to maintain its No. 1 role amid an economic crisis.
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The death of African-American George Floyd due to excessive use of force employed by a white police officer, and the ensuing protests by the Black Lives Matter movement and many others outraged by the incident, have sparked controversy among Cubans on social media.
Some of the comments raise the question as to whether racism, which the island's government has never demonstrated any real resolution to eliminate in the past 60 years, is just as extant among Cuban dissidents and expatriates.
A few days ago Antonio Madrazo told the DIARIO DE CUBA that: "for a long time Cubans on the other shore have been indifferent to the African-American political community's cause, which is the result of racist notions harboured by much of those making up the diaspora."
Eliecer Avila, founder of the opposition movement Somos +, and an emigre since 2017, seems to provide evidence supporting Madrazos harsh assessment, as the former suggested, in a debate with a young man named Sandor Valdes, that if the unemployment rate of African-Americans in the last 60 years has always been double that of white Americans (data that was provided by Avila's interlocutor), it is because they are unwilling to work.
"I thought it was more, because, unfortunately, we don't have the statistics to compare whites' willingness to work with that of blacks," said Avila. "Based on my experience, as I've worked with both of them, I thought it was about eight times higher (the unemployment rate for African Americans compared to that for white Americans)."
Regarding the centuries of slavery, discrimination and segregation that African Americans suffered, Avila stated: "If I've been waiting a hundred years to be able to work, because I want to work, and you approve the law, I will work tomorrow."
Opinions are divided on this debate, as well as on Floyd's death and the protests it generated. Many people have called Avila a racist, but others have expressed agreement with his statements.
Activist Liu Santiesteban called the words of the leader of Somos + "brave" in a post responding to criticism by "artivist" Tania Bruguera's of Avila's claims regarding the unemployment of blacks in the United States.
"To say that the race problem in the United States comes down to blacks being lazy I quote 'it is their fault that they cannot find work' is of unprecedented political ignorance, and is the argument of racist whites," Bruguera had written.
Before going into exile the founder of Somos + had planned to run for regional delegate, and felt he had a chance of winning. In that democratic future that still seems distant for our country, he could have a very legitimate aspiration to occupy a political position.
But, considering his statements about African Americans, what could the Afro-Cuban community expect from him? Could it expect any commitment to put an end to the racial inequities that Castroism has been unable to overcome? If Eliecer Avila shrugs off the consequences of the centuries of slavery, discrimination and repression that blacks have suffered in the United States, what are his views regarding the effects of the inequalities that black people have suffered, and still suffer, in Cuba?
Racism or ignorance?
The face of influencer Alexander Otaola painted black has also been controversial, the image dates back to the year 2017, when he imitated the reggaeton artist Chocolate, who threatened to sue him.
There has been a recent flood of blackfaces on social media following George Floyd's death, in many cases posted by people intending to show solidarity. Some, however, have interpreted them as expression of racism.
Although Otaola's is right when he points out that in Cuba black-painted faces were used in popular theater by actors playing blacks, along with gallegos (Spanish immigrants) and mulatas (mulatto women), it is important to note that this type of theatrical makeup was banned in the United States in the 60s because it was deemed to promote mockery and spread negative stereotypes of black people.
Otaola's action shows, at the very least, a dearth of knowledge that is unfortunate in an influencer with so many Cuban followers.
The coordinator of Candidates for Change (CxC), Juan Moreno, meanwhile, recently told DIARIO DE CUBA that the Cuban Police "represses without racial distinction." Regarding the impact of the government's measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, the dissident said that they "transcended skin color."
His statements, however, clash with the Informe del Pais (Country Report) recently presented by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which points to the disadvantages black and mestizo Cubans face in terms of access to drinking water and housing, since, relative to other groups, "there are more than twice as many people of African descent living under severely overcrowded conditions; that is, where there are more than five people per bedroom on average."
Rather than dismiss as racists our fellow compatriots, exiles and activists, who share a desire for democracy for Cuba, we should inquire with the different opposition parties and organisations as to whether they are aware of racial inequalities in Cuba, and whether the eradication of racism forms part of their plans to move the country forward into a future without dictatorship.
What is happening in the United States a democratic nation, though not a perfect one, where a black man won the presidential elections, twice demonstrates the importance of thoroughly eradicating any form of discrimination. Even if is the castroista-chavista left that is behind the acts of vandalism into which many protests after Floyd's death have degenerated, as some media have averred, in such a scenario they would be exploiting the racial tensions that still persist in that country.
The volume of remittances is expected to fall sharply amid COVID-19 lockdowns.
Ukrainians are taking advantage of eased restrictions to find work in the European Union, data show, creating an economic lifeline for Ukraine's embattled economy.
State Migration Service data show that in 2010-12, almost 1.2 million Ukrainians worked abroad. In 2019, the number stood at 3.2 million, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Social Policy, Eurasianet reports.
Of that 2019 total, upwards of 2.7 million found work in the EU, according to a European Commission paper published in April, which adds that roughly one in seven wage-earning Ukrainians is a labor migrant.
Prior to 2014, Russia was the primary destination for Ukrainian labor migrants. But the Kremlin's seizure of Crimea and its aggression in Donbas produced a sudden shift in Ukrainian migration patterns toward the EU, especially Poland. From 2014-2016, the EU experienced a 42% increase in the number of Ukrainian labor migrants. In 2019, Almost 1 million Ukrainians worked in Poland's agricultural sector.
Read alsoBill on protection of labor migrants passes first reading in Ukraine's parliament
Kyiv adopted a law on external labor migration in 2015 that aims to strengthen social and legal protections for those who find work abroad. The government additionally implemented an action plan in 2017 to ensure the reintegration of migrant workers and their family members into society. That same year authorities approved a labor migration strategy through 2025.
Regulatory changes streamlined the process for Ukrainians to travel and work abroad, and made hiring procedures easier for employers in host countries. In 2019, almost 1,800 firms in the EU had formal employment arrangements in place for skilled Ukrainian workers.
Remittances have risen along with the number of labor migrants.
In 2018, Ukrainian labor migrants sent home over $14.7 billion in remittances, according to the World Bank, marking a 17% year-on-year increase. In 2019, the figure rose to $15.8 billion, equivalent to 9.5% of GDP. The number is expected to fall sharply across the region during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The Ukrainian economy depends on external labor migration," said Maryna Prykhnodko, a board member of Razom, a U.S.-based non-profit that promotes education and entrepreneurship in Ukraine. "Many regions, especially those along the Western border of Ukraine, build their entire local and regional economies around labor migration and have fully integrated labor migration into their organizational structures."
Midland ISD has plans to spend at least $1.307 million on the renovation of employee housing for 2020-21.
The item was on a list of expenditures of $100,000 or more approved by district leaders at their meeting on Monday.
The school board approved in June 2019 the purchase of two apartment complexes to be used for teacher and staff housing.
The district negotiated with the owners of Simpatico Apartments, located at 2910 W. Michigan Ave., and Town and Country Apartments, located at 3310 Bedford Ave., to purchase their existing 25-unit complexes for a combined $3.2 million.
The $1.307 million will be spent with SLW & Associates, a Midland company, according to its website, for property management renovation to employee housing.
MISD stated Monday in an email that renovations also include its units at the Stonegate Modular Housing Community.
Simpatico and Town & Country are undergoing major renovations, which will happen unit-by-unit as tenants move out, MISD said. Each apartment unit will receive new flooring, paint, blinds, sinks, countertops, plumbing, HVAC and appliances. Simpatico and Town & Country each have 25 units.
Major siding replacements will be made at Simpatico, and both Simpatico and Town & Country will receive external painting, as well as new security, safety gating and fencing. Simpaticos pool will be removed and replaced with a play area for children. Town & Country will receive repairs to its pool.
Both Simpatico and Town & Country have had asphalt replacements, and the district is looking at landscaping replacements at each facility, according to the district. The districts modular homes will receive annual maintenance, as well as new skirting.
These renovations are ongoing, and the budgeted cost is $1.307 million, MISD reported.
MISD payments to apartment companies
The list of estimated expenditures over $100,000 for the 2020-21 school year also included three different payments made to apartment complexes. They include:
--$132,250 to the Palms at Briarwood Apartment Homes for teacher/staff housing leases;
--$204,509 to the Le Mirage Apartment Homes for teacher/staff housing leases;
--$106,118.66 to Wildflower Apartment Homes for teacher/staff housing leases.
The district told the Reporter-Telegram on Monday that Midland ISD handles only the processing of payments between their employees and apartment complexes because of a discount program in place. Therefore, it requires a vendor account with the district.
All of the properties listed in this question and included on the board document are apartment complexes owned and operated by Weidner Properties, according to an email from the districts Communications Office. Midland ISD, Weidner Properties and the Permian Strategic Partnership entered in a joint agreement to offer discounts to teachers moving into the district. Midland ISD teachers select an apartment at one of Weidners many complexes throughout the Midland-Odessa area, and their monthly rent/utilities are deducted from their paycheck and paid directly to these properties.
This is a very successful program with about 60 teachers participating in this first year. Weidner Properties has waived many of the upfront costs for those teachers participating in the program, allowing new teachers to move into the district and start their new job without the prohibitive initial costs that prevented many teachers from joining the district because of the high cost of living.
MISD does not provide any of these discounts. The discounts are funded by Weidner and the PSP. Midland ISD only handles the processing of payments, which requires a vendor account with the district.
Million-dollar contracts
Also on Monday, trustees voted on contracts of more than $1 million:
--U.S. Bank National Association, $19.34 million, for bond payments
--Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, $18.765 million, for employee insurance
--ESS South Central LLC, $6 million, for temporary staffing services (substitute teaching)
--Reliant, $3.7 million, for electricity
--Midland Central Appraisal District, $3 million, for yearly appraisal fees
--LaBatt Food Service, $2.771 million for CNS food items
--Thomas Bus Gulf Coast, $2.5 million, 10 78 passenger buses and five activity buses
--City of Midland, $1.7 million, for water bill
--Higginbotham Insurance Agency, $1.431 million, for property insurance
--CDW Government LLC, $1.452 million, for computers, supplies, Microsoft renewal
--SLW & Associates, $1.307 million, for property management renovation to employee housing
--Wells Fargo Bank, $1.2 million, for credit card services
--Stealth Partner Group, $1.1 million, stop-loss insurance
Donald Trump yet again contradicted some of his closest aides who claimed the president made a comment "in jest" during a weekend campaign rally that he asked them to slow coronavirus testing.
"I don't kid," Mr Trump told reporters Tuesday as he left the White House for a trip to Arizona, again calling Covid-19 testing a "double-edged sword" because more testing reveals more positive cases. Public health experts, including a list that work for Mr Trump's White House, say testing is critical to locating and isolating the virus.
Talking over the loud hum of Marine One on the White House's South Lawn, the president used Tuesday morning edition of "Chopper Talk" to suggest he is mostly concerned about keeping the number of confirmed cases and deaths from Covid-19 low.
One way to do that, by definition, is to test less. People would still be sick with the coronavirus, or even die, but they would not join either list.
His South Lawn anti-testing rant was a repeat of a tweet he sent just before 7 a.m.
"Cases are going up in the U.S. because we are testing far more than any other country, and ever expanding. With smaller testing we would show fewer cases!" he wrote.
But that is a much different message than White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany sent just a day before.
"No, he has not," Ms McEnany said when asked if Mr Trump had indeed, as he said at a Tusla rally, directed his aides to slow testing. "Any suggestion that testing has been slowed is not rooted in fact."
Mr Trump was "joking" and criticising the media for not reporting that the United States leads the world in testing, she added. (That is a false statement, however.)
The press secretary got a chance to clarify her own statement the next day.
"I've talked to the president about testing a lot today. He has made it abundantly clear that he appreciates testing, that we have tested more Americans than any other country has tested in their respective countries in the world. But what he was making was a serious point, and that's why he said, 'I don't kid.' He was noting he was making a serious point, but he was using sarcasm to do that at the rally," she told reporters on Air Force One.
"And the serious point he was making is that when you test more people, you identify more cases. But that shouldn't be, the cases should not be indicative of the progress we've made," Ms McEnany added Tuesday. "What's indicative of the progress we've made is the fact that, per capita, we have fewer fatalities than Europe by a large margin. So that's the point he was making on testing. But make no mistake: The president appreciates testing and is very proud of the great work that we've done."
But Mr Trump told supporters Saturday night in Oklahoma that he had given an order to slow testing.
"Then, I closed it down to Europe early, closed it down because I saw what was happening. And by the way, most people said, don't do it, don't do it. We saved hundreds of thousands of lives and all we do is get hit on like we're terrible. And what we've done with the ventilators and with the medical equipment and with testing you know, testing is a double edged sword," he said.
"We've tested now 25 million people. It's probably 20 million people more than anybody else. Germany's done a lot, South Korea's done a lot. They call me, they say the job you're doing here's the bad part, when you test of when you do testing to that extent, you're going to find more people, you're going to find more cases," Mr Trump said. "So, I said to my people slow the testing down, please. They test and they test."
Her luscious long locks are the definition of hair goals for many women.
So it's no surprise hair care brands have reached out to Married At First Sight star Elizabeth Sobinoff, 29, to spruik their products.
Despite wearing extensions worth more than $1800, Liz endorsed a $50 product which she said repaired her damaged long locks on Tuesday.
Hair care: Elizabeth Sobinoff (pictured) spruiked a $50 hair mask in an Instagram post on Tuesday, despite wearing extensions worth more than $1800
Elizabeth posed with the hair mask tub, pulling her long extensions to the front to show off how 'shiny' her 'repaired' hair was.
'Kind of addicted to shiny hair right now,' Elizabeth wrote on Tuesday.
She added: 'Georgie Mane has been nourishing my hair for a few weeks now, giving it all the TLC in the world. It feels thicker and feels so nice to touch!
Shortcut: The influencer, 29, has in the past revealed she has naturally short hair due to 'excessive' and 'stripping' colouring
'It repairs damaged hair (yes the amount of times I have coloured my hair) and it locks in that hydration.'
The reality star was likely referring to her real hair needing repair and hydration, rather than her extensions.
In the past Elizabeth has revealed she has naturally short hair due to the 'excessive' and 'stripping' colouring.
Elizabeth travels more than two hours from her home in Newcastle to the Hair Extension Bar in Double Bay, Sydney for the extensions.
Dedicated! Elizabeth travels more than two hours from her home in Newcastle to the Hair Extension Bar in Double Bay, Sydney for the extensions
The salon recommends clients return every six weeks to maintain the look.
Elizabeth used tape-in extensions while on MAFS, but she has since gone for a more natural looking alternative, known as Minikin hair beads, which are apparently exclusive to this particular salon.
Her hairdresser previously told Elizabeth's fans she has '24 inches of virgin Russian hair' with the Minikin hair beads technique, which costs $1800 at the salon.
Dhinesh Kallungal By
Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When farmers in Punjab hamstrung by a crippling shortage of farmhands had sent buses to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to bring migrant workers to the state, the news was greeted with surprise in Kerala. But the time is up for Kerala as well, to think of ways to bring the workers to work sites. Architect I K Sham, owner of Repair Kochi, a renovation and maintenance division of Architect IK Sham and Associates, who was desperate to find labourers for his construction business, recently approached the authorities seeking permission to bring in guest workers.
I had called up a DISHA number seeking institutional quarantine facility for migrants ready to come back. But the authorities told me that no such facility is available for migrants. I am ready to foot the cost of bringing in migrants and their quarantine. The DISHA authorities told me to ensure the facilities myself, he said.
The protest by locals is the biggest challenge I have to face. Even under normal circumstances, people are not happy at the prospect of migrants residing in their neighbourhood. In such a situation, how can I arrange paid quarantine in densely populated areas in Kerala for workers from north India ? The government should help us arrange affordable quarantine facility for workers ready to return, he said. This incident raises two questions.
First, the cost of availing migrants service is expected to go up which will be passed on to people. Second, will Covid lead to a situation where migrant workers are assured better working terms? P Indira Devi, agri-economist and former Director of Research, Kerala Agricultural University, said reports from Punjab indicate that paying extra for transportation and accommodation of the workers will push up production cost. Benoy Peter, executive director, Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development (CMID), said the post-lockdown period will witness some changes in the migration pattern.
The launch of the `50,000 crore employment scheme by the Centre to provide income support to migrant workers, who returned to their home states during the Covid lockdown, will have a bearing on migration at least for a brief period. A CMID study found that if the migrant workers get a monthly income of `10,000 in their native village, it will prevent their urban migration. However, considering the systemic delay in getting the fruits of a scheme is expected to drive the migrants back to Kerala once lockdown is unlocked fully as the migrants, who had worked in Kerala at least once, know the employeefriendly climate of the state. So the present issues will not have a long-lasting effect on Kerala, he believes.
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Battery manufacturer Britishvolt today announces the appointment of automotive specialist Charles Morgan, to both the Advisory Board and Board of Directors, as a non-executive Director.
Charles, whose grandfather founded world-renowned British brand Morgan in 1909, combines his automotive heritage with a deep global industry knowledge, and a passion for a sustainable, green future. In his new role, he will become a valuable contributor in guiding Britishvolt to realising the full potential of the UK automotive supply chain.
Having amassed nearly 30 years' experience leading the innovation and strategy at Morgan Motor Company, Charles has championed projects such as the Morgan Aero 8, the Morgan Lifecar and the electric Morgan Threewheeler, recognising the importance of harmonising sustainable manufacturing with design. In 2010, he became a founding member of the government-backed Automotive Council Advisory, as well as serving on the Executive Board at the prestigious Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), for nine years. In these roles, he was responsible for facilitating the introduction of low carbon motor technology into the UK market, and developing the supply chain for prestige car makers.
Currently, Charles is a doctoral researcher at the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre at the Royal College of Art, where he is investigating the future of craftsmanship and its human values in a world of digital design.
Charles Morgan, Member of the Advisory Board and Board of Directors, comments: "As someone who has always prioritised a light, low carbon footprint for all Morgan cars, I am delighted to join Britishvolt in its mission for a greener future, and to inspire the next generation of low carbon manufacturing in the UK. My interest in sustainability stemmed from my time leading the innovation and strategy at Morgan Motor Company, where I wanted to combine new technology with the beauty and skills of human craft. Our inventive, meticulous approach meant Morgan was the first to market with an adhesively bonded chassis, and our sustainable manufacturing meant the Aero 8 car was verified as the greenest V8 powered vehicle of its era."
Charles continues: "Moving forward, I want to combine my passion for beautiful vehicle design with a fascination for innovation. My current research project combines modern technology with an understanding of the diversity of the world that we live in - skills that I hope will translate to support Britishvolt's vision of becoming one of the world's greenest battery producers. The renewable energy potential in areas such as South Wales, make it an extremely attractive site location, and it was notably the first region to adopt zero carbon goals into its manifesto. The UK's current gaps in the supply chain for vehicle electrification, coupled with the rising demand and readily available technology - on top of post-pandemic pressures on public transport - are all acting as catalysts for the innovative products Britishvolt is proposing."
Lars Carlstrom, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Britishvolt comments: "We are honoured and excited to welcome such an eminent automotive figure to our Advisory Board and Board of Directors. The Morgan family was instrumental in the creation of the motor industry in the UK, and Charles forms part of a great tradition and heritage in British car making and design. He is able to bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to guide our project to success, having spent nearly 30 years at the helm of creative innovation and strategy at Morgan. Charles has also been at the forefront of the green automotive revolution for many years - he was vocal and bold in his vision for sustainable vehicle design and manufacturing long before mainstream adoption, and is still leading the way as an ambassador for the industry. Our goals are close to both his personal and professional interests, and we are looking forward to working closely together for a greener future."
About Britishvolt
Britishvolt has identified the United Kingdom as the potential location for its first GigaPlant. The United Kingdom is the most vibrant and progressive country for industry investments. It is where both history and the future combine to create a new era. Britishvolt is dedicated to supporting sustainable energy storage by producing high performance lithium ion batteries. Our aim is to establish the United Kingdom as the leading force in battery technology with a target product launch date of 2023. The Britishvolt GigaPlant will be situated in 80+ hectares of green industrial park, with a production capacity of up to 35 GWH. Britishvolt will be a global leader in producing high performance green lithium Ion batteries. It will become one of the largest industrial investments in British history.
Travel bans are starting to lift around the world, yet 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After star Nicole Nafziger is still living in Morocco. The reality star took a lot of heat for abandoning her daughter in the United States to visit her fiance, Azan Tefou. The coronavirus pandemic made it difficult for Nicole to return home, but now that she has a way back to the US 90 Day Fiance fans are blasting her for not coming home to her daughter, May.
90 Day Fiance stars Nicole and Azan
Nicole abandons her daughter to fly to Morocco
Right before the coronavirus pandemic shut down most parts of the world, Nicole decided it was a good time to see Azan in Morocco. Once countries started closing their borders, Nicole found herself stuck in Morocco, thousands of miles away from her daughter.
At the time, 90 Day Fiance fans blasted Nicole for leaving her daughter behind, especially considering how countries were advising people to stay home. Although she flew out of the US in the early days of the pandemic, it was still a questionable move.
Fast forward several months and Nicole has yet to return home. Her family in the US, meanwhile, is taking care of her daughter, and it looks like that might continue as she is in no rush to get home.
90 Day Fiance fans are once again unhappy with her for not coming home to see her daughter. Whats even worse is that the travel bans have been lifted, clearing the way for Nicole to reunite with her daughter.
Can Nicole get a flight back to the US?
Nicole was forced to say in Morocco for the past two months because the US was not allowing flights in from that country. The government has since lifted those bans, so the 90 Day Fiance star is permitted to return to Florida.
In fact, the US has been chartering flights from Morocco since the end of March. Taking to social media on March 19, the US Embassy in Morocco told citizens that they were offering one-way flights to 10 cities in America, including Miami.
Nicole is from a city named Bradenton, Florida, which is around three hours from Miami.
In light of the backlash, Nicole recently told 90 Day Fiance fans that she hasnt returned home because she cannot afford a plane ticket. Its around $1,500 to book a flight from Morocco to Florida, something that could be out of her budget.
The only issue with that is the US government is offering to pay the ticket home for citizens. The government has stipulated that all passengers must reimburse them for the flight, but at least Nicole wouldnt have to pay for the ticket upfront.
Given Nicoles decision to stay in Morocco, 90 Day Fiance fans are left wondering if she will ever return home to be with her daughter.
90 Day Fiance fans blast Nicole for latest photo of her daughter
Nicole has already dealt with plenty of criticism for abandoning her daughter, and she recently found herself in the hot seat once again after posting a new pic of May on social media.
The reality star has been sharing photos of May ever since she flew to Morocco, a move that has not gone over well with fans. In her latest post, Nicole shared an image of May mining for crystals and wrote, little big girl scientist in the caption.
Quite a few 90 Day Fiance fans thought May looked extra sad in the photo and were not afraid to put Nicole on blast for leaving her behind.
RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Nicole Nafzigers Mom Claims Azan Tefou Is Adamant He Does Not Have a Secret Family
She looks SAD to me, one fan wrote. You need to decide either you are going to be in her life or not. Quit playing these games at her expense.
Nicole has not revealed when she plans on coming home to be with her daughter. Until she reunites with May, it is safe to say that fans are going to continue to criticize her every move especially when she posts about her daughter.
New episodes of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After air Sunday nights on TLC.
Safoora Zargar (Image: Twitter)
27-year-old Safoora Zargar, a student of Jamia Millia Islamia University, who was lodged in Tihar Jail after she was charged under UAPA for her alleged role in Delhi riots, was given bail by the Delhi High Court on June 23 on humanitarian grounds.
Safoora is an MPhil student at the varsity, and is 23 weeks pregnant.
Based on the Centre's concessions, Justice Rajiv Shakhdher granted a regular bail to Safoora on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and on the conditions that she will not indulge in activities that she is being investigated for; she will not hamper the investigation; she'll take the court's permission before leaving the territory of Delhi; and that she will report to the investigating officer once every 15 days on a phone call.
This was Safoora's fourth attempt for a bail plea, the last three being heard in a lower court. She was arrested on April 10.
The move comes a day after the Delhi Police told the High Court that her pregnancy was not reason enough to grant her bail, considering the "seriousness of her offences".
In their status report opposing the bail plea, the Delhi Police had, on June 22, said that there is a clear and cogent case against Safoora and as such she is not entitled for bail for the grave and serious offences which have been meticulously, and surreptitiously planned and executed by her.
The police had told the court the same day that Safoora has been lodged in a separate cell, and chances of her contracting coronavirus from any other person do not arise.
Stating that 39 deliveries have been made in Delhi prisons in the last 10 years, the police had told the court, "There is no exception carved out for a pregnant inmate, who is accused of such a heinous crime, to be released on bail merely because of pregnancy."
In the months leading up to the fishing season, Mr. Nicolson has been torn by the signature dilemma of the pandemic era: weighing what he is willing to risk against what he is willing to sacrifice, never knowing if he has the best information to make the call.
He decided to fish, but a number of fishermen he respects have elected to skip the season at a high cost.
Im fearful that I will lose my relationship with them due to my choice, he wrote in an email. Memories of foolishness or poor judgment are cherished and remembered in rural Alaska.
Isolated at home, he worked through detailed arrangements to provision his fish camp and travel cross-country, to be followed a week later by his wife, Emily; his sons, William, 14, and Ezra, 12; and a family friend, Finley Acker, 15.
Last Tuesday, Mr. Nicolson arrived in Anchorage, having tested negative for Covid-19 just before he left New York. He was tested again on Friday, to be sure he wasnt exposed during travel. (He will only be notified if there is a positive result.) As required by an Alaskan state mandate, he began taking his temperature twice a day.
(Newser) California's Sonoma Raceway says police are investigating after a "piece of twine tied in what appeared to be a noose" was found hanging from a tree. A staff member spotted the apparent noose tied to a tree behind a former administrative office on the property on Saturday, a day before a noose appeared in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace, the lone full-time black driver in NASCAR, at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, reports SFGate. Sonoma had been scheduled to host the NASCAR Cup Series on June 14, before the coronavirus pandemic forced its closure, per Reuters. The AP reports the track remained closed over the weekend.
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"Our staff, on-site business tenants and local law enforcement have been contacted and asked to share any information they may have," the raceway said in a statement, adding it's "dedicated to operating a facility that is welcoming to everyone." In an email to staffers, raceway President Steve Page said surveillance footage would be reviewed as part of an investigation by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department. He asked anyone with knowledge of the incident or "any possible alternative explanation" to reach out. "We take this very seriously," he wrote. (After condemning Sunday's display, fellow drivers brought Wallace to tears with an act of solidarity.)
Official White House Photo by D. Myles CullenBy KATHERINE FAULDERS, OLIVIA RUBIN, SOO RIN KIM and LAURA ROMERO, ABC News
(WASHINGTON) -- Vice President Mike Pence warned on Monday that young people across the country are increasingly testing positive for coronavirus, a trend that's been worrying experts as nearly half the states in the nation are now reporting overall increases in infections.
"We are seeing more people test positive under the age of 35, particularly in our discussions with the leadership in Florida and in Texas," Pence said on a conference call with state governors Monday, according to audio of the call obtained by ABC News.
"The better part of half of the people that are testing positive in the new cases are people under the age of 35... so we're working with those states and supporting measures that are being taken to address those issues in an appropriate way," he added.
Governors in Arizona, Florida and Texas, which have all seen major increases in coronavirus cases since reopening started, also discussed the rise in infections in younger demographics in their states.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the shift "significant" and "unmistakable," and acknowledged that young people were "definitely transmitting it more than other segments of the population."
"When we started on May and March, our median age of a new case was 65. It was 50 throughout most of probably mid April and May," DeSantis said on the call, "and now our median age last week was 35 for all our new cases. So you know we saw a lot of new cases disproportionally in the younger bracket."
But DeSantis questioned whether an increase in disease spread was truly driving up the number of positives, or if it could be attributed to an increase in testing.
"Whether it's a shift and they're getting infected more, or whether it was there all long we just weren't seeing it, maybe a little bit of both, but that's been the biggest trend that we've seen in the state of Florida," DeSantis said.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, praised the notion young people are getting tested more, calling it "terrific."
In a Saturday press conference, DeSantis maintained that the overall increased number of positive COVID-19 infections, which on Monday passed 100,000, was because of increased testing.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said his state had zoned in on two possible factors facilitating the spread among the younger population: bars and high school and college sports.
"We have found that some bars are not following those rules and are crowded just like they were before the pandemic occurred," Abbott said, a revelation which has lead his alcoholic beverage commission to shut them down for 30 days "to try to send a message."
"We will continue to dig into it, we will use testing strategies to make sure that we are able to target the areas of groups that are more highly inclined to test positive," Abbott said.
Pence said while they are carefully watching the increase in these cases, they are keeping "even more careful eyes" on hospital capacity and deaths, which he said remain low.
Prior to the call, experts pointed to higher infection rates among younger people and a lack of social distancing as one suspected driver of the worrying increase of cases in nearly half of U.S. states.
In California, as much as 44% of new positive coronavirus cases are among people under 35, according to an internal Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) memo obtained by ABC News.
And while the California Public Health Department also attributed some of the shift to the increase in testing availability in the state -- it is not as hindered by the severe shortages that limited testing to vulnerable populations for much of the pandemic -- an uptick in cases in younger demographics has been observed in numerous states and counties across the country, according to local government and hospital officials.
Dr. Helmut Albrecht, an infectious disease specialist and the chair of Internal Medicine at Prisma Health in South Carolina, told ABC News the number of cases in that state among 20- and 30-year-olds has doubled from May to June. Ninety percent of the increases there are in people under the age of 50, Albrecht added, in what he said illustrated a "clearly disproportionate impact."
Increases like this cannot be explained away by an increase in testing, experts agreed, noting that young people have a responsibility to continue social distancing for the health of their families and community.
"I give the kids a pass, but there are too many people out there who should know better," Albrecht said. "There's a big movement out there in younger generations, lets get this over with -- be careful what you wish for."
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba of Jackson, Mississippi, echoed the same concerns about younger people spreading the virus as the more densely populated metropolitan Jackson area continues to see increases in cases and hospitalizations. In Mississippi, the daily increase in cases has mostly remained flat, but hospitalization has been showing an upward trend, especially in the Jackson metropolitan area.
"You do see people with masks in many, many places, but then there is a thought amongst a younger demographic that because certain facilities are opening up, that somehow we've gotten past the coronavirus," Lumumba said. "And based on the numbers, there is nothing to indicate such."
"In fact, the director of the state department of health was just reiterating how younger people appear to be carriers, and they are bringing it to their elders," Lumumba said.
For some, the rising numbers are no surprise. Photos of those in younger generations crowding beaches and overflowing bars have horrified some experts for weeks, but they are now urging it is taking a real toll.
Matthew G. Heinz, and internist at Tucson Medical Center in Arizona, told ABC News he has admitted "many 20-, 22-, 26-year-olds in the past couple of days" to his hospital.
"When the state reopened, it's almost like the parents are gone, like the professor's out of the room," Heinz said. "I've also seen younger ride-sharing drivers, it's been a trend in my hospital. They drive around picking up strangers who touch their cars, who are way closer than 6 feet apart. They can't stay safe."
And while experts are seeing younger adults admitted, they note that it may not drive up the death rate as significantly.
"The case fatality rate will go down as cases get younger," Dr. Andrew Noymer, a public health professor at University of California Irvine, told ABC News. "I don't know if it's good or bad -- it is what it is."
Abbot highlighted the states' low death rate on the call on Monday.
"Amazingly our death rate in Texas remains below two percent," Abbot said, "and I don't know if it's because we do have a large percentage of the people testing positive who are younger, or it it's some other reason, but the good news is our net rate is low."
On a call with governors last week, Birx raised the idea that cases of the disease across the country also appear to be "less severe" than they were earlier in the pandemic, though it was unclear yet as to why.
"So either we're gotten increasingly better at knowing precisely what to do with [oxygen] therapy and all the ability to have Remdesivir and plasma, or there is a shift happening," Birx said. "So we don't have the molecular data yet that suggests that there's a change in the virus itself but we're hearing that across the country that the cases are milder."
Dr. James McDeavitt, senior vice president and dean of Clinical Affairs at Baylor College Medicine in Houston, told ABC News a similar trend is happening there: hospital admissions have continued to grow since after reopening, but ICU bed occupancy has flattened to grown at a slower rate, an "unusual" trend that suggests disease is less severe.
"And a theory is that perhaps older people are doing a better job of social distancing," McDeavitt continued. "They may be staying home in greater numbers and perhaps we're seeing a younger population admitted to the hospitals, she said. We don't know that. But that's one of the areas that we're looking at right now."
Noymer, the professor in California, said he is closely watching the death rate, which he called an important but "lagging indicator." It can often take around three weeks before deaths from coronavirus are known, to see if it rises. While numerous factors can prevent the death rate from going up, younger cases can definitely have an effect.
"All things go hand in glove," Noymer said. "It's all related."
"The epidemic is evolving and its changing, definitely," he added. "We are seeing a much more lenient case fatality rate in recent weeks."
If the death rate doesn't go up, Albrecht said it would be "a silver lining in a progressively darkened scenario."
Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
The investigations into the terror module that was busted with the arrest of two alleged Khalistani operatives on June 19 have revealed that Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is eyeing vulnerable youths of Punjab to create trouble in the state.
Gurmeet Singh and his aide Vikram Singh of Amritsar were arrested when they were trying to clear a weapon consignment that was pushed in from Pakistan by their handlers. The police had seized a German-made MP5 sub-machine gun, a 9mm pistol with 4 magazines, and two mobile phones with a host of incriminatory conversations, messages, photographs etc.
Gurmeet, who is an opium addict, had gone to Pakistan as part of a Sikh jatha in 2017 on the occasion of Baisakhi. He was contacted by ISI sleuths in Pakistan through a Khalistani supporter and was brain-washed to take part in terror activities. He had been in contact with the ISI sleuths through social media platforms. His handlers were yet to give him the target, said a senior police official privy to the investigation.
He said, Some Khalistani supporters in Pakistan are helping the ISI in targeting Punjabs youth, especially those with humble background. We are very close to identifying the Khalistani supporters. We have also identified some more members of the module in Punjab.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vikram Jeet Duggal said efforts were on to identify the Pakistan-based mentors and handlers of the module.
[June 23, 2020] NTT DATA Awarded $17.5 Million Contract by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
NTT DATA Services Federal Government, a public sector subsidiary of NTT DATA Services, today announced it has been competitively awarded a five-year $17.5 million task order under its GSA (News - Alert) Alliant 2 contract by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It will provide a range of help desk, network and infrastructure system administration and enterprise application support services for the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG). This contract is the latest between NTT (News - Alert) DATA and DHS, including a $17.5 million contract for emerging technology monitoring and support awarded in 2019 for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. NTT DATA is also one of three firms named last year to a five-year $500 million multiple-award Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to provide a range of technology and consulting services to CBP. As part of this new contrct, NTT DATA will provide DHS with support for OIG's help desk operations and essential IT support functions. NTT DATA will administer network and programming support services, as well as complete help desk operational support necessary to run, maintain and enhance existing enterprise systems for OIG staff and its contractors. The company will enable optimal, reliable IT system performance at OIG and efficiently fulfill OIG's stated information and technical management objectives.
"At NTT DATA, we understand the importance of maintaining high levels of IT support services for government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security," said Kevin Durkin, President, NTT DATA Services Federal Government. "We are honored to expand our strong relationship with DHS and OIG to significantly improve their IT performance, reliability and security, and enable their mission-critical activities to operate efficiently and effectively." With more than 50 years of government experience, NTT DATA Services has more than 3,500 professionals in the U.S. serving federal, state and local governments, as well as other public sector clients. Learn more about NTT DATA's public sector capabilities.
About NTT DATA Services
NTT DATA Services partners with clients to navigate and simplify the modern complexities of business and technology, delivering the insights, solutions and outcomes that matter most. We deliver tangible business results by combining deep industry expertise with applied innovations in digital, cloud and automation across a comprehensive portfolio of consulting, application, infrastructure and business process services. NTT DATA Services, headquartered in Plano, Texas, is a division of NTT DATA Corporation, a top 10 global business and IT services provider with 130,000+ professionals in more than 50 countries, and NTT, a partner to more than 85 percent of the Fortune Global 100. Visit www.nttdataservices.com to learn more or @NTTDATAServices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005670/en/
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Inside the property market explosion in regional Australia Regional broker explains just how crazy the property market has been in one NSW town
While 76% of finance brokers report COVID-19 has negatively impacted their business and are exhibiting similar levels of concern as consumers, sentiment remains strong yet, with well over half (63%) of those surveyed communicating optimism for the future.
The latest FAST Business Lending Index not only provided insight into the March quarter, but included a survey of its broker network over April and May to give shape to how COVID has impacted both business and sentiment; the results revealed widespread anxiety and concern which was tempered by a silver lining.
While the commanding majority of brokers (69%) expect COVID to continue impacting business conditions negatively into the future, the report also showed FAST brokers expect working capital flows to increase 20% over the next six months as they work to secure funding lines for SMEs.
Finance and mortgage brokers are proving themselves to be the lifeblood of the Australian small business community and have been providing an essential service to them during these extraordinary times, said FAST CEO Brendan Wright.
Accessing finance will be critical for SMEs over the coming months and our brokers are now preparing to help their commercial clients secure working capital so that they can continue operating through this challenging period.
Notably, the index showed Australias financial sector experienced a strong increase in business lending over the first three-months of 2020.
Drawing from data across 24 lenders, business lending for the three months to 31 March was up 13.4% from the same quarter last year and up 30.4% from the December quarter.
The impact of the COVID-19 virus and social distancing rules to minimise its contagion has been significant for Australian businesses. Many businesses are doing it tough from a cash liquidity perspective and the significant increase in credit demand is a clear reflection of that, explained Wright.
However, businesses in certain sectors have been thriving. A sharp increase in the demand for asset finance suggests some businesses are growing, despite widespread reports to the contrary.
Non-banks such as La Trobe Financial, Liberty Financial, and OnDeck collectively increased their market share to 17% over the March quarter as compared to 10% a year earlier, largely driven by asset and equipment finance.
Wright foresees brokers to play an important role in rebuilding Australias business community.
Brokers have the chance to make a real difference to businesses and the lives of the people operating them, he said.
This crisis will not last forever. We will move through it and brokers will be there to stand by their customers.
In these extraordinary times. human interaction with a trusted adviser is what clients need more than anything and they will be turning to brokers to help them," Wright concluded.
An unnamed official of the Covid-19 task force of the Ojodu Abiodun Local Council Development Authority of the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, who was filmed assaulting a woman, has been arrested by the police.
The woman, identified simply as Tolu Adesh, had taken to Twitter on Saturday to lament how the task force officials extorted money from her family over an alleged infraction of the lockdown order in Ogun State.
The Transition Chairman, Ifo Local Government Area, Fola Salami, announced the arrest of the official in a statement on Monday as well as the suspension of other officials of the task force for alleged extortion, with a promise to investigate the allegation.
While the restriction on movement has been partially lifted in Lagos, Ogun State still forces residents to stay indoors on weekends.
Ojodu Abiodun is a boundary community between the two states, with no specific markings to demarcate both states.
Adesh, in a series of tweets on Saturday and accompanied by footage of the incident, said she was going to buy a bicycle for the seventh birthday of her daughter in a supermarket when she was stopped by the officials.
She wrote, We were stopped at the intersection between Lagos and Ogun states (which isnt properly marked) by Ogun State task force officials, who informed us that there was total lockdown in Ogun State during weekends and since we were in their territory, we had to get a pass from their local government office, which is about three minutes away.
They seized my husbands ID card and requested that we drive them to the office. We refused to pick them in the car because of the Covid-19 situation and they got really upset.
I agreed to walk with the official, while my husband drove behind us to their office.
When we arrived, we were handed over to the man in the video, who told us we would pay a fine of N15,000 for disobeying the lockdown that was in place.
We explained that we didnt live in Ogun State and werent aware of the lockdown and asked to be pardoned so we could go home.
I started recording because I saw that my pleas were falling on deaf ears, while the officer called a guy to deflate our tyres. While recording, the man beat me, kicked me, pushed me and punched me because of N15,000.
The attached footage showed a man in blue deflating the tyre of the car, as the woman filmed the scene.
The leader of the team, on realising that the woman was recording him, punched the phone away when the woman asked him the name of the council.
The woman, who refused to give up, continued filming, as the man attempted to kick her.
Nigerians do you see him beating me? Show me your face. Domestic violence. Where are you running to? Why are you hiding? she said, trailing him, as the man hit her.
There was commotion in the background as people tried to intervene, while the woman shared her story with viewers.
The Ogun State Government, while replying the tweet, said the matter was being looked into.
Rest assured, wed investigate this unpleasant development and sanction anyone that is culpable, the tweet read.
Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-19 00:05:55|Editor: huaxia
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VILNIUS, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda urged on Thursday political compromises in order to create the welfare state, the main goal announced by him more than one year ago during the presidential election.
"The welfare state does not start with just economic and social indicators. It starts with respect, mutual trust, responsibility for the common interest and helping each other. The understanding that you are responsible not only for yourself is still Lithuania's goal," said the president, while giving his first State of the Nation Address at the parliament.
He expressed his disappointment about the lack of will to politically agree on the state's common interests.
As regards foreign policy, Nauseda stressed that he gave great importance to relations with neighbors, including Belarus and Poland, transatlantic allies and Lithuania's active role in creating a more ambitious European Union and encouraging the Eastern Partnership process.
He also commented on coronavirus pandemic, saying that it has exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the state.
"Coronavirus has shown who in our society and politics is ready to solve problems in a constructive way and who uses empty rhetoric and destructive actions, who honestly discharges one's duties and who needs drama and superheroes," the president said.
According to Nauseda, leaving the emotions caused by the first stage of the crisis aside, it is possible to state that the country's specialists and civil society have passed the coronavirus test by showing their dedication and professionalism.
Nauseda, a former central banker, won Lithuania's presidential election in May 2019. Enditem
In February, 30-year old Anjali, an H4 visa holder, came to Hyderabad to attend to her ailing father, who eventually passed away.
Soon after, when she was scheduled to have her visa stamped, India enforced the first lockdown on March 25, and the US Consulate in the country also shut down. "I'm waiting for my visa to get stamped and hoping to reunite with my husband and five-year-old son back in New Jersey. The separation is taking a toll on my son's psychological state," says Anjali, who sees no end to her ordeal with US President Donald Trump's latest ...
- Priority Review status expected to accelerate review, with a target FDA action date of December 20, 2020
LONDON and NEW YORK, June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sumitovant Biopharma is pleased to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for Priority Review, the New Drug Application (NDA) submitted by Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV), for once-daily, oral relugolix (120 mg) for the treatment of men with advanced prostate cancer. Myovant, a member of the Sumitovant family of companies, is a healthcare company focused on redefining care for women and for men.
"We are delighted that the FDA has accepted for Priority Review our New Drug Application for relugolix, bringing us one step closer to providing a one pill, once-a-day potential new treatment option to men with advanced prostate cancer," said Lynn Seely, M.D., chief executive officer of Myovant Sciences. "As recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, relugolix demonstrated superior efficacy and a 54% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to the current standard of care, leuprolide acetate injections, in the Phase 3 HERO study."
"The FDA's Priority Review designation as well as our peer-reviewed Relugolix data validates the importance of Sumitovant's and its family of companies novel approach to drug development of therapies with the potential to address critical unmet needs," said Sam Azoulay, chief medical officer of Sumitovant Biopharma.
The FDA grants Priority Review to applications for potential therapies that, if approved, would be significant improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of serious conditions when compared to standard applications. The FDA has set a target action date of December 20, 2020 under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). In its acceptance letter, the FDA also stated that it is currently not planning to hold an advisory committee meeting for this application. If approved, relugolix would be the first and only oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer.
In May 2020, Myovant submitted a separate NDA for once-daily, oral relugolix combination tablet (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) for women with heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids. A Marketing Authorization Application for relugolix combination tablet in women with moderate to severe symptoms associated with uterine fibroids is also under review by the European Medicines Agency.
About the Phase 3 HERO Program in Advanced Prostate Cancer
Myovant's Phase 3 clinical program for advanced prostate cancer consisted of a randomized, open-label, parallel-group, multinational clinical study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of relugolix in over 900 men with androgen-sensitive advanced prostate cancer who required at least one year of continuous androgen deprivation therapy. Men were randomized 2:1 to receive a single loading dose of relugolix 360 mg followed by relugolix 120 mg once daily, or to treatment with leuprolide acetate 3-month depot injection, respectively.
Relugolix met the primary efficacy endpoint, with 96.7% of men treated with relugolix achieving sustained testosterone suppression to castrate levels (< 50 ng/dL) through 48 weeks versus 88.8% of men treated with leuprolide acetate. Relugolix also met all six key secondary endpoints, demonstrating superiority to leuprolide acetate in rapid and profound suppression of testosterone and PSA response, in addition to improved testosterone recovery after discontinuation of treatment. Men in the relugolix group had a 54% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to men in the leuprolide acetate group (2.9% vs. 6.2%, respectively). In men with a reported history of MACE, the relugolix group had 80% fewer MACE events reported compared to the leuprolide acetate group (3.6% vs. 17.8%, respectively). The overall incidence of adverse events in the relugolix and leuprolide acetate groups was comparable (92.9% vs. 93.5%, respectively).
Data from an additional key secondary endpoint, castration resistance-free survival, are expected in the third quarter of 2020.
About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent form of cancer in men and the second leading cause of death due to cancer in men in the U.S. Cardiovascular mortality is the leading cause of death in men with prostate cancer and accounts for 34% of deaths in men with prostate cancer in the U.S. More than three million men in the U.S. are currently living with prostate cancer, and approximately 190,000 men are estimated to be newly diagnosed in 2020. Advanced prostate cancer is prostate cancer that has spread or come back after treatment and may include men with biochemical recurrence (rising PSA in the absence of metastatic disease on imaging), locally advanced disease, or metastatic disease. Front-line medical therapy for advanced prostate cancer typically involves androgen deprivation therapy, which reduces testosterone to very low levels, commonly referred to as castrate levels. GnRH receptor agonists, such as leuprolide acetate, are depot injections and the current standard of care for androgen deprivation therapy. However, GnRH receptor agonists may be associated with mechanism-of-action limitations, including the potentially detrimental initial surge in testosterone levels that can exacerbate clinical symptoms, which is known as clinical or hormonal flare, and delayed testosterone recovery after the drug is discontinued. Approximately 210,000 men are treated with androgen deprivation therapy with a GnRH agonist or antagonist each year.
About Relugolix
Relugolix is a once-daily, oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist that reduces production of testicular testosterone, a hormone known to stimulate the growth of prostate cancer, and ovarian estradiol, a hormone known to stimulate the growth of uterine fibroids and endometriosis. Myovant is developing relugolix as a monotherapy tablet (120 mg once daily) for men with advanced prostate cancer. Myovant is also developing a relugolix combination tablet (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) for women with uterine fibroids and for women with endometriosis.
About Myovant Sciences
Myovant Sciences aspires to be the leading healthcare company focused on redefining care for women and for men. The company's lead product candidate is relugolix, a once-daily, oral GnRH receptor antagonist. The company has three late-stage clinical programs for relugolix in uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and prostate cancer. The company is also developing MVT-602, an oligopeptide kisspeptin-1 receptor agonist, that has completed a Phase 2a study for the treatment of female infertility as part of assisted reproduction. Takeda Pharmaceuticals International AG, a subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, the originator of relugolix, previously granted the company a worldwide license to develop and commercialize relugolix. Follow @Myovant on Twitter and LinkedIn .
About Sumitovant Biopharma Ltd.
Sumitovant is a global biopharmaceutical company with offices in New York City and London. Sumitovant is the majority shareholder of Myovant and Urovant, and wholly owns Enzyvant, Spirovant and Altavant. Sumitovant's promising pipeline is comprised of early-through late-stage investigational medicines across a range of disease areas targeting high unmet need. Sumitovant is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma. For further information about Sumitovant, please visit https://www.sumitovant.com .
About Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is among the top-ten listed pharmaceutical companies in Japan, operating globally in major pharmaceutical markets, including Japan, the U.S., China, and the European Union. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is based on the merger in 2005 between Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Today, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma has more than 6,000 employees worldwide. Additional information about Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is available through its corporate website at https://www.ds-pharma.com .
Forward-Looking Statements
This press-release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements regarding Myovant Sciences' intent, belief, or expectations regarding future events or results and can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "aspire," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "likely," "may," "might," "objective," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "to be," "will," "would," or the negative or plural of these words or other similar expressions or variations, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. In this press release, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements and quotes regarding Myovant Sciences' aspirations to redefine care for women and for men; the FDA's target action date of December 20, 2020 under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA); the FDA's statement that it is currently not planning to hold an advisory committee meeting for this application; the expectation that relugolix would be the first and only oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer; the timing of data from an additional key secondary endpoint, castration resistance-free survival, expected in the third quarter of 2020; any expectations regarding the approval of relugolix in any indication and the timing of any approval; and any anticipated market size for relugolix in any indication. Myovant Sciences' forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors known and unknown that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Myovant Sciences cannot assure you that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could materially affect Myovant Sciences' operations and future prospects or which could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to the risks and uncertainties listed in Myovant Sciences' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading "Risk Factors" in Myovant Sciences' Quarterly Report on Form 10-K filed on May 18, 2020, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time. These risks are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for Myovant Sciences' management to predict all risk factors. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, Myovant Sciences undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
Sumitovant Media Contact:
Mary Stutts
SVP, Corporate Relations
Sumitovant Biopharma
media@sumitovant.com
Myovant Investor Contact:
Frank Karbe
President and Chief Financial Officer
Myovant Sciences, Inc.
investors@myovant.com
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott specifically called out Memorial Day Weekend, and the lack of social distancing that happened around it, as a factor in the states recent jump in cases. (Mark Felix/AFP/AFP via Getty Images)
Public health experts repeatedly warned that celebrating Memorial Day by packing onto beaches, visiting bars and hosting barbecues would lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases. And it seems thats exactly what happened in several parts of the U.S. Now doctors are concerned about another increase in cases tied to Fourth of July weekend.
Many states, including Florida, Arizona, Alabama and Oregon, saw a spike in COVID-19 cases weeks after Memorial Day and those case counts continue to rise.
Vacation booking company VRBO recently said in a press release that the company has seen a huge increase in interest in many destination rentals for July Fourth, including homes in states that currently seeing jumps in COVID-19 cases, like Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and California. Credit being cooped up over the last few months, but demand for some areas has grown drastically, the press release says.
But the coronavirus fallout that could follow July Fourth may not play out exactly the same way as Memorial Day, Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells Yahoo Life. That doesnt mean its necessarily safe to celebrate the holiday in the traditional style, though. Heres what you need to know.
How much of a role did Memorial Day play in the recent jump in COVID-19 cases?
In order to understand what could happen after the Fourth of July, its important to first cover what happened after Memorial Day.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott specifically called out the holiday, and the lack of social distancing that happened around it, as a factor in the states recent jump in cases. We think we can also accurately say there has been an increase especially beginning around the Memorial Day time period and going through a few weeks after that in people testing positive because they may not be practicing all these safe standards, Abbott said during a press conference last week, according to CNBC. There are currently 3,700 COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days in Texasa 141 percent increase over the past two weeks, according to data published Monday night from COVID Exit Strategy.
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In Alabama, which according to data from COVID Exit Strategy, has seen a 50 percent jump in cases over the past 14 days, the states Department of Public Health linked new outbreaks to large gatherings, such as those occurring during Memorial Day holiday.
COVID-19 spreads quickly, and your actions affect others. More than ever since the pandemic began, we need people to social distance, wear face coverings in public, and practice good respiratory hygiene, the Alabama Department of Public Health said in a statement.
Other states have seen similar patterns: Oregons case count has increased 122 percent in the past two weeks, Arizonas has grown 154 percent, and Floridas has jumped 168 percent in that same time frame.
Related Video: Is It Time to Expand Your Quarantine Circle?
But its unfair to blame the holiday alone for this, Dr. Richard Watkins, an infectious disease physician in Akron, Ohio, and a professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, tells Yahoo Life. The end of lockdowns in many areas around this time was likely a factor, he says. It is likely that the relaxing of social distancing that many people started to do around Memorial Day is leading to an increase in cases, he says. People are starting to think the pandemic has somehow gotten better or gone away, which it hasnt.
It is, so far, difficult to measure how much public holiday celebrations contribute to COVID-19 transmission, Jason Yang, assistant professor at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, tells Yahoo Life. There is tremendous diversity in how people gather and interact in different public functions. There appears to be a correlation in the recent increases in COVID-19 infection with state reopenings and public holidays, but it is difficult to know for sure why these are happening.
Still, the holiday didnt help, Adalja says. Memorial Day was as good an excuse as any for people to go out and do things, he says.
Watkins stresses that recent increases testing alone hasnt led to more positive cases, as President Trump recently suggested. If that were true, we would be seeing a lot of negative results along with positive ones, he says. Rather, the reality is that the number of cases is increasing.
What will happen after the Fourth of July?
Experts fully expect another increase in cases. Any time people are socially interacting, were going to see more cases, and Fourth of July is an opportunity for that, Adalja says. This is going to be the new normal any time there is an activity or occasion where people want to be with other people.
Adalja expects that more cases will start to increase in areas outside of those hot spots as people travel back home from vacation locales where case counts are currently high. If people get infected on vacation, theyre going to feel sick when they get home, he says. And then you may see sprinklings of cases in their hometowns. People who travel to current COVID-19 hot spots like Arizona, Alabama and Florida are going to have a higher risk of contracting the virus than those who go to someplace like Vermont, where there arent many cases at all, Adalja says.
But it really boils down to how people approach the holiday, Dr. Cyrus Shahpar, a medical epidemiologist with COVID Exit Strategy and former Epidemic Intelligence Service officer with the Emergency Response and Recovery Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tells Yahoo Life. The degree to which this could contribute to an increase in cases is dependent on people adhering to prevention measures, he says. Being outdoors, spaced out and wearing a mask really cuts down on risk.
Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, isnt hopeful that enough people will follow recommendations for reducing the spread of COVID-19. Since Memorial Day, theres been a lot of instruction, education and imploring by public health officials locally and nationally for people to wear masks, he says. The Fourth of July will be another test. Im afraid many people are not yet with the program, and I would anticipate once again that we will see images of people enjoying themselves in an unsafe matter. That will likely lead to an increase in cases.
What can you do to make your Fourth of July as safe as possible?
Whether or not you plan to travel, Schaffner recommends doing your best to practice social distancing, wearing a mask in public and avoiding large groups. There is still opportunity to have a lot of fun and enjoy the summer if you do those, he says.
And if you develop any symptoms of COVID-19, Watkins says its important to stay home and call your doctor.
Ultimately, it comes down to your risk tolerance. Trying to avoid the virus at all cost is going to be impossible if youre interacting socially, Adalja says. So, if you go out, try to stay six feet apart from others, wash your hands a lot and wear face coverings as appropriate. Thats basically all you can do until theres a vaccine.
For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDCs and WHOs resource guides.
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During a Congressional hearing on June 16, 2020, top legal officers from the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps acknowledged the results of a 2019 study from the Government Accountability Office, which noted that Black and Hispanic servicemembers of any gender were significantly more likely to be sent to court-martial for formal punishment after an act of misconduct than their white counterparts. The judge advocates of each of these wings of Armed Forces recognized that this is, indeed, a problem, and swiftly assured the Congressional panel that actions were already underway to uncover what could possibly have caused this striking racial disparity.
As the Army Times reports:
The Army is in the "very early stages of figuring out what could cause this," Lt. Gen. Charles Pede, the service's ranking attorney, told lawmakers. Pede said he has already directed a "comprehensive assessment" in conjunction with the Army's provost marshal general "to examine why the justice system is more likely to investigate certain soldiers and what our investigations and command decisions tell us about this issue."
"[The GAO] report raises difficult questions questions that demand answers. Sitting here today, we do not have those answers. So our task is to ask the right questions and find the answers," he added in his testimony.
Major General Daniel Lecce, the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, also said, "We have to get after this. We're at the beginning, but there is a lot of work to be done. Commanders need to drive this."
Vice Admiral John G. Hannink, USN, the Judge Advocate General for the US Navy, released an 8-page statement on these injustices. "I can't be under any illusions that we don't have it in our Navy. So the Navy emphatically and unequivocally denounces racism," he acknowledged during the Congressional hearing.
"Are we mentoring everybody the same? We all feel we probably aren't, based on biases, but we don't have specific data to show that," said Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Rockwell, USAF, Judge Advocate General for the US Air Force, who also published a letter earlier this month detailing the statistical racial disparities in non-judicial punishment. (In 2019, the 14.7 percent of Airmen who are Black comprised 32.1 per 1,000 court martial actions, compared to 12.23 per 1,000 court martials for white Airmen. This, to me, qualifies as "data.")
All 4 legal representatives for the Armed Forces assured the Congressional panel that they would get to the bottom of this institutional racism.
Spoiler alert: the cause is institutional fucking racism that has infected our country at the core.
Frustrated advocates say racial biases within military justice system remain despite repeated alarms [Leo Shane III / Military Times]
This report says black and Hispanic service members are more likely to face trial [Meghann Myers / Military Times]
Subcommittee on Military Personnel Hearing: "Racial Disparity in the Military Justice System How to Fix the Culture" [House Armed Services Committee]
Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Sundar Pichai started out on H-1B and went on to head Google, the giant of most things internet. Indra Nooyis H-1B was one of the many stepping stones to the top of Pepsi.
Satya Nadella used the visa programme also, but for an entirely different reason. Not to further his career, but his personal life. He gave up his Green Card yes, he did and went on H-1B so his wife could join in in the United States. Immigration rules then, as now, make it very difficult for foreigners to join Green Card spouses, without going through a long and uncertain process.
So Nadella gave up his permanent residency and switched to H-1B in 1994, a year after he got married and four years after the new visa programme was introduced for high skilled workers in 1990.
What I didnt expect was the instant notoriety around campus, Nadella wrote in his 2017 memoir Hit Refresh, Hey, there goes the guy who gave up his Green card.
H-1B can do that to, help married couples unite.
But for most people like Pichai and Nooyi, H-1Bs have been a gateway to work, live and prosper in the United States.
Pichai came to the US F-1 visa for students; from IIT Kharagpur to Stanford University, California. He went on H-1B visa at McKinsey, and then went on to Google, which he has headed since 2015.
Indra Nooyi, who was raised in Chennai and went to the Madras Christian College, went on H-1B visa when she joined the Boston Consulting Group in 1980, according to Business Insider. It was not immediately clear if she was on H-1 at the time, instead. H-1B would be born 10 years later by the Immigration Act of 1990 by splitting H-1 into two H-1A for nurses and H-1B for speciality
What your first cinema trip after lockdown could look like
Staggered film times, hand sanitiser stations and anti-viral fogging machines will be among the measures used by a major cinema chain when its theatres reopen in England.
Showcase Cinemas will reopen on July 4 with enhanced health and safety measures for both customers and staff amid the coronavirus pandemic.
These include leaving seats empty in each screen and staggered start times, alongside fewer screenings to reduce the number of people in the lobby.
Coronavirus impacts Britain100
Guests will be encouraged to wear face coverings and hand sanitising stations will be placed throughout venues.
After each screening, staff will conduct a cleaning regime, which includes an anti-viral fogging machine that eliminates airborne viruses.
Each auditorium will also have an air-purifying system installed.
Perspex shields have been installed at till points and people will be able to order their food and drink in advance and collect from a designated pick-up section.
The chain is owned and operated by National Amusements Inc, which operates more than 900 screens in the US, UK, Brazil and Argentina.
The cinemas will be cleaned regularly (Showcase Cinemas/PA)
UK general manager of Showcase Cinemas Mark Barlow said: "We are all really excited about welcoming film fans back to Showcase Cinemas.
"We've been busy preparing for our reopening by making all our sites as Showcase safe as possible for the comfort of both staff and guests, which has always been our top priority.
"We encourage all our guests to use the hand sanitiser available, regularly wash their hands, wear a face covering and practise social distancing when inside the cinema.
"There are some fantastic films to be released in 2020 and we can't wait to see people enjoying movies back on the big screen.
"We've also brought some classic hits and recent favourites back to remind everyone just how great it is to see them in the cinema."
Showcase Cinemas will begin by screening classic films for 5 a ticket.
RADNOR, Pa., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Avantor, Inc. (NYSE: AVTR), a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and advanced technologies & applied materials industries, today announced its first inclusion in the Fortune 500 list, ranking 484 on the list of the largest U.S. companies by revenue.
Since the Company's acquisition of VWR, Avantor has transformed its business model to address and advance customers' needs in biopharma, healthcare and applied technology, from scientific discovery to scale up and commercialized delivery.
"Avantor is among the most recognized and trusted global providers of products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries," said Michael Stubblefield, President and CEO of Avantor. "Within each of our core offerings, we are ideally situated to support breakthroughs in life-changing biologics, with a portfolio that is used in virtually every stage of our customers' most important research, development and production activities."
Mr. Stubblefield continued, "In recent months the unprecedented global impact of COVID-19 has further amplified Avantor's mission of setting science in motion, as we actively support ongoing testing and fast-tracking of vaccine and therapy development."
Select Highlights:
The Company's global infrastructure serves more than 225,000 customer locations, giving access to research labs and scientists in more than 180 countries.
Through Avantor Services, the Company offers a broad range of services for lab management, clinical trials support, biorepository and specialty product procurement.
Avantor's healthcare business serves 10 of the top 10 medical device companies in the world, centering on innovation application based on customer need.
Within the pharmaceutical industry, Avantor's products are specified in more than 80% of the top 20 biologic drugs.
Avantor is helping advance life-changing biologics in numerous ways, including improving yields in the bioprocessing of mAbs and optimizing downstream efficiency with its chromatography technology, as well as ensuring product integrity in a cell therapy process through its sterile fluid transfer technology.
Nearly half of Company revenues are concentrated in biopharma, where Avantor functions as an integral part of the customers' development workflows and supply chains, helping them reach the market faster with life-saving drugs that improve patient outcomes.
Avantor recently opened its ninth Innovation and Customer Support Center in Shanghai .
According to Fortune, Fortune 500 companies represent two-thirds of the U.S. GDP and employ 29.2 million people worldwide. Fortune identifies the nation's 500 largest companies based on a review of the prior year's total revenue and factors such as profits after taxes, year-end assets and total return to investors. A complete listing of the Fortune 500 is available at www.fortune.com/500.
About Avantor
Avantor, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. The company operates in more than 30 countries and delivers an extensive portfolio of products and services. As our channel brand, VWR offers an integrated, seamless purchasing experience that is optimized for the way our customers do business. We set science in motion to create a better world. For information visit, www.avantorsciences.com and find us on Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook .
From FORTUNE. 2020 FORTUNE Media IP Limited All rights reserved. Used under license. FORTUNE is a registered trademark of FORTUNE Media IP Limited and is used under license. FORTUNE and FORTUNE Media IP Limited are not affiliated with and do not endorse products or services of, Avantor.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains, and oral statements made from time to time by Avantor's representatives may contain, "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the proposed public offerings and other statements identified by words such as "could," "may," "might," "will," "likely," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "continues," "projects" and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. Forward-looking statements are based on Avantor's current expectations and assumptions regarding capital market conditions Avantor's business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, Avantor's actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the scale and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic, regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions, Avantor's ability to anticipate consumer demand; changes in consumer confidence and spending; Avantor's competitive environment and other factors set forth under "Risk Factors" in Avantor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Avantor undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Global Media Contact
Robert Donohoe
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Avantor
M: +1 484-688-4730
[email protected]
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KYODO NEWS - Jun 23, 2020 - 17:16 | All, Japan
Travel from Japan to Vietnam will partially resume this week, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday, marking the first step in easing travel restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Three chartered flights carrying about 440 businesspeople are scheduled from Thursday through Saturday, with Vietnam agreeing to accept travelers on condition they agree to enhanced preventive measures, Motegi said at a press conference.
The Vietnam Airlines flights were arranged by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam. They will fly from Narita airport east of Tokyo to Van Don International Airport near Ha Long, northern Vietnam.
Motegi said last Friday that Japan and Vietnam had agreed to ease travel restrictions "partially and gradually" and that it "won't take long" before travel between the two countries resumes.
It was not immediately clear when the first flight from Vietnam to Japan will take place.
Japan currently has an entry ban in place for 111 countries and regions, with foreign travelers that have been to any of the areas within 14 days of their arrival being turned away. Conversely, 177 countries and regions have imposed restrictions of some kind on entry from Japan, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Along with Vietnam, Japan is in talks with Australia, New Zealand and Thailand to mutually ease travel restrictions on the condition that travelers test negative for COVID-19 before departure and upon arrival as well as submit an itinerary detailing where they will visit during their stay.
It will enable businesspeople to avoid a mandatory 14-day quarantine period, allowing them to go to work although with some restrictions on movement.
Low transmission rates in the UK mean there is little chance of trials in the country proving the effectiveness of a coronavirus vaccine, a scientist leading a UK trial has said.
Professor Sarah Gilbert, who is leading the University of Oxford vaccine trial, said that when Covid-19 transmission was high, lockdown was imposed to bring the rate down.
Rates have since dropped, but a sufficient number of volunteers have to be exposed to the virus to see whether a vaccine protects them or not.
However, if their chances of being in contact with an infected person are low, it will take a long time to demonstrate the efficacy of a vaccine candidate.
We now have essentially a very large safety immunogenicity study, running in the UK with little chance, frankly, of determining efficacy
Prof Gilbert told the House of Lords Science and Technology committee: Of course, what happened was that because it [transmission] actually increased much more rapidly than anybody thought was going to happen, we had the lockdown, which fortunately reduced transmission.
Not so fortunate for those of us trying to develop vaccines in the UK, because we now have essentially a very large safety immunogenicity study, running in the UK with little chance, frankly, of determining efficacy.
She added that the researchers approach was to work with multiple different countries in different settings to give them the best chance of seeing efficacy in at least one of those countries.
The committee heard the Oxford team is already running a trial in Brazil because the numbers of transmissions are much higher than in the UK.
As soon as we get a signal of efficacy and can compare that to the level of immunity that were generating, that gives all vaccine developers really helpful information to let them know whether their vaccines are likely to work as well, and whether it will be one dose or two doses, and in older people and in younger people, she said.
So the first efficacy signal is going to be really important and as yet we dont know which country will be generating that.
Prof Gilbert and Professor Robin Shattock, who is leading the Imperial College London trial, said they were optimistic about their vaccine approaches but cautioned that optimism should be balanced against known risk of success.
Prof Shattock said vaccine success rates tend to be at about 10% once you start clinical testing, but added: I think in the UK we are very lucky that we have two [vaccine] candidates that are already in clinical evaluation.
We think that probably both of those will work individually
We also have the opportunity to have a look at them in combination which I probably think nobody else currently globally is thinking about.
Prof Gilbert agreed with Prof Shattock saying that, if necessary, we can combine the vaccine to get something that works even better.
She added: The aim is to protect the population and that doesnt mean the vaccination has to be 100% effective even with a 50% efficacy, we could actually go a long way to protect the population.
If you think French exiting a Zoom meeting (i.e. leaving without saying goodbye) is rude, and youve already exhausted every excuse in the book about why youre sorry but you really must go right now, there is hope for you yet in the form of a new and ingenious product out of Japan: the YOUMECOME machine, or the Video call emergency escape machine.
From the brain of Japanese inventor Marina Fujiwara, the escape machine is a real life prop that looks identical to the loading circle that appears in the middle of a persons screen when their video chat freezes. Place it in front of your computer screen, flip a switch on the machines base and the loading circle will pop out, giving others online the impression your computer has frozen. From the products listing: When you want to leave an online meeting, you can use this machine to easily leave without making the other person feel uncomfortable.
Of course, the product will only work if you pretend to be frozen too, meaning its success requires a bit of acting on the users part. Its also pricey at roughly 4,000 yen (about $50 Canadian.) In other words, its a bit of a gimmick.
But gimmicky as it may be, I suspect the Video call emergency escape machine will someday find its way into a museum exhibit about the pandemic, as it appears to be the first product developed to address a growing problem of our time: video conferencing fatigue, or Zoom fatigue.
You might have read about this phenomenon or experienced it without knowing it has a name. Whatever the case, Zoom fatigue has emerged as the most popular term for the feeling of exhaustion and annoyance that overtakes a person when they are fed up with video-chatting.
This fatigue doesnt have to be Zoom specific. It can hit you on any video-conferencing platform, whether youre in an hours-long virtual work meeting at which your boss keeps forgetting to unmute himself (or worse, in which he cant figure out how to mute himself.)
It can hit you when youre FaceTiming your relatives, or in my case, when attending one of several large, virtual surprise birthday parties at which its painfully obvious that everyone present is yearning to exit the conversation, most of all the person whose birthday it is.
Whats ironic is that talk of Zoom fatigue seems to be circulating at exactly the moment when Zoom itself is taking steps to make its platform more accessible (last week the company announced it will offer end-to-end encryption to all users, whether they pay for the service or not.)
A prime reason for this creeping fatigue, explains Steve Joordens, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough, is that where video-conferencing once helped us cope with the unpredictability of the pandemic, today our patience with the medium is wearing thin.
When the pandemic first hit, says Joordens, a lot of us were struggling with What does this mean? How are we going to live? The anxiety reaction was like when a bear steps out of the woods. We didnt know what the bear was: how big it was, how many people it would kill.
Video-conferencing, he argues, was a little bit of a saviour. It conveyed to us, dont worry, theres a window thats still open for social interaction.
It was an imperfect window, no doubt, through which we couldnt (and still cant) make proper eye contact, and through which non-verbal cues are almost impossible to read. But it did the job fine at the time.
Zoom takes you halfway there, says Joordens. Which is great if youre feeling like youve got nothing. But today, he says, many are feeling like halfway doesnt cut it.
Fast forward to June and we still dont know nearly enough about the bear that stepped out of the woods a.k.a. COVID-19 but we certainly know a lot more than we did in March, and we know enough to at least try to mitigate the risk to ourselves and our families and with it, perhaps, to mitigate our anxiety.
In other words, suggests Joordens, Zoom fatigue might be evidence of something positive: that many of us no longer need regular video-conferencing to feel connected and safe in the crisis. This isnt true for everyone of course not by a long shot. But maybe those of us who have come to take for granted the technology that allows us to be together when were apart, are doing better than we think.
In the end, its probably not a bad idea to get comfortable with the notion that these virtual meetings and parties arent temporary interferences. Toronto is a day away from entering Stage 2 of reopening, a move many experts think is premature. We may be Zooming for the long haul.
Haters should learn to love it, or shell out 50 bucks for a Video call emergency escape machine.
Emma Teitel is a columnist based in Toronto covering current affairs for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @emmaroseteitel
32BJ SEIU hosted a rally for parking workers in February 2019. A City Council plan promises to lower the parking tax rate if the industry creates "good jobs." Read more
Parking lot operators are furious about the citys proposal to raise the parking tax even as theyve watched their business wither during the coronavirus.
In response, Philadelphia City Council is offering this deal: Develop good jobs and well bring the rate back down.
It aims to be the rare plan that appeals to both labor and employers.
Robert Zuritsky, president of the Philadelphia Parking Association and CEO of parking operator Parkway Corp., said the prospect of tax relief was a spot of hope in an increasingly dire landscape for the industry.
Gabe Morgan, vice president of SEIU 32BJ, the service sector union thats organizing Philadelphia parking workers, said the plan was just one step in the campaign to lift about 1,000 workers out of poverty.
The plan, led by Councilmember Cherelle L. Parker, is the latest in a trend of Philadelphia public policies designed at improving jobs for low-wage nonunion workers though the business community has generally opposed such measures, saying they make it harder to do business in the city.
The Parker plan involves creating a Good Parking Jobs for Philadelphia Review Committee composed of workers, industry, and Council that would assess the industrys progress on developing good jobs. Exactly what that means is up to the committee, but parking workers, who are predominantly African American or immigrants from Africa, have said theyre forced to endure arbitrary firings, low wages, and unaffordable health care.
READ MORE: (From 2019) City Council approves just-cause, a cutting-edge worker protection law, for the parking industry
This isnt the first time Council has taken up the parking workers cause: Council passed another Parker-sponsored, 32BJ-backed measure last year that gave these workers just cause protection, making it illegal to fire them without proving it was warranted. One just cause complaint has been filed so far, said Candace Chewning, spokesperson for the citys Office of Labor. Council also passed a law mandating minimum staffing levels at parking companies.
During the hearings for that bill, Parker, who has received campaign contributions from both the union and the parking industry, said she would not abandon the industry. This, she says, is making good on that promise.
Zuritsky and E-Z Park Inc. owner Harvey Spear said that they treated their employees fairly, and that their long-tenured workers are proof of that. But Spear said he was concerned about other parking employers.
We have no control over other people, he said, adding that the notion of an industry review was unsettling.
Would you be happy, he asked, if you had a committee looking at if youre a good girl or not?
READ MORE: (From 2018) Why parking-lot attendants across Philadelphia have launched a campaign to unionize
Council is poised to approve a coronavirus-era city budget that would raise the parking tax from 22.5% to 25% the rate in San Francisco. Thats down from Mayor Jim Kenneys initial 27% proposal.
Morgan, of 32BJ, said his union supports lowering the parking tax rate long-term, framing the good jobs review committee plan as an effort to rebuild the industry amid a deep recession.
The plan, outlined in an amendment to the parking tax increase, still has to be approved by Council. Its unclear when it will hold hearings on the forthcoming bill, but the idea is to lower the tax rate to 17% by July 2022.
The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of 21 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the citys push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at brokeinphilly.org.
New Delhi, June 23 : Just one month into its investigation against the Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a breakthrough with the arrest of one of its key conspirators in Punjab, said to be a member of the banned outfit's recruitment module.
A day after the arrest of Pargat Singh, 23, the anti-terror agency on Tuesday got his custody from a special NIA court till June 29.
The agency said Pargat was working on the directions of Pakistan-backed handlers settled abroad to further the activities of the group. The Centre has already declared SFJ an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
A resident of Sri Muktsar Sahib district in Punjab, Pargat has been arrested in a case related to a series of acts of violence, including arson, in Punjab during 2017-18 when propaganda activities, both online and on ground, and campaigns in support of Referendum 2020 (for Khalistan) were conducted.
Posters were pasted in Delhi and various parts of Punjab in this regard and these acts were committed by groups of radicalised youths under direction of and financial assistance from SFJ handlers based abroad.
The original case was registered at Sultanwind Police Station, Amritsar (City) on October 19, 2018 under UAPA and Section 25 of the Arms Act. Punjab Police filed a charge sheet against 11 arrested accused in the case in March 2019.
The case was subsequently re-registered by NIA on April 5 this year.
"Investigation revealed that the arrested accused persons, including Pargat Singh, had received funds from their foreign handlers through various Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) platforms," the NIA said.
America's Leading Thermoformer Manufacturer Sencorp Thermoformers are considered the workhorse of the industry. Sencorp machines enjoy the highest retained value for a used Thermoformer, resulting in a low cost-of-ownership. Now with Sencorp's MPS, customers can maximize their value. Brian Urban, Sencorp President and CEO, said.
Sencorp, a US based manufacturer of Thermoformers, announced today the launch of its Machine Placement Service (MPS) as an exclusive source to buy and/or sell used Sencorp Thermoformers.
Thermoformers can utilize Sencorps MPS to access their vast customer network to identify Sencorp-brand machines available for re-sale. Manufacturers looking to sell or trade in used Sencorp Thermoformers can also use Sencorps MPS to list their machines for sale. In addition, Sencorps MPS includes their exclusive Predictive Maintenance Program (PMP), a service for on-site Thermoforming inspection. PMP inspections include a multi-point inspection which can be used to plan maintenance and/or repairs that will restore your Sencorp Thermoformer to factory-original specifications. Further, a factory authorized PMP report is a valuable tool you can use to justify the value of your Thermoformer, or value a used Thermoformer you may be interested in acquiring.
Sencorp brand Thermoformers are considered the workhorse of the industry. Sencorp machines enjoy the highest retained value for a used Thermoformer, resulting in a low cost-of-ownership over the life of the machine. With Sencorp's MPS, customers can now maximize the value of their Thermoformer to sell or trade in for a new Sencorp machine, with the added benefit of reduced tax liability, Brian Urban, Sencorp President and CEO, said.
Read more about MPS and view pre-owned Sencorp Thermoformers at https://www.sencorpsystems.com/MPS
About Sencorp:
Sencorp is a leading Thermoforming machine manufacturer located in Massachusetts. Sencorp Thermoformers are used for manufacturing blister packs, clamshells, trays, and disposable containers. They are engineered to reliably produce high volume, quality parts from most major polymers. Sencorp machines are used for many markets including consumer, medical, pharmaceutical, food, and automotive.
About SencorpWhite:
SencorpWhite is a leading provider of unique end-to-end solutions for the packaging and management of high-value inventory. The company's products and services-- which range from White automated storage and retrieval systems, Sencorp Thermoformers, CeraTek and Accu-Seal heat sealers, and Intek and Minerva item management software-- cover the entire supply chain, from the point-of-manufacture through distribution and to the point-of-use. For more information, call (508) 771-9400 or e-mail communications@sencorpwhite.com.
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A US Army soldier has been charged with multiple felonies for allegedly helping other members of a neo-Nazi group plan a mass casualty attack on his own unit during an upcoming deployment to Turkey.
Prosecutors say 22-year-old Pvt. Ethan Phelan Melzer of Louisville, Kentucky, fed sensitive information about his units location, movement and security to members of the Order of the Nine Angles (O9A), an occult white supremacist organization whose founder once pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda. Court documents released Monday allege Melzer joined O9A in 2019 after enlisting in the US Army the previous year.
While deployed in Italy in May, Melzer allegedly invited other members of O9A, including an FBI informant, to plan an attack on a US military installation in Turkey that Melzers unit would be guarding during an upcoming deployment.
The soldier and other alleged O9A members communicated via a secure messenger app group chat dubbed RapeWaffen Divison, an apparent reference to the neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Division network, which has been tied to a number of murders, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Order of the Nine Angles is a self-proclaimed satanic network that originated in the United Kingdom. Its publications have promoted pedophilia and the murder of police, judges and other public figures as ways to subvert society, which it says has been corrupted by Nazarene, or Judeo-Christian, culture. The group has praised the ideas of Osama bin Laden and Adolf Hitler, describing Nazi Germany as a burst of Luciferian light in an otherwise Nazarene, pacified, and boring world, according to an affidavit filed by US Air Force special agent Faye Stephan of New Yorks Joint Terrorism Task Force.
The affidavit, unsealed Monday, alleged Melzer and his co-conspirators shared satellite images of the unspecified US military facility in Turkey and discussed recruiting local jihadist militants to carry out the attack from high ground nearby.
The document alleges Melzer bragged to the group that he used to be cool with a couple [Islamic State] members who lived in France and said that a group of just a few dozen fighters could absolutely reek [sic] havoc on his unit.
Using the pseudonym Etil Reggad, Melzer allegedly discussed his units expected travel routes and told the O9A members that his fellow soldiers would be essentially crippled in an attack on the facility because they would not have machine guns, tanks or rocket launchers. He also promised to provide access to his units radio communications in order to facilitate the attack.
The affidavit alleges Melzer intended the incident to result in the deaths of as many of his fellow service members as possible in hope of sparking another war in the Middle East. He allegedly told the FBI informant he was willing to die in the attack because another 10-year war in the Middle East would definitely leave a mark.
Melzer allegedly told his contacts that he was literally risking [his] literal free life by divulging the information and was expecting results.
Investigators said Melzer waived his Miranda rights in a May 30 interview with the FBI and US military and confessed his involvement in the plot, allegedly describing himself as a traitor.
Photos obtained by prosecutors from an iCloud account said to belong to Melzer revealed IS propaganda that detailed the killing of Western military personnel. Another photo featured what appeared to be an O9A publication, a US Army beret and a ski mask bearing a white skull similar to masks featured in propaganda videos by groups like Atomwaffen Division.
Melzer faces life in prison on charges of conspiracy to commit and attempted murder of US military personnel and attempting to provide material support for terrorism, among other charges.
The indictment is the latest case of right-wing militancy within the US armed forces, but is an exceptionally rare case of a member of the military inviting foreign attack on his or her own unit.
Two former and one current US service members were indicted by federal prosecutors in June for plotting to firebomb a Las Vegas protest organized in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in May. The US Navy expelled a sailor suspected of recruiting for Atomwaffen Division in March.
Aviation Capital Group Announces the Closing of $600 Million Intercompany Line of Credit with Tokyo Century Corporation
Aviation Capital Group LLC (ACG), a leading aircraft asset manager, announced today the closing of a $600 million unsecured revolving line of credit with its 100% owner Tokyo Century Corporation. The facility has an initial term of 3 years and will automatically extend for additional one-year periods with mutual consent.
"This intercompany line of credit is an example of the tremendous support Tokyo Century provides to ACG and clearly demonstrates their ongoing commitment to our continued success," said Khanh T. Tran, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACG. /p>
About Aviation Capital Group
Aviation Capital Group was founded in 1989 and is one of the world's premier full-service aircraft asset managers with approximately 500 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of March 31, 2020, which are leased to approximately 90 airlines in approximately 45 countries. ACG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005773/en/
A baby has been rescued after he was abandoned in a bin inside a public toilet in China.
The boy's umbilical cord and placenta were still attached to him when two cleaners found the child stuck head down in a plastic bag, reported local media.
Police have reportedly found the boy's mother and are investigating the case. The child is believed to be in stable condition.
The Chinese baby was stuck in a public toilet bin head down when two cleaners found him
The newborn was found on Saturday by two sanitation workers in an accessible toilet in Lanzhou in north-western China's Gansu Province, reported Chinese news site The Paper.
The workers told the reporter that they were shocked to see the toilet's floor covered in blood when they were about to clean it.
One worker said her colleague and she called the police right after discovering the newborn.
Footage released by Pear Video shows a paramedic gently wrapping the naked baby with a blanket. The medic then carried the baby to an ambulance.
One cleaner, named Zhou Taoxiang (left), said her co-worker came upon the deserted baby who was 'covered in blood'. They were about to clean an accessible toilet in Lanzhou (right)
One of the cleaners, named Zhou Taoxiang, told Pear that her co-worker came upon the deserted baby who was 'covered in blood'.
She said when she rushed over, she found a half-closed plastic bag. After opening the bag, she saw the baby.
Paramedics took the baby to the Chengguan District People's Hospital for medical attention.
One doctor told Beijing News that paramedics had cut off the baby's placenta during first aid, but his umbilical cord was still attached to him when he arrived at the hospital.
Footage shows a paramedic gently wrapping the naked baby with a blanket before taking him to an ambulance. Police have found the boy's mother and are investigating the matter
The doctors said medics then bathed the child, cut his umbilical cord and put him in an incubator for intensive care.
Police have found the boy's mother who has taken the child home, according to the report.
Officers are said to be carrying out further investigation.
According to the latest statistics, around 100,000 babies are abandoned in China every year - an equivalent to more than 270 a day.
Under Chinese criminal law, any parents who desert their children can be imprisoned for up to five years.
However, in reality, few of them are given punishment due to a lack of law enforcement.
Just last month, a baby with her umbilical cord still attached was deserted in southern China's Hainan province by her mother who left in a hurry after giving birth.
The naked girl was covered in leaves on a fruit field when a local farmer heard her crying, according to the local press.
A 29-year-old woman who claimed to be the baby's mother claimed that she had abandoned her daughter because 'she was scared and clueless'.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and other Democrats sent Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) a letter calling for bipartisan negotiations on Republicans' law enforcement bill. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)
Senate Democrats indicated Tuesday that they will block the current version of a GOP policing reform bill, calling it "woefully inadequate" to meet the broad changes needed in response to the nationwide protests over George Floyd's death.
A Minneapolis police officer has been charged with killing Floyd, an unarmed, handcuffed Black man, by kneeling on his neck for more than 8 minutes.
The Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to bring the GOP-backed Justice Act, sponsored by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), up for consideration. It would require 60 votes to advance, meaning Republicans who hold 53 seats need some Democratic votes.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Tuesday arguing for bipartisan negotiations on the bill before it comes to the Senate floor.
This is a serious challenge requiring serious solutions, the three senators wrote to McConnell in the letter, provided to The Times in advance of its release. Bringing the Justice Act to the floor of the Senate is a woefully inadequate response, and we urge you to bring meaningful legislation to the floor for a vote.
On the Senate floor Tuesday, Schumer called Scott's bill a "partisan bill that's designed to make sure no bill passes."
Both parties are feeling public pressure to do something.
"It's completely insane is what it is. Peoples memories are so short that they dont remember the commitments we all made to people like George Floyds family, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. Where are the grownups?
Democrats have complained that they weren't consulted in the drafting of the GOP bill, which focuses heavily on collecting information about police use of force and creates a commission to study societal issues facing Black men and boys. They also noted that it is being moved without any hearings.
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Republicans point to similarities between their bill and one that the House is scheduled to vote on Thursday, and say that Democrats can offer amendments during floor consideration.
"Were ready to work with Democrats on police reform. I hope theyre finally willing to come to the table," Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said on the Senate floor Tuesday. "A successful vote to proceed on the Justice Act speaks volumes. A vote against shows the American people that politics are more important than the people; talking points more important than change; and gridlock more important than solutions."
McConnell is allowing senators to propose any amendments they want, but it is unlikely that meaningful changes would be made to the legislation once it got to the Senate floor, where the majority could act without support from the minority party. Once the 60-vote threshold is met to advance legislation in the Senate, it only takes a majority to approve or reject an amendment.
Subsequent votes on the bill would need the support of 60 senators for final passage, McConnell noted, giving Democrats the opportunity to block it if they didn't get the changes they sought. And if the versions passed by the House and Senate differ greatly, a conference committee of House and Senate members would negotiate a compromise bill.
"The only thing that's blocking this right now is the Senate Democrats, and the Senate Democrats aren't just blocking Tim Scott's bill. They are blocking an open bipartisan debate about policing reform in this country," said Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.).
Both measures would make lynching a federal crime, but there are also key differences.
Both would require police departments to provide data to the federal government in cases where force is used by officers, but differ significantly on when data is required and how much.
The GOP bill only requires data on the use of deadly force or serious injuries, and "no-knock" warrants, while the House bill asks for data whenever force is used against civilians, and for identifying information, like the race or ethnicity of those involved.
Both require disciplinary records to be more accessible to other agencies, though the Democrats' bill would create a national registry including complaints, disciplinary records and termination records, and make some records public.
The Republican bill is "merely offering to study the problem without doing anything to solve it. Thats empty," Harris said. "We can't answer the people's demand for accountability with watered-down politics and watered-down policies and an obstructionist tactic to distract us from what we clearly know is necessary to meet the calls and the cries of this moment and this movement."
Unlike the House Democrats' bill, the Senate Republicans' bill doesn't modify so-called qualified immunity for police officers, which has made it harder for victims of brutality to file civil lawsuits for excessive force. Neither does the Senate GOP bill make it easier to prosecute police officers for criminal behavior, as the House version does.
The Senate bill encourages state and local police departments to make changes to standards for training and for when force is acceptable, and would penalize departments that don't mandate the use of body cameras.
House Democrats' bill bans federal officers from using chokeholds, stops the use of no-knock warrants in federal drug cases and predicates federal funding on whether state and local officials follow suit. It would also create national accreditation standards for police, including setting a national standard for the use of force.
The Senate bill prohibits federal grant money to departments unless they have a policy banning the use of chokeholds except when deadly force is authorized.
Booker called the Republican bill "wholly unacceptable to bring accountability, transparency, consequences when our common values as a nation are violated."
"The American people are not in the streets chanting, 'We want more data, we want more data!'" he said. "The American people are not in the streets chanting, 'Give us a commission, give us a commission!'"
Deputy President William Ruto was among the first leaders to console Garissa Township MP Aden Duale after he was ousted as the National Assembly Majority Leader on Monday.
Ruto praised Duale for his passionate service and further assured him of a chapter when parliamentary history is written.
My brother Aden Duale, you are a great leader. For the last 8 years, you discharged your responsibilities as our partys 1st majority leader with style, precision, passion and loyalty, the DP tweeted.
My friend, when parliamentary history is written you will have a chapter. Mbele iko sawa na Mungu, he added.
During the Jubilee PG meeting held on Monday at the KICC, Duale was removed from his powerful position in Parliament and replaced by Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya.
Duale spoke shortly after saying he leaves the coveted seat with his head held high.
I came, I saw and I conquered. Today marks the end of my seven years of service to the great people of Kenya as the Leader of Majority of the National Assembly. I was the first occupant of the seat under article 108 of the Constitution, he said in a tweet.
I am particularly proud that during my service, I was also able to ensure that all the Bills for implementation of the Constitution, financial legislation to implement devolution and provide services to the people of Kenya and Bills to implement the Big Four Agenda were enacted.
I equally thank the Deputy President, the entire Jubilee members of Parliament and my family for their support during this period, he added.
But like I have said before, public positions are not to be personalized. When you are given a position you do your best and when the time comes for you to leave, you leave with a smile.
Duale at the same time congratulated his successor.
I am glad that today, I leave with a smile, being proud of what I was able to achieve. Finally, to my brother Hon. Kimunya, permit me to congratulate you for your new appointment, he said.
Its not against the law for residents to set off fireworks in Pennsylvania. But the increasing number of explosions and the proximity of explosions to homes has many Palmer Township neighbors concerned.
Palmer Township police issued a nixle alert Monday reminding residents fireworks can only be set off 150 feet away from occupied structures.
There are very few areas in Palmer Township that discharging fireworks would be legal, police said in the alert.
According to the alert, theres an uptick in complaints from neighbors concerning fireworks, particularly from neighbors with pets.
Police say they will investigate fireworks complaints. They can fine violators up to $100.
Fireworks became legal for residents to set off in 2017. There are three retailers just inside the Pennsylvania border off Interstate 78: Phantom Fireworks, TNT Fireworks and Sky King Fireworks.
Joe Van Oudenhove, the managing director of Sky King, told lehighvalleylive.com sales are up this year, perhaps because residents are bored from being cooped up in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are some other provisions of Pennsylvania law to keep in mind if you want to set off fireworks:
You must be 18 or older to buy and set off fireworks.
You need permission from the owner of the property where you want to discharge fireworks.
They cant be set off inside a building or a vehicle, or shot into a building or toward a person.
You cant set them off while youre under the influence of alcohol.
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.
By Delana Isles
THE MURDER of Marie Kuhnla, a Long Island woman found strangled in bushes near Club Med Turkoise in October 2018, is still under active investigation by the Royal TCI Police Force.
But, the family of the 61-year-old is not satisfied that enough is being done by the authorities to find her killer.
Two weeks ago, NBC News 4 reported that the family filed a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit against the resort.
In that lawsuit, they fingered a guest of the Club Med resort at which Kuhnla was staying during her vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Kuhnla was travelling with two colleagues from the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, where she worked in the Family Court division.
Frank Yacullo, a former employee of Club Med, is accused in the suit of allegedly sexually assaulting one of Kuhnlas friends who was vacationing with her.
The court papers then accuse Yacullo of killing Kuhnla, as he was the last person to see her alive on October 15, and Club Med of covering up the crime.
The court filing reads: "After Maries death, Yacullo was arrested and detained by Turks and Caicos police for the sexual assault on Helma, but was released within 24 hours.
"Before he could face justice for Maries murder, Yacullo quickly fled to the United States to his Long Island home in Nassau County.
Kuhnlas friends told NBC that they became increasingly concerned when Marie disappeared after a day of drinking at the pool, yet Club Med staff and local police seemed unconcerned when they tried to report her missing.
The son and husband of Kuhnla filed the lawsuit after hiring private investigator Eddie Dowd to look into the death.
He told NBC that it did not appear that Kuhnla had walked to the location where her body was found - it was either dumped there after she had been killed or she was killed among the bushes where her body was found.
Husband Rick Kuhnla told NBC that it does not appear that anyone is taking the investigation very seriously, or were doing much to find his wifes killer.
"They just wanted to sweep it under the rug. Its the easiest way to answer that, he said.
The couples son, Rick Kuhnla Junior, said the family wants justice for his mum and to know what happened.
The familys attorney Abe George told NBC: "Club Med failed to take the requisite action to keep Marie safe.
He insists that the crime was an act of murder.
Yacullo reportedly also told NBC that he had nothing to do with the crime and had no interaction with the woman away from the pool.
A spokesperson for Club Med told the Weekly News that they could not comment on "ongoing litigation, but added that "the safety and security of all of our guests and staff is our highest priority.
In a December 2018 statement, the Royal TCI Police Force described the murder as "a complex case and said officers were exploring a number of lines of enquiry.
"We will utilise all available means including sophisticated forensic science in our efforts, they added.
The force has not release any information on the investigation since then.
In search of food, I made a pilgrimage of sorts. With patios newly open and restaurants greenlighted last week for indoor table service, I wanted to walk in a restaurant-dense neighborhood. Tired of solo pandemic drives to towns for takeout, I wanted to feel the return to the new normal in the sight and sounds of people dining in the street.
More than that, on the heels of powerful local protests, I wanted to see on my Juneteenth walk the yellow letters of the Black Lives Matter mural painted with pride along several blocks of Lark Street, Albanys village in the city. With Pride Month underway, I wanted to see the arching rainbow balloons outside Oh Bar and the creatively partitioned sidewalk seating stretching from Cafe Hollywood to Lark St. Poke Bar. And from the circulating lists of black-owned businesses, I wanted to check out the wood art at Yamaguchie and Great Exbaketations cakes at Lark Street Mercantile. The point of supporting black-owned eateries and businesses should it even need restating is to dismantle the racial wage gap through increased support.
First, Id promised myself a Korean bulgogi rice bowl, spiralized potatoes on a stick and melon ice cream from the new, white-and-yellow Son of Egg at Lark and Madison, where barstools newly flank storefront windows. Along Lark, Id collect a bottle of Mexican rose on hold at Post since National Rose Day and lust over the tinned anchovies and Kunik cheese in their high-end grocery section while clocking masked and maskless patrons on the back patio and picnic tables on Spring. But my walk had a point at the far end of the street: Takeout, and a soft return to reviewing, in a feast of West African dishes from Keobi, the areas first spot for Nigerian cuisine.
Keobi was born during the pandemic. Its eye-popping orange and white color palette promising hygiene and efficiency, the door propped open for contactless entry and floor markers define spacing so customers know where to stand. I gaze at the buffet of crispy fried fish, rice and stews behind the counters extended Perspex shield and spot Nkulenus natural fermented palm wine next to bottled beers in the cooler. No one is dining in; every customer is here for takeout ordered online, but the pace is remarkably slow. Relaxed staff smile, a small child runs between the rear kitchen and the server handling counter sales. Chef-owner Kelechi Nwagboso and her husband, Obinna, moved upstate from the Bronx five years ago for a better life for the children, and in the 10 short weeks since she opened Keobi, social media has kept business buzzing.
Until now, Umana Restaurant & Wine Bar has long been Albany's sole bastion for African fare Senegalese dibi lamb, South African-spiced cornbread and Ethiopian injera platters from the Horn of Africa in the east. So Keobi expands our range of choice with a broad spectrum of West African dishes likely to test Western knowledge of fat- and protein-rich egusi and ogbono, the seeds from melon and gourds, and their natural thickening properties in stews, or familiarity with delicacies like nkwobi, spicy cow feet stewed in thick chile sauce, or black snails sauteed with sliced onion and hot peppers. Its been some years since Ive had one of my favorite breakfast dishes, Nigerian egg stew scrambled with tomatoes and served over palm oil-fried plantains, or commendable jollof rice served with crisp fish, skin shimmering, or goat meat on cleaved bones.
Alongside, you might add grated cassava abacha, fried plantains or vinegary red cabbage salad. Theres a marriage of spice and texture in peppered goat, the counterpoints of loosened braised meat and chewy skin against sweet sauteed peppers. Some dishes oxtail, curry goat, plantain porridge will be familiar from Jamaican menus, but the joy of Keobi is the chance for your taste buds to explore.
Central to your meal are thick African meat soups with pungent flavors: the earthiness of goat, oiliness of smoked fish and shrimp cooked into a savory corn meal porridge (it pulls up a scent memory of my fathers smoked kipper and porridge breakfasts). Lighter, delicate flavors cling to spiced mashed black-eyed beans or cubed yams cooked in palm oil with capers and spice.
The soups come with options for sides, but choose fufu, a bland, pounded cassava-root puree plastic-wrapped into a smooth boule. White, starchy and stretchy, it falls somewhere between mashed potato and wet dough. Pinch off a small chunk between fingers and roll into a ball in the palm of your hand to dip in the soup. A good start might be the ila okra soup or cassava leaves cooked with palm oil and smoked fish. Im fond of Nigerian bitterleaf soup with submerged wedges of smoked fish; Keobis version is rich and fragrant. Try ewedu, a soup of softly pureed jute leaf, viscous from added locust bean and swirled through tomato stew hiding chunks of slow simmered, unnamed meat.
Order a few Keobi house pies crimped pastry hand pies filled with chicken, beef or fish and moi moi, a spicy bean cake steamed like suet pudding and sold in a blue foil pouch. Wash it all down with a cold beer or, better yet, a bottle of creamy Ghanaian palm wine, savoring the funky fermented flavor that merges the silkiness of nigori sake with the barnyard odor of Brett yeast in natural wine.
This new stroll down Lark Street flips open my 20-year dining-memory Rolodex. Grad-school years slinging espresso drinks in Caffe Dolce (home now to El Mariachi Tapas), late nights carrying pints and jerk-spiced rasta pasta to tightly packed tables in the upstairs Lionheart pub (now Bombers second floor). A time when I lived next door to Yonos on Hamilton Street or opposite McGuires on State. An era when we dined to jazz at Farnhams Larkin, munched sweetcorn fritters at Justins (now Savoy Taproom), shared popcorn and splits with Rocky in the original Palais Royal and transported Sukhothai or Amazing Wok takeout to a friends basement apartment that would become the wine bar Antica Enotica, The Wine Bar and Bistro, Lark & Lilly, Mio Posto and now Post on Lark. Its easy to scan the juice, beer and coffee shops and pull up ghosts of dinners past. In a perennially reimagined neighborhood; the only constant is change.
Susie Davidson Powell is a British freelance food writer in upstate New York. Follow her on Twitter, @SusieDP
Having a good and reliable mobile device is important for everyone, as they can perform so many different tasks and functions. Luckily, modern companies offer us a lot of various options that we can choose from. If you are asking "what phone should I buy?", there are quite a few good offers that would possibly catch your attention, so make sure to check them out.
Image: unsplash.com
Source: UGC
Purchasing the new mobile gadget is a large responsibility, as it is vital to choose the one that fits your requirements best. People look for the most reliable and the fastest phone by checking out the specifications that they find important. Here is your phone buying guide that will assist you in choosing the most suitable one for yourself.
Which is the best smartphone?
There is no such thing as "best", as every device has some strengths and weaknesses. However, most people tend to go for the products that are not flagship, since those are very expensive, but are still relatively new and have plenty of benefits.
If you are one of those people who ask "what is the best phone for me?", we can aid in your search by showing you a few great models. Hopefully, you will like them.
What phone should I buy in 2020?
Check out these incredible models that are used by many people and have amazing cell phone reviews. They could easily compete for the best phone 2020.
P46 Pro
Image: unsplash.com
Source: UGC
This mobile comes in black, violet, red, and sky blue colors. It has a high-definition 6.1-inch display and is powered by an Android 9.1 system. There is 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM. You will be able to take excellent pictures with the 18MP rear and 13MP front camera. It supports face recognition, wireless connectivity and dual SIM, and costs 2,599 with a discount.
Buy now on Shopee. Get yourself this great device for a reasonable price!
Rino5
The Rino company offers this brand new model which has everything you need. There is a 6.3-inch screen and three color options - green, purple, and black. It has enough memory for all your needs - 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM. The 16MP and 8MP cameras will ensure you the best photographing experience, and the 4800 mAh battery allows to use it for a long time. It will cost you 2,585.
Purchase it now on Shopee. Get yourself the best Android phone from a trustworthy company!
Asus ROG II
As you can see, this model is up-to-date and was one of the contenders for the best phone in the world 2019. Even though it costs 30,390, which is more than the previous gadgets, it is absolutely worth the price. The specifications are incredible, with the Snapdragon 855Plus Octa-core processor and an Adreno 640 GPU.
Image: unsplash.com
Source: UGC
It supports up to 12GB ROM and 1TB RAM, and has an outstanding camera of 48MP rear and 24MP front. It has a powerful 6000 mAh battery, a modern liquid-cooling system, and a fingerprint sensor, among all the other technological wonders. It also has a 3.5 mm audio jack for listening to music, a dual nano-SIM, and a high-definition 6.59-inch screen.
Get this item now on Shopee. You will have no regrets about getting this powerful device!
We hope we answered your question "what phone should I buy Philippines?". These devices are all very impressive with their excellent specifications, and you can get any of them online, without needing to go to the store or leave your house, so do not pass up this opportunity.
READ ALSO: Buy and sell cellphone online: top 3 smartphones
Please note that some of the links in the article are affiliate links and KAMI.com.ph will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. However, we always choose only the best quality products that we use ourselves and recommend to our readers. The earnings we get from the affiliate marketing help us continue preparing useful and entertaining content, that our audience enjoys.
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Two weeks. Thats how brief the window for guarded optimism about bipartisan police reform from the United States Congress, following nationwide protests over police abuse, lasted. On Tuesday morning, differences of opinion about the breadth of necessary reform spilled over, in an instant, into breathless accusations of bad faith and a legislative standstill. A Senate vote is scheduled for Wednesday about whether to open debate and amendment on the Republicans bill, the Justice Act, authored by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. That vote is expected to fail.
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Democrats have been critical of Scotts bill since it was introduced last week. It doesnt touch qualified immunity for police officers, it doesnt ban no-knock warrants, it doesnt limit the militarization of the police, and it doesnt make it easier to prosecute officers for crimes. It too often, for Democrats liking, defaults to further study rather than immediate reform.
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But Democrats had not said whether they would block the bill from consideration or allow the debate to proceed and take their chances on improving it with amendments.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, on Tuesday morning, signaled that Democrats would block the bill from consideration, declaring it unsalvageable.
It is clear that the Republican bill, as is, will not get 60 votes. There is overwhelming opposition to the bill in our caucus, Schumer said on the Senate floor. And because the bill needs such large-scale and fundamental change, there is no conceivable way that a series of amendments strong enough to cure the defects in the bill could garner 60 votes either. So no billno billwill pass as a result of this ploy by Sen. McConnell. He cited, for good measure, calls from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to declare the Justice Act a non-starter.
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To Republicans, this was just a convoluted excuse for choosing to kill legislation to preserve the political issue heading into an election.
I hope none of you are falling for this nonsense that somehow our Democratic colleagues would be disadvantaged by voting to open debate on the Scott bill, an irritated McConnell told reporters. I read that several of them said that they dont trust Mitch McConnell. They dont have to trust me. He explained that Democrats could vote to open debate, and if they were unsuccessful in securing the changes they wanted through amendments, they could refuse to advance the bill at the next 60-vote threshold vote, to end debate.
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Theres literally no harm done by debating this important topic, McConnell said.
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McConnell has been saying repeatedly for the last week that he was trying to pass a law, not a messaging bill, and challenged Democrats to show the same. Democrats believe, however, that the process McConnell chose from the outset belies his assertion about wanting to make a law.
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When McConnell does want to make a law, he allows for bipartisan input before debate begins. Annual must-pass items, like spending bills or the National Defense Authorization Act, are negotiated on a bipartisan basis through committees. The CARES Act, which attained de facto must-pass status once the economy ground to a halt, was negotiated among bipartisan working groups of Democrats and Republicans.
The Justice Act, however, was written by Scott and fellow Republicans exclusively and will be brought straight to the floor, bypassing the committee process. If McConnell were serious about planning to pass a bill, Democrats argue, he would have gotten bipartisan buy-in from the outset to create a base measure that both Republicans and Democrats could live with and then amend on the margins. Instead, McConnellintentionally, as Cory Booker saidput forward a bill with too many problems for Democrats.
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It is designed to fail so that they could have a political talking pointand this is the richest part of it allwhere they are going to blame Democrats for not wanting real reform, Booker described it.
Democrats are trying to put the ball in McConnells court, by saying its still not too late to make a law if thats really what hes interested in. He could move the issue to the Judiciary Committee or convene some bipartisan working group to reach a deal. If, instead, Democrats agreed to simply open debate to see what happeneda process that McConnell said would bring them no harmthey would be precluding a more promising process, starting with a more advanced, bipartisan base text, from coming down the line.
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McConnell said Tuesday that a failed procedural vote on Wednesday would not necessarily mark the end of the police reform debate, and he would reserve the option to bring it up again later. That will be the real test of whether police reform has the must-pass designation that anything significant needs to become law a few months before a presidential election. If McConnell does want to make a law, the failure of a procedural vote will be just a temporary setback that prompts Senate Republicans and Democrats to get together and hammer something out. Thats what happened after Democrats filibustered a procedural vote over an early version of the CARES Act: They worked through it. If a failed vote on Wednesday is the end of the process, the police reform debate was never more than an act of showy commotion responding to a major news cycle, destined to end in blame-passing.
Notably, Mr. Zelinsky, a line prosecutor, did not have any discussion with the Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney, or any other member of political leadership at the Department about the sentencing; instead, Mr. Zelinksys allegations concerning the U.S. Attorneys motivation are based on his own interpretation of events and hearsay (at best), not first-hand knowledge, Kupec said. The Attorney General stated during his confirmation hearing that it is his job to ensure that the administration of justice and the enforcement of the law is above and away from politics. He has and will continue to approach all cases at the Department of Justice with that commitment to the rule of law and the fair and impartial administration of justice.
US officials will gather this week to decide on giving green signal to the Israeli plan of the annexation of Jewish settlements in West Bank announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, will reportedly be present in Washington to discuss the matter with top officials including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, and Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz.
US President Donald Trump could also join the meeting as the target date for the annexation announced by Netanyahu approaches. Israeli Prime Minister has set the target date as July 1 after a push from Trump and sealing a power-sharing deal with former rival Benny Gantz of Blue and White Party.
In January, Trumps unveiled the Middle East peace plan to resolve Israel-Palestine conflict but it was rejected by Palestinian leaders in its entirety. As per the proposed peace plan, the sovereignty of Israel over important settlement blocs in the West Bank will be acknowledged and the State of Palestine be created with its capital in east Jerusalem.
Trump administration has been aggressive about his foreign policy towards Israel by taking decisions against Palestinian interests. Calling it a historic breakthrough and win-win opportunity for both sides, Trump said that Israel authorised the release of a conceptual map for the first time.
We will form a joint committee with Israel to convert the conceptual map into a more detailed and calibrated rendering so that recognition can be immediately achieved, said Trump in the joint statement.
Read: German FM In Israel Warns Against West Bank Annexation Plans
Opposition from Arab countries
However, the annexation plan has been opposed by the Arab world, saying the move would upend the efforts to improve ties. Ahmed Abul Gheit, Secretary-General of Arab League, had said that the first reading indicated a great waste of legitimate rights of Palestinians. He added that the Arab league is studying the American vision carefully and open to any serious effort to achieve peace.
India has been firm on the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called upon both parties to resolve issues through direct negotiations. Ministry of External Affairs had urged the parties to engage with each other and find an acceptable two-state solution for peaceful coexistence.
Read: Netanyahu And Settlers Clash Over West Bank Annexation Plans
Skeletal remains found near the Fort Hood Army base have been identified as a soldier who disappeared last year - as the search for another missing soldier, Vanessa Guillen, continues.
The body of Pvt. Gregory Scott Morales, 24, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma was found on Friday in Killeen, Texas.
The remains were identified as his on Sunday, according to the US Army's Criminal Investigation Command in Quantico, Virginia. Morales was positively identified using dental records with the assistance of the US Army Dental Corps.
The remains were found in a field near the 3200 block of Florence Road after officials at the nearby base received a tip of a body there Friday morning, according to Killeen police.
Foul play is suspected while an autopsy is pending to determine the cause and manner of death, according to a release from Army CID public affairs chief Chris Grey.
However, there is no indication that his death is connected to the disappearance of 20-year-old Private First-Class Guillen, who went missing in April. A search for her is still ongoing.
On Thursday military officials said they suspect foul play is involved in her disappearance.
The body of Pvt. Gregory Scott Morales, 24, of Oklahoma, was found on Friday in a field near the 3200 block of Florence Road near Killeen, Texas after officials at the nearby Fort Hood base received a tip. He had disappeared from the base last August
A search for Private First-Class Vanessa Guillen, 20, is ongoing. She was reported missing from Fort Hood on April 22 shortly after she told her family she was being sexually harassed and felt unsafe
Morales, who was also known as Gregory Wedel, was last seen on August 19, 2019 driving his personal vehicle outside of Fort Hood.
He was to be discharged within days after his disappearance, the Army said.
Morales joined the Army in June 2015 as a motor transport operator and had been assigned to the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood since November 2016, according to the Army.
A $25,000 reward is being offered for information about his death.
'The First Team is saddened by the news of the passing of PV2 Gregory Morales. His life was taken too soon, and we appreciate his service to our nation,' Maj. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater, commander, 1st Cavalry Division.
Morales, who was also known as Gregory Wedel, was last seen on August 19, 2019 driving his personal vehicle outside of Fort Hood. He was to be discharged within days after his disappearance, the Army said.
A $25,000 reward is being offered for information about his death
Both Morales and Guillen were stationed at the Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas
Morales disappeared about eight months before Guillen vanished from the base.
During a press conference from the Fort Hood main gate on Tuesday Rep Sylvia Garvia said military investigators believe 'foul play' is involved in the disappearance of Guillen, but did not expand on the matter.
On Monday members of Equusearch conducted a search for her along the Leon River in Bell County. On Sunday they said they have a 'good reason' to be in the area, according to Fox5.
The Texas Rangers, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation, and The Texas Game Wardens also took part in the search near FM 436 and North Hartrick Loop for Guillen.
In a video message on Sunday Fort Hood Deputy Commander Major General Scott Efflandt pleaded for information on Guillens whereabouts.
'We want to bring Vanessa home as efficiently and as rapidly as possible. And towards that end, I'm asking for your assistance,' Efflandt said. 'We need to bring Vanessa back to her Army family and to bring her back to her family, and we won't stop this effort until we're successful.'
Officials at the Fort Hood army base in Texas announced an investigation into missing woman Vanessa Guillen's claims she was sexually harassed last week
In a video message on Sunday Fort Hood Deputy Commander Major General Scott Efflandt pleaded for information on Guillens whereabouts saying: 'We want to bring Vanessa home as efficiently and as rapidly as possible'
Soldiers from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment conduct ongoing searches of the training area at Fort Hood, Texas, for missing Trooper Pfc. Vanessa Guillen on June 18
Soldiers pictured searching for Guillen from June 17 to 18 east of the Fort Hood base
Mexican-American film actress Salma Hayek has pledged to post pictures of missing soldier Private First Class Vanessa Guillen, 20, on her Instagram page until she is found
The Houston native, who is Latina, was last seen in the parking lot of her regimental engineer squadron headquarters at the Killeen base.
She had accused an unnamed sergeant of sexually harassing her and claimed she felt unsafe before she disappeared, her family says.
Giullen's attorney Natalie Khawam told ABC13 said Guillen once claimed that a superior walked in on her showering and another verbally assaulted her with vulgar remarks in Spanish.
Guillen's car keys, barracks room key, identification card and wallet were later found in the armory room where she was working earlier in the day. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, light purple leggings and black Nike sneakers.
Last week the Fort Hood Army base launched an investigation into Guillens allegations that a sergeant sexually harassed her.
A reward of $55,000 is being offered for information in her disappearance.
Actress Salma Hayek shared a post on Instagram vowing to share a picture of Guillen every day until she is found.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about Morales to contact Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477) or submit an online tip via their website.
Group-IB published a detailed report on Fxmsp a heavyweight of the Russian-speaking cyber underground who made a name for himself selling access to corporate networks.
Group-IB, a Singapore-based cybersecurity company, has issued a comprehensive report on Fxmsp a heavyweight of the Russian-speaking cyber underground who made a name for himself selling access to corporate networks. Group-IB researchers analyzed Fxmsps activity on underground forums for about three years and discovered that the threat actor had compromised networks of more than 130 targets, including SMEs, government organizations, banks, and Fortune 500 companies all around the world.
The report shows how Fxmsps cybercriminal career evolved from a newbie hacker to one of the major players of the Russian-speaking underground. Group-IBs team uncovered Fxmsps TTPs and established his presumed identity. Despite the fact that Fxmsp has ceased all public activity, its not unlikely that he continues to attack corporate networks and sell access to them. Given these risks, Group-IB decided to release the report Fxmsp: The Invisible God of Networks, share its expanded version with international law enforcement agencies, and make its materials on Fxmsps tools and tactics accessible to the general public.
Geography and victims
Fxmsp gained worldwide fame in May 2019, after it was reported that the networks belonging to leading antivirus software companies had been compromised. However, no one knew until now the story behind this unusual nickname and the sheer volume of the crimes committed. In just about three years, Fxmsp managed to gain access to corporate networks of 135 companies in 44 countries, including in the US, Russia, Singapore, the UK, and elsewhere.
According to Group-IB researchers conservative estimates, Fxmsp and his accomplice are likely to have made at least $1.5 million throughout their operations. This, however, does not include the 20% of companies to which he offered access without naming the price and the sales he made through private messages. His actual earnings are believed to be much higher. Fxmsps victims were mainly companies in the light industry, i.e. focused on small production of consumer goods. His second most favorite targets were companies offering IT services. Its of particular note that around 9% of victim networks belonged to government organizations, while four companies successfully attacked by the threat actor were included in the Fortune Global 500 ranking in 2019. Its worth noting that despite the fact that Fxmsp stopped all public activity in late 2019, Group-IB discovered that a European energy company, that he was selling access to, fell victim to a ransomware attack in 2020.
Group-IBs attribution-based Threat Intelligence system makes it possible to monitor all posts on underground forums in real-time and gain access to both original posts and all edit history. Therefore, the companys researchers were able to retrieve and analyze hundreds of Fxmsps posts, including the ones he had deleted and edited, which allowed to look into the history of his crimes, the evolution of his character, and establish the exact methods he used to compromise corporate networks.
First steps
Fxmsp took his first steps in the cybercrime scene in September 2016 when he registered on an underground forum, fuckav[.]ru. His early posts indicate that Fxmsp had little knowledge about how to monetize the access and maintain persistence within the networks he had compromised. He was asking around about self-propagating persistent cryptomining malware and other Trojans for infecting corporate networks seeking for help with accesses he had gained, making a number of mistakes along the way. Experienced users of underground forums never publish their contact details, they share them only through private messages. Fxmsp included one of his Jabber accounts, in his contact information on the forum which helped Group-IB researchers to establish his presumed identity.
In early 2017, he created accounts on several other Russian-speaking forums, including on the infamous exploit[.]in, where he refocused his activity and began selling access to compromised corporate networks which would later become his primary business. On October 1, 2017, Fxmsp published his first ad for the sale of access to corporate networks. His first victim in the financial industry was a commercial bank in Nigeria. Later, he would announce the sale of access to the network belonging to a chain of luxury hotels, another African bank with a capitalization of $20 billion, and many other high-profile targets.
First falls
Fxmsp learned very fast with help from other forum members. Soon enough, the threat actor started talking about hacking into IBM and Microsoft. Puffed up by his initial success, he forgot an unspoken rule in the Russian-speaking hacking community: not hacking within Russia and CIS countries. Fxmsp tried to sell access in Russia and was eventually banned from the forum. The hacker learned his lesson. He deleted all offers linked to Russia and the ban was lifted. Nevertheless, Group-IB Threat Intelligence team was able to retrieve his deleted posts and discovered that in December 2017 Fxmsp had published an ad for the sale of access to an ATM and to the website of the customs office in two Russian cities.
Proxy seller
On January 17, 2018, the hacker shared exactly how many buyers he had at the time: 18. The business was going so well for Fxmsp that he hired a user with a nickname Lampeduza (aka Antony Moricone, BigPetya, Fivelife, Nikolay, tor.ter, andropov, and Gromyko) as his sales manager in early 2018. Lampeduza began sharing posts about the sale of access to the very same companies that Fxmsp had mentioned earlier. Promoting their services, Lampeduza wrote in one of his forum posts You will have access to the companys entire network You will become THE INVISIBLE GOD OF NETWORKS During their cooperation, the two advertised the sale of access to 62 new companies. The total price for all the access sold was $1,100,800.
In late October 2018, Fxmsp and Lampeduzas activity became threatened. It turned out that they were trying to sell access to the same network to several different buyers. The clique temporarily suspended its activity on all other forums and allegedly focused on private sales, i.e. they started working only with a limited circle of clients. In mid-March 2019, the co-conspirators resumed their activity on forums. New messages about the sale of access appeared on several underground message boards.
The big fish
Fxmsps public activity culminated in April 2019. According to media reports, Fxmsp had managed to compromise networks belonging to three antivirus software vendors. Following the incident that hit the headlines, in May 2019, Lampeduza stated that he no longer worked with Fxmsp, denied any involvement in the high-profile hack, and said that he had allegedly suspended their cooperation on underground forums due to the greater media attention to Fxmsp. Thereafter, Lampeduza once again disappeared from forums for a while, but most likely continued selling accesses provided by Fxmsp through private messages to regular customers. On December 17, 2019, Lampeduza confirmed to the forum users that Fxmsp had stopped his activity.
Fxmsp is one of the most prolific sellers of access to corporate networks in the history of Russian-speaking cybercriminal underground who publicly advertised the access to 135 companies, which brought him more USD 1.5 mln in profits, comments Dmitry Volkov, CTO of Group-IB. He set a trend and his success inspired many others to follow suit: the number of sellers of access to corporate networks increased by 92% in H2 2019 vs H1 2017, when Fxmsp entered the market. Prior to Fxmsp joining the underground, the sellers would offer RDP access to separate servers, without even bothering to ensure persistence or performing reconnaissance in the network. Fxmsp took this service into a whole new level. Despite rather simplistic methods he used, Fxmsp managed to gain access to energy companies, government organizations and even some Fortune 500 firms. Fxmsp had indeed ended all public operations, however, its not unlikely that he continues making private offers posing a threat to companies in many industries, regardless of their location. In light of this, we decided to release this report, make our materials on Fxmsps TTPs accessible to the public, and provide recommendations to help companies protect against the types of attacks conducted by Fxmsp and similar cybercriminals. We hope that our research will help to locate and arrest the threat actor hiding behind the nickname Fxmsp and his accomplices, which is why weve shared the expanded version of the report with international law enforcement agencies.
TTPs
The digital traces Fxmsp left at the earliest stage of his career, allowed Group-IB Threat Intelligence team to establish his toolset and methods. In most cases, Fxmsp uses a very simple, yet effective approach. He scans a range of IP addresses for certain open ports to identify open RDP (remote desktop protocol) ports, particularly 3389. Then, he carries out brute-force attacks on the victims server to guess the RDP password. After gaining access to the target device, Fxmsp usually disables the existing antivirus software and firewall, then creates additional accounts. Next, he uses the Meterpreter payload on servers as a backdoor. Fxmsp himself noted in his posts that, when installing backdoors, he set a long interval for connections with C&C servers: once every 15 days. Once the access is gained, Fxmsp harvests dumps of all the accounts and decrypts them. Finally, he infects the backups by installing backdoors. Even if the victim notices suspicious activity in the system, they will most likely change passwords and perform a rollback to the backup, which has already been compromised. This approach allows him to maintain persistence and remain unnoticed for a long time.
Recommendations
At the time of writing, Fxmsp is no longer conducting public activities. It is uncertain, however, whether he is still breaking into company networks and continues to make private offers. Given the risks, we deem it essential to offer universal recommendations on how to prevent attacks that bear similarities to those conducted by Fxmsp.
Fxmsp uses open RDP ports as the initial attack vector, therefore, the default RDP port 3389 can be edited by changing it to any other. As the attackers usually need several attempts to brute force passwords and gain access to the RDP, it is important to enable account lockout policies by limiting the number of failed login attempts per user. Another important element to ensure resilience against this type of attack is to constantly monitor the darknet for compromised data related to your company. Threat intelligence solutions enable organizations to mitigate risks and further damage by quickly identifying stolen records and track down the source of the breach, while specialized threat detection systems allow to discover unwanted intrusions, traffic anomalies within the corporate network, and attempts to gain unauthorized access to any data.
Pierluigi Paganini
(SecurityAffairs hacking, Fxmsp)
NORRISTOWN A resolution to extend an emergency disaster declaration in Montgomery County amid the COVID-19 pandemic was narrowly approved by the county commissioners.
The June 18 decision to continue allowing opportunities for the county to receive financial assistance during the public health crisis passed in a 2-1 partisan vote despite Commissioner Joe Gales strong opposition.
In my opinion, enough is enough, Gale said.
The order was first established on March 8. Officials cited widespread outbreak of coronavirus that overwhelmed first responders, healthcare providers and businesses within Montgomery County.
It was extended once again on April 22 and expired on Sunday. The new order took effect Monday and will stay active for another 60 days, accordion to the resolution.
The legislation instructs the countys Office of Public Health and the Department of Public Safety to coordinate the activities of the emergency response; to take all appropriate action needed to alleviate the effects of this disaster; to aid in the restoration of essential public services; and to take any other emergency response action deemed necessary to respond to this disaster emergency.
While Montgomery County Commissioners Chairwoman Val Arkoosh and Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence, Jr., both Democrats, endorsed the matter, Gale remained steadfast in his position, slamming Gov. Tom Wolf for his stay-at-home order and phased approach to reopening the state.
Wolf mandated the closure of nonessential businesses in mid-March to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Wolfs administration recently unveiled a plan to reopen the state with three phases: red, yellow and green. As Pennsylvania counties move to the next phase, restrictions ease. Montgomery County progressed to the yellow phase on June 5 and is expected to move to green on Friday.
The emergency situation facing Montgomery County is the crisis created by a governor who has decimated Pennsylvanias economy by locking down and shutting down people and businesses, Gale said. The governors unnecessary extension of this lockdown is causing irreparable harm to Montgomery County and its neighboring counties. Extending a state of emergency here in Montgomery County does not fix the problem.
However, Arkoosh requested that Montgomery County Solicitor Josh Stein to shed light on the subject, asking if it is in no way related to phased reopening of the county?
Stein clarified that this order is more of an administrative procedure.
To allow it to expire frankly would be foolish because we continue to accrue costs related to the pandemic, and if we were to allow this declaration to lapse we would be risking the reimbursement, Stein said.
Nevertheless, Gale remained critical of Wolfs practices. He spoke out against the state leader, calling for the reopening of our county during a May 7 meeting.
If anything we as a county should be telling the governor that we need to fully unleash the private sector right now so people can start rebuilding their lives, he said. The only way to end this emergency is for employers and employees to get back to work and back to business as usual.
Gale stressed the importance of making progress to help the small business community.
We need to fully reopen Montgomery County, and extending the emergency declaration does not signal to the public that we are heading in that direction, Gale went on to say.
Arkoosh also acknowledged the financial toll that the state-imposed stay-at-home order took on Montgomery Countys small businesses over the past three months.
I want to highlight our business community and particularly our small businesses as some of the heroes in this fight, she said.
She also encouraged area residents to support the establishments by shopping small.
They really need us to come back and shop in their stores and purchase gift cards, Arkoosh said. Anything that you can do to help support these businesses because they have been closed, they have stayed closed and theyre now reopening responsibly and we need to acknowledge the incredible sacrifices they have made and help them get quickly back on their feet.
In other business, local leaders also authorized funds for the following Montgomery County Department of Public Safety contract agreements related to the COVID-19 pandemic:
A $37,500 contract was awarded to G L Sayre Inc., of Conshohocken, for a 26-foot box truck with a lift gate in for [the] transport of inventory between Oaks warehouse and Eagleville Emergency Operations Center, and transport of equipment and materials to support testing sites.
The countys public safety department entered into a contract with Stericycle Inc., of Bannockburn, Ill. thats not-to-exceed $100,000. The funding provides for hazardous material pick up from the COVID-19 testing sites, which costs $50 per box of hazardous medical waste plus applicable retrieval fees.
A contract with Gerv LLC dba Bio One Chester County, of Exton, for cleaning services at respective COVID-19 testing sites was also approved. The agreement stipulates $450 per service date.
There have been 8,041 cases of COVID-19 and 781 deaths reported in Montgomery County since March 7, according to the countys coronavirus resources webpage.
Arkoosh appeared optimistic during her comments surrounding the pandemic on Thursday morning as the positivity rate [is] declining steadily, which means the percentage of people testing positive for the novel coronavirus on any particular day. She added that the peak days have been close to 30 percent, but figures are now running under 10 percent, she said on June 18.
So this is extremely good news, Arkoosh said.
Arkoosh announced that access to Lorimer Park in Huntingdon Valley and Lower Perkiomen Valley Park in Norristown resumed Monday. The Norristown Farm Park in Norristown, Lock 60 at the Schuylkill Canal Park in Mont Clare, Green Lane Park in Green Lane, and Central Perkiomen Valley Park in Schwenksville have since reopened.
Arkoosh stressed that parkgoers should have masks available, and cited data suggesting positive impacts associated with mitigating spread of the novel coronavirus.
As many of you have been, please continue to be part of the solution and have that mask on your person and ready to put on if needed, she said.
Arkoosh also referenced Wolfs announcement as it related to Montgomery County. However , she urged area residents to remain vigilant and comply with guidelines.
Just a reminder green does not mean go back to normal it means continue on in this new normal, she said.
She added that she encouraged people to get tested and visit montcopa.org/covid-19 for more information.
The virus is not gone, and its not going to be gone, but our goal now until theres a vaccine available, which is many many many months away, is to keep this under control and to be able to quickly identify any outbreaks or hotspots that might arise in the county. And the most important way we can do that is to continue to encourage as many people as possible to get tested, Arkoosh said. So please please dont shy away from being tested. Its so important.
Starting Wednesday, over half of Oregons population will be required to wear masks in public indoor spaces.
The new rule from Gov. Kate Brown affects Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Marion, Polk, Hood River and Lincoln counties, some of the states most-populous counties and some hardest hit by COVID-19 outbreaks.
Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter
The mask-wearing mandate comes as coronavirus cases in the state are on the rise and counties continue to open more and more aspects of daily life. The specter of a tidal wave of the virus and another economic shutdown looms over the state.
Can masks help stem the tide?
There is still no vaccine, there is no reliable treatment for this virus, said Dr. Jennifer Vines, Multnomah Countys health officer, so prevention is still going to be the key for the next several months.
Vines and other health officials think masks are a key component to prevention as people expand their spheres of operation and the economy reopens.
Early on in the pandemic, when little was known about the disease and officials were concerned about a shortage of supplies for healthcare workers, mask-wearing was actively discouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others.
Now, that thinking has drastically changed.
Masks are recommended in situations where you encounter people outside of your immediate household members, Dr. Paul Cieslak, senior health adviser to the Oregon Health Authority, told The Oregonian/OregonLive in May, because by wearing them, you could reduce the likelihood of transmitting COVID-19 if you are carrying it unawares.
Cloth face coverings and surgical masks are mostly meant to help others. Studies show that face coverings can contain the airborne particles created when people talk, sing, sneeze and cough.
Anecdotally, masks appear to be working as well. In Missouri, two hairstylists tested positive for the virus after working with 140 clients and six coworkers. The hairstylists and clients all wore masks and none of the people exposed became sick.
In Oregon, state officials havent seen any evidence that the protests that have drawn crowds across the state for nearly a month have contributed to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Photos show most protesters wearing face coverings night after night.
The CDC now acknowledges that COVID-19 can be spread by people who arent showing symptoms of the disease.
So wearing a mask, officials say, is a way to protect your community, because you may be a carrier and not know it.
For mask-wearing to be really effective, Oregonians will have to be vigilant and cover their faces whenever they interact with people outside of their immediate family group.
As cases increase in the state, some cases are coming from untraced community spread, but many, officials say, are coming from social clusters.
It may feel uncomfortable or awkward to wear face coverings or masks as you are socially connecting with friends, said Kim Toevs, Multnomah Countys communicable disease director, but now would still be a good time to do that not just when youre in a grocery store.
Some people in the community are angry about the mask-requirement, arguing that it interferes with their personal rights.
Its safe to say we have been receiving a wide range of feedback from Oregonians on face coverings, negative and positive, said Charles Boyle, a spokesperson for Gov. Brown.
While many emailers to The Oregonian have expressed support for the governors rule, others have called it illegal, an impingement on personal freedom, and cruel to disabled people and those who have had traumatic experiences involving gagging.
In reality, it is unlikely that anyone will be punished for not wearing a mask. Enforcement of the rule will vary by county, but most efforts will focus on education.
In Multnomah County, public health director Rachael Banks said the county strongly encouraging residents who are able to follow the governors mandate.
But, said Banks, some people should not wear a face covering or dont feel safe doing so.
There is also legitimate safety concern among some of our communities of color related to wearing face covering, Banks said. Racist reactions to Black, Indigenous, and people of color wearing face coverings is a reality. The County will not act in a way that may prompt over-policing or shaming of individuals.
Banks said because of those reasons, Multnomah County will not enforce the states face covering mandate.
Instead, she said, the county is working to provide masks to people at highest risk.
Clackamas Countys public health director Philip Mason-Joyner had a similar message.
Wearing a face covering reduces the spread of COVID-19 in our community, he said. However, we need to keep in mind, that not everyone can wear a face-covering due to a disability they could be living with. It is important that we do not stigmatize people who are unable to wear masks.
That said, Clackamas County will investigate non-compliance, Mason-Joyner said, first focusing on education and only taking legal action as a last resort.
People with complaints in Clackamas County can email EHComplaints@clackamas.us.
In Washington County, people with concerns about a business can email the enforcement branch of the health department at eoc-covidenforcement@co.washington.or.us and the health department will provide education and information to help them come into compliance with the governors order.
What officials say they hope for is that people recognize the benefits of mask-wearing and that wearing one outside your immediate family when you are coming within six feet of other people becomes commonplace.
Covering your nose and mouth is relatively low burden for the person having to do it, Vines said.
She noted that there were exceptions -- young children and people with conditions that make it difficult to breathe are not required to wear masks.
But for others, she said, This is a basic courtesy towards other people, like not coughing into your hand and then shaking hands with someone.
My hope is that we move to more of a sense that wearing a face-covering is something that you do for others, Vines said, and in fact, one thats well made actually helps protect you.
-- Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker
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Right in the heart of the Texas Hill Country is a rustic retreat that's straight out of McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove." This Airbnb rental near Fredricksburg offers guests the chance to turn back time and get a refreshing break in an iconic Conestoga covered wagon.
Guests will spend nights under the Texas sky in covered wagon that's an actual replica of one that traveled to Fredericksburg 150 years ago.
READY FOR A TRIP? These are some of Texas' best swimming spots
"Went there with my wife for a quick weekend getaway and absolutely loved it. Very cozy atmosphere, short drive to town," Airbnb guest Jonathan wrote.
Members of the Chattanooga Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.s Social Action Committee will host a virtual town hall discussion with panelists representing various segments of the community. Power In Our Vote: A Conversation With Our Community will be held on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
The live virtual town hall discussion will be moderated by Dr. Edna Varner, along with Mrs. Sharon Alexander, League of Women Voters; Hamilton County Election Commission Representative; Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, pastor New United Missionary Baptist Church; and Ms. Chelsea Ferguson, president, Theta Rho Chapter (UTC) Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
During the candid discussion, this panelist will address voter awareness, voter education and voter registration with strategies.
The live stream will be on Chattanooga Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incs. Facebook page. The entire community is invited to participate and learn about the importance of voting and procedures.
Only 1 of the Top 100 Universities Feature Conservative Commencement Speaker for Class of 2020
Commencement speeches this spring overwhelmingly lacked conservative voices, as only one of the United States top 100 universities invited a Republican guest speaker to address the class of 2020 at their graduation ceremonies, according to a recent report by the Young Americas Foundation (YAF).
All of the top 100 universities in Americaas ranked by U.S. News & World Reportchose to cancel traditional, in-person commencement exercises in the wake of the pandemic, the YAF report noted. The schools that managed to invite guest speakers to deliver their commencement addresses remotely, however, almost exclusively favored those from the political left.
The elected leaders featured in this years mostly virtual commencement speeches were predominantly Democrats, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), at the University of Maryland; Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, at Northwestern University; New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, at the New Jersey Institute of Technology; Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, at the Colorado School of Mines, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is the sole Republican government official on the list (pdf) of commencement speakers compiled by the YAF. DeWine gave a virtual speech on May 16 for students at Miami University, the second-oldest university in Ohio.
Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump, senior White House adviser and daughter of President Donald Trump, initially was invited to give a speech at Wichita State University Tech in Kansas. Earlier this month, the school canceled its plans to feature her, after students and professors protested the event.
The absence of members of the Trump administration draws a strong contrast to the dozens of commencement addresses delivered by members of the Obama administration, including 15 in 2015 and 11 in 2016, the YAF noted.
Other commencement speakers for the class of 2020 are also notable for their progressive views, such as Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron at Harvard University, Apple CEO Tim Cook at Ohio State University, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian at Johns Hopkins University, and actor George Takei at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles.
Just as universities roll out the red carpet for leftist guest lecturers, so they invite and welcome leftist figures from media, pop culture, and government to deliver a final lesson to graduates at commencementeven when commencement is virtual, said YAF spokesman Spencer Brown. The left maintains their educational echo chamber at the expense of their students intellectual strength and the once-noble pursuit of higher learning.
The imbalance between progressive and conservative voices can be also seen in YouTubes Dear Class of 2020 virtual commencement. The virtual event was dominated by left-leaning speakers such as former President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift.
ReaQta-Hive provides analysts with a granular search support offering for examining the results of past and present attacks
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the European behavioral cyber-threat detection market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes the Netherlands-headquartered ReaQta with the 2020 Europe Technology Innovation Award for changing the landscape of threat intelligence and detection. The company's ReaQta-Hive alleviates the complexity of infrastructure analysis, eliminating the need for additional highly skilled personnel. Its innovative security approach applies artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to automate and simplify the complete process of detecting and handling new threats.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1193315/Frost_and_Sullivan___ReaQta_Award.jpg
"ReaQta-Hive enhances threat detection, establishing transparency for newer threats as they emerge. It uniquely uses NanoOS technology to provide complete visibility into the place and time of a security breach," said Aravind Srimoolanathan, Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. According to Alberto Pelliccione, CEO, ReaQta, "NanoOS monitors from outside the network and sets up unbreachable barriers. Due to higher levels of visibility, ReaQta-Hive comprehends the information and combines it with full AI-driven behavior analysis. NanoOS allows the solution to perform threat detection independently, based on delivery techniques and payload types of a detectable attack."
ReaQta's capabilities include AI analysis for system flexibility when establishing endpoint detection and recognizing unknown threats that are undetectable by legacy solutions. Its anti-ransomware feature automatically detects and blocks ransomware, preventing data loss and saving valuable time for analysts and security teams. Furthermore, simplified and streamlined analysis of an attack is key for efficient responses when determining the scope of an attack. ReaQta-Hive alerts analysts of critical events while AI reverse-engineers the incident from beginning to end, collectively projecting the overall impact. Moreover, real-time searches and high-level data mining offer the user an added level of protection. ReaQta-Hive catches lateral movements, identifies devices used during a breach, and isolates the impacted resources so analysts can monitor and gather intelligence from the attacker.
ReaQta believes it has achieved success thus far due to its structure and strong customer experience-focused research and development (R&D). Its R&D group designs a product development plan based on customer feedback on making improvements and pursuing innovation. The company has a wide customer base across Europe and Asia and plans to grow further in these two regions as well as in the Middle East. As ReaQta continues to develop next-generation endpoint threat responses, it aims to enter the North American market.
"ReaQta empowers organizations to counter cyber threats by understanding the initial query of where the attack happened, how to react, and how to reach a resolution," noted Srimoolanathan. "With its NanoOS and AI capabilities, it offers security teams a solution that identifies the most dormant attacks and prevents future system breaches."
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that develops a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.
About Frost & Sullivan
For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.
Contact:
Claudia Toscano
P: 210.477.8417
E: claudia.toscano@frost.com
About ReaQta
ReaQta, the company behind the world's first and only NanoOS technology, was founded in 2014 by a team with rich experience in government-led cyber intelligence operations and threat intelligence. With a deep understanding of the modern cybersecurity landscape, today it is one of the fastest-growing solution providers. ReaQta is a highly advanced, artificial intelligence (A.I.) powered endpoint threat response platform and solution service that empowers organisations of all sizes to analyse, detect, threat-hunt and remediate cyberattacks. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the company is currently represented in 19 countries.
Contact:
Sheetal Kumar
P: 91.7838.427.941
E: s.kumar@reaqta.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing with its campaign to alert of dangerous changes to BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) prescription policies, the Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO) is amplifying the voices of patients who will be harmed as benefits are stripped away on July 1. One patient, Tracy Burress (an arthritis patient in Jackson, TN,) is sharing her story about how she will be facing extreme difficulties to receive Remicade infusions as she has every eight weeks since 2014. When the BCBST policy takes effect, her physician will no longer provide infusion services leaving limited options for her necessary therapy.
"Memphis and Nashville are hours away. I cannot afford to travel so far to get treatment in a place I don't know from medical personnel who don't know me," explained Tracy Burress. "I dealt with this in 2009 too when I lost my job, and my insurance. The pain was so great, my husband had to dress me. Now, I am facing the same problems. Yet, I have insurance, that I pay for, making it impossible for me to receive the treatments I need. It is scary and I don't know what to do."
The BCBST policy (scheduled to begin on July 1) forces patients to utilize its preferred specialty pharmacies for infusion therapies making it nearly impossible for treatments to be conducted in physician offices under their care.
"I just do not understand why this is happening," Burress said. "Insurers should be helping keep customers healthy, not putting up roadblocks to care, the way BCBST has to my doctor and me. I feel like I'm being penalized because of my disability/illness."
In addition to sharing Tracy Burress' story, CSRO is alerting leaders of many of the largest employers in Tennessee. Further, it has sent communications sent previously to the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and leaders of BCBST.
"As physicians on the front lines of medical care we will always fight for our patients just as we hope business leaders, insurers, and politicians will fight for them too," Dr. Madeline Feldman, CSRO President stated. "Tracy Burress and all patients deserve better BCBST must do better for them, especially in times like these as COVID-19 presents new challenges."
CONTACT
Dan Rene of kglobal
202-329-8357 or [email protected]
SOURCE Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations
The Nascar community showed its support for Bubba Wallace at Monday's race at Talladega: Getty
The FBI has launched an investigation to identify who left a noose in the garage of Bubba Wallace, Nascar's only black driver, following the discovery of a second length of rope at another US race track.
A 'makeshift noose' was found hanging from a tree at the Sonoma Raceway in California, another circuit used on the Nascar calendar, which has significantly offensive connotations to the black community as a symbol of oppression, slavery and death.
Wallace was targeted on Sunday with a similar stunt, with a noose found in the stall of his garage before the postponed race at Talladega Superspeedway, which he labelled a despicable act of racism and vowed to keep fighting against in the battle for racial equality. The stunt was in response to Wallaces successful campaign to have the Confederate flag banned from the sport, given what it represents to African-Americans.
The FBI has now launched an investigation into who left the noose in Wallaces team garage on Sunday, given that there are strict security measures over who can enter the pit area.
However, while Nascar was showing its support for Wallace at Mondays rescheduled race in Alabama, a second noose was found at Sonoma.
Raceway president Steve Page said a "piece of twine tied in what appeared to be a noose" was found hanging from a tree Saturday behind a former administrative office.
Page said the incident was under investigation by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department. He also said he has asked staff and on-site business tenants to share any information or "any possible alternative explanation."
The track was closed over the weekend due to the coronavirus pandemic, and is the biggest race circuit in the Bay Area.
Wallace later issued a statement of his own on social media, saying he was left "incredibly saddened" by the incident.
"(It) serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism," he said.
Story continues
A host of other drivers also took to social media to express their support for the 26-year-old.
Ryan Blaney, who went on to win Monday's race, called Watson his "brother".
"You're my brother and always will be," he tweeted. "Don't let the people who are lower than life to try and bring you down. They won't scare you because you're strong. I stand with you pal. Forever."
Alex Bowman also expressed his appreciation for Watson's efforts in fighting for what he believed in.
He said on Twitter: "We may not always get along the greatest, but I have a ton of appreciation for the person BubbaWallace is and everything he's doing to push us all to be better."
Watson went on to finish Monday's race in 14th place.
Additional reporting by PA
A San Antonio police officer charged with domestic violence has been fired for the second time after officials allege he struck his then-girlfriend two different times, according to disciplinary records released Tuesday.
Officer Kenneth Moreno also was arrested about a year ago after officials said he threatened to kill the woman if she didnt take him back.
Moreno, a 13-year veteran of the force, has denied the allegations and is seeking to get his job back with full back pay and benefits.
Morenos case first came to light in May 2019 when his ex-girlfriend called police to report the threats. Moreno was arrested on suspicion of stalking, a third-degree felony, and placed on administrative leave as police continued to investigate.
About that time, a family member told police that Moreno, 37, had assaulted the woman on a different occasion.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, who described the allegations against Moreno as disturbing, fired Moreno in November.
McManus also disciplined a second officer, Ronaldo Segovia, in a related matter. According to officials, Segovia knew of another incident in which Moreno was accused of striking the same woman perhaps the same one referenced by the family member but he did not report it to his superiors, as required.
For that, Segovia, a 15-year veteran of the force, received a 30-day suspension.
Segovia, like Moreno, denied the allegations.
On ExpressNews.com: Three S.A. police officers disciplined for behavior related to family violence
Last month, while Moreno was appealing his first firing, a grand jury indicted him on a charge of continuous violence against a family member, a third-degree felony. He is no longer facing stalking charges, court records show. .
On the same day as the indictment, McManus fired him a second time.
McManus has said he wont tolerate domestic violence among his staff and has sought to weed out police officers accused of misconduct.
He has emphasized that the actions of a few officers are not representative of the entire police force, which has more than 2,000 sworn personnel.
Family violence remains a growing problem in Bexar County. At least 32 people died because of domestic violence last year. They were killed by boyfriends, girlfriends, spouses, ex-lovers or other members of their families or households, according to data collected by the San Antonio Express-News.
On ExpressNews.com: Five S.A. police officers disciplined for alleged wrongdoing, including child pornography, family violence and drunken driving
In March, when local residents were told to stay home in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, officials announced that emergency 911 calls for family violence increased 18 percent compared to the same time a year prior.
The disciplinary records released Tuesday provide new details about the allegations against Moreno.
Moreno was spending time with his girlfriend on July 22, 2018, at her North Side home when they began arguing. Moreno, who was off-duty, struck her several times and then choked her, preventing her from breathing, she would later tell investigators. She said she did not report the alleged assault because she feared Moreno would lose his job.
The woman also told investigators about a similar incident almost a year later, in April 2019, after the couple got in an argument while in Morenos car.
Again, the woman said, Moreno struck her.
The couple split up. In May 2019 the woman called 911 and reported that Moreno had followed her to Golds Gym and stole her phone. Police said Moreno tried unsuccessfully to unlock the phone before pleading with the woman to give him a second chance.
When the woman told Moreno their relationship was over, he said he might do something stupid and threatened to kill her, according to an arrest affidavit.
Later that day, Moreno continued texting the woman and drove to her house when she would not respond, the affidavit states.
Police say he stayed outside for more than 30 minutes and made numerous calls to her cellphone, preventing her from calling 911.
Moreno remains free on bail as he awaits trial.
Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Emilie, become a subscriber. eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton
RAJESHAB RAHAM By
Express News Service
KOCHI: Chansen Alexander returned to Kerala from Dubai last Sunday on a flydubai chartered flight. He is thankful. Chartered flights have come to the aid of people who missed out on Vande Bharat Mission services, said Chansen, who is in quarantine in a relatives vacant house in Thodupuzha. One travel agency has played an instrumental role in evacuating thousands of Keralites stuck in Gulf countries. Akbar Travels, after tying-up with various cultural organisations and corporate houses, has ferried over 6,000 expatriates to Kerala since June 6.
We have so far operated 18 flights from the UAE alone, said Santhosh Cheriyan, who is coordinating the firms activities in West Asia. The agency also ferried expatriates from Qatar (six flights), Oman (four), Saudi Arabia (two) and Kuwait (six). Chansen said chartered flight fares range between 1,250-1,300 dirhams (AED). While Vande Bharat Mission flight fares are lower at AED 700, Chansen said chartered flight fares are not unreasonable.
Peak season rates in the Gulf sector come to about AED 1,350-1,400. Further, these are passengers desperate to reach Kerala, he said. With the Kerala government insisting on Covid negative certificates for all passengers coming to the state from June 25, Santhosh said they were told some process had been initiated through the embassies for providing the certificates. Santhosh said expatriates boarding flights at Dubai airport will not face any problem as the airport has decided to provide the certificates after a rapid test. On June 27, the agency will bring 370 people in an Emirates flights to Kochi from Dubai.
Australians are divided over the school lunches a busy mother makes for her three young children.
The mum shared a photo of 11 plastic ziplock bags packed with fruit, cheese, cookies and juice boxes in an Australian budgeting group on Facebook, telling members she prepares the lunches at 3am on Sundays to save time during the week ahead.
But critics slammed her for wasting plastic and urged her to switch to environmentally friendly packaging like cardboard instead, while others felt the biscuits and processed snacks were an unhealthy choice for young kids.
'I'm sorry to be a negative Nelly, but maybe try some alternatives to all the plastic next time,' one woman wrote in the comments.
The mother replied saying she reuses the same bags every week and only uses them to store food until her children - aged four, five and nine - transfer it to their lunchboxes and take them to school in the morning.
Scroll down for video
The homemade lunch bags prepared by a busy Australian mother which have divided opinion on Facebook, with critics accusing her of wasting plastic
Another woman criticised the inclusion of the juices, saying: 'Kids dont need sugary drinks during the day.'
The mum hit back by editing the caption of the photo to say if she wanted negativity, she would simply ask her ex-boyfriend for his opinion.
Many defended her after a group administrator told people to report rude or negative comments so they could be removed and encouraged the mum to do 'whatever works' for her.
'It's your household and you know how to run it and how to be a great mum,' she said.
'Everyone does it differently so, instead of putting c**p on [here], why can't you look at it from a different angle and take something positive from this pic... I did and it will help me with my kids lunches in the evenings.'
Others were surprised by the negative responses, with one woman asking: 'Why would anyone be critical of this?'
Poll Where do you stand in the debate? Waste of plastic Brilliant organisation Where do you stand in the debate? Waste of plastic 72 votes
Brilliant organisation 81 votes Now share your opinion
'I'm not reading all the comments but why would anyone need to post negatively?This is awesome and such a good time saver, well done mum!' said another.
One woman blasted critics telling them to mind their own business and worry about their own families instead of posting comments on social media.
''Oh No! She feeds her kids, How dare she.' Some of these people need to get a grip. I think it looks great and I bet the kids aren't complaining,' she said.
Others praised her organisation, saying it's certain to save her time and money as well as ensuring her children eat healthier food than the fare typically available at school canteens and corner shops.
'Well done. It changes your whole mind set when you start off being organised for the week ahead. It helps us cope when the unexpected things pop up,' one mother said.
'Go Mumma! I also reuse the sandwich bags for leftovers, school snacks and fruit and veg prep! They are a perfect way to keep stuff together and fresh and the fact they reseal is perfect,' said a second.
Many congratulated her for having the energy and commitment to make such thoughtful lunches for her kids at 3am.
A third said she only wishes she'd thought of the idea when her kids were younger while another said it's her 'dream in life' to become this organised.
A wife said she uses the same trick for her husband when she goes away on business to deter him from ordering takeaways.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that England could start gradually easing the COVID-19 lockdown thanks to a significant prevalence drop, adding that the 2-meter social distancing rule would be changed starting July 4.
Our cautious relaxation of the guidance is entirely conditional (on) our continued defeat of the virus.
In the first half of May, nearly 69,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 across the UK.
By the first half of June, that token has fallen by 70 per cent to just under 22,000.
This pandemic has inflicted permanent scars and we mourn everyone we have lost.
While we remain vigilant, we do not believe there is currently a risk of a second peak of infections that might overwhelm the NHS.
Thanks to our progress, we can now go further and safely ease the lockdown in England, Mr Johnson told the UK parliament.
The prime minister stressed that each step would be conditional and reversible.
Given the significant fall in the prevalence of the virus, we can change the 2-meter social distancing rule from July 4.
Where it is possible to keep 2 meters apart, people should.
But where it is not, we would advise people to keep a social distance of 1 meter plus, Johnson added.
(Sputnik/NAN)
Michigan reported Tuesday that the state has seen an additional 221 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 11 new deaths.
These new figures mean that Michigan now has had 61,630 confirmed cases of the disease caused by the coronavirus. Deaths now number 5,864 in the state.
With the number of instances described as probable with 6,567 cases and 245 deaths the state has a total listed as 68,197 cases and 6,109 deaths.
The state has now conducted 945,209 diagnostic tests.
Unlike other parts of the country, such as the Sun Belt, Michigan has not seen a significant rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, especially compared to April and May figures from the state.
On Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, while testifying to Congress, reiterated the need to wear masks, especially as officials see a disturbing surge of infections an increase of community spread, highlighting Florida, Texas, and Arizona.
You should not congregate in crowds, Fauci testified. You should keep distance Please wear a mask.
Detroit-area figures
As has been from the beginning of the outbreak in Michigan in March, the Detroit area remains the hardest hit part of the state.
The tri-county area Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties accounted for 84 of the new confirmed cases, 38 percent of the cases announced Tuesday.
Detroit is the municipality with the highest number of cases, adding 32 on Tuesday to reach 11,426 cases but not increasing its 1,428 deaths.
The rest of Wayne County hit 10,000 new cases on Tuesday, adding 30 cases. One more death was attributed to COVID-19, pushing the total to 1,144 plus another 34 deaths listed as probable.
Oakland County added nine cases to reach 8,683, and it also saw three more deaths, pushing the total to 1,040. Oakland County also has the largest chunk of probable cases and deaths, with 3,108 and 41 on Tuesday. The county added 42 probable cases day over day.
Neighboring Macomb County added 13 cases to push its total to 6,996 with a total of 861 deaths staying stable.
Just outside this immediate metro Detroit area, here are some other figures:
* Genesee County is up five cases to 2,126 with 260 deaths,
* Livingston County is up five cases as well, reaching 431 with 27 deaths,
* Lapeer County has 228 cases, up just one with 30 deaths.
Other parts of Michigan
Outside of metro Detroit, the next highest county total is in Kent County, where Grand Rapids is located. There, the number of cases grew by 26 with four new deaths, leaving the county with 4,247 cases and 125 deaths on Tuesday. The county also has another 381 probable cases and three probable deaths.
To the south, Kalamazoo County saw an increase of six cases to reach 935. Deaths remained the same at 65.
Also in west Michigan, Ottawa County has crossed the 900-case mark, ending Tuesday at 902 cases, up three. Deaths stayed the same at 46.
The states prison system added 14 cases on Tuesday, moving up to 4,096.
Mid-Michigan saw a slight increase as well.
Saginaw County added 11 cases, moving to 1,180 cases with 119 deaths, which is up 2 day-over-day. The county also has 34 probable cases with three deaths listed as probable.
Isabella County, where Mt. Pleasant is located, added three cases to reach 95, though deaths stayed the same at eight. The county has 21 probable cases listed.
To the south, Gratiot County stayed the same with 82 cases and 13 deaths, plus 11 probable cases.
And to the north of Mt. Pleasant, Clare County stayed the same with 26 cases and two deaths.
Around the nation and world
Mid-afternoon Monday, Johns Hopkins University reported that the global total of COVID-19 cases topped 9 million, and at about the same time on Tuesday, their tracking system showed 9.16 million cases, up nearly 150,000.
Deaths were up to 473,849, up more than 4,600 day-over-day.
As for the United States, the number of COVID-19 cases was at 2.33 million on Tuesday afternoon, more than double the second-ranking country, Brazil, which has reported 1.1 million cases. Overall, in the U.S., nearly 121,000 people have died from coronavirus.
According to The Associated Press, cases have continued to rise in the southern United States and in Arizona and California as well as nations such as India, Pakistan, Mexico, Columbia, and Indonesia.
The epidemic is now peaking or moving towards a peak in a number of large countries, said Dr. Michael Ryan, WHOs emergencies chief, according to The Associated Press.
Other states have passed Michigan in the number of cases, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was one of the first governors besides leaders in New York and New Jersey to face quick-climbing numbers of cases and deaths.
On May 27, Michigan ranked eighth in the U.S. in the number of cases, while on May 9, Michigan was seventh. On April 19, it ranked sixth, but just four days earlier, on April 15, it ranked fourth in the U.S.
On Tuesday, Michigan ranked ninth in the number of confirmed cases.
Fresh swarms of locust are likely to invade India from the Horn of Africa in either end-June or early-July depending on the strength of the south-westerly monsoon winds.
The Jodhpur-based Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) authorities are preparing to control the swarms that are likely to move across the Indian Ocean with winds because of the aerial spraying of pesticides.
The onset of monsoon in Rajasthan is likely to occur on June 24 or 25 and the LWO authorities are preparing to control the population of locusts that are hovering in the desert areas between India and neighbouring Pakistan and also possible local breeding of these insects.
We are expecting swarms from other parts of Rajasthan and MP to return to the desert areas as soon as it starts raining. Once locusts lay eggs, they immediately start hatching them and that can be controlled by spraying of insecticides. So far, some breeding has occurred in Bikaner, said KL Gurjar, deputy director, LWO.
Last week, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had warned that Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Pakistan, and India should remain on high alert for the next four weeks for fresh locust invasions.
Any swarms in northern Somalia in the Horn of Africa can migrate across the Indian Ocean to the summer breeding areas along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border.
There are successive breeding cycles in the Horn of Africa. Some swarms from there are moving towards western Africa, while some are moving towards Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen in the Persian Gulf. These can also come to India in July. Some are expected to directly move to India from the Horn of Africa with the monsoon winds, Gurjar said.
The winds are moving from the direction of the Horn of Africa towards India. The wind direction is south-westerly during monsoon, said Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general, India Meteorological Department (IMD).
So far, the impact on food security due to locust invasions has not been much.
However, LWO authorities said the Kharif crop, especially maize and cotton, is likely to be impacted if the two locust threatsfrom the Indian Ocean and from the breeding sites in India arent controlled.
Only green cover has been impacted because there was no standing crop. We are well prepared. Helicopters and drones are being used for aerial spraying. The number of vehicles deployed has also increased, said Gurjar.
The LWO authorities and state governments have controlled locust attack over two lakh hectares by the spraying of toxic pesticides such as Lambda Cyhalothrin, Malathion 96 and Chlorpyrifos.
IMD authorities on Tuesday said that the conditions are becoming favourable for the advancement of south-western monsoon into remaining parts of Gujarat, MP, Uttar Pradesh, the entire western Himalayan region, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, most parts of Punjab and some parts of Rajasthan during the next 48 hours.
A trough of low pressure at mean sea level is running from north-western Rajasthan to the northwestern Bay of Bengal across northeastern Rajasthan, northern MP, northern parts of Chhattisgarh, southern parts of Jharkhand and northern parts of Odisha at lower tropospheric levels.
Widespread and heavy rains are likely to continue over the north-east and adjoining eastern India during the next five days, IMDs Tuesday bulletin said.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely to occur over parts of western Himalayas and northern plains from June 24 to 25.
The country has received 25% excess rains till Tuesday, including central India (99.6%); peninsular India (8%); north-western India (8%); and eastern and north-eastern India (3%).
HELSINKI, Sept. 20, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Google CEO Sundar Pichai attends a joint press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne (not in the picture) in Helsinki, Finland, on Sept. 20, 2019. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said here on Friday that the Image Source: IANS News
San Francisco, June 23 : From Tim Cook to Sundar Pichai, top technology leaders in the US have come out in the open to criticise US President Donald Trump's latest crackdown on immigration.
Through an executive order on Monday, Trump suspended till the end of the year the H-1B visas prized by Indian professionals. The freeze will not affect those already in the US on the H-1B and the other work visa categories being put on pause.
"Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today's proclamation - we'll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all," Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said in a tweet.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said he was deeply disappointed by the new proclamation.
"Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream. There is no new prosperity without both. Deeply disappointed by this proclamation," he said.
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki stressed that "immigration is central to America's story, and it's central to my own family's story." "My family escaped danger and found a new home in America," she said in a tweet.
Wojcicki said that YouTube would "join Google in standing with immigrants and working to expand opportunity for all." In fiscal year 2019, the US government awarded more H-1B visas to Amazon than any other firm, according to GeekWire.
The new proclamation also drew criticism from the company which termed the action "short-sighted".
"We oppose the administration's short-sighted action. Preventing highly skilled professionals from entering the country and contributing to America's economic recovery puts America's global competitiveness at risk," an Amazon spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Microsoft President Brad Smith also condemned the move.
"Now is not the time to cut our nation off from the world's talent or create uncertainty and anxiety. Immigrants play a vital role at our company and support our country's critical infrastructure. They are contributing to this country at a time when we need them most," he said in a tweet.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said he very much disagreed with the action.
"Very much disagree with this action. In my experience, these skillsets are net job creators. Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad," he said in a tweet.
Facebook and Twitter also condemned the new visa restrictions.
Designation of Additional Chinese Media Entities as Foreign Missions
Press Statement
Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson
June 22, 2020
Over the past decade and particularly under General Secretary Xi Jinping's tenure, the CCP has reorganized China's state propaganda outlets disguised as news agencies and asserted even more direct control over them. He has stated "Party-owned media must. . . embody the party's will, safeguard the party's authority their actions must be highly consistent with the party." In short, while Western media are beholden to the truth, PRC media are beholden to the Chinese Communist Party.
Pursuant to authorities under the Foreign Missions Act, the State Department is issuing today a new determination that designates the U.S. operations of China Central Television, China News Service, the People's Daily, and the Global Times as foreign missions. This follows on the February 18 designation of Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily Distribution Corporation, and Hai Tian Development USA.
These nine entities all meet the definition of a foreign mission under the Foreign Missions Act, which is to say that they are "substantially owned or effectively controlled" by a foreign government. In this case, they are effectively controlled by the government of the People's Republic of China.
The decision to designate these entities is not based on any content produced by these entities, nor does it place any restrictions on what the designated entities may publish in the United States. It simply recognizes them for what they are.
Entities designated as foreign missions must adhere to certain administrative requirements that also apply to foreign embassies and consulates in the United States.
This designation recognizes PRC propaganda outlets as foreign missions and increases transparency relating to the CCP and PRC government's media activities in the United States.
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The Pentagon announced Monday that the newly launched Space Force had its first handful of COVID-19 cases. But the Air Force is now disputing that report, saying the number remains zero.
In the latest Pentagon data, which is published three times a week, officials said Monday that six Space Force members had tested positive for the virus.
Read Next: The Air Force Is Getting a Replacement for Its Cold War-Era Pistols
However, the Department of the Air Force, which oversees the newest military branch, said that is not accurate.
"At this time, none of the 88 uniformed members of the Space Force have tested positive for the coronavirus," an Air Force official told Military.com on Tuesday.
"We are working to clarify how COVID positive numbers for Department of the Air Force members at bases and units assigned to the United States Space Force will be reported to the Joint Staff," the official said.
It was not immediately clear how the miscommunication occurred. The Office of the Secretary of Defense referred all questions to the Air Force.
The Space Force currently has only 88 members. They include Gen. John "Jay" Raymond, the chief of space operations and head of U.S. Space Command; Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, the senior enlisted adviser of the Space Force and command senior enlisted leader of Space Command; and 86 new lieutenants who graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in April.
The sixth military service, which was signed into existence by President Donald Trump on Dec. 20, 2019, is currently operating with the aid of 16,000 airmen detailed temporarily from what was formerly known as Air Force Space Command.
Officials have said that about 6,000 of those temporary personnel will be offered the opportunity to formally transfer into the Space Force by year's end.
Earlier this month, the service said that more than 8,500 active-duty airmen had volunteered to transfer into the branch.
Per the latest official tally, COVID cases continue to rise in the military.
The Pentagon on Monday said there were 655 new reported cases across all its service branches, to include the National Guard Bureau, since Friday.
The Navy continues to lead with 3,010 total cases. Meanwhile, the Army reported the most new COVID-positive members -- 261 -- in a four-day span, for a total of 2,803 cases.
-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
Related: Congress Pumps Brakes on Moves to Shift Air Force Bases to Space Force
EBRD loan of up to US$ 40 million to Kazakh microfinance organisation KMF
Support for small businesses in Kazakhstan
Local currency lending
Kazakhstans leading microfinance lender, KMF, will be able to address the urgent liquidity needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the coronavirus crisis, thanks to a local currency loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
A senior loan in Kazakh tenge, equivalent to up to US$ 40 million, will help local firms to continue their business activity and preserve jobs. Providing funding in local currency will limit borrowers exchange rate risks.
KMF, which operates 14 branches and 111 outlets across Kazakhstan, provides financial services to more than 225,000 customers across the country. It has been a partner of the EBRD since 2005.
The EBRD launched two Solidarity Packages in response to the Covid-19 crisis and now expects to dedicate its total business investment of up to 21 billion in 2020-21 to overcoming the economic impact of the crisis.
To date, the EBRD has invested 8.63 billion through 273 projects in the economy of Kazakhstan.
by Wang Zhicheng
He had only been released in January. Over past 13 years Msgr. Cui Tai has spent long intervals in detention and is released only for short periods on Chinese holidays. His detention is contrary to the laws of the country. The bishop is "a sacrificial lamb".
Beijing (AsiaNews) The underground bishop of Xuanhua (Hebei), Msgr. Agostino Cui Tai, 70, has once again been taken away by police. Some faithful of his diocese say that on 19 June, the bishop was detained and transported to an unknown place.
Bishop Cui Tai was released last January on the occasion of the Chinese New Year and - perhaps because of the pandemic - was able to remain with his family until June. This period from January to June was the longest period of freedom for the prelate who has been detained on several occasions for long intervals since 2007. All of this occurs despite Chinese law stating otherwise, because he is being held without any charge or legal process.
"It is a shame that such a sweet person like Msgr. Augustine is treated in this way, even against Chinese law," decries one faithful. Of course, this imprisonment has become almost a routine, but it does not allow the bishop to celebrate and take care of his sheep. Our shepherd has become a sacrificial lamb."
From 2007 onwards, the bishop has often been sequestered in secret detention centres, or in hotels, or taken away for forced "vacations" under the escort of government officials. Usually he is freed during the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn (moon) festival. Once they gave him permission to go home for a short visit to his older sister. For the rest of the time he is always under the guard and control of the government.
Msgr Cui Tai has been a priest since 1990 and in 2013 he was made coadjutor bishop of Xuanhua, whose ordinary bishop, Mgr. Tommaso Zhao Kexun is now 96 years old.
The diocese of Xuanhua was founded by the Holy See in 1946, but in 1980 the government established the official diocese of Zhangjiakou, joining it with that of Xuanhua and Xiwanzi. The diocese of Zhangjiakou is not recognized by the Holy See.
The Church of Hong Kong has often launched appeals for the release of Msgr. Cui Tai.
A local council in southern Japan voted Monday to rename an area including islands disputed with China and Taiwan, a move Beijing denounced as illegal and a "serious provocation". The local assembly of Ishigaki city approved a plan to change the name of the area covering the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands -- known by Taiwan and China as the Diaoyus -- from "Tonoshiro" to "Tonoshiro Senkaku". Local media said another part of Ishigaki is also known as Tonoshiro, and the name change was cast as a bid to avoid confusion. But the uninhabited islands are at the centre of a festering row between Tokyo and Beijing and the move by the small local council -- which does not carry national governmental weight -- sparked anger in both Taiwan and mainland China. "The passing of the so-called administration designation bill by Japan is a serious provocation to China's territorial sovereignty," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in response to a question on the issue. "It is illegal and invalid, and cannot change the fact that the Diaoyu islands belong to China," Zhao added, saying Beijing had lodged "solemn representations to Japan through diplomatic channels and reserves the right to make further responses". Taiwan says the islands are part of its territory, and also protested the move. "The sovereignty of Diaoyu islands belongs to our country and any move attempting to alter this fact is invalid," the foreign ministry said in a statement. It said it had expressed "regret and stern protest" to Tokyo. Japan's chief government spokesman declined to comment on the Ishigaki council move, but Tokyo has long complained about China's routine dispatch of its coast guard ships to waters surrounding the islands. Relations between Japan and China deteriorated in 2012 when Tokyo "nationalised" some of the disputed islets and tensions have flared up periodically over the region. burs-nf/sah/je
So far, neither the United States nor the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) nor the European Union have shown any political will to restrain Turkish adventurism in Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly after the major reinforcements that Turkey has been sending to Libya. On Saturday, 20 June, press reports indicated that the Turkish government is deploying 1,800 Syrian mercenaries to Libya. The purpose is to beef up the forces of the Tripoli government poised to attack Sirte and Al-Jafra. On the same day, a Turkish official said that the withdrawal of forces loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar from Sirte is a condition for the ceasefire in Libya. A condition that Haftar will probably reject. If this is the case, then we should expect a fierce battle around the city. An advance towards this city to retake it would present a major escalation in the Libyan conflict, and could lead to a direct confrontation between the Egyptian and Turkish armies on Libyan soil. If this scenario materialises, the likelihood of the internationalisation of the war in Libya should not be discounted. Egypt will not fight alone, and Turkey will most likely find itself fighting a war it could never win.
On Saturday, 20 June, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi visited the headquarters of the Western Military Command where he reviewed the troops. Speaking to them and representatives of some Libyan tribes, he raised, for the first time, the prospect of deploying Egyptian forces in Libya if need be. He pointed out that Egypt considers the city of Sirte as well as Al-Jafra a red line, hinting directly that Egypt would defend them so that they dont fall to the forces of the Tripoli government.
He referred to Egyptian efforts during the last nine years to bring security and stability to Libya, while defending its 1,200-kilometre-long border with Libya against the infiltration of terrorists coming from across the border. He pointed out that Egypt refrained from intervening in intra-Libyan affairs out of respect for historical bonds that have bound the Egyptian and Libyan people. However, he stressed that recent military developments in Libya have changed the equation from the point of view of Egyptian national security. He emphasised, repeatedly, that the main objective of Egypt is to push for a political solution in Libya in accordance with the Berlin Declaration last January, as well as US Security Council resolutions related to the situation in Libya, in addition to the disbanding of militias and defeating terrorist groups operating in Libya.
He added that the security and stability of Libya impact on Egypts security and stability. Furthermore, foreign intervention in Libya (most probably speaking of Turkey) had developed in such a way as to threaten neighbouring countries, including Egypt. In the meantime, he said that if foreign (read Turkish) intervention is not checked, that would undermine Arab national security.
He enumerated five objectives for the next moves that Egypt would decide. First, the protection and defence of the western borders of Egypt with Libya. Two, the restoration of security and stability within Libya. Third, to end the ongoing bloodshed throughout Libya. Fourth, the implementation of a ceasefire. Fifth, to push for the implementation of Security Council resolutions on Libya and the Berlin Declaration of January. In this context, the Egyptian president has reiterated Egypts support for the resumption of inter-Libyan talks on the three Berlin Conference tracks; namely, the financial-economic, the security-military and the political tracks. He brought up the Cairo Declaration of 6 June concerning the Libyan initiative reached between the speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives in Tobruk, Mr Aguila Saleh and Haftar.
The remarks of the Egyptian president took almost everyone by surprise. Analysts agreed that the prospect of a major military conflict between Egypt and Turkey, unlikely a month ago, has become possible, with all its consequences on North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. This escalation comes at a time where Arab countries are divided as to how to rein in Turkey in particular Algeria and Tunisia. The United Arab Emirates was the first Arab country to support Egypt, immediately, after the presidents remarks.
I personally believe that President Al-Sisi, by raising the prospects of direct military intervention in Libya, wanted his remarks to act as a deterrence and as a warning on the gravity of the Libyan situation amid deep and growing involvement of the Turkish military in the Libyan conflict. Deterrence for Turkey not to advance eastward towards Egyptian borders with Libya. And a warning to the international community that if it does not act forcefully to rein in the Turks, then the situation could get out of control throughout the region and the Mediterranean.
Such a war between Egypt and Turkey would cause divisions within the European Union and would push both the United States and Russia to try to restrain Turkey and find a face-saving formula for Turkey to drop the military option in Libya, and work for a ceasefire in Libya without prior preconditions.
The most dangerous thing about a military confrontation between Egypt and Turkey is it would be very difficult to control how it develops. Will the leading international powers with a direct stake in the security and stability of the region and for that matter international peace and security watch the conflagration with its grave repercussions far beyond the shores of Libya? It would be highly risky not to try hard to prevent such a confrontation from happening.
The writer is former assistant foreign minister.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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Brussels (AFP) - Trade negotiators from Britain and the EU embarked on a fourth round of post-Brexit negotiations Tuesday, but no-one in London or Brussels expects a breakthrough this week.
Instead, once the latest cross-Channel video conferences are over, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will meet to decide how to proceed.
A "high-level" June meeting to take stock of the talks was already foreseen in the political declaration signed by both parties alongside the divorce accord last year.
But it may take on more urgency now, as talks between EU negotiator Michel Barnier and his UK counterpart David Frost have revealed stark differences in approach.
Britain is not expected to ask for any extension to the post-Brexit transition and so is on track to leave the single market and EU customs union on December 31.
If no trade deal is in place by then, experts predict severe disruption to businesses already reeling from a coronavirus pandemic that no-one expected when Britain voted to leave the union in June 2016.
- 'Dead end' -
Barnier, the Brussels veteran and former French minister tasked by the remaining 27 EU members with negotiating an orderly Brexit, has said the week would have to show Britain's intentions.
"A crucial week ahead of us to make tangible progress across all areas, in line with the Political Declaration," Barnier tweeted on Tuesday.
"A high-level meeting later this month will take stock of progress. I will brief the press on Friday."
A European official, talking condition of anonymity, warned: "It's not at all a decisive week, but a predictable one, which will just confirm we're at a dead end."
Some have suggested that there may be some movement on fishing rights, with the EU giving ground on access to EU waters in exchange for Britain signing up to European level-playing field rules.
But Number 10 briefed reporters that this was "wishful thinking by the EU."
Story continues
- 'Independent state' -
Barnier has been given a mandate to seek an ambitious overarching agreement to oversee a so-called "level playing field" in manufacturing, labour and environmental standards.
This would give British firms access to most -- but not all -- of the benefits of the single market, without exposing their European rivals to attempts to undercut standards.
Frost and Johnson, however, say they only want a simple trade deal that would preserve UK sovereignty while allowing the vast majority of trade to remain tariff-free.
And, rather than placing this under the aegis of a unique EU-UK pact, they want to pursue a series of deals in separate sectors such as trade, fisheries, aviation and energy.
"We expect the round to be constructive and to keep the process on track ahead of the high-level meeting later this month," a British spokesman said.
"However... it's clear that the EU needs to evolve its position to reach an agreement," he warned.
Barnier has complained that Frost's more aggressive "tone" in pushing the British case in an exchange of letters last month could disrupt progress.
Brussels officials are annoyed that Britain has, in their eyes, backtracked on a written agreement to accept level-playing-field guarantees as part of a future trade deal.
But London insists the draft UK proposals meet these commitments, and complains the EU is refusing to offer the same kind of trade deal it signed with Canada or Singapore.
"A balanced solution is needed which reflects the political realities on both sides, and we will continue to make sure our position is understood," the spokesman said.
"We won't agree to any EU demands for us to give up our rights as an independent state."
With the sides camped out in conflicting visions of the way ahead, few experts expect this week's talks to bear fruit.
- Late compromise -
But, with so much at stake, nobody expects the talks to break down irretrievably either.
"Barnier and Frost are saying the same thing, a no deal is perfectly plausible. At the same time, both sides would prefer to have a deal," said Anand Menon, director of the think-tank UK in a Changing Europe.
He expected little from this week's talks, nor from Johnson and von der Leyen's meeting by the end of the month.
"They will probably say that both sides are willing to continue talking," he told AFP. "If we get a compromise it will come very late in the talks, in the autumn."
Your B.L.M. posts are cute but we want to see policy change
Whether motivated by profit or principle, companies must offer more than racial justice rhetoric, writes Janice Gassam at Forbes. While it is important for your company to not remain silent during these tumultuous times, its hard to distinguish performative allyship from authentic and genuine intentions that will lead to actual change, she says. Whats needed, she argues, is action.
What kind of action? In The Washington Post, Shaun R. Harper, a business professor at the University of Southern California, offers a list of what companies need to do to truly root out anti-blackness in the workplace: Recruit more black workers and ensure they have equitable opportunities for promotion, routinely assess and improve the workplace racial climate, mandate companywide education on a range of diversity and inclusion topics, invest in black employee network groups, ask black workers for suggestions about how to make the workplace less racist, and hold the company accountable for acts of anti-blackness.
Anything short of this will weaken the credibility of the values theyre now so loftily proclaiming, he writes.
Many consumers are also demanding that companies put their money where their mouth is, as Terry Nguyen writes for Vox. All over social media, consumers are repeating the mantra open your purse to these corporate platitudes and vague statements of solidarity, she says. The intent of these messages is clear: Donate money to organizations that aim to fix these systemic issues, instead of just speaking about them.
Consumers are also aware now that many companies are guilty not just of apathy but of hypocrisy, Amanda Mull writes for The Atlantic. Many large companies in the U.S. might feel comfortable invoking the Black Lives Matter movement when theres little else appropriate for them to say, or acknowledging that racism exists when its all anyones talking about, she says. But in many cases, the diagnostic language companies use to describe injustice is cunningly exculpatory, obscuring the extent to which its corporate speakers serve not merely as fellow tenants in the structure of American racism but also as load-bearing walls.
When Reddit released a statement of support for the George Floyd protests, the former Reddit executive Ellen Pao responded, I am obligated to call you out and pointed to the companys own record of profiting from white supremacist speech. You dont get to say B.L.M. when Reddit nurtures and monetizes white supremacy and hate all day long, she said.
Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple, announced that the company would devote $100 million (or about .006 percent of its market capitalization) to promoting racial equality. At the same time, Apple is facing a lawsuit from Congolese families who say that their children were killed or injured while mining cobalt that Apple uses in its devices.
Just two months before Amazon published its statement of support for the fight against systemic racism, company executives including Jeff Bezos and Jay Carney, a former press secretary in the Obama administration met to discuss a public relations strategy to discredit a black employee who was fired after leading a walkout at a Staten Island distribution warehouse by smearing him as not smart or articulate, Vice reported.
[Related: Empty statements like Amazons show black lives only matter to big business when theres profit to be made]
Can the revolution ever be branded?
Much of the demands being made of corporations are reformational, not revolutionary, Ross Douthat argues in The Times. In his view, it is precisely because these demands are relatively unthreatening to power that corporations are even attempting to comply with them.
Its not that corporate America is suddenly deeply committed to racial equality; even for woke capital, the capitalism comes first, he writes. Rather, its that anti-racism as a cultural curriculum is relatively easy for the proverbial establishment, be it corporate or cultural or political, to accommodate.
When it comes to Instagram, few are more popular than Kylie Jenner. In fact, the reality TV star is the fourth most followed person on the entire app and the second most followed woman. With 182.3 million followers, Jenner has built an enormous platform for herself. On the popular app, the 22-year-old is able to promote her lifestyle, her family, her friends, and most importantly, her business.
Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner | Kevin Tachman/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
As the youngest member of the KarJenner tribe, the Kylie Cosmetics founder is no stranger to promoting her products on social media. The Kardashians/Jenners have long since used both social media and traditional sources of media to promote their products and sell to fans. Jenner managed to capitalize off of her following better than any of her siblings. Each time she launches a collection, she does a dramatic unveiling on Instagram to get her fans excited for the launch.
Kylie Jenner launches new collection with her older sister, Kendall Jenner
Her most recent collection launch is no exception. For years, Jenners fans have been waiting on bated breath for her to collaborate with her older sister, Kendall Jenner. On June 20, 2020, Jenner took to her Instagram and Twitter pages to let fans know that the collection was finally finished and would be launching in just a few days.
View this post on Instagram bae A post shared by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on May 27, 2020 at 1:18pm PDT
RELATED: Kylie Jenner Fans Thought Her Vogue Cover With Stormi Was Fake
Wow wow wow cant believe Im finally announcing my next collection for @kyliecosmetics .. and its with my SOULMATE @kendalljenner! The KENDALL X KYLIE collaboration is launching on the 26th! We have been dreaming this up for quite some time so I hope you guys love it! Stay tuned on my stories today for the official reveal, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star wrote on her Instagram page.
Fans on Instagram give the newest Kylie Cosmetics collab mixed reviews
Naturally, many of Jenners fans were ecstatic to hear about the collaboration. Many fans and family members alike gushed over the collection and couldnt wait to try things out. But, plenty of others werent impressed in the least. Some felt that the colors in the collection werent representative of Kendalls style. Others felt that the marketing was bizarre and looked hypersexualized and borderline incestuous. But, some fans were completely uninterested altogether.
Recently, it came out that Global Brand Group (the company allegedly responsible for Jenners clothing line) has refused to pay factory workers in Bangladesh. Instead, because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they have canceled ongoing orders and cut workers in both Los Angeles and Bangladesh with no concrete plans to return. This decision has reportedly affected as many as 50,000 people, many of who are women of color. Furthermore, many of these workers are unable to receive government assistance.
The KUWTK is dealing with a scandal in Bangladesh
After hearing about this issue, many fans took to Jenners comments to demand that she pay the factory workers even if it meant dipping into her own personal funds. Even though the 22-year old was recently stripped of her billionaire title, she is still worth a staggering $900 million and can more than afford to pay workers for the work that they have completed.
RELATED: Kendall Jenner Critics Have Been Calling Her Candle Jenner for Years
How about not exploiting foreign workers and honoring your contracts during a GLOBAL EPIDEMIC?! one person wrote on Jenners Instagram post, which is promoting her latest collection. Rather than launching and showcasing ur products pls #payup Bangladesh for the garments product. You guys are showcasing the world ur luxury but cheap. Youre not even paying the workers wages sick, yet another person shared.
Jenner has limited her Instagram comments
Jenner has yet to address her fans concerns. Instead, many Instagram users have accused Jenner of deleting their comments which demand that she pay the factory workers. Jenner has also taken it upon herself to limit all of her Instagram comments, which fans believe is in direct response to their complaints. But, thats not stopping fans from speaking their minds. Instead, they have taken to Kendalls Instagram page to air out their grievances. Hopefully, fans concerns will eventually be addressed by Jenner if they have any validity. But, we wouldnt recommend holding your breath.
Canada's biggest city, Toronto, to reopen businesses, ending three-month lockdown FILE PHOTO: The phased reopening from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Toronto
By Moira Warburton
TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto, Canada's most-populous city and financial capital, will allow businesses to reopen starting on Wednesday, joining other regions in the province of Ontario in ending a three-month pandemic lockdown, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Monday.
Malls and restaurants in Toronto, along with Peel Region, which includes some of the city's densely populated suburbs, will be able to open their patios, according to the government's plan.
Ontario, Canada's largest province by population, started gradually reopening its economy this month, but Toronto was left off the initial list.
Ford said the government would continue to monitor health trends and consult daily with the province's medical experts, and asked people to stay vigilant.
"It can turn and bite us in the backside in about a heartbeat," Ford said.
Downtown Toronto is home to some of Canada's biggest banks and insurers, and many of them have agreed to allow their staff to work from home until at least September, Toronto Mayor John Tory said last month.
Canadian provinces imposed lockdowns in March to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed 8,430 people in Canada and infected 101,337, according to the latest government data. Toronto has recorded more than 1,000 deaths.
Windsor-Essex, in southwestern Ontario near the Michigan border, is the only health region still in Phase 1 of the three-phase reopening, where an outbreak is hitting migrant workers on farms.
Ford said the province began sending mobile testing units to the largest farms and food-processing plants on Saturday, but blamed Windsor-Essex's continued closure on farmers who will not get their workers tested.
"Farmers just aren't cooperating," Ford said, adding the province cannot force anyone to get tested. "We'll give it another shot ... but then we're going to have to pull out other tools."
Separately, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed back on Monday against pressure from airlines to reopen the nation's borders.
(Reporting by Moira Warburton; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Peter Cooney)
A dog that saved her familys life by alerting them to a deadly tornado before it destroyed their Tennessee home has been found after nearly two months.
Eric Johnson was asleep on March 3 when Bella, the familys 6-year-old miniature Australian shepherd, woke him up. Johnson said he noticed Bella behaving extremely erratically, giving him a sense that something just didnt feel right.
After turning on the TV, Johnson learned a tornado was headed toward their town of Cookeville. Nearly 45 minutes later, as the tornado neared their home, Johnson grabbed his wife and their children and hid them in a bathtub.
(Courtesy of Eric Johnson)
The father of three was looking for Bella when the tornado hit their house, tearing it into pieces and throwing Johnson into his backyard.
Bella was hiding under our bed when the tornado hit our house, Johnson told CNN. She was thrown into our yard and survived and was missing after that. It was hard for us knowing she had survived but we couldnt find her. She was the piece of our family that was missing.
Just as they began to lose hope of finding her again, the family experienced another miracle. With the help of church friend Sarah Lang Romeyn, a dog tracker, Bella was found on Sunday in an alley 4 miles from home.
(Courtesy of Eric Johnson)
Johnson and his wife had left pieces of clothing around their neighborhood in hopes Bella would be able to recognize the scent and find her way back. But Romeyn also set up cameras borrowed from a local animal rescue group in areas where people reported spotting her.
Eventually, using the footage, Romeyn discovered the spot where Bella was hiding.
Johnson, his brother-in-law, and their pastor helped retrieve Bella. After 54 days of living on her own, the beloved pup was reunited with her family.
(Courtesy of Eric Johnson)
The whole situation was incredible. I am so very grateful that I was position to be able to help him out, Romeyn told CNN. All I am is someone that has been blessed to have the skills that I haveunfortunately, although we use it, Ive gotten really good at trapping dogs over the years.
While Johnson suffered a head injury, and his wife had broken ribs from the tornado, along with the loss of their home, he says the family is just grateful that they are finally together again.
CNN Wire contributed to this report.
FP Trending
A German-Russian space telescope has now captured a view of the sky in X-rays. The image records some breathtaking events in heaven.
According to a report in CBS News, the image was captured using the eROSITA X-ray telescope, mounted on the space observatory Spektr-RG.
The report mentions a team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany saying that the resulting image shows never before seen view of the sky through X-ray vision.
Peter Predehl, the Principal Investigator of eROSITA was quoted as saying, "This all-sky image completely changes the way we look at the energetic universe."
He added, "We see such a wealth of detail the beauty of the images is really stunning."
According to a report in BBC, the orbiting telescope was launched last year in July and was despatched to an observing position around 1.5 million km away from Earth.
The report adds that eRosita's first all-sky data-set records over a million sources of X-rays.
Kirpal Nandra, who heads the high-energy astrophysics group at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Garching, Germany said, "That's actually pretty much the same number as had been detected in the whole history of X-ray astronomy going back 60 years. We've basically doubled the known sources in just six months."
The BBC report also said that the map makes use of the Aitoff projection, which unwraps the sphere of the sky to an ellipse.
A report in Science Mag stated that most of the dots represented in the image are supermassive black holes at the centres of galaxies. These are devouring gas, and in the process becoming so hot that the glow can be seen across the universe.
It adds that the four-year-goal of the project is to map the positions of millions of such galaxies to understand how gravity attracts them together in 1000-strong clusters. Researchers also plan to figure out how the mysterious force known as dark energy acts counter to gravity, pushing matter apart helps in the expansion of the universe.
NEW HAVEN, Conn., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- During this painful and challenging time in which so many of us are grappling with the realities of racial injustice, Wiggin and Dana LLP is launching the Wiggin Opportunity Initiative. The firm pledges to provide $10 million in free legal services to minority-owned businesses over the next decade. Our goal is to fuel the success of these businesses, encourage the creation of more, and increase diversity among business leaders.
Wiggin and Dana will donate our legal expertise across multiple practice areas to help these businesses thrive and be able to provide greater economic opportunities for all stakeholders. We hope that by committing to support minority-owned businesses, we can lead the community in efforts to achieve systemic and lasting change.
Managing Partner, Paul Hughes, said, "While born of current events and frustrations, the firm wants to do something that will outlast the spotlight of this particular moment and support long-term improvement in opportunity and equality in our communities. By leveraging the particular skillset of our sophisticated lawyers in a sizeable, sustained and focused effort over time, we hope to make real change in a way that we could not achieve by more modest, incremental efforts."
In the coming months, the firm will collaborate with strategic partners throughout the communities in which we operate to identify minority-owned businesses that could benefit from our initiative. With this ongoing ten-year commitment, Wiggin and Dana wishes to focus on our overall mission of working towards a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable world.
Wiggin and Dana is a full-service law firm serving clients domestically and abroad from offices in Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Palm Beach. For more information on the firm, visit www.wiggin.com.
CONTACT
Shannon Merz
(203) 363-7659
[email protected]
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In a major setback for Indian professionals, US President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to "reform" the H-1B visa system and shift towards a 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, the White House statement said.
The Trump administration is also seeking to address certain gaps that permitted employers in the US to replace American workers, the statement added.
The White House statement said that these changes would help protect the salaries of American workers and ensure that foreign labour coming into the US is high skilled and does not undercut the United States labour market.
"The more permanent actions that he is directing us to take include reforming the H-1B system to move in the direction of a more merit-based system. You hear the president talk all the time about getting the best and the brightest, and you also hear him talking about protecting American jobs. So, these reforms will do both," a senior administration official told reporters during a conference call, according to news agency PTI.
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, the official was quoted as saying.
Taking cognisance of the fact that there is a limit on H-1B visas of 85,000 every year, the official said that last year, 2,25,000 applications were received for those visas.
"Up until this year, those visas have been distributed through random lottery... The president has instructed us to get rid of the lottery and replace it with ranking the salaries -- so the top 85,000 salary offers among the 225,000 or so applicants will get visas," the official said.
This will drive both the wage-level and the skill-level of the H-1B applicants up. It will eliminate competition with Americans, it will reduce American competition in these industries at the entry-level, and will do more to get the best and the brightest, the official further said.
As per the official, Trump has also directed them to put to an end the gaps that have permitted employers, to essentially, domestically outsource their labour by swapping American workers with low-cost foreign labour.
"The way this loophole worked was the analysis of whether an incoming immigrant worker would displace an American worker was done at the company hiring the immigrant," the official said.
"If the company hires a bunch of immigrants and then subcontracts them out to another company -- say, Disney or AT&T, to just pick two historical examples -- then they end up displacing American workers at Disney and AT&T, both of which infamously had their American citizen employees training their H-1B replacements as their last act," the official was quoted as saying.
The official added that the president had asked them to put an end to this practice and they would do so as soon as possible.
Responding to the development, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that he was disappointed by the proclamation and added that Google would continue to stand with the immigrants.
"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 wrote on Twitter.
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 official added that Trump has asked a change in the present wage calculation and clean it up, with respect to H-1B wages.
"It is an old, crazy system from the Clinton era, with four tiers, and the prevailing wage calculation is done in a variety of bases."
"The Department of Labor is going to fix all that, with the idea of setting the prevailing wage floor at the 50th percentile so these people will be in the upper end of earnings, so we're getting the best and the brightest, we're adding the most value to the economy, and we're maximizing the opportunity for Americans to get jobs," the official said.
The Secretary of Labor is going to commence using his statutory authority to investigate abuses in the H1B states, the official added.
"While this statutory authority has existed, I do not believe that any Secretary of Labor, prior to Secretary Scalia, has ever sought to use it. The President has directed him to do that. He's enthusiastic to commence that," the official said.
(With inputs from PTI)
This image from surveillance video shows Natalie White on June 13, 2020. (Courtesy of Atlanta Fire Rescue via AP)
Woman Arrested for Alleged Wendys Arson After Rayshard Brooks Shooting
Atlanta police officials said they have arrested a suspect wanted in the alleged arson attack of a Wendys where Rayshard Brooks was shot by an officer.
Natalie White, 29, was arrested by the Fulton County Sheriffs Office after Brooks funeral ended, according to the office.
The Fulton County Sheriffs Office Fugitive Unit just apprehended Wendys arson suspect Natalie White moments ago. White is being booked into the Fulton County Jail right now, the office said in an announcement.
She was identified as a suspect in the arson, and Atlanta fire investigators obtained a warrant for her arrest.
When the fire occurred earlier this month, Black Lives Matter protests were happening in the area. Atlanta fire officials previously said it was difficult for crews to respond because demonstrators blocked them.
Brooks, 27, was shot twice by former officer Garrett Rolfe after he resisted arrest when he was questioned for a possible DUI.
Police were called to the Wendys on June 12 over complaints of a car blocking the drive-thru lane. An officer found Brooks asleep in the car. Police body-camera video showed Brooks and officers having a relatively calm and respectful conversation for more than 40 minutes before things rapidly turned violent when officers tried to handcuff him and Brooks resisted. Brooks and the two officers wrestled, and then Brooks grabbed one of their stun guns and fired it in their direction as he ran through the parking lot.
An autopsy found Brooks was shot twice in the back.
Lawyers for Rolfe have said the officer feared for his safety and that of others around him and was justified in shooting Brooks. Rolfe opened fire after hearing a sound like a gunshot and saw a flash in front of him, apparently from the stun gun, they said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
H ollywood director Joel Schumacher, whose films included St Elmo's Fire and The Lost Boys, has died at the age of 80.
A representative for Schumacher said the filmmaker died Monday in New York after a year-long battle with cancer.
Schumacher was behind two Batman sequels as well as a string of big films in the 1980s and 1990s, including The Client and A Time to Kill.
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry.
Kiefer Sutherland, who starred in vampire movie The Lost Boys, described Schumacher as one of his "dearest friends and partners in filmmaking".
He added: "His mark on modern culture and film will live on forever."
Corey Feldman also starred in The Lost Boys and was a Hollywood rising star before his career was derailed by addiction issues.
In several tweets, Feldman told how the sober Schumacher tried to stop him doing drugs on set, firing him after noticing he was high.
"He tried to prevent my descent," Feldman wrote.
Jim Carrey starred in Batman Forever as supervillain The Riddler.
Carrey said of Schumacher: "He saw deeper things in me than most and he lived a wonderfully creative and heroic life. I am grateful to have had him as a friend."
Minnie Driver worked with Schumacher on his adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom Of The Opera.
She described him as "the funniest, chicest, most hilarious director I ever worked with".
Driver added: "Once, on set, an actress was complaining about me within earshot; how I was dreadfully over the top (I was) Joel barely looked up from his NYT + said 'Oh Honey, no one ever paid to see under the top'."
Comedian Kevin Smith also paid tribute.
He tweeted: "I met him on the set of the ill-fated Batman & Robin and he couldn't have been nicer or more hospitable (and the man looooved to gossip)."
Actor Billy Eichner praised Schumacher for being a "very outspoken gay director before that was cool," adding: "And his movies are a throwback to a time when Hollywood made something other than bloated action films or Oscar bait homework assignments. RIP Joel. I'm glad you had fun."
Producer Bryan Fuller and director Kevin Smith were also among those to pay tribute after news of his death emerged.
"He couldn't have been nicer or more hospitable," Smith tweeted.
"I distinctly remember feeling hopeful when I learned he was gay and out and that there may be a place for me yet," wrote Fuller.
A native New Yorker, Schumacher was first a sensation in the fashion world after attending Parsons School of Design and decorating Henri Bendel's windows.
As a director, he established himself as a filmmaker with a string of mainstream films in the '80s and '90s.
The success of his first film St. Elmo's Fire, with Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy, helped make a name for the Brat Pack and made Schumacher in demand in Hollywood.
He followed it up with the 1987 vampire horror comedy The Lost Boys.
After films including Flatliners and A Time to Kill, Schumacher inherited the DC universe from Tim Burton.
His garish take on Batman resulted in two of the the franchise's most cartoonish movies in 1995's Batman Forever and 1997's Batman & Robin.
Schumacher also directed the thrillers Tigerland and Phone Booth, as well as The Phantom of the Opera.
Most recently, he directed two episodes of Netflix's "House of Cards" in 2013.
Schumacher was raised in Queens by his mother after his father died when he was four-years-old. As a teenager, he quickly became enmeshed in the city's nightlife.
"The street was my education," Schumacher told New York magazine earlier this year.
"You could ride your bike over the 59th Street Bridge then. So I rode my bike everywhere. I was in Manhattan all the time and all over Queens.
If you're a kid on a bike, anything can happen, and predators come out of the woodwork, my God. I looked very innocent, but I wasn't."
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Haiti - News : Zapping...
Wishes of speedy recovery to the King of Morocco
"I am pleased to learn that the surgery [heart] undergone by His Majesty Mohammed VI King of Morocco was a success. Already, I wish him, on behalf of the Haitian people and in my personal name, a speedy recovery" Jovenel Moise.
Vietnam and Indonesia concerned about the situation in Haiti
During a videoconference of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Vietnam and Indonesia expressed concern about the difficulties and the uncertainties concerning the situation in Haiti, in particular the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries supported the efforts of the Government of Haiti in the constitutional reform and called on the stakeholders to strengthen the inclusive dialogue. They also said that they supported the electoral process and the increased participation of women in Haitian political life.
15 new public handwashing stations
15 hand washing stations, with boxes of soaps and gallons of chlorine have been installed in Martissant, Bicentennaire and at the bottom of the city. Catholic Relief Service (CRS) initiative through the European Union-funded Urbayiti program.
Visit the new UEH Portal
The new portal of the State University of Haiti is launched. Visit it at https://ueh.edu.ht See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31032-icihaiti-ueh-new-version-of-the-web-portal-of-the-state-university-of-haiti.html
Words of sympathy from the Rectorate of the UEH
Following the fire that ravaged part of the premises of the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (FAMV), https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31091-haiti-flash-the-faculty-of-agronomy-and-veterinary-medicine-partially-destroyed-by-fire.html the Rectorate Rectorate of the State University of Haiti wishes to express its sympathies and solidarity with the members of the Council decanal of FAMV and the entire faculty community in general.
HL/ HaitiLibre
We are coming to a situation where many risks will be considered uninsurable, Cooper said. There are many risks where the probability is high, the severity of a loss is very high, and they are becoming more and more frequent. Therefore, they become more and more uninsurable.
Read more: APRA no excuse for inaction on climate change
The biggest area that climate change has impacted, Cooper says, is property, particularly around strata and resorts.
We are now seeing this happen on the north Queensland coast more and more insurers will decide not to write risks in these areas and this only pushes prices up to unaffordable levels, he explained.
It means that the natural instinct is to go under-insured, or not insure at all. Banks and other lenders may stipulate they insure at least their principal security and the insured may opt only for that to satisfy the banks, but they forget that most claims are minor losses and the average clause will likely apply.
But its not just an issue impacting north Queenslands coast Cooper says this change in insurance risk has been observed in Florida and the Caribbean, which have both been struck by increasing hurricanes in recent years.
How many insurers would be keen to write risks in those areas? he said. We are also seeing these tropical storms move further down the coast towards the Poles, causing the Artic and the Antarctic to melt much quicker than before.
Climate change is likely to lead to policy change, with Cooper stating some companies have already created exclusions around sea and storm surge, which are both likely to be broadened, in his view.
The biggest issue for insurers is not simply increasing the premium, but will they have the capacity from the reinsurance market to write these risks? he added.
Will insurers have a capping per risk as they are only able to write a maximum of $1,000,000 per property? Will co-insurance come into play a lot more where two or three different primary insurers will only take a percentage of the risk? As a result, will the cover be reduced?
Read next: ICA and IGCC call for state and federal disaster strategies
All these factors, he says, will add to the amount of work the insurance broker will need to do to find cover for their clients.
Maybe it will be covered by increased commissions, but if we cannot place the cover in a shrinking market, insurance brokers will not earn anything, he added.
Cooper adds that hes now observing indirect pressures being placed on insurers to make ethical decisions, with clients becoming more conscious of where they put their money.
The concerned insured, along with many shareholders, are wanting more social responsibility from the big corporate insurers, persuading them not to insure risks that directly cause increased emissions, Cooper explained.
They are withdrawing support on the very companies contributing directly to climate change, and the businesses that supply them. Clients are changing brokers because of the types of risks they are handling. If you are placing risks on coal mining companies, environmentally conscious clients are wanting to affiliate with brokers who are not.
This, he says, means insurance brokers will also need to review how they are being remunerated, particularly with the advice being incidental and dependent on the insurer paying them a commission.
Yesterday Apple announced iOS 14, a major new release, as part of its WWDC 2020 keynote. As usual, the company spent a big part of the event discussing its new mobile operating system and its major new features, which includes things like updated widgets, new Messages, Maps, and Safari apps, Translate, updated Siri, improved CarPlay and App Clips.
That's a sizable list of major new features to discuss in one event where Apple also had to talk about other things. So what Apple mentioned during its WWDC keynotes is usually just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the new features in its major new OS releases. And this year arguably has the longest list of changes hidden away in the 'All New Features' page on the company's website.
So we went through the 191 new features listed on Apple's website to pick the ones that Apple missed out on mentioning during the keynote but are seriously worth your attention. For some of you, the features listed below might even be more important than what was mentioned during the keynote. If you're already an iOS user or someone on Android who is thinking of jumping fence, you're going to want to read this.
The following features have been listed in no particular order.
Widget stacks: Apple discussed at length its new design for widgets in iOS 14. It also showed the new Smart Stack widget, which stacks relevant widgets in one place so you can flip through them and also changes based on the time of the day. However, what Apple didn't mention is that you can create your own custom widget stack. Just place your favorite widgets one on top of another to create a stack on your homescreen. Then you can just flip through them without wasting additional space on your homescreen for multiple widgets.
App Library: Apple discussed most of the App Library features in the keynote but it's worth pointing out that all new apps that are downloaded will now directly go into the App Library. Alternatively, you can also choose to have them appear on the homescreen if you prefer the current method.
Safari improvements: Apple brought up Safari when talking about macOS Big Sur but didn't mention that some of the changes also apply to Safari on iOS 14. Safari on iOS 14 also supports the text translation feature for non-native web pages. It also includes the web privacy report function and supports password monitoring to check if your passwords were involved in a data breach. Lastly, Safari on iOS 14 also features the new JavaScript engine for 2x faster JS performance than Chrome on Android 10.
Power reserve for Car Keys: One of the thoughts I had while watching Apple's cool Car Keys demo was how do you unlock your car if your iPhone's battery dies and you didn't bring your key. The answer to that is power reserve, which enables you to still use your iPhone as your car key for up to five hours after the battery on the phone is dead. Pretty cool.
Headphone Accommodations: This is a new accessibility feature for those hard at hearing. It adjusts the frequency response and amplifies softer sounds to make them easier to hear. It works with AirPods Pro, AirPods, EarPods, Powerbeats, Powerbeats Pro, and Beats Solo Pro. It's also compatible with the Transparency mode on the AirPods Pro and helps amplify the softer sounds and quieter voices in your surroundings.
AirPods features: Along with spatial audio and automatic device switching that Apple discussed during the keynote, AirPods are also getting battery notifications, which will alert the user if the AirPods need to be charged before they get on a call or start a movie. Apple has also introduced a new AirPods Pro Motion API, which gives developers access to orientation, user acceleration, and rotational rates for AirPods Pro ideal for fitness apps, games, and more.
Privacy features: Along with privacy information on the App Store, app tracking controls and approximate locations, you can now also give apps access to only selected items when an app asks access to your photos instead of your entire photo library. iOS will also now show an indicator in-app and in Control Center whenever any app is using the mic or camera in the background.
Camera features: This is a big one and it's a bit odd that none of this was mentioned during keynote. For starters, Apple has improved the camera performance in iOS 14, with up to 90% faster capture speed. Time to first shot is now up to 25% faster and Portrait shot-to-shot is up to 15% faster. These numbers are from an iPhone 11 Pro Max so you likely won't see the same difference on older generation iPhones. Apple also added a new setting for prioritizing faster shooting, which changes how the Camera app processes the images for even quicker shooting experience.
The QuickTake video feature, which debuted on the iPhone 11 generation and allowed you to press and hold on the camera button in Photo mode to just start recording a quick video is now coming to iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. This could have very well arrived last year itself but Apple likes its timed exclusives.
Similarly, all iPhone models now feature quick toggles within the Camera app to change video resolution and frame rate without having to go to the Settings app.
Apple has also updated the Night mode implementation. When shooting on the iPhone 11 series in Night mode, the camera will provide a guidance indicator on the screen to help you stay steady throughout the capture. And you can now also cancel mid-capture rather than wait for the shot to finish shooting.
You can now lock the exposure for photos and videos for an entire session while separately locking focus and exposure for a specific shot.
The volume buttons can now be configured to capture burst photos with the volume up button and QuickTake video on compatible phones with the volume down button.
You can now also choose to mirror your saved selfie photos using an option in the settings so they are consistent with the camera preview. I'm not sure who wants to save reversed photos of themselves but it's there now if someone wants it.
Lastly, improvements to QR code reading makes it easy to scan codes even if they are small or wrapped around objects.
FaceTime updates: FaceTime also benefits from the new picture-in-picture feature in iOS and you can have your FaceTime call on top of other apps. FaceTime video now also has higher quality with up to 1080p resolution on select devices.
FaceTime can also now detect when a participant is using sign language in a Group FaceTime call and automatically makes that user more prominently visible. Lastly, we have a feature that we first saw in the iOS 13 developer beta but was eventually removed. The eye contact feature magically makes it seem to your callers like you are looking at your phone's camera (where you should be looking) instead of at your screen. It uses some AI trickery in the background to move the pupils of your eyes in the video in real-time so it looks to the caller that you are looking at them rather than your phone's screen.
Family third-party subscription sharing: Developers can now support the Family Sharing feature for in-app purchases and subscriptions so everyone in your Family Sharing group can benefit from a single purchase.
Regional features: Apple also added a host of new features specific to certain regions. Users in China can now use the Wubi input method on their iPhones. Users in Ireland and Norway now get autocorrection support for Irish Gaelic and Norwegian Nynorsk, respectively. For Japanese users, Apple has redesigned the Japanese Kana keyboard for easier typing numbers with repeated digits.
The biggest set of regional changes is for India, however. There are new fonts, including 20 new document fonts and 18 of the existing fonts have been updated with more weight and italics. The fullscreen effects in Messages are now localized for 23 Indian languages. Mail now supports email IDs with Indian script, although I'm not sure what 'Indian script' exactly refers to here. Lastly, users in India can now download Siri voices, software updates on mobile data. They can also download and stream Apple TV+ shows over cellular data for the first time. This is a huge deal as cellular data is pretty affordable in India.
Keyboard updates: The emoji section now has its a search field, so now you can search for a specific emoji. The keyboard can now also autofill contact information in third-party apps without having to give that app access to your contact list.
Music: The Music app in iOS is getting the same changes that we saw in the iPadOS section of the keynote. There's a new home tab for playing and discovering new music, artists, and playlists. The app learns your preferences as you play. A new Autoplay feature keeps the music playing after you reach the end of your playlist with similar music. An improved search feature now filters results based on genre, mood, and activity. Lastly, library filtering lets you find artists, albums, playlists, and other items in your library even faster. Swipe down within each section to filter your results.
Default apps: You can now finally set a default web browser and a mail client on iOS that isn't one made by Apple. This means you can easily just set Chrome as your default browser or Gmail app as your default email client. Unfortunately, that's currently the limit of what you can set as your default apps but it's a good step forward and could be something Apple expands in the future.
Voice Memos: The Voice Memos app can now let you organize your recordings in folders, with Smart Folders also automatically grouping Apple Watch recordings, recently deleted and Favorites. Enhanced recording reduces background noise and room reverberations with a single tap.
Weather: It seems Apple is starting to leverage its Dark Sky acquisition with improvements to the Weather app. The app now supports a minute-by-minute chart that shows the intensity of rain or snow over the coming hour in the US. It will also indicate when the weather will be significantly different the next day and shows a chance of precipitation for each day on multi-day forecasts.
Accessibility features: Apart from the Headphone Accommodation feature discussed before, iOS 14 also features a few additional accessibility features. Back Tap allows you to configure your iPhone to detect taps on the back of the phone. You can configure a double-tap or triple-tap and the device will then execute your preset function. On-device AI can now recognize key elements displayed on your screen to add VoiceOver prompts for apps and websites that don't have accessibility built-in. VoiceOver can speak the text that it identifies within images. VoiceOver also automatically detects interface controls within apps and helps to navigate them more easily. If images within apps or the web have descriptions, VoiceOver will also read them out for you.
SMS filtering: Apple has finally added filtering options for SMS in the Messages app. The app can automatically filter incoming SMS into categories such as transactions, promotions, or junk. This will be a huge boon for markets like India where SMS spam by companies and even carriers is rampant. Source
These are most of the interesting new features we have come across so far. Of course, as we get closer to launch and additional developer and public betas are released, more interesting new features could come to light. If you've come across something useful yourself, let us know in the comments below so we could update the article.
A study published online as an accepted paper in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that increased physical activity is associated with a lower risk of obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep-related breathing disorder. The study is the largest to date focused on the relationship between sleep apnea and levels of physical activity in the general community.
Researchers reviewed lifestyle, medical, socio-demographic and sleep health data collected from more than 155,000 adults participating in the Ontario Health Study. Based on the physical activity of participants with and without sleep apnea, the investigators determined that a modest increase in physical activity, including walking, is associated with a 10 percent reduction in the risk of developing sleep apnea.
"Our results highlight the importance of physical activity as a preventive measure against developing sleep apnea," said senior author Lyle Palmer, who is professor of genetic epidemiology at the University of Adelaide in Australia. "One surprising finding was that not only vigorous physical activity but also just walking alone was associated with a decreased risk of sleep apnea."
The authors found that adding 20 minutes to a daily walk and increasing vigorous daily activity by eight minutes would be enough to achieve a lower sleep apnea risk. The finding is independent of other known risk factors for sleep apnea such as sex, age, ethnicity and obesity.
It is estimated that more than 29 million American adults have sleep apnea, many of them undiagnosed. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and other potentially serious conditions.
"The rates of sleep apnea in children and adults are continuing to rise. Therefore, understanding the role of modifiable protective factors for sleep apnea is important," said Palmer. "Exercise is one such protective factor and has many other positive effects on general health. Sleep health care professionals should be trying to get their patients to exercise more."
The cross-sectional, population-based study analyzed baseline questionnaire data from 155,448 adult residents of Ontario, Canada (60% women and 40% men). Their mean age was 46 years, and about 75% were white. About 6.9% of participants reported being told by a doctor that they have sleep apnea. Those with sleep apnea were more sedentary, sitting for a median of 4.4 more hours per week than those without sleep apnea.
Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, the authors were unable to make temporal inferences on the observed associations between physical activity and sleep apnea. However, they report that previous studies also have suggested that physical activity can reduce the severity of sleep apnea.
In a related commentary, also published as an accepted paper in JCSM, Dr. Joyce Lee-Iannotti and Dr. James Parish write that the study's findings give sleep physicians another tool to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea that may be more appealing to patients.
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The authors reported no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Cancer Care Ontario, Public Health Ontario, and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. The Ontario Health Study is part of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project, which is made up of five regional health studies across Canada.
To request a copy of "Physical Activity is Associated With Reduced Prevalence of Self-Reported Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Large, General Population Cohort Study," or the commentary, "Exercise as a Treatment for Sleep Apnea," or to arrange an interview with an author or an AASM spokesperson, please contact the AASM at 630-737-9700 or media@aasm.org. Accepted papers, which are published online prior to their final inclusion in an issue, are not embargoed. The study is scheduled to appear in the July 2020 issue of the journal.
The monthly, peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine is the official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a professional membership society that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM encourages patients to talk to their doctor about sleep problems and visit SleepEducation.org for more information about sleep, including a searchable directory of AASM-accredited sleep centers.
An Accra Circuit Court has discharged John Kupa Azika, 40, a cleaner accused of defiling a 12-year-old girl who tested postive to HIV at North Legon, for want of prosecution.
When the matter was called, it came to the court's attention that the complainant and victim have both not signed their witness statements after several efforts to reach them and they have failed to turn-up in court.
The court, therefore, struck the matter out for want of prosecution and discharged Azika. He has, however, tested negative to HIV.
Charged with defilement, Azika pleaded not guilty when he appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on February 10, this year.
He was granted bail in the sum of GH5,000.00 with two sureties. The court, however, had to unravel the mystery as to how the 12-year-old victim tested positive for HIV but the accused was negative.
According to the prosecution, the complainant is the father of the victim and resides at North Legon together with the accused.
Chief Inspector Judith B. Asante, leading the prosecution, had earlier narrated that on March 4, 2018, the victim went to sell ice cream at an Islamic wedding ceremony within the community.
She said whiles there, she and two other girls run into the accused, who bought some of the ice cream on credit and asked them to go for the money at his house later.
Prosecution said the victim later went to Azika's house for the money and as soon as she entered his room, he undressed himself and proposed to her but she declined.
Chief Inspector Asante said victim narrated that Azika pushed her onto his bed, held her mouth and had sexual intercourse with her and warned her not tell anyone else he would kill her.
Azika on the other hand admitted attempting to have sexual intercourse with the victim but could not penetrate her because her vagina was small, so he got up and paid the girl for the ice cream and he asked her to go.
Prosecution said later the victim occasionally fell sick and was taken to the hospital where series of tests were conducted and later an HIV test was done, which came out positive.
She said the victim's father quizzed her and she narrated her ordeal to him.
He made a report to the Adentan Office of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit and on February 2, this year, a Police medical form was issued to the complainant to send the victim to a government hospital for further medical attention.
Prosecution said the endorsed medical report form recommended that the accused and the parents of the victim should be screened.
She said on February 5, this year, Azika was arrested and he consented to be screened for HIV and was taken to the Adentan Trust Hospital, where the results proved negative.
GNA
Wellington: New Zealand will set up seven new isolation facilities in the next fortnight as it struggles to cope with an influx of returning citizens.
The minister in charge of COVID-19 quarantine, Megan Woods, said the new facilities - likely to be hotels in Christchurch and Rotorua would boost the country's quarantine capacity to around 5900 people, up from 4607 across 20 hotels.
Returning New Zealanders must head straight to quarantine. Credit:AP
"In the next two weeks were thinking we need to bring on seven new facilities," Woods said.
"That will be about 1300 extra places and that will ensure that we have more than enough headroom," she said.
Army Chief Gen M M Naravane will pay a two-day visit to Ladakh from Tuesday to discuss with ground commanders the six-week standoff with Chinese military and review India's overall military preparedness in the mountainous region, Army sources said.
Tension between India and China escalated significantly in the region after 20 Indian Army personnel were killed by China's People's Liberation Army in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15 that New Delhi termed as a "premeditated and planned action" by the Chinese troops.
The sources said the Chief of the Army Staff will visit forward locations and interact with troops on the ground.
Last week, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria made a quiet visit to Ladakh and Srinagar air bases to review the Indian Air Force's preparedness to deal with any eventualities in the region.
Gen Naravane will leave for Leh soon after attending the final session of a two-day conference of top Army commanders. The commanders extensively deliberated on the situation in eastern Ladakh on the opening day of the conference on Monday.
In Leh, Gen Naravane will hold talks with Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the 14 Corps that takes care of the sensitive border with China.
On Monday, Lt Gen Singh held a nearly 11-hour meeting with Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin in an attempt to lower the temperature between the two sides.
In the meeting, the Indian delegation strongly raised with China the "premeditated" assault by Chinese troops on Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley and demanded immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the development said.
The focus of the deliberations was on finalising modalities for disengagement of troops from various areas including Pangong Tso where the two militaries are on a bitter standoff for six weeks.
The first round of the Lt Gen-level talks were held on June 6 during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.
However, the situation along the border deteriorated following the Galwan Valley clashes as the two sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the 3,500-km de facto border.
On Sunday, the government has given the armed forces "full freedom" to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC.
The army has already sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border in the last one week. The IAF has also moved a sizeable number of its frontline Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 aircraft and Apache attack helicopters to several key air bases including Leh and Srinagar following the clashes.
The two armies were engaged in a standoff in Galwan and several other areas of eastern Ladakh since May 5 when their troops clashed on the banks of the Pangong Tso.
The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on May 5 and 6.
The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on May 9.
Prior to the clashes, both sides had been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it was necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
Last year, Americans gave an impressive $450 billion to charity, but the numbers of donors are dwindling as COVID-19 hints at a global resurgence.
A bipartisan effort is underway to expand tax breaks for Americans in an effort to spur donations to nonprofit organizations.
Tackling A Common Issue: In March, the IRS extended the deadline for filing tax returns from April 15 to July 15. This effort was coupled with a small tax break developed around the same time to incentivize citizens to give more money to charity funds.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, and James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, are leading the charge to widen that opportunity, the Wall Street Journal reported last week.
Backed by organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the YMCA, Shaheen and Lankford want to encourage the middle class to contribute to the shrinking pool of nationwide donors to bail out struggling organizations.
In one instance, the Minnesota Historical Society, a nonprofit that oversees the states cultural sites and museums, laid off almost 200 workers a third of its staff, according to the StarTribune.
Habitat for Humanity axed 10% of its staff,and its executives stopped receiving pay amid the crisis.
With more donations, nonprofits could rehire some of their laid-off workers.
The Pushback: Not everyone agrees with the call for what essentially can be defined as a larger tax cut proposal.
In the Silicon Valley, the wealthy have been taking advantage of amassing large sums of money into waiting room charity funds without actually redirecting the money toward nonprofits.
The Silicon Valley Community Foundation has been a leading example of this phenomenon, managing a staggering $13.5 billion in assets since its inception in 2007. This structure lets wealthy executives benefit immediately while they develop a strategy for their money.
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Nicole Taylor, the foundations president, is taking steps to change that philosophy and nudge donors to make immediate decisions to get nonprofits the funding they need, the Mercury News reported.
See more from Benzinga
2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Partnering Update
Brisbane, June 23, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Anatara Lifesciences Ltd ( ASX:ANR ) provides an update on partnering discussions for Detach(R) and GaRP.Highlights- Anatara does not anticipate reaching a partnering agreement by the end of FY 2020 for an animal health product- Anatara remains in discussions with third parties to progress development of the company's animal health assets to address barriers to partnering- Anatara continues to progress the human health portfolio and now plans the commencement of a clinical trial of GaRP in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the 4th quarter of calendar 2020- Anatara is evaluating partnering opportunities for GaRP with multinational consumer health companiesDetach(R) is a non-antibiotic product which was approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) as an aid in the control of diarrhoeal disease in piglets (known as scour).Anatara updates advice that:- there remains a need for a safe, effective, non-antibiotic solution to control scour in piglets and that there is a similar need in other livestock species, such as poultry.- opportunities exist for the product globally but with varying requirements for regulatory approval, including additional formulations and in-country field trials.- Anatara's Detach(R) oral drench is suited to pre-weaning piglets however this is not a preferred dosage form in larger, post-weaning piglets with feedback suggesting an additional dosage form is required; hence, new formulations need to be developed to enable alternative administration options for post-weaning piglets.- due to budgetary constraints, Anatara is exploring, through animal health partner companies, options to develop and commercialise Detach(R) in multiple species.Anatara is nearing conclusion of a process of due diligence and negotiation with many of the world's leading animal health companies. Anatara's objective being to partner with a company or companies to register Detach(R) in key overseas markets, develop new formulations and administration methods for Detach(R) to expand utility, and to develop Detach(R) for other livestock species such as poultry.While partnering discussions continue, Anatara does not expect to successfully reach a partnering agreement by the end of FY 2020. As highlighted, feedback suggests that additional dosage forms for piglets is required and furthermore proof of concept data in encouraging indications for other species is also required.While focussing financial resources on development of GaRP, Anatara has been evaluating development, in collaboration with third parties, additional dosage forms for piglets and to utilise Anatara's intellectual property in other species including in-feed formulations for piglets, formulations for aquaculture and formulations for poultry. These activities may evolve into opportunities in new areas.CEO Steve Lydeamore commented, "Anatara is engaged in discussions with third parties to progress development of Anatara's animal health assets to address barriers to partnering. We will continue to provide updates to the market as these activities progress."Anatara's Gastrointestinal ReProgramming (GaRP) OTC medicineAnatara's GaRP over-the-counter medicine is being developed to specifically target two human gastrointestinal disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBS is the most common GI condition affecting approximately 11% of the global population while IBD affects an estimated five million people globally.GaRP is a single product with multiple benefits, aimed at effectively managing many of the major symptoms experienced by IBS and IBD patients. GaRP has been designed as an everyday option for IBS patients to 1) manage ongoing chronic symptoms and 2) minimise episodic flare ups. The product works in four ways to obtain relief for patients, targeting ingredients to where they are most needed:1. Reduces pain of episodic flare ups by relaxing muscles of the gut2. Reduces inflammation by protecting the lining of the gut3. Restores the microbiome by promoting the growth of good bacteria4. Repairs and regenerates the lining of the gut wall to protect against future flare upsCurrent pharmaceutical treatments have high failure rates and severe side-effects, leading to over 50% of IBS and IBD patients trying complementary and alternative medicines (CAMS) in the hope of effectively managing their chronic bowel condition. As many patients and healthcare providers believe the risk benefit of CAMs to be favourable, patients are willing to invest in their health, with this market segment being significant. In 2018, expenditure on gastrointestinal supplements and OTC digestive remedies in the US alone was US$8 billion.CEO Steve Lydeamore commented, "Anatara is highly encouraged by the successful in vitro and in vivo preclinical data reported for its GaRP OTC medicine to date and is pleased to be planning commencement of a clinical trial in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the 4th quarter of calendar 2020. As anticipated in our Covid-19 market update, Anatara is proceeding with a decentralised trial design allowing participants to be recruited and participate remotely. Anatara is evaluating partnering opportunities with multinational consumer health companies."About Anatara Lifesciences Limited
Anatara Lifesciences Limited (ASX:ANR) is developing and commercialising innovative, evidence-based products for gastrointestinal health where there is significant unmet need. Anatara is a life sciences company with expertise in developing products for animal and human health. Anatara is focused on building a pipeline of human gastrointestinal health products. Underlying this product development program is our commitment to delivering real outcomes for patients and strong value for our shareholders. For more information, please visit www.anataralifesciences.com.
Turkmenistan ready to expand two cement plants
23 June 2020
The President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has signed resolutions authorising the Ministry of Industry and Construction Production to finalise contracts for the second phase of construction on two cement plants. Both projects reportedly represent a brownfield expansion of 1Mta each.
As such, the ministry has awarded Beyik-Bina Individual Enterprise the contract for the design and construction of the second stage of a cement plant in the Ahal region. A similar contract will be signed with Turkmen Enjam Economic Society for the Lebap facility.
The companies have reportedly been instructed to launch construction works in July 2020 and commission the cement plants for operation by December 2022, according to the State News Agency of Turkmenistan.
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UPDATE: New Zealand Police have arrested the senior leaders and the majority of patched members and associates of the Bay of Plenty chapter of the Mongols motorcycle gang.
More than 110 police staff, including from the National Organised Crime Group, executed search warrants at 10 properties across the Bay of Plenty region today.
These warrants are part of the final phase of an investigation dubbed Operation Silk.
The 10 people arrested today face a total of 228 charges including: participating in an organised crime group, money laundering, conspiracy to deal methamphetamine, supplying methamphetamine, supplying cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms, and unlawful possession of explosives.
Eight firearms have been located this morning, including two AK47s and two MSSAs (military-style semi-automatic).
This brings the total number of firearms seized off the Mongols over the last four months to 28, and includes AR15s.
Nineteen vehicles were seized today five motorcycles, one light truck, one heavy truck, seven cars, four utes, and a quad bike.
Other items seized include six Molotov cocktails, ammunition, and various amounts of cannabis, methamphetamine, and cash.
The molotov cocktails seized this morning.
Operation Silk has involved staff from Asset Recovery Units, Bay of Plenty CIB, the Armed Offenders Squad, Police and Corrections dogs, and other specialised search staff.
National Organised Crime Groups Detective Superintendent Greg Williams says the Mongols are a well-established criminal group who are known for drug trafficking, firearms and violent offences.
The majority of this Bay of Plenty gang were deported from Australia and were from one of the Banditos chapters in Brisbane. This operation sends a clear message that the behaviour of these gangs will not be tolerated in New Zealand, he says.
During the course of this lengthy investigation, NOCG has been able to support a Bay of Plenty response to combat and prevent violent incidents stemming from this organised crime group, which have been well documented through the media.
Police seized a number of items during the raids, including vehicles.
These have been as recent as 12 June and again on 15 June, where senior members are now before the court on serious charges, and a number of firearms and explosive devices have been seized. This proactive action was taken to prevent an attack on a rival gang.
What this investigation will allege is that this organised crime group was involved in the sale and supply of methamphetamine and cocaine on a commercial level into the Bay of Plenty as well as across the North Island, causing significant harm to our communities.
The ongoing violence between this organised crime group and other local gangs is simply about controlling a share of this drug market, and all these gangs have made it clear that they are prepared to use violence to protect their share.
"This includes not only arming up, but a very clear propensity to use these firearms and commit other violent acts such as arson, serious assaults, aggravated robberies and serious violence, seriously impacting on the wellbeing of Bay of Plenty communities at large, Detective Superintendent Williams says.
Firearms were also located during this morning's searches.
In total, there have been six known shooting incidents involving the Mongols and other gangs.
Some charges have been laid in relation to these and enquiries continue which will see further people charged.
Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander Clifford Paxton says the efforts of the staff involved in the operation to keep themselves and the community safe in this evolving environment has been pleasing to see.
I would like to thank our communities for their support and patience in allowing us to bring this comprehensive and lengthy investigation to fruition," says Clifford.
"Not unreasonably, our communities expect action to be taken to ensure their safety, that of their whanau and wider communities."
Cash hiding in a sock draw.
While Operation Silk took place in the Bay of Plenty, Auckland NOCG also ran Operation Nestegg which focused on Auckland-based Mongols.
In May this year, a number of search warrants were executed in Auckland and Tokoroa that were linked to this investigation. Items seized included five firearms, approximately $400k cash and half a kilogram of methamphetamine.
The combined investigations will have a serious impact on the influence and offending of this gang for some time to come.
Police also continue to ask the public for information on another senior Mongols member Brodie Collins-Haskins of Auckland, who is facing several charges.
Brodie Collins-Haskins is still wanted by police.
For any sightings or information in relation to his whereabouts please contact Police.
EARLIER:
Police have carried out a major bust in the Bay of Plenty targeting the Mongols gang and say it has stopped a significant criminal enterprise.
Detective Superintendent Greg Williams of the National Organised Crime Group is expected to provide more details at a media conference in Auckland this afternoon.
The Mongols gang was also targeted in a crackdown on organised crime last month in which more than 90 people were arrested and nearly 50 firearms seized.
The Comancheros, Mongrel Mob, Black Power, Nomads, Head Hunters, Rebels, King Cobras and Tribesmen gangs were also hit the the crackdown during level 3 and 4 lockdowns. More than 100 searches were carried out.
At the time, Williams said 25kg of methamphetamine, 30kg of cannabis and small amounts of other drugs were seized, as well as more than $1.2 million in cash.
Most of the charges related to the manufacture and supply of methamphetamine, supply of cannabis and MDMA, possession of firearms and ammunition, and breaching court bail.
New Delhi: Army Chief General MM Naravane interacts with soldiers at Military Hospital, Leh during his two-day visit to Eastern Ladakh. Prior to his visit, the Army chief held discussions with all the commanders in Delhi.
After reaching Leh, General Naravane first visited the Military Hospital to meet soldiers, who were injured during the violent clashes at the Galwan Valley in the eastern Ladakh on June 15 night.
He was then given detailed information about the position of Indian and Chinese troops on the ground, besides the meeting held between the Chinese Army on Monday.
Taking to the twitter, Indian Army said, "General MM Naravane #COAS interacting with our gallant soldiers at Military Hospital, Leh during his two-day visit to Eastern #Ladakh."
General MM Naravane #COAS interacting with our gallant soldiers at Military Hospital, Leh during his two day visit to Eastern #Ladakh. pic.twitter.com/pG22J7kIs4 ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 23, 2020
According to sources, Pangang Lake is now becoming the main issue, as the Indian Army has raised objections to the construction work on China's Finger 4. Earlier on May 5, Indian and Chinese soldiers had clashed in Pangang Lake itself.
According to Army officials, all commanders are in the national capital for the second phase of the commanders` conference. Army Commanders Conference was held from June 22-23 to review the operational situation on both the northern and western fronts.
The meeting comes at a time when India and China are holding military-level talks to defuse the border tensions after the violent face-off in Ladakh`s Galwan valley in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives. India has clearly stated that China should establish May 2 position in Pangang Lake.
Meanwhile, Indian Army has enhanced deployment at Hot Springs, Demchok , Koyul, Fukche, Depsang, Murgo, and Galwan in the midst of the growing tension between the two Asian neighbours.
Christopher Otis, an American living in HCM City who works as a teacher, photographer, and geographer, feels pride in Vietnam being his second home, in order to explain his emotions
he describes living in a metaphorical bubble of safety while much of the world continues to suffer from this novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The streets of Ho Chi Minh City have come roaring back to life after Vietnams successful fight against COVID-19. (June 9, 2020) (Photo: Christopher Otis)
67 days. Its been 67 days (as of publishing) since the last confirmed case of community transmission of COVID-19 in Vietnam, a country of nearly 100 million people that shares a 1444-km border with China, its neighbour with which it has, for all its political and social complications, an extremely active and productive trade and economic relationship, Christopher Otis wrote to start his article published on the website medium.com on June 22.
He has been able to witness some of the efforts to fight the COVID-19 first hand in recent months, with the American hoping that the rest of the world will be able to learn some valuable lessons on how this amazing country has been able to be successful to handle the pandemic.
According to Christopher Otis, his home country of the United States is on average recording 20,000 to 30,000 new confirmed cases each day, meaning that a new infection is occurring somewhere in the country between every three to four seconds.
Every day I wake up experiencing a cocktail of emotions ranging from anxiety and worry about my at-risk family members, Otis shared.
Regarding the nations fight against the virus, he wrote, Zero deaths. For those of you outside of Vietnam, its hard to sum up just how sensationally the country has handled this pandemic. With a national healthcare budget thats a mere fraction of that of the US, Vietnam has managed to keep the number of infections extremely low.
Otis goes on to point out the miracle behind the nations COVID-19 success, Even more remarkably, Vietnam has prevented even a single death from occurring due to COVID-19, an incredible statistic surely made possible by a bit of good fortune, but even more so by an extremely well-organised and well-executed government response that successfully limited the number of active infections in the country.
The American details his shock at the rapid response of the Vietnamese government once cases of the virus were confirmed, with swift moves to close schools across the entire country, which essentially extended the Tet, Lunar New Year, holiday for a few additional weeks.
The article also describes some of the effective measures implemented to halt the spread of the epidemic, such as closing borders, mandatory quarantine for those who came into contact with confirmed cases, along with unprecedented transparency and communication from the government. These policies came simultaneously alongside the closure of non-essential businesses and a ban on public gatherings, with no more than two people able to meet throughout the month of April, with Otis noting, the spread of COVID-19 in Vietnam never really took off as it did in much of the rest of the world.
Its hard to overstate the strangeness of the feeling that results from hearing updates on the situation in the US and around the world, and then hopping on my motorbike and driving into the city to go to work and stand in front of 20 mask-less students, or going to a non-socially-distanced coffee shop or bar, or even simply looking outside and seeing life go on as it did six months ago before this all happened, Otis said.
I was actually in the United States at the end of January when the pandemic had begun to make international headlines, and I had to wonder to myself if flying back to Asia at the beginning of February was really a good idea. Of course, it turned out to be the best idea, he added.
To conclude his thoughts, Otis states his belief that, Vietnam, against long odds, has become one of the best and safest places to be during this pandemic. VOV
SPRINGFIELD Jumping into a prolonged dispute between Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the City Council, state Rep. Bud Williams has urged the mayor to restore the citizen Police Commission or an elected board to oversee police discipline.
Springfield is in a prime position to improve relations between the police department and our citizens, Williams, D-Springfield, said in an emailed letter to Sarno. I am calling upon you with a sense of urgency to take the actions necessary to either re-create the Police Commission, as voted by the City Council.... Or, make the Citizen Review Board an elected body and vest it with these same powers.
Sarno, asked to respond to Williams request, said he stands by his support of a single police commissioner to oversee the department. Sarno is proposing that an existing, mayoral appointed nine-member Community Police Hearing Board would be strengthened to have subpoena powers in hearing police misconduct cases and making recommendations on discipline to Police Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood.
City councilors continued to oppose the single police commissioner system in Springfield at its meeting Monday, and referred Sarnos proposed ordinance to committee.
Sarno said Tuesday that his position has been very clear for the last several years."
I firmly believe that a career law enforcement professional should run the Police Department, Sarno said in an email response. The Citizen Community Police Hearing Board has done a very good job and is a diverse group of individuals, who represent the entire city. I would encourage the City Council to approve this ordinance ASAP. It is in the best interest of our citizens of Springfield.
Williams is a former city councilor who has also advocated for the restoration of the five-member Police Commission in prior years.
There is such an urgency in addressing this matter that it may be necessary to support a referendum petition to pass a binding measure to create such a body for the benefit of our constituents, Williams said in the letter to Sarno. Im confident that we can accomplish this effort for the benefit of our community!
Williams said that the Mass. Black and Latino Legislative Caucus recently adopted a 10-point plan to combat systemic racism and police brutality that included a call for a civilian review board or police commission.
City lawyer Alesia Days urged the council to give first-step approval to the mayors ordinance on Monday, so as not to drag out the issue, and to grant the existing hearing board with subpoena powers that will help in considering police disciplinary matters.
The council, however, referred the ordinance to committee, defending the need for the commission and saying it was concerned about jeopardizing its legal standing in a potential lawsuit that would seek to force restoration of the commission.
Councilors have argued that a citizen commission with full authority to hire, fire and discipline officers would improve transparency and accountability.
Councilors including Marcus Williams and Tracye Whitfield said they object to the push for them to act on the mayors proposal when they have pushed for years for the Police Commission.
Williams said he is sick and tired of this rhetoric that, oh, now is the time for the subpoena powers).
The time was a long time ago, Williams said Black and brown lives have been affected since day one Reality needs to strike. We deserve fresher faces with new perspectives for one. This body also needs more teeth. as Ive stated before that actually exceed beyond subpoena powers.
Related Content:
The bluest congressional district in the U.S. is located in the Bronx in New York City, bordering famous liberal Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's district. But among the 12 contenders vying for the open congressional seat, one of the top contenders is a conservative Democrat Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr., a polarizing city councilman with a history of endorsing Republicans and making homophobic comments.
Diaz Sr. is known for wearing a cowboy hat and courting controversy. He resisted calls to resign last year after saying the New York City Council was "controlled by the homosexual community," although the committee he led was dissolved. Diaz Sr. has proclaimed himself to be "the opposite of AOC."
In 2011, Diaz Sr. held a rally against same-sex marriage while his granddaughter held a dueling event in support of it across the street. He voted against legalizing same-sex marriage in 2009 and in 2011, when the measure was successful. He has compared abortion to the Holocaust and said "murderers, assassins and criminals are pro-choice."
Diaz Sr. did not respond to requests for an interview by CBS News.
Charter School Rally
Ruben Diaz Sr., D-Bronx, speaks during a charter school rally at the Legislative Office Building on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Mike Groll / AP
"There's a real risk that a Trump Republican masquerading as a Democrat could represent the bluest district in America," said New York City Councilman Ritchie Torres, one of Diaz's main rivals in the race. Hillary Clinton won the congressional district by over 93% in 2016.
A poll by the liberal think tank Data for Progress conducted in May found Diaz Sr. leading the field of Democratic candidates with 22% support, followed closely by Torres. Torres was the youngest person elected to the city council in 2014, and the first openly gay person to be elected to higher office in the Bronx. In an interview with CBS News, Torres painted the primary as a two-person race between himself and Diaz Sr.
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"We have a historic opportunity to have a new generation of leadership, and we have a historic opportunity to retire the politics of hate and fear," Torres said, adding that the election of Diaz Sr. "would be one of the greatest tragedies of 2020."
Torres has been endorsed by The New York Times, and several national progressive groups like the Human Rights Campaign. The Times endorsement of Torres said Diaz Sr. "talks and acts like a pro-Trump Republican."
Although he has frequently railed against same-sex marriage and abortion, Diaz Sr. has insisted that his opposition is based in his religious beliefs and not bigotry. The Puerto Rican-born Diaz Sr. is the pastor of a Pentecostal church in the Bronx. Torres argued that Diaz Sr. has an "irreducible base of evangelical support."
Diaz Sr. entered politics in 1993, when he was confirmed by the city council to serve on the police civilian complaint review board. He has endorsed Republicans Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki and Rick Lazio, Clinton's opponent in her 2000 run for Senate. He has more recently invited President Trump to attend his church and Senator Ted Cruz to visit his district.
Diaz Sr. served as a state senator before being elected to the council in 2017. The South Bronx is filled with buildings bearing the Ruben Diaz name, such as Ruben Diaz Apartments and Ruben Diaz Plaza. His son, Ruben Diaz Jr., is the popular Bronx borough president.
Election 2020 House New York
In this Jan. 7, 2015 file photo, state Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx, watches in the Senate Chamber at the state Capitol in Albany, N.Y. Mike Groll / AP
Diaz Jr. has not endorsed his father, and has previously distanced himself from Diaz Sr.'s more controversial comments. However, the two have frequently appeared together in recent days, including handing out food boxes to Bronx residents on June 5. The 15th Congressional District is one of the poorest in the country, with a median income of $30,000 and nearly 34% of people living below the poverty line.
Bronx United, a political action committee that opposes Diaz Sr., has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission earlier this month, alleging that Diaz Sr. knowingly accepted "illegal corporate contributions" by distributing food provided by Fresh Direct to the city borough presidents outside his city council district but within congressional district. Diaz Sr. has denied that he was campaigning.
"As a pro-Trump, anti-choice, anti-LGBT politician who has spent his entire ineffective career boosting Republicans like Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani, Ruben Diaz Sr. should not bring his traveling circus to Washington. At a time when we need dynamic leadership, Diaz Sr.'s bizarre antics and extreme views would hurt the South Bronx and New York City," a spokesman for Bronx United said in a statement to CBS News.
Diaz Sr. may also benefit from being listed on the ballot as "Ruben Diaz," with no junior or senior modifier, meaning that some people may be unsure of which Ruben Diaz they are supporting.
"I think the fact that he's on the ballot as 'Ruben Diaz,' he's trying to confuse people," said Assemblyman Michael Blake, another candidate in the race. "He absolutely is competitive, you can't ignore that, but like any campaign you have to tell your own story."
Blake, who is also the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, has the support of several influential local unions. Blake has also been endorsed by the political arm of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Socialists of America are supporting community activist Samelys Lopez. Other candidates include former city Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito; Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez; Chivona Newsome, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York; Tomas Ramos, a program director at Bronx River Community Center; and Frangell Basora, a former intern for Serrano.
Having an open congressional seat in New York City is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for many young politicians, as several members of the New York delegation have been in the House for decades. Torres noted that several of the candidates in the primary, including Blake, ran for New York City public advocate, a position seen as a stepping stone to becoming mayor, in 2019.
"There are opportunistic elected officials who keep running for higher office," Torres said. He also argued that "every insurgent thinks they are the reincarnation of AOC."
Blake replied that "people are going to vote for whoever they vote for," and said that his theme of 'Believe in the Bronx' is "not just a one liner, it's a true mindset."
Progressive candidates in neighboring congressional districts are gaining traction. In addition to Ocasio-Cortez in the 14th District, progressive candidate Jamaal Bowman is mounting a significant challenge to longtime incumbent Eliot Engel in the 16th Congressional District. In a region where winning the Democratic primary is tantamount to winning the election in November, whoever prevails in these contests could set the tone for the future of politics in New York City.
"You have the poorest congressional district, the most diverse district, and the most Democratic district all in one. And New York-15 can demonstrate to the country where we go as a country, especially in urban America," Blake said.
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The United Nations Human Rights Council condemned what it called serious human rights violations in Nicaragua and urged President Daniel Ortega to cease such tactics Friday.
The council approved the resolution with a vote of 24 to 4 with 19 abstentions at its seat in Geneva, Switzerland. The decision was celebrated by the Nicaraguan opposition.
The resolution said the council expresses grave concern at the continuing reports of serious human rights violations and abuses since April 2018, and the persisting disproportionate use of force by the police to repress social protests, and acts of violence by armed groups, as well as reports of ongoing unlawful arrests and arbitrary detentions, harassment, and torture and sexual and gender-based violence in detention.
The Nicaraguan opposition coalition Blue and White National Unity says that at least 60 political prisoners remain encarcerated.
The council also called for the independence of the judiciary and the human rights prosecutors office and for a plan to investigate reported human rights abuses since 2018.
In April 2018, the government and its supporters violently put down protests against changes to the social security system. The protests quickly expanded to other complaints against the government and were suppressed by police and civilian paramilitaries. At least 328 people died in the violence, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
The Nicaraguan government did not immediately respond to the resolution, but the opposition applauded it.
Felix Maradiaga, member of the Blue and White National Unity coalitions political committee, said the resolution marked a step in the right direction.
The opposition Sandinista Renovation Movement said the resolution reaffirms the international isolation of the regime, as demonstrated by the fact that no country in the Americas or Europe voted against it.
Foreign minister says Khartoum will soon compensate victims of the al-Qaeda attacks in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.
Sudan is finalising a deal with the United States to compensate the victims of the 1998 US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, Foreign Minister Asmaa Abdallah said on Tuesday.
The twin blasts took place in August 1998 when a truck bomb hit the US consulate in downtown Nairobi, followed by an explosion at the one in Dar-es-Salaam.
The final touches of a settlement with victims of embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam are being finalised, Abdallah told AFP news agency.
We now have a delegation in Washington negotiating with the victims lawyers and officials at the US Department of State, she said.
The attacks claimed by al-Qaeda killed a total of 224 people and wounded 5,000 almost all of them Africans.
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The US has accused Sudan of aiding the attackers linked to the bombings and demanded compensation for victims families.
The US Supreme Court in February appeared open to reinstating $4.3bn in punitive damages against Sudan in lawsuits accusing the now-overthrown regime of strongman Omar al-Bashir of complicity in the bombings that killed 224 people.
After reaching a deal, Sudan will have fulfilled all the requirements to be removed from the US blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, Abdullah said.
In February, Khartoum agreed to compensate the families of 17 US Navy sailors killed in an al-Qaeda attack on the USS Cole warship in Yemen nearly 20 years ago.
Dozens of other American sailors were wounded in the bomb blast on October 12, 2000, when two men in a small boat detonated explosives alongside the US Navy guided-missile destroyer as it was refuelling in the southern Yemeni port of Aden.
After the first year, the superintendent will be eligible for a $3,000 base salary increase for an effective annual evaluation rating or $5,000 for a highly effective rating. In the following years, the increases will be raised to $4,000 for effective and $6,000 for highly effective.
The increase will be determined by the board annually.
Additionally, the superintendent could also receive a $5,000 performance stipend for increasing the school grade or maintaining the highest rank possible if he or she receives an effective or highly effective rating after the first annual evaluation.
The stipend could be paid in a lump sum or contributed to a benefit plan that allows employee contributions, such as a Health Saving Account or a 403(b) plan.
The superintendent will have a 260-day work year, along with school corporation holidays and 20 vacation days.
The Green Party has been both criticised and praised by their membership after leader Eamon Ryan held a teleconference with Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo.
The Spotlight star, and long time anti-fracking campaigner, urged members to support the programme for government, which would stop the import of fracked gas to Ireland.
The Programme for Government agreed by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Green negotiators states:
As Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, we do not believe that it make sense to develop LNG gas import terminals importing fracked gas. Accordingly, we shall withdraw the Shannon LNG terminal from the EU Projects of Common Interest list in 2021.
Mr Ruffalo, who joined a number of climate activists, including Mr Ryan and deputy leader Catherine Martin in the hour-long Zoom meeting, said stopping the US fracked gas import terminal in the Shannon Estuary that would export fracked gas from Northeast Pennsylvania is "crucial for our shared climate, as well as for the public health of Americans.
Mr Ruffalo told those present he was brought into the movement after hearing the stories of people who had been made ill by Pennsylvania's environmental policies.
Sadhbh O'Neill, a lecturer in environmental politics and Policy Officer for Stop Climate Chaos Ireland, says she had reservations about the intervention from the film star, she found the meeting beneficial.
"I found him very clued in, the beautiful thing about him coming in, is he really put our options here into a global perspective," she said.
"I was a bit cagey about it as there is a political discussion going on, and having this famous actor in, but it was actually very refreshing and brought a global perspective, that is important," she said.
"The impacts of these policies stretch far and wide, it's not just about Shannon Estuary, but the impact on those communities where that gas is imported from.
"That's where Mark Ruffalo came in, to discuss those communities and the impacts on those people and the atmosphere.
"The global dimension was brought to bear on the discussion about LNG, and I also think it will put pressure on Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to come out and say; 'We're sincere about this', they've nowhere to hide on it.
"It's a good news story."
Likewise, councillor Michael Pigeon said: "I can see why people don't like the idea, but ultimately it brought several hundred people to a call to hear about the dangers of fracking and how we can support communities fighting against it. I'm not sure that would have happened without Mark's presence."
However, some of those within the party have criticised the move as a "gimmick".
"The general consensus internally (and externally) is that this is thoroughly embarrassing," one member said.
It makes no sense now anyway. Whose vote would be swayed by the Hulk in the party? This is more of a general election thing.
The secretary of the party's policy council Harry McEvansonya tweeted that Mr Ruffalo's inclusion was "a complete and utter embarrassment", while
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"What we're getting in the programme for government is not going to provide us with a cast-iron guarantee that that infrastructure isn't going to be put in place.
"Leo Varadkar said to his own party that this isn't going to stop a private company applying to Bord Plenala and going through the entire process again."
The votes for the draft programme for government will be counted on Friday, June 26.
An international team of scientists and historians has found evidence connecting an unexplained period of extreme cold in ancient Rome with an unlikely source: a massive eruption of Alaska's Okmok volcano, located on the opposite side of the Earth.
Around the time of Julius Caesar's death in 44 BCE, written sources describe a period of unusually cold climate, crop failures, famine, disease, and unrest in the Mediterranean Region -impacts that ultimately contributed to the downfall of the Roman Republic and Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Historians have long suspected a volcano to be the cause, but have been unable to pinpoint where or when such an eruption had occurred, or how severe it was.
In a new study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a research team led by Joe McConnell, Ph.D. of the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nev. uses an analysis of tephra (volcanic ash) found in Arctic ice cores to link the period of unexplained extreme climate in the Mediterranean with the caldera-forming eruption of Alaska's Okmok volcano in 43 BCE.
"To find evidence that a volcano on other side of the earth erupted and effectively contributed to the demise of the Romans and the Egyptians and the rise of the Roman Empire is fascinating," McConnell said. "It certainly shows how interconnected the world was even 2,000 years ago."
The discovery was initially made last year in DRI's Ice Core Laboratory, when McConnell and Swiss researcher Michael Sigl, Ph.D. from the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Bern happened upon an unusually well preserved layer of tephra in an ice core sample and decided to investigate.
New measurements were made on ice cores from Greenland and Russia, some of which were drilled in the 1990s and archived in the U.S., Denmark, and Germany. Using these and earlier measurements, they were able to clearly delineate two distinct eruptions -- a powerful but short-lived, relatively localized event in early 45 BCE, and a much larger and more widespread event in early 43 BCE with volcanic fallout that lasted more than two years in all the ice core records.
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The researchers then conducted a geochemical analysis of the tephra samples from the second eruption found in the ice, matching the tiny shards with those of the Okmok II eruption in Alaska -- one of the largest eruptions of the past 2,500 years.
"The tephra match doesn't get any better," said tephra specialist Gill Plunkett, Ph.D. from Queen's University Belfast. "We compared the chemical fingerprint of the tephra found in the ice with tephra from volcanoes thought to have erupted about that time and it was very clear that the source of the 43 BCE fallout in the ice was the Okmok II eruption."
Working with colleagues from the U.K., Switzerland, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Alaska, and Yale University in Connecticut, the team of historians and scientists gathered supporting evidence from around the globe, including tree-ring-based climate records from Scandinavia, Austria and California's White Mountains, and climate records from a speleothem (cave formations) from Shihua Cave in northeast China. They then used Earth system modeling to develop a more complete understanding of the timing and magnitude of volcanism during this period and its effects on climate and history.
According to their findings, the two years following the Okmok II eruption were some of the coldest in the Northern Hemisphere in the past 2,500 years, and the decade that followed was the fourth coldest. Climate models suggest that seasonally averaged temperatures may have been as much as 7oC (13oF) below normal during the summer and autumn that followed the 43 BCE eruption of Okmok, with summer precipitation of 50 to 120 percent above normal throughout Southern Europe, and autumn precipitation reaching as high as 400 percent of normal.
"In the Mediterranean region, these wet and extremely cold conditions during the agriculturally important spring through autumn seasons probably reduced crop yields and compounded supply problems during the ongoing political upheavals of the period," said classical archaeologist Andrew Wilson, D.Phil. of the University of Oxford. "These findings lend credibility to reports of cold, famine, food shortage and disease described by ancient sources."
"Particularly striking was the severity of the Nile flood failure at the time of the Okmok eruption, and the famine and disease that was reported in Egyptian sources," added Yale University historian Joe Manning, Ph.D. "The climate effects were a severe shock to an already stressed society at a pivotal moment in history."
Volcanic activity also helps to explain certain unusual atmospheric phenomena that were described by ancient Mediterranean sources around the time of Caesar's assassination and interpreted as signs or omens -- things like solar halos, the sun darkening in the sky, or three suns appearing in the sky (a phenomenon now known as a parahelia, or 'sun dog'). However, many of these observations took place prior to the eruption of Okmok II in 43 BCE, and are likely related to a smaller eruption of Mt. Etna in 44 BCE.
Although the study authors acknowledge that many different factors contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic and Ptolemaic Kingdom, they believe that the climate effects of the Okmok II eruption played an undeniably large role -- and that their discovery helps to fill a knowledge gap about this period of history that has long puzzled archaeologists and ancient historians.
"People have been speculating about this for many years, so it's exciting to be able to provide some answers," McConnell said.
A man wearing a mask to prevent contracting the coronavirus walks past a branch of the Shincheonji in Daegu, Korea, Feb. 21, 2020. Reuters
Daegu, once the epicenter of South Korea's new coronavirus outbreak, filed a civil damage suit against a fringe religious sect for allegedly causing mass infections by hindering the city's quarantine efforts, the city said Tuesday.
The city filed the suit with the Daegu District Court on Thursday against the Shincheonji Church of Jesus and its chairman, Lee Man-hee.
It demanded Shincheonji provide financial compensation of 100 billion won (US$82.3 million), more than two-thirds of the city's total virus-related spending of 146 billion won. The city said it was planning to increase the amount as it secures more evidence of financial damage down the road.
The city believed mass infections among the religion's practitioners led to a spike in the city's COVID-19 caseload, putting huge financial strain on the city and stretching health care facilities there. The city spent a huge sum of money on quarantine and health-related work to stop the rapid spread of the virus.
Daegu's first known COVID-19 patient was confirmed on Feb. 18. After the city found out that she was a Shincheonji member, it demanded the sect submit a list of its members, ask them to actively get tested for the virus and cooperate with the city's quarantine efforts, all of which, the city argued, were not followed through.
Also, it said many of the sect's worshipers gathered for prayer or bible studies in a place not registered as a religious facility. Such a violation of architectural laws, the city argued, also played a role in spreading the virus.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the city has reported 6,901 cases, and about 61 percent were confirmed to be Shincheonji members. The country's total caseload is 12,484 as of Tuesday.
In February, the city filed a complaint against the sect's officials for failing to submit a full list of its members and facilities and to cooperate with the city's quarantine and disinfection efforts.
In March, it raided the sect's facilities to secure closed-circuit television footage and computer hard drives to confirm illegal activities, the city said.
Prior to the damage suit, the city had received a court permit to temporarily seize some of the assets of the church and the chairman, including Lee's deposit bond.
The lawsuit is meant to "soothe the damaged hearts of Daegu citizens who suffered from COVID-19 and to hold Shincheonji accountable," said Jung Hae-yong, head of the city's suit preparation team, during a press briefing Monday.
"We expect to hold the church legally liable and get reimbursed for the spending on quarantine works and medical treatments for the infectious disease," he said, adding that the city expected a lengthy legal battle with the sect. (Yonhap)
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As long as churches and Christian organizations align with worldly principles and management structures relating to performance, they encourage people to work in the flesh instead of the spirit and prevent Gods glory and Kingdom being revealed.
Churches and Christian organizations who go corporate often prevent access for God to work supernaturally in and through them because performance-orientated culture encourages people to work in their own strength, not Gods.
They often neglect a Kingdom attitude that is spiritually oriented where Gods will, goodness and supernatural power are able to be manifested. Instead, they forfeit the spiritual power of God for worldly valued principles such as professionalism.
A church or organization full of robotic Christian professionals identifying initially with their denomination or work role before Jesus does not glorify God, manifest his kingdom or lead people to Him.
Performing is synonymous with conditional approval or love. It is not from God. It is essentially physical, effort based and driven by the will or the flesh. It often requires a person to work according to a role determined by the organization to fulfill a position description and performance outcomes. People are expected to align with values, ethos and guidelines of the organization regardless if it is or isnt part of Gods will.
Performing can also lead people to burn out and to feel mechanical because they are working in their own strength while confusing their Christian work role with their true identity in Christ, which is a source of power to draw from.
An emphasis on education and training in order to be considered worthy by a Christian Church or organization to work for them is another performance-orientated trait saturated in worldliness. In this context, education is valued before spirituality. Knowledge such as theology does not substitute for supernatural experience and relationship with God. Jesus does not need a person to have a degree in order for him to carry out miracles through them.
God does not want Christians to work primarily in their own strength because he cannot be involved that way. The way of the Kingdom according to Jesus is childlike dependency with God, not an I can do it myself attitude which is valued by the world.
Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).
Jesus wants to be glorified or manifest his kingdom through us. He wants to use people as vessels.
Christians who have felt the power of God flowing through them by the Holy Spirit can testify that it took no effort on their part. People who have experienced miracles through the Holy Spirit will also say that they could not achieve the desired result with their own strength.
This is the whole point.
Why then if Christian organizations and churches who have access to the miraculous power of God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit do they not use it? The answer is that worldly culture prevails before a Kingdom of God mindset. This is unacceptable if people are serious about putting God first.
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11).
Measurement of individual performance being prioritized before manifesting God's glory and Kingdom is a sign of a Christian organization that has lost its way.
The solution is simple. Organizations need to make operating in the spirit a priority.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:18).
Harris County leaders and the governor are urging residents to wear masks as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to grow.
On Sunday, Texas had its sixth-highest single-day increase in novel coronavirus cases while Harris County reached 21,053 cases, according to the Houston Chronicle data team.
OUTBREAK: Harris County investigates COVID-19 deaths at Humble nursing home
Cases also continue to rise in the five Harris County zip codes that comprise the Lake Houston area.
The deaths have grown from 26 to 38 since June 12 in the Lake Houston area. And as of Monday, June 22, there was a total of 807 confirmed cases, up from 655 confirmed cases on June 12, according to data from Harris County Public Health. Divided by zip code, there were 256 confirmed cases in 77396, 189 confirmed cases in 77346, 263 confirmed cases in 77338, 81 confirmed cases in 77339 and 18 confirmed cases in 77345.
Meanwhile, Harris County Judge Lina Hildago is trying to get residents to help flatten the curve by requiring business patrons to wear masks beginning today. The ordinance was conceived after eight straight days of record hospitalizations. The order from Hildago, which expires on June 30, requires all customers over the age of 10 wear a face covering with a few exceptions, such as eating at restaurants or visiting the bank.
ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Gov. Abbott warns of record-breaking 5,000 new COVID-19 infections for Texas
Governor Greg Abbott emphasized personal responsibility in terms of preventing the spread of the coronavirus last week as numbers began to rise, which he echoed again today. He urged residents to wear face coverings, but stopped short of a mandate.
Experts have signaled that Houston may be the next national epicenter for the coronavirus, if the city cant slow the spread.
We must find ways to return to our daily routines while finding ways to coexist with COVID-19, Abbott said, adding, If you are at risk or sick, you should stay at home. You should wear a face mask when you go out.
More Information Data on the coronavirus as of June 22 from Harris County Public Health can be viewed by zipcode. These zipcodes cover the Lake Houston area. 77396 256 confirmed cases 106 active cases 148 recovered cases 2 Deaths 77346 189 confirmed cases 65 active cases 123 recovered cases 1 Death 77338 263 confirmed cases 108 active cases 135 recovered cases 20 Deaths 77339 81 confirmed cases 54 active cases 18 recovered cases 9 Deaths 77345 18 confirmed cases 13 active cases 5 recovered cases 0 Deaths See More Collapse
WHERE TO APPLY: Harris County opens COVID-19 relief fund
It is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to wash hands with soap frequently for at least 20 seconds and to physically distance when around others. It is also recommended to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth as well as covering coughs and sneezes to prevent any potential spread of the virus. Clean and disinfect surfaces daily or when they get dirty and monitor your health for any symptoms, according to the CDC.
Lake Houston area testing sites
The Texas Division of Emergency Management will have a coronavirus testing facility open from June 23-27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. by appointment only at the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods, Kingwood. To make an appointment, visit www.txcovidtest.org or call 512-883-2400. Testing was canceled on June 22 due to weather conditions, according to Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martins office, but was scheduled to continue through the week.
Walmart also continues to provide COVID-19 testing near the Fall Creek subdivision, at 9235 North Sam Houston Parkway E., Humble on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7-9 a.m. and in Kingwood at 2165 Northpark Drive Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. free of cost. Appointments are required and can be made online at www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com for Fall Creek or www.MyQuestCOVIDTest.com for Kingwood.
For more information on the coronavirus, visit Harris County Public Healths website.
savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
COVID-19: No Haj 2020 for Indian pilgrims as Saudi Arabia bans international pilgrims
India
pti-PTI
New Delhi, Jun 23: The government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested not to send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, he told reporters.
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Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic. Naqvi said 2,13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020 and the process to refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction has been started immediately.
The money will be refunded through online Direct Benefit Transfer mode into bank accounts of applicants, the Minority Affairs Minister said, adding this will be the first time since Independence that pilgrims from India will not be going for Haj due to the unprecedented situation posed by the pandemic.
More than 2,300 women had applied to perform Haj without mehram (male companion) this year and now they will be allowed to go for Haj in 2021 on the basis of their application this year. Besides them, more women, who apply to go for Haj without Mehram next year, will also be facilitated, he said.
A total of 3,040 women have performed Haj after the Narendra Modi government ensured that Muslim women can perform Haj without mehram in 2018, Naqvi said, adding that a total of 2 lakh Indian Muslims had performed Haj in 2019, about 50 per cent of them being women.
In a statement, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Haj and Umrah said that due to coronavirus pandemic and the risks of it spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year will be held whereby a "very limited number" of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it.
"This decision is taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols," the statement said.
Naqvi said honouring the decision of the Saudi government because of serious challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and keeping in mind the health and well-being of the people, it was decided that Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj this year. The entire world is facing challenges from the coronavirus pandemic and Saudi Arabia has also been affected by it, he noted.
Haj 2020 is proposed in the period between late July and early August The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.
The number of new confirmed cases is on the rise in the country's west.
Ukraine's Chief Medical Officer, Deputy Health Minister Viktor Liashko has listed a number of Ukrainian regions where quarantine measures could be toughened rather than eased.
These are Lviv region, Volyn region, and Zakarpattia region, he said at a briefing, according to Deutsche Welle.
Read alsoUkraine sees 833 new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours
He said the number of new confirmed cases was on the rise in the country's west.
"Yet, it is Odesa region that demonstrates the highest growth compared to the previous seven days 83%. The most critical situation is in the western regions, in particular Zakarpattia, Lviv, Volyn regions, where severe restrictions may be introduced. There is an increase in cases of coronavirus disease there," he said.
As UNIAN reported, there were 38,074 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of June 23. Of them, 833 cases were reported in the past day. The death toll was 1,035. Some 16,956 patients have already recovered.
Acting minister says the main task is to keep students and teachers safe.
The start date of the new academic year in schools depends on the epidemiological situation in Ukraine, while being tentatively scheduled for September 1, says acting Minister of Education and Science Liubomyra Mandziy.
She explained that there is no decision confirmed in Cabinet yet to open schools on September 1 or to continue online studies, RBC-Ukraine reports.
"So far, adaptive quarantine has been extended until July 31. It's hard to judge how the epidemic situation will develop. It's indisputable that I want the children to return to schools. But conditions of school studies must be safe. So we are now preparing to conduct school finals and run an admission campaign. Our main task is to keep students and teachers safe," the official explained.
Mandziy also clarifier her previous statement on the "online school" in the new academic year.
Read alsoDaily rise of COVID-19 cases slightly down in Ukraine
"I'd like to refute the fake piece. In a comment to one of the TV channels, I said that the education process will already involve tools and technologies that the teachers have mastered. But this doesn't mean that we will switch to online learning from September 1. No one has canceled live communication. That's the essence of school," said Mandziy.
"By the end of June, together with the Ministry of Health, we are preparing additional protocols that will designate safety measures in educational facilities to ensure the return of children from September 1. I am sure that the new academic year for school students will begin on September 1. For freshmen in universities, it will be from September 17. We provide for corrective training next year so that each teacher sees how their students have mastered the material," she added.
Hyderabad: On a day health minister Etala Rajendar practically mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government at the Centre for its Covid-19 management, Telangana state on Monday reported its highest-ever single day tally of 872 cases, as well as seven more deaths.
Mondays figures took the total cases to 8,674 and the toll to 217, according to the health department bulletin. As many as 713 cases were from Greater Hyderabad. The number of cases has zoomed by 3,000 in just nine days, from 4,974 cases on June 14 to 6,027 on June 18, 7,072 on Saturday to 8,674 cases on Monday.
The number of discharged patients rose to 4005 with 274 patients sent home. The testing capacity is to be hiked from 2,290 now to 4,310 in a week.
Elsewhere, chairing a review meeting with senior health officials on Covid-19 management, Rajendar said the Centre instead of helping Telangana state in fighting Covid-19 had restricted itself asking people to clap and light lamps. After this, it dusted its hands off the issue.
He said the Centre had diverted a crucial sample-testing machine, Cobos 8800, which could have tested 3,5000-4,000 samples a day, that Telangana state had ordered from Germany, to Bengal.
On the other hand, BJP leaders were staging protests making irresponsible demands in a shameless manner, Rajendar said, adding that the Centre had only released `214 crore to the state to combat Covid-19.
It was decided that the TIMS at Gachibowli will start functioning in a week. Testing for Covid-19 will be extended at primary health care (PHC) centres. Only those showing Covid-19 symptoms and their primary contacts are eligible to take the tests.
Description
GIS 23 June 2020: The dedication of Public Officers towards ensuring the progress of the country has proved itself as a major asset, says the Minister of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms, Mr Teeruthraj Hurdoyal, in a message in the context of the United Nations Public Service Day.
The United Nations Public Service Day as decreed by the United Nations is celebrated each year on 23rd June to reflect on the true value and virtue of the Public Service. The theme for this year is: Action Today, Impact Tomorrow: Innovating and Transforming Public Services to realise Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasises the crucial need for innovation by public organisations to reinvent with the new era.
In his message, Minister Hurdoyal underscored the need to use the public officers capacity to embark on a meaningful modernisation of the services that will bring the required resilience to face future challenges. He further highlighted that the Public Service continues to play a pivotal developmental role in the growth of the country, taking steps to keep pace with globalisation and societys changing needs and demands through innovation in both services and programmes.
The Civil Service Minister also spoke of the Covid-19 pandemic which according to him, has brought in emerging and evolving difficulties that have put to test all the public services while bringing the country into a difficult social and economic phase. This, he stated, will be a major test for all public organisations to reinvent themselves to deliver the required service in view of setting the pace for economic recovery and gear up into another phase of socio-economic development.
He also expressed appreciation and lauded the public officers for upholding the ethos of the Public Service in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Minister Hurdoyal concluded by appealing to all Public Officers to maintain the good work and continuous support to the population at large for the country to prosper further. He recalled that the Public Service has always been the backbone of social and economic progress in the country for decades by helping in building the country including the diversified economy; educating the population; and the diverse multi-cultural society.
[June 23, 2020] Hammer Fiber Optics Holdings Corp Announces Third Quarter Financial Results
PISCATAWAY, N.J., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hammer Fiber Optics Holdings Corp (OTCQB: HMMR) announced operating and financial results for the third quarter ended April 30, 2020. This is a challenging time for the entirety of the globe, said Erik Levitt, Hammers CEO. The novel coronavirus has changed the way we interact, work, play, and communicate. It has changed everything in our daily lives. The impact on our way of life, and on the infrastructure that we need to support that new way of life is unprecedented.
Due to global conditions there were delays in projects in Huntsville and Dominica, but both projects have now resumed. Hammer increased the reach of its SMS network, announcing a partnership with Telefonica and continued to build out its mobile origination footprint which now includes California, Texas, Florida, New York and Mississippi. Hammers management anticipates that these services will make a more substantial contribution to revenue in future quarters. The company advanced its Over-the-Top (OTT) infrastructure by developing a suite of services to enhance remote workforce and video conferencing capabilities as well as products targeting consumer privacy by leveraging its status as a mobile network operator. The first applications are already in final tests and announcements on the full breadth and scope of the application suite will be forthcoming. During the period Hammer discontinued the operations of its subsidiary Open Data Centers, LLC, which operated a data center facility in Piscataway, NJ, resulting in more streamlined financial operations. Key financial results include: Total revenues for the quarter decreased to $388,900 from $888,395, a 56.20% decrease versus the same quarter in the prior year. This is primary due to the discontinuation of Endstream Communications Toll Free Termination business and the Open Data Centers business unit. EBITDA loss, inclusive of Open Data Centers in the period ended April 2019, decreased to ($64,369) from ($150,065), an improvement of 57.09%. This is primarily due to the discontinuation of the Endstream Communications Toll Free Termination business and the Open Data Centers business unit. In May 2020 Hammer received an $88,000 loan under the Paycheck Protection Program. It has met the obligations of the note and expects to file for forgiveness. Hammer has not yet drawn down any funds from the Peak One equity line of credit.
About Hammer
Hammer Fiber Optics Holdings Corp. (OTCQB:HMMR) is a telecommunications company investing in the future of wireless technology. Hammers Everything Wireless go to market strategy includes the development of high-speed fixed wireless service for residential and small businesses using its wireless fiber platform, Hammer Wireless AIR, Over-the-Top services such as voice, SMS and video collaboration services, the construction of smart city networks and hosting services including cloud and colocation. For more information contact our Investor Relations Team at [email protected] . Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains projections and other forward-looking statements regarding future events or our future financial performance. All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions contained in this release, including any statements regarding our future results of operations and financial positions, business strategy, plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). These statements are only predictions and reflect our current beliefs and expectations with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risk and uncertainties and subject to change at any time. We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
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Nurses moved their children and didn't see them for up to eight weeks during the Covid-19 outbreak, the Oireachtas committee on the virus has heard.
Phil Ni Sheaghda, the General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), told the committee that nurses made "an extraordinary sacrifice" in order to go to work at the height of the outbreak.
Ms Ni Sheaghdha told the committee that nurses were "meeting resistance" to their children returning to childcare providers.
She said that the public needed to be informed that children of healthcare workers are not infectious and better testing for nurses was needed.
Ahead of the appearance at the committee, the INMO today released the finding of a survey it carried out, which showed that:
62% of nurses have taken annual leave to care for children
22% are using paid childminders
10% are using grandparents
69% did not have a partner available to provide childcare - due to being a single parent or their partner is a frontline worker
The INMO has recommended that any expenses on childcare be reimbursed and annual leave be compensated as well as priority access to childcare for frontline workers.
Ms Ni Sheaghda said that nurses now "feel abandoned" and were taking care of children after long overnight shifts.
She said that fatigue was a "huge issue" and impacted infection controls in healthcare settings.
"There has rightly been applause and praise for frontline healthcare workers over the past three months.
Yet when the applause dies down, many will be left out of pocket and without any leave. Our members say they feel abandoned.
We have long sought a solution to the childcare problem facing our members.
"They want to do their jobs, while also knowing that their children are being looked after. This is not an unreasonable demand.
Nobody doubts that childcare in a pandemic is a difficult issue, but so far that difficulty has landed on those who are taking the greatest risks during the pandemic.
One in ten Covid cases in this country are nurses. We must support them better. Siptu's Paul Bell said that there could be an issue with either accrued annual leave or exhaustion as the country returns to normal.
Mr Bell said that if there is a second wave of the virus, there is a chance that some frontline workers will have no annual leave to take.
LIGO-Virgo finds mystery object in 'mass gap'
An unusual gravitational wave signal is casting new light on the mass gap between neutron stars and black holes.
When the most massive stars die, they collapse under their own gravity and leave behind black holes. When stars that are a bit less massive than this die, they explode in a supernova and leave behind dense, dead remnants of stars called neutron stars.
For decades, astronomers have been puzzled by a gap that lies between neutron stars and black holes. The heaviest known neutron star is no more than 2.5 times the mass of our sun, or 2.5 solar masses, and the lightest known black hole is about 5 solar masses.
On August 14 last year, the National Science Foundation's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), based in the USA, and the European Virgo detector picked up a gravitational wave signal from the merger of two astronomical objects which could help develop scientists understanding of the mass gap.
A paper about the detection is published today in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The signal, dubbed GW190814, is the result of a black hole 23 times the size of our sun merging with a second object around 2.6 times larger than our sun. At a ratio of 9:1, it is the largest difference in masses yet observed during a collision by gravitational wave astronomers.
The merger created a new black hole 26 solar masses in size and caused a blast of energy in the form of gravitational waves, which rippled out across spacetime like when a rock is dropped into a pond. About 800 million years after the collision occurred, those ripples finally reached Earth and passed through the ultra-sensitive LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors.
Researchers from the University of Glasgows Institute for Gravitational Research (IGR) played a key role in the data analysis which made sense of the signal.
Dr Christopher Berry, recently appointed lecturer in the IGR, said: This discovery is excitingit may be the collision of a neutron star and a black holesomething we have been long searching for.
Our first discovery of gravitational waves in September 2015 came from the merger of two black holes. In August 2017 we found two merging neutron stars. We were just missing a neutronstar black hole merger to complete the set!
Each new observation tells us more about the nature of black holes and neutron stars. In this case, we are not sure if the lighter object was a neutron star or a black holeit is an enticing mystery. Figuring out how such a system could have formed will transform our understanding of how stars live and die.
Professor Sheila Rowan, director of the IGR, said: This discovery was made during the third observing run (O3) of Advanced LIGO, after the collaboration worked together to make significant upgrades to the sensitivity of the detectors.
Its possible that that we might have missed it altogether if we hadnt taken that time to reflect on and learn from our early successes. Instead, during O3 we observed a steady stream of candidate events almost daily, which not only allows us to make exciting new discoveries like this but also to build our statistical base of gravitational wave detections. Our next upgrade, Advanced LIGO Plus, promises to bring us an even greater volume of novel detections and further advance the field of gravitational wave astronomy.
When the LIGO and Virgo scientists spotted this merger, they immediately sent out an alert to the astronomical community. Dozens of ground- and space-based telescopes followed up in search of light waves generated in the event, but none picked up any signals.
Prof Vicky Kalogera, a a professor at Northwestern University, said: We've been waiting decades to solve this mystery. We don't know if this object is the heaviest known neutron star, or the lightest known black hole, but either way it breaks a record."
"This is going to change how scientists talk about neutron stars and black holes," says co-author Patrick Brady, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration spokesperson. "The mass gap may in fact not exist at all but may have been due to limitations in observational capabilities. Time and more observations will tell."
Future observations with LIGO, Virgo and possibly other telescopes may catch similar events that would help reveal whether additional objects exist in the mass gap.
The University of Glasgows contribution to the LIGO collaboration is funded by the Science and Technologies Funding Council (STFC) alongside the Universities of Birmingham, Cardiff, Strathclyde, West of Scotland, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Cambridge, King College London and Southampton.
A carrier rocket carrying the last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 23, 2020. China launched the last BDS satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 9:43 a.m. on Tuesday (Beijing Time). (Photo by Hu Xujie/Xinhua)
China launched the last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) on Tuesday, marking the completion of the deployment of its own global navigation system.
The satellite, the 55th in the family of BeiDou that means "Big Dipper" in Chinese, was launched at 9:43 a.m. (Beijing Time) and sent into the preset orbit by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The mission, the 336th by the Long March rocket series, was a "complete success," the launch center said.
The satellite, designed to enter the geostationary earth orbit (GEO), was the last one of the BDS-3 system, which started to offer countries and regions along the Belt and Road as well as the world basic navigation service in December 2018.
BDS is one of four global navigation satellite systems in the world. The other three global navigation systems are GPS of the United States, Galileo of the European Union, and GLONASS of Russia.
China has been actively encouraging the cooperation and exchanges between the BDS system and other navigation systems in fields such as construction and application, strengthening compatibility and interoperability, resource sharing, and providing users with more qualified, diversified, safe and reliable services.
Distinctive design
Compared with other global systems in the world, the design of the BDS constellation is unique, including medium earth orbit (MEO), inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) and GEO satellites.
The BDS-3 system consists of a total of 30 satellites, including 24 MEO satellites, three IGSO satellites and three GEO satellites.
The three GEO satellites, including the newly launched one, can help significantly enhance the overall technical indicators of the BDS-3 system, according to the satellite developer China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).
They feature two distinctive creations of the BDS system -- active positioning and short message communication, CAST said.
The short message communication capability of the BDS-3 system has been improved 10 times. Users of the system can send a message of 1,200 Chinese characters at one time, as well as pictures, a useful function in emergencies.
Active positioning, employing radio measurement technology, can provide the locations of the users, not only to themselves, but also to relevant parties who are monitoring the users' whereabouts, through the joint efforts of two GEO satellites.
The function is widely used in search and rescue, fishing and other fields to help guarantee people's safety.
The BDS system provides navigation signals of multiple frequencies, and is able to improve service accuracy by using combined multi-frequency signals.
It also integrates navigation and communication capabilities for the first time, and can provide services of navigation, short message communication, satellite-based augmentation, international search and rescue, as well as precise point positioning.
"BDS provides time-and-space location benchmarks, which will have a great influence on the country's social and economic development, as well as people's lives," said Chen Zhonggui, chief designer of the BDS-3 satellites at CAST.
"It will also lay the foundation for new infrastructure construction, an important direction for China's development in the next stage," Chen said.
Hard exploration
China started to explore a navigation satellite system suited to its national conditions in the 1980s, laying down a three-step strategy.
The BDS-1 project, the first step, also known as BeiDou Navigation Satellite Demonstration System, got official approval in 1994, when China was still facing an international technology blockade and domestic component manufacturers were not yet fully fledged.
The team started the exploration work with the solar arrays, recalled Fan Benyao, chief designer of BDS-1 at CAST.
Insisting on self-reliance, the older generation of the BDS team overcame a series of technical problems, including those relating to the Dongfanghong-3 satellite platform and key components that might affect the service life of the satellites.
BDS-1 was completed and put into operation in 2000 with the launching of two satellites, providing useful experience in the areas of construction and application, as well as training professionals for the following projects.
The second step was to construct the BDS-2 system, which started in 2004.
The team worked around the clock, at one point conducting 200-hour non-stop power-on tests at the launch site.
By the end of 2012, a total of 14 satellites, including five GEO satellites, five IGSO satellites and four MEO satellites, were successfully launched to complete the deployment.
The BDS-2 system is the world's first hybrid constellation, in which satellites in three kinds of orbits work in concert. It started providing regional services for users in the Asia-Pacific region in December 2012.
Improved performance
Before the BDS-2 system officially provided regional services, China had begun to develop the BDS-3 global navigation system, with better performance and reliability.
The year 2018 saw the most intensive launch of the BDS satellites, with 19 satellites sent into space.
Compared with the BDS-2 system, the signals of the BDS-3 system have been upgraded to provide better services.
The research team from CAST has also achieved technological breakthroughs in inter-satellite links to facilitate communications, data transmission and ranging among the satellites.
"The development of satellite navigation technology is not only a significant item of infrastructure for China, but also an item of infrastructure that provides timing, positioning and navigation services for the whole world. The continuity and stability of the services are very important," said Chi Jun, chief director of the research team at CAST.
The designed lifespan of the BDS-3 satellites has been increased to 12 years.
The BDS-3 satellites are equipped with high-precision rubidium and hydrogen atomic clocks, independently developed by China to improve accuracy.
Dedicated to world
So far, BDS has been widely used in transportation, agriculture, forestry, fishery, hydrological monitoring, meteorological forecasts, disaster relief and other fields, according to the China Satellite Navigation Office.
The BDS-based navigation service has been adopted by many businesses, including e-commerce companies, intelligent mobile terminal manufacturers and location service providers, the office said.
In the field of smart phone applications, for example, the mainstream chip manufacturers at home and abroad have all developed chips that are compatible with BDS.
With its integration with new technologies, such as big data and artificial intelligence, the BDS system, using its space-time information, will help promote the transformation of production and lifestyle, as well as the innovation of business models.
In 2019, the total output value of China's satellite navigation and location service industry reached 345 billion yuan (about 48.8 billion U.S. dollars).
Adhering to the principle of "developed by China, dedicated to the world," BDS is also used by more than half of the countries in the world.
According to the office, to enhance the cooperation of BDS with other global navigation systems, China has signed joint statements with Russia and the United States respectively on compatibility and interoperability. Frequency coordination has also been promoted between China and Europe.
China also works to get BDS ratified by relevant international organizations. It is expected to be recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization this year. The first international standard proposal for mobile communication supporting the BDS-3 signals has passed review and will be released soon. The first BDS ship terminal test standard has been officially released by the International Electrotechnical Commission.
Next, Chinese researchers will develop an intelligent management platform for the system, which will have the capabilities of multi-source reception, independent monitoring, intelligent diagnosis, process visualization and rapid evaluation on the basis of massive data from the satellites, ground stations and user assessments.
By 2035, BDS will be built into a more comprehensive, integrated and intelligent positioning, navigation and timing system, serving the world and mankind with stronger functions and better performance, the office said.
SACRAMENTO After a last-ditch push for signatures, supporters of a $5.5 billion bond that would keep Californias stem cell research institute in business have qualified their measure for the November ballot.
The measure asks voters to re-fund the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the states stem cell agency, by allowing it to issue bonds for research, training and facilities construction.
Camper fire claims the life of two people in Marshall County
Thousands of Christians killed in Nigeria: UK lawmakers call for investigation into reports of 'genocide'
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Violence against Christians in Nigeria can pave the way for genocide, a group of U.K. parliamentarians warned this week in a new report analyzing the impact of violence carried out by Boko Haram extremists and Fulani militias throughout the West African country.
The U.K. All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, a bipartisan group of lawmakers from both houses of parliament, released its new report Nigeria: Unfolding Genocide? on Monday.
As Nigeria continues to struggle with the Boko Haram insurgency and the existence of its splinter group, Islamic State West African Province, APPG members are concerned about reports of escalating violence characterized as a farmer-herder conflict even though a disproportionate number of killings are being carried out by militant Fulani herdsmen against predominantly Christian farming communities in the country's fertile Middle Belt region.
International rights advocates have contended that the standard for genocide has been reached in Nigeria as estimates have suggested that thousands of Christians have been killed in the Middle Belt as a traditional arbitration process between farmers and herders over damaged crops has broken down in recent years.
Violence in both the Middle Belt and northeast Nigeria (where Boko Haram and ISWAP commit atrocities) has led to the mass displacement of millions as entire communities have been forced to flee in fear for their lives in the wake of massacres.
Among all the injustices for the U.K. to help correct in the near future, the widespread and growing persecution of Christians should be top of the list, Member of Parliament Jim Shannon said in a statement. Thus, as the U.K. faces the challenge of lockdown and mass quarantine for the first time in living memory, I ask you to please spare a thought for those Christians who face not only a pandemic but also threats of violence and persecution that we cant imagine.
The report urges the government of Nigeria and the international community to implement recommendations to help save the lives of Nigerian citizens, such as comprehensive investigations and prosecutions.
As Nigerian Government Ministers have publicly and rightly admitted, Christians are being ruthlessly targeted, specifically because of their Faith, the report states. Undoubtedly though, peaceable Muslims, through collateral violence, can also become victims of this cruel Islamist religious ideology. It is a destructive and divisive ideology which readily mutates into crimes against humanity and can pave the way for genocide.
We must not hesitate in saying so, the report adds. Unfortunately, Boko Haram are not the only threat that Nigerian Christians face. Attacks by armed groups of Fulani herdsmen have resulted in the killing, maiming, dispossession and eviction of thousands of Christians. It is difficult for us in the West to sometimes even imagine this kind of suffering, so it is important that we recognize the stories of survivors.
The report examines multiple drivers of increased violence carried out by Fulani militias against farming communities and the periodic retaliatory violence. Factors analyzed include resource competition, religious sectarianism [most Fulani herders are Muslim], poor land management by the Nigerian Government, population growth, climate change and insecurity.
Rapid population growth, climate change and desertification have decreased the water available for land and grazing and put pressure on resources, the report states, citing a United Nations estimate that about 80% of the Sahels farmland is degraded and the land available to pastoralists is shrinking.
This means that grain and food production is forcing pastoralists into a desperate search for fertile pasture.
As herders travel further distances in search of water and land for grazing, they come into conflict with local farmers, who accuse the herders of encroaching onto their land and damaging their crops, the report adds. The increased conflict has strained the capacity of traditional leaders to reduce tensions and resolve conflict amicably. This has contributed to the breakdown of historical dispute settlement mechanisms and conflict turning to violence.
While there are economic factors at play, the report also states that the escalation of violence must also be seen in the context of the growing power and influence of Islamist extremism across the Sahel.
Multiple groups, such as the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter of Boko Haram and an affiliate of the weakened Daesh caliphate in Iraq and Syria, continue to extend their networks in Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Burkina Faso, the report explains. While not necessarily sharing an identical vision, some Fulani herders have adopted a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrated a clear intent to target Christians and symbols of Christian identity such as churches.
The APPG received numerous reports about Christian pastors and community heads being targeted.
During many of the attacks, herders are reported by survivors to have shouted Allah u Akbar, destroy the infidels and wipe out the infidels, the report alleges.
Hundreds of churches have been destroyed, including over 500 churches in Benue State. As the Bishop of Truro concluded in his report for the U.K.s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the religious dimension is a significantly exacerbating factor in clashes between farmers and herders and targeted violence against Christian communities in the context of worship suggests that religion plays a key part.
While Christians appear to be the main victims of the violence in the Middle Belt, the report explains that attacks by Fulani herders have led to periodic retaliatory violence, as farming communities conclude that they can no longer rely on the authorities for protection or justice.
Some local vigilantes, led by youths, take matters into their own hands by going on violent reprisals against Muslims who they believe are backed by the Government, the report states. Such retaliatory violence cannot be condoned. However, their reprisals must be seen in the context of an urgent need for the authorities to enforce the rule of law to protect all its citizens.
In the report, Baroness Caroline Cox asserts that the asymmetry and escalation of attacks by well-armed Fulani militia upon these predominately Christian communities are stark and must be acknowledged.
Such atrocities cannot be attributed just to desertification, climate change or competition for resources, as [the U.K.] Government have claimed, Cox asserted.
Vice-Chair of the APPG Fiona Bruce added that the targeted attacks against churches and heightening religious tensions indicate that religious identity plays a role in the farmer-herder conflict.
Some local observers have gone so far as to describe the rising attacks as a campaign of ethno-religious cleansing, Lord David Alton of Liverpool said in the report.
Armed with sophisticated weaponry, including AK-47s and, in at least one case, a rocket launcher and rocket-propelled grenades, the Fulani militia have murdered more men, women and children in 2015, 2016 and 2017 than even Boko Haram, destroying, overrunning and seizing property and land, and displacing tens of thousands of people. This is organized and systematic.
The report notes that Fulani herders have also been victimized as criminality has played a role in some village raids, cattle rustling, and abductions. The increase in criminality and rural banditry has coincided with the rising prices of cattle.
The lawmakers warn that due to the rising criminality, people displaced from their communities and robbed of their livelihoods are more likely to become criminals themselves in order to survive.
Evidence received by the APPG suggests that the ready availability and low price of firearms in Nigeria has played a role in escalating violence, the report notes.
The ongoing instability in Libya has led to a huge increase in the number of firearms flowing into the country. Combined with the huge supply of weapons left over from civil wars in Liberia, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone, as well as the domestic Nigerian arms manufacturing industry, this means that firearms are readily available in Nigeria and have fallen dramatically in price in recent years.
The report was critical of the Nigerian government, calling out its inability to provide security or justice to farmer or herder communities.
Failure to prosecute past perpetrators of violence, or heed early warnings of impending attacks has facilitated the rise of armed militia which often form along ethno-religious lines to protect community interests, the report states.
The inability of the Nigerian Federal and State Governments to protect Christian farmers, and the lack of political will to respond adequately to warnings or to bring perpetrators of violence to justice, has fostered feelings of victimization and persecution.
The APPG agrees with Amnesty Internationals conclusion that failure to protect communities, as well as cases of direct military harassment or violence, combined with an unwillingness to instigate legitimate investigations into allegations of wrongdoing, demonstrate, at least, willful negligence; at worst, complicity on the behalf of some in the Nigerian security forces.
Last week, a spokesperson for the Nigerian presidency refuted claims that genocide is being committed against Christians in Nigeria, claiming the efforts by U.K. lawmakers and rights groups in the U.S. are part of a misleading campaign funded by a separatist group that wants to sew division and lack trust in the government.
Advocates in the U.S. who've raised concerns about the genocidal implications of violence in Nigeria denied the governments accusation that they are somehow affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra, an organization that Nigeria recognizes as a terrorist organization.
If the Nigerian Government is blind to the issue of religious persecution in the country, it is clear that the issue will not be addressed, wroteEwelina U. Ochab, co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response.
However, the international community cannot be blind to the reports of atrocities and must ask important questions. How will the Nigerian Government explain the mass killings in Nigeria as recorded by several international organizations? What is the Nigerian Government doing to ensure that the acts are investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted?
In 2018, the Nigerian House of Representatives declared killings in the Middle Belt state of Plateau to be a "genocide."
Last December, the U.S. government included Nigeria for the first time on its special watch list of countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom.
ASHGABAT -- Authorities in Turkmenistan are battling to keep a coronavirus outbreak secret as infection numbers rise in the only Central Asian state that continues to insist it is COVID-19-free, medical professionals there have told RFE/RL.
Two doctors died at the Choganly infectious-diseases hospital on the outskirts of the capital last week after allegedly contracting the virus at the same facility, according to health officials in Ashgabat who requested anonymity.
The doctors, who had been under quarantine for several days, died on June 15 and 16, the sources told an RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondent.
Along with North Korea and a handful of Pacific island nations, the former Soviet republic is a global outlier that hasnt acknowledged a single infection.
But how long Ashgabat can maintain that insistence remains to be seen.
Medics who were not authorized to publicly discuss the situation told RFE/RL that the Turkmen outbreak is getting out of control, with new cases being recorded in almost all regions.
Several people with suspected COVID-19 symptoms were admitted to the central regional hospital in Lebap Province on June 18 and 19, a provincial health official told RFE/RL.
All of them tested positive for coronavirus. Among them is a local doctor, the official said on condition of anonymity.
Another source in Lebap told RFE/RL the hospital was put under quarantine after a nurse tested positive for the virus on June 8.
Hospital employees are now required to get regular tests [for coronavirus], but the authorities dont inform them about the test results, the source said.
RFE/RL could not independently verify any of the claims.
Reliable numbers are difficult to obtain in Turkmenistan, which has little or no experience with independent media and freedom of information does not exist.
Officially, we dont have a coronavirus case, a Health Ministry official told RFE/RL on June 18. We cant give you any further information.
Amid growing rumors of the spread of the virus, the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistans website announced on June 21 that it was temporarily closing the Ashgabat American Center and American Corners in the cities of Mary, Turkmenabat, and Dashoguz.
There was no mention of coronavirus or COVID-19 in the statement, which suggested the measures were intended to protect the health and safety of American Spaces visitors and employees.
Medics In Hazmat Suits
The Europe-based independent agency Turkmen.news recently reported that an unspecified number of people, including doctors and nurses, tested positive for the virus at Polyclinic N9 in the Gaudan neighborhood of Ashgabat. The report could not be independently verified and it remains unclear how such an outbreak might have begun.
An RFE/RL correspondent reported on June 19 that several medical facilities in the capital have been placed under quarantine.
They include the Womens Health Center, which, despite its label, offers medical services to both women and men.
The center was shut down immediately after a male patients results came back positive for the coronavirus, staff members told RFE/RL.
Accompanied by a relative, they said, the man had come to the clinic for a checkup after feeling unwell.
Both men have reportedly been sent to the Choganly hospital and all staff and recent patients at the Womens Health Center are being tested for the virus.
In Dashoguz Province, on Turkmenistans northern border with Uzbekistan, eight people are suspected of having died of COVID-19 at a quarantine facility in the Saparmurat Turkmenbashi district, sources told an RFE/RL reporter in the area.
The sources did not provide details and RFE/RL was unable to verify that claim.
WATCH: Countries On China's 'New Silk Road' Face Coronavirus Fears
In Mary Province, meanwhile, all public-sector workers were ordered to undergo mandatory general medical checkups.
No reason was given, but the employees were told to pay for the examinations from their own pockets.
An RFE/RL correspondent in Mary reported that large queues of people have formed outside medical facilities there as public-sector workers show up en masse for checkups.
Medics in hazmat suits have become a familiar scene in many hospitals in Mary and elsewhere around the country.
In the city of Bayramaly, near Marys provincial capital, hospital workers were ordered to pay around $45 each to get one set of personal protective equipment (PPE), an RFE/RL correspondent in Mary reported, citing local medics.
That sum represents about 10 percent of the average monthly salary in Turkmenistan.
Keeping Silent
Hospital workers in Choganly claim the first coronavirus infections at that facility were recorded in late February when two patients were treated under strict isolation.
Some hospital employees had spoken to RFE/RL at the time about the secrecy surrounding the two patients, saying that even hospital staff -- with a few exceptions -- were not being told about them.
The government swiftly launched measures apparently aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
Borders were shut down, flyers were distributed urging people to stay vigilant against unnamed respiratory illnesses, and regular disinfections began of public buildings and bus stops.
However, even the use of the word coronavirus remained largely taboo until April 3, when President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov finally said it publicly for the first time.
In a speech carried by state television, Berdymukhammedov said that "the coronavirus is raging in the world."
He didnt say the virus had spread to Turkmenistan, but he spoke of its negative effect on the country's economy.
The government continues to organize crowded public events and celebrations, including one marking the Turkmen Horse Day on April 26 and another on Childrens Day on June 1.
Turkenistans post-Soviet neighbors -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan -- have all acknowledged outbreaks, although Tajikistans confirmation of cases came weeks later than the others.
Case numbers are now on the rise in all four countries, with Kazakhstan reporting more than 1,000 new cases a day.
Chandigarh, June 23 : Terming the Galwan valley clash as part of a larger design on the part of China, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said India should not make the mistake of dismissing the incident as a patrol clash but should take a firm stand against any Chinese incursions into Indian territory.
The amount of build-up in the Galwan valley showed that the Chinese were working on a plan, said Amarinder, adding that India could not afford to lose even an inch of its land in the area, which is of huge strategic importance for both sides.
"We have all seen clashes in our time, with Pakistan and even with Chinese, and this is definitely not a patrol clash," he stressed.
Referring to the map of the area, the Chief Minister said the Chinese had reached right half way through to the Siachen Glacier after Pakistan ceded the northern part of Shaksgam Valley in PoK in 1963.
Beyond that there is an area that in any case belongs to China, he explained, adding that "there is a little gap between the glacier and the Aksai Chin area, which is the Daulat Beg Oldi gap, which they are trying to close." "We have to take a strong position, and we should be clear that if we lose even an inch of land we must hold them responsible," he said at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) virtual meeting convened by the party's interim President Sonia Gandhi, with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi among the participants.
The Chief Minister also cornered the Centre over its failure to support the state in its fight against Covid-19, pointing out that all that Punjab had received so far from the Centre was its own Rs 2,800 crore for January to March and just a few other grants.
He said GST dues for April to June were still pending.
Despite repeated pleas and memorandums, no help was forthcoming from the Centre to the state for tackling the Covid crisis, he said, adding that the government of India was not giving even the state's own share.
The state had not received a single paisa of the Rs 20 lakh crore package announced by the Prime Minister, he said, noting that with the estimated shortfall of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 crore this year, and the rest going into the Covid war, the situation for Punjab was bad.
His government was forced to manage on its own to create resources for fighting Covid, said Amarinder, adding he was sure other states were in the same unfortunate position.
"Nobody is listening to us," he lamented, adding he had to put aside Rs 35 crore to arrange for 500 trains to send 5.63 lakh migrants back to their homes.
The Chief Minister said with 2.33 lakh of the total 2.52 lakh industries in Punjab now reopening, migrants were now also coming back to the state.
His government, he said, was trying its best to get the industry back on track with all possible facilities and easing of norms, but the units were currently working at 40 per cent capacity and would take some months to return to their full strength.
A total of 17 lakh local and migrant workers were engaged in industries currently, with more joining the farmers in the paddy operations, he said, adding that many farmers from Punjab had personally gone to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand to get the migrant labourers back.
Of the state's 13.50 lakh migrant labourers, only 5.63 lakh had gone back while the rest had stayed back, he said, adding that while jobs were now available for them, food was still a problem.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday announced that India has taken the decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 per cent. It added that it would reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion.
India said that this decision has been taken as Pakistan is engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organizations and will be implemented in seven days.
The Pakistan Charge d Affaires was summoned and informed that India had repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of officials of his Pakistan High Commission. He was informed that the activities of the two officials, caught red-handed and expelled on May 31, 2020, was an example of espionage.
India said that while their officials indulged in actions that are not in conformity with their privileged status in the High Commission, 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," the MEA stated.
"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 added.
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell.
PICK OF THE WEEK
My Dark Vanessa
Kate Elizabeth Russell, 4th Estate, $29.99
Vanessa Wye first had sex with her English teacher, Jacob Strane, when she was 15. She remains in touch with him at 32 and though her adult life is in disarray, she still regards the relationship, now long over, as a transgressive love affair.
Amid the #MeToo movement in 2017, another former student publicly accuses Strane of sexual abuse. Vanessa is appalled, and immediately rushes to reassure Strane, but as the scales fall from her eyes, she must begin to reinterpret a past she thought she knew.
My Dark Vanessa unfolds with devastating power and psychological nuance, and is by far the best novel to emerge in the wake of #MeToo. The depth of characterisation does much to dispel unhelpful myths around victim and perpetrator in cases like this, and is especially acute at exposing the insidious nature of psychological grooming. A disturbing, sophisticated novel that everyone should read.
Delivery men are considered a beneficiary of the government's Covid-19 aid package. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Hue.
Many migrant workers in Hanoi have found themselves further struck by the pandemic-induced economic fallout as lack of legislation prevents access to official aid.
Last Thursday morning, Tran Thi Thu brought a stack of documents to the office of Vinh Tuy Ward authorities in Hanoi's Hai Ba Trung District to prove she is working as a street vendor alongside her brothers.
The siblings speculate they would not receive support from the ward office but from the administration in their hometown in the northern Ha Nam Province instead.
If their applications are approved, they would receive a million dong ($43) per month for three months, classified as workers with no formal contracts.
In 2003, Thu migrated to Hanoi to become a street vendor at the age of 21.
She made a living by selling snacks like coconut and barbecued skewers on a cart on different streets, at markets and near schools.
After a while, Thu and her husband rented a a room close to Vinh Tuy Preschool and set up plastic chairs and tables on the sidewalk where they sell snacks to students.
On full moon days and during the first lunar month, she would buy flowers to sell for additional income as people traditionally offer these to their ancestors.
For nearly 20 years, it has become habitual for Thu, like any street vendors in the city, to quickly grab her belongings whenever authorities draw near for fear of having them confiscated as it is illegal to commercialize public sidewalks.
When Vietnam launched its social distancing campaign in order to curb the coronavirus spread on April 1, Thu and her husband put away their cart and stayed home for almost a month.
On the first week of April, she heard from other street peddlers and motorbike taxi drivers that she could benefit from a governments support package.
In early April, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc announced a VND62 trillion ($2.6 billion) support package to succor around 20 million poor people and small businesses affected by the pandemic.
The leader of the neighborhood where the couple lives in Vinh Tuy Ward put Thu on the list.
Thu replied to whatever the official asked to facilitate the listing and did not pay attention to what was written about her case.
"It is good if I get the aid, and its ok if I dont. Im used to being miserable," Thu said.
A week ago, her mother who lives in her hometown called her to say the family was also applying for government aid.
Thu said she would prefer applying for the aid in Hanoi for conveniences sake.
But before she could apply for the aid, Thu was informed by local authorities she was disqualified because she had encroached on the sidewalk and violated the urban civil order that prohibits peddlers from selling goods on the streets, holding no business license.
Despite the notice, the neighborhood leader told her to proceed with her application and see if ward authorities could provide her with aid after they sought approval from higher up.
Residents in Thus neighborhood said there is no way workers who peddle on the street could obtain business licenses, and that ward officials would be held responsible if they provide aid to applicants without the required documents.
Thu is one of thousands who have not received financial aid because Vietnams regulations provide no guidelines for local officials to address freelance workers.
A flower peddler bikes along Dinh Liet Street in Hanoi during Vietnam's national social distancing campaign, April 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.
There are over 60,000 residents in Vinh Tuy Ward, which is the most populated area in Hai Ba Trung District. The ward, at the southern gateway of Hanoi, is undergoing urbanization and has been populated by many migrant workers like Thu and her husband.
The 58-year-old Nguyen Thi Hoan, a neighborhood leader in Vinh Tuy recalled how thrilled and appreciative residents were when they first learnt about the governments aid package.
The first survey in Hoans neighborhood found 298 beneficiaries, now shrunk to only eight qualified applicants.
As of April 19, Vinh Tuy Ward identified 4,000 underprivileged workers who need aid, with only 47 proving eligible. Of these, half are motorbike taxi drivers and the rest street vendors holding business registration and food safety certification.
The package targets six categories of individuals and businesses.
Those having lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 crisis for 14 days or more would get a monthly allowance of VND1.8 million ($77). Part-time workers who are unemployed but have not received unemployment benefits would get a monthly allowance of VND1 million ($43).
Poor and near-poor households would receive VND250,000 ($11) per month while those with a record of meritorious services to the nation would get VND500,000 per month.
Household businesses with revenues below VND100 million ($4,300) a year whove had to suspend operations from April 1 due to the Covid-19 pandemic would also be supported with VND1 million per month.
Local officials said it has been a "headache" to determine the incomes and nature of work of applicants. The accuracy of information is entirely at the mercy of the applicants honesty, they noted.
It is easy for them to review the qualification of a particular applicant if he or she is a permanent resident, officials said.
However, there are motorbike drivers who reside in Vinh Tuy but work in another district so they would need verification from district police, which takes time.
The regulation stipulates ward officials must review applications and publicly inform people about approved applications within two days of receipt. They can only submit applications for aid approval at district level.
"The scariest thing is missing out those who are in need of support," Hoan said.
Residents in Hoans neighborhood have complained that travel expenses are costly if they have to return to their hometown to apply for aid, which is not worth the effort.
Hoan said many think ward officials make it difficult for residents to claim aid but that verification is imperative to prevent beneficiaries from claiming aid in both their places of residence and origin.
Depending on locality, one could claim aid in ones place of origin if one has not already done so in ones place of residence.
Ngo Van Anh, vice chairman of Nga Tu So Ward in Dong Da District, shares Hoans concerns.
Anh said she has disqualified applicants who sell things on the streets and sidewalks for a living because they have violated the urban civil order.
"The common problem is everyone think they are beneficiaries," Anh said.
The official said the package was rolled out timely, but guiding documents needed to enable it were issued slower than expected, causing the entire process of verification and approval to drag out.
Hanoi residents have been informed they would receive aid in April, which proved false.
"People have come to the ward office saying the aid process is easy, asking why we make it difficult for them. They do not understand we are also facing a lot of problems," Anh said.
Nguyen Dinh Tien, head of the Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Department of Dong Da District, said he has heard residents complain about officials at different levels regarding the handling of the pandemic aid.
Only 14,970 applicants qualified for aid in Dong Da District as of June 15, down from the initial total of 35,000.
After another layer of verification, this number now stands at hundreds.
Dong Da District authorities said the shortage of personnel to handle aid distribution has caused the slow approval of applications.
As of mid-June, Hanoi, with an official population of eight million, has more than 1,000 beneficiaries.
Nguyen Hong Dan, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said the slow progress in handing out the aid is mainly due to the difficulty of verifying workers who do not have a formal contract.
He said the ultimate goal is to support the right people and not to take advantage of the package, adding his department would report the issues to city authorities and propose solutions.
"It is embarrassing to say that support will be given on time while many people have not received the aid," he said.
Meanwhile, Thu, the street vendor in Vinh Tuy Ward, is yet to apply for aid again. She's not keen on doing it anytime soon.
She again runs her preschool food stall each morning after Vietnam eased social distancing in late April.
With customers often scarce, she and her husband often push their food cart around Hanoi to earn a living.
June 23, 2020
Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Cambridge, MA - Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced that the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted premarket approval (PMA) for the company's HeartStart FR3 [1] and HeartStart FRx [2] automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and their supporting accessories, including batteries and pads.
The HeartStart FR3 is a professional grade AED with advanced features to help medical personnel and first-responders treat cardiac arrest. The HeartStart FRx is a public-access AED that features intuitive, step-by-step voice instructions, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidance, for emergency use in workplaces, schools and other public spaces, as well as for medical professional use.
"We are pleased to receive premarket approval for our HeartStart FR3 and HeartStart FRx AEDs," said Arman Voskerchyan, Business Leader Therapeutic Care at Philips. "This complements the premarket approval that we received last year for our HeartStart OnSite and HeartStart Home AEDs. Our industry leading portfolio of AEDs is instrumental in helping save the lives of numerous sudden cardiac arrest victims in the U.S. and worldwide. We look forward to continuing to meet our commitment to our medical professional and public-access customers, and especially to the victims of sudden cardiac arrest who rely on our AEDs."
FDA PMA information for the HeartStart FR3 and HeartStart FRx defibrillators can be found here and here , respectively. These devices have been marketed to date under FDA premarket notifications (510(k)), but are now approved under PMA.
In 2019, Philips received PMA approval for its HeartStart OnSite and HeartStart Home defibrillators, which are the only over-the-counter AEDs available to consumers in the U.S.
[1] Model 861388 and Model 861389
[2] Model 861304
For further information, please contact:
Steve Klink
Philips Global Press Office
Tel. +31 6 10888824
E-mail: steve.klink@philips.com
Kathy O'Reilly
Philips Global Press Office
Tel.: +1 978 221 8919
E-mail: kathy.oreilly@philips.com
Twitter: @kathyoreilly
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips.
Attachments
(Sharecast News) - London stocks were set to rise at the open on Tuesday after US President Trump insisted that his country's trade deal with China was still on.
The FTSE 100 was called to open 30 points higher at 6,274.
CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "Markets in Asia have had a turbulent session after President Trumps trade advisor Peter Navarro said in an interview with Fox News that the Chinese phase one trade deal was over, sending stocks sharply lower.
"This decline was quickly reversed after President Trump tweeted soon after that the deal was still fully intact."
Leisure stocks are likely to be in focus, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson expected to announce later in the day that pubs, cinemas, galleries and museums can reopen from 4 July.
On the data front, the Markit manufacturing and services PMIs for June are due at 0930 BST.
In corporate news, net inflows at wealth manager St James's Place fell to 0.67bn in May amid market volatility caused by the coronavirus.
The figured compared with 0.73bn a year earlier. Funds under management benefited from positive net inflows and the continuing recovery of world stock markets to end the month at 112.6bn, the company said.
Food producer Cranswick upped its dividend as higher meat sales drove a rise in annual profits.
The company lifted its final dividend by 9.3% to 43.7p a share. Adjusted pre-tax profits rose 11.2% to 102.3m.
"There has been a positive start to trading in the new financial year, though we remain mindful of the uncertainty around the longer-term effects of the COVID-19 crisis and Brexit negotiations. Nonetheless, our outlook for the current year is unchanged and we have a solid platform from which to continue Cranswick's successful long-term development," Cranswick said.
Kendallville, IN (46755)
Today
Cloudy with snow showers this evening and steady snow likely after midnight. Low 19F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches..
Tonight
Cloudy with snow showers this evening and steady snow likely after midnight. Low 19F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday said that it got requests from US, France, Germany to allow their airlines to operate repatriation flights. The ministry in its official release stated that the countries are requesting for their air carriers be allowed to participate in the transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission.
"These requests are being examined. We have also had one round of negotiations with the US on 15 June with representatives of the US Department of Transportation and US Embassy on this issue," the ministry said.
The ministry further stated that the evacuation flights which were primarily meant for the evacuation of our citizens from all over the world are now increasingly carrying Indians and citizens of other countries outbound to countries where they are normally resident.
"As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. These are all destinations where demand for travel has not diminished. Final decisions pursuant to negotiations are expected to be taken soon," the ministry further said.
Received requests from several countries incl US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under #VandeBharatMission: Ministry of Civil Aviation pic.twitter.com/vIiCtyv5fi ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
READ: Centre says 'resuming international flights depends on countries opening their borders'
READ: US cries foul over Air India's Vande Bharat evacuation; seeks operations for its airlines
The Vande Bharat Mission
In a major relief for Indians stranded abroad, the Centre had announced that their travel will be arranged via aircraft and naval ships in a phased manner. The Mission that started on May 7, was divided into phases, out of which, the third phase is currently on-going. While the first phase brought back around 15,000 Indians back home, the second phase brought back nearly 30,000 Indian nationals till May 29. The schedule for the third phase has 356 flights, including return services and domestic connections till July 1.
The biggest repatriation process has covered several countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Maldives, Singapore, Finland, South Korea, Belgium, New Zealand, Netherlands, Kenya, Mauritius, Spain, Myanmar, Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and so on.
READ: Vande Bharat Mission: 5,078 citizens have returned to India on June 19, says Hardeep Puri
READ: Coronavirus Live Updates: India reports 440,215 COVID-19 cases, 248,190 recovered
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported the largest daily increase in global coronavirus (COVID-19) cases on Sunday, registering more than 183,000 new infections in 24 hours.
With this, the number of infections as of Sunday evening rose to 8.8 million cases worldwide, with more than 465,000 deaths.
Officials of the agency during a virtual briefing from Geneva on Monday said this was the largest single-day increase of the virus since it was first detected in Wuhan, China.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said it seems that almost every day we reach a new and grim record.
He said some countries continue to see a rapid increase in the number of cases and deaths.
Others that had successfully suppressed transmission, are now seeing an upswing as they reopen their economies, he said.
Read also:
Mr Ghebreyesus said countries are facing a delicate balance between protecting their people while minimising the social and economic damage.
It is not a choice between lives and livelihoods. Countries can do both.
He said governments across the world must be careful and creative in finding solutions so that people stay safe while getting on with their lives.
He also urged countries to double-down on the fundamental public health measures that are known to limit spread.
These include finding and testing suspected cases, isolating and caring for the sick, tracing and quarantining contacts, and protecting health workers.
These measures can only be effective if each person follows recommendations for physical distancing, hand washing and mask-wearing, he added.
Meanwhile, the WHO Executive Director, Michael Ryan, said the increase in the number of infections globally is because the disease is now being reported in most populous countries.
He said this might not necessarily be attributed to increase in testing, but the increasing rate of community transmission in those countries.
The numbers are quickly rising because the epidemic is developing in a number of populous countries at the same time, even as it appears to be stabilising and even reducing in parts of Western Europe.
We do not believe this is a testing phenomenon. There definitely is a shift in that the virus is now very well established. The epidemic is now peaking or moving towards a peak in a number of large countries. The situation is definitely accelerating in a number of countries, including in South Asia and the Americas, he said.
He also said the curve is yet to peak in these countries and as such more cases are expected to be reported.
HOPEWELL JUNCTION, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / eMagin Corporation, or the Company (NYSE American:EMAN), a leader in the development, design and manufacture of Active Matrix OLED microdisplays used in military and commercial AR/VR devices, and other near-eye imaging products, announced today that it is providing additional details regarding its 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held on Thursday June 25th at 9AM EDT. The virtual Annual Meeting is expected to provide stockholders with similar rights and opportunities to participate as they would have had at an in-person meeting.
Attending the Virtual Annual Meeting as a Stockholder of Record
The Company's stockholders of record as of May 6, 2020, the ("Record Date") can attend the virtual Annual Meeting and have the opportunity to ask questions by accessing https://www.cstproxy.com/emagin/2020 and entering the control number on the proxy card previously received. Instructions on how to access the virtual Annual Meeting and participate via the Internet, including how to demonstrate proof of stock ownership, and voting instructions, can be found at https://www.cstproxy.com/emagin/2020
Attending the Virtual Annual Meeting as a Beneficial Owner
Beneficial stockholders as of the Record Date (i.e. shares held in "street name" through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker) who want to be able to attend the virtual Annual Meeting and ask questions can attend using the control number found on the notice and instructions received from their broker or other nominee.
Attending the Virtual Annual Meeting as a Guest
Guests may participate in a listen-only mode. No control number is required.
Stockholders who do not have their control number will be able to access the virtual Annual Meeting as guests but will not be able to vote their shares or submit questions during the virtual Annual Meeting.
Voting Shares
Stockholders of record and beneficial owners will be able to vote their shares electronically during the virtual Annual Meeting by using the control number. Instructions on how to vote while participating in the virtual Annual Meeting live via the Internet are posted at https://www.cstproxy.com/emagin/2020
Whether or not stockholders plan to virtually attend the Annual Meeting, the Company urges stockholders to vote by one of the methods described in the proxy materials for the virtual Annual Meeting.
Update on Annual Report on Form 10-K
The Company also advises that its audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, contained an audit report from its independent registered public accounting firm with a going concern emphasis of matter. Section 610(b) of the NYSE American Company Guide requires release of this information. It does not represent any change or amendment to any of the Company's filings for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
About eMagin Corporation
The Leader in OLED microdisplay technology for the next generation of computing and imaging devices, serving world-class customers in the military and consumer, medical and industrial markets. We invent, engineer and manufacture display technologies of the future in the USA, including our Direct Patterning Technology (dPd) that will transform the way the world consumes information. Since 2001, our microdisplays have been, and continue to be, used in AR/VR, aircraft helmets, heads-up display systems, thermal scopes, night vision goggles, future weapon systems and a variety of other applications. www.emagin.com
Important Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains 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, including those regarding eMagin Corporation's expectations, intentions, strategies and beliefs pertaining to future events or future financial performance Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including those described in the Company's most recent filings with the SEC. For a more complete description of the risks factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our current expectations, including impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, please see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in eMagin's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and in any Form 10-Q filed or to be filed by eMagin, and in other documents we file with the SEC from time to time.
CONTACT:
eMagin Corporation
Mark A. Koch
Acting Chief Financial Officer
845-838-7951
mkoch@emagin.com
Betsy Brod
Affinity Growth Advisors
212-661-2231
betsy.brod@affinitygrowth.com
SOURCE: eMagin Corporation
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594981/CORRECTION-eMagin-Corporation-Announces-Annual-Meeting-Details-and-Provides-Update-on-its-Annual-Filings
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:21:35|Editor: huaxia
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Aerial photo taken on April 26, 2020 shows HMM Algeciras docking at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
"The fall in trade we are now seeing is historically large -- in fact, it would be the steepest on record," said WTO chief.
GENEVA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The volume of global merchandise trade would shrink by around 18.5 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of this year, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said Tuesday.
"The fall in trade we are now seeing is historically large -- in fact, it would be the steepest on record. But there is an important silver lining here: it could have been much worse," said WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo in a press release.
In its earlier report, the WTO forecast that global trade would fall by between 13 percent and 32 percent in 2020 largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"As things currently stand, trade would only need to grow by 2.5 percent per quarter for the remainder of the year to meet the optimistic projection," the WTO said in its updated global trade statistics and outlook, mentioning that rapid government responses helped temper the contraction.
However, looking ahead to 2021, the WTO predicted that adverse factors, such as a second wave of infections, weaker-than-expected economic growth, and recourse to trade restrictions, could see trade expansion fall short of earlier projections.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP A young girl was killed and three others were injured Friday evening after a head-on car crash in the Cardiff section of the township.
About 5:29 p.m., police responded to Delilah Road in the area of Elmwood Avenue for a report of a crash, according to a post on the departments Facebook page.
Philadelphia man charged in Atlantic City assault, robbery ATLANTIC CITY A Philadelphia man turned himself in to police in Pennsylvania on Friday, ov
Jabril Williams, 26, of Galloway, was driving a 2014 Kia Optima west on Delilah Road when the car crossed over into the eastbound lane for an unknown reason, police said.
A witness, whose name was not released, saw the car cross into the lane and turned to avoid being hit, according to the release. Then, a second car, a 2011 Infinity G25 driven by Decinique Brown, 28, of Vineland, Cumberland County, was unable to move out of the way and was struck head-on.
Williams, along with a woman and a juvenile girl, who were both passengers, sustained serious injuries, police said. They were extricated from the car and taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus.
Fire at abandoned building in Pleasantville last week under investigation PLEASANTVILLE State and local officials are investigating after an early morning fire last
The girl was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries, police said.
[June 23, 2020] VTS Launches VTS Market & Marketplace Enabling Remote Leasing for the First Time
VTS, the commercial real estate industry's leading leasing and asset management platform, today announced the availability of VTS Market, the CRE industry's first integrated, online marketing platform that enables landlords and their agency teams to market and lease their available spaces remotely for the first time. VTS, whose platform manages more than 60% of national Class A office space and 65% of the Manhattan office market, also announced that the world's leading landlords including Tishman Speyer, Brookfield Properties, Empire State Realty Trust, Hines, Oxford Properties Group, and RXR have chosen VTS Market as their system of record for digital leasing and marketing. With the majority of the market's largest owners already onboard at launch, VTS Market is the most rapidly adopted product in Proptech history. "The move to a modern, online marketing and leasing platform has been a long time coming, and COVID-19 has underscored and accelerated the industry's need for one," said Ben Brown, Managing Partner, Brookfield Property Group. "VTS Market provides that platform, enabling the real estate community to find and qualify spaces remotely." "The brokerage community has been craving a new channel to consume information and digital content on the market and spaces for a long time. Our clients expect a modern experience that helps keep our process moving in this new digital world. VTS Marke is that platform," said Peter Riguardi, Chairman and President, New York Tri-State Region, JLL.
With VTS Market, landlords finally have a fully digital, data-driven way to market and lease their spaces online - all from within the VTS platform they use to manage their leasing and asset management activities today. In one click, agency leasing teams can review, approve, and publish spaces online to the VTS Marketplace - a listings site exclusively for tenant reps to view, tour, and share virtual listing content for free. Additionally, landlords can easily publish spaces to their own websites and email listings to their network of tenant reps, directly from VTS. VTS Market provides landlords with the industry's most comprehensive and effective marketing content, including virtual tours, photos, 3D space renderings, refurbished floor plans, and 250+ verified data points for each space - all produced by the VTS team - ensuring tenant reps and tenants are viewing a single, highly-engaging source of truth.
"The market landscape has changed profoundly over the past few months. To stay competitive in this new remote world, landlords and brokers need a digital platform featuring best-in-class digital content that is integrated into existing workflows with powerful analytics and that excites tenant rep brokers, and they need it now" said Nick Romito, CEO and Co-Founder, VTS. "VTS Market is the integrated, modern marketing platform that answers this need and we are motivated by the overwhelmingly positive response from the industry so far." VTS Market and VTS Marketplace are now available in the U.S. and Canada. For more information and to request a demo, visit VTS.com. About VTS: VTS is commercial real estate's leading leasing, marketing and asset management platform where the industry comes to make deals happen and real-time data come to life. VTS is powered by the largest single source data network in the industry, which delivers real-time data and insights that fuel faster, more informed decision making and connections throughout the deal lifecycle. Our MarketView offering, the industry's first market benchmarking product, and VTS Market and Marketplace, the industry's first integrated online marketing solution, gives landlords, brokers, and tenants unparalleled visibility into real-time market information and the direct connectivity to execute deals with greater speed and intelligence at every point in the planning, marketing, leasing, and asset management cycle. More than 60% of Class A commercial space in the US and 12B square feet of commercial real estate globally is managed on the VTS platform. Our user base includes over 45,000 CRE professionals including respected industry leaders like Blackstone, Brookfield Properties, LaSalle Investment Management, Hines, Boston Properties, Oxford Properties, JLL, and CBRE. To learn more about VTS, and to see our open roles, visit www.vts.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005718/en/
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Sydney, June 23 : Australian police will review the arrest of an Indigenous man after footage showed him being repeatedly tasered by an officer in Sydney, it was reported on Tuesday.
Kris Bradshaw, 32, was suspected over the theft of a bag when two officers cornered him near bushes on Monday, reports the BBC.
Video of the arrest shows Bradshaw on his knees before he is ordered to "get on the ground" by a male officer, who then pulls him up and tasers him.
New South Wales Police will investigate whether the actions were justified.
"I had a conversation with the commissioner and he's undertaking a review," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Tuesday.
The footage, taken by an onlooker, shows the male officer approach Bradshaw, shouting: "Get on the ground now. Five seconds - get on the ground now. If you move I will taser you." The officer uses his taser while he and a female officer attempt to force Bradshaw to the ground.
"What are you doing?" the man says, clutching his neck. "Are you kidding me? I'm not even fighting you." Bradshaw appeared at a court on Tuesday charged with intimidating police, resisting arrest and trespassing. He is expected to apply for bail on Friday, Australian media reported.
Recent protests stemming from the Black Lives Matter movement have highlighted the treatment of Indigenous people by police in Australia, reports the BBC.
Earlier this month, New South Wales Police said it was investigating the arrest of Aboriginal boy who was tripped to the ground by an officer.
Last week, South Australia Police said it would review a video of an officer who was filmed appearing to strike an Aboriginal man during an arrest.
Indigenous people comprise almost 30 per cent of Australians in jail but less than 3 per cent of the national population, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
UPDATE: N.J. reopening amusement and water parks. Jersey Shore boardwalk rides get okay to resume.
As coronavirus numbers continue to fall in New Jersey, some of the states largest theme parks are hiring and training hundreds of workers to operate rides and arcades as Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Tuesday that they can reopen starting July 2.
Wildwood amusement ride operator Moreys Piers is hiring for 500 jobs, saying they need time to find workers and train them. Denise Beckson, vice president of human resources, said Tuesday the company hopes to reopen soon.
When you see the casinos which are indoors and high touch have been given their (opening date), were hoping we can open too, Beckson said.
Jobs at Moreys and other theme parks start at around $12 an hour and are often filled by teachers looking for summer jobs, retirees and students. But this year candidate turnout has been minimal, Beckson said.
Were in a dire position when it comes to staffing, Beckson said. I dont ever remember seeing employment and application numbers this low before.
Beckson said many potential workers who were laid off during the pandemic have chosen to collect unemployment including the extra $600 weekly federal benefit rather than work at seasonal jobs.
Moreys and other parks need time to hire and train the people needed to work the rides and in other areas of the park. We cant turn it on in 48 hours. We need a ramp up, she said.
On Thursday, Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach in Seaside Heights posted jobs seeking operators for its amusement park rides and arcade games.
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage
At Jenkinsons in Point Pleasant Beach, posted jobs include ride operator, arcade attendant, ropes course workers and maintenance mechanic.
Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township said Tuesday they are also looking for seasonal workers.
We havent launched our hiring advertising campaign yet, but we have reached out to previous hires, are accepting new applications, and have resumed hiring and training, said Six Flags spokeswoman Kristen Fitzgerald.
Six Flags is accepting applications, hiring and conducting most of its training online. Hands-on training, such as ride operations training, is being conducted at the park with new safety rules in place. We have also begun park readiness operations, Fitgerald said.
There hasnt been an official word about a theme park opening date, but Gov. Murphy has mentioned the word soon so we are gearing up, Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald said Six Flags worked with outside medical experts to develop an extensive, new safety protocol for our parks that includes social distancing, new technology to reduce touch points, enhanced cleanliness, and employee training.
In addition, just like the Wild Safari Drive Thru-Adventure, we will utilize a reservation system to control and limit attendance, she said. These protocols are in place at several Six Flags theme parks currently operating around the country.
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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
A newspaper executive today criticised Google and Facebook for changing search algorithms without telling publishers and warned how they now have 'all the power' in online news and advertising.
Peter Wright, editor emeritus at DMG Media, MailOnline's parent company, said the news industry has 'no idea how they work' and they 'behave in the way that market dominant companies do', accusing them of 'monopoly behaviour'.
He slammed Google after MailOnline saw its daily traffic from the search engine fall by 50 per cent last June following an algorithm change 'without any warning'.
Peter Wright, editor emeritus at DMG Media, spoke to a House of Lords commitee today
Giving evidence to the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee via videolink, Mr Wright said: 'Google and Facebook in our view are market dominant companies and they behave in the way that market dominant companies do.
'And it also has an effect on our journalism. Google and Facebook both distribute our content via algorithm. Those algorithms are what is known in the digital world as a 'black box' - they are secret, you have no idea how they work. But we can see and measure the results.
'Over recent years there have been a number of occasions when both Google and Facebook have changed their algorithms overnight without any warning which not only has a dramatic effect on our businesses but it also means that people searching for news are suddenly not finding our news.
'This happened to us with MailOnline in June last year and over the space of three days, our search visibility, which is the measure of how often your content is appearing against a basket of search terms, dropped by 50 per cent, and it was particularly marked against some particular terms. One of them for instance was 'Brexit'.
MailOnline owner DMG Media is based at Northcliffe House in Kensington, West London
'Now, why they do this, we don't know, we protested, we got an explanation which made no sense at all. Eventually three months later, equally without warning, it was restored.
'But this is monopoly behaviour. You can't do this if you're in a business relationship with someone where there's any semblance of equality of power.'
He said DMG Media was also calling for 'regulation to address the complete imbalance in the business relationship' between the company and Google and Facebook.
Mr Wright told the committee: 'As far as the commercial relationship between news publishers and the platforms is concerned, it's a business relationship between two partners in which one partner has all the power.
The entrance doors outside Google's London headquarters in the King's Cross area
'Google are completely dominant in search, which is one of the main means of distribution of news. They have around a 90 per cent share for search.
Peter Wright says rise in BAME applications for trainee scheme is 'very encouraging' Peter Wright said it was 'very encouraging' that the Daily Mail is now seeing an upturn in BAME applications for its trainee scheme. He said the company was also seeing positive results from its Stephen Lawrence scholarship scheme which is 'aimed particularly at people from BAME backgrounds and particularly at those who have no university education and may come from homes with all sorts of other disadvantages'. Mr Wright told how 'for the last decade or so we've been offering a degree of positive discrimination to ensure that we have a better balance of recruits'. He added: 'I have to say that when we went through the applicants for our training scheme last year, in the first sift, they're done without photographs, you don't really know who the applicants might be, and when the selectors looked at the people they'd picked as the most likely, there was a really strong representative sample of people from BAME backgrounds. 'We didn't have to do any sort of positive selection at all. People from BAME and disadvantaged backgrounds wanted to be journalists, they wanted to come and work for us, and we were able to offer them jobs. 'Now that's the way it should happen, frankly, and it's a sea change, because ten years ago we just weren't seeing those applicants and we virtually had to go out and look for them. So I find that very encouraging. 'It's absolutely vital that you have a newsroom that represents the population at large, and you should have people from all sorts of backgrounds the more varied, the better.' Advertisement
'They are also completely dominant in the digital advertising market. They provide all the intermediary services through which we sell advertising.
'Facebook are also dominant in social media with Instagram, which they own, they hold about 62 per cent, and within Facebook to a large extent you have to use Facebook advertising services. This means that advertising markets are opaque.
'Google have, I think, six different vertically integrated advertising services, all of which charge commissions, fees or take revenue shares, many of which are opaque, and we have to accept what terms they impose.
'Even the contracts that we sign to use their services are often presented to us on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. So what we're asking for here is for regulation, and the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) are about to report on a massive piece of work they've been doing, to address the complete imbalance in the business relationship.'
Former Mail on Sunday editor Mr Wright also told how MailOnline now makes 'more money out of advertising than our newspapers do'. He told the committee: 'We have had to make enormous changes to adapt to the digital world.
'We have always been a mass market consumer newspaper company but, as we've seen the, digital revolution first of all hit classified advertising and we divested of the Evening Standard and then of Northcliffe Newspapers, which was our regional newspaper division.
'And we have continued to invest and promote our newspaper titles - Daily Mail, Mail On Sunday and Metro, which is both a different editorial approach and a different business model to the Mail titles, but we've also invested very heavily in digital products.
'MailOnline, it depends which measurement you take, but it's next to the BBC by many measurements the biggest website in the UK, but it's also one of the biggest in the US. And as of the last couple of months, the biggest apart from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia.
'It now makes more money out of advertising than our newspapers do, but we don't have any subscription revenue, or any to speak of, and the next struggle is to replace the newspaper cover price revenue, which now forms about 80 per cent of the newspaper revenue.'
DMG Media, which is based at Northcliffe House in Kensington, West London, also owns the Daily Mail, The Mail On Sunday, Metro and the i newspaper.
Mapping the seabed of all of the worlds oceans in their entirety by 2030 sounds like a ludicrously big job but that is the incredible task facing the Seabed 2030 Project.
What is more surprising is that the team, which only began work in 2017, have this week announced they have now 14.5 million square kilometres mapped almost a fifth of the worlds seabed.
Announcing the milestone on June 21 World Hydrography Day the team said total coverage had risen from 15 per cent of the worlds seabed, to 19 per cent in the last year.
The area mapped is now roughly the size of Australia.
Before the project was launched, just six per cent of the sea bed had been mapped to modern standards.
Jamie McMichael-Phillips, director of the Seabed 2030 Project, said the milestone was a leap forward, which could inform governments policies.
He said: The sustained increase in data available to map the ocean floor will enable Seabed 2030 to play a leading role in delivering a comprehensive set of authoritative data that is freely available for all to use. This is a leap forward towards achieving our mission, by the year 2030, to empower the world to make policy decisions, use the ocean sustainability and undertake scientific research based on detailed bathymetric information of the Earths seabed.
My thanks go out to all who have contributed data and technical expertise to bring together this new 2020 Grid. With the support of governments, industry, academia and philanthropy; and by using innovative technology, we anticipate availability of new data to grow on a yearly basis.
He added: Its encouraging to see what working collaboratively, across the globe, can achieve. Seabed 2030 will continue to seek out new partnerships and technological advancements. Everyone has a part to play in contributing to our ocean mapping journey: a journey that will greatly benefit humanity.
The project is supported by non-profit organisation the Nippon Foundation, as well as the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans the only intergovernmental organisation with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.
The chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Yohei Sasakawa, recently called for further collaborative activity to help accelerate the mapping of the ocean floor these include supporting the mapping of unexplored areas, collecting data through crowdsourcing, and advancing technology for data collection.
The project coordinators said a complete map of the worlds oceans will facilitate a heightened understanding of fundamental processes including ocean circulation, weather systems, sea level rise, tsunami wave propagation, tides, sediment transport, benthic habitat distributions and climate change.
They said it would also help humanity conserve and sustainably use the oceans.
From calmer meal times to reduced stress around drop-offs and pick-ups, many parents have relished the perks of working from home and are now asking themselves how they can permanently incorporate flexible work into their lives.
A survey of 730 Australians, by flexible work platform Beam Australia, has found that 97 per cent want to retain the freedom to work flexibly and almost two-thirds want to keep having more time with family.
Holly and Mark Eggers with daughters, Lauren, 4, and Ella, 1. Credit:Rhett Wyman
There has also been a shift on the home front. More than half of partners have played a more active role at home and gained more understanding of what needs to get done. A similar proportion want to continue playing a more active role to even up the scales.
Stephanie Reuss, co-founder of Beam, says COVID-19 has forced a huge number of parents to really think about how they want to work and how to best balance their job with family commitments.
Pakistans Science and Technology Minister Chaudhary Fawad Hussains recent goof-up of calling a solar eclipse as lunar has taken the internet by storm. Thousands of netizens united to mock the Pakistani lawmaker who shared information about solar eclipses on June 19 ahead of June 21 when the world was already expecting the ring of fire eclipse. However, he mixed up in the caption by writing Chaand grahan ke mutaliq mazeed maloomat in Urdu that translates to More information about lunar eclipses when the subject of the document shared by him said June 21, 2020 - Annular Solar Eclipse in Pakistan.
Read - More Virus Positives Won't Stop Pakistan Tour, Says Giles
Read - PCB Doctor Says Pakistan Will Be Touring England Despite The 'big Risk' That Is Involved
'Biggest joke'
From mocking the science minister of lacking basic knowledge on such topics to calling it the biggest joke the internet users could not keep calm after Hussains viral tweet. One Twitter user wrote, There is an eclipse. Maybe the moon has become more riding on your mind while someone else said, The Minister of Science and Technology is so ignorant that he does not know the difference between a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse. One of the netizens even asked, Sir, you are the Minister of Science and Technology. This is a ninth-grade science teacher ?
Future set hai bande ka
Primary school me teacher ban jayega Professor Buddy (@ColFool_) June 19, 2020
Donkeys dont understand science ,technology minister Sanjay Dugar (@dugarsanjays) June 19, 2020
Sir . Lunar and solar are two different things. M. Rashid Mukhtar (@mrashidmukhtar) June 19, 2020
Hahahaha Leefy Mughal (Barlas) (@BarlasLeefy) June 19, 2020
Ye Suraj girhan he, Bhai Syed Shabeer Hassan Shah (@SyedShabeerHas1) June 20, 2020
Haha see our minsters, without rechecking & confirmation they r putting such wrong info on their accounts. I am thinking how they are managing such ministries? sayed murad (@muradbukhari3) June 20, 2020
Pakistanis are talking about solar system . Ha ha biggest joke wang chung (@wangchungbhosda) June 19, 2020
Read - Three Pakistani Soldiers Killed, Six Injured In India's Retaliation On The LoC
Read - 'Pakistan's International Code 92 As Imran Won World Cup In 1992': Netizens Mock Minister
Donald Trump has threatened anyone who desecrates statues in the US with 10 years in prison after a number of prominent monuments were defaced and pulled down amid ongoing civil rights protests.
The president added that any charges could be applied "retroactively" to those who had caused damage to such sites in recent weeks doubling down on a similar call for prison time for those who vandalise monuments on Monday evening.
It comes after statues particularly those of figures linked to the confederacy, colonialism and slavery were defaced by protesters aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement as part of an ongoing drive to challenge structural racism following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis last month.
"I have authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the US with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent.", the president wrote on Twitter.
"This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. There will be no exceptions!"
Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Show all 16 1 /16 Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The Edward Colston statue has been pulled down by Black Lives Matter protesters in Bristol. Colston was a 17th century slave trader who has numerous landmarks named after him in Bristol. Pictured is the statue covered up before it was pulled down Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters pulling down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston William Want Twitter account/AFP Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters pulling down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston William Want Twitter account/AFP Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest A protester presses his knee into the neck of the Edward Colston statue Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The protest rally was in College Green, Bristol Ben Birchall/PA Wire Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The Edward Colston statue is defaced Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest A crowd gathers Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters dragging the statue of Edward Colston to Bristol harbourside PA Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest The statue is rolled along the street before being dropped into a nearby river SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Tom Wren / SWNS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Protesters throw the statue of Edward Colston into Bristol harbour PA Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest Ben Birchall/PA Wire Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest TWITTER/SELLOTTIE via REUTERS Slave trader statue pulled down and thrown in river at Bristol protest PA
The day before his tweet, protesters had attempted to remove a statue of president Andrew Jackson a slave owner who displaced native Americans to use their land for plantations from Lafayette Park, opposite the White House.
Mr Trump has previously identified the 7th man to hold the position as his favourite predecessor.
Shortly after the incident US interior secretary David Bernhardt issued a statement, saying: "Let me be clear: We will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served."
It follows on from action that has continued across the nation and the world as activists attempt to shine a light on systemic racism while calling into question those who are deemed worthy of veneration.
In the UK a statue of slaver Edward Colston was dragged to the ground and thrown into the river Avon earlier this month, while other monuments including a likeness of Winston Churchill outside parliament were defaced.
And at the weekend protestors in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park toppled a statue of Francis Scott Key, the composer of the National Anthem and a slave owner, as well as a statue of Spanish missionary Junipero Serra, a Roman Catholic priest who forcibly converted and brutalized Native American people. A statue of Ulysses S Grant, the Union general responsible for the defeat of the Confederacy who himself owned a slave, was also torn down.
The University of Michigan is withdrawing from hosting a presidential debate between Republican incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, sources told the Detroit Free Press. The official announcement is expected to come today.
U-M is making the move because of concerns of bringing the campaigns, media and supporters of both candidates to Ann Arbor and campus during a pandemic, two sources with direct knowledge of the move told the Free Press. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak on behalf of the university.
U-M had been scheduled to host the second debate of the cycle on Oct. 15 and had been planning a wide range of events and education around it. (Detroit Free Press)
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[June 23, 2020] Multinational BPO ContactPoint 360 Expands Global Footprint With New Customer Experience and Technology Campus in Athens, Greece
ATHENS, Greece, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ContactPoint 360 announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art Customer Experience Center and Technology Solutions facility, including a 500-seat contact center and CX technology lab in Athens. The new campus will deliver end-to-end CX technology solutions to the European marketplace and provide omnichannel contact center services. The Global Contact Center Operator, ContactPoint, 360, Inc., based in Toronto, Canada with locations in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, has reimagined the business process outsourcing sector by creating a new hybrid approach to CX support, combining omnichannel contact center operations, marketing agency services, digital transformation solutions, and an in-house software development division. The company's international team of subject matter experts are highly skilled in key industries such as Banking, Technology, Retail, Travel, Healthcare, Government, and Utilities. This expertise, along with the full suite of unique services, enables CP360 to provide end-to-end CX solutions to clients in a one-stop-shop environment. "We are pleased to bring our new vision of Customer Experience Support to the European Continent," said Asad Mirza, President, and CEO of ContactPoint 360, Inc. "Athens is a world-class city and historical treasure. We believe Athens is the perfect location for our new European site as we are an hour by air to three continents and three hours by air from all major European Cites. The economy has been recovering since the 2008 crisis, and international debt relief has been extended over the next 10 years. We believe this is the time to invest in Greece due to key geopolitical factors and global financial forecasting. CP360 has expanded our ability to offer the highest quality of CX support, delivering strong ROI for clients on the continent," said Mirza. A critical factor appealing to clients seeking CX support is CP360's ability to aggregate such a wide array of talent and expertise within one agile organization. In this way, CP360 can help drive efficiency, enable cost savings, and align communications between groups working at all points with the ustomer interaction ecosystem. Having a single group with a problem-solving ethos and an agile mindset is a very efficient way to produce results and reduce miscommunication.
CX Business Consulting CP360 has a highly specialized CX consulting division that supports European brand clients that need more holistic transformation support beyond traditional BPO offerings. In this area of the business, CP360 services focus on Digital Transformation, Robotics & Process Automation. Consulting, Customer Journey Mapping, Dev Ops Consulting, Cloud Consulting, and Domain Consulting.
CX Technology Having specialized in customer interaction for decades, the leaders of CP 360 created an in-house software development to develop solutions in all areas of business that involve customer interaction. CP360 has assembled a top-notch team of full-stack developers and specialists, including database specialists, Automation QA Engineer and Manual QA team members. "Athens is a city it a crossroads of Europe and Asia with a high percentage of educated citizens speaking a multitude of languages from Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia. I have been running contact centers in Athens for years, and I'm so excited to be a part of this new and innovative evolution of the CX Industry," said Nicolas Georgilas, Director of Client Success & Partnerships for the ContactPoint 360 Athens location. Given the high penetration of home broadband internet access in the city, in conjunction with CP360's Secure Remote Worker technology, the company will provide hybrid workspace solutions to clients, including office-based and home-based agents. CP360 will have approximately 2,000 agents working for Athens with the Secure Remote Worker program. Athens Sales: Contact Nicolas Georgilas, Director of Client Success & Partnerships at [email protected] | Phone: +30 6974340181 About ContactPoint 360: Founded in 2007, ContactPoint 360 (www.contactpoint360.com) is a Canadian based global customer experience company with contact center locations across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The company provides business process outsourcing (BPO), omnichannel customer experience solutions including voice, email, chat, and social media. ContactPoint 360 services major international clients across various business sectors, including energy, finance, retail, telephony, and healthcare. The company also provides full-service CX consulting, an in-house software development department, and CX centric digital marketing services. Media Contact: [email protected] Related Links View Our Work From Home Solutions ContactPoint 360 Workforce Analytics Platform View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/multinational-bpo-contactpoint-360-expands-global-footprint-with-new-customer-experience-and-technology-campus-in-athens-greece-301082067.html SOURCE ContactPoint 360
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ATLANTA, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Commentary by Felicia M. Davis, founder of HBCU Green Fund:
As the list of higher education institutions apologizing for their role in the slave trade grows it is time investing in historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) institutions is prioritized. Democratic presidential candidates increasingly acknowledge the need to study the question of reparations. Ta-Nehisi Coates fastidiously establishes "The Case for Reparations" in a 2014 Atlantic Magazine article and environmental justice expert, Mustafa Ali, advocates reinvestment in underserved communities to ensure a just transition to a clean energy economy.
Today, the top five well-endowed institutions that benefited from slavery possess collective endowments in excess of 100 billion and the total for the richest twenty exceeds 200 billion. The combined total for all 100 HBCU endowments is slightly more than two billion and not a single HBCU possesses a billion-dollar endowment.
Comparatively small investment from the endowments of institutions that benefited from slavery can help to restore HBCUs as anchor institutions. Collaborative research initiatives focused on closing persistent gaps would set the stage for deeper equity commitments. Financing infrastructure projects will dramatically reduce deferred maintenance, cut energy and operating costs and will generate a return on investment with enormous social, environmental and economic dividends.
Fifty years of targeted efforts have failed to close the educational achievement gap between black and white students. In the absence of a concerted effort on the part of academia to deconstruct racist pseudo-scientific rationales woven into the American fabric for four centuries, disparities are likely to persist unabated.
Recent research, most notably Craig Steven Wilder's Ebony & Ivy, documents the significant contribution that enslaved people and the slave trade made to the development of virtually all of the oldest and most well-endowed higher education institutions. According to Wilder, "the first five colleges in the British American coloniesHarvard, William and Mary, Yale, Rutgers were major beneficiaries of the African slave trade and slavery."
Two hundred years after the founding of Harvard the first HBCUs were established to educate former slaves and their descendants. Remaining true to their mission, today black colleges educate a disproportionate share of low-income and first-generation college students. HBCUs also play a critical role in deconstructing ideologies that perpetuate systemic racism that undergirds health, education and wealth disparities.
Apologists for slavery seldom accept responsibility for deconstructing lingering misconceptions about race that negatively impact blacks and other people of color. Conversations about the wealth gap have yet to explore the impact of endowments in exacerbating the gap. Instead of exploring opportunities for leveraging and sharing wealth, elite institutions publish public apologies, rename buildings and provide scholarships for direct descendants of individual slaves. While commendable, these acts suggest narrow individual impact rather than collective disadvantage experienced by an entire community. With all of the attention on expanding wealth inequality, examination of the role of endowments remains muted.
Observing that, "wealth begets wealth," noted minority-serving institution scholar Marybeth Gasman finds that racism plays a role in the expanding endowment disparity. According to Gasman, Black colleges are not trusted to manage funds and this depresses giving. Endowment size is considered an important measure of institutional wellbeing and institutions with small endowments are considered weak with limited ability to support operations.
Just because elite institutions declared African peoples as less than fully human, profited from their sale and labor, justified and promulgated racist ideology that clearly disadvantaged an entire race, does not obligate the sharing of wealth. Rather, it is enlightened self-interest that should inspire action.
Increasing access to the highest quality education, disseminating proven sustainability strategies and elevating the standard of living especially for the most vulnerable should be shared goals for all of higher education. Working in partnership with HBCUs and leveraging the power of endowment investment, American higher education can usher in an era of change defined by improved quality of life for all. This approach will also help to end the myth of black inferiority by eradicating educational achievement gaps.
Investing in historically black colleges and universities is possibly the most socially responsible investment that well-endowed institutions can make, especially those that profited from slavery.
The HBCU Green Fund was incorporated as a 501 C3 organization in 2017 to provide sustainable solutions for our nation's 107 HBCUs. We identify projects that will increase efficiency, generate savings, reduce emissions and strengthen resilience. Our technical team conducts site visits and shares findings with investors and service providers.
SOURCE HBCU Green Fund
Mondays order extends the green-card prohibition in addition to suspending the issuance of many of the worker visas.
Immigration restrictionists who have had the ear of the Trump administration applauded the announcement. Combined with recent measures, the work visa suspensions will put the thumb on the labor market scale in favor of U.S. workers, said Jessica Vaughan, the policy director at the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates curbing immigration.
Its really heartening to see the president stand up to the special interests that pull out the stops to lobby for these visa programs, said Ms. Vaughan, who said she had been regularly consulted by White House aides on the issue.
In addition to the temporary suspensions, administration officials said Mr. Trump was directing the government to make permanent changes to a broad array of immigration regulations in order to discourage what they said was unfair competition for American jobs from foreigners looking to come to the United States.
Among those changes will be new methods of ensuring that high-skill visas in the future are awarded to the highest-paid workers and of preventing companies from contracting large numbers of midlevel foreign workers to perform accounting, programming and other technology-assisted jobs that Americans might be able to do.
Other changes would be aimed at discouraging immigrants from applying for asylum as a way of obtaining a work permit in the United States. It was unclear when those regulatory changes would go into effect.
The administration could try to issue emergency rules to expedite such changes rather than go through the normal process, which can take months or even years because the public must be allowed to comment before a final rule is enacted.
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 07:26 579 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660cac81 1 National marijuana,cannabis-legalization,ganja,kupang-nusa-tenggara-timur,NTT,East-Nusa-Tenggara,Court Free
The Kupang District Court in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) sentenced Reyndhart Rossy Siahaan, who used marijuana as an alternative medication, to 10 months' imprisonment on Monday, despite an urge to decriminalize marijuana for medical treatment.
The Advocacy Coalition for Narcotics Usage for Medication condemned the court's decision, saying that Reyndhart, who consumed marijuana to relieve pain caused by spinal cord compression, could be excluded from punishment as set out in Article 48 of the Criminal Code. The particular article stipulates a restriction on charging people who commit a criminal offense in an emergency.
The 37-year-old man was arrested in November last year at his rooming house in West Manggarai regency in NTT as he consumed boiled cannabis water that he found could help ease the pain. He was then charged under Article 127 of the 2009 Narcotics Law, which carries a maximum sentence of one year's imprisonment.
"Learning from Reyndhart's case, he's supposed to be released from any criminal charge," the advocacy group said in a statement on Monday, adding that the case would only show the world that someone could be criminalized in Indonesia just because the country failed to provide the medical treatment he needed.
Read also: Advocacy groups file amicus in support of marijuana for medical use
The group also highlighted that Reyndhart was a "victim" of the country's anti-drug war, which is not supported by sufficient scientific research. It further called on the government to start studying the use of cannabis for medical purposes and subsequently stop criminalizing people like Reyndhart.
"How many more people would be sacrificed under similar circumstances? We definitely need drug policy reform," the group, which consists of the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), Indonesian Judicial Research Society (IJRS) and the Community Legal Aid Institute (LBH Masyarakat) among other organizations, said in a statement on Monday.
The group previously said that at least 50 countries had approved marijuana as alternative medication, with the substance commonly used to ease neurogenic pain.
Amber Kelley has a super cool way to make fish tacos. Youre going to start with the natural gas flame, the teenage one-time Food Network Star Kids winner explained in a professionally produced video to her more than 6,700 Instagram followers, adding that because the flames actually come up, you can heat and cook your tortilla.
Kelleys not the only Instagram influencer praising the flames of her stove. Chef Jenna, a 20-something with cool-girl rainbow hair and 15,800 followers, posted, Whos up for some breakfast-for-dinner? Chef Jenna is bringing you some stovetop Huevos Rancheros this evening! Did you know natural gas provides better cooking results? Pretty nifty, huh?! The Instagram account @kokoshanne, an adventurous mama with 131,000 followers, wrote in a post about easy weeknight dinners that natural gas helps cook food faster.
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#cookingwithgas makes food taste better, says Camille, an L.A.-based foodie who poses artfully with her spatula, to her 16,700 followers.
The gas cooking Insta trend is no accident. Its the result of a carefully orchestrated campaign dreamed up by marketers for representatives with the American Gas Association and the American Public Gas Association, two trade groups that draw their funding from a mix of investor- and publicly owned utilities. Since at least 2018, social media and wellness personalities have been hired to post more than 100 posts extolling the virtues of their stoves in sponsored posts. Documents from the fossil fuel watchdog Climate Investigations Center show that another trade group, the American Public Gas Association, intends to spend another $300,000 on its millennial-centric Natural Gas Genius campaign in 2020.
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What the polished posts dont mention is that those perfectly charred tacos and fast weeknight meals come at a steep price: Gas stoves expose tens of millions of people in the United States to levels of pollution so high that they would be considered illegal outdoors. Counting on the allure of Instagram stars to help fend off alternatives backed by environmentalists, the gas industry doesnt want you to realize how much its paid marketing has influenced public thinking that gas stoves are stylish, innocuous, and necessary home appliances. To the contrary, lifestyle bloggers are building their healthy, clean-living brands on one of the most dangerous home appliances on the market.
Americans have a lot of feelings about their stovetops, and the prevailing opinion is that electric cant hold a candle to gas ranges. Gas stoves, were told, fire up faster, work smoothly with cast-iron cookware, and allows better control.
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As it turns out, the industry has been working on convincing us of these supposed benefits of gas stoves for a long timeInstagram campaigns are just the latest twist in a 90-year-old advertising campaign. In the 1930s, groups like the American Gas Association needed to stave off competition from wood and electric stoves. An enterprising executive at AGA came up with the slogan to promote the superior experience of its product that has lasted over a century later: Now youre cooking with gas.
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And the industry has long used pop culture to spread its message. In the 1940s, comedian Bob Hope incorporated the slogan into his routines. In 1956, it was actresses playing housewives selling gas-fired appliances in a 13-minute infomercial. In 1988, the phrase took an unfortunate turn in a rap by National Fuel Gas Distributors, which featured lyrics like:
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I cook with gas cause broilings so clean The flame consumes the smoke and grease You know what I mean
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Presentations from the PR firms Bellomy and Porter Novelli highlight the thinking behind the ongoing influencer campaign. The intention was never to have ultrafamous influencers on board, the slides show, because these midlevel accounts with a few thousand followers apiece are cheaper and can still reach the desired niche audiences. So, with its $300,000 budget from the American Public Gas Association, the PR firm Porter Novelli promises snackable content geared toward desirable millennial target audiences, Hispanic millennials, design enthusiasts, promising families, and young city solos.
You cant help but cringe, Rocky Mountain Institute report author Brady Seals says, when she looks at the #cookingwithgas hashtag of gorgeous kitchens and massive gas stoves, because they clearly lack a ventilation system.
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Every time you ignite a gas stove, youre filling your home with many of the same pollutants in exhaust from carscarbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and formaldehyde, all associated with a range of chronic health issues like respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease.
The problem becomes worse the smaller the space; cramped apartments fill up more quickly with pollutants. And lower-income black and Latino adults and children face the biggest toll as populations already facing higher rates of asthma that are exacerbated by more polluted outdoor air.
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Two studies out in May added to that research with a closer look at one gas in particular: nitrogen oxidea building block for smogwhich is harmful even in short spurts and at lower levels. And in homes with gas stoves, the concentration of nitrogen dioxide is anywhere between 50 to 400 percent higher than it is in homes with electric stoves. One report, a literature review from Rocky Mountain Institute, Mothers Out Front, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Sierra Club, found that children, with their growing lungs and smaller bodies, are especially vulnerable: A gas stove can put them at 42 percent greater risk of developing asthma symptoms and at 24 percent risk of lifelong asthma, in addition to affecting their brains and cardiovascular systems. A second study by UCLA, commissioned by Sierra Club found, that if your gas stove and oven were both on for an hour, youd have enough nitrogen dioxide build up inside your home that the level would be considered illegal if you were outdoors.
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Indoor air quality has long gotten short shrift because our homes are, of course, private propertythere is no agency formally responsible for keeping our indoor environments clean. So while the United States has made progress on outdoor pollution, the indoorswhere we spent about 90 percent of our dayscan be up to 100 times more polluted than the outside due to emissions from gas stoves and ovens, according to the RMI study. Other gas-powered appliances like water heaters and gas furnaces face more federal regulation requiring ventilation, but stoves have mostly escaped oversight.
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The influencer campaigns from the gas industry have ramped up as environmentalists succeeded in convincing 30 cities in California (Seattle and Bellingham in Washington state have considered it) to use electricity instead of gas in new building construction. The electrification fights are about bigger battles than cooking. But here, the gas industry saw an opportunity to convince Americans that banning gas would make their food taste less delicious. Its working: For example, when Berkeley ordered new construction to go all electric, the California Restaurant Association sued, noting the uniquely negative impacts on the culinary community.
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As for the health effects of gas cooking, the industry assures consumers that its easy to reduce pollution: To minimize the fumes, experts say, you should cook only on the back burners, use fans, and open windows if you can. Yet the industry marketing campaigns do not mention these safety measures; nor do any of the sponsored Instagram posts.
Whats more, most stovetops arent outfitted with the kind of range hoods that reach overhead to suck up the fumes to vent outside. Instead, most stoves come with a flimsy fan that does little more than recirculate the dirty air already in your home. While theres no national data on this, less than 35 percent of California residents use any kind of fan when they cook, and even less have the right kind of hood, according to the UCLA study. (APGA points out that the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency have tested emissions from gas stoves and do not consider them hazardous enough to regulate. Virtually all gas utilities have existing policies in place evaluating acceptable CO emissions levels from residential gas equipment, a spokesperson emailed.)
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Environmentalists are calling for federal gas stove ventilation standards, but until that happens, there is an alternative that the gas industry doesnt want consumers to know about: As my colleague Tom Philpott has written, the electric induction range is a glass-top alternative that uses a magnetic field to heat up pans. Though the equipment is relatively expensive, its method is more precise, faster, and slightly more energy-efficient than its gas rivals are. Best of all, it doesnt fill your kitchen with fumes.
Despite the well-documented health risks, gas stoves are still the norm in American households, while just 1 percent have adopted inductionfar below what Asian and European countries have adopted. Like the tobacco industrys misleading marketing campaigns, the gas companies have given the public false faith in these stovetops safety in the face of a growing body of research that proves otherwise.
Theres just a black hole when it comes to indoor air, Brady Seals says. Its a shift to think we have something unvented right in the space that we breathe.
JUNEAU, Alaska - Petitioners have called for the removal of a statue in Alaska depicting the U.S. cabinet secretary who arranged the purchase of the states land from Russia.
Juneau resident Jennifer LaRoe launched a Change.org petition last week to remove a statue of William H. Seward from a plaza in the states capital city, The Juneau Empire reported Saturday.
More than 1,300 people had signed the petition as of Friday, although the online format does not require signers to be Alaska residents.
The $250,000 statue unveiled in 2017 depicts Seward holding the 1867 Treaty of Cession, which authorized the sale of the Alaska Territory to the U.S. from the Russian Empire.
The purchase arranged by the secretary of state was ridiculed at the time as Sewards Folly by critics who also called the territory Sewards Icebox.
The opposition to the statue is not based on Seward himself, said LaRoe, who acknowledged his role as an abolitionist in President Abraham Lincolns administration.
The statue is a symbol of white, patriarchal authority and the disenfranchisement of Alaska Natives, she said.
(Alaska Natives) didnt sell their land to the U.S., and that wrong has never been corrected, LaRoe said.
The statue is owned by the State of Alaska, which also owns Dimond Courthouse Plaza where the statue is located, making the state responsible for its removal.
The petition was addressed to state Sen. Jesse Kiehl and Rep. Sara Hannan, both Democrats, whose districts include downtown Juneau.
Efforts to reach Kiehl and Hannan were not immediately successful.
LaRoe suggested replacing Sewards statue with a monument to Alaska civil rights icon Elizabeth Peratrovich.
Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl said removing the statue would be consistent with long-held views of Southeast Alaska Native residents.
Seward embodied Manifest Destiny, Worl said in a letter to the Juneau Empire. His imperialistic vision was founded on white supremacy.
Seward was an imperfect figure, but his legacy in Alaska is important, said Dave Rubin, the artist who crafted the statue with his sister, Judith.
Rubin said he is proud of his art but also wants to encourage discussion about Seward, who helped Lincoln produce the Emancipation Proclamation and sold land to Harriet Tubman that was used as part of the Underground Railroad.
It is a complicated legacy, Rubin said.
SHELTON The city had its first recorded coronavirus-related death in nearly a month, according to data released by the Naugatuck Valley Health District Monday.
NVHD officials said the death was a resident in his 40s. This latest death - the first recorded in the city since May 24 - brings the total laboratory-confirmed Covid-19-related deaths to 110, with the probable deaths at 21, bringing the citys total to 131.
The latest news comes as the state continued its phased re-opening plan.
NVHD officials continue to urge residents to stay home as much as possible and continue to practice physical social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet between you and others if you must go out for essential errands.
Per Lamonts executive order, any person in a public place who is unable to or does not maintain a safe social distance should cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face-covering.
Overall, as of Monday, there are 1,678 laboratory-confirmed positive cases in the Valley, with by far the most in Shelton with 579. There were 374 in Naugatuck, 279 in Ansonia, 228 in Seymour, 170 in Derby and 48 in Beacon Falls.
Data show that 473, or 28 percent, of the 1,678 confirmed cases among Valley residents are individuals who currently reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility, group home or similar setting.
According to NVHDs Monday data, 176, or 36 percent, of the 473 individuals who have died because of Covid-19 complications are residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities. In Shelton, 255 of the 579 laboratory-confirmed cases are residents of such facilities.
Statewide, positive cases stand at 45,782, with 4,263 deaths from Covid-19-related complications. Hospitalizations dropped to 140.
For public health surveillance, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19-associated deaths are defined as patients who tested positive for COVID-19 around the time of death, officials said, adding that this is not a determination of the cause of death.
Positive cases cover a wide range of ages, with Valley data showing that 317 people are 80 and older; 154 are between 70 and 79; 228 are between 60 and 69; 247 are between 50 and 59; 224 are between 40 and 49; 209 are between 30 and 39; 165 are between 20 and 29; 32 between 10 and 19 years of age; and eight between ages 0 and 9.
brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
Coronavirus lockdowns could radicalise more terror suspects, the EU's police agency warned Tuesday, saying both right and leftwing violence were on the rise.
Europol director Catherine De Bolle said as she unveiled the organisation's latest terrorism trends report that the pandemic's worldwide economic and social impacts could escalate existing discontents.
'These developments have the potential to further fuel the radicalisation of some individuals, regardless of their ideological persuasion,' De Bolle said in the report.
The report builds on a similar warning from a senior British police officer who said the lockdown may have led to more people becoming radicalised because they are spending more time online.
Coronavirus lockdowns could radicalise more terror suspects, the EU's police agency warned Tuesday, saying both right and leftwing violence were on the rise. Europol director Catherine De Bolle said the pandemic's worldwide economic and social impacts could escalate existing discontents
'Activists both on the extreme left and right and those involved in jihadist terrorism attempt to seize the opportunity the pandemic has created to further propagate their aims,' Ms De Bolle added.
The report said Islamist terror attacks in Europe had decreased, mainly due to better law enforcement, with only seven 'completed or failed' jihadist attacks in 2019.
However Europol warned of an increase in attacks by right-wing extremists, partly inspired by attacks such as the 2019 attack in Christchurch, New Zealand.
'While many right-wing extremist groups across the EU have not resorted to violence, they contribute to a climate of fear and animosity against minority groups,' De Bolle said.
The report builds on a similar warning from a senior British police officer who said the lockdown may have led to more people becoming radicalised because they are spending more time online. Pictured: File photo
'Such a climate, built on xenophobia, hatred for Jews and Muslims and anti-immigration sentiments, may lower the threshold for some radicalised individuals to use violence against people'.
Last year three EU member states reported a total of six right-wing attacks of which one was completed, as opposed to only one the year before.
One of the worst attacks was the shooting at a synagogue in the Germany city of Halle last October in which two people were killed.
There were 26 leftwing and anarchist attacks in Europe, mainly in Italy, Greece and Spain - a similar number to two years ago after a drop in 2018.
'Activists both on the extreme left and right and those involved in jihadist terrorism attempt to seize the opportunity the pandemic has created to further propagate their aims,' Ms De Bolle added
But the number of arrests on suspicion of leftwing or anarchist terrorist offences more than tripled, compared to previous years, Europol added, with the majority linked to violent demonstrations and confrontations with Italian police.
Earlier this month the Metropolitan Police's Lucy D'Orsi said the impact of coronavirus on the threat of terrorism in the UK was not yet known.
But she did say people have spent more time online in lockdown, and the internet has increaisingly been used as a tool of radicalisation in recent years.
'The reality is that the threat has not gone away,' Assistant Commissioner D'Orsi told the BBC.
She also expressed that as the lockdown eases, terrorists will be seeking to make an impact.
Actor Kangana Ranaut has said that after one of her exes accused her of being a gold digger, she decided to prove everyone wrong by becoming one of the richest persons in the country by age 50.
In an interview to Pinkvilla, Kangana said that she didnt know how to deny her exs comments. She said, I didnt know how to prove that it wasnt it. In a relationship, how does one who doesnt have such possessions, comes from a small town with a humble background, have no chance of love, dignity! That person suddenly doesnt have a say in this world of nepotistic materialistic people. Then, I thought Im going to have the best house anyone will have, best office and by the age of 50, I also will be one of the richest people in India. Thats what Ive just decided.
She said that when she started out in the industry, she wasnt paid, because she isnt a star kid, who are given stylists. She continued, I remember after Gangster, I was going for these award functions where I was getting an award. I didnt have clothes to wear. I didnt even have any money to buy those clothes. So there was this designer friend of mine Rick Roy who used to sponsor my clothes. He was struggling himself but his parents were supporting him.
Also read: Kangana Ranaut blasts blind items in wake of Sushant Singh Rajputs death, asks why theyre never written on nepo kids
She said that it was because of Rick that she was even able to attend some of those awards shows. She added, He would make these gowns for me and Id wonder where hes getting the money from. But it was wonderful that somebody came to my help. Otherwise, how would I even go to these functions? I wouldnt have made it to those award nights. I didnt have clothes. Otherwise, I used to wear a few Mango tops and for me, those were the luxury brands. That was the best I could afford at that point. I didnt have access to anything. From there, I came here so its amazing.
In the wake of actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death, Kangana has once again spoken against the Bollywood elite, accusing them of ostracising outsiders.
Follow @htshowbiz for more
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BERLIN - The former CEO of German financial technology company Wirecard has been arrested on suspicion of misrepresenting the firm's finances in an accounting scandal that centres on a missing 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion), prosecutors in Munich said Tuesday.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
FILE - In this Thursday, April 25, 2019 file photo, Markus Braun, CEO of financial services company wirecard, attends the earnings press conference in Munich, Germany. Prosecutors in Germany say that the former CEO of the payments company Wirecard has been arrested in an accounting scandal that centers on a missing sum of 1.9 billion euros, or 2.1 billion dollars. Markus Braun resigned on Friday after the company disclosed that auditors couldn't find accounts containing the money.(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, file)
BERLIN - The former CEO of German financial technology company Wirecard has been arrested on suspicion of misrepresenting the firm's finances in an accounting scandal that centres on a missing 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion), prosecutors in Munich said Tuesday.
Markus Braun resigned on Friday after the company said that auditors couldnt find accounts containing the money. On Monday, Wirecard said it had concluded that the money probably doesnt exist.
A court issued an arrest warrant shortly afterward and Braun, who had been in Vienna, turned himself in on Monday evening.
FILE - In this Thursday, April 25, 2019 file photo, Markus Braun, CEO of financial services company wirecard, attends the earnings press conference in Munich, Germany. Prosecutors in Germany say that the former CEO of the payments company Wirecard has been arrested in an accounting scandal that centers on a missing sum of 1.9 billion euros, or 2.1 billion dollars. Markus Braun resigned on Friday after the company disclosed that auditors couldn't find accounts containing the money. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, file)
The arrest deepens a scandal engulfing Wirecard AG, which provides companies the technologies and platforms for cashless payments. It was once regarded as a star of the growing financial technology sector, attracting international investors and getting listed on Germany's blue-chip stock index. But its fortunes began to turn after the company became the subject last year of Financial Times reports about accounting irregularities in its Asian operations. Wirecard disputed the reports and said it was the victim of speculators.
Braun is accused of inflating the company's financial position using sham income from other businesses, possibly in collaboration with further perpetrators, in order to portray the company as financially stronger and more attractive for investors and clients, the prosecutors said in a statement.
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 the incorrect financial statements were used to get bank loans.
After Braun turned himself in, he pledged his co-operation in a first meeting with investigators, Leiding told reporters.
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Later Tuesday, he was brought before a judge, who ordered that he be released on condition that he post a 5 million-euro ($5.7 million) bail and report to police every week, prosecutors said. They said it wasn't considered necessary to keep him in custody to secure the proceedings at present, given that he had turned himself in.
On Monday Wirecard fired its chief operating officer, Jan Marsalek, who had been suspended from the board last week. German news agency dpa reported that Marsalek had been in charge of overseeing daily operations including in Southeast Asia, where the possible fraud occurred.
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 country's central bank chief said none of the missing money entered the Philippines' 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 1.9 billion euros 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 22.6% in Frankfurt trading at 17.70 euros.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has recently warned that the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic and has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing. And, in a recent ABC News interview, he said political demonstrations such as protests against racial injustice are risky to all involved. Asked if that applied to Trump rallies, he said it did. Fauci continues to recognize widespread testing as critical for catching clusters of COVID-19 cases before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community.
The State Bank of India (SBI) has called for online applications from eligible and interested candidates for filling Eight (08) Specialist Cadre Officers (SCO) vacancies in capacity as Deputy Manager (IS Audit) on a regular basis through direct recruitment to be posted in Mumbai. The online application-cum-registration process towards the same starts from June 23, 2020 and closes on July 13, 2020.
CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Deputy Manager (IS Audit) Organisation State Bank of India (SBI) Educational Qualification B.E/B.Tech in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Application, Electronics, Electronics & Instrumentation engineering Experience Two years in a relevant domain Skills Required Desirable Job Location Mumbai Salary Scale Rs. 31,705 to Rs. 45,950 per month Industry Banking Application Start Date June 23, 2020 Application End Date July 13, 2020
Age Criteria And Fees
Candidates interested in applying for Dy. Manager posts through SBI Deputy Manager Recruitment 2020 must have attained 21 years of age and not have exceeded 35 years as on January 1, 2020 with relaxation (upper age limit) up to 5 years (SC/ST) and 3 years (OBC-NCL) respectively as per the Govt. of India guidelines.
Candidates must remit a specified amount of Rs. 750 (GEN/OBC/EWS) as application fee and intimation charges through online (net-banking/debit/credit) mode only. However, SC/ST/PWD candidates are granted exemption from paying the application fee.
SBI Recruitment 2020 For 326 Executive And Sr. Executive Posts, Apply Online Starting Today
Educational Criteria And Eligibility
Desirous candidates applying for Dy. Manager posts through SBI Deputy Manager Recruitment 2020 must possess a B.E/B.Tech in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Application, Electronics, Electronics & Instrumentation engineering with minimum 60% marks from a recognised University/Institution with at least two years' of work experience in at Firms/Corporates providing IS/IT Audit, Information Security Services/IS Consulting as detailed in the advertisement.
Selection And Pay Scale
The selection of candidates to Dy. Managers posts through SBI Deputy Manager Recruitment 2020 will be done through Shortlisting, Interview and Document Verification.
Candidates selected to Dy. Managers posts through SBI Deputy Manager Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 31,705 to Rs. 45,950 per month.
Also Read: SBI SCO Recruitment 2020 For 64 Managerial, IO And Other Posts. Apply Online Before July 13
How To Apply
Candidates applying for Dy. Manager posts through SBI Deputy Manager Recruitment 2020 must register online on the official SBI website at https://recruitment.bank.sbi/crpd-sco-2020-21-06/apply from June 23, 2020 onwards, and submit their applications on or before July 13, 2020.
Read the detailed advertisement about SBI Deputy Manager Recruitment 2020 for Deputy Manager (IS Audit) posts here
A Queensland man sentenced to 10 years in prison for helping his wife to kill herself for a $1.4 million life insurance payout has lost his appeal.
The ruling comes after emails between euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke and the man's wife were discovered following his conviction.
Graham Robert Morant was aged 69 when he was convicted of persuading his wife Jennifer to end her life in November 2014.
Graham Morant is seen leaving the Supreme Court in Brisbane during his 2018 trial. Credit:AAP/Darren England
While he attended a Sunday church service, his wife took her own life.
The state guidelines, released Monday for use starting Friday, nix overnight camps and call for those at day camps to stay at least 6 feet away from one another. Camps are advised to operate at 50% of capacity or less and to keep kids in groups of 15 or fewer. Masks are advised under some circumstances, and separate CDC guidelines recommend cloth masks where feasible.
Hong Kong Leader Defends Her Powers Granted Under Beijings New National Security Law
Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam repeatedly defended the need for Beijings national security law in Hong Kong during her weekly press conference on June 23.
Lam had a short message for those who continue to raise questions about how the law will damage Hong Kongs one country, two systems model. She said those critics probably have never clearly had an accurate impression of [the principle] of one country.
The model has been used in Hong Kong since the citys sovereignty was handed back to China from Britain in 1997, and it was intended to preserve Hong Kongs autonomy and freedoms while under mainland Chinese rule. The Chinese mainland is ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
However, Beijing has slowly encroached upon Hong Kongs liberties and political freedoms in recent years, resulting in the eruption of mass protests that have been ongoing since June 2019.
Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), adopted the national security law for Hong Kong on May 28 after a ceremonial vote. It immediately drew backlash from local activists and pro-democracy lawmakers, who say the CCPs law would undermine local autonomy and replace the current model with one country, one system.
The law would criminalize those who engage in activities connected to subversion, secession, terrorism, and foreign interference against the CCP. It will be implemented after the NPC standing committee finalizes its drafting of the law.
At the presser, Lam deflected criticism about some of the laws provisions disclosed by Beijing this past weekend, which includes granting her the power to appoint judges in national security-related cases. The Hong Kong Bar Association was among those who argued the provision would undermine the citys judicial independence.
Lam said she wont handpick judges for every single national security case, but will appoint a group of judges to handle such cases under the law.
She added that her appointment will be based on recommendations from a local judicial body that advises her on such designations, as well as taking advice from the citys chief justice.
Lam also said the law doesnt rule out foreign judges hearing national security cases.
Lams remark on her selection of judges came after warnings raised by former Chief Justice Andrew Li in a statement to local newspapers.
Li said the power given to the chief executive would be detrimental to the independence of the judiciary, in an interview with the South China Morning Post.
The new law would also allow for the creation of a national security commission chaired by the citys chief executive.
Li said this chair position would make it inappropriate for the chief executive to make the choice on his or her own.
The NPC standing committee also stated that Hong Kong will have jurisdiction over casesexcept under specific circumstance, when China could have jurisdiction over an extremely small number of cases.
Li expressed concerns that this could allow certain national security cases to be tried in mainland China, noting that it would undermine the independent judicial power which our courts are authorized to exercise under the [Hong Kong] Basic Law, referring to the citys mini-constitution.
Related Coverage Beijing Advances Plan to Secure Sweeping Powers in Hong Kong, Deepening Fears
Lam said that once the law is fully drafted, mainland Chinese officialspotentially officials from the Legislative Affairs Commission under the NPC standing committeecould visit Hong Kong to interpret the national security law.
On June 22, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.), chairmen of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), said they were deeply troubled by the new details about the law.
Each detail is worse than the next & allows Beijing to take jurisdiction over natl security cases & to establish a security office in #HongKong, the two lawmakers wrote on Twitter.
Schools & social groups will face increased restrictions.
The European Union also voiced concerns on June 22 following the EUChina Summit, when European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a videoconference with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
The two European leaders expressed grave concerns at steps taken by China to impose the national security law, and that the steps are not in conformity with the Hong Kong Basic Law and Chinas international commitments, according to a press release.
In what appears to be the latest biblical plague of 2020, a nearly 4,000-mile-long dust storm from the Sahara Desert is currently headed toward the southeastern coast of the United States.
Today's view of a large Saharan dust plume.
Watch in near-realtime: https://t.co/mtWrgxAxqY. pic.twitter.com/aq4Ozto4Ng CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) June 19, 2020
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#SATELLITE SPOTLIGHT: This #SaharanAirLayer (#SAL) tracking animation shows how the plume of #dust and #sand from the #SaharaDesert has moved westward over the last 5 days. Areas of red and pink represent the dry, dusty air as seen from @NOAA's #GOES16 pic.twitter.com/mh7gULXFSU NOAA Satellites - Public Affairs (@NOAASatellitePA) June 23, 2020
This dust plume, known as the Saharan Air Layer, is a phenomenon that develops every year off the coast of Africa, where powerful winds from thunderstorms over the Sahel can push the dust many thousands of feet up into the atmosphere. A few times a year, that layer of dust sends out vast clouds that then drift over the sea.
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But this year, the dust clouds that normally do little more than amplify sunsets have drifted far lower to coat Caribbean islands with a thin layer of dust and choke the air with a dry haze that in some places cut visibility by more than half. The cloud is forecast to sweep across the southeastern United StatesTexas and Louisiana in particularon Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Another wave of dust is expected to follow.
A large plume of Saharan dust can be seen on GOES-East satellite imagery this morning across the eastern tropical Atlantic. pic.twitter.com/fZ7WxN4XfS NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) June 18, 2020
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Models indicate the Saharan dust reaching portions of Texas late next week. Learn more about about the Saharan Air Layer here: https://t.co/frwXakP5fF pic.twitter.com/DrIJbK5ECn NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) June 18, 2020
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According to the New York Times, in those areas affected by the dust, some people with asthma and underlying lung conditions might be at risk for irritation and discomfort. Those residents should avoid outdoor activities and monitor the air quality.
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We are certainly familiar with the big dust storms we can see here in the Desert SW during the monsoon and how far the dust can travel across the region, but certainly not this far. Satellite from earlier today shows a large Saharan Air Layer traversing the Atlantic. #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/WOLoxxrFR9 NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) June 23, 2020
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One good quality of these plumes is that they typically squash any early hurricane formations with their dry air. But according to the Washington Post, the dust can also deposit enough iron into the Gulf of Mexico to spur dangerous and noxious algal blooms. Its also possible some of the microbes and nutrients carried in the dust play an important role in local ecosystems.
We flew over this Saharan dust plume today in the west central Atlantic. Amazing how large an area it covers! pic.twitter.com/JVGyo8LAXI Col. Doug Hurley (@Astro_Doug) June 21, 2020
For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below.
Pakistan is trying to send more terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir through several areas and planning to attack security forces, the Union territorys director general of police said on Tuesday.
Pakistan is trying to send more Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba militants to Kashmir through Nowshera, Rajouri-Poonch and Kupwara-Keran sectors. Our border and hinterland grids are alert and are working in coordination, Dilbag Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
We have reports that militants (JeM) are again planning to implement IED based incident against the security forces. We are fully alert, Singh added, according to ANI.
The top police official was speaking after the wreath-laying ceremony for a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, who was killed during a gunfight Pulwama district earlier in the day.
Head constable Sunil Kale of CRPFs 182nd Battalion lost his life during the operation in Bundzoo area of Pulwama. Two terrorists were also shot dead by security forces during the encounter.
His comments came after the Indian Army said on Tuesday that security forces have busted an active terrorist hideout and recovered warlike stores in an area on the outskirts of Srinagar.
The joint operation was launched in the morning in Harwan, which is about 19km from Srinagar city, the Chinar Corps of the army tweeted.
Security forces, which have stepped up the offensive in the Kashmir Valley, have killed more than 100 terrorists in operations since the beginning of this year.
Job Title: Procurement Officer
Organisation: National
Bureau for NGOs
Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda
Reports to: Senior
Procurement Officer
About US:
The National Bureau
for NGOs (NGO Bureau) is a semi-autonomous body under the Ministry of Internal
Affairs established by the NGO Act 2016. The Act mandates it to register,
regulate, coordinate, inspect, monitor and oversee all NGO operations in the
country.
Job Summary: The Procurement Officer will be supporting the
department in coordinating monitoring and providing technical support for the
implementation of procurement and disposal of assets function of the Bureau to
ensure value for money. He / she will provide support role in coordinating,
monitoring and providing technical support for the implementation of
procurement and disposal of assets function of the Bureau to ensure value for
money .
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Compile
schedules of procurement requirements:
Prepare
draft bidding documents and procurement plan;
Reference,
verify and manage procurement documentation:
Enter
sanctioned transactions in the procurement system for further processing
Advise
end users on development of procurement specifications,
Store
procurement records and information on suppliers,
Receive
and attend to inquiries from bidders and suppliers,
Distribute
bidding documents and notices;
Facilitate
and manage the bidding process;
Receive
and register bids:
Advertise
tenders.
Prepare
monthly reports to PPDA
Perform
any other duties as assigned by the Senior Procurement officer
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The applicant
must hold a Bachelors Degree in Procurement and Logistics Management or Full
professional qualification in Supply Chain Management (CIPS)
A post
graduate Diploma in Procurement Management will be an added advantage
A minimum
of two (2) years of experience in procurement and contract management in public
sector is required; Membership of any professional body eg. IPPU, CIPS: Good
knowledge of procurement policies and procedures of a multilateral financial
institution (preferably the PPDA, Government of Uganda, Donor Projects), and
good knowledge of the institutional, technical, and commercial aspects of
procurement will be an added advantage.
Competencies
Result
oriented
Understands
the PPDA Act
Knowledge
of Procurement and Supply Chain/ Logistics Management or Purchasing &
Supplies/Materials Management
Technical
Understands
the Government procurement system
Knowledge
of the PPDA Act.
Good
analytical skills
High
level of integrity and honesty
High
level of professionalism
Serves
the interests of bidders equally
Upholds
principle of value for money in every procurement.
Core competences:
Computer
literacy skills:
Excellent
interpersonal skills:
Good
communication and reporting skills:
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified
and interested candidates are invited to submit their application letters
together with the following:
Detailed
and updated curriculum vitae signed and dated by the candidate;
Certified
copies of academic transcripts and certificates:
Copy of
the applicants National Identity Card.
Names
and addresses of three (3) referees who should forward their recommendations
directly to the Executive Director. Referees should attest to the candidates
academic credentials, managerial skills and integrity.
Sealed applications
should be addressed and delivered to the address. East African Time.
Application letters with accompanying documents can also be emailed to
outlook@ngobureau.com with the subject clearly indicating the position applied
for
The Executive
Director
National Bureau for
NGOs
3rd Floor, Kingdom
Kampala Building
Plot 31 A-35A, 37A-39A,
Nile Avenue
P. O. Box 24216,
Kampala, Uganda.
The envelopes should
be clearly marked APPLICATION FOR THE POSITION OF .. (Please indicate
the specific position applied for) on the top right corner.
Deadline: 26th June 2020 by 1:00pm
For more of the
latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
An elderly woman killed when a tree crashed through her east Birmingham home is being remembered for her grace and love for others.
She was a grande woman,' said daughter-in-law Sandy Holmes. She was loved.
Kathleen White Holmes, 86, was inside the 13th Avenue N.W. home she had lived in for 62 years when storms swept across the Birmingham area Sunday afternoon, bringing hail and wind gusts of 44 mph. According to the National Weather Service, straight line winds caused the damage at Homes house. A large tree also fell on her next-door-neighbors house, but no injuries were reported.
Holmes had just watched church on her phone and was preparing to eat lunch with daughter, Sandra Hipp, when the heavy rain and wind seemed to come out of nowhere.
I stepped into the hall and saw the boards coming off the deck,' Hipp said. I said, Weve got to get to the basement.'
Kathleen White Holmes, 86, was killed Sunday, June 21, 2020, when a tree fell on her east Birmingham home.
As soon as Holmes stood from her chair to seek safety, the roughly 60-foot Oak tree toppled. The tree went right across her,' Hipp said. All I could do was stand there and scream.
Hipp called 911 and her son. A neighbor heard Hipps screams and came to help. He crawled through a window and got Hipp out through the basement. He was my guardian angel,' Hipp said. He just put his arms around me and told me Jesus had her and it was going to be OK.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded to the home. Homes was pronounced dead on the scene at 1:19 p.m.
Holmes deck was actually built around the tree because she loved it so much, family said. We told her it needed to be cut down, but she wouldnt have it,' her daughter-in-law said. She loved watching the critters,' and had hung a hummingbird feeder on its branches to draw birds to her deck.
Holmes was a mother to three children, and also a grandmother. She was a Christian, her family said, who never said a bad word about anybody. Though 86 years old, she still drove other elderly people to their doctor appointments, and never missed her own standing Friday appointments at her hair salon. She would do anything for anyone, and was the center of her large, close-knit family.
She had that true southern charm,' Hipp said. She was the glue that held this family together.
We cannot return to the pre-COVID world as it was.
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Ingrid Brockova is State Secretary responsible for development cooperation, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
Jutta Urpilainen is European Commissioner for International Partnerships, European Commission
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Each and every one of us all around the world has felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus continues to pose a threat to global public health. The socio-economic crisis, brought on by weeks of lockdown, has caused a trail of devastation, with many people missing out on pay cheques, struggling to put food on the table and being unsafe in their home.
Existing problems in sharper focus
One thing that the crisis as an x-ray has revealed is that some people are suffering much more than others. Inequality, which was already plaguing our societies, has never been more apparent. For many of our partner countries in our immediate neighbourhood in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans, as well as in Africa, Latin America and Asia, COVID-19 has brought existing problems into sharper focus. Health, water and sanitation systems are under increased pressure, and rising unemployment, especially amongst youth, has exposed already fragile social security systems.
Coronavirus puts spotlight on neglected Roma communities Read more
As we navigate the exit and the recovery of this global crisis, we must turn to solidarity, international partnerships and cooperation to find answers. Helping our partners cope with the fall-out of the pandemic is not just the right thing to do. It is also in Europes best interest. Our interdependence has never been clearer.
This is why the EU and its Member States, acting as Team Europe, have invested nearly 36 billion, with the support of Slovakia in the amount of 10 million, to address the needs of the most vulnerable around the world, including migrants, refugees, internally displaced populations and their host communities. Shortly after the COVID-19 crisis became a pandemic, Brussels and other European capitals took swift coordinated action to help our partners: from supporting food self-sufficiency in Kenya, reinforcing health care in Ukraine or Moldova, to mitigating negative economic impact of pandemic in Georgia and funding prevention measures in Serbia.
EU assistance is helping communities across the world come to terms with the pandemic. We are ready to mobilise available innovative solutions and products developed by our researchers, the private sector or civil society and share them with our partners via an EU-wide portal. After all, stronger partners make a stronger Europe.
Vaccine tops agenda
Our mission is to leave no one behind. Developing a vaccine as soon as possible, which is affordable and accessible for all, is on top of our agenda. At the pledging conference in early May hosted by President von der Leyen, 9.8 billion were raised, including a Slovak contribution of 750,000, for the development of rapid diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. Yet again another great example of what we can achieve together as a global community.
Slovakia urged to think green after pandemic Read more
When it comes to recovery and the post-COVID world however, let us also be honest. We cannot return to the pre-COVID world as it was. Neither can our partners who are amongst those most affected by the climate emergency, rising inequality, seback in human development and the digital divide. As we begin the hard task of rebuilding our economies and societies, in the words of UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres, this is our opportunity to rebuild better.
When the next generation looks back at this moment, we want them to say that their parents pressed ahead, harnessing all the opportunities of the green and digital transitions, to build a better future for them and a more sustainable, fair and inclusive world for all.
TEL-AVIV, Israel, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellomay Capital Ltd. (NYSE American: ELLO) (TASE: ELLO) ("Ellomay" or the "Company"), a renewable energy and power generator and developer of renewable energy and power projects in Europe and Israel, today reported its unaudited financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2020.
Financial Highlights
Revenues were approximately 1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . The decrease in revenues is mainly due to the sale of ten Italian indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, which held twelve photovoltaic plants in Italy with an aggregate installed capacity of approximately 22.6 MWp, during December 2019 (the " Italian PV Portfolio ").
, compared to approximately 4.7 million for the three months ended . The decrease in revenues is mainly due to the sale of ten Italian indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, which held twelve photovoltaic plants in with an aggregate installed capacity of approximately 22.6 MWp, during (the " "). Operating expenses were approximately 1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . The decrease in operating expenses is mainly attributable to the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio and to increased operational efficiency of the Company's Waste-to-Energy projects in the Netherlands . Depreciation expenses were approximately 0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . The decrease reflects the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio.
, compared to approximately 1.7 million for the three months ended . The decrease in operating expenses is mainly attributable to the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio and to increased operational efficiency of the Company's Waste-to-Energy projects in . Depreciation expenses were approximately 0.7 million for the three months ended , compared to approximately 1.6 million for the three months ended . The decrease reflects the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio. Project development costs were approximately 1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . The increase in project development expenses is mainly attributable to the development of photovoltaic projects in Italy .
, compared to approximately 0.9 million for the three months ended . The increase in project development expenses is mainly attributable to the development of photovoltaic projects in General and administrative expenses were approximately 1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . There was no material change in the substance and composition of the expenses included in general and administrative expenses between the two periods.
, compared to approximately 0.9 million for the three months ended . There was no material change in the substance and composition of the expenses included in general and administrative expenses between the two periods. Share of profits of equity accounted investee, after elimination of intercompany transactions, was approximately 1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . The increase in the Company's share of profit of equity accounted investee is mainly attributable to lower financing expenses incurred by Dorad Energy Ltd. for the period as a result of the CPI indexation of loans from banks.
, compared to approximately 1.2 million for the three months ended . The increase in the Company's share of profit of equity accounted investee is mainly attributable to lower financing expenses incurred by Dorad Energy Ltd. for the period as a result of the CPI indexation of loans from banks. Financing expenses, net were approximately 0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . The decrease in financing expenses, net, was mainly due to: (i) income recorded in connection with the reevaluation of the Company's euro/US$ forward transactions and revaluation of Dori Energy loan in the aggregate amount of approximately 1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 0.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019 , (ii) decreased expenses resulting from exchange rate differences amounting to approximately 0.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 , mainly in connection with the New Israeli Shekel cash and cash equivalents and with the New Israeli Shekel denominated Debentures, caused by the 0.6% appreciation of the euro against the NIS during the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to the 5% devaluation of the euro against the NIS during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and (iii) a decrease in financing expenses of approximately 0.3 million compared to financing expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2019 resulting from the early repayment of the Company's Series A Debentures and the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio, including all related project finance.
, compared to approximately 1.7 million for the three months ended . The decrease in financing expenses, net, was mainly due to: (i) income recorded in connection with the reevaluation of the Company's euro/US$ forward transactions and revaluation of Dori Energy loan in the aggregate amount of approximately 1 million during the three months ended , compared to approximately 0.4 million during the three months ended , (ii) decreased expenses resulting from exchange rate differences amounting to approximately 0.7 million in the three months ended , compared to approximately 1.2 million for the three months ended , mainly in connection with the New Israeli Shekel cash and cash equivalents and with the New Israeli Shekel denominated Debentures, caused by the 0.6% appreciation of the euro against the NIS during the three months ended , compared to the 5% devaluation of the euro against the NIS during the three months ended and (iii) a decrease in financing expenses of approximately million compared to financing expenses in the three months ended resulting from the early repayment of the Company's Series A Debentures and the sale of the Italian PV Portfolio, including all related project finance. Taxes on income were approximately 0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 .
, compared to approximately 0.2 million for the three months ended . Loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was approximately 1.9 million, compared to a loss of approximately 1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 .
was approximately 1.9 million, compared to a loss of approximately 1 million for the three months ended . Total other comprehensive income was approximately 14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . The increase in total other comprehensive income mainly resulted from changes in fair value of cash flow hedges.
, compared to approximately 0.6 million for the three months ended . The increase in total other comprehensive income mainly resulted from changes in fair value of cash flow hedges. Total comprehensive income was approximately 12.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to total comprehensive loss of approximately 0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 .
, compared to total comprehensive loss of approximately 0.4 million for the three months ended . EBITDA was approximately (0.6) million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to approximately 2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 .
, compared to approximately 2.5 million for the three months ended . Net cash used in operating activities was approximately 0. 5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 , compared to net cash provided by operating activities of approximately 0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . The decrease in net cash from operating activities is mainly attributable to the sale of Italian PV Portfolio.
million for the three months ended , compared to net cash provided by operating activities of approximately 0.2 million for the three months ended . The decrease in net cash from operating activities is mainly attributable to the sale of Italian PV Portfolio. As of June 1, 2020 , the Company held approximately 56.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, approximately 6.4 million in short-term deposits, approximately 2. 3 million in marketable securities and approximately 10.3 million in restricted short-term and long-term cash.
First Quarter 2020 CEO Review
Ran Fridrich, CEO and a board member of the Company, provided the following CEO review:
Impact of COVID - 19 on the Company's activities
The immediate impact of the pandemic on the Company's activities has been minor thus far.
Out of concern for its employees, the Company was prepared to enable its employees to work full-time from home. All employees currently have remote access and if additional quarantine is required, the Company's work will not be affected.
The effect is mainly reflected in the decrease of electricity prices in Spain , which impacts the revenues of the Company's 4 currently active Spanish photovoltaic facilities. Approximately 20% of the revenues of these facilities is derived from the sale of electricity to the grid at current electricity prices. As a result of the decrease in electricity prices, the revenues from these facilities in the first quarter of 2020 decreased by approximately 0.1 million compared to the revenues in the same period in 2019 .
The pandemic caused a cumulative delay of approximately 30 days in the completion of works in the Talasol project (300 MW photovoltaic plant) located in Spain . Despite this delay, we currently expect that the EPC contractor will meet the original delivery dates of the project .
As for the long-term effects, the main influencing factor is the amount of time it will take for electricity prices to return to the pre-crisis price environment. In our opinion, based on the assessment of experts in the field, the process is expected to take approximately two years .
The impact of electricity prices on the Talasol project is minimal, as we have a fixed rate agreement (PPA) for a period of 10 years from the date of commercial operation in connection with approximately 80% of the project output .
The immediate impact of the pandemic on the Company's activities has been minor thus far. Out of concern for its employees, the Company was prepared to enable its employees to work full-time from home. All employees currently have remote access and if additional quarantine is required, the Company's work will not be affected. The effect is mainly reflected in the decrease of electricity prices in , which impacts the revenues of the Company's 4 currently active Spanish photovoltaic facilities. Approximately 20% of the revenues of these facilities is derived from the sale of electricity to the grid at current electricity prices. As a result of the decrease in electricity prices, the revenues from these facilities in the first quarter of 2020 decreased by approximately 0.1 million compared to the revenues in the same period in 2019 The pandemic caused a cumulative delay of approximately 30 days in the completion of works in the Talasol project (300 MW photovoltaic plant) located in . Despite this delay, we currently expect that the EPC contractor will meet the original delivery dates of the project As for the long-term effects, the main influencing factor is the amount of time it will take for electricity prices to return to the pre-crisis price environment. In our opinion, based on the assessment of experts in the field, the process is expected to take approximately two years The impact of electricity prices on the Talasol project is minimal, as we have a fixed rate agreement (PPA) for a period of 10 years from the date of commercial operation in connection with approximately 80% of the project output As for projects under development in Italy and Spain (an aggregate of up to 650 MW), we currently estimate that when these projects reach financial closing, the prevailing electricity prices will enable the signing of PPA transactions at prices that are in line with our financial model. In parallel, the panel prices and construction costs are expected to continue to decline and support the economic viability of the projects. We currently estimate that the return spreads to us will be around an 11%-13% leveraged return, with 60% financing coverage .
and (an aggregate of up to 650 MW), we currently estimate that when these projects reach financial closing, the prevailing electricity prices will enable the signing of PPA transactions at prices that are in line with our financial model. In parallel, the panel prices and construction costs are expected to continue to decline and support the economic viability of the projects. We currently estimate that the return spreads to us will be around an 11%-13% leveraged return, with 60% financing coverage The majority of the Company's efforts today are focused on the successful completion of the Talasol project, the development of photovoltaic plants in Spain and Italy , and in bringing the pumped storage project in the Manara Cliff, Israel , to financial closing .
and , and in bringing the pumped storage project in the Manara Cliff, , to financial closing The first quarter of 2020 was characterized by a decrease in revenues, mainly as a result of the sale of our Italian PV portfolio. Financing expenses in the quarter decreased by approximately 1.3 million as a result of exchange rate differences, revaluation of a loan to an equity accounted investee and due to a significant reduction in the Company's debt .
Project development expenses increased by more than 1 million in the quarter, as a result of increased volume of projects that are currently in the development pipeline .
The Company continues its attempts to reduce costs and increase operational efficiency of its operating photovoltaic facilities in Spain and Israel .
and Biogas operations in the Netherlands reached a stable operating position and are fully in line with the planned budget. In February 2020 , a very strong storm hit one of the facilities (GGOT), causing the facility to be partially deactivated. The damage repair and return of the facility to full activity took about 8 weeks, as the process of returning to full biological facility output is gradual. In May 2020 , the facility returned to full operation and current production exceeds 100% of the originally planned output. Facility insurance and profit loss insurance are expected cover the majority of the damage .
reached a stable operating position and are fully in line with the planned budget. In , a very strong storm hit one of the facilities (GGOT), causing the facility to be partially deactivated. The damage repair and return of the facility to full activity took about 8 weeks, as the process of returning to full biological facility output is gradual. In , the facility returned to full operation and current production exceeds 100% of the originally planned output. Facility insurance and profit loss insurance are expected cover the majority of the damage The Company's total equity increased by approximately 24% during the first quarter to approximately 133 million.
Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures
EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and is defined as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company presents this measure in order to enhance the understanding of the Company's historical financial performance and to enable comparability between periods. While the Company considers EBITDA to be an important measure of comparative operating performance, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or other statement of operations or cash flow data prepared in accordance with IFRS as a measure of profitability or liquidity. EBITDA does not take into account the Company's commitments, including capital expenditures, and restricted cash and, accordingly, is not necessarily indicative of amounts that may be available for discretionary uses. Not all companies calculate EBITDA in the same manner, and the measure as presented may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures presented by other companies. The Company's EBITDA may not be indicative of the historic operating results of the Company; nor is it meant to be predictive of potential future results. A reconciliation between results on an IFRS and non-IFRS basis is provided in the last table of this press release.
About Ellomay Capital Ltd.
Ellomay is an Israeli based company whose shares are registered with the NYSE American and with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "ELLO". Since 2009, Ellomay Capital focuses its business in the renewable energy and power sectors in Europe and Israel.
To date, Ellomay has evaluated numerous opportunities and invested significant funds in the renewable, clean energy and natural resources industries in Israel, Italy and Spain, including:
Approximately 7.9MW of photovoltaic power plants in Spain and a photovoltaic power plant of approximately 9 MW in Israel ;
and a photovoltaic power plant of approximately 9 MW in ; 9.375% indirect interest in Dorad Energy Ltd., which owns and operates one of Israel's largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 860MW, representing about 6%-8% of Israel's total current electricity consumption;
largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 860MW, representing about 6%-8% of total current electricity consumption; 51% of Talasol, which is involved in a project to construct a photovoltaic plant with a peak capacity of 300MW in the municipality of Talavan, Caceres, Spain ;
; 100% of Groen Gas Goor B.V. and of Groen Gas Oude-Tonge B.V., project companies developing anaerobic digestion plants with a green gas production capacity of approximately 375 Nm3/h, in Goor, the Netherlands and 475 Nm3/h, in Oude Tonge, the Netherlands , respectively;
and 475 Nm3/h, in Oude Tonge, , respectively; 75% of Ellomay Pumped Storage (2014) Ltd. (including 6.67% that are held by a trustee in trust for us and other parties), which is involved in a project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel .
Ellomay Capital is controlled by Mr. Shlomo Nehama, Mr. Hemi Raphael and Mr. Ran Fridrich. Mr. Nehama is one of Israel's prominent businessmen and the former Chairman of Israel's leading bank, Bank Hapohalim, and Messrs. Raphael and Fridrich both have vast experience in financial and industrial businesses. These controlling shareholders, along with Ellomay's dedicated professional management, accumulated extensive experience in recognizing suitable business opportunities worldwide. Ellomay believes the expertise of Ellomay's controlling shareholders and management enables the Company to access the capital markets, as well as assemble global institutional investors and other potential partners. As a result, we believe Ellomay is capable of considering significant and complex transactions, beyond its immediate financial resources.
For more information about Ellomay, visit http://www.ellomay.com.
Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding the Company's plans and objectives, expectations and assumptions of management are forward-looking statements. The use of certain words, including the words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations and projects, including in connection with steps taken by authorities in countries in which the Company operates, regulatory changes, changes in the supply and prices of resources required for the operation of the Company's facilities (such as waste and natural gas) and in the price of oil, changes in demand and technical and other disruptions in the operations or construction of the power plants owned by the Company. These and other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business are described in greater detail in the filings the Company makes from time to time with Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position
March 31 December 31, March 31,
2020 2019 2020
Unaudited Audited Unaudited
in thousands Convenience Translation into
US$ in thousands** Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 57,765 44,509 63,198 Marketable securities 2,254 2,242 2,466 Short term deposits 6,410 6,446 7,013 Restricted cash 276 22,162 302 Receivable from concession project 1,486 1,463 1,626 Financial assets 1,410 1,418 1,543 Trade and other receivables 4,328 4,882 4,735
73,929 83,122 80,883 Non-current assets
Investment in equity accounted investee 32,518 33,561 35,576 Advances on account of investments 878 883 961 Receivable from concession project 26,603 27,122 29,105 Fixed assets 175,424 114,389 191,923 Right-of-use asset 15,344 15,401 16,787 Intangible asset 4,924 5,042 5,387 Restricted cash and deposits 10,288 10,956 11,256 Deferred tax 839 2,285 918 Long term receivables 8,909 12,249 9,747 Derivatives 26,486 5,162 28,977
302,213 227,050 330,637
Total assets 376,142 310,172 411,520
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long term loans 3,980 4,138 4,354 Debentures 4,592 26,773 5,024 Trade payables 22,278 1,765 24,376 Other payables 6,023 5,010 6,589
36,873 37,686 40,343 Non-current liabilities
Lease liability 15,419 15,402 16,869 Long-term loans 126,021 89,182 137,874 Debentures 44,586 44,811 48,779 Deferred tax 9,786 6,467 10,706 Other long-term liabilities 1,840 1,795 2,013 Derivatives 8,698 7,263 9,516
206,350 164,920 225,757 Total liabilities 243,223 202,606 266,100 Equity
Share capital 23,933 21,998 26,184 Share premium 75,427 64,160 82,521 Treasury shares (1,736) (1,736) (1,899) Transaction reserve with non-controlling Interests 6,106 6,106 6,680 Reserves 10,184 3,283 11,142 Retained earnings 11,401 12,818 12,473 Total equity attributed to shareholders of the Company 125,315 106,629 137,101 Non-Controlling Interest 7,604 937 8,319 Total equity 132,919 107,566 145,420 Total liabilities and equity 376,142 310,172 411,520
* Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at March 31, 2020: euro 1 = US$ 1.094)
Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Comprehensive Profit (Loss)
For the three
months ended
March 31, For the year
ended
December 31, For the three
months ended
March 31,
2019 2020 2019 2020
Unaudited Audited Unaudited
Convenience
Translation into
US$** in
thousands*
in thousands* in thousands* Revenues 4,733 1,943 18,988 2,126 Operating expenses (1,664) (1,061) (6,638) (1,161) Depreciation and amortization (1,578) (726) (6,416) (794) Gross profit 1,491 156 5,934 171
Project development costs (874) (1,754) (4,213) (1,919) General and administrative expenses (897) (1,081) (3,827) (1,183) Share of profits of equity accounted investee 1,164 1,331 3,086 1,456 Other expenses, net - - (2,100) - Capital gain - - 18,770 - Operating profit (loss) 884 (1,348) 17,650 (1,475)
Financing income 390 425 1,827 465 Financing income in connection with derivatives, net 431 954 897 1,044 Financing expenses (2,485) (1,792) (10,877) (1,961) Financing expenses, net (1,664) (413) (8,153) (452) Profit (loss) before taxes on income (780) (1,761) 9,497 (1,927) Tax benefit (Taxes on income) (189) (104) 287 (114) Profit (loss) for the period (969) (1,865) 9,784 (2,041) Profit (loss) attributable to:
Owners of the Company (711) (1,417) 12,060 (1,550) Non-controlling interests (258) (448) (2,276) (491) Profit (loss) for the period (969) (1,865) 9,784 (2,041)
Other comprehensive income (loss) items that after
initial recognition in comprehensive income (loss)
were or will be transferred to profit or loss:
Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations 1,232 (199) 2,103 (218) Effective portion of change in fair value of cash flow hedges 350 14,112 1,076 15,439 Net change in fair value of cash flow hedges transferred to profit or loss (1,010) 103 (1,922) 113 Total other comprehensive income 572 14,016 1,257 15,334 Total comprehensive income(loss) for the period (397) 12,151 11,041 13,293
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to:
Owners of the Company 654 6,901 2,114 7,550 Non-controlling interests (82) 7,115 (857) 7,784 Total other comprehensive income (loss) for the period 572 14,016 1,257 15,334
Basic net profit (loss) per share (0.07) (0.12) 1.09 (0.13) Diluted net profit (loss) per share (0.07) (0.12) 1.09 (0.13)
* Except per share data ** Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at March 31, 2020: euro 1 = US$ 1.094)
Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity
Attributable to shareholders of the Company Non- controlling Total
Interests Equity
Share capital Share premium Retained earnings Treasury shares Translation
reserve from
foreign
operations Hedging Reserve Interests
Transaction
reserve with
non-controlling
Interests Total
in thousands For the three month ended March 31, 2020 (unaudited):
Balance as at January 1, 2020 21,998 64,160 12,818 (1,736) 4,356 (1,073) 6,106 106,629 937 107,566 Loss for the period - - (1,417) - - - - (1,417) (448) (1,865) Other comprehensive income (loss) for the period - - - - (223) 7,124 - 6,901 7,115 14,016 Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period - - (1,417) - (223) 7,124 - 5,484 6,667 12,151 Transactions with owners of the Company, recognized
directly in equity:
Issuance of ordinary shares 1,935 11,253 - - - - - 13,188 - 13,188 Share-based payments - 14 - - - - - 14 - 14 Balance as at
March 31, 2020 23,933 75,427 11,401 (1,736) 4,133 6,051 6,106 125,315 7,604 132,919
Attributable to shareholders of the Company Non- controlling Total
Interests Equity
Translation
Share Share Retained Treasury reserve from foreign Hedging
capital premium earnings shares Operations Reserve Total
in thousands For the three month ended March 31, 2019 (unaudited):
Balance as at January 1, 2019 19,980 58,334 758 (1,736) 1,396 (227) 78,515 (1,558) 76,957 Loss for the period - - (711) - - - (711) (258) (969) Other comprehensive income (loss) for the period - - - - 1,314 (660) 654 (82) 572 Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period - - (711) - 1,314 (660) (57) (340) (397) Transactions with owners of the Company, recognized
directly in equity:
Options exercise 8 11 - - - - 19 - 19 Share-based payments - 1 - - - - 1 - 1 Balance as at
March 31, 2019 19,988 58,356 47 (1,736) 2,710 (887) 78,478 (1,898) 76,580
Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity (cont'd)
Attributable to shareholders of the Company Non- controlling Total
Interests Equity
Share capital Share premium Retained earnings Treasury shares Translation
reserve from
foreign
operations Hedging
Reserve Interests
Transaction
reserve with
non-controlling
Interests Total
in thousands For the year ended
December 31, 2019 (Audited):
Balance as at
January 1, 2019 19,980 58,344 758 (1,736) 1,396 (227) - 78,515 (1,558) 76,957 Profit (loss) for the year - - 12,060 - - - - 12,060 (2,276) 9,784 Other comprehensive income (loss) for the year - - - - 2,960 (846) - 2,114 (857) 1,257 Total comprehensive income (loss) for the year - - 12,060 - 2,960 (846) - 14,174 (3,133) 11,041 Transactions with owners of the Company, recognized
directly in equity:
Sale of shares in subsidiaries to
non-controlling interests - - - - - - 5,439 5,439 5,374 10,813 Purchase of shares in subsidiaries from
non-controlling interests - - - - - - 667 667 254 921 Issuance of ordinary shares 2,010 5,797 - - - - - 7,807 - 7,807 Options exercise 8 11 - - - - - 19 - 19 Share-based payments - 8 - - - - - 8 - 8 Balance as at
December 31, 2019 21,998 64,160 12,818 (1,736) 4,356 (1,073) 6,106 106,629 937 107,566
Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity (cont'd)
Attributable to shareholders of the Company Non- controlling Total
Interests Equity
Share capital Share premium Retained earnings Treasury shares Translation
reserve from
foreign
operations Hedging Reserve Interests
Transaction
reserve with
non-controlling
Interests Total
Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at March 3 1 , 2020: euro 1 = US$ 1.094) For the three month ended March 31, 2020 (unaudited):
Balance as at January 1, 2020 24,067 70,195 14,023 (1,899) 4,766 (1,174) 6,680 116,658 1,026 117,684 Loss for the period - - (1,550) - - - - (1,550) (491) (2,041) Other comprehensive income (loss) for the period - - - - (244) 7,794 - 7,550 7,784 15,334 Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period - - (1,550) - (244) 7,794 - 6,000 7,293 13,293 Transactions with owners of the Company, recognized
directly in equity:
Issuance of ordinary shares 2,117 12,311 - - - - - 14,428 - 14,428 Share-based payments - 15 - - - - - 15 - 15 Balance as at
March 31, 2020 26,184 82,521 12,473 (1,899) 4,522 6,620 6,680 137,101 8,319 145,420
Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows
For the three months
ended March 31, For the year ended
December 31, For the three months
ended March 31,
2019 2020 2019 2020
Unaudited Audited Unaudited
in thousands Convenience Translation
into US$* Cash flows from operating activities
Profit (loss) for the period (969) (1,865) 9,784 (2,041) Adjustments for :
Financing expenses, net 1,664 413 8,153 452 Capital gain - - (18,770) - Depreciation and amortization 1,578 726 6,416 794 Share-based payment transactions 1 14 8 15 Share of profits of equity accounted investees (1,164) (1,331) (3,086) (1,456) Payment of interest on loan from an equity accounted investee - 582 370 637 Change in trade receivables and other receivables (1,696) 588 403 643 Change in other assets (708) (215) (1,950) (235) Change in receivables from concessions project 171 201 1,329 220 Change in accrued severance pay, net 4 - 9 - Change in trade payables 509 315 461 345 Change in other payables 416 (274) 5,336 (300) Income tax expense (tax benefit) 189 104 (287) 114 Income taxes paid - - (100) - Interest received 415 441 1,719 482 Interest paid (205) (168) (6,083) (184)
1,174 1,396 (6,072) 1,527 Net cash from (used in) operating activities 205 (469) 3,712 (514) Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of fixed assets (7,289) (41,414) (74,587) (45,309) Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired (1,000) - (1,000) - Repayment of loan from an equity accounted investee - 1,923 - 2,104 Proceeds from sale of investments - - 34,586 - Proceed from settlement of derivatives, net 532 - 532 - Proceed (investment) in restricted cash, net 87 22,585 (26,003) 24,709 Investment in short term deposit - - (6,302) - Repayment loan to others - - 3,912 - Net cash used in investing activities (7,670) (16,906) (68,862) (18,496) Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of long-term loans (506) (810) (5,844) (886) Repayment of Debentures - (22,162) (9,836) (24,246) Issue of warrants - 320 - 350 Cost associated with long term loans - - (12,218) - Proceeds from options 19 - 19 - Sale of shares in subsidiaries to non-controlling interests - - 13,936 - Acquisition of shares in subsidiaries from non-controlling interests - - (2,961) - Issuance of ordinary shares - 13,188 7,807 14,428 Proceeds from long term loans 17,424 40,923 59,298 44,772 Proceeds from issuance of Debentures, net - - 22,317 - Net cash from financing activities 16,937 31,459 72,518 34,418
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents (1) (828) 259 (905) Increase in cash and cash equivalents 9,471 13,256 7,627 14,503 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 36,882 44,509 36,882 48,695 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 46,353 57,765 44,509 63,198
* Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at March 31, 2020: euro 1 = US$ 1.094)
Ellomay Capital Ltd. and its Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Profit (Loss) to EBITDA (in thousands)
For the three months ended
March 31, For the year ended
December 31, For the three months
ended March 31,
2019 2020 2019 2020
Unaudited
in thousands Convenience
Translation into
US$* Net profit (loss) for the period (969) (1,865) 9,784 (2,041) Financing expenses, net 1,664 413 8,153 452 Taxes on income 189 104 (287) 114 Depreciation 1,578 726 6,416 794 EBITDA 2,462 (622) 24,066 (681)
* Convenience translation into US$ (exchange rate as at March 31, 2020: euro 1 = US$ 1.094)
Information for the Company's Debenture Holders
Pursuant to the Deeds of Trust governing the Company's Series B and C Debentures (together, the "Debentures"), the Company is required to maintain certain financial covenants. For more information, see Item 5.B of the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2020.
Net Financial Debt
As of March 31, 2020, the Company's Net Financial Debt (as such term is defined in the Deeds of Trust of the Company's Debentures) was approximately 31.3 million (consisting of approximately 139.4 million of short-term and long-term debt from banks and other interest bearing financial obligations and approximately 49.2 million in connection with the Series B Debentures issuance (in March 2017) and the Series C Debentures issuance (in July 2019), net of approximately 66.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, short-term deposits and marketable securities and net of approximately 90.9 million of project finance and related hedging transactions of the Company's subsidiaries).
Information for the Company's Series B Debenture Holders
The following is an internal pro forma consolidated statement of financial position of the Company as at March 31, 2020. This information is required under the Series B Deed of Trust in connection with the adoption of IFRS 16 "Leases" by the Company and provides the consolidated statement of financial position of the Company as of the date set forth below after elimination of the effects of adoption of IFRS 16. Based on the pro forma statement of financial position, the ratio of the Company's equity (which the Company calculated in line with the definition of Balance Sheet Equity in the Series B Deed of Trust) to balance sheet as at March 31, 2020 was 36.8%.
Unaudited Internal Pro Forma Statement of Financial Position
March 31,
2020
Unaudited
Pro Forma in thousands Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
57,765 Marketable securities
2,254 Short term deposits
6,410 Restricted cash and marketable securities
276 Receivable from concession project
1,486 Financial assets
1,410 Trade and other receivables
4,328
73,929 Non-current assets
Investment in equity accounted investee
32,518 Advances on account of investments
878 Receivable from concession project
26,603 Fixed assets
175,424 Right-of-use asset
- Intangible asset
4,924 Restricted cash and deposits
10,288 Deferred tax
839 Long term receivables
8,909 Derivatives
26,486
286,869
Total assets
360,798
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long term loans
3,980 Debentures
4,592 Trade payables
22,278 Other payables
5,769
36,619 Non-current liabilities
Lease liability
- Long-term loans
126,021 Debentures
44,586 Deferred tax
9,868 Other long-term liabilities
1,840 Derivatives
8,698
191,013 Total liabilities
227,632 Equity
Share capital
23,933 Share premium
75,427 Treasury shares
(1,736) Transaction reserve with non-controlling Interests
6,106 Reserves
10,184 Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
11,648 Total equity attributed to shareholders of the Company
125,562 Non-Controlling Interest
7,604 Total equity
133,166 Total liabilities and equity
360,798
Information for the Company's Series C Debenture Holders
The Deed of Trust governing the Company's Series C Debentures includes an undertaking by the Company to maintain certain financial covenants, whereby a breach of such financial covenants for two consecutive quarters is a cause for immediate repayment. As of March 31, 2020, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in the Series C Deed of Trust as follows: (i) the Company's shareholders' equity was 132.9 million, (ii) the ratio of the Company's Net Financial Debt (as set forth above) to the Company's CAP, Net (defined as the Company's consolidated shareholders' equity plus the Net Financial Debt was 19.1% and (iii) the ratio of the Company's Net Financial Debt to the Company's Adjusted EBITDA(1) was 1.3.
_____________________________
(1) The term "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined in the Series C Deed of Trust as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization, where the revenues from the Company's operations, such as the Talmei Yosef project, are calculated based on the fixed asset model and not based on the financial asset model (IFRIC 12), and before share-based payments. The Series C Deed of Trust provides that for purposes of the financial covenant, the Adjusted EBITDA will be calculated based on the four preceding quarters, in the aggregate. The Adjusted EBITDA is presented in this press release as part of the Company's undertakings towards the holders of its Series C Debentures. For a general discussion of the use of non-IFRS measures, such as EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA see above under "Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures."
The following is a reconciliation between the Company's net profit (loss) and the Adjusted EBITDA for the four-quarter period ended March 31, 2020:
For the
four quarter
period ended
March 31, 2020
Unaudited
in thousands Net profit for the period 8,888 Financing expenses, net 6,902 Taxes on income (372) Depreciation and amortization 5,564 Adjustment to revenues of the Talmei Yosef project due to calculation
based on the fixed asset model 3,058 Share-based payments 20 Adjusted EBITDA as defined in the Series C Deed of Trust 24,060
Contact:
Kalia Weintraub
CFO
Tel: +972 (3) 797-1111
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Ellomay Capital Ltd
Related Links
http://www.ellomay.com/
At 1.30pm on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be face-to-face, though virtually, with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the trilateral Russia, India, China (RIC) foreign ministers meeting led by Moscow. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will be the third minister in the virtual meeting room.
Russia has ruled out any bilateral issues being taken up during the meeting but left the door open to support trust building. Speaking to CNN-News 18, Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said, Russia is a trusted partner for both, and our multilateral and bilateral relations with them play a key role in maintaining stability in Eurasia. RIC in this regard is a unique platform that helps to expand common ground, strengthen dialogue and proceeding further towards practical cooperation as well as to build trust in the region.
On June 17, Jaishankar and Wang had a telephone conversation as tensions escalated between India and China in the aftermath of the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley during a violent face-off on the night of June 15 with the Chinese PLA. Both sides had a different version of what transpired in the call though the Indian read-out mentioned that the violence was precipitated due to the Chinese army seeking to erect a structure on our side of the LAC.
With the ongoing border tensions, questions were raised as to whether the RIC meeting would indeed be held in the coming week. But that very evening Russia announced that the RIC meeting would take place on June 23. Subsequently, the next day in response to a query from CNN-News 18, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson confirmed that EAM Jaishankar would in fact participate in the meeting.
The last such meeting was held in February 2019 and attended by the then EAM Sushma Swaraj. The meeting in December 2017 was held in New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi attended an informal meeting of the leaders of RIC in June 2019 where he said, As the worlds leading economies, exchange of views between us, on economic, political and security situation of the world is important. Our trilateral meeting is a useful medium for discussing and coordinating on major global issues.
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(Screenshot from US media outlet 11Alive)
At least four nurses at a critical care hospital in Athens, Georgia, have filed a lawsuit accusing their hospital of falsifying COVID-19 test results in an attempt to conceal a COVID-19 outbreak in the facility, US media reported.
According to the lawsuit, the Landmark Hospital in Athens has undertaken a scheme to purposefully obtain false negative test results of patients who had previously tested positive for COVID-19.
The nurses said the hospital instructed staff to use an incorrect method of testing. They were asked to take samples from inside a patients throat, but send the samples to a lab run by Piedmont Hospital, which only tests nasal swabs, knowing the results would turn out negative for COVID-19, according to local news outlet 11Alive.
Landmark fabricated negative results so as to continue to be able to discharge patients to make space for new admissions and avoid the negative publicity and oversight that would result if the positive COVID-19 results were disclosed, the petition said.
One nurse told 11Alive that when she properly administered a test which turned out to be positive, she was then terminated for not having a doctors order for a test.
As of June 18, there were 363 total positive COVID-19 cases with 15 total deaths and 54 total hospitalizations in the county where the hospital is located. The facility said it has no current positive COVID-19 patients, but at least one current nurse told 11Alive thats not true.
On the day the lawsuit was filed on June 17, Landmark had 35 patients in residence, including four of the five who had tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous week. The nurses did not know which of their patients had tested positive and which had not, the lawsuit alleges.
As the virus continues to rampage across the US, such omissions have no doubt created a public health risk for the American people, sparking a harsh backlash from the public. Meanwhile, Landmark Hospital is not the only one trying to make its numbers look better than they really are. US President Donald Trump has also caused outrage for asking his administration to slow down coronavirus testing.
When you do testing to that extent youre going to find more people, you're going to find cases, Trump said during his first campaign rally in months in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20. So I said to my people, Slow the testing down, please.
This was not the first time that Donald Trump has made such remarks. On May 14, during remarks in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Trump tried to downplay the severity of the USs coronavirus outbreak by arguing that the country wouldnt have had so many cases if it werent for the fact that so much testing is being done.
When you test, you have a case. When you test, you find something is wrong with people. If we didnt do any testing, we would have very few cases, he said.
(Screenshot from New York Times website
In addition to downplaying domestic problems, the Trump administration is also exporting cases to other countries. According to a New York Times editorial on June 18, the country is now consciously spreading the pandemic beyond its borders by continuing to deport thousands of immigrants, many infected with the coronavirus, to poor countries ill equipped to cope with the disease.
As of June 23, the US COVID-19 death toll topped 120,000, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on June 18 that the US death toll from the novel coronavirus is expected to rise to as high as 145,000 by July 11, meaning that as many as 25,000 Americans could die in the next few weeks.
The Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party headquarters at Dadar in central Mumbai, has been shut down from Monday after one of the party workers - who was a regular visitor at the office - tested positive for Covid-19.
This happened three days after Sena president and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray visited the Bhavan on the occasion of the foundation day of the party.
According to a senior Sena leader, the place will be closed till this month end. We did not want to take the risk with our staff and party leaders. We have started sanitisation of the premises, said the leader to declined to come on record.
Also read: Baba Ramdev claims to have prepared first ayurvedic medicine for Covid-19
Last Friday, Thackeray, accompanied by his son Aaditya and senior party leaders, had visited the premises on the occasion of the foundation day. It was a happy occasion as it was Thackerays first anniversary after taking charge as the chief minister.
However, Harshal Pradhan, chief media advisor, Shiv Sena, described the closing down of the headquarters as a routine exercise.
There was a visitor who tested positive later but this is routine task of disinfection and sanitisation. We will open the premises soon, said Pradhan.
The Sena Bhavan has various offices of the party and holds great sentimental value for the Sena workers. It was the place where Sena founder Bal Thackeray used to meet party leaders and workers and plan his strategies.
Foodies are going crazy over an $18 beef burger that's stacked with hot chips and lashings of oozing cheese.
The new 'Chipee Off The Old Block' option is the latest edition to land at cafes Bar Luca, BL Burgers and Loaded by BL in Newtown, Parramatta, Darlinghurst and the Sydney CBD.
The Golden Chipees bacon and cheddar flavoured chips, which can be purchased from Woolworths, add an extra crunch to the delicious burger and have captured the attention of thousands on social media.
The new 'Chipee Off The Old Block' option (pictured) is the latest edition to land at Sydney's co-joined cafes Bar Luca, BL Burgers and Loaded by BL
The new option also features a beef patty, American cheese, deep fried bacon, cheese curd, gravy and tasty maple aioli for the ultimate cheat meal.
The burger is available all week from all four locations, but additional costs apply when ordering off UberEats.
One woman who saw the promotion online shared an image of the meal to a popular burger appreciation society Facebook group to alert other foodies.
'This weeks burger special! Download and pay via the BL Burgers App to grab a free combo upgrade at selected stores too!' she said.
The Golden Chipees bacon and cheddar chips, which can be purchased from Woolworths, add an extra crunch to the delicious burger
Others tagged their friends and partners in the comments of the post, with many saying they are eager to try the burger soon.
'How's the chips hold up? Do they soften? Cause I like them I just feel they'd make for an interesting crunch,' one queried.
'They're super crunchy,' the poster answered.
All three cafes are renowned for releasing new, indulgent burger options regularly but usually for a limited time only.
Participants at a roundtable hosted by The Korea Times discuss ASEAN-Korea efforts to fight COVID-19 at the newspaper office in central Seoul, June 15. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
The following is a summary of major points raised by the 11 guests at the roundtable, including preventive measures, cooperation within ASEAN and ASEAN-Korea cooperation in combating COVID-19. ED.
ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk /
Roles of ambassadors, media increasingly important
The roles of ambassadors and media are increasingly important to bring ASEAN-Korea cooperation back on track amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ambassadors and their embassies have a larger role to play in promoting and facilitating partnerships with Korea, and therefore helping face-to-face exchanges that have been "almost impossible" and "virtually non-existent."
The media, particularly English newspapers in Korea, can contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and promoting the spirit of solidarity and camaraderie by providing information and positive narratives.
The pandemic has disrupted many parts of ASEAN-Korea relations, with year-on-year trade volume decreasing by 27 percent in April as an example.
But there is a need to see the disruption in a positive light, and identify opportunities that the crisis has opened up.
ASEAN and Korea can take full advantage of this situation to expand the horizons of cooperation into areas such as healthcare and digital technology.
While ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) programs remain unchanged on public engagement and outreach, many have been moved online as outdoor events and large-scale on-site gatherings are difficult. To accommodate the increased reliance on online programs, the AKC website is being upgraded.
The AKC started the "#Staying Connected with AKC" initiative recently. It includes research articles on various topics related to ASEAN and ASEAN-Korea relations, social media challenges and promotions and online lectures.
Among the upcoming programs are "ASEAN-Korea online animation business matchmaking program" (July 13-Aug. 14), "Seminar on economic impacts and perspectives of COVID-19 in ASEAN" (July 14) and "Seminar on ASEAN-Korea tourism in a post-pandemic world" (late August).
Brunei Ambassador Pg Hjh Nooriyah PLW Pg Hj Yussof /
ASEAN, Korea urged to keep markets, investment open
Brunei has been emphasizing containment measures and community engagement and adopted a whole-of-nation approach involving all relevant agencies.
The approaches include three major components maintaining public wellbeing, protecting jobs, providing support for individuals and supporting and assisting businesses.
The country newly built the National Isolation Center Building in Tutong District to treat confirmed positive patients as well as an additional National Virology Laboratory to increase the capacity and accelerate the testing process for COVID-19.
The Monitoring Centre offers services for foreigners, citizens and residents of Brunei who have traveled abroad and are undergoing self-isolation accordingly.
The government set up a relief fund with over 14 million Brunei dollars (12.2 billion won).
Regarding cooperation within ASEAN, it has activated communication and mobilization of regional health mechanisms to support member states' measures on a governmental level.
Brunei health professionals have been sharing experiences, medical expertise and data on emerging health crises and trends through the ASEAN Plus Three network of experts on public health.
In terms of ASEAN-Korea cooperation, the two sides can benefit from enhanced capacity-building and research opportunities in areas of epidemiology, clinical treatments and information and communications technology (ICT) among others.
It will be important to for the two sides to keep markets open for trade and investment and ensure regional supply chains and the flow of essential goods and services.
The existing mechanisms such as ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA) and signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) planned this year would help advance economic integration.
Cambodian Ambassador Long Dimanche/
ASEAN Plus Three crucial in combating pandemic
Cambodia has suspended T-visa, E-visa and visa on arrival issuance to ASEAN and all countries' citizens.
Other types of visas are still issued as normal, but a health certificate and insurance are required.
The implementation of social distancing, personal hygiene and avoiding large-scale meetings or gatherings is strongly recommended for all people.
The government has reserved $800 million to $2 billion to support the economy. It has contributed $20,000 to the United Nations COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to further strengthen global solidarity and multilateral cooperation to overcome this global crisis together.
The ASEAN cooperation includes ministerial meetings and the ASEAN Response Fund to COVID-19 that have helped member states to exchange information, experiences and knowledge and to mobilize financial resources.
Cambodia appreciates Korea for providing supplies worth $300,000 in May. This includes test kits through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
In relation to cooperation with Korea, all ASEAN leaders recognized the efforts of China, Japan and Korea during the Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit on COVID-19 held online in April.
The summit recognized the importance of ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve, which is a mechanism to enhance food security in ASEAN Plus Three, as well as support for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), medical professionals and healthcare workers and migrant workers.
It stressed further the important flow of economic and people-to-people exchanges, trade, investment and essential goods along the border as the growth engine of the global economy, as well as highlighting the significance of the signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year despite the health crisis.
Nothing is better than putting an issue on the table and discussing it together.
The more we talk within ASEAN and meet with dialogue partners, the more information and experiences we get in order to figure out the appropriate ways to overcome this pandemic.
Indonesian Ambassador Umar Hadi/
COVID-19 does not stop ASEAN from being resilient
ASEAN is and will remain strong and resilient in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ASEAN successfully weathered challenging times in the past including the Asian financial crisis in 1997. ASEAN, together with Korea, will always promote coordinated efforts in the fight against COVID-19 based on the spirit of solidarity and collaboration.
Indonesia itself has made a lot of progress in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Indonesia is applying the approach of massive testing, aggressive tracing, quick treatment and active public participation. Indonesia continues to improve its testing capacity from previously 10,000 specimens per day to currently 26,000 specimens per day. The improved testing capacity was vastly improved by Indonesia's success in developing and producing its own RT-PCR test kit.
Not only has Indonesia been able to produce its own COVID-19 test kit, Indonesia has also successfully developed and produced its own emergency ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients. In addition to joining the global race in developing a COVID-19 vaccine, Indonesia is also taking part in joint collaborative research and development of a COVID-19 vaccine with biotechnology companies from other countries, including Korea.
Indonesia and ASEAN will always promote coordinated efforts with Korea in the fight against COVID-19 based on the spirit of solidarity and collaboration.
Lao Ambassador Thieng Boupha/
Health ministers' dialogue can help in tackling virus
If the COVID-19 pandemic continues spreading, business, trade and investment will decrease and domestic production will not return to normal soon.
Accordingly, Laos will carry out economic measures such as a mitigation policy on tax, banking credit and other necessary policies.
In the case of the pandemic in Korea, we see the number of deaths is quite low compared to other countries. I would like to offer our solidarity with the Korean government's efforts to tackle this unprecedented global health crisis.
It will be important for ASEAN and Korea to cooperate to produce a vaccine and hold high-level meetings on healthcare.
We support moves to hold an ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) health ministers' dialogue by using the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Fund.
To minimize the negative repercussions on the global economy, we support maintaining the essential flow of economic and people-to-people exchanges, trade, investment and food and creating an environment for economic restoration by using financial measures.
Malaysian Ambassador Dato' Mohd Ashri Muda/
Pandemic is opportunity for Asia to lead transformation
Malaysia has been pursuing an aggressive mass-testing campaign and rigorous contact tracing.
Malaysia has also implemented the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) for more than three months.
The country has moved on to a new phase of MCO, called Recovery MCO with practices related to standard operating procedures (SOP) such as social distancing and other new normal ways of doing things including maximizing webinars.
Malaysia is also among the first countries to work with the World Health Organization for the "Solidarity Trial" research project in finding a potential cure for COVID-19. This involvement in a globally coordinated trial allows us to collect data, compare safety and effectiveness of treatment protocols using different drug combinations.
Some leaders of socio-cultural groups in the Southern region of Nigeria, on Monday, dragged President Muhammadu Buhari before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court over alleged marginalization in appointments made by his administration since 2015.
The leaders sixteen of them in the suit filed on their behalf by 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) led by Chief Solomon Asemota and Chief Mike Ozekhome are asking the court to fine the president and three other defendants in the suit the sum of N50 billion for allegedly violating provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Federal Character Principle.
Those sued alongside the president include the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Clerk of National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
The plaintiffs, led by Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Dr. John Nnia Nwodo, Dr Pogu Bittus, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Alaowei Bozimo, Mrs Sarah Doketri, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Air Commodore Idongsit Nkanga, alleged that the Southern region had been deliberately marginalised by the President Buhari-led government.
Other plaintiffs in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/595/2020, are Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Prof Julie Umukoro, Elder Stephen Bangoji, Alhaji Tijani Babatunde, Mrs Rose Obuoforibo
Mr Adakole Ijogi and Dr. Charles Nwakeaku.
According to them, the present composition of the government of the federation, and most of its agencies especially as regards the composition of the security and quasi-security architecture do not reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria but rather there is a predominance of persons from a few States and sectional groups dominating the opportunities and threatening national unity and integration.
Some of the issues brought before the court for determination include whether it was not reckless and adverse to the interest of Nigeria, for President Buhari to obtain a loan facility from the Islamic Development Bank, African Development Bank, the World Bank, China, Japan and Germany amounting to $22.7 billion (USD), for infrastructural development, only to allocate the bulk of the fund to the Northern region.
The plaintiffs also want the court to declare that the loan facility purportedly for infrastructural development wherein less than 1% of the amount is to be allocated to the South East Zone of Nigeria for specific infrastructural development, violates section 16 (1) (a) (b) and S16 (2) (a) (b) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In addition, they want the court to declare that the 1st Defendants procurement of any loan which would increase Nigerias outstanding debt by up to 30% of its GDP or which would increase its interest payment above 50% of government revenue is unconstitutional.
Some of the questions they want the court to answer are that, Whether the power to appoint designated public officers including permanent secretaries, principal representatives of Nigeria abroad, which is vested in the 1st Defendant has been lawfully exercised by him since the inception of his administration from 2015 till date and Whether his actions are in breach of Sections 171(5), 814(3) (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Whether the power to appoint Nigerias Armed Services Chiefs, other Commanders or top officials of the respective Armed Forces Higher and High Commands General Staff ; namely the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and Chief of Airforce Staff (CA8); the other statutorily established Nigerian National Security agencies or services , namely: The Inspector General of the Nigerian Police (1GP), the Directors General (DGs) of the State Security Service (SSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA); the Heads of National Security Associated Federal Government (FG) establishments, namely the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCDSC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Customs and Excise Service, the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS), the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), the National Youth Service corps (NYSC), the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Ministers of Defence, Interior, Police and the respective National Security ministries Permanent Secretaries which is vested in the 1st Defendant, has been lawfully exercised by the 1st Defendant since the inception of his administration and whether these appointments are in compliance with 81(2), 814(3)(4), 8217(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Whether by virtue of Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which vests the Executive arm of government with a constitutional responsibility and obligation to execute and uphold the tenets of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), particularly the countrys national interest, sovereignty and security is not violated by the lopsided nature of the current appointments into Federal agencies are parastatals made by the 1st Defendant.
Whether the 1st Defendants frequent arbitrary extension/elongation of appointment tenure beyond statutory prescription is not unconstitutional and inimical to the wellbeing, morale and harmony within the government workforce?
Whether the 1st Defendants frequent appointment of retired persons instead of the most senior staff, is unconstitutional and tantamount to an abuse of office and threat to national unity?
Upon determination of the questions, the plaintiffs prayed the court to declare, That the present composition of the government of the federation, and most of its agencies especially as regards the composition of its security and quasi-security architecture do not reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria but rather there is a predominance of persons from a few States and sectional groups dominating the opportunities and threatening national unity and integration.
A declaration that the various appointments into positions in government, especially into strategic government agencies such as NNPC, NIA and other strategic infrastructural and regulatory institutions are ethnically discriminatory and lopsided and these violate the express provisions of the constitution as contained in Sections 14, 171 (1), 171 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)and therefore unconstitutional, illegal and ultra vires.*
A Cork Green Party councillor says she was temporarily suspended by the party after she spoke out against government formation talks.
In May this year Cork councillor Lorna Bogue made a number of media appearances speaking out against entering negotiations, noting that the promises being made by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were "slippery".
Ms Bogue's comments were put to party leader Eamon Ryan on RTE's Prime Time programme on May 7, and on May 8 Ms Bogue received an email from the party headquarters that her membership status had been changed by the party, "in relation to two national media appearances", among other issues.
Robert OSullivan, Communications Officer for the Cork Greens said: "I can confirm that we are aware that one of our members received an email from the Party stating their suspension from the Green Party. We have been in regular contact with the member in question regarding this matter, and will be following up with head office as the situation arises.
In instances of complaints about members, protocol dictates that the Management Committee first decides to inform the member of their potential suspension, before it is taken to the Executive Committee for a vote.
A member of the Executive Committee said although there was a discussion, the group would never have suspended Ms Bogue.
"I don't even think there was a vote on it," they said.
"It was taken to the Executive within 24 hours of the email and it was decided; No way.
"She maybe wasn't following protocols, but we'd have to suspend half the party, she didn't come anywhere near a suspension.
"It never came out who made the complaint. Maybe someone on the management committee called for it.
A senior member of the Cork Greens said: "There's a protocol for these things, a complaints procedure, and arbitration, it's a long process.
To email someone and suspend them is outside the remit of anyone.
"We would've backed Lorna anyway, it was completely beyond the pale."
When approached by the Examiner, Ms Bogue said: "I think this kind of misbehaviour can be seen publicly now.
"When people speak out they're set upon with these ad-hominem attacks, and I've been told to leave my party, that behaviour is persistent.
"I've noticed that a lot of people are staying quiet on it, I've been open internally about the abuse I've received at the hands of the party, when I speak out I get silenced and people denying what's happening to me.
"I've been enduring this for over a year, and when people see how I've been treated, they think: 'Well, I'm not going to say anything'.
"I think a lot of people have seen what's going on and they're thinking this is going to be what it's like for the next four or five years, more railroading than listening," Ms Bogue added.
The Green Party say Mr Ryan "has never made a complaint about anyone" in the party.
"No member of the party has ever been suspended or had their membership changed in any way for speaking in the media, or breaching the rules around media engagement," a spokesman said.
The specifics of any suspension cannot be discussed publicly by the party.
The party has been rocked by a split in their membership over the initial decision to enter talks and the recent subsequent vote for a programme for government.
It's been noted by members that the debate in the last week has grown "nasty" and insiders say the tone of the debate has taken a turn in some parts of the membership debate.
"Something I've noticed after the locals, the spirit of the party certainly changed.
"The culture has become a lot more business as usual for Irish politics, a lot more like other parties, it's very disheartening to see it happen to the Greens.
"We talk about doing politics differently, it used to be about getting things done, and open debate and that spirit is gone from the party, we're more like a regular political party now."
Members say a lack of structure within the party often adds to issues, with only "three or four staff in HQ, most of which are councillors, we've no office staff outside Dublin, so we haven't recovered from the previous wipe out institutionally, which makes these things worse," the source said.
A Green Party spokesman said:"The party is aware of many difficult exchanges happening online between members, supporters and members of the public. "The party has not received any complaints relating specifically to online harassment.
Hussam Eddin Ala has lambasted the EU for extending their sanctions on Syria, at the same time as the implementation of the Caesar Act and while the country tackles the coronavirus writes SANA.
Syrias Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Hussam Eddin Ala, said that European Unions extensions of the unilateral coercive measures on Syria amid the coronavirus pandemic, in parallel with the US applying the so-called Caesar Act, constitute a crime against humanity.
In a statement on Monday, before the Human Rights Council passed Britains draft resolution about the state of human rights in Syria, Ala denounced the Council resolutions for ignoring the American practices and statements, which seek to prolong the humanitarian crisis in Syria through the so-called Caesar Act, the looting of oil, and the burning of crops.
Ala underlined that addressing the humanitarian crises, which the Syrian people are enduring cannot be done with conferences held without presence of the Syrian government nor through pressure on the United Nations to prevent it from supporting the development efforts, or hindering the reconstruction process, or by politicizing humanitarian aid and diverting it to areas where terrorists are active.
He stressed that the Council has ignored the war crimes that the Turkish regime has committed by destroying historical heritage, looting economic resources, and applying systematic Turkification measures in northern Syria. In addition to ignoring the threats posed to Syrian unity and territorial integrity by the US and the support provided by US occupation forces to separatist militias in the southeast of Syria and terrorist groups in al-Tanf and al-Rukban.
Ala added that the Turkish regime is violating the Astana and Sochi agreements by providing direct military support and protection to Takfiri organizations such as Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as the participation of the Turkish occupation forces in terrorist operations, in addition to making Idleb a hotbed of international terrorism.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
By Krystal Hu
NEW YORK (Reuters) - SoftBank Group Corp <9984.T> unveiled a series of transactions on Monday to divest more than $21 billion (16.8 billion) worth of stock in U.S. wireless carrier T-Mobile US Inc , as it seeks funding for a $41 billion share buyback and debt reduction plan.
SoftBank's shares have more than doubled since the middle of March, despite the economic uncertainty fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, as CEO Masayoshi Son moves to shed or trim its stakes in other companies such as Alibaba Group Holding .
While the divestments have bankrolled a string of share buybacks, delighting investors including hedge fund Elliott Management Corp, they have raised concerns among credit ratings agencies about the Japanese conglomerate's financial standing.
They come after several of SoftBank's investments, including on office space-sharing start-up WeWork and payment processor Wirecard AG , soured, and it suspended efforts to raise a successor to its $100 billion Vision Fund.
Many of the T-Mobile shares divested by SoftBank were acquired by T-Mobile itself, which will in turn sell them on to the open market and private investors. SoftBank Chief Operating Officer Marcelo Claure will acquire more than $500 million of T-Mobile stock, according to regulatory filings.
All in all, SoftBank will divest two-thirds of its 24.6% stake in T-Mobile. It also granted Deutsche Telekom AG , owner of a 43.6% stake in T-Mobile, call options to acquire its remaining T-Mobile shares. The call options expire in 2024.
SoftBank will pay T-Mobile a $300 million fee for facilitating the transactions.
Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and J.P. Morgan have been appointed as joint lead book-running managers for the offering. Barclays is serving as lead dealer manager and Deutsche Bank Securities is serving as joint dealer-manager.
PJT Partners is acting as financial advisor to the independent committee of the board of directors of T-Mobile, while the Raine Group LLC has acted as financial adviser to SoftBank.
(Reporting by Krystal Hu in New York; Additional reporting by Bharath Manjesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Stephen Coates)
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
A study published online as an accepted paper in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that increased physical activity is associated with a lower risk of obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep-related breathing disorder. The study is the largest to date focused on the relationship between sleep apnea and levels of physical activity in the general community.
Researchers reviewed lifestyle, medical, socio-demographic and sleep health data collected from more than 155,000 adults participating in the Ontario Health Study. Based on the physical activity of participants with and without sleep apnea, the investigators determined that a modest increase in physical activity, including walking, is associated with a 10 percent reduction in the risk of developing sleep apnea.
"Our results highlight the importance of physical activity as a preventive measure against developing sleep apnea," said senior author Lyle Palmer, who is professor of genetic epidemiology at the University of Adelaide in Australia. "One surprising finding was that not only vigorous physical activity but also just walking alone was associated with a decreased risk of sleep apnea."
The authors found that adding 20 minutes to a daily walk and increasing vigorous daily activity by eight minutes would be enough to achieve a lower sleep apnea risk. The finding is independent of other known risk factors for sleep apnea such as sex, age, ethnicity and obesity.
It is estimated that more than 29 million American adults have sleep apnea, many of them undiagnosed. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and other potentially serious conditions.
"The rates of sleep apnea in children and adults are continuing to rise. Therefore, understanding the role of modifiable protective factors for sleep apnea is important," said Palmer. "Exercise is one such protective factor and has many other positive effects on general health. Sleep health care professionals should be trying to get their patients to exercise more."
The cross-sectional, population-based study analyzed baseline questionnaire data from 155,448 adult residents of Ontario, Canada (60% women and 40% men). Their mean age was 46 years, and about 75% were white. About 6.9% of participants reported being told by a doctor that they have sleep apnea. Those with sleep apnea were more sedentary, sitting for a median of 4.4 more hours per week than those without sleep apnea.
Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, the authors were unable to make temporal inferences on the observed associations between physical activity and sleep apnea. However, they report that previous studies also have suggested that physical activity can reduce the severity of sleep apnea.
In a related commentary, also published as an accepted paper in JCSM, Dr. Joyce Lee-Iannotti and Dr. James Parish write that the study's findings give sleep physicians another tool to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea that may be more appealing to patients.
Explore further Risk of cardiovascular complications post-surgery doubles for patients with sleep apnea
More information: Kelly A. Hall et al, Physical Activity is Associated With Reduced Prevalence of Self-Reported Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Large, General Population Cohort Study, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2020). Journal information: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine Kelly A. Hall et al, Physical Activity is Associated With Reduced Prevalence of Self-Reported Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Large, General Population Cohort Study,(2020). DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.8456
The extra enforcement is continuing through the Fourth of July, Police Chief Ana Lalley said. She asked people to call the police, or if they have a good relationship with neighbors, talk to them directly, she said. It really is going to take all of us to drive these numbers down, she said.
A celebrated Cajun musician for several days has been busy explaining his social media postings, some of which have been perceived as inflammatory and racially insensitive.
Update: Acadian fires paramedic, Cajun musician Jamie Bergeron over inflammatory social media posts
Jamie Bergeron of Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin Cajuns, a successful recording group with at least seven albums and a successful touring, nightclub and festival schedule, is under public criticism, accused of posting things that include a cartoon of a vehicle hitting protesters in a roadway under the heading, All Lives Splatter. Another post suggested my brakes have been acting up when referencing people who protest in the roadways.
Bergerons problems may extend from his musical career to his day job. A screen grab of an account said to be Bergerons has a photo of Bergeron in his Acadian Ambulance uniform hes worked as a first responder and paramedic there for some 30 years posted with the images cited above and Acadian Ambulance and Bergeron have posted apologies about his social media accounts content. The posts in the screen grab ID the source as jamiebergeron1.
Randall Mann, Acadian Ambulance spokesman, said the company has a social media policy that extends to employees personal accounts if they ID themselves as Acadiana Companies employees. He said violations of the policy can lead to discipline up to termination.
We have terminated people in the past. In Jamies case, hes taken everything down, Mann said, but he added that the company has been fielding calls from people demanding Bergerons dismissal.
I handled a call this morning and a few last week, Mann said.
Mann said the situation is being handled at the highest levels of the company, including from Acadian Ambulance founder and CEO Richard Zuschlag.
In an issued statement, the company said:
We do not condone, and will not tolerate, any behavior by our employees that is racist or discriminatory in any way. Acadians motto, Knowing Life Matters, is more than a slogan, it is a dedication and commitment to caring for all of the people in the communities we are entrusted to serve. As a company and as a tapestry of 4,800 employee-owners who are dedicated to saving and protecting lives we recognize that we must confront systemic discrimination of all forms.
Let us be unequivocally clear, at Acadian Ambulance, we believe Black Lives Matter. It is our individual and collective responsibility to strive to make our communities more loving, caring, just and equal. It is our sincere hope that, by working together, we can open our minds to love in place of hate, and in friendship in place of fear.
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Wed like to reassure the public that we will swiftly and vigorously investigate and act upon any actions by our employees that are in violation of our values.
Mann said the workforce at Acadian is diverse and he doesnt believe that the social media posts will create internal discord at the company. But a string of messages on Facebook under one account where the screen grab was shown suggest some distrust about Bergeron and the company in the public's eyes.
Mann said Acadian Ambulance has been in business since 1971, 49 years a of saving lives without regard to color. Hopefully people will judge us on that.
Bergeron did not return a call but in a reported statement to KATC television over the weekend, he apologized for the apparent hurt that his postings have caused.
For 30 years, I have worked as a passionate paramedic for Acadian Ambulance and have cared for all walks of life. When I walk up to a scene, I treat the patient; I see no color, he told KATC.
I would ask that people consider my many years of saving lives and helping people of all races.
But the conflict over his social media posts, which arose publicly late last week, is not the first time he has been accused of acting insensitively.
Warren Perrin, a Lafayette lawyer, historian and defender of the Cajun culture, clashed with Bergeron in 2012 when the musician released a song called RCA (Registered Coonass), a word that Perrin said was found to be demeaning to White people in a 1980 court case and Black people in a 1996 court case.
Perrin said he objected to Bergeron using the word coonass by way of a Council on Development of French in Louisiana letter, but he said the musician attacked me unmercifully on the Internet.
Bergeron also sells product lines, including food and bumper stickers, at stores throughout Acadiana and along Interstate 10, bearing what Perrin referred to as the C-word.
Bergeron and his band are scheduled to play at Cowboys night club in Scott at 10 p.m. Saturday, according to the band's website.
Fireworks may have started a fire that destroyed a three-story apartment building in Yonkers, injured 12 firefighters and left six families homeless, a fire department official said Sunday.
The Journal News reported that more than 100 firefighters responded to the fire shortly after 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Deputy Chief Joseph Cintrone of the Yonkers fire department said the blaze was possibly started by fireworks and poor housekeeping outside. He said fireworks may have ignited rubbish in the back yard.
Cintrone said no building residents were injured in the fire but at least a dozen firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries while battling it. He called the building a total loss and said it might have to be torn down.
Red Cross workers went to the scene to help the six families that were displaced by the fire.
Yonkers, just north of New York City, is one of several cities across the northeast that have seen a large increase in unauthorized fireworks in recent weeks.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics New York
Industry Update
Appointment
23 June 2020
Biran Patel
Appointed Chairman of AAHOA
At Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) in Atlanta - GA, USA
Chairman Patel joined AAHOA in 2003. He served as an ambassador and then as a member of the board of directors as a regional director for North Texas. AAHOA members elected him as secretary in 2017. He serves as a partner in BHP Investments Company and owns and operates multiple branded and independent properties.
Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Founded in 1989, AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the world, with over 14,000 small business owner-members. AAHOA members own more than 20,000 properties amounting to more than 40 percent of all hotels in the United States and employ nearly 600,000 workers, accounting for over $9. more information
Recent Appointments at AAHOA Ken Greene - President & CEO 24 September 2021 Following a unanimous vote by the AAHOA Board of Directors, Ken Greene is the new President & CEO. Greene has been serving in that role on an interimbasis since June. During his interim period, Greene oversaw the association's return to in-person events with the 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in Dallas, Texas. read more
Vinay Patel - Chairman 10 August 2021 Virginia hotelier Vinay Patel is the new Chair of AAHOA's Board of Directors. Patel became chair at the conclusion of the 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show which was the first major convention in Dallas since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. read more
For Israel, this coming November will be a turnaround month. With all due respect to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus West Bank annexation plans, Israels security forces are eyeing a far more distant issue, still the main strategic threat facing the country: The ayatollah regime in Iran.
Israel is awaiting the US presidential elections, and so are the Iranians. The tense waiting period is unlikely to see any changes in the war the two sides are waging against each other Iran with Hezbollahs backing and Israel with US support. Western and Israeli intelligence assessments place Iran on the edge of a precipice, with its foreign currency reserves forecast to run out at the end of the year. Irans economy is undergoing a rapid, painful downturn.
They are losing their public and they know it, a senior Israeli security source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. They understand that they will be unable to last long, given the current state of affairs, and are placing their hopes on the replacement of the Trump administration by an administration with which they can make a deal.
This Israeli intelligence assessment comes with a caveat: The Iranians could end up concluding that they have no choice other than negotiating with President Donald Trump should he be reelected. However, Israeli intelligence experts are having a hard time providing a confident assessment of how Trump might respond to such an Iranian switch. They are not alone in that difficulty. Trump, as depicted in the upcoming tell-all book by his former national security adviser John Bolton, is a highly unpredictable leader.
Israel believes Iran has a clear preference and is fervently praying for Democrat Joe Biden to win. Israels position is more complex. Netanyahu is praying for a Trump win. On the other hand, while Israels security agencies are highly appreciative of the continuous and relentless pressure exerted by the administration on the Iranians, they are nonetheless concerned that when the time comes, the US pressure will dissipate or become ineffectual. Israel would find itself facing a dramatic choice if the Iranians are pushed into a corner and conclude that they must go for a nuclear breakout. Should that happen, only a military strike could sink an imminent Iranian nuclear breakout quickly enough.
At this point, only the United States is capable of landing such a blow. Does Israel have a military option that could damage or delay an Iranian nuclear plan? The answer to that question is a state secret. However, Western experts believe that Israel's military option has eroded over time. The Iranians, meanwhile, have entered what then-Defense Minister Ehud Barak called an immunity zone. The prevailing assessment in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Russia as well as the United States is that Israel is no longer as able to delay the Iranians as it was a decade ago.
The inescapable conclusion of this analysis is that within months, Israel could find itself with its fate in the hands of a foreign power, specifically in those of the president of the United States. If he wins reelection, Trump will be the only one able to block Irans potential race to a bomb. It is hard to find anyone in the Israeli defense establishment who would willingly leave their fate or that of the state in Trumps hands. Therefore, many Israeli security and intelligence officials may not partake in Netanyahus prayers for a Trump victory.
With President Joe Biden, they would at least know where they stand. Israeli intelligence assessments foresee Biden reopening negotiations with Iran on the nuclear agreement with world powers. Even if a new agreement is not much better than that achieved by President Barack Obama, some of Israels security chiefs view it as less dangerous than the alternative, which entails too big a gamble.
Meanwhile, the two sides continue to clash. The cyber battle allegedly waged between Jerusalem and Tehran a few weeks ago ended in a clear Israeli knockout. They were unable to cause any damage here, a senior Israeli intelligence source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. They managed to damage one water plug for a few minutes, thats all. According to foreign reports, Israels counter-strike following the cyber attack on its water distribution system crippled Irans largest naval port for two to three weeks. Israel did not claim responsibility, but no one in the cyber world has any doubt about Israels capabilities and clear superiority over Iran in this sphere. Cyber experts believe Israel has many varied tools ready for use in this arena.
The conflict between the sides is also ongoing on Syrian soil, and Israeli intelligence is closely monitoring domestic developments in Iran. Israel believes conservative forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are exerting heavy pressure on President Hassan Rouhani and the Reformist camp to toughen Irans posture ahead of November.
The Iranian public is the problem, an Israeli analyst said on condition of anonymity, calling the scene reminiscent of Gaza. "[Hamas Gaza leader] Yahya Sinwar knows that the only thing his public cares about right now is the economy, so he is investing everything he has in improving the situation. The situation of the Iranian regime is worse, because the Iranians are not as used to hardships as the Gazans are. Still, at this stage, their government is not abandoning its investment in propagating the revolution in favor of economic recovery. We will have to wait for November.
Volume 11, Issue 25 of Oncotarget reported that Administration of landiolol hydrochloride was found to be associated with reduced incidence of atrial fibrillation after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in our previous randomized controlled trial
Volume 11, Issue 25 of @Oncotarget reported that Administration of landiolol hydrochloride was found to be associated with reduced incidence of atrial fibrillation after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in our previous randomized controlled trial.
Between March 2014 and January 2016, 100 patients with esophageal cancer were registered in an RCT trial and randomly allocated to receive either administration of landiolol or a placebo.
The authors analyzed data from this RCT to better understand the effect of postoperative AF and severe associated complications on overall survival after esophagectomy for cancer.
In multivariate analysis, high stage alone was an independent prognostic factor for esophageal cancer patients the following esophagectomy.
Dr. Toshiyasu Ojima from The Wakayama Medical University said, "Esophagectomy is considered the optimum treatment against esophageal cancers."
The incidence of major postoperative complications in our previous study increased in patients that developed new-onset AF following subtotal esophagectomy.
The effect of postoperative AF on long-term survival following esophagectomy is therefore controversial.
Severe postoperative complications may make patients with esophageal cancer less likely to survive over the long term.
Patients with esophageal cancer but without severe postoperative complications have been shown to have better long-term survival than patients with complications.
The authors also evaluate the influence of severe postoperative complications on overall survival and whether prophylactic administration of landiolol hydrochloride directly influences prolonged survival in patients with esophageal cancer.
The Ojima Research Team concluded in their Oncotarget Research Paper, "new-onset AF and other severe complications were not associated with poorer long-term survival after esophagectomy. In addition, administration of landiolol hydrochloride after esophagectomy did not contribute to the prolonged OS of patients with esophageal cancer."
"Administration of landiolol hydrochloride after esophagectomy did not contribute to the prolonged OS of patients with esophageal cancer"
###
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DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.27643
Full text - https://www.oncotarget.com/article/27643/text/
Correspondence to - Toshiyasu Ojima - tojima@wakayama-med.ac.jp
Keywords - esophageal cancer, atrial fibrillation, landiolol, randomized controlled trial, complication
About Oncotarget
Oncotarget is a weekly, peer-reviewed, open access biomedical journal covering research on all aspects of oncology.
To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com or connect with:
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Belco Community Credit Union opened its newest branch office this week.
Belco opened the new branch at 2217 W. Cumberland St. in North Lebanon Township, Lebanon County on Monday near the Lebanon Valley Mall in a previous First Citizens Bank branch.
The office replaced the credit unions branch at 1232 S. Fifth Ave. That office closed on March 16 due to COVID-19.
The credit union said the new facility features a larger interior, improved parking, a multi-lane drive-thru, drive-up ATM, and night deposit box.
Currently, only the drive-thru lanes are open. Drive-thru hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The drive-up ATM will be available 24 hours a day.
Craig Connelly is the branch manager. He had been branch manager at the previous location since 2014.
Belco is based in Swartara Township and has 14 branches and more than 67,000 members. Membership is open to businesses and individuals who live, work, worship, or attend school in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties.
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What we have always said is that MDC-T and MDC Alliance are two different parties which even went to congresses separately. So it will be illegal for Khupe to recall our MPs. Their call for sticking to 2014 structures is like a reverse jive song which people now want to enjoy as a freshly-released hit music. The 2014 structures were overtaken by events. However, we will be guided by recommendations of our national council if they continue to recall our MPs, he said. Newsday
Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi today criticised the BJP-led NDA government for their handling of the India-China border crisis at a meeting of the Congress Working Commission (CWC). According to Gandhi, the multiple crises that the country is facing along with the recent China row can be "attributable to the mismanagement of the BJP-led NDA government and the wrong policies pursued by it".
In her opening remarks to the CWC, Gandhi said, "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." She further added, "The cumulative effect is widespread misery, fear, and danger to the security and territorial integrity of the country".
The Congress along with other opposition parties have been constantly questioning the government regarding its handling of the Galwan Valley conflict in which 20 Indian soldiers had lost their lives.
Gandhi said that there is growing fear among people that the government has grossly mishandled the situation with China. She added that though the future is uncertain, the party hopes that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will influence the government's actions in protecting India's territorial integrity.
Gandhi along with the leaders of other political parties had attended the All-Party Meet (APM) which was organised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 19. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the India-China clash at Galwan Valley which had taken place a few days prior.
Since the meeting, the Congress including Rahul Gandhi has been attacking the government for certain comments made by PM Modi during the APM. "Neither is anyone inside our territory nor are any of our posts captured," the Prime Minister had said at the meeting. The Congress questioned whether the PM Modi meant that Indian Territory has already been ceded to China. The PMO had later clarified the PM's statement saying that the comments were being given a "mischievous interpretation".
Also Read: H-1B visa ban: Nasscom unhappy with Trump's work visa freeze
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Move comes as EU warns China of negative consequences and concern new law will undermine citys judicial independence.
Hong Kongs leader has defended Chinas plans to grant her the authority to appoint judges in cases brought under a new national security law, amid growing concerns that the provision would erode the semi-autonomous citys vaunted judicial independence.
Carrie Lams comments on Tuesday came as the European Union warned China it would face very negative consequences if it presses ahead with the legislation banning what Beijing termed secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in Hong Kong.
The law is being drafted by the Standing Committee of Chinas National Peoples Congress, the countrys top legislative body, and local media say the legislation could be passed by the end of June.
The draft law has not been made public, but Chinese state media on Saturday said the law includes provisions for Beijing to set up a national security office in Hong Kong to collect intelligence and handle crimes against national security and empowers the citys chief executive to appoint judges to hear such cases.
It also authorises Beijing to exercise jurisdiction over a tiny number of criminal cases that jeopardize national security, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The reports prompted a backlash, with Andrew Li, Hong Kongs former chief justice, saying granting the chief executive the authority to select judges to deal with national security laws would be detrimental to the independence of the judiciary.
In a statement published in local media ahead of Lams weekly press briefing, Li said: The independent judiciary should decide on the judges who would hear these cases without any interference from the executive authorities.
He added: If this view is not acceptable, then the arrangement should at least provide that the chief executives selection of these judges must be based on the recommendation of the chief justice or that of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission. This would ensure that the choice will be made on a professional and independent basis.
Judicial independence
In response, Lam defended the chief executives right to designate judges overseeing national security cases, but told reporters she would appoint that panel from the existing pool of judges, who are currently selected by an independent body called the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission.
She also said it was only natural that she consult Hong Kongs chief justice when compiling that panel, adding that she would not handpick judges to oversee specific cases. Instead, the judiciary would be responsible for allocating judges to national security cases from her list, she said.
I must consult the chief justice, but this cannot change the way the law is written that [judges] are appointed by the chief executive, she said.
When one day there is national security cases, the responsibility to assign which judge on that list to handle a case still lies on the judiciary of Hong Kong. The Executive is not responsible for that.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam holds a news conference in Beijing, China, on June 3, 2020 [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/ Reuters]
Lam also rejected calls from pro-Beijing politicians to appoint only Chinese judges to the panel, while reiterating that the Chinese-drafted legislation would not impact the citys freedoms.
Hong Kong is governed under a one country, two systems framework, established when Britain handed the city back to China in 1997. It guarantees the city extensive autonomy as well as freedoms unknown in mainland China.
The citys common-law-based legal system is widely seen as the bedrock of that formula, and critics fear Chinas new security law would erode Hong Kongs autonomy and undermine its status as an international financial hub. But after last years huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests, China says the new law is needed to end unrest and restore stability.
Beijing and Hong Kong officials also stress that the law strengthens the governance formula and would only target a small number of troublemakers while leaving rights and freedoms intact.
Nonsense
Emily Lau, a member of Hong Kongs Democratic Party, dismissed those claims as ridiculous in an interview with Al Jazeera.
No one in Hong Kong, including Carrie Lam, has seen the bill, she said. If you are going to pass a law on Hong Kong, I think common decency would mean that the Hong Kong people should be consulted and be allowed to express their views. But they say the draft law is a secret so no one can see it. So, without seeing it, how can Carrie Lam come out and fool everybody by saying Oh, dont worry, human rights will be protected. The independence of the judiciary will be intact, I think thats nonsense.
Lau, a former member of Hong Kongs legislature, said she was very worried over provisions that allow Beijing jurisdiction in specific cases.
That meant people who are charged with offences could be sent to mainland China for trial, she said, adding: So they would not get protection of the Hong Kong legal system.
The United States, United Kingdom and Canada have also criticised the new law, and the EU on Monday added to that chorus of concern.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel said they had expressed their grave concern during a video summit on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
We called on China to follow the promises made to the people of Hong Kong and the international community regarding Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy and guaranteed freedoms, Michel told reporters after their talks.
In response to the EU comments, Chinas foreign ministry said on Tuesday that matters relating to Hong Kong were a domestic affair.
We oppose any foreign interference in this matter, ministry spokesman Wang Lutong told reporters at a briefing, saying that Chinese leaders had expressed our position at the video summit.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.
The Automotive Robotics Market is anticipated to reach over USD 14,170 million by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the articulated robots dominated the global automotive robotics market, in terms of revenue. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the leading contributor to the global automotive robotics market revenue in 2017.
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The key players operating in the market include Fanuc Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Inc., ABB Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kuka AG, Denso Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Nachi-Fujikoshi Corporation, DiFacto Robotics and Automation Pvt. Ltd. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.
There has been an increase in the demand of automotive robotics across the world owing to greater need for automation of manufacturing processes. With the increasing use of collaborative robots in automotive applications, the overall demand for robotics to also influence the automotive robotics market growth. Automotive robots are being adopted by small and medium sized organizations at a huge pace for automation of manufacturing processes.
Market players are introducing application specific robots to meet the growing needs of the automotive industry. Growing need for automation and increasing labor costs further fuels the automotive robotics market growth. In addition, availability of affordable, high quality customized robotics solutions for diverse applications in the automotive industry stimulates the market growth.
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With international labor safety standards becoming more stringent, robots are being employed in hazardous environments in place of humans. Robots find application in situations that are dangerous and unsafe for human beings to work, such as working in irregular terrains and handling hazardous substances. Robots enable organizations to avoid risks and reduce the number of work accidents. This factor leads to greater adoption of robotics solutions in the global automotive industry.
Owing to stiff competition in the global automotive market, players are introducing low-cost and high quality robots to meet consumer demands. The advancements in technology enable developers to design new innovative products while maintaining the affordability of the product. The recently developed robots are energy efficient and designed to serve specific applications in the automotive industry. Acceptance of such robots by small and medium businesses has increased owing to its low cost and increased flexibility.
Asia-Pacific generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. Growing demand from automotive industry for high quality products, along with increasing labor costs encourages companies to invest in automotive robotics. With intense competition in the automotive industry, companies are setting up manufacturing facilities in these countries for timely deliveries of products to their customers. High demand of robots from Japan and South Korea would help in the growth of the automotive robotics market in the region. Other factors driving this market include rapid industrialization and increasing need for automation in manufacturing processes.
Segment Analysis
The global automotive robotics market is segmented on the basis of type, component, application, and region
Automotive Robotics Market Size and Forecast by Type, 2018-2026
Articulated Robots SCARA Robots Cartesian Robots Cylindrical Robots Others
Automotive Robotics Market Size and Forecast by Component, 2018-2026
Key Findings Hardware Software Services
Automotive Robotics Market Size and Forecast by Application, 2018-2026
Key Findings Painting Welding Material Handling Assembly Others
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Mumbai: A level-3 fire broke out at a scrap godown in Mandala on Mankhurd-Ghatkopar Link Road in Maharashtra on Tuesday (June 23, 2020). Three fire tenders are at the spot and are trying to douse the blaze.
Meanwhile, fire is confined to scrap material and waste oil drums, in a five scrap godown sheds in an area of about 15,000 square feet. However, there was no casualty or injury in the fire incident.
The fire started at around 6 am on Monday morning and the fire station received the call at around 6:03 am and reached the spot with 10 minutes' time.
Initially, it was a level-1 fire, however, later the fire fighting officials termed it a level-3 fire incident.
(Further details awaited)
Sukhbir Badal announces party candidate from Pirthi Ram Meghwal from Balluana
With the 12th list, AAP announces candidates from all 117 seats
"Cases are going up in the U.S. because we are testing far more than any other country, and ever expanding," Trump tweeted Tuesday. "With smaller testing we would show fewer cases!"
At the beginning of the U.S. outbreak, public health specialists criticized the country's capacity to conduct widespread diagnostic testing as far too little. The country has ramped up testing capacity to more than an average of 478,000 tests per day in June, compared with an average of over 345,000 per day in May.
As coronavirus cases surge across the country, President Donald Trump continues to blame increased testing despite mounting evidence that the virus is spreading widely throughout some communities.
However, public health specialists have repeatedly said the data does not indicate that increased testing accounts for the recent surge in daily new cases. To dispel claims that testing is to blame for the country's growing outbreak, epidemiologists point to a figure known as the positivity rate, which indicates the percent of tests that come back positive in a given region.
The data point is important because it indicates how broadly the virus is spreading throughout the community. The World Health Organization has previously said that the positivity rate for a country should remain stable at about 5% for 14 days before a country eases restrictions.
Throughout June so far, the U.S. positivity rate has hovered around 5%, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, though the seven-day average has ticked up in recent days. Some epidemiologists have noted that the fact that the national postivity rate has yet to drop despite increased testing of the population could indicate that the virus is spreading.
When broken down by states, the U.S. paints a more worrying picture. Nineteen states currently have a positivity rate above 5% over the past seven days, according to Johns Hopkins data, and that includes Arizona, which reports that 21.15% of all tests are coming back positive, and Florida with a positivity rate of 12.22%.
"That states are finding more cases relative to the amount of tests they are conducting provides the strongest rebuttal to the administration's assertion that case numbers are rising because we're getting better at finding cases through increased testing," Jennifer Nuzzo, lead epidemiologist of Johns Hopkins University's Covid-19 Testing Insights Initiative, wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post. "They tell us the opposite that each of these states needs to do even more testing to find infections followed by more rigorous contact tracing and isolation."
Recent spikes in some states such as Florida have prompted state officials to acknowledge that the increase in new cases is not solely attributable to more testing.
"Even with the testing increasing or being flat, the number of people testing positive is accelerating faster than that," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, told reporters last week. "You know that's evidence that there's transmission within those communities."
Most of those who test positive are now young people who "aren't sick," Trump told reporters later Tuesday. He added that the U.S., which has the largest coronavirus outbreak in the world, has conducted by far more tests than any other country.
TELLURIDE, Colo. A woman who considered herself the spiritual leader of a doomsday cult in Colorado has been sentenced to 64 years in prison for her role in the deaths of two children who were banished to a car without food or water because the girls were thought to have been impure.
Madani Ceus was sentenced Friday on two counts of felony child abuse resulting in death, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported. Sisters Makayla Roberts, 10, and Hannah Marshall, 8, were found dead inside a vehicle parked on a farm in the town of Norwood in the summer of 2017.
Investigators say they believe Ceus, of Haiti, declared that the two girls were possessed by unclean spirits during a past life and ordered them kept in the car as the group waited for the apocalypse before the 2017 solar eclipse.
The girls likely died of starvation, heat and dehydration, but because the bodies were in a partly mummified condition, pathologists could not determine the exact cause of death.
This cult found their way to our county and committed horrific abuse to these little girls who died as a result of the inhumanity of Ms. Ceus and her associates, San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters said after the sentencing.
The childrens mother, Nashika Bramble, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced in September to life in prison without parole.
Ceuss husband, Ashford Archer, was convicted of two counts of fatal child abuse and one count of being an accessory to a crime and was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Frederick Alec Blair, who owned the farm where the children died, struck a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to the accessory charge. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
A fifth member who was charged, Ika Eden of Jamaica, was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and is being treated at the state mental hospital in Pueblo.
Norwood is a town of about 500 people 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of the Telluride ski resort.
Premier Brian Pallister's plan to pay Manitobans to stop collecting federal emergency benefits and return to work is drawing polite applause from some, and raised eyebrows and criticism from others.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Premier Brian Pallister's plan to pay Manitobans to stop collecting federal emergency benefits and return to work is drawing polite applause from some, and raised eyebrows and criticism from others.
"We'd like you to get back to work," Pallister said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday.
"On our calls with premiers and the prime minister, it's become increasingly evident the CERB program has some disincentives... that are preventing some Canadians from returning to work on a full-time basis."
The province says it will pay individuals $2,000 to return to the workforce and stop collecting the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit and Canada Emergency Student Benefit.
The federal programs have helped some eight million Canadians through financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but they're not helping Manitoba meet its demand for workers as it reopens more of its economy ahead of other provinces, Pallister said.
"It's time to kick the CERB to the curb," the premier said.
It is a stance that appeared to be cautiously embraced by the business sector.
"We need to make sure that businesses don't face barriers to rehiring," said Jonathan Alward with the Manitoba branch of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
In late May, the federation surveyed its members about staffing issues, and the majority said the federal programs were the main reason they were having difficulty filling positions.
"A little over half said getting employees back and off CERB or CESB had been a challenge for them," Alward said Tuesday. Child-care issues, transit challenges and concerns about bringing the virus home to a loved one were also cited, but "the No. 1 barrier was getting people off of those two benefit programs."
The Manitoba Job Restart program announced Tuesday will provide direct payments to a maximum of $2,000 to help qualified Manitobans return to work.
The taxable benefit will provide one initial payment of $500, and three additional bi-weekly payments for $500 each, over six weeks. Program participants must voluntarily stop collecting CERB or CESB support from the federal government.
The program could help bring "tens of thousands" of Manitobans back to work, said Pallister, who couldn't say how many are expected to accept the offer.
However, economist Lynne Fernandez doubts the program will get the results the province is seeking.
"I think we have to ask why they aren't going back," said Fernandez, who holds the Errol Black Chair in labour issues at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba.
Many are in low-paying service-sector jobs, need access to child care, transit service has been reduced, and some have health-care concerns to consider during a pandemic, she said.
"You need to ask, 'Are you paying people enough?'" she said. "Could you give them some benefits? Some job security? Improving working conditions and giving people a living wage is how you get people to work... That $2,000 is not going to take those barriers away."
Tuesday's announcement left several questioning the logic of spending provincial money to get Manitobans to stop taking federal funds, while also cutting the hours of public-sector workers.
"They're laying off people at Manitoba Hydro who have work to do," Fernandez said. "This doesn't make any sense to me."
Meanwhile, the Tory premier was accused of trying to shame people collecting CERB.
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NDP Opposition Leader Wab Kinew said Pallister is guilting them to go back to jobs that arent there, after his austerity measures cut the public sector and left businesses to fend for themselves during the pandemic.
"The fact the premier appears to not know how many Manitobans could even qualify for this program shows just how little effort hes put into it," Kinew said in an email.
"He's not interested in actually helping families or businesses, he just wants to look like he is," he said, noting most of the Pallister government's allocated pandemic support program funds remain unspent.
This push will do little to restart the economy because it's overly complicated, filled with red tape, and does not address part-time workers, said Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont.
"The PCs are baselessly attacking CERB, when this is the program that actually helped Canadians through the pandemic while the Pallister government was missing in action," he said in a statement.
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
As today, Tuesday, June 23, comes to end, here are all the top stories that have shaped today's conversations.
1. Waiguru impeachment: Photo of governor scrolling her phone during Senate hearing sparks hilarious reactions
Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru's impeachment motion at the Senate kickstarted this morning after she appeared before an 11-member committee to present her defence with her husband lawyer Kamotho Waiganjo leading the legal team.
However, a viral photo of her playing solitaire - a mobile phone card game played by one person which involves arranging cards in a predetermined manner emerged and the internet could not help it but poke fun at her.
READ ALSO: Angelina Jolie finally discloses more on her divorce with Brad Pitt
2. CS Mutahi Kagwe confirms rapper Kahush is his youngest son after netizens doubted artiste
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe who has always kept his family away from the media has confirmed that young rapper Kahush is indeed his son.
The CS said Kahush is his last born son adding that his full name is Kahumburu.
READ ALSO: Opinion: MP Walukes conviction happy ending for Uhuru in fight to tame maize cartels
3. Kenya confirms 155 new cases of COVID-19, national tally rises to 4,952
The government has announced 155 more COVID-19 cases in the country. The new cases raised Kenya's COVID-19 tally to 4,952.
The number of recoveries stands at 1,782 while the death toll is 128.
READ ALSO: Joshua Waiganjo wants Johnson Kavuludi to apologise for causing him 7 years of anguish
The government announced 155 new cases of COVID-19. Photo: MOH.
Source: Facebook
4. TV anchor Nancy Onyancha and hubby Job Mwaura among journalists sacked at K24
Swahili anchor Nancy Onyancha and her husband Job Mwaura who were both working at K24 TV were among the 100 employees who were sacked from Mediamax.
Onyancha took to Instagram to announce her exit from the Kijabe Street-based media house and said she was ready for her next big assignment.
READ ALSO: International baby mama: Akothee wishes her 3 baby daddies happy Father's Day in hilarious posts
5. William Rutos allies defied him, openly supported Aden Duales removal
Deputy President William Ruto watched in dismay as his close political allies openly supported the ouster of Aden Duale as the National Assembly majority leader on Monday, June 22, it has emerged.
Laikipia Woman Representative Catherine Waruguru, who was until a fortnight ago a vocal Tanga Tanga adherent, who sealed Duales fate by seconding the motion to eject him.
READ ALSO: Lofa akaziwa kuingia matangani sababu ya ulafi
Ruto's allies openly defied him and supported Duale's ouster. Photo: William Ruto.
Source: Facebook
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 16:24:09|Editor: huaxia
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CAIRO, June 22 (Xinhua) -- China's cooperation with other nations in the fight against the raging COVID-19 pandemic and its unbiased stances on global issues have harvested praises from the Arab world, while the two sides are mulling stronger ties in the post-pandemic era.
A three-day dialogue between political parties of China and Arab states kicked off on Monday via video link, with a theme of jointly building a community with a shared future for China and Arab states in the new era.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue Extraordinary Meeting, which is attended by over 60 leaders of political parties from Arab states.
Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development in Morocco, said the hosting of the dialogue will build a platform for exchanges between the Arab countries' political parties and the CPC, and enhance the exchanges and cooperation between China and the Arab world.
China's development experience and ideas are worth learning for Arab countries, Bouchiba said, adding that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has created a platform to promote the development of Arab countries.
He appreciates the fact that China has always remained neutral on issues in the Middle East and is committed to preserving peace in the region with continuous calls for peaceful settlement of disputes through political means.
The conference indicates that China is cementing the idea of a shared future with Arab states and the principle of win-win cooperation, Bouchiba said.
In addition, the cultural side of the BRI will be increasingly present, as more presence of the Chinese culture will be seen in the Arab world through the initiative, he said.
Samer Khair Ahmed, a Jordanian expert on Arab-China relations, said the international community has witnessed China's assistance to the Arab world and other countries without hesitation in curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
"China is a trustworthy country with precaution experience sharing with and medical equipment offering to the world," he said.
Attending the dialogue, Abbas Zaki, head of Palestinian Fatah party's commissioner general of the Arab and Chinese Affairs, said the novel coronavirus has proven to the Arab world that China cherishes humanity.
"More Arab countries are regarding China as a friend and improving their relations with it because China's relations with the Arab world depend on mutual benefits," Zaki said.
Noting that China has sent medical equipment, medicine and medical experts to many parts of the world, including Arab countries, he said that as Palestinians, "we have been following the Chinese preventive measure to avoid the virus."
Nadhum Ali Abdullah, an Iraqi political expert with Baghdad-based think tank Arab Forum, said that ties between China and the Arab world are built on mutual understanding in the economic, political and cultural aspects.
China's policy towards the Arab countries is clear and free from ambitions, "unlike the Western policy that aims to achieve its own interests even against the interests of other peoples," Ali Abdullah stressed.
He said that China has proven to be "the best aid to its friends" in the difficult circumstances through its cooperation with other countries amid the pandemic.
Nasr Arif, former executive director of the Institute for Islamic World Studies of Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates, said China and Arab countries can do a lot facing COVID-19, for example, to push for scientific research of medicine and vaccines.
Praising the vision of building a community with a shared future for China and Arab countries as "a great idea," Arif said that as Arab countries are facing many challenges, "China can bring new approaches to some regional and international issues by establishing a comprehensive partnership with Arab countries that will benefit two sides." Enditem
(Xinhua reporters Li Binian in Cairo, Xiong Sihao in Gaza, Zheng Yihan in Damascus, Zhang Miao in Baghdad, Ma Yichong in Khartoum, Chen Binjie in Rabat, Su Xiaopo in Dubai, and Ji Ze in Amman also contributed to the story.)
LG Chem is already a key partner of Hyundai and will be supplying batteries for Hyundai's EV prototype for its electric-global modular platform dubbed "E-GMP" slated for 2022.
Chung visited LG Chem's battery factory in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province. The two tycoons discussed how to bolster cooperation.
Hyundai chairman Chung Eui-sun met with LG chairman Koo Gwang-mo on Monday to strengthen their alliance in the field of electric vehicles.
The partnership comes amid a decline in Korea's auto exports due to the coronavirus epidemic. From June 1 to June 20, car exports plummeted over 36 percent compared to the year before.
The auto industry is rapidly changing to electric cars, hydrogen cars or mobility services.
Hyundai is also working with other local battery producers. Last month, Chung met with Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong while he was visiting Samsung SDI's battery production line in Cheonan.
Sources say the Hyundai chief is also going to meet SK chairman Chey Tae-won soon. SK Innovation is already one of the major battery producers for Hyundai affiliate Kia.
Hyundai and Kia are among the global leaders in the EV market, selling more than 24,000 of them in the first quarter of this year.
A three-year-old giraffe named Gigi has suddenly died just two weeks after moving to Sydney Zoo.
The zoo announced on Sunday it had launched a full investigation into the cause of death after the young animal passed away the previous night.
Gigi was intended to be a companion for the zoo's first giraffe Eyelean who was introduced in December last year.
A giraffe named Gigi has suddenly died at Sydney Zoo with caretakers launching a full investigation into her death
'It is with a heavy heart we say a very sad goodbye to Gigi, our female Giraffe who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away last night,' the zoo said in a statement.
'Sydney Zoo welcomed our second giraffe Gigi during the Covid closure and she had quickly formed a strong bond with her companions.
'As we mourn this tragic loss she will be remembered for her friendly and cheeky nature.'
The zoo said it was an 'extremely emotional time' for her keepers, who were met with support on social media.
Gigi (pictured) was intended to be a companion for the zoo's first giraffe Eyelean who was introduced in December last year
While the cause of death is not yet known, Veterinary surgeon Dr Robert Zammit told 9News it could be due to a stressful move from her previous herd at the Sunshine Coast.
'They are not made to be transported anywhere, in a car or a truck, and certainly going from one hot climate to a cold climate adds to that stress,' he said.
The zoo will be searching for a replacement giraffe to act as a companion for their remaining giraffe.
Dr Zammit said giraffes are fundamentally herd animals, making the move a necessary one.
Press Release
23 June 2020
As China and its hotel industry gain prominence on the global stage, more and more foreign investors are turning their attention to this huge and extremely promising market. Chinese hotels are in desperate need of strategies to compete with the high-quality service and facilities offered by Western hotel chains. Thanks to a pioneering study by Dr Markus Schuckert, Professor Rob Law of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and their co-authors, they now have the perfect solution. Based on painstaking analysis of a huge new dataset of TripAdvisor reviews, the researchers show Chinese hotel managers exactly how their hotels are falling short of international standards, and what they can do to close the gap.
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China's tourism industry is flourishing. The researchers note that the last few decades have seen not only rocketing demand, with inbound tourism increasing by 75 times since 1978, but also rapid growth in supply. In 2013, there were over 13,000 star-rated hotels in China, compared with fewer than 3,000 in 1994, and this figure continues to rise. Yet, domestic hotel companies are not the only beneficiaries. As the tourism industry becomes an ever more important driver of economic growth, its success spells good news for China as a whole.
However, the researchers are careful to point out that this phenomenal progress inevitably brings challenges. Chinese hotels still lag behind those in developed countries in the West. "Since the 1980s", they write, "the Chinese hospitality industry has been suffering from overcapacity, quality issues, low efficiency and decreasing operational scale".
Foreign hotel companies have been quick to fill this gap, bringing their flagship brands to China to deliver the high-quality amenities and excellent service demanded by foreign tourists and, increasingly, by Chinese consumers themselves. Competition is particularly fierce in the luxury segment, the researchers comment, where Chinese hotel companies are being edged out by international brands such as Marriott, Hyatt and the InterContinental Hotels Group.
To make matters worse, the gap in quality between domestic and international hotels is increasingly visible with the rise of social media and e-commerce. According to the researchers, dissatisfied guests can now post reviews, photos and even videos showing exactly how and why Chinese hotels are failing to live up to expectations. Service, property maintenance, reservations and sanitation are all in need of attention.
"It is vital", stress the researchers, "for domestic Chinese hotels to detect and eliminate gaps in hardware and/or service quality between themselves and foreign competitors". Only then will they be equipped to meet the rising expectations of local consumers as well as foreign tourists.
In today's era of e-commerce, the researchers tell us, the best - and cheapest - way for hotels to identify and address their shortcomings is through online reputation management. By responding in a timely and conciliatory way to guest complaints on TripAdvisor, for example, managers can improve "consumer satisfaction, hotel ratings, the volume of positive reviews, and hotel performance".
Yet here, too, Chinese firms are at a disadvantage. Due to "a lack of budget, training, and technology as well as prevailing cultural factors", explain the researchers, "local Chinese hotel managers are less likely to use such strategies than managers of global hotel chains". For example, they may be inexperienced in dealing with complaints due to China's collectivist culture, which makes guests "more likely to control their emotions and save face for others".
Still, most studies of the service-quality gap in China's hotel sector have paid little attention to such differences in management response strategies between hotel types. And neither have they attempted to analyse online ratings, despite the overwhelming popularity of online booking in today's ultra-connected age. The researchers knew that to help Chinese hotel firms meet guests' expectations and compete with foreign brands in the future, they would need to break new ground.
As "one of the world's largest travel sites", TripAdvisor (and its official Chinese website DaoDao) offered the researchers the ideal setting to gather a comprehensive and novel set of online reviews on domestic and international hotels in China. They collected 84,997 reviews on 443 hotel chains in China's three biggest (and most international) cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
All of the hotels were in the luxury segment, where domestic hotels face the greatest threat from their international rivals. About half were operated by mainland Chinese brands, and the other half were run by American, European or other Asian companies. This allowed the researchers to rigorously compare domestic and international standards from the perspective of real guests, taking into account cultural differences between China and the West.
The next step was to analyse the hotels in light of a few carefully chosen hypotheses. For example, the researchers expected management response strategies (such as empathy, an apology or even compensation) to be more effective for domestic than international hotels. Guests at Chinese hotels generally expect poorer service than those staying at international hotels, so when Chinese managers do respond swiftly to complaints, they have a good chance of surpassing guests' expectations.
A series of rigorous statistical analyses yielded some important findings. First, the researchers discovered that tourists in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai "have more confidence in and prefer to stay at luxury hotels belonging to international hotel chains" than domestic firms. The next step was to figure out how and why international luxury hotels are outclassing their Chinese counterparts, and what can be done to close the gap.
In their online evaluations, guests expressed particular satisfaction with the quiet and clean conditions offered by international hotel brands. They found it harder to sleep in Chinese hotels, and were dissatisfied with their level of hygiene. Service was also poorer in domestic hotels. The implications for the local hotel sector are clear. As the researchers note, the managers of Chinese luxury hotels should now focus on "improving their service quality, cleanliness, and sleep environment" to satisfy more guests.
International luxury hotel chains were also found to take consumer feedback more seriously than their Chinese counterparts did. More than half of the Chinese hotels never responded to guests' online reviews, whereas most of the international chains implemented management response strategies. This, explain the researchers, "indicates that international hotel chains have a better understanding of guest requirements and are also more likely to budget for service recovery and online review-management strategies".
To meet the standards offered by their foreign competitors, domestic hotel managers should take action to identify and meet the needs of their guests by carefully considering and responding to online feedback. The more detailed their responses, the better. But making guests happy is not the only reason for domestic hotels to adopt more positive management response strategies, suggest the researchers. "Managers can also learn a lot about how to further improve their services from the complaints and suggestions they receive."
This ground-breaking study shows Chinese hotel brands precisely where they fall short of international standards, and offers the perfect solution. As the researchers note, "management response is a fact-based, cost-saving, and more effective method than allocating resources to improve product and quality standards without listening to consumers' needs". Given the rapid growth of China's tourism industry as a major contributor to the economy, closing the service-quality gap between domestic and international hotel chains will ultimately enhance China's overall economic development. However, the value of the findings is not limited to China. The researchers also offer some sage advice for international hotel managers with mature response strategies: write more! Responding to guests' online reviews with more detailed feedback is an excellent way to improve their satisfaction - an insight of value to hotels worldwide.
Markus Schuckert, Sai Liang, Rob Law and Wenjun Sun. (2019). How Do Domestic and International High-End Hotel Brands Receive and Manage Customer Feedback? International Journal of Hospitality Management, Vol. 77, pp. 528-537.
(Natural News) COVID-19 has significantly changed the lives of people across the globe in many ways. While its possible to recover from the illness, those who have are facing more uncertainty, this time in terms of living as normally as they used to.
Unclear guidelines on safely resuming normal routines
Data on the progression of COVID-19 is constantly changing and updating, so guidelines on how to safely resume pre-coronavirus routines for survivors vary from country to country, and are even subject to changes.
To add to the confusion, the protocols can vary depending on the severity of cases.
For example, authorities in Australia have enforced three sets of guidelines: One for patients with mild cases that have recovered completely at home; another for hospitalized patients; and one for healthcare workers.
The inconsistency is confusing for patients who have no clear idea of what to do and when they are considered fully recovered. This uncertainty also fuels their anxiety.
Dr. John Gumina, chairman of family medicine at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, admits that this is uncharted territory, which has caused problems even among medical staff.
Gumina recommends a 14-day quarantine, but he acknowledged that in some cases, patients may still feel unwell after two weeks.
Coronavirus infects a patients lower respiratory tract. If youre infected, you may experience symptoms like cough, fever and shortness of breath. Case reports showed that COVID-19 patients may also develop complications due to pneumonia.
Less common symptoms of COVID-19 include aches, chills, nasal congestion, sore throat, headache, vomiting and diarrhea.
Lack of knowledge is frustrating for patients in recovery
Rachel Wall, a 32-year-old baker and former laboratory scientist from Denver, consulted doctors after experiencing extreme fatigue and fever, along with coughing spells. She was advised to self-quarantine at home for 10 days until she fully recovered from fever for at least 72 hours.
Walls quarantine ended on April 5, but she still has a cough thats so severe she cant talk properly. While staying hydrated and taking cough medicine has eased her condition, Wall says she feels her heartbeat quicken every time she stands up.
Wall plans to extend her self-quarantine to be safe, but she adds that the lack of testing and knowledge required to properly address coronavirus is frustrating for patients like her.
Mild symptoms make it hard to accurately monitor the number of infected patients
On March 12, Elizabeth Edwards, a 38-year-old venture capitalist from Cincinnati, started having trouble breathing while she was at work. After calling her doctor, she was told that she probably had COVID-19. Edwards was advised to self-quarantine for 14 days until she was symptom-free for at least three days. While at home, Edwards continued working.
Six days into her self-quarantine, Edwards was taken to the ER after her shortness of breath worsened. She said it was so intense she felt as if she was drowning.
Edwards ER physician echoed the COVID-19 diagnosis of her doctor. After being told to self-isolate, she was also advised to get enough rest and stay hydrated.
Edwards finally listened to her ER physician: She took vitamins and drank fresh juices and water. She used a pulse oximeter to manage her stress when it was difficult to breathe.
A pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation in the blood. According to Gumina, when the number on an oximeter dips into the low 90s and 80s, a patient is in need of immediate medical attention.
Edwards checked her device regularly to make sure the number stayed above 95, indicating that she was fine.
Her symptoms eventually eased up. She coughed up phlegm and her fever let up. In time, her energy and breathing returned to normal.
Edwards 14-day self-isolation ended on March 26, which was the first time she felt like she could take a deep breath. A one-mile run was out of the picture, but Edwards said she felt well enough to try yoga.
Edwards noted that there was some confusion regarding her actual release date. While her doctor said that her 14-day quarantine started on March 11, she actually decided to start on March 12, when she first felt shortness of breath.
This indicates that physicians have trouble determining when the quarantine countdown should begin. Dr. Alicia Fernandez, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and a primary care doctor at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, says the confusion may continue since no one has a definitive answer.
Adding to this dilemma, researchers have yet to determine when patients begin to be infectious, or when they cease to be.
Most COVID-19 guidelines focus on symptoms, but there are patients with symptoms so mild, they can be hard to detect.
Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, noted that at least 25 percent of infected Americans may be asymptomatic. Experts add that its difficult to say for sure whether asymptomatic patients are infectious.
Case reports from China and the U.S. indicate that asymptomatic cases can test positive after almost a month following their initial exposure to coronavirus.
According to CDC guidelines, patients with COVID-19 can discontinue home isolation if they meet these criteria:
They have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing drugs; Respiratory symptoms like cough and shortness of breath have improved; At least seven days have passed since they first experienced any symptoms.
The CDC emphasized that patients should only make the decision to end their self-isolation after talking to a healthcare provider, along with state and local health departments. The agency added that [l]ocal decisions depend on local circumstances.
Test scarcity means patients have to wait longer for results
When Amy McKenzie, a 30-year-old mother of three from Australia, tested positive for COVID-19, local health authorities told her to self-isolate for 14 days. However, she realized that her home isolation may last even longer.
McKenzie, a mental health coordinator and healthcare provider, said she will need two consecutive negative tests to confirm that shes no longer infectious.
Because of the nature of her job, she has stricter rules on when she can safely end her self-isolation. Once her symptoms are gone, McKenzie will be required to return two negative tests for coronavirus. The tests must be taken 24 hours apart before her release.
McKenzie noted that while the recommended period of self-isolation is 14 days, patients could be in isolation for much longer due to the scarcity of tests, which slows down the confirmation of infected patients. Adding to the stress was the agonizing wait for test results.
McKenzie is currently in home isolation in Newcastle. Because of the circumstances, her children are staying with relatives. The wait for her test results means its uncertain when she can see her kids again, something no mother wants to experience.
After more than a week since testing positive for COVID-19, McKenzie reports that her symptoms have been improving.
With all the uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of COVID-19 patients, the disease remains a global threat, which has currently infected over 1.7 million people and killed more than 100,000 worldwide.
Sources include:
WSJ.com 1
WSJ.com 2
President Donald Trump on Monday accused his direct predecessor, Barack Obama, of treason, without offering any evidence or details to back up his claim.
Trump made the accusation in an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network. The president has frequently accused others of "treason," but Monday marked the first time that he has leveled that claim against the man who preceded him in the Oval Office.
"On Obama and the spying situation, this idea that they were spying on your campaign - you've been asked before about what crime would have been potentially been committed," Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody said.
"Treason," Trump responded. He added: "It's treason. Look, when I came out a long time ago, I said they've been spying on our campaign. . . . It turns out I was right. Let's see what happens to them now."
Trump mentioned Attorney General William Barr and U.S. Attorney in Connecticut John Durham, who was tapped by Barr last year to investigate the origins of the 2016 election interference probe that has run through Trump's presidency.
"Let's see what they come up with," he said.
Despite Trump's assertions that the FBI under Obama wiretapped the phones at Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign, Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said last year that he found no evidence of such an effort. But that has not stopped Trump from continuing to make the baseless claim.
In an exchange with reporters in the White House briefing room last month, Trump was pressed for more information on the scheme he has taken to calling "Obamagate." What crime, a reporter asked him, was he accusing the former president of committing?
"You know what the crime is," Trump responded, providing no details. "The crime is very obvious to everybody."
- - -
The Washington Post's Devlin Barrett contributed to this report.
Costume designer-turned director Joel Schumacher, known for helming films including "St Elmo's Fire", "Falling Down" as well as two "Batman" movies, has died after a year-long battle with cancer, his publicists said.
The native New Yorker passed away on Monday morning. He was 80, reported Deadline.
Schumacher started off as a costume designer for 1970s films such as Woody Allen directorials "Sleeper" and "Interiors", along with "Blume in Love", "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" and "The Last of Sheila".
He also was a production designer on the 1974 telefilm "Killer Bees".
Schumacher then turned writer in the late '70s on "Sparkle", "Car Wash" and film adaptation of Broadway musical "The Wiz", and made his directorial debut in 1981 with sci-fi comedy "The Incredible Shrinking Woman", featuring Lily Tomlin in the lead.
The director, considered as one of the most popular Hollywood storytellers, also has titles such as "Flawless", "DC Cab", "The Lost Boys", "Falling Down" and John Grisham adaptations "The Client" and "A Time to Kill" to his credit.
From Val Kilmer, George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger in his films, Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage in "Trespass", Susan Sarandon in "The Client" to Kiefer Sutherland in "The Lost Boys", Schumacher directed many such Hollywood A-listers.
He is also credited for nurturing rising talent at the time like Matthew McConaughey ("A Time To Kill"), Colin Farrell ("Phone The Booth"), Demi Moore and Rob Lowe ("St Elmo's Fire"), Gerard Butler ("Phantom of the Opera"), among others.
Schumacher also directed high-profile music videos including Seal's chartbuster "Kiss from a Rose" from his " Forever", INXS' "Devil Inside" and the Smashing Pumpkins' "The End Is the Beginning Is the End," which earned him a best director nomination at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.
His "Falling Down", starring Michael Douglas as a frustrated common man who explodes in rage, premiered at Cannes in 1993 and was a Palme d'Or nominee.
"8MM", the 1999 film starring Cage, Joaquin Phoenix and James Gandolfini, was up for the Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival.
The filmmaker also directed "Flatliners", "Flawless", and most recently two 2013 episodes of Netflix's "House of Cards".
Many of Schumacher's collaborators remembered the one-of-a-kind director as a friend, visionary and someone who launched careers of several Hollywood stars.
McConaughey said he owes his career to the filmmaker, who gave him the lead role as Jake Brigance in courtroom drama "A Time to Kill", at a time when he was "relatively unknown".
"Joel not only took a chance on me, he fought for me. Knowing the studio might never approve a relatively unknown like myself for the lead in 'A Time to Kill,' he set up a secret screen test for me on a Sunday morning in a small unknown studio because as he stated, 'Even if you do great, you may not get the part, so I don't want the industry to ever think you screen tested and DID NOT get the job'," the Oscar winner said.
"I don't see how my career could have gone to the wonderful places it has if it wasn't for Joel Schumacher believing in me back then," he added.
Sutherland took to Twitter to share his condolences to one of his "dearest friends and partners in filmmaking".
His "Lost Boys" co-star Corey Feldman revealed that the sober Schumacher tried to keep him from doing drugs on the film shoots, firing him and rehiring him after he said he was given cocaine by an adult on the set.
"He tried to prevent my descent," Feldman wrote.
Lowe said how only the director could see him play the role of Billy, the bad boy in the coming-of-age film "St Elmo's Fire".
"He had extraordinary taste. The images from his films are timeless snapshots of their era. He was a larger than life original; I will never forget him," the actor said in a statement to Variety.
Moore said working with Schumacher was a "pivotal moment" in not only her career but also to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
"Forever grateful for the tough love and the chance that he took on me. His daring, dynamic spirit will be missed. Rest easy Joel," she wrote on Instagram alongside a clip from their film "St Elmo's Fire".
Cage said he is "very upset" about Schumacher's death.
"He was a great artist and a true friend I will miss him," he added.
" Forever" star Jim Carrey gave tributes to Schumacher on Twiter: "He saw deeper things in me than most and he lived a wonderfully creative and heroic life. I am grateful to have had him as a friend."
In a video, Seal said the director transformed his "Kiss From a Rose" from a flop into a hit after he used the song on the soundtrack of "Batman Forever".
The musician, who went on to win three Grammys in 1996 for the song including record of the year, said the track "has pretty much defined my career".
"The only thing we did was make a decent video for it. He didn't even charge me, he said he loved the song so much. Subsequently, kids thought I was Batman because the song was so big," he added.
Patrick Wilson, who starred in "The Phantom of the Opera", said Schumacher "started the careers of many".
"Too many to name. Such a diverse and fearless resume," Wilson wrote.
Schumacher also received the Distinguished Collaborator Award from the Costume Designers Guild in 2011 and that same year shared a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for the mental health documentary "Half of Us".
In the wake of national civil unrest over police brutality and a renewed push to remove the names of controversial figures from buildings on college campuses, the Charleston County School District is now facing pressure to reconsider the names of some of its own educational spaces.
At the center of the recent discussion is Memminger Elementary School, a downtown school that predominantly serves African American students.
The school is named for Christopher Memminger, who served as treasury secretary of the Confederacy. Memminger, a staunch secessionist and advocate for slavery, also helped establish Charlestons public school system.
School board member Kevin Hollinshead sent a letter last week asking board members and district officials to consider renaming the elementary school.
Memminger played a crucial role in Charlestons educational system that prevented African-Americans the opportunity to partake in the American dream, he wrote. In fact, he chaired the committee that drafted the Confederacys provisional constitution.
Memminger is classified as a Title 1 school, meaning it serves a high percentage of low-income students, and it sits across the street from a public housing complex on Beaufain Street.
As a result of the concerns raised by Hollinshead, the district will create a committee tasked with researching the origin of the current names of all CCSD school buildings and facilities, Chairman Eric Mack said Monday.
Instead of picking schools one by one, I just decided to formulate a committee just to research all the background of all the naming of the schools, Mack said.
Mack was set to provide more details about the committee during a virtual board meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon. Due to technical difficulties, the meeting was postponed. It will now take place at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Board Member Priscilla Jeffery said she wholeheartedly supported any decision to rename buildings with outdated names.
Im sure theres plenty of other people we could name it after, she said.
In recent weeks, colleges across the state, including the University of South Carolina, Winthrop University and Clemson University, have voted to rename campus buildings tied to South Carolinas racist past.
Hollinshead said he was prompted to take action after a concerned parent called the issue to his attention last week. While the district should look into the name change, Hollinshead said hes more concerned about providing equitable opportunities to all of Charlestons students.
We've always had this paradigm that African Americans were not treated fair or equal in the Charleston County school system, he said.
Last year, the school board finalized more than two dozen sweeping changes to schools across Charleston County designed to address racial disparities and inequitable opportunities.
A handful of these decisions revolved around Memminger Elementary and Buist Academy for Advanced Studies, a nearby, elite K-8 magnet school on Calhoun Street.
Plans for the future of both schools changed numerous times since the board unveiled its original recommendations, sparking concerns and frustration from some parents. Ultimately, the board settled on transitioning Memminger into a countywide International Baccalaureate school with an advanced academic component. Students will be able to matriculate directly to Buist Academy in third grade if they meet certain eligibility criteria.
Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait is expected to present a draft of the new Buist criteria during Wednesday's rescheduled meeting. She's also set to give an update on the school district's plans for fall reopening.
The board is also set to vote on the second reading of the proposed fiscal year 2020-21 district budget Wednesday. The meeting will be held via Zoom and will be livestreamed on the district's YouTube channel. If there are more technical difficulties, it will be streamed on the district's Facebook page.
Syracuse, N.Y. A Syracuse activist and campaign season mainstay has secured enough support to run for president as the Green Partys candidate.
Howie Hawkins locked up enough Green Party delegates over the weekend to represent the party in Novembers election.
His running mate is Angela Walker, an activist from Wisconsin who previously ran for vice president with the Socialist Party USA.
Mounting unnecessary deaths from Covid-19 and the uprising against racism have revealed how the two governing parties are presiding over a failed state, Hawkins said in a press release. The Green Party is the alternative: Medicare for All, the full-strength Green New Deal, an Economic Bill of Rights, and ending militarized policing at home and abroad.
Hawkins will appear on presidential ballots in at least 25 states in November. Hell be on the ballot in New York, where the Green Party has established a ballot line thanks to Hawkins 2018 gubernatorial turnout.
The Green Party is seeking ballot access in every state.
Hawkins, 67, has run for office 24 times before this race. Hes sought office at every level of government, including bids for New York governor, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and campaigns for Syracuse mayor, common councilor and auditor. He has never won.
In previous races, Hawkins has said hes run to bring awareness to issues by forcing his opponents to debate and consider them. Hes been an outspoken advocate for the Green New Deal in his bid for the presidency. He is also advocating for a more progressive tax system and cuts to military spending.
Hawkins was born in California. He has lived Vermont and New Hampshire where he worked in logging and construction.
He moved to Syracuse in 1991 and lives on the South Side. He worked the overnight shift at UPS before retiring several years ago. He was a member of the Teamsters local 317 union.
Hawkins was a founding member of the Green Party.
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The Report Commercial Kitchen Appliances Market [By Product (Cooking Appliances, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Others); By Fuel Type (Cooking Gas, Electricity, Others); By End-User (Full Service Restaurants, Quick Service Restaurants, Hotels and Resorts, Commercial Kitchens, College and University Kitchens, Others); By Structure (Built-in, Free Stand); By Region]: Market size & Forecast, 2017 2026 According to a new study published by Polaris Market Research the worldwide commercial kitchen appliances market is anticipated to reach USD 138.5 billion by 2026. In 2017, the refrigerator segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.
The significant increase in food establishments, and the growing tourism industry are the major factors driving the growth of this market. The changing lifestyles and hectic schedules of the working professionals are leading to higher instances of dining at restaurants and other food establishments. Rising disposable income is one of the factors responsible for the growth of the market.
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Restaurants are increasingly adopting technologically advanced kitchen appliances to simplify kitchen activities and offer enhanced services to consumers. Restaurant businesses prefer compact and space efficient appliances, which encourages market players to launch new products in the global market. Increasing spending on the hospitality sector, and tourism activities encourage restaurant owners to improve their infrastructure and offer enhanced services. The market is also driven by increasing need to use kitchen appliances that consume less energy and provide faster kitchen services. Growing concerns regarding environment and increasing adoption of energy efficient kitchen appliances are expected to offer numerous growth opportunities in the future. However, high costs associated with commercial kitchen appliances, high installation prices, and strict regulations on production of commercial cooking appliances restrict the growth of the market.
Increasing disposable income coupled with rise in number of working class population has changed the lifestyle pattern of consumers. The commercial kitchen appliances market has witnessed considerable growth in the recent years due to improved lifestyle, changing consumption patterns of people and rising number of social events. The disposable income of people in the developing countries has increased owing to the improving economic conditions in these regions. High disposable income increases the spending capacity of consumers encouraging them to dine at restaurants and attend social events. These factors support the growth of the global commercial kitchen appliances market.
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North America generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The high living standards along with high disposable income in the region drive the market growth. Other factors supporting market growth in North America include different eating habits, increasing popularity of different cuisines, and a multi-cultural environment. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period owing to the increasing population and improving living standards.
The different types of commercial kitchen appliances include cooking appliances, refrigerators, dishwashers, and others. In 2017, refrigerators accounted for the highest market share owing to increasing need to conserve edible items at a range of different temperatures. Restaurants are increasingly adopting technologically advanced refrigerators to meet high storage demands and to offer fresh & high quality food. Food establishments are also inclined towards using energy efficient refrigerators owing to growing environmental concerns.
The well-known companies profiled in the report include Meiko International, AB Electrolux, Hobart Corporation, Fujimak Corporation, Duke Manufacturing Co. Inc., Ali Group Company, Hoshizaki Corporation, Fagor Industrial, Rational AG, Carrier Corporation among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.
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Commercial Kitchen Appliances Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Product Cooking Appliances Refrigerator Dishwasher Others
Commercial Kitchen Appliances Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Fuel Type Cooking Gas Electricity Others
Commercial Kitchen Appliances Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by End-Users Full Service Restaurants Quick Service Restaurants Hotels and Resorts Corporate Kitchens College and University Kitchens Others
Commercial Kitchen Appliances Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Structure Free Stand Built-in
Commercial Kitchen Appliances Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Region North America US. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa
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About Polaris Market Research
Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world.
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HOME Manchester has announced plans to reopen its building from September.
While theatres themselves are able to reopen in July (though cannot to perform live productions, according to announcements today), the venue intends for its "cinemas, bars and restaurant to open first" on 4 September, "followed by the gallery and theatre spaces" at a later date.
The two-month delay, HOME has explained, is because of "the time it will take to make the adjustments to the building", and it will also allow the building "to speak to audiences about how they can be involved in our plans". As the venue does not often screen blockbuster films, HOME believes it is less necessary for it to open during the summer blockbuster season.
The venue has announced plans to make performances possible. "It will be a huge challenge for all venues to get their theatre and live art programmes back up and running as social distancing makes rehearsals and pre-production difficult. Reduced capacity means we will be opening T1 earlier than T2.
"We're working with specialists to redesign the space with social distancing measures in mind. We're determined to provide a live performance offer as soon as possible, but we won't be planning large-scale productions in the immediate future, and many of the touring shows for Autumn have been postponed."
Shows are expected to be announced for the autumn though may have limited audience capacities in a similar way to their cinema screenings. The theatre is also hoping to welcome back artists to research and develop projects from September.
Feedback from Quebec -based employees through the Trust Index survey contributed to the certification
High employee satisfaction with the Novartis programs and practices are key components of this year's ranking
DORVAL, QC, June 23, 2020 /CNW/ - Novartis in Canada has been named to the list of Best Workplaces in Quebec for the second consecutive year. This distinction follows the company's certification as a nationally ranked Great Place to Work. This ranking was made possible thanks to the feedback from Quebec-based employees across the Novartis businesses including the Innovative Medicines Division (Pharmaceuticals and Oncology business units), as well as Sandoz Canada. The survey gathered employee opinion on the programs and practices that they feel makes their workplace unique.
"Earning a coveted spot on this list for a second year in a row is a testament to the shift in culture to one that is inspired, curious and unbossed and unleashes the power of our people. Being recognized by the Great Place to Work Institute is an honour for Novartis. I am most proud of the fact that our associates feel their contribution to reimagining medicines for Canadian patients is valued and that the investment in our employees is appreciated by them," said Christian Macher, Country President, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. "Novartis is represented across this great country with the majority of associates based in Quebec and is why being named to the list in Quebec speaks highly about our workplace excellence to our reputation as an organization."
The Novartis team in Canada is motivated to deliver on the company's commitment to patients. Associates know Canadians are counting on Novartis to continue to provide the medicines they need to stay as healthy as possible and to treat serious conditions they live with. The dedication of Novartis associates is characterized by the values of the organization. At this unprecedented time when patients are counting on Novartis more than ever, the high level of engagement and flexibility of associates is clearly evident.
The team consists of approximately 1,500 associates, more than two thirds of which are based in Quebec where Novartis in Canada is headquartered. Novartis is powered by innovation and aims to foster creative thinking to help deliver on the company's purpose of improving and extending people's lives.
Organizations who are included on the Best Workplaces in Quebec list are determined based on the overall Trust Index score from employees working in the province. They must be Great Place to Work Certified in the past year, be headquartered in Quebec, be working towards building a great workplace culture and have at least 10 employees working in the province that participated in the survey.
About Great Place to Work
Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, GPTW recognizes the world's Best Workplaces in a series of national lists including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (USA). Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. Visit us at www.greatplacetowork.ca or find us on Twitter at @GPTW_Canada.
About Novartis in Canada
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., a leader in the healthcare field, is committed to the discovery, development and marketing of innovative products to improve the well-being of all Canadians. In 2019, the company invested $51.8 million in research and development in Canada. Located in Dorval, Quebec, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs approximately 1,500 people in Canada and is an affiliate of Novartis AG, which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. For further information, please consult www.novartis.ca.
About Sandoz in Canada
Sandoz Canada Inc. is part of Sandoz International GmbH, a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars and a pioneer in the emerging field of prescription digital therapeutics, and a division of Swiss multinational Novartis AG. A leader in its field, Sandoz in Canada, manufactures, markets and distributes a broad line of generic, biosimilar and specialty products. For more information, visit www.sandoz.ca.
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sandoz-canada/
About Novartis globally
Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach more than 750 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 109,000 people of more than 145 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at www.novartis.com.
SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
For further information: Novartis Media Relations, Stephanie Weinstein, Novartis Corporate Communications, +1 514 633 7873, E-mail: [email protected]
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The generation of devoted viewers who watched the weekly courtroom drama Perry Mason in the 1950s and 60s might not not recognize the new and reimagined Perry Mason in HBOs upcoming series of the same name. Gone is actor Raymond Burrs beloved criminal defense lawyer, whose commanding courtroom presence is legendary. This versions Mason (played by Golden Globe winner Matthew Rhys of The Americans) is a divorced, disheveled, and down-on-his-luck private investigator prone to alcohol and World War I flashbacks. Together with familiar characters Paul Drake and Della Street (who also undergo character transformations), Mason investigates the sensational case of the decade: a child kidnapping.
Photo: Merrick Morton/HBO
The reboot is set in Depression-era Los Angeles in 1932, and the City of Angels faces the boom of the oil and film industries, as well as a Christian revival headed by Sister Alice of the Radiant Assembly of God (Tatiana Maslany) that plays a large part of the backdrop. Creating the varied and complex worlds fell to production designer John P. Goldsmith, who found inspiration from the 1974 neo-noir Oscar-winning classic Chinatown. Director Tim Van Patten hosted a screening for the department heads, and there was a kind of ethos about Los Angeles then and Los Angeles in 2020. You can find the bones of things in 20s and 30s architecture, but the city is completely modernized with streets, buses, and cars, and you have to edit it all out and strip things down. We saw how they did that in Chinatown, he says.
Photo: Merrick Morton/HBO
For Goldsmith, designing the various key setsfrom a Streamline Moderneinfluenced courtroom and luxurious Hancock Park interiors to the dark underbelly of the citybecame an exercise in class distinctions. The houses represented a broad range of contrasts, says the designer, and we quickly developed housing typologies to show upper, middle, and working classes. The sets included locations in a 40-mile radius from Thousand Oaks, San Pedro, and Pasadena to Hancock Park and downtown Los Angeles. We had 136 locations and 24 stage builds, such as the courtroom, Masons farmhouse, the morgue, the jail, the Radiant Assembly Church, and various Hollywood apartments and estates that ranged from Spanish Colonial and Tudor to traditional and Art Deco, says Goldsmith. The films color palette and tone are influenced by Los Angeles artists of the period such as Thomas Hart Benton, Emil Kosa Jr., Millard Sheets, and Maynard Dixon.
Story continues
Of course, no Perry Mason episode would be complete without a courtroom set. Researching various halls of justice across the world, Goldsmith found inspiration with the architecture of Los Angeles City Hall and with Blenheim Palace in London, a 1930s palatial residence. Tim and I talked about the advancement of modernity and its progression, and how it was expressed in the courtroom. It shouldnt feel typically traditional and needed to reflect the modernity that was coming, he details. Emmy Awardwinning set decorator Halina Siwolop (Masters of Sex) created the decor for the courtroom, built on a soundstage. Of particular interest is a hand-painted frieze on the ceiling that provides a contrast against the dark wood benches and wall panels. It was guided by Johns vision and harkens back to the teens and 20s, and a moment to represent something more in line with WPA design, Siwolop says.
Photo: Merrick Morton/HBO
The landmark Angels Flight railway, an 118-year-old funicular transporting passengers up to the Bunker Hill neighborhood, is another pivotal set. Goldsmith and his team replaced the ads on the cars with period placards and built the nearby drugstore via special effects. (Coincidentally, the railway was used in a 1966 episode of Perry Mason.)
Photo: Merrick Morton/HBO
The set decor proves that beauty is in the details, and character clues are abundant. Attorney E.B. Jonathans (John Lithgow) Hancock Park Tudor estate tells the backstory of a man whose wife left him, and whose finances were dwindling. Since the character came from San Francisco with his wife, I wanted something Tudor as it was familiar, and he would have gone that route. He is down on his luck, running on fumes, and the house had to show that. Downstairs, the rooms are all dressed, but upstairs, it is empty, as if he had to sell off his furniture," says Goldsmith.
Photo: Merrick Morton/HBO
See the video.
Siwolop shopped on Etsy, eBay, Craigslist, and at the antique markets in Whittier and Pomona, California, for the sets period pieces, and her favorite set was Sister Alices bedroom. That room in the McKeegan Mansion set features a charming canopied bed that was chosen for its angelic quality, denoting the bedroom of a little girl who is still looked after by her overbearing mother. The color red and Spanish-style furniture are the main components of the downstairs decor, as it reminded the set decorator of a church interior.
Photo: Merrick Morton/HBO
The shows design is a lesson in history that pays homage to Los Angeless past. As Siwolop concludes, What I love about L.A. are these architectural gems that you have to scratch the surface and dig to find. It gave me an appreciation for the history of the city that most people dont know about.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
ORLANDO, Fla. - A Florida tax collector created fake social media accounts that falsely suggested a political opponent favoured white supremacy and had engaged in sexual misconduct with a student at a school where he teaches, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg faces federal counts of stalking and unlawful use of the identity of another person, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Orlando.
The indictment said Greenberg mailed fake letters to his opponents school signed by a nonexistent very concerned student who alleged the opponent had engaged in sexual misconduct with another student.
Greenberg, 35, also used his opponents name and photo to create a fake Twitter account on which he posted statements in favour of white supremacy, the indictment said. It also alleges that he created a fake Facebook account in which he posed as a very concerned teacher who repeated the allegation about sexual misconduct with the student.
Theres probably no more terrible thing you can do than accuse someone who works at a school of sexual misconduct, Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg said at a hearing Tuesday, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Prosecutors didnt name Greenbergs opponent in court filings or during a hearing, but Greenbergs defence lawyer confirmed in court that the person is running against him in the Republican primary.
Greenberg was released from federal custody shortly after the hearing. Defence attorney Vincent Citro said Greenberg denies the charges.
We look forward to going to trial. The government will not be able to prove its case, Citro said. They made a federal case out of misusing Twitter and this case doesnt belong in federal court.
Greenberg was criticized by Muslim leaders and Democrats in 2018 when he posted on his personal Facebook page, Very simple question...Name just ONE society in the developed world that has benefited in ANY WAY from the introduction of more Muslims. Just one. Asking for a friend. At the time, Greenberg said he was asking the question on behalf of radio host Neil Boortz, who had posted a similar question.
Greenberg was elected to office in the Orlando suburb in 2016.
New Delhi, June 23 : A week after the Chinese aggression led to the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in a face-off in Ladakh, India on Tuesday subtly nudged China, saying that the leaders of the world must be exemplars on all fronts.
In a first on-screen face-to-face virtual meeting with his counterparts in China and Russia, Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar said: "The leading voices of the world must be exemplars in every way. Respecting international law, recognising legitimate interest of partners, supporting multilateralism and promoting common good is the only way to build a durable world order." Jaishankar was speaking at the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting among Russia, India and China (RIC), hosted by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Though the meeting has been called to mark the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of the World War II and the victory of allies over the Nazi Germany, the RIC is considered to be a platform for strategic communication during crisis among the three countries. Moscow, which shares a great rapport with the Chinese Communist Party regime, is broadly seen as a mediator between New Delhi and Beijing.
The trilateral meeting follows the recently held hostile phone conversation between Jaishankar and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi over the violent face-off initiated by People's Liberation Army (PLA) along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh's Galwan valley.
"This special meeting reiterates our belief in the time-tested principles of international relation," Jaishankar said in his opening remarks. "But the challenge today is not just one of concepts and norms, but equally of their practice," he added.
Recalling history, Jaishankar said the victory over Nazism and Fascism was achieved through sacrifices across many theatres by many countries including India which made a significant contribution, with 2.3 million of its citizens under arms and 14 million more participating in war production.
Indian blood was shed at the battlefields of the world, from Tobruk, El Alamein and Montecassino, to Singapore, Kohima and Borneo. The minister said India helped keep key supply lines open to both Russia and China, one through the Persian corridor and the other over the Himalayan hump. If Indian personnel were conferred the Order of the Red Star, the medical mission led by Dr.Kotnis was a legend in China. "So tomorrow, when our military contingent marches through the Red Square, it would be an affirmation of the difference that we made," the minister said.
When the victors met to fashion the ensuing global order, the political circumstances of that era did not give India due recognition. This historical injustice has stood uncorrected for the last 75 years, even as the world has changed, the minister said. "Therefore, on this momentous occasion, it is important for the world to realize both the contribution that India made and the need to rectify the past," he added, The External Affairs Minister reiterated the need for reforms in international institutions. "The United Nations began with 50 members; today it has 193. Surely, its decision making cannot continue to be in denial of this fact. We, the RIC countries, have been active participants in shaping the global agenda. It is India's hope that we will also now converge on the value of reformed multilateralism," he said.
The three RIC ministers are likely to discuss the current global situation due to the coronavirus pandemic and other challenges and the possibility of the RIC cooperation in overcoming them.
Indian, Chinese top military commanders hold talks after deadly border confrontation
Iran Press TV
Monday, 22 June 2020 10:47 AM
Top military commanders of India and China have held a second round of talks amid rising tensions at their contested border.
Commanders from both sides met on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in the disputed Aksai Chin-Ladakh border area on Monday, Reuters reported citing an Indian government source.
The first meeting, attended by lower ranking officers, was held last Thursday, in the wake of deadly clashes that had occurred on Monday.
Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the fighting in the Galwan Valley, a precipitous and rocky border area that lies between China's Tibet and India's Ladakh regions last week. There were no confirmed reports of Chinese casualties. Each side blamed the other for the incident.
That was the first such deadly fighting on the disputed border since 1967.
The governments of the two nuclear armed powers are now seeking to avoid any escalation that could risk further conflict between them.
The Indian Foreign Ministry accused Beijing of having "pre-meditated and planned" the fighting.
China, however, said Indian troops had violated a military agreement, and attacked its troops in the Galwan valley in Ladakh.
Renewed tensions have fanned anti-Chinese sentiment in the capital New Delhi, with an Indian confederation of companies demanding a boycott of Chinese products.
Indians shout slogans from a police vehicle after being detained by the police during a protest against China, in Kolkata, June 20, 2020. (Photo by Reuters)
Members of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) set alight a pile of Chinese goods at a New Delhi market.
China is India's second-biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $87 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2019.
This has prompted the Chinese media to call on Indians "to cool down."
China's official newspaper, the Global Times said that the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) "is 5 times that of India, military spending 3 times."
The two Asian powerhouses have been in a long-time dispute over the Line of Actual Control frontier that divides their long joint border. They have also fought a brief war back in 1962.
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By John Irish and Marine Pennetier
PARIS (Reuters) - France will not tolerate Turkey's military intervention in Libya, President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, accusing Ankara of playing "a dangerous game".
Turkey has intervened decisively in recent weeks in Libya, providing air support, weapons and allied fighters from Syria to help the government based in Tripoli repel a year-long assault by eastern military leader Khalifa Haftar.
"I have already had the opportunity to say very clearly to President (Tayyip) Erdogan, I consider that Turkey is playing a dangerous game in Libya today and going against all of its commitments made at the Berlin conference," Macron said alongside his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied, referring to a peace meeting earlier this year.
"We won't tolerate the role that Turkey is playing in Libya," he said.
Turkey's help appears to have secured Libya's capital and the west of the country for the Tripoli government against Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), which is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia.
Paris has been accused of supporting Haftar politically, having previously given him military assistance to fight Islamist militants. France denies backing Haftar but has stopped short of rebuking his allies, while repeatedly criticising Turkey.
Macron, who spoke earlier on Monday by phone to U.S. President Donald Trump on the crisis in Libya, briefly condemned the role of Russian mercenaries in Libya, but focused mostly on Ankara's role.
When asked about Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi suggesting he had a right to intervene in Libya, Macron said the Egyptian leader had reason to be worried.
"You noted the legitimate concern of President Sisi when he sees troops arriving at his border," Macron said. Turkish-backed forces are not known to be operating near Egypt's border.
"This is a Mediterranean subject that affects us because today from Libya each day men and women are fleeing misery to come to Europe. Do you think we can let Turkey for a long time import Syrian fighters to Libya given everything we know?"
(Reporting by John Irish and Marine Pennetier; Editing by Leslie Adler and Peter Graff)
[June 23, 2020] WIRECARD LOSSES ALERT: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Announces an Investigation of Wirecard AG
Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, is investigating potential securities fraud claims on behalf of shareholders of Wirecard AG. ("Wirecard" or the "Company") (OTC: WCAGY, WRCDF) resulting from allegations that Wirecard might have issued misleading information to the investing public. If you purchased Wirecard securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Wirecard Shareholder Investigation or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or [email protected]. On June 18, 2020, MarketWatch reported to the market that Ernst & Young, Wirecard's auditor, said it did not have sufficient evidence for approximatey 1.9 billion euros. Wirecard stated: "there are indications that spurious balance confirmations had been provided from the side of the trustee."
Following this news, Wirecard stock dropped over 63% on June 18, 2020, to close at $20.20 per share. If you purchased Wirecard securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit https://www.bernlieb.com/cases/wirecardag-wcagy-wrcdf-shareholder-class-action-lawsuit-fraud-stock-202/apply/ or contact Matthew E. Guarnero toll free at (877) 779-1414 or [email protected].
Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. 2020 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Michael S. Bigin. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005894/en/
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FROM THE new Eurostat statistics on the actual spending by individuals in European countries, one can conclude that the actual purchasing power of an average Romanian is by a fifth higher than the purchasing power of an average Croat.
According to Eurostat data, the purchasing power of Croatian citizens amounted to only 66 percent of the average EU purchasing power last year. In other words, it was lower than the purchasing power of an average EU resident by a third. When we compare our level of spending with, for example, Germany, it is evident that an average German has almost twice as much purchasing power as an average Croat. Compared to the spending by an average citizen of Luxembourg, the richest member of the EU, Croats have half their purchasing power.
We were surpassed by all the new EU members except Bulgaria
It makes no sense to draw a comparison between Croatia and developed western countries since it is clear that Croatia is light years away from their level. However, as Zeljko Lovrincevic from the Zagreb Institute of Economics points out, Croatia was also surpassed by all the new transition EU members in terms of per capita spending, except Bulgaria, which ranked last in the EU in terms of actual personal spending.
Too many levies are Croatia's main problem
"The Eurostat data show that Croatia is falling behind other new EU members. Croatia has low labor productivity, and it lacks industry and technology, as well as foreign investments. All we have is rent money, which we exploit three months a year, and that is not enough to make progress." Lovrincevic explains for Index.
He also warns that other Eastern European EU members have increased wages much more than Croatia has in recent years, both in the public and private sectors, with the aim of stopping the population outflow to more developed EU members. Croatia also has too many levies, particularly regarding contributions and taxes - VAT and excise duties, and especially in the area of parafiscal charges.
Lovrincevic: The new government should set a goal of catching up to Romania
"There will be no breakthroughs with this economic structure. The new government should set a goal of catching up to Romania. It may sound blasphemous, but that is our reality now," Lovrincevic says.
Zeljko Lovrincevic
What do the new data show?
Still, the data published by EU statisticians show that Croatia made some progress on the EU scale in terms of the citizens' living standard last year. For example, in 2018, the actual purchasing power of Croats amounted to 63 percent of the average purchasing power of EU residents. However, two important factors need to be considered here.
Firstly, other eastern EU countries have been developing faster than Croatia, and secondly, the EU average in 2018 included the rich UK, which was excluded from the Eurostat data for last year, which now account for 27 EU members. Brexit thus lowered the EU average, which is why Croatia and other countries statistically show accelerated growth of their living standard.
However, Croatia remains at the bottom of the EU scale in terms of the purchasing power of its population, and is roughly at the same level as Hungary, with only Bulgaria behind. The purchasing power of an average Slovene, for example, is approximately a quarter higher than the purchasing power of the average Croat, while the purchasing power of an average Slovak is ten percent higher than the purchasing power of an average Croat. It should be noted that the difference between prices and wages varies from one EU member to another, but the Eurostat statistics eliminate those differences by expressing data in purchasing power parity.
Croats still have a higher purchasing power than the citizens of neighboring countries, but Croatia was surpassed by Turkey
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Croats at least have a higher purchasing power than their southeastern neighbors. The average actual spending per capita in Serbia has not yet reached even half of the EU average, which means that the purchasing power in Croatia is higher than the one in Serbia by about a third.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked even lower: its average per capita spending amounts to only 42 percent of the Union's average, making it one of the poorest countries on the Old Continent, and the purchasing power of its citizens is much lower than that of Croatian citizens. However, Montenegro has significantly improved, and the purchasing power per capita amounted to 60 percent of the EU average last year, which means that Montenegrins are no longer far behind Croats in terms of their living standard.
Croatia was surpassed by Turkey when it comes to living standards. The purchasing power of an average Turkish citizen amounted to 68 percent of the EU average last year, which is more than the average purchasing power of a Croatian citizen.
Novotny: Croatia has a strong gray economy, which is not recorded in the official statistics
Still, some economists warn that Eurostat data do not reflect the real situation pertaining to the spending by Croatian citizens. According to Damir Novotny, an economic analyst, these data are based on official statistics that do not include Croatia's traditionally strong gray economy. Data regarding the extent of the gray economy in Croatia vary, and some earlier research has shown that as much as a third of the economic activity in Croatia takes place outside the reach of the tax system.
"Croatia has a strong gray economy. It is possible that a third of all transactions take place in the gray zone. We don't know how much we actually spend because statistics do not record the gray economy," Novotny told Index.
Damir Novotny
Novotny gives examples of the renting of apartments and flats, the sale of cigarettes, and agriculture as areas in which the gray economy in Croatia is most common. One of the main reasons for this gray economy is the high tax burden.
"In our country, people often buy a new car or tractor without paying taxes at all. Only property taxes would show what the actual purchasing power of Croatian households is," Novotny notes.
Political parties do not offer beneficial reforms
Nevertheless, Croatia is at the bottom of the EU scale in terms of its purchasing power, and many Croatian households are barely making ends meet. Reforms are needed in order to strengthen the economy and achieve higher wages, but every Croatian government so far has avoided them, as such reforms do not appeal to the voters.
"Political parties offer the expansion of certain rights in their election programs, while at the same time not dealing with key reforms," Lovrincevic concluded.
What awaits the new government?
It is uncertain what the living standard of Croatian citizens will be like this year. The corona crisis has already hit Croatia hard, and economists say the crisis will certainly be greater than in, for example, Romania, as Croatia is heavily dependent on tourism and other services.
Therefore, the new government will have two tasks: on the one hand, it will have to deal with the consequences of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and on the other hand, it will have to try to catch up to more developed new EU members, including Romania.
House Democrats are preparing to subpoena Attorney General Bill Barr to testify on the firing of a top Manhattan federal prosecutor and other matters as part of their probe of what they call political actions by the Justice Department.
'We have begun the process to issue that subpoena. It is very much true. We are doing that,' House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow late Monday night.
He also admitted he was worried Barr would try to defy the subpoena - a route several current and former members of the administration took during the impeachment investigation.
The committee will seek to bring Barr before them on July 2. The attorney general was scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on March 31 - on matters related to the prosecution of Roger Stone - but that hearing was postponed by the coronavirus pandemic.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said his panel is preparing to subpoena Attorney General Bill Barr to testify before Congress
House Democrats have been investigating Attorney General Bill Barr for what they call the 'politicalization' of the Justice Department
Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, was fired on Saturday, two days after he refused to sign a Department of Justice letter critical of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio
Republicans objected. Rep. Jim Jordan, a close ally of President Donald Trump, wrote to Nadler to say Barr was willing to testify once the pandemic was over.
'Attorney General Barr remains willing to testify voluntarily once the pandemic concludes,' Jordan wrote. 'Accordingly, there is no legitimate basis for you to compel his testimony at this time.'
Nadler and his committee have been investigating what they call Barr's 'politicization' of the Justice Department.
Now House Democrats want to hear about the firing of Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who had been investigating Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. Berman and his team also were investigating Florida businessmen, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who were associates of Giuliani and tied to the Ukraine impeachment investigation. And it was Berman's office that prosecuted former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen.
Barr announced his firing Friday night only to have Berman dispute the matter. Then Barr sent a letter to Berman on Saturday saying that Trump had fired him, which Berman accepted after it was agreed that Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss will be Berman's acting successor. She is expected to continue the investigations.
Nadler said over the weekend his committee expects to hear testimony from Berman.
'We've seen a pattern of...Barr corruptly impeding all these investigations, so this is just more of the same,' the New York Democrat told CNN's 'State of the Union' on Sunday.
He also said Barr deserves to be impeached but it would be a 'waste of time' because of the Republican-controlled Senate, the same body that found President Trump not guilty on two impeachment charges.
Last week Nadler issued subpoenas last week for Justice Department officials Aaron Zelinsky and John Elias.
Zelinsky worked on the Justice Department team prosecuting Stone, a long time friend of Trump, and he resigned in protest after being forced to seek a lesser sentence for Stone after Trump complained about the prosecution. Zelinsky was also one of special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors.
Elias is the acting chief of staff of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division.
The two men are scheduled to testify on June 24.
Lev Parnas, Igor Fruman and David Correia with Rudy Giuliani in the Trump Hotel Washington D.C. Parnas, Forman and Giuliani are all being investigated by the top federal prosecutor in New York, whom Barr fired
House Democrats are investigating Barr's Justice Department; last week they subpoenaed Justice Department officials Aaron Zelinsky (left) and John Elias (right)
Berman was fired two days after he refused to sign a Department of Justice letter critical of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for enforcing coronavirus lockdown rules that barred religious gatherings, but allowed 'Black Lives Matter' protests to occur.
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that New York's top federal prosecutor had objected to sending the letter Thursday, fearing it would strain relations between his office and the city.
On Friday, Attorney General Bill Barr abuptly announced plans to replace Berman, whose office was investigating President Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
It was unclear what role, if any, the letter incident played into Barr's decision to remove Berman, The Journal said, though two sources told the newspaper that Berman's refusal aggravated Barr, who already viewed Berman as someone who was difficult to work with.
Berman didn't go quietly on Friday when Barr sent out a press release saying Berman was 'stepping down,' in order to clear the way for U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton to take the top SDNY role.
Berman issued his own press release saying he refused to resign.
Only after Barr backtracked from his plan to handpick the acting U.S. attorney, allowing Berman's deputy Audrey Strauss to take the reins, did Berman agree to step down Saturday.
At Monday's White House press briefing, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president was only involved in Berman's firing in a 'sign-off capacity.'
Trump confused the issue when he told reporters that Berman's firing was up to Barr. 'I'm not involved,' he said.
McEnany said Barr consulted the president on the issue.
'Barr was working on a smooth transition and when Berman chose to respond in the way that he did [Barr] came to the president and the president agreed and fired this individual, Mr. Berman,' she told reporters.
She argued that the decision was more about keeping Clayton in government than getting rid of Berman, though didn't give an explanation for why Berman couldn't stay on while Clayton goes through his Senate confirmation.
Justice Department officials wanted Geoffrey Berman to sign on to a letter that criticized Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured) for enforcing lockdown rules that barred religious gatherings, but allowed 'Black Lives Matter' protests to take place
A copy of the letter Berman refused to sign was made public by the Department of Justice Monday evening.
The letter, written to de Blasio on Friday and signed by Eric Dreiband, the assistant attorney general for the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, blasted the mayor for treating religious gatherings and 'Black Lives Matter' protests differently.
'In light of your support for and participation in recent protests in New York City, the message to the public from New York Citys government appears to favor certain secular gatherings and disfavor religious gatherings,' the letter read.
Democrats have criticized the administration's handling of Berman's removal.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer shared a letter Monday that he wrote to the Department of Justice's Inspector General Michael Horowitz and Office of Professional Responsibility head Jeffrey Ragsdale asking for a joint probe into Berman's ouster.
The top Senate Democrat wrote a letter Monday to'I ask that you review the reason for the removal of the U.S. Attorney Berman and whether he was removed for partisan political purposes, to influence an investigation or prosecution, or to retaliate for his actions in any specific investigation or prosecution,' Schumer wrote in the letter.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, the lead prosecutor in Trump's impeachment, told NBC's 'Meet the Press' the motivation for firing Berman was suspect, 'given the pattern and practice of both the president in seeking to use the justice system to reward friends, punish enemies, protect people he likes, and Bill Barr's willingness to carry that water for the president.'
India should not make the mistake of dismissing the Galwan Valley incident as a patrol clash but should take a firm stand against any Chinese incursion into Indian territory, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Tuesday.
Twenty Indian soldiers, including four from the state, were killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in the valley in eastern Ladakh on June 15.
The Galwan Valley violence is part of a larger design of China, the chief minister said, adding that the amount of build-up in the valley showed that the Chinese were working on a plan.
"India cannot afford to lose even an inch of its land in the area, which is of huge strategic importance for both sides. We have all seen clashes in our time, with Pakistan and even with the Chinese, and this is definitely not a patrol clash," Singh, a former army captain, said.
Referring to the map of the area, he said that the Chinese had reached half way through to the Siachen Glacier after Pakistan ceded the northern part of the Shaksgam Valley in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 1963. Beyond that there is an area that in any case belongs to China, Singh said, adding that "there is a little gap between the glacier and the Aksai Chin area, which is the Daulat Beg gap, which they (the Chinese) are trying to close."
"We have to take a strong position, and we should be clear that if we lose even an inch of land we must hold them responsible," he said at the Congress Working Committee's (CWC) video conference on Tuesday, which was convened by party president Sonia Gandhi.
The chief minister also cornered the Centre over its support to the state in the fight against COVID-19, saying all that Punjab has received so far from the central government was its own Rs 2,800 crore for the January to March period, and just a few other grants. He said that Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues for April to June were still pending.
Despite repeated pleas and memorandums, no help was forthcoming from the Centre to the state government for tackling the COVID-19 crisis, he said.
The Punjab government was forced to manage on its own to create resources for fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Singh said, adding that he was sure other states were in the same unfortunate position. "Nobody is listening to us", he said.
Singh said that he had to put aside Rs 35 crore to arrange for 500 trains to send 5.63 lakh migrants back to their homes.
An official release quoting the chief minister said that with 2.33 lakh of the total 2.52 lakh industries in Punjab now reopened, migrants are coming back to the state.
Singh said his government was trying its best to get the industry back on track with all possible facilities and easing of norms.
Speaking of the state's economic revival plan, he said the Montek Ahulwalia committee set up to formulate the strategy was sharing its feedback with the Punjab government, which is accordingly charting the way forward.
Briefing the CWC about the COVID-19 situation in the state, Singh said sampling and testing was being continuously enhanced and a micro-containment strategy had been adopted to check the spread of the pandemic.
Tokyo, June 23 : Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Japan on Tuesday commemorated the 75th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, which killed 200,000 people, half of them civilians.
The annual ceremony was held at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman where the Battle of Okinawa between the US and Japan ended in 1945, and only those living in the prefecture were able to attend due to the pandemic, reports Efe news.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the mayors of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and a UN representative were also scheduled to attend the event but restrictions imposed in the country to prevent the spread of COVID-19 meant that they could only be present through video messages sent for the occasion.
The Battle of Okinawa was the only ground invasion of the Japanese mainland by the US during World War II and it took place months before Japan surrendered following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The bloody battle lasted three months and killed one out of every four Okinawa citizens, around 94,000 in total.
Okinawa authorities usually use the anniversary as an opportunity to underscore the burden on the small archipelago, which is home to around 75 per cent of the military facilities in Japan.
Military bases, which occupy one-fifth of the area of the main island, were built on land expropriated during the American occupation, which lasted until 1972, two decades longer than in the rest of the Asian country.
Abe's administration has made plans to relocate one of the biggest US bases in the area to Nago city in Henoko Bay, in a less populated area, but also within Okinawa prefecture.
Okinawa authorities took the case to several courts to try to overturn the project with legal arguments based on on the grounds that it posed a threat to the area's environment and might prove to be detrimental to the local population, but Japan's Supreme Court ruled in Tokyo's favor in 2016.
A majority of citizens of Okinawa are opposed to the relocation of the Futenma base from its present location and have asked that it be moved outside its territory.
The political bloc opposed to the relocation retained a majority in the prefectural assembly elections held earlier this month.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs the regular Government meeting in Hanoi on June 22 (Photo: VNA)
He made the order while presiding over a regular Government meeting in Hanoi on June 22 on the development mechanisms of power sources and networks.
All economic sectors could take part in electricity generation in association with environmental protection, the PM said, with priority being given to renewable energy.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the relevant agencies have been asked to join hands to ensure progress of power projects.
PM Phuc also requested the acceleration of wind, liquefied natural gas and solar power projects in a transparent manner.
The prices of renewable energy have significantly dropped in recent times, raising competitiveness compared to traditional energy sources, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The Union government has demanded clarification from Patanjali Ayurved, the company promoted by Baba Ramdev, over its claim of having developed a cure for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), and asked it to stop advertising the product till the claim is verified.
The company announced its discovery in a press conference and Ramdev, a popular yoga guru, followed it up with a spate of interview to TV channels extolling the benefits of the cure, which, if it holds up to scientific scrutiny , will be the first of its kind in the world.
Facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study are not known to the Ministry Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has been asked to provide at the earliest details of the name and composition of the medicines being claimed for COVID treatment; site(s)/hospital(s), where the research study was conducted for Covid-19; protocol, sample size, Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, Clinical Trials Registry- India registration and results data of the study (ies), said the ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Patanjali, the products have been made in association with privately-owned National Institute of Medical Science, Jaipur. The company also claimed the medicines cleared a clinical trial in several cities including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Meerut and the RCT (Randomized Clinical Trial) controlled with placebo at the Jaipur-based National Institute of Medical Sciences & Research. To be sure, no clinical testing data was released by the company.
The approvals for manufacturing and marketing for the drugs named Coronil and Swasari have likely come from the licensing authority of Uttarakhand government, which is the state licensing authority for Patanjali in Haridwar.
The Centre has asked the Uttarakhand government for details and also ordered Patanjali to stop advertising the products.
and stop advertising/publicizing such claims till the issue is duly examined. Ministry has also requested concerned State Licensing Authority of Uttrakhand Government to provide copies of license and product approval details of the Ayurvedic medicines being claimed for the treatment of COVID -19, the statement further read.
In a press briefing held on Tuesday morning, Ramdev announced that its new drugs Coronil and Swasari will cure Covid-19, and that it has been proved through clinical trials. We conducted a clinical case study and clinical controlled trial, and found 69 per cent patients recovered in three days and 100 patients recovered in seven days, he said.
The Ayush ministry has also warned Patanjali to stop misleading advertising till the results are verified.
The concerned Ayurvedic drug manufacturing company has been informed that such advertisements of drugs including Ayurvedic medicines are regulated under the provisions of Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Rules there under and the directives issued by the Central Government in the wake of COVID outbreak. Ministry had also issued a Gazette Notification dated 21st April, 2020 stating the requirements and the manner the research studies on COVID-19 with Ayush interventions/medicines should be undertaken.
An official in the Ayush ministry, on condition of anonymity said, The central ministry wasnt involved in the process, as health is a state subject the state regulators have the powers to grant approvals. The claim, however, needs to be verified now that it has come to our notice.
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Harvard Pilgrim Health Care announced on Monday that it will be providing $32 million in premium credits to its employer groups and members of its Medicare plan. The credits mark the second round of financial support tied to the coronavirus pandemic.
Harvard Pilgrims commitment to our members, customers, communities and provider partners has never been stronger, Michael Carson, the health insurers president and CEO, said, in a statement. The actions we are announcing today are a continuation of our broad-based COVID-19 support.
The plans first phase of relief include some $40 million in funds to provider organizations across New England, roughly $4 million in community support grants and numerous cost-share waivers for virus testing, treatment and telehealth services, the insurer said.
Todays actions are focused on providing financial relief to our employer groups and members, as well as to further contribute to solutions aimed at addressing the complex health challenges the pandemic has brought to black and brown communities already experiencing significant health disparities and access to care issues, Carson said.
The nonprofit also shared that it will provide $3 million in funds to independent primary care physicians and $3 million for community health centers. Additionally the insurer will waive all primary care and specialty care copays for office visits by Medicare Advantage members through the end of 2020.
Shootings in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood have city officials vowing to retake control of the local police precinct.
Authorities in Seattle, Washington, alarmed by two weekend shootings and a third early Tuesday morning, plan to start dismantling six blocks of streets in a part of the city occupied by activists who are protesting against police brutality and racial inequality across the United States.
A teenager was killed and at least two other people were wounded in the weekend shootings in what is known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) zone. The area has also been referred to as CHAZ, or the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.
People throng the streets of the so-called CHOP zone east of downtown Seattle [Ian Morse/Al Jazeera]
The third shooting happened around 5am on Tuesday in the same neighbourhood east of downtown Seattle. A spokesperson at Harborview Medical Center said the victims wounds were not life-threatening.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said that city authorities were working to bring the CHOP zone to an end and that the Seattle Police Department would soon move back into a precinct building its forces had largely abandoned in the area.
SPD will be returning to the East Precinct. We will do it peacefully and in the near future, Durkan told a news conference on Monday.
Durkan condemned the violence in the area, writing on Twitter that it was unacceptable and that it distracted from the demonstrators stated goals of demanding racial equality and an end to police brutality.
United States President Donald Trump has said the demonstrations in the Seattle protest zone are being run by anarchists, and has sharply criticised leaders in the city and state of Washington for allowing the CHOP zone to persist. He said at a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma that the CHOP incidents are indicative of what radical left Democrats will do to our country.
On Tuesday, Trump vowed to stamp out any protesters seeking to establish a similar so-called autonomous zone in the nations capital, echoing conservative outrage over the prospect of police-free enclaves cropping up in major US cities.
There will never be an Autonomous Zone in Washington, DC, as long as Im your President, Trump wrote on Twitter. If they try they will be met with serious force!
There will never be an Autonomous Zone in Washington, D.C., as long as Im your President. If they try they will be met with serious force! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020
Late on Tuesday, Twitter flagged Trumps tweet as in violation of its policies against abusive behaviour.
During protests in Washington, DC on Monday night, demonstrators spray-painted the phrase BHAZ: Black House Autonomous Zone on a piece of plywood on H Street and on the columns of St Johns Episcopal Church, where the president posed with a Bible earlier this month.
Peace talks rarely produce the desired outcome when parties to a conflict believe they can still, through force, change the situation in their favour.
This was the harsh lesson Algeria learned when it proposed to host Libyas warring sides in January, following what initially appeared to be two promising summits in Moscow and Berlin to de-escalate tensions.
In this case, it was renegade commander Khalifa Haftars decision to resume a nine-month-long offensive on the internationally recognised government in Tripoli that derailed Algiers attempt to resolve one of its most pressing national security threats.
Reluctant giant
A giant in the geographic and perhaps military sense, Algeria has been all too reluctant to assume the role of power-broker that some analysts say its position in the region confers upon it.
For years, the country ruled by a coterie of generals and politicians whose hold on power dates back to the early days of independence from colonial France in the 1960s did not make much noise about its preoccupation with the deteriorating security situation next door.
The impression that it would be content with making sure violence did not spill over into its own territory was reinforced by the serious stroke that Abdelaziz Bouteflika, its leader of some 20 years, suffered to in 2013, rendering him absent from the international political scene.
But there are signs the new administration of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who succeeded Bouteflika in December following months of protest over his controversial bid to seek reelection, is looking to shake things up and most importantly, that developments on the ground this time may be conducive to a permanent settlement.
The move comes as Arab League foreign ministers hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to seek a peaceful way forward in Libya.
Bouteflika continued to rule over Algeria despite suffering a debilitating stroke in 2013 [File: Sidali Djarboub/AP]
Amid a counteroffensive that has seen forces loyal to the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA) retake much of western Libya, Tebboune reiterated his countrys readiness to mediate between the warring parties.
With regards to the ebb and flow in Libya, our fundamental principle, which weve clearly outlined, is that the resolution of the conflict cannot be military, Tebboune told a news conference earlier this month.
World powers agree with our plan and its approach.
Credible mediator
By the time Haftar launched his offensive in April 2019, Algiers was already bogged down in a months-long political crisis that even Bouteflikas departure seemed unable to end.
And though the domestic crisis was a factor in Algerias slow reaction to the unfolding chaos in Libya, it was ultimately the investment of a multitude of foreign actors in Haftars campaign that proved to be the final blow to peace talks in the North African country, according to Cherif Dris, a political science professor at the Algiers School of Journalism.
The involvement of several outside powers in the Libyan conflict had complicated Algerias ability to impose itself, which, to begin with, was already compromised by the absence of a head of state, Dris said.
The intervention of the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt on the side of Haftar and Turkeys backing of the GNA have prolonged the conflict and thwarted the UNs peace efforts.
Its strict military doctrine of non-intervention outside its borders and aversion to foreign presence in the region further complicated Algiers diplomatic efforts.
The limits of Algerias diplomacy-only approach was highlighted in January when Tebboune declared Tripoli a red line that no one should cross.
The call, which had come just weeks after Haftar announced an umpteenth zero hour to take over the city, hardly impacted local and foreign actors calculations as arms shipments continued to pour into the war-torn country in violation of a 2011 UN arms embargo.
Still, Algerias commitment to neutrality while nominally recognising the GNA as Libyas legitimate government has been impressive.
Not even Haftars threat to wage war on it provoked a reaction, with senior officials maintaining cordial ties with eastern Libya and Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum visiting the Ajdabiya native Haftar, whom Algiers recognises as a key stakeholder, in his bastion city of Benghazi.
For Hasni Abidi, director of Geneva-based think-tank CERMAM, this makes Algiers a particularly attractive venue for the belligerents.
Tebbounes hosting of both Aguila Saleh, speaker of the eastern-based House of Representatives and an ally of Haftar, and GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj this past week was again demonstrative of the countrys willingness to remain equidistant from both.
In contrast, the GNA refused to attend an Arab League video conference called for by Egypt, whose recent offer to broker a ceasefire it rejected. On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said his military may intervene if Turkish-backed GNA forces continue to try and capture the strategic Libyan city of Sirte currently held by Haftar.
Any Egyptian attempt at mediation will be criticised by political actors in the west because Cairo is seen as part of the problem and not a solution, Abidi said.
Just as important in Abidis estimation, however, is the great lengths that Algiers has gone to to court not only Libyas political leaders but also tribal and civil society actors from across the geographic and political spectrum.
Algerias proposal does not date back to the Berlin conference. Its mediation efforts go back to 2014 when, under the UNs auspices, Algiers hosted meetings that included notables and tribal chiefs to give popular legitimacy to any political agreement, Abidi said.
This is because Algiers believes that diplomatic action alone will not suffice in ending the Libyan crisis, and an intra-Libyan dialogue is needed, according to Abidi.
The burden of securing the border
The global economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic is another important factor that helps explain oil-rich Algerias eagerness to see an end to the conflict.
By the presidents own admission, securing the countrys border with Libya, which stretches along some 1,000km (600 miles) of arid, sparsely populated desert, is becoming increasingly costly.
Algerias national interest is that there be peace at our border. If not, weve got to arm ourselves, Tebboune explained.
Tebboune said there was no question about where his priorities lie and that between mobilising troops and investing in the economy, he would rather create jobs for the countrys youth.
According to the local El Watan newspaper, it costs Algeria about $500m a year to secure its border with Libya.
Though that sum constitutes a mere 5 percent of Algerias $10bn military budget, it would go a long way to making up for the shortfall in oil revenues, the countrys single most important source of income.
If you have a dart blaster, youre probably bouncing those little foam darts off just about anything. Set up this digital target in your backyard or driveway to stay far from breakable objects inside the house. The target has three game modes and can be set for one or two players. Hit some or all of the seven small targets in 60 seconds to earn points that appear on the battery-powered digital display. Most kids will need practice to improve their aim, something that may help save your parents collectibles.
- Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, once reportedly valued at $40 billion, has 500 Rolls-Royce and holds the Guinness World record for the person with the largest purchase of the vehicle
- The sultan also built a 1,788-room palace, which was designed by Architect Leandro Locsin and held a record
- Bolkiah reportedly spent $20,000 to get a single hair cut among his many other lifestyles
- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in
The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is one of the richest religious monarchs in the world. According to Insider, he was once worth $40 billion.
Some of his lavish lifestyles include reportedly racing Ferraris at midnight through Bruneis capital, building a 1,788 room palace, and spending as much as $20,000 to get a haircut.
It should be noted that he succeeded his father, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, who had 10 children from several wives.
Bolkiah's father abdicated the throne in 1967 and made him the king while he was at UKs Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.
A year after, Bolkiah ascended the throne when he got done with the academy. The man was also known as a playboy as he had so many extra-marital affairs.
READ ALSO: You cant believe in Jesus and be scared of coronavirus - Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
A collage of the Sultan and the some of his car collections. Photo source: Camudi
Source: UGC
The big palace covers a wide area of 2.2 million square feet. Its designer was the popular Architect Leandro Locsin. It made World Guinness Records as the largest residential palace.
Another thing worthy of note was that the Sultans family reportedly bought half of the worlds Rolls-Royce as Bokiah held a record for having the largest collection.
Meanwhile, YEN earlier reported that a list of top 5 Africas richest kings published by Forbes magazine in 2014 recently resurfaced.
The information regarding the king and their wealth was edited on Thursday, May 28. King Mohammed VI of Morocco led the other four kings on the list with $2 billion.
Nigerian King Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, the Olugbo of the Ugbo Kingdom is second as he commands $300m.
READ ALSO: Latest richest black people in America in 2020
In other news, a Twitter user with the name Drift sensei got the whole of Twitter talking as he shared pictures of him posing with his fathers Rolls-Royce.
When Twitter User ChiefpresitofPh asked him in amazement if his father has two Rolls Royce, the young man replied and corrected him that they are actually three; two ghosts and 1 wraith.
Another Twitter user with the name Suhail H Saulawa was dumbstruck that he had to offer some prayer as he said: God bless you. ELITE!!
A person with the name Duke of Africa said that whoever retweeted the tweet to his timeline really inspired him on the need to work hard.
Traders at the Madina Market share their thoughts on the mandatory wearing of masks | #Yencomgh
Source: YEN.com.gh
Uran Nabiev (pictured) was found guilty of manslaughter and assault occasioning ABH
A pizza delivery driver has been jailed for 14 years for mowing down two young men, killing one and injuring another, in a 'grotesque overreaction' to a broken wing mirror.
John Ambler, 33, had been walking with Jake Kemp, 26, after a night out when he drunkenly punched Uran Nabiev's parked Toyota Prius in the early hours of October 19.
Nabiev, 63, who had been at home drinking vodka, was accused of taking 'the law into his own hands'.
He drove up behind the two men, revved his engine and mounted the pavement.
Mr Ambler was hit in the arm and his friend ran off, pursued by Nabiev, who reversed and mounted the opposite pavement.
Mr Kemp, an air conditioning engineer, stumbled and fell just before he was hit by the car.
He was dragged nearly 30ft down the pavement, ending up face down in a pool of blood. He had suffered a serious head injury and died in hospital three days later.
John Ambler, 33, had been walking with Jake Kemp, 26, after a night out when he drunkenly punched Nabiev's parked Toyota Prius in the early hours of October 19. Nabiev, 63, who had been at home drinking vodka, was accused of taking 'the law into his own hands' (pictured)
Nabiev fled to his home country of Azerbaijan but returned to the UK to face trial at the Old Bailey.
A jury deliberated for more than 19 hours to find Nabiev guilty of manslaughter and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Mr Kemp (pictured), an air conditioning engineer, stumbled and fell just before he was hit by the car. He died three days later
He was sentenced on Tuesday to a total of 14 years in prison and disqualified from driving for five years upon his release.
Judge Richard Marks QC rejected Nabiev's claim that he only meant to 'scare' the young men, having viewed graphic CCTV of the incident in Bickley Road, Erith, south-east London.
He said: 'This was a grotesque and wholly unwarranted overreaction to minor damage having been caused to your vehicle.
'This was, in any view, a truly horrific incident.'
He told the defendant that the account he gave to jurors showed he had 'no remorse at all' for what he did.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Kemp was described by his father as a 'bundle of mischief' who was never malicious, unkind or deliberately mean.
Maurice Kemp said: 'Since Jake's death, we as a family have had to persevere through extreme adversity despite being overwhelmed with sadness.'
Nabiev (pictured, his car) fled to his home country of Azerbaijan but returned to the UK to face trial at the Old Bailey. A jury deliberated for more than 19 hours to find Nabiev guilty of manslaughter and assault occasioning actual bodily harm
The father of five said the family had agreed to donate his son's organs after all efforts to save him failed.
'Jake was young and healthy, he had a big heart,' he said. 'We were grateful Jake was able to give the gift of life to others.
'Jake helped so many people improve the quality of their lives, it was Jake's final act of generosity.'
ISTANBUL Diyarbakir Bar Association chair Cihan Aydin marched about 50 kilometers (31 miles) in three days before he was stopped Monday with several dozen bar association heads on the outskirts of Ankara.
Over the weekend, the group began a nationwide protest march against a proposed bill that would change election laws for bar associations. Protesters planned to end the march at Ankaras Anitkabir, the mausoleum for Turkeys first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, but were blocked from entering the city by police. Following brief scuffles, the lawyers camped out in the streets surrounded by police barricades.
Everything went smoothly until we reached Ankara, Aydin told Al-Monitor. He added, We were prevented from talking to press visitors werent allowed in, and we werent allowed to have anything like seats, or chairs, or blankets or tents for the rain.
The standoff continued for more than 24 hours, drawing press coverage and widespread condemnation from human rights advocates before the bar association chairs were permitted to reach their destination Tuesday afternoon. Reflecting on the events, Aydin said the police intervention helped propel the protest into the national discourse.
Last night, I had chats with the police officers surrounding us, and I thanked them for preventing our march, Aydin said, adding, Thanks to them, we got our message out.
Turkish bar associations are among the few institutions still critical of government policies following the mass purges and broader crackdown on dissident groups sparked by a 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP) proposed legislation that would amend election laws for bar associations and professional chambers, which lawyers say could serve to silence oppositional voices.
Critics of the draft bill claim it would create new provincial bar associations, which in turn would alter district voting mechanisms to allow for the election of more government-friendly bar association chairs. Though the measure is opposed by the majority of current bar association heads, some expect lawmakers to introduce the bill by mid-July in parliament, where it will likely pass via majority vote under the ruling AKP-Nationalist Movement Party alliance.
The proposal comes ahead of key elections for Turkeys legal groups, with about 70 bar associations preparing to elect new chairs in October. The Union of Turkish Bar Associations will also hold elections next year, in which current chair Metin Feyzioglu faces a challenge to his seven-year leadership after being criticized by some members for repeatedly backing government stances against the interests of Turkish lawyers.
The reason for this amendment is to secure his place, because with the current election system there is no way that Metin Feyzioglu can be elected, and there is no way that a government-supported person can replace him, Kerem Altiparmak, chair of the Ankara Bar Associations Human Rights Center, told Al-Monitor.
As the protest march was underway, Feyzioglu criticized participants during an appearance on Turkish broadcaster CNN Turk Sunday. Feyzioglu then visited the site where police encircled protesters in Ankara Tuesday, but he received a cold reception as lawyers turned their backs to him and called for his resignation.
He sided with the government when the state excluded bar associations from the [draft] process, Altiparmak said, adding, He also blamed bar associations for acting against the state. So, I think he well deserved [the cold reception].
Feyzioglu responded to criticism Tuesday, saying, This issue is not about me, and there is nothing that would necessitate my resignation.
Other high-profile visitors to the protest encampment included Ankara Municipal Mayor Mansur Yavas and nationalist IYI party chair Meral Aksener, both of whom were received with more warmth. Still, most visitors were turned away.
Sevin Kaya, co-chair of the Ankara office for the Association of Lawyers for Freedom, said she tried to visit the protesters Monday evening but was blocked entry by police at the scene.
They pushed us with their shields and I fell, Kaya told Al-Monitor. She added, "Then my friends fell on me and they didnt let us get up. They kicked us while we were on the ground. Once we were able to get back on our feet, we found ourselves outside of the protest site.
A lawyer who passed the protest site and honked in support was also issued a fine of 132 Turkish liras (about $19).
Bar association chairs who spoke with Al-Monitor said they planned to continue similar protests until the draft bill is taken off the parliamentary agenda. Some are considering legal action against police forces for blocking the protest in Ankara.
An investigation was opened this past spring against the Ankara Bar Association for its criticism of an anti-LGBT sermon delivered by Turkeys religious authority head Ali Erbas on April 24. Altiparmak said the government has since used the spat to push for election reforms on bar associations.
The government had planned to bring this [proposal] to parliament; however, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented this, Altiparmak said, adding, So why are we debating this now? There are too many other problems to deal with.
He added, They are using the spat to change the election process without consulting legal professionals. The reason is political rather than legal.
T he Hajj pilgrimage, which usually draws millions of Muslims from around the world, will see as few as a thousand pilgrims next month, Saudi Arabia has announced.
The kingdom's dedicated Hajj minister Muhammad Benten said "small and very limited" numbers of worshippers will be allowed to the religious site to ensure safe social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The countrys government has yet to confirm a precise figure, but Mr Benten said the total number of people admitted could be as low as 1,000.
The pilgrimage centres around five intense days of worship and rituals in the holy city of Mecca. However, pilgrims typically begin arriving in the country through its main gateway town of Jeddah weeks or even months in advance.
Hajj 2019 - In pictures 1 /28 Hajj 2019 - In pictures AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AP AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AP AP AFP/Getty Images EPA AFP/Getty Images EPA AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Reuters AP Reuters Reuters Reuters AFP/Getty Images
The kingdom has one of the highest rates of Covid-19 infections in the Middle East, with more than 161,750 confirmed cases and 1,307 deaths to date.
In light of the pandemic, no-one over the age of 65 will be allowed to perform the Hajj, and all visitors to and workers at the site will be quarantined both before and after the pilgrimage, Saudi officials told a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
The number of pilgrims allowed to the holy site could be as low as 1,000 / AFP via Getty Images
Mr Benten said: "This is a very sensitive operation and we are working with experts at the Health Ministry."
It is a blow to those who have waited and saved money for years to afford the journey.
All able-bodied Muslims are required to undertake the Hajj at least once in their life. It is also viewed as an opportunity to cleanse of past sins and connect with Muslims from all walks of life.
The Hajj typically draws 2.5 million people each year from within Saudi Arabia and around the world.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has moved to address the fallouts from its just-ended parliamentary primaries.
It has therefore set up a Conflict Resolution Committee to address concerns to be raised by anyone aggrieved.
The committee is being headed by the Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Opare.
In an interview with Citi News, National Organizer of the NPP, Sammi Awuku indicated that the Conflict Resolution Committee will begin work immediately.
Where we have people who are disgruntled, bitter, and pained after the polls, the party has quickly activated its conflict resolution committee chaired by the Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Opare together with her team to get to get to the ground to help us resolve these outstanding matters. There are processes for receiving the reports from the various regions and so the party leadership will sit down and evaluate it where we have issues.
The party has also commended its members and sympathizers for once again rising to the occasion and demonstrating maturity and candour in its parliamentary primaries which came off on June 20, 2020.
According to the NPP, this milestone it chalked vindicates its unbeatable democratic credentials and further entrenches the NPP's position as the bastion of internal party democracy on the Continent of Africa and beyond. Readiness to retain power
Meanwhile, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the enthusiasm the party displayed during the primaries is an indication the party is ready to retain power.
President Akufo-Addo in a congratulatory message to the party on Monday, June 22, 2020, said its an indication the members of the party are ready to work collectively to help extend the party's mandate .
The enthusiasm and camaraderie generated amongst party members are a clear indication of the collective commitment of the rank and file of the party to retain power in the December poll.
President Akufo-Addo further urged both the winning and losing candidates to work together for the collective good of the party in the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. NDC alleges vote-buying
But the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has also alleged that the parliamentary primary by the NPP was characterized by vote-buying and electoral violence .
The party also accused the NPP of violating COVID-19 safety protocols during the exercise thereby rendering the COVID-19 restriction laws counterproductive.
NDC believes the Akufo-Addo-led government will be voted out of power on December 7, 2020, given the outcome of the parliamentary primaries.
According to the NDC, the losses suffered by some incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) send strong signals that the legislators together with their leader President Akufo-Addo have failed to fulfil their campaign promises to Ghanaians.
The alarming level of vote-buying and opulence we saw in the NPP this time around is unprecedented. We have never seen this level of ostentation in our body politics before and that should give every democracy-loving Ghanaian, genuine cause of concern. We in the NDC are not surprised by the turn of events because we know that President Akufo-Addo and his corrupt government have under-performed and are only marking time for an overwhelming rejection by the Ghanaian electorates on December 7, 2020, the NDCs National Communications Officer for the opposition party, Sammy Gyamfi indicated.
citinewsroom
Hong Kong: Special rates bill scrutiny halted
The Government today expressed disappointment after a Legislative Council committee decided to discontinue scrutiny for the Rating (Amendment) Bill 2019.
The bill, introduced into LegCo for scrutiny in October 2019, aimed to encourage a more timely supply of first-hand private residential units.
It proposed that developers of first-hand private residential units with occupation permits issued for 12 months or more should provide annual returns to the Rating & Valuation Department on the status of the units.
If the units are unsold or not rented out for 183 days or more in aggregate for 12 months, developers will need to pay special rates chargeable at a flat rate of 200% of the rateable value of the relevant unit.
The Government said it is disappointed that the bill could not be passed in LegCos current term, adding it will closely monitor the situation in the residential property market and implement measures when necessary to ensure the property markets healthy development.
It will also take into account the market circumstances when considering whether to reintroduce the bill in the next LegCo term.
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
SpaceX and Telsa CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday criticized the Donald Trump-led US government's order to temporarily suspend foreign visas. Taking to Twitter, South Africa-origin Elon Musk expressed his disapproval and stated that the visa suspended cover skill sets that are net job creators. He added that although visa reforms make sense, this step is "too broad."
Read: Sundar Pichai issues first response as Trump suspends H-1B visas; reveals Google's stand
Trump signs executive order
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to suspend a number of foreign visas including H-1B, H-2B, certain H-4, H-L, and some H-J visas in order to 'preserve jobs for American citizens'. According to the White House, this will now ensure that businesses will look at American citizens while hiring employees. The order will keep out nonagricultural seasonal workers, individuals for cultural exchanges and managers, and other key employees of multinational corporations. However, it will keep food processing workers and healthcare workers from helping in the fight against coronavirus.
Read: Trump bans H-1B visas; US corporate sector says it will hit innovation, foreign investment
Earlier in April, the Trump administration had temporarily blocked foreign nationals from gaining permanent residence permits for 60 days, which ended on Monday. In March, he had announced the deportation of immigrants caught at the border, not allowing them to have access to the US asylum system. Meanwhile, he had also announced the closure of borders with Canada and Mexico for non-essential purposes in order to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read: Trump could announce foreign workers' visa restrictions in few days: Report
Read: Trump bans H-1B visas; US corporate sector says it will hit innovation, foreign investment
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:15:13|Editor: huaxia
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SANAA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni Houthi militia said they launched multiple ballistic missile and drone attacks early Tuesday morning on Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh, targeting vital military facilities.
"Large numbers of long-range ballistic missiles and bomb-laden drones hit the headquarters of the Defense Ministry, the military intelligence agency and King Salman Air Base in Riyadh," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah television.
"The attack also targeted other Saudi military facilities in the Saudi regions of Jizan and Najran," Sarea said.
"The attack came in response to the unjust economic blockade and military aggression on the Yemeni people," Sarea said, adding "we will launch more attacks until the blockade is lifted and the aggression is stopped."
Meanwhile, the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported that "the Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles and eight drones launched from Yemen by the Houthi militia towards the Saudi border regions of Jizan and Najran."
It was the latest in a series of cross-border attacks by the Yemeni Houthis against Saudi Arabia since the Yemeni civil war erupted five years ago.
Last year, attack on the Saudi Aramco facilities in the east of the kingdom that claimed by the Yemeni Houthis had knocked out half of the Saudi oil output.
Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthis seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in early 2015 to support Hadi's government.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million and pushed more than 20 million to the brink of starvation. Enditem
Those caught red-handed could be fined up to 33.
Petrzalka adds more places to the list of where drinking in public is prohibited. (Source: TASR)
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In May, the biggest borough of Bratislava, Petrzalka, extended the list of places where drinking alcohol in public is prohibited. These now include terraces of apartment blocks, which have proven to be the most problematic, Manesovo and Humenske Squares as well as the public space in front of the Technopol office building, among others.
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We want to make the life of the inhabitants of Petrzalka better, said Jana Hrehorova, deputy mayor of Petrzalka, as cited in a press release.
Within the whole territory of Bratislava, drinking alcoholic beverages has been prohibited close to schools, churches, medical facilities, playgrounds and city public transport stops since 2014.
With its campuses closed due to COVID-19, Fleming College will hold a virtual convocation for its class of 2020.
The ceremonies can be seen online at https://flemingcollege.ca/convocation
Ceremonies will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. for the Haliburton School of Art + Design, the School of General Arts and Sciences, and School of Health and Wellness; at 11 a.m. for the School of Justice and Community Development and 1 p.m. for the School of Trades and Technology.
On Friday, students from the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences will graduate at 9 a.m., with a 1 p.m. ceremony for the School of Business.
In advance of Convocation, graduates are receiving packages via courier containing their diploma, collar, pennant and window sign. For graduates who earned their Indigenous Perspectives Designation, they will also receive an Indigenous Perspectives letter, states a press release.
All graduates are encouraged to share their Fleming College pride via social media by snapping a selfie with their diploma and tagging #FlemingGrad. Photos will be re-shared by Fleming College and included in the virtual ceremonies.
Each ceremony will feature an Indigenous Honour Song and Land Acknowledgement, a welcome by Fleming College board chair Dan Marinigh, remarks by college president Maureen Adamson, alumni remarks and Valedictorian address. O Canada will be performed by Kate Suhr.
PITTSBURGH, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "My husband would not massage my back daily," said an inventor from Lawrenceville, Georgia. "This inspired me to develop a massaging unit that could be employed while relaxing in a bed."
She developed THE BED MASSAGER that transforms a bed into a full body massage unit. This invention helps to relax areas of the body to relieve tension while improving circulation. It may also alleviate pain and discomfort associated with stress, sore muscles and back pain. Additionally, this invention may eliminate the hassle and cost associated with visiting a professional masseuse.
The original design was submitted to the Atlanta sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-AAT-4397, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
SOURCE InventHelp
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1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up.
2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed.
3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms.
4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually.
5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings.
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Former chief executive of Wirecard, Markus Braun, has been arrested on suspicion of market manipulation. (AFP Photo)
FRANKFURT AM MAIN: The former chief executive of Wirecard, Markus Braun, has been arrested on suspicion of market manipulation, German prosecutors said Tuesday, after the payments provider admitted that 1.9 billion euros missing from its accounts likely "do not exist".
Current investigations show that "the conduct of the accused justifies the suspicion of inaccurate presentation concurring with market manipulation," prosecutors from Munich said in a statement.
In what could be one of the biggest financial frauds of recent years, German payments provider Wirecard on Monday admitted 1.9 billion euros that auditors say are missing from its accounts likely do not exist.
The scandal has already claimed the scalp of founder and chief executive Markus Braun, and adds to a series of recent German upsets.
Over the past decade, business headlines have been dominated by repeated financial infractions at Deutsche Bank and the dieselgate emissions fraud that has cost Volkswagen more than 30 billion euros.
In Wirecards case, 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) supposedly sitting in trust accounts in the Philippines made up a quarter of the companys balance sheet.
But on the basis of further examination... there is a prevailing likelihood that the bank trust account balances in the amount of 1.9 billion EUR do not exist, Wirecard said Monday.
The admission follows more than a year of reporting, especially by the Financial Times, on accounting irregularities in the companys Asian division.
Now Wirecard is in crisis talks with creditors and is examining a broad range of possible further measures to ensure continuation of its business operations, including restructuring and selling off or simply halting some activities.
Interim CEO James Freis has tasked investment bank Houlihan Lokey with the tough negotiations.
But investors confidence appeared to be evaporating fast, as shares in Wirecard were trading below 16 euros early Monday afternoondown from almost 100 last Wednesday.
The head of German financial markets watchdog BaFin, Felix Hufeld, said we are in the most horrifying situation Ive ever seen a DAX company have, referring to the blue-chip stock index.
Meanwhile credit ratings agency Moodys withdrew its B3 evaluation of Wirecards debt predicated on insufficient independently verifiable financial information.
4thMVMT CEO Karim Webb poses for a portrait at his offices on November 22, 2019, in Los Angeles. The firm trains and finances people from communities hit hardest by the war on drugs, preparing them to open cannabis businesses in the newly legal industry. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
A Los Angeles city program crafted to ensure that cannabis sales licenses go to people from communities most harmed by the war on drugs has been hailed as a kind of reckoning with historic injustice.
It was designed with a lofty goal: Ensure that people affected by the governments crackdown on the illicit drug trade become business owners in this emerging industry.
But the citys social equity program is under renewed scrutiny over whether the initiative is fulfilling its promise.
The latest controversy centers around 4thMVMT, a company founded by a well-to-do businessman who partners with Black entrepreneurs to obtain cannabis licenses. The company positioned itself as one of the programs biggest winners by partnering with at least 13 of the applicants scheduled to receive temporary approval this week to start operating after meeting certain conditions.
An attorney who reviewed one of 4thMVMTs partnership contracts has raised alarms over what she says are predatory business practices baked into the agreements. Meanwhile, competitors of 4thMVMT have seized on the contract language to attack the company.
The contract allows a subsidiary of 4thMVMT to buy out the social equity partners if they refuse a lawful direction/instruction from the company, according to a copy of the contract reviewed by The Times. The buyout price is set at $200,000, an amount experts on the states cannabis trade say is far less than the likely market value of a licensed pot shop in Los Angeles.
The intent of the social equity program is to create ownership for the applicant, said Yvette McDowell, an attorney representing a person who signed a contract with 4thMVMT. That sounds like an employer-employee relationship.
McDowell also faulted city officials for failing to thoroughly vet contracts to make sure social equity partners would be in control of their businesses and receive the majority of the profits.
In an interview with The Times, 4thMVMT CEO Karim Webb said he planned to amend the contract language but bristled at any suggestion that the company would take advantage of a social equity partner.
Story continues
4thMVMT is not ... doing anything that's predatory or that is not in the interest of our partners executing at the highest level, Webb said. We are going to address displacement with these folks and build generational wealth.
He said the contracts buyout language was meant to protect the millions of dollars in investments he and others have made to launch the businesses, train applicants and rent real estate. The social equity applicants havent contributed money, he said, and the clause was necessary in order to attract other investors.
That provision in our contract, more so than anything else, is an incentive not to sell, Webb said. And to behave properly. Youve got a million and a half dollars into a property and somebody gets a dividend check and goes to [Cabo San Lucas] and doesnt come back, you want to at least disincentivize that kind of behavior.
James Bryant, general counsel for 4thMVMT, described the language as harsh and said it was drafted by another lawyer. He said 4thMVMT wouldn't exercise a forced sale over petty business disagreements
"The forced sale is an action of last resort," Bryant wrote in an email to The Times.
Bryant said the contracts are being amended so that 4thMVMT would have to pay fair market value to buy out a partner.
It's unclear if other applicants have similar language in their business contracts.
The city's department of cannabis regulation recently proposed new rules for the program, including changes intended to prevent "predatory" behavior from investors who partner with social equity applicants. The changes include barring any conditions that would force a social equity applicant to transfer his or her ownership.
Bryant said 4thMVMT would make sure its contracts comply with any changes in the city's rules.
A department of cannabis regulation spokeswoman declined to comment on specific applications but said her agency conducted an initial review of applicant contracts and would conduct additional reviews as part of the licensing process.
Criticism over the social equity partner contracts is the latest controversy for the city's embattled cannabis licensing program, which has been beset by delays and complaints of unfairness.
In September, the city launched a first-come, first-served online application process to decide who to give 100 licenses to operate new pot shops. Hundreds of businesses flooded the application portal within minutes.
Concerns that some accessed the portal before the official start time provoked an outcry. Other entrepreneurs complained that applicants with slower internet speeds were put at a distinct disadvantage.
An audit commissioned by the city found that some businesses had been able to log onto the application portal shortly before the start time but concluded that no one gained an unfair advantage. In April, a group of applicants sued the city, alleging that the process was flawed and unfairly implemented.
Some critics also have focused on Webb, pointing to his City Hall ties and questioning how he and his partners were able to secure more spots among the first 100 applicants than anyone else. 4thMVMT has signed the partnership contracts with 32 social equity applicants, including 13 among the top 100 that could receive temporary approval.
Webb was appointed last year to the city's airport commission. And until February, 4thMVMT pronounced Fourth Movement and named for a famous reference to African American economic equality employed a son of Councilman Herb Wesson.
Webb has said the connections with City Hall didnt give his applicants any advantage in the cannabis program.
The city's social equity program considers various factors in deciding who qualifies as a partner, including income, past cannabis convictions and long-term residency of an area that was disproportionately targeted by enforcement of drug laws.
Several of 4thMVMT's social equity partners have publicly praised Webb for giving them an opportunity they could have only dreamed of to build their own businesses. The partnership contracts give them an 81% stake in their cannabis businesses.
But some of 4thMVMT's competitors are criticizing the terms of his partnership contracts.
Donnie Anderson, a founder of the California Minority Alliance, said the contract's buyout provision shows that Webb was doing to the community whats been done to them forever. Ive got a problem with that.
Anderson's group worked with dozens of social equity applicants. None made it to the first 100.
McDowell, the attorney for one of Webbs social equity partners, said Webb also has refused to share other documents with her and her client, including a management agreement with another business entity. The partnership contracts say the firm will have the authority to run the day-to-day operations of the pot shops.
4thMVMT CEO Karim Webb poses for a portrait at his offices on November 22, 2019, in Los Angeles. Webb says he wants to help Black entrepreneurs build generational wealth. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Webb declined to share a copy of the management agreement with The Times. However, Bryant said the partnerships would not be charged a fee for management of the stores.
McDowell, a retired prosecutor with the city of Pasadena, said its important to see those documents to determine whether Webbs partners will receive an 81% share of profits.
Her client, who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity, said Webb first showed his social equity partners the contract language at a gathering last year and gave them one to two hours to review and sign the document.
Theres no way they could be given adequate representation when its either you sign it, or you dont, McDowell said.
She said her client was not among the top 100 applicants expected to be approved to run pot shops during the current round of license approvals and was no longer interested in working with Webb.
Webb said McDowell has been unreasonable and that he had little choice but to rush the contracts. There was fierce competition for real estate rentals, he said, and landlords waited to close the leases until just days before the city's online application portal for licenses was set to open.
If youre uncomfortable signing it, dont sign it, and Ill call somebody else, Webb said he told the group. This is the opportunity, and I apologize that you havent had time, but we havent had time.
A company spokeswoman who said she was present for the meeting said the applicants were told they could call their lawyer during that time.
Webb said the partnership contract has to be considered alongside 4thMVMTs commitment to helping Black Americans own their own businesses, affording them the opportunities he and his siblings had growing up as the children of the owners of McDonalds franchises.
He and others with 4thMVMT emphasized that the business charges no fee for its services to the social equity partners and pays for months of training and assistance, help with real estate transactions and other services.
Webb, who has also launched Buffalo Wild Wings franchises, noted that there are only 18 Black social equity applicants among the top 100, and that all but five have partnered with him.
"The only thing I'm looking for is a business opportunity for Black folks to do what's happened for me and my family," Webb said.
MOSCOW, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new program of flights to popular seasonal resorts has begun at Sheremetyevo International Airport. Flights will be operated by Rossiya Airlines in partnership with the travel operator Biblio-Globus as part of an updated flight program.
The opening of the new flight program was made possible by the lifting of the quarantine imposed to counter the spread of coronavirus infections in the resort regions. Mandatory observation of citizens of the Russian Federation arriving in the Krasnodar Territory was cancelled as of June 21. Epidemiological control has been partially lifted, as have restrictions on movement within the region.
Passengers will be able to take flights from Sheremetyevo Airport to popular tourist destinations within Russia, such as Sochi, Simferopol, Anapa and Kaliningrad.
The first Rossiya Airlines charter flight from Moscow to Sochi departed from Sheremetyevo's Terminal B on June 22 at 01:05, as scheduled. All 189 passengers received branded souvenirs from the airport upon check-in.
Earlier, Rossiya Airlines had announced that it would operate its Biblio-Globus tourist flights from Sheremetyevo.
Sheremetyevo Airport offers travelers of all categories a wide range of first-class services and modern, well-developed infrastructure.
Sheremetyevo International Airport is among the TOP-10 airport hubs in Europe, the largest Russian airport in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. In 2019, the airport served 49,933,000 passengers, which is 8.9% more than in 2018.
In 2019, Sheremetyevo became the best European airport in terms of quality of services with a passenger traffic of more than 40 million passengers per year in the ASQ ACI rating.
Sheremetyevo is on the top list of best airports in the world according to the International Council of Airports - ACI Director General's Roll of Excellence.
Sheremetyevo is recognized as the best airport in the world according to the global analytical study of the British company Stasher.
Sheremetyevo Airport is the holder of the highest 5-star Skytrax rating.
SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport
With the help of augmented reality glasses, the digital assistant understands what the wearer sees.
Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible for machines to recognize objects. This requires large amounts of high-quality image data with which the algorithms are trained manually. The start-up company Kimoknow, established at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has developed a technology to automate this training. The first Use Case: A digital assembly assistant for contactless cooperation between humans and machines.
The start-up uses image data that is created for all objects in computer-aided development processes (CAD) and production data management (PDM). Among other things, they provide information about the material, geometry and position of the respective object. The object recognition system trained in this way can be used in many different ways, including in augmented reality glasses. They detect relevant objects in the user's field of vision in real time and also provide the necessary contextual information about the object in question. The virtual assistant guides users through the assembly process, visualizes the assembly instructions step by step and thus shows in which order which part is processed with which tools and assembly materials. It repeats individual steps when errors occur and documents the process. The fitter has both hands free and communicates with the system via eye contact, hand signals or voice commands.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that "difficult decisions and difficult days lie ahead" as the country stares down the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
In an address to the nation Monday, Ramaphosa highlighted that businesses in all sectors had announced job cuts or total closures as a result of losses incurred since the nation implemented strict lockdown measures on March 26.
Aware of the economic toll being wreaked by the lockdowns, the government has begun lifting restrictions, but South Africa now has 101,590 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the most on the continent, with 1,991 deaths as of Tuesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University.
"For a country such as ours, which was already facing an unemployment crisis and weak economic growth, difficult decisions and difficult days lie ahead," Ramaphosa said.
"We would urge that the difficult decisions to be taken are taken with care and with due regard to balancing the sustainability of companies and the livelihoods of workers."
He emphasized the importance of continuing measures to aid small businesses, including tax relief, debt restructuring, extended credit lines and retail rental exemptions, along with temporary financial assistance to poor households, but said these measures could only go so far.
Ramaphosa argued that although the economic impact will extend long beyond the pandemic, investments in sustainable infrastructure would form an integral part of the recovery.
A Reuters poll released Tuesday showed that the South African budget deficit is expected to widen to a record 14% of GDP (gross domestic product) in 2020, far outstripping an official estimate of 6.3% for the last financial year.
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Linkedin Issam Ahmed (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Tue, June 23, 2020 09:29 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660d5c34 2 Science & Tech Volcano,eruption,Roman-Empire,research,Julius-Cesar Free
The assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE triggered a nearly two-decade power struggle that led to the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.
Historic records say the period was marked with strange sightings in the sky, unusually cold weather and widespread famine -- and a new study suggests a volcanic eruption in Alaska may have been the cause.
The paper was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.
An international team of scientists and historians used an analysis of volcanic ash (tephra) found in Arctic ice cores to link the period of unexplained extreme climate in the Mediterranean with the crater-forming eruption of Alaska's Okmok volcano in 43 BCE.
"To find evidence that a volcano on the other side of the Earth erupted and effectively contributed to the demise of the Romans and the Egyptians and the rise of the Roman Empire is fascinating," said lead author Joe McConnell of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in Reno, Nevada.
The advent of the Roman Empire also brought an end to the dynasty of Ptolemies, the last of the pharaohs.
"It certainly shows how interconnected the world was even 2,000 years ago," added McConnell.
He and Swiss researcher Michael Sigl began investigating the matter when they found an unusually well preserved layer of ash in an ice core sample last year.
New measurements were then made on ice cores from Greenland and Russia, some of which were drilled in the 1990s and stored in archives.
They were able to make out two distinct eruptions: a powerful but localized and short-lived event in early 45 BCE, followed by a much larger, more widespread event in 43 BCE, with fallout lasting more than two years.
Perfect match
A geochemical analysis was performed on the ash samples found in ice from the second eruption, and it perfectly matched the Okmok event -- one of the largest eruptions of the past 2,500 years.
"The tephra match doesn't get any better," said volcanologist Gill Plunkett from Queen's University Belfast.
The team gathered more supporting evidence from across the world, from tree-ring based climate records in Scandinavia to cave formations in northeast China.
This data was fed into a climate model, which suggested that the two years following the eruption were some of the coldest in the Northern Hemisphere for 2,500 years.
Seasonally averaged temperatures may have been as much as seven degrees Celsius (13 degrees Fahrenheit) below normal for the summer and autumn following the eruption, with autumn precipitation reaching as high as 400 percent of normal in southern Europe.
"In the Mediterranean region, these wet and extremely cold conditions during the agriculturally important spring through autumn seasons probably reduced crop yields and compounded supply problems during the ongoing political upheavals of the period," said classical archaeologist Andrew Wilson of the University of Oxford.
They also coincided with failure of the Nile to flood the plains and the disease and famine that ensued, added Yale University historian Joe Manning.
Strange sightings
The eruption may also explain unusual atmospheric phenomena noted in the records, like solar halos, the sun darkening in the sky, or three suns appearing in the sky -- a phenomenon known as a sun dog.
But the authors added that many of these observations took place prior to the Alaskan eruption and could be related to the smaller eruption of Mount Etna in 44 BCE.
McConnell said that while many factors contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic and Ptolemaic Kingdom, the eruption of Okmok played an important role, and helps fill a knowledge gap that had puzzled historians.
Yoon Myun-shik, left, senior deputy governor at the Bank of Korea, poses after signing a digital partnership with Kakao Enterprise CEO Baek Sang-yeop, at the headquarters of the central bank in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Bank of Korea
By Lee Min-hyung
The Bank of Korea (BOK) has signed a partnership with Kakao Enterprise to utilize the central bank's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, the BOK said Tuesday.
This is the first time that the central bank has clinched a digital partnership with an external organization, as part of its 2030 growth initiative centered on digital transformation through embracing emerging technologies with a focus on AI.
"We are going to establish a research team aimed at embracing state-of-the-art technologies such as big data and AI in the latter half of this year, and the team will partner with the Kakao subsidiary to enhance the BOK's AI capacity," an official from the central bank said.
Kakao Enterprise is the AI research subsidiary of Kakao, the operator of the nation's largest mobile messaging service, Kakao Talk. The Kakao affiliate also plans to help the central bank draw up policies with the help of the emerging technology.
The BOK and Kakao plan to carry out joint AI research for the central bank to take advantage of the technology when devising policies and making economic forecasts.
The central bank said it named Kakao Enterprise as its partner due to the firm's leadership in establishing the nation's AI ecosystem.
"Kakao Enterprise has expressed the biggest interest in the BOK's digital innovation, and the company holds numerous patents on AI-related technologies," the central bank said. The company's engineers also displayed a strong determination to take on the task, the BOK added.
It is a rare case for the central bank to sign a partnership with a private organization. But marking its 70th anniversary earlier this month, the BOK pledged to make drastic changes with the focus on digital innovation. The decision reflected on the global banking paradigm shift with the rise of digital currencies and non-face-to-face transactions.
Under the drive, the central bank will create what it calls its digital innovation division headed by a deputy governor-level official.
Kakao Enterprise will soon send a number of AI engineers to initiate the central bank's digital vision. The number of engineers is yet to be confirmed.
Endorse the LSP Protection Act as written
In Feb 2019, The City Council unanimously voted to endorse the Liberty State Protection Act, sending a strong message of support to Trenton. I strongly encourage and implore the council to continue their support for the act as written to prevent shameless land grabs by billionaires donating money to politicians.
Currently, I am promoting two community-based nature programs: a nature therapy program for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) victims, and a program to establish and maintain honeybee colonies involving our urban youth. Both will rely on using Caven Point as a protected and secure nature sanctuary; it has tremendous therapeutic capacity and an ideal location for honeybee hives.
Many veterans returning from multiple deployments find transitioning to civilian life difficult. Additionally, the outbreak of Covid-19 has had a material impact on many healthcare workers and first responders which could lead to depression and despair. Studies have proven that nature-based therapy can help PTSD victims.
The Hudson River Apiary Society wants to partner with park volunteers to teach our urban children how to establish & maintain honeybee colonies. They will be taught how to collect the honey, preserve, market and prepare for sale. The children will learn important career building business skills while learning to appreciate and value nature.
Last year, one state official loudly proclaimed Let the people decide. The people have decided, repeatedly! Please, listen to the people! The act is now supported by over 50 based community groups and growing. An online petition currently has garnered over 12,500 signatories.
All Council members, please continue to unanimously endorse this act. Listen to the people. Dont allow this magnificent natural habitat to be taken away from wildlife and the people. Future generations will thank you.
Ruth Adams, Jersey City
Keep wearing masks as we open up'
I spoke with friends whom I miss from NY, northern NJ, and CT last night via Google Meets.
Although all have been stuck at home for three months, theyre being wise and being cautious about social distancing, boosting their own immunity, staying out of crowds, and, most importantly, about wearing masks now that the states are reopening.
All of us are proud of the leadership in our states. This emergency could have been even worse for NJ, NY, and CT without our wise governors. Shame on the federal government for not stopping the pandemic in its tracks in January or sooner when they first heard about the virus. Flights from Europe, especially Italy, could have been frozen as the flights from China were. Most of our cases have stemmed from Europe and from travelers who used Newark Airport and other regional airports.
Shame on the governors out west and in the south who are not providing wise counsel to their residents. Myrtle Beach and Houston are among the hotspots now as their states see an uptick in numbers of COVID-19 cases. Hudson and Bergen Counties are still seeing high numbers of infection and deaths but, at least, the hospitals can handle the flow of ill patients better now. God bless the doctors, nurses, EMTs, police officers, firefighters, and custodians who have met death head on. The best way to help them is to keep infection rates from going upward and to do everything we can to get these numbers of new cases down by our example.
God bless our mayor in Secaucus, Mike Gonnelli, who showed wisdom in the face of this pandemic by getting supplies to the hospitals, by smoothing the way for the opening of a field hospital in Secaucus, for keeping us honestly and thoroughly informed of the situation online, and, as always, for his empathy. And also kudos to the administrators of both Hudson Regional Hospital and Riverside Pediatrics which were among the first medical centers to offer drive through COVID-19 tests to the public. God bless you all.
Roxanne Jude Cintron, Secaucus
Heed words of Theodore Roosevelt
In these troubled times I recall the words of the 26th President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt.
This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.
These words resonate so many decades after they were first spoken. Let us all heed these words and do what we can to achieve this goal.
God Bless America.
Tito Cruz Jr., Jersey City
Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com
NORMAN, Okla., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Oklahoma announced today the launch of OU Online, a central division that will deliver the university's online graduate degree programs, expanding OU's ability to reach students in Oklahoma and beyond.
Designed for adult learners seeking career advancement, OU Online's programs offer specialized graduate degrees in a variety of professional fields. Of the initial 33 online graduate programs being offered through OU Online, six are new programs launching this fall.
"The University of Oklahoma has a strong tradition of serving learners across the globe through a number of highly acclaimed online graduate degree programs," said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. "By uniting our efforts through OU Online, we can provide a more accessible path to world-class learning at the graduate level. We see online education as a true fulfillment of our purpose as a public research university to develop strategic educational opportunities that benefit a more diverse segment of students and foster economic growth for our state."
The graduate degree programs offered through OU Online capitalize on a number of OU's areas of academic strength, such as business, energy, nursing, criminal justice and more a majority of which are also offered in a traditional, in-person format. The programs are specifically designed to be flexible and accessible to adults who work full-time while pursuing their degrees. Several of the degree programs are presented in an accelerated format that, depending on the degree, can be completed in as little as 15 months.
Gregg Garn, senior associate provost of online education at OU, explained that OU Online programs are developed based on extensive economic analysis and market research.
"Before we consider launching a new professional graduate program for OU Online, we conduct thorough research to determine if the program would serve an economic need for Oklahoma or the world," Garn said. "This helps ensure our graduates have the best opportunities for job placement and helps support Oklahoma's future."
Each program features a rigorous curriculum developed by OU academic departments and faculty members. OU Online courses are taught by a blend of tenured OU faculty and adjunct faculty who are professionals in each field of study.
"By offering our students the scholarly insight of our exceptional faculty, the practical expertise of industry leaders and the undeniable quality of an OU education, the graduate programs delivered through OU Online prepare students to make an immediate impact in their own workplaces and communities," Harroz said.
Students who enroll in an OU Online program will have the same customary academic and support services available to them as on-campus students. Upon graduation, they will become OU alumni no matter how far from the university they completed their courses.
To learn more about OU Online, visit ou.edu/online.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information visit www.ou.edu .
Contact: Kesha Keith
Director of Media Relations
Office: (405) 325-9840
Cell: (405) 549-9238
[email protected]
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Police are searching for an 18-year-old man after a teenage girl was stabbed in the throat trying to break up a fight, which had "spilled over" from social media to a Sunshine Coast shopping centre food court.
Emergency services were called to the Kawana Waters shopping centre at Buddina about 4pm on Monday after reports of the incident.
A crime scene was declared after the incident and police patrolled the area into the night, but failed to find the 18-year-old or the knife used. Credit:Google Street View
Police will allege that a fight broke out between the two men, aged 18 and 17, when the 16-year-old girl tried to intervene.
Detective Sergeant Chris Eaton said investigators believed there had been an argument on social media between the men which "spilled over" when the pair ran into each other.
One month after the Edenville Dam failed, resulting in the largest flood event in the history of mid-Michigan, a report by a group of Michigan engineers has pin-pointed some of the most severely damaged areas of the structure.
On Friday, TRC Engineers Michigan Inc. the local branch of a nationwide engineering consultant presented findings of their visual inspection of the Edenville Dam to dam owner Boyce Hydro.
The 46-page report was filed in the Western U.S. District Court of Michigan on Friday as part of a court action between two state agencies the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and representatives of Boyce Hydro.
"(EGLE) requested in an emergency inspection order (letter dated May 22, 2020) and in a temporary restraining order (filed in the U.S. District Court on June 15, 2020) that Boyce Hydro LLC engage a professional engineer to inspect the remaining sections of the Edenville Dam embankment to determine if immediate action should be taken to mitigate risk to public safety, natural resources, and public transportation specifically highway M-30," the report stated.
The inspection took place on June 10, and the report was compiled and presented by Shawn McGee, TRC geotechnical engineering practice leader, and structural engineer Chris Hay. McGee and Hay performed the site inspection along with Greg Uhl, chief operator of Boyce Hydro and Dan DeVaun, a dam engineer from the EGLE dam safety unit.
Daniel Pradel, Alan Esser and Adam Lobbestael representatives from the Embankments, Dams, and Slopes Technical Committee of the Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers were also in attendance and walked the entire length of dam with TRC, the report states.
FEMA, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the United States Army Corps' National Inventory of Dams have designated Edenville Dam as a "category 3 high hazard dam." Dam hazard categories are determined based on the size of the dam and the dam impoundment as well as how much water it holds and the potential for loss of life and property damage in the event of a dam failure, according to the National Inventory of Dams.
In addition to recording the visual observations made by the engineers, the TRC report also includes a list of recommended remedial efforts for Boyce Hydro, ranked by necessity as either "critical action," "recommended action" or "non-critical action/maintenance."
First on the list of "critical action" items is the removal of debris within the left embankment of the dam's Tittabawassee section, and the establishment of a new drainage/river channel to properly control drainage through the area.
"An extensive hydraulic model will need to be developed for the drainage basin so that a new river section, flow capacity and alignment can be determined," the report states.
The removal of debris from the dam's Tittabawassee spillway, which could otherwise potentially move downstream, was also listed as critical repair, as well as shoring the left side of the spillway against further loss of soil to prevent total collapse of spillway structure.
"Until the left embankment Tobacco can be repaired to satisfactory condition, as an interim measure it is recommended that a temporary sheet pile wall be installed from the existing fishing pier located approximately 275 feet east of M-30 to protect the embankment from further erosion by moving the floodway away from the dam by reestablishing the original path of the stream," the report stated.
TRC engineers also recommended the dam owners continue to monitor the rate of erosion of the embankment.
Until a "slope stability analysis" can be done to the Tobacco Spillway section of the dam, TRC recommended installing survey monitoring hubs along the downslope portion of the right embankment on the Tittabawassee River to monitor the slope for additional movement.
"Tension cracks" that have developed to the right of the Tobacco Spillway should be backfilled with soil or bentonite to prevent water from entering the cracks and potentially weakening the embankment, the report stated.
Update: This story was updated on June 27, 2020 to include more context on Edenville Dam's classification as a "high hazard" structure.
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An adverse AGR judgment against banks can not only affect their operating profits for the next financial year due to the interest foregone during the moratorium period but will also impact their stability,Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research Limited- Investment Advisor, tells Moneycontrols Kshitij Anand in an interview. Edited excerpts:
A) Fitch Ratings revised the outlook for India to negative from stable on June 18, 2020. The Nifty closed higher that day as investors were optimistic about the outcome of FM Nirmala Sitharaman's press conference.
The latest developments on the AGR (adjusted gross revenue) payment dues, wherein the Supreme Court allowed more time to the Department of Telecommunications to review the payment proposals by telecom companies, also helped to keep the trend on positive grounds.
A rally by the two Bajaj twins in the BFSI segment helped the D-Street close above the 10,000 mark that day.
Domestic markets registered sharp gains on June 19 backed by strong buying interest in financial and energy stocks, amid gains in global markets on hopes of a recovery from the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Nifty50 ended with over 1.5 percent gain on June 19 and ignored the potential fallout of India-China tensions and the rising viral infections to close well above its 100-DMA.
The gains were led by Reliance Industries, which alone contributed to half of the gains for the Nifty. Global cues also supported markets to close out a news-heavy week.
Geo-political tensions may increase volatility in the markets and investors are advised to watch out for the same.
Q) What are the important levels that investors should watch out for in the coming week, which is also an expiry week?
A) On the weekly chart, the index has formed a bullish candle. For the moment, the Nifty is heading to its recent high of 10,328, and if it continues to sustain above these levels, the index may touch 10,500 and 10,750 and on the lower side, 10,000 will be the key support.
The market has been ignoring the India-China border tension and the increasing number of cases in India but traders should watch these two closely in the coming weeks.
Q) The big news of June 19 was RIL, which has become debt-free and proposes to list Jio and Retail business in the next five years. What is your view and do you think it warrants rerating of the stock?
A) On Friday, the oil-to-telecom behemoth chairman announced that Reliance Industries had become debt-free, which resulted in a jump of more than six percent in the share price on the benchmark index with a new high of around Rs 1,788.
Within a short period, say 59 sessions, RIL doubled the wealth of the shareholders that, too, during a pandemic. RIL has become Indias first $150-billion company. In Indian currency, the valuation is more than Rs 11 lakh crore.
To make RIL debt-free by March 2021, Ambani-led company raised more than what was required through various investments and a rights issues.
It raised Rs 1.15 lakh crore through global tech investors and another Rs 53k crore from the right issues, which together made up Rs 1.68 lakh crore.
With investors like Facebook, which is a tech giant, it indicates the future of the company may be focussed more on digital and retail segments and its vision to become the leader in these sectors.
Q) Small & midcaps outperformed the benchmark indices in the week gone by. Is valuation fuelling optimism in the small & midcaps space?
A) It has not been a pleasant experience for smallcap and midcap stocks due to the coronavirus pandemic for the past few months.
The Indian economy saw the sharpest monthly downfall in March after 2008 which also had a huge impact on small and midcap stocks. Prices of most of these stocks nearly become half due to the crisis.
But, in the past three months small and midcap indices had recovered almost 20-25 percent from the lows seen in March. These stocks got investors attention as most of them were undervalued.
Hence, investors started putting money into these stocks. But valuation tactics didnt pull up the prices; it is also due to the current rally in the market.
A number of investors who lost money in the crisis started to recover their losses when the market started moving up.
Q) What is your call on the telecom space following the AGR hearing? Banking and financial stocks did well on June 18.
A) The Supreme Court heard the AGR matter related to a petition filed by the Department of Telecommunications which lashed out against telecoms and deferred the hearing to July last, after some banking and financial stocks rallied. Bajaj Finance share price surged over 5 percent followed by the other top gainers like Kotak Bank and SBI.
The total AGR dues of telecoms amount to around Rs 1.47 lakh crore and if the order asks them to pay dues upfront or provides a shorter time frame, it will have a major impact on their annual cash flows.
Among the top service providers, the major impact will be on Vodafone-Idea, which already has a weaker balance sheet. Also, any adverse judgment against banks could not only affect their operating profits of the next financial year due to the interest foregone during the moratorium period but will also impact their financial stability.
Major stocks to get impacted are State bank of India, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, etc. that have higher loan exposure to telecom companies.
Q) How do you view Dixon Technologies, GMM Pfaudler and Adani Green? These stocks have been hitting fresh 52-week highs almost daily. What is driving the rally in these pockets, fundamentals or is it technical?
Dixon Technologies
The rise in the share price of Dixon Technologies was backed by the announcement that Samsung is set to bring down the tally of TVs imported from its plants in other countries and locally manufacture almost 85-90 percent of the televisions they sell in India, expanding their partnership with Dixon Technologies.
Dixon's revenues were in line with expectations. For the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the company reported consolidated sales of Rs 857.41 crore, down 13.72 percent from last quarter sales of Rs 993.81 crore and down 0.16 percent from last year's same quarter sales of Rs 858.82 crore.
The company reported net profit after tax of Rs 27.58 crore in the latest quarter. The PLI scheme could be a game-changer if Dixon is able to add large customers.
As India is expected to become a hub of contract manufacturing for consumer electronics, the outlook for Dixon Technologies seems positive for the future.
GMM Pfaudler
GMM Pfaudler share price has surged 137 percent to Rs 4,629 in 2020, so far. However, from January 1 to March 23 period, this stock was up just 7 percent.
It is a leading supplier of process equipment to the pharmaceutical and chemical industry segments. The companys order book continues to remain healthy on the back of strong demand from the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. Hence, the surge in its stock prices was the result of its strong fundamentals.
Adani Green
This stock has appreciated 209 percent in the past three months. The firm bagged the worlds largest solar tender from the Union government to construct an 8-gigawatt (Gw) photovoltaic power plant and set up a 2 GW solar cell and module manufacturing capacity in five years.
This will entail an investment of Rs 45,000 crore at a time when companies in almost all sectors are looking to cut down capital expenditure.
The company is now the largest renewable power generator in the country, with 15 Gw of renewable capacity in various stages of development.
It has also reported an improvement in operational performance with EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) margin increasing to 91 percent in March 2020 quarter from 89 percent in December 2019 quarter. All these factors led to an increase in the share price.
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
Vietnamese military units on Monday salvaged a 1.6-meter-long bomb from a section of the Red River in Hanoi.
Military officers in Long Bien District began salvaging the unexploded bomb at around 5:40 pm and completed the process at 6:45 pm the same day.
The bomb, measuring 1.6 meters long and 35 centimeters in diameter, is believed to have remained there since the American war in Vietnam.
Military officers salvage an unexploded bomb from the Red River in Hanoi on June 22, 2020. Photo: The Bang / Tuoi Tre
It was first discovered by local residents at a location about 800 meters away from Long Bien Bridge in Bo De Ward, Long Bien District on June 17.
The Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration North Branch was notified and promptly examined the area, before contacting the military command in Long Bien for assistance.
The bomb was located two meters below the water surface.
Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre
All ships were banned from traveling in the area since June 17 to ensure safety.
Local authorities have moved the bomb to a safe area to neutralize it.
In November 2017, a similar bomb measuring over two meters long was found just five meters away from one of the piers of Long Bien Bridge.
Military officers travel on a speedboat to the location where an unexploded bomb was discovered in Hanoi, June 22, 2020. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre
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The Convention People's Party (CPP) has condemned what they termed as lawless action by some group who demolished a structure at the premises of the Nigerian High Commission to Ghana.
The party in a statement said the act will crush the friendship between the two African countries.
Thus action, in clear contravention of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations amongst states has brought the image of Ghana into disrepute. the statement read
This follows the demolition of an uncompleted building on a property of the Nigerian High Commissioner by armed men in Accra June 19.
According to the head of security at the High Commission Emmanuel Kabutey, the leader of the team that came to demolish the building told them they had the backing of National Security and that if any of us try, he will clear us off.
Read below CPP statement
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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HOUSTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) will host a conference call and webcast to discuss second quarter 2020 results on Friday, August 7, 2020, at 9 a.m. Central time (10 a.m. Eastern time). Please visit the Investors/Events & Presentations page on the EOG website to access a live webcast of the conference call. If you are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay will be available for one year.
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Emily Ratajkowski has ditched her signature long brunette locks in favor of a blonde bombshell look.
The 29-year-old, who is an ambassador for haircare brand Kerastase, debuted her newly bleached hairdo on Instagram on Tuesday to her 26.6 million followers.
Sharing a video showing off her new color, Emily simply captioned it 'BLONDE.'
New style: Emily Ratajkowski debuted her newly bleached hairdo on Instagram, Tuesday, to her 26.6 million followers, revealing that she has dyed her once-brunette locks blonde
Stunning: The 29-year-old model revealed that she has never before colored her hair
Something different: 'Ive never colored my hair or changed the length significantly in my entire life!' Emily, who is an ambassador for haircare brand Kerastase, revealed
Emily will now serve as the face of Kerastase's Blond Absolu collection - a range of products created especially to help blondes take care of their locks, and ensure that they stay bright and not at all brassy.
It is the first time that Emily has ever dyed her hair - with the model and actress revealing in a statement that she has never before dared to undergo such a daring transformation.
'Ive never colored my hair or changed the length significantly in my entire life!' she said.
'Im absolutely thrilled that Kerastase gave me their blessing to become a blonde. I just celebrated my birthday and am so happy to be coming out of quarantine with a fresh new look.
'Beauty is meant to be fun and expressive and this is definitely, hands down, the most fun Ive ever had with my look before.'
In her Instagram posts, Emily happily showed off her new look for the camera, posing with her locks cut in layers, framing her face and in a straight and sleek style.
Bombshell: Excitedly sharing a video showing of her new color on Instagram, Emily simply captioned it 'BLONDE'
Going wild: 'Beauty is meant to be fun and expressive and this is definitely, hands down, the most fun Ive ever had with my look before,' she shared
Looking ahead: Emily will now serve as the new face of Kerastase's Blond Absolu collection
For her camera moment, she wore a black strapless tube top, gold hoop earrings and a gold chain necklace.
She looked fabulous with full glam makeup featuring a flawless complexion, full pink-nude pout and a black winged eyeliner.
Running her fingers through the ends of her hair, she documented it from different angles.
The look was done leaving brown roots around her head to give it a natural grown out affect and to avoid hot roots.
Emily gave fans a sneak peak before her transformation was complete, sharing a photo from Monday with her hair in full foils and blonde pieces out in front of her face.
Her look: For her camera moment, she wore a black strapless tube top, gold hoop earrings and a gold chain necklace
Natural look: The look was done leaving brown roots around her head to give it a natural grown out affect and to avoid hot roots
Work in progress: Emily gave fans a sneak peak before her transformation was complete, sharing a photo from Monday with her hair in full foils and blonde pieces out in front of her face
After the lengthy process of bleaching her dark brown hair she gave fans a sneak peak at the look in her Instagram stories as she recorded a video in the car.
Her new look is a stark change that brings out and adds drama to her full pout and naturally dark eyebrows.
Fellow model Kaia Gerber also recently went blonde just in time for summer as Los Angeles slowly reopens amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Emily was sure to pose with he dog Colombo as she flaunted her new look.
The model and actress also posed for a professional shoot for Kerastase, proudly showing off her newly-bleached locks in a series of sultry sunlit images.
In the photos, Emily can be seen modeling a simple white button up, making sure that all of the attention was focused on her new 'do.
Newly done: After the lengthy process of bleaching her dark brown hair she gave fans a sneak peak at the look in her Instagram stories as she recorded a video in the car
Mom and me: Emily was sure to pose with he dog Colombo as she flaunted her new look
Before: The model is famous for her signature dark locks
The change came just a day after she was busy expertly promoting her brand Inamorata on Insta Stories this Sunday, posing up a storm in a couple of its skimpy bikinis.
Emily, her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard and their dog Colombo are currently hunkering down at her parents' home in Los Angeles.
This Sunday she wished a happy Father's Day both to her own 'Papa' John David Ratajkowski and to Sebastian, 'Colombo's Dad.'
Emily said her husband, a producer whose credits include Uncut Gems starring Adam Sandler, is 'the absolute best to our baby.'
Although the couple were initially hunkering down in New York City, then the American epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, they flew to Los Angeles on April 15.
The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention had issued an advisory on March 28 asking 'residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.'
A New York City police officer has been suspended after a video posted online showed him apparently rendering a black man unconscious in a chokehold after the city council voted to make it a crime for police to use the grip.
New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea called the apparent chokehold incident during an arrest "disturbing" and said the officer was suspended without pay on Sunday, pending a full investigation.
Scrutiny of the police has intensified across the country in the wake of the May 25 death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, during an arrest in Minneapolis. Video showed a white officer with his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes.
At a hearing on Monday on the use of force by New York police during recent street demonstrations, Shea also criticized the insulting language used by the arrested man and two others who he said had cursed at the officers.
The officers involved had shown "extreme restraint" in the minutes leading up to the apparent chokehold, Shea said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio called the officer's response unacceptable, but told reporters he was encouraged by the swift action taken against the officer, and because another officer on the scene stepped in to stop it.
"That represents the best of our police, not letting something like that happen," de Blasio said.
Cellphone and police body-cam videos showed many officers restraining the man on his stomach and one officer wrapping his arm around the man's neck. The New York Police Department banned chokeholds in 1993.
The man was arrested for being "disorderly" and was hospitalized after briefly falling unconscious, according to his lawyers at Queens Defenders. They called on the arresting officer to be prosecuted.
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Ive had what I think is burning mouth syndrome for about two months, and its getting worse, not better. Are there any at-home treatments that will make it less uncomfortable?
ANSWER: Before you try any treatments, I recommend you first get a thorough evaluation from a health care provider who is familiar with burning mouth syndrome. Its important to rule out underlying medical conditions that could be contributing to your symptoms. Then, if the condition truly is burning mouth syndrome, a wide variety of treatment options are available, including self-care steps that may reduce discomfort.
Burning mouth syndrome is a persistent feeling of burning in the mouth that is not due to mouth abnormalities or other health issues. About 2% of the population is affected by it. The burning sensation often is felt on the tip, sides and top of the tongue; the roof of the mouth; and the inside of the lips. However, it may occur anywhere in the mouth. It also can cause you to experience a bitter or metallic taste, as well as tingling, stinging or numbness. These symptoms may come and go, increase gradually as the day wears on, or be constant. Some people have the feeling of dry mouth.
AFLCMC acquires new Air Force handgun
By Brian Brackens, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Public Affairs / Published June 22, 2020
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- Combat arms units across the Air Force are getting new and improved 9mm caliber handguns to replace the M9 pistols that have been in service since 1985.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Small Arms Program Office acquired approximately 125,000 M18s from Sig Sauer for $22.1 million, and is making them available to Air Force organizations that have a handgun requirement.
The purchase includes test ammunition as well as engineering services.
"The Air Force bought the M9s back in the 1980s, and the design has not really changed since then," said Merrill Adkison, Small Arms Program Office senior logistics manager. "M9s are larger, heavier, all-metal pistols; whereas M18s are lighter polymer pistols with a more consistent trigger pull and adjustable grips for large and small hands."
Adkison added that providing a modern handgun to Airmen was important in part due to the increasing difficulty of replacing and sustaining older technology in M9s.
In response to issues with the age and sustainment of M9s, the Air Force Security Forces Center developed the Capability Production Document for the Modular Handgun System that the Army later adopted, resulting in procurement of the M17 and M18 Modular Handgun System.
The new M18 costs the Air Force about one-third of what it would cost to buy an M9 today.
"It is important for the U.S. Air Force to move forward with improvement and replacement of weapon systems to keep pace with potential adversaries and field the best technology and equipment available for our warfighters," said Brian Lautzenheiser, lead program manager in the office. "The USAF Small Arms Program Office has worked with the Army to get these new weapons on contract and in the hands of the warfighters. We are a small team with a lot going on as we work to procure and sustain all small arms from pistols to .50 caliber ground-mounted machine guns. We have a great professional team that understands the importance of assisting the field to meet their needs."
The program office anticipates that M18 delivery will be complete by August 2022.
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Nadine Girault will take over the immigration portfolio from Simon Jolin-Barrette. The change is part of a important cabinet shuffle by Quebec Premier Francois Legault on June 22.
Nadine Girault appointed Quebecs new immigration minister Nadine Girault will take over the immigration portfolio from Simon Jolin-Barrette. The change is part of a important cabinet shuffle by Quebec Premier Francois Legault on June 22.
Nadine Girault appointed Quebecs new immigration minister Nadine Girault will take over the immigration portfolio from Simon Jolin-Barrette. The change is part of a important cabinet shuffle by Quebec Premier Francois Legault on June 22.
Nadine Girault appointed Quebecs new immigration minister Nadine Girault will take over the immigration portfolio from Simon Jolin-Barrette. The change is part of a important cabinet shuffle by Quebec Premier Francois Legault on June 22. Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif
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Nadine Girault, a member of Quebecs governing party, who is of Haitian origin and who arrived in Canada from the United States, has been appointed as the provinces new minister of immigration.
Nadine Girault is also Quebecs Minister of International Relations and the Francophonie.
She replaces Simon Jolin-Barrette, who has held this position since the Coalition avenir Quebec (CAQ) party took office in October 2018.
Jolin-Barrette bills on secularism and the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) have been controversial not only among the opposition parties but also among a significant portion of the population.
Last November, Jolin-Barrette tabled PEQ rules that significantly reduced the number of students and employees who could be accepted in Quebec at a time when labour shortages were affecting all regions. Attacked from all sides for his reform project, Jolin-Barrette eventually withdrew these changes so they could be reviewed.
Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs
This past May, the Quebec government once again announced new reforms to the PEQ and the intention to launch two new pilot programs.
In addition to her previous duties, Nadine Girault will be responsible for carrying out the newly announced PEQ reforms, launching new pilots and identifying pathways to permanent residence for health care workers who claimed asylum in Canada.
Immigration policy touches Quebecers, Canadians, and non-Canadians alike, and the minister leading the department is often seen as a reflection of the governments tone and objectives. If that is the case, then Giraults appointment may be viewed in a positive light.
The fact that the newly appointed immigration minister has a diverse cultural background and a global outlook, may suggest an attempt by the Quebec provincial government to change a discourse that has been viewed as anti-immigration until now.
Many think that Nadine Giraults style will be gentler and more open towards immigrants than that of her predecessor.
During todays press conference, Nadine Girault pointed out that Quebecs immigration objectives have been reduced only temporarily to facilitate the integration and francization of newcomers, but that she intends to continue to support this initiative.
Legault, on the other hand, stressed the fact that the economic factor will continue to play an important role in the immigration portfolio.
Immigration is also an economic portfolio. We have the right, and even the responsibility, to recruit newcomers who meet the needs of the labour market, he said during the briefing today.
Quebecs vision and objectives for immigration will remain the same, he added.
In addition to her duties as Minister of Immigration and International Relations, Nadine Girault will also co-chair the recently created Action Group Against Racism, whose mission is to study the situation of visible minorities in Quebec in several areas of activity.
Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs
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06/23/2020
Photo (c) Tyukin - Getty Images During a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said state reopenings have given way to a disturbing surge in COVID-19 infections in some parts of the nation.
A couple of days ago, there were 30,000 new infections. Thats very disturbing to me, Fauci said Tuesday, adding that the next few weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges.
States seeing rises in new cases include Texas, Florida, and Arizona, among others. Fauci said a rise of at least 5 percent is happening in 26 states, and its mainly due to an increase in community transmission.
More testing to come
Fauci seemed to disagree with Presidents Trumps recent statement asserting that the increase in infections was due to an increase in testing.
When you do testing to that extent, youre going to find more people, youre going to find more cases, Trump said at a campaign rally over the weekend. So I said to my people, Slow the testing down, please. They test and they test.
"To my knowledge, none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing. That just is a fact. In fact, we will be doing more testing," Fauci said.
In light of the concerning increase in COVID-19 cases, Fauci encouraged young people to remain vigilant with health and safety precautions. While its unlikely that younger people will get critically ill from the virus, he said its important for everyone to consider their potential impact on the pandemic as a whole.
Even though the overwhelming majority then do well, what you cant forget is if you get infected and spread the infection, even though you do not get sick, you are part of the process of the dynamics of an outbreak, Fauci said. What you might be propagating, perhaps innocently, is you infect someone, who infects someone, who then infects someone who is vulnerable.
Fauci said at the hearing that he expects a vaccine to be ready by early next year.
Iran: 22-y-o woman killed by father in 3rd 'honor killing' this month
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In a third honor killing in less than a month, a 22-year-old woman bled to death after her father hit her with an iron bar, leading to widespread demand for justice in Iran where a father killing his child is not considered a murder.
The victim, identified as Rayhaneh Ameri from Kerman province, was killed by her father last Sunday night because she had returned home late, according to Radio Farda.
The following morning, Reyhanehs mother and sister found her garments soaked in blood, and police found traces of blood leading to her fathers car. After being caught, the father confessed to killing his daughter.
The father, who reportedly regrets having murdered daughter, put her body in the trunk of his car and disposed of her body in a nearby village.
"[B]ased on a forensic report, Rayhaneh was alive two hours before police discovered what had happened but had died of profuse bleeding," Radio Farda added.
Honor killings are prevalent in some hardline Muslim societies, as well as in some Asian countries, where relatives kill family members who they believe have disgraced the family in some way. Irans law doesnt treat a father who kills his child as a murderer, nor does it make him liable for the death penalty.
In May, a 14-year-old Iranian girl, Romina Ashrafi, was beheaded by her father in Gilan province after she ran away with an older man who had groomed her.
According to Gilkhabar.ir, Ashrafi was brutally dismembered with a sickle, a tool with a curved blade that is generally used to harvest crops. Following the crime, the girl's father confessed to the crime with the sickle in his hand outside of the house.
Citing local media, the BBC reports that Ashrafi ran away from her home in Irans Gilan province with the 34-year-old man, Bahamn Khavari, after her father objected to their marriage. The couple was found by police five days later. Although Romina reportedly warned police that her life would be in danger if she returned home, they escorted her back to her family.
Also in May, an 18-year-old girl was killed when her brother set fire to the house she was in, in retaliation for her marrying an older man, according to The Jerusalem Post.
After Ashrafis beheading, Iran President Hassan Rouhani called on his cabinet to swiftly enact stricter laws on honor killings.
Masoumeh Ebtekar, Irans vice president of family affairs, told The Associated Press at the time that he hoped a bill creating harsher punishments for honor killings would make it through its final stages of approval.
The U.N.s Childrens Fund also issued a statement condemning Ashrafis murder. At a time when families all over the world are staying home to protect themselves from COVID-19, its particularly devastating that a child loses her life in such a brutal act of violence.
Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad wrote on Twitter that Ashrafi wasnt the first and wouldnt be the last victim of honor killings in Iran if laws aren't changed.
Years ago, Atefeh Navidi, a young girl from Iran, had her head chopped off by her father as well because she had a boyfriend. As you can hear from the interview I had with the mom, shes hesitant to defend her daughter, Alinejad wrote. For as long as the current laws discriminating against girls and empowering abusive parents exist, unfortunately, the cycle of violence will continue. Iran will see more Ruminas and Atefehs tragically killed by their fathers. This cycle of violence needs to end.
By Rich McKay ATLANTA (Reuters) - A public viewing for Rayshard Brooks, the Black man shot in the back by an Atlanta police officer outside a Wendy's restaurant, got under way at the city's Ebenezer Baptist Church on Monday after eight men carried his gold-colored casket inside. Brooks' June 12 death at the hands of officers who were called to the scene because he had fallen asleep in his car further heightened tensions over police brutality and racism in American policing that had been burning since the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in late May. Brooks, 27, was the latest in a long line of African Americans whose fatal encounters with law enforcement have been documented on video
By Rich McKay
ATLANTA (Reuters) - A public viewing for Rayshard Brooks, the Black man shot in the back by an Atlanta police officer outside a Wendy's restaurant, got under way at the city's Ebenezer Baptist Church on Monday after eight men carried his gold-colored casket inside.
Brooks' June 12 death at the hands of officers who were called to the scene because he had fallen asleep in his car further heightened tensions over police brutality and racism in American policing that had been burning since the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in late May.
Brooks, 27, was the latest in a long line of African Americans whose fatal encounters with law enforcement have been documented on video. His funeral, which the family's lawyer said would be paid for by filmmaker Tyler Perry, is scheduled for Tuesday.
Brooks' body arrived in a black hearse and was escorted through the brick church's doors beneath a large glass facade. The hearse had a placard on its side with a picture of Brooks and next to his name was written: "KILLED in Atlanta, Georgia 2020"
Latoia Spikes, who was the first in a line that started forming around noon, said she wanted to be in attendance to show respect for Brooks, who she believed was unfairly gunned down in his encounter with Atlanta police.
"It's important to me because this is history," she said, while using a hand fan to fend off the heat on a hot summer day. "I want to honor him and show respect for him and his family."
Police were called to the fast food restaurant after a restaurant employee called police and said that Brooks was asleep in his car in the drive-through lane and appeared intoxicated.
He tussled with officers after failing a sobriety test and apparently ran off with a Taser stun gun from one of the officers. Video shows that Brooks appeared to fire the Taser in the direction of the officers.
Brooks was shot twice in the back, with one round piercing his heart, officials said.
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard asserted that Brooks was running away at the time of the shooting, was more than 18 feet away and posed no threat.
Surveillance and other videos also appeared to show one officer kicking Brooks and another standing on his shoulders as he lay dying.
The former Atlanta police officer who shot Brooks, Garrett Rolfe, 27, was fired and charged with murder. A second officer, Devin Brosnan, 26, was placed on administrative duty and charged with aggravated assault. The city's police chief resigned.
The Wendy's restaurant was burned down after the killing.
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta, additional reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Alistair Bell)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New York, June 23 : US President Donald Trump's spokesperson has expressed outrage at the defacement of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Washington during protests against police brutality.
For the protesters, "apparently the line goes all the way to Gandhi", Kayleigh McEnany said on Monday commenting on the spree of defacing and damaging statutes sweeping the nation.
Gandhi's statue was defaced with personal insults to him and an unprintable anti-India slogan on June 2.
Asked about demands by protesters against police brutality and their supporters to remove some statues, she said: "What we're seeing across the country is really quite confusing, because you're seeing statues defaced, like Gandhi's statue defaced and Ulysses S Grant's statues." Before becoming President, Grant was the US commanding general during the civil war leading the fight against the secessionist confederate states that opposed the abolition of slavery.
His statue was pulled down by anti-racism protesters on San Francisco on June 19.
McEnany also mentioned the defacement of the statue of anti-slavery campaigner Matthias Baldwin, by groups protesting racism and police brutality on June 17 in Philadelphia.
While there has been understandable opposition to the statues and the memorialising of figures from the confederate side that unsuccessfully seceded fought against the abolition of slavery, some of the actions of the protesters appear mindless, perhaps fueled by their own racism.
McEnanay said: "We're being told that George Washington's statue needs to come down and Thomas Jefferson's statue needs to come down. Where do you draw the line, you know, from Gandhi, all the way down to George Washington?" The protesters and some of the politicians supporting them have called for removing the statues and monuments to the Father of the Nation, George Washington and other founding fathers like Thomas Jefferson, who had owned slaves, and Christopher Columbus, who led Europeans to an already inhabited continent.
A statue of Columbus was toppled and beheaded in Camden in New Jersey on June 18.
The protests against police brutality, some of which have been violent, were set off by the extra-judicial killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man by a policeman in Minneapolis on May 25.
(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
Latest updates on Gandhi Jayanti 2019
Andrew Cuomo has refused to accept blame for his decision to return coronavirus patients to their nursing homes, despite the directive being blamed by many for contributing to the more than 6,000 New York nursing home deaths.
More patients died in New York nursing homes than in nursing homes in any other state.
'Yes, we had more people die in nursing homes than anywhere else because we had more people die,' Cuomo told MSNBC on Monday.
'Because the federal government missed the boat and never told us that this virus was coming from Europe and not from China.'
Andrew Cuomo, appearing on MSNBC Monday, blamed the federal government for deaths in New York nursing homes. On March 25 he ordered those recovering to be sent back to homes
He said that those questioning his decision were 'playing politics', and said Republicans seized on the criticism to deflect attention from their own deficiencies.
'It's all a political charade, and it's an ugly one, to be honest,' he said.
'The Republicans are playing politics. They don't want to talk about how they are now handling the COVID crisis.
'And January, February, March before they did the European travel ban three million people came from Europe and brought the virus to New York and the federal government didn't know - and the federal government and the CDC and all of them failed to handle this pandemic and warn this nation.
'So New York had more cases, more deaths and more deaths in nursing homes because that's who the virus affects. It affects senior citizens. We know that.'
On March 25 the governor of New York ordered that those recovering from COVID-19 be sent back to their nursing homes, to help free up hospital beds for the sickest patients as cases surged.
Over a month later, on April 29, the Health Department clarified that homes should not take any new residents if they were unable to meet their needs, including a checklist of standards for coronavirus care and prevention.
This map shared by the federal government shows that COVID-19 cases in nursing homes have been rampant in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts as indicated in red
This map shows where nursing home deaths due to COVID-19 have been prevalent, especially in New York state
This chart shows a breakdown of states per average number of deaths per 1,000 residents wtih Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut suffering the highest rates at 105.5, 101.3, and 88.2 deaths respectively
In the meantime, some nursing homes felt obligated and overwhelmed.
On May 10 reversed the directive, and blamed Donald Trump.
'Why did the state do that with COVID patients in nursing homes?' said the governor at the time.
'It's because the state followed President Trump's CDC guidelines. So they should ask President Trump.'
Coronavirus cases as of Monday at 5pm
On Monday Cuomo instead turned his anger at Republican governors who were opening up too quickly and seeing a spike in cases. New York, he said, currently has the lowest infection rate in the United States and the economic recovery is 'sustainable, rather than these fits and starts'.
He said he was considering a travel ban for those currently in hard-hit states, among them Florida and Texas.
'Let them look in the mirror and say, you know what, we were wrong, and we are killing people unnecessarily through this reckless reopening and it's not working for the economy either,' he said.
Cuomo has been widely praised for his handling of New York's coronavirus pandemic, which in April saw New York City become the global epicenter of the disease.
But his decision to send patients back to nursing homes remains deeply controversial.
There have now been more than 120,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States
Nationwide, nursing homes reported nearly 179,000 suspected or confirmed cases among residents and 29,497 deaths as of June 7
Nursing home residents account for nearly one in 10 of all coronavirus cases in the US and more than a quarter of the deaths in the country, according to a new report. A Cataldo EMS team pick up a suspected COVID-19 patient at Eastpointe Rehabilitation, a nursing home, on April 23 in Chelsea, Massachusetts
Medical workers on May 6 attend to a patient outside Harlem Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation where at least 20 bodies were removed during coronavirus pandemic
The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, known as AMDA, had warned from the beginning that Cuomo's order admitting infected patients posed a 'clear and present danger' to nursing home residents.
Jeffrey N. Nichols, who serves on the executive committee of the group, said 'the effect of that order was to contribute to 5,000 deaths.'
An analysis by the Associated Press at the end of May found that more than 4,500 recovering patients were sent to New York's already vulnerable nursing homes.
'It was the single dumbest decision anyone could make if they wanted to kill people,' said Daniel Arbeeny, who pulled his 88-year-old father out of a Brooklyn nursing home where more than 50 people have died.
His father later died of COVID-19 at home.
'This isn't rocket science,' he told AP.
'We knew the most vulnerable - the elderly and compromised - are in nursing homes and rehab centers.'
In Manhattan, at least 98 residents of Isabella Geriatric Center died since the pandemic started. Some died at the nursing home and some died after being treated at hospitals.
Refrigerated trucks were parked outside the Isabella Geriatric Center on May 2 in Manhattan
Gurwin Jewish, a 460-bed home on Long Island, seemed well-prepared for the coronavirus in early March, with movable walls to seal off hallways for the infected.
But after the March 25 state order, a trickle of recovering COVID-19 patients from local hospitals turned into a flood of 58 people.
More walls were put up, but other residents nonetheless began falling sick and dying.
In the end, 47 Gurwin residents died of confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
Some states went in the opposite direction.
Louisiana barred hospitals for 30 days from sending coronavirus patients to nursing homes.
Louisiana reported about 1,000 coronavirus-related nursing home deaths, far fewer than New York.
However, that was 40 per cent of Louisiana's statewide death toll, a higher proportion than in New York.
Nearly a quarter of all deaths in the U.S. from COVID-19 have been in nursing homes.
Almost half of the more-than 15,000 nursing homes in the U.S. reported suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of June 7.
New Jersey had the highest proportion of nursing homes with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, at about 82 percent. This comprises 299 of the states 363 nursing homes.
Massachusetts had the highest proportion of nursing homes with COVID deaths, with nearly 66 percent reporting a death. That represented 247 of the states 376 nursing homes.
The nation's first major outbreak, reported in late February, was in a Seattle-area nursing home.
Working from home was already becoming more commonplace, then it became the reality for many non-essential workers who were not laid off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The convenience of working from home, however, varies depending on where you live. WalletHub released a list comparing the work-from-home conditions in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., after reviewing 12 metrics: share of workers working from home, share of potential telecommuters, households internet access, level of cybersecurity, average retail price of electricity, access to low-priced internet plan, cost of internet, share of detached housing units, share of homes for sale that have a lot bigger than 1,000 square feet, share of homes for sale with a swimming pool, and average home size, as well as how crowded those homes are. Using these metrics, each state was given a ranking for its living environment and its work environment before being given an overall rank for how good it is for anyone seeking to work from home.
That dashing flight, shining blue back, and burst of twittering which sounds more like gossip than birdsong there is no mistaking the most beautiful, agile and heart-lifting of birds, the swallow.
Swallows make one of the most thrilling journeys in the natural world, bringing hope and renewal with them. We need that hope more than ever this year, and I looked for them most keenly.
They are special to many of us, and particularly to me: following the swallows migration over 6,000 miles from South Africa to Britain changed my life.
The dashing swallow migrated in very low numbers this year but is needed more than ever
This year, some have come, but reports from around the country are worrying. The British Trust for Ornithology announced this week that it has been recording very low numbers.
They really should be here and on their breeding grounds, fretted spokesman Paul Stancliffe. The Trust speculates that storms in Greece and the Aegean and, perhaps, a late, hot spring, may have delayed their return from Africa.
The wonder of these birds lies at once in the mystery that still surrounds them and in the astounding facts we have established about their powers of flight and navigation.
Young swallows can be seen in their nests waiting for food to be provided by their mother
Having loved swallows since I was a child, I flew to South Africa in January 2008 and followed them on their journey to Britain. It soon became clear that I was dealing with a miraculous creature.
In the hand, the Barn Swallow, hirundo rustica, weighs little more than a full fountain pen but, twice a year, it makes a mind-boggling journey halfway round the world.
The task seems almost too enormous to be true: no wonder the 18th-century naturalist and writer Gilbert White mistakenly believed that swallows hibernated here in winter, clinging to reeds under frozen ponds.
White had noted that swallows followed his horse when he went riding. Horses and humans attract flies and other insects, which draw the birds.
Because our buildings provide nesting sites, and our presence deters their predators, swallows benefit from our company.
The birds are attracted to modern buildings which provide suitable nesting sites
An old tradition says that a swallow nest brings good luck to a household. We surely bring luck to them in a year of good weather, like this one, couples may raise two broods of chicks.
They have busy love lives: both parents may be unfaithful, and males have been known to destroy nests rather than raise a rivals young.
But the thrilling way they fly, their apparent relish of fine weather, how they perch on wires, unafraid, and the way they watch us come and go, make them tremendously endearing.
Perhaps this is why the British are so fond of them: their twittering is one of the sounds of summer. Watching them rear their young is a treat for thousands of us.
Watch the way a swallow flies with side-slips, dashes, sudden pauses and jinking dives. A master of aerial agility, the birds power-to-weight ratio is high. They hunt constantly in mid-air, feeding on flies and other insects.
Swallows prefer a head-wind, allowing them to change speed and direction and pause without stalling. That forked tail acts like an air-brake, giving them added lift and control at low speed.
Many swallow-lovers go to great lengths for them: I know people who have designed garage doors and outbuildings with gaps for swallows to come and go.
At the end of the summer, their preparations for departure are recorded in the last line of John Keatss great poem To Autumn: And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.
In John Keats' poem To Autumn, he writes: And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.
At the end of summer, the birds born in Britain set out on their journey south. Swallows from as far apart as Ireland and Russia all funnel down to the same African roosts, creating huge flocks.
As they roost, their numbers befuddle predators such as peregrines, hobbies and the bat hawk, a wicked-looking raptor.
Then, in late January, the second migration and the one I followed begins. Twelve years ago, I took every form of transport known to man to track them, including dug-out canoes, a camel, the back of a beer truck, buses, ferries and the back of motorbikes.
But my journey was nowhere near as perilous as the birds. Swallow mortality in the first two years of life runs at 70 per cent.
Traffic accounts for many deaths. The plunge in car use this year must have been good for them, even if low rainfall in many places will have meant fewer insects. The speed record, set by an individual ringed in South Africa and recovered in the UK, is a migration journey of less than a month an astonishing 230 miles per day.
Different cultures on the birds route, I learned, have local names and myths for them.
In Zambia, swallows are called Ifefelis, meaning the bird that never gets tired.
I found one flock that numbered 1.8 million birds and looked like a dark whirlwind, and the migrating tide is led by young males, driven by instinct to fly north since the end of the last Ice Age.
They led me across Namibia and Zambia, into the forests of the Congo. I watched them flying between the pressure-waves of the Congo river, zig-zagging around explosions of water and spray.
The birds can be seen flying through the forests and along the rivers of the Congo
Swallows navigate by a magnetic sense, allowing them to plot their position relative to the pole. They can locate the sun through cloud, and may be able to detect infrasound. This low-frequency sound, generated by waves on the seabed, rolls inland and changes according to topography and geology.
During their arduous journey north, swallows must negotiate more danger: in some African countries, they are trapped for food on reeds coated with gum.
They fatten up to cross the Sahara droughts in Africa this year may partly account for their decline and need all their strength to navigate the Mediterranean.
There is little doubt this years storms in Greece and the Aegean killed many birds. Ancient Greek vases depict swallows as far back as 500BC; it was Aristotle who first said: One swallow does not make a summer.
But birds born in Britain are unlikely to have been affected by those tempests. Our swallows tend to cross Spain and Italy, where they are shot by hunters.
After such a long and dangerous journey, it is perhaps extraordinary that so many should make the final effort to cross the Channel into Britain.
Here, swallows were associated with Easter and the Resurrection their red throat patch was said to mark the birds effort to relieve Christ of his crown of thorns.
Social media comes alive with people announcing their return, as though long-lost members of the family have reappeared.
Storms and the loss of insects plus pesticides and pollution may have affected numbers
So why are there fewer swallows this year? The loss of insects has surely taken a toll. Pesticides and pollution have played their parts.
But all is not lost. Dr Angela Turner, an expert on the bird, points out that Britains swallow population fluctuates.
It was very low in the Eighties, but increased, she says. Its too early to say whether this decline is a blip or a continuing trend.
Keep crossing your fingers for them. Their journey taught me that the world is more mysterious than we can know.
n A Single Swallow by Horatio Clare (9.99, Chatto & Windus).
Vietnams most critically ill COVID-19 patient, a British pilot with Vietnam Airlines named Stephen Cameron, is expected to be discharged from hospital and return to his homeland in the UK soon, doctors at Cho Ray Hospital have said.
Doctors of Cho Ray Hospital visit the patient
He now can leave the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for rehabilitation and return to his homeland as soon as necessary procedures that make it possible for him to leave are completed, said Assoc Prof Pham Thi Ngoc Thao, deputy director of the HCM City-based hospital.
His lung capacity has reached 85 percent, and the lung infection is completely clear," Thao said at a meeting on June 22.
The Scotsman's heart, liver and kidney functions have fully recovered, she said, adding he can communicate well with medical workers and no longer needs assistance from a ventilator to breathe.
The 43-year-old is taking part in a rehabilitation regimen to regain the strength and recovery of his hands. His muscle strength in his feet is good. He can write, eat and use his mobile phone without assistance.
Cameron, the 91st COVID-19 patient in Vietnam, spent 65 days undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in HCM City after he tested positive for the coronavirus on March 18.
On May 22, he was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital for further treatment after testing negative for COVID-19, and at the time was expected to undergo a lung transplant as the disease had reduced his lung capacity to 10 percent.
He was put on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine and a ventilator, and given many kinds of drugs, Thao said.
He at some point seemed close to death but was saved with appropriate medical interventions, she added.
He regained consciousness on May 26 and his lung capacity improved gradually, making it possible for him to survive without a lung transplant which had a high risk of death.
On June 3, he was disconnected to the ECMO machine, and on June 12 the ventilator and now he remains fully conscious.
At an online medicine consultation held on June 22 with the participation of experts who have been involved in the treatment for more than three months, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son said the patient will need to undergo at least another two to three weeks of physical therapy to be able to board a plane safely for home.
He said the patient can only leave for home if he could still receive continued care during the flight home and when the Vietnamese side can contact and communicate with an appropriate medical facility in Scotland that can receive the patient and provide him with the best care.
Vietnamese traditional medicine was also involved in the care of the patient, experts revealed at the teleconference./.VNA
Gulf countries, except Qatar of course, were swift to declare unreserved endorsement of Egypts position on developments in Libya. Escalated military intervention by Turkey in the North African country supporting militias controlling the capital Tripoli is a source of concern for many Gulf states opposed to the insurgency by political Islamists.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi warned last week that Sirte-Jafra is a red line for Egypt, as Turkey-backed militia advance east of Tripoli. After inspecting military units at an army base near the border with Libya, Al-Sisi said that any Egyptian action in Libya would have international legitimacy because it would be self-defence against threats from terrorist militias and mercenaries. He then added that, if the Libyan people asked us to intervene, this would be a signal to the world that Egypt and Libya are one country, one interest.
Hours after these statements, Saudi Arabia and the UAE announced official support for Egypts pursuit to protect national security and full agreement with Cairo on its approach to the Libyan crisis.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation affirmed the UAEs solidarity with the Arab Republic of Egypt in all measures taken to safeguard its security against alarming developments taking place in the brotherly state of Libya, the official Emirati news agency (WAM) reported. Quoting a statement by the Foreign Ministry, it added that the UAE expressed its appreciation for the diligent efforts made by Egypt to reach a comprehensive political settlement in Libya, particularly the Cairo Initiative, which is consistent with all relevant international resolutions. The statement also emphasised the need for disbandment of militias and relinquishment of their weapons, in addition to putting an end to foreign interference and stopping foreign support for extremist forces in Libya.
Saudi Arabia did the same, announcing full support for Egypt and its leaders message on Libya. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said Egypts security is an integral part of the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab nation as a whole. It added: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls on the international community to fulfil its responsibilities and respond to the calls and the initiative of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to reach a comprehensive solution that ensures the safety and security of the Libyan lands.
Bahrain also did the same. The three Gulf countries along with Egypt share a goal of standing up to militant terrorism in the region and the countries sponsoring it. Three years ago, the four countries boycotted Qatar for its support of terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the region. Qatar denies the accusation and insists that its support for the Muslim Brotherhood is a sovereign foreign policy decision.
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash tweeted that, Huge Arab support of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisis statement on Libya indicates Arab world rejection of regional countries infringement of its borders and sovereignty. Current weakness of Arab order is temporary.
Gulf countries are strongly against Turkeys interference in the region. Though Turkey is occupying parts of Syria and interfering militarily in Iraq, its military involvement in Libya adds to Gulf resentment.
Nobody wants another Afghanistan in Libya, threatening not only Egypt but the rest of the region, a Gulf official said. He added that support of Egypt by the UAE and Saudi Arabia is more in the interest of Gulf countries and their stability.
Another Gulf source said that the tide is now against militants and the moderate Arab bloc, comprising Gulf and other Arab countries, wont allow the Ikhwan (Muslim Brotherhood) or their backers (Turkey and Qatar) to resurface after people rejected them years ago when they hijacked the so-called Arab Spring.
The analogy with Afghanistan, where militant terrorism started decades ago through Arab (mainly Egyptian) recruits and Gulf finances under American auspices, is significant. But now, Gulf countries along with Egypt are fighting the main recruiter at the time: the Muslim Brotherhood and their affiliate political Islamists.
Since the Egyptians threw the Muslim Brotherhood out of power in 2013, Gulf countries drew closer to Egypt. Even in Syria, the Saudi and Emirati positions are shifting away from the terrorist-dominated, Turkey-backed opposition. Egypt maintained a neutral position throughout the Syrian crisis.
Besides Gulf support for Egypt in general, Saudi Arabia is wary of Turkish involvement in Yemen through Muslim Brotherhood-affiliate Islah, now seeking Turkish military assistance and training on the southern borders of the Saudi Kingdom.
For years, Libya has been a focal point for terrorist militants from the whole region and this poses a direct threat to all those countries fighting terrorism, like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Saudi commentator Abdul-Aziz Alkhames says: Turkey has a military base in Qatar, but it is mainly for protecting the Qatari regime, and there is an American base as well, that is not for supporting the Ikhwan in the region, as the case of Turkish bases in Libya.
In addition, there is the danger of a country like Libya, with all its wealth and absence of proper state institutions, falling into the hands of terrorist groups. That will be huge empowerment of these militant terrorist groups to undermine the stability of more countries, not only neighbouring Egypt, but also threatening the Gulf as well, Alkhames said.
It seems that Gulf countries now realise it was a mistake to let Iran extend its influence in Iraq and Syria until it penetrated Yemen through the Huthi militia. Allowing Turkish presence in Libya is not possible as it will enhance their involvement in Yemen. Such a mistake towards Iran wont be repeated, Alkhames stressed.
In conclusion, Gulf support for Egypt on Libya is not a tactical position but rather a strategic one in facing political Islamist militants and their regional backers: Turkey and Qatar.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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Prabha Singh claims it took her three days to get an update on the status of her 63-year-old father who has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Lok Nayak Hospital.
My father is a sugar patient and has severe breathing issues. All I need to know is whether a doctor is periodically checking on him and he is receiving medicines on time, said Singh.
On Monday, she was finally able to talk to a doctor treating her father after a person on the helpdesk called her from her fathers mobile phone and made the doctor speak to her.
Singhs experience isnt unique.
Despite a temporary helpdesk created to provide updates on the condition of patients, relatives of people admitted to the Covid wards of Lok Nayak say that its still very difficult to get one.
Lok Nayak Hospital is Delhis biggest Covid hospital with 2,000 beds, of which 37% were occupied on Monday, according to data provided on the Delhi Corona mobile app. The 2,000 beds account for nearly 15% of all 13,377 beds currently available in Delhis hospitals. The hospital also has 64 ventilators, the maximum at any single Covid facility in Delhi. Over 78% of the ventilators at the hospital are under use.
Rohit Kumar, said he had to wait for two hours before a security guard took him near the Covid ward where he handed over a bag of clothes for his 26-year-old sister, Rachna Verma, who has been admitted for 20 days.
I got a slip made at the helpdesk, but I couldnt find the guard who was assigned to me, Rohit Kumar said after finally meeting the guard and sending across the bag.
A senior doctor serving in the Covid ward of the hospital said that while government doctors are trained to take on heavy case load and work for long hours, demands for updates from the relatives of patients are overwhelming.
The phone numbers of doctors are not shared with patients relatives, but we receive requests for updates from the coordination cell that caters to relatives, added this doctor who asked not to be named.
But there are so many patients that it is not possible to repeatedly respond to each of their queries. Yet, we are doing all we can to inform them, and even help get across things they want to send to their patients, said the doctor.
A Delhi government spokesperson said that from Tuesday a full-fledged helpdesk will start operating from the hospital. From Tuesday, well have a proper helpdesk where at least half-a-dozen people, from representatives of the chief minister to hospital doctors, will be stationed to cater to the queries of the kin of the patients.
The spokesperson added that a WhatsApp helpline number has been launched to cater to the relatives.
On Monday, while posters of the WhatsApp helpline numbers were pasted near the helpdesk, relatives of many patients were seen waiting to collect slips from the temporary helpdesk so that they could either send across clothers or food, or have a word with the doctors.
We are doing our best under the current circumstances, said a staff member at the desk, refusing to identify herself or speak any further.
Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director (MD) of the hospital, said clothes are not allowed to be taken to the wards since there is a risk of them bringing infection. We only allow eatables and water, etc brought by the family members.
As for the patients facing problem in speaking to their family members, he said most patients have their cell phones with them. The problem occurs when they are on oxygen on ventilator support, which is true for most of our patients. We cannot remove the oxygen to allow the patients to talk to the family members.
The hospital MD said that with 10 tablets being pressed into service, relatives will be able to interact with their kin over video. We have purchased ten tablets -- half of which will remain in the wards and the rest will be kept at the help desk. The relatives of the patients can come to the helpdesk for say two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening and communicate with them over video call. If successful, we will add the tablets to each ward, said Dr Kumar.
Many relatives said they frequently try the helpline numbers to receive an update on their kin. While some succeed, others said they often have to wait for hours to hear back.
Nitin Kumar, whose 70-year-old father Hoshiyaar Singh, is in the hospitals ICU, said the number is often busy, but admits that he does eventually get an update from the doctor. They just tell me that he is stable and that he is eating well. In these times, that is all I want to hear.
Pradeep Kumar, whose uncle is in the Covid ward of the same hospital, said he doesnt receive a response despite waiting for hours.I am told that Ill receive a response in two minutes. That two minutes turn into two hours, but the response never arrives. My uncle has told me that there are two dozen wards, but only half-a-dozen doctors tending to them. So, I have decided to visit the hospital to directly seek response rather than dialling the helpline number.
Kumar requested staff at the helpdesk to give him a PPE kit and then take him to his uncle, but the staff turned his request down.
A Perth man who claims to have 10 years of experience as a psychologist despite being only 23 years old is the subject of a warning from Consumer Protection, and on Tuesday was questioned by police.
Tyson John Vacher, also known as Dr John Vacher, trading as John Vacher Psychology, has been making false or misleading statements on his website jvpsychology.com about his experience and qualifications, and anyone seeking mental health service is warned to avoid the North Fremantle business.
Tyson Vacher, operating as 'John Vacher', claimed to have a decade's experience in his field, despite only being 23 years old.
Mr Vacher who is due to face court in July on drug and stolen property charges claims to hold a psychology degree from the University of Southern Queensland and says he is a member of the Australian Counsellors Association, neither of which is true.
A listing on the Psychology Today website also suggests he has a PhD.
Rosamund Pike has admitted that she used to find red carpet premieres 'unbearable' when she was younger.
The Gone Girl star, 41, likened the events to 'being eaten alive' and revealed that she has now 'trained' herself to put up a 'shell'.
Rosamund also shared that Pierce Brosnan helped her overcome her fear after he warned her about red carpets at the start of her career.
Candid: Rosamund Pike has admitted that she used to find red carpet premieres 'unbearable' when she was younger (pictured in March)
The duo both starred in James Bond movie Die Another Day in 2002, where Rosamund soared to fame as Miranda Frost.
Talking to PA news agency, she said: 'I've trained myself. When I was younger I found the same sort of scrutiny just unbearable. Now I've found a strategy and I can do it. At first you feel like you're being eaten alive.'
Speaking about how Pierce helped her, she added: 'I could hear this noise of people and he said "Just wait, around the corner they're there ready to eat you alive" or something he didn't actually say that, but that's what I heard.
'Eaten alive': The Gone Girl star, 41, likened the events to 'being eaten alive' and revealed that she has now 'trained' herself to put up a 'shell' (pictured in 2002 with Pierce Brosnan)
'And then we went up on the stage and I nearly fell over, it was so The force of these people, the photographers, the flashbulbs. He just put his arm around me, and I thought: "God, he realises I'm about to fall over."
'And he just had me. Because it is a shock, it feels like you are being eaten alive for a minute. And then you start to realise that you can put up a shell.'
The star has had a successful career since Die Another Day and has starred in the likes of Pride & Prejudice, Gone Girl and A Private War.
It comes after Rosamund voiced the character of a new Royal Engine, a Duchess who is 'feeling the pressure', in the 75th anniversary of Thomas The Tank Engine.
Supportive: Rosamund shared that Pierce Brosnan helped her overcome her fear after he warned her about red carpets at the start of her career (pictured in 2002)
Breakout role: The duo both starred in James Bond movie Die Another Day in 2002, where Rosamund soared to fame as Miranda Frost (pictured in movie still)
Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine, celebrated the British heritage of the brand, and included a special introduction on screen by Harry, The Duke of Sussex
Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales as a boy are characters in Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine special episode where Thomas travels to London for first time on a mission to take Sir Topham Hatt to Buckingham Palace to receive an honour.
Actress Rosamund said it was 'an honour' to voice the Duchess of Loughborough.
She said: 'Duchess is a lovely, warm, bubbly sort of effervescent engine who I was incredibly drawn to because she is very anxious to get things right.
'Duchess has a very important job, but she is feeling the pressure. In her striving to get everything right a few things go wrong, which often happens when you try too hard to make things perfect.'
New role: It comes after Rosamund voiced the character of a new Royal Engine, a Duchess who is 'feeling the pressure' in the 75th anniversary of Thomas The Tank Engine in April
She continued: 'Duchess has an important job in the fact she transports The Royal Family, which is obviously an exciting role however that comes with great responsibility.
'You don't want anything to go wrong when you have such very important passengers. I know our Royal Family does like to travel by train, so it is apt that they feature in this episode.'
Rosamund also said she has met a very important member of the Royal Family before.
She said: 'I met the Queen at the premiere of my first film which was a Bond film called Die Another Day, as we had a Royal premiere at The Royal Albert Hall.
Getting involved: Prince Harry posed for a photo during the recording of his introduction to the new special Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine, set when Prince Charles was a boy
'When we met the Queen there were so many things that could go wrong in terms of the correct way to behave.
'I know that a lot of the younger royals don't stand on the ceremony, but I think you still want to get it right - certainly when you are meeting the Queen. So, I practised my curtsy, saying ma'am and when to say, 'Your Royal Highness' or 'Your Majesty'.
'I have a very wonderful, treasured photo of myself, Madonna and the Queen from that meeting. I am sort of mid-curtsy looking slightly anxious, but I was only aged 21 and it was a very big night for me.'
Rosamund said: 'Duchess (left) has a very important job, but she is feeling the pressure. In her striving to get everything right a few things go wrong, which often happens when you try too hard to make things perfect'
The on-camera introduction made by The Duke of Sussex was recorded in January earlier this year with a donation made to charity.
Set when the Prince of Wales was a boy, the 22-minute special saw the friendly engine taking Sir Topham Hatt, the controller of the railway, to Buckingham Palace to receive an honour.
In his introduction - which was recorded in January before his move overseas - Prince Harry sat in an armchair, reading from a book about the train's adventures.
The show aired by Netflix in the U.S on May 1 and on Channel 5's Milkshake show in the UK the following day.
Folks, I realize many of you are going through the same range of emotions as I am as I watch leftists' full-blown war on our country. One part of me wants to produce a YouTube video in which I scream at all the idiots pandering to the scumbag hate groups Antifa and Black Lives Matter. The other part of me says, Lloyd, you must remain calm and simply deliver facts.
In the Bible, Daniel was thrown into the lion's den for refusing to kneel in worship to a government leader. Daniel said he kneels only to the true God. Here in the United States of America, Antifa is demanding that white America literally kneel in worship to Black Lives Matter, an evil false god. Shockingly, Democrat congressional members, mayors, and governors along with major corporations, churches, and indoctrinated white youths are kneeling.
Etched on my brain is the image of the sea of yellow school buses I saw as a child with my dad at the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.
I heard Dr. King say, "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."
"I have a dream that one day ... there in Alabama little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and little white girls as brothers and sisters."
Dr. King would be appalled how his vision of racial equality and unity has been perverted into an anti-Christian movement that demands that whites hate themselves, kneel, and beg forgiveness for being born white.
Fake news media and Democrats repeatedly use the bullying tactic dictating what everyone must say and think about an issue. Anyone who dares to go against their narrative is high-tech burned at the stake in the public square. Here are a few examples of the growing long list of topics we are not allowed to tell the truth about.
People have been fired for stating the scientific fact that a man cannot transform into a woman. A broadcaster was fired for stating the biblical truth that "all lives matter."
The left's latest "Big Lie" that we don't dare reject is that America is irreversibly infected with "systemic racism." Sadly and frustratingly, Christian broadcasters, corporations, and politicians are on their knees, bombarding us with TV commercials pledging to fix the cruelty blacks are suffering at the hands of racist white America. Their cowardly surrender to the "Big Lie" turns my stomach!
Joseph Goebbels said, "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."
As a proud and grateful American who happens to be black, I challenge leftists to show me this mythical "systemic racism" that is supposedly making life in America hell for me and my fellow blacks.
"Systemic racism" is a big lie to keep blacks voting for Democrats who have been promising to fix it for over 50 years. The real and greatest enemy of black Americans is "monolithic loyal voting for Democrats." Every city in which blacks are suffering with failing schools, black-on-black homicides, fatherless households, gangs, drugs, incarceration, and poverty have been controlled by Democrats for decades. If BLM was really about empowering blacks, they would angrily protest Democrats rather than white Americans, statues, old movies, U.S. history, and free speech.
I don't know about you guys, but I am so done with leftist political hacks being allowed to bully the masses into embracing their divisive, racial hategenerating, anti-Christian, and evil socialist/communist agenda.
President Trump's speech at his rally in Tulsa, Okla. further confirmed that despite fake news media's Democrats', Deep-Staters', and #NeverTrumps' unprecedented evil and unlawful efforts to transform him into a sycophant of the Washington, D.C. swamp, Trump remains solidly one of us. He understands us. He talks like us. And he wants what we want for America! Praise God!
Our president said, "The choice in 2020 is very simple. You want to bow before the left-wing mob? Or do you want to stand up tall and proud as Americans?"
"Joe Biden and the Democrats wanna prosecute Americans for going to church, but not for burning a church[.] ... They believe you can riot, vandalize, and destroy, but you cannot attend a peaceful pro-America rally."
My fellow Americans, we are so blessed to have President Donald J. Trump. Remarkably, Trump has been able to defeat Democrats' long list of schemes to transform our country away from the divinely inspired vision of our Founding Fathers.
Trump must be re-elected in November.
Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American
Help Lloyd Spread the Truth
https://www.trumptrainusa2020.com/
http://LloydMarcus.com
An AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle, Taiwan's first locally manufactured advanced jet trainer, takes off in Taichung, Taiwan, on June 22, 2020. (Ann Wang/Reuters)
Taiwan Boosts Domestic Defense Development Plan With New Jet
TAICHUNG, TaiwanTaiwan President Tsai Ing-wen oversaw the first public test flight of a new locally designed and made advanced jet trainer on June 22, part of her governments plan to boost defenses in the face of a growing challenge from China.
Taiwans armed forces are mostly equipped by the United States, but Tsai has made development of an advanced home-grown defense industry a priority, especially as the Chinese regime, which claims the island as its own, steps up military modernization efforts.
The new AT-5 Brave Eagle, made by state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp with a budget of T$68.6 billion ($2.32 billion), is the first jet made domestically since the F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighter, rolled out more than three decades ago.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen poses for a photo in front of the AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle, Taiwans first locally manufactured advanced jet trainer, in Taichung, Taiwan, on June 22, 2020. (Ann Wang/Reuters)
Speaking at an air base in the central city of Taichung, Tsai said the new aircraft disproved naysayers who thought Taiwan lacked the technology and should focus on meeting its defense needs from abroad.
The new trainer aircraft not only has created more than 2,000 job opportunities, but will also pass on experiences and cultivate a new generation of aerospace industry technical talent, she said.
The single AT-5, flanked by a Ching-kuo fighter, made a 12-minute flight in front of Tsai. Its first official test flight was earlier this month, less than a year after the prototype was unveiled.
The trainer can be equipped with weapons. Taiwans air force plans on taking 66 units by 2026 to replace aging AT-3 and F-5 training aircraft.
The test flight came amid a stepped-up Chinese military presence near the democratic island. Taiwan says Chinas air force has flown near it at least eight times in the last two weeks, the latest on Monday.
Taiwan unveiled its largest defense spending increase in more than a decade last year, and the government is also developing new, domestically-made submarines.
By Ann Wang
MBABANE A patient met his death while awaiting his COVID-19 results in isolation.
The results were later confirmed as positive. This was according to the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, when announcing the seventh death due to COVID-19 yesterday.
The patient is a 73-year-old male from the Hhohho Region, who died at one of the health facilities on Sunday June 21, 2020, according to the minister.
She said that the patient was in isolation and died before the release of his results, which turned out to be positive.
His condition was worsened by the presence of a pre-existing illness, said the minister.
This means that there were two deaths on Sunday as the sixth patient to die, who was reported on Monday, also died on the same day.
The patient was a 17-year-old male from the Manzini Region and died while undergoing treatment at Lubombo Referral Hospital while on a ventilator.
The minister said the teenager had prior been admitted to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital while in a critical state before being taken to Lubombo, having tested positive for the virus as he had a chronic respiratory ailment, that was complicated by physical abnormalities of the chest.
There are now six deaths from the Manzini Region and one from Hhohho.
RAPID CITY, S.D., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today announced plans to combine the management of its electric and gas utilities in Colorado under a single strategic leader. Vance Crocker has been promoted to lead all the companys Colorado-based utility businesses and operations, effective Aug. 1, 2020. Crocker will expand his responsibilities in his role as vice president of Colorado Electric with the strategic leadership and management of Colorado Gas.
Recognizing its significant commitment to Colorado, Black Hills added a new leadership position in Colorado to closely partner with Crocker and the companys leadership team to manage regulatory and policy matters impacting its business. Nick Wagner is joining the company on July 27 as vice president of regulatory affairs and policy for the state of Colorado.
This new management structure will position the company to further define and execute the companys overall Colorado strategy, improve key stakeholder relationships and deliver improved results for customers and the business. These changes will enhance the companys strategic efforts on the many policy issues that impact the company and its customers, including environmental initiatives that drive energy policy, greenhouse gas reductions and renewable energy policies.
We are fortunate to have Vance and Nick as leaders in Colorado. The new structure will more strategically align our leadership and our resources to serve and leverage an ever-changing energy landscape in Colorado and beyond, said Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Corp. The recent ballot initiative vote in support of retaining our franchise in Pueblo is encouraging. We are excited to continue our support of the long-term clean energy goals for Colorado while continuing to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy and service to our customers.
Crocker is a 30-year veteran of Black Hills Corp. with leadership and operational expertise in both gas and electric utilities. Prior to his promotion, Crocker served as vice president of Colorado Electric for the past three years, where his leadership was evident in the successful public vote concerning its franchise agreement in Pueblo, Colorado. Previously, Crocker was vice president for South Dakota Electric and general manager of Kansas Gas. Crocker started his career at Black Hills in 1990 as an electric transmission and distribution engineer.
In his new role, Wagner will lead the companys Colorado regulatory affairs before state and federal regulatory agencies with a focus on further engaging in the policy issues that are driving the energy industry. Wagner and his team will partner with corporate leadership regarding policy matters that arise in Colorado and throughout its entire business.
Wagner is an experienced energy professional and policymaker with a diverse and unique background in regulatory, legislative, management and engineering. His immediate past role was as a board member for the Iowa Utilities Board and he recently served as the 2019 president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Wagner is also a former state representative serving in the Iowa legislature and has also held numerous positions within engineering and research companies.
Black Hills Corporation
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.28 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.
Investor Relations
Jerome E. Nichols
605-721-1171
jerome.nichols@blackhillscorp.com
24-Hour Media Relations Line
888-242-3969
A spate of new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Damascus and its countryside, bring the total number to 219 reports SANA.
On Monday, the Health Ministry announced that 15 new coronavirus cases were registered bringing the total number of cases in Syria to 219.
In a statement, the Ministry noted that the announced cases are for people who have been in contact with other infected people in Damascus and its countryside.
The ministry added that the total number of the coronavirus cases in Syria has reached 219, of which 83 have recovered and seven have passed away.
The first case of coronavirus was registered in Syria on Mar. 22, 2020, in a person who came from abroad, while the first death was registered seven days later.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of dictator General Francisco Franco, Prince Juan Carlos was sworn in as King of Spain. Franco had ruled with an iron hand for 36 years, after winning the 1936 to 1939 civil war, so this was a turning point in the country's history and transition towards democracy.
Normally, Juan Carlos would not have acceded to the throne because his father, Don Juan de Borbon, was still alive. However, in 1969 Franco had announced that he had designated the young prince as his successor. In the same year, Juan Carlos had sworn "in the name of God and on the holy gospels to uphold the laws of the Francoist state and remain loyal to the principles of the Movimiento Nacional". He repeated this oath at his investiture, but in his first speech as king he also referred to a new stage in Spain's history and the need to make radical improvements.
One of the new king's top priorities was to earn international support for his campaign for democracy. His investiture was attended by representatives of some of the major democracies, including President Giscard d'Estaing of France and the UK's Duke of Edinburgh, and the monarch made a point of handling many of Spain's foreign relations in person.
The king's personal popularity at home and abroad continued to increase and was sealed by the way he responded to an attempted military coup on 23 February 1981. However, years later he started to come under criticism for alleged extramarital relationships and incidents such as a private trip to Botswana to hunt elephants, without the government's knowledge, while acting as the head of the Spanish branch of the World Wildlife Fund. It came to light when he broke a hip and had to be flown home at taxpayers' expense. The outcry was so great that he was forced to make a public apology.
Perhaps the final straw, though, was the scandal involving his son-in-law Inaki Urdangarin, who was found guilty of embezzlement through a company he had set up as a non-profit-making foundation. The king's daughter, the Infanta Cristina, was found not guilty of tax fraud.
King Juan Carlos abdicated in favour of his son Prince Felipe in 2014, after 39 years on the throne.
Curbside meals served Thursday
WATERLOO The Apostolic Pentecostal Church, 1645 Downing Ave., will be distributing meals to-go between 5 and 6 p.m. Thursday.
Come to the ramp entrance at the back of the church and ring the bell. Meals will be brought out to you.
WHC speaker series
WAVERLY Waverly Health Center will offer its monthly speakers series on Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. online via Google Meet.
Jennifer Burke, certified therapeutic pain specialist at Taylor Physical Therapy, will present Treatments for Chronic Pain.
The presentation will take place via Google Meet at meet.google.com/hrd-zpmk-xqv. You can also join by phone at (518) 551-0947, PIN 370 935 495 #. To learn more, call (319) 483-1360.
CF offices closed July 3
CEDAR FALLS City offices will be closed Friday, July 3. Residents having Friday, July 3, as their garbage collection day should put their garbage out by 7 a.m. Thursday, July 2.
The Solid Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Center will be closed July 3 and July 4. Both facilities will reopen Monday, July 6.
If you have questions please feel free to call the Public Works Department at (319) 273-8629 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Virtual fundraiser
WATERLOO The 11th annual Cedar Bend Humane Society Furry 5K Run/Walk fundraiser will be a virtual event June 26-28.
Participants are encouraged to walk their own dog or sign up to walk an adoptable dog from CBHS. All proceeds from the Furry 5K will benefit the homeless animals at the shelter.
Due to social distancing requirements, participants may complete their 5K anywhere there is space to run and at their own leisure. Times are recorded using the Its Your Race mobile app.
Registration is $30, which includes a commemorative tie-dye Furry 5K T-shirt and a chance to win prizes donated by event sponsors, which include The VGM Group, Conagra Brands, and Coldwell Banker Elevated Real Estate. There is an optional $15 sign-up with no T-shirt included.
Register online at at CBHSFurry5k.itsyourrace.com.
Bayer Fund gives Food Bank $2,500
WATERLOO The Northeast Iowa Food Bank was selected to receive a $2,500 Bayer Fund grant from Bayer representatives in Northeast Iowa.
Funds from the grant will be used for the acquisition and distribution of produce and other perishable foods through the Northeast Iowa Food Banks on-site food pantry, the Cedar Valley Food Pantry, located in Waterloo.
In 2019, Bayer Fund awarded more than $14 million to more than 3,200 charitable and nonprofit organizations to help address essential needs in food and nutrition, STEM education and community development. Over the last five years, nonprofit organizations across the U.S. have received more than $79 million.
To learn more about Bayer Fund visit https://www.fund.bayer.us.
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Spain is rejecting a plan that aims to curb irregular immigration to the European Union yet lacks quotas to relocate migrants across member states.
Besides a distribution of asylum seekers, Madrid also wants mandatory quotas for migrants who are rescued at sea. Spanish sources said that without such a system, the scheme designed by the EU Commission will place an even heavier load on frontline countries with external borders.
Europes new immigration pact must reconcile the needs of frontline nations with the fact that a majority of irregular migrants end up in countries such as France, Belgium, Germany and Sweden.
Spain is in a very delicate negotiating position, because its immigration issues do not fully coincide with those of other Mediterranean countries. In Spains case, most irregular immigration by sea comes from Morocco.
At the same time, like other frontline countries, Spain is under pressure from member states who wish to stop the flow of irregular migrants who make the journey from their point of entry to other EU countries.
Southern countries reject the idea that they should continue to bear all the responsibility and the cost of processing requests and accepting all the asylum seekers who enter Europe through their own territory
The Spanish government has been trying to navigate middle waters, seeking common ground between both positions. Together with France and Germany, it has contributed input in favor of a fast-track system to check asylum requests at the border, and to prevent these secondary journeys within EU territory.
The proposal, to which EL PAIS has had access, is contained in a document signed by Spain, Germany, France and Italy, and acknowledges the excessive burden that is borne by some member states.
But Spain is simultaneously working to consolidate a southern front with the countries that are the first point of entry for tens of thousands of irregular sea arrivals.
The most affected countries Spain, Italy, Greece and Malta say that these migrants must be distributed across the territory through a mandatory quota mechanism. This would include people rescued at sea, which is an important point for Spain as it plays a leading role in providing assistance to migrants in distress.
Southern countries reject the idea that they should continue to bear all the responsibility and the cost of processing requests and accepting all the asylum seekers who enter Europe through their own territory.
No-mans land
But this double strategy has so far failed to yield significant results for Spain, and the country now risks finding itself in no-mans land as the preparations for an EU migration pact enter their final stage.
Brussels is taking note of the demands from countries in the north and east of Europe, as well as some from the south such as Italy. But for now, it does not look like Spains position has made any headway.
Spanish sources acknowledged the difficulty of the negotiation and noted that the first proposals date back to 2016. The latest disagreement between member states played out late last year, when France and Germany pushed for the creation of a temporary distribution system for sea arrivals that only included Italy and Malta. The plan left out Greece and Spain, who were then taking in more migrants than their Mediterranean partners.
At that point, Spain refused to accept a solution that did not take its own borders into account, and an agreement was closed in September with only six countries signing it besides France and Germany. Since then, only around 1,800 people who entered Malta and Italy have been relocated to other EU countries. The mechanism is slow and full of red tape, and despite a drop in arrivals, there are still more than 800 migrants awaiting relocation, according to EU Commission figures obtained by EL PAIS.
Consensus building
Diplomatic sources said they believe the EU Commission is trying to incorporate elements that will make everyone happy in an effort to overcome the enormous differences that have held back progress since 2015, when an immigration crisis broke out and Brussels presented a European Agenda on Migration.
EU Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen made achieving a far-reaching immigration pact one of her main goals when she accepted the post. The health and economic crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic has delayed these plans, while a significant drop in irregular arrivals has reduced pressure ahead of one of the most complex and delicate negotiations on the EUs agenda.
Brussels is hoping to relaunch the talks in the coming weeks. Germany, which will take over the rotating EU presidency in the second half of the year, wants to reach a political agreement on the calendar and stages for closing the deal. But diplomatic sources warn that a deal could take more than a year of negotiations.
Around 75% of asylum requests are currently concentrated in five states, with Spain, Germany and France heading the list. But whereas most of the asylum seekers in neighboring countries are Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans, in Spain over 80% of them are Latin Americans. Berlin notes that only 3% of irregular migrants who travel away from Europes periphery are sent back to their point of entry.
English version by Susana Urra.
T he government is aiming to reopen gyms in mid-July, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced in a tweet.
The news follows a raft of lockdown easing measures, including cinemas, pubs and galleries reopening announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson today.
However, two industries left out were gyms and nail bars.
While Mr Dowden made no new promises for nail bars, he addressed gyms in a tweet.
"Many people keen to hit the gym & keeping Britain fit is key in Covid battle", he tweeted.
"Weve made lots of progress & I know steps businesses have taken to make their spaces & equipment safe
"Subject to public health, our aspiration is to reopen gyms & leisure facilities in mid-July."
Prior to his tweet, PureGym, one of the UKs largest operators with more than one million members, had slammed the decision to keep gyms closed
In a statement, the company said they were "extremely disappointed" with the decision.
People exercise at a gym in Belgrade which reopened after a lockdown lifted / REUTERS
We understand that these decisions are not easy, but it is a strange war on obesity that sees pubs and restaurants open before gyms", the statement read.
Gym and leisure centre trade body ukactive also responded to the announcement that indoor fitness facilities will not be allowed to reopen from July 4, and said that discussions were continuing with Government.
CEO Huw Edwards said: Many people will be understandably frustrated by the decision not to reopen the fitness and leisure sector from 4 July.
However, the Government has indicated that gyms and leisure facilities will reopen from mid-July, subject to final agreement between health officials and our sector.
In these discussions, we are completely confident in addressing any questions the Government and health officials may have, based on the comprehensive health and safety guidance we published and shared with the Government on 7 May."
The Chinese customs agency is said to have halted imports from the Tyson Foods Inc (NYSE: TSN) poultry plant in Springdale, Arkansas, after hundreds of workers of the company tested positive for COVID-19.
What Happened
The Associated Press reports that 481 employees tested positive for COVID-19 at plants located in Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, 95% of whom were asymptomatic.
Gary Mickelson, a Tyson spokesman, said, At Tyson, were confident our products are safe and were hopeful consultations between the U.S. and Chinese governments will resolve this matter.
Why It Matters
The Chinese customs agency did not announce the quantity of the meat it has restricted from entering the country, reported AP.
According to Mickelson, health organizations worldwide and in the United States have found no association between the transmission of COVID-19 and food.
Tyson facilities in North Carolina, Nebraska, and Iowa have also been affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
A five-year ban on U.S. poultry was lifted by China in November after the December 2014 outbreak of avian influenza.
In 2013, China imported poultry products worth more than $500 million.
Tyson has been cooperating with the U.S. Justice Department after some of its employees were implicated in a price-fixing scheme.
Price Action
Tyson Foods shares traded 0.98% lower at $62.60 in the after-hours session on Friday. The shares had closed the regular session 1.23% lower at $63.22.
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Health Minister: significant amount of testing taking place in Wrexham with prioritised results
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 23rd, 2020
The Health Minister has said today more work will be needed in relevant community languages to ensure some workers understand the advice they are been given and the importance of it.
Earlier today it was confirmed an incident linked to a factory on the industrial estate had been upgraded from a cluster to an outbreak, as a large amount of testing had discovered 70 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
The formal announcement came at 12:30pm today as the Health Minister Vaughan Gething took to the podium for the usual update from Welsh Government on the pandemic response. As is usual over the last few months we were asking questions of the Minister and took the opportunity to ask about the local issue.
We pointed the Health Minister to the lower concern yesterday with just two confirmed cases mentioned, however todays update seeing that increase to 70. We asked what time frames the positive results covered, and asked how soon it would be known if there was a wider community transmission taking place in Wrexham, as at the moment there is no evidence that is happening.
The Health Minister replied: On testing outcomes within both Wrexham, where we have untaken a significant amount of testing, but also in Llangefni as well.
We had in an Anglesey 97% of those results came back within a day and it was slightly higher in the incident centred around Wrexham. For those tests, theyre being prioritised as a very fast turnaround.
It goes back to my earlier points about the need for people if they have symptoms to get a test and self isolate.
People really do need to follow the advice that they are given by a test trace protect service, its not a way to deliberately intervene in peoples lives because we can do, is is part of keeping everyone safe.
Its a much smarter way of actually addressing the problem that we do know exists associated with those two sites in North Wales in particular, rather than taking wider community scale measures.
We will know if theres been widespread community transmission for a range of our surveillance data, as well as a number of people who request tests in each of those areas. So if we saw people who didnt have an apparent connection and much larger numbers around the two sites testing positive, that would be part of the marker.
Also we would see some of the health surveillance data around GP admissions, around ambulance calls, and indeed hospital admissions too. Were also investing in a much more extensive wastewater project as well to give us a much earlier indication on the possible spread of Coronavirus.
I expect over the next week or so to be publishing more information in the public domain, that sets of the range of surveillance data that well look at, not just in these two outbreaks in North Wales, not just around Merthyr, but across the country to give us that early warning and intelligence service if there is wider community transmission taking place.
Yesterday it was confirmed that Welsh Government and authorities on Anglesey had discussed the possibility of a localised lockdown there, so we asked if there were similar discussions taking place in terms of Wrexham. We also asked what such restrictions could look like to the public, and if preparations were in place to roll them out quickly if needed.
The Minister said: I think theres a number of hypotheticals in there so we have a range of different steps to take. The first is weve identified theres an incident and then an outbreak.
The second then has been about the way in which our test trace protect services work around those cases to help identify the measures of concern and identity the centre of the outbreaks.
Were in a position then if people follow the advice of our test, trace, protect service and they self isolate, youve effectively got a smart and targeted lockdown of the workforce and all of their contacts, where were actually concerned around the individual outbreaks.
We then need to make sure people are following that advice. Thats why providing information in community languages really matters.
A number of the people work in this sector are from European countries, and they dont all have high level functional English or Welsh. So community languages for those groups are important for them to understand the advice they are been given and the importance of it.
We do of course have powers within the Coronavirus Act that allowed public health officials to enforce that self isolation if we dont have adherence to it on a voluntary basis following the advice thats been given. Now, thats a different step again, and its not the first step but thats a possible extra step if people dont follow the advice theyre given.
Then theres the broader point about community based lockdowns as well. It would differ around the circumstances and each particular case, and the challenge is trying to set broad rules I dont think its very helpful.
If were going to have any localised forms of lockdown that go beyond the test, trace protect service and household isolation, then well need to know what were trying to achieve and how far out of that we need to go to achieve the desired result have not seen Coronavirus spread to other communities.
So I cant give you a an example of what it would look like in any of those individual cases. What I can say is if people follow the advice theyre given in test trace protect, we will have a smart and targeted lockdown in place already, and that to keep workers and their family safe. They should also keep the communities live in the safe as well.
Later the Health Minister acknowledged the fact many workers at 2 Sisters in Llangefni live together in HMOs has contributed to the spread of coronavirus more on that here via www.North.Wales
You can view the full briefing from today on the below video, including the Q&A session:
What are you most excited about? Is it a haircut? Personally, when facing the wind, I now flip my hair back like its a mane. Maybe its to order beers on a patio with friends and see their real-life faces light up with laughter? Or to get the most ill-advised and regrettable tattoos of your life? A high bar, surely, but some will clear it.
Toronto and Peel Region reopen into Stage 2 Wednesday. Thats about 4.3 million of us, over 100 days into the pandemic, with many more guardrails removed. Hair salons, bar and restaurant patios, malls and public pools. Libraries, community centres, and more. We did it. The public health indicators are finally pretty good. Here we go.
And also, please remember: its still a pandemic.
The basics havent changed. The message is the same, says Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases doctor at the University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital. Theres still a pandemic, you cant get complacent. Things are opening up, put a mask on indoors, wash your hands, stay two metres apart.
The message hasnt changed one bit. The question is, how is the message being delivered? To whom is it being delivered?
And, of course, received. Set the speed limit at 100, and some people go 120. Set the limit on gatherings at 10, and some people completely ignore it. Recommend masks, and some people wont wear them. Its a mix.
Theres heterogeneity in human behaviour, says Bogoch.
Many outside Toronto who are already in Stage 2 have noticed a drop in masks, or care, and some of that is just rational-ish risk assessment. Some stores offer masks Costco, for example, proffered with tongs and some dont. Some people think COVID is over, and some dont. How can you tell whos who?
And then there are businesses, and every one is now a potential public health challenge. The manager of a large Ottawa restaurant says he has seen very few masks on patrons as they enter, and some people try to push socially distanced tables together, or make reservations of more than 10 people, and scoff when told no. Of course.
In many ways, the behaviour seems to mimic peoples interaction with liquor laws; they see it as an unnecessary set of restrictions that they will follow if theyre forced to, said the manager, who was not authorized by his employer to speak for the restaurant. The really hard thing, from a business standpoint, is this has always been a low-margin business, and has gotten worse over the last couple years.
The current situation has introduced a massive moral hazard into the equation. Bad actors on both sides of the bar, whether owners, servers or guests, are inevitably going to act in their own interests, and not necessarily their own best interests from a health perspective, and thats going to put a lot of people in harms way.
Which is why you need rules and regulation, or at least principles to follow. Great Lakes Brewery in Toronto could now open its patio Wednesday, but according to owner Peter Bulut, theyre still trying to figure out child care, staffing, personal protective equipment and a plan. Because the provinces suggested regulations arent much help.
I was surprised the province didnt help bars with some guidelines, Bulut said.
Guidelines are tricky things, in Ontario. We should provide everyone a free mask, but we dont. One source said that while the province allowed houses of worship to open as of June 12, public health units didnt receive provincial guidelines on public safety for houses of worship until almost 10 days later. In many cases, the public health units, already overstretched, had to make up their own.
But we all have to make up our own public health rules now, and some of us havent been hewing to recommendations anyway. Dr. Amy Greer, an infectious diseases epidemiologist at the University of Guelph, sent out a nationally representative poll in mid-May to gauge behaviour, and found young adults were already having a significant number of contacts outside their household. Again, its rational risk assessment, until its not.
People know what I do, so I have people call me and say, should I do this, should I do this other thing? says Greer. And its hard to know what the right thing to do is.
If the infectious disease specialists arent sure of every situation, how can we be? University of Toronto epidemiologist Dr. David Fisman was out solo in Lake Ontario on the weekend when he rowed past Cherry Beach, where hundreds were jammed together, many without masks. Was it dangerous? Hes not sure. Fisman has noted seasonality people being outside rather than inside is the best explanation for Ontarios numbers dropping to the point where we can get haircuts and sit on patios almost everywhere in the province, starting Wednesday.
People havent been complying well with guidance for some time now, says Fisman.
ICUs continue to empty out. The disease is on the down. I worry about houses of worship, because theyve had superspreader events: doesnt seem like theres a tremendous amount of planning or thought going on. This is a lull were going into almost despite ourselves. But I think everybody is mentally tired, and needs to stretch their legs a little bit.
It will be tempting to go 150 on this highway, after not driving for so long. There will be outbreaks; hopefully we detect them early, and handle them. Some people will want to cut loose. What should we do?
Thats why the 3 Cs are so beautiful, because theyre simple, says Fisman. Closed, close, and crowded. You cant have detailed, point-by-point guidance for every situation.
If we can just hammer home the basics of physical distancing, masks in an indoor setting, hand hygiene, and well be doing OK, says Bogoch. We cant pat ourselves on the back too soon. Weve got a long way to go.
We open Wednesday. Were not in bad shape. Just remember: its still a pandemic, even now. If you do nothing else, just remember the basics, everywhere you can.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 15:44:41|Editor: huaxia
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JAKARTA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Nine people went missing after a ship went down in waters off Indonesia's province of North Sumatra, while a search and rescue mission is underway, a rescuer said on Tuesday.
The ship, KM Harapan Kita, sank after leaving Teluk Dalam sub district, the capital of South Nias district, said Agus Wibisono, Head of the Search and Rescue Office in Nias Island, citing that the ship was heading for Simuk Island in the province.
A search and rescue operation has been carried out since the vessel capsized on Monday, Wibisono said.
"A joint rescue team has been conducting a search and rescue operation, but until now all the nine victims have not been recovered," he told Xinhua in a text message.
Unfavorable weather conditions were blamed for the accident, the rescuer disclosed.
The operation involves rescuers from the office, personnel of the Disaster Management Agency on the island, water police and volunteers, according to him.
Heavy rains have hampered the search and rescue operation, he said. Enditem
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Voters rebuffed President Donald Trump and nominated two Republicans he opposed to House seats from North Carolina and Kentucky on Tuesday. Calls in higher-profile races in Kentucky and New York faced days of delay as swamped officials count mountains of mail-in ballots.
In western North Carolina, GOP voters picked 24-year-old investor Madison Cawthorn, who uses a wheelchair following an accident, over Trump-backed real estate agent Lynda Bennett. The runoff was for the seat vacated by GOP Rep. Mark Meadows, who resigned to become Trumps chief of staff and joined his new boss in backing Bennett.
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian-minded maverick who often clashes with GOP leaders, was renominated for a sixth House term. Trump savaged Massie in March as a disaster for America who should be ejected from the party after he forced lawmakers to return to Washington during a pandemic to vote on a huge economic relief package.
Cawthorn, who will meet the constitutionally mandated minimum age of 25 when the next Congress convenes, has said hes a Trump supporter, and Massie is strongly conservative. Still, their victories were an embarrassment to a president whose own reelection campaign has teetered recently.
As states ease voting by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic, a deluge of mail-in ballots and glacially slow counting procedures made delays inevitable. That torturous wait seemed a preview of November, when more states will embrace mail-in voting and officials warn that uncertainty over who is the next president could linger for days.
Kentucky usually has 2% of its returns come from mail ballots. This year officials expect that figure to exceed 50%, and over 400,000 mail ballots were returned by Sunday.
New York officials expect the vast majority of votes to be mail ballots this year, compared to their typical 5% share. Counties have until eight days after Election Day to count and release the results of mail ballots, with 1.7 million requested by voters.
In the days marquee contests, two young African American candidates with campaigns energized by nationwide protests for racial justice were challenging white Democratic establishment favourites for the partys nominations.
First-term state legislator Charles Booker was hoping a late surge would carry him past former Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath for the Democratic Senate nomination from Kentucky. And in New York, political newcomer Jamaal Bowman was seeking to derail House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engels bid for a 17th term.
In Kentucky, many counties including Jefferson, the states largest, faced piles of mail-in ballots and reported no results. The Associated Press doesnt expect to call the McGrath-Booker race until June 30, when Kentucky plans to release additional tallies.
Even so, Booker and supporters gathered in Louisville chanted from the hood to the holler, the slogan he hoped would help build a coalition of urban Blacks and rural whites.
We have the opportunity to transform history, Booker said.
The AP was also delaying its call in New Yorks Engel-Bowman race, pending additional vote tallies.
In other contests, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky easily won the Republican nomination for a seventh Senate term and will be favoured in November against McGrath or Booker.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., won renomination, cementing her rise from obscurity to progressive icon status when she ousted Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, on track to become speaker, from the New York City district.
In Virginia, retired Army Col. Daniel Gade won the GOP Senate nomination but seems certain to lose to Democratic Sen. Mark Warner in November. Republican Scott Taylor will face Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria in a rematch between two Navy veterans in a Virginia Beach district from which she toppled him in 2018.
And Cameron Webb, a health policy researcher, won the Democratic nomination for a central Virginia House district. GOP Rep. Denver Riggleman lost his partys nomination, fueling Democrats hopes that Webb, an African American, can capture the seat.
Voters endured 90-minute waits in Kentuckys second-largest city, Lexington, and social media posts showed long lines in New Yorks Westchester County deep into the evening. Yet overall, the days problems seemed less widespread than in recent elections in Georgia and Nevada, where some people stood in line for hours.
In Louisville, voting advocates complained that an unknown number of people stayed home because of difficulty travelling to the citys single polling place the Kentucky Exposition Center.
In my neighbourhood, most people dont have cars, said voter Michael Baker. Its not fair for them to have one site.
A judge kept the polling place open an extra half hour after about 175 people, some of whom pounded on the buildings doors, demanded to vote. Louisville, the states biggest city, has 600,000 residents.
In the big New York and Kentucky contests, Democrats were watching whether nationwide protests sparked by last months killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police would translate to a decisive turnout by African American and progressive voters.
Kentuckys McGrath has a military resume, centrists views and fundraising abilities that helped her win support from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to oppose McConnell.
Bookers campaign caught fire after he attended recent protests against the March police killing of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in her Louisville home. That helped him win support from progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and the states two largest newspapers.
In one measure of McGraths financial advantage, she has spent $16 million in ads compared to Bookers $2 million, according to Advertising Analytics, which studies campaign advertising.
In New York, Engel is supported by Democratic stars like Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Black Caucus, plus major labour unions. Hes one of Congress most liberal members.
Bowman, an educator, has drawn strength from anti-racism protests and his accusations that Engel has grown aloof from his diverse district in parts of the Bronx and Westchester. Bowman has been helped by progressive groups and lawmakers like Sanders.
___
Cassidy reported from Atlanta and Fram reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Alexandra Jaffe and Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington, Sophia Tulp in Leawood, Kan., Michael Warren in Atlanta and Gary Robertson in Raleigh, N.C., contributed to this report.
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German Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer on Monday condemned the riots in Stuttgart over the weekend, calling it a "sign of alarm for the rule of law."
For some time now, violence and insults against police and rescue services have been "steadily" increasing, said Seehofer, who visited the scene of the weekend riots in Stuttgart, and called for "swift and tough" punishment of those responsible.
"Punishment is always the best means of prevention to avoid such things in the future," he said.
Late Saturday and early Sunday, hundreds of people rioted, looted the city center and attacked police officers. At least 19 police officers were injured and 24 suspects were provisionally arrested.
According to Stuttgart police, around 300 police officers, including those from the surrounding areas, were called in to control the situation.
The riots were apparently triggered by the arrest of a person on suspicion of drug possession, according to city officials. After the arrest, a crowd attacked police officers by throwing stones and bottles.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also condemned the outbreaks of violence. Government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said that the scenes in Stuttgart were "vile" and inexcusable.
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 23 June 2020 - Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) recently rolled out more cash-out options for customers via 11,000 remittance counters across the Philippines, including in rural areas where most of the unbanked and underserved population are located.
This makes UnionBank the first Philippine bank to launch the largest cash-out network in the country -- a crucial step seen to significantly improve access to financial services for communities amidst the current pandemic.
Recognizing that sending funds to families and relatives living in provinces has been challenging, especially in far-flung areas where ATMs and bank branches are scarce or unavailable, UnionBank identified that the best course of action to address this concern was to enable customers to send money from home via its app to remittance counters in underserved areas.
The Bank leveraged existing partnerships with top Philippine fintechs such as Dragonpay and Coins.ph, as well as remittance centers Cebuana Lhuillier, LBC, PeraHub and Palawan Express. Integrating the service on UnionBank's app was made possible in a short amount of time through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) exposed on the Bank's API Developer Portal/ Marketplace. This also enabled rural banks, who are currently on the UnionBank's i2i network, to connect to the payout counters, allowing their account holders to send or withdraw funds from these non-traditional outlets.
In just a couple of weeks, UnionBank secured approval from the Central Bank of the Philippines, to perform a live pilot remittance and roll out the feature in the UnionBank Online app.
"With the onset of this pandemic, it has become crucial that our products and services quickly adapt to the challenges presented in this new digital normal," said Edwin Bautista, UnionBank President and Chief Executive Officer. "This cash-out service is just one way for UnionBank to demonstrate its commitment to financial inclusion as we continue venturing forth in tech-ing up the Philippines."
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Upon the launch of this service, UnionBank noted an immediate high uptake by its customers. At the end of April 2020, with all major remittance centers available through the service, transactions have more than doubled. The Bank also recorded a 20% increase in daily digital account opening as a result of this feature.
"Through collaboration with various UnionBank teams and our fintech partners, we have demonstrated that the spirit of community is very much alive as we address the needs of our countrymen," said Arvie de Vera, UnionBank Senior Vice President and Fintech Group Head. "This is a testament that we can use technology and digital services to ensure that no one gets left behind, especially as we weather through this ongoing crisis."
Roy N. Kent / The Broadcaster
Noting Gov. Greg Abbotts proclamation imposing restrictions for outdoor gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic, Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton is strongly urging residents to take advantage of the streaming video coverage of the citys July Fourth fireworks display, as opposed to attending the event by parking in their vehicles.
The fireworks show is scheduled at 9:15 p.m. A live stream of the fireworks display will be shared on the Parks and Recreation Departments social media outlets including Facebook and Instagram for those citizens who want to watch the fireworks from the comfort of their homes. Parking will be allowed at the Jimmy Burke Activity Center, Battleground Golf Driving Range and Girls softball complex as "drive-in viewing only."
I am excited to celebrate the Fourth of July, and Im certain our community as a whole will enjoy the fantastic fireworks display planned for this Saturday, Mouton said. In light of Gov. Abbotts most recent direction regarding public gatherings, I would like to strongly encourage our residents to take advantage of the streaming video options available during the event. These options will allow families to watch the show together while minimizing the potential for spreading the COVID-19 virus in a public setting.
JBAC parking is available for fireworks viewing; however, if individuals or families do attend in person, it is strongly encouraged that citizens stay in their vehicles. By staying in their respective vehicles and refraining from creating even small gatherings of persons from different households, attendees will contribute to making the event safer for everyone involved.
Prompted by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Harris County, the city previously canceled the concert and concessions portion of this years Fourth Fest.
JALANDHAR/LUDHIANA/PATIALA
Patients were at the receiving end as private hospitals and clinics remained closed across Punjab on Tuesday in protest against the Punjab Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Ordinance, 2020, that is coming into force from July 1.
Terming the ordinance anti-doctor and anti-public, the protesters, under the banner of the Punjab chapter of the Indian Medical Association, said the government was trying to control the private healthcare sector.
The Punjab cabinet had last month notified the ordinance, which would be applicable to clinical establishments having more than 50 beds. The ordinance provides registration and regulation of clinical establishments in a professional manner to ensure compliance of clinical standards and protocols and transparency in the functioning of these establishments for fair and proper delivery of health services to the common man.
IMA president Dr Navjot Singh Dahyia said: Around 10,000 doctors affiliated with the association are unhappy over two recent decisions of the state government - the PCE ordinance and the hike in MBBS fee.
We want both decisions revoked and had issued an ultimatum to the government two weeks ago. A memorandum was also submitted to the administration and MLAs. However, the government failed to address our demands, said Dr Rakesh Vig, convener of the IMA action committee.
The agitating doctors said there was no need for this law as they were already regulated by the Punjab Medical Council and other laws.
The government doctors could not join the protest owing to the Epidemic Act, but they expressed solidarity with their fellow doctors by donating blood at some places, including the Jalandhar civil hospital in Jalandhar.
Senior vice-president of Ludhiana branch of the IMA Dr Gaurav Sachdeva said all private hospitals, diagnostic centres, except Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMC&H), Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMC&H) and Ludhiana civil hospital, remained closed.
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CM TO MEET IMA DELEGATION ON FRIDAY
Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh will listen to the grievances of the IMA on Friday.
The CM will interact with our delegation through video-conference on Friday. We would request the CM to withdraw the Clinical Establishment Ordinance, which would only promote inspector raj, said state president of IMAs Punjab chapter, Dr Navjot Dahiya.
Xiaomi has patented a new camera setup for smartphones, and this one is well, odd. If you take a look at the provided images below, youll see a Xiaomi smartphone with an odd rotating camera setup.
This Xiaomi smartphone features a really odd & interesting rotating camera
That camera module is placed on the back of the device, and it seems like its spinning. This camera setup can rotate by 360 degrees, by the looks of it.
This patent has been applied for June 28, and it was published on June 23 2020. It was submitted with CNIPA in China. Now, based on the provided info, when youre not using a front-facing camera, it will sit on the back of the phone, just like any other camera module.
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When youre ready to take selfies, and fire up the camera, it will rotate into position. Why? Well, because a front-facing camera is also located on that camera setup.
That front-facing camera is protected between the camera module and the back of the phone when not in use. When you need it, it will show its face.
This is a rather interesting solution by Xiaomi. This may allow the company to avoid including notches and display holes, and at the same time pop-up cameras as well.
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Under-display camera technology did not arrive just yet, even though Visionox is ready to mass-produce its offering. So, Xiaomi is trying to find other ways to remove notches and display holes.
Including such a camera setup on a phone would allow Xiaomi to remove display notches & holes
Including one such rotating camera module may be one way of doing it. Youll also notice that the sketch of a device itself shows a phone with no bezels, pretty much.
This is probably not an actual device, but just a sketch of a random phone with no bezels. A real device would come close to it, though, as this rotating camera technology would allow Xiaomi a lot of design freedom.
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Do note that this is just a patent at this point, though. Xiaomi may never release a phone with such a rotating camera setup. It may, but many such patents never see the light of day.
We are eager to see the very first consumer smartphones with under-display cameras. Both OPPO and Xiaomi already demoed such units last year, but neither company is ready to release them just yet.
Visionox seems to have a solution for smartphone OEMs, and yet rumors are saying we wont see such devices before 2021. Were still hoping some will launch in 2020, though, but well see.
OKINAWA, Japan, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Halekulani Okinawa, the award-winning luxury hotel located on the main island of Okinawa, has reopened with a new and comprehensive cleaning and disinfection program to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of its guests and employees. Halekulani Okinawa consulted with Ecolab, the global leader in hygiene and infection prevention solutions, to build the hotel's Hygiene Promotion Program, which encompasses a series of new safety measures and protocols that are backed by a scientific approach to hygienic cleaning procedures. The 360-room resort officially resumed hotel operations on June 1, 2020, following the Japanese government's decision to lift the state of emergency.
"The safety and security of our guests and employees is our highest priority and we are delighted to be working with Ecolab to provide travelers with the utmost confidence and peace of mind when staying at our resort," said Jun Yoshie, General Manager of Halekulani Okinawa. "We are dedicated to delivering a clean, healthy stay that safeguards our guests' health and wellbeing while still providing the highest level of hospitality the Halekulani brand is known for. Since our grand opening in July 2019, Halekulani Okinawa has helped many guests create unforgettable experiences and we look forward to doing so once again."
Halekulani Okinawa's Hygiene Promotion Program comprises a number of hygiene management initiatives, including new disinfection and sanitization practices, employee training, social distancing guidelines and new guest services.
Guest Rooms & Common Areas
The Hygiene Promotion Program is designed to set a new standard of hygiene and cleanliness across the property's guest rooms, restaurants and public spaces, through numerous enhanced sanitization and thorough disinfection practices. In addition to requiring high-contact surfaces in guest rooms, such as doorknobs, light switches and remote controls, be disinfected with medical-grade cleaning products, the program also mandates that high-traffic common areas be disinfected every three hours. As part of the program, a total of 300 employees received training in strict accordance with Ecolab standards prior to reopening to ensure the new protocols and procedures are being implemented and optimized throughout the property. All employees are required to comply with the personal hygiene, cough etiquette and social distancing measures recommended by public health authorities, as well as wear a face mask and gloves for additional protection.
Check-In & Check-out
Upon check-in, a bottle of disinfectant spray will be provided (per group) for guest use. In addition to installing an acrylic board at the front desk to ease the check-in and check-out process, Halekulani Okinawa has also launched a new "Express Checkout" service that enables guest to complete checkout remotely in order to minimize unnecessary contact with other guests and employees.
Dining
In accordance with the recommended social distancing guidelines, each of Halekulani Okinawa's signature restaurants and dining venues now feature new seating arrangements with tables and seats spaced at least six feet apart. All buffet meals have been eliminated for the time being, while staff will be required to wear face masks when serving food to guests.
Pools
Across each of Halekulani Okinawa's five swimming pools, the number of available lounge chairs has been reduced to accommodate the appropriate social distancing guidelines. Employees are required to disinfect lounge chairs after each use with an antibacterial agent, as well as measure the pool's water concentration twice a day to control water quality.
For more information on Halekulani Okinawa and the resort's new cleaning procedures, please visit www.okinawa.halekulani.com.
About Ecolab
Ecolab is a trusted partner at nearly three million commercial customer locations, and is the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions, data-driven insights and personalized service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. www.ecolab.com
About Halekulani Okinawa
Halekulani Okinawa, the second hotel from the leading Hawaiian resort of the same name and first outside Hawaii, is a luxury beach resort located in Onna Village on the main island of Okinawa. Featuring a variety of accommodations built to emphasize the geographic features of its surroundings, Halekulani Okinawa sits on 21 acres of lush land within the Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park and faces approximately one mile of coastline. Halekulani Okinawa is home to a diverse array of facilities including eight restaurants and a bar. In addition, the property boasts the prestigious SpaHalekulani, a fitness center, luxury boutique, over 2,550 ft2 of meeting and convention space and five swimming pools. The main pool is even adorned with nearly 1.5 million mosaic tiles in the shape of Halekulani's signature Cattleya orchid. Halekulani Okinawa is the third member in Japan to join The Leading Hotels of the World, an exclusive collection of the world's most extraordinary luxury establishments.
SOURCE Halekulani Okinawa
Related Links
http://www.okinawa.halekulani.com
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC), a parent company of Chongqing Changan Automobile Co.,Ltd. (Chongqing Changan), has named Xu Xianping as Chairman and Secretary of the Party Leading Group of CSGC, and he is also removed from the position of Chairman and Secretary of the Party Leading Group of China General Technology (Group) Holding, Limited (Genertec).
Mr. Xu will succeed Xu Ping, who has been dismissed from his post of CSGC's chairman and Secretary of the Party Leading Group.
Boasting remarkable working experience in automobile industry, Mr. Xu had served many important positions at the state-owned FAW Group, including President of FAW Jiefang Automotive Co., Ltd., assistant to the President of China FAW Group, and President of FAW Group, etc.
In July 2016, Mr. Xu assumed the role of Chairman and Secretary of the Party Leading Group of Genertec, which is a Chinese wholly-state-owned conglomerate spanning the areas of machinery manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, engineering contracting, construction and real estate, and technical consulting.
Chongqing Changan has recently announced a series of significant management changes as well. On June 5, 2020, the company stated that Zhang Baolin will no longer hold the post of Chongqing Changan's Chairman, or another positions.
From the time being, Mr. Zhang's whereabouts and his successor have already been determined. Zhu Huarong, President of Chongqing Changan, was remoted to the company's Chairman and concurrently serves as Chairman of Changan Ford, according to CSGC's announcement released on June 10.
After leaving Chongqing Changan, Zhang Baolin has been appointed as one of full-time external directors of Chinas central enterprises by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.
An engineer was forced to chase a plane down the runway after it took off with its tail stand still attached in an effort to prevent a potentially deadly disaster.
The incident happened on January 22 last year at Sydney Airport, when the Cobham Aviation cargo plane took off on its way to Brisbane.
While the British Aerospace 146-300 aircraft was being unloaded, a tail stand known as a 'strut' was attached to the rear to keep the plane stable.
While the British Aerospace 146-300 aircraft was being unloaded, a tail stand known as a 'strut' was attached to the rear to keep the plane stable
But the captain and the aircraft engineer forgot to remove the stand once it was cleared for takeoff.
The blunder was noticed by a ground staff worker from a different airline, who alerted the engineer as the plane started to move across the tarmac.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report said the engineer ran after the plane and waved his arms and shouted in an unsuccessful bid to attract the captain's attention.
'The engineer, realising he wouldn't be able to get the pilots' attention, joined the ground staff member on the tug and proceeded after the aircraft,' the report said.
The engineer couldn't alert the Sydney Control Tower because he didn't have its phone number, so instead he called the National Jet Express maintenance watch.
However, they also weren't able to get hold of the pilots or crew.
'Realising he was not going to catch the aircraft prior to it entering the runway, the engineer approached a nearby works safety officer,' the report said.
The incident happened on January 22 last year at Sydney Airport, when the Cobham Aviation cargo plane took off on its way to Brisbane
'As the engineer was asking the safety officer to immediately contact the tower via radio, to prevent the flight from taking off, the aircraft turned onto runway 16R, powered up and departed.'
After the plane took off, the runway was closed and workers found the tail strut broken apart in several pieces.
Upon arrival in Brisbane, the plane was ordered to land on a different runway as a precaution.
The mistake could have been deadly, as debris left on a runway is a serious safety risk.
In 2000, a metal strip from another aircraft was left on the runway and tore an Air France plane's tyre.
The debris sent chunks of rubber into the left wing, causing the fuel tank to rupture.
A total of 109 passengers and crew and four people on the ground were killed.
Following the January 2019 incident, Cobham Aviation pilots underwent further training about the dispatch procedure.
The company also made sure all control tower contact numbers were available to engineering and ground staff.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 07:30:12|Editor: huaxia
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Video: "Testing is a double-edge sword... Slow the testing down, please," U.S. President Donald Trump tells his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20, 2020. (Xinhua)
The new test results bring the number of Trump's campaign staffers for the Tulsa event who have tested positive for COVID-19 up to eight, including two secret service agents.
WASHINGTON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Two more campaign staffers who attended President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa, U.S. state Oklahoma, on Saturday have tested positive for the coronavirus, the campaign said Monday.
The new test results bring the number of Trump's campaign staffers for the Tulsa event who have tested positive for COVID-19 up to eight, including two secret service agents.
"After another round of testing for campaign staff in Tulsa, two additional members of the advance team tested positive for the coronavirus," said Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh on Monday.
A supporter gets his temperature checked prior to attending a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Tulsa of Oklahoma, the United States, June 20, 2020. (Photo by Alan Chin/Xinhua)
"These staff members attended the rally but were wearing masks during the entire event. Upon the positive tests, the campaign immediately activated established quarantine and contact tracing protocols," Murtaugh said.
The six earlier positive tests of advance campaign members occurred just before the event, and those people did not attend the rally as a result.
The number of people connected to the event who test positive is expected to rise, NBC News reported, citing campaign and law enforcement officials.
Protesters take part in a demonstration in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the United States, on June 20, 2020. (Photo by Alan Chin/Xinhua)
Oklahoma officials on Monday reported 478 new coronavirus cases, a record high for the state.
The Tulsa rally 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.
The city of Keizers computer system was hacked on June 10, and officials were able to regain access to the data only by paying the perpetrators a $48,000 ransom.
At this point, no sensitive data appears to have been accessed or misused. About 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, city employees finally regained access to all emails and files.
We are taking this seriously, and are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, said city officials in a hand-delivered statement. The digital strike was discovered when city employees could not access some data and programs the morning of June 10.
The city engaged appropriate authorities to assist in data recovery, but it soon became clear that the only way to regain access to information stored on the citys computers was to pay a ransom to the hacker or hackers responsible. The particular method used to infiltrate the citys computers is known as ransomware, that encrypts data.
We were presented with a request for a ransom payment needed to obtain the needed decryption keys, the citys statement read. Rather than destroying or deleting data, it puts the information behind a door that can only be unlocked with a numeric key that remains in the hands of the hackers.
We believe that the forensic investigation could provide critical information to defend against attacks in the future, the statement read.
Part of a growing trend
When the City of Keizer was hacked last week by an unknown individual or group, it became the latest victim of such attacks nationwide.
By August of 2019, according to a New York Times report, at least 40 cities had their data held hostage by hackers in the first eight months of the year. At one point, 22 cities in Texas alone had been crippled by hacks that involve infecting servers with malware that puts all the data behind an encrypted wall. The hackers then request ransom to release the data back to the cities.
In some cases the ransom cost was nearly $500,000 in taxpayer money. In January of this year, Tillamook County paid $300,000 to regain access to its data. As companies and towns showed more willingness to pay the ransoms demanded, the attacks ramped up, according to the Times report.
However, the ransom demanded by hackers from a city are only a portion of the costs they incur. In addition to the ransom, Keizer had to contract with a cybersecurity firm to negotiate with the hackers and now it will have to spend even more on security in the future data back-ups and, likely, additional consultants to oversee bringing the system back online.
In the wake of such attacks, every device from tablets issued to city councilors to the laptops installed in police vehicles must be examined for existing vulnerabilities and hardened against future attacks.
The strain of ransomware that was used in many of the most recent attacks is named Sodinokibi.
In a report published by the World Economic Forum, cities of all sizes are urged to prepare for future digital strikes in the same way they would for an earthquake.
Digital security is not only about hardware and software. It is about adopting a comprehensive whole-of-city approach. Security must be conceived as an essential priority, something that is designed into every element of the urban infrastructure, not merely introduced as an afterthought. It requires developing the rules, regulations, procedures and budgets for city authorities, businesses and residents to prepare and respond to digital threats when and after they inevitably occur, the report states.
The report cites human error and a failure to implement best practices as the leading causes of such attacks succeeding.
Many attacks could be prevented with relatively simple actions such as software patching, correct firewall configuration, frequent and redundant backups, and use of multi-factor authentication for logons, the report concludes.
How ransomware works
It will likely take days or weeks to fully understand how Keizers data systems were held for ransom, but digital strikes on other cities and counties provide some insight into how it all works.
Ransomware is different than what the average user envisions when being hacked. Rather than destroying or downloading data, ransomware makes data inaccessible through encryption that can only be unlocked with a numeric key held by the hackers.
Hackers are typically known to charge ransom based on the number of servers it was able to lock up and payments are made through a web of untraceable digital transactions. Meanwhile in cities with libraries, the hacks meant checking out books with pen and paper logs. For many police departments, hacks resulted in hand-written citations. Emails sent to Keizer city employees bounced back for several days.
According to a malware Wikipedia site, comprised of knowledge gleaned from those who have dealt with ransomware, a strain known as Sodinokibi is the current scourge of cities near and far.
Sodinokibi doesnt destroy data and many of the users dont appear to download much unless the victim refuses to pay ransom. Sudinokibi, also known as REvil, is believed to have originated in Russia and has already resulted in roughly $7 million in known ransoms paid.
Ransoms are paid to affiliates of the hacker or group of hackers. The affiliates reportedly keep 60 percent of the ransom paid and that amount increases to 70 percent after three successful transactions. The remainder goes to the actor or actors behind the hack. As of early 2020, there were roughly 40 known affiliates accepting ransom payments for successful Sodinokibi attacks.
While many cases are resolved with the payment of a ransom, some Sodinokibi hackers raised the stakes earlier this month, according to Brian Krebs, a cybersecurity reporter with The Washington Post.
One of the hackers behind the Sudinokibi ransomware began auctioning off data it stole from a Canadian agricultural production company. The starting price was $50,000 for 22,000 stolen files. The Krebs report suggests that auctioning data is one way hackers are diversifying their portfolios given the decreased ability of some agencies to pay ransoms as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis.
South Africa: E Cape field hospital to boost COVID-19 fight
Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, on Tuesday opened the Rev. Dr Elizabeth Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni Field Hospital in the Eastern Cape to bolster the provinces COVID-19 response.
The field hospital borne out a partnership between Volkswagen, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the German development agency and local government will boast 3 300 dedicated COVID-19 beds once it is fully constructed.
It is currently in its first phase. The beds will be accompanied by oxygen reticulation and innovative ventilation solutions for patients.
Speaking at the launch of the field hospital, Mkhize said South Africa has a long and rich history with Germany.
VW is a well-known brand in this country. Established in 1946, it is the largest German investment in South Africa and is a major contributor to foreign direct investment, technology transfer and skills development. This project is indeed a reflection of solidarity by two nations to save humanity.
A great deal of thought has gone into this project. This infrastructure combines the provision of hospital beds as well as the strengthening of the laboratory testing capacity Many people doubted that we could build field hospitals in a matter of weeks like China.
Mkhize took a moment to pay homage to Rev Dr. Elizabeth Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni for the legacy of excellence and compassion she has embodied in health care.
He said government, under the leadership of President Ramaphosa, has thus far done their very best to mount an effective response to COVID-19.
It is important that we remind our citizens that while we do not claim to have a perfect strategy, it is important for us to understand that is with unity, cooperation and working togetherthat we should be able to face this vicious pandemic together.
More than 50% people who have been infected have recovered from the virus.
The countrys COVID-19 bed capacity is now above 27 000; 400 quarantine sites with a capacity of just under 38 000 beds have been identified across the country; over 50 000 community health care workers have been deployed and they have successfully screened almost 20 000 000 South Africans.
All the preparations that we had put in place, we will make use of at this point. Although we started with differing and flattening the curve, we did get acknowledgement from the WHO which pointed out the advantages of our proactive community-based strategy, Mkhize said.
There wasnt a way we could keep a perpetual lockdown forever, because the pandemic is going to be with us for a couple of years. Currently, a number of vaccine trials are going on, but none of them are expected to give us a vaccine in the months to come. Therefore, we have to rely on a change of social behaviour to beat this virus.
Mkhize urged South Africans to abide to the basic principles of COVID-19 prevention: washing and sanitising hands frequently, wearing cloth masks in public, and maintain social distance.
He said governments testing strategy has enabled the country to complete over 1.2 million tests in just under four months. The backlog has also been reduced from 101 000 to 46 493.
South Africa currently has a capacity of 7 134 ventilators, 5 401 of which are currently available in both public and private sectors combined; 1 000 more have been pledged to be donated and 733 have been procured. SAnews.gov.za
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
June 15, 2020
In the evening of June 15 (Mon.), 2020, a Ministerial Meeting of the Ottawa Group, consisting of like-mined WTO member countries, including Japan, was held via video conference, and Mr. Makihara Hideki, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, attended it.
Overview of the meeting
Since its inauguration in 2018, bringing together like-minded WTO member countries* proactive in WTO reform under the leadership of Canada as the chair, the Ottawa Group has been holding a series of ministerial meetings for the purpose of promoting enhancement and modernization of the multilateral trading system.
In light of the crisis caused by worldwide expansion of the novel coronavirus disease, this meeting was held aiming to hold discussions on trade policy actions that would support an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient recovery as well as what trade rules should be adapted or developed to guide collaborative policy responses to future global crises..
This meeting was held via video conference and, as representatives of Japan, State Minister Makihara and Mr. Wakamiya Kenji, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting.
At the meeting, participants held discussions on: the need for improvement in transparency around export restrictions; the importance of accelerating WTO negotiations on e-commerce; examination of measures for trade facilitation for smooth and efficient distribution; the need for deliberating and analyzing trade policies for medical supplies; and other issues. Following the meeting, they issued a statement.
*Note: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the EU, Japan, Kenya, the ROK, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland and the WTO Secretariat
Related Document:
Division in Charge
Multilateral Trade System Department, Trade Policy Bureau
New Delhi, June 23 : After the BJP targeted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Chinese incursions during the UPA government, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Tuesday hit back at the BJP national President J.P. Nadda, saying there were incursions during 2010-13 but no Indian territory was occupied and no Indian soldier's life was lost. Chidambaram dared Nadda to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2,264 incursions since 2014.
"BJP President J.P. Nadda asked ex-Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to explain the 600 Chinese incursions into India between 2010 and 2013. Yes, there were incursions but no Indian territory was occupied by China and no lives of Indian soldiers were lost in violent clashes," Chidambaram said in a series of tweets.
"Will J.P. Nadda please ask the present PM to explain the 2,264 Chinese incursions since 2015? I bet he will not dare to ask that question," former union home minister said in another tweet.
His remarks came after Nadda launched an offensive against the Congress on Tuesday morning. "First, Congress signs MoU with Chinese Communist Party. Then, Congress surrenders land to China. During Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to Chinese embassy. During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation and demoralise armed forces. Effects of MoU?" Nadda said in a tweet on Tuesday.
On Monday, a war of words erupted between the Congress and the BJP after Manmohan Singh in a statement launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister saying "disinformation" on the Chinese transgression will be a "betrayal" to the sacrifice made by the Indian soldiers at the LAC and it was neither a "substitute for diplomacy" nor "decisive leadership".
Following Singh's statement, Nadda slammed the Congress for insulting the armed forces and also reminded it of the valour of the armed forces by questioning the Balakot air strike in 2019 and Uri surgical strike in 2016.
Nadda had said, "Dear Dr Singh and Congress party, please stop insulting our forces repeatedly, questioning their valour. You did this post the air strikes and surgical strikes. Please understand the true meaning of national unity, especially in such times. It's never too late to improve."
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Crude oil has rebounded to $40 per barrel and hoping to stay there. Some analysts have come out with more bullish forecasts for the near-term, but plenty of risks remain. Good production discipline on the part of OPEC+ coupled with a massive involuntary reduction in production in the US on the one hand, plus the rapid recovery of demand on the other, have caused supply surpluses to be eroded significantly more quickly than anticipated, Commerzbank wrote in a note on Monday.
WTI hit $40 and retreated a bit in recent days, but appears to be stabilizing for the time being at around that threshold. Rystad Energy says that $40 is the new normal.
Further gains or 45-50 dollars would not be justified at this stage despite the supply curtailments as there are still valid concerns on the demand side, said Rystad Energys head of oil markets, Bjornar Tonhaugen. Infections are rising in key markets around the world and there are valid concerns that the world is in for a prolonged period of dealing with its consequences.
But some analysts are beginning to make the case that oil will continue on an upward trend.
As we head into next year, we believe transportation demand could recover at a faster rate than we initially anticipated and we also think that OPEC+ will likely hold back larger supply volumes than we anticipated three months ago, Bank of America Merrill Lynch wrote in a new report.
Related: Chinas Oil Industry Is In Crisis The slightly bullish outlook (relative to where oil sits today) is based on three factors: a rebound in demand, deep supply cuts, and OPEC+ sticking with market management. Bank of America estimates that the market saw a supply surplus on the order of 11 million barrels per day (mb/d) in the first half of 2020, but that quickly flips to a deficit of 2.5 mb/d for the remainder of the year.
The bank noted that in the last 15 years, Brent crude averaged less than $50 per barrel only once in 2016. Not even during the depths of the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009 was Brent below $50 for the full year. It will likely occur again in 2020, but Bank of America thinks Brent will return to $50 in 2021.
U.S. shale will likely struggle to recover to its prior glory, the bank added. Production could continue to erode, even with the return of shut-in production. The U.S. rig count fell by another 10 last week, pushing oil rigs down to a new low of 189, a decline of roughly three quarters since March.
The supply hit is not only concentrated in shale. [W]e see global capex down to $240bn in 2020 compared to a total spend of $322bn in 2019, and we do not expect much of a recovery in 2021, Bank of America said.
Meanwhile, the investment bank pointed to the sharp rebound in oil demand in China as a reason for bullishness, although it noted that jet fuel demand could suffer more sustained damage. Ultimately, if OPEC+ sticks with its cuts and demand continues to rebound, Brent could rise to $60 per barrel next year, the bank concluded.
You can see demand ramping up every week, Marco Dunand, co-founder Mercuria Energy Group Ltd., told Bloomberg.
Related: Why The $17.5 Billion Write-Down Is Just The Beginning For BP
However, there are several pitfalls that could derail the oil price rally. The first and most obvious is the second wave of coronavirus infections (in some places, the first wave never ended). Positive cases are on the rise globally, and rising quickly in parts of the U.S. and Brazil, in particular. But cases are also rising in India, Mexico, and several other countries in Latin America. Meanwhile, although small, there are new cases in places once thought to have brought the virus under control, including in Beijing, South Korea, and Germany.
On Sunday, the world saw the largest single-day increase in positive cases to date, a jump of more than 183,000 new cases, according to the World Health Organization.
Very few governments are planning on going into tight lockdowns again, but the more the virus spreads, the longer it could take for global oil demand to rebound.
Another negative for oil is the fact that refiners are seeing weak signals. Poor margins for processing have forced refiners to cut back in Europe and China. A slowdown from refiners translates into less buying of crude, which could drag down prices. Margins are not at the bottoms but theyre very bad - thats not going to help demand. We see these potential spikes in COVID-19, which are also not going to help matters, an oil trader told Reuters. The market was overdone and is going to need to retrace to reflect the realities now.
Hedge funds and other money managers sold off some of their bullish bets with oil at $40 last week, a sign that markets are skeptical of a sustained rally above $40.
By Nick Cunningham, Oilprice.com
More Top Reads from Oilprice.com:
As New Jersey expands its plans to reopen, workers across the state are being called back to work by their employers.
Some are also being asked to sign liability waivers, saying they will not hold their employers responsible if the worker gets infected with COVID-19 on the job.
Can workers be forced to sign such a form?
An employer in New Jersey cant have his employees waive their right to workers compensation, said Charles Sullivan, law professor and an associate dean at Seton Hall Law School.
At the same time, he said, it would be very difficult if not impossible to prove that a worker contracted COVID at work rather than while commuting or at the grocery store or elsewhere, he said.
Of course, none of this means that employers wont ask for waivers, just that theyre not effective, Sullivan said. But its dangerous to do so or at least to fire a worker who wont sign one given CEPA and related rights.
CEPA, short for the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, is a broad law that prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee who objects to, or refuses to participate in any activity, policy or practice which the employee reasonably believes is incompatible with a clear mandate of public policy concerning the public health
There is a bill (S2380) pending in the state legislature that would make it easier for essential workers in New Jersey who contract the coronavirus to qualify for workers compensation.
It would remove the requirement that workers deemed essential during the pandemic and who become sick prove they contracted the virus at work.
If passed, the change would be retroactive to March 9.
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage
Sullivan said the challenge with workers compensation now is that a worker would be asked how they contracted the virus, and thats something that would be tough to prove for most people.
Still, Sullivan calls any kind of employer COVID waiver a useless document because workers compensation is a public policy mandate and its designed to protect the health of workers.
He said he doesnt see it worth fighting over on the part of the employee unless the employee wants to get into a push comes to shove situation. Hes in a good position legally.
Sullivan said he wouldnt tell a client of his to trade a job for a lawsuit, unless its a matter of principle and he didnt want to work because he was afraid of COVID-19.
He said if an employee was fired because he refused to sign the document, the worker would probably have a claim.
The easy thing is to sign it and if you develop COVID-19, take it to court, he said.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com.
Hundreds of unemployed people wait outside the Kentucky Career Centre in Frankfort, Kentucky for help with their unemployment claims. AFP/VNA Photo
WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump will prolong a ban on US employment permits to year-end and broaden it to include H-1B visas used widely in the tech industry, the White House said Monday.
A senior administration official told journalists that the move would free up 525,000 jobs, making a dent in the high unemployment rate caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
"President Trump is focused on getting Americans back to work as quickly as possible," the official said, on condition of anonymity.
Trump had endlessly touted a strong economy, but now finds himself desperate for a political boost ahead of the November election.
An executive order, expected later Monday, will extend and widen the 60-day freeze Trump placed on new work permits for non-US citizens two months ago.
The administration official said the new order would extend to the end of 2020 and include H-1B visas provided to 85,000 workers each year with special skills, many of them joining the US technology industry.
It will also cover most J visas, common for academics and researchers, and L visas used by companies to shift workers based overseas to their US offices. AFP
People think a tourist's incredible photographs have captured the Loch Ness Monster with some claiming it is 'the best picture ever' of all the sightings.
Steve Challice, from Southampton, photographed a creature from the shore opposite to Urquhart Castle on the banks of the Lock Ness when on holiday in Scotland.
Steve said he saw a ripple in the water and assumed it was a big fish that he estimated was eight feet long.
Steve Challice photographed a big creature in the Loch Noss while on holiday and people think it is the Loch Ness monster
Steve saw a ripple in the water before noticing the creature he thinks is a big fish or seal despite people's claims it is the Monster
Steve told the Daily Record he thought it was a cat fish and only posted the photos to see if people could help him identify the creature.
He said: 'In my opinion (and I'm no expert) I think it's a large fish that got into the Loch from the sea.
'As to what it is personally, I think it's a cat fish or something like that but a big one.
'Someone suggested it may be a sturgeon.
'It's very large as the bit you can see must be at least 8-foot-long and who can tell what amount is below the surface.
'The water is very dark in Loch Ness so it's hard to tell. aI saw a disturbance in the water in front of me and took an image, then a second one and suddenly this fish came out of the water and I got an image of it.
'It was gone almost instantly so much so I wasn't sure if I had got it or not.
'I guess it was something of a fluke shot.
'I waited about for a bit and took another image but didn't see the fish again.'
He took the photos in September but only had time to look through them during lockdown.
When he posted them people kept commenting that the photos looked like the Loch Ness Monster.
Author Roland Watson, who runs the Loch Ness Mystery blog, said the picture is the best picture of a possible Loch Ness Monster sighting ever.
Some people have doubts the photographs are real and fear the creature was photoshopped into them
Roland included in his blog examples of previous sightings which were unclear 'webcam blobs' making this photo, if real, the clearest one to date.
But Roland has doubts about whether the pictures are real writing on his blog: 'A zoom in on the object raises an eyebrow'.
Roland contacted Steve and is in discussion with him about whether the picture has been photoshopped.
Steve said the photos are real but that he genuinely thinks the photos have only captured a big fish.
Mohamed Dasu is angry at the coronavirus for killing thousands of people across the world and bringing so much in life to a standstill. And especially for ruining a dream hes had since Grade 9: the high school graduation ceremony.
It hurts to not have your family and friends watch you at graduation and go to the prom parties, said Dasu, a Grade 12 student whos finishing up at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute and heading to the University of Toronto next year.
I guess its a life lesson for us to build character, because life is going to throw things at us that were going to have to somehow work with and find solutions around.
He and other students in the final year at the school are thankful to a group of teachers who found a way to celebrate their achievement despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dozens of teachers held a parade Tuesday afternoon through the neighbourhoods of Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park where the majority of the Grade 12 students at Marc Garneau C.I. live. The parade was the teachers way of showing love to these students and giving them the send off they deserve in a time of lockdown and physical distancing due to the coronavirus.
Many schools in Toronto have been planting congratulatory signs in the front lawns of houses where graduating students live. Across the country, some schools have found innovative ways to hold mini-ceremonies in front yards and give speeches and hand over diplomas to the grads, while respecting physical distancing measures. Thats all well and good, said Karen Herder, one of the parade organizers at Marc Garneau, but her school couldnt do the same thing because many of their students live in highrise apartments and dont have private lawns.
The organizers learned last week that TDSB was opposed to the plan, and that the parade was not a board sanctioned activity.
The school principal was informed by a TDSB lawyer that there were liability issues in case of an accident. The group originally had arranged for a police escort, but later was told that wouldnt be possible as it wasnt a board sanctioned event. The teachers were willing to sign a waiver that wouldnt hold TDSB liable for any accident, Herder said, but they didnt hear back on that.
TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird told the Star the board has not officially sanctioned any parades for graduates at any of their schools, and Marc Garneau wasnt being singled out at all.
We want to be very cautious with that, and health and safety comes first, he said, insisting the board cant be seen as allowing a large group of people to get together and perform a parade in time of COVID-19.
In a written statement, Bird added such activities can go ahead as long as theyre organized by the schools community and not the school itself. TDSB has cancelled all graduation ceremonies until the fall and left it up to individual schools to find creative ways to celebrate that are still safe for everyone involved.
With highrise buildings, no front lawns and few options but a parade, the boards stance just didnt seem fair, Herder said.
It feels even more unjust that there are schools in affluent neighbourhoods where the teachers can go around to their homes and grads can stand out on their porch and get celebrated. Were just trying to do the same and we get told no, she said.
So, the organizers plowed ahead, mobilizing dozens of cars on Tuesday decorated with balloons and posters to parade through students neighbourhoods. They were greeted with grads and families cheering from balconies and windows.
For Dasu, the parade is more than just a good gesture of support to the graduating students. It adds a sense of finality to an academic year that has been full of challenges.
I think the teachers had an amazing intent, he said, adding it will be historically remembered as the year when graduating students had a parade. It came from a concern that students are feeling isolated. Its a beautiful thing and it really touched me.
Herder, who has been teaching in the co-op department at Marc Garneau since 2007, said its been an especially challenging time for students in the area, who already deal with long-standing issues like community violence and Islamophobia.
Taking time to paint cars with colourful and positive signs, and making dozens of stops in one afternoon to celebrate those graduating from the school is just one way to try and lift peoples spirit during a very difficult time, she said.
I have students that have not left their buildings since the start of the pandemic. Their mental health right now is at an all-time low, she said.
We just want to support our grads and let them know were there for them. We have a lot of amazing teachers who are so supportive, and its been a really hard time.
Married billionaire and ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt is reportedly dating 32-years-younger Alexandra Duisberg again, almost a year after the couple called it quits.
The two are rumored to have rekindled their romance after they allegedly started 'spending more time together in January' and are said to have spent some of the lockdown together in Miami, a source told Page Six.
Schmidt, 65, who is now chairman of the Defense Innovation Board for the US Department of Defense, has been on-and-off with the 33-year-old since 2017, despite still being married to his wife of 39 years, Wendy Boyle.
Former Olympic skater Alexandra Duisberg, 33, and still-married former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, are reportedly back on following their split last summer
Schmidt and wife of 39 years Wendy Boyle were seen in public as recently as November 2019, during a film gala in Los Angeles
Rumors of an engagement began to swirl last July after Duisberg, a former medical student who is the same age as Schmidt's daughter, Sophie, was spotted wearing a pink sapphire ring.
The couple's split was reported a month later.
According to Page Six, the former Olympic skater has been telling friends that the two will spend the summer together, however another insider claimed 'there are no plans.'
It comes after Schmidt, who boasts a $13.2billion fortune, was said to have been 'mortified' after Duisberg told her friends about their romance last year.
Although Schmidt and his wife have an open marriage, he reportedly saw the ten-carat jewel as a 'friendship ring' and allegedly has no plans to divorce Boyle.
Schmidt and Boyle were seen in public as recently as November 2019, during a film gala in Los Angeles.
A source told the tabloid Duisberg 'wants a baby' and Schmidt wants to divorce his wife, 'but neither is happening.'
Duisberg is said to have told friends Schmidt gave her the ring in Greenland, adding: 'We want to have kids as soon as possible, but his wife is making things complicated.'
The two reportedly met at a party in 2017 and have been seemingly inseparable since.
Alexandra Duisberg, pictured center in 2008, had reportedly frozen her eggs and asked the tech boss to fertilize them with the hopes of starting a family together, but he declined
The already married billionaire, 65, was said to have been left 'mortified' by claims former Olympic skater Alexandra Duisberg, pictured, told friends about their romance
Duisberg was born in Guatemala and her parents worked for the US government. She trained to be an Olympic figure skater and after suffering an injury switched career paths and entered medical school at the University of Pennsylvania.
She started her residency at Stanford in 2018 but left after less than a year for a 'sabbatical to focus on her philanthropic efforts and global health work', as per a friend.
Ever since, she's been seen at Schmidt's arm at public events over the past two years.
Schmidt has been married to wife Wendy since 1980. They met at Berkeley University in the late 1970s and have two adult daughters, Sophie and Alison.
A 2012 New York Times article stated that the pair often spend time apart, and do not comment publicly about their relationship.
Despite being legally married to Wendy, Schmidt has reportedly had relationships with a series of younger women, including a vivacious television host who dubbed him 'Dr Strangelove,' a public relations executive and a Vietnamese concert pianist.
In the past, Schmidt had been linked to Lisa Shields, a foreign relations executive and Vietnamese pianist Chau-Giang Thi Nguyen.
Despite being legally married to Wendy, Schmidt has reportedly had relationships with a series of younger women. He is pictured with wife Wendy in 2016
Meanwhile, Wendy reportedly resides at one of their homes, a $23million waterfront mansion on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, where she focuses on her philanthropic work.
TV personality Kate Bohner, aged 52, allegedly had a three-year affair with the married mogul from 2007 to 2010.
At the time, Schmidt was at the height of his power. He was brought in as Googles CEO in 2001 by creators Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who relied on his expertise to turn their modest internet search engine into a global media powerhouse.
An ex-flame of Schmidt's said that it's unlikely the tech powerhouse is interested in settling down.
'I think there are a lot of women who date him who think they are going to be the next Mrs. Schmidt,' the anonymous woman stated.
'But he dates a lot of women. He likes to have a ship in every port.'
A 22- year-old Nigerian resident in the western city of Ibadan was docked Tuesday at an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates Court for having sex with a pig.
The police charged Ayokunbi Olaniyi, with one count of unnatural offence.
Olaniyi, who resides in Elewi Odo area, Iwo Road, Ibadan was caught having sex with a pig on a pig farm owned by Mrs Adenike Taiwo.
Inspector Opeyemi Olagunju, prosecuting, told the court that Olaniyi had sex on 2 April with with a pig against the order of nature.
Olaniyi was a staff of the pig farm.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 214 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II , Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Mumin Jimoh, prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.
Jimoh said the owner of the pig has forgiven the defendant.
Chief Magistrate Olaide Amzat said: if the owner has forgiven the defendant, has God forgiven him or the pig forgiven him?
The law must take its course.
Amzat admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the matter till July 21 for hearing.
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ADA, Mich., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- USA Financial , a national investment advisory firm, insurance wholesaler, broker-dealer and 5-time Inc. 5000 honoree, today announces the addition of the JUST Capital series to its model portfolio lineup through one of its investment advisor subsidiaries, USA Financial Formulas. This announcement marks the firm's first set of sustainable equity investment strategies.
JUST Capital is the only independent nonprofit that tracks, analyzes and engages with large corporations and their investors on how they perform on the public's priorities. Nationally recognized for their JUST 100 collaboration with Forbes, the organization's mission is to drive measurable corporate change to create a stakeholder-centric, inclusive form of capitalism that reflects the values of the American public.
"Recent events have placed stakeholder capitalism at the forefront of business conversations with increasing expectations around the role of business in society," said Martin Whittaker, CEO of JUST Capital. "Through this partnership with USA Financial, we look forward to engaging a wider pool of investors in our mission, and driving additional investment capital toward more just companies, thereby incentivizing a more just and equitable marketplace."
The JUST Capital series is comprised of four formula-driven strategies that leverage the comprehensive JUST Capital polling research. Each strategy will adhere to the USA Financial Formulas philosophy of systematically reviewing, reallocating, and rebalancing the portfolio holdings on a predetermined schedule. This non-emotional approach helps investors to know what they own, why they own it, and what will trigger a change.
"JUST Capital shares our strong belief that capitalism can be a driving force for positive change," said Mike Walters, CEO of USA Financial. "With this exciting addition, we are giving financial advisors, families and individuals access to invest in strategies that focus on companies who are prioritizing environmental, social, and governance issues as an important part of creating an economy that works for more Americans."
About JUST Capital: The mission of JUST Capital, an independent nonprofit, is to build an economy that works for all Americans by helping companies improve how they serve all their stakeholders workers, customers, communities, the environment, and shareholders. We believe that business and markets can and must be a greater force for good, and by shifting the resources of the $19 trillion private sector, we can address systemic issues at scale, including income inequality and lack of opportunity. Guided by the priorities of the public, our research, rankings, indexes, and data-driven tools help measure and improve corporate performance in the stakeholder economy. To learn more about how data-driven insights are creating a more just future for capitalism, visit www.JUSTCapital.com .
About USA Financial: USA Financial is a comprehensive financial services institution, focused on providing advisors with the tools required to make solid recommendations and to empower clients to make educated and informed financial decisions. To learn more about USA Financial, please visit www.usafinancial.com .
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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A piece of Grand Rapids history has been transformed from an eyesore into its historic glory. This home was built by Charles Lindberg and his family in 1885. No, not that Charles Lindbergh, spelled with an h. This Lindberg was one of the earliest Swedish immigrants to West Michigan.
Owner of the Lindberg Gun Shop, his importance to the area is on display at the Lindberg collection at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
This home, located at 747 5th St. NW, had fallen into disrepair before being purchased at auction in 2019 by Kelly Fisher of Parrothead Properties LLC. Fisher says it took her about eight months to restore it. MLive introduced you to Fisher recently after she restored a 164-year old Allegan County church and turned it into a home.
The neighborhood was really excited to see the Lindberg home getting fixed up, Fisher told MLive. A lot of people stopped by to say thank you. I love taking these old houses in Grand Rapids and making them beautiful again, one home at a time.
The 2,043-square-foot home has five bedrooms and two bathrooms. Theres wood floors and ornate trim throughout. Theres a brick hearth fireplace. It features a large living/dining room. The kitchen has a sitting bar center island. Fisher said the home didnt look like this on the inside before the restoration. She says her goal was to make the home livable for todays standards while keeping the historic charm.
The new kitchen inside the home of Charles Lindberg, located at 747 5th St. NW in Grand Rapids. (Photo by Randy Charboneau Independence Realty)
It used to have a really small kitchen. Were talking only about 5 feet of space. It was galley style with cabinets on the both sides. I dont know how this big house had such a tiny kitchen. The main bathroom was also really small. The house had really small facilities, but now theres a nice kitchen and bathrooms for this day and age. A laundry room as well.
Theres also a sitting turret porch. The third story attic is ideal for an office. Theres a basement with plenty of room for storage. Outside, theres a front porch and a large, private backyard with an alley and parking.
One of the coolest finds are the mini, hand carved gargoyles in the woodwork throughout the house.
One of the numerous mini gargoyles hand carved in the woodwork throughout the Charles Lindberg home. (Photo by Randy Charboneau Independence Realty)
In the front room, all of the woodwork on the windows has these carved faces. Theres about eight of them. They are all hand carved and theyre all different. The fact that they are still there is just amazing. This is why I love doing these historical homes, because they just have so much character, said Fisher.
Another cool discovery were artifacts dating back to the late 1800s. Fisher says she found photos, newspapers and more. They currently sit in one of the homes bedrooms and may be donated to the Grand Rapids Public Museums Lindberg collection.
Artifacts, photos and newspapers dating back to the late 1800s found during the restoration of the home of Charles Lindberg in Grand Rapids. (Photo by Randy Charboneau Independence Realty)
When we tore out the back part of the house, we found a drum, a bullhorn, a bunch of old pictures, newspapers. It was a lot of fun breaking into the wall and finding these old artifacts. Kind of the history of the house.
Many generations of the Lindberg family lived at this home. Charles Lindberg had 10 children. Several of them went into business with their father at the Lindberg Gun Shop, located at 19 Pearl St., according to Alex Forist, chief curator at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The site is now the location of the Woodbridge N. Ferris Building, which houses the Kendall College of Art and Designs Federal Galleries.
Pictured on the right with the large beard is Charles Lindberg along with his two sons, William (top step) and Oscar (lower step). This phot was taken outside of Lindberg's gun shop at 19 Pearl St. This image was used to reconstruct the facade of the shop in the Grand Rapids Public Museum's Streets of Old Grand Rapids Exhibit. (Photo courtesy of the Collections of the Grand Rapids Public Museum)
Lindberg passed away on May 27, 1908 at the age of 69. Artifacts collected from the Lindberg Gun Shop were donated to the Museum by Charles children in the 1960s.
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New Delhi: Besides keeping the Indian security forces deployed at the border to safeguard the Indian territory from outside forces, India can adopt these three measures - surveillance, communication, and population to save its land from getting occupied.
In the current scenario when China is trying to get inside the Ladakh territory claiming it to be its own land, both the countries are holding Corps Commander-level meetings at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to discuss the ongoing dispute. But India still needs to be prepared to deal with any kind of scenario as last week as many as 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the face-off in the Galwan Valley after an attempt by the Chinese troops to unilaterally change the status quo during the de-escalation in eastern Ladakh.
The good use of technology can give a strong hand to India in fighting the battle. Just like the Israeli army, India can set up night-vision cameras to monitor movement, use third-generation thermal imaging technology and use detection radars and motion sensors and seismic Censors to get aware of any kind of activities along the LAC. This method of surveillance will keep the security forces alert of any kind of illegal activities being planned across the borders.
The second way to emerge stronger in the border fight is to improve the communication system which can be done by using setting up 5G technology in high altitudes areas where India still struggles with network issues. China on the other hand has set up 5G technology in Himalaya as well. This helps the country in quick communication. Establishing and maintaining airports to make it easy for the aircraft to bring in more force quickly will also be an added benefit for the Indian armed force to fight any such battle.
The third is increasing population and setting up human establishments at the barren land and promoting tourism. It is usually observed that other countries easily areas which are barren without any kind of population set-up. The places having a good number of the population is difficult to be captured.
In addition to that, if foreign tourists visit such places regularly, it will be proved at the international level that the land belongs to India as it will hold the right to issue the travel visas to its tourist.
The standoff between India and China started near Line of Actual Control (LAC) in May after India started construction of new roads on its side of the border. New Delhi's decision to boost up road and other infrastructure near the LAC did not go down well with Beijing and the latter upped the ante by sending more troops at four locations near eastern Ladakh and three in the Galwan Valley and one near Pangong Lake.
As a way to reduce the spread of coronavirus, China, according to Mashable, is using self-driving vans called Hercules to deliver foods and disinfect streets.
In a Tweet shared by Mashable on Saturday, June 20, it said that the vans have been doing the delivery and sanitisation works for the past two months in 16 communities in Zibo, the eastern part of China.
Hercules makes use of lidars, cameras, and complex algorithms to get itself from one place to the other.
It has the capacity to carry a cargo of up to 1,000 kilograms in its compartment.
The developer of the vehicle, UDI, has also been engaging a small fleet of the vans in other places like Suzhow and Shenzhen.
They are especially used to deliver meal boxes to workers and disinfect areas near hospitals. It should be noted that all the self-autonomous vehicles have made 2,500 trips.
Self-driving vans are delivering food and disinfecting streets in China pic.twitter.com/T7Bw45iVof
Mashable (@mashable) June 20, 2020
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.
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WASHINGTONThe most surprising thing about John Boltons book is how few surprises it contains. Certainly his portrait of a White House governed by incompetence laced with malice is disturbing. But its also whats come to be expected from accounts of President Donald Trumps time in office.
The Room Where it Happened, Boltons memoir of working as national security adviser, was released Tuesday after months of speculation, court fighting, excerpts, interviews and debate about whether Bolton should be given the satisfaction of an audience.
Getting through its more than 400 pages of play-by-play narrative, a reader comes to Boltons defence of tell-all memoirs: they are critical to parting the curtain, he says, because press accounts and instant histories are far too often lacking in insight and understanding. The thing is, Boltons insider account is more confirmation than revelation, precisely because the portrait it paints of chaos as a way of life comports entirely with the impression given by the media.
I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision that wasnt driven by re-election calculations, Bolton writes. By now, that reads like more of the same.
As a correspondent from Canada, Im obliged to point out that Justin Trudeau makes a brief appearance as the subject of a well-known Trump tantrum after the G20 meetings in Quebec in 2018. Trump already disliked the Canadian prime minister, Bolton writes, and grew angry when Trudeau used a news conference to complain about a then-ongoing trade dispute. He ordered his staff to take to television to badmouth the Canadian as a backstabber. Canadas Huawei extradition confrontation with China (still escalating, with Canadians as de facto political hostages) also comes in for some brief discussion, showing Trump willing to use the underlying issue as trade leverage. But for fine details, these episodes are already well known in Canada, and little new is revealed here.
As many critics and reviewers have already noted, much of Boltons account consists of self-aggrandizement and hawkish policy arguments. Those elements may be less compelling for many than Boltons portrayal of how the White House under Trump works or doesnt.
Bolton portrays Trump as impulsive and vain, uninformed and uninterested in being informed, irresponsible and dishonest. He compares Trump to a toddler, with a penchant for giving personal favours to dictators he likes and recounts episodes of Trump liking more dictators, more enthusiastically, than most would prefer. He portrays a series of such dictators playing Trump like a fiddle by appealing to his ego. He confirms the allegations in the impeachment trial and says that case was one example among many of the president subordinating national interests to his own personal and political concerns.
Trying to advise this president, Bolton writes, is like making policy inside a pinball machine, where strategy meetings resemble college food fights, where a boss obsessed with TV will instruct staff to praise him more in their appearances and will often change policy on a whim often through a tweet undermining his entire government without knowing it, or without caring.
Trump and his advisers have accused Bolton of being a liar, a washed up crank who was given one of the most powerful and influential jobs in the world out of something like pity. A man not worth paying attention to.
But what Bolton says is similar to what many other former Trump staffers have said, from bit players like Omarosa Manigault Newman and Anthony Scaramucci through the heavy hitters, such as those who testified at the impeachment hearing and former defence secretary James Mattis. Some of it may well be sour grapes, but it comes to seem like every piece of fruit Trump handles eventually spills vinegar.
And although Bolton portrays the media as an awful horde of inaccurate vultures, the picture he paints of Trumps White House conforms to the image revealed in instalments by the New York Times, the Washington Post and CNN.
Chaos as a way of life. As I say, no surprise there. Perhaps that it has come to seem humdrum should be the most shocking thing about it.
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Through new training program funding, 'bridging the gap' aims to expand dental workforce with skills and commitment to patients with disabilities and complex medical conditions
NYU College of Dentistry's Department of Pediatric Dentistry has received a nearly $2 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to train dentists and other health professionals to provide oral health care to people with disabilities and complex medical conditions. This is the fourth HRSA grant awarded to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry since 2015.
The Bridging the Gap program, led by Courtney H. Chinn, DDS, MPH, clinical associate professor and associate chair of pediatric dentistry at NYU Dentistry, will integrate this training into NYU's existing Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry and will create new training programs and curricula to educate general dentists and dental hygienists on caring for patients with disabilities.
"People with disabilities and complex medical conditions face too many barriers in accessing oral health services, including finding a dentist with the skills and capabilities to manage their care. We are working to build a competent and compassionate dental workforce to care for people with these unique needs, ensuring that dentists have the skills for, and commitment to, caring for vulnerable populations," said Chinn.
While some dental programs may focus on people with disabilities, special needs dentistry is not formally recognized as an accredited specialty. Many general dentists lack the skills, experience, or capacity to care for people with disabilities. Historically, given their training, pediatric dentists have been the primary dental professionals to serve people with disabilities, but there are not enough pediatric dentists and they are often unable to continue caring for these patients after they reach adulthood.
Moreover, some people with disabilities and medical conditions have poor oral health due to difficulty with daily activities like brushing their teeth or the medications they take. Patients are often forced to forego preventive care in a dentist's office and are only seen in hospital operating rooms or under sedation--and only when a dental emergency occurs.
To address this public health need, NYU Dentistry opened its new Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities in early 2019 to provide much-needed care for people whose disabilities or medical conditions prevent them from receiving care in a conventional dental setting. The center includes specialized equipment, sedation suites, and a multisensory room--and importantly, offers a unique training opportunity.
The Bridging the Gap program will train pediatric dental postgraduate students to care for people with disabilities, including developing and implementing a new curriculum and enhancing their clinical experiences through rotations at the NYU Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities and NYU's school-based dental care program in New York City schools.
Bridging the Gap will also provide training for other health professionals. NYU Dentistry will create a one-year program for dentists and dental hygienists caring for children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities. The program will also partner with NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing to pilot a teledentistry program in which nurse practitioner students doing clinical rotations in New York City schools and other community settings will connect people with disabilities to NYU Dentistry for virtual treatment planning and referrals.
Throughout the program, Chinn and his team will evaluate its success through pre- and post-surveys of trainees to measure their confidence in treating people with disabilities and intent to treat vulnerable populations.
The five-year grant (D88HP37550-01-00) begins July 1, 2020, with the training programs launching in September 2021. Each year, 16 pediatric dental postdoctoral students and up to three general dentists and/or dental hygienists are expected to participate in the program, along with many additional interprofessional students.
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About NYU College of Dentistry
Founded in 1865, New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) is the third oldest and the largest dental school in the US, educating nearly 10 percent of the nation's dentists. NYU Dentistry has a significant global reach with a highly diverse student body. Visit http://dental.nyu.edu for more.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. John Dramani Mahama, has stated that the party will respect the verdict of the Supreme Court on the issue of the voters registration exercise.
He said the party was awaiting the verdict of the Supreme Court on its disagreement with the Electoral Commission (EC) on the register to use and what form of identification to be used in the event of any voters registration exercise.
Whatever verdict the Supreme Court gives, we are all law-abiding citizens and we shall respect the verdict of the court.
Mr Mahama was speaking during a courtesy call on the Fiaga of the Tongor Traditional Area, Togbe Asro Kwasi V, and some chiefs last Saturday at Dzemini as part of his Community Engagement Activity in the South Dayi Constituency in the Volta Region.
He was in the community to commiserate with victims of a recent rainstorm, the families of persons who lost their lives when a boat capsized in the middle of the Volta River and also meet with the Boat Owners Association.
Context
The NDC is at the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the EC to use only the Ghana card or the passport as the form of identification one needs to register in the upcoming voters' registration exercise.
The party is seeking the inclusion of an existing voter identification card as another form of identification, while a private citizen, Mr Mark Takyi-Banson, is seeking the inclusion of a birth certificate as one of the identifications.
Registration
Former President Mahama said whatever the verdict of the Supreme Court, there was going to be a registration exercise either a limited registration exercise, a new registration exercise or a validation of an existing register.
Whichever registration it is, I will plead with Togbui to beat the gong-gong and ask all the people to come out and register so that in December they can exercise their vote, he stated.
Mr Mahama said their registration would enable them to participate in choosing the countrys leaders on December 7, 2020.
He, therefore, stressed the need for Ghanaians to register during whatever form of registration exercise to make a choice of leaders who do not talk but act.
We all know that the NDC, we dont talk but our actions speak for us. All of us must register so that on December 7, we can bring the NDC to power. Our elders say, weve carried water and weve carried alcohol and we know which one is heavier, he stated. - #GhanaVotes2020
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.
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Its ridiculous that so many people still refuse to wear a mask when shopping, four months after COVID-19 became an unseen threat to us all. And it boils down to a lack of leadership.
The one area where our political and public health leaders have failed to show any consistency in their advice since the outbreak of the pandemic is in the use of face masks.
Initially we were told masks were in short supply and had to be reserved for front-line health-care workers, and for people working at businesses deemed essential such as grocery and drug stores. As supply issues were addressed, we were told masks still were not necessary in public, even when riding public transit or shopping for groceries.
Failing a lack of clear directions from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Doug Ford or top medical officials in their daily COVID-19 briefings, some grocers started asking customers to wear masks to help protect their employees.
That practice spread as more Ontario businesses were allowed to reopen, including my neighbourhood hardware store, which also tells customers to use the provided hand sanitizer and will not accept cash for now.
Eventually Ford himself started urging people to wear masks, and the premier has often been photographed wearing one in public, but he refuses to make it a provincial regulation.
Public transit systems in Hamilton, Ottawa and Toronto urge passengers to wear masks, with some preparing to make it mandatory as ridership starts returning to pre-COVID levels. Transport Canada made masks mandatory for airline passengers, but whos flying where?
Guelph and Windsor decided to set their own rules, mandating masks when you enter a business, and in the process started a patchwork of conflicting rules in the province.
There may be some Ontarians who have fallen into the U.S. mindset, fuelled by Donald Trump, that somehow wearing a mask is a sign of weakness and an infringement on their freedom, but they would be a tiny minority. So I truly dont understand the reluctance of Ford and his government to mandate masks in stores.
A group of doctors, scientists and epidemiologists called Masks4Canada want non-surgical masks made mandatory in all public enclosed spaces, in crowds and on public transit. And they wisely want a public education campaign, not fines for offenders.
A recent study found masks prevented more than 78,000 infections in Italy in one month and about 68,000 in New York City over three weeks. A German study found mandatory masks could reduce daily growth in infection rates by as much as 40 per cent.
Weve all learned that masks do little to protect us from COVID-19, but they do help protect others from what we may possibly be spreading, even if we have no symptoms.
So refusing to don one before entering a business where workers are wearing gloves, masks and even face shields eight hours or more a day to serve you is just plain selfish, and arguing with store staff about the issue is beyond rude to ridiculous. Mask-up buttercup.
Unless of course you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a mask.
A well-funded provincial public awareness campaign would help educate people about why some shoppers may need an exemption but that most should wear masks, something municipalities have no real capacity to do, and could never do as effectively as the province.
We all accept the rules so succinctly summed up on stickers on the doors of many commercial businesses: no shirt, no shoes, no service. How could anyone object to adding no mask to that list as we slowly start to reopen from a pandemic? Why is Ford refusing to act?
Replacing the expensive metals that break down exhaust gases in catalytic converters with cheaper, more effective materials is a top priority for scientists, for both economic and environmental reasons. Catalysts are required to perform chemical reactions that would otherwise not happen, such as converting polluting gases from automotive exhaust into clean compounds that can be released into the environment. To improve them, researchers need a deeper understanding of exactly how they catalysts work.
Now a team at Stanford University and the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has identified exactly which pairs of atoms in a nanoparticle of palladium and platinum -- a combination commonly used in converters - are the most active in breaking those gases down.
They also answered a question that has puzzled catalyst researchers: Why do larger catalyst particles sometimes work better than smaller ones, when you'd expect the opposite? The answer has to do with the way the particles change shape during the course of reactions, creating more of those highly active sites.
The results are an important step toward engineering catalysts for better performance in both industrial processes and emissions controls, said Matteo Cargnello, an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Stanford who led the research team. Their report was published June 17 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"The most exciting result of this work was identifying where the catalytic reaction occurs -- on which atomic sites you can perform this chemistry that takes a polluting gas and turns it into harmless water and carbon dioxide, which is incredibly important and incredibly difficult to do," Cargnello said. "Now that we know where the active sites are, we can engineer catalysts that work better and use less expensive ingredients."
In a car's catalytic converter, nanoparticles of precious metals like palladium and platinum are attached to a ceramic surface. As emission gases flow by, atoms on the surface of the nanoparticles latch onto passing gas molecules and encourage them to react with oxygen to form water, carbon dioxide and other less harmful chemicals. A single particle catalyzes billions of reactions before becoming exhausted.
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Today's catalytic converters are designed to work best at high temperatures, Cargnello said, which is why most harmful exhaust emissions come from vehicles that are just starting to warm up. With more engines being designed to work at lower temperatures, there's a pressing need to identify new catalysts that perform better at those temperatures, as well as in ships and trucks that are unlikely to switch to electric operation any time soon.
But what makes one catalyst more active than another? The answer has been elusive.
In this study, the research team looked at catalyst nanoparticles made of platinum and palladium from two perspectives -- theory and experiment -- to see if they could identify specific atomic structures on their surface that contribute to higher activity.
Rounder particles with jagged edges
On the theory side, SLAC staff scientist Frank Abild-Pedersen and his research group at the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis created a new approach for modeling how exposure to gases and steam during chemical reactions affects a catalytic nanoparticle's shape and atomic structure. This is computationally very difficult, Abild-Pedersen said, and previous studies had assumed particles existed in a vacuum and never changed.
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His group created new and simpler ways to model particles in a more complex, realistic environment. Computations by postdoctoral researchers Tej Choksi and Verena Streibel suggested that as reactions proceed, the eight-sided nanoparticles become rounder, and their flat, facet-like surfaces become a series of jagged little steps.
By creating and testing nanoparticles of different sizes, each with a different ratio of jagged edges to flat surfaces, the team hoped to home in on exactly which structural configuration, and even which atoms, contributed the most to the particles' catalytic activity.
A little help from water
Angel Yang, a PhD student in Cargnello's group, made nanoparticles of precisely controlled sizes that each contained an evenly distributed mixture of palladium and platinum atoms. To do this, she had to develop a new method for making the larger particles by seeding them around smaller ones. Yang used X-ray beams from SLAC's Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource to confirm the composition of the nanoparticles she made with help from SLAC's Simon Bare and his team.
Then Yang ran experiments where nanoparticles of different sizes were used to catalyze a reaction that turns propene, one of the most common hydrocarbons present in exhaust, into carbon dioxide and water.
"Water here played a particularly interesting and beneficial role," she said. "Normally it poisons, or deactivates, catalysts. But here the exposure to water made the particles rounder and opened up more active sites."
The results confirmed that larger particles were more active and that they became rounder and more jagged during reactions, as the computational studies predicted. The most active particles contained the biggest proportion of one particular atomic configuration -- one where two atoms, each surrounded by seven neighboring atoms, form pairs to carry out the reaction steps. It was these "7-7 pairs" that allowed big particles to perform better than smaller ones.
Going forward, Yang said, she hopes to figure out how to seed nanoparticles with much cheaper materials to bring their cost down and reduce the use of rare precious metals.
Interest from industry
The research was funded by BASF Corporation, a leading manufacturer of emissions control technology, through the California Research Alliance, which coordinates research between BASF scientists and seven West Coast universities, including Stanford.
"This paper is addressing fundamental questions about active sites, with theory and experimental perspectives coming together in a really nice way to explain the experimental phenomena. This has never been done before, and that's why it's quite significant," said Yuejin Li, a senior principal scientist with BASF who participated in the study.
"In the end," he said, "we want to have a theoretical model that can predict what metal or combination of metals will have even better activity than our current state of the art."
In this episode, senior journalist Jacqueline Maley is joined by senior investigative journalist Kate McClymont to discuss their investigation into former High Court Justice Dyson Heydon.
An independent inquiry found Mr Heydon to have sexually harassed six young female associates.
Yesterday, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age uncovered further allegations from senior legal figures including a judge who claims he indecently assaulted her.
These women claim Mr Heydon's status as one of the most powerful men in the country protected him from being held accountable for his actions.
Vietnam is well-situated to benefit from the ongoing shift in supply chains that will likely be accelerated by the global novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink told Tuoi Tre News on Monday.
The ambassador met with the media in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, where he remarked on the state of the Vietnam-U.S. relationship ahead of the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in July and shared his vision for where the countries are going forward.
Answering Tuoi Tre News, Ambassador Kritenbrink stressed that Vietnam remains an incredibly important market for American traders and investors.
The COVID-19 pandemic presents both challenges and opportunities, and American companies have been poised to seize those opportunities, he added.
Some friends in Hanoi had told me that they anticipated that some of the shifts in supply chains that were underway prior to the COVID-19 [pandemic] would presumably be accelerated following the crisis. And I think Vietnam is well-situated to benefit from the shift in some of those supply chains, Ambassador Kritenbrink said.
It will be incumbent on Vietnam to think about its value added and advantages in new areas and do what it takes to develop its own capabilities there, he underscored.
Vietnam has done a tremendous job in building and growing its economy over the last 25 years. The foreign investments play an important role in that, he continued.
To create the right environment for attracting foreign investment in the post-COVID-19 world, part of what Vietnam could do is make sure it will continue to promote the rule of law and, through its legal policies and infrastructure, send signals that foreign investors and businesses are welcome in the country, the diplomat said.
Vietnam could also make sure that its tax policies are transparent, fair, and consistent, and that the regulatory environment is predictable.
When companies face challenges and disputes, they should have recourse to legal mechanisms, mediation, and access to Vietnamese policymakers so that they can get over those hurdles, he said.
Well do this together, our businesses will do it together, and our governments will get together and talk about how we can together grapple with those issues. Globally, we face a lot of challenges to promote economic recovery but I think America and Vietnam can do great work together, Ambassador Kritenbrink told Tuoi Tre News.
I am confident that American companies and investments will play a key role in those attempts.
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink speaks to the press at an event in Ho Chi Minh City, June 22, 2020. Photo: Tuan Son / Tuoi Tre News
The ambassador went on to underline that Vietnam is doing very well in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) thanks to its young, dynamic, increasingly well-educated, and hard-working labor forces.
While praising the economic reforms and advancements the Southeast Asian country has made, Ambassador Kritenbrink noted Vietnam needs to continue to look at the regulatory environment and address concerns among foreign companies about its tax policies and transparency and predictability of regulations, as well as lowering the amount of time to get approvals.
If Vietnam wants to continue to attract FDI and really wants to build the Industrial Revolution 4.0 economy, Vietnam has to keep these issues in mind and keep the interests of foreign investors and companies in mind, the diplomat said.
Resolving its regulatory and legal issues will reinforce Vietnams reputation as an attractive place for investment, he added.
The ambassador listed reconciliation events, high-level diplomacy, and his trips to beautiful places across Vietnam as the most meaningful things that he has been engaged in since assuming office in 2017.
Kritenbrink made history as the first U.S. ambassador to visit a cemetery of Vietnamese soldiers killed in the American war in Vietnam when he came to the Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery in the north-central province of Quang Tri in August 2019.
On Sunday, he also paid the first visit of a U.S. ambassador to the Ho Chi Minh City Martyrs Cemetery in District 9.
One of the things that I hope I can do as the American ambassador is continue to build a strong foundation so that we'll have a great future together, so that we'll never again face a point in the future between the United States and Vietnam where some kind of misunderstanding leads to conflict between us, he said.
Im hoping that through these events designed to show great respect for Vietnam and promote reconciliation, we can make a small investment in our future as well.
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink (fourth left), American diplomats, and Vietnamese officials stand in silence as they offer flowers to fallen Vietnamese soldiers at the Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, August 27, 2019. Photo: Quoc Nam / Tuoi Tre
With the U.S. presidential election coming up this November, Ambassador Kritenbrink reaffirmed that Vietnam can be confident in the United States continuing to deliver on its commitments in the East Vietnam Sea under any administration, as evidenced by its consistent foreign policy in the past decades.
If you take the long view [and] look at American foreign policy since 1945, you will see tremendous continuity from 1945 until today... American foreign policy continues to be predicated on the belief that our nation is stronger and more secure when we have strong and prosperous allies, partners, and friends, he said.
We continue to believe in upholding international law, peaceful resolution of disputes, and freedom of navigation. We believe that vital waterways like the East [Vietnam] Sea are crucial to regional and global economic growth, the ambassador added.
We believe that all countries, including the United States, are more secure when we all play by the rules, he told Tuoi Tre News.
Ambassador Kritenbrink said he has great confidence that Americas national interests, including those in the East Vietnam Sea, are enduring and will remain so under any administration.
Those are not going to change, he underlined.
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
In 2000, he was appointed to the NSW Court of Appeal and in 2003 Prime Minister John Howard appointed him to the High Court. Justice Dyson Heydon when he was appointed to head the Royal Commission into union corruption. Credit:Andrew Meares Mr Heydon, a particular expert in Evidence, Property and Trusts, wrote his judgments long-hand and famously did not read his own emails - instead having them printed out for him to read. He is a committed Christian who has spoken deridingly of the "modern elites" who "do not feel any gratitude to Almighty God for their entitlements and rights". In his later years on the High Court, Heydon had a high rate of dissent from his other judges.
Even when he agreed with his fellow judges, he would often write his own judgments. "They don't write grammatically as I understand Anglo-Australian grammar," he complained of his colleagues. "There are some forms of expression that I cannot bring myself knowingly to adopt." Mr Heydon's legal purism was just as strict. In a case involving a husband's rape of his wife in the 1960s, Heydon held a minority view that the man should not be prosecuted.
"No one in 1962 thought rape was a crime ... it's a fundamental principle that not even parliament should enact criminal laws which are retrospective," he said. Following his retirement in 2013 at the mandated age of 70, Mr Heydon contacted Oxford University to express his interest in a Visiting Professorship. Freedom of Information documents show the university was "delighted" to appoint him for a three-year post from 2013. But in 2014, then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott appointed Mr Heydon head of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. Mr Heydon had known the Prime Minister as a student and was a member of the panel that awarded the young Mr Abbott his own Rhodes scholarship in 1980. In 1993 it was reported Mr Heydon, a monarchist, had been legal adviser to Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy, headed by Mr Abbott.
Justice Dyson Heydon leaves the Royal Commission in 2015. Credit:Anna Kucera The Unions Royal Commission was dogged with accusations of political bias from its inception. That came to a head in April 2015, when it was revealed Mr Heydon had accepted an invitation to deliver the 6th Sir Garfield Barwick Address, a Liberal party fundraiser. He said he had "overlooked" the political aspect of the event and withdrew from the engagement. Several unions made applications in the Commission for Heydon to step down. As Commissioner, he heard the applications and dismissed them. He handed down his final report in late 2015. Mr Heydon returned to the Sydney bar, where he has chambers on Phillip Street, next to the Supreme Court.
In a 2017 speech to the Australian Catholic University he spoke of the "contrast between the painful environment of past ages and the gluttonous and sensual milieu of the present", arguing "indifference based on rising wealth is insidiously damaging to religion". "As the world we are in becomes more attractive, the less need is there for contemplating the possibility of some other more perfect world and the less adherence there is to a strict morality." In the same speech, he lamented a "massive change in courtesy, civility and mutual respect" over previous decades. Statement from Dyson Heydon's lawyers:
In respect of the confidential inquiry and its subsequent confidential report, any allegation of predatory behaviour or breaches of the law is categorically denied by our client. The inquiry was an internal administrative inquiry and was conducted by a public servant and not by a lawyer, judge or a tribunal member. It was conducted without having statutory powers of investigation and of administering affirmations or oaths.
ODMs Director of Communications Philip Etale has rubbished reports that Raila Odinga is in China for cancer-related treatment.
This follows online reports that the former Prime Minister flew out of the country on Sunday, June 21 in the company of his daughter Winnie Odinga.
However, Etale on Monday morning dismissed the reports as fake news. He explained that the ODM party leader is currently in DRC, Kinshasa in his capacity as AU High representative.
Ignore the FAKE NEWS. It is the work of sick people who have run out of ideas. Ends tweeted Etale.
HE Raila Odinga is currently in Kinshasa, DRC in his capacity as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa for the virtual Pan African Conference on the Grand Inga Dam. The project aims to unlock the worlds largest hydropower scheme in Africa, he added.
The dam is indicated to be Africas biggest project with leaders from Rwanda, Angola, DRC Congo, Uganda, South Africa and Kenya attending the conference virtually.
It remains unclear why Raila Odinga had to travel to DRC for the 7-day virtual conference that is scheduled to end on June 22.
LO Jobs; Outsourcing, DPA, Marketing Products; Thoughts on the CFPB's Non-QM Proposal
There are all kinds of things that I dont, or didnt, know. For example, the other day I learned that when dogs lap water, theyre actually scooping up water with the back of their tongue, which is curled like an elephants trunk. Now Ive learned that the term master bedroom is being abolished and changed to bedroom 1 or primary bedroom and autism is neurally diverse. Mary Poppins has a racist scene? Really? Smart builders like Lennar continue to take advantage of COVID and the shutdown and are training displaced restaurant and retail workers in construction. Anything to alleviate the construction labor shortage, right? Rates are great, and refinancing possibilities abound, but Black Knight tells us that mortgage delinquencies increased another 20% in May to hit their highest level since 2011. Total borrowers more than 30 days late surged to 4.3 million in May after a record jump to 3.4 million in April, and more than 8% of all US mortgages were either past due or in foreclosure, the report showed. Yup, Americans are skipping millions of loan payments due to the coronavirus. In high-cost areas, jobless benefits arent enough to help debt-laden borrowers pay down their bills.
Lender Services and Products
Monitored Marketplace: It appears HUD is considering regulating the benefits to, and geographical operating areas of, governmental entities providing DPA, like CBC Mortgage Agency. But Miki Adams, vice-president of CBC, which operates the Chenoa Fund program, says there is a better way: a monitored marketplace that tracks the pricing and performance of loans by individual governmental DPA providers, something HUD doesnt currently do but easily could. This would allow HUD to establish performance standards for DPA loans and ensure there is a competitive market so that borrowers get the lowest costs and a variety of products. After collecting sufficient data, HUD could use the pricing and performance statistics to support rulemaking. But HUD intends to do just the opposite: regulate without supporting data, creating onerous requirements for government DPA programs, Adams says. That will inevitably produce fewer options and less benefit to borrowers. Read about the Monitored Marketplace here.
Free eBook from Maxwell: It has been increasingly difficult for lenders, particularly small to midsize lenders, to adequately staff to handle volume when business is booming without taking a hit when things go bust. Outsourcing can be a low-risk, high-reward solution for moderate-sized lenders who are growing too quickly to manage all their loan production in-house. Digital mortgage leader, Maxwell, has put together an incredibly helpful eBook, Outsourced Fulfillment: Benefits, Myths, & Opportunities. A great read for any moderate sized lender looking to better manage scale, growth, and opportunities for their business. No form required, free download.
CFPB and Non-QM Loans
The long awaited proposed (proposed only at this point) changes in the QM versus non-QM dividing line came out yesterday. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau issued two notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs) to amend the ATR-QM Rule. The first NPRM would extend the sunset date for a temporary category of qualified mortgages sometimes referred to as the temporary GSE qualified mortgage category or as the GSE Patch. The second NPRM would amend the definition of a permanent category of qualified mortgages sometimes referred to as the general qualified mortgage category.
(If you just want to see the changes, here you go.)
Non-QM lenders and investors are especially interested in the proposal to replace the DTI limit with a price-based approach. The Bureau suggests replacing the existing 43% DTI ratio threshold in favor of a loan pricing threshold based on the difference between a loan's annual percentage rate (APR) and the average prime offer rate (APOR) at the time the rate is set for a comparable transaction. Why? Because it preliminarily concludes that a loan's price, as measured by comparing a loan's annual percentage rate to the average prime offer rate for a comparable transaction, is a stronger indicator and more holistic and flexible measure of a consumer's ability to repay than DTI alone.
So for eligibility for QM status under the general QM definition, the Bureau is proposing a price threshold for most loans as well as higher price thresholds for smaller loans, which is particularly important for manufactured housing and for minority consumers. The NPRM also proposes that lenders take into account a consumer's income, debt, and DTI ratio or residual income and verify the consumer's income and debts.
Comments on the changes to the general QM definition rulemaking are due 60 days after publication in the Federal register. Comments on extension of the Patch are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The announcement prompted attorney Brian Levy to write, The CFPB just came out with its proposal to extend the patch until the first to occur of either (i) GSE exit from Conservatorship or (ii) implementation of the just proposed new QM rule that defines QM based on the price of the loan instead of 43% DTI. For my comments on this proposal, see my Musings from Leap Day 2020. Consumer groups seem to admit that 43% DTI isnt very predictive of affordability, but they (and conforming loan MBS securitizers) want to use pricing alone as the QM determinant for ability to repay. That makes no sense in that the price of the loan tells you nothing about the borrowers ability to repay it.
What is the scope of the change? Bose George with KBW scribed, The QM Patch had allowed the GSEs to underwrite mortgages with DTIs greater than 43%, and we estimate that these loans account for roughly 15% of GSE mortgage volume. The proposed rule should ensure that a large percentage of high-DTI loans remain in the QM category, which allows the GSEs to continue guaranteeing them. We see this as positive for the mortgage industry as a whole, and especially for the mortgage insurers We estimate that loans with DTIs over 43% accounted for up to 25% of new insurance written (NIW) for some mortgage insurers in 2019.
President and CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, weighed in. MBA appreciates the CFPBs proposed changes to the QM Rule and extension of the GSE Patch. As proposed, the regulatory changes would seek to ensure creditworthy borrowers have access to sustainable mortgage credit without disruption to the overall mortgage market. MBA looks forward to reviewing and commenting on both rules, and we will continue to work with policymakers and all other stakeholders to ensure borrowers are both protected and have access to credit throughout the mortgage lending process.
CoreLogics Pete Carroll opined, The CFPBs ATR/QM proposed rulemaking has significant bearing on the balance between homeowner ability to sustain their mortgage payments and broad access to affordable mortgage credit. The ATR/QM blog series from CoreLogic seeks to provide policymakers and industry stakeholders alike with evidence-based insights to consider as they deliberate on the important policy questions raised by the proposal, including market sizing, loan performance, underwriting factors, credit availability, and more.
Capital Markets
Data over the last week has showed improving economic conditions coming off record lows observed during March and April. Retails sales rebounded in May due in part to an increase in auto sales but were still 8.3 percent below Januarys peak. Housing starts increased modestly in May as delayed multi-family projects resumed. Single-family starts were little changed for the month although single-family permits jumped over 14 percent. Builder confidence has also increased, signaling stronger construction numbers in the coming months. Industrial production in the US is beginning to restart after significant declines in March and April. One of the most watched numbers as of late, initial unemployment claims, declined for the eleventh straight week for the week ending June 13 although the rate of decline has weakened. The positive news over the last week has been welcomed by financial markets. But there is an underlying concern as some areas of the country are seeing an increase in new Covid-19 cases. Large month-over-month improvements are nice, but the year-over-year data show there is still a long way to go before the economy is back to where it once was.
For those who enjoy steady mortgage rates, the last couple weeks have been a welcome respite from prior months. U.S. Treasuries ended Monday on a mixed note, and by mixed note I mean with either unchanged yields for shorter durations or 1 bp off of opening levels for longer maturities. Why? Limited data and headlines, though there is always news to go around. Existing home sales declined 9.7 percent month-over-month in May, missing expectations as the reading marked the third straight month of a decline in sales. Total sales were down 26.6 percent year-over-year and are now at the lowest level since 2010. On the bright side, closed sales in May reflect most contract signings completed in March and April, so coming months should feature stronger sales activity.
Investors in mortgage-backed securities are worried about U.S. home-loan delinquencies spelled out in the first paragraph. The number of borrowers more than 30 days late ballooned to 4.3 million, up 723,000 from April, according to Black Knight. That means more than 8 percent of all mortgages are now past due or in foreclosure. Mississippi had the highest rate, followed by Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, and Florida. Separately, the Mortgage Bankers Associations (MBA) latest Forbearance and Call Volume Survey revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased for the first time since the surveys inception in March, from 8.55 percent of servicers portfolio volume in the prior week to 8.48 percent as of June 14, 2020. According to MBAs estimate, 4.2 million homeowners are now in forbearance plan, down from almost 4.3 million homeowners the prior week.
Todays economic calendar is already underway with the Philadelphia Fed nonmanufacturing indices for June, going from -41.4 to +7.3! Later this morning brings Redbook same store sales for the week ending June 20, preliminary June Markit Manufacturing and Services PMIs, the ever-important May new home sales, and finally, Richmond Fed Manufacturing and Services indices for June. The NY Fed will conduct two FedTrade purchase operations totaling up to $4.349 billion. With the Feds balance sheet is set to top $10 trillion this year, Boston Fed President Rosengren said yesterday that the Fed is a long way from raising rates and that rates on the short and long end need to be kept low. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices nearly unchanged and the 10-year yielding .72 after closing yesterday at 0.70 percent.
Employment
Sutherland, a leading Business Process Transformation and Outsourcing provider is pleased to announce a new addition to the executive team. Kevin Norris has joined the Sutherland Mortgage team as Director of Client Engagement, bringing over 20 years of experience in financial services, primarily in the mortgage sector. Kevin has spent the majority of his career working for large Fortune 500 companies including Morgan Stanley, Discover Financial Services, PHH Mortgage, and Realogy Corporation and has held various roles within these firms including running large operation centers, product and business development, e-commerce, process improvement, account management, and various other leadership management positions. In his new role at Sutherland, Kevin will lead the effort around maximizing the alignment of Sutherlands offerings to their growing client base enabling both cost reduction and revenue growth opportunities. Kevin brings a great deal of knowledge and experience. As we continue to grow with our clients, Kevin will provide a critical role in taking our customers needs into action, said Neil Armstrong, AMP of Sutherland.
Quality Mortgage Services is a team of QC mortgage audit professionals ready to execute mortgage QC, due diligence, and audit functions so todays lenders and servicers have the best mortgage analysis reports possible. We are expanding our residential mortgage auditing team by adding experienced and knowledgeable quality control auditors interested in working collaboratively with peers in a remote environment allowing for more work-life balance. Ideal candidates have a minimum of 10 years experience in residential mortgage underwriting or auditing for quality control, be proficient with Conventional and Government underwriting guidelines, FHA Direct Endorsement VA SAR Certifications preferred, strong understanding of compliance, and solid knowledge of the Secondary Market. If interested, please send resumes directly to Claudia Duncan or Laura Kate Davis.
Innovation, Efficiency, and Family are the three most common attributes new hires point to regarding their decision to join Thrive Mortgage. Case in point are the additions of industry veterans Jamal Chubb and Josh Harvith to expand Thrives Talent Attraction & Career Team. Asked about why he joined Thrive, Chubb responded, This career move allows me to offer growth opportunities to Originators and Ops Professionals across the country. I am excited for my future with Thrive and the future for my family. Harvith also explained, The culture of excellence in our company runs very deep. Our process is world-class, but its our people who drive our success! Thrive Mortgage is growing in markets across the U.S. and is looking for Humble, Hungry, and Smart professionals who want to be a part of something special. Contact Jamal, Josh, or Chris Karageorge to inquire about open positions. We cant wait to meet you!
Academy Mortgage achieved record-breaking volume in April and May and is on pace for another record-high volume total in June. Achieving this incredible success in an extraordinary time for the housing and lending industries is the result of a strong sales team, dedicated operations team, and the hard work of Academys 1,900+ team members nationwide. More good news for the independent lender: Academy was recognized by Scotsman Guide as a Top Mortgage Lender for 2019, ranking in the top 25 for Top Retail Volume and Top Overall Volume. In addition, Academy had 100 Loan Officers named as Top Originators by Scotsman Guide, which is a company best. Academy Loan Officers were also included in top producer lists by Mortgage Executive Magazine and National Mortgage News. If youre interested in joining an award-winning company to power your Potential, contact SVP Bill Sohan.
Many LOs struggle to trust their leadership & companys stability. Churchill Mortgage not only has a world class leadership team, but it's also an E.S.O.P! Our employees are partial owners. We're a company of leaders, focused on the success of our company & our customers. Weve been voted a Top Workplace for 7 consecutive years! According to LinkedIn, Churchill Mortgage loan officers have an average tenure of 4.3 years compared to the industry average of 1.7 years! Also, 13% of our Loan Officers have been with us for over 7 years. I've been in the mortgage and finance business for over 40 years, & have found it's truly a people business where there must be a relationship of trust, explained Churchill Mortgage president and CEO, Mike Hardwick. Were proud of our past & confident in our future. If this type of environment and leadership mentality interests you, contact Churchill Mortgage.
The parent company of discount store retailer Poundland says its first-half profits dropped by a sixth to 80million as a result of the coronavirus pandemic causing sales to fall.
Pepco Group, which also owns the European Dealz brand, says the declining profits came even though it expanded both its store numbers and revenues in the six months to March.
It has opened 371 new stores in the last year, an increase of 15 per cent from the previous year, which helped grow Pepco's total revenues by 9.7 per cent.
Poundland has been affected by dramatically lower trading levels because of Covid-19
Earnings were also rising in the five months ending February 2020, with Pepco Group's profits up 16 per cent to 139million and like-for-like revenue five per cent higher.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced the company to close over half of its shops by the end of March. These included all its stores in seven countries in which it operates, including Slovakia and Romania.
'These restrictions...and the reluctance of some customers to venture out of their homes, meant PEPCO traded for a four-week period immediately post lockdown at c.15% of its expected sales levels,' it wrote.
Even in countries where Pepco Group's outlets remained open, reduced trading hours and social distancing rules had a significant impact on its business.
Pepco, which is a subsidiary of retail holding firm Steinhoff International, said that because Poundland was classified as an 'essentials' retailer by UK authorities, it did experience 'an initial benefit from customer stockpiling of cleaning, healthcare and food products.'
It added though that Poundland was affected by dramatically lower trading levels due to 130 of its stores temporarily shutting while footfall at its remaining 700 shops was 40 per cent lower than usual for four weeks.
As well as Poundland, Pepco Group also operates Pepco and Dealz discount stores
To help mitigate the financial impacts of the pandemic, Pepco took advantage of the UK government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), cut discretionary expenditure and reduced forward inventory commitments, among other measures.
It said its financial position was strong with positive cash resources in excess of 400million on June 13.
The company, which trades from 2,844 stores, said revenue had returned to pre-Covid levels with 99 per cent of group stores now trading, although like-for-like sales remained negative.
'Looking forward, the consumer outlook remains uncertain and our plans reflect our expectation of a 'new normal' trading environment once we all emerge from the Covid virus,' said Chief Executive Andy Bond.
'However, it is likely that consumer demand for discount retailing will increase in a period of prolonged economic uncertainty and we are extremely well placed to take advantage of this trend.'
Bond said in February it was 'almost inevitable' Pepco would be sold by Steinhoff.
The New York City Department of Education has launched an investigation into a troubling Facebook post penned by an employee of a Staten Island high school.
Deborah Morse-Cunningham, who serves as the assistant principal of New Dorp High School, is still at work despite sharing a lengthy status update in which she pondered the nature of privilege by referring to a number of racial stereotypes.
'What is privilege?' Morse-Cunningham asked in the post, which has now been deleted.
'Privilege is wearing $200 sneakers when you've never had a job. Privilege is wearing $300 Beats headphones while living on public assistance.
'Privilege is living in public subsidized housing where you don't have a water bill, where rising property taxes and rents and energy costs have absolutely no effect on the amount of food you can put on your table.'
Deborah Morse-Cunningham, who serves as the assistant principal of New Dorp High School, is being investigated by the New York City Department of Education over a Facebook post she purportedly posted to her account over the weekend
The lengthy status continued: 'Privilege is having as many children as you want, regardless of your employment status, and be able to send them off to daycare or school you don't pay for'.
According to Staten Island Live, Morse-Cunningham's Facebook status was spotted by a parent who then started a Change.org petition to have her removed from her position as assistant principal.
'Deborah Morse-Cunningham, a longtime educator and assistant principal at New Dorp High School on the South Shore of Staten Island, has decided to use her platform and social media presence to post anti-Black messaging during this time,' the petition stated.
'She recently posted a rant to her public Facebook page, detailing vicious stereotypes and racial profiling directed at the Black community. As someone responsible for the tutelage of our youth, this is especially troubling and problematic rhetoric to say the least.'
Morse-Cunningham reportedly makes around $130,000 in her current role at New Dorp High School. The school reportedly has a minority enrollment of 49 percent
A portion of the post purportedly penned by Morse-Cunningham. It has now been deleted
The parent's petition - which now has more than 9,900 signatures - then states: 'This leads me to question what kind of practices she's instilled in the culture at New Dorp High School, and what kind of environment our children are learning in'.
The New York Post reports that Morse-Cunningham makes around $130,000 in her current role at New Dorp High School.
The school reportedly has a minority enrollment of 49 percent. Nearly 60 percent of its students are economically advantaged.
In a statement on Tuesday, DOE press secretary Miranda Barbot confirmed the probe and stated: 'The DOE stands against racism and schools must be safe and inclusive learning environments.
'Teachers and staff have a responsibility to uphold those values, and the principal reported this incident for investigation'.
On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he had not seen the post, but was 'very concerned'.
'No one in a position of authority should use racially insensitive language, especially someone who's an educator and kids look up to,' he stated.
It's understandable that, after four years of Donald Trump's voluminous corruption, fatigue has settled across the land. It's less understandable that the Army of the Exhausted includes the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
On Sunday, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., was asked about the latest effort by Attorney General William Barr to fix a problem for the president. Over the weekend, Barr had clumsily fired Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Berman's office had investigated Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who had admitted to felonies including a campaign-finance violation that federal prosecutors said was committed at the direction of "Individual-1" - that is, Trump.
So Berman, a Republican who contributed to Trump's 2016 campaign, has already officially logged one Trump felony. In addition, Berman's office has been investigating Trump's other personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, as well as Trump's bank, Deutsche Bank, and Trump's inaugural committee.
Nadler acknowledged the obvious. On top of Barr's gross distortion of the Mueller report and other dodgy efforts, Nadler cited a "pattern" of Barr "corruptly impeding" investigations, as Barr did in the cases of Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and Trump friend and self-avowed political dirty trickster Roger Stone. Barr's attack on Berman - Barr at first falsely claimed Berman had resigned - is "just more of the same," Nadler said.
It sounds pretty bad. Yet given Senate Republicans' refusal to address corruption, Nadler said, calls for impeaching the attorney general are "a waste of time."
Nadler is hardly alone in believing the nation's chief law enforcement officer is corrupt. Berman's predecessor, Preet Bharara, a Democrat, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Paul Rosenzweig, a Republican, are just a few of those who concur.
Nadler has not abandoned oversight of the Justice Department altogether. His committee has scheduled a hearing this week on the politicization of the department under Barr. But foreclosing the possibility of impeachment, regardless of the Senate's corruption, looks like another instance of enabling an authoritarian encroachment of the federal government.
There are at least four reasons to rethink this.
First, Barr's conduct, which includes his aggressive clearing of protesters exercising First Amendment rights of speech and assembly in Washington's Lafayette Square, to enable a presidential photo op, clearly invites impeachment. Yet Barr has received little scrutiny in Congress because Republicans won't allow it in the Senate, and Barr, in another authoritarian move, has refused to accept House oversight.
Investigations and hearings produce witnesses and information. Trump's shakedown of Ukraine was "widely understood" at the top levels of government, according to former national security adviser John Bolton. Yet without a flurry of House subpoenas in the impeachment investigation, the public might never have known the details and ramifications. To get information, it helps to have a structured, legally sanctioned means of obtaining it.
Second, Barr has shown he wants his lawless cake and respectability, too. The attorney general probably doesn't realize how fully he has already lost this battle. But his outrages are often accompanied by leaks about his misgivings. For example, the New York Times reported that Barr's service as a prop at Trump's now infamous Bible photo op made Barr "uncomfortable, according to two people told of those conversations."
An aggressive House investigation, punctuated by public hearings, can be useful in keeping Barr on the defensive and keeping his authoritarian urges in check. This will be more important as the election nears and Barr faces potential decisions about voter suppression, foreign election sabotage and other tactics designed to aid Trump's campaign.
Third, given the level of corruption already visible, there may well be a need to pursue criminal cases against Trump enablers after the election, provided Trump is removed from office. It would be better to lay out evidence for such cases before the election. To pursue them afterward, without having previously established an evidence trail, may look to some voters as dangerous opportunism.
Finally, sometimes you have to do the right thing and let the chips fall. For political reasons, Democrats have resisted an aggressive pursuit of justice. Current polls suggest they navigated the politics correctly. Swing voters likely won't pay much attention to corruption, and aren't eager for the out-party to dwell on it. Trump is losing support as a result of his failure to deal with coronavirus and its economic fallout. A sizable majority of voters grasps that he is dishonest. Why mess with a trend line that currently points toward Democratic victory in November?
Because if you support the rule of law, you have to act as if you support the rule of law and be seen supporting the rule of law. That means coming to its defense when it's under attack - as it is.
- - -
Wilkinson writes editorials on politics and U.S. domestic policy for Bloomberg Opinion. He was executive editor of the Week. He was previously a writer for Rolling Stone, a communications consultant and a political media strategist.
Army chief general Manoj Mukund Naravane will visit Leh on Tuesday after the Army Commanders Conference gets over, to review the on-ground situation and the progress in talks with the Chinese military.
The Army chief had on Monday discussed the security situation with the top Army commanders in Delhi, officials said.
According to Army officials, all commanders are in the national capital for the second phase of the commanders conference.
Army Commanders Conference is being held on June 22-23 to review the operational situation on both the northern and western fronts.
The meeting comes at a time when India and China are holding military-level talks to defuse the border tensions after the violent face-off in Ladakhs Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives. Indian intercepts have revealed that the Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured.
By PTI
TUTICORIN: As many as 200 stranded Indian nationals were repatriated by the Indian Navy from Maldives as part of the Samudra Setu mission of the Government of India.
Indian Navy Ship Airavat arrived here from Maldives with 200 Indian nationals at the VOC Port this morning, officials said.
As many as 64 people who arrived today hailed from Kanyakumari district while the rest were from many other districts, they said.
Upon arrival, the passengers were screened by the Port Health officials and their luggage was sanitised as part of COVID-19 health protocols.
On issue of PPE kits by the Port authorities to all passengers, the latter boarded waiting buses and transited to the passenger terminal.
Later, before proceeding to their respective destinations in designated buses, self-declaration forms were obtained from the passengers and they were also asked to download and configure 'Aarogya Setu' app in their smartphones.
The Indian Navy had earlier repatriated over 3,000 stranded Indians from Sri Lanka and Maldives while making earlier port calls here.
HAVERFORD A township maintenance employee died as a result of a workplace accident Monday.
Haverford Police Lt. Michale Glenn stated in a press release that longtime employee Kenneth Case Berry was working on the rear of a garbage truck when the accident happened. Berry was working on the truck at the township maintenance facility off of Hilltop Road about 1:45 p.m when the accident occurred.
Police and paramedics responded to the scene and administered lifesaving efforts and transported Berry to Lankenau Trauma Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The entire Haverford Township administration and all Haverford Township employees mourn this tragic loss and we offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Berry, the release stated.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 23, 2020) - Lions Bay Mining Corp. (CSE: LBM) (the "Company" or "Lions Bay") is pleased to announce that, following the execution of a Share Exchange Agreement with BioVaxys Inc. ("BioVaxys"), the Company has executed a USD$180,000 secured lending facility with BioVaxys, the proceeds of which will be used primarily for BioVaxys' preclinical studies of BVX-0320, a novel vaccine candidate for prevention of Covid-19 (the "BVX-0320 Vaccine Candidate").
BioVaxys has contracted for the production of it's BVX-0320 Vaccine Candidate with Millipore/Sigma, a Division of Merck KGaA based in Darmstadt, Germany. BioVaxys has engaged Charles River Laboratories, based in Wilmington, Massachusetts, to conduct a preclinical study of it's BVX-0320 Vaccine Candidate at various dosages in a mouse study (the "Murine Model Study"). Upon successful completion of the Murine Model Study, the BioVaxys anticipates taking further steps to pursue regulatory approval for a study of it's BVX-0320 Vaccine Candidate in humans.
BioVaxys has developed its vaccine technology platforms based on the established immunological concept that modifying proteins-with simple chemicals called haptens makes them more visible to the immune system. The process of haptenization "teaches" a patient's immune system to recognize and make target proteins more 'visible' as foreign, thereby stimulating an immune response. BioVaxys antiviral approach entails haptenizing those SAR-CoV-2 viral proteins that are critical to the ability of the virus to bind to and enter human cells. For greater certainty, BioVaxys is not making any express or implied claims that it has the ability to treat the SAR-CoV-2 virus at this time.
James Passin, CEO of BioVaxys, stated, "We are excited to initiate preclinical work on our vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the disease that causes Covid-19. We look forward to completing the merger process defined in the Share Exchange Agreement between BioVaxys and Lions Bay Mining and further advancing our haptenized vaccine technology."
Story continues
About Lions Bay Mining Corp.
Lions Bay Mining Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company, primarily focused on mineral properties in North America. Its primary asset is the FLV lode mining claims located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA commonly referred to as the "Fish Lake Project", which are subject to an option agreement with American Battery Metals Corp. The Company also holds an interest in the mineral claims located in the Upper Hyland River area of eastern Yukon Territory of Canada and common referred to as the "Hy and Jay Property", as well as an interest in the mineral claims located in the Yukon Territory of Canada, commonly referred to as the "VM" and the "VBA" properties.
About BioVaxys Inc.
Based in New York City, BioVaxys Inc. is a Delaware clinical stage biotechnology company that is developing developing viral and oncology vaccine platforms for SARS-CoV-2 and various cancers. The Company is advancing a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine based on its haptenized viral protein technology, and is planning a clinical trial of its haptenized autologous cell therapy used in combination with PD1 and PDL-1 checkpoint inhibitors that will initially be developed for ovarian cancer. BioVaxys has two issued US patents and two patent applications related to its cancer vaccine, and a patent application for it's SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) technology.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Signed "Jeremy Poirier"
Jeremy Poirier, President and CEO
604-722-9842
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information
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Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, June 24 2020
With a COVID-19 vaccine still months or even years away, countries are seeking ways to accommodate millions of stir-crazy people eager to usher in a new normal.
Indonesia is no exception. Researchers are pooling suggestions about how to create a proof of immunity to exempt people from physical restrictions and allow them to return to work, school and daily life.
However, many experts are worried about jumping the gun on an issue that is very likely dependent on the accessibility of vaccines.
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While the worlds attention is focused on COVID-19, war is brewing in the jungles of western Myanmar. The Arakan Army, or AA, was formed just a few years ago by students, workers and farmers but has learned the ruthless tactics of guerrilla warfare quickly.
Maj. Gen. Twan Mrat Naing, its commander, aspires to no less than forging a new nation.
My personal dream, he said, is to see our national flag at the Olympic Games and to hear our national anthem sung.
From just 26 armed men in 2009, the AA now has more than 20,000 soldiers. Twan Mrat Naing aims to swell their ranks to 70,000, which he hopes will be enough to tip the balance and kick the Tatmadaw, as the Burmese army is known, out of Rakhine state.
Twan Mrat Naing told Coconuts in a recent interview what it is that makes him lead the AA into battle.
I was meant to be a freedom fighter since I was in high school, says Twan Mrat Naing, who at 41, has been instrumental in building the army into the fighting force it is today.
Photo: Tribal Action Group / Courtesy
Thats Terrorism
In January 2019, the Burmese military officially designated the AA as a terrorist organisation, and the government followed suit this past March after ceasefire talks broke down. President U Win Myint declared the group a a danger to law and order, citing attacks against the military, police and security outposts that include allegations of torture and assassination.
Evidence on the ground in Rakhine tells a different story. There, as in other areas of Myanmar, complaints portray the Tatmadaw like an occupying army. In May, witnesses said they saw soldiers enter the Let Kar community before gunfire and flames broke out. Human Rights Watch estimated at least 200 homes were put to the torch much in the same way Rakhines ethnic Rohingya villages were destroyed.
The major-general said that many ethnic groups, including his own, the Rakhine, are racially targeted by the Burmese military and says the AA tries to protect the civilian population.
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Myanmar army uses helicopters, fighter jets against civilians in Rakhine
These are our people, our blood, so we want to protect them and we are sad to see people get killed by indiscriminate artillery bombardments and arson attacks by the Burmese military, he said in the clear, American-accented English he learned as a tour guide.
Our troops never stay in the villages. We have our positions in the jungle, but whenever the Burmese lose a fight they go into the villages and attack the people. Thats terrorism, he added.
Civilians have been dying in the fighting, however. In April, a United Nations worker was killed while transporting COVID-19 test samples. Both side blamed each other for his death. Last month, the Tatmadaw said it would discipline soldiers filmed beating captives aboard a boat.
Human Rights Watch found about 200 burned buildings in Rakhines Let Kar community on May 18, two days after the same satellite imagery found no such damage. Image: Human Rights Watch / Planet Labs
Whereas other regions comprising Myanmars ethnic melange have been fighting for independence for decades, Rakhines independence movement is relatively young.
Its where the Rohingya Muslims lived until they were brutally driven from their homes and into Bangladesh three years ago by the Burmese army. Unlike the Rohingya, the Arakan Army is predominately drawn from the majority Rakhine Buddhist population.
The AA has started to make gains. The AA has attacked Burmese naval patrol boats, military convoys, and an army base in the former Burmese capital Mandalay, where there were many casualties.
But in recent weeks there have been vicious reprisals and the Tatmadaw has targeted civilians, predominately the Rakhine, with attacks some observers say amount to genocide. In scenes reminiscent of the brutality unleashed against the Rohingya in 2017, men have been decapitated and women raped as their villages burned.
Hla Yin Oo, a refugee from Kyauk Taw Township in Rakhine State, told Coconuts the Burmese military had ransacked her village.
Report accuses Myanmar military of ongoing war crimes in Rakhine State
The Myanmar army bombed my village with jet fighters four or five times a day, then when the soldiers turned up they stole our possessions and abducted some of the villagers. I had my solar panels, my phone, food supplies, and chickens all stolen. The soldiers told us they were going to torch the entire village, so we fled that night, she said.
Now living in a temporary shelter with other refugees in an area under AA control, Hla Yin Oo said she will only return home when the Burmese army has gone.
The Rakhine share their state with the Rohingya Muslims, many of whom still remain after the Burmese military drove most from their homes in 2017. Although relations between the two have been fraught, there are signs the Rakhine have begun to see their enemys enemies as friends.
The best solution is to stay in harmony, to help each other. We will support the Rohingya and help to punish the perpetrators who committed mass atrocities against the Muslims in Rakhine state, Twan Mrat Naing said.
Photo: Tribal Action Group / Courtesy
History of occupation
In the 18th century, Rakhine state was a wealthy, independent country. With a coastline on the Bay of Bengal, it was able to trade freely with India as well as Europe.
In 1784, it was invaded by the Burmese and a 40-year long war was fought until the British took over coastal Myanmar, then known as Burma, in 1824. When the British left in 1948, the Burmese took over again as occupiers. After almost 250 years of occupation, Rakhine is now impoverished and many Rakhine are forced to emigrate in search of work, with some 40,000 living in Thailand alone.
For those who choose to stay behind, there are few job opportunities. Aye Thazan Khaing is among a growing number of women soldiers in the AA. She explained why she decided to become a soldier.
I studied at Sittwe University but I was unable to finish my degree. There are no opportunities in Rakhine State, so if I hadnt joined the Arakan Army, I would struggle in a foreign country to send money home to my family, she said.
Western engagement
The world woke up to Myanmars many simmering conflicts when 700,000 Rohingya Muslims were driven from their homes by the Burmese military in 2017.
Myanmars military government is currently on trial in the International Court of Justice in The Hague on charges of genocide in a case brought by the Gambia, a small Muslim nation in West Africa. In preliminary findings, the court ordered Myanmar to take immediate measures to prevent the genocide of the stateless Rohingya, in what might be the beginning of justice for almost two million people.
Since 2010, the West has adopted a policy of engaging with Myanmar, something thats been criticized as making matters worse for the nations many ethnic groups.
Myanmar is an ethnic patchwork and the ruling Burmese make up only around 40% of the countrys population of 54 million. But unless the other ethnic groups, some 60% of the population, which occupy 70% of the land area of Myanmar, are included in any future agreement between the world powers and the Burmese, then conflict will continue to rage in Myanmar as it has done for over 70 years.
Scott Johnson, an activist and political commentator who has been deeply involved with Myanmar for two decades, said the policy of engagement adopted by the West is destined to fail.
Johnson blames the Obama administration for dropping sanctions and installing Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has turned out to be either unwilling or unable to pursue policies that are independent of the ruling generals.
Aung San Suu Kyi, educated in the west and with her cut-glass British accent, is herself from the ruling Bamar ethnic group.
Since these policies of dropping sanctions and engaging with the military mafia were enacted we have one million displaced people, tens of thousands killed, and wars all over the place. The situation is horrific, he said.
He explains that the so-called ceasefire agreed in 2015 is a ceasefire in name only. With 20 armed ethnic groups fighting the Burmese military, there is no peace deal and no ceasefire.
They had a so-called nationwide ceasefire, which wasnt nationwide and wasnt a ceasefire. Eight original groups signed and a couple of them were just splinter groups, no bigger than NGOs. There was a lot of propaganda surrounding the ceasefire, Johnson said.
Military or mafia?
The West held up Aung San Suu Kyi as a beacon for democratic aspirations and has been sparing in its criticism after she proved unable to stand up to the Burmese military machine. This became particularly apparent after her lengthy silence during the 2017 Rohingya massacre.
Maj. Gen. Twan Mrat Naing, the AA commander, said the woman lauded as The Lady has been a disappointment and become an irrelevant and embarrassing white elephant.
Even if Aung San Suu Kyi wanted to try and force through change, she would find it almost impossible. The constitution, introduced in 2008, was drafted by the military who added a clause granting de facto veto powers by granting it 25% of legislative seats.
Although it only fully controls around 50% of the land area of Myanmar, the Burmese military apparatus is powerful. Meanwhile, evidence piles up of its longstanding and lucrative control of the drug trade and valuable real estate.
The military is certainly involved in the drugs trade and has been historically, through proxies and militias; they deliberately send drugs into the ethnic areas, Johnson said, repeating the same point time and again throughout the interview:
The key element causing all the problems are the Burmese military.
Hope in unity
Some of the 20 armed ethnic groups in Myanmar are, like the AA, disciplined and organized guerrilla armies. Despite long divisions, alliances between them are starting to form.
The AA has formed the so-called Northern Alliance with the Taang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Kachin Independence Army in the northeastern state of Kachin.
There are vast areas of Rakhine, Shan, and Kachin States where the Burmese military has no control.
In places they behave as provisional governments, such as in parts of the southern Karen State, where the Karen National Union, the political arm of the Karen National Liberation Army, collects taxes in return for providing services such as education, health care and justice.
Johnson believes the AA is one of the most powerful and organized armies the Tatmadaw has faced and could change the situation on the ground sufficiently to make the West, as well as China, India, and Russia, change their Myanmar policy to be less accommodating to the Burmese military.
Related
Report accuses Myanmar military of ongoing war crimes in Rakhine State
Rights group calls for ceasefire between Myanmar military and Arakan Army to protect civilians
Myanmar army uses helicopters, fighter jets against civilians in Rakhine
Q&A with Arakan Army commander
This article, Tour guide turned Arakan Army commander sees nationhood in victory, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 16:40:49|Editor: huaxia
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SEOUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's unification ministry said Tuesday that it will sternly deal with the scattering of leaflets criticizing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after the alleged dispersion of such leaflets across the inter-Korean border overnight.
The unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs expressesed deep regrets over an attempt by some civic group activists to send anti-DPRK leaflets and materials across the border, according to a statement.
The ministry noted that it will sternly deal with such acts in cooperation with relevant agencies, including the police, adding that it will strongly respond to the anti-DPRK leaflets distribution, which escalates tensions between the two Koreas and endangers the lives and safety of people residing in border areas.
Some civic group activists, mostly defectors from the DPRK, claimed to fly balloons carrying anti-DPRK leaflets and materials Monday night in an area near the western inter-Korean border.
According to local media reports, the balloons were found in an eastern area of South Korea, some 70 km southeast away from the place the balloons were flown.
Earlier this month, the ministry filed a legal complaint against two civic groups for having sent anti-DPRK leaflets.
The government of Gyeonggi province, surrounding the capital Seoul, asked the Seoul Metropolitan Policy Agency and the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency earlier in the day to investigate the civic group activists who distributed anti-DPRK leaflets on Monday.
The provincial government noted that the civic groups have been suspected of embezzling and misusing donations and doing fraudulent businesses by disguising themselves as human rights activists and insulting others.
Pyongyang has recently cut off all communication lines with Seoul and blown up the inter-Korean joint liaison office building near the border with South Korea in protest against the dispersion of anti-DPRK leaflets across the border by defectors in the South.
Cint Opens Singapore Office
Insight marketplace and MR tech provider Cint has expanded its APAC presence with the opening of an office in Singapore.
Cint's platform automates sample fieldwork and operations, allowing clients to gather insights faster, more cost-effectively and at scale. The firm has fourteen global offices in cities including London, New York, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Barcelona, Tokyo and Sydney.
At its new Singapore base at Keppel Bay Tower, Harbourfront Avenue, Ding HuiHui joins as Customer Success Director, Asia, after nearly nine years at GfK, latterly as
Manager, Panel Management and Operations, Media Measurement. Eugene Leong has been named Head of Business Development, Asia, having previously worked for YouGov as AD, Business Development, and GfK as Senior Manager, Asia Pacific. In addition, Kelvin Koh moves into the position of Vice President Global Accounts, APAC, after joining Cint last summer as Head of Business Development Asia.
Commenting on the news, Karine Parsy (pictured), EVP, APAC, said: 'Our streamlined client engagement model has led us to further our APAC presence with a new collaborative, cross-functional team from sales, operations, engineering and customer success. We are continuing our investment in the region with our newest office in Singapore. Altogether, this move will strengthen our ability to better serve clients in the south-east Asia region,'
Across the APAC region, Cint has also hire Takaaki Kobayashi as Vice President of Sales, Japan, after serving as General Manager at NTT Com and at GMO Research. Also in Tokyo, Maria Chung has been promoted to the position of Partner Success Director, after seven years at the company.
Web site: www.cint.com .
Northern Ireland's hospitality industry can be confident of getting a reduction on the two-metre rule after the First Minister said she will consider Westminster's upcoming decision on social distancing. (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Northern Ireland's hospitality industry can be confident of getting a reduction on the two-metre rule after the First Minister said she will consider Westminster's upcoming decision on social distancing.
Prime Minister Boris Johnston is widely expected to cut the current distancing guidance down to one metre for pubs, restaurants and hotels today, following repeated calls from the struggling sector to help boost the economic restart.
Yesterday, Hospitality Ulster's chief executive Colin Neill warned that 60% of its members won't be able to reopen if social distancing remains at two metres.
When asked by the Belfast Telegraph if the Executive was going to stand by and let that happen, First Minister Arlene Foster indicated that they would take their lead from England.
"We do recognise that they (pubs) had to close very quickly once the lockdown happened and we've been working very closely with them, listening to their concerns... and we have heard very clearly what they're saying to us about the social distancing guidelines at present," she said.
"But we do expect some announcements tomorrow (Tuesday) around this from an English point of view and we will, of course, be looking at the evidence that will come forward from that."
Optimism in the local hospitality industry was further boosted by the latest Department of Health figures, which revealed another day of no coronavirus-related deaths in Northern Ireland and just one further confirmed case. During a recent investigation by this newspaper, several restaurant and cafe owners said they would not be able to reopen their premises on July 3 if the two-metre rule remains in place.
One of the restaurateurs, Glen Wheeler, from Enniskillen, who put his life savings into opening the 28 Darling Street restaurant with his wife in 2018, said social distancing would "make or break" them, depending on what happens over the next few days.
"It's great to be able to reopen on July 3 but it's very simple - if it's two metres we don't open," he said.
"We're quite a big restaurant but even at that I don't feel it would be a safe environment for my staff or a nice environment to eat in. We've measured it out - at one metre it can work, but not two."
Similarly, Ian Orr of Browns in Town, Londonderry, said the two-metre rule makes his business financially unviable.
"Basically, if it's a two-metre rule we'll lose money by opening, but if it's one metre we could work with that," he explained.
The Prime Minister will outline plans to Parliament today for pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers to reopen in England from July 4.
But Dr Zeshan Qureshi, lead author of a report on social distancing for Oxford University's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was scientific uncertainty around relaxing the two-metre rule.
His team has looked at every study published up to June 17 on Covid-19 and social distancing.
"This one to two-metre distancing, it's not based on data that we are getting from coronavirus," he said. "It is based on historic data, decades and decades old that has been applied to coronavirus in good faith."
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Senzer's unique cannabinoid inhaler has notched up its fourth major design prize -- the prestigious Red Dot Award -- which is bestowed on products that are both aesthetic and show 'incomparable functionality', the Company said today.
Senzer's entry - its Systemic inhaled Delivery Device, SiDD - won in the healthcare category of the Red Dot Award, in which some 6,500 products were entered from designers and companies in more than 60 countries. The award has been running for 65 years, and the winners will be showcased later in the year at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany.
"The products won over the jury not only through their aesthetic, but also thanks to their incomparable functionality," said Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of Red Dot. "With their designs, the award winners are setting new standards in their industry."
Senzer's Class IIa Medical Device is breath-activated and delivers drug particles of a small ideal size and at an optimal time rate deep into a patient's lungs, resulting in drug uptake being faster, more consistent and only requiring smaller doses. Senzer believes its unique platform - supported by 400 granted patents - holds considerable advantages over other means of cannabinoid intake, such as oral, as well as other respiratory offerings, such as vaping.
"Winning a Red Dot design award underscores that our approach is unique and that we have a breakthrough product, engineered to address the concerns of those who may benefit from cannabinoid treatment," said Paul Young, Senzer's Design Director. "Our main motivation at Senzer is to get our devices into the hands of our target patient groups, as we are sure our platform will provide better treatments for patients worldwide."
It is the fourth major award won by Senzer. In November, the German Design Council commended the unique inhaler for having 'a clear modern design that perfectly combines ergonomics and functionality'. It also won awards from the Hannover-based iF International Forum Design GmbH, the world's oldest independent design organisation, and the Chicago-based GOOD DESIGN Awards, in which the inhaler was recognised for 'revolutionising the delivery of systemic medications through the lungs'.
About SENZER
SENZER Ltd. is a U.K.-based inhalation technology company specializing in the development and commercialization of therapeutic delivery systems of cannabinoid products, and it is developing a pipeline of inhalation and delivery products to meet unmet medical needs. Senzer's platform is based around a patented device that allows swift and effective inhaled delivery of cannabinoids, in a consistent dose-controlled presentation.
www.senzer.com
About the Red Dot Design Award
The Red Dot Design Award breaks down into the three disciplines -- Product Design, Brands & Communication Design and Design Concept. Since beginning in 1955 to assess the best designs of the day, Red Dot has emerged into one of the world's largest design competitions, and the sought-after "Red Dot" has been the revered international seal of outstanding design quality. The award winners are presented in the yearbooks, museums and online.
https://www.red-dot.org/project/systemic-inhaled-delivery-device-sidd-47675
www.red-dot.de
Contact:
Hotel operators have revealed how they will reopen after lockdown with mini-bars and buffet breakfasts taken off the menu.
Some of the biggest chains have announced a raft of changes today as Boris Johnson gave the green light for hotels to reopen on July 4.
Bed and Breakfast businesses will also be allowed to open from next month, along with restaurants, pubs and hairdressers - all of which closed in March as Britain entered coronavirus lockdown.
Indoor leisure facilities, including spas, will remain closed.
It comes as today French company Accor, which owns brands including Novotel, Mercure, Ibis and Sofi tel, announced its aim to reopen some of its 270 hotels from the start of July.
The chain will introduce a raft of changes, which will include bringing a stop to buffet breakfasts, emptying the mini-bars and taking paperwork and telephones out of rooms, The Guardian reports today.
Alongside these, changes which could be brought in across the industry include:
Hotel bars and restaurants remaining closed with takeaway services encouraged
Dropping of the tray charge for room service to encourage people to eat in their rooms
Where hotel bars and restaurants remain open, tables could be separated to allow people to maintain social distancing and bars will have table service to stop people coming to the bar
Guests might have to book time slots to use the swimming pool or similar facilities
Valet services and baggage handling could be dropped and luggage may be disinfected on arrival
Check-in times could be pushed back to allow rooms to be deep cleaned before guests arrive - sometimes as far back as 3pm
Meanwhile, Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotel Groups has today announced a 'five point plan' to get its hotels reopened - which includes going cashless and delivering breakfasts to rooms.
And like Hilton Hotels and Resorts group, they have promised to deep clean 'key-touch areas' in all rooms after guests have left.
One of Britain's biggest hotel operators has announced plans to reopen hundreds of its sites - but mini-bars and buffet breakfasts (pictured: library image) will be taken off the menu
The Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotel group's 'five point plan' to get its hotels open again
The Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotel group have also shown key touchpoints in hotel rooms which will be deep-cleaned
The plan is similar to Hilton Hotels group's 'CleanStay' plan which has been released today
In Accor hotels, free tea and coffee sachets will be quarantined for 48 hours after use, while the rooms themselves will be left empty for 24 hours between guests.
Visitors will be given the option to order 'grab-and-go' meals which can be eaten in their rooms or in social distance compliant communal areas, with Accor set to keep its hotel bars and restaurants closed initially.
Other changes include floor markers to help maintain social distancing, hand sanitiser stations and Perspex screens at reception to protect staff and customers.
With the measures in place, the chain hopes to have three-quarters of its mid-range hotels in the UK open by Autumn.
High-end sites, including London's Savoy Hotel, will reopen at a later date, the chain says.
High-end sites, including London's Savoy Hotel, will reopen at a later date, as will airport hotels, the chain says
Today Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotel group announced a detailed Stay Safe, Stay Happy five point plan outlining the enhanced measures it is undertaking to ensure the safety of guests and employees.
Its five point charter covers: Hygiene, Social Distancing, Cashless Operation, Food & Beverage Delivery, and Training.
Among the changes include deep cleaning of key areas, hand sanitising stations, protective screens at reception desks, card-only transactions, and a continental breakfast served to rooms, rather than in a communal area.
The group, which operates 44 hotels across the UK, intends to open hotels across Ireland from July 20, and the remaining hotels in the UK at later stages - with a phased reopening plan based on guidance from health authorities and the UK government.
Earlier this month, Adam Raphael, editor of the Good Hotel Guide, which independently reviews 850 hotels, inns and B&Bs in Great Britain and Ireland, said as many as 'three-quarters of hospitality businesses were ready to reopen on July 4'.
But those who are planning a getaway can expect hotels to be significantly different to those they visited before the coronavirus outbreak.
Today Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotel group announced a detailed Stay Safe, Stay Happy five point plan outlining the enhanced measures it is undertaking to ensure the safety of guests and employees
After making your reservation, visitors should expect a pre-visit health questionnaire to land in their inbox, asking if they have recently had coronavirus symptoms.
Check-in times are likely to be staggered, or set later in the afternoon, to allow for deep cleaning of rooms. At the seven-strong collection of The Pig Hotels in south-west England, for example, this has switched from 3 pm to 4 pm.
Valet parking and baggage handling could also be a thing of the past, though luggage may be disinfected on arrival.
Protective screens, distance-marking lines and one-way routes may be implemented in larger properties.
Hotel bars, if they are opened, will likely be table service only, while dining tables will be arranged to satisfy the two-metre rule, and probably be without linen.
Room service is also encouraged with many properties dropping the tray charge. Menu choices are likely to be restricted and delivery will be only to the bedroom door.
It comes as Boris Johnson today announced that hotels and bed and breakfast facilities can open on July 4.
One person to praise the decision was Managing Director at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Amanda Thompson OBE.
On Twitter, she said: 'We can re-open Blackpool Pleasure Beach on July 4, so thrilled at this news.
'The Big Blue Hotel and the BLVD hotel too can open. So see you soon I hope. We look forward to welcoming you all back.'
In a statement on Twitter, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions said: 'We welcome the government's announcement of the opening of museums, galleries, theme parks, libraries, cafes and restaurants and other parts of the visitor economy.
'They will open sensibly and safely and ask people to respect the rules and guidance, protect themselves and others and enjoy their visit.'
Meanwhile, cinemas, pubs and hairdressers have also been given the green light to reopen on July 4 - dubbed 'Super Saturday' by some MPs.
In a calculated gamble designed to rescue Britain's economy, the Prime Minister announced that key sectors including tourism and hospitality will be allowed to reopen next week for the first time since March.
But, in a sign of the risks involved, he also warned that the changes will be reversed immediately if people abuse the new rules and the epidemic begins to take off again.
The relaxation on July 4 Independence Day in the US comes amid growing optimism that the virus, which has claimed more than 42,000 lives in the UK, is finally reducing to manageable proportions.
Boris Johnson (pictured) is today set to announce that cinemas, pubs and hairdressers will get the green light to reopen on July 4 - dubbed 'Super Saturday' by some MPs
Yesterday's death toll rose by 15 the lowest figure since March 13, ten days before the lockdown began.
Some 2.2million vulnerable people who have been 'shielding' for more than three months were yesterday told they could finally leave their homes from July 6.
The focus of the attempted economic revival will be on activities that can take place outdoors. The July 4 date has been dubbed 'Super Saturday' by some MPs according to the Daily Telegraph.
Ministers will bring forward legislation this week to give fast-track approval for pubs and restaurants to put seating outdoors, and small shops will be encouraged to set up stalls outside their premises.
Indoor venues, including cinemas, museums and art galleries, will also be allowed to reopen next week provided they take measures to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Mr Johnson also confirmed the end of the two-metre rule, with businesses allowed to operate a one-metre rule as long as they introduce other measures to cut the virus risk.
At a meeting of senior ministers and officials last night, Downing Street permanent secretary Simon Case, who led a review of the rule, said case numbers were now low enough to reduce the guidance to 'one metre plus'.
But businesses will have to take precautions such as encouraging the use of masks, seating people side by side rather than face to face, and improving ventilation.
Another big acquisition out of Israel this week points to how bigger tech companies are using the economic slowdown to focus on their longer-term strategies and shore up assets to support that. Today Microsoft announced that it would be acquiring CyberX, a security startup that focuses specifically on detecting, stopping, and predicting security breaches on internet of things networks and the networks of large industrial organizations. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed -- we're asking still -- but sources say that it's in the region of $165 million.
"CyberX will complement the existing Azure IoT security capabilities, and extends to existing devices including those used in industrial IoT, Operational Technology and infrastructure scenarios" said Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk, CVP, CTO, Cloud + AI Security, and Sam George, CVP, Cloud + AI Azure IoT in a blog post. "With CyberX, customers can discover their existing IoT assets, and both manage and improve the security posture of those devices."
The deal caps off months of speculation that Microsoft would acquire the company. The reports started back in February, then went quiet, and then started to reappear again in May. Between then and now, the rumoured price also went up to $165 million from $150 million, which may have meant that the delay in closing the deal hinged on the valuation (or simply went up as others started to look at the company).
Microsoft's interest in the company touches on two key areas that the company has been working on building up over the last several years: IT services for large enterprises, and cybersecurity -- specifically cybersecurity leveraging AI to identify and tackle next-generation challenges.
The two have a large overlap in the form of CyberX, which works with major energy utilities, telecoms carriers, chemical producers and other industrial companies that utilise a lot of "unmanned" machines managed across sprawling networks for essential services: it applies behavioural analytics and other AI-based techniques to continuously monitor network activity and detect anomalies that could indicate breaches.
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Microsoft's also betting big on IoT: it's invested $5 billion into the area in the last couple of years on a wider platform for building -- and critically for Azure operating -- IoT solutions as part of its larger enterprise push. Security has to be a major cornerstone of that, with too many examples racking up of flaws in poorly built or maintained systems proving to be doorways into wider vulnerabilities across entire networks.
It looks like the whole company, including the founders, will be joining Microsoft with this deal.
Nir and I founded CyberX with the goal of delivering a scalable solution that would be easy to deploy and reduce risk for enterprises worldwide, said Omer Schneider, co-founder and CEO of CyberX, in a blog post announcing the deal. Were thankful to our loyal customers and partners as well as to our dedicated employees whose innovation and hard work made it possible for us to reach this important milestone, and also to our investors for their ongoing support.
By joining forces with Microsoft, we will rapidly scale our business and technology to securely enable digital transformation for many more organizations, add Nir Giller, co-founder, GM International, and CTO of CyberX. Together, CyberX and Microsoft provide an unbeatable solution for gaining visibility and a holistic understanding of risk for all IoT and OT devices in your enterprise.
CyberX offers various tools to customers to help better manage the IoT networks (and specifically industrial IoT networks) they have in place, in particular around the concept of "digital transformation" and customers not just upgrading systems but getting a better grip on what they already have.
Among the functionality will be letting end users identify and connect with existing IoT assets across wider physical footprints (like factory floors); and then also identifying security issues and fix them within those footprints.
The idea will also be to use this as a springboard to upsell to other Microsoft services, for example Azure Sentinel to have a wider picture of how and where the IoT systems might interconnect with a company's wider IT network -- visibility that's important for being able to identify vulnerabilities and their consequences.
As with Intel and its May acquisition of Israeli mapping startup Moovit (which it acquired just weeks ago for $900 million), Microsoft already had a relationship with CyberX: most recently, the two announced a deal in March of this year to integrate Microsoft's Azure cloud platform into the CyberX ecosystem, so that CyberX customers using Azure could continue to have those services covered by CyberX's security systems, along with the rest of their on-premises network activity.
Unlike Intel's strategic relationship, it appears that Microsoft was not among CyberX's investors: the startup had raised just under $48 million from backers that included Norwest Venture Partners, Qualcomm Ventures, Flint Capital, Glilot and OurCrowd, as well as individuals like Facebook's Stan Chudnovsky and Gigi Levy-Weiss.
More generally, Microsoft's been a prolific investor and acquirer in Israel, and recent cybersecurity-specific M&A have included purchasing Aorato, Adallom, Secure Islands and Hexadite.
On the enterprise front, it's also been making acquisitions big and small, with the most recently before this being the acquisition of a small outfit in the US called ADRM that had built extensive data-modelling maps for different industries (some 75 in all), useful for helping businesses visualise how and where data moves and where tech or human investments might be necessary within an organization. It, too, is becoming a part of the Azure machine.
Over one thousand two hundred (1200) students of the Wamanafo Senior High and Technical School in the Dormaa East District of the Bono Region, have benefited from COVID-19 relief food items, worth one hundred and twenty thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh120,000.00).
The items, made of 2 (5kg) bags of rice, 2 tin mackerels, 2 medium sizes of sachet tomato paste and 1 litre cooking oil, make up the package given to each student by the Joseph Assignment Global Initiative in collaboration with the New Faith Baptist Church International in the USA.
The Joseph Assignment Global Initiative is a global humanitarian and an international Non-Governmental Organization, committed to responding to the basic needs of people living in poverty. Their interventions cover giving skill training, healthcare provision, and ensuring quality education to empower deprived communities to enhance self-sufficiency.
It provides diverse assistance as well to needy Communities it has adopted to support for development. Wamanafo town is one of such fortunate beneficiaries. The town has since its adoption years ago, benefited from boreholes, school infrastructure, and other developments.
The sharing of the relief package, which has begun in Wamanafo Senior High Technical would be replicated to other schools in adopted communities by the NGO elsewhere in the country.
About two hundred (200) final year and second-year gold truck students who reported to school on the first day of reopening on Monday, June 22, 2020, had their share of the present. The others who are yet to be reopened would receive theirs when schools are fully in session.
Speaking at the ceremony for the donation, the Country Director of the NGO, Mr. Nii Quarcoo Ofori, noted that the donation which should have taken place earlier but for the closure of schools was suspended till this day, is intended to support and lessen the burdens of families in the adopted communities of any hardship, the consequences of COVID- 19 may have brought to them.
The headmaster of the school, Mr. Armstrong Asante Thomas, appreciated the team for showing up at a time where the school needed them most. He said, currently due to the need for social distance, more classrooms and infrastructure is needed.
Other very important needs he mentioned included; teachers bungalows, administration block, and staffrooms. He asked the Joseph Assignment Global Initiative to complete the girls dormitory which they have already begun for the school, and assist also in raising one for the boys. He called on government and parents to rest assured that authorities of the school would be very responsible in the management of the affairs of the coronavirus disease to avoid any epidemic. He also assured that the various preventive protocols required of both authorities and students would be strictly observed.
The District Chief Executive, Hon Emmanuel Kofi Agyeman, explained that the pandemic has cost nations so much and everyone needs to be involved in its fight. He asked students to do well and abide diligently by the safety protocols, appreciate the time in which we find ourselves, and exercise self-discipline in order to stay secure.
The DCE who expressed gratitude to the team for their humanitarian roles and will touch lives said their gesture has come at the right time, especially, when the months of June and July are periods of scarce food in the region.
He expressed interest in becoming a volunteer too, to get the opportunity to serve others especially the venerable. He called on people of the district to at this time of COVID-19 period extend benevolence to those in need.
Vera Adjeiwaa and Charles Addae, both final year students expressed joy at the gifts and thanked the Joseph Assignment team for thinking about them at such a time adding that it would save their families so much.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- QEBR (OTC:QEBR) today detailed that its technology team has progressed well in setting up a secure Filecoin environment and proven its system as a valid node with CPU, GPU, bandwidth, and storage compatibility that meets all IPFS guidelines. The QEBR test system has connected with the Filecoin main blockchain and already successfully test-mined Filecoin.
Filecoin expects a global launch in the second half of 2020. Filecoin is a cryptocurrency-based decentralized platform based in the cloud for data storage. Its filing system requires FIL coins as payment to miners in exchange for storage space. The Filecoin ICO ("Initial Coin Offering") was conducted in 2017 and raised over US$257 Million from investors such as Sequoia Capital, Andreesen Horowitz, Y Combinator, Naval Ravikant, and Winklevoss Capital.
Over the last two months, the global Filecoin testnet has processed many petabytes (PB) of storage at an impressive average increase of 50 TB per day. The expectation is that the Filecoin mainnet launch will have hundreds of PB of storage capacity due to the very high interest of FIL miners around the world.
Jun Liang, Chief Technology Officer of QEBR, stated, "We are very satisfied with the progress made by our technology team in creating a Filecoin environment that is so efficient in mining FIL. We are confident that QEBR will be able to rapidly expand to multiple data centers around the world once the Filecoin mainnet becomes active. QEBR's first Filecoin mining installation will potentially be in Bangkok since we anticipate strong demand from Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan."
QEBR previously announced that it is FAST/DWAC eligible as of October 14, 2019. QEBR's CUSIP number is: 92828H109. The Company also previously announced the acquisition of Idaho Country Mining Co. LLC ("ICMC") and Shenzhen DZD Digital Technology Ltd ("DZD") in an exchange of shares. The acquisitions complement QEBR's existing subsidiaries by adding ICMC's services in data acquisition, data mining, encrypted data bookkeeping, and encrypted data acquisition; and, DZD, an engineering partner with ICMC in Shenzhen, China. DZD specializes in providing services for data processing, data mining, encrypted data bookkeeping, and researching of data technology.
About QEBR:
QEBR is the trading symbol for Virtual Medical International, Inc., a Nevada corporation. QEBR develops or acquires promising technology companies from around the world that specialize in data processing, warehousing, encryption, and analysis.
Forward-Looking Statements
Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are based on current facts and analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determined, and assumptions of management. Forward looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur.
Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors beyond the reasonable control of the Company. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include misinterpretation of data, the Company's ability to raise financing for operations, breach by parties with whom we have contracted, and the possible inability to maintain qualified employees or consultants.
For more information please see our website: http://www.qebr.net
Contact: [email protected]
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Sudan's foreign minister said Tuesday that her country is nearing a deal with Washington to compensate the families of victims of deadly 1998 embassy bombings, paving the way to Khartoum's removal from a US terror blacklist.
Massive, nearly simultaneous blasts at the American embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in August 1998 together killed 224 people and injured around 5,000, almost all of them Africans.
Al-Qaeda claimed the attacks, but the US accused Khartoum of aiding jihadists linked to the bombers and retaliated by destroying a Sudanese pharmaceutical factory in Sudan which it claimed was producing a nerve agent.
Washington has since demanded compensation for the American victims' families, placed Sudan on a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism and imposed crippling sanctions.
But Sudan's Foreign Minister Asma Abdalla told AFP on Tuesday that "the final touches of a settlement with victims of (the bombings) are being finalised."
"We now have a delegation in Washington negotiating with the victims' lawyers and officials at the US Department of State," she said, adding that such a deal would mean Sudan "will have fulfilled all the requirements" to be removed from the US blacklist.
"We expect the US administration to complete the legislative measures and complete the removal of Sudan from the list... as soon as possible," she said in an interview.
Sudan had dire relations with the US under Islamist ex-president Omar al-Bashir, who came to power on the back of a military coup in 1989.
Bashir was ousted by the military in April last year following months-long protests against his rule.
Transitional authorities who came to power in August last year have been seeking to boost the country's international standing and rebuild ties with the US.
- Warming US ties -
Under Bashir, Sudan hosted Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden and sent jihadist volunteers to fight in the country's civil war with South Sudanese separatists.
After being blacklisted in 1993, Sudan expelled Bin Laden -- but the US designation and sanctions remained in place.
Sudan hopes bolstering relations with the US will rescue its ailing economy, decimated by sanctions and the 2011 secession of oil-rich South Sudan.
Khartoum recently finalised a deal compensating families of victims of the 2000 USS Cole bombing in Yemen's Aden harbour, for which Al-Qaeda also claimed responsibility.
Sudan always denied any involvement but agreed to the settlement to fulfil US conditions.
As their ties have warmed, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok visited the US in December and in May, Sudan appointed its first ambassador to Washington in more than two decades.
Abdalla called that move "a stepping stone on the path of fully normalisation of relations between Sudan and the US."
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Ryan Phelan's co-host Sally Obermeder confirmed that he would not return for the remainder of The Daily Edition's run due to serious allegations of domestic violence made against him.
The 45-year-old veteran television presenter was charged on Monday night over an alleged domestic violence incident with his girlfriend, 44-year-old ballet instructor Chelsea Franklin at their home in Frenchs Forest in Sydney's northern beaches.
Hours before he was charged with assault, Phelan arrived for his final week at work as though nothing was amiss.
He presented alongside Obermeder for The Daily Edition - which will air for the final time on Friday - before filling in for Mel McLaughlin on the 6pm sport bulletin.
Sally Obermeter (right) addressed why Phelan wouldn't be on air on Tuesday after he was charged with assault
The first time bosses at Network Seven learned of the alleged altercation was when a reporter called asking for further information about Phelan's arrest, Sydney Morning Herald reported.
That claim was supported by Omermeder on air as she tried to explain why her co-host wasn't sitting beside her.
'Before we go on, I want to address Ryan Phelan's absense from the program,' she said.
'The network was unaware of these allegations until notified last night... Ryan will not be returning to The Daily Edition due to the serious allegations made against him.'
She said the entire team was 'understandably shocked', but would not comment further given it was now before the courts.
Phelan, 45, allegedly assaulted Ms Franklin on Saturday night inside their $2.16 million home in Frenchs Forest, in Sydney's north. The dance teacher made a report on Saturday, but her TV star boyfriend was not arrested and charged by NSW Police until Monday evening
'The network was unaware of these allegations until notified last night... Ryan will not be returning to The Daily Edition due to the serious allegations made against him,' Obermeder said
Hours earlier, Sunrise news reader Natalie Barr first addressed the allegations on air, and said he would not be returning to TV screens.
Phelan's final day was originally scheduled for Friday after The Daily Edition was axed following seven years on air.
A Channel Seven source said it was 'business as usual' for Phelan on Monday.
'He didn't let on to anyone. He came in, went about his usual business and went on camera, there was absolutely nothing unusual,' the source told the publication.
'Looking back, it was quite extraordinary.'
'I'm gutted, I'm devastated, I'm shattered. I've lost my lover, I've lost my boyfriend - I love him,' Ms Franklin said of Phelan
Ms Franklin (pictured) left the home she and Phelan shared in a black Mercedes-Benz SUV on Tuesday morning, before returning a few hours later
Ms Franklin told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday the pressures associated with his job and getting sacked led to the argument that saw her report him to police.
She broke down in tears as she told how Phelan's alleged assault of her on Saturday night was a 'horrible mistake', but admitted she 'still loves him'.
Both of the couple's two daughters from previous relationships were at home at the time of the alleged assault, and it was Ms Franklin's daughter who encouraged her to speak with police.
'I'm gutted, I'm devastated, I'm shattered. I've lost my lover, I've lost my boyfriend - I love him,' Ms Franklin said.
'It was just a horrible mistake really, we've had a wonderful two-and-a-half years together, nothing like that has ever happened before.
'Obviously with what's going on with him being made redundant and there's a couple of other personal issues I had and he had, and I think it just took its toll.'
She said: 'Its been a tough, tough week, but he's been an amazing person to me and I love him. It's just a horrible mistake.'
The virtual 23rd meeting of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council issued a Joint Ministerial Statement on June 23.
At the 23rd ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council meeting
Accordingly, the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work was endorsed.
The meeting reached consensus on the report of the 23rd ASCC meeting to submit it to the 36th ASEAN Summit scheduled for June 26.
Ministers extended their support to Vietnams ASEAN Chairmanships areas of focus, including labour and human resources development; social welfare, health and development; communication and information; ASEAN culture, awareness and identity; environment and climate change; and the Mid-Term Review for the ASCC Pillar.
At a press conference held following the meeting, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Quan said discussions at the event suit the theme of ASEAN Year 2020 and five priorities, including peace, security and stability; promotion of regional linkage and connectivity, improvement of the capacity of adapting with and tapping opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution; promoting the community's awareness and ASEAN indentities; strengthening of partnership for peace and sustainable development; and enhancement of responsiveness and effectiveness of ASEAN apparatus.
He said ministers welcome initiatives regarding promotion of cooperation in response to COVID-19 and encourage active contributions by ASCCs specialised agencies in the effort.
Ministers support Vietnam and ASEAN Secretariats proposal to hold a series of webinars to cope with the pandemic, he said.
According to him, the meeting acknowledged the sharing of ASEAN ministers and the ASEAN Secretary General on priorities and cooperation during the period of recovery from COVID-19, to set orientations for the ASEAN Communitys activities this year and the next five years, towards a cohesive ASEAN Community that is beneficial for all.
It was the first periodic meeting hosted by Vietnam's Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in its capacity as ASCC Chair 2020, attracting 10 ministers in charge of ASCC, the ASEAN Secretary General, delegates from member countries, and the ASEAN Secretariat./.VNA
Minister for Health Greg Hunt addresses a press conference in the Main Committee Room at Parliament House on April 8, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)
Australian Borders Closed for A Very Significant Amount of Time
Health Minister Greg Hunt says Australias borders will remain closed for a very significant amount of time.
Hunt says infection rates of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, are accelerating around the world.
For the time being we are an island sanctuary, he told ABC radio on June 23.
The number of global coronavirus infections has exceeded nine million.
Hunt appeared to suggest international borders would be shut until a vaccine was found.
Australias top medical adviser on the CCP virus pandemic says theres a lot of luck involved in the caseload when comparing Victoria and New South Wales (NSW).
Victorias active cases have grown by 120 in a week, with 16 new infections on Monday taking the total to 125.
By contrast, active cases in NSW have jumped by 22 in the past week, but fallen or remained at zero in every other state.
Victorias case numbers are now the highest theyve been in more than two months after six days of double-digit growth.
The spike caused the West Australian government to shelve a plan to open its borders in August and sparked a warning by NSW against visiting Melbourne.
Asked about the figures, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy told reporters on Monday: I think there is a lot of luck in this.
He said NSW had been better at bringing community transmission under control by using measures such as pop-up clinics in hotspots.
But he said he did not see any reason why Victorias cases should force other states to change their plans.
South Australia will send a team of experts to Victoria on Tuesday to help with contact tracing, spending three weeks helping health officials.
WA Premier Mark McGowan has declined to put a date on when the states borders will reopen, but internal coronavirus restrictions will be removed by July 18.
Meanwhile, the first results from the clinical trials of several different candidate vaccines should be known by late July.
Murphy said the government was examining Australias capacity to manufacture vaccines if a working one is found.
Volunteers are being recruited for a possible COVID-19 vaccine trial in Adelaide.
Researchers at the Royal Adelaide Hospital are looking for about 100 healthy adults for the trial which may be conducted later this year.
Daniel McCulloch and Paul Osborne
New Delhi, June 23 : Hours after yoga guru Ramdev came out with a "medicine" for Covid-19, the Centre has asked his Patanjali Ayurved Ltd to stop advertising or publicising its claims till the issue is "duly examined".
Taking cognizance of media reports, the Ayush Ministry said that "facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study are not known to the Ministry".
It also said that the government has informed the company that such advertisements of drugs including ayurvedic medicines are regulated under the provisions of Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Rules thereunder and the directives issued by the Central Government in the wake of Covid outbreak.
On Tuesday, Ramdev launched Patanjali's Coronil tablet, which he claims is a cure for Covid-19. Patanjali claims those administered the medicine were fully cured and none died. Ramdev even said that 69 per cent of them recovered within 3 days.
The Ayush Ministry also reminded Patanjali of a gazette notification, issued on April 21, asserting what are the requirements and manner of research studies on Covid-19.
A Ministry statement said: "In order to make this Ministry aware of the facts of the aforesaid news and verify the claims, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has been asked to provide at the earliest details of the name and composition of the medicines being claimed for Covid treatment; site(s)/hospital(s), where the research study was conducted for Covid-19; protocol, sample size, Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, CTRI registration and results data of the study (ies) and stop advertising/publicizing such claims till the issue is duly examined." Earlier, Balkrishna, Ramdev's close aide and MD of Patanjali Ayurved said: "We appointed a team of scientists after COVID-19 outbreak" and that Patanjali conducted a clinical case study on hundreds of positive patients.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has also asked the Uttarakhand government's licensing authority to provide copies of license and product approval details of the ayurvedic medicines which the yoga guru claimed, treats Covid-19, a global pandemic that has the world worried.
A highly unusual gravitational wave signal, detected by the LIGO and Virgo observatories in the US and Italy, was generated by a new class of binary systems (two astronomical objects orbiting around each other), an international team of astrophysicists has confirmed.
Scientists from the LIGO and Virgo Collaboration, which includes researchers from the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, detected the signal, named GW190814, in August 2019.
In a new paper, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, the team has announced that the signal was generated by a compact object (a neutron star or a black hole) 2.6 times the mass of our sun (2.6 solar masses), merging with a black hole of 23 solar masses.
The new observation is important because it challenges astrophysicists' understanding both of how stars die and how they pair up into binary systems. Although the precise nature of the lighter member of the binary that generated GW190814 is unknown, scientists have confirmed that it is a record breaker: it is more massive than any neutron star and lighter than any black hole yet observed.
"This merger event is one of the most unusual ones observed in gravitational waves to date", says Dr Patricia Schmidt, Lecturer at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy and member of the LIGO team. "It pushes our understanding of the nature of the lighter companion and how it is formed to the limits. This will keep astrophysicists occupied for a while."
Scientists have so far believed that dying stars do not leave remnants, whatever their nature, with a mass between 2.5 and 5 times the mass of the Sun. Now this desert has been populated by one of the objects that produced GW190814.
"From the very outset it was clear that this was a special event," says Dr Geraint Pratten, a researcher at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, who was involved in producing the initial sky-maps for optical telescopes' follow-ups. "It highlights the need for ever better theoretical models of the emitted gravitational-wave signal, such as those produced here in Birmingham, to mine as much information as possible from the data and understand how such high mass-ratio binaries are formed."
An additional aspect requires further investigation. The disparity in masses between the two objects, with the black hole nine times more massive than its companion object, challenges existing theories about how binary systems of black holes and neutron stars are formed. What is certain, according to the research team, is that GW190814 was produced by a binary system that is quite different from other systems detected so far by LIGO and Virgo.
"We have been itching with excitement since this candidate showed up on our screens," says co-author Professor Alberto Vecchio, director of the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy. "We thought the Universe would be kind of lazy in producing binaries of objects with such different masses, if it did so at all. And guess what, we were wrong! We now know there are cosmic factories hiding somewhere that are actually rather efficient at generating these systems. The journey to figure out what they are and how they work is going to keep us busy for quite some time, but more and better data from LIGO and Virgo are just about a year away, and we are bound to have new surprises".
A further mystery surrounding GW190814 has been its elusiveness for astronomers looking for light from the event. When new gravitational waves are detected, an alert is sent to astronomers world-wide, triggering dozens of ground- and space-based telescopes to start searching for a fireball ignited by the collision. For GW190814, no such glow has yet been detected.
Dr Matt Nicholl is a Lecturer at the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, and followed up the event as part of the European ENGRAVE team using the ESO Very Large Telescope, and the US-led team using the Magellan telescopes. He says: "Observatories around the world carried out an intensive search for any light-show produced by the merger. We were able to show that if any light was released, it must have been extremely faint to avoid detection. This means that if the lighter companion was a neutron star, its more massive black hole partner may have simply swallowed it whole! On the other hand, if the collision involved two black holes, it's not likely that it would have shone with any light."
###
LIGO research activities at the University of Birmingham are supported by the U.K. Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Additional funding was received from the Royal Astronomical Society, the NWO (Dutch Research Council), and the Royal Society and Wolfson Foundation.
Notes to editor:
Research funding information
Dr Matt Nichol is funded through a Royal Astronomical Society Research Fellowship
Dr Patricia Schmidt is partially funded through a NWO VENI Fellowship
Prof Alberto Vecchio is supported by a Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship
LIGO research activities at the University of Birmingham are supported by the U.K. Science and Technology Facilities Council.
About the gravitational-wave observatories:
LIGO is funded by NSF and operated by Caltech and MIT, which conceived of LIGO and lead the project. Financial support for the Advanced LIGO project was led by NSF with Germany (Max Planck Society), U.K. (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and Australia (Australian Research Council-OzGrav) making significant commitments and contributions to the project. Approximately 1,300 scientists from around the world participate in the effort through the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration. A list of additional partners is available at https://my.ligo.org/census.php.
The Virgo Collaboration is currently composed of approximately 520 members from 99 institutes in 11 different countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) hosts the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy, and is funded by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy, and Nikhef in the Netherlands. A list of the Virgo Collaboration groups can be found at http://public.virgo-gw.eu/the-virgo-collaboration/. More information is available on the Virgo website at http://www.virgo-gw.eu.
About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is part of UK Research and Innovation - the UK body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. For more information visit UK Research and Innovation.
STFC funds and supports research in particle and nuclear physics, astronomy, gravitational research and astrophysics, and space science and also operates a network of five national laboratories, including the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the Daresbury Laboratory, as well as supporting UK research at a number of international research facilities including CERN, FERMILAB, the ESO telescopes in Chile and many more. Visit https://stfc.ukri.org/ for more information. @STFC_Matters
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 14:06:58|Editor: huaxia
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ULAN BATOR, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia reported two new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the national count to 215, the country's National Center for Communicable Disease (NCCD) said Tuesday.
"A total of 426 tests for COVID-19 were conducted at four laboratories across the country yesterday and two of them were positive," NCCD head Dulmaa Nyamkhuu told a daily press conference.
The new patients are Mongolian nationals who returned home from Kazakhstan on a chartered flight on June 10, Nyamkhuu said.
All the 215 confirmed cases in Mongolia are imported ones, mostly from Russia. Among the confirmed cases, 158 people have recovered.
No local transmissions or deaths have been reported in the country so far. Enditem
Foreign investors constantly view potential moves in Vietnamese infrastructure schemes, Photo: Le Toan
The National Assembly (NA) last week adopted the Law on Public-Private Partnership Investment, drafted by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, with 92.75 per cent vote in favour. Under the law, the revenue risk allocation between the investor and the state gets high support aiming to leverage private investment in the future.
Under the law, not all public-private partnership (PPP) projects can enjoy the revenue risk sharing mechanism. Only PPP initiatives facing a drop in revenue can get revenue risk allocation, while not applying for loss-making PPP ventures, or those losing capital.
Specifically, when the actual revenue reaches less than 75 per cent of the revenue in the financial plan under the PPP contract, the state shall share with the investor and the PPP project enterprise 50 per cent of the difference between 75 per cent of the revenue in the financial plan and the actual revenue.
The revenue share reduction is applied when the following strict conditions are satisfied: Projects applying build-operate-transfer (BOT), build-transfer-operate, and build-own-operate contracts; change in plans, policies, and relevant laws resulting in revenue reduction; implementation of all measures to adjust the fee of products and public services, adjusting the term of PPP project contract but not guaranteeing that minimum turnover is 75 per cent; and having been audited by the State Audit Office of the revenue reduction part.
When actual revenue reaches more than 125 per cent of the revenue in the financial plan under the PPP contract, the investors and PPP project enterprises shall share with the state 50 per cent of the difference between the actual revenue and 125 per cent of the revenue in the financial plan. Sharing increased revenue shall be applied after adjusting the price, fee of products, public services, adjusting the term of PPP project contract and to be audited by the State Audit Office.
Le Net, lawyer at LNT & Partners told VIR, The introduction of the profit/loss sharing mechanism to the market will be a good signal for investors, thus encouraging international financiers to join PPP infrastructure development in the following years.
Some economists are concerned it is still unclear if this mechanism is automatic or optional, or conditional to successful negotiations. If it is automatic, the principle applied to determine the extension should be clarified in the guiding regulations. If it is conditional, it is unlikely that the investor will willingly concede a reduction of the concession, despite higher revenues, noted Vaibhav Saxena, lawyer at Vietnam International Law Firm.
Similarly, senior economic expert Nguyen Tri Hieu said that banks still hesitate to lend BOT initiatives for fear of capital increase and long period of investment and high risks. BOT - a type of PPP model - is the most popular model in Vietnam.
To attract private investors in BOT transport projects, the government should make plans, and investors have opportunities to gain reasonable profit. Funding for PPP projects can be done via issuance of government bonds.
Earlier, international development partners like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, as well as international ventures like Lotte E&C, Taisei, and others have raised their concerns over the issue, hoping that the newly-approved law on PPP investment will ease all when it comes into effect from January 2021, clearing the way for domestic and international private financiers to join future projects.
For years, revenue-risk allocation in PPP initiatives has been a controversial topic because of their high risk of losses and lack of a completed legal framework and risk-sharing mechanism. Thus far, the power sector has been the most successful sector at attracting foreign investment in BOT projects, while other sectors, especially transport, have seen failures.
Previously a number of BOT initiatives have hit the rocks, including Dau Giay-Phan Thiet Expressway the first pilot transport project in the PPP format despite strong interest among powerful international investors. Meanwhile, other BOT initiatives are credit stuck, such as at Huu Nghi-Chi Lang, Van Don-Mong Cai, and Trung Luong-My Thuan. Many of them have halted construction for a number of years due to loan access problems.
Also last week, the NA adopted the amendments to the Law on Investment and the amendments to the Law on Enterprises.
Expected to take effect from early 2021, the two amendments will consist of a number of improvements in market access, investment incentives, and more besides, thus creating more favourable conditions for business and investment activities in the future.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, speaks to members of the media as he walks through the Senate Subway on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 19, 2020.
Sen. Bob Menendez is ratcheting up the pressure on newly installed U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack to explain his recent purge of executives and its board members.
In a letter on Tuesday, Menendez, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on the State Department's acting inspector general, Stephen Akard, to investigate whether Pack's termination of many longtime agency officials broke a rule that was established by the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
The board had previously enacted a new regulation, which, through what they call a "firewall," prohibits anyone from outside the independent news organizations under USAGM from making such changes. Menendez notes that Pack, as the new chief executive, needed to give some form of a justification to fire the executives and board leadership.
"While the rule states that the 'firewall does not prevent a USAGM CEO or Board from undertaking the same type of direction and oversight that those in equivalent leadership positions in an organization overseeing other reputable news organizations may provide, in a manner consistent with the highest standards of professional journalism,' that exception does not appear to apply to Mr. Pack's actions on June 17, as he presented no cause for firing the network leaders, dissolving their boards, and reassigning the standards editors," Menendez says.
Pack was confirmed by the Senate earlier this month. President Donald Trump, who nominated Pack, has been critical of Voice of America, one of the USAGM media entities.
Since Pack pushed out the heads of media organizations under the USAGM, including leaders of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, along with numerous executive board members, Democrats and some Republicans have started pushing back.
Along with Menendez, Reps. Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey, both D-N.Y., chairs of the House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs committees, have called on Pack to provide documents explaining why he chose to terminate and then replace various career officials at the agency. Sen. Marco Rubio recently said in a statement to CNBC that he was "deeply concerned about the recent actions by CEO Michael Pack" and that he will be closely monitoring the situation.
Menendez has repeatedly clashed with Pack both before and after he was confirmed.
After Pack made his changes at the agency, the New Jersey lawmaker criticized the moves. While Menendez's committee was reviewing Pack's nomination, he warned the White House that Pack, who has ties to former chief strategist Steve Bannon, may have been involved with unlawful activity between his production company, Manifold Productions, and his nonprofit known as the Public Media Lab. The USAGM CEO was a conservative filmmaker before he was confirmed in June to lead the agency.
Pack's nonprofit has been under investigation by the Washington, D.C., attorney general for potential self-dealing.
Menendez's move to call on the State Department's inspector general to investigate Pack comes as both he and Engel are investigating the firing in May of the department IG, Steve Linick.
Prior to his removal, Linick was reportedly investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife's alleged use of government resources.
At least two civilians and attacker killed in the first attack targeting the military base in Mogadishu, officials say.
A suicide bombers explosives were detonated outside a Turkish military training base in Somalias capital, Mogadishu, killing at least two people, police said on Tuesday.
It was the first time the Turkish base in Mogadishu, Turkeys largest overseas military base, had been attacked by the al-Qaeda-linked rebel group al-Shabab.
The Somalia-based group quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Radio al-Furqan, one of the groups radio affiliates.
Somali government spokesman Ismail Mukhtar told Anadolu news agency that security guards shot the bomber who was trying to enter the military facility.
He pretended to be a trainee at the Turkey-Somali military academy but was shot and exploded outside the camp, killing himself and two civilians, Mukhtar said.
He added no Somali soldiers or Turkish nationals were killed or injured in the attack.
Police Captain Mohamed Hussein said the attempted bombing occurred as new military cadets were doing their morning drills.
Turkey has a significant presence in Somalia and operates one of a number of foreign military training operations in the Horn of Africa nation long destabilised by conflict.
Al-Shabab controls parts of southern and central Somalia and often targets the capital with suicide bombings.
A lawyer for the former U.S. Marine convicted of espionage in Russia last week says his client will not appeal the decision because he doesnt trust the countrys judicial system.
The Interfax news agency quoted Vladimir Zherebenkov as saying on June 23 that Whelan hopes Washington and Moscow will instead agree on an exchange of prisoners.
Today, we met [Whelan] in the detention facility and after a discussion it was decided not to appeal the verdict because he doesn't believe in Russian justice," Zherebenkov was quoted as saying.
"He hopes that he will be swapped in the near future for Russians who have been convicted in the United States," he added.
News reports have said Russian and U.S. officials are negotiating a possible swap of Whelan for two Russians -- Viktor Bout and Konstantin Yaroshenko -- who are serving lengthy sentences in U.S. prisons.
The Moscow City Court announced the conviction and handed Whelan a 16-year prison sentence on June 15 after a trial that was held behind closed doors because the evidence included classified materials and because of measures taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The United States has called the proceedings a mockery of justice and demanded Whelans immediate release.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said he was deeply disappointed by the verdict and sentence against Whelan, who also holds British, Canadian, and Irish citizenships, and expressed serious reservations about the legal process."
Russia's Foreign Ministry has rejected claims about the unfairness and excessive harshness of the sentence.
President Vladimir Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 23 that the Kremlin had noted Whelan's decision not to appeal his conviction but declined to comment further.
The 50-year-old former U.S. Marine was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and went on trial in March of this year. He had denied all charges.
Russian prosecutors claimed that a flash drive found in Whelan's possession contained classified information.
Whelan says he was framed when he took the drive from an acquaintance, thinking it contained holiday photos. He has also accused his prison guards of mistreatment.
Whelan was head of global security at a U.S. auto-parts supplier at the time of his arrest. He and his relatives insist he visited Russia to attend a wedding.
Before the verdict, U.S. officials had urged Moscow to release Whelan following their criticism of Russian authorities for their "shameful treatment" of him.
With reporting by Interfax and Reuters
Rahul Gandhi has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his statement at an all-party meeting last week.
Rahul Gandhi tweeted his message with a photo clicked by his father Rajiv Gandhi.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked the government whether China has occupied Indian territory.
"We are standing united against Chinese aggression. Has China occupied Indian territory?" Gandhi tweeted along with a photograph of the Pangong Tso lake clicked by his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his statement at an all-party meeting last week that neither is anyone inside India's territory nor has anyone captured its posts while referring to the Ladakh face-off.
Earlier too, the Congress leader had asked the government whether China has occupied any Indian territory.
The Prime Minister's Office has already clarified Modi's comments, and said attempts are being made to give a "mischievous interpretation".
Firing a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi on Monday asked as to why China is "praising Mr Modi during this conflict".
A man was caught in possession of hundreds of images of child pornography after sending illicit material to an undercover FBI agent, a court has heard.
Dermot Whelan (67) of The Crescent, Belgard Heights, Tallaght, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography on two computer devices at his address on July 21, 2014.
Whelan also pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing child pornography at his address on an unknown date between October 20, 2012 and July 21, 2014. He has no previous convictions.
Detective Garda Trevor Scanlon told Pieter Le Vert BL, prosecuting, that the case originated with a member of the FBI working undercover and monitoring certain internet chat rooms which were suspected of being places where possessors of child pornography congregated.
Det Gda Scanlon said that in 2012, the FBI agent placed an advertisement designed to appeal to people interested in child pornography. The agent received a response from an email address which sent them 25 images of child pornography.
The FBI agent contacted Yahoo who determined that the email address was located in Ireland. Gardai obtained a search warrant for the accused's address and seized a number of electronic devices.
A laptop seized was found to have accessed a number of websites containing child pornography. Three explicit child pornography videos were discovered on the laptop.
Also found on the laptop were 53 explicit images of child pornography and 182 child exposure images. Further images of child pornography were discovered on a desktop computer.
In interview with gardai, Whelan said he thought child pornography was disgusting and that under no circumstances would he harm a child. He offered as an excuse for the material being found on the computers the fact that he had bought them second hand.
In a subsequent interview, Whelan admitted he had viewed child pornography and sent it on to others via email. He said that at the time he thought it was okay because he was not buying it or contributing to it.
Whelan said he was sexually aroused by the images. He said this was something he deeply regrets and that he has not viewed pornography of any kind since the offences.
Det Gda Scanlon agreed with James Dwyer SC, defending, that the manner of possession was that the files were viewed and thus went into a temp file, meaning that only a minority of the images were actually downloaded.
Mr Dwyer said his client has removed Wi-Fi from his home and has undergone therapy. He said that without admissions made by Whelan, it is likely his client would not have been charged with distributing child pornography.
Counsel submitted that this was less serious offending than is often seen in cases like this, particularly with regard to the volume of material involved. He said this may be a case that does not require his client's immediate incarceration.
Judge Elma Sheahan remanded the accused on continuing bail and adjourned the matter for finalisation on July 9, next.
Press Release
June 23, 2020 Boost ICT competitiveness to help spur PH digital economy - Gatchalian As the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced many countries to rethink their business models and adapt to the digital economy, Senator Win Gatchalian sees the urgency of passing into law key economic reforms that will attract more Information and Communication Technology (ICT) investments. The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs stresses the need for affordable, reliable and widely available internet services in the country as more Filipinos now rely on digital platforms for work, school, and other day-to-day activities amid the pandemic. Companies have since adopted a work-from-home scheme while schools have been working on implementing blended learning as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. Gatchalian points out that the Philippines still lags behind its Southeast Asian peers in terms of internet connectivity due to lack of infrastructure. Citing the June 2020 World Bank Report, Gatchalian says 72% of Filipinos can access the country's 4G/LTE mobile broadband network coverage, lower than the ASEAN regional average of 88%. Only 4% of Filipinos are subscribed to fixed broadband services, much lower than the regional average of 10%. The same report also cites that the Philippines' 3G/4G mobile average download speed of 7 Mbps is considerably lower than the ASEAN regional average of 13 Mbps. In terms of fixed broadband average download speed, the Philippines can download 26 Mbps versus the ASEAN average download speed of 59 Mbps. Despite having lower download speed, Filipinos pay higher price, making the country the fourth highest cost next to Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia. Meanwhile, the cost of a fixed broadband plan in the Philippines is close to the cost of similar plans in Singapore and Thailand, the countries which have the fastest speeds in the region. If the Philippines want to expand and benefit more from the digital economy, Gatchalian stresses the need to address several bottlenecks in the ICT sector such as the lack of ICT infrastructure and weak competition, among others. "It is now time for the government to really assess on how it plans to grow the country's digital economy. The country's problem right now is we have unreliable and expensive internet services because there's not enough competition in the ICT space and there's not enough infrastructure to cater to the growing demand of digital economy," Gatchalian said. For this reason, Gatchalian sees the urgency to pass into law key economic reforms that will attract more investments in the country, such as the Foreign Investments Act (FIA) which is now up for interpellation at the Senate. The FIA, for example, will lower barriers and help open up key sectors, like telecommunications, to many investors. At present, Globe Telecoms and PLDT/Smart are the dominant players in the country while the third telco company, Dito Telecommunity Corporation, has yet to roll out its operation. Gatchalian said the government should invest in the digitalization of public administration and public service functions. "Our receptiveness to these changes may very well determine whether we can live up to our true economic potential or remain in the doldrums compared to our next-door neighbors," he said. ### Mas malakas na ICT infrastructure isinusulong ni Gatchalian para lumago ang digital economy Napapanahon na upang isabatas ang mga repormang pang ekonomiya upang makahikayat ang Pilipinas ng mas maraming mamumuhunan na makakatulong sa pagpapabilis at pagpapabuti ng internet service sa bansa. Ito ang iginiit ni Senador Win Gatchalian bilang tugon sa pinakahuling ulat ng World Bank na ang Pilipinas ay nanatili pa ring kulelat pagdating sa internet service sa rehiyon kung ihahambing sa mga kapitbahay nating mga bansa. Sa pagtala ng World Bank, 72% ng mga Pilipino ang may access sa 4G/LTE mobile broadband network coverage, mas mababa sa ASEAN regional average na 88%. Ayon sa naturang report, ang Pilipinas din ang may pinakamabagal na internet service kung ikukumpara sa ibang bansa sa Southeast Asia. Ang 3G/4G mobile average download speed sa bansa ay nasa 7Mbps lamang kumpara sa ASEAN regional average na 13Mbps. Pagdating naman sa fixed broadband average download speed, ang Pilipinas ay may 26Mbps lamang kung ikukumpara sa ASEAN average download na 59 Mbps. Bukod sa mabagal na internet connection, ang Pilipinas pa ang tinaguriang pang-apat sa may pinakamahal na serbisyo ng internet kumpara sa Singapore, Brunei at Malaysia. Dahil sa sistema ng 'new normal' kung saan napaka importante ngayon ng internet sa trabaho, eskwela at sa iba pang mga aktibidad ng mga Pilipino bilang proteksyon laban sa pandemiya, sinabi ni Gatchalian na 'di hamak na kailangang paigtingin ang imprastraktura ng Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sa bansa para sa mabilis at mas maaasahang internet connection. Lahat ng upisina ngayon ay nagpapatupad ng work-from-home arrangement at halos lahat din ng mga eskwelahan ay hinihikayat na magpatupad ng blended learning upang mapangalagaan ang kalusugan at mapanatili ang kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral, guro at iba pang kawani ng mga paaralan. Ayon kay Gatchalian, ang mabagal at mahal na serbisyo sa internet ay dulot ng kakulangan sa ICT infrastructure at kawalan ng tunay na kumpetisyon sa pagitan ng mga internet service providers. Sa kasalukuyan, ang Globe Telecoms at PLDT/Smart ang pinakadominanteng internet and telecommunications provider sa bansa. Samantala, hinihintay pa din ng mga Pilipino ang pagbubukas ng kakumpetensiyang Dito Telecommunity Corporation. Iginiit ng senador na panahon na para ipasa ang ilan sa mga importanteng panukalang pangekonomiya, gaya ng Foreign Investments Act (FIA), upang tayo ay makapang-engganyo ng maraming mamumuhunan sa bansa. Makakatulong ang FIA aniya na maibsan ang mga balakid para mapalawak pa ang ilang sektor gaya ng telecommunications industry. "Panahon na para malatag nang husto ng gobyerno ang planong pagpapawalak ng digital economy ng bansa. Ang problema kasi ngayon ay ang hindi maaasahan at mahal na internet services. Dapat mapalawak din ang kumpetisyon sa industriya ng ICT para maserbisyuhan ang lumalaking demand ng digital economy," ani Gatchalian. ###
Former Atlanta Police officer Devin Brosnan walks following his release from the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Ga., on June 18, 2020. (Brynn Anderson/AP Photo)
Atlanta Officer Charged in Rayshard Brooks Case: I Didnt Do Anything Wrong
One of the Atlanta police officers charged in the death of Rayshard Brooks says he didnt do anything wrong and wouldnt change anything he did during the fateful encounter.
I have full faith in the criminal justice system, Devin Brosnan told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I really do. I have 100 percent faith the truth will come out. People will see this for what it is. They will understand I didnt do anything wrong. I know the truth is what counts.
Brosnan, 26, responded to a call concerning a man who was passed out in a vehicle in a Wendys drive-through, blocking traffic, on June 12. The officer smelled alcohol, prompting a call for a certified DUI officer. That officer, Garrett Rolfe, 27, soon arrived on the scene.
After testing Brookss sobriety for about 40 minutes, the officers tried placing him under arrest. Brooks resisted, leading to a scuffle. At one point, Brosnan struck his head on the concrete, causing a concussion.
Rayshard Brooks (C) struggling with Officers Garrett Rolfe (L) and Devin Brosnan in the parking lot of a Wendys restaurant, in Atlanta, Ga., on June 13, 2020. (Atlanta Police Department via AP)
Brooks, 27, stole Brosnans stun gun, fired it at the officer, and later fired it twice at Rolfe. The second time, Brooks was moving away from the officer but was partially angled at him as he tried hitting the cop.
In return, Rolfe pulled his gun and fired, hitting Brooks twice. According to an autopsy report obtained by The Epoch Times, the Fulton County Medical Examiners Office declared the manner of death a homicide.
Brosnan told the Journal-Constitution that the death is a tragedy.
At the end of the day, someone lost their life. To me, its heartbreaking no matter the circumstances, no matter what. When anybody dies truly is something you never want to see happen, to have happen. I cant imagine what a family would go through, he said.
But he joined others in expressing surprise over the charges leveled by the countys district attorney, Paul Howard, against him and Rolfe. Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly stepping on Brookss shoulder after the shooting while Rolfe was charged with felony murder, which could garner the death penalty. Both men were charged with oath of office violations.
Amid reports of callouts, Interim Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant told reporters over the weekend that a higher than usual number of officers have been calling in sick since Rolfe and Brosnan were charged.
The explanation for calling out sick vary and include officers questioning their training, officers being challenged and attacked, and unease about officers seeing their colleagues criminally charged so quickly, he said at a press conference.
Rayshard Brooks poses in an undated photograph in Atlanta, Ga. (Stewart Trial Attorneys via Reuters)
Rolfe was fired and Brosnan was relegated to desk duty. Rolfe is still in jail after being denied bond; Brosnan posted bond.
Brosnan also challenged Howards claim that he agreed to become a cooperating witness.
I just looked at it like, he could have just said Im doing the right thingIm talking, Brosnan said. But it just seemed like it was more important to make it political than it was to get to the truth of the matter and get to the real facts of it.
Some person lost their life. Its not something to make political, he added.
Howards office hasnt responded to requests for comment.
Im not a cooperating witness, Im cooperating. I think thats the takeaway, Brosnan said. Ill tell the truth to anybody who needs to hear it.
Nearly 3,000 of the 50,000 'Made in India' ventilators sanctioned under the PM CARES fund to help COVID-19 patients have been manufactured and over 1,300 have been delivered to various states, an official statement said on Tuesday.
Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images
On May 14, the PM CARES Fund Trust had decided to allocate Rs 3,100 crore for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the amount was to be used, among other things, to purchase ventilators and caring for migrant workers.
Out of the Rs 3,100 crore, nearly Rs 2,000 crore was earmarked for the purchase of 50,000 'Made in India' ventilators.
"So far 2,923 ventilators have been manufactured, out of which 1,340 ventilators have already been delivered to the States/UTs," the statement said.
By the end of this month, an additional 14,000 ventilators will be delivered to all the states and UTs.
The prominent recipients include Maharashtra (275), Delhi (275), Gujarat (175), Bihar (100), Karnataka (90), Rajasthan (75), it said.
Out of the 50,000 ventilators, 30,000 are being manufactured by the Bharat Electronics Ltd, a government undertaking.
The remaining 20,000 ventilators are being manufactured by AgVa Healthcare (10,000), AMTZ Basic (5650), AMTZ High End (4000) and Allied Medical (350), the statement said.
Referring to the welfare of migrant workers, it said Rs 1,000 crore has already been released to states and UTs for welfare of the migrant labourers.
Several special trains have ferried lakhs of migrant workers back to their home states as they were unwilling to stay in cities citing an uncertain future amid the pandemic. Several of them have walked hundreds of kilometres to return to their native place.
The distribution of funds is based on the weightage of population of the state as per the 2011 Census -- 50 per cent weightage, number of positive COVID-19 cases as on date -- 40 per cent weightage and equal share -- 10 per cent weightage for all states to ensure basic minimum sum for all. The funds were to be used for arranging accommodation, food, medical treatment and transportation of migrants.
According to the statement, the main recipients of the grant are Maharashtra (Rs 181 crore), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 103 crore), Tamil Nadu (Rs 83 crore), Gujarat (Rs 66 crore), Delhi (Rs 55 crore), West Bengal (Rs 53 crore), Bihar (Rs 51 crore), Madhya Pradesh (50 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 50 crore) and Karnataka (Rs 34 crore).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced creation of the PM's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund where people can contribute to help the government fight against coronavirus and similar "distressing situations".
The trust was formed on March 27 and is headed by the prime minister. The other ex-officio members of the trust are the defence minister, the home minister and the finance minister.
In the current scenario, when people everywhere are grappling with disastrous effects of the pandemic, any kind of celebration is always welcome! Undoubtedly, the past few months proved to be a nightmare that challenged people both emotionally and psychologically. Keeping this in mind, the HR department of the B4U Network invited its employees to celebrate International Yoga Day, World Music Day, and International Fathers Day. The department took initiatives to arrange several webinars on the occasion of all three events to give their employees and colleagues a relief from the monotonous life that they are surrounded with. Since offices are closed off and employees are working from home, these webinars were conducted virtually.
First and foremost, a 5-day Yoga challenge was arranged for the internal employees, from 15 June -19 June. Also, special sessions were held by their wellness spocs under the observation of experienced and renowned trainers. Music helps heal mind and soul and therefore, on 21st June, B4U Network celebrated World Music day by arranging an exclusive webinar for its employees to experience a wonderful musical evening of live Antakshari. Along with that, the Network also celebrated International Fathers Day to appreciate and thank them for their sacrifices and unconditional love. Further, the Networks HR department arranged an exclusive webinar session for its employees on Co-Parenting and also held a session on Parenting Tips during Lockdown on 22nd June. These initiatives aimed to revitalize their employees and give them an out from their stress.
Talking about the sessions, the HR Head of B4U Network, Priyanka Bhushan says that, This is a stressful situation which is taking a toll on everyone. B4U cares for the holistic well-being of employees. Due to the current pandemic and the multiple after effects it is leaving behind, we at B4U felt the need to address these concerns in a holistic and immediate manner. To this end, we had a week long celebration including International Yoga Day, Fathers Day, World Music Day and a spectrum of employee connect activities like Yoga, Co-Parenting workshops, Antakshri all aimed at enabling employees and their families to be in the prime of health and well-being. This is a difficult time, and we want our employees to know that we are facing this crisis as a united front.
Department of Revenue has notified anti-dumping duty on flat rolled steel products plated or coated with alloys of aluminium and zinc imported from China, Korea and Vietnam. The duty will remain in place for a period of five years. The decision to impose this duty came on the back of recommendations from Commerce Ministry's anti-dumping probe arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR). The quantum of anti-dumping, depending on the country of orign and country of export, vary between $13.07 per metric tonne and $173.10 per metric tonne.
"The anti-dumping duty imposed under this notification shall be effective for a period of five years (unless revoked, amended or superseded earlier) from the date of imposition of the provisional anti-dumping duty, that is, October 15, 2019," the department of revenue said in a notification.
ALSO READ: Now, India throws the gauntlet! Imports from China held up at ports since June 22
Dumping refers to exports by a country or a firm at prices lower than the price of that product in its domestic market. Dumping impacts the price of that product in the targeted country, eating into margins and profits of local manufacturing firms.
Global trade norms allow a country to impose tariffs on such dumped products to provide a level-playing field to domestic manufacturers. Anti-dumping duties are permissible under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime The duty is imposed only after a thorough investigation by a quasi-judicial body, such as DGTR, in India.
In its notification on Tuesday, the Department of Revenue said that dumping of flat rolled steel products from China, Korea and Vietnam has caused "material injury" to domestic industry. In its investigation, DGTR found that the specified steel products were exported to India by China, Korea and Vietnam below their associated normal value, thus resulting in dumping.
Global cases of covid-19 surpassed 9 million on Monday, as Brazil and India grappled with a surge in infections, and the United States, China, and other hard-hit countries reported new outbreaks, according to a Reuters tally.
The first case was reported in China in early January and it took until mid-May to reach 4.5 million cases. It has taken just five weeks to double to 9 million cases, the tally shows.
The United States leads the world with the highest number of infections, at about 2.2 million or 25% of all reported cases.
The tally shows the disease is spreading fastest in Latin America, which now accounts for 23% of all cases. Brazil has the second-most cases behind the United States, and India is on track to overtake Russia as the third most affected country by cases.
The number of global infections continues to rise at a rate of around 1%-2% a day since the beginning of June, even as many countries are taking steps to ease lockdown measures.
On Friday, global cases rose by a record 176,000 in a day, according to the tally, when Brazil reported over 54,000 cases in a single day, the most of any country throughout the pandemic.
Global deaths stand at over 464,000 and have doubled in seven weeks.
The crisis is deepening in Brazil where the death toll is over 50,000, widespread testing is absent, and the country is still without a permanent health minister.
In the United States, which has about 120,000 deaths, cases are rising again after declining for more than a month and wearing a mask is not mandatory in most states.
China is also trying to contain a fresh outbreak in Beijing, where it asserts it has a capacity to test over 1 million people a day in the city alone.
On its best day, the United States tested over 594,000 people nationwide but often tests fewer than half a million a day.
Even in Germany, a country seen as successful in curbing the virus and limiting deaths, infection rates are rising above the level needed for long-term containment. Australia is also battling a spike in cases in Victoria where other states have seen few if any, new cases in weeks.
Still, there are bright spots such as Spain reopening its borders, death rates plunging in the former hot spot of Italy, and Greece welcoming a return of foreign tourists.
Just under half of all reported cases have recovered, though the number is likely higher as some countries do not report the statistic.
-Reuters
New Delhi, June 23 : A site supervisor was killed on Tuesday after a streetlight mast allegedly fell on him at a Delhi Metro construction site on Tuesday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Dilip Kumar Chowdhary, 44, who was with one of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation contractors working on the new Phase 4 corridor between Majlis Park and Maujpur, the police said.
According to the police, Chowdhary, along with few others, was conducting a survey for the project at Jagatpur area when the accident occurred.
He was then rushed to the Trauma Centre near Kashmere Gate, where the doctors declared brought dead.
"We received a call at around 12.02 pm from Trauma Centre about the case.
"A case has been registered under section 304 A (death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code and probe in the matter is underway," Deputy Commissioner of Police, North, Monika Bhardwaj said.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro in a statement said that it will enquire into the incident. In its statement, the DMRC said Chowdhary passed away, after a light mast placed on the median of the road near Jagatpur village fell on him.
"He was working as a site supervisor and was overseeing the barricade fixing work, as the contractor was cordoning off the site for start of viaduct work. Prima facie, the light mast seems to have fallen on its own," the statement from the Delhi Metro read.
Vietnam has received favorable recognition worldwide for containing the spread of the novel coronavirus and reopening the nations economy, but that good news is small comfort for Tran Thi Hien, who collects scrap metal she can resell for cash.
After the government announced a pandemic relief fund, she applied two times but says she has yet to hear back. Some suggested the reason for the delay is because she had to apply in her hometown. Others surmise that she was not in the eligible age range.
Hien, 43, said the process was too complicated but held out hope.
The government's support package is really a savior for independent workers like me, she said.
Even for a place like Vietnam, which reported zero coronavirus deaths and 349 cases, the pandemic hit the economy hard, with the impact falling hardest on laborers who live on meager subsistence wages. While white-collar employees could work at home or take paid days off in lockdown, those in the informal sector, such as Hien, must show up and do physical work if theyre going to afford food and housing.
Supporters of the pandemic relief fund want to prevent a disconnect between the lofty goals of the aid package and the impact on citizens, particularly those in most need. Organizations, from Oxfam in Vietnam to the Pioneer Network for Ethnic Minority Voices, have stepped up with what they call hotlines. They compile feedback from people such as Hien and send it to labor and provincial agencies distributing the aid, as authorized in the state regulation, Decision 15/2020-TTg.
Nguyen Thu Giang, executive director of Migrant Labor Action Network, or M.net, said she wants to help government agencies so they can promptly compare, check and respond to people's opinions, and at the same time make adjustments to policies or implementation methods, ensuring that Decision 15/2020-TTg is implemented, in a transparent and effective way.
The relief fund is worth close to $2.7 billion, though the ruling Communist Party has also tapped sister organizations to mobilize donations and volunteers, from the Youth Union to the Vietnamese Fatherland Front. Authors of a study of Vietnams COVID-19 response in Sustainability, a science journal, noted that the prime minister called on citizens to help combat the disease.
Responding to this call, one can easily see many images of bank transfer to the Vietnamese Fatherland Front on social media of Vietnamese people to support the government in the combat, the study said. On a larger scale, many enterprises, regardless of their size, also contributed to the national combat by donating their products such as masks, rice or milk, by donating their hotels for isolation wardsor most popularlyby donating cash.
Anti-poverty advocates are working to get as much of the aid money as possible to the most vulnerable in society. Oxfam in Vietnam said it is focused on the unemployed and the working poor, such as those who worked without contracts or were put on leave without pay during the pandemic. It also targets migrant workers such as Hien, who moved to the capital, Hanoi, from the nearby province of Nam Dinh. Many rural dwellers relocate to cities for better work opportunities but cant access social services because they are not registered with local authorities.
Oxfam in Vietnam said it set up a hotline for the relief fund so that "no one is left behind.
This initiative will create more opportunities for people to conveniently and confidently send feedback, from which the local government will have accurate, timely and quality information to provide better services, Babeth Ngoc Han Lefur, Oxfam in Vietnam director, said.
Dr. Michael Ryan, the World Health Organization's emergencies chief, said that the outbreak is "definitely accelerating" in the U.S. and a number of other countries, dismissing the notion that the record daily levels of new COVID-19 cases simply reflect more testing.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Tue, June 23, 2020 08:00 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660cd7f9 2 World US-China,US-China-tension-COVID-19,US-China-trade-war,media-outlets,media,bilateral-spat,bilateral-tension Free
The United States on Monday changed the status of four more Chinese state media organizations, denouncing them as propaganda outlets, renewing a feud with Beijing.
The State Department said it was reclassifying four outlets -- China Central Television, the China News Service, the People's Daily and the Global Times -- as foreign missions rather than media outlets in the United States, adding to five others designated in February.
All nine outlets "are effectively controlled by the government of the People's Republic of China," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.
The state-run news organizations will be required to report details on their US-based staff and real estate transactions to the State Department. Their reporting will not be restricted, officials said.
"These four outlets are not media outlets; they are propaganda outlets," David Stilwell, the top US diplomat for East Asia, told reporters.
He declined to say if the four outlets would be asked to reduce their US-based staff -- action taken against the five organizations that were earlier designated.
The announcement was further evidence that a closed-door meeting last week in Hawaii between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi did little to ease tensions.
Pompeo said later that he considered China a "rogue" player and said he was "very frank" in expressing his concerns to Yang including over Beijing's response to the coronavirus pandemic and its proposed security law in Hong Kong.
The state news outlets earlier designated as foreign missions were the Xinhua news agency, the China Global Television Network, China Radio International and the US distributor of the People's Daily.
After the United States ordered them to cut by nearly half the Chinese nationals working for them, Beijing hit back by expelling US citizens working for three major newspapers -- The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
Beijing said at the time it was taking reciprocal action against the "oppression" of its reporters.
Media rights advocates have voiced misgivings about the approach of President Donald Trump's administration, saying it gave China a pretext to kick out journalists who have fearlessly reported on the coronavirus pandemic and the mass incarceration of Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims.
House to Consider Great American Outdoors Act in July
The House of Representatives next month will debate and may seek to amend the Great American Outdoors Act, a proposal that would inject billions to maintain neglected national parks and permanently fund land and water conservation efforts, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said.
The House will consider the Great American Outdoors Act under a rule on the floor during the work period at the end of July. This bipartisan bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 7325, will permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address the maintenance backlog at our national parks, Hoyer said June 22 in a statement.
The legislation, which was approved by the Senate last week, also has bipartisan backing in the House. Hoyer said he plans to bring up the measure under regular rules that would potentially allow for amendments and require longer debate time.
Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.), along with 19 other House members, sent a letter (pdf) to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) asking for an open amendment process during the upcoming debate on the Great American Outdoors Act.
Amongst the many provisions included in the Great American Outdoors Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is now permanently reauthorized at $900 million a year, this bill sets that authorization funding on autopilot for generations to come, the House members wrote. Putting this massive federal program on auto, outside of congressional oversight, does not make fiscal or regulatory sense.
I look forward to seeing it pass the House with strong bipartisan support and being sent to the presidents desk to be signed into law, Hoyer said.
President Donald Trump supports the bill in its current form and has said hell sign it.
If approved by the House, the measure will help finance a huge list of national park repairs nationwide.
In West Virginia, for example, funds are needed for maintenance of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, with a backlog of close to $19 million needed for upkeep and repairs.
The National Park Services maintenance total backlog amounts to almost $12 billion. In Virginia, Shenandoah National Parks close to 200,000 acres needs $89 million in repairs.
Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), said her organization has been working for five years to have conservation legislation passed by Congress.
Chronic underfunding, cuts in staffing, record visitation, and billions of dollars in repairs have burdened our national parks for years. Park roads and bridges are collapsing, water systems are failing, and visitor centers are crumbling. This momentous bill not only provides an opportunity to better care for these treasured places, it will help to increase access to public lands across the country, provide jobs and bring much-needed relief to local communities suffering through hard times, Pierno said in a statement.
In May, more than 850 community advocates representing conservation organizations, local governments, and state and regional tourism boards urged congressional leaders to support the bill (pdf).
The Great American Outdoors Act will ensure a future for nature to thrive, kids to play, and hunters and anglers to enjoy. National parks and public lands provide access to the outdoors for hundreds of millions of people every year and habitat for some of our countrys most iconic wildlife, they wrote.
Coun. Stephen Wright wasnt present at the virtual council meeting on Monday as council voted a final time to strip him of his position as economic development vice-chair and to drop him as city councils representative on the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce board.
Wright was also barred on Monday from standing for election for a board position with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
Councillors made these preliminary plans at a committee meeting on June 8 and voted again at Mondays council meeting to make it final.
Coun. Wright was at the meeting on June 8, but he wasnt there for Mondays final vote.
On Monday, Coun. Kemi Akapo was the only councillor to vote against Wright losing his economic vice-chair position and losing his seat on the chamber of commerce board.
But she did vote along with every other member of council to keep Wright from being allowed to run for the FCM board.
There was no discussion on the matter on Monday the vote happened without debate.
The decisions came in the wake of Wrights ill-fated trip in May to New Brunswick in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic to see for himself how restaurant reopenings were working out in the province.
At the time New Brunswicks border was closed as a safety measure to curb the spread of coronavirus.
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs ordered an investigation in late May to find out what questions Wright was asked at the border and what answers he supplied to allow him into the province.
That investigation is still ongoing, wrote Coreen Enos, the communications officer for the department of public safety in New Brunswick, in an email to The Examiner on Friday.
Wright issued an apology early this month, admitting he made an error in judgment and he was being overzealous.
But Therrien said June 8 that the apology wasnt enough and moved that Wright be removed from the two positions, and councillors voted in favour.
The trip wasnt endorsed by her and wasnt paid for by the city, Therrien said and thats why she felt there needed to be some consequences for Wright on council.
But Wright said at the meeting June 8 that the mayor was being very heavy-handed, given that hes apologized.
He also said it was unnecessary for the mayor to remove the possibility of his running for the FCM.
Wright said diversity is badly needed on the FCM board and as one of just 10 Black councillors across Ontario he could have potentially offered that.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday claimed the NCP wanted to join hands with his party two years ago and asserted this is not the time to talk about fall or change of government in Maharashtra which is battling the coronavirus pandemic.
Addressing a press conference in Pune, the former chief minister claimed the Sharad Pawar-headed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) wanted to be a part of the BJP-led government in Maharashtra two years ago.
The leader of opposition in the assembly said, "This is not the time to do any valuation of the government. This is the right time to raise questions (regarding the COVID-19 management), this is the time to point out shortcomings.
"But this is not the time to evaluate the government on the basis of its shortcomings. This is not the time to say change CM or there is no need of this government."
As the main opposition party, the BJP is highlighting shortcomings of the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP government, he said. "All we need to see is how can the shortcomings can be removed and how can they be put forth before the government and that is what we are doing," said Fadnavis.
To a question, he clarified that no new political equation is evolving in the state, where the BJP lost power late last year.
"There is no new equation. To change the government or (push for) fall of the government is not our agenda...everyone is seeing how the government is running and there is no need for me to see it differently," the former chief minister said.
Replying to a question regarding his interview to a Marathi news channel, Fadnavis said the NCP wanted to join hands with the BJP in the state two years ago when he was the chief minister.
"They wanted to come with us two years ago. There were meetings in this regard but our senior leaders made it clear that the BJP will not be able to do so without (approval of) the Shiv Sena.
"They (BJP leaders) said we can isolate the Congress but the Shiv Sena needs to be with us. If it is okay, we can go ahead (with NCP proposal). As this was the stand of our senior leaders, the entire process, which had gone quite far, went into cold storage," he claimed.
Asked about his dramatic early morning swearing-in as chief minister along with NCP leader Ajit Pawar as deputy CM last November, Fadnavis said he is going to write a book on the entire episode, which had created a flutter.
"I have said in my interview that I am going to going to write a book on that entire episode. If I reveal all suspense now, there will no demand for the book," he said.
In November last year, the Shiv Sena snapped ties with the BJP and joined hands with the NCP and the Congress, its long-standing political rivals, to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra.
Fadnavis was in the city to review the COVID-19 situation in Pune city and the adjoining Pimpri-Chinchwad. He said COVID-19 testing capacity needs to be ramped up in the city.
DODOMA, Tanzania - Police in Tanzania have arrested the leader of a prominent opposition party while he was meeting with supporters, a party official said Tuesday as pressure rises ahead of the national election in October.
Zitto Kabwe was in police custody without clear charges against him, said the secretary general of the Alliance for Transparency and Change party, Addo Shaibu. Also arrested at the meeting in Kilwa district was lawmaker Suleiman Bungara, Shaibu said.
Rights groups accuse President John Magufuli of shrinking the democratic space in the East African country since taking power in 2015. Newspapers have been shut down another large one was closed Tuesday and non-governmental organizations work has been severely restricted.
While police have enforced Magufulis ban on political rallies when it comes to opposition parties, ruling party officials have been holding rallies and other political activities across the country ahead of the election in which the president seeks a second term.
Kabwe recently was found guilty of sedition and barred from making public statements for one year. Before that, he had been a vocal critic of Magufulis administration and its approach in dealing with the coronavirus.
Tanzania hasnt updated its number of virus cases since late April, and the president has claimed COVID-19 has been defeated. Magufuli has recommended prayer, exercise and herbal medicines as the best ways to combat the pandemic but also reminds Tanzanians to wash their hands regularly.
While the government says Tanzania has just 509 virus cases, Kabwe has said it is covering up the true extent of the pandemic and that the number of infections could be more like 20,000.
Also Tuesday, the government revoked the licence of the print and online publication of the Tanzania Daima Daily without announcing a reason. The newspaper, one of the largest in the country, is owned by the leader of the official opposition in parliament, Freeman Mbowe.
The newspapers editor, Martin Mallera, said the decision was shocking news to several hundred workers who are now left jobless.
Epsilogen to Host Key Opinion Leader Webinar on IgE Antibodies to Treat Cancer
Lead therapeutic candidate MOv18 IgE is the world's first IgE drug to enter clinical trials
Live webinar and conference call on Monday June 29th @ 11am ET / 4pm BST
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Epsilogen, a global leader in the development of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to treat cancer, announced today that it will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) webinar for the investment community on its IgE platform on Monday, June 29, 2020 at 11am ET (4pm BST).
Epsilogen's lead product candidate, MOv18 IgE, is in a Phase I clinical trial in folate receptor alpha positive cancer patients. This is the world's first IgE drug to enter clinical trials. Interim data show that MOv18 IgE has an acceptable safety profile and a preliminary efficacy signal was also seen. Epsilogen has also developed the IGEG platform of hybrid IgE/IgG antibodies which combine the functionality of IgE and IgG antibodies into a single molecule.
The webinar will feature presentations by KOLs Bristi Basu, MD, University of Cambridge, and James Spicer, MD, King's College London, who have together played a key role in advancing development of MOv18 IgE. Dr. Basu's presentation will include highlights of the interim data from the ongoing Phase 1 clinical study of MOv18 IgE in ovarian cancer that were presented at the recent AACR Virtual Annual Meeting I.
The Epsilogen management team, led by Tim Wilson PhD, will discuss the company's proprietary IgE technology platforms and will outline plans to further develop MOv18 IgE and other therapeutic candidates.
Drs. Basu and Spicer, as well as members of the Epsilogen management team, will be available for questions are the conclusion of the call.
Dial in & Webcast Information
Domestic: 877-705-6003
International: 201-493-6725
Conference ID: 13705401
Webcast: Click Here for Webcast
Bristi Basu, MD is a Cancer Research UK Consultant Medical Oncologist in Experimental Cancer Therapeutics at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (UK). She trained in Medicine at Oxford University before undertaking clinical specialty training in Medical Oncology at Cambridge. During this time, she completed a PhD in cancer cell biology and drug discovery at the University of Cambridge. She has worked with experimental cancer therapy agents in several early phase trials both at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge and at the Drug Development Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey.
James Spicer, MD is the Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine, King's College London, and Consultant in Medical Oncology, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals London, UK. Dr Spicer is Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine at King's College London, and Consultant in Medical Oncology at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals. He runs the King's Health Partners Cancer Early Phase Trials program. He is joint lead of the King's Experimental Cancer Medicine Center, funded by Cancer Research UK/National Institute for Health Research. Dr Spicer's interests include the care of patients with thoracic malignancies, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, and clinical trials in these diseases. His translational research focus is on novel treatment including immunotherapies. He is a member of CRUK's New Agents Committee and other UK national funding panels.
About Epsilogen Ltd
Epsilogen is a global leader in the development of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to treat cancer. IgE has several key features that make it ideal for the treatment of solid tumours including greater potency, enhanced tumour access and a long tissue half-life.
The company has raised Series A finance from Epidarex Capital, ALSA Ventures and the UCL Technology Fund.
For more information, visit www.epsilogen.com.
CONTACT
Tim Wilson
Chief Executive Officer
Epsilogen Ltd
tim@epsilogen.com
+44 (0)20 3657 7612
U.S. Investor Contact
Hans Vitzthum
hans@lifesciadvisors.com
Phone: +1 (617) 535-7743
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
SOURCE: Epsilogen Limited
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594902/Epsilogen-to-Host-KOL-Webinar
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) Ginebra San Miguel Inc. has announced a net income of 1.67 billion in 2019, higher by 59 percent from earnings in the previous year.
In a statement released Tuesday, GSMI the hard liquor unit of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said sales volume was also up 14 percent. This number is the highest in nine years, and was because products were more widely distributed as well as the effectivity of their marketing campaigns.
Despite these gains, SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang said the challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis has had an effect on the company.
We are happy to report that we have broken records in 2019. However, 2020 presents a different challenge for all of us. The whole world was caught unprepared to deal with a crisis of this magnitude, Ang said.
He added he was happy at how employees and personnel stepped up to the challenge. He also mentioned that GSMI was the "first to repurpose its facilities, amid the liquor ban, to produce disinfectant alcohol and meet a pressing national need. These alcohol were donated for free to critical health facilities and local government units nationwide."
READ: SMC donations to COVID-19 efforts nearing 1-B
"In March, GSMI shifted its operations from liquor manufacturing to the production of 70 percent ethyl alcohol. To date, GSMI has donated 1.3 million liters of alcohol to frontliners in hospitals and local government units nationwide," the statement said.
Some 55,317 in funding has been allocated to enhance facilities in urban and rural communities across Longford, Senator Micheal Carrigy has said.
Senator Carrigy said the Community Enhancement Programme [CEP] provides capital grants to community groups to improve amenities in disadvantaged areas.
Senator Carrigy said: The CEP provides vital support to community groups in order to help them improve their facilities.
It supports small-scale funding for projects which range from purchasing lawnmowers and IT equipment to minor renovations to buildings. Ultimately the Programme responds to local needs and therefore it also provides some funding towards larger projects where needed.
We depend hugely on these community groups in Longford and I hope that this funding will help them to continue the important work that they carry out within our society.
I urge communities throughout Longford to familiarise themselves with the CEP and to apply for funding if they feel that it can be of local benefit.
The CEP is administered by Local Community Development Committees in Longford County Council. Details on how to apply will be available from each LCDC shortly, Senator Carrigy concluded.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, said: Since I first launched the CEP in 2018, it has funded over 5,000 projects in urban and rural communities throughout Ireland.
While the CEP will be similar to last year, the LCDC in each area will have flexibility to use some or all of this funding for COVID-19 related expenditure by community groups, where this is a priority in individual local authority areas. This is in addition to other funding announced recently by my Department, such as the 2.5m COVID-19 Emergency fund and the 35m Stability Fund.
In order to allow flexibility, the Department is not setting a national closing date, but will allow each LCDC to set its own, to best suit its area. The Department will require that all closing dates are no later than 30 September 2020. Groups should check with their LCDC for further details.
A team of engineers and physicians at the University of California San Diego has developed a low-cost, easy-to-use emergency ventilator for COVID-19 patients that is built around a ventilator bag usually found in ambulances.
The team built an automated system around the bag and brought down the cost of an emergency ventilator to just $500 per unit--by comparison, state of the art ventilators currently cost at least $10,000. The device's components can be rapidly fabricated and the ventilator can be assembled in just 15 minutes.
The device's electronics and sensors rely on a robust supply chain from fields not related to healthcare that are unlikely to be affected by shortages.
The UCSD MADVent Mark V is also the only device offering pressure-controlled ventilation equipped with alarms that can be adjusted to signal that pressure is too low or too high.
This is especially important because excessive pressure can cause lung injury in COVID-19 patients that often experience rapid decreases in lung capacity as the disease progresses.
Most ventilators measure the volume of air that is being pumped into the patient's lungs, which requires expensive airflow sensors.
By contrast, the UCSD MADVent Mark V measures pressure and uses that data to deduct and control the airflow to the lungs. This was key to lowering the device's price.
The team from UC San Diego and industry partners will be seeking approval for the device from the Food and Drug Administration. They detail their work in an upcoming issue of Medical Devices and Sensors.
The device's plans and specifications are available at http://MADVent.ucsd.edu/
"The MADVent can safely meet the diverse requirements of COVID-19 patients because it can adjust over the broad ranges of respiration parameters needed to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome," said James Friend, a professor at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering and one of the paper's two corresponding authors.
"The combination of off-the-shelf components and readily machined parts with mechanically driven pressure control makes our design both low cost and rapidly manufacturable."
Researchers also wanted to make sure that the device could be used by healthcare workers with limited experience with ventilators and no experience with this type of system, said Dr. Casper Petersen, co-author of the study and a project scientist in the Department of Anesthesiology at the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
As a result, the MADVent Mark V is safe to use, easy to assemble, and easy to repair.
This device could be a great option for use in situations where materials are scarce, such as when the normal supply chain breaks down, or in developing nations and hard-to-reach rural areas." Dr. Casper Petersen, Study Co-Author and Project Scientist, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine
The device is not meant as a substitute for the highly complex ventilators used in Intensive Care Units.
"Rather, our low-cost ventilator is meant to bridge an urgent gap in situations of a large surge in patients where we may not have enough life-sustaining equipment", said Dr. Lonnie Petersen, an assistant professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering, adjunct professor at UC San Diego Health and the paper's other corresponding author.
"Safety is our main priority; while the MADVent is a low-tech and low-cost device, it actually offers robust and patient-tailored ventilation this really increases the safety for the patients suffering from the complex pulmonary infection and respiratory distress associated with COVID-19".
The UCSD MADVent Mark V
The UC San Diego team built their device around a ventilator bag usually found in ambulances and designed to be manually squeezed to help patients breathe. In the UCSD MADvent Mark V, a machined paddle squeezes the bag instead.
The paddle is controlled by a series of pressure sensors to make sure the patients get the appropriate flow of air into their lungs.
The team deliberately integrated as many standard hospital items as possible into the design because those have already undergone rigorous testing for safety, longevity, and compatibility.
To measure pressure, the researchers developed an algorithm that deduces how much the bag was compressed based on how many turns the device's motor has made and calculates the volume of air sent into the patient's lungs as a result.
"The elasticity of the lungs changes very quickly, so it's important to be able to sense the feedback from the patient," said Dr. Lonnie Petersen.
Researchers tested their system more than 200 times and for days on end on a lung simulator, adhering to standards for the International Standards Organization and FDA guidelines to ensure it functioned correctly. The device was also tested on a medical mannequin simulator.
One of the keys to cost savings was developing computer models of the volume of air delivered through the ambulance bag when it is compressed.
This allowed researchers to do away with expensive airflow sensors and the complex algorithms that control them.
The materials on the ventilator can be sanitized with conventional disinfectants such as 1.5% hydrogen peroxide and 70% ethanol.
"The system, in its current state of development, can easily accommodate new modules that enable more sophisticated features, such as flow monitoring, which can enable additional ventilation modes and provide healthcare operators more information regarding a patient's breathing," said Aditya Vasan, a Ph.D. student in Friend's research group and the paper's first author.
Collaboration across disciplines
A close collaboration between clinicians and engineers enabled the team to put together a crude prototype in just three days.
They then spent countless hours refining and testing the ventilator. A lot of work went into making sure it was safe and could be manufactured with simple parts on a large scale.
Engineers with the UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute Prototyping Lab provided engineering design and fabrication support.
Electrical engineer Mark Stambaugh stepped in to work on the microcontroller and help adjust the stroke cycle and control the speed and volume of the compressions to help patients breathe. Mechanical engineer Alex Grant provided design support and guidance.
Seed funding for the project came from several organizations: San Diego-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., which develops fields systems, platforms and products for national security and communications needs; the US Office of Naval Research in the Department of Defense; and the Catalyst initiative at the UC Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Elnur Baghishov Trend:
About 27.5 billion euros of foreign exchange have not been returned to the country's economy at the NIMA rate as of June 20, 2020, Samad Karimi, director of the Exports Office of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) told IRIB, Trend reports.
Karimi noted that of this figure, about 25 billion euros were due by the end of last Iranian year (March 19, 2020), and 2.5 billion euros were to be returned in first three months of current Iranian year (from March 20, 2020 through June 20, 2020).
The director said that there are 19,167 exporters in Iran, and 16,435 of them (86 percent) must return 27.5 billion euros to the country's economy at the NIMA exchange rate.
According to him, about 14 percent of exporters, mainly petrochemical and steel products exporters, fulfill their obligations to return the export currency to the Iranian economy.
Karimi said that these exporters returned about 28.5 billion euros to the Iranian economy by the end of last Iranian year.
"As many as 250 people of the 16,435 exporters have not returned about 6.8 billion euros currency earnings from exports to the Iranian economy," he said.
The official added that in total, 30.7 billion euros have been sold at the NIMA exchange rate from July 2018 through June 20, 2020, and about 16.1 billion euros were sold at the NIMA exchange rate during last Iranian year (from March 21, 2019 to March 20, 2020).
Following the devaluation of national currency in 2018, the Central Bank of Iran introduced the sale of part of the currency earned from exports at the rate set by the NIMA system, taking into account the difference between the black market and the official exchange rates.
According to the currency exchange rate of the Central Bank of Iran, $1 equals 42,000 rials and 1 euro equals 47,000 rials; at SANA rates, $1 equals 189,000 rials and 1 euro equals 211,000 rials; while at NIMA rates, $1 equals 158,000 rials and 1 euro equals 184,000 rials.
And there are others who have joined Mr. Lotoro in the quest to bring the music made in concentration camps back to life. In Boston, the Terezin Music Foundation, founded by Mark Ludwig, a former member of the Boston Symphony, sponsors concerts throughout the United States and Europe, focusing on music from Terezin. Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax are on its advisory board.
But Mr. Lotoros vision is perhaps the most ambitious. His citadel known formally as the Istituto di Letteratura Musicale Concentrazionaria is to include a museum, a library and a theater at a cost of roughly $45 million.
The city, which is home to a Norman castle, a statue of a Roman emperor known as The Colossus, and some 95,000 people, has donated the two-acre site of an abandoned brandy distillery. The Italian government has provided $5 million in funds and Mr. Lotoro said he was hopeful of receiving as much as $36 million more from the government by the end of the year. This would leave him with a gap of several million dollars to close through fund-raising.
There are a lot of people who want to help us in the United States and Canada and other countries, and I have to meet them, he said. We are preparing a video on the citadel to show them.
The city is also providing an additional $2.7 million for the construction of a 30-room hotel nearby for students, scholars and others to study the music.
I want this project very strongly, Barlettas mayor, Cosimo Cannito, said in a telephone interview. It will be a symbol to remember the cruel part of history and that it should not be repeated.
Washington, June 23 : The US has restricted charter flights from India, accusing New Delhi of engaging in "discriminatory and restrictive practices", a statement by the Department of Transportation (DoT) said.
In the statement on Monday, the Department said that a foreign air carrier of India "will be required, effective 30 days after the service date of this Order, to obtain prior approval from the Department in the form of a statement of authorization before operating any Third and/or Fourth Freedom charter flights to or from the US".
"We are taking this action because the government of India 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," it added.
Air India is currently the only foreign air carrier of India that holds the Department authority to conduct operations to/from the US with its own aircraft and crew.
The Department further said that "this restrictive and discriminatory treatment of US carriers as regards charters has important implications in the area of scheduled operations as well".
The DoT also alleged that the Indian government has "imposed restrictions that prevent US air carriers from making full use of these charter rights" according to the statement.
Washington however, 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".
On March 25, the Indian government had suspended all scheduled passenger services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Monday's development comes after the Department restricted Chinese airlines from flying into the US.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A forgotten war is gaining new momentum in the Caucasus, as opponents arm themselves with increasingly advanced drone technology for spying and strikes. The alarming implications stretch far beyond a small corner of Eurasia, David Hambling, a South London-based technology journalist, consultant, and author, wrote in his Forbes article.
According to him, after the breakup of the Soviet Union, conflict between the newly independent states of Armenia and Azerbaijan flared up over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave thats legally part of Azerbaijan.
"A ceasefire was brokered by Russia in 1994, after Armenia gained effective control of the territory. Nagorno-Karabakh has declared itself an independent state called Artsakh but has failed to win international recognition and is still widely considered part of Azerbaijan. Conflict simmers between Azerbaijan and Artsakh with their patron Armenia," he noted.
According to him, in 2016, the matters escalated into an open war with dozens, and possibly hundreds, of people killed on both sides.
"The 2016 escalation was notable for a new type of weapon, the Harop loitering munition or kamikaze drone supplied to the Azeris by Israel. Harops reportedly successfully hit many targets including artillery, air defense systems artillery system and a busload of Armenian troops," he noted.
Harop was sold to Azerbaijan by the Israeli company IAI. Then, the Israeli company Aeronautics entered into an agreement with Azerbaijan for the supply of Orbiter 1K drones, he added.
According to the author, in the longer term, Azerbaijanis plan to release a licensed copy of Orbiter, known as Zarba. In 2019, Azerbaijanis bought a batch of SkyStriker drones, also from Israel.
"The other side has not been slow either. Armenia has been producing drones since 2011, when it showed off the basic Krunk (Crane) scout drone, long since superseded the Krunk-9 and Krunk-11.
In 2018 Armenia announced it was buying military drones from Artsakh. The small state evidently has an active drone industry, and last month the Artsakh Defense Ministry announced it had successfully tested a new combat dronewith mass production planned in the next few months. They even released a video of the kamikaze drone hitting a target, stating the weapon is not inferior to similar devices designed by leading countries in terms of technical characteristics," he added. "Drones are ideal for this type of conflict. They are cheap, highly accurate and can be used without risking a pilot. "
The new Artsakh drone really may match what the rest of the world can offer, the article noted.
This trend is going to accelerate already, Ukraine, Estonia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan are either producing and using, or announced the intention to domestically produce unmanned systems, says Samuel Bendett, an analyst with the Center for a New American Security in Washington, D.C.
The drone war in the Caucasus could soon become a drone war in your backyard, the article concluded.
Twitter Adds Warning to Trumps Post on Protesters Attempt to Set Up DC Autonomous Zone
Twitter on Tuesday has once again placed a label on one of President Donald Trump posts for violating its policies, claiming that his statement on protestors who are attempting to set up an autonomous zone in the District of Columbia present a threat of harm against an identifiable group.
Weve placed a public interest notice on this Tweet for violating our policy against abusive behavior, specifically, the presence of a threat of harm against an identifiable group, Twitter said in a statement.
The company noted that the presidents post will remain on the online platform due to its relevance to ongoing public conversation but will limit the ability for users to engage with the post.
People will be able to Retweet with Comment, but not Like, Reply, or Retweet it, the statement said.
The post in question was posted on Tuesday morning by the president who was weighing in on an attempt by protesters to set up an autonomous zonedubbed the Black House Autonomous Zonein the nations capital on Monday night. Demonstrators at Lafayette Park attempted to cordon off an area with barricades to mark the zone and topple a statue of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson before police officers came to disperse them.
On the same night, the historic St. Johns Episcopal Church was also vandalized with black spray-paint spelling out the letters BHAZan acronym for the so-called Black House Autonomous Zone.
In response to the chaos, Trump on Tuesday morning vowed to take a hard stance on those protesters, saying that there will never be an Autonomous Zone in Washington, D.C., as long as Im your President. He added that if they try they will be met with serious force!
The White House did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment on Twitters decision.
Twitters move on Tuesday is the latest instance by the company to add warning labels to the presidents posts. The company says that it was a normal procedure for it to use public interest notice[s] for posts that violate the Twitter Rules.
The company had previously placed warning labels on two of the presidents posts on mail-in voting. In May, Twitter hid one of Trumps posts that warned rioters about looting, claiming that it was glorifying violence. Then on June 18, the company placed a manipulated media label on another post after the president shared a video clip from the memesmith Carpe Donktum showing a black baby running from a white baby with a chyron saying, Breaking News: Terrified Toddler Runs From Racist Baby.
The president and the Trump administration have repeatedly accused internet companies such as Twitter and Facebook of exceeding its role as an online platform by stifling and censoring user viewpoints that it did not agree with, in particular, conservative viewpoints. Trump has also accused Twitter of being selective in its policing on posts, saying that it ignores lies and propaganda being put out by the Chinese Communist Party or Democratic lawmakers in the United States.
They have targeted Republicans, Conservatives & the President of the United States. Section 230 should be revoked by Congress. Until then, it will be regulated! he said.
In order to protect users from unfair or deceptive content restriction practices employed by online platforms, Trump signed an executive order on May 28 directing federal agencies to develop regulations that would encourage internet companies to police content in a fairer manner lest they lose their limit liability protections under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.
Section 230 largely provides online platforms a shield from liability for content posted by their users. The immunity, however, would not apply for content that violates anti-sex trafficking or intellectual property laws.
The law allows companies to block or screen content in good faith if they consider it obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable. The protections, however, werent intended to apply to services that act more like publishers than online platforms, Attorney General William Barr said in a speech in May.
The Justice Department (DOJ) has also proposed a series of legislative changes to the law that would curtail broad legal protections for online platforms in an effort to push tech companies to address illicit material while moderating content responsibly. The department said its proposals, which need to be considered by Congress, would update the outdated immunity for online platforms under section 230.
The attorney general said the internet and tech industry has evolved since section 230 was adopted 25 years ago. At the time, it was used to protect websites that served as bulletin boards for third-party content and to give protection to companies from liability for removing content such as child pornography or human trafficking advertising, he said.
But now, he said, section 230 has been interpreted in such a broad manner that has left online platforms unaccountable for a variety of harms flowing from content on their platforms and with virtually unfettered discretion to censor third-party content with little transparency or accountability.
This is a fundamental problem, Barr said in a recent interview on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, because the republic was founded on the idea and the whole rationale was that there would be a lot of diversity of voices. This would make it hard for individuals to galvanize a big faction in the United States that could dominate politically and oppress a minority.
And yet now we have, with the Internet and with these big concentrations of power, the ability to do just that, to quickly galvanize peoples views, because theyre only presenting one viewpoint, and they can push the public in a particular direction very quickly, he said. And our whole Constitution and system was based on not having that, and having a wide diversity of voices.
Zack Stieber contributed to this report.
HCM City aims to have 1,000 MWp of rooftop solar power capacity installed by 2024 in its industrial parks, export processing zones and high-tech parks, up from 700MWp now.
HCM City seeks to install rooftop solar in industrial parks. VNA/VNS Photo
To meet the goal, the HCM City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks Authority (Hepza), Hepza Business Association (HBA) and Electricity of HCM City (EVN) launched a programme in the zones on June 19 to encourage businesses to participate.
Nguyen Van Be, chairman of the HBA, said more than 1,000 factories in the citys numerous industrial zones have signed up to install solar rooftop energy with BCG Energy, a subsidiary of Bamboo Capital Group.
The city has 17 IPs and EPZs with a total area of more than 4100ha where rooftop solar can be installed on 500-1000ha.
Installing solar panels on their roof would also enable the factories to reduce the temperatures inside by 4-5 degrees Celsius, Be said.
The association said 1000MWp of solar power would mean a cut in carbon emissions of 23 million tonnes.
Participating businesses would get technical and financial advice, add to their brand value, increase competitiveness, and could sell solar power to EVN HCM City, Be said.
Nguyen Le Tan, deputy director of the city Department of Industry and Trade, said the national grid was under increasing pressure to ensure supply of electricity. Since traditional sources such as thermal power affect the environment, renewable energy including rooftop solar would be one of the solutions to reduce the pressure, he added.
Be said solar rooftop might hold the answer to the countrys energy shortage in future and cutting carbon emissions.
Bui Trung Kien, deputy director of EVN HCMC, said amid climate change Vietnam also faced the problem of finding new sources of energy.
Green and clean renewable energy could gradually replace traditional sources, and so rooftop solar is supported by businesses, he said.
EVN HCMC would introduce popular rooftop solar models and brands to them and provide technological and technical support, he said. VNS
New system synergises with HGC's fully fledged network solution and is powered by Airbus' Tactilon Agnet 800 hybrid solution to facilitate daily operations and the future expansion of Hongkong International Terminals
HONG KONG, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC), a fully-fledged fixed-line operator and ICT service provider with extensive local and international network coverage, services and infrastructure, announced today the provision of a complete suite of ICT solutions to Hongkong International Terminals (HIT). HIT is a key container port operator in the Asia-Pacific region, and HGC's solution will enable the deployment of LTE-enabled Terrestrial Trunked Radio System (Tetra) hybrid solution powered by Airbus, enhancing HIT's current digital communications system.
HGC possesses an extensive, world-class, Hong-Kong-based network, and the company's deployment of Airbus' Tactilon Agnet 800 hybrid solution is integrated with its own fixed networks which will create a high-security, scalable TETRA Hybrid network solution for HIT. HGC will also provide connectivity support that features advanced cybersecurity management to HIT, as part of the total solutions, in which the scope also covers project management, implementation, first-line maintenance, monitoring, and supported by HONOH, the local Airbus Value-added-Reseller in Hong Kong.
HGC's high-resiliency network will cover all terminals in the Kwai Tsing container port, which is one of the world's busiest, plus more than 21 dispatcher workstations and network management workstations. Eventually, HIT's overall network reliability will improve, while the versatility and scalability of the network will enable greater business expansion or the adoption of technology harnessing 5G and IOT applications in the future. HIT will also benefit from greater operational efficiency, which enables daily tasks to be managed more easily while ensuring reliability and heightening on-site safety.
The new solution allows professional voice and message communication between both smartphone and Tetra radio users, as well as with the control room. Therefore, it can be seamlessly integrated into HGC's network through a single device to improve overall operational efficiency. Tetra features, such as emergency calls and location tracking, are also available and deliver high levels of quality and security.
Rainbow Wong, Vice President, Corporate Business, HGC, said: "We are pleased to become the first telecom operator in Hong Kong to deliver the Airbus Tetra hybrid network solution to HIT. HGC's consulting-led approach is a key part of our total solution to deliver customer-centric services. HGC is committed to empowering businesses in different industries to overcome telecom and technology barriers, improving operational efficiency and driving business growth in the digital transformation journey."
"We are extremely proud to provide our state-of-the-art hybrid technology to Hongkong International Terminals," says Marko Tiesmaki, Head of the Asia-Pacific Region for Secure Land Communications at Airbus. "Our Tactilon Agnet collaboration platform will provide secure individual or group image, data, and voice communication at the push of a button while helping the operators and end-users gain in operational efficiency, reliability, and security for their daily tasks," Tiesmaki adds.
About HGC Global Communications Limited
HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international fixed-line operator. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. HGC has 23 overseas offices, with business over 5 continents. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. HGC is one of Hong Kong's largest Wi-Fi service providers, running over 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities and transport in North America, Europe and selected fast-growing economies.
To learn more, please visit HGC's website at: www.hgc.com.hk
A dog named after the fiery character from 'Pete's Dragon' is inseparable from a cuddly toy from the Disney film on the much-loved tale.
Elliott Mae, a three-year-old Merle Great Dane from Denver, Colorado, was named after the character from the children's story, and adorable photos chart her friendship with a toy dragon of the same name from the film.
The story follows the friendship of a boy named Peter and a dragon named Elliot, and adorable images show the canine Eliot growing up with her plush pal from being a puppy in 2017, all the way to 2020.
An amazing photo series capture Merle Great Dane from Colorado Elliott Mae as she grows up with her favourite soft toy, also named Elliot. Both were named after the character of Pete's Dragon
All grown up! Even though she's now four times its size, Elliott Mae is still best friend with the dragon soft toy
Elliott's owner Mandy Helwege, 33, said: 'I got Elliott from a breeder in May of 2017 when she was eight-weeks-old.
'I'd dreamed of owning a Great Dane growing up and waited over 15 years to finally be able to own one.
'My Elliott was named after Elliot the Dragon, I had her name picked out shortly after she was born.
'I ordered the dragon toy off of Amazon so her breeder could use it in a photoshoot with her that I paid her to do when she was four-weeks-old.
Best friends fur ever! The Great Dane's owner Mandy Helwege, 33, explained the family had kept the dragon and Elliott's puppy collar as keepsakes
Mandy revealed that initially she just bought the dragon for a photoshoot with Elliott Mae when she was four weeks old
'We have kept it with her old collars as a keepsake for close to three years.
'Elliott is full of life, energetic, loving and independent.
'She's the best hiking partner and loves to adventure and explore the mountains we have surrounding us...maybe as much as she loves being in front of the camera and the center of attention.
'She's not the brightest crayon in the box sometimes but she makes us laugh constantly and is my best friend.
'I'd often heard the phrase of people referring to one of their dogs as their "heart dog" and I can't say I understood that sentiment until Elliott came into my life.'
'We have a connection unlike anything I've ever experienced or even could've imagined the first time I laid eyes on her.'
Elliott is now an active adult Dane full of energy, but she still loves to cudddle up to her soft toy
Puppy love! Elliott as a youngster with her plush pal, who has been by her side for three years
Never without my toy! The dragon used to be bigger than Elliott's whole body but is now smaller than her head
A former friend of the man German police believe is behind the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has reportedly said he knows the German sex offender took the child, and has urged him to admit to it.
Christian Brueckner was identified by police in Germany earlier this month as the lead suspect in the more than decade-long investigation into the disappearance of the three-year-old from a Portuguese hotel in 2007.
Now a former friend of the convicted sex offender and paedophile, who lived with him in Portugal where Madeleine went missing, has said he is convinced it was the 43-year-old who is behind the girls absence.
Describing him as sick to The Daily Telegraph, Michael Tatschl, 46, said: I know he did it.
I was living with him at the time. He was my best friend and he was definitely a pervert and more than capable of snatching a child, for sexual kicks or money.
Mr Tatschl became involved with Brueckner, who at the time was involved in a number of criminal activities including burglary, in the early 2000s.
The pair were ultimately imprisoned together for eight and a half months after they were caught stealing diesel, with Madeleine going missing five months after they parted ways once released.
Mr Tatschl added he was recently approached by authorities to give evidence on his former associate. German police are treating the case as a murder investigation.
He went on to tell the paper: He was definitely a pervert and all his friends thought that about him. He had some sexual issues but we didnt think that he liked young children.
Speaking of his testimony to Austrian and German officers, he added: They were very clear with me from the first minute. They said we are investigating Maddie McCann and Christian Brueckner and I told them I knew it already. I was convinced it was him. I told them I know what you want. I hope I can help.
I really hope they can finally close this case for the family and find Christian guilty for what he has done. He needs to admit it to the police and close it for good.
Brueckner is currently in prison for drug dealing, and is appealing a 2005 conviction for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz which earned him a seven year prison sentence.
Across Europe he has picked up 17 convictions including sex offences against children, theft and forgery.
Lawyers for Brueckner have said he denies any involvement in the girls disappearance, which triggered an international search effort that has continued across borders and headlines for more than decade.
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.
Brenda Ravenell was a lawyer for more than 30 years, most of it with the same colleague in a general practice in East Orange, N.J. How they divided up their cases said something about Ms. Ravenell.
We had a good mix, like yin and yang, her fellow lawyer, Beverly Giscombe, said. She was very kind and conscientious, which made her better for family matters and divorces. I had the stronger personality, and I was free to deal with personal injury cases."
At first, Ms. Ravenell worked for Ms. Giscombe. Then, in 2002, they became partners. The partnership ended in 2017, when Ms. Ravenell retired because of complications of diabetes. A year later, when her condition required a kidney transplant, her daughter, Adebunmi Gbadebo, donated one of hers.
In a Whitehouse proclamation, Donald Trump has introduced a number of visa restrictions on skilled workers, this has caused anger amongst tech companies. These companies heavily rely on these programmes to recruit their workforce as reported by CNN.
These including extending the restriction on the L-1 visa that allows companies to transfer employees overseas. The H-1B program that is for specialist occupations is also going to face restrictions. Trump has made this move in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to attempt to protect the labor market.
Tech Companies Angry at Trumps Visa Restrictions
Many large tech companies were quick to condemn the move from the Presidential office. These firms generally rely heavily on the above programs and the restrictions introduced will have a big impact on their workforces.
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Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that he was, Disappointed by todays proclamation and that Google would continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.
Twitters head of public policy and philanthropy, Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, believes that the policy will end up hurting America more than helping it.
Underlying the policy is the idea that it would help the US economy recover from the pandemic. However, a company spokesperson for Amazon has pushed back on this. They said the policy puts Americans global competitiveness at risk.
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Estimates suggest that this policy would result in 219,000 temporary workers having their visas blocked. Facebook also hit out at Trump in a statement which argued the policy masked wider motives. President Trumps latest proclamation uses the COVID-19 pandemic as justification for limiting immigration.
Industry Groups Also Hit Out
The statement went onto say, highly-skilled visa holders play a critical role in driving innovation. Elon Musk also said that he very much disagreed with Trumps decision. Although it is hardly surprising Musk has had his say on the topic given his history of outspokenness online.
The Internet Association, which has many high profile members, specifically called out the H-1B program.
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Trump has targeted this visa in the past and it continues to be controversial. Jason Oxman, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council also complained about the decision. He said the policy will have adangerous impact on the economic recovery.
Trumps relationship with tech companies is not exactly in the best of shapes after issues with free speech and Twitter.
Other tech companies such as Snapchat has also begun to stop promoting the President on its platform. Therefore, we can observe this ongoing battle between the President and the technology sector is not going anywhere soon.
Donald Trump on Monday said that he believes Barack Obama was guilty of 'treason' for 'spying' on his 2016 election campaign.
In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, the president was asked what 'crime' he thought the investigation into the campaign's contacts with Russia would be.
He is asked by David Brody, chief political analyst for the network, what crime he thinks Obama 'would potentially have committed'.
Donald Trump told Christian Broadcasting Network that he believed Obama guilty of treason and accused the former president of spying on his 2016 presidential campaign amid the Russia probe
Trump was asked by David Brody, chief political analyst for the network, what crime he thinks Barack Obama 'would potentially have committed', to which he responded: 'Treason. Treason. It's treason'
'Treason. Treason. It's treason,' he replied.
'They'd been spying on my campaign. They've been taping - a modern day version of taping - spying on my campaign.'
Trump said he had known for a long time that there had been 'spying'.
'Turned out I was right,' he said.
'Let's see what happens to them now.'
Trump said that he was looking forward to the results of U.S. Attorney John Durham's ongoing investigation into the origins of the Russia investigation, calling the Connecticut prosecutor 'highly respected' and praising Attorney General William Barr.
'I want to stay out of it because otherwise it's going to look political,' Trump said.
'Let's see what they come up with. They don't have to tell me.'
David Brody asked Trump what crime he thinks Obama 'would potentially have committed'
Trump said Attorney General Barr has members of Obama administration 'in his cross hairs'
Trump said that he already knew he was spied on, riffing off 'the insurance policy - "in case he doesn't win".'
His reference to an 'insurance policy' is the Right-wing theory that the Democrats spied on him to try to find dirt, which they could use if Hillary Clinton did not claim her expected victory.
As ever, he made no reference to the concern about Russian influence in the election, and the fact that eight of his team members have been found guilty and sentenced for their roles.
Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller's team has charged eight Americans once affiliated with Trump's campaign or administration, 13 Russian nationals, 12 Russian intelligence officers, three Russian companies, and two other people with federal crimes related to the investigation into his campaign.
Trump instead referenced his 'rogue's gallery' of people he accused of being part of a 'deep state' conspiracy to undermine him.
The president singled out former FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, former CIA director John Brennan and James Clapper, former director of national Intelligence, and James Comey, former FBI director.
He said that Barr has 'got them in his cross hairs'.
He added: 'I will say this. If it was reversed, if the other side sat in that office behind the Resolute Desk, two years ago 25 people would have been convicted and they would have been sent to jail for 50 years.'
Driver Bubba Wallace takes a selfie with himself and other drivers that pushed his car to the front in the pits of the Talladega Superspeedway (John Bazemore/AP)
Fellow drivers united behind Bubba Wallace prior to Mondays Nascar race at Talladega as investigations continued into the noose left in the garage of the associations only black full-time driver.
Dozens of drivers pushed Wallaces number 43 car to the front of the field at the Alabama speedway in a show of solidarity with the 26-year-old, who was made visibly emotional by the gesture.
Not our best finish at Dega, but still a race well never forget pic.twitter.com/JsNcGNj5qt Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) June 23, 2020
It came as the FBI launched an investigation into who left the noose in Wallaces team garage on Sunday.
The act followed a successful campaign by Wallace to have the Confederate flag banned from Nascar events in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement.
"I wanted to show whoever it was that you're not going to take away my smile." - @BubbaWallace pic.twitter.com/wVSaGOxXtN NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 23, 2020
In a statement released soon after the noose was discovered, Nascar said: We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act.
We have launched an immediate investigation, and will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport.
Wallace later issued a statement of his own on social media, saying he was left incredibly saddened by the incident.
(It) serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism, he said.
A host of other drivers also took to social media to express their support for the 26-year-old.
Ryan Blaney, who went on to win Mondays race, called Watson his brother.
Youre my brother and always will be, he tweeted. Dont let the people who are lower than life to try and bring you down. They wont scare you because youre strong. I stand with you pal. Forever.
Youre my brother and always will be. Dont let the people who are lower than life to try and bring you down. They wont scare you because youre strong. I stand with you pal. Forever. https://t.co/fiIALd9XCE Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) June 22, 2020
Alex Bowman also expressed his appreciation for Watsons efforts in fighting for what he believed in.
He said on Twitter: We may not always get along the greatest, but I have a ton of appreciation for the person @BubbaWallace is and everything hes doing to push us all to be better.
We may not always get along the greatest, but I have a ton of appreciation for the person @BubbaWallace is and everything hes doing to push us all to be better. pic.twitter.com/OMP2cJsxos Alex Bowman (@Alex_Bowman) June 23, 2020
Watson went on to finish Mondays race in 14th place.
Meanwhile, Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore said Nascar had contacted the FBI, which was handling the investigation into the noose.
The FBI field office in Birmingham did not immediately return a message.
The incident has rocked Nascar, which returned to racing just last month because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The star sister
My parents (Ataullah Khan and Ayesha Begum) had 11 children - seven girls and four boys. Im the youngest. Madhu Apa (Madhubala) was the fifth child. In the 40s, Abba lost his job in the Imperial Tobacco Company in Delhi and came to Mumbai. My parents saw extreme poverty. Also, not one of my brothers survived. There was no money even for their kafan (shroud). Abba used to take Apa (Madhubala) from studio to studio in search of work. She was nine when she first appeared in Basant (1942 as Baby Mumtaz). Her first lead role, at 14, was in Kidar Sharmas Neel Kamal (1947). Kamal Amrohi signed her for Mahal (1949) when she was only 15. After Mahal, there was no looking back. Hits like Dulari, Tarana, Amar, Mr. & Mrs. 55, Barsaat Ki Raat established her as a star.
I was born in a chawl in Kandivali when Apa was around 16. But my parents believed I was lucky, because Apa became a top heroine after that. Theres a reason why Abba was strict. A journalist once wrote that we were not Ataullah Khans daughters. That he had brought us girls to Mumbai to earn money out of us. My father took him to court. Since then, Abba didnt allow journalists on the sets or at home. He hung a board on the sets saying, Journalists not allowed. Apa wasnt allowed to attend any parties. People called him Hitler. Apa has been defamed saying she had many love affairs. Who would not be enamoured by such a beautiful woman? She was like marble. Like many others, Pradeep Kumar and Bharat Bhushan were also infatuated with her. Premnath was in love with her. But at that point Apa feared an inter-religious marriage would not be approved by the family.
The romance
Dilip Kumar and Apa first met on the set of Jwar Bhata (1944). Their relationship began during Tarana (1951). They went on to pair in Sangdil (1952) and Amar (1954). They were engaged to be married. But the Naya Daur court case in 1956 changed it all (Ataullah Khan didnt want Madhubala to shoot outdoors. Dilip Kumar testified against Khan in favour of director BR Chopra). Apa asked Dilip saab to apologise to Abba. She was a devoted daughter and didnt want her father to be disrespected. But Dilip saab refused to say sorry.
I wonder why he became so hard on her when he loved her so much? Abba told Apa, He will say sorry in a room. What about the thousands, who heard and read about what he said in court?
Coming to Apas illness, it was first noticed when she spat blood during the shooting of SS Vasans Bahut Din Huwe (1954). Dilip saab had then flown in with Dr Rustom Jal Vakil from Mumbai. He diagnosed she had a hole in the heart (ventricular septal defect). Apa found it hard to believe. So did others. She was a well-built girl with a healthy pink complexion. She didnt take it seriously. She kept on working. While shooting in chains as Anarkali in Mughal-E-Azam (1960, K Asifs film took 16 years to complete), she fainted several times on the set. Dilip saab and Apa were not even on talking terms whilst shooting some portions. The thappad scene, the iconic feather scene were shot after their break-up In the feather scene, she looks so much in love with him. They were made for each other. Apa never played the songs of Mughal-E-Azam as they made her emotional. Though they were estranged, she could never forget Dilip saab.
The marriage
Kishore Bhaiyya and Apa got to know each other while doing Dhake Ki Malmal (1956) Chalti Ka Naam Gadi (1958) and Mehlon Ke Khwab (1960). Kishore Bhaiyya loved her a lot at one point of time. When he showed an interest in her, at first, she didnt react. When he told her, I want to marry you, she didnt respond. She wouldnt take his calls. She wouldnt meet him and would shut the door when he came to meet her. Hed say things like, I will die. Ill take poison. Ill put my hand in the fan I dont know how he convinced her finally. Perhaps, she married him to forget the sorrow of losing Dilip saab. They had a registered marriage (1960). She draped a white saree. She was impressed by Nargisji and like her only dressed in white. She liked light jewellery. She hardly ever wore bangles.
After that they flew to London with Dr SV Golwala to consult a specialist. The doctor there point blank told her that she had just two years to live and no medicine could be prescribed for her (sadly the cure was found within one and a half year of her death). After sometime, Kishore Bhaiyya insisted she stay with my parents. He said he wouldnt be able to look after her as hed be out for recordings, shows and shootings. She asked him to keep a nurse. He said how can I leave you behind alone? She couldnt work as an actor. They couldnt have a man-woman relationship nor could she give him the happiness of a child. But she wanted to be with him.
She returned to us devastated. But she never gave up. Aap dekhiye Abbaji main kahan beemaar hoon? Main koi do saal mein marne wali nahin hoon. Doctors will invent a cure. Ill rest for a few months and be back on the sets, shed say. She did go on the sets to complete some films but couldnt shoot. She fainted. Initially, Kishore Bhaiyya came every evening and sat for around two hours. Hed take her for a drive. But shed get tired and theyd soon return home. Gradually, his visits lessened. At times, shed get possessive and say, Youre shooting with so many heroines. Why dont you take me along? Im your wife. Give me some rights too. During the last three-four years he hardly came. Hed say, I get disturbed seeing you. I cant get you off my mind then.
The illness
Shed spend her time reading Urdu poetry. She loved the shairi of Mirza Ghalib and Daagh Dehlvi. Her favourite song was Rulake gaya sapna mera (Jewel Thief), which summed her life. Gradually, she began losing too much weight. She became a skeleton. Her beauty paled. She didnt want to meet anyone. She was like a caged bird. Blood would ooze from her nose and mouth. She was given the oxygen cylinder whenever she felt breathless. But she never took any help from us. Till the last, shed bathe by herself. She would peform the fajr (morning) namaz regularly. The other times, shed pray lying down.
She was worried for our parents. She had bought a property in Pali Hill, which my father, in time of need, sold to actress Sadhna. That property proved to be unlucky for Sadhna too. She developed an eye problem after that. Often, Apa would cry saying, I want to live, I dont want to die. She lived for nine years when she was given two. Such was her desire to live. Once when she was hospitalised in Breach Candy, Apa sent for Dilip saab. He did come. Tum acchi ho jaaogi Madhu. Tum kyon depressed ho? Hum wapas karenge kaam, he said. She asked him, Tum mujhe yaad karte ho ya nahin? He replied, Agar yaad nahin karta toh kaise aata tumhare bulane par. He sat for an hour. He was not married to Sairaji then.
A sad end
When Apa was in her last days, Id developed chicken pox. So I was staying away from her. But I rushed to her room the day her health began deteriorating and she was bleeding profusely. Abba called Kishore Bhaiyya. He was flying for a show. Abba said, Cancel the flight Kishore! She wont last. He came. She was sinking, unconscious, eyes closed She passed away on February 23, 1969 at 9.30 am. It was a miserable death. She died as Mrs Kishore Kumar Ganguly.
Dilip saab was in Madras shooting for a film. When he heard that Apa was critical, he flew down immediately. But by the time he landed, she was buried. He then went to the kabrastan to pay his last respects. Food was sent from his house to ours for three days. My father would visit her grave and cry every day. He suffered a series of heart attacks. He passed away six years after Apa in 1975. My mother developed tuberculosis but carried on for 18 years. Recently, my Guruji, Arvindji (Kumar Malviya) visited the cemetery in Juhu and asked for Madhu Apas grave. Pointing to her grave, the caretaker said, Every week someone or the other comes to place flowers on it.
The biopic on Apa with Imtiaz Ali, a fine filmmaker and human being, couldnt be made. My sisters (Altaf 91, Zaibunissa 87 and Kaneez 93) didnt want it to happen. The film wouldnt have maligned anyone. If I humiliate my elders, Id be humiliating myself. My Guruji, who lives in Jodhpur, offered me a place to build a home for the old. It was Apas wish to start such a home and a school for girls. I was only planning to fulfill Apas dreams.Maybe, someday I will
WHAT A DISGRACE
I found the results of the June 2 primary on the Delaware County website. If we are to believe these numbers as reported, then voter apathy is rampant. No one from any party should complain about who becomes the leader of our country next year. Its a disgrace that even with mail-in voting not even 35 percent of the registered voters in the county bothered to vote.
CHEAP DATE
I heard a very disturbing comment today that a gentleman in his 60s is going to vote for Trump because Trump gave him a stimulus check. Imagine selling your soul for a lousy $1,200. I wonder how many pieces of silver that is. Our service members pledge their lives to defend our Constitution and this bozo-in-chief spits in their face.
LOST DREAMS
Yeah, one year ago the refinery in South Philadelphia blew up. Tragically it never ever reopened. And when they locked the doors the men and women that worked there were given no medical care. No financial aid. I see that the new owner has plans for something like an industrial park. But these peoples skills dont readily transferred to another industry that well. I just hope and pray that theyre all right, and they land on their feet somehow. But to fall through the cracks like that is just heart-rending. And to think youre not being thought of or cared for it all.
UNION MAN ON UNION AVENUE
HES KILLING US
President Trump on Saturday at his rally stated that he had told his people to slow down the testing for coronavirus. He has no right to put our lives in jeopardy so that we are not aware of the outbreak around us. We have every right to know where it is escalating and we have not stayed at home for three months to just be told its none of our business.
HERD MENTALITY
Recently, Ive been thinking that maybe its not such a bad idea that Trumps rally in Oklahoma is going to attract 100,000 people who are going to be stuffed into an arena with no social distancing and no masks. These people are so stupid that they believe Trump when he says the coronavirus is essentially gone. These people are so stupid that theyre going to gather together like nothings going on.
VIVA LA REVOLUTION
I think we all agree that its time to get organized. The senior citizens, especially in Delaware County, dont stand a chance. No one cares. Yes, we should organize and have our own group and fight against these school taxes. Theyre outrageous. We paid all of our lives and they still will not reduce the seniors situation with the school taxes. It has made our lives miserable. The little bit that we saved were losing because were too busy paying the damn school taxes. Lets get it together. Lets see what we can do. These people seem to forget that one day they will be seniors and they will be facing this problem.
SAY NO TO JOE
Joe Biden must really be embarrassed, knowing his campaign wants to hide him away from the public. He doesnt even understand why he wants to be president. How awful for him, knowing his own people dont trust him to face other people. He messed up when he debated others running for president. We all can see whats happening to him. As the president you have to make important decisions and he cant do that. What would happen if he became president and while in office and some other tragedy happened, what would he do? Joe has to go.
TWO OF A KIND
Two great Republicans, great job our wonderful President Trump is doing and I wanted to congratulate Christine Flowers for her last article. It was wonderful. They are two great people.
DREXEL HILL
TWO STRIKES
It was a bad week for Donald Trump. The Supreme Court thats loaded with conservatives went against him twice once for the dreamers and once for the gay community. You know things havent been going too well for Donald. No, hes having his big rally with 20,000 people inside yelling and screaming and sneezing and wailing. You see the spike in coronavirus cases come up. II dont I just dont think the man is ready for the presidency.
PATRIOT ON PROVIDENCE
Haiti - Politic : 415 prisoners pardoned by President Moise
On the recommendation of a report by Lucmane Delile the Minister of Justice and by virtue of the exercise of his right to pardon and commutation of sentence, President Jovenel Moise published an order in the official journal Le moniteur #105 granting "full grace" to 415 ordinary prisoners.
These detainees come from 17 penitentiaries across the country, and their releases contribute to reducing prison overcrowding.
For President Moise, it was fitting to be lenient in favor of a few common criminals during the pandemic period...
TB/ HaitiLibre
New York, June 23 : US President Donald Trump is suspending several categories of work visas, including the H-1B prized by Indian professionals, till the end of the year, according to White House officials.
The restrictions will not affect those already in the US on the H-1B and the other work visa categories being put on pause, officials said on Monday.
A senior official who briefed the media linked the freeze to the high unemployment level in the US because of the COVID-19 blow to the economy.
When Trump imposed a 60-day pause on permanent immigrant visas or green cards on April 22, the H-1B temporary work visas, which are now affected, escaped the freeze.
The green card restrictions, which do not apply to spouses and children of immigrants, will now continue until the end of the year.
Indians are the single largest group of H1-B visa-holders accounting for nearly 74 per cent of the work visas.
The official said that newly announced freeze of the H-1B, H-2B, H-4, L-1 and J-1 visas would help workers already in the country get access to more than 500,000 jobs.
However, those in the healthcare field and those considered important for national security will continue to receive visas.
The official said that Trump had also asked his staff to look at a long-term plan for revamping the US immigration system to make it merit-based unlike the current programmes for green cards that benefit the extended families of immigrants.
The COVID-19 pandemic has become a handy excuse for Trump's longtime intent to restrict immigration, a demand of a part of his base as well as of some in the Democratic Party who have reservations about the impact of immigration on wages.
The economic disruption caused by the pandemic has led to a groundswell of opposition among Americans to immigration with various polls showing more than two-thirds supporting restrictions.
On the other hand, US businesses -- particularly in the Silicon Valley -- have opposed restrictions on the visas and asserted that they would, in fact, affect the nation's economy, where immigrants and those on work visas have disproportionately been founders of companies, besides holding up America's global leadership in technology.
The Indian government considers restrictions on H-1B an important issue and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in December that he had told US officials that the visas "should not be obstructed" or "unreasonable legislative provisions should not constrain" them.
While most technologists and engineers would be temporarily barred, exemptions are made for seasonal agricultural workers and nannies.
H-2B visas are for non-professional workers. An exemption would be made for agricultural labour in this category on whom the US food supply depends, the official said.
Similarly, in the J-1 category nannies or au pairs -- who are employed by the elite across the political spectrum -- would be exempt, while it would apply to scholars and researchers except those in certain health or specialised fields or to professors.
The H-4 visas are for spouses of H-1B workers and the restrictions are linked.
Employees transferred by their companies to work in the US are given L-1 visas.
Under new rules announced on Monday by the immigration service, asylum applicants cannot apply for work authorisation for a year.
(Arul Louis ca be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
Dr. Anthony Fauci said there is a 'promising' coronavirus vaccine entering phase three trials next month and there could be a cure ready by early next year.
'It will be when and not if' there is a vaccine, Fauci said.
The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in his testimony before Congress on Tuesday, said there were several vaccines moving through the federal approval process at 'various paces.'
'One of them will enter phase three study in July. This is one that has already shown in preliminary studies, some very favorable response in the animal models that were developed,' he told members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in his opening remarks.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said there is a 'promising' coronavirus vaccine entering phase three trials next month
Dr. Fauci was spotted taking selfies before he testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee
In Phase III, the vaccine is given to thousands of people and tested for efficacy and safety, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
'We feel cautiously optimistic,' Fauci added and said he expects there to be a vaccine 'within a year from when we started, which would put us at the end of this calendar year at the beginning of 2021.'
He said there were a number of options for a cure to the deadly disease.
Anything is on the table, Dr. Fauci assured lawmakers when it came to a vaccine. The doors are not closed to other candidates. You can be assured of that.
Fauci's testimony comes as President Donald Trump has urged the country to reopen - a move health care professionals have warned should proceed with caution.
'Weve been hit badly,' Fauci told lawmakers.
The United States has had more than 2.36 million coronavirus infections and more than 122,000 people have died.
Fauci also said he has not personally recommended to President Trump that he wear a face mask.
'I don't think I can comment on what the President's - the multiple factors that go into the President's not wearing a mask. certainly, I wear a mask in public all the time,' he said.
'I have not directly recommended to the president to wear a mask. But I think it's very clear to anybody in the country, because I talk about it so often, of the importance of having physical distance with a mask, and if you are going to be either beyond your control or by your own choice in a crowd that it is imperative to wear a mask at all times,' he added.
Several states in the reopening process, including Texas, Oklahoma and Florida, have seen increased number of cases as stay at home orders have eased up and businesses have begun to reopen.
The White House is preparing for a possible second wave coming this fall.
'We are filling the stockpile in anticipation of a possible problem in the fall. We are doing everything we can beneath the surface, working as hard as we possibly can, trade adviser Peter Navarro told CNN on Sunday. 'You prepare you prepare for what can possibly happen. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but of course you prepare.'
Twenty-five states reported more new cases in the week ended June 21 than the previous week, including 10 states that saw weekly new infections rise more than 50 percent and 12 states that posted new records, according to a Reuters analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project.
Dr. Fauci told lawmakers a vaccine could be ready in early 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci said it will be 'when and not if' there is a coronavirus vaccine - above a first-stage clinical trial is conducted
The United States saw a 25 percent increase in new cases in the last week compared to the previous seven days with Arizona, Florida and Texas experiencing record surges in new infections
Texas reported one of the largest rises in new cases at 24,000 for the week ended June 21, an increase of 84 percent from the previous week. The number of COVID-19 tests that came back positive in the state rose to 10 percent from 7 percent.
New cases in Florida rose 87 percent last week to almost 22,000 with the state's positive test rate nearly doubling to 11 percent.
Arizona reported 17,000 new cases, a 90 percent increase, with 20 percent of tests coming back positive.
The governors of all three states have attributed the increases in new cases to more testing, as well as younger people not following social distancing guidelines.
The alarming surges in cases - mostly in the South and West - continues to raise fears that the outbreak is spiraling out of control and that hard-won progress against the scourge is slipping away because of resistance among many Americans to wearing masks and keeping their distance from others.
Confirming predictions that the easing of state lockdowns over the past month and a half would lead to a comeback by the virus, cases surpassed 100,000 in Florida, hospitalizations are rising dramatically in Texas and Georgia, and a startling 1 in 5 of those tested in Arizona are proving to be infected.
As Ontario regions slowly ease into various phases of reopening, hospitality-industry operators are warning tourists and customers that things will just not look the same anymore.
Doug Ford announced Monday that GTHA areas, excluding Toronto and Peel, can enter Stage 2 of the reopening starting Friday this week. That means businesses like restaurants and hotels can start receiving customers, so long as safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are in place.
Its a welcome development, but restaurateur Anthony Jordaan said customers can expect a lot of changes big and small for the dining experience in the era of coronavirus.
They will notice that the tables no longer have any settings on them like side plates, cutlery, glassware, salt and pepper shakers or decorative votives, said Jordaan, owner of Keystone Alley Restaurant in Stratford, a city whose economy depends largely on tourism.
Instead the only decoration they get for their table upon arrival is a small bottle of sanitizer which they get to use throughout their dining experience with us and get to take home.
For extra safety, Jordaan said guests will be requested to refrain from using washrooms unless they absolutely have to. Thats because once a washroom is used, a member of the team has to go in and clean it up using medical-grade sanitizer. Tables and chairs will also be sanitized in order to kill the germs before new patrons can be served.
Keystone Alley Restaurant will only be serving at 40 per cent capacity to allow enough distance between tables, a fact that will absolutely bump up the price of service, he said.
Forest Motel & Woodland Retreat, also in Stratford, has put in place measures that ensure safety of patrons for the duration of their stay. Theres a two-day block off for every room before and after its been used to allow proper cleaning and sanitizing. The motel also only lets half of its rooms be booked.
Owner Kim Schelhaas said check-ins are done over email or by phone to avoid contact. Breakfast services are closed just a bagged breakfast is left in every booked room. Also, no housekeeping services are available.
We are doing things differently in order to do our part during this time of crisis, said Schelhaas, noting hiking and campfires are still available with physical distancing.
In Niagara Falls, the number one travel destination in Canada with about 12 million visitors a year, hotel properties are already open and ready to welcome tourists. This week, Niagara Falls Tourism launched SafetoPlay.ca, a platform offering information on steps measures being taken to ensure customers safety and fun.
Every business attractions, restaurants, accommodations and shopping centres has been asked to implement health and safety measures that include appropriate physical distancing, regular cleaning and sanitization as well as wearing PPE for staff members.
Tourism officials say it may be different than the last time you visited the falls, but a visit during these pandemic times will still be fun and memorable.
The public health crisis encountered this year has put a new lens on everything we do, said Niagara Falls Tourism president and CEO Janice Thomson in a statement. This is a dynamic destination with much to offer and we are all looking forward to re-activating visitor interest in staying in Niagara Falls.
People cheer during Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill on July 1, 2018. Canada's biggest annual birthday bash is being celebrated virtually this year due to the pandemic. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)
In the Year of COVID-19, Canada Day a Mix of Innovation and Tradition
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused this years Canada Day to go virtual, it wont dampen the spirit of the nations 153rd birthday, says the Canadian Heritage official in charge of coordinating the massive online celebration.
Pivoting to a new direction after the minister (of Canadian Heritage) announced the cancellation of the physical event on Parliament Hill was a challenge, but an exciting one, says Melanie Brault, director of planning for the National Capital celebrations.
We had to take a step back and figure out how to enable Canadians from coast to coast to come together.
Braults team has been as busy as Canadian beavers preparing a cornucopia of activities that comprise the first virtual celebration in the 153 years since the British North America Act brought the four provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into the Confederation that formed the nucleus of Canada.
We have developed a celebration kit that the public can access any time after June 15 by visiting our website, Brault said in an interview.
We have over 40 activities that children and adults can participate in, including a virtual scavenger hunt, workouts with our Paralympic champions, and cooking a truly Canadian burger with chips and cheese curds with Chef Ricardo, the award-winning celebrity chef from Quebecto name just a few.
On July 1, Canadian Heritage will offer the public the Canada Day daytime show, a virtual tour of celebrations across the country featuring talented artists from various cities. It will include a salute to the resilience of frontline workers battling COVID-19 and the 40th anniversary of O Canada becoming the countrys official national anthem.
The Canada Day evening show will be a special edition of the annual iconic celebration on Parliament Hill. It will feature some of Canadas most beloved performing artists and will end with a montage of the most spectacular Canada Day fireworks from past years as its grand finale.
Canada Day is not only celebrated in Canada but also in cities across the world, says Brault, noting a list of cities from Hong Kong to Rabat, Morocco, on Canadian Heritages website where Canadian embassies and missions are preparing activities that reflect the nations culture and values.
The public can watch these July 1 events on CBC and on the social media platforms of Canadian Heritage, she said.
This wont be the first time communications technology has been used to enable the diverse people of the second-largest country on the planet to gather together to celebrate their identity as Canadians, says Matthew Hayday, a historian who has tracked the history of the national holiday and its evolution from Dominion Day to Canada Day, its official name since 1982.
Organizing a national birthday party for Canadians across the country has always been a challenge, says Hayday, a professor at the University of Guelphs Department of History. Hayday has researched and written extensively on the history and politics of Canada Day celebrations and on the many ways in which Canadas leaders have used the celebrations to highlight their vision of the Canadian identity.
From radio broadcasts in the 1920s to which people from coast to coast tuned in, to the first CBC TV broadcast in 1958 when Gov. Gen. Vincent Massey addressed the nationall these provided a template for this years online celebrations, he said in a telephone interview from Guelph.
Other features that make this years celebrations unique are the two themes: Manitobas 150th anniversary of joining the Confederation and the Metis Nations leadership role in this historic step, along with the 40th anniversary of O Canada, which was adopted as the national anthem in 1980.
We have worked with the Metis Nation to make sure the story is presented from their point of view, said Brault in response to a question about the sensitivities of Canadas Indigenous Peoples.
The Canada Day holiday this year will depart from a more formal, militaristic observance to a unique celebration bringing people together in a way that circumvents the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
Singing O Canada together at noon in each time zone creates a sense of national community, notes Hayday.
With the virtual celebration this year, it will definitely be more participatory, Brault says.
For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/yampye6z
To access the celebration kit, visit https://tinyurl.com/y8qr4w8n
Burma Arakan Army Blamed for Ambush on Police Trucks in Western Myanmar
A map showing where the Arakan Army took place. / Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services
Sittwe, Rakhine State Three police officers and a civilian were killed and others were injured in an attack by the Arakan Army (AA) on border guard trucks in Rakhine States Rathedaung Township on Monday, according to the Tatmadaw True News Information Team run by Myanmars military.
The AA allegedly carried out the ambush near Koetankauk Village on the Agnumaw-Maungdaw road on trucks carrying border guard police en route from Inn Din at around 5.20 pm on Monday.
It was followed by an exchange of fire in which three police died and four others were injured. A civilian driver was killed and another was injured, according to the military.
The border police came under attack as they reportedly went to provide security in response to intelligence that the AA personnel had arrived at the Maungdaw-Angumaw road near Done Pike Village and were planning to attack public transport.
As far as we know, the road reopened to cars this morning but motorbikes are not allowed to pass. I heard Tatmadaw soldiers were deployed and there was a damaged truck by the roadside. Koetankauk villagers [about 3 km away] didnt leave their homes but they were worried, said U Khin Maung Latt of Rathedaung Township.
Government troops joined the police and the AA retreated, according to the military.
As the government has declared the AA a terrorist organization, The Irrawaddy was not able to contact the armed group for a comment.
Some police officers were injured in a raid by the AA on Done Pike border guard outpost in the same township on 13 June, according to Myanmars military.
In another attack, the AA raided the Thazin Myaing police outpost in Rathedaung Township on May 29, killing four police officers and abducting six others and three civilians, including a child. It later released the civilians.
In January, four border guards from the Thazin Myaing outpost were robbed of their December salaries on their return from Zedi Pyin police station in Rathedaung Township with their wages. Two of the four border guards went missing.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko
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UAEs ADNOC today announced a $20.7-billion deal with six international companies for the acquisition of a minority stake in Adnoc Gas Pipeline Assets.
Under the terms of the deal, Global Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management, Singapores sovereign wealth fund, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board, Snam, and NH Investment and Securities will acquire a 49-percent interest in ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets, a new subsidiary of the UAEs national oil and gas company.
The acquisition will give the buyers lease rights to 38 pipelines, but ADNOC will retain ownership of the assets and responsibility for capital expenditure plans. The lease rights will be in effect for 20 years.
The innovative transaction structure allows ADNOC to tap new pools of global institutional investment capital, whilst at the same time maintaining full operating control over the assets included as part of the investment, the Emirati company said in its press release.
Reports about ADNOCs plans to sell a minority stake in its gas pipeline infrastructure emerged last year, with unnamed sources saying the company was eyeing proceeds of up to $5 billion.
The sale process, which could be structured as a long-term lease rather than a direct stake sale, is expected to attract private equity firms and infrastructure funds, the sources told Bloomberg.
Related: The Oil & Gas Sector Could Already Be In Terminal Decline
The record deal is part of ADNOCs ongoing efforts to expand its midstream and downstream operations by inviting foreign capital into its business. The state oil company has also set its sights on downstream deals outside the Middle East region, especially in Asia, to lock in future demand for its oil.
Earlier in 2019, the Emirati state major closed a similar minority stake deal worth $4.9 billion for its oil pipeline network. The participants in that deal included Singapores sovereign wealth fund again, BlackRock, KKR, and the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
SCIENCE, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) students in San Fernando town, Cebu appreciated the value of mining in peoples lives and the efforts that the industry has taken to ensure safety and to keep the environment in harmony.
Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC) gathered 64 senior high school Stem students from Notre Dame Academy and the national high schools (NHS) of Barangays Pitalo and Sangat recently at the conference hall of its primary client, Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. (TCPI).
A two-time Gawad Tugas awardee in 2017 and 2019 for responsible mining, SEDC organized the activity dubbed as Mining Appreciation Day in support of the #MineResponsibility campaign of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
The MGB developed the campaign with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and launched it on Nov. 8, 2019, to clear the publics negative perception on the mining industry, especially the large-scale ones like what SEDC operates.
The nationwide campaign came about following issues the previous DENR leadership raised against some mining companies that got blown out of proportion, plus a landslide in Naga City, Cebu in 2018 that was blamed on mining.
Dependent
SEDC president Dennis B. Tenefrancia, a lawyer, welcomed the delegates during the gathering that also had engineer Armand L. Malicse, chief science research specialist of the MGB 7-Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division.
Malicse tackled the Role and Use of Mining in Peoples Everyday Life. He shared his insights to the students about minings contributions, and how humans have become dependent on its products.
Despite the criticisms, everyone from all walks of life relies on the products and services of the mining industry because of the convenience and hassle-free experience they bring, he told the students.
Mining engineer Daniel Jireh M. Corpuz, who was among the pioneering SEDC and TCPI scholars, shared All About Minerals. SEDC mining division manager engineer Samuel O. Tagsip talked about The Art of Mining.
Story continues
SEDC community relations officer Gines T. Boltron told the students that everything in the industry is not just about mining, and parallel to it is social development when players demonstrate #MineResponsibility.
Inquisitive
In an open forum facilitated by SEDC human resources division manager Mitzie Almira I. Carin, the students were very inquisitive about the utilization of resources and the disciplines SEDC adopted in its operations.
The day concluded with an inter-school competition that tested the students knowledge and appreciation about mining with Sangat NHS students faring well, taking the first places, said Carin.
From two contestants per school, Maria Ariadne Murillo of Sangat NHS earned the first place in the essay writing contest with schoolmate Rachel Ann Reyes taking the third place, while Nino Adrian Baritos of Pitalo NHS got into second place.
The Sangat senior high school tandem of Yves Vhenston Formentera and Sarah Mae Canoy emerged top winners in the quiz bowl, followed by Lorenzo Canque and Seth Xavier Cerbo of Notre Dame at second place.
The delegates of Notre Dame and Pitalo NHS were accompanied by Grade 11 adviser Ernesto B. Lawas and Grade 12 adviser Jeffrey Olita, respectively.
Participants from Sangat NHS were accompanied by Grade 12 adviser Sonia M. Lauronal and guidance counselor Ann V. Enad.
The MGB 7 and SEDC managed to undertake the Mining Appreciation Day just before Cebu went into community quarantine to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
(Natural News) Black Lives Matters strong focus on class conflict and group identity has led many observers to compare it to Marxism, and now a video clip from 2015 has come to light in which Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors leaves no doubt about the groups underlying ideology as she proudly proclaims: Were trained Marxists.
Her comment came during a video interview with Morgan State University Professor Jared Ball. It was part of her response to concerns expressed by the interviewer that the Black Lives Matter movement may lack a clear ideological structure. She said: We actually do have an ideological frame. Myself and Alicia in particular, were trained organizers, she said, referring to another Black Lives Matter co-founder, Alicia Garza.
She added: We are trained Marxists. We are super versed on ideological theories.
The group has long drawn comparisons to other radical groups in the country, like the Black Panther Party, who can trace their influences to Marxism.
Speaking on The Lead with Jake Tapper last week, she admitted that the groups goal is to push President Trump out of office. She said: Trump not only needs to not be in office in November, but he should resign now. Trump needs to be out of office. He is not fit for office.
And so, what we are going to push for is a move to get Trump out. While were also going to continue to push and pressure Vice President Joe Biden around his policies and relationship to policing and criminalization. Thats going to be important. But our goal is to get Trump out.
Not surprisingly, Tapper did not ask Cullors how the group plans to get a democratically elected president out of office, nor did he question her about her Marxist training.
The third co-founder of the group, Opal Tometi, has been photographed looking rather friendly with Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, who has said that his aim is to cause revolution in America. All three women have spoken at the socialist think tank Left Forum.
Questions surround how Black Lives Matters spends its donations
While Cullors has been very vocal in calling for the police to be defunded, perhaps she should take a look at how the funds in her own group are being spent. It was recently revealed that just six percent of Black Lives Matter spending made its way to local chapters and grassroots organizations. Meanwhile, millions of dollars were blown on travel and staff compensation, according to financial reports that were obtained by the Daily Caller.
This would point to BLMs top staffers cashing in on the movement while leaving grassroots organizations without much support. All told, they spent $899,000 on travel, $1.6 million on consulting, and $2.1 million in personnel costs, while just $328,000 went to the designation outside organizations, which includes local chapters as well as other groups.
Since George Floyds death, they have received more than 1.1 million individual donations that average $33 per donation, bringing the total they have brought in since May 25 to at least $36.3 million.
One former BLM activist, Ashley Yates, has not been shy about criticizing them for their lack of transparency, accusing them of squandering funds on excessive travel while giving very little to affiliated chapters. She said that every time she asked the co-founders what happened to the money from their donations, she got the runaround and was outright dismissed.
The protests linked to Black Lives Matter have evolved far beyond a reaction to a white police officer killing a black man and have taken on an entirely different tone, aiming to destabilize America ahead of the upcoming election and boost the chances of furthering socialist causes. Why are so many people so quick to support these Marxists?
Sources for this article include:
NationalFile.com
CNN.com
DailyCaller.com
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Engagement Overview
Drugs have the potential to cure chronic diseases and increase life expectancy. New age drugs provide evidence of effectiveness and perceived value. But humans now are struggling with the rising cost of pharmaceutical products and delays associated with drug development. The client, an American pharmaceutical company, was looking forward to leveraging real world analytics to design an effective approach to enhance the pharmaceutical drug development process. Our real world data analytics experts helped the client to improve the success rate of clinical trials and redesign the pharmaceutical drug development process.
Get your customized proposal to gain actionable insights on improving the pharmaceutical drug development process with the help of real world data
The Problem
Leading pharmaceutical drug development companies are deploying real world data in drug discovery and development. Research findings have revealed real world data analytics has numerous benefits, for example, early access to medication schemes is an important factor that can help in improving pharmaceutical drug development and drug discovery.
The key challenges that the client sought to overcome included:
Unstructured and unorganized information
Lengthy clinical trials
Disease classification accuracy
Quantzig's real world evidence analytics experts can help pharmaceutical drug development companies to curtail the complexities related to drug discovery contact us to get your free copy of this success story.
Solution Offered and Value Delivered
Pharmaceutical drug development isn't an easy process. Pharmaceutical researchers and scientists deal with several ordeals on a daily basis. It includes issues related to drug discovery and violation of regulatory norms. To help the client tackle such challenges, our real world analytics experts combined predictive analytics and real world insights to develop accurate solutions.. A deep dive into the challenges faced by this client helped us to understand the urgency of deploying advanced data analytics in their drug development process. Some of the solutions offered and the results obtained are as follows:
Organized unstructured information into a unified source
Reduced clinical trials duration and improve outcomes
Improved drug discovery with automated alarms on regulatory norms
Enhanced disease taxonomy
Gained an understanding of the real-world use and effectiveness of current treatments
Quantzig's real world analytics solutions are crafted to help pharmaceutical organizations evaluate drug treatment efficacy and reduce costs related to drug development and discovery, request for more info to know about our real world analytics solutions portfolio.
About Quantzig
Quantzig is a global analytics and advisory firm with offices in the US, UK, Canada, China, and India. For more than 15 years, we have assisted our clients across the globe with end-to-end data modeling capabilities to leverage analytics for prudent decision making. Today, our firm consists of 120+ clients, including 45 Fortune 500 companies. For more information on our engagement policies and pricing plans, visit: https://www.quantzig.com/request-for-proposal
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005747/en/
Contacts:
Quantzig
Anirban Choudhury
Marketing Manager
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UK: +44 208 629 1455
https://www.quantzig.com/contact-us
DALLAS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) launched a three-day sale offering low fares for fall travel. Customers may take advantage of fares starting at $39 one-way to select domestic destinations today through June 25, 2020, 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Southwest is offering more flights and new routes for Customers across the U.S.
"Our focus is on supporting the comfort and wellbeing of Customers with the Southwest Promise. They can continue to count on us for our great low fares, Customer-friendly policies, and our legendary Customer Service," said Bill Tierney, Southwest Vice President of Marketing. "The Southwest Promise is our commitment to add an extra layer of comfort for Employees and Customers, encompassing our cleaning practices and physical-distancing measures and additional procedures such as face mask requirements and open middle seats on Southwest aircraft."
Seats and days are limited. Blackout dates apply. See full fare rules and terms and conditions at Southwest.com. Examples of Southwest Airlines' domestic low fares include:
As low as $39 one-way nonstop between Houston (HOU) and New Orleans
one-way nonstop between and As low as $39 one-way nonstop between Burbank and Las Vegas
one-way nonstop between and As low as $79 one-way nonstop between Baltimore and Jacksonville
one-way nonstop between and As low as $99 one-way nonstop between Houston (HOU) and Fort Lauderdale
LEARN ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST PROMISE
The Southwest Promise encompasses Southwest's cleaning practices across the fleet and throughout the day and implements modified procedures to support distancing and contact-free interaction.
The middle seats on Southwest Aircraft will remain open through at least September 30, 2020, to provide Customers more personal space onboard and promote physical distancing. Customers may still pick their own seat, and Southwest will not block or direct seating. In our open seating environment, families or those traveling together may sit together.
Southwest requires Customers and Employees to wear face coverings or masks while in airports and onboard Southwest aircraft. During this pandemic, the airline asks that individuals comply with the policy out of respect for the wellbeing and comfort of fellow travelers and all those who are serving Southwest Customers. Learn more at www.swamedia.com.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES SALE FARE RULES
Purchase from June 23 through June 25, 2020, 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Continental U.S. travel valid August 11 through December 17, 2020. Travel to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico valid August 18 through December 3, 2020. International travel valid August 18 through December 9, 2020. Continental U.S. travel blacked out November 25 and 28-30, 2020. Sale fares to San Juan, PR and international destinations blacked out November 20-22, 2020; sale fares from San Juan, PR and international destinations blacked out November 27-30, 2020. Except as otherwise specified, continental U.S. travel is not valid on Fridays and Sundays. Travel to Ft. Myers/Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, and Las Vegas and from Ft. Myers/Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando to Las Vegas is valid only on Sundays through Wednesdays. Travel from Ft. Myers/Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, and Las Vegas and from Las Vegas to Ft. Myers/Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, and Orlando is valid only on Tuesdays through Fridays.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 60,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 130 million passengers in 2019. Southwest became the nation's largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries.
Southwest coined Transfarency to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply.
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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Campana, a new Italian restaurant that began as a pop-up at Grand Army Tavern, will replace the Northeast Portland bar permanently this Friday, owners George Kaden and Annalisa Maceda told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
The move spells the end for Grand Army Tavern, a neighborhood bar opened in 2017 by Kaden and Maceda, another former New York City restaurant industry vet who previously ran The Tippler, a powerhouse cocktail bar at Manhattans Chelsea Market. According to Kaden, the bar represented an effort to bridge the couples respective resumes. Macedas cocktails were fun and approachable, while Kadens ambitious menu was split between house-butchered pork platters and vegan snacks.
If we had opened a cocktail bar that was very much a cocktail bar, I wouldnt know what to do, and if we opened an Italian restaurant Anna might not have a place in that, Kaden said. The fear was we would open a place that nobody would know if it was a bar or a restaurant. And thats kind of exactly what happened. Grand Army Tavern had a real identity issue.
Shifting to Campana full-time was already in the works before Oregons COVID-19 outbreak, but the pandemic did force the timing.
Its something we were planning to do slowly over the course of many months, because we didnt want to rip the rug out from anybody, Maceda said. But after Dining Month, when we had a line out the door every single night, we were like, we should just do Campana.
It feels right, Kaden said. Like putting on a comfortable pair of pants.
What were they lining up for? Meatballs in a seductive house marinara, fresh tagliatelle dripping with clam sauce, grilled meats served with lemon and salsa verde and other traditional dishes channeled through Kaden, an accomplished cook who spent six years at Hearth, the well-reviewed New York City restaurant from award-winning chef Marco Canora, including four as the restaurants top lieutenant.
Campana, a new Italian restaurant that started life as a pop-up at Grand Army Tavern, will replace the Northeast Portland bar full-time starting Friday.Courtesy of Campana
Another reason that I didnt pursue the Italian thing was that, working for Marco for so long, as a Dutch German whose family has been in New Jersey for generations, it was hard for me to accept that its what I want to study and cook, Kaden said. But then after two years of cooking tavern food, I really missed it. And thats what prompted starting the pasta night.
A liberating moment came after Kaden asked Luigi Petrocelli, the subsequent Hearth chef de cuisine, how he would feel if he added Hearths pork ragu -- made with red wine, broth, pork shoulder, pork sausage and mortadella ends left over from Hearths sister wine bars -- to Campanas menu. Turns out, not only did Petrocelli give his blessing, he actually considered it to be Kadens dish.
With to-go cocktails forbidden in Oregon, Grand Army Taverns sales were down 90 percent for the entire three-month shutdown. To make rent, Kaden and Maceda turned to selling lasagnas, eggplant Parm and other Italian-American comfort fare to-go. (I bought a tray of excellent Parm for Fathers Day, with thin-sliced eggplant fried in batches then layered with marinara, chopped basil and crumbled fresh mozzarella. As far as Im concerned thats canon for every good pizza place, said Kaden, who has been eating leftover Parm for the past five days. Its not rocket science. Eggplant Parm should be for the people.)
I fell in love with him over this food, Maceda said Monday. This is what he would feed and woo me with. Its East Coast, garlic and red sauce, and all these things that make me feel like Im back in a church basement with my family. It feels right at this time. Were taking this leap, and well just see how it goes.
Kaden will take a more seasonal approach at Campana, highlighting lighter pastas, salads and vegetables from Northeast Portlands Lil Starts Farm in the summer, adding more braised meats and heavier ragus in the winter. A simple dessert list includes a buttermilk panna cotta, pistachio-chocolate cannoli and a polenta cake with strawberries and creme fraiche. Classic Italian cocktails from Maceda include Boulevardiers, fizzy Negroni Sbagliatos and Aperol Spritzes for sipping outdoors.
When it opens by reservation-only on Friday, the restaurant will have about 10 tables outside after successfully applying to turn 60 feet of parking space on Northeast Durham Street into additional seating, plus six more inside, with big garage-door windows kept open to provide a draft.
Were as cautious as anyone when it comes to going back out, Kaden said. But as a business, we have to reopen. Theres an immediacy.
Reservations for Campana, 901 N.E. Oneonta St., are live now at campanapdx.com. See the opening menu below.
The opening menu at Campana.
-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell
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Ireland West Airport welcomes todays (June 23, 2020) publication of the interim Aviation Taskforce draft report to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross detailing key recommendations to support the restoration of air access and balanced regional development.
This Interim Report offers initial recommendations and will be followed with a final report by early July which will give consideration to further measures to stimulate and rebuild the national aviation sector.
The Task Force requests that Government recognise the need to prioritise and implement these immediate recommended actions to support the recovery of the aviation industry, because of the essential role of air transport in generally underpinning business and tourism, and in driving the wider national economic recovery from the shock of Covid-19.
Commenting on the publication of the report, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport, who formed part of the taskforce said "We welcome the publication of todays interim report. Supporting and incentivising the restoration of critical air access into regional Ireland is of vital importance for the recovery of the regional economy and we look forward to working with Government on implementing the recommendations included in the report and shaping a recovery plan for the aviation sector in Ireland and most importantly promoting balanced regional development".
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th June, 2020) The search for a source of toxic benzene in the atmosphere of the International Space Station (ISS) will resume at the end of July after the delivery of the new US air quality monitor on board the Russian cargo spacecraft Progress, a source in the rocket and space industry told Sputnik.
On Tuesday, NASA reported that the search for the benzene source had to be stopped due to the failure of the US AQM-1 air quality monitor while taking measurements in the Russian segment of the space station.
"Since there is only one such device at the station and it is impossible to repair it in orbit, it was decided to send the new AQM to the ISS on the Progress MS-15 spacecraft," the source said.
[June 23, 2020] Unissant wins TATRC contract supporting NETCCN providing critical care capabilities for COVID-19
HERNDON, Va., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In support of COVID-19 response, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Commands (USAMRDC) Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) awarded Unissant a contract supporting the rapid development, deployment and testing of the National Emergency Telecritical Care Network (NETCCN) - a cloudbased, low-resource, standalone health information management system for the creation and coordination of flexible and extendable virtual critical care wards. Through cellular communication networks, mobile technologies and cloud computing, Unissant will support the extension of high-quality intensive care to traditional (e.g. critical access hospitals and clinics) and non-traditional and temporary healthcare facilities (e.g. field hospitals and gymnasiums) which lack adequate critical care expertise and resources necessary for care of COVID-19-related illnesses. This is a critical national effort that were proud to be a part of, said Kenneth Bonner, President of Unissant. Our cloud-based solution, utilizing an existing COTS solution from ISeeYouCare, will bring high-quality data-driven critical care capability from Anywhere to Anywhere during a National Disaster, whether to the bedside at a healthcare facility, field hospital, gymnasium or home. My granddaughter maybe said it best when told of ISeeYouCares Eco-sytem of Digital Health Solutions (System of Systems) being selected for this all important national project: maybe this is the fulfillment of your twelve+ years work in transforming the healthcare system, said Robert E. Higgs, Founder and CEO of ISeeYouCare, Inc. ISeeYouCare has been preparing for this very moment for a decade or more. We stand ready to answer the call to serve our country on this all-important mission.
NETCCNs mission is the rapid development and deployment of a Tele-ICU solution to meet a surge of COVID-19 patients. Unissants focus will be on patient flow, patient information, continuity of care, and communication among providers. They and their technical partners ISeeYouCare (ISYC) and T-Mobile, along with clinical partners Dr. Jay Sanders, Dr. Craig Goolsby (Uniformed Services University), Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF), and Dr. Herb Rogove collectively understand the challenges and requirements for this initiative based on having deployed similar turn-key solutions and clinical staff throughout the world. About Unissant Inc.
Unissant is a data-driven & cyber security services provider with expertise in healthcare and health IT, finance, national security and energy. The company delivers innovative solutions to assist government agencies and private sector businesses in tackling their biggest challenges. Founded in 2006, Unissant is a prime contractor on various government vehicles such as CIO-SP3, GSA PSS, GSA HealthIT SIN, and GSA 8(a) STARS II and is a CMMI Level 3, ISO 9001 & 27001 certified company headquartered in Herndon, Virginia with a satellite office in San Antonio, Texas. In March 2017, Unissant received the Government Project of the Year award by Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum (SECAF).
About ISeeYouCare
ISeeYouCare, Inc. is a software development and Telemedicine/Telehealth solutions provider for the healthcare industry. Over the last ten years, the company has developed the largest eco-system of patient-centric, data-driven healthcare solutions of its kind. Our commitment to developing and advocating for change in the US Healthcare System is unrivaled as evidenced by the development of some of the most disruptive technologies in the world. Contact Information:
John Meagher
+ 1 703-889-8500 x135
[email protected]
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WASHINGTON - The early June meeting in the Cabinet Room was intended as a general update on President Donald Trump's reelection campaign, but the president had other topics on his mind.
Trump had taken a cognitive screening test as part of his 2018 physical, and now, more than two years later, he brought up the 10-minute exam. He waxed on about how he'd dazzled the proctors with his stellar performance, according to two people familiar with his comments. He walked the room of roughly two dozen White House officials and reelection staffers through some of the questions he said he'd aced, such as being able to repeat five words in order.
At the time, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment - which includes animal pictures and other simple queries aimed at detecting mild cognitive impairment such as dementia - was intended to quell questions about Trump's mental fitness. But in recalling it, Trump said he thought presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden would never be able to pass it and suggested challenging him to take the test, said the people familiar with Trump's comments, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share private details.
The seeming non sequitur was part of Trump's growing preoccupation in recent weeks over perceptions of his mental and physical health at a time when critics have mocked him for episodes in which they say he has appeared frail or confused. The attacks Trump has previously levied against Biden - dismissing the former vice president as "Sleepy Joe," secreted away in his basement and enfeebled - have boomeranged back on him, as opponents have seized on Trump's own missteps to raise concerns.
Another sign of Trump's unease came Saturday night in Tulsa, Okla., when the president devoted more than 14 minutes to regaling a campaign rally crowd with the tale of "the ramp and the water." Eager to dismiss questions about his fitness after he struggled with a glass of water and walked unsteadily down a ramp after his June 13 commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Trump offered a revisionist history.
The ramp on that sunny day, Trump asserted, was as slippery as "an ice-skating rink." But he "ran down" it nonetheless, he claimed, despite video evidence showing him shuffling down the incline haltingly. As for the water, Trump said, he used two hands to drink because he didn't want to spill on his expensive silk tie.
"Anyway, that's a long story, but here's the story," the president said, finally winding down. "I've lived with the ramp and the water since I left West Point."
He had previously obsessed about the episode to aides in private and during a Wall Street Journal interview, when he brought the incident up unprompted and offered to produce the leather-bottom shoes he had been wearing that day, which he said were "not good" for ramps.
"In the middle of the worst economy in a century and with more than a hundred thousand Americans dead this guy is primarily concerned with not looking weak," said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, referring to the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic. "And his endless, bottomless insecurity was onstage, in three dimensions, during that storytelling moment, for everyone to see. I've seen a lot of crazy things in the last four years but that display of juvenile behavior and self-regard will go in the Trump time capsule."
In recent weeks, Trump has fixated on Biden's physical and mental acuity, aides said, casting about for ways to attack his Democratic rival and stewing over media coverage that he believes makes him look weak or feeble.
Last week, Trump and his campaign team lobbied the presidential debate commission to have four debates because they believe Biden will look weaker and will make more mistakes than Trump on the debate stage.
The president has encouraged advisers to attack Biden over his mental acuity, White House officials said, but some worry that doing so too aggressively could backfire and hurt him among senior citizens.
"For someone so obsessed with appearing strong, Donald Trump shows us every day just how weak he is," Biden press secretary TJ Ducklo said in a statement Monday. ". . . Donald Trump doesn't care about the health or economic prosperity of the American people. He only cares about himself."
Trump is attuned to any portrayal of him as weak. He was furious earlier this month after news leaked that he and his family were rushed to a secure underground bunker as protesters converged on the White House after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in Minneapolis police custody. He initially claimed, falsely, that he had simply visited the bunker to inspect it.
Trump has also refused to wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic, despite his own government's guidelines, and has regularly suggested that Biden and others who wear them are showing weakness or fear.
Flying to Tulsa on Air Force One on Saturday, the president was fuming to aides about the small crowd size of his rally - about 6,000 people in a 19,000-seat arena - another form of weakness in his mind.
Trump's critics have seized on his agita, taking every opportunity to needle him publicly. Last week, the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump Republican group, launched a new 45-second ad that begins, "Something's wrong with Donald Trump."
"He's shaky, weak, trouble speaking, trouble walking," the narrator continues as grainy images flash by, including of Trump at West Point. "The most powerful office in the world needs more than a weak, unfit, shaky president."
Less than 24 hours after the Tulsa rally, the group pushed out another video, mocking his smaller-than-expected turnout, and hitting similar themes: "Sad, weak, low-energy," says the narrator. "Just like your presidency, just like you."
Mike Murphy, a vocal Trump critic who is now a strategic adviser to Republican Voters Against Trump, said Trump's obsession with never seeming weak belies a deeper insecurity, making this particular line of attack particularly devastating.
"And now the strong guy - the strength image - is melting and we found out how weak and needy he is," Murphy said. "If it's 'Sleepy Joe,' we have 'Weak Needy Donald' and that is his kryptonite."
The Trump campaign, meanwhile, has been running a similar playbook against Biden. The campaign released an ad last week called "Fortitude" that mocked some of Biden's missteps.
"Joe Biden is slipping . . . Biden is clearly diminished," the narrator says, against the backdrop of Biden seeming to stumble through remarks. "Joe Biden does not have the strength, the stamina and mental fortitude required to lead this country."
White House spokeswoman Sarah Matthews rejected the idea that Trump shares any of the physical or mental weaknesses that he accuses Biden of possessing.
"I challenge anyone who absurdly questions this president's health to spend one day trying to keep up with his rigorous schedule," Matthews said in an email. "This president never stops - whether it's working early in the morning or late into the evening."
Doug Heye, a Republican strategist, said the challenge for Trump and his team now is that they "always put themselves into this, everything is the biggest ever, the greatest ever" box, making it difficult for Trump to countenance even the slight hint of weakness on his part. "What we're seeing over the past few weeks is really the issue of what gets under his skin."
Heye said that while he didn't think the initial coverage of the West Point ramp or water drinking was particularly problematic, the president clearly did. "He has been rattled by the reaction to it, and it's because it speaks to that issue of strength," Heye said.
Reaching under his lectern in Tulsa during his reenactment episode Saturday, the president pulled out a glass of water and brought it to his lips with one hand, raising it to the crowd between sips as if toasting an achievement. Then he tossed the it away to his side as his supporters roared with delight.
"Trump! Trump!" the crowded chanted in response. "Four more years! Four more years!"
The United States has expressed concern over China's decision to proceed with formal charges against two Canadian citizens that it had detained for spying last year. The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement on June 22 said that Washington stands with Canada against China in demanding the immediate release of the two men detained over the charges of spying. Pompeo has said that the charges against the two Canadian citizens are politically motivated and completely groundless and echoed Ottawa's call for consular access.
Read: China To Canada PM Trudeau: Stop 'irresponsible Remarks' On Spy Case
"The United States stands with Canada in calling on Beijing for the immediate release of the two men and rejects the use of these unjustified detentions to coerce Canada. Additionally, we echo Canadas call for immediate consular access to its two citizens, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, as China has prohibited such access for almost six months, and the world has no knowledge of the two Canadians condition," Pompeo said in the statement.
Read: Canada: Banks End Extra Pay As Businesses Open After Decline In COVID-19 Cases
Canadians detained
Two Canadian citizens, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor were arrested in China in 2019, weeks after Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei was arrested at Vancouver International Airport on a warrant from the United States. Late in May 2020, a Canadian court ruled that extradition case against her could proceed following which China's representative in the country called it a 'politically decision'. Experts suggest that China's decision to proceed with formal charges against the two Canadian men is because it wants to pressure Ottawa in relation to Meng's case.
Read: Chinese Envoy Says US 'trouble Maker' In China-Canada Relationship
Read: US: Trump Says China Trade Deal Still On After Adviser's Remarks
The emperor has no mask.
Gov. Greg Abbott may indeed have donned a patriotic-colored face covering at a coronavirus press conference on Monday, but his attempt to cloak Texas dangerous spike in cases with a fine drape of reassurances and wishful thinking revealed a simple truth in the governors pandemic leadership: theres no there there.
Texans need to step up and work collaboratively, the governor said, to corral the new coronavirus by following his plan to assure that the state remains wide-open for business.
While Harris County enforced an order that businesses require customers to wear masks and health experts rang the alarm about an explosion in new coronavirus cases, Abbott offered no significant changes in policy.
Flanked by charts showing disturbing medical trends, Abbott declined yet again to make masks mandatory out of concern for personal liberty and suggested that it is not yet necessary to consider dialing back any of the reopening phases that have clearly played a role in the surge of coronavirus infections in Houston and across the state.
This might look like smart politics but its foolish, shortsighted leadership at a time when Texans are facing a deadly serious situation. It is time for the governor to slow the rush to reopen, limit the size of public gatherings and send a clearer message that social-distancing guidelines must be observed for businesses to keep operating.
Texas is at a crossroads.
Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, issued a strong warning over the weekend that if things dont change soon, Houston will become the next global hot spot in the pandemic.
My observations if this trajectory persists: 1) Houston would become the worst affected city in the U.S., maybe rival what were seeing now in Brazil 2) The masks = good 1st step but simply wont be enough 3) We would need to proceed to red alert, Hotez said Saturday on Twitter.
How can Abbott continue to claim the reopening has been going as planned?
Texas is the largest state in the country not to have a mask order. Statewide orders are in place in 16 states. Abbotts resistance to order one is a prime example of his muddled approach.
If he truly believes that a statewide mandate wouldnt work because urban and rural communities require different responses, then why did he bigfoot mask orders in Texas major cities where leaders deemed them necessary? Surely, the governor is aware that some of Texas worst hot spots are in rural communities where people falsely believe theyre insulated from the virus and walk around obliviously mask free.
Abbott appeared to backtrack a little last week by allowing Bexar County to impose a mandate on businesses to require customers to wear masks, opening the way for Harris County and others to follow.
But rather than admitting that stronger measures are needed, Abbott sought to save face with a bizarre explanation of how it was up to local leaders to figure it out.
There has been a plan in place all along, Abbott told Waco TV station KWTX. All that was needed (was) for local officials to actually read the plan that was issued by the state of Texas.
People are dying. This is no time for tea leaves or smoke signals or any other forms of obfuscation. Texans need clear, consistent guidance.
At this point, even that may be too little too late.
The trajectory Hotez refers to is frightening.
The state reported a 5 percent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations on Sunday for a cumulative total of 3,409 patients, a figure that has more than doubled since Memorial Day.
The 2,726 new cases recorded Sunday constituted the sixth-highest single-day increase in Texas, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis.
Houston Chronicle data show that Harris County is averaging 610 new cases per day over the past week, compared with 313 new cases per day the previous week.
The World Health Organization warned late last week that the pandemic has entered a new and dangerous phase with daily COVID-19 cases hitting record highs worldwide.
The new cases reported June 18 were the most in a single day so far at 150,000, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference.
The United States has the worst outbreak in the world with 2.1 million infected and almost 120,000 dead.
The coronavirus isnt going away. The best we can hope for is that it doesnt get worse.
That requires a strong response from all of us and real leadership at the top.
Governor, your attempts to dress up this disaster arent fooling anybody least of all the virus.
The following essay was written by students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. At a time when the Overton Window view about the role of policing in our society is shifting ever more to the left, their voice is important and deserves to be heard. Organized by the group 482Forward which is working for a quality education for EVERY child in Detroit, the contributors to this piece are:
Malacah MasonContributing writer
Emily WilsonContributing writer
Laila NasherContributing writer
Ely VasquezContributing writer
Surabhi PrasadContributing writer
Jecholiah MarriottContributing writer
Yvonne Navarrete-CastanedaContributing writer
Sunidhi MajalikarContributing editor
Naomi WilsonContributing editor
You can read about a recent action taken by 482Forward members HERE.
Black Youth and Encounters with Police:
I was 14 and in the 8th grade when a girl assaulted me and I defended myself. They took us down to the counselors office. They closed the door. It was just me, her, the counselor, and the officer that they also called in. They let the girl explain her point of view but I didnt get the same chance. So I was like, am I going to get a chance to explain? But every time I tried to cut in, they cut me off. I was getting pushback for what I did. Even though the whole thing was self-defense. But with the way it was going, I couldnt even respond. If I had responded, the officer probably would have used it against me. I was taught my rights, so I figured that if I had said something, they would have used it against me.
They told me that my parents were going to go to jail for what I did. They threatened me. They took my records. They did so much stuff. They didnt take her records though; the police only took mine.
My mom came the next day because I told her about the situation. They didnt tell her nothing about it. I felt horrible. I was scared to enter the school building, Im not even the kind of person that likes to fight! So I felt like I didnt want to go to school. And I was like no. My cousin gets bullied by the students at that school. Hes got a disability. He brought a knife to school to protect himself. That went on for the whole year. When I graduated from middle school, I went to a school that was nowhere near those people. I told my mom that I did not want to go to that school. So I went to Ben Carson. Its nowhere near the east side. We have to fight to get police out of our school because no kid deserves to go through what I did.
This experience comes from Malacah Mason, a Black-identified student at Benjamin Carson High School, and it represents just a small fraction of the numerous experiences of students in Detroit with the police. These innumerable negative encounters with police result in a feeling of hurt and fear in our youth. Unfortunately, Malacah is not the only youth who has experienced such horrible experiences with police in our Detroit schools. Emily Wilson, a Black student who recently graduated from Cass Technical High School, recounts her story and thoughts about police in the following paragraph.
The use of police officers has been extremely detrimental to the Black community, my community, for centuries. From being harassed for no reason, to being wrongfully pulled over due to racial profiling. Due to this treatment, many Black people including myself have developed not only fear but also hatred towards cops. Not only do we witness cops in the streets, but also in our schools. When I walk into my school, Im greeted by metal detectors and security guards. I automatically feel an underlying sense of fear. I feel as if they see me as a criminal. I thought cops in schools were normal until I realized that only schools in Black and Brown communities get this treatment. In the state of Michigan, the only school districts that have their own police departments are Detroit, Benton Harbor, and Flint; all of which just so happen to be predominately Black. This shows that, at best, the district has a misguided notion that police will keep us safe, and, at worst, they are preparing Black students for the school to prison pipeline. Black students do not need to be policed in our own schools.
Immigrant Youth and Encounters with Police:
Studies by the American Psychological Association (APA) show that immigrant youth already have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder from living under the constant threat of deportation. The presence of law enforcement adds stress and fear to a vulnerable group experiencing systemic trauma and creates an additional barrier for undocumented parents to engage with their childs school. Law enforcement contributes to a culture of profiling and surveillance in schools that has been proven to negatively affect how immigrant students see themselves and how others see them. Schools supporting students as they develop their sense of self is crucial for undocumented students who must feel safe enough to disclose their status to teachers and counselors in order to access critical resources, such as scholarships. In late 2019, DPSCD adopted a Sanctuary District Policy that means the district will not collaborate with ICE. This declaration must go beyond making a statement, it must address all threats that prevent immigrant students from learning in a safe and supportive environment. Defunding DPSCD Police Department means prioritizing the safety and trust of our immigrant students and families.
Detroit Youths Call: Defund the Police!
In light of the current Black Lives Matter nationwide organizing and climate of the U.S., defunding police now is more important than ever. A lot of people have come to the realization that the police are not really here to help our communities. Not only do they take money from schools by having their own department, but crime is practically nonexistent in schools, so why are they even there? Students see these big cops with badges that dont even look like them. If parents and families are afraid of cops, what makes children any different? In days like these, they take funding out of schools and use it for cops and for useless things like metal detectors. Why is it that we need metal detectors in elementary and middle schools? As current Detroit youth, we want readers to think about this: imagine being 12 years old and at such a young age you are already used to getting your backpack patted down every morning. Not only this, but at 12 years old you already have to defend yourself just for having a bag of chips in your backpack. This should not be normalized for any young person.
The trauma that Black people and people of color have been facing is nothing new, its been going on for centuries. From the low funding for schools with predominantly African American students, to COVID running immigrant families out of business. Most people of color dont have the privilege of working at home, they work paycheck to paycheck to keep the bills paid. Sadly, the murders of Breonna Taylor or Tony McDade or George Floyd arent anything new, but what is new is the patience that people no longer have towards it. No longer will we tolerate this type of mistreatment from the systematic oppression that cops bring to our communities. Even now with COVID still around, a lot of people that are protesting are likely to contract it. A lot of the people at those protests are Black people and people of color. Our communities are so tired and frustrated with all this injustice we are risking our health. Even with this unjust burden, we are not willing to stay quiet, we cannot stay quiet; even through the pandemic.
Revolutionary Assata Shakur once said: It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains. This leads us to the present, in which we once again are facing racial inequity between Black people and people of color and the police, just like our people in the past have faced. Racial inequality and police violence arent new issues for our community, but they are starting to get wider coverage through increased access to cameras and social media. All too often, the coverage is temporary, and once the incident isnt trending anymore, people who arent directly impacted by it go about their lives without creating systemic change. As youth, we know its our responsibility to change the systems which continue to oppress us. We need a support system in our schools. A support system that could be well funded by the over 10 million dollars we throw into a police system that does not benefit students. Why do we have money for police but no money for what we need. Why dont we have money for smaller classrooms, more textbooks, and libraries? Why dont we have money to fund proper literacy for Detroit students? Why did we have to fight for the Right to Literacy lawsuit? Why dont we have the money for culturally competent counselors and social workers to provide support to all students? We have the money, lets use it for students.
Our Demand:
We are asking our elected school board members to use their power and show leadership by defunding the Detroit Public Schools Community District police department, and reallocating those funds in ways which increase safety for students of color.
[Photo credit: Taymaz Valley | Flickr]
NAIROBI, Kenya, June 23, 2020 (Morning Star News) A former sheikh (Muslim teacher) in eastern Uganda who secretly became a Christian on Christmas Day decided to tell his two wives about his new faith last month.
Marijan Olupot invited his pastor to his home in Obokora village, Obokorasub County, Kibuku District on the evening of May 14. He then revealed his Christian faith to his wives and called on the pastor to explain the gospel so that the church leader could lead his family to faith in Christ, Olupot told Morning Star News by phone.
One of his wives put her faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, and the other declined, he said.
Three weeks later, the wife who had declined left the household and told a Muslim leader of the familys conversion to Christianity, including three children. The Muslim leader then told other Muslims that their sheikh had left Islam, Olupot said.
Muslim villagers on June 8 surrounded Olupots house at about 11:30 p.m. and set it ablaze, he said. Olupot, his wife and three children ages 10, 12 and 14 fled through a back door.
Unfortunately as we were fleeing in the night, the attackers managed to get hold of my wife and beat her with sticks, injuring her left hand and back and the right leg, but thank God my Christian neighbors rescued her, Olupot told Morning Star News. As we were fleeing, I heard one of the Muslims, named Hamuza, calling out that the house should be completed destroyed.
His wife was in stable condition after neighbors rushed her to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, he said. He and his family have taken refuge in the home of another pastor while she continues to undergo treatment.
We need prayers at this trying moment, as the Muslims are out to kill me, Olupot told Morning Star News. My other wife is scheming for my death.
Olupot, who came to Christian faith after a business colleague told him about Christ, said the fire destroyed valuables and other belongings in his home worth about 10 million shillings (US$2,670).
Christian Beaten, House Burned
Also in Kibuku District, hard-line Muslim residents of Kasasira on May 25 beat a Christian convert with sticks and burned his home for refusing to renounce Christ, he said.
Mbulakyaalo Badawuyi, 27, of Kasasira West Cell, Kasasira West Ward said area Muslims he knew knocked on his door at about 7 p.m., and he refused to open.
They destroyed the door and made entry, but I escaped through the rear door, Badawuyi told Morning Star News by phone. They followed me and got hold of me and began beating me up. Neighbors came when I screamed for help.
A neighbor took him to a nearby medical clinic, he said. As he was being treated, he said, the same Muslims identified as Nabutono Saida, Kulemuzamiru, Kapesa Musitafa, Ganda Amisi and Mugooda Abudallah returned to his house and set it on fire, he said.
Badawuyi said he came to faith on Aug. 4, 2019 after a dream about Christ when he fell asleep during night prayers with other sheikhs and Muslims at a mosque.
I fell asleep and had a dream that Isa [Jesus] told me that I was in a wrong place, and that therefore I was to go and look for His shepherds who will teach me all His holy words, then after learning go and preach those words to others, he said.
During the dream he heard people shouting Hallelujah! he said.
In the dream I also repeated the same, and this made me shout in the mosque, Hallelujah! Badawuyi told Morning Star News. The sheikhs and other Muslims who heard me shouting were very astonished, and one came and asked me that why are you shouting that hallelujah? I answered him that I have seen Jesus. As he called others to come and hear, I jumped out and took off, and since it was night they couldnt get me.
He went to a pastor who prayed for him, and he put his faith in Christ, he said.
The attacks in Kibuku District were the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.
Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.
If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.
If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?
Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission.
Photo courtesy: Pixabay
"Ben & Jerry's stands with our friends at the NAACP and Color of Change, the ADL, and all those calling for Facebook to take stronger action to stop its platforms from being used to divide our nation, suppress voters, foment and fan the flames of racism and violence, and undermine our democracy," the ice cream maker, which is owned by Unilever , said in a blog post .
Last week, a group of six organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Sleeping Giants and Color of Change, called on Facebook advertisers to halt their spending on the social media platform during the month of July. They're asking large brands "to show they will not support a company that puts profit over safety."
Ben & Jerry's said on Tuesday that it will pause all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the U.S. beginning on July 1, joining the "#StopHateForProfit" campaign.
The campaign Ben & Jerry's is joining has produced a set of recommendations for Facebook. The group wants the company to create a "separate moderation pipeline" for users who say they've been targeted because of characteristics like their race or religion and to let advertisers see how frequently their ads popped up "next to content that was later removed for misinformation or hate."
Ben & Jerry's said it's asking Facebook "to take the clear and unequivocal actions called for by the campaign to stop its platform from being used to spread and amplify racism and hate." Ben & Jerry's, which has locations around the globe, didn't immediately return a request for comment on whether it spends substantially outside the U.S.
Canadian outdoor brand Arc'teryx said earlier on Tuesday that it was pausing global advertising on Facebook and Instagram and "donating those dollars towards building more inclusive outdoors."
Tweet
Eddie Bauer made a similar statement Tuesday.
Tweet
Earlier in June, following the killing of George Floyd by a police officer, Ben & Jerry's, laid out several policy proposals calling for equal justice, including the creation of a national task force to draft bipartisan legislation to stop race-based violence and check the power of police.
"What happened to George Floyd was not the result of a bad apple; it was the predictable consequence of a racist and prejudiced system and culture that has treated Black bodies as the enemy from the beginning," the earlier statement said.
Unilever didn't immediately return a request for comment on the announcement from Ben & Jerry's. A company executive told the Wall Street Journal this week that it wasn't prepared to take such drastic action against Facebook. "Walking away is not the solution at this stage," the Unilever executive said.
WATCH: FB ad boycott won't move their needle, says Loup Ventures' Gene Munster
YORK TWP., MI - Four motorcycles crashed on a Milan area highway Saturday night after attempting to avoid a childrens play set in the road, police said.
Troopers responded to the multi-vehicle crash around 7:45 p.m., June 20 on southbound US-23 near Willow Road in York Township, a few miles north of Milan, Michigan State Police said.
Two motorcyclists injured avoiding fallen debris on Milan area highway
At least eight motorcyclists were traveling down the highway when a car in front of them swerved to avoid the plastic play set in the middle of the road, police said. Four bikers in that group either hit the object or spun out of control while trying to avoid it, police said.
Two of the bikers were transported to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in unstable condition, Marc Breckenridge of Huron Valley Ambulance said on Sunday, June 21. Four people suffered injuries in total, police said.
It is unknown how the play set fell on the highway, or what vehicle dropped it, police said. The case remains under investigation.
Milan Area Fire Department assisted on the scene.
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Kyrgyzstan confirmed on Tuesday 163 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 3519, Trend reports citing Kabar.
The countrys Deputy Health Minister Mademin Karataev told a news briefing that in total, 4520 laboratory tests were conducted in the country in the last 24 hours.
He said that of the new confirmed cases, 22 are medical workers, bringing the total number of contracted medical workers to 604, including 389 recoveries.
The minister also reported 1 new virus related death, raising the total number of fatalities to 41.
Karataev said that 33 people were discharged from various hospitals in the country after receiving treatment, bringing the total number of people who have so far recovered to 2054.
Currently, 607 people remained hospitalized, 45 are in serious condition, 10 patients are in intensive care.
The Maldives will reopen its borders to tourists next month, President Ibrahim Solih was cited by local media as saying on Tuesday, Trend reports citing Xinhua.
President Solih told a press conference in his office that Maldives' borders and resorts will be reopened on July 15, while congregational prayers, school classes and dine-in at restaurants and cafes will also resume in the same month.
Maldives has successfully contained the COVID-19 pandemic and has been cited as a safe destination by tourist markets in Germany and the UAE, he said.
Solih expressed hope that the reopening of the country's tourism, which contributes 28 percent of GDP, will help the economy recover from a two-month lockdown which brought business to a standstill.
Maldives imposed restrictions on passengers coming from or transiting through COVID-19 affected countries in early March. On March 27, issuing of visas on-arrival was halted.
Reliance Industries (RIL) said that the Forty-third Annual General Meeting (Post-IPO) (AGM) of the members of the company will be held on 15 July 2020 at 02:00 p.m. IST through Video Conferencing (VC) / Other Audio-Visual Means (OAVM).
Select bank stocks will be in focus. Fitch Ratings has revised the outlook to negative from stable on the long-term issuer default ratings (IDR) of select banks, while affirming their IDRs, Support Ratings (SR) and Support Rating Floors (SRF). The banks include State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BOB), Bank of India (BOI), Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB), ICICI Bank and Axis Bank. At the same time Fitch has affirmed IDBI Bank's IDR while maintaining the outlook at negative.
Info Edge (India) reported 63.68% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 119.10 crore on 9.04% fall in total income to Rs 533.21 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.
Info Edge (India) said that its board of directors approved raising of funds through issue of equity shares by way of Qualified Institutions Placement to eligible qualified institutional buyers for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 1875 crore.
Sudarshan Chemical Industries reported 5.77% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 27.31 crore on 3.77% rise in total income to Rs 450.11 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.
Karnataka Bank launched a new product viz. KBL Micro Mitra, wherein financial assistance up to Rs 10 lakh can be provided to the Micro manufacturing and service enterprises either for working capital or for investment purposes. The facility comes with a simplified procedure and competitive rate of interest.
Balaji Amines reported 16.52% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 30.82 crore on 14.16% rise in total income to Rs 259.58 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.
Skipper reported 58.42% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 28.12 crore on 1.41% rise in total income to Rs 439.88 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.
UFO Moviez India reported 79.79% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 6.78 crore on 43.2% fall in total income to Rs 112.10 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.
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VOA CORRESPONDENT
A Chinese man, who allegedly shot two of his workers in Gweru over the weekend after they demanded their wages was remanded in custody Tuesday to next month when he appeared for an initial remand at the Gweru Magistrates Court.
Magistrate Edwin Marecha remanded 41-year-old Zhang Xuelin, who runs a mining company in the city, to July 7th. Zhang, who faces an attempted murder charge, was not asked to plead.
Although he had brought his own interpreter, the state said there was need for him to get one certified by the Judicial Services Commission.
Zhangs lawyer Ignatius Mupfiga told VOA he accepted the courts decision and had nothing further to say as the case was only in its initial stages.
The incident has drawn outrage, with the countrys biggest labour representative body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union, saying there is a history of Chinese nationals in Zimbabwe ill-treating their workers, and it would not fold its arms while this continues.
Some locals also expressed their anger through various social media platforms.
Sources told VOA that police refused Monday to clear a demonstration that some residents wanted to stage in Gweru on the basis that there is instability in the country and the protest could be hijacked by some people the state claims are anti-government.
According to the countrys laws, all demonstrations have to be sanctioned by the police.
The Zanu PF government counts China among its top allies despite that locals are unhappy over the increasing presence of Chinese nationals whom they accuse of looting the countrys resources.
The Member of Parliament for Tempane Constituency, Mr Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, who double as the Deputy Attorney General, has called for the amendment of some provisions of the Local Government Act and Legislations to ensure that the election of a Presiding Member for District Assemblies is based on a simple majority.
The Deputy Attorney General's call came at the backdrop of the various Assemblies' inability to elect their Presiding Members after the District Assembly Elections and inauguration in December last year and January this year respectively.
In the Upper East Region, out of the 15 Municipal and District Assemblies, only six Assemblies have been able to elect their presiding members.
For instance, at Zebilla in the Bawku District, the Assembly has not had a presiding member for four years running and the situation is having a toll on the development of the district.
Per the provisions of the Local Government Act of 2016, Act 939, one must obtain a two-thirds majority of the total number of assembly members to be a Presiding Member and many of the Assemblies across the country on countless occasions failed to meet the law.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Kpemka, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tempane Constituency stated that almost all the Assembly Members of the various assemblies were political party affiliates and the situation was not compelling them to have consensus.
According to him, the entrenched positions taken by the Assembly Members in the various Assemblies across the country were making it very difficult for certain Assemblies to get the required two-thirds majority during the election of a Presiding Member.
Mr Kpemka noted that the situation had over the years retarded development in many districts especially the deprived areas and therefore called on the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to as matter of urgency initiate steps to amend some of the provisions of the Act, to allow for a simple majority in the election of a Presiding Members.
The Deputy Attorney General who is also NPP Parliamentary candidate for the 2020 general elections explained that without the presiding member the various development committees of the assembly would be missing and the deliberative role of the assembly members would also be lost, thereby retarding development and deepening the poverty cycle.
Without the Presiding Member, the deliberative role which is very important will be missing and the Assembly will have to go through the LI and find a way of forming the committees otherwise the Assembly will not be able to function, he added.
He expressed strong support for any move to revisit Article 55 of the Constitution to ensure that the various Assembly Members were elected based on partisan lines to avoid the pretense of the Assembly Members.
He said, I will support any move by the President to amend the various Local Government Acts and Legislations to ensure that the Presiding Member position is by simple majority because the reason behind the current system is to make sure that the Presiding Member has absolute support and control over the Assembly.
But if we have realized over time that the practice does not allow development to flourish but is rather a hindrance to the development of the districts we have to go by a simple majority.
The Deputy Attorney General further advocated the amendment of the provisions of the Local Government Acts to allow Members of Parliament to vote during the election of the Presiding Member since the MP is part of members of the assembly and their votes usually count.
---GNA
Rep. Jeon Yong-gi of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, second from right, submits a resolution at the National Assembly Secretariat, Tuesday, to condemn Japan's distortion of history regarding its wartime atrocities at Hashima, an island where hundreds of Koreans were forced to work during World War II. Japan recently opened an information center about its 23 UNESCO World Heritage sites including the island, but failed to acknowledge its use of forced labor despite its earlier promise to do so. Yonhap
Conservatives have divided on whether we ought to defend the monuments of the Confederacy (which, in a better world, should never have been erected) but have been unified about one thing: The iconoclastic mobs were never going to stop with the Confederates. That prediction has been amply justified over the past few weeks, with attacks on statues and monuments to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, Mohandas Gandhi, Catholic missionaries, novelists, saints, abolitionists even the World War II Memorial and the tomb of an unknown soldier of the Revolutionary War. The latest, on Friday, was a San Francisco mob toppling a bust of Ulysses S. Grant in Golden Gate Park.
Why did the mob tear Grant down? Mobs do not answer questions or even need reasons. It is unclear if the roughly 100 people targeting statues of Grant, Father Junipero Serra, Francis Scott Key, and Miguel de Cervantes even knew who Grant was. There seem to be two theories advanced by the mobs apologists: that Grant was a slaveholder, and that Grant made war on Native American tribes. The real-life Grant, our 18th president and a commanding general who smashed the Confederacy, deserves better.
Grant was a great man, if a flawed one. He was, moreover, a humble man who needed great events to uncover his strengths. Understanding both his flaws and the context of his life underlines the greatness of his accomplishments. Reading history requires empathy. People in the past believed different things than we do, sometimes for very good reasons. Things that appalled them as immoral then do not scandalize us now, and things that appall us as immoral now did not scandalize them then. Ideas and tactics that would succeed today would fail miserably then.
Nikole Hannah-Jones, the New York Times Pulitzer Prizewinning 1619 Project author, waved away efforts to put Grant in context in a since-deleted Tweet: Hitler was a man of his time, Osama bin Laden was a man of his time. This is an obscene parallel: Hitler was not the norm among veterans of the First World War, and bin Laden was not the norm even among Saudis born in the 1950s. It is also not how history works. To say that figures of the past were men of their time is not to exonerate them from all judgment but to recognize that judgment requires perspective as to what things were hard, what things were possible, and what things required courage.
Story continues
Grant always believed that slavery was wrong, though, as with many Americans of his day, it took time for him to be convinced to act on it. He was from the free state of Ohio, and his father was a vocal abolitionist. (Grants father was too vocal about a lot of things for the tastes of the soft-spoken, reserved Grant). Yet Grant fell in love with a Southern woman, whose wealthy family owned slaves. His father-in-law remained an unreconstructed Confederate even while living in Grants White House literally in the middle of Reconstruction. Was Grant wrong to marry her? Was he wrong, as his critics imply, not to impose sterner patriarchal discipline over his wife and her property, and a more unforgiving posture toward his father-in-law? Perhaps he was. But their marriage was long and happy, and Julia Grant was essential to keeping him sober when he needed her help. Dealing with the intransigence of his ultra-Yankee father and ultra-Rebel father-in-law gave Grant a unique appreciation for the nations divisions and the careful work needed to accommodate and overcome them.
In 185859, living as a farmer in Missouri after washing out of the Army and barely making ends meet, Grant was loaned and then given a slave (William Jones) belonging to his father-in-law. The historical record is somewhat sketchy as to exactly what happened, but Grant was too poor, and too polite, to say no, and had he done so, the man would have remained enslaved. Grant did his best to treat his workers, slave and free, with the republican attitude of equality: He worked in the field alongside his own field hands, and irked his neighbors by hiring free black laborers. He reputedly stepped in once to stop the whipping of a neighbors slave; if he did, we know that when U. S. Grant put himself into a conflict, he didnt back down. His farm, however, was doing badly enough that Grant was reduced to selling firewood on the streets to bring in some cash.
In March 1859, with his own finances teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, Grant petitioned for a court order to free William Jones. This was two years after the Dred Scott case, which itself had come out of the Missouri courts hard turn against emancipation in the 1850s. True, Grant also cited Dred Scott to explain to his father-in-law why Julia did not want to travel with her own household slaves. It is also true that Grant may have then been unable to support Jones and keep him employed. But freeing Jones rather than selling him was a fairly radical act, and a costly one, for the virtually impoverished son-in-law of a Missouri slaveholder in 1859. Ta-Nehisi Coates, who is more or less a secular saint to the mob, was once willing to acknowledge this: He inherited a slave through his wife, and he freed the slave. But you have to understand what that meant in the 1850s. . . . It would be like walking away from your house, but he just did it on moral principle.
Grant at the time was politically leaning toward the anti-immigrant Know-Nothings, although he moved on from that as well. During the course of the Civil War, he never led the way on ending slavery, but he was more willing to take in runaway slaves and turn them into soldiers than were some other Union generals, notably Sherman. Grants own checkered life story alcoholism, financial failures made him empathetic to hard-luck stories, and the tattered escapees arriving at his lines were that.
The war changed Grants views. He was genuinely heroic as heroic as any figure of his time in standing for the civil rights of black Americans during Reconstruction. He didnt always win, but he never stopped fighting. Yet he also understood that the path forward required the help of white Southerners. He made a point to let Lee and his men go home with their dignity intact. He made friends with John Mosby, the notorious Gray Ghost, who eventually became a Republican ally and cheered Grants hard line against white terrorism in Louisiana. When Grant founded the Department of Justice and launched a federal crackdown on the Ku Klux Klan, his point man was his gung-ho attorney general, Amos Akerman a veteran of the Confederate army.
On the other hand, the polarizing experience of the war sometimes colored Grants views of other groups. His notorious General Orders No. 11, expelling Jews from the zone of his army, was rooted in genuine concerns about merchants trading with the enemy. It was, of course, also an overreaction steeped in anti-Semitic assumptions, and Grant spent much of his remaining public career repenting of it and building bridges with the Jewish community. The attitudes of Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan toward Native-American tribes was likewise informed in part by tribes siding with the Confederacy. Stand Watie, the last Confederate general in the field to surrender, was a leader of the Cherokee Nation. The backdrop of Grants battles with the Sioux was an 1862 uprising against the Union that resulted in the Sioux being expelled from Minnesota to South Dakota and drove even Lincoln, who avoided the death penalty whenever he could, to order the largest mass execution in American history.
Grants Native-American policies were a failure, but they failed in precisely the same way and for precisely the same reasons that every presidents policies between George Washington and Benjamin Harrison failed. He spent the first seven years of his presidency promoting a peace policy with the tribes, and was the first president to travel to the Indian Territory to meet with the chiefs. He sincerely believed that the only solution to the endless frontier conflict was for Native Americans to take up the ways of white settlers, with farms and schools. The tribes were unwilling to abandon their way of life; white settlers were unwilling to let them be; and the federal government could not let the inevitable conflicts escalate without putting them down by force, invariably siding against the tribes. Grant seems to have hoped that he could swiftly resolve the Sioux rebellion by sending out the Seventh Cavalry; defeating Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull would clear the path for a face-saving compromise. Instead, the worst happened: They defeated Custer, and neither public opinion nor national honor could walk away until the U.S. Army emerged victorious. Events on the frontier had once again spun out of presidential control. Perhaps there was a better way than Grants, but nobody ever found one.
Grant rarely spoke of his Methodist faith, but his own mores were very much in line with the evangelical Christianity of the Victorian era. That drove many of his policies, for good and ill. Grants record is blighted by his support for the anti-Catholic Blaine amendment; his presidential administration fought against Mormon polygamy, Chinese sex-trafficking, and the use of the mails to promote abortion and pornography.
Few American leaders, other than Lincoln himself, faced greater challenges to American ideals and the American people. Grant labored long and hard to meet those challenges with fairness to all, sometimes (as in economic policy) when that put him far outside his depth, and sometimes (most notably in his relationship with American Jews) when he had to rethink his own prejudices and prior opinions. A mob that would topple Grant may be the inevitable outcome of radical narratives about America; it is certainly a force unworthy of the liberties that Ulysses S. Grant did so much to secure. We could use his like today.
More from National Review
An ambulance rushed a woman in her early 50s to a Houston Methodist emergency room 10 days after her headache started. The pain was severe, but so was her fear of catching COVID-19.
Thats what family members told doctors as the woman fought for her life, intubated and unable to talk. Her headache was caused by a ruptured vessel that prompted blood to pool in her brain. She did not survive.
Deaths caused by COVID-19 continue to climb, claiming more than 120,000 lives in the U.S., but there is another group of people indirectly affected by this illness. Health care providers are worried about the ailments they havent been seeing strokes and heart attacks, for instance as people avoid emergency rooms for fear of catching COVID-19 or taking needed resources from other people.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Gov. Abbott calls coronavirus surge unacceptable, urges Texans to wear masks in public
And despite a recent spike in the states coronavirus cases, Texas Medical Center leaders Thursday said they have surge plans in place and can successfully manage capacity while treating COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. Gov. Greg Abbott has restricted elective surgeries, but people experiencing emergency symptoms unrelated to COVID-19 should still go to the hospital.
There are many individuals hoping that their symptoms really arent a stroke and hoping that their symptoms really arent a heart attack, said Darrell Pile, CEO of the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council. And that continues to be a significant concern. One needless death means that COVID has secretly taken yet another person.
Data from the council, an organization in which hospitals and emergency medical services agencies share best practices for serious medical emergencies and cooperate when preparing for and responding to disasters, show a drop in patients who cannot postpone treatment.
At 18 hospitals in nine Houston-area counties, stroke patients declined 27 percent during the first four months of this year, compared with the same period last year. STEMI heart attacks, which often require quickly inserting a stent to open a blocked blood vessel, were down 16 percent across 13 hospitals during that same period.
EMS data in the nine-county area say the number of times agencies resuscitated patients increased from 467 people in March to 476 in April to 497 in May. Similarly, deaths on scene have gone from 327 cases in January and 322 in February to 377 in March and 433 in April.
We have scared our customers, Pile said, and that is regrettable because these customers must treat their symptoms as an emergency. And we want them to know we will protect them.
Nationwide, 4 out of 5 people were concerned about contracting COVID-19 if they needed to go to an emergency room, according to a poll of 2,201 adults conducted on behalf of the American College of Emergency Physicians. And nearly a third of respondents had delayed or avoided seeking medical care.
This includes screening appointments for cervical cancer, colon cancer and breast cancer, which declined between 86 percent and 94 percent in March 2020, compared with mean volumes from Jan. 1, 2017, through Jan. 19, 2020, according to research in the Epic Health Research Network journal.
Houston Methodist is doing email blasts, social media posts and YouTube videos to emphasize the hospitals safety. All patients have their temperature taken and are screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering the emergency room. They are given a mask if they dont have one, and possible COVID-19 cases are sent to a different area of the emergency department that has its own air handling unit to recirculate and filter the air several times each hour.
Waiting rooms have been reconfigured for social distancing. People suspected of having COVID-19 cannot have visitors, and other patients are allowed one visitor at a time (with some exceptions such as visiting a woman in labor or an older family member who is expected to die from natural causes).
Dr. Jeremy Finkelstein, medical director of emergency medicine for Houston Methodists eight acute care hospitals and eight free-standing emergency care centers, said the pandemics first few weeks were quieter than expected. He thought there would be COVID-19 patients in addition to the normal flow of emergency patients.
It was a little perplexing to us during the time thinking wed be overrun with patients, he said.
At the peak of the pandemic, around mid-April, the overall ER volume was down 48 percent. Nearly every patient who did show up had a complaint related to COVID-19.
Thats similar to what was seen on a national level. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed electronic health data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program and found that emergency department visits declined 42 percent from a mean of 2.1 million per week between March 31 and April 27, 2019, to 1.2 million a week between March 29 and April 25, 2020.
Some of the decline at Houston Methodist might have been offset by virtual visits. Across its hospitals, and not just the emergency rooms, virtual doctor visits increased to more than 2,000 a day, up from roughly 45 a day in the year before the pandemic.
But a significant part of the decline was caused by people delaying treatment and thats becoming evident now as ER volume starts to increase.
People on average are much sicker with a more advanced disease, Finkelstein said.
In many cases, time is of the essence. Dr. Jim Grotta is director of the Houston Mobile Stroke Unit, which has an ambulance specifically for responding to strokes. Theres a drug that can dissolve the blood clot in the brain, which causes the stroke, and prevent permanent disability. But this must be administered quickly.
His ambulance brings this drug to 911 calls that are potential strokes, but the unit is called only if the patient is believed to have experienced stroke symptoms for less then 4 hours. The drug is most effective within the first hour or so.
Ever since March, weve noticed a drop in the number of stroke calls, Grotta said. I dont know how much of the reduction in alerts is the result of people not calling at all or delaying, but theres definitely been a drop.
In May, for instance, the stroke unit responded to a 911 call that a 75-year-old woman was experiencing strokelike symptoms. But they arrived more than four hours after symptoms began as the woman, afraid of catching COVID-19, delayed calling for help. The drug could not be administered, and the woman was paralyzed.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston's hot weather alone is not likely to squelch COVID-19
Its very frustrating and disappointing, said Grotta, who is also a neurologist at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, because we know the patients outcome would have been better.
Like Houston Methodist, hospital systems including Memorial Hermann and CHI St. Lukes Health are taking precautions to ensure that patients dont catch COVID-19 at their facilities. This includes screening people before they enter a hospital, separating COVID-19 patients, testing non-COVID patients for the disease prior to some procedures, sanitizing between each patient visit and enforcing social distancing.
Even though were seeing an increase in COVID cases, it is wise to seek emergency care if you have an emergency need, Pile said. Please dont delay. Hospitals will care for you and protect you.
andrea.leinfelder@chron.com
twitter.com/a_leinfelder
New Delhi, June 23 : BJP President JP Nadda resurrected the issue of the mysterious circumstances under which, decades ago, Jan Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee died in Kashmir.
Nadda was speaking on Tuesday on Mookerjee's death anniversary. The BJP President blamed it on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for not conducting a fair inquiry.
"After the sacrifice of Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee ji, an investigation was demanded. Why Jawaharlal Nehru did not conduct the investigation is also a big mystery," Nadda said.
He did not stop at that. In a sensational allegation, Nadda alleged Mookerjee died hours before his hospitalisation.
He also went into the timing of Mookerjee's death. Nadda said, "We all know that on June 23, 1953, at about 11 o'clock, it was declared that Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee was no more. He had died five hours earlier. It is said that he was hospitalised and there was no record of hospitalisation." Nadda added that Mookherjee breathed his last in a "mysterious way in Srinagar".
Highlighting how the Jan Singh founder was against the inner line permit in Jammu & Kashmir and against special status for it, Nadda blamed Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah for disregarding his concerns. The BJP President alleged that the two were "conspiring something" ("Khichdi pak rahi thi"). Nadda also claimed that Mookerjee was against the Nehru-Liaqat agreement.
However, connecting the past to the present, the BJP President said his "sacrifice didn't gain vain" as Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated the contentious Article 370, last year.
Shyama Prasad Mookerjee was a minister in Jawaharlal Nehru's Cabinet. But he quit after differences between the two leaders grew.
LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, maker of GUINNESS, has today announced a new global programme to support pubs and bars to welcome customers back and recover following the COVID-19 pandemic. "Raising the Bar" will be a two-year programme available from July 2020.
Through "Raising the Bar", Diageo will provide $100 million to support the recovery of major hospitality centres, including: New York, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Sydney and beyond. This $100 million programme includes the $20 million Community Fund announced in the United States on 12 June 2020.
Diageo designed the "Raising the Bar" programme following a global survey of bar owners to identify what they need to reopen after lockdown. Their top priorities include hygiene measures, digital support and practical equipment to transform how their outlets will work.
The "Raising the Bar" programme will provide targeted support to help pay for the physical equipment needed for outlets to re-open. For example, in the UK, Diageo will provide initial funding for: 'hygiene kits' with high-quality permanent sanitiser dispense units, medical grade hand sanitiser and a range of personal protection equipment (such as masks and gloves); help to pubs and bars to establish partnerships with online reservations and cashless systems; mobile bars and outdoor equipment.
From 24 June 2020, bar owners will be able to register their interest for the "Raising the Bar" programme via www.diageobaracademy.com globally and www.mydiageo.com in the UK and Ireland. Bar owners will receive regular updates on best practice training and resources and be able to participate in global surveys to share insights, as they build back their businesses.
Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive of Diageo commented: "Pubs and bars sit at the heart of every community. We have launched "Raising the Bar" as so many outlets have been impacted by this crisis and badly need help to open their doors again.'"
"We are calling on governments around the world to provide long-term recovery packages to help the hospitality sector. These businesses play an essential role in bringing people together to socialise and celebrate - something that we have all missed so much during this terrible crisis - and sustain hundreds of millions of jobs, which provide a first foot on the employment ladder for young people."
The UN's International Labour Organization has forecast that 436 million enterprises worldwide face serious disruption and one in six young people will be unemployed due to COVID-19. The hospitality sector will be one of the hardest hit, as pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants provide hundreds of millions of jobs for many full and part-time workers.
The impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality sector has been widespread, with the closure of venues the world over. As governments begin to ease lockdown measures, the public want to come together again to connect with their community and socialise safely. By providing access to free digital support, technology, training and equipment, Diageo aims to help bars open their doors again.
Notes to editors:
UN's International Labour Organization forecast is available via: www.ilo.org
To be eligible to participate in the $100 million of targeted support from the "Raising the Bar" programme, outlets:
of targeted support from the "Raising the Bar" programme, outlets: Must be registered as a legal entity (for tax purposes) or equivalent in each jurisdiction
Must have been operating for minimum period of 12 months before introduction of any national or local lockdown restrictions due to COVID-19, affecting its ability to operate in a business as usual manner
Must have a beer and/or spirits licence or equivalent
Must demonstrate at least one way in which they are or plan to "Raise the Bar" in their community, including: promoting inclusion and diversity and job-creation in disadvantaged communities; promoting positive drinking and tackling harm or anti-social behavior; focusing on sustainability or community support; and providing skills training, especially those from disadvantaged groups.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
For further information please contact:
Diageo Press Office
Press@diageo.com
+44-(0)-7803-856-200
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1195318/Diageo_Raising_the_Bar.jpg
Trail of smoke seen in the sky above Saudi Arabia's capital city of Riyadh as locals heard loud bangs believed to be ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis targeting civilians on June 23, 2020. (Reuters TV)
Saudi-Led Coalition Intercepts 3 Ballistic Missiles Launched by Houthis: State TV
CAIROThe Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said early on Tuesday it intercepted three ballistic missiles launched by Yemens Houthis, the sectarian Yemeni militia, towards the Saudi Arabian cities of Najran and Jizan, according to the Saudi state TV.
Colonel Turki al-Malki, spokesman for the coalition, said in a statement the missiles were targeting civilians.
The coalition also intercepted eight drones laden with explosives and launched towards the kingdom on Monday, according to the coalition. The drones were also launched by the Iran-aligned Houthis, it said.
Four police officers in Osaka Prefecture have come under scrutiny after admitting to smoking marijuana.
Three of the officers, aged 20-22, said that they were introduced to the drug by Ryota Kurakawa, a 22-year-old officer stationed at the Sakai Police Station, reports Mainichi Broadcasting System (June 18).
On June 4, police arrested Kurakawa after 0.16 grams of marijuana was found in a bag in Kishiwada City. aI have smoked [marijuana], the suspect said upon being accused of possessing marijuana.
An examination of his smartphone led police to the other officers, all of whom are stationed at different stations. During questioning, they also admitted to smoking marijuana, Osaka Prefectural Police said.
The other three suspects attended the same police academy as Kurakawa. They are now confined to their residences. Though they are likely to be disciplined, there is little chance that they will be arrested due to lack of evidence, police said.
Kurakawa joined the force in 2018. He was assigned to the Sakai Police Station the following year. He is currently stationed at a koban police box.
aUpon obtaining the results of the investigation, we will deal with [the matter] harshly,a the Osaka Prefectural Police said in a statement.
Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal
Dions is making a crash landing in Roswell with the opening of the New Mexican pizza chains 20th location.
The new location at 1350 South Main Street will open Thursday, June 25, according to Dions marketing director Deena Crawley.
Crawley said Dions received numerous requests to bring the chain down to Roswell.
Its something that weve really thought about for many years and just all the cards landed in the right place, she said.
The new location will offer a limited menu but will still feature all of the regular Dions pizzas, Crawley said. Gourmet pizzas will not be available however.
The really popular items are still on the menu, she said.
Although the store wont have an alien theme, a commemorative T-shirt featuring a UFO beaming up a pizza slice was released for the occasion.
The Roswell location will open following all of the mandated health restrictions. About 70 employees were hired for the store.
The Supreme Courts recent opinion that the 1964 Civil Rights Acts prohibition against sex discrimination offers protections for LGBT identity groups has raised eyebrows and ire. But its not surprising: The decisions author, Justice Neil Gorsuch, long ago made clear that he operates from false premises. One of these is whats called textualism, which is not at all the same as originalism.
Conservatives also err, in my view, in claiming that Gorsuch has redefined sex. In reality, his ruling is instead based on a certain rationalization. Harvard law professor Noah Feldman, while essentially applauding Gorsuchs lawyer-craft, explained it well.
As applied to Title VII, the classic 1964 anti-discrimination law, the textualist idea is very simple, he wrote June 15. The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. To discriminate against somebody because of sexual orientation necessarily entails discriminating on the basis of sex. After all, if you're discriminating against a man because he is attracted to men, you would not be discriminating against him if he were a woman who is attracted to men.
The same is true for transgender status, he continued. if [sic] you are discriminating against somebody for identifying with a gender that differs from their biological sex at birth, you are necessarily discriminating on the basis of sex because you would not be discriminating against the person if they had the opposite biological sex.
(Note: By this logic, bisexuals wouldnt be protected because the behavior a person could be fired for being attracted to both sexes would be the same for both sexes. Although, some future judge will no doubt spin this, too.)
Now, realize that the above isnt even necessarily dictated by textualism, the legal theory holding that a laws application should be based on a plain reading of its text, as opposed to its framers original intent or some other guide. After all, theres a difference between discriminating on the basis of sex and on the basis of sexual attraction or gender identification.
Consider: If an employer wont hire anyone with same-sex sexual attraction, there is no sex discrimination because he will reject lesbians along with homosexuals (he only might be engaging in sex discrimination if he applied the no same-sex sexual attraction prohibition to only one sex).
Not only is the same true of so-called transgenderism an employer could reject all people identifying as the sex theyre not but theres another factor: The business owner could simply be rejecting anyone who misrepresents himself.
Some may now respond that a man claiming womanhood really is a woman. But this propositions validity is irrelevant. The fact remains that the hypothetical employer is discriminating based on perceived misrepresentation, not sex. This is just as how an employer rejecting someone with species dysphoria, who claims to be a ferret, isnt discriminating based on species, but possibly misrepresentation or concerns about the prospective hires mental stability. (Though Gorsuch would no doubt say that such discrimination is okay because the employer wouldnt hire an actual ferret, either.)
Of course, some will still prefer Gorsuchs argument. Yet this conflict and confusion merely illustrate how textualism doesnt live up to its billing. Late Justice Antonin Scalia is known for pushing the theory (one of his great mistakes), which he did because in his mind, textualism discouraged judges from using interpretation to make the law say something different from what the law actually said, explained Feldman.
Yet while Scalia would no doubt disapprove of Gorsuchs textual interpretation, this is yet another example of how there just is no simple formula for preventing judicial activism; a judge lacking intellectual honesty and philosophical soundness can always tendentiously spin a ruling.
This said, Gorsuchs opinion might not have been rendered if he adhered to the only legitimate legal philosophy: originalism. As Justice Samuel Alito pointed out in his dissent, no one in 1964 even imagined that banning sex discrimination would include prohibitions against homophobic or transphobic discrimination; in fact, neither of these terms even existed, and transgender status hadnt been conjured up yet.
By the way, Gorsuch essentially admitted as much, writing in his opinion that when the express terms of a statute give us one answer and extratextual considerations suggest another, its no contest. Only the written word is the law, and all persons are entitled to its benefit.
Moreover, he also rather haughtily insisted that the limits of the drafters imagination supply no reason to ignore the laws demands.
Now, the contrast between textual tomfoolery and sound judicial theory can be illustrated with a simple analogy: 10-year-old twins Timmy and Oliver and five-year-old Malcolm are siblings. One day mom hears Malcolm crying wretchedly, investigates, and learns that the two older boys had been punching him.
After scolding the twins, the mother warns, Now, stop hitting Malcolm! If you hit him again and I come in here and find him bawling, youre gonna be in big trouble!
Yet an hour later Malcolm is crying his eyes out, again. The mother learns that Oliver understood not to hurt his kid brother and that Timmy is the culprit. Instead of being contrite, however, Timmy says, Mommy, you said not to hit Malcolm; you didnt say anything about not choking him and twisting his armand thats all I did!
Then too-clever-by-half Timmy adds, The limits of your imagination, mommy, are no reason to ignore your rules demands. Only what you said matters and Im entitled to the rules benefits!
In the above analogy, Oliver is the originalist, understanding and accepting his mothers commands spirit. Timmy is the textualist, doing things not expressly forbidden by her rules language even while knowing it contravenes her intent.
The problem with this philosophy is that insofar as you dont consider what was intended, you increase the chances of experiencing the unintended. Gorsuchs approach is every bit as maddening as Timmys (because its the same), as it places an unrealistic burden on legislators. If their laws are to meet Gorsuchs textualist standard for being applied as intended, the legislators must have godlike capabilities: They must see into the future so they can craft language covering every social innovation, bizarre fashion or collective insanity that may eventually, one day, manifest itself.
So, its bad enough we have the law of unintended consequences. Now we have textualists turning the law of unintended consequences into a legal philosophy and legislating it from the bench.
I dont know Gorsuch personally, but he wouldnt be a very pleasant person to associate with if he were a Timmy the Textualist in everyday life. Would you thus conduct yourself, parsing every friends words to seek a loophole and essentially punishing him for not being a seer who speaks like Mr. Spock? Youd have few friends and deserve none.
Interestingly, Justice Gorsuch and his fellow travelers arent the first textualists. Two-thousand years ago they were called Pharisees, a group of pseudo-intellectuals whom Jesus excoriated for following the letter of the law but ignoring its spirit. Its tragic that were back to that, but convenient for todays Pharisees.
It is ironic, though, that in order to avoid abiding by the intent of laws from a half century ago, some today are resorting to a mistake from two millennia ago.
Photo credit: official portrait
Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on Gab (preferably) or Twitter, or log on to SelwynDuke.com.
As a physician, Im delighted about this new resource center, which provides valuable information, education and training on VUR and Deflux. - Dr. Christopher Cooper, Board-Certified Pediatric Urologist of the University of Iowa Stead Family Childrens Hospital
Palette Life Sciences, Inc., a fully integrated life sciences company dedicated to improving patient outcomes, today announces the launch of the Deflux Learning Center, a valuable new online resource to support pediatric urologists who treat vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). The Deflux Learning Center contains comprehensive VUR and Deflux-related information, education, training, tools and resources to help pediatric urologists and pediatricians learn more about VUR and treatment options and provide them with educational materials for referring physicians, administrators and caregivers.
The Deflux Learning Center features:
The PedSpace a new podcast series sponsored by Palette Life Sciences, featuring physicians discussing pediatric urology, VUR and Deflux, as well as broader topics, like telemedicine and more.
Educational videos and webinars including Deflux training videos and webinars on how and when to use Deflux, the injection technique, and content for pediatric urologists to download and share with referring physicians regarding diagnosing and grading VUR.
Clinical articles containing important scientific information pertaining to diagnosing, grading and treating VUR.
Brochures and downloadable resources and tools including physician and caregiver resources, product instructions for use, reimbursement information, and more.
Events Calendar featuring information about upcoming conferences, trainings and other industry events and meetings for physicians.
As a physician, Im delighted about this new resource center, which provides valuable information, education and training on VUR and Deflux, said Dr. Christopher Cooper, Board-Certified Pediatric Urologist of University of Iowa Stead Family Childrens Hospital.
"At Palette Life Sciences, we are delighted to support pediatric urologists and their work to improve patient outcomes. Through the new Deflux Learning Center, we have provided a wide variety of resources that are accessible from anywhere and will greatly help them treat VUR by engaging in new educational content, said Rich Low, Head of Marketing.
About VUR
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), sometimes referred to as urinary or bladder reflux, is a serious pediatric urinary condition in which urine refluxes from the bladder through one or both ureters toward the kidneys. This is due to an abnormality in the region where the ureter meets the bladder. Normally, a valve at the entrance to the bladder prevents backward flow of urine. Infected urine can reflux back into the ureters and, in severe cases, into the kidneys which may lead to long-term kidney damage. Deflux is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that has been proven safe and effective in children with VUR grades II-IV. Deflux is a gel made from two tissue-friendly polysaccharides (types of sugars) Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid (NASHA) and dextranomer (Dx) and is used as a tissue bulking agent that is injected around the ureteral opening to prevent urine from flowing back up from the bladder through the ureters.
About Deflux
Deflux is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that has been proven safe and effective in children with VUR. Deflux is a gel made from two tissue-friendly polysaccharides (types of sugars) hyaluronic acid (HA) and dextranomer (Dx) and is used as a tissue bulking agent that is injected inside the ureteral opening to prevent urine from flowing back up from the bladder through the ureters. Learn more at Deflux.com.
About Palette Life Sciences AB
Palette Life Sciences is a fully integrated life sciences company. Palettes products improve patient outcomes in urology and urogynecology disorders, colorectal conditions, radiotherapy, and interventional oncology procedures. The Companys portfolio of available products includes Deflux, Solesta and Barrigel. Palette Life Sciences moves rapidly to leverage novel applications of existing technologies to create breakthrough medical solutions. This focus enables the company to serve those often overlooked by traditional medical companies and improve patient quality of life. Led by experienced healthcare executives, Palette Life Sciences is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with offices in Santa Barbara, California, and Dallas, Texas. Learn more at http://www.palettelifesciences.com.
2020 Palette Life Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved.
Deflux and NASHA are registered trademarks. APM203A
By PTI
NEW DELHI: The US move to suspend work visas like H-1B till year-end may hurt the Indian IT industry's margins as they will have to resort to more expensive local hiring to replace Indians, according to analysts.
A section of analysts thinks that Indian IT companies which have been ramping up local hiring can aid them in mitigating the impact of this development.
US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to suspend issuing of H-1B visas - popular among Indian IT professionals - along with other foreign work visas for the rest of the year, aimed at helping millions of Americans who have lost their jobs due to the current economic crisis.
ALSO READ: H-1B visa ban order 'misguided, harmful to US economy': IT body Nasscom
The order that comes into effect on June 24, is expected to impact several American and Indian companies who were issued H-1B visas by the US government for the fiscal year 2021 beginning October 1.
"This proclamation will have negative implications for the Indian IT sector, particularly on margins (we) believe companies with lower levels of locally hired workers will see a greater negative impact," a Goldman Sachs Equity Research report said.
The report noted that Indian IT outsourcing companies have been consistently working towards reducing their reliance on H-1B/L1 visas since 2017, and focusing on the locally hired workforce to create more jobs in the US economy.
ALSO READ: Google CEO Sundar Pichai 'disappointed' by Donald Trump's immigration proclamation to freeze visas
Centrum Broking IT analyst, Madhu Babu, however, said there would be no impact of the development on Indian IT companies' financial performance.
"The dependence of Indian IT companies on work visas has been coming down. With COVID-19, there are travel restrictions and it is not clear how many people would have travelled given the current circumstances. Also, people on H-1B visas in the IUS can seek extensions. So, we don't see an impact," Babu said.
On BSE, IT stocks of companies like TCS and Infosys were trading higher than the previous close. India's largest IT firm Tata Consultancy Services - in its FY20 annual report - had said it has hired 20,000 people in the US in the last five years.
ALSO READ: US Congressmen urge Donald Trump to revoke temporary suspension of H-1B visas
Infosys too had committed to hiring 10,000 locals in the US. In FY 2019, the total approved H-1B petitions for initial employment for the top seven Indian companies formed only 6 per cent of aggregate 85,000 H-1B petitions subject to cap, as per available estimates.
The Goldman Sachs report said local hires account for as much as 45-70 per cent of the employees in the US for the top 5 Indian IT service firms, reducing the dependence on H1-B visas.
It cited the example of Infosys, saying in FY2016, only 35 per cent of the Bengaluru-headquartered company's US-based workforce was locally hired.
ALSO READ: How will Trump's H-1B visa freeze affect Indian IT industry
This has now been ramped up to 63 per cent. Interestingly, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had in April said that nearly 2.75 lakh unique registrations were submitted during the initial registration period.
There were more than 40,000 registration accounts created, and nearly 81 per cent of submitted registrations were for potential beneficiaries from India (67.7 per cent) and China (13.2 per cent), it added.
Apart from Indian IT companies, global tech giants like Google and others also hire Indians for high-skill jobs in the US.
The development comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted businesses globally.
IT companies have had to enable work from home for a significant portion of their workforce to ensure business continuity for clients.
ALSO READ: Suspension of work visas to free up to 5.25 lakh jobs in US, says White House
Goldman Sachs said COVID-19 has led to significant changes in the delivery model for Indian IT companies from large concentrated delivery centres to distributed work from home arrangements, and in the medium-to-longer term, this is likely to make enterprises more comfortable with remote working arrangements and potentially increase offshoring.
TCS, Infosys and HCL Technologies were not available for comments. On Twitter, topics like Indian IT and H1B visas were among the top trends.
Google CEO Sunder Pichai has also expressed disappointment over the proclamation and said he would stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.
Human rights bodies, in particular those working among immigrant communities, as well many American lawmakers have also urged Trump to revoke the suspension.
Industry body Nasscom has termed the proclamation as "misguided" and "harmful to the US economy" and said this could possibly force more work to be performed offshore since the local talent is not available in the country.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a landmark federal civil rights law from the 1960s protects gay and transgender workers, a watershed ruling for LGBTQ rights written by one of the court's most conservative justices.
Justice Neil Gorsuch and Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court's liberals in the 6-to-3 ruling. They said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination "because of sex," includes gay and transgender employees.
The decision was a surprise, and not the only one of the day. Even though the court's conservative majority has been strengthened, it announced Monday that it was turning down a batch of challenges from gun rights groups eager to expand Second Amendment rights. And it rejected the Trump administration's request to review California's attempts to provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants.
The court's LGBTQ rights ruling is the major decision of the term so far and illustrates the difficulty of predicting how the independent-minded court will rule. Over the next several weeks, the justices will announce the fates of the program extending protection from deportation to undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children, a Louisiana law restricting abortion access, three cases important to religious conservatives, and President Donald Trump's ongoing battle to keep his private financial records from Congress and a New York prosecutor.
Providing additional interest to Monday's decision was its author. Gorsuch, Trump's first appointee to the high court, is such a favorite of conservatives that "But, Gorsuch" has become a catchphrase among those who are not enamored of the president but love his judicial choices.
But the 52-year-old from Colorado signaled during oral arguments that he thought the text of the law - "because of sex" - favored the plaintiffs' interpretation, and his straightforward opinion read in places as if inspired by their briefs.
"We must decide whether an employer can fire someone simply for being homosexual or transgender. The answer is clear," Gorsuch wrote. "An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids."
Gorsuch and Roberts - the chief justice was on the losing side when the court voted 5 to 4 five years ago that the Constitution provided a right for gay people to marry - were joined by liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
"This is a huge victory for LGBTQ equality," said James Esseks of the American Civil Liberties Union. He added: "The Supreme Court's clarification that it's unlawful to fire people because they're LGBTQ is the result of decades of advocates fighting for our rights. The court has caught up to the majority of our country, which already knows that discriminating against LGBTQ people is both unfair and against the law."
Many conservatives were appalled by the decision, including some who had worked the hardest for Gorsuch's confirmation.
"Justice [Antonin] Scalia would be disappointed that his successor has bungled textualism so badly today, for the sake of appealing to college campuses and editorial boards," said Carrie Severino of the group Judicial Crisis Network.
"You can't redefine the meaning of words themselves and still be doing textualism," she said. "This is an ominous sign for anyone concerned about the future of representative democracy."
Trump, whose administration has moved to ban transgender service members and recently backtracked on medical protections for gay and transgender Americans, was silent about the decision for much of the day, and then ambivalent.
"Well, they've ruled," he told reporters. "I've read the decision. And some people were surprised. But they've ruled, and we live with their decision; that's what it's all about. We live with the decision of the Supreme Court. Very powerful. A very powerful decision, actually. But they have so ruled."
His presumptive Democratic opponent in November's election, former vice president Joe Biden, was effusive.
"Today's Supreme Court decision is a momentous step forward for our country," Biden said in a statement. "Before today, in more than half of states, LGBTQ+ people could get married one day and be fired from their job the next day under state law, simply because of who they are or who they love."
He signed off: "Happy Pride!"
Before lower courts began to change past rulings, judges for 50 years had interpreted Title VII's prohibition on discrimination because of sex to mean only that employers could not treat women worse than men, and vice versa, not that discrimination against LGBTQ employees was prohibited.
That is the view of the law the Trump administration advanced, and that dissenting Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh embraced.
"If every single living American had been surveyed in 1964, it would have been hard to find any who thought that discrimination because of sex meant discrimination because of sexual orientation - not to mention gender identity, a concept that was essentially unknown at the time," wrote Alito, who was joined by Thomas in his dissent.
The dissenters said their colleagues were changing the law, not interpreting it.
Regardless of whether LGBTQ workers should be protected, Kavanaugh wrote, "our role is not to make or amend the law. As written, Title VII does not prohibit employment discrimination because of sexual orientation."
Kavanaugh said the majority opinion "rewrites history."
"Seneca Falls was not Stonewall. The women's rights movement was not (and is not) the gay rights movement, although many people obviously support or participate in both," he wrote. "So to think that sexual orientation discrimination is just a form of sex discrimination is not just a mistake of language and psychology, but also a mistake of history and sociology."
Alito said the effects of the decision would be far-reaching and impossible to predict.
One example he provided: "For women who have been victimized by sexual assault or abuse, the experience of seeing an unclothed person with the anatomy of a male in a confined and sensitive location such as a bathroom or locker room can cause serious psychological harm."
He said the majority did not address how the ruling would affect housing, religious employers or sports.
"The entire federal judiciary will be mired for years in disputes about the reach of the Court's reasoning."
Gorsuch agreed that the ruling addressed only the issues that sprung from the employment discrimination the law addresses, but said that the most important step was to provide a clear answer to that.
"It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex," Gorsuch wrote, and loaded his opinion with common examples.
"Consider, for example, an employer with two employees, both of whom are attracted to men. The two individuals are, to the employer's mind, materially identical in all respects, except that one is a man and the other a woman. If the employer fires the male employee for no reason other than the fact he is attracted to men, the employer discriminates against him for traits or actions it tolerates in his female colleague."
It was exactly the message that lawyers for the gay and transgender employees had made.
Gorsuch acknowledged that lawmakers in 1964 probably were not intending to protect gay and transgender workers. But the words of the statute they wrote do that, he said.
"Likely, they weren't thinking about many of the Act's consequences that have become apparent over the years, including its prohibition against discrimination on the basis of motherhood or its ban on the sexual harassment of male employees," he wrote. "But the limits of the drafters' imagination supply no reason to ignore the law's demands."
He said the decision was narrow - "we do not purport to address bathrooms, locker rooms, or anything else of the kind" - and that there might be constitutional protections or other federal laws shielding religious employers, but that also was not before the court. "How these doctrines protecting religious liberty interact with Title VII are questions for future cases too," he wrote.
Kelly Shackelford, president of the conservative First Liberty Institute, said in a statement: "We are grateful that the Supreme Court was clear in the opinion that this federal statute does not overrule peoples' religious freedoms. We will find out in the very near future whether this is a hollow promise or a truthful assurance that the religious liberty of all Americans will be protected."
Major employers had urged the court to find that Title VII provided protection, and unions were happy as well. Jerame Davis, the executive director of Pride at Work, a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ employment rights funded by the AFL-CIO and other unions, said "the Supreme Court has seen our humanity."
Others found a symbolic importance to the decision beyond the employment aspects.
Indiana University law professor Steve Sanders noted that Gorsuch, in writing his opinion, used the preferred pronouns of the transgender plaintiff, Aimee Stephens.
"It may prove very significant that the opinion implicitly takes seriously the idea that a person can transition genders," Sanders said in a statement. "That remains a controversial concept among many conservatives."
The court combined two cases to consider whether gay workers are protected under the law. Gerald Bostock claimed that he was fired from his job as a social worker in Clayton County, Ga., after he became more open about being gay, including joining a gay softball league. Donald Zarda said he was fired as a skydiving instructor after joking with a female client to whom he was strapped for a tandem dive that he was gay. (Zarda died in 2014.)
The transgender case was brought by Stephens, who worked for years at a Michigan funeral home before being fired after informing the owners and colleagues of her gender transition. Stephens died of kidney failure in May, after seeing her case argued at the Supreme Court in October.
Before her death, Stephens prepared a statement through the American Civil Liberties Union in anticipation of a possible ruling in her favor.
"Firing me because I'm transgender was discrimination, plain and simple, and I am glad the court recognized that what happened to me is wrong and illegal," she said. "I am thankful that the court said my transgender siblings and I have a place in our laws - it made me feel safer and more included in society."
The cases were the first the court heard since the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, for whom both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh clerked.
Kennedy had written the majority opinion in all of the court's major cases that advanced gay rights, including the 2015 decision that said gay couples had the constitutional right to marry.
More than 70 friend-of-the-court briefs were filed in the discrimination case, dividing states, religious orders and members of Congress. More than 200 of the nation's largest employers supported the workers.
The Trump administration's position put it at odds with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which decided in 2015 that gay and transgender people were federally protected.
Treating a man who is attracted to men differently from a woman who is attracted to men is discrimination, the EEOC reasoned.
Most appellate courts had come to agree with the EEOC, even when they had not done so in the past.
The sexual orientation cases are Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., and Altitude Express v. Zarda. The other case is R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC.
- - -
The Washington Post's Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Eli Rosenberg, Samantha Schmidt and Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report.
One side of the Order of St Michael and St George. (PA)
A petition is calling for one of the Queens highest honours to be redesigned as campaigners say it resembles a white man killing a black man.
Thousands of people have signed a change.org petition which was started last week, noting a similarity between the medal for the Order of St Michael and St George and the way George Floyd died in Minneapolis.
The badge of the order has St George fighting the dragon on one side, and the archangel St Michael trampling Satan on the other.
On the petition, Tracy Reeve wrote: The image on the Honorary Knights/Dames Commander (KCMG/DCMG) star is a white skinned angel stood on the head/neck of a black skinned devil.
This is a highly offensive image, it is also reminiscent of the recent murder of George Floyd by the white policeman in the same manner presented here in this medal.
We the undersigned are calling for this medal to completely redesigned in a more appropriate way and for an official apology to be given for the offence it has given!
Angelina Jolie is an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. (Getty Images)
The Queen with the Duke of Kent, the Grand Master of the Order (centre right) and the Lord Mayor of the City of London after a Service of the Order of St Michael and St George. (PA)
Read more: Prince Harry backs review of rugby chant 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'
Many of the signatories have agreed that the medal needs updating or modernising.
The Order of St Michael and St George was founded in 1818 by the then prince regent, who became George IV, when the Ionian islands were placed under British protection.
The order recognised the distinguished citizens of the Islands and then Malta, and now honours service in British territories and foreign affairs.
Sir Simon Woolley, the director and one of the founders of Operation Black Vote, told The Guardian: The original image may have been of St Michael slaying Satan, but the figure has no horns or tail and is clearly a black man. It is a shocking depiction, and it is even more shocking that that image could be presented to ambassadors representing this country abroad.
For most black and brown people, there is nothing good about the empire. Most people will see this as an image of George Floyd on a global scale and a symbol of white supremacy.
Story continues
Michael Palin with his medals after being appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. (Getty Images)
Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'feeling' tensions in US as Black Lives Matter protests continue
The Queen is in the order, and the Duke of Kent is the Grand Master. Others in the order include actor Angelina Jolie, astronaut Tim Peake, presenter and actor Michael Palin, and several former governor-generals of Commonwealth nations.
There are 125 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 375 Knights and Dames Commander, and 1750 Companions.
The Cabinet Office has been contacted by Yahoo UK.
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QUEBECA major forest fire north of Lac-St-Jean remained out of control Monday, but authorities said they are hopeful that rain forecast for later this week will help firefighters battling the blaze.
The fire, which started in an area called Chutes-des-Passes last week, has grown to cover an area of more than 72,000 hectares, but forest fire prevention teams said its expansion had been slowing.
Heavy rain is forecast from Tuesday evening through Wednesday, which should help douse the flames and allow firefighters and water bombers easier access to the area.
Quebecs Forest Minister Pierre Dufour said an improperly extinguished campfire is the likely cause behind the massive blaze in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region, a northern area that includes mostly chalets and fishing camps, but no communities.
Extra firefighters and equipment have arrived or are expected from Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta in the coming days.
In another fire on the radar of provincial authorities in Riviere-Ouelle, in the Lower St-Lawrence northeast of Quebec City, 50 people were forced from their homes as the smoke caused by a fire in a bog is creating heavy smoke and poor air quality.
Authorities report about 20 forest fires in Quebec currently.
A ban on open fires is in effect for much of the province and authorities are asking people to refrain from using fireworks ahead of the Fete nationale holiday on Wednesday.
Quebec has experienced two heat waves before the start of summer, a rare occurrence that has created dry temperatures.
The heat wave and the drought are unfortunately the perfect recipe for the fires to expand, said Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault. As of now, we already have twice the amount of blaze for the same period of the year.
Since the start of the year, the provinces forest fire prevention organization, SOPFEU, has reported 460 fires, double the 10-year average at this time of year.
Eric Rousseau, head of SOPFEU, said humans caused 95 per cent of those fires.
Were not talking about arsonists, its poor surveillance, a moment of distraction or because it was poorly extinguished, Rousseau said.
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Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday cautioned that the ambition for Eco regional currency could be in serious jeopardy, unless member states complied with agreed processes of reaching the collective goal
Made for Google accessory program partner Catalyst has now launched its Waterproof Case for Google Pixel Buds 2. As the branding implies, this newly spotted device is a case engineered for the new Google Pixel Buds 2. And its waterproof.
Catalyst bills the new accessory as both IP67- and MIL-STD 810G-rated. That means its waterproof down to a depth of 1-meter underwater. Or 3.3-feet. The highly-lauded listening device from Google doesnt come with any water protection of its own. And it costs right around $180 to buy. So the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Google Pixel Buds 2 may be well worth considering. But thats not all this accessory does.
Catalysts Waterproof Case for Google Pixel Buds 2 is also rated to protect against drops. More precisely, the military-grade impact absorption protects from shocks and drops equivalent to 1.2-meters. Thats right around 4-feet or about double the height of the average pocket.
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How does this Pixel Buds case from Catalyst work and what are its features
Now, the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Google Pixel Buds 2 is only available in one color, matte black. And it doesnt really look like much at a first glance. In fact, its effectively a skin that wraps around the Pixel Buds 2 charging/carry case via folding. The skin rests tight enough against the buds that it prevents water from getting in. And it has enough of a raised lip with proper materials in use to defend against drops.
That doesnt make getting the buds in or out all that much more difficult either. Catalysts description and associated photos suggest that its just a matter of folding the upper portion away. More specifically, away from the hinge on the Pixel Buds 2 charging case. With the flap out of the way, the Pixel Buds 2 case should function as normal.
The company includes a carabiner loop and carabiner in the design. That loops onto the bottom of the gadget so that water runs down, over, and away from the flaps when the gadget is carried using the carabiner.
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Also on the bottom of the protective case, Catalyst includes a flap that can be pushed aside to allow for wired charging. Thats not going to shutter out those who dont want to refuel using the USB-C port though. The case is thin enough and made of appropriate materials. So its still fully compatible with wireless charging.
Thankfully, Catalyst says that it wont hinder the pairing process either. Googles Buds-branded listening device has been plagued by pairing problems for some users. So thats going to be a big relief for anybody who is still waiting on a software fix from the search giant. Or for anybody who has already received it but is worried about how the accessory might interfere with connections.
Pricing and availability
With regard to pricing and availability, the Catalyst Waterproof Case for Google Pixel Buds 2 are available now for pre-order. Shipping is free to anywhere within the US, direct from the seller.
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The new protective case for Pixel Buds 2 wont cost an arm and a leg either. Catalyst has set the price at just $29.99.
Anuradha Shukla By
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Indian government on Tuesday imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of ''Flat rolled product of steel, plated or coated with alloy of Aluminium and Zinc'' originated from China, Vietnam, South Korea for a period of five years to safeguard domestic manufacturers from cheap imports.
According to the government notification dated June 23, the duty was imposed after the Commerce Ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), in its probe, concluded that product which are originated or exported from these countries are below its associated normal value, which resulted in dumping and is hurting domestic industry.
The duty imposed is in the range of USD 13.07 per tonne to USD 173.1 per tonne on imports of ''Flat rolled product of steel, plated or coated with alloy of Aluminium and Zinc'' from these three countries.
"The anti-dumping duty imposed under this notification shall be effective for a period of five years (unless revoked, amended or superseded earlier) from the date of imposition of the provisional anti-dumping duty, that is, October 15, 2019," the department of revenue said in a notification.
This was long pending demand from the domestic steel players since last two years. Imposing anti dumping duty will increase the price of the product in India and will this hit margins of firms and thus ensures a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters, as per the WTO norms.
The DGTR had earlier initiated anti-dumping duty probe against certain kinds of aluminium foil imported from China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand after getting complain from domestic players like Hindalco Industries, Raviraj Foils and Jindal India Ltd.
Sources claim that government may initiate more such moves and has listed about 400 odd products for duty hikes.
"Our inaugural Community Impact Report is a true testament to the dedication of Delta Dental companies and foundations to their communities," said Steven R. Olson , president and CEO of the Delta Dental Plans Association , "I'm particularly proud of their work to expand access to quality oral health care to low-income communities, helping millions of people achieve better oral and overall health."
The theme of the 2019 Community Impact Report is "Our purpose, Our people, Our promise," a nod to the rich history of community engagement that has guided Delta Dental companies for more than 65 years. Last year, Delta Dental supported programs in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with over 60% of funds directed to dental treatment programs, often focusing on reaching underserved communities. Through these investments, Delta Dental is committed to breaking down barriers to oral health.
"The need to address health disparities in our country, including access to oral health care, has become even more apparent amid the COVID-19 pandemic," said Vivian Vasallo, Executive Director of the Delta Dental Institute. "The Delta Dental Institute is proud to spotlight the positive impact of Delta Dental companies and their community partners in 2019. The efforts highlighted in this report represent our enduring commitment to listen to, learn from, and support the communities we serve, no matter what comes our way."
Delta Dental's 2019 Community Impact Report explores three main areas of giving in 2019 and features local spotlights on Delta Dental company programs that are generating measurable impact on the oral and overall health of their communities.
The full report is available online here.
About Delta Dental Plans Association
Delta Dental Plans Association, headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest provider of dental insurance, covering more than 80 million Americans, and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 156,000 participating dentists.
About the Delta Dental Institute
The Delta Dental Institute launched in 2019 to advance oral health for all Americans in partnership with Delta Dental companies and community partners across the country. With expertise rooted in Delta Dental's rich history of oral health leadership, the Delta Dental Institute engages in and supports oral health research, community engagement, and advocacy, striving to ensure all Americans can have the healthy smile they deserve and live their healthiest lives.
SOURCE Delta Dental Institute
A new Green Party TD, whose wife has replaced him as a county councillor, has hired her as a secretarial assistant, the Irish Independent can reveal.
Records released by the Oireachtas show that around one in seven TDs has hired family members to work either as their secretarial assistant (SA) or parliamentary assistant (PA).
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Green TD Steven Matthews insisted that his wife, councillor Erika Doyle, is "more than qualified" and the "best person for the job".
The 23 TDs who have hired family members include rural independents Mattie McGrath, Michael Healy-Rae and Danny Healy-Rae as well as ministers like Fine Gael's Michael Ring and Helen McEntee.
TDs are entitled to employ PAs and SAs - both taxpayer-funded jobs - to help them in their role as public representatives.
Expand Close Tipperary Independent Mattie McGrath hired three family members. His daughter Mairead and niece Kathy share the PA job. Another daughter, Mairin shares the SA job with another individual. / Facebook
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Whatsapp Tipperary Independent Mattie McGrath hired three family members. His daughter Mairead and niece Kathy share the PA job. Another daughter, Mairin shares the SA job with another individual.
The salary scale for a PA is between 41,000 and 52,000, while the pay for an SA is between 24,000 and just under 47,000. Hiring family members is not against Oireachtas rules but the practice has proven highly controversial in the past.
When Wicklow TD Mr Matthew's wife Ms Doyle was co-opted on to the local council to replace him she said she was "transparently" selected and was nominated to take her husband's seat by her local party organisation.
Councillors are paid 17,000 a year.
She told the Irish Independent in February she intended giving up her job as a news reporter, and she would not be working as her husband's PA in Leinster House. The records released by the Oireachtas show that she is working as Mr Matthew's SA instead.
Mr Matthews said: "Erika has guided my political career for 10 years."
He said this includes managing four election campaigns and working "tirelessly" in a "voluntary unpaid capacity".
Expand Close European Affairs Minister Ms McEntee re-hired her aunt Eileen Clarke McDermot and cousin Christine Condra to share the SA job (Liam McBurney/PA) / Facebook
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Whatsapp European Affairs Minister Ms McEntee re-hired her aunt Eileen Clarke McDermot and cousin Christine Condra to share the SA job (Liam McBurney/PA)
Mr Matthews said she took unpaid leave from her previous job, and worked on the strategy that saw him elected as the first Green Party TD in Wicklow.
"Erika has worked around local news and politics for years, and understands the constituency of Wicklow better than almost anybody."
He said she received other job offers in the political arena "and I'm delighted she chose to accept mine".
Tipperary Independent Mattie McGrath hired three family members.
His daughter Mairead and niece Kathy share the PA job.
Another daughter, Mairin shares the SA job with another individual.
Kerry Independent Michael Healy-Rae re-hired his son Jackie as his PA. Jackie Healy-Rae Jnr - who is a Kerry councillor - was given an eight-month suspended jail sentence following his conviction - along with his brother Kevin - for assaulting a man in Kenmare in 2017.
Both Jackie and Kevin Healy-Rae, along with another man convicted over the incident, have launched appeals to their convictions.
Michael Healy-Rae did not respond to attempts to contact him for comment on giving his son Jackie the PA job.
Danny Healy-Rae re-hired his wife Eileen as a PA.
Fianna Fail Waterford TD Mary Butler hired her son Jack for eight hours a week to share the SA job, assisting her in managing online communications with constituents. She said he gets 20pc of the salary.
Independents4Change TD Joan Collins has hired her partner Dermot Connolly as her PA, a job he shares with another individual.
The Dublin South-Central TD said: "The reason why Mr Connolly works as my PA has been aired a number of times in the public media.
"I can confirm that Mr Connolly job shares the PA position financially and works a full week."
Rural Development Minister Mr Ring re-hired his daughter Suzanne McGreal as his PA.
European Affairs Minister Ms McEntee re-hired her aunt Eileen Clarke McDermot and cousin Christine Condra to share the SA job.
Sport Minister Brendan Griffin's wife Roisin is working as his SA and his cousin Tommy is his PA.
Another junior Fine Gael minister, Ciaran Cannon, has employed his wife Niamh Lawless as an SA.
Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail hired his sister Deirdre as his SA.
Cork East TD James O'Connor of Fianna Fail said his brother Thomas held the PA post temporarily after the election while a recruitment process was being conducted. He said the job has since been filled by another person.
The Irish Independent last month revealed how two other new TDs - Fianna Fail's Christopher O'Sullivan and Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats - had put family members on the Oireachtas payroll.
Mr O'Sullivan employed his sister Anne Cullinane as his part-time PA. Another sister, Eimear Nelley, is his SA but is to leave the role in August. He previously defended the decision citing his sisters' experience and skills.
Mr Gannon's brother Paul is working 15 hours a week sharing the SA job with another individual. Mr Gannon said last month: "He is doing a wonderful job and I'm very proud of him."
Keeping it in the family: Which TDs have hired relatives?
Bernard Durkan (FG, Kildare North)
Family member employed: His son Tim is his SA.
Christopher OSullivan (FF, Cork South-West)
Family members employed: His sister Anne Cullinane is his part-time PA. Another Sister Eimear Nelley is his SA but is to leave the role in August.
Danny Healy-Rae (Independent, Kerry)
Family member employed: His wife Eileen is his PA.
Gary Gannon (Social Democrats, Dublin Central)
Family member employed: His brother Paul shares the SA job working 15 hours-a-week.
James OConnor (FF, Cork East)
Family member employed: His brother Thomas held the PA post temporarily but has now left the role.
Joan Collins (Independents4Change, Dublin South Central)
Family member employed: Her partner Dermot Connolly shares the PA role but works a full week.
John McGuinness (FF, Carlow-Kilkenny)
Family member employed: His son Andrew is his PA.
Martin Heydon (FG, Kildare South)
Family member employed: His sister Rosemary is his PA.
Mary Butler (FF, Waterford)
Family member employed: Her son Jack works eight hours-a-week sharing the SA job.
Mattie McGrath (Independent, Tipperary)
Family members employed: His daughter Mairead and niece Kathy share the PA job.
Another daughter, Mairin shares the SA job with another individual.
Michael Collins (Independent, Cork South-West)
Family member employed: His brother John woks as his part-time SA.
Michael Healy-Rae (Independent, Kerry)
Family member employed: His son Jackie is his PA
Michael McGrath (FF, Cork South-Central)
Family member employed: His brother Seamus shares the PA job with another individual.
Michael Ring (FG, Mayo)
Family member employed: His daughter Suzanne McGreal is his PA
Brendan Griffin (FG, Kerry)
Family members employed: His wife Roisin is his SA and cousin Tommy is his PA.
Ciaran Cannon (FG, Galway East)
Family member employed: His wife Niamh Lawless is his SA.
Helen McEntee (FG, Meath East)
Family members employed: Her aunt Eileen Clarke McDermot and cousin Christine Condra share the SA job.
Sean Canney (Independent, Galway East)
Family member employed: His wife Geraldine is his SA.
Peter Fitzpatrick (Independent, Louth)
Family member employed: His daughter Grace is his PA.
Sean Fleming (FF, Laois-Offaly)
Family member employed: His wife Mary shares the PA job.
Sean O Fearghail (FF, Kildare South)
Family member employed: His sister Deirdre is his SA.
Sean Sherlock (Labour, Cork East)
Family member employed: His sister Una is his SA.
Steven Matthews (Green Party, Wicklow)
Family member employed: His wife Erika Doyle is his SA.
Facebook sidestepped sensitive issues during its presentation at the so-called NewFronts, an annual event for digital media companies to promote themselves as advertising venues. Before the Facebook section on Tuesday, Snap pledged to shield advertisers from harmful content, and Conde Nast said it had been forced to hold a mirror up to ourselves after an internal uproar over how the company has dealt with race. Immediately after Facebooks presentation, the Ad Council, a nonprofit group, presented a video about the Black Lives Matter movement.
In explaining why it would stop advertising on Facebook, Magnolia Pictures said on Tuesday that it was seeking meaningful change at Facebook and the end to their amplification of hate speech.
Ben & Jerrys pushed Facebook on Tuesday to take stronger action to stop its platforms from being used to divide our nation, suppress voters, foment and fan the flames of racism and violence, and undermine our democracy.
The freelancing platform Upwork and the password manager Dashlane are also participating in the boycott, which advocacy groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Anti-Defamation League have promoted with the hashtag #StopHateForProfit.
The effort, which began taking shape this month, gained traction Friday and through the weekend as several outdoor-gear retailers, including REI and Patagonia, joined in.
The North Face has stopped posting content and buying ads on Facebook through July, but will continue putting free posts on Instagram, which Facebook owns, the companys global vice president of marketing, Steve Lesnard, said in an interview. The North Face spends more on Facebook than it does on any other platform besides Google, Mr. Lesnard said.
The stakes are too high, he said. The platform needs to evolve.
The efforts against Facebook have gotten support from ad agencies. In an email to more than 50 clients last week, the digital ad agency 360i said it supported the boycott, The Wall Street Journal reported. Some companies have quietly joined the effort, and several ad agencies have developed guidelines for major companies interested in participating, said three people with knowledge of recent discussions, who requested anonymity because the talks are confidential.
Screen capture of "Amazing Saturday" Screen capture from tvN
By Park Ji-won
"Amazing Saturday," a show on cable channel tvN, apologized for making a minor actor wear a costume bearing the family symbol of a samurai who invaded Korea in the 1500s in its latest episode, suspending a rebroadcast.
In the episode broadcast Saturday, Kim Kang-hoon, a child actor famous for his roles in multiple dramas and movies including "Mr. Sunshine," wore a costume with the family crest of Ishida Mitsunari, a high-level Japanese official under the leadership of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Kim was wearing the costume from CJ's cable network costume department to indicate his willingness to act in the role of a Korean commander like Kim Shin, the military general in the drama "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God."
Several viewers left comments on the program's website, criticizing it for exposing the crest of historic Japanese figure who actually led an invasion of Korea during the 1592-98 Imjin War. "There is no point in engraving the Japanese crest in a costume for a Korean general," a commenter wrote on the show's website, Monday.
"Ishida Mitsunari was like a chief secretary to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a feudal lord who invaded Korea twice to slaughter Korean people. I would like to know if the intention of making the 12-year-old child actor wear the costume of an enemy of the Korean people was to educate people to have pro-Japanese sentiment?" another wrote.
The staff of the show released a statement apologizing for their ignorance of history, explaining that they didn't intentionally use the emblem as nobody knew what it stood for.
"First, I apologize over our ignorance about not knowing the important facts of history and express gratitude to those who let us know. We bought the costume from a costume firm and none of the people including Kim, the staff of the show and the costume company questioned the costume," the staff of "Amazing Saturday" wrote late Monday.
"We will not rebroadcast the episode, will blur the crest, let the costume company know the situation, apologize to Kim and share the situation with audiences."
Depicting symbols of Japanese imperialism and the country's products on TV has been considered taboo largely because of Korean audiences' antipathy against Japan due to its 1910-45 occupation of the Korean Peninsula. For example, using designs similar to Japan's rising sun flag offends many Koreans who consider that they justify and romanticize Japanese militarism and thus minimize the pain of victims of its ideology.
Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty logged in gains for the fourth consecutive session on June 23.
Indian share markets started the day on a muted note only to pick up momentum in the second half, bringing the benchmark indices within touching distance of a four-month high.
The S&P BSE Sensex rallied 519 points to close at 35,430 while the Nifty50 witnessed selling pressure near 10,500 to end the day 160 points higher at 10,471.
"The sharp rally over the last few days has made Nifty valuations expensive at 22 times P/E. While the near-term momentum may continue, we would advise investors to stay cautious. Investors can look for buying opportunities on declines in the market and focus more on stock-specific action," said Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades:
Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks given in this story are the aggregates of three- months data and not of the current month only.
According to pivot charts, the key support level for the Nifty is placed at 10,353.63, followed by 10,236.27. If the index moves up, the key resistance levels to watch out for are 10,536.53 and 10,602.07.
The Nifty Bank closed 2.56 percent higher at 22,264.90. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 21,834.37, followed by 21,403.83. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 22,508.87 and 22,752.83.
Maximum call OI of 36.16 lakh contracts was seen at 10,500 strike, which will act as crucial resistance in the June series.
This is followed by 11,000, which holds 30.96 lakh contracts, and 10,600 strikes, which has accumulated 25.85 lakh contracts.
Significant call writing was seen at the 10,700, which added 2.17 lakh contracts, followed by 10,800 strikes which added 2.06 lakh contracts.
Call unwinding was witnessed at 10,300, which shed 10.04 lakh contracts, followed by 10,400 strikes, which shed 5.47 lakh contracts.
Maximum put OI of 26.41 lakh contracts was seen at 10,000 strike, which will act as crucial support in the June series.
This is followed by 10,300, which holds 28.84 lakh contracts, and 10,200 strikes, which has accumulated 26.68 lakh contracts.
Significant put writing was seen at 10,400, which added 17.44 lakh contracts, followed by 10,300 strikes, which added 10.91 lakh contracts.
Put unwinding was seen at 10,100, which shed 8.67 lakh contracts.
A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks.
Based on the OI future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long build-up was seen.
Based on the OI future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long unwinding was seen.
An increase in OI, along with a decrease in price, mostly indicates a build-up of short positions.
A decrease in OI, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering. Based on the OI future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short-covering was seen.
Bulk deals
(For more bulk deals, click here)
Results on June 24
GAIL India, Indian Oil Corporation, Power Finance Corporation, Canara Bank, Aksh Optifibre, Astra Microwave Products, Balmer Lawrie, Bombay Burmah Trading Corp, Burnpur Cement, Future Consumer, General Insurance Corporation, HG Infra Engineering, India Cements, Indoco Remedies, Indo Rama Synthetics, PNC Infratech, Prestige Estates Projects, RS Software, Rail Vikas Nigam, Sandesh, Sanghi Industries, Sharda Cropchem, Shriram EPC, Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri, Tide Water Oil, United Breweries.
Stocks in the news
EIH Associated Hotels Q4: Profit at Rs 10.74 cr versus Rs 18.19 cr, revenue at Rs 70.62 cr versus Rs 85 cr YoY.
IFCI: Brickwork reaffirmed rating of long term debt instrument NCD of IFCI at BBB+/ Negative.
Finolex Industries Q4: Profit at Rs 58.66 cr versus Rs 97.39 cr, revenue at Rs 766.11 cr versus Rs 964.24 cr YoY.
CG Power and Industrial Solutions: Aditya Birla Sun Life MF sold 2.01% stake in the company on June 19.
Honda Siel Power Products Q4: Profit at Rs 4.85 cr versus Rs 10.75 cr, revenue at Rs 195.67 cr versus Rs 230.48 cr YoY.
Fund flow
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth Rs 168.96 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), too, bought shares worth Rs 454.48 crore in the Indian equity market on June 23, provisional data available on the NSE showed.
Three stocks - Century Textiles & Industries, Just Dial and Vodafone Idea - are under the F&O ban for June 24. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.
TG4s young peoples platform, Bloc, has announced a new Covid-set web drama exploring young love in the time of lockdown.
Le Ceangal, a Zoomcom, is an eight-part mini series of five-minute episodes. Having met on Tinder, Galway-based Declan (24) and Dubliner Aoife (25) have gone on five tentative dates.
Just as they are about to broach the tricky should we both come off Tinder now? question, they are locked up in lockdown. In two different cities. With two different Wifi speeds. And their blossoming relationship is now on life-support
With Aoifes Dad suffering from MS, she has promised not to mix outside her family so a physical encounter is off the agenda. They try everything to keep their relationship from floundering, but Whatsapp memes, Zoom quizzes, even phone sex cant substitute for real human contact, or can they?
From the producers of the IFTA winning Corp + Anam and EIPIC, Le Ceangal was shot this June in Galway under social distancing restrictions. Producer Paddy Hayes said of the series: Throughout the Covid health emergency, I always wondered would it be easy for a young couple to maintain a relationship while being forcibly separated from their partners. And now I know it has its challenges .
This brand new comedy series is devised and directed by Oisin Misteil and stars Eva-Jane Gaffney as Aoife (Cant Cope, Wont Cope) and Eoin O Dubhghaill as Declan (Arracht).
Youve heard of Sleepless in Seattle, well here you have Gormless in Galway, and Hapless in Howth
The first 2 episodes will be available 1pm on June 26 and weekly thereafter. Watch the series HERE
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga is seeking "energetic volunteers" to lend a helping hand at their Re-Store locations on Main Street in Chattanooga and Apison Pike in Ooltewah. The Re-Stores assist in funding Habitat efforts making a difference in the lives of local Chattanooga families.Habitat is looking for individuals who are at least 18 years old with their own transportation. The volunteers will be scheduled to work from either 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m. Volunteers will be accepting donations, sorting items and cleaning and pricing items for sale. They will also assist in making sure the Re-Stores are clean and ready to welcome shoppers to the store."Habitat is closely following all CDC COVID-19 guidelines and strives to make the volunteer experience a fun and safe environment for everyone coming to the store," officials said.Madison Bradford of Habitat said, Were extremely grateful to have volunteers who dedicate their time to make a difference within our community. The volunteers assist in the important work of providing safe, decent and affordable housing for fellow Chattanoogans.Were thankful for our volunteers as their work truly makes a difference.To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Madison Bradford at 423-802-8092 or email MBradford@HabiChatt.org.For information regarding particular types of donations accepted by Habitats Re-Stores, call 423-634-1004.
The lockdown measures introduced in Italy to deal with COVID-19 have produced a mobility contraction which is not homogeneously distributed across Italian municipalities and regions. An examination of the steep fall on the Italian mobility network during the pandemic reveals some counterintuitive results, calling for further analysis.
Indeed, a counterintuitive and somehow paradoxical result emerges, since the contraction of mobility, in relative terms, has been more intense in the Regions where the diffusion of the virus has been negligible. Moreover, the shrinking of mobility flows has been more intense where the average income per capita is lower and inequality in the distribution of income is higher.
This is one of the key findings of the paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by the research group (Giovanni Bonaccorsi, Andrea Flori, Francesco Pierri) coordinated by professor Fabio Pammolli at Impact, School of Management, Politecnico di Milano and CADS, joint center of Politecnico di Milano and Human Technopole, in collaboration with the research team of Walter Quattrociocchi (Universita di Venezia) and Antonio Scala (CNR).
The study analyzed a large-scale data set of anonymized near-real-time mobility data from the Facebook Data for Good Program, for over 3m Italian citizens. Data was collected before and after the lockdown introduced by the Italian Government.
The researchers observed a sharp reduction in the movements of individuals, with an average reduction in mobility of 70%.
However, even though mobility restrictions were designed and implemented for the whole Italian territory, their distribution across geographical areas reveals substantial differences. In particular, somehow paradoxically, those Regions which have been more affected by the contagion in the North-East of Italy have experienced a reduction of mobility flows that is less pronounced in relative terms. In particular, in municipalities in Lombardy and Veneto, the two regions which have been hit mostly by COVID-19, the contraction in mobility flows has been 5% to 15% lower than the national average. On the contrary, southern and poorer Regions in the South of Italy like Abruzzo and Calabria, which have been scarcely affected by the virus, show a contraction in mobility which has been 16% to 20% higher than the national average.
To get some insights into these findings, the research team led by Professor Pammolli reconstructed the economic and social features of the affected Italian municipalities, i.e., income per capita, fiscal capacity, deprivation, urban density, and inequality in the distribution of income.
The sudden stop triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak has been treated analogously to a large-scale, extreme, natural disaster. Through a quantile regression technique, the researchers have found that those municipalities which have been mostly affected by the lockdown are the ones where income per capita is lower and inequality is higher. Municipalities where income per capita is below the national average (18.175) have experienced a contraction in mobility which, on average, is 10% higher than the national average reduction.
The study sheds light on some unanticipated consequences of lockdown interventions, revealing how mobility disruption could have induced an increase in socio-economic segregation, damaging mostly the poor and the fragile.
When this New York City teacher missed her pre-K students amid coronavirus, instead of sending them a message, she sang it.
To brighten each student's day and still foster a connection, Dawn Thompson traveled to her 21 students' homes giving each a concert by singing, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
MORE: I'm a Black mother who adopted a white baby. Here's why I carry his adoption papers.
With a speaker and a sign that read, "I'll always be here!" Thompson, a teacher at Elijah G. Stroud Elementary school in Brooklyn, New York, sang loud and proud. One of those moments was caught on camera and later shared in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's daily coronavirus newsletter.
PHOTO: Dawn Thompson visiting her students with the song 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough,' in Brooklyn, New York. (Courtesy of Dawn Thompson)
"One morning after [online class] with them,
"I'm like 'this is not enough. I need to see them. I need to let them know that I'll always be here,'" she said. "They're so used to seeing their friends every day and seeing me every day and getting hugs, and now they're confined."
Thompson said her first step was reaching out to all of their parents and asking for feedback on her outside visit, just to make sure everyone was comfortable with the idea. She said she only received positive comments.
"Here is our address! Please come! The kids will love to see you! We would love to see you!" she recalled.
Camille Hunt, the mother of 4-year-old student Ruby Holmsten, said as a parent it was touching to see Thompson go above and beyond for her students.
"[Thompson didn't just] sing the chorus, but the entire song in front of our apartment," she said, noting that neighbors were standing on the balconies clapping. "It was great. I mean, I think at that point, they hadn't been in school in a month-and-a-half and that was right when they were realizing they weren't going back anytime soon."
PHOTO: Dawn Thompson pictured with a student at another one of her multiple visits during reopening phases of New York, in Brooklyn, New York. (Courtesy of Dawn Thompson)
Hunt said Ruby was surprised to see her teacher outside of the classroom, but the shock quickly turned to excitement.
Story continues
MORE: From playgrounds to play dates and pools: What is safe for kids to do this coronavirus summer
"I think in some kids' minds, they don't imagine their teachers living outside of school," said Hunt. "But then [Ruby] started listening to the lyrics and got what was going on, it was really sweet."
Thompson said her school has been implementing remote learning since mid-March.
"I didn't want to just show up with a mask on my face. I wanted to make the visits fun and interactive, because in the classroom, we're singing and dancing a lot. I play a lot of music," said Thompson.
PHOTO: Dawn Thompson delivers a plant to a student during the reopening phase of New York, in Brooklyn, New York. (Courtesy of Dawn Thompson)
"It's not good enough to stand there for a picture. I'm from the Caribbean, from Trinidad, we love music. Music is a part of our life ... especially if you want a song that says something," Thompson added.
Thompson, who has made more visits since the performance, says she plans to continue to visit her students at a safe, social distance.
Teacher visits, sings 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' to students originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. Healthcare Minister of Armenia Arsen Torosyan informed that a medica worker has died of coronavirus, ARMENPRESS reports Torosyan said during a press conference on June 23.
''We already have a victim from medical staff and this is one also a reason why we emphasize that the protection of the medical staff is of key importance'', Torosyan said.
21,006 cases have been reported in Armenia by June 23. 10,144 have recovered. 10.364 are active cases. Death toll is 372. A total of 98,117 tests have been done. Another 126 patients with coronavirus have died of other reasons.
State of emergency has been prolonged until July 13.
Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan, Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
Rahul Gandhi continues to lead Congress partys attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular and the NDA government in general over the issue of alleged occupation of Indian territory by the Chinese security forces. In his latest tweet on Tuesday, Rahul claimed China was in possession of Indian land through transgressions of the nearly 3,500km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) running between the two countries in several attempts since May this year and the Indian government was negotiating to get it back while the prime minister had publicly supported Chinas claim that the land (Galwan Valley) doesnt belong to India.
China took our land. (Picture of Indian tricolor) is negotiating to get it back. China says its not Indian land. The PM has publicly supported Chinas claim. Why is the PM backing China and not (Indian tricolour) and our army?, Rahul tweeted.
This was Rahuls second tweet on the issue on Tuesday despite facing counter attacks from BJP president JP Nadda and senior BJP leader and MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with the latter accusing him of petty politics over an issue requiring a display of unity from political forces within India.
We are united against the Chinese aggression. Have the Chinese occupied Indian land?, Rahuls first tweet had asked.
Rahuls attack is in sync with his partys strategy to question Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement given during the all party meet called to discuss the incidents of June 15, when 20 Indian soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley along the LAC in eastern Ladakh while resisting Chinese Armys attempts to erect a structure on the Indian side of the disputed LAC with an aim to change the status quo.
The prime minister after having given an account of Indian Armys increased patrolling in the area and initiatives to thwart Chinese presence in contested areas, told the parties that no one has entered our territory, no one is at present within our territory and no one has occupied our posts. Congress has since then suggested that the PMs statement amounted to a surrender of Indian land to China and it has projected Modis statement as a virtual endorsement of the Chinese claim on the Galwan Valley.
According to the prime minister, there was no incursion into our territories by the Chinese Army, then why did the external affairs ministry issue a statement in the evening of June 20, 2020 to say that the Chinese army was interrupting Indian patrol since the beginning of May 2020, a tweet by partys official handle said while referring to Congress spokesperson Randip Surjewalas statement.
Also Read: Sonia Gandhi hits out at Modi government over border standoff with China, economic crisis, fuel hike
In another tweet, the party questioned the alleged contradiction in the statements issued by the government and the prime minister.
The Congress today also asked the government to disclose the number of Chinese incursions in the Pangong Tso lake area and the Galwan Valley.
Yesterday senior Congress leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had indirectly advised Modi against using disinformation as a substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership. He had said that the PM should be mindful of the implications of his words on a nations strategic interests.
After Manmohans statement, Rahul had poked the government further and suggested that it followed the former prime ministers advice in national interest.
The BJP had sought to question Manmohan Singhs locus-standi on the matter by alleging that he had allowed several Chinese incursions during his reign as Indias prime minister. The saffron party also went after Rahul today with party President JP Nadda citing an old understanding between the ruling Chinese Community party and the Indian National Congress.
First, Congress signs MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. Then, Congress surrenders land to China. During the Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to the Chinese embassy. During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation and demoralise armed forces. Effects of MoU? Nadda asked in a tweet.
Also Read: Shivraj Singh Chouhans jab at Rahul Gandhi includes reminder of BJPs role in opposition
Gandhi was also attacked later by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who accused him of dirty politics.
Rahul Gandhi is demoralising & insulting the army. BJP used to support Congress at difficult times, but they are doing dirty politics now. They should attack China, but they cant see anyone else other than PM Modi, Shivraj Singh Chouhan was quoted as saying by ANI.
File Photo
Mumbai: The CRPF jawan was killed in an encounter with militants in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.
Militants KilledAn official said that CRPF jawan Sunil Kale was killed in the encounter in Pulwama.
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He joined the service in 2000 and was posted in Jammu and Kashmir since some time, the official said.
Besides the CRPF jawan, two unidentified militants were also killed in the encounter, police said.
Militants killedSecurity forces launched a cordon and search operation in Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Tuesday morning after receiving specific information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.
By Express News Service
BENGALURU: Karnataka announced the following package rates inclusive of PPEs and other consumables for COVID-19 treatment, in an order issued by Vijay Bhaskar, chief secretary of the state.
The package rates for COVID-19 patients referred by the public health authorities shall be as Rs 5,200 for general ward, Rs 7000 for High Dependency Unit, Rs 8,500 for isolation ICU without ventilator and Rs 10,000 for isolation ICU with ventilator.
The package ceiling rates for private COVID-19 patients who will pay by cash (non-insurance) will be Rs 10,000 for general ward, Rs 12,000 for High Dependency Unit, Rs 15,000 for Isolation ICU with ventilator and Rs 25,000 for Isolation ICU with ventilator. These rates will not be applicable for the patients subscribing to insurance packages.
50 percent of the beds in private hospitals shall be reserved for COVID-19 treatment of patients referred by public health authorities. The remaining 50 percent can be used to admit COVID-19 patients privately.
10 percent extra will be charged for twin sharing, 25 percent for single room and there will be no ceiling for suites.
In case of unforeseen complications, surgeries, co-morbid conditions, pregnancy, additional packages under Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka will apply.
All COVID-19 patients including those belonging to BPL, APL families, migrant workers, interstate returnees not possessing PDS card shall be considered eligible in view of the unprecedented pandemic. There should be no compromise in the quality of services
The Worcester District Attorneys office released the name of the Southborough police sergeant who was stabbed in the back inside the lobby of the towns public safety building Monday night.
Sgt. James DeLuca was taken to the UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester where he was treated and released Tuesday morning.
Sgt. DeLuca was interviewing a man about some alleged threats when he called for a mental health clinician to evaluate the man, the district attorneys office said. The clinician recommended further evaluation at a hospital. While Sgt. DeLuca was taking an inventory of the mans belongings, he was stabbed with a folding knife.
The attack occurred around 9:50 p.m., authorities said.
The knife penetrated the sergeants protective vest, which likely prevented more serious injury.
The suspect ran from the building but was caught a short time later. The male suspect was taken to Marlborough Hospital and then Bridgewater State Hospital where he is being held.
The district attorneys office did not release the mans name but said he was charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon.
Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Worcester District Attorneys office continue to investigate the incident.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 15:22:33|Editor: huaxia
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Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region boasts a variety of high-quality fruits. But it is hard to keep the fruits fresh during transportation especially when they have to travel a long way to east China. To solve the problem, Xinjiang has converted some passenger flights to cargo flights to facilitate the same-day transportation of fresh fruits.
MANILA, Philippines Drivers of traditional jeepney units are complaining against modern jeepney drivers who are now overtaking their routes.
According to the group Samahang Manibela, seven of the newly opened routes that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) recently announced Nichols to Vito Cruz; Vito Cruz to PITX via Taft Avenue; and PITX to Nichols are among the routes that their members used to take.
Iyan po ang mahirap sa amin na iyong route rationalization nila na hindi po kami kinokonsulta na hindi man lang kami tinanong kung may masasagasaan po ba dyan sa ruta na iyan [Thats the problem. They did not consult us regarding the route rationalization. They did not ask if theres already a group using that route], said Mar Valbuena, the groups president.
A group of UV Express drivers also share the same sentiment accusing the LTFRB of giving much favor to drivers of modern jeepneys as compared to them whose franchises have been existing for years.
Coalition of Operators and Drivers of UV Express (CODEX) President Rosalino Marabel questioned the delay in the development of the jeepney routes to give favor to the modern jeepney drivers.
Iyong aming mga ruta na na-develop over the past 15 years or more ibinibigay sa modern jeep, ibinibigay sa mga bus. Where is justice there? [The routes that we have developed over the past 15 years or more they easily allowed modern jeepneys and buses. Where is justice there]? Rosalino Marable, President of CODEX.
The LTFRB earlier explained that they have plotted the routes depending on the demand of passengers and the accessibility per area.
Transport officials maintained that they cannot rush the resumption of public transport operations as they are taking into consideration the risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection.
Resumption of public transport is made in a partial and calibrated manner because we need to balance the need for mobility with the need to ensure public health in the midst of the pandemic, said LTFRB Chair Atty. Martin Delgra III.
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Hindi po natin kakayanin na biglaan po lalabas at pwedeng i-deploy and lahat ng public transport on the first day because the transport sector is one vulnerable sector pagdating sa pandemyang ito [We cannot allow the deployment of public transport all at the same time on the first day because the transport sector is one vulnerable sector when it comes to this pandemic], he added.
The Palace, meanwhile, said it is waiting for the result of the LTFRBs assessment on the current situation to be able to decide as to when to resume the operation of the traditional jeepney.
Titingnan natin kung sapat ang mga bus, ang mga bagong jeepneys at tsaka mga UV express. At kung kulang naman, gagamitin natin ang mga lumang jeepneys [We will determine if the number of buses, jeepneys and UV express units is enough. And if it is still lacking, then we will use the traditional jeepneys], noted Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque. MNP (with reports from Joan Nano)
The post Traditional jeepney drivers complain over competition with modern jeepney drivers appeared first on UNTV News.
The Louisiana Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and 20-year prison sentence handed to Lerone Slim Lewis for slashing a woman in the neck on Law Street three years ago, in a case that spurred state bar complaints against Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro and two subordinates.
Cannizzaro's office hailed the decision as a repudiation of the allegations that Thomas Frampton, Lewis' attorney, had lodged accusing prosecutors of blatantly lying to an appellate court in Lewis case and nearly a dozen others. Assistant District Attorney Scott Vincent repeatedly misstated or invented facts or the law in appellate briefs, Frampton claims, while the DA refused to fix them.
Among several allegations of misconduct in Lewis' case, Frampton claimed Vincent embellished what happened during a pretrial hearing to determine whether a key witness was truly unavailable to testify against Lewis, claiming among other things that two investigators testified, when only one did. Then-Criminal District Court Judge Arthur Hunter agreed to let the jury hear a transcript of her prior testimony instead.
Frampton said he asked Cannizzaro to admit his deputy's errors and drop the case. The DA refused, saying it was more important to keep Lewis off the street, according to Frampton.
In a response to the Supreme Court, Vincent admitted he'd falsely claimed two investigators had testified at the hearing but said his "inaccuracies" were "both simple mistakes and immaterial." He accused Frampton of exploiting the disciplinary-complaint process.
Without comment on Monday, the Supreme Court sided with Cannizzaro's office, declining to review an appeals court decision that upheld Lewis conviction on an aggravated battery count.
"We are pleased that the state Supreme Court rejected as baseless this latest claim by Mr. Frampton, which potentially could have freed a very dangerous violent criminal upon our community, said Ken Daley, spokesman for the DA's office, in a statement.
Given this swift rebuke, we also expect the nuisance bar complaints lodged against the DA and two of our prosecutors in this case to be dismissed as equally specious and unfounded."
Along with Vincent, one of the bar complaints that Frampton filed in March names appeals prosecutor Kyle Daly.
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Whether the bar complaints will move forward is doubtful. Chief Disciplinary Charles Plattsmier did not immediately respond to a message about bar complaints that are based on actions that courts go on to permit.
Frampton said he still was "looking forward to providing sworn testimony ... as soon as possible" to Plattsmier's office.
The Supreme Court decision ends the state appeal process for Lewis, 51, whose conviction over the August 2017 stabbing came in his third trial.
Frampton said Monday that he would now "ask the federal courts to do what the Louisiana courts have failed to do: vindicate basic constitutional rights and affirm that there is some minor limit to the impunity that Louisiana prosecutors typically enjoy."
Lewis' first trial ended with the jury deadlocked. A second trial was set for October 2018. After a jury was picked and sworn in, Hunter abruptly declared a mistrial. He cited the late hour and a few jurors who claimed a hardship if they had to return another day. Jury selection started over the next day, and a six-member jury convicted Lewis of aggravated battery.
Hunter, who has since retired for an expected run at Cannizzaros seat, sentenced Lewis to 20 years, the maximum for a two-time felon under the states habitual-offender law.
In his appeal, Lewis argued that Hunter's mistrial order was invalid under state law, which limits the reasons a judge can declare a mistrial over a defendant's objection.
An appeals court said Hunter's reasoning was legitimate. On Monday, the Supreme Court endorsed that view.
[June 23, 2020] COVID-19: Is Coronavirus Leaving Canada's Back Door Open to Cyberattacks? Canadian Ethical Hackers Cite Australian Cyberattack as an Early Warning
TORONTO, June 23, 2020 /CNW/ - With the bulk of Canadian Government resources focussed on addressing the COVID crisis, Canada may be unintentionally leaving the back door open to serious state-sponsored cyberattacks. According to Richard Rogerson, Managing Partner of Packetlabs, a collective of ethical hackers specializing in real-world simulated cyber-attacks to protect governments, businesses and organizations, the real danger of cyberattacks has increased exponentially due to remote working during COVID-19. "We just saw a very serious, active cautionary tale play out in Australia after they announced a massive and successful cyber-attack last week," said Rogerson. "Australia was targeted by a state-sponsored cyber-attack across several industries and all levels of Government. In the wake of the attack, the Australian PM urged businesses to shore their defences, stating that the "malicious activity" was also seen globally. Canada clearly needs to take that warning seriously and get our house in order." According to Rogerson, the unsettling truth is that COVID-19 has forced several companies to cut corners for quick remote access and opened exposure to insecure applications that often make use of weak credentials. This gives a tempting opening for cyberattacks. Packetlabs is sounding an early warning, hoping that the Canadian Government and businesses step up to reduce the risk of a successful cyberattack. What Canada and Canadian businesses can do now: 1) Consider themselves a target (even if they are far removed from the Government or sensitive information)
Canadian steel manufacturers are an example as they are in the supply chain for the production of controlled goods. If they are compromised by a cyberattak, there could be an impact on operations that would cause a financial impact to their business, and ultimately to Canadian defence capabilities.
2) Actively test weaknesses and schedule a penetration test:
Similar to a fire drill, governments and companies need to explore their businesses from an attacker's perspective. Unfortunately, not all industries take cybersecurity seriously because they feel they do not have sensitive information or mandated requirements for testing.
A penetration test is basically a cybersecurity fire drill. Generally, Packetlabs run such assessments blind, meaning that limited staff (CISOs, CIOs, VPs) know that an attack is coming to monitor and assess their incident response efforts. 3) Don't assume your IT guy is on top of it:
According to Rogerson, managed service providers / IT Service providers and companies throughout the supply chain end up being the weakest links, they enable remote access to 20-30 targets at a time. "Most manufacturing environments are internet-connected and make use of weak/default credentials," added Rogerson. "Some still use seriously outdated legacy operating systems including Windows XP." 4) Educate your staff about phishing:
A lack of internal network segmentation enables an attacker who compromises a business using targeted phishing attacks to move throughout the environment without any additional security layers. "Within our phishing campaigns, we typically have a 15-20% submission rate often leading to remote access," added Rogerson. "We've even had administrators fall victim to phishing campaigns which enabled the compromise of their business within 1-2 hours." 5) Embrace two factor authentication:
According to Rogerson, Packetlabs can obtain administrative privileges over an entire network within two weeks on nearly all the attacks they perform. What many businesses use is single-factor authentication, traditionally a simple username and password. Single factor authentication is easy to guess and/or steal through phishing or other means.
"Our job is to make the attacker's job more difficult," added Rogerson. "We work to isolate outdated legacy applications, find all missing critical security patches, and provide recommendations to improve overall security." Rogerson points out that the easiest way for Governments and businesses to protect against a cyberattack is to keep their computer systems up to date with easily available security patches. Australian authorities have identified their attacks as being 'copy-paste compromises,' meaning that the attacks took advantage of programs in the public domain. This also shows that because commonly available programs can be compromised for a major cyberattack, the attackers don't even need the persistence or funding of a state actor to be successful. "The Canadian Government and Canadian businesses need to get serious about their cybersecurity, or we could see a real shutdown through weak remote worker systems, phishing, copy-paste compromises or other proven tactics. The good news is that if we learn from the Australia attack, we can start plugging the holes in our systems today." About Packetlabs
Packetlabs are a collective of ethical hackers specializing in real-world simulated cyber-attacks to protect organizations. They offer a variety of services including infrastructure penetration testing, web and mobile application testing, social engineering, red team exercises, source-code reviews and exploit development all to help clients protect their data and customers. Their clients occupy multiple industries including government, technology, media, retail, healthcare, financial, consulting, law enforcement, and more. Packetlabs mandates each of their consultants with the most advanced penetration testing training available in the industry. SOURCE Packetlabs
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Distancing rule will reduce from July 4 when pubs and restaurants are allowed to reopen in England, UK leader says.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the two-metre (6.6-foot) distancing rule will be revised to one-metre plus from July 4 when pubs and restaurants are allowed to reopen in England.
Johnson told Parliaments lower chamber on Tuesday the countrys long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end.
The social distancing rule has been very hard on restaurants and pubs and other sectors of the hospitality industry, he said.
Guidelines were to be issued later on Tuesday, Johnson said, noting they would include avoiding face-to-face seating, and adjusting shift rosters so that staff work in set teams.
While confirming the easing of the measures, Johnson said: People should act in a responsible way.
Amid the easing, cinemas and museums would also reopen along with libraries, places of worship, as well as hotels and bed and breakfast facilities.
However, nightclubs, indoor gyms, spas, beauty salons, swimming pools, water parks and casinos were to remain closed, the prime minister said.
Rest of the UK
Johnson said England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own measures.
At a separate news conference, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the two-metre rule on social distancing was to remain in place in Scotland pending a report from an advisory group due on July 2.
In an exchange with Ian Blackford of the opposition Scottish National Party (SNP), Johnson said we will see future outbreaks, adding authorities will be in a much better position now to control those outbreaks.
The government believed that primary and secondary schools can recommence in September, he said.
Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said he believed the government is trying to do the right thing and in that, we will support them.
Johnson took part in a meeting on Monday with the governments COVID-19 strategy committee, where the changes were discussed.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Monday the virus was in retreat.
The UK on Monday saw its lowest daily coronavirus-related death toll since mid-March, with just 15 deaths recorded in the previous 24 hours, according to the health ministry.
It was the first time in months that the country had recorded fewer than 1,000 daily new infections.
The UK has been the European country hardest hit by the pandemic, with more than 42,600 related deaths.
Red Bull Racing and Mercedes are expected to be at the service during the first Grands Prix. Ted Kravitz suspects that the team of Max Verstappen is aware that in 2020 it really is a serious challenger to Mercedes.
"They know they are in a good place," Kravitz starts in Ted's Notebook. In Sky Sports' programme, the journalist concludes that the Austrian race team is doing well with confidence. "They knew they were in a good position in Australia. They wanted the race to continue because they knew they had a good car."
Read more Scoop for Verstappen: The Dutchman is going to test new biometric shirt
The factories of the teams in Formula 1 have been locked up for weeks, but in the meantime they are being developed. Kravitz suspects that the RB16 is good enough to take victory over the Red Bull Ring on its own. "In Austria it very well could be. I think Red Bull with Verstappen is the joint favourite (with Mercedes) and maybe Alexander Albon, who knows."
After battle in Austria also exciting duel in Hungary?
After two Grands Prix in Austria the king's class of motorsport will travel to Hungary. That's a job that also suits Red Bull's car well, but the 46-year old Briton notes that Lewis Hamilton already has six victories behind his name at the Hungaroring. "Red Bull also performed very well here in the past, so it will be exciting in Hungary as well. Theyve got upgrades coming as well."
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The worldwide Automatic Emergency Braking Market is anticipated to reach around 72,829 thousand units by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the passenger cars dominated the global market, in terms of volume. In 2017, North America accounted for the majority share in the global Automatic Emergency Braking market.
The significant increase in the demand for luxury passenger cars boosts the adoption of AEB systems. The increasing need to improve road safety coupled with introduction of stringent safety regulations has encouraged market players to integrate AEB systems in vehicles. Governments all across the world have mandated stringent safety regulations to reduce road accidents, and improve vehicular safety. The growing demand for passenger vehicles owing to increasing disposable income, and changing lifestyles, coupled with modernization of vehicles support the growth of the Automatic Emergency Braking Market. The increasing development of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, and rising safety concerns among consumers have boosted the adoption of AEB systems. However, high costs of advanced electronic brake systems would restrict the market growth during the forecast period. New emerging markets, and emerging consumer demographics would provide growth opportunities for Automatic Emergency Braking market in the coming years.
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In 2017, North America accounted for the highest share in the global Automatic Emergency Braking market. The introduction of stringent government regulations regarding vehicular safety, and modernization of vehicles accelerate the adoption of automatic emergency braking in the region. The high rising living standards and disposable income further increases the demand of luxury automobiles in the region. Development of advanced AEB systems by market players to cater to the safety concerns of consumers and meet the mandates issued by the governments has boosted the Automatic Emergency Braking market growth. Modernization of vehicles, and development of autonomous vehicles would provide growth opportunities during the forecast period.
The leading companies profiled in the Automatic Emergency Braking market include ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Daimler AG, Continental AG, Delphi Automotive PLC, Robert Bosch GmbH, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Tesla Motors, Inc., Denso Corporation, Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd., Knorr-Bremse AG, and Mando Corporation. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.
Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/automatic-emergency-braking-market
Automatic Emergency Braking Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Type High Speed AEB Systems Low Speed AEB Systems Pedestrian AEB Systems
Automatic Emergency Braking Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Vehicle Type Passenger Vehicles Commercial Vehicles
Automatic Emergency Braking Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Technology Dynamic Brake Support Crash Imminent Braking Forward Collision Warning Others
Automatic Emergency Braking Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Region North America US. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa
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By IANS
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the country is fighting a twin battle against China.
Kejriwal said, "Our country is fighting a twin battle against China. First, our doctors are fighting against Chinese virus and second, India's brave soldiers are fighting China on the border."
The chief minister termed the coronavirus as 'Chinese virus'. He said, "Just as the brave soldiers of our country are facing China on the border, similarly health workers within the country are fighting against the coronavirus.
Kejriwal said, "As our 20 jawans did not retreat while guarding the border in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, we will also not retreat. We have arranged corona beds on a war footing. There are about 7,000 beds for Covid-19 patients in Delhi at the moment. Don't worry. We will not allow the lack of beds come in the way of treating corona patients at all."
Kejriwal said the number of tests in Delhi has also been increased. Earlier there used to be 5,000 tests per day in Delhi, whereas now 18,000 tests are being done in Delhi every day.
The Delhi Chief Minister said that the government will provide oximeters to the corona patients in home isolation. With this equipment, corona patients will be able to measure the level of oxygen in their body.
He also said that the Delhi government is getting full support from the central government in the fight against coronavirus.
Authorities in Florida are trying to untangle a twisted case involving a married mother-of-four who was found dead at a neighbor's house over the weekend, after her husband said he was kidnapped and robbed.
The body of Amber Gaddis, 30, was discovered by deputies following a trail of blood after she tried to run for help to a residence in the Kingsbury Street area of Jacksonville in the early morning hours of Saturday.
Amber's husband of four years, Daniel Gaddis, had called 911 at 12.30am to report that he had been the victim of kidnapping and robbery.
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Amber Gaddis, 30 (left), was found dead in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday after her husband, Daniel, told cops he had been kidnapped and robbed
Daniel said he believes the same men who robbed him then went to his and Ambver's home in Jacksonville (pictured) intending to rob his wife as well
When Daniel was let go by his kidnappers, he returned home to find Amber gone
Courtesy of News4jax
According to the Jacksonville County Sheriff's Office, Daniel told investigators that three unknown men traveling in a dark-colored vehicle had abducted and robbed him, then dropped him off near his home.
The husband said he saw his big-screen TV laying in the street, then entered his house to find Amber gone.
Deputies who responded to Daniel's 911 call reporting his wife missing launched a search and found her dead at a neighbor's house, where the woman had apparently tried to seek help.
Authorities said the 30-year-old woman had suffered unspecified injuries. Neighbors reported hearing three gunshots on the night of the incident.
In an interview with First Coast News, Daniel said he left his house on Saturday willingly with acquaintances and was then dropped off at an apartment complex, where he was robbed.
Officers who were summoned to the scene followed a trail of blood that led them to Amber Gaddis' body resting at a neighbor's home
Amber and Daniel had been married for four years. The couple were raising six children together
He believes the men who robbed him then went to his house and tried to rob Amber.
'She opened the door because it was someone she knew, and then they tried to rob her and I wasnt there,' Daniel said.
The couple's roommate, Albert Ives, told News4Jax that he was hanging out at home with his long-time friend, Amber, while her husband was away.
At one point, he left to go to the store, and when he returned, he found the TV in the road, the front door ajar and Amber missing.
A small makeshift memorial is seen near the scene where Amber Gaddis was killed Saturday
Deputies have interviewed Daniel, Ives, and other friends and family to try and piece together what happened.
The husband said he wants justice for Amber, whom he described as 'perfect' and deeply caring. The couple were raising six children together.
'I loved Amber with all my heart,' said Daniel. 'She was like the air in my lungs.'
As of Tuesday, no arrests have been made and the sheriff's office has released no information on potential suspects.
ALMADEN DE LA PLATA, SPAINExtremeno, an imposing black bull who weighs more than half a ton, was set to fight to death next month in the neoclassical ring of the Spanish city of Valencia.
Instead, the coronavirus gave four-year-old Extremeno an unexpected lease on life. Valencias fiesta was called off, along with the bulk of a Spanish bullfighting season that normally runs from March to October.
Although Spain ended its COVID-19 state of emergency Sunday, bull breeders and matadors are continuing to lock horns with a left-wing Spanish government that they accuse of wanting to use the epidemic as an accelerator for bullfightings permanent removal, in line with the wishes of animal welfare activists.
I find it deplorable that the fiesta of the Spanish people has become so politicized, said Aurora Algarra, who owns Extremeno and is among the few women to run a bull farm, which she took over after her father died in 2006. We now find ourselves under tremendous attack from Spains government, but at least this crisis has united us in the face of adversity in a way that I had not seen before.
Algarra had been preparing to send 70 bulls this year to fight in the rings of Spain and southern France. Instead, the coronavirus lockdown had led her to send 30 of them to the slaughterhouse. She is earning about 400 euros, or $610, for each animals meat. That is only one-tenth of the cost of its upkeep during the four years in which a bull roams her nearly 2,000 acres of land in the empty countryside of Andalusia, the southern and largest region of Spain.
For now, Algarra is keeping Extremeno and her other bulls, while hoping bullfighting can restart soon. A breeder can earn thousands of euros by providing six bulls for a traditional fight, or corrida, with the world-famous Pamplona festival paying as much as 15,000 euros for each animal, Algarra said.
The Pamplona festival, famed because its bulls also run the citys streets, was among the main events that were scrapped shortly after Spain declared its state of emergency in mid-March.
In recent years, bullfighting has not only been caught in strong political and economic crosswinds in Spain, it has also increasingly found itself denounced by activists who see it as publicly torturing animals.
During a corrida, the matador skillfully draws the bull toward him, at the risk of getting gored. At the end of a fight, the matador usually plunges his sword deep between the bulls shoulders; then the dead animal is dragged from the ring. In some rare instances, the public spares a bulls life by asking for it to be pardoned for its bravery.
In 2013, after the global financial crisis also significantly hurt the bullfighting sector, the conservative government at the time came to its defence by declaring bullfighting part of Spains cultural patrimony. This declaration was also a response to the growing separatist movement in Catalonia, whose regional Parliament voted to ban bullfighting in 2010.
Idled by the coronavirus, several leading matadors have recently waded more vigorously into Spains debate over bullfighting, both on social media and on the streets.
We now have a government in Spain that sees the coronavirus as an opportunity to remove bullfighting altogether, said Andres Roca Rey, a Peruvian matador who joined a demonstration in Seville on June 13, when defenders of bullfighting rallied in several Spanish cities.
The government, however, insists that it is not mistreating the bullfighting sector. Faced with calls for his resignation, Spains culture minister, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes, met with bullfighting representatives June 17 in Madrid. Afterward, the industrys officials said they had received the ministers promise that bullfighting would be excluded from a planned law that would protect animals against mistreatment.
Still, the tensions are simmering. Last month, Pablo Iglesias, Spains deputy prime minister and leader of the far-left party Unidas Podemos, said in Parliament, It makes me very uncomfortable that something is promoted as a cultural practice that I cannot avoid seeing as delivering a lot of pain to an animal in a show for the enjoyment of people.
Most opinion polls suggest that Spanish society is deeply split over bullfighting, just as it is increasingly fragmented over politics.
Roca Rey, who is 23 and one of the younger stars of bullfighting, said that 16 of his 17 fights last year in Spain sold out. Some younger fans, he said, are probably drawn to the ring because it is such a powerful Spanish tradition.
I think many younger people now want to identify with their country, and they understand that watching bullfighting is about embracing the culture of Spain, and certainly not about seeing an animal suffer, he said in an interview on an estate that he bought this year from a descendant of William Randolph Hearst, the American publishing tycoon.
Juan Pedro Domecq, deputy president of the union of Spanish breeders, said Spains government, no matter its political leanings, had a constitutional obligation to support bullfighting because it is the backbone of Spanish culture.
The coronavirus hit a sector that was already in a complicated economic situation, reliant exclusively on spectators and without sponsorship or television revenues, Domecq said. Advertising revenues have evaporated, he said, because no sponsor wants to face the fierce attacks of animal activists.
Since the lockdown, some animal welfare associations have asked the government to disburse funds to help those working in bullfighting find alternative jobs. Many workers are contractually tied to a specific matador, making it hard for them to get jobs elsewhere. Even so, most of the support staff earn money only when there is a fight.
Ana Belen Martin, a politician from Pacma, a party that defends animal welfare, said that bullfighting had been declining for more than a decade and that it was heading for a natural death, with or without COVID-19. Last year, 1,424 bull fiestas were held in Spain, down from 2,684 in 2009, according to government figures.
But Martin said the COVID-19 crisis should not become a reason to extend a lifeline to bullfighting.
This is the culture of our past, not that of the society we want to build, focused on compassion and empathy rather than on people who applaud while watching an animal agonizing, she said.
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Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photos Getty
Fears about antifa, the amorphous left-wing protest group, are proving to be potent fundraising and data-gathering tools for prominent Republican political campaigns, chief among them that of President Donald Trump himself.
The Trump re-election campaign came under fire on Thursday for an ad on its Facebook page that went after antifa and used an image of an upside-down red triangle, a symbol that has ties to Nazi Germany. The Trump campaign defended the image, saying that its a common antifa symbol as well. But evidence of that was scant at best and by midday, Facebook had quickly removed the ad after it was flagged.
But that controversial spot just scratched the surface of the Trump campaigns antifa messaging. The campaign has run ads invoking the group through at least seven different Facebook pages associated with the campaign, including not just the presidents page but those for Vice President Mike Pence, campaign manager Brad Parscale, and pages devoted to female, Latino, and Black Trump supporters.
Many use identical text and imagery. We're calling on YOU to make a public statement and add your name to stand with President Trump against ANTIFA, a handful of the ads declare. Those who add their names can be targeted with future advertising and fundraising appeals from the campaign.
Conservatives Panic Over Fake Antifa Threat to Blow Up the Alamo
Such red meat list-building is standard fare for political campaigns. And though antifa has arguably played a marginal role in civil unrest around the country over the past month, it has seized the attention of the presidents political base and become a potent call to actionone that political campaigns can use to build lists of supporters to hit up for money in the future.
Both Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and her leading re-election challenger, Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), have invoked antifa in recent Facebook ads. Dismantle Antifa. Fund the police. Add your name if you agree, declared one recent Loeffler campaign ad. Dismantle Antifa. Fund the police. Add your name if you agree, Collins campaign beckons.
Story continues
The advertising isnt limited to congressional campaigns either. At least one member of Congress, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), has used taxpayer funds from the congressmans official office budget to purchase Facebook ads going after antifa and protesters in Seattle, about 2,800 miles from his district, who have occupied a six-square-block segment of the city.
Some independent groups are also getting in on the action. C3 PAC, a super PAC that runs ads on the page 2020 American Defense Fund, has purchased a handful of highly inflammatory ads going after antifa and the groups supposed backer, liberal billionaire and perennial right-wing bogeyman George Soros.
George Soros's dark money is funding domestic terrorist groups like ANTIFA, causing the destruction of our cities, one C3 PAC ad declares. Another asks supporters to tell President Trump that we do not negotiate with radical groups. Demand he activates [sic] the military now.
Ironically, the Trump campaign itself has sworn off C3 PAC in the past, officially notifying the Federal Election Commission that it wants nothing to do with the group.
Read more at The Daily Beast.
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But the transport workers union of Busan said some 160 workers who boarded the ship to unload cargo and conduct repairs were placed in self-quarantine. Health officials said the Russians will be treated at Busan Medical Center.
A health official said, "Tests were conducted as soon as the ship entered the port, and there was no contact with people outside of the vessel."
Sixteen out of 20 crewmembers of a Russian trawler which arrived Busan over the weekend have tested positive for coronavirus, officials in the southern port city said Monday.
Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Monday warned of a second wave of infections and pledged to declare anther lockdown should the average number of daily infections surpass 30 for three days running.
"A second wave of mass infections can happen at any time," Park said. "If the average daily number of infections surpasses 30 or the 70 percent of available hospital beds are filled, we will have no choice but to return to lockdown."
At present, 53.7 percent or 490 hospital beds set aside for coronavirus patients are filled. A return to lockdown would mean that Seoul citizens will be barred from gathering in groups and outdoor activities. Schools may have to close again.
A spate of new infections have occurred throughout the Seoul metropolitan area and now spreading to other parts of the country. There has also been an increase in new cases among those arriving from overseas, according to health authorities. In March and April, about 80 to 90 percent of them were Koreans who returned to Korea to escape from the epidemic, but since the second week of June, about half of them were foreigners who came to Korea for work amid a labor shortage here as the agricultural season started.
Meanwhile Korea reported 46 new cases as of Tuesday morning, 30 of them being foreign arrivals, bringing the total to 12,484.
Jeremy Christians sentencing hearing started off with an outburst Tuesday, when moments into the hearing Christian told one of his surviving victims that he regretted not killing her. Deputies swiftly escorted him out of the courtroom.
Christian wont be sentenced Tuesday, as originally planned, for the May 2017 murders of two fellow MAX train passengers and the attempted murder of a third passenger, as well as several other crimes against other victims. The hearing will continue Wednesday to give more time to the victims and their families to make statements before the judge hands down Christians prison sentence.
Christian lost his composure as one of those victims -- a Black woman who suffered a serious eye injury after Christian struck her in the face with a half-filled Gatorade bottle -- described him as a white supremacist and a plague on society.
You are a waste of breath, said victim Demetria Hester. And when you die and go to hell, I hope you rot.
Christian responded: See you there. He shouted derogatory names at Hester, called her a liar and exclaimed, I should have killed you! At one point, inexplicably, Christian also yelled George Floyd! George Floyd!
He tore off his mask as he spoke.
Multnomah County Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht directed deputies to remove Christian, stating that he had been warned not to be disruptive. The judge said he disobeyed that order and would not return to the courtroom for the rest of the hearing.
Heres video of Hesters testimony and Christians outburst:
After hearing arguments from defense attorneys and prosecutors earlier in the day, the judge said she does believe Oregon law allows her to sentence Christian to a maximum of life in prison with no chance of ever getting out for the first-degree murders of Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and Ricky Best, 53.
Christians attorneys unsuccessfully tried to convince the judge that Oregons first-degree murder law, passed by the Oregon Legislature last year as part of Senate Bill 1013, allowed her only one option: Life in prison with the possibility of release after 30 years. They said Senate Bill 1013 is unconstitutional, and that it flies in the face of past Supreme Court decisions.
But prosecutors argued that true life is a legal option. On top of that, prosecutors have asked the judge to sentence Christian to more than 40 additional years for victimizing others, including additional passengers on the train that day and Hester, who he encountered the previous night.
Christian was 35 at the time of his crimes. Hes now 38.
In February, a 12-person jury unanimously found Christian guilty of the murders of Namkai-Meche and Best and the attempted first-degree murder of Micah Fletcher for stabbing all three men in the neck on a Green Line train as it pulled into Northeast Portlands Hollywood Transit Center on May 26, 2017.
According to evidence presented at trial, Namkai-Meche had approached Christian with his phone, apparently in an attempt to record Christians racist tirade. After Christian swatted Namkai-Meches phone onto the trains floor and shoved Fletcher and Namkai-Meche, Fletcher repeatedly shoved Christian and told him to get off the train. Thats when Christian stabbed both of them and Best, who was standing nearby.
Among other crimes, jurors also found Christian guilty of hate crimes for threatening to harm two teenage girls, who were 16 and 17 at the time and were riding the train to Clackamas Town Center. One of them is African American and the other is an immigrant from Somalia, who was wearing a hijab. Witnesses said Christian unleashed a vile torrent about Muslims, Christians and Jews dying, spoke of beheadings and shouted, Go home, we need American here!
The attacks were caught on videos, taken by both TriMet surveillance cameras and cellphones belonging to bystanders.
Christian was found guilty of unlawful use of a weapon and menacing for pointing his knife at commuter Shawn Forde after Christian stormed off the train. Christian fled and was arrested about a mile away, thanks in part to passengers who followed him and notified police of his location.
Jurors also found Christian guilty of a hate crime, second-degree assault and other crimes against Hester, who was the target of hate speech and injured in the eye by Christian.
Other than the judge, only 19 people -- including the lawyers, court staff, deputies, an Oregonian/OregonLive photographer and a TV videographer -- have been allowed into the courtroom during the sentencing hearing. Six feet of distancing is required between those present. So are masks, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other media, the public, victims and their families have been watching remotely.
LIVE UPDATES:
11:25 a.m.: Tuesday, during Hesters statement to the court, she wore a mask with the words I cant breathe printed across it, in recognition of some of the last words uttered by George Floyd before he died as a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck. Hester described Namkai-Meche and Best as heroes in the fight against bigotry.
We will continue to fight until everyone like Jeremy is off the streets, Hester said. ...We will not stop until we are treated equal.
Hester said society must not allow people like Christian to spout hate.
I blame the system for facilitating and creating people like Jeremy, Hester said. Hester also expressed outrage that Portland police, who responded to the scene, didnt arrest Christian the night he threw the Gatorade bottle at her eye because police didnt believe her.
11:40 a.m.: Destinee Mangum, one of the two teens targeted by Christian, appeared by video with her mother, Dyjuana Hudson. Mangum didnt make any statements, but her mother said she and the other teen, Walio Mohamed, have been physically and emotionally drained. Theyve been overcome by stress and sometimes insomnia, she said.
Hudson said in the more than three years since the incident, theyve been left afraid to go out because they fear another stranger might target them.
We just want justice served, Hudson said.
11:50 a.m.: Erik Best, the oldest of Ricky Bests four children, said his father was a human being who truly cared. Ricky Best was an Army veteran who served 23 years. He was on his way home to Happy Valley from his job as a technician for the city of Portlands Bureau of Development Services when he was stabbed.
Society lost the type of man that you want for the hard times, the rough times, Erik Best said.
He said he doesnt hate his fathers killer and hes left open the possibility of redemption for Christian. But Erik Best said he thinks thats unlikely given Christians past actions.
2 p.m.: Fletcher and relatives of Namkai-Meche had hoped to address Christian directly, said victims rights lawyers representing their interests. The lawyers asked the judge to allow Christian back into the courtroom this afternoon. The judge said shes trying to work out a compromise: Allowing the victims to see Christian remotely through a live video feed and for Christian to see them through the feed as they speak.
3:05 p.m.: Court has resumed, now that technological issues have been worked out. Christian will be visible to victims through a video feed.
3:10 p.m.: Albrecht, the judge, announced her interpretation of the first-degree murder law. She believes Christian can be sentenced to a true life sentence. She has not yet announced the prison term she will hand down to Christian. More victims are still slated to speak.
3:40 p.m.: The judge has raised the possibility that Christian wont be sentenced today. The hearing could spill over into Wednesday if theres not enough time Tuesday to listen to all victims and for the judge to issue her ruling.
3:45 p.m.: Vajra Alaya-Maitreya, Namkai-Meches older sister, said she, her husband and two young children moved to Portland to be closer to Namkai-Meche and another sister one month before he was killed. For one month, they enjoyed weekly family dinners and had so many plans for a future together.
He was supposed to be the uncle that snuck my kids ice cream and pushed them on swings, Alaya-Maitreya said. Instead, I have spent two years in therapy.
She said Christian didnt only commit murder, he committed robbery, too.
You robbed me of one of my favorite people on Earth, Alaya-Maitreya said.
Namkai-Meche was the second youngest in a family of nine children. He was a 2016 Reed College graduate and worked on environmental projects for the consulting firm Cadmus Group in downtown Portland.
4 p.m.: Asha Deliverance, Namkai-Meches mother, noted that during video of the attack, her son could be seen carrying a reusable food container in his hand as Christian shoved him. The food container carried a meal that her son had brought to give to a homeless youth, Deliverance said.
She said her son was caring to his core and his loss has devastated all of our lives. That includes the life of his oldest sister, who was an accomplished harpist living with mental illness in May 2017 but now needs round-the-clock care because of the trauma of dealing with her brothers murder, Deliverance said.
She said her family is trying to look beyond the violence that ended his life.
We all need ...to choose love, Deliverance said.
4:10 p.m.: Theresa van Olphen, Namkai-Meches aunt, was on the phone with him as Christian continued his loud rant on the MAX train that day. She had suggested that Namkai-Meche video record the rant to later give to police, but not to get involved.
There isnt a day that goes by that I dont replay that last phone conversation, van Olphen said Tuesday. ...Everyone keeps telling me its not my fault. And of course, theyre right. Theres only one person who is at fault, ...and thats Jeremy Christian.
Van Olphen continued: Hate speech is not free speech, Jeremy. Taliesin tried to stand up to a racist. ...He paid the ultimate price for his heroism.
4:30 p.m.: Passenger Shawn Forde, a former Marine, took the stand. Fletcher is scheduled to follow. The judge has said Forde will probably be the last witness for today. Forde, who is Black and a former Marine, intervened in Christians racist rant by talking to Christian and trying to get him to calm down and focus on him instead of the two teen girls on the train that day.
I question what I could have done differently most days, if not every day, Forde said, adding that he picks the encounter apart frame by frame. Even beat myself up. Because in my head, people died on my watch.
Forde wore a mask with the words printed across it: Black Lives Matter, #sayhername, #saytheirnames.
Forde said because Portland police didnt arrest Christian the night before when responding to the attack on Hester, Christian was able to kill two men the next day. Forde said that inaction only builds on the states history of white supremacy.
We knew in some way he was protected by the system, ...the same racist ideology that he espoused, Forde said.
4:49 p.m.: Court has adjourned for the day. Witnesses will continue making statements Wednesday, before Christian is sentenced.
-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
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Monday, June 22, 2020 at 9:34PM
Sobeys has launched an online grocery home delivery service called Voila. It's coming first to Vaughan, Ontario, and will be available in the rest of the Greater Toronto Area in the coming weeks. There are plans to bring the service to major cities in Quebec as well.
Customers can order essentials from Sobeys, Farm Boy, and Well.ca, which the company claims to be the only grocery retailer to offer these options. The orders are placed in one-hour delivery windows, allowing you to order online or through the Voila app.
Ocado Group's technology powers Voila, and orders are filled through its state-of-the-art automated Customer Fulfillment Centre in Vaughan.
Robots assemble the orders in the warehouse, and then employees will deliver the groceries to your house with minimal handling. Empire Company Limited promises that its employees adhere to the Public Health Agency of Canada's recommendations. Employees are required to frequently clean and sanitize the warehouse, delivery vehicles, and themselves.
The delivery workers will be wearing masks and will change gloves and sanitize between deliveries. They will observe physical distancing guidelines and aim for contactless deliveries, leaving orders at the doorstep or in the lobbies. You will be given instructions ahead of time on what to do when the orders arrive.
Source: Empire Company Limited
[June 23, 2020] LG SIGNATURE Collaborates with Digital Artists to Showcase the Merging of Art and Technology
SEOUL, South Korea, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LG SIGNATURE has partnered with up and coming digital artists, asking them to communicate the beauty and elegance of its luxury products via their own unique visual languages. Santi Zoraidez, Peter Tarka and Andreas Wannerstedt have each produced exclusive artworks that accentuate the brand's innovative use of technology and striking design, and echo its core philosophy of "Art Inspires Technology, Technology Completes Art." Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.prnasia.com/mnr/lg_202006.shtml Santi Zoraidez In images featuring the LG SIGNATURE OLED 8K TV and LG SIGNATURE Refrigerator, Argentine-born art director and designer Santi Zoraidez plays with notions of interior and exterior, nature and manmade, to accentuate the beauty of the minimalist products. The TV merges seamlessly with a stunning vista of a picturesque inlet while the fridge blends effortlessly with a well-curated room, its premium textured-steel finish illuminated by a spherical light fixture. For the LG SIGNATURE Air Purifier, Zoraidez has created a scene that evokes a feeling of tranquility, surrounding the appliance with a color palette of soothing natural tones. "I tried to bring simplicity and minimalism together in their most impeccable form," said Zoraidez. Zoraidez is a rising artist of this generation, having worked in artistic hotspots such as Copenhagen and Berlin for several years and with key companies that have strong product designs including IKEA and Nike. To see more of Santi Zoraidez's beautiful and diverse pieces, please visit LG SIGNATURE's Instagram and Facebook. Peter Tarka Known for his immersive illustrations, Peter Tarka blurs the line between reality and the imagination in his works depicting LG SIGNAURE Washing Machine, OLED 8K TV and Air Purifier.
Captivated by the handle-less designs of the washer and purifier, and the elegant simplicity of the TV, Tarka's moving images highlight the brand's design philosophy and showcase the liveliness that infuses all of his artistic creations. Each brief, cinematic piece is set in a somewhat surreal home, and features strong color and deftly deployed digital elements that remind the beholder that LG SIGNATURE appliances are anything but ordinary. "By placing LG SIGNATURE products center stage, I wanted to transport the audience into the artwork across all formats and dimensions," he stated. Tarka is a globally renowned artist and a recipient of both the Bronze and Silver Cannes Lions awards.
To see more inspiring illustrations by Peter Tarka, please visit LG SIGNATURE's Instagram and Facebook. Andreas Wannerstedt To represent the two drums of the LG SIGNATURE Washing Machine, Andreas Wannerstedt uses two digitally-generated revolving rings one positioned vertically and the other horizontally. The acclaimed Stockholm-based 3D artist and art director strips the appliance down to its most important elements, getting to the essence of the sophisticated washing machine while simultaneously expressing its clean, minimalist design. In another work, Wannerstedt presents the unique innovation that is LG SIGNATURE OLED 8K TV, drawing attention to its sculptural form and ability to augment any space by placing it in an environment made entirely of abstract shapes. Excited by the opportunity to team up with LG SIGNATURE, the artist said, "I sincerely believe seeking such creative collaborations with contemporary artists like myself is a fantastic initiative from LG." Wannerstedt possesses a wide portfolio of work through over 10 years of various partnerships with not only luxury brands including Omega and Swarovski but also popular brands such as Adidas and Red Bull. To see Andreas Wannerstedt's captivating artwork in motion, please visit LG SIGNATURE's Facebook. These partnerships are not the first time LG SIGNATURE has worked to bring together art and technology. The ultra-premium brand partnered with the acclaimed Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas, creating a unique exhibition on the theme of 'infinity' in 2019 and worked with design legend Alessandro Mendini in 2018. In addition, LG SIGNATURE collaborated with famous UK installation artist Jason Bruges and his studio on various different exhibitions for the brand. To learn more about LG SIGNATURE's artist collaborations please check out Santi Zoraidez, Peter Tarka, and Andreas Wannerstedt on www.LGSIGNATURE.com. # # # About LG SIGNATURE LG SIGNATURE is the first ultra-premium brand across multiple product categories from global innovator LG Electronics. Catering to the most discerning consumers, LG SIGNATURE is designed to provide a state-of-the-art living experience that feels pure, sophisticated and luxurious. Combining the very best of everything LG has to offer, the distinctive LG SIGNATURE products were designed with their true essence in mind streamlined to focus on each product's essential function while maintaining the LG SIGNATURE's modern, signature design. www.LGSIGNATURE.com. SOURCE LG SIGNATURE
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India is reportedly considering lapsing the safeguard duty on import of solar cells and modules from China and Malaysia. The current provision has been in place in July 30, 2018 and expires on July 29.
Once this safeguard is removed, these items would be much more expensive to import. It would add a significant expense to projects as modules alone comprise 60 percent of total cost.
The Centre will take soon take a call on when basic customs duty (BCD) on these products will be imposed, sources told Mint.
Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.
While this is likely a fallout of the India-China border clashes in Ladakh, the report added it also indicates Indias determination to attract investors who are keen to dilute interests in China after the coronavirus pandemic exposed dangers of overdependence on a single large source.
Budget 2020 had imposed 20 percent customs duty on solar cells and modules, and import of other renewable energy equipment from none before.
A senior government official told the paper that while the Budget had not set a date for BCD, it is likely to come in as soon as the safeguard duty drops. The rates and trajectory of the BCD is yet to be finalised. We are of the view that the safeguard duty shall not be extended. An announcement to this effect may be made shortly," he added.
The paper added that Ministry of New and Renewable Energy was earlier in favour of imposing BCD from April 1, 2021. The move comes as calls for expansion of domestic manufacturing capabilities have increased as India moves to expand solar in its energy mix. Solar power already accounts for 20 percent of Indias installed power generation capacity.
Passengers leaving the Ruby Princess say they were surprised by their quick disembarkation from the cruise ship in Sydney, having been warned of hold-ups for health testing.
Sharon Schofield was 'surprised and shocked' by her quick exit from the vessel on March 19 after being told days earlier there would be a delay as NSW Health conducted checks for COVID-19.
'That's why we were surprised when we got in that it was very quick because we were expecting to be temperature-tested or something from NSW Health before we got off the boat,' Ms Schofield on Tuesday told an inquiry into the ship's arrival.
Passengers leaving the Ruby Princess say they were surprised by their quick disembarkation from the cruise ship in Sydney, having been warned of hold-ups for health testing
She said there were no health checks on March 19 and noted that leaving the ship was quick compared with the lengthy delays boarding the ship on March 8, as previous passengers were tested as they disembarked.
A NSW Health assessment team boarded the ship on March 8 to collect COVID-19 swabs and perform temperature checks on passengers and crew members who had been part of the previous Ruby Princess cruise.
This process was not repeated when the ship docked on March 19 because the NSW Health assessment panel deemed the ship low risk, allowing 2700 passengers to pour off the vessel.
Ann Kavanagh said she did not recall any mention of the virus on board and agreed the disembarkation was quick.
'There was no queuing, no passport control, nothing, we just got in a taxi, got to the airport ... very quick,' Ms Kavanagh said.
Sharon Schofield was 'surprised and shocked' by her quick exit from the vessel on March 19 after being told days earlier there would be a delay as NSW Health conducted checks for COVID-19
She tested positive to the virus after arriving home in WA and spent eight days in an induced coma.
Ms Kavanagh also said she feared she may have contracted the virus after a crew member sneezed while serving coffee.
'I certainly would have never got on that ship had I known we were going to get so sick,' she said, fighting back tears.
Passenger Kristy McMahon told the inquiry she narrowly missed the chance to get a full refund for the cruise.
She said that two days before departure, she received an email from Carnival offering passengers a refund for bookings departing on or after March 9, but requiring three days' notice.
Her cruise left Sydney on March 8.
A month after the ship docked NSW police officers raided the Ruby Princess in HAZMAT suits as part of a criminal investigation into the ship's arrival
A subsequent email revised the refund eligibility for cruises leaving from March 6, but three days' notice was still required.
It has since been confirmed that all passengers aboard the March 8 Ruby Princess cruise were eligible for a refund.
Ms McMahon further alleged confusing messaging as the cruise returned to Sydney, including about the necessary quarantine period.
On board she was told self-isolation was 14 days from the time of leaving New Zealand on March 15. Later Australian Border Force said the fortnight isolation started from the time they disembarked in Sydney on March 19.
More than 20 coronavirus deaths across Australia have been linked to passengers who disembarked the Ruby Princess when it arrived in Circular Quay on March 19.
The inquiry continues on Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 02:14:35|Editor: huaxia
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ADEN, Yemen, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 30 people were killed on Monday as fighting continues intensively between Yemen's government and the Houthi militia in the country's central province of al-Bayda, a military official told Xinhua.
"Battles intensified after the Houthi militia carried out new attacks on positions of the government forces in Qaniya area in north of al-Bayda province," the local military official said on condition of anonymity.
The source confirmed that the fighting resulted in the killing of six members of the government forces and about 24 Houthis, and wounding dozens from both sides.
He pointed out that the battles are still continuing between the two sides, using various kinds of weapons as Houthis attempt to advance into the government-held areas.
Another military source of the government forces confirmed to Xinhua that they repulsed armed attacks carried out by the Houthis in different areas of al-Bayda during the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Houthis-affiliated Masirah television network reported that warplanes of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition launched 37 airstrikes against a number of areas in al-Bayda.
The Iran-allied Houthi militia recently intensified their military operations against the government-controlled areas in different parts of the war-ravaged Arab country.
Following the recent Houthi military escalation, the rebels succeeded in capturing key areas from the government forces that withdrew from their sites in al-Bayda and elsewhere in Yemen.
Yemen has been locked into a civil war since the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi militia overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.
Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthis forced him into exile. Enditem
TDT| Manama
A Bahraini minor, who joined others in arson and road-blocking on Budaiya Highway earlier this year, received yesterday a reduced sentence of one years imprisonment, considering his young age. The 17-year-old boy was sentenced by the Fourth High Criminal Court.
Case details showed that the defendant was among a group of around 10 individuals on the highway near Al Markh village, where they used burning wooden furniture and tyres to block the busy road last February. A police patrol vehicle shortly reached the spot and a policeman, the prosecution witness, ran after the defendant and was able to catch him.
The minor was arrested and handed over to Budaiya Police Station. The court decided to issue a reduced punishment against the defendant considering his age, as per Articles 70 and 71 of the Kingdoms Penal Code, which reads: Subject to the cases set forth in the Law, extenuating justifications shall be deemed to include the minor age of the accused, who shall be more than 15 but less than 18 years of age, and committing the offence for honorable motives or objectives or as a consequence of serious provocation by the victim who has no legal right to do so.
It was also mentioned in the Penal Code: If there is an extenuating justification for an offence punishable by death sentence, the penalty shall be reduced to a jail sentence or imprisonment for at least one year. If the penalty for such offence is life or term imprisonment, it shall be reduced to the punishment for a misdemeanour unless the law otherwise provides.
If a salesperson or a marketer is unaware of the culture of the country where their company conducts business, this may hamper business relationships or prevent some partnerships from happening completely. Employees who want to relocate need to be aware of the culture theyre moving into as well.
This is why intercultural competence is becoming one of the major learning trends. Training managers should be fast to pick up this trend. Learn the basics about integrating intercultural competence in the training program you manage and it can help you engage a new demographic.
What is intercultural competence?
As defined by Kein & Chen in their 2001s article Working with children from culturally diverse backgrounds, intercultural competence is the ability of a person to gather information about their own culture and cultures of others, use cultural resources, reflect on the differences, appreciate both differences and similarities of the cultures and value all cultures.
But its not just about having a positive outlook on all cultures. Theres a very important detail to be found in Bennets Comprehensive multicultural education: theory and practice. To be interculturally competent, a person needs to be sensitive to cultural differences and interpret intercultural styles of communication that include customs and body language.
Choose the right material
The leading way of building intercultural competence is starting a discussion. While teachers play a crucial role in the discussion, this role is that of steering the conversation, not actually having it. The main thing for teachers should be gathering the right materials for the discussion. The students need to receive an article, an image, or a video that encapsulates a culture theyre learning about.
Theres a very important detail about the material for classroom discussions. It doesnt have to be about cultural differences. It has to show cultural differences instead.
To put this in perspective, a video that elaborates on cultural stereotypes of the Chinese is not a good choice. Often, such materials, even if created by people who share that culture, are surface-deep and overly stereotypical. A better choice would be a video where a Chinese student talks about their struggles with family, or a Chinese employee talks about their experiences at work.
Consider working with a foreign university, language courses, or other organisations to procure unique materials. Video or audio files recorded by members of a particular culture would be amazing material.
If the projects budget doesnt allow for this, web research is the optimal tool. Opinion articles and YouTube videos made by the people who live in the culture a program focuses on are a great choice. Start sourcing materials for discussion with these 50 case studies or use them as a reference.
Lead a discussion
Since intercultural competence is formed by reflecting upon another culture, the discussion is the key component to forming it. Regardless of the culture and the topic, the most influential intercultural studies cases include having a discussion with the students.
But its not up to the teachers to talk to their students. A manager needs to instruct them to act as a host, not as a direct participant in the discussion. Teachers should present the topic, help the students understand it, and guide the discussion, letting the students talk and reflect upon the topic on their own.
Another thing that a manager can do is to gather the right people into a group. The perfect study group for building intercultural competence consists of people from different cultures. Put people of different backgrounds into one group, and its going to help the learning process a lot.
A good group composition can allow your teachers to work without presenting the material. As this case study by Livia Ablonczy-MihAlyka shows, in a group of people from different cultures, opinions and experiences of group members can be a basis for the conversation.
Be proactive
A study by Anne Uukkivi suggests that if a teacher is not encouraging students to speak up on the first stages of the discussion, the group may not be confident enough and the discussion will be a failure.
Instruct the teachers to start the discussion by making sure all students are eager to talk. Including warm-up exercises into the lessons that focus on intercultural competence may be a great way to help students ease up and start talking freely.
Gauge language and computer literacy level
The main focus of intercultural studies is intercultural literacy. However, if students dont know the language of communication or dont know how to use the programs necessary for the e-learning course, they wont be as effective.
This is one of the most important things a manager can do to help teachers do a good job. When putting students in a group, learn their language and computer literacy level and make necessary accommodations.
The best option is to have a group that is on the same level. If thats not possible, provide links to dictionaries or to user manuals of the programs necessary for the course. If some students dont have a 24/7 internet connection, synch schedules to make it comfortable for everybody.
Use different tools for interaction
Since the main focus in intercultural competency training is interaction, students and teachers need to have a varied set of tools to interact with. Veronica Markey, Head of Communications for dissertation writing services, says that for effective online interaction a group needs at least a good chat program and one good video chat software.
For text interactions, Slack, Discord, or a popular messenger like WhatsApp would be the best choice. For voice calls, try Skype, Google Hangouts, or Oovoo. Make sure both students and teachers know how to use these programs well.
Integrate with other competences
Intercultural competence in and of itself is a thing worthy of studying. However, it can be a great studying material as well. Its perfect to add to the language learning courses, especially if native speakers of the target language can participate in a class.
Add elements of intercultural competence learning to the corporate language courses to provide more values to the clients. This can also become a unique selling point to drive more clients to the courses.
Lisa Taylors job is part matchmaker and part dream maker. Shes also a talent identifier, navigator of immigration issues and translator of legalese.
And shes just one on a team at Conexus Medstaff, a company that works to help international nurses and medical-field students who want to pursue their careers in the U.S.
These days, that team is busier than ever, Taylor said. The coronavirus pandemic has increased the need for nurses. Conexus Medstaff has been able to bring in international nurses to help the U.S. in this crisis.
They already have this resilience, and they are super brave, Taylor said. They put their lives on the line for this country and none of them has backed down.
Conexus connects the international nurses with hospitals in need, Taylor explained. Were just conduits and consultants, she said. The international nurses are true heroes.
She has been virtually visiting colleges to help international students who want to stay in the U.S. as nurses find the right fit at a hospital. She also has been manning calls from nurses in Canada and Mexico. They want to come here; theyre ready to help, she said.
Its what nurses are called to do, Taylor explained. They want to provide patient care to the sickest of the sick, she said. And it amazes me. Im so lucky to get to meet these people every day.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Conexus connected candidates with jobs, including a nurse from Germany with four years of experience, a student from Nepal with a diploma who wanted to study further in the U.S. and the wife of a man with a student visa who wanted to pursue her career while her husband furthered his education.
In addition, there was a registered nurse who fled Haiti after the earthquakes years ago and made a home in the U.S. under the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) visa, as well as a newly graduated nurse in Canada who couldnt find a position in his home country. He wanted to try nursing in the U.S.
Working in the U.S. is a dream of many international nurses as well as international graduates, said Taylor, a Houston-based senior recruiter.
And theres a dire need for nurses here.
Its a win-win-win, Taylor said. We do our best to get students and nurses exactly the experience they want and to help hospitals get the best candidates. Were here to meet the need.
According to a 2012 issue of the American Journal of Medical Quality, a shortage of registered nurses is projected to spread across the country between 2009 and 2030 and to be most intense in the American South and West. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a need for an additional 203,700 new registered nurses each year from 2016 to 2026.
By locating nurses in need of work and addressing the nursing shortage, Taylor explained that Conexus strives to deliver better care to patients.
At the end of the day, most people get into health care because they want to help people, she said. All of us have been a patient or know a patient, and we want to improve that experience.
Cathy Vollmer, senior vice president of operations at Conexus, was in nursing herself for a decade and also worked in hospital staffing before coming to the company.
What attracted me here was the ability to affect health care on a larger scale, making sure people have the right nurse at the right time at their bedside, she said. Before, Vollmer explained, hospitals would ask her for creative solutions to find the best nursing candidates. Thats exactly what she now does at Conexus.
I love having a more permanent solution instead of a temporary Band-Aid, Vollmer added.
She also enjoys helping nurses make an easy and pleasant transition to a more permanent position.
We get to work on an international basis to create change in peoples lives, she said. They can start here and advance and get to a place they want to be.
Vollmer explained that the nursing shortage is partially attributed to the growing senior population, as well as the increased access to health care.
A nurse has a lot more opportunities to work than just in a hospital, she said. Nurses can be involved in research and case management, assist physicians with their practices or go into home care. Often, nurses pursue their own advanced practices as nurse practitioners.
Vollmer said that by working with international nurses and recent graduates, Conexus can quickly fill gaps at medical facilities, even in rural areas where there is even greater demand.
The company works in multiple sectors, including skilled nursing, long-term care, larger hospitals and rural community hospitals. Nurses interview directly with prospective employers. In addition to helping with immigration, visa and licensing, Conexus provides professional development through learning programs and resources. This can help nurses supplement what they learn in their home countries with knowledge and skills required in the U.S.
Conexus offers a program called, U.S. Ready, where nurses learn best practices.
The recruiting company also offers training for individuals who need certain skills for a position.
A lot of nurses need to have more specialized skills, Vollmer said. More care can be given to a person to have a better outcome.
Conexus also helps nurses throughout their careers, providing courses and programs to advance skills as nurses move into their second and third assignments. The goal is to serve as a resource for health care organizations to build and train staff and for that relationship to last.
Its not a short-term, quick fix, Vollmer said. Its a long-term solution.
Taylor explained that Conexus works on multiple fronts. We recognize there are several issues and we want to help, she said, adding that while many students come to the U.S. to gain experience, they dont know how to turn that education into a future.
Conexus sees a large number of international students or those who have recently graduated with a nursing degree.
We see students whose parents have spent their lives so they can attend school in the U.S. Taylor said. There are international students on a visa, who are not allowed to really work.
These students need to start working as soon as they graduate to assist with finances. Its a hardship and sacrifice for their families, Taylor said. They need to work immediately to make up for the financial burden.
She explained that with immigration attorneys, paralegals and specialists on staff, Conexus can help navigate difficult-to-explain issues.
There are also immigrant and refugee nurses who come to Conexus to better understand their options.
It takes a whole level of bravery and commitment for our nurses to come to the U.S., said Taylor. Its a very scary thing. Immigration rules seem to change almost hourly sometimes. Its not always smooth sailing. It can be a rough road. You want someone who will go through it with you and explain it to you.
The company continues to follow up with the nurses once they find a position.
We become a solid part of their lives, Taylor said. We talk to them about their goals. Were providing tools and resources they need to be successful.
Vollmer said that Conexus also helps with relocation and connects candidates with other nurses in the area. Our operations team is a concierge to the nurse and family, she said. They set their kids up in school. They meet with facility and mangers.
Conexus often covers its nurses, first month of rent, so they can move into the community before starting their jobs. Its a better solution than hospitals turning to per-diem nurses to fill the gap, as they have traditionally done, said Vollmer.
Here you have a nurse who is really committed and wants to settle, she said. Its a long-term partnership. Were all here for the same goal and the same purpose to help people who need help in this country.
Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
Bishop Steven J. Raica knocked three times on the front door of the Cathedral of St. Paul, then took office as head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham on Tuesday afternoon.
Raica, the new bishop of Birmingham, knocked on the cathedral door with a wooden mallet to request entry. Archbishop of Mobile Thomas J. Rodi opened the door and let him in.
We all know that these are challenging days, but today we set aside as a day of joy and Thanksgiving, Rodi said.
After Papal Nuncio to the United States Christophe Pierre read the apostolic letter of appointment from Pope Francis, Raica carried the letter throughout the cathedral, showing it to the hundred or so limited audience members wearing masks and practicing social distancing, and then took his seat in the bishops chair.
Rodi welcomed him to the new position with a Lynyrd Skynyrd lyrical reference. Bishop Raica, welcome to Sweet Home Alabama, he said. We pray that very quickly, this will feel like home.
As head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, Raica will oversee 104,000 Catholics across north and central Alabama.
The installation ceremony was broadcast live nationally on EWTN Global Catholic Network, which has its world headquarters in the Diocese of Birmingham, in Irondale.
Every other pew in the cathedral was blocked off from seating, and parishioners sat at a distance, as a precaution against spreading coronavirus.
Today, Im well aware there are many who wanted to be physically present, Raica said. The time in which we find ourselves leaves us with very limited options. I very much appreciate your understanding and prayers.
Raica, 67, a native of Michigan, has served as bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan, since 2014.
Raica succeeds retiring Bishop Robert J. Baker, 75, who had been leading the Diocese of Birmingham since 2007.
Pope Francis accepted Bakers retirement and nominated Raica to follow him on March 25. Raica had never been to Alabama until this year and has only visited a couple of days since his appointment.
He arrives as Alabama Catholic churches try to return to normal, with limited seating at Masses due to social distancing precautions against the spread of coronavirus.
Raica has lived most of his life in Michigan, except for 11 years in Rome, where he was superior of Casa Santa Maria, the North American Colleges graduate studies house. He was spiritual director and adjunct faculty at the college from 1999-2005. Raica has a doctorate in canon law from Gregorian University in Rome.
Raica expects milder weather in Alabama than hes used to in northern Michigan. Theres no snow in the forecast as far as I can see, so I didnt bring my snowshoes, Raica said.
A Chicago police officer blocks the road to the Adler Planetarium along Lake Michigan in Chicago on March 26, 2020. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Photo)
Police: 41 Shot, 6 Dead in Shootings Across Chicago on Monday
Chicago police officials said that 46 people were shot, leading to six deaths, across Chicago on Monday, coming a day after one of the most violent weekends in recent memory.
Over the weekend, more than 100 people were shot and 14 died across Chicago, officials said.
Police officials said that three women were shot, two fatally, in the most recent fatal shooting in Chicago, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It was an apparent domestic-related shooting on the South Side.
Earlier Monday morning, a 24-year-old man died at Mt. Sinai Hospital after he was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest, officials told the paper. He was later pronounced dead.
Authorities said three other people died after being shot.
Former police officer Anthony Napolitano, a Chicago alderman, said he wants to see more outrage over the hundred-plus people shot in the street and these kids that have been killed over the weekend, Fox News reported.
Napolitano said the rise in violence can be attributed to people vilifying the police in the wake of George Floyds death in Minneapolis.
I come from a police family and a police neighborhood in the city of Chicago. Nobody, not a single person would justify what happened in Minnesota. That was unfortunate. It was the worst that could have happened, Napolitano said.
He added: This has been going on in the city of Chicago for 20-plus years. Homicide rates off the chart.
Chicago Police Department officers in a file photo. (Natasha Moustache/Getty Images)
Chicago Police Supt. David Brown lamented the surge in shootings in recent days on Sunday.
Bullets dont just tear apart the things they strike, Brown said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Bullets also tear apart families. Bullets destroy neighborhoods and they ruin any sense of safety in a community.
A 3-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, and a 17-year-old boy were shot and killed over the weekend in separate incidents, authorities said. The 3-year-old was identified by officials as Mehki James. The boys stepfather, 27, was driving south near North Central Avenue at Huron Street when someone fired shots at his vehicle, killing the boy, according to CBS Chicago.
No one should be able to walk away from killing a 3-year-old and a 13-year-old without consequences, Brown said, according to NBC Chicago.
Rev. Ira Acree, in a news conference, said that Mekhis death means a line was crossed.
It would be an ultimate contradiction to march for justice for George Floyd and not say a word about a 3-year-old who cant defend himself or speak for himself, he said. Dont miss the point. We say Black lives matter. Black babies lives matter more.
The Nigerian Government has summoned the Charge d Affaires of the High Commission of Ghana to Nigeria, Iva Denoo.
Denoo was summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, over the demolition of the staff quarters of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana last Friday, June 19. A businessman demolished the building, claiming the structure was built on his land.
Onyeama in a tweet posted on his verified Twitter handle, said during the meeting, he demanded an urgent explanation of the incident and reinforcement of security around Nigerias diplomatic premises and staff in Ghana.
''Summoned the Charge d' Affaires of the High Commission of #Ghana to Nigeria, Ms Iva Denoo to demand urgent explanation on the recent attacks on a residential building in our diplomatic premises and reinforcement of security around diplomatic premises and staff. @NigeriaGov''.Onyeama tweeted
Source: LIB
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A nyone who vandalises a monument or statue in the US now faces up to 10 years in prison, Donald Trump has announced.
The US president shared the move in a Twitter post on Tuesday, adding: "This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused.
"There will be no exceptions!"
The announcement follows weeks of anti-racism protests, with activists calling for the removal of memorials to the country's Confederate and slaver past.
Mr Trump declared in the message: "I have authorised the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent."
Since the death of George Floyd in May, scores of memorials to Confederate-era figures and slave owners have been toppled or vandalised across the country.
On Monday, demonstrators attempted to pull down a statue of former US president Andrew Jackson near the White House before being dispersed by police.
Videos on social media showed the protesters climbing onto the monument and tying ropes around it, before trying to pull it off its pedestal in Lafayette Square.
The statue shows Jackson in military uniform, riding a horse that is rearing up on its hind legs.
The 19th century presidents ruthless treatment of Native Americans has made his statue a target for demonstrators protesting against the United States legacy of racial injustice.
But, despite their efforts, it remains on its pedestal.
Demonstrators gather in front of a row of police officers guarding the statue of Andrew Jackson / AFP via Getty Images
Later that evening, Mr Trump tweeted that numerous people had been arrested for the disgraceful vandalism.
He added: 10 years in prison under the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!
US interior secretary David Bernhardt issued a statement, saying: Let me be clear: We will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served.
On the same day, Mr Trump expressed his opposition to plans to remove a statue of former president Theodore Roosevelt from outside a New York museum.
The American Museum of Natural History said it would remove the bronze sculpture that has stood at its Central Park West entrance since 1940.
It depicts Roosevelt on horseback flanked by a Native American and African man.
The decision to get rid of the memorial follows years of objections that it symbolises colonial expansion and racial discrimination.
Mr Trump's crackdown comes after he defined the upcoming presidential election as a stark choice between national heritage and left-wing nationalism.
Holding his first rally since lockdown over the weekend, he said: The choice in 2020 is very simple, he said.
Do you want to bow before the left-wing mob, or do you want to stand up tall and proud as Americans?
Anthony Scaramucci says protests are helping Donald Trump's 'Cultural Heritage' campaign narrative
Mr Trump focused on cultural issues, including the push to tear down statues and rename military bases honouring Confederate generals as part of the anti-racism protests.
The unhinged left-wing mob is trying to vandalise our history, desecrate our monuments, our beautiful monuments, he told his supporters.
They want to demolish our heritage so they can impose their new repressive regime in its place.
Mr Trump also floated the idea of a one-year prison sentence for anyone convicted of burning an American flag, an act of protest protected by the First Amendment.
At a time when tensions between China and India have flared up, poor cellular connectivity in the tribal villages of Kinnaur, especially those close to the international border, has become a concern for the residents.
Days after the violent face-off between India and China in Galwan Valley of Ladakh, the authorities have suspended mobile services in border areas of Kinnaur district, including Namgia village, which is just 13km from the international border.
Signal issues are also being witnessed in Chango, Shalkar, Sumra Hango, Kunu Charnag and Asang Nesang villages.
Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is the main mobile phone service provider in these villages. In Shalkar, Jio had erected a mobile relay tower but left the work halfway after the lockdown was enforced. Other mobile service providers are yet to start erecting their towers.
Government talks high of digital India, but our plight is still worse. The country has reached the moon, but we are still lacking internet connectivity in the region, said Puran Chand, head of Kunnu Charnag panchayat.
We were already reeling under Covid-19, and now due to India-China standoff, things are tense at Kinnaur border. Children in border villages are unable to attend their online classes and complete their home work and assignments in the absence of internet connection, says Hishey Negi of district disaster management authority.
Apart from this, due to low subscription rate and high spectrum cost, not many private cellular companies are keen on expanding their network in the region. Therefore, the government has urged BSNL to increase its mobile towers in the district.
The army has also been pressing for upgrading the communication network, particularly in Shalkar and Chango villages, located close to the China border.
Several army garrisons are located in remote and tribal areas of the district, and due to heavy snowfall, electricity supply often gets disrupted. As a result, they have to rely on diesel-run generators to meet their electricity needs and operate the communication systems.
When contacted, Kinnaur deputy commissioner Gopal Chand said the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Indian Army are manning the border areas of the district. The district administration is in constant touch with the military authorities and ensuring that there is no dearth of essential commodities in the border villages, he said.
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The Irish Prison Service has today outlined plans for a phased recommencement of physical family visits to prisons commencing on Monday 20th July 2020.
Following Public Health advice, and owing to the restriction on movements announced by the Government in an effort to curtail the spread of Covid-19, physical family visits to prison were suspended on 27th March 2020 and replaced with a new system of video visits.
The Irish Prison Service fully appreciates how important contact with family is to prisoners and has been committed to the early return of physical family visits as soon as it was considered safe to do so.
In line with the Government Roadmap, and with infection control in mind, the Irish Prison Service has completed a comprehensive risk assessment on the return of physical prison visits. The Service has identified the necessary measures, which are currently being progressed, to ensure that family members and friends can return to physical visits to our prisons in a safe manner.
In order to safely accommodate visitors and ensure compliance with social distancing requirements, in both our waiting areas and in the visiting areas, it has been necessary to limit the capacity and the frequency of visits at this time. Prior to Covid-19 over 4,500 visitors would have entered our prisons on a weekly basis. In order to ensure effective infection control and allow for appropriate social distancing, capacity in both waiting areas and visiting areas must be reduced.
Visits will recommence on a phased basis and movement through the phases will be subject to ongoing risk assessment and will take account latest public health advice, the range of Government restrictions in place and other factors including the prevailing transmission rate in the community.
Summary of Phases
Phase 1 Return of Physical Family Visits (20 July 2020)
Physical visits will recommence with effect from Monday 20th July 2020.
All prisoners will be entitled to receive one physical family visit per fortnight, of not more than 15 minutes duration.
Prisoners may opt for two video visits if preferred.
Physical visits during this phase will be limited to one adult person (over 18 years of age).
Prisoners will also be able to avail of one video visit of not more than 15 minutes duration per fortnight.
In order to prevent the potential spread of infection all visits will be behind Perspex screens and visitors will be required to wear a face covering at all times.
No physical contact between prisoners and family members will be permitted.
Phase 2 - Monday 17th August 2020
All prisoners will be entitled to receive one physical family visit per fortnight, of not more than 15 minutes duration.
Physical visits during this phase will be limited to two people of which one visitor may be a child.
Prisoners may continue to avail of one video visit per fortnight of not more than 15 minutes
Prisoners may continue to opt to receive a video visit in lieu of a physical visit
Visitors will continue to be required to wear a face covering
In order to prevent the potential spread of infection all visits will be behind Perspex screens and visitors will be required to wear a face covering at all times
No physical contact between prisoners and family members will be permitted.
The operation and frequency of visits will be kept under ongoing review guided both by Public Health advice and a desire to support as much contact as possible between prisoner and their families. Detailed information for families in relation to the operation of visits will be published on the Irish Prison Service website www.irishprisons.ie in the coming weeks.
Notes for Editors
There have been no positive cases of Covid-19 amongst the prisoner cohort in Irish Prisons.
The Irish Prison Service has introduced a range of measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid -19 into our prisons including:
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Madhya Pradesh police on Tuesday seized a petrol pump and other properties estimated to be worth Rs 28 crore of a retired executive engineer of the state Water Resources Department in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
The action against Kodu Prasad Tiwari was carried out after an order by a special court, EOW Superintendent of Police Neeraj Soni said. "The estimated worth of the seized assets is Rs 28 crore. Further assessment is underway. Several teams of EOW were set up to carry out the seizure of assets in Jabalpur and Satna," he said. "On September 5, 2018, the Jabalpur branch of EOW had conducted searches against Tiwari, during which we found information about bank accounts, lockers, cash, gold and vehicles," he added.
A case was registered against Tiwari and his family under Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and section 120 (B) of the IPC for amassing property disproportionate to known sources of income, he said.
The COVID-19-induced lockdown brought tragically into the limelight two facts: one, gig workers have no social security whatsoever, and two, the terms of conditions of their relationship with the platforms were far from transparent
Hire and fire is a loaded word, the American system is employ at will, says Hari TN, head of HR, BigBasket, one of Indias largest online supermarkets. The distinction sort of escapes me. Here, we have an employment contract.
That was just the point, as we see the continuing and substantial shift in the job market to a contract-based system. Firms prefer to employ at will and they are trying to circumvent hiring and firing laws by having more workers on contract, says Vidhya Soundararajan, assistant professor, IIM Bangalore.
The context was a query on paper we are not a hire and fire economy but we seem to be heading there at a recent webinar entitled Formalising the Gig Economy. A segment that is only a few years old in India but is growing bigger by the day, as more and more services move to a platform-based model, and more and more workers sign up to them to gain market access and customers.
The nearly two-month COVID lockdown has brought tragically into the limelight two facts:
One, gig workers have no form of social security and hence were among the hardest hit as they overnight lost all income.
And two, that the terms of conditions of their relationship with the platform are far from transparent.
The platforms argued that they had no responsibility to help as they were not workers in the traditional legal sense but were partners or independent contractors.
What exactly do we mean by formalisation?
Here, the discussion threw up a whole host of questions which neither the existing laws nor the new draft laws in the making address. Questions such as what these gig workers are letting themselves in for, how their status should be defined, ensuring fair and transparent terms of engagement with the employer or platform.
That formalisation will involve a combination of legislation, regulation and responsible corporate governance is accepted. Also, there is little argument that these platforms are a huge convenience for both customers and the workers they engage.
These gig workers are micro entrepreneurs and these platforms are providing them an easy way of procuring business and there is a push automatically for them to upskill, says Hari.
All well and good in an earlier time. But going forward, the issue of who is a gig worker, how to ensure contracts are fair and transparent and creating a social security system for them assume greater significance.
Gig economy: New term, old problems
The gig economy is a new avatar of contract labour which has been there for the last 30 years, says professor Soundararajan. And there are a number of things we can pick from the contract laws.
Soundararajan points out, But before we go into social security, the fundamental question in formality is to know who the worker is. To create such a database is the first step to formalising. And it is easy to do since many of these workers are platform-based. The State should organise this.
One important issue that many gig workers face, especially taxi drivers who have signed up with aggregators such as Ola and Uber, is the lack of transparency in the terms and conditions of their engagement. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that there are significant variations in the kind of contracts workers sign.
There are indications that a sizable number of workers in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises may not get back their old jobs and the chances are high that they will enter the gig workforce. And as the trend towards new kinds of apps is likely to grow, ensuring fair contracts which workers clearly understand, which do not violate basic rights and which offer some protection against a unilateral change in working conditions and wages is an urgent need.
The ability to raise complaints about work is absolutely necessary and is a part of the formalisation process, adds Sarayu Natarajan, founder, Aapti Institute, a Bengaluru-based institute on research and technology.
Tanveer Pasha, president of Ola-Uber Drivers and Owners Association, best describes just how unfair and one-sided these contracts are.
They dont call us drivers as they dont want to come under the labour law. They say partners or use some other term. The pandemic has hit drivers hard and they are not getting any kind of help, says Pasha.
What do Ola and Uber drivers sign?
Are the contracts fair? With companies such as Ola and Uber, whose drivers I represent, we have not signed any contract. They have applied through the app, saying we agree to all terms and conditions. When we try to log in, a pop-up message appears saying click on agree to Terms and Conditions, explains Pasha.
Pasha says the companies are unethical. He claims they gave false assurances to capture the market. In the beginning they said invest in a vehicle and you can earn 1 lakh or 2 lakh a month. But after we bought the vehicle they said the plan has changed and now you can earn only Rs 50,000. He says they take 25 percent of the revenue as commission. If we complain, they say 'if you are happy, work, otherwise you can leave'.
The situation is quite bad for drivers, There is no guarantee on earnings. Even after working 20 hours we are unable to earn even Rs 200, Pasha says.
Are regulations the solution?
Calling workers partners or using another term to circumvent labour laws may not be unfair, says Hari, who, however, admits it is wrong of companies to raise false hopes with unsustainable offers.
Hari, however, cautions against rushing into any new legislation and regulation. Ultimately, it has to be a good compromise between protecting labour and allowing these platforms to survive. The requirement today is definitely not more regulation but to ensure what there is actually works on the ground.
That the gig worker needs protection for the present and the future, however, is amply obvious. Yet, to expect this to be done entirely by the State may be unrealistic, especially given some of the specific characteristics of gig work such as choosing different platforms, different kinds of work, volatility of wages and how contracts are renewed.
The thought that formalisation has to come only from the State needs a rethink, Natarajan points out. There are many aspects that can be brought out by corporations and platforms themselves. Evidence shows that complaints are mainly against the platform and not the State.
Natarajan cautions against viewing everything in terms of COVID-19 but agrees it does mark a shift in terms of the way we work and how we engage with society and of course the State and a lot of that is going to be mediated by technology.
The necessity to give businesses a level playing field, allowing more of them to enter the field and grow is accepted. But workers need a level playing field too and here laws and regulations are needed to deter unfair practices. Towards which a lot can and has to come from corporate governance. Transparency is the first step, states professor Soundararajan.
It is necessary to hold firms responsible to some extent, as part of corporate governance, for the welfare of their workforce, adds Natarajan. Specifically with regard to online contracts mentioned by Pasha, she says it resembles what is called a web trap contract. This resonates with our own empirical findings which show there is difficulty in accessing the terms. Also, the power differential while making these contracts cannot be ignored.
The holy grail of social security
And then there is social security, the most important aspect of formalisation as the economy recovers. Basically, enabling workers to protect themselves when there is loss of income. In the absence of any kind of unemployment allowance from the State, the only option is for companies to introduce some kind of contributory savings scheme outside of the government legislated schemes like provident fund.
Hari says let the worker decide how to save. Every business has a certain capacity to pay while remaining viable and sustainable. How you break it up between cash on hand and earnings for the future can be mutually determined."
Unfortunately, that is the ideal. But given the predominant view that corporate governance is lacking in these areas, there is unlikely to be any consensus on how to structure any contributory savings scheme that leaves out the State.
As we witness the ravages the pandemic has wreaked not only among gig workers but also the entire range of daily wage and contract workers, it is clear that such measures need to be considered by the State and by the corporations more urgently than ever.
Laws cannot prevent a new entrant from offering unsustainable wages and incentives which are then snatched away without notice, as Ola and Uber did. Workers rarely tend to think too far into the future and go for the immediate gain.
If some new company says they can earn Rs 5,000 a day, workers will take it, says Pasha. Workers need to ask companies to specify minimum earnings for a certain number of years.
And that is something the law can ensure companies build into their business plan with the right kind of regulation and enforcement.
Gender issues get short shrift
The last important aspect is gender issues in the work place, especially the pay gap which is very real and protection from sexual harassment and abuse. The problem: with an office or factory, the workplace is well defined. With gig work, there is no fixed workplace and the task component is very different.
These women experience threats and insecurity as their work is done in personal and intimate spaces, says Natarajan. We have heard some horror stories. Formalisation will have to address how women experience platform work.
And we come full circle. For as with the drivers and other categories of gig workers, when it comes to addressing their issues, employees, men and women, have no recourse from the platform. So, maybe the real question is how to make platform management into responsible corporate citizens.
This article was first published in Citizen Matters, a civic media website and is republished here with permission. (c) Oorvani Foundation/Open Media Initiative.
The annual Lord Jagannath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, started on Tuesday. This year the auspicious festival is being celebrated in a subdued manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual Lord Jagannath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, started on Tuesday. This year the auspicious festival is being celebrated in a subdued manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Supreme Court of India on Monday allowed Odisha to hold the nine-day Rath Yatra 2020 festival with certain conditions, including no public participation and imposition of curfew in the city.
A report by Financial Express mentions that idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are moved out of Jagannath Puri temple and were seated on chariots. The chariots are moved by sevayats on the Bada Danda road in Puri towards the Gundicha Temple.
A video shared by news agency ANI showed a huge crowd outside the iconic temple. People were seen participating in the colourful procession as the priests carried the idols.
#WATCH Odisha: Priests and 'sevayats' taking the idol of Lord Balabhadra to chariot for the #RathYatra from Jagannath Temple in Puri. pic.twitter.com/ohoWKlTwmm ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
According to a report by NDTV, Lord Jagannatha is regarded as the supreme god and the sovereign monarch of the Odishan empire. Puri Jagannath temple is known as the land of Lord Jagannath, which means the 'Lord of the Universe'.
President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and several others took to social media to express greetings on Rath Yatra 2020.
President of India Ram Nath Kovind extended his greetings on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra. "May the Lord bless us with courage and determination in our fight against COVID-19 and bring us good health and joy," the President wrote.
Along with English, the President tweeted his greetings in Hindi and Odiya too.
Greetings to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra, especially to the devotees of Lord Jagannath in Odisha. May the Lord bless us with courage and determination in our fight against COVID-19 and bring us good health and joy. President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 23, 2020
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also posted a tweet thread where he said that people will have to be content with a modest celebration on Rath Yatra 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"May the pious and noble ideals associated with Rath Yatra enrich our lives with peace and harmony," Naidu wrote.
I convey my heartiest greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra. Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is the most revered and much awaited festival of Odisha. #RathYatra pic.twitter.com/XPI2j76XDY Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) June 23, 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra 2020. In his message in Hindi, the PM said he hopes that he wishes that this journey filled with devotion brings happiness, prosperity, good luck and health to the lives of the countrymen.
"My heartiest greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra. I wish that this journey filled with devotion brings happiness, prosperity, good luck, and health to the lives of the countrymen. Jai Jagannath!" he wrote.
- , , ! Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 23, 2020
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his greeting on the chariot festival and said, "I extend my warm greetings to all, on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra. May Maha Prabhu Jagannath bless everyone with good health, joy, and prosperity. Jai Jagannath!"
I extend my warm greetings to all, on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra. May Maha Prabhu Jagannath bless everyone with good heath, joy and prosperity. Jai Jagannath! Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 23, 2020
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted, "On this occasion, I pray to Lord Jagannath for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of the people of the state."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished everyone on the occasion of Rath Yatra 2020.
"May the blessings of Lord Jagannath be showered on all, especially during this disturbing time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jai Jagannath," Banerjee tweeted.
Greetings to all my brothers and sisters on the occasion of the #RathYatra Festival. May the blessings of Lord Jagannath be showered on all, specially during this disturbing time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jai Jagannath Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 23, 2020
"May Lord Jagannath bless everyone with health, peace, and prosperity," Indian National Congress (INC) tweeted.
May Lord Jagannath bless everyone with health, peace and prosperity. #RathYatra pic.twitter.com/n96E5rm1wQ Congress (@INCIndia) June 23, 2020
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik shared a picture of his art that he made at Puri beach in Odisha which showed the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. He also made a chariot out of the sand.
Jai Jagannath! May Lord Jagannath bless all on the auspicious occasion of #RathYatra .Mahaprabhu bless all with good heath, joy and prosperity.
My SandArt at #Puri beach in Odisha . pic.twitter.com/TZb6N5y7F8 Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 23, 2020
The sand artist also shared a clip of his sand art.
A number of people took to social media to share pictures and videos of Rath Yatra. It showed idols being taking out of the temple and being taken to the chariot.
Happy Rath Yatra 2020
Lords are on the way! ! pic.twitter.com/u0WFrtSJ5i Somya Ranjan (@soumyaranjan201) June 23, 2020
Pastor vying to be Georgias first black US senator sees opportunity for people of faith in unrest
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He believes the U.S. Senate could benefit from having a pastor in its midst right now and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, who is vying to become Georgias first black member in the upper chamber of Congress, believes he should be the one.
On Monday evening, Warnock, a longtime civil rights activist and progressive preacher who leads the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta where the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. served as pastors, was busy getting ready to minister to hurting people at the funeral service for Rayshard Brooks, set for Tuesday. Brooks, a 27-year-old black father, was recently killed by police in Atlanta in a controversial shooting that set off fiery protests about racial injustice and police brutality.
Warnock believes that now is the perfect moment for people of faith to unite across differences and lead the nation to a better place as protesters continue raging in the streets.
This is a moral moment in America. It is a time when once again were being called upon as an American people to reexamine the meanings and the significance of the covenant we have with one another. E pluribus unum out of many one. That is the noble and grand experiment that hangs over the American situation, he said in an interview with The Christian Post, referencing the nationwide unrest triggered by the police killings of Brooks and George Floyd in Minneapolis.
It always represents an ideal that we are trying to reach. And ever so often, there comes these flash points that shock us into the realization of just how far we have yet to go. The lynching of George Floyd in broad daylight by those who are supposed to be providing equal protection under the law brings these issues of race that are always with us into sharp focus in ways that have forced people who typically dont get engaged in these issues to pay attention. Thats what were seeing. Were seeing the country at large being shaken into acknowledging an experience that people of color live with every day and know intimately.
After Republican Johnny Isakson resigned from the Senate last year, Georgias Republican Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was recently cleared of alleged insider trading ahead of the coronavirus pandemic by the Senate Ethics Committee.
In a special election in November, Loeffler will have to face Warnock, who in April had garnered more fundraising support than any of the other 20 candidates in the field, including the top two Republicans Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins, an ordained chaplain in the Air Force Reserve. If no one receives more than 50% of the vote, the two candidates with the most votes will be on the ballot for a runoff in January 2021. In addition to being the first black U.S. senator from Georgia if he is elected, Warnock would be only the 11th in the 231-year history of the Senate.
I think the Senate, given its gridlock and inability to move past predictable partisan arguments could well use a pastor right about now, a pastor in its ranks. And so Im running because I think that ultimately, behind the public policy arguments, is a more fundamental question about the character of the country and the soul of the nation, Warnock, a divorced father of two, told CP.
Warnock, 50, who grew up in public housing with 11 siblings, a preacher father and mother who taught him to believe in God and his worth, is now one of the most powerful voices in Atlanta. After spending years amplifying the collective voice of ordinary people from his pulpit, he said he now wants to take that voice directly to the halls of Washington.
Its a new assignment but the same project the project of creating a more loving and just society that embraces all of Gods children. Thats what my activism has always been about. And that activism has often addressed itself to power with an eye toward changing public policy, he said, insisting hes not moving away from his activism.
Im actually taking it to the next level. Im trying to transform my activism and agitation into legislation. Im trying to take to the halls of Washington, D.C., the concerns of ordinary people who need an advocate at that level because at the end of the day, public policy has to change.
We have enough politicians who have little experience with the kind of service thats been a hallmark of my life. We have enough politicians who are so focused on the next election theyre not thinking enough about the next generation. Weve seen enough incestuous relationships between political backrooms and corporate boardrooms. I think its high time that the country had another moral voice in the most important deliberative body in the world.
When Warnock announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in late January, he said he wanted to make sure every voice is heard. His church, he said, is currently a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Georgia alleging voter suppression and continues working to mobilize people to vote.
Weve registered 700,000 new voters in Georgia since the 2018 election, he said.
Warnock has the support of Democrats in Washington and powerful advocates like Stacey Abrams, who, in 2018, ran for governor in Georgia, after becoming the first black woman in the U.S. to win a gubernatorial nomination for either political party.
As a senior pastor for 14 years, Rev. Warnock is committed to serving not only the faith community, but every community in Georgia, said Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley in a recent statement to CP. Rev. Warnock has seen firsthand the challenges Georgians face. He is a passionate advocate for increasing access to healthcare and education, ensuring workers are paid a living wage, and making sure that the voices of everyday Georgians echo in the halls of the U.S. Senate. I am proud to endorse Rev. Warnocks campaign, and look forward to his leadership in the Senate.
Warnock highlighted how Abrams lost her historic bid by 55,000 votes or less than a point and a half to Kemp.
Weve registered 700,000 new voters and a million people showed up at the Georgia primary last Tuesday in spite of all of the tricks that were being played, which is more than showed up in 2008 when Barack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton, Warnock said. So we will defeat voter suppression through massive voter turnout, through vote by mail and through reminding people that somebody is so afraid of their voice that they dont want them to vote.
The Atlanta pastor is banking on energizing voters to show up at the polls by allowing them to see their story in his.
Im running because I understand the struggles of ordinary people and I want them to see their story and my story and see my story in the American story, he said.
I had a ladder of upward mobility that allowed me to move from where I started to possibility. Nowadays, our kids growing up in struggling families and the urban centers of Atlanta and Savannah and rural towns and they have a harder time now than I did then, he admitted.
Theyre having to mortgage their future just to have a future. Student loan debt has now exceeded credit card debt. And so part of whats going on is people dont see themselves in the political partisan conversation, the predictable hackneyed arguments that go on in Washington. And so their voices are suppressed to the degree that they dont see whats at stake for them.
Ongoing racial injustice protests have been so significant that they have echoed loudly across the nation, sparking deep and at times contentious conversations among Christians of different races. Warnock urged Christians not to focus on instances of looting that have accompanied some protests.
Theres been some unfortunate incidents of looting and violence. Weve seen some of that even in the city of Atlanta, but most of the protests have been overwhelmingly nonviolent and constructive. And nonviolent protests with an eye toward social change is as American as voting. It is as basic as the Constitution itself and the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence is protest put in writing, he said.
We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. It wasnt simply an affirmation of something. It was certainly an act. But it was also [a] denunciation of what was then the status quo. Our country was born in protest and conceived in liberty and you dont get one without the other. You dont even get a clear understanding of what liberty means until diverse voices stand up in order to clarify our understanding. Women had to do it in the Suffrage movement. African Americans had to do it in the Civil Rights movement and in other movements.
He warned, however, that in addition to making their voice heard in the street, people must also march with their votes.
Im inspired by the protests that Im seeing on the streets and I hope that folks will march through the summer and then march in the fall. I hope that theyll be a part of a great march on November 3, 2020, because thats another important way that change actually happens in America, he said, noting that the protests are already working.
There is a discussion going on in Congress right now that would not be going on if people were not in the streets. Change doesnt start at the top; it starts at the bottom. And so what I hope to do as a candidate for the United States Senate is bring the sensibilities, the concern and the sense of urgency of the grassroots to the United States Senate. Its about time.
For Christians who are looking to want to make a difference in the fight for justice, Warnock said the Bible can be used as a roadmap.
Jesus said that He came to preach good news to the poor and to set the captives free. That was His very first sermon. The prophets spent their time preaching about injustice. They spoke to systems and they eschewed people who engaged in worship but did not engage in justice in the world. They had a way of saying 'away with you with your vestibules, away with your songs. I will not hear them,' says the prophet Amos but let justice roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream, Warnock said.
That is a central theme of the Gospel and sadly in America you cant reduce class to race but class and race for historical reasons show up together in America. And so I would just lift up the Scripture rather than just hold up the Bible as we saw the president do a few weeks ago.
I do believe in what Dr. King called the beloved community. I do believe that out of one person, God has called all nations to dwell upon the face of the earth. I do believe in the beauty of our variegated humanity and that our differences are what make our humanity glorious and in a dark moment like this, the people of faith should be the first to stand up, declare itself and lead the rest of the country in that direction.
Staff report
Drake Extrusion is investing in a new manufacturing facility in Henry County that will bring in 30 jobs to expand its position in the colored yarn and fiber industry.
A release from the governors office on Monday said Drake, which employs 187 at the 790 Industrial Park Drive in Ridgeway, would invest $6.9 million and take over a vacant building on that same road.
Henry County is investing $342,221, which includes local Enterprise Zone grants and cash from the Harvest Opportunity Fund, as an incentive, and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to provide a $90,000 grant from the Commonwealths Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County, the release said.
Drake is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program.
Drake has been part of Henry Countys manufacturing scene since 1995. The address of the building it now will occupy was not specified, but that building is said to be 120,000 square feet.
Drake Extrusion has a long history of success in Martinsville-Henry County, which has fostered an impressive business climate, infrastructure, and workforce for its growing cluster of manufacturers, Gov. Ralph Northam said in the release. We thank the company for its long-term commitment to Southern Virginia, and for choosing to expand and create new jobs amid these challenging times.
Drakes facility in Henry County is the only one in the U.S. for parent company Duroc AB, which is an international producer of polypropylene fiber technology, the company said.
The companys products help create residential upholstery, home furnishings, automotive, floor covering and geotextiles.
We continue to grow our business here in large part due to our tremendous workforce and the strong support we receive from our local governments, Drake Extrusion CEO John Parkinson said in the release.
Drake will use the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program in the community college system to help recruit its new employees. The types of jobs and potential salaries were not specified in the release.
Drake has been a strong and consistent member of our business community for many years, Jim Adams, chair of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, said in the release.
Drake Extrusions continued growth in Henry County is welcome news, said Larry Ryder, Chair, Martinsville-Henry County EDC Board. Its especially encouraging in this current climate for Drake to be adding both new equipment and jobs. That bodes well for Martinsville-Henry Countys future.
Fourteen high school students in an Ohio county have tested positive for coronavirus days after a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Belmont County health officials said the infected teens were with a group of about 90 students from Ohio and neighboring West Virginia who visited the Grand Strand earlier this month.
The students said they started to develop symptoms about five days after they returned home on June 14, according to Robert Sproul, deputy health commissioner with the Belmont County Health Department.
Sproul said all 45 students on the Ohio side are being tested for COVID-19 and so far 14 results have come back positive while several are still pending.
Fourteen high school students in Belmont County, Ohio, have tested positive for coronavirus days after returning from a trip to Myrtle Beach (pictured) on June 14, officials said Monday
News of the Belmont County outbreak came as Ohio reported a record number of new coronavirus cases in a single day on Monday with 729
The health department is also working with the students' families to determine whether they may have passed the virus to anyone else.
Ohio saw a record number of new coronavirus cases reported in a single day on Monday with 729, bringing the state total to 45,537.
Cases have increased 9.5 percent in the last week alone, while deaths increased 5.1 percent to 2,704 total.
Several states including Ohio and West Virginia have reported coronavirus outbreaks linked to visits to Myrtle Beach, a tourist hotspot where infections have surged in recent weeks.
Last week West Virginia Gov Jim Justice cautioned residents in his state against traveling to the area.
'I would think twice before I did that, West Virginia, right now because they got a real problem going on,' Justice said at a news conference on Friday.
Cases in Horry County, which includes Myrtle Beach, have skyrocketed in the month since hotels resumed reservations on May 15.
At that point, 283 COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in Horry County. By June 22, that number had climbed to more than 2,000, and infections had doubled in nine days.
Those numbers include only people who live in the county, excluding anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 after returning home from vacation.
Business leaders estimate 20 million people visit the area each year, 60 times Horry County's population of about 330,000.
South Carolina health officials have repeatedly urged people to wear a mask in public and practice social distancing as cases continue to surge across the state, where more than 25,600 people have tested positive and 659 have died to date.
Several states including Ohio and West Virginia have reported coronavirus outbreaks linked to visits to Myrtle Beach, a tourist hotspot where infections have surged in recent weeks. Pictured: Christy Kasler (center), from Ohio, enjoys a day at the beach on June 18 while her daughter-in-law Cory plays with her grandson, Bentley, in Myrtle Beach
Tabatha Johnson and her husband, Mark, enjoy the first day of vacation on June 18 in Myrtle Beach. Many people have forgone masks as they hit the sand despite the rising number of cases in Horry County
The map above shows percentage increase in new cases over the past week in each state
When Gov Henry McMaster effectively closed the state at the start of April, the rate of new cases flattened out.
It started climbing again after reopening began in early May, and the rate keeps rising.
South Carolina now has the fourth-highest new infection rate in the nation when adjusted for population, trailing just Arizona, Arkansas and Alabama.
The state sets records almost daily for the number of new cases, the percentage of positive tests and the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19.
South Carolina health officials have repeatedly urged people to wear a mask in public and practice social distancing as cases continue to surge across the state, where more than 25,600 people have tested positive and 659 have died to date. The graphic above shows the number of new cases reported in the state each day
The graphic above ranks each county based on the number of cases reported there, with light blue indicating the least cases and dark blue indicating the most
Since reopening six weeks ago, the message from both local and state governments in South Carolina shifted from shutdowns to personal responsibility, like washing hands and wearing masks, although McMaster has said he will not require face coverings.
After giving televised COVID-19 briefings nearly every day when the virus first started to spread, McMaster and state health officials have not spoken in front of cameras for more than a week. When they do talk, they say shutting businesses again is out of the question.
'We understand that what we're continuing to ask of everyone is not easy and that many are tired of hearing the same warnings and of taking the same daily precautions, but this virus does not take a day off,' state epidemiologist Dr Linda Bell said in a statement.
Myrtle Beach needs visitors. Instead of a shutdown, the community now fears that bad publicity could keep people away. That would be terrible news after restaurants and many hotels were closed for two months.
From February to April, more than 1 in 4 workers lost their jobs, and nearly 45,000 jobs disappeared in the Myrtle Beach area, vaulting Horry County to the top of South Carolina jobless rate, according to unemployment figures.
Some of those businesses remain closed. Others that reopened are struggling with the extra cost of cleaning, food and other supplies, and the reduction in revenue because they cannot accommodate as many customers under social-distancing rules.
'Man, at this point I'm just praying we get back to normal. I want to keep people healthy, but businesses are hurting too,' Myrtle Beach City Councilman Michael Chestnut told the Associated Press outside his restaurant, Big Mike's Soul Food.
He paused and shook his head. 'I'm not sure what normal is ever going to look like,' Chestnut said.
Since the protests over the killing of George Floyd, the State Department has been rocked by internal debates, Zoom calls and discussions on how to tackle its lack of diversity. It is no secret that the American foreign service has long been dominated by white males.
Most diplomats dismiss this as a regrettable consequence of a difficult examination process or a lack of interest from members of minority groups. But the State Departments failure to attract black applicants is not by chance. It is by design. U.S. diplomats today inherit a racist system that was designed to keep African-Americans out.
China, Russia and Iran are exploiting the killing of Mr. Floyd for their own benefit, but we cannot fight their hypocrisy with our own hypocrisy or simplistic social media campaigns. American diplomats must decide whether they will remain wedded to the racially discriminatory ways of their predecessors or reimagine the State Department to better represent the United States.
The State Department at its inception was a place for only the politically connected. That was supposed to change with the passage of the Foreign Service Act of 1924, known as the Rogers Act, which created a merit-based U.S. diplomatic corps that required passage of both a written and an oral examination for entry.
Police in rural Pennsylvania are looking for an Amish teenager who disappeared on Sunday after leaving church.
Linda Stoltzfoos, 18, never returned home after the service in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County.
Lancaster County is the oldest Amish community in North America and one of the nation's two largest Amish settlements.
Linda Stoltzfoos, 18, never returned home Sunday after church in East Lampeter Township
She was last seen on a farm on Stumptown Road, in the community known as Bird-In-Hand, wearing a tan dress, white apron and white cape.
'There's no reason to believe that she wanted to leave,' said Officer Matt Hess of the East Lampeter Township Police Department.
'She didn't indicate to anyone that she wanted to go take a trip, so it's very out of character for Linda to do this.
'So, it changed the circumstances in the sense that there was no pre-planned events or reasons for her to not come back home.'
Officer Matt Hess of the East Lampeter Township Police Department asked for help searching
The town is known for its large Amish community, and tourists come to visit the Amish Village heritage museum.
Pennsylvania and Ohio have the highest concentration of Amish communities, with 50 Amish groups in each state.
Members of the community began searching for Stoltzfoos at 8:30am on Monday, and continued into the evening.
Hundreds of volunteers showed up to search for the missing young woman, according to a Facebook page that details search efforts and includes photos and videos from the scene.
For hours, volunteers searched through fields and streams for Stoltzfoos.
Members of the Amish community in Lancaster County searched for the missing woman
On Monday teams of volunteers with dogs and horses set out to try and find her
Fields, hedgerows and bushes were searched by volunteers trying to locate Linda Stoltzfoos
Roads in Upper Leacock Township were closed while authorities scoured the streets.
In the evening, 15 horses with riders were dispatched to help search for Stoltzfoos.
A vigil was hosted for her later on Monday night, and 100 people gathered for about an hour to pray, cry and sing in the open field.
The Pennsylvania Amish are known to be private people who believe that God has called them to a simple life of faith, discipline, dedication and humility.
Shunning technology, they believe that the Amish religion should be practiced, not displayed, and translated into daily living rather than focused on tangible symbols or complicated religious rituals.
ARA Asset Management is stepping up its bitter battle with Cromwell Property Group, launching an unsolicited $520 million takeover bid with plans to clear out Cromwell's board.
The takeover attempt is the latest round of hostilities in a protracted fight between Cromwells management and ARA for control of the company. Gary Weiss has twice been denied a seat on Cromwell's board. Credit:Attila Csaszar
The Singapore-based fund manager made a cash price offer on Tuesday of 90 per security to acquire 29 out of every 100 owned Cromwell securities.
If the offer is accepted by security holders, it will boost ARAs stake - already the largest in Cromwell at 24 per cent - to about 46 per cent. Creep laws will allow it to accumulate an additional 3 per cent every six months, meaning ARA, if successful, could soon hold a near-49 per cent stake.
The offer price represents a premium of 9.8 per cent to the 30-day volume weighted average price of 82 per security.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday called for an increase in production of dexamethasone. Dexamethasone is a cheap st...
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday called for an increase in production of dexamethasone.
Dexamethasone is a cheap steroid, which has been shown to reduce deaths in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told a virtual news conference that demand had already increased, after a British trial of the drug became public.
About 2,000 patients were administered the drug by Oxford University researchers and it reduced deaths by 35 percent among the most sickly.
Although the data are still preliminary, the recent finding that the steroid dexamethasone has life-saving potential for critically ill COVID-19 patients gave us a much-needed reason to celebrate, Tedros said.
The next challenge is to increase production and rapidly and equitably distribute dexamethasone worldwide, focusing on where it is needed most, he added.
Antibiotics discovered at The University of Queensland will be fast-tracked under an US$11 million international research deal.
An agreement with CARB-X, a global non-profit partnership funding the world's largest antibacterial development pipeline, initially provides UQ's Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) with up to US$3.83 million to develop a new antibiotic, and a further US$A7.03 million as project milestones are passed.
Project leader Professor Matt Cooper said the new antibiotic, Octapeptin-X (OPX), would target the most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria that evade all current therapies.
Much of the world's current focus is rightly on COVID-19, but superbugs remain a serious and constant threat to global human health." Professor Matt Cooper, Project Leader
UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Hj said it was gratifying UQ was the first Australian organization that CARB-X had chosen to support.
"We are determined to make a difference to the global antibiotic resistance problem - another example of fundamental research under way at UQ changing the world and saving lives," Professor Hj said.
"The funding cements the Institute for Molecular Bioscience as the leading place for antibiotic discovery and development in Australia, and one of the leading centers globally.
"The drug discovery capabilities of the Centre for Superbug Solutions, teamed with vital support from CARB-X, will equip us to tackle this challenge and improve outcomes for people with drug-resistant infections in the future.
Centre Director Dr. Mark Blaskovich said extensively drug-resistant bacteria strains were on the rise, killing about 700,000 people worldwide annually.
"Commonly these bacteria cause pneumonia, urinary tract and wound infections," he said.
"Our current antibiotics are increasingly ineffective against them, leaving patients with no alternatives."
The project's lead chemist, Dr. Karl Hansford, said use of polymyxin - a last-line antibiotic which has severe side-effects - had surged in recent years as doctors struggled to treat superbug infections.
"The CARB-X funding will enable us to develop Octapeptin-X (OPX) as a safe treatment for drug-resistant infections deemed untreatable by these conventional therapies," Dr Hansford said.
"We've demonstrated that OPX antibiotics exert a unique killing action distinct from other antibiotics."
Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) is a global partnership dedicated to accelerating early development antibacterial R&D to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.
It supports the world's largest and most innovative pipeline of preclinical products against drug-resistant infections.
It is led by Boston University and funding is provided by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Wellcome Trust, a global charity based in the UK working to improve health globally, Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the UK Department of Health and Social Care's Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and with in-kind support from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).
With 40 elite commandos, Delhi has its own QAT to guard against terror
CRPF jawan martyred, 2 terrorists gunned down in Pulwama encounter
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, June 23: A CRPF jawan has been martyred and two terrorists gunned down in an encounter at Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.
The encounter took place in the Bundzoo area of Pulwama district early on Tuesday. The operation was launched following a specific intelligence input, officials said. The CRPF personnel was injured when the terrorists fired at the cordon party. He later succumbed to injuries.
J&K: Three militants gunned down in encounter in Srinagar; mobile Internet suspended
Rath Yatra begins in Puri's Jagannath Temple amid curfew due to Covid-19 pandemic | Oneindia News
An Indian Army spokesperson said that two AK-47 assault rifles were recovered from the site. The area is being searched. The encounter comes a day after a group of terrorists escaped during a search operation in the forest of Verinag, Anantnag district.
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Story first published: Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 8:25 [IST]
Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast/Getty
Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of President Donald Trumps coronavirus task force, told the nations governors in a call Monday that it was vital that they ramp up testing to find asymptomatic individuals to prevent further community spread.
Her remarks stood in stark contrast to those by the president at his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma over the weekendand the days sincein which he said he had asked his team to slow-walk testing initiatives so as not to inflate the countrys official case count.
Hopefully I have left you with the impression that increased testing is good, Birx said on the call, a recording of which was obtained by The Daily Beast. We would like to even see it even more. Identifying cases early including your asymptomatic [ones] will really help us protect the elderly and the additional people with comorbidities.
In her weekly call with governors, Birx said her team had collected data that suggests an uptick in cases in people between the ages of 18 and 35, and that state officials should continue to test that population to better contain the virus and to ensure hospitalizations and deaths do not spike. For good measure, she asked governors to enhance testing of workers in nursing homes and of individuals in Hispanic communities, saying it would be helpful to enlist bilingual testers for the latter.
The call with governors comes just two days after President Trump told rally-goers that he asked his team to slow the testing down to keep the U.S. case count artificially lower. Trumps advisers told reporters that he was merely joking. But on Tuesday morning, before departing for Arizona, Trump told reporters he was not. I dont kid, he told CBS News Wija Jiang.
Trump Throws His Own Team Under the Bus on COVID-19 Testing: I Dont Kid
Birxs remarks on Mondays call underscore the extent to which the president and members of his own coronavirus task force are increasingly operating off of different playbooks. Appearing before a House committee on Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the government, said hed never been told to slow down testing and expected it to ramp up.
Story continues
The internal administration debate over the efficacy of testing comes at a time when cases of coronavirus are rising fast in several states and ticking up nationally. Both Birx and Vice President Mike Pence acknowledged on the call that there was still plenty of reason for state officials to worry about the trajectory of the virus spread, particularly in the South and Southwest.
We have about 110 counties... that are in that alert status, Birx said.
Fauci Denies White House Ordered Test Slowdown
The call featured remarks from several of the governors in the hardest hit states. Those governors stressed, as did Birx, that much of the rise in cases was due to younger individuals, often asymptomatic, testing positive for the disease. And in explaining those spikes, the governors offered an implicit admission that the relaxing of social distance policies that theyd undertaken had given way to complacency about health standards writ large.
Obviously some of our folks aren't following the rules and some of the businesses we are working on making sure these folks are following the phased approach, said Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) whose state has had an appreciable spike in COVID-19 cases, especially among those aged 18 to 35.
They arent necessarily sick but they are definitely transmitting it. Theres an unmistakable shift, DeSantis said.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) said there had been an uptick in the percentage of people testing positive who are under the age of 30 and that state officials had begun revoking alcohol licenses from some bars that were not following reopening guidelines.
We do have bars opened up at 50 percent and we have found that some bars are not following those rules and are crowded just like they were before the pandemic occurred, Abbott said. If they do not follow [the protocols] they will lose their ability to remain open.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, whose states hospital system is under increasing stress, blamed the sharp increase in COVID cases, in part, on Mexicans with U.S. citizenship coming across the border for better medical care. But he also spotlighted residents of the states not practicing best public health practices, calling it human nature.
Theyve wanted to get out and about, said Ducey. We are seeing even with social distancing policies in place, they are gathering. We are working with our business owners for accountability there.
During the course of the hour-and-a-half call, none of the governors who spoke said they felt as if testing should be ramped down. But only one participantNevada Governor Steve Sisolak (D-NV)challenged Pence to explain the presidents remarks.
The presidents comment Saturday night as it related to his order to slow down the testing is certainly not helping, Sisolak said. We are doing everything we can in Nevada to increase our testing and increase the availability of our testing.
Pences response to Sisolak was not far off from those put out by White House officials and advisers over the weekend who said Trumps statements were not meant to be taken seriously.
The presidents observation, Pence said, was a passing observation.
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Sinn Fein have today. Tuesday, June 23 published a proposal for an economic stimulus plan for the tourism and hospitality sectors.
This plan - amounting to over 860m - would revive two sectors hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a particular boost to counties and regions heavily dependent on tourism and hospitality.
Under this scheme, every adult in the State would receive a voucher worth 200, while every child would be entitled to a voucher worth 100, to be spent in businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport Darren O'Rourke TD said: The tourism and hospitality sectors have been two of the hardest hit during the Covid-19 pandemic and urgent government intervention is required to support workers and families and to save jobs and businesses.
Tourism is the States largest indigenous industry, employing 265,000 people, with 68% of these jobs outside of Dublin. Around 92% of workers in the accommodation and food sectors have received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or have been on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, while the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation is estimating a hit to the sector in the region of 3.5bn in 2020.
With restrictions on travel to the State remaining in place, Sinn Fein believes a substantial economic stimulus is urgently needed to revive these sectors. That is what we are proposing today.
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty TD continued: As well as supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, this plan will give workers and families the welcome option of a break away or days out after what has been an extraordinarily difficult period.
Similar stimulus plans have been introduced around the world. Italy has a similar plan to encourage people to holiday at home, Vienna is giving residents vouchers for restaurants in the city and the United States is distributing billions of dollars in stimulus cheques directly to residents.
Our plan would see each adult receive a voucher worth 200 to be used in domestic businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors, while every child would be entitled to a voucher worth 100.
This would be non-means tested and available to every resident in the State. That means it will assist those unable to afford a break, but also encourage those who can to spend their vouchers, plus more, in our local economies.
This is an investment in jobs and businesses. Without intervention now, thousands of jobs will be lost permanently, costing the State considerably more in the long-run.
North Korea is preparing a massive military parade on the 75th anniversary of the Workers Party on Oct. 10, according to the Defense Ministry here.
In a report to the National Assembly on Monday, the ministry said that the North Korean military has made preparations for events to mark the 75th party founding anniversary. "They are planning a military parade as they are building weapons depots near Mirim Airport in Pyongyang and getting Kim Il-sung Square ready."
The square, about 7 km away from the airport, is where the parade is usually held.
The ministry speculated that the North will probably show off new strategic weapons such as intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles at the parade.
"Personnel, equipment, and vehicular movements continue in and around missile facilities in the North," the ministry also said. That suggests that the North keeps developing short-, medium- and long-range missiles.
At the Yongybyon nuclear facility, however, the main 5 MWe reactor remains inactive, and no distinctive movements have been detected in and around the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, either, the ministry added.
The North is thought to be making fissile material in other locations, chiefly by enriching uranium.
Former Bond star George Lazenby was pictured filling up his car and washing his windscreen as he stepped out in LA on Monday.
The 80-year-old acting legend was driving a red Mercedes SUV in place of Bond's famous Aston Martin and was taking great care of it as he cleaned it to perfection.
George slipped off his face mask as he stepped out into the sunshine and looked low-key in jeans, a polo shirt and casual shoes.
Where's your Aston Martin? Ex Bond star George Lazenby, 80, proved he's down to earth as he filled up his sensible Mercedes SUV and washed his windscreen in LA on Monday
Life's a beach: He was the second actor to portray secret agent Bond in the Eon Productions film series, taking on the role for On Her Majesty's Secret Service
He was famously the second actor to portray secret agent Bond in the Eon Productions film series, taking on the role for On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
The 1969 spy film was the sixth in the James Bond series, based on the 1963 novel by Ian Fleming.
Australian actor George took over the role from Sean Connery who stepped down from the franchise after he starred in You Only Live Twice.
Down to earth: George had a face mask around his neck as he took care of his car
Iconic: Lazenby had said that he would only take on the role as Bond once - he was paid $50k for the role and had no other word lined up when he quit
In this story, Bond woos a mob boss' daughter and goes undercover to uncover the true reason for Ernst Stavro Blofeld's allergy research in the Swiss Alps involving beautiful women from around the world.
Lazenby had said that he would only take on the role as Bond once - he was paid $50k for the role and had no other word lined up when he quit.
He had been offered a contract for six more Bond movies, but had been advised by his agent, Ronan O'Rahilly, to turn the deal down.
George has since said he has no regrets.
It is what it is: He had been offered a contract for six more Bond movies, but he had been advised by his agent, Ronan O'Rahilly, to turn the deal down - but he has no regrets
Fake it til you make it: He said that before starring in Bond, he had only starred in a soap opera six years earlier but lied about his experience - pictured in the Aston
He told the New York Post in 2017: 'It made me famous, and I had to deal with that for a while, which is a pain in the butt. You know, it's just part of me. I don't know why it happened.
He said that before starring in Bond, he had only starred in a soap opera six years earlier but lied about his experience.
After he won the role, he confessed all to movie director Peter Hunt, and offered to walk away.
He said: 'I had a meeting with Peter Hunt and told him I didn't tell the truth. I had never acted before in my life.
'And Peter just burst out laughing and ran around the room holding his belly.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 21:11:25|Editor: huaxia
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PARIS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- During the COVID-19 pandemic, about 40 percent of low and lower-middle income countries have not been able to support disadvantaged learners during temporary school shutdown, according to 2020 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report published on Tuesday by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
"To rise to the challenges of our time, a move towards more inclusive education is imperative," said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. "Rethinking the future of education is all the more important following the COVID-19 pandemic, which further widened and put the spotlight on inequalities. Failure to act will hinder the progress of societies."
The UNESCO's fourth annual report on global education noted that 258 million children and youth were entirely excluded from education, with poverty as the main obstacle to access.
In low- and middle-income countries, adolescents from the richest 20 percent of all households were three times as likely to complete lower secondary school as were as those from the poorest homes.
Among those who did complete lower secondary education, students from the richest households were twice as likely to have basic reading and mathematics skills as those from the poorest households.
Hardly any poor rural young women complete secondary school in at least 20 countries, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
The report team also launched a website with information on laws and policies concerning inclusion in education for every country in the world.
The report also noted that many countries were using positive, innovative approaches to transition towards inclusion, such as setting up resource centers for multiple schools and enabling mainstream establishments to accommodate children from special schools, or using itinerant teachers to reach underserved populations.
"COVID-19 has given us a real opportunity to think afresh about our education systems," said Manos Antoninis, Director of the Global Education Monitoring Report. "But moving to a world that values and welcomes diversity won't happen overnight. There is an obvious tension between teaching all children under the same roof and creating an environment where students learn best. But, COVID-19 has showed us that there is scope to do things differently, if we put our minds to it." Enditem
New Delhi, June 23 : Self-taught designer, Anjul Bhandari, has had a long-standing love affair with art and Chikankari. After years of designing clothes out of passion, she launched her label in 2010 with the aim to not only give Awadhi craftsmen an unparalleled platform to keep their skill alive but also to empower the women of rural Lucknow.
"My mother-in-law was a social worker who strived for the upliftment of women in the rural parts of Lucknow. My label is an endeavour to continue her legacy by marrying my love for fashion, Chikankari with designs that stands for the spirit of our time and celebrate the labour of love," states Bandari who believes, "Sadly, unadulterated hand embroidery is a dying art form and has been diluted by machine and computer embroidery. This furthers our motivation to conserve this tradition.
In tough times created by the COVID-19 crisis, the fashion industry has taken a massive hit; IANSlife speaks to the Lucknow-based designer about its impact and the way forward.
The fashion industry is one of the worst hit in the world due to the pandemic, what do you believe are the most pressing issues resulting from it? Bhandari: The most pressing issue that has resulted from the pandemic is the loss of jobs of the craftsmen. Their livelihoods have been put at stake and more over the failure in adopting sustainable practices all across the value chain from sourcing to the treatment of human capital has come to light.
This, gives the industry an opportunity to rethink their business strategies in a way that work towards safeguarding not only themselves but everyone across the value chain. We at Anjul Bhandari have been working purely with hand craftsmen at every stage from block printing to finishing, including women artisans who work for us from home. Looking after them is our first priority, and today our supply chain has been looked after and protected as they come back to work.
In Unlock Phase 1, numbers are rising exponentially therefor psychologically people fear stepping out, what do you predict for retail in the year ahead? Bhandari: People are afraid to shop and the reduced personal economic wealth that most consumers will suffer from due to the pandemic will make them move towards quality and durable products; but also towards brands that have a purpose and sustainable practices. This will ensure or regain customer trust and confidence. Consumers will move towards brands that have shown reliability towards their artisans and workers; they will be seen in more favourably.
Have heavy rentals, overheads and running costs with no waivers for months of lockdown added a burden on brands like yours? Bhandari: We fortunately have our own studio space and our investment with our artisans is with a craft that we know is timeless making our business sustainable from the start. Our brand is based on tradition & craft and not yearly changing trends. While sales will be lower than expected this year, we expect to bounce back when customers feel more confident about stepping out. Occasion wear for festivals may suffer but bridal will always sell. We have queries even now for brides wanting to take appointments.
Do you think the future of fashion is in sustainability and eco-fashion? Bhandari: Yes absolutely. Brands like ours whose purpose of sustaining and preserving craft communities of Chikankari and Mukaish and who promote traditional, timeless, heirloom ensembles will be ahead of the those who will just about start placing sustainable business practices in. Sustainability and collaboration with key stake holders to create environments of continued support during and after the lockdown and will become an expectation from customers.
There is a focus on homegrown, do you think in a world where waste, artificial fabrics and techniques are frowned upon, business like yours will flourish? Bhandari: People will move away from fast fashion and invest in quality and classic designs they can use over and over again as well as pass down as heirlooms. Given the plight of the artisans and craftsmen of the country they will want to invest in rebuilding the economy and that can only happen at the grass roots level.
How do you support traditional artisans and migrant labour who contribute to the fashion world in a large way? Bhandari: Our artisans work from home from their villages in and around Lucknow. We have continued paying them for all the work they have been doing during the lockdown and will continue to do so. Because our artisans are the backbone of us and in this time of need we need to be theirs.
Internationally will India replace China as a go to place for production Anjul Bhandari: China will face some trust issues from the world over at this time. India has a good opportunity to leverage its vast textile and manufacturing capabilities to take the lead. Given it can incorporate further sustainability initiatives across the value chain and meet the international standard which will also change to traceable and sustainable sourcing as a result of the pandemic.
(IANSlife Features can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
C inemas, museums and art galleries will be able to begin re-opening their doors from next month in the latest easing of the coronavirus lockdown in England.
Boris Johnson is due to set out the results of a review of the two-metre social-distancing rule in the Commons on Tuesday, with the expectation being that it will be cut to one metre.
Much of the focus has been on the hospitality sector - with detailed guidance due on how pubs, bars and restaurants can start gradually to re-open from July 4.
However it is now expected there will be guidance for sections of the arts and cultural sector on how they can welcome back visitors under the latest stage of easing the lockdown.
Europe's museums and galleries reopen after lockdown - in pictures 1 /24 Europe's museums and galleries reopen after lockdown - in pictures People walk behind a poster showing the safety distance for visiting the Gemaeldegalerie 'Alte Meister' (Old Masters Picture Gallery) in Dresden, central Germany, Wednesday, May 6, 2020 AP Visitors wearing protective face masks look at the paintings, on first day of reopening at Leopold Museum, during the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Vienna, Austria REUTERS A staff member checks the body temperature of a visitor at the entrance of the Jacquemart-Andre Museum on the first day of the reopening in Paris on May 26, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Two women wearing the face masks visit the Jacquemart-Andre Museum on the first day of the reopening in Paris on May 26, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Visitors wearing protective face masks look at the The Sistine Madonna, a painting by Raphael, at the Old Masters Gallery at the Zwinger palace complex on the first day the palace reopened to the public during the coronavirus crisis on May 05, 2020 in Dresden, Germany Getty Images People wear protective face masks as they watch the exhibition "Genealogies of the art, or art history as visual art" at the Picasso Museum open to the public, as some Spanish provinces are allowed to ease lockdown restrictions during phase one, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Malaga, Spain, May 26, 2020 REUTERS People wear protective face masks as they watch the exhibition "Genealogies of the art, or art history as visual art" at the Picasso Museum open to the public, as some Spanish provinces are allowed to ease lockdown restrictions during phase one, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Malaga, Spain, May 26, 2020 REUTERS A traffic light system allows visitors to tour the Rosenborg Castle museum while observing social distancing, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday May 26, 2020 AP A traffic light system allows visitors to tour the Rosenborg Castle museum while observing social distancing, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday May 26, 2020 Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima A man wearing protective mask visit the Museum of Illusion on May 13, 2020 in Paris, as France eased lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the of the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP via Getty Images A woman walks through the outdoor exhibition area after the reopening of the exhibition 'Karl Lagerfeld Photography. The retrospective.' in the Moritzburg Art Museum in Halle, Germany, Friday, May 22, 2020 AP A woman walks through the outdoor exhibition area after the reopening of the exhibition 'Karl Lagerfeld Photography. The retrospective.' in the Moritzburg Art Museum in Halle, Germany, Friday, May 22, 2020 AP After over two months of closure, the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum opens its doors to the public, after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions eased, in Aarhus, Denmark May 22, 2020 via REUTERS A museum attendant wearing a face mask and shield stands in a room at the Galleria Borghese museum in Rome on May 19, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Visitors wearing a face mask view "David", a 1623-1624 marble sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini at the Galleria Borghese museum in Rome on May 19, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A visitor wearing a protective face mask stands next to a painting by US painter Edward Hopper entitled "Cape Cod Sunset" after the reopening of the exhibitions Edward Hopper and Silent Vision Images of Calm and Quiet at the Beyeler Foundation in Riehen near Basel, on May 15, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Visitors wear face masks, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as they look at The Death of Marat painting by Jacques-Louis David at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, Tuesday, May 19, 2020 AP A visitor wearing a protective face mask watches a dancer perform the installation piece "Our Labyrinth" at the Lee Mingwei exhibition at the Gropius Bau museum on the first day the museum reopened since March during the coronavirus crisis on May 11 in Berlin, Germany Getty Images
It could mean cinemas and museums introducing one-way systems, spaced queuing, increased ventilation, and pre-booked tickets to ensure people can return safely.
A No 10 source said: "We are only able to move forward this week because the vast majority of people have taken steps to control the virus.
"But the more we open up, the more important it is that everyone follows the social distancing guidelines. We will not hesitate to reverse these steps if it is necessary to stop the virus running out of control."
Many pubs and restaurants have warned that it would simply not be viable for them to operate as long as the rule remains in place.
Some scientists have, however, expressed concern the Government is moving too quickly, and that its track-and-trace system to contain any fresh outbreaks is not fully up and running.
The review of the two-metre rule drew on advice from economists as well as medical and scientific experts.
With ministers desperate to restart the stalled economy, detailed sector-by-sector guidance will be published for businesses in England - from hotels to hairdressers - on how to re-open in a Covid-secure manner.
Elsewhere, ministers having suggested installing perspex screens, altering seating arrangements and requiring the wearing of face coverings to mitigate the risk of spreading the disease as the rules are eased.
Customers at pubs and bars may have to sign guest books with their names and contact details so they could be traced if they come into contact with someone who is infected.
Details of the review were being finalised at meeting on Monday evening attended by the Government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, and the chief medical officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty.
Mr Johnson will then brief the Cabinet on the plan for England on Tuesday morning before setting out the details in Parliament.
Earlier, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Government was able to act now because the numbers of new coronavirus cases, admissions to hospital, and deaths from the diseases were all continuing to fall.
Speaking at the the daily No 10 briefing, he said that just one-in-1,700 people were now infected with the virus, compared to one-in-400 a month ago.
"All these figures are coming down and pointing in the right direction. It shows that while there is still much to do, we are clearly making progress," he said.
However, Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, said that even as the rules were eased people still needed to follow social distancing, including regular hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene.
"There is a critical point here that says just because life is feeling a bit more back to normal don't suddenly jump to where you were this time last year. We need to learn to go forward with restrictions in our lives," she said.
In other developments:
- Former chancellor Sajid Javid has called for a "significant temporary" cut in national insurance to boost the economic recovery, making it cheaper for employers to take on staff;
- Up to six people can meet indoors from Tuesday in Northern Ireland as lockdown measures are eased;
- Charities have expressed concern over plans for 2.2 million of the most vulnerable people in England to stop shielding from the end of July ;
- Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford has warned a local lockdown could be imposed on the island of Anglesey following a coronavirus outbreak at a chicken processing plant;
- NHS Blood and Transplant has called for more men who have had Covid-19 to donate blood plasma to establish if it can be used to treat sufferers following evidence they produce more antibodies than women.
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Sinn Fein have proposed an almost 1bn economic stimulus plan for the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Under this scheme, every adult in the State, no matter their income, would receive a voucher worth 200, while every child would be entitled to a voucher worth 100, to be spent in businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors across Ireland until the end of 2021.
Funded through borrowing, and amounting to over 860 million, Sinn Fein say this model, which has already been rolled out in Malaysia, Iceland and Italy, in various forms, would revive the two sectors hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although the scheme would be considered a form of state-aid, there would be a restriction on overspend to individual businesses by a business register managed by Failte Ireland, which is similar to the Icelandic model.
However, in Iceland the vouchers for citizens only amount to 33 each.
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport Darren O'Rourke says urgent government intervention is required to save jobs and businesses.
Tourism is the States largest indigenous industry, employing 265,000 people, with 68% of these jobs outside of Dublin," he said.
Around 92% of workers in the accommodation and food sectors have received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or have been on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, while the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation is estimating a hit to the sector in the region of 3.5 billion in 2020.
With restrictions on travel to the State remaining in place, Sinn Fein believes a substantial economic stimulus is urgently needed to revive these sectors. That is what we are proposing today.
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty added: "It would be paid through the Exchequer and would be drawn on the borrowing through the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) and the facilities that we have at this point in time, the reason you stimulate a sector is to grow the sector and take people out of unemployment.
As well as supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, this plan will give workers and families the welcome option of a break away or days out after what has been an extraordinarily difficult period.
Similar stimulus plans have been introduced around the world. Italy has a similar plan to encourage people to holiday at home, Vienna is giving residents vouchers for restaurants in the city and the United States is distributing billions of dollars in stimulus cheques directly to residents.
This would be non-means tested and available to every resident in the State. That means it will assist those unable to afford a break, but also encourage those who can to spend their vouchers, plus more, in our local economies.
This is an investment in jobs and businesses. Without intervention now, thousands of jobs will be lost permanently, costing the State considerably more in the long-run.
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies world over are taking significant strides to find a viable vaccine for treating COVID-19 patients.
Scientists have paced up their research to identify and test possible vaccines for SARS CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19 amid increasing cases by the day.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 150,000 more cases came to light in a single day on June 22, taking the global tally past the nine million mark.
Meanwhile, some Indian pharma firms have launched antiviral drugs in the Indian market.
Here are the latest updates on COVID-19 vaccine, drug:
Patanjali launches Coronil - India's first Ayurvedic medicine for coronavirus
Herbal medicine company Patanjali Ayurved, on Tuesday, launched 'Coronil' and 'Swasari', its Ayurvedic medicines claiming to treat COVID-19 patients within 14 days. "We conducted a clinical case study and clinical controlled trial and found 69 per cent of patients recovered in 3 days and 100 patients recovered in 7 days," Baba Ramdev said at the medicine's launch in Haridwar.
He also highlighted that all required approvals for conducting vaccine trials on patients had been taken from competent authorities. The Corona kit, containing both medicines, will be sold for Rs 545, said Acharya Balkrishna, chief executive officer of Patanjali.
Also Read: Baba Ramdev's Patanjali launches India's 'first Ayurvedic' medicine for coronavirus, Coronil
Glenmark's drug Favipiravir launched in Indian market
Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has become the first Indian company to launch an antiviral drug-Favipiravir under brand name FabiFlu, to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 patients. The drug will be sold at retail chemist outlets as well as hospitals across India after the company secured drug regulator Drug Controller General of India's (DCGI) approval to manufacture and market Favipiravir in India. The drug is priced at Rs 103 per tablet and Rs 3,500 for a pack of 34 tablets.
Also Read: Coronavirus vaccine update: Favipiravir hits Indian market; Remedesivir gets DCGI nod
Hetero, Cipla get nod to manufacture, market antiviral drug Remdesivir
India's Drug Regulator on June 20 gave permission to Hetero and Cipla to manufacture and market antiviral drug Remdesivir for "restricted emergency use" on hospitalised COVID-19 patients. This comes after the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted domestic firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals permission to manufacture and market Favipiravir for "restricted emergency use" in mild to moderate cases. Hetero's generic version of Remdesivir will be marketed under the brand name 'COVIFOR' in India, as per the company's press release.
Also Read: Coronavirus drug update: Cipla, Hetero to launch Remdesivir at Rs 3,000-6,000
AstraZeneca-University of Oxford
Germany and partner countries in the European Union recently pledged funds for the production of an experimental vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca. Britain and the United States had previously made commitments to secure hundreds of millions of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is based on the so-called viral vector technology.
GlaxoSmithKline-Clover Biopharmaceuticals
British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, in partnership with Chinese company Clover Biopharmaceuticals, has started human tests. Initial results from the study are likely to come out in August, following which a larger efficacy trial is expected to begin later in 2020, Glaxo said in a statement.
Moderna Inc, AstraZeneca, Pfizer
Biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms comprising Moderna Inc, and AstraZeneca, have been accelerating the pace of their production, promising millions of supplies of their experimental vaccines before the year-end. Last month, global drug firm Pfizer said that a vaccine to treat COVID-19 patients could be ready by October-end.
Sinovac Biotech-Instituto Butantan
Brazil-based Instituto Butantan has signed a deal with Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac to produce an experimental coronavirus vaccine. Sinovac recently announced "positive preliminary" results from phase I and II clinical trials for its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, CoronaVac, saying it can induce a positive immune response.
PHOENIX It wasnt quite one of his signature big-stadium rallies.
But President Donald Trump drew something closer to the jam-packed audience of political supporters hes been craving as hundreds of young conservatives filled a Phoenix megachurch Tuesday to hear his call for them to get behind his reelection effort.
The crowded Dream City Church for the gathering of Students for Trump offered a starkly different feel compared to Trumps weekend rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his first of the coronavirus era, which drew sparser attendance.
Trump hailed the patriotic young Americans who stand up tall for America and refuse to kneel to the radical left.
You are the courageous warriors standing in the way of what they want to do and their goals, he told the boisterous crowd. They hate our history. They hate our values, and they hate everything we prize as Americans.
Trump was looking to regain campaign momentum after Tulsa, which was supposed to be a sign of the nations reopening and a show of political force. Instead, it generated thousands of empty seats and swirling questions about the presidents campaign leadership and his case for another four years in office.
The low turnout sharpened the focus on Trumps visit to Arizona, which doubles as both a 2020 battleground state and a surging coronavirus hot spot.
With the Phoenix event, which was organized by Turning Point Action, a group chaired by Trump ally Charlie Kirk, the president hoped to turn attention at least momentarily away from his slumping poll numbers, surging coronavirus infections in huge swaths of the South and West, and a virus-ravaged economy.
His address was chock-full of typical Trump lines boasts about television ratings, ridicule of his likely Democratic presidential opponent Joe Biden and sharply worded resentments over Chinas handling of the coronavirus crisis. As he did in Oklahoma over the weekend, Trump referred to the virus as kung flu, a pejorative term that Asian-Americans say is racist.
But unlike his return to campaign stage before thousands of empty seats in Oklahoma, Trump seemed to revel in the energy of a packed albeit smaller venue. He also offered his supporters a dark warning.
This will be in my opinion the most corrupt election in the history of our country, said Trump, who has in recent days stepped up claims that expanded mail-in voting will lead to voting fraud. And we can not let this happen.
But throughout his daylong trip to Arizona, which included a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, the COVID-19 pandemic shadowed Trump.
The Democratic mayor of Phoenix made clear she did not believe Trumps speech could be safely held in her city and urged the president to wear a face mask.
But Trump has adamantly refused to wear a mask in public, instead turning it into a red-vs.-blue cultural issue. Polling suggests Republicans are far less likely to wear face coverings than Democrats despite health experts warnings that it dramatically reduces the risk of transmitting the virus. Few in the crowd at the Students for Trump event donned masks.
Since late May, Arizona has emerged as one of the nations most active hot spots for the spread of COVID-19.
Photos of restaurants and bars crowded with unmasked patrons ignited controversy. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, a Trump supporter, reversed himself last week and allowed cities and counties to require people to wear masks in public places. Most have, including Phoenix and Yuma and the counties that surround them.
Arizona is seeing disturbing trends in several benchmarks, including the percentage of tests that prove positive for the virus, which is the highest in the nation.
The state reported a new daily record of nearly 3,600 additional coronavirus cases Tuesday as Arizona continued to set records for the number of people hospitalized, in intensive care and on ventilators for COVID-19. Arizonas total caseload in the pandemic stands at at least 58,179, with 42 more deaths reported Tuesday, raising the death toll to 1,384.
Right now, the next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surgings that we are seeing in Florida, in Texas, in Arizona and other states, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal governments top infectious disease expert, told a House committee Tuesday. They are not the only ones that are having a difficulty. Bottom line its a mixed bag.
Campaign officials stressed that rallies would remain a staple of the presidents reelection strategy but allowed that they may, in certain states, need to change slightly. Discussions were under way about having them in more modest venues or outdoors, perhaps in airplane hangars and amphitheaters, or in smaller cities away from likely protesters.
Trump campaign officials believe Trumps ability to draw thousands of supporters out during a pandemic sets up a favorable contrasting image with Democratic rival Joe Biden. Still, the campaign has struggled to find effective attack lines on Biden.
Before the Students for Trump event, Trump visited the U.S.-Mexico border, where he tried to credit his new wall with stopping both illegal immigration and the coronavirus.
In the blazing summer heat, Trump briefly stopped to inspect a new section of the concrete and rebar structure. The president and other officials took a moment to scrawl their signatures on the wall.
Arizona health officials have said in recent weeks that an influx of virus patients from Mexico have added to the load on hospitals in the southern part of the state.
We realize that this is a hotspot, Ducey said earlier this week. We also realize weve got a lot of good, hard-working folks that come across the border every day to work in Arizona industry. We also have a lot of good folks that want to take advantage of much of our Arizona health care system, and we want there to be that capacity.
__
Madhani reported from Chicago. Associated Press writers Jonathan Cooper, Astrid Galvan and Bob Christie in Phoenix and Elana Schor in New York contributed to this report.
A statue erected 108 years ago to commemorate the deeds of valor, sacrifices and achievements of soldiers who fought for the South in the Civil War will be removed from Beaumonts Wiess Park and placed in temporary storage, the City Council decided Tuesday.
The 6-1 vote came after a nearly unanimous outpouring from residents who urged the council to take it down.
Some suggested the bronze be melted down and repurposed. Others asked for it to be moved someplace where it could be presented with more information about why such statues were built in the first place.
The statue is one of many erected in public places across the South in part to emphasize an alternative narrative about the Civil War, focusing more on states rights than on the institution of slavery.
Related: Beaumont council to decide fate of Confederate statue
The council has not yet agreed on the Wiess Park statues ultimate fate.
Tuesdays debate included an exchange that elevated into a shouting match between councilmen Audwin Samuel and Mike Getz. The confrontation led Mayor Becky Ames to order a 10-minute recess and instruct the two men to go to separate areas.
Getz was the lone vote against removing the statue. He put forth a proposal to modify the language on it to serve an educational purpose, which he said made more sense than removing it.
Samuel, who put the item on the agenda in conjunction with Councilman Randy Feldschau, said he doesnt believe redirecting or restructuring the statue changes what it stands for.
You say heritage, some say hate. You say culture, some say slavery. You can put whatever you want on the statue. Its not going to change that statue, Samuel said. What I see is black men hanging in trees. That was OK.
At that point, Getz cut him off by calling a point of order.
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After the recess, Samuel added that he believes removing the statue will renew the hope of some individuals that one day, we will overcome.
But several residents said removing the statue wont fix racism in Beaumont. One person compared it to putting a Band-Aid on an amputated limb.
Raquita Harper, who addressed the council before and after the vote, kindly and boldly challenged city leaders to set the example when it comes to working on race relations in the city.
Prior to the vote, she told the council that what happens after the statue is removed is more important than its ultimate fate.
The statue, in my opinion, is the smallest issue facing Beaumont today, she said.
Related: Beaumont Rebel statue under scrutiny
She asked the council specifically to look into school zoning, using opportunity zones to promote minority businesses and other finding other ways to emphasize unity across the city.
Another speaker, Caitlin Duerler, requested the council allocate more money to public art that accurately represents our diverse population here and our history.
No council member made specific commitments to any of these or other suggestions. But city staff on Wednesday will begin work to remove the statue, City Manager Kyle Hayes said.
He said its expected to cost about $15,000 to remove and hold it at an undisclosed city facility.
He encouraged council members to take the lead in finding a place for it to ultimately end up. Any suggestions would have to be brought back to the full council for approval.
kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com
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She has yet to explain what the '11 11' tattoo on her wrist signifies.
And Jennifer Aniston flashed the mysterious inking again on Monday this time during a chat with fellow Friends alum Lisa Kudrow for the Variety Actors on Actors video series.
The tattoo was first spotted by fans back in 2018.
Jennifer is very 'spiritual' and believes the numbers are good luck, according to People's source.
Scroll down to see video
11 11: Jennifer Aniston flashed the mysterious inking again on Monday this time during a chat with fellow Friends alum Lisa Kudrow for the Variety Actors on Actors video series
Some believe the numbers '11 11' is a sign angelic beings are close by or because an angel wants to bring a person guidance.
The 51-year-old actress has flashed the enigmatic marking during many red carpet appearances in the subsequent years.
It was first seen at the end of 2018, but it is unclear when she got it done.
The Cake star also has the word 'Norman' tattooed on her foot, in honor of her Welsh Corgi-Terrier mix who sadly passed away in May 2011 at the age of 15; it was her first ever tattoo.
Some fans believed '11 11' was a reference to her February 11 birthday, which appears to be partly the reason behind the tattoo.
'The number 11 is also special to her because of her birthday and Norman,' the insider noted, adding that Jennifer 'still misses' her beloved pup since his death in 2011.
Tatt's incredible: The 51-year-old actress has flashed the enigmatic marking during many red carpet appearances in the subsequent years
Hidden meaning: Some fans believe it may be a reference to her February 11 birthday
Almost two months after his passing, Jennifer spoke out about Norman in 2011 on Inside the Actors Studio, while discussing her role in the tearjerker 2008 film Marley & Me, according to People.
She told host James Lipton at the time of filming Marley & Me, she only needed to imagine losing her pup to prepare for the role.
The actress, who got emotional talking about him, said: 'I have a dog now. My Norman just passed away about a month ago. And I remember thinking I had never walked through having to lose a pet. So just the idea of it. And Norman was getting up there at the time, so, again, easy access.'
And when she was asked her favorite word, she answered 'Norman.'
Before his passing, Jennifer called her pup her 'baby boy' and that he 'goes with me on location - I've got to take Norman,' People reported.
Her baby boy: After his passing, Jennifer spoke out about Norman in 2011 on Inside the Actors Studio while discussing her role in the tearjerker 2008 film Marley & Me, according to People; pictured with Norman September 21, 2005 in Malibu
Love: Before his passing, Jennifer called her pup her 'baby boy' and that he 'goes with me on location - I've got to take Norman,' People reported; Jennifer and Norman see August 19, 2005 as she left her Chicago hotel on the way to the set of The Break Up
Friends is considered one of the best and most enduring sitcoms of all time, but one of its stars, Lisa Kudrow, has never watched it, for a heartwarming reason.
Kudrow, 56, spoke with her Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston as part of Variety's Actors on Actors interview series.
The show spanned 10 seasons and 234 episodes, and while Aniston added she has been revisiting the show lately, Kudrow hasn't.
Lisa doesn't watch: Friends is considered one of the best and most enduring sitcoms of all time, but one of its stars, Lisa Kudrow, has never watched it, for a heartwarming reason
Interviews: Kudrow, 56, spoke with her Friends co-star Aniston as part of Variety 's Actors on Actors interview series
The gang: (Pictured from left to right) Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing (front l-r) Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green
'I dont watch the show. Im still not watching it in the hopes that one day we sit down and watch them together,' Kudrow said.
The show made headlines in November when it was revealed all of the original cast members - Kudrow, Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer - will reunite in a new special for HBO Max.
While little is known about the special, Kudrow added, 'That will be really great. I cant wait to do that.'
Hopes: 'I dont watch the show. Im still not watching it in the hopes that one day we sit down and watch them together,' Kudrow said
Series co-creator Marta Kaufman revealed last week that they hope to shoot the Friends reunion special in August.
They also reminisced about their first meeting - at the first table read for the pilot episode, with Aniston even remembering what everyone wore.
'You were wearing an appropriate Phoebe Buffay like a white linen, hippie shirt, and you had a bunch of seashells and necklaces on,' Aniston said.
Table read: 'You were wearing an appropriate Phoebe Buffay like a white linen, hippie shirt, and you had a bunch of seashells and necklaces on,' Aniston said
'And you had your hair pulled up in two little clips, and you had these little blond tendrils. So, so, so beautiful! And Courteney [Cox] had on a pink baby tee with a white trim,' Aniston added.
Aniston added that she was recently finding Friends clips on the Internet, while she was with Courteney Cox.
'This one time I was with Courteney, and we were trying to find something to reference, an old Friends thing,' Aniston said.
Co-stars: 'And you had your hair pulled up in two little clips, and you had these little blond tendrils. So, so, so beautiful! And Courteney [Cox] had on a pink baby tee with a white trim,' Aniston added
Beloved: The show spanned 10 seasons and 234 episodes
'And then we stumbled on theres bloopers online and we sat there at the computer like two nerds watching these bloopers laughing at ourselves,' she added.
Aniston also said when she watched those old episodes, she will, 'usually remember where we broke during the scene.'
She added that Aniston and her would 'get into these fits of laughter because you had this wonderful ability to you were about to hit your punchline, and you would do this adorable thing where you would break.'
'You would say the punchline, and you would always turn to the audience and say, "Im sorry, its really funny."'
Adorable: She added that Aniston and her would 'get into these fits of laughter because you had this wonderful ability to you were about to hit your punchline, and you would do this adorable thing where you would break'
In the wake of the Bostock case, it is easy to caricature conservative opposition to the ruling as a species of bigotry. After all, who doesnt want gay and transgender employees to be protected from invidious workplace discrimination? But those protections, as Michael Brendan Dougherty observes, are very popular and already exist in many states. What troubles traditionalists is the Courts incorporation of them under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which will render employers liable for unfashionable religious sentiments expressed by their employees.
Title VII itself contains no mention of hostile work environments or harassment. It merely prohibits discrimination against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individuals race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. In 1972, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals held in Rogers v. EEOC that the phrase terms, conditions, or privileges of employment protected employees from a working environment heavily charged with ethnic or racial discrimination.
The Rogers decision, and the expansive concept of workplace protections it championed, percolated through the federal appellate courts for over a decade before the Supreme Court unanimously affirmed its construction of Title VII in the 1986 case Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson. In its Vinson decision, the Court held that a female plaintiff could establish a Title VII violation by proving that discrimination based on sex has created a hostile or abusive work environment so long as the harassment was, per Rogers and another previous lower-court decision, sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of [the victims] employment and create an abusive working environment.
In the post-Vinson workplace, employers were liable for the insensitive, offensive, or disagreeable statements made by their employees. And while the Courts sufficiently severe or pervasive standard might have allayed concerns about chilling speech in the workplace at the time, employers were still incentivized to adopt zero-tolerance policies to protect themselves from liability. One employees off-color joke might not constitute sufficiently severe or pervasive harassment to expose a company to a lawsuit, but a few off-color jokes made by a few employees at different times and places might well amount to a violation of Title VII. An Employee Relations Law Journal article from 1995 argued that zero-tolerance speech policies were the best way for employers to shield themselves from Title VII suits, particularly after the Civil Rights Act of 1991 expanded their potential liability:
Story continues
An employers incentive to prohibit conduct and speech that might constitute harassment has increased based on the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which subjects employers to liability for emotional distress and punitive damages. To avoid liability, the prudent employer will proscribe all speech and conduct that may constitute harassment. The possibility of creating a chilling effect from prohibiting speech and conduct that may constitute harassment is outweighed by the risk of significant liability.
Christopher Caldwell argues in The Age of Entitlement that such corporate speech codes are emblematic of the parallel Constitution ushered in by the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a rival constitutional order that militates against the freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Others would argue that discussing a chilling effect or worrying about workplace speech obscures the plight of long-excluded minorities whom Title VII was designed to protect.
Both sides, however, acknowledge that the threat of Title VII litigation effectively restricts what employees can say about certain topics in the workplace. In the wake of Bostock, what these restrictions will entail for religious employees is unknown. Will an employee who displays iconography associated with a religion that opposes same-sex marriage be complicit in creating a hostile work environment for LGBT employees, and thus subject to termination by an employer looking to shield himself from liability? It is not an unreasonable question: An employee who posted photographs of the Ayatollah Khomeni [sic] and an American flag burning in Iran in her cubicle was said by a federal district court to be engaging in national-origin harassment against an Iranian co-worker. The relevant case law is replete with similar examples, and with the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity among Title VIIs protected classes, one can wonder just how far those protections go. If someone misgenders Caitlyn Jenner at the watercooler, are they creating a hostile work environment for transgender employees?
Eugene Volokh, a law professor at UCLA and the founder of the Volokh Conspiracy blog at Reason, tells National Review that while its not easy for plaintiffs to win hostile-environment cases, its also not easy for employers to be sure they can avoid them. He says that hostile-environment harassment law has indeed been read to cover speech thats seen as offensive based on race, religion, sex, and the like, even when its not personal insults or threats or anything directed at any particular offended employee. Forms of religious expression in the workplace that defend traditional views of sex and gender, even if presented without malice, might be caught in Bostocks whirlwind. Volokh highlights a recent case in which the EEOC concluded that merely having a Confederate flag on ones clothing, and wearing it every couple of weeks to work, could lead to employer liability for tolerating a hostile environment based on race. Coworkers or even customers who discuss their opposition to same-sex marriage or gender reassignment could lead to such liability by that same logic, and a careful employer may therefore be well-advised to forbid all such speech for fear of litigation.
There are, as Volokh notes, many delicate and competing issues in quarrels over LGBT protections and religious liberty. Unfortunately, by reading into the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protections that no one involved in its passage thought it contained, the Court has countermanded the will of the people as expressed through their elected representatives. But a compromise that better accommodates both social conservatives and LGBT employees is still possible: Congress is perfectly capable of amending the law to clarify Title VII and its application to workplace speech. All thats stopping it is a lack of political wherewithal, and thats a problem everyone concerned with the judiciarys ever-increasing encroachment on what is rightfully legislators turf should work to remedy.
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The growing chorus of calls to defund or outright dismantle the Los Angeles School Police have reignited a debate over a long-simmering question: Are police on school campuses a detriment to learning?
Advocates have been arguing that point for years. They point to research showing Black students can feel targeted by school discipline and law enforcement, and looking at how much money is spent on school police in comparison to support for vulnerable students.
Experts say these experiences can affect students' ability to learn.
"When kids are under stress, they don't perform as well," said Pedro Noguera, most recently Distinguished Professor of Education at UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and the incoming dean of the USC's Rossier's School of Education. "When kids are taken out of the classroom to be punished or to be processed in some way, they're not in school learning."
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School police officials and their supporters say forces like the L.A. School Police are specially trained to de-escalate conflicts and that officers generally have good relationships with students. But the social movements surrounding police violence and racism have drawn renewed attention to the issue.
William Etue, the vice president of the Los Angeles School Police Association, the union representing the officers, acknowledges "some tragic incidents throughout the history of law enforcement," but claims the most recent wave of scrutiny is a "knee-jerk reaction going with current trends." He specifically cited the leadership of LAUSD teachers' union, United Teachers Los Angeles, which recently joined other labor unions in support of a broader Black Lives Matter campaign to shift funding for police departments toward other social service programs.
But advocates like Amir Whitaker, a policy attorney for the ACLU of Southern California, say the conversation about law enforcement at schools is much longer in the making.
"I think the public is more receptive to truths that advocates have been speaking for so long," Whitaker explained. "But it's just undeniable in the wake of what's happened recently... not just the death of George Floyd and that tragedy, but the way the police have responded to it."
Whitaker and his colleagues at the ACLU have worked on studies and campaigns looking closely at schools around the state and country. They counted the number of schools with law enforcement, but without counselors.
"Positions and supports for students that we envision in a traditional school have been sacrificed at the expense of police," he said.
Whitaker also points to research by UCLA assistant professor Emily Weisburst.
When doing graduate work in Texas, Weisburst -- a researcher with a focus in labor economics, criminal justice policy, and education -- looked at the relationship between grants to fund police in schools and educational outcomes for students at those schools.
"We are devoting a lot of resources to police in schools, and there can be protective benefits to that, potentially," she explained. "But there are also really big potential costs that I think we need to be concerned about."
The costs she found include small but statistically significant drops in the graduation rate and college enrollment rate for students at those schools.
But why would the presence of law enforcement have an effect on learning?
Noguera said that is because the culture of a school -- and how safe and supported students feel there -- are all crucial for learning, and that the presence of police "can detract from that."
"If they are present -- and there probably are schools where they need to be present -- they should be predicting the perimeter of schools to make sure that no one can come and hurt children," Noguera said. "They should not be there to address issues in school. That's what we hire educators for."
Update on June 22nd
Actualizacion del 22 de junio pic.twitter.com/ZN8Em92a8c Austin Beutner (@AustinLASchools) June 22, 2020
But Etue of the L.A. School Police union says those criticisms don't reflect his 15 years with the department.
"My experience is that kids really have a great relationship with us," Etue said.
In a conversation that mirrors the calls for police reform outside of the classroom, the LAUSD school board and administration now have to figure out what the future of that relationship will be.
On Tuesday, the board is expected to consider resolutions that would direct the district to study, reform, or even de-fund its police department and redirect the money toward counseling and other support for students.
"If our department was reduced or eliminated," Etue said, "the vulnerabilities would only increase and I would be highly concerned for how our students would feel at the school sites, knowing that there's not somebody there to protect them."
Unlike many other districts, which contract with local police and law enforcement agencies, LAUSD operates its own police department. It's one of the largest of its kind in the country, and according to the district, they are called more than 100,000 times a school year.
A Los Angeles School Police vehicle parked outside of Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts on the first day of school, August 20, 2019. (Carla Javier/KPCC)
In a Monday update to the school community, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner urged caution in moving forward with growing calls to dismantle the force. He noted that "school staff of all types have been victims of assault at schools," and that while "Black students are disproportionately represented in arrests ... they are also disproportionately the victims of crimes in schools."
He issued a warning on proceeding "before one rushes to judgment on this issue."
"Those who want to abolish school police ... need to explain to those who are in favor of school police why campuses will be safer in their absence," Beutner said in the recorded video. "And those who think it's just fine the way things are must provide a reasoned answer to students who feel the stigma of an armed presence on campus."
Beutner had previously said he will recommend banning a maneuver called the carotid hold, which is a controversial way of restraining someone by pressing on the arteries in their neck. The district says the maneuver has not been used in schools in the past three school years.
The L.A. School Police Association agrees with this change, Etue said -- though he thinks there should be further discussion about Beutner's other recommendation, to get rid of pepper spray. According to the district's police department, it was used four times this school year, and 11 times in the 2018-19 school year.
While the UTLA leadership came out in support of defunding the school police and reallocating its $70 million to mental health support and counselors, unions representing other district employees, including Associated Administrators Los Angeles, have signed a letter in support of keeping the school police around.
In it, they emphasize that school police in LAUSD, by design, aren't supposed to be like other cops -- that they're trained to get to know, work with, and protect young people from dangers, not discipline them.
But even Etue acknowledges that difference might not be immediately obvious to students. Even at first glance, L.A. School Police uniforms look a lot like LAPD uniforms.
"We've also considered uniform changes and other things to make us more approachable to students," Etue said.
Far short of chants to defund school police, the district instead announced on Monday the formation of a nine-member task force including educators, former public defenders and prosecutors, and public policy experts has been convened to assess "the training, practices, policies and budget of the Los Angeles School Police." The panel will meet twice a week and is expected to deliver preliminary recommendations by August and a full report by the end of the year.
In his weekly update, Beutner said he's asked the task force to look into shifting 10% of the $70 million school police budget to bringing "experienced community counselors to campuses to help mentor students and influence potential incidents before they escalate."
Other reforms put forth by the LAUSD board members in their resolutions include:
Only hiring officers who haven't worked in other law enforcement agencies
Moving L.A. School Police to the perimeter of schools, to protect campuses from outside threats
Creating focus groups/task forces to look closely at current L.A. School Police practices.
Board member Monica Garci?a's resolution is the closest to the demands of advocates. It calls for reducing the school police budget -- first by 50%, then 75%, then 90% -- and redirecting funds to supports for Black students .
"It's actually shocking to me that elected officials would take that step," Etue said of defunding the department.
The school police union instead supports board member George McKenna's resolution, to form a committee of parents, students, and experts to look more closely at school police practices.
But for advocates like Whitaker from the ACLU of Southern California, the question is: Do reforms short of defunding go far enough?
"Even in LAUSD where they say, 'Oh, well, officers have special training,' it's like putting a pillow in front of a hammer. It's still a hammer, right?"
KPCC's Chava Sanchez also contributed reporting to this story.
READ MORE:
Defamation proceedings are being brought by former Ceann Comhairle, John ODonoghue, against the Tralee-based Kerry's Eye newspaper over articles published in Oct 2018 alleging that the politician had been forced from political office because of lavish expenses.
The Circuit Civil Court in Killarney heard that Mr ODonoghue had suffered great shame and embarrassment because of the article and that he wanted to defend his name. He is vehemently pursuing the matter, and had sent a solicitor's letter in Nov 2018, within three weeks of the article, the court heard.
Todays proceedings centered on applications in relation to joining the paper's publishing company which it was claimed had only been highlighted to Mr O'Donoghue's legal team by solicitors for Kerry's Eye Ltd in March 2020.
Mr ODonoghue is seeking an order to join Kenno Ltd, which the court was told is the publishing company of the Kerrys Eye Ltd, both of the same address at Ashe Street, Tralee.
The proceedings touched on the time limits under law, the court was told. Section 38 of the Defamation Act 2009 on the limit on taking proceedings as well as the 1957 Act on the Statue of Limitations were handed into court by barrister Katie O'Connell for Mr ODonoghue. Richard Liston, barrister for the newspaper, told the court that the applications were being "resisted".
Ms OConnell said that the former minister and politician, John ODonoghue, is taking proceedings over an article on Oct 18, 2018 in the Kerry's Eye newspaper entitled 'The Bull is Back'.
There were three articles within the one edition of the paper and they stated that Mr ODonoghue was forced to resign political office over lavish expenses. The articles alleged that gifts to Mr ODonoghues wife and staff were made out of public expenditure; that he had regularly attended horse races including to Australia and had stayed in a Paris hotel; and that he had spent 20,000 at nine different race meetings internationally over the four years 2003-2007 and had engaged in private travel, at public expense, Ms O'Connell stated.
On Nov 8, 2018, Mr ODonoghues solicitor, Denis J Linehan, wrote to the editor of Kerrys Eye. On Nov 21 he received a detailed response from Padraig Kennelly on Kerry's Eye headed notepaper. Mr Kennelly's reply went into significant detail including how the reporter, who is still employed by the paper, made a number of attempts to contact Mr ODonoghue, Ms OConnell said.
Mr Kennelly asked that correspondence be sent to himself, the barrister added.
In March 2020, solicitors for Kerrys Eye Ltd highlighted to Mr ODonoghues legal team that Kenno Ltd is the publisher of the Kerrys Eye newspaper, she said. Kerrys Eye Ltds principal activity is the retail sale of books, newspapers and stationery, she said.
The first time my solicitor became aware of Kenno Ltd was March 2020 and he immediately issued this motion, Ms OConnell said, of the application for an order to join Kenno Ltd in the proceedings.
This was a great source of shame and embarrassment to him [John O'Donoghue of Garranearagh, Caherciveen] and he strongly wants to defend his name. This is not a trivial matter, Ms OConnell said.
Mr Kennelly of Kerrys Eye Ltd is also the director of Kenno Ltd and both companies have the same address at Ashe Street Tralee, she said. The same barrister, Richard Liston, was representing both in court on Tuesday, she also said.
Mr Liston, on behalf of Kerrys Eye and Kenno Ltd, referred in detail to case law. He also said that it is incumbent on the plaintiff to ascertain who the publisher was and to do so in time.
Judge Helen Boyle said she wished to consider affidavits as well as the law in the matter and has reserved her decision to Tuesday next.
No state is more patriotic than New Hampshire, with its early voting primary and "Live Free or Die" attitude. At least, that's what a new WalletHub study on the most patriotic states in America says.
The ranking is not based on the sheer firepower of any state or city's July 4th celebrations, sadly.
Because in that case, San Diego 2012 had the most patriotism of ALL TIME.
The data-crunching personal finance site took data points from all 50 states, using what it calls "13 key indicators of patriotism." The indicators include military-related markers, like average number of enlistees, veteran population, active-duty population and reservists. Those make up the "military engagement" part of the calculation
The site also included other forms of patriotism, like voting, volunteering, civic participation and the emphasis schools put on civic education. These factors (and others) make up the "civic engagement" part of WalletHub's calculation.
Without further ado, here are America's most and least patriotic states.
The Most Patriotic
1. New Hampshire
We talked about this. The granite state is as hard-core patriotic as they come. True to the foundations of the United States, New Hampshire once threatened to secede from the Union in protest of what it saw as the federal government's overreach in taxation and personal freedoms. In 2016.
U.S. Army artillerymen conduct a sling-load operation during Operation Granite Viper at the Udairi Range Complex in Kuwait, Sept. 9, 2015. The artillerymen are assigned to the New Hampshire National Guard. (U.S. Army/1st Lt. Benjamin Moreau)
2. Wyoming
If it seems like the least populous states tend to be at the top of the "most patriotic" list, you aren't wrong. As of January 2020, Wyoming was No. 50 in terms of population in America, but still produced the ninth most troops as a percentage of population -- and the fifth most veterans.
3. Idaho
The 39th most populous state is the third most patriotic, according to WalletHub. No small potatoes.
4. Alaska
The home of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, along with dozens of separate units from the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard, Alaska boasts thousands of military personnel. It also boasts the most military veterans per capita and the second most number of military enlistees. The Great North also invites veterans to come get a share of oil profits.
5. Maryland
Maryland, home of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, is the fifth most patriotic state on the list. Unlike some of the other states at the top of the list, Maryland is full of people, the 19th most populous state in the Union. It also produces the fifth most Peace Corps volunteers.
The Least Patriotic
To name the states that are "least patriotic" isn't to say that they aren't patriotic at all or that the people who live there don't love their country. It simply means that they aren't as active in the 13 areas WalletHub measured as a barometer of patriotism.
46. West Virginia
West Virginia sits atop the bell curve when it comes to military engagement but is close to the very bottom when it comes to voting in presidential elections. Maybe the mountains have something to do with it!
47. Texas
Don't @ me, Texas. I didn't come up with this study or its metrics. But while Texas sits at No. 11 for its military engagement (because of course it does, it's Texas), its weighted civic engagement rating is all the way down at No. 49. If Troy Aikman told you to go vote, would you do it?
48. California
Despite being home to the U.S. Navy's base in San Diego, the Marine Corps' base at Camp Pendleton, and a slew of other military bases, the sheer number of people in California makes it difficult for the state to rise to the top of the list of veterans per capita. The Golden State also has one of lowest numbers of volunteers per capita.
Maybe if we put a drug legalization referendum on the ballot, California's voter participation will skyrocket.
49. New York
The Empire State has the fewest veterans per capita, which is hardly surprising, given how many people are in New York -- and New York City, especially. The state also ranks below California on the volunteerism spectrum. It seems unfair to the rest of New York State, to be weighed down by the City, but the home of the 10th Mountain Division sits solidly at No. 49.
Statues aren't part of the ranking. (The White House)
50. New Jersey
The state that saw George Washington cross the Delaware to MDK German mercenaries in their sleep on Christmas is now one of the states with the fewest veterans per capita, as the 11th most populous state. It's also sitting at the bottom of the "military engagement" spectrum and somewhere near the bottom of the "civic engagement" spectrum.
Find out where your home state sits on the list of most patriotic states by visiting WalletHub and learning how it came up with the rankings. Once more, before I hand out my email address and Twitter handle, I'm not calling your home state "unpatriotic." I'm just the messenger, reminding you to go vote.
-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.
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Hyderabad, June 23 : Former Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar's alleged secret meeting with two BJP leaders at a star hotel in Hyderabad has sparked a row with the ruling YSRCP alleging that this exposed his political and caste connections.
The CCTV footage of June 13 showing Kumar, Kamineni Srinivas and Y.S. Chowdary entering a hotel room surfaced on Tuesday.
As the state government's plea challenging the reinstatement of Kumar as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) is pending in the Supreme Court, the visuals of the meeting triggered a political storm.
Last month, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had reinstated Kumar as SEC, a month after he was sacked by the YSRCP government for postponing the local body elections allegedly at the instance of opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
The ruling party leaders said since both Kamineni Srinivas and Chowdary are close to TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, the meeting proved their allegation that he is in collusion with the main opposition party.
YSRCP MP Vijayasai Reddy tweeted that there was a fourth man too at the hotel and said he would soon reveal the details.
YSRCP leader Ambati Rambabu alleged that the secret meeting was held to hatch a conspiracy against the government and claimed that Chandrababu Naidu is the 'mastermind' of this meeting. He also said that Kamineni and Chowdary were working for TDP while being in BJP.
TDP politburo member Varla Ramaiah, however, said there was nothing wrong in Kumar meeting the BJP leaders.
It was on March 15 that Kumar had postponed the urban and rural local body polls in the state, evoking strong reaction from Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy who not only rushed to Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan on the same day to complain against the SEC but addressed a press conference to slam him for acting at the instance of the TDP.
The state government brought an Ordinance on April 10, reducing the tenure of SEC to five years and the same da,y issued orders replacing Kumar with retired high court judge justice Kanagaraju as the SEC.
Kamineni Srinivas was one of the people who challenged the ordinance. The high court on May 29 struck down the ordinance, reinstating Kumar as SEC.
The state government challenged the high court order in the Supreme Court, which on June 10, refused to grant a stay.
Kumar claimed to have taken charge again as SEC after the high court order but backed off after the state Advocate General found fault with his move, saying he misinterpreted the court order.
Hampton Inn and Suites, Butler, PA When we deployed Aptechs PVNG Enterprise Accounting this February we did not plan for a pandemic, but PVNG has been instrumental in our business continuity because now we can oversee financial performance and effectively manage operations remotely.
I came onboard Horizon Properties Group in late 2015 and started to review cloud-based hotel accounting software systems. This was three years before the CV19 difficulty began. When we deployed Aptechs PVNG Enterprise Accounting this February we did not plan for a pandemic, but PVNG has been instrumental in our business continuity because now we can oversee financial performance and effectively manage operations remotely, said Joshua M. Morgan, CHTP, director of technology and infrastructure for Horizon Properties Group, LLC.
Horizon Hospitality LLC specializes in hotel ownership, partner relationships, and hotel management services. Its portfolio includes Hilton, Marriott, and independent properties. PVNG is an enterprise hotel accounting software financial system that supports one property or large multi-brand, multi-property portfolios. It uses the most current technology platform incorporating AP, GL, A/R, statistics, financials, and bank reconciliation with easy to use browser navigation. Aptech is an IBM Premier Solution Provider and Prophix Premier Business Partner offering web-enabled business intelligence, budgeting, and hotel accounting software. Click here for more on Aptechs products and services.
Horizon previously used Aptechs Profitvue on-premise back office system. We evaluated another system, then selected PVNG because Aptech could convert all our property data and migrate it to our multi-property corporate PVNG platform, said Morgan. Aptechs support is very professional; its team understands the hotel business from the inside. PVNG lets us remotely pay our vendors and coordinate the A/P workflow with our GMs. Our VP looks at all payments and invoices personally and can approve them remotely on her tablet from wherever she is. Remote cloud financial management was a major factor in our PVNG decision.
Horizon is a family owned, hands-on operator. Our VP runs her own reports to generate the performance information she needs to make financial decisions, Morgan said. She reviews all costs for each vendor, and often drills down into a specific property for that vendor. This is an easy process in PVNG that helps her provide timelier executive oversite. She also provides ownership reporting for each Horizon investor. This comes from PVNG and details each investors area of interest. PVNG also lets us compare Hiltons property reports with Horizon Hospitalitys budgeting and expense data. Our executive team works late and travels, and PVNG lets them oversee operations wherever they are. Even with CV19 taking place, PVNG lets our executive team work more efficiently to serve our properties and investors.
Aptech VP Cam Troutman said, Horizon Hospitalitys team is doing a great job of leveraging mobile technology to operate its properties during CV19s impact on business. Aptech is happy to support the creative management processes Horizon implemented with PVNG. We are proud of how Horizon is handling the current issue.
About Horizon Hospitality LLC
Horizon Hospitality LLC is a forward-thinking full-service hospitality company that makes strategic planning, critical financial analysis and innovative thinking our mission. Providing superior service to its guests and a positive work environment to employees are the core of its hospitality principles. Horizon Hospitality LLC specializes in hotel ownership, partner relationships and hotel management services. As a full-service hospitality management company. Hotel Development, Rooms Management, Food and Beverage, Sales and Marketing, Engineering, Human Resources and a complete back-office Accounting Services System are just a few areas of expertise within Horizon Hospitality LLCs organization.
About Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.
Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All of its clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement.
The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry, and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider, as well as a Prophix Premier Business Partner. Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties - including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue is registered to Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information please visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.
Brian Carroll doesnt seem like someone whos running for president. He has no staff, hasnt raised any money, and doesnt expect to make it to the White House. He doesnt even believe hes his partys best shot.
But thats all part of the plan. As the American Solidarity candidate for president, Carroll wants to grow the party, which was founded in 2011 on Catholic social teaching and neo-Calvinist political theology. Eventually, he hopes, the party can attract candidates who are better than him. Then those candidates can attract more votes, and then Democratic and Republican candidates might try to steal those votes by speaking to the issues that evangelicals like Carroll care about.
We want somebody addressing our issues, said Carroll, whose pro-life convictions lead him to support universal health care and an immigration policy that wouldnt separate children from their parents. At some point, someone in the two major parties is going to say, These are issues taking votes away from us. Why dont we try to appeal to these people?
Short of that, Carroll, a retired teacher and an elder in an Evangelical Covenant Church, hopes to give Christians another choice on the ballot and a chance to vote without feeling polluted.
He is one of a handful of third-party and independent candidates appealing to evangelicals in 2020. These candidates reject Democrats and Republicans both and, more importantly, reject the idea of voting for the lesser of two evils. With low budget, no budget, and ad hoc campaigns, they say they are challenging evangelicals to rethink their votes, recalculate the costs of compromise, and expand their moral imaginations between now and the first Tuesday in November.
These alternative candidates come from across the political spectrum. Carroll talks about a consistent life ethic. Phil Collins, a Christian in the Orthodox Lutheran Confessional Conference, has been nominated by the nations oldest existing third party, the Prohibition Party. He wants to end abortion, lower taxes, and launch a sustained program of education and legislation to encourage community disapproval of drugs and alcohol. Don Blankenship won the nomination of the Constitution Party, which was founded in 1991 by Religious Right activists who felt betrayed by the GOP. Blankenship aims to dramatically reduce the size of government and truly make America great again. Mark Charles, a Christian Reformed Church pastor and a Navajo citizen, is running an independent campaign on the issue of American racism and white supremacy.
It is unlikely that any of them will win a significant number of votes. The two major parties make life very difficult for outsider candidates. Democrats and Republicans have historically worked together to limit ballot access and establish election rules that disadvantage third parties.
Only three third-party presidential candidates have won more than 5 percent of the popular vote since World War II: George Wallace in 1968, John Anderson in 1980, and Ross Perot in 1992. Voter disenchantment with the two major parties remained steady from the 1960s to the 2000s but never translated into significant support for an alternative.
For third-party candidates trying to win evangelical votes in 2020, the greatest challenge may be that evangelical voters dont seem to have changed their political preferences much since the last election. A few public figures, such as Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Al Mohler, have gone from opposing President Donald Trump to supporting him, but they are exceptions.
Article continues below
I think the average believing Christian in the country has not evolved on the question of Trump, said evangelical political consultant Joel Searby. The reason you would vote for him in 2016, those things havent changed. The reason you would not vote for him in 2016those things have probably gotten worse.
Searby ran Evan McMullins independent presidential campaign in 2016 and hoped to rally evangelicals and Mormons into a never Trump electoral force. It didnt happen, and Searby isnt optimistic about efforts to break out of the two-party system in 2020.
I believed there were a lot of people who genuinely wanted an alternative candidate, not just a protest vote, and not just a vote for the lesser of two evils, which became a catchphrase in 2016, he said. But those of us who are trying to imagine something different are swimming upstream.
Third-party candidates always struggle for a chance, but J. David Gillespie, a political scientist who studies third parties, predicts this year will be even worse than normal. One reason is COVID-19, he said. Campaigns cant go to public places like malls to solicit the many, many signatures they need to get on the ballots in a lot of states.
Another reason is the high stakes of the election. Strong feelings for or against Trump, combined with a sense that the country faces an existential crisis, will push many voters to back a major-party candidate. Critics of third-party candidates say they cant win but can pull enough votes to change the outcome of an election. Voters who cast their ballots for an alternative are accused of valuing their own purity over the real effects of an election.
But third-party candidates dont have to win to make a difference, according to Gillespie. Historically, issues like the abolition of slavery, womens suffrage, universal health care, and mandatory balanced budgets were put on the national agenda by candidates who had no chance of electoral victory. Third parties can be incubators of reform, Gillespie argues, and demonstrate the political potential of new ideas.
Third-party candidates know the challenges they face. Theyre not naive about winning. They just think other things are more important.
What drives me is the violation of my personal rights, Blankenship said in his acceptance speech at the Constitution Party convention, which was held on Zoom this year. Blankenship, a former coal company executive who clashed with regulators over mine safety rules, says government restrictions in response to COVID-19 will stir more concern over individual liberties, a key part of the partys 2020 message.
Other candidates are making explicitly theological arguments. Charles, who has been a guest speaker for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Cru, and the Urbana Student Missions Conference, explains his independent campaign by talking about Constantines conversion, Augustines political theology, the doctrine of discovery, and the genocide of Native Americans.
Im trying to convince Christians that Christian empire is a heresy, Charles said. Our nation has some serious problems with racism, sexism, and white supremacy. Im not telling people that you have to vote for me, but Im absolutely exhorting the church: You have to break out of this partisan system and engage the nation in a more prophetic manner.
Charles is campaigning for a national dialogue on racism, which he says would be akin to South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the end of apartheid.
Its not easy campaigning on issues that cut against American partisan divides. The candidates sometimes struggle to get their messages out, particularly now, with many public events canceled because of the coronavirus.
Nevertheless, with each Facebook post, email blast, and podcast interview, they make their case that voters should consider doing something different at the ballot box in November. And they hear back that some, at least, are persuaded.
Ive had strangers send me notes saying, This was the first time I could vote for someone without feeling awful, Carroll said. I think if we do that, weve performed a valuable service.
Daniel Silliman is news editor for Christianity Today.
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Bengaluru: Senior IAS officer accused of graft in IMA scam kills self
India
oi-Deepika S
Bengaluru, June 23: A senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official B M Vijay Shankar, one of the prime accused in a multi-crore financial fraud case involving I Monetary Advisory Pvt Ltd (IMA), allegedly died by suicide at his residence in Bengaluru's Jaynagar area on Tuesday night.
The officer who was under suspension had been arrested and jailed in July 2019.
The IMA Ponzi scheme run by its founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan and his associates had duped lakhs of people by promising higher returns using Islamic way of investment.
Vijay Shankar a former District Commissioner of Bangalore was accused of accepting a bribe of at least Rs 1.5 crore from IMA's Khan by a special investigative team constituted by the state government.
Covid-19: 70 patients listed as missing in Mumbai's civic body BMC's records | Oneindia News
Later, when the BJP government came to power in the state, it handed over the case to the CBI. Recently, the CBI sought state government's permission to prosecute Shankar, along with two others, in connection with the case after interrogating them,sources told PTI.
Karnataka Minister K Sudhakar's wife, daughter test positive for Covid-19
The agency has also sought state government's permission to prosecute two senior IPS officers in connection with the case. Promising high returns, Mohammad Mansoor Khan started the Ponzi scheme in 2013.
How was Vijay Shankar involved?
A CBI probe had shown that IMA group entities headed by Khan had raised illegal and unauthorised deposits in an alleged dishonest and fraudulent manner from innocent investors to the tune of over Rs 4,000 crore, raising the eyebrows of the income tax department and the RBI.
The apex bank had written to the state government to probe the functioning of the IMA. Subsequently, the government asked Vijay Shankar to submit a report on IMA. Vijay Shankar assigned the task of preparing the report to the assistant commissioner of Bengaluru district L C Nagaraj.
It is alleged that Vijay Shankar and Nagaraj took Rs 1.5 crore through a village accountant Manjunath to hush up the alleged wrongdoings of Khan.
The case came to light when Khan fled to Dubai leaving behind a video message saying he was committing suicide because of "corruption in the state and central governments."
Khan was arrested on July 19 last year on his arrival in New Delhi. Along with him, seven directors of the IMA, a corporator, and a few others were arrested by the SIT.
A federal prosecutor is prepared to tell Congress on Wednesday that Roger Stone, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was given special treatment ahead of his sentencing because of his relationship with the president. Read more
WASHINGTON A federal prosecutor is prepared to tell Congress on Wednesday that Roger Stone, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was given special treatment ahead of his sentencing because of his relationship with the president.
Aaron Zelinsky, a career Justice Department prosecutor who was part of special counsel Robert Mueller's team and worked on the case against Stone, will say he was told by supervisors that political considerations influenced the decision to overrule the recommendation of the trial team and propose a lighter prison sentence, according to testimony released by the House Judiciary Committee.
Zelinsky now works in the U.S. attorneys office in Maryland, and his testimony will feature the extraordinary spectacle of a current prosecutor castigating decisions made by the leadership of the Justice Department where he still serves. The hearing is likely to add to scrutiny of Attorney General William Barr, who has alarmed Democrats in recent months with his efforts to scrutinize, and even undo, some of the results of Muellers Russias investigation.
What I heard repeatedly was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president, Zelinsky says in the prepared testimony.
The panel subpoenaed Zelinksy and John Elias, a career official in the departments antitrust division, as part of its probe into the politicization of the department under Barr. The Democratic-led panel and Barr have been feuding since shortly after he took office in early 2019, when he declined to testify about Muellers report.
The Democrats launched the investigation earlier this year over Barrs handling of the Stone case but have expanded their focus to several subsequent episodes in which they believe Barr is doing Trumps bidding. That includes the departments efforts to dismiss the criminal case against Gen. Michael Flynn and the firing last weekend of the the top prosecutor in New Yorks Southern District. The prosecutor, Geoffrey Berman, has been investigating the presidents personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., has threatened to subpoena Barr himself for a hearing next week if he doesn't agree to appear. The attorney general has never testified before the panel.
Zelinsky, one of four lawyers who quit the Stone case after the department overruled their sentencing recommendation, plans to say Wednesday that the acting U.S. attorney at the time, Timothy Shea, was receiving heavy pressures from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to give Stone a break.
He does not say who was doing the pressuring, but says there was significant pressure on line prosecutors to obscure the correct sentencing guidelines and water down and in some cases outright distort what happened at Stones trial and the events that resulted in his conviction.
Before Stones Feb. 20 sentencing, Justice Department leadership changed the sentencing recommendation just hours after Trump tweeted his displeasure at the recommendation of up to nine years in prison, saying it had been too harsh. Stone was later sentenced to serve more than three years in prison plus two years probation and a $20,000 fine.
Barr has said Trumps tweet played no role in the change. He said he ordered the new filing hours before the presidents tweet because he was caught off guard by the initial sentencing recommendation and believed it was excessive based on the facts of the case.
Filing a new one was a righteous decision based on the merits, he has told The Associated Press.
According to his prepared testimony, Zelinsky will describe having learned from the media that the Justice Department planned to overrule the trial teams sentencing recommendation, something he said he found unusual given the departments conventional practice of not commenting on cases.
Though the U.S. attorneys office initially said the reports were false, the team was later told that a new sentencing memorandum would be issued that would seek a lighter punishment for Stone.
We repeatedly asked to see that new memorandum prior to its filing. Our request was denied, Zelinsky will say. We were not informed about the content or substance of the proposed filing, or even who was writing it. We were told that one potential draft of the filing attacked us personally.
Zelinsky says he was also told that the acting U.S. attorney was giving Stone such unprecedentedly favorable treatment because he was afraid of the President.
Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said Barr had directed Shea to leave the sentencing to the discretion of the judge, who ultimately sentenced Stone to a notably shorter amount of prison time than the trial prosecutors had initially sought.
Notably, Mr. Zelinsky, a line prosecutor, did not have any discussion with the Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney, or any other member of political leadership at the Department about the sentencing; instead, Mr. Zelinksys allegations concerning the U.S. Attorneys motivation are based on his own interpretation of events and hearsay (at best), not first-hand knowledge, Kupec said in a statement.
Stone was convicted on all seven counts of an indictment that accused him of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election.
On Tuesday, Stone filed a motion asking to extend his surrender date until September because of coronavirus concerns. He is scheduled to report to a federal prison in Georgia by June 30.
In separate testimony released by the committee, Elias plans to detail antitrust investigations that he says were started over the objections of career staff. He says he asked the departments inspector general to investigate whether these matters constituted an abuse of authority, a gross waste of funds, and gross mismanagement.
The Justice Department said in a statement that it strongly disagrees with Mr. Eliass claim that the Antitrust Division acted inappropriately in any investigation.
___
Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.
They're best friends and share many private details of their lives with each other on their dating podcast, Life Uncut.
But Laura Byrne admitted last week she felt 'betrayed' when she confronted Brittany Hockley about a secret she'd kept from her.
Brittany is appearing on the upcoming series of Bachelor in Paradise, which was filmed in Fiji last year. However, she failed to tell Laura about her hook-up with Timm Hanly on the show, and Laura was upset to learn of the fling from a TV advert.
Feeling betrayed? They're best friends and share many private details of their lives with each other on their dating podcast - but Laura Byrne (right) admitted last week she felt 'betrayed' when she confronted Brittany Hockley (left) about a secret she'd kept from her
'Britt, I feel like you've got a little bit of explaining to do... currently you are on TV making out with a guy named Timm,' Laura said.
Brittany, 32, laughed and said: 'Surprise! How do you feel?'
'Oh, a little bit betrayed,' Laura replied.
Spoiler! Brittany is appearing on the upcoming series of Bachelor in Paradise, which was filmed in Fiji last year. However, she failed to tell Laura about her hook-up with Timm Hanly on the show, and Laura was upset to learn of the fling from a TV advert (pictured)
'[I was] not expecting it. I'm very surprised,' Laura said, before confessing Timm had been one of her favourites on The Bachelorette last year.
'I loved Timm on Angie Kent's season... and I was a little bit jilted when Angie didn't choose Timm, so now it's kind of weird,' she explained.
'I feel betrayed that you haven't told me all of these things... now that it's happening on TV I feel kind of robbed,' she said.
Gutted: 'I feel betrayed that you haven't told me all of these things... now that it's happening on TV I feel kind of robbed,' Laura (pictured) said
Laura went on to clarify that she'd asked Brittany not to divulge any of the details from Bachelor in Paradise before it aired on television.
Brittany and Timm's island romance was confirmed last week when Channel 10 released a trailer for the third season which showed the pair flirting up a storm as they arrived at the Mango Bay Resort in Fiji.
'That chick from Badger's season? She's so hot!' Timm said as he laid eyes on Brittany for the first time.
'Brittany is absolutely gorgeous! So well spoken, those piercing blue eyes.'
Remember him? Timm was the runner-up on Angie Kent's season of The Bachelorette last year
Brittany, who was brutally dumped by Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins on The Bachelor in 2018, later said: 'Timm in no way is my type. Never ever have I dated anybody like him.'
In another scene, Timm was seen flirtatiously placing a kiss on Brittany's forehead as they cuddled up together on a daybed.
Things became even steamier later in the trailer when the couple were shown snogging in a bathtub.
'He really took me by surprise. [There's] something about him that I want to get to know more,' Brittany said afterwards.
PHOENIX Phoenix police say a teenage boy is in custody after fatally shooting another teen.
Authorities say the shooting happened Sunday night at an apartment on the citys northwest side. According to officers, a 16-year-old boy was handling a firearm when it discharged.
The girl, also 16, was wounded.
She was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Police identified her Monday as Kinesha Hill.
Police say the teen has been booked on one count of negligent homicide. It was not immediately known if he owned the gun. Because his is a minor, his name was not released.
Police did not say how Hill and the suspect were connected.
A weather pattern change will bring dangerous conditions to many Great Lakes beaches this afternoon. Another very dangerous situation will also involve piers out into the Great Lakes.
Northwest winds increasing Tuesday afternoon will create high waves along the Michigan shorelines of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and the eastern shore of Saginaw Bay. Waves will build up to seven feet along the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines, and up to four feet on the Saginaw Bay shorelines of Tuscola and Huron Counties.
Waves forecast for 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2020
The highest waves will occur from Grand Haven to Pentwater this afternoon.
Source: National Weather Service Grand Rapids
Swimming will be dangerous with powerful waves, so stay out of the water. Kayaking in these high waves is also going to be dangerous.
Walking on piers will be very dangerous this afternoon. With the record high water levels, just four foot waves can crash over the top of many Great Lakes piers. The power of a wave flowing over a pier will easily knock you off your feet and throw you out into a wicked, rough Great Lake.
Beach warnings for Lake Huron for Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Winds will be diminishing Wednesday, although temperatures will be cooler in the 60s and 70s. Great swimming weather will come back to the Great Lakes Thursday and part of Friday.
And get ready for what looks like a very warm July.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd June, 2020) Moldovan President Igor Dodon released a statement on Tuesday in which he threatened to mobilize a public collective action should the country's top-tier businessmen attempt to intervene in politics or seize the power.
"The oligarchy threat is still there, lawmakers are being corrupted right before our eye and some parties in parliament can any minute enter a coalition with protegees of oligarchs who want to return or at least take revenge. Therefore, we, myself included, will not for a moment lose vigilance, and should there be any attempts to put the country under oligarchic control, I will call for public support and urge people to take to the streets," the statement read.
In earlier statements, the Moldovan president has pointed at oligarchs Ilan Shor and Vladimir Plahotniuc as being behind the parliament reshuffling that saw the coalition of Socialists and Democrats lose majority. According to Dodon, these are the businessmen who pursue a comeback into politics.
Shor, formerly head of the Shor political party, was sentenced to 7.5 years behind bars and banned from leaving Moldova in June of 2017 over banking fraud. Following parliamentary elections last February, Shor obtained a parliament member seat with affix lawmaker immunity and left the country later in June.
In August of that year, Moldovan prosecutors withdrew Shor's immunity and launched three criminal cases against him and an international arrest warrant over illegal flight from the country.
Plahotniuc, also one of the region's richest people and former head of the Democratic Party, is under criminal prosecution both at home in Moldova and in Russia, where he holds a second citizenship. In November of 2017, a court in Moscow arrested Plahotniuc in absentia and issued an international arrest warrant over attempted murder. Another arrest warrant, this time over establishment of a criminal network and drug trafficking, was in Moscow after Russia's law enforcement discovered a scheme through which Plahotniuc, in collaboration with another businessman, Viacheslav Platon, smuggled over 37 million rubles ($540,000) to overseas.
In Moldova, which Plahotniuc left last June, he is investigated within two criminal cases over large-scale money laundering. In the beginning of this year, the United States hit Plahotniuc with sanctions over "significant corruption," while Dodon claimed that the US was where the fugitive businessman laid down. In May, a court in Chisinau issued a 30-day arrest warrant in absentia.
PHOENIX and RESTON, Va., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --
As schools across the country assess how or if they will be able to open in the fall, the Alliance for Virtual Learning a coalition of online learning experts spearheaded by University of Phoenix and Blackboard will host a free Virtual Teaching Academy, June 26 through July 1, 2020 to help educators prepare for success in the upcoming school year. K-12 teachers and school administrators will be given access to expert insights and resources to help build a customized Blueprint for virtual learning at their schools and districts this fall.
"COVID-19 forced K-12 teachers to pivot almost overnight to online learning, and in many cases without support or clear guidance to keep all students engaged and maintain learning continuity," said University of Phoenix Provost John Woods. "As the need for a longer-term approach in the K-12 space became apparent, we knew that we wanted to give back in a way that leverages our extensive expertise, and Blackboard's, in online teaching and learning. Together we formed the Alliance for Virtual Learning and Virtual Teaching Academy to support K-12 teachers and administrators during this crucial summer planning period to ensure success for the fall."
The Virtual Teaching Academy will consist of ten separate webinar sessions with topics ranging from best practices when teaching and learning move home, to providing equitable access to instruction and resources for all students, to serving the needs of special education, gifted and English language learners in a virtual environment, among others. The sessions will be led by education experts from various fields, including:
Chandre Sanchez Reyes , Executive Director, Indiana Connections Academy
, Executive Director, Indiana Connections Academy Michele Eaton , Director of Virtual and Blended Learning, MSD of Wayne Township, IN
, Director of Virtual and Blended Learning, MSD of Wayne Township, IN Kelly Herman , VP of Accessibility Equity & Inclusion, University of Phoenix
, VP of Accessibility Equity & Inclusion, Tracy Broccolino , Director of Early Childhood Education at Community Action Council of Howard County
"We are thrilled to convene some of the most innovative education practitioners in partnership with University of Phoenix to support districts and schools as they move beyond a stop-gap approach to remote teaching and evolve their virtual and hybrid learning strategies for the fall and beyond," said Kathy Vieira, Chief Strategy, Portfolio & Marketing Officer at Blackboard. "Our hope is that the Virtual Teaching Academy will offer educators and administrators the tools they need to collectively redefine what effective teaching and learning looks like in the post-COVID era."
Participants will walk away with the insights necessary to build a Blueprint to ensure their schools provide effective instruction as they navigate the inevitable challenges of virtual and hybrid learning in the fall. Additionally, teachers can earn free continuing education and professional development hours, granted by the University of Phoenix College of Education.
The Alliance for Virtual Learning is spearheaded by the University of Phoenix and Blackboard, with the goal of convening a community of educators, experts, students and families to develop new models of hybrid education that shift between virtual and in-classroom learning. Through meaningful conversations, trainings and resources, the Alliance provides adaptable tools that empower educators to set a new course for how we teach and how we learn.
To attend the Virtual Teaching Academy, register at https://go.blackboard.com/virtual-teaching-academy.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses and interactive learning help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. We serve a diverse student population, offering degree programs at select locations across the U.S. as well as online. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.
About Blackboard
Blackboard's mission is to advance learning in partnership with the world's education community so that more students, educators and institutions can realize their goals today and prepare for tomorrow. Learn more at www.blackboard.com and follow @Blackboard on Twitter.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 14:41 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660f3076 4 Science & Tech COVID-19,ventilator,ITB,Unpad,coronavirus,technology,West-Java,university Free
The development team of the Vent-I portable ventilator has donated 139 Vent-I units to several hospitals treating COVID-19 patients across Indonesia, with hundreds of ventilators ready for distribution.
"Approximately 800 total Vent-I units will be distributed for free, Hari Tjahjono, the spokesperson of the Vent-I development team, said on Monday as quoted by tempo.co.
The Vent-I was developed by the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in collaboration with the Padjajaran University Medical School in West Java and the Pembina Mesjid Salman Foundation (YPM Salman), with funding from an ITB-sponsored charity.
The portable ventilator was designed for ease of use, primarily in treating COVID-19 patients experiencing shortness of breath who are still able to breathe on their own. The Vent-I is not intended for treating patients receiving intensive care.
Among the hospitals that received the device are the Dr. Hasan Sadikin Central General Hospital in Bandung and the Kemayoran Athletes Village COVID-19 emergency hospital in Jakarta.
Of the 139 donated ventilators, 47 were distributed to hospitals in East Java, 44 to hospitals in West Java and 15 to hospitals in Central Java. The remaining 20 ventilators were donated to hospitals in Jakarta.
Read also: Indonesia looks to domestic innovations to tackle COVID-19
Hospitals in Banten received four ventilators, North Sumatra hospitals received three ventilators, and hospitals in Yogyakarta, Lampung and East Kalimantan received two ventilators each.
The Vent-I ventilators, which were developed and manufactured locally at a rapid pace, passed the quality assurance standards of the Health Ministrys Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes) in April.
The Vent-I also meets the Balitbangkes general safety standards for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a ventilator's most vital function in keeping the patient's airway unobstructed so they can breathe freely. This functionality of the Vent-I may help reduce the number of patients requiring intensive care.
The ministry has certified the new medical device for commercial production and distribution.
Hari said that PT Rekacipta Inovasi ITB (PT RII), a collaborative business entity involving ITB, state-owned enterprises and private companies, would be managing commercial mass production of the Vent-I.
As of Monday, Indonesia recorded 46,845 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,500 deaths. Jakarta remains the epicenter of the Indonesian outbreak with a cumulative tally of 10,098 cases, followed by East Java with 9,857 cases. (trn)
By Chris Canipe and Lisa Shumaker
June 23 (Reuters) - The United States saw a 25% increase in new cases of COVID-19 in the week ended June 21 compared to the previous seven days, with Arizona, Florida and Texas experiencing record surges in new infections, a Reuters analysis found.
Twenty-five U.S. states reported more new cases last week than the previous week, including 10 states that saw weekly new infections rise more than 50%, and 12 states that posted new records, according to the analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer-run effort to track the outbreak.
Texas reported one of the largest rises in new cases at 24,000 for the week ended June 21, an increase of 84% from the previous week. The number of COVID-19 tests that came back positive in the state rose to 10%, from 7%.
New cases in Florida rose 87% last week to almost 22,000, with the state's positive test rate nearly doubling to 11%.
Arizona reported 17,000 new cases, a 90% increase, with 20% of tests coming back positive, according to the analysis.
(Open https://tmsnrt.rs/2WTOZDR in an external browser for a Reuters interactive)
The governors of all three states have attributed the increases in new cases to more testing, and to younger residents not following social distancing guidelines. Some health experts have criticized these states for reopening too quickly without adequate restrictions, for instance not making it mandatory to wear masks in public.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended states wait for new COVID-19 cases to fall for 14 days before easing social distancing restrictions.
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia are in compliance with that guideline, the analysis showed, down from 17 states the prior week. New York leads with 10 straight weeks of declines, followed by Rhode Island, Illinois and Washington, D.C.
Nationally, the number of new COVID-19 cases had been falling on a weekly basis through May. Last week's 25% jump came after a 1% rise in the second week of June and a 3% increase in the first week of June.
(Reporting by Chris Canipe in Kansas City, Missouri, and Lisa Shumaker in Chicago; Editing by Tiffany Wu)
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei participates in an international video conference within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative
On June 18, 2020 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, took part in the international video conference within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative.
The video conference was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China after the second forum on international cooperation of the Belt and Road held on 25-27 June 2019 in Beijing.
The event was presided by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, member of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi, who read out a statement by the Chairman Xi Jinping. The Director-General of the World Health Organization, T.Gebreyesus, and the UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner, have also made welcoming speeches.
The discussion was focused on fighting the coronavirus pandemic and ways to restore economy, including implementation of the joint projects under the Belt and Road initiative.
In his statement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, paid attention to the right of the state to independently determine the tactics and strategy to combat the spread of coronavirus and emphasised the unacceptability of politicising the issue of the pandemic.
V.Makei thanked the World Health Organization for its assistance and expressed interest in developing fruitful cooperation with this Organization and the UN in the spirit of unity, solidarity and mutual support.
In the context of Belarus participation in the Belt and Road initiative, the Foreign Minister confirmed the interest of Belarus in implementing joint projects in the field of railway logistics and high-tech industries.
Minister noted the results of the development of the Great Stone industrial Park as a key joint of the Silk Road Economic Belt in the Eurasian region.
As a result of the event, a joint statement was adopted, which is intended to help to convey positive signals to countries on strengthening the cooperation in fighting the epidemic, promote the Belt and Road initiative and coordinate approaches to fight the epidemic and to restore social and economic development.
Representatives of twenty-five countries participated in the video conference, including on the level of Deputy Prime Ministers: Cambodia, Indonesia, Serbia; and Foreign Ministers: Chile, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
Background Information: the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) announced by the Chairman of the People's Republic of China in September 2013 during a visit to Kazakhstan is aimed at developing an innovative model of interconnection and forming a new order of interregional cooperation. Together with the initiative to build the Maritime Silk Road of the XXI century, the combined concept was called the Belt and Road. Five priorities for international cooperation with countries along the Silk Road have been identified: political coordination, interconnection of infrastructure, uninterrupted trade, free movement of capital, and strengthening of proximity between peoples. The Republic of Belarus was among the first to support the the Belt and Road initiative.
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Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins announced Monday that her office has opened a criminal investigation into the alleged actions of former MBTA Officer Nicholas Morrissey, who is accused of using excessive force on a Black man.
Rollins, in a news release, said the report filed by Morrissey in the April 28, 2020 incident is not supported by video.
Although it is unusual for my office to comment on ongoing investigations, the behaviors of law enforcement personnel must be held to a higher standard and require transparency,' Rollins said. I want to thank and highly commend the leadership of the MBTA Police for bringing this matter to my office. Without their coming forward, we would not have been made aware of Morrisseys concerning behavior. This type of leadership by law enforcement management must be commended and should be emulated.
According to the district attorneys office, on April 28, Morrissey allegedly dragged a homeless, intoxicated man from an MBTA bus on the Forest Hills busway and forcibly held the 63-year-old face-down with a knee on his back for 20 seconds, pushed his head into the pavement, and later dragged him out of the bus lane.
The Boston Globe reported the man is Black and Morrissey is white.
The man, who is known to MBTA police, had abrasions to his face after the incident, according to authorities.
Morrissey filed a report on the incident alleging that the man lost his balance while attempting to spit at Morrissey, Rollins said. Morrissey said he grabbed the man by the shoulders and redirected him before the man fell through the bus door and hit his forehead on the pavement. The report is not consistent with video of the interaction.
As reported by the Boston Globe, Morrissey resigned from his position on May 29 before any disciplinary action could take place.
The district attorneys office said Morrisseys supervisor has been placed on administrative leave.
Morrissey listed assault on a police officer in his report, according to the Boston Globe. He was placed on paid administrative leave in early May as the MBTA investigated the incident, the newspaper reported.
I have said many times, the vast majority of police officers are dedicated public servants who work honorably and diligently to keep us all safe, Rollins said. Public employees, however, are held to a higher standard, especially those charged with keeping the public and our communities safe.
Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364.
By IANS
NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh echoing the party view on China in the Congress Working Committee meeting, said if the situation is not tackled properly it can lead to serious situation.
Endorsing party chief Sonia Gandhi's view that the face-off at the Line of Actual Control in Laddakh is a full-blown crisis, Manmohan Singh said: "The crisis on the border, which if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation."
Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Leader of Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who attended the all-party meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi briefed the CWC on the border situation.
Manmohan Singh on Monday slammed the Prime Minister on the Chinese transgression accusing him of delivering "disinformation" following Modi's statement in the all-party meeting and later clarification by the PMO. Singh said that Prime Minister should know the implication of his words.
"The Prime Minister cannot allow them to use his words as a vindication of their position and must ensure that all organs of the Government work together to tackle this crisis and prevent it from escalating further," said Singh.
Manmohan Singh in his statement on Monday said: "We remind the Government that disinformation is no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership."
"The truth cannot be suppressed by having pliant allies spout comforting but false statements," added Manmohan Singh.
Manmohan Singh was criticising Modi's statement at the all-party meeting on Friday and later clarification by the Prime Minister's Office on the June 15 night's violent face-off between the Indian and Chinese sides at Galwan Valley on the Line of Actual Control that led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers, including a commanding officer.
The PM statement was used by the Chinese to get away from their misdeeds at the Galwan Valley.
Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since 25 March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
New Delhi: India is considering establishing "individual bilateral bubbles" with the US, the UK, Germany and France allowing airlines of each country in the pact to operate international passenger flights, said the Aviation Ministry on Tuesday.
The ministry's statement has come after the US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it 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.
The Aviation Ministry said, "As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. These are all destinations where demand for travel has not diminished. Final decisions pursuant to negotiations are expected to be taken soon."
We have received requests from concerned authorities in several countries including US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission pic.twitter.com/MK5xNHV0Hx MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) June 23, 2020
"We have received requests from authorities in several countries including the US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in the transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission. These requests are being examined," it added.
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 amid the pandemic reach their destinations.
The US Department of Transport (DOT) said on Monday it appears that Air India may be using its passenger repatriation charters as a way of circumventing Government of India-imposed prohibition of all scheduled international services.
"We are taking this action (of allowing only those Air India flights from 22 July that have DOT's approval) because Government of India 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," the DOT said.
The Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday that it had one round of negotiations with the representatives of the DOT and US Embassy on 15 June about letting American carriers operate flights. "They were invited to submit precise proposals in this respect. A communication has now been received on 19 June, 2020 detailing these requests," the ministry said.
Air India 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.
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.
After nearly two months of suspension to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the government resumed scheduled domestic passenger flights from 25 May but in a curtailed manner and by placing lower and upper limits on airfares depending upon the flight duration.
Moreover, Puri had said on June 20 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.
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Los Angeles: Costume designer-turned director Joel Schumacher, known for helming films including "St Elmo's Fire", "Falling Down" as well as two "Batman" movies, has died after a year-long battle with cancer, his publicists said.
The native New Yorker died on Monday morning. He was 80, reported Deadline.
Schumacher started off as a costume designer for 1970s films such as Woody Allen directorials "Sleeper" and "Interiors", along with "Blume in Love", "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" and "The Last of Sheila".
He also was a production designer on the 1974 telefilm "Killer Bees".
Schumacher then turned writer in the late '70s on "Sparkle", "Car Wash" and film adaptation of Broadway musical "The Wiz", and made his directorial debut in 1981 with sci-fi comedy "The Incredible Shrinking Woman", featuring Lily Tomlin in the lead.
The director, considered as one of the most popular Hollywood storytellers, also has titles such as "Flawless", "DC Cab", "The Lost Boys", "Falling Down" and John Grisham adaptations "The Client" and "A Time to Kill" to his credit.
From Val Kilmer, George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Batman films, Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage in "Trespass", Susan Sarandon in "The Client" to Kiefer Sutherland in "The Lost Boys", Schumacher directed many such Hollywood A-listers.
He is also credited for nurturing rising talent at the time like Matthew McConaughey ("A Time To Kill"), Colin Farrell ("Phone The Booth"), Demi Moore and Rob Lowe ("St Elmo's Fire"), Gerard Butler ("Phantom of the Opera"), among others.
Schumacher also directed high-profile music videos including Seal's chartbuster "Kiss from a Rose" from his "Batman Forever", INXS' "Devil Inside" and the Smashing Pumpkins' "The End Is the Beginning Is the End," which earned him a best director nomination at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.
His "Falling Down", starring Michael Douglas as a frustrated common man who explodes in rage, premiered at Cannes in 1993 and was a Palme d'Or nominee.
"8MM", the 1999 film starring Cage, Joaquin Phoenix and James Gandolfini, was up for the Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival.
The filmmaker also directed "Flatliners", "Flawless", and most recently two 2013 episodes of Netflix's "House of Cards".
Many of Schumacher's collaborators remembered the one-of-a-kind director as a friend, visionary and someone who launched careers of several Hollywood stars.
McConaughey said he owes his career to the filmmaker, who gave him the lead role as Jake Brigance in courtroom drama "A Time to Kill", at a time when he was "relatively unknown".
"Joel not only took a chance on me, he fought for me. Knowing the studio might never approve a relatively unknown like myself for the lead in 'A Time to Kill,' he set up a secret screen test for me on a Sunday morning in a small unknown studio because as he stated, 'Even if you do great, you may not get the part, so I don't want the industry to ever think you screen tested and DID NOT get the job'," the Oscar winner said.
"I don't see how my career could have gone to the wonderful places it has if it wasn't for Joel Schumacher believing in me back then," he added.
Sutherland took to Twitter to share his condolences to one of his "dearest friends and partners in filmmaking".
His "Lost Boys" co-star Corey Feldman revealed that the sober Schumacher tried to keep him from doing drugs on the film shoots, firing him and rehiring him after he said he was given cocaine by an adult on the set.
"He tried to prevent my descent," Feldman wrote.
Lowe said how only the director could see him play the role of Billy, the bad boy in the coming-of-age film "St Elmo's Fire".
"He had an extraordinary taste. The images from his films are timeless snapshots of their era. He was a larger than life original; I will never forget him," the actor said in a statement to Variety.
Moore said working with Schumacher was a "pivotal moment" in not only her career but also to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
"Forever grateful for the tough love and the chance that he took on me. His daring, dynamic spirit will be missed. Rest easy Joel," she wrote on Instagram alongside a clip from their film "St Elmo's Fire".
Cage said he is "very upset" about Schumacher's death.
"He was a great artist and a true friend? I will miss him," he added.
"Batman Forever" star Jim Carrey gave tributes to Schumacher on Twiter: "He saw deeper things in me than most and he lived a wonderfully creative and heroic life. I am grateful to have had him as a friend."
In a video, Seal said the director transformed his "Kiss From a Rose" from a flop into a hit after he used the song on the soundtrack of "Batman Forever".
The musician, who went on to win three Grammys in 1996 for the song including record of the year, said the track "has pretty much defined my career".
"The only thing we did was make a decent video for it. He didn't even charge me, he said he loved the song so much. Subsequently, kids thought I was Batman because the song was so big," he added.
Patrick Wilson, who starred in "The Phantom of the Opera", said Schumacher "started the careers of many".
"Too many to name. Such a diverse and fearless resume," Wilson wrote.
Schumacher also received the Distinguished Collaborator Award from the Costume Designers Guild in 2011 and that same year shared a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for the mental health documentary "Half of Us".
Accra, Ghana, 23rd June 2020: Africas leading e-Commerce platform, Jumia, will mark its 8th Anniversary by celebrating consumers and communities through a consumer and seller centric campaign in the exceptional context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The companys anniversary, themed Stronger Together, is one of its major annual commercial events and is being held from June 22nd until July 5th, 2020 across the countries where Jumia operates in Africa.
The Company will continue to support its consumers through the various measures and initiatives that were started during COVID-19 crisis, especially by providing a wide range of relevant products at the best prices and establishing new partnerships with both international and local brands.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/0G5F4PXrPwxhKCrgulXvUu7xj800x3urLELyRXJ7Qf0TRgKTXqpnHdoxtGYa0Eb0OOgzsAebvFQdCXqI8ZhZ9iXssP4BVj6OQP5goNJvM1CVZP1BDhDM597ubJOrh2DZBgwDhpg0
This year, Jumia is 8 years old and to celebrate, the company has lined up several amazing events, deals and offers to say thank you to its cherished customers, vendors, partners and employees..
There will also be many games available online for a chance to win amazing prizes and many more fun stuff you can't miss. Customers have to download the jumia app on app store/ play store or go on the Jumia website to participate in these fun activities. Jumia now has pick up stations nationwide in most regional capitals and communities to allow customers in areas outside Accra enjoy the companys services too.
Speaking on the celebration, CEO of Jumia Ghana Diana Owusu-Kyereko said In such trying times when a global pandemic has affected all lives, we believe its our responsibility to offer a platform where customers can shop from a wide range of products/services at the best price and have their items delivered to them safely. Impacting the lives of Ghanaians positively is the vision of this company and we are proud to touch lives through the use of the internet. Creating employment opportunities, supporting vendors to increase revenue, providing best prices on quality items and building an ecosystem where Ghanaians enjoy a safe shopping experience is what we are really proud of.
Jumia believes that the customer makes the business and as such, in this era where lives have been impacted by covid-19, this celebration is dedicated to give back and make the customer happy by being #strongertogether. Quality products and services at affordably low prices as well as a plethora of freebies are available throughout the anniversary period.
Jumia is proud to partner with some reputable brands to make this anniversary sale a great success.These brands include but are not limited to Nokia , Nivea , Cowbell, Jameson, Frytol, Tecno, Maybelline, Dettol , Icona, Diageo, and Johnny Walker.
The shopping experience is sometimes overwhelming. The convenience of staying in my room and still receiving what I order for is what fascinates me always. I can get almost everything I need on Jumia. I order lunch, clothes and even pay my bills on Jumia. During the covid-19 lockdown period, Jumia even got my groceries to me fresh and safe. Thank you Jumia and congratulations on your anniversary said Madam Yaa Otiwa Adjei (customer)
Customers can shop for these amazing deals and pay online via Mobile Money or Visa / Master cards. With its digital payment service (JumiaPay), the company has made it easier for customers to pay for items online in a safe and secure manner. Utility bills such as electricity and water, DSTV & GoTV and other bills can be paid for online using the Jumia Pay app.
Save the Date! Don't blink. You don't want to miss out on anything. Connect to Jumia, download the app and check out the best deals.
About Jumia
Jumia is a leading e-commerce platform in Africa. It is built around a marketplace, Jumia Logistics, and JumiaPay. The marketplace helps millions of consumers and sellers to connect and transact. Jumia Logistics enables the delivery of millions of packages through our network of local partners. JumiaPay facilitates the payments of online transactions for Jumia's ecosystem. With over 1 billion people and 500 million internet users in Africa, Jumia believes that e-commerce is making people's lives easier by helping them shop and pay for millions of products at the best prices wherever they live. E-commerce is also creating new opportunities for SMEs to grow, and job opportunities for a new generation to thrive.
Quantzig, a global data analytics and advisory firm that delivers actionable analytics solutions to resolve complex business problems, has announced the completion of its recent article that examines the role of artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005340/en/
The article also offers comprehensive insights on:
The benefits of artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance The role of artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance and automation
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Emphasis on drug safety is the key factor for the rising demand for pharmacovigilance solutions. With the focus on drug safety regulations on improving the drug quality more and more, pharmaceutical industry players are now depending on pharmacovigilance solutions. However, at times, it gets difficult to access huge amounts of patient data, which becomes a major pain point for the companies in the pharmaceutical industry to execute a holistic digital vigilance on the data that is generated. By deploying data mining and taking EHRs into consideration, artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance successfully provides improved healthcare assistance.
Speak to our experts to learn how our artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance can support activities that require medical expertise and analytical skills.
According to Quantzig's artificial intelligence experts, "Artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance aims to promote and protect the health and well-being of patients and other healthcare consumers."
Role of Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacovigilance
1: Improve drug safety
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Artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance helps in protecting patient privacy, thus helping in adhering to government policies. Regulatory compliance has always been a pain point for the pharmaceutical industry. With every geographic location, the regulatory compliances change, thus pharma companies invest almost half of their resources in following regulations rather can solely educating themselves in drug development and discovery. The adaptation of artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance helps companies by providing a reliable monitoring solution.
Read the complete article for detailed insights on the role of artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance: https://bit.ly/3fYpp8T
About Quantzig
Quantzig is a global analytics and advisory firm with offices in the US, UK, Canada, China, and India. For more than 15 years, we have assisted our clients across the globe with end-to-end data modeling capabilities to leverage analytics for prudent decision-making. Today, our firm consists of 120+ clients, including 55 Fortune 500 companies. For more information on our engagement policies and pricing plans, visit: https://www.quantzig.com/request-for-proposal.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005340/en/
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ThinkCentre Nano Bundle 1 P 50,390
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click image for a larger view
As the ongoing global pandemic continues to disrupt normal business operations, more companies are integratingtechnology to achieve and maintain high levels ofand keep their businesses afloat. This is shown ins recent global survey which revealed that nearly half of the employees (46%) were encouraged and 26% were required to work from home. In addition, 77% expect companies to be more accepting of the setup in the future. Recognizing the need for an efficient and seamless, Lenovo, the worlds number one PC maker, is offering a special Work From Home productivity suite which bundles together its latest devices and services designed to bolster a companys capacity to work from anywhere.Ongoing until June 30, 2020, companies can choose from two Lenovo work from home technology bundles.Includes:Includes:Both bundles also come with Lenovos Advanced Solutions for Remote Work service, a suite of solutions designed to help businesses easily transition to work from home arrangements. By combining Lenovos proprietary services, namely, Premier Support (24/7 dedicated hotline to Lenovo engineers, comprehensive hardware and OEM support), Premium Care (real-time solutions on first contact, Getting started and How-to support, assistance with hardware and software issues), and Accidental Damage Protection (coverage for accidental drops, spills, bumps, electrical surges, damage to LCD screen), Lenovo is covering all bases and issues that employees are bound to encounter while working remotely.The two bundles can be purchased through Lenovos authorized retail partners and their respective online stores. For more tips on how to bolster productivity at home, contact Lenovo at fb.com/lenovophilippines or visit the website at lenovo.com/ph/en.We understand the struggles involved in making work from home arrangements work for certain industries, especially within a short period of time. As a global leader in providing cutting-edge technology, we at Lenovo make it our mission to assist businesses in adapting to the new normal through our holistic solutions packaged in smart bundles for quick and convenient implementation, said Michael Ngan, Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager.The devices included in the bundles provide enhanced business flexibility and agility, enabling teams to easily communicate and finish projects from anywhere without any hitches. They also extend added security and a sense of comfort and ease with the support provided by expert Lenovo technicians.Headlining Lenovos work from home technology bundles is theworkstation which delivers powerful performance through its 8th Gen Intel processor despite being only 179mm x 88mm x 22mm small and having a starting weight of 1.6 lbs. Its several ports, including powered USB Type-C, allow it to be hooked up to peripherals such as projectors, monitors, keyboard, and mouse without unnecessary cable clutter in workspaces. The device is WiFi-ready and has two additional USB 3.1 ports that enable lightning-quick data transfers.Lenovo recommends two displays for the ThinkCentre M90n the ThinkCentre Tiny-in-One 22 and the ThinkVision T22i-10 21.5 monitors. The ThinkCentre Tiny-in-One monitor assures a clutter-free workspace through its 1920x1080 borderless LED panel which gives a clearer view of worksheets and projects and a clip that can tuck all cables in, thereby eliminating cable eyesore. Meanwhile, the T22i provides a clear display of 1920x1080 resolution with a near edgeless IPS-type screen, providing vivid color in images from a wide viewing angle.To connect theto a display, Lenovo suggests the ThinkCentre Nano TIO Cube or ThinkCentre Nano Monitor Clamp. Both accessories easily hook up the ThinkCentre M90n Nano to the monitor, thus allowing users to create a lean working environment and an overall better and hassle-free user experience during setup.Lenovo is also offering the USB-C Laptop Power Bank 14000 mAh. Despite measuring only 124 mm x 83.5mm x 22.5mm and with a starting weight of 0.64 lbs, it provides 48 Wh battery life which is enough to boot up the ThinkCentre M90n on a mobile workspace environment. Through its additional two USB-A ports, the device supports simultaneous charging, allowing the charging of a notebook and power bank at the same time. It also has fast-charging capabilities, with less than two hours of charging time already capable of providing up to 80% battery capacity.To complete the ultimate work from home setup, Lenovo is also including the Lenovo Professional Ultraslim Wireless Combo Keyboard and Mouse into the bundle. Made to give users maximum comfort, it features a 2.5-zone ultraslim keyboard at only 12 mm (0.47 in) thick. The accompanying mouse, on the other hand, has an adjustable DPI of up to 3200. Less hassle in connecting is assured through their single Nano USB receiver which saves the need to attach both devices through USB ports.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 18:55:30|Editor: huaxia
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MANILA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines on Tuesday confirmed it will still not allow foreign travelers to enter the country in an attempt to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised virtual media briefing that an inter-agency task force has rejected an appeal of a foreign embassy in Manila to allow its nationals involved in foreign-funded flagship programs and projects to travel into the country.
He declined to name the embassy.
Roque reiterated that only returning Filipinos, their relatives, and diplomats are allowed to enter the Philippines.
"Still we cannot allow the entry of foreign nationals," Roque added.
According to Roque, the task force has formed a technical working group that will further study the possible entry of foreign travelers in the future.
The Philippines imposed a strict lockdown in mid-March to stem the spread of COVID-19.
The country is still under a different level of quarantine as it grapples with a steady increase of COVID-19 cases.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Department of Health reported that 31,825 COVID-19 cases, including 1,186 deaths and 8,442 recoveries.
"For now, there will be no new normal. This means that all areas in the Philippines will stay under community quarantine," Roque said. Enditem
Representative image
Civil aviation regulator DGCA on June 22 said only those cabin crew members who come in direct contact with a COVID-positive person onboard a flight will be sent for mandatory 14-day home quarantine. The health ministry had on June 12 told carriers that they can decide whether home isolation is required for crew members if anyone aboard a flight tests positive for COVID-19.
The ministry's relaxation came after airlines raised concerns earlier in June over the shortage of crew due to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases among passengers.
On March 23, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had made it mandatory for the airlines to put the entire crew of a flight under home quarantine in case anyone aboard was found to be COVID-positive.
However, on June 22, the aviation regulator said in a circular: "In case of such crew, who have the history of contact with a COVID-19 case during the flight operations, the home quarantine shall be mandatory."
"The 'risk assessment' for the crew shall be done by the concerned airline's doctor and the crew shall be advised for testing as per ICMR guidelines," it added.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
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The decision regarding crew members -- who have had no contact with a COVID-19 case onboard -- would have to be taken on the basis of this 'risk assessment', the DGCA said.
India resumed domestic passenger flights from May 25 after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus pandemic. International passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country.
Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here
The opposition NDC Flagbearer and former President, John Mahama says the demolition of a building at the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana is a reflection of what he terms as the pervasive insecurity and lawlessness in the country.
The Nigerian Government has summoned Ghanas Charge de affairs over the demolition of the uncompleted building which was to serve as residential accommodation of staff of the High Commission in Accra.
The incident occurred last Friday night when armed men supervised the bulldozing of the building under construction.
Investigations have been launched into the incident and security beefed up on the premises to prevent any future incident.
In a series of Tweets, the NDC Flagbearer said the government needs to get to the bottom of the incident.
This may just be another reflection of the pervasive insecurity & lawlessness Government itself has visited on the once peaceful Ghana. Meanwhile I call for calm and lets please avoid any reprisal attacks.
John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) June 22, 2020
Govt needs to urgently act & get to the bottom of the demolition of structures on the premises of the Nigeria High Commission. It beats my imagination how such a violent & noisy destruction could occur without our Security Agents picking up the signals to avert the damage.
John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) June 22, 2020
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A former MI6 spy has accused Boris Johnson and Theresa May of turning a blind eye to claims Vladimir Putin secretly bankrolled Brexit and held a grip on Donald Trump.
Christopher Steele, the veteran intelligence operative and Russia specialist, told MPs the May administration prioritised politics over national security.
He said the government 'threw a blanket' over his 2016 'dirty dossier' about the US President to avoid souring relations with the White House ahead of forging a cross-Atlantic trade deal after Brexit.
The files - which have been widely discredited and were funded by the Democratic Party - include the now notorious allegation that Trump was filmed by Kremlin agents with sex workers in a Moscow hotel room in 2013, which has always been vehemently denied.
Mr Steele outlined his concerns about Theresa May's premiership, in which Mr Johnson served as foreign secretary, in confidential evidence passed to MPs writing the report into Russian meddling.
Downing Street has come under pressure to publish the findings of Parliament's intelligence and security committee, which was pencilled for release in late 2019.
And the ex-MI6 operative's damning testimony, which has been revealed in a forthcoming book seen by the Guardian, will reignite calls for it to be released.
A former MI6 spy has accused Boris Johnson and Theresa May of turning a blind eye to claims Vladimir Putin bankrolled Brexit and had a grip on Donald Trump (then foreign secretary, then PM and President Trump pictured in 2017 at a NATO summit)
Christopher Steele, the veteran intelligence operative and Russia specialist, told MPs the previous May administration prioritised politics over national security
According to the newspaper, Mr Steele told MPs 'no inquiries were made or actions taken' after he presented the Trump dossier after it had been filtered through intelligence chiefs to senior ministers.
His evidence was scathing of Theresa May's premiership, which 'more than its predecessors is reluctant to see (or act upon) intelligence on Russian activities when this presents difficult wider political implications.
'Examples of this include reporting on the Kremlin's likely hold over President Trump and his family/administration and indications of Russian interference in and clandestine funding of the Brexit referendum.'
Trump has long been dogged by claims that Putin tried to damage Hillary Clinton's campaign to pave the way for his presidency.
The President rubbished the allegations as 'fake news' when they were controversially published by Buzzfeed website in 2017.
President Donald Trump meets with Boris Johnson at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2019
The veracity of the report, which was funded by the Democratic Party has also been treated with a dollops of scepticism, not least by special counsel Robert Mueller who all but dismissed Mr Steele's findings.
Mueller's comprehensive probe into Russian collusion with the Trump campaign threw out the Mr Steele's claims of prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room and poured cold water on many of his other accusations.
A DOJ investigation even found the FBI was sent evidence suggesting a Russian disinformation campaign was behind the dossier, which senior Republicans branded 'ironic' to Fox News earlier this year.
Swathes of the more explosive claims in the Steele dossier apparently originated from a Russian source relaying stories from contact - he was later judged by FBI agents to have embellished his recounting of events, according to the New York Times.
Mr Steele is a intelligence expert who led the investigation into the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.
After leaving MI6, he became a private intelligence operative who in late 2016 was contracted to write a report into Russian influence of Trump's White House bid.
Mr Steele's evidence also portrayed Putin as a would-be puppet master who tries to steer the course of Western states.
He describes Russia as a 'powerful rogue state,' according to the Guardian, which also relays the ex-spy's testimony as detailing a network of Moscow allies in London to help oligarchs penetrate 'British political and business life'.
It will heap pressure on Number 10, who would not comment on Mr Steele's evidence, to publish the ISC report, which was held back before the December election.
Mr Johnson fronted the 2016 Leave campaign and is a close ally of the US President.
New Delhi:
Congress on Tuesday dissociated itself from its leader Sanjay Nirupam's remarks on surgical strikes, saying it has full faith in the armed forces even as it asked the government to use "all information and evidence" at its disposal to call "Pakistan's bluff" and expose its false propaganda.
The party said it has taken serious note of Nirupam's remarks calling the surgical strike "fake", signalling trouble for the Mumbai Congress chief. It also claimed that similar surgical strikes had been undertaken in the past too but the information had not been made public in interest of national security.
Party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala, however, steered clear of questions whether Nirupam and Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh who had also raised some doubts over the action of the armed forces, would be served show cause notices.
"Indian National Congress disagrees completely from the statement of Sanjay Nirupam. It has taken a serious note", Surjewala said insisting that the party has "full faith" in the bravehearts of Indian armed forces.
Nirupam had tweeted that "every Indian wants surgical strikes against Pakistan but not a fake one to extract just political benefit by BJP. politics over national interest(sic)." Nirupam had later told reporters in Mumbai that it is up to the government to prove the surgical strikes did take place.
Surjewala noted that party chief Sonia Gandhi has unequivocally supported Indian armed forces and the government on the issue of surgical strikes against terrorists in Pakistan as also in taking all steps for demolishing terror infrastructure against India. "We reaffirm the same," he said.
Insisting that there never has been a reason to raise a question or doubt on the statements by the DGMO on surgical strikes, he, however, said that government needs to "call the Pakistani bluff and false propaganda" on the issue.
This, he said, should be done by the government using "all information, evidence and instruments at the disposal of Indian state". "We are proud that even in the past our forces have successfully conducted such surgical strikes on numerous occasions," the Congress spokesperson said.
He said that forces had taken such action on September 1, 2011, July 28, 2013 and January 14, 2014 while "giving befitting reply to the enemy". "In its maturity, wisdom and in the interest of national security, Congress government avoided making loud claim for the effective response and action of Indian Army, which had the full support of political leadership", he said in the backdrop of BJP projecting the strikes as symbol of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "strong" leadership.
Also Read: Sanjay Nirupam calls surgical strikes 'fake
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Watch A.M. with Alex to find out more about todays top headlines.
Are you on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak? If so we are looking to hear from you. Email asalmieri@siadvance.com
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 390.4, up 1.36% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 2.51% in last one year as compared to a 11.05% slide in NIFTY and a 6.23% slide in the Nifty Energy.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is up for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 390.4, up 1.36% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.93% on the day, quoting at 10407.05. The Sensex is at 35243.06, up 0.95%. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has gained around 24.67% in last one month.
Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has gained around 18.2% in last one month and is currently quoting at 14675.6, up 0.84% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 20.77 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 90.34 lakh shares in last one month.
The benchmark June futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 391, up 1.36% on the day. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is up 2.51% in last one year as compared to a 11.05% slide in NIFTY and a 6.23% slide in the Nifty Energy index.
The PE of the stock is 23.21 based on TTM earnings ending March 20.
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The Peel District School Boards director of education has been fired after coming under heavy criticism over the boards handling of anti-Black racism and dysfunction.
At Queens Park on Tuesday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said it was clear in successive reports that not enough was being done to combat long-standing issues that have led to higher suspension rates for Black students for things such as wearing a hoodie and low academic expectations, as well as serious incidents of racism and Islamophobia that were ignored.
Veteran educator Peter Joshua said he was informed of the termination Tuesday morning, and that it was effective immediately.
I am personally devastated by this turn of events, he said in a written statement to the Star.
Tuesday marked the second day of dramatic news at Ontarios second-largest school board, after the province sent in supervisor Bruce Rodrigues on Monday to take the helm.
Lecce said Rodrigues will help find new leadership to really inspire these kids and move the board forward and do better.
A number of community members and groups, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims, had been pushing for Joshuas ouster given the damning findings in two reports and the boards lack of progress in addressing families concerns.
Joshua, who took over as director in 2017, told the Star he leaves the board knowing that I worked tirelessly and with utmost good faith, along with other senior staff, to address the difficult issue of discrimination and racism, including anti-Black racism, in the boards schools and across the system. The record will show that much of the foundational work to address these issues has been completed and provides Mr. Rodrigues with a strong basis upon which to move forward.
He said he needs time to consider what has happened, and so I will not comment further on the actions that were taken by Mr. Rodrigues and Mr. Lecce, but said that after more than 30 years as an educator, I remain dedicated to doing what I can to ensure that our public education system gives every child, regardless of background or circumstances, the opportunity to succeed in school and in life. I wish nothing but the best to the students of the Peel District School Board.
Rodrigues is a former director of the Toronto Catholic school board who is known for equity work.
Lecce has said the Peel board failed to address a number of concerns raised in investigators reports and also has not properly implemented changes he ordered.
From day one, I said that if the (Peel board) does not act swiftly and completely to counter racism and positively change the culture within our schools, then the government will act, Lecce said in a statement on Monday announcing Rodriguess role.
For a generation, students have felt ignored, powerless and disrespected, Lecce said. This ends starting today.
Under Joshua, the board had begun a court case against community members on social media that Lecce has now ordered it to abandon.
The board had said it began litigation after a number of racialized and other (Peel board) personnel lodged complaints that they were being anonymously attacked on Twitter as a result of their work with the board.
Lecce said discrimination particularly against Black children, although it includes Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and prejudice and discrimination against gay children, and the LGBTQ community cannot continue.
These children continue to feel victimized within their schools. And in this province, in this country, you know were proud of our country leading to Canada Day, but we all have to do better, and no child should feel isolated as a consequence of the colour of their skin, or their orientation, or their faith that is not this country. Its not the country we strive to build.
(TNS) The controversial facial recognition security system in Lockport schools was illegally approved by the state Education Department, a lawsuit filed Monday in Albany alleged.The New York Civil Liberties Union, which has consistently opposed the system since it was first proposed, sued the Education Department in State Supreme Court, on behalf of two Lockport parents, one of whom was elected to the Board of Education last week, in an effort to overturn the approval for the system. The NYCLU lawsuit contends the system still violates state student privacy laws, despite changes in district policy dictated by Albany.That's because the system still scans the faces of everyone who enters a Lockport school to see if they match a list of banned persons, including registered sex offenders. The images are stored in the system's software for 60 days.The plaintiffs in the case are Jim Shultz, whose daughter attends Lockport High School, and Renee Cheatham, who led the field of 11 Board of Education candidates last week. The school district itself is not a defendant.The district calls the system Aegis, after the brand name of the software sold by SN Technologies, a Canadian company.The project also included the installation of 300 digital cameras in Lockport schools to feed images to the system, which depends on scanning from multiple angles to obtain the best results.Most of the equipment was installed in the summer of 2018, but the Education Department for many months wouldn't let Lockport test the system because of its concerns over student privacy.Last November, the Education Department greenlighted the plan as long as the Board of Education passed a set of policy changes that the state dictated. The board did so in January, a few days after the system was switched on Jan. 2. Research projects in the United States and abroad have shown that although the technology is steadily improving, facial recognition systems are prone to false positives and still tend to work best on the faces of adult white males. In general, their software doesn't perform as well when it scans the faces of women, children or people of color.Both Lockport and NYSED knew that face surveillance software is racially biased against people of color, and they apparently decided that was an acceptable price to pay in order to install an experimental security system, said Cheatham, who is African American.Given that Lockport already has a history of disproportionately punishing black children, this cannot be allowed to go forward. Any technology equipment purchased by the district should always be used for the education of our children. We need to always put them first," Cheatham said.NYSEDs approval of this technology demonstrated a dangerous lack of oversight and an alarming misunderstanding of the way it analyzes student data, said Stefanie D. Coyle, deputy director of the NYCLU's Education Policy Center.Its NYSEDs responsibility to protect students and provide expert-level oversight statewide, and it abdicated that responsibility with this decision. Facial recognition surveillance is intrusive, biased, and inaccurate, and it has no place in schools," Coyle said.An Education Department spokeswoman said the department won't comment on pending litigation.Besides the privacy concerns, Shultz concluded the system is basically useless in trying to prevent a school shooting or other major attack."The premise of the system is foolish," he said. "It does absolutely nothing unless you can predict in advance who a school shooter will be, put their picture in the database and that the cameras manage to capture their image because they didn't put a mask on," Shultz said. "I've been saying for two years, it doesn't work if you have a mask on, and now everybody's seeing what that means."The Lockport system is designed to flash a warning to a short list of Lockport school personnel when the cameras spot someone whose photo is programmed into the software.The district's policy says those include Level 2 or 3 registered sex offenders, staff members on suspension or administrative leave, anyone barred from school property by a court order and "anyone believed to pose a threat based on credible information presented to the district.""Following the verification by a person reviewing the image in the alert, the alert is forwarded to law enforcement via the alert system," the policy says. The district hired Douglas E. Haak, a former acting Lockport police chief, as one of the reviewers."Even if it works and the police get an alert, it's not like they're suddenly going to appear and deal with it," Shultz said. "Having an extra five or 10 minutes or whatever it's going to be, by then you don't need an alarm. The alarm is all the screaming."The Education Department so far has reimbursed Lockport for nearly $2.87 million of its costs relating to the security system, said Deborah Coder, assistant superintendent for finance and management. Coder said Lockport has filed a request for another $1.1 million.The NYCLU said the lawsuit does not seek to take back the state's reimbursements to Lockport."Both Lockport and NYSED made significant mistakes here, but the students should not be the ones to bear the brunt of that bad decision-making," NYCLU senior staff attorney Beth Haroules said.Last week, the NYCLU sued the Education Department over its denial of a Freedom of Information Law request about the approval process for Lockport's system.
A New York woman already charged with DWI and assault by auto of a Port Authority police officer is facing an additional charge, authorities said.
Amandeep Tiwana, of Queens, was charged Monday with assault by auto of a Jersey City police officer who was also injured in the early morning crash at a construction site on the lower level of Route 139 on April 28, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. Tiwana is not facing charges related to the injuries suffered by a second Jersey City police officer in the crash.
The 27-year-old Tiwana, who was also charged with driving while intoxicated, is being held at the Hudson County jail in Kearny.
The Port Authority police officer, Peter Siano III, and three Jersey City police officers were on the highway directing traffic at the construction site after an earlier crash there when Tiwana struck the median, a Jersey City police car and Siano and Jersey City Police Officer David Valente.
Hudson County Regional Collision Unit investigators say Tiwana was speeding. Aside from the criminal charges, she was cited for multiple moving violations, the prosecutors office said.
Siano suffered serious injuries while Valente injured his left hand. Earlier this month Siano was released from a rehabilitation facility.
We listen to local police and fire departments scanner traffic, but sometimes miss crimes, wrecks, fires or other incidents, especially if they happen overnight. If you know of something were not covering yet, please let Managing Editor Jeff Pownall know by emailing him at jeff.pownall@lufkindailynews.com, or submit a news tip online by visiting lufkindailynews.com/tips.
100 Years Ago 1920: Chester Day on Thursday will be a bid day at the International Rotary Clubs convention in Atlantic City. Extensive plans have been made for the trip and the local Rotarians are going to the famous seashore resort with all sorts of advertising features to place Chester on the map. One of the novel stunts will be the launching of a Chester-made vessel at Steel Pier, designed and built by the Rotarian Edward Nothnagle, which will be shipped in a big truck to the seashore sometime today.
75 Years Ago 1945: A Rutledge solider who shot down a Japanese plane from the ground during the operations on Leyte last fall has been awarded the bronze star for heroic achievement. He is Pfc. Harold Massey, of 856 Agnes Ave., Rutledge, a former Chester Times Diamond Belt tourney boxer. Massey, a member of an airborne aviation battalion, voluntarily manned a machine gun at Carigara, Leyte, last Nov. 23 when enemy planes attempted to strafe a strategically important pontoon bridge.
50 Years Ago 1970: William H. Polk Jr., principal of Showalter Junior High School, was appointed the first black principal of Chester High School Monday night by the Chester School Board. Regina M.G. Hynes, former Chester High School, was appointed to the newly -created post of director of curriculum and personnel. Miss Hynes, who did not learn of her appointment to the $17,351 per year post until reporters reached her this morning, said she had applied for the position in April.
25 Years Ago 1995: A Chester native is the new superintendent for the Brandywine School District in Wilmington, Del. Joseph P. DeJohn, Ed.D., a 1967 graduate of St. James High School, is currently principal of P.S. DuPont Elementary School in Wilmington. From 1974 to 1976, DeJohn taught business math at Chester High School, and from 1972 to 1973 taught social studies and math at Pulaski Junior High School. He also is lieutenat colonel in the Delaware National Guard.
10 Years Ago 2010: Three days into the state of emergency, Chester police said there have been no reports of shootings, but there is no stoppage of other crime. Police Capt. Stephen Fox said while he wouldnt call the city calm, he said it was certainly much more quiet in terms of the number of shooting incidents. Were back to the normal type of calls, Fox said. Among those he cited without being specific were criminal mischief and domestics. The five-day lockdown could continue another 30 days if council extends the order at this mornings meeting.
COLIN AINSWORTH
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 02:26:32|Editor: huaxia
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A Yemeni man wearing a face mask walks at a market in Sanaa, Yemen, on June 24, 2020. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 992 on Tuesday, as 25 new cases were confirmed. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)
ADEN, Yemen, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 992 on Tuesday, as 25 new cases were confirmed.
The Yemeni Health Ministry said in a brief press statement that during the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries in the government-controlled areas increased to 356 since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus on April 10.
Also, the government announced that the death toll from the deadly respiratory disease climbed to 261 in different areas under its control, including the southern port city of Aden.
The Yemeni government has taken several measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including imposing a partial overnight curfew in Aden and other major cities under its control.
The government called on donors and relevant international humanitarian organizations to provide support to help contain the pandemic.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa.
President Barack Obama gave Joe Biden's supporters a pep talk Tuesday night on a Zoom fundraiser that brought in $7.6million for Biden's presidential campaign.
Obama cheered on the recent political activism that broke out after George Floyd's death, but told the approximately 120,000 supporters on the call that pushing President Trump out of the White House was no easy task.
'We can't be complacent or smug or sense that somehow it's so obvious that this president hasn't done a good job because, look, he won once,' Obama warned.
The ex-president also spoke of the realities of a pared-down 2020 campaign season, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
'Unlike our current president we recognize that we have a public health crisis going on,' Obama said. 'It means that we have to show restraint and how we structure campaigns has to be different and take that into account.'
Trump was holding his second rally-like event in three days as Obama was speaking, in front of a mostly mask-free audience of students in Phoenix.
Obama said the Biden campaign would be listening to public health experts who have warned against congregating in crowds and have advised Americans to wear masks.
'Poor Dr. Fauci, who has to testify and then see his advice flouted by the person who he's working for,' Obama said, several hours after Fauci finished up a full day testifying on Capitol Hill. 'We've got to pay attention to what the public health experts say when it comes to this campaign season.'
TOGETHER AGAIN: President Barack Obama (center) joined Joe Biden (left), the presumptive Democratic nominee, on a fundraising call Tuesday night. Obama praised activists but implored them to do more because President Trump already 'won once'
'Unlike our current president we recognize that we have a public health crisis going on,' President Obama said, adding that he felt bad for 'Poor Dr. Fauci' who recommends that people avoid crowds and wear masks, only to be 'flouted by the person who he's working for'
At the same time President Obama was speaking about how the Democrats would have to 'show restraint' when it came to campaigning due to the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump was speaking to a mostly mask-less audience in Phoenix
More generally, Obama talked about how he thought Biden would be inheriting a worse situation than him.
Obama took office in the months following the financial crash of 2008.
'As challenging as those times were and as much of a slog as it was to yank the economy out of the economic crisis that it was in ... there was still a sense of a shared American idea that we could build on,' Obama said.
Obama said the difference now was that the Trump White House, Republicans in Congress and a 'media structure that supports them' have 'gone at the very foundations of who we are and who we should be.'
'That suggests facts don't matter, science doesn't matter. That suggests that a deadly disease is fake news,' Obama said.
'That sees the Justice Department as simply an extension and arm of the personal concerns of the president,' he continued.
'That actively promotes division. And considers some people in this country more real as Americans than others,' Obama went on.
Obama characterized Biden as the perfect healer-in-chief.
'Theres nobody I trust more to be able to heal this country and get back on track than my dear friend Joe Biden,' the ex-president said.
Last Monday, Joe Biden announced his first virtual fundraiser with former President Obama, who he called his 'friend and former boss.' The Biden campaign said Tuesday in the hours leading up to the joint appearance that the event raised $4 million
Obama didn't mention Republicans by name, though he said of his 'predecessor,' George W. Bush, that while they 'disagreed on a whole host of issues' they 'still had a basic regard for the rule of law and the importance of our institutions.'
In recent years, Bush and former first lady Michelle Obama have struck a friendship, despite Barack Obama criticizing his record during the 2008 campaign.
As for his successor, Obama mostly described what he thought Trump did wrong.
He told those listening that he was optimistic, calling the recent wave of protests frequented by young people the 'Great Awakening,'
'Who are saying not only are they fed up with the shambolic, disorganized, mean-spirited approach to governance that we've seen over the last couple of years, but more than that are eager to take on some of the core challenges that have been facing this country for centuries,' Obama said.
He pushed the young activists to keep going.
'I appreciate you all being on this call but, man, this is serious business,' the former president said. 'Whatever you've done so far is not enough. And I hold myself and Michelle and my kids to the same standard,' he offered.
He called it a 'unique chance' to turn awareness of inequalities in society into legislative and institutional change.
'And those moments don't come too often,' Obama said.
Around 175,000 supporters took the Biden campaign up on its offer to 'chip in any amount' to watch the former president and vice president campaign together for the first time over Zoom. The campaign later said 120,000 dialed in.
Biden spent most of the fundraiser letting Obama speak. In the tweet advertising the 'grassroots' fundraiser he had referred to the 44th president as his 'friend and former boss.'
As they got off the call, Obama told the ex-veep that he loved him.
'Love you Joe,' Obama said.
'Love you too, man. You're a good friend,' Biden replied.
The Obama fundraiser marked the biggest haul the campaign had received for one event.
Biden's campaign previously had announced an $80.8 million haul in May.
It marked the first time he outraised President Trump, who brought in $74 million last month.
The Obama event was also announced on the heels of a successful pairing of Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a former Democratic rival who endorsed Biden in April, the same week Obama and Sen. Bernie Sanders also joined the ex-vice president's effort.
The Warren event brought in $6 million from 629 people. It was meant to attract higher-dollar donors.
The Biden campaign previously brought in $1 million from around 36,000 donors partnering Biden with Pete Buttigieg, another ex-2020 hopeful.
Biden's been holding a handful of virtual fundraiser each week, while voyaging out of his Delaware home about once a week as he slowly heads back on the campaign trail as coronavirus-related lockdowns are lifted.
Biden has talked to community leaders in Wilmington and Dover, delivered a speech in Philadelphia and traveled to Houston to meet family members of the late George Floyd.
Trump's campaign and allies have mocked the ex-vice president for hiding in his Delaware home's basement.
'Listen, Joe Biden has been working out of his basement and campaigning from his basement for three months,' the Trump campaign's Communications Director Tim Murtaugh said Monday on CNN.
On Tuesday, the Trump campaign labeled Biden's fundraiser with Obama 'secretive' because only a limited number of reporters, feeding to a larger pool, were allowed to dial in.
A livestream of the video feed of Obama and Biden wasn't made available to press, which has been typical of how the Biden campaign has handled media access to fundraisers.
'Biden has become so bad that his handlers cant even trust him to share a screen with President Obama,' the Trump campaign scoffed.
Trump's meetings with donors are generally closed to all reporters.
But Trump has witnessed the perils of campaigning in the COVID-19 era as he got a lower than expected turnout to his Saturday night rally in Tulsa, Arizona.
On Tuesday, the president chalked it up to his supporters preferring to watch the rally speech at home.
'The Tulsa rallies, despite all of the horrible, ominous warnings that you people put out over a period of two weeks, the crowd was wonderful. It was a great - they were warriors. It was a great crowd,' Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for Arizona.
'But many of them stayed home and watch television and what happened is Fox, on Saturday night, had the biggest rating in the history of Fox Television,' Trump said.
An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday acquitted a middle-aged commercial bus driver, Michael Oguntoye, of stabbing a conductor to death with a broken bottle during a fight.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that acquitting Mr Oguntoye during the virtual proceeding, Justice Raliatu Adebiyi said the prosecution did not prove the charge of murder brought against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Adebiyi said the witnesses to the alleged murder did not testify in court as prosecution witnesses and that medical evidence was not presented in court by the prosecution.
She also noted that the defendant also gave two contradictory statements to the police, which were not corroborated in the courtroom.
The judge said: The court finds that the prosecution failed to prove the burden of proof discharged on it to prove beyond reasonable doubt the charge of murder placed on the defendant.
The offence of murder is a most heinous offence which carries the maximum punishment of death.
Before an accused person is convicted of it, the prosecution must prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt by compelling evidence.
This was not done in this case. For this reason, the defendant Michael Oguntoye is found not guilty of the one-count charge of murder against him contrary to Section 211 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted, I so hold.
Following the judgment, the defence counsel, Korede Adenuga thanked the court for the verdict.
According to the prosecution led by O. R Ahmed-Muili, Mr Oguntoye committed the offence at 8.30 a.m. on Dec. 8, 2011, at Bolade Park by Railway Line, Mosafejo area of Oshodi, Lagos.
The defendant murdered one Saheed (surname not provided) who is a bus conductor by stabbing him with a broken bottle in the neck during a brawl at the motor park, the prosecutor said.
The trial commenced at the High Court on January 11, 2016.
The prosecution presented two policewomen as prosecution witnesses while Mr Oguntoye testified solely in his defence.
Mr Oguntoye in his evidence denied killing the deceased.
He claimed that on the day of the incident, he had been stripped naked, mobbed by a large crowd and that some unspecified persons had falsely accused him of the crime.
(NAN)
Some Employees Think They Can Dodge Cyber Security
The number of cyber attacks is estimated has risen by 67% over the last five years, with the majority of these data breaches being traced to human error. CIOs are under more pressure than ever before when it comes to cybersecurity concerns, especially now that many or even all of the staff in their organisation are working from home, perhaps using unfamiliar software and hardware as they try to do their jobs under lockdown.
The potential risks of such attacks are vast and can have a serious impact on both organisations and individuals, but protecting against cyber security threats can be extremely complicated. Not only is the technology we use every day getting more complex, but attackers are constantly finding new ways to bypass security measures.
Mimecast has released a study titled Don't Just Educate: Create Cybersafe Behaviour. The survey shows that while customer data breaches and reputational damage around the world is encouraging businesses to re-examine their security practices, employee cyber behaviour still needs to change.
The survey, conducted by Forrester Consulting, found that while 59% of security and IT managers think they are 'ticking the security compliance box', their employees report a huge disconnect. More than half of the 240 employees surveyed in APAC (53%) disagree with that statement, and 51% believe their managers do not stress the importance of good security practices.
The survey was conducted across Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore between January and February 2020 and involved 120 senior IT and business decision makers responsible for cyber safety at companies with more than 100 employees. Respondents represented 20 industry sectors including government, healthcare, legal, marketing, energy, telecoms, transport and logistics.
The survey included a wide range of questions around Security Awareness and Training (SA&T) Programs in APAC, including security measure and implementation, employee behaviour changes, security culture and overall effectiveness in delivering effective training programs. Results of the employer survey were measured against feedback from 240 knowledge workers within these companies, who regularly use email and digital channels in the workplace.
Across the region the study also found that attending training activities does not necessarily translate to a change in behaviour for employees, with a third of SA&T attendees still admitting to flouting security policies, increasing to more than 50% for respondents in New Zealand.
"While security leaders in APAC believe they've made security a social norm by leading and encouraging others, this survey underscores that employees are not retaining, understanding or implementing key areas of cyber security training - and the existing outdated modes of training are simply not bringing about behavioural change," said Nick Lennon, of Mimecast.
Additional findings from the Forrester Consulting study include:
Traditional SA&T is long and unengaging, uses outdated content types, and does not rely on behavioural science to achieve its objectives of behaviour and culture change.
As a result, employees' behaviours are not changing, which further contributes to a disconnect between employers' perceptions and how their employees really feel about security.
APAC firms must advance SA&T programs by exploring alternative content types, providing different methods of delivery based on employee preferences, and extending training outside the workplace.
Business leaders and employees need to understand and value the importance of cyber security best practice within their organisation. They simply cannot ignore the consequences or circumvent the protocols, Nick Lennon said
Efforts to combat this within organisations often involves providing members of employees with relevant training sessions. But such training can quickly become obsolete, or simply forgotten. Workers also tend to be busy. When people are trying to complete other tasks, they might not remember to stay secure, particularly when doing so makes their job more difficult or time consuming.
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The Vatican has lauded the Philippine Church, particularly Maasin Diocese, for its response to the Popes encyclical Laudato Si' on the care of creation.
By Robin Gomes
A Philippine diocese has been commended by the Vatican for becoming the first diocese in the entire Catholic Church to adopt renewable energy.
Maasin Diocese
The Diocese of Maasin, in the Philippines, has become the first diocese in the world to equip all parishes with solar panels, notes a document on integral ecology that Vatican officials released last week to mark the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis encyclical Laudato si.
Released on June 18, the document entitled, Journeying for the care of the common home - five years after Laudato si, offers not only reflections and guidelines on how to maintain a healthy relationship with creation in the spirit of the encyclical, but also cites many initiatives and good practices already underway across the Catholic world.
It dedicated an entire paragraph to the efforts of the Philippine Church.
Maasin Diocese in Leyte province has installed solar panels in 42 churches to generate electricity in its fight against global warming and abuse of the environment.
WeGen-Maasin partnership
In this regard, the Vatican document cited WeGen Laudato Si (WGLS), a Philippine-based next-generation technology company inspired by the Popes encyclical, which is partnering with Maasin Diocese in going for solar energy in a big way.
I am surprised to know that our humble effort to implement something to preserve our Mother Earth, heeding the call of Pope Francis Laudato si Encyclical letter, got recognition and affirmation at a high level, Bishop Precioso Cantillas of Maasin said regarding the Vatican citation.
He said he is hoping that they will reach a level where they can contribute more significantly to the restoration and preservation of our environment.
The project started as a dream in 2017 to mark the golden jubilee celebration of his diocese.
The dream project intends to cover 50 diocesan buildings and schools and around 40 parish churches, including 50 laity members whose properties, such as businesses and homes, will be invited to join, the bishop said.
Cost-effective clean energy
Bishop Cantillas pointed out that the installation of solar panels in the cathedral and school buildings has saved the diocese more than US$2,000 in electricity bills per month.
According to WeGen, the lifespan of the solar panels was up to 25 years and that the diocese could recover its investment in seven years.
With those solar panels in place for 25 years, some 1,875 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions are avoided, a WeGen representative told reporters.
Bishops' Conference
Speaking about good practices in terms of renewable energy, the Vatican document also commended the Episcopal Commission on the Laity of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, that signed a memorandum with WeGen to promote the use of and access to renewable energy, especially solar energy in Church institutions and in the poorest communities in the Philippines.
In this context, through this project, the document notes, information and communication campaigns are also promoted to spread the teaching of Pope Francis and Laudato si.
On its website, WeGen explains that it was formed specifically to work closely with the Catholic Church and other religious communities in the country. They also encourage various sectors of society to shift from using conventional sources of energy to clean, renewable energy from the sun.
The Diocese of Maasin was able not only to cut their power bills, but also to show the world what pursuit of the care for our common home, as embodied by Pope Francis' Laudato si', looks like, WeGen wrote in a post on Facebook.
For years, the U.S. Air Force has wanted to make simulated adversary air battles with its own fifth-generation aircraft routine, giving pilots much-needed experience to fend off advanced enemy fighters in the future.
Now, it may get that chance by using the F-22 Raptor in the role.
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Gen. Mike Holmes, head of Air Combat Command, said Monday that the Air Force is considering moving some of its Formal Training Unit F-22s -- used for fundamental skills training -- into a combat-coded configuration, making more aircraft available for pilots to get operational experience earlier in their careers. And some of the older stealth Raptors could be used for "red air" training, he said.
It's part of Air Combat Command's new master plan to cut pilot training time by leveraging technologies -- such as augmented virtual reality simulators and aircraft the service already has -- in a more efficient way.
Holmes signed off on the strategy, known as "Rebuilding the Forge," or "Reforge," earlier this month, Air Force Magazine first reported. Under the plan, the Air Force aims to halve the time it takes to make a skilled fighter pilot to roughly 22 months, the magazine said.
"Part of what we're trying to do is see if we could create more capacity without spending more money," Holmes said during a Mitchell Institute event Monday. "This is primarily a 'think piece' for Air Combat Command, and it's based on, 'Can we make the Reforge initiative work?'"
The command is also studying ways it can use its older F-22s "smarter as we move the [Formal Training Unit] to Langley," he said of the Raptors at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, the home of ACC. The schoolhouse was originally located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, until the base suffered heavy damage from Hurricane Michael.
"One of the options that we're looking at is to fly those older airplanes in a red air role, and [instead] put our students in the FTU straight into the newest airplanes so they don't learn in the one [model] and then have to transition to the new one," Holmes said.
The plan would put pilots directly into the most modern, upgraded version of the aircraft during skills training; eliminate redundancy and a change-of-station move; and give them the know-how of combat experience up front, he said.
"With the two operational squadrons here [at Langley], and the red air requirements for them and the red air requirements for the FTU, [we're asking], 'Can we kind of trade airplanes among each other and make an effective use of the older airplanes in a red air role while we save our limited modernization dollars for newer airplanes?'" Holmes said.
"We can take some of that training-coded iron and turn it into combat-coded iron. We already paid for it, we already pay for the people that fly it and operate it, so we could produce some increased capacity that way," he continued.
In 2018, the Government Accountability Office issued a study that found that the Air Force was not utilizing the F-22 to the fighter's full potential due to maintenance challenges and inadequate opportunities for pilot training.
The Defense Department in 2009 announced it would cap its F-22 inventory at 187, delivering the last aircraft in 2012. The service currently has 186 of the stealth fighters.
The Air Force, which last conducted an F-22 organizational review in 2010, chose to divide the fleet into smaller units, with "18 or 21 primary mission aircraft per squadron and one or two squadrons per wing," according to the report.
"Traditional fighter wings have three squadrons per wing with 24 aircraft in each squadron, which creates maintenance efficiencies because people, equipment and parts can be shared," the report added.
Holmes said Monday that the Air Force has since changed that structure to five squadrons of 24 aircraft -- not only to reduce maintenance inefficiencies, but because it allows the command to generate more sorties with a better balance of personnel and resources.
He said manned-unmanned teaming concepts, such as the Skyborg program's artificial intelligence network for drones like the XQ-58A Valkyrie, could also be used for adversary air training in the future.
The Air Force is still pursuing contracted options to fill aggressor air roles. Last year, the service formally kicked off its contract initiative by awarding seven companies a total of $6.4 billion to outsource its assault and combat training.
Regardless, pilots have wanted to go up against formidable opponents like the F-22 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for a while.
While the Air Force still wants its "blue air" pilots to get good kills, "red air" pilots have not been getting the same experience if they remain easy targets, a fighter pilot told Military.com in 2017.
"The F-22 guys are hungry to get at a fifth-gen adversary like a [Chinese] J-20," the pilot said.
"The problem is, no squadron can replicate it unless you have dedicated fighter [squadrons of aircraft like the F-35 or F-22] acting as adversary air," he added. "And that'll never happen."
But the Air Force is working on ways to do it.
In addition to ACC's latest F-22 decision, the service last year announced that it was reactivating the 65th Aggressor Squadron, moving 11 of its older-generation F-35A Lightning IIs to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to serve as aggressors.
"We need to be able to simulate a high-end adversary," then-Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said of the arrangement. "And this is a pretty cost-effective way to do it."
-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
Related: The F-22 in Syria: Deconflicting, Not Dog-Fighting
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Even as the scientific community worldwide struggles to find a definitive cure for coronavirus, Baba Ramdev claims he has concocted one.
On June 23, Baba Ramdev along with his disciple Acharya Balkrishna, held the launch of what he has reportedly claimed is the first ayurvedic medicine that'll fight coronavirus.
Twitter/@pypAyurved
The yoga gurus company Patanjali launched Coronil' and Swasari, and claimed that during the clinical trials on COVID-19 patients, they've shown a 100 % recovery rate.
We've prepared the first Ayurvedic-clinically controlled, research, evidence & trial based medicine for COVID19. We conducted a clinical case study&clinical controlled trial, and found 69% patients recovered in 3 days & 100% patients recovered in 7 days: Yog Guru Ramdev, Haridwar pic.twitter.com/QFQSVF0JIh ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
The whole country and the world was waiting for medicine or vaccine for coronavirus. We are proud to announce that the first Ayurvedic, clinically controlled trial based evidence and research-based medicine has been prepared by the combined efforts of Patanjali Research Centre and NIMS, Yoga Guru Ramdev said at a press conference in Hairdwar, adding that it has shown 100 per cent recovery rate within 3-7 days."
Also read: Baba Ramdev Has Claimed That Giloy & Ashwagandha Can 100 Percent Fight Off COVID-19 Infection
Twitter
Also read: Baba Ramdev Claims 'If You Can Hold Your Breath For A Minute, You Dont Have Coronavirus'
We are launching Covid medicines Coronil and Swasari today. We conducted two trials of these, first clinical controlled study, which took place in Delhi, Ahmedabad, among many other cities. Under this 280 patients were included and 100 per cent of those recovered. We were able to control coronavirus and its complications in this. After this the all-important clinical control trial was conducted, he said.
The kit will be sold for Rs 545, said Acharya Balkrishna, chief executive officer of Patanjali. He mentioned that the kit is for 30 days.
This medicine kit is not available anywhere for now and will be made available at Patanjali stores in a week, Baba Ramdev said.
The announcement triggered a flurry of reactions online:
#Patanjali
America After Knowing That #Pantanjali Successfully Made Covid 19 Cure " Coronil"
*But America's Top Doctors Couldn't pic.twitter.com/ryfe2Ulq5X U G S G H (@Harshma09718276) June 23, 2020
Scientists claiming that ayurvedic medicine cannot cure corona virus*#RamdevBaba to them after launching #CORONIL pic.twitter.com/1FFqyg8c2B mahima kanojia (@Dukhi_aaatmaa) June 23, 2020
Ministry of AYUSH issued a statement that the company has been asked 'to provide details of medicines & to stop advertising/publicising such claims till the issue is duly examined'.
Ministry has taken cognizance of news in media about Ayurvedic medicines developed for #COVID19 treatment by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. The company asked to provide details of medicines & to stop advertising/publicising such claims till the issue is duly examined: Ministry of AYUSH pic.twitter.com/OBpQlWAspu ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
Note: it is recommended that you consult doctors and experts in case of infection.
Businesses of all kinds have been on a rocky road over the last few months due to the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown.
For the large numbers trading across the border, angst had already been building up over the last four years following the UK's vote to leave the EU, which has left businesses in turmoil over what the future holds.
InterTradeIreland, which was set up under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement to encourage cross-border trade, had already been helping companies cope with the Brexit challenge before springing into action over Covid-19.
Cross-border trade reached an all-time high of 6.5bn in the last quarter of 2019, according to InterTrade's latest report. And a third of firms in Northern Ireland now buy from suppliers in the Republic, demonstrating how inter-connected the two economies are.
Aidan Gough is its designated officer and director of strategy and policy - the top role in the organisation which currently doesn't have a CEO. He says Covid-19 "has had a catastrophic effect on business, and cross-border trade hasn't been immune".
He thinks it could be "two to three years" before relationships return to a pre-lockdown state.
"The most recent figures are the monthly trade figures published by the Central Statistics Office, and they would suggest that between March and April, cross-border trade fell by about 23% or 24%. That's an unprecedented drop which coincided with lockdown. Now we have to make that ground up."
The gradual easing of lockdown is helping. "There's no doubt that there has been a gradual movement back and you'd expect trade levels to start increasing again but the problem is that firms can lose contacts, customers, suppliers when they stop production."
Initially, he is reluctant to say how long recovery might take in the all-island economy as a whole. "In InterTradeIreland we could waste a lot of time predicting, so we're just trying to help businesses who need it."
The organisation has launched an online learning support package, E-Merge, to help firms build online sales platforms, and an emergency business solutions programme to help them understand and access the other supports, such as the furlough scheme and emergency loans.
Firms which say they've benefited from E-Merge include the Armagh Cider Company, which used the package to increase sales for some of its products.
And internally, he says staff, who normally work from its headquarters in Newry, have coped well. "Our staff have been phenomenal, with everyone just working from home. We have really taken to it and it could well change how we think about work in future. If you can maintain productivity, and in some cases improve it, you have to consider working from home more in future, though we do need that social interaction that is the basis of all relationships and business relationships."
It's also supported cross-border firms, including Denroy Plastics in Co Down, with the not-for-profit venture Hero Shield, which has manufactured face visors for health workers.
The Co-Innovate initiative, led by InterTradeIreland and supported by the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), provided 300,000 in cash to the Hero Shield companies.
But he says the body doesn't have a sectoral focus in how it helps firms. "Our main priority is small businesses trading across the border in goods and services. Those firms are cross-sectoral though they are dominated by the agri-food sector, and engineering has been very strong.
"But what never ceases to surprise me in any crisis is the resilience of entrepreneurs and the way they will react. There's no doubt for many businesses it has been catastrophic, where markets have disappeared, especially for those firms which rely on the travel industry.
"But such firms have been looking out for other markets and that resilience has been inspiring in many cases. Now we are seeing businesses that are opening up again and bringing back staff, and ultimately we'll see how demand goes in the wider economy.
"We haven't seen the full extent of the Covid-19 crisis on employment figures and there are rough times ahead. But you have to look at the positive resilience of the entrepreneurial community and how quickly they bounced back from the financial/construction crisis of 2008.
"The vast majority of the companies we help are availing of the furlough scheme - about 75 to 80% of them, and so far the extent of redundancies among them has been quite low."
He says he believes people are readjusting to the "new normal" (a "horrible term", he thinks), with the lockdown process speeding up the use of technology.
But there are other challenges to come, from Brexit to the growing use of other technologies such as artificial intelligence.
He says InterTradeIreland has been successful in encouraging cross-border trade. "It has been a big success, on average growing by a rate of 4 or 4.5% every year over the last 20 years, and small businesses tend to dominate.
"Many of those will then start exporting off-island after trading from north to south."
He is hopeful, therefore, that it will bounce back.
He thinks trade from south to north has taken a bigger hit, perhaps because the lockdown was more drastic in the south than in Northern Ireland.
But he adds: "I would be hopeful it bounces back quickly because of the relationships and closeness there is, and it's up to us to help business achieve that outcome.
"If you were going to return to a situation close to what we had before, given the growth and interaction and relationship between the business communities north and south, I'd be very hopeful that we can make that up within two or three years."
Aidan has worked with InterTradeIreland since it was set up under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement as one of six cross-border bodies to bolster relationships between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Business relationships on the island were very different then. "You really had a situation where the business communities were back to back because of the period we'd just come out of. Over the last 20 years we've seen a real engagement and that's why I'm hopeful about the post-Covid-19 era."
He says more information is gradually emerging about Brexit though there are major gaps. "The NI Protocol goes a long way in settling issues about the trade in goods but there are still important areas to be covered in trade negotiations. And the biggest area where there still has to be agreement is in services - that's the fastest-growing sector in cross-border trade and was up nearly 11% in our latest figures. That's an area where there's still considerable uncertainty."
Another area of difficulty is in the issue of cumulation - where Northern Ireland goods are traded with the south, then exported off the island into other markets. But he says he is hopeful that a comprehensive trade agreement can be reached.
Before InterTradeIreland, Aidan was director at the NI Economic Council, which advised the then-Secretary of State on economic policy.
The 59-year-old is from west Belfast. He and wife Fionnuala, an IT teacher, now live in Newry. They have five children ranging from 32 to 17 years of age, and four grandchildren.
As an economics graduate, he's intrigued by how any recovery will take shape. "I think for young people, they will come back very quickly but older and more vulnerable people will maybe be more reticent. So recovery is going to be very cohort-driven or sector-driven."
And, while he's been seeing plenty of economically choppy seas, he's looking forward to fully resuming his hobby of surfing post-lockdown. "I love surfing around Mullaghmore, Bundoran and Rossnowlagh."
Sudan's foreign minister said Tuesday that her country is nearing a deal with Washington to compensate the families of victims of deadly 1998 embassy bombings, paving the way to Khartoum's removal from a US terror blacklist.
Massive, nearly simultaneous blasts at the American embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in August 1998 together killed 224 people and injured around 5,000, almost all of them Africans.
Al-Qaeda claimed the attacks, but the US accused Khartoum of aiding jihadists linked to the bombers and retaliated by destroying a Sudanese pharmaceutical factory in Sudan which it claimed was producing a nerve agent.
Washington has since demanded compensation for the American victims' families, placed Sudan on a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism and imposed crippling sanctions.
But Sudan's Foreign Minister Asma Abdalla told AFP on Tuesday that "the final touches of a settlement with victims of (the bombings) are being finalised."
"We now have a delegation in Washington negotiating with the victims' lawyers and officials at the US Department of State," she said, adding that such a deal would mean Sudan "will have fulfilled all the requirements" to be removed from the US blacklist.
"We expect the US administration to complete the legislative measures and complete the removal of Sudan from the list... as soon as possible," she said in an interview.
Sudan had dire relations with the US under Islamist ex-president Omar al-Bashir, who came to power on the back of a military coup in 1989.
Bashir was ousted by the military in April last year following months-long protests against his rule.
Transitional authorities who came to power in August last year have been seeking to boost the country's international standing and rebuild ties with the US.
Warming US ties
Under Bashir, Sudan hosted Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden and sent jihadist volunteers to fight in the country's civil war with South Sudanese separatists.
After being blacklisted in 1993, Sudan expelled Bin Laden -- but the US designation and sanctions remained in place.
Osama Bin Laden (C), whose Al-Qaeda network claimed responsibility for the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam attacks, lived in Sudan for several years under president Omar al-Bashir. By HANDOUT (US Attorney for the Southern District of New York/AFP/File)
Sudan hopes bolstering relations with the US will rescue its ailing economy, decimated by sanctions and the 2011 secession of oil-rich South Sudan.
Khartoum recently finalised a deal compensating families of victims of the 2000 USS Cole bombing in Yemen's Aden harbour, for which Al-Qaeda also claimed responsibility.
Sudan always denied any involvement but agreed to the settlement to fulfill US conditions.
As their ties have warmed, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok visited the US in December and in May, Sudan appointed its first ambassador to Washington in more than two decades.
Abdalla called that move "a stepping stone on the path of fully normalisation of relations between Sudan and the US."
Nile dam dispute
Sudan is also in a delicate position as neighbouring Egypt spars with Ethiopia over the filling of a vast dam Addis Ababa is building on the Nile.
Abdalla said Sudan was pushing for an agreement "despite Egypt and Ethiopia's divergent positions".
Tensions heightened as recent three-way talks faltered and Ethiopia said it would go ahead with filling the dam regardless of whether a deal was reached.
Egypt, which views the hydro-electric barrage as an existential threat to its water supply, appealed Friday for the United Nations Security Council to intervene.
But Abdalla noted that a 2015 declaration Sudan signed with Egypt and Ethiopia "did not provide for resorting to the UN Security Council or arbitration at the International Court of Justice".
She said the declaration meant heads of state would resolve the issue if water ministers failed to reach an agreement.
Addis Ababa insists that the dam is vital for its development and that downstream countries' water supplies will not be affected.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said that his country, which relies on Nile for almost all of its freshwater, remained committed to a political solution.
Abdalla insisted that "an agreement can be reached because there are not a lot of outstanding issues".
"Negotiations remain the only way," she said.
An anti-school mum takes her kids to the beach for picnics instead of sending them to class to study timetables.
Lucy Aitkenreads two daughters, nine-year-old Ramona and seven-year-old Juno, get to wake-up when they want and pass their days surfing, hiking, kayaking and going on picnics in the countryside surrounding their home in Waikato, New Zealand.
Lucy Aitkenread lets her children wake up when they want and they spend their days mostly outdoors. Photo: Caters
We have really slow mornings and we dont get up until weve had a few mugs of tea, Lucy said.
Then we might go surfing or do a big hike, go kayaking or do a trip to a museum or art gallery.
We go rock climbing often too.
Yesterday, we forested for mushrooms and at night we played cards and went possum hunting and late at night we skinned the possums.
Lucy, 37, and her partner, ex-teacher, Tim Aitkenread, 40, first stumbled upon the 'self-directed learning' phenomenon while visiting a kindergarten in Germanys Black Forest in 2013, having recently left London after becoming disillusioned with life in the capital.
Now living in a yurt in the New Zealand countryside, the couple let their daughters learn as they wish, whether that means doing calculations on the bathroom wall or modelling sculptures out of clay.
I feel that giving children lots of time to follow their interests is a foundation for success later in life.
If I sent them to school, they wouldnt get the same freedom.
Most mainstream education can be very punitive. It can use shame to coerce kids to learn things theyre not interested in and thats really paralysing.
My eldest daughter has finished writing her first book and she has a natural love of maths. She does long calculations on our bathroom wall.
Lucy's two daughters, nine-year-old Ramona and seven-year-old Juno, love spending time at the beach. Photo: Caters
Like most parents, Lucy and Tim, always thought theyd send their daughters to school, but started doubting mainstream education after Tim became disillusioned with his job teaching at a London secondary school.
And after being wowed by a visit to a German kindergarten which let children choose to study what they want back in 2013, they made the decision to never put their daughters through mainstream schooling.
Story continues
Tim has swapped the blackboard for the great outdoors and now spends his time farming the land around their yurt and attending to the familys chickens and cows, in between going on family outings.
Teachers are the number one profession represented in the unschooling world, Lucy said.
They get into it because theyre passionate about learning, but they feel the opportunities to learn are stifled by the way school is structured.
Its mad how we test children when theyre seven, eight or nine and make them experience shame and stress on a mass scale.
Future generations will think: what were we doing?
Lucy, who now teaches other parents how to unschool their kids online, says there has been a surge in interest in the trend since lockdown, with parents noticing their children having become less stressed since schools closed their doors.
Lots of parents have noted that during quarantine their children transformed and went from being stressed, anxious and controlling to being really playful and connected with their siblings, she said.
Lucy teaches other parents how to unschool their kids online. Photo: Caters
Lucy says that almost two thirds of people currently enrolled on her online unschooling course have come to the phenomenon since lockdown.
And despite the growing interest in unschooling, Lucy admits that many people still doubt her unique approach to education, with people online accusing her of neglecting her children.
There have been people telling me Im neglecting my children and that they will hate me when theyre older, she said.
Partly these people dont know what theyre looking at when they see our lives and partly theyve internalised the oppression of school.
They batten down the hatches and say it was worth the bullying and lack of consent, that it was worth studying those things they didnt care about.
Im not worried my daughters will be disadvantaged in the future as we know parents of kids who never went to school and got into university on the strength of their interviews.
I never imagined that Id not send my children to school, but I have no regrets.
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A former ear, nose and throat specialist convicted of bludgeoning five relatives to death was not the victim of a miscarriage of justice, NSW appeal court judges have been told.
Crown prosecutor Anna Mitchelmore SC said complaints made about parts of an expert's DNA evidence were not raised at the trial of Robert Xie.
Robert Xie is appealing his murder conviction. Credit:Peter Rae
"The submissions on these grounds are the product of a minute review of the evidence without regard to the manner in which the trial was conducted," she said on Tuesday.
After four trials, a jury in 2017 found Xie guilty of murdering three adults and two children in the bedrooms of their Sydney home in the early hours of July 18, 2009.
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I read with aversion a sickening and dainty piece, published on an online platform, titled: Kano: As Governor Ganduje keeps misplacing priorities, which was authored by Hon. Umar Haruna Ado Doguwa, the sacked chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kano state and one of the errands boys in the deflated Kwankwassiyya Political Movement. Tt appears, the man, who now finds love in writing, is apparently frustrated and desperate in his attempt to draw attention to his boss for recognition and appointment as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). By using online platforms to spread unsubstantiated stuff regarding the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the embattled former chairman is also believed to be reaching out to local government areas to establish a base support to actualize his ambition.
The above piece is the writers second, having resolved initially not to revere the first with a response which is titled: Kano: Our so many regrets. However, I decided to pick some of the key issues he raised in both write-ups in consideration of the fact that firstly, the article was written out of mere sentiments and ill-feelings against the Governor Ganguje. Secondly, the piece, if nothing, portrays clearly the ignorance of the writer on the inner workings of government and particularly, for his choice of topic and contents of the article, which portrayed the charming of an unapprised and off-color adorned politician, in a failed mission to confusing the public. Also as the saying goes thus: a (true) story that must be told never forgive silence.
In response to the questioned Hon. Doguwa raised on Kano state governments approach to containing the COVID, I believed the stark ignorance of the writer or his deliberate twist of facts on the topic can easily be deduced. If he cares to find out, Kano has the most effective COVID-19 outbreak response mechanism. The Ganduje administration has demonstrated the political will in the fight against the pandemic as attested to by the Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo-led Ministerial Taskforce Team on COVID-19 in Kano, when they openly scored Kano high in the fight against the Pandemic. Also, the Director-General of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), at different fora, has commended the Kano Taskforce on COVID-19 pandemic and other response teams fighting the dreaded pandemic in our dear state.
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In fact, Kano is the second state to Lagos in the federation to establish five fully functioning Isolation Centres as well as Community Sample Collection Centres, piloted in 10 high risk settlement across two local governments of Gwale and Kano Municipal in the metropolitan area. This effort enabled the collection of 2, 604 sample in just four days. Plans are underway to commence additional sampling collection centres in Kumbotso, Nasarawa and Gwarzo. Kano is also one of the few state with highest capacity to collect and test samples. And based on the community testing results, the community transmission is on a downward spiral.
This in addition to other measures that translate to setting up of a State Fund Raising Committee for Palliatives which ensured the distribution of palliatives to the first and second phase of cumulative 100,000 households of poorest of the poor across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Ganduje administration is also adopting an open and transparent approach to tackling the pandemic as it gives frequent updates on the situation. It is also the only state in the federation including Lagos that gave media access to its isolation centres where the leading television channels in the country to include the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), TVC and Channels Television visited and conducted interviews with some of the patients.
Therefore, when Hon. Doguwa said that Governor Ganduje convened a town hall meeting with relevant APC Local Government Stakeholders, specifically reviewing why he lost re-election in 2019 in the state (which is not true), I realized that Hon. Doguwa and his likes have lost their sense of judgement in terms of clarity of purpose in the business of governance. Hon. Doguwas antics is, however, not surprising considering the scandals that surrounded his era as APC chairman in Kano state, and as Commissioner for Higher Education.
Ganduje remains the elected governor of Kano state and no way anyone can change that not until his tenure expires in 2023. After all, he is not contesting the governorship election anymore. During this pandemic, measures are being taken to control its spread. That was why civil servants are at home except those on essential services, schools are closed, until recently, markets are closed (but now open on specific days), places of worship are also open on limited days and therefore, the Government House will not be an exception. Visits are strictly by invitation and observance of social distancing, use of face mask and hand washing.
And when Hon Doguwa talked about the legacies bequeathed by the former governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, one can easily understand them. They include a liability of N300 billion, use of pensioners fund to undertake a misplaced project that is taking its toll on pensioners, abandoned projects that were initiated at the tail end of the administration in 2015 and left mostly at less than 30 per cent completion stage but imminent personalities invited to commission them. All these with the intention to make it impossible for Ganduje to effectively govern the state. However, by the grace of God, coupled with his vast experience as an administrator, support and goodwill from the people of Kano state, here we are.
Some elements of the previous government have even made it open their decision to make Kano state ungovernable for Governor Ganduje, who, however, continued to demonstrate maturity, investing his quality time in ensuring that Kano and the good people of Kano state continue to enjoy democratic dividends. Apart from initiating new projects.
Taking stock of such legacies of abandoned projects, most of them are now completed and have been put to use for the benefit of the people, which is paining the former governor and his boys. Not only that, Gandujes revolution on infrastructure which is one of the issues used by the former government to deceive the people is making Kano a Mega city, becoming the third most develop state after Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In almost all key development sectors neglected by the Kwankwaso administration now been branded by his people such Hon Doguwa as legacies have been touched by Ganduje. The health sector, agricultural development, water supply, housing projects, economic and commercial development, civil service reform bastardised by the previous administration as well as the education sector. In Kano today, a policy has been entrenched to give Free Basic and Secondary Education.
And of particular interest of the legacies left by the Kankwaso administration in education sector is the phony scholarship scheme of the administration. Hon. Doguwa, who was one time commissioner for higher education in that government and ought to have told us the legacies there. Available facts indicated how Kwankwaso and his co-travelers allegedly used the foreign scholarship scheme to swindle the good people of Kano and Kano state government.
Apart from leaving behind a debt of over N4 billion on the foreign scholarship scheme, recent discoveries have also shown how millions of dollars were purportedly laundered into private accounts, using the scholarship scheme as a conduit pipe. In one of the universities abroad, a whopping sum of $1 million was allegedly paid as tuition fees and allowances without sending students to study there. The money was meant to be diverted! The Gandujes administration is painfully sustaining that programme, simply because of its policy of continuity.
We all have the right to criticize or express our personal opinion but with facts because while we jealously guard the reputation of our own, we should avoid subjective criticism to attack other leaders. And I believe the Ganduje administration is welcoming fair and constructive criticism that will help in shaping and making Kano great.
Garba is commissioner for Information, Kano state
Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is so peeved with the Telangana health department that it is all set to stop managing COVID-19 containment clusters in Hyderabad.
This source of the corporations frustration with the state health department is that it is not being provided updated information on newly COVID-19 patients or their whereabouts in the city, which is makings its job of managing containment zones difficult.
At first, data sharing was delayed by two days. This has now grown to a week. We are still operating containment areas based on data shared by the health department last week, a senior GHMC official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The GHMC itself is in no mood to take up fresh containment activities and has reduced the house clusters in which COVID-19 patients have been identified by 50 per cent in the last two days.
The corporation claimed there are over 1,100 containment clusters in Hyderabad on Friday. On Monday, it cut this number down to 626.
And now GHMC officials say the corporation is poised to dismantle all containment clusters. That effectively means that all primary and secondary contacts of a Covid-19 patient should take care of themselves.
Already, the GHMC has removed all containment clusters in the Serilingampally zone despite it having 35 active cases. It maintained 79 house clusters with 80 active cases in the LB Nagar zone, 345 house clusters with 692 active cases in the Charminar zone, 31 house clusters with 39 active cases in the Khairatabad zone, 120 house clusters with 194 active cases in Secunderabad zone and 51 house clusters with 131 actives cases in Kukatpally zone.
Workers deployed on COVID-19 duties have been asked to revert to their normal duties, which includes tax collection, participating in tree plantation programmes, demolition of dilapidated buildings. All engineering officials were asked to focus on roads and other infrastructure projects to expedite them, sources said.
Though we are strictly following ICMR and health department guidelines, containment zone management is increasingly becoming difficult, the sources added.
The Pound Sterling Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) slumped by around -0.6% on Tuesday, leaving the pairing trading at around AU$1.7941.
Sterling slumped today, as better-than-forecast PMI data did little to offer the Pound a boost.
The UKs PMI composite jumped from Mays reading of 30 to a flash June reading of 47.6. This exceeded expectations, although still remains firmly in contraction territory, showing there was a modest fall in output this month.
Commenting on this monrings data, Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit noted:
Junes PMI data add to signs that the economy looks likely return to growth in the third quarter, especially given the further planned easing of the lockdown from 4th July. June saw a record rise in the PMI for a second successive month, confirming that the economy is moving closer to stabilising after the worst of the immediate economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic was felt back in April.
While PMIs improved, this did little to boost GBP/AUD, and in a note to clients, INGs developed markets economist, James Smith wrote:
The UK PMIs have returned to more normal levels. But judging by other measures of activity, we suspect the size of the UK economy will still be 15-20% smaller at the end of the second quarter than it was pre-virus. We dont expect a full recovery until 2022 at the earliest.
Added to this, Kit Juckes, head of FX strategy at Societe Generale noted:
The PMI data might not be much use to us until we get to the back end of the summer to see where activity can settle, how open we can get our economies and how much back to normal we can get things.
Meanwhile, the Aussie was encouraged by upbeat PMI data showing Junes PMI reading for the manufacturing sector rose to 49.8, just below the no-change 50 mark.
The countrys services sector rebounded, jumping from Mays 26.9 to 53.2. This emphasised the positive effects reopening the economy has had.
Added to this, the Australian Dollar was able to bounce back later today after White House adviser Peter Navarro explained his comments about the US-China trade deal being over were taken out of context.
US President Donald Trump also backed this up, stating the Phase 1 trade deal struck between Washington and Beijing in January was intact. This calmed risk appetite and traders moved back towards riskier assets such as AUD.
Ayako Sera, market economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank noted:
The market swings underscore how much the market is worried about possible deteriorations in US-China relations.
Looking ahead, the Pound (GBP) could continue to slide against the Australian Dollar (AUD) as traders focus on little progress made during Brexit negotiations.
As negotiations between the UK and European Union continue to make little progress, it will weigh on Sterling sentiment.
Meanwhile, any improvement in risk appetite amongst traders will continue to support the risk-sensitive Aussie.
If the United States continues to emphasise a trade deal with China has not been abandoned, it will boost riskier assets and send the Pound Australian Dollar GBP/AUD) exchange rate lower.
EATONTON, Ga. - Witnesses saw a burning airplane trailing black smoke and spinning as it plummeted to the ground in Georgia, killing all 5 people on board, federal investigators said in a newly released preliminary report.
One of the two pilots on board had told air traffic controllers that he was turning to the right to avoid weather on June 5, the National Transportation Safety Board said. No distress calls were made by either pilot, the report states.
The dead included four members of a Florida family who were travelling to a funeral in Indiana. The Federal Aviation Administration said the Piper PA31-T was flying from Williston, Florida, to New Castle, Indiana.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills identified the victims as Larry Ray Pruitt, 67, of Morriston, Florida; Shawn Charles Lamont, 41, of Gainesville, Florida; his wife, Jody Rae Lamont, 43; and their two children, 6-year-old Jayce and 4-year-old Alice.
Tracy Carter of Milledgeville, Georgia, told media outlets that he saw the plane circling the area and catch fire. Parts of the plane flew off and landed in a field about 100 miles (160 kilometres) southeast of Atlanta.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / On June 30th at 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (GMT-4), the Forum for World Education (FWE) will return to the global audience with the launch of its first webinar series in 2020. The initial offering, titled, "Education Disrupted, Education Rebuilt - How does the pandemic shape the future of education," was designed by Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director of Education and Skills, to address some of the key critical challenges and opportunities facing every country and community around the globe in the coming months. Schleicher will also present an overview of COVID-19 responses from different education systems from the OECD. New York Times Foreign Affairs columnist and Pulizter Prize-winning writer, Thomas Friedman will host and moderate this initial webinar, which will feature in-depth discussions about the development and innovation of education for the future with ministers of education from different countries, policy makers, scholars and extraordinary young leaders. John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation, and a noted scholar on how young people learn in the digital era, will introduce the webinar, which is open to the public. Those interested in the topic and the webinar series can visit the official website of the Forum for World Education (www.fweforum.org), register and watch it via livestream.
Starting from early 2020, the sudden hit of the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the economic development, social security, and public health systems of every country. It also made us realize how fragile our current education systems are when dealing with a global lockdown. How can we adapt our future education to respond to the unpredictable crisis and challenges? What measures can we take to prevent the worsening situation of education inequality? How can we cultivate global citizens that respect lives, put people first, and work together for a better future ahead? In response to these many questions, FWE developed this webinar series "Where Do We Go From Here? -Meet the Challenges Posed by COVID-19 Pandemic to the Future of Our Worldwide Education Infrastructure" which will be held from June to September in three sessions. It will be open to the global audience via livestream.
To provide a global perspective on the impact of COVID-19 on education, FWE has assembled an international panel of speakers, including: Dr. Cheng Davis, Founder and President of the Forum for World Education; Dr. Siva Kumari, Director-General of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB); Rod Paige, the former Secretary of Education of the United States; Alejandro Tiana Ferrer, former Spanish Minister of Education; Olli-Pekka Heinonen, former Finnish Minister of Education; Franco Mosso, CEO of Teach For Peru; Earl Martin Phalen, founder and CEO of Phalen Leadership Academy; Orly Friedman, the founder of Red Bridge, and others to be announced. Among these experts are a cadre of dynamic young leaders who also will share their stories of how they engaged in providing educational and technological support to governments, families, and schools during the pandemic in their respective countries.
****************
The non-profit organization Forum for World Education (FWE) was established in 2019 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and with operations in major cities throughout the world. It is the first organization that is dedicated to providing an inclusive setting for global business leaders, former and current education decision makers and world-renowned scholars to engage in critical conversations about the future of education and the workforce for all students. It seeks to transform education systems to better equip the new generation with the knowledge, skills and mindset for a challenging and rapidly changing world.
On December 3rd, 2019 the Forum for World Education (FWE) held its first annual conference at the OECD headquarters in Paris. The forum adopts an invitation system. The guest speakers included Jack Ma, the founding chairman of Alibaba; Princess Laurentian of the Netherlands; Dhanin Chearavanont, senior chairman of Thailand CP Group; Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills of OECD; Dr. Cheng Davis, founder and president of Forum for World Education, etc. More than 300 leaders and policy makers, experts and scholars from the United States, China, Singapore, Finland, Britain, Switzerland, New Zealand, Brazil and other countries joined together to explore and debate the future development of education. For more information about "Education Disrupted, Education Rebuilt - How does the pandemic shape the future of education," and FWE, please contact Grace Na at gna@fweforum.org.
Media Contact
Elaine Wu
Tel : 86-15800813010
E-mail : ewu@forumwe.org
SOURCE: The Forum for World Education (FWE)
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594881/FWE-to-Return-to-the-Global-Audience-with-the-Launch-of-its-First-Webinar-Series-in-2020-on-June-30
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 11:07:50|Editor: huaxia
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KAMPALA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Monday said radios will be distributed for free to aid learning at home amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
"We are going to launch a big long-distance education program, certainly through radios. I was personally in favour of the free TV sets per village for the learners. The scientists are studying this on account of avoiding crowding by the learners in the villages, which may be a source of spreading the disease," said Museveni in a televised address.
"They said the radio-set was better because it was per household. It is individual homestead based," he added.
Museveni said the printed educational materials will also be provided to help learners study at home.
On June 1, Museveni announced postponing school opening by one more month due to the coronavirus outbreak. Schools and education institutions were meant to open on June 4 for candidate classes.
Uganda has 774 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 631 recoveries and no death, according to the ministry of health. Enditem
A leading IT school is falling apart and a ruling coalition party has a plagiarism problem. News from Slovakia on June 23.
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FinMin predicts a record drop for the Slovak economy
Slovakia's national economy will drop by nearly 10 percent this year, based on the macroeconomic prognosis of analysts at the Finance Ministry.
The predicted drop of 9.8 percent, 2.6 percent more than April's prediction, is due to the drop in consumption abroad as well as the anti-pandemic measures.
Read more for further details about the Finance Ministry forecast.
Sme Rodina has a plagiarism problem
Within a span of a few hours, two ruling coalition politicians have faced plagiarism accusations, including Slovakias Speaker of Parliament and Sme Rodina leader, Boris Kollar.
His party colleague Petra Kristufkova, who recently stepped down from her post as the government's plenipotentiary after just a few days from her appointment, reportedly plagiarised her thesis too.
Kristufkova and Kollar both studied at the private University of Central Europe in the western-Slovak town of Skalica.
I chose this environment because all my life I have worked in tourism. With every single permit request, I have encountered environmental problems. Parliament's Speaker Boris Kollar explains why he chose the school he graduated from
Kollar previously heavily criticised his predecessor in the Parliament's Speaker post, Andrej Danko, when the media first broke the story that his thesis was plagiarised. Now that he faces the same allegations, Kollar has admitted to having copied part of his thesis, saying it is "not a tragedy".
Conflict at a prominent IT school results in most of its staff leaving
Most of the academic staff of the Faculty of Informatics and Information Technologies of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU) is resigning from their jobs. This includes two-thirds of all the professors and assistant professors, and several guarantors and co-guarantors of study programmes.
"We are convinced that the actions of the new dean and his attempts for a power grab, mainly its form, have no place at the faculty and at the university," they wrote in an open letter to the students.
Problems at the faculty started when its former dean was fired under unclear circumstances last year. The departure of the academic staff is most likely going to mean an end to the faculty.
In other news:
Robert Fico will run for the post of the Smer party's chairman again, he said following the meeting of the party leadership and its parliamentary caucus on Tuesday. He called on Peter Pellegrini to step down as deputy parliament speaker and his fellow renegades to resign as heads of parliamentary committees. (TASR)
The disciplinary proceeding with former general prosecutor Dobroslav Trnka has been adjourned indefinitely. The disciplinary commission dealing with his case wants to request the stance of their respective ethics commission. (Sme)
Lenka Prazenkova resigned as the Judicial Council president on Tuesday. She cited as the reason the lack of support for her work from the majority of members. Prazenkova was to face a no-confidence vote in the council next Monday (June 29). The Judicial Council will be headed by its eldest member, Eva Misikova, until the members elect their new president. (Dennik N)
Almost one in three university students (27 percent) lost their job in Slovakia during the coronavirus pandemic. Read more about the poll results.
OLaNO MP Peter Pollak Jr filed a criminal complaint against LSNS MP Milan Mazurek, on suspicion of inciting hatred and spreading false alarm.
Two-thirds of all companies have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus crisis, the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported from its poll. The Statistics Office reported that 88 percent of the polled companies faced a drop in sales.
Big companies will also be able to request state guarantees for bank loans, based on the latest scheme by the Finance Ministry, within the framework of 500 million a month. The ministry expects another 1.5 billion will be poured into the economy in the coming three months thanks to the scheme, which has been approved by the European Commission and will start working this week.
Do not miss on Spectator.sk today:
Team Europe rebuilds better together Read more
Bratislava becomes home of European Labour Authority Read more
Slovaks would be willing to give up freedoms for financial prosperity Read more
After getting a fresh nod from the ICMR, six Covid-19 patients have received convalescent plasma therapy at LNJP Hospital in the last one week, out of the total permitted limit of 200 recipients, senior officials said on Tuesday.
Two patients are scheduled for administering of the therapy on Tuesday and five other have been screened already, Medical Director of LNJP Hospital, Dr Suresh Kumar said Plasma therapy on a trial basis was permitted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently but then it had put it on hold. After the fresh nod from the ICMR last week, ...
A day after the Special Task Force (STF) unit of Mohali police arrested two persons for possessing 50 gram heroin, the accused were sent to one-day police remand by a local court on Tuesday.
Harish Kumar, alias Happy, and Ravinder Kumar, both residents of Hansi in Hisar, were nabbed at a naka near Kuber Hotel on the Zirakpur-Ambala highway.
The police said Happy and Ravinder were coming from Ambala side in a white Swift to deliver the drugs in Zirakpur area. The heroin was found from the cars auxiliary box, the accused were arrested on the spot and the vehicle was impounded, the police added.
The accused told the police that they are friends and started peddling drugs to earn money after both of their fathers passed away. A Delhi-based drug peddler had been delivering them the drugs in Hisar.
A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was registered.
The lawyer of Oleg Pulatov, one of the four suspects in MH17 trial, has stated at today's court hearing in the Netherlands that a missile from the Buk missile system, which destroyed the plane, could have been fired by the Ukrainian military.
"Ukraine has a large arsenal of Buk systems and missiles. There were 96 missiles of this type in Ukraine in the area where MH17 was shot down," said Pulatov's lawyer Sabine Ten Doesschate, an Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague reports.
According to her, it cannot be ruled out that the plane "could have been shot down by the Ukrainian military."
Sabine Ten Doesschate also stated that the investigation ignored the opinion of Russian experts, including representatives of the Russian concern "Almaz-Antey".
Pulatov's lawyers demanded that about 100 witnesses and experts be questioned and said they saw the need for further investigation.
The court's position will be announced on Friday, June 26.
As reported, the eighth court hearing in MH17 trial started at the Schiphol Judicial Complex in the Netherlands on June 23 at 10:00 local time.
The Dutch lawyers, who represent the interests of one of the four suspects, Oleg Pulatov, lieutenant colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, who expressed a desire to participate in the trial, continued their speech.
In March this year, the District Court of The Hague began the consideration of the case of the downing of flight MH17 in the sky over Donbas.
On June 19, 2019, the international Joint Investigation Team named four suspects believed to be involved in the transportation and combat use of the Buk missile system, from which MH17 flight had been downed. Three of them are Russians: Igor Girkin (Strelkov), former colonel in Russia's FSB intelligence service and former so-called defense minister of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic"; Sergey Dubinskiy, general (at the time of downing colonel) of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and head of the so-called "Main Intelligence Directorate of the Donetsk Peoples Republic"; Oleg Pulatov, lieutenant colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. The fourth suspect is Leonid Kharchenko, a Ukrainian civilian, who fought on the side of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic."
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over conflict-hit Donbas in July 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. All of them died. The JIT reported that the plane had been shot down from a Buk missile system that belongs to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk.
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The Government's furlough scheme for workers may have peaked according to figures released today that show its lowest increase so far.
Just 100,000 new roles were added in the past week to take the total to 9.2million, according to Treasury numbers released this morning.
But the value of the scheme is not showing signs of plateauing, with costs rising by more than 2billion to 22.9billion in the week to June 21.
It comes ahead of a series of changes to the coronavirus job retention scheme (JRS) due to come into force in July.
Furloughed staff will be allowed to return to work on a part-time basis - a month earlier than originally planned.
Retailers have also reopened their doors from June 15, which could account for some of the levelling off.
But future figures will give a better indication of whether Britons are going back to work, as claims can be made for a whole month's worth of salary.
The Treasury also revealed loans to businesses hit by the coronavirus lockdown totalled more than 40 billion up to June 21.
Slash NI and VAT to get the economy back on its feet, says Javid Former chancellor Sajid Javid heaped pressure on successor Rishi Sunak to cut taxes to help Britain recover from coronavirus today as he called for reductions in National Insurance and VAT. Mr Javid, who quit in February after a bruising clash with Boris Johnson and his aide Dominic Cummings, called for a 'significant temporary' reduction in NI to make it cheaper for employers to take on staff. He also said that a 3p VAT cut would pump 60billion into the economy over three years, in a move that adds to pressure on Mr Sunak to take an axe to taxes. In a report for the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) think tank he warned that the UK is unlikely to make a swift economic recovery after businesses were mothballed for three months. 'Early hopes of a V-shaped recovery' had 'proved optimistic' he said, and 'some long-term damage to the economy' had become 'unavoidable', with as many as 2.5 million people out of work due to the Covid-19 lockdown. But in order to speed up the rate of people re-entering employment, Mr Javid argued in the report After The Virus, published on Tuesday, that ministers must make it easier for businesses to hire workers. Advertisement
They included including 28.1 billion in bounceback loans, 10.5 billion through the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS), 2.1 billion in coronavirus large business interruption loan scheme (CLBILS) to larger firms and 236.2 million as part of its Future Fund.
Earlier this month it was revealed that almost a fifth of the populations of some parts of Britain have been furloughed due to coronavirus.
London has been the worst affected area, with all but one of the areas with the most furloughed posts covered by the Job Retention Scheme laying within the capital.
Those with the lowest number are to be found in sparsely populated areas of England Scotland and Wales, the Treasury statistics showed.
Meanwhile friends and family could be given the green light to meet up indoors for the first time in months today as Boris Johnson eases lockdown.
Cinemas, pubs and hairdressers are set to allowed to reopen in England from July 4 - dubbed 'Super Saturday' by some MPs - in a dramatic effort to get the country up and running again.
Throwing the dice with the economy threatening to go into meltdown, the PM will halve the two-metre social distancing rule crippling thousands of businesses and announce a return for staycations.
There is also speculation that people will be permitted to meet up in each other's homes, although it is understood the proposal will not be the same as Northern Ireland where up to six people can gather indoors from today.
It is not clear whether the blueprint - being signed off by the Cabinet this morning before Mr Johnson makes a statement to the Commons later - will mean children can hug their grandparents yet. Reports suggest a mooted expansion of social 'bubbles', which would allow people to mix freely in groups, might have been dropped.
In a sign of the risks involved, Mr Johnson will warn that the changes will be reversed immediately if people abuse the new rules and the disease flares up again.
The relaxation - which will take effect the US Independence Day comes amid growing optimism that the virus, which has claimed more than 42,000 lives in the UK, is finally dwindling.
Yesterday's death toll rose by 15 the lowest figure since March 13, ten days before the lockdown began.
Only 180 of the 67,000 patients who recovered from Covid-19 in the state have come forward to donate blood for the convalescent plasma therapy (CPT), according to the authorities. Doctors say they are struggling to arrange for donors for CPT trials as 90% patients, who promise to return for blood donation, refuse after being contacted.
Individuals infected with Sars-CoV-2 develop antibodies as part of the bodys immune response to the foreign pathogen. The antibodies invade pathogens and work to eliminate the virus in patients. During CPT, these antibodies are infused into the blood of Covid-19 patients to help them fight the virus.
On Monday, the number of recovered patients in the state was 67,706, the highest in India. Doctors attributed the low number of donors to fear of contracting the infection again and lack of awareness about the therapy. Many patients provide wrong contact numbers during the time of discharge.
When patients are contacted 21 days after discharge, at least 90% refuse to donate blood. People are selfish because they forget about other patients after their recovery. They are busy criticising doctors, but they dont play their part, said Dr Mohan Joshi, in-charge of Nair Hospital. At Nair hospital, 50 patients have donated blood.
Recently, the Medical Education and Drugs Department (MEDD) got approval to start clinical trials across Maharashtra to assess the efficacy of plasma therapy in treatment of Covid-19 patients. Twenty-one government medical colleges will take part in the trial. It will include citys premier medical colleges KEM, Sion, Nair and Cooper hospitals.
In the randomised open trial, 500 patients would be given plasma from recovered patients. It will be the worlds largest clinical trial on plasma therapy, said Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, secretary of MEDD.
It is not scientifically proven that plasma therapy can cure Covid-19, but is being used as an experimental procedure for treatment.
Many countries like the US, China and Spain, Turkey, South Korea, Italy, the United Kingdom are using CPT as a stopgap measure.
The broader criteria for donors is they should have complete resolution of symptoms for at least 21 days or three weeks prior to donation and should not be suffering from any transmissible or chronic disease.
Those aged 18 to 60, with weight above 50kg, haemoglobin level at 12.5 g/dL and above and blood pressure and body temperature in the normal range are deemed fit for donation.
Patients from the city who have not been approached but are keen to donate plasma can contact the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations helpline number 1916.
Dr Muralidhar Tamble, medical superintendent of BJ Medical College, Pune, which was the first medical college to get approval, said they are trying to reach recovered patients through social media.
Not all interested donors qualify for donations. They have to go through tests, and many often fail. As it is for a good cause, I request patients to donate their blood and help us in the trial, said Tamble.
More than 100 million children in South Asia could slip into poverty as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a UN report said Tuesday of the long-term impact of the crisis. Cases across the densely populated region -- home to almost a quarter of the world's population -- have risen in recent weeks even as the region lifts its lockdown to revive economies badly shattered by the virus. "While they may be less susceptible to the virus itself, children are being profoundly affected by the fallout, including the economic and social consequences of the lockdown," the report by the UN children's agency UNICEF said. South Asia -- which includes India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bhutan -- is home to some 600 million children, with around 240 million already living in poverty, the agency said. In a worst-case scenario, the virus could push another 120 million into poverty and food insecurity within six months, it warned. "Without urgent action now, COVID-19 could destroy the hopes and futures of an entire generation," UNICEF's South Asia regional director Jean Gough said in a statement. Progress in healthcare -- such as immunisation, nutrition and other services -- were being "severely disrupted". In Bangladesh, UNICEF said it found that some of the poorest families could not afford three meals a day, while in Sri Lanka its survey showed that 30 percent of families had cut their food intake. With schools shut, poorer children have struggled to keep up with their education, particularly those in rural households without internet access -- or even electricity. "There are concerns that some disadvantaged students may join the nearly 32 million children who were already out of school before COVID-19 struck," the report added. Other major concerns include the risks of domestic violence, depression and other mental health issues with youths spending more time at home. Slum children await a food handout in New Delhi. The UN warns that although less susceptible to coronavirus than adults, millions of south Asian youngsters will be affected by the epidemic
According to the police, another CHOP participant was shot but is still alive. This is another incident of shooting inside the autonomous law-free zone in Seattle.
This incident in CHOP or Capitol Hill Occupied Protest was tweeted by the Seattle police as the second incidence of lawless violence. This followed 48 hours after another participant died by gunshot inside CHOP, noted law enforcement. Reported in AP News.
Related events say that the shooting was in late Sunday night located in Seattle's CHOP area where George Floyd sycophants are still camped. Despite pleas by residents to have normal lives back.
Reports say that the protestor was brought to the hospital in a private car. He was also wounded severely in the attack, said Susan Gregg of the Harborview Medical Center in an official statement.
The CHOP was CHAZ (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone) after the city was racked by riots and suspected looting that was over the death of George Floyd. Protesters have painted the protest against police maltreatment and race by a Minneapolis police officer.
Who was responsible was not identified as the first incident. Members of the CHOP seem to be random targets by unknown shooters.
What happened the night of the shooting
Sources state that how the shooting happened was not clear. First to arrive was the Seattle Fire Department at 10:46 pm, then going to the end of the zone borders. It was commented on by Seattle Fire's spokesperson David Cuerpo to the Seattle Times, mentioned Time.
The fire department was informed that the injured individual was brought to the hospital, via private car just like the earlier victims.
Also read: Ex-Police Captain Shot Dead by Looters After Trying to Stop Them From Ransacking Pawnshop
On Sunday, the Seattle police reported that they tweeted about a second shooting in the CHOP. They added that reports obtained were sketchy and unverifiable.
Nothing on Sunday night was on hand to be examined, nor if any shooter was found or in custody at the CHOP.
Despite the inconvenience to locals who live in the chop vicinity, their request to have the area brought back to normal has become the CHOP zone. It is several blocks near a police station in the Capitol Hill neighborhood where protestors have transformed into a camp enclave.
Existence of the CHOP has drawn the ire of President Trump, who expressed displeasure at Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Gov. Jay Inslee, who are Democrats allowing the zone to existm, confirmed JEMS.
Members of the CHOP tried a march to gain sympathy from Seattle natives but were ignored instead.
in the first CHOP shooting incident, cops were threatened by protesters.
At 2:30 am, several people got shot in the Cal Anderson Park, that lay within the CHOP zone after it was seized by protesters. Many of the participants were part of the protest denouncing police cruelty.
Police captured footage of the CHOP protester getting violent as the police were doing their job. Later they were informed the victim was sent to the hospital. Many protesters were insulting and were provocative unnecessarily.
Officers pulled out a bullhorn asking the crowd to let them through but had to withdraw because some protesters were overly aggressive following them. One group blocked the others so the police can get away noted in Fox News.
Related article: Black Organizers Do Not Trust White Protestors in the Seattle Autonomous Zone
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After reaching Russia, Singh on Tuesday laid a wreath at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Indian Embassy. He is on a three-day visit to Russia.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his team are in Russia's capital Moscow to attend World War II Victory Day celebrations as well as speed up various defence contracts, including the S-400 missile defence system as ties with China deteriorate.
Earlier in the day, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar met with Russia Deputy Defence Minister Col General A V Fomin in Moscow to work on the modalities of speed up various defense contracts. "The partners agreed to strengthen multifaceted ties between the two countries," the Indian mission stated on Tuesday.
Also India and China's foreign ministers met face-to-face for the first time since the barbaric attack was carried out in Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh region across Line of Actual Control between the two countries' troops in which 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops were killed.
Both the countries have agreed to deescalate the situation along their boundary, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular news briefing Tuesday in Beijing.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted the virtual trilateral meeting with China's Wang Yi and India's S. Jaishankar. After the meeting he said, "I don't think that India and China need any help."
On defence contracts, India and Russia have inked deals worth $16 billion. Moscow has stated that they are committed to the timely implementation of contracts, including the supply of S-400 air defence systems and production of Kalashnikov rifles and Kamov helicopters.
Singh will seek the advanced delivery of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile defence system and the purchase of Russian-made Su-30Mki jet fighters and MiG-29.
India and Russia signed the S-400 deal worth more than $5 billion in 2018 and is currently due in December 2021.
The two countries signed 14 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during Defexpo 2020 in Lucknow in February this year that covered development and production of land, air and naval systems and hi-tech civilian products.
A separate MoU was signed by Russian Helicopters and Indo-Russian Helicopters Ltd for localisation of components to be used in Kamov Ka-226 helicopters. India has plans to buy 200 Ka-226 helicopters.
Indian Air Force (IAF) signed a Rs 1,500 crore deal with Russia for buying R-27 air-to-air missiles. The missiles will be fitted on the IAF's multi-role Su-30MKI fighter jets. The missiles will further boost the air-to-air combat capability of the Indian Air Force
Everyone is shocked: Claudia Mar lays flowers at the scene of the fatal stabbing. Photo: Mark Condren
The son of a woman who died after being stabbed multiple times at her home tried desperately to save her life.
Mother-of-two Jean Eagers was attacked at the house in the Willow Wood Grove estate in Clonsilla, Dublin, about 11.30am on Sunday.
A source told how her son was alerted to the horror attack when he heard screaming coming from the sitting room of the family home.
When he entered the room, he witnessed his mother being attacked but when he tried to intervene it is alleged he was threatened that "you will be next". He then fled and sought help for his mother and emergency services were called to the scene.
Ms Eagers died from her injuries, which are believed to include multiple stab wounds to the chest area.
Sources say the weapons removed from the scene for forensic examination include a samurai sword and a meat cleaver.
Ms Eagers's husband William (60), a taxi driver known as Billy, was arrested at the scene but required medical treatment for self-inflicted stab injuries that delayed the beginning of his questioning period.
He was still in hospital last night under armed guard and was not expected to be released until today at the earliest.
His period of detention and questioning will begin when he is brought back to Blanchardstown garda station. He can be questioned for up to 24 hours before being released or charged.
On Sunday, neighbours described seeing Mr Eagers being taken from the house by gardai after a dramatic standoff.
He had initially refused to come out when armed gardai demanded he open the door.
Gardai had to break a window and use flash grenades to disorient him before they stormed the house.
Yesterday, neighbours and colleagues of Ms Eagers left flowers at the gate of the house.
"My son was in school with Jean's son, and she used to make lunch for them when they would come home on their break.
"Jean was a very kind woman," said Claudia Mar as she left flowers at the scene.
"My husband is a taxi driver, just like Billy.
"Everyone is shocked."
Alexandru Cuznetov/TNS
The San Francisco Police Department said Monday evening it was investigating a shooting on the 200 block of Leavenworth Street in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. The shooting injured five adult males. None of the injuries appear to be life-threatening, SFPD said at 4:40 p.m.
Police are asking people to avoid Leavenworth Street in the Tenderloin and are redirecting vehicle and pedestrian traffic. More information was not immediately available.
Police at the scene of the bomb bid in Eglinton in 2015
A man accused of trying to kill a PSNI officer with an under-car bomb cannot go to Dublin for his grandfather's funeral, a court has ruled.
Sean Paul Farrell was refused compassionate bail after it emerged that a previous 35,000 euro surety was forfeited after he went missing during extradition proceedings.
A detective claimed: "We believe any sum of money wouldn't stop him from fleeing."
Farrell, 35, is charged with attempting to murder the off-duty policeman in Eglinton, Co Londonderry on June 18, 2015.
The defendant, of Stannaway Road in Dublin, faces a further count of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life.
He was allegedly involved in planting an improvised explosive device (IED) under the officer's car.
Belfast Magistrates' Court heard he was among three men in a vehicle stopped by gardai across the border in Co Donegal later that morning.
In March this year the High Court in Dublin ordered Farrell's extradition to Northern Ireland.
According to police he disappeared and went "off the radar" at the end of those proceedings.
Last month Farrell was detained under a warrant in the Glasgow area and brought back to Northern Ireland, where he remains in custody.
He applied for temporary release to attend his grandfather's funeral in Dublin on Wednesday.
Defence solicitor Gavin Booth said the two men had shared a special relationship, and confirmed that 5,000 could be put up to ensure his client's return.
But a detective claimed Farrell had used IRA connections to flee to Scotland previously.
"We believe such an organisation has the means to move people around without detection," he contended.
District Judge Nigel Broderick was told 35,000 euros had been lodged to get Farrell out on bail during the extradition process, including 25,000 euros from his mother.
"I have been informed this morning... that sum has been forfeited in the Republic of Ireland," the detective disclosed.
Garda also expressed opposition to Farrell crossing the border in a "strongly worded" email, the court heard.
"The (extradition) process to date has already drained considerable resources, hundreds of thousands of euros, in the south," the detective said.
Disputing the strength of evidence linking Farrell to the charges, Mr Booth insisted the accused is still presumed innocent.
Bail was denied, however, due to concerns he may not return for trial.
Mr Broderick held: "The risks of flight are greater than the identified right of the defendant to attend his grandfather's funeral."
New Delhi, June 23 : Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday described the India-China face-off in Ladakh as a full blown crisis and hoped that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will guide the government's action in protecting India's territorial integrity.
Sonia Gandhi made this remark in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, party's highest decision making body, which met on Tuesday to discuss the India-China face off and the issue of Nepal.
The CWC meeting started after paying homage to all the 20 Indian soldiers, who died on June 15 fighting Chinese forces in Galwan Valley. "CWC pays homage to Colonel B. Santosh Babu and our brave jawans (soldiers), who laid down their lives by making the supreme sacrifice. All CWC members rise to observe two minutes silence in their memory," Congress national media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a tweet.
Addressing the CWC members, Sonia Gandhi said, "Now, we have a full-blown crisis on the LAC with China... The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will guide the government's actions in protecting our territorial integrity."
Image Source: IANS News
At least 20 Indian soldier including an officer were killed in an unprecedented attack by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Ladakh's Galwan Valley on June 15.
Sonia Gandhi also said that the need of hour is a massive fiscal stimulus, putting money directly in the hands of the poor, protecting and nurturing the MSMEs and stimulating demand.
Slamming the government over the Rs 20 lakh crore financial package, the Congress president said, "Instead, government announced a hollow financial package that had a fiscal component of less than 1 per cent of GDP." She also raised the issue of continuous fuel price hike in last 17 days and said, "The government has 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.
Taking a pot shot at the government over the spike in the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) situation across the country, she said, "Despite the assurances of the Prime Minister who centralized all authority in his hands, the pandemic continues to rage. The Centre has passed the buck to the state governments, but given them zero extra finances." The CWC meeting comes in the wake of all party meeting convened by the Prime Minister last week. Sources in the party said that the incident at the Line of Actual Control is unacceptable to the party and the relationship with Nepal is at an all time low.
India and China are engaged in a diplomatic resolution of the stand-off. Nepal on June 13 adopted unanimously the Constitution Amendment Bill, paving the way for accommodating the updated political-administrative map in the national emblem which includes Indian areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura.
-- Syndicated from IANS
Rip-off phone companies are tricking households out of millions of pounds by charging hefty sums to connect them to official helplines.
Rogue firms are paying search engines so they appear at the top of results pages when people search for terms such as 'contact HMRC'.
Customers in a rush end up calling expensive connection services instead of free or lower-cost direct lines.
Scam warning: Rip-off phone firms are paying to appear at the top of results pages. Auto-dial functions then entice people into making a call, but the huge fees are hidden in the small print
The companies' websites often look professional and have auto-dial functions to entice people into making a call, but they hide their fees in the small print.
Experts fear more families could be caught out due to a spike in calls to key government agencies amid the pandemic.
Connection services are not illegal but they must be upfront about costs and are not allowed to mimic other organisations by using similar web addresses or logos.
Most charge 3.60 a minute plus connection charges for simply pushing calls through to company helplines.
These usually offer free numbers of their own or charge local call rates, which are included in most mobile or home phone bundles.
Complaints about these call-connection firms more than quadrupled last year and matched their 2018 levels within the first three months of 2020, according to the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA).
'Gobsmacking' 135 fee to call Amazon Jenny Harris was charged more than 135 for contacting Amazon via a rogue call-connection company A pensioner was charged more than 135 for contacting Amazon via a rogue call-connection company. Jenny Harris, 70, from Abersoch, North Wales, thought she was dialling a free number from Amazon's website, but had in fact ended up on a page run by Salvatet Inversiones SL. She was charged 3.60 a minute for five calls. Jenny only learned something was wrong after her landline was blocked the next day. 'I was gobsmacked and angry,' she says. 'I had to come to an arrangement with my provider to pay it off over four months. I couldn't afford to do it in one lump sum.' Natalia Rola, meanwhile, was charged 80 by Salvatet for two calls to Thames Water, which customers can contact directly free of charge. The 32-year-old says: 'It must have been the first or second number that popped up [on Google]. I'm a student, so 80 is a lot of money for me. I'd never have used this service had I known.' She reported it to the PSA, and says she has not received a refund but may take legal action.
One Spanish firm, Salvatet Inversiones SL, was fined 1 million earlier this month, after the PSA said it had not been clear about its charges and had treated customers unfairly.
It had charged callers 3.60 a minute to connect to government departments, utilities firms and customer services, and raked in more than 2.3 million between August 2018 and April 2020.
The PSA took action after it received more than 100 complaints about the company, one of which described the charges as 'obscene and totally immoral'.
One customer received a bill of more than 350 for calls to O2, while another was charged 241 to call Trainline.
Customers in a rush end up calling expensive connection services, instead of free or lower-cost direct lines
Salvatet has been banned from the market for five years. It operated at least a dozen websites, including taxphonenumbers.com and energy-phonenumbers.com, which were promoted by Google adverts.
In March, Google said it would no longer allow ads for call-forwarding services.
But Money Mail found that costly connection services are still appearing at the top of results pages on Microsoft search engine Bing.
This happens when people search for the contact details of organisations including HMRC, Amazon, Thames Water, Three, O2, Santander, Halifax and HSBC.
One such connection service website, helplinecalling.com/hmrc, is run by A2B Telecom Ltd.
The firm says it also offers 'hybrid' numbers 'where the caller gets charged a connection fee (of, say, 2) and then an ongoing per minute fee (of, say, 2)'.
How to avoid hidden charges Check the phone number. Official helplines are usually on numbers beginning 01, 02, 03 and 08, which are billed at low or standard rates. Premium or business rate numbers start with 09, 087, 084 and 118.
Avoid clicking on paid-for advertising links. These may be third-party services.
Make sure the number you are calling has come from the relevant company website.
Government websites have gov.uk addresses.
In a pitch to businesses, it adds: 'This can be a great way to earn off the callers that do not stay on the line for more than a few seconds.'
Director Lawrence Bingham says it provides a link for customers to access HMRC's free or lower-cost numbers directly, and that its service helps callers obtain contact details that are otherwise hard to find.
There is no suggestion the company is acting illegally, but it is part of an industry that generated 21 million in 2018-2019 alone, according to the PSA.
A surge in complaints prompted the regulator to bring in strict new rules around marketing and costs in December.
In January, it fined ECN Digital Ltd 250,000 for duping customers out of 90,000. Its website used pictures of some companies' logos, so it wasn't clear to consumers whether they were phoning a call-connection service or the company directly.
Jo Prowse, chief executive of the PSA, says using these firms 'can cost you a lot of money, just for you to be put through to an organisation with a free or low-cost customer service line'.
She adds: 'We're concerned that in these difficult times, consumers may fall foul of a rogue service.'
A Microsoft spokesman says Bing will take action to remove adverts if they do not comply with its policies.
m.dilworth@dailymail.co.uk
A court in Kyrgyzstan sentenced former president Almazbek Atambayev to 11 years and two months in prison on Tuesday on corruption charges, which he denies.
The court found Atambayev guilty of ordering a convicted criminal released from prison, in a case his supporters have dismissed as driven by a political conflict between Atambayev and his successor, President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
Atambayev, 63, ran the Central Asian, ex-Soviet republic of 6.5 million people between 2011 and 2017, having previously taken part in revolts that toppled two other Kyrgyz presidents.
He backed then-ally Jeenbekov in the 2017 election but the two fell out shortly after the new president took office.
Police detained Atambayev last August after storming his country house and exchanging fire with his supporters.
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The U.S. Supreme Court last week provided some relief for more than 800,000 people protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.
The program, established by the Obama administration, protects people who were brought to the United States illegally as children and enables them to stay in what for many of them is the only country theyve known.
The Trump administration attempted to terminate DACA on the grounds that President Barack Obama overstepped his bounds in creating it without approval from Congress.
The court ruled that the Trump administration did not provide proper justification for rescinding the program, thus allowing it to continue. The ruling last week did not guarantee the long-term survival of DACA, as it leaves open the possibility for another attempt to drop the program. But having even a temporary reprieve was rightful cause for jubilation among program participants and their supporters.
It is good news, but even better news would be a successful effort to take this issue out of the realm of the courts and address it with a change in the law enacted by Congress and signed by the president.
As things stand, this or any future administration will have the ability to keep trying to end the program. The people who depend on it deserve certainty.
We believe the Trump administration was wrong to try to simply rescind the program rather than keep it going while attempting to address the problem legislatively.
But part of the fault lies with Obama. By setting up DACA via executive order, the former president placed it on a shaky foundation. Obama did a disservice to the people he was intending to help by establishing such a program without an act of Congress to back it up.
Meanwhile lawmakers have failed for years at enacting reforms that fix a broken system and acknowledge the reality of the role undocumented immigrants already play in the U.S. economy and in American communities. The nation needs a means for otherwise law-abiding individuals to gain legal residency status, if not citizenship. Neither Republicans nor Democrats have gotten it done.
As long as they face potential deportation, DACA participants are in a tough position. They shared information about their status with the government in exchange for legal permission to work in the U.S. and assurances that the government would not attempt to deport them. Many of those covered under DACA are here through no fault of their own. Deportation to their nation of birth would be exceedingly cruel. Besides which, many of them are making significant contributions here.
We recognize that a resolution to this dispute is exceptionally unlikely to happen in the current political environment. The court decision automatically makes the fate of DACA a significant issue in the November presidential election. If President Donald Trump wins, its likely another attempt to end the program will be brought before the courts. If former Vice President Joe Biden wins, it will end this particular threat to the program for at least a few years.
Nevertheless, we still believe that a bipartisan, legislative solution to this problem is imperative. Lawmakers should start laying the groundwork for a compromise on this and other immigration issues that have defied resolution for so long. Both parties need to stop using the lack of progress on these issues to their political advantage. Each side blaming the other for a lack of progress has been a tiresome exercise on this and countless other issues.
Democrats need to work with Republicans on a solution, and GOP leaders need to reduce the influence of immigration hard-liners who have played a major role in derailing past attempts at immigration reform.
It may seem futile at the moment, but well continue making these arguments on this and other issues. Congress needs to get off the sidelines and stop leaving the lawmaking to presidents and judges. This is not how our government was intended to function.
New Delhi, June 23 : Southwest Monsoon on Tuesday further advanced in some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.
Conditions are also becoming favourable for further advance of the monsoon into the remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab and Rajasthan "during the subsequent 48 hours." The weather bureau said that Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand would receive fairly widespread to widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy falls during the next 4-5 days.
"Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over remaining parts of the western Himalayan Region and the plains of north west India during 24th-25th June," IMD added.
The IMD had earlier said that the country will receive a normal monsoon between June to September.
Monsoon rains are critical for farmers in India as the majority of the country's net-sown area does not have any form of irrigation. Farmers wait for the rains to begin for sowing of crops.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
[June 23, 2020] DoubleVerify Japan joins Japan Advertisers Association's Web Advertising Bureau (JAA/WAB) and the Japan Interactive Advertising Association (JIAA)
TOKYO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DoubleVerify ("DV"), a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics today announced that the company is now a member of Japan Advertisers Association's Web Advertising Bureau (JAA/WAB), and the Japan Interactive Advertising Association (JIAA). In addition, DoubleVerify announced that it will take part in the launch of the "Internet Advertising Soundness Promotion Project" (chaired by Mr. Shuji Kobayashi, JAA/WAB) along with Japan Advertisers Association's Web Advertising Bureau (JAA/WAB) and five other domestic ad verification providers. There has been growing discussion within Japan's digital advertising industry about the need for ad verification since the publication of the World Federation of Advertisers' (WFA) Global Media Charter. However, clear standards have yet to be fully established. DV believes that its advanced verification technology, solutions and expertise will accelerate progress in the Japanese digital ad market and enable a fully transparent digital advertising ecosystem. Active membership in these leading industry associations lets DV Japan provide meaningful contribution to their efforts - with a focus on media quality an performance in the region.
"We are thrilled to take part in this important project with key industry leaders - helping to build a better industry together in Japan," said Takashi Takeda, Country Manager, DoubleVerify Japan. "As reported in various media, consumers have become increasingly distrustful of digital advertising these days", said the WAB. "JAA issued an Advertiser Declaration last year and continues discussions with industry partners to ensure the reliability of digital advertising. However, many of the partners involved in the advertising activities, including advertisers, have not yet been able to fully promote the efforts to improve the health of digital advertising. The "Internet Advertising Soundness Promotion Project" will give us the platform to widely educate advertisers and all partners involved in their advertising activities about the importance of adopting ad verification mechanisms, such as correctly measuring the impairment of advertising value."
For more information about DoubleVerify Japan, please contact [email protected] About DoubleVerify: DoubleVerify is a leading software platform for digital media measurement, data and analytics. DV's mission is to be the definitive source of transparency and data-driven insights into the quality and effectiveness of digital advertising for the world's largest brands, publishers and digital ad platforms. DV's technology platform provides advertisers with consistent and unbiased data and analytics that can be used to optimize the quality and return on digital ad investments. Since 2008, DV has helped hundreds of Fortune 500 companies gain the most from their media spend by delivering best in class solutions across the digital advertising ecosystem, helping to build a better industry. Learn more at www.doubleverify.com Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200623/2838527-1logo SOURCE DoubleVerify
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The House of Representatives public accounts committee has expressed displeasure over the inability of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons to provide relevant documents to back up the spending of N25 billion appropriated for it between 2015 and 2019.
The committee on Monday, according to Punch, in an audit query issued by the office of the auditor-general of the Federation, faulted the explanations given by the officials of the commission on how the releases were spent.
In its presentation, the commission said a total sum of N28.959 billion was appropriated to it between 2015 to 2019, of which the sum of N1.894 billion was meant for personnel cost, N433.218 million for overhead cost, and N23.923 billion for capital expenditure.
However, the commissions director of finance and account, Umaru Hassan, who gave the presentation, said the sum of N22.369 billion was released, N14.735 billion of which was for capital expenditure.
Mr Hassan was reported by Punch to have given the breakdown of allocations for the implementation of various zonal intervention projects as N2.583 billion in 2015, N1.462 billion in 2016, N2.346 billion in 2017, N1.058 billion in 2018, and N1.370 billion in 2019.
In addition to this, Mr Hassan said, an additional N100m was released to the commission from the Service Wide Vote in 2017.
Not satisfied with this, the committees chairman, Wole Oke, while requesting for details of all the capital projects by the commission, said there were inconsistencies in the documents tendered by the commission.
He (Hassan) is out to defend the expenditure of N25 billion. That is the task before us now. What did you do with N25 billion? Yes, you could make payment to X, Y, Z, which is reflected in the bank statement (presented to the committee), Punch quoted Mr Oke saying.
What is the purpose of the payment? Youve given us your record, even with all the inaccuracies, which is human error.
The federal commissioner of the agency, Basheer Mohammed, later owned up to the allegations by the lawmakers. He said the commission will correct the errors to avoid further embarrassment.
The commission was given a week to reconcile the discrepancies in its report.
Hungry IDPs
Data from the United Nations refugee agency says that as of 2019, Nigeria has over 244,000 refugees and more than 2 million internally displaced persons.
The displacement of these people was caused by a series of disasters, communal clashes over the years in various parts of the country and a decade-long insurgency in the northern part of the country.
NCFRMI has a mandate to plan the return, resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of these disasters.
But media reports have exposed the extremely poor living conditions experienced by these persons. An investigation by TheCable detailed how some IDPs had to forgo schooling to pick up menial jobs because they had nothing to eat, despite food and welfare donations from organisations, as well as government intervention.
At the tail of last year, PREMIUM TIMES reported how NCFRMIs sister agency, NEMA, shared food items as end of the year gifts to its staff, a discovery is denied.
VANCOUVERThe hereditary chiefs and elected council of the First Nation to which Chantel Moore belonged is demanding answers around the circumstances of her death at the hands of a police officer and for murder charges to be laid.
The 26-year-old mother from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation was killed earlier this month in Edmundston, N.B., when police arrived at her home in response to a request to check on her well being.
Edmundston police say their officer encountered a woman with a knife making threats. She was shot and died at the scene despite attempts to resuscitate her, authorities have said.
The news of Moores shooting death came as protests erupted around the world in response to the death of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer, an event that brought decades of questions about racism and police violence to the fore, not just in America, but also in Canada.
On Tuesday, Tla-o-qui-aht leaders released an open letter to the RCMP in which the leaders demanded full transparency in the investigation into Moores death, and that charges be laid against the police officer who shot her.
No one needs to give up their life on a wellness check NO ONE, the letter reads. We demand answers on why the officer used such brutal force that was both uncalled for and unnecessary.
The letter goes on to call the shooting senseless and demands the officer be charged with murder under Canadas criminal code, and that all officers be required to wear body cameras in the course of their work.
Moores death is being investigated by Quebecs independent investigation bureau.
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Portuguese detectives showed up to question prime suspect Christian Brueckner soon after Madeleine McCann's disappearance, but he wasn't in when they arrived.
Disgraced former chief Goncalo Amaral, 60, who led the investigation in 2007, made the claim in an interview on Portuguese TV on Sunday night.
'I have been told by colleagues, who are retired like me, that they had come knocking on the door. That person was not at home.' Amaral said.
The police chief, who is being sued by Kate and Gerry McCann, said he did not know if further inquiries were made after this first visit to Brueckner's house in Praia da Luz.
'I have been told by colleagues, who are retired like me, that they had come knocking on the door. That person was not at home,' disgraced former chief Goncalo Amaral Amaral said. Pictured: the house where Brueckner lived in Praia da Luz shortly before Madeleine vanished 13 years ago
Disgraced former Portuguese police officer Goncalo Amaral (pictured) described the 43-year-old German Christian Brueckner as an 'almost perfect suspect'
Amaral, who first claimed last April a German paedophile who was in prison would be accused over Madeleine's disappearance, described the 43-year-old as a 'scapegoat' and an 'almost perfect suspect.'
'When I spoke last year I was talking about the situation that's happening now.' Amaral said. 'It matters little who the paedophile is.'
Christian Brueckner, 43, is suspected over the disappearances of several children across Europe
He added: 'He's an almost perfect suspect. All that's lacking for him to become the perfect suspect is for him to be dead.'
Asked if he believed Brueckner was the man responsible for three-year-old Madeleine's disappearance, he added: 'To answer that question it has to be proven first that an abduction took place.'
The ex-cop, who claimed in a 2008 controversial book Madeleine's parents had covered up their daughter's accidental death in their Algarve apartment, went on to repeat his well-known criticism of the British youngster's parents and their Tapas Seven holiday friends.
He accused them of abandoning their children to eat out at night and lying to Portuguese police, and said Madeleine had been left crying for around an hour the night before she vanished on May 3, 2007.
Kate and Gerry McCann hold an age-progressed police image of their daughter during a news conference to mark the 5th anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, on May 2, 2012 in London
Gerry and Kate McCann, the parents of Madeleine McCann, talking to the press after attending the libel case against Goncalo Amaral at Lisbon's Palace of Justice, Portugal, June 2014
The McCanns began a lengthy legal battle against Amaral in 2008, suing him for defamation after the publication of his book The Truth of The Lie.
But during his half-hour-long interview with Portuguese broadcaster TVI, he also accused the authorities of altering photos of the two-tone VW camper van Brueckner was using around the time Madeleine disappeared.
The former chief, who was removed as head of the Madeleine McCann inquiry in 2008 after criticising British police officers, showed interviewer Jose Alberto Carvalho photos he said were taken in Portugal of the same vehicle.
New Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner, 43
One of the photos he produced showed a series of very distinctive Minion-style characters painted on the front and back of the camper van, which in the picture put out by police had no markings on it.
He said: 'It's the same vehicle flagged up in the police appeal.
'I think it's important to ask why the photo put out by the authorities of the van was altered. Would that vehicle have gone unnoticed in Praia da Luz with those markings on it? I don't think so.'
Suggesting the van could have looked very different in 2007 to the way it appeared in the photo put out by British police, he added: 'Is it that the German authorities reached the conclusion that the van wasn't like that when it was being driven in Praia da Luz in 2007? Who said that?
Pressed on what Portuguese police knew about Brueckner's past around the time Madeleine disappeared, he appeared to admit Algarve authorities were aware of his 1994 teenage sexual conviction for molesting a six-year-old girl by confessing: 'At the time all we knew was that this man was a paedophile.'
Madeleine McCann, a three-year-old British girl who disappeared 13 years ago while on a family holiday in Portugal
He also claimed German authorities wanted to re-examine all the DNA evidence taken from the McCanns' hire car and holiday apartment.
Rubbishing reports a saliva sample had been found on Madeleine's bedspread and could prove key to a conviction now Brueckner had been identified as a new suspect, he said it had been proven it belonged to a baby being fed mother's milk staying in the apartment before the McCanns arrived.
Asked why he thought the German authorities might have interest in coming up with new information which had no real value, Amaral claimed: 'Because it enables them to have jurisdiction over this case.
'I think the Portuguese police and the authorities can do anything here in laboratories that they can do in Germany. '
Amaral's interview was his first since Brueckner's name was made public - and the first time he has spoken about the case since last December when he appeared on Spanish TV.
An upcoming movie titled 'Cracka' plans to depict an alternate history in which black people enslaved whites in early America.
Director Dale Resteghini released the trailer for the independently funded film on Friday, saying it would be available for purchase on Amazon Prime and elsewhere later this year.
The trailer shows a white man with neo-Nazi tattoos being transported back in time to a version of America in which he is enslaved by black people.
Title cards read: 'You took our breath away, what if we took yours? You raped our daughters, what if we raped yours? You stole our freedom, now we steal yours.'
The upcoming film 'Cracka' depicts a man with neo-Nazi tattoos being magically transported back to an alternate history in which white people are enslaved by black people in America
The evil white racist is seen being auctioned off by black slaveholders in the fantasy film
The white neo-Nazi 'protagonist' is seen being subjected to brutal treatment at the hands of black slaveholders.
White people are seen being raped and lynched by their black overlords in the film.
The lead role of white supremacist Michael Stone is played by Lorenzo Antonucci, who previously depicted an unnamed henchman in Days Of Our Lives and was an uncredited extra in Game of Thrones.
Other cast members include Hakeen Kae-Kazim (Hotel Rwanda), rapper Saigon, Kathryn Kates and James Darnell.
'The world isnt ready for this one !!!!' wrote Saigon in an Instagram post about the upcoming film.
'What if it were your ancestors?' he wrote. 'I could never be racist because I treat people how I want to be treated... When U see things through the eyes of other people, sometimes the message resonates.'
It's unclear who financed the film, but IMDB lists as executive producers Antonucci, Resteghini and his wife Kim, Anthony Martini, and Rob Garcia.
The official website for the film reads 'You stole our freedom. Now we steal yours...'
White people are seen being raped and lynched by their black overlords in the film
The lead role of white supremacist Michael Stone is played by Lorenzo Antonucci (right)
Black slaveholders are seen in the film depicting an alternate history of America
The official website for the film reads 'You stole our freedom. Now we steal yours...'
Writer and director Resteghini is best known for directing music videos, and has worked with rappers including Pitbull, Akon, Lil Wayne and Ice Cube.
Resteghini's directorial debut was the film Colorz of Rage in 1999.
He continued with a number of micro-budgeted independent films, including Da Hip Hop Witch, a 2000 unscripted spoof film of The Blair Witch Project.
No release date for Cracka has been publicly announced. The trailer claims it will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime, Google Play and iTunes.
The controversial premise of the film has attracted criticism. On YouTube, the trailer has 16,000 likes and 24,000 dislikes.
The film is written and directed by Dale Resteghini (pictured left) who is best known for directing music videos, and has directed a number of independent feature films
Promotional art for the film shows a white person being lynched
Many comments on the film wondered why it depicted a fantasy of white slaves in America, rather than a historical depiction of the Barbary slave trade.
From 1500 to 1800, historians estimate that as many as 1.25 million Europeans were kidnapped and enslaved by slave traders in North Africa.
Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes was among the most famous of the slaves captured by Barbary pirates, and was held captive for five years.
A statue of Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, was vandalized by protesters overnight Saturday in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smart Employee Benefits Inc. (SEB or the Company) (SEB.V) announces that it is continuing to work on completing the Companys $20,000,000 strategic financing transaction by way of a private placement of a convertible debenture, which financing is being provided by a large strategic investor. The proceeds of the financing will be used to repay term indebtedness of the Company. The financing was initially announced by press release dated November 5, 2019 and most recently by press release dated May 22, 2020.
The completion of the strategic financing transaction has been delayed due to challenges and delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Company still expects to close the financing transaction coincident with the completion of an operating credit facility, which negotiations are in process.
The TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange) has conditionally approved this strategic financing transaction, but completion of the transaction remains subject to final Exchange approval and consent from the Companys shareholders.
ABOUT SEB
SEB is a technology company providing Business Process Automation and Outsourcing software, solutions and services to a national and global client base. SEB has a specialty growth focus in cloud enabled SaaS processing solutions for managing employer and government sponsored health benefit plans on a BPO (Business Processing Outsourcing) business model, globally. SEB currently serves corporate and government clients across Canada and internationally. Over 80% of SEBs revenues derive from government, insurance and health care organizations. SEBs technology infrastructure of over 650 multi-certified technical professionals, across Canada and globally, is a critical competitive advantage in supporting the implementation and management of SEBs benefits processing solutions into client environments. SEBs Benefits Processing Solutions can be game changing for SEB clients.
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The core expertise of SEB is automating and managing business processes utilizing SEB proprietary software solutions combined with solutions of third parties through joint ventures and partnerships. SEBs client acquisition model in benefits processing is Channel Partnerships where SEB processing solutions both improve cost structures and enable new revenue models for Channel Partners and clients. All SEB solutions are cloud enabled and can be delivered on a SaaS platform. SEB solutions turn cost centers to profit centers for our Channel Partners.
For further information about SEB, please visit www.seb-inc.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
Forward Looking Information
The statements made in this release that are not historical facts contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. All statements, including statements regarding the Companys areas of focus, other than statements of historical facts, which address the Companys expectations, should be considered as forward-looking statements and therefore subject to various risks and uncertainties. The words may, will, could, should, would, suspect, outlook, believe, plan, anticipate, estimate, expect, intend, forecast, objective, hope, target and continue (or the negative thereof), and words and expressions of similar import, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Such forward-looking statements are based on knowledge of the environment in which the Company currently operates, but because of the factors listed herein, as well as other factors beyond the Company's control, actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation, and does not intend, to update, revise or otherwise publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of any unanticipated events, other than as required by applicable law.
For further information about SEB, please visit www.seb-inc.com.
All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.
MEDIA AND INVESTOR CONTACTS:
John McKimm
President/CEO/CIO
Office (888) 939-8885 x 2354
Cell (416) 460-2817
john.mckimm@seb-inc.com
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump signed an order Monday temporarily halting access to several employment-based visas, affecting hundreds of thousands of people seeking to work in the U.S. The technology industry said the move would hurt the economy.
The order freezes new H1-B and H-4 visas, used by technology workers and their families, as well as L visas for intra-company transfers and most J visas for work- and study-abroad programs, including au pairs, through the end of the year.
The issuance of new green cards will also remain halted through the end of the year.
The new action will pause some H2-B visas for seasonal workers, with an exception for those in the food-processing industry, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters Monday.
The tech industry responded forcefully against the order. Twitter Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. called it short-sighted, saying immigrant tech labor could help the U.S. economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Representatives from Microsoft Corp. and Airbnb Inc. also spoke out, saying immigrants play a vital role in their companies success. On Twitter, Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said the order goes too far, while Alphabet Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook both said they were disappointed.
Indias NASSCOM, the trade body representing IT service giants like Infosys Ltd. and Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., called the Trump administrations decision misguided and harmful to the US economy. Noting the benefits that overseas workers bring, it said in a statement that Without their continued contributions to the U.S. economy, the economic pain would worsen, industry would slow, and the timeline for a treatment and cure of Covid-19 would lengthen.
Trump acted with the U.S. facing an unemployment rate of 13.3% after businesses closed or reduced staff in response to the virus outbreak. The presidents order wont affect immigrant workers who already hold the visas.
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Under the extraordinary circumstances of the economic contraction resulting from the Covid-19 outbreak, certain nonimmigrant visa programs authorizing such employment pose an unusual threat to the employment of American workers, Trump said in his order.
Speaking Saturday in an interview with Fox News, Trump said he wants Americans to take jobs that would otherwise go to people granted the visas.
We have plenty of people looking for jobs, he told Fox. I think its going to make a lot of people very happy. And its common sense.
Trump tweeted at the height of the coronavirus pandemic that he planned to temporarily suspend immigration into the U.S. Industry groups, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Information Technology Industry Council, wrote to Trump to express concern that restrictions would disrupt business and hamper growth.
The U.S. issued more than 900,000 visas in fiscal year 2019 in the categories Trump plans to freeze.
H-1B Criticism
In the past few years, the administration has moved to tighten the H-1B program, and the approval rate for applications has fallen. The technology industry relies on H-1B visas to hire overseas talent, particularly in the fields of science and engineering. Critics say some companies have abused the program to displace American workers.
About three-quarters of H-1B visas go to people working in the technology industry, though the exact levels vary year by year. The number of non-immigrant visas issued in 2019 declined for the fourth consecutive year, to 8.7 million from 10.9 million in 2015, according to the State Department.
CompTIA, a trade group that represents big tech companies like Amazon and Google parent company Alphabet said the move would deal a lasting blow to the economy.
Making it more difficult for bright minds to work in the U.S. only benefits our competitors abroad who will attract their talents to build and develop cutting-edge, job-creating goods and services, said Cinnamon Rogers, CompTIAs executive vice president for public advocacy.
TechNet, a lobbying group that represents most of the largest tech companies, had been pushing for the Trump administration to show leniency to the hundreds of thousands of H-1B holders already in the U.S. who lost their jobs in the Covid-19 pandemic and now risk falling into illegal status.
Nandini Nair, an immigration partner at Greenspoon Marder, said the new order would have an enormous effect on U.S. companies, particularly those in the tech sector. Many spent thousands of dollars filing paperwork for each H-1B visa applicant, she said.
They expended all of this money and planned their budgets and workforce capabilities on these visas and thats now shot, Nair said.
The order not only limits the ability of companies to recruit talent from overseas, but also impacts their current foreign workers who have been waiting to get their visas authorized. When an H-1B visa is awarded to individuals, they must travel to a consulate outside the U.S., typically in their home country, to activate it.
Many workers have been unable to travel since the coronavirus pandemic shut borders across the world. A lot of these workers are now prisoners in the U.S. because they dont have a valid visa stamp in their passport -- if they go, they cant come back in, Nair said.
However, Fragomen Worldwide immigration lawyer James Pack, who provides counsel to businesses in the tech sector, said the executive order would only have a limited impact on U.S. companies because it only applies to first-time H-1B applicants who are outside the country. Those already working for firms inside the U.S. would not be impacted, Pack said.
The current cap for those visas is 85,000 annually. H-4 visas are issued to immediate family members of H-1B visa holders.
The H1-B program will be restructured to put an emphasis on would-be immigrants with the highest salary offers once the program restarts next year, the senior administration official said. Under such changes, entry-level workers coming from colleges are less likely to get the visa, as the spots will mostly go to people who have masters degrees or doctorates working in high-earning fields such as trading, algorithms, and IT, said Shannon Donnelly, a partner and immigration attorney at Morgan Lewis.
(Updates with comments from Microsoft, Airbnb and Apple in fifth graph)
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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Eddie Hobbs's financial services company recorded a pre-tax loss of 125,524 last year after the directors granted themselves a 40pc pay increase.
New accounts filed by Hobbs Financial Practice show the company recorded the loss after pay for the directors, financial guru Mr Hobbs and his wife, Mary Fehily Hobbs, increased by 40pc from 313,704 to 438,979 in the 12 months to the end of last October.
The company's revenues dipped by 7.4pc from 793,318 to 734,975 during the period.
The pre-tax loss of 125,524 last year followed a pre-tax profit of 73,425 in 2018.
According to the directors' report, administration expenditure increased by 19.6pc compared to the previous year due to one-off items anticipated by the directors which included a one-off increase in directors' remuneration which accounts for 89pc of the increase.
The directors said they were satisfied with the results for the financial year.
The main activity of the company is as an investment intermediary, an insurance intermediary and providing financial advice.
The directors' report said the company has no debt so financial risk is minimal.
On the business impact of Covid-19, the directors say they expect the firm to trade its way through the disruptive impact of the global pandemic, adjusting costs to deal with impacts on revenues and to rely, if and when required, on available supports including banking facilities and schemes.
The directors' report also said Covid-19 has had a negative effect on its trading activities since year end and has resulted in lower than expected level of trading activity.
They said that during the lockdown the company had shut down its offices and continued operations using remote office technology, adding that the firm has retained its staff.
The directors say they are confident the company will be fully operational once the period of restriction is lifted.
At the end of last October, the company's shareholder funds totalled 143,732.
The company employs eight people, comprising six staff and two directors, and staff costs last year increased from 580,175 to 657,650. The company's cash reduced from 150,723 to 49,747 during the year.
The staff costs are made up of wages of 627,086, social welfare costs of 19,688 and 10,876 in pension payments.
In the past, Mr Hobbs has presented television shows such as 'Rip-off Republic', 'Show me the Money' and 'The Consumer Show'.
Libya Slams Arab League's 'Double Standards'
Libya downgrades diplomatic representation to Arab League's ministerial meeting.
Libya has downgraded its diplomatic representation to Tuesday's Arab League ministerial meeting on the Libyan crisis, criticizing the "double standards" followed by the Cairo-based league.
"Up until now, an [Arab League] session called for by Libya since April of last year has not been held in spite of securing the required quorum," the Libyan Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.
The ministry's account quoted Libyan delegate to the Arab League Saleh al-Shammakhy as saying that the Libyan army managed to defeat warlord Khalifa Haftar's militia and liberated several cities.
"After repelling the aggression on Tripoli, we began to hear calls for dialogue from countries that support Haftar after they were hindering peace efforts and aborting efforts for cease-fire," he said.
It was not yet clear whether al-Shammakhy's statements were made before or after the Arab League meeting.
The UN recognizes the Libyan government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj as the country's legitimate authority as Tripoli battles Haftar's militia.
The government launched Operation Peace Storm against Haftar in March to counter attacks on the capital Tripoli and recently liberated strategic locations, including Tarhuna, Haftar's final stronghold in western Libya.
It has severely condemned military backing by Egypt, the UAE, France and Russia to Haftar's attacks on Tripoli, which began on April 4, 2019.
On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi suggested that Cairo could launch "external military missions" into Libya "if required," claiming that "any direct intervention in Libya has already become legitimate internationally".
Sisi said the city of Sirte and al-Jufra airbase are a "red line", calling on his army to "be prepared to carry out any mission here within our borders, or if necessary outside our borders".
* Nour Abdullah contributed to this report from Ankara
In the Western Military Zone along Egypts border with Libya, while inaugurating the Gargoub military base earlier this week, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi delivered two essential messages. Addressing the rank and file of army and Air Force personnel, he stressed the need to be prepared for combat missions abroad to repel threats to Egypt and its people. The officers and soldiers affirmed they were ready.
The second message was political and strategic. Explaining Egypts vision for addressing regional crises, especially the Ethiopian and Libyan crises, he made it clear that it was not a sign of weakness or wavering to show patience.
However, in the case of Libya, in particular, it was now necessary to draw clear red lines. President Al-Sisi warned Turkey, and the extremist militias and mercenaries it backs in western Libya, not to embark on any military adventures beyond a line drawn from Sirte to Jufra. According to military experts, the Sirte-Jufra line demarcates a crucial buffer for Egyptian national security and any hostile steps beyond it would constitute aggression against Egypt.
The fall of Sirte to Turkey and other hostile forces would have dangerous implications for Libya, for Egypt and for the Eastern Mediterranean as a whole. The area known as Libyas petroleum crescent contains Libyas largest oil reserves, its main oil terminals and important military bases. Not far away to the south is the Jufra air base, one of Libyas largest military bases. Sirte houses a major operations room for the Libyan National Army (LNA) and is a liaison centre between eastern and western Libya. Sirte airport and seaport are major outlets.
Were Turkey to seize control of the petroleum crescent it would be a flagrant act of plunder on the part of a country that has made no secret of its appetite for others oil and gas resources. It would also benefit the radical militia groups in Tripoli and deprive the Libyan people of their natural wealth. President Al-Sisi alluded to this danger in his speech last week when he stressed the need for a just and equitable distribution of wealth among the Libyan people.
Many sources have also reported on the huge amounts of money the Turkish military-industrial sector is raking in from Ankaras military intervention in Libya. The Libyan Review news site reported that leaked documents showed the Tripoli-based Minister of Interior Fathi Bashagha had instructed Central Bank Governor Al-Sadiq Al-Kabir to transfer 169 million euros to the account of SSTEK Defence Industry Technologies, a subsidiary of the Turkish Defence Industry which is closely linked to Erdogans inner circle.
It should be noted that the Berlin process and the 5+5 military committee it created called for a return to the 4 April 2019 line, before the LNA launched its Flood of Dignity Operation towards Tripoli. Now that the balances are in their favour, the GNA camp is calling for a return to the 2015 lines, which means LNA withdrawal from the petroleum crescent and the Fezzan region in the south.
Major General Mohamed Qashqoush, professor of national security affairs at the Nasser Military Academy, believes that Turkey has its sights set on controlling all of Libyas major military bases. It has taken control of Mitiga, Watiya and the Air Force College in Misrata and is now targeting Jufra.
If it succeeds it will breach the Egyptian defensive buffer and legitimise Egyptian military action in exercise of the right to self-defence, he said, echoing President Al-Sisis remarks.
It is important that everyone understands the composition of the Western Military Zone. There are special forces, paratroopers, commandos, artillery, etc, who can be deployed very quickly to form an advanced defence formation to hold the red line. Their hardware and equipment, which weve seen perform in numerous manoeuvres, is up to the task.
In Qashqoushs opinion, the presence of radical militias in Libya has long posed a grave threat. The Turkish presence, and the transfer of jihadist mercenaries from Syria to Libya, has compounded that threat. No one can blame Egypt for suggesting it might resort to military force, including direct intervention, in order to protect its national security. After all, no one else is going to perform the task for Egypt.
Many European states and regional powers support the Egyptian position on Libya, one which seeks to promote a ceasefire and a return to the political process. In this framework Egypt has called for a resumption of the military track initiated by the Berlin Conference in January.
It appears that action has already been taken in response to this call. Whereas the UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) has called for a resumption of the 5+5 Military Committee, which includes five senior military officers selected by the GNA and five selected by the LNA leader Khalifa Haftar, in Geneva next month, a Libyan source involved in the discussions told Al-Ahram Weekly that the committee had already held a closed circuit teleconference on 22 June. He said the dialogue focussed on Egypts opposition to the current military escalation in Libya, and added that the participants would hold their next official meeting in the second half of July.
On Monday, the Commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) General Stephen Townsend, and US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland, met with GNA head Fayez Al-Sarraj. The meeting, which was unprecedented, concluded with an agreement on the need for a ceasefire.
AFRICOM, headquartered in Stuttgart, is responsible for all US Department of Defense operations, exercises, and security cooperation on the African continent, its island nations, and surrounding waters.
According to a source, the results of the meeting were consistent with the views of the US National Security Council which has stressed that Washington supports Cairos calls for a ceasefire, a return to the political process and the need to avert further military escalation.
Such developments have not prevented the GNA and its media from escalating their propaganda campaign against Cairo. Many GNA officials have rejected the Egyptian position, with some going so far as to call it a declaration of war, while hawks have urged further military action to annex Sirte. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry released a sternly worded statement cautioning the GNA to realise its size when addressing Egypt. It also noted how the GNA is losing any legitimacy as one member after the other has resigned.
The Foreign Ministry statement reiterated Egypts resolve to defend its national security. Egypt has demonstrated much patience. However, it will be very firm against attempts to encroach on, or attack, its interests and national security.
While many sources the Weekly spoke to in Cairo and Libya believe that Turkey will not risk overstepping the red line directly, they do believe Ankara will attempt some ruse to test Cairos will. It might, for example, have some of its mercenaries take action to provoke an Egyptian response, a tactic it has used frequently to justify encroachments into Syria. They also note that the US appears determined to forestall such actions.
Although the Egyptian Foreign Ministry has stressed that Egypt is not considering a military option over the crisis surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), observers believe the tougher Egyptian stance towards the national security threats emanating from Libya extend to Ethiopian evasiveness in the GERD negotiations. Tensions peaked this week after Egypt appealed to the UN Security Council to intervene. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said that Cairo would take a definitive step if Addis Ababa refuses to return to the negotiating table. The Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew responded that his country would not accept an agreement on GERD that denied Ethiopias future development rights on the Nile, according the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA). He accused Egypt of manipulating the negotiations as a pretext to restrict the Ethiopian rights and added that no domestic or foreign force will prevent Ethiopia from completing the GERD project.
Egypt has engaged in negotiations with good faith for almost a decade, Shoukri responded, adding that Egypt is always prepared to negotiate to reach an agreement that serves the interests of all the parties involved. He then challenged Addis Ababa to resume negotiations immediately and to declare its commitment to its international pledges not to begin filling the dam unilaterally.
Major General Mohamed Ibrahim, assistant director of the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies, explained that Egypts appeal to the UN Security Council came after innumerable negotiating rounds. Over the best part of a decade Egypt has shown flexibility. In response Ethiopia has only become more unyielding. We resorted to mediation which the US agreed to sponsor in collaboration with the World Bank. Yet Ethiopia refused to attend the signing session in which Egypt initialled the draft agreement. Then Sudan offered to mediate. Egypt accepted and negotiations were held over seven days this month, but to no avail. Egypt only turned to the Security Council after exhausting all other avenues.
Egypts recourse to the Security Council is based on Article 35 of the UN Charter which gives member states the right to bring to the Security Councils attention any dispute or situation that might endanger international peace and security. The Egyptian memorandum focused on three main concerns: the need for negotiations to resume, the need to reach a just and equitable solution, and the need for Ethiopia not to take unilateral action. Above all, it stressed that Ethiopia must not start filling the reservoir in the absence of an agreement with Egypt and Sudan which would violate the Agreement on the Declaration of Principles that Ethiopia signed in 2015.
Ibrahim believes the Security Council will issue a recommendation based on Chapter VI of the UN Charter calling on the parties to resume negotiations.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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Addressing the meeting of the Congress Working Committee, he said there has been a 'complete and total failure' of foreign policy under the Modi government.
New Delhi: Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the border stand-off with China, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused him of "destroying" India's position and "betraying our Army" by accepting Beijing's stand that it did not occupy any Indian land.
Addressing the meeting of the Congress Working Committee, he said there has been a "complete and total failure" of foreign policy under the Modi government.
"The established institutional structure of diplomacy has been demolished by the PM. Our relations with our once friendly neighbours lie in tatters. Our time tested relationship with our traditional allies has been interrupted," he said.
Gandhi suggested that India should build a good relationship with the United States and other countries and must also maintain its ties with its old friends.
"China has brazenly occupied our territory. The PM has destroyed our position and betrayed our army by accepting their position that they occupied no Indian land.
"The Chinese can't be permitted to get away with this unacceptable usurpation of our land," he said, adding that everything needs to be done to ensure that sacrifice of our martyrs is not in vain.
The thriller tells the story of what was supposed to be the perfect holiday - a group of families enjoying a week together in the sun. Four women who have been best friends for as long as they can remember making the most of a luxurious villa in the south of France. But on the day they arrive, Kate uncovers a secret: her husband is having an affair. The dream holiday quickly becomes a nightmare when she suspects the other woman is one of her best friends, working against Kate to destroy her family. But which one is it? As Kate closes in on the truth in the Mediterranean heat, she realises too late that the stakes are far higher than she ever imagined.The Holiday spent ten weeks on the Sunday Timess top ten bestsellers list in 2019 and has been described as a blistering page-turner; perfectly plotted, riveting, and with an exceptional ending. It is currently in development as a 4 x 60 primetime thriller, with writer Michael Crompton (Silent Witness, Safe House, Kidnap and Ransom) attached to adapt, and is receiving interest from UK broadcasters.BAFTA-nominated UK indie Projector Pictures was founded by Trevor Eve (Shoestring, A Discovery of Witches) and its credits include two series of the critically acclaimed ITV drama Kidnap and Ransom, starring the stalwart actor as a hostage negotiator; Waking the Dead spin-off The Body Farm, co-produced with the BBC; and the feature-length Cinderella for Channel 4, starring Kathleen Turner and Jane Birkin. NENT Studios UK has an existing first-look deal with Projector Pictures.Commenting on the deal with NENT Studios UK, Projector Pictures executive producer Rachel Gesua said: NENT Studios UK is proving to be an invaluable partner to our business, with its financial support and extensive market knowledge bringing a new dimension to our creative development process. We are excited to see such quick progress on The Holiday, as well as significant input on the other projects on our slate, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship. NENT Studios UK EVP Dave Clarke added: We are delighted to be working with the talented and passionate team at Projector Pictures to get this first project together off the ground. With The Holiday, T.M. Logan has created an unforgettable book that is difficult to put down. Our development process ensures nothing is lost and we will be excited to see the books intriguing characters and gripping story, played out against a sun-drenched and glamorous backdrop, move seamlessly to the screen at the hands of Michael Crompton. The early interest in the UK is very positive and we anticipate that this will be replicated when we talk to potential international partners.
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Chinese hacker groups have targeted Indian telecom, pharma, media and ministries
Chinese hacker groups Gothic Panda and Stone Panda who are closely linked to the Chinese government carried out attacks
Nature of attacks include defacing of websites, data exfiltration, denial of service, and phishing campaigns
Chinese hackers are targeting Indian entities after the recent border clashes between the two countries. Hacker groups with links to Chinese government are carrying out a series of attacks on Indian businesses, ministries, and media organisations. According to Singapore-based Cyfirma Research, a cyber threat intelligence firm, companies like Reliance Jio, Airtel, BSNL, Micromax, Cipla, Sun Pharma, MRF, and L&T are being targeted by Chinese hackers to tarnish their reputation and exfiltration of sensitive information, including trade secrets.
Broadly, the sectors that were targeted for cyberattacks included telecom (private and public), pharma, media companies, smartphone makers, construction and tyre companies. Cyfirma's analysis also shows that the hackers particularly targeted three central government ministries - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The hackers behind these attacks have a long history of carrying out big cyberattacks on different countries. "In the hackers' conversations, IP [Internet protocol] addresses were shared and discussed. Our analysis of these IP addresses attributed Gothic Panda and Stone Panda to be behind these potential hacking campaigns. These are two prolific hacking groups with close association with the Chinese Government," Cyfirma note says.
For the uninitiated, Gothic Panda has a track record of targetting strategic sectors such as defence, aerospace, telecom, transportation, manufacturing, construction and engineering, whereas Stone Panda is an expert group for trade secret theft and stealing supply chain information. Both groups have been actively involved in targeting organisations in countries such as India, Japan, US, Canada, and Brazil.
While attacking Indian companies and authorities, the Chinese hackers were found discussing ways to 'teach India a lesson'. The most common types of attacks included defacing websites using weakness in web applications, data exfiltration using specialised malware, denial of service; and impersonating companies' website and launching malicious phishing campaigns.
Though the data was analysed between June 8 and June 18, experts say that the attacks on Indian institutions continue to remain high following the deadly brawl between soldiers on both sides. Anti-China sentiments in India were building up due to coronavirus even before the recent cross-border tension. But after the killings of Indian soldiers, people are calling for boycott of Chinese products. Ministries too are advising companies to stop use of Chinese items.
Last week, Indian Railways' Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) became the first entity to terminate a Rs 470-crore signalling works contract with a Chinese firm CRSC (China Railway Signal and Communication Corporation). Even as some reports suggest that both countries have mutually agreed to disengage at the disputed LAC (line of actual control), it's unlikely that the cyberwarfare would recede any time soon.
Also read: China-sponsored hacker groups could target Indian businesses, media, govt
This question is a compare type assumption qn
understand carefully
step-1 conclusion is non other than supply chain relation caused this hike in country-a's value.
step-2 falsify the statement,that is"no no something other than S&C caused it."
step-3 The problem is ,its easy to say something else caused,but what exactly caused is the actual talent to find assumption.so ask your self that what other thing is given as a clue,such as country-A currency,supply chain ,and the third one is other country's currency and its value.
step-4 always try to find something new out of the box using a clue that the author is trying to avoid you to find,i:e other country currency value.and that is your game changer.
step-5 now also you wont find the flasification statement is such kind of qn ,bit tricky,unless you are spending lots of time or cheating to gain something as revert.straight go the answer choice and fing which answer choice deals with the other currency .
step-6 option-e tells you something related to the demand of supplier of country-A's currency.so now its time for you after getting confused in all the above options to think that is thier something going to happen with this statement.the answer will be yes ,obvious answer is you have to pay money in thier currency mode ,so alternatively your currency value will get down with increasing demand of country-A'S product.
step-7 now you negate the statement ,you will find that the conclusion will not hold true.
hope it may take long time ,but is the best remedy for any kind of assumption qn.but we need to apply it correctly.
Most Covid-19 deaths are not so much due to the coronavirus itself as to the immune reaction it can trigger, at times involving severe inflammation leading to the respiratory failure that ends up killing so many elderly patients or those with underlying medical conditions.
The first drug shown to prevent deaths from Covid-19 targets this stage in the diseases development. Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory medication that also inhibits the response of the immune system, bringing down inflammation and managing to save the lives of two of the most severely affected groups those who need ventilators and those who need oxygen, according to preliminary results released on Tuesday from a large clinical trial carried out in the United Kingdom. Rather than fighting the virus itself, dexamethasone combats the exaggerated immune response to it.
Spanish doctors and scientists were among the first to draw attention to the fact that this drug can save lives. On March 11, a team at Madrids Puerta de Hierro hospital began giving dexamethasone to those already on a ventilator, explains infectious disease specialist Ana Fernandez Cruz. They also gave them methylprednisolone, another very similar steroid. When we saw it was working, we also used it for less serious cases that only needed oxygen, she says.
Rather than fighting the virus itself, dexamethasone combats the exaggerated immune response to it
On May 26, after analyzing around 400 patients, the Puerta de Hierro team released the results of a preliminary study due for publication in a scientific journal. This study found that the drug reduces mortality by 41%. According to Fernandez, prior to this, there had only been a few studies published on the matter, involving a small number of patients in China. These analyses also indicated that the medication reduces mortality among patients in serious condition.
The findings from the Puerto de Hierro trials support the conclusions of a UK trial that involved giving half the amount of dexamethasone given by Fernandezs team to more than 6,000 patients in 175 hospitals; that this drug reduces the risk of death in assisted-breathing patients by a third and in those who need oxygen by a fifth. This is the group most at risk of dying of Covid-19. Based on the data, the drug should be given to all patients in a similar condition to those in the study, says Fernandez.
Those responsible for the British trial have said that this drug is capable of saving lives, and its use would be justified in prescribed cases during a pandemic like the current one, said Jesus Villar, a researcher in respiratory diseases at the Doctor Negrin University Hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands.
This drug can cause infections, diabetes, osteoporosis and gastrointestinal bleeding. It cannot be used indiscriminately Ana Fernandez Cruz, infectious disease specialist at Puerta de Hierro hospital
Villar is himself coordinating a clinical trial with dexamethasone in severe Covid-19 patients in 17 Spanish hospitals, using a slightly higher dose than was used in the UK.
The trial started after his team published a study in March that showed this drug reduces mortality from acute respiratory distress, a serious inflammatory reaction that affects the lungs due to infections very similar to that produced by the new coronavirus. If these results are confirmed, you have to give the drug to all the patients in these circumstances, he says. You can no longer have a control group that doesnt receive it.
The question now is when to administer the drug. Usually the peak phase of inflammation occurs within about 10 days after the onset of symptoms, though it does not occur in all patients, says Fernandez. If this excessive inflammatory response can be controlled, especially when a large part of the lungs is still intact, it can benefit the patient.
The news is especially good because of the price and general availability of the drug. A dexamethasone treatment, which was discovered at the end of the 1950s and is widely used to treat severe allergic inflammatory reactions and autoimmune diseases, costs between 1 and 2 a day, according to Cristina Avendano, a pharmacologist from Puerta de Hierro.
The news is especially good because of the price and general availability of the drug
The findings come after several studies on possible treatments for Covid-19 have been abandoned due to unreliable data, as with the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. Although the data from the British trials on dexamethasone are preliminary, the experts consulted by EL PAIS believe they are reliable, partly because the study is backed by the National Health Service in the UK and partly because it is a randomized evaluation there is a random selection of which patients will receive the drug and which ones will not with a control group that allows doctors to determine that the observed benefits are due to the medication and not something else.
It is entirely possible that this drug is effective, but it is important to select the patients correctly because corticoids inhibit the immune system, so we have to find an appropriate balance between decreasing inflammation and not increasing the viral load, says Africa Gonzalez, the outgoing president of the Spanish Society of Immunology.
The drug only works for critically ill hospitalized patients and can be very harmful for others who are less severely affected by the disease. Just as it is an effective drug with great anti-inflammatory power, it also has a multitude of side effects such as infections, diabetes, osteoporosis and gastrointestinal bleeding. It cannot be used indiscriminately, warns Fernandez.
In any case, according to Fernandez, until there is a vaccine that can be administered to the general population, the war against the worst pandemic so far this century will not have been won.
English version by Heather Galloway.
The left wing of the Democratic Party has been reeling since Sen. Bernie Sanders collapse in the presidential primary. On Tuesday, it could finally mount a comeback.
Primaries in Kentucky and New York offer liberals significant opportunities to grow their influence in the party and chip away at the establishments grip.
By all accounts, progressives have the momentum in Kentucky, where Charles Booker has seized the energy around the protests over racial injustice and police brutality to make a once-unthinkable charge at party favorite Amy McGrath in the race to face Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November. McGrath, a powerhouse fundraiser endorsed by the national party apparatus, has said she would work with President Donald Trump and doesnt have meaningful relationships with Kentucky Democratic powerbrokers, leaving her vulnerable for a primary upset.
In New York, two years after Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ousted the Houses third-ranking Democrat, a handful of incumbents are facing liberal primary challengers most notably House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Eliot Engel, who was first elected in 1988. Ousting Engel has become a top priority for the left: Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have all endorsed her opponent, educator Jamaal Bowman, who is African American and nearly 30 years Engels junior.
Progressives are also targeting two solidly Democratic open House seats near New York City: one in the Bronx, and the other in the Lower Hudson Valley. And there is a smattering of other congressional primaries that will further define the battle for the House in November.
All of this is taking place in the continuing coronavirus pandemic and potential test cases for the general election: delayed results, large numbers of votes being cast by mail and the closure of thousands of polling places due to lack of staff and social distancing guidelines.
Here are 9 things POLITICOs campaign team is watching:
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Can McGrath shake Booker in Kentucky?
McGrath, national Democrats preferred candidate, has raised an enormous sum of money backed by small-dollar donors eager to see her topple McConnell. But Booker, a state representative who entered the race in January, six months after McGrath, has fostered enthusiasm behind his bid in the past three weeks in the wake of protests over police brutality in Kentucky and nationwide. Most of the best-known politicians and largest organizations on the partys left have come off the sidelines in support of his underdog candidacy down the stretch.
The race has increasingly come down to Bookers momentum versus McGraths structural advantages. Her campaign has been on the airwaves for months funding biography spots and general election ads against McConnell, and her campaigns cash has also allowed them to build the infrastructure to turn out her voters across the state, relying on Kentuckys more conservative Democrats outside the population centers in Louisville and Lexington.
Booker, meanwhile, has galvanized the partys base, and earned endorsements from many members of the states establishment class, and national figures including Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez.
McGrath remains the favorite in the race. But predictions are uncertain given the high volume of absentee voting because of the pandemic, and concerns about in-person turnout because there are fewer than 200 Election Day polling places statewide including just one in Jefferson County, home to Louisville, the largest city and Bookers home base.
A McGrath victory would represent another win for the partys establishment, which hasnt been seriously tested in primaries in recent cycles. But a Booker victory would give progressives their biggest win since Ocasio-Cortez upset Rep. Joe Crowley in 2018 and would also represent a serious test for liberals claims that candidates running on left-wing platforms can compete seriously on a statewide level, even in races in red territory.
Is it the end of the road for Eliot Engel?
Progressives are throwing all their energy into ousting Engel, and the 16-term congressman has never looked more vulnerable.
After a damning article in The Atlantic that revealed he was riding out the pandemic in the D.C. suburbs and an unflattering hot-mic moment upon his return to the Bronx, many Democratic operatives privately concede they would be more surprised if Engel survived. Middle school principal Jamaal Bowman is closing in, with endorsements from Sanders and Ocasio-Cortzez, plus hundreds of thousands of dollars in help from the Justice Democrats and the Working Families Party. A Bowman internal poll in mid-June showed Bowman with a 10-point lead.
Engel, 73, has rolled out establishment endorsements from Hillary Clinton and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and has gotten a boost from some pro-Israel groups. Hes spent more than $1.4 million by early June more than Bowmans $630,000. But Bowman got a huge boost when one of his leading rivals dropped out earlier this month and endorsed him.
A loss by Engel would be a major boon to the progressive movement, which has amassed a somewhat spotty record this year. Conservative Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski lost in March to the Justice Democrats-backed Marie Newman, but Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) both survived progressive challengers.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, near the area where U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland is being interviewed as part of the impeachment inquiry. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Engel isnt the only New York incumbent in danger
Besides Engel, nearly every Democratic House incumbent in New York City and its suburbs is facing a challenge from their left of varying degrees of competitiveness.
Perhaps the most endangered incumbent besides Engel is Rep. Yvette Clarke, who represents the Brooklyn-based 9th District. In 2018, Clarke only narrowly beat back Adem Bunkeddeko, a community organizer, by fewer than two thousand votes in a head-to-head matchup. Now, Clarke is facing Bunkeddeko again but three other candidates are also on the ballot, including City Councilmember Chaim Deutsch, complicating the race. Bunkeddeko, like Bowman, picked up an endorsement from The New York Times editorial board.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney has a rematch against Suraj Patel in the East Side-focused 12th District, who got about 40 percent of the primary vote in his first bid to primary the longtime incumbent in the midterms, with two other candidates also on the ballot. And powerful Rep. Jerry Nadler also faces two primary challengers in his 10th District, which runs from the West Side to parts of Brooklyn: Lindsey Boylan and Jonathan Herzog, an Andrew Yang supporter. Unlike some of his compatriots in the New York delegation, Nadler was able to rein in some progressive support, picking up endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez and Warren.
Ocasio-Cortez is facing a primary challenge of her own: Former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, who is challenging the freshman from the center. Caruso-Cabrera has been a strong fundraiser raising over $2 million with the help of groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which typically backs Republicans but is still underfunded compared to the massive warchest for the progressive leader.
Still, Caruso-Cabrera kicked in an additional $1 million of her own money in the final days of the race her first self-funding of the campaign. Ocasio-Cortez launched an attack ad slamming Caruso-Cabrera over the final weekend, a curious move for someone who espouses an inspirational, grassroots brand of politics.
Open seats present opportunities for progressive pickups
A pair of New York City-area open seats are golden opportunities for progressives to add to their ranks, in a delegation that is dominated by entrenched incumbents. But both races have fractured, crowded fields with no clear frontrunner.
Among the 12 candidates running for the Bronx-based 15th District to replace the retiring Rep. Jose Serrano is City Councilmember Ruben Diaz Sr. Diaz has a long history of making homophobic remarks and has repeatedly praised Trump, making him an awkward fit for the House Democratic caucus, let alone from the bluest district in the nation.
City Councilmember Ritchie Torres has emerged as the main anti-Diaz contender among a handful of national groups, but he is not the only other credible candidate in the race. The field also includes state Assemblymember Michael Blake, former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and community organizer Samelys Lopez, who has the backing of some national progressive politicians.
Theres also an open-seat race in the 17th District, in Westchester and Rockland counties north of the city, to replace retiring Rep. Nita Lowey. Progressives have rallied around Mondaire Jones, an attorney who jumped into the race before Lowey announced she wouldnt seek reelection. But the competitive field also includes state Assemblyman David Buchwald, self-funding attorney Adam Schleifer, Obama-era Defense Department official Evelyn Farkas, former NARAL Pro-Choice America chair Allison Fine and state Sen. David Carlucci.
The New York special election
Voters in Western New York will finally choose a replacement for disgraced former Rep. Chris Collins, who resigned last year and pleaded guilty to insider trading charges.
Eight GOP county chairs chose state Sen. Chris Jacobs last January as their nominee in Tuesdays special election. Hell face Democrat Nate McMurray, who came within 1,100 votes of ousting Collins in 2018. With Collins off the ballot, Jacobs is favored to win in a Buffalo-area district that Trump carried by 25 points in 2016, but there are still a lot of unknowns. The state isnt used to voting by absentee ballots, and Jacobs is banking on a surge of Republicans voting in-person on Tuesday.
But Jacobs will also be competing in a crowded GOP primary to represent the district for a full term in 2021. A former Democrat, Jacobs has drawn two opponents from the right: Fox News contributor Beth Parlato and Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw. Jacobs has leaned into his Twitter endorsement from Trump and has a clear path to victory.
What well learn about the battle for the House
New York was home to three of the 43 House seats Democrats flipped in the 2018 midterm elections, and Republicans on Tuesday will pick nominees to face those vulnerable freshmen.
In the 11th District, state Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis is the heavy favorite to face Democratic Rep. Max Rose. Malliotakis is another highly touted woman recruit for the GOP she was the partys nominee for mayor in 2017 but she would enter the general election at a significant cash disadvantage against Rose, who has cultivated a colorful-yet-politically-moderate reputation befitting his Staten Island-based district.
Republicans dont have a strong candidate in the 19th District, where freshman Rep. Antonio Delgado is running for a second term in a Hudson Valley district Trump won by nearly 7 points in 2016. Their two candidates, Ola Hawatmeh and Kyle Van De Water had a combined $228,000 in the bank as of early June, far less than Delgados $2.7 million.
Farther west, former Rep. Claudia Tenney is hoping to dispatch challenger George Phillips and set up a rematch with the man who beat her two years ago, freshman Rep. Anthony Brindisi. Brindisi won a 2-point victory in a district Trump carried by more than 15 points, so another Brindisi-Tenney race is expected to be competitive.
Those arent the only competitive districts in the state. On Eastern Long Island, Democrats are picking a nominee to face GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin, choosing among four candidates, including 2018 nominee Perry Gershon. Farther west, along the South Shore, Republicans will pick either Andrew Garbarino or Mike LiPetri to be the nominee to replace Rep. Pete King, who is retiring after 14 terms in the House. (Democrats are likely to nominate retired Army Lt. Col. Jackie Gordon for the swing-ish seat.)
GOP Rep. John Katko is one of three Republicans representing districts that voted for Hillary Clinton to survive the 2018 midterm wave, and Democratic voters in the Syracuse area will pick his 2020 opponent on Tuesday. It will either be Syracuse University professor Dana Balter, who lost to Katko in 2018 by a sizable margin, or Navy veteran Francis Conole. Some national Democrats are hoping for a fresh face.
Will Mark Meadows choice succeed him in Congress?
A contentious primary for former Rep. Mark Meadows seat will come to a close Tuesday when western North Carolina voters choose between Lynda Bennett, his preferred successor, and Madison Cawthorn, a 24-year-old businessman.
Meadows last-minute retirement, revealed just 30 hours before the states December filing deadline, angered local Republicans in the state who openly suspected that he timed his announcement to benefit Bennett, a friend of his wife. (Bennetts campaign website domain was registered by the congressmans brother in October, nearly two months before Meadows declared his plans to retire.) The timing of Meadows announcement also boxed out sitting state legislators who had already filed to run for reelection.
A real-estate agent and local GOP activist, Bennett won the May primary with 23 percent but was shy of the 30 percent needed to avoid a runoff. Cawthorn took 20 percent of the vote.
Bennett has the backing of the Meadows and got a late Twitter endorsement from Trump. But Cawthorn, who was paralyzed in a car accident, has racked up a slew of local endorsements, including from several of his former rivals who failed to make the runoff.
A victory by Bennett would give the party its second safe-seat primary victory by a woman candidate, joining Mary Miller, who is all-but-guaranteed to succeed retiring Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) in Congress.
A competitive primary for an emerging Virginia battleground
GOP Rep. Denver Rigglemans loss earlier this month in a nominating convention boosted Democrats prospects in this rural central Virginia district. On Tuesday, they will pick their candidate to take on the new nominee, Bob Good, a staunch social conservative who opposes same-sex marriage, birthright citizenship and abortion for any reason.
There are three top contenders in the Democratic primary for the seat, which spans from the Washington exurbs to the North Carolina border. The front-runner is likely Cameron Webb, a physician at the University of Virginia and a former Obama White House fellow who has the backing of the science advocacy group 314 Action.
Meanwhile, EMILYs List has run advertisements promoting Claire Russo, a Marine veteran who grabbed national attention after she revealed in a TV ad she had been sexually assaulted while in the military. And VoteVets is backing RD Huffstetler, another Marine vet, who ran for the seat in 2018.
Trump won this district by 11 points, but privately some GOP operatives admit they will have to spend to keep the seat. Good had only $34,000 in the bank as of late May and is not well known. He was only elected by about 2,500 delegates, many of whom were angered by Rigglemans officiation of a gay wedding.
Down in a neighboring seat in Virginia Beach, former GOP Rep. Scott Taylor is vying for a rematch with Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria, who beat him by 2 points in 2018. Hes expected to best Navy veteran Ben Loyola in Tuesdays primary.
Dont expect many results Tuesday night
In the contested primaries in New York City and Kentucky, it is unlikely that a winner will be declared tonight, unless the races are an absolute blowout.
In Kentucky, the states two largest counties say they wont release any results until a week later, after all absentee ballots are counted. (Some smaller counties have also made the same decision.) Kentucky officials have strongly encouraged absentee and early voting.
But some national voting rights groups have raised concerns about a limited number of polling places in the state. The state usually has roughly 3,700 polling places, but there will only be around 200 on Tuesday.
Calls in close New York races are also unlikely on Tuesday. In New York, absentee ballots arent counted until a week after Election Day, to ensure voters who cast a ballot in-person also did not mail one in. New York usually requires voters to have a valid excuse to vote absentee, and those ballots represent a very small percentage of the overall vote.
But because of the pandemic, voters were mailed absentee ballot applications and that number is expected to skyrocket. Like other states that have had to make a rapid switch to accommodate more mail-in voting, some voters in New York have complained they have not received their ballot, despite requesting one.
A new rule of politics seems to be that no matter how badly the pollies have stuffed up some area of government responsibility, they can always make it worse. Enter the hapless federal Education Minister Dan Tehan who, doubtless acting under instructions from the boss, has just announced another set of passive-aggressive changes to university funding.
If, like a good Quiet Australian, you haven't been paying close attention, you may have gained the impression that the government is acting to help our unis to take in more local students helping fill the vacuum left by the disappearance of overseas students and changing the structure of tuition fees to encourage students into more occupationally oriented courses, which will make them "job-ready graduates" going into fields where the need for graduates is expected to be greatest.
Dan Tehan has proposed significant changes to fees for university courses. Credit:AAP
You probably haven't noticed that, according to Tehan, the package includes "an additional $400 million over four years" for regional unis, and "a further $900 million" for the National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund.
Except that the whole package is "budget neutral" a bureaucrat's way of saying it will cost the government not an extra cent. Since the government's expecting extra demand for uni places over the next three years, this is tantamount to its first major cost-cutting exercise after taking fright at the blowout in the budget deficit caused by the lockdown of the economy. So the "extra" and "further" funding will be coming not from the government's pockets but those of the universities and their students.
Protesters march past LAPD officers during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis Police custody, in downtown Los Angeles, California, June 6, 2020. - Demonstrations are being held across the US following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, while being arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Kyle Grillot/AFP
A class-action lawsuit accuses Los Angeles police of using excessive force against Black Lives Matter protesters.
An amended complaint filed this week details a number of cases where protesters say they were shot in the face or torso in violation of police training.
LAPD Capt. Gisselle Espinoza told the Los Angeles Times that the department was "fully committed to investigating every allegation of misconduct or excessive force related to the recent protests."
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A lawsuit filed against the City of Los Angeles, its chief of police, and the department he leads alleges that peaceful protesters were shot in the head or torso with rubber bullets and other projectiles, causing lasting injury in defiance of the law. Thousands were also detained for hours in conditions conducive to the spread of COVID-19, according to the suit.
Noting that the vast majority of those arrested during recent protests were nonviolent, per the testimony of Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, the lawsuit filed on behalf of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and others alleging harm at the hands of law enforcement accuses police of "unreasonable and excessive force" that deprived protesters of their right to free speech.
The class-action lawsuit, filed by a number of local civil rights attorneys earlier this month and amended with new details this week, describes a number of cases where nonviolent protesters were shot in the face with "non-lethal" projectiles of the sort that, since 1990, have left hundreds of people with permanent disabilities.
Tina Crnko, who attended a Black Lives Matter protest on May 30, was shot in the head with a rubber bullet soon after Chief Moore addressed the crowd while in riot gear. "She still suffers nerve damage in the area of the impact," the lawsuit states.
Abigail Rodas attended another rally that day to protest the killing of George Floyd. It was while leaving that protest that she was "struck in the face by a projectile and momentarily lost consciousness," the lawsuit states. The object fractured her jaw, requiring surgery and a 48-hour hospital stay; she now has screws in her gums, with rubber bands immobilizing her jaw while she heals, according to the complaint.
Story continues
Steven Roe was walking backward away from a line of police when one officer "shot him in the stomach with a kinetic impact projectile," the lawsuit states. The resulting injury remains visible over two weeks later.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs believe there are many others like them: over 3,000 people were arrested and, the lawsuit notes, detained for hours in close quarters amid a pandemic. They are asking the court for compensatory damages for those harmed or improperly detained, and for the deletion of all arrest records for those who were engaged in nonviolent protest.
An LAPD spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment. But Capt. Gisselle Espinoza earlier told the Los Angeles Times that the department was "fully committed to investigating every allegation of misconduct or excessive force related to the recent protests."
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The community wants to heal, it wants to change, it wants to be the diverse, inclusive, multicultural, tolerant community we claim to be, Griffin said. Oak Parkers are ready to step up and be the change. Oak Park is not perfect, but we as a village have always been willing to have the difficult conversations to reflect, to come to the table over and over again on behalf of racial equality, equity, inclusion, LGBTQTIA, housing discrimination and other social justice issues. Im not saying Juneteenth celebrations will end racism, but its a step in the right direction.
Another Primary Day, and an unyielding virus. Its Tuesday, and this is your tip sheet.
Pushing back against a narrative embraced by President Trump, Dr. Michael Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organizations health emergencies program, said on Monday that increased testing was not driving the jump in cases. We do not believe that this is a testing phenomenon, he said. Clearly, hospital admissions are also rising in a number of countries, deaths are also rising, and they are not due to increased testing, per se.
The United States accounts for one in every five new cases worldwide , despite making up only 4 percent of the worlds population. The virus is spreading more rapidly than ever before across the globe.
State and local officials not to mention health experts are expressing alarm at the coronaviruss continued spread in the United States . New cases are surging in nearly two dozen states, and Oklahoma and Missouri on Sunday reported their largest single-day case increases yet.
As Florida surpassed 100,000 total cases over the weekend, its surgeon general released a new health advisory: All individuals in Florida should wear face coverings in any setting where social distancing is not possible.
Trump on Monday suspended work visas through the end of the year, effectively preventing over half a million foreigners from coming to work in the United States, according to White House estimates. The move is intended to boost employment prospects for American workers amid the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
But business leaders have long lobbied against it as they did in April, when Trump initially floated the idea of suspending visas. At that time, he bowed to pressure and suspended only the issuance of green cards for 60 days.
With Mondays order, Trump also extended the green-card prohibition through the end of the year. The order targets the H-1B visa program for high-skilled workers and visas for some students and seasonal employees; health care professionals, farm workers and some workers in other industries are exempt.
Two Trump campaign staff members who attended the presidents rally in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday tested positive for the coronavirus shortly afterward, the campaign announced on Monday. Its not yet clear how many people those staff members interacted with at the event.
Just days before the rally, six other members of Trumps advance team tested positive for the virus, adding to concerns over the wisdom of holding the event.
But Trump is still in a reopening frame of mind. Within hours of the announcement about the new infections, the White House began rolling back restrictions that have been in place at the complex since March.
COVID-19 has exposed some of the most systemically deficient aspects of Canadian society, including unjust treatment of marginalized and vulnerable citizens, such as older adults (the most well-known evidence of this are the military reports about residential long-term care in Ontario and Quebec).
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Opinion
COVID-19 has exposed some of the most systemically deficient aspects of Canadian society, including unjust treatment of marginalized and vulnerable citizens, such as older adults (the most well-known evidence of this are the military reports about residential long-term care in Ontario and Quebec).
Despite largely symbolic moves by the Manitoba government (including a $200 payment to seniors), it has remained at best passively indifferent, both pre- and post-COVID-19, to the need to address missing pieces of effective seniors care policy. If this government truly wants to respect and recognize older adults, it can take one particularly important tangible first step toward creating more equitable, responsive and accountable seniors care by creating and implementing an Office of the Seniors Advocate.
A seniors advocate would serve many purposes in the quest for better care across the continuum for older Manitobans, their families and our communities. In particular, the roles and responsibilities of the advocate could improve access, transparency and accountability in long-term care in this province.
More broadly, the advocate could monitor the provision of a range of services designed for older adults, analyze issues of importance to the welfare of older adults, and generally advocate in the interests of seniors. They could identify and analyze systemic challenges facing seniors, collaborate and work with service providers, raise awareness of available resources and service gaps and make recommendations to government to improve delivery of services and the welfare of older adults.
We already have a good example to look to in this regard our current Manitoba Children and Youth Advocate in the province, who has the ability to investigate, has dedicated funding and is independent from the government, with a duty to report to the legislature as a whole.
As an independent office of the Manitoba legislature, a seniors advocate would have a duty to report publicly. Investigative power and independence are crucial. Notably, although some community-based seniors advocacy groups (such as the Manitoba Seniors Coalition) exist, there is no singular appointed provincial office to investigate serious concerns or grievances about seniors care.
Almost 90 per cent of all reports submitted to Protection for Persons in Care Office (PPCO) relate to incidents in personal care homes (PCHs), and the Manitoba government has no obligation to publish details from these reports. Indeed, even critical incidents reports are not currently reported per facility, as is the case in other provinces. A seniors advocate could lift the veil of secrecy surrounding seniors care and propose a better path forward.
Additionally, a centralized, coordinated Office of Seniors Advocate could identify and amplify best practices and resources to all older Manitobans and their families who seek information and advice on programs, resources and supports. The provinces Seniors Resource Guide was last updated in 2015/16. A formalized advocate with the ability to collect information, investigate and report independently would help effectively guide both research and policy, while providing an independent way to identify and contextualize serious incidents without fear of politically motivated reprisal from the government of the day.
In 2018, several Portage la Prairie families who had concerns with Lions Manor PCH had no other recourse but to write to the minister of health; a seniors advocate would have been able to support these families and resolve their concerns.
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In 2013, British Columbia established an Office of the Seniors Advocate through legislation, following an Ombudspersons report which made clear that there was not simply a collection of otherwise-isolated incidents of abuse or inappropriate care, but rather widespread systemic problems which directly pointed to the need for a seniors advocate. The advocate was hired in 2014 after an exhaustive search.
Additionally, the Office of the Seniors Advocate would ensure seniors are part of the conversation. Aging advisory councils have now been disbanded. These operated both municipally in Winnipeg (Mayor's Age-Friendly and Seniors Advisory Committee) and provincially (Manitoba Council on Aging). When they were operating, they were constrained in their ability to effectively advocate due to their advisory mandate. What we need are feasible, "ground-up" solutions based in comprehensive understanding of challenges facing Manitoba seniors, including those faced by marginalized groups of older adults, in both rural and urban areas.
A seniors advocate office could reinstate advisory councils for older adults to effectively and proactively participate in democratic governance. Group work can be transparently documented and can engage key decision-makers and organizations.
In summary, we believe that there are vast possibilities for an Office of Seniors Advocate in Manitoba that is an independent voice for older adults, and has both the funds and investigative powers necessary to generate real-time data and make real change to benefit older adults in this province.
As our population continues to age, and given the patchwork nature of care services for older adults in the province, it is imperative to prioritize public solutions that ensure that the older adults that have contributed, and continue to contribute, so much to this province are provided the necessary supports, resources and services so they can age with dignity.
Trish Rawsthorne is a retired registered nurse and former research manager, an advocate for long-term care reform and an advisory-council member and public-engagement member for health policy. Laura Funk is an associate professor in the department of sociology and criminology at the University of Manitoba. Brianne Goertzen is the provincial director of the non-partisan Manitoba Health Coalition and a Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Manitoba steering committee member.
Just a few months in and Michigan is already at a 67.7% self-response rate as of last week, the third best in the nation and at a faster rate than 2010. Midland is a leading community in Michigan at 77.7 percent for the city and 76.4 percent for the county.
Two-and-a-half years ago, the Michigan Nonprofit Association launched an ambitious campaign to work with local governments and the U.S. Census Bureau to make sure Michigan gets a good count in the census.
The campaign was invested in by more than 40 foundations throughout the state, said external affairs officer at MNA Joan Gustafson. Were working hard to get as many people counted as possible.
The census dictates more than congressional power in Lansing or Washington D.C. Numerous federal programs are funded with allocations based on population data.
These federal programs are important to restoring Midland following last months historic floods and detrimental to restoring Michigan after the impact of COVID-19.
More than half of the federal governments $1.5 trillion allocations goes to Medicare and Medicaid. However, the census also puts funding into highway planning and road construction, public housing operations, community development, K-12 education and more. Programs that crave funding after the floods.
Were stuck with these numbers for 10 years; we dont get a do-over, Gustafson said. Whatever we get this time is what we get and all of our federally funded programs will rely on that count.
So why enlist the help of the nonprofit sector? Chances are, Gustafson said, everyone has interacted with a nonprofit at least once in their lives. They hold community events, offer essential services, and employ the locals. Communities are more likely to trust a local organization than a large government entity.
One of the organizations that is participating in the census outreach program is 211. A dial-up service that connects people to resources that can help with needs, such as food, housing, shelter and more. Starting in mid-March 211 stations across the state began implementing census outreach.
When you call into 211, you have to put in your area code and select a language but before youre delivered to an agent, youre going to hear a census message, said Sarah Kile, Executive Director of 211 Northeast Michigan. It was a hard decision because we dont want to delay anytime between picking up the phone and getting the help you need. Our board of directors thought this is one of those times when the census is going to help all of us in the long run.
Kile said 12,000 people have heard a census message during a 211 call automated or a referral by an operator.
This is absolutely essential information for our community to have, Kile said.
Some other participating organizations are West Midland Family Center Senior services, NAACP in Saginaw and Bay counties, Great Lakes Bay Hispanic Leadership Institute, ARC of Midland and Greater Midland Community Centers. (mivoicecounts.org is a database of participating organizations in the census outreach program)
Gustafson said health and safety guidelines due to the coronavirus pandemic has made the outreach campaign challenging but still doable.
Over the last couple months with Michigan under stay-at-home orders and suffering one of the highest COVID-19 rates in the nation, non-profits basically had to retool. A lot of the in-person types of events had to change, Gustafson said. So, we expanded digitally, we made videos, expanded our texting campaigns, we also tried to identify some new and different partners.
Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau extended the final count deadline to the end of October. Gustafson said she hopes in-person outreach events can happen before the self-response stage ends in August.
While Midland and Michigan as a whole is doing well, the people that still arent counted are the ones MNA are focusing on. People who are without internet access, live in poverty, or have language barriers are historically difficult to count. Latino and Black communities are also disproportionately undercounted.
Great Lakes Bay Region Census Hub Coordinator Chloe Updegraff said another problematic group are college student because they list themselves under the wrong address.
Students and their families need to be aware that if you were living in Mount Pleasant (CMU) or if you were living in Saginaw (SVSU) before the pandemic hit, you are counted in those college towns, Updegraff said. The universities are dependent on it, the services in that town depend on it.
Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau began reaching out to colleges and universities with significant off-campus student populations requesting roster information for off-campus students.
This information allows the Census Bureau to count students in their off-campus housing, even if they went home early due to a school closure or shift to distance learning. Updegraff said students living on-campus will automatically be counted as living in their dorms or residence halls.
Weve granted out thousands of dollars to local organizations to make sure census outreach is happening, Updegraff said. Our goal locally is to give a voice to the populations that have been overlooked previously in the census count, thats not going to happen this time.
Looking to Midland, an accurate census count means a lot more than representation in Lansing and Washington D.C.
Its about funding for important programs that people depend on, Updegraff said. After a disaster especially after a disaster we need to make sure people are being counted so these dollars come back to this community.
The census will require your name, gender, age, birthdate, race/ethnicity, address and homeowner status. Fill out the census online or call 844-330-2020 to answer the questions over-the-phone.
Meghan McCain said that America is 'one week away from blowing up Mount Rushmore' as she complained about offensive statues and monuments coming down around the country as part of efforts toward achieving racial equality.
McCain spoke out during a segment on The View Monday morning, discussing how the American Museum of Natural History asked the City of New York for permission to take down a statue of Theodore Roosevelt which 'depicts Black and Indigenous people as subjugated and racially inferior'.
The Republican daughter of late Senator John McCain reiterated the sentiment later on Twitter, posting: 'We're like one week removed from entire cable news panels debating whether or not we should blow up Mount Rushmore.'
In 1927, a white man from Connecticut dynamited the Black Hills, in South Dakota and carved the faces of the four founding fathers. It was against his agreement with state historian, Doane Robinson that the work would honor both Native Americans and pioneers.
Meghan McCain tweeted Monday: 'We're like one week removed from entire cable news panels debating whether or not we should blow up Mount Rushmore'
Theodore Roosevelt's face is depicted on Mount Rushmore alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. In 1927, a white man from Connecticut dynamited the Black Hills, in South Dakota and carved the faces of the four founding fathers. It was against his agreement to honor both Native Americans and pioneers
Theodore Roosevelt's face is depicted on Mount Rushmore alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.
McCain said on The View: 'I think the question I have is how far does this go? Are we talking about removing Mount Rushmore if we don't like our founding fathers? Are we talking about removing Robin Williams' character from Night at the Museum,' the children's movie where he portrays Teddy Roosevelt?'
McCain probed her co-hosts, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin on their person feelings about the removal of statues and monuments that are seen as glorifying racism and oppression.
Goldberg explained that the museum is not protesting Roosevelt, whose father was a founding member of the museum and who has several areas of the museum named after him.
'They're protesting the fact that he's sitting on a horse with the other two folks behind him,' Goldberg said.
McCain expressed opposition to the NYC American Museum of Natural History taking down statue of Theodore Roosevelt that shows him flanked by a Native American man and African American man
The statue was brought to life by Robin Williams who portrayed Roosevelt in the popular film series, Night at the Museum. In the film, he stars alongside Ben Stiller - who plays a security guard - who explores the events taking place at the museum at night. Are we talking about removing Robin Williams' character from Night at the Museum?' she asked
Whoopi Goldberg (top left) explained that for the museum it wasn't about not liking the man whose father founded the museum. 'All of these were put out by folks who were not affected really by it. It looked really heroic, and now folks who are affected say, we want some of our heroes to participate in this'
Theodore Roosevelt and his bronze statue Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. The Republican, whose face is depicted on Mount Rushmore alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, is credited with laying the groundwork for the modern Democratic party. His progressive policies levelled the playing field between rich and poor, and this mantle would be carried forward in the modern liberalism of his cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency. Teddy Roosevelt called himself a 'new nationalist,' and believed strongly in egalitarianism. The equestrian statue of the 33rd governor of New York outside the American Museum of Natural History was erected in 1939. Roosevelt had developed a 'cowboy' image and that of a brave, masculine warrior during his presidency. He was a great conservationist, setting up America's first National Parks, and also a foreign policy interventionist who proudly built up the US Navy with the Great White Fleet. It is through this context that we can see Roosevelt depicted as the bold colonialist explorer, guided through the wilderness by one figure representing Native America and the other, Africa. Museum president Ellen V. Futter calls this a 'hierarchical composition.' Theodore Roosevelt IV, a great-grandson of the president and museum trustee, claims: 'The composition of the Equestrian Statue does not reflect Theodore Roosevelt's legacy. It is time to move the statue and move forward.' Advertisement
Roosevelt's great-grandson gave his blessing to take down the statue.
But McCain wanted the museum to instead remove parts of the statue that show the black and Native American men.
'I love the museum of natural history. Children learn about animals, hunted by him. I'm confused,' she told her co-hosts. She explained she and her husband have a painting of Teddy Roosevelt at home and probed her co-hosts whether it would make them feel uncomfortable.
She added: 'We're entering a phase I'm not entirely comfortable with if we're going to eliminate all people who had anything to do in American history with something that's problematic because we should start with the naming of Yale and New York City if we're going to do that.'
After McCain shared her personal priority of what should be amended, Goldberg explained it might be time to replace some monuments that have been up over 100 years because other people who have been affected by America's violent history against people of color have had their own past erased.
'It is problematic because these statues have been put up and no one's talked about them,' Goldberg told McCain.
'So this is the first conversation, and again, no one is faulting Teddy Roosevelt for anything.
'They just want to remove that particular statue because of the way that it is sitting. I don't think they can take the Native American and the African away from there. I don't think they can separate it.'
Goldberg added: 'All of these were put out by folks who were not affected really by it. It looked really heroic, and now folks who are affected say, we want some of our heroes to participate in this. I
' think that's what this is really all about, and so I want more people to do their homework because to, you know, they're all flawed people.'
Goldberg however did disagree with the pulling down of a President Ulysses statue in San Francisco.
When the federal government forced the Native Americans to relinquish The Black Hills, sacred to the Lakota Sioux, and dishonored a treaty, President Ulysses Grant said the Native Americans would have to assimilate to their white oppressors or face a "war of extermination"', PBS reports.
In 1970s book Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, Dee Brown explained that hundreds of Native American men, women and children were then massacred by US troops.
Goldberg added: 'Grant like Lincoln married into a family that owned slaves. He freed them on the eve of the civil war. He was also one of the people that fought the KKK as attorney general.
'So there are problematic things with all of these, but now we're all in the conversation about them, and I think that's what makes this different.'
Sunny Hostin took a stance that a more complete American history needs to taught in schools and blamed the biased system for the stark differences in opinion.
'I think again it goes to education, right? And I can understand why people feel threatened and uncomfortable about tearing things down because if you have been taught your entire life that this is your history, that this is something that you should be proud of, you have been taught somehow that this is your heritage and you have been taught of your superiority,' Hostin told McCain.
'But that superiority is based on the alleged inferiority of others, there is tension there, and unfortunately again, it's this revisionist history that so many of us have been taught,' she continued.
'The solution lies in education because if you are taught that George Washington is not the person you thought he was, if you are taught perhaps that Roosevelt is not the person you thought he was, or Grant is not the person you thought he was, or General Lee is not the person you thought he was, I think you would think twice about having a statue of him up in a park or of him in your home.'
Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned on Tuesday the systematic recruitment of mercenaries and foreign fighters in Libya.
Addressing an Arab League ministerial meeting on Libya, Aboul Gheit expressed concern about the internationalisation of the Libyan conflict, the increase in foreign military interventions in the conflict, and the continuous violations of the arms embargo.
This has made Libya, a member state of the Arab League, an arena for foreign interventions, he said.
The Libyan people have been continuously bearing the grave repercussions of the conflict for years, and the developments in the conflict are pushing us away from the objective of reaching a complete settlement. The implications of the conflict pose a threat to the safety and unity of the Libyan state, the stability of neighbouring countries, and Arab national security as a whole, the head of the pan-Arab organisation warned.
Aboul Gheit stressed that the Arab League insists on maintaining the sovereignty and independence of the Libyan nation and strongly rejects any voices, whether inside or outside the country, that call for defection or division, as well as any planswhether local or foreignto divide spheres of influence and cause permanent harm to Libyas social fabric.
Aboul Gheit also said that the Arab League is against all forms for foreign intervention in Libya and any military solution to the conflict.
Instead, he stated, the Arab League only supports a comprehensive political solution to the Libyan crisis that deals with the security, political and economic aspects under UN supervision and in a manner that is consistent with the Arab Leagues resolutions and the Berlin talks.
Calling for an end to the clashes, especially around the Libyan city of Sirte, Aboul Gheit pointed out that any arrangements for a truce will not succeed if they are not accompanied by clear rules and commitments about the exit of foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya and the dismantling and demobilising of armed groups that are operating outside the state authority.
We highly appreciate any effort, especially coming from an Arab state, to facilitate the resumption of serious talks between the Libyan brothers, he said.
Aboul Gheit referred to the recent Egyptian initiative on Libya as an example of constructive suggestions that were welcomed regionally, internationally and on the Arab level.
He also mentioned that the Arab League is cooperating with the UN, the African Union, and the European Union to settle the conflict, and that it is leading an international committee that seeks to implement the conclusions of the Berlin Conference and unify international efforts for peace in Libya.
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Trump blasts radical left at Tulsa rally, warns of takeover if 'puppet' Biden is elected
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In his first campaign rally in more than 100 days, President Donald Trump addressed thousands of his supporters in Oklahoma on Saturday, warning Americans against allowing the radical left to take control over the country through presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The choice in 2020 is very simple, Trump said at the 19,000-seat Bank of Oklahoma Center in Tulsa Saturday evening, less than five months before the presidential election. Do you want to bow before the left-wing mob, or do you want to stand up tall and proud as Americans? he asked the crowd.
The unhinged left-wing mob is trying to vandalize our history, desecrate our monuments, our beautiful monuments, tear down our statues and punish, cancel and persecute anyone who does not conform to their demands for absolute and total control, Trump said at the indoor rally.
In California on Friday, rioters toppled a statue of Father Junipero Serra at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Serra was a missionary from Spain who traveled to Mexico in the 1700s to share the Gospel. They also destroyed a statue of Ulysses S. Grant, a Republican who helped to defeat the Confederates and win the Civil War. Grant was later elected as the 18th president of the United States.
On Thursday night, rioters in Portland, Oregon, toppled a statue of George Washington, the nation's first president, and draped a U.S. flag on top of the head of the statue and set it on fire. After the statue crashed to the ground, another U.S. flag was set on fire and urinated on.
In response, the president said, Were not conforming, thats why were here, actually. This cruel campaign of censorship and exclusion violates everything we hold dear as Americans. They want to demolish our heritage so they can impose their new repressive regime in its place.
If the Democrats gain power, the rioters will be in charge, and nobody will be safe, and nobody will be in control, said Trump, who has blamed the rioting on the radical left, anarchists and Antifa.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, whose residents have suffered the most in the wake of riots that followed the police-involved death of George Floyd, recently said the city would need well over $55 million in state and federal aid to rebuild more than 1,000 local businesses and new residential properties that were burned down. That number has since increased to over $500 million.
During the rally speech, Trump also took a jab at his opponent, saying, Biden is a puppet of the radical left. And hes not radical left. I dont think he knows what he is anymore.
He then assured that, if re-elected, he would deal with damages done to the economy by the COVID-19 pandemic. And next year, if we dont do anything stupid, you are going to have the greatest economic year youve ever had, he said.
Trumps campaign had said it had received over a million ticket requests for the rally. But according to The New York Times, just over 6,000 were in attendance.
According to a spokesman for the Tulsa Fire Department on Sunday, the fire marshal counted 6,200 scanned tickets of attendees, according to The New York Times. That number would not include staff, media or those in box suites.
Days before the rally, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum warned in an executive order that the state had received ... information from the Tulsa Police Department and other law enforcement agencies that shows that individuals from organized groups who have been involved in destructive and violent behavior in other states are planning to travel to the city of Tulsa for purposes of causing unrest in and around the rally."
According to an earlier plan, Trump was to give a speech outside the venue after he finished the indoor rally. However, that plan was canceled at the last minute.
The Democratic National Committee claimed the rally was not successful. It tweeted, With all those empty seats the Trump campaign should really consider social distancing.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist from New York, hailed the China-controlled Tik-Tok app for users' coordinated effort to "flood the Trump campaign w/fake ticket reservations" and not show up, leaving thousands of empty seats.
However, Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale wrote in a tweet that the rally was not affected by Tik-Tok, but rather by media fear-mongering and hundreds of protesters outside the venue who blocked supporters from entering.
Radical protestors fueled by a week of apocalyptic media coverage, interfered with @realDonaldTrump supporters at the rally. They even blocked access to the metal detectors, preventing people from entering. Thanks to the 1,000s who made it anyway! Parscale wrote.
Ahead of the Tulsa rally, Vice President Mike Pence attended a roundtable with black pastors and Oklahoma elected officials at the Tulsa Dream Center church.
At the 45-minute roundtable in north Tulsa, the group highlighted the need for access to better education and school choice, prison reform, health disparities in the African American community and Tulsa being an example for how the country could move forward.
While there, the pastors talked about the benefits of the administration's opportunity zone policy, and Pence spoke about the presidents executive order on policing. He told the pastors the administration would look for more practical solutions.
There were no protesters at the church.
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel on the National Day, the Armenian PMs Office told Armenpress.
The letter says:
I warmly congratulate you and address my best wishes to you and the good people of Luxembourg on the National Day.
We highly value the relations between Armenia and Luxembourg which are developing in an atmosphere of mutual trust and are interested in further deepening, strengthening our productive cooperation by implementing the agreements and programs reached during my visit to Luxembourg last year in May.
I wish you good health and new achievements, and to the good people of Luxembourg a speedy return to their normal life, further progress and prosperity.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Singapore, June 22 (ANI): Fitch Ratings has revised the outlook to negative from stable on long-term issuer default ratings (IDRs) of nine India-based banks while affirming their IDRs, support ratings and support rating floors.
They are Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM), State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Bank of Baroda (New Zealand) Ltd, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank.
The rating actions follow Fitch's revision of the outlook on the BBB-minus rating on India to negative from stable on June 18 due to the impact of escalating coronavirus pandemic on the country's economy.
Fitch said the IDRs for all the nine banks are support-driven and anchored to their respective special refinance facilities.
They are based on the assessment of high to moderate probability of extraordinary state support for these banks, which takes into account assessment of the sovereign's ability and propensity to provide extraordinary support.
The negative outlook on India's sovereign rating reflects an increasing strain on the state's ability to provide extraordinary support due to the sovereign's limited fiscal space and the significant deterioration in fiscal metrics due to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fitch said the rating action does not affect the banks' viability ratings. EXIM does not have a viability rating as its role as a policy bank makes an assessment of its standalone credit profile less meaningful. (ANI)
Columbia man charged in deadly Kansas City shooting, burning of body, connected to homeless camp by: Brian Dulle Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 41-year-old Columbia man is facing charges for the late January or early February 2020 deadly Kansas City shooting of 32-year-old Derrick Wallace. Jackson County prosecutors Monday charged Mark S. Salisbury with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm.
This suspect is connected to a tragic local murder that offers insight into the hardcore crime and tough living conditions hidden near the loop.Take a look:
The Smithfield Foods-owned Farmer John plant in Vernon on May 29. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Responding to coronavirus outbreaks plaguing the industrial city of Vernon, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday asked local health officials to do more to protect the small town's workers, many of whom live in surrounding working-class communities.
Supervisor Hilda Solis introduced an order requesting that the Los Angeles County Health Department work with Vernon officials and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health to recommend safety measures.
The largest outbreak happened at the Smithfield Foods-owned Farmer John pork-processing plant, where more than 150 of 1,837 employees tested positive for COVID-19 between March and June. Eight other Vernon facilities experienced outbreaks, for a total of more than 200 known infections in the city.
Vernon has only about 200 residents but its approximately 2,000 businesses employ 54,000 people, according to the county. The majority of workers live in southeast L.A. County cities, such as Huntington Park, Bell, Cudahy and South Gate.
The order comes after a June 2 report requested by Solis found that of 165 sick employees at Vernon plants, 157 of them live in cities under the countys jurisdiction and two live in Long Beach. The report also noted that, before June 15, Vernons health department was the only one in the state to not have a physician in a health officer role.
Because the majority of infected workers live in working-class, heavily Latino communities, which are already disproportionately affected by COVID-19, further protections and safety measures are needed to ensure our residents and workers at industrial facilities, and other businesses in Vernon, including factories and plants are protected, Solis said in the motion.
The motion requests that CAL/OSHA and Vernon officials identify strategies that ensure workers are being properly informed about the resources available to them and that a standardized notification protocol be established or improved. The county expects a report of findings and recommendations within two weeks, according to the motion.
Times staff writer Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report.
In response to Joshua Heides Letter to the editor Why Require Masks? (June 10), I will try to help him understand his apparent confusion about the use of face masks and his deep state anxieties about complying.
1. The current and latest guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) are - the general public should wear cloth masks made from at least three layers of fabric on public transport, in shops, or in other confined or crowded environments.
It also says people age 60 or older or with preexisting conditions should wear medical masks in areas where theres community transmission of the coronavirus and physical distancing is impossible, and that all workers in clinical settings should wear medical masks in areas with widespread transmission.
A growing number of doctors, scientists, and public health experts have been calling for universal masking in indoor public spaces and crowded outdoor spaces. In other words, we need to embrace the idea that wearing a mask is one of the easiest ways to stop transmission and we may be doing so for a while.
2. Historically, Asians have been much better about this. In 1910-11 Chinese, Russian, Mongolian, and Japanese scientists came together to combat the outbreak of the bubonic plague in Manchuria; face masks were deemed effective. Both Chinese and Japanese swiftly re-adopted using face masks during the 1918-19 flu pandemic that killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide. Asia has dealt with ongoing outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and other transmittable diseases including flu epidemics 1957/58, 1968/69, 2009/10. Their governments mandated social distancing and widespread use of face masks.
Today in Asia, you will find widespread use of face masks even when there is not a pandemic. In Vietnam where motor scooters are the norm, you find almost everyone using face masks against the dusty conditions of the roadways. You will find the same response in major cities where there is unrestrained industrial air pollution. Their use has become accepted and normal.
During the 1918 flu pandemic, California was an early adopter of social distancing and the use of face masks to reduce transmission. In fact, citizens in San Francisco were fined $5 (equal to $95 in 2020) if they were caught in public without masks and charged with disturbing the peace. These early approaches worked then and they are just as effective today.
3. Unfortunately too many Americans today share an attitude that this is a free nation and they are entitled to do whatever they want. They seem oblivious to what is proper and responsible behavior toward others.
Followers of this president are inclined to challenge the leadership of state governments who are trying to protect their citizens. This is a president who tells them they are victims of science, health experts, democrats, Antifa, a free press, the deep state and he refuses to wear a face mask himself.
We see this uniformly across Republican-dominated states and now they are suffering for it. Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and other conservative states are seeing a swift infection rate where they refused to implement what health experts recommended.
If you dont want to stay inside (most dont) and you insist on connecting with others, then you need to be extra careful in how you go about it. The least constraining and costly is a cloth face mask. For the next six months, this needs to become a standard part of our civil uniform.
Experts are now predicting an increase to 145,000 dead by the first week in August. Others are stating we will probably lose over 200,000 by the end of 2020. We have the highest loss of life in the world. China has held its total deaths to less than 5,000, so which nation has done a better job at protecting the lives of its citizens?
The president has essentially disbanded the Coronavirus Task Force after we passed 50,000 American dead; he doesnt like bad news and has since declared a great victory over the disease.
Meanwhile, our very stable genius, who has an obsession with packed, adoring, chanting crowds has moved the Republican convention to Florida since North Carolina insists on masks and appropriate social distancing. I doubt you will find anyone there wearing a face mask. What a catastrophe in the making.
This is a deadly pandemic, Joshua, and you need to do your civil best to not get infected or infect others. Thats why you need to use a face mask and listen to the experts about this disease.
Ron Rogers
Napa
CHANDIGARH
Terming the Galwan Valley incident as part of a larger design on the part of China, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said that India should not make the mistake of dismissing the incident as a patrol clash, but should take a firm stand against any Chinese incursions into Indian territory.
He said the amount of build-up in Galwan Valley showed that the Chinese were working on a plan and India could not afford to lose even an inch of its land in the area. We have all seen clashes in our times, with Pakistan and even with Chinese, and this is definitely not a patrol clash. We have to take a strong position, and we should be clear that if we lose even an inch of land, we must hold them responsible, he said at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) video-conference convened by the partys interim president Sonia Gandhi.
Amarinder also cornered the Centre over its failure to support the state in its fight against Covid, pointing out that all that Punjab had received so far from the Centre was its own Rs 2,800 crore for January to March period, and just a few other grants. He said that GST dues for April to June were still pending. Despite repeated pleas and memorandums, no help was forthcoming from the Centre to the state government for tackling the Covid crisis, he said, adding that the centre was not giving even the states own share.
The CM said his government was forced to manage on its own to create resources for fighting Covid. I am sure other states are in the same unfortunate position. Nobody is listening to us, he lamented. He said with 2.33 lakh of the total 2.52 lakh industries in Punjab were now open and migrants were also back to the state but the units were currently working at 40% capacity and would take some months to return to their full strength.
Speaking of the states economic revival plan, Amarinder said the Montek Ahulwalia committee set up to formulate the strategy was sharing its feedback with the government, which was accordingly charting the way forward. The committee has six working teams, of which the finance team had already submitted its report and the others were expected to come in soon.
Some local bars and restaurants are voluntarily shutting down as San Antonio experiences a rise in COVID-19 hospital admissions and people testing positive for the disease in recent days.
Earlier this month, restaurants were allowed to expand to 75 percent occupancy. They were allowed to reopen their dinning rooms May 1 after they were forced to temporarily close in March because of stay home orders issued by the city and Bexar County. Bars can operate at a 50 percent occupancy rate.
In recent days, some bars and restaurants have publicly announced when either an employee or customer has tested positive. Some establishments have temporarily closed again while others shut down for only a few days for deep cleaning and have already reopened.
Below are some of the San Antonio bars and restaurants that have recently announced temporary closings due to COVID-19.
BLUE BELL, Pa., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than one in three (31%) Americans are concerned about their data security while working from home during the COVID-19 global health crisis, according to the new 2020 Unisys Security Index. The survey found that overall concerns around internet security (including computer viruses and hacking) have plunged in the last year, falling 13 points from 2019 and ranking the lowest among the four primary areas of security surveyed for the first time since 2010.
The findings come despite a significant rise in cyberattacks during the pandemic: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports more than 52,000 cases of reported fraud related to COVID-19. According to the FBI, online crimes reported to the Bureau's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) have increased by 400% as a result of the pandemic, with as many as 4,000 incidents per day.
The survey also found that most Americans (70%) are not concerned about the risk of being scammed during or about the health crisis. This lack of concern was even more stark compared to the rest of the world, as Americans were 24% less likely to report concern about a data breach during the pandemic as compared to the global average. Americans were much more likely to be concerned about their country's economic stability, with 60% registering serious concern (extremely or very concerned), and the stability of the country's health infrastructure, with 55% extremely or very concerned.
Personal Safety Concerns Rise to the Top
The survey the longest-running snapshot of consumer security concerns conducted globally also asked U.S. respondents about their concerns related to personal security, national security and financial security. Not surprisingly, concerns around personal safety and natural disasters and epidemics increased by 17% and 6% from 2019, respectively; however, that was met with a stark drop in concerns over national security, which saw a 19% decrease from 2019.
"It's not surprising to see people's level of concern for their personal safety jump in light of the global health crisis. However, the fact that it is not only matched by, but exceeded by, a drop in concerns around hacking, scamming or online fraud reflects a false sense of consumer security," said Unisys Chief Information Security Officer Mat Newfield. "Hackers target healthcare and essential services organizations looking to steal intellectual property and intelligence, such as details on national health policies and COVID-19 research. And hackers are relying on tricks like 'password spraying,' which involves an attacker repeatedly using common passwords on many accounts to gain access, putting our most critical infrastructures at risk potentially from the click of a single working-from-home employee.
"This underscores the need for businesses to ensure they are placing a clear and concerted emphasis on proper training for their employees working from home and adopting a Zero Trust security architecture that leverages best practices like encryption and microsegmentation."
2020 Unisys Security Index: Demographic Differences Take Shape
The 2020 Unisys Security Index surveyed more than 15,000 consumers in 15 countries, including more than 1,000 in the U.S., in March and April 2020. Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) gauged their attitudes on a wide range of security-related issues. On a scale of zero to 300, with 300 representing the highest level of concern, the U.S. index is now at 159, a serious level of concern and the second-highest among the nine developed* countries surveyed.
Notably, the survey found that security concerns in all countries are higher among women, younger people and those with lower incomes. In the U.S., the survey found concern was 12 points higher among women than men and 13 points higher among 18-to-24-year-olds than respondents aged 55 to 65. The level of concern for U.S. respondents with lower incomes was 14 points higher than higher-income respondents.
"The survey shines a spotlight on the significant ways that COVID-19 has impacted everyone, especially women, young adults and those with lower incomes," said Unisys Chief Marketing Officer Ann Sung Ruckstuhl. "According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly half of adults 18 and over have either lost employment income or another adult in their household has lost employment income since the beginning of the pandemic. For many women, particularly those with children at home, the pandemic has only magnified the challenges they have long been facing as they juggle career and family."
For more results and information on the 2020 Unisys Security Index, click here.
*The Unisys Security Index defines a "developed" country as one in which the gross domestic product per capita is measured at $12,000 or more.
About Unisys
Unisys is a global information technology company that builds high-performance, security-centric solutions for the most demanding businesses and governments. Unisys offerings include security software and services; digital transformation and workplace services; industry applications and services; and innovative software operating environments for high-intensity enterprise computing. For more information on how Unisys builds better outcomes securely for its clients across the government, financial services and commercial markets, visit www.unisys.com.
Follow Unisys on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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A photo taken in March 2019 shows North Korean workers queuing for a flight to Pyongyang at an airport in Beijing.
North Korean citizens working in China on family visit visas have suddenly been labelled defectors and face arrest, caught in a government campaign to discredit exiles after groups based in South Korea sent anti-Pyongyang leaflets on balloons, sources in the country told RFA.
North Korea previously paid little attention to citizens overstaying their 60-day family visitation passes to work under the radar in China. Thousands of them send money back to the North at a time when formal labor exports are banned under international sanctions, and officials welcome bribes to look the other way.
But now that leader Kim Jong Uns sister has spearheaded a drive to denounce traitorous exiles, the high-level attention to the issue has caused overzealous authorities to start to accuse even individual travelers of being defectors, a source in North Pyongan province told RFAs Korean Service on June 18.
Authorities have sprung into action since Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Uns younger sister and possible successor, called the leaflet-launchers human scum and mongrel dogs in state media.
Since a few days ago, the security department in southern Sinuiju has been re-investigating travelers who left for China on relative-visit visas, said the source, who requested anonymity to speak freely. Sinuiju is a city on North Koreas side of the Sino-Korean border.
Those who have not yet returned are being named as defectors who betrayed their homeland -- even if some of them are staying on due to the coronavirus crisis, the source said.
The border closed in January as both countries went on lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, leaving many North Koreans stranded past their 60-day permits.
According to a survey conducted by the security department in North Pyongan, not even half of the people who traveled to China to visit relatives have returned home, said the source.
Most of those who did not return are either working in China to make money or they settled down in South Korea and are sending money and goods to their families, the source added.
The distinction between defectors, who fled North Korea while in the government or military, and refugees who escaped poverty or hunger, is often blurred in colloquial Korean when discussing those whove left the country.
Breeding new resentments?
RFA previously reported that until recently, the North Korean government referred to refugees as illegal border crossers, but started using the term defector.
Leaving the country had been a relatively low-priority crime until very recently.
Until now, the security department has turned a blind eye to individual travelers not returning home, extorting bribes from their families to raise funds for the departments operation, the source said.
Now, however, authorities have ordered the security department to arrest them, the source added.
The pressure on these breadwinners in China is likely to make people even more resentful of the authorities, the source said.
If they define individual travelers as defectors and [forcefully] repatriate them to North Korea, the enemy forces that blame the authorities will grow, including the [families of the] tens of thousands of defectors who settled in South Korea, the source said, referring to language used in state media to denounce refugees.
Hundreds of thousands of defectors family members live across our county. This will be a force that cannot be ignored, the source added.
Family members of the North Koreans in China are feeling the heat as authorities step up efforts to track them down and pressure them to repatriate.
Yesterday I got an international phone call on my cell phone. It was my mom. I was surprised, a North Korean citizen from Chongjin, North Hamgyong province, who left for China in April of last year on a family visit permit, told RFA on condition of anonymity.
With a tremble in her voice, she said, The Party trusted you and sent you to China. Come home right away. I know that the security department plays tricks like this, so I just hung up, said the second source.
The security department in Chongjin is summoning the families of individual travelers who are not returning home and forcing them to make international calls to the travelers, the second source said.
They are threatening that if they dont return home on their own, their families also will be punished as defectors families, the second source added.
Im just trying to feed my family
But the second source said that most people travel to China purely for economic reasons.
Its not that we arent leaving [China] because we are ill-intentioned. Im not a politician. Im just trying to feed my family because my country is poor, said the source.
My goal is to make money on my own, because in North Korea, if you dont have money, youre dead. If you have money, you can walk around showing off your belly, the second source added.
I want to go home right now, but I dont want to go back to a country where it is hard to live even if I work hard. Shouldnt I stay in China and save my family? the second source added.
Pyongyang kicked off its anti-defector campaign after groups of North Korean refugees who fled to South Korea launched balloons carrying leaflets denouncing Kim Jong Un earlier this month.
Blaming Seouls inability to halt the leaflets, Pyongyang blew up the inter-Korean liaison office in the Kaesong Industrial Complex last week, days after it severed official communication lines with the South.
Experts, however, say the provocations are aimed at extracting concessions from the United States and South Korea in stalled negotiations on the Norths nuclear weapons programs.
There are no official figures for North Koreans illegally staying in China, but estimates fall between 30,000 and 50,000, according to a report published in The Diplomat in January. The U.S. State Department estimated similar numbers in its 2009 world refugee survey.
Reported by Hyemin Son for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said the current crisis on the border with China is attributable to the mismanagement of the BJP-led government and the wrong policies pursued by it.
The crisis on the border, if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation,
former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) the 3,500-km de-facto border with China.
Addressing the meeting, Gandhi also hit out at the government for "mercilessly" raising petrol and diesel prices for 17 consecutive days, even when global prices of crude oil were coming down.
"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 said.
She also noted that the "mismanagement" of the COVID-19 pandemic will be recorded as one of "most disastrous failures" of the Narendra Modi government.
Endorsing Gandhi's remarks, Singh said, "The pandemic is not being tackled with the courage and magnitude and effort needed to tackle the crisis. Another instance is the crisis on the border, which if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation."
Noting that the country faces a full-blown crisis on the LAC, Gandhi said, "The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will inform the government's actions in protecting our territorial integrity."
Indian and Chinese armies have been on a six-week standoff in several areas of eastern Ladakh. The ties between the two countries came under severe strain after Chinese military killed 20 Indian Army personnel and injured around 76 in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15.
St. Helena Drama standout Sofia Osborne is heading to Carnegie Mellon University with a shiny new St. Helena High School diploma and a $250 Distinguished Art scholarship from the Napa Valley Arts Education Alliance, recognizing her excellence in theater. In April, Sofia told the Star shes interested in directing and performing. Nobody who saw St. Helenas Dramas The Laramie Project, which she directed, would doubt her skills. The last time a St. Helena High School graduate named Sofia went into the film industry, she won an Oscar, so who knows what the future holds for Ms. Osborne. The other Sofias last name? Coppola, of course.
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Also in academic news, Gabriel Roche of St. Helena studied his way onto the spring Deans List at the University of Rhode Island. Nicely done, Gabriel!
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Oregon State University sent out its graduate list, and although there are no St. Helena scholars, there are two from Angwin: Alejandro Navarro (mechanical engineering) and Tristan N. Winkle (nuclear engineering). Congratulations on your degrees, young men. I wish you good fortune.
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In fair Verona ... Napa Valley Colleges Shakespeare Napa Valley is inviting members of the community to submit videos of themselves performing the prologue to Romeo and Juliet. The videos will be incorporated into a video montage used during the virtual production, directed by Jennifer King, at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16. Find out more at ShakespeareNapaValley.org.
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Congratulations to Julien Fayard, recently named head winemaker at Somnium Wines on Howell Mountain. Juliens resume reads like a winemakers fantasy: started out at his familys winery in Provence, then worked in Bordeaux, then became Philippe Melkas director of winemaking in the Napa Valley, then branched out on his own, and now hired by Somniums Danica Patrick.
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Local stores, wineries, restaurants and hotels are offering Explore Your Backyard deals offering locals savings of 20% or more. The deals are posted at NapaValleySpirit.com. Kudos to Visit Napa Valley and the Napa Valley Vintners for organizing the effort.
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Have you noticed the Honey Bear on the electrical box in front of Wells Fargo? Its the work of San Francisco street artist (and creative speller) Fnnch, whos spreading them all over Northern California. Public art is good for the soul dont you agree?
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Ill close with a postscript to last weeks news article about the mammoth Guenoc Ranch development proposal just up the road near Middletown. According to the Lake County Record-Bee, the Lake County Planning Commission decided they need more time to study the projects environmental impact report. The next Zoom hearing will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 25.
(Editor's Note: This article has been modified, because Allison in Wine Country is not opening a store in Napa.)
Russian leadership, by appropriating the laurels of victory over Nazism, seeks to become the same global player as the Soviet Union was during World War II, flying the flag of USSR.
Russia incessantly loses its role and place in global politics, and since 2014, after the start of the aggression against Ukraine, it has fallen into international isolation. However, geopolitical ambitions have remained the same as they were in the USSR. That is why, Russia seeks to strengthen its positions in different ways, including by using the issues of history, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar said in an interview with Ukrinform.
According to him, the Kremlin envisions that the parade of June 24 should clearly demonstrate that Russia continues to be one of the "great powers" that decide the fate of the world.
By inviting world leaders to it [the parade], the Kremlin leadership intended to demonstrate that Russia occupies the same global position as the former Soviet Union did. This is evidenced by the choice of a new date for the parade - exactly 75 years after Stalin's "parade of winners", i.e. a direct parallel with the former Soviet dictator who participated in the division of the world into spheres of influence, Bodnar noted.
The deputy foreign minister underscored that the victory in World War II was a common achievement of all members of the anti-Hitler coalition. According to him, a certain reflection of this was the joint Putin-Trump declaration on the Elbe Day.
At the same time, the diplomat stated that for some reason, other nations that suffered and fought against Nazism were forgotten. The Kremlin also conceals the great contribution of Ukraine to the victory and terrible victims it suffered and appropriates all the laurels of the winner and liberator.
The Russian leadership wants to become the same global player as the Soviet Union was during World War II, flying the flag of the USSR. This is the main manipulative narrative. But it is as far from reality as the ideology of Putin's parade, which shield itself with Victory to achieve mercantile goals, Bodnar added.
As reported, the parade to the 75th anniversary of the Victory in World War II was traditionally scheduled in Russia for May 9, but it was postponed to June 24 due to coronavirus pandemic. Earlier, the World Health Organization warned Russia that mass events could contribute to the spread of coronavirus.
On June 22, 1941, despite a secret non-aggression pact (the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939) and close military-economic cooperation between Germany and the USSR, Nazi Germany attacked Soviet troops along the entire border from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. The Soviet-German war of 1941-1945 began as an integral but major part of World War II.
ol
India on Monday strongly raised with China the 'premediated' attack on Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley and demanded immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh, during the second round of Lt General-level talks
New Delhi: India on Monday strongly raised with China the "premeditated" attack on Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley and demanded immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh, during the second round of Lt General-level talks, sources familiar with the development said.
As India's border tension with China escalated, top commanders of the Army carried out a comprehensive review of the entire situation in eastern Ladakh and resolved to deal with any Chinese misadventure with a "firm hand", they said.
The Lt General-level talks began at around 11.30 am at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh and lasted for close to 11 hours, they said.
The focus of the deliberations was on finalising modalities for disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh, the people said. There is no official word on the outcome of the talks yet.
The first round of the Lt Gen talks was held on 6 June at the same venue during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.
However, the situation along the border deteriorated following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on 15 June that left 20 Indian Army personnel dead. Both sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the 3,500-km de-facto border after the clashes.
Though China has not revealed its casualty figure, there were reports that a commanding officer of the Chinese army was among those killed in the clashes. There is no official confirmation about it.
In the talks, India pressed for restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh including in Pangong Tso.
Separately, the top army commanders at a conference in Delhi on Monday held a detailed deliberation on the eastern Ladakh standoff and on the overall situation along the Line of Actual Control, official sources said.
On the first day of the two day conference, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane carried out a comprehensive review of India's security preparedness along the LAC with China in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, they said. They said Gen Naravane is likely to visit Leh on Tuesday afternoon to take stock of the operation preparedness of the Army in the region.
The government has given "full freedom" to the armed forces, deployed along the 3,500-km de-facto border with China, to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure, government sources said after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the situation in eastern Ladakh at a meeting with the top military brass on Sunday.
The Army has already sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border in the last one week. The IAF has also moved a sizable number of its frontline Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000 aircraft and Apache attack helicopters to several key air bases including Leh and Srinagar following the clashes.
The Indian delegation at the talks in Moldo was led by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh while the Chinese was headed by the Commander of the Tibet Military District. The sources cited above said India raised the issue of Galwan Valley clashes in the Lt General-level talks.
In a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called the clashes a "premeditated" action by Chinese PLA and held it directly responsible for the incident.
The Chinese soldiers used stones, nail-studded sticks, iron rods and clubs in carrying out brutal attacks on Indian soldiers after they protested the erection of a surveillance post by China on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control in Galwan.
After the clashes, the two sides held at least three-rounds of Major-General level talks to explore ways to ease the situation between the two sides.
The two armies were engaged in a standoff in Galwan and several other areas of eastern Ladakh since 5 May when their troops clashed on the banks of the Pangong Tso. The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on 5 and 6 May. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in north Sikkim on 9 May.
WASHINGTON - As America grapples with racism in its past, President Donald Trump lined up squarely Tuesday with those who argue that the pendulum has swung too far in favour of removing statues and other symbols of that flawed history, saying mistakes will be repeated if not learned from and understood.
Trumps campaign also sees the divide over this latest cultural flash point as a way to boost the presidents standing, which has suffered during his handling of the coronavirus outbreak and the protests over racial injustice that followed George Floyds death in Minneapolis.
After weeks spent demanding law and order in response to the protests sparked by Floyds death by police, Trump began to draw a line in the sand.
He promised executive action to protect monuments after some statues of Confederates and other historical figures with checkered life stories were angrily brought down from parks and other places of public prominence.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he'll issue an executive order to protect monuments that are coming under new scrutiny as America wrestles with racism during the unrest sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. (June 23) (The Associated Press)
Trump said he wants the maximum punishment available under federal law up to a decade in prison for those who destroy or tamper with statues on public property that commemorate anyone who served in the U.S. military. He said the executive order would reinforce existing law.
We are looking at long-term jail sentences for these vandals and these hoodlums and these anarchists and agitators, Trump said, referring to protesters who have vented their anger over racial injustice by toppling statues of figures tied to Americas racist history.
He spoke out after an attempt Monday night to bring down a Lafayette Park statue of Andrew Jackson, one of Trumps favourite presidents, was foiled by police in the park across from the White House. Trump called it a sneak attack on the statue of Jackson, who owned slaves and was ruthless in his treatment of Native Americans.
We should learn from the history, he told Fox News in a taped interview broadcast Tuesday. And if you dont understand your history, you will go back to it again.
Trumps campaign sees the attempts to remove statues as a potential presidential lifeline. The campaign argues that liberals are dramatically overreaching by embracing calls to defund the police and remove statues of American icons taught in history books.
At his Tuesday address in Phoenix to a gathering of Students for Trump, the president sought to tie the radical left to efforts to demolish monuments, while praising police for thwarting the Monday night attempt to topple the Jackson monument.
If you give power to people that demolish monuments and attack churches and seize city streets and set fire to buildings, then nothing is sacred, Trump said. And no one is safe.
Trumps prior defence of Confederate statues and military bases named after such figures amounted to a political risk in the current climate. But aides now believe the president has found an unexpected new attack line against Democrats as the effort to remove symbols has spread in some places to include the likes of Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Jackson and George Washington.
Though all three figures were flawed individuals, Trumps campaign believes he can use them to wage a culture war and position the president as the defender of a way of life that is threatened by demographic change and generational shifts in views on issues from marriage to racial justice.
Calls to overhaul policing and confront lingering racial inequality may be bipartisan, but Trumps reelection team believes the most aggressive steps being pushed by some Democrats will turn off centrists and energize the presidents base - many of whom share his avowed commitment to safeguard symbols of the nations past. A White House official and a campaign aide outlined the presidents thinking speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday cast the lawlessness of the attacks on statues as a cultural phenomenon among far-left radicals in need of a history lesson.
Our founding fathers are being roped to the ground like they were Saddam Hussein, McConnell said, referring to Iraqs former authoritarian leader. Iraqis celebrated the end of Husseins government by toppling a statue of Hussein in Baghdad in April 2003.
McConnell, R-Ky., criticized protesters for doing the same to statues of Washington and Thomas Jefferson. And he marveled at efforts to take down statues of Grant, the general who crushed the Confederacy, the president who used federal force to fight the Klan. They, too, have been placed on the historical hit list for this new Red Guard that nobody elected.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chambers only Black Republican, also decried the toppling of statues but said celebrating all of our history would be crazy.
Im not going to celebrate all of our history because all of it shouldnt be celebrated, Scott told Fox News on Tuesday. But we should remember it.
Visitors to the Lafayette Square area Tuesday also panned the statue removal effort.
Wenola Wade, a white resident of the District of Columbia, said shes frustrated that were not far enough along in dealing with systemic racism but added that we cant take down every single statue. Thats stupid.
To me, that takes away from what the real message is, said Wade, 75, who was walking near Lafayette Square around midday hoping to see some of the protesters posters.
Daryl Colter, an African American who lives in a Maryland suburb, brought his 5-year-old daughter to a street near the White House that the city has renamed as Black Lives Matter Plaza as an educational moment.
He said he wants leaders from the government and the protest movement to get together and have discussions about the Jackson statue and others, but you cant just go around taking it into your own hands and just tear something down.
Defacing, tearing it down, its going against the cause, Colter said.
American University history professor Alan Kraut said he and some of his colleagues have used the statues as teaching tools but that a more appropriate question amid the renewed scrutiny is whether their physical destruction makes society better.
Do you enrich society and social opportunity and social justice by tearing down these statues or is this just a feel-good moment? Kraut asked.
The White House declined comment on when Trump would issue the executive order.
___
Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Laurie Kellman, Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.
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Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap
Sham: A trick that deludes. A hoax
Merriam-Webster.com
It might sound harsh, but sham is an apt description of the so-called election reform measure headed to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that would purportedly open New Mexicos primary elections to independent voters.
The measure was included as an amendment by Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales, to Senate Bill 4 legislation that includes a number of election provisions, including one that makes voting by absentee an easier process in light of the coronavirus pandemic. While that provision is beneficial to the New Mexico voting process, the primary election provision is not.
Sapien is correct when he says it makes sense for independents officially known here as Declined to State to have a vote in primaries because it would force the major political parties to appeal to a broader group of voters and allow many more New Mexicans to vote. Indeed, allowing independents to participate in primaries would be a key reform, one the Journal has consistently supported.
But heres the sham part: Under provisions of the legislation, independent voters will be able to vote in primaries ONLY if they formally change their registration to Democrat, Republican or Libertarian which they can already do now. The change is that while currently they must make the switch at least 28 days prior to Election Day, the proposed bill would allow them to do so at the polls. And, of course, they would RETAIN that new major party registration unless they take the trouble to truck on down to their county clerk and re-register as independents.
In what might be the understatement of the legislative session, Sapien noted this isnt a fully open primary system and described it as more of a compromise.
The folks really being asked to compromise are N.M.s independent voters, who will have to pledge allegiance to a party for the privilege of casting a primary ballot.
So its no surprise the change was popular on both sides of the Legislatures political aisle, passing 37-5. Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, said it was something thats been kicking around for a long time. Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, D-Albuquerque, called it a good balance that represented collaboration of senators from both parties. Under the popular moniker of reform, the real impact is to push independents into a major party and hope they stay there, winnowing down their growing ranks.
Real reform would have been allowing independents to participate in primary elections simply by asking for a ballot they would choose whether they wanted to cast their votes in the Democratic or Republican primary no registration change required.
The growth in independents, especially popular among younger voters, shows growing disenchantment with major parties and is a threat to Democratic and Republican machines. Brian Sanderoff of Research and Polling Inc. got data from the Secretary of States Office showing DTS voters account for 22.1% of the electorate as of June 22. Thats up from 15% in 2010.
Sanderoff says the rise in DTS voters has been steady since 1982. In 1990, Democrats made up 59% of the electorate while Republicans were at 35%. (The rest are Libertarian or other parties.) Now Democrats make up 45.6% of the states voters with Republicans at 30.5%. Thats roughly a 13 percentage point drop for Democrats and 5 percentage points for the GOP.
Any way you look at it, hundreds of thousands of N.M. voters are now and will continue to be disenfranchised from participating in primary elections simply because they wont declare themselves members of one of the major political parties. (The hope for judicial relief was dashed in 2017 when the state Supreme Court unfortunately ruled the current system constitutional.)
As part of the broader package, the primary elections measure awaits the governors signature or veto pen. But dont be fooled into thinking this is reform. Its not. In fact, its just the opposite.
This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
A five-year-old boy has been killed in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Mujeeb was cut on his head by yet-to-be-identified persons Monday morning.
Akinyele local government has been in the news in the last one month. Three women, Bakakat Bello, Azeezat Shomuyowa and Grace Oshiagwu were recently killed in the same area after they were allegedly raped.
Before the killings, some unknown gunmen had stormed three villages in the local government area where three others were killed.
A resident on Monday night said Mujeeb was attacked at the back of his parents house in Tose area of Akinyele.
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It was gathered that Mujeeb had gone to defecate when he was killed.
The resident, Akeem Abiodun, said Mujeeb was attacked with a shovel. He added that Mujeeb died before he was taken to the hospital.
The child went to the back of the house to defecate and before they know what is happening someone has broken the head of the child with shovel before her mother get there.
As a result of the noise of the child the person that did it has disappeared and before they could get to hospital the child gave up, he said.
All efforts made to get the reaction of the state police spokesperson, Olugbenga Fadeyi, were unsuccesful at the time of this report.
Several calls put through his mobile phone were not answered and a message sent to him has not been replied.
Boise, Idaho: The case of two kids who were missing for months before they were found dead in rural Idaho has taken another bizarre twist, with new court documents alleging that their mother believed they were zombies and that she was on a mission to rid the world of such creatures.
Police discovered the remains of 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and her 7-year-old brother, Joshua JJ Vallow, on June 9 at property belonging to their mother's new husband. The case gained attention for the couple's doomsday beliefs and the mysterious deaths of their former spouses, and court documents released late last week detail more about the strange worldview that detectives think may have influenced Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell.
So far, no one has been charged with killing the kids, who had not been seen since September, but the Daybells are both behind bars.
Lori Daybell's attorney has indicated that she intends to defend herself against charges of child abandonment and obstructing an investigation. Chad Daybell has pleaded not guilty to destroying or concealing the children's bodies.
Lori Daybell's longtime best friend, Melanie Gibb, has been cooperating with authorities for months, according to the documents written by Rexburg police Lt. Ron Ball. Gibb is the last known person to have seen JJ alive, according to police, when she was visiting Lori Daybell at her apartment in the small Idaho town last September.
Gibb reports that when she arrived in Rexburg, Lori Vallow informed her that JJ Vallow had become a zombie,'" Ball wrote. Gibb further reports that the term zombie refers to an individual whose mortal spirit has left their body and that their body is now the host of another spirit. The new spirit in a zombie is always considered a dark spirit.
It wasn't the first time Gibb said she heard her friend talk about zombies, according to the statement. Gibb said Lori Daybell had called Tylee a zombie in spring 2019 when the teen didn't want to baby-sit her little brother and that Lori Daybell had first learned the concept from Chad Daybell at the start of that year.
Gibb said the couple believed that when a zombie takes over a person's body, the person's true spirit goes into limbo and is stuck there until the host body is physically killed, the court document said. As such, death of the physical body is seen as the mechanism by which the body's original spirit can be released from limbo.
Gibb also said the couple believed they were spiritual leaders.
She was told by Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow that they held the religious belief that they were a part of the Church of the Firstborn and that their mission in that Church was to lead the 144,000 mentioned in the Book of Revelation. They also stated their mission was to rid the world of zombies,'" according to the police document.
Hints of strange, doomsday beliefs have surrounded the complex case since it began last year.
It started last summer with Lori Daybells brother shooting and killing her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in suburban Phoenix in what he asserted was self-defense. Vallow was seeking a divorce, saying Lori believed she had become a god-like figure who was responsible for ushering in the biblical end times. Her brother, Alex Cox, died in December of an apparent blood clot in his lung.
Shortly after Vallows death, Lori and the children moved to Idaho, where Chad Daybell lived. He ran a small publishing company, putting out many fiction books he wrote about apocalyptic scenarios loosely based on the theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also recorded podcasts about preparing for biblical end times, and friends said he claimed to be able to receive visions from beyond the veil.
He was married to Tammy Daybell, who died last October of what her obituary said were natural causes. Authorities grew suspicious when he married Lori just two weeks later, and they had Tammy Daybells body exhumed in December. The results of that autopsy have not been released.
Police began searching for Tylee and JJ in November after relatives raised concerns. Police say the Daybells lied to investigators about the childrens whereabouts before quietly leaving Idaho. They were found in Hawaii months later.
Tylee was last seen Sept. 8, when she went to Yellowstone National Park with her mom, her brother and Cox, court documents say.
It's not clear what happened to her, but police say the next day, Cox's cellphone data shows he made a trip to Chad Daybell's property and was near where the children's bodies were found. Also on Sept. 9, investigators say Chad Daybell texted Tammy, reportedly telling her that he decided to burn some plants and also had shot a raccoon, which he buried in an area of the property where the family had previously buried dead pets, according to the court documents.
The detective said in the documents that he was suspicious because raccoons are normally nocturnal and the text said the animal had been shot during the day.
Gibb visited Lori Daybell a couple of weeks later. Gibb said she was told Tylee was attending school at a nearby college, though investigators later found the teen had never been enrolled. Gibb also said JJ's behavior appeared to be typical, despite his mother claiming he was acting strangely.
The last time Gibb saw JJ was Sept. 22 at Lori Daybell's apartment. Cox left with his nephew for his apartment nearby, Gibb told police, and when they returned, JJ appeared to be asleep, with his head on Cox's shoulder.
The next morning, Gibb said JJ was gone and Lori said Cox had taken him for a while, according to the document.
An analysis of Alex Cox's cellphone records that day show that his phone pinged at locations on Chad Daybell's property where the children's remains were later found, police said.
It was those cellphone records that led police to the bodies, according to the court documents. Police didnt immediately respond to requests for comment about Coxs possible involvement in the children's deaths.
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Intelligence Park Assist System Market is used to provide physical containment for various power components of a vehicle which assists in safe parking of a car. Also known as Advance Parking Guidance System (APGS) in some countries, these systems consist of onboard computer used camera fixed into the front and rear sides of the car and sensors, which help in measuring the proximity of nearby vehicles. Electromagnetic or ultrasonic sensors present in these systems help to alert the driver in case of obstruction in parking. Market Research Future (MRFRs) latest in-depth report on the global automotive intelligence park assist system provides meaningful insights on the market, which has been compiled after a thorough analysis of the pertinent factors impacting the market. MRFRs analysis predicts the market to capture a moderate CAGR in the coming years.
The use of intelligence park assist systems has increased considerably in recent years, owing to the high level of awareness about the benefits associated with them. They offer the advantages of enhanced performance, safety, and driving. The most protruding feature of these systems is that they allow parallel or reverse parking. More intelligence park assist systems hinder the vehicle from exceeding the set speed during parking.
Surging demand for autonomous and electric vehicles along with growing concern over driver and vehicle safety has increased the adoption of these systems among end users. The safety of pedestrians has also assumed significance in recent years. The government in various countries encourage the use of automotive intelligence park assist systems to reduce the incidents of road accidents which has driven the market majorly.
Growing sales of high-end cars, where intelligence park assist systems are standard features, has helped the market garner higher revenue. additionally, automotive OEMs are increasingly providing these systems in mid-range and low-range cars to ensure safety. Furthermore, advancement in technology has also fostered the growth of the market. Other factors driving the market growth include an increase in traffic flow, the rising trend of vehicle electrification, and increasing uses of wide-angle camera technology in vehicles.
Segmentation
The automotive intelligence park assist system market has been segmented based on technology, vehicle type, and component.
By technology, the automotive intelligence park assist market has been segmented into autonomous and semi-autonomous parking assist.
By vehicle type, the automotive intelligence park assist market has been segmented into passenger car and commercial vehicle.
By component, the automotive intelligence park assist market has been segmented into ultrasonic sensor, camera, and Ultrasonic Sensor & Camera.
Regional Analysis
By region, the automotive intelligence park assist system market has been segmented into North America, Rest-of-the-World (RoW), Europe, and Asia Pacific (APAC).
APAC is leading the automotive intelligence park assist market. lack of parking space in the densely populated areas of the region is a common phenomenon which necessitates vehicles to be equipped with park assist systems. Moreover, augmenting demand for safety features in vehicles, combined with the heightened sale of electric vehicles, where park assists systems are generally standard has driven the market considerably. Furthermore, the automotive sector in the region has attracted significant investments from both the public and private sector for the development of automotive technology, which acts as a plus for the growth of the market.
The existence of major automotive manufacturers such as Siemens AG (Germany), Valeo (France), Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), and ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany) in Europe generates substantial demand for automotive intelligence park assist systems. Regulations governing pedestrian safety have also influenced the growth of the market.
North America market is spurred by the sales of luxury cars in the region. High-end cars are pre-installed with automotive intelligence park assist systems as standard features.
Competitive Landscape
Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), Toshiba Corporation (Japan), Magna International (Canada), Continental AG (Germany), Delphi Automotive (Germany), Siemens AG (Germany), Valeo (France), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany), and HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA (Germany) is the eminent players in the automotive intelligence park assist system market.
Industry Updates
April 2019 Tesla announced rollout of a more robust version of its eventual automated parking feature known as Enhanced Summon. Enhanced Summon is a parking assist feature which would assist vehicles in navigating a parking lot autonomously and finding its driver under certain specified conditions.
Note: The COVID-19 pandemic disruption is estimated to transform the XX market in the years to come drastically, and its after-effects will be persistently seen in the years ahead. The MRFR report on the XX market meticulously tracks the COVID-19 pandemic effect for the years ahead. Moreover, the precise analysis of drivers and restraints in a post-COVID-19 market offers a coherent understanding of future growth cues.
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Designs reviewed for 'Teacher in Space' Christa McAuliffe coin
June 23, 2020 A new U.S. silver dollar will depict the first teacher to launch towards outer space in a way that is representative of all educators, should the recommendations of two advisory panels and the desires of the late astronaut's family be followed.
Christa McAuliffe, who died on board the ill-fated launch of NASA's space shuttle Challenger in 1986, will be memorialized on the coin, as was authorized by Congress in 2019. The 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin will be released for sale 35 years after the Challenger tragedy.
"The legislation mandates that coins minted under this act shall bear an image and the name of Christa McAuliffe on the obverse and depict the legacy of Christa McAuliffe as a teacher on the reverse," April Stafford, director of the U.S. Mint's Office of Design Management, said at a meeting of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) that was held by teleconference on Tuesday (June 23).
Following those guidelines, the U.S. Mint's artists developed 12 candidate designs for the obverse, or "heads" side, of the coin and 15 concepts for the reverse. The artwork differed in the choice of style for McAuliffe's portrait and the way in which her legacy was represented, including a chalkboard drawing of an astronaut and a space shuttle flying alongside pencils to symbolize the latter.
After reviewing all of the designs, the 11 members of the CCAC voted and, by a clear majority, sided with the choices of the McAuliffe family.
"We prefer it by a very wide margin," Steven McAuliffe, a U.S. District Court judge for New Hampshire and the widower of Christa McAuliffe, told the committee, describing his and his family's preferred design. "With respect to the obverse, it is a very accurate likeness. It comes from a photograph that is one of our favorites."
The heads-side design focuses on McAuliffe's profile, in a way reminiscent of the U.S. Mint's more traditional commemorative coins. The black and white NASA photograph on which it was based was taken on Sept. 12, 1985, while McAuliffe, NASA's "Teacher in Space" participant, received a briefing on the flight suit and personal hygiene equipment that she would use on Challenger's STS-51L mission.
"With respect to the coin and the purpose of the coin, I think what strikes me is the gaze is to the future, as it should be," said Judge McAuliffe. "It is the look of quiet, committed courageousness."
Dean Kamen, a noted inventor and the founder of FIRST, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, agreed with Judge McAuliffe and said that the design reminded him of the traditional coins that featured large busts of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, or example.
"One of the reasons that we like the likeness on the obverse side of the coin... [is] this looks very much like a genuine coin. That prestige is important," said Kamen. "Anything else would make it look like an award."
Surcharges from the sale of the McAuliffe silver dollar will benefit Kamen's FIRST organization and its student robotics competitions for "the purpose of engaging and inspiring young people through mentor-based programs to become leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics," Stafford said, citing the coin's authorizing bill.
The family's preferred tails-side design depicts McAuliffe in her role as a New Hampshire social studies teacher, prior to her being selected for NASA's Teacher in Space program from a nationwide pool of more than 11,000 applicants. She is shown standing alongside three children while pointing upwards to the sky.
"I think teachers will very much appreciate the reverse design," said Judge McAuliffe. "Christa always stressed in her role that she was a representative of teachers. She always understood and stressed for everybody, and appreciated for herself, that she wasn't singled out for her own personal accomplishments and attributes. She was singled out and chosen to be a representative of classroom teachers, and that is the role in which she reveled."
"So the reverse, depicting her in that teaching role, is significant and very important to us and would be very important to her. The reverse captures what teachers actually do, it shows the relationship with students involved in active teaching," he said.
The tails-side artwork includes the FIRST logo and McAuliffe's motto, "I touch the future. I teach." It also includes a subtle tribute to her six Challenger crewmates Dick Scobee, Mike Smith, Elison Onizuka, Judy Resnik, Ron McNair and Greg Jarvis who with her were killed when a faulty rocket booster led to Challenger breaking apart 73 seconds after liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986.
"The seven stars do relate this to the other astronauts, but for the fact that this a coin about a teacher," said Kamen.
"This is the first coin I believe in the history of the United States that recognizes a teacher. FIRST is about that, so the fact that this coin is so strongly on both sides representing the woman, the teacher, the students and it has the FIRST logo and the FIRST name, I couldn't ask for more," he said.
Many of the CCAC members said they would have selected the same designs even if they had not known the designs had the endorsement of the family and the coin's benefiting organization. Some of the members praised some of the other designs for their modern approach to portraiture or for their less subtle references to spaceflight, but at the same time were happy with the choices.
"It doesn't emphasize so much one particular part of the commemorative, whether it is Christa or FIRST or being an astronaut," CCAC chair Thomas Uram said. "These designs that the family has chosen I think represent all three elements that we wanted to be accomplished for this commemorative."
Uram also recognized the tragic history connected to the coin, and the McAuliffe family's role in seeing this honor take shape.
"I would say as difficult as that day was many years ago, I would say so great is the process and your journey towards this significant commemorative. And I think I could speak for the committee that we are definitely humbled to be part of this," he said.
In addition to the CCAC, members of the Commission of Fine Arts also reviewed the designs and on Thursday (June 19), arrived at the same decision to support the family's selected designs.
Both the commission and the CCAC will submit their recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, who will make the final decision on the design of the 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin. Per Congress, the U.S. Mint will strike no more than 350,000 of the 1.5-inch (3.8-centimeter) coins, for which an issue date has yet to be released.
The preferred obverse (at top) and reverse designs for the 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin, as identified by the Commission of Fine Arts and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CACC), as well as the McAuliffe family. (U.S. Mint)
The U.S. Mint's artists developed 12 designs for the obverse and 15 concepts for the reverse of the 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin. (U.S. Mint, montage: collectSPACE)
The McAuliffe family's preferred design for the obverse of the 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin was based on this photo, showing McAuliffe in training in 1985. (NASA)
The sale of the Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin will benefit FIRST and its programs to engage students in science, technology, engineering and math programs. (FIRST)
2022 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.
The first coronavirus patients to arrive in the intensive care unit at Stanford Hospital were wheeled in on gurneys, sometimes struggling for breath, often with frighteningly low levels of oxygen circulating in their blood. They were pale and scared. No family members were allowed to be present, and it was up to the ICU team to make life-or-death decisions fast.
This was early March, just about the time the World Health Organization designated the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, and no one knew for sure how best to treat patients with this extremely infectious disease. No one on the ICU had even seen it before. There was little reliable research and no standardized treatment guidelines. Mostly, there were just rampant rumors of high mortality rates and even higher levels of contagion. The ICU team had to start from scratch.
It was nerve-wracking, said Dwayne Free, one of the frontline respiratory therapists, whose job was to care for these patients at their bedside. There were so many questions around how the virus was spread. People were scared. Were there going to be enough ventilators? Enough personal protective equipment? It was clear from the beginning that, like the rest of the hospital during this emergency, the ICU couldnt just follow standard procedures, so early on they formed a team to set new guidelines as the numbers of patients slowly increased.
We all agreed we needed to have sets of guidelines on how we would treat patients based in the beginning on evidence from China, said Norman Rizk, MD, senior associate dean of clinical affairs at the School of Medicine and medical director of Stanford Health Cares ICU. We also needed to create room for a potential surge, added Rizk, the Berthold and Belle N. Guggenhime Professor.
Led by Angela Rogers, MD, a pulmonary critical care specialist at Stanford Health Care, a group of experts inside and outside the ICU formed a COVID-19 critical care task force and started meeting weekly later three times a week at 7 a.m. to hash out best-practices guidelines. At its peak during those early months, the ICU was treating 10 to 15 patients at a time, and the staff continued to prepare for a potential surge.
Right away we knew we had to work together as a team, Rogers said. It quickly became evident that aspects of COVID-19 care were really different than anything wed seen before. All voices needed to be heard. The respiratory therapists, nurses and pharmacists were crucial to the task force. They knew what could and couldnt be done and what was safe to try.
This multidisciplinary team of roughly 50 health care workers including physicians from a variety of specialties (ICU anesthesia, emergency care, pulmonary neuro-critical care, infectious disease, hematology and palliative care), nurses, respiratory therapists, experts in ethics and a pulmonologist from ValleyCare hospital shared what bits of information they could gather. Some called colleagues in New York or Italy, where hospitals were dealing with a surge of COVID-19 patients, for advice. They debated reams of research gathered through after-hours internet searches. They listened to each other, shared their ICU experiences and tried to learn from the patients.
We knew that things had the potential to escalate into a surge, said Javier Lorenzo, MD, clinical assistant professor of anesthesia. We quickly realized we needed a body that could field questions and make policies. We wanted a way to add some scientific rigor to the decision-making process.
Similarities with acute respiratory distress syndrome
While a lot was unknown about COVID-19, scientists knew it was caused by SARS-CoV-2, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. They knew the virus attacked the lungs, causing inflammation and infection, and reducing oxygen to the rest of the body. But there was a lot that remained unclear.
F ormer Wirecard chief executive Markus Braun has been arrested on suspicion of falsifying company revenue to make it appear stronger and more attractive for investors and customers.
Wirecard admitted yesterday that 1.9 billion (1.7 billion) had gone missing, a black hole that threatens to engulf the payments company.
Braun, who had resigned from the company on Friday, turned himself in yesterday evening and will attend a hearing today where a judge will decide whether he is to remain in custody.
Braun is accused of misrepresenting the companys accounts and of market manipulation by falsifying income from transactions with so-called third-party acquirers, according to prosecutors.
Wirecard said last week that auditor EY had refused to sign off on its 2019 accounts as it was unable to confirm the existence of 1.9 billion in cash.
The one-time German tech darling is now holding emergency talks with its banks.
CARLINVILLE Mark Biermann has been named the next president of Blackburn College, succeeding ProvostJohn McClusky, who has served as interim president since December.
Biermann will assume office Aug. 15, according to the colleges board of trustees.
Kentucky, New York and four other states faced a challenging day of votingon Tuesday, as officials tried to balance a crush of mail-in ballots with a reduced number of in-person polling sites.
That combination has led to long lines, delays and confusion during primaries in other states, including Wisconsin and Georgia, offering a preview of possible problems for the Nov. 3 general election if it is conducted under similar social distancing guidelines and other restrictions.
Kentucky and New York, which have statewide elections Tuesday, encouraged mail-in balloting as a safe alternative to in-person voting, resulting in record numbers of absentee ballot requests.
Early voting was also encouraged. One who took advantage of that was Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who voted presumably for herself in her home district in the Bronx four days ago.
Ocasio-Cortez, the 30-year-old progressive firebrand better known as AOC, campaigned in Astoria, Queens Tuesday, bumping elbows and with locals and speaking to the media about what she said were shortcomings in New York's voting procedures - even in the best of times.
"We do not have mail-in ballots, we do not have same-day registration. And these are really enormous obstacles to the vote, and it really puts New York far behind in voter access."
Her primary race will test the strength of the Democratic partys left wing as she faces a challenge from the more moderate, former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.
In a congressional district neighboring Ocasio-Cortezs, former teacher Jamaal Bowman is mounting a strong challenge to Representative Eliot Engel, a 31-year veteran of Congress who chairs the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Meanwhile, in Kentucky, progressive Charles Booker, an African-American state legislator, is waging an unexpectedly spirited challenge to Amy McGrath, an ex-fighter pilot, in the race to become the Democratic candidate to face Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November.
Polling locations in Kentucky were cut to fewer than 200 from more than 3,000, leaving one each for the biggest counties of Jefferson and Fayette. Absentee ballots were issued to about 27 percent of the states registered voters.
Consolidating Dual Headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona and New Hope, Pennsylvania Into Downtown Allentown Offices
ALLENTOWN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Iota Communications, Inc. (OTCQB:IOTC) ("IotaComm" or the "Company"), a wireless communication and data analytics software company, and City Center Investment Corp., the real estate development company revitalizing downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania, today announced the relocation and consolidation of its new corporate headquarters to Tower 6 in downtown Allentown. Iota Communications has leased 7,150 square feet on the 10th floor of the Class A office building at Sixth and Hamilton streets and plans to move employees into the space when state orders allow.
Terrence DeFranco, President and Chief Executive Officer of Iota Communications, commented, "We are excited to move into our new headquarters in the heart of downtown Allentown. We were attracted to Allentown's big-city feel with all the small-city benefits. In addition, the quality workforce in the region and close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia markets make this an ideal location as we are in a growth mode and many of our services have really taken on a new importance due to COVID-19."
Iota Communications helps businesses leverage its proprietary technology and connectivity to reduce costs, optimize energy efficiency and operations, measure office building air quality, and advance sustainability in commercial facilities. The firm's dedicated carrier-grade network is purposely built to enable low-cost, long-range connectivity in even the most challenging environments. This connectivity powers a data collection, analysis and visualization process that provides actionable insights, drives sustainability and profitability, and positively impacts the planet.
Iota Communications (OTCQB: IOTC) was ranked No. 53 on the 2019 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, an annual list of the fastest growing public and private technology companies in North America. Formed in 2013, the company experienced 2,391% fiscal year revenue growth from 2015 to 2018.
"Iota Communications choosing to headquarter and expand their rapidly growing national business in downtown Allentown validates what has been happening here over the last few years," said City Center President J.B. Reilly. "Progressive companies of all sizes and specialties are discovering that this is an excellent place to do business and grow, and that City Center's new space increases their ability to attract and retain talented employees who want to work in a walkable city environment. We're pleased to welcome them to downtown Allentown."
Iota Communications began temporarily leasing space for 10 employees in Two City Center in downtown Allentown in September 2019, while City Center is overseeing a custom fit-out of their offices in Tower 6.
With the addition of Iota Communications, the 145,000-square-foot Tower 6 is fully leased. Other tenants include Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Avantor, Talen Energy, CAPTRUST, CrossAmerica Partners, NJR Energy Services, fedRFP, Morton Brown Family Wealth and ESSA Bank & Trust. Together, Tower 6's tenants have nearly 500 employees, many of whom live downtown. Tower 6 exceeds Class A specifications, with cutting-edge features including energy-efficient systems for lighting, HVAC and window-shade control, elevators that optimize traffic flow, customized access-control and security solutions, and state-of-the-art connectivity.
For more information about office space at City Center, contact Director of Leasing Jarrett Laubach at jlaubach@citycenterallentown.com.
About City Center Allentown
City Center Allentown is a major mixed-use development that is helping transform downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania, into one of America's most vibrant urban communities and a regional center of excellence for business, culture and city living. With Allentown's new arena, PPL Center, at its core, City Center includes more than 1.8 million square feet among five Class A office towers, the Renaissance Allentown Hotel, six residential communities, upscale retail and restaurant space and a coworking space called Velocity. City Center's total investment in downtown Allentown is $588 million, with another $100 million under development and $310 million in the planning stages. In 2017, the Downtown Allentown Revitalization District was honored with a Global Award of Excellence by the Urban Land Institute (ULI).
About Iota Communications, Inc .
Iota Communications, Inc. (OTCQB:IOTC) is a wireless communication and data analytics software company that provides Internet of Things solutions which optimize energy efficiency, sustainability and operations for commercial customers. Our company is built on a foundation of a portfolio of FCC-licensed spectrum that is used to enable low-power, wide area connectivity, which serves as a unique capability in our Smart Building and Smart City data analytics applications. Our connectivity and analytics solutions help our customers achieve higher returns on assets and investment and more efficient and productive operations.
For more information about Iota Communications, Inc., please visit: https://www.iotacommunications.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain "forward-looking statement" 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 our beliefs regarding the role that IoT will play in the future, our ability to implement our strategic goals, our ability to raise capital and reduce costs, 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 include, but are not limited to: risks related to the acquisition and integration of the assets we acquired from Solbright Group, Inc., 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; 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. 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.
CONTACT:
Corporate & Investors:
Iota Communications, Inc.
600 Hamilton Street, 10th Floor
Allentown, PA 18101
P:855-743-6478
investors@iotacommunications.com
ClearThink
nyc@clearthink.capital
Public Relations / Media:
Vorticom, Inc.
Nancy Thompson
P:212-532-2208
nancyt@vorticom.com
Media Contact:
Jeff Vaughan
Vaughan Communications Group
jv@voncom.com
610-533-4264
SOURCE: Iota Communications, Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594846/Iota-Communications-Relocates-Headquarters-to-Allentown-Pennsylvanias-City-Centers-Tower-6
The Chattisgarh Board class 10th and class 12th results will be announced by Chhattisgarh Board Of Secondary Education (CGBSE) at 11 am on Tuesday (June 23). The results will be released on the official website of the board - cgbse.nic.in and results.cg.nic.in.
Here's how the students can check result online:
Step 1: Visit the official website of CGBSE: cgbse.nic.in, results.cg.nic.in or examresults.net
Step 2: Click CGBSE Class 10th Result 2019 or CGBSE Class 12th Result 2019
Step 3: On the new page, enter your roll number and other details to log-in
Step 4: The results will be displayed on the screen. Candidates are advised to download it and take a print out for future use.
If the websites fail to load due to technical issues, the candidates can also check their board exam result via SMS by sending an SMS in the format CG12ROLLNUMBER to 56263 to get their results on their phones.
Around 3.84 lakh students have taken class 10 exams and over 2.66 lakh students sat for class 12 exams in 2020. The board exam was scheduled to end on March 26 but the CGBSE Board decided to cancel some examinations due to the rise in coronavirus COVID-19 cases and nationwide lockdown imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to curb the spread of coronavirus in India.
The CGBSE board cancelled minor subjects of Class 10 and Geography and a few optional subjects of Class 12. The CGBSE later announced that the students will be allotted marks on the basis of internal assessment on these cancelled subjects.
Racism in the Church: Pastor AR Bernard offers spiritual, practical tools to combat injustice
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Prominent New York City megachurch pastor A.R. Bernard is offering some solutions on how to combat injustice in churches and the wider society.
The senior pastor of the Christian Cultural Center spoke with The Christian Post for an in-depth look at the history of racism in America and how it informed the Western church.
"There are those who want to not look at the history and move forward. They say, Well, can we just start from here and build in the future? But look, if you don't understand yesterday, you'll be confused about today and you will repeat the past tomorrow, Bernard said.
Racism, he said, "is a human social construct" that "goes back to 600 years of European imperialism." In America, slavery was an economic system and "racialization was necessary in order to create a class system that had the white power elite on top," he noted.
I understand that when you have an economic system that's based upon a forced labor of slaves and all of that is taken away from you, that is devastating. And that was the major issue for the South. They sought to recapture that by other means. So organizations re-formed like the Ku Klux Klan and other organizations to make the transition of Africans into American society difficult, he said, citing Jim Crow and vagrancy laws.
In his interview with CP (watch below), Bernard also discussed: how the founding fathers did not have "black and brown individuals" in mind when writing the Declaration of Independence and yet God providentially used their words to promote equality, the Black Lives Matter movement and why he has been able to separate the movement from the organization, white superiority and classism, and the role of white evangelicals and how they interpreted Scripture with regard to race.
"The evangelical community that developed out of conservatism and who subscribe to the apocalyptic vision and rejected progressive social reform, they developed a hermeneutic of segregation that reinforced that in this nation," he contended. "So if you have a hermeneutic of segregation, it means you have a lens that sees the Bible as God endorsing the separation of races, the subjugation of what you deem inferior people."
The 66-year-old pastor, who was named one of NY's 50 Most Powerful People in Brooklyn in 2018 by City & State, further pointed to what he argued is "the deficiency in the doctrine of sin," where many evangelicals believe that "sin is only in the individual" and getting that person "saved" would resolve all problems.
"Sin manifests itself in the individual but it also manifests societally in societal systems, structures, codes, policy, laws that have to change," he stressed. "So if we dont deal with sin not only in the individual but in social systems and structures, then what happens when the person gets saved? Things dont change within that society."
While much change is needed, he sees at least one big difference between now and the '60s white pastors have been calling him, expressing empathy and asking what they can do following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died on Memorial Day while in police custody.
He encouraged ongoing conversations but advised that pastors become informed before they speak out.
"To my white brothers and sisters, use your voice, use your platform, use your sphere of influence, speak out. But be informed, get smart, talk to someone that knows what they're talking about, read, understand the history, and don't come from a place of white privilege," he said.
"I see some white pastors convening conversation, and I asked, 'Well, where do they get the qualifications to have that conversation?' And then what comes out in the conversation shows that they weren't qualified to have that conversation. That leads back to white privilege like 'I can have this conversation.' No! I think that we need to learn to listen, to be quiet to listen and learn at this period. Know what you're talking about."
Bernard also said not to minimize the importance of prayer.
"We know that there are principalities and powers at work in this world that are influencing, informing and shaping people and institutions and governments towards deceit, towards chaos, towards injustice. Prayer is powerful in that prayer changes atmospheres, and we must never, never underestimate the power of an atmosphere because an atmosphere creates the environment for miracles to take place. So pray and don't minimize prayer."
Other ways the Church can get involved, Bernard encouraged:
"Advocacy: There are policies, there are systems that are in place, there are legal codes that are in place that reinforce discrimination, marginalization, disenfranchisement. Advocate against those policies and advocate for policies that bring equity, that bring justice, that remove discrimination, marginalization, and disenfranchisement.
"Activism: And that's where you become vocal, you got a voice, you become vocal to the disruption of the status quo because unless the status quo becomes so untenable, so inconvenient, people will not look to change. So the status quo has to become so untenable, so inconvenient that change is the only alternative. Activism engages, it gets out there to change that status quo. Maybe you're called to protest. That's where you have the gift to organize, to gather people around an issue, coordinate acts of civil gathering and even civil disobedience, you know, where peaceful, nonviolent action is taken to express your pushback against social systems and structures, their inequities, their deficiencies, especially as it relates to particular people, minorities.
"Convening: Maybe youre called to convene. Maybe you have a platform that you can invite other voices in to speak to the issue, informed voices to speak to the issue. Maybe you're willing to lend your platform to the conversation.
"Development: Replacing those broken systems, replacing those codes, those structures, bringing equity, economic development. You have the power. I was on a call with JPMorgan Chase and their executives, and they're asking, 'What can we do? How can we get involved in this conversation?'
"You have to know your lane too; not everybody is called to all of this. Maybe one person is called to prayer, another to development, another to advocacy. Know your lane, be qualified for that lane, understand if your gifts, talents and abilities bring you there and then go for it."
Watch the video for the full interview, where Bernard also addresses those who may feel disillusioned by Christianity, confusion around forgiveness, denialism and the Spirit of Truth.
Seoul, June 23 : A US spy plane flew over South Korea on Tuesday, an aviation tracker said, the latest in a series of flights apparently aimed at monitoring North Korea amid latest threats.
The RC-12X Guardrail was spotted in the skies above South Korea in the morning, Yonhap News Agency quoted the tracker, No Callsign as saying in a tweet.
On Monday, six of the same type of plane were seen operating, along with the US Air Force's RC-135W Rivet Joint, in a rare sign of ramped-up surveillance over North Korea.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated after the Norththreatened military action and other retaliatory measures against South Korea in protest of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets sent across the border by defectors and other activists here.
The North blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in its border town of Kaesong last week, and has been setting up propaganda loudspeakers inside the Demilitarized Zone, which were dismantled following a summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018.
During a parliament committee session on Monday, Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said South Korea is also operating additional surveillance assets to closely monitor the North's activities.
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Monday said despite the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the party would reclaim Edo State by winning the September 19 governorship election in the state.
The governor also expressed optimism that APC would win the Ondo and Anambra governorship elections slated for October this year and 2021 respectively.
He stated this in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after joining other state governors from the North Central to meet with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Governor Bello said that hes confidence that the APC would emerge from its current crisis bigger and more united because the party is solid. He said:
Our party is one solid party. In a particularly big family like that, you wont rule out any misunderstanding in one way or the other. But I can assure you that our party is strong under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and as a father, he is already looking into it and I can assure you that we are going to come out very strong. We are going to go to Edo State and win the state governorship election overwhelmingly for APC. We are going to go to Ondo State and win it overwhelmingly for APC. We will take Anambra State and record it as a second APC state from the South East and integrate our Igbo brothers into the fold. We are going to take Ekiti and Osun once again. So, we are going to continue to expand our coast. So, APC is strong, we are not divided. We are only seeing one same point from different angle and we are trying to make ourselves understand the points. That is just it, there is no misunderstanding.
On the power of incumbency in Edo State, he added: We have seen those in power before that are dethroned, we have seen practically that President Muhammadu Buhari of APC dethroned PDP, the former President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) that was on the seat.
So, that is not any trouble at all. APC is going to win Edo State. But unfortunately, I really felt the exit of my colleague, His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki in whatever circumstance to another political party. It is painful anyway, but as a political party we are going to take it back.
KanyiDaily had reported that Governor Godwin Obaseki decamped from the APC after he was disqualified from contesting in the partys gubernatorial primaries which was held on Monday, June 22, 2020.
Last week, the Supreme Court issued a surprising 63 decision barring hiring discrimination against LGBTQ people under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, with conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch making the textualist case for this landmark protection. The unexpected outcome in Bostock v. Clayton County should provoke introspection among progressives in the legal community who have long been skeptical of textualism, offering a chance for them to fix chronic blind spots and strategic gaffes that have damaged the progressive judicial project.
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While its clear that this ruling was a major victory for progressives, less apparent is how, going forward, progressive advocates, judges, and politicians should think and talk about statutory interpretation. Although brow-furrowing, that question is hugely important. As the late high priest of conservative textualism, Justice Antonin Scalia, pointed out: By far the greatest part of what I and all federal judges do is interpret the meaning of federal statutes. Many of those gnarly statutory disputes involve landmark progressive laws, which, like Title VII, regulate businesses in the interests of consumers, workers, retirees, and other individuals.
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The lesson is not that progressives should now tout textualism or any other ism. They should, however, focus on Gorsuchs straightforward argumenthow he chose to push back against fierce opposition from dissenters who claimed the true mantle of the textualism faith. Because of sex, Gorsuch explained, describing the key language in Title VII for the purposes of this case, necessarily includes because of sexual orientation and identity. He continued: If the employer fires [a] male employee [because] he is attracted to men, the employer discriminates [because of] traits it tolerates in female colleagues. The affected employees sex is a but-for cause of his discharge. That simple, accessible syllogism is why Gorsuchs 38-page opinion provoked 134 pages of fevered dissents from Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh. And its why his opinion ignited volcanic outbursts by the likes of Carrie Severino and Ralph Reed.
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This is the lesson that progressives should take to heart: Textualism has made steady headway as a jurisprudential credoand, equally or more importantly, as a political sloganbecause, at its core, it embraces a commonsense truth: that interpretation of what a law means must derive, in the first instance, from its textwhat are the relevant words, and what, credibly, could they mean? Inveighing against textualism comes off like one disputes that staple of the civics class canon about what courts and law are foras if progressives fear their preferred results cant be squared with the words legislators actually wrote.
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Thats what, in large part, was wrong with the Bostock dissents attacks on Gorsuch. Alitos dissent overtly deploys a tactic conservatives long ago abandoned as a discredited, subjective, intentionalist brand of constitutional originalism. Alitos lodestar was what he believed the drafters had in mindmore precisely, what the societal status quo was when they wrote.
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The definitive rejoinder to that approach was articulated in 2005 by then-nominee John G. Roberts in his Senate confirmation hearing. Roberts testified:
There are some who may think theyre being originalists who will tell you, Well, the problem they were getting at were the rights of the newly freed slaves, and so thats all that the equal protection clause applies to. But, in fact, they didnt write the equal protection clause in such narrow terms. They wrote more generally. That may have been a particular problem motivating them, but they chose to use broader terms, and we should take them at their word, so that it is perfectly appropriate to apply the equal protection clause to issues of gender and other types of discrimination beyond the racial discrimination that was obviously the driving force behind it.
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In Bostock, Kavanaughs dissenting argument, distinguishing the ordinary meaning of words from literalism, is really just a more academically marketable way of making contemporaneous subjective expectations, or societal practice, trump actual enacted language. The expansion over time of sex in Title VII matches Roberts account of the expansion of equal protection of the laws to include gender and other types of discrimination.
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Progressives have not been wrong to call out textualismand originalismas slogans to advance conservative political agendas. Conservatives have persistently contorted asserted textualist claims to serve patently ideological or political ends, or simply ignored statutory text when it couldnt credibly be bent. They can be counted on to repeat those gambits again in the future.
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The smart response is to explain, effectively, why progressive positions faithfully respect relevant law, and how cynically conservatives flout their own professed affection for text. Progressives need to recycle such messaging over and over, in court battles, media, and academic and political arenas.
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Typically, when progressives face purportedly textualist claims designed to defeat the purposes of progressive statutes, conservatives tactic is to isolate a single word or phrase, impose a gutting interpretation on that fragment, and subvert the law. When progressives counter that conservative interpretations flout purposes behind laws like Title VII, conservatives have dismissed such purposivism as a methodological excuse for making things up on the fly. This discrediting tactic has gained currency in political as well as legal circles.
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The smart way to deflect that chestnut is to insist that, when applying a statute, text must mean text in the context of the whole statute, not just an isolated provision, standing alone. In 2015, that contextual approach saved the Affordable Care Act from its second existential Supreme Court challenge. In King v. Burwell, Roberts, for a 63 majority, upheld the availability of premium tax credit subsidies nationwide against a blinkered claim that a four-word phrase, taken out of context, barred such subsidies for millions of subscribers in dozens of states. Albeit geeky, that text in context message garnered critical media support as the case worked its way up to the Supreme Court, where it won over Roberts and conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy, as well as the four progressive justices.
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In Bostock, Gorsuch did not use Roberts approach from the 2015 ACA case, but he could have. Locating because of sex in the overall context of Title VII would have also underscored the textual anomalousness of denying workplace equality to LGBTQ employees.
With regards to textualism, what ultimately matters is which side can offer the clearest and, usually, the simplest explanation of how the text of the law dictates their preferred outcome. Just because Gorsuch bolstered his genuinely textualist bona fides in this case, doesnt mean he wont reverse himself again in the future, particularly on questions that implicate the interests of big business rather than merely those of social conservatives. Indeed, even Kavanaugh in dissent took pains to acknowledge [the] millions of gay and lesbian Americans [who] have battle[d] steep odds [and] can take pride in todays result.
Whether or not such victories will plausibly apply in future cases involving business interests, progressive advocates should test whether these glints presage Anthony Kennedylike openness on at least some culture war issues. More generally, progressives should plumb for other cracks in the conservative legal coalitionwhich, it seems clearer, is no more a monolith than is the progressive legal coalition.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and WB Country Director in Vietnam Ousmane Dione (Photo: VNA)
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded outgoing Country Director of the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam Ousmane Dione for his impressive contributions to the ties between the lender and the country, during a reception in Hanoi on June 22nd.
The PM suggested that on his capacity as WB Country Director for four African countries in the near future, Dione will serve as a bridge to expand Vietnams exports to Africa.
He thanked the lender for its important contributions to Vietnams development, including poverty reduction projects, supply of loans and technical consultation to the finance-banking sector.
The host also expressed thanks to the WB for supporting Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19.
Dione, for his part, congratulated Vietnam on becoming an example of COVID-19 response in the world thanks to drastic directions of the Government.
He expressed his delight that the Vietnamese Government has taken note of the WBs policy recommendations and proposed that Vietnam further step up digital transformation, offer services to the public faster and improve the operation efficiency of the State apparatus.
Speaking highly of the PMs directions to attract more foreign direct investment, Dione said the Governments issuance of Decree 56 on the management and use of official development assistance and preferential loans by foreign sponsors is necessary.
On water resources in Mekong River and the Mekong Delta, Dione highlighted the need to promote international cooperation in dealing with the issue and affirmed that the WB and his successor will always stand side by side with Vietnam during development process.
About the WBs fiscal projects 2020, the PM thanked Dione for assisting Vietnam in graduating from the International Development Assistance (IDA), informing his guest that he has assigned the Finance Ministry to work with the WB on COVID-19 response loans, adding that the ministry and the Ministry of Planning and Investment have also been assigned to collect the WBs recommendations./.
Two Indiana police officers have been put on administrative leave after being caught on video using a chokehold while arresting a man just days after neck restraints were banned by their department.
The mayor of Anderson, Indiana, and its police chief have revealed that Anderson Police officers Brandon Reynolds and Ashley Gravely were put on paid leave pending an investigation in the wake of the incident which occurred June 13, CBS 2 reported.
Reynolds and Gravely were seen in a video, which was posted on social media, of them arresting Spencer Nice, 21, of Frankfort, Indiana.
Anderson Police officers Brandon Reynolds and Ashley Gravely are seen in video as they arrested Spencer Nice, 21 (in jeans). Reynolds is seen at right using a chokehold on Nice
Court documents indicated that Nice resisted arrest which led to the use of the apparent chokehold. Reynolds and Gravely are seen putting restraints on Nice
In the video, Reynolds can be seen standing behind Nice, appearing to put restraints around Nice's hands while Gravely tries to pull his cell phone out of his hands.
Nice doesn't appear to be resisting arrest, but is in the middle of mumbling something about his phone when Reynolds suddenly wraps his arm around Nice's neck and drags him to the ground.
The apparent chokehold lasts for about seven seconds as Reynolds and Gravely work to pull Nice's hands behind his back while he's on the pavement. Reynolds then lets go, but can be seen holding the back of Nice's neck with one hand until the restraints are in place.
Reynolds' chokehold on Nice occurred two days after Anderson Mayor Thomas J. Broderick Jr. and Police Chief Jake Brown had banned the use of chokeholds in the wake of protests following George Floyd's death while Minneapolis police were trying to take him into custody on May 25.
In a statement released June 15, obtained by the Herald Bulletin, Broderick and Brown noted that, 'While we want to fairly review all of the evidence we are disturbed by what is shown in the video.'
They added that 'We will promptly act in such cases and take appropriate action for any such violations.'
Spencer Nice, 21 (pictured), was charged with resisting arrest during the June 13 incident
The statement noted that Reynolds had been on patrol on June 13, when he heard what he believed were gunshots. He then saw Nice and three other people walking in the area.
Reynolds claimed that he saw Nice 'throwing something black up against the side of a factory warehouse.'
Gravely, Reynolds' backup, then arrived at the scene to help take Nice into custody, leading to the use of the chokehold.
According to the statement, police said that Nice had resisted arrest.
A court affidavit noted that police said Nice allegedly did not obey an order to put his hands behind his back.
Nice's father, Van Nice, claimed that someone had been lighting firecrackers in the neighborhood, while Nice himself denied Reynold's claims of having throwing something against the warehouse.
The Herald Bulletin said that over the last six years, Nice had been charged twice with resisting arrest in Clinton County, Indiana, where he lives. He pleaded guilty to one of the charges.
Nice was in Anderson visiting his father when the June 13 incident occurred.
The Anderson Board of Public Safety is conducting a hearing and would be responsible for any disciplinary action greater than a five-day suspension.
Both Reynolds and Gravely had been with the Anderson Police Department for more than five years.
When the investigation is 'completed it will go up the chain of command ultimately to the chief who will review it and he will make his recommendations for what discipline if any would be wanted and that would most likely be present it to the safety board and then the safety board will make the ultimate decision,' Mayor Broderick said according to CBS 4 Indy.
Indiana State law states that neither the mayor nor the police chief are allowed to terminate or dismiss an officer.
The City of Anderson said on June 18 that it would be moving forward with their plan to buy body and in-car cameras for their police officers, which they had been planning to do before being sidetracked by the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.
Nice was charged with a misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement, which his family is asking to be dismissed.
The Indiana police suspension comes as police departments across the country have been rapidly banning the use of chokeholds as a way to subdue people during arrests.
Officers caught using chokeholds after they've been banned in other states have also been suspended, sometimes without pay.
On Sunday, a NYPD officers was suspended without pay after he was caught on video using what the police commissioner called an 'apparent chokehold' on a man on a boardwalk in Queens, New York, CBS News reported.
In that incident, NYPD officers were seen tackling a man, before one officers put his arm around the man's neck while he was prone on the boardwalk. The situation was deescalated when another officer tapped him on the back and pulled at the officer's shirt.
Within hours, the NYPD suspended the officer, released bodycam footage and launched an investigation into the incident.
Bodycam footage showed that three men, including the one who was tackled, had been shouting at the officers, taunting them and slinging racial insults at them for about 11 minutes, while the officers urged them to walk away.
After the 30-second struggle, an officer could be heard telling a relative of the man - who she claimed was mentally ill - that 'They were all talking all types of crazy stuff to us and we did nothing. What changed everything is when he grabbed something and squared up and was going to hit my officer.'
The man now faces two misdemeanors, for resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental justice, and a violation for disorderly conduct.
Chokeholds have been banned by the NYPD since Eric Garner died in 2014, after an officer put him in a chokehold while arresting him.
Anti-China protesters display placards urging citizens to boycott Chinese goods during a demonstration in New Delhi on June 18, 2020. (Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images)
India Turning Against Chinese Regime Amid CCP Virus Outbreak, Border Dispute
The killing of 20 Indian soldiers in a clash with Chinas Peoples Liberation Army troops in the border region of Ladakh has intensified anti-Beijing sentiment that initially flared because of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.
They have made a permanent enemy out of India. Itll take a minimum of two generations to have a friendly China response from us, said retired Brig. Rumel Dahiya, a veteran who had worked for the joint staff of Indias armed forces.
China can forget about any kind of support from India with respect to international forums, Dahiya told The Epoch Times. He particularly highlighted human rights forums, and indicated that India will change its import policy and will take steps to control Chinese investment in Indian startups, Chinas purchase of Indian real estate, and the purchase of shares of companies in the Indian stock market by Chinese companies.
Certain sectors will be closed for China on security grounds. Efforts will be to diversify imports and systematically reduce imports from China, says Dahiya, who has served as the deputy director-general of the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, a government-funded think tank.
Indian activists along with Tibetans living in exile shout slogans during an anti-China demonstration in Siliguri on June 20, 2020. (Dipendu Dutta/AFP/Getty Images
Unnerved by Chinese companies shopping in Indian stock markets, including Chinas central bank, as the CCP virus began its surge, the Indian government dropped foreign direct investment from its neighbors from its automatic approval list in April.
Neighbors simply means China, Dahiya said.
A day after the incident in the Galwan Valley areaa border clash between Chinese and Indian military forcesIndias telecom ministry asked its state-run telecom company, BSNL, to rework its 4G network upgrading tender to exclude Chinese telecom companies. It advised private telecom companies against procuring equipment from Chinese firms.
Boycott Chinese Products
While India mostly imports tires from Thailand and China, Dahiya says he expects things will now change.
Thai tires will be permitted, but no license will be given to China, he said.
Among the many calls to boycott Chinese products in India, a popular one began during the standoff in the Ladakh region while the CCP virus was surging, and intensified after the deadly border clash.
It started when Indian education reformer Sonam Wangchuk called for a boycott, with slogans such as Boycott China, Boycott Made in China, and Anywhere but China. Inspired by Wangchuk, who was the subject of the Bollywood film Three Idiots, 16-year-old Chirag Bhansali started an online platform to provide Indians, particularly his schoolmates native alternatives to various Chinese apps and products.
Bhansali, a student whos also a programmer, took 10 days to launch his platform on June 12, days before the Gilwan clash.
I wanted to support the nationalist sentiment, he told The Epoch Times over the phone from the northern Indian city of Noida, adding that Chinese apps have security issues and that he wanted to support Wangchuks call to eliminate their use.
His platform, called Swadeshi Tech, includes lists of Indian apps and Indian alternatives to Chinese laptops, televisions, mobile phones, audio devices, cameras, and air conditioners; it drew more than 55,000 visitors in about 10 days and a salutation by Wangchuk.
Activists of the ruling party, BJP stand in line as they hold posters during an anti-China protest in Siliguri on June 17, 2020. India and China held top-level talks on June 17 to cool down the situation, Beijing said, after a violent border brawl that left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead. (Dipendu Dutta/AFP/Getty Images)
Prasanth A.K., a 56-year-old architect from the south Indian city of Calicut, told The Epoch Times by phone that theres intense anti-China sentiment in the business community across India. He says hes promoting local production, as thats the only way to sustain a boycott.
A complete boycott of Chinese products can only happen if India achieves a quality economy across all sectors, he said. In India, value perception is changing, and people are slowly overcoming the lure of cheap Chinese products, he said.
How to be on our own foot is the main emotion pan-India. The world was [earlier] reluctant to go against China. Now, many nations are trying to be self-reliant, said Prasanth, who has been to China multiple times.
Anti-China protesters prepare to burn Chinese products while urging citizens to boycott Chinese goods during a demonstration in New Delhi on June 18, 2020. (Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images)
India Versus Chinas Communist Regime
Dahiya says the Indian government is aware that what happened in the heights of Galwan couldnt have happened without the consent of the communist regime in Beijing and that the incident further reveals China to the Indian public.
We also know that theres a parallel command structure at each level: a professional guy and a Party guy at all command levels, he said. CMC [Central Military Commission of the CCP] exercises great power. Its the CMC that controls the army.
The Indian administration knows that party is dangerous even in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, we knew that the Chinese system was different, that the Chinese system wasnt good, Dahiya said.
He said that while the concept of aligning with China was a liberal imagination, now itll be different.
We [now] know that it is different from us and that it hardly is ever bothered about people, he said. We also know each economic activity that takes place has a stake of these senior party leaders.
Karnataka health minister B Sriramulu on Tuesday indicated that the government may consider imposing another lockdown in Bengaluru if the surge in novel coronavirus cases continues at the current pace, even as the states deputy CM CN Ashwathnarayana said that the situation does not warrant such a step at this stage.
"Yesterday (Monday), the CM had ordered sealing down of specific places that were identified. But if the spike in cases continues at the same pace, in future we will have to consider a lockdown yet again. We will have to think it over, he told reporters after reviewing the situation at a government hospital in the city.
Blaming the recent rise in cases on people from other states travelling to Bengaluru, he said the health department will first consult experts on the need to impose another lockdown, and will then take the issue up with the CM BS Yediyurappa.
But officials News18 spoke to say another lockdown, even if considered, will not be imposed for the next 14 days. They said the immediate focus of the government is to carry out aggressive containment measures in the clusters that have been identified and a review will be conducted post the two-week period.
For its next step, the government in Karnataka is also keeping an eye on how the situation unfolds in Chennai, which has seen a second round of lockdown. Based on how it works, and at what cost economically, the administration may take a decision for Bengaluru at the end of two weeks.
Containment Strategy
The Karnataka government had on Monday sealed off five wards in the city as part of a revised containment strategy, under which any area which reports five or more cases will be sealed.
Bengaluru, with over 440 containment zones, has been the primary focus of the administration for the last two weeks, as the number of infections have nearly doubled to nearly 1,400.
Sriramulu's comment came on a day when Opposition leader and former CM HD Kumaraswamy tweeted that he felt a better way to control the spread of Covid-19 would be to impose a 20-day lockdown in Bengaluru.
Deputy CM CN Ashwathnarayana, who is also a member of the states Covid-19 task force, however, said things have not gone out of control yet to warrant any lockdown.
The way forward is better management and better services. It is a thing we can handle, and effective management, facility, treatment and care are most important. If you look at the death rate and fatalities, it is not high," he told News18, when asked about Kumaraswamy's suggestion.
Violations on Rise
Bengaluru's spike in cases, officials have said, is also because of a worrying number of home quarantine violations. On Monday evening, after a high-level review meet chired by the CM, the citys civic body had put out a fresh adivsory to resident welfare associations to step up vigil of violators.
Besides, a volunteer group at the block level is also being put together. There at more than 1.3 lakh people on home quarantine in the city - either because they are contacts of Covid-19-positive patients or because they have come from other states or countries. There have been complaints about roughly 40 per cent of them violating quarantine norms.
Ashwathnarayana said the government is trying to give a bigger role to resident welfare associations as well as neighbours in keeping a check on those who have been quarantined.
We want alert neighbours to supervise and monitor their neighbours who are supposed to be on home quarantine for their own safety, and ensure that they stay home. People should be more responsible, if they are not responsible, we will have to enforce, he said.
He further said that teams at the booth level (25 houses) will also monitor people on home quarantine and also look out for symptomatic people.
Bengaluru Mayor Gautam Kumar said the number containment zones may increase, based on emergence of cases every day. "Day-to-day the study happens and we analyse the situation and see the number of cases, to see what is happening and where," he told News 18.
Private Hospitals Roped In
The government has also roped in private hospitals to admit Covid-19 patients, in case there is a further spike in the coming days. One floor in each of the 510 identified hospitals has been set aside for Covid-19 patients. There is also a cap on treatment cost - patients can be charged Rs 5,200 rupees for a normal isolated bed per day.
Desperate for solutions, the Karnataka government is also consulting Kerala a second time on how the neighbouring state has been able to rein in numbers while Karnataka has faltered.
"Any good practices, understanding and experiences, good suggestions are most welcome. Any model anywhere, if it is practical and effective, we must adopt it in the interest of people. Having consultation is the way forward," Ashwathnarayana said.
A Saudi official said on Tuesday that the hajj pilgrimage, which usually draws up to 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world, will only see at the most a few thousand pilgrims next month due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
The kingdom's Hajj Minister Muhammad Benten said a small and very limited number of people even as low as just 1,000 from inside the kingdom will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage to ensure social distancing and crowd control amid the global virus outbreak.
The number, God willing, may be in the thousands. We are in the process of reviewing so it could be 1,000 or less, or a little more, Benten said in a virtual press conference.
While the decision to drastically curb this year's hajj was largely expected, it remains unprecedented in Saudi Arabia's nearly 90-year history and effectively bars all Muslims from outside the kingdom from travelling there to performing the pilgrimage.
The Saudi government waited until just five weeks before the hajj to announce its decision. The timing indicates the sensitivity around major decisions concerning the hajj that affect Muslims around the world.
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This is a very sensitive operation and we are working with experts at the Health Ministry, Benten said, stressing the importance of protecting the lives and health of pilgrims.
As part of the curbs, Saudi officials said that no one over the age of 65 will be allowed to perform the hajj and that all pilgrims and those serving the pilgrims this year will be quarantined both before and after the pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia first announced late on Monday that only a very limited number of pilgrims would be allowed to perform the hajj in Mecca from among residents of various nationalities already inside the kingdom.
It's a blow to those who've saved money for years to afford the journey the hajj is not only a once-in-a-lifetime requirement for all Muslims but also a chance to wipe away past sins and connect with Muslims from all walks of life.
It is a wish of every Muslim to perform hajj, but because of COVID-19, it will not be possible this year," Chairman of the Islamic Centre of India Maulana Khalid Rashid said.
Rashid said China is ultimately responsible. "Had China told the world about COVID beforehand, the world would have reacted differently, he said, adding that a delegation from India should be allowed to go and perform the hajj.
This is an annual ritual and the tradition should not be broken, he said.
The hajj typically draws 2 million people from around the world, with the rest coming from inside Saudi Arabia. It's a profound experience, with the faithful standing should-to-shoulder in prayer, often weeping, their palms stretched toward the sky for five intense days of worship around Mecca.
Each country is allocated a specific quota of hajj visas according to its population of Muslims, with Indonesia having the largest, close to 221,000.
In countries like Egypt, Pakistan and India, securing a slot can require hefty fees, a connection to a local official or simply years of patience.
Pakistan, which usually sends around 180,000 pilgrims, said Saudi authorities had been in touch to inform them about the decision to limit this year's hajj. Instead, Pakistani diplomats already in Saudi Arabia will represent the country this year at the hajj, which begins at the end of July.
The president of an association of hajj tour operators in Bangladesh, Shahadat Hossain Taslim, praised the decision to essentially hold the hajj with just a symbolic numbers of pilgrims.
It has a great symbolic value," he said. Around 137,000 Bangladeshis typically travel to Mecca each year for the hajj.
We are going to lose business worth millions of dollars, but we have nothing to do. The situation is not in our hands," Taslim added.
Saudi Arabia's borders have been shut to foreigners since late February in attempts to slow down the spread of the virus. The government suspended the smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage earlier this year, imposed a nearly three-month-long 24-hour curfew in Mecca, shuttered mosques during the holy month of Ramadan and restricted businesses.
Still, the kingdom has one of the highest infection rates in the Middle East, with more than 161,000 confirmed cases so far, including 1,307 deaths.
The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most people, who recover within a few weeks. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death, particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems.
Saudi Arabia said the decision to curtail the hajj was aimed at preserving global public health because of the risks associated with large gatherings. It defended its decision on religious grounds as well, saying that the teachings of Islam require the preservation of human life.
In Afghanistan, retired army colonel Mahmood Seddiqi said Muslims who cannot go to Saudi Arabia this year should donate the money they would have spent on the pilgrimage to help those hardest-hit by the pandemic and its economic impact.
The kingdom has faced smaller epidemics like the MERS virus and had taken precautions by barring pilgrims from African countries stricken by the Ebola virus in recent years.
There have been major disruptions during the hajj in past years, including a deadly stampede and a crane collapse in 2015 that killed more than 2,500 people. In 1987, Saudi security forces killed over 400 people, mostly Shia Muslims, in a clash sparked by Iranian pilgrims protesting during the hajj.
Indian and Chinese military commanders reached a mutual consensus to disengage from all friction areas along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC), which has been tense since a brutal brawl on June 15 left 20 Indian troops dead in the Ladakh sector, two senior officials said on Tuesday.
But the process of disengagement is likely to be arduous and challenging, and will require moving ahead cautiously in phases, people with direct knowledge of the matter said.
The agreement was reached during an 11-hour meeting between top commanders at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC on Monday. The talks were aimed at cooling tensions and thinning the military build-up on both sides of the border. The Corps Commander-level talks between India and China were held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere, one of the officials cited in the first instance said. Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both the sides, he added.
While disengaging in some friction areas was a low-hanging fruit and could be achieved in a reasonable time-frame, the real test would lie in the restoration of status quo ante in the Finger Area where the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has set up permanent bunkers, pillboxes and observation posts, said one of the persons cited in the second instance.
China watchers believe that the disengagement process is likely to be less complicated in the Gogra Post-Hot Springs and the Galwan Valley sectors, where there are no real issues about the alignment of the LAC.
The disengagement will have to be equal, mutual and proportional, said Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd), a former director general of military operations (DGMO).
The disengagement will be a long-drawn process because of the mistrust that has set in after the Galwan Valley clash. A lot of verification through different means will be required at every stage of disengagement to make sure that the PLA has retreated, added Bhatia, who served as the armys DGMO during 2013-14.
The June 15 Galwan Valley skirmish in eastern Ladakh resulted in 20 deaths on the Indian side and the PLA suffered 43 casualties, according to Indian officials, but Beijing has not confirmed the fatalities. A Chinese spokesman on Tuesday dismissed such reports as fake news.
Disengagement in the Finger Area on the north bank of Pangong Tso will be tricky in comparison with Gogra Post-Hot Springs and the Galwan Valley sectors where limited disengagement had begun after the first meeting between senior Indian and Chinese commanders on June 6, said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd).
He was referring to the first meeting between delegations led by Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region. During that meeting, the two sides reached an understanding to implement a de-escalation plan to ease rising tensions along the contested border, but tensions peaked in the aftermath of the June 15 skirmish. It was the first deadly conflict between Indian and Chinese soldiers along the LAC in 45 years.
The Finger area is where the real problem lies as the Chinese soldiers have dug in their heels there. It will be the most challenging part of the proposed disengagement, said Hooda.
The army is concerned about the PLAs presence in the Finger Area, especially the Chinese activities between Finger 4 and Finger 8 over the last seven weeks. Chinese military positions in the Finger Area restrict the scope of the Indian Army patrolling areas that New Delhi considers its territory, according to a security official aware of the developments.
He said the Indian Army would have to be extremely vigilant during the disengagement process, given what transpired in the Galwan Valley; the disengagement will have to be monitored by senior commanders to ensure things do not go awry; and a diplomatic dialogue will have to progress simultaneously.
While the modalities for disengagement were discussed at the meeting between senior commanders, implementing the plan would require several rounds of talks between commanders on the ground, a second security official added.
At the June 22 meeting between the corps commanders, India sought an assurance from the Chinese side on ending aggression along the border, and the thinning of Chinese military deployments in depth areas on their side of the disputed border.
China had deployed up to 10,000 troops in these areas with the military buildup including fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, artillery guns, missile systems and air defence radars. India has matched the neighbours military moves. Neither India nor China are likely to immediately thin their deployments in rear areas, given how volatile the disputed border has been, the second security official added.
Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday arrived in Leh, the headquarters of 14 Corps in Ladakh, on a two-day visit focused on conducting a security review of the sensitive sector. Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria made a low-key visit to Ladakh last week to review the Indian Air Forces preparedness in the area.
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Chattanooga businessman, Jack Frost, 90, passed into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 19, 2020.
His life was a testament to hard work, determination, and steadfast commitment to moving forward, especially in the midst of challenging times. Jack was truly an entrepreneur and held the position of chairman of the board of several of the companies that he founded or acquired, including Tuftco Corp., Trade-Finance International, Inc., Mitchell Industrial Tire Co., Inc., Professional Industrial Tire Co., Inc., and Management Strategies, Inc. In 2006, he was inducted into the University of Chattanooga College of Business Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.
Jack began his career with the American National Bank and Trust Company and as an accounting instructor in the Evening College of the University of Chattanooga. He later was treasurer of Tennessee Paper Mills. He has been a CPA since 1955 and with his brother, Jim, founded the firm of Frost and Frost in 1963. He left the firm in 1969 to start Tuftco Corp.
Jack graduated from the University of Chattanooga in 1952 with a BS degree in Business and continued his education with graduate work at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Red Bank Baptist Church was Jacks church home for more than 80 years. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior there in 1940, at the age of 10, when evangelist, Arthur Fox, came to RBBC. As an adult, he served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher.
He had a desire to help children who found themselves in challenging circumstances, and was a strong supporter of organizations that worked to help those children, including Bethel Bible Village, Bible in the Schools, and the Orphanage Emmanuel located in Guaimaca, Honduras.
Jack was preceded in death by his devoted loving wife of 62 years, Charlotte, his parents Mildred Sally Frost and Chester Frost, former Hamilton County Judge, and son-in- law, Mike Bishop.
He is survived by son, Steve (Lisa) Frost, daughter, Susan Bishop and brother Jim (Lavone) Frost. He is also survived by grandchildren Amy (John) Haddock, Jonathan (Lindsey) Frost, David (Maggie) Bishop, Will (Megan) Bishop, and Ben Bishop; and great-grandchildren, Charlotte Ann, Eli, and Grace Haddock and Laney, Sally, and Molly Frost.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 23, from 12-2 p.m. at Red Bank Baptist Church. The funeral will be at the church Tuesday at 2 p.m. with Reverend Bill Harvey officiating. Private family Interment will follow in Chattanooga Memorial Park (Duck Pond). We respectfully request that social distancing and all CDC Covid-19 measures be adhered to. Masks will be optional.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Red Bank Baptist Church,4000 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, Orphanage Emmanuel, 715 Moores Mill Dr., Auburn, Al. 36830 or Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Dr., Chattanooga, Tn. 37416.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 16:43 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660ffaf2 1 Business AIIB,loan,COVID-19,response Free
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a China-backed multilateral development bank, announced on Tuesday that it had approved a US$1 billion loan to help strengthen Indonesias health and economic responses to the COVID-19 crisis.
AIIBs first loan for Indonesia, totaling $750 million and co-financed with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will be used for a project to support Indonesias economic recovery program, including aid for small and medium businesses and vulnerable households.
Furthermore, it has also approved a $250 million loan, in partnership with the World Bank, for a separate program to strengthen the public healthcare response to the crisis, including testing, prevention and treatment of the virus, and to boost hospital readiness.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many developing countries to make difficult trade-offs to meet the urgent needs of their citizens. AIIBs support for Indonesia will contribute to the governments efforts to navigate these challenges during highly uncertain times, AIIB vice president for investment operations DJ Pandian said in a statement on Tuesday.
Indonesia, which saw confirmed cases surge to over 46,800 on Monday, requested the loan to finance its efforts to strengthen hospital readiness, pandemic preparedness and testing capacity.
The government is looking to borrow a total of $7 billion from multilateral organizations including the ADB, AIIB, World Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), according to government officials last month.
The funds will be used to cover the widening budget deficit of 6.34 percent, more than double the initial ceiling of 3 percent, as the government allocates Rp 695.2 trillion (US$49.3 billion) to finance healthcare response and prevent a greater economic meltdown.
The government expects the economy to shrink 0.4 percent this year under the worst-case scenario or grow 1 percent under a baseline scenario. It would be the weakest outcome since the Asian financial crisis hit the countrys economy in 1998 and 1999.
We appreciate AIIB for the quick response and flexibility when it comes to the urgent needs of member countries during the health and economic crises, Deputy Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara said in the joint statement with AIIB.
These loans are important for Indonesia to support health care and protect urgently needed social expenditure and expand social assistance programs for the poor and vulnerable people to reduce the adverse social and economic impacts of COVID-19.
Countdown and The Salvation Army are putting a call out for Kiwis to donate much-needed food ahead of what is expected to be the busiest winter food banks have ever seen.
The new Food for Good Winter Appeal, which started at Countdown stores nationwide this week, encourages people to donate what they can to their fellow Kiwis who might be doing it tough, and Countdown will match it.
This winter, The Salvation Army is expecting to need to help more than 50,000 New Zealanders, a significant proportion of whom are experiencing food insecurity for the first time in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Winter demand for food support expected to grow by at least 60 per cent from last year.
New Zealanders can donate non-perishable food and other essentials at any Countdown store in the designated donation bins, or donate a winter food parcel online through The Foodbank Project, the countrys only online foodbank.
Donated items are then distributed through The Salvation Armys community hubs across the country.
Jono Bell, The Salvation Armys director of community ministries, says that they are hoping to raise around $500,000 of groceries during the Food for Good Appeal, which will help set up the Armys foodbanks to meet the massive demand they are expecting throughout the colder months.
Winter is an extremely hard time of year for many of us as living costs like power bills increase. Unfortunately food is often the part of an already stretched budget that has to be compromised, and this year that will be compounded even further by job losses and reduced incomes.
A food parcel wont solve everything, but its the difference between parents and children going hungry which I cant believe any Kiwi would want to see, says Jono.
Kiri Hannifin, Countdowns General Manager Corporate Affairs, Safety and Sustainability, says with the anticipated demand ahead for the nations foodbanks, matching donations to try and reach $500,000 of food for winter felt like an important goal to aim for.
This winter there will be many Kiwis who find themselves needing support from foodbanks for the first time ever. Even a tiny gesture like a packet of pasta will make a huge difference - so thats why our message is donate what you can. It doesnt have to be a lot, and well match it to make it go even further.
The past four months have proven just how generous and caring we are as a country so now were asking for our customers help to make sure no one goes hungry this winter, says Kiri.
Countdowns Food for Good Winter Appeal runs from June 22 July 19 and is the first fundraising appeal under Countdowns new Food for Good Foundation.
Earlier this month, the Foundation donated $1million to food welfare agencies and aims to provide meaningful and long-lasting support to our communities, giving all Kiwis the opportunity to thrive, and helping to build a stronger, healthier New Zealand for future generations.
Customers can donate items in store or at New Zealand's only online foodbank at The Foodbank Project: https://www.foodbank.org.nz/collections/winterbundles
New Jersey marked some significant coronavirus recovery milestones Monday as Gov. Phil Murphy set July 2 as the date that indoor dining can resume and Atlantic City casinos are allowed to reopen, while also immediately raising the limits on the size of both indoor and outdoor gatherings.
Restaurants will be required to limit indoor capacity to 25% with other rules to be announced in the coming days. Casino gaming floors will have the same capacity limit.
Indoor gatherings are now limited to 25% capacity with a maximum of 100 people, up from the previous 50. Outdoor gatherings can host up to 250 people, an increase from the previous 100.
Racetracks can also reopen for in-person betting at their sportsbooks and lounges, as long as they follow gathering limits.
On Monday, barber shops, nail salons and tattoo parlors began legally welcoming back customers for the first time in about three months. Public and private pools also reopened as temperatures soared into the 90s.
Outdoor dining is now in its second week of being reopened as are nonessential businesses.
Health officials announced 27 additional COVID-19 related deaths Monday to push the states total to 12,896 since the outbreak began in March. There were 1,091 people hospitalized in New Jersey with a confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases as of Monday night, up slightly from the day before. But thats still down significantly from the peak of 8,065 on April 14.
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage
A roundup of coronavirus stories:
Crackdown coming for N.J. bars, restaurants caught with jammed outdoor dining areas, Murphy says: New Jersey bars and restaurants caught with big crowds violating social distancing rules in recently reopened and expanded outdoor dining spaces can expect a heavy crackdown after viral videos surfaced last weekend, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday.
In Belmar, DJais Bar and Grill was read ... the riot act by the towns mayor after pictures and videos were shared on social media that showed large crowds gathered closely together. In Morristown, Tashmoo Bar & Restaurant had its outdoor dining license revoked after overcrowding on Friday night, local officials said in a statement.
NJ Transit, Rutgers study UV light to rid buses of coronavirus: NJ Transit is the latest agency to experiment with ultra-violet-c light as a more effective way to sanitize equipment from the coronavirus.
The agency has contracted with Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) to study effectiveness of the UVC wavelength in killing viruses as well as electronically mapping the interior of different bus models to determine the best placement for the UVC source, officials said. The study will be done over the next few months.
Flying out of Newark airport any time soon? Heres what you can expect: Life was slowly returning to Newark Liberty airport on Monday, where travelers were seen in the terminals that had almost emptied of fliers a month ago, due to the coronavirus. But they have new precautions and a new routine to learn.
Now, travelers are greeted with new sights, vending machines that sell face masks and bottles of hand sanitizer, giant yellow signs reminding people to keep their social distance from each other and hundreds of dispensers are scattered throughout airport terminals, squirting out lemony fresh smelling dollops of sanitizer.
When are courts reopening in N.J. from coronavirus closures?: The second phase of reopening New Jerseys criminal and civil courts clicked into gear Monday calling for proceedings to continue to be largely conducted remotely, with some exceptions for onsite sessions.
Most of the public will still not be able to enter court buildings even if they have a proceeding directly involving them. These rules apply to criminal and civil proceedings in Superior Court and municipal court sessions.
WHO reports largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases: 183,000 in 24 hours: The World Health Organization on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases by its count, at more than 183,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours.
The UN health agency said Brazil led the way with 54,771 cases tallied and the U.S. next at 36,617. Over 15,400 came in in India.
Experts said rising case counts can reflect multiple factors including more widespread testing as well as broader infection.
U.S. cases: More than 120,000 of the 2.3 million people in the U.S. infected have died as of early Tuesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Worldwide cases: There have been more than 472,000 deaths worldwide, the center says. At least 9.1 million have been infected, though more than 4.5 million have recovered.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.
The Associated Press and NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Larry Higgs, Katie Kausch and Amanda Hoover contributed to this report.
Chief of Air Staff (CoAS), Sadiq Abubakar, says Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has destroyed 10 bandits camps in four states in the North-West zone in the ongoing Operation Wutar Daji.
Mr Abubakar, an air marshal, disclosed this on Tuesday in Katsina when he inspected the operations which had been on for the last one month.
He explained that NAF deployed 10 aircrafts with dozens of Special Forces for the operations.
The air chief stated that in the course of air surveillance, the force identified and bombed several armed bandits camps across four states.
He said the states included Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Kebbi in the North West Zone where the operation is ongoing.
Mr Abubakar said 10 jets were used in the operations where the hideouts of the armed bandits terrorising communities in Rugu, Kuyanbana, Birnin Gwari and Dansadau forests within the zone were destroyed.
Our aerial surveillance team spotted several targets in the forest, we bombed the places and neutralised dozens of armed bandits.
It must be noted that the operation is ongoing, we will not rest on our oars until we identify every bandits camp in the forest and destroy them.
We will fight to the level that armed banditry will no longer be a security issue in the North-West or any other part of the country, he said.
Mr Abubakar also inspected the construction of an aircraft hangar in Katsina, which would serve as a protective shelter for aircrafts being used for the anti-banditry operations.
Our aircrafts are kept in the open which exposes them to high temperature and weather, and this affects their serviceability.
Therefore we have commenced the construction of this aircraft hangar through direct labour, the hangar will be constructed by NAF civil engineers, the air chief added.
He noted that all the efforts were geared toward enhancing efficiency in ongoing operations that cut across the troubled states in the North West region and the country in general.
(NAN)
Tech industry leaders are aggressively criticizing President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, warning the move could prevent them from recruiting the most highly skilled workers from around the world.
Many major companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Twitter and top industry groups came out swinging against Trump's sweeping order to block a broad range of worker visas until the end of the year. The president's proclamation applies to H-1B visas, which many tech companies rely on to bring engineers and other specialized workers to the United States. (Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)
Aaron Levie, the chief executive of Box, warned the restrictions could result in the next top tech company developing outside the United States.
The Trump administration argues the order will protect U.S. workers struggling with job losses during the coronavirus pandemic, Washington Post writers Nick Miroff and Tony Romm report. The proclaimation will prevent foreign workers from filling 525,000 jobs, according to the administration's estimates.
But tech executives tell The Washington Post that the order couldn't come at a worse time.
Many tech companies in cloud and big data businesses have not been as adversely impacted by the pandemic as other sectors, especially as many workers log on from home. Companies still actively hiring worry Trunp's immigration order could prevent them from recruiting the best talent.
"My gut reaction was, I cannot believe that that the administration is doing this at this time," Doug Merritt, chief executive of the big data company Splunk, told The Washington Post in an interview. Merritt warned the order could have a detrimental impact on innovation at a critical time during the pandemic, possibly impacting improving technology in health care.
"National borders and country of residence should not be a barrier when this is a global phenomena," he said. "It's not a national phenomenon."
The order only applies to H-1B visa applicants seeking to come to the United States, not workers who are now on American soil. But H-1B visas are key to Splunk's workforce, as the company relies on such visas to sustain more than 300 U.S.-based employees, or 5% of the company's workforce. Splunk could not immediately say how many outstanding offers it has to H-1B candidates who would now be barred from coming.
Amazon slammed the move as "short-sighted."
"Preventing high skilled professionals from entering the country and contributing to America's economic recovery puts American's global competitiveness at risk," Amazon spokesman Brandon Scheller told The Post in a statement.
Immigration policy has been one of the top tension points between the Trump administration and tech companies. Since Election Day 2016, tech industry executives and investors have fretted that Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric would result in policies that could adversely affect their recruiting efforts.
Tech companies have deployed a variety of tactics to fight the most aggressive of Trump's immigration policies. They've actively opposed some of the administration's early travel bans, as well as efforts to restrict Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Apple chief executive Tim Cook has also directly appealed to Trump on the issue.
Many of the top companies in the tech industry have founders or core executives who are immigrants or the children of immigrants. More than half of the top American tech companies were founded by immigrants or the children of immigrants, tech investor Mary Meeker said in her 2018 report on the future of the Internet.
"Our business is all about getting the most talented technical team in the world together, and so we rely a lot on foreign visas," Okta chief executive Todd McKinnon said in an interview. McKinnon estimates hundreds of the company's 2,500 workers are on such visas, underscoring how vital they are to the business.
To be sure, the broad shift to remote work during the pandemic could make it easier for some companies to adapt to Trump's order.
McKinnon said Okta's move to remote work has been accelerated by the broad stay-at-home orders. He said that could actually make it easier for some potential recruits to log on from outside the United States than before, adding he'll be letting applicants and employees concerned about the immigration crackdown know that could be an option.
"It gives us an option in terms of getting top technical talent, even with these kinds of restrictions," he said.
New Delhi: As countries across the world struggle to develop cure of the deadly coronavirus infection, Patanjali on Tuesday claimed that it has found the cure of the disease. Yoga guru Ramdev-run Patanjali Ayurved launched 'corolin tablet' which is said to have constituents to cure coronavirus.
Patanjali said that with the joint efforts of Professor Balbir Singh Tomar and Acharya Balkrishna corolin tablet has been prepared. Acharya Balkrishna said the company would share the results of clinical trial soon, and that the patients treated by the said medicine have had tested negative.
The ayurvedic company said that the trail of the medicine was conducted on 280 patients and all were recovered.
The company also claimed that clinical controlled trial was also done by Patanjali Research Center Parai and NIMS in wich 95 patients went through the trial out of which 79 percent patients recovered within 3 days and 100 percent recovered within 7 days.
Talking about the medicine Yoga guru Ramdev said that 'coronil', made out of Ayurvedic elements such as Ashwagandha, Giloy, and Tulsi, could cure coronavirus positive patients within a few days with daily morning and evening dosages.
A letter from children's writer Beatrix Potter voicing her disdain at 'vulgar' wartime cocktail parties has come to light.
The author was proud to do her bit for the war effort and turned over her Lake District farm for food production for the government.
But the Peter Rabbit creator clearly felt other well-to-do people in her community were not pulling their weight.
She summoned the grouchy spirit of her famous villain Mr McGregor to rail against some of them hosting lavish social events at the height of the Second World War.
Beatrix Potter, pictured here in the latter stages of her life, voiced her disdain at 'vulgar' wartime cocktail parties as the nation was trying to overcome a difficult time
In the preserved letters she summoned the grouchy spirit of her famous villain Mr McGregor to judge those who hosted lavish social events at the height of wartime
Then aged 77, she felt such extravagance wasn't in keeping with the sacrifices being made by British people at the time.
The letter, dated November 1, 1943, was to her friend Katherine Brooke, who she set up a local nursing service with.
Potter wrote: 'I got a postcard - 'Will you drink with us any time after 5.30?' - Someone said it might mean coffee, but it sounded more like cocktails - a very vulgar world.'
The letter may well have been one of the last penned by Potter as she died just seven weeks later of pneumonia.
In the letter she also criticised people who used up valuable petrol on 'unreasonable journeys' as well as for joy riding and drink driving.
She wrote: 'I agree with you about joy riding - and apart from a lot of drinking there are unreasonable journeys by taxi.
'In this village there are 3 young children who go to genteel governess-school daily - two to Hawkshead in one private car, and the third towards Windermere in a taxi!
Another letter, dated November 1, 1943, sees the British icon criticise people who used up valuable petrol on 'unreasonable journeys' as well as joy riding and drink driving
'I am not sure whether she crosses the Ferry or goes to the school at the Ferry hotel - it seems rather a waste of petrol.'
However, Potter then confided in her friend that she is not beyond reproach herself, recounting a bizarre episode where she was pulled over by police without her ID card and insurance.
It appeared she was not above using her status to get out of a tight spot as she is let off scot-free.
She wrote: 'Talking of petrol I got into a police trap at Cooke's House on the way to the sheep farm at Troutbeck.
'I was not asked where I was going to for a wander - I had left my identity card at home and the insurance, we had the driving licence and Stevens had his identity.
'I said it was Mr Heelis's car! (her husband was a local solicitor) The police seem content to overlook it.'
Mrs Brooke was the daughter of The Hon. John Cross, land agent to the High Legh Estates in Cheshire.
The letters, dated from the wartime period, are expected to fetch 1,500 at auction
Beatrix Potter pictured earlier in her life, with her father Rupert (right) and brother Bertram
Her grandfather was former Conservative Home Secretary Richard Assheton Cross, 1st Viscount Cross, a close friend and advisor of Queen Victoria.
The letter is one of a collection of three penned by Potter to the same recipient which are being sold with auctioneers Dominic Winter, of Cirencester, Gloucs.
The other two letters are dated 1937 and discuss nursing. They are expected to fetch 1,500.
Chris Albury, specialist at Dominic Winter, said: 'Beatrix Potter is justly famous for her Peter Rabbit books but she did do a lot of other things as well of course.
'She worked as a scientific illustrator, and took an active interest in conservation and sheep farming while living as Mrs Heelis with her husband in the Lake District.
'She is known to have done a lot of behind the scenes work in the local community.
'Something of that character can be gleaned from this letter where she is clearly outraged about the needless petrol extravagance of some well-to-do families getting their children to schools in taxis and the like.
Beatrix pictured with her dog Spot and Miss Leech her cousin seated in the quaint Lake District
'Quite what the social drinks do was that she clearly avoided we don't know but she vents her distaste for 'vulgar' cocktail parties and it's clear that this is a very down-to-earth woman not concerned with social niceties and appearances.'
Potter published 23 books in all, finishing with Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes (1922), a collection of her favourite rhymes.
Her most famous book, The Tale of Petter Rabbit (1901), has been translated into 36 languages and sold 45 million copies.
After her death she left her 14 farms and 4,000 acres of land to the National Trust on the condition her favourite home, Hill Top at Sawrey, was opened to the public and left unchanged.
The sale takes place on Thursday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For weeks, the Kansas City metro has seen protests calling for police reform and deep conversations on racial bias following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Some hope the conversations turns to action on other issues involving race, such as investing in Kansas City, Missouri's east side.
The people of West Cork joined an online commemoration today to mark the 35th anniversary of the Air India terrorist attack.
Videos of wreaths being laid at the Ahakista shoreside memorial near Bantry and a special message from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were included in a moving YouTube remembrance ceremony for the victims of Air India Flight 182.
The 747 was en route from Montreal to London-Delhi on June 23, 1985, when a bomb planted on board by Canadian Sikh terrorists exploded over the Atlantic some 120 miles off the southwest coast of Ireland, killing all 329 on board, including 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British citizens and 24 Indian citizens.
Eighty-two children under the age of 13, including six babies, were among the victims. It remains the deadliest attack in Canadian history.
Travel restrictions prevented family and friends from attending the annual commemoration in Ahakista, so remembrance events moved onto the YouTube channel set up by the Air India Victims' Families Association.
Mr Trudeau said Canada has lost many more citizens to terrorism over the years.
Those who commit such heinous acts seek to divide us. But time after time, they fail, he said.
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Ian Doyle, said: The bereavement and the suffering caused that day and the senseless loss of so many is impossible to fathom. While nothing can remedy that loss, we acknowledge it and carry it together as a community."
Others to contribute from Ireland included the Ambassador of India to Ireland, Sandeep Kumar, the Chargee d'Affaires of the Canadian Embassy to Canadians living in Ireland, Sabine Nolke, and Mrs Padmini Turlapti, who spoke on behalf of the families.
Anne OGrady, who in 2006 was among the first recipients of a scholarship established by the families, said their generosity has helped many over the years.
"We are so grateful for your generosity and your kindness. There has always been a special bond between you and the people of Bantry and Ahakista," she said.
During its annual summit with China yesterday the Union expressed its disappointment, targeting trade policies, cyber-attacks and disinformation campaign. Von der Leyen: "Serious consequences for the security law for Hong Kong". Analysts: The EU will have to follow the facts with words.
Brussels (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The European Union attacked China yesterday over the many failed promises of recent years. This is what emerged at the end of the annual summit with Beijing, which saw European leaders meet by videoconference with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, explicitly criticized Beijing for its delays in opening up its domestic market and ensuring equal treatment for European companies in China. In particular, the Union has demanded Xi and Li lift the obligation for foreign companies to transfer their technological intellectual property to a Chinese partner in order to operate in China.
The EU also accused Beijing of failing to make progress even with regard to the reform of the World Trade Organization. The Union points the finger at the unfair commercial practices of the Chinese, such as state export subsidies and dumping (the sale of goods below cost). European leaders say, if China does not budge in these areas, the two sides will not be able to enter into a large investment agreement by the end of the year.
Von der Leyen also had harsh words for Chinese cyber-attacks on computer systems in the Union and among its Member States. Beijing is also accused of launching a vast disinformation campaign on the European response to the pandemic crisis, then trying to take advantage of this to strengthen bilateral relations with those EU countries most willing to align with the Chinese geopolitical agenda.
On Hong Kong, European leaders reiterated their opposition to Beijing's new security law. They said the measure violates the international commitments made by the Chinese government for the return of the former British colony under its sovereignty in 1997. Von der Leyen spoke of "very negative consequences" for China if the legislation is adopted.
Xi defended himself by arguing that China has no hegemonic aim, and that cooperation with Beijing will open up new development spaces for Europe.
Analysts observe that while the Union has clearly expressed its disappointment in the Chinese giant, the litmus test is whether these words will followed by the adoption of practical measures should Beijing persevere in not living up to its promises.
A Melbourne doctor has raised concerns about the quality of Victorias contact tracing after his family were advised they could "continue behaving normally" despite being very close contacts of a family with a confirmed coronavirus case.
Oncologist Dr Prasad Cooray has a carpooling arrangement with another family, that sees his wife take it in turns driving three children to school, including their teenage son.
Dr Prasad Cooray says his personal experience has him questioning contact tracing protocols. Credit:Eddie Jim
The cancer specialist said he received news just over a week ago that the father of the two other children sharing the car had tested positive for COVID-19.
The next day he said he called the department of health to express his concerns about potential transmission, only to be told that because the other children and their mother were yet to be tested for coronavirus, his family members were not required to get tested or go into isolation.
More than two dozen financial companies in seven countries including France have warned the government of Brazil that rampant deforestation in the Amazon could have consequences on investment in the country.
A total of 29 investment firms controlling assets worth 3.75 trillion US dollars, or about 3.3 trillion euros, sent the letter on Monday requesting meetings with Brazilian ambassadors France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US.
As financial institutions, we see deforestation and the associated impacts on biodiversity and climate change as systemic risks to our portfolios, read the letter, whose signatories include Comgest of France and LGIM of the UK.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has sought to extend mining and farming in the Amazon, which critics say is harmful to biodiversity, Indigenous peoples and the targets of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Much has been said about the fact that due to Covid-19, carbon emissions are down, says Sebastien Thevoux-Chabuel, ESG analyst and portfolio manager with Comgest.
But Brazil is on track to emit at least 10 to 20 percent more this year than in prior years, and this is really the result of deforestation, which itself is growing at a pace of about 20 percent just for the first five months of 2020.
Using coronavirus to bypass environmental rules
Satellite images released by Brazils National Space Research Institute in June showed deforestation has increased by 22 percent between January and May of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019, when such practices were already expanding.
While Bolsonaro claims Brazil is a model for conservation, critics blame his administration for creating conditions that saw forest fires rage in the Amazon through the summer of last year.
More recently, judges released a video in May of a cabinet meeting a month earlier in which Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles urged the government to take advantage of the media casting its attention on the Covid-19 pandemic to change and simplify environmental rules.
Story continues
The group of investors also expressed concern about proposed laws that would legalise private ownership of public lands, thereby impinging on Indigenous peoples and continuing deforestation.
We see a role not only for investors but also companies to take a stand and put constructive pressure on the government to perhaps amend or cancel those laws, Thevoux-Chabuel says.
Risk of divestment
The firms warning adds to international pressure about the Brazilian governments environmental record throughout Bolsonaros mandate, which also saw France and others refuse to ratify a free-trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries last year.
While the investors do not explicitly threaten divestment, they underlined issues around deforestation were important to their clients.
The escalating deforestation in recent years, combined with reports of a dismantling of environmental and human rights policies and enforcement agencies, are creating widespread uncertainty about the conditions for investing in or providing financial services to Brazil, the letter read.
We are concerned that companies exposed to potential deforestation in their Brazilian operations and supply chains will face increasing difficulty accessing international markets. Brazilian sovereign bonds are also likely to be deemed high risk if deforestation continues.
Comgest said it does not invest in Brazilian sovereign bonds but that it did divest from two Brazilian companies due to related concerns in recent years.
When we talk to our clients, we receive the same signals, that they do care about those topics, maybe because some of them are quite long-term pension funds, foundations, endowments and so forth and they expect us to do what we can, Thevoux-Chabuel says.
If we want to have a chance to shape outcomes, we need to put pressure on those companies, so they will put pressure on their suppliers, and we need to put pressure on those ambassadors so they can relay that message to Brazil and the state.
Matt Hancock has announced an easing of restrictions for those shielding - ANDREW PARSONS/10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty Images/ANDREW PARSONS/10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty Images
Millions of vulnerable people told to shield themselves from coronavirus will be able to meet friends and visit relatives homes from July 6, Matt Hancock has announced.
The Health Secretary said the nations 2.2 million shielded people will be able to meet up to five other people outdoors in what will be a huge boost for those who have been virtual prisoners in their own homes for the past three months.
If they live alone they will also be able to form a support bubble with one other household, meaning they can visit their families and even stay overnight with them.
Thanking those isolating for carrying the burden of shielding, Mr Hancock last night said their sacrifice had been for a purpose.
Mr Hancock said the infection rate in the community was now low enough for shielding to end altogether at the end of July, though help will still be available from NHS volunteers and local councils.
People who have been advised to shield themselves during lockdown are the most medically vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus, including those with lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis and people being treated for cancer.
Until now, the only easing of lockdown for shielded people has been allowing them to go outside once a day with their household or, if they live alone, to meet one other person at a two-metre distance.
From August 1 the easing of restrictions will go further still, as those deemed clinically extremely vulnerable will no longer be advised to shield as long as they continue strict social distancing measures.
They will be able to visit supermarkets and places of worship and those who cannot work from home will be able to return as long as their workplace adheres to Government guidance.
Mr Hancock called on employers to do the right thing and ease the transition back to work for those returning.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries said that it was time for those shielding to start coming back to a more normal lifestyle.
Story continues
She said: Now we're out of the peak of the epidemic in the UK, and estimated levels of community transmission and infection are back to those before shielding commenced, we're in a position to start relaxing the shielding advice over the next few weeks.
We may well actually have some summer weather a little in our favour too and therefore our advice to those shielding is just take some steps now to start coming back to a more normal lifestyle.
Dr Harries noted that the shielding programme was originally a precautionary principle and said that new scientific evidence suggested risks are more clearly due to a combination of factors in that individual such as age, ethnicity and obesity.
She said that changing evidence would be particularly relevant for children, saying: It's very likely that in the future very few children will need to shield.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has commissioned work to ensure that should the shielding programme need to be stepped up again it would be done in a more individualised way, she added.
Mr Hancock signalled that there could be regional shielding in the future, saying that the Government would absolutely consider such measures as part of a local lockdown.
United States President Donald Trump is now having second thoughts about his decision to have a get-together with Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
On Monday, Trump downplayed his initial intention of openness to the strongman from Venezuela, according to a report from Al Jazeera. The article mentioned that the 50th U.S. president in a recent interview last Friday would be open to a meeting with Maduro, regardless of the current administration's support for Juan Guaido.
Then again, Trump took a different course of action the next day and made it evident via Twitter:
"Unlike the radical left, I will ALWAYS stand against socialism and with the people of Venezuela. My Admin has always stood on the side of FREEDOM and LIBERTY and against the oppressive Maduro regime!"
The 74-year-old businessman-turned-politician added that he would only talk with Maduro if he would step down from the presidency.
The U.S. Government Indicts Maduro and 12 Other Top Venezuelan Officials
On the other hand, Maduro and a dozen top officials from Venezuela were charged with "narco-terrorism" last March, as reported by The Guardian. The indictment was part of a severe phase of the United States-Venezuela relations wherein the charges include corruption and drug trafficking, which further deepened the crisis in Venezuela.
Attorney General William Bar in the article mentioned that Maduro and his associates collaborated with FARC, a radical Colombian group in both cocaine trafficking and armed rebellion.
Meeting Maduro Would Cause Top Admin Officials To Completely Turn Over Their Policy On Venezuela
Both Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have made it known that they support Guaido as mentioned in The Hill. Pence even called the opposition leader the "only legitimate president" of Venezuela. Pompeo asserts that the current administration has invested in Guaido's bid for the top position in the country.
Maduro Still Wants Personal Convo With Trump
Despite the backpedaling, Maduro wants a personal conversation with his U.S. counterpart, according to TRT World. He, however, did not mention the recent quotes which Trump posted on social media but elucidated that he will talk with the latter in the same way that he had a conversation with Joe Biden.
Trump's Flirtations With Maduro Creates Backlash From Florida Hispanic Community
Meanwhile, Politico mentioned that Trump's openness in meeting with Maduro could create a downward dip in his re-election position in the Florida state.
Earlier on, Trump already made public his desire to talk with Maduro, but everything did not materialize despite the latter giving preludes to a possible meeting. Instead, what came up was the former's Venezuela policy, which further created pressure.
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A six-month training for selected beneficiaries of the Youth in Export Programme (YiEP), the first in a series, has begun in Accra.
The 20 trainees were selected from about 67 applicants for the pilot phase of the YiEP, dubbed: Youth in Farming and Export of Agricultural Products being run by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), in collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
Trainees are expected to go into the production of cassava, pineapple, chilli and okra, among others, for export.
Interview
Speaking in an interview at an orientation programme for the trainees in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEPA, Dr Afua Asabea Asare, said the YiEP sought to attract Ghanaian youth into agriculture and to create employment opportunities to reduce graduate unemployment in the country.
She said the programme, which was starting with the agricultural sector, would have the youth attached to experienced exporters at their farms to mentor them in learning the rudiments of the export business.
They will be later assisted to establish their own farms. We believe this is a timely intervention as the agricultural sector provides the youth with great employment opportunities and sustainable livelihood, while offering them the platform to contribute to the supply base of Ghanas agricultural produce, she noted.
She said the move would increase export earnings and ultimately enhance economic growth.
She commended the countrys experienced farmers and exporters for their role so far in export, and said: We know they are ready to provide mentorship to the trainees regarding the production of selected fruits and vegetables to assist them acquire the knowledge and skills for the cultivation and export of agric produce, as well as establish and manage their own businesses.
She expressed gratitude to exporters in the other sectors such as arts and crafts who had expressed their willingness to support the venture.
Industralisation
Dr Asare said the initiative also contributed to the industralisation agenda of President Nana Akufo-Addo by encouraging such practical means of supporting the start-ups in the agric sector, and also leveraging technology to deliver on efficiency.
Unemployment challenge
The Director of Research at the YEA, Agya Yaw Nsiah, noted the public sector was able to employ only about seven per cent of the youth that entered the labour market annually, while the rest were left to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Thus the YEA reviewed its activities to also reposition as a facilitator of jobs through the creation of the YEA Job Centre, an online platform that connected job seekers and employers.
He added that the GEPA YiEP was in line with the YEAs strategic direction to ensure inclusive and sustainable programmes for the youth.
The Director of Projects at GEPA, Mr Alexander Dadzawa, said the YiEP was meant to be a sustainable way of creating jobs for the youth, and that after the mentorship programme, there would be an internship period with nuclear farmers for six-months.
Source: Daily Graphic
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A Pennsylvania Senate committee on Monday took a step toward responding to cries for policing reforms by passing bills that ban most chokeholds and require police departments to have a use of force policy.
This action by the Senate Law and Justice Committee comes just days after it, along with the Senate Judiciary Committee, held two days of hearings on various law enforcement and criminal justice equality and accountability concerns.
Law and Justice Committee Chairman Pat Stefano, R-Fayette County, called the committees consideration of the bills an important first step in addressing those issues that were vetted during the hearings.
Senate Bill 459 requires municipal law enforcement departments to adopt a use of force policy and to train officers on procedures allowed under the policy. Further, it requires those departments to report use of force events to the state police when they occur.
Its an appropriate good first step as we move through the process of addressing many of these measures along these lines, said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa of Allegheny County, who sponsored the bill.
Senate Bill 1205 prohibits use of chokeholds except in situations when the use of deadly force is permitted. Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, who sponsored the bill, said the measure describes chokeholds as any physical maneuver which restricts an individuals ability to breathe for the purposes of incapacitation.
These reforms come in response to the public outcry in the wake of the May 25 murder of George Floyd, who died after being pinned on a Minneapolis street under police officer Derek Chauvins knee, Street said. Similarly, he said it would have prevented the death of Eric Garner who died in 2014 in Staten Island from the chokehold New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo put on him during an arrest.
These techniques are not consistent with good policing as recognized by many officers around the commonwealth, Street said.
Both bills passed the committee unanimously and now could be positioned for a vote by the full Senate as early as Wednesday. Meanwhile, over in the House, two multi-faceted bills aimed at strengthening police hiring practices and training are in a position to allow them to be voted as soon as Wednesday as well.
Both chambers are fast-tracking legislation to address the concerns that have inspired protests about police brutality and racial injustice across many communities in the commonwealth.
Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
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Its perfectly apparent hes not a conservative, Mr. Bolton said. Im not saying hes a hidden liberal. Hes a nothing in philosophical terms.
As a result, Mr. Boltons portrayal challenges Mr. Trumps conservative base-oriented strategy by disputing the presidents claims to be tough on China or strong on national security. And Mr. Bolton is trying to force Republicans to decide who they really are after allowing an outsider to take over their party.
The day after the election, whether Trump wins or loses, we face a real debate, maybe an existential debate, about what the future of the Republican Party is, he said. He added, I just think its important for the Republican Party to separate itself from Trump and for the conservative philosophy to separate itself from Trump.
Mr. Bolton, 71, has been a Republican stalwart far longer than Mr. Trump. The son of a firefighter and machinist, Mr. Bolton grew up in Baltimore and became a conservative from an early age, passing out leaflets as a 15-year-old boy for Barry Goldwater during the 1964 presidential campaign and later becoming part of what he called the conservative underground at Yale. A lawyer, he served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush, eventually rising to become ambassador to the United Nations.
With his trademark bushy mustache and his say-anything style, he became known as one of Washingtons most outspoken hawks, derisively scorning international organizations that in his view are feckless and diminish American sovereignty while advocating regime change in rogue states like Iran and North Korea. While he was not one of the architects of the Iraq war, as he is often described, he was a vocal supporter and remains so.
Mr. Trump, 74, by contrast, has switched political parties a half-dozen times and favored negotiations with the likes of North Korea and a friendship with Russia. Despite that, Mr. Bolton agreed in 2018 to become his third national security adviser, convincing himself, like others before him, that he could manage the volatile personality in the Oval Office.
Despite what everybody said, I just fundamentally didnt believe it was as bad as they were saying and as it turned out, he said Monday.
Workers assemble vehicles on the assembly line of the SEAT car factory in Martorell
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced a 3.7 billion euro ($4.2 billion/3.3 billion) aid package for the hard-hit auto industry to promote the production and sale of cleaner cars.
The funds will be disbursed by 2022 and will include cash from European recovery funds.
Here are some details of the package, unveiled on Monday:
AID TO PURCHASE NEW LOW-EMISSION CARS
The Spanish government will spend 250 million euros on cash-for-clunker schemes to encourage drivers to buy new low-emission and electric cars in 2020.
Drivers will get up to 4,500 euros to buy a new, cleaner car when they scrap a 20-year-old car. Dealerships will give up to 1,000 euros in additional discounts.
Spain will spend another 100 million euros upgrading official vehicles and will let regional authorities spend 100 million euros of their budget surpluses to upgrade their own fleets.
INDUSTRY LOANS AND TAX BREAKS
Spain will grant 2.6 billion euros in cheap loans and loan guarantees to the industry by 2022, including loans to modernize plants and for companies to renew their fleets.
The government will also approve tax breaks for the industry.
ADDITIONAL GRANTS
The industry will receive up to 415 million euros in grants for research and development and 95 million euros for worker training programmes.
The auto industry represents around 10% of Spanish gross domestic product (GDP) and 19% of exports. It employs 650,000 people directly and as many as 2 million indirectly.
Most factories were idled during Spains lockdown as demand for new cars plummeted and supply chains were disrupted.
Japanese car maker Nissan Motors <7201.T> announced last month it would shut down its large plant in Barcelona, leaving as many as 3000 workers unemployed.
(Reporting by Emma Pinedo and Inti Landauro; Editing by Nathan Allen and Jan Harvey)
Mexico:
A Mars traveller robot has been designed by 10 university students of Mexico. The invention has now been recognised by NASA and the International Astronautical Federation.
"It is a completely Mexican design," Bryan Perez, one of the members of the team, told Xinhua on Saturday.
The nine university students are pursuing engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and one team member is from the Nationbal Polytechnic Institute.
"We are convinced that Mexico has the knowledge, the drive and the power to innovate in aerospace, which is just beginning here," said Perez.
The robot is said to have two stereoscopic cameras to plot terrain and a third one located below its body, in order to check the samples collected by a hook.
The robot has additional qualities of artificial vision, terrain plotting, path selection abilities. It can also search, gather and reserve samples from the surface of Mars.
The team of the university students has been commended for its achievement at the Sample Return Robot Challenge in 2014 and 2016, a NASA organised competition for universities and firms that work on Mars travellers, said Perez.
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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has a new general in charge, with Jim Taiclet on June 15 replacing Marillyn A. Hewson as CEO in a planned leadership transition. Taiclet has big shoes to fill. During Hewson's 2013-2020 tenure as CEO, Lockheed Martin shares climbed more than 300%, easily outpacing the S&P 500's 115% gain.
It's going to be hard to keep that momentum going. In recent years, Lockheed Martin shares have ridden the wave of increased defense spending, but due to COVID-19 and other reasons those increases are likely to shrink in the years to come.
A change in leadership is often a good time to reassess a stock. Here is a deep dive into Lockheed Martin's outlook to determine if the aerospace, defense, arms, security, and advanced technologies company is still a good buy today.
New leader, same great portfolio
Hewson did a solid job, but much of Lockheed's success in recent years has come down to the strength of its portfolio. The company is best known for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a trillion-dollar program for Lockheed and its subcontractors that is just beginning to ramp up to full production. The U.S. and its allies will buy hundreds of airframes annually for the rest of the decade, providing a steady revenue stream.
But Lockheed Martin is far from a one-trick pony. The company has a large missile and missile defense business, including the THAAD anti-ballistic system deployed to counter North Korean threats, and significant exposure to classified space programs.
Lockheed Martin is a leader in hypersonics, missiles that travel more than five times the speed of sound. That's an area the Pentagon has identified where the U.S. needs to play catchup and appears poised to hold up well in the event of future U.S. government budget cuts.
The company also owns Sikorsky, one of the U.S.'s helicopter manufacturers with a primarily military focus. Sikorsky was a finalist in two Army competitions that will be worth a combined $60 billion in new business.
All in, Lockheed Martin has a backlog of more than $144 billion in future business, a figure that has grown by 10% in the last year.
Expect Taiclet to go on the attack
Taiclet is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate who served as a pilot during the Gulf War. Following his military service, he spent time at the aerospace arms of both Honeywell International and what is now Raytheon Technologies before being named CEO of American Tower in 2003.
His past offers some clues about how he might lead Lockheed Martin. The defense titan is best known as the maker of the F-35, but it also has an extensive portfolio of defense electronics assets that blend well with his communications experience.
Taiclet is also known as a dealmaker, doing about $30 billion in acquisitions during his 17 years at American Tower. In a meeting with Wall Street analysts following his appointment as CEO, he said he was unlikely to pursue deals that would move Lockheed Martin away from defense and toward commercial customers, but would be interested in expanding the company's aftermarket, or spare part, sales, or adding new technologies to Lockheed Martin's portfolio.
Taiclet has been on Lockheed's board since 2018, but there is still some risk in bringing in an outsider to run the company. Worth noting: Frank St. John, a 30-year Lockheed Martin veteran, was promoted to chief operating officer as part of the leadership transition. And Hewson will stay on as executive chairman of the board.
Is Lockheed a buy?
Defense stocks can be tricky in an election year, and regardless of who wins in 2020, increased government spending due to COVID-19 will likely put pressure on Pentagon budget growth for the next few years.
But the world is not growing any safer, and the Pentagon has committed to a multiyear transformation to better prepare itself for potential conflicts against Russia and China. That's unlikely to be derailed no matter how the election goes, and Lockheed Martin's portfolio is set up well to benefit from the Pentagon's priorities.
I wouldn't expect Lockheed Martin shares to more than double the S&P 500's performance again over the next seven years, but the company's business is set up well to grow for the foreseeable future. Couple that with the stock's near-industry-high dividend yield of more than 2.5%, and Lockheed Martin remains one of the first stocks I'd recommend to those interested in the defense sector.
Anuradha (1960)
Hrishikesh Mukherjees film is based on a short story written by Sachin Bhowmick. Its a love triangle between a young woman, who marries an idealistic doctor but later develops feelings for a rich friend. Dr Nirmal Chowdhary (Balraj Sahni), who loses his mother to illness decides to dedicate his life to serving the poor and moves to remote Nandgaon. A rich heiress, Anuradha (Leela Naidu), is smitten by him and wants to marry him, despite him warning her of the hardships shed face in a remote village. Soon the toil of running a household without any help begins to take its toll. Her husband too cares more for his patients than for marital bliss. Chance gets her close to a rich man Deepak (Abhi Bhattacharya), whose injured girlfriend is operated upon by Nirmal. Anuradha longs to get back to the luxurious life of the city, only to change her mind at the last minute when she learns how high in esteem her husband is held by his peers. The story highlights the fact that doctors serving in remote areas sometimes have to sacrifice their family life for duty.
Former Australian Survivor contestant Hannah Pentreath and her husband, Zac, have welcomed their first child.
The 28-year-old police officer announced the news via Instagram Monday, sharing a sweet black-and-white photo of the newborn.
'And my wolf pack, it grew, it grew by one... [First] I was alone in the wolf pack, and then Zac joined in later,' she wrote in the caption.
Baby joy! Former Australian Survivor contestant Hannah Pentreath and her husband, Zac, have welcomed their first child
Hannah continued: 'And then I thought, "Wait a second, could it be?" And now I know for sure, I just added one more to my wolf pack .'
She added the hashtags #wolfpackofthree #36weekbaby and #birthdaygirl, seemingly confirming the baby's gender.
Hannah has yet to reveal the name of her child.
'One more to my wolf pack': The police officer, 28, announced the news via Instagram Monday
Happiness: She added the hashtags #wolfpackofthree #36weekbaby and #birthdaygirl, seemingly confirming the baby's gender. Hannah has yet to reveal the name of her child
Hannah first announced her pregnancy in March, when she shared a photo to Instagram of herself and Zac at a friend's wedding.
'A nice picture of the three of us. From a beautiful day celebrating Meeks & Sam getting hitched!,' she wrote in the caption.
Hannah soared to fame last year when she joined the Contenders tribe in Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders.
Clever! Hannah announced her pregnancy in March, when she shared this photo to Instagram of herself and Zac at a friend's wedding. 'A nice picture of the three of us,' she captioned it
Reality TV star: Hannah soared to fame last year when she joined the Contenders tribe in Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders
During the show, Hannah was eliminated following a tie with Shaun Hampson after an attempt to blindside David Genat backfired.
She later said of her explosive exit: 'I'm still not calling it a blindside because I knew that it was a possibility so I refuse to use that word, but I'm really happy that I went out with a bang.
'If I could pick any of the ones I've seen so far, I think mine's definitely going to be up there for one of the best tribals ever.'
A couple who threatened to call the cops over teenagers splashing water at their inflatable dinghy are now talking to police after a video of the verbal outburst went viral.
Gold Coast business owner Rod and his wife Renee Twitchin were filmed lashing out at the group after one of the youths deliberately drove too close to their motorised dinghy with their jet ski.
'You jumped on your f***king ski when you saw us and gave us a whomp and took off like the f***tard you are,' Ms Twitchin, dubbed 'boat Karen', shouts at the group in the footage.
The video, shared to Tinny Bashing on Monday, has garnered more than 200,000 views and the couple claim they are now victims of online abuse.
Mr Twitchin is seen standing by his wife's side in the video and threatens to fight the group.
When one member of the group asks him to relax, he responds: 'You need to relax or I'll put you to sleep - so you shut the f**k up right now'.
Rod and Renee Twitchin were filmed lashing out at the group after one of the youths deliberately drove too close to their motorised dinghy with their jet ski
Mr Twitchin also asks them if they 'want to have a go' as he hands his glasses to his partner.
'Come on who wants to have a go - who wants to go? You all want to have a crack together?' he says.
One of the boys ask what the pair are doing in the water if they didn't want to get splashed, leading to a furious response from the couple.
'Is this your place? It's a waterway you f***wit,' Mr Twitchin says.
'It's a waterway you little d***face,' his partner adds.
Ms Twitchin - who was accompanied on the motorboat by two small dogs - also tells her partner to take photos of the jet ski so she can call police.
'You boys are a joke, absolutely a f***ing joke,' she says.
'Get all the regos (registrations) because you're in for it now, you're bloody in for it. You don't know who we know.
The video, shared to Tinny Bashing on Monday, has garnered more than 200,000 views and the couple claim they are now victims of online abuse
'Guess what - the cops are going to be coming round. You people are round here 24-f***ing-seven.'
The couple claim they have now been threatened by trolls online.
Mr Twitchin confirmed the incident was 'now a police matter' when contacted by Daily Mail Australia but did not wish to comment further.
Mr Twitchin owns Rod Twitchin Marine. The couple are pictured on the business' Facebook page
In a post on Facebook, Mr Twitchin explained the couple were water testing their new tender when the verbal altercation occurred, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
The business owner then detailed the online abuse the couple have received since the video went viral.
'Overnight we have been threatened, business dragged through the mud, bounties of me being chinned, people wanting to put a c**k in Renee's mouth, being called the most appalling names, countless missed calls from private numbers, screenshots of us with our granddaughter posted and slandered, and the list goes on,' the post read.
'Social media at its best, one sided video, 500 yobos on the hill and a keyboard! We have both requested the administration of the page to remove it only to be replied (with) 'Why?'
'We are not the fun police as you know but this is now beyond comprehension. Would I react the same again today, absolutely!'
After protesters flooded Washington and gathered together just outside of the White House on May 31, reports that claim Trump was taken into the underground bunker inside the White House surface.
However, Trump said that the reports were not true and that he only went into the bunker to inspect it. Yet, United States Attorney General William Barr stated that the president was indeed taken into the bunker by his secret service since his safety was of utmost concern amid the demonstrations that were happening only across the street.
After the report of Trump going inside the bunker surfaced, many speculations regarding that followed as well. At the moment, a tweet which purportedly came from Trump which claims that he was not the only president who hid in the bunker during protests is circulating in social media. The tweet also claims that President Franklin D. Roosevelt also used the bunker during protests that erupted due to the Vietnam war.
However, this is very contradictory to the fact that FRD has been deceased for 20 years before the first American troops were deployed in Vietnam.
Moreover, snopes.com did a fact-check on the said tweet and found that the tweet did not exist in the Twitter timeline of the president, neither was it one of his deleted tweets. Thus, the fact-checking website confirmed that the image was only fabricated in order to make fun of the president going into the bunker.
Read also: Fact Check: All Trump's Claims on His Tulsa Rally That May Have Been Misleading
Did Trump Diss Obama for Horrible condition of the White House bunker?
In connection to this, another issue that came about after Trump was taken to the bunker is that he reportedly tweeted complaints about the condition of the secured room and blamed former President Obama for it. It was also stated that the president called out his predecessor for the bad condition of the bunker and even said that it did not have any food supply left.
However, when the information was also fact-checked by snopes.com, they also noted that the "tweet" was made up. The tweet was posted on the 31st of May, the day Trump was taken into the bunker.
In addition, the same as what they did with the FDR tweet, they checked if it existed in Trump's feed, but did not find any indication that it existed or has been deleted. The tweet was taken down immediately after it was posted but people were able to get screenshots which became viral.
Why was Trump taken to the bunker?
Based on reports, the US Secret Service opted to take the president inside the bunker since it was their duty to make sure he is safe and protected, and they viewed that the continued protests outside the White House as a threat for the President's safety.
In a report by the New York Times, it was noted that the chants from the people and protesters who were situated from at Lafayette Park across the presidential complex could be heard in the White House. In addition, it was noted that protesters have already begun to get violent and has started to throw stones and water bottles, which prompted authorities to put up barriers leading to the White House.
Related article: Fact Check: Did Trump Complain About White House Bunker Condition, Blaming Obama?
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A suicide bombing killed three people at a Turkish military base in Somalia today. It was claimed by an al-Qaeda-linked group.
The bomber pretended to be a trainee at the Somali-Turkish military academy in the capital Mogadishu. Security guards shot the bomber, creating an explosion that killed the bomber and two Somali civilians, Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group active in Somalia, claimed credit for the attack, according to the Associated Press.
Turkey has a military presence across the greater Middle East, including in Libya, Syria, Iraq and Qatar. In Somalia, Turkey maintains one of its largest overseas bases. Turkey trains Somali soldiers there and also conducts anti-piracy operations under the auspices of the UN off the Horn of Africa. The base opened in 2017.
The Turkish base gives Turkish companies access to Mogadishus sea ports and the Turkish military a foothold in the strategic corner of the Muslim world.
Al-Shabab is a jihadist group with ideas similar to al-Qaeda's. It has fought the Somali state for years, making Turkey a target for them, given its strong backing of the government.
This was not the first time al-Shabab attacked the Turkish presence in the country. In 2013, al-Shabab claimed a bombing of the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu. The group said it carried out the 2013 attack due to Turkeys support for the apostate regime in the country.
Ukraine has joined an international appeal expressing strong support for the UN Secretary-General's call for a global ceasefire amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN reported on June 22, a total of 170 countries and observers joined the initiative. Russia is not on this list.
"We strongly support the appeal by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on 23 March 2020 for a global ceasefire," the joint appeal reads.
It is emphasized that the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted all three pillars of the United Nations - peace and security, development, and human rights.
"We express our deep concern for the continuation of hostilities in various parts of the world, particularly in the midst of the global health crisis, and their devastating on the most vulnerable especially on women and children," the document emphasizes.
In this regard, the signatory countries strongly believe that multilateralism, the rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy for peace are fundamental in promoting and supporting efforts towards the peaceful settlement of disputes.
"As we approach the 75th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, we call on all actors to do the utmost to respond to the Secretary-General's appeal," the statement reads.
As reported, the Russian side previously tried to manipulate the UN Secretary-General's call for a global ceasefire. In particular, the Russian side said that this required lifting all international sanctions, including those imposed against Russia over the aggression in Donbas and the occupation of Crimea.
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A senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official B M Vijay Shankar against whom CBI had registered a case of corruption in the I Monetary Advisors (IMA) ponzi scam, allegedly died by suicide at his residence in Bengalurus Jaynagar area on Tuesday night, police said.
The officer who was under suspension had been arrested and jailed in July 2019.
Tilaknagar police station officials said that his wife and daughters were present in the house when he ended his life. No suicide note has been recovered.
We have taken up a case of unnatural death and are investigating, said Bhaskar Rao police commissioner of Bangalore.
The IMA ponzi scheme run by its founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan and his associates had duped lakhs of people by promising higher returns using Islamic way of investment.
Vijay Shankar a former District Commissioner of Bangalore was accused of accepting a bribe of at least 1.5 crore from IMAs Khan by a special investigative team constituted by the state government but the case was subsequently transferred to the CBI.
The SIT which had arrested him had also recovered 2.5 crore cash from his residence. The amount allegedly included the bribe money. At the time of his arrest, Shankar was heading the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments and allegedly accepted the bribe to give a clean chit to IMA and its main promoter Khan.
More than 41,000 complaints were filed by investors alleging fraud in IMA after the firm closed in May 2019 and ceased to pay dividends. Shankar was arrested with several other officials and was lodged at Parapanna Agrahara jail before he got bail. He had earlier been discharged by a court in a separate disproportionate case filed by the state Lok Ayukta for lack of evidence.
[June 23, 2020] Meet Mogul Entrepreneur Lenney Leong Who Shares Insights And Tips on How to Scale Businesses
New York, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meet Mogul Entrepreneur Lenney Leong Who Shares Insights And Tips with Imperium Group on How to Scale Businesses
To some, the camera is the worst creation of the modern world because of the things it has exposed and the pains it has brought, but to others, it is the best thing that happened to them. It is true for Lenney Leong who created a video that reached a very high viewership within the shortest time possible despite only spending less than half a day in developing it. With social media and the need for companies to outshine one another, the video has become an important part of marketing as explained by Entrepreneur Lenney Leong. The entrepreneur explains that getting people to view and share a video in marketing is not as easy as it sound. Because the internet contains millions of videos in various platforms including youtube.com, it is crucial that one create a video that has a uniqueness to capture the attention of the targeted audience. It is also important to make sure that the viewers are engaged, entertained and informed by the video once they see it so they are drawn to watch others you have created. Lenny Leong insists that entrepreneurs must add to their skill both set Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Markting. We live in the technological era where keywords are a key factor in online marketing. SEO means the use of keywords a specific number of times to rank high on the search engine results. High rankings can only mean entrepreneurs enterprises becoming easily visible after one search. Driving more traffic to tour sites through the SEO optimization technique is a great way to grow your business as it increases your customer prospects and hence increasing your sales. When your website is highly ranked them more people will be able to visit your pages and get more information concerning your products and services hence boosting your sales.
Entrepreneurs should have blogs where they can have articles written by experts or just themselves. Here they can improve their SEO skills and consequently become successful digital marketers. Lenney Leong says it is important to have a blog. But most importantly, he insists that marketing blogs should be fine-tuned to offer great user experience. This, of course, is in terms of building trust through blogs. Entrepreneur Lenney Leong is a go getter who is also quite young and started early at the age of 17 with his first business being a cooking academy. In his own words, he created a video that generated more than 7.2 million views as well as more than 48000 shares yet he spent half a day shooting the clip. As a young person who ventured into the marketing industry, he encourages others showing that although the task is challenging, it is also doable. His agency deals in direct response advertisements and details about him and his agency can be accessed through social media on facebook and instagram using these links https://www.facebook.com/lenneyleong and https://instagram.com/gclenny . Through these media, he shares some of the tips for making the videos as follows:
Shazir Mucklai CEO Imperium Group [email protected]
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Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | June 23, 2020
An Amish teen goes missing after a church service. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh-area sees the highest single-day increase of coronavirus cases in more than a month. The State House of Representatives goes through a leadership change. University of Pennsylvania offers a free four-week college prep program to public school kids.
Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Julia Hatmaker. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories in the state.
Todays episode refers to the following articles:
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Who would have thought that a line from the song Ek Main Aur Ek Tu from 1975 romance-thriller Khel Khel Mein could be used so creatively to send across an important message on social distancing. However, Mumbai Police just did that. Taking to Instagram, the department shared such a post which is not just creative but is also winning people over.
In the posts caption, they shared what one should say when their Party-Animal friends ask them to get-together. The department used the line from the song to reply to the question. The line says, Dooriyan waqt ane par mitayenge [we will be closer when the time is right]. Now, what can be a more befitting answer.
Check out the entire post here:
Since being shared less than 30 minutes ago, the post has already sparked all sorts of comments from people. Expectedly, there were a few who couldnt stop gushing over Mumbai Polices creativity and some praised the team handling the departments social media. There were a few people who simply used laughing out loud emojis to express themselves.
Nailed it, wrote an Instagram user. Mumbai Police got no chill, expressed another along with a heart emoji. You guys are killing it, wrote a third.
This is epic, wrote a fourth and we do agree.
What do you think of Mumbai Polices latest social distancing advisory post?
Also Read | Always be prepaved! tweets Mumbai Police. Confused about what they mean? Check out this tweet
Riyadh, June 23 : Saudi Arabia has banned international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, or Hajj, this year in a bid to control coronavirus.
Only a very limited number of people currently living in the kingdom may take part, an announcement on state media said on Monday.
An estimated two million people would otherwise have visited Mecca and Medina this summer for the annual gathering, the BBC reported.
There had been fears the Hajj might be cancelled altogether.
In normal times the pilgrimage is one of the most significant moments in the Muslim religious calendar. But only citizens from countries around the world who are already resident in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to attend this year.
The authorities say this is the only way they will be able to make plans for social distancing that will keep people safe.
Saudi Arabia has recorded 161,005 cases of infection and 1,307 deaths.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Everybody dances, every culture throughout history has danced. Whether youre tapping your toe, popping and locking or gracefully pirouetting, its one of our oldest forms of expression and, aside from a few feathered exceptions, its an exclusively human art. But our days of monopolizing the move busting market could soon be coming to an end, as Facebook AI has become the latest team to teach an AI to bop along to the beat.
In this work, we focus on designing interesting choreographies by combining the best of what humans are naturally good at heuristics of good dance that an audience might find appealing and what machines are good at optimizing well-defined objective functions, the team wrote in a study published Tuesday.
This isnt the first time weve tried to teach AIs to dance. In 2016, Swedish Choreographer Louise Crnkovic-Friis and her husband, Peltarion CEO Luka Crnkovic-Friis, trained a recurrent neural network, dubbed Chor-rnn, on 48 hours of Louises movements. The system could not only choreograph new dances, but do so in her specific style. Similarly, in 2017, Wayne McGregor, resident choreographer at the Royal Ballet, teamed with Google Arts & Culture to develop a choreographic artificial intelligence. It is capable of interpreting his companys dance style and generating more movements based on the using thousands of hours of video it was trained on. And in 2019, NVIDIA partnered with University of California, Merced to build a deep learning model able to generate new moves in the subjects style and in time with the music.
However, these systems simply mimicked the movements that they were shown. Sure they used that data to generate new choreography, but it was based on watching humans dance, not from imagining new dances on their own. Whats more they were limited to the style of the dances and music they had been trained on. You couldnt expect a model trained on classical music to successfully create funky disco moves. But Facebooks AI is much more stylistically flexible.
Instead of sort of trying to mimic the choreography that was already there, Facebook AI researcher Devi Parikh told Engadget. We wanted to see if we could discover something novel.
Were trying to see if we can just lay out certain very high level intuitive constraints, she explained. All we say is that the final movement should be anchored with the music that was provided as input. We don't place any other constraints on what exactly the movement should look like.
Parikhs team Purva Tendulkar (Georgia Tech), Abhishek Das (Facebook AI), and Aniruddha Kembhavi (Allen Institute for AI) trained the AI on 25, 10-second clips from 22 songs of a wide musical variety -- everything from traditional African and Chinese melodies to modern rock and jazz. The computation procedure is pretty straight forward. It's a search procedure that, when given an input piece of music, we compute a matrix of representation that tells us which pieces of music at two different points in time are more similar to each other than others, Parikh explained. And then, we use the search procedure to find a dance sequence whose matrix represents the same pattern.
Facebook
Since the dance movements arent based on a humans, their graphic representations look more like a Winamp visualizer rather than what wed normally think of as a dance routine. In this experiment dancing took the form of a dot moving back and forth along a single straight line, a series of pulsating waves, or as a crudely rendered stick figure. The team determined whether a routine was acceptable or not by its level of creativity, as defined by one of four baseline measurements.
Dances where an agent moves predictably (i.e. not surprising/novel) or that are not synchronized with the music (i.e. low quality) will be deemed less creative, the team hypothesized. The generated dances were then evaluated by Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT) workers, who were shown a pair of dances and asked which went better with the music, as well as which was more surprising, creative and inspiring.
Facebook
The system is still in the early stages of development. Moving forward, Parikh hopes to train a neural network to generate dances directly based on the input music, without having to perform the search procedure.
From an AI perspective, creativity can be thought of as a holy grail, the ultimate challenge of intelligence -- something very centric to what makes us human, Parikh concluded. We can have tools that enhance human creativity, that make the creative process more engaging, more satisfying for humans. I feel like that's a very powerful use of AI and technology in general.
Electoral disaster in the June 23 primary was widely anticipated even beyond the usual Board of Election errors, to which New York City residents have become accustomed.
And now the BOE has lived up to expectations. On Tuesday, reports poured in from around New York City of confusion at the polls, with voters receiving only a presidential primary ballot or only one for local and congressional races. Before polls opened, voters across the city and throughout the state said they hadnt received their absentee ballots, despite applying weeks ago, forcing many to vote in person despite the still present risk of COVID-19. Those who wouldnt go to the polls because they are at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19 were simply disenfranchised. Welcome to the pandemic primary.
As soon as polls opened Tuesday morning or failed to do so on time reports on Twitter emerged of problems at poll sites. Because the Democratic presidential primary was originally scheduled for a different election day in April, candidates appeared on a different ballot than the one for the regularly scheduled June 23 state and congressional primaries. The dual ballots sowed confusion. Many New Yorkers said they were given only one ballot, and sometimes needed to fight with poll workers to get the other one. This even happened to congressional candidate Paperboy Prince, who said they were originally denied the ballot with their own name on it. (Prince uses they as their preferred personal pronoun.)
THEY ARE CHEATING ALREADY AT THE POLLS!!! I WENT TO MY POLLING LOCATIONS IN NYC AND THEY ONLY HAD OPTIONS FOR PRESIDENT!! NO LOCAL OFFICES! THE INCUMBENTS CHOOSE POLL WORKERS... NONE OF THEM KNEW WHAT A BALLOT SHOULD LOOK LIKE! I LITERALLY HAD TO MAKE A FUSS TO VOTE!! Paperboy Prince for Congress Vote June 23rd (@PaperboyPrince) June 23, 2020
.@BOENYC whats up with some of your poll workers telling folks theres no Presidential primary and and only giving one sheet of the 2 sheets for the ballot? Catalina Cruz, Esq. (@CatalinaCruzNY) June 23, 2020
Part of the confusion may arise from the fact that normally, poll workers have only one ballot they are responsible to give to each voter. In Nassau County, poll sites were split up by election, rather than election district, meaning voters went to two different tables clearly labeled for their two ballots. In New York City, poll sites were split up by election district as usual, meaning that anyone eligible to vote in both presidential and local primaries would need to know poll workers were supposed to give them two ballots when they checked in.
Multiple polling sites across AD 50 are not giving voters both ballots. Hearing numerous accounts of registered Democrats only receiving their presidential ballot. Whats up @BOENYC? Kristina Naplatarski (@kristina_nap) June 23, 2020
The city Board of Elections said on Twitter at about 2 p.m. on Election Day that a message had been sent to remind all poll workers to give both the presidential and local ballots to registered Democrats.
In several reported instances, some Democratic voters reportedly received presidential primary ballots for the Serve America Movement Party.
Upwards of 1.7 million people across the state applied for absentee ballots to avoid voting in person due to the pandemic, including over 700,000 in New York City alone. But by Sunday, thousands of people across the state still had not received their absentee ballot. Local boards of elections generally said they sent out the overwhelming majority of ballots requested, but by their own description often did so as late as Thursday.
The failures by the boards, as well as from state leaders who did little to ensure people actually received their ballots, has resulted in widespread voter suppression of people who are immunocompromised, disabled or out of state.
This aint good, @BOENYC: its never taken me longer than 5 mins to vote in nyc. I went in at 6:10, there was no one, and it took me 40 minutes to vote. I was only there because I never got my absentee ballot. Laurie Ann Cedilnik (@cedilnik) June 23, 2020
@BOENYC I requested my ballot weeks ago and I have yet to receive it. I can see my neighbors ballots have arrived. I indicated that I'm disabled, so absentee is my only option. Why wasn't mine sent? What's the status? Feels like ableist voter suppression. Please advise. 0000s51 (@0000s51) June 23, 2020
I never got my absentee ballot from @BOENYC. And Im not going to the polls in person because I want to keep vulnerable people in my life safe. That means my vote wont be counted this election. I guess voting by mail actually doesnt work. #NYCVotes Erik Piepenburg (@erikpiepenburg) June 23, 2020
The issue is not limited to New York City. Nassau County resident Kacie Candela told City & State that she never received an absentee ballot, even after confirming with the Nassau Board of Elections her ballot had been mailed on June 6 to the correct address. I plan to go vote this afternoon, but if the line is too long I may not be able to vote, Candela said, citing concerns about COVID-19.
Brooklyn congressional candidate Isiah James reported that at at least one polling station, voters were given misprinted ballots that did not contain the congressional race. Hes running against incumbent Rep. Yvette Clarke. James said the voter who reported the mistake needed to wait over an hour while poll workers searched for the correct ballots. Several hours later, the city Board of Elections said it confirmed that all ballots at the poll site in question PS 22 had the congressional primary on them.
Meanwhile, Assembly Member Victor Pichardo reported on Twitter that he and his family received the ballot for the wrong Assembly District. Also in the Bronx, a Twitter user said poll workers at PS 107 couldnt find the ballots.
Went to vote with my family at my polling place at Bailey Senior Center in the Bronx at 20/86 and was initially given the wrong ballot designated for the 78th AD. @BOENYC. Please Triple check your ballots to make sure you got the right one Victor Pichardo (@Vpichardo86) June 23, 2020
Hey @BOENYC my partner is trying to vote at PS 107 and the staff are saying they cant find the BALLOTS?!
(1695 Seward Ave, The Bronx, NY 10473) Smart. Loving. United. Tough. (@bigbronxenergy) June 23, 2020
Adding to the confusion is that some poll sites in New York City were closed because of the pandemic. Brooklyn district leader candidate Samy Nemir-Olivares was alerting voters in his district that some polls sites, including his own, were moved because they were located in places like senior centers.
Reminder: Several poll sites across the City are closed due to Covid-19.
Check where you should vote at: https://t.co/kdQuPtoE0w
Heres the list of the sites closed in Williamsburg and Bushwick- within Assembly District 53. pic.twitter.com/SEQA6vM6n4 Samy Nemir-Olivares (@Samynemir) June 23, 2020
Please note that due to COVID-19 there were some emergency poll site changes. A mailing was sent to all voters affected but we ask all voters to check https://t.co/mvc1ZR8Nz3 before heading to vote.
Polls are open tomorrow, June 23 from 6am-9pm. pic.twitter.com/IsBblnzOsk NYCBoardOfElections (@BOENYC) June 22, 2020
Some locations also seemed to be struggling with staffing. According to the Brooklyn Paper, poll workers at PS 261 in Boerum Hill were attempting to recruit voters with any election administration experience to help out.
However, it could be worse. In the city of Louisville, Kentucky, another state holding primaries today, only one poll site is open for all 600,000 residents. Kentucky, like New York, expanded absentee voting in light of the pandemic, leading for far fewer in-person polling places across the state. Luckily, that did not happen in New York, where the vast majority of poll sites remain open on Election Day.
The day before, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte raised concerns about poll sites opening in time since the subways are closed overnight and dont reopen until 5 a.m., the time poll workers need to show up. She called on the governor to open the subways early, which he did not. Even the city Board of Elections Commissioner Fred Umane expressed concern workers wouldnt arrive in time, even with ride-hail provided as an option. According to the Washington Post, the City Island School polling place in the Bronx did not open until nearly 9 a.m. three hours late because of the closed subways and lack of transportation options.
7:40 AM, @BOENYC rep finally shows up (in a Lyft) pic.twitter.com/hanMXvqU3h Lauren D Nye (@LaurenDNye) June 23, 2020
A sliver of hope among the chaos are the school board and budget votes that took place across the state on June 9. In those elections, voters were directly mailed absentee ballots, which increased voter participation many times over.
It seems that may be the case for the pandemic primary as well, in which over ten times more people requested to vote by mail compared to 2016. Of course, not everyone who requested a ballot received in time, or is even guaranteed to actually use it. But the numbers indicate that the 2020 primary joint presidential, congressional and local primaries are poised to have amuch higher than expected turnout, despite the many problems that have arisen and amid concerns the pandemic might depress turnout. Though voters must still be prepared for the downside of expanded mail-in voting waiting a week or more to find out the results of hotly contested races.
US President Donald Trump suspended the entry into the United States of certain foreign workers on Monday, a move the White House said would help the coronavirus-battered economy, but which business groups strongly oppose. Trump issued a presidential proclamation that temporarily blocks foreign workers entering on H-1B visas, which are for skilled employees, and L visas, for managers and specialized workers being transferred within a company. Trump also blocked those entering on H-2B seasonal worker visas, which are used by landscapers and other industries. The visa suspension, ...
New Delhi: The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the chariot festival, is celebrated every year with much zeal and enthusiasm in Odisha and other parts of the country. Around 10 lakh devotees from across the country and abroad throng Puri to take part in the festival. However, this time, the celebrations have been marred by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Rath Yatra happens to be a 15-day long festival. It commences on Dwitiya Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Ashada month which happens to fall on June 23 this year. According to Drigpanchang, the Dwitiya Tithi began at 11:59 am on June 22 and will end at 11.19 am on June 23.
The holy festival is held in Odisha's Puri and marks the journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balbhadra and Goddess Subadhra from their actual abode (the Puri Jagannath Temple) to the Gundicha temple.
The Rath Yatra involves three chariots - Lord Jagannath's Nandighosh, Lord Balabhadra's Taladwaja and Devi Subhadra's Darpadalan.
Significance and rituals:
Lord Jagannath (the Lord of the Universe derived from the Sanskrit words - Jagat meaning Universe and Nath meaning Lord) leaves his abode along with siblings Balbhadra and Subadhra for Gundicha Mata's Temple, a monument built in the memory of Queen Gundicha, wife of King Indradyumna who built the world famous Puri temple.
As per belief, Goddess Lakshmi visits her consort Lord Jagannath on the fourth day and this day is referred to as the Hera Panchami, which falls on the sixth day or Shashti.
After spending about a week at the Gundicha temple, the trio of Jagannath, Balbhadra and Subhadra return to the Jagannath temple. This ceremony is called Bahuda Yatra.
Devotees pull the three beautifully decorated giant chariots which carry the idols of the three main deities. The chariots have a distinct look and name.
Due to the health scare in the wake of coronavirus, the Supreme Court on Monday allowed holding of Jagannath Rath Yatra with certain conditions including that there would be no public attendance.
Modifying its June 18 order in which it had said that this year's Yatra cannot be allowed due to the pandemic, the apex court permitted holding of the Yatra after taking note of Odisha government's stand that it can be held in a limited way without public attendance.
Eminent Indian-American scientist Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan on Tuesday officially took charge as Director of National Science Foundation, a day after United States President Donald Trump appointed him as head of the top American body supporting fundamental research in non-medical fields of science and engineering.
IMAGE: Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan. Photograph: Kind courtesy @DrPanch/Twitter
Unanimously confirmed by the Senate last week, Panchanathan, 58, from the Arizona State University, replaces White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Dr Kelvin Droegemeier who served as Acting Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The term of previous NSF Director France Cordova's term ended in March 2020.
On Monday, President Trump formally appointed Panchanathan as the 15th Director of the NSF, the top American science funding body that has an annual budget of $7.4 billion, the White House said Tuesday, adding that it is a six-year term.
Droegemeier is expected to swear in Panchanathan on July 2, 2020.
"Dr. Panchanathan has the creativity, tenacity, communication skills, understanding of the research enterprise, and commitment to lead this agency successfully and continue moving the scientific enterprise forward on the endless frontier.
"I'm excited to see him make his mark and take the agency to the next level, and I look forward to working with him," said Droegemeier.
Soon after taking helms, Panchanathan identified three pillars of his vision for the NSF: advancing research into the future, ensuring inclusivity and continuing global leadership in science and engineering.
He has a long history of doing exactly those things. His current position, which he has held for the past nine years at Arizona State University, has allowed him to lead the Knowledge Enterprise, which has advanced research, innovation, strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship and global and economic development, the NSF said.
"Right now, the world faces significant scientific challenges -- most obviously a pandemic, but in addition to providing creative solutions to address current problems, our eyes are on the future, leveraging partnerships at every level and encouraging diversity that breeds new ideas for a robust pipeline of young scientists," said Panchanathan.
He is the second Indian-American ever to be nominated to the prestigious science position. The first was Dr Subra Suresh who served from October 2010 to March 2013.
"It is only through that expansive perspective on the scientific and engineering enterprise that we can recognize the brightest ideas and nurture them into tomorrow's world-class technological innovations," Panchanathan said.
"World-class science requires talented scientists and engineers drawn from every corner of our nation -- from remote rural areas to the largest urban centers. The best science is shaped by a wide range of perspectives," he said.
The top Indian-American scientist said that he wanted people to get excited by science and have the opportunity to be part of the scientific enterprise.
"It is our responsibility to inspire talent and find ways to catalyse innovation across our country. NSF has a proven record in this area; that includes program and its emphasis on broadening participation is an example of NSF's forward thinking," he said.
In a statement, Panchanathan noted that it was NSF's mission of funding basic research that has yielded groundbreaking discoveries over the years.
"Seeding basic research across all fields of science and engineering is NSF's core mission. NSF seeds discovery. NSF seeds the economy. NSF seeds the future," he said.
"Advancing basic research is our fundamental purpose and looking to cutting-edge areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and big data will accelerate our science and technology progress in the coming years. I am excited by the National Science Board's (NSB) Vision 2030 strategic plan which is an excellent framework for advancing science and technology," he added.
A fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, he is also a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Society of Optical Engineering.
He served as a chair in the Council on Research within the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.
Panchanathan earned a bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Madras in 1981 and in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in 1984.
He then earned his master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1986 and a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Ottawa in 1989.
He began his career at Arizona State and founded the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing (CUbiC), a group that designed technologies and devices to assist people with disabilities.
New Delhi: After the recent skirmish at Galwan Valley, attention has focused to the virtual world. Chinese hackers are reportedly being blamed for bringing hacks at India's defence ministry as well as a dozen other reputed Indian firms. Companies in India who are at reported at a major risk include telecom majors such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
The nature of attacks include defacing of websites, denial of service attacks, intricate phishing campaigns and even extraction of crucial business and trade data. A Singapore based threat intelligence agency - Cyfirma Research said Indian companies such as BSNL, Micromax, Airtel, Reliance Jio, MRF, Larsen & Toubro and pharmaceutical majors such as Cipla and Sun Pharma were on the radar of Chinese hackers.
It is learnt that these hackers are likely to target these companies to filter sensitive information, trade secrets as well as tarnish their reputation. It is also reported that the hackers were keen to "teach India, a lesson".
Three central ministries - Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign affairs and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting were also on the radar of these hackers. A Cyfirma note reads, "In the hackers' conversations, IP [Internet protocol] addresses were shared and discussed. Our analysis of these IP addresses attributed Gothic Panda and Stone Panda to be behind these potential hacking campaigns. These are two prolific hacking groups with close association with the Chinese Government."
The note also describes groups such as Gothic Panda and Stone Panda with alleged links with the Chinese government as major drivers of such hacks. While Gothic Panda has had experience sabotaging security in strategic sectors such as defence, aerospace, telecom, transportation, and manufacturing; Stone Panda has had its expertise in extracting trade secrets and supply chain information. Together, these groups have executed such campaigns against Japan, India, US, Canada, and Brazil.
The latest intelligence on Chinese state sponsored Cyber attacks could spook consumers of these firms. In a probably unrelated instance, consumers of Jio complained of latency in internet services on Monday. The Jio Fiber service was down for over 24 hours for scores of consumers in Delhi NCR, Lucknow, Ludhiana, and Dehradun.
Situation between India and China is reportedly tense despite a fruitful Lieutenant General level dialogue on Tuesday. Post Galwan, Indians has been forced to view Chinese and Chinese products with suspicion. Key Chinese contracts are being re-looked upon even as several Central and State governments have stalled contracts involving Chinese agencies. Maharashtra scrapped contracts worth Rs 5,000 crores while Haryana axed a power contract worth Rs 780 crores. Even the Indian Railways terminated a Rs 470 crore signalling works contract.
The overall narrative in India is tense with the general audience keen on dumping Chinese electronics, toys, and even goods and services that reads Made-in-China.
Chrystul Kizer, a 19-year-old facing life in prison on charges of murdering her alleged sex trafficker, was freed from a Wisconsin jail on Monday after two years awaiting trial.
Her $400,000 bond was paid by the Chicago Community Bond Fund, an advocacy group that has been flooded with donations in recent weeks as it worked to free George Floyd protesters. Kizer walked out of the Kenosha County Detention Facility carrying two trash bags full of letters she has received from supporters.
Kizer's case has received national attention from celebrities and the activists behind the #MeToo Movement. They see her as a black survivor of sex trafficking who was defending herself when she allegedly shot and killed Randall P. Volar, a 34-year-old white man in June 2018.
Kizer, who spoke extensively with The Washington Post about her case last year, met Volar when she was 16 years old. He sexually abused her for more than a year while giving her cash and gifts. Court records showed that Volar was abusing multiple underage black girls, and that police and prosecutors had video evidence of the abuse. But Volar remained free while he was investigated. Kizer maintains that Volar was attempting to pin her to the floor when she shot him in the head twice. She lit his house on fire and fled in his car.
Prosecutors charged Kizer with arson and first-degree intentional homicide, an offense that carries a mandatory life sentence in Wisconsin. They argue that evidence shows Kizer's crime was premeditated, and part of a plan to steal Volar's BMW.
"Chrystul was being victimized and abused by someone who was not effectively stopped by the current systems," said Sharlyn Grace, executive director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund. "That lack of protection from the systems we claim to keep us safe required that she act in self defense to survive."
Kizer's bond was originally set at $1 million, but was lowered to $400,000 earlier this year. A defense committee led by her mother has been working to raise the funds, but hadn't come close to the needed amount. As the nation turned its attention the criminal justice reform in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, new supporters learned of Kizer's story and donated to her cause.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Community Bond Fund was working to release protesters who had been arrested during demonstrations in Illinois. So many people donated to support their work that the fund was quickly overflowing with more than it needed to bail out protesters. Although Kizer is not in Illinois, Grace and others thought her case was where the money should go.
At 2:02 p.m., Kizer was released in downtown Kenosha, Wis. Her public defenders have previously stated that she would live with her mother in Milwaukee if released.
Her trial date has not yet been set. She is awaiting a decision from an appeals court that will determine if she qualifies for Wisconsin's affirmative defense law, which would allow to her argue that her crime was a direct result of the trafficking she allegedly experienced.
Kizer has said that Volar sold her to other men after she met him on Backpage, an online prostitution marketplace shuttered in 2018 for involvement in child sex trafficking. Under Wisconsin law, Volar's abuse of Chrystul alone qualifies as trafficking because she was underage.
At the time of his death in June 2018, Volar had been under investigation for months. Police had arrested him in February on charges of child sexual assault, but released him the same day. A raid of his home revealed the video evidence showing that Volar was sexually abusing multiple underage black girls, including one who appeared to be as young as 12.
That evidence had been turned over to the office of District Attorney Michael Graveley, who told The Washington Post last year that a sex crimes prosecutor was working to determine the identities and ages of the victims involved before re-arresting Volar.
Graveley is the lead prosecutor in Kizer's case. He has twice fought attempts to have her bond lowered, arguing that her actions show the murder was a calculated act. Minutes before Kizer fired the weapon she brought to Volar's house, she downloaded a police scanner app, according to Graveley. Public opinion, including the 950,000 signatures on a petition asking him to drop the charges against her, will not sway him, he vowed.
The Kenosha News reported that Graveley has offered a plea deal that would require Kizer to plead guilty to felony murder and bail jumping, which could result in a sentence of up to 21 years.
At a hearing earlier this month, Graveley said Kizer wrote to the judge, indicating that she would like to take the deal. But Kizer's attorneys did not address the offer. They revealed that she contracted covid-19 in April and argued that she should be released so she can seek therapy while she awaits trial. The judge denied their motion.
The bond fund reached out Chrystul's support committee soon after. In recent weeks, they'd been receiving messages of support from people across the country who were learning about Kizer's case for the first time.
"Within the last two weeks, people are noticing all the violence from police and they are connecting the dots to Chrystul," said Santera Matthews, a Chrystul Kizer Defense Committee organizer.
Matthews was there when Kizer left the Kenosha County Detention Facility Monday afternoon. With her back to the jail, she hugged her mother for the first time in two years.
Description
GIS 23 June 2020: The Supplementary Appropriation (2019-2020) Bill (No. IV of 2020) which makes provision for an additional financial allocation of thirty-three billion and seven hundred million rupees (Rs 33,700,000,000), with regards to Government expenditure for financial year 2019-2020, was introduced, today, at the National Assembly. The Bill was presented by the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy.
This Bill aims at providing for the supplementary appropriation, by votes of expenditure, both recurrent and capital, in respect of services of Government for the financial year 2019-2020, in excess of the expenditure appropriated by the Appropriation (2019-2020) Act 2019.
According to the Minister, the supplementary appropriation is required in accordance with Section 105 (3)(a) of the Constitution as the voted amount under six Votes of Expenditure, in the current financial year, will be insufficient to cater for the following:
- Rs 25.2 billion for meeting expenses in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Rs 5.3 billion for payment of basic pensions following the increase in BRP rate from Rs 6,210 to Rs 9,000 with effect from 1st December 2019;
- Rs 2.0 billion as transfer to the National Environment Fund for implementation of various environment projects under the Fund; and Rs 1.2 billion in respect of some other urgent and unforeseen expenses such as NDU projects, Metro Express Ltd and SDRs transaction.
Furthermore, Dr Padayachy observed that Section 105 (3)(a) of the Constitution stipulates that, where in any financial year, it is found that the amount appropriated by the appropriation law for the purposes included in any head of expenditure is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no amount has been appropriated by the appropriation law, then a Supplementary Appropriation Bill needs to be introduced in the Assembly to provide for the appropriation of those sums.
Therefore, the six Votes requiring supplementary appropriation in financial year 2019-2020 are listed in the Schedule to the Bill together with the respective sums. The supplementary appropriation is required as follows:
- Rs 280 million under Vote 2-2: National Development Unit for payments in respect of projects such as construction and upgrading of roads, sport facilities and childrens playgrounds;
- Rs 200 million under Vote 4-3: Rodrigues for payment of basic pensions to beneficiaries in Rodrigues following the increase in rates with effect from 1st December 2019;
- Rs 220 million under Vote: 7-2 Land Transport to provide a loan to Metro Express Ltd to enable the Company to meet its initial operating expenses;
- Rs 1.2 billion under Vote: 10-1 Ministry of Health and Wellness for the purchase of Medical Supplies in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Rs 5.1 billion under Vote 12-1: Social Security and National Solidarity essentially to cater for the increase in the monthly basic pensions rates to Rs 9,000 as from 1st December 2019;
- Rs 26.7 billion under Vote 25-1: Centrally Managed Initiatives of Government for the following:
(a) Rs 11.0 billion in respect of the Wage Assistance Scheme put in place to provide financial support to employees of the private sector who became technically unemployed during the COVID-19 lockdown/curfew period. The provision caters for the expected disbursement under the scheme up to June 2020;
(b) Rs 3.0 billion to provide financial support to the informal sector under the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme up to June 2020;
(c) Rs 45 million for basic food items distributed to families on the Social Register of Mauritius, those receiving Carers Allowance as well as residents of homes in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic;
(d) Rs 2.0 billion as transfer to the National Environment Fund for implementing various projects to better protect the environment and mitigate the risks associated with climate change. This amount will be used mainly to implement programmes such as Flood Management, Landslide Management, Rehabilitation of Beaches, and Solid Waste Management;
(e) Rs 10.0 billion as transfer to the National Resilience Fund for implementing schemes and programmes to ensure resilience in the wake of COVID-19. Out of this amount, Rs 9.0 billion has been earmarked as support to the National Air Carrier; and
(f) Rs 0.65 billion to account for the purchase of SDRs (Special Drawing Rights) by Government upon request made by the IMF in accordance with the Articles of Agreement.
NEW YORK and BRUSSELS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Collibra , the Data Intelligence company, today launched the Collibra Data Intelligence Cloud, an end-to-end integrated platform that automates data workflows, provides deep visibility into the data ecosystem, ensures security and delivers trusted insights. Collibra Data Intelligence Cloud provides business, data governance and privacy users with a streamlined means of accessing trusted data, which they can then analyze with the tools they already use. The results are lower costs, improved scalability and accelerated data-driven outcomes for enterprise businesses.
"Organizations are challenged with harnessing the power of data in the midst of complex regulatory requirements. By adopting a platform approach to data intelligence, businesses can take advantage of a 360-degree view of their data landscape, enabling them to better understand where the data is, where it came from, what it means and how to use it appropriately as they collaborate and innovate with data for competitive advantage in the digital economy," said Stewart Bond, director of data integration and data intelligence software research at IDC.
Collibra Data Intelligence Cloud is built on a secure, cloud-native platform that features:
Cloud performance optimization to scale resources on-demand and ensure end-user productivity
to scale resources on-demand and ensure end-user productivity A microservices architecture that helps IT teams to easily enhance or develop new services at lower cost
that helps IT teams to easily enhance or develop new services at lower cost Edge computing to reduce cost while scaling the extraction of metadata in a secure way
to reduce cost while scaling the extraction of metadata in a secure way Self-service data access, allowing quick and responsive analytics anywhere
"Data is the engine of digital business, but massive data volume, compliance requirements, manual processes and siloed departments often make it difficult for business users to get the data they need quickly," said Jim Cushman, chief product officer for Collibra. "Collibra Data Intelligence Cloud, the most powerful enterprise data intelligence solution in the market today, overcomes these barriers to digital transformation by reducing friction between IT and business users, allowing them to collaborate on data securely in a shared place."
Collibra Data Intelligence Cloud also includes the following new capabilities:
Data scoring is a new component of Collibra Data Catalog, which automatically computes a measure of data quality at the attribute level, allowing analysts with large volumes of data to choose the best data sets quickly and spend more of their time focusing on generating insights based on the data.
is a new component of Collibra Data Catalog, which automatically computes a measure of data quality at the attribute level, allowing analysts with large volumes of data to choose the best data sets quickly and spend more of their time focusing on generating insights based on the data. Individual rights management is a new capability within Collibra Data Privacy. It manages individuals' data requests, helping data privacy leaders work within compliance requirements to build and maintain customer trust.
is a new capability within Collibra Data Privacy. It manages individuals' data requests, helping data privacy leaders work within compliance requirements to build and maintain customer trust. Enhanced support for popular business intelligence (BI) and extract, transform and load (ETL) tools in Collibra Data Lineage. This provides Collibra users with greater end-to-end lineage visualization of their data to achieve regulatory compliance and enjoy data trust.
for popular business intelligence (BI) and extract, transform and load (ETL) tools in Collibra Data Lineage. This provides Collibra users with greater end-to-end lineage visualization of their data to achieve regulatory compliance and enjoy data trust. The expanded connectivity that Collibra now delivers allows for metadata ingestion from data sources such as data lakes and data warehouses. For enterprise businesses, this capability equates to faster access to data and speed to market.
Collibra also introduced a beta version of Data Matching for qualified customers, which allows users to gain insights into their data by securely identifying duplication within a data source and overlaps across data sources.
To learn more about Collibra Data Intelligence Cloud, watch this video or read this e-book .
About Collibra
Collibra is the Data Intelligence company. We accelerate trusted business outcomes by connecting the right data, insights and algorithms to all Data Citizens. Our cloud-based platform connects IT and the business to build a data-driven culture for the digital enterprise. Global organizations choose Collibra to unlock the value of their data and turn it into a strategic, competitive asset. We have a diverse global footprint, with offices in the U.S., Belgium, Australia, Czech Republic, France, Poland and the U.K. For more information, visit collibra.com .
SOURCE Collibra
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https://www.collibra.com
LITTLE FALLS, New Jersey, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bantec, Inc. (OTCPINK: BANT) ("Bantec" or the "Company"), a product and services company, announces that it expanded its offerings with CleanSmart. Bantec will now market and sell robotics that ultimately help businesses and building owners combat Covid-19. The robots possess the ability to communicate necessary Covid-19 messages to employees and customers, provide UVC light and spray disinfection, automatically dock and recharge, enable remote video calling, autonomously navigate, measure social distancing, and take people's temperatures.
According to a BCC Research report from 2019, the global market for UV disinfection equipment is estimated to surpass $4 billion by 2023. This report does not include the exponential growth in the disinfection equipment market due to COVID-19. This global pandemic has created a massive increase in the demand for cleaning and monitoring equipment, and we believe that the new line of equipment from CleanSmart and Bantec is a perfect solution to help fill this need.
Michael Bannon, Bantec's Chairman and CEO, stated: "We are excited to bring robots to the Covid-19 fight. Imagine this: a customer walks into a bank and is greeted by a robot; the robot instructs the customer to maintain the proper social distance and determines whether or not the customer is wearing a mask while measuring the customer's temperature. If the customer's temperature is above normal and/or the customer is not wearing a mask, the robot will politely ask the customer to please leave the bank. If the customer's temperature is normal and is wearing a mask, the robot will instruct the customer what to do next and inform the customer that there is a cleaning station nearby where the customer can sanitize his or her hands. During and after bank hours, the robots will clean surfaces and disinfect the bank interior with UVC light and spray disinfectant."
Here is a link to our UVC Light Robot in action:
https://twitter.com/bantecinc/status/1275181589627047939
About Bantec
Bantec, Inc, a product and services company, through its subsidiaries and divisions sells to facility managers, engineers, maintenance managers, purchasing managers and contract officers who work for hospitals, universities, manufacturers, commercial businesses, local and state governments and the US government. Our difference that matters consists of establishing lifelong customer and supplier friendships, responding immediately to our customers' needs, and providing products and services through a highly technically trained, motivated, and incentivized workforce.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include projections of matters that affect revenue, operating expenses, or net earnings; projections of growth; and assumptions relating to the foregoing. Such forward-looking statements are generally qualified by terms such as: "plans, "anticipates," "expects," "believes" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or qualified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking information. These factors are discussed in greater detail in our Form 10 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts:
Michael Bannon
Chairman & CEO
[email protected]
+1-(203)-220-2296
SOURCE Bantec Inc.
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank will finance four projects of Ukrainian companies: Ukrgasbank, Galnaftogaz, Metinvest and the construction of a school in Kyiv.
According to the Ministry of Economy, the bank approved the relevant projects on June 17 on the eve of the 22nd annual meeting of the board of governors, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine, Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka.
"Given the difficult period in the global economy caused by the crisis, the stable functioning of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank and access to its finances are especially important. We welcome the fact that, despite the crisis, the bank continues to cooperate with projects with a high potential in public and private sectors, and support the economic development of member states," Kachka said.
Additional information on these projects is not yet available.
Since the bank began operating in Ukraine, 47 projects have been implemented for a total of EUR738.9 million. In particular, projects are concentrated in such areas as the consumer sector, financial institutions, industry, consumer goods, utilities, telecommunications, energy, raw materials and materials.
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank is an international organization uniting 11 states of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The bank aims to promote economic cooperation, trade and cooperation of the countries of the Black Sea region.
India is considering establishing individual bilateral bubbles with the US, the UK, Germany and France allowing airlines of each country in the pact to operate international passenger flights, said the Aviation Ministry on Tuesday.
The ministrys statement has come after the US Department of Transportation announced on Monday that it has barred Air India from operating chartered flights between India and the United States from July 22 without its prior approval, in an apparent retaliation for the Indian government not allowing American carriers to operate between the two countries.
The Aviation Ministry said, As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, India-US, India-France, India-Germany, India-UK. These are all destinations where demand for travel has not diminished. Final decisions pursuant to negotiations are expected to be taken soon.
We have received requests from authorities in several countries including the US, France, Germany among others requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in the transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under Vande Bharat Mission. These requests are being examined, it added.
Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Air India started international chartered flights under Vande Bharat Mission from May 6 to help people stranded amid the pandemic reach their destinations.
The US Department of Transport (DOT) said on Monday it appears that Air India may be using its passenger repatriation charters as a way of circumventing Government of India-imposed prohibition of all scheduled international services.
We are taking this action (of allowing only those Air India flights from July 22 that have DOTs approval) because Government of India 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, the DOT said.
The Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday that it had one round of negotiations with the representatives of the DOT and US Embassy on June 15 about letting American carriers operate flights.
They were invited to submit precise proposals in this respect. A communication has now been received on 19 June, 2020 detailing these requests, the ministry said.
Air India has been operating chartered flights on Indo-US routes since May 18 where tickets on both the legs are sold.
While tickets on the India-US leg are sold through Air Indias website to the public, the seats on the US-India leg have to be purchased after contacting the Indian Embassy in the US.
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said on June 20 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 per cent of the levels before the coronavirus.
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 June 20 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 June 10.
(Newser) If you consider Michael Keaton to be the best Batman, then we have good news for you: He might be donning the cowl once again. Keaton, who starred as the caped crusader in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman and 1992 Batman Returns, is in talks to reprise the role for another movie from the DC Comics universe: Warner Bros.' The Flash. Sources tell the Hollywood Reporter that if the deal goes through, Keaton could end up reprising the role again in future DC movies, with the character reportedly being seen as "something of a mentor or guide or even string-puller" similar to the role Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury plays in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
story continues below
A new upcoming Batman-centric film, The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson in the title role, will be seen as separate from the other upcoming DC Universe films and will not be impacted by Keaton's potential return. But in a mindbending story at the Inverse, for those who want to read more, Eric Francisco explains how the DC Universe may be about to make history by "converging the multiverse on the big screen." (Read more Batman stories.)
A text message the morning of June 16 brought joy, relief, and release to Janna Cornish, her husband Taylor Faris, son Liam, their family, friends and numerous supporters.
Zoe, their mini Australian shepherd and a Great Pyrenees mix, was on her way home.
It had been nine days since the three, on their way to B.C. to visit family, were in a rollover near Yellowhead Lake, just west of the B.C. border.
Ending up at the bottom of a 12-foot bank, Janna helped Liam and Taylor out of the vehicle to safety.
Its a miracle that we all got out alive no broken bones, not one stitch, Janna said.
The family was accounted for, but Zoe was gone.
Taylor ran up the bank calling for the lost dog and in ten minutes time several people had stopped to assist the family.
One of them said they saw Zoe headed west along the highway; she was about a kilometre away, Janna said.
The family waited for Jasper EMS in a vehicle offered by someone who stopped to help. As they waited, passersby stopped to help search for Zoe but to no avail.
Soon after, the family was transported to the Jasper Healthcare Centre to be checked. Janna and three-year-old Liam were cleared for release at the hospital.
The nurses were so great there, Janna said.
Liam, he was back to himself. He just wanted to run around and play.
Taylor, however, needed to be examined further and was airlifted to the University of Alberta Hospital. Jannas father-in-law, Kelly Faris, had arrived in Jasper before they were released.
It took three, four hours for Taylor to get to the U of A to be checked, Janna said. I couldnt leave without trying to find Zoe.
Zoe, who will be three years old in December, had been part of the family since she was seven weeks old.
We looked and looked and looked, and I yelled for her. I assumed she was hiding somewhere, Janna said.
Dealing with the trauma from the rollover and then not knowing where Zoe could be, was overwhelming.
When you lose your dog in the middle of nowhere, you feel helpless, Janna said. You know the country, you know the predators.
Jannas brother, Brian Cornish, left for Jasper when he heard what happened and arrived at the site to search for Zoe as they were leaving for Spruce Grove. It was late in the evening by that time.
On the way home, Janna put a post on Facebook that Zoe was missing and word spread quickly, with some Jasperites taking the initiative to go and search for the missing pup.
I guess they were sharing and people were tagging me, said Janna. I was aware people were looking for her.
Janna contacted K9 Recovery Service in Calgary to help find Zoe. A team member, who asked not to be named, arrived in Jasper on June 9 and positioned herself at the site of the rollover.
Janna said, She gave me a lot of education about the proper way to search for dogs. Youre not supposed to approach them because theyre in flight mode by calling them you could possibly scare them farther away.
We also set up all kinds of scent markers, such as articles of our clothing, her kennel, around the accident site, in the hopes Zoe would smell them and stay there.
The K9 Recovery Service member stayed on-site most of the time Zoe was missing, aside from getting gas and driving to cell service zones to make calls to Janna and her family to update them. She put up posters about Zoe being missing from the B.C. border west to Moose Lake.
Brian, Janna and Taylor, returned on June 11 to continue searching for Zoe and stayed at Tekarra Lodge for the next three days.
During their search, a couple of fellows stopped at the site.
They told us that they had seen Zoe on the Jasper side of the gate seven, eight kilometres from the site, Janna said. They saw Zoe being chased by a younger black bear they said she was running so fast.
The men stopped and so did the bear it sat and stared at them in their vehicle.
The distraction gave Zoe a chance to escape and she darted back into the woods. It was the first sighting of her, around 10 a.m.
Janna figured it wasnt just that bear Zoe had to outrun out there.
The three returned to their homes the evening of June 14 and the next day, Janna and Taylor got a call from a fellow who had seen Zoe close to the site of the rollover.
The man said he was driving past the crash site and saw Zoe sitting on a trail here. He pulled over, called her and tried to approach her and she ran a couple hundred yards down from where she was sitting. Then she stopped, looked at the man and started barking and whining.
He called as soon as he reached cell service and let me know, said Janna.
I was just so happy. Your heart goes into your throat shes still alive and can still run.
Even with the sightings though, how was Zoe surviving in the wilderness?
Your worst fears happen at night. You dont know what youre going to wake up to, Janna said.
On the evening of June 15, the K9 Rescue Service team member contacted Janna and Taylor to say she had seen a grizzly bear a couple of kilometres from the site.
My heart went in my throat, Janna said.
It was a difficult evening for them and a text the next morning from the K9 staff member elicited mixed feelings.
She heard Zoe barking for about 20, 25 minutes that evening, Janna recalled. Also, that morning, the grizzly who was a couple of kilometres east was now only half a kilometre east.
I didnt think Zoe would be in the area after that.
But the next morning, Janna received another message.
The K9 team member watching the accident site had seen an animal that looked like Zoe on a hill where scent markers Taylors pants had been placed.
The woman went over the hill with some food... and there was Zoe.
She startled Zoe, said Janna, her hackles went up and Zoe ran at her until she realized she was there to help.
(Then) Zoe went into her typical happy-to-see-you mode.
It was the news Janna and Taylor had been waiting for and wondering if theyd ever get.
Not only had Zoe been secured but she was being brought home, after a stop at the vet clinic to pick up some food and to have Zoe checked for injuries.
At the same time Zoe was happy to be in safety, she had also been surviving against the odds in the wilderness for nine days.
Zoe was full of anxiety, she was obviously traumatized, said Janna.
There were a few stops on the ride home just to help her calm down, but Zoe arrived in Spruce Grove around five oclock with her rescuer.
Janna and Taylor were advised to stay in the house because Zoe was a flight risk because at that point, there was no telling how Zoe would react when she saw her family.
Would she associate them with the trauma of the rollover?
If she did, Zoe hid it well.
She ran right up to us. I was just shocked and so happy she was home, Janna said.
She and Taylor watched Liam give Zoe a hug and a kiss.
And Zoe got some feline attention too: the family has two cats, and put them in the basement in anticipation of Zoes arrival. One got out of the basement and walked right past Zoe. All was good.
Home less than 24 hours on the 17th, Janna said, Zoe has just been herself other than being really sleepy. Im sure itll take time to decompress.
On the 22nd, Zoe was in good spirits although Janna noted they still hadnt attempted to put Zoe in a vehicle. Thatll come when they take her to a vet to be checked.
Janna said she, Taylor and Brian couldnt have done it without the help of people in Jasper, the Canine Recovery Service, everyone from Hinton to Valemount, CN Rail, the RCMP, the vet clinic everyone.
Read more about:
Introduction
COVID-19 prediction challenges
Insufficient information to determine the right exit strategy
When and how its safe to reopen the economy?
Whats the plan if, as many experts predict, a second wave of the virus happens in a few months?
If that happens, what population factors will determine the probable location of the next epicenter?
In a new epicenter, how will hospitalizations, ICU admissions and ventilators be planned for and managed?
And finally, how do we get back to the new normal with less disruption to the economy and to an individuals livelihood?
Enabling better predictions to navigate the next wave
Conclusion
Eric Paternoster
Suman De
Prediction of the novel coronavirus mode and ease of transmission, the extent of its pathogenesis, the impact on population health economics, potential for mutation, the identification of potential hot spots, reporting of infection and death rates, and its impact on the demand for health-care services is critical information that the U.S. and other countries need to decide how to restart their economies.Predictive data science relies heavily on evidence-based facts, which for the current COVID-19 pandemic are constantly evolving and sometimes unreliable. Most early statistical models were developed in a rushand flawed in some respects, due primarily to the shortage of observational data driven chiefly by limited testing capacity and complicated by test results that produce too many false readingsThis article analyzes the recent COVID-19 prediction issues and proposes an alternative approach to predict the COVID-19 disease dynamics more effectively. This will enable public-sector leaders to formulate better epidemic control procedures and an exit strategy for the current wave and beyond.An effective data model to track and respond to an epidemic requires accurate and statistically significant data on virus reproducibility, transmissibility, fatality rates, herd immunity levels, re-infection rates, mutability, etc. Information across all these parameters has been impossible to get for COVID-19. Forecasting precision largely depends on the availability of reliable data, which at the beginning of an outbreak caused by a new virus is rare, making predictions uncertainAnother challenge is the availability of good observational data. This is primarily due to the inability of the U.S. and other countries to conduct mass testing. Also, the variance in immunodiagnostic test types and specimen collection techniques leads to differences in sensitivity and specificity rates and makes it difficult to get the number of people who are or were actually infected. Antibodies can also be developed in response to other forms of coronaviruses like the common cold or seasonal influenza. Given these uncertainties it is hard to determine who is immune, who is asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. Others are symptomatic but have never been tested and are still potential carriers.There is still no consensus on the absolute characteristics of the highly susceptible group. As new data becomes available, conditions like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and vitamin D deficiency in addition to age increase the risk of serious complications and mortality from COVID-19 infection. Scientists dont know if the virus transmission chain has any strong seasonal influence or weather dependency. Any predictive model that works with so many unknown variables will be problematic in some respects.The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) model, which the White House relied on, didnt follow the SEIR (Susceptible, Exposed, Infected, Resistant) or agent-based approach. Instead, it used a computational method that assumed a disease progression rate based on data from other countries like China, Spain, Italy, etc. to extrapolate COVID-19 mortality and hospitalization rates in the U.S. What was missing in this approach were differences in key regional parameters like population characteristics, availability and variance in COVID-19 testing, access to critical care facilities, levels of quarantine measures, social distancing implementation date, etc. All these differed significantly between the U.S. and countries like Italy and China. The projections from this model are an example of a non-mechanistic model and suffered from the fallacy of Farr's Law, which states that all epidemics tend to follow a roughly symmetrical pattern shifted and scaled to fit any epidemic data. Therefore, IHMEs projections were confusing for policymakers and the public seeking the right guidanceSome universities developed models based on traditional epidemiological theory. These early models incorporated estimates of virus contagiousness, transmission process, reproducibility rate, co-morbidity factors that increase the risk of serious illness or death, and the timeframe from infection to actual clinical recovery. SEIR-based models like these, though more precise compared to IHME-like empirical models, were still challenged by evolving knowledge of the COVID-19 virology, insufficient understanding of population risk, and false negative test results that led to underestimating disease spread. In addition, these models generally did not account for the influence of population behavior, local environmental factors and the impact of political decisions on epidemic control. Moreover many of these models do not clearly mention the key assumptions that have been included or the sensitivity to errors accounted in their assumptions. All of this has impacted their predictions and projections.The Imperial College London model that predicted high infection and fatality rate actually failed to infer the obvious change in population behavior even in the absence of government-mandated interventions and the variance in virus reproduction (R0) number because of the same.The epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is different from two other virulent coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-1 that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). According to CIDRAP at the University of Minnesota, models which were initially based on these pathogens do not provide useful guidance in predicting what to expect with the current pandemic. The most recent UMass Amhersts ensemble type model (commonly used in weather predictions) triangulates a comparative prediction from multiple models. This approach may incorporate the uncertainty and errors already integrated into existing models it has referenced to develop their prediction hypothesis.The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled countries to apply wartime rules, lockdown, shelter in place, curfew, closed borders and so on, to suppress the virus spread. All these measures have had devastating social and financial consequences major fiscal deficits, skyrocketing unemployment, and negative growth rates.The future course of the virus is a matter of great debate. The epidemic trend shows some positive signs that the COVID-19 pandemic is moderating; e.g., fewer new vs. predicted cases. Many leaders have started to think about how to best transition from the lockdown phase. Others have moved ahead without much preparation for the potential fallout. The focus has now switched to adoption of an exit strategy that will guide the loosening of government restrictions in place and take concrete steps toward the new normal.Epidemic forecasting models are considered to be the guiding tools for decision-makers trying to contain an outbreak and are equally important in defining an exit strategy. The models should help government and task force leaders answer critical questions such as:Current epidemiological models have more and better data to work with, yet they struggle to translate this into strategic exit plan recommendations. There is some consensus around actions like increased testing availability, maintaining some level of social distancing and protection of vulnerable populations. In many cases, the next level of analysis which would inform government decision-making at a more granular level is missing. For example, would lockdowns need to continue in certain locations to protect vulnerable populations; how would you stratify the population to determine who can emerge from lockdown first; and how do you implement an enhanced testing program? What will be the right social distancing measures to curb the pandemic below the health systems capacity? What will be the strategy to implement contact tracing at scale and how to ensure there are enough local health-care capabilities, readiness to respond to another sudden outbreak? This guidance will be important for government leaders to craft an informed strategy to reopen and revive the economy across multiple locations while simultaneously reducing or eliminating the impact of COVID-19.While the epidemic appears to be moderating, the crisis is far from over. So what guidance do we need to begin to emerge from lockdown? The World Health Organization warns that abruptly ending a lockdown order could result in new outbreaks. Many experts are concerned about having one more COVID-19 waves in late fall or early winter of this year, conceivably sooner depending on how the reopening is handled. Public health decision-makers need better information and insights into early warning indicators to navigate the various post-lockdown scenarios.All the most promising new models that provide COVID-19 predictions are under considerable scrutiny within the scientific community. How can we do this better? Why not adopt a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) model designed around an artificial neural network-based, dynamic epidemiological model, which is adaptive, built to scale, automated, and semi or unsupervised in learning. This would be one way to address some of the shortcomings of earlier models. Though a universally accepted and large-scale COVID-19 testing report will not be immediately available to make a reliable denominator, an advanced AI model could provide more comprehensive results than the current COVID-19 predictive models.A model like this can be self-sustaining and will require a reduced number of data pipelines to learn and predict compared to current models that have long learning curves and depend on a large volume of correctly labeled training data. Getting this data is a challenge due to limited testing and under-reporting of mortality when deaths happen outside of the hospital. Where the current models tend to be backward-looking and there is an inevitable adjustment delay, the recommended AI model would be much closer to real time in prediction with continuous learning and adjustment to any new changes being made to the input parameters. An AI model would have the ability to discover complex patterns, auto-detect anomalies, self-learn and self-heal, and judge the accuracy of the variables (e.g., variance in test results) to produce reliable results.COVID-19 does not follow an identical path across all regions of the world. The disease spreads unevenly within countries and regions with varying prevalence and fatality rates. Regional population characteristics such as age distribution, socio-economic status, percentage of older adults with comorbidities, and risk factors (e.g., smoking, obesity, drug dependencies), regional and environmental factors such as population size, density, individual mobility, and social distancing effects, etc., are key parameters in the model development.The model should look beyond the assumption that every individual in a population subset has the same chance of catching the infection. Instead, the population should be subdivided into smaller groups by their individual socio-economic, demographic, education level, unhealthy habits and health status. The number of infected individuals who quarantined and no longer can spread the infection should be incorporated into the model as well.The training data pipeline of the model should consist of large regional population data sets similar to what Medicare and Medicaid collect. These data sets would include each individuals demographic details, clinical variables like valid COVID-19 test reports, clinical data treatment records, health risks, lab results, etc. This should be augmented with social determinants of health living conditions, education, transportation links, access to care, social contacts, mobility and so forth. This of course would be integrated with COVID-19-related local epidemiological factors like the infection rate over time, contact rate, case fatality reports, personal preventive hygiene practices (hand washing, face mask adoption, social distancing), environmental factors like temperature, and incorporate a meta-analysis of COVID-19 golden research studies.The model developed with the above guiding principles can help provide realistic insights into the disease progression and more granular patient-centric behavior in response to the virus. It will guide task force leaders to proactively detect, track and quarantine COVID-19 vulnerable individuals to keep the infection transmission to a manageable level. Through early prediction of the virus epicenter and disease hot spot trends, the model will help in the optimal allocation of personal protective equipment and ensure region-specific readiness for health-care services demand.Comprehensive AI-driven intelligence like this will eventually help the government implement a soft and directed (compared to a harsh and wide) quarantine policy; e.g., at-risk individual, household or zone-level social distancing that will form the basis of a prudent exit strategy to reopen and keep the economy open with confidence.Our health system is currently overwhelmed by the actual and projected COVID-19 hospitalization and case fatality rates. Many of the deaths being reported in conjunction to coronavirus cases are due to underlying health conditions exacerbated by the infection. In any epidemic, modeling is very important to help public authorities stay on top of the situation and make data-based decisions. This is especially true for a virus like COVID-19 that is an unknown entity and likely more dangerous than any other virus since the Spanish flu. Until we have a standard testing mechanism, better test coverage and a proven treatment regime, predictions need to be unbiased, consistent and realistic.Unfortunately, most of the existing models remain asymmetric in their risk calculation and do not provide granular enough guidance about how to manage the pandemic going forward. Now is the time to adopt a new deep learning AI model built with an ideal blend of epidemiology, bio-informatics and health economics that will provide more statistically relevant forecasts on the actual nature and course of the virus. This will in turn become a tool for governments to make rational decisions that help contain the spread of the virus, mitigating its impact on population health and the economy by adopting a robust, well-informed exit strategy.Eric Paternoster is Chief Executive Officer of Infosys Public Services, an Infosys subsidiary focused on public sector in US and Canada. In this role, he oversees company strategy and execution for profitable growth, and advises public sector organizations on strategy, technology and operations. He also serves on the Boards of Infosys Public Services and the McCamish subsidiary of Infosys BPM.Eric has over 30 years of experience in public sector, healthcare, consulting and business technology with multiple firms. Prior to his current role, he was Senior Vice President and Head of Insurance, Healthcare and Life Sciences business unit, where he grew the business from $90 million to over $700 million with 60+ clients across Americas, Europe and Asia. Eric joined Infosys in 2002 as Head of Business Consulting for Eastern US and Canada.Prior to joining Infosys, Eric was a partner with Ernst & Young, where he led financial services consulting in e-commerce, profitability improvement, activity-based costing, IT strategy, and web channel development. As a partner at Accentures (Andersen Consulting) Financial Services practice, Eric led the implementation of a country-wide mortgage processing platform for the largest building society in Ireland, and order-ship-bill system for Procter & Gambles North American business.Eric has hands-on experience in healthcare. As Vice President (acting) of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, he was responsible for overseeing application development. He also led the implementation of a new medical and lost-time claims and prescription processing system for the largest state-run workers compensation system in the US, and directed multiple M&A systems programs.Eric is a frequent speaker at healthcare and public sector forums and a contributor to industry publications and analysts on strategy, industry trends, and organizational competitiveness. He has been quoted in publications such as Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Politico, Modern Healthcare, HealthLeaders, and Insurance Business Review.Eric holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Cincinnati, and a bachelors degree in engineering from the US Military Academy. He served in the US Army, leading infantry units in Korea and the US, and left as a Captain.Principal Consultant and Head, Government Healthcare Analytics Solutions, Infosys Public Services; Member, Editorial Board of Telehealth and Medicine Today Peer Review JournalDr. De is head of government healthcare analytics for Infosys Public Services. He has extensive experience in the public healthcare sector and previously worked for the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Indian Public Health Association.At Infosys, Dr. De leads the area of advanced data science and artificial intelligence-enabled population health, social determinants of health analytics, opioid management, care management, and value-based care. He is a frequent public speaker at various healthcare conferences, forums and at major universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Dr. De is based in Hartford, Connecticut. He holds a medical degree from the University of Calcutta and masters degree in healthcare administration from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India.Who Is John Ioannidis? American Institute for Economic Research; April 19, 2020Special report: The simulations driving the worlds response to COVID-19; How epidemiologists rushed to model the coronavirus pandemic; Nature.com; April 2, 2020COVID-19 Testing: Challenges, Limitations and Suggestions for Improvement; Hu, Es; Aril 9,2020COVID-19 testing: overcoming challenges in the next phase of the epidemic; Stat news; March 31, 2020Forecasting the novel coronavirus COVID-19; Fotios Petropoulos, Spyros, Makridakis; March 31, 2020Caution Warranted: Using the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Model for Predicting the Course of the COVID-19 Pandemic; Nicholas P. Jewell, PhD; Joseph A. Lewnard, PhD; and Britta L. Jewell, PhD; Annals of Internal MedicineInfluential Covid-19 model uses flawed methods and shouldnt guide U.S. policies, critics say; statnews; April 17, 2020Predictive Mathematical Models of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Underlying Principles and Value of Projections; Nicholas P. Jewell, PhD; Joseph A. Lewnard, PhD; Britta L. Jewell, PhD; JAMA; April 16, 2020COVID-19: The CIDRAP Viewpoint; April 30, 2020Coronavirus: 'Deadly resurgence' if curbs lifted too early, WHO warns. BBC News, April 10,2020;Denominator matters in estimating COVID-19 mortality rates; Bamba Gaye, Anouar Fanidi, Xavier Jouven; European Heart Journal; April 7, 2020.Experts predict significant COVID-19 activity in US for up to 2 years; NY Post; May 1,2020
A federal judge on Monday denied a request from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state attorneys asking the judge to delay the reopening of gyms and fitness centers.
Theyre currently slated to reopen to the public on Thursday, June 25.
U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney on Friday struck down portions of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive orders, including a blanket ban on the reopening of gyms and workout facilities statewide.
This court must uphold the governors executive orders as long as they are supported by some relation to the public health, Maloneys opinion said. Unfortunately ... the court has not been presented with any evidence that shows a rational relation between the continued closure of indoor gyms and the preservation of public health.
Shortly after Maloneys ruling, Assistant Attorney General John G. Fedynsky filed a request asking the judge to halt his order allowing gyms and fitness centers to reopen until after the appeals process had run its course.
Fedynsky wrote in a 20-page brief supporting the request for a stay that the judges order is premised on a heightened form of rational basis review that is not rooted in the law, and the idea that gyms with their high levels of heavy respiratory activity, shared indoor spaces, and shared surfaces might be one of the later businesses to come back online in the midst of this global pandemic is hardly surprising and highly sensible.
If the ruling isnt delayed, it will present irreparable harm to (the state) and not serve the public interest, he wrote. It introduces the likelihood of an unworkable patchwork of judicial and regional carveouts to a general public health response to a pandemic involving a novel virus, which will likely lead to unintended consequences and erosion of the common plan to fight the spread of the virus, creating the substantial risk of a second wave.
Maloney said gyms will be required to follow existing safety precautions Whitmer has established for the reopening of other businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
With this ruling, the court is playing a dangerous role it should not play: second-guessing and upending the data-informed decisions that have saved thousands of lives in Michigan, Whitmer spokeswoman Tiffany Brown said Friday.
Maloney, in his denial of the request, said Whitmer and her administration has already created the system of carve-outs.
" ... Gyms are open in parts of the state but not others, and most other industries have had their own reopening dates, staggered
throughout the months of May and June, Maloney wrote. The court is not persuaded that the issuance of an injunction adds any unwarranted carve-outs to the ... pandemic response, nor is it persuaded that the injunction harms the public interest.
Whitmer hadnt previously established a date for gyms and fitness centers to reopen.
Rochester-based attorney Scott Erskine on May 22 filed the lawsuit on behalf of organizations and owners representing nearly 180 Michigan gyms.
The complaint argued gyms have been arbitrarily forced to remain closed without the presentation of any scientific data supporting the governors orders.
Erskine said his clients, the League of Independent Fitness Facilities and Trainers and several other fitness facilities in the state, are relieved by the judges ruling, as many were on the verge of insolvency.
The ruling allowing gyms to reopen has been appealed to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Brief in support of delaying the reopening of gyms:
COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
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Were ready, for Jacksons YMCA to open after coronavirus shut down, staff says
Mask rule places retailers in no-win situation
Whos wearing masks, results from 37 Michigan stores
Coronavirus in Michigan: Maps, charts and the latest reports
Whitmer to extend Michigans state of emergency
Indiana Black Expo says police are investigating an apparent cross shape burned into the grass outside of its headquarters, but the shape appears to have been in the grass for years.
IBEs headquarters on the east side was previously the building that housed Crossroads Bible College, which had a concrete cross embedded in the ground previously, according to a statement from IBE posted to Twitter.
The concrete cross appears to be in the same place where the cross shape is now.
IBE said the area was filled with topsoil and seed after the concrete cross was removed and that the area appears to have been recently burned with a chemical.
Judging by historic satellite images from Google Earth which shows the concrete cross and topsoil from the past the cross shape doesnt appear to be any more pronounced than it has been before.
The Recorder reached out to IBE representatives to clear up the confusion but did not receive a response.
IBE moved to its current headquarters in March 2019.
Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
Pictured is dead grass that appears to be in the shape of a cross outside of Indiana Black Expo headquarters. (Photo/Tyler Fenwick)
Brits will be able to take holidays in beauty spots in places like Devon and Cornwall as the Prime Minister officially announced staycations from July 4.
Boris Johnson made the announcement in the House of Commons, paving the way for families languishing in lockdown to finally get away from a break.
Hotels were given the green light to throw open their doors as long as they were kept clean and safe.
Holidaymakers will expect to see some big changes when they do finally start their staycation. They include:
Contactless check-in at hotels, bed and breakfast and camp sites
Campers will have to stay in their car until they are directed to their pitch
In all settings they will be expected to stay over a metre apart from someone else
Breakfast buffets and mini bars are all out for the time being
Visitors could be asked to bring their own toilets with them
Guests will also be asked to bring their own hand sanitiser and soap
All paperwork and phones will be removed from hotel rooms
Camp sites will clean their toilets six times a day
In hotels and bed and breakfasts deep cleans after guests have left
Multiple family holidays are strictly reduced to just two households
Guests are not allowed to have visitors to where they are staying
The news announced by the Prime Minister paved the way for staycations in seaside towns, such as Bournemouth in Dorset
Mr Johnson added: 'Now is the time to send out a welcoming signal to those from other parts of our country, to roll out the welcome mat, rather than the 'not welcome here' sign.
'From July 4 provided that no more than two household stay together, people will be free to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation including hotels and bed and breakfasts as well as campsites as long as shared facilities
'Most leisure facilities and tourist attractions will reopen if they can do so safely including outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, themes parks and arcades as well as libraries, social clubs and community centres.
A statement from the Government spelled out in full that the PM had signalled summer holidays were back on.
It said: 'He has set out that two households will be able to meet up in any setting with social distancing measures, and that people can now enjoy staycations in England with the reopening of accommodation sites.'
The spectre of Coronavirus will mean a lot of changes to how people may have usually taken holidays in England before the virus struck.
Management at the Camping and Caravanning Club say all but 26 of their sites will open, but subject to new conditions.
Camping sites in Cornwall (pictured) have been given the green light to repopen
Picturesque resorts such as Salcombe in Devon are now open for staycations after the PM's announcement
Those arriving will pay with contactless check-in, which will see the cost of the stay automatically taken from their bank.
People will have to stay inside their vehicle before staff directs them to their pitch, which will be six metres away from anyone else staying.
If the site has facility blocks for washing and toiletries managers will reduce the number of guests on site so they can stay clean. They will get two deep cleans and four additional clear-ups every day.
They say there also will be signs and floor markings as a common sense reminder to keep two metres from others.
Campers have also been told that they will now no longer be able to have any day visitors to their pitches.
They are also being asked to bring with them their own hand sanitiser and soap supplies.
Guesthouses and bed and breakfasts (pictured in Dorset) have also been cleared to open
Hotel operators have already revealed how they will reopen after lockdown with mini-bars and buffet breakfasts taken off the menu.
Some of the biggest chains have announced a raft of changes today as Mr Johnson allowed hotels to reopen.
French company Accor, which owns brands including Novotel, Mercure, Ibis and Sofi tel, is aiming to reopen some of its 270 hotels from the start of July.
The chain will introduce new systems, which will include taking paperwork and telephones out of rooms, The Guardian reports today.
Meanwhile, Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotel Groups has today announced a 'five point plan' to get its hotels reopened - which includes going cashless and delivering breakfasts to rooms.
And like Hilton Hotels and Resorts group, they have promised to deep clean 'key-touch areas' in all rooms after guests have left.
Boris Johnson announced staycations could now happen in an announcement in the House of Commons
Popular holiday spots such as St Ives in Cornwall may soon be accepting visitors again
Check-in times are likely to be staggered, or set later in the afternoon, to allow for deep cleaning of rooms. At the seven-strong collection of The Pig Hotels in south-west England, for example, this has switched from 3 pm to 4 pm.
Valet parking and baggage handling could also be a thing of the past, though luggage may be disinfected on arrival.
Protective screens, distance-marking lines and one-way routes may be implemented in larger properties.
Staycation reopen rules Social distancing of at least a metre should be maintained when possible Camping sites must keep washing facilities and toilets clean People will be asked to hire Portaloos, or bring their own, so you don't share toilet block with whole of the rest of the campsite. Advertisement
Hotel bars, if they are opened, will likely be table service only, while dining tables will be arranged to satisfy the two-metre rule, and probably be without linen.
Room service is also encouraged with many properties dropping the tray charge. Menu choices are likely to be restricted and delivery will be only to the bedroom door.
The speech was greeted with relief by tourism bosses who hailed it as a much-needed step in the right direction.
Joss Croft, chief executive of trade association UKinbound, said: 'Today's announcement that pubs, restaurants, hotels and attractions can officially open on July 4 will come as a huge relief to businesses across the tourism and hospitality industry, who have earned very little revenue since the beginning of March.
'Reducing social distancing from two metres to one will also ensure that many more businesses will be able to viably reopen at the start of next month.
'We're pleased that the Government has also listened to industry and is on the verge of agreeing air corridors with a number of countries - a step that signals that the UK's tourism inbound industry is keen to welcome international tourists again.'
Camping and Caravanning Club introduced strict social distancing rules ahead of reopening
Pitches will have six-metre spacing the number of people on club sites will be reduced
Her joy was echoed by travel organisation Abta, but they warned plenty of notice had to be given to the sector.
A spokeswoman said: 'The measures announced today to ease lockdown further in England and allow people to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation, and take domestic holidays from 4 July, is a step in the right direction on the road to restarting travel in earnest.
'With travel restrictions in place for the last few months, there is latent demand to travel with people wanting to visit close family and friends and have something to look forward to.
'However, the travel sector remains in a perilous state, with redundancies announced each week, and more needs to be done to help the whole sector recover.
'We need a more comprehensive road map as soon as possible that includes time frames for relaxing international travel restrictions too so businesses and customers can plan ahead.
'The process of sending people on holiday is not like turning on a tap. As much advance notice as possible from the Government is required for travel companies to restart operations.'
Receptions, play areas and other communal areas will remain closed on their sites
Campers will not be able to have any day visitors to their pitches to limit people at campsites
The Camping and Caravanning Club have also issued guidance on social distancing measures on their website.
In a statement, they said: 'Were delighted to be able to open the majority of our Club Sites in England on the 4th July 2020.
'Of course, the safety of our campers and site teams remains our highest priority and we have been working hard to welcome you back. To ensure the safety of our campers and site colleagues, weve introduced some new steps to safer camping in line with government guidance.'
Some camping enthusiasts today reported they had been asked to hire or bring their own portaloos by some sites who had started taking bookings.
And the National Caravan Council described the lockdown easing a boost for the industry.
Director General John Lally said: 'This is great news for the 2+ million caravan owners and for the parks industry in England - and not a moment too soon.
High-end sites, including London's Savoy Hotel, will reopen at a later date, as will airport hotels, the chain says
'We have been working hard to explain to Government that caravan products are 'socially distanced by design' and that the parks industry across the UK can be safe places for people to holiday. Not only are caravans required to be 5m or 6m apart, but caravan parks are big open spaces, the ideal base for hard working families to enjoy the great outdoors.
'Parks already are working on safety protocols to keep their staff and visitors safe. So we are delighted that the great British caravan holiday can recommence in less than two weeks time.'
The relaxation on July 4 Independence Day in the US comes amid growing optimism that the virus, which has claimed more than 42,000 lives in the UK, is finally reducing to manageable proportions.
Some 2.2million vulnerable people who have been 'shielding' for more than three months were yesterday told they could finally leave their homes from July 6.
Announcement comes as Arab League ministers hold an emergency meeting to find a pause in intensified fighting.
Libyas internationally recognised government says plans were discussed with the head of US Africa Command (AFRICOM) to jointly fight terrorism in the war-torn country during a meeting with Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
The Libyan-American discussions were held as foreign ministers from the Arab League on Tuesday were to hold an emergency meeting to try and find a diplomatic solution in Libya amid increasing foreign intervention and heightened fighting.
Under the framework of consultations on the evolution of the situation in Libya, Fayez al-Sarraj on Monday met with [American] General Stephen Townsend and the US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland, the Government of National Accord (GNA) said in a statement.
The two US officials arrived at Zuwara Airport, about 120km (100 miles) west of the capital Tripoli for the meeting.
They held talks on joint coordination between the GNA and AFRICOM for the fight against terrorism in the framework of the strategic cooperation between Tripoli and Washington, the GNA said.
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Strategic pause
Libya has been torn apart by violence drawing in tribal militias and foreign actors since the 2011 toppling and killing of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a Western-backed uprising.
The oil-rich country is split between rival administrations in the east and west, with the conflict recently attracting increasing foreign involvement.
In the context of escalating foreign intervention in Libya, the meeting focused on current opportunities for a strategic pause in military operations by all parties to the conflict, the US Embassy in Tripoli said in a statement.
Ambassador Norland outlined US support for the diplomacy under way through UN auspices to promote a ceasefire and political dialogue.
Tensions are rising in Libya with the GNA enjoying Turkish military support in its conflict against renegade commander Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA).
Norland said external actors should stop fuelling the conflict [and] respect the UN arms embargo with a view to preserving Libyan sovereignty and fostering political stability.
The US-GNA talks came days after AFRICOM said it had proof of Russian military planes active in Libyan airspace using airbases at Jufra and the key city of Sirte east of the capital.
The last thing that Libya needs right now is more fighting, more military mobilisation, more transfer of weapons, more presence of either foreign fighters or mercenaries, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary general, told Al Jazeera.
France sides with Egypt
France is also suspected by analysts of backing Haftar alongside Egypt, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates, but Paris insists it is neutral in the conflict.
Turkeys intervention on behalf of the GNA has turned the tide against the LNA and its 14-month campaign to capture Tripoli, with Haftars forces retreating eastwards.
In a sign of convergence between France and Egypt, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he could understand the legitimate concern of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who has warned advances by Turkey-backed GNA forces could prompt a military intervention by Cairo.
Macron also accused Turkey of playing a dangerous game in Libya.
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 earlier accused fellow NATO member Turkey of playing a dangerous game in Libya.
Meanwhile, Turkey hit back at French criticism of its intervention in Libya, saying Macron must have suffered an eclipse of the mind to oppose Ankaras support for the internationally recognised Tripoli 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, he said, referring to international efforts to end the fighting in January.
A damaged tank is seen after clashes between the GNA and LNA outside city of Sirte last week [Reuters]
Doomed dialogue?
It remains to be seen whether Tuesdays Arab League meeting can produce any meaningful results on the ground in Libya.
Al Jazeeras Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from Tripoli, said the GNAs foreign ministry rejected the Egyptian call for dialogue and highlighted the military and diplomatic support Cairo has provided Haftar over the past five years.
The government in Tripoli says it cannot trust any offer from the Egyptian regime, especially after the threat made by the Egyptian president, which the GNA considers a violation of its sovereignty and a severe intervention into Libyas domestic affairs, Abdelwahed said.
The government says any conclusions from this gathering will be void because it [Egypt] failed to consult it on the session.
Jewellery designer Blaithin Ennis who hails from Gorey, and stocks her custom-made products across county Wexford and Ireland has spoken about the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the fashion industry.
The pandemic came as a blow to Blaithin when some new exciting projects stopped in their tracks, after 2019 had been a very positive year for Blaithin professionally as she started to make a name for herself internationally.
She described what it was like to watch these projects fall by the wayside before her eyes in March.
'It was to be a very busy few months for myself and a lot of my business associates in the design industry. Italy is a very important manufacturing and sourcing hub for many Irish designers so the knock on effect of its shut down has impacted almost every aspect of the industry here.
'Like most people in business, the pandemic has had a negative, ripple effect on the industry. I was in the final stages of my first collaboration project with my younger sister who is studying fashion in the Grafton Academy in Dublin. We had just finalised a collection of clothing and couture jewellery pieces and were due to showcase it to a large audience at the ARC fashion show in March.
'It was a huge honour to be involved in this show with a stellar line up of Irish designers including Helen Cody, Richard Malone and Heidi Higgins to name but a few. More importantly, the ARC fashion show raises in excess of 60,000 for cancer patients, so it is a huge blow for the charity.
'I was also due to showcase pieces at Brown Thomas, celebrating the store's tenth year of the CREATE project which celebrates Irish design. As well as this, I was asked to judge at the Irish Fashion Innovation awards to be held in Galway, a privilege and honour being the first jewellery designer to judge these prestigious awards.
'I also had plans underway to travel to the US but like everyone else, everything was put on hold,' she said.
During the lockdown, online jewellery sales have continued but Blaithin was delighted to see retail outlets open their doors again in recent weeks. She said that she feels the fashion industry is changing, and for the most part in a positive way.
'Many of my design peers are so passionate about quality product, sustainability and sourcing ethically and that's the real positive change. It is clear that this is now reverberating on the larger worldwide brands and coming to the forefront of the 'fast fashion' industry.
'Climate change is a real and current threat to our everyday lives and it is incredibly important that we see this change reflected in every aspect of how we live, including what we wear.
'As a small brand, I feel fortunate to have the use of social media. Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are vital for small design brands and have completely changed the way we showcase our business to a wider audience without the sometimes prohibitive outlays.
'For me, Instagram and Facebook are a great window to my online store. These platforms enable me to liaise with domestic and international customers. It is a positive, alternative way forward, whilst also allowing you to show your authentic self, tell your own unique personal story and showcase true brand identity.
'Having an online presence is vital for many businesses during this time, particularly if you are in the luxury goods, beauty or fashion industry. As a textile graduate from NCAD I love the tactile experience of beautiful products, however many brands have captured their vibe, style and story essence incredibly well through social media so things definitely seem to be moving in this direction.'
Although many industries are expecting to bounce back as restrictions are lifted, Blaithin feels public support is vital.
'We all need to be honest and acknowledge that for the foreseeable future, many businesses will really struggle if we don't show them our support. As a nation, we are great and so generous at helping one another in times of need.
'I think collectively making a conscious decision to support 'local' and 'Irish' wherever we can will have a huge positive impact on the Irish economy moving forward.
'Before every purchase, try your best to ask - "is it Irish, is it local, is it sustainable and how am I positively contributing to the Irish economy if I make this purchase"? and if we all adopt this thought process, the results will have significant benefits'.
Spending the lockdown in Wexford, Blaithin had time to reflect.
'Like many people in Ireland and around the world, the horrific death of George Floyd in the US has triggered much emotion and action across the globe and is calling to end the racial divide that still impacts the lives of so many, unnecessarily. As a white woman, I can never walk in their shoes, but I am determined to stand in solidarity. One of my female role models Michelle Obama says; "Let's invite one another in. Maybe then we can begin to fear less, make fewer wrong assumptions, let go of the biases and stereotypes that unnecessarily divide us. Maybe we can better embrace the ways we are the same".
'On a word of thanks, we cannot ever underestimate how brilliant we are as a nation and how kind people are to each other particularly in times of need. I would personally like to thank everyone working on the front line during this crisis. Our farmers, delivery men and women, the supermarket staff who have consistent smiles on their faces and radiate calmness for their frazzled customers, the owners of businesses who fill our social media pages with beautiful imagery and product and of course all healthcare workers. I utterly applaud and admire you. Thank you'.
To keep up with Blaithin's, search @blaithinennis on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Pictured are last year's graduate intake to KPMG in Northern Ireland with partner John Poole, centre, outside the firm's Soloist Building in Belfast
KPMG has partnered with Queens University Belfast to offer financial support and work experience scholarships for students.
The scheme is for those planning to study at the Queens Management School over the next four years.
The support, which will start with the 2020 intake, includes an annual living allowance of 3,000, two paid summer internships at KPMG, a laptop and a KPMG business mentor to provide support throughout the duration of their degree course.
To be in with a chance of securing one of the two scholarships on offer for 2020, Northern Ireland students must have a conditional offer of a course at Queens Management School, and achieved a very high standard of A-levels or equivalent or, alternatively, have completed the Pathway Opportunity Programme.
Johnny Hanna, partner in charge of KPMG in Northern Ireland, said: We are delighted to announce the launch of the KPMG Scholarship programme in conjuction with Queens University Belfast and in particular to be providing support and career opportunities to talented students in Northern Ireland that may need this to reach their full potential.
Nathalie Trott, director of development and alumni relations, said: Queens University is delighted to partner with KPMG in this innovative scholarship programme for Queens Management School. The scholarships offer students an exceptional education experience and provides for career advancement. It is a welcomed commitment to ensuring that those who are most able, have the opportunity to participate in a higher education.
Patna, June 23 : Various political parties and organizations have come forward demanding an investigation into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
The Congress on Tuesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Sushant's death.
Lalan Kumar, former Bihar Youth Congress chairman and member of the Film Censor Board Advisory Committee, has written to Shah and Thackeray demanding that the CBI investigate Sushant's death.
Kumar said in the letters that Sushant made his mark in Bollywood in a very short span but coming from a small town, he made a section of the film world unhappy. Quoting media reports, he said Sushant was abetted in committing suicide. Only a CBI investigation can clear up the entire matter, the letter said.
If the demand for a CBI inquiry is not met within 15 days, he will approach the court, Lalan said. He warned that till Sushant gets justice, the films of actor Salman Khan and Karan Johar will also not be allowed to be screened in Bihar.
Earlier Congress leader and former governor Nikhil Kumar had also demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. BJP leader and actor Manoj Tiwari has also demanded a high-level inquiry into the death. Sushant allegedly committed suicide on June 14 at his Bandra residence in Mumbai.
Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
Education unions set up a fresh clash with politicians and parents today over Boris Johnson's plan for full school attendance in September using reduced social distancing, branding it 'pure fantasy'.
The Prime Minister told MPs this afternoon that school education will restart fully at the start of the autumn term under 'one metre plus' rules.
The measures introduced today, allow people to sit less than two metres apart as long as they use some other mitigation measures, such as masks or plastic screens.
The Government faced widespread criticism last month after shelving plans to get all children back this term before summer, after finding there was not enough room in classrooms.
Under the previous two metre social distancing regime classes were limited to just 15 pupils and union leaders tonight cast doubt on whether today's changes would make enough difference.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'There has been a lot of conjecture that relaxing the two-metre social distancing rule to one metre will allow all children to return to school in September.
'This is pure fantasy. It may be possible to accommodate more pupils in classrooms with a one-metre (plus) separation, but not all pupils. There just isn't enough space in many classrooms to do this.
The Prime Minister told MPs this afternoon that school education will restart fully at the start of the autumn term under 'one metre plus' rules
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said Mr Johnson's claim was 'pure fantasy', and Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: If social distancing of one metre remains in place, that will still be difficult for schools'
'It isn't a magic bullet, and nor is the Education Secretary's suggestion on Friday of doubling the size of social bubbles to 30, in order to facilitate a full return to schools.'
He added: 'We need a proper strategy to bring children back into schools and colleges based in reality and on public health guidance.'
Approximately 78 per cent of education settings that normally have children in nursery, Reception, Year 1 or Year 6 were open to at least one of these year groups on June 18. This is up from June 11 when over two in three (67 per cent) primary schools opened more widely to pupils.
Around 92 per cent of settings were open in some capacity on June 18 - the same as the previous week, according to the Department for Education (DfE) statistics.
Approximately 1,160,000 children attended an education setting on June 18, representing 12.2 per cent of pupils who normally attend, up from 9.1 per cent on June 11.
Attendance continues to be highest among Year 6 pupils, with around a third (34 per cent) of all Year 6 children in attendance on June 18, up from 26 per cent on June 11.
Attendance was around a quarter (26 per cent) in Year 1, up from a fifth the previous week, and 29 per cent in reception, up from 22 per cent on June 11, the figures show.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: 'The NEU is of course in favour of all children being back in school, but even with a one-metre rule that will need more teachers and more spaces.
'It is not clear whether in less than three months the science will permit classes of 30. If social distancing of one metre remains in place, that will still be difficult for schools.'
The Prime Minister told the Commons on Tuesday: 'Primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance and those children who can already go to school should do so because it is safe.'
His plea came as figures showed the number of pupils returning to school in England increased last week as more than three in four primary schools reopened their doors to more children.
Schools, colleges and nurseries closed more than 13 weeks ago due to the Covid-19 outbreak, remaining open only for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers.
Last week, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said class size limits could be expanded to allow every child to return to school.
Under Government guidance, primary school class sizes should be limited to 15 to minimise the number of people they come into contact with.
But Mr Williamson told the daily Downing Street briefing on Friday that these so-called 'bubbles' could be expanded to include the whole class.
The new resolution also noted the central role of neighbouring countries in ending the crisis
The Arab League stressed on Tuesday the importance of a comprehensive political solution in Libya, while noting its strong opposition to foreign interventions in the conflict-hit state.
The league held an extraordinary session via video conference on Tuesday to discuss developments in the situation in Libya, and issued Resolution 2385 as a result.
Egypt succeeded during the emergency meeting of foreign ministers in rallying 18 Arab countries, who welcomed the Cairo Declaration on Libya.
The Egyptian initiative is based on the Libyan political consensus, the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the outcomes of the Berlin conference, which resulted in a comprehensive political proposal that includes clear implementation steps in the political, economic and security fields and positive engagement from all Libyan parties with these initiatives.
In the 14-article resolution, the Arab League emphasised the need for restoring the Libyan nation state and its institutions role in serving the Libyan people, far from foreign interventions.
The resolution also includes the Arab Leagues backing of the 2017 Skhirat agreement, the Berlin conference and the outcomes of the different regional and international paths.
The document also referred to the central role of the neighbouring countries to Libya in ending the Libyan crisis, opposing and seeing a necessity in stopping foreign interventionsregardless of their source and naturethat facilitate the transfer of terrorist, foreign fighters into Libya, as well as the violation of international decisions about an arms embargo, as weapons present a threat to the region and Libyas neighbouring countries.
The Arab League welcomed a recent Egyptian resolution initiative, as well as all peace-seeking international efforts, expressing complete support for the United Nations endeavours to solve the conflict.
The resolution also called on for an immediate ceasefire, to be implemented in light of the 5+5 talks in Geneva.
The resolution also condemned all human rights violations in Libya and highlighted the importance of protecting all foreigners in the North African country.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said during the meeting that Cairo has constantly worked, using all diplomatic channels, to achieve a convergence of views among all the Libyan parties.
Shoukry, according to ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez, also said that Egypt has been involved in all international initiatives that seek to settle the conflict.
He said that Egypt, in cooperating with the UN, is invested in playing a part in making the Berlin political-economic path a successful one, in addition to the 5+5 talks, that will involve military and security arrangements.
Egypt also wants Libya to restore its economic wellbeing, reform its institutions under parliamentary supervision, and activate the central bank and oil institutions in the country, within a framework of transparency and equal distribution of resources, Shoukry stated.
He said that Egypt has continued to warn about the threat of spreading terrorism in Libya, emphasising that Egypt will not hesitate to take all measures to prevent the fall of Libya and its people in the hands of terrorists.
He also warned against foreign interventions in Libya that back militias and transfer terrorists and foreign mercenaries from Syria to Libya, which threatens Libyan stability and security and Arab national security.
The Arab countries have to work together to end these practices, concluded Shoukry.
On Twitter, the Libyan foreign ministry announced it was downgrading its representation at the Arab ministerial meeting, criticising double standards.
So far, the [Arab League] session that Libya has called for since April last year has not been held, despite securing the quorum, the ministry tweeted on Tuesday
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Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) issued an executive order Tuesday to eliminate the word "plantations" from state documents, symbols and related government websites.
Why it matters: The state seal includes a golden anchor along with the word "hope" and the phrase "the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." Rhode Island was one of the original 13 colonies, with Providence Plantations founded in 1636.
The big picture: Governors and state legislators are engaging in debates regarding statues and symbols that glorify the Confederacy or slavery in their states.
Earlier this month, Raimondo said she wanted to put the removal of "Providence Plantations" from the state name on the ballot in November.
What they're saying:
"We can't ignore the image conjured by the word 'plantations.' We can't ignore how painful that is for Black Rhode Islanders to see that and have to see that as part of their state's name."
Gina Raimondo at a press conference
"The State of Rhode Island and 'Providence Plantations' has been the state's recorded name since conception, but the change is just one step toward unity and progress and away from controversial history. I think a word like plantations is a trigger that I think it's good to eliminate it because it brings people together."
NAACP Providence president Jim Vincent, per NBC affiliate in Boston
The other side: Rhode Island GOP chair Sue Cienki told the NBC affiliate in Providence that voters should ultimately decide whether to change the state's formal name and seal.
"I certainly understand her sentiment for wanting to change it, but I don't agree with the way she went about it by doing it by executive order," Cienki said.
In 2010, the motion to remove "Providence Plantations" was rejected by voters.
Go deeper: Washington, D.C.'s only Confederate statue sacked during protest
The Ector County Health Department has added a new dashboard to the coronavirus website, according to a press release. The dashboard will have updated information on patients currently hospitalized, patients on ventilators and patients in ICU. Currently, 25 people are hospitalized; they include out-of-county residents. Twelve of those patients are in the ICU; four are on ventilators. Medical Center Hospital and Odessa Regional Medical Center provide this information to the health department.
The ECHD reported 96 new cases between Friday after 3 p.m. and Monday before 2:30 p.m. The health department has reported 359 confirmed cases and 213 probable cases, with 572 combined cases of confirmed and probable. The county reported 228 residents have recovered. The county has contact traced 2,667 people. There have been 4,841 tests taken, with 3,982 negative results and 500 pending results.
In the midst of a global pandemic, as the nation stays indoors, practices social distancing and embraces a new normal, members of WeWork India were determined to show solidarity and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community across the country, even if it means from a distance. To continue celebrations despite the current stay at home situation, WeWork India launched an initiative, known as #PrideStreetofWe, The campaign, designed and executed by Digitas, aims to move the on-ground experience of a celebratory parade online through a special microsite. Through this campaign, WeWork embodies the spirit of what would normally be a bustling month lined with innumerable parades, activities, events and the coming together of people across genders in support of the highly marginalized LGBTQIA+ community.
The microsite resembles an urban street and successfully mimics the feel of marching at a parade. #PrideStreetofWe, provides a platform for members of WeWork and the LGBTQIA+ community, and beyond, to share stories, demonstrate support and highlight challenges faced by the community in India.
Speaking on this campaign and on WeWorks culture of diversity and inclusion, Vineet Singh, Group CMO, Embassy Group said, At WeWork, the ethos of our organization is one of inclusion, and creating a sense of belonging. It certainly does not change based on who you are or who you love. We believe that personal growth of an individual is interlinked to being in a more diverse, inclusive and aware environment and having an open outlook, and WeWork India is committed to support its community in making this happen. In this time of isolation, the community at WeWork aims to ensure LGBTQIA+ employees and members feel far from distanced. This microsite is our small way of showing love and support as we are extremely passionate about educating and creating safe spaces for everyone. This platform will help people feel empowered and motivate them to share their stories and experiences to help lift one another up.
The #PrideStreetofWe microsite works in tandem with Pride month which celebrates the community across the month of June and beyond. To further cement its commitment to this cause, WeWork India is also hosting an online art exhibition showcasing a list of works by members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The exhibition microsite, slated to go live on Wednesday, June 24, allows viewers to experience the exhibit online with commentary by a master artist. Queer artists across the nation have been empowered to find their voices and depict their emotions and experiences through art. Through this exhibition, they share the experiences that shaped their queerness and by doing this, hope to enable future generations in feeling comfortable being their authentic selves. To purchase the artwork, viewers can directly contact the artist.
Last year too, as a gesture to extend support and revel in the celebrations, WeWork India had changed the color of their logo on the building facades at three key locations to reflect the pride colours of the rainbow that reflect diversity, inclusion and acceptance. Additionally, to demonstrate their commitment to inclusion and holistic development, WeWork will be extending the scope of the INR 30K personal growth credits it offers employees to include seminars, support groups and workshops that lend knowledge towards the LGBTQIA+ as well as other communities in the future.
Elaborating on WeWorks vision for this campaign, Unny Radhakrishnan, CEO, Digitas India says, WeWork is a modern brand and lives by values like diversity and inclusion. During Pride month, WeWork wanted to communicate that it stands by the community. Given the lockdown situation and movement restrictions, this simple idea of a virtual pride parade, enables the WeWork community to come together and celebrate.
The campaign also features a film that sheds light on inclusivity in the workspace which will soon go live on WeWork Indias social media handles. The campaign, which began on June 15th, will run till June 30th.
Link to the microsite: https://wework.co.in/india/ pride
Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Former CIA director and defence secretary Robert Gates said on Monday that the US government is paralysed by political polarisation and careerism, which has allowed China, Russia and other rivals to make inroads internationally to America's detriment.
Former US secretary of defence Robert Gates with former prime minister Kevin Rudd in 2008. Credit:Andrew Taylor
Gates, who served in both Republican and Democratic administrations, said in an online speech to a Florida group that partisanship has always been part of US politics dating back to founders John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, but only recently has that resulted in the government being unable to tackle major issues such as the coronavirus outbreak. He said congressional members fear taking any stand or making any compromise that could harm their re-election chances.
"Because of our paralysis in Washington, we can't tackle successfully any of the big challenges the country faces whether its education, immigration, infrastructure," Gates told the Forum Club, a nonpartisan Palm Beach County organisation that meets monthly to hear from prominent newsmakers. "They are just too hard for our politicians across the board. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue."
Gates, 76, and a Republican, served as CIA director from 1991 to 1993 under president George Bush and defence secretary from 2006 to 2011 under presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama. His book, Exercise Of Power: American Failures, Successes, And A New Path Forward In The New Post-Cold War World, was recently published.
The global recession will be worse, and the economic recovery slower than was anticipated earlier, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has warned in an exclusive interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour.
The headline of our assessment is that the recession is deeper in 2020 than we projected in April. The recovery is going to be slower in 2021 than we projected in April. But the actions governments have taken have put a floor under the world economy and are preventing a massive wave of bankruptcies or unemployment, she said in the interview.
Georgieva explained that initial predictions had been based on hopes that the pandemic would recede, but with growing coronavirus cases across the world, she advised that economies must adapt. The recovery we foresee now is one that will coexist with the pandemic."
The IMF Chief praised social distancing and mask-wearing saying they were micro measures that allow restart of economic activities, but cautioned that the best practice is to remain flexible until a vaccine is found. Be very agile in your policies as we are still waiting for the decisive component, vaccines and/or treatment, to be in place, she said.
The actions governments have taken have put a floor under the world economy and are preventing a massive wave of bankruptcies or unemployment, she said. "What we are seeing is that both advanced economies and emerging market economies are faring worse in this assessment if you take out especially China that was first on the curve of the pandemic, and, therefore, what we are saying is, we are not yet out of the woods. We have to concentrate on supportive measures for longer, and we need to think of a recovery that is going to bring forward our world, not slide it backwards.
Georgieva on protecting the future economy
"As long as this high degree of uncertainty is with us, as long as we need to protect firms and people, that necessity of additional support for the economy is there. But we do need to think of the world on the other side. Higher debt, higher deficit, likely higher unemployment and, very important, a risk of higher inequality, more poverty. Now, we have to put smart policies in place, meaning that this very fiscal stimulus that we are going to inject, we have to be thinking of how best to put it in place to do the right thing, and the right thing is, well, make sure that we invest in the economy of the future that is greener, low carbon, resilient to climate shocks, she said in the CNN interview.
One of my worries is that the big winner of this crisis, the digital economy, may be good for some but not for all. And by doing that, lack of access for everybody, we expand in inequalities in our society. And we know from previous experiences with pandemics likes with SARS and H1N1 that pandemics push inequality up, especially for the people with lower education, fewer assets in their hands, she added. -TradeArabia News Service
OTTAWA, ON, June 23, 2020 /CNW/ - Collaboration with Indigenous communities from coast to coast to coast is key to understanding, learning and putting to action how best to protect our environment.
In recognition of Indigenous History Month, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, reminds us of the hard the work being implemented under the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program. This $50 million, five-year initiative (2019-2023) provides Indigenous organizations with funding to support collaboration, planning, conservation, protection, monitoring and data collection as it relates to fish and fish habitat.
Last year, the program supported 12 new projects totaling more than $1.6 million, including for example:
the Indian Associations Coordinating Committee of Ontario Incorporated to exchange information with Ontario First Nations about the modernized Fisheries Act authorizations and Great Lakes Sea Lamprey Control;
authorizations and Great Lakes Sea Lamprey Control; the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation to conduct fish habitat surveys and fish habitat mapping in Tsleil-Waututh traditional territory; and
the Dene Nation to organize community meetings on Indigenous knowledge that will also support the modernization of the Fisheries Act.
The Indigenous Habitat Protection Program has seen great success leading to a second call for proposals for the program, which was launched on June 8, 2020.
Quotes
"Indigenous knowledge is critical to the management of Canada's fisheries and fish habitat, and our environment overall. The work that First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities are doing under the Indigenous Habitat Participation Program gives our government invaluable guidance and advice on our conservation and restoration work. We will continue to listen to our Indigenous partners on how best to protect our precious ecosystems, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it is what's best for our environment."
The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard
Quick Facts
The Indigenous Habitat Participation Program will provide up to $40 million in contributions and up to $10 million in grants over five years. Submissions for grants are accepted year-round, whereas contributions are allocated following annual calls for proposal.
in contributions and up to in grants over five years. Submissions for grants are accepted year-round, whereas contributions are allocated following annual calls for proposal. The contribution component of the program supports engagement, capacity building and collaborative activities.
The grants component of the program supports consultation on authorizations under the Fisheries Act.
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Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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Subscribe to receive our news releases and more via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/rss-eng.htm.
Indigenous Habitat Participation Program
Contribution Funding for 2019-2020
Recipient Province/Territory Approved Funding
Amount Description of Work Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and Joint Secretariat Northwest Territories $150,000 Providing monitoring training, and monitoring of the area around the high-profile Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway. The monitoring program for this area is already in place, the IHPP funding expand the work. Dene Nation Northwest Territories $400,000 Five community meetings on Indigenous knowledge, plus a workshop in Hay River to provide input to the IK Policy Framework to support implementation of Indigenous knowledge provisions of the amended Fisheries Act, and similar provisions in Bill C-69. Qikiqtaaluk Corporation Nunavut $72,053 Identification of research needs and priorities of four Qikiqtani communities to support baseline data collection related to research vessel. Additional work to include the input of another nine Qikiqtani communities anticipated to occur in the subsequent year. Leq'aimel First Nation British Columbia $60,000 Development of a Nation-specific consultation protocol to support the government-to-government relationship with the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program in relation to project decisions, in Burrard Inlet. BC First Nations Fisheries Council British Columbia $100,000 Support for engagement on aquatic species at risk activities. BC First Nations Fisheries Council British Columbia $80,000 Support for coordination of Indigenous knowledge workshops to Inform the implementation of the Indigenous knowledge provisions of the amended Fisheries Act by the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program. Tsleil-Waututh First Nation British Columbia $100,000 Fish habitat surveys and fish habitat mapping in Tsleil-Waututh traditional territory. Matawa First Nations Management Ontario $139,997 Two areas: 1) Building community capacity in fish and fish habitat and fisheries; 2) Establishing a comprehensive fish habitat database, centred on Indigenous knowledge. Indian Associations Coordinating Committee of Ontario Inc. (Chiefs of Ontario) Ontario $205,895 Information exchange with Ontario First Nations on Fisheries Act authorizations & Great Lakes Sea Lamprey Control First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable Development Institute (FNQLSDI) Quebec $150,000 Workshop to develop the skills of First Nations in Quebec related to the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat Wolastoqey Nation, New Brunswick New Brunswick $100,000 Pilot a co-management initiative during a two-year period to support the day-to-day work of the collaboration, to build and strengthen the collaboration and a co-management model approach. Goal is to advance collaboration with the Wolastoqey Nation around various fish and fish habitat activities on the Saint John River related to restoration, fish passage, learning and capacity building. Assembly of First Nations Across Canada $130,000 Regional workshops to provide updates on Bill C-68, as well as to support increased awareness of its content and details and other Fisheries Act initiatives.
SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada
For further information: Jane Deeks, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, 343-550-9594, [email protected]; Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]
Related Links
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
According to the former minister, he said lives have become cheaper than chicken in the northern part of the country because of the inefficiency of the service chiefs.
He further advised Buhari to take a step against them now or else something more terrible may erupt by 2021.
He said, Mr President, you have given these people more money, yet we continue to lose more lives, Dalung said.. service chiefs.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who recently emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, has asked Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state, to return to the party.
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Governor Obaseki, who is seeking a second term, had dumped the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he was disqualified from the ruling party.
The chairman, senate committee on Army, Ali Ndume says federal lawmakers and other public officers enjoy luxurious take home while the larger workforce in the country go home with peanuts.
Ndume in his comment pointed out that that the nations budget is not fair to the masses.He then suggested that a constitutional amendment is urgently required as a solution.
Following the crisis which has been rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned a meeting to the effect.
The meeting which is currently holding at the Presidential Villa, Abuja has representatives of the All Progressives Congress, APC Governors in attendance.
A former civil servant, John Yusuf who has been on the run over alleged N3 billion pension fraud has been rearrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Gombe state.
The EFCC had on March 21, 2018, secured a re-conviction of Yusuf for six years while from the appellate court also ordered him to pay a fine of N22.9 billion.
Governors under the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) on Monday met with President Muhammadu Buhari over the crisis rocking the party.
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu disclosed that the governors have presented their positions to Buhari as the leader of the Party.
A 58-year old man identified as Mallam Aminu Ado, has been arrested by men of the Nigeria Police for impersonating the widow of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, in a bid to swindle unsuspecting Nigerians.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Frank Mba, who paraded him before newsmen on Monday, June 22, gave insight on the situation.
To listen to the podcast, click on the play button below:
The stage has been set for several years for a real showdown between the International Criminal Court and the United States of America. And now its here. There were a few skirmishes along the way remember how former president George W Bush unsigned the Rome Statute? And the Hague Invasion Act? And when prosecutor Fatou Bensouda was only allowed to travel to the US to attend the United Nations?
But now, via an Executive Order, the president Donald Trump, has turned the screws on this court and anyone who provides it with support that deals with individuals who commit genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression. Its no coincidence that this move comes as the court is now investigating potential war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan which could lead to a look at CIA blacksites check out our podcast with Katherine Gallagher. And when the court is also poised to delve into the Israel / Palestine dispute a touchstone of American foreign policy.
Beth van Schaak, Stanford professor, and former deputy US War Crimes Ambassador, teases out the thinking behind this move, how sanctions work in practise, how the order will affect investigations, and whether theres any way round it diplomatically or legally.
NEW YORK, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Delmarva Bancshares, Inc. ("DLMV" or the "Company") (OTC: DLMV) in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by BV Financial Inc. ("BV Financial"). Under the terms of the agreement, DLMV shareholders will be entitled to receive $8.90 in cash for each share of the Company's stock they own.
If you own DLMV shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:
http://www.weisslawllp.com/delmarva-bancshares-inc/
Or please contact:
Joshua Rubin, Esq.
WeissLaw LLP
1500 Broadway, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 682-3025
(888) 593-4771
[email protected]
WeissLaw is investigating whether the $8.00 per share merger consideration reflects adequate compensation and maximum value for DLMV stockholders. Notably, in the press release announcing the merger, DLMV's CEO Kim C. Liddell stated the transaction "will be positive for both banks." Similarly, BV Financial's co-CEO Timothy L. Prindle noted that the combination "will create tremendous value for [the companies'] combined customers and communities." Yet DLMV stockholders are being cashed out of the deal and foreclosed from participating in any future upside of the post-merger company, so the proposed acquisition's impact on the "combined customers" or surviving post-merger is irrelevant as to whether DLMV's board maximized stockholder value in agreeing to the merger.
Given these facts, WeissLaw is concerned whether the proposed acquisition undervalues the Company and whether all material information related to the proposed acquisition is fully and fairly disclosed.
WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]
SOURCE WeissLaw LLP
Related Links
http://weisslawllp.com
Authorities in flood-hit southwestern China have prevented state-controlled media from reporting on the true extent of flood damage alongside Yangtze river districts in and around the megacity of Chongqing, RFA has learned.
Video footage posted to social media by residents near Chongqing's Qijiang river showed murky yellow floodwaters heavy with silt pouring under a bridge as a flood siren wailed in the streets outside, while further footage showed similarly murky and turbulent waters overflowing into riverside residential compounds and pathways.
In the compilation of video shots, at least one three-story village home is shown washed into the river by the flood peak, as someone shouts "This house has been washed into the river, and the railway line washed away by the river!"
A Chongqing resident who gave only her surname Zhu said the city, which sits at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, is reeling under the worst flooding in 80 years.
"There have been heavy rainstorms for the last few days, and a lot of cities and villages are completely under water right now," Zhu said. "Some internet users have been trying to show what is really happening online, but they are being suppressed and the news covered up by the Chongqing authorities."
"They see people who try to report the truth about what is going on as criminals, which I think is terrible," she said.
State-run media in the city have played down the extent of the flooding in recent weeks of large areas of Chongqing and southern China.
Reports that some 40,000 people were evacuated after waters rose in the Qijiang River didn't make headline news, but were placed in less obvious sections of print and online media.
But social media users have been uploading photos and live video footage of cars drowned on city streets, floodwaters pounding through channels and drainage systems, and low-lying areas of land under water.
Chongqing police have issued an emergency warning that anyone found to have posted news of the flooding online in an "irresponsible" manner will be immediately detained, RFA has learned.
Hard to know what to do
Chongqing-based legal scholar Song Jiansheng said such information blackouts make it harder for people to know what action to take during natural disasters.
"When the authorities block this kind of information, people don't know how to stay safe," Song said. "It's impossible for the government to do a good job of disaster relief under such conditions."
Song said that any kind of cover-up or suppression of information in China has only one goal: to shore up the ruling Chinese Communist Party's grip on power by preventing dissent and unrest.
"They hide their own incompetence when they stop information from getting out," Song said. "But such major disasters often require the government to take reasonable action."
Meanwhile, state media reported that flooding and mudslides have killed at least three people and forced evacuations for thousands of people in the southwestern province of Guizhou.
Chinas national observatory issued a high alert for rainstorms across vast stretches of the country for the next 24 hours, after towns and villages in Guizhou were hit by mudslides, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Seasonal flooding this year has left more than 20 people dead or missing. Direct economic losses have already been estimated at more than U.S.$500 million, with the crucial tourism industry in the southern Guangxi region particularly hard hit, the Associated Press reported.
Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The confirmed patient is self-isolating now.
A worker of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant has tested positive for the coronavirus.
His last visit to the plant was on June 9, which was followed by his regular holiday, according to the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management.
Read alsoUkraine's Chief Medical Officer lists Ukrainian regions facing tougher quarantine
He is now self-isolating, being under medical supervision, the agency said on Facebook on June 23.
Another worker was in contact with the confirmed patient, he is also self-isolating.
As UNIAN reported, there were 38,074 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine as of June 23. Of them, 833 cases were reported in the past day. The death toll was 1,035. Some 16,956 patients have already recovered.
(TNS) Ohio education leaders are asking Gov. Mike DeWine to spend $4 million in discretionary funding to boost internet access.The $4 million came from CARES Act money designated for education. The coronavirus pandemic showcased the states digital divide, where students in some urban and rural school districts were left without access to internet as schools closed.Remote learning became more difficult for families without internet access, as connections with teachers were severed and students did not have access to online tools for content distribution.The Ohio 8, an advocacy group made up of superintendents and teacher union presidents from Ohios eight urban school districts, has sent memos to the state asking for this discretionary funding to go to funding broadband and to compensatory services for students with disabilities.Families with lack of access to broadband among Ohio 8 districts, including Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown, ranged from 15% to an excess of 35%.Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon said 40 percent of CMSD families do not have an internet connection, in a Ohio 8 virtual meeting on Monday. The district distributed hot-spots, acquired through a one-year contract, to help with the problem.CMSD is seeking a permanent solution through a partnership with local nonprofit Digital C to create a permanent low-cost option for families. Essentially, CMSD will pay DigitalC a discounted monthly fee of $16 per household to provide a high-speed internet network.The initiative will begin with 1,000 households in the coming school year and another 8,400 by June 2021.Gordon has been advocating for the state to allocate capital budget funding to moving internet access toward being a utility for families rather than a luxury.Other urban school districts in the Ohio 8 took steps toward alleviating the internet connection problem. In Dayton, the district is working with several for-profit providers to find solutions. Toledo schools also handed out hotspots.But hotspots arent a permanent solution, and giving families access and then taking it away isnt acceptable, Gordon said.The internet problem is not going to go away, were not going to be able to cover it up. Me and my colleagues arent going to go door-to-door picking up hotspots.The governors office is in communication with Ohio 8 organizers, but Gordon said a decision on that discretionary funding needs to come sooner rather than later.Theres no reason to delay those decisions.
WASHINGTON The Census Bureau said on Tuesday that it had created two new top-level positions and filled them with political appointees from outside the agency, an unprecedented move that revived concerns the national population count has turned increasingly partisan.
The census, which is constitutionally mandated to count every person in the country every decade, has traditionally been carried out in a rigidly nonpartisan fashion.
But critics fear that the appointments are the latest sign that the census, which is used to apportion federal dollars and political representation, has become increasingly politicized and a way for Republicans to bend census results to advance their electoral interests.
Tuesdays announcement comes almost one year after the Supreme Court ruled that the administration could not ask census respondents whether they were American citizens. This ended a bitter legal battle over charges that Republicans were trying to deter immigrants, ethnic minorities and others who tend to vote Democratic from responding to the survey.
Beware of emails promising free Covid-19 tests in Indian metros as it could be a "potential cyber offensive attack from the Chinese Army", security agencies have warned its personnel.
The warning was issued after CERT-in issued an advisory that "malicious actors are planning a large-scale phishing attack campaign against Indian individuals and businesses (small, medium and large enterprises)".
The security agencies alert came against the backdrop of tensions at the India-China border after a "violent face-off" left 20 Indian soldiers killed.
In the alert, the agencies said the phishing attack from the Chinese cyber warriors -- a "malicious group" claiming to have two million individuals' email addresses -- could be in the guise of a free Covid-19 test.
"Watch out for IDs like 'ncov2019@gov.in'. Beware of malicious phishing e-mails/ SMS/messages on social media inciting you to provide personal and financial information," it said.
Phishing campaign is expected to impersonate government agencies, departments and trade associations who have been tasked to oversee the disbursement of the government fiscal aid and could use a spoofed email with "free Covid-19 testing for all residents of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad" in the subject line, it said.
"It is seen that a well educated/aware person is likely to be less prone in falling prey to such kind of cyber attacks," the alert said adding security personnel should be educated about the possible cyber attack.
The alert also advised personnel not to open or click on attachment in unsolicited e-mail, SMS or messages through social media, exercise extra caution in opening attachments, even if the sender appears to be known and beware of e-mail addresses, spelling errors in emails, websites and unfamiliar email senders.
One should not submit personal or financial details on unfamiliar or unknown websites or links, check the integrity of URLs before providing login credentials or clicking a link and consider using safe browsing tools, filtering tools (antivirus and content-based filtering) in antivirus, firewall, and filtering services. Update spam filters with latest spam mail contents.
The users should also try to encrypt sensitive documents to avoid potential leakage, the alert said.
If "contactless" and "distant" now the Supreme maxims of the Holiday, then an old estate in the North of Portugal is perhaps the ideal place for the summer and the autumn, can be in Portugal until well into October warm. The Quinta da Bouca d'arques in Viana do Castelo is isolated, but to reach in one and a half hours from the airport of Porto. Who ends up with the night machine, reached the vineyard in the last light of the day: The door opens, the gravel crunching under the tires, the last of the swallows chase their dinner. The hills are dyed as if they were ripe apricot, the cork lot have oak to tell, about why and in what century the gigantic cracks in the root formed. The guest a walk among the vines therethrough in a nearly 400-year-old rich; the walls were so smart and subtle, as is to be found, unfortunately, rarely, some of the hidden modern buildings added. There, it sinks down behind the large Windows in bright rooms in a large bed, and on all the metallic Sound of cicadas is located.
Barbara Liepert
Responsible for the area of "travel" in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper.
F. A. Z.
The next Morning, announcing with a warm Wind, the heat of the coming day, you can see high trees and in the distance a sleepy village, which crouches in the hilly landscape. The grounds of the Quinta is so large that you meet sometimes at all to anyone, even if all eight rooms are occupied. The peace and quiet in the hills of the Minho appears to be infinite, there is always a slight Wind, and you just hear Church bells, birds chirping and a dog barking in the distance.
Breakfast with Camellia
The Breakfast you can take with a view to a very expansive, century-old Camellia or Brazilian foil trees are, the in good time before the tree umarmern of the 21st century. Century ready and thorns on the trunk have formed. There are in addition to juices and bread rolls cheese and Goiabada, a kind of cut-resistant guava jam how to eat it in Brazil, like. In the 18th century. Century, there were in the Minho, the northernmost Region of Portugal, several waves of Emigration it will be called, especially to Brazil. This has turned now to the contrary, Portugal is the promised Land of wealthy immigrants fleeing from the cities of Brazil in search of social peace and the safe Sunny side of life to Europe.
The Breakfast is served in a basket at exactly the time on the terrace, which has been agreed with the administrator. Whose mobile phone number is the Hotline for requests of all kinds: bicycles to explore the area, wine tastings, Restaurant and shopping tips. The rooms and Cottages all come with small kitchenettes; almost everything illuminates on the markets of the area, can be taken home, except to also purchase live Chicks, which the children very much regret. But you can send the lemon to pluck; so there is homemade lemonade and distraction directly on the edge of a pool.
The Quinta opens on 1. July again; it is only the "honesty bar" and a community room with a fireplace are like the measures to be taken against Covid-19 victim the cottage has now been in another vacation on the seven-acre property is transformed. From the Quinta you can explore the North of Portugal and Galicia, in neighboring Spain, Santiago de Compostela, is located two driving hours, also a couple of beaches are within easy reach. Guimaraes is not far, here is the birthplace of the first Portuguese king is said to have confessed. In Braga, the oldest Cathedral in Portugal and one of the most beautiful Baroque staircases in the world to visit; the best views in the North of Portugal, the Church of Santa Luzia, located on a hill above the old town of Viana do Castelo is enthroned. The 90 000 inhabitants of a great city is not 20 minutes, it can be reached via the Eiffel bridge, which the French engineer, at the end of the 19th century. Century over the Rio Lima has riveted. The port promenade is a ornamental, the Portuguese Pritzker prize laureate Souto de Moura has designed the local cultural centre.
But strictly speaking, you do not need to leave the Quinta at all, if you are looking for architectural pearls: The architect Paula Sousa Pinheiro, who comes from the area, has landed a small quiet Coup: she manages to leave the old walls of the Quinta in the foreground and in the yard of the Ensemble by an equally modern as it is timeless simple and order to complement to the Old matching installation. Bare concrete suddenly becomes the stone, the old trees of the Quinta to the light, as if they were sculptures: cork oaks, hundreds of years old, gnarled and twisted as the landscape.
Updated Date: 23 June 2020, 06:20
Foreign workers with a valid Yukon nomination and job offers from up to three employers in selected Yukon communities will be eligible for an open work permit.
Canada facilitates settlement of immigrants in Yukon communities Foreign workers with a valid Yukon nomination and job offers from up to three employers in selected Yukon communities will be eligible for an open work permit.
Canada facilitates settlement of immigrants in Yukon communities Foreign workers with a valid Yukon nomination and job offers from up to three employers in selected Yukon communities will be eligible for an open work permit.
Canada facilitates settlement of immigrants in Yukon communities Foreign workers with a valid Yukon nomination and job offers from up to three employers in selected Yukon communities will be eligible for an open work permit. Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif
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The Government of Canada is helping Yukon communities to recruit and retain immigration candidates through open work permits.
The Yukon Community Pilot (YCP), a stream under the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP), was launched in January 2020 and is expected to run for three years. The pilot will help six targeted Yukon communities attract immigrants and facilitate their permanent settlement.
The Yukon is a sparsely populated territory in northwestern Canada, with an active and diverse labour market where employers often rely on seasonal workers.
Get help with Canadian work permits
Under the YCP stream, foreign nationals may be issued a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exempt open work permit for a specific community, instead of a single employer. These individuals will, therefore, be able to hold multiple jobs in the same community.
To qualify for an open work permit, candidates need to have a valid nomination for permanent residence from the Yukon and two or three job offers from up to three employers who are based in one the following participating Yukon Territory communities:
Carcross
Carmacks
Dawson City
Haines Junction
Watson Lake
Whitehorse
Eligibility criteria for the YCP
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) specified that all job offers for each foreign national must be in the same community but not necessarily from only one employer. In addition, a person working for the same employer in two different positions must have two job offers.
Each job offer must reflect work in a single National Occupational Classification (NOC). For example, a person working part-time as a receptionist at a hotel and part-time as a waiter at the hotel bar should have two job offers, even if the employer is the same for both, says IRCC.
The idea behind this approach is to allow for greater flexibility so that individuals can more easily accumulate 1,560 hours in a single year, or the equivalent of a full-time annual job.
If an employer is forced to withdraw from the agreement because they can no longer afford to provide the required number of hours of work, the Government of Yukon will actively support applicants in finding alternative work opportunities so that they can maintain full-time, year-round employment.
Further work permit details
IRCC will issue an open work permit to foreign nationals with a mandatory condition limiting the work location to the participating Yukon community. The work permits will be valid for 2 years from the date of the decision or the date of entry into Canada or until the expiry of the travel document, whichever comes first.
Work permit applications must be submitted electronically. Individuals may not apply for the YCP work permit at ports of entry.
The spouse or common-law partner of the principal applicant may also be issued an open work permit. This work permit will only be issued if the principal applicant is employed in at least one NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B position, will be limited to the same community as the principal applicants place of employment, and will also be valid for a maximum of 2 years.
For more information on working in Canada, please contact wp@canadavisa.com
Get help with Canadian work permits
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Actress Park Shin-hye is excited to impress viewers with her new film set for release this week.
In the upcoming film, "#Alive," Park, who is often considered fit for romantic comedies after appearing in many hit TV series and dramas since her debut in 2003, shows a different side of herself.
The zombie thriller is about a group of survivors holed up in an apartment without any means of communication while a mysterious outbreak spreads through their city, turning people into zombies.
"Actors professionally seem to be under pressure to keep showing something different. I'm also trying to show a different side of myself but I don't want to go too far," Park said.
She has been involved in acting since her teens. "[When I look back on my past,] I always feel I wasn't good enough and still have a lot to learn," she said. "I'm not saying I have been perfect in my life, but I have made improvements along the way. Instead of regretting the past or worrying about the future, I want to focus on the present."
The number of Ukrainian radio stations that could be accessed from the peninsula has also decreased significantly.
Experts with the Crimean Human Rights Group (CHRG) say Ukrainian FM radio signal jamming has intensified in Russian-occupied Crimea.
"In June, Ukrainian FM radio stations are available only in five out of 19 settlements," the CHRG said on its website on June 22, referring to own report on broadcast monitoring in the north of the peninsula.
Previous monitoring in March 2020 showed that nine Crimea settlements received signal of Ukrainian FM radio stations broadcast via transmitting towers installed in the villages of Chonhar and Chaplynka installed close to the de-facto border with the occupied peninsula.
Read alsoRussia seizes over 500 Ukrainian frequencies National Broadcasting Council
The number of Ukrainian radio stations that could be accessed from across the peninsula has also decreased significantly.
Meanwhile, Russian FM stations broadcast over Ukrainian radio frequencies in 14 settlements.
In March, signal of a single Ukrainian radio station was available in four settlements. In June, it was already gone.
At the same time, simultaneous broadcasting of Ukrainian and Russian stations was recorded at some frequencies in 16 out of 19 monitored settlements. "This suggests a targeted jamming of Ukrainian FM broadcasting by Russian stations. In such a way, Crimean residents are being deprived of the opportunity to receive information about Ukraine and systemic human rights violations on the peninsula. The Kremlin-controlled Russian media conceal most of these facts," the CHRG added.
The political influence of left-wing of the Democratic Party will gets its next text Tuesday, as longtime Rep. Eliot Engel faces a challenge from an opponent who is decades younger and calling for Medicare for All and green spending.
The coalition that took down Rep. Joe Crowley and installed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes is looking to notch another win against Engel, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is seeking to serve 17th term.
His one one of several races where the party's left wing tries to take on incumbents or more established figures, amid nationwide protests over police brutality and amid voting severely impacted by the coronavirus.
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) answers questions from journalists after voting early in the Democratic congressional primary election at the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community Center in the Bronx borough of New York City, U.S., June 20, 2020. She faces a challenge from former CNBC television anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera
Engel faces He faces former teacher Jamaal Bowman, 44, who has the endorsement of AOC as well as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Engel says he has tended to the district and touts backing of Hillary Clinton and others in his bid to hold onto his Bronx-based district.
The well-funded Ocasio-Cortez also faces a challenge of her own in Tuesday's primaries, after the party's Green New Deal faction watched Vice President Joe Biden triumph over Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and other candidates to his left.
Ocasio-Cortez, the 30-year-old progressive firebrand better known as AOC, faces a challenge in her New York City district from former CNBC television anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, 44, backed by the conservative-leaning U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Ocasio-Cortez set the template for left-wing power plays when she took down longtime Rep. Joseph Crowley in his Queens-based district. Crowley had been considered a future contender for House speaker.
Tuesday's nominating contests in New York, Kentucky and four other states also feature progressives challenging older, establishment Democrats at a time of a national reckoning with racial injustice following the May 25 death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, while in Minneapolis police custody.
In a congressional district neighboring Ocasio-Cortez's, Bowman, 44, a former teacher, is mounting a strong challenge Engel, a 31-year House veteran who chairs the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has also been a staunch supporter of Israel, and backed the Iraq War.
The progressive movement suffered setbacks at the national level earlier this year when Biden won the party's race to take on President Donald Trump in November's election, with dominant wins over Warren and Sanders in the state-by-state nominating contests.
Longtime Rep. Eliot Engel is facing a challenge from Jamaal Bowman in his New York district
A voter wears a protective mask while casting their vote in New York's primary election at a polling site inside Yonkers Middle/High School, Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Yonkers, N.Y.
Voters line up as polls open on the day of the primary election in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. June 23, 2020
The left wing of the Democratic Party is now taking its battle to down-ballot primary races with new energy and purpose, bolstered by growing calls for ending racial injustice and inequality in the aftermath of Floyd's death.
House Democrats - progressives and moderates - are expected to band together later this week when they vote to pass sweeping legislation on police practices. But there appeared to be little support in Congress for calls to 'defund' police departments, as some on the left sought.
SPIRITED KENTUCKY CONTEST
In Kentucky's primaries, progressive Charles Booker, an African-American state legislator, is waging an unexpectedly spirited challenge to Amy McGrath, an ex-fighter pilot, in the race to become the Democratic candidate to face Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Nov. 3.
Like Engel, McGrath is backed by the party establishment. But the recent Black Lives Matter protests have elevated the candidacy of Booker.
Nowhere was that more apparent than when Warren, who supported McGrath in her failed bid for a U.S. House of Representatives seat in 2018 and initially in her Senate candidacy, switched allegiance to Booker.
'Things are changing quickly here,' said Dewey Clayton, political scientist at the University of Louisville.
In New York, the moderate-progressive competition is showcased in yet another primary race, where Representative Carolyn Maloney aims for a 15th two-year term in the House.
The 74-year-old Maloney faces a challenge from the left by 36-year-old Suraj Patel, who worked in commercial real estate and as a campaign aide to former President Barack Obama.
Patel failed in 2018 to unseat Maloney and is again running for Congress telling voters he is 'trying to help change the world' with progressive vows such as 'debt-free college.'
Both New York and Kentucky have encouraged mail-in balloting as a safe alternative to in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic, prompting record numbers of absentee ballot requests.
Overwhelmed Kentucky and New York officials faced a deluge of mail-in votes likely to delay results for days after high-profile primaries Tuesday, contests testing if establishment Democratic congressional candidates can withstand challengers fueled by voter fury over racism.
The day's poster child for voting nightmares loomed potentially in Louisville, Kentucky. The state's largest city and hometown of a serious challenger for the Democratic nomination for the Senate, Louisville - population nearly 600,000 - had just one in-person polling place. Kentuckys Republican secretary of state, Michael Adams, said he hoped early voting and the large demand for mail-in ballots would avert long lines.
All of this flowed from the coronavirus pandemic, which has upended life in America since March. Tuesday, it was on track to take its toll on voters hoping to cast ballots without long waits and for officials hoping to quickly declare winners in all but the most one-sided contests.
Like other states, Kentucky and New York have made it easier for voters to cast ballots by mail, instead of risking exposure to the virus by waiting on long lines. That is likely to mean delayed election results caused by a perfect storm - far more mail-in votes than usual and ballot-counting procedures that havent been adjusted to handle them.
Replica Analytics and Sunnybrook's Czarnota Lab receive key seed funding to de-risk Ontario intellectual property
TORONTO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - FACIT, a commercialization venture firm, announced the newest recipients of Ontario First seed capital through the latest round of its Prospects Oncology Fund: Ottawa-based data science start-up Replica Analytics Ltd., and medtech innovator Dr. Greg Czarnota of Toronto's Sunnybrook Research Institute.
Replica Analytics Ltd. is a new venture created by Dr. Khaled El Emam, a serial entrepreneur whose previous venture, FACIT-backed Privacy Analytics, was acquired by IMS Health. Replica Analytics is developing modeling software to create synthetic data based on real clinical datasets. High quality synthetic data is increasingly sought after by researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, and other entrepreneurs who require the datasets to build new models and enable AI innovation in healthcare.
Dr. Czarnota, Senior Scientist and Director of the Odette Cancer Research Program at Sunnybrook Research Institute, has developed technology consisting of specialized ultrasound hardware and data analysis algorithms for analyzing ultrasound RF-data. The algorithms quantitatively predict the responsiveness of breast tumours to standard chemotherapy by measuring tissue structural characteristics associated with tumour response prognosis. Both investments represent potentially important advancements in cancer care.
FACIT's investments strategically address the seed-stage gap experienced by Ontario's life sciences sector, fueling promising cancer breakthroughs towards a value inflection point and helping local start-ups establish and anchor jobs in the province. Recipients of the Prospects Oncology Fund have demonstrated a clear understanding of their technology's differentiation, the competitive landscape and how the innovation will address an unmet need. This reflects FACIT's unique, collaborative commercialization model that emphasizes the importance of early commercial planning alongside research strategy in order to maximize the value of Ontario intellectual property, prevent export of technology value, and increase the potential of innovations reaching the patient.
"We are pleased to support these Ontario entrepreneurs, providing both capital and commercialization expertise as they build and create value for their homegrown technologies," said Dr. David O'Neill, President of FACIT. "Capitalizing on made-in-Ontario life science innovation reinforces Ontario's emerging biotech ecosystem, creating jobs and supporting the province's post-pandemic economic recovery."
Together with its strategic partner the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, FACIT has a mandate to translate Ontario's most promising cancer innovations to the benefit of patients and the Ontario economy. A focus on Ontario First commercialization of intellectual property has the unique potential to develop a favorable path for the province's economic stimulus during these unprecedented times, ensuring entrepreneurs are supported within a local biotech community. With support from the Government of Ontario, FACIT continues to make strong, positive impacts in the commercialization of Ontario innovations, ultimately ensuring great science has a translational pathway to Ontario patients.
About FACIT
FACIT is an award winning commercialization venture firm that builds companies with entrepreneurs to accelerate oncology innovation, with a portfolio that has attracted over $850 million in investment to Ontario. Blending industry experience, capital and the unsurpassed clinician-scientist network of its strategic partner the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), FACIT capitalizes on the province's investment in research and healthcare to the benefit of the local economy and patients worldwide. FACIT's commercialization portfolio includes Turnstone Biologics, Fusion Pharmaceuticals, Triphase Accelerator and other biotechnology organizations. Cancer Breakthroughs. Realized. facit.ca.
About Replica Analytics Ltd.
Replica Analytics develops unique technologies for generating privacy protective synthetic data that maintains the statistical properties of real data. The company enables fast and effective access to high utility data while meeting global regulatory obligations.
About Sunnybrook Research Institute and Dr. Greg Czarnota
Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI) is the research arm of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre one of Canada's premier academic health sciences centres fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. SRI is one of the fastest growing hospital-based research enterprises in Canada with well-established programs in basic and applied research, developing innovations in care for more than 1.3 million patients annually. As a Senior Scientist at SRI, Dr. Czarnota conducts research focused on using ultrasound imaging and spectroscopy at conventional and high frequencies to detect apoptosis and other forms of cell death in response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
SOURCE FACIT Inc.
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Xinjiang's counter-terrorism, de-radicalization achievements undeniable
People's Daily Online
By People's Daily Commentator (People's Daily) 08:23, June 22, 2020
The so-called "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020" recently signed into law by the U.S. deliberately defames the human right conditions in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, slanders the autonomous region's achievements in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, and grossly interferes in China's domestic affairs.
It once again exposed the double-standards and hypocrisy of the "American human rights." To protect human rights is not the aim of the U.S., but a disguise for the White House to undermine China's stability and development. Under the banner of human right protection, the U.S. is indeed seeking for hegemony.
Xinjiang is a major battlefield of China regarding counter-terrorism and de-radicalization. The essence of Xinjiang-related issues is not about human rights, ethnicity, or religion, but about combating terrorism and de-radicalization.
From the 1990s to the end of 2016, thousands of violent terrorist attacks happened in Xinjiang, inflicting heavy casualties and property losses and greatly impeding the economic development and social progress of the autonomous region.
It's a consensus now that without secure and stable social environment, the rights to life and subsistence of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang will be endangered, let alone other rights and interests.
The rights to life, health and development are the most basic human rights. Counter-terrorism and de-radicalization are a common responsibility of the international society, and also a necessary approach to safeguard human rights. Over the years, multiple countries and regions have actively explored the ways to combat and prevent terrorism and extremism based on their own conditions.
Learning the international experience on counter-terrorism and starting from its own conditions, China has been making intensive counterterrorism and de-radicalization efforts. Upholding the principle of fighting and preventing terrorism at the same time, the autonomous region has been taking aggressive action against violent terrorist crimes, and at the same time, addressing the problem at its source. It has been making every effort to protect the fundamental human rights of citizens from violation by terrorism and extremism. Specific measures include improving public wellbeing, promoting knowledge of the law through education, and offering education and aid through vocational education and training centers in accordance with the law. The country has laid a solid foundation for Xinjiang's social stability and lasting peace.
Specifically, the vocational education and training centers established in recent years have effectively curbed the breeding and spread of terrorism and extremism, as well as the frequent occurrences of terrorist activities, helping the autonomous region achieve important phased victory in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization.
Over the past three years, there has not been a single violent terrorist case in Xinjiang. Peace and harmony have returned, and local people have a much stronger sense of fulfillment, happiness and security. The counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts aims to eliminate the tumors that impede people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang from achieving a better life, and have led to social harmony and stability, as well as healthy development in the autonomous region.
Rumors are dispelled by truths and lies are laid bare by facts. Compared with the hearsay and distortion in the so-called Act, those who have actually visited Xinjiang have more say on the autonomous region's real conditions.
Since the end of 2018, over 1,000 people, including foreign diplomatic envoys to China from nearly 100 countries and regions, UN officials, Geneva-based senior diplomats of various countries, as well as more than 70 groups (or delegations) from political parties, civil society organizations, news media, and religious organizations of various countries have visited Xinjiang's vocational education and training centers. They believe that the vocational education and training centers are in keeping with the purposes and principles of the UN to combat terrorism and safeguard basic human rights, and have found experience of counterterrorism and de-radicalization for the international society. They hold that the successful example of China is worth learning from.
Terrorism and extremism are a common enemy of the human society. Therefore, the efforts to combat them made by countries shall be free from double-standards, and must not be distorted in a way that goes against international justice and human conscience.
The U.S. is also a victim to terrorism, and shall understand and support China's counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts. However, it is repeatedly interfering in China's domestic affairs and viciously attacking China's efforts in this regard in the name of human right protection, which certainly triggers the strong indignation and opposition of the Chinese people.
The U.S. had better reflect on its own institutional problems of human rights, and not make troubles under the banner of human right protection. If it keeps going toward the wrong direction, what lie ahead will only be discredit and self-damage.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei meets the Ambassador of Serbia
On June 22, 2020 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia, Veljko Kovacevic, in connection with the completion of his diplomatic mission to the Republic of Belarus.
The parties summed up the results of the Belarusian-Serbian relations, confirmed its friendly character and noted the great potential for promoting bilateral mutually beneficial partnership.
V.Makei thanked the head of the Serbian diplomatic mission for joint fruitful work on enhancing bilateral dialogue.
Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed that the Serbian humanitarian aid transferred to Belarus on June 21-22, 2020 to combat the spread of coronavirus is an important gesture of support for us from the fraternal Serbian people.
For his personal contribution to strengthening and developing cooperation between Belarus and Serbia, Ambassador V. Kovacevic was awarded the Partnership Sign of Merit of the diplomatic service of the Republic of Belarus.
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Niagara Health medical staff arent waiting for someone else to come up with an effective treatment for COVID-19.
Instead, theyre part of an international effort to research potential treatments for patients with pneumonia, including patients who developed the life-threatening respiratory disease after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
We are also doing some local studies as well, said Niagara Health intensivist and research lead Dr. Jennifer Tsang. Lots of research activities are happening at Niagara Health.
Tsang said six pneumonia patients at the St. Catharines hospital intensive care unit including two with COVID-19 are participating in international research comparing the effectiveness of several treatment options.
The study, which focuses on patients with all types of severe pneumonia, began about a year ago.
Since then, 127 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have been hospitalized, and so far 31 of them have been treated within the ICU.
Following the H1N1 pandemic, a lot of researchers felt that we had to have some infrastructure in place so that when the next pandemic strikes, we would have the capacity to conduct research rapidly, Tsang said.
It was very timely. With the infrastructure already in place, they quickly added components to the clinic trials. Its not a traditional clinical trial where you have one fixed drug being studied.
Tsang said physicians are prescribing several medications based as part of the study.
Participants were initially testing hydroxychloroquine, but that research has stopped to allow data to be analyzed.
Although hydroxychloroquine has been touted by U.S. President Donald Trump, Tsang said there is no strong data that suggests it increases harm, but then at the same time I dont think theres any data that suggests that it helps.
Other drugs being tested include Lopinavir/Ritonavir, which has been used for the treatment of HIV, as well as steroids. Other research hopes to determine if physicians can improve a patients response to treatment by suppressing a patients immune response.
Tsang said researchers are considering testing Remdesivir, a drug that was previously tested as a treatment for Ebola.
It didnt work out for Ebola, but we are wondering if it might work out for COVID, Tsang said.
There are a lot of drugs involved. It is a very dynamic study There are lots of things happening.
The research adds to the already busy workload for staff involved including Tsang who typically spends her days caring for the most severely ill patients in the St. Catharines ICU. She said its worth the benefits for patients here, as well as research in general.
If Niagara Health was not part of the COVID-19 study, they (patients) would not have access to state-of-the-art, potentially effective therapy. If we didnt have the trials, the patient would not even have access to potential life-saving medication, she said.
She said about 65 per cent of hospital patients are cared for in community hospitals as opposed to large academic hospitals. But so far, only 10 to 20 per cent of community hospitals are participating in research programs.
We must conduct research in community hospitals like Niagara Health and many other hospitals in Ontario, she said.
Tsang recently wrote a paper published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal advocating for more pandemic research to be conducted in university hospitals.
My passion is building research capacity in Niagara Health and also to help other community hospitals across Canada build their research capacity, she said.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- During economic hard times, job seekers face plenty of competitors in the job marketeven though people aren't in an environment with many job openings. People should be prepared now for when jobs they qualify for are listed on job search websites. If someone is unemployed, a poor resume will only slow down their job search or bring it to a grinding halt. When the job market gets hot again, a job seeker will benefit from having an updated resume in hand.
State of the U.S. Labor Market
Currently, there is a 20%+ unemployment rate in the U.S. When someone does look for a job, they will have to compete with many other hopefuls. That is especially true if they live in an area hard-hit by unprecedented economic challenges. According to the New York Department of Labor, unemployment insurance claims increased by 1,398% over the past year for the week ending May 23, 2020. One of out every four American workers has filed an unemployment claim.
Content is king and someone's resume is the first piece of content potential employers see.
Using the Resume to Make a Mid-level Career Change
Updating a resume is a frightening and discouraging time for many people. One reason is that many feel they must defer their dreams and goals. For instance, they might have been planning a mid-level career change before the unprecedented economic hard times hit and now feel that pivoting to another industry would not be a prudent choice. But what about everything they've been working toward in their career for months, years, or decades?
Quarantine has already lasted two and a half months in 2020. Millions of people have pressed pause and sat in limbo for all or part of this period. Meanwhile, life goes on; dreams persist. Overhauling their resume can help people do that.
Learn more at www.myexpertresume.com or call (954) 236-9558.
Hire an Expert Resume Writer or LinkedIn Profile Writer
When it comes to career advisement, don't delay. There will be a stampede of people all competing for jobs and it won't be pretty. Stampedes never are. Find an expert and trust them to do what they do best. Wondering why to hire an expert? Here are a few reasons:
Professional resume writers know the lingo. The average person knows little, if anything, about the keywords and industry language that either make a resume stand out or bury it deep to the bottom of the pile. Many companies use computerized applicant tracking systems (ATS) to hunt for specific keywords and phrases. Often a hiring manager only looks at the resumes that ATS prioritizes. Professional resume writers know which keywords and skills are ATS-friendly.
Professional resume writers can summarize. One's narrative may be long and complicated.
Another common challenge is struggling to describe what they did at a particular job and what they accomplished while there. Resume writers know how to distill information and present it in an easy-to-read format and bulleted points.
Professional resume writers strategize. All of the work one puts into brainstorming and listing gives resume writers material to shape. They can discern how to best present one's narrative to potential employers, how to market oneself for a career change, and whether they need more than one resume. Resume writers are excellent storytellers with specialized knowledge and strong powers of persuasion.
Professional resume writers are LinkedIn savvy. Resume writers know more than ATS. They know that LinkedIn is a key website for job seekers everywhere. A LinkedIn profile counts for a lot too. Just as one needs professional advice for writing a resume, they need professional advice for writing a LinkedIn profile.
For more information about professional resumes and LinkedIn profile writing services, call (954) 236-9558 or go to www.myexpertresume.com .
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For more information about professional resumes and LinkedIn profile writing services, call (954) 236-9558 or go to www.myexpertresume.com.
SOURCE Expert Business & Professional Services, Inc.
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As Baker explains, type 2 diabetes develops later in life and type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children, and requires insulin from the very beginning.
Baker goes on to say the audit of New Zealand diabetes was quite horrific, and New Zealand delaying in adopting modern diabetes medicine, leads to the death of 800 people a year.
No new Diabetes drugs had been funded since 2003
The Pharmac budget is capped, Baker shares, so they are doing the best they can for New Zealanders.
Listen to the full interview above.
MBABANE Government wielded a double-edged sword yesterday when it announced a ban of alcohol sales in the country, come July 1, 2020.
Government claimed that the decision was based on evidence that alcohol was among the leading causes of the spread of the coronavirus while on the other hand, more emaSwati will once again be out of jobs.
The sale of alcohol will be stopped for a period not exceeding two months, according to the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, during a lunchtime press conference held at the Cabinet Offices. Flanked by Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi and Commerce, Industry and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo respectively, the PM said government had earlier this month taken a decision to start easing the economy by opening several businesses under strict conditions to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Unfortunate
He said, however, over the past two weeks, the country had seen an unfortunate surge of positive cases which suggested that they had to review some of the eased measures to avoid overwhelming the countrys health system.
It is for this reason that His Majestys Government has decided to stop the wholesale and distribution of liquor with effect from July 1, 2020, seeing that the consumption of alcohol is among the leading causes of the spread of the virus, said Dlamini.
He said the sale of alcohol would be stopped for a period not exceeding two months while government monitored the situation and the public would be updated on further developments.
The PM further clarified when asked by journalists if this ban would include sales by bottle stores.
The joy was certainly short-lived for the wholesalers and distributors of alcohol because the ban was lifted just last week Monday with bottle stores and bars allowed to only operate four times a week, from Monday to Thursday between 11am and 5pm.
This is very heartbreaking, I was just looking forward to being in gainful employment once again, said a bartender at one of the local bars in the city.
The announcement came three days after government re-issued a declaration in accordance with Section 29 of the Disaster Management Act of 2006 where the national emergency was extended for a period of not more than two months.
Asked what evidence government had that alcohol was one of the contributing factors to the spread of the disease, the Health minister said they had certain clusters which they visited and in most of the positive cases there was an element of alcohol involved.
Evidence
She said they had a lot of evidence that people imbibed alcohol and further hosted house parties which led them to being lax in following the precautionary guidelines. For example, people who drink alcohol cannot always wear a mask because they would not be able to drink when wearing one, she said.
Nkosi further revealed that some patients who were hospitalised at the Lubombo Referral Hospital recognised each other upon admission.
She said in one instance when a patient was admitted, he exclaimed upon seeing another that they were admitted to the same place.
Hawu ulapha nawe, to which the person being admitted reminded him that he had been the one who had brought them drinks. Both the PM and minister spoke in one voice as they insisted that alcohol was one of the leading factors in the spread of the virus.
Dlamini said government would be monitoring the situation and the public would be updated on further developments. He said government would from time to time review the guidelines and the public should not be surprised if they took back and forth steps.
Sitohle siya embili, siye emuva, he said in vernacular.
Gatherings
The PM further emphasised that large gatherings and house parties remained banned and encouraged people to adhere to advice provided by health experts. The Health minister said although the high number of positive cases could also be attributed to the fact that government had intensified testing, alcohol could not be left out as another contributing factor to the increasing statistics.
Meanwhile, the PM also added that in the next few weeks, the cases were also projected to increase and therefore it was important that the sale of alcohol be stopped as through imbibing alcohol, the virus could quickly spread.
It was further stated that when people drank alcohol, some failed to maintain social distancing while others were always tempted to drink from the same bottle (kubambelana).
Upon hearing governments latest decision, one of the bottle store owners also expressed his disappointment at the decesion. We have been closed for over 60 days, making no income and now we are back to square one, he said.
On a similar note, upon hearing the announcement, some members of the public were already queuing outside bottle stores to stock on their favourite alcoholic beverages. The PMs statement in essence means that the last day of operations by liquor outlets will be next Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 5pm.
They will only reopen on September 1, should government not announce any other changes before that date.
Mi Tierra Cafe and Bakery temporarily closed its doors last Friday after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
In a social media post, the Cortez family who owns the San Antonio staple said the employee was at work on June 15, prompting the closure the next day, out of an abundance of caution.
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The post emphasized that the safety and well-being of their guests and staff is top priority.
Mi Tierra closed Friday and reopened Saturday morning after the restaurant was sanitized and officials could contact-trace the team members that may need testing.
They did not say what the employees job position is.
The Cortez family said their daily temperature checking and completion of a daily COVID-19 health survey is what helped make it an isolated issue.
Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
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Theres a lot going on in California, between the pandemic, protests against police violence and continuing reckonings over racism, so were trying a different format for the newsletter today. (You can always let us know what you think at CAtoday@nytimes.com.)
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The pandemic has been brutal to Californias most vulnerable seniors.
Over the weekend, my colleagues Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Amy Julia Harris published an investigation that found that nursing homes across the country have evicted some of their most vulnerable residents.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 3.30 am ET Tuesday, IHS Markit releases Germany's flash PMI data. Economists forecast the composite index to rise to 44.2 in June from 32.3 in the previous month. Ahead of the data, the euro traded mixed against its major rivals. While the euro held steady against the pound, it rose against the rest of major rivals. The euro was worth 120.98 against the yen, 1.1290 against the greenback, 0.9046 against the pound and 1.0675 against the franc as of 3:25 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BMW Group announced the introduction of its new brand and corporate identity for online and offline communications in India. The BMW, BMW i and BMW M communication logos have been completely reworked, with a new logotype and new design principles. The BMW brand now delivers on the expectations and visual style of today and is better suited for the digital age. #JustCantWait is the first communication campaign in India to reflect the new brand design.
In the current challenging market scenario BMW Group India has transformed all facets of its businesses leveraging new age digital technologies to better serve its customers at the comfort of their home. #JustCantWait campaign reflects upon the brands positivity, customer-centricity and its relentless focus on bringing Joy to its customers. It celebrates the unique relationship between the consumer, their car and the desire for Sheer Driving Pleasure.
Arlindo Teixeira, acting President, BMW Group India said, BMW has always cherished its relationship with its esteemed customers and has introduced innovative products and value-added services. The new brand design and logo stands for openness and clarity. It symbolizes the brands significance and relevance for mobility and driving pleasure in the future. BMW Group India is geared-up to the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation. We have seamlessly transformed ourselves to better serve our existing and new customers needs. With innovative services such as BMW Contactless Experience, BMW Easy Start Plan, BMW Advanced Hygiene Packages and Aftersales service packages we stand true to our promise of offering Sheer Driving Pleasure to our customers at all times. Our latest campaign #JustCantWait uses the new logo and reflects our undeterred commitment to bring Joy to our customers.
The new design is an expression of the revised brand identity, which places the customer at the centre of all activities. Pared-down and two-dimensional, it conveys openness and clarity. The additional transparent version of the logo is a more open invitation than ever for customers to join the world of BMW. The change reflects BMW's transition from centring purely on the automotive world to being about technology and connections.
The latest look of the BMW brand is geared towards the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation. The redesigned logotype expresses openness and strength of character to ensure a contemporary, future-proof presence both on and offline.
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The coronavirus pandemic is actively spreading across the globe, infecting more than 9 million individuals. Many countries have high numbers of infections, with some believing that being infected with the virus may provide lasting immunity.
Now, a new study shows that the levels of antibodies found in recovered coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients declined sharply in just two to three months after infection for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
Antibody and virus - visual concept of the immune system. Illustration Credit: Peter Schreiber / Shutterstock
Antibodies faded quickly
A team of researchers at the Chongqing Medical University, a branch of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has found that the antibodies the body developed against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) faded quickly, raising concerns if being infected would mean a lasting immunity against the viral infection.
The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, looked at 37 symptomatic and 37 asymptomatic patients who were infected with the coronavirus disease. The findings of the study showed than more than 90 percent of the participants in both groups manifested rapid declines in the levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies within just two to three months after the onset of infection.
The researchers also found that within eight weeks, antibodies against the novel coronavirus could not be detected in 40 percent of the asymptomatic patients, and 12.8 percent of those who developed symptoms.
Convalescent plasma
The patients included in the study were among 2,088 people who tested positive for COVID-19 due to close contact with confirmed cases in the Wanzhou district in China. Of the patients who tested positive, 60 were asymptomatic in the preceding two weeks but had been admitted to isolation. About 23 of those patients developed mild symptoms after, leaving 37 participants.
On the other hand, the control group involved 37 mildly symptomatic patients who matched the asymptomatic group by factors such as comorbidity, sex, and age.
The study also reveals that there is a decline in specific neutralizing antibodies, which are antibodies that can neutralize a virus on their own, without the help of other immune system elements. Though the declines were not as significant as with Immunoglobulin G (IgG), it still shows that all types of antibodies may decline overtime even after being infected with the coronavirus.
The team discovered declines in specific neutralizing antibodies in 81 percent of the asymptomatic group and 62 percent in the symptomatic group. The median declines in antibody levels were 8.3 percent in the asymptomatic group and about 11.7 percent in those who developed symptoms. Further, the findings show that the IgG levels were markedly elevated in patients who are asymptomatic in both the acute and convalescent phases of infection.
Study implications
Though the study utilized a small sample size, the researchers hope that the findings may help governments decide on allowing those with antibodies to travel to other countries. Antibody testing should be a basis for travel permissions, especially that the findings show that they may still contract the virus.
The researchers added that it is unsafe to assume that all who recovered from the infection are immune to the virus, showing that re-infection may still happen in the future.
Using antibody tests may not be effective in stemming the spread of the virus since the antibodies decline in just a few months. The study highlights the long-lasting theory that the infection does not provide long-lasting immunity in people who were infected.
These data suggest that asymptomatic individuals had a weaker immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The reduction in IgG and neutralizing antibody levels in the early convalescent phase might have implications for immunity strategy and serological surveys, the researchers wrote in the paper.
A virology professor at the University of Hong Kong who was not part of the research team said that the study does not contradict the possibility that other parts of the immune system could offer some protection against the novel coronavirus.
He explained that immune cells memorize how to cope with a foreign invade, such as a virus, when first infected and could provide effective protection in case the person contracts the virus again.
The finding in this paper doesnt mean the sky is falling, he added, noting that the number of the patients involved in the study was small. Further research is still needed to better understand if the immune system could protect against the virus after the initial infection.
Cases surpass 10,000: San Antonio coronavirus cases continued to rise exponentially Sunday, topping 10,000 as local hospitals scramble to find enough hospital beds and nurses to care for the wave of new patients in the last two weeks.
June 27
Nearly 800 cases in a day: Bexar County saw its largest single-day jump in coronavirus cases today with 795 new cases, according to Bexar County data. The data also reports two new deaths in the past 24 hours. See more with our COVID-19 tracker on ExpressNews.com.
June 26
Spike continues in San Antonio: Officials reported 405 new COVID-19 cases and one new death Friday as leaders of the citys major hospital systems implored residents to take precautions to slow the march of the coronavirus.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Bexar County has now reached 8,857, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at the daily city-county coronavirus briefing.
The latest death brings the countys total to 105. The victim was a Hispanic woman in her 50s who had been hospitalized at University Health System, Nirenberg said.
Some 699 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday evening, an increase of 71 from the day before.
That is an alarming jump from where we were just two weeks ago, Nirenberg said.
Of those hospitalized, 221 were in intensive care, 19 more than on Thursday, and 117 were dependent on ventilators to breathe, an increase of 23.
Those numbers were significantly higher than at the start of June, when there were fewer than 100 COVID-19 patients in area hospitals, 39 in intensive care and 20 on ventilators.
The hospital system as a whole continues to be under significant stress, the mayor said.
June 25
More than 600 cases in a day: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the San Antonio area shot up by 638 on Thursday, the largest one-day increase since the start of the pandemic in March.
The new cases brought Bexar Countys total to 8,452 double the number reported less than two weeks ago.
A total of 104 people have died of COVID-19 in Bexar County. No new deaths were reported Thursday.
Elective surgeries banned in major cities: Gov. Greg Abbott is ordering four of the state's largest counties to postpone all surgeries that are not immediately necessary, to preserve hospital beds for the growing surge of COVID-19 patients. Abbotts order is directed at Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Travis counties.
These four counties have experienced significant increases in people being hospitalized due to COVID-19 and todays action is a precautionary step to help ensure that the hospitals in these counties continue to have ample supply of available beds to treat COVID-19 patients, Abbott said in a statement.
June 24
More deaths as surge continues: San Antonio officials reported four new COVID-19 deaths and nearly 350 new cases Wednesday as the coronavirus continued its relentless spread.
Traveling Texans now face quarantine: Texans traveling to New York, New Jersey or Connecticut will now have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, marking a turning of the tables from when the Lone Star State did the same in late March at the start of the pandemic. The move is the latest sign of Texas emerging as a hotspot for COVID-19 in the U.S.
June 23
Surge continues: On Tuesday, San Antonio reported 311 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths. That brought the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 7,467.
Texas has hit an all-time high in new coronavirus cases: Texas has surpassed 5,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday, urging people to take caution and stay indoors whenever possible. The seven-day average is now nearing 4,000, up from about 1,500 two weeks ago.
June 22
Cases pass 7,000: The number of COVID-19 cases continued to rise sharply Monday across Bexar County, with 274 more people confirmed to have the virus pushing the total past 7,000 since the start of the pandemic.
Wolff on second lockdown: Wolff said he would not support a return to stay-at-home orders because the economy, locally and nationwide, is in a serious financial condition, with a federal debt that is off the charts.
I dont think well go back to that. The economic devastation is huge, he said.
Under the countys mask order, which Wolff signed last Wednesday, every business must have a health and safety policy that, at a minimum, requires every employee and all customers age 10 or older to wear a face covering. Mayor Ron Nirenberg has issued a matching citywide order.
June 21
Coronavirus tally: Bexar County officials reported 538 new coronavirus cases Sunday the largest one-day increase since the start of the pandemic and one new death.
The number of patients in San Antonio-area hospitals and in intensive care units also continued to rise, deepening concern that the hospital system could be overwhelmed.
The newly confirmed cases brought Bexar Countys total to 6,882, the Metropolitan Health District reported.
The countys death toll from the virus, which began spreading in the community in March, now stands at 97. The latest victim was a Hispanic man in his 50s. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the man had no underlying health conditions.
On ExpressNews.com: A timeline of COVID-19 in San Antonio
Testing locations in S.A.: Find a list of testing centers below. For more information, call 311 or the citys COVID-19 hotline, 210-207-5779, or visit covid19.sanantonio.gov.
- Freeman Coliseum: Testing type: Drive-thru testing by appointment; Cost: free; 3201 E Houston St.; (210) 233-5970; 8 a.m - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday through Sunday.
- Texas MedClinic (SE Military and Roosevelt): Testing type: in building testing (walk-up); Cost: Fees may apply; 1111 SE Military Dr.; (210) 927-5580; 8 a.m.-11 p.m. 7 days a week.
- Quality Urgent Care-Palo Alto: Testing type: in building testing (walk-up and appointment); Cost: Fees may apply; 8526 IH 35 S, Ste. 101; (210) 564-9972; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 7 days a week.
- CentroMed - Palo Alto Clinic: Testing type: Drive-thru testing by appointment; Cost: free; 9011 Poteet Jourdanton Fwy; (210) 922-7000; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
- Texas MedClinic: SW Military + Zarzamora: Testing type: Drive-thru testing by appointment; Cost: free; 2530 SW Military Dr.; (210) 233-5970; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Saturday
A husband was arrested Monday night after the predawn shooting death of his wife in their Pompano Beach condominium, a shooting that happened in the unit with their twin infant girls.
Kathi Blankenberg was 35.
Philip Edwards, 31, has been charged with murder not premeditated while committing another felony, possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of child neglect without bodily harm and probation violation.
According to Broward Sheriffs Office, those firearms, including the one used to kill Blankenberg, were found in Edwards Mercedes.
The girls were found, Broward Sheriffs Office said, when deputies responded to Philip Edwards 5:19 a.m. call that he found his wife wife shot in their home at The Gardens North Nine, 614 Gardens Drive.
Edwards probation, which hes on until Oct. 7, stems from convictions on charges of DUI and driving with a suspended license. According to Corrections records, those violations occurred in Monroe County.
Philip Edwards in 2013 before serving prison time for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and burglary with assault.
In Orange County, Edwards was convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, burglary with assault and criminal mischief. He spent 11 months and five days in prison.
Shooting at upscale beach resort in Hollywood leaves one man dead, cops say
Two shootings in one day in Southwest Broward leave two people dead
WATERLOO The city has relaxed its residency requirements for police officers and public works employees.
Waterloo City Council members voted unanimously Monday, despite concerns voiced by the mayor, to change the past policy requiring critical municipal employees to live within 10 miles of City Hall.
The new policy, allowing those workers to live within a 30-mile radius of City Hall, was championed by department heads who said the more restrictive limits were hurting their ability to recruit qualified employees.
Margaret Klein, who had previously voted against exempting firefighters from the policy, said she reluctantly voted for this because newly hired Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald said it would increase the applicant pool.
I find this proposal distasteful because I believe the people who have jobs here in the city should live in the city, Klein said.
Councilman Dave Boesen supported the measure but had wanted to increase the radius to 30-miles from the city limits instead of City Hall.
From City Hall to my house is five miles and youre still inside Waterloo, Boesen said.
The majority of other cities (use) the corporate city limits.
Mayor Quentin Hart did not threaten a veto but did voice his concerns about the policy change.
I am challenged a little bit by this residency requirement for a couple different reasons, said Hart, noting the city has not had trouble recruiting every job description included in this weeks policy change.
Im always going to be advocating for local jobs, Hart added. My other fear is that potentially (employees) may move from here.
Councilwoman Sharon Juon questioned whether the city could give preference in the hiring process to applicants who live in Waterloo, although that question was unanswered.
Councilman Pat Morrissey said the city should provide housing incentives to new hires who agree to live in town, noting the city provides incentives to attract new businesses or infill housing now.
A policy adopted in 1981 required workers deemed as critical those who may need to be recalled in emergency situations to live within a 30-minute drive of the city.
It was revised in 2003 to a 20-mile radius of City Hall. The 10-mile radius was adopted in September 2006 and was one of the most restrictive in the state.
It is illegal under Iowa law for cities to force civil service employees to live in the city where they are employed.
But the courts have agreed cities can set reasonable residency requirements for critical workers.
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Gardai in Cork have implored people exercising around public parks, and visitors to tourist spots, to keep their valuables away from sight and their cars locked, following a spate of thefts in recent days.
The message to "park smart" has been reinforced as people emerge from the lifting of strict lockdown measures, with local beauty spots and parks becoming far busier in June as fears over Covid-19 ease.
There were 37 thefts from vehicles in Cork city and Mallow recently, gardai said, emphasising the need for more precautions.
Between June 15 and June 18, gardai said they received 29 reports of vehicles being broken into in the Douglas, Blackrock and Gurranabraher areas.
On the night of June 21, gardai received a report of eight vehicles being broken into in Mallow.
In these incidents, items such as sunglasses, electronics and cash were stolen from the vehicles, gardai said.
In each incident, gardai attended and carried out examinations of the scene and conducted inquiries but no arrests have been made to date.
A common denominator among many of the thefts was the fact the vehicles had not been secured, gardai said.
Community Engagement Inspector, Gary McPolin said: "Unfortunately a high proportion of the vehicles broken into last week were left unlocked.
"Lets not make it easy for these criminals, make sure to lock your vehicle every time.
"Wherever you park your vehicle, we would always advise you to take your property with you and ensure the vehicle is locked, alarmed and parked in a secure, well-lit location. Try not to leave any valuables in it whatsoever.
"If you do see someone in your area acting suspiciously, day or night, dont think twice about calling us.
From 2016 to 2019, more than 30m worth of items were stolen from vehicles, according to garda statistics.
A garda spokesman said tourist spots in Cork, as well as areas around walking trails and parks, are prime targets for opportunist thieves.
Those engaging in exercise may feel they have to leave some valuables in the car due to the nature of the activity, he said, but that does not mean making it easy for the would-be thieves.
Hiding valuables from plain sight and locking the car are easy measures to take to have a first line of defence against theft, he added.
The global disposable protective clothing market was valued at $ 2,604.0 million in 2018 and is projected to reach $ 4,686.8 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.80% from 2019 to 2026. Protective clothing refers to various suits and uniforms worn to protect the user from harm . Protective clothing protects the personnel from physical, electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards, and airborne particulate matter. Disposable protective clothing offers protection without the inconvenience of having to decontaminate used suits.
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The adherence to stringent governmental regulations toward safety of workers boost the use of disposable protective clothing worldwide. In addition, rise in usage of disposable protective clothing from end-use industries such as manufacturing, automotive, and oil & gas is expected to accelerate the market growth during the forecast period. However, factors such as high price of protective clothing is expected to hamper the market growth during the forecast period. Increase in demand for disposable protective clothing from emerging economies like China, Japan, and India is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities to the market.
The report focuses on use of disposable protective clothing in several industries such as manufacturing, oil & gas, healthcare, defense, and others. Moreover, based on material type, the global disposable protective clothing market report is analyzed across polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, and other types of materials. Based on application, the market is classified into thermal, mechanical, radiation, chemical, and others. Based on region, the market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
The key players operating in the global disposable protective clothing market includes Lakeland Industries, Inc., E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, 3M Company, W. L. Gore & Associates, Workrite Uniform Company, Inc., Ballyclare Limited, Glen Raven, Koninklijke Ten Cate NV, Cetriko, and Teijin Limited.
Other players in the value chain include Ebruzen Textile Industry Trade Co Ltd., Fibertex A/S, Wuhan Kinglong Protective Products Co., Ltd., Kermel, Rongxin Industry Manufacture Limited, Veridian Fire Protective Gear and Ohnaka Industry Co., Ltd., and others.
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Polyethylene
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says students should return to the classroom this fall
China's notorious Yulin dog meat festival has opened 'as usual' despite the fact the country is still fighting the coronavirus pandemic, sources have said.
Horrifying videos supplied to MailOnline show market vendors chopping up rows of slaughtered dogs for customers without wearing face masks.
Another clip shows local diners flaunting social distancing rules to gather and enjoy dog meat on the side of a road.
Pictures supplied to MailOnline show butchered dogs being placed on the counter of market stalls in Yulin, China, as the city celebrated the summer solstice with the annual festival. 'This year's dog meat festival is the same as before,' said Du Yufeng, an animal rights campaigner
The annual 10-day dog meat festival celebrates the summer solstice and usually attracts thousands of visitors, many of whom buy dogs for the pot that are on display in cramped cages
Yulin is situated in largely agricultural Guangxi Province in southern China. The annual 10-day festival celebrates the summer solstice and usually attracts thousands of visitors, many of whom buy dogs for the pot that are on display in cramped cages.
'This year's dog meat festival is the same as before,' said Du Yufeng, a long-time Chinese animal rights campaigner who was in Yulin at the weekend with six other activists to protest against the event.
Ms Du said the city's major dog meat trading hub, the Dongkou Market, was busy over the weekend, with 'butchers laying dogs in a row on the counters to chop'.
Activists said the city's major dog meat trading hub, the Dongkou Market, was busy. They said they saw vendors chopping up rows of slaughtered dogs for customers without face masks
'One of our campaigners from Jiangsu (province) pretended to be a customer and asked one butcher if they had live dogs. The butcher said they had killed all the dogs at home, not here,' added Ms Du, who is the founder of Bo Ai Animal Protection Centre in Sichuan Province.
She criticised: 'This means to them, the local government did not even try to stop the dog meat festival because of the epidemic or warned people not to gather They ignored the outbreak completely to pursue financial gains.'
Ms Du said her group were able to bypass police to snap pictures and videos because all the other six activists were first-time visitors to Yulin and their faces were not familiar to dog traders.
Therefore, Ms Du would wait in the car, and the others would go out to film the markets separately, she said.
'But we had to act very cautiously. Once several of our campaigners gathered, dog traders would ask "what are you doing?"'
Another clip shows diners flaunting social distancing rules to gather and enjoy dog meat on the side of a road in Yulin to celebrate the summer solstice during the dog meat festival
She said police officers were stationed at the entrance of the city's 'dog meat street', but they did not stop people from gathering or eating dog meat.
Ms Du and the others also visited the Public Complaints and Proposals Administration of the Guangxi Province in the provincial capital Nanning and handed in a petition to demand officials ban the festival once for all.
She said she also discovered a market in Nanning where live dogs were crammed into filthy cages to be butchered on order.
'The epidemic is so serious, and people here are still gathering to eat dog meat. Why are they still doing it and why the police are still allowing the locals to do it and even protecting them? These messages need to be heard,' Ms Du urged.
A picture supplied to MailOnline shows police officers patrolling outside Yulin's No.1 Crispy Dog Meat Restaurant during the festival. The restaurant bills itself as an 'internationally renowned' restaurant serving dishes made with 'healthy dogs carefully raised by farmers'
Ms Du and other activists pose for a picture outside the Public Complaints and Proposals Administration of the Guangxi Province. They visited the authority to urge it ban the festival
However, other accounts suggested that even though the festival was still holding this year, its size was smaller than before.
Restaurant workers involved in the week-long event, which they say started Sunday and has been renamed the 'Yulin Summer Solstice Festival', told AFP that attendance was down.
'The number of arriving customers has dropped a lot,' said a man surnamed Chen.
He said the dog meat restaurant where he works would open as normal this festival without any special events or pricing like in past years.
Some posts on the Chinese social network Weibo called for the festival to be cancelled entirely after COVID-19 and a recent fresh outbreak of the disease in Beijing linked to a wholesale food market.
'Is it not enough that (the festival) is infamous throughout the world? Where will food safety become a reality... Stop this damn festival at once,' one user wrote.
Heart-breaking footage shows piles of dog carcasses being sold at a market in Yulin this month
According to insiders, most of Yulin's dog meat stalls and shops scattered around the city have relocated to one centralised area called Nanchao market ahead of the annual dog meat festival
The pictures and videos were taken after Beijing last month removed dogs from its official list of livestock. Officials called for 'some traditional customs about dogs' to change in the country
China's central government last month signalled that it could ban canine meat from the dinner table after removing dogs from its official list of livestock. However, the government is yet to issue an order to forbid the eating of dogs in the country.
The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs called for 'some traditional customs about dogs' to change in the country and stressed that dogs were 'companion, rescue and service animals'.
Two Chinese cities, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, have banned the eating of dogs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
In late February, China issued a temporary ban on all trade and consumption of wild animals - a practice believed responsible for the global crisis.
The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial food festivals in China and sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed, skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals. The picture shows dog meat being served at the festival on June 21, 2017
A Chinese official said: 'With the progress of the times, humans' understanding of civilisation and dining habits have changed constantly. Some traditional customs about dogs will change too.' A woman is pictured wearing a mask while carrying a dog in the street of Wuhan on Jan.22
Dog meat is traditionally believed to be good for the health in certain parts of China, but the habit has been in steady decline as more and more affluent urban dwellers choose to keep the animals as pets.
The government is drawing up new laws to prohibit the wildlife trade and protect pets, and campaigners are hoping that this year will be the last time the festival is held.
'I do hope Yulin will change not only for the sake of the animals but also for the health and safety of its people,' said Peter Li, China policy specialist with the Humane Society International, an animal rights group.
'Allowing mass gatherings to trade in and consume dog meat in crowded markets and restaurants in the name of a festival poses a significant public health risk,' he said.
Zhang Qianqian, an animal rights activist who was in Yulin on Saturday, said it was only a matter of time before the dog-meat festival was banned.
'From what we understand from our conversations with meat sellers, leaders have said the consumption of dog meat won't be allowed in future,' she said.
'But banning dog-meat consumption is going to be hard and will take some time.'
New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said the current crisis on the border with China is attributable to the "mismanagement" of the BJP-led government and the "wrong policies" pursued by it.
The crisis on the border, if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) -- the 3,500-km de-facto border with China.
Addressing the meeting, Gandhi also hit out at the government for "mercilessly" raising petrol and diesel prices for 17 consecutive days, even when global prices of crude oil were falling.
She also noted that the "mismanagement" of the COVID-19 pandemic will be recorded as one of "most disastrous failures" of the Narendra Modi government.
"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 said.
On the LAC crisis, Gandhi said, "The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will inform the government's actions in protecting our territorial integrity."
"...undeniable fact is that since April-May, 2020 till date, Chinese troops have committed brazen transgressions into our territory in Pangong Tso area and the Galwan Valley, Ladakh. True to its character, the government is in denial. The intrusion was detected and reported on May 5, 2020. Instead of a resolution, the situation deteriorated rapidly and there were violent clashes on June 15-16," she said.
Indian and Chinese armies have been on a six-week standoff in several areas of eastern Ladakh. The ties between the two countries came under severe strain after Chinese military killed 20 Indian Army personnel and injured around 76 in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15.
She said though the Congress party was the first to offer its total support to the armed forces and the government, there is "a growing feeling among the people that the government has gravely mishandled the situation".
"We urge upon the government that peace, calm and the restoration of the status quo ante along the LAC be the only guiding principles in our national interest. We will continue to closely watch the situation," she said.
On the COVID-19 pandemic, Gandhi said, "The grave deficiencies in the health infrastructure have been exposed. The promised 'peak' is nowhere in sight. The Centre has passed the buck to the state governments, but given them zero extra finances. Actually, the people have been left to protect themselves as best as possible."
Despite assurances of "the prime minister, who centralised all authority in his hands, the pandemic continues to rage", she said.
Endorsing Gandhi's remarks, Singh said, "The pandemic is not being tackled with the courage and magnitude and effort needed to tackle the crisis. Another instance is the crisis on the border, which if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation."
As the coronavirus-induced lockdown halted economic activities, the Congress president said the economic crisis has only become worse. "The Modi government refuses to listen to good advice."
She said the need of the hour is a massive fiscal stimulus, putting money directly in the hands of the poor, protecting and nurturing MSMEs, and stimulating demand.
"Instead, the government announced a hollow financial package that had a fiscal component of less than 1 per cent of GDP. The government has 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," she said.
The result, she said, is 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. Recovery is likely to take a long time, and that too only if the government corrects its course and adopts sound economic policies," she said.
The meeting of the CWC, the highest decision-making body of the Congress, started by paying homage to Col B Santosh Babu and the brave soldiers, who laid down their lives in the clash with Chinese troops.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:21:14|Editor: huaxia
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HANOI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Ministers of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand have reaffirmed their commitment to signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year in a joint media statement on Tuesday.
The signing of the agreement will serve as a clear sign of the members' unwavering support for the multilateral trading system, regional integration as well as economic development across the region, said the media statement from the virtual 10th RCEP Inter-sessional Ministerial Meeting chaired by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade on Tuesday.
The ministers agreed in the statement that the importance of RCEP continues to grow in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which constitutes an unprecedented challenge for trade, investment and global supply chains that requires a coordinated global response.
They also agreed to enhance cooperation and coordination to facilitate a strong and resilient economic recovery as well as sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth following the crisis.
The statement said India has been an important participant in the RCEP negotiations, noting that the ministers believe India's participation in RCEP would contribute to the advancement and prosperity of the region, and emphasizing that RCEP remains open for India.
Initiated by ASEAN in 2012, RCEP is a proposed FTA between the 10 ASEAN member states and their six FTA partners -- China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India. In November last year, 15 participating countries of the agreement concluded text-based negotiations and essentially all market access issues at an RCEP summit in the Thai capital city of Bangkok. Enditem
Brandon 'Bug' Hall was arrested in Weatherford, Texas for allegedly inhaling air duster cans, called huffing.
The child star, 35, was booked on Saturday for misdemeanor possession for use to inhale or ingest a volatile chemical, according to TMZ.
He is best known as playing Alfalfa in the 1994 film The Little Rascals.
The latest: Brandon 'Bug' Hall was arrested in Weatherford, Texas for allegedly inhaling air duster cans, called huffing; his mugshot from his arrest on June 20
A family member of his called police to check on him while he stayed at a hotel, the Weatherford Police told the outlet.
Once there at the hotel, the cops found 'a ton' of the air duster cans that are used for keyboards in the room.
He was asked by the arresting cops if he inhaled from the cans, and he allegedly answered that he was; The actor didn't resist arrest, reported the outlet, and was booked on misdemeanor possession with a $1,500.
Bug is married to Jill DeGroff and they have two daughters.
Throwback: He is best known as playing Alfalfa in the 1994 film The Little Rascals; pictured (L to R) Travis Tedford and Bug in The Little Rascals
News: The child star, 35, was booked on Saturday for misdemeanor possession for use to inhale or ingest a volatile chemical, according to TMZ; pictured August 1, 2016 in LA
Mug shot: A family member of his called police to check on him while he stayed a hotel, and found 'a ton' of the air duster cans in the room
Last week, Bug appeared on a Twitch chat with the LA Kings for Movie Night; his most recent Instagram post, June 15, was promoting his appearance.
It appears he recently moved to Texas with his family; the star, was born in Forth Worth, Texas.
Prior to moving to Texas, he and his family enjoyed doing outdoor activities like hiking as well as posing in a field of poppies and days at the beach amid quarantine in March and April.
Family: Bug is married to Jill DeGroff and they have two daughters
So cute: It appears he recently moved to Texas with his family; the star, was born in Forth Worth, Texas; pictured February 18
His first role was Alfalfa Switzer in The Little Rascals (1994) at age nine; he starred as Buster Stupid in The Stupids in 1996.
His latest project is the comedy This Is The Year; he co-wrote the script with David Henrie (who directed the film).
Bug also serves as an associate producer for the film and stars as Donnie, alongside Vanessa Marano, Gregg Sulkin and Jeff Garlin.
He is also signed on to star in the drama The Long Run.
Bug most recently starred in North Blvd in 2018, The Shadow People in 2017 and Harley and the Davidsons in 2016.
Work: His latest project is the comedy This Is The Year; he co-wrote the script with David Henrie (who directed the film); pictured March 3 with David Henrie
Wow: Bug also revealed he is working on a show based on the book A Tale Dark and Grimm with David Henrie; seen March 12
US President Donald Trump's decision to restrict the entry of H-1B and other temporary visa holders is misguided and harmful to the United States' economy, said the Indian IT industry body Nasscom in a statement.
The suspension will come into effect on June 24 and will expire on December 31, 2020.
Urging the Trump administration to shorten the duration of this suspension to 90 days, Nasscom (National Association of Software and Service Companies), highlighted, "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."
Trump signed an Executive Order to restrict H-1B, L-1, and other temporary work permits on Monday, a decision likely to affect Indians the most. Indian nationals comprise nearly 70% of the 85,000 H1-B visas granted to foreign workers by the US government every year.
Also Read: H-1B visa restrictions to be announced soon; IT professionals to be worst hit
The move is part of the US government's efforts to curb immigration and help boost local employment in the country.
The order will restrict the entry of foreign workers to the US, particularly from the Information Technology (IT) industry. It will also prevent H-1B visa holders' spouses from entering the country.
Nasscom further added in its statement that the move by the US government will only exacerbate problems for the Indian IT companies.
"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," the industry body emphasised.
With certain exceptions, Indian nationals and others who are granted new H-1B, L-1 visas or other visa types after June 23rd will be barred from entering the US until December 31, until the proclamation expires. However, this will not impact those already in the country on work visas.
Also Read: Donald Trump suspends H1B, H4 visas for rest of 2020
Nasscom reiterated several US universities, medical facilities, research institutions, and corporations' requests to President Trump not to take such a decision as it will harm the US economy as it reopens.
"Even though our companies have hired tens of thousands of Americans and invested billions of dollars in recent years, they like others in the sector utilise such highly skilled individuals to service their clients. This new proclamation will impose new challenges and possibly force more work to be performed offshore since the local talent is not available," Nasscom articulated in its statement.
The industry body, along with the American Medical Association, US Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, Compete America, and the Association of American Universities had written to President Trump and his secretaries. They stressed that policies such as these undermine the ability to grow and create jobs, besides adding burdensome new regulatory requirements and costs.
Also Read: 'Disappointed; stand with immigrants,' says Sundar Pichai on Trump's H-1B suspension order
"Virtually every segment of the American economy, including manufacturing, technology, accounting, medicine, among others, employ skilled workers from other countries for the innovation, productivity, and skill they bring to their companies or for their clients," according to Nasscom.
Expressing his disappointment at the order, Sundar Pichai, the Indian born CEO of Google and Alphabet tweeted, "Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today's proclamation - we will continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all."
The anti-smuggling wing of the district police commissionerate arrested a bootlegger for smuggling liquor at Bholewal village here on Monday.
The police recovered 50 litres of illicit country-made liquor from his possession.
The police also destroyed 20,000 litres of illicit liquor (lahan), which he had buried near the Sutlej at the village.
The arrested has been identified as Makhan Singh of Bholewal village.
Sub-inspector Yashpal Sharma, investigating the case, said the police conducted a raid on a tip-off and arrested the accused.
A case under sections 61,1,14 of the excise Act has been registered against him.
The Ludhiana police have seized and destroyed over 2 lakh litres of lahan (illicit country-made liquor) on the banks of the Sutlej on the Ludhiana-Jalandhar border in the recent months.
Mr. Richardson was an English professor at the University of Denver before embarking on a career as a biographer, drawing praise for works of vivid prose and authoritative scholarship. He wrote widely on literature, film and poetry, but his specialty was the intellectual biography, in which he aimed to understand the life through the work, as he put it, and not the other way around.
WATERLOO There was no mistaking the long tail and oily fur.
Mark Stapleton was entertaining his brother and sister-in-law in his Waterloo homes backyard when he noticed something scuttle by his feet.
I turned around and noticed this big giant rat running by us, said Stapleton, who serves as a landlord for various properties across the city one of which also saw a rat problem this year.
For more than 20 years Ive been here, and I havent had a problem. This is just ridiculous.
He says the rodent sightings only started after Waterloo Region moved to a biweekly garbage collection model in 2017. Food items which could potentially attract pests are still collected weekly if residents use their green bins.
But in a city that features tens of thousands of students, landlords are pointing to a garbage collection system that doesnt suit young renters as a possible reason for the alleged increase in rodent activity.
Ive never seen a rat here in my entire life. I went to university here, Ive been here since 1997, said Stapleton. I own multiple properties and have never had a rat problem until they started doing the two-week garbage.
But rodent populations have a long history in the region.
In 2016, public health inspectors were forced to temporarily shut down three restaurants Pioneer Bar-B-Q in Kitchener, Madchilli in Waterloo and El Rinconcito Mexicano in Cambridge after they failed to provide adequate protection against the entrance of rodents.
Orkin Canada releases its list of Ontarios top 25 rattiest cities each year, with both Kitchener (19) and Cambridge (16) cracking the list in 2019. The list, which ranks cities by the number of rodent calls in a year, did not include Waterloo.
Mike Dunn, Cambridge branch manager of Orkin Canada, told the Waterloo Region Record in late May that rats in the region would be looking for new food sources in residential neighbourhoods with the pandemic shutting down restaurants and bars.
However, he also noted that rodent calls have been rising over the last few years in the region, unrelated to the pandemic.
Mike Milovick is a student landlord in Waterloo and said the current one size fits all garbage collection plan for the region fails to address the tens of thousands of students who live in Waterloo.
He said most students tend to prepare their own meals as opposed to cooking for the entire household. In a five-bedroom unit, he said they can produce up to five times the amount of garbage as a single-family dwelling.
For many of the students, it also represents the first time they are living away from home. In some cases, he said, just getting the students to take the garbage out can be a weekly headache.
With rodents on the prowl for new food sources, he said the problem could continue to get worse in areas heavily populated with students.
Both Stapleton and Milovick live in the area and can stay on top of their properties. But for landlords based in Toronto or other remote locations, staying on top of things can be challenging.
Green boxes and students just simply do not work, said Stapleton. It works for people who have the time, but for students, its just not happening.
Thats why Milovick is proposing a pilot project to see if there is any correlation between garbage collection and rat populations.
Lets put together a pilot project in a defined student area or at least for rental licensed properties where garbage collection takes place weekly, he said. And we will see if it has an impact on the rat infestations.
Susan White, manager of waste, collection and diversion for the region, said we are not planning any changes to the waste collection service.
What attracts pests is food, and the Region of Waterloo ensures food waste is collected every week through the green bin program, she said. With food waste being collected weekly, the remainder left in the garbage container should not attract pests.
For student housing, she said landlords can have their tenants place out as many green bins as required to ensure cleanliness.
If it is identified that waste is not being stored correctly at particular locations, we can send staff to those locations with educational materials and/or work with our bylaw department to ensure the appropriate process is followed.
Kerala is hopeful of implementing the mandatory pre-flight COVID-19 testing for expatriates at the earliest and talks are on with the Centre in this regard,Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. The state government had extended the implementation of the virus tests for those coming to Kerala from abroad till June 24.
"All possible measures should be taken to prevent the spread of the virus and as part of this, we raised the need to test the people who come from foreign countries," Vijayan told reporters here. The state had written letters addressing this demand to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Accordingly, the MEA has been discussing this with missions in various countries regarding the testing of passengers in the Gulf countries. The Foreign Ministry has informed the state Chief Secretary about the progress of discussions, he said. The Rapid Antibody Test is being conducted by the UAE. Qatar has a special mobile app that allows only people with green status on this app to travel. Kuwait currently has testing facility only at two terminals but it can be expanded to more terminals as per the requirement of the airlines.
It would cost around Rs 1,000 per test. Oman has RT-PCR tests only. The Embassy has approached private hospitals but it would be difficult to implement the testing by June 25. In Saudi Arabia too, Rapid Antibody testing is being conducted in some private hospitals but it has not been approved by the government. The Foreign Ministry said there were difficulties in Bahrain. We cannot compromise on the safety of those coming back to Kerala from abroad. The government is committed to repatriating all those who wish to return but we should avoid the spread of the virus during the flight. In this context, we are discussing with the central government to find out what best can be done in the interests of migrants," he said.
"We expect a decision will be taken soon," he said. As more flights arrive, more personnel would be assigned for checking the passengers at airports. Senior IAS-IPS officers would be tasked with coordinating arrangements at airports. The state had demanded to bring separately those who have tested positive in order to avoid the spread of the deadly virus.
He said that there were difficulties in conducting tests in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia but the Kerala government was committed to bring all those who wish to return to the state.
"As of now, we have said that all those who return to the state in chartered flights and private flights should undergo testing before boarding them in order to avoid spreading of virus to co-passengers. We are holding discussions with the Centre to avoid trouble for the expats..." Vijayan said replying to a question.
SAGINAW, MI A North Carolina man is accused of trying to rob a man at gunpoint in Saginaw.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, June 18, a 19-year-old male was walking home from the Quik Mart at 1400 Court St., followed by two men. As the teen neared his home, the two men following him accosted him, one pulling a handgun and demanding he hand over what he had, prosecutors said.
The victim refused to give the men anything. The two would-be robbers then took off back toward the party stores parking lot, prosecutors said.
The victim called 911. Police responded to the Quik Mart, where they saw two men matching the robbers descriptions, as provided by the teen, prosecutors said.
The two men fled on foot, pursued by police. One of the men managed to get away, but police arrested the other, identified as 21-year-old Darvon M. Fletcher of Greensboro, North Carolina.
The teen identified Fletcher as the man who had brandished the handgun, though police did not recover a gun on him, prosecutors said.
The crime appeared to have been random, without indication the teen had previously known his assailants.
A jury in Gaston County, North Carolina, on May 24, 2019, found Fletcher not guilty of first-degree murder in the April 2017 shooting death of 14-year-old Taylor Smith.
Fletcher on Monday, June 22, appeared before Saginaw County District Judge Elian E.H. Fichtner for arraignment on single counts of armed robbery, felon in possession of a firearm, and assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police, plus two counts of felony firearm. Armed robbery is a life offense, while a felony firearm conviction comes with a two-year mandatory minimum prison sentence to be served consecutively with any related stint.
Fichtner set bond at $100,000 cash-surety.
Fletchers next court date is pending.
Outlander star Sam Heughan is no stranger to James Bond rumors. The actor has been thrown into the mix of potential replacements for Daniel Craig, who will bow out of the iconic role this year. Nothing official has been announced Craigs final Bond movie, No Time To Die, hits theaters in November yet Heughan recently admitted that he obviously wants to be the next 007.
Sam Heughan | Rich Fury/WireImage
Fans speculate who might be the next James Bond
Craig has played Bond since the 2006 film, Casino Royale. The actor has reprised the role in four additional movies, including Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die.
Craig has expressed an interest in retiring from the role in previous years, though it sounds like No Time to Die will really be his final film as the iconic spy. If he truly does retire, there are quite a few potential replacements.
So far, the top names on the list of candidates to be the next James Bond include Heughan, Henry Cavill, Tom Hiddleston, James Norton, Sam Worthington, Idris Elba, and Richard Madden.
Producers have yet to say anything about the casting process for the next Bond film. With No Time to Die hitting theaters this year, it might be a long time before the next movie in the popular franchise goes into development.
That said, Heughan is definitely eager for the chance to prove he is the right man for the part.
Sam Heughan admits that he obviously wants to be James Bond
Heughan recently opened up about the Bond rumors during an interview on This Morning with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
According to Daily Mail, the hosts asked what Heughan thought about playing 007 on the big screens and he admitted that it is a dream role.
Obviously its a dream for every actor, he shared.
RELATED: Outlander Star Sam Heughan Backed By His Blood Shot Co-Star Vin Diesel to be the Next James Bond
The Outlander star went on to say that he actually auditioned for the role right before producers cast Craig for Casino Royale, so he has been wanting to snag the gig for quite some time. He also believes that the timing is perfect to bring back a Scottish Bond and thinks that fans would be completely in favor of the idea.
Of course it would be a dream role and a Scottish Bond, who doesnt want to see another Scottish Bond! he added.
While the verdict is still out on who will get the part, Heughans chances are just as good as anyone else.
What are the chances that Heughan lands the role?
There are quite a few factors that go into casting an actor to play an iconic role like James Bond. There is no telling which direction the franchise wants to take the character, but fans are totally on board with the idea of Heughan leading the way.
According to Express, betting agencies in the United Kingdom have witnessed a surge in fans thinking that Heughan will land the part. As things currently stand, James Norton is in the lead with the best odds followed closely by Heughan.
After Heughan, Madden is third in line followed by Hiddleston. If things continue as they have for the past few weeks, it will only be a matter of time before Heughan takes the top spot.
Heughan, of course, has been very open about his desire to land the part. Apart from his most recent comments, the Outlander star admitted that he wants to play Bond in an interview last year with STV.
Although Heughan is plenty busy with Outlander, he still has time in his schedule for another movie project. And if producers offer him the 007 role, there is little doubt that he will make time for the film.
Sam Heughan opens up about being bullied online
While fans wait to see how things pan out for Heughan, the actor recently addressed his struggles with online bullying.
Heughan took a lot of heat a few months ago for flying to Hawaii to spend the lockdown in the vacation hotspot. Amid the backlash, Heughan posted a long note on social media regarding the constant bullying he has faced for years.
Sam Heughan is winning our poll to name readers' pick for the next James Bond is he your choice?https://t.co/bwN9adBPaA pic.twitter.com/8DpsSAC2uA Radio Times (@RadioTimes) June 18, 2020
RELATED: Outlander Star Sam Heughan Is Officially the Frontrunner to be the Next James Bond
After the past 6 years of constant bullying, harassment, stalking, and false narrative I am at a loss, upset, hurt, and have to speak out, he shared.
Heughan, who stars opposite Caitriona Balfe in Outlander, added that the bullying has affected his mental state and some of his co-stars on the show. He also assured fans that he traveled to Hawaii before the travel bans were put in place and that he has put no one at risk of catching the virus.
The Taste of Sugar
By Marisel Vera
Liveright. 380 pp. $26.95
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More recent outrages have obscured the special punishment that President Donald Trump meted out to Puerto Rico early in his presidency. You may remember that he'd been in office less than a year when Hurricane Maria laid waste to the island. As local officials pleaded for help, the White House concentrated on defending its slow, chaotic relief efforts. Then Trump stopped by for a photo op and tossed paper towel rolls to desperate survivors. Finding San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz insufficiently sycophantic, he began whining about the cost of saving the island. Puerto Ricans "want everything to be done for them," he tweeted as residents searched for their loved ones' bodies. Later, he slowed the flow of aid approved by Congress and even claimed that the death toll estimates were just a Democratic conspiracy designed to make him look bad.
As Marisel Vera shows in her enthralling new novel, "The Taste of Sugar," there's nothing particularly original about Trump's abuse of Puerto Rico. In fact, the U.S. response to Hurricane Maria was a grim echo of the U.S. response to Hurricane San Ciriaco more than a century ago. In 1899, that record-breaking storm decimated the island just a year after the Americans "liberated" Puerto Rico from Spain. With thousands dead and the food infrastructure in ruins, this territorial jewel suddenly curdled into an irritating burden on the U.S. Treasury. Equally incompetent and greedy, the administrators appointed by President McKinley cut deals with plantation owners that, as Vera describes it, "reestablished Puerto Rico's centuries-old feudal society."
But Hurricane San Ciriaco is merely the hinge at the center of "The Taste of Sugar." Vera, the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, begins her story in the tumultuous years of the early 19th century. The Spanish governor has redesigned the labor system so badly that most sharecroppers live as virtual slaves. A thicket of fees and taxes has crippled once viable small coffee farms. After sketching out the course of financial demise, Vera arrives at two young people who will be the focus of this epic.
Valentina seems at first just a silly teenager, a pampered member of a small middle-class society in the city of Ponce. Her parents hope to marry her off to a wealthy older man, but Valentina is much enamored of French romance novels. The moment she spots a handsome coffee farmer at a party, it's love at first sight.
The object of her affection is 21-year-old Vicente. He's perfectly candid about his modest position and limited prospects, but Valentina is more interested in his gorgeous eyes. After they're married and she returns with her new husband to live with his parents, she discovers that life is not always like a French novel.
The style of "The Taste of Sugar" is heavily inflected with Spanish words and phrases, which convey the rich linguistic culture of this place. And sometimes, without warning, Vera drops her own narrative voice and shifts into the higher register of a character's excited monologue. It's a tremendously enlivening dramatic effect.
One of the many pleasures of this story stems from Vera's emotional range. Initially, there are elements of romantic comedy in the newlyweds' cramped situation: Valentina had no idea her husband was so poor, and Vicente had no idea his wife was so talentless, as his disappointed mother keeps pointing out.
But Vera pursues something more serious amid all this domestic awkwardness. She's interested in the way these two young people mature, the way their infatuation solidifies into profound devotion. The first hardship they endure may be a humorous lack of privacy, but eventually they'll suffer the most painful tragedies a couple can confront. That could certainly break Valentina or cast her disillusioned husband into violent bitterness, but in a sense, "The Taste of Sugar" is a corrective to those French melodramas that Valentina once devoured: It's a passionate love story purified in the crucible of suffering.
All these intimate and finely drawn details are nested within a masterful work of historical fiction that traces monumental economic and political currents. After all, like millions of others, Valentina and Vicente's lives revolve around the cultivation of two of the most widely desired substances in human history: coffee and sugar. In pursuit of those commodities, fortunes have been risked and lost, nations have been sold and brutalized. Vicente's modest dream of owning a little land and harvesting fine beans looks so poignant in the context of global market forces he's barely aware of. But Vera never reduces him or any of her characters to mere cogs in this vast system. Her vision is always grounded in this hard-working family, their struggles, their flaws, their persistent decency.
Once the Americans bring "the advantages and blessings of enlightened civilization" and the San Ciriaco hurricane strikes the island, "The Taste of Sugar" becomes a kind of Latino "Grapes of Wrath." Starving, desperate for work and enticed by promises from deceptive recruiters, some 5,000 Puerto Ricans - including Valentina and Vicente - are lured to Hawaii. But for all they know of what's in store, it might as well be the Moon. From this bizarre and tragic historical footnote, Vera has reconstructed a shameful era of America's past.
One of the great challenges of globe-spanning stories about the forces that raise and cripple nations is maintaining a fragile realm of free will in which ordinary characters can still act, even in their highly oppressed circumstances. That's the rich feat of "The Taste of Sugar." Here, the drama always stays rooted in the suspenseful ordeal of these farmers to whom we grow more and more attached. Vera writes as confidently about the mechanics of international markets as she does about the hopes whispered between grieving lovers.
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Charles writes about books for The Washington Post and hosts TotallyHipVideoBookReview.com.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, the nation has bridged the gap of 6 decades in just 6 years, Bharatiya Janata Party national president Jagat Prakash Nadda said while addressing the Assam Jan Samvad virtual rally on Tuesday.
Nadda said that this year is a marked by great achievements and has also exhibited how the country could fight the Covid-19 battle in the best possible manner.
At the beginning of the crisis, we were not producing PPE kits but now over 4 lakh PPE kits are being produced daily. Covid-19 cases were doubling in three days earlier, now the doubling rate is around 17 days. Previously, we could test only 1,500 samples in a day which has gone up to 1.5 lakh daily, the BJP president said.
Nadda opened his address by remembering and paying homage to 20 Indian Army bravehearts who lost their lives in the violent clash with the Chinese military during last weeks face-off in Ladakh.
Also read: BJPs JP Nadda takes on Rahul Gandhis jibes over India-China stand-off
He also lauded the undying spirit of the nations corona warriors in their selfless fight against the contagion.
Nadda had previously addressed similar virtual rallies dedicated to Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.
On Sunday, while addressing the UP Jan Samvad Rally, Nadda had said that PM Modi is not only the leader of humans but also of Gods. Nadda was reacting to former Congress chief to Rahul Gandhis Surender Modi comment.
Even God is not with you (Congress) now. You say - Narendra Modi is Surender Modi that means you are saying that Modi ji is not only the leader of humans but also of Gods. You should understand the language of God, Nadda had said.
Gandhi had shared an international dailys article titled Indias appeasement policy toward China unravels on Twitter, and wrote: Narendra Modi Is actually Surender Modi.
Nadda assured the people of the nation that every inch of our countrys land is secure under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress party is demoralizing the security forces, he said.
Cinemas, museums and galleries to begin reopening as lockdown eases
Cinemas, museums and art galleries will be able to begin re-opening their doors from next month in the latest easing of the coronavirus lockdown in England.
Boris Johnson is due to set out the results of a review of the two-metre social-distancing rule in the Commons later today, with the expectation being that it will be cut to one metre.
Much of the focus has been on the hospitality sector - with detailed guidance due on how pubs, bars and restaurants can start gradually to re-open from July 4.
However it is now expected there will be guidance for sections of the arts and cultural sector on how they can welcome back visitors under the latest stage of easing the lockdown.
Mourners pay their respects at public viewing for Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta
Mourners lined up for hours to pay their respects at a public viewing for Rayshard Brooks, who was fatally shot by an police officer in the US.
The viewing concluded on Monday evening at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Martin Luther King Jr served as a co-pastor from 1960 until his assassination in 1968.
Mr Brooks lay in a gold-coloured casket as mourner after mourner walked slowly past to pay their respects. All wore masks as mandated by the church, and some wore Black Lives Matter T-shirts.
Director Joel Schumacher dies aged 80 after battle with cancer
Hollywood director Joel Schumacher, whose films included St Elmo's Fire and The Lost Boys, has died at the age of 80.
A representative for Schumacher said the filmmaker died Monday in New York after a year-long battle with cancer.
Schumacher was behind two Batman sequels as well as a string of big films in the 1980s and 1990s, including The Client and A Time to Kill.
Men 'make more coronavirus antibodies than women'
Men appear to produce higher levels of Covid-19 antibodies than women, figures have shown.
Coronavirus survivors are being sought to donate blood plasma as part of a major trial assessing whether it could help some of the sickest patients.
The trial is ongoing to assess whether convalescent plasma donations can be transfused into patients who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), which is collecting the plasma for the trial, said new analysis had found that men produce more coronavirus antibodies than women.
Kate Middleton promises to plant sunflower in memory of boy cared for by hospice
The Duchess of Cambridge has promised to buy a sunflower in memory of a boy whose brother raised thousands of pounds for the hospice that looked after him.
Kate told Stuie, 13, that he was "amazing" for running five kilometres every day in May in aid of East Anglia Childrens Hospices (Each), of which she is patron.
Stuie's brother Fraser, 9, died in January after spending his final weeks in the Milton branch of Each, near Cambridge.
On this day...
1757: The Battle of Plassey took place in Bengal, with victory for the British, led by Clive of India, over Indian forces - laying the foundations of the British Empire in India.
1763: Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon, was born on the French island of Martinique as Marie Rose Josephine Tascher de la Pagerie.
1848: Adolphe Sax was awarded a patent for the saxophone.
1860: On St John's Eve, Mussorgsky completed St John's Night On A Bare Mountain. After his death, Rimsky-Korsakov edited it and knocked St John from the title.
1872: The first practical typewriter was patented by Christopher Sholes in Milwaukee, USA. Its keys were in alphabetical order, but in November they were changed to Universal Keyboard, in the same order of type as a printer's case.
1902: Edward VII founded the Order of Merit for his Coronation Honours. One of the first recipients was Viscount Kitchener. The order is limited in number to 24 at any one time.
1951: British diplomats Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean fled to the Soviet Union.
1956: General Nasser became Egypt's first president after an election in which voting was compulsory, and he was the only candidate.
National security law preserves HK judiciary
Global Times
By GT staff reporters Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/22 22:13:54
Chief executive to appoint judges 'based on Basic Law'
After the draft law to safeguard national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was reviewed by China's top legislature and some details were released on Saturday , Western countries, media, Hong Kong opposition politicians and some legal professionals said they fear the law would harm the city's judicial independence. But senior Hong Kong legal experts said the draft law is in accordance with the Basic Law.
The draft law, which was reviewed at the meeting of the 19th Session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee which ended on Saturday, states that the commissioner's office for national security affairs in Hong Kong and relevant national authorities would exercise jurisdiction over a very small number of crimes concerning national security under special circumstances.
The chief executive of the HKSAR government shall appoint judges to handle crimes that endanger national security, the draft law says.
The West and Hong Kong oppositionists are using these details to accuse China's central government of "undermining the judicial independence of the city and the "one country, two systems" principle.
Ronny Tong Ka-wah, a senior barrister in the HKSAR and former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, told the Global Times that the newly unveiled draft of the national security law for Hong Kong makes him "reassured," and that it was "strange" that the Hong Kong Bar Association said judges appointed by the chief executive to deal with crimes against national security were "ruled by man" because the appointments are based on the Basic Law.
Tong said he would have concerns if the national security law could damage Hong Kong's judicial independence. But after seeing the main content of the draft law, he felt at ease "especially the relevant provisions for the international covenant on civil and political rights, and international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights mentioned in the draft."
Elsie Leung Oi-sie, the deputy director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee and a former Secretary of Justice, told the Global Times that in Western countries, the central governments also get involved once a case involves separatism and national sovereignty. "Spain's jurisdiction over its autonomous region of Catalonia is a good example. The secessionist leaders from Catalonia were tried in the country's Supreme Court in Madrid."
When it comes to cases involving "Tibet separatism" and "Xinjiang separatism," central authorities need to step in and handle these situations. Hong Kong law enforcement agencies have no experience in dealing with these types of cases, the former official said.
"Of course the meaning of 'specific circumstances' and 'very few cases' depends on the detailed provisions in the law," she said.
Tong dismissed an accusation by Anita Yip Hau-ki, the vice chairman of the Bar Association, who said these appointments would mean "the rule of man." Tong said Yip's claim is "strange," as the Basic Law states that judges in the HKSAR are appointed by the chief executive on the recommendation of an independent commission composed of local judges and eminent persons from the legal profession and other sectors.
"Hong Kong's general law and some administrative regulations also give the chief executive the authority to appoint judges for special cases, such as major public investigations," said Tong, noting that "whoever is appointed by the chief executive will hear cases independently. It's not the chief executive hearing the cases, so I don't see anything that undermines the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong."
"I don't want to be too critical of them [some people of the Bar Association] because I was once the chairman of the association. I just hope professional organizations could speak out professionally," Tong said.
Senior legal figures should understand Hong Kong's legal system, Tong said, while noting that "given that they understand it, I wonder why they still made such comments. That made me feel very strange."
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All customers and staff at businesses across Jefferson County will be required to wear a mask or other face covering as part of a renewed effort to slow the rapidly spreading coronavirus.
The order by County Judge Jeff Branick takes effect at noon Wednesday. It applies to all commercial entities that provide goods and services directly to the public. This does not include refineries and chemical plants.
The edict was announced the same day that Beaumont, the county seat, set a single-day record for new positive cases and the state of Texas blew past the daily high mark set on Saturday.
Still, just a couple of hours before he announced the decision, the judge was expressing hesitation about taking action that acts as a restraint on personal liberties and insisting that he was trying to decipher the data.
Prior to announcing the order, Branick said he also had reviewed a recent recommendation from the Texas Medical Association suggesting the wearing of masks. Its unclear what impact the recommendation had on his decision.
Branick, the countys top elected official, did not respond to a request from The Enterprise to elaborate on his reasoning.
The order is set to expire on June 30, and Branick stressed that it would be rescinded as quickly as possible.
At a glance Confirmed coronavirus Jefferson County cases: Beaumont739 LeBlanc Prison Unit239 Larry Gist State Jail233 Port Arthur140 Mark W. Stiles Prison Unit43 Nederland34 Groves26 Port Neches17 China6 Cheek2 Nome4 Hamshire2 Fannett1 Source: Beaumont and Port Arthur Public Health Departments, Texas Department of Criminal Justice See More Collapse
Related: Coronavirus surge accelerates across Jefferson County
The new order also requires businesses to maintain social distancing guidelines and turn away employees who feel sick. Business owners who refuse to enforce the provisions face a $1,000 fine per violation.
Exceptions are made for children under the age of 10; customers consuming food or drink provided by the business; and those who are exercising outdoors. Businesses also are not required to buy masks for customers.
Jefferson County joins other Texas governmental bodies that have passed a mask mandate since Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed that local leaders have the ability to do so.
Harris County, which includes Houston and has emerged as a hot spot of national interest, put the order into effect Monday.
The increasing restrictions come as the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and confirmed cases have risen dramatically.
Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox
On Tuesday, the city of Beaumont reported 25 new cases confirmed. That is its highest single-day increase to date. Port Arthur confirmed 10 new cases, and four more were confirmed in Nederland and Groves. That put the county total one case shy of the record set Monday.
Jefferson County now has 971 confirmed cases, plus more than 500 in three state prison facilities.
Data about coronavirus cases in local hospitals provided by the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council lags a day behind. But totals from Monday show more confirmed coronavirus patients were in general beds or isolation at Jefferson County hospitals than on any previous day since the outbreak began earlier this year.
The number of confirmed coronavirus patients in intensive care units across the county is second only to the number logged on Sunday. The number of suspected coronavirus patients in ICU here is higher than ever.
Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames said that, even with the rise in confirmed cases and hospitalizations, the number of people dying as a result of the virus is lower than previously recorded.
The county logged its last virus-related death on June 10.
Ames stressed that everyone who is confirmed to have come in contact with an infected individual is asked to quarantine for 14 days, regardless of whether theyve experienced symptoms.
As a result, shes heard from local businesses that many employees cant come in.
Related: Governor: Texas hits 5,000 new virus cases for first time
We have to do something to make sure this doesnt continue to spread so we can continue to open up our economy, Ames said.
The mayor said she has received quite a few phone calls and emails from physicians and hospitals asking her to pass such an order for Beaumont.
Those of you whove called me, its not gone on deaf ears, she said. I dont want to do this without a little research on how were going to enforce it.
Ames, who said she did not know in advance about Branicks plans to write the order, which was released during Tuesdays regular meeting of the Beaumont City Council said she wants to know more specifics. For example, what is a business expected to do if a customer pushes back against the ordinance?
The order does not address this procedure directly. However, it says any peace officer or other person with lawful authority is authorized to enforce it.
Mamas Vegetarian, one of Center Citys prime destinations for falafel and other Israeli street foods, is closed permanently, owner Haviv David said Tuesday.
Mamas, which opened at 18 S. 20th St. in 2005, closed temporarily last August when the landlord began renovations upstairs that created noise and mess. The work continues. David said the landlord did not want to renew the lease.
Inquirer critic Craig LaBan, in a 2016 article about meat-free cuisine, wrote: The pursuit of kosher-friendly cuisine (rather than veganism) is the prime motivation behind this casual Israeli quick-serve. It just happens that the citys best falafel (complete with fresh housemade pitas and a killer toppings bar) is also animal-product-free. (All items are vegan with the exception of latkes and the sabich.) He also noted that service could be grumpy.
For a spell more than a decade ago, Davids son Shauli owned Mamas Grill at 630 South St., which specialized in shawarma and house-baked pita.
For your falafel fix, LaBan recommends Mamouns in Old City, Goldie in Rittenhouse, Apricot Stone in Northern Liberties, Suraya in Fishtown, Al Amana Grocery in Kensington, and Al-Sham in Northeast Philly.
Trivia: From 1980 till 2005, the 20th Street address was home to restaurants including Mandana, Sydney Harbour, Stock & Trade, and Pad Thai Shack and was an original location of the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA).
The interruption to young childrens learning is happening precisely at a time when developmental gains matter most. Credit: Shutterstock
COVID-19 may appear indiscriminate in how it infects people, but its greatest effect will be on the most vulnerable.
The coronavirus has uncovered myriad inequities within systems of education, from childrens' and families' access to resources, to the supportive and safe environments that are necessary for optimal learning. Inequities are exponentially greater in times of crisis.
In Canada, more than 2.3 million primary-age children remain at home. Challenges of inequity were immediately apparent as public school authorities began responding.
Privileged families with stable home environments will find themselves able to navigate and circumvent around school closures and find and use alternate and various learning resources, while families facing inequities will be most impacted by these challenges.
For the youngest children in our schools, the cumulative effects of inequities are particularly concerning. The interruption to their learning is happening precisely at a time when crucial developmental gains matter most, since these gains provide an important foundation for child well-being, competence, skills and maturation. This disruption, if left unaddressed, may shift childrens' developmental trajectories.
Remote learning
For our youngest learners, schools are responding in variable ways. In Ontario, for example, the province set out minimum requirements for students from kindergarten to Grade 3 at five hours per week with a focus on literacy and numeracy. The province has also more recently stressed the importance of mental health of children.
Young children learn through inquiry and self-directed, play-based community learning that is supported by responsive, stable, educator-child interactions.
Having teachers post resources online may be important to families with the capacities to engage with them, and using the internet to maintain relationships could be helpful in some cases. To meet the remote learning requirements stipulated by education authorities, some early childhood teachers are offering at-home learning strategies or minimal to frequent online meetings to deliver various curricula and support children.
But it's important for policy-makers and the public to understand something already very clear to early childhood educators and teachers: online delivery of education cannot substitute for in-person learning. Learning on a screen is not how young children learn the foundational and developmental skills they need.
How realistic it is for all families to follow the varied instruction that schools are offering is questionable, if not deeply problematic.
Inequities will be magnified
Public education serves as an equalizer in our society. But jurisdictional and national averages gloss over the evident inequities for Indigenous children, Black and racialized communities, children and families in shelters or government care, those with special needs and those living in poverty.
In the pandemic, the equalizing properties of education are now being eclipsed by child and parent ableism. This means that students and families who have internet and technology access, housing and food security and quiet and safe environments that are conducive to learning will be poised to benefit most from remote learning. Remote learning will further exacerbate the inequities that already exist.
This is not to say that teachers offering online time is not important. Educators are in a unique position of regular and almost daily contact with isolated families. Online time can support emotional and social well-being and referral to necessary services. For this reason, family check-ins should be a priority.
But let's acknowledge that there will be a lot of catching up to do when children return to school.
Family struggles
As learning transitioned online, many parents struggle with homeschooling due to limited technology and resources. Single-parent families, individuals with mental health challenges, those with children with special needs or with multiple children report feeling overwhelmed. In homes marred by family violence, the respite offered by school is gone.
Essential workers may not be home to support childrens' learning. Those who continue to work from home must do so with a balance of child care, education and their own job demands, with much of the weight put on women.
Social and emotional well-being
The social and emotional well-being of families, children and educators is critical. Maintaining responsive interactions and social relationships between educators, children and families will help support well-being.
Potential changes in policies by ministries responsible for children and education may be necessary as we transition back to in-person schooling. Changes in teaching approaches will be important prior to a COVID-19 vaccine to ensure physical distancing health guidelines are not inadvertently having a negative impact on children's learning and development.
School authorities and child-care operators must focus on professional learning of their educators focusing on supporting children as they transition back. Approaches used to support refugees in order to narrow learning gaps may be useful.
Flexibility is required. Policies may need to change in real time. Unions may be required to be nimble, allowing educators to meet the needs and challenges of children and their learning.
Focus on early childhood
School authorities, public health and government ministries responsible for children and education must collaborate in order to create inclusive, supportive and safe environments, especially during transitions.
Co-ordinated public health responses should include input from school authorities and early childhood experts who know best how children learn. Educators are skilled at maintaining classroom safety and hygiene without impeding childrens' development.
The enduring social and emotional impacts will likely be COVID-19's greatest legacy, compounding inequities and widening inequality. How we respond to these incalculable disruptions will determine their outcome. Social and emotional well-being, the foundations of learning and lifelong success should be top priorities.
Explore further How will children with disabilities fare when school resumes in the fall?
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Radius Bank, a forward-thinking digital bank, announced today it has hired three new team members within the Institutional Banking division to support recent growth and to better serve its clients. Radius newest team members, Tyler Mensick, John Relyea, and Joey Miranda, further strengthen the Banks offerings to businesses and labor unions both small and large nationwide.
Tyler Mensick, Vice President of Regional Sales and Relationship Manager for Escrow Sales, is primarily focused on business development and the acquisition of escrow deposits. He joins Radius from Opus Bank, where he spent eight years in various senior roles as the head of relationship management and deposit generation. During his time at Opus Bank, Mensick focused heavily on growing large portfolios of escrow deposits and developing strong, reciprocal relationships with multifamily and commercial real estate brokers, borrowers, lenders, and title representatives. He is based in Los Angeles, California and supports clients across the country for Radius.
John Relyea, Senior Vice President of Commercial API Banking, is tasked with driving the development and deployment of Radius strategy for API Banking that provides businesses with the convenience of using application programming interfaces (APIs) to send and receive payments and manage their cash from within their current operating systems, versus having to use the Banks online or mobile banking platform. Before joining Radius, Relyea was the Senior Vice President of Direct Lending at Security National Automotive Acceptance Company. Within his previous role, he had success in transforming go-to-market strategies, leading UX marketing and branding revamps, and managing cross-functional teams. With more than 25 years of experience, Relyea has built an expertise in crafting digital visions, defining strategies and cross-functional collaborations, and negotiating with stakeholders. He is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
Joey Miranda, Vice President of Cash Management Sales, is working directly with the Institutional Banking relationship team to provide subject matter expertise in cash management sales and deposit support. Miranda joins Radius from Santander Bank, where he spent the last five years in various senior roles including his most recent position as AVP Cash Management Sales Officer. He is based in Boston, Massachusetts.
As we experience continued growth and seek to broaden our reach into new businesses and industries, it was essential that we expanded our workforce to better serve our clients, said Phil Peters, Radius Executive Vice President / Chief Operating Officer. Each of them brings a uniquely qualified background, and I look forward to seeing them utilize their expertise to help the Institutional Banking team exceed their goals in 2020.
To learn more about Radius Bank, visit http://www.radiusbank.com or connect on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
About Radius Bank
With assets of approximately $1.5 billion, Radius Bank is a forward-thinking digital bank committed to providing a full complement of accounts and services to meet the banking needs of consumers and businesses nationwide. Radius provides the product depth of a national brand, the technology of a fintech, and the personalized attention typically reserved for a local bank to consumers, small and middle market businesses, unions, government entities and non-profit organizations. The Banks award-winning digital banking platform allows consumer clients to bank from anywhere with a computer or mobile device and provides convenient features such as check deposit, bill pay, card management, and a personal financial management dashboard. Business clients enjoy a wide array of award-winning deposit products, advanced treasury management services, and loan and payment solutions. In addition, Radius suite of open APIs delivers a robust banking-as-a-service (BaaS) platform for fintechs to quickly access core banking features and build best-in-class financial solutions. Radius specializes in partnering with forward-thinking fintechs to provide white-label deposit products, cards, digital onboarding, and account management. Radius Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is an Equal Housing/Equal Opportunity Lender. For further information, visit the Banks website at radiusbank.com, or follow the Bank on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
We are highly concerned about the case in which a Chinese employee of a private Chinese company near Gweru shot and injured a local employee due to a wage dispute yesterday (Sunday). Although this is an isolated incident and the embassy has no law enforcement authority over the enterprise, we firmly support Zimbabwes law enforcement agencies to transparently and openly investigate and handle the case in accordance with the law of Zimbabwe, the embassy said.
Federal agencies and Congress have increasingly looked to bug bounty programs to find and stamp out cybersecurity vulnerabilities in their software. A new survey of nearly 3,500 security researchers who use Bugcrowd's platform offers a glimpse into the backgrounds and motivations of a highly coveted pool of emerging cyber talent that both government and industry are desperate to recruit.
More than half of those surveyed live in urban environments, and three out of four speak multiple languages. Despite efforts within the information security community in recent years to improve diversity, the average age of those who participated in the survey skewed overwhelmingly young and male.
According to the survey, higher education is an important feature for many security researchers and their families. They're most likely to have obtained a college degree (49%), have parents who have done the same (36%) and are three times less likely to drop out than their parents. The survey data "suggests most security researchers are degree-qualified because they come from educated families that value the acquisition of worldly knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits."
While the size of the average American household has been in decline for decades, nearly half (48%) of respondents come from large families with between 4-12 members. Even with more mouths to feed, 64% reported pulling down a median annual income of just $25,000 or less, though many also say they only chase bug bounties on a part-time basis. Perhaps not surprisingly, making money was cited as the most important issue, followed by flexible hours and improved skills.
The report predicts that over the next six months, cybercriminals will exploit the widespread shift to remote telework in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasingly targeting vulnerable infrastructure through expanded reconnaissance activities and asset discovery. That in turn will lead to organizations boosting their reliance on white hat hackers over the next year as they race to identify and fix hidden software vulnerabilities.
The pandemic "has demystified many of the perceived differences between employees working remotely and security researchers" and emerging technologies such as machine learning that are not yet mature enough to meet the increased demand.
"This gap between automation and human adversarial creativity suggests organizations will increasingly seek to augment their human expertise in securing their assets via crowdsourcing, the most efficient and practical approach to finding available talent," the company forecasts.
John Zangardi, former CIO at the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, told FCW in an interview that in his experience, two biggest impediments hindering the federal government's cyber recruiting efforts are money and the lengthy hiring process that consumes most federal agencies.
While they often cannot compete on pay, one potential advantage for federal agencies could be through supporting the continuing education goals of its IT and cyber employees. A recent study by government contracting intelligence firm Deltek cited declining budgets and a lack of career development programs as a contributing factor for rising turnover rates among federal IT contractors, while a majority of respondents to the Bugcrowd survey say they use the platform for personal development and improving their skills.
Last year the Trump administration issued an executive order creating a new rotational program for federal employees to detail at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and other agencies to improve their technical skills. CISA has also sought ways to sidestep normal federal hiring procedures to more easily hire information security specialists and pay them more.
Zangardi said during his tenure, cyber retention incentive bonus programs at DHS that provided extra compensation to employees who complete new certifications acted as a partial salve to some of the government's inherent recruiting challenges. However, he acknowledged that for many positions -- particularly highly-skilled ones -- individuals can still earn tens of thousands of dollars more per year by doing similar work in the private sector.
"I can't change the GS federal pay scale, but we can take steps to ensure that we're giving them what we can," said Zangardi.
China's Medical Administration and Supervision for National Health Commission deputy director Jiao Yahui speaks during a press conference in Beijing on Jan. 28, 2020. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)
5 Secrets of the CCP Pandemic Coverup Revealed in Leaked Documents
News Analysis
Internal documents from Chinas National Health Commission (NHC), revealing comments from top health officials about the Chinese regimes handling of the CCP virus outbreak, have exposed five key secrets about the authorities coverup.
The Epoch Times recently obtained a trove of documents, including an internal notice about a confidential teleconference on Jan. 14 with provincial and municipal health officials.
This confidential notice asked all relevant officials to attend an online training at 10 a.m. on Jan. 15.
The training session focused on how to proceed with the diagnosis and treatment of CCP virus infection, containment policy, and deployment of medical assistance in hospitals according to instructions of the NHC.
Another document is titled, Teleconference talk on new coronavirus by director Jiao. Jiao refers to Jiao Yahui from the commissions Medical Administration and Supervision Department.
The document was a transcript of a presentation given by Jiao Yahui on Jan. 15 regarding the CCP virus.
According to an Associated Press (AP) report published on April 15, internal documents obtained by AP revealed that the head of Chinas NHC, Ma Xiaowei, laid out a grim assessment of the coronavirus situation during a confidential teleconference on Jan. 14 with provincial health officials.
The transcript obtained by The Epoch Times revealed that Jiao Yahui mentioned that Director Ma gave an important talk on the teleconference report on the coronavirus situation yesterday morning. From this comment, it can be inferred that the teleconference Jiao Yahui participated in was the one held on Jan. 15.
Five Secrets Revealed in the Transcript
During the teleconferences training session, Jiao Yahuis presentation disclosed five major key points that have been hidden by the regime.
1. The CCP was aware of the outbreak
At the beginning of the talk, Jiao asked everyone to maintain a high degree of vigilance, because everyones perception of this work is indeed different (from whats demanded), and there is a big gap.
When Jiao reminded officials of all localities to keep a high degree of vigilance, it was during the peak season of travel during the Chinese New Year. At that time, the CCP vehemently denied human-to-human transmission of the virus, and eight doctors were punished for rumor-mongering. The truth of the epidemic was kept not only from the general public, but also from medical staff at the grassroots level.
Jiao Yahui, as a senior health care committee member and insider, issued warnings at internal meetings. This shows that the CCP was very clear on the fact that the CCP virus was highly contagious and concealing the truth would lead to a severe epidemic.
2. The regime prioritizes discipline and stability over public health
Before discussing the specific work, Jiao repeatedly emphasized discipline, that is, we want to make the inside tight and the outside loose.
Jiao said, Dont create panic and instability in society because Chinese New Year is coming. She specifically emphasized, Everyone should not disclose in the circle of friends and the internet, but only for internal use at work.
Jiaos statement confirmed whats believed to be the regimes decision to conceal the truth to preserve the festive holiday atmosphere and social stability at the cost of missing the golden time to prevent the spread of the outbreak.
A Hong Kong media report in February indicated that Xi Jinping was notified in early January about the outbreak and prevention mechanisms, but at the Politburo Standing Committee meeting on Jan. 7, Xi requested such measures not to affect the festive atmosphere. An opportunity to prevent the spread of the epidemic was thus missed.
3. Infection prevention comes second
Jiao spoke about the formation of a team of experts specializing in respiratory, infectious, acute care, imaging, and examination, and preparations of supplies including protective gear, disinfectants, and antivirus products and medicines.
These requirements are clearly in preparation for human-to-human transmission. However, authorities didnt publicly acknowledge the possibility of human transmission until Jan. 20.
4. The rule to confirm a case
It is worth mentioning what Jiao specifically emphasized: to strictly implement the diagnosis (procedure) of the first case.
It is required that diagnosis and publishing the first confirmed case cannot be done by local authorities. It must be confirmed by state and published by province. That is, the testing and confirmation will be done by Chinas National Disease Control Center (CDC).
Jiao also emphasized that even after the first confirmed case is made, subsequent cases still need to be reviewed and approved by the national CDC laboratory, and the diagnosis and public announcement are organized by the province.
Jiao said, This is a discipline. She also said, The first case in each province must be diagnosed by a national agency, and then released in the province.
5. Avoid social panic caused by deaths
Jiao said, Especially if there are many death cases, it will easily cause panic in society, panic about disease and an epidemic situation. Jiao said about reducing the mortality rate, this is the focus of our critical care.
Political commentator Li Linyi pointed out that the critical care and mortality rate proposed by the NHC and Jiao Yahui are more to prevent triggering social panic than to respect and save life under the CCP rule. Li Linyi believes Jiao was following Xi Jinpings instructions, that is, she was implementing a policy of maintaining stability, not following standard medical procedures.
Chengdu Epidemiologic Investigation Report Confirms Part of Jiaos Talk
A Jan. 16 report from the CDC of Chengdu city, Sichuan Province, proved that the rule of prohibiting local authorities from confirming cases was strictly followed.
According to this report, a patient surnamed Yang developed a fever on Jan. 3 in Wuhan. He returned to Chengdu on Jan. 9 after receiving treatment. Afterward, he repeatedly developed a fever and sought medical treatment. He was admitted to Chengdu First Peoples Hospital on Jan. 11 and was treated in isolation.
The report said that on Jan. 15, the hospital took a sample from Yang onsite and sent it to the CDCs of both Chengdu and Sichuan for testing. On Jan. 16, the provincial CDC reported that his sample tested positive in a nucleic acid test.
Based on this, the Chengdu CDC made a preliminary investigation conclusion in the report: This case is an observation case and diagnosed as a new coronavirus-infected pneumonia case. Further confirmation is required to combine with the national CDC diagnosis. In other words, the case was not confirmed at that time.
In fact, according to Chinas Jan. 21 epidemic briefing, as of Jan. 20, only Hubei Province, Guangdong Province, Beijing, and Shanghai had confirmed cases. This shows that the national CDC failed to confirm Yangs test on Jan. 16.
This report from Chengdu city confirmed part of Jiaos talkthat is, local officials are not authorized to confirm cases. Even if the patient samples test positive by the provincial CDC, they have to wait for the national CDCs review and approval to be recognized as confirmed cases.
The Epoch Times Reports Numerous Coverups by the CCP
The Epoch Times has repeatedly exposed internal documents that revealed the CCPs coverup of the epidemic.
For example, a document from the regional health commission in northern Chinas Inner Mongolia, revealed details about the NHCs instructions on how local health agencies should deal with the new disease (now known as COVID-19).
It asked hospitals to take measures to prevent the disease from spreading inside their facilities and train staff on such actions. It also asked hospitals to set up fever clinics and to pre-screen and triage anyone experiencing a fever, to determine levels of urgency for treating patients.
The notice was marked for internal use only, and cannot be distributed on the internet.
Commentator Li Linyi said this document shows that the CCP long knew that the virus was highly contagious and may spread rapidly, but insisted on concealing that information from the public.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Police have called on Amazon to remove an 'offensive' t-shirt featuring a 'Blue lives murder' logo from sale on its site.
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file British officers, branded the shirt 'deeply offensive' as it shows an officer with a raised baton, appearing to attack a member of the public.
Costing 17.95, the garment comes in blue and shows a white silhouette of an officer in a US uniform striking at a pair of outstretched arms.
Police have called on Amazon to remove an 'offensive' t-shirt featuring a 'Blue lives murder' logo from sale on its site
But the Federation says it has been contacted by 'disgusted colleagues' and demanded the removal of the range of clothing because the graphic suggests police brutality.
Chairman John Apter wrote to Amazon's managing director Doug Gurr, calling for him to take immediate action on the shirts being advertised on the website by the Black History Afrocentric Company.
On Twitter the Federation said the immediate stopping of the sale of the 'disgusting' t-shirts is backed by Home Secretary, Priti Patel.
John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, said: 'In recent weeks we have rightly praised my colleagues for their outstanding bravery and courage and for saving lives. I was therefore disgusted to see these products being sold on an Amazon platform.
On Twitter the Police Federation said the immediate stopping of the sale of the 'disgusting' t-shirts is backed by Home Secretary, Priti Patel
Among those to speak out against the t-shirt was police officer Carl Blower, 50, (pictured right, with Gino D'Acampo) who has been working with Greater Manchester police for 18 years
'These items are deeply offensive, not only to police officers but to many members of the public.
'I have raised this matter directly with the Home Secretary and she is as appalled as the entire police family is about these products.
Mr Blower said he was 'appalled and disgusted' by the shirts
'On behalf of the 120,000 police officers we represent I have written directly to the Managing Director of Amazon calling on the company to stop the sale of the t-shirts on their platform.
'The ball is now firmly in Amazon's court and I am asking the company to do the right thing and remove them from sale immediately.'
More than 32,000 people have signed a petition asking Amazon to remove the 'offensive' clothing, which many say is fuelling a 'larger divide.'
Among those to complain was serving police officer Carl Blower, who has been working with Greater Manchester police for 18 years.
He took to the retailer's Facebook page saying: 'I am appalled and disgusted that Amazon would sell and associate themselves to T-shirts with Blue Lives Murder slogans.
'You are adding to the cause of what is wrong with the world today. Please ban all these products.'
Facebook user Lesley Michel also posted a picture of the shirt and said: 'Shame on you Amazon! #Bluelivesmatter'.
Lawrence Hemmings added: 'Disgusting, I will no longer use Amazon.'
And Kate John said: 'Still live to buy, how dare you.'
Speaking today, 50-year-old Mr Blower said: 'We as officers work hard to build bridges and trust with our communities, especially in those communities that are largely ethnic.
'What went on in America with George Floyd was wrong and the officer will be punished, but tarring all officers with the same brush is wrong and risks those that risk their lives daily so the public can be safe.
'It's not just black lives matter. All lives matter.
More than 32,000 people have signed a petition asking Amazon to remove the 'offensive' clothing, which many say is fuelling a 'larger divide'
Two shirts reading 'Blue Lives Murder' that were available to purchase on Amazon
'The world has gone crazy.
'Wearing T-shirts with blue lives murder is wrong and disrespectful towards those officers who work hard in the community.'
Police in the US and Britain faced accusations of brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd at the hands of cops in Minneapolis last month that sparked mass protests around the world.
The Police Federation was set up in the UK in 1919 because officers were banned from joining a trade union and campaigns for the conditions of its almost 120,000 members.
MailOnline has contacted Amazon for comment.
Congress Seeks to Expand Israel-US Defence Cooperation to Include Technology Sharing
Sputnik News
15:24 GMT 22.06.2020
Israel is already the US's closest ally in the Middle East, with Washington committing to provide Tel Aviv with $38 billion in military aid over ten years in 2016. Israel became a major US non-NATO ally in 1987, making it eligible to receive the latest US military hardware as it became available.
Bipartisan groups of lawmakers in both the House and Senate are working on legislation which would further expand US-Israeli defence cooperation to include a 'US-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group'.
A bill on a 'United States-Israel Military Capability Act of 2020', introduced last month by Senate Armed Services Committee members Gary Peters of Michigan (Democrat) and Tom Cotton of Arkansas (Republican), seeks to increase cooperation between Washington and Tel Aviv on R&D and emergent technologies. The main idea behind the bill is that a joint US-Israeli 'technology working group' will be able to more quickly and systematically find gaps in cooperation and advance the production of new advanced weapons.
A House version of the bill was introduced on June 11, and also sponsored by both parties. That bill is now making its way through the House Armed Services Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Intelligence Committee.
In March, Peters and Cotton sent a letter to Pentagon Chief Mark Esper urging him to expand cooperation with Israel to include joint research and development to ensure that Tel Aviv continues to maintain a technological edge over any potential foe.
"Israel," the lawmakers said, "represents America's closest and most reliable ally in the Middle East," and "exhibits an innovation agility and sense of urgency that can help catalyze US defence programs. Not only does Israel possess one of the world's most effective militaries, it is also a technology superpower. Indeed, the Israeli defence innovation sector is a global leader in many of the technologies important to our warfighters."
If approved, the US-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group' may be incorporated in the 2021 National Defence Authorization Act, which at the moment is already looking to secure $740.5 billion
in funding for fiscal year 2021. At the moment, that bill already includes funding for the Missile Defence Agency's cooperative programs with Israel as part of the 2016 arms aid pact.
Although relations between Israel and the US cooled at the end of President Barack Obama's tenure, they shot to new highs under Donald Trump, who formally recognized Jerusalem as the country's capital, recognized the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as Israeli territory, and voiced support for Tel Aviv's move to annex large swathes of the West Bank. Additionally, Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal after heavy lobbying from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A Sputnik
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PITTSBURGH, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The EQT Foundation (Foundation) today announced the award of more than $500,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations and programs in southwestern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and northern West Virginia. The grants are given to programs within the Foundation's core funding priorities of community enrichment, education and workforce, and environment.
The EQT Foundation was established by EQT Corporation, the nation's largest producer of natural gas, and focuses its giving strategically within the core geographic areas of EQT Corporation's business assets. Since it's inception in 2003, the EQT Foundation has awarded nearly $64 million to nonprofits that make a difference in the lives of the individuals and families they serve.
"Nonprofits are such valuable assets to our communities, especially now in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Ellen Rossi, President of the EQT Foundation. "Organizations and leaders are still working on plans to determine how the 'new normal' will operate, and we are fully committed as a partner in their process."
A few of the programs funded this quarter include:
Ongoing technology support and development of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) spaces in school districts across southwestern Pennsylvania , such as West Greene , Bentworth, and Bethlehem-Center School Districts
, such as , Bentworth, and Bethlehem-Center School Districts Arts education programs with the West Virginia Symphony, The Mattress Factory, National Aviary, and Oglebay Institute
Beautification and new park equipment in New Martinsville, WV
Workforce programs that support strong career planning with Smart Futures, Dress for Success, Junior Achievement, and The Education Alliance
Various programs that help to nourish and keep our children warm with House of the Carpenter and Operation Warm
In addition to these grants, the Foundation awarded $360,000 in COVID-19-related relief grants to community foundations and food banks throughout key operational areas earlier this year. Additionally, more than $500,000 in scholarships were awarded to high school seniors looking to pursue careers related to the oil and gas industry. In partnership with community foundations, the EQT Foundation was pleased to award these scholarships within seven counties across our operating area (Belmont, OH; Greene and Washington, PA; Doddridge, Marion, Tyler and Wetzel, WV).
About EQT Foundation:
The EQT Foundation was established by EQT Corporation, the nation's largest natural gas producer, and is committed to the social and economic vitality of our operating regions. The EQT Foundation believes in meaningful engagement with the communities it calls home and takes great pride in the role as both a responsible and responsive corporate citizen. The EQT Foundation has developed strong partnerships with a variety of nonprofit organizations to enrich the viability of our communities, sustain the principles of continuous learning, and focus on environmental protection efforts. Read more at: www.eqt.com/community/eqt-foundation
Contact:
Ellen Rossi
412-553-7703
[email protected]
SOURCE EQT Corporation
Programme to honour Vietnamese heroic mothers
A programme honouring 350 Vietnamese heroic mothers across the country will take place in Hanoi and Ha Nam Province from July 23 to 25.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and representatives of seriously injured war veterans at a gathering in Hanoi in July 2019. (Photo: NDO/Dang Khoa)
The event is hosted by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) in coordination with Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper, and Vietnam Television.
It is among the major activities planned by MOLISA to mark the 73rd anniversary of Wounded and Fallen Soldiers Day (July 27, 1947-2020).
The plan also includes an incense offering at the Monument to War Heroes and Martyrs, and the President Ho Chi Minhs Mausoleum on the morning of July 27.
In addition, incense offering and candle lighting will be held across the country at 8pm on July 26 to commemorate fallen soldiers.
Gatherings are also being held to show gratitude to national contributors, as well as seminars, workshops, and cultural events popularising the Partys guidelines and the States laws and policies on caring for wounded and fallen soldiers and revolutionary contributors.
Gifts will be presented to the families of policy beneficiaries and revolutionary contributors on the occasion.
In July of last year, a gathering was held in Hanoi in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to honour 500 seriously injured war veterans, who represented the 1.2 million war invalids across the nation, including more than 12,000 with serious injuries.
Despite losing at least 81% of their capability to work due to war injuries, all the war invalids have made exceptional efforts to overcome difficulties and continue contributing to society.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday that Texas has surpassed 5,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time, another troubling milestone as the largest pediatric hospital in the U.S. begins taking adult patients to free up bed space in Houston.
The announcement comes days after Texas eclipsed 4,000 new cases for the first time just last weekend. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, told lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday that the next couple weeks are going to be critical in Texas and other states that are trying to curtail an alarming spike in new cases.
There remain a lot of people in the state of Texas who think that the spread of COVID-19 is not a challenge, Abbott told Bryan television station KBTX. The coronavirus is serious. It's spreading."
READ ALSO: Texas Children's Hospital now admitting adult patients due to COVID-19 spike in Houston
He did not offer an exact number of new positive cases or tests in total, which were expected to be available later Tuesday. But Abbott on Monday underscored that the infection rate in Texas has doubled since late May to nearly 9 percent and that the state reached an 11th consecutive day of record COVID-19 hospitalizations with more than 3,700.
Abbott is now emphasizing face covering more strenuously than at any point he has during the pandemic. He has not taken new actions that many Democrats have called for including making face covering mandatory but hinted Tuesday that new measures could be coming.
Abbott has stressed that Texas still has plenty of hospital beds, but some of the state's largest medical centers are starting to carve out new spaces to manage rising caseloads. Texas Childrens Hospital, the largest pediatric hospital in the United States, said Tuesday it was admitting adult patients across its campuses to free up more hospital bed space in the Houston area.
The number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients in Harris County, which encompasses Houston, has nearly tripled since May 31.
Our power on the local level was stripped away and we started opening up, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday. I said two months ago I thought we were moving too quickly, too fast, and now we find ourselves where we are today.
In another development, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department said late Monday that a youth at the Giddings State School tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first confirmed case of the virus at a Texas juvenile detention facility.
COVID-19 IMPACT: Fear of COVID-19 prompts drop in heart attack, stroke patients for Houston ERs
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the highly contagious virus can cause severe illness, including pneumonia, and be fatal.
Over the last two months, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has passed a series of orders as part of its investigation into the circulation of company results prior to their public announcement through Whatsapp. The accused in each of these cases are some employees of a stock broking firm, in their institutional sales team. They were found to have passed on near-accurate predictions of quarterly results about to be published by about 12 listed companies Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI) to clients of the firm.
The regulator fined them Rs 15 lakh each, in each of the orders passed, finding that their act of merely sharing the UPSI was a violation of insider trading rules. That was as much evidence as the regulator could gather in the investigation. For this reason, it is highly likely that the orders, if appealed, will be overturned.
The investigators were unable to even get a hint so as to who was behind the actual leak of information. Neither was it shown that the accused benefitted out of sharing the information in any way, or for that matter whether any trades were executed by anybody (including the clients of the firm) on the basis of the shared information.
The adjudication order pleads helplessness, saying that since the message trail was deleted, there was no way to trace the messages to their origin. (The investigation started pursuant to a news report in a newspaper about the circulated messages).
The accused claimed that the information was merely a market rumour Heard on the Street, as it is known in broking parlance. That seems far-fetched. The accused claim they were sharing one of many estimates found in various research reports, without any explanation as to why they chose one report over the others. They also claim that SEBI has cherry-picked messages pertaining to these 12 companies to build the case against them, when they had sent similar messages with regard to hundreds of other companies. Indeed, to sustain a charge as serious as insider trading, there simply has to be more evidence than mere passing of information.
So then what motivated SEBI to pursue the case to this end?
Perhaps it was merely a warning shot to the broker community at large. That is understandable (though legally unprincipled). The next time a person shares information as if it is a tip or even a rumour, they will be alive to the possibility that they might be in the regulators crosshairs.
This then also points to an even graver problem. Cracking down on insider trading is such an uphill task that SEBI almost always comes short. The number of insider trading convictions that have stood up to scrutiny before the Appellate Tribunal is negligible. It might even appear that SEBI is fighting with its hands tied behind its back.
For example, the Securities Appellate Tribunal acquitted Manoj Gaur, the chairman of Jaypee Associates, as well as his wife and brother, of insider trading charges in 2012; finding that SEBI failed to prove that the wifes trade had been done on the basis of information Gaur had passed on to her. This was in spite of SATs finding that Gaur was indeed in possession of the UPSI when the trades were executed by his wife. One could legitimately ask how SEBI could prove a private conversation between a husband and wife, without an unacceptable intrusion into their personal space.
It is only in 2015 that SEBI got the power to summon call data records. Its plea for wiretapping powers has fallen on deaf ears. Incidentally, one of the most high-profile insider trading convictions in recent times that of Sri Lankan-origin hedge fund owner Raj Rajaratnam, along with former McKinsey boss, Rajat Gupta, in the United States, was based on wiretaps. However, these wiretaps were collected as part of money laundering investigations, not on insider trading charges. Even the American capital markets regulator does not have wiretapping powers.
The fact is insider information abounds unchecked in Indian market circles in the form of rumours. Those who manage to get the information before the market gets wind stands to make a huge windfall. The ordinary trader is justifiably aggrieved that she has to content with the leftovers.
HANGZHOU, China, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- June 12, the ALLPCB staffs across China gathered together in Hangzhou, to celebrate its 17th Anniversary of Gratitude Day, whose theme is "Ordinary Makes Extraordinary".
ALLPCB is formerly known as Weiku, an electronic procurement website, which was on June 12, 2003 initially established. Weiku is the solid foundation for ALLPCB, thus, the day is regarded as its unique Gratitude Day.
It reminds everyone always to be grateful and treat everything with concentrated attention.
Mr. Zhou Bangbing, ALLPCB CEO states: "Whom we thank for?"
"Thank our customers, for their continuous support and trust.
Thank every staff in ALLPCB, for their constant passion and responsibility.
Thank ourselves, for our unremitting effort and persistence!"
At the beginning of anniversary, a sand painting performance made staffs visibly moved. The performance melted the bits and pieces of their normal work into the throwing and drawing of sand, taking us viewing every extraordinary moment of the ALLPCB.
ALLPCB is committed to building a giant manufacturing platform to support the transformation and upgrade of Chinese traditional manufacturing industry. On the way to create a collaborative manufacturing service ecosystem for electronic information industry, many like-minded people give their absolute best and work hard. Mr. Zhou said, "Thanks for your accompany along the tough way, those days of fighting together become more precious."
With their extraordinary perseverance and enthusiasm, ALLPCB staffs has completed extraordinary achievements in seemingly ordinary positions.
At this anniversary, 20 staffs were awarded after "ALLPCB Touching Person of Year 2020", choosing from more than 600 persons.
Moving originates from ordinary, as well as brings up extraordinary. Staffs of ALLPCB keep glowing on their respective positions and breaking conventions with their hard work again and again.
No matter focusing PCB prototypes or offering "24 Hours Delivery+No Extra Charge for Urgency", ALLPCB is always breaking and rebuilding so-called rules.
IOCT Wuji System is the solid foundation for all the innovations and pioneering work, which associates self operating as well as collaborative factories.
ALLPCB.com works as an flexible platform where it receives orders and cooperates with the upstream and downstream factories respectively. It becomes the order center and the collaborative center. Under an effective system collaboration, the rigid factory will be more productive. Labors become more diversified and professional. A factory can focus on one process, such as the production of screw caps.
The way to industrial internet is arduous and long. With the efforts of all, the future of ALLPCB is worthy of the wait.
About ALLPCB:
ALLPCB is an ultra-fast PCB super factory as well as an Internet-based manufacturing company, committed to building an electronic collaborative manufacturing service platform. It offers professional one-stop service, including PCB prototype, PCB Assembly and components sourcing. Since founding, ALLPCB has reconstructed the traditional PCB industry by data-driven technology.
For more information, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.allpcb.com/
SOURCE ALLPCB
Related Links
http://www.allpcb.com
A pensioner was shocked to receive a letter from her sister nearly 54 years after it was posted from the top of the Post Office Tower.
Gill Milbourne, 74, and her husband Mel are baffled about how the letter came to be delivered around 19,671 days late to their home.
Her sister Jean Quennell posted it on August 7, 1966, while on a visit to the Post Office Tower - now known as the BT Tower - in London just ten months after it was opened.
But it is a mystery why it took so long to finally arrive in the post last Wednesday at Mr and Mrs Milbourne's semi-detached home in Ipswich, Suffolk.
Mrs Quennell, now 83, posted the first day cover letter because she thought her sister would be interested in the commemorative Post Office Tower stamps on it.
Gill Milbourne, 74, was left baffled about how the letter came to be delivered around 19,671 days late to her home, and initially had to ring up her sister in a state of confusion
Gill and her husband Mel received the letter at their Ipswich home which they bought in 1966
Mrs Quennell, now 83, (seen left) posted the first day cover letter because she thought her sister would be interested in the commemorative Post Office Tower stamps
The letter contained only a laminated 1966 calendar card for airline Air Malawi as it was the only thing that she had in her handbag at the time.
It was posted just six weeks after Mr and Mrs Milbourne moved into their brand new house - bought for just 2,900 - following their wedding in St John's church, Ipswich, on June 25, 1966.
At the time, newlywed Mrs Milbourne was a clerk in the roads and bridges department at County Hall in Ipswich while her husband was a carpenter.
The couple went on to have two children, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren are still living in the same house today.
Mrs Milbourne said: 'I am quite careful with the post due to coronavirus so when some letters arrived last Wednesday, I left them on my worktop.
The letter contained only a laminated 1966 calendar card for airline Air Malawi as it was the only thing that her sister had in her handbag at the time
A separate postmark dated last Tuesday showed the letter had somehow re-entered the postal system after a long period of being lost, before finally being successfully posted
'I eventually got round to opening this one letter and when I turned it over I recognised my sister's handwriting. But I realised it wasn't her current writing. It was what her writing used to look like.
'When I opened it I saw the 1966 calendar card and I thought, 'Why has she posted this to me now?'
'Then I looked at the four 3D stamps in old money, and I still thought it must have been some old letter which she had got her son to drop off.
'So I rang her up to ask why she had put the letter out through her door and she didn't know what I was talking about.'
Mrs Milbourne then saw the original postmark dated August 7, 1966, along with a stamp, saying: 'Posted at the POST OFFICE TOWER.'
A separate postmark dated last Tuesday showed it had somehow re-entered the postal system.
The mark stated that it gone through the Royal Mail's South East Anglia sorting centre at Chelmsford, Essex, the day before it arrived at her home.
Mrs Milbourne said it was no surprise to see the souvenir of Malawi inside the letter as her sister had lived in the African country in the 1960s when her late husband Don was working there as an accountant.
Mrs Milbourne and husband Mel pictured on their wedding day in June 1966, shortly before the date on which her sister originally posted the letter, some 54 years ago
She said: 'They had been out there for a three years and had come back to Ipswich for a visit before being posted there again. Their visit coincided with our wedding, and my sister was one of my bridesmaids.
'Jean told me that she could remember going to the Post Office Tower on a trip to London in the August. It had only just opened so it was quite a big thing to visit.
'At the time I was collecting stamps and first day covers and she used to send me them from all the places she visited to add to my collection.
'I guess they had a special facility to post letters from the tower as it was a bit of a novelty. They even had special stamps with pictures of the tower.
'We think that my sister popped the Malawi calendar card with a picture of lions on it into the envelope because that was the only suitable thing she had in her handbag.
'I knew it could not have come from anyone else. The letter was still in excellent condition considering its age.'
Mr Milbourne said: 'The really incredible thing is that we are still living in the same house today so it found Gill in the end. Who knows where it has been all these years?'
A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: 'It is difficult to speculate what may have happened to this item of mail, but it is likely that it was put back into the postal system by someone recently, rather than it being lost or stuck somewhere.
'Royal Mail regularly checks all its delivery offices and clears its processing machines daily.
'Once an item is in the postal system, then it will be delivered to the address on the letter.'
Banking focused conversational AI is the fastest path to solving customer service problems for banks and credit unions, said Jake Tyler, co-founder and CEO of Finn AI
Finn AI, a leading provider of AI powered customer service for banks and credit unions, today announced its banking chatbot is now available on the Genesys AppFoundry, the industrys largest dedicated marketplace focused on customer experience solutions. The AppFoundry allows Genesys customers from all market segments to discover and rapidly deploy a broad range of solutions that make it easier to interact with consumers, engage employees and optimize their workforce. Genesys is the global leader in cloud customer experience and contact center solutions that delivers more than 70 billion remarkable customer experiences for organizations in over 100 countries.
Finn AI easily integrates with Genesys Engage and the Genesys Cloud platform to enable organizations to deliver a seamless customer experience to bank customers as they move between chatbot and human support. In addition, the integrated solutions can help banks and credit unions save costs by using AI to automate their support offering and leverage advanced conversational banking capabilities without the need for investment in research and technical staff.
Banking focused conversational AI is the fastest path to solving customer service problems for banks and credit unions, said Jake Tyler, co-founder and CEO of Finn AI. By integrating AI with live agent hand-off, were giving end customers a seamless experience as they flow between the AI chatbot and a live agent. At the same time, and just as powerful, banks can handle peak demands and changing situations, without the cost and time of adding more agents.
Finn AI provides an option for convenient self service and problem resolution 24/7 as branch activity shifts to digital by acting as the front-line for the customer support team by delivering automated service and intelligent routing for most common queries and tasks.
Banks and credit unions can rapidly introduce intelligent automation to their support team, using AI that is pre-trained on millions of real-world banking conversations and typically able to understand over 80% of queries out-of-the-box. The technology can capture and handle the repetitive queries that monopolize agent time and free live customer support to focus on important, meaningful conversations.
Visit the companys listing on the Genesys AppFoundry to learn more about the Finn AI integration with Genesys Engage and Genesys Cloud.
###
About Finn AI
Founded in 2014, Finn AI is the leading AI-powered chatbot platform for banks and credit unions, working with top financial institutions including one of the largest US card networks, a top 10 US retail bank, ATB Financial, Banpro Grupo Promerica, Fidor Bank, KOHO, TymeBank and more. Banks and credit unions use the award-winning Finn AI chatbot to transform and deepen customer engagement, while delivering the operational efficiencies and cost savings of conversational AI. For more information visit finn.ai.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus traditionally has focused on issues such as the condition of migrant detention centers, the separation of children from their parents at the U.S. southern border and reforming antiquated immigration law.
Theyre all critical issues that will remain on its agenda, but the caucus has begun to widen its footprint to include issues that may not get the same amount of ink but are just as meaningful.
It comes with a shift in leadership.
Cedar Attanasio, STF / Associated Press
Related: Castro: All see the injustice, but what will we do about it?
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a leading congressional Democrat and outspoken member on the House Intelligence Committee, took the reins of the caucus in late 2018 and has turned its attention to the negative images and damaging stereotypes of Latinos in movies and books.
While some may think such areas represent a softer focus for the caucus, Castro sees them as one of the sources of negative Latino imagery. It might seem innocuous, but those images stick to the national consciousness in the absence of recognition of Latino contributions to this nation.
The negative stereotypes then resurface everywhere from the judicial system to educational institutions and from politics to public policy.
Castro hasnt been alone in connecting the dots from incendiary language to whats amplified on the big screen and the written page.
He has become a media watchdog and has tilted the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to address how to affect change. Other media industries are on his back burner, including magazines.
The chairman first reached out to Hollywood last year, when the movie industry was in the throes of the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment and abuse scandal.
At the time, a new study by the University of Southern Californias Annenberg Inclusion Initiative had shown how little progress the movie industry had made in the last decade to prevent the exclusion and misrepresentation of Latinos in film.
The number of Latinos in the industry was unchanged, but the takeaway was that new data offered benchmarks from which to measure improvement.
In March, the caucus then turned to the world of book publishing. It was having a moment, too.
/Associated Press
The drama surrounding American Dirt:" Anglin: American Dirt the latest misrepresentation of Mexicans
American Dirt had just been published after having been hyped as an Oprah book selection and the new Grapes of Wrath. The backlash by Latino writers and other critics was overwhelmingly negative. It propelled the Dignidad Literaria movement to address book publishing, too.
The books offensive Latino stereotypes unleashed a litany of other critical issues, yet publishers had fallen all over themselves to win the book. A movie deal was penned.
It underscored what Castro has brought to the caucus that theres a vicious cycle between caustic national narratives and politics and policy.
In mid-June, Castro convened eight members of the caucus and a dozen book publishers via Zoom. Several said it was a first.
Hollywood types and book people have addressed Congress on issues important to them, but it has been rare for Congress to invite them to ask pointed questions about their own fields.
Representatives of the book industry were assembled by the Association of American Publishers, a nonprofit group whose membership ranges from major houses to small presses.
Castro asked about the demographic makeup of their workforces and author lists. He asked about the role diversity plays when deciding whats published.
The discussion was positive, but it doesnt sound like he got a lot of answers. Its no secret the U.S. book world is predominantly white and that people of color arent adequately represented.
The caucus expressed its profound disappointment and collective outrage afterward, but it was more important that Castro challenged publishers to commit to gathering employment and author data to establish a baseline to mark progress.
He asked them to be transparent about it, too.
Publishers generally agreed to comply with requests for data as a starting point for more discussion.
Maria A. Pallante, CEO and president of the Association of American Publishers, said Castro was articulate, clear and fair. She said the association will encourage its members to voluntarily report their numbers.
Pallante said publishers are involved in noble efforts, including addressing the publics interests and encouraging people to read. They worry about the industrys future and have found that a pandemic has sent people to their bookshelves, digital libraries and online to buy books.
The Black Lives Matter movement has renewed interest in long-form writing and reading about race and racial injustice.
Publishers talked about auditing what theyve already published, including authors of color, developing more diverse voices and investing in them beyond one book, Pallante said.
There was a lot of goodwill after the meeting, she said.
Book publishing executives might feel more of a sting after they decide whether or how much to comply and cooperate in providing hiring and author data. That will be the test when theyre back at the caucus table.
The congressman will remain fair and articulate, but my guess is hell be far more demonstrative the next time.
eayala@express-news.net
SAN DIEGO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA) (the "Company"), the first-ever publicly traded cannabis company in the United States that launched the world's first-ever cannabis-derived nutraceutical products, brands and supply chain, announced today that Raul Elizalde, co-CEO of its subsidiary HempMeds , has been invited to speak on Endeavor's expert digital panel, " Cannabis in Mexico: The Debate and Opportunities for an Emerging Industry ," on June 24, at 5 p.m. CT.
"Raul pioneered the cannabis industry in Mexico and played an integral role in helping us find a pathway to legally selling CBD in several Latin American countries," said Dr. Stuart Titus, CEO of Medical Marijuana, Inc. "We stand behind him in his legislative advocacy efforts and believe that he will add great value to this event."
Elizalde will join a panel of cannabis experts to discuss the legislative process required to legalize cannabis in Mexico, the agricultural and business opportunities the industry could bring to the country's economy, and the potential economic and social transformation that may follow. If legislation is passed, Mexico is poised to become the most populous market with legal marijuana and hemp.
"We understand that the federal legalization of cannabis is unknown territory for Mexico and we hope to shed light on the many ways that expanding access throughout the country could help many citizens while bringing new opportunities to our economy in the process," said Raul Elizalde, co-CEO of HempMeds.
While serving as President of HempMeds Mexico and Latin American operations, Elizalde grew the Company's presence and sales significantly throughout Latin America, especially in Mexico. Recently, he was promoted to co-CEO of HempMeds, leading operations in the U.S. and around the world with co-CEO Caroline Heinz.
To sign up to watch the panel, visit https://endeavor.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ejRWlJO7RrC4nsWJbS1NZw .
About HempMeds
Founded in 2012, HempMeds was the first company to bring hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) oil products to market in the U.S. As a subsidiary of Medical Marijuana, Inc., HempMeds is the exclusive distributor for premium brands including Real Scientific Hemp Oil and Dixie Botanicals, and operates in all 50 states and 40 countries. HempMeds is the only company to have its CBD products listed in the Prescribers' Digital Reference (PDR), the only company invited to speak to the World Health Organization and FDA on the benefits of CBD, and one of the first to be certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority. To learn more, please visit www.hempmedspx.com .
About Medical Marijuana, Inc.
We are a company of firsts . Medical Marijuana, Inc. ( MJNA ) is a cannabis company with three distinct business units in the non-psychoactive cannabinoid space: a global portfolio of cannabinoid-based nutraceutical brands led by Kannaway and HempMeds ; a pioneer in sourcing the highest-quality legal non-psychoactive cannabis products derived from industrial hemp; and a cannabinoid-based clinical research and botanical drug development sector led by its pharmaceutical investment companies and partners including AXIM Biotechnologies, Inc. and Kannalife, Inc . Medical Marijuana, Inc. was named a top CBD producer by CNBC . Medical Marijuana, Inc. was also the first company to receive historic import permits for CBD products from the governments of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Paraguay and is a leader in the development of international markets. The company's flagship product Real Scientific Hemp Oil has been used in several successful clinical studies throughout Mexico and Brazil to understand its safety and efficacy.
Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s headquarters is in San Diego, California, and additional information is available at OTCMarkets.com or by visiting www.medicalmarijuanainc.com . To see Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s corporate video, click here .
Shareholders and consumers are also encouraged to buy CBD oil and other products at Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s shop.
FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Medical Marijuana, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein.
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) DISCLOSURE
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
LEGAL DISCLOSURE
Medical Marijuana, Inc. does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act.
CONTACT:
Public Relations Contact:
Andrew Hard
Chief Executive Officer
CMW Media
P. 858-264-6600
[email protected]
www.cmwmedia.com
Investor Relations Contact:
P. (858) 283-4016
[email protected]
SOURCE Medical Marijuana, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com
Hedi Slimane, the 51-year-old fashion designer and photographer is one of fashions biggest and most enigmatic names. Slimane is best known for setting the menswear agenda when he brought back skinny suits and jeans at LVMHs Dior Homme in the early 2000s, prompting men around the world to retire their flouncy trousers and pay a premium for form-fitting looks.
It would be an understatement to say that Hedi Slimane didnt leave Saint Laurent on good terms. Four years later, the star designer is still suing to get what he considers hes owed.
During his four-year tenure at Yves Saint Laurent, he turned the floundering French fashion house into a commercial force. He put in place an ultra-branded, black-and-white aesthetic for marketing campaigns while mining the houses archives to pull together retro, rocker-chic looks that put a California spin on French luxury. Slimane filled Saint Laurents shelves with biker jackets, sleek handbags and easy-selling $450 low-top sneakers.
Fashion Kaiser Karl Lagerfeld, had famously shed 41 kgs to squeeze into Slimanes skinny jeans. Like the fashion maven, Slimane too is a designer and a photographer.
Hedi Slimanes influences came from the grungy, androgynous looks from the world of rock, with the skinny jeans initially influenced by British indie bands like Franz Ferdinand and The Libertines.
Peter Doherty, the Libertines bohemian frontman, became a friend and muse of Slimanes, and had also appeared in his 2006 photo book, London Birth of a Cult.
Two years ago, Slimane succeeded the British designer Phoebe Philo as creative director of its Celine label.
At Celines SS20 show, the designer turned the clock back to the 1970s and early 1980s, and presented faded flared denims, pussy bow silk blouses, blazers and long skirts and boots. He continued the bourgeois vibe of his first fall winter collection at Celine in March, where he introduced the comeback of the culotte -- one of the big high street trends of the year.
Messy Divorce
A French court awarded Slimane nearly $700,000 in damages after Kering SAs Yves Saint Laurent continued to use photographs and videos hed made for past advertising campaigns without his consent. While its far less than the almost $6 million Slimane was claiming, the ruling brings his total courtroom winnings against Kering to more than $22 million.
The billing documentation stated that YSL could use the material for two years and that any further usage would need to be negotiated with Slimane, the Paris court of appeals ruled on June 19.
The fact that Slimane already received a substantial remuneration for his services doesnt exempt YSL from paying damages for copyright infringement, the judges said. Slimane had initially been paid almost $8 million euros to shoot the material.
But Slimanes departure from Saint Laurent in 2016 turned into a messy divorce. Kering and the designer fought over his 10 million-euro ($11.2 million) non-compete clause as well as a 9.3 million-euro payment Slimane said he was owed for his last year of service. In both instances the company was ordered by French judges to pay up.
Fridays ruling is yet another favourable outcome for Hedi Slimane as part of litigation between him and his former employer, said one of his lawyers, Leon del Forno.
Beyond his personal case, Mr. Slimane hopes that this decision will be useful to other photographers who work with fashion houses, said del Forno.
In late 2017, Slimane lost the first round of his intellectual-property lawsuit over the use of his photos and videos in Saint Laurents online archive, leading to last weeks appellate ruling.
While the Paris appeals court agreed that there were 103 instances where YSL should have paid Slimane one-year extensions to continue using the ad-campaign material, the judges said he was asking too much.
Slimane said each one-year extension was worth 50,000 euros, the amount he was originally paid to shoot the photos and videos and allow Saint Laurent to use them for two years. Although he was seeking 5.15 million euros, the judges considered 6,000 euros per extension -- or 618,000 euros in total -- would be enough.
Slimane was also awarded 80,000 euros to cover his legal fees.
-- with inputs from Bloomberg
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T he UK car industry has called for a financial support package and warned that 1 in 6 jobs could be lost due to coronavirus.
A third of automotive workers are still furloughed, and more than 6,000 UK automotive job cuts have been announced in June as a result of lockdowns, closed markets and shuttered plants, the SMMT said.
The trade group is calling on the Government to address this with a support package for the entire sector to help drive demand and ease cashflow.
Measures including unfettered access to emergency funding, permanent short-time working, business rate holidays, VAT cuts and policies that boost consumer confidence would accelerate a sustainable restart for the market and manufacturing.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: UK automotive is fundamentally strong. However, the prolonged shutdown has squeezed liquidity and the pressures are becoming more acute as expenditure resumes before invoices are paid.
A third of our workforce remains furloughed, and we want those staff coming back to work, not into redundancy.
The Governments intervention has been unprecedented. But the job isnt done yet.
Just as we have seen in other countries, we need a package of support to restart; to build demand, volumes and growth, and keep the UK at the forefront of the global automotive industry to drive long-term investment, innovation and economic growth.
Support delivered now is an investment in the future of one of Britains most valuable assets investment that we will repay many times over.
The body also warned against a hard Brexit from the European Union.
He added: Covid has consumed every inch of capability and capacity and the industry has not the resource, the time nor the clarity to prepare for a further shock of a hard Brexit.
Thats why we do need to turbo charge the negotiations to secure a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU that maintains tariff and quota free trade With such a deal, a strong recovery is possible, we can safeguard the industry and our reputation as an attractive destination for foreign investment and a major trade player.
The impact of the pandemic on manufacturing is expected to cut annual car and light commercial vehicle production volumes by a third to just 920,000 units this year.
The SMMT said that with an ambitious, tariff-free FTA in place, full recovery is expected to take up to five years, with output reaching pre-crisis levels of 1.35 million units by 2025.
But the trade group warned that a no-deal scenario would severely damage these prospects and could see volumes falling below 850,000 by 2025 - the lowest level since 1953.
This would mean a 40 billion cut in revenues, on top of the 33.5 billion cost of Covid-19 production losses over the period, the SMMT said.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Mexico City, Mexico Tue, June 23, 2020 10:11 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660dc100 2 World Mexico,Dispute,killing,attack Free
Assailants killed 15 inhabitants of an indigenous village in southern Mexico that has been plagued by local disputes, authorities said on 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 San Mateo del Mar municipal government said in a statement that the attack was orchestrated by at least six armed people with the support of a suspected local crime boss.
In a separate statement, Oaxaca state prosecutors said investigations are under way into what sparked the violence in Huazantlan del Rio, a local village of Ikoots indigenous origin. Officials are still investigating whether the attackers had guns.
The two women killed had been protesting against abuses by one of the suspected attackers, who described himself as a representative of Huazantlan del Rio, the municipal government said.
The conflict stemmed from road blocks organized in recent weeks by people claiming to represent Huazantlan del Rio authorities who wanted to stir up trouble for their own ends, the municipal government said, without giving more details.
The attackers 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 conflict over rights of way for many years, according to the state official.
The area around the isthmus of Tehuantepec has also become known in recent years for land disputes over infrastructure projects.
Topics : Mexico Dispute killing attack
CAIRO (Reuters) - The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said early on Tuesday it intercepted three ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis towards the Saudi Arabian cities of Najran and Jizan, according to the Saudi state TV.
Colonel Turki al-Malki, spokesman for the coalition, said in a statement the missiles were targeting civilians.
The coalition also intercepted 8 drones laden with explosives and launched towards the kingdom on Monday, according to the coalition. The drones were also launched by the Iran-aligned Houthis, it said.
(Reporting by Alaa Swilam; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Guy Fieri, the flamboyant Food Network host, might be getting closer to making a reality out of the oft-repeated claim that he's the "mayor of Flavortown."
A petition gathering thousands of signatures is seeking to put the imaginary city on the map, by renaming Columbus, Ohio, in his honor. Statues and other iconography around the country of Christopher Columbus - including one in the state capital that bears his name - have been targeted amid a nationwide anti-racist protest movement.
"Columbus is an amazing city, but one whose name is tarnished by the very name itself," the petition posted by Tyler Woodbridge on Change.org reads. "Its namesake, Christopher Columbus, is in The Bad Place because of all his raping, slave trading, and genocide. That's not exactly a proud legacy."
He nominated Fieri to replace the controversial historical figure, he wrote, because the celebrity chef - who has been praised widely for his work and donations to restaurant workers laid off during the covid-19 crisis - was born there. Also, he wrote, "it honors Central Ohio's proud heritage as a culinary crossroads and one of the nation's largest test markets for the food industry."
More than 28,000 people had signed on as of Monday morning, citing both affection for the spiky-haired TV personality and a rejection of the explorer whose name has become synonymous with colonization and violence toward indigenous people. In recent years, a handful of states have renamed Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Bud Light boosted the effort, tweeting, "Bud Light Seltzer for all of Flavortown if this happens."
But Woodbridge suggested that the effort wasn't so much about honoring Fieri as it was removing the name Columbus. He told CNN he would also support renaming the city after an indigenous person, as many others have proposed.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office before signing an executive order related to regulating social media on May 28, 2020 in Washington, DC. Trump's executive order could lead to attempts to punish companies such as Twitter and Google for attempting to point out factual inconsistencies in social media posts by politicians.
Twitter on Tuesday once again placed a label over one of President Donald Trump's tweets, claiming he violated the platform's policies against abusive behavior.
Trump's tweet said that those who try to create an "Autonomous Zone" in Washington, D.C., "will be met with serious force." Twitter claims the tweet violates its rules because it includes a "threat of harm against an identifiable group."
Tweet
The tweet came after a group of protesters on Monday unsuccessfully attempted to pull down a statute of former President Andrew Jackson near the White House. The protesters later tried to claim an area near Black Lives Matter Plaza as a "Black House Autonomous Zone," The Washington Post reported, before police removed them.
Protesters in Seattle began occupying an autonomous zone in the city earlier this month as the police department pulled officers out of a local precinct.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded on Twitter, "Let's be clear about what just happened. Twitter labeled it 'abusive behavior' for the President of the United States to say that he will enforce the law. Twitter says it is 'abusive' to prevent rioters from forcibly seizing territory to set up a lawless zone in our capital."
Tweet
Recently, Twitter has been more actively enforcing its content policies against the president. Those policies include a special carve-out that allows Twitter to flag tweets from world leaders that violate its standards while leaving the tweets intact so they can be seen by the public.
Twitter usually removes similar tweets if they're posted by other users. The company has said it believes messages from world leaders are in the public interest, so it places a warning obscuring the message to users until they click through.
Twitter slapped a fact-check label on two of Trump's tweets about mail-in ballots for the first time last month. Shortly after, Twitter placed a warning label over another tweet that it said violated its policies about glorifying violence.
Trump lashed out against Twitter for the initial fact-check label, introducing an executive order a couple days later that would seek to weaken the liability shield protecting Twitter and other platforms from legal responsibility for their users' posts. Though the executive order is highly limited in power without legislative change, the move was widely seen as retaliation for Twitter's actions on Trump's tweets.
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WATCH: Seattle protesters set up 'autonomous zone'Here's what it's like
ANKARA, June 23 (Reuters) - Turkey hit back on Tuesday at French criticism of its intervention in Libya, saying President Emmanuel Macron must have suffered an "eclipse of the mind" to oppose Ankara's support for the internationally recognised Tripoli government.
With Turkish military backing, Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) has reversed a 14-month assault on the capital Tripoli by forces led by Khalifa Haftar, who is supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
Turkey's involvement in Libya has strained ties with NATO ally France, which Ankara says has contributed to the chaos by backing Haftar.
On Monday, Macron accused Turkey of playing "a dangerous game" in Libya and voiced support for Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who said on Saturday Cairo had a right to intervene in its neighbour's conflict.
"...Macron's categorization of our country's support for Libya's legitimate government based on UN resolutions and upon their request as a 'dangerous game' can only be explained through an eclipse of the mind," Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said.
"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," he said, referring to international efforts to end the fighting in January.
Paris has been accused of backing Haftar politically, having previously given him military aid to fight Islamist militants. France denies supporting Haftar, but has stopped short of rebuking his allies, while repeatedly criticising Turkey. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Dominic Evans)
(REUTERS)
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake has rocked Mexico's southern coast in the state of Oaxaca, triggering a tsunami threat and sending tremors as far as 500 miles away from its epicentre and in the nation's capital city.
At least one person has died and another person was injured, according to president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Officials recorded more than 100 aftershocks throughout the region.
The US Geological Survey and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration issued tsunami threats for Mexico's coastlines where swells as high as 10 feet above the tide levels were possible.
Those threats were lifted several hours after the morning quake. Waves were reported slightly larger than 2 feet above normal.
Geologists recorded a 7.4 magnitude quake around 11.30am eastern time with an epicentre 7 miles south-southwest of Santa Maria Zapotitlan in the state of Oaxaca.
Aftershocks along the coast and beach resort area of Huatulco continued over the next hour, and streets, buildings and powerlines were captured swaying from tremors in Mexico City.
A fire was reported at a Pemex refinery in Oaxaca. The company reported that at least one man was injured and under medical evaluation.
There have been several earthquakes in the region with a magnitude of 7 or higher within the last 35 years, including a deadly 2017 quake that killed 350 people, and a devastating 1985 quake that killed at least 5,000 people. Thousands of others were injured in those events.
Follow live coverage as it happened
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 04:19:20|Editor: huaxia
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DAMASCUS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched strikes at military bases in southern and eastern Syria on Tuesday evening, killing two soldiers and wounding four others, state news agency SANA reported.
The strikes targeted a military site in the area of Kabajeb west of the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, and the Sukhneh area in the remote eastern countryside of Homs province, as well as the Salkhad area in the southern countryside of the southern province of Sweida, said the report.
Citing a military source, the report said that "hostile aerial targets" fired the missiles, which triggered off the Syrian air defenses.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Israeli shelling targeted the military sites that belong to "the Iranian militias" in the countryside of Sweida and Deir al-Zour.
The UK-based watchdog group said the Syrian air defenses were responding to the attacks.
Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria, as well as convoys transporting weapons to the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia allegedly backed by Iran. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 04:44:53|Editor: huaxia
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HELSINKI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Finland announced on Tuesday specific criteria for easing cross-border travel restrictions from mid-July.
Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo said at a government press conference that from July 13, Finland will allow travel to and from more European countries that would not exceed an occurrence rate of 8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. The requirement of a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Finland would also be lifted.
The countries that fill the criteria would be tentatively Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovakia and Slovenia from the Schengen area, and also Croatia, Cyprus and Ireland from non-Schengen region, said the government, adding that the list will be reconfirmed on July 10.
Finland has already allowed travel to and from Norway, Denmark and Iceland as well as the three Baltic countries -- Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
Travel from and to neighboring Sweden remains under strict controls. Asked to elaborate, Ohisalo said that while occurrence rate in Finland late last week was slightly above three cases per 100,000 residents, the respective rate in Sweden given by the European Disease Control was 118 per 100,000 residents.
Talking at the press conference, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto underlined the long-standing good relationship between Finland and Sweden. He said Finland would be willing to give practical assistance with ICU capacity, for example, to Sweden.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sanna Marin stressed that the pandemic is not over and the virus can still be very dangerous. Calling on everyone to be careful, she said Finland continues preparing for a possible second wave, with legislative tools and enhanced procurements. Enditem
The impact of COVID-19 on the physical health of the worlds citizens is extraordinary. By mid-May there were upward of four million cases spread across more than 180 countries. The pandemics effect on mental health could be even more far-reaching. At one point roughly one third of the planets population was under orders to stay home. That means 2.6 billion peoplemore than were alive during World War IIwere experiencing the emotional and financial reverberations of this new coronavirus. [The lockdown] is arguably the largest psychological experiment ever conducted, wrote health psychologist Elke Van Hoof of Free University of Brussels-VUB in Belgium. The results of this unwitting experiment are only beginning to be calculated.
The science of resilience, which investigates how people weather adversity, offers some clues. A resilient individual, wrote Harvard University psychiatrist George Vaillant, resembles a twig with a fresh, green living core. When twisted out of shape, such a twig bends, but it does not break; instead it springs back and continues growing. The metaphor describes a surprising number of people: As many as two thirds of individuals recover from difficult experiences without prolonged psychological effects, even when they have lived through events such as violent crime or being a prisoner of war. Some even go on to grow and learn from what happened to them. But the other third suffers real psychological distresssome people for a few months, others for years.
Faced with potentially traumatic events, about 65 percent of people are going to show minimal psychological symptoms, says clinical psychologist George Bonanno of Teachers College at Columbia University. Bonanno, who is an expert on resiliency, studies the aftermath of hurricanes, terrorist attacks, life-threatening injuries and epidemics such as the 2003 SARS outbreak. His research and that of others consistently show three common psychological responses to hardship. Two thirds of people follow a resilience trajectory and maintain relatively stable psychological and physical health. About 25 percent struggle temporarily with psychopathology such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder and then recovera pattern known as the recovery trajectory. And 10 percent suffer lasting psychological distress. These results hold true across diverse populations and socioeconomic statuses. Were talking about everybody, Bonanno says. On the other hand, the risk of psychiatric disorders is twice as high for people on the lowest economic rungs.
But the mental health effects of a crisis so sweeping and insidious may not adhere to this paradigm. Studies show that strict quarantine can lead to negative psychological effects such as PTSD, although few of us have been under true quarantine, which refers to isolating after a possible exposure to infection. Instead much of the world is living with restrictions that Bonanno suspects amount to something more like managing constant stress. This is the first time in living history weve had a global lockdown thats gone on for such a long time, says epidemiologist Daisy Fancourt of University College London. We simply dont know how people are going to react to this.
The potential scope of the impact is considerable. This is different from other forms of stress because its not just one domain of your life, says health psychologist Nancy Sin of the University of British Columbia. People are dealing with relationship or family challenges, with financial and work challenges, with health.
Early reports are already showing clear effects. The first nationwide large-scale survey in China, where the crisis hit earliest, found that almost 35 percent reported psychological distress. In the U.S., rising fear and anxiety about COVID have been found in people who already suffer from anxiety. Another study captured worrisome findings in older adults. This is surprising because previous research shows that, for the most part, older adults have better emotional well-being. During this pandemic, older adults dont have those age-related strengths in emotions that we would typically expect, says Sin, who studies aging and is collaborating with DeLongis in an ongoing COVID-19 study of 64,000 individuals worldwide. They are reporting just as much stress as middle-aged and younger people.
Sin is still analyzing the causes of the stress but suspects it is caused by older adults higher likelihood of getting sick and of losing loved ones. Older people are coping with their stress better than younger people, however, and reporting less depression or anxiety. They may be benefiting from the perspective that comes with having lived through more than younger people, Sin says. Adults older than 65 have also had more time to develop skills for dealing with stress, and many have retired and so are less likely to be concerned about work.
Fancourt began a study in mid-March that grew to include more than 85,000 U.K. residents. It is tracking depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness week by week. We need to know in real time whats happening, Fancourt says. Six weeks in, they found that levels of depression were significantly higher than before the pandemic.
Generally, those with previously diagnosed mental health illnesses, those who live alone and younger people were reporting the highest levels of depression and anxiety. On the positive side, there was a slight decrease in anxiety levels once the lockdown was declared. Uncertainty tends to make things worse, Fancourt says. Some are frozen by not knowing what is to come, whereas others find ways to carry on.
Most peoples coping skills can be strengthened. Several of the new studies are designed to identify successful strategies that buffer the effects of the stress. So far, Fancourt says, people are encouraged to follow classic mental health strategies: getting enough sleep, observing a routine, exercising, eating well and maintaining strong social connections. Spending time on projects, even small ones, that provide a sense of purpose also helps.
In previous work, DeLongis has shown that those who are high in empathy are more likely to engage in appropriate health behaviors such as social distancing and to have better mental health outcomes than people who are low in empathy. But her earlier studies of diseases such as SARS and West Nile were cross-sectional and captured only a moment in time. Her COVID-19 study will follow peoples behavior and attitudes for months to capture changes in empathy and coping over time. This isnt just about a trait of empathy, DeLongis says. Empathetic responses can be learned and encouraged with proper messaging, and her hunch is that increases or decreases in empathetic responding over weeks and months will be associated with shifts in health behaviors and coping mechanisms.
As part of DeLongiss study, Sin is having people record their daily activities and emotions for a week. So far the picture is that life is really challenging, but people are finding ways to meet that challenge, she says. Many report a great deal of positive social interactions, many of them remote. Older adults are reporting the highest levels of positive experiences in their daily lives, often through providing support to others.
It is striking that remote connections are proving satisfying. Previous research on the effects of digital technology and media focused on the association between time spent on screens and psychological well-being but revealed little about the worth of different kinds of online interaction. Now that the world is relying on the Internet to socialize, investigating those nuances is crucial. Should social media closely mimic face-to-face interaction or can less intense forms of communication leave people feeling connected? We do not know yet, but it is likely those studies will now get funded when previously they werent. I think we just skipped a decade of conversation in a month, says psychologist Amy Orben of the University of Cambridge, who studies adolescent mental health and technology use.
Social media is a factor in other kinds of research as well. Psychologist Roxane Cohen Silver of the University of California, Irvine, is assessing the impact of media exposure on peoples well-being. Those who consume a great deal of news about a community-wide crisis are more distressed, she says. Computational social scientist Johannes Eichstaedt of Stanford University is combining large-scale analyses of Twitter with machine learning to capture levels of depression, loneliness and joy during the pandemic.
Read the whole story: Scientific American
Readers learned yesterday about a stoush between former criminal lawyer Andrew Fraser and his Murder in the Outback documentary co-producer, Victor Susman.
While the pair managed to strike a deal before the disagreement landed in the Supreme Court, the former friends are still sparring over a joint email account. Susman has walked away with the drive, which contains thousands of colourful emails including correspondence with Lawyer X royal commission lawyers, as well as exchanges with characters Fraser met during his past life representing the likes of Melbournes Moran family.
Andrew Fraser reflecting on a former life. Credit:Illustration: Joe Benke
But those discussions apparently pale in interest compared to a series of notes Fraser penned which refer to some of his more frivolous exploits or pursuits with one time legal colleagues. When Fraser suspected some of his former acquaintances might spill sensitive personal information, he decided to commit to email equally sensitive stories about his so-called mates. This includes, in Frasers own words, tales about judges and barristers I have done coke with, including at least one, unlike Fraser, who is still running a lucrative practice at the bar.
Its just too bad that Fraser is now doing everything he can to keep these notes under wraps. And as a former lawyer, hes got a lot of procedural tools in his arsenal.
Food trends in India during Covid 19 lockdown threw up some very interesting results, a detailed report by Foodfood, Indias favorite food and lifestyle channel. With India locked down for two months, there was a rise of people experimenting with their passions and interests and among them cooking took first place. This was many times a necessity and many other times an indulgence.
According to social media and google search analysis done by Foodfood, most searched recipe trends included a mix of baking and culinary delights that the country was cooking during the lockdown period of April and May. The top most searches were Cake, Dalgona Coffee, Samosa, Jalebi, Dhokla, Chicken momos, Panipuri among others. While 'Dalgona coffee recipe at home' spiked 5,000 per cent, searches for 'chicken momo recipe' grew 4,350 per cent and searches for "mango icecream recipe" saw 3,250 per cent rise on google search.
Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, It has been our attempt with our shows and our channel (Foodfood) to help people discover their passion for cooking and this lockdown been proven that Har dil mein chef rahta hain. During my innumerable live on social media during lockdown, I have interacted with people who have become overnight stars with their cooking recipes on the internet and are discovering their cooking talent.
Whats interesting is the rise in search has been mainly driven by metro cities including Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkotta, Hyderabad and Chennai accounting for more than 25% share. States that lead the search include Maharashtra, West Bengal and Karnataka. The first weeks of lockdown saw an increase in buying of staples and spices including rava and maida which were flying off the shelves as people were experimenting with delicious treats rather their normal fare.
Devendra Chawla, CEO, Natures Basket & Spencer had said As people get adjusted to restricted living as the new normal and lack of options to eat out, consumers are increasingly taking on the chef role, a trend which will continue post lockdown too Some of the other trends that we saw during lockdown were: Baking Everyone with an oven was baking and who didnt have an oven were baking in pressure cooker. Whether it was cakes, cookies or even breads, people were trying one thing after the other.
Banana Bread With bread supply disrupted, people started making bread at home and Google saw a surge in search of banana bread recipes. Many variations of like banana cake, banana muffins and banoffee pies also made it to list but Banana Bread ruled the roost! Quarantine Snacking Quarantine snacks became the top trending snack search as more and more people stayed inside and experimented with their pantries. In an interview with Bloomberg Quint, Future Group President Food & FMCG Kamaldeep Singh had said, The definition of basic necessity has changed in a couple of weeks from basic foods to snacking and munching items. Infact recipes like Samosa, Chinese Bhel, Khaman Dhokla has seen a 300% increase on the searches on websites of Sanjeev Kapoor and Foodfood. Street Food With Street food a strict NO and all options gone, renowned chefs and food bloggers took to Instagram to share their versions of some of the best chaat preparations at home.
Aloo Chaat! Whats more, Google insights reported that recipe searches on Youtube increased by 20% for street food recipes! And, the top most-searched recipe was Pani Puri recipe with an increase of 107% search rate. Other recipes that have been widely searched in street food include Baked Potato Chips, Paneer Shawarma Mexican Paneer Fajita (Source Foodfood website).
Comfort Food- One-Pot Meals Khichdi and biryanis have been our comfort food for as long as we remember, and also double up as a gourmet dining experience when we want it to be. Making it quick and easy or a time consuming fare, these recipes can be as easy or as tedious as we want them to be. Keywords like easy, quick & tasty have been associated with rice recipes and searches have delivered pulao, fried rice etc. Google insights has reported with restrictions in availability of ingredients people are looking for alternative ingredient options to savour their favourite dishes without missing out on taste. A 200% growth in searches with the word, without has been recorded in the Food & beverages category.
Handmade Pizzas With kids at home and no pizzas to order, home-made pizzas has been one of the most successful attempts families are making with kids involved. Many chefs have given out recipes and videos and to make easy pizzas at home starting from the dough with variations including sour dough combinations.
Live on Social media showcasing handmade pizzas have garnered huge views and been very popular across the board. This pandemic has taught us many things and most of self-reliance to a lot of men and women about cooking who werent cooking before. Now nobody is afraid to step into the kitchen and learn how to make things from recipe videos.
Women were cooking and experimenting way before this pandemic have learnt to share their art and passion.
Protesters hold a "Black Lives Matter" sign and raise their fists as they march through Greenwich Village in a demonstration over the death of George Floyd - AFP
Black Lives Matter protests have not caused a spike in coronavirus cases, a new study has found.
The study, which assessed data from 315 US cities, hypothesised that protests would increase disease transmission, but this was not borne out in the findings.
The researchers, from various American colleges including San Diego State University, concluded there was no evidence to suggest the demonstrations had actually led to a surge nearly three weeks on.
Titled "Black Lives Matter Protests, Social Distancing, and COVID-19," the study also found "strong evidence" that the protests actually increased stay-at-home adherence overall, likely because non-protesters chose to leave their homes less amid the demonstrations.
While the protesters did not practice social distancing, as recommended by health experts, they were mostly outside and wearing masks, which appeared to greatly limit the spread.
Thousands participate in a Black Trans Lives Matter rally in the Brooklyn borough in New York City - Reuters
The researchers looked at anonymous cell phone tracking data from SafeGraph, Inc., as well as data on the local prevalence of Covid-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The sample included 18 days of data following the early protests that took place in 66 cities, 16 days of data following protests in 202 cities, and at least 14 days of data for 240 cities that experienced protests during the first week following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
They said that while it is possible that the protests caused an increase in the spread of Covid-19 among those who attended the protests, the protests had little effect on the spread of the virus for the entire population of the cities.
Members of the Texas Southern University police department pause during a funeral service for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church - AP
They said it was possible the trend of results could change over time as more data is added, but thought it was highly unlikely.
We're past the point in time where community spread would start to show up in the new cases data, the researchers said.
"We find no evidence that urban protests reignited COVID-19 case growth during the more than two and a half weeks following protest onset, they reported in the paper, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
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"We conclude that predictions of broad negative public health consequences of Black Lives Matter protests were far too narrowly conceived."
They said the results of the study - a working paper has not been peer-reviewed - makes an important contribution not only to the current discussion around policies for controlling the spread of disease, but also to the understanding of human behaviour of the general population during periods of civil unrest.
The issue of Rahul Gandhis return as the party president echoed in Tuesdays Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting when Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the time has come for him to once again take over the reins of the organisation.
A Congress leader familiar with the development said Gehlots suggestion was endorsed by former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat. However, no other CWC member spoke on the matter, he added.
Asked about it at a virtual press conference later, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala and general secretary in-charge of organisation KC Venugopal said the issue was not discussed at the meeting.
This is the sentiment of every Congress leader and worker. But the issue was not discussed at the meeting today. I am hopeful that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party will take a call on these sentiments at an appropriate time, Surjewala said.
I dont know from where you got this news, Venugopal said in response to a question.
At a news conference last month, Gandhi had indicated that he will not return as the party chief anytime soon amid speculation about his active involvement in organisational matters and series of conversations with global leaders and experts on the Covid-19 crisis.
When asked that his active involvement during the lockdown was being perceived as his coming back as the Congress president, Gandhi shot back: You, please read my letter that I wrote one year ago on that issue.
Gandhi had resigned as the party chief at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on May 25 last year following the partys drubbing in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in which it managed to win just 52 seats in the 543-member House against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys tally of 303.
At the fractious CWC meeting, Gandhi slammed the veterans for placing the interests of their sons above the party, and also mentioned that some leaders had even lost the election from their strongholds even as he criticised a section of the so-called GenNext for hankering for posts.
He brought finality to his decision to step down as the party president on July 3 when he tweeted a four-page farewell note listing the reasons why he resigned.
In the letter, Gandhi took a sharp dig at his party colleagues for the electoral drubbing the Congress received and spoke about the lack of support to him, saying he had stood completely alone in the fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
I personally fought the Prime Minister, the RSS and the institutions they have captured with all my being. I fought because I love India. And I fought to defend the ideals India was built upon. At times, I stood completely alone and am extremely proud of it, he wrote.
Speculation about Gandhi coming back as the Congress president anytime soon intensified after his inclusion in the partys 11-member consultative committee on the Covid-19 pandemic.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had named the group, headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on April 18.
Another Congress functionary said several party leaders at Tuesdays CWC meeting raised the issue of lack of support to Gandhi over his consistent attacks on the government on the border standoff with China.
Many leaders felt that it was Rahul Gandhi only who is taking on the government on the China issue and that he is not getting any support from others in the party. It was then decided that the party would henceforth raise the issue in a calibrated manner and forcefully back Rahul Gandhis aggression on the matter, the party functionary said on condition of anonymity.
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While the number of cases in Dodge, Washington and Saunders counties has seen a downward trend in positive COVID-19 cases, the Three Rivers Public Health Department says residents should prepare for a second wave.
What we can do to help get ready for that second wave is to try to physically distance and wash our hands and make sure that were staying home when were sick, Executive Director Terra Uhing said. So its really all of the information that youve been hearing over the past three months, but were seeing the opportunity to really dive in with the data from our cases and also try to get more people tested.
In the Three Rivers jurisdiction, 6,485 tests have taken place. Out of the 763 total cases in the three counties, Dodge County has seen 655, or 85.8% of the cases.
Uhing said this number is larger than Washington and Saunders, which total together just over 100, due to the countys large size.
Theres also been some more targeted testing there due to some of our places that we were testing, she said.
Within the jurisdiction, 42 individuals have been hospitalized and 13 people have died. The jurisdictions biggest age range is between 30 and 39, followed by 40 to 49. Out of the total cases, 52% have been male, while 48% have been female.
A lot of the cases that we have seen, weve definitely seen some trends, but weve seen a lot of household contacts of other positive cases, and thats really what were looking at or what we see there, Uhing said. Its definitely, definitely interesting, and were just continuing to do our best. The contact tracing is absolutely key.
Uhing said the health department has seen the number of cases decline over the last week-and-a-half. The positivity rate on June 14 was 6.9%, compared to 18.4% on May 24.
I believe that were obviously on the trend down, and we have more testing out there though than weve ever had, Uhing said.
Last week, the state of Nebraska conducted more than 18,000 tests for the virus through TestNebraska. One of these testing stations was set up at Memorial Community Hospital and Health System in Blair, located in Washington County.
Were in the process right now of getting a TestNebraska location set up in Saunders County, and then were also looking at doing that in Dodge County, Uhing said. So were excited about that.
The health department has also had some help from the Nebraska Army National Guard with testing as well, Uhing said.
They were out today testing, and theyll be out again tomorrow at Christensen Field, she said. But were really working on trying to transition to local health care providers or hospitals being able to provide those services, and Im really excited about that.
Even with other states reporting more cases, Uhing said she believes Nebraska is still in the first wave, with the second still to come.
As we continue to open things up, if we see more cases, because we have more testing, I would expect more cases, she said.
As businesses and other locations begin to open up, Uhing said the department is still working on retraining people with a cautious mindset with the virus.
We tell them in our stair-step fashion, we just want to ensure that we have the medical capacity if there would be a surge, she said. And so far in working, we havent had any issues there, and weve been able to handle the COVID cases, for the most part, that weve had across the state.
Along with practicing social distancing and proper hygiene, Uhing said people should get information from reputable sources and not feel pressured to go out and about with the reopenings.
If youre sick, we want you to stay home. If youve been around people that are sick, we want you to stay home, she said. But help us to continue to open things up, slowly but surely, while just ensuring that were able to make sure that we have enough capacity in our hospitals if we need to use them.
Recent violent attacks by radicalised mentally ill people are 'impossible to distinguish' from terrorism, a new report has warned.
The European police agency Europol said that incidents carried out by mentally ill people who have been influenced by hate speech and fake news could be classed as terrorism in its European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report released today.
A section entitled 'Mental Health and Terrorism' stated: '... an increase in hate speech and threats, for example against public figures, and fake news on social media may lead people who are mentally unstable or easily influenced to commit acts of ideologically motivated violence that could be characterised as terrorism.'
One example mentioned was the trial of a man who stabbed several people in The Hague, in the Netherlands, on May 5, 2018
The court held that there was no terrorist motive and that the perpetrator's actions were the result of a psychotic disorder.
Recent violent attacks by radicalised mentally ill people are 'impossible to distinguish' from terrorism, a new report by Europol has warned. Gokmen Tanis (above), 38, who shot four people dead on a tram in Utrecht, Netherlands, on March 18, 2019, was convicted for terrorism - but his personality disorder played an important part in motivating him to carry out the attack
Dutch special police forces inspect the tram in Utrecht after Tanis opened fire in the public transport carriage and killed three people
According to the judgment, his radical and extremist thoughts 'were prompted' by his paranoid psychosis. The case had previously been treated as a terrorist incident.
Meanwhile, Gokmen Tanis, 38, who shot four people dead on a tram in Utrecht, also in the Netherlands, on March 18, 2019, was convicted for terrorism - but his personality disorder played an important part in motivating him to carry out the attack.
The 97-page report comes as the EU police agency today warned that the coronavirus lockdowns could also radicalise more terror suspects - saying both right- and left-wing violence were on the rise.
Unveiling the report today, Europol director Catherine De Bolle said that the pandemic's worldwide economic and social impacts could escalate existing discontents.
'These developments have the potential to further fuel the radicalisation of some individuals, regardless of their ideological persuasion,' De Bolle noted.
Europol also warned of an increase in attacks by right-wing extremists. One of the worst attacks was the shooting at a synagogue in the Germany city of Halle last October in which two people were killed by 27-year-old Stephan Balliet (pictured)
Jewish leaders say the attacker tried to get into the synagogue in Halle during prayers for Yom Kippur, but were stopped by 'security measures'. A woman was then shot dead in the street outside (pictured, the attacker shooting at a car)
'Activists both on the extreme left and right and those involved in jihadist terrorism attempt to seize the opportunity the pandemic has created to further propagate their aims.'
The report said Islamist terror attacks in Europe had decreased, mainly due to better law enforcement, with only seven 'completed or failed' jihadist attacks in 2019.
Other key points in the Europol report A total of 119 foiled, failed and completed terrorist attacks were reported by a total of 13 EU Member States.
1,004 individuals were arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related offences in 19 EU Member States, with Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and the UK reporting the highest numbers.
Ten people died because of terrorist attacks in the EU and 27 people were injured. Advertisement
However Europol warned of an increase in attacks by right-wing extremists, partly inspired by attacks such as the 2019 attack in Christchurch, New Zealand.
'While many right-wing extremist groups across the EU have not resorted to violence, they contribute to a climate of fear and animosity against minority groups,' De Bolle said.
'Such a climate, built on xenophobia, hatred for Jews and Muslims and anti-immigration sentiments, may lower the threshold for some radicalised individuals to use violence against people'.
Last year, three EU member states reported a total of six right-wing attacks of which one was completed, as opposed to only one the year before.
One of the worst attacks was the shooting at a synagogue in the Germany city of Halle last October in which two people were killed
There were 26 left-wing and anarchist attacks in Europe, mainly in Italy, Greece and Spain - a similar number to two years ago after a drop in 2018.
But the number of arrests on suspicion of left-wing or anarchist terrorist offences more than tripled, compared to previous years, Europol added, with the majority linked to violent demonstrations and confrontations with Italian police.
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Vodafone Foundation has partnered Novartis, a global medicines company, and the Coalition of Sickle Cell Association of NGOsto mark World Sickle Cell Day 2020.
The partnership is aimed at increasing public knowledge and understanding of sickle cell disease. A number of activities including blood donation exercise and Sickle Cell Disease Screening at the Southern Zonal Blood Centre, Korle-Bu, a virtual tree planting exercise for fallen warriors, donation to Sickle Cell Clinic, and a tour to the Vodafone Healthline Centre were lined up to commemorate the day.
Commenting on the reason for the support, Amaris Nana A. Perbi, the Foundation and Sustainability Lead, Vodafone Ghana, said the partnership is part of Vodafone Ghana Foundations commitment to health and focus on life-transforming initiatives to give every Ghanaian the chance to live a healthy and productive life.
Vodafone Foundation is passionate about ensuring every Ghanaian is in good health. To mark this important day, World Sickle Day 2020, we decided to partner Novartis, the Coalition of NGOs in Ghana to help combat the disease. We have dedicated our pioneering Healthline Centre to clear the myths associated with the disease. We are keen on letting people know the truth about the disease.
On her part, Executive Director of GNS Foundation, Sandy Amponsah Ayivor, commended Vodafone for the support, We coming together as an association has been massive and the support of Vodafone is been awesome. I am so impressed with Vodafones support especially with the Vodafone Call Centre. It baffles me to see a telecommunications company take it upon itself to have a team of professional doctors dedicated to assist every Ghanaian having a health condition with just a phone call. On behalf of the coalition, I want to give them a thump up for this initiative. It is a good move and they have to be applauded for it.
She added We hope that the foundation will always be on board. We also want to use this opportunity to call on other corporate bodies and individuals to support this cause.
Speaking on the readiness of the Vodafone Healthline Centre to provide education on Sickle Cell Disease and empower people to make informed life choices, Dr Bright Asamoah, Clinical Director of the Vodafone Healthline Call Centre added, This is part of our contribution at the Vodafone Health Centre, we are available to educate the general public on the Sickle cell disease.
We are on standby to give out our professional knowledge and expertise of the disease from 8am to 8pm. We believe that educating people on the disease will help individuals with the condition to take better care of themselves. Most importantly, we want to educate people against stigmatizing people with the condition. The Vodafone call Centre is available to educate everyone from all walks of life. Call 255 and get the best information on Sickle Celll, COVID-19, and other health condition.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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ABL Life Insurance CEO Xie Zheqiang, second from left, poses after meeting with financial consultants and other employees at the insurer's regional office in the southwestern city of Daegu, Tuesday. The company invited the head of Keimyung University's Daegu Dongsan Hospital to hear about how the institution, designated to treat COVID-19 patients, coped with the situation. / Courtesy of ABL Life Insurance
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday requested Lt Governor Anil Baijal to scrap the system requiring every COVID-19 patient to visit a government-run centre for clinical assessment.
Sisodia said he has written to the LG, saying that the new system will only create problems for the patients and add pressure on the government machinery as an infected person will have to wait in long queues at these centres.
"Why should one go to quarantine centre for checkup? Has he made any mistake? At a time when the government should help him, we are giving him punishment of standing in long queues," Sisodia said during an online media briefing.
The deputy chief minister demanded that the previous system be implemented wherein medical teams of the district administration visited the house of an infected person for his or her clinical assessment.
He said that the national capital has been reporting nearly 3,000 cases every day and it is not feasible for every COVID-19 patient to undergo clinical assessment at COVID quarantine centres.
He said that the lieutenant governor should call a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority and revert to the old system.
Last week, Baijal had issued an order, making it mandatory for every new COVID-19 patient to visit a care centre for clinical assessment to ascertain whether he requires hospitalisation or home isolation.
Sisodia said that if a COVID-19 patient wait for his turn in long queue at such centres, there may be a possibility of spreading the virus.
"People have been facing a lot of problems as they are afraid of going to such centres after being infected with coronavirus.
If they do not visit these centres, they get calls from police and district administration for clinical assessment.
"It will also create burden on the city's ambulance system. I want to ask whether ambulance should first take serious patient to hospital or those who are asymptomatic," he also said.
Sisodia alleged that COVID-19 patients are in a dilemma after the new system was put in place and they are not getting advice through dedicated helplines.
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.
Verizon now plans to utilize its 4G LTE network to drive 5G growth nationwide in 2020, reports indicate. The company announced its shift in direction today and will use Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) to make its push.
As is implied by the announcement, that means that the carriers current network for 4G will be utilized. And the spectrum used by that network will essentially be shared with the next-gen networking tech. That will speed up its rollout significantly since Verizon has been one of the slower companies to expand 5G. But that also comes at a cost.
Verizons network will support standardized 5G but it wont be the gigabit-speed 5G its rolled out before. Instead, the new network will utilize the same low-band 5G thats been used by T-Mobile and now merged Sprint as well as AT&T. The low-band network delivers speeds that are closer to the maximum theoretically allowed by LTE. But thats delivered with wider bandwidth and lower latency.
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So it will support a wider number of users across a larger area. And it will do so in a way that allows more users to gain access to those higher speeds than before.
Why has Verizon been so slow on nationwide 5G?
Verizons move will additionally have the benefit of being quicker to arrive. Summarily, because its using the current networking infrastructure, it can effectively just be switched on. That has the added benefit of buying Verizon some time to implement standalone 5G networking equipment. And once that step is complete, the network will be much stronger still.
The company has also already been trialing DSS already, so it shouldnt take too long to roll out after the announcement either. In fact, Verizon says it wants to have its nationwide 5G network in place by the end of 2020. The exact timeline has not been provided but it will be much shorter than the previous rollout.
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With regard to why Verizons network was so slow by comparison over the past year or so, that all comes down to the technology in use. The carriers endeavor has largely hinged on high-band, mmWave 5G. Not only is that a much higher speed networking technology. It also relies on frequencies that cant penetrate buildings and other objects as well. And the distance it can span from a single network hub is dramatically shorter too.
So, for Verizons network compared to others in the industry the rollout has chiefly been confined to cities. And, even then, that confinement has been to neighborhoods or streets rather than to entire cities. It has managed to cover a wide number of cities in that way, with some having better coverage than others. But it has focused solely on high-band mmWave 5G rather than low-band.
Where will this appear first?
Exactly when this rollout is set to commence remains unclear. Verizon is quick to point out the benefits of running both LTE and 5G NR services simultaneously over the low band spectrum. But it isnt detailing where or when any given region of the US will see the service turned on.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Tyson Foods is looking into reports that Chinas customs agency has suspended poultry imports from a Tyson facility in the United States after coronavirus cases were confirmed among its employees.
A Tyson spokesman said Sunday that the plant in question is in Springdale, Arkansas.
At Tyson, were confident our products are safe and were hopeful consultations between the U.S. and Chinese governments will resolve this matter, wrote spokesman Gary Mickelson in an email to The Associated Press.
Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, and we work closely with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service to ensure that we produce all of our food in full compliance with government safety requirements, the statement added.
Mickelson also noted that all global and U.S. health organizations, in addition to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, agree that there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.
The announcement out of China on Sunday gave no details of the quantity of meat affected.
On Friday, Tyson Foods announced the results of coronavirus testing at its facilities in Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, and said that about 95 percent of employees who ultimately tested positive for the virus didnt show any symptoms. Of the 3,748 employees tested, 481 tested positive for COVID-19, and 455 were asymptomatic.
There have been several other COVID-19 outbreaks at Tyson plants around the United States, including in North Carolina, Nebraska, and Iowa.
In November, China lifted a five-year ban on U.S. poultry. China had blocked U.S. poultry imports a month after an outbreak of avian influenza in December 2014, closing off a market that brought more than $500 million worth of American chicken, turkey and other poultry products in 2013.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
It wasnt quite the reopening that Jazzlab had planned after 14 weeks with the lights out. A soldout audience of 50 had to be whittled down to 20 at the last minute. Tickets, tables and schedules were hastily rearranged to turn one concert into two back-to-back shows, with leftover patrons redirected to a future concert.
But jazz musicians are resourceful. As pianist Andrea Keller, saxophonist Julien Wilson and bassist Sam Anning surveyed the sparsely populated room on Monday night, they radiated not disappointment but delight at the opportunity to share a stage and a jazz club with real people in real time.
For the audience there was a renewed appreciation of the chance to see and hear these artists, but also to feel them. We could feel the warmth from Wilsons tenor sax as he danced around the melody of his tune Barney and Claude. We felt the intuitive bond between Keller and Anning as they sculpted a spare, slightly angular introduction to Kellers Broken Reflection. We felt the trio savouring the buoyant lyricism of Annings Petals.
But perhaps the tune that best summed up the evening was Grateful, Hopeful, Joyful. Its lush harmonies suggested shadows and light, and encapsulated not just the deep empathy among these three players, but the air of optimism in the room.
Andrea Keller and her group Five Below perform as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festivals free online program These Digital Times on Saturday at 5pm.
In 1988, a group of South Fork naturalists formed a membership organization called the South Fork Natural History Society, better known as SOFO. The objective of this organization was to increase public awareness about the past, present, and future of eastern Long Islands natural history and to share their joyful experiences of exploring and learning with others in the community. SOFO used to operate out of a small building referred to as the Nature Clubhouse where children gathered to examine different species, research for school projects, and just hang out. The Clubhouse served as a prototype...
Ladakh face-off: We stand united against attack by China, has it occupied Indian land?: Rahul Gandhi
India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
New Delhi, June 23: Amidst the ongoing tension between India and China, after China unilaterally and violently tried to change status-quo in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has been taking jibes at the centre, questioning if Indian land has been occupied by the Chinese.
Taking to Twitter, Gandhi posted a picture of Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh where the stand-off with China began last month and wrote, ''We stand united against the Chinese invasion. Has China occupied Indian land.''
Rath Yatra begins in Puri's Jagannath Temple amid curfew due to Covid-19 pandemic | Oneindia News
Earlier on Monday, firing a fresh salvo at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked as to why China is "praising Mr Modi during this conflict".
"China killed our soldiers. China took our land. Then, why is China praising Mr Modi during this conflict," he asked on Twitter.
Galwan clash: China dismisses reports on losing 40 soldiers in Ladakh
In his tweet, Gandhi tagged a news report that said the Chinese media has lauded Prime Minister Modi's speech during an all-party meeting on the Ladakh situation.
Before this tweet, in another post, Gandhi shared Manmohan Singh's statement on the ongoing Ladakh standoff with China, saying the former PM has given an important advice. Gandhi expressed hope that Modi would accept it "politely" in the interest of the country.
Gandhi has been attacking Modi over his statement on the Ladakh standoff with China and even accused him of "surrendering" Indian territory to the neighbouring country.
New Delhi: In a huge blow to Indian techies eyeing the American job market, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday suspended H-1B visas till the end of the year. Some other types of foreign work visas were also suspended till the end of 2020 to protect US workers in a crucial election year. The new restrictions will take effect from Wednesday.
H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialised fields. According to estimates, before the coronavirus pandemic, the US issued 85,000 H-1B visas annually, of which Indians get 60,000. This move may badly affect Indian industry, especially the IT sector. Indian IT professionals who were issued H-1B visas for fiscal year 2021, starting October 1, will now have to wait till at least the end of the year to apply to US diplomatic missions to get their passports stamped, or for visa renewals.
In April, Trump signed an immigration proclamation targeting people outside the US seeking to legally migrate to America, with some exceptions. That order, that was set to lapse, will be extended till 2020 end expanded to include some guest worker visas. The new visas are L-1 visas for intra-company transfers, H-1B as well as the H-4 visa for spouses, H-2Bs for temporary non-agricultural workers and most J-1 visas for exchange visitors.
The proclamation also extends till the year end his earlier executive order that banned issuing of new Green Cards for lawful permanent residency.
Green Card holders are immediately eligible to compete for almost any job, at par with US citizens in most areas.
While issuing the proclamation, Trump has ignored the mounting opposition to his order by several businesses, legislators and human rights bodies. Google CEO Sunder Pichai said he was disappointed over Trumps decision, and added: Immigration contributed immensely to Americas economic success, making it a global leader in tech.
A day after the White House said President Trump was joking about ordering a slowdown in coronavirus testing to avoid an embarrassing increase in the number of cases, Trump responded to a question about the incident by saying, I dont kid.
Trump made the eye-opening claim at his rally in Tulsa Saturday night. When you do testing to that extent, youre going to find more people. Youre going to find more cases! he told the crowd. So I said to my people, Slow the testing down, please!
The president had expressed frustration over the rise in cases, attributing it to more widespread testing. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, there have been more than 2.3 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States, far more than in any other country.
President Trump at a rally in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday. (Go Nakamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Health experts say increased testing does not explain the rise, noting that in such states as Florida, Texas and Arizona, which are driving the spike in cases, the rate of tests that come back positive is increasing, indicating an actual spread of infection.
The president was immediately criticized for suggesting the country slow down its testing for the coronavirus, which has killed more than 120,000 Americans.
Administration officials pushed back, claiming Trump was joking. White House adviser Peter Navarro said the presidents remarks were tongue in cheek. Vice President Mike Pence, the head of Trumps coronavirus task force, told U.S. governors on Monday that the presidents comments were made in passing.
It was a comment that he made in jest, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Monday afternoon. Whether its in jest, in passing or tongue in cheek those are all synonymous.
But when asked about the comment by reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Arizona Tuesday morning, Trump responded, I dont kid.
He repeated his claim that more testing results in more cases of the virus.
Let me make it clear, the president told reporters. We have got the greatest testing program anywhere in the world. We test better than anybody in the world. Our tests are the best in the world, and we have the most of them. By having more tests, we find more cases. We did 25-plus, 25 million tests. Think of that: 25 million. If you look at other countries, they did 1 million, 2 million, 3 million. Big countries. We did 25 million, way more, by double, triple, quadruple any other country. Therefore we test, were going to have more cases. By having more cases, it sounds bad.
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President Trump speaks to the press before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday. (Stefani Reynolds/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
While the U.S. has conducted the most total coronavirus tests, it has not conducted the most per capita. (According to Oxford University researchers, Bahrain leads the world in COVID-19 tests per 1,000 people, followed by Luxembourg, Iceland and Denmark. The U.S. is a distant 12th.)
As he did at the rally, Trump called testing a double-edged sword.
In one way, it tells you you have cases. In another way, you find out where the cases are, you do a good job, he said. We are doing a great job. We have never been credited for it.
Trump eventually departed for Arizona, but he wasnt done airing grievances. Shortly after takeoff, he complained about the medias coverage of his coronavirus response.
We did a great job on CoronaVirus, including the very early ban on China, Ventilator production, and Testing, which is by far the most, and best, in the World. We saved millions of U.S. lives.! Yet the Fake News refuses to acknowledge this in a positive way, he tweeted. But they do give Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is with us in all ways, a very high 72% Approval Rating. So, if he is in charge along with V.P. etc., and with us doing all of these really good things, why doesnt the Lamestream Media treat us as they should? Answer: Because they are Fake News!
Fauci testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday about the Trump administrations handling of the crisis along with Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services; Stephen Hahn, Food and Drug Administration commissioner; and Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"To my knowledge none of us have been told to slow down, Fauci told Congress. That is a fact. In fact, we will be doing more testing. So it's the opposite, we will be doing more testing, not less."
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Read more from Yahoo News:
By Akbar Mammadov
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, the presidential website reported on June 22.
Addressing to Royal Highness, "On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I congratulate you and the friendly people of Luxembourg on the occasion of the national holiday of your country with great satisfaction", said the president.
"On such a remarkable day, I wish you good health and happiness, and eternal prosperity to your country", he added.
It should be noted that 23 June is the National Day of Luxembourg, which is also called Grand Duke Day.
As this day is also the official birthday of the Grand Duke, however, none of birthdays of Grand Duke or Duchess is on this day.
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Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Photo: The Canadian Press A protester pulls a newspaper box as she reassembles a blockade at a major road intersection in Mississauga, Ontario on Tuesday June 23, 2020. Protesters have been gathering in the intersection near where Ejaz Choudry was shot and killed by police attending a mental health call. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
The mayor of Mississauga, Ont., has called for police reform following the death of a 62-year-old man with schizophrenia who was shot by police.
Bonnie Crombie says now is the time to explore changes to better serve the community.
Peel Regional Police shot and killed Ejaz Choudry on Saturday after performing a wellness check.
Choudry's family says they called a non-emergency line for help while Choudry was in crisis and needed his medication, but police showed up.
The Special Investigations Unit is probing Choudry's death.
A days-long demonstration remains at an intersection near Choudry's apartment building.
MACKINAW CITY, Mich. - Michigans attorney general on Monday asked a judge to shut down a pipeline in the Great Lakes after an energy company discovered that an anchor support had shifted deep below the surface.
Enbridge Inc. insists the Line 5 pipeline itself was not damaged, and the company resumed the flow of oil and natural gas liquids in the west leg of the twin system Saturday. The east line, where the anchor support assembly had moved, remains closed in the Straits of Mackinac.
But state attorneys said both should be turned off until an independent review is conducted. They asked for a restraining order and an injunction as part of ongoing litigation between Enbridge and Attorney General Dana Nessel, who wants Line 5 permanently shut down.
Enbridges prevention and detection measures have failed to prevent or detect the source of this damage, and that failure has created a risk of irreparable harm to the Great Lakes, state attorneys said.
Line 5 carries oil and natural gas liquids used in propane from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario. A four-mile (6.4-kilometre) segment divides into two pipes that lie on the bottom of the straits, which connect Lake Huron and Lake Michigan between Michigans Upper and Lower peninsulas.
Enbridge said it would vigorously oppose Nessels legal moves. The company said it has kept federal pipeline regulators informed of the situation since last week.
I have directed the responsible individuals at Enbridge to ensure we provide regular and fulsome briefings to state officials and discuss current plans with your administration and with you personally, if desired, President Al Monaco said in a Sunday letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
But Whitmer said Enbridge restarted the west leg of Line 5 without sharing enough information about the incident. She called it a brazen disregard for the people of Michigan and the safety of the Great Lakes.
Enbridge wants to ultimately put the twin pipes in a tunnel to protect them. The project was approved in 2018 before Whitmer and Nessel took office.
Line 5 delivers 65% of the propane that heats Upper Peninsula homes and 55% of Michigans propane needs, according to Enbridge. It has been operating since 1953.
PHILADELPHIA, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Graham Company, one of the country's largest insurance brokerages, today announced a new partnership with Regenexx, a network of leading interventional orthopedics clinics. The partnership gives Graham Company's self-insured clients the option to offer alternative non-surgical orthopedic treatment methods, provided by Regenexx through its expansive network of physicians, as a benefit enhancement for employees. In addition, the partnership will help Graham Company's clients control and reduce overall costs of orthopedic surgery procedures for employees.
According to data from Regenexx, its procedures have effectively intervened on 70% of elective orthopedic injuries and conditions where surgery was previously the only solution.* Regenexx offers a unique approach to treating orthopedic injuries non-surgically through stem cell therapy and other regenerative medicine. Procedures performed by Regenexx's specially trained physician network involve injections of custom orthobiologics, derived from the patient's own cells and natural healing agents, to treat approximately 40 orthopedic conditions. This interventional approach enables employers to save up to 70% of orthopedic costs by reducing the number of unnecessary surgeries performed annually.
"At Graham Company, we are committed to identifying solutions to help our clients control escalating health care costs while also enhancing their benefits offerings for employees," said Debra Montella, Graham Company's Vice President of the Employee Benefits Division. "Through this partnership with Regenexx, we are now able to present our self-insured clients with a unique approach that is transforming orthopedic care and driving down costs associated with surgical procedures."
This partnership also benefits the employees of clients with self-funded plans, providing them with alternative non-surgical treatment options to address orthopedic injuries or conditions. Regenexx company data found that when employees are given the choice between an invasive orthopedic surgery or its non-invasive procedure to treat orthopedic conditions, employees chose Regenexx's procedure a majority of the time. Compared to traditional orthopedic surgeries, Regenexx procedures require less downtime for patients and are considered less costly, less invasive and less risky.
"Regenexx is looking forward to expanding our mission of producing the best possible patient outcomes for Graham Company and their clients through our innovative alternative to orthopedic surgery," said Regenexx CEO Jason Hellickson. "Our patented regenerative approach to treating common orthopedic conditions is transforming the care pathway of an orthopedic patient who can now avoid a surgical encounter with less risk and less downtime."
*This data applies only to elective orthopedic surgery without fracture-related care and acute care trauma.
About Graham Company
Graham Company is one of the largest insurance and employee benefits brokers in the country, committed to enhancing employee safety and business viability through an action-oriented approach to risk management. In business for nearly 60 years, Graham Company designs customized and effective property and casualty, surety and employee benefits programs for its clients to protect employees and prevent losses. With offices in Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C., Graham Company became 100 percent employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan in 2017. Through its innovative insurance and safety training programs, Graham Company is redefining what it means to be an insurance broker. To learn more, visit www.grahamco.com.
GRAHAM COMPANY IS AN INSURANCE BROKER AND NOT A MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER. ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS PROCEDURE SHOULD BE REFERRED TO REGENEXX OR YOUR MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER.
About Regenexx
Regenexx is a nationwide network of physicians who practice Interventional Orthopedics, a new specialty that focuses on using the most advanced regenerative protocols available as an alternative to many orthopedic surgeries. Regenexx has published roughly half of the research worldwide on the use of orthobiologics for treating orthopedic injuries, and our patented treatment lab-processing and treatment protocols allow us to achieve unmatched results. Our procedures use your body's natural healing agents including blood platelets and bone marrow concentrate to repair damaged bone, muscle, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. We believe in educating patients, offering options and encouraging people to take an active role in their own treatment. For more information on Regenexx Corporate, visit www.regenexxcorporate.com or call 888-547-6667. For more information on the Regenexx procedures, visit www.regenexx.com.
SOURCE Regenexx
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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a Massachusetts-based case addressing pay for au pairs, a topic that also remains before state lawmakers as the legislative session winds down.
The court included the case, Capron v. Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, on a list of those it would not review, leaving the decision of a lower court in place. The court's list notes that Justice Stephen Breyer "took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition."
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on Dec. 2, 2019 affirmed a lower court's dismissal of a lawsuit against Attorney General Maura Healey, filed by Cultural Care Au Pair and two people whose families have hosted au pairs. The suit argued that federal law relating to au pairs preempts the state's wage and hour laws, but the court disagreed and found that the Massachusetts wage, overtime and Domestic Workers Bill of Rights laws apply to au pairs.
The au pair program, administered by the State Department, allows young adults from other countries to come to the United States under a special visa to continue their studies while providing a host family with live-in child care.
The Massachusetts minimum wage of $12.75 an hour is higher than the federal minimum wage, and the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights includes provisions around rest periods and payroll recordkeeping requirements for employers, among other measures.
"In Massachusetts, our minimum wage, overtime, and Domestic Worker Bill of Rights laws protect workers, including au pairs, regardless of their national origin or immigration status," Healey said in a statement. "We are pleased that Cultural Care's challenge to those laws has now been rejected by the federal courts at every level."
The December ruling prompted lawmakers to file a handful of bills, in some cases aimed at easing burdens on host families who had been complying with federal pay rules and may have been surprised to learn of other legal obligations.
The Labor and Workforce Development Committee in late May solicited written testimony on four au pair bills -- two filed by Boston Rep. Michael Moran and one each from Reps. Paul McMurtry of Dedham and Michelle Ciccolo of Lexington.
Ciccolo's bill (H 4567) proposed to temporarily exempt au pairs from provisions of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights until July 1, giving host families what she has described as a grace period. McMurtry's bill (H 4565) would allow employers to deduct lodging, food and beverage costs from an au pair's pay in an amount up to 40 percent of the weekly wages owed.
One Moran bill (H 4563) would create a commission to examine the impact of state policies and the Capron decision on the au pair exchange program; the other (H 4654) deals with host families that have existing signed agreements with au pair sponsor agencies.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the typical public hearing structure -- the State House has been closed to the public since March -- so many committees have been collecting testimony by email or holding virtual hearings with video streams.
The Labor Committee, which has been without a House chair since former Rep. Paul Brodeur resigned in November to become mayor of Melrose, on June 2 extended its deadline for reporting out the four au pair bills.
The committee now has until Oct. 27 to decide if its members wish to advance the bill. Under joint House-Senate rules, formal legislative sessions are scheduled to end for this term on July 31, after which recorded roll call votes cannot be taken and any one lawmakers objection could stop a bill from moving forward.
BOSTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- iThrive Games Foundation announced that it was awarded a $250,022 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) CARES grant. The award will support the expansion of the iThrive Sim programa library of role-playing simulations that make U.S. government and history come alive for teens. The funds will support the creation of additional scenarios that can be used in distance learning for high school students.
The three scenarios that are funded by the grant embed game-based learning, support social and emotional skill-building into humanities-focused academic content, and are delivered through web-based technology. Created in partnership with the team behind the Situation Room Experience role-playing simulation, the scenarios will engage students in using and interpreting humanities content as they interact in real-time with each other.
"iThrive is honored to receive this prestigious grant from the NEH," said Susan E. Rivers, Ph.D., Executive Director and Chief Scientist at iThrive Games Foundation. "We believe this acknowledgment reflects our mission to provide tools and resources that help teens to thrive and develop perspectives on the big questions of life that only the humanities can deliver, learning to make decisions and take actions for the betterment of the world."
Board Chair and Founder Dorothy Batten believes the grant is an important step in helping teens to thrive while navigating COVID-19.
"Addressing the educational needs of youth and those who work with them is now more important than ever, as the education landscape changes and the pandemic continues," she said.
Visit iThrivegames.org to learn more about iThrive Sim and to learn about project milestones.
ABOUT iTHRIVE GAMES FOUNDATION
iThrive Games Foundation prepares teens to thrive by meeting them where they are and working in partnership towards a world where all have the voice, choice, and agency to reach their full potential. We use games and game design to equip teens with the social and emotional skills they need to be healthy and resilient.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov .
SOURCE iThrive Games Foundation
Google Docs and Gmail are now going to be bilingual when it comes to grammar. Thats based on recent reports originating from an announcement made by Google on the matter. As might be expected from such an announcement, the big change here is the addition of Spanish language support. Specifically, that support is being added to Google Docs and Gmail when it comes to suggested corrections to grammar.
That means, summarily, that users who are typing in either English or Spanish will now see suggestions in the appropriate language.
For clarity, this is Googles AI-driven feature for identifying and correcting homonyms and correct tenses in writing. It was first added for English back in 2018. Users who have already utilized this feature in English will recognize the feature like the one that highlights problematic grammar via a squiggly blue line. Now, both English and Spanish errors will be highlighted.
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Users simply need to right-click two-finger click or alt-click on Chromebooks highlighted errors to take advantage of the tool. Doing so causes a box to appear where users can preview changes and implement them.
Aside from Spanish grammar in Docs and Gmail, what else is incoming?
Beyond the addition of grammar suggestions in Spanish in Google Docs and Gmail, Google has a few other bilingual changes planned for the future too.
Building on a plethora of incoming changes over the past few months, and the new suggestions, Google also plans to introduce autocorrect and Smart Compose in Spanish.
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Autocorrections are, of course, self-explanatory. With that enabled for Spanish, users typing in that language will see some more common changes happening automatically. Thats without the above-mentioned action required. Autocorrected errors appear with a gray squiggly line after theyve been corrected.
Smart Compose, conversely, is arguably a bigger deal. Smart Compose is Googles AI-powered tool that allows users to automatically type out phrases or finish them with a quick tap of the space bar or on the screen.
In effect, it acts as a task-shortening feature that automatically helps users respond to emails or type out sentences. Thats based on their own use of language too, allowing the feature to infer how the user would respond and make natural-sounding suggestions accordingly. That chiefly works in Gmail, and the addition of Spanish isnt going to change that. But it will help Spanish-using Gmail users across the board to type out their emails a bit more quickly.
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Google says those two changes will arrive later on in 2020.
When will you see this update arrive?
Now, the rollout timeframe as with most Google updates is going to be 15-days from today. That means that users may have to weight up to two weeks before the new bilingual suggestions begin appearing in Google Docs or Gmail. The update appears to be entirely on the server-side. So users wont need to update anything to take advantage of that.
Unlike some other updates though, this is one update thats going to hit everybody. So it wont matter if users are paying G Suite subscribers or not. They should still receive this update.
The World Health Organization says the lack of testing means many cases are likely going undetected in the worlds second-worst affected country with 51,000 deaths reported so far.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the number of coronavirus infections in Brazil could be much higher than is being reported as the lack of testing means many cases are likely going undetected.
Latin Americas largest country is currently the worlds second-worst affected with 51,000 deaths and more than a million infections of the novel coronavirus.
Many more infections and deaths are feared because social distancing measures are not being taken seriously.
Al Jazeeras Priyanka Gupta reports.
When medical officers across the nation urged us all to get our flu shots, we quickly obeyed.
They were asking for a very good reason. The fear was that hospitals would be inundated with an influx of patients suffering from the effects of COVID-19. The argument was that we could stop a wave of influenza if we were immunised so we took the argument to heart and left the beds for those who were really sick.
Flu vaccines are at their most effective three to four months after immunisation. Credit:Getty
Flutracking, an online health surveillance system, tracks influenza symptoms across Australia and New Zealand through a 140,000-strong community survey sent out each Monday in flu season. It started early this year, in an attempt to track COVID-19. And each year, it asks if participants have been vaccinated against the flu.
Last year in the week ending April 21, just under 18 per cent of participants said they were vaccinated. Same time this year, it was more than 40 per cent. By the end of May 2019, over half of participants said they were vaccinated. By the end of May this year, it was a massive 78 per cent.
Auburn, IN (46706)
Today
Cloudy with scattered snow showers and flurries becoming a steady accumulating snow later. Low around 20F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snowfall around one inch..
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Cloudy with scattered snow showers and flurries becoming a steady accumulating snow later. Low around 20F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snowfall around one inch.
The Central government on Tuesday (June 23, 2020) has provided details on the Rs. 2000 crore on the allocations made under PM CARES Fund for supply of 50000 'Made-in-India' ventilators to government run COVID hospitals across India.
The statement released by the government also stated that Rs 1000 crore has been allocated for the welfare of migrant labourers.
Giving details of the manufacturing of ventilation, the statement stated that out of the 50000 ventilators, 30000 ventilators are being manufactured by M/s Bharat Electronics Limited. The remaining 20000 ventilators are being manufactured by AgVa Healthcare (10000), AMTZ Basic (5650), AMTZ High End (4000) and Allied Medical (350).
The press release also gave details of the distribution of manufactured ventilators across States/UTs and said, ''Out of the 2923 ventilators that have been manufactured, 1340 ventilators have already been delivered to the States/UTs. The prominent recipients include Maharashtra (275), Delhi (275), Gujarat (175), Bihar (100), Karnataka (90), Rajasthan (75). By the end of June 2020, additional 14,000 ventilators will be delivered to all States/UTs.''
The government statement read, ''PM CARES Fund Trust has allocated Rs. 2000 crore for supply of 50000 Made-in-India ventilators to government run COVID hospitals in all States/UTs. Further, a sum of Rs. 1000 crore has been allocated for the welfare of migrant labourers.''
The central government also shared plans of distributing Rs 1000 crore to migrant labourers across country and said that the amount has already been released to States/UTs for welfare of the migrant labourers and that the distribution of the fund is based on the formula of 50 percent weightage for the population as per 2011 census, 40 percent weightage for number of positive COVID-19 cases and 10 percent for equal distribution among all the States/UTs.
The fund amount will be used for arranging accommodation, food, medical treatment and transportation of the migrants.
As per the PIB press releases, the main beneficiaries of the grant are Maharashtra (181 cr) which has the highest number of cases in India, Uttar Pradesh (103 cr), Tamil Nadu (83 cr), Gujarat (66 cr), Delhi (55 cr), West Bengal (53 cr), Bihar (51 cr), Madhya Pradesh (50 cr), Rajasthan (50 cr) and Karnataka (34 cr).
Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday met soldiers injured in the clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakhs Galwan Valley during a visit to review the security situation in the sensitive sector, two officers said.
This is Naravanes second visit to Leh, the headquarters of 14 Corps, since border tensions with China erupted last month. He earlier visited the area on May 22.
General Naravane drove straight to Lehs military hospital, where the injured soldiers are under treatment, one of the officer cited above said. He inquired about their well-being and wished them a speedy recovery.
General Naravane complimented all ranks for their high standard of professionalism and dedication to duty. He urged them to continue to discharge their duties with the same dedication and zeal, an army spokesperson said.
Twenty Indian soldiers were killed and 76 injured, including 18 of them seriously, when Chinese troops attacked with nail-studded clubs and stones on June 15. The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) suffered 43 casualties in the face-off, according to Indian officials, but Beijing has not confirmed the fatalities on its side.
During his two-day trip, Naravane will be briefed on the latest developments along the disputed border and the progress of military talks with China. Senior Indian and Chinese commanders met on Monday at Moldo on Chinas side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The meeting, which focussed on cooling tensions, and thinning military build-up on both sides of the border, lasted for almost 11 hours.
The Indian side is demanding the withdrawal of Chinese troops from the Finger Area on the north bank of Pangong Tso Lake and also the removal of bunkers, pillboxes, and observation posts that PLA has set up there, as reported by HT on Tuesday.
India is also pressing for the restoration of status quo ante in key strategic areas including the Gogra Post-Hot Springs sector and the Galwan Valley.
Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria last week made a low-key visit to Ladakh to review the Indian Air Forces preparedness in the sector. Apart from Sukhoi-30s and upgraded MiG-29 fighter jets, the IAF is operating Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and CH-47F (I) Chinook multi-mission helicopters--both imported from the US -- in Ladakh.
The current situation along LAC marks the first major flare-up since the 73-day standoff between India and China at Doklam near the Sikkim border in 2017.
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Prince William has forgiven his father for the 'mistakes of the past' and has 'woken up to the fact Charles has been as much of a positive influence as Diana', a royal expert has claimed.
On Sunday a charming photo of the two future kings was released by Kate Middleton to mark her husband's 38th birthday and Father's Day.
The rare, candid snap shows the Duke of Cambridge, 38, pulling Charles, 71, in for a hug in Sandringham in December last year, and shows the new closeness between the pair.
According to Camilla Tominey, the intimate image marks 'an even more significant milestone in what hasn't always been an easy relationship'.
On Sunday a charming photo of the two future kings was released by Kate Middleton to mark her husband's 38th birthday and Father's Day. According to Camilla Tominey, the intimate image marks 'an even more significant milestone in what hasn't always been an easy relationship'
Writing in the Daily Telegraph today, she said: 'The warmth which so obviously zings between father and son seems to signify a laying to rest of the ghosts of William's childhood and any soreness he has felt towards his father after witnessing the traumatic fallout out of his parents' separation as a 10-year-old boy.
'Now a father-of-three in his late thirties, with Charles willingly playing the role of doting grandfather, there is a sense that William has not only forgiven him for the mistakes of the past, but also woken up to the fact his father has been as much of a positive influence as Diana, the late Princess of Wales.'
Camilla highlighted that William and Charles' relationship appears to be very different from what it was just three years ago, when the world paid tribute to the late Princess of Wales on the 20th anniversary of her death in a car crash in Paris.
She recalled how William was unwilling to acknowledge his father's role in his and his brother Prince Harry's upbringing after Diana died.
Royal expert Camilla said Prince William has forgiven his father for the 'mistakes of the past' and has 'woken up to the fact Charles has been as much of a positive influence as Diana'. Pictured: Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Diana and Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in June 1988
Charles' aides allegedly 'begged' his eldest son to pay tribute to his father when he spoke to journalists prior to the screening of the ITV documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life And Legacy in 2017 - but he refused.
It was a marked contrast to the warm tribute William paid to his father in a BBC documentary to mark his 70th birthday last year, in which he admitted he'd love him to be able to spend more time with his grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, two.
He said: 'I think now he's reached his 70th year, it's a perfect time to consolidate a little bit because, as most families would do, you are worried about having them around and making sure their health is okay.
Royal author Penny Junor observed that the late Princess Diana 'shared an awful lot of her misery with William' (pictured together at Wimbledon in 1991)
'So, having more time with him at home would be lovely, and being able to, you know, play around with the grandchildren. When he's there, he's brilliant, but we need him there as much as possible.'
Royal author Penny Junor observed: 'Diana shared an awful lot of her misery with William. He knew that Camilla was the woman who caused her to be so unhappy - yet equally he knew that Camilla was the woman who made his father happy, so it was extremely difficult for him.'
In a subsequent BBC documentary in 2017, it was Harry, 35, who gave a nod to his father's support during the difficult period after his mother's death, revealing: 'He was there for us, he was the one out of two left and he tried to do his best and to make sure we were protected and looked after.'
Camilla told how Meghan Markle encouraged Harry to have a good relationship with his father - 'the only parent you have left'. The former actress bonded with Charles over their shared love of yoga and spiritual healing, and he walked her down the aisle when her own father didn't attend the Royal Wedding in May 2018.
Charles' aides allegedly 'begged' his eldest son to pay tribute to his father when he spoke to journalists prior to the screening of the ITV documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life And Legacy in 2017 - but he refused. Pictured: Prince Charles and Prince William in 2000
With a rift reportedly having developed between William and Harry in 2017 - believed to be as a result of the Duke of Cambridge advised his younger sibling to 'take things slow' when he first began dating Meghan in 2017, Camilla said Charles was put 'in the invidious position of having to play peacemaker to his warring sons'.
She added that when tensions arose between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the 'Firm', William and Charles bonded while working closely to 'insulate the monarchy from the a crisis which threatened to pitch the Sussexes in direct competition to the House of Windsor'.
The Prince of Wales began involving his eldest son more in his decision-making, which Camilla claims irked Harry who felt 'pushed out by their "away days" to Duchy of Cornwall estates'.
She added: 'He also resented William for what he perceived as "pulling rank". After all, it was Diana who insisted they be brought up as "equals".'
Royal expert Camilla said: 'Now a father-of-three in his late thirties, with Charles willingly playing the role of doting grandfather, there is a sense that William has not only forgiven him for the mistakes of the past, but also woken up to the fact his father has been as much of a positive influence as Diana, the late Princess of Wales.' Pictured: Prince Charles with his grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as the Cambridges, the Sussexes and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles
Meanwhile Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl has revealed how Prince Charles has made an effort to factor more time with his family into his diary.
A source told the royal reporter hat Prince Charles and Prince William now have a bond 'built on love, affection and respect' and are 'on the same wavelength these days.'
The insider explained: 'You often hear [Charles] him talk of sovereignty and how they bond over this commitment to sovereignty.
'They will both be kings one dayand Williams oldest son will be kingand that is something that connects them and has brought them closer in recent years.'
Meanwhile Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl explained that Prince Charles and Prince William have bonded over their shared sense of duty, with a source telling the reporter that the knowledge they will both be kings 'connects them'
Meanwhile another source added that the pair's relationship had evolved since Prince William had become a father.
They explained how their sense of duty 'unites them', adding: 'I think there was a time when Charles worried about William and whether he was ready for the role that lay ahead, but these days he has full confidence in William and sees that he has what it takes to be a great Prince of Wales and a future king.'
Weeks after the Royal Family released a New Year photograph of the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George, six, the Sussexes quit as senior members of the Firm - yet again pushing William and Charles closer together as crisis talks were held to hammer out their exit strategy.
Charles contracting and beating coronavirus is also likely to have served as a distressing wake-up call to William.
Another source added that the father and son's relationship had improved after Prince William married Kate Middleton and welcomed his own children
In April, the Duke of Cambridge said in a BBC News interview broadcast that he was 'worried' when he first learned his father had been diagnosed with COVID-19 because the virus is 'fairly risky' for someone of his age.
William admitted: 'I have to admit, at first I was quite concerned, he fits the profile of somebody, at the age he is at, which is fairly risky.'
He added of the Queen and Prince Philip: 'Obviously I think very carefully about my grandparents - who are the age they're at, we're doing everything we can to make sure that they're isolated away and protected from this.'
Earlier this month, royal expert Katie Nicholl claimed William would be 'upset' at not being able to see his extended family on his birthday.
Prince William pictured with his children in a sweet photograph taken by wife Kate and shared to mark his 38th birthday last weekend
She told Ok! Magazine: 'I know that William has told his friends that he's loved spending so much time with the children in lockdown, but that's been coupled with the sadness that he's not seeing his father.
'Charles and William have become much closer in recent years. In fact, I've been told by someone who knows them both very well that William has had something of a mind shift.
'Where the notion of becoming king one day used to overwhelm him, he's now more than ready and has found common ground with his father in that. Their destiny is something that now connects them.'
It looks like former Bachelor star Blake Garvey is finally set to hand over his crown for 'Australia's most hated man'.
The shock ending to the new season of Farmer Wants a Wife was revealed on Fox's Fifi, Fev & Byron on Tuesday by an alleged insider, who had her voice disguised to protect her identity.
The unknown caller explained that one of the farmers dramatically dumps his winner and goes crawling back to a runner-up.
Oh dear: The shock ending to the new season of Farmer Wants a Wife (pictured) was revealed on Fox's Fifi, Fev & Byron on Tuesday by an alleged insider
Detailing the situation, the caller explained: 'My friend is on Farmers Wants a Wife.
'I know that she ends up with the guy. He ends up choosing her at the end - and then he ends up going to the other girl that he didn't chose!'
Fifi couldn't believe what she was hearing, enthusing: 'Such good dirt. Such a good secret! I've never wanted to watch it more!'
The ending of the show, as detailed from the caller, is in the same vein as Blake Garvey's season of The Bachelor.
Rejection: The unknown caller explained that one of the farmers dramatically dumps his winner and goes crawling back to a runner-up. Pictured: Farmer Wants a Wife
He went into hiding after being branded 'Australia's most hated man' for dumping Sam Frost following The Bachelor 2014 finale.
The topless waiter-turned-real estate agent earned his reputation as a 'love rat' after breaking up with Sam just weeks after proposing in The Bachelor finale.
The Perth auctioneer presented her with a $58,000 engagement ring, which Sam later sold (at auction, no less) for $31,720.
Following his split with Sam, Blake began a relationship with third-place contestant Louise Pillidge.
However, rumours circulated at the time that he had also tried to hook up with runner-up Lisa Hyde.
Throwback: The ending of the show, as detailed from the caller, is in the same vein as Blake Garvey's season of The Bachelor
Ouch! The topless waiter-turned-real estate agent earned his reputation as a 'love rat' after breaking up with Sam Frost (pictured) just weeks after proposing in The Bachelor finale
Runner up: Following his split with Sam, Blake began a relationship with third-place contestant Louise Pillidge (pictured)
Blake attempted to revive his TV career with a stint on Celebrity Apprentice in 2015 - but he was voted out after just two episodes.
Adding insult to injury, Blake's short-lived turn on The Apprentice coincided with Sam's appearance on ratings smash The Bachelorette.
But his run of bad luck continued, as Blake split with Louise in April 2016 after 18 months of dating.
Nascar drivers and team staff escorted Bubba Wallace and his car down the pit lane of the Talladega SuperSpeedway - just a day after a noose was found in his garage stall.
Mr Wallaces car was pushed down the pit lane and followed by a large crowd of drivers and team staff, in a show of support for the 26-year-old, prior to the race on Monday.
A video of the procession, was uploaded to Twitter by Nascar executive vice president, Steve ODonnell, who captioned the video No words, following his post of #IStandWithBubba earlier in the day.
Mr Wallace is the first full-time African American Nascar driver, and has been a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in recent weeks, amid anti-racism demonstrations across the US, sparked by the death of George Floyd.
Last month, he successfully pushed Nascar bosses to ban the use of Confederate flags at races, and raced with a car that had a BLM paint scheme during an event at the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.
Following the walk of support, Mr Wallace posted a short video to Instagram, that showed the drivers behind him, and which he captioned: Together.
Mondays race, that was held in Alabama, was the first time fans have been allowed inside a Nascar venue, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite Nascar banning Confederate flags, following Mr Wallaces plea, CNN reported that Confederacy memorabilia was sold at the event over the weekend.
A plane that carried a Confederate flag and a message, that read Defund the Police also flew over the track on Sunday.
Recommended Nascar driver Bubba Wallace calls for Confederate flags to be banned
After the noose was found in Mr Wallaces garage stall over the weekend, Nascar officials released a statement, where they confirmed they were investigating the incident.
We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act, the statement read.
We have launched an immediate investigation, and will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport.
Nascar added that the incident: Only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.
On Twitter, Mr Wallace posted: The despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism.
As my mother told me today, They are just trying to scare you, the 26-year-old wrote. This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.
On Monday, the Department of Justice said it was still investigating the incident, but was unsure if federal charges can be brought if a culprit is found.
The US Attorneys office for the Northern District of Alabama, FBI and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division are reviewing the situation surrounding the noose that was found in Bubba Wallaces garage to determine whether there are violations of federal law, US attorney Jay E Town said.
Regardless of whether federal charges can be brought, this type of action has no place in our society.
The headmaster of Eton said he wants to apologise in person to Nigerian author Dillibe Onyeama, one of the first black students to complete his studies at Britain's most elite school, for the racism he experienced there which he detailed in a book.
Eton's current headmaster Simon Henderson said he was appalled by the racism Onyeama, who left in 1969, encountered at the school, which was founded in 1440 and has educated 20 British prime ministers, including Boris Johnson.
The school is the latest British institution to apologise for historical racism, after the death of George Floyd in the United States prompted protests worldwide and a sweeping global reassessment of racism.
Henderson said racism had no place in civilised society, then or now, adding that Eton, where fees are 42,000 pounds ($52,000) per year, had made strides since Onyeama attended but there was still further to go.
"We have to have the institutional and personal humility to acknowledge that we still have more to do," he said in a statement sent to Reuters on Tuesday.
"I will be inviting Mr Onyeama to meet so as to apologise to him in person, on behalf of the school, and to make clear that he will always be welcome at Eton."
Onyeama published "Nigger at Eton" in 1972.
The death of Floyd has prompted a number of British institutions to re-examine their pasts and issue apologies, mainly in connection with slavery. The Lloyd's of London insurance market and the Bank of England have both apologised.
Onyeama told the BBC that Eton's apology was not necessary. He was reported on the BBC website as saying that people at school asked him "how many maggots are there in your hair?" and when he passed his exams, said "how did you do it?"
Reuters could not immediately contact Onyeama for comment.Henderson said the current moment of protests should be seized as "a catalyst for real and sustained change for the better".
Financial advisory firm Signum Global Advisors is telling clients that it now believes the U.S. Senate is going to flip blue as presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden continues to surge past President Donald Trump in the polls.
In a note to Signum's clients, Chairman Charles Myers and senior partner Lew Lukens said that while they were initially convinced Republicans would maintain control of the upper chamber, they have changed their minds and think Democrats are going to take it back.
"As Joe Biden's lead over Trump in national and battleground polling has widened, several Senate races have become closer. We are changing our call and now predict the Democrats will take the Senate," they wrote on Tuesday.
The firm has a massive policy and research arm, with its leaders all having experience that ranges from working on Wall Street to government posts in Washington.
Myers was the vice chairman at investment firm Evercore before he founded Signum. He's currently a financial supporter of Biden's campaign for president. Lukens was a U.S. ambassador under Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state and also worked on national security under President George W. Bush. They have offices in New York, Washington and London.
Myers explained to CNBC that while they tell clients to expect a blue wave in November, they're also warning them that Biden and a Democratic-led Congress will likely lead to higher corporate taxes, including for tech, pharmaceutical and energy companies.
Signum's flip suggests that firms on Wall Street and in the financial industry could start preparing for the end of Republican control, both in the White House and Senate. Democrats currently hold a majority in the House of Representatives.
Signum says its new prediction is based on current Senate and presidential polling, as well as historical trends. Biden is ahead in most national polls, with a Real Clear Politics polling average showing Trump down by 10 points.
The firm believes Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., will lose his Senate seat, but it is convinced Democrats can pick up the seats necessary to take control in the toss-up states of Arizona, Colorado and Maine, where vulnerable GOP incumbents are facing Democratic challengers. Then there are at least six other Senate races Signum argues are within reach for Democrats, including in Montana and North Carolina.
"For us to call the Senate flipping blue, we should feel confident that at least one of these six will go blue," the note reads.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) media incharge Safoora Zargar, who was arrested under anti-terror law UAPA in a case related to violence in northeast Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Zargar was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared in the High Court on behalf of Delhi Police, did not oppose the court's decision on humanitarian grounds. He said that she is pregnant and bail was not opposed on the grounds of humanity.
Justice Rajiv Shakdher, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, released Zargar, who is 23-week pregnant, on bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and surety of the like amount.
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.
Zargar, who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on April 12, had challenged in the high court the June 4 order of the trial court denying her bail in the case.
Sources said that Safoora is accused of leading a mob to Jaffarabad metro station and she provoked a group of women to stage an anti-CAA sit-in near Jaffarabad metro station. Delhi Police sources said that Safoora was very active in the protest which took place near Jaffarabad metro station. Safoora is an M Phil student of Jamia Millia Islamia.
It may be recalled that communal violence had erupted between protestors and CAA supporters after the sit-in at Jaffarabad and the riots resulted in the death of at least 53 people including Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma and Head Constable Rattan Lal.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Planning Inc. ("Creative Planning"), one of the nation's largest Registered Investment Advisers ("RIA"), today announced the acquisition of Sunrise Advisors, an RIA firm located in Leawood, Kansas. Sunrise Advisors provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management for clients with approximately $700 million in Assets Under Management.
Peter Mallouk, Chief Executive Officer of Creative Planning, said, "Dave Scott, Sam Scott, and David Walsh have built a nationally-recognized advisory firm right here in our backyard. I had met Dave nearly 10 years ago and have known Sunrise Advisors by reputation. When we connected about joining forces, I understood we had an opportunity to change the landscape in Kansas City and beyond."
Dave Scott, Chairman of Sunrise Advisors, said: "The holistic planning approach at Creative Planning is a natural fit, and their resources and support ensure we can take care of our clients and their families for years to come. We're thrilled the Sunrise team will remain in place to continue to serve our clients and friends."
Sam Scott, President of Sunrise, added, "It was essential for us to find a partner that shared our conviction in providing full-time, fiduciary-driven advice. There's a remarkable alignment of culture and vision between our firms, and I believe these shared values will only enhance our ability to help the clients who have trusted in us."
Peter Mallouk went on to say, "Their expertise in serving high-net worth individuals and families, executives with complex situations, retirees, and small business owners uniquely adds to our talent at Creative. It is a privilege to welcome them to our team."
About Creative Planning
Creative Planning, Inc. is an independent wealth management firm that provides a financial planning led investment management approach, retirement planning, estate planning, trust services, tax advice and family office services for individuals as well as 401(k) and institutional money management. Creative Planning manages approximately $48 billion in assets across all 50 states. www.creativeplanning.com
Data as of June 23, 2020.
Contact: Peter Mallouk, Creative Planning, Inc., 913-696-0500
About Sunrise Advisors
Sunrise Advisors, Inc. is an independent, family-owned wealth management firm that manages approximately $700 million in assets.
Contact: Dave Scott or Sam Scott, Sunrise Advisors, Inc., 913-681-0215
SOURCE Creative Planning
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22.06.2020 LISTEN
World Refugee Day was celebrated a few days ago, on Saturday, June 20, 2020. On the day in question, reading a story about Uganda's refugee population, from the online version of the publication, Africa Renewal, by Sulaiman Momodu, entitled: "Uganda stands out in refugee hospitality"(https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/december-2018-march-2019/uganda-stands-out-refugees-hospitality), as a passionate and committed Pan-Africanist, I couldn't help but feel ashamed of being a Ghanaian.
Alas, unlike their counterparts in Uganda, the plight of Liberian refugees in Ghana's Central Region's Gomoa Buduburam Camp Liberia refugee settlement area, amounts to a litany-of-woes-existence - in marked contrast to the happy and fulfilled lives apparently experienced by the well-cared-for refugees in Uganda's 234 square kilometre Bidi Bidi refugee settlement area, in the northwestern part of Uganda.
Hospitable Uganda, apparently hosts the biggest population of refugees, in the whole of Africa. To quote Sulaiman Momodu:"Though poor, Uganda is the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, with over a million refugees, most of them from South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi and Somalia. Kenya, Sudan, DRC and Ethiopia are also among the top refugee-hosting countries on the continent.'
Sadly, so egregious are the complaints by many of the remaining Liberian refugees, about their maltreatment by some of the officials working in the Ghana Refugee Board's local settlement office, in Camp Liberia, that an independent investigation by forensic auditors, who aren't part of the UN system, must be carried out immediately.
Such a forensic audit, is the only means of enabling the reputations of the good and fair-minded officials, at the local Camp Liberia Ghana Refugee Board office, to be protected and saved.
A forensic audit into exactly how the trillions of Ghana cedis, pumped into Camp Liberia, since its establishment, by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has been spent, is very, very important, in PR terms, for the images of the head offices of both the UNHCR and Ghana Refugee Board, as well as their hardworking and diligent employees, whom one assumes, are all decent folk.
That selfsame forensic audit, will doubtless expose the abominable and unspeakable criminal activities, which bush-telegraph sources claim, are being engaged in by the Mafia-types, terrorising the mostly-cowed remaining population of Liberian refugees, who have opted to be integrated into Ghanaian society (and most of whom are apparently too frightened of the ruthless and murderous rogues to even talk to the media).
According to bush-telegraph sources, they are the ones profiteering from: the flourishing and lucrative business of renting out 'abondoned' homes and other structures in Camp Liberia; the trade in substituting Ghanaians, Nigerians and Togolese nationals, for Liberian refugees approved for resettlement overseas; prostitution rings; illegal drugs; etc., etc. If the allegations are true, then the Camp Liberia Mafiosi must be exposed and punished - by being prosecuted and jailed for what amounts to racketeering. Yoooo. Hmmm, Oman Ghana eyeasem ooooo - enti yewieye paaa enei? Asem kesie ebeba debi ankasa.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Importers say Customs has stopped clearing goods originating from China since June 22
100% examination of all consignments of goods of Chinese origin has begun
Reason cited is not the India-China border tensions, but recurrence of COVID-19 cases in China
Commerce and Industry ministry made it mandatory for sellers to provide 'country of origin' on Government e-Marketplace
Amid calls for boycott of Chinese goods, there is a buzz among the importers that Customs have stopped clearing goods originating from China since June 22 in key sea and air ports of the country.
While there is no confirmation over any such official directive, industry representatives say the message is clear - don't deliver goods originating from China until further orders. The reason cited is apparently not India-China border tensions and its aftermath, but the recurrence of COVID-19 cases in China.
ALSO READ: 70% 'Made in China', eh? Centre to ask Flipkart, Amazon, others to disclose 'origin'
Corroborating the move, Delhi-based Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Devive Industry and joint managing director of Hindustan Syringes, said that 100 per cent examination of all consignments of goods of Chinese origin has begun. "We are informed, all consignments of China origin are being detained at ports for 100 percent examination. Action began at midnight of last night", Nath said.
"The cargo will not be stopped, but will be re-examined. Even the goods that have been given out of charge (faster clearance approval) will be re-examined," a Chennai-based industry source said.
BusinessToday.In has sought a clarification from the Finance Ministry on the alleged move to delay clearance of goods originating from China. A response is awaited.
It is being said that consignments may have been held up owing to risk assessment or inputs from intelligence agencies. Customs have also reportedly issued an internal order to port, airport and freight officials to hold all consignments from China across the country. This could result in a major delay in clearance due to physical examination.
Currently, only 30 per cent of total imports are examined physically, which includes verifying the description and checking if goods are valued correctly or if these are eligible for exemption. Doing 100 per cent physical examination may not only delay the process but will put a lot of strain on officials battling staff crunch amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Meanwhile, the current decision has baffled many industries, especially those dealing with Chinese telecom equipment as they are fearing big delay in clearance. Many of these parts are also needed to export items out of India. Right now, around 500 bills originating from China are cleared at the Chennai port alone, which is a key point for importing telecom and auto products from China. Stakeholders believe if the authorities keep on holding consignments from China, it could choke ports and result in a major delay in delivery.
ALSO READ: How India can reduce trade deficit with China by FY21 itself
India imported $ 70 billion worth of goods from mainland China in 2018-19, nearly 14 percent of the country's overall goods import worth $ 514 billion that year. The key items include electrical machinery and equipment, nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, organic chemcials, plastic items and fertilizers. Of late there has been an attempt by the government to identify essential products that are heavily dependent on imports and build capabilities for self relience in those specific manufacturing sectors. Schemes to promote local manufacturing of electronics goods and pharmaceutical raw materials have already been announced. The list of non-essential items, the import of which can be discouraged with immediately is also known to be in the making.
Further the Commerce And Industry Ministry made it mandatory for sellers to provide and update information about country of origin on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to promote Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat today. "It's notable that under Rule 153(3) of General Financial Rules of Government of India, departments of the government are mandated to purchase only Make in India products. These rules were framed in 2017. Further the purchases through GeM by government users have been authorised and made mandatory by Ministry of Finance by adding a new Rule No. 149 in the General Financial Rules, 2017. However, due to the fact that sellers don't mention the country of origin on the marketplace, the rules were not fully complied with, defeating the very purpose for which GFR, 2017. With new rule coming in, it will further the promotion of make in India," Ashwani Mahajan, national co-convenor of Swadeshi Jagran Manch says.
Any delay in clearances of Chinese goods and rejection of goods of foreign orign from GeM will only be seen as India's anti-China move on the economic and trade front.
ALSO READ: Border backlash on trade! Duty hike coming on all Chinese imports except medicines
[June 23, 2020] Ausounds Expands Global Footprint: Products Now Available in Japan
Products are available at Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, E-Earphone and Fujiya-Avic SHERMAN OAKS, California, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ausounds, a U.S.-based premium audio manufacturer, today announces its expansion into Japan. The brand, which launched in the United States in August 2019, has expanded into three leading Japanese electronic retailers: Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, and E-Earphone. Ausounds has partnered with Kopek Japan Corporation for distribution throughout the country. Ausounds, known for their high-quality headphones designed for music creators, is featuring its full line of products at Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, and E-Earphone. The line includes the AU-Stream ANC, AU-Flex ANC, AU-Stream in a variety of colors, and their latest, the AU-Stream Hybrid in a variety of colors. The brand also plans to offer their first over-ear headphones, the AU-X ANC and AU-XT ANC headphones shortly after this initial launch. "We are excited to be expanding our ever-growing company," explained Marcus Sanchez, CMO of Ausounds. "We launched in 2019 with the mission to pioneer a new way of listening to music, and this short time later, we are finding ourselves able to bring the innovative audio equipment to more people globally. We aim to not only meet the needs of music creators at all levels, but of creators everywhere."
Bic Camera, which has over 40 stores in Japan, is one of the country's leading electronic retailers. Yodobashi Camera and Fujiya-Avic, leading electronic retailers in Japan, will also be offering Ausounds' premium products. Finally, E-Earphone is Japan's leading headphone retailer and will be offering Ausounds' full line. Ausounds products are now available in all of the Japanese retail stores mentioned above.
To learn more about Ausounds' products, please visit https://ausounds.com/ in the U.S., and https://ja.ausounds.com in Japan. About Ausounds
Ausounds is a U.S.-based premium audio manufacturing company that designs accessible headphones and audio products for music creators and music lovers alike. With a focus on redefining the sound of audio, Ausounds' products are crafted using the highest quality materials. The creative minds behind these innovations consistently research the newest technologies in the music industry to incorporate into each product released. To learn more about Ausounds, visit www.ausounds.com . Media Contact
Samantha Lins
[email protected]
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With the threat of large-scale unemployment looming over its already plunging economy, which has reportedly contracted by 6.8 percent, China is looking at novel avenues of generating jobs. It is firing on all cylinders to generate employment in formal and informal sectors.
Since the 1978 reforms and rapid economic transformation, more than 850 million people have been brought out of poverty. However, the per capita income of Chinese citizens is 25 percent of their counterparts in high-income nations.
Immediately after becoming Chinas President in 2013, Xi Jinping had set 2020 as the deadline to eradicate absolute poverty. However, the pandemic seems to have impacted the household incomes with Chinas Premier Li Keqiang admitting that employment is the biggest issue, and the challenge of eradicating deprivation may get increasingly heavier since people may slip back into poverty. In April, the International Monetary Fund estimated that China would notch a growth rate of 1.2 percent this year.
This has forced Chinas rulers to scour out-of-the-box solutions for a variety of reasons.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
Firstly, 9 million youngsters are expected to graduate this month. Campus recruitment normally takes place around the time of the spring-festival holiday (January-February). However, the government had ordered a closure of varsities to tackle the contagion, throwing the recruitment process off gear. Private firms have deferred new hiring and, in many cases, laid off staff. Economists estimate that urban unemployment may touch 10 percent in 2020.
Chinas ruling elite prize social stability and is acutely intuitive to the demands of the nations burgeoning educated class. In the late-1980s, lack of jobs among other issues spurred the student unrest, which ultimately culminated in the Tiananmen incident. Discontent is brewing with the trading community, which hit the streets recently in Wuhan, demanding reduction in rentals.
Street-Stall Economy Success
The government is roping in State-owned entities to tide over the job crisis. The Chinese government manages 51,000 State-owned enterprises (SOEs) that have a total workforce of 20 million. State refiner Sinopec is among the SOEs that are hiring in large numbers and universities could allocate an extra 200,000 seats for graduate studies.
China is also looking back into history to tap its hallmark stall economy for its low-middle class population. It will be borrowing from the phase where vendors used handcarts in the 1980s to sell small wares, which eventually set out to become baby-steps towards Chinas socialist market economy of the 1990s. This, China hopes will help the nations low-income segment that constitutes around 600 million of the population, and which might slip back into poverty if not given a push.
The clarion call first came in May from the top leadership at the two sessions the annual conclave of Chinas parliamentarians. Li hailed the Chengdu experiment of allocating around 36,000 street-vending pitches that created over 100,000 jobs immediately. Most of these handcart vendors sell eatables, apparel, and inexpensive electronic goods. Few weeks later, Li heaped praise on owners of handcarts and said the street-stall economy is a major source of employment and part of Chinas vitality.
At the conclave, Li had also announced a RMB 4 trillion ($560 billion) rescue package. While this may assuage the blue-ribbon corporates, a large section of blue-collared China seemed to have been clutching at the straws.
Back To The Basics
By speaking on behalf of the lower-middle class, Li has underscored Chinas conflicting narratives emerging in the wake of the pandemic: What represents the nation? The glitzy towers and technology hubs in Shenzhen, Shanghai or Beijing? Or grimy street vendors peddling their wares in back alleys hiding away from the omnipresent gaze of law-enforcement officials?
Zhou Tianyong, an influential economist and director of the China Strategy and Policy Research Center of Northeast University of Finance and Economics, has estimated that as many as 50 million jobs can be created if the government gave more space to vendors and farmers selling their produce.
This marks an important policy shift in smaller cities as till recently the people who constituted the informal sector were categorised as low-end population, and civic authorities routinely tore down markets where the vendors peddled their merchandise.
The call for reviving the street-stall economy is back-to-basics of sorts. Chinas opening up and reform initiative in the late 1970s began from dismantling the Maoist command economy and the lifetime employment culture.
Positive Market Response
There have been success stories of entrepreneurs who literally started off from the streets. A young man hawked merchandise in the back alleys of the Zhejiang province, and this helped him understand the intricacies of the retail business. Today, the same man, Jack Ma, presides over a $500 billion e-commerce conglomerate called Alibaba. Before he founded Huawei the worlds largest manufacturer of telecom equipment Ren Zhengfei is said to have vended fire extinguishers.
Moreover, todays street-stall vendors are unlike the dodgy salesmen of the yesteryears. Thanks to the digital payment revolution in China, buyers pay for their purchases via smartphones, which helps in tracking down the vendors in cases of refunds or other issues.
While the jury may be out on Lis call to boost the street-stall economy, he is getting plaudits from some sections for speaking up for the nations low-income segment that constitutes around 600 million of the population. There are nascent signs that the market is responding to the clarion call. Alibaba and JD.com have offered financial support in the form of loans to street vendors.
Stocks of companies that sell stall economy ancillaries have risen. For example, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile launched a new prototype of cargo van that can be converted into a mobile stall early this month. The announcement sent the companys shares listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange surging by 120 percent.
Local administrations in some cities across China are making changes to rules ranging from easing controls over mobile stalls in Shanghai and Chengdu, giving free areas for vendors in Chongqing to inviting hawkers to resume businesses in designated hawking areas of Ruichang in Jangxi.
The Resistance
However, there is resistance to Lis endorsement of the informal economy. The Chinese Communist Partys Beijing Municipal Committee slammed the proposal in its news daily, terming handcarts unclean and said it would give the nations capital a shabby look. In such condemnation, many observers have speculated a factional feud brewing right at the top of Chinas tiny ruling elite.
Incidentally, Beijings administration is controlled by party secretary Cai Qi, who sits on the politburo and is said to be a close ally of Xi. Under Xis leadership the collective leadership principle remains on paper. Xi has instituted many leading groups and presides over all of them. The leading groups, which drive policy on a range of issues such as the economys management, diplomacy among others, put Xi at the apex of policymaking.
A Xi-Li Rivalry?
Traditionally, Chinas Premier has been tasked with the day-to-day management of the economy, but the leading groups strategy seemed to have elbowed out Li, who is an economist by training. The pandemic, however, seems to have forced a rethink with Xi ceding power, and putting Li at the helm of combating the coronavirus outbreak.
However, Xi would not want Li, who has experience in tackling the 2009 H1N1 virus outbreak, to garner an image as the hero of the current public health crisis. Hence, Xis allies have picked holes in the call to revive the stall economy. The National Bureau of Statistics has expressed reservations on the numbers trotted by Li, and the official media downplayed Lis efforts.
Deng Xiaoping, the man who pioneered Chinas reforms, famously said its economic transformation was the outcome of crossing the river by feeling its stones, implying there was no clear roadmap or a master plan.
Importance Of Informal Sector
Today, China, along with other nations across the world, including India, is seen grappling with the issue of how to effect an economic recovery after the pandemics devastation has subsided.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis comment in 2018 regarding the job-creating capacity of small entrepreneurs that are into the business of selling potato fritters (pakodas) was met with derision, and so was his message that there was potential in micro-businesses.
In the stall economy model lie some sharings for policymakers in India who are also facing the quandary of how to kickstart the Indian economy it is important to recognise the informal sectors potential.
(This article first appeared in the ORF)
This tragedy is yet more proof that, even though the war in Yemen has dropped off the radar of many people, it is still far from over, Xavier Joubert, Save the Childrens country director in Yemen, said in an emailed statement. Millions of children are trapped in a toxic cycle of violence, fear, malnutrition and disease, while bombs are falling and COVID-19 is holding the country in a tight grip, taking childrens loved ones at will.
File image of Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane (Twitter/ @adgpi)
Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane will visit Ladakh on June 23-24 to discuss with ground commanders the six-week standoff with Chinese military, Army sources said.
The Chief of the Army Staff will visit forward locations and interact with troops on the ground, they said.
The visit comes a week after 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in a brutal assault by the Chinese military in Galwan Valley which escalated the border tension.
Last week, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria made a quiet visit to Ladakh and Srinagar air bases to review the Indian Air Force's preparedness to deal with any eventualities in the region.
Gen Naravane will leave for Leh soon after attending the final session of a two-day conference of top Army commanders. The commanders extensively deliberated on the situation in eastern Ladakh on the opening day of the conference on June 22.
In Leh, Gen Naravane will hold talks with Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the 14 Corps that takes care of the sensitive border with China.
On June 22, Lt Gen Singh held a nearly 11-hour meeting with Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin in an attempt to lower the temperature between the two sides.
In the meeting, the Indian delegation strongly raised with China the "premeditated" assault by Chinese troops on Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley and demanded immediate withdrawal of Chinese troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the development said.
The focus of the deliberations was on finalising modalities for disengagement of troops from various areas including Pangong Tso where the two militaries are on a bitter standoff for six weeks.
The first round of the Lt Gen-level talks were held on June 6 during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.
However, the situation along the border deteriorated following the Galwan Valley clashes as the two sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the 3,500-km de facto border.
(Newser) A powerful earthquake centered near the southern Mexico resort of Huatulco killed at least two people, swayed buildings in Mexico City, and sent thousands fleeing into the streets Tuesday. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said one person was killed and another injured in a building collapse in Huatulco, Oaxaca, the AP reports. Otherwise he said reports were of minor damage such as broken windows and collapsed walls. Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat later said a second person was killed in an apparent house collapse in the tiny mountain village of San Juan Ozolotepec. The state-run oil company known as Pemex said the quake caused a fire at its refinery in the Pacific coast city of Salina Cruz, relatively near the epicenter. It said one worker was injured and the flames were quickly extinguished.
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Lopez Obrador said there had been more than 140 aftershocks, most of them small. Seismic alarms sounded midmorning with enough warning for residents to exit buildings. Power was knocked out to some areas. The US Geologic Survey said the magnitude 7.4 quake hit at 10:29am along Mexico's southern Pacific coast at a depth of 16 miles. The epicenter was 7 miles south-southwest of Santa Maria Zapotitlan in Oaxaca state. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast a tsunami threat with waves three to 10 feet above tide levels along parts of the coasts of Mexico. Smaller waves were expected through Central America, Peru, and Ecuador.
(Read more Mexico stories.)
The governor of Germanys most populous state has announced lockdown measures in a county that has seen a large increase in COVID-19 cases linked to a slaughterhouse.
Armin Laschet, the governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state, said Tuesday that people in Guetersloh county should only have contact with their own household or one person from outside.
Laschet said cinemas, fitness studios and bars will be closed, although restaurants can continue to cater to people from the same household.
More than 1,500 people have tested positive for the coronavirus at the Toennies slaughterhouse in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck and thousands have been put under a quarantine to try to halt the outbreak.
SOURCE: AP
Along with The 606, the lakefront and Chicago harbors opened to the public Monday but with restrictions as the city prepares to move to phase four Friday. Though most say they are glad to be back to their favorite trails, some worry whether the number of coronavirus cases will increase in the next weeks.
As President Donald Trump heads to an Arizona megachurch to rally supporters, Anthony Fauci and other top health officials will be on Capitol Hill on Tuesday for the first time in weeks to answer questions on COVID-19 testing and treatments.
Their testimony comes on the heels of several new developments regarding the virus. In this month alone, the "gamechanger" drug favored by Trump to treat the virus -- hydroxychloroquine -- turned out to be a bust; new hot spots emerged as many residents have been unable -- or unwilling -- to follow social distancing guidelines; and protests and campaign rallies have become the new normal as racial tensions flare.
For their part, Fauci and the other scientists are expected to defend their recommendations of masks and social distancing while trying to sidestep any direct challenges to Trump's insistence that the country is ready to reopen.
"The emergence and rapid spread of COVID-19 confirms that an infectious disease threat anywhere is a threat to Americans everywhere, including here at home," states an administration memo sent to the House committee.
MORE: White House claims Trump just joking when he said he ordered COVID testing slowdown
But here are three questions to watch for as panel members grill Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Robert Redfield, director of the Center for Disease Control and Protection; Stephen Hahn, head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and Adm. Brett Giroir, the top Health and Human Services official in charge of testing efforts.
Is a rise in cases caused by more testing?
Trump prompted some head scratching this weekend when he told supporters at his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that he urged his staff to slow down testing. Health officials have scrambled this year to increase testing so people can self-quarantine and not infect others.
PHOTO: In this file photo Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases speaks during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
"When you do testing to that extent, you're going to find more people, you're going to find more cases. So I said to my people, 'Slow the testing down, please,'" Trump said.
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His aides later suggested he was only joking. But when asked Monday what he meant, the president said "I think we're way ahead of ourselves, if you want to know the truth."
His comments point to a larger point on whether some states are just becoming more aware of cases through testing, or if the virus is spreading faster because businesses are reopening.
MORE: After Trump's dismal return rally, finger pointing, blame game intensifies
Early on during the pandemic -- when testing supplies were scarce -- a sudden expansion of testing capacity was often blamed by local health experts for a sudden spike in case numbers.
But testing has increased dramatically in recent weeks. Vice President Mike Pence told state governors on a call Monday that testing numbers are up to 500,000 per day now and it's less clear whether testing and rising case numbers are closely linked.
Has anyone told Trump not to hold rallies?
The hearing will no doubt offer an unusual split screen. Americans will be hearing from Fauci and Redfield on the merits of social distancing and masks as Trump is scheduled to visit a megachurch that seats thousands, where he's unlikely to wear a mask.
Fauci has been clear that his advice on campaign rallies is the same as protests -- any crowd should be avoided and masks are needed to contain the spread of the virus. Redfield, a political appointee reluctant to call out the president directly, has given similar advice.
But one question that remains is to what extent Fauci and Redfield may have pushed back and if they ever advised the White House to call off these crowded events to protect people from getting sick.
PHOTO: Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield attends a hearing on COVID-19 response on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 4, 2020. (Pool/Reuters)
For his part, Trump has been defiant.
"I'm not worried about it, no, not at all. We watch it. We're very careful," he said Monday in an interview with Scripps for its local TV stations.
Hydroxychloroquine is a bust. Remdesivir is running low. Now what?
This weekend, the National Institutes of Health announced it was ending its clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine -- the drug Trump touted repeatedly as a "gamechanger" -- stating it was "very unlikely to be beneficial to hospitalized patients with COVID-19."
The announcement followed a decision by the FDA to withdraw its emergency use authorization of the drug -- a decision that meant it would no longer be stockpiled by the federal government and distributed to the states as an option for treatment.
MORE: FDA revokes permission to treat COVID-19 with hydroxychloroquine, drug previously touted by Trump
The question now becomes what else might be on the horizon. A vaccine isn't expected until 2021 and there's only one drug -- remdesivir -- that has shown modest improvements in patients.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced its supply of remdesivir will be almost entirely exhausted by the end of the month. The Department of Health and Human Services says it remains in discussion with drug-maker Gilead to obtain more.
3 questions to watch for as Fauci, Redfield testify before House panel originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Congress on Tuesday accused the Centre of abandoning its responsibilities in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and passing the buck to the states, with party chief Sonia Gandhi saying the "mismanagement" of the pandemic is one of the "most disastrous" failures of the Modi government.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a resolution on the COVID-19 situation after a meeting, which was attended by the party's top brass, including Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and former party president Rahul Gandhi.
It is shocking that the country has registered the last one lakh positive cases in just eight days and there is a nationwide spike of about 15,000 new cases daily, the resolution noted.
In her opening remarks at the meeting, Sonia Gandhi said the pandemic hit India in February and the party offered its total support to the government and to "lockdown 1.0".
Phase one of the COVID-19-induced nationwide lockdown was imposed from March 25 and subsequently there were three phases of the shutdown to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. 'Unlock-1' was initiated in the country from June 8 under which lockdown rules were relaxed to a great extent.
"Within weeks, it was apparent that the government was totally unprepared to manage the fallout of a lockdown. The result was the greatest humanitarian crisis witnessed since 1947-48. Millions of migrant (guest) workers, daily wage earners and self-employed were devastated. One hundred and thirty million jobs are estimated to have been lost," the Congress chief said.
"Crores of MSMEs have been shut, perhaps forever. Despite the assurances of the prime minister who centralised all authority in his hands, the pandemic continues to rage," she said.
Expressing deep concern over India's COVID-19 infection curve rising exponentially, instead of flattening, the CWC said health experts suggest that peak of the infection has not even been reached.
The grave deficiencies in the health infrastructure have been exposed and the promised "peak" is nowhere in sight, Sonia Gandhi said.
"Actually, the people have been left to protect themselves as best as possible. The mismanagement of the pandemic will be recorded as one of the most disastrous failures of the Modi government," she said.
In the resolution, the CWC said the Union government seems to have abandoned its responsibilities and passed the buck to the states, without offering adequate support.
"Four months into the pandemic, it is astonishing that the Modi government has not unveiled a coherent strategy on reducing fatalities, increasing testing, contact tracing and ensuring social distancing and safety for the most vulnerable population," the resolution said.
There is no nationwide data on available hospital beds and ventilators, and no clarity on future capacity planning, it said.
There is absolutely no sense of urgency or a credible plan to expand the beleaguered health workforce with quick recruitment of young doctors, nurses and other health workers, the resolution said.
Attacking the government, the Congress also alleged that the PM CARES fund continues to be "woefully under-utilised" and administered without any transparency whatsoever.
Asserting that extraordinary times require extraordinary measures, the CWC urged the Centre to provide immediate relief for those paying exorbitant prices for COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals by capping the price.
Claiming that the testing protocols set by the ICMR keep changing, it said the recent introduction of antigen testing with lower sensitivity than RT-PCR tests has only added to the policy confusion.
Neither is there consistency nor transparency on testing data, the party alleged.
"To be 'atmanirbhar' (self-reliant) as a nation and to combat COVID-19, the Modi government must draw upon this great nation's strength, not undermine it," the Congress said.
In another resolution, the CWC also expressed shock and concern over the repeated and "unjust" increase in petrol and diesel prices as also excise duty over the last three months of the lockdown.
"The central government is profiteering by fleecing the people of India. This is illustrated starkly by the fact that the central government has increased the excise duty on petrol from Rs 9.20 per litre and on diesel from Rs 3.46 per litre in 2014 to an additional Rs 23.78 per litre on petrol and an additional Rs. 28.37 per litre on diesel," the resolution said.
The CWC condemned these hikes and reminded the government of its "Raj Dharma", the resolution said.
The party also urges the central government to consider a direct cash transfer to the poorest of the poor.
A 36-year-old Shelby County man has pleaded guilty to a 2018 deadly drunk-driving crash.
Allen Chase Harris, 36, pleaded guilty Monday to reckless manslaughter and DUI. Killed in the Dec. 9, 2018 crash was 42-year-old Marchael Wayne Vick.
The crash happened that Sunday on U.S. 31 in Alabaster. Authorities said Harris was driving drunk when he crashed into Vicks vehicle.
Harris was initially charged with reckless murder, a Class A felony. He was released from jail on $100,000 bond.
Harris entered his guilty plea before Circuit Judge William H. Bostick. He pleaded guilty to the reduced charge which is a Class B felony and was sentenced to 120 months, with one year to actually serve in the Alabama Department of Corrections.
He was booked back into the Shelby County Jail Monday afternoon to await transfer to state prison.
The doors to the world of travel may be tentatively beginning to open.
And "bubbles" of safe travel are the start of it.
"I do think you will soon be hearing of agreements between countries that have successfully controlled the spread of COVID-19," said travel expert Lorraine Simpson, a Pelham resident and owner of Lorraine Simpson Travels.
The term "travel bubbles" has been bandied about in recent weeks, she said, saying some countries are cautiously beginning to allow travel to and from areas deemed safe.
On Monday, France opened its doors to other European countries and Greece lifted its ban on flights from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands but maintained its ban on flights from Britain. German tourists are allowed to vacation on some Spanish islands as part of a pilot project aimed at restarting the tourism industry.
In Canada, there is talk of "travel bubbles" between eastern provinces.
"I don't have a crystal ball, however many more flights are being added from July 1 from Canada," said Simpson.
While the Canada-U.S. border remains largely closed, there is no ban on leaving Canada. Though there is an advisory in place, travel is not illegal.
A global advisory issued by Canada's Foreign Affairs Ministry in March urged people to avoid non-essential travel abroad, to slow the spread of the potentially deadly virus.
"There are several flights from Air Canada operating, however you must be aware of restrictions upon arriving in another country and returning to Canada," said Simpson.
Niagara relies heavily on tourism and it's not alone in this.
"A huge portion of the population in every country relies on tourism in some way," she said. "It is all very well to open the shops, but if you stop people from moving around the economy can't recover."
The financial cost to businesses has been devastating and many won't survive.
Travel agents have continued to work even as pandemic restrictions play out. However, their work has involved helping stranded travellers return home and negotiating refunds to those forced to cancel vacations, visits home and destination weddings.
"People were calling me, a woman who was stuck in Morocco who booked online and told me no one was answering phones at the call centre. She said, 'I didn't book with you but I am stuck,'" said Simpson, who was able to make some calls and get the woman home.
She said she doesn't expect to make any money between now and November, but adds she's also an expert in the art of pivoting.
She has moved much of her business online, and from her new travel shop in Pelham she's training travel agents how to do more and advising people who would like to plan their own destination wedding post-COVID-19.
"We have to be able to offer more," said Simpson.
She started out as many travel advisers did: with a home-based franchise, a computer and very limited resources.
Within five years she was selling more than $4 million a year and collecting multiple awards on a regular basis.
Now a regular on national television, Simpson is arguably the most visually recognized Canadian travel media professional today. She has twice earned the Magellan Award, which honours the best in the travel industry.
Simpson enjoys sharing her love of world travel when she hosts small groups with door-to-door service, like the foodie tour to Vietnam with celebrity chef and friend Massimo Capra in February, a Christmas market river cruise in November, and an Andrea Bocelli concert at his villa next July (this year's trip was just cancelled).
She also regularly shares her travel tips with "Cityline" TV viewers about locations, types of travel, cruises, all-inclusive opportunities and destination weddings, one of her original areas of expertise.
Her Instagram followers are treated to travel anecdotes, such as the time she talked her way into a meeting with Cambodian royalty and the day her boyfriend ate a crisply cooked tarantula.
There are many options online for people unable to satisfy their love of travel, such as virtual tours.
Her recently opened travel emporium is located at the corner of Pelham Road and Highway 20 in Fonthill. She carries travel items and gifts, such as specialty pillows, scarves and home decor, but also uses the space to teach classes. This is where she remotely films travel segments for "Cityline."
She welcomes the community to drop in there is ample room for social distancing and browsing. She will also be on hand to answer questions about travel.
As the world prepares to reopen, there are important changes to keep in mind, she said.
Airlines are increasing hygiene protocols to ensure onboard transmissions remain low. Some airlines are using UVC lights to clean surfaces, said Simpson.
"As an added precaution, you'll want to bring your own supply of disinfecting wipes to wipe down tray tables, seat arms, windows and walls," she said. "Most airlines have made the middle seat unavailable, to help maintain social distancing."
Some airlines, such as Emirates, are checking all passengers with a fast-track test before travel and some airports are testing on arrival.
A person tested on arrival in Vienna, for example, will not have the results right away but will have to provide an address where they will be staying and would be informed if they have the virus.
"All countries are different, and you must research for the most up-to-date information of where you are travelling to and their rules. They change often, so beware," she cautioned.
And yes, most airlines will demand people wear a mask.
"They can be any kind of face covering, and do not have to be medical grade. However I suggest taking a few so you have a spare in your purse or luggage," said Simpson.
"As soon as I can, I will be travelling and documenting how it all looks and feels so I can report back exactly what new travel looks and feels like.
"Measures are there to protect you and your fellow passengers. It is not the fault of anyone implementing the measures. Remain calm, kind and courteous.
"We will be able to start to travel safely once again."
Follow her on Instagram @lorrainesimpsontravels for updates. Her store is at 1501 Pelham St.
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Approximately 80 students, alumni and other supporters protested Tuesday outside Rancocas Valley Regional High School, which has recently come under fire for its handling of allegations of discrimination and teacher misconduct.
The critiques of the school that started on social media likely sparked by protests against racism across the country have now escalated to the point that Mount Holly police are investigating the misconduct allegations and a state senator is calling on the commissioner of education to get involved.
Speaking to the crowd across from the regional high school, alumni Faith English said she and the other organizers met with school administrators and gave them a list of demands, including creating a more inclusive curriculum, hiring more Black teachers and removing police officers from the schools.
They heard us, she said. Its up them now to make the change.
While most of the speakers called out issues of race and unfair treatment in the school, several made mention of the misconduct allegations. In addition to chants of Black teachers matter and RV do better, the group chanted for the firing of the teacher accused in several online posts.
NJ Advance Media is not naming him because he has not been charged with a crime. He did not respond to emails seeking comment and a woman who answered a phone number listed for him hung up on a reporter Tuesday.
Mount Holly Police Chief Richard W. Spitler confirmed the department is investigating allegations made on social media involving the school, but would not go into greater detail.
Superintendent Chris Heilig did not answer questions about whether the teacher was on leave during the investigation.
We were distressed by recent allegations made involving one of our staff members, and immediately contacted the Mount Holly Police to request a full and thorough investigation, he said in a statement. We await the results of that investigation to determine if further action by the district is warranted. We cannot comment further as this is a matter involving personnel.
The protests and calls for an investigation began last week when two former teachers, both women of color, posted on Facebook about alleged discrimination and racist harassment they experienced at the high school. The posts were widely shared and followed by the creation of a private Facebook group with over 3,700 members, called We Demand Justice, where alumni shared stories alleging racism, misconduct and other complaints about the school.
Marsha John-Addison, one of two former teachers who has made discrimination claims against Rancocas Valley Regional High School, speaks at the rally outside the school in Mount Holly Tuesday, June 23, 2020.Rebecca Everett | For NJ.com
One of the two former teachers, Marsha John-Addison, spoke at Tuesdays protest. In her Facebook post and in a since-settled lawsuit against the district, John-Addison said she was subject to racist slurs, comments and threats from students and worked in fear, but the administration never took her reports seriously or did anything to stop them.
She told the crowd that what she saw in her 11 years as a math teacher at the high school was an administration that loved the school so much they would do anything to protect it, but wouldnt do the work to improve it.
They refuse to fix it and even go to lengths to cover it up, she told the young alums. The facade is cracking, and the truth is being exposed. But thats not your fault. Its their fault.
On Friday, Sen. Dawn Addiego (D-Evesham) called on Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet to investigate, noting the allegations by the former teachers and those made in the We Demand Justice Facebook group.
Since being formed on June 16th, the group has over 3,000 members and contains startling accusations alleging sexually inappropriate behavior between school staff and students, alleged racial bias by teachers against students, alleged refusal by teachers to accommodate students 504 Plans, and much more, she wrote in the letter. There is an abundance of detail and creditable accusations that I believe demands an investigation.
Approximately 80 people rallied for change at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly Tuesday, June 23, 2020.Rebecca Everett | For NJ.com
Superintendent Heilig said in a statement that he was disappointed the senator didnt reach out to the district first to inquire about an investigation and instead relied only on limited, one-sided information gleaned from unverified social media posts.
Our school district is committed to addressing racism and all forms of discrimination. We have made great progress toward creating a more inclusive culture at RV, which is in part validated by our recognition by the Anti-Defamation League as a No Place for Hate District for three consecutive years, Heilig said in the statement.
He said the school has been working to recruit and retain more diverse staff, launched an Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Competency Committee, and implemented other changes.
An equity audit will soon be performed by the Delaware Valley Consortium for Excellence and Equity, he said.
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Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
The reckoning unfurling across North America over the power of police has reached a new arena: high schools.
Multiple school boards across Canada are grappling with the role of resource or liaison officers the police officers who spend their days patrolling high school hallways and talking to students in a role that advocates say is meant to provide security and build relationships with young people.
Critics, however, say the officers only inflame tensions between police and marginalized communities.
In the wake of worldwide rallies protesting police brutality, some trustees are taking steps to remove police from schools. School trustees in Peel and in Vancouver have put forward motions to study the role of officers in schools, or to remove them entirely, and a trustee in Edmonton plans to do the same Tuesday.
In many ways, theyre following in the footsteps of Canadas largest school board, the Toronto District School Board, which moved to take officers out of high schools in 2017, ending a decade-long program.
For us, at that point in time, it was the right decision, said Jim Spyropoulos, the boards executive superintendent, who these days is fielding calls from school districts around North America that are considering getting rid of their own liaison officers.
Spyropoulos, who specializes in human rights and Indigenous education, says he tells the people who call him that the conversation around police is only the tip of the iceberg, and that Torontos decision came as the district was grappling more broadly with questions of equity and anti-racism.
I think its really important to stress that if school districts go down this road, and eliminate school resource officer programs, without having, as I like to call it, built a ramp to support the dialogue that goes with that ... school districts will still have to address those difficult systemic issues.
In Edmonton, there are 29 officers who work in 36 schools, split between the public and Catholic systems. The public board paid about a million dollars for the service during the 2018-19 school year.
Edmonton trustee Bridget Stirling says her motion asks for an independent review of the program, with a special focus on the experiences of marginalized students, including people of colour and students with disabilities. Depending on the results, the program could then be suspended.
Edmonton writer and activist Bashir Mohamed has written extensively on how little is known about the program, which has been criticized as being anti-Black.
But Stirling also says she questions the fundamental premise of putting officers into schools. Like the debate over policing in general, she questions whether theyre the best tool for the job.
When people talk about what the SRO in their school does, they talk about how they build relationships with students, and how they help out with students who are struggling with mental health and things like that, she said. But you dont need someone with a badge and a gun to support a student whos struggling with mental health concerns.
To Acting Staff Sgt. Em Chan, who oversees Edmontons school resource officers, those officers are there to handle a variety of issues, involving children who have issues themselves from stolen cellphones to bullying or harassment.
Chan said his officers are busiest on Monday mornings, because students often want to talk about what happened to them on the weekend.
They knock on the door of the SRO, or they book an appointment with us or they chase him down the hall, he said, because theyre comfortable and familiar and theyve seen the officer.
He stressed they work with school administration and health authorities to make sure students are referred to the supports they need.
No one can work in silos. Theres no one-(size)-fits-all organization or community group, Chan said. The success that weve had is through collaborations and referrals and information sharing and teamwork.
He said it is the school board that asks to have officers present, rather than the other way around, and that having officers devoted to schools full time means they are more sensitive about how to deal with kids.
Of course, the position does sometimes mean charging kids in Edmonton. School resource officers open an estimated 3,000 police files a year and, in two per cent of those cases, charges are laid against someone. Chan said its not always a student, as SROs also deal with incidents such as vandalism, on school property.
But the Edmonton officers dont collect statistics on the ethnic background of the students they interact with, so its impossible to know if any group is disproprionately affected.
The is not the first time the presence of police officers in schools has come under scrutiny.
In 2017, an independent study that looked at police officers in Peel high schools found it was overwhelmingly positive for student well-being, lead researcher and business professor Linda Duxbury told the Star at the time.
The study got feedback from 1,300 Grade 9 and 10 students at five diverse schools, in addition to dozens of staff and the officers themselves, and concluded that police presence reduced student stress and bullying and made students feel safer.
After a Peel trustee made a motion last week to eliminate the program, Peel Regional Police said in a statement to the Star that they are committed to reviewing the existing program, a review that is rooted in a commitment to equity and inclusion.
In 2017, the same year as the Peel study, the Toronto District School Board voted to get rid of the officers in 45 of its schools.
Torontos program had been launched after the shooting death of student Jordan Manners, but officers ended up in schools that were more racialized, Spyropoulos said.
There was no single traumatic incident that led to the board getting rid of them, he said. Instead, the school board was immersed in a larger conversation around human rights and anti-racism when it got a request from the community to look at the SRO program.
Spyropoulos said that from the beginning they did their survey differently. Instead of just sending out questionnaires, they wanted to talk to people who arent always heard in surveys, so they went to community centres and libraries. We tried to walk into other peoples worlds through their door, as he puts it. They also surveyed thousands of students.
The findings actually showed that the majority of students had no complaints, he said. But about 15 per cent of students said police in schools made them uncomfortable and less safe.
What made Toronto different is how the board interpreted that, Spyropoulos said.
If youre on an equity journey you cant look at majority and minority the same way, he said. We tried to centre the voices of the students who were most negatively impacted, knowing that what was urgent and important for them would also support students in general.
After the board voted to end the presence of the officers, Spyropoulos said they realized they couldnt take away services from schools without giving back in some way, so they hired members of the community to be school-based safety monitors.
Over the past two years, Spyropoulos said, suspensions have gone down by 25 per cent and explusions are down by half.
He stressed the reduction is not just a result of getting rid of SROs, but of the larger conversation around equality in schools that also affected things such as early literacy and academic streaming.
The landscape changed for us. We just got deeper into the conversations around looking at our data and addressing earlier issues of equity.
Stirling, the Edmonton trustee, said shes hoping to follow in Torontos example by focusing on the experiences of students of colour. She pointed out that its possible that the majority of students are OK with having police officers around, but that students hailing from communities with an already tense relationship with police may feel differently.
If we simply use a survey method where we survey all students, are we listening to the students who are disproportionately impacted?
Stirling said there are a lot of questions about what exactly police are doing in schools, and given the larger conversation about police, silence is no longer an option.
Frank conversations about policing are really, really difficult, because weve traditionally had a culture that says police are to be respected and honoured and that we should never criticize.
As a police officer, Chan said he welcomes a review, so that people can be made aware of what he argues is a positive story.
Were hoping for a more robust review of the program so that we can, in times like these, when were under their microscope, we can do everything to open our books and be fully transparent to show the public exactly whats happening in the schools.
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The consensuses reached between China and the European Union (EU) at their virtual meeting Monday will significantly contribute to the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, experts worldwide have said.
Underlining Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at the meeting that China and the EU are not rivals, but partners, Sylwester Szafarz, former consul general of Poland in the Chinese city of Shanghai, said the meeting's outcomes can be a powerful stimulus to the world recovery, for example in the field of people-to-people cooperation and new technologies.
Szafarz said that China and the EU already have a rich heritage of cooperation in all key areas, which is a valuable and solid foundation for the promotion of their ties in the future.
"China and the EU will be a guarantee of the reconstruction and rebirth of our entire civilization, ensuring peace, strengthening security, developing win-win cooperation and building a better tomorrow for the whole world," Szafarz added.
Wilson Lee Flores, a columnist of The Philippine Star newspaper, said the meeting, the first official one between Chinese leaders and the new EU leaders, is very important for the world economic recovery and efforts to overcome the pandemic.
Cooperation between China and the EU that in total account for one third of the world's gross domestic product (GDP) can be dynamic catalysts of robust world trade and economic growth at this critical moment, he said.
He suggested that the two sides step up cooperation in vaccine and drug development and enhance support for the World Health Organization, among other measures, to jointly combat the pandemic.
During the 22nd China-EU leaders' meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the two sides are committed to concluding the China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement in 2020 and reaching a comprehensive, balanced and high-level agreement.
For Berthold Kuhn, an expert on sustainable development with the Free University of Berlin and senior advisor to the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, the agreement is of key importance for both sides, as China is shifting from an export-led to a domestic demand-driven growth model, which offers new opportunities for the EU and China.
In order to boost global economic recovery, Kuhn said that China could make efforts to support the European Green Deal, a roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable, and the EU could support the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
Spanish economist and former member of the Spanish parliament Ramon Tamames said that the good relationship between China and the EU is better embodied amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noting that "the two sides must reconsider a free trade agreement so as to inject flexibility into bilateral trade," Tamames expressed his positive attitude towards European leaders' capability to seize the vital opportunity for cooperation.
"The stalled world economy could restart from the trade between China and the EU," he said.
Huawei has slammed former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for banning them from installing the 5G mobile network in Australia.
The Chinese telecommunications equipment giant is ramping up its public relations campaign, four days after the Australian government revealed a 'sophisticated state-based actor' had been targeting companies, hospitals, schools and government officials.
Mr Turnbull's successor Scott Morrison on Friday didn't name China as the culprit of these cyber attacks but intelligence experts were quick to suggest Australia's biggest trading partner was responsible.
Days before being he was replaced as PM in August 2018, Mr Turnbull banned Huawei from installing 5G mobile, adding to a 2012 prohibition on them laying cables for the National Broadband Network.
Huawei has slammed former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for banning them from installing the 5G mobile network in Australia. He is pictured left in August 2018, the month he banned Huawei from installing 5G mobile shortly before Scott Morrison replaced him as PM
The former Liberal leader suggested his decision two years ago was now justified, in light of recent revelations.
Huawei's history of bans in Australia Former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard's government banned Huawei from installing the National Broadband Network in March 2012 One of her Liberal successors Malcolm Turnbull extended the ban to 5G mobile in August 2018, the same month he faced two leadership challenges from Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton that led to Scott Morrison becoming PM Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei was a member of the People's Liberation Army before founding his technology company in 1987 Chinese law compelling tech firms to cooperate with the Communist Party government on intelligence gathering has also made the United States nervous - it too prohibits Huawei from installing 5G mobile Advertisement
'In the not quite two years since my government made the decision to keep high-risk vendors out of 5G in Australia, [that] has been proved to be the right call,' he told The Australian Financial Review on Tuesday.
Huawei was quick to condemn Mr Turnbull, with its chief corporate affairs officer Jeremy Mitchell issuing a statement within hours.
'Huawei Australia is extremely disappointed in the comments made by Malcolm Turnbull in the Australian Financial Review this morning attempting to justify his governments ban on Huawei delivering the worlds best 5G in Australia,' he said.
'It is completely inappropriate for Mr Turnbull to claim - as reported in the AFR - that the recent cyber-attacks on Australia by a so far unnamed foreign country justify the 5G ban on Huawei in Australia.'
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's director of national security strategy Michael Shoebridge said Chinese law compelled technology companies to cooperate with government agencies for intelligence gathering purposes.
'The fact that a sophisticated state actor, almost certainly Beijing, is conducting persistent intrusive cyber attacks against a range of Australian organisations across government and many sectors of the economy simply highlights the need to secure Australia's digital critical infrastructure,' he told Daily Mail Australia.
Mr Shoebridge said the revelations of recent days justified the 2018 ban on Huawei installing 5G, which is also policy in the United States.
The Chinese telecommunications equipment giant is ramping up its public relations campaign, four days after the Australian government revealed a 'sophisticated state-based actor' had been targeting companies, hospitals, schools and government officials. Pictured is a Huawei shop in Shanghai on June 18, 2020
'Giving the technology firms of a country whose government conducts such cyber attacks against Australia the ability to build key chunks of our digital backbone in the form of 5G would only give that state access to be even more successful cyber intruders than they are without such internal access and knowledge,' he said.
'It's hard to see how that could be in Australia's interests - or the interests of other governments internationally who face the same risks.'
On Friday, intelligence sources told the ABC that China's hacking of Australian data bases was a retaliation at Huawei being barred from installing 5G.
Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei was a member of the People's Liberation Army before founding his technology company in 1987.
A federal judge wiped away tears Friday as he addressed an increasingly disastrous coronavirus outbreak at San Quentin prison, calling the recent transfer of infected prisoners to the facility a significant failure of policy and planning.
U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of Oakland said during the hearing that prison officials could still save lives if they act fast in transferring medically vulnerable prisoners to a brand-new facility, use a furlough-like system of releases or allow some inmates to serve their sentences at home under house arrest.
We know whats going to happen. We know, Tigar said, his voice cracking. So, you have the chance to avoid some unnecessary infection and mortality at San Quentin. Probably.
The hearing, which was live-streamed, occurred as coronavirus infections at the Marin County facility began to spread at a breakneck rate, rendering useless any efforts to contain the cases to a single unit.
San Quentin had no coronavirus cases among its prisoners until an ill-fated transfer from Chino late last month. By Sunday morning, that figure exploded to 193. On Monday evening, it reached 337 prisoners about one in every 10 housed in the facility as well as more than 30 prison staffers.
Tigar stopped short of ordering the state to release or relocate prisoners, saying he wasnt sure he had the power to do so.
But Im just saying, I think that needs to happen, he said.
A Chronicle investigation revealed that the nearly 200 men transferred from Chino to San Quentin and Corcoran state prisons in late May were not tested for the coronavirus for up to a month before they were bused by the dozens. There were 121 transferred to San Quentin and 66 to Corcoran.
Corcoran has experienced a similar outbreak. After recording no cases prior to the transfer, the facility had 138 as of Monday evening.
Corrections officers and medical staff at San Quentin said they were blindsided by the transfer, which was forced on them by state officials in Sacramento.
San Quentin employees initially were told that the Chino prisoners had tested negative. Staff only discovered the truth only after it was too late and the prisoners already had arrived some of them sick with COVID-19 symptoms.
A handful of the Chino prisoners tested positive immediately upon reaching San Quentin.
Despite assurances by state officials that the Chino men were not exposed to the general population, interviews with San Quentin employees and prisoners found this was not the case. The prisoners who recently arrived on buses were placed in the upper tiers of a unit called Badger, and San Quentin prisoners were housed in the lower tiers.
Badgers cell doors are made of bars, not solid materials, allowing vapor and droplets to travel from the upper tiers to the lower levels.
The virus quickly spread from Badger to other housing units, including Donner, which holds nearly 250 incarcerated men; East Block, home to 500 prisoners who have been sentenced to death; and North Block, with 800 closely packed residents.
Unfortunately, what were seeing now is the result of the setting itself, said Matt Willis, the Marin County public health officer. When you have so many individuals in such close quarters with shared space, its almost impossible to control spread, once the virus really has a foothold.
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He said that though the county has given some public health advice to the corrections department, the state made it clear right off the bat that they were in charge of pandemic planning for San Quentin.
Government moves slowly, and viruses move rapidly, Willis said.
I just dont know what their plan is, said Adnan Khan, a justice-reform activist who was formerly incarcerated in San Quentins North Block. They havent had a plan since the beginning.
In a federal court filing Thursday, state attorneys representing Gov. Gavin Newsom blamed the outbreak on the prison systems provider of medical care, California Correctional Health Care Services, or CCHCS, which reports to the federal court instead of the state.
Newsoms attorneys wrote that Health Care Services on May 23 gave prison leaders a list of 691 men at the Chino prison who were especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and had tested negative for the virus. Health Care Services directed prison officials to transfer the listed inmates out of Chino, according to the court documents.
CCHCS did not notify DAI (Division of Adult Institutions) that a retest would be necessary of the inmates before they were transferred, nor had CCHCS issued a general directive concerning the timing of COVID-19 tests in relation to inmate transfers, Newsoms attorneys wrote.
A Health Care Services spokesperson did not provide direct answers to questions about the claims in Newsoms filing, but instead said that decisions about the transfer were made jointly with the Corrections Department.
Megan Cassidy and Jason Fagone are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com, jason.fagone@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy, @jfagone
Between the regional court of Kiel, and the regional court of Braunschweig there is disagreement about who has to decide, on the request of the Suspect in the missing case of Madeleine McCann, on release from prison. The 43-year-old Christian B. has served recently, two-thirds of a prison sentence of one year and nine months imposed by the district court Niebull already in 2011 because of drug trafficking.
Reinhard s
Political correspondent for lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Bremen, with its headquarters in Hannover.
F. A. Z. Twitter
The multiple ex-offenders German had made a few days ago first, a request for early release from prison, the regional court of Braunschweig, then was withdrawn and the application with the regional court of Kiel made. Both courts considered that the other court had jurisdiction. The penalty enforcement chamber of Commerce in Braunschweig therefore decided on Monday that the Supreme court will clarify the jurisdiction.
Christian B. is currently incarcerated in the correctional facility in Kiel. In December of 2019, he was sentenced in Brunswick for the rape of a prison sentence of seven years. The fact happened in 2005, in the Portuguese seaside resort of Praia da Luz, where two years later, the three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared. This prison sentence for rape is not due to the possibility of authorities ' omissions in connection with the delivery of Christian B. to Germany but still quite strong. Also with this issue, the Federal court of justice is concerned.
Updated Date: 23 June 2020, 19:20
Back in March, there was no shortage of critics breathlessly predicting that Canadas bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council would fail miserably.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Opinion
Back in March, there was no shortage of critics breathlessly predicting that Canadas bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council would fail miserably.
They pointed to Canadas lacklustre efforts in international peacekeeping and on climate change, an inability to showcase its multilateralist credentials and Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus failure to push our candidacy in foreign capitals. We now know that their prognostications were right on the mark.
It is worth mentioning, however, that because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and a cratering global economy, this was no typical UN vote. The world of cascading crises made it exceedingly difficult for Ottawa to orchestrate a full-blown international campaign, to participate in the critical face-to-face meetings and necessary diplomatic horse-trading to secure a countrys support and to engage in the 11th-hour politicking sometimes needed to seal the deal.
Still, the Trudeau Liberals were confident Canada would eventually prevail when the contest went to a second ballot. To add insult to injury, Canada lost on the first ballot (garnering only 108 votes) to Ireland (which secured 128 votes) receiving fewer votes than UN-skeptic Stephen Harpers failed bid in 2010 (which notched 114 votes).
There was never any doubt Norway would get the nod for the other seat from the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) geographic bloc.
The Liberal government attempted valiantly to put the best possible spin on what was undoubtedly an embarrassing defeat. As Trudeau remarked, "We forged new partnerships, we strengthened existing friendships and we laid a solid foundation for an even greater collaboration in the future. Getting the seat was never an end in itself."
So, why exactly was Canada unsuccessful again? What made this UN campaign little different from the disastrous 2010 outcome?
Notwithstanding the final result, it goes without saying that Canadas UN Ambassador, Marc-Andre Blanchard, did a superb job of leading Canadas team effort in New York. He had obviously worked hard at courting the various UN ambassadors from numerous countries and capitalizing on his networking over the last few years and his likeable demeanour.
Even though the balloting is secret, it seems obvious the regional voting blocs in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific generally did not come through for Ottawa. Much like the failed Harper bid, many of these countries chose to desert Canada at this critical moment.
Part of the problem is Canadas placement in the WEOG geographic bloc, which is highly competitive, not always friendly toward Canada, and loaded with attractive European candidates. It should properly be situated in the more hemispherically-compatible Latin America and the Caribbean grouping. Perhaps this is something that Canada will look into changing in the coming years.
Moreover, one should not forget that both Norway and Ireland had been working on their Security Council bids for more than 10 years, while Canada had been actively engaged on the file for only four years. In addition, those successful countries spent more money on their respective campaigns when compared to Canadas C$2.3-million outlay.
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Some commentators have suggested China, in light of its enormously strained relationship with Ottawa, pressured member states in the developing world to vote against Canada. Maybe. But I dont think that was a key explanatory factor.
What we do know is that theres no disputing that Canadas international engagement lately on the development-assistance front and the climate-change issue did not serve to bring sufficient numbers of member states to our side. They simply werent convinced that we are doing enough on both counts.
Similarly, our record on international peace-support missions especially when compared to the stellar performance of Ireland left a sour taste in the mouths of UN members. And they were less than impressed with Canadas relatively small personnel contribution to the admittedly challenging Mali mission in Africa, the short duration of its commitment and its unwillingness to extend its participation in the face of multiple UN requests.
Yes, of course, domestic politics were at play here for Trudeau reaching back to his 2015 pledge that "Canada is back" on the world stage. There is no doubt that he had expended a great deal of diplomatic capital in trying to secure this UN seat. That is why this unsuccessful bid is a significant blow to his prime ministership, his personal political standing and Canadas reputation internationally.
The failed bid highlights how our middle-power status does not have the cache that it once had. Indeed, perhaps the most difficult realization to come out of this is that Canadas voice in the world matters a lot less than many of us would like to believe.
Peter McKenna is a professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 07:00:26|Editor: huaxia
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Video: New York City enters phase two of reopening on June 22, 2020, marking a major milestone of the city's fight against COVID-19. (Xinhua)
Some 150,000 to 300,000 people are expected to return to work, on top of the 200,000 to 400,000 people already back to work in phase one since June 8, according to the mayor.
NEW YORK, June 22 (Xinhua) -- New York City entered phase two of reopening on Monday, marking a major milestone of the city's fight against COVID-19.
The transitioning is "a giant step for this city" with the largest chunk of New York's economy reopening in phase two, as Mayor Bill de Blasio said, including barbershops, hair salons, real estate, vehicle sales and rentals. Office work can resume, and people can once again browse in stores, except malls.
People enjoy leisure time at Bryant Park in New York, the United States, on June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
Playgrounds across the city are allowed to reopen, and thousands of restaurants can set tables in outdoor spaces such as in front of their establishment, sidewalk or curb space, with at least six feet between each table.
"Today is a very, very important day for this city," said de Blasio at a press briefing on Monday. "As the nation's largest city, the nation's largest economy gets back on its feet."
People sit at the outdoor dinning area of a restaurant in New York, the United States, on June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
Some 150,000 to 300,000 people are expected to return to work, on top of the 200,000 to 400,000 people already back to work in phase one since June 8, according to the mayor.
Social distancing and face coverings are mandated in reopened businesses. The mayor said that another 2 million masks will be given out for free for small businesses to help them move forward.
A man has his hair cut at a barbershop in New York, the United States, on June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
The mayor said that the city's subway ridership was up 29 percent compared with right before phase one, approaching to a million, while bus ridership was up 22 percent in the same period.
Before the pandemic, an average of 5.5 million people took the subway on workdays.
Once the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, the city has reported 209,562 cases and 22,321 fatalities, including 4,685 probable deaths, according to city data.
People do shopping at the Macy's flagship store in New York, the United States, on June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
The transmission rate of COVID-19 in the city dropped to 1.1 percent on Sunday, a little above the state's rate of 0.97 percent, according to state data.
Meanwhile, daily COVID-19 fatalities in New York state dropped to 10, and total hospitalizations are 1,122, both at the lowest level since March, state data showed.
The Green Party is set to lock horns with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail over inheritance tax.
The controversial tax is set to be one of the key battlegrounds in the new government after Leo Varadkar said he wanted to reduce the tax significantly.
However, the Taoiseach's comments on the tax were described as "not a very good use of public money" by Green Party finance spokesperson Neasa Hourigan.
But her Fianna Fail counterpart, Michael McGrath, weighed in behind Mr Varadkar saying his party will consider cuts to the tax if the economy improves.
The row was sparked after Mr Varadkar told an online Fine Gael conference he will "argue" in government for the tax to be reduced.
He said children should not have to pay inheritance tax on average priced houses they are left in their parents' will.
"The average property value for example in Dublin, which would be higher than the average around the country, you shouldn't pay any inheritance tax on that," the Fine Gael leader said.
"You should only pay inheritance tax on the amount you inherit in excess of that. I think that'd be good principle and that's the principle that we'll push forward."
The average house price in Dublin is around 438,000 while the tax-free threshold for a child receiving inheritance from their parents, including the family home, is 335,000.
Capital Acquisition Tax (CAT) is paid at 33pc on any assets or money received beyond that amount.
Mr McGrath said decisions on taxes will be made during budget negotiations should the three parties agree to go into government.
He said just because something is not contained in the programme for government does not mean it cannot be addressed if all three parties agree on the issue.
"Fianna Fail supported increases in the inheritance tax-free thresholds in the past and will consider further changes at some point in the future if the circumstances are right, but the overriding priority for an incoming government has to be to repair and rebuild the economy, support businesses and help people get back to work," he added.
Ms Hourigan said Mr Varadkar's plans will narrow the tax base as the country is heading into a recession.
"Generally we would like to see the tax base expanded and reducing inheritance tax is going to benefit a section of people who do not need a tax cut," she said.
"We are going to struggle to pay for basic services and social welfare in the next few years and giving tax breaks to people who have inherited property or large sums is not a good use of public money," she added.
Meanwhile, Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin described as "unhelpful" comments by Mr Varadkar on plans for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Kerry.
The programme for government says the project will be removed from the list of State-backed initiatives which can be fast-tracked because of their strategic importance.
It also commits to banning imported fracked gas.
Mr Varadkar said the company behind the pipeline, New Fortress Energy, could still apply to build the terminal through the planning system.
Ms Martin said the Taoiseach's comment showed the resistance in Fine Gael to stopping fracked gas coming into Ireland.
:: In an article in yesterday's Irish Independent, it was stated that capital gains tax is also known as inheritance tax.
We are happy to clarify that the two types of taxes are separate, and that Mr Varadkar's proposals related to inheritance tax.
The deputy governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has raised an alarm that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is inducing members of the state House of Assembly to impeach him.
Mr Ajayi made this allegation in a statement by his spokesperson, Tope Okeowo, Tuesday afternoon.
But the governor immediately denied the allegation.
The deputy governor had last week resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) amidst speculations that he would run for governor in this years election.
He said the governor wants to impeach him through illegal and unconstitutional means. The illegal impeachment move would be carried out through financial inducement of members of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
Armed police officers stormed the House of Assembly in the early early hours of Tuesday but Premium Times could not independently verify the reason for the action.
Mr Ajayi said he is ready to battle the kangaroo and infamous move from the desperate and drowning governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, and his group.
He said by joining the PDP, he has not committed any impeachable offence but exercised his constitutional right of freedom of association.
He cited Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which provides as follows: Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any association for the protection of his interests.
He said Mr Akeredolu cannot muster the requisite majority in the House of Assembly for his removal under the Constitution in any free, fair and transparent process.
We remain undaunted in the move to throw off the combined weight of those kneeling on the neck of Ondo State. Our state shall not be allowed to suffocate. At the appropriate time, the people of Ondo State shall decide the right person who will serve as the arrowhead of the bid to save the state from the nepotistic clique kneeling on her neck.
Betrayer playing victim Akeredolu
Mr Akeredolus spokesperson, Segun Ajiboye, told PREMIUM TIMES that the allegations are false. He said the deputy governor was simply seeking sympathy from the public.
READ ALSO:
I need to let you know that the man who called himself the deputy governors spokesperson has no right to regard himself as the deputy Chief Press Secretary. All the deputys aides have been relieved of their appointments, he said.
It is false that the governor wants to induce members of the house of Assembly in order to impeach. Ordinarily he has over 22 members of the house supporting him. So, why will he induce anyone. The members were even part of those that bought his form. See the case of the deputy governor is just a case of a betrayer playing the victim and the people of Ondo know the right person to follow.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Akeredolu had fired all aides attached to Mr Ajayi who was welcomed PDP by Uche Secondus and other top officials of the opposition party on Monday.
He was recently accused of messaging another girl behind her back.
Yet Love Island's Rebecca Gormley and Biggs Chris put the drama behind them on Monday as they enjoyed a socially-distanced BBQ at a friend's house in Newcastle.
The couple couldn't resist packing on the PDA as they walked arm-in-arm after the fun catch-up.
What drama? Love Island's Rebecca Gormley and Biggs Chris enjoyed a socially-distanced BBQ at a friend's house in Newcastle on Monday after he was accused of messaging another girl
Biggs, 28, even planted a tender kiss on the stunning model's cheek as they made their way home after the gathering.
Rebecca, 22, looked sensational as she showcased her curves in a tiny plunging copper satin mini dress.
The model teamed the item of clothing with perspex heeled sandals, a gold necklace and a black handbag.
Rebecca styled her brunette locks into a glossy blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of glamorous make-up.
Smitten: The couple couldn't resist packing on the PDA as they walked arm-in-arm after the fun catch-up
Meanwhile Biggs looked dapper in an all-black ensemble with grey trainers and a gold chain necklace.
It comes after he was accused of messaging another woman behind Rebecca's back just days after the pair reunited following 10 weeks apart.
The Glaswegian car repair specialist is said to have exchanged a series of messages with healthcare assistant Caitlin Fulton, who claims she learned of his blossoming romance with Rebecca when she saw pictures of them kissing.
'We'd been messaging back and forth after he followed me on Instagram and we'd talked about going away when lockdown ended, to a holiday cottage or a lodge somewhere in the UK,' she told The Sun.
Back together: It comes after he was accused of messaging another woman behind Rebecca's back just days after the pair reunited following 10 weeks apart
'He even left me a voice note saying that coming down to see me "sounded good". We were making plans as recently as Saturday.'
Caitlin told the publication that she learned of Biggs' relationship with Rebecca when she saw photographs of them kissing in Newcastle.
'I was a bit shocked that he had a girlfriend,' she said. 'And obviously I would be shocked if that was my boyfriend messaging someone.'
MailOnline contacted representatives for Biggs Chris and Rebecca Gormley for comment at the time.
Rebecca was forced to miss Biggs' 28th birthday last month as they have been self-isolating in different locations during the coronavirus pandemic.
Drunken sleepover: The pair split up briefly before lockdown after Rebecca had a drunken sleepover with Love Island 2019 contestant Michael Griffiths, 28
She has been residing at her family home in Newcastle and Biggs has been living in Scotland.
The pair split up briefly before lockdown after Rebecca had a drunken sleepover with Love Island 2019 contestant Michael Griffiths, 28.
The pair have since reconciled, with the model admitting: 'If the shoe was on the other foot, I would get how he feels.'
Speaking on FUBAR Radio, Rebecca happily reported things are better than ever between the couple and that they talk everyday amid the COVID-19 lockdown.
She continued: 'You know what, I love it! There's literally not a day that goes by that we don't chat.
'We just go on FaceTime and literally when we're doing our day, I'm just there in the background and he's there in the background and we just chat and laugh about every day.
'If I'm totally honest, obviously when we came out the villa we've spent quite a bit of time together, but I don't think it's enough time for us to say, "Right let's make it official".
'So the way that I put it across to people is like, we're more than friends but we just don't have a label of being in a relationship.'
The pair first sparked relationship rumours after they left the South African villa in February, following Rebecca's short fling with administrator Jordan Waobikeze, 24.
(Bloomberg) -- Facebook Inc. suffered a setback in a key challenge to its business model as Germanys highest civil court said that it has no doubt that the social network misuses its dominant market position.
Judges at a hearing on Tuesday ruled that Facebook must comply with a strict order curbing the networks leeway in tracking users browsing and smartphone apps even as it fights the original ruling in a lower court.
We have no doubt that Facebook has a dominant market position on the social network market and that it misuses its position, said presiding judge Peter Meier-Beck of the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe.
In February 2019, the Federal Cartel Office made a landmark attack on Facebooks advertising model, telling the company to stop unrestrictedly collecting and using data and combining it with users Facebook accounts without getting their qualified consent. One click to agree to its voluminous terms wasnt enough for that as user had no choice other than to agree to everything. The regulator was breaking new ground by using antitrust law to tackle data privacy.
Facebook on Tuesday said it will continue to fight the order in the Dusseldorf court where the main case is pending. There will be no immediate changes for people or businesses who use products and services in Germany, the network said.
Todays decision relates to the preliminary proceedings on the stay order, Facebook said. The main proceedings, before the court of appeals, are ongoing and we will continue to defend our position that there is no antitrust abuse.
The company initially won a suspension of the antitrust decision in a lower tribunal in August and was asking the top judges to keep the order suspended while the sides continue to argue over it. The dispute will now return to the court in Dusseldorf.
Nevertheless, Facebook now must comply with the order despite the ongoing case. The company has four months to work out a plan how to adhere to the restrictions on data collection in Germany and then another 10 months to implement the changes.
Story continues
The German judges on Tuesday said it doesnt matter whether Facebooks terms are in line with European Union data laws. Rather, the terms are illicit because they dont grant users the right to choose between allowing Facebook to track them or to limit data collection to what users post on their accounts.
As a dominant network, Facebook has a special responsibility to keep competition alive on the social-network market, the court said. The high economic value of data must also be taken into account.
Most users would want to disclose less data and if the competition worked properly on that market, they would have the chance to chose a platform that offered them more privacy, according to the judgment.
Andreas Mundt, head of the Federal Cartel Office, said the ruling outlines how data and competition interplay.
Data is a crucial factor for economic power and for judging market power on the internet, he said. If data is collected and used illegally, antitrust law must be able to step in to impede misuse of market power.
The ruling may encourage further antitrust enforcement targeting Facebook. EU regulators have an early-stage probe into the companys classified ads service and are scrutinizing how it handles data. Digital advertising is also getting antitrust attention in France, Germany and the U.K.
Regulators are looking at how Amazon.com Inc. collects data from retailers through its platform. Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google have also attracted antitrust complaints over how they treat competitors.
(Updates with Facebook comment in fifth paragraph, details of ruling)
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Washington, June 23 : A US soldier has been charged with terrorism offences for planning a deadly ambush on his unit by sending information to a neo-Nazi group, a media report said on Tuesday.
According to the BBC report, Ethan Melzer, 22, stands accused of sending sensitive details about his unit to the Order of Nine Angles, which the Department of Justice calls it an "occult-based neo-Nazi and racially motivated violent extremist group".
He was allegedly planning for information to be passed to jihadis, who would then carry out an attack.
His plan was thwarted late last month by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Army. He was arrested on June 10.
Private Melzer has been charged with conspiring and attempting to murder US nationals, conspiring and attempting to murder military service members, providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, and conspiring to murder and maim in a foreign country.
"As alleged, Ethan Melzer, a private in the US Army, was the enemy within," the BBC quoted Audrey Strauss, acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as saying in a statement on Monday.
"Melzer allegedly attempted to orchestrate a murderous ambush on his own unit by unlawfully revealing its location, strength, and armaments to a neo-Nazi, anarchist, white supremacist group." Members of the Order of Nine Angles have expressed admiration for both Nazis, such as Adolf Hitler, and Islamic jihadis, such as slain Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, the statement said.
"Melzer declared himself to be a traitor against the US, and described his own conduct as tantamount to treason. We agree," said FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday received a jolt when five of its Legislative Council members resigned from the opposition party and joined the ruling Janata Dal-United.
The Legislative Council has issued a notification in this regard.
These leaders are Radhacharan Seth, Dilip Rai, Kamre Alam, Sanjay Prasad and Ranvijay Singh.
The development comes ahead of next month's elections to the nine Council seats.
Sources said that many RJD MLAs too were in touch with the ruling party for switching alliance.
WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - The Pentagons chief technology officer Mike Griffin, an outspoken advocate for space-based missile defense systems, and his deputy will resign effective July 10 to set up their own company, the director of the Missile Defense Agency said.
Griffin, the Defense Departments undersecretary of defense for research and engineering since 2018, and his deputy, Lisa Porter, announced their decision at a staff meeting on Tuesday, Vice Admiral Jon Hill said, confirming a report by Inside Defense news service.
Griffin oversees the activities of Hill's Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Defense Innovation Unit and the DoD Laboratory enterprise.
He was previously chief executive of Schafer Corporation, a professional services provider in the national security sector, and also served as NASA administrator.
During the Reagan administration, he played a central role in the militarys Strategic Defense Initiative, an ambitious idea of space-based weaponry also known as Star Wars.
Porter was previously the first Director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and an official at NASA. (Reporting by Mike Stone; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali; writing by David Shepardson; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
Gov. John Bel Edwards explains that the state of Louisiana will remain in Phase 2 of reopening and not yet move into Phase 3 amid a rising number of new cases of COVID-19 many of which have been linked to young people.
Upward Globility is a new video series produced by Atlas Network in the USA that explores how people flourish when they are free to make choices that unleash innovation and change. The pilot episode focuses on the Free Market Foundation's Khaya Lam project in South Africa, whose aim is to help previously dispossessed families acquire title to their homes and land.
Upward Globility is particularly exciting because it transcends politics in a way that is rare. Were exploring ideas that show how human ingenuity and initiative can change lives for the better.
How did you get involved in the Upward Globility project?
What made you choose to focus on South Africa and the FMF as your pilot episode?
What was it like working with Vale Sloane?
Tell us about your involvement with FMF and what was it like meeting the director, Temba Nolutshungu.
Can you tell us a bit more about the Upward Globility project as a whole?
What do you plan to achieve with this series?
Our goal is really to draw attention to the innovative, creative vision of people who are making the world a better place. There are millions of people who get up every morning and are changing the world, even if theyre not waking up and thinking: Today, Im going to change the world! Our actions have consequences beyond the scope of what we see, and Atlas Network partners around the world (more than 500 in 97 countries) are trying to create the conditions for people, particularly those living in poverty, to be more free and more prosperous.
What was the initial feedback regarding the pilot episode?
Our goal was to show how real people are impacted by this project, and to share their joy in knowing that there is security in owning their own small piece of earth. Not just for them today but for their children and their childrens children as well.
Do you think there could be a follow-up episode in future, regarding FMF?
We caught up with filmmaker Dugan Bridges whose work has been distributed by Amazon and TimeWarner and who has previously been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, and MovieMaker magazine. He says about the project:Here, Bridges elaborates on the project as a whole and how they got involved with the FMF, and shares the feedback they've received so far.I heard about Atlas Network starting a show where they would be travelling around the world looking for people who are doing amazing work to uplift society and show how people can lift themselves out of poverty if some basic barriers are out of the way. I've worked with them before and knew that they have a unique network of global organisations feeding them these incredible stories, which I hear about every year.So, I approached the VP of Communications, Melissa Mann, who created the concept, to see if she needed any help. She told me that she wanted Vale Sloane to host the show, so it would be like an Anthony Bourdain-style travelogue. I thought that was a great idea as Vale is intelligent and charming. Eventually, we met up in Los Angeles where we sat down one afternoon to map it all out on paper and our hunt for the first story began.Good timing! We were in Nairobi, and since we were already mostly all the way to Joburg But seriously, Khaya Lam is a great story to share with millions of people who arent aware that it exists. FMFs initial goal was to transfer title to 3,000 municipally-owned properties, starting in the Ngwathe area of the Free State province, and FMF worked with the municipal council to bring them on board with Khaya Lam.Today, more than 20,000 titles have been put in private ownership at a cost of about $140 per title. Thousands of black South Africans are landowners. So the value proposition is high and the cost is relatively low. Since Atlas Network has a long history of cooperation with FMF, we knew about this from the start of the project, and weve reported on it before. This time, it was a chance to introduce a global audience to real people who are benefitting from the change.Vale is as light-hearted and cheerful in real life as he is on camera! And Australians are naturally tough so it makes it a lot easier on those of us behind the scenes. Really, it was a joy to work with him. Part of this job is being able to think on your feet and make people feel comfortable on camera, so he was a natural fit for the project. He's professional when it's time to be professional and you can grab a beer with him once that's done. My hope is we'll get more opportunities to work together in the future.I had previously no connection with FMF and didn't know much about them, although Atlas Network has been working with them for many years. Obviously, they are doing important work as they created the Khaya Lam project, and the project is such a great idea. Maybe the principles of what they are doing can spread west as the United States could benefit from their ideas for race reconciliation. Our team loved meeting Temba, who is such a gentle soul with much inner strength. It was an honour to get to help illustrate his personal passion for social justice and land reform. It's contagious in a way and I hope we bring some of that back with us, and are sharing it with our viewers.For the last couple of years, Atlas Network has been shooting short documentaries about public policy work that people are doing to end poverty around the world. Theyre terrific and available on Atlas Networks YouTube site as well as at AtlasNetwork.org but we thought it would be fun to have a guide along for the ride as viewers discover how people are using a single, simple idea to transform the lives of people living in poverty. Vale was a perfect choice! Hes smart, funny, naturally curious, and has a genuine interest in people and the paths theyve taken to get to where they are. He takes you by the hand and introduces you to a whole new world.The next episode is in Tennessee with a group of recently incarcerated women who are trying to turn their lives around. Criminal justice reform is a huge issue in the United States right now, of course. We work with a group that is trying to end recidivism and change laws that make it harder for former inmates to get jobs. How do you become a productive member of society if laws actively prohibit you from getting work? So we meet with women who are getting back into society and starting their lives over.Very positive overall from viewers around the world, many of whom had no idea that a project of this kind even existed. Weve had some pushback by people who feel that just giving land away isnt fair. Its a complicated question, and as a US-based production company with an Aussie host, were sensitive to the issues that we raise. Our partners at FMF have dealt with this question since Khaya Lam started.Wed love to work more with FMF and share their projects, particularly Khaya Lam, of course, but there might be others that would make great stories. Wed love to share how South Africans are using the power of free markets to advance human rights and democracy, and when were free to travel again going back to South Africa is definitely a goal!Watch the episode here:
Lehigh University awarded state grant to develop coronavirus-killing functional material
Lehigh is one of four universities to receive funding through the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program COVID-19 Challenge supporting innovative research projects that could potentially impact Pennsylvania's pandemic response.
In a June 17 news release, Governor Tom Wolf announced seven projects that will receive funding of approximately $25,000 each. "We are fortunate to have some of the brightest minds in our higher education system," Wolf said, "and they rose to the challenge in supporting our commonwealth during this unprecedented time."
Lehigh's project will address the transmission of SARS CoV viruses, including COVID-19, through contact with common surfaces, such as in healthcare settings and in public spaces. The team seeks to "chemically functionalize" these surfaces with a novel polymer coating that will incapacitate the virus and prevent further transmission. The coating, which will disable the outermost "lipid or fatty envelope" of the virus, will have long-lasting effects compared with typical disinfectants and cleaning products that primarily destroy the existing virus but become ineffective after a short time.
The proposal was generated through Lehigh's Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD), a hub for interdisciplinary research. The research team brings together expertise in virology, materials surface engineering, disinfection in health care, and virus detection. Industry partner Solvay USA, Inc. (Bristol, PA) will help develop and translate the technology to the market and manufacture new polymers.
"Developing this virucidal technology to disrupt the indirect transmission of novel coronavirus becomes increasingly more important as our communities move toward resuming normal activities and movements in public," says Himanshu Jain, who serves as director of I-FMD. "A functional material will be much more effective than having to rely on frequent cleanings with standard disinfectants in high-traffic areas, such as entrances to restaurants, restrooms, etc."
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Leading the project, entitled "A Novel Technology for Disrupting the Spread of Coronavirus," are P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science faculty members Frank Zhang, an associate professor of bioengineering and mechanical engineering and mechanics; Xuanhong Cheng, a professor of materials science and engineering and bioengineering; and Jain, the Diamond Distinguished Chair and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. Other members of the team include K.P. Ananth, a professor in the University of Cincinnati's James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy; Lehigh bioengineering professors Anand Jagota and Yaling Liu; and industry partner Solvay USA, a major manufacturer of coating polymers.
Through the COVID-19 Challenge program, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) engaged Pennsylvania colleges and universities in the rapid development and deployment of new technologies, products, and processes with the potential to positively impact the commonwealth's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD)
Lehigh University's Institute for Functional Materials & Devices (I-FMD) pursues innovative new materials and devices that underpin many of society's greatest challenges, from detecting and treating disease, to implementing large-scale renewable energy sources, to securing food and fresh water for all. I-FMD brings together Lehigh's interdisciplinary expertise in the synthesis, fabrication, processing, and materials characterization as applied to sensors, actuators, and other devices that have critical functionality across mechanical, electronic, photonic, and chemical domains.
Related Links:
Manufacturing PA Innovation Program: COVID-19 Challenge
Website: Solvay
Faculty Profile: Himanshu Jain
Faculty Profile: Frank Zhang
Faculty Profile: Xuanhong Cheng
Faculty Profile: Anand Jagota
Faculty Profile: Yaling Liu
University of Cincinnati: K.P. Ananth
Gov. Wolf: Four Universities Receive Funding for COVID-19 Response Through Manufacturing Innovation Challenge
Institute for Functional Materials and Devices
This story has been published on: 2020-06-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
An exiled billionaire has accused the Chinese government of giving the Vatican 1.6billion every year in bribes to prevent it from criticising Beijing's sweeping clampdown on religions.
Fugitive tycoon Guo Wengui claimed in a podcast that the Communist Party had been paying the Holy See generously since 2014 because Beijing 'wanted the Vatican to shut up about China's religion policies.'
US-based Guo, 52, said in the interview that the Communist country had also spent large sums to muzzle other countries including Italy and Australia from voicing concerns.
Guo Wengui (pictured), the Chinese fugitive tycoon and dissident, claimed in a podcast that the Communist Party had been paying the Holy See since 2014 to muzzle the Vatican
Steve Bannon (pictured), a former Trump strategist, spoke to the Chinese fugitive tycoon Guo Wengui in an interview on Bannon's self-launched radio show 'The War Room' on June 20
The news comes as China faces widespread criticism over its policy against Muslims. UN experts and activists have claimed that at least one million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims are held in the detention centres in Xinjiang in western China. Pictured, a Muslim Uighur woman walks with her son past security forces in the town of Kashgar, Xinjiang, in April, 2008
The billionaire's comment comes after China faced widespread criticism over its crackdown on the country's religious groups, particularly the ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims.
Guo, who is known for his criticism against the Communist Party, made his bombshell claims on June 20 during an interview with The War Room, an American podcast hosted by an ex-Trump adviser, Steve Bannon.
The highly wanted dissident said that the Chinese Communist Party had been allocating 1.6billion each year to gain influence over the Vatican in the past six years.
'[They] want Vatican to shut up and follow the CCP about the religion polices,' Guo said on the radio show. 'That is disaster.'
The Chinese dissident also claimed that the Chinese government was paying the Holy See with $100million (80million) before 2014, without specifying when those payments initially started.
'CCP knows, if the Vatican tells the truth about Chinese Christians and Catholics, CCP is die,' Guo said.
'CCP is so worried, so they give two billion [dollars] to the Vatican, 1.5 billion [dollars] to Australia, 100million [dollars] to Italy,' he added.
The Chinese dissident also claimed that the Chinese government was paying the Holy See with $100million (80million) before 2014, without specifying when those payments initially started. Pictured, Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a news conference in 2019
Activists have claimed that the number of Muslim detainees in China could greatly exceed the commonly cited figure. A perimeter fence is constructed around what is officially known as a vocational skills education centre in Dabancheng in Xinjiang in China's far west region
The Chinese tycoon was speaking with Steve Bannon, former Trump strategist, on Bannon's self-launched radio show.
Bannon, who was also the former executive chairman of the right-leaning Breitbart News, set up the radio show in October from the basement of his Capitol Hill rowhome, long branded the 'Breitbart Embassy'.
He also brought in former Breitbart London editor Raheem Kassam and Jason Miller, the Trump 2016 campaign's spokesman, as co-hosts.
The show is said to be broadcast on six conservative talk radio stations in Florida and Virginia, as well as streamed online as podcast.
Guo, a former member of China's Communist Party, fled to the US after learning he was wanted for bribery, fraud, money laundering, as well as rape.
A prominent real estate developer with a net worth of more than two billion dollars, Guo was accused of engaging in shady business deals in a 2015 report by Beijing-based media outlet Caixin, which he has denied.
Since then, he has become a self-described political activist claiming to shed light on alleged corruption within the Chinese government and has publicly criticised the country's ruling Communist party in interviews and on Twitter.
Guo has developed a relationship with Bannon - who has also been an outspoken critic of the Chinese Communist Party.
The two announced their plans to set up a $100million investigation into Chinese corruption in November, the New York Times reported.
Guo's interview comes as China has been heavily criticised by other countries and humanitarian groups over its policy against Muslims and other religious groups.
UN experts and activists have claimed that at least one million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims are held in the detention centres in the region.
Former detainees claimed that Muslims were forced to eat pork and speak Mandarin in those internment camps.
After initially denying their existence, China acknowledged that it had opened 'vocational education centres' in Xinjiang aimed at preventing extremism by teaching Mandarin and job skills.
CultNews101.com: news, links, resources. Cults101.org: resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics. CultMediation.com: offers resources designed to help thoughtful families and friends understand and respond to the complexity of a loved ones cult involvement. Intervention101.com: to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement. CultRecovery101.com: assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 04:09:22|Editor: huaxia
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BAGHDAD, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Tuesday renewed his country's rejection and condemnation of the Turkish attacks on targets in northern Iraq.
Hussein's comments came during his meeting with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in his office in the Foreign Ministry at the edge of the Green Zone in central Baghdad, a ministry statement said.
Hussein underlined the need "to stop such violations by the Turkish side, considering the attacks as violating the international covenants and laws," the statement said.
Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes and artillery bombardments against the positions of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the PKK.
The Iraqi minister said that the Iraqi "government is keen to pursue a balanced policy in establishing relations with all countries, especially the neighboring ones."
Hussein also revealed that his first visits outside Iraq will be to Iran and Saudi Arabia, with an aim to enhance the bilateral relations, and open horizons for cooperation to achieve common interests.
Hussein and Hennis-Plasschaert, who is the chief of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), also discussed the strategic dialogue held between Iraq and the United States earlier the month, confirming the importance of such dialogue in promoting the interests of the two countries.
The statement also revealed that Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi will visit Washington next month to complete the dialogue between the two countries. Enditem
Its crunch time for New Jersey lawmakers with the deadline to adopt a three-month, stopgap spending bill to fund state operations through Sept. 30 just a week away.
The temporary measure to fund the state for three more months became necessary after Gov. Phil Murphy and the Legislature opted to extend the current fiscal year, which would customarily close out June 30, through the end of September.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney said Monday that talks with the state Assembly and the administration are beginning in earnest, and hes expecting a vote on a short-term budget June 29 or June 30.
I dont anticipate any problems. I certainly hope not, but you never know. Were in a strange place, and weve never been in this position before, said Sweeney, D-Gloucester. Theres going to be a lot of cutting. Thats where the struggle comes in. Theres going to be a lot of money de-appropriated.
Ordinarily, the Legislature and governor would be in the throes of their annual budget deliberations for the fiscal year running July 1 to June 30, 2021. But they agreed in April to extend the current fiscal year into the fall to allow the state to delay tax filing deadlines to July 15 and to buy themselves time to get a handle on cratering tax collections.
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New Jersey tax collections have taken a beating in response to the public health crisis and the near shut down of many parts of the economy to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and Murphys administration doesnt expect the pain to be short-lived.
It has lowered its projections for how much money the state will collect through July 2021 by $10 billion, including $2.8 billion less than expected in this fiscal year and $7.2 billion in the next. The governor is calling for $1.3 billion in cuts and taking money out of the states reserves to balance this years budget.
The Legislature must agree to any cuts, and Sweeney said that will part of a deal on the stopgap spending plan.
Murphys treasurer, Elizabeth Muoio, said last month theyre proposing to spend about $7.6 billion over the three months covered by the temporary budget. That plan, though, relies on kicking a $951 million pension contribution, $467 million in public school aid, $355 million in municipal aid and $114 million in NJ Transit operating assistance into the next fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1.
It also puts in jeopardy funding for the popular Homestead and Senior Freeze property tax relief programs.
That spending plan would leave out about $850 million Murphy had proposed in his February budget blueprint, including a $336 million boost to K-12 school aid, $132 million in funding for NJ Transit and $25 million to expand pre-k.
Sweeney said Monday hes particularly concerned about creating a huge cliff by pushing so much spending into the next fiscal year.
Well have those discussions with the administration, he said.
The Senate president said he expects once the Legislature and administration resolve the temporary budget, their attention will quickly turn to the nine-month budget beginning Oct. 1.
Murphy in February proposed spending $40.9 billion next year, a budget that relied on tax increases on income over $1 million, cigarettes and opioid manufacturers, while boosting funding for schools, NJ Transit and the public pension system. He has until Aug. 25 to send lawmakers a revised budget.
Three months goes by pretty quickly, Sweeney said. I would anticipate that were going to be working through the summer.
Sweeney said the Legislature would like to resume in-person voting in time for next weeks budget action, following months of remote voting sessions.
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Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com.
About 150 seasonal workers hired by a salmon cannery in Alaska are being forced to quarantine without pay at a hotel in Los Angeles after three of them tested positive for the coronavirus, a lawsuit claims.
The workers, most of them from Mexico and Southern California, were hired June 2 by North Pacific Seafoods to work at its Red Salmon Cannery in Naknek, Alaska, through August, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in San Francisco Superior Court, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Instead, they have been stuck at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel since June 10, attorney Jonathan Davis said.
Leauri Moore, vice president of human resources for North Pacific Seafoods, told the newspaper in an email that she had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
Moore said authorities in Alaska have issued orders requiring a 14-day controlled quarantine and coronavirus testing in order for anyone to work at a seafood processing plant in the state.
A spokesman for Intercontinental Hotels Group, which owns the Crowne Plaza LAX and is also named in the lawsuit, told the Times in a statement Sunday that the company does not comment on pending litigation, but that it prioritizes the health and safety of guests and employees. .
We want to stress that the hotel did not prevent any guest from freely leaving the property and provided safe and comfortable accommodations to the guests, including three meals a day, Jacob Hawkins, the spokesman, wrote in an email.
Based in Seattle, Pacific Seafoods each summer hires hundreds of workers from around the world for temporary jobs at its Naknek cannery, promising them round-trip transportation to and from their point of hire as well as lodging and meals.
The workers were directed to the hotel in Los Angeles to be tested for the coronavirus. Once there, they were instructed to wait together in a crowded hallway and fill out paperwork using shared pens, putting them in close contact with one another for up to six hours, the lawsuit alleges.
Four days later, when results came back positive for three of the workers, all 150 were told that their quarantine had been extended 11 days, until June 25 and that they would not be paid for the time, the lawsuit alleges.
The hotel deactivated their keycards so they couldnt come and go, and they were warned that if they left their rooms for any reason theyd be immediately fired, the complaint states.
Since the start of the initial quarantine June 10, the hotel has provided the workers with no more than two meals a day, according to the lawsuit. In addition to being prohibited from leaving the premises to get additional food or supplies, they have also been barred from ordering room service or accessing any hotel services, the complaint states.
Davis described the situation as bizarre and outrageous.
There are certainly many, many horrible stories in the history of labor and migrant workers and seasonal workers in the United States. But I have not seen this type of case before, he said.
The lawsuit alleges false imprisonment, nonpayment of wages, failure to pay minimum wages and overtime, negligence and unlawful business practices. Attorneys plan to go to court next week and seek a temporary restraining order to have the workers immediately paid, Davis said.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Lawsuits California
The Bexar County Sheriffs Office will review its use-of-force policies following a string of high-profile police killings across the country that have reignited conversations on policing and race.
Sheriff Javier Salazar said the death of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta prompted him to take a deep dive into sections of the agencys policies that could be outdated.
Brooks, a 27-year-old black man, was shot and killed after grabbing a Taser from an officer during a routine drunken driving arrest in a Wendys parking lot. An autopsy showed Brooks, who was running from the officers when they fired, was shot twice in the back.
It made us sit and say, What are we teaching our troops? Salazar said.
Salazar made a similar move in 2018 a few weeks after a deputy-involved shooting in Schertz left a 6-year-old boy and a suspected car thief dead.
The San Antonio Police Department where Salazar worked for 23 years also regularly reviews its training policies.
On ExpressNews.com: An inside look at training at the San Antonio Police Department
Salazar described the policies as a living document. He said the office would be doing a disservice if it didnt incorporate current events into its training.
For example, when Salazar was a cadet at the San Antonio Police Training Academy in 1992, trainees were taught the 21-foot rule, he said. The policy allowed an officer to shoot if a suspect had a weapon and was within 21 feet.
Salazar said the policy now has fallen out of favor and doesnt take into account a wide range of factors that could warrant using a less-deadly alternative to apprehend a suspect.
We need to make sure that nothing is outdated, and it is now getting dangerous to teach a cookie-cutter approach, Salazar said. That all is a training issue.
Safety of human life is paramount; it is even written into our policies, so we need to remember that and take a long, hard look at our policies, he added.
We dont want our deputies to take unnecessary chances and we, of course, want them to go home safe at the end of the night, but we need to remember that there are other factors that could be there, he said.
Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | Twitter: @TaylorPettaway
MUSKEGON, MI A unique business partnership, and community support, kept a country kitchen kicking during the states stay-at-home orders.
Kuntry Cookin was coming up on its first anniversary running the kitchen at Racquets Downtown Grill, 446 W. Western Ave., in the heart of downtown Muskegon, when restaurants across the state were shuttered against coronavirus. The bars owner, Ron Madison, and the restaurants co-owner and head chef, Destinee Keener-Sargent, worked together to stay afloat throughout.
We try our best to lift each other up, Keener-Sargent told MLive.
It wasnt easy. Both businesses had to lay off their staffs through the shutdown. Racquets closed, and Kuntry Cookin remained open only three days a week for takeout and delivery.
What hit even harder was the loss of catering business. With graduation parties and weddings canceled, Keener-Sargent estimates that she lost $17,000 from events. (She hopes to make some of that up from rain checks in 2021: Im grateful that some have still chosen to rock with us, she said.)
Throughout, the restaurant was buoyed by its community. Keener-Sargent became emotional as she recalled how friends helped out answering phones, running the register, bagging up meals to make up for the lack of a staff.
Without our community, we would not be here, she said.
The strength of the partnership between Madison and Keener-Sargent dates back to even before Kuntry Cookin officially moved into the downtown bars kitchen last spring.
Keener-Sargent began her culinary business with her husband, Kemmie, in their home, where a Friday cookout event was particularly popular. (The business name refers to Destinees nickname for her husband, an Arkansas native whose country roots influence the menu, and particular its meats, she told MLive.)
But the enterprise soon outgrew the couples ability to operate under the cottage food law, which allows people to use home kitchens for low-risk food production. They began catering events at Racquets every so often, like soul food brunches featuring 90s hip hop.
In May of last year, the Keener-Sargents officially took over the kitchen.
On a recent Friday night, the restaurant seemed slammed, with overflow picnic tables - set up to accommodate social distancing after restrictions on dining lifted, but with capacity limits indoors - nearly filled up.
The nearly-normal vibe, on a warm summer evening, reflected something that had originally drawn Keener-Sargent to Racquets: the comfortable diversity of its clientele.
One of the things that drew me hereyou never see the amount of diversity, she said. This is literally the only bar in Muskegon that has a true makeup of what Muskegon looks like.
She recalled evenings when young and old, Black and white, mingled inside the bar, and events to celebrate the local LGBTQ event last June, during Pride Month.
This is our Cheers right here, she said.
Read more on MLive:
Mysterious floating island in Muskegon Lake still floating, less mysterious
Change is already here: Juneteenth protest in Muskegon draws calls for action
Sherwood Forest knockoff festival planned at site of Electric Forest
You wouldn't typically get your computer tips and IT advice from the Prime Minister. So you'd have to assume something a bit different is going on when your national leader holds a press conference to announce a cyber attack. And refers everyone to technical advice on how to patch your system.
So what's going on? There are two main components to the attack. One is the assailant.
Morrison declined to name the attacker but gave a couple of clues. It was a sophisticated "state-based actor with very, very significant capabilities", he said, and "there aren't too many state-based actors who have those capabilities".
Scott Morrison held a press conference on Friday to reveal a state-based cyber attack had targeted Australian government and business. Credit:AAP
Speculation immediately centred on China. The speculation, according to informed sources, is correct. The cyber attack is one of several elements to the Chinese Communist Party's pressure campaign against Australia. The campaign is not new, and neither is the cyber attack. It's been going on for many months.
Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images
A day after a noose was discovered hanging from NASCAR driver Bubba Wallaces garage stall, his fellow drivers and crew members walked in solidarity with him to kick off the circuits Cup Series game at Talladega. Per Fox Sports, the poignant scene occurred before the racing event began on June 22, with the hashtag #IStandWithBubba displayed all over the track. A member of Wallaces team found the noose in a secure area where access is limited to competitors, officials, and track staff due to coronavirus restrictions. The FBI and DOJ are currently investigating the racist incident. This is a very, very serious act and we take it as such, NASCAR president Steve Phelps told The Wall Street Journal, confirming that the guilty party will be unequivocally banned from the sport for life. I dont care who they are, he added.
After a noose was found in his garage stall last night, @NASCAR drivers show their support for @BubbaWallace at Talladega. #IStandWIthBubba pic.twitter.com/uFlxmP27qa FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 22, 2020
Wallace, who is NASCARs sole full-time Black driver, said in a social-media statement on June 21 that the noose was a despicable act of racism and hatred that left him incredibly saddened. It also served as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism. The discovery of the noose came a week after NASCAR announced a new ban of Confederate flags at all races and events. Wallace heavily advocated for the change, stating that no one should feel uncomfortable when they attend a NASCAR race. Get them out of here, he said. They have no place for them.
A 20-year-old man was arrested Monday night and accused of opening fire at a golf course, causing the bullets to strike some trees at the neighboring Houston police station, authorities said.
The man was believed to be showing off an assault-styled rifle to his 19-year-old brother and two 15-year-old girls the duo picked up, rather than targeting law enforcement, police Chief Art Acevedo said Monday morning. The suspected shooter was identified Wednesday as Rodger Coleman after he was charged with deadly conduct.
Officers heard the gunfire around 10:30 p.m. from the Southeast station at 8300 Mykawa Road, which is next door to the golf course and separated by a wooded area. The bullets struck some trees, the chief said.
A police helicopter searched the area from above and found a car with Coleman and the three teens.
The two girls had been babysitting for a 5-year-old child and a puppy when the man picked them up. The girls, and the suspect's brother, were released without charges, Acevedo said.
I have a feeling they were trying to put on a show for two 15 year olds, Acevedo said. Why adult men are picking up 15 year olds is another story for another day.
BLOOD TRAIL: Police find man's body, two others injured in NE Houston shooting
Investigators do not believe Coleman is linked to another recent shooting at the same park area, where police on June 6 searched for someone who fired 50 to 60 rounds near the police station. Officers heard bullets pass them in the parking lot but there was no damage to the building.
The shooter in that instance has not been apprehended.
Houston Police Officers Union President Joe Gamaldi called that incident an attack on officers.
jay.jordan@chron.com
nicole.hensley@chron.com
(Newser) Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell are suspected in the deaths of two of Vallow's childrenand many stories have come out describing the couple as being obsessed with "end times," "doomsday," or "apocalyptic" prophesies. Now, Vallow's former longtime best friend is talking to NBC News about their relationshipand she says it made sense to her because both of them are good liars. "I saw him as the hand and her as the puppet on that hand," Melanie Gibb said on Dateline. "They were both like gasoline and fire. Not a good match. But equally destructive to each other. So in a way, they were their equal match, in that they were destructive to each other. They both had deception in them." Gibb has been cooperating with police for months, the AP reports; it was she who told investigators Vallow had described her kids as "zombies" before they disappeared.
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When questioned by police in November about her son JJ Vallow's whereabouts, Vallow allegedly told them he was with Gibb in Arizona. When police couldn't get a hold of Gibb and asked Vallow to call her, Vallow claimed she was at a movie with JJ and wouldn't answer her phone. Gibb says a nervous-seeming Daybell called her that same day and told her not to answer when contacted by police, and Vallow later informed her she had told police JJ was with her. Gibb says Vallow also asked her to take a picture of a large group of kids. "It's like a bomb drops on you," Gibb says of that moment. "What do you do?" When police ultimately reached her, she told them JJ was not with her. "I cant even begin to tell you how horrible that moment was for me," Gibb says, per the Deseret News. "They tried to use me as their way of escape." (Read more Lori Vallow stories.)
A mans death during a 2016 night hunting incident has torn a family apart, a Brandon court heard during an emotional sentencing hearing on Monday.
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A mans death during a 2016 night hunting incident has torn a family apart, a Brandon court heard during an emotional sentencing hearing on Monday.
Crown attorney Sarah Murdoch read victim impact statements from Dylan Hapas parents during the hearing for Sheldon Wanbdiska, who was acquitted in February of criminal negligence causing death in the shooting death of his 24-year-old cousin on Sept 27, 2016.
Wanbdiska was found guilty of careless use of a firearm by Justice Scott Abel. He pleaded not guilty during a trial in Brandon Court of Queens Bench last October to criminal negligence causing death and careless use of a firearm in relation to Hapas death.
Wanbdiska did plead guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm without a licence, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle.
In Hapas mothers victim impact statement, she says her sons death has been agony and she never knew this level of suffering existed.
"There arent any words to express how I miss my Dylan. I have cried so many tears. I often cried until I couldnt breathe and I collapse from my grief and still I cry every day. I wake every morning and for a split second I dont remember he is gone, but then it hits me and it starts again, another day without him," Murdoch read to the court.
A statement from the victims father, Darryl Hapa, was similarly emotional. He said he feels like his perfect world has been shattered.
"No parent should endure this kind of sadness, no parent should bury their child, no parent should have to live like this," Darryls statement says.
Hapa was shot in the upper leg after he and Wanbdiska got out of the truck they were spotlighting from to pursue a deer, the court heard during a trial last October.
Wanbdiska said in a police statement he tucked the firearm a sawed-off rifle under his arm with the barrel pointed behind him while using a flashlight.
He fumbled with the gun and it went off as he tried to squeeze it with his arm to regain hold of it, hitting Hapa who was standing behind him in the process.
Hapa later died at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.
In his decision, Abel said he could not conclude that the Crown had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Wanbdiska could have foreseen an obvious and serious risk that night, or that he chose to ignore that risk.
While placing a firearm under the arm with the muzzle pointed backward without checking to see if the firearm was loaded creates a risk, Abel said, but there were a number of factors that a reasonable person could not have foreseen.
Wanbdiska also did not point the gun directly at Hapa, Abel said, nor was he brandishing the firearm or swinging it around.
Murdoch suggested a sentence of one year in jail for the careless use of a firearm charge followed by 18 months of probation. She said Wanbdiska didnt take reasonable precautions for other peoples safety while holding the gun, including not checking if it was loaded, carrying it backward and not knowing where the other people were.
"Mr. Wanbdiska did all these things, even though again he knew better as he had taken firearm safety training," the Crown attorney said.
That brief period of carelessness resulted in the most serious consequences, she said.
"The message must be clear that firearms must always be handled carefully. Failure to do so can result in serious consequences and sentences especially if it causes serious harm to another person."
Andrew Synyshyn, Wanbdiskas defence lawyer, suggested a three-year suspended sentence to avoid spending time in jail. He said Wanbdiska is extremely remorseful for what he did, but spending time in jail wont bring Hapa back or be beneficial to the community.
"In those (victim impact statements) you see nothing of vengeance, nothing of the request or requirement for Mr. Wanbdiska to pay for what he did. Ultimately, its about the loss of Dylan (Hapa). Thats all were dealing with here is the hurt and the loss of Mr. Hapa," Synyshyn said.
Speaking to the court, Wanbdiska apologized to Hapas family through tears, including to the victims mother.
"It hurts me every day knowing shes in pain," he said. "I wish I could make it better I just want it to be over, I just want my family to be healed."
A date for the sentencing is expected to be scheduled in July.
dmay@brandonsun.com
Twitter: @DrewMay_
Convenience store chain Wawa has opened two more New Jersey shops, one in Springfield and one in Hazlet.
The Springfield store opened June 18 and is located at 685 Morris Turnpike. It is the chains 900th store, according to a statement.
The Hazlet store is located at 1413 Highway 36 and opened June 11.
Wawa stores are also set to open this summer in North Brunswick, Belleville and Westampton, according to the companys website.
Wawas other North Brunswick store closed in January. There are plans for it to be demolished and rebuilt on the same site.
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ARLINGTON, Va., June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study by LiveSafe Inc., the leading risk intelligence and safety communications company, provides critical insights into the risks that colleges and universities face as they plan to welcome millions of students back to campus in the middle of the deadly COVID-19 global pandemic.
LiveSafe Inc.
The report, Calculated Risk: Returning to Campus in The Age of COVID-19, reveals major shortfalls in campus safety and COVID-19 prevention plans that have some risk managers nervous about the decision to bring students back to campus as infections and hospitalizations are on the rise in 20 states. Adding to concerns about sustained community spread of the disease is the inability of many universities to conduct adequate testing and enforce new health safety policies.
"With COVID-19 threatening to kill an estimated 200,000 Americans by October, going to college feels more like an unnecessary risk than an endeavor to nurture one's mind," wrote Dan Verton, LiveSafe's Director of Content & Branding and the principal author of the paper. "Despite all of the planning and protective measures put in place across college campuses, allowing students to return is a calculated risk. The price of getting it wrong is contagion and more death."
Calculated Risk explores the capabilities and best practices that have factored into the risk calculations of large, medium and small institutions. It also highlights how the convergence of COVID-19 and nationwide social justice movements have impacted the role of university risk managers and public safety officials.
Getting employees back to the workplace and students back on campus safely requires mobile health screening capabilities, reliable and effective two-way safety communications, and the ability to provide resources in response to rapidly changing health conditions, guidance, and regulations.
Built upon the LiveSafe enterprise risk intelligence and safety communications platform, our WorkSafe back-to-work options and packages enable organizations to detect potential infections, prevent outbreaks, and reduce legal liability, while maintaining the privacy and security of employee health information.
Click here to download your free copy of Calculated Risk: Returning to Campus in The Age of COVID-19 .
Contact: LiveSafe Public Relations
(703) 436-2098 | [email protected]
About LiveSafe, Inc.:
LiveSafe's risk intelligence technology platform surfaces early warning insights and prevents serious safety and security incidents to mitigate operational risks, reduce financial losses, and make places safer for people to work, learn, and live. Follow LiveSafe on Twitter @LiveSafe, and learn more at LiveSafeMobile.com.
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Indian oil major ONGC Videsh's bid to buy an additional 11 per cent stake in Russia's Vankor oil field for USD 930 million has been approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday.
OVL, the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in May this year had completed acquisition of 15 per cent stake in Vankor oil field for USD 1.28 billion.
"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to an acquisition by OVL for 11 per cent stake in JSC Vankorneft from Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft), the national oil company of Russian Federation (Russia)," an official statement said here. Rosneft operates Vankor fields through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vankorneft.
"OVL will be paying an amount of USD 930 million for acquiring 11 per cent stake in Vankorneft," it said. The acquisition of stake in Vankorneft will provide 3.2 million tonnes of oil equivalent to OVL by 2017. It will also provide an opportunity to Indian public sector oil and gas companies to acquire new technologies from Rosneft.
"The acquisition is in line with the ONGC's stated objective of adding high quality international assets to India's exploration and production (E&P) portfolio and thereby augmenting India's energy security," the statement said.
Besides OVL's 26 per cent stake in Vankor, a consortium comprising Oil India (OIL), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat PetroResources (BPRL) acquired 23.9 per cent stake in Vankorneft at a cost of USD 2.02 billion, which will give them 6.56 mt of oil. OVL's previous 15 per cent stake buy in Vankor had given it 4.11 mt per annum of oil.
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Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 19:59 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406610c40c 1 National Surabaya-Mayor-Tri-Rismaharini,covid-19-surabaya,East-Java,COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia Free
Surabaya, the capital of East Java, continues to defy calls to reinstate large-scale restrictions (PSBB), which were officially lifted earlier this month, despite the continued increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city.
Home to some 2.8 million people, Indonesia's second largest city accounts for nearly half of East Java's more than 10,000 confirmed cases, emerging as a new epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak following a surge of new cases starting from the end of last month.
Despite the steady rise in cases, Surabaya and its satellites cities of Sidoarjo and Gresik, decided to lift their PSBB measures on June 8.
Instead, the local administration has shifted its focus to reopening a number of sectors to keep the economy afloat, insisting that the latest numbers reflected a downward trend in the number of coronavirus cases recorded in the region.
If we examine [the numbers], there has been a downward trend. Before, we used to [record] 200, 300 [new cases per day], but now it has gone down, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini said during an online discussion held by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Tuesday.
The city recorded its highest one-day spike in new confirmed cases on May 21, when it recorded 311 new cases, followed by a similar surge on May 23, with 310 new cases.
But while the number of new daily cases has not reached such highs since, Surabaya has still recorded an average of around 100 new cases per day over the past two weeks.
Read also: As COVID-19 transmission rate soars, Surabaya urged to restore restrictions
Epidemiologist Windhu Purnomo from Airlangga Universitys School of Public Health conveyed his skepticism over Rismas claims, saying the mayor had only accounted for the number of confirmed cases recorded among registered Surabaya residents.
I think [Rismas statement] is incorrect, because the trend has shown no signs of declining anytime soon, Windhu told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
He explained that other indicators of the outbreak such as the fatality rate, reproduction rate (Rt) and attack rate all showed the city was a high-risk zone, and that Surabaya residents remained highly vulnerable to infection, contrary to the mayors claim.
According to Windhu, Surabayas fatality rate currently stood at 7.8 percent, far higher than the national average of 5.6 percent, while the attack rate of COVID-19 in the region is 160, meaning that 160 in every 100,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19.
He said the city's Rt had fallen to 0.8 on June 17, which meant that one person infected with COVID-19 would spread the disease to less than one other person. If this Rt had been maintained, the outbreak in the city would have petered out, but it has since risen to above 1 again.
It seemed to be the light at the end of the tunnel if only we could have been more patient, Windhu said.
He urged the Surabaya administration to issue and enforce stringent regulations to control peoples movements in a bid to break the chain of infection, saying it had been far too early to lift the PSBB measures.
Read also: Surabaya mayor feuds with East Java governor over mobile PCR labs
Risma, however, seemed to indicate that she would not reimpose citywide restrictions, saying only that she would shut down individual traditional markets, shopping malls, or restaurants if visitors or vendors tested positive for COVID-19.
She added that instead of locking down entire villages to conduct tests on the population, the administration would now carry out tests on certain communities that were deemed most vulnerable to COVID-19 transmission, she said.
For instance, we have conducted mass testing on vendors and at restaurants around hospitals, Risma added.
She said the administration had also reopened a number of public spaces considered crucial to the local economy, with new health protocols in place to minimize the risk of virus transmission.
As of Tuesday, Surabaya had recorded 4,771 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 359 deaths, while East Java has reported 10,115 cases and 741 deaths.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two Northeast Ohio Congress members have introduced bipartisan legislation to help keep hospitals from financial insolvency after they were forced to drastically scale back non-coronavirus related services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The legislation from Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Bob Gibbs, introduced Monday, would forgive federal loans that hospitals and health care providers received during the crisis.
A statement from Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat, said that canceling elective procedures while ramping up ICU capacity has some of Americas hospitals on the brink of financial disaster. Her legislation would forgive loans they received earlier this year under the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments program.
Unfortunately, without further support, hospitals will face another financial crisis just months from now when the government begins to withhold Medicare payments for services provided after the pandemic and until the loans are repaid, said Kaptur. We cannot allow for any hospital to close or significantly scale back operations.
A statement from Gibbs, a Holmes County Republican, agreed that the financial crunch could have a dramatic, possibly devastating impact on hospitals ability to continue providing care to the communities they serve.
Without an option for loan forgiveness, we could see hospital closures around the country, leaving parts of the country without easy access to critical care. Gibbs statement continued.
The bills 40 additional cosponsors include all Ohios Democratic House members, as well as Republicans Anthony Gonzalez of Rocky River, Dave Joyce of Bainbridge Township, Mike Turner of Dayton, Troy Balderson of Zanesville, and Steve Stivers of Columbus.
Hospitals in Ohio got $3.8 billion from the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments program that Congress approved during the emergency. A statement from University Hospitals in support of the legislation said health systems all over the country incurred tremendous costs preparing for a surge in COVID-19 patients, while their revenue went down from suspending nonessential surgeries and procedures.
Cleveland-based University Hospitals estimates its increased pandemic-related costs for supplies, labor and operations exceeds $30 million, and it noted the American Hospital Association estimates health systems around the country are losing $1.4 billion daily. University Hospitals says it has done all it can to reduce capital and operating costs, including temporarily reducing physician pay. A statement from the hospital system called the COVID-19 Hospital Forgiveness Act critical legislation that would help UH and other health systems continue to advance the health and wellbeing of our communities during a pandemic with no immediate end in sight.
UH is grateful to have received advanced/accelerated Medicare payments from Health & Human Services, in effect loans, that helped us fund the cost of preparedness for the potential surge in critically ill COVID-19 patients, the statement said. This support as well as grants received through the federal stimulus program known as the CARES Act are very important, but arent nearly enough to close the significant shortfalls created by the pandemic.
The MetroHealth System also experienced a dramatic revenue decrease due to the coronavirus pandemic as elective surgeries and outpatient visits were drastically curtailed, according to a statement from its chief financial officer, Craig Richmond.
We are only now reactivating many of our services as we navigate an economy thats far different than anyone could have predicted when this year began, Richmonds statement said. The advance payments from Medicare have been a valuable financial cushion during the emergency, and forgiveness of these loans would be welcome relief to MetroHealth and other hospitals.
Last month, hundreds of hospitals around the country including UH, Akron-based Summa Health, Lake Health in Lake County, and Sisters of Charity Health System sent a letter to top congressional leaders warning that without loan forgiveness, hospitals will face another financial crisis when the government begins to withhold Medicare payments for services provided after the pandemic fades and until the loans are repaid.
Without substantially more financial support, it is nearly certain that many hospitals will be forced to close or significantly reduce health care services over the next several months and perhaps longer, the letter said. This would be a tragic consequence, especially if the nation is hit with another round of the viral epidemic later this year.
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The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has fired all aides attached to his deputy, Agboola Ajayi.
He took the decision on Tuesday following the defection of Mr Ajayi to the opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party. The spokesperson of the governor, Segun Ajiboye, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES.
The sacked aides are Olomu Bayo, special assistant, special duties; Allen Sowore, special assistant media; Olawale Mukaila, special assistant, photography, Babatope Okeowo, deputy chief press secretary; Samuel Ogunmusi, personal assistant, (deputy governor), Omotunmise Tokunbo, special assistant to the wife of the deputy governor; and Erifeyiwa Akinnugba, photography, wife of the deputy governor.
Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Okeowo, the spokesperson to Mr Ajayi said: he has fired all of us but the deputy governor reappointed all of us immediately. Nothing lost.
He told PREMIUM TIMES that all the aides remain loyal to Mr Ajayi.
On Saturday, Mr Ajayi was prevented from leaving the government house in Akure in an official vehicle by the states commissioner of police, Bolaji Salami.
Mr Salami said he recently caught wind of Mr Ajayis moves to defect from the APC to PDP, an action he said should render him unqualified for some official benefits.
In response, Mr Ajayi argued that he ought to enjoy the perks of office as an incumbent deputy governor. He said he used his personal funds to buy the Toyota Hilux truck from which he was being denied access.
The deputy governor had been at loggerheads with his party over the coming governorship election in the state before finally leaving the party on Sunday.
He, however, said he would not resign as deputy governor because he was elected on a joint ticket and would love to serve his people. Mr Ajayi has reportedly evacuated his personal belongings from the state government house.
He has also stopped sleeping at his official residence since Saturday when he travelled to his hometown in Apoi, Ese Odo Local Government Area.
READ ALSO:
Sources in the government house told PREMIUM TIMES that he has not returned since he left on Saturday night and this was confirmed by Mr Ajayis spokesperson, Tope Okeowo, who said his principal is running for his life.
He was welcomed to PDP by the national chairman, Uche Secondus, and other top officials on the opposition party on Monday.
For the first time in three months, New Yorkers will be able to eat at restaurants againbut only at tables outside.
New York City entered the second of four planned phases of reopening on Monday. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he considers the step the biggest in terms of economic importance.
In addition, people in New York City will be able to go to stores. They also will be able to get their hair cut and children can go to playgrounds. People also may begin to return to work.
Eighty-nine-year-old Larry Silverstein is pleased.
The developer of the World Trade Center leads Silverstein Properties. He returned to work on Monday along with about one-third of the companys workers. Fewer people in the office means they will be able to keep their distance. And everyone must wear face coverings to prevent the spread of the virus.
Silverstein was pleased to return to work because, he said, teamwork brings a joy, a fulfillment, such a sense of being able to function.
Some say the coronavirus makes office work more difficult or impossible, but Silverstein disagrees.
I went through 9/11. I remember people telling me we were never going to be able to get people to come back to lower Manhattan, he said.
He added that he believed New York would come back bigger and better than before.
But others are not so sure.
Alex Michaels may return to a retail job soon. He worries about coming in contact with the virus when working with the public.
Michaels, who is 30 years old, said he agrees returning to normal is important for the economy. But he worries there could be a high price to pay.
Eve Gonzalez works in the food industry. The 27-year-old has not returned to work. She believes it is too soon to relax restrictions.
Im dying to go out, but peoples health is more important, she said.
The new coronavirus is blamed for more than 22,000 deaths in New York City. Officials there say between 200 and 400 new infections are still reported every day.
A city opens up carefully
New Yorkers are now able to dine in outdoor eating areas. That is important for Melba Wilson. She has a restaurant in the Harlem neighborhood. She is also president of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, an industry group. She said, We talk about being physically distant, which is important, but being socially active is important, as well.
Retailers like Macys and Saks Fifth Avenue also are reopening with virus-safety measures. For now, face products will not be offered for trial in stores. And clothing that has been tried on will be held for 24 hours before it is returned for possible sale. Face coverings are required.
Kathy Hilt is an area vice president for Macys. She said the goal is to make people feel at ease and safe.
Many of the citys biggest corporations are still operating remotely. Only about five percent of Citis 13,300 bank employees in New York City are expected to come back to their offices on July 1, the Associated Press reports.
For many employees, work-from-home agreements remain in place. Companies are expected to carefully move forward with a return to work.
However, the city estimates that 150,000 to 300,000 people will have returned to their workplace on Monday.
William Rogers works in retail, like many others returning to their jobs this week. The 29-year-old said the last three months have not been easy.
A lot of us have gotten time to reflect on our own lives, Rogers said. Thats one blessing.
Im Mario Ritter, Jr.
Jennifer Peltz reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
________________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
phase n. a step in a process, one part of a series of related actions
function v. to work or operate correctly or in the required way
retail n. the business of selling things directly to people who buy and use them
relax v. to be at ease, to become less tense
remotely adv. from a distance, from a place that is not nearby
An expectant mothers 24-week sonogram revealed her twin baby girls showing their affection for each other in the womb, and the mom-to-be and her partner decided that the image was simply too cute not to share.
First-time mom Carissa Gill and her partner, Randy Good, of Croydon, Pennsylvania, had their 4-D week-24 ultrasound at Fetal Vision Imaging in nearby Levittown. The couple later described witnessing their unborn babies sharing a sweet sisterly lip-lock as beautiful to see.
Bella was kissing Callie on the cheek, and then they actually started kissing, Carissa told Today, adding that she planned to keep the image to show her daughters when they grow up.
If it just so happens that theyre fighting one day, she added, I can tell them, Remember when you were kissing in the womb!
Fetal Vision Imagings sonogram technician, John Hamburg, told The Huffington Post that in facilitating over 15,000 sonograms, he had never seen twins face to face, appearing to kiss. Usually, ones head is up and the other is down, he said.
Carissa and Randy posted their sonogram online, telling Fox News that they wanted to share their story with the world. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing to capture, especially when you get to see moments like this, said Carissa.
Identical twins Isabella Bella Rae and Callie James Good were born on June 27, 2017. Isabella, the new mom explained, means beautiful in Italian while Callie means beautiful in Greek.
On the occasion of the girls first birthday, Carissa paid tribute to their blossoming personalities in a heartfelt Facebook post. You both are so different yet are so similar, she wrote. Bella you are my wild child, my attention baby, the one who has to do it first every time Youre sassy, smart, funny, and too damn cute.
My Callie bear, my Callie bean! You are cuddly, mellow, calm, cute, loving, yet you surprise me every day, Carissa continued, you are now coming out of your shell and it is so amazing to see!
Just weeks before Carissa and Randys kissing twins sonogram went viral in 2017, another couple made headlines for a funny week-22 sonogram taken in Utah. Mackelle and Jared Ahlins unborn baby appeared to be making the rock on gesture with one of their tiny hands.
My husband was so excited, Mackelle told The Kansas City Star. His excitement just made me start giggling. The ultrasound lady probably wanted to kill me because I could not stop laughing.
Were not much of a rocker family, she added.
Reflecting on life with kissing twins Bella and Callie in a May 19, 2020, post on Facebook, Carissa confirmed that her toddlers are indeed growing up to be the best of friends. The doting mom described her girls as obsessed with playing princess dress-up together.
This age is so hard, the twins mom admitted, but it is so rewarding, I love seeing them do things that they love.
We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
From the very active western front in J&K with high-intensity anti-terrorist operations in the hinterland and the Line of Control (LoC), the security focus of the nation has shifted to Ladakh and the China-related front. We have been pursuing a policy of stabilising our relationship with China over the last many years with reasonable results. The economic benefits to both nations appeared a rational way forward although the trade relationship has been largely skewed in favour of China.
Doklam 2017 put a halt to the process of stabilisation temporarily but the same was revived through the informal summits at Wuhan and Mahabalipuram in 2018-19. Military stand-offs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have also been rife for some years, and the hot and cold in the relationship with China had come to be accepted as something both nations could yet live with. In May 2020, all this seems to have changed with a serious military stand-off at the LAC in Ladakh, leading to a higher level of military readiness all along the northern and eastern borders.
The recent incident in the Galwan Valley involving a major fracas between Indian and PLA troops led to bloodshed on both sides for the first time in 45 years. As tempers cool and heavy deployments continue, it is increasingly evident that besides just the Chinese connection to the Ladakh face-off, there is a serious Pakistan connect too. An understanding of this will assist in further appreciation of the situation in Ladakh.
There is no region better suited for Sino-Pak military collusion than Ladakh. Coordinated military operations from both can converge and this can seriously threaten Indias security in this area. On the political front, Indias declaration of intent to secure the areas of J&K under the occupation of Pakistan appears to have caused major concern in Islamabad.
The latter has been able to convince China of the potential Indian threat to their mutual interests in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan (GB), which are primarily about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a reasonably fragile communication artery leading from Xinjiang in China to the Indian Ocean port of Gwadar in Pakistan, along with connected projects. Indias greater political confidence in dealing with the J&K issue, as demonstrated by the decision to abrogate Article 370 in August 2019, is also leading to this consternation in the Sino-Pakistan sphere. Left at that, it is probably jointly appreciated by both that it will help boost Indian strategic confidence.
The strengthening Indo-US strategic partnership is also considered as a phenomenon that aids a scaled-up Indian confidence. Given the altered international strategic environment with the onset of the current pandemic, China views this as an opportunity to aggressively set the narrative for its domination in the post-pandemic world order. Intimidation and coercion of India are aimed at denting its strategic confidence, cautioning it in relation to its emerging partnerships with the US and its allies, and curtailing its ambitions that impinge on Chinas interests. The latter primarily relates to the GB region.
Pakistans potential role in trying to militarily intimidate India in Ladakh can be better understood from the military geography. Three fronts exist here: Kargil (with Pakistan), East Ladakh (with China) and the central Karakoram-Siachen-Shyok (KSS) area with Pakistan ranged against Siachen and China against the Karakoram. Some interest seems to have been generated in Pakistani strategic circles about the details of the military geography of the KSS area.
A deep study would suggest collusive interest in the Shyok Valley north of the Ladakh range to achieve three strategic gains. First is the intent to wrest control of Siachen, a perennial source of fresh water for the water-starved nation. Second is the broadening of the border with China with better terrain to facilitate communication. Third is the potential of opening another artery akin to the CPEC but in more stable terrain conditions, substantially adding to Chinas dependence on Pakistan.
All the above remain dreams for projection and intimidation to counter Indias strategic confidence. Both China and Pakistan have one quality in common in their war-fighting doctrines: the consistent employment of information warfare. This is what India should expect in considerable load in the near future. I consider the ongoing attempt at salami slicing by China in Ladakh as an experiment to assess how far India will go in its response strategy. It is imperative that this attempted bullying must be met squarely, even though ramping up deployment all along the northern and eastern borders is a highly expensive exercise, especially in Covid-19 times.
As a precursor to any intimate collusion in Ladakh, Pakistan may well have offered China the facilitation of a dual front; enhanced activities at the LoC and hinterland Kashmir would form part of this. India appears to have handled this well with successful operations paying good dividends. However symbolic, it is good to see rapid decision-making in the domain of military acquisition in the purchase of additional combat aircraft for the IAF. The same alacrity must be displayed in further ramping up of our capability and infrastructure. The Navy too must receive a higher budget as it is anticipated that stand-offs in the future would extend to the maritime domain. Indian diplomacy too must shut no doors.
We must continue to engage with China even as we attempt to hurt it economically to the extent we can. The Indian approach must adopt a position of strength with a clear projection that in localised border conflicts, it will be advantage India. A cooperative approach with the US and its allies must continue even as we retain strategic autonomy. The clear message which must emanate from New Delhi is that India is no pushover and it will go to any extent to secure its interests.
Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain
Former Commander, Srinagar-based 15 Corps. Now Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir
(atahasnain@gmail.com)
Chinese businesswoman finds success online after losing job in U.S. during COVID-19
After losing her job selling made-in-China wigs at a mall in the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Liu Qiang returned to China, where she became a live-streaming anchor.
By selling wigs to African Americans on AliExpress, a global online retail marketplace and part of Alibaba Group, the 28-year-old was able to earn up to $3,000 in just one hour.
Liu, from Xuchang city in central Chinas Henan province, a manufacturing centre for wigs, said she wants to be an influencer like Li Jiaqi, a young beauty blogger, who has 800,000 followers on Sina Weibo.
According to a Bloomberg report in May, AliExpress plans to cultivate 1 million foreign influencers and content creators.
China produces about 80 percent of the worlds wigs, which have become an essential product for foreign consumers. It is estimated that one wig is bought every two seconds on AliExpress, and revenues from wig sales can top 1 billion yuan.
However, the pandemic resulted in several orders placed by offline retailers in the U.S. being canceled.
But Liu found that the overseas demand for wigs was still great, with consumers taking to AliExpress in their droves to buy wigs. Statistics indicated that the sales of wigs to U.S. customers increased by 100 percent on the platform in April, even surpassing that of masks.
She also found that sales of wigs were boosted when she matched different wigs with the right clothes and makeup while doing live-streaming shows at home.
I served five to 10 customers each day when I was in the U.S. On AliExpress, a 2-hour live-streaming show could attract 75 clients from around the world, said Liu.
During one live-streaming session she hosted in late April, Liu earned nearly $3,000, a figure that was beyond her wildest dreams when she sold the products offline.
In fact, more influencers from home and abroad are exploring new opportunities through AliExpress.
AliExpress announced that next year, it will collaborate with governments, universities and streaming service providers to build 10 streaming bases targeting overseas customers.
Posted on: June 23, 2020 7:40 PM
Primates and bishops in joint call against environmental racism
Nine Anglican Communion Primates and a further 70 bishops including a number of former Primates have signed a joint letter drawing attention to environmental racism. In the open letter, organised by the Anglican Communion Environmental Network, the bishops highlight examples of where people of colour are disproportionately affected by the environmental crisis.
We call attention in particular to the impact of environmental racism on indigenous peoples decimated by the effects of colonisation, they said. Tribes of people were enslaved, and annihilated by harsh conditions and by diseases for which they had no immunity in the first decades of colonisation. Later indigenous groups such as the Taino in what is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic were replaced by enslaved peoples from Africa.
From the Gwichin in the Arctic Circle to the many tribes in the Amazon River Basin, indigenous people continue to be subjected to intense, sustained racism.
Unjust economic structures and extractive industries subject indigenous peoples and traditional Black communities to forced, violent removal from lands with which they have been integrally connected for centuries. Prominent indigenous leaders defenders of the land from tribes such as the Guarani in Brazil, have been murdered and tribes terrorised.
For example in Panama, the Guna and Embera were granted land rights under the Comarcas (Reservation). However, land grabbers non indigenous farmers seize this land for their own farms, leading to escalating levels of violence from house burnings to murders.
The letter draws attention to the refugee crisis much of it created by climate change; and adds: in Central America thousands of indigenous people have been made climate refugees. Upon reaching the United States, they are often subjected to double discrimination, firstly for being refugees and then as people whose first language is a tribal language rather than Spanish.
Pacific Islanders in places such as Tonga and Fiji face the destruction of their homes and cultures due to sea level rise.
Even in the midst of the wealthiest countries Black people bear the brunt of environmental racism. Dumpsites for toxic chemicals are situated near poorer Black communities. These communities become food deserts lacking both access to nutritious food and safe water.
The statement was released on 19 June (Friday) to coincide with what is known as Juneteenth in the US a day marking the legal end of slavery. You can read it in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese on the ACEN website: acen.anglicancommunion.org.
Bishop expresses shock and sadness over murder of policeman
The Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh has expressed his shock and sadness after a police detective, Colm Horkan, was murdered. Detective Garda Colm Horkan, an officer with the Irish police service, An Garda Siochana, was murdered with his own gun in Castlerea, County Roscommon on last Wednesday evening (17 June). A state funeral was held on Saturday in Charlestown.
The officer was shot several times with his own gun after it was taken off him by a suspect in Castlerea, County Roscommon. A 43-year-old man has been charged with murder and appeared in court on Friday (19 June).
I wish to express my sadness and shock at the killing of Detective Garda Colm Horkan whilst on duty . . . in Castlerea, Bishop Ferran Glenfield said. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his colleagues in An Garda Siochana.
UN webinar to explore young women of faith and their response to Covid-19
The Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations (ACOUN) is co-sponsoring a panel discussion on the role of young women of faith in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. The event, organised with UN Women and the spearheaded by the Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University in Washington DC, is headed Young Women of Faith and Transformative Leadership in COVID-19 Response.
Martine Dushime from the Anglican Church of Burundi, who was due to represent the Anglican Communion as part of an official delegation to the postponed UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) event in March, is on the panel, along with Naomi Woyengu, regional coordinator for the young women's leadership program in Asia and the Pacific for World YWCA; and Talia Kaplan, an organiser and educator studying for rabbinic ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. The panel will discuss their experiences with the former Deputy President of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who now serves as the Executive Director of UN Women.
The event will take place as an online Zoom webinar on 30 June 2020 from 9.30 am to 10.30 am EDT (1.30 pm to 2.30 pm GMT). Further details and an RSVP link are available on the Berkeley Centers website.
Ever since Scott Disick and Sofia Richie broke up, fans have been hoping for a reunion between Disick and his on-off girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian.
The couple split back in 2015 after nine years and three kids together. But they have remained close and still appear to have the chemistry that made fans fall in love with them years ago on Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
So far, they have not said anything about getting back together, but theyve done things that have convinced fans somethings going on. Kardashian was recently seen wearing a shirt that people say belongs to Disick. Then she posted a sweet note to him on Fathers Day, followed by Disick leaving a flirty comment on her social media.
Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian at a club in May 2015 | David Becker/WireImage
Scott Disick commented on a new picture of Kourtney Kardashian
Disicks comment came after Kardashian posted a photo of herself on Instagram on June 22. It shows her wearing knee-high boots and an oversized flannel with a white tank top and matching skirt underneath, along with the caption, DESERTed.
Disick was among the many people who commented on the photo, writing, cute shirt. Although it is short and simple, its the timing of the comment that has fans talking. As the dating rumors continue to spread, Disick and Kardashian have been keeping quiet.
RELATED: Scott Disick Caught Liking Photos of Him Kissing Kourtney Kardashian
Scott Disick is newly single
Disick split from Richie in May after spending some time in a Colorado rehab facility a month earlier for emotional issues, per People. E! News insiders said that Richie called it quits so Disick could focus on himself, but sources told Us Weekly that his alleged feelings for Kardashian contributed to the breakdown of the relationship.
Scott is always going to be in love with Kourtney, and thats something Sofia has had to face since even before she got serious with him, said the Us Weekly source. Its been an ongoing thing. It just became more apparent that his family was more of a priority than she was, and his family would be his main priority over anything and anyone.
The couple had been together for nearly three years before their breakup.
RELATED: Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disicks Kids Want Them to Get Back Together, Source Reveals
Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian have seemingly been hanging out more ever since
Sources also noted to E! News that Disick had started to lean on Kardashian while dealing with the issues that led to his rehab stint. Over Memorial Day weekend, he reportedly joined Kardashian and their kids Mason, 10, Penelope, 7, and Reign, 5 for a vacation to Utah and also jetted off with them in June to Wyoming.
Kourtney knows how to handle Scott She has really been there for him since his rehab exit, and has had a lot of sympathy towards him, said the insider.
But the source also noted that Disick and Richie could reconcile, so maybe we should all just take this with one big grain of salt until more information comes out. Well share updates as they become available.
Read more: An Update on Kylie Jenner and Travis Scotts Relationship Status After They Were Seen on a Dinner Date
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday once again sharpened his attack on the Centre over the India-China face off and questioned whether China occupied the Indian land.
"We stand united against the Chinese invasion. Has China occupied Indian land?" Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet. His remarks came ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting to discuss the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) situation in the country. The India-China border face off is also going to be discussed in the meeting.
On last Monday night, at least 20 Indian soldiers, including an officer were killed in an unprecedented attack by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops in Ladakh's Galwan valley. The former Congress chief has been critical of the government over the India-China face off and has continuously launched attack on the government.
On Monday, he attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Chinese media praising the Prime Minister. Citing news reports Rahul Gandhi,in a tweet said, "China killed our soldiers. China took our land. Then, why is China praising Mr Modi during this conflict?"
China killed our soldiers.
China took our land.
Then, why is China praising Mr Modi during this conflict? pic.twitter.com/iNV8c1cmal Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 22, 2020
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a statement on Monday also criticised the Centre and said, "The Prime Minister cannot allow them to use his words as a vindication of their position and must ensure that all organs of the government work together to tackle this crisis and prevent it from escalating further."
However, the Prime Minister's Office had clarified on Saturday and countered the opposition's attack, saying "attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation" to his remark at the All-Party Meeting held on Friday on Galwan standoff." The Prime Minister's Office said the PM had specifically emphasized that Indian forces now decisively counter any violations on the LAC (unhe rokte hain, unhe tokte hain) in contrast to the past neglect of such challenges.
A demonstrator wearing a pig mask in front of the headquarters of abattoir company Toennies in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck, Germany, as the company stopped production after hundreds of employees contracted coronavirus. (Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images)
After emerging in relatively energetic fashion from its national lockdown in May, Germany has imposed a further regional coronavirus lockdown in Gutersloh, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Tuesday in the wake of a large outbreak of COVID-19 at a meat-processing plant last week.
The infection of over 1,500 workers at the Toennies abattoir forced state premier Armin Laschet to announce a strict lockdown on the 100,000 residents of the district until the end of June.
The 7,000 abattoir workers have been ordered to quarantine in their homes, while restaurants, bars, and events will be closed to the rest of the districts inhabitants.
The outbreak, described by Laschet as the largest occurrence of infection in Germany, mirrors similar outbreaks during May and June at meat-processing plants in a number of European countries, including France, Spain, Ireland, and the UK.
Last week, a processing plant in West Yorkshire supplying supermarket giant Asda was forced to close temporarily after some 150 workers contracted the virus. The UKs biggest chicken supplier, 2 Sisters Food Group also announced it was closing its site in Anglesey for two weeks after more than 50 workers tested positive.
READ MORE: Economic rebound for Eurozone continues
The Gutersloh outbreak is the latest in a number of cases in abattoirs and meat-processing plants across Germany. After an outbreak a plant in the western town of Cosfeld in May, officials said that the squalid working conditions among the mostly Bulgarian and Romanian migrant workers, including cramped shared staff housing, likely accelerated the spread of the virus.
In Germany, the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the terrible working and living conditions of many migrant workers in meat plants, and sparked a debate about how the countrys addiction to cheap meat supports what has been described as modern slavery.
Workers in the German meat industry work very often through subcontractors, not for the slaughterhouses themselves, and the working conditions at these subcontractors are often very, very bad," Szabolcs Sepsi from migrant workers rights group DGB Fair Mobility told Euronews.
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The German government in May agreed to reform the meat industry, and ban the use of subcontractors from January 2021. This means the owners of meat-packing plants and slaughterhouses will have to directly hire their own workers, which will force them to take legal responsibility for them, rather than palming the responsibility off onto chains of sub-contractors.
READ MORE: UK car industry warns one in six jobs could be lost after pandemic
Experts say that nature of how the factory floors and plant lines are organised can cause the virus to spread more rapidly.
Tara Smith, professor of epidemiology at Kent State University in Ohio, told the BBC that when people are standing right next to each other working heavily because of course this is a difficult job and breathing heavily, you have a chance for spreading virus from just one infected individual to many that are in close proximity."
PARIS Nearly three decades into her career, the feminist French author and filmmaker Virginie Despentes still has a way of riling people up right across the political spectrum. While her views have long been unpalatable to social conservatives, her support for prostitution and pornography have gone a step too far for many on the left, too.
In early June, an open letter addressed to her white friends, in support of anti-racism protests in France, prompted some activists of color to accuse her of divisiveness. Some critics said that in adopting the language of structural racism and white privilege, Despentes was importing American ideas unsuited to describing Frances situation.
But Despentes doesnt mind the pushback. Ive been comparing it to the #MeToo movement. At the time, I wished more men would have spoken up, she said this month in an interview at her home in Paris. Criticism is normal.
If anyone has learned to weather public hostility, its Despentes. For years after her first novel, Rape Me, published in 1993 about two womens murderous road trip, few in the bourgeois world of French literature took her seriously. Her provocative stories made it easy to paint her as an untamable enfant terrible. In 2000, a movie adaptation of Rape Me, co-directed by Despentes, stirred a moral panic in France, where it was pulled from mainstream theaters days after its release. It remains banned in some countries, including Australia, for its explicit depiction of sexual violence.
Bengaluru: In order to support and boost Indias vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has installed an indigenously-developed Aviation Weather Monitoring System (AWMS) at its new runway.
The AWMS is indigenously developed by Bengaluru-based CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), at both ends of the new runway.
In association with the Ishan Metrological Department (IMD) the airport has installed four Dhristi transmissometers developed by NAL to measure the Runway Visibility Range (RVR).
With this, BLR Airport now has a total of six Made in India RVRs at both Runways.
The Drishti transmissometer is acclaimed for precise reporting, helping pilots with an accurate runway visual range.
The MD and CEO, BIAL Hari Marar stated that the technology will enable seamless operations at the airport.
North Runway closed for rehabilitation
The North Runway at the airport will be closed for rehabilitation, from June 22. The rehabilitation includes strengthening and resurfacing of the runway as well as installation of Runway centerline lights.
Once complete, these enhancements offer flexibility to operate both runways in low visibility and adverse weather conditions. The runway rehabilitation is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
All flight operations from BLR Airport during this period will be from the new South Runway, until completion of North Runway rehabilitation. Once the North Runway is operational, post rehabilitation, both runways will be utilised.
(Natural News) An investigation run by House Foreign Affairs Committee leader Representative Michael McCaul has revealed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is getting away with spreading all kinds of anti-American propaganda on social media even as conservatives are continually targeted with censorship.
What was discovered is that even the most stringent platforms are barely even trying to filter out Chinese misinformation, all the while silencing voices that oppose the LGBTQ indoctrination of innocent children, as one prominent example.
Twitter, as you might expect, was determined to be the worst when it comes to filtering out CCP propaganda and misinformation, including the unsubstantiated claim by Chinese officials that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) originated in the United States rather than in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Facebook is also guilty of letting CCP propaganda slide, even while it targets Trump campaign advertising that some left-wing extremists claim contains Nazi symbols. This double standard was fully unpacked as part of the investigation, exposing an unprecedented degree of corruption within the Silicon Valley cabal of social media corporations.
While all of the major social media platforms are guilty of this double standard, Twitter is both the worst and the most uncooperative when it comes to rectifying it. Congressional staffers who contributed to the investigation did not beat around the bush in describing Twitters blatant rejection of fairness, honesty and transparency.
Of all the companies we engaged with, Twitter is the platform most heavily abused by the CCP, the investigators revealed. Twitter only applied a factcheck label to the Tweet about the virus originating with the U.S. military after it had been on the platform for more than a month.
They are the most unwilling to do anything to stop the CCP from spreading harmful misinformation or provide transparency through labels that inform users they are viewing content from a state-funded or state-directed media outlet, they added.
Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks with commentator Laura Loomer about why the Big Tech monopoly over online speech must be defeated in order for America to be free:
According to Twitter, censoring the president is a top priority
To add insult to injury, Twitter indicated that the reason it censors President Trump instead of communist China is because the president is a prominent voice and a top priority. Communist China, on the other hand, is not really a concern for Twitter.
Twitters failure to maintain even an illusion of consistency and neutrality ultimately earned the platform a D- on the investigations final score card. YouTube earned a slightly higher C- grade because the Google-owned platform at least applies labels to known Chinese propaganda and government disinformation accounts.
At the same time, YouTube does not actively block communist officials and news outlets from the platform, nor does it remove associated questionable content. And at best, YouTube only applies labels to a fraction of the CCP propaganda that crosses its platform, hence the dismal C- rating.
Facebook earned the best score out of all the platforms, earning a C+ for its consistency in labeling propaganda as state-funded information. The propaganda outlets that get this label on Facebook include China Daily, Xinhua, and CGTN, all of which are leading purveyors of government-approved propaganda.
As for propaganda pertaining to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), according to the investigation report, Facebook does not currently plan to take down content flagged by the staff or take sufficient action to prevent the CCP from using Facebook to spread propaganda and lies about COVID-19.
To keep up with the latest news about online censorship, be sure to check out Censorship.news.
Sources for this article include:
ZeroHedge.com
NaturalNews.com
In a first, the Kerala government has issued an order to fund private firms for receiving weather updates and alerts about extreme climate changes, citing dissatisfaction with the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
In an order issued by the the state's Disaster Management Department on June 19, the government authorised a release of Rs 95 lakh to three private firms to use "ensemble predictions to improve extreme weather alert services in the State," reported The Hindu.
The order also stated that the solicited services would be part of a 1-year pilot project.
The three private companies that received funding from the state government are Skymet Private Ltd, Earth Networks and IBM Weather Company.
Following the 2019 floods, Kerala heightened its concerns about the state of extreme-weather preparedness in the state.
The government's fresh decision comes after an earlier order issued on April 30 where it reportedly said that it was dissatisfied with the IMD. The order stated that the weatherman had promised the state to ready 15 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) before the monsoon, however, no new AWS came up and the near-time data streaming remained minimum to nil.
The IMDs inability to provide services were the reason to solicit the services of "reputed" private weather firms, the letter added.
A senior official associated with the IMD reportedly said that the weatherman was unable to give in to the state governments requirement because of disagreements over the location of the AWS.
After Cyclone Ockhi claimed several lives in 2017, the IMD committed to installing 100 AWS, however, it could only be installed in lines with a pre-defined IMD protocol. The state government wanted the IMD to install AWS in a few places and it could not follow suit, said the official.
Skymet CEO Jatin Singh said that his company had already created an app called Kerala Rain to issue 15-day forecasts and "real time monitoring" for weather stations.
India wants China to bring down its massive build-up and for its troops to go back at least 10 kilometers in Galwan Valley
High-level military talks between India and China on Monday that went on for almost 11 hours. (AFP Photo)
New Delhi: At the high-level military talks between India and China on Monday that went on for almost 11 hours, India is understood to have demanded a timeline from the Chinese on their withdrawal from Galwan Valley and, specifically, restoring status quo in the Pangong Tso and Hot Springs.
The meeting on the ongoing stand-off at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh was held at Moldo, on the Chinese side of LAC, between Indian Armys 14 Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Harinder Singh and the Peoples Liberation Armys South Xinjiang Military Region commander, Maj. Gen. Liu Lin, began at 11:30 am and continued till late night.
Sources said that at the meeting, which was requested by the Chinese Army, India raised the issue of Chinas June 15 premeditated ambush despite agreeing on June 6 to disengage from the area. India demanded that status quo must be restored in Pangong Tso.
While the second high-level military talks between the top commanders of the two armies was underway across the LAC, there were reports that at an earlier meeting between the two armies, the Chinese had admitted that they had lost one commanding officer during the June 15 clash.
In New Delhi, meanwhile, a day after India changed the no-shooting rules and gave its forces full freedom to respond adequately at the LAC, in New Delhi, top commanders of the Indian Army from all over the country began a two-day conference on Monday under Army Chief General M.M. Naravane to discuss the operational situation.
The Army Chief will again visit Ladakh this week to review the military preparedness.
India wants China to bring down its massive build-up and for its troops to go back at least 10 kilometers in Galwan Valley where 20 soldiers, including 16 Bihars Commanding Officer Colonel Santosh Babu, were killed during a violent clash with the Chinese soldiers on June 15.
The sticking point seems to be Pangong Tso where Chinese have brought in a large number of soldiers and have built bunkers and structures around finger 4 area. At Pangong Tso Indian troops have been patrolling till finger 8.
Amid mounting complaints about conditions inside South Florida immigration detention facilities during the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. immigration officials told a Miami federal judge that they have secured funding for more sanitizing supplies and that new procedures are in place to document their efforts to stop the virus from spreading.
The sworn statements by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed late Monday are part of an ongoing federal lawsuit filed on April 13 seeking the release of detainees from the Krome Processing Center in Miami-Dade, the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach and the Glades County detention center in Moore Haven.
In the documents submitted in response to scathing grievances filed by detainees and their lawyers last week ICE told the court that the agency is aware of the claims that detainees who test positive for COVID-19 are being mixed with those who have not been tested, along with complaints about lack of masks and the inconsistent usage of them, no social distancing, inadequate soap and hand sanitizer supplies and lack of coronavirus education.
Though ICEs 22-page submission did not deny the allegations, the agency told U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke that the government has moved to get money for hand sanitizer dispensers and cleaning products.
ICE also said it has developed seating charts for its vans and buses to maximize social distancing while transporting ICE detainees, as well as a mask receipt system; the agency said it also posted wash your hands signs in bathrooms and common areas.
Educational signage posted inside a Glades detention center restroom.
I am aware that some detainees have alleged that they are not provided masks, or that staff at Krome or Glades have not worn their masks while in contact with detainees, said Liana J. Castano, ICEs Miami assistant field office director. In order to document this practice, Krome staff have created a mask issuance receipt for incoming detainees and require that the detainee sign for the mask upon intake and transfers.
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Castano said she is also aware of allegations that the soap dispensers are not refilled with sufficient speed at Glades and Krome, and that hand sanitizer is unavailable at Glades. At Krome, Purell Hand Sanitizer dispensers have been installed in all housing units, she said. ICE has approved funding for the procurement of hand sanitizer dispensers and product at Glades.
On Tuesday, the six national immigration law firms representing the South Florida detainees called ICEs 22-page declaration skeletal.
In short, ICE has offered no briefing and Ms. Castanos declaration does not respond to the core testimony, which shows ICEs persistent failure to take the steps needed to protect the people in its care from COVID-19, they told the judge, noting that the agency failed to address various sworn statements by sick detainees, including testimonies from people who say they were transferred to Krome, and then transferred back to Glades in uncomfortable and crammed conditions to be tested for COVID-19.
Ultimately, all of the detainees who were transferred tested positive and returned to the same dormitory they originally left from, alongside people who have never been tested for COVID-19, the attorneys said.
Immigration lawyers complained to the judge that Ms. Castano does not address this incident at all. Nor does she address the testimony of [six others citing] similar circumstances of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 being placed in housing with people who have not tested positive in direct violation of this Courts June 6 Order.
ICEs response said the agency follows federal guidelines and that there are currently no detainees being quarantined.
Pursuant to the CDC Interim Guidance on Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019, Glades quarantined entire housing units due to contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, ICE wrote. During this time, no new individuals were added to the group. The entire group was monitored and assessed by medical staff twice a day for COVID-19 symptoms. All symptomatic detainees were tested for COVID-19.
On June 6, Cooke issued an order banning ICE from mixing people who have COVID-19 with people who have not tested positive. She also ruled that ICE could transfer detainees only for immediately necessary medical appointments and release from custody.
During the three months of litigation, detainees have written to a magistrate judge Cooke assigned to the case, Jonathan Goodman, telling him what its been like being detained during a global health crisis. Late Monday, Goodman submitted to Cooke 198 pages of handwritten notes addressed to him personally by detainees.
Rodney London was one of them.
On June 10, London told Goodman he hasnt been able to speak to his deportation officer because their union would not allow them to come to work here because of the pandemic.
So if they do not want to be here, or not allowed to come, why on earth should we be detained here, our lives matter just as much as the next person, London wrote in black ink.
A letter written by ICE detainee Rodney London.
This shows a total disregard for our safety and well being, and should not be the way human beings act especially not during this COVID-19 pandemic. No one should be forgotten or left to die at any facility in the United States of America, especially now.
On May 17, detainee James Bishop told the court that guards and ICE officials lied about sanitizing beds sick people slept on and that they also ignored deliberately the symptoms we suffer from the covid19 pandemic.
We requested to be released and [guards] and ICE officers beat us, Bishop said.
In a letter signed by about 100 detainees on April 16, detainees told Goodman to please come see us immediately or send investigators because we were served spoiled food, were starving, bathrooms are bad, violations of rights beds are two feet apart and not six feet apart.
We may die and are afraid, the collective handwritten statement said.
The next court hearing on the subject is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. via Zoom.
United States Stands with Canada Against China's Arbitrary Detention of Canadian Citizens
Press Statement
Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State
June 22, 2020
The United States is extremely concerned by the People's Republic of China's (PRC) decision to proceed with formal charges against Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. These charges are politically motivated and completely groundless. The United States stands with Canada in calling on Beijing for the immediate release of the two men and rejects the use of these unjustified detentions to coerce Canada. Additionally, we echo Canada's call for immediate consular access to its two citizens, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, as China has prohibited such access for almost six months, and the world has no knowledge of the two Canadians' condition.
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India has asked Pakistan to reduce the staff in its Delhi high commission by half within seven days, accusing officials there of espionage. In a reciprocal move India will also scale down its own high commission in Islamabad by the same proportion.
The Indian ministry of external affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Tuesday that the charge daffaires of Pakistan had been summoned, and reminded that India had repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of the neighbouring governments officials.
They have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations, the MEA claimed. The activities of the two officials caught red-handed and expelled on 31 May 2020 was one example in that regard.
Both high commissions currently have 105 staff members.
Recent weeks have seen back-and-forth diplomatic expulsions by the two sides. India expelled two Pakistani officials last month on charges of espionage, declaring them persona non grata and ordering them to leave within 24 hours.
And last week, police in Islamabad detained two Indian high commission staffers over a hit-and-run traffic incident, but they were released following intervention from Pakistans foreign ministry. The two staffers reached India via the Wagah border crossing on Monday.
Indias MEA accused Pakistan of engaging in a sustained campaign to intimidate the officials of the Indian high commission in Islamabad from carrying on their legitimate diplomatic functions, and claimed the pair had been subjected to barbaric treatment.
The MEA further claimed that the behaviour of Pakistan and its officials did not conform to the Vienna Convention and bilateral agreements on the treatment of diplomatic and consular officials. On the contrary, it said it was an intrinsic element of a larger policy of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism.
Pakistans foreign ministry rejected and strongly condemned what it termed the baseless allegations made by the Indian MEA. In a statement it said the Indian charge daffaires in Islamabad had been summoned so officials could convey Pakistans anger. Officials also outlined Pakistans decision to reduce the Indian high commissions staff strength by 50 per cent in retaliation, giving the charge daffairs seven days to implement it.
The foreign ministry dismissed claims it had violated the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, and also rejected the suggestion it had intimidated Indias diplomats in Islamabad. The Indian governments smear campaign against Pakistan cannot obfuscate the illegal activities in which the Indian high commission officials were found involved in, it said. The MEAs statement is another effort to distort facts and deny the culpability of these Indian high commission officials in criminal offences.
Indias latest action was a merely an attempt to divert attention from human rights violations in Kashmir, the foreign ministry continued. India would be better advised to focus on its internal and external issues, rather than creating diversions at the cost of peace and stability in south Asia, its statement read.
World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty
The disagreement rumbles on as Narendra Modi faces criticism from opposition leaders, diplomats and former generals over his handling of relations with China, following the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in a border skirmish.
Such is the reaction of Indians that the coronavirus crisis has been overshadowed by the Gulwan incident. China humiliated India in 1962 during a brief border war.
Former Pakistani diplomat Aqil Nadeem told The Independent that both countries had in the past accused each others staffers of indulging in espionage.
In my opinion the decision itself and the timing of the decision is more to calm down Indians sentiments vis-a-vis the Indo-China situation. Pakistan is and always has been a saleable commodity in India. And this decision is to show the Indian people a strong and decisive Indian government.
Nineteen years ago, following the attack on Indian parliament in December 2001, India fully withdrew its high commissioner from Islamabad and asked Pakistan to recall its high commissioner from Delhi.
CADIZ CITY, Philippines - The girl, her long hair in a ponytail, stepped into the cramped, dimly lit courtroom, her first time in such a place. Clinging to her mother, she scanned the dozens of faces assembled before her. The girl, then 5 years old, eventually pointed to a bald man in a striped shirt, his spectacles resting on his head.
She appeared nervous and did not speak his name.
Her slight gesture in September - identifying the Rev. Aron Buenacosa as the man who sexually assaulted her - began the rare trial in the Philippines of a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Her case, in this quiet village on a central Philippine island, will also test Pope Francis's pledge of an "all-out battle" to confront sexual abuse in all corners of the Catholic world.
The historical reckoning over abuse and coverups has gripped the church in the West for decades. But far fewer public cases have come from other parts of the Catholic world, including Africa, Asia and the pontiff's homeland in Latin America.
In some cases, the reasons are institutional: legal systems not built to handle abuse cases, the traditional role of church leaders in politics, and prosecutors unwilling to go against the powers of the church.
How the Vatican deals with new allegations of abuse from these regions could define Francis's papacy and reflect on his acknowledgment that the church has unfinished business in dealing with its scandals.
The trial in the Philippines - Asia's largest Catholic-majority country - is such a moment.
About 8 in 10 Filipinos are Catholic, and the faith permeates every facet of life in the country, from education to state affairs. Politicians have historically relied on religious leaders for endorsements, made a show of piousness during campaigns and shied away from subjects such as abortion for fear of angering the faithful.
Alleged abuse by Philippine priests has been documented for more than a generation, but it has gone largely unpunished. People making abuse claims against Catholic priests have to battle against bureaucracy, corruption in government agencies and a severely backlogged court system.
Only a handful of cases come to court trials, and even when priests admit wrongdoing, the system still leans in their favor. No priest has been convicted of child abuse or other sexual misconduct.
The hearings in the Buenacosa case were to have wrapped up by this summer, but the coronavirus pandemic has pushed the proceedings back. Across the country, courts have scaled back operations and hearings have been suspended. The presentation of the next prosecution witness in the Buenacosa trial has been postponed indefinitely. Defense witnesses also have yet to take the stand.
Even on hold, the proceedings in Cadiz City mark a powerful inflection point in the Philippines.
The court has heard the girl's testimony and the evidence, including medical reports. The local bishop has temporarily sidelined the alleged abuser from his parish, surrounded by sugar-cane fields, where around 650 people fill the pews for Sunday Mass.
The trial has also come at an exceptional time in the relationship between the church and Philippine leadership.
President Rodrigo Duterte - who, unlike every president before him, says he owes no favors to the church - has tasked his Justice Department with supervising the prosecution, a highly unusual move in the Philippine justice system, where most cases are handled solely by local prosecutors.
Since taking office in 2016, Duterte has denounced local bishops for standing up to his policies, including a war on drugs that rights groups and international investigators have asserted is rife with extrajudicial killings and other abuses. Duterte, who says he himself was sexually abused by a priest, has called bishops "sons of bitches" and "useless fools" who should be "killed."
But critics wonder if even Duterte's clout can match that of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.
"The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear about these cases is, what would be the name of the church official who is going to protect this man?" said Michal Gatchalian, a lawyer who says he and others in his church were victims of clerical sexual abuse in the 1990s. He took his case all the way to the Philippine Supreme Court, but the alleged abuser was acquitted.
"There will always be that bishop, or that monsignor, who will take the heat [and] who would say, 'I'm doing this to save the church,' " he added.
Philippine priests say cases such as the one against Buenacosa weaken their ability to be a moral voice.
"It must really wake us up to do what must be done," said the Rev. Robert Reyes, an activist priest. "Not only because we need to protect ourselves, no, but because we have a responsibility to God, to the church and to the people we serve."
The Washington Post has spoken to the family of the alleged victim multiple times over the phone and in person since the claims of abuse were reported in February 2019. The girl's mother and father agreed to speak to The Post using their nicknames, Bem and Nonoy, respectively, to protect their privacy and the child's identity.
Buenacosa, contacted multiple times through his lawyers and the bishop in charge of his diocese, declined to comment, citing the ongoing criminal proceedings. He has pleaded not guilty.
In his affidavit, the priest said he had been facing "death threats and malicious messages" for years. In the document, seen by The Post, Buenacosa did not explicitly acknowledge the allegations against him, but he maintained that he has been behaving in line "with the ideals and teachings of the Catholic Church."
His supporters believe that the family is acting on a grudge against the priest and has malicious intent.
Chapter I
The 27-year-old mother's new job - assistant secretary for St. Joseph the Worker Parish - came, she thought, with a perk: Her young child could be by her side. When Bem started in January 2019, her daughter, then 4, had been attending informal morning preschool within the compound for several months.
Once dismissed at 10 a.m., the girl would sit with Bem in the parish office, entertaining herself on her mother's cellphone.
Bem and her husband, Nonoy, knew Buenacosa well. He had baptized their child and had been a fixture in Cadiz City since 2014, after rotations in several churches across the province. It was his first designation as a full-time parish priest, for a six-year term, after three shorter assignments.
The child's kindergarten teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisals in the community, said Buenacosa took a liking to the girl.
He would frequently ask to "borrow" her, the mother said, taking the girl up to his room and emerging later with chocolate and candy. The child's aunt had noticed her sobbing several times after encounters with the priest, according to a sworn statement sent to the court, and the child was sometimes "hesitant" to go near him.
In a joint affidavit, Chona Belera and Vilma Reyes, who served as a parish secretary and cook, respectively, said they noted that Buenacosa was fond of children, often playing and joking with them.
Some of their testimony took on a darker tone.
"Whenever Father Aron sees [the girl] in the office sitting with her crotch exposed, Father Aron would correct [her] and admonish her to sit properly," said their affidavit, which was submitted in defense of Buenacosa. When the girl did not immediately change her position, the priest "would ask us to give him a pair of scissors and threaten" to cut the girl's crotch, the affidavit said.
On Feb. 22, 2019, Bem had just finished giving her child a bath when she noticed what she said was a "gap" in her daughter's genitals.
She asked the child if anyone had been touching her. But Bem was already crying.
Bem asked her daughter again, reassuring her when she said she was too afraid to speak. The girl eventually spoke the name of the parish priest.
"It felt like I was going to faint," Bem recalled in an interview with The Post, as her daughter sat at her feet playing with gemstone-shaped stickers. "Like my heart was going to explode."
"He would always tease her. I thought it was just teasing," Bem said, remembering how frequently her daughter would cry around Buenacosa. "It turned out, it was like he was telling her not to speak."
At a trial hearing in late January, Buenacosa's defense attorney brought up the mother's concern that Buenacosa had bitten children, including her daughter, in the buttocks. The defense asked if the mother saw that it was "done in the spirit of fun" and was "his way of teasing the children." She replied, "I don't know his purpose."
Chapter II
Bem couldn't sleep that night, afraid to tell even her husband of the allegations made by their only child. At daybreak, she went to work and approached some of the parish staff in anguish.
Then, according to court documents and witnesses, she took her case directly to Buenacosa, who had just returned from a funeral Mass. He denied the accusations, and then knelt before the child, addressing her directly.
The child did not answer - she simply trembled and cried - while Bem grew angrier, according to her testimony at a recent court hearing.
Bert Mansueto, the chief inspector of the Philippine National Police in Cadiz City, learned of the confrontation from a police officer who attended the Mass. Police officers were "immediately" sent to the church, he said, where they heard Buenacosa urging Bem not to press charges.
Police interviewed Bem and her daughter, using government social workers as intermediaries for the minor. In two statements, the child alleged a pattern of abuse, in the bathroom and Buenacosa's private quarters: The priest would allegedly touch and kiss her private parts.
According to a transcript, the social worker asked the girl how many times this happened. She showed her 10 fingers and her teeth, gestures that police and the city prosecutor interpreted as the girl trying to indicate many incidents.
"She was consistent," Mansueto said. His office opened an investigation that day.
The child was brought before a medical examiner at the city's health office on the same day. The doctor, who specializes in gynecology, noted a gap in the area between the labia, a clear deviation from what should be seen in a child of that age.
Bem took the examiner's handwritten note to a nurse for it to be transcribed. The nurse typed that the medical examiner found "no vaginal discharges" and "no lacerations" - but omitted the abnormality.
"I said to them, 'Why did you write that? There's something missing,' " Bem recalled. "They said, 'Those were the results.' "
"They thought I didn't know how to read," Bem added. "It's a good thing I studied."
The nurse eventually entered the findings exactly as written by the medical examiner, Bem and the chief inspector of police said.
"That is the one piece of evidence that is very significant in this case," Mansueto said. "We almost couldn't pursue the case without it."
Chapter III
Gerardo Alminaza, the bishop of the San Carlos Diocese, was attending a friend's birthday party when he received a call from one of the almost four dozen parish priests he oversees.
It was Buenacosa. It was Feb. 23, 2019, a Saturday.
It was the first such case Alminaza had faced in his time as bishop. But, trained in the protocol, he rattled off a series of instructions. He told the distressed priest to celebrate a last Mass that Sunday. After that, Alminaza would relieve Buenacosa of his duties and dispatch another priest to take his place.
"I relieved him from the parish, not because we consider him guilty right away, because everyone has the right to due process," the bishop said in an interview. "At the same time, we cannot take lightly the accusation, especially because it involves a [then] 4-year-old."
Alminaza called an emergency meeting of priests in his diocese, who were rattled by the severity of the accusations. Buenacosa dialed in and protested his innocence over speakerphone before the clergymen.
Stressing the need for adherence to protocol and due process, Alminaza began his own investigation, in line with new Vatican rules that compel officials to report cases of alleged clergy sexual abuse.
Alminaza has provided periodic updates on the case to the Vatican. He is also setting up an office where people can report suspected cases of abuse, something that will become mandatory for every diocese worldwide in June.
"I have no doubt of the seriousness of Pope Francis and the people who are helping him [on clergy sexual abuse]," Alminaza said. "Because who wants to have child abuse happening in your community? It is really something abhorrent."
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the priest has been "subjected to cautionary measures, in order to prevent any contact with minors."
"As in other similar cases," Bruni added, "the local bishop may be waiting for the outcome of the civil procedure in order to acquire information that may assist" in any action by the church.
Buenacosa now lives in the diocese quarters, about three hours from Cadiz City, with Alminaza and other clergy and staff. The bishop says he is committed to impartiality and is advocating for everyone involved.
"What is at stake here? The life of a 4-year-old and her family, who is very much wounded and hurt," Alminaza said. "And, on the other hand, the future ministry of our priest, as well."
This is not the first time the bishop has counseled Buenacosa on alleged improper behavior. Faced with gossip that he had girlfriends, Buenacosa opened up to the bishop on challenges in his vocation, Alminaza said. None of the gossip involved children.
At the diocese quarters, Buenacosa keeps his room tidy and largely keeps to himself.
Chapter IV
In March 2019, roughly two weeks after the case was first reported, Duterte was due in Negros Occidental - the province where Cadiz City is located - for a midterm election campaign stop.
The night before Duterte's visit, Bem and Nonoy stayed up, praying for a chance to meet him and ask for his help. They could not afford a private lawyer - Buenacosa has two, including a canon lawyer - and they knew they were up against a formidable institution.
"We had nothing to lose if we went up to him," said Nonoy, 32.
They set off at 6 a.m. with a typewritten letter, their affidavit and their daughter, going from one town to another. When they reached the venue of a campaign rally with tens of thousands of attendees, they spoke to any security official who would listen to their story. Moved by the documents, Duterte's staff acquiesced.
They finally met the president around midnight, about 18 hours after setting off. He launched a few curses at the church, then "told us not to worry," Nonoy said. "He would help us."
The couple said they met Duterte twice more, when he invited them to an all-expense-paid trip to his hometown, Davao City. The family saw the sights and parks, and by the end of their trip, their daughter did not want to leave.
"We were hopeless," Nonoy said. "Maybe if we didn't get to [Duterte], we would have given up."
"He lifted our spirits," Nonoy added.
Chapter V
As Bem and Nonoy pursued their legal case, many of their friends, neighbors and colleagues started lining up behind Buenacosa.
They say parish staff who initially expressed horror at the accusations suddenly offered affidavits in his defense. At Bem's cross-examination in January, the family was alone with their assigned lawyer, while Buenacosa was surrounded by a half-dozen supporters and his legal team.
They want "to shame Father, embarrass him, drive him out of here," said Susan Magno, the volunteer worship coordinator. "Father would never do that."
Buenacosa's former teachers have expressed surprise at the allegations.
"The allegations are very inconsistent with the type of human being and the kind of seminarian that I knew," said Louie Cartagenas, his former rector at San Carlos Seminary.
In their tiny community, the parents have become pariahs. They can no longer take their daughter out to play. Invitations to birthday parties have dried up. Buenacosa's successor, the Rev. Winly Guadalupe, said he has urged parishioners "not to say hurtful things anymore about the family of the victim."
The parents scrape together what they can for their daughter's therapy in the city of Bacolod, about a two-hour ride away.
Although they say she is otherwise coping well, the girl was initially afraid of being left alone, and no longer wants to be around bald men.
"She doesn't think like a child anymore," Bem said of her now 6-year-old. "It's like she aged faster."
The trial against Buenacosa began in September, and the girl was first to testify - a highly unusual move, according to lawyers and children's rights experts.
She spoke privately in the judge's chambers, with her mother and a social worker at her side. The only other people present were the prosecutor, the defense lawyer and a stenographer. Court officials declined to make those transcripts available to The Post. The prosecution and defense also declined to provide the transcripts from that testimony, or other court hearings, citing judge's orders and the involvement of a minor.
Bem and Nonoy complain that they were not made aware of court dates or the cancellation of hearings on several occasions. They say they have grown frustrated.
They know, too, that trials in the Philippines can drag on. They've now abandoned hopes of getting advice from private lawyers, citing costs.
The parents say they draw strength from their child, who has grown more resolute. They were especially moved when, on a trip to the city of Cebu, their daughter knelt before the Santo Nino, a statue of the child Jesus in one of the country's most popular Catholic churches, and uttered a prayer out loud, "Lord, please help us jail Father, so he won't end up pricking other children."
"As long as we have guidance from God, we'll get justice for our daughter," Bem said. "It is God who gives justice."
- - -
The Washington Post's Chico Harlan in Rome contributed to this report.
It was a sunny morning in the neighbourhood as I set out for my COVID-19 test. I didnt think it was necessary but as my doctor had said on the phone, were still early in the process of learning about symptoms and their significance.
My symptoms were lung congestion to the point that they felt like pontoons, hard and tough to inflate. I felt it was simply an allergy that had meanly chosen the pandemic for its appearance. But I know that much of the news I read is American rather than Canadian and elsewhere.
That means reading about a country where face masks are for feebs, the pandemic is a deep state plot, and a COVID-19 test is a big deal. If you line up for one in your car, they can turn you away with a sneer and say you dont deserve to be tested. Then they shoot you if you dont drive away fast enough. Or they just shoot you.
In the same way, I wrote an anodyne column about the great outdoors and a reader Ill call Birdie excoriated me in that who do you think you are? Canadian way for wearing a N95 and latex gloves. It wasnt just unnecessary, I was stealing masks from doctors! I dont know if Birdie was female or male, so this was either mansplaining or karening.
Ive been wearing the same N95 since February and I doubt any doctor would want it now. And yes, wear gloves when you use an ATM they throb and glow with coronavirus, I imagine and then do that neat glove-unpeeling trick and throw them in a public garbage bin.
But I am Canadian and feel guilty about things I havent even done. The people at the COVID-19 test centre, built of plywood just north of the doors of Mount Sinai Hospital on University Ave., dismissed this. They were friendly, even happy to see me, and the fine woman at the plastic door gave me a fresh face mask and called me love. She called everyone love. She became my love too.
You sit in a plastic and plywood corridor, distanced from other silent, masked people, and wait to be called. The women who took down my information were kindness itself. Since I rarely talk to actual humans now, I am chatty and they, talking to actual humans each and every morning, were also chatty. The circle of love grew larger.
I also love the nurse who stabbed my brain with a nasal swab because she did it very fast and didnt laugh when I made peculiar honking noises after to cope with the shock, which was electric.
The phone call came early next morning, negative as expected. I loved the young man who told me so kindly and cheerfully he must dread his job, regularly making people cry and so the circle of love is complete.
On the subway home, there were 10 people in the car, all masked except for four men. We were distanced. One man stood in the middle of the car for the whole trip, unmoving. I see now that he was emphatically not sitting on a seat possibly soaked in COVID-19 or touching a pole greasy with the wily virus.
But he was not wearing a mask. I considered offering him one but in the American news, people are always being punched in the face for insulting a manly mans rugged individualism so perhaps not. Or perhaps he was covered in Jesuss blood, like that unfortunate hyper-religious Ohio woman who felt herself fully exempt from COVID.
Wear a mask.
If there is one thing for which I fault three levels of government in Canada, its the failure to make masking mandatory. We are seeing good evidence from other countries that when everyone is told to wear a mask, there is a huge drop in infections.
I never thought I had the coronavirus in me but the knowledge that I surely dont has given me new energy. Masked, I shall wander about the city looking for Lysol wipes, happy in the knowledge that for a day or two, I was covered in the blood of Jesus, which is, one assumes, COVID-free.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 15:41:58|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The consensuses reached between China and the European Union (EU) at their virtual meeting Monday will significantly contribute to the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, experts worldwide have said.
Underlining Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at the meeting that China and the EU are not rivals, but partners, Sylwester Szafarz, former consul general of Poland in the Chinese city of Shanghai, said the meeting's outcomes can be a powerful stimulus to the world recovery, for example in the field of people-to-people cooperation and new technologies.
Szafarz said that China and the EU already have a rich heritage of cooperation in all key areas, which is a valuable and solid foundation for the promotion of their ties in the future.
"China and the EU will be a guarantee of the reconstruction and rebirth of our entire civilization, ensuring peace, strengthening security, developing win-win cooperation and building a better tomorrow for the whole world," Szafarz added.
Wilson Lee Flores, a columnist of The Philippine Star newspaper, said the meeting, the first official one between Chinese leaders and the new EU leaders, is very important for the world economic recovery and efforts to overcome the pandemic.
Cooperation between China and the EU that in total account for one third of the world's gross domestic product (GDP) can be dynamic catalysts of robust world trade and economic growth at this critical moment, he said.
He suggested that the two sides step up cooperation in vaccine and drug development and enhance support for the World Health Organization, among other measures, to jointly combat the pandemic.
During the 22nd China-EU leaders' meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the two sides are committed to concluding the China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement in 2020 and reaching a comprehensive, balanced and high-level agreement.
For Berthold Kuhn, an expert on sustainable development with the Free University of Berlin and senior advisor to the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute, the agreement is of key importance for both sides, as China is shifting from an export-led to a domestic demand-driven growth model, which offers new opportunities for the EU and China.
In order to boost global economic recovery, Kuhn said that China could make efforts to support the European Green Deal, a roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable, and the EU could support the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
Spanish economist and former member of the Spanish parliament Ramon Tamames said that the good relationship between China and the EU is better embodied amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noting that "the two sides must reconsider a free trade agreement so as to inject flexibility into bilateral trade," Tamames expressed his positive attitude towards European leaders' capability to seize the vital opportunity for cooperation.
"The stalled world economy could restart from the trade between China and the EU," he said. Enditem
The violent skirmishes between India and China in eastern Ladakh have been disturbing. Some of the reactions from Indian leaders have also been disturbing. In a civilian democracy, where the armed forces operate under the direction of the political leadership, to announce as the prime minister and defence minister have done, that the forces have been given complete freedom to take necessary action is an abdication of political responsibility and opens the door to future crises in the India-China relations and in other possible conflict situations.
It is also not fair to thrust this responsibility on to the armed forces. Matters relating to war and peace are for the political leadership to decide on. Yes, once the leadership has decided that a military riposte is called for to counter a serious threat to the nations security, the armed forces must be given discretion in operational matters. They must act to defend our borders, but while actions at the local level and of limited scale and duration may be handled and resolved by them, any incident that goes beyond a certain threshold, with larger political and security implications, must be subject to careful assessment within the national security system and the political leadership before a military response is considered.
The possibility of escalation is not just a military matter. It could have much wider ramifications, particularly if the adversary is a nuclear weapon-state just as India is. Such serious incidents cannot just be handled at the local, on-the-spot military level. The diplomatic machinery must be activated without delay and in serious instances, such as the Doklam face-off in 2017, a summit-level intervention, even, may be necessary.
We have as many as four bilateral agreements with China on maintaining peace and tranquillity at the India-China border. These were concluded in 1993, 1996, 2005 and 2013, over a period of 20 years. These are valuable agreements with important provisions to ensure peace and tranquillity, and should not be unilaterally jettisoned or altered in an angry reaction to what happened in the Galwan Valley. They have, by and large, kept the peace at Indias borders for the past several decades. That is an important achievement which should not be minimised.
The use of arms by Indian forces when engaging with Chinese counterparts will inevitably lead to similar action by the latter. If we give the countrys security forces the discretion to use firearms in an angry encounter, a bloodbath much worse than that which took place at Galwan could ensue. The consequences of such an incident would not just be military. It would reverberate right up the domestic political and diplomatic space. Indias effort should be to ensure that China remains committed to these important agreements and see how they can be strengthened.
Even in the present case, it is not clear why the skirmishes which took place at various points were not raised to the diplomatic and higher political level. The series of incidents at multiple points and the earlier violence witnessed at the Pangong Lake area should have been a warning enough that the country was dealing with a new situation on the border. As a result of the violence in some of these encounters, we should have been aware of heightened emotions and anger among the Indian forces as also among the Chinese. The possibility of such anger leading to more violent clashes should have been anticipated and diplomatic engagement should have been intensified. It should have been raised to the level of the national security adviser and the external affairs minister. This would have also been helpful in reading Chinese calculations. If this was done, then it has not been put out in the public domain.
The agreements arrived at in 1996 and 2005 committed the two sides to engage in a clarification of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). We know where LAC lies and Indias activities are confined to the area within LAC. China contests this alignment at some locations but we do not know how China perceives LAC in its entire length. Both sides have agreed that clarifying LAC is essential to assuring peace and tranquillity at the border, pending the settlement of the border question. The Galwan incident offers an opportunity for us to engage China on this agreed exercise and implement it expeditiously. Chinas reaction will also demonstrate whether it is really interested in maintaining peace on the border or whether it prefers to keep it ambiguous so that it can unilaterally advance its territorial claims at points and time of its choosing. This will enable us to draw the necessary conclusions and respond accordingly.
There is no doubt that Indias relations with China have become more adversarial. The string of incidents at the border is a symptom of that, as is the mounting evidence of Chinese activism in Indias subcontinental neighbourhood. The Indian governments response has to be a careful mix of political, diplomatic, economic and military measures. Engagement with China must continue but its terms must reflect the changed context. Now, more than ever, we need to step back and reconsider our national strategy in all its dimensions. India has left that on the shelf for far too long.
Shyam Saran is a former foreign secretary and a senior fellow at CPR
The views expressed are personal
Long before she was one of the world's most influential leaders, Jacinda Ardern was a precocious young kid with a passion for politics.
The New Zealand prime minister's tale from humble beginnings to celebrated politician has been documented in a new biography, proving she has always been a voice of the people.
After moving from the impoverished town of Murupara to the farming town of Morrinsville in the 1990s, Ms Ardern was quick to find her voice with the Student Council.
Driven by her desire to help her peers, Ms Ardern fought those in power to ensure their views were represented.
At Morrinsville Intermediate, the earnest 11-year-old argued with staff over the inflated price of treats at the canteen.
By the time she had reached high school she was a seasoned debater.
While at Morrinsville College, the 17-year-old successfully argued to change the school uniform, allowing girls to wear shorts - the uniform was skirts for the girls, shorts or pants for the boys.
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Ms Ardern (pictured aged 15), who was raised Mormon, is the product of a police officer father and a mother who worked in the school cafeteria
Sporting much lighter locks and blonde highlights, Jacinda Ardern (pictured) is almost unrecognisable
To those who went to school with her, she was known as a bit of 'show-pony' and 'teacher's pet'.
During her final year of high school Ms Ardern was voted 'Most Likely to become Prime Minister' by her peers.
Decades on and she has done just that.
The 39-year-old was thrust into the spotlight when she made history as one of only a handful of women who have given birth while in power.
Since then she has been praised for her handling of catastrophic events, including the Christchurch terror attack, the White Island volcano disaster and the coronavirus pandemic.
Growing up, Ms Ardern was a far cry from the no-nonsense leader she has grown to be.
Jacinda Ardern has become one of the most influential political leaders in recent years by breaking down stereotypes and traditions
Ms Ardern, who was raised Mormon, is the product of a police officer father and a mother who worked in the school cafeteria.
She grew up being encouraged to dress modestly and stay away from coffee, cigarettes and alcohol.
And while she may not have been a stand-out to her peers, her teachers had always taken note of her. She was known by school staff as someone who would go far.
After graduating from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Public Relations and Political Science, she went on to work under then Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Critics have long compared Ms Ardern's leadership style to that of the former Labour leader, who New Zealand's fifth longest serving prime minister, and the second woman to hold the office.
Ms Ardern then moved to London where she worked as a senior policy advisor for British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the UK Cabinet Office.
In 2007 she was elected president of the International Union of Socialist Youth, a political organisation that says it fights for freedom, social justice and democracy.
While presiding over the union's World Council annual meeting in 2009, her socialist views became clear.
In a discussion about the global financial crisis of 2008, the union stated: 'Redistribution will lead to more financial stability and justice.
'Human beings are born with unequal resources available. We as young socialists believe in a social democratic system which secures a redistribution of resources,' official records from the meeting state.
Ms Ardern (pictured at 18) studied public relations and political science at the University of Waikato before working under former Prime Minister Helen Clark
As a New Zealand Labour MP, Jacinda Ardern performed her DJ set in the Thunderdome during the Laneway Festival in 2014
During this time she entered New Zealand's Parliament as a list MP for the Labour party.
Over the years she became known as an advocate for women, children, speaking often about New Zealand's education system.
During this time the Labour party was struggling in the polls. John Key had served a the prime minister for two terms under National.
And the party was looking at an easy third term thanks to the inconsistency of leadership within the Labour Party.
Then leader Andrew Little was unpopular in the polls and there was talk of Jacinda Ardern stepping into the role.
But Ms Ardern was young, she had no desire to taken on the top spot.
In 2014 she said: 'I've seen how hard it is to raise a family in that role'.
Ms Ardern was lauded for her compassion and composure in the wake of the White Volcano tragedy last year. She is pictured meeting with first responders at the Whakatane Fire Station on December 10
Ms Ardern was pictured donning a black head scarf as a sign of solidarity as she hugged the grieving relatives of the slain victims of the Christchurch Massacre on March 17, 2019
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (L) and her daughter Neve Gayford at the upper Treaty grounds at Waitangi in February
In 2015 she stated: 'I don't want to be prime minister'.
Then in 2017, while on her way to becoming the MP for the Auckland electorate Mt Albert, she was elected as the new leader of the Labour Party.
With less than two months before the polls closed, Ms Adern saw an astounding victory, becoming the country's third female prime minister.
She has become New Zealand's most popular prime minister in more than 100 years after leading the country through a series of crises.
Ms Ardern's COVID-19 response, which saw NZ become one of the most successful countries at containing the virus, earned her a score of 59.5 per cent as the Pacific nation's preferred leader according to the Newshub-Reid Research poll.
New Zealand was locked down for more than a month under 'level 4' restrictions, which were eventually wound down to stage three in late April.
Businesses in the country including malls, cinemas, cafes and gyms reopened last Thursday, although strict social distancing measures continue to be enforced nationwide to prevent the risk of a widespread outbreak.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern meets with members of the Moslem community in the wake of the mass shooting at the two Christchurch mosques, Christchurch last year
Their engagement comes almost a year after the birth of their first child Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford in June 2018
On 15 March last year, a white supremacist carried out two consecutive mass shootings at mosques leaving 51 people dead and dozens more injured.
Ms Ardern donned a black head scarf as a sign of solidarity and grieved with relatives, while promising to cover the funeral costs of those who died.
Later that year, on December 9, popular tourist attraction White Island Volcano, in the Bay of Plenty, erupted during a tour, killing 21 people and leaving many more with serious burns.
Ms Ardern was lauded for her compassion and composure in press conferences as she handled the crisis, and for comforting families and first responders.
The 2020 election will put Ms Adern's popularity to the test when it is held on September 19.
New Zealand 's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with her long-term partner Clarke Gayford (both pictured)
(Photo : Alex Haney on Unsplash) Facebook Filed Lawsuits Against US and European Companies For Fake Likes and Comments (Photo : Kon Karampelas on Unsplash) Facebook Filed Lawsuits Against US and European Companies For Fake Likes and Comments
Facebook is currently looking to go after companies because of fake likes and comments on the social media platform. According to the Search Engine Journal's latest report, the social media company is filing lawsuits against companies in the United States and Europe for using unauthorized automation software.
Legal action will be taken by Facebook against the software companies accused of distributing fake comments and likes across the social media platform, including Instagram. The incident is considered as the first one for a social media company to use coordinated, multi-jurisdictional litigation after Facebook filed separate lawsuits in Europe and the United States to enforce its Terms of Service.
U.S. Facebook is currently seeking injunctions to reinforce a permanent ban against the companies' use of Instagram and Facebook after the social media platform accused them of violating the laws of Spain.
US and European under fire from Facebook
According to Search Engine Journal, the lawsuit file by Facebook in the United States is against Massroot8, a company operating a data scraping service that has ties to California. It was reported that after Facebook users provided their login information, Massroot8 scraped their user data.
A computer program was used by the company to control networks of bots that were connected to the official Facebook app disguised as Android devices. It was noted in the report that the Facebook users were not aware of the activity. Massroot8's users were tricked into signing up for the service. Providing a fake service allowed them to manage multiple Facebook accounts at the same time.
They were not aware that their login information was being used for the purpose of gathering data. Facebook is specifically suing Mohammad Zaghar, the founder of the company who was reported to operate sites selling fake follows and likes before starting Massroot 8, in San Francisco.
5,500 Facebook accounts were included in the court documents, which were accessed by Massroot8. The act is considered not only a violation of Facebook's Terms of Service, but also a violation of the Compute Fraud and Abuse Act.
The second lawsuit filed in Europe is against MGP25 Cyberprint Services, a company based in Spain. According to Dun and Bradstreet's report, the company is accused of fake engagement services selling comments and likes, generates less than $100,000 in annual revenue.
The two cases show that the social media platform is willing to take legal action against companies, big or small, that violate its Terms of Service.
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Mumbai:
Food is capable of blurring borders and Indian 'chicken tikka masala' is heavily popular even in far off Sweden, say 'Nobel' chefs from the European nation.
The two chefs, who are in charge of the prestigious Nobel Dinner, the culinary showcase after the Nobel Prize ceremony held inside the Stockholm City Hall, were here recently to give India a taste of Sweden. "Swedes love Indian food...the most popular one is by far chicken tikka masala.
It's the one Indian dish every Swede knows and loves, but people are definitely beginning to explore more and some Indian vegetarian restaurants have also become really popular," Swedish Chefs Mark Phoenix and Fredrik Forsell told PTI. "Also, both India and Sweden have a very strong culinary heritage. Like Indians, we Swedes also use a lot of potato in our cooking. When it comes to differences, I think Indians love their spicy palate, but Swedes go a bit easy on that front and our food is a bit mild," Forsell said.
The Consulate General of Sweden recently hosted an exclusive tete-a-tete cum tasting at Palate Culinary Studio in Mumbai with chefs Phoenix and Forsell, aimed at creating awareness about the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Sweden.
"Sweden's cuisine is based on a simple cooking style, often mild and not very spicy, salt and black pepper have been the everyday spices for many Swedes. This has of course changed with international trade facilitating imports of various spices, vegetables and fruit, but salt and pepper are still the basic spices in Swedish cuisine," Phoenix said.
"We drink milk and use dairy products in our cooking to a greater extent than Indians. We also use Grddfil, which is made of regular cream with lactic acid. It has a similar taste to yoghurt, but it is not as sour. Swedes are also fond of using different kind of fish in their cooking like salmon, herring and cod," he said.
Giving an insight into the food of his country, Forsell said Swedes also eat plenty of root vegetables like red beetroot, yellow beetroot, carrot, celeriac, artichokes and cabbage. Traditionally, Swedish cuisine had to adapt to a harsh climate with long and dark winters. To provide varying and nutritious food throughout the year, Swedes had to pickle and preserve meat, fish, vegetables and fruit.
Even with new technology and increased trade this tradition has stayed with the Swedes. "Swedish cuisine is therefore significantly saltier than for example the Mediterranean cuisine as theyve had access to more fresh food," he said.
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President Donald Trump is expected to announce soon whether the White House supports Israels plan to annex parts of the West Bank.
According to CBN News, Trumps Middle East team will meet this week. The team includes Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu is planning on extending Israels borders to include about 30 percent of the West Bank and Jordan Valley. While many see the annexation of the West Bank as a violation of international law, Netanyahu is hoping Trump will support the plan.
Trumps Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, released in January, approved of the annexation, but some say the White House may be reconsidering after Palestine rejected the deal.
According to media reports, the Trump administration may be discussing a plan that takes a gradual approach to annexation of the West Bank.
Netanyahu also rejected parts of the peace plan, including a directive to create a Palestinian state. He says annexation of some territory could start as soon as July 1.
The White House has also said it would like Netanyahu to agree with alternate prime minster Benny Gantz about annexation. Gantz has said annexation should happen but only as directed in Trumps peace plan and should not include annexing areas with many Palestinian residents.
Gantz has also said he is worried annexation could end a peace treaty with Jordan, where King Abdullah II has warned massive conflict if annexation happens.
This week, 116 of 198 Republican House members signed a letter to Netanyahu endorsing annexation of settlements in the West Bank.
The letter says Israel has a right to sovereignty and defensible borders.
On the other hand, more than 170 House Democrats have signed and are continuing to circulate a letter that opposes annexation.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/John Theodor
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: 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 and much of each crisis is attributable to the mismanagement of the BJP-led NDA government and the wrong policies pursued by it, said Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Tuesday.
She spoke at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet called by the party to discuss the situation at the border with China and the rising number of Covid-19 cases in India.
"The cumulative effect is widespread misery, fear, and danger to the security and territorial integrity of the country," she said.
The party chief said we have a full-blown crisis on the LAC with China and that the undeniable fact is that since April-May, 2020 till date, Chinese troops have committed brazen transgressions into our territory in Pangong Tso Lake area and the Galwan Valley, Ladakh. True to its character, the government is in denial.
"The intrusion was detected and reported on May 5, 2020. Instead of a resolution, the situation deteriorated rapidly and there were violent clashes on June 15-16. Twenty Indian soldiers were martyred, 85 injured, and 10 went missing until they were returned. The Prime Minister was called out when he announced that no one had intruded into Indian territory in Ladakh. On matters of national security and territorial integrity, the nation has always stood together and this time too, there is no second opinion," she said.
Emphasizing that there is a growing feeling among the people that the government has gravely mishandled the situation, Gandhi said: "The future is yet to unfold but we hope that mature diplomacy and decisive leadership will inform the governments actions in protecting our territorial integrity. We urge upon the government that peace, calm, and the restoration of the status quo ante along the LAC be the only guiding principles in our national interest. We will continue to closely watch the situation."
On the economic crisis due to pandemic, she said the Modi government refuses to listen to good advice and need of the hour is a massive fiscal stimulus, putting money directly in the hands of the poor, protecting and nurturing the MSMEs, and stimulating demand.
"Instead, the government announced a hollow financial package that had a fiscal component of less than 1 per cent of GDP. The government has 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. The result is that a sliding economy is now hurtling toward a recession for the first time in 42 years," she added.
The party chief said that there will be high unemployment, falling incomes and wages, and lower investment and recovery is likely to take a long time, and that too only if the government corrects its course and adopts sound economic policies.
"The pandemic hit India in February. The Congress offered its total support to the government and supported Lockdown 1.0. Within weeks, it was apparent that the government was totally unprepared to manage the fallout of a lockdown. The result was the greatest humanitarian crisis witnessed since 1947-48. Millions of migrant (guest) 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," she told the CWC.
Criticising Prime Minister for giving assurance that everything is in control, she said the pandemic continues to rage.
"The grave deficiencies in the health infrastructure have been exposed. The promised peak is nowhere in sight. The Centre has passed the buck to the state governments but given them zero extra finances. Actually, the people have been left to protect themselves as best as possible. The mismanagement of the pandemic will be recorded as one of the most disastrous failures of the Modi government. I wish to thank all our partys workers who in different states went out at their own risk to offer help and support to the migrant and other affected people," she added.
Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) pugnacious president of the Bengal unit, Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday swore to draw the sword to counter political violence in the poll-bound state as homage to nationalist leader Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder president of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, forerunner of the BJP.
While the BJP observed Mookerjees death anniversary as Balidan Diwas (martyrs day) throughout the country, Ghoshs inflammatory speech in Bengal added to the volatility in the states politics and evoked criticism for being ignorant of Mookerjees thoughts.
Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress and Left parties condemned Ghosh who talked of avenging the deaths of 104 party workers allegedly murdered since 2014.
The BJP government has realised Mookerjees dreams by scrapping Jammu and Kashmirs special status under Article 370 and passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. We will follow his struggle and sacrifice, Ghosh said on Tuesday after paying homage to Mookerjee at the Keoratala crematorium in south Kolkata.
If you (TMC) draw the sword, I will draw the sword. If you draw the knife, I will draw the knife too. But if you come with folded hands, I will embrace you. BJP is a strong party now. We can counter the violence. Those who talk of forgiveness are cowards. We will settle every score with interest. I take this oath today in the name of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, said Ghosh.
I invite all youths to give one year of their lives to usher in a change. This sacrifice is necessary, said Ghosh, sending a message for the crucial 2021 polls.
Raising a storm on June 19, Ghosh tweeted a new slogan: Badla o hobe, badal o hobe. (There will be revenge as well as change). The slogan, which appears with Ghoshs photo and a map of the state, has gone viral. It is a direct reply to Banerjees slogan before the historic 2011 polls in which she overthrew the 34-year-old Left govt. Badla noi, badal chai (We need change, not revenge) Banerjee had said.
As industry minister in the Nehru government, a post he gave up in the interest of Bengal, Mookerjee dreamt of seeing an atmanirbhar (self-reliant) Bharat. The Congress, the Marxists and the TMC have turned Bengal into a state of migrant workers over the years. Even Hindi-speaking people who settled down generations ago because there were jobs have to look for work in other states. Infiltrators and Rohingyas are being used as vote banks by the TMC, said Ghosh.
The TMC was quick to counter Ghosh.
Ghosh does not believe in positive politics. On the occasion of Rath Yatra I pray to Lord Jagannath to bless Bengal BJP leaders with wisdom. People of Bengal never accepted violence and this was evident in the 1960s and 70s, said Tapas Roy, senior TMC leader and minister of state for parliamentary affairs.
The Congress and Left too condemned the propagation of violence.
Ghosh talked of using violence for one year. If violence worked on this soil the 34-year-long Left rule would have continued. People did not use guns and bombs to oust the Marxists. They voted silently, said Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra.
Inefficient people make a lot of noise. The same violent elements who were seen beside Mamata Banerjee have now joined the BJP. This strategy will not work on people, said Sujan Chakraborty, CPI(M) legislator and leader of the Left parties in the state Assembly.
Noted political analyst Amal Mukhopadhyay, a former principal of Presidency College (now a university), said Ghosh did not follow the facts in history.
I know the life and activities of Mookerjee very closely. I have never seen him speaking of violence or supporting it anywhere, either in his writings or in his lectures. Though Mookerjee was not a Gandhian, he did not believe in applying violence. If someone says that Mookerjee has shown the way to take revenge with arms then I think he is mistaken, said Mukhopadhyay.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won 18 of the states 42 seats, marking the partys highest ever growth in Bengal. Violence has marked all recent elections and the crucial Assembly elections in 2021 are unlikely to be an exception, political observers say.
The BJP has organized a series of virtual rallies to address people in different parts of the state between June 24 and July 2. These will be addressed by Union ministers including Nirmala Sitharaman and Ravi Shankar Prasad.
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By Bill Hughes
Jun. 23, 2020 | MCCRACKEN COUNTY
By Bill Hughes Jun. 23, 2020 | 11:19 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY
In-person voting began at 6 am Tuesday at the McCracken County Courthouse.
Voter turnout has been a little lighter than County Clerk Julie Griggs expected, but she acknowledged that many had already requested absentee ballots.
As of 10:30 am, approximately 550 people had voted at the courthouse. Griggs said only one person who came to the courthouse did not vote, and that was because he refused to wear a mask, as required by County Judge-Executive Craig Clymer. Griggs said she offered to allow him to fill out an absentee ballot outside the building, but he refused.
She said a few people have come to the courthouse to vote in person, saying they requested a mail-in ballot but hadn't received it.
Other than these, she said, "it really has gone smoothly."
McCracken County voters go into the clerk's license renewal room and provide their ID to get a ballot for their party and precinct. They walk down the basement hallway to a larger hall, where multiple voting stations have been set up. After their ballot is filled out, they visit the voter registration office and scan their ballot.
Griggs said 15,781 people requested ballots by mail, and the 3,000 ballots she received Monday at the post office means about half of those ballots have already been returned. Ballots postmarked June 23 will be counted if they are received by Saturday at 6 pm. Clerks have until June 30 to certify their vote totals.
One unfamiliar sight was electioneering on the courthouse parking lot. Candidate George Bray was there, along with volunteers campaigning for Raynarldo Henderson and Amy McGrath.
Griggs said this is unusual because voting typically doesn't happen at the courthouse. She said there have been no problems or complaints, and anyone involved in this activity has been told to stay on the parking lot side of South 7th Street.
Just over 58,000 people are registered to vote in McCracken County.
Kansas Department of Labor Secretary resigns after struggles with unemployment claims during outbreak Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday that she has accepted Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Delia Garcia's resignation after weeks of struggles processing unemployment claims during the COVID-19 outbreak."As governor, I'm responsible for KDOL's handling of unemployment claims," Kelly said.
Amid ongoing website probs and one of the worst pandemic responses in the U.S., here's a glimpse at the consequences of keeping thousands of workers on edge every week throughout a GLOBAL ordeal. Read more:
Few reporters have done more to shape the way we remember the Vietnam War than Joe Galloway. He was present at the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang, embedded with the 7th Cavalry Regiment, where he rescued a wounded American soldier.
Some 33 years later in 1998, the Defense Department awarded him, a lifelong civilian, the Bronze Star for his effort. He's the only civilian to receive a Bronze Star for combat valor from the Army.
Galloway joined Military.com's Managing Editor, Hope Hodge Seck, in the second episode of the new "Left of Boom" podcast. The two talked about war reporting and Vietnam commemorations, among other topics.
The truth, Galloway said, has to be worth something very real for a reporter to put his or her life on the line. He says hes lost 70 of his friends to the war in Vietnam in pursuit of truth.
"We've always tried to hold their feet to the fire when necessary. That's our job. The way the news is handled, the way news people are handled, is different from administration to administration," Galloway said. "... But we still have the same job to do, and we have to do it to the best of our ability in pursuit of the truth."
In 1992, he co-authored a memoir of the battle with then-Lt. Gen. Harold G. "Hal" Moore, who was the commander on the ground at Landing Zone X-Ray during the weeklong fighting at Ia Drang. The book, called "We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young," was later turned into the 2002 movie "We Were Soldiers."
Mel Gibson portrayed Moore as a lieutenant colonel in the film, and Barry Pepper played Galloway.
Ia Drang was the first major, set-piece battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam (also known as the North Vietnamese). It also featured the first use of helicopters in a large-scale air assault and -- to give an idea of the scope of the fighting -- the first use of B-52 Stratofortresses for tactical support.
The battle itself is claimed as a victory for both sides. There were two landing zones in Ia Drang. At LZ Albany, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, under Lt. Col. Robert McDade took 50% casualties. At LZ X-Ray, Moore and his 1st Battalion got pummeled, but managed to inflict 10 times more casualties than they took.
"You have to tell the American people what's really going on on the battlefield," Galloway said. "What's going on on an aircraft carrier, what's going on around the world."
But things in Ia Drang might have been very different with today's technology.
"I think about what it would have been like for Hal Moore in the Ia Drang battle if I had been sitting on a sat phone and his boss would have been reading my stuff," Galloway said. "Probably, he would have stomped on my sat phone. He didn't need anyone looking over his shoulder in real-time."
Since 2013, Galloway's documentation of the Vietnam War has shifted to its veterans. As a special consultant to the Pentagon's Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration Project, he travels all over the U.S. interviewing Vietnam veterans and civilians alike -- anyone whose experience in Vietnam can add to a richer retelling of the story of the war.
"I don't make a lot of money doing it, and I don't like airports," he said. "But I think it's important. It's important that we capture as many of these stories before they're all gone. This generation of veterans is dying off faster than the World War II people did."
To hear the entire interview with Galloway, listen in on the player above.
You can also tune in to Military.com's Left of Boom podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn and Stitcher.
-- Follow Hope Hodge Seck on Twitter @HopeSeck.
-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.
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With a little over a week to go before major changes to Michigans auto insurance law takes effect, Laurel Deruda still isnt sure how it could impact her own coverage.
Like many Michigan drivers, the Comstock Park resident is currently puzzled over a new policy approved last year that will allow drivers to pick their level of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage starting next month and trigger mandated statewide average reductions in PIP costs.
Students and community members marched June 16 from the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex to L.A. Unified headquarters, where they urged the district to defund school police. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A uniformed and armed school police officer pepper-sprays students at a campus in Los Angeles. Is that excessive force, even police brutality, or a rare but justifiable de-escalation of an incident that otherwise could have become more dangerous?
As the Los Angeles Unified School District's Board of Education debates the future of its 471-member police department Tuesday, two distinct interpretations are emerging from similar data on police involvement at schools: one points toward eliminating officers on campus; the other toward keeping them in place.
The seven-member L.A. Board of Education on Tuesday will consider three competing resolutions. Board member Monica Garcia has proposed essentially eliminating the department in a phased approach beginning July 1, 2021. Her plan has backing from activist groups, students and community members who've called for defunding the school police.
Their longtime campaign gained traction amid nationwide protests over police brutality under the banner of Black Lives Matter, spurred by the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Two weeks ago, the leadership of the Los Angeles teachers union voted to do away with the $70-million school police department and use the funds for such needs as counselors and nurses.
The school board also will consider two other proposals. Each calls for a panel to study policing; one includes additional changes, such as a hiring freeze and a ban on the use of pepper spray.
L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner has supported a ban on pepper spray. But he cautioned Monday against moving immediately to terminate the school police department.
"No person should feel the presence of a safety officer on a campus as an indictment of them or their character," Beutner said. "Students deserve to be heard on this topic and their views taken into account."
All the same, he said, "those who want to abolish school police must provide a reasoned answer how the threats of mass violence and incidences of serious crime will be handled at schools. And they need to explain to those who are in favor of school police why campuses will be safer in their absence."
Story continues
Also Monday, those opposing school police made their case at an online news conference, with both personal narratives and a new policy brief from UCLA researchers and advocates.
The policy brief, from the Black Male Institute at UCLA, noted that reports to a district incident tracking system which records anything that affects school functions are on the rise.
While these incidents can include mundane matters such as lost keys, those that appeared to fall under the purview of police rose 76% over the eight school years ending in 2018-19. Meanwhile, calls for students who are exposed to trauma and violence or who are displaying suicidal behavior rose 906% over that same period, in what researcher Elianny Edwards said shows "an increasing need for mental health providers."
Reports of suicidal behavior which include ideation, self-harm and hospitalization accounted for 24% of all incidents.
The brief also noted that since the 2005-06 school year, L.A. Unified has experienced an 18% decrease in enrollment, even as the school police budget has increased by 48%. Meanwhile, the ratio of counselors to students, as specified in the teachers union contract, is 500 to 1 for secondary schools.
The brief calls for doubling the number of counselors, in addition to increasing the ranks of social workers and other staff devoted to mental health. A logical source of funding would be the school police budget, the researchers wrote.
Beutner on Monday suggested that about 10% of the current police budget could be quickly redirected to counseling without impairing security.
At the same time, the school system put forward a different but overlapping data set, suggesting that school police take on important work, without which schools would be less safe.
In 2018-19, the last full school year during which campuses were open, police investigated 131 mass shooting threats, four bomb threats and 77 assaults with a deadly weapon. There were 294 campus lockdowns, more than half from an off-campus threat. There also were 321 calls for burglaries, five reported rapes and four guns recovered on campuses. And over the last 11 months, the district has recorded 913 "crimes against persons."
The district reported that its officers used pepper spray in 11 incidents during the 2018-19 school year, seven of which involved students.
The statistics released Monday differ from those the district provided to The Times last week, when the data were organized by calendar year and did not specify how many incidents involved students.
To the activists, the only correct number for pepper-spray incidents is zero.
But L.A. school police Deputy Chief Leslie Ramirez said that in some situations, the use of pepper spray is safer for students and officers than physically wading into an altercation, for example.
"We are looking at every single situation that involves pepper spray and other uses of force to make sure that if there is any issue that we're seeing with improper deployment or use, that we immediately address that and provide the necessary training," she said.
The district has declined to release incident reports and internal reviews of officers' use of pepper spray.
District officials have repeatedly characterized the school police department as a national leader in adopting policing reforms. In particular, they emphasize efforts by officers and other school staff to divert students into counseling for problems that previously would have resulted in suspensions, arrests and expulsions.
Some of these changes cited by police and district officials followed pressure by activists.
While some of the threat felt by students may be unintended, it's still detrimental, said Jan Williams, an L.A. Unified bus driver and parent. She said that several years ago, when her son was 12, he was terrified to see police on a city bus, after a Cleveland police officer fatally shot Tamir Rice, a Black boy his own age.
Seeing armed, uniformed police on campus reinforces that trauma and fear, said Williams. She also noted the disproportionate number of Black students arrested on campus, a finding documented in earlier research.
"Enough is enough," said 16-year-old Emmanuel Karunwi, an 11th-grader at University Pathways Medical Magnet Academy. "Some of the people who are least impacted by police have had the most say about how policing should happen in our community.
"What you have been seeing these past few weeks is a movement led by Black folks [and] allies demanding we move from a society dependent on cops to a society rooted in care, he said.
In its data, the district noted that one armed officer is assigned to each high school, while middle schools have an unarmed security aide. Elementary schools are monitored by roving patrols. But groups of officers can converge quickly on a campus in response to a call. The department includes 344 armed officers, as well as detectives, civilian support staff and dispatchers.
Beutner acknowledged that Black students have talked of feeling targeted by police, but he noted that Black students also are disproportionately the victims of incidents to which police are responding to provide assistance.
"Those looking for a simple answer will be disappointed, because it does not exist," Beutner said.
If you or someone you know is exhibiting warning signs of suicide, seek help from a professional and call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Strasbourg, France Wed, June 24, 2020 05:33 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406611b6a9 2 World Internet,InternetCensorship,freedom-of-expression,Russia,Vladimir-Putin,Garry-Kasparov Free
Europe's top rights court said Tuesday that Russian authorities had thwarted freedom of expression by blocking several websites in recent years, including some run by critics of President Vladimir Putin.
In four separate cases, the judges ruled unanimously that moves by the telecoms regulator Roskomnadzor "had amounted to interference with the applicants' right to impart information and the public's right to receive it."
One of the cases was filed by Garry Kasparov, the former chess champion who has become one of Putin's most vocal critics.
His opposition website kasparov.ru was blocked in March 2014 after prosecutors accused it of promoting "mass disorder or extremist speech," the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said.
Five other applicants alleged unfair or indiscriminate moves to shut down their sites, including Daily Newspaper, a site critical of the government, and a website that explained how to bypass internet content filters.
In each case, the court found, "the provisions of Russia's Information Act used to block the websites had produced excessive and arbitrary effects."
It ordered Russia to pay each applicant 10,000 euros ($11,300) in damages.
Kasparov had already won two cases against Russia at the ECHR in 2016, when judges condemned the government for unjustified arrests while attending opposition protests in 2007.
As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ravages across the globe, scientists are racing to develop an effective vaccine to combat the viral infection. Caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the disease has infected nearly 9 million people.
Now, three candidate vaccines show promising preliminary results from tests, sparking hope to have an effective vaccine to combat the deadly vaccine soon.
Image Credit: Fusion Medical Animation
Chinese vaccine enters phase II trial
So far, more than a dozen vaccines are in the different stages of human trials across the globe. Many countries and scientists are accelerating the testing of these vaccines to find an effective one to protect people against the coronavirus pandemic, which has spread to 188 countries and territories.
An inactivated COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the Institute of Medical Biology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has progressed to second phase human trials.
The phase II trial aims to evaluate the immunogenicity, effectiveness, and safety of the vaccine in humans. The trial will be held in the southwestern province of Yunnan.
The experimental shot is among six possible vaccines scientists are testing on humans in the country. Following an on-going phase I study that has recruited an estimated 200 participants. The phase II trial will determine the vaccines appropriate dosage and if the vaccine can safely stimulate immune responses in healthy people.
Australias promising vaccine
Another vaccine has been developed in Australia. GlaxoSmithKline, a British pharmaceutical group, has started clinical trials in Western Australia. The pharmaceutical giant partnered with Clover Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company based in China. The vaccine, S-Trimer vaccine (SCB-2019) in partnership with GSKs pandemic adjuvant system, entered human trials after promising results in pre-clinical tests done in animals. The phase I study has begun in Perth, and the results are expected in August. The more significant efficacy test, phase II trial stage, is expected to commence later in the year.
The Glaxo collaboration with Clover relies on the companys adjuvant system, a booster designed to improve and boost the bodys immune response. The company said it could reduce the amount of vaccine required per dose, allowing more people to be immunized and generate longer-lasting immunity.
Our deliberate approach is to combine our proven pandemic adjuvant technology with protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidates from several collaborators. We believe this holds the promise to produce vaccines at scale, potentially benefiting billions of people, Thomas Breuer, Chief Medical Officer, GSK Vaccines, said. We are encouraged by the pre-clinical data of this adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate from Clover and look forward to reviewing the data from this first trial. If this trial is successful, we hope to be in a position to move into more advanced trials later in the year, he added.
Israels COVID-19 vaccines animal testing
The recombinant VSV-G-spike vaccine developed at the Israel Institute for Biological Research provided protection against SARS-CoV-2 in animal studies.
In a study published on the preprint server BioRxiv*, the vaccine proved effective against COVID-19 in Syrian golden hamsters. The vaccine has resulted in the rapid and potent induction of neutralizing antibodies against the novel coronavirus.
In the study, two groups of hamsters were used. One group received the vaccine before being infected with SARS-CoV-2, while the other group was not immunized. The animals that received a single dose of the vaccine did not lose weight. Their lungs showed only minor lung damage and had no viral load. On the other hand, the control group had extensive lung tissue damage and high viral loads.
Importantly, single-dose vaccination was able to protect hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 challenge, as demonstrated by the abrogation of body weight loss of the immunized hamsters compared to unvaccinated hamsters, the researchers wrote in the paper. Furthermore, whereas lungs of infected hamsters displayed extensive tissue damage and high viral titers, immunized hamsters lungs showed only minor lung pathology, and no viral load. Taken together, we suggest recombinant VSV-G-spike as a safe, efficacious, and protective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection, they concluded.
The coronavirus disease has now killed more than 470,000 people worldwide. The United States reports the highest number of cases, with more than 2.30 million people infected. Brazils cases skyrocketed over the past weeks and have now topped 1.1 million infections, with at least 51,000 deaths. Meanwhile, Russia, India, and the United Kingdom have reported a high number of cases, with at least 591,000, 425,000, and 306,000 cases, respectively.
*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.
Grant McGrail, Chief Revenue Officer at Benefix. Grant has a deep understanding of crafting efficiency and building a "machine" to super-charge growth and customer success across an organization.
Benefix, an all-in-one digital solution for health insurance brokers and small businesses, is pleased to introduce Grant McGrail as Chief Revenue Officer. McGrail is responsible for go-to-market strategies, operations, and will work closely with the leadership team to scale revenue and accelerate company growth.
McGrail brings more than 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, services, and product management within the enterprise technology industry. Starting his career at OpenAir, a cloud computing start-up that was acquired by NetSuite Corp, McGrail assumed a variety of sales and sales leadership roles at NetSuite in North America and Europe over the course of a decade. Following Oracles acquisition of NetSuite, McGrail joined WeWork to head-up its growing global enterprise business where he helped established teams in over 15 countries and grew the business unit to over 40% of the companys top-line revenue in less than three years.
When I met Grant several years ago, I hoped there would be an opportunity to work with him. Beyond scaling revenue, Grant has a deep understanding of crafting efficiency and building a "machine" to super-charge growth and customer success across an organization, said Matt Ranauro, Founder and CEO at Benefix. I am thrilled personally, and for the company, to add Grants unmatched capabilities and his caliber of talent to our already world-class leadership team.
Benefix is an online platform that brings health insurance carriers, brokers, small businesses, and individuals together to simplify the benefits enrollment process. Benefix users have access to compare quotes and enroll in one place allowing them to make informed and educated choices about health benefits.
This is an exciting time for Benefix and the InsuranceTech category more broadly. I am eager to join an amazing team to help accelerate the success of our clients and partners on the platform. I look forward to continuing the company's commitment to solving such an important problem to make benefits easier, said Grant McGrail, Chief Revenue Officer at Benefix.
About Benefix
Benefix offers health insurance brokers and small businesses and their employees a digital platform that simplifies finding health benefit products online and enrolling in them. The platform manages data and distribution from hundreds of thousands of plans offered by major insurance carriers across 22 states and offers instant quotes from a simple-to-use online interface. Benefix believes in simplifying the experience for all involved to create better access to healthcare and, ultimately, better outcomes. Benefix launched in 2017 and is headquartered in Lancaster, PA. Learn more at benefix.us
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A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was killed and two terrorists were shot dead by security forces during a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district, officials said on Tuesday.
The encounter had erupted in Bundzoo area of Pulwama district early on Tuesday after the operation was launched on specific input about the presence of terrorists in the village.
The CRPF personnel was injured when the terrorists fired at the cordon party and later succumbed to his injuries.
Two to three militants were believed to be trapped in the encounter, which is underway.
An Indian Army spokesperson said two AK-47 assault rifles have recovered from the encounter site. The area is being searched, officials added.
On Monday, a group of terrorists managed to escape during search operations in the forests of Verinag in Anantnag district.
New York, Kentucky and Virginia are holding primary elections on Tuesday. There are also congressional runoff elections in North Carolina and Mississippi and runoff elections for legislative races in South Carolina.
The Kentucky Senate Democratic primary is highly competitive, as are several House races in New York. Polls in Kentucky close at 6 p.m. local time; in New York, theyll close at 9 p.m. local time.
The number of voters casting absentee ballots has risen sharply because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the results of key races may not be known on Tuesday night as a result.
Voting went smoothly, though some encountered issues
Tuesday primaries ran relatively smoothly in Kentucky, New York and Virginia, though voters in some places faced long lines and thousands who requested absentee ballots did not receive them on time.
Kentucky voters, who are deciding between Amy McGrath and Charles Booker, two Democrats, in a contest to face Senator Mitch McConnell in the fall, waited in lines up to two hours at the University of Kentuckys football stadium in Lexington.
In Lexington and Louisville, the states two largest cities, there was just one polling place each for voters to cast primary day ballots. Louisville voters did not have to wait in line, and by the afternoon officials in Lexington added more equipment and the wait times were reduced.
In Virginia, results from Virginia Beach wont be released until Wednesday after officials switched to paper provisional ballots when electronic poll books used to check voters in at polling sites failed Tuesday morning.
Frank DeJoy, Render's new Vice President, Network Deployment Franks extensive industry expertise and leadership experience will benefit Render and our customers greatly at a pivotal time for the industry - when connectivity and efficiency have never been more important.'
Render Networks, an innovative telecommunications network construction management platform, today announced the appointment of senior telecom and technology executive Frank DeJoy to spearhead the growth of its North American business.
Mr. DeJoy takes on the role of Vice President of Network Deployment with immediate effect, based in San Diego, CA.
In response to the companys outstanding growth and the unprecedented level of broadband and wireless network investment in the United States, the new role will accelerate Renders market development efforts and further strengthen the companys ability to serve a growing customer portfolio with best-in-class deployment technology.
Franks extensive industry expertise and leadership experience will benefit Render and our customers greatly at a pivotal time for the industry - when connectivity and efficiency have never been more important. With the momentum that exists in the market, our entire team is excited to play a central and growing role in driving market awareness and adoption of innovative deployment approaches for Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and wireless networks."
With Frank on board, were well-positioned to support our growing customer base and enable even more network owner, ISP and construction partners across the country to streamline network deployment and better understand the value of an end-to-end digital approach.
Mr. DeJoy brings a depth of experience in fiber and wireless network deployment, strategic planning and product development, and is passionate about using his strengths in both infrastructure construction and technology to make a positive impact on communities across the country.
Render presents a refreshing new approach to the timely and efficient delivery of broadband services in rural, suburban, and metropolitan markets, said Frank. I have seen Render's construction work management platform enable customers with paperless processes that synchronize construction data in real-time across all stakeholders. Projects are consistently experiencing reduced costs, reduced time-to-market, and advanced quality control.
DeJoy is looking forward to working with Renders partners across North America and developing other key industry relationships.
I am excited at the potential impact of an end-to-end Digital Network Construction approach to enhance telecom operators capabilities to accelerate their deployment of high-speed internet access in this era of unprecedented need, said DeJoy. The industry will realize tremendous value from the dynamic platform Render has built, enabling customers to serve more subscribers sooner at affordable rates.
Before joining Render in early June, Frank worked in telecommunications and technology for 30 years in executive roles at AT&T, General Dynamics, Dycom, and Quanta Services where he helped internal teams and customers plan, deploy and operate large-scale fiber and wireless networks. Most recently, he helped launch a hybrid fiber/wireless Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) in California and software startups in IoT cybersecurity and wireless network management.
Frank earned a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with Highest Honors from Rutgers University.
About Render Networks
Founded in 2013 with a mission to build networks better, Render has a successful history of streamlining large-scale network construction in Australia and, more recently, enabling ISPs, telecommunication and utility owners and construction teams in the United States to deliver fiber networks more efficiently. Utilizing GIS, mobile and automation technologies, Renders Digital Network Construction platform solves the complexities associated with network deployment by digitizing design and construction workflows and eliminating manual construction approaches. Render converts a complex network design directly into construction simple tasks, defined on a familiar map-based interface and sequenced to optimal delivery, resulting in cost and time efficiencies of up to 50 percent. Real-time, geospatial data provides a single, integrated view of progress to all stakeholders, improving project data visibility and control across network rollouts. Visit https://rendernetworks.com/
Still in the game: Engineer Katherine Condon joined the Graduate Distillers Programme in 2014
Irish Distillers yesterday announced the appointment of Katherine Condon as distiller at Midleton Distillery. Ms Condon will report to newly appointed master distiller, Kevin O'Gorman, with responsibility for the production process from brewing to distillation.
Tasting all distillates daily, Ms Condon is to oversee the quality of all new pot and grain distillates produced at Midleton.
A chemical engineer, Ms Condon joined Irish Distillers in 2014 as part of the Graduate Distiller Programme. In her time with Irish Distillers, she has played a vital role in the production of many new innovations, including the Method and Madness range.
Ms Condon holds a degree in process and chemical engineering from University College Cork and a diploma in distilling from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.
She was awarded "The Worshipful Company of Distillers Award" in 2018 and 2019 for outstanding achievement by the Institute.
"I am honoured to be appointed as distiller," said Ms Condon. "This role represents a time-honoured craft and it has been a privilege to learn about the art and science of distilling from icons of world whiskey like Brian Nation and Kevin O'Gorman. . I am incredibly excited about the future of Irish whiskey and the role I can play in it."
Irish Distillers makes a range of whiskeys, including Jameson - the world's best-selling Irish whiskey. It hit sales of 8 million cases in 2019.
While I respect Carol Brown and value her insight, and even share her sense of frustration that the left seems to have taken the initiative when it comes to action, I disagree with her blog post today, "President Trump, it's time for a little less talk and a lot more action."
There are four principal reasons.
For law and order to be an effective response, convictions in a court of law must be the outcome. The old saying that the wheels of justice grind slowly is founded on experience. Evidence must be accumulated and properly inventoried (chain of custody issues result in many acquittals and reversals of convictions), and the right laws must be cited by the proper jurisdictions.
President Trump just this morning began laying the basis for federal prosecutions:
I have authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020
.....This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. There will be no exceptions! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020
The insurrectionists desperately want Trump to act precipitously. They would love for a Kent Statelike massacre to take place, after which they can portray Trump as Hitler.
But it is the insurrectionists who are overplaying their hand. The fanatic support of the media ensures that they are blissfully unaware of the revulsion from the general public to tearing down statues of George Washington, Christopher Columbus, Abraham Lincoln, and even abolitionists. They do not get negative feedback, and are auto-intoxicating, as mobs always do. They mistake the initial support for racial justice from the vast majority for long-term support for a racialist agenda that ends up persecuting white people for their race.
Graphic credit: Pixabay.
This is a drama, and we are only in act two, when the conflict elements of the story are revealed. The conclusion of this drama will be on Election Day, when act three, where the conflict elements are resolved and the heroes and villains become clear. (Another drama will begin then, and if Trump wins, it will be brutal beyond the dreams of Peter Strzok and Andrew McCabe.) As I have previously written, for most of the public, politics is a television show. That's nothing that intellectuals, including journalists, want to admit, but it is still true. And Donald Trump, the most successful reality TV producer in the history of the medium, understands the dramatic elements better than anyone else.
The visceral parts of my consciousness want action now. But the strategic elements of my mind counsel that the enemy is self-destructing, if only we allow it the time to complete the task and reap the consequences.
The ex-husband of benefits mother-of-12 Cheryl Prudham was chased and beaten during a 'vicious' 2am knife ambush which he claimed involved machetes.
Robert Prudham, who fathered six children with reality TV star Cheryl, nicknamed 'The Queen of Benefits', was lured into the ambush to discuss a dispute over a car.
But when he arrived at the meeting point Oldham, Greater Manchester, he was confronted by two men who he claimed produced machetes before chasing him down the street, a court heard.
Prudham, 35, tripped and fell to the floor and was then set on by his two attackers, one of who shouted 'stab him, f***ing stab him', according to a witness.
He was rescued by his girlfriend, Summer Seddon, but her car windscreen was trashed by the attackers during the incident.
One of his attackers, distant relative, Kieron Ingham, 25, has now been jailed for 28 months after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.
The ex-husband of benefits mother-of-13 Cheryl Prudham was chased and beaten during a 'vicious' 2am knife involving one of his distant relatives, Kieron Ingham (pictured)
Robert Prudham, who fathered six children with reality TV star Cheryl, nicknamed 'The Queen of Benefits' (pictured in 2016 with Robert and her children), was lured into the ambush to discuss a dispute over a car
When Prudham (pictured) arrived at the meeting point Oldham, Greater Manchester, he was confronted by two men who he claimed produced machetes before chasing him down the street, a court heard
The court heard how the attack occurred on April 15 after Ingham of Newton Heath, Manchester had demanded a meeting with Prudham at a car park in Oldham following a dispute over a car.
David Lees prosecuting said: 'They had been in a dispute for some months and this resulted in a fight between the two of them two weeks or so prior to the offence.
'At approximately 2am Mr Prudham made his way on foot to the car park but as he approached he saw two men pull out what he believed were machetes or large knives from the waistband of their joggers.
'They began to make threats, stating "get him" and "I'm gonna kill you" and Mr Prudham turned and ran but tripped up, allowing the men to catch him up. They set about him whilst he was on the floor, hitting him to his head and body.
'Ingham was clearly seen wielding a pole but the other man had a smaller object in his hand, which glinted in the street-lighting and was in fact a knife.
'An eye witness heard someone aggressively shouting and screaming 'stab him, f***ing stab him' - clear evidence that one of the men had a blade.
'Mr Prudham said he was hit with the machetes, but the majority of his injuries are more consistent with his being hit with a blunt instrument, such as the pole. The exception is the cut to his head which is equally consistent with either version.
'It may be he has simply assumed the machete or machetes were used because that is what he saw however it is unequivocally the case that the other man had a knife.'
Mr Prudham, who suffered cuts to his head, a broken toe and sprained ankle in the attack, managed to get back to his feet and contact his partner, Ms Seddon, who picked him up in her car.
But the court heard the attacks spotted Mr Prudham and began attacking the vehicle, smashing a windscreen.
Mr Lees said: 'In fear, she got out of the car and saw the men get into the front seats.
'However she had taken the keys out and they got back out again. They then got into a taxi.'
In a statement Miss Seddon told police: 'I was frightened for my life and really thought that these men were going to kill me. They are horrible people.'
The court heard how the attack occurred on April 15 after Ingham, of Newton Heath, Manchester, who is a distant relative of Mr Prudham (pictured left with Ingham), had demanded a meeting with him at a car park in Oldham following a dispute over a car
During the attack Prudham managed to call his girlfriend Summer Seddon (pictured with Prudham) who drove to pick him up. When Ms Seddon arrived the attackers then turned on her vehicle, smashing a windscreen
A Lawyer for Ingham (pictured) said his client suffered a significant brain injury as a child and 'unfortunately carries those problems and difficulties with him into adult life'
Police inquiries revealed Ingham should have been observing a curfew after being arrested for drink driving a week earlier following a 70mph police chase.
He claimed he had no idea his accomplice had a knife.
His lawyer Steven Sullivan said: 'He suffered a significant brain injury as a child and unfortunately carries those problems and difficulties with him into adult life.
'He is a young man who, because of his brain injuries is clearly vulnerable, unable to make the right decisions for himself and prey to the influence of other people who are more criminally sophisticated.'
Mr Prudham's six year marriage to Cheryl floundered when he was jailed for a total of 14 months for theft and fraud in January 2018
But sentencing Judge Tina Landale told Ingham, who also admitted dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified, that she 'did not take this into account'.
She said: 'This was a vicious and unpleasant group attack which was planned and which occurred whilst you were on bail and beaching a curfew during a public health crisis.
'I do take into account the fact you had a brain injury when you were younger and you are not really aware of the harm you are causing.
'But you are a very impulsive person who is unable to understand danger and in my judgement that makes you more dangerous to the public.'
Mr Ingham's accomplice, Ashley Grimes, 23, of Clough Road Manchester, has also pleaded guilty to the offence of causing actual bodily harm, but is subject to a warrant after not attending court.
Mr Prudham had six children with Cheryl from Skelmersdale, Lancs after she had six children by two different men.
But the couple's six year marriage floundered when he was jailed for a total of 14 months for theft and fraud in January 2018.
Mr Prudham had six children with Cheryl from Skelmersdale, Lancs after she had six children by two different men (pictured: the family together in 2016)
Mr Prudham stole 4,766 from parking machines across south east London and Kent while working as a meter collector.
Mr Prudham only got the job because he lied to a recruitment company, telling them he was of good character and had no previous convictions.
Cheryl also pleaded guilty to her part in the scam.
She was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years after admitting handling stolen goods.
Ms Prudham sparked fury in 2015 when she revealed they were pocketing up to 40,000 a year in state handouts during the Channel 5 documentary 'Benefits: Britains Most Shameless Mum.'
She appeared on ITV's This Morning to brag of her life of luxury.
In 2016 she appealed for a sperm donor to have a 13th child.
Crude oil futures rose to Rs 3,106 per barrel on June 23 due to build-up of long positions. The black gold continued its uptrend with prices hitting its highest levels in three months.
The commodity is likely to take further cues from the American Petroleum Institutes (API) weekly inventory report scheduled to be released later in the day.
Sunilkumar Katke, Head of Commodities and Currency at Axis Securities, said WTI crude oil prices have surged to a multi-month high of $41 per barrel after its unprecedented negative closing in April. "The rally is mainly a result of opening up of economies, including its largest consumer China followed by the agreement on extending production cut by OPEC and its allies from July as the current deadline expires by June-end."
The stimulus package by most central banks across the globe to revive the economy and drive manufacturing is also one of the major drivers of crude oil prices.
However, Navneet Damani, Vice President, Motilal Oswal, warned that the market is still worried about the US-China trade deal. The old cliche that there's no smoke without fire will certainly be ringing in the ears of the bulls.
In the futures market, crude oil for July delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 3,126 and an intraday low of Rs 3,061 per barrel on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX). So far in the current series, black gold has touched a low of Rs 1,655 and a high of Rs 3,126.
Crude oil futures for July delivery climbed Rs 52, or 1.7 percent, to Rs 3,116 per barrel at 15:00 hours IST on a business turnover of 4,987 lots.
The same for August delivery rose Rs 44, or 1.42 percent, to Rs 3,132 per barrel on a business volume of 65 lots.
The value of July and August contracts traded so far is Rs 1,244.61 crore and Rs 2.40 crore, respectively.
Katke expects crude oil prices to correct a bit from here. He advices traders to sell around Rs 3,150 per barrel with a stop loss at Rs 3,220 for a target of Rs 3,000 mark in coming days.
West Texas Intermediate crude gained 1.33 percent at $41.27 per barrel, while Brent crude, the London-based international benchmark, was up 1.30 percent to $43.64 per barrel.
Resumption of South China Sea Code of Conduct negotiations to be determined soon: Vietnamese diplomat
ASEAN and China expect to set the time and date for resumption of delayed negotiations on the highly anticipated Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea as part of their discussions on cooperation issues.
Deputy foreign minister Nguyen Quoc Dung (left) and foreign ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang held a press briefing over the upcoming ASEAN summit on June 26 in Hanoi.
Vietnamese deputy foreign minister Nguyen Quoc Dung disclosed the information during Tuesdays press briefing in Hanoi regarding the 36th summit of the 10-member Southeast Asian grouping summit slated for June 26.
Its regrettable that due to COVID-19 pandemic, we havent had any meeting regarding COC since the beginning of 2020, Dung said, adding that the last meeting was held in a Lat, Vietnam, last October when the participating countries were ready to go into the second reading of the Single Draft COC Negotiating Text in 2020.
It is scheduled that on July 1, there will be an ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting where a range of cooperation mechanisms will be discussed, including the specific plans for resumption of COC talks, according to Dung.
All the latest developments surrounding the South China Sea might also be on the agenda at the meeting between ASEAN leaders and partners, Dung said.
Aside from the main topic for the summit, which would likely be dominated by COVID-19, there would be always room for discussions over contemporary developments as well as current regional and global situations, Dung said, adding that no one will shy away from these issues.
China recently intensified their military actions in the disputed waters, while on the diplomatic side, the US has submitted note verbally to the UN challenging Chinas expansive and illegal claims in the resource-rich sea, joining the opposition conveyed by Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Everything that happened will be on the table, Dung said.
ASEAN not taking sides
Strategic competition between powers, particularly between the US and China recently, had caused global tensions, awkwardness and dilemmas for many countries, including the Southeast Asian regional bloc, deputy minister Dung told the press.
When the major powers of the world split over stark differences, it might force countries to take side, the Vietnamese diplomat noted.
However the stance of Vietnam, and likely that of all of ASEAN members, had always been clear and consistent.
ASEAN will not take any side, but will prioritise its own interests, Dung said, stressing that ASEAN has its own viewpoint on regional and global matters.
He cited the adoption of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific last year as an example of the regional blocs charting its position on the US-led initiative in order to strengthen its central role in the region.
I believe this spirit will continue to be demonstrated at the upcoming 36th summit and the 37th summit in November, the Vietnamese diplomat commented.
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts was sentenced Tuesday in connection with the gas explosions in the Merrimack Valley region that killed one person, injured many others and damaged homes and businesses.
The gas company was ordered to pay a criminal fine of just over $53 million representing twice the amount of what it earned in profits between 2015 and 2018 from a pipeline infrastructure program called the Gas System Enhancement Plan, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts said, in a statement.
Most of the $53 million will be put toward the Justice Departments Crime Victims Fund, which provides financial support to victims of a variety of crimes across the U.S.
The company was also ordered on probation for three years during which time it will be closely monitored for compliance with state and federal safety regulations, prosecutors said.
NiSource, Columbia Gass parent company, also agreed to sell off the company as part of a deferred prosecution agreement announced February. The company will remain on probation until it is sold.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said Columbia Gas had acted with reckless disregard for safety by cutting corners and relying on lax protocols.
The result was catastrophic stealing one life, harming dozens and impacting the home and livelihoods of hundreds more, Lelling said, in a statement. Todays sentence serves as little comfort to the victims, but is another step towards terminating Columbia Gass business in Massachusetts.
On Sept. 13, 2018, an over-pressurized natural gas line set off a series of fires and explosions in three Merrimack Valley communities. The explosions and fires damaged 131 structures, killed one person, drove thousands from their homes in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, and sent at least 21 people, including two firefighters, to the hospital. More than 2,000 families lived in temporary housing for weeks and months in the aftermath.
Columbia Gas restored service to nearly 7,500 residential and business properties, installed more than 18,000 appliances in homes and replaced nearly 44 miles of gas main lines following the explosions.
As part of the recovery efforts, the company disconnected 4,900 gas lines in the Merrimack Valley out of service and installed over 5,000 new lines.
JK Rowling's charity co-founder Baroness Nicholson has been reported to the Lord's Commissioner for Standards over claims she bullied a British transgender model she called a 'weird creature'.
The politician is thought to have made the comments on Twitter about Munroe Bergdorf, an outspoken advocate for social justice.
In another, now deleted tweet, Baroness Nicholson also misgenders the model and claims it was a typing error, as reported by PinkNews.
She said: 'Musht be shome mishtake, my finger typed M. but the invisible editor forgot that I also use French.'
Bergdorf responded on her Instagram account she said: 'In addition to calling me 'a weird creature' and sharing transphobic memes featuring abuse that I received three years ago, reframed as if I said it myself.'
JK Rowling and Baroness Emma Nicholson JK Rowling launches her new book 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' at Sotheby's, London, Britain - 10 Dec 2007
Bergdorf added: 'She has also deliberately misgendered me and begun retweeting dangerous propaganda from anti-trans hate group Transgender Trend, who actively go into schools to disseminate anti-trans rhetoric.'
Speaking to MailOnline Baroness Nicholson did not deny misgendering the model, but said she was not aware what pronouns she uses and it was not clear on her Twitter account.
She said: 'This really cannot be the case because this person who I do not know does not detail on their Twitter profile their preferred pronouns. There are two sexes and 112 genders so you cannot choose.
'It's a bit of a red herring, if transgender people want to be called by a specific pronoun you have to make it clear to people.' She added that she was trying to write 'M.' but made an error.
She also admitted to calling the model a 'wild creature' but said it was a reference to Shakespeare's Sonnet Number 1 that she been engaging with during lockdown. 'It's about a creature who is really wonderful and beautiful,' she added.
The peer said the incident and accusations of bullying are 'just a load of rubbish' and that she and Ms Bergdorf 'have different views' which they share online and disagree about 'but that's politics.'
Baroness Nicholson previously co-founded a charity with JK Rowling called the Childrens High Level Group (CHLG). The peer has been not been involved with the charity, now called Lumos, since 2010.
The Harry Potter author has been mired in controversy for comments she made on social media and in an essay published online.
Ms Bergdof posted screenshots of her followers reporting Baroness Nicholson to the Lord's Commissioner for Standards and posted a link in her Instagram bio on how to make a complaint to parliament.
A House of Lords spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Complaints made to the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards are first subjected to a preliminary assessment to decide whether they engage the Code of Conduct and therefore may require investigation.
'Complaints about members of the House alleging bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct are only made public where a preliminary assessment requires an investigation and after any report is published.'
Bergdorf responded on her Instagram account and said that Nicholson is 'a follower of trans exclusionary radical feminism, or as they call it gender critical feminism'
It comes as four authors have resigned from JK Rowling's literary agency after accusing it of failing to issue a public statement in support of transgender rights and equality.
Fox Fisher, Drew Davies and Ugla Stefania Kristjonudottir Jonsdottir issued a joint statement to announce their resignation from The Blair Partnership.
A fourth author is also understood to have quit but wished to remain anonymous.
Rowling was criticised for comments she made on social media and wrote an essay, published on her personal website, expressing 'deep concerns' about transgender activism.
The statement made by Fisher, Davies and Jonsdottir said: 'This decision is not made lightly, and we are saddened and disappointed it has come to this.
'After J. K. Rowlings who is also signed to the agency public comments on transgender issues, we reached out to the agency with an invitation to reaffirm their stance to transgender rights and equality.
'After our talks with them, we felt that they were unable to commit to any action that we thought was appropriate and meaningful.
'Freedom of speech can only be upheld if the structural inequalities that hinder equal opportunities for underrepresented groups are challenged and changed.'
Jonsdottir, also known as Owl Fisher and co-author of the Trans Teen Survival Guide, suggested the agency should conduct staff training with the group All About Trans but 'these requests weren't met positively by the management', The Guardian reported.
The statement added: 'As LGBTQIA writers ourselves we feel strongly about having an agency that supports our rights at all avenues, and does not endorse views that go against our values and principles.'
The three authors are marking their resignation by donating to Shakti Women's Aid and have also asked others to donate.
Shakti Women's Aid is a charity that is part of the Scottish Women's Aid movement and supports BAME women who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse.
A spokesperson for The Blair Partnership told The Guardian: 'We support the rights of all of our clients to express their thoughts and beliefs, and we believe in freedom of speech. Publishing and the creative arts are dependent on these things. It is our duty, as an agency to support all of our clients in this fundamental freedom and we do not comment on their individual views.
'We are disappointed by the decision that four clients have taken to part ways with the agency. To reiterate, we believe in freedom of speech for all; these clients have decided to leave because we did not meet their demands to be re-educated to their point of view. We respect their right to pursue what they feel is the correct course of action.
'We value all our authors voices and, as an agency, champion equality and inclusivity. We remain committed to making the agency the most welcoming environment it can be for everyone. The diversity of our clients voices is our strength and we take enormous pride from each and every one.'
Tunisian President Kais Saied said his country wouldn't accept a divided Libya at a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday.
"The authorities in Tripoli are based on international legitimacy, but this international legitimacy cannot continue. It is a temporary legitimacy, and its place must come a new legitimate government, a legitimate government which is born of the will of the Libyan people," Saied said.
"Tunis will not accept the division of Libya," he added.
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 when a NATO-backed uprising toppled leader Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed.
The country has since been split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by armed groups and different foreign governments.
On his first trip to Europe since he was elected in October last year, Saied is also the first head of state to visit France since the lockdown of the country amid the pandemic. virus restrictions enforced in France in mid-March have almost all been lifted in recent weeks.
Tunisia has strong political and economic ties with France, its former colonial power.
Monday's meeting in Paris, followed by a dinner at the Elysee presidential palace, also comes less than two weeks after Tunisias parliament rejected a motion calling on France to apologize for crimes permitted during the colonial era and pay reparations.
Opponents argued that such a move would spell economic disaster, given that France is Tunisias top trading partner and No. 1 foreign investor. France is also home to onw million Tunisians.
But proponents of the motion said an apology is necessary to turn the page on this dark period in the history of the two countries and put their relations on a more equal footing.
The debate came amid renewed anger in some European countries about colonialisms crimes, stemming from protests in the U.S. over racial injustice and police violence after the death of George Floyd.
France occupied Tunisia as a protectorate for 75 years, from 1881 until 1956. French soldiers only left Tunisian territory in 1963.
Patanjali will step in if no other Indian company bids for IPL title: Ramdev
Dr Harsh Vardhan should say he is not endorsing Patanjali's Coronil, says Indian Medical Association
On Ramdevs allopathy remark Patanjali says he was only reading a forward
Stop advertising 'Coronil' as COVID cure; prove claims scientifically first: Govt tells Patanjali
India
oi-Deepika S
New Delhi, June 23: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and AYUSH Ministry have denied to vouch for Patanjali's cure for coronavirus Coronil.
Ministry of AYUSH on Tuesday said it has taken cognizance of the news floating in media about Ayurvedic medicines developed for treatment of Covid-19 by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.
However, facts of the claim and details of the stated scientific study are not known to the Ministry and complete details of the supposed medicines have been sought, it said in a statement.
Patanjali has been asked by AYUSH Ministry to not advertise/publicise these claims until they have been fully examined.
"Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has been asked to provide at the earliest details of the name and composition of the medicines being claimed for COVID treatment; site(s)/hospital(s), where the research study was conducted for COVID-19; protocol, sample size, Institutional Ethics Committee clearance, CTRI registration and results data of the study (ies) and stop advertising/publicizing such claims till the issue is duly examined," the ministry further said.
Covid-19: 70 patients listed as missing in Mumbai's civic body BMC's records | Oneindia News
Has Patanjali found a cure for COVID-19
The ministry has also requested concerned State Licensing Authority of Uttrakhand Government to provide copies of license and product approval details of the Ayurvedic medicines being claimed for the treatment of Covid-19.
Yoga guru Ramdev's herbal medicine company Patanjali Ayurved on Tuesday claimed to have discovered cure for coronavirus but no medical authority could immediately vouch for the claim of 'Coronil and Swasari' medicine curing the highly contagious disease within seven days.
The firm claimed that the two Ayurved-based medicines have shown 100 per cent favourable results during clinical trials on COVID-19 infected patients except those on a life support system.
Sidestepping questions on the drug being approved by government agencies such as ICMR, Ramdev said clinical controlled study of these medicines was done in several cities including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Meerut and the RCT (Randomized Clinical Trial) controlled with placebo was conducted at Jaipur-based National Institute of Medical Sciences & Research.
Both the Ministry of Ayush and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have reportedly refused to comment on the claim citing lack of knowledge of the issue.
ODO fleet management enables TysonCooper to expand capacity by automating the mundane whilst also accelerating repeats, renewals and referrals
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ODO, part of DRIVE Software Solutions, a leading provider of fleet management technology for the leasing, broker and dealer sectors, today announced it has signed an agreement with TysonCooper, a fully approved member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) and the BVRLA, to provide fleet management solutions to its varied customer base.
Like many brokers, TysonCooper had limited capacity within their business and recognised the need to automate processes and expand their offering in order to scale. They also needed a solution that can accelerate their repeats, renewals and referrals by keeping them relevant through the lifecycle of a lease.
Partnering with ODO enables TysonCooper to expand their fleet management offering whilst also unlocking capacity both within their business and more importantly within their customers' business. ODO's intuitive fleet management platform delivers three key benefits to TysonCooper's customers:
Peace of Mind . ODO enables vehicles and drivers to remain compliant whilst also making it easy to deliver on duty of care responsibilities (Driver health / Driver safety etc) and giving confidence that any fraudulent activity is identified
. ODO enables vehicles and drivers to remain compliant whilst also making it easy to deliver on duty of care responsibilities (Driver health / Driver safety etc) and giving confidence that any fraudulent activity is identified Lower Fleet Costs through functionality that prevents end of lease surprises, reduces fuel and maintenance costs whilst also reducing down-time
through functionality that prevents end of lease surprises, reduces fuel and maintenance costs whilst also reducing down-time A time saving driver App that empowers users to self-serve and manage vehicles efficiently with proactive prompts to identify and prioritise issues, key tasks and reporting.
Chris Harbutt, Sales Director for TysonCooper commented: "Many of our customers face similar capacity issues to TysonCooper. It was important to find a partner who could enable both us and our customer to automate mundane processes, free up time and talent and enable a better experience between driver, fleet manager and broker. ODO delivers in spades and gives us the ability to expand our offering safe in the knowledge that our customers will benefit from time savings whilst also staying compliant and reducing fleet management costs."
Robert Gorby, Chief Commercial Officer for ODO, said: "To partner with an ambitious broker like TysonCooper is very exciting. They recognise the market is changing for brokers and expanding to fleet management is a natural progression. ODO enables TysonCooper to future proof their business by giving them the flexibility to adapt to the changing market".
For more information, please visit www.ododrive.com and www.tysoncooper.com
About ODO
ODO delivers an intuitive, automated and flexible fleet management ecosystem, enabling ambitious businesses to optimise their fleet without the frustrations and gaps of multiple manual solutions.
ODO runs in the Oracle cloud, meaning businesses can manage their fleet and their drivers on the go, using any kind of device. ODO.
Time to optimise your fleet. www.ododrive.com
ABOUT TYSON COOPER
TysonCooper's purpose is to help our customers get more car (or van, or truck) for their money, while also cutting out the legwork involved in researching and ordering that vehicle. Whether you're looking to buy, finance or lease, for personal or business use, you can save time and money through TysonCooper.
TysonCooper is a fully approved member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB), Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the BVRLA.
www.tysoncooper.com
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1194654/ODO_Logo.jpg
SAGINAW, MI - When Joseph Stricker found himself stressed out, friends and family would often tell him to go home and cook something. Now, hes turned his stress relief into a business - Sombreros Mexican Restaurant, 2903 Pierce Road.
Stricker ran a successful martial arts studio, Martial Arts Connection, for 16 years. Located at 6285 Bay Road in Saginaw, the studio remains one of Strickers greatest passions. Hes traveled to Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, the Czech Republic and countless other destinations to share his passion for martial arts with the world.
But as hes gotten older, Stricker said his body needs a break.
Its taking too long to recover when I get hurt, Stricker said. I had established myself in martial arts, and Im doing good financially with that. So I decided to use that to open Sombreros.
Stricker has always turned to cooking as a way to unwind. He recalls working with his grandparents at their Saginaw Mexican restaurants, which have since gone out of business, bottling hot sauce and perfecting dishes.
Being Hispanic - my mother and grandparents are from Mexico - the Mexican culinary was a specialty I liked, Stricker said. Our logo is actually based off a photo me as a child at my grandmothers house.
The Sombreros Mexican Restaurant logo is based off an image of owner Joseph Stricker as a child at his grandparents' house.
By February 2019, Stricker decided to make his cooking passion into a business, and he opened Sombreros with the goal of giving people the same happiness he had as a child cooking with his grandparents.
When Stricker moved back to Saginaw after serving in the Marine Corps in California, he became especially motivated to make his dream of owning a restaurant a reality.
A lot of people in this area get confused between Tex Mex and Mexican, he said. In my opinion, most around here are Tex Mex. No offense, I love them, but la torta, the Mexican sandwich, I dont know any other restaurant in the Great Lakes Bay Region that has that.
Sombreros Mexican Restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The restaurant also offers event and corporate catering.
Read More
Local Eats: Toyo Rosas says Saginaws T&T Authentic Mexican Cuisine is truly authentic
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Coney dogs, pizza and brews are on Bay Countys Takeout Tuesday menu
Potatoes, tacos and wine available for Saginaws Takeout Tuesday
Ranjani Madhavan By
Express News Service
BENGALURU: A cardiologist from Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, who tested positive on Sunday evening, was denied treatment by private hospitals when he tried to get admitted for Covid-19 treatment. He worked in the OPD section and did rounds of the in-patient department. He began suffering from fever, sore throat and bodyache, but was largely asymptomatic. Finally, he got admitted in the cardiac rehabilitation block of Jayadeva Hospital, which is separate from the main building.
He went to many private hospitals, some said they were full and others were reluctant to admit him. Government rules mandate that they should admit corona patients. When private hospitals come for meetings, they agree to take part in the fight against Covid, but when it comes to their own colleague, they refuse treatment, said Dr CN Manjunath, director of Jayadeva Hospital.
Moreover, news of their colleague testing positive has left other doctors and nurses concerned for their own safety, as they see 800-1000 people per day in the outpatient section, and attend to over 500 in-patients. Around 15 primary contacts working with the cardiologist are said to be quarantined.
Services should be restricted to emergency cases of heart failure. Routine check-ups can be postponed. Doctors in the OPD wear N95 masks but not PPE kits. With hundreds of patients frequenting the OPD, it is a risk for all the medicaldoctors, nurses and other support staff, said a doctor.
Another doctor told TNIE, For over two months during the lockdown, no one came to hospitals. Now they are visiting the OPD and not following social distancing. People can consult local doctors for routine check-ups and ECG, and send ECG reports to us on WhatsApp. One or two attendants accompany each patient, increasing exposure.
To the Times:
Something is wrong in Delaware County, that needs to be exposed.
I applied for a mail-in ballot, but never received it prior to the
election (it actually showed up the day after the election).
So, on Election Day, I went to my polling place and was told I would
have to vote using a Provisional Ballot.
I completed the Provisional Ballot, and all of the information requested
and received a tracking #, so the ballot could be tracked.
As of today, there ie still no record of my Provisional Ballot, its like it disappeared.
I emailed the Delaware County Elections Office last Wednesday (eight days after the election) and have not received any response.
I have seen several other people, post in a Re-Open PA Facebook Group, sharing the exact same experience (that their provisional ballot is missing). One person posted that she called the Elections Office and was sent a full voicemail box.
Something is not right here I suspect this may be more widespread than just one or two missing ballots (not that any # of missing votes, is acceptable).
Delaware County Officials, are apparently, trying to hide from the problem and are not addressing it.
Could you please raise public awareness of this problem? Perhaps it will force county officials to take action.
Thank you!
Thomas Byrne, Haverford
S Jaishankar will hold talks on Tuesday through video conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
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.
After nine years of the United States relying entirely on Russian Soyuz rockets to deliver astronauts into orbit, this dependency finally ended on May 30, 2020, with the successful launch of the private US company SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft, bound for the International Space Station (ISS) (TASS, May 31). Combined with the looming termination of Moscows RD-180 rocket engine supply contract as well as ongoing negotiations on Russias role in the USs planned orbital station Lunar Gateway, the commercial SpaceX manned launch symbolizes the ongoing uncoupling of the US-Russian partnership in outer space.
During the first decade of the space partnership, beginning in 1992, seemingly common values and a larger shared purpose of democratizing and liberalizing Russia allowed both sides to manage their political differences. This facilitated space-related cooperation and created lasting mutual interdependence in this sector. Moreover, the relationship helped to legitimize Russias domestic political order in the eyes of the Russian people, who consider space activity an essential part of their national historical heritage (see EDM, April 29). However, with Russia no longer seeking or willing to entertain US/Western assistance regarding economic or democratic governance reforms, those original shared goals and common values are no longer part of the bilateral agenda. The same holds for bilateral trust: the confrontation (since 2014) between Russia and the West on the ground undermines efforts to cooperate in outer space.
In this situation, Washington has sought to be pragmatic regarding future space cooperation with Moscow, seeking to keep it involved in the US space program while endeavoring to eliminate any dependencies. In turn, Moscow has been working to preserve its status as a crucial and special US partner in space exploration. This political framework will define the way cooperation in space will be reconsidered over the coming years.
At present, Russia faces multiple negative trends that affect its homegrown space industry. SpaceXs Crew Dragon eliminated Russias monopoly on manned space flights. And when Boeings CST-100 Starliner becomes operational in 2021, it will become even harder for Moscow to contribute to the space partnership with Washington.
An equally negative set of trends pertains to Russias rocket engine supply business. Between 1999 and 2019, Russia sold 119 RD-180 rocket engines to the United States (Kommersant, December 3, 2018; RIA Novosti, July 22, 2019; Engine.space, October 31, 2019). And as of June 2020, 90 US launches specifically employed the RD-180 propulsion system. Notably, the US space programs reliance on this Russian technology persisted even after the Crimean annexation in 2014, although the downturn in political relations slowed down future purchases by the US side. Initially, Russia supplied up to 11 such RD-180 engines to the United States every year (Engine.space, December 28, 2018). However, by 2019, that number had dropped to only six. An additional six will be purchased by the US in 2020 (RIA Novosti, January 22, 2020), along with (presumably) the final six engines in 20212022, at which point the contract is set to expire (SpaceNews, June 14, 2016; Armedservices.house.gov, April 3, 2019). The US has built up a sufficiently large reserve of RD-180 engines to last through the transition to a new, fully US-built Vulcan heavy launch vehicle (maiden flight planned for 2021). Moreover, SpaceXs Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets have already reduced the need for the RD-180-powered Atlas Vs. Russia also sells RD-181 engines for the Antares launch vehicle, produced by Northrop Grumman; but annual supplies never exceeded five units (22 engines in total were sold between 2015 and 2019). As such, one of the last meaningful sources of interdependence between Russia and the United States is continuing to erode (see EDM, July 19, 2018).
Related: WTI Jumps To $40 On Demand Recovery
The degradation of cooperation with the US will also increasingly constrain heretofore reliable revenue flows to the Russian space industry. Today, a single seat on a Soyuz spacecraft costs $86 million for foreign astronauts; and the United States had been paying not only for American but also for European, Canadian and Japanese spacefarers. Consequently, in 2019 alone, Russia collected $430 million for delivering astronauts to the ISS. Throughout the period 20062020, Moscow sold 70 seats aboard its manned rockets for a total of $3.9 billion (Nasa.gov, November 14, 2019). The actual manufacture of the Soyuz spacecraft and its launch vehicle costs Russia $70 million. While the current cost to produce each RD-180 and RD-181 engine may be estimated at $15 million. The revenue from the US contracts was, thus, quite significant for Russias state-owned space industry, especially considering that, in 2019, Russia itself spent less than $1.4 billion for its civil space program (Economy.gov.ru, April 1, 2020). But that source of revenue is now set to dwindle over the coming years.
Despite decades of fruitful cooperation with the US, Russia did not take full advantage of this partnership to improve the domestic space-industrial sector. Moscow did not complete the development of a new spacecraft and launch vehicle (Kommersant, June 8, 2020; N+1, January 18, 2019), and never even completed the construction of the Russian segment of the ISSits three modules are still on Earth, in different stages of manufacture (Roscosmos.ru, June 26, 2019 and June 17, 2020). Paradoxically, however, those unfulfilled space station additions may be key to Russias efforts to save its long-term space collaboration with the United States.
For the financial- and prestige-related reasons mentioned above, the Russian leadership is doing all it can to ensure the country can continue to play an institutionalized role as a partner of the US in space in the post-ISS era. The main option for Russia is to take one or two of its three modules originally designed for the ISS and offer to integrate them into the USs planned Lunar Gateway station, which will orbit around the Moon (RIA Novosti, April 17). The problem for Moscow is that, at present, it has nothing else to propose to Washington other than to repurpose these modules, since Russia is not ready to alter the paradigm of its civilian space program in which manned spaceflights account for more than half of total spending.
For Russia, scientific pursuits have always been secondary to the manned flights' side of its civilian space program; as such it is willing to spend billions of dollars to secure a role for itself to ferry astronauts to and from the USs Lunar Gateway (Vedomosti, September 2, 2019). Moreover, the Kremlin will certainly pay more attention to space relations with France, Germany, Japan and other partners in order to be able to argue that the US accepts Russia into the Gateway programthough, on Moscows terms.
By The Jamestown Foundation
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European churches are coming back into live worship as many churches have reopened with restrictions for safety. Hoping the Covid 19 Coronavirus could disappear for good, churches are excited and worried at the same time. As churches began moving back to in-person services in late May, Christians state that interacting with a computer screen cannot replace them with gathering in person.
"Will people come back?"
"When will we able to worship in a crowded church again? Will the new online worshippers stay with us and will they come to church for worship? Will the Pastors and the churches really be able to do both online worship and worship in the church?"
"We were allowed to have 50 persons in the church building seated with a distance of 1 meter from each other," Bjerkseth said.
Shown to the record, Europe was especially hard hit by the virus and affected many believers. The WHO reporting 2.4 million cases as of June 14 and 188,001 deaths from Covid-19. The coronavirus has been reaching the most around Europeans.
Thomas Risager, a district superintendent in the Denmark Conference continue to worry about fellowship. He states that the safety measures will still continue at churches all the time.
"We have sermons, Bible studies, morning prayers, worship services, lectures, and everything needed for our people to stay fit in these unusual circumstances,"
"Currently, we have 40 playlists and 745 videos on this channel."
Pastor's state as time progressed, people are getting tired of being home and isolated from others. While our hearts are at a rush, pastors and churchgoers were obedient to the rules and regulations that the government provided.
"It is important for us, also at this time, to love our neighbor and that means keeping one another safe,"
"We did not want to put anyone at risk by opening the churches too soon. Everyone understood and respected this decision and did what they could to stay in contact with one another to ensure that morale stayed high."
Norway churches also made regular telephone calls to elderly and sick people as well as mailing a weekly church bulletin to all church members.
"Most of our members do their giving directly through the bank to get a tax reduction, so that part of the giving has not been influenced by the situation," Bjerkseth said. "However, those that usually give their offerings while being in the church have not had that possibility, so we have had a drop in income."
Elder isolation has been a major concern during the pandemic, said Elaine Grande, director of program development. Were actually seeing a decline in reporting of abuse cases, but were concerned thats not necessarily an accurate picture of whats going on. It may be because seniors are sheltering in place and people are not seeing them.
By AFP
WASHINGTON: A crowd of protestors tried to topple the statue of a former US president near the White House Monday evening as police responded with pepper spray to break up new demonstrations that erupted in Washington.
A wave of nationwide rallies calling for racial justice has swept the United States since the May 25 death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
On Monday, hundreds of protestors were pushed back by at least 100 security force personnel after they had thrown ropes around the statue of Andrew Jackson, the divisive seventh US president, in Lafayette Square park.
The word "killer" had been spray-painted on the stone plinth, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
Jackson, in office from 1829 to 1837, owned more than 500 slaves over his life and was a key figure in the forced relocation of nearly 100,000 Native Americans, otherwise known as the Trail of Tears.
"We had ropes, chains, a pulley to pull, and we were going to attach that and tear down the statue," a 20-year-old protester told AFP, on condition of anonymity.
"The police attacked us. They've taken the law to their own hands," Raymond Spaine, a 52-year-old black man cleaning his eyes with saline, told AFP.
A helicopter circled over the gathering of hundreds of people on the newly-renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza, as officers continued to use pepper spray to disperse the protestors.
President Donald Trump criticized the protesters, tweeting: "Numerous people arrested in DC for the disgraceful vandalism in Lafayette Park, of the magnificent Statue of Andrew Jackson, in addition to the exterior defacing of St John's Church across the street."
He also warned that vandalizing the statue could be punishable with jail time.
Local media reported that several people were arrested near Lafayette Square earlier Monday when police tried to clear a tent encampment. It was unrelated to the attempt to topple Jackson's statue.
Earlier this month, police broke up a peaceful rally in Lafayette Square moments before President Donald Trump walked from the White House for a photo-op at the historic St John's Church damaged by arson the previous night.
The clash over Jackson's statue is part of the latest movement in the protests: tearing down statues and monuments to individuals linked to the US' racist past.
Protestors initially focused on Confederate generals, such as the Robert E Lee statue in Richmond. On Friday, demonstrators in Washington tore down a statue of Albert Pike, the only statue of a Southern Civil War general in the nation's capital.
But the spotlight has begun to shift to figures of US history previously considered untouchable, including Founding Fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, both slave owners.
Another statue of Jackson was vandalized with red paint earlier Monday in Jacksonville, Florida, which is named after the president.
Trump has delivered blunt instructions to local leaders confronting the protests, telling authorities to "dominate the streets," and he has been unapologetic about the heavy deployment of forces.
He also threatened to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act, which would mean deploying the armed forces on US soil.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 14:54:42|Editor: huaxia
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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks made Monday during a virtual meeting with European Union (EU) leaders are significant for China-EU relations and global governance, experts and politicians around the world have said.
Referring to China as "a partner, not an opponent" to the EU side, Xi said during the meeting that China will continue to deepen reform and expand opening up, which will provide Europe with a new round of cooperation opportunities and development space.
In the view of Antonio Martins da Cruz, former Portuguese foreign minister, Xi's stance on future China-EU relations are "a reinforcement of China's traditional positions."
"Xi's statement on China's opening up policy is a major cornerstone for (its) future relations with the EU," he said, adding that the Chinese president's speech will play a positive role in "building a new scope of China-EU relations."
The former Portuguese official also appreciated Xi's vision that China and the EU should serve as two major forces to maintain global peace and stability.
"Peace and stability are essential for economic and social development," the official said, adding China will be a very important and essential partner for Europe to create and improve new global governance and a better world for future generations.
In the eyes of Mate Granic, former minister of foreign affairs of Croatia, cooperation between the EU and China is "the best guarantee for stability and peace in the world."
As the COVID-19 pandemic is still ravaging the world, Granic said "this is the right time to show solidarity" and advocate more efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two sides.
"As Xi said, China and the EU are not rivals, but partners. China will further open up, not only for the EU, but for the whole world," said Sylwester Szafarz, former consul general of Poland in the Chinese city of Shanghai.
"In the post-pandemic era, it will be more needed than ever for China and the EU to respect each other, work together closely, revive the world economy and build a better world," Szafarz added.
During the meeting, the Chinese president also pointed out that China and Europe should serve as two great civilizations that adhere to multilateralism and help improve global governance.
Xi said that China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the EU on major international and regional issues, strengthen dialogue and cooperation on global public health governance, and promote the building of a community of health for all.
French writer and sinologist Sonia Bressler said that "we must work with China in a 'win-win' approach and seek to consolidate the emerging multilateralism."
Citing the China-Europe freight trains as an example, Bressler said this link symbolizes Sino-European friendship and shows how much China seeks to apply the principle of "a community of shared future." Enditem
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese and Japanese governments have strongly recommended use of Favipiravir to treat the disease. Currently, over 100 countries have included Favipiravir as part of their treatments. Originally developed by Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd., Favipiravir was approved as strategic stockpile as a countermeasure for virus in Japan. In 2016, the patent of Favipiravir was exclusively franchised to Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (HISUN), which cooperated with CMAM to develop Favipiravir tablets. The finished drug was approved rapidly in February 2020.
Data from Favipiravir's clinical tests published by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China at an official press conference indicated Favipiravir has shown good clinical efficacy against the disease, and the tablet form makes it easily accessible. Once Favipiravir was launched in the Chinese market, it was included into the Major Anti-pandemic Materials by China's State Council, and the Chinese government has unified the allocation of Favipiravir supplies. All Favipiravir tablets in China are manufactured by HISUN. As the situation with the disease is improving, the medication has been sold through omni-channel across China. It has also been used to support over 30 countries and regions in battling COVID-19. Favipiravir's outstanding contribution in fighting COVID-19 has earned its producer, HISUN, the honorary title of "Ordnance Factory" responding to the COVID-19 crisis by the Chinese State Council.
Know more about Favipiravir: http://www.hisunpharm.com/en/favipiravir.php.
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Indonesian scholar Prof. Aleksius Jemadu has said the 36th ASEAN Summit needs to focus on policy coordination in response to COVID-19, regional stability in face of complicated developments in the East Sea
and promotion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
In a recent interview granted to Vietnam News Agency, Prof. Jemadu, former Dean of Political and Social Sciences at Indonesias Pelita Harapan University, said it is time for ASEAN to coordinate policies to cope with and drive COVID-19 out of Southeast Asia.
He suggested that ASEAN leaders should have coordination policies at the regional level and share the best practices to deal with the pandemic crisis while restoring economy; improving trade, investment and tourism in the region.
With success in the fight against COVID-19, Vietnam could share its experience with other ASEAN member states, he said.
In face of the complicated developments in the East Sea, he said ASEAN needs to strengthen its diplomatic policies with China and persuade the country to speed up negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), so as to prevent acts of escalation and unnecessary use of violence in the sea.
The scholar also expected ASEAN to continue maintaining its solidarity and spotlighting its central role in dealing with issues related to regional stability in the East Sea.
As regional economy slowed down due to COVID-19, he suggested ASEAN step up RCEP talks and persuade India to join the deal to leave no one behind in inter-regional economic integration and cooperation process.
Jemadu hailed Vietnam for guiding ASEAN member states to maintain the groupings central role and stability.
He believed that Vietnam is in the best position to uphold the role of ASEAN leadership in this decisive time.
All ASEAN countries expect Vietnam to effectively play its role in uniting ASEAN and prioritising the promotion of ASEANs central role during its tenure as ASEAN Chair 2020, he said./.VNA
Former Department of Justice official to tell Congress that prosecutors faced improper political interference.
The federal office that led the prosecution of President Donald Trumps friend Roger Stone received heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to ease its sentencing recommendation, career prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky plans to tell Congress, according to his prepared remarks.
Zelinsky, who withdrew from the Roger Stone case in protest, will testify on Wednesday before the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives Judiciary Committee about political pressures that he said the US Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia faced.
He will add that Tim Shea, the acting US attorney at the time who was appointed by Attorney General William Barr, ultimately caved to the pressure because he was afraid of the President.
Zelinskys testimony never explicitly said who pressured Shea, but he said he was told that Shea was receiving heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break.
I was explicitly told that the motivation for changing the sentencing memo was political, and because the US Attorney was afraid of the President, Zelinsky said.
US Attorney General William Barr at a meeting at White House in Washington, DC. Barr is accused of pressuring prosecutors to reduce the sentence of Trump confidante Roger Stone. [File: Carlos Barria/Reuters]
The Justice Department had no immediate comment on his testimony.
Republicans are expected to push back on his testimony, saying he is confusing politicisation with policy disagreements.
Zelinsky said career prosecutors never got to see the draft of the revised memo, which Shea filed after Trump blasted the office on Twitter for its original recommendation of a seven-to-nine-year term.
The Republican president called the recommendation horrible and a miscarriage of justice. Stones friendship with Trump dates back decades.
Stone, 67, who was convicted of obstruction, witness tampering and lying to Congress during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, is due to report to prison later this month to begin serving his three years-and-four-month sentence. He is seeking an extension due to concerns about contracting COVID-19.
Wednesdays hearing will mark the first time that Zelinsky will publicly discuss the drama that ensued behind the scenes with the case, in what critics see as part of a broader pattern of improper political interference by the attorney general in the criminal justice system.
A bombshell statement to Congress from Aaron Zelinsky, the prosecutor in the Roger Stone case who says he withdrew because of wrongful political pressure: https://t.co/qflT5oEYYn Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) June 23, 2020
Zelinsky will testify alongside John Elias, a career Justice Department antitrust lawyer who served as the divisions chief of staff and plans to talk about the politicisation of antitrust probes into cannabis companies and the automotive sector, according to his prepared remarks.
The hearing comes just after Barr abruptly moved, without any explanation, to remove Manhattans top federal prosecutor, Geoffrey Berman, whose office has been investigating Trumps personal lawyer Rudolph Giuliani.
Barr also moved last month to dismiss the criminal case against Trumps former National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, although Flynn had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
Democrats have said those moves by Barr raise questions about whether he is acting more like Trumps personal lawyer, and not serving the public interest.
In his prepared testimony, Elias plans to tell legislators that cannabis investigations accounted for five of the eight active merger investigations in an office with a broad portfolio.
He also said an antitrust probe of the four carmakers began the day after Trump tweeted on August 21 that he was angered that the companies were negotiating with California about air quality emissions standards.
The investigation had the effect of deterring other carmakers from joining the voluntary California agreements.
The Justice Department did not have any immediate comment on the antitrust testimony.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Friday, May 1, 2020, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was grilled during Monday's press briefing over President Donald Trump's use of the racist term "kung flu" to refer to the coronavirus.
McEnany insisted that it is "fair" for the president to blame China for the coronavirus' global spread and that that he was simply "putting the onus back on China."
She refused to say whether the racist term is, in fact, racist or offensive, despite the fact that Trump aide Kellyanne Conway condemned it as "highly offensive" and "wrong" in March.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany insisted on Monday that President Donald Trump used the term "kung flu"during his rally on Saturday as a way to blame China for the global spread of the coronavirus.
McEnany refused to say whether the racist term is, in fact, racist or offensive, after being asked by several reporters at Monday's White House press briefing. Instead, she argued Trump was "linking [the virus] to its place of origin."
After CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang asked why Trump uses the slur, McEnany falsely stated that the president "doesn't" use the term and insisted that "it's a fair thing to point out" that "the origin of the virus is China."
The press secretary then accused the media of using similar terms by calling Covid-19 the virus the "Chinese coronavirus" or the "Wuhan coronavirus" early this year. The media largely stopped referring to China when naming the virus as it spread outside of the country and grew into a global pandemic.
"President Trump is saying, 'No China, I will label this virus for its place of origin," McEnany said, adding that the president has called Asian-Americans "amazing people." "It is an indictment of China for letting this virus get here."
Story continues
In another set of questions on the topic, PBS News' White House correspondent, Yamiche Alcindor, pointed out that Trump aide Kellyanne Conway condemned the term "kung flu" as "highly offensive."
"Of course it's wrong," Conway told reporters then of the term's usage.
During his Saturday rally in Oklahoma, Trump said the "kung flu," is "one of "19 or 20" terms that he's heard used to describe Covid-19.
"By the way, it's a disease, without question, has more names than any other in history. I can name, 'kung flu,' I can name, 19 different versions of names," Trump said. "Many call it a virus, which it is, many call it a flu, what difference, I think we have 19 or 20 versions of the name."
Read the original article on Business Insider
NAUGATUCK - Police say that an unknown man attempted to lure an 11-year-old child into his vehicle on Monday.
At around 10:30 p.m., police responded to Cold Spring Circle for a complaint of a suspicious vehicle.
During the course of this investigation it was reported that an unknown individual attempted to lure an 11-year-old child into his vehicle, police posted on their Facebook page Tuesday morning.
The vehicle is described as similar to a gray, older model, Chrysler.
The vehicle may have rust on it and sun-damaged headlights with foggy lenses.
The operator is a male, unknown age or race.
The vehicle may have a license plate with the first two numbers 57.
We share the communitys concern over this type of incident and are asking for the publics assistance. Any person who may have information about this vehicle or its operator is asked to contact the Naugatuck Police.
Furthermore, if any member of the public has cameras or footage in this area which may have captured this incident we also ask for your assistance.
People contact Naugatuck Police Detectives at (203) 729-5221 or the NPD Confidential Tip Line at (203) 720-1010.
No evidence has suggested that people could be infected with the coronavirus from eating food, a senior Chinese medical expert claimed.
Feng Zijian, deputy chief of China's CDC, advised citizens 'not worry too much about food safety issues caused by the coronavirus' in an interview with the state broadcaster CCTV on Monday.
In a separate interview, the country's top coronavirus advisor Prof Zhong Nanshan warned that the epidemic could last until next spring as he urged officials to carry on imposing harsh measures when necessary.
No evidence has been found to suggest that people could be infected with the coronavirus from eating food, Beijing's top medical expert has claimed. This picture taken on June 22 shows a meat vendor at a wet market in Guangzhou, Guangdong province of southern China
Chinese epidemic control workers put on protective suits as they prepare for a shift performing nucleic acid swab tests for COVID-19 on citizens at a Beijing testing site on June 22
A new COVID-19 outbreak erupting the Chinese capital has stoked public fears of contaminated meat after the cluster is linked to a sprawling wholesale food market. Pictured, a health worker collects swab samples from a woman at a testing site in Beijing city on Monday
The officials' remarks come as a new COVID-19 outbreak erupting the Chinese capital has stoked public fears of a second wave after a cluster was linked to a sprawling seafood market.
China has also stepped up its oversight of imported foods after Beijing's fresh coronavirus crisis has infected 249 people after breaking out on June 11.
But CDC's leader Mr Feng reassured the public by saying no proof showed that people could catch the disease from consuming food.
He told state media CCTV: 'As of now, the virus has been spreading globally for almost half of a year.
'While it's been spreading worldwide, [we] have not found that this virus can be contracted by eating food.
'There is no need to worry too much about food safety issues caused by the coronavirus,' Mr Feng added.
The official's interview comes after Beijing began testing meat, seafood and fresh produce for the coronavirus last week following the new infection cluster in the city.
China has stepped up its oversight of imported foods after Beijing's fresh coronavirus crisis that broke out on June 11 and has infected 249 people. A group of people is pictured waiting in a line wearing protective masks at a COVID-19 nucleic acid testing station in Beijing on June 23
This picture taken on June 18 shows two volunteers from the Blue Sky Rescue team, in protective suits, disinfecting the Nangong market amid a new COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing
The official's interview comes after Beijing began testing meat, seafood and fresh produce for the coronavirus last week following the new infection cluster in the city. People in lockdown wait behind a barrier for their goods to be delivered to the residential compound in Beijing
The epidemic could last until next year, top advisor warns China's top coronavirus expert has claimed that the epidemic could last until next spring. Dr Zhong Nanshan, who has been leading the nation's efforts to fight the disease, urged authorities to continue imposing harsh measures to curb the spread of the disease. The senior epidemiologist said that the virus would not 'disappear' this winter or next spring. '[The epidemic] should continue to exist or ramp up when the winter and spring come,' he predicted in an interview with Guangdong TV Station. But he played down the possibility of another major outbreak like the one that hit Wuhan. He said: 'Although the source of the outbreak in Beijing this time is still unclear, it is clearer than that of Wuhan. 'A vital thing is that China can track [patients] and carry out short-term measures such as the closure of schools and universities as well as the reduction of flights. [These measures] are necessary.' Prof Zhong said harsh measures like those could help prevent the spread of the virus. Advertisement
The Chinese government Thursday shared the genome data from the latest outbreak, claiming it 'came from Europe' but is different from the virus that is currently spreading there - suggesting it could have been lurking in frozen food for some time.
Zhang Yong of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the strain of the virus spreading in Beijing 'is older than the virus currently circulating in Europe'.
Zhang raised the possibility of the virus lurking in imported frozen food or in the wholesale market itself, resulting in similarities to older strains.
But scientists cautioned against making early conclusions on the Beijing cluster.
European salmon producers played down the link after state media connected the outbreak to chopping boards used to cut up salmon at the Xinfadi food market.
China's customs authority said on Sunday it had suspended imports of poultry products from a plant owned by US-based meat processor Tyson Inc that has been hit by the disease.
China also suspended pork products from Germany-based pork processor Toennies last week following a local outbreak among hundreds of its workers.
PepsiCo China said on Sunday that operations at one of its food processing plants in Beijing had been suspended after at least one employee tested positive for the coronavirus, in the latest outbreak of COVID-19 virus in the capital.
Production at the factory in the Daxing district was halted as soon as the first coronavirus case was confirmed on June 15, said Fan Zhimin, PepsiCo China director of corporate affairs.
Lay's, which is owned by PepsiCo, said in a social media post that the affected food-processing plant produced a small quantity of its potato chips. It said the chance of any virus surviving during food processing was very low.
Beijing today has reported 13 native infections, bringing the tally of the capital city's COVID-19 outbreak to 249. People are picture being tested for coronavirus by medical workers wearing hazmat suits at a makeshift testing centre in Beijing on June 18 following the city's outbreak
Nearly three million residents across the city have received nucleic acid tests since June 12. Neighbourhoods have been locked down and schools closed as authorities battle to contain the cluster. Pictured, a hazmat-clad worker disinfecting a residential compound in Beijing
Beijing today has reported 13 native infections, bringing the tally of the capital city's COVID-19 outbreak to 249.
Nearly three million residents across the city have received nucleic acid tests since June 12. Neighbourhoods have been locked down and schools closed as authorities battle to contain the cluster.
Nationwide, China has recorded a total of 83,418 confirmed cases, of which 359 are active. Its death count remains at 4,634.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 21:09:12|Editor: huaxia
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DAMASCUS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A booby-trapped vehicle went off in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah on Tuesday, killing four people, a war monitor reported.
The booby-trapped vehicle exploded in a marketplace in the city of Ras al-Ayn in the countryside of Hasakah, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The UK-based watchdog group said the death toll could likely rise due to the number of critically wounded people.
The explosion also left big damage.
It's worth-noting that Ras al-Ayn is controlled by the Turkey-backed rebels and Turkish forces.
The state news agency SANA said that areas controlled by the Turkish army in northern Syria are in a state of lawlessness and chaos. Enditem
While the man maintained the large, hardened lump in his groin were his testicles, Niagara police had their suspicions.
In order to rule out the possibility Tiroune Hazel was packing a weapon or drugs in his crotch, Niagara Regional Police conducted a strip search and discovered a large quantity of fentanyl, crack cocaine and cocaine in the mans underwear.
The drugs had an estimated street value of more than $12,000.
At a sentencing hearing in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines Tuesday, federal prosecutor Darren Anger asked the judge to consider a penalty of six to seven years behind bars after the Toronto man was found guilty of two drug-trafficking charges.
In Niagara, unfortunately, weve been hard hit with fentanyl, which has lead to multiple overdoses and deaths, Anger told Judge Donald Wolfe.
The mere possession of it can cause overdoses and deaths for first responders or someone who accidentally comes in contact with airborne particles. That makes fentanyl a substance unlike other illicit addictive drugs like cocaine or crystal meth.
Hazel, 23, was arrested in October 2018 after police received information from a confidential informant regarding the sale of fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine in St. Catharines.
Upon his arrest, court heard, police conducted a pat down and discovered two cellphones, a wad of cash and a hard object in the mans groin area.
Hazel said the officer was grabbing his testicles, but police were unconvinced.
During a strip search, police located the drugs stashed in a compartment sewn into his underwear.
The Crown noted the defendant told the author of a presentence report he would consider selling drugs again if he found himself in need of money.
A person who is truly remorseful would not even entertain the idea of selling fentanyl or any illicit drug in the future, Anger said.
Mr. Hazel has specifically turned his mind to it if the need arises. Its a very cavalier approach.
The hearing is scheduled to resume in July.
NEW YORK and PLAINFIELD, N.J., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stellar Health ("Stellar") and Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories ("Accurate Diagnostic Labs") are pleased to announce a collaboration to align their efforts around the mission of assisting health care providers to keep patient care and private practice at the absolute forefront of the value-based care ("VBC") world. The goals of the alliance are to arm practices with the information they need to improve patient health outcomes while maximizing the financial well-being of practices and reducing overall payor costs. These goals will be achieved by using an integrated care model utilizing Stellar's unique VBC platform and Accurate Diagnostic Labs' analytics and infrastructure. As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") recently commented, "the need for a comprehensive value-based transformation of the country's healthcare system is even greater as our country confronts not just the coronavirus but the possibility of future pandemics."
"Accurate Diagnostic Labs' culture, steeped in a tradition of guideline-based laboratory medicine, lends itself well to Stellar Health's mission to simplify value-based care," said Accurate Diagnostic Labs' CEO, Rupen Patel.
"Our partnership with Accurate Diagnostic Labs aligns with our core value of empowering providers with information that will enhance their ability to deliver care, not hinder it through unnecessary documentation," described Stellar Health's CEO and Co-Founder, Michael Meng.
Stellar's platform is utilized by provider practices to advance their engagement in value-based care by improving quality of care and optimizing care coordination. The collaboration between Stellar Health and Accurate Diagnostic Labs will include direct data feeds that will allow providers to make informed decisions that align incentives between providers, patients, and payors.
About Stellar Health: Stellar Health is a point-of-care, cloud-based platform that activates primary care providers to achieve value-based care ("VBC") goals that improve patient outcomes, such as improving quality scores and optimizing the patient care journey through transitions of care and high-value referrals. The Stellar Health platform helps primary care providers continually engage with their patients by providing them real-time information and tangible action-based incentives for improving quality of care. Stellar Health's mission is to enable all providers to engage and succeed in VBC by bridging the incentive gap between providers and payors. If you would like more information, please contact Stellar Health at [email protected] or visit their website at www.stellar.health.
About Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories: Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories is one of the largest privately held, full-service clinical laboratories in the country. Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories strives to offer boutique, patient-centric service predominantly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets, focusing on value-based principles. Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories is an established in-network provider with all major national health plans including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Cigna. Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories prides themselves on being in-network with most of the regional payors. In today's healthcare environment, both providers and payors benefit from their guideline-based laboratory medicine approach. If you would like more information on Accurate Diagnostic Laboratories, please contact them at 732-839-3300 or visit them online at www.accuratediagnosticlabs.com.
Stellar Health Sarah Barrett
Email: [email protected]
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Syracuse, N.Y. Saturday was supposed to be a day of new beginnings for Chariel Osorio: the 17-year-old received his Corcoran High School diploma, a shining achievement for a young man from one of the citys poorest neighborhoods.
Six hours later, Osorio lay on his stomach in a parking lot, a bullet wound to his head.
Osorio was the most seriously injured of nine people shot, seemingly at random, when a gunfight broke out at an annual party drawing hundreds of people. Afterward, the injured both men and women, young and old lay scattered across Performance Park, a common space at Marcellus and Wyoming streets.
Osorio has been on life support since at Upstate University Hospital, and his family said Tuesday morning that hes not expected to make it.
His mother and aunts were among those sitting vigil in the hospital Tuesday morning, bracing for tough decisions ahead.
He was very, very happy that he accomplished graduating, said his aunt, Esmerelda Martinez, speaking by phone from the hospital. He was trying to do better for himself.
Osorios graduation day had started full of expected joy: glowing pictures in his graduation robes and a party with 20 or so family members at his mothers Near West Side house.
Martinez was so busy cooking something for his party that she arrived late. Osorio had left the gathering a few minutes before to take his girlfriend home, she said.
He never came home.
5 Multiple people shot at Rye Day party on Syracuses Near West Side
At some point, Osorio was drawn to an annual party, called Rye Day that had attracted hundreds of people nearby. The party, which lasted from about 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., featured food, music, dance contests and more.
His family got a call about Osorios injuries around 9 p.m. At least six people had opened fire as the celebration was winding down. People fled for cover as Osorio lay unresponsive on the concrete.
Others told the family that Osorio was being a peacemaker between warring gangs. None of the shooters had been arrested, as of Monday night, but the confrontation is believed to have been between gang members who showed up at the huge party, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said.
He went to squash some sort of a beef, Martinez said. He didnt want no problems with nobody.
Osorio was so happy to have made it to graduation day, his aunt said. He planned to begin his adult life by moving to Florida to explore a new venture with his dad.
He was talking about doing good and accomplishing more in life, she said. Graduation was going to be the ticket to a brighter future.
A call to pray for Chariel is going around Facebook after the 17-year-old was shot while attending a large party June 20, 2020 in Syracuse.
Instead, Martinez is now left wondering what if things had turned out differently Saturday. What if the big party had never happened? What if police had shut it down because it violated pandemic rules against a gathering of more than 25 people?
It could have been prevented, Martinez said. This is illegal to have. There were definitely more than 25 people in the gathering. Thats what outrages me.
Osorio had recently taken a road trip to Texas for a few days with a friend to celebrate his graduation, Martinez said. He called to tell her that hed gotten something for his mom and for her.
She told him that she couldnt wait to see him and find out what it was. Now, memory of her nephews promised gift is filled with heartache.
I couldnt tell you what it was because I never got it, Martinez said.
Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
The girlfriend of Bubba Wallace thanked NASCAR fans on Instagram for their support while saying white people herself included need to evaluate their own prejudices after a noose was left in his garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway over the weekend.
'We must continue the conversation, no one is exempt from taking a look at themselves,' Amanda Carter wrote on Instagram. 'The fact I date a black man does not exempt me.'
Carter, who has been with Wallace for at least two years, was reacting after her boyfriend was the target of an apparent hate crime on Sunday, only to have his 39 NASCAR rivals and much of the sport rally behind him before Monday's restart.
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Amanda Carter (right), the girlfriend of Bubba Wallace (left), thanked NASCAR fans for their support while saying white people herself included need to evaluate their own prejudices after a noose was left in his garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway over the weekend
(Left) Darrell 'Bubba' Wallace pictured alongside girlfriend Amanda Carter. (Right) Wallace is overcome with emotion as he arrives at his car in the pits of the Talladega Superspeedway prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Talladega Superspeedway
Amanda Carter's Instagram post included the phrase 'Black Lives Still Matter'
Carter, who has been with Wallace for at least two years, was reacting after her boyfriend was the target of an apparent hate crime on Sunday, only to have his 39 NASCAR rivals and much of the sport rally behind him before Monday's restart
Wallace or Darrell, as Carter referred to him on Instagram finished 14th at Monday's GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
However, the real story occurred when the other drivers pushed his No. 43 car to the front of the grid along an infield emblazoned with '#IStandWithBubba' stenciled into the grass. A tearful Wallace punctuated the moment by sharing a hug with car owner and NASCAR legend 'The King' Richard Petty.
NASCAR and the FBI are both investigating the incident, with the stock car circuit vowing to ban the guilty party for life.
Wallace had recently drawn backlash from some racing fans for successfully pushing NASCAR executives to ban the Confederate flag.
Wallace removed his medical mask amid fears of COVID-19 after Monday's race, saying he did so to send a message to his unidentified antagonist.
Driver Bubba Wallace takes a selfie with himself and other drivers that pushed his car to the front in the pits of the Talladega Superspeedway prior to the start of Monday's restart
On June 11, Carter thanked Wallace's fans for supporting him amid widespread racial tension
Bubba Wallace stands on the grid with his girlfriend, Amanda Carter, prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 60th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. He would go on to finish second that day
'I wanted to show whoever it was, you are not going to take away my smile,' Wallace said.
While Monday evening may have been a joyous and unifying moment, Carter warned her Instagram followers that 'there is so much work to be done.'
'The fact that people think it's okay to commit a hate crime is not a surprise but a disappointment, especially this close to home,' she said, possibly referring to the fact that the incident took place in Wallace's native Alabama. 'What happened this week at talladega is NOT OKAY! No one, deserves to receive this kind of hate.'
'We must lift each other up, support and protect our friends, family, loved ones,' she continued, listing her thoughts in the moment.
'Don't rely on the black community to answer all your questions, there are tons of resources available to open your perspective (movies, books, shows podcasts).
'Thank you to those who have been working toward a better future whether that is in private or public, these waves will bring change Additionally thank you to all of my friends, family and of course Darrell's fans who have reached out with support I share your messages with him and he appreciates it too.'
She ended her caption with '#blacklivesmatter' - a phrase that recently adorned Wallace's No. 43 for a race in Martinsville, Tennessee.
Darrell 'Bubba' Wallace pictured alongside girlfriend Amanda Carter, a financial analyst
Wallace sported a tie and suspenders for this January 2019 picture alongside Carter
A graduate of Appalachian State in NASCAR-crazed North Carolina, Carter, a financial analyst at Bank of America, was not familiar with the sport when she began dating Wallace. (It's unclear when, exactly, they began dating or how they met)
'Amanda has come into this not knowing which way was up, down, left or right with this sport,' Wallace told Facebook in a documentary titled 'Behind the Wall.'
'She gets it. She understands how much I love it, and I how much I want to do well. Just how competitive I am.'
Wallace has yet to win a race in nearly three seasons on NASCAR's top circuit, but did finish second at the 2018 Daytona 500 the sport's biggest event.
This season he has become a symbol rights figure as NASCAR's only African American full-time driver.
Wallace is overcome with emotion as he and team owner Richard Petty walk to his car in the pits of the Talladega Superspeedway prior to Monday's restart in Alabama
First, Wallace was thrust into the spotlight when Kyle Larson was heard saying the n-word during a live-streamed virtual race.
Larson, who was fired by Target Chip Ganassi Racing, apologized to Wallace, who released a statement saying the young driver deserved a second chance.
Then, in the wake of George Floyd's killing at the hands of Minneapolis police in May, Wallace became more outspoken about racism in the US.
'No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race,' the 26-year-old Alabama native told CNN on June 9. 'So it starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them.'
Wallace was speaking following a race Atlanta in which he wore an 'I Can't Breathe' shirt during the national anthem in solidarity with those protesting racist police brutality around the country.
NASCAR responded by banning the Confederate flag, but that was hardly the last word on the matter.
Two weeks ago, Wallace successfully pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its venues, though the sanctioning body has not outlined plans on how it will enforce the restriction. Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday's race, while a plane flew above the track pulling a banner of the flag that read 'Defund NASCAR'
A plane flies a banner reading, 'Defund NASCAR,' near Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday
NASCAR has banned the Confederate flag from being displayed at its events but supporters of the symbol still managed to be seen Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday
'Wow y'all, the outpouring of support from friends, family, fans and NASCAR has been amazing to watch this week!' Carter wrote after the race in Atlanta. 'I am so incredibly proud of this man for standing up and helping to push real change! How about last nights race!? I don't think I've been that nervous watching a race since the 2018 Daytona 500!
'I'm so proud of you Darrell!!!! I highly encourage anyone who feels like they want to comment or post something negative on any of this news that they take the time to try to understand the movement and try to see and understand from a perspective not your own!'
Prior to Sunday's scheduled race at Talladega, where only 5,000 spectators were permitted due to the ongoing pandemic, a caravan of angry fans were seen waving Confederate flags from their vehicles around the main entrance. Another fan paid for a private plane to fly a Confederate flag with the phrase 'Defund NASCAR' on a banner over the event, which was postponed to Monday due to rain.
As if that wasn't enough, someone left a noose in Wallace's garage stall.
When asked about the noose, one fan told the Associated Press that he 'thought the incident was funny.'
Others, however, condemned the action, and counter protestors were seen outside Talladega on Sunday with signs reading 'Not My South' and 'Black Lives Matter.'
A petition has been started in a bid to replace a statue of Christopher Columbus in Minnesota by one of another historical figure Prince.
The petition, which has received more than 9,000 signatures online, argues that Prince represents Minnesota values and Columbus does not.
The statue of Columbus is located in Saint Paul, outside the State capitol. The bid to have it replaced by Princes likeness comes amid renewed efforts to remove statues that celebrate people tied to oppression.
The bid, started by Wintana Melekin, is two-part. It advocates for the the State Capitol statue to be replaced with one chosen by [the] Native community outside the Capitol, and one of Prince in a different location. Prince was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Across the nation, city governments are choosing to remove statues of white supremacists, slave owners, and those who threatened the livelihood of Black people, the petition reads.
Here in Minnesota, communities are reigniting the demand to bring down states monument to Christopher Columbus, a man who murdered, raped and enslaved Black and Native peoples in the Americas.
We, the undersigned, do not believe that Columbus represents the values Minnesotans carry. Rather than glorify a man who wanted to extinguish Black and Native peoples, we should honour members of our community whose leadership we find inspirational.
We, the undersigned, up submit that the Governor Dayton and the Minnesota State Legislature replace the statue of Columbus with statues representative of Minnesotas Black and Native communities.
Columbus was once a celebrated figure in the US, with Columbus Day being recognised as a national holiday.
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However, over the years, knowledge of the Italian navigators atrocities has spread, and many have advocated against celebrating his legacy.
ALBANY The Business Council of New York State will host a webinar, An Open Conversation: Racial Inclusion, Diversity and Equality in Business," beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday with a panel of experts led by Dr. Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference.
The discussion will offer advice and analysis on the struggles of black business owners, and examine how all businesses can diversify their workplace, maintaining an environment that includes and respects all employees, customers and clients.
Huawei continues its work on replacing core functionality that Google moved into GMS (and that now Huawei and Honors are unable to access). The latest release is HMS Core 5.0 and brings various optimizations, changes to positioning and push services.
The new release contains enhancements to the way graphics and audio are handled and has support for Augmented Reality applications. There are various optimizations to the overall experience as well.
HMS Core reaches version 5.0
Huawei is now crowd-sourcing network-based positioning. This will be used for fencing features (e.g. detecting when you arrive home) as well as location-specific and contextual push messages.
Currently, HMS Core is used in over 170 countries by more than 600 million users, says Huawei, and there are over 55,000 apps available.
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Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, June 24 2020
Southeast Asian leaders will meet virtually on Friday for the 36th ASEAN Summit, nearly two months after it was postponed because of COVID-19 concerns.
There is little doubt that the pandemic response will top the agenda, considering the virus far-reaching impact on both the individual nations of Southeast Asia and the region as a whole.
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Afghan Security Forces Suffer Bloodiest Week in 19 Years
By Ayesha Tanzeem June 22, 2020
Afghanistan's security forces have suffered their bloodiest week so far in the 19-year-old Afghan war.
The Afghanistan's National Security Council said 291 members of Afghan National and Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) were killed and 550 others wounded in multiple Taliban attacks last week.
"Taliban carried out 422 attacks in 32 provinces, martyring 291 ANDSF members and wounding 550 others. Taliban's commitment to reduce violence is meaningless, and their actions inconsistent with their rhetoric on peace," tweeted Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the NSC.
The NSC statement also said that at least 42 civilians, including women and children, were killed and 105 others were wounded in the violence Taliban committed across 18 provinces in the past week.
The statement comes at a time when hopes are high for the start of intra-Afghan negotiations, a term used for negotiations between the Taliban and a representative group of other Afghans including the government, political factions, and civil society activists.
"We haven't seen the reduction in violence that we expect and that we think is necessary to really underpin the peace efforts, but we call on the Taliban to reduce violence. We call of course on Taliban to, in a constructive way, engage in intra-Afghan negotiations," said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last week, following a meeting with NATO defense ministers.
On Sunday, the head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, met Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, head of the Taliban political team in Doha.
"The UN envoy for #Afghanistan highlighted the need for a just peace that was inclusive of all Afghans, including women, youth and minorities," a Tweet from the official UNAMA account said.
According to Afghanistan's Tolo news, the Afghan negotiation team in Kabul has already started consulting with lawmakers. Tolo's website quoted team member Nader Nadery as saying one of their main demands would be to "preserve the [government] system and its main pillars, like the national army and the national police."
The two sides were scheduled to sit together on March 10, ten days after the Talban signed a deal with the United States to work toward peace in Afghanistan. The deal required the U.S. to announce a timeline for the withdrawal of its forces from the country, which it did.
The first phase of that withdrawal is already complete. The U.S. troop level is already down to 8,600 from around 12,000, according to General Frank McKenzie who leads the Central Command.
However, an increase in attacks from the Taliban, as well as a reluctance on the part of President Ashraf Ghani's government to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, as stipulated in the deal, hindered the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations.
The international community's efforts to resolve both issues seems to be bearing fruit. The first round of the negotiation is expected at the end of this month in Doha, although the coronavirus pandemic has created another logistical hurdle.
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It was a day of heartbreak for Nicole Kidman as her friend Steve Bing and former mentor Joel Schumacher passed away within 24 hours of each other.
On Tuesday morning, it was reported by TMZ that filmmaker and philanthropist Bing had jumped to his death from the 27th floor of a Century City neighbourhood building in Los Angeles on Monday evening.
Kidman, 53, and Bing - who was aged 55 at the time of his death - enjoyed a close friendship from 2004 to 2005.
The pair reportedly spent time together during a string of dinners in New York and were also spotted at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills as well as Trader Vic's restaurant in Los Angeles.
While it was thought Kidman and Bing were romantically linked at the time, the Oscar-winner's publicist strongly denied it.
'No, they are not an item. They are and always have been good friends,' Kidman's representative clarified at the time.
Emotional: It was a day of heartbreak for Nicole Kidman as her friend Steve Bing and former mentor Joel Schumacher passed away within 24 hours of each other. Kidman is pictured with Bing in Sydney on March 12, 2005
In March 2005, Kidman was seen showing American businessman Bing the sights of Sydney while he was in town for business.
Their friendship emerged following Kidman's divorce from actor Tom Cruise in 2001, and Bing's on-again-off-again romance with British actress Elizabeth Hurley.
Hurley met Bing in 2000, and they were together for less than a year. She informed him after they separated that he was the father of her son, Damian, now 18.
Bing initially disputed Hurley's claim he was the father, but a DNA test later proved otherwise.
Tragic: On Tuesday morning, it was reported that filmmaker Bing had jumped to his death from the 27th floor of a Century City neighbourhood building in Los Angeles on Monday. Pictured: Kidman and Bing in Sydney on March 12, 2005
Relationship: Kidman, 53, and Bing enjoyed a close friendship from 2004 to 2005. While it was thought they were romantically linked at the time, the Oscar-winner's publicist strongly denied it. Pictured: Kidman and Bing in Sydney on March 12, 2005
Previously: Their friendship emerged after Bing's on-off relationship with British actress Elizabeth Hurley broke down. Hurley informed Bing after they separated that he was the father of her son, Damian, now 18. Damian and Elizabeth are pictured in London on February 13, 2018
Sources told TMZ on Monday that Bing had been 'depressed' about being isolated during the coronavirus pandemic, but it is unclear if that had anything to do with his suicide. At the time of Steve's death he was worth $590million.
Meanwhile, shortly before the tragic news of Bing's passing emerged, Kidman mourned the death of her close friend, film director Joel Schumacher.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday morning, the star revealed she was 'heartbroken' over the death of the Hollywood visionary - who skyrocketed her to fame in the hugely successful 1995 movie Batman Forever.
'Joel was a friend of intelligence, compassion and humour - a director with a twinkle in his eye, a nurturing spirit and many stories to tell. He will be missed,' Kidman wrote.
Struggles: Sources told TMZ on Monday that Bing had been 'depressed' about being isolated during the coronavirus pandemic, but it is unclear if that had anything to do with his suicide. Pictured in Beverly Hills on March 7, 2013
'I am heartbroken': Shortly before the tragic news of Bing's passing emerged, Kidman mourned the death of her close friend, film director Joel Schumacher
Kidman shared two pictures of herself with Schumacher - one during the promotional trail for Batman Forever, and the other from the set of the 2011 movie Trespass, which they also worked on together.
Schumacher brought his fashion background to directing a run of stylish films throughout the 1980s and 1990s that were not always critically acclaimed, but continue to be well-loved by audiences for capturing the feel of the era.
Schumacher was handed the reins of the Batman franchise when Tim Burton exited the Warner Bros. series after two enormously successful films.
The first movie by Schumacher, Batman Forever, starring Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey and Nicole Kidman, grossed more than $300million worldwide.
Schumacher died at the age of 80 following a year-long battle with cancer.
Tribute: Taking to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday morning, the star paid tribute to the Hollywood visionary - who skyrocketed her to fame in the hugely successful 1995 movie Batman Forever. Pictured (L-R) Val Kilmer, Schumacher, Kidman and Tommy Lee Jones
BEIJING (Reuters) - The president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said on Tuesday that he doubts a long-awaited China-EU investment agreement will be finished this year.
Joerg Wuttke told reporters during a briefing that he was disappointed the latest high-level EU-China meetings, which were held on Monday, did not lead to a joint communique, adding that he was concerned China is drifting towards isolation.
"The fact that both parties didn't feel like reporting what has been agreed upon is an indicator that there was very little to agree upon," said Wuttke.
"I don't see any conclusion this year."
The 27-nation EU and China have both said they hope to conclude negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment in 2020, after six years of talks.
EU officials say they want to see movement in areas such as autos, biotech and micro-electronics and see Beijing limit subsidies for state-run companies.
Meeting halfway with Chinese negotiators is impossible as Europe is already far more open than China, said Wuttke.
Speaking after video calls with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Chinese needed to be more ambitious.
She also warned of "very negative consequences" if Beijing goes ahead with a new security law on Hong Kong that the West says will curtail basic rights.
Premier Li said on Monday that cooperation with the European Union outweighs competition, and China hopes the EU could relax export control measures against China.
(Reporting by Gabriel Crossley; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Catherine Evans)
BOSTON
June 23, 2020
University of Tennessee
Travis Riedel
University of Tennessee
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Kerafast Inc., developers of an online platform to facilitate access to unique lab-made bioresearch materials, today announced the availability of the Delta-G-VSV Pseudotyping System for coronavirus research applications. The system, developed by the Michael Whitt laboratory at, enables studies of SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness at just biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) containment.The Delta-G-VSV Pseudotyping System has proven useful for identifying cellular receptors for viruses, screening for entry inhibitors, and evaluating neutralizing antibody responses following vaccination. It is a reverse genetics system in which the G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been deleted, allowing for the production of VSV pseudotypes with the envelope glycoproteins of heterologous viruses, including those that typically require high-level containment such as coronaviruses. Because the infectivity of the VSV pseudotypes is restricted to a single round of replication, research can be performed using just BSL-2 containment.The Delta-G-VSV Pseudotyping System is used as a virus model system by researchers worldwide, and it is now being applied to study COVID-19 infection. Scientists can insert the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein into the modified VSV, enabling research at a lower biosafety level than required for live coronavirus. In addition, the system enables rapid screening for neutralizing antibodies, which can be useful for evaluating potential vaccines as well as determining whether people possess protective antibodies following exposure to COVID-19 infection."Researchers worldwide have been working at unprecedented speeds to better understand and slow the coronavirus pandemic," said, PhD, MBA, Vice President of Product Development at Kerafast. "The Kerafast mission is to advance scientific research by facilitating access to unique lab-made reagents, and we are working hard to get the Delta-G-VSV Pseudotyping System into the hands of scientists who are moving coronavirus research forward.""With our lab's Delta-G-VSV Pseudotyping System, we've had a real opportunity to contribute to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," said Michael Whitt, PhD, associate dean and chair of the Department of Medical Education in theHealth Science Center and a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry. "Our partnership with Kerafast enables us to distribute our reagents to more scientists with less effort, accelerating the system's adoption and use by coronavirus researchers around the world."Various Delta-G-VSV reagents are available via the Kerafast catalog, including pseudotyped viruses, plasmids, and an optimized cell line. They can all be ordered through a user-friendly research-use-only click license, after which a portion of the proceeds is returned to the Whitt laboratory to support future research. Under this arrangement, scientists worldwide can easily access the reagents without a time-consuming Material Transfer Agreement (MTA). The Delta-G-VSV Pseudotyping System has been available through Kerafast since 2012, and since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, the reagents have been shipped to researchers in 22 different countries across four continents.For more information and a list of Delta-G-VSV Pseudotyping System reagents, please visit our website here. More information on the Whitt laboratory can be found here.About Kerafast Kerafast, Inc. is reagent company whose primary mission is to make unique laboratory-made research tools easily accessible to the global scientific community. Through an online platform, Kerafast helps remove barriers to transferring bioresearch materials within the scientific community and returns generous royalty payments to the contributing investigators and their institutions. Since its founding in 2011, Kerafast has partnered with more than 190 academic research institutions internationally and provided reagents to scientists in 63 countries across six continents. In 2018, Kerafast merged with Absolute Antibody, a company specializing in recombinant antibody technology, to further improve the selection of research tools available to the scientific community. For more information, visit Kerafast.com.Contact: Lisa Merolla Director of Marketing Kerafast Inc. 617-336-3228 x610 lisa.merolla@kerafast.com###SOURCE Kerafast, Inc.
Andy Colwell for Colorado Politics Members of Colorado Rising pose for a portrait at the home of Executive Director and former Colorado state Rep. Joe Salazar in Thornton on Dec. 19. Left to right: Sarah Ortegon, Suzanne Spiegel, Lauren Petrie, Angela Alfaro, Anne Lee Foster, Lily Ramos, Caitt Johnston and Joe Salazar.
China does not approve of further tension over Iran nuclear program: Foreign Ministry
Iran Press TV
Monday, 22 June 2020 6:09 PM
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian says his country opposes any measure leading to exacerbation of tensions over the Iranian nuclear program in the wake of the recent adoption of an anti-Iran resolution by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"China supports the IAEA in playing its role in an objective, professional and neutral manner in verifying Iran's compliance with its safeguards obligations. We are against politicizing its work," Zhao said at a regular press conference on Monday.
He pointed to an explicit announcement by the IAEA that the "safeguards issue is neither urgent nor poses a proliferation risk" and welcomed Iran's readiness to resolve issues through dialogue and said, "Under such circumstances, China does not approve of actions that artificially exacerbate tensions and escalate the situation."
He expressed hope that all relevant parties to the international 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), will remain calm, exercise restraint, and support the settlement of issues between Iran and the UN nuclear agency through dialogue and cooperation.
"On the Iranian nuclear issue, China's unwavering aim is to uphold the JCPOA, multilateralism, peace and stability in the Middle East, and the international order based on international law," the Chinese diplomat said.
He expressed Beijing's readiness to work closely with the sides in order to find a "political and diplomatic" way to solve issues pertaining to Iran's nuclear program.
The Board of Governors at the UN's nuclear agency on Friday passed the anti-Iran resolution, put forward by Britain, France and Germany the three European signatories to the JCPOA.
The resolution, the first of its kind since 2012, urges Iran to provide the IAEA inspectors with access to two sites that the trio claims may have been used for undeclared nuclear activities in the early 2000s.
The Islamic Republic rejects any allegations of non-cooperation with the IAEA, insisting that it is prepared to resolve potentially outstanding differences with the IAEA.
Russia and China, two other permanent members of the UN Security Council and signatories to the JCPOA, voted against the resolution.
The Chinese diplomatic mission to the IAEA also warned on Twitter that the resolution could have "huge implications" for the future of the JCPOA.
Iran's reduction of JCPOA compliance result of US maximum pressure
In response to a question about the E3 foreign ministers' last week statement on the JCPOA, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman once again stressed the importance of upholding and implementing the nuclear deal as the "only right way" to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
Zhao added that Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had recently sent letters to the UN secretary general and the rotating president of the Security Council to emphasize that the JCPOA, endorsed by Security Council Resolution 2231, is an "important outcome of multilateral diplomacy and a key element in international nuclear non-proliferation system."
"Iran's reduction of compliance is a result of the US maximum pressure. We urge the US to abandon unilateral sanctions and 'long-arm jurisdiction', and return to the right track of observing the JCPOA and the Security Council resolution," the Chinese diplomat said.
He highlighted the significance of earnestly implementing all provisions in Resolution 2231 and said, "In the meantime, all parties to the JCPOA should take concrete measures to restore the balance of rights and obligations under the agreement."
Pointing to the withdrawal of the US from the JCPOA, he said Washington "has no right to ask the Security Council to launch the snapback mechanism that allows the re-imposition of sanctions."
He reminded the trio's foreign ministers that they have reaffirmed their commitment to keeping the JCPOA in place and implementing Resolution 2231.
"They believe that the strategy of maximum pressure will not effectively address shared concerns about Iran's nuclear program. As any unilateral attempt to trigger UN sanctions snapback would have serious adverse consequences in the UNSC, they would not support such a decision which would be incompatible with current efforts to preserve the JCPOA," Zhao pointed out.
He vowed that Beijing would work with the three European parties to the JCPOA and the larger international community to stick to the nuclear agreement and Resolution 2231, uphold multilateralism, and work for the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
"In the meantime, we will resolutely safeguard our own legitimate rights and interests," he added.
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The UK Government recognising Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as head of state would be unlawful under international law, the High Court has heard.
Lawyers representing the board of Banco Central de Venezuela (BCV) appointed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said such a premature step would be an impermissible intervention in the affairs of Venezuela.
The claim was made during a legal battle over the fate of around one billion US dollars (800 million) of gold bullion held in the vaults of the Bank of England (BoE) on behalf of the BCV, which the Maduro regime says it wants to sell to help tackle the countrys coronavirus crisis.
Mr Guaido, the head of Venezuelas National Assembly, who is recognised by the US and more than 50 other nations, has appointed his own ad hoc board of the BCV and personally asked former BoE governor Mark Carney not to act on instructions from the Maduro board.
At a hearing this week, the High Court is being asked to decide who the UK Government formally recognises as the president of Venezuela.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (left) with then mayor Ken Livingstone at Londons City Hall in 2007 (Johnny Green/PA)
Mr Maduro was sworn in for a second term last year amid claims of vote-rigging in the 2018 election, which was boycotted by opposition parties.
Mr Guaido declared himself acting president in January 2019 and, a month later, then foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said the UK recognised Mr Guaido as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela until credible presidential elections can be held.
His lawyers say he must therefore be regarded by the High Court as the president of Venezuela.
However, Nicholas Vineall QC, in his written case for the Maduro board of the BCV, said: The statement (by Mr Hunt) says nothing about the government of Venezuela and cannot properly be read as any form of recognition of a Guaido government.
He told the court that, without Mr Hunts statement, the Guaido board would have no case at all.
Story continues
Mr Vineall said: A recognition by Her Majestys Government of a Guaido government would constitute a contravention of international law since it would be at best a premature recognition and, given the context of access to foreign reserves, would be an impermissible intervention in the affairs of Venezuela, unlawful under international law.
Juan Guaido (right) meets Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in January (Alberto Pezzali/PA)
He continued that the response of the UK Government in linked proceedings, involving about 100 million which Deutsche Bank owes to the BCV, makes crystal clear that the Government does not recognise a Guaido government and continues to recognise the Maduro government.
In that case, the High Court sent a written request addressed personally to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, asking for a written certificate stating who the Government recognised as head of state and/or head of government.
But, Mr Vineall said, Mr Raab did not provide a certificate and did not even respond to the letter himself the court instead received a letter from a senior civil servant which simply referred back to the February 2019 statement.
Andrew Fulton, representing the Guaido board of the BCV, said in written submissions: By choosing to repeat that February 4 2019 statement, the Foreign Office has not said in so many words that the Government recognises Mr Guaido as head of state and/or head of government.
But he added that the answer is nevertheless clear from the reference to him as President capital P and the description constitutional, thus emphasising that the Government had the Venezuelan constitution firmly in mind when deciding to afford him recognition.
Mr Fulton argued that the UK Government has decided to recognise Juan Guaido as the constitutional interim president of Venezuela and has denounced the illegitimate, kleptocratic Maduro regime.
The hearing before Mr Justice Teare, which is being conducted remotely via Skype, is due to conclude on Thursday and the court is expected to reserve its judgment.
Events
Arizona State U to Share Help with Remote Instruction in Free Online Conference
Arizona State University is hosting a free two-day online conference to help all higher education faculty prepare remote courses for the fall. The event will run July 13-14. On the first day, the event will run from noon to 4:30 p.m. Pacific time; the second day runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
According to ASU, "REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit" will feature 70-plus half-hour sessions delivered by educators with extensive practical online and blended teaching and learning experience from universities and colleges around the country, to share "useful and evidence-backed practices" on general online and subject-specific teaching topics.
The event will have two broad categories of presentations: "disciplines" and "topics." Disciplines will be led by faculty currently running large successful online courses, who will share guidance on best practices, pedagogy, techniques and tools. Topics sessions will provide tips to support all disciplines, covering subjects such as diversity and inclusion in the online classroom, effective assessment, mixed-mode teaching and techniques to promote student engagement and well-being. Both types of events will allow for live questions and answers.
There will also be eight sessions on policy issues for U.S. and international higher educational institutions. Michael Crow, president of ASU, will deliver opening remarks.
The platform upon which the event takes place will allow attendees to navigate throughout interactive spaces, including a lobby, presentation halls with multiple sessions running simultaneously, virtual booths and chat lounges for networking and group conversations. Participants will be able to share virtual business cards.
"Faculty are preparing for the coming year in an environment of uncertainty," noted David Levin, university "entrepreneur in residence" at ASU and executive producer of REMOTE, in a statement. "Student needs in this new world are going to be different and courses are going to be hybrid combining various online and face-to-face elements. We're excited to offer two days of vital information, networking and interaction that will provide faculty with insights on how to make the most of online and blended teaching."
According to organizers, the sessions will be recorded and made available to registrants through the end of 2020. Free registration is available through the REMOTE website.
Leadership Hire Supports Banking Technology Company's Commitment to Delivering Best-in-Class AI, Data Analytics and Core Banking Solutions
ST. LOUIS, MO / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Neocova, the St. Louis-based technology provider dedicated to serving community banks and credit unions, today announced that highly respected banking executive Raymond Chandonnet has joined the company as Chief Revenue Officer.
In his new role, Chandonnet will be responsible for driving Neocova's go-to-market strategy, as well as aligning all revenue-related functions for the company, including business development, sales, pricing, product delivery and revenue management. Chandonnet will also provide assistance to the company on corporate development initiatives.
Until recently, Chandonnet was Head of the Financial and Technology Strategy practice at Hovde Group, an investment bank that focuses on community and regional banks. Prior to that, Chandonnet founded an advisory business that worked with early-stage technology companies focused on community banks and credit unions. Chandonnet has also served as Head of Bank Strategy for Sandler O'Neill, J.P. Morgan, Lehman Brothers, First Union Capital Markets and FHLBank Boston. Chandonnet began his banking career designing enterprise technology for a community bank in the Boston area.
"Ray is a one-of-a-kind talent within the community banking sector. I'm thrilled that he joined our team and shares our commitment to strengthening communities by bolstering the local financial institutions that serve them," said Neocova's Co-founder and CEO, Sultan Meghji.
Matt Beecher, Neocova's COO added, "Ray's financial strategy acumen and understanding of how bank technology fits into the ability of banks to improve their performance will be invaluable to us as we deepen our customer relationships."
"I'm excited to be joining Neocova at a critical juncture for both the company and community-based financial institutions," Chandonnet said. "As a bank strategist, I've come to understand that dramatically improving technology and innovation are two of the most critical drivers of success in the industry. Nobody is better positioned or more committed than Neocova to help institutions make the bold changes needed during this exciting window of opportunity."
About Neocova
Neocova is a fast-growing, St. Louis-based financial technology firm with operations in New York. The company offers artificial intelligence, analytics and other cloud-based systems that enable financial institutions to operate more efficiently, effectively and securely by removing the stresses of managing complex systems and complicated contracts. More information is available at https://neocova.com/.
Media Contact:
Michelle Mead
Caliber Corporate Advisers
888.550.6385 ext.7
michelle@calibercorporate.com
SOURCE: Neocova
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594822/Raymond-Chandonnet-Joins-Neocova-as-Chief-Revenue-Officer
India's oil imports in May hit the lowest since Oct 2011 as refiners with brimming storage cut purchases after a continuous decline in fuel demand, preliminary data obtained from industry sources showed.
In May, India imported 3.18 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil, a decline of about 31% from April and about 26% from a year ago, the data showed.
Hit by an unexpected fall in demand due to lockdown measures to contain the novel coronavirus, Indian refiners in April filled tanks with cheaper oil, sold extra cargoes to the federal government for strategic reserves and declared force majeure on crude imports.
The refiners, which normally book cargoes one-to-two months in advance, also deferred some term cargoes scheduled for lifting in April.
In May, Saudi Arabia was the top oil supplier to India for a second consecutive month, although supplies from the kingdom declined by nearly 28% from April, the data showed.
India's oil imports from Iraq fell by 43% to about 554,000 bpd, the lowest since Oct 2016, the data compiled by Reuters showed.
The intake of Venezuelan oil in May fell to the lowest since June 2011. Reliance Industries, operator of the world's biggest refining complex, received 2 million barrels of oil from Venezuela.
Another private refiner Nayara Energy, part-owned by Russian oil major Rosneft, did not import from the Latin American nation in May, under pressure from the U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan national oil company PDVSA.
Venezuela and other producing nations in a grouping known as OPEC+ have agreed output cuts to try to stabilise international oil markets.
Oil from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a share of India's imports fell to an all-time low of 71.3%, while the share of U.S. oil hit a record high of nearly 8% in May.
India's oil imports in June are set to recover as refiners have raised crude processing and demand is recovering with the gradual resumption of transport and industrial activity.
India Gold August futures are trading flat with a positive bias on June 23 tracking muted trend in the international spot prices. Experts feel that the trend in the yellow metal is likely to remain sideways, and it could face resistance around Rs 48,300 per 10 gm.
On the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), August gold contracts were trading higher by 0.02 percent at Rs 47,952 per 10 gram at 09:30 hours. July futures for silver were trading 0.28 percent lower at Rs 48,500 per kg.
Gold and silver extend gain in the international market on Monday. Gold settled at $1,766 per troy ounce and Silver settled at $17.90 per troy ounce, but due to strength in rupee both the precious metals settled almost flat in the domestic market.
Fresh stimulus talks of around $1 trillion in the US restrict gains in both the precious metals. However, lower than expected U.S. new home sales numbers and weakness in dollar index support bullion prices, Manoj Jain, Director (Head - Commodity & Currency Research) at Prithvi Finmart Pvt Ltd told Moneycontrol.
Indo-China border tensions are also supported safe-haven buying in both the precious metals. Both the side move is expected in precious metals in Tuesday's session, he said.
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Jain further added that at MCX, Gold is expected to face resistance around 48,300-48,500 zone, 47,500 act as major support for the day. Silver prices also expected to face resistance around $18-18.14 per troy ounce, $17.55 act as major support for the day.
Track live gold price here
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Expert: Sriram Iyer, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities
Domestic bullion could trade flat Tuesday morning, tracking a weak start in the international markets.
Technically, LBMA GOLD Spot had a volatile session with positive bias where prices made a high of $1,763.14 levels indicating a strong rally to continue up to $1,771-$1,784 levels. Support seen at $1,737 levels.
MCX Gold August contract made an all-time high level at 48,289 and had a volatile session where it gave a close at 47,950 levels indicating bullish momentum will continue up to 48,150-48,400 levels. Support holds at 47,750 levels.
Expert: Ravindra Rao, VP- Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities
COMEX Gold continues the positive tone after a 0.8% gain yesterday. After a long consolidation, gold has finally come out of a broad range of $1,680-1,750.Golds positive momentum looks to stay as it is currently supported by safe-haven buying amid rising virus cases, US-China tensions, geopolitical issues relating to Hong Kong, and mixed economic data from major economies.
Gold ETF continues to attract investors as seen from SPDR Gold ETF holdings which have risen to 2013 highs.
Gold may continue the sideways to positive move as market players assess virus risk however general bias may be on the upside amid increasing challenges to the global economy and continuing stimulus measures.
Expert: Hareesh V, Head Commodity Research at Geojit Financial Services
Surging coronavirus cases around the world amid rising global geopolitical instability continues to lift the safe-haven demand of gold. A weak US dollar and hopes of fresh economic stimulus are also offering support to prices.
Meanwhile, increased global economic sentiments and steady equities are raising concerns about high-level profit booking.
Technical Outlook (London spot):
Buying momentum is likely to continue as long as prices stay above $1,710. However, strong resistances are seen at $1,765 followed by $1,800 levels. The immediate downside reversal point is $1,664.
: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
A view of a temporarily closed JCPenney store at The Shops at Tanforan Mall in San Bruno, Calif., on May 15, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
JCPenney Is Closing Another 13 Stores
JCPenney will close another 13 stores for good.
The department store chain, which filed for bankruptcy last month, is inching toward its target of closing 250 storesabout 30 percent of its network of 846 locations.
The company previously said it expects 200 of those closures will happen by the end of this summer, with the remaining 50 closing by next summer. Most of the 13 stores in the latest round will start liquidation sales on or around July 3. Seven of the stores in this round are in Michigan: Greenville, Owosso, Big Rapids, Alma, Bay City, Mt. Pleasant, and Okemos.
The remaining stores are in Bay Shore and Poughkeepsie, New York, Omak and Sunnyside, Washington, Hyattsville, Maryland, and Concord, California.
Before Tuesdays announcement, 136 stores had already begun liquidation sales.
People enter and exit the J.C. Penney store in Manhattan Mall, Herald Square, Manhattan. In an effort to boost sales and revive its brand, J.C. Penney Co. laid out a plan to overhaul its strategy this week. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)
Store-closing sales are vital for bankrupt retailers to raise cash during a court-supervised reorganization. With the pandemic keeping many stores shuttered in late March and throughout April, some bankruptcy filings were delayed because of the inability to hold these sales.
But its not clear just how successful the sales will be, as many shoppers are still reluctant to venture out to stores and others are cutting back purchases as job losses have reached record highs in recent months.
JCPenney is the largest national retailer to file for bankruptcy in the wake of the pandemic, along with J.Crew and Neiman Marcus.
All three companies said they intend to stay in business, however. The bankruptcy process allows companies to shed debt and other liabilities it can no longer afford.
The process can give a company a second lease on life. Some companies that filed for bankruptcy in recent decades, including General Motors and many of the nations airlines, actually posted record profits after emerging from bankruptcy.
But not every company that files for Chapter 11 planning to stay in business is ultimately able to do so. Pier 1, which filed for bankruptcy on February 17ahead of the stay-at-home orders that shut many stores nationwidehas since said it will permanently close all of its stores and go out of business.
JCPenney may have been forced into bankruptcy by the COVID-19 crisis, but it has been ailing for a while. Many shoppers have turned away from traditional department stores and malls, instead buying more goods from online retailers like Amazon or big-box chains like Walmart, Costco, and Target. These companies offer lower prices and a wider range of goods, including groceries.
This news isnt just bad for JCPenney. Now Macys, Sears, and Kohls must compete with rock-bottom prices at many JCPenney stores. And the closings are a downbeat sign for malls struggling to once again attract shoppers, as JCPenney is typically a mall anchor.
The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
The war of words between Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the Ladakh face-off is getting shriller with each passing day.
BJP president JP Nadda attacked former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Monday for his remarks on the June 15 face-off in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. He asked the Dr Singh and his Congress party to not insult Indias soldiers and claimed that 600 Chinese incursions took place during the former prime ministers tenure.
Today, Congress leader P Chidambaram hit back saying Nadda should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the 2,264 Chinese incursions since 2015.
BJP President @JPNadda asked ex-PM Dr Manmohan Singh to explain the 600 Chinese incursions into India between 2010 and 2013. Yes, there were incursions but no Indian territory was occupied by China and no lives of Indian soldiers were lost in violent clashes, Chidambaram said in his first tweet on Tuesday.
In the series of tweets that followed, the Congress leader again took his partys line in attacking the PM Modi-led government over Ladakh face-off.
Will @JPNadda please ask the present PM to explain the 2264 Chinese incursions since 2015? I bet he will not dare to ask that question, Chidambaram said in his second tweet.
Will @JPNadda please ask the present PM to explain the 2264 Chinese incursions since 2015?
I bet he will not dare to ask that question. P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 23, 2020
He also quoted a news report to claim that there has been a major build-up in the Ladakh area. All these are in Ladakh. Do these not point to Chinese incursions into and occupation of Indian territory? Chidambaram said in his final tweet in the series.
While attacking Dr Singh, BJP chief Nadda had said on Twitter on Monday that he and his Congress party should stop insulting the security forces repeatedly and questioning their valour.
Please stop insulting of forces repeatedly, questioning their valour. You did this post the air strikes and surgical strikes. Please understand the true meaning of national unity, especially in such times. Its never too late to improve, Nadda said on Twitter.
The comment came in reaction to a statement by Dr Singh about the face-off between the Indian and the Chinese Army in Ladakh last week.
Dr Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be always mindful of the implications of his words, a reference to the controversy stoked by Prime Minister Modis comments at an all-party meeting on Friday. The former prime minister also said that the government must rise to the occasion to ensure justice for Colonel B Santhosh Babu and other jawans who were killed in action.
The BJP reacted by accusing the Congress of politicising the issue. One only wishes the Dr Singh was as worried about Chinese designs when, as PM, he abjectly surrender hundred square kilometres of Indias land to China. He presided over 600 incursions made by China between 2010 to 2013! Nadda said.
Beijing Says Maximum Pressure on Iran Won't Resolve Concerns Over Tehran's Nuclear Programme
Sputnik News
13:40 GMT 22.06.2020
BEIJING (Sputnik) - Exerting maximum pressure on Tehran will not help in any way in resolving the situation around Iran's nuclear programme and will not eliminate the concerns of the parties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Monday, commenting on a recent statement from the European countries.
"We noticed that the foreign ministers of the three European countries reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] and called for the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2231 [on the Iranian nuclear issue]. Maximum pressure will not help to resolve the concerns of the parties involved in the Iranian nuclear issue," the diplomat said.
According to him, attempts to unilaterally initiate a mechanism for the rapid renewal of sanctions in the UN Security Council will lead to dire consequences and are contrary to efforts to protect the JCPOA.
"China is ready to work together with the international community, including the EU, to strictly abide by the JCPOA and UN Security Council resolutions, support multilateralism, and promote a political and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," he added.
Last Friday, the IAEA Board of Governors, backed by the EU big three, passed a resolution calling on Iran to provide access to two sites that the agency wants to visit, due to alleged unregistered activities there.
Iran's Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, said that Tehran rejected the IAEA resolution because it is based on groundless allegations.
A Sputnik
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[June 23, 2020] IDC Identifies MDR as the Next Generation of Managed Security Services
Protecting an organization's assets from cyberattacks remains an enormous challenge as the attackers' tactics and capabilities become more targeted and sophisticated. As organizations struggle to elevate their cybersecurity maturity level, managed detection and response (MDR) has emerged as one of the latest buzzwords in the security market. A new report from International Data Corporation (IDC) examines the role of MDR in the managed security services (MSS) market. IDC (News - Alert) defines managed security services (MSS) as the around-the-clock remote administration and/or monitoring of IT security functions delivered by remote personnel at security operations centers (SOCs) operated by a third party. As organizations have matured, so have the managed security service providers, moving from protection to detection by adding in more functionalities such as threat intelligence, security information and event management (SIEM) systems, incident response capabilities, and identity access management to raise the cybersecurity maturity levels for their clients. And yet, chief information security officers (CISOs) have become increasingly frustrated at the number of attacks that have found their mark despite all the new capabilities that have been placed in the proverbial cybersecurity toolbelt. Armed with the knowledge that some attacks will inevitably make their way into an organizations' infrastructure, CISOs are coming around to the realization that having a proactive rapid response solution is just as important as having a strong defensive perimeter. Enter MDR, a subset of managed security services (MSS) that encompasses the outsourcing of advanced security functions and utilizes a highly skilled and dedicated security team that delivers 24x7 monitoring, analysis, and rapid response to sophisticated attacks. MDR combines all the tools, technologies, procedures, and methodologies used to provide full cybersecurity life-cycle capabilities for an organization. Service providers can deploy MDR services utilizing a mixture of clients' existing capabilities, along with the cybersecurity partner-supplied tools or services, and private intellectual property. MDR services are supplied by a provider's well-trained cybersecurity staff in a 24x7x365 remote SOC. "In the past 5-10 years, we have seen managed security services evolve in providing better detection and response capabilities. MDR represents the latest attempt by managed security service providers to give organizations a fighting chance in their quest to protect the valuable assets that they are mandated to protect. CISOs need to make sure that they utilize an MDR provider that is equipped with the latest tools, technologies, and trained personnel that their clients need to fulfill their critical mission," said Martha Vazquez, senior research analyst, Security Services.
The core capabilities a MDR service must provide at the minimum include: extended detection and response (EDR/XDR) for endpoint/network, cloud, or messaging systems; integrated threat intelligence; regular use of human-led threat hunting; remote incident response; and the intellectual property (IP) of the methodology and procedures needed to pull these systems into a deliverable service. But the most important capabilities, as identified by CISOs in an IDC survey, are 24x7 monitoring and classification of alerts, integration of threat intelligence, and integration with existing security technologies. "The variety of companies that are offering MDR services is substantial. While security services have grown, one thing for sure is that the breadth of services available makes it a win-win situation for customers," said Craig Robinson, program director, Security Services. "Every organization operates at a different maturity cycle in its security program, so the buyer should look at a provider to include the components that will inevitably help them achieve their long-term security program goals."
The IDC report, MDR: The Next Generation of Managed Security Services (IDC #US46427920), looks at how managed security services evolved to the advanced offering that MDR represents to the market. MDR pulls together the people, processes, and key technology functions into a cohesive service that enables CISOs to elevate their cybersecurity maturity level. Evaluating the varied MDR offerings in the market requires an understanding of the key plumbing that managed security service providers have invested in to provide a credible MDR offering to a market that sorely needs the advanced capabilities that make up an MDR service. About IDC International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter (News - Alert) at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights: http://bit.ly/IDCBlog_Subscribe. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005197/en/
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She was wearing her mask and had walked back to her car after dropping off the package. A man followed her to the parking lot. He knocked on her car window and asked if she liked wearing a mask.
I looked at him, said Levy. I said, I dont know who likes wearing a mask. We wear it to be safe and mindful of other people.
She said the man then continued by telling her that masks dont really prevent the spread of the virus. Having a son at home who has preexisting health conditions and older parents, she said the mans statements bothered her.
That just really prompted me to take the next step to say let me go ahead and do it and return the enrollment for me to participate in this study. There is so much misinformation on COVID-19 being spread across social media across the air ways, she said.
Social distancing was also a factor in deciding how testing would be conducted through the study. Participants of the study will use nasal swabs that they can use to collect samples themselves without having to go into a lab or have someone come into their homes. Newby said that it was important to try to maintain as much social distance as possible for this study, which is why they chose to use at-home nasal collections.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
It's currently difficult to screen for certain liver diseases and to monitor these conditions once they're discovered. A team led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently developed a non-invasive imaging method that has promising clinical potential to accomplish both goals. The technique is described in a study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Fat accumulation in the livercalled non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)is a leading cause of chronic liver disease. "In Western societies, NAFLD's prevalence is increasing in parallel with rising rates of obesity, and the condition is expected to affect nearly one in two adults in the United States by 2030," said cosenior author Rakesh K. Jain, Ph.D., the Director of the E.L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology at MGH and the Andrew Werk Cook Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School.
Usually diagnosis of chronic liver disease encompasses the removal of liver tissue through a biopsy procedure to accurately assess liver inflammation and fibrosis (i.e. tissue scarring), which are caused by oxidative stress and several other destructive processes.
It's known that oxidative stress can lead to the production of lipofuscin, a "wear-and-tear" pigment in the liver among other organs and cells. Dr. Jain and cosenior author Moungi Bawendi, Ph.D., the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at MIT, wondered whether visualizing this pigment through a technique called autofluorescence imaging might help to detect early and late stages of liver disease, NAFLD in particular.
Using near-infrared and shortwave infrared technologies developed by the Bawendi laboratory in combination with animal models widely used in the Jain laboratory to mimic NAFLD, these teams were able to pinpoint areas of liver injury, with clear discrimination between diseased and normal tissues.
Detecting lipofuscin in this way also allowed the scientists to non-invasively monitor the progression and regression of liver inflammation and scarring in mouse models of NAFLD, without the need to obtain liver tissue through biopsies.
Also, in biopsied samples of human liver tissue, the imaging modalities could distinguish more severe cases of NAFLD from milder cases.
"Preclinically, these methods can be used in animal studies to prevent the need for sacrificing animals at multiple time points. And with further investigations, we hope this research can be translated into the clinic for diagnosing and monitoring chronic liver disease noninvasively," said Dr. Jain.
"Furthermore, this research opens up the potential of non-invasive autofluorescence imaging of lipofuscin in diseases that affect other organs."
Explore further Fatty liver disease is underdiagnosed in the US
More information: Mari Saif et al. Non-invasive monitoring of chronic liver disease via near-infrared and shortwave-infrared imaging of endogenous lipofuscin, Nature Biomedical Engineering (2020). Journal information: Nature Biomedical Engineering Mari Saif et al. Non-invasive monitoring of chronic liver disease via near-infrared and shortwave-infrared imaging of endogenous lipofuscin,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41551-020-0569-y
A coronavirus vaccine may be more effective as a nasal spray or inhaler, researchers behind Britain's most promising Covid-19 jabs claimed today.
Oxford University and Imperial College London scientists believe getting the vaccine directly into the lungs may be the best way to protect people against the respiratory infection.
Both universities are currently testing their Covid-19 jabs administered by injection into the muscle on thousands of humans in clinical trials, in the global race to find a way to end the pandemic.
The Oxford vaccine, leading the global race for a Covid cure, is currently being trialled on more than 10,000 people in Britain, Brazil and South Africa after moving in phase III trials.
Meanwhile the first healthy volunteer today received a 'small dose' of Imperial College London's vaccine and has reported no sign effects.
Their vaccine candidates work by training the body to identify the coronavirus so it can rapidly fight off the illness before it has chance to cause an infection. Neither have been proven to work in humans yet.
But the lead scientists behind the jabs are already planning to launch a second wave of studies looking into so-called mucosal immunisation.
Mucous membranes are protective layers of tissue that line the surfaces of internal organs, including the lungs and respiratory tract. They also coat entry points such as the nose and mouth, catching pathogens that try to get into the body.
They form a powerful, sticky mesh that traps viruses which are trying to invade. By administering a vaccine at the entry points, it trains the mucosa to be able to identify Covid-19 and block it from getting through.
This kind of vaccine can be given through a nasal spray, as is done for influenza in children, or inhaled.
A coronavirus vaccine may be more effective if it is taken via a nasal spray (which is already being used in flu immunisation) the researchers behind Britain's Covid-19 jab frontrunners said today
How the injectable vaccines from Imperial College London and Oxford University would work
Professor Robin Shattock, an immunologist at Imperial, told the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee today: 'At the moment most of the vaccines are being delivered by conventional intramuscular injection.
'The reason is that's the easiest and fastest to get off the starting blocks and into studies. But a number of us interested in looking at mucosal immunisation, as well.
'And certainly Professor Gilbert (from Oxford) and myself are already in discussion as to how me might be able to move that as a second wave of clinical study.'
Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford University, added: 'With oral or nasal you would have much stronger mucosal response.
'That's probably really important in the protection against respiratory pathogens. It's also very difficult to study and we're not yet very good at measuring it.
'But, as Professor Shattock said, we're very interested in looking at delivery to the respiratory tract, either intranasal delivery [via a nasal spray] or aerosol delivery [using an inhaler].
Professor Robin Shattock, an immunologist at Imperial, told the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee today he was 'very interested' in exploring mucosal vaccinations
Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford University, said administering vaccine directly into the respiratory tract could better protect the lungs against infection
What is the difference between the vaccines being developed by Oxford University and Imperial College? The science behind both vaccine attempts hinges on recreating the 'spike' proteins that are found all over the outside of the COVID-19 viruses. Both will attempt to recreate or mimic these spikes inside the body. The difference between the two is how they achieve this effect. Imperial College London will try to deliver genetic material (RNA) from the coronavirus which programs cells inside the patient's body to recreate the spike proteins. It will transport the RNA inside liquid droplets injected into the bloodstream. The team at the University of Oxford, on the other hand, will genetically engineer a virus to look like the coronavirus - to have the same spike proteins on the outside - but be unable to cause any infection inside a person. This virus, weakened by genetic engineering, is a type of virus called an adenovirus, the same as those which cause common colds, that has been taken from chimpanzees. If the vaccines can successfully mimic the spikes inside a person's bloodstream, and stimulate the immune system to create special antibodies to attack it, this could train the body to destroy the real coronavirus if they get infected with it in future. The same process is thought to happen in people who catch COVID-19 for real, but this is far more dangerous - a vaccine will have the same end-point but without causing illness in the process. Advertisement
'This takes the vaccine itself right down into the lungs where it can access the same tissue that would be reached by the virus infection.'
Conventional vaccines do not work as consistently or effectively in older people, who are most at risk of falling seriously ill with Covid-19.
This is because their immune systems become blunted with age and struggle to mount a powerful response to infection.
The scientists believe the mucosal vaccinations may be a more effective way of protecting elderly people because it directly strengthens the lungs, which are targeted by Covid-19.
But Professor Gilbert added: 'We have to proceed with caution because the technology is very new and we need to make sure it's safe.
'There has been some small studies of vaccines delivered by aerosol and of course we have the intranasal delivery of the flu vaccine used in children.
'But delivering a vaccine through the nose is actually getting very close to the brain so we need to make sure that's gonna be safe.
'Putting it down into the lungs, you're exposing a very large surface area to the new entity [Covid-19].
'[We want to] understand how the different types of antibodies in the respiratory tract could be generated by vaccination and it may mean you could have a more effective vaccine by delivering to the respiratory tract or indeed orally.'
Scientists around the world are racing to find a vaccine, which is considered to be the only way to safely stop the pandemic and end draconian lockdowns designed to contain the virus.
Oxford and Imperial's injectable vaccines are two of the frontrunners to cure the disease, but the researchers behind them admit they won't be perfect.
The competing universities said today they could end up being used together to provide lasting immunity.
Oxford University's vaccine was first out of the blocks and is already being tested on at least 10,000 people in the UK and Brazil, while Imperial College's jab only started human trials last week.
But Professor Shattock said that although the two vaccines were being seen as rivals, ultimately they could well be used together because the way they work differs.
Oxford University's jab was known as ChAdOx1 nCoV but has now been called AZD1222 since a partnership was pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca was secured
FIRST VOLUNTEER INJECTED IN IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON'S COVID-19 VACCINE TRIALS The first healthy volunteer has received a 'small dose' of a potential Covid-19 vaccine developed by researchers from Imperial College London. The participant, who has asked to remain anonymous, is reported to be in good health with no safety concerns after being injected on June 19. A second booster dose will follow within four weeks. Imperial now joins Oxford University in the UK's race to find an effective vaccine to stop the pandemic. Professor Robin Shattock, from the department of infectious disease at Imperial, who is leading the research, said his team's work is 'an important step' for their vaccine candidate. He added: 'We now eagerly await rapid recruitment to the trial so that we can assess both the safety of the vaccine and its ability to produce neutralising antibodies which would indicate an effective response against Covid-19. 'I look forward to our progress in the coming months.' Fifteen healthy volunteers are expected to receive their first dose in the coming days as part of the initial phase of the trial. To assess safety as well as to find the optimal dosage, the researchers are starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it to higher doses for subsequent volunteers. Around 300 healthy participants are expected take part in this trial. Imperial's RNA vaccine uses synthetic strands of genetic code based on the genetic material of Sars-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for the pandemic. It works by delivering genetic instructions to muscle cells to make the 'spike' protein on the surface of Sars-CoV-2. The presence of this protein provokes an immune response, offering protection against Covid-19. If the vaccine is safe and shows promising immune response, a further trial involving 6,000 people is expected to go ahead in October. Advertisement
While the Oxford vaccine was ahead in the race to protect against Covid-19, he said it could be limited by an inability to be used on the same person time and time again.
However, Professor Shattock believed it would be possible to use the Imperial jab to bolster an individual's immunity 'multiple times'.
Scientists around the world increasingly think booster jabs will be needed to maintain protection against the virus that causes Covid-19, as initial immunity provided by a vaccine may well fade over time.
Last Tuesday Pascal Soriot chief executive of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which has partnered with Oxford to produce a billion doses of the jab fuelled those fears when he said he was confident the jab would provide immunity for 'about a year'.
Natural immunity to other coronaviruses, which cause common colds, is thought to last from several months to a couple of years.
The potential flaw with the Oxford vaccine is that it uses a harmless virus as a microscopic Trojan horse to smuggle in tiny fragments of Covid-19 coronavirus RNA the bug's genetic blueprint.
The recipient's immune system learns to identify this RNA as foreign, and so creates antibodies to protect against it.
But experts fear that if a person is subjected to multiple doses of this jab, their body might 'mistakenly' develop an immune response to the Trojan horse virus itself called an adenovirus thus rendering it useless.
As the Imperial vaccine does not use a virus as the means of smuggling in RNA, it should avoid this problem, said Prof Shattock.
Professor Shattock said the Oxford vaccine was 'very good to be able to give an initial immune response, but it has its limitations in that the ability to reboost immunity may be less good than other approaches'.
By contrast, he said: 'The approach that we are developing allows you to re-boost multiple times.'
He continued: 'We are often pitted against each other, or seen to be in a race against each other, but actually we are collaborating very closely together, exchanging material, and the two approaches may well be able to be used together, in a 'prime, boost' approach.'
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock last week announced frontline NHS and social care workers, over-50s and Britons with heart or kidney disease would be the first in line to get a Covid-19 vaccine.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has warned Oyo State government against its plan to reopen schools from June 29.
The minister described the resolution as insensitive.
In a statement by the spokesperson of Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Gooong, the minister warned that such decision if taken could increase COVID-19 infection figures in the state.
As of 10 p.m. on Monday, Oyo ranked fourth on the table with 621 active cases from the 912 infections figures, confirmed in the state by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the statement reads in part.
The minister expressed concern over the plan during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID -19 Control in Abuja.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, last week explained the states plans to reopen schools, worship centres and others against federal governments directive on the closure.
The state decided to allow the resumption of classes for Primary Six, JSS3 and SS3 students from June 29.
But the minister said the ministry was against the decision; he noted that governors have the primary responsibility to secure the lives of citizens, in the face of a pandemic.
Like all other sub-nationals, governors were under the Constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria, he said.
Schools remain closed
Speaking on why the government cannot reopen schools at this time, the minister said the reopening of schools could lead to the exposure of teachers, pupils, drivers, cooks, vendors, their family members and friends to the dreaded virus.
There are clearly (over) 600 nstitutions awarding certificates all around Nigeria, there are just lots of it. And at any given time in Nigeria, there are two million people attaining one form of education or the other, he said.
The least we can do at the moment is to keep our children, our most priced assets, the future of Nigeria under lock and key first. When we are sure that its safe to release them, gladly we will.
Examinations
Mr Nwajiuba said the ministry was discussing with examination bodies on how final year students could sit their exams.
He said a similar meeting was held in the Gambia on Monday to decide the fate of students waiting to write the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
The minister also said the students would be expected to reconvene for a revision session ahead of the final decisions on WAEC.
We have finished meeting with WAEC; they are communicating in the Gambia at the moment. When we get feedback from them, we are struggling to see how we can bring the exit year children briefly to come to a revision session ahead if whatever these assemblies have agreed, he said
On the outcry by parents on payment of outrageous school fees in private schools, the minister appealed to school proprietors to desist from doing so.
He urged them (schools) to approach the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for salary support.
Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the federal government had ordered the closure of all Nigerian institutions to help contain the spread.
New Delhi, June 23 : The Centre is examining requests from countries like the US, France and Germany to allow their airlines participation in the 'Vande Bharat mission.
The mission is a Centre-backed programme to repatriate Indians stranded abroad due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
At present, Air India and domestic private carriers are allowed to operate flights under the programme which has pre-fixed ticket charges.
The development comes after the US restricted Air India's flight operations there under the programme.
In a statement on Monday, the US Department of Transportation (DoT) said that a foreign air carrier of India "will be required, effective 30 days after the service date of this Order, to obtain prior approval from the Department in the form of a statement of authorisation before operating any Third and or Fourth Freedom charter flights to or from the US".
"We are taking this action because the government of India 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," it added.
On its part, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation said that it has received requests from concerned authorities in several countries, including the US, France and Germany, among others, requesting that their air carriers be allowed to participate in the transportation of passengers along the line being conducted by Air India under the Vande Bharat Mission.
"These requests are being examined," the ministry said in a statement.
"We have also had one round of negotiations with the US on June 15 with representatives of the US Department of Transportation and US Embassy on this issue. They were invited to submit precise proposals in this respect. A communication has now been received on June 19 detailing these requests," it added.
According to the statement, the Centre is now looking at the possibility of establishing bilateral arrangements.
"These evacuation flights, which were primarily meant for evacuation of our citizens from all over the world, are now increasingly carrying Indians and citizens of other countries out bound to countries where they are normally residents," the statement said.
"As we contemplate further opening up in response to demands, we are looking at the prospect of establishing individual bilateral bubbles, such as India-US, India-France, India-Germany and India-UK," it added, As per the statement, travel demand for these destinations has not diminished.
"Final decisions pursuant to negotiations are expected to be taken soon," it said.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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SEATTLE (AP) A Seattle hospital said four staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19 work in or near the facility's operating rooms.
A spokesperson for Virginia Mason Medical Center confirmed the positive tests occurred within the last week, The Seattle Times reported Sunday.
. . .
ST. PAUL, Minn., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MUSE Healthcare (www.musehc.com), the premier organization used to enhance end-of-life care with world-class analytics, has announced St. Croix Hospice as the winner of the MUSE Trailblazer Award. The award signifies the successful use of MUSE's technology and insights to achieve the highest quality of patient care. St. Croix Hospice is the first ever organization to receive the award. The award is given to one hospice provider annually that truly shows adoption and innovation in caring for patients.
Co-founder and CEO, Bryan Mosher and Co-founder and President, Jennifer Maxwell, formed a detailed selection committee to review all customers that use MUSE technologies. The selection criteria reviewed the number of patients impacted by the technology, the use of the tools to care for patients at the end of life, and feedback throughout the process. St. Croix Hospice was an early adopter and continues to provide quality feedback that will enhance the technology for years to come. Their expertise and innovative thought leader programs will truly change the way hospice patients are given care.
Executive Director of Quality at St. Croix Hospice, Ashley Arnold (RN), noted the importance of the award for the agency. "It is an honor for the staff at St. Croix Hospice to be recognized for the care we provide every day. The partnership with MUSE has been amazing. It's helped us to ensure we are there for our patients when they need us most."
Chief Clinical Officer at St. Croix Hospice, Mandy Cogswell (RN), was especially eager to share how MUSE has shaped their clinical strategy. "MUSE has helped us identify patient needs. It's not only allowed us to increase our nursing visits at the end of life, but also support provided by our chaplains, social workers and hospice aides. We only have one chance to care for these patients, enabling our clinicians to have all the tools needed to make the right decision at the right time is the St. Croix Hospice way."
About St. Croix Hospice
Founded in 2009 in Oakdale, Minnesota, St. Croix Hospice delivers expert hospice care to patient with life-limiting illnesses. St. Croix Hospice prides itself on providing personalized care to meet each patient and family's individual needs. The agency serves more than 75 percent of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin; eastern Kansas and Nebraska; and western Missouri from 35 branch offices. St. Croix Hospice provides care in private residences, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. Care is available 24/7, and appointments and admits are offered via telehealth when needed. Unique services such as the North Star Dementia Program and Voyage Vigil Program offer comprehensive support and proactive symptom management to patients and their families. For more information, visit stcroixhospice.com
About MUSE Healthcare
Muse Healthcare was founded in 2019 by three leading hospice industry professionals -- Jennifer Maxwell, Tom Maxwell and Bryan Mosher. Their mission is to equip clinicians with world-class analytics to ensure every hospice patient transitions with unparalleled quality and dignity. Muse's predictive model considers hundreds of thousands of data points from millions of visits to identify which hospice patients are most likely to transition within 7-12 days. The science that powers Muse is considered a true deep learning neural network the only one of its kind in the hospice space. When hospice care providers can more accurately predict when their patients will transition, they can ensure their patients and their patients' families receive the care that matters most in the final days and final hours of a patient's life. For more information, visit musehc.com.
SOURCE Muse Healthcare
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An elderly former Christian Brother in Wexford who is already in jail for sexually abusing two children, has had four and a half years added to his sentence after pleading guilty at Wexford Circuit Court to the indecent and sexual assault of another young boy over 30 years ago.
John Gibson (73) admitted two charges of indecent assault and three charges of sexual assault against the boy at various locations in Ireland, including the CBS Monastery in Joseph Street, Wexford on dates between May 1, 1987 and July 1992.
Artika Saharan poses for a portrait with some of the PPE she has helped collect in Philadelphia, Pa. on June 22, 2020. She is planning to ship the donated items to health care workers. Read more
When the coronavirus struck Pennsylvania, news that hospitals couldnt get the personal protective equipment (PPE) they needed spawned grassroots efforts to collect and donate masks, gowns, gloves, and hand sanitizer to frontline medical workers. Now its been three months, and they are still at it.
We thought we were just going to collect a little bit, said Artika Saharan, a Jefferson Jefferson University medical school student who helped found the charity PPE to PHL, and still is hard at it.
Health-care experts say the disrupted supply chains that left doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel treating COVID-19 patients without proper gear have improved, but not enough as cases surge in the South and West, and the threat of a second wave in the fall looms.
Large hospitals seem to be better supplied but still rely on charity to ensure safe operations. The City of Philadelphia still suffers through canceled orders for essential gear. Other sectors of health care, like physicians practices and long-term care facilities, are also having trouble obtaining PPE in a market that caters to large health systems that can buy in bulk.
When you see big practices and little practices like ours that are depending on Amazon, thats bad news, said Max Mercado, one of two doctors running an internal medicine practice in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the public focus that drove donations of cash and material is drifting.
A big part of that has been coronavirus has slowly started disappearing from the news and from social media, said Anna Goodwin, who is collecting masks for Temple University Hospital, where her father is a doctor. People have just straight up become bored of isolating and quarantining and social distancing.
READ MORE: Philly and Pa. ordered millions of dollars of masks and protective gear. But much of it has not arrived.
Early in the pandemic, the Trump administration left states to compete on the open market for gear. Since then, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has delivered nearly 100 million masks nationwide, with nearly 10 million of those going to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as of June 11. The demand still outstrips supply, though, and this month American Medical Association representatives and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee told Vice President Mike Pence about the supply problem.
When PPE to PHL began, Saharan said, the group coordinated with the city health department to find out where the need was greatest which initially was hospitals and larger care facilities.
Hospital workers expressed frustration and anger at being denied N95 masks, which filter virus-size particles, or having to wear the same mask which once would have been disposed of after a single use for days.
At Delaware County Memorial Hospital, Angela Neopolitano, president of the nurses union, said clinical workers treating COVID-19 patients were given just one N95 mask for three days of work for weeks. Recently though, all staff working with COVID-19 patients have been receiving a new mask at the beginning of every shift.
Temple University Hospital workers complained of getting Chinese-made N95 masks that fit poorly and were prone to breaking. The state Department of Health eventually barred those masks from hospitals.
Since then, the situation at Temple has improved, said Maureen May, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals. The maternal health nurse at Temple said she recently received a standard N95 mask from the hospital.
First time I have seen an N95 since the beginning of the COVID crisis in Philadelphia, May said.
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) reports even some large hospitals are still challenged. Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, for example, is soliciting donations of cloth masks to give to arriving patients, a spokesperson said.
A survey from HAP found more than three-fourths of all hospitals anticipated shortages of N95 masks, gowns, cleaning supplies, eye protection, and other safety equipment.
Hospitals continue to consistently report paying exorbitant prices, significant delays in the delivery of supplies, and partial fulfillment of orders, said Rachel Moore, a spokesperson for the organization.
Project N95, a nonprofit devoted to helping health-care personnel find reliable PPE, has seen signs of improvement, though. Some Chinese-made masks were among those that didnt make the list of FDA-approved respirators, said Anne Miller, Project N95s sourcing team leader. And an increased supply has started slowly bringing down prices.
Philadelphias Department of Public Health has been supplying PPE to municipal workers and some health-care facilities, and has seen improvements since the beginning of the pandemic, when huge mask orders simply never showed up. Now some items, like hand sanitizer, have become easier to find, said Mike Dunn, a city spokesperson. Others, like disinfectant wipes that are effective against COVID-19, are more scarce, and N95 masks continue to be challenging to obtain.
Obviously the market could change adversely if the troubling trends seen now in some Southern states grow wider, Dunn said.
For charitable groups, the focus of support has shifted to smaller nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and hospices. They also shifted from collecting donated equipment from area businesses to using financial donations to buy gear themselves.
READ MORE: Philly ordered a half-million masks to protect first responders and hospitals from coronavirus. They never arrived.
I think we knew from the beginning that we would have to change and adapt as we ran out of businesses to call, Saharan said. We changed what were giving now and who we give it to, but theres still stuff they need.
At Inglis House, a long-term residential facility in Philadelphia for people with physical disabilities, 44 of 238 residents contracted the virus and seven died, according to state data. Donations from groups like PPE to PHL have been invaluable, said Gary Bramnick, the homes director of communications and marketing. Even cloth masks are welcome, since they go to nonclinical staff, he said, freeing up higher-grade masks for staff who work directly with residents.
Yet PPE troubles persist.
While the pipeline and the supply chain and those processes are improved, Bramnick said, theyre not there yet.
Between the increased need for protective equipment and higher costs per unit, he estimated the home has been paying 32% more for PPE recently compared with the same period last year.
Smaller physician practices have the same problem. PPE vendors who were reliable before the pandemic have still not stabilized their supplies, so doctors are paying up to 10 times as much for material through sites like Amazon, said Mercado, the Philadelphia doctor.
When it comes to hand sanitizers, its on back order, Mercado said. When it comes to masks? Back order.
Small practices like Mercados are particularly vulnerable, said Miller of Project N95, because many suppliers require orders be a minimum of a thousand, or even tens of thousands, of units.
Project N95 is trying to remedy this by bundling orders from small practices around the country and organizing a bulk order that can then be distributed.
Goodwin, who has tried to help Temple Hospital, is concerned that the declining cases in Southeast Pennsylvania have meant fewer donations, and less awareness of the need for PPE.
A lot of people are predicting a second wave of shutdowns and quarantines, she said. The need is still there.
She and Saharan will keep going.
I would love for the pandemic to end and our services to not be needed, she said. That would be amazing.
The move comes after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Chinas foreign policy chief, Yang Jiechi, in Hawaii last week. U.S. officials described the trip as an opportunity to bridge gaps between the two countries on a host of issues, but after it ended with no signs of progress, Pompeo blasted the regime as a rogue actor in a speech on Friday.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
Trend:
The members of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan have proposed to adopt a law on financial amnesty, Trend reports referring to www.kun.uz.
This issue was discussed during the round table organized by the committee on budget and economic reforms of the lower chamber together with the factions of political parties.
"To attract the funds of the shadow economy, their legalization is required by applying financial amnesty, the lower chamber said. It has been introduced in Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and other countries. The MPs said that it is advisable to adopt financial amnesty in the parliament in the form of a legislative act. A document adopted in the form of a law will inspire more confidence in citizens and will be controlled by the parliament."
The MPs stressed that on the basis of the Central Bank of Azerbaijans data on the balance of payments, international investment status and external debt of Uzbekistan, the balance of deposits of legal entities and the population over the past three years amounted to $11.5 billion.
The MPs spoke about the introduction of a system of mandatory declaration of income of citizens in the country, which will ensure social support to the population, create a fair tax system and reveal the informal economy.
Moreover, MPs stressed that the process of mandatory declaration along with replenishment of the state treasury will help fight corruption.
The coordination of measures in the fight against the shadow sector is confirmed by international experience, the effectiveness of the fight against the shadow economy in all spheres simultaneously.
The slowdown of the shadow economy will also greatly depend on solving the institutional problems, that is, protection of the rights and freedoms of entrepreneurs.
For this purpose, the MPs supported the need to improve the laws on freedom of entrepreneurship and the inviolability of private property.
JERSEYVILLE A Jerseyville man was charged with felony burglary and theft after allegedly breaking into a storage container on West County Lane.
Heath E. Blaine, 47, of the 300 block of Fairgrounds, Jerseyville, was charged June 18 with burglary, a Class 2 felony; and theft, a Class 3 felony. According to court documents, on April 9 Blaine allegedly broke into a storage container in the 21400 block of West County Lane, Jerseyville, and stole musical equipment valued at more than $500.
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the European behavioral cyber-threat detection market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes the Netherlands-headquartered ReaQta with the 2020 Europe Technology Innovation Award for changing the landscape of threat intelligence and detection. The company's ReaQta-Hive alleviates the complexity of infrastructure analysis, eliminating the need for additional highly skilled personnel. Its innovative security approach applies artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to automate and simplify the complete process of detecting and handling new threats.
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"ReaQta-Hive enhances threat detection, establishing transparency for newer threats as they emerge. It uniquely uses NanoOS technology to provide complete visibility into the place and time of a security breach," said Aravind Srimoolanathan, Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. According to Alberto Pelliccione, CEO, ReaQta, "NanoOS monitors from outside the network and sets up unbreachable barriers. Due to higher levels of visibility, ReaQta-Hive comprehends the information and combines it with full AI-driven behavior analysis. NanoOS allows the solution to perform threat detection independently, based on delivery techniques and payload types of a detectable attack."
ReaQta's capabilities include AI analysis for system flexibility when establishing endpoint detection and recognizing unknown threats that are undetectable by legacy solutions. Its anti-ransomware feature automatically detects and blocks ransomware, preventing data loss and saving valuable time for analysts and security teams. Furthermore, simplified and streamlined analysis of an attack is key for efficient responses when determining the scope of an attack. ReaQta-Hive alerts analysts of critical events while AI reverse-engineers the incident from beginning to end, collectively projecting the overall impact. Moreover, real-time searches and high-level data mining offer the user an added level of protection. ReaQta-Hive catches lateral movements, identifies devices used during a breach, and isolates the impacted resources so analysts can monitor and gather intelligence from the attacker.
ReaQta believes it has achieved success thus far due to its structure and strong customer experience-focused research and development (R&D). Its R&D group designs a product development plan based on customer feedback on making improvements and pursuing innovation. The company has a wide customer base across Europe and Asia and plans to grow further in these two regions as well as in the Middle East. As ReaQta continues to develop next-generation endpoint threat responses, it aims to enter the North American market.
"ReaQta empowers organizations to counter cyber threats by understanding the initial query of where the attack happened, how to react, and how to reach a resolution," noted Srimoolanathan. "With its NanoOS and AI capabilities, it offers security teams a solution that identifies the most dormant attacks and prevents future system breaches."
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that develops a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.
About Frost & Sullivan
For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.
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About ReaQta
ReaQta, the company behind the world's first and only NanoOS technology, was founded in 2014 by a team with rich experience in government-led cyber intelligence operations and threat intelligence. With a deep understanding of the modern cybersecurity landscape, today it is one of the fastest-growing solution providers. ReaQta is a highly advanced, artificial intelligence (A.I.) powered endpoint threat response platform and solution service that empowers organisations of all sizes to analyse, detect, threat-hunt and remediate cyberattacks. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the company is currently represented in 19 countries.
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Sheetal Kumar
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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
Back in April, Reality Steve tweeted that Victoria Fuller (from Peter Webers season of The Bachelor) and Chris Soules (former bachelor) were quarantining together, forming One of the more random Bachelor couples.'
Fans took to the post to react, calling the pair a match made inprison?
Victoria Fuller | Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images
Chris Soules comes home with Victoria Fuller
Its been about two months since then and it seems Victoria F. and Chris are taking their relationship to the next level. Not only did Victoria spend a good chunk of time in Iowa getting to know Chris, but now it seems the former bachelor has made it back to Victorias hometown.
Loved having the cutest Bachelor couple join us for lunch today! Thanks for coming, Leaping Lizard Cafe captioned a photo of the couple.
(EXCLUSIVE): One of the more random Bachelor couples that I cant say I ever wouldve guessed. I dont know how long this has been going on or how serious it is, but I can confirm that Victoria Fuller is currently together in Iowa for the week with Chris Soules. Discuss. RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) April 15, 2020
Though some Bachelor fans joked about the pairs age difference (Aw how cute! Her dad took her out to dinner), others were happy to see two new members of Bachelor Nation find love.
So happy for them both. Make such a lovely couple. Both deserve happiness, wrote one Instagram user.
On June 7, Victoria F. confirmed her relationship with Chris. I have a bf, she wrote on Instagram in response to a comment that told her to Remain single with that personality!
RELATED: Kaitlyn Bristowe Finally on Dancing with the Stars After Claiming Bachelor Creator Barred Her Because He Hates Women
Former Bachelor in Paradise star Ashley Iaconetti spoke to Life & Style in April about Victorias rumored romance with Chris. She said shes just glad Chris has found someone he seems to like.
She hopes to go on a double date with them and her husband, Jared Haibon, someday.
Chris is such a sweet soul. I havent met her in person yet, but I told Victoria I hope to double date [with] them once we all can go out to dinner again!
The reality star said she didnt want to define their relationship for them, but thought youve got to like someone a good amount to quarantine together.
Chris Soules had almost given up on love
In December 2019, Soules told Us Weekly that he had just about given up on finding love.
RELATED: The Bachelor: Madison Prewett and Hannah Ann Sluss Get Honest About Their Current Relationship
I just think you know when you know, when you find it, he said. Im getting old enough to kind of learn that its just about, like, when its time, it will occur.
Soules also said that he didnt have a timeline in mind regarding when he wants to get married.
I used to a long time ago, but as time goes by, Im healthy, Im semi-young, and when I meet the right person, it will be the right time, he said.
Read more: Bachelorette Hannah Brown Reportedly Saved a Man From Drowning
TOKYO, June 23, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - The new supercomputer Fugaku, which is being developed jointly by RIKEN and Fujitsu, has taken the top spot on the Graph500 list, a ranking of the world's fastest supercomputers on data-intensive workloads. The top rank was won by a collaboration involving RIKEN, Kyushu University, Fixstars Corporation, and Fujitsu Limited. The award was announced on June 22.In gaining the award, Fugaku far surpassed the capabilities of its predecessor, the K computer, which was decommissioned in 2019 to make way for Fugaku. Using 92,160 nodes (approximately 58% of the entire system), it solved a breadth-first search of a large scale graph with 1.1 trillion nodes and 17.6 trillion edges in approximately 0.25 seconds, earning it a score of 70,980 gigaTEPS, more than doubling the score of 31,303 gigaTEPS attained by the K computer and tripling the performance of the second place supercomputer, which is currently second on the list, with 23,756 gigaTEPS.Fugaku, located at the RIKEN Center for Computational Science in Kobe, is being developed under a national plan to develop Japan's next-generation flagship supercomputer to carry out a wide range of applications that will address social and scientific issues of high priority. It will be put to use in applications aimed at achieving the Society 5.0 plan, which aims to realize a smart society that creates new value. Fugaku will start public service in fiscal 2021 (starting in April 2021).About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (USD 35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
The barbaric attack on Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley on the night on June 15 will have a major significance on Indo-China relations for years to come. It once again proved that China can't be trusted because after making statements to de-escalate the tension in the region, the Chinese army attacked Indian soldiers with rods, barbed wires and sharp objects. The Indian soldiers were apparently unarmed and following the protocol set in place by India and China. The retaliation by Indian soldiers who managed to inflict even more damage to the enemy highlights that the Indian army is better trained than the Chinese army in terms of strength and stamina to sustain in the region.
"Actually, it's the courage and strength of Indian soldiers that has forced China to soften its stand and indulge in talks to withdraw from the Galwan Valley," says Lt. Gen. Arun Kumar Sahni, former General Officer Commanding in Chief, Indian Army. But we need to be very careful as this could be a trap of the Chinese army. "This could easily be a hoax and they could open the conflict on other locations too, apart from having some hidden agenda in Galwan Valley," adds Lt. Gen. Arun Kumar Sahni. He believes that diplomatic efforts pay results only when we talk from the position of strength. "We should keep preparing for the possible assault only then the enemy would realise the mistake of disturbing the status quo and also the perils of launching a deadly attack on our jawans," believes Lt. Gen Sahni.
China can't stand a strong India
Growing India, its ideology and India's acceptance world over is a major concern for China which wants to be the undisputed leader in the region, flexing its military strength to force nations to toe its line. Experts warn that India should be watchful of Chinese moves and make efforts to become a strong economic power. "Chinese economy is five times that of India and this puts China in a strong position--better equipment, better facilities. Also, the money power allows China to invest heavily in other countries, distribute loans, which leads to dependence of these countries on China," says NK Tripathi, former Director-General CRPF
The experts were talking to patrika.com and catchnews.com during a Live FB interactive session on the situation in the Galwan Valley and the options available to India.
Build up international consensus against 'ill-acts' of China
Experts believe that China has repeatedly flouted international norms when it comes to respecting territorial claims of other countries. Human rights record of China is dismal and India should not shy away from speaking the facts on matters that embarrass China.
The fight is going to be long and India should devise a long term strategy that should not be affected by who holds office in Delhi.
Dhaka, June 23 : Bangladesh Foreign Minister, A.K. Abdul Momen, said on Tuesday that India is his country's biggest friend, as he expressed hope that the border tensions between India and China will be solved diplomatically.
"Bangladesh is the pioneer of peace. Dhaka is always for peaceful coexistence with neighbours. We believe on solution by discussing each and every problem, as we achieved lots with Indo-Bangla mutual discussions through understanding on both sides," Momen said in an exclusive interview with IANS.
"India is our biggest friend indeed from our liberation war days... India-China, both are our good friends and close neighbours. Both are our development partners," he said.
However, the minister ruled out any role of his country in the dispute.
"I don't think Bangladesh needs to interfere in resolving the long-standing issues between India and China. New Delhi and Beijing have shown commitment to a peaceful resolution. They started meetings at the level of defence officers and Foreign Ministers... it is the ray of hope. We hope for a diplomatic solution," he said.
The Minister extended deepest condolences for the lives lost as a result of the recent confrontation between Indian and Chinese soldiers.
About Indian commentators and the news published in the Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika which caused a social media uproar, Abdul Momen said: "Who described the zero-tariff bilateral agreement for 97 per cent of exports to China as 'charity' for 'least developed' Bangladesh... for this, many are disappointed. This word ('Khoyraati'/charity) is not acceptable to me, I said on Sunday." However, he welcomed the paper's apology.
"Anandabazar has apologised unconditionally by admitting its mistake today, that's good. Lots of thanks to them from my side for their realisation. Hope they also realize that India is a very good friend of Bangladesh.
"Many had said to protest officially, but I refused. Because, it does not reflect the real scenario at all. That's why we don't think there is a need to protest (officially) on these news reports," he told IANS.
Anandabazar Patrika, a Kolkata-based Bengali daily, on Tuesday apologised for stating that the zero-tariff bilateral agreement for 97 per cent of exports to China was "charity" for Bangladesh.
On the fourth page of Tuesday's print version, it admitted its mistake and apologised unconditionally.
On June 20, in a report titled "Beijing taking Dhaka to its side after Ladakh", Anandabazar wrote: "China's recent decision of providing 5,161 Bangladeshi products duty-free access after the clash with India is a 'charitable' act." The Indian media claimed that China has given such a duty-free export opportunity to Bangladesh only to put pressure on India. Several Indian media outlets, including Anandabazar, mocked it as a "charitable" act.
This was the second response from the Minister in two days after certain Indian news publications alleged that "China used the agreement to get Bangladesh on its side as tension with India simmers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Ladakh".
Abdul Momen said he was quoted wrongly by some media on Sunday.
Bangladesh media reports on Sunday reported that the Foreign Minister said that the representation of Bangladesh in a demeaning manner in certain sections of Indian media was "not welcome". He indicated that Dhaka took serious note of the negative reports of Indian media about Bangladesh and said, "It appears that they (the government) are very upset." The minister told IANS that "we are so happy that the Indian government said nothing about the agreement with China. We are thankful to India".
He also said that India will have also economic benefits through the bilateral agreement with China. If Bangladesh is developed, India will get the benefit, he said.
However, the Foreign Minister also admitted that Bangladesh-China trade balance is "imbalanced", the same as Indo-Bangladesh trade. "We export to India only one billion dollars of products, but import huge in multiple billion dollars product. At the same time, Bangladesh imports huge from China, exports less." On the impact of Covid-19, he said: "It is a big shake for our economy in this pandemic... our major export is RMG sector and remittance also in crisis. We are urging all neighbouring countries to be our development partners... it will help us to overcome the challenge of the pandemic period. We are very grateful to China they have moved on with Bangladesh in this crucial period, which we tried for long time. Hope India also will come forward."
'Slipper Revolution' Shakes Belarus
By Jamie Dettmer June 22, 2020
Half-a-year ago Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron Soviet-style fist for a quarter of century, looked to be unassailable. But the former collective farm manager, whose aides and supporters like to dub him "father," is now being widely labeled a "cockroach" and his opponents are vowing to "squash the pest" come August when he faces a presidential election.
In the past, Lukashenko has managed elections in much the same way as Russian leader Vladimir Putin - disqualify serious opponents from running, fiddle the tallies and silence independent media, according to international election monitors. During the last poll in 2015, many Belarusians observed the upheaval in neighboring Ukraine and took fright, deciding they preferred the leaden, if impoverishing, stability of Lukashenko over unpredictable and possibly ruinous change, say analysts.
But this time, Lukashenko is threatened not by a so-called "color revolution" but with a "slipper uprising," thanks to popular blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, who was arrested at a rally last month after an alleged assault on a police officer.
Tikhanovsky was behind the labeling of Lukashenko as a "cockroach," saying he resembled the insect in a popular children's poem called "The Mighty Cockroach." He had taken to driving around Belarus campaigning with a giant slipper tied to the roof of his car a signal of his intention to flatten Lukashenko.
Charged with public disorder and accused of being a foreign agent after the security services claimed to have unearthed $900,000 in cash during a subsequent search of his home, Tikhanovsky is blocked from running. His 38-year-old wife, Svetlana, has stepped up as a substitute to challenge Lukashenko.
And she has become, on paper, the incumbent Lukashenko's biggest threat, following the detention on Friday of another challenger, Viktor Babaryko, a 56-year-old former banker, who was arrested for alleged financial crimes, along with his campaign manager, his son. "Babaryko is detained because he was the organizer and leader of illegal activities," Ivan Tertel, head of the state control committee, told AFP news agency.
Tertel also accused Babaryko of conspiring with Russian "puppeteers."
The arrests of Tikhanovsky, Babaryko and other Lukashenko critics which have triggered street protests in the streets of Minsk, the Belarus capital, and earned a rebuke from the European Union puts Svetlana Tikhanovskaya even more in the spotlight.
Even before Babaryko's detention, 16% of Belarusians backed her candidacy, according to an unofficial poll run by the news site Tut.by. Police have told the website not to publish any more polls. And the signs are that she is unnerving the idiosyncratic authoritarian leader unaccustomed to challenge. Midweek she told reporters an anonymous caller told her to pull out of the election, warning the Tikhanovskys' ten-year-old son and four-year-old daughter could be taken away from them if she refused.
She says she had considered backing down, but has decided to continue, determined to be a champion for Belarusians, many of whom "don't know that in Europe you can say what you think without fear." She added, "I've never wanted to be a politician, let alone the president. This is just how things have turned out."
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has become an unlikely revolutionary figurehead. She describes herself as just a stay-at-home mother and wife. One of the couple's children has special needs. But the enthusiasm for change is clear. Towns across the landlocked country of nine million have seen protests and crowds appear to support her candidacy and the campaigns of other opposition candidates. She acknowledges "people at these rallies are supporting Sergei, not me."
Her husband, who has been compared to Alexei Navalny, the blogger turned opposition leader in neighboring Russia, says he is playing "the main role in my wife Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's election campaign; her role will be only a nominal one." He has in the campaign team other popular bloggers.
Despite last week's arrests people in Minsk are lining up again to sign the nomination papers of candidates opposing Lukashenko, according to Belarusian journalist Hanna Liubakova. She tweeted Sunday: "3 leading #Lukashenko's rivals collected more than 730,000 signatures in less than a month. If you count 3 other alternative candidates, it is more than a million. This campaign has already shown that the level of activism and political engagement is incredibly high."
Candidates have to gather at least 100,000 signatures to be qualified to stand.
The opposition to Lukashenko is being fueled by an increasingly parlous economic situation, a coronavirus crisis, which the president downplayed from the start and cheerily told Belarusians to take saunas and drink vodka to avoid falling ill, and just a weariness with his rule and stagnation, analysts say. Younger Belarusians seem impervious to Lukashenko's warnings of chaos, if he's not reelected to his sixth term. And they are immune seemingly to the Soviet-like stability their elders favor.
Lukashenko is not being helped in his political struggle by neighboring Russia. His relationship with Vladimir Putin has long been a fitful one with the two falling out frequently and then circling back for convenience sake. A senior Russian diplomat based in Minsk described to VOA once the "shouting match" he overheard during a phone conversation between the pair.
Analysts say Putin's major objective towards Belarus is to ensure much as his goal is with Ukraine that it doesn't end up as a pro-Western enclave on Russia's borders, say analysts. The Belarusian leader has long played the West against Russia and vice versa. He observed a neutral stance over Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and hosted peace talks in Minsk to try to find a solution to the war in eastern Ukraine.
But he has relied on Russia financially for help and that has been less forthcoming with subsidies and oil supplies in recent months, punishment, analysts and diplomats say, for Lukashenko's resistance to Putin's efforts to draw Minsk deeper into the Russian orbit.
Few analysts predict that anyone other than Lukashenko will be allowed to win the Aug. 9 poll and they warn that Belarus could quickly be plunged into a Maidan-like uprising that saw the 2014 ouster of Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine.
Protests are spreading across Belarus as opposition to Lukashenko grows, local media and human rights organizations report. On Friday, more than 10 cities across the former Soviet republic saw protests with dozens of activists arrested by the security forces. The independent human rights group Viasna says least 120 people were detained.
Lukashenko appears to be preparing for the likelihood of a violent reaction to his seemingly inevitable electoral win, claiming on Friday that by arresting Babaryko and dozens of political activists he had foiled a Ukraine-style revolutionary plot hatched by foreign conspirators from "both the West and from the East," who are intent on fomenting unrest in Belarus.
Former aide Alexander Feduta, now a political analyst, has warned that Lukashenko is ready to use force to stay in power. The arrests are an indication of that, he says.
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In 1979 China attacked Vietnam, in the province of Lang Son. The North Vietnam Army withdrew about 20 km inside. Chinas PLA poured into the breach and were crowing about their quick victory, when Vietnamese military commander Gen.
Van Tien Dung closed the trap and battered the PLA with deadly artillery fire. Incidentally, the then external affairs minister of India, Atal Behari Vajpayee, who was visiting Beijing when the attack started, had to hurriedly return home.
Had he stayed back for a few days, he would have absorbed an important lesson from the Vietnamese: to let the military decide strategy and battlefield tactics. The tactical sacrifice of territory to inflict painful damage to the enemy is more important.
Unfortunately in India, we are obsessed with territory. Even after the Galwan and Pangong Tso incidents, what our commentators and politicians mostly point to loss of territory.
We seem unconcerned about the military tenability of the lines of actual or imagined control.
For instance, does anyone consider the military viability of the Fingers territory on Pangongs north bank? Will a general be allowed to marshal resources at a place of his choosing, like Van Tien Dung did at Lang Son?
The question we must ponder over is whether we ready for a bigger conflict with China?
Lets take the Galwan situation. The PLA was seeking to establish dominance over the vital Darbuk-Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) road, our only link with what we call Sub-Sector North (SSN).
This is a long road of over 230 km and goes alongside the Shyok river, which in turn flows south alongside a spur of the Karakoram, till it bends along the Chip Chap river to end at DBO.
The Depsang Plains lies inside the crook of this elbow. The PLA effectively dominates Depsang, that is just south of Aksai Chin, now with China. The road effectively ends at DBO, unless you want to go to via the Karakoram Pass a few kilometers ahead, and then to Yarkand in Xinjiang.
To my mind, the disputed Fingers 4-8 area north of Pangong Tso is a sideshow. It doesnt have the strategic significance of the Darbuk-DBO road. The PLA is now at its closest ever to this road and can even bring it under even mortar and machinegun fire.
By interdicting this road, the PLA will effectively cut off SSN from Ladakh. India literally has its back to the wall here, with a spur of the Karakoram range on the left and the LAC on the right.
In the outbreak of a larger conflict, what is the survivability of this road? Do we invest huge forces to defend this area or do we learn from Lang Son? To really beat back the PLA, India must bring the Air Force into play early. If the PLA has the upper hand on land, the IAF has dominance in the second dimension.
Its major bases are nearby on the plains, and it can launch its fighter-bombers with the full fuel and weapons loads. The PLA Air Force, on the other hand, operating from high-altitude airfields, has limitations on fuel and weapons loads.
The dominance of the battlefield depends on how much force one can bring to bear on it. Here India has the advantage. But first we must stop equating military success with territory lost or gained.
If the second dimension comes into play, it wont be long before the third dimension -- the sea -- is put into play. With 70 per cent of its oil on the sea lanes running about 300-500 km from its shore, India can effectively interdict Chinese foreign trade with the region. The PLA Navy will be loathe to engage the Indian Navy in an area where the leading Indian Ocean power, the US Navy, also dominates.
War between between nuclear powers will not be without consequences to the ever increasingly interdependent world and hence international pressure to terminate conflicts before they expand and/or spiral out of control is only to be expected. How many nuclear weapons a country has does not matter, as for the world outside even the use of one will not be without huge collateral consequences.
Thus, while China will be interested in keeping any conflict limited and restricted to one dimension, it will be in Indias interest that it quickly escalate to the other two dimensions, where it can bring its superior disruptive power into play.
The time window for such a conflict, if there is one, will be very narrow. Thus, at best the two countries can fight a very limited war that does not cause irremediable loss of face to either one. It will be very important for both nations to have their people believe they havent emerged worse-off in the conflict.
Face then is everything. The national mood, not territory, is what the next conflict should be about.
This kind of a conflict requires quick escalation to high kinetic levels before the conflict is forced to a halt by outside powers. The illusion of victory has to be created in this very limited space.
Victory will be a matter of perception. There will be no time and place for strategic victories. The sum of tactical victories will be the ultimate perception of victory. We have seen how soon air power came to be deployed over Kargil.
The terrain and array of forces on both sides of the India-China border suggests that air power come into play fairly early to score the wins that will influence perceptions.
Indias arms buildup and preparations make it apparent that a conflict will not be confined to the mountains and valleys of the Himalayas, but will swirl into the skies above, on to the Xinjiang and Tibetan plateaus and the Indian Ocean.
It will be logical for India to extend a Himalayan war to the Indian Ocean, particularly as Indias geographical location puts it astride the sea lanes that carry over two-thirds of Chinas oil imports. To pay for this oil, 41 per cent of Chinas exports are now to the MENA region.
Asia is now the most dynamic economic region in the world. Six of the worlds 10 fastest-growing major economies in the coming decade (including China and India) are in Asia.
India has so far been careful about not semaphoring its capability too overtly, but its sometimes useful to overtly convey this. There is an old Chinese saying that to scare away monkeys you sometimes have to skin a cat.
The writer, a policy analyst studying economic and security issues, has held senior positions in government and industry. He also specialises in the Chinese economy.
Chinas decision to ban imports from a single Tyson Foods poultry plant where there was a coronavirus outbreak has raised concerns about the implications on the US meat industry if the action is expanded to other plants.
Chinese customs officials didnt hint about expanding the ban in a short statement it issued about suspending imports from the plant in Springdale, Arkansas. The country imposed a similar ban last week on pork imports from a German plant where a number of workers tested positive for Covid-19, but it hasnt taken action against other US beef, pork and poultry plants that have seen outbreaks among workers.
Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, said he hopes the move wont hurt the overall relationship with China, which had been improving after a new trade deal was signed early this year.
Hopefully its not going to mean anything, Sumner said. If it remains at just one plant, it will not have any meaningful impact, but we dont know whats going to happen. A US Agriculture Department spokesman said Monday that there is no evidence of the virus being transmitted by food or food packaging.
This action by the Chinese is completely unjustified, National Chicken Council spokesman Tom Super said.
Sumner said the time it takes for meat produced in the United States to reach China would make it especially difficult for any virus to survive.
Its not transmissible in meat, he said. Plus, that product is frozen and spends 30 days in a container en route to China. So there is zero possibility of a live virus from the US showing up in frozen poultry as it has been shipped by ocean carrier halfway around the world. Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said the company remains confident that its products are safe, and it hopes the issue can be resolved in trade talks between the two countries.
Last week, Tyson announced the results of coronavirus testing at its facilities in Benton and Washington counties in Arkansas. It said that 481 of the 3,748 workers it tested were positive for Covid-19, and most of those workers didnt show any symptoms of the illness.
There have been other Covid-19 outbreaks at meatpacking plants around the United States, including in South Dakota, Iowa, North Carolina, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson called Chinas move very troubling since theres been no evidence of the virus being transmitted from food, and questioned why the facility was singled out.
I dont know whether China is playing politics or just making bad judgments, but thats not good or helpful at all in our relationship, Hutchinson said.
Jeff Moon, who is a former assistant US trade representative for China and now a trade consultant, said the action could be a political move to remind the Trump administration how dependent America is on the Chinese market for exports, but its hard to tell for certain what is behind the ban.
There is a legitimate interest in promoting food safety, but it also serves a much broader political purpose. China can choose to implement this ban for as long as it wants to or if it thinks it is useful and appropriate, it can lift it tomorrow. American companies frequently face this kind of limbo when dealing with the Chinese market, Moon said.
International trade was helped this year by Chinas promise to buy $40 billion in US agricultural products per year under a trade pact signed in January although there have been some recent questions about whether China will fulfil that pledge. China became the fourth-largest market for American poultry in the first quarter after it lifted a five-year ban on those products.
Meat exports grew significantly throughout the first three months of the year despite the fact that dozens of US meatpacking plants closed temporarily after outbreaks of the coronavirus among their workers. Chicken exports grew by 8% in the first quarter. And the US Meat Export Federation trade group said pork exports jumped 40% and beef exports grew 9% during the first three months of the year.
Anything that jeopardizes the Chinese market significantly would have a negative impact on meatpacking profits and livestock prices, agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor said.
If its just one facility, then the industrywide price effects are very small. But if it became companywide or multiple plant or multiple species, then that starts hitting a much bigger portion of our production, said Tonsor, who is based at Kansas State University.
KENT COUNTY, MI -- Parents in Kent County want their children back in the classroom this fall, according to survey results from the intermediate school district.
A majority of the parents surveyed by the Kent County ISD said they prefer to see school open in the fall in a traditional face-to-face setting, based on the Kent Intermediate Superintendent Association School Re-Entry Survey Results presented to media during a teleconference Tuesday, June 23.
The survey had over 30,000 respondents and included each of the 20 local school districts, said Sunil Joy, a data researcher with KISA. The survey was created to gauge parents level of comfort with instruction in the fall and help guide district decision making, Joy said.
Along with others across the state, Kent County area school districts were forced to close their doors in March to slow the spread of COVID-19 and provide education remotely to students. In the months since, district leaders across the state have worked to create plans to return to school and await guidance from the state of Michigan.
Nearly 90% of respondents in the KISA survey were confident in-person instruction delivers a high quality education, while only 12% believed distance instruction works well for students, Joy said.
Related: Kent County school leaders provide roadmap for reopening safely
The ISD will work to offer safe, quality education for every child, every family, Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Caniff said.
It is our desire to return to full-time face-to-face instruction, Caniff said.
Overall, 62% of parents were at least somewhat confident in-person learning is safe, Joy said.
There were greater safety concerns specifically for African American and Hispanic parents, the survey said. Nearly 40% of those minority parents are not at all confident that in-person learning will be safe compared to 15% of white parents.
Joy shared written responses from parents, including one who wrote COVID-19 has risks, but a mental health crisis is oncoming.
Students deserve to be together in school celebrating milestones in their life, Joy said, quoting from the parent response.
Another parent suggested the district spray classrooms with disinfectant and require the students to wear masks, as long as they were able, to return to school.
Please get the kids back to school... It is very important for their overall well-being, Joy said. They need to be with their peers and elders in person.
When asked by the media about requiring students and staff to wear masks, Joy said the districts will follow the guidelines and requirements from the state. Parent responses regarding the use of masks in schools were mixed, he said.
The survey also inquired about parents experience during distance learning this spring. Online engagement was a challenge, particularly for special education students, Joy said. Other concerns listed by parents were isolation, boredom and parents ability to aid in instruction.
Joy said some parents expressed a new level of respect for the teaching profession after doing distance learning with their children at home.
Parents also said childcare would be a problem, specifically for parents of young children, if school did not resume in the fall.
The survey showed that about a quarter of parents were concerned with their childs well-being from the closure. Joy said a variety of factors can contribute to this, including financial troubles or loss of a loved one.
Caniff said its no secret that COVID-19 presented challenges for families and students.
The district faced many challenges this spring in serving students and providing remote learning. But the Kent County districts did a remarkable job, Caniff said, and jumped into action to provide both instruction and food to students in the county.
Caniff said he knows that some rural and low-income families lack access to internet to participate in online learning. He said some students have unique needs and need expert attention.
Therefore, providing in-person instruction would be better for all kids, but especially for these students, he said.
The online survey was available between May 29 and June 10, with options in both English and Spanish, Joy said. The ISD also provided paper copies of the survey at food distribution sites to reach families without internet access, he said.
As leaders plan for the fall, districts are also facing multi-million dollar budget cuts amidst a decline in state revenue.
Michigans School Aid Funds two largest sources of revenue -- sales and income taxes -- plummeted due to the pandemic, resulting in a major budget hole. School districts are now bracing for significant cuts in their per-pupil funding from the state.
Related: Possible closure of some Grand Rapids schools part of virtual town hall discussion
In Grand Rapids Public Schools, several schools face permanent closure during the budget crisis. The proposed deep budget cuts have yet to be finalized as Grand Rapids school leaders decide how to address the reduction in funding the district will receive due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Also on MLive:
Report offers Michigan schools plan to recover from coronavirus hiatus, $1.2 billion deficit
Western Michigan University students will return to the classroom in the fall
Muskegon High plans in-person commencement ceremony at students request
Grand Rapids Pride Festival canceled for 2020
A sea of empty seats in a Tulsa, Okla., arena on Saturday set off a furious round of finger-pointing and recriminations around President Donald Trump's campaign that continued through Monday, amplifying the president and his team's struggle to find their footing amid national and political crises.
Trump has fumed about his campaign manager Brad Parscale over the half-empty arena, campaign officials are engaged in whisper campaigns against their colleagues, and some Trump allies are calling for a dramatic reorganization of the reelection machine, according to several current and former administration and campaign officials.
On Monday, the campaign announced that two additional staff members tested positive for the novel coronavirus after attending the Tulsa rally. Six members of the campaign advance team tested positive before the rally.
Less than five months before Trump faces voters, Tulsa serves as a touch point for a campaign that increasingly appears to be in crisis. Far behind in the polls and struggling to find a clear and effective message against Democratic rival Joe Biden, Trump has turned a skeptical eye on his own campaign - raising the prospect of the kind of reshuffling that took place in 2016 after bouts of infighting, chaos and negative headlines.
"The campaign completely screwed up on this rally," said Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor. "I don't know how it would be possible to misalign expectations more than they did here. If I'm Parscale, I'm thinking about how many people did Trump go through last cycle? All of that said, I think Joe Biden would have had six people there. If Trump can pull 6,000, Biden wouldn't be able to pull 100."
Publicly, the White House and Trump campaign declared the rally a success and denied claims that Trump - who has long fixated on crowd size - was upset about the crowd of 6,200 at the 19,000-seat arena in Tulsa. Before the event, Trump said he expected tens of thousands of supporters to be there.
"He's quite pleased with how the rally went," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Monday, before reading from a slip of paper handed to her at the briefing room podium about millions of people who watched the rally on television.
Tim Murtaugh, who released statements on Saturday and Monday confirming coronavirus cases among campaign staff in Tulsa, said Trump's crowd dwarfed the typical Biden gathering.
"This is an enormous audience that Joe Biden couldn't even begin to dream of from his basement, and we are eager to continue to highlight the enthusiasm gap, which is real and wide," he said.
Murtaugh said Trump was "eager" to continue holding rallies, despite the virus fears and nationwide protests over racial injustice, in which Trump has been denounced repeatedly.
Trump's reelection team and other allies have already begun thinking of how to retool the traditional campaign rally to avoid a repeat of the Tulsa affair, after a promised crowd of tens of thousands never showed up and a second stage built for the president to address an overflow crowd had to be quickly dismantled.
Some campaign officials are pushing for future rallies to take place outdoors, possibly returning to the kind of airplane hangar events Trump used frequently in 2016. Huge indoor arenas are unlikely to be used as often as Trump has in the past, though the president prefers them to hangars or smaller sites, according to a Republican operative in frequent touch with the White House who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
Trump and his campaign have built much of their reelection strategy around massive rallies headlined by the president - pitching the events as perfect for ginning up enthusiasm among supporters, recruiting volunteers and soaking up troves of data about potential voters. But the coronavirus pandemic has forced many of the president's supporters, including the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions, to weigh their personal health against their desire to show support for Trump. The Trump campaign made the trade off crystal clear before the Tulsa rally, requiring attendees to sign waivers agreeing not to sue if they contracted the coronavirus during the event.
The debate over rally sites is indicative of a broader rift between Trump and his campaign, officials said.
Trump has resisted efforts to move away from packed mega-rallies in large urban arenas. Despite public health guidelines urging people to avoid mass gatherings due to the pandemic, Trump has pushed to continue holding large rallies and has viewed it as the job of his campaign to fill the arenas, said the Republican operative close to the White House.
Trump, who has been fixated on media coverage, has complained that moving his rallies to smaller venues would lead to negative attacks questioning his level of support and that airport hangars lack the energy of a raucous indoor rally, this person said.
Trump's relationship with his campaign has soured in recent months as officials have presented him with a series of polls showing him trailing Biden in several key states. Public polling also shows Biden with a significant lead nationally and in swing states, a gap that has grown in recent months as the public has given Trump low marks for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, an economic recession and racial strife. There's a growing consensus inside the campaign world that Trump will have difficulty winning some states he won in 2016, such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, in November, officials said.
Tension between Trump and his campaign has escalated during the pandemic. The campaign resents Trump staying "really stupid things that drive the narrative in the wrong direction, and he thinks they're incompetent fools who can't fill an arena," said the GOP operative, who added that a "dramatic reorganization" is needed with a "a grown-up in charge."
Parscale has taken the brunt of the criticism for the Tulsa rally, after he repeatedly touted more than 1 million sign-ups ahead of the event and later tried to tamp down stories indicating that teenagers had sabotaged the campaign's online ticketing system.
Trump, who has long displayed a sensitivity about being outsmarted or publicly one-upped, was frustrated with Parscale over the mishap, according three people familiar with the matter.
While Parscale is not expected to be fired over the Tulsa rally, his influence in Trump's orbit is waning, according to several Republican allies close to the president. One adviser noted that Parscale was not on the plane with Trump to the rally and is spending much of his time in Florida.
Corey Lewandowski, who served as Trump's campaign manager for much of the 2016 race, said Monday that the Tulsa rally represented a "fundamental mistake."
"Over promising and under-delivering is the biggest mistake you can make in politics," Lewandowski, an outside adviser to the president, said Monday on "New Hampshire Today" with Jack Heath. "I lived this, as you know, I did this when candidate Trump was running. We won 38 primaries and caucuses under my stewardship - obviously all due to Donald Trump. But we never did something like this."
Murtaugh defended Parscale's stewardship of the campaign Monday, highlighting the long-running relationship between the former contractor for Trump Organization websites and the Trump family.
Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and a close ally of Parscale, has been telling people, including reporters who reach out, that Parscale's job is safe, according to someone familiar with the matter.
"Brad has built an amazing team and is doing a great job," Murtaugh said in a statement. "He has a strong 10-year relationship with the President and the Trump family."
The campaign has also disputed the Tulsa official crowd-size estimate and highlighted digital viewership of the rally in the millions. Trump himself has called for his aides to focus on the speech's ratings, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Some advisers have grown worried that Trump's intense focus on things like his crowd size, his physical stamina and his ability to drink a glass of water - all of which were featured in the president's rally speech - distract from a message tailored to defeating Biden in November.
Trump's campaign and outside allies have struggled to accomplish their goal of defining Biden and burying him with negative ads during the months before the fall campaign kicks into high gear. The pandemic and a series of other crises have interfered with those plans and Trump has been unable or unwilling to stick to a consistent message.
For example, Trump spent much of the weekend fuming over a new book by former national security adviser John Bolton, according to two people who spoke with him. Trump has also spent recent days defending Confederate generals and calling for flag burners to be jailed.
Trump's campaign has tried to keep its focus on Biden, though often using disjointed messaging that casts the former vice president as both too old and senile to fulfill the duties as president and a dangerous advocate for radical left-wing policies.
The campaign has two television ads running across the country this week, part of an aggressive campaign to mock Biden for staying "in his basement" during the pandemic.
Biden's campaign shot back at Trump after his rally, criticizing the president for saying he asked government officials to "slow the testing" for coronavirus because too many cases were being reported. White House officials said Trump was joking, but the president appeared to double down on the comment on Monday.
"I mean, my God," Biden said of the comment during a fundraiser on Monday, referring to Trump's rally speech as a "diatribe."
Paris Dennard, a Republican national committee communications adviser and a board member on the Trump campaign's "Black Voices for Trump" group, said despite the challenges that campaign is moving "full steam ahead."
"We have the resources we have the people, and the boots on the ground, we have the volunteers ready, we have people that are trained, and we're ready to go," he said. "And the rallies will continue."
Dozens of Republican former US national security officials are forming a group that will back Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, people familiar with the effort said, in a further sign that President Donald Trump has alienated some members of his own party.
The group will publicly endorse Biden in the coming weeks and its members plan to campaign for the former vice president who is challenging Trump in the Nov. 3 election, the sources said. It includes at least two dozen officials who served under Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, with dozens more in talks to join, the sources added.
They will argue that another four years of a Trump presidency would endanger U.S. national security and that Republican voters should view Biden as the better choice despite policy differences, the sources said.
The initiative is being led by John Bellinger III and Ken Wainstein, according to the people involved, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Both held senior posts under George W. Bush. Bellinger served as legal adviser to the National Security Council and State Department. Wainstein served as Bush's homeland security adviser and as chief of staff to former FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Another member of the group, the sources said, is Robert Blackwill, who served as a foreign policy adviser under both Bushes and ambassador to India under George W. Bush. The group includes some independents and officials from outside the national security arena, the sources said.
"Trump pals around with dictators. He's a real danger," a person involved in the group said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The group could go public before the Democratic National Convention in August when Biden will formally become his party's nominee, but a launch date has not yet been set, the sources said. Opinion polls show Biden with a widening lead over Trump.
Trump, who faced no significant opposition in seeking his party's nomination for a second term in office, has drawn sharp criticism from numerous retired military leaders and former members of his administration in recent weeks. The criticism was prompted by Trump's calls for a militarized response to protests in U.S. cities against racism and police brutality and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Other groups of anti-Trump Republicans also are opposing his re-election including the Lincoln Project, co-founded by George Conway, husband of Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway. It is running anti-Trump ads in key battleground states.
Bellinger, Wainstein and Blackwill have previously voiced opposition to Trump. They were among some 50 Republicans who signed an August 2016 letter after Trump had become the Republican presidential nominee, warning of the dangers of a Trump presidency and vowing not to vote for him.
Trump has expressed contempt for Republican and conservative figures who have opposed him, saying on Twitter last year that such "Never Trumper Republicans" are "human scum."
'BROADEST POSSIBLE COALITION'
TJ Ducklo, a Biden campaign spokesman, said Trump has mismanaged U.S. foreign policy and damaged relationships with foreign allies.
"Joe Biden is running for president to unite this country and undo Donald Trump's chaos, and we are building the broadest possible coalition to do that, which includes Republicans who are horrified by what they have witnessed over the past four years," Ducklo said.
Tim Murtaugh, communications director for Trump's campaign, issued a statement making apparent reference to Biden's 2002 vote as a U.S. senator authorizing the Iraq War launched the following year by George W. Bush.
"Not surprising that the same people who gave us endless wars that led to thousands of deaths and trillions of dollars wasted in the Middle East are siding with a fellow warmonger like Joe Biden," Murtaugh said.
Trump has faced an unusual outpouring of criticism from members of the military establishment including from prominent retired generals such as James Mattis, his first defense secretary, and Colin Powell, who served as secretary of state under George W. Bush. Both denounced Trump's response to the protests that erupted after the May 25 death of an African-American man named George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
In addition, the current top U.S. military officer, General Mark Milley, expressed regret over joining Trump in a walk from the White House to a nearby church after protesters were forcibly removed by law enforcement authorities.
"Powell, Mattis, Milley - they have galvanized people to support Joe Biden," the person involved in the new group said.
Powell already has endorsed Biden, saying Trump has "drifted away" from the U.S. Constitution and poses a danger to American democracy. Mattis accused Trump of trying to divide Americans.
Most recently, Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton said Trump was unfit to be president and accused him in a new book of misdeeds including seeking Chinese President Xi Jinping's help to win re-election.
U.S President Donald Trump held his first rally in three months in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20, 2020. Trump's speech went on for an hour and forty minutes and he talked about his opponent on the Presidential race, former vice president Joe Biden, he talked about how he handled the pandemic, he discussed about the country's health care and more.
Here are some of the things that President Trump discussed during his rally.
West Point ramp
Trump spent almost 10 minutes talking about his speech at West Point on June 13 and his slow and careful descent down a ramp afterward. His walk had made his political opponents and the public wonder if he is suffering from any illness.
However, Trump said that the reason why he was carefully walking down the ramp was because he was wearing leather bottom shoes at that time, and he did not want to slip and fall. He also repeated his claim on Twitter and said that for the final 10 feet, he ran down the ramp.
The truth? The President did not run down the ramp for the final 10 feet. There is a video of him at the event that showed him walking slowly down the ramp and he picked up his pace for a final couple of steps.
Also Read: Fact Check: Did Trump Tweet a Doctored Video of a 'Racist Baby'?
Judicial appointments
President Trump stated that by the end of his Presidential term, the United States will have around 300 federal judges that he had appointed and approved.
The truth? According to Russell Wheeler, who tracks judicial appointments at the Brookings Institution, as of June 12, the President had 198 judges confirmed. If the Senate confirms 43 pending nominees and the President nominates too, and the Senate confirms judges to the 30 current vacancies that have no nominees and by the end of the year 29 additional vacancies happen and the President submits nominees for all vacancies and the Senate confirms, then that is the only time that the President had appointed 300 judges by the end of his term.
Travel ban due to the coronavirus
President Trump said during his rally that he had ordered the ban of flights from Europe and China. The truth? What the President initially imposed was not a total ban on European countries or people traveling from Europe. He only imposed restrictions on travel from most countries in Europe but there were those who were exempted, like Ireland and the United Kingdom.
On January 31, the Trump administration announced the restriction policy, and it was implemented on February 2. It was not a total border closure and it was also not a complete ban on China. It only prevented those who spent 2 weeks in China from getting inside the country, but US citizens and permanent residents were exempted.
On April 14, The New York Times reported that there were almost 40,000 people who had arrived in the United States from China since the restrictions were implemented. The travel restrictions on Europe did not apply for US citizens and permanent residents of the country.
The restrictions applied to the 26 countries in the Schengen Area. The area is a European zone in which people can move across the boarders without having to go through checks. The President later added Ireland and the United Kingdom. The ban still left out Serbia, Croatia, Ukraine, Romania, and Russia.
Related Article: Fact Check: Did Trump Say He Won't Leave the White House After the End of His Term?
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Five months after the first COVID-19 infections were reported in Vietnam, the number of confirmed cases in the country reached 349 as of June 23 morning, with no new cases reported overnight.
Giving health checkups to foreign experts and workers before quarantine (Photo: VNA)
According to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Vietnam entered its 68th consecutive day without any community coronavirus infections.
No fatalities have been recorded and 328 patients, or 94 percent of the total, have been given the all-clear. Among the 349 confirmed cases so far, 209 were imported and quarantined upon arrival.
A total of 7,157 people are under medical monitoring or quarantine, of whom 124 are quarantined at hospitals, 6,159 at medical stations and 874 at home.
Among 21 active patients, three have tested negative for the coronavirus once and three others at least twice.
The country has been hailed by many leading organisations and media across the world for its success in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, although it shares a long border with China where the virus was first detected.
From the experience gained during the SARS outbreak in 2003, Vietnam has been proactive in treating COVID-19 patients, with the key method creating a well-ventilated environment, not using air conditioning and regularly disinfecting.
Vietnams health workers are said to have been making miracles, especially with what they have done with the 91st patient - a British pilot named Stephen Cameron, the most severe COVID-19 case so far in the country.
More COVID-19 cases recorded in Southeast Asia
The Indonesian Ministry of Health on June 22 announced 954 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of cases to 46,854.
The ministry also reported 35 more deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total fatalities in the country to 2,500.
Meanwhile, the Philippines Ministry of Health reported 630 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 30,682. The number of recoveries also increased to 8,143 after an additional 250 patients were given the all-clear.
The Philippines also saw eight more deaths from the disease in the past 24 hours, raising the total number to 1,177.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Ministry of Health announced an additional 15 coronavirus-infected cases, including two imported ones, bringing the total number to 8,587.
The number of deaths from COVID-19 in Malaysia remained at 121, while that of recovering and discharged patients increased by 21 to 8,177, accounting for 95.2 percent of the total cases.
Malaysia's Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is in charge of coordinating the implementation of anti-epidemic measures, said that from July 1, the Malaysian government will allow theaters and cinemas to reopen, and performances, seminars and conferences to take place.
However, these activities must ensure the maximum attendance of 250 people, with body temperature checking and social distancing measures still in place.
COVID-19 prevention work inspected at Moc Bai intl border gate
Deputy head of the National Assembly (NA)s Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Manh Tien had a working session with the Border Guard High Command of the southeastern province of Tay Ninh on June 22 to inspect the implementation of preventive measures against COVID-19 at Moc Bai international border gate.
Colonel Nguyen Tai Son from the High Command said local border guards are coordinating with other forces to maintain the operation of 107 checkpoints around the clock to prevent illegal cross-border cases.
Besides increasing awareness of over 200 households in the border gate area, the unit has partnered with trade unions at the provincial and district levels to distribute over 2,000 medical face masks to people and passengers crossing the border, as well as support the building of solar light system along the border to serve the patrol and prevention of the pandemic, he added.
Tien said as the COVID-19 situation remains complicated in the world, local border guards should continue vigilance against the disease to prevent imported cases.
Cambodia supports poor residents amid pandemic
The Cambodian government will launch a cash handout programme for more than 560,000 poor families affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
According to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the beneficiaries will be citizens out of jobs, especially the poor ones in remote areas who are suffering food shortages.
The programme is expected to begin on June 26.
Under the programme, poor families in the capital city of Phnom Penh and provincial towns will receive a cash handout of 120,000 riel (30 USD) a month from the government. Poor families in the countryside will receive 80,000 riel (20 USD) in assistance.
Children under 5, disabled people, citizens with HIV or citizens 60-years-of-age or older will receive between 4 USD and 10 USD, also depending on the areas in which they reside.
The Cambodian Ministry of Planning said it has so far identified 560,000 poor families consisting of 2.3 million people who are eligible for the cash handouts.
PM Hun Sen once again called on Cambodians to continue implementing measures against the pandemic, especially wearing masks and washing their hands regularly. Shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, hospitals, health centers and management facilities should provide masks and hand sanitizer for customers to avoid COVID-19 infection.
Vietnamese in RoK receive medical supplies to fight COVID-19
The Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Centre and the Vietnamese Buddhist Association in the Republic of Korea (RoK) have presented medical supplies to the Vietnamese community in the country to help them tackle COVID-19.
Including 20,000 face masks, the gifts were passed on to the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) at a ceremony in Hanoi on June 22.
In his remarks to the gathering, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the COVA Dang Minh Khoi lauded the support from the centre and the association and said Vietnamese Buddhism has worked side-by-side with the government and people to counter the disease.
Thanks to the efforts of the entire country as well as the governments leadership, Vietnam has been successful in the fight so far, he said, adding that many agencies, organisations and individuals in and outside Vietnam have donated medical supplies to help overseas Vietnamese cope with the pandemic.
Such good deeds affirm the Party and States policy of considering overseas Vietnamese an integral part of the country, Khoi stressed.
According to the committee, Vietnamese living overseas have contributed more than 35 billion VND (1.5 million USD) as well as medical supplies to help with the fight against the epidemic at home.
The Vietnamese community in the RoK raised over 160 million VND in support of the fight in their homeland.
Meanwhile, many businesses, organisations, and individuals at home have also raised funds for Vietnamese in the UK, France, Russia, the US, and the RoK.
Thailand records no new COVID-19 community infections for 28 days
Thailand reported three new coronavirus cases, all imported, marking 28 days without local transmissions, spokesman for the Thai government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration Taweesin Wisanuyothin said on June 22.
According to the official, Thailand hopes to ease some related restrictions on foreigners entering the country, including business executives, skilled workers and foreigners who live in Thailand.
The three groups will be able to return to Thailand and stay in 14-day state quarantine, he said, adding that medical tourists will also be allowed back for treatment in hospital.
Short-term business travellers and tourists from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea might be allowed to return without having to spend 14 days in quarantine, he said.
The proposed easing of restrictions will be submitted to the government's coronavirus task force on June 26.
Thailand, which has banned international commercial flights until the end of June, has to date recorded 3,151 COVID-19 cases and 58 deaths.
[June 23, 2020] Basilea enters into sale and leaseback agreement for corporate headquarters building
Basel, Switzerland, June 23, 2020 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) today announced that it has entered into a sale and leaseback agreement for its corporate headquarters in Basel, with the Pension Fund of UBS. Gross proceeds from the sale, before customary fees and transaction costs, amount to around CHF 19 million. Basilea will leaseback the building and does not plan on any other organizational changes related to this transaction. CBRE (NYSE: CBRE) represented Basilea as sell-side advisors. David Veitch, Chief Executive Officer of Basilea, said: This transaction is an important strategic step for Basilea and a result of our continuous efforts to optimize our business. It significantly increases our financial and operational flexibility, and allows us to move forward with our mid-term plan of bringing all our employees, currently working at different locations across Basel, together at a new location in the area. The transaction allows us to further focus on our core business; the discovery, development and commercialization of treatments for patients with cancer or with fungal and bacterial infections. About Basilea Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on the development of products that address the medical challenges in the therapeutic areas of oncology and infectious diseases. With two commercialized drugs, the company is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Additional information can be found at Basilea's website www.basilea.com . Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "beleve", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD
Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail [email protected]
[email protected] This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com . Attachment Press release (PDF)
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The Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 is a pillar of national pride in Russia, used by the Kremlin to stir patriotic sentiment and rebuff criticism of the USSR and its army.
Yet Russias state-backed narratives about the war and its legacy regularly lead to disagreements with other European countries.
Russia celebrates its victory in World War II every year on May 9 with a massive military parade on Red Square in front of the president and other world leaders.
Ahead of this years parade on Wednesday, postponed from May because of the coronavirus pandemic, here are five World War II episodes that continue to fuel tensions.
Pact with Hitler
The 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop pact between Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler remains a point of contention between Moscow and European countries to this day.
World War II erupted after Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded and carved up Poland in September 1939 under a secret clause of the pact.
The agreement, which remained classified in the Soviet Union until 1989, has been described by Putin as necessary because Western powers had abandoned the USSR to face Germany alone.
He has also lauded the pact as a triumph of Stalin-era diplomacy.
Putin was angered last year by a text published by the European Parliament saying the pact helped pave the way for World War II.
Invasion or liberation?
Soviet soldiers are celebrated in Russia for liberating Europe from Nazism, but for some countries in eastern Europe the Red Army is remembered as an occupying force.
The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were forcibly integrated into the Soviet Union, and revile Nazi and Soviet forces alike.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said last month that the war did not end until 1993 when the last Russian soldier left his country.
Russia says this narrative is an unacceptable rewriting of history and routinely protests at the removal of Soviet-era military monuments in eastern and central Europe.
Polish massacre
One of many points of friction with Poland is the massacre at Katyn, named after a forest near the Russian city of Smolensk where Soviet secret police shot thousands of Polish officers in 1940 on Stalins orders.
Until 1990, the Soviet Union claimed the executions were carried out by the Nazis.
Moscow has since admitted responsibility, but the legacy of the massacre has been overshadowed in Russia by wider Stalinist repressions.
In 2010, during a thaw in relations between Moscow and Warsaw, the plane carrying Polands president to a commemorative event in Smolensk crashed, killing all 96 people on board.
Investigations into the accident have become a new source of tension between the two countries.
Mass deportations
During the war, Stalin accused minority ethnic groups of collaborating with the Nazis and deported hundreds of thousands of Crimean Tatars, Kalmyks, Chechens, Balkars, Germans and others to Central Asia in harsh conditions.
Deported populations were rehabilitated after Stalins death, but tensions linger with those that returned.
Crimean Tatars, for instance, were deported from their homes and as a result opposed Russias annexation of the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.
Many Soviet soldiers and officers returning home after captivity in Germany were also likened to traitors and sent to forced labour camps.
Rape in Germany
Rapes committed by Soviet soldiers as they captured Berlin in April 1945 permeated German collective memory, but are largely overlooked in Russia.
A Russian blogger in January was charged with Nazi apologism for satirical social media posts that referenced Soviet abuses committed in Germany.
In 2016, a newspaper in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad was handed an official warning over an article about atrocities committed by the Red Army during the takeover of the German city in 1945.
The same, but different. Phenotypes are the differences you can observe. Genotypes are the genes behind these differences. We need to understand how theyre linked. Credit: Shutterstock, NTB scanpix
Some 160 years after Darwin, we understand how natural selection works. But why don't all organisms have the same ability to evolve?
This is the topic that professors Christophe Pelabon and Thomas F. Hansen are researchingPelabon at NTNU and Hansen at the University of Oslo.
They are now leading a project at the Centre for Advanced Study at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (CAS). There, they have put together their scientific dream team to spend a year researching so-called "evolvability".
Evolvability is the ability of an animal, plant or microbe to evolve so that the next generation is a little different.
Darwin and variations
The answers they find can help improve our understanding of everything from cancer to the coronavirus. Pelabon and Hansen don't expect to find the cures, but they hope to find out why and how both the diseases and the patients evolve.
Ever since Charles Darwin, scientists have studied why some organisms reproduce and evolve, while others die.
"Natural selection requires variations in order to work, so that some specimens are better at surviving than others. We know that the individuals in a population are different from each other," Hansen says.
Using people as an example, he says, "Some of us are tall, some are short, some are fat, some are thin, some have dark hair, and some have light hair. These variations are similar for populations of all kinds of organisms."
"He points out that if any of these traits give us an advantage in surviving or finding a partner, then selection will lead to changes in the population over time.
"They can find out why and how both the diseases and the patients evolve."
Where does the variation come from?
So far, we're on familiar ground. But in the 1990s, the concept of "evolvability" emerged.
"The question is where the variation comes from and why there's so much variation," says Hansen.
He talks about "selection pressure"how much difference there is between individualsin what biologists call "fitness," referring to their ability to survive and reproduce.
"If selection pressure is a given, then how fast can the population change?" he asks.
He emphasizes that this is about genes that can be passed on to the next generation. If some individuals are bigger simply because they have been given more food, their offspring won't turn out bigger for that reason.
"All traits show genetic variation, but some of them can evolve much faster than others. We're trying to understand why some traits and some populations evolve faster than others," says Pelabon.
It is not only a question of how fast the characteristics evolve, but also whether the access to genetic variation helps determine the tempo.
Biology and philosophy in collaboration
Hansen and Pelabon are biologists, but this year they're also collaborating with experts in other fields, including philosophers and historians. Together, they are reflecting on the research that has been done over the past 30 years.
"What have we really learned and what can we do to understand more?" They would rather not say so themselves, but this kind of systemization and review hasn't really been undertaken since the research on evolvability began.
"Some researchers have investigated this question at the molecular level. We're not looking at individual genes, but at traits like height. We're looking at small changes in a short time period10 to 20 generations. At another level, we're looking at the potential for evolution over geological time," says Pelabon, "in other words, millions of years."
So far, he believes the future of this kind of research will involve a new type of study that attempts to link molecules, genes and traits.
"These links seem to be necessary to improve our understanding of evolvability," he says.
Or to use his own words, the research strives "to link the molecular level with the phenotypic level."
Relationship between genes and traits
"A lot of the key lies in understanding the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes," Hansen says.
That would be the relationship between the hereditary material (genotype) and the characteristics that can be observed in each individual (phenotype).
"Selection looks at the phenotypes, while heredity depends on the underlying genotypes and their traits. We have to go back and forth between them, and some of the research is about understanding how to do that," Hansen said.
Cod and bacteria
Then there's the question of how the different characteristics are linked.
"Let's say you want longer arms, so you'd select for genes that give you longer arms. But if those genes simultaneously affect the length of the legs, then the arms aren't very evolvable. We have to try to understand how much variation is in the arms that isn't locked up in other organs," says Hansen.
Whatever this project comes up with will be important for further research in both biology and medicine.
Changes can happen fast. In only a few years or decades, for example, cod have become smaller and bacteria more resistant. Many of the researchers working on the topic now have found new collaborative projects that they can continue with.
Corona collaborating crinks
There's a certain irony in the fact that a project that can provide new knowledge about how viruses mutate and evolve, has a spanner in thrown the works of the usual CAS way of collaborating bywhat elsethis coronavirus.
Usually, researchers have the time and resources to put other things aside, meet in Oslo and find new answers together. This spring they have had to meet digitally instead.
"We miss sitting together and discussing things face to face, or standing at the whiteboard to do our drawings and calculations. Sure, it's possible to sit and discuss or have a presentation or seminar digitally, but the dynamics of everyone having offices in the same place is dead," says Pelabon.
Explore further Evolution can select for evolvability, biologists find
[June 23, 2020] FreshBooks Joins Ingram Micro's Cloud Marketplace
Toronto, CANADA, June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FreshBooks, the #2 small business accounting software in America, with paying customers in 100+ countries, today announced that its software will now be available on the North American Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace. Beginning today, Ingram Micros US-based channel resellers will be able to offer their customers FreshBooks all-in-one business invoicing and accounting solution, including: Fast, Easy and Secure Invoicing and Online Payments
Expense and Receipt Management
Estimates and Proposals
Team Time Tracking and Project Management
Insightful Financial Reports
Mobile Apps
Award-Winning, Free Customer Support from FreshBooks Support Rockstars Growth-minded small business owners are hungry for easy-to-use software that helps them save time, look professional, and get paid faster -- and thats FreshBooks, said George Kyriakis, Head of Partnerships at FreshBooks. Were excited that thousands of Ingram Micros chanel partners are now set up to easily sell FreshBooks to their customers.
FreshBooks software is designed for businesses that sell their time and expertise, particularly marketing, digital and design consultancies, business advisory and legal firms, IT professionals, web developers, and trades & construction companies, to name a few. Earlier this year, FreshBooks was selected as PC Mags Editors Choice. In response to growing demand for cloud accounting from our reselling partners, were excited to welcome FreshBooks into our Cloud Marketplace, said Tim Fitzgerald, vice president of Cloud Channel Sales, Americas at Ingram Micro Cloud. Software-as-a-Service platforms such as FreshBooks are a strong foundation for business.
FreshBooks plans to expand distribution through Ingram to include Canada, the UK and Australia later this year. About FreshBooks FreshBooks is the #2 small business accounting software in America, with paying customers in 100+ countries. The company has helped more than 20 million people process billions of dollars through its easy-to-use invoicing, time-tracking, expense management, and online payments features. Recognized with 10 Stevie awards for the best customer service in the world, the companys mantra is to execute extraordinary experiences everyday. FreshBooks is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with offices in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Learn more at www.FreshBooks.com About Ingram Micro Cloud Ingram Micro Cloud brings together innovators and problem solvers to help the world accomplish more. It facilitates and manages the clouds complex digital value chain -- all powered by CloudBlue technology. Ingram Micro Cloud operates in 64 countries with over 55,000 reseller partners, and its Cloud Marketplace serves 6.5 million seats, offering more than 120 cloud solutions. With unmatched global reach, easy access to automated go-to-market and integration tools, deep technical expertise, and a curated selection of scalable SaaS and laaS solutions, Ingram Micro Cloud helps vendors, resellers and managed service providers by offering More as a Service. Detailed information is available at www.IngramMicroCloud.com Lindsay Lapchuk FreshBooks [email protected]
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A woman was in custody Tuesday in connection with allegations of arson after the Wendy's restaurant in Atlanta where Rayshard Brooks was killed went up in flames.
Natalie White, 29, was wanted after the Wendy's was set alight on June 13, the day after Brooks died, according to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. White was taken into custody Tuesday by the Fulton County sheriff's fugitive unit.
White's attorney, Drew Findling, confirmed to NBC News that she surrendered herself to authorities Tuesday and is currently in custody.
"Shes not the person that started the fire," Findling said.
Findling also confirmed that she is the same Natalie White that Brooks mentioned to officers in body camera footage from the night of his arrest, but did not confirm the nature of their relationship.
Brooks, a Black man, was fatally shot by a white Atlanta police officer in the Wendy's parking lot after officers responded to a call about a man who was asleep in his car, obstructing the drive-thru lane. Authorities said Brooks, who failed a field sobriety test at the Wendy's, was also wanted on suspicion of DUI.
Many people were incensed over Brooks' death, especially in the wake of the recent police-involved deaths of other Black Americans, including George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky.
IMAGE: Suspect in Wendy's fire (Atlanta Fire Rescue / via Twitter)
The fire occurred on a night when protests were underway in the Atlanta area, NBC affiliate WXIA reported. The Wendy's, which was engulfed in flames by about 10 p.m., was destroyed.
Body and dash-camera video showed Brooks speaking with Atlanta police Officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan for about 25 minutes on the night of June 12. According to the video, Brooks told the officers that he had visited his mother's gravesite earlier in the day and had gone out drinking with a friend, who dropped him off at Wendy's because he was hungry.
Brooks resisted as the officers tried to arrest him, and they then struggled, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is investigating the shooting.
Story continues
Brooks was able to get one of the officer's stun guns, and video showed him appearing to run away with it, GBI Director Vic Reynolds said after the arrest.
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Rolfe was fired within 24 hours on the same day Police Chief Erika Shields resigned over the incident. Brosnan, who did not use his gun, was placed on administrative leave.
Rolfe faces charges that include felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal damage to property and violation of oath. Brosnan was charged with one count of aggravated assault and two counts of violation of oath.
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard announced the charges last week, saying Brooks "never presented himself as a threat" and appeared "almost jovial."
An attorney for Rolfe has said that the former officer feared for his life, as well as the lives of others in the parking lot, and that the shooting was justified. Attorneys for Brosnan said he officer did not know that Rolfe was going to arrest Brooks.
A $50 million federal shot in the arm for Mobile-based Austal USA is intended to offset effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and will help the shipbuilder gear up to build steel ships.
The developments were announced in recent days by the Department of Defense and Austal USAs Australian parent company, Austal Limited. The Department of Defense announced that it was allocating $187 million in five actions under the Defense Production Act Title III to help sustain and strengthen essential domestic industrial base capabilities and defense-critical workforce in shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, and clothing and textiles.
The money comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in response to the economic impacts of the coronavirus shutdown. According to a statement attributed to Department of Defense Spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, the boon to Austal will protect jobs and bolster the local economy in a region hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure critical capabilities are retained in support of U.S. Navy operational readiness.
A statement from Austal Limited said that subject to Department of Defense approval, Austal intends to use the funds to commence investment in the development of additional capacity for steel naval vessel construction at the Mobile shipyard. Austal also said it likely will match the funding, raising the total investment to around $100 million.
The money will fund capital projects that will be executed over the next 24 months, beginning in June 2020.
Though the Department of Defense and Austal announcements did not refer to it, the funding follows news earlier this year that the Navy had awarded a major contract for a new class of frigates to a different shipbuilder. A win in that competition would have guaranteed years of work after Austal finished the ships currently on order.
The shipyard builds two aluminum vessels for the Navy: A futuristic Littoral Combat Ship and a multipurpose catamaran called the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF). It will take several years to finish the ships currently on order, but the Navy has made clear that it intends to order no more LCSs and the prospects for more EPF orders remain uncertain despite interest in a new medical variant.
Austal USAs specialization in aluminum shipbuilding has set it apart, but also has been seen by some as a liability when it comes to ships that could have to withstand heavy battle damage. Branching out into steel construction could improve Austals ability to compete for Navy work and help maintain its workforce of about 4,000 people.
The other recipients announced by the Department of Defense were Weber Metals Inc. of California, which will receive $25 million; GE Aviation, which will receive $55 million; uniform maker American Woolen Company of Connecticut, which will receive $2 million; and W International of South Carolina, which will receive $55 million to maintain, protect, and expand critical domestic industrial base capability for the U.S. Navy nuclear shipbuilding industry.
In other recent developments, Austal Limited announced that the Navy had awarded Austal USA a contract modification worth up to $43 million for LCS Class design services, material to support LCS Class design services and the US Navys Integrated Data Product Model Environment (IDPME).
CARLSBAD, Calif., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific and Daiichi Sankyo have expanded their partnership by signing a new agreement to co-develop a companion diagnostic (CDx) that will utilize Thermo Fisher's next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based Oncomine Dx Target Test. The CDx will be designed to identify non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutations who may be eligible for Enhertu, a HER2 directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC), which is currently in global phase 2 development for HER2 mutated or HER2 overexpressing NSCLC.
Enhertu has demonstrated a strong response rate in patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer and preliminary results show a similar response in patients with metastatic NSCLC with HER2 mutations.1-2 HER2 mutations have long been implicated in breast cancers, but they are considered a rare event in NSCLC. Recent studies have found that HER2 mutations are the key drivers in about 1-3 percent of NSCLC cases.3
Under the terms of the agreement, Thermo Fisher will retain rights to commercialize the test globally and will seek approval from regulatory agencies. The announcement follows a 2018 agreement between the companies to expand the clinical utility of the test in support of clinical trials and drug development programs at Daiichi Sankyo.
The Oncomine Dx Target Test is the first targeted NGS in vitro diagnostic test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for NSCLC. It is designed to evaluate multiple biomarkers associated with cancer and identify patients who are eligible for multiple FDA-approved targeted therapies using a single sample with results available in days.
"Our latest partnership with Daiichi Sankyo is focused on helping to solve an unmet medical need for a growing number of patients with HER2-mutated non-small cell lung cancer," said Garret Hampton, president of clinical next-generation sequencing and oncology at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "This agreement underscores our continued commitment to working with global pharmaceutical partners to efficiently identify more patients who may benefit from the latest targeted therapies in their drug pipelines."
U.S. FDA-Approved Indication for ENHERTU
ENHERTU is a HER2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received two or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting.
This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.
WARNING: INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE and EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pneumonitis, including fatal cases, have been reported with ENHERTU. Monitor for and promptly investigate signs and symptoms including cough, dyspnea, fever, and other new or worsening respiratory symptoms. Permanently discontinue ENHERTU in all patients with Grade 2 or higher ILD/pneumonitis. Advise patients of the risk and to immediately report symptoms. Exposure to ENHERTU during pregnancy can cause embryo-fetal harm. Advise patients of these risks and the need for effective contraception.
Contraindications
None.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Interstitial Lung Disease / Pneumonitis
Severe, life-threatening, or fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD), including pneumonitis, can occur in patients treated with ENHERTU. In clinical studies, of the 234 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer treated with ENHERTU, ILD occurred in 9% of patients. Fatal outcomes due to ILD and/or pneumonitis occurred in 2.6% of patients treated with ENHERTU. Median time to first onset was 4.1 months (range: 1.2 to 8.3).
Advise patients to immediately report cough, dyspnea, fever, and/or any new or worsening respiratory symptoms. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of ILD. Promptly investigate evidence of ILD. Evaluate patients with suspected ILD by radiographic imaging. Consider consultation with a pulmonologist. For asymptomatic ILD/pneumonitis (Grade 1), interrupt ENHERTU until resolved to Grade 0, then if resolved in 28 days from date of onset, maintain dose. If resolved in >28 days from date of onset, reduce dose one level. Consider corticosteroid treatment as soon as ILD/pneumonitis is suspected (e.g., 0.5 mg/kg prednisolone or equivalent). For symptomatic ILD/pneumonitis (Grade 2 or greater), permanently discontinue ENHERTU. Promptly initiate corticosteroid treatment as soon as ILD/pneumonitis is suspected (e.g., 1 mg/kg prednisolone or equivalent). Upon improvement, follow by gradual taper (e.g., 4 weeks).
Neutropenia
Severe neutropenia, including febrile neutropenia, can occur in patients treated with ENHERTU. Of the 234 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who received ENHERTU, a decrease in neutrophil count was reported in 30% of patients and 16% had Grade 3 or 4 events. Median time to first onset was 1.4 months (range: 0.3 to 18.2). Febrile neutropenia was reported in 1.7% of patients.
Monitor complete blood counts prior to initiation of ENHERTU and prior to each dose, and as clinically indicated. Based on the severity of neutropenia, ENHERTU may require dose interruption or reduction. For Grade 3 neutropenia (Absolute Neutrophil Count [ANC] <1.0 to 0.5 x 109 /L) interrupt ENHERTU until resolved to Grade 2 or less, then maintain dose. For Grade 4 neutropenia (ANC <0.5 x 109/L) interrupt ENHERTU until resolved to Grade 2 or less. Reduce dose by one level. For febrile neutropenia (ANC <1.0 x 109/L and temperature >38.3C or a sustained temperature of 38C for more than 1 hour), interrupt ENHERTU until resolved. Reduce dose by one level.
Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Patients treated with ENHERTU may be at increased risk of developing left ventricular dysfunction. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decrease has been observed with anti-HER2 therapies, including ENHERTU. In the 234 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who received ENHERTU, two cases (0.9%) of asymptomatic LVEF decrease were reported. Treatment with ENHERTU has not been studied in patients with a history of clinically significant cardiac disease or LVEF <50% prior to initiation of treatment.
Assess LVEF prior to initiation of ENHERTU and at regular intervals during treatment as clinically indicated. Manage LVEF decrease through treatment interruption. Permanently discontinue ENHERTU if LVEF of <40% or absolute decrease from baseline of >20% is confirmed. When LVEF is >45% and absolute decrease from baseline is 10-20%, continue treatment with ENHERTU. When LVEF is 40-45% and absolute decrease from baseline is <10%, continue treatment with ENHERTU and repeat LVEF assessment within 3 weeks. When LVEF is 40-45% and absolute decrease from baseline is 10-20%, interrupt ENHERTU and repeat LVEF assessment within 3 weeks. If LVEF has not recovered to within 10% from baseline, permanently discontinue ENHERTU. If LVEF recovers to within 10% from baseline, resume treatment with ENHERTU at the same dose. When LVEF is <40% or absolute decrease from baseline is >20%, interrupt ENHERTU and repeat LVEF assessment within 3 weeks. If LVEF of <40% or absolute decrease from baseline of >20% is confirmed, permanently discontinue ENHERTU. Permanently discontinue ENHERTU in patients with symptomatic congestive heart failure.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risks to a fetus. Verify the pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to the initiation of ENHERTU. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 7 months following the last dose of ENHERTU. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 4 months after the last dose of ENHERTU.
Adverse Reactions
The safety of ENHERTU was evaluated in a pooled analysis of 234 patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who received at least one dose of ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg in DESTINY-Breast01 and Study DS8201-A-J101. ENHERTU was administered by intravenous infusion once every three weeks. The median duration of treatment was 7 months (range: 0.7 to 31).
Serious adverse reactions occurred in 20% of patients receiving ENHERTU. Serious adverse reactions in >1% of patients who received ENHERTU were interstitial lung disease, pneumonia, vomiting, nausea, cellulitis, hypokalemia, and intestinal obstruction. Fatalities due to adverse reactions occurred in 4.3% of patients including interstitial lung disease (2.6%), and the following events occurred in one patient each (0.4%): acute hepatic failure/acute kidney injury, general physical health deterioration, pneumonia, and hemorrhagic shock.
ENHERTU was permanently discontinued in 9% of patients, of which ILD accounted for 6%. Dose interruptions due to adverse reactions occurred in 33% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose interruption were neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, upper respiratory tract infection, fatigue, nausea, and ILD. Dose reductions occurred in 18% of patients treated with ENHERTU. The most frequent adverse reactions (>2%) associated with dose reduction were fatigue, nausea, and neutropenia.
The most common adverse reactions (frequency 20%) were nausea (79%), fatigue (59%), vomiting (47%), alopecia (46%), constipation (35%), decreased appetite (32%), anemia (31%), neutropenia (29%), diarrhea (29%), leukopenia (22%), cough (20%), and thrombocytopenia (20%).
Use in Specific Populations
Pregnancy: ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risks to a fetus. There are clinical considerations if ENHERTU is used in pregnant women, or if a patient becomes pregnant within 7 months following the last dose of ENHERTU.
ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise patients of the potential risks to a fetus. There are clinical considerations if ENHERTU is used in pregnant women, or if a patient becomes pregnant within 7 months following the last dose of ENHERTU. Lactation: There are no data regarding the presence of ENHERTU in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with ENHERTU and for 7 months after the last dose.
There are no data regarding the presence of ENHERTU in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with ENHERTU and for 7 months after the last dose. Females and Males of Reproductive Potential: Pregnancy testing: Verify pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiation of ENHERTU. Contraception: Females: ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 7 months following the last dose. Males: Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 4 months following the last dose. Infertility: ENHERTU may impair male reproductive function and fertility.
Pregnancy testing: Verify pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiation of ENHERTU. Contraception: Females: ENHERTU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 7 months following the last dose. Males: Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 4 months following the last dose. Infertility: ENHERTU may impair male reproductive function and fertility. Pediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness of ENHERTU have not been established in pediatric patients.
Safety and effectiveness of ENHERTU have not been established in pediatric patients. Geriatric Use: Of the 234 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, 26% were 65 years and 5% were 75 years. No overall differences in efficacy were observed between patients 65 years of age compared to younger patients. There was a higher incidence of Grade 3-4 adverse reactions observed in patients aged 65 years (53%) as compared to younger patients (42%).
Of the 234 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with ENHERTU 5.4 mg/kg, 26% were 65 years and 5% were 75 years. No overall differences in efficacy were observed between patients 65 years of age compared to younger patients. There was a higher incidence of Grade 3-4 adverse reactions observed in patients aged 65 years (53%) as compared to younger patients (42%). Hepatic Impairment: In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, due to potentially increased exposure, closely monitor for increased toxicities related to the topoisomerase inhibitor.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. at 1-877-437-7763 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or fda.gov/medwatch.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING, and Medication Guide.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $25 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 75,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.
1 Daiichi Sankyo Company. (2019, December 19). DS-8201 ([Fam-] Trastuzumab Deruxtecan) Achieved A Tumor Response Rate of 60.9% I Pivotal Phase 2 HER2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Trial [Press Release]. Retrieved from https://www.daiichisankyo.com/media_investors/media_relations/press_releases/detail/007083.html
2 Daiichi Sankyo Company. (2018, September 25) Daiichi Sankyo Presents Updated Results for [Fam-] Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (DS-8201) in Patients with HER2 Mutated or HER2 Expressing Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer at IASLC 19th World Conference on Long Cancer [Press Release] Retrieved from https://www.daiichisankyo.com/media_investors/media_relations/press_releases/detail/006906.html
3 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Harboring HER2 Mutations: Clinical Characteristics and Management in a Real-Life Setting; Jean-Bernard Auliac, et al.; Advances in Therapy, Jun. 2019
Mauricio Minotta Jen Heady Thermo Fisher Scientific Greenough Communications +1 760 929 2456 +1 617 275 6547 [email protected] [email protected]
SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific
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US President Donald Trump has extended the H-1B visa ban till December, blocking the entry of foreign workers into the country.
The move has been opposed by businesses, especially in sectors such as IT and software, which are heavily dependent on foreign workers, the United States Chamber of Commerce and many US Congresspersons as well.
Critics of the measure say Trump is using the pandemic to enact his long-standing goal to limit immigration into the US, especially since the re-election is scheduled in November. They also claim the move is a distraction from the economic impact of COVID-19, and the on-going social and political upheaval due to police brutality in response to the Black Lives Matter protests.
So, with the ban in place, here is all you need to know:
> The ban was already implemented earlier in 2020. It has now been extended till December and expanded to include non-immigrant work visas as well.
> The Trump Administration claims the move will "protect US workers" especially when the coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected the American economy.
> The updated ban blocks entry of foreign workers coming into the country with H-1B, J-1, J-2, L-1 visas, H-2B visas - the last with certain exceptions.
> H-1B visas are for skilled workers, L-1 visas are for workers being transferred within companies to other country offices, H-2B are for 'seasonal workers', J-1 visas are for those in cultural and academic spaces, J-2 are for spouses of J-1 visa holders.
> The suspension will apply to those who are outside the US on the effective date of the proclamation, those individuals that do not have a valid non-immigrant visa on effective date, those without official travel document other than a visa (such as a transportation letter, an appropriate boarding foil, or an advance parole document) that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation or issued on any date thereafter that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission.
> Suspension will not apply to permanent residents of the US, those foreigners with a spouse or child, as defined in section 101(b)(1) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(1)), of a United States citizen, those entering for work in the food industry, those whose entry would be in the national interest as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees.
> Exemptions are for those individuals seeking asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, consistent with the laws of the United States.
> Immediate impact is likely to be minimum as most Consulate work had already been paused due to COVID-19 situation.
> Notably however, the US grants 85,000 H-1B visas (valid for six years) every year to 'high-skilled' workers, often in the technology industry. They are generally valid for up to six years.
> In fiscal year 2019, the Department of State issued 188,123 H-1B visas for both new applicants and renewals. Some 131,549 were for Indian citizens, followed by 28,483 for mainland Chinese citizens. Only 143 H-1B visas were issued in May 2020, compared with 13,678 in May 2019, according to Department data.
Click here for our entire coverage of the H-1B visa ban
(With inputs from agencies)
FORT WORTH, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Physician Growth Partners ("PGP") is pleased to announce the acquisition of Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center ("Arizona Eye"), a leading ophthalmology group based in the Northwest Phoenix market, by EyeCare Partners. Arizona Eye is led by Dr. Emilio Justo, along with four associates across three locations and a surgery center.
This strategic acquisition bolsters the footprint for EyeCare Partners across the broader Phoenix market.
Physician Growth Partners served as the exclusive transaction advisor to Arizona Eye in its evaluation, negotiation, and execution of this transaction.
Dr. Emilio Justo of Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center noted, "My experience with Physician Growth Partners (PGP) was extraordinary. I consider PGP a highly experienced, efficient and communicative organization that has far exceeded my original expectations. The dedication and long hours spent with Michael Kroin and his associates, Thomas Mumford and Jay Farkas, has really left me with a feeling of awe. Never having gone thru such a practice transition, I could never have done it alone without PGP's broad knowledge and assistance. I am now looking ahead at the future partnership with EyeCare. The future of Arizona Eye Institute looks incredible, and I have both Physician Growth Partners as well as EyeCare Partners to thank for this!"
"Every transaction process has unique challenges and key issues that must be overcome to get across the finish line. However, completing a transaction with the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented. We leaned on our deep experience within ophthalmology alongside our broader experience completing physician-oriented transactions with private equity groups which enabled us to secure an outsized outcome for Arizona Eye. We're excited about the growth opportunities that will become available to Arizona Eye under the Eyecare Partners umbrella." noted Michael Kroin, Managing Partner at Physician Growth Partners.
Story continues
About Physician Growth Partners
Physician Growth Partners is a boutique healthcare service platform dedicated to advising physician practices in transactions with private equity. PGP creates value by providing operational support, strategic positioning, and transaction advisory, ultimately realizing an optimal outcome for their clients.
About EyeCare Partners
Based in St. Louis, Missouri, EyeCare Partners currently offers comprehensive medical eye care services throughout Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Ohio. The doctors of ECP serve the vision care needs of hundreds of thousands of patients annually.
For more information about Moon and Owl Marketing, contact the company here:
Moon and Owl Marketing
Jordan Fowler
817-889-1487
press@moonandowl.com
2120 Ellis Avenue #4366
Fort Worth, TX 76164
SOURCE: Moon and Owl Marketing
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Deep01s AI system can detect and locate intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) on non-contrast brain CT images for faster triage or notification in the emergency room
Deep01, a Taiwanese startup that develops software to help doctors interpret CT brain scans more quickly, announced today that it has raised $2.7 million. The funding was led by PC maker ASUSTek.
Deep01s product has obtained clearance from both Taiwan and the United States Food and Drug Administrations, and the company received its first purchase order, worth about $700,000, in February.
Other investors included the Digital Economy Fund, which is co-funded by Taiwanese research organizations Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and the Institute for Information Industry (III), and BE Capital.
Deep01s software is currently used in two medical centers and four hospitals in Taiwan and has already helped doctors check more than 2,000 brain scans.
Created for use by emergency departments, Deep01 says its software can detect acute intracerebral hemorrhage with an accuracy rate of 93% to 95%, within 30 seconds.
The startup was launched in 2016 by founder and CEO David Chou, who earned his masters degree in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and was a Harvard University research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital between 2018 and 2019.
In a press statement, Albert Chang, ASUS corporate vice president and co-head of its AIoT Business Group, said "Deep01 is a leading startup in the AI medical area. The collaboration is promising for smart medical applications."
FILE PHOTO: Ceremony to mark the installation of the first robot on the production line for the new electric Fiat 500 BEV at the Mirafiori industrial complex on the 80th birthday of the plant
MILAN (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler (FCA) is very close to obtaining the necessary authorisations to receive a 6.3 billion euros (5.7 billion) state-backed loan from Intesa Sanpaolo , an executive at the bank said on Tuesday.
FCA's Italian division has tapped Rome's COVID-19 emergency financing scheme to secure a state-backed, three-year facility to support the group's operations in the country as well as Italy's car sector, in which about 10,000 businesses operate.
"We are waiting for the green light from the Economy Ministry, after that, from the audit court," Mauro Micillo, head of Intesa's corporate and investment banking unit said during a presentation. "They (the authorisations) could arrive in the coming hours."
Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy's biggest retail bank, has already authorised the loan pending the approval of guarantees the government will provide on 80% of the sum through export credit agency SACE.
(Reporting by Elisa Anzolin; editing by Agnieszka Flak)
To the Editor:
An open letter to Rep. John Katko from a constituent:
I would like to publicly offer you the opportunity to rescind your endorsement of President Donald Trumps 2020 reelection campaign.
Back in January, you cited a robust economy and trade policies as the primary reason for choosing Trump as your candidate. I feel like these are spurious reasons now, given the developments of the last five months, and this administrations sad and stilted reaction to the emergence and prevalence of the Covid-19 virus.
This president has demonstrated repeatedly and emphatically that his only cause celebre is to ensure his own reelection this fall. His inability to correctly gauge the seriousness of this epidemic in its initial stages certainly contributed needlessly to the deaths of thousands of Americans who might otherwise be with us today. He has suggested, willfully and intentionally, that people ingest cleaning products into their bodies, and he has unleashed a military force onto legally abiding citizens in our nations capital strictly for purposes of a photo opportunity. This is not leadership.
This president also, has repeatedly and publicly made it clear that he only feels beholden to those citizens who support him, treating media organizations and those with differing views as his enemies. Any attempt that Ive made to decipher his barely intelligible string of superlatives and catch phrases have left me wanting. There is no substance to these comments, and any reasonable adult would clearly discern that the president is incapable of grasping anything complex or requiring long-term thinking, sympathy for those who suffer, or the ability to reconcile opposing viewpoints without taking personal affront.
The Republican Party of this nation is complicit in its refusal to take steps available to remove a dangerously under qualified individual from holding the countrys highest office, largely in the name of preserving most of its own elected officials job security.
You, sir, have a chance to publicly and demonstrably take a stand that has thus far shown itself to require courage beyond which any other elected official of your party has been willing to do.
I would be happy to sit down and have a conversation with you in which you attempt to convince me that four more years of this president, and this administration, is truly the best course of action that our country should take.
Jason Fingerman
Liverpool
New Delhi, June 23 : Amid rising Covid-19 cases in Delhi, housing societies have started setting up own isolation centres for patients to combat the pandemic.
The Federation of CGHS, Dwarka, has converted apartments' office halls into six-bed and four-bed isolation centres.
The four-bed isolation centre at Neelachal Apartments in Sector 4 of Dwarka was inaugurated by Southwest District Magistrate Rahul Singh.
"The residents of the society came forward with the idea of establishing isolation centres for Covid-19 patients with mild or moderate symptoms," said Chandra Shekhar, SDM, Dwarka.
"To meet any medical emergency, we will provide doctors and take necessary actions. If the health of a person in an isolation centre worsens and he/she needs to be admitted to a hospital, then arrangements will be made," he said.
The idea to set up isolation centres came seeing the bed's shortage in hospitals and hefty fees at private hospitals, said Akash Khatri, President of Neelachal Apartments Society.
The four-bed isolation centre was equipped with medical supplies, such as oxygen cylinders, separate toilet, oximetre, thermal scanner, masks, gloves and personal protective equipment kits, Khatri told IANS.
The society had requested the administration to provide doctors and nurses to monitor the health of patients, he said. "Some local doctors have also volunteered to help us," Khatri said.
Delhi has overtaken Tamil Nadu to become the second worst-hit state with 62,655 cases. According to the Union Health Ministry update, 2,233 deaths due to the infection have been recorded in the national capital.
US President Donald Trump has signed an order, temporarily suspending employment-based visas. Trump administration has suspended and limited the entry into the US of H-1B, H-2B, and L visa-holders and their dependents till December 31, 2020. It also includes certain categories of J visas like an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, or summer work travel programme. The new rule would apply only to those who are outside the US, do not have a valid non-immigrant visa and an official travel document other than a visa to enter the country.
According to Trump, the move is to help millions of Americans who have lost their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, the decision is expected to free up to 5,25,000 jobs in the US, senior administration officials said after Trump issued a proclamation in this regard.
The announcement has come as a shock for a large number of Indian IT professionals and several Indian as well as US firms who were issued H-1B visa for the fiscal year 2021 beginning October 1. With this announcement, all these people will now have to wait till the end of the current year before approaching the US diplomatic missions to receive the stamp.
The proclamation also extends till the end of the year his previous executive order that had banned issuing new green cards of lawful permanent residency.
"Under ordinary circumstances, properly administered temporary worker programmes can provide benefits to the economy. But under the extraordinary circumstances of the economic contraction resulting from the Covid-19 outbreak, certain non-immigrant visa programmes authorising such employment pose an unusual threat to the employment of American workers," Trump said.
The announcement does not have an impact on lawful permanent residents of the US and foreign nationals who are spouses or child of an American citizen. Besides, people involved in essential services like food supply chain or medical workers, especially involved in COVID-19 research are also exempted from the latest proclamation.
Donald Trump said, between February and April 2020, more than 1.7 crore United States jobs were lost in industries in which employers are seeking to fill positions tied to H-2B nonimmigrant visas.
"During this same period, more than 2 crore United States workers lost their jobs in key industries where employers are currently requesting H-1B and L workers to fill positions," Donald Trump said.
"Also, the May unemployment rate for young Americans, who compete with certain J non-immigrant visa applicants, has been particularly high -- 29.9 per cent for 16-19-year-olds, and 23.2 per cent for the 20-24 year old group," Donald Trump said.
"The entry of additional workers through the H-1B, H-2B, J, and L nonimmigrant visa programmes, therefore, presents a significant threat to employment opportunities for Americans affected by the extraordinary economic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 outbreak," Donald Trump said.
Meanwhile, the US Chamber of Commerce has opposed Trump's move, calling it a "sweeping attempt", adding, "restrictive changes to our nation's immigration system will push investment and economic activity abroad, slow growth, and reduce job creation".
Also read: Donald Trump holds China responsible for coronavirus deaths, says White House
Also read: How India can reduce trade deficit with China by FY21 itself
A shopper wearing a protective mask walks down an aisle at a grocery store in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on Thursday, May 7, 2020. Christopher Dilts | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The coronavirus crisis has altered consumer behavior, with panic buying, stockpiling and e-commerce becoming the norm this year as people around the world learned to live under lockdown. While lockdown measures are being eased in many countries, uncertainty around the spread of the virus remains and it could continue to shape our attitudes toward the goods we buy, analysts have found. A third of global consumers now worry that products shipped from abroad could pose a safety risk, according to market research firm Kantar. The company surveyed 45,000 people across 17 countries online and over the phone in late April. The "Covid-19 barometer" study had a margin of error of 2%. Goods from China and the U.S. were perceived as particularly risky by consumers in other countries, according to Kantar's findings, with 47% saying they were far less in favor of buying American and Chinese products. People in South Africa, South Korea, Nigeria and France were most fearful of buying goods imported from China and the U.S., according to Kantar.
Rosie Hawkins, chief officer and chief information officer of the insights division at Kantar, told CNBC people were also beginning to favor locally-produced goods. "We see concern about a second wave, and in line with that we've seen increases in people saying they think companies should bring supply chains into their country," she told CNBC. "That's about protecting the supply chain, but it's also about protecting jobs and their economy. So it seems to be driven by how we can be self-sustaining as individuals, but also as countries and economies." Kantar's poll showed that 65% of people around the world favored buying goods and services from their domestic market, with one in four believing brands should bring production back to their own country. Chinese consumers were the biggest champions of the "buy local" movement, with 87% of respondents in the country saying they favored locally-produced goods, while 81% of Italians and 76% in South Korea said the same.
Risk versus reward
According to Peter Noel Murray, a New York-based member of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Consumer Psychology, consumer behavior has evolved during the coronavirus crisis as people "recognize a risk in everything now." In regular circumstances, Murray said, consumer behavior is driven by the emotional end benefit people associate with buying a product. During the pandemic, however, another dimension to that decision-making process has developed, which involves weighing the reward of making a purchase against the risk associated with it. "Consumers talk about products that they love, but if they're put in a position where in order to get that brand they have to expose themselves in a way which they think has some risk associated with it, they're not going to do it," he said.
"It's really pervasive, this new calculation that seems to be coming up, and I think the same calculation can be made with foreign products." He noted that "unfounded" perceptions of risk could even see brand loyalists turn away from certain goods if they had "some kind of nagging feeling that there may be a risk associated with it." "It's going to affect a wide range of people's behaviors, and that's going to carry with us for quite some time," Murray said.
Experts skeptical
Michael Gasiorek, a professor of economics at Sussex University in England, told CNBC that in times of crisis, people have a tendency to turn inward and become more nationalistic. "There's been a lot of talk in the press about how we should be worried that we're engaged in all these international supply chains," he said. "It's entirely possible that people are picking up on this and thinking, 'oh dear, we should do more ourselves.'" But he added that whether consumers would actually alter their behavior was another question. "How many consumers, when they go into the shop and buy tomatoes or blueberries, actually check the origin of those products?" Gasiorek asked. "I wonder, whatever people say they would prefer to do, how much they actually do that in practice."
Mauro Guillen, professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, also expressed skepticism about any intentions consumers had not to buy from certain countries, particularly in the United States. "What people say in surveys is quite another to what they do when they go to Walmart or shop online," he said in a phone call. "It's often very difficult to know where a product is made. But even if that wasn't the case, American consumers care about the buck and how much money they spend." However, Guillen warned that if consumers, politicians or companies did begin to favor a hyper-local approach, it would stand in the way of an economic recovery. "That was precisely what made the Great Depression deeper and longer governments in Europe, in the United States, in Latin America, they turned inward," he told CNBC.
Is there really a risk?
Criminal lawyer Surendra Gadling and poet Sudhir Dhawale, who have been accused in the Elgar Parishad case, have moved the Bombay high court (HC), challenging the case being transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in February this year and alleged that it is politically motivated because Pune Police had already filed a charge sheet and followed it with a supplementary charge sheet on February 21, 2019.
A two-member division bench of the HC, comprising Justices SS Shinde and Abhay Ahuja, has asked the Central government and the NIA to respond to the petition.
Additional solicitor-general Anil Singh and advocate Sandesh Patil, appearing for the central government and NIA, respectively, sought time from the court, and the case will be heard next on July 14.
The plea alleged that the Central government had no knowledge about the offence in early 2018 and it did not instruct the NIA authorities to probe for over one and a half years and let Maharashtra Police handle the case, but later handed it over to the central agency after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost power in Maharashtra last year.
The case was transferred to the NIA authorities on February 12 this year.
The plea cited a petition filed by historian Romila Thapar before the Supreme Court in August, 2018, where the Central government had defended the Maharashtra Polices role in investigating the case, to buttress its argument that the handing over the probe to the NIA was politically motivated.
Additional solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, who appeared on behalf of the Central government, had also argued before the apex court that the integrity of the investigation officer (IO) shouldnt be doubted as there was enough evidence against each of the nine accused, the plea added.
The petition quoted Mehta, who had said that the request to set up the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was against the cardinal criminal jurisprudence.
The petitioners pointed out that the central government, the Maharashtra government, and an intervenor had opposed a court-monitored investigation or an SIT, claiming it was being conducted responsibly and impartially by the Pune Police.
It pointed out to the legal loopholes such as the Central governments refusal to transfer the case to NIA within 15 days, but did it after 18 months even though there was no change in the prevailing circumstances.
The petition attributed the change in circumstances to a change of guard in Maharashtra politics, as the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance was voted out of power last year and Maha Vikas Aghadi a three-party coalition comprising the Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress assumed office and was reportedly planning to constitute an SIT to enquire into the causes that led to violence at Bhima Koregaon on January 1, 2018, before the case got transferred to the NIA on February 12.
The bench also heard the application of activist Sudha Bharadwaj, another accused in the Elgar Parishad case.
Bharadwaj, through senior advocate Yug Choudhary, has challenged the rejection of her interim bail application by a special court. The court has posted the hearing of the plea on Friday, as the petition was not served on all the parties.
Earlier, on January 1, 2018, violence erupted between Dalits and Marathas near the village of Bhima Koregaon in Pune district, where thousands of Dalits had gathered to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon. In that battle, the British Armys Dalit Mahar soldiers had defeated the Brahmin Peshwa rulers of the Maratha empire.
The commemoration took place a day after an event in Pune called the Elgar Parishad was held. The Pune Police conducted a preliminary probe and claimed that the violence in Bhima Koregaon was the result of speeches made at the Elgar Parishad event.
They alleged that banned Maoist groups organised the event, and a first information report (FIR) was also filed.
In June 2018, the Pune Police arrested five activists and lawyers from Pune, Nagpur, and Delhi -- Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson and Shoma Sen --- for their alleged links to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), and also for organising the Elgar Parishad event.
In August 2018, the police arrested four more activists --- Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Varavara Rao.
While Gautam Navlakha and Dr. Anand Teltumbde were arrested on April 14 this year, taking the total number of the accused in the case to 11.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations have launched an investigation into the May 30 incident where an officer shot a Sandusky man in the eye with a bean bag round during demonstrations in downtown Cleveland.
The county said in a statement released Tuesday that sheriffs deputies did deploy less-lethal munitions, including bean bag rounds at the Justice Center, but the department was not sure if a deputy fired the shot that left 24-year-old John Sanders missing his left eye.
The sheriffs department had not received a formal complaint from Sanders, who told cleveland.com in an interview last week that he did not see the officer who shot him and did not know what agency employed the officer.
Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said in a Wednesday statement to cleveland.com that none of that departments officers shot bean bag rounds during the protest. A spokeswoman for Greater Cleveland RTA police, which also had officers stationed at the Justice Center, previously told cleveland.com that none of that agencys officers used bean bag rounds either.
The sheriffs department is asking anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Identification at 1-855-BCI-OHIO (1-855-224-6446).
Dennis Murray Jr., an attorney representing Sanders and his family, said Tuesday that Sanders intends to cooperate with the investigation.
Something went seriously wrong because no one would think it was reasonable to fire beanbag rounds at someone who was just there to peacefully protest, who had committed no crime, who was not even near let alone threatening law enforcement, and who was walking away from the commotion, Murray said. This never should have happened and for certain and should not happen again.
The investigation was announced Tuesday, more than three weeks after Sanders was struck while participating in downtowns protests against police brutality and the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan said the sheriffs department initiated the investigation after it received inquiries from cleveland.com last week.
The demonstrations turned violent when police clashed with protesters at the Justice Center for several hours.
Sanders said he walked around to the side of the Justice Center on West 3rd Street and approached the building to take a snapshot of some graffiti at about 5:30 p.m., and two guys he didnt know came up and started throwing bricks at the window. He did not throw any items, he said.
Officers from inside the Justice Center tossed out canisters that emitted chemical spray at them, Sanders said. A short video clip provided to cleveland.com shows Sanders casually walking away from the building into the street as the cloud of spray grew, and several people ran away. He was walking by himself when police fired two bean bags at him, one of which struck his eye, the video shows.
Sanders said the impact numbed his face and he immediately lost his vision in his eye. A group of demonstrators ushered him to the sidewalk and helped stabilize him for several minutes until a Cleveland EMS crew arrived and rushed him to the hospital, he said.
Doctors performed emergency surgery with hopes to save his eye, Sanders said. Surgeons found the damage was too severe and performed a second surgery to remove it, he said.
The impact of the bean bag also tore off a third of Sanders eyelid. Doctors had to graft skin from his neck to replace the eyelid, he said.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett tweeted in support of Sanders, and a GoFund Me that was set up has now raised nearly $30,000.
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The European Green Deal is the flagship proposal of the current European Commission. It is a growth strategy that aims to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050 and to decouple economic growth from continued use of natural resources.
A central element is a shift to a more sustainable system of agricultural production that minimises farming's environmental footprint and does more to protect and sustain nature. There is also a need to minimise food waste and to address the role of poor diets in the growing burden of chronic disease.
The strategy also foresees the creation of new opportunities for farmers in the bioeconomy as well as strengthening farmers' position in the food chain. The intention is to set in motion incremental but irreversible change in European agriculture, while strengthening its resilience to possible future crises.
The food and farming aspects of the European Green Deal were spelled out in the Commission's Farm to Fork (F2F) and Biodiversity Strategies published last month. Both of these strategies include a number of headline targets as well as a timeline of actions setting out when the Commission proposes to submit legislative or other initiatives.
The main targets affecting agriculture are set out in the accompanying table.
The main Commissioner responsible for action to meet these targets is also listed. Although DG AGRI will be responsible for some of the targets and actions, other Directorates-General such as Environment (DG ENVI), Health and Food Safety (DG HEALTH) and Climate Action (CLIMA) will also play a major role.
The proposed targets and actions in the F2F and Biodiversity Strategies raise many questions. How likely is it that these targets will be adopted and implemented? How do these targets relate to the reform of the CAP framework proposed by the Commission in June 2018 and which is still under discussion by the European legislators?
Funding
Will there be additional funding to help farmers adapt their farming practices to meet any new targets that might be adopted?
The first point to make is that the F2F and Biodiversity Strategies are Commission Communications, not legislative proposals. Farm organisations have sought greater clarity around the analytical basis behind some of the targets. The Director-General for DG AGRI has confirmed that there will be an impact analysis before any legislation is introduced. As legislation is not foreseen for some initiatives until 2022 or even 2023, this will leave time for more detailed consideration of some of the targets.
However, not all targets will be or need to be embodied in legislation to have an impact. A non-legislative target such as the objective to increase the area farmed organically can be an important signpost when Member States come to draw up their CAP Strategic Plans.
In response to a specific request from the European Parliament, the Commission also published an analysis last month in which it examined the links between the CAP reform and the Green Deal.
The Commission concluded that its CAP proposal, and especially the nine specific objectives that are set out for the CAP post 2020, were already in line with the Green Deal ambitions for the food system.
It warned against weakening some key aspects of its proposal, such as the principle that the new CAP must have greater environmental and climate ambition, and that the standards for enhanced conditionality (cross-compliance) should not be watered down.
The Commission pointed to some gaps that would need to be addressed. It now supports the idea of ring-fencing minimum funds for eco-schemes in Pillar 1 of the CAP. It wants animal welfare and antibiotic legislation to be included among the legislative acts that the future CAP Strategic Plans must take into account.
It has also proposed to make recommendations to Member States on how the Green Deal targets should be addressed in their CAP Strategic Plans prior to their finalisation. How Member States incorporate these recommendations into their Plans will become an important element in whether the Commission will approve the Plans.
In this way, these targets can have an important indirect impact on the priorities and the way resources are allocated in the CAP Strategic Plan.
Agriculture Ministers had their first chance to discuss the Commission proposals at their meeting in early June under the Croatian Presidency. They broadly welcomed both Strategies while stressing that their ambitious goals had to be matched by an ambitious CAP budget.
Concerns were also expressed that efforts to limit the use of pesticides and antibiotics may reduce EU farmers' competitiveness in the global market.
Responsibility for the European Parliament's opinion will be shared between the Agriculture and Environment Committees depending on which Commission Directorate-General has the lead responsibility for different elements. Agriculture Committee MEPs will share some of the reservations of Agriculture Ministers, but the Environment Committee is likely to be strongly in support.
Pesticides
In summary, although some of the targets in the F2F Strategy may well be tweaked before they are finally approved, the broad direction of travel will not change.
Farmers will need to underpin their sustainability claims with objective evidence that emissions are falling, pesticide use is falling, chemical fertiliser use is falling, antibiotic use is falling, and biodiversity is recovering.
There is an enormous task ahead both for the research system and advisory services to ensure that farmers are as well equipped as possible to meet these challenges while ensuring their longer-term viability.
Alan Matthews is Professor Emeritus of European Agricultural Policy at Trinity College Dublin
Ludhiana Two persons died while 40, including a Punjab Police assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and two-year-old girl tested positive for Covid-19 in Ludhiana on Tuesday.
An 85-year-old resident of Bahadurke road died at SPS Hospital near Sherpur Chowk in the afternoon. He was suffering from asthma and diabetes and was rushed to the hospital two days ago. He was in critical condition and kept on ventilator support.
The second death was of a 65-year-old resident of Krishan Colony, Malerkotla. He passed away at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMC&H) this afternoon.
Meanwhile, a lab technician posted at civil surgeons office also tested positive for Covid-19.
Following this, 14 employees, including assistant civil surgeon, chief pharmacy officer, superintendent and eight class-four employees, have been quarantined.
Also, a 49-year-old ASI and his 46- year-old wife also tested positive for the virus.
The couples son, who is posted at Pathankot, tested positive two days ago.
Six more cases were reported from containment zones of Prem Nagar and Chhawani Mohalla.
Civil surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga said there are 207 active cases in the city, while 18 have succumbed to the virus.
A University of Texas at Dallas study of 100 mobile apps for kids found that 72 violated a federal law aimed at protecting children's online privacy.
Dr. Kanad Basu, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and lead author of the study, along with colleagues elsewhere, developed a tool that can determine whether an Android game or other mobile app complies with the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
The researchers introduced and tested their "COPPA Tracking by Checking Hardware-Level Activity," or COPPTCHA, tool in a study published in the March edition of IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security. The tool was 99% accurate. Researchers continue to improve the technology, which they plan to make available for download at no cost.Basu said games and other apps that violate COPPA pose privacy risks that could make it possible for someone to determine a child's identity and location. He said the risk is heightened as more people are accessing apps from home, rather than public places, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Suppose the app collects information showing that there is a child on Preston Road in Plano, Texas, downloading the app. A trafficker could potentially get the user's email ID and geographic location and try to kidnap the child. It's really, really scary," Basu said.
Apps can access personal identifiable information, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, location, audio and visual recordings, and unique identifiers for devices such as an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), media access control (MAC) addresses, Android ID and Android advertising ID. The advertising ID, for example, allows app developers to collect information on users' interests, which they can then sell to advertisers.
"When you download an app, it can access a lot of information on your cellphone," Basu said. "You have to keep in mind that all this info can be collected by these apps and sent to third parties. What do they do with it? They can pretty much do anything. We should be careful about this."
The researchers' technique accesses a device's special-purpose register, a type of temporary data-storage location within a microprocessor that monitors various aspects of the microprocessor's function. Whenever an app transmits data, the activity leaves footprints that can be detected by the special-purpose register.
COPPA requires that websites and online services directed to children obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from anyone younger than 13; however, as Basu's research found, many popular apps do not comply. He found that many popular games designed specifically for young children revealed users' Android IDs, Android advertising IDs and device descriptions.
Basu recommends that parents use caution when downloading or allowing children to download apps.
"If your kid asks you to download a popular game app, you're likely to download it," Basu said. "A problem with our society is that many people are not aware of -- or don't care about -- the threats in terms of privacy."
Basu advises keeping downloads to a minimum.
"I try to limit my downloading of apps as much as possible," Basu said. "I don't download apps unless I need to."
###
Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Intel Corp. and New York University also contributed to the work.
FOSTER CITY, Calif., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bertram Capital ("Bertram"), a middle market private equity firm headquartered in Foster City, California, today announced the additions to the investment team of Kevin Yu as a Vice President and Ming Dai as an Associate.
Kevin Yu will focus on evaluating and executing investment opportunities as a member of the Industrials investment team. Mr. Yu has more than 10 years of private equity and M&A experience. Prior to joining Bertram, Mr. Yu most recently worked on the investment team at ORIX Capital Partners, a North American middle market private equity fund focused on the industrials, telecom, and business services sectors. Prior to Orix, Mr. Yu was with ShoreView Industries, a $1.3 billion AUM private equity firm focused on the lower middle market. Mr. Yu also worked within the M&A / Corporate Development teams at Google and UnitedHealthGroup. Mr. Yu received his MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management and his Bachelor of Science in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Minnesota.
"Kevin's experience in both private equity and corporate development are well-matched to our buy and build strategy," said Tim Heston, Partner at Bertram Capital. "We are thrilled to welcome Kevin to the Bertram team."
Additionally, Ming Dai joins the firm's Consumer investment team. Prior to Bertram, Mr. Dai spent two years in investment banking with Morgan Stanley's Consumer Retail Group in Hong Kong. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society.
"Ming brings excellent technical discipline and real-world deal experience to our team," said Ryan Craig, Partner at Bertram Capital. "We expect that his contributions will be significant."
About Bertram Capital
Bertram Capital is a private equity firm targeting investments in lower middle market companies. Since its inception in 2006, the firm has raised over $1.7B of capital commitments. In addition to supplying strategic growth capital, Bertram Capital leverages proprietary processes and services, Bertram High-5SM and Bertram Labs, to empower its portfolio companies to unlock their full business potential. The Bertram High-5SM is an operationally-focused value creation strategy, which includes management augmentation, operational initiative implementation, complementary business acquisition, sales and marketing improvements, and leveraging technology and IP. The cornerstone of this strategy is Bertram Labs, its in-house technology team, which drives growth and value through digital marketing, e-commerce, big data and analytics, application development, and internal and external platform optimization. Visit www.bcap.com for more information.
SOURCE Bertram Capital
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:09:50|Editor: huaxia
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RABAT, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank on Monday approved a loan of 500 million U.S. dollars to support key policy reforms in Morocco, official news agency MAP reported on Tuesday.
The loan seeks to improve financial inclusion and access to more competitive digital infrastructure and services for businesses and individuals in the country, the report said.
The loan will also support the Moroccan government's efforts to digitalize key services for individuals and businesses and strengthen the resilience of households and firms, it added.
According to the central bank's periodical report last week, the North African country's economy is expected to contract by 5.2 percent in 2020, which will be the worst economic performance since 1996.
Government debts will soar to 75.3 percent of GDP in 2020 from 65 percent in 2019 because of the huge financial needs of the public treasury, the report noted. Enditem
PARIS - New details about the death of a French delivery driver in the wake of a police arrest in January have raised renewed criticism over police restraining techniques and prompted his family to urge a ban on the use of chokeholds.
In an appeal Tuesday, the family of Cedric Chouviat also sought the suspension of the four police officers involved in the arrest, during which he pleaded seven times Im suffocating.
Chouviat, a 42-year-old delivery man, died in hospital, two days after his Jan. 3 arrest following a traffic stop near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The death of Chouviat has similarities with the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month, which sparked outrage around the world and a series of Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
Chouviats family appeal follows reports from daily newspaper Le Monde and investigative website Mediapart outlining the details of his 22-second arrest.
Le Monde and Mediapart said they had access to video footage of Chouviats own mobile phone which recorded his discussion with police officers prior to and during his arrest, including his final words. Other videos of the arrest taken from afar by bystanders, widely broadcast on French media, show Chouviat pinned face-down by three of the officers.
Police techniques in restraining people, such as the chokehold, have come under scrutiny after Floyd was killed when Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyds neck for several minutes.
A manslaughter investigation is underway though investigators have yet to decide whether to press charges against the four police officers involved in the arrest.
Chouviats widow, Doria, told The Associated Press she wants authorities to recognize that this chokehold is dangerous and compared her husbands death to that of Floyds.
You have a citizen whos asking to live and is a victim of injustice and violence to the point of losing his life, she said. Its a copy-paste.
He was a father; someones son; someones friend. And all this for what in the end? For nothing, she added.
Chouviats daughter, Sofia, said she doesnt understand why the officers have not been suspended and why chokeholds are still being used by police. Her father suffered a fracture of the larynx, she said.
We want answers, she said. We have a feeling of fear, of impunity, we want it to stop, she said.
Chouviats father, Christian, said his son was not given any chance to survive.
Lawyer for two police officers, Laurent-Frank Lienard, told French news broadcaster LCI that his clients did not hear Chouviats words.
Interior minister Christophe Castaner specifically referred to Chouviats case when he initially announced a ban on the use of chokeholds during police arrests earlier this month.
No arrest should put lives at risk, Castaner then said in the wake of Floyds death in the U.S.
Yet facing a string of protest actions from French police, the government last week backed away from the ban.
____________________
AP journalist Alexander Turnbull contributed to the story
Offer prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) from China were heard in the UAE at $460-470 per tonne cfr, while offers from India came in at around $450 per tonne cfr.
No significant bookings were heard over the past week, however.
...
The global economy's fragile recovery is facing a fresh hurdle as the surge in coronavirus cases threatens to keep businesses closed and consumers on edge.
Cases of the deadly virus rose by a record for a single day on June 21, according to the World Health Organisation, with flare ups across the US and new scares in Germany and Australia. While China said the latest outbreak in Beijing is under control, other large emerging economies including Brazil, India and Indonesia continue to see cases soar.
"The fight is nowhere close to being over," said Tuuli McCully, the Singapore-based head of Asia Pacific economics at Scotiabank. "A second significant wave of infections in advanced economies is a huge risk for the global economy that is still in very early stages of recovery."
Spike in cases: A public health nurse performing a coronavirus test in Salt Lake City, Utah. Credit:AP
The concern comes as high frequency data tracked by Bloomberg Economics had been showing an improving picture for sectors such as transport and dining out as lockdown restrictions are eased. A sustained pickup in virus cases threatens to undermine or even reverse those trends.
A little over a week ago, I sat at a sink while someone else washed my hair. And I almost cried about how good it felt.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Opinion
A little over a week ago, I sat at a sink while someone else washed my hair. And I almost cried about how good it felt.
Not just because it felt good to finally get a cut and colour after weeks of Pandemic Roots which it did but because it felt like The Time Before, when you could just go get your hair done. It felt normal.
That is, until I returned to my stylists chair and looked in the mirror. The illusion of normal was quickly shattered. There we were, in our full masks. Oh. Right.
By now, Manitobans can do much more than we could do when the first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 was recorded in this province on March 12. Pandemic? What pandemic? You can eat at a restaurant. You can get your hair cut. You can work out in a gym. The economy is reopening. Normalcy is returning.
Our numbers are low; weve enjoyed a few days-long streaks of no cases. How well weve crushed that curve has become a point of provincial pride. We did good. We saw results. Now we want our reward, and that reward is to stand in line at Homesense.
Ive been impressed by some of what Ive seen venturing back into the world. Im OK with restaurant-as-operating-theatre for a while. Many places Ive ventured into have been explicitly clear about protocol, which helps mitigate anxiety.
But Ive also been alarmed by what Ive seen, which is a whole lot of complacency. Many people seem to be treating physical distancing as optional. Handwashing times are getting shorter. And masks have not become quite as ubiquitous as Id hoped.
Now is the time to be doubling down on our efforts, not letting down our guard. We wouldnt abandon, say, our fitness routines as soon as we saw results. Why would we stop engaging in public-health measures during the first wave of a global pandemic?
Masks, in particular, seem to be a real sticking point with people. As Manitoba enters Phase 3 of its reopening plan, we are all, inevitably, going to be around more people. Mask compliance should trend up, not down. And wearing a mask doesnt mean wearing them around your chin, leaving your nose exposed.
Michel Euler / The Associated Press FILES Many people are mistrustful of masks because of what they feel to be mixed messages about their effectiveness; in the U.S., masks have become a political statement.
In the United States, in particular, masks have become hotly politicized to the point that the CEO of the AMC Theaters chain caught some static for telling a trade magazine that "we did not want to be drawn into a political controversy" with respect to mandatory masking in movie theatres.
Theres also troubling social attitudes toward masking: a study, published in May, conducted by researchers from Middlesex University London and the Mathematical Science Research Institute in Berkeley, Calif., showed that men were less likely to wear masks because they are "a sign of weakness."
Here at home, many people are mistrustful about masks, owing to changing advice from health officials amid the early days of the North American leg of the COVID-19 world tour, accusing Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief medical officer, of "flip-flopping" on masks instead of acknowledging that advice may change in an evolving situation.
Remember: masks are just another tool in an arsenal that also should include handwashing, physical distancing and staying home if you feel unwell all things we should all still be doing. Masks are helpful in spaces where consistent physical distancing isnt possible. Wearing a mask protects other people from your droplets. Think of a mask as good manners.
Better yet, think of a mask as a condom for your face.
Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.
For weeks, many epidemiologists have been talking about the need to view COVID-19 through the lens of harm reduction. We need to figure out how to live with COVID-19, because we will be living with it until there is a vaccine. The use of condoms and other safer sex practices are classic examples of harm-reduction tools when it comes to STIs; handwashing, masking and distancing are harm-reduction tools when it comes to COVID-19.
Its understandable that many people are feeling worn down by the constant constant-ness of a pandemic. Between the doomscrolling and the endless Zoom meetings and deluge of emails from brands reminding you that they are there for you during "this unprecendented time," its a lot. But we need to stay on top of it.
Maybe people dont like masks because they serve as a jarring reminder that things are not normal, that things are different. Masks ruin the tableau. Masks dont allow us to forget.
But we need the reminder. The pandemic isnt over, even in Manitoba. It only seems like it is.
jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @JenZoratti
Merger and acquisition deals in Vietnams food and beverages arena in the first five months of this year were inevitably subdued due to global slowdowns across the board.
Tasty takeovers sorely lacking as 2020 continues to frustrate, illustration photo, source:MSN
Vietnam recorded no megadeals in the given period apart from the noticeable deal from Masan Group. Ardolis Investment Pte., Ltd., a subsidiary of Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC, recently raised its ownership in the consumer staple group from 5.67 to 8.97 per cent after purchasing 38.92 million shares. Following the transaction, the GIC-led consortium has increased its stakes at Masan from 9.7 to 13.03 per cent.
Consolidated net revenues at Masan totalled VND17.63 trillion ($761.74 million) for the first quarter, up 116.1 per cent on-year. The increase was attributable to high double-digit growth at Masan Consumer Holdings and consolidation of newly-acquired VinCommerce.
VinCommerce itself reported revenue growth of 40.3 per cent over last years period to VND8.71 trillion ($376.4 million). Meanwhile, Masans MEATLife business continued to surge, with net revenues rising by nearly 85 per cent on-quarter to VND453 billion ($19.57 million) in the first quarter of 2020.
In addition, Kido Foods (KDF)and Tuong An Vegetable Oil have submitted proposals to their shareholders about a merger with KIDO Corporation (KDC) at its annual general stakeholder meeting. The move will help the two sail through the tough time, and stimulate growth in the competitive market.
After its initial public offering on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) market in 2017, KDF shares have recorded low liquidity and failed to attract the attention of investors. Despite being the leader of the Vietnamese ice cream industry with a 41 per cent market share, the company has seen volatile business. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed customer behaviour for ice cream and other frozen products. As a result, KDF merged with KDC to take advantage of the latters financial and management capabilities to consolidate growth.
Tuong An also faced several challenges in 2020 due to economic turmoil and volatile material prices caused by the pandemic. The competition has become fierce as more vegetable oil brands roll out into the market. Other vegetable oil producers have also reduced prices to capture market share.
Due to market volatility and global challenges remaining unresolved, in the near term we expect to see a slowdown in the number of high-value merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions in the food sector, said Seck Yee Chung, partner at Baker & McKenzie Vietnam. While Vietnam has effectively contained the virus, it has also been significantly affected by the pandemic. Supply chain disruption during this has severely impacted the export of agricultural products and other processed goods to major markets such as China, the United States, and Europe.
Even through government-enforced travel bans, nationwide social distancing, and restaurant closures, there has been an increase in the demand of food and grocery consumption. However, out-of-home consumption has declined due to the restrictions and the hesitation of middle-income consumers in spending their money during the crisis.
Chung added it is expected the economy will gradually become more vibrant again. In the longer term, and with countries better able to manage the outbreak, easing of travel restrictions, and global supply chains reconnecting, this will help spur the Vietnamese economy and the overall food and agriculture sector will continue to be of great interest to overseas investors. The technology and logistics platforms that support such growth also present exciting opportunities.
According to FiinGroup, a provider of financial data and business information, food and beverages have always been a magnet for M&A thanks to the sectors high and stable growth rate, driven by Vietnams big population, rapid urbanisation, emerging middle class, and resilient GDP growth. From 2011 to the first half 2019, 245 deals value at $8.95 billion have been recorded, led by major players in the industry such as Masan, KIDO, and The PAN Group. VIR
Thanh Van
Vietnams food products used by famous foreign brands Vietnams food materials have been used to make excellent products of famous brands that are consumed all over the world.
Ireland has the highest level of private childcare services in Europe and among OECD countries as well as a lower than average level of government investment.
Thats according to a new research paper published by the Oireachtas Library and Research Services, which highlighted a number of challenges should the next government seek to introduce a universal preschool scheme.
The paper by senior parliamentary researcher Dr Emily Heery found that Ireland was an outlier across countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Europe on the level of private childcare services and on government investment.
OECD data from 2017 showed that Ireland, alongside New Zealand, had the highest percentage of children attending private services at 99%, well above the OECD average of 34% and EU average of 27%.
The research, carried out before the Covid-19 pandemic, also found the level of government investment in Ireland was the second lowest across OECD countries in 2016.
Less than 0.4% of GDP was spent on early childhood and education services for three- to five-year-olds in Ireland in 2016 compared to the OECD average and EU average of 0.6%.
Nordic countries, such as Norway and Sweden, where childcare services are in the main publicly provided, spent 1% of GDP on childcare services by comparison.
A European Commission report also found childcare fees in Ireland were among the highest in Europe in 2019, ranking alongside fees charged in the Netherlands, UK, and Switzerland.
Despite the high fees, the research paper noted the wages of childcare workers remained low and had prompted street protests earlier this year. The average hourly rate for early years assistants, it found, was 11.44, which is below the 12.30 per hour living wage rate.
Countries providing public childcare tended to offer more accessible, available, affordable and higher quality services compared to countries relying on private services, the paper found.
Nordic countries, such as Norway, recognise universal childcare as a social right and have a high level of public investment, high staff to child ratios, low fees, and competitive salaries for staff.
Dr Heery concluded that introducing a universal early years childcare scheme would require a dramatic policy shift for Ireland but that doing so could boost the affordability, accessibility and quality of services and enhance the well-being of children and mothers.
The market-driven approach to childcare services in Ireland and the negative economic impact of the Covid-19 public health crisis, however, will present key challenges to rolling out a universal childcare scheme, she added.
The research paper comes as childcare providers have this week warned that many services could face closure in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Childcare services closed on March 12 but are set to reopen next Monday.
Seas Suas, which represents independent early learning and care providers, said short-term grants provided in response to the Covid-19 outbreak could not address the long-term deficits in the sector.
Our sector needs practical longer-term support to ensure we are viable in the longer term, beyond August; the point at which Government funding support has been signalled to end, Chair of Seas Suas, Regina Bushell, said, adding that it estimated that 130 million in funding will be required to support the sector for the rest of the year.
(Newser) A US soldier stands accused of plotting a deadly ambush on his own unit with the help of a violent extremist group. Officials say Ethan Melzer, 22, sent sensitive information about his unit, based in Turkey, to a group called the Order of the Nine Angles, the BBC reports. Officials call that group an "occult-based neo-Nazi and racially motivated violent extremist group," and say that Melzer was planning for the information to ultimately be passed on to a jihadist group that would carry out the attack. The plan was thwarted by the FBI and the US Army, however, and Melzer was arrested June 10. Acting US Attorney Audrey Strauss referred to Melzer, who is from Kentucky, as "the enemy within," per the AP.
story continues below
"Melzer allegedly attempted to orchestrate a murderous ambush on his own unit by unlawfully revealing its location, strength, and armaments to a neo-Nazi, anarchist, white supremacist group," she said. "Melzer was motivated by racism and hatred as he attempted to carry out this ultimate act of betrayal." Officials say O9A, as the group is sometimes called, admires both Hitler and the Nazis as well as Osama bin Laden and Islamic jihadists. Melzer is charged with conspiring and attempting to murder US nationals, conspiring and attempting to murder military service members, providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, and conspiring to murder and maim in a foreign country. If convicted, he could face life behind bars. (Read more US Army stories.)
American film director Joel Schumacher has passed away at age 80. The director was known for classic films like St Elmos Fire, The Lost Boys, Flatliners, and many more. Joel Schumacher was known for his big-budget films during the 1980s and 1990s. During this time, Joel Schumacher went on to direct several popular movies like The Client and A Time to Kill. He was also part of a few Batman movies for which he received tremendous praise from fans.
Joel Schumacher passes away at the age of 80
Also Read | Hollywood Evolves During Pandemic With Drive-in Premiere
The news about the demise of Joel Schumacher was brought forth by Star Trek writer and producer Bryan Fuller and director Kevin Smith. The two artists paid their tribute to the late director and said good things about the now deceased. Both Fuller and Smith admitted that they were inspired by his work and did look up to him in some way. Kiefer Sutherland posted a written note on Twitter expressing his condolences and grief for losing a friend. Kiefer was the actor who starred in Joel Schumachers famous The Lost Boys. Sutherland wrote that his joy and spirit is something that will continue to live on in his heart as a memory for the rest of his life. Further on, Kiefer added that Joel Schumacher had given him several life lessons in terms of films and everything related to it. He expressed that he will miss him dearly.
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Joel Schumacher was known for his stylish filmmaking which people loved during his time. He was among the first directors to get that trend started in Hollywood back then, according to a news portal. Joel Schumacher was ill with cancer for over a year and was battling with the disease, according to a news portal. Joel Schumacher was a New York native and he entered the film industry initially as a costume designer in the 1970s. He worked alongside Woody Allen during this time. It was during this time that he developed a keen sense of writing and fondness for directing films.
He first wrote a 1976 low budget comedy, Car Wash. Joel Schumacher got his big break in 1985 with his third feature film, St Elmos Fire. He co-wrote the film and directed it as well. From there, Joel Schumacher went on to direct several popular films like George Clooneys Batman movies which also had Arnold Schwarzenegger as the antagonist in the film. His work was loved in the industry and his style of screenplay and storytelling was often appreciated by critics and fans of the director.
Also Read | Here's A Look At Brad Pitt's Net Worth And His Success In Hollywood; Details Inside
Father's Day is a difficult time for Vanessa Hudgens, whose late father Gregory would've turned 70 on Monday.
The half-Filipina 31-year-old visited the former firefighter and placed flowers on his grave at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.
Gregory died in 2016 just five months after being diagnosed with stage four cancer.
Downcast: Father's Day is a difficult time for Vanessa Hudgens, whose late father Gregory would've turned 70 on Monday
RIP: The half-Filipina 31-year-old visited the former firefighter and placed flowers on his grave at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills
'[Even though] he's not around anymore I still want to celebrate him by saying happy 70th birthday poppa,' Vanessa - who boasts 64.7M social media followers - wrote on Monday.
'[My younger sister] @stellahudgens and I miss you terribly.'
Hudgens - who split with Austin Butler in December - has been in quarantine at her $5M Los Feliz home with her mother Gina Guangco, her younger sister Stella, and rescue dog, Darla.
The day after Gregory's passing, the homeschooled former child star received widespread acclaim for her performance as Rizzo in Fox's Grease: Live, which amassed 12.1M viewers.
'[My younger sister] @stellahudgens and I miss you terribly': Gregory died in 2016 just five months after being diagnosed with stage four cancer
Vanessa wrote on Monday: '[Even though] he's not around anymore I still want to celebrate him by saying happy 70th birthday poppa'
'The Hudgens ladies': Hudgens - who split with Austin Butler in December - has been in quarantine at her $5M Los Feliz home with her mother Gina Guangco, her younger sister Stella, and rescue dog, Darla (pictured May 10)
Amassed 12.1M viewers! The day after Gregory's passing, the homeschooled former child star received widespread acclaim for her performance as Rizzo in Fox's Grease: Live
Vanessa told E! News at the time: 'Every day I came to work, they all hugged me, checked in on me, made sure I was doing okay...I dedicated my performance to my dad because I knew he was up there in heaven looking down on me as proud as can be'
'Every day I came to work, they all hugged me, checked in on me, made sure I was doing okay,' Vanessa told E! News at the time.
'My dad passed away the night before my show, and it was shocking. I knew that it was coming, but nothing can prepare you for losing a parent. I dedicated my performance to my dad because I knew he was up there in heaven looking down on me as proud as can be.'
Hudgens and her mother were spotted on Monday together grabbing take-out while curbside.
Lunch time! Hudgens and her mother were spotted on Monday together grabbing take-out while curbside
Unprotected: Neither Gina nor the Black Lives Matter protester were wearing cloth masks, which California Governor Gavin Newsom made mandatory in public last Thursday
Pandemic: Mayor Eric Garcetti extended the stay-at home order indefinitely due to the 83K confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, which has led to 3,121 deaths as of Monday
Rolled out of bed: Vanessa was dressed way down in a purple Chanel T-shirt, colorful tie-dye pants, and black furry slides
Neither Gina nor the Black Lives Matter protester were wearing cloth masks, which California Governor Gavin Newsom made mandatory statewide in public last Thursday.
Mayor Eric Garcetti extended the stay-at home order indefinitely due to the 83K confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, which has led to 3,121 deaths as of Monday - according to Johns Hopkins University.
Vanessa was dressed way down in a purple Chanel T-shirt, colorful tie-dye pants, and black furry slides.
Wrapped on January 12! Hudgens executive produced and pulled triple duty starring in Mike Rohl's sequel The Princess Switch: Switched Again, which premieres later this year on Netflix (pictured December 7)
Hudgens has been on damage control since 'offending anyone and everyone' with her cringey comments about 'inevitable deaths' from COVID-19 via Instagram Live on March 16.
The Disney Family Singalong guest star executive produced and pulled triple duty starring in Mike Rohl's sequel The Princess Switch: Switched Again streaming in 2020 on Netflix.
Vanessa takes on the roles of Duchess Margaret, her double Stacy De Novo, and a third trouble-making character called 'party girl Fiona' - according to THR.
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Thailand has started sterilising hundreds of monkeys in a city famous for its macaque population, as the coronavirus pandemic leaves them hungry, aggressive and wrestling food from terrified residents.
Central Thailand's Lopburi province and its 2,000 monkeys have long been a draw for tourists from around the world, who typically feed them and pose with them for selfies.
But since Thailand closed its borders on April 4 to control coronavirus infection, the monkeys are not adapting well to their new normal.
As a result, Lopburi's authorities have begun catching, sedating and sterilising what is hoped will be 500 of the monkeys in the hope of slowing the growth of the population.
Thailand has started sterilising hundreds of monkeys in a city famous for its macaque population, as the coronavirus pandemic leaves them hungry, aggressive and wrestling food from terrified residents
Lopburi province and its 2,000 monkeys have long been a draw for tourists from around the world, who typically feed them and pose with them for selfies. Pictured: One of the monkeys after being sedated
'They're so used to having tourists feed them and the city provides no space for them to fend for themselves,' said Supakarn Kaewchot, a government veterinarian.
'With the tourists gone, they've been more aggressive, fighting humans for food to survive,' she told Reuters.
'They're invading buildings and forcing locals to flee their homes.'
Even before Thailand closed its borders, incredible footage showed the animals brawling over scraps of food in the street in Lopburi in March as a result of the lack of tourists.
The animals were reported to be part of two 'rival gangs' made up of the monkeys who dwell in the city and those from the temple areas who were fighting over food.
But since Thailand closed its borders on April 4 to control coronavirus infections, the monkeys are not adapting well to their new normal. As a result, Lopburi's authorities caught 300 of the monkeys and sedated, shaved and tattooed them before sterilising them with a vasectomy or tubal ligation operation
Even before Thailand closed its borders, incredible footage showed the animals brawling over scraps of food in the street in Lopburi in March as a result of the lack of tourists
Unlike monkeys in the wild, city monkeys need not hunt for food, giving them more time and energy to reproduce and cause trouble, Supakarn said. Pictured: The monkeys after their sterilisation operation
To try to control their fast-growing population, authorities this week placed big cages around the city with tantalizing fruits in them
Those living in the temple areas reportedly ventured into the city in the search of food, leading to the fight.
Unlike monkeys in the wild, city monkeys need not hunt for food, giving them more time and energy to reproduce and cause trouble, Supakarn said.
To try to control their fast-growing population, authorities this week placed big cages around the city with tantalizing fruits in them.
From the cages, the monkeys were transferred to an operating table, where they were sedated, shaved and tattooed with a unique reference number under their arms.
They laid on their backs under a green cloth as vets performed a vasectomy or a tubal ligation operation.
The sleeping monkeys got one night to recover before being taken back to their respective tribes.
From the cages, the monkeys were transferred to an operating table, where they were sedated, shaved and tattooed with a unique reference number under their arms
The animals were weighed and photographed before underdoing the sterilisation procedure
They also had permanent ink tattooed onto their chin so they could be identified in future
They laid on their backs under a green cloth as vets performed a vasectomy or a tubal ligation operation
The government aims to sterilise 500 of the macaques over the next two months.
Supakarn said the sterilisation would pose no threat to the monkey population and the aim was just to slow down the rate of its urban growth.
'We're not doing this in the wild, only in the city areas,' she added.
The video filmed in March showed hundreds of monkeys crossing a road and then chasing a single monkey which had got hold of a banana.
At first the primates were seen running independently as they appeared to look for food.
But then the noise of their cries increased dramatically as dozens chased a single monkey which seemed to have a banana.
They were seen jumping on it and others as they fought over the food.
The sleeping monkeys got one night to recover before being taken back to their respective tribes
The government aims to sterilise 500 of the macaques over the next two months. Supakarn said the sterilisation would pose no threat to the monkey population and the aim was just to slow down the rate of its urban growth
The sedated monkeys lay opposite each other while vets from Thailand's Department of National Parks sterilised them
Even locals who were used to seeing the monkeys were shocked by their ferocity.
Onlooker Sasaluk Rattanachai captured the scene from outside a shop where she works.
She said: 'They looked more like wild dogs than monkeys. They went crazy for the single piece of food. I've never seen them this aggressive.
'I think the monkeys were very, very hungry. There's normally a lot of tourists here to feed the monkeys but now there are not as many, because of the coronavirus.'
The small macaques wore identification bracelets so that vets could tell them apart before they were returned to their respective tribes
It is hoped the sterilisation procedure will slow down the rate of growth in the monkey population
Lopburi is home to thousands of wild monkeys that roam the streets and buildings. Many live in the grounds of the city's ancient Buddhist temples.
It is said to be divided between the monkeys which live in the temple areas, and those which live in the city, according to a report in the Bangkok Post.
With their territories divided by a train track, the two groups do not ordinarily meet, but ended up doing so before the filmed fight.
This monkey was pictured as it was carried to where it was laid down after its operation
Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Ho Monday welcomed final year and second-year gold track students back to school with orientation on the Coronavirus pandemic.
The students were sensitized on the mode of transmission and preventive protocols of COVID: 19 before allowed to register for Personal Protective Equipment provided by the Government.
At Mawuli School, the orientation started at the gate where their body temperatures were taken before they were allowed entry into the School.
Students without 'abnormal' temperatures were instructed to wash their hands, register with their senior house staff before moving to the medical table.
At the medical table, the students filled a form and later picked nose masks and hand sanitizers after, which they were allocated dormitories.
Mr. Jonathan Gustav Adomah, Headmaster of the School told the Ghana News Agency that students with 'abnormal' conditions would be referred to a nurse assigned to the School.
He said a total of 1625 students were expected to report for academic activities and said the School was fully prepared to ensure strict adherence to all safety protocols for effective teaching and learning.
At the OLA Senior High School, the situation was not different as students were instructed to wash their hands before heading towards a registration centre, where some orientation on the pandemic was given individually before their temperatures were taken.
The students were also asked to pick some personal protective equipment after the registration and 'pep talk' on the pandemic.
Ms. Vivian Doe, a House Mistress for Tsagbatsra at Mawuko Girls Senior High School said it was mandatory for all students to register for easy contact tracing where necessary.
After orientation on the virus, she told the students that they were not going to their old dormitories and also not permitted to entertain visitors.
A source at the School's administration said about 1,059 students were expected to report for academic work.
The source said all classrooms and dormitories would be halved to ensure social distancing.
The GNA observed that handwashing stations were littered all over the campuses with both students and staff in nose masks.
Source: GNA
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But as Mr. Trump attacked that sentencing recommendation on Twitter, the department began to work on a new, more lenient recommendation to the judge meting out Mr. Stones punishment. The four prosecutors quit the case, and the request was submitted without their signatures.
Ms. Kupec said that Mr. Barr had not discussed the sentencing request with the president and that he had decided to intervene before Mr. Trump tweeted about it.
Mr. Zelinsky will say that a supervisor working on the case told him there were political reasons for more senior officials to resist and then override prosecutors recommendation to follow the sentencing guidelines and that the supervisor agreed that doing so was unethical and wrong.
Mr. Zelinsky did not say in his written statement who specifically told him about what was going on. Jonathan Kravis, another prosecutor who quit the case in protest and, unlike Mr. Zelinsky, also resigned from the Justice Department has written in an op-ed in The Washington Post that he resigned because I was not willing to serve a department that would so easily abdicate its responsibility to dispense impartial justice.
The intervention came days after Mr. Barr had maneuvered the Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Liu, out of her role and installed Mr. Shea, who had been a close aide from his own office.
Mr. Zelinsky planned to say he was told that Mr. Shea was receiving heavy pressure from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to cut Stone a break and complied because he was afraid of the president. He and other line prosecutors were told that the case was not the hill worth dying on and that they could lose their jobs if they did not fall in line, according to the statement.
Mr. Zelinsky, a prosecutor in Baltimore, had been detailed to Washington to continue work on the Stone case that was begun while he worked for the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. Mr. Stone, citing the spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons, asked a federal judge Tuesday for a two-month delay before he is forced to begin serving his sentence, which he was due to report for next week. His motion said that the U.S. attorneys office in Washington had told his lawyers that based on the departments guidance about handling pandemic-related issues, the government was not opposed.
COLUMBUS, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is pushing for the new U.S. Space Command headquarters to be located in Ohio.
In a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Air Force John Henderson, DeWine endorsed a nomination letter sent by Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone proposing to locate the headquarters in the Dayton area.
More than two dozen other local officials sent along a letter as well stating that the Dayton area is ideally positioned to host the facility, noting that it is already home to the National Air and Space Center, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Institute of Technology, and the 18th Intelligence Squadron.
The officials also noted the Dayton areas low cost of living, educated workforce (especially in space-related matters), and military-friendly state laws that among other things recognize licenses held by service members who come into the state.
Its a powerful combination and a synergy that you cant find anywhere else, DeWine said in a statement.
To be eligible, cities must be one of the top 150 metropolitan areas by population, have an AARP Livability Index score above 50, and be located within 25 miles of a military base.
Under the selection process rules, a nomination letter must be signed by a local elected official (such as the mayor) of the community submitting the nomination and endorsed by the states governor.
In addition, state Sen. Bob Hackett, a London Republican, has introduced a proposed resolution urging that Ohio be chosen as command headquarters.
U.S. Space Command was created by President Donald Trump in 2018. While U.S. Space Force headquarters has been and will remain in the Pentagon, U.S. Space Command has been temporarily located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Space Force stated in a release that it anticipates making a decision by early 2021 where to locate the commands permanent location. It will take about six years to complete the move.
Other cities that have submitted nominations so far include Anchorage, Alaska; Pensacola, Florida; St. Clair County, Illinois; and Houston, Texas, among others.
Read more Ohio politics and government stories:
Vice President Mike Pence coming to Lordstown on Thursday as Ohio looks more competitive
Ohio Congress members introduce bill to help hospitals financially hit by coronavirus
After Statehouse vandalism, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder leans into condemning insurgent demonstrators
Lake Erie wind turbine developer asks state regulators to reconsider ruling that could doom the project
Governor should use $4 million CARES Act discretionary funds to boost internet access for families, education leaders say
MILLBRAE, Calif., June 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stem, Inc. , the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven energy storage services, today announced the launch of its first solar+storage independent power producer (IPP) site. The project is part of its partnership with Syncarpha Capital, LLC , a leading investment company that develops, owns and operates distributed photovoltaic (PV) solar and energy storage systems across North America.
The Blandford, Mass., site, northwest of Springfield, is the first 8MWh of 28MWh portfolio of large-scale solar plus storage projects that Stem is operating for Syncarpha throughout Massachusetts. Over the next year, Stem and Syncarpha will deploy four additional Massachusetts projects in Halifax, Leicester, Millbury and Westminster.
Within these projects, Stems Athena AI platform will power one DC-coupled and four AC-coupled front-of-the-meter (FTM) solar+storage projects, including the Blandford site. Athena delivers the intelligence that enables the projects to participate in wholesale markets managed by the Independent System Operator-New England (ISO-NE). In addition, Athena will support compliance with requirements for federal investment tax credits and the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program, a state initiative that promotes cost-effective solar development with customer-facing and grid service benefits.
With more than a decade focused on deploying intelligent energy storage solutions for behind-the-meter applications, we are excited to bring our expertise to the FTM market, said John Carrington, CEO at Stem. Stem leveraged its deep experience and gained significant knowledge about how best to guide our partners and stakeholders through the ISO-NE resource and asset registration processes. This proficiency, combined with our state-of-the-art Athena software, will enable us to help our partners like Syncarpha streamline FTM solar+storage deployments and realize new revenue streams through these incentive programs.
The Blandford site is now leveraging Athena to automate operations, generating nearly 5MW of solar during the day. Athena then charges and discharges the Stem storage system to shift energy to the desired evening hours, maximizing energy arbitrage by discharging into the peak.
Stem's pioneering intelligent storage and expertly managed operations are key components to the success of our deployments across Massachusetts, said Cliff Chapman, CEO at Syncarpha Capital. Stem brings the complete package, supporting the ISO-NE registration process so we could get our assets in the markets sooner and start generating revenue quickly. Our cross-functional teams harmonized the due diligence, navigated the complexities of ISO-NE and SMART, and optimized intelligent storage to improve project ROI. We look forward to what we will accomplish together in delivering clean energy options to the communities we serve.
Stem is the global leader in AI-driven energy storage services with approximately 1,000 energy storage systems under contract and an additional 300 Athena platforms installed across six U.S. states, Ontario, and Japan. Stems AI platform, Athena, is the first of its kind for energy storage, performing real-time energy optimization that maximizes revenues and enables customers to access additional market opportunities via Stems network.
About Stem, Inc.
Stem provides solutions that address the challenges of todays dynamic energy market. By combining advanced energy storage solutions with Athena AI, a world-class artificial intelligence (AI)-powered analytics platform, Stem enables customers and partners to optimize energy use by automatically switching between battery power, onsite generation and grid power. Stems solutions help enterprise customers benefit from clean, adaptive energy infrastructure and achieve a wide variety of goals, including expense reduction, resilience, sustainability, environmental and corporate responsibility and innovation. Stem also offers full support for solar partners interested in adding storage to standalone, community or commercial solar projects both behind and in front of the meter.
Headquartered in Millbrae, Calif., Stem is directly funded by a consortium of leading investors including Activate Capital, Angeleno Group, BNP Paribas, Constellation Technology Ventures, Iberdrola (Inversiones Financieras Perseo), GE Ventures, Magnesium Capital, Mithril Capital Management, Mitsui & Co. LTD., Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, RWE Supply & Trading, Temasek and Total Energy Ventures. For more information, www.stem.com .
Media Contact
Laurie Gibson
Kickstart Consulting for Stem
+1 (650) 815-1438
lgibson@kickstartconsulting.com
About Syncarpha Capital, LLC
Founded in 2009, Syncarpha Capital is a leading investment firm dedicated to developing, acquiring, financing, owning and operating distributed- and utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar and energy storage systems across North America. Partnering with experienced developers, installers, engineers, and EPC contractors, while working closely with its customers, Syncarpha designs and builds on-site solar systems for municipalities, utilities, and businesses as well as developing community shared solar solutions for consumers and commercial customers. Syncarpha currently owns and/or operates solar assets in nine (9) different states throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.syncarpha.com and www.syncarpha.solar .
Media Contact
Cliff Chapman, Syncarpha Capital
212-419-4844
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a310c3b-9906-4836-a972-84b1442fd868
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian addresses the media during a press conference to update on COVID-19, at NSW Parliament House on March 17, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
New NSW Curriculum Goes Back to Basics
The NSW government plans to take a back to basics approach under a new schools curriculum due to come into effect by 2024.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian will on June 23 announce the governments response to a review of the states education system led by Professor Geoff Masters.
The NSW government will be taking a back to basics approach to the curriculum. Literacy and numeracy will remain the focus throughout a students school experience, she told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Masters review had recommended the removal of excess subjects like Lifestyle Studies and Puppetry and a streamlining of crowded syllabuses.
For 30 years, unnecessary lessons have snuck into the curriculum, Berejiklian told The Daily Telegraph.
Lessons in circus skills, puppetry and wearable art should not be done during school hours.
Sydney
An analysis by the citys chief financial officer released Monday cast doubt on VIA Metropolitan Transit CEO Jeff Arndts dire predictions of large budget deficits and severe service cuts due to the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout.
In recent weeks, Arndt has been telling the VIA board, the news media and city leaders that the consequences of the pandemic on VIA ridership and revenues would add up to a $126 million deficit over a five-year period, even with an infusion of $92 million in federal CARES Act money and drastic service cuts keeping as many as 150,000 people from having walking access to bus stops.
The dramatic warnings, including a presentation to the Express-News editorial board, were part of an effort to justify an extra 1/8-cent sales tax funding source for the transit agency that would need to be approved by voters. The tax currently funds Edwards Aquifer protection and the maintenance of linear parks.
I would not use the term cooked the books, but I am frustrated, said Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who had requested the city analysis of VIAs budget forecast. Im disappointed that many transit-dependent riders who are among the most vulnerable of our residents were made to believe theyd be left out of our citys recovery efforts.
Nirenberg said there was no distrust between he and Arndt I dont begrudge peoples passion about their mission, the mayor said. But any effort by VIA to create a narrative that would promote one mission over all others in the city, while the rest of us are working seven days a week, 24 hours a day to make sure no one gets crushed in this community was disingenuous, he said.
In an emailed response to questions, Arndt said VIAs budget projections accurately portrayed the information available up until last week, including estimates prepared by TXP, Inc., the same firm that provides the City their budget analysis.
Ive said before and will say again that these are estimates and projections, subject to change depending on new data regarding sales tax collection, ridership levels, and ongoing conversations with the Mayor, the County Judge and City Staff, he said.
On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases
There was no exaggeration of the agencys deficit projections and the service cuts expected to result, Arndt said.
We have said from the beginning that the CARES Act will see us through 2020 and 2021. Because the new projections are better than the first in the early years and worse in the later years, CARES Act funds will see us through part of 2022, although it will not be enough to fend off service reductions in 2022, or 2021 if we do not find a sustainable funding source.
The strong-willed city leaders had been allies in a plan to ask voters this November to transfer the 1/8-cent portion of the city sales tax to transportation initiatives, but the pandemic caused Nirenberg to consider it a priority that could be postponed until May 2021, when the citys recovery might be more tangibly known.
Arndt and the VIA board, however, have been adamantly pursuing the November election as a civic lifesaver to sustain the transit agency. Nirenberg said VIA was creating a false sense of urgency.
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said Monday he was glad the mayor double-checked VIAs figures and that while he was disappointed in VIAs actions he said it was not unusual for a government agency to overstate its casebut there was quite a bit of difference in this one.
In public discussions and in interviews, Arndt argued that if VIA didnt get additional funding, one-third of its roughly 90 routes would be impacted by cuts, 1,400 people with disabilities could lose their VIAtrans service and over 40,000 jobs would be beyond the reach of transit riders.
A much-publicized bus transit plan called VIA Reimagined, which promised wait times as short as seven or eight minutes on several high-volume routes, had to be shelved for years, Arndt said, and was replaced by a plan, Keep SA Moving, focused on economic mobility and recovery.
City Manager Erik Walsh released the critical memo Monday afternoon. It was based on a budget analysis by Chief Financial Officer Ben Gorzell.
I always say Ben is one of the MVPs of our community, said Nirenberg. Hes been through analyses like this on every agency that has anything even remotely to do with the city.
Based on Gorzells review of VIAs five-year financial forecast, Walsh said in the memo:
The citys analysis predicts VIA would have only a modest deficit of $10.9 million in 2023, increasing to $59.4 million in 2025 not the $126 million Arndt had projected.
VIAs sales tax projection for 2020 was likely too low. Updated projections have raised the forecast from $152.6 million to $190 million for this year.
VIA included the cost of increasing bus frequency on 18 routes, but failed to include the $10 million the city was donating each year expressly for the purpose of paying for those improved routes.
VIAs projections of sales tax revenue over the next five years suggested little or no recovery by the city. Based on how the city sales tax recovered after the Great Recession of 2008-09 there were increases of 6.1 percent and 9.7 percent in 2011 and 2012 Walsh suggested the VIA forecast was unrealistically low.
In the memo, Walsh said he spoke with Arndt on Friday evening about the citys budget analysis and said Arndt had said he found $67 million in other (unspecified) reductions to offset any projected deficits for the rest of the five-year period.
Based on that discussion, Walsh said he concluded that the drastic service reductions presented to Council offices (last) Thursday (by Arndt) will not have to occur.
bselcraig@express-news.net
The fragile relationship with China has left its mark on Australians, with many believing there is a need to reduce the nation's economic dependence on the Asian powerhouse.
A new survey has found as many as nine in 10 people (94 per cent) believe the Australian government should look for other markets to steer the country away from its reliance on its number one trading partner, China.
Trust in China has also dropped to just 23 per cent - less than half of what it was two years ago.
These were some of the key findings in the Lowy Institute's 16th annual poll of Australian attitudes towards international issues released on Wednesday.
A survey from the Lowy Institute revealed respondents wanted to reduce Australia's dependence on China as a trading partner (Pictured: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison shakes hands with the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang in 2018)
Trust in China has also dropped to just 23 per cent - less than half of what it was two years ago (stock image of young Chinese citizens playing games at an internet cafe in Donguuan city, south Chinas Guandong province)
'Australians are sceptical of China, disappointed in the United States, and anxious about the economic downturn,' the institute said.
The poll of 2448 adult Australians was taken between March 16 and 29, before the escalation of friction with China over trade issues and the inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus.
Four out of five Australians also believe the government should sanction Chinese officials associated with human rights abuses.
However, when it comes to the way coronavirus has been handled, Australians rank China (31 per cent) above the US, at just 10 per cent.
That contrasts with the 93 per cent who back the way the Morrison government has tackled the pandemic.
Over three-quarters of respondents say the relationship with the US is important to Australia's security, although less than a third have confidence in US President Donald Trump (pictured) to do the right thing in world affairs
Over three-quarters of respondents say the relationship with the US is important to Australia's security, although less than a third have confidence in US President Donald Trump to do the right thing in world affairs.
Trust in neighbours like India and Indonesia were hardly overwhelming at 45 per cent and 36 per cent respectively.
Economic optimism is at a historic low in the Lowy poll, with almost three-quarters of people saying a severe downturn in the global economy poses a critical threat, while only 52 per cent now feel optimistic about Australia's outlook compared with 65 per cent 12 months ago.
Just under three-quarters of respondents say drought and water shortages and the COVID-19 pose threats to Australia's vital interests, and were the top-ranked threats for 2020.
Only 50 per cent of Australians feel safe - a record low.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 04:25:23|Editor: huaxia
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RAMALLAH, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki announced that the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted on Monday three resolutions in favor of Palestine.
A resolution against the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories won the support of 26 member states of the UN council, while two voted against and nine abstained, al-Maliki said in a press statement.
The resolution about the Palestinian people's right in self-determination was backed by 43 member states, with two voting against it and two abstentions, according to the statement.
A third resolution in favor of the status of the human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem was passed with 42 yes votes against two no votes. Enditem
Imogen Thomas called in some professional help on Monday as she made over her Victorian home in London.
The Big Brother star hired England star Frank Lampard's ex fiancee Elen Rivas to help her reorganise, sharing the results on Instagram.
Elen, who shares two daughters with ex Frank, describes herself as a 'Professional Lifestyle Organiser, Home Stager and Interior Stylist.'
Pro: Imogen Thomas called in some professional help on Monday as she made over her Victorian home in London, hiring Frank Lampard's ex fiancee Elen Rivas to help her reorganise
Imogen shared a video on her Instagram Stories on Monday of her cluttered living room, revealing that she had hired Elen to help out.
As Imogen joked that it was going to be 'a long day,' Elen was seen in the background of the video casting her professional eye over the job.
A few hours later and the transformation was complete, as Elen had tidied away the clutter, toys and boxes and transformed the space into a chic living room.
Designer touches including a Hermes throw and a Louis Vuitton coffee table book were dotted around the cosy room, while a luxury corner sofa was cleared of boxes to take pride of place.
Interiors expert: Elen, who shares two daughters with ex Frank, describes herself as a 'Professional Lifestyle Organiser, Home Stager and Interior Stylist'
Help! Imogen shared a video on her Instagram Stories on Monday of her cluttered living room, revealing that she had hired Elen to help out
Imogen was delighted with the results, sharing before and after photos on her home interiors account @our_victorian.
'Transformation Monday I needed serious help with this part of the living room for @our_victorian house. So I got @elen.rivas.la.organiser in to transform. Im still waiting for my ceiling lights to arrive,' she wrote.
Earlier this year Imogen revealed on her interiors account that she was planning a renovation of her stunning London house, writing:
Before: Imogen was delighted with the results, sharing before and after photos on her home interiors account @our_victorian
After: A few hours later and the transformation was complete, as Elen had tidied away the clutter, kids toys and boxes and transformed the space into a chic living room
'We moved into beautiful home 4 years ago. Renovated took lots of pics. But since lockdown Im now in the process of renovating again. Doing a lot of it myself. With the motive of out with the old and in with the new.'
Imogen moved into the house with her former boyfriend of seven years Adam Horsely, but the pair split in 2018. They share two daughters Ariana, seven and Siera, four.
Imogen found fame as a Big Brother housemate in 2006, after previously winning the title of Miss Wales in 2003.
Gorgeous: Designer touches including a Hermes throw and a Louis Vuitton coffee table book were dotted around the cosy room
New look: Elen proudly shared photos on her Instagram of her day at work
As E4 screens the Best Every Episodes' of the popular reality show this month, Imogen recently took to Instagram to reminisce about her time on the show, writing:
'Big brother 7: 14 years ago. I will never forget the phonecall I had from producer Phil Edgar Jones offering me to be a housemate.
'I was hiding in between curtains at work.
Home sweet home: Earlier this year Imogen revealed on her interiors account that she was planning a renovation of her stunning London house
Girls: Imogen moved into the house with her former boyfriend of seven years Adam Horsely, but the pair split in 2018. They share two daughters Ariana, seven and Siera, four
'I screamed YES! 2 days later off I went into hiding to France and Belgium. 2 weeks later the day finally arrived for me to walk into the famous house. My god was I nervous.
'I felt sick to the pit of my stomach. But I did it and there my life changed for the better! Thank you to big brother for this opportunity.
'You turned my life around. The best show on tv, Which started off to be an innocent, social experiment. It gave me opportunities beyond belief.
'You made my future very comfortable for myself and my children. I will be forever grateful So happy 20 year anniversary I will be watching tonight and for the next 20 episodes.'
College students at Capital Region institutions will begin classes in late August and stay home after Thanksgiving break the start of flu season to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak on campus, according to preliminary reopening plans released this week.
Siena College students begin and conclude the fall semester 15 days early, according to a plan approved this week by Siena's Board of Trustees.
Citing health professionals who are predicting a possible COVID-19 resurgence in the winter months, officials at the private Loudonville college said that beginning classes well before Labor Day and ending exams before Thanksgiving will mitigate the threat of the virus spreading on campus.
This course of action provides students the best chance at completing a full academic term of in-person instruction," Siena's President-Elect Chris Gibson said.
At the University at Albany, which serves nearly 20,000 students, a tentative plan has been submitted to the State University of New York for approval. According to the proposal, students would begin classes also on Aug. 24, and will meet until Thanksgiving. In-person instruction will end prior to Thanksgiving, and exams will be held remotely for all students after Thanksgiving. Classes will be in session on Labor Day, and there will be no fall break.
Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs will also begin classes early, with students residing on campus from Aug. 25 up until November 25. Exams will be conducted remotely following Thanksgiving recess.
"Skidmore is also currently exploring a range of options for residential life that can accommodate the best practices of social distancing, hygiene, cleaning protocols and safe communities," college spokeswoman Sara Miga said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week put out guidance for colleges and universities as they prepare to reopen in the fall.
The schools are included in phase four of New York's reopening plan. Administrators are required to submit proposals to the state that include details about reopening, monitoring students for symptoms, containing positive cases, and shutting down if an outbreak occurs on campus.
New York colleges and universities have been closed since mid-March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
University at Albany, Albany Law School, Troy's Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Skidmore College had already announced "hybrid" models that provide in-person, remote, and blended learning options to students in the fall.
Nominate your favorite people and places now Its the 25th anniversary of our Best of the Capital Region readers survey. Nominate your favorite people, places and businesses between Jan. 21 and Feb. 4.
Schools are also taking precautions for faculty members with medical vulnerabilities, including, in some cases, allowing them to teach coursework remotely. More students will be required to live off-campus to reduce dorm density.
Students can also expect physical changes to their campuses, including wall-mounted hand sanitizers. Six feet of distance is required in most common areas and when that may not be possible, masks must be worn.
Classrooms are being outfitted with cameras so that dual delivery of the academic program is possible if necessary. Some colleges are hiring contact tracers to help contain a potential outbreak.
Students, family, and friends of students entering the campus are being asked to undergo medical screenings, including coronavirus tests. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, faculty, staff, and students will be asked to self-administer nasal coronavirus tests to reduce PPE costs.
Representatives from Albany Law School, the College of Saint Rose, Russell Sage College, and The Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences said that reopening plans will be made available to the public in the coming days.
The well-known hacktivist group Anonymous has been credited with obtaining a huge trove of police data from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies across the U.S.The data was released on June 19, the Juneteenth holiday, by an activist group called Distributed Denial of Secrets, which focuses on information leaks. reports that DDOSecrets founder Emma Best said that the files were retrieved by Anonymous, which also claimed responsibility for recent cyberattacks against law enforcement agencies in Minneapolis and Atlanta The data consists of more than a million files containing law enforcement audio, emails, video and intelligence documents, and can be found on DDoSecrets website. As people have begun combing through the data, theyve been using the hashtag #blueleaks to share their findings on social media.[This is] the largest published hack of American law enforcement agencies, Best told. It provides the closest inside look at the state, local, and federal agencies tasked with protecting the public, including [the] government response to COVID and the BLM protests.
The European Union is preparing to ban American travelers from entering the bloc when it reopens its borders to the outside world starting July 1, labeling the U.S. along with Russia and Brazil for their failure to stop the spread of the coronavirus, according to the New York Times.
Why it matters: It's an international rebuke of the Trump administration's handling of the pandemic. Millions of American tourists travel to the EU every summer, but that's unlikely to happen until the U.S. gets the virus under control.
Travelers around the world have been banned from traveling to the EU since mid-March, but countries have been starting to lift travel restrictions to fellow member states within the bloc over the past few weeks.
The final decision on which countries will be excluded from the EU's list of admissible travelers is expected early next week, before the bloc reopens on July 1.
What's new: The full list of countries designated as safe for tourism was finalized on Friday, per the Times, and includes Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, New Zealand, Rwanda and the Vatican, per the Times.
Between the lines: Member states are considering two potential lists of acceptable travelers, depending on how their countries are faring during the pandemic, according to the Times.
Both lists reportedly include China, as well as developing nations like Uganda, Cuba and Vietnam.
The big picture: Trump infuriated European leaders when he suddenly announced a ban on most EU citizens traveling to the U.S. in mid-March, when Italy, Spain and others were struggling to handle their outbreaks.
Today, Europe has mostly curbed the spread of the virus and emerged from lockdown, while new cases in the U.S. are continuing to grow.
The U.S. has so far reported more than 2.3 million cases and seen more than 120,000 deaths from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Screenshot: NBC's "Meet the Press"
Go deeper: U.S. coronavirus cases are increasing, but deaths aren't yet
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the full list of countries designated as safe for tourism.
Police officers in Siaya County launched a manhunt for a teacher who allegedly defiled a Class Four pupil.
According to reports, the Nyanja Rateng Primary School teacher fled after he was caught in the act by the pupils aunt.
Confirming the incident, Siaya County Police Commander Francis Kooli on Monday said he will not stop until the teacher is arrested.
K24 Digital reports that the teacher defiled the girl on diverse dates.
The police commander called on members of the public to provide information to the police on the whereabouts of the suspect.
Mr. Kooli also warned the community against the habit of settling sexual assault cases locally without the involvement of the authorities.
This week, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, the current United States Trade Representative, came before the Ways and Means Committee to discuss the Trump Administrations 2020 trade agenda. I used my time in the hearing to thank the administration for the critical agriculture trade wins such as reducing Japanese tariffs on beef, and urged him to continue prioritizing our farmers and ranchers in future agreements. I was pleased he hear the administration will not compromise on getting fair access for our producers.
The United States-China Phase One trade agreement was a landmark deal for U.S. agriculture, committing China to buying significant amounts of our products and lowering longstanding trade barriers. While some commodities have fared well, others such as ethanol are not yet being purchased at agreed-upon levels. Since the pandemic, China has yet to make any real purchases of our ethanol or distillers grains, nor have they eliminated the tariffs imposed on them. We must hold China accountable, and make sure they are holding their end of the bargain across the board.
Protesters confront police near a barricade they erected and marked with the sign "Black House Autonomous Zone" in front of Lafayette Park near the White House in Washington on June 22, 2020. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump: No Autonomous Zone in DC While Im President
An autonomous zone wont be allowed in the nations capital, President Donald Trump said Tuesday.
There will never be an Autonomous Zone in Washington, D.C., as long as Im your President, the Republican said in a social media statement.
If they try they will be met with serious force! he added.
Protesters tried using fencing and other barriers to create a cordoned off area they described as the Black House Autonomous Zone late Monday.
The zone was located in Lafayette Park, near the White House.
As demonstrators tried sealing off the area, others used chains and ropes to attempt to tear down a statue of former President Andrew Jackson.
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)
Police officers dispersed both groups, saving the statue from being toppled and dismantling the so-called autonomous zone.
Two people were arrested by U.S. Park Police during the attempt to topple the Jackson statue, Alexandra Picavet, a National Park spokeswoman, told The Epoch Times. Officials were still gathering information about the charges planned or pressed against the people.
An autonomous zone was established in Seattle earlier this month. City and state leaders allowed occupiers, including far-left activists, to occupy city streets, eject some who tried to enter, and enforce rules with a private security force including personnel from the John Brown Gun Club.
Two shootings took place over the weekend, leaving one dead and several wounded.
Mayor Jenny Durkan, a Democrat who previously said the zone was full of peaceful protesters, announced late Monday the police would return to a precinct inside the zone that was abandoned and city streets would open back up.
While we believe community and demonstrators can and should continue gathering peacefully on Capitol Hill, the disorder, violence and impacts on businesses and residents threatens to derail the CHOPs critical message calling for justice, equality, and systemic reform, she said in a statement.
President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., June 20, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters)
Trump repeatedly threatened to send federal troops in to enforce laws in Seattle, but Durkan and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, said they didnt want the assistance.
The Republican president, who is running for reelection, said hes authorized the federal government to arrest any person who vandalizes or destroys any monument or other federal property.
People convicted of vandalizing or destroying monuments face up to 10 years in prison, the president said.
Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt said the group behind the attempting toppling of the Jackson statue were anarchists and criminals.
I just left Lafayette Square where another so called peaceful protest led to destruction tonight, he said in a statement.
Let me be clear: we will not bow to anarchists. Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), on Tuesday, said a 17-year-old girl, identified as Ayisat, drowned in a flood after Mondays downpour at Alapafuja Close, Surulere
Nosa Okunbor, the spokesperson of the agency, said a search and rescue operation for the teenager is ongoing and her body is yet to be found.
Upon arrival at the scene of incident, it was discovered that the canal along Alapafuja close linking Bank Olemoh was submerged as a result of flooding and a teenage girl named Ayisat was swept away by the flood around 12:30p.m (Monday).
The search and rescue operation by the agency which commenced immediately the distress alert was received, has led to the ongoing thorough search of all major and minor categories of drains and drainage canals in and around Alapafuja axis of the Surulere Low-Cost Housing Estate in Surulere Local Government Area, Lagos, Mr Okunbor said.
He said the outcome of the operation will determine the extent to which the radius of the search and rescue operation will be extended beyond the immediate locality of Surulere, as past experience has shown that strong floods can transfer victims far from incident scenes.
Mr Okunbor said the body of the missing teenager could not been found even when the LASEMA Response Team searched through the adjoining canals. He said the operation will be suspended till morning.
READ ALSO:
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how a four-year-old Azeezat was also swept away by flood on Thursday at Orile-Agege area of the metropolis. Her body has not been found till date.
LASEMA enjoined all parents and guardians to ensure adequate safety of their children, wards and young adults by insisting, and restraining them indoors during rainfalls and away from after rain floodings which have been known to sweep away articulated vehicles and even demolish buildings where the flood strength and speeds are strong enough.
A large part of Lagos has been flooded in recent days amidst heavy rainfall and poor drainage channels. Officials have also accused residents of indiscriminately dumping refuse to block the existing drainage channels.
A transgender man has announced he is pregnant with his second child six years after he was branded a monster when he had his first baby.
Kayden Coleman, who began transitioning from female to male in 2009, said he found out in January he was seven weeks pregnant with current boyfriend, Dominique, 29.
The 33-year-old from New York, US, first hit the headlines after he fell pregnant with his first child Azaelia when he was forced to stop taking testosterone for his top surgery in March 2013.
The dad-of-one was shocked to discover he was five months pregnant with his daughter who is now six.
The expecting parents say they cant wait to meet baby number two, despite previously facing backlash online from trolls who described Kayden as a monster and called for his child to be taken into care.
The LGBT care worker said: When Azaelia was born there were a lot of people who said they felt sorry for her and that she would grow up and be confused.
They said that she should be taken away and called me a monster.
But its important for people to understand that we have full autonomy over our bodies and we should do with it as we please.
I cant wait to meet my second baby and Azaelia is so excited about having a little brother or sister.
Gushing about his second pregnancy, Kayden said: I do enjoy parts of being pregnant like the fact it makes my beard thicker.
But I dont get the same pregnancy privileges because it is not obvious that Im carrying a child, people just assume its a beer belly, so people dont give up their seat for me or hold doors open.
At the age of 20, Kayden realised he wanted to be a man and three years later started medically transitioning by taking testosterone.
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A visitor watches the northern side from the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, Thursday, June 18, 2020. AP
North Korea has completed setting up around 20 propaganda loudspeakers in regions along the inter-Korean border, about half of which had been removed under a 2018 summit agreement with South Korea, a military source said Tuesday.
The North was first seen reinstalling the loudspeakers inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas on Sunday in the latest in a series of actions ramping up tensions on the Korean Peninsula in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by defectors and other activists here.
The North could install more, as it had previously operated around 40 loudspeakers.
Pyongyang is expected to resume broadcasting through the loudspeakers, along with the sending of anti-Seoul leaflets, after winning approval from the ruling Workers' Party's central military commission.
Announcing its plan to take a series of retaliatory actions against the South on Wednesday, the North's military said it will present its action plans to the commission "for ratification at an earliest date."
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Corporate Americas visa anger
President Trump moved again yesterday to restrict immigration, this time targeting work-based visas. The business world particularly Silicon Valley is angry.
Mr. Trump suspended H-1Bs and other work visas through at least the end of the year, denying employment permits for hundreds of thousands of skilled foreign workers like programmers. Seasonal hospitality workers and work-study students are also affected.
The restrictions also block multinationals from transferring foreign workers to the U.S. for extended stints, and also apply to the spouses of foreigners working for U.S. companies.
Trump administration officials say the move, combined with extended restrictions on new green cards, could bar a half-million foreign workers from the U.S. in the rest of this year.
A day after a Bailey bridge near the Indo-China border in Munsiyari area in Uttarakhands Pithoragarh district collapsed when a flatbed truck with an excavator on it was trying to cross despite warnings not to do so, police on Tuesday booked the driver for negligence and damaging the bridge.
On Monday, the bridge collapsed into a rivulet when the truck tried to cross it despite several warnings. The collapse of the bridge which was also used by the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and army personnel to reach their posts near Chinese border has cut off a population of about 7,000 people living in villages across it.
Mohammed Asif Khan, station house officer, Munsiyari police station said, We have booked the driver of the trailer truck identified as one Godhan, a resident of Almora for negligent driving and causing damage to public property under relevant sections of the IPC on Tuesday.
We took the action after receiving a complaint from assistant engineer Jaiveer Singh of the department concerned in which he accused him of crossing the bridge despite several warnings by construction workers there, said Khan.
The police officer said that the accused has not been arrested yet as he is still undergoing treatment in the hospital after getting severely injured in the accident. The excavators operator was also seriously injured.
We are also yet to record his statement. Once his condition improves, we will do that also. As of now, a population of about 7,000 living in various villages across the bridge has been cut off due to the collapse of the lone bridge in the area connecting them to the main town of Pithoragarh, said Khan.
The police officer who had gone to visit the spot to check the repair work said, The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have already started the repair work on war-footing and will soon repair it in the next 5-6 days.
The crucial bridge is about 65 km short of the Indo-China border. The trailer was carrying the excavator to Lilam Valley near the border and was to be used in a road project of the BRO.
At the time of the incident, construction work was going on for another bridge near the collapsed one which was not in good condition. When the trailer came there, the workers warned the driver not to cross it because the bridge was able to bear a load of only a four-wheeler at a given time. But the driver did not pay any heed and tried to cross it leading to the bridges collapse.
AMSTERDAM, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, today released the 2019 CiteScore values, its latest assessment of thousands of peer-reviewed research journals, book series, conference proceedings and trade publications covered in Scopus . In addition, an improved calculation methodology has been introduced to provide a more robust, fair and faster indicator of research impact.
This year more than 25,000 source titles covering 330 disciplines were ranked across eight indicators, which are all part of CiteScore metrics. These include: CiteScore, CiteScore Tracker, CiteScore Percentile, CiteScore Quartiles, CiteScore Rank, Citation Count, Document Count, and Percentage Cited. Calculating values for all titles included in Scopus, CiteScore covers nearly 13,000 more titles than the Impact Factor. Access to CiteScore metrics' underlying data is free for everyone, including non-Scopus subscribers, so values can be recalculated offering transparency to researchers, publishers and the wider academic community.
A new methodology has been used to calculate 2019 CiteScore values, four clear changes have been made:
Only peer-reviewed publication types (articles, reviews, conference papers, book chapters and data papers) will be included in both the citation numerator and publication denominator, making the comparison between journals more robust. Previously, all publications were included in the calculations (non-peer reviewed article types like editorials, news items, letters, notes).
Citations will now be counted cumulatively, from the year of publication until the end of the calculation window, which is up to four years. This means that all citations received by publications in this period are counted towards CiteScore values, allowing a more robust assessment. In the past, citations were counted for the previous year only.
Publications in the four years up to and including the calculation year will now be included. This means that CiteScore can be calculated for journals with just a single year of publication, giving new journals - including many Open Access (OA) and China -focused journals - a first indication of their citation impact one year earlier.
-focused journals - a first indication of their citation impact one year earlier. CiteScore values will be displayed to one decimal place in order to avoid an impression of precision, in line with industry best-practice. Previously, CiteScore values were displayed to two decimal places.
"Since we launched CiteScore in 2016, we have been in close contact with the research community, listening to feedback from researchers, research leaders, librarians, and journal editors," said Andrew Plume, Director of Market Intelligence, Elsevier. "We have acted on their collective feedback, introducing this new calculation to allow for a faster and more robust comparison of journals, while retaining the comprehensive, current and clear methodology that is appreciated so much."
With CiteScore Tracker journal performance can be monitored throughout the year, alongside the release of the annual score. For a complete overview of 2019 CiteScore values - and all other research metrics available in Scopus - go to: www.scopus.com/sources
CiteScore metrics are part of a collection of research metrics available on or through Scopus. Other metrics include journal, author, institutional, and article-level metrics captured in PlumX Metrics (covering Usage, Captures, Mentions, Social Media and Citations), supporting a holistic view of research performance.
CiteScore metrics, including access to the underlying data, are free to access without a Scopus subscription in the following ways:
Scopus : Search and filter features let you explore the full range of CiteScore metrics for a group of journals (such as OA journals), a subject category or a publisher view. You can also access individual source profile pages and download the complete set of CiteScore metrics as a Microsoft Excel file.
: Search and filter features let you explore the full range of CiteScore metrics for a group of journals (such as OA journals), a subject category or a publisher view. You can also access individual and download the complete set of CiteScore metrics as a Microsoft Excel file. Journal Insight pages on Elsevier.com : Access CiteScore metrics and other journal metrics in categories Impact, Speed and Reach for more than 2,500 journals published by Elsevier.
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a global information analytics business that helps scientists and clinicians to find new answers, reshape human knowledge, and tackle the most urgent human crises. For 140 years, we have partnered with the research world to curate and verify scientific knowledge. Today, we're committed to bringing that rigor to a new generation of platforms. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, 39,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com
Media contact
David Tucker
Elsevier Communications
Europe
+44-7920-536-160
d.tucker@elsevier.com
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From Country Living
From Australia to the far-flung shores of Madagascar, there are plenty of dog breeds with exotic origins that you might not be aware of. Although for many, the clue is in the name.
"Whilst our own travel plans for 2020 are mostly on hold for the time being, we're looking to some of our four-legged friends to provide some inspiration and wanderlust, with some of our favourite breeds, as well as some lesser-known ones, having originated from far-flung destinations," the team at the Kennel Club tells Country Living.
"Below are a few of the most exotic dog breeds. Whilst each breed has certain characteristics, individual dogs have their own unique and varying traits and there are many other factors which can shape a dog's character and temperament."
Take a look at the pups below...
1. Afghan Hound
Photo credit: - Getty Images
Originates from: Afghanistan
"Recognisable by their glamorous coat and long limbs, as the name implies, these dogs originate from Afghanistan. They can differ in size depending on the different terrain they were originally bred for: the desert plains or the mountainous regions, with the longer coat providing protection against the cold environment in these latter regions of the country
"This elegant, 'supermodel of the dog world' is dignified and reserved, and is most suited to a large house in the country, with grooming unsurprisingly required every day."
2. Basenji
Photo credit: Photographs by Maria itina - Getty Images
Originates from: African Congo
"The gazelle-like Basenji has a very unique yodel, which replaces the usual bark found in all other breeds. The first Basenjis arrived in England in 1936 from the African Congo, where they had been used as an all-purpose hunter, working by sight and scent.
"However, the history of the breed dates all the way back to the time of the Pharaohs, with paintings in their tombs bearing a similar resemblance to the breed we know today, who is intelligent, independent, affectionate and exceptionally clean. The Basenji would be just at home in the town or the country."
Story continues
3. Australian Terrier
Photo credit: Bigandt_Photography - Getty Images
Originates from: Australia
"The breed is thought to have arrived in Australia in the 19th century, and was used by British settlers to keep down rodents and other vermin. They have a typical, harsh terrier body coat which comes in blue-and-tan, or solid red or sandy. Among the most famous people to have owned the breed have been the Queen's uncle, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, and his wife the duchess.
"They are a typical terrier breed; alert, extroverted and anxious to please. A friendly dog, the Australian Terrier is just as suited to being a companion dog and will live happily in the town or country."
4. Havanese
Photo credit: @Hans Surfer - Getty Images
Originates from: USA
"The Havanese is the national dog of Cuba and became more widely known when the silky-coated breed was taken to the USA. They are a friendly and outgoing breed, belonging to the toy group, with a curled-over tail and a gorgeous silky coat."
5. Coton de Tulear
Photo credit: mitja2 - Getty Images
Originates from: Madagascar
"This majestic yet small toy breed is, in fact, the 'Royal dog of Madagascar', having been seen on the island of Tula for several centuries, although was only officially recognised in 1990. The 'Coton' refers to the texture of the breed's hallmark coat which is predominantly white but can also have a few slight shadings of light grey or fawn/apricot on the ears.
"The Coton de Tulear is lively and loyal, but also adaptable and agile, suited to both town and country life."
6. Sloughi
Photo credit: Peter Virag - Getty Images
Originates from: North Africa
"The Sloughi is a sighthound originating from North Africa. The breed is of lean build, having adapted to hot, desert conditions. Coat colours include shades of light sand to mahogany red-fawn, with optional brindling and black markings. The Sloughi's big, dark eyes are often described as 'melancholy'. They are a quiet but noble breed, and are loyal and affectionate with their family."
7. Samoyed
Photo credit: zhao hui - Getty Images
Originates from: North Eastern Siberia
"Originating from the Arctic regions of North Eastern Siberia, the 'smiley' Samoyed historically helped the nomadic tribes of the Samoyede and the Nentsy. They are traditionally versatile, having previously worked to herd and guard reindeer, pulling loads and even hunting. The breeds white double coat provided insulation against the cold climate, and their flat feet helped to prevent the build-up of snowballs on the feet.
"The breed is a member of the Spitz family of dogs and known for being very affectionate and active."
8. Tibetan Terrier
Photo credit: Image by Dr. Ewan Photography. All Rights Reserved - Getty Images
Originates from: Tibet
"Whilst not a Terrier breed, the Tibetan Terrier, part of the Utility Group, has been previously used as a herding dog for sheep. A breed hallmark is the beautiful and profuse double coat woolly underneath, with a long, fine topcoat.
"The breed first came out of Tibet, and came to England in the 1930s with an English surgeon, Dr Greig, who had been working at a hospital on the Indian/Tibetan border. The Tibetan Terrier is a loyal, lively and good-natured companion dog."
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The threat of antifa and a claim of $12 million in damage to an Alabama Power office building during a Birmingham protest were among the reasons Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray gave to justify the use of force, including tear gassing protesters, at demonstrations on June 1 and 3.
Yet the chief offered few, if any, specifics to support the idea that antifa sympathizers orchestrated or played a major role in protests that occurred in downtown Huntsville after officially sanctioned rallies concluded.
McMurray gave his behind-the-scenes accounting of Huntsville polices clashes with protesters during a two-and-a-half hour multimedia presentation Thursday night to the Huntsville City Council.
Everything about antifa was here on the backside of the event, not the front side, McMurray told the city council in the public meeting, which was live-streamed on social media.
He showed social media photos of Huntsville residents he said were antifa sympathizers who associated with groups that organized demonstrations, but did not tie them to specific actions or posts.
McMurray spoke at length about a protest diagram he said came right off the antifa website but did not give the website or provide proof that the diagram was consulted or used by anyone in Huntsville.
Many of the rumors the police investigated such as hardware stores selling out of rocks and other items that could be used as weapons turned out not to be true, he said. And yet, he insisted, the threat was imminent enough that it warranted police action before any potential looting or violence by protesters.
Given the dynamics and information we had at the time, he said, I had every authority and right to disperse that crowd because of the criminal intent that was showing up, wanting to fight police officers.
Theres little evidence to back several of McMurrays claims, such as the $12 million in damage to one Birmingham office building; that a man he described as an antifa supporter was a social media influencer despite having only six Twitter followers; or that a Mobile protest had turned into a violent, violent event.
AL.com reached out to the Huntsville police department for a response but a spokesman said they would be unable to comment by time of publication.
Antifa sympathizers
McMurray showed photos of local individuals he called antifa sympathizers to make a point about antifas presence in the area, he said.
At one point during his slide presentation, he showed Facebook photos of a man later identified as Benjamin Shapiro, a 39-year-old Huntsville resident. McMurray called Shapiro a social media influencer who was associated with multiple groups organizing demonstrations and protests.
Shapiro later told AL.com those labels werent true and that he was at home with his family during the protests. He said at least one of the photos McMurray used in the presentation is from 2015. He also disputed the claim that he is a social media influencer. As of Thursday night, he had about 300 friends on Facebook and just six Twitter followers.
McMurray told AL.com that he included Shapiro in the presentation to educate the public about antifa and anarchists and said he didnt accuse (Shapiro) of anything.
At another point, McMurray showed a slide with two side-by-side photos.
One, he said, was taken in Los Angeles on May 30, and showed a known antifa person swinging a skateboard and wearing what appears to be a bag that could store a rifle. The other, taken in Huntsville, showed a man holding a skateboard at his side and wearing a backpack.
Here, said McMurray of the Huntsville man, is what we might call a sympathizer.
Little evidence
Antifa are not an organized movement with a hierarchy, national funding or even official symbols, said Dr. Mia Bloom, a professor at Georgia State University who studies terrorism and works with the universitys Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group, which has studied antifas presence online.
It isnt a group in the same way ISIS or al-Qaida is, she said. There isnt structure. Its more of a loose confederation of like-minded people, because antifa means anti-fascist and were all kind of against fascism.
There are some extremists who call themselves antifa, she said, but they are more common on the West Coast, in Northern California and Oregon.
There hasnt been much evidence that antifa extremists have shown up at protests tied to racial justice or the killing of George Floyd, said Dr. Seth Jones with the Center for Strategic & International Studies.
I have seen very little evidence of antifa engaged in violent activity in and around the protest movement, he said, adding that some white supremacist groups have impersonated antifa online.
The vast majority of the violence thats been committed in and around protests has been just thugs, unorganized.
Diagrams and maneuvers
During the presentation, McMurray showed a diagram that outlined various roles and tactics protesters could take, such as range soldiers who throw water bottles and trash to keep police from advancing, and fire squads that use traffic cones to extinguish tear gas cannisters.
McMurray said the diagram comes right off the antifa website but did not elaborate, other than saying he found it through a Google search.
He said Huntsville-area residents may have been unwittingly roped into helping antifa: They didnt mean to be part of antifa, they dont want to be part of antifa, they were simply bystanders, he said. And now theyre assaulting Huntsville police officers with frozen water bottles and some just full water bottles.
Huntsville police say identified elements of 10 of 13 antifa roles prior to June 3 protest. pic.twitter.com/V5Luw4jlfP Paul Gattis (@paul_gattis) June 18, 2020
McMurray used military words and phrases when describing the clash, repeatedly calling officers his troops during his presentation and suggesting protesters used a coordinated attempt to flank police:
Why did (protesters) come down to our troops and then assemble large crowds on both sides? he asked, while showing overhead footage of a line of police facing a crowd of protesters at a four-way intersection in downtown Huntsville on June 3.
Theyre going to let us march forward toward the confederate soldier (monument), and those two large groups (of protesters) on either side are going to come around to our rear and flank us.
Believe me, folks, theyre very organized.
Birmingham and Mobile
McMurray used protest incidents in Birmingham and Mobile to paint a picture of sustained lawlessness that played a role in his decision to authorize use of tear gas and other crowd control tactics on June 3.
McMurray claimed that on the first night of protests in Birmingham, May 31, looters caused $12 million worth of damages at the Alabama Power Company building.
Demonstrators broke windows and entered the building that night, but a representative from Alabama Power on Friday told AL.com that the company has not completed an estimate on damage to the building.
While its unfortunate, it pales in comparison to the hurt, pain and concern faced by so many in our community and across the nation. Buildings can be replaced, but lives cannot. We must come together business, communities and individuals alike to fight against injustice and encourage and promote unity, the company said in a statement.
Birmingham city spokesman Rick Journey told AL.com a citywide damage estimate was not immediately available.
McMurray also claimed that Birmingham police arrested 40 to 60 individuals a night until they got that city back under control.
However, Birmingham police announced last week the arrests of 10 people on charges related to looting on the night of May 31 into the hours of June 1, when buildings were damaged or destroyed, and about 70 people total were arrested June 1-7 on charges related to the protests.
McMurray said Mobiles peaceful protest on June 1 became a violent, violent eventIt took them a curfew and a lot of arrests over a period of many days to get that city back under control.
The city of Mobile never issued a curfew during that time, though the city council did release a statement asking citizens to stay home rather than causing unrest.
The most serious protest-related incidents took place over a two-day span. Mobile police clashed briefly with protesters on May 31, using two tear gas canisters to break up a group attempting to march onto Interstate 10. On June 1, one officer shot pepper balls at a crowd in a parking lot.
In all, Mobile police arrested 13 people from May 31-June 1 on charges including disorderly conduct, burglary, criminal mischief and arson.
Rumors and arrests
Rumors about antifa have hounded cities around the country in recent weeks, aided by social media and egged on by white supremacist groups posing antifa accounts, said Jones and Bloom.
We know there are far right groups that have portrayed themselves as antifa online, and social media companies have taken that down, said Jones, referring to recent action by Twitter and Facebook to remove posts that were discovered to be from white supremacist groups like Identity Evropa posting as antifa.
Those rumors have proved overwhelmingly unfounded, according to reviews of police and court records. The Associated Press found that more than 85% of people arrested by police nationwide during protests were local residents. McMurray acknowledged in his presentation that individuals arrested at protests in Huntsville were also local.
I think people have to be very careful, Jones said, about proactively using tactics when theyre not responding to actual actions.
The Huntsville City Council will consider proposals at its next meeting to call for further review of police response to protests.
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 24 (ANI): The Congress on Tuesday demanded Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to grant permission for a chartered flight to repatriate the state's workers stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy, said, "On June 6, the Indian Association Sharjah wrote to the Chief Minister of Telangana requesting for permission for a chartered flight to carry expatriate Telangana workers from the UAE to Hyderabad. Unfortunately, there has been no response from the Chief Minister. Yesterday, the task force for the COVID-19 under the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee wrote to the Chief Minister."
"The Kerala government has permitted in this regard and a lot of flights from Sharjah have been scheduled to that state. When Kerala can do this, we are requesting the Telangana Chief Minister to take up the issue with the Centre to make arrangements to bring back Telangana's migrant workers stranded in Gulf countries," he added.
Reddy alleged that the central government failed to help the migrant workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown.
"They were in distress as they were thrown out by their employers without paying the salaries for the last few months. Some NGOs are providing food and shelter to the distressed workers in different Gulf countries," he said.
"Besides, the Indian Association in Sharjah is providing food and shelter to a large number of Indian workers stranded in UAE. The Indian Consulate and other concerned officials are cooperating with them and they have already started operating chartered flights to Kerala. They have requested the Telangana Chief Minister to grant general permission to operate chartered flights to Hyderabad. We request the Telangana Chief Minister to kindly grant permission to Indian Association Sharjah at the earliest to enable them to send back Telangana's migrant workers stranded in the UAE," Reddy said.
Reacting on the issue, ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) spokesperson Krishank, said, "The Congress party should understand that Telangana government has brought many people from the Gulf countries stranded there to their native places in Telangana."
"Simultaneously, state minister KT Rama Rao has also been requesting the Centre to bring back the Telangana migrant workers who are stuck there," he added. (ANI)
The federal government's push to train more scientists and engineers will create a "perverse financial incentive" for some universities to instead enrol more high-fee paying humanities students to raise revenue, the UNSW vice-chancellor says.
New analysis shows the government's proposal will cost universities almost $300 million a year in core funding. The sector fears such an outcome may force it to increase already-high staff-student ratios or even cut departments to absorb the blow.
Professor Ian Jacobs, vice-chancellor at UNSW. Credit:Louie Douvis
Last week Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan announced student fees for subjects such as science, maths and engineering will be cut to attract applicants. At the same time it was increasing fees for the humanities, law and creative arts.
The federal government, however, also will decrease its own funding contribution for some of the STEM subjects, reducing total per-student funding by more than $3500.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on June 23, 2020
2020/06/23
Xinhua News Agency: On June 22, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a second China-sponsored resolution titled "promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights". Do you have a comment?
Zhao Lijian: On June 22, the UN Human Rights Council adopted for a second time a resolution put forward by China titled "promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights", after a similar resolution was adopted in 2018. The resolution calls upon countries to uphold multilateralism, foster a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. It also calls upon all countries to undertake genuine dialogue and cooperation in the field of human rights, share good practice and experience in promoting and protecting human rights, enhance human rights technical assistance and capacity-building to realize win-win cooperation.
It is Chinas hope that an atmosphere of win-win cooperation can be fostered at the UNHRC and that the common goal shared by all countries of promoting and protecting human rights will be achieved through constructive dialogue and cooperation. Many countries expressed the view that Chinas call for upholding multilateralism and win-win cooperation in human rights is of important significance. It speaks of the collective wish of developing countries and goes with the overriding trend of global human rights governance.
The surging global pandemic is a sober reminder that all mankind is a community with a shared future. We can only deal with global challenges by strengthening international cooperation. China stands ready to work with the international community to uphold multilateralism with concrete deeds to better promote and protect human rights and improve all peoples well-being.
The Global Times: The US and Russia held a new round of arms control dialogue on June 22 in Vienna. US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea posted a picture of Chinese flags at empty seats around the negotiating table on Twitter, saying that Vienna talks about to start. China is a no-show. Beijing still hiding behind #GreatWallofSecrecy on its crash nuclear build-up, and so many other things. Do you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: China has on many occasions stated its position on opposing trilateral negotiations of arms control, which I will not repeat here.
It is unserious, unprofessional and unappealing for the US to try getting peoples eyes in this way. We urge the US to stop playing such dull tricks, earnestly respond to Russias call of extending the New START, and have serious, sincere talks on this. I think this also serves the common aspiration of the international community.
By the way, the Chinese flags on the US negotiating table have apparently erroneous patterns. We hope certain people in the US can do their homework and improve their general knowledge to avoid becoming a laughing stock.
CNR: On June 15, a report titled The Origins of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, Including the Roles of the Chinese Communist Party and the World Health Organization was released by US House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul, who also leads the GOP China Task Force. It includes a timeline of key events concerning COVID-19 since the end of 2019, purportedly showing how the Chinese Communist Party covered up the epidemic and the role played by WHO in the process. The report called for an international investigation into Chinas initial cover-up and for Director-General Tedros resignation. Whats Chinas comment on this?
Zhao Lijian: This so-called report by a certain US Congressman spreads disinformation in an attempt to smear China and deflect the US governments responsibility for incompetent response.
It is nothing but another clumsy farce directed by anti-China forces in the US. The various rumors they spread have been laid bare by the white paper entitled "Fighting COVID-19: China in Action" and the "Reality Check of US Allegations Against China on COVID-19" released by the Chinese side.
I would like to take some time to review some important dates in the early stage of the outbreak.
On December 27, 2019, Hubei Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine reported cases of pneumonia of unknown cause to the Wuhan Jianghan Center for Disease Prevention and Control. On December 30, the Wuhan City Health Commission issued Urgent Notice on Treatment of Patients with Pneumonia of Unknown Cause. On December 31, the NHC made arrangements to send a working group and an expert team to Wuhan to guide its response to the situation. On January 1, 2020, the NHC set up a leading group on the disease response. On January 3, China started to send regular updates to WHO as well as other countries and regions, including the US. On January 7, China CDC and other research institutions isolated the novel coronavirus strain. On January 9, China informed WHO of pathological identification results. On January 12, China submitted to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus to share the information with the international community.
Hubei Province began releasing updates on its official website from December 31, 2019. Starting from January 21, 2020, the NHC releases information of the previous day on its website on a daily basis. From February 16 to 24, a WHO-China Joint Mission of experts started its field visit to Beijing, Sichuan, Guangdong and Wuhan, agreeing that the Chinese governments decisive, strong and timely measures prevented hundreds of thousands of people from getting infected.
I want to stress that the novel coronavirus is a new virus never seen before. It takes a process to identify and study it. This process is far from over now. This is the consensus of the international community. After reaching initial findings, we notified relevant sides at the earliest time possible, showing a strong sense of responsibility. Chinas response is an open book with plain facts and clear data. It can stand the test of time and history.
To conclude, we hope the certain US politician will respect science and basic facts, stop wantonly attacking and smearing China, and channel efforts towards improving prevention and control at home to safeguard Americans life and health and playing a constructive role in the concerted global response.
The Paper: According to reports, Indian army sources said on June 22 that an 11-hour long meeting at the level of corps commanders was held between India and China. The two sides exchanged views on the current situation in the border area. Can you confirm and offer more information?
Zhao Lijian: On June 22, Chinese and Indian border troops held a second round of commander-level talks in the border area. This is also the first such meeting after the Galwan Valley incident on June 15. The holding of the talks shows that both sides hope to properly handle differences and manage and ease the situation through dialogue and consultation. During the talks, the two sides, on the basis of the first commander-level talks, had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on outstanding issues in border management and control and agreed to take necessary measures to lower the temperature. Both agreed to keep up dialogue and work together for peace and tranquility on the ground along the border.
Reuters: The Indian Army said that both sides agreed to disengage the troops in the disputed areas. Can you confirm that?
Zhao Lijian: The relevant measures are coordinated and arranged by the border troops of the two countries on the ground. I have no further information to release.
BBC: Weve been hoping at some time to get the number of Chinese troops who might have been killed or injured in the incident. Do you have that information available yet?
Zhao Lijian: As I said yesterday, China and India are resolving the issue on the ground through military and diplomatic channels. As for Indian media reports that cite Indian officials as saying at least 40 Chinese soldiers were killed, I can tell you responsibly that this is false information.
Beijing Daily: On June 22, US Secretary of State Pompeo issued a statement that the US is extremely concerned by the Peoples Republic of Chinas (PRC) decision to proceed with formal charges against Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. These charges are politically motivated. The United States stands with Canada in calling on Beijing for the immediate release of the two men and rejects the use of these unjustified detentions to coerce Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau also deplored Chinas arbitrary detention of Canadian citizens, saying its a real shame that China continues to punish Canadians for a decision by our independent judicial system in Mengs case. I wonder if you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: I dont know how the US and Canada can be so blatant and presumptuous to talk about political motivation, unjustified detention and arbitrary detention. Those labels should be most suitably pinned on them.
Under the pretext of national security, the US has been abusing state power and doing everything it can to oppress Huawei. The Meng Wanzhou incident is a serious political incident, as proved by a Canadian Security Intelligence Service report recently disclosed by a Canadian court.
If judicial independence justifies the arbitrary detention of Meng Wanzhou by the US and Canada, why do the two countries intervene in the independent handling of cases by Chinese judicial organs? Our perception on American and Canadian politicians hits a new low due to such brazen practice of double standards.
Shenzhen TV: On June 17, The American Prospect published a long report on Taiwan funding of think tanks. It disclosed that the five think tanksthe Hudson Institute, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Brookings Institution, the Center for American Progress and the Center for a New American Security received funding from the Taiwan authorities and produced policy papers pushing for expanded arms sales and trade agreements with Taiwan. Do you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: I noted relevant reports and you need to ask those US think tanks.
I want to stress that the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations and the universal consensus of the international community. China firmly opposes US military ties with and arms sales to Taiwan, and the signing of any trade agreement of sovereign implication between the US and Taiwanese businesses. The US should abide by the one-China principle and three China-US joint communiques and prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues to avoid harming China-US relations and cross-straits peace and stability. The relevant US think tanks should conduct their studies in a fair and objective manner and make more reasonable voices.
China Daily: On June 23, Kiribatis presidential run-off results show incumbent President Taneti Maamau winning another term. Does China have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: China extends congratulations on the smooth presidential election in Kiribati and to President Maamau on his re-election. We believe that under President Maamaus leadership, the government and people of Kiribati will achieve new progress in national development.
Since diplomatic ties were resumed in September 2019, China and Kiribati have maintained a strong momentum of growth in bilateral relations, realizing fruitful cooperation in various areas and bringing tangible benefits for the two peoples. This serves to show that the one-China principle is the overriding trend with popular support.
China attaches high importance to growing relations with Kiribati. We stand ready to work with Kiribatis government in its new term to deepen exchange and cooperation, enhance people-to-people friendship, elevate this relationship to new heights and bring more benefits to the two peoples.
Bloomberg News: I have two questions. The first is about the interview White House trade adviser Navarro gave to FOX NEWS today, which was interpreted as the trade deal with China is over. But President Trump tweeted that it is fully intact. Can you clarify the status of the Phase One trade deal? Is it still in effect? Are Phase Two talks still going to proceed as planned? Is China delivering on the promises it made in the trade deal? My second question is about the three-way talks between China, India and Russia. Will that take place? Who will represent China? What outcomes does China hope to get from these talks?
Zhao Lijian: The remarks by the US politician you mentioned are just groundless and absurd. Hes always full of lies and has zero credibility.
On your question about the China-US trade deal, Chinas position is consistent and clear. I refer you to the competent department for the specifics you are interested in.
As to the China-Russia-India video conference, we will release further information once we have it.
BBC: Navarro also talked about the meeting when the US found out about the coronavirus during the trade talks, by which time he said they had already sent hundreds of thousands of people to this country to spread this virus. Obviously he is implying that this is a deliberate action by China to spread the virus to the US. Do you have a comment on that?
Zhao Lijian: The remarks by the US politician you mentioned are just groundless and absurd. The answer, I believe, is self-evident. Lets not waste our time on this.
AFP: Some reports say that the China-India-Russia foreign ministers video conference is expected to bring down the temperature along the border between China and India. Is the border issue on the agenda?
Zhao Lijian: As I just said, if there is anything new, we will keep you posted. Please stay tuned for further updates.
China News Service: The spokesperson of the US Department of State announced on June 22 that China Central Television, China News Service, the Peoples Daily, and the Global Times are designated in the US as foreign missions. Do you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: This is the second time that the US listed Chinese media outlets as foreign missions and another proof of blatant political oppression by the US on Chinese media. It will more seriously disrupt normal operations of Chinese media in the US and further expose the hypocrisy of so-called freedom of the press and speech in the US.
We strongly urge the US to reject the Cold-War mindset and ideological bias, and to immediately stop and redress such wrongdoing that hurts others and itself. Otherwise, China will be compelled to make necessary response.
BBC: Does the US designation affect the visa application of Chinese journalists? Like the number of times they can come in and out of the country? Who they can meet?
Zhao Lijian: This will have serious impact on the normal reporting activities of the Chinese media in the US. If you take a look at the matter, you will find their designation as a "foreign mission" is not symbolic, but heralds a series of measures: filling out forms, registration, declaring property, reporting all sorts of information. You can go to the relevant US website to learn more about it. This is not the first time for the US designation of Chinese media outlets.
A sign welcomes visitors on East Pine Street during ongoing Black Lives Matter events at the so-called Capitol Hill Organized Protest in Seattle on June 14, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images)
Investment Firm CEO Says Company Is Leaving Seattle Following Unrest
The CEO of a billion-dollar investment firm said his company is moving away from Seattle following weeks of unrest and the establishment of downtowns so-called Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or CHOP.
The unrest that has taken place in the city of Seattle there is really is not a downtown business community today, Smead Capital Management President Cole Smead told KTAR on June 22. The firm announced its decision to move its office to Phoenixs Camelback Corridor last week.
My biggest concern for Seattle was what the business community is going to come back to, and what kind of businesses are going to come back for customers, he said.
On June 22, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that authorities were working to disband CHOP, an autonomous zone formerly known as CHAZ, after a shooting left one person dead over the weekend. Another, nonlethal shooting was reported during the night, as Seattle police officers said protesters tried to block their entry.
Smead said that Phoenix will offer his employees a better quality of living and quality of life.
Were hearing rumors of 40-story buildings that will be only 20-percent occupied by October, he told the local station. My colleagues can pick the socio-economic rung of life that they want live their lives, build their households, and have a family if theyd like, Smead said. Where were coming from just wasnt like that.
A Black Lives Matter mural is painted on the street in an area in the so-called autonomous zone, in Seattle on June 11, 2020. (Jasmyne Keimig The Stranger/Reuters)
Durkan told a news conference on June 22 that the Seattle Police Department needs to return to its East Precinct building, which was abandoned, to respond to calls from the community.
We have to make sure that any resident, any business, or any visitor that calls for help gets the help they need, Durkan said in the conference.
A man sits in an area inside the so-called autonomous zone in Seattle on June 15, 2020. (David Ryder/Getty Images)
Police Chief Carmen Best also said her officers need to return to the area. The precinct building was abandoned and boarded up earlier this month following sometimes violent protests in the wake of George Floyds death in Minneapolis.
On June 22, some CHOP members said they would like to implement a curfew and other measures in an attempt to reduce the violence and destructive behavior at night.
We would like to acknowledge that no organizations, protests, or revolutions are perfect, the group wrote. We must all be willing to collectively learn and react quickly to mistakes made within our movement. We do not want to see what was started with the intention of lifting the BLM message destroyed before us all.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti stands with demonstrators during a peaceful protest this month outside City Hall. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
The police union has called him unstable . Activists accuse him of supporting racist institutions. Even longtime allies said his decisions during the recent protests over police brutality hurt Los Angeles' communities of color.
Mayor Eric Garcetti's handling of the demonstrations and his subsequent actions drew criticism from an array of groups, wide pushback unseen during his seven years leading the city.
Garcetti, known for avoiding political risk, has appeared at times whipsawed by the protests and their aftermath.
When youre being fired on politically from all sides, not sure exactly how to move because you know you cant make everybody happy? said Isaac Bryan, director of the Black Policy Project at UCLA. I can imagine thats a frustrating place for him.
As police and demonstrators clashed in the Fairfax district last month, Garcetti said he didnt plan to request the National Guard. Hours later, he did. Angering the police union, he unveiled plans to cut the Police Department, after defending its size days earlier.
His initial comments about police officers showing restraint at the demonstrations incensed protesters who'd seen police using batons and foam projectiles.
And as National Guard Humvees rumbled into downtown L.A., business leaders were grateful, but questioned why police were not better able to stop the burglaries earlier.
Garcetti, in an interview, said he was focused on Angelenos safety.
My first responsibility is to protect lives before everything else," Garcetti said. "Which is why the Black Lives Matter moment is so important to me, but also why it's important for me to make sure that our peace officers and our National Guard are in places where lives are saved. And knock on wood, thank God, we didnt lose a life.
Of the criticism of him, he said, You have to listen to those words, not necessarily dismiss them just because you don't like how they're being delivered. It's tough as a human being, but it's necessary as a leader."
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Garcetti is far from the only politician to find himself struggling to navigate the rapidly changing political waters sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was heckled when he spoke at a Brooklyn gathering to remember Floyd, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was booed at a rally after refusing to commit to get rid of that city's Police Department.
Criminal justice reform was already gaining traction before the massive protests. But until Floyd's death, Black Lives Matter in Los Angeles was far from a dominant political force, as activists protested outside Garcetti's house and at police commission meetings, and called for defunding the police and department reforms.
Now, those positions have entered the mainstream, forcing Garcetti and other political leaders to react.
Before the demonstrations, Garcetti had won praise for his calm leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mayor, who spent nearly two years floating himself as a possible presidential contender, also has been in the national spotlight as he vets running mates for presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Aides to Garcetti argue his actions helped control the city at a volatile moment and there was far less damage than during the 1992 riots, when more than 60 people died as violence ravaged the city.
The May 30 protest in Los Angeles' Fairfax district. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
Cynthia McClain-Hill, a former Garcetti appointee on the police commission and a current Department of Water and Power commissioner, said she understands the protesters anger, which she called righteous.
But I dont see it as something thats necessarily on Eric Garcetti, she said. The mayor is part of the structure of government and all of government bears some responsibility for institutional racism.
Others said Garcetti missed his moment to lead. Groups that included Community Coalition and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy told the mayor in a June 3 letter that he'd had an opportunity to allow communities to come together to grieve after Floyd's death amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, under your leadership, the city chose to further escalate tension and police violence, the letter said, adding that the curfews and police actions against protesters have deepened the hurt and mistrust within Black, Indigenous and people of color communities.
A Los Angeles police officer stands guard near ransacked businesses in the Melrose district on May 30. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
This is not the first time city leaders have been widely challenged to address policing.
Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, City Hall was criticized for failing to address widespread evidence of police brutality and racist behavior during the reign of Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates.
Gates brought paramilitary-style policing to minority neighborhoods and was derided over his 1982 suggestion that more Black people died in chokeholds because the "veins or arteries of blacks do not open up as fast as they do in normal people.
Gates and Mayor Tom Bradley clashed, but city leaders failed to oust the chief, even after the video of white officers beating Black motorist Rodney King made international headlines. Gates, whose job was protected by civil service regulations, left only after the 1992 L.A. uprising, when his department faced criticism for its failure to respond.
Bradley also found himself on the defensive after the 1992 uprising. The mayor said hed been assured by top police officials that LAPD was prepared for any demonstrations, and said he was stunned by the extent of the rioting. It was only after Gates' departure that the city embarked on serious reforms at the LAPD.
Garcetti said in an interview that he got on the phone with various groups immediately after Floyd was killed in Minneapolis.
As protests broke out, the city mobilized, but Garcetti said he didn't anticipate the burglaries that occurred on the afternoon of May 30, the day he requested the National Guard. Dozens of businesses were burglarized and vandalized that day and night.
Police have said those crimes were not directly related to the organized protests, which were peaceful.
There were also several disturbing incidents caught on video of LAPD officers using batons and less-than-lethal weapons on protesters. As of last week, 10 Los Angeles police officers had been taken off the street and assigned to desk duties pending investigations. The department has also received about 40 complaints of officers using excessive force and Garcetti could face calls for police reforms in light of how protesters were treated.
Danny Bakewell, the executive publisher of the L.A. Sentinel and chairman of the civil rights group Brotherhood Crusade, witnessed the 1992 riots and watched as demonstrators again took to the streets in recent weeks.
Although Bakewell said he didn't support Garcetti's decision to ask for the National Guard, the mayor did what he thought he had to do to make sure that his city didnt get away from him," he said. He praised the mayor, saying Garcetti ultimately helped facilitate peaceful protests.
The looting stopped and the protests continued on. And the message was clear: We dont want heavy-handed police officers, Bakewell said.
"It blew up very, very fast, said UCLAs Bryan, who demonstrated at Fairfax Avenue and 3rd Street and is critical of the polices actions toward demonstrators that day. Bryan, who worked at City Hall, questioned whether the mayors office has ties to activist groups, which he suggested could have helped the city more effectively respond to the protests.
The only way to know how to move is to have folks close to you that are also close to community movement, who can be honest with you about the things that people are feeling and needing," Bryan said.
Garcetti, in an interview, said his office does have those relationships. Some activists have traditionally declined an offer to come to City Hall, he said.
Hes also faced calls to fire LAPD Chief Michel Moore over his comment that looters were as responsible for Floyds death as the Minneapolis police officers. Moore apologized for his remark and Garcetti has stood by the chief.
At the same time, the mayor has portrayed the LAPD as a leader on policing, pointing to the body cameras worn by officers and the implicit bias training they undergo.
Garcetti said there's plenty of time to review" decisions over the last month, but added that he was too busy looking at how we can be brave and reframe our budget amid calls to redirect money toward communities of color.
Everything from the very beginning I did for those children. I didnt think the mother was adequate enough to be responsible for them but I didnt realize my own addiction and my own issues would get in the way of my caring for the children, he said, adding there were previous incidents when he should have called 911 or Child Protective Services.
If the draft law is approved, people will pay a waste collection and treatment fee based on the amount of waste they produce.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Tran Hong Ha told the press on the sidelines of the ongoing National Assembly session that the collection of domestic waste treatment fees based on the amount of waste is included in the draft of the amended Environment Protection Law.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Tran Hong Ha
If the draft law is approved, people will pay a waste collection and treatment fee based on the amount of waste they produce.
Nguyen Thuong Hien, deputy head of Vietnam Environment Administration under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MONRE) said at a press briefing introducing the draft law, that the polluter-pays principle will encourage people to reduce, reuse, recycle and classify the waste at source.
As it is impractical to calculate waste by weight, it is highly possible that the waste will be measured in volume. Waste would be put into bags which will show the volume in cubic meters.
According to Ha, the method of charging fees based on volume in bags of different colors is being applied in many countries.
After the amended law is ratified, ministries will have the responsibility of setting up regulations to guide the implementation of the law.
Asked about the feasibility of the plan, Ha said it took South Korea 10 years to implement the method. The key to the success lies in peoples awareness of waste classification at source. If they support the solution, the plan will succeed.
Asked about the feasibility of the plan, Ha said it took South Korea 10 years to implement the method. The key to the success lies in peoples awareness of waste classification at source. If they support the solution, the plan will succeed.
The state will have to make big investments in technology to synchronize the links in the process, from waste transportation and waste classification to treatment. The state will set sanctions to punish violators, but people in general will supervise the implementation of the solution.
The public may be against it as they will have to pay more for waste treatment. Ha said that demands are different. Many people are willing to pay, but the poor are not. Therefore, the state may consider giving support to some people to enure that service providers can make enough profit to maintain production activities.
If waste can be sorted at source, the amount of waste that needs to be treated would be reduced and payment for waste treatment would decrease.
Ha said the government needs to consider waste as a resource and there should be a waste treatment industry. Investors will pour money into waste treatment projects if they find that profits are high enough.
Le Ha
Da Nang pilots vetiver grass waste treatment system A group of scientists and biological researchers from Da Nangs Teacher Training and Engineering College has developed a vetiver (Vetiveria Zizanioides) grass-based system to treat leaks at Khanh Son dump in the city.
All 1.58 lakh government primary and upper primary schools will reopen from July 1 for principals and teachers only. Students, however, will continue to stay at home for safety reasons in the wake of pandemic COVID-19, an official said.
Director basic education, Sarvendra Vikram Bahadur Singh has issued an elaborate order detailing all teachers and principals must resume work from schools. He also listed out work principals and teachers are required to carry out at school.
Enrolment of students
Teachers are required to enroll children between 6 to 14 years of age who are not going to any schools. This time teachers are required to enroll children of migrant workers too who returned home because of lockdown.
According to government estimates, nearly 30 lakh migrants with their families have returned home from various parts of the country during pandemic Covid-19 following the closure of businesses and industries due to the lockdown.
To ensure these children do not miss out on education, basic education director, Sarvendra Vikram Bahadur Singh has issued an order to this effect asking officials to identify such children and enrol them in government primary and upper primary schools depending upon their abilities and learning skills.
The officials of the basic education department were asked to widely publicise the scheme with the help of community people to reach out to the children of migrant workers. Based on their eligibility, they can be enrolled, the order reads.
Maintenance of schools
Teachers are required to get the schools white washed on time. They may carry out proper upkeep of schools under Mission Kayakalp with the help of community participation and affluent people.
Teachers training
The basic education department has directed teachers to train themselves using Diksha app developed by the MHRD. Teachers are required to scan the content and be future ready to resume online classes for students.
The teachers are required to access content developed by the State Project Directorate. Block education officer will carry out teachers training in small batches of 25 people.
Free distribution of books and uniforms
The UP government has been distributing free books and uniforms to students. Once block education officer provides books to school, principal and teachers will be required to call students in small batches and provide them books so they may resume regular studies when online classes begins. Likewise free uniform to be distributed.
Remedial classes for students
Remedial classes for students who have not fared well in the Students Assessment Test (SAT) held in February.
Nearly 20.84% students between class 3 and 8 of government primary and upper primary schools across the state have scored below 50% marks, figuring in E and D grades in the Students Assessment Test (SAT) held in February this year.
Of the 8.95 million students, whose results were declared recently, 8.74 lakh students (9.77%) scored below 40% marks and were marked E grade. Likewise, 9.91 lakh (11.07%) students obtained D grade, comprising between 40.1% to 50%.
Basic education department will run remedial classes to help students of E and D grades to catch up with other students. Teachers training will be carried out to skill them so as to help students who have not performed well, says director general for school education Vijay Kiran Anand. The test was conducted for the first time in government schools to assess competency level or learning outcome of students.
Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo - famous for playing the Hulk in the 'Avengers' movies - has weighed in behind government formation efforts.
It's all because of promises on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Co Kerry and an ambition to ban the importation of fracked gas.
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It's one of the more bizarre episodes in the process of putting together a coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Here's what you need to know about it:
What is the Shannon LNG project?
There have been plans for years for an LNG terminal to be built in Co Kerry on the Shannon estuary. LNG is gas that's liquefied to make it easier to transport. Ships would arrive at the terminal where it would be turned back into gas for use in the energy market.
Why is it controversial?
It's believed much of the gas would be imported from the US, where it has been extracted from the ground by fracking. Fracking involves injecting the earth with high-pressure water and chemicals and has been much criticised by environmentalists. The practice is banned here.
What does programme for government say?
It commits to taking the Shannon LNG terminal off the EU's Projects of Common Interests list, which allows funding and fast-track planning. It says the new government would not support the importation of fracked gas. It commits to help the region to develop alternative economic activities.
Does this mean the terminal won't happen?
Not necessarily. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said under the programme for government, the development wouldn't get subsidies but the company behind it may still choose to proceed through the planning process. 'Kerry's Eye' newspaper reported that New Fortress Energy still intends to push ahead with the terminal and an adjoining data centre that could provide hundreds of jobs.
How has the programme for government plan been received in the region?
Not well among some politicians and people hopeful of an economic boost. Former Fianna Fail TD John Brassil said he'd vote 'no' on going into government due to the decision. Councillors branded Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly "a disgrace" for accepting the deal.
Is the Green Party happy?
There's still doubt among opponents of the deal that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will deliver on the environmental promises but the commitment on the LNG terminal is seen by the programme's supporters to be a major 'win'. Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin last night described comments by Mr Varadkar and others on the LNG terminal as "really unhelpful". Ms Martin said comments and media appearances in recent days had "cast doubt" over the strength of the agreed wording on LNG.
And what about the Hulk?
Ruffalo has been a long-time anti-fracking campaigner. He had an online chat with Mr Ryan and Ms Martin last night. Ruffalo said the programme for government could be a "monumental achievement for Ireland to become the first country in the world to ban fracked gas imports".
What Is Climate Change? Is It Different From Global Warming?
Climate change is actually not a new phenomenon. Scientists have been studying the connection between human activity and the effect on the climate since the 1800s, although it took until the 1950s to find evidence suggesting a link.
Since then, the amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases) in the atmosphere have steadily increased, taking a sharp jump in the late 1980s when the summer of 1988 became the warmest on record. (There have been many records broken since then.) But climate change is not a synonym for global warming.
The term global warming entered the lexicon in the 1950s, but didnt become a common buzzword until a few decades later when more people started taking notice of a warming climate. Except climate change encompasses a greater realm than just rising temperatures. Trapped gases also affect sea-level rise, animal habitats, biodiversity and weather patterns. For example, Texas severe winter storms in February 2021 demonstrate how the climate isnt merely warming.
Why Is Climate Change Important? Why Does It Matter?
Marc Guitard / Moment / Getty Images
Despite efforts from forward thinkers such as SpaceX Founder Elon Musk to colonize Mars, Earth remains our home for the foreseeable future, and the more human activity negatively impacts the climate, the less habitable it will become. Its estimated that Earth has already warmed about one degree Celsius, or two degrees Fahrenheit, since the start of the Industrial Revolution around the 1750s, although climate change tracking didnt start until the late 1800s. That warming number may not sound like much, but this increase has already resulted in more frequent and severe wildfires, hurricanes, floods, droughts and winter storms, to name some examples.
Environmental Impacts
Then theres biodiversity loss, another fallout of climate change thats threatening rainforests and coral reefs and accelerating species extinction. Take rainforests, which act as natural carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But as rampant deforestation is occurring everywhere from Brazils Amazon to Borneo, fewer trees mean that rainforests are becoming carbon sources, emitting more carbon than theyre absorbing. Meanwhile, coral reefs are dying as warming ocean temperatures trigger bleaching events, which cause corals to reject algae, their main food and life source. Fewer trees, coral reefs and other habitats also equate to fewer species. Known as the sixth mass extinction, a 2019 UN report revealed that up to a million plant and animal species could become extinct within decades.
Human Impact
It can be easy to overlook climate change in day-to-day life, or even realize that climate change is behind it. Notice theres yet another romaine lettuce recall due to E. Coli? Research suggests that E. Coli bacteria are becoming more common in our food sources as it adapts to climate change. Cant find your favorite brand of coffee beans anymore? Or that the price has doubled? Climate change is affecting that too. Climate change is also worsening air quality and seasonal allergies, along with polluting tap water. Not least, many preliminary studies have also drawn a line between climate change and the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that is still gripping much of the world. Future pandemics are likely to happen more frequently until the root causes, such as deforestation, are addressed.
Speaking of larger-scale issues, global water scarcity is already happening more frequently. The Caribbean is facing water shortages due to rising temperatures and decreased rainfall; Australias dams may run dry by 2022 as severe wildfires increase and Cape Town, South Africa has already faced running out of water.
As touched upon earlier, its one thing to be inconvenienced by a lack of romaine lettuce for a couple of weeks or higher coffee bean prices, but reports warn how climate change will continue to threaten global food security, to the point of triggering a worldwide food crisis if temperatures surpass two degrees Celsius.
Many of these factors are already contributing to climate migration, forcing large numbers of people to relocate to other parts of the world in search of better living conditions.
Unless more immediate, drastic action is taken to combat climate change, future generations will have to contend with worst-case scenario projections by the end of the 21st century, not limited to coastal cities going underwater, including Miami; lethal heat levels from South Asia to Central Africa; and more frequent extreme weather events involving hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis, droughts, floods, blizzards and more.
Whats Happening and Why?
Fiddlers Ferry power station in Warrington, UK. Chris Conway / Moment / Getty Images
The Earths temperature has largely remained stable until industrial times and the introduction of greenhouse gases. These gases have forced the atmosphere to retain heat, as evidenced by rising global temperatures. As the planet grows warmer, glaciers melt faster, sea levels rise, severe flooding increases and droughts and extreme weather events become more deadly.
The Greenhouse Effect
In the late 1800s, Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius studied the connection between the amount of atmospheric carbon and its ability to warm and cool the Earth, and while his initial calculations suggested extreme warming as carbon increased, researchers didnt start to take human-induced climate change seriously until the late 20th century.
But proof of human-led climate change can be traced to the 1850s, and satellites are among the ways that scientists have been tracking increased greenhouse gases and their climate impact in more recent years. Climate researchers have also documented warmer oceans, ocean acidification, shrinking ice sheets, decreased snow amounts and extreme weather as among the events resulting from greenhouse gases heating the planet.
Numerous factors contribute to the production of greenhouse gases, known as the greenhouse effect. One of the biggest causes involve burning fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, to power everything from cars to daily energy needs (electricity, heat). From 1970-2011, fossil fuels have comprised 78 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
Big Ag is another greenhouse contributor, particularly beef production, with the industry adding 10 percent in 2019. This is attributed to clearing land for crops and grazing and growing feed, along with methane produced by cows themselves. In the U.S. alone, Americans consumed 27.3 billion pounds of beef in 2019.
Then theres rampant deforestation occurring everywhere from the Amazon to Borneo. A 2021 study from Rainforest Foundation Norway found that two-thirds of the worlds rainforests have already been destroyed or degraded. In Brazil, deforestation reached a 12-year-high in 2020 under right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. As it stands, reports predict that the Amazon rainforest will collapse by 2064. Rainforests are important carbon sinks, meaning the trees capture and remove carbon from the atmosphere. As rainforests collapse, the remaining trees will begin emitting more greenhouse gases than theyre absorbing.
Meanwhile, a recent study revealed that abandoned oil and gas wells are leaking more methane than previously believed, with U.S. wells contributing up to 20 percent of annual methane emissions.
Not least is the cement industry. Cement is heavily used throughout the global construction industry, and accounts for around eight percent of carbon dioxide emissions.
Natural Climate Change
Granted, natural climate change exists as well, and can be traced throughout history, from solar radiation triggering the Ice Ages to the asteroid strike that rapidly raised global temperatures and eliminated dinosaurs and many other species in the process. Other sources of natural climate change impacts include volcano eruptions, ocean currents and orbital changes, but these sources generally have smaller and shorter-term environmental impacts.
How We Can Combat Climate Change
Participant holding a sign at the climate march on Sept. 20, 2020, in Manhattan. A coalition of climate, Indigenous and racial justice groups gathered at Columbus Circle to kick off Climate Week with the Climate Justice Through Racial Justice march. Erik McGregor / LightRocket / Getty Images
While the latest studies and numbers can often feel discouraging about societys ability to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening, theres still time to take action.
As a Society
In 2015 at COP 21 in Paris, 197 countries came together to sign the Paris Agreement, an international climate change treaty agreeing to limit global warming in this century to two degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels; its believed that the planet has warmed one degree Celsius since 1750. Studies show that staying within the two-degree range will prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. Achieving this goal requires participating parties to drastically slash greenhouse gas emissions sooner rather than later. However, there have already been numerous setbacks since then, from former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrawing from the Paris Agreement in 2020 to world leaders, such as China, the worlds biggest polluter, failing to enact aggressive climate action plans. Yet many of the treaty participants have been slow to implement changes, putting the world on track to hit 3.2 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century even if the initial goals are met. However, its worth noting that U.S. President Joe Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021, and pledged to cut greenhouse gases in half by 2030.
Then theres the Montreal Protocol, a 1987 global agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons, chemicals that were commonly used in air-conditioning, refrigeration and aerosols. Recent studies show that parts of the ozone are recovering, proving that a unified commitment to combatting climate change issues does make a difference.
On a smaller scale, carbon offset initiatives allow companies and individuals to invest in environmental programs that offset the amount of carbon thats produced through work or lifestyle. For example, major companies (and carbon emitters) such as United Airlines and Shell have pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in part by participating in carbon offset programs that remove carbon from the atmosphere. The problem is that these companies are still producing high levels of fossil fuel emissions.
While individuals can make a small impact through carbon offsets, the greater responsibility lies with carbon-emitting corporations to find and implement greener energy alternatives. This translates to car companies producing electric instead of gas vehicles or airlines exploring alternative fuel sources. It also requires major companies to rely more on solar and wind energy for their energy needs.
In Our Own Lives
While its up to corporations to do the heavy lifting of carbon reduction, that doesnt mean individuals cant make a difference. Adopting a vegan lifestyle, using public transportation, switching to an electric car and becoming a more conscious consumer are all ways to help combat climate change.
Veganism
Consuming meat relies on clearing land for crops and animals, while raising and killing livestock contributes to about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UNs Food and Agricultural Organization. By comparison, choosing a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gas footprints by as much as 70 percent, especially when choosing local produce and products.
Public Transportation
Riding public trains, subways, buses, trams, ferries and other types of public transportation is another easy way to lower your carbon footprint, considering that gas-powered vehicles contribute 95 percent of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Electric Vehicles
Electric cars and trucks have come down in price as more manufacturers enter the field, and these produce far lower emissions than their gas counterparts. Hybrid vehicles are another good alternative for lowering individual emission contributions.
Conscious Consumption
Buying locally produced food and items is another way to maintain a lower carbon footprint, as the products arent shipped or driven long distances. Supporting small companies that are committed to sustainability is another option, especially when it comes to clothes. Fast fashion has become a popular option thanks to its price point, but often comes at the expense of the environment and can involve unethical overseas labor practices. Not least, plastic saturates every corner of the consumer market, but its possible to find non-plastic alternatives with a little research, from reusable produce bags to baby bottles.
Climate Activism
Those interested in becoming even more involved can join local climate action organizations. Popular groups include the Sunrise Movement, Fridays for Future, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, to name a few. Voting, volunteering, calling local representatives and participating in climate marches are additional ways to raise your voice.
Takeaway
Its taken centuries to reach a climate tipping point, with just a matter of decades left to prevent the worst-case climate scenarios from happening. But theres still hope of controlling a warming climate as long as individuals, companies and nations make an immediate concerted effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions. As the world already experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, a rapid unified response can make all the difference.
Meredith Rosenberg is a senior editor at EcoWatch. She holds a Masters from the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in NYC and a B.A. from Temple University in Philadelphia.
Restrictions on travel, introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, are slowly being eased, allowing tourism to restart in a growing number of destinations.
The latest research by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that 22 per cent of all destinations worldwide (48 destinations) have started to ease restrictions, with Europe leading the way. At the same time, however, 65 per cent of all destinations worldwide (141 destinations) continue to have their borders completely closed to international tourism.
As the United Nations specialised agency for tourism, UNWTO has been monitoring responses to the pandemic since the start of the current crisis. This latest update, the fifth edition of Covid-19 Related Travel Restrictions: A Global Review for Tourism, shows that the sector is slowly restarting, though this restart is significantly more pronounced in some global regions.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: The restart of tourism is of vital importance for livelihoods, for businesses and for national economies. This latest overview of global travel restrictions shows that growing numbers of destinations are beginning to ease the restrictions they introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is being done in a responsible and measured way. However, this crisis is not over. UNWTO will continue to work with our Member States around the world to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and to ensure that, when the time is right, tourism can help drive a responsible and sustainable recovery.
International travel within Europe restarting while other regions remain closed
According to UNWTO, as of June 15, 22 per cent of all destinations (48 destinations) have now eased restrictions on travel, up from just 3 per cent (seven destinations) on May 18. Destinations that have eased travel restrictions for tourists include:
37 destinations in Europe, including 24 of the 26 Schengen Member States
Six destinations in the Americas, including five Small Island Developing States
Three destinations in Asia and the Pacific, including two Small Island Developing States
Two destinations in Africa
At the same time, the Covid-19 Related Travel Restrictions report makes clear that many destinations are maintaining a cautious approach to lifting or easing restrictions on travel. As of June 15, 24 per cent of all destinations worldwide (51 destinations) have had travel restrictions now in place for 19 weeks and 37 per cent (80 destinations) for 15 weeks.
In total, 65 per cent of destinations worldwide (141 destinations) continue to have their borders completely closed. In Africa, the proportion of destinations where borders remain closed to tourists stands now at 85 per cent. In the Americas, 76 per cent of destinations maintain full border closures, as do 67 per cent of destinations in Asia and the Pacific and 92 per cent of destinations in the Middle East. In Europe, these full border closures are reduced now to 26 per cent of all destinations. - TradeArabia News Service
Before the pandemic began, the Leo restaurant prided itself on taking customers on a culinary journey through Colombia.
Inside the refurbished colonial home, diners feasted on set menus of at least 12 courses that included a thin slice of Pirarucu fish from the Amazon wrapped in its own skin and a bite-size portion of Caribbean duck stew, served on a purple corn tortilla and topped with edible flowers.
Dining at Leos has been banned since mid-March, when Colombia started to enforce social distancing measures. So chef Leonor Espinosa now uses her restaurants kitchen to make takeout dishes like pork-belly tacos that are cheaper to make and easier to carry in cardboard boxes.
We had to find some way to mitigate the impact of this crisis said Espinosa, who has been forced to lay off about half of her staff. So weve created a take-away brand that is more suited to the current needs of the market.
The virus has punished the industry severely as sales plummet and restaurant owners are stuck with fixed costs like rent. Thats prompted some places to reinvent themselves in order to stay afloat.
In Argentina, the Don Julio steakhouse ranked 34th on San Pellegrinos list of the worlds top restaurants last year. Now it has become a butchers shop that delivers cuts of organic beef to customers around Buenos Aires. Chef Pablo Rivero says he prefers to sell raw cuts of his prized beef to stuffing his dishes into takeout boxes and compromising their quality. The butchers business has helped him to avoid laying off staff. This helps us to stretch our funds he said.
In Chile, where eating in at restaurants has been banned since March, prize-winning El Europeo has suspended its tasting menu and stopped cooking lamb tenderloin and octopus imported from the remote Robinsoe Crusoe island. Now El Europeo runs a delivery service that features pizza, sushi and beef tartare.
Its time to lay egos aside and fight for our survival said Max Raide, one of the restaurants owners.
Some famous restaurants have had to cease operations altogether while they ride out the storm. In Colombias capital, La Puerta Falsa has been serving hot chocolate and tamales since 1816, surviving the nations independence war, a guerrilla attack against a nearby Supreme Court building and a riot in 1948 that burned down most of Bogotas center.
The coronavirus lockdown has forced the historic restaurant to lay off its staff of 14 and close its colonial-era building until social distancing measures are lifted.
We dont know how to do takeout said Carlos Sabogal, 84, whose family has owned the restaurant for six generations. I also worry that if we did that, the taste of our products would just not be the same as what our clients are used to.
In Cuba, the restaurant business, which depended largely on tourism, has ground to a halt. But the state-run economy ensures the survival of traditional places like La Bodeguita del Medio.
The bar, which helped to popularize the mojito cocktail and was once a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemmingway, has been state-owned since the early sixties, when it was nationalized by Fidel Castro. Its employees have been sent home and are still paid a portion of their $30 a month state wage. But they are missing out on tips from tourists that normally triple their salaries.
Elsewhere in Latin America, where the market economy prevails, many restaurants are going under.
Guillermo Gomez, the director of Colombias restaurant association, says that by the end of May, 27,000 of the country's 90,000 restaurants had shut down for good as they struggled to pay rent, salaries and public services with little income.
Gomez said that sales from takeout have failed to make up for revenue lost from in-person service. Restaurants have also struggled to secure loans as the government provides little clarity on when they will be able to host customers again, or under which rules. Banks now see us as a high risk business Gomez said.
Those with some savings continue to soldier on with smaller staff, while elite eateries prepare for a more austere future.
Colombian chef Leonor Espinosa says that she might be less rigid when her restaurant can once again resume in-person service, and may offer a la carte options along with her elaborate tasting menu.
But she says she will continue to make experimental dishes with exotic ingredients from remote corners of Colombia. We are not going to give up on our philosophy Espinosa said. We will continue to connect people with territories.
The 12,000 square-foot building will be built at 121 Skyline Drive, with MSA hoping to bring staff in by the end of March. This is the first separate building specifically for public works in Lake Delton, and will primarily house staff and equipment for both the public works and water departments.
In other business, the board decided to table a discussion about a new decorative art installation for Gifts of the World at 923 Wisconsin Dells Parkway after several minutes of discussion. The point of contention came between Gifts of the World representative Darrin Marsich and city attorney Richard Cross.
Cross pointed out that the art installation Marsich wants to install would count as a sign, which would conflict with village ordinances. According to the Cross, the designation as an art piece does not override the ordinance.
It would constitute a second freestanding sign on the property, Cross said. Its a decorative display it could go on the building as a wall sign but it cant be freestanding.
After two and a half months of taking oath, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has many challenges before him. The first is to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected more than 10,000 people in the state. But The political challenges are even more daunting, reports Sandeep Kumar.
IMAGE: Jyotiraditya Scindia with Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
In March, Shivraj Singh Chouhan took over as Madhya Pradesh chief minister for a record fourth time, snatching power from the Congresss Kamal Nath within 15 months.
Though Narottam Mishra, state home minister, was instrumental in dethroning Nath, Chouhan became the obvious chief ministerial choice for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the faction-ridden Madhya Pradesh.
Political compulsions were also in his favour. Also to win the by-elections to seats that have fallen vacant after the resignation of rebel Congress MLAs, Chouhan was better suited than other aspirants.
The BJP has to win at least 15 of the 24 vacant seats if it wants to have a stable government in the state; it currently has a thin majority.
After two and a half months of taking oath, Chouhan has many challenges before him.
The first is to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected more than 10,000 people in the state.
The political challenges are even more daunting.
To take everybody along
The BJP formed the government with the help of 22 Congress defectors, many of whom were ministers in the Congress government. Now Chouhan has to accommodate them.
That's one reason for the delay in the much-talked-about cabinet expansion. There has been speculation of expansion since May.
Political commentator and senior journalist Sandeep Pouranik said: "Only 29 ministerial berths are available and there is a vast pool of candidates, including 22 turncoats. Naturally, they seek rewards."
"Chouhan is struggling to strike a balance. Apart from Congress entrants, there are heavyweights within the party who are hopeful of a ministerial berth. That's the reason Chouhan had to withdraw the expansion plan twice," said BJP leader.
Pressure from the aspirants is mounting.
"According to the deal with Jyotiraditya Scindia and his loyalists, Chouhan has to accommodate at least 10 turncoats. For this, he has to pacify some old friends. He reportedly offered the speaker's post to Gopal Bhargava but he rejected it," said a former BJP minister.
Tension within the party came out in public when Rewa MLA Rajendra Shukla approached actor Sonu Sood to bring back some local workers stranded in Mumbai.
This when his own party and Chouhan had been claiming the government would ensure the return of every migrant worker.
Sources said Shukla -- considered close to Chouhan -- had been dropped from the list of probables.
From the turncoat camp, former ministers Imarti Devi, Mahendra Singh Sisodia, Prabhuram Chaudhary, and Pradyumn Singh Tomar are the major claimants.
Besides Shukla and Bhargava, BJP aspirants include Scindia's aunt Yashodhara Raje, Vishwas Sarang, Bhupendra Singh, Ajai Vishnoi, and Satyendra Pathak.
The by-polls
The date for the by-election is yet to be announced but the party has already set up an election management committee and an election resource committee.
The management committee includes four central ministers who hail from Madhya Pradesh -- Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel, Thawar Chand Gehlot, and Faggan Singh Kulaste.
Chouhan, Scindia, and state BJP chief V D Sharma are also part of it.
Of the 24 by-polls, 16 are set to take place in the Gwalior-Chambal region, which is Scindia's stronghold.
The Congress, too, is also leaving no stone unturned. BJP leader Balendu Shukla has now switched over the Congress.
Once close to the late Madhavrao Scindia (Jyotiraditya's father), Shukla is said to be displeased with Jyotiraditya's entry into the saffron party.
Just a few days ago, former Lok Sabha MP Premchand 'Guddu' also rejoined the grand old party.
The Congress is planning to field big guns, such as Ajay Singh Rahul (son of former CM Arjun Singh), Meenakshi Natrajan, and Guddu in the by-elections.
According to sources, Nath, state Congress chief, is in touch with several unhappy BJP leaders to switch sides and fight on the Congress ticket.
"Be ready to be surprised after the by-polls," said state party spokesperson Syed Jaffer.
BJP leader and former minister Deepak Joshi, son of Kailash Joshi (first BJP CM of Madhya Pradesh), recently said his options were open.
Leaders like Prabhat Jha and Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya are also not happy with Scindia's inclusion in the BJP.
Pawaiya reportedly told Chouhan he would not campaign for Congress defectors, even as the party has included both in its election-related teams.
BJP leader Pankaj Chaturvedi, however, rejected these claims.
"The Congress is day-dreaming. It doesn't even have leaders to contest the by-elections. As far as dissidence in the BJP is concerned, there is no such thing."
The leading example these days is George Floyd, whom the world has watched on video choking to death with the knee of Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin on his neck, uninterrupted for more than eight minutes by three other officers standing by. All four have been fired and charged in connection with the death.
The Army is now convinced there was foul play involved in the two-month-old disappearance of Fort Hood Soldier Vanessa Guillen, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, said Tuesday.
They have now used the words foul play. They are convinced now that there is foul play involved and they are following all the leads they can, the congresswoman said at a Fort Hood press conference that was live streamed on social media.
After weeks of protests, Guillens father, sisters, Garcia and their attorney Natalie Khawam met with military investigators and officials at Fort Hood, Texas, where Guillen was serving and last seen. Her mother, Gloria Guillen, was also invited, but she said at the press conference that after she saw images of soldiers searching for her daughter in a river, she felt too ill to attend.
Rep. Garcia said the military provided a timeline and some answers to their questions, but not the detailed tick-tock of Guillen's activities that they had hoped to get. Garcia said she thought military officials were as forthcoming as they could be in the midst of a criminal investigation.
Military officials did not participate in Tuesday's news conference. NBC News reached out to Fort Hood for response.
Vanessa Guillen
Guillen, a 20-year-old private first class in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, was last seen April 22, at a Fort Hood parking lot. Her car and barracks room keys, identification card and wallet were found in the armory room where she was working the day she disappeared, Fort Hood officials have said.
Her disappearance has drawn local protests, while celebrities such as Salma Hayek have joined in the effort to draw attention to her disappearance.
Guillen's family has said they have been frustrated with how the military responded to their concerns when they could not reach her that night and with the investigation since then.
"I pleaded with them from the beginning that they search for my daughter, that they close the base and that they use the more than 30,000 soldiers to look for her and they never did it," said Gloria Guillen, speaking in Spanish at the press conference. "I begged them to close the base and investigate room by room, barrack by barrack, building by building and they didn't do it. Why now are they doing a show to look for my daughter?"
Story continues
She said tearfully that her daughter told her since she was 10 that she was going to join the military. "I thought it was kid's play, then she entered her teens and entered high school. She enrolled and I was scared. In my heart as a mom, I feared I would suffer," said Guillen.
Garcia said the military has pulled phone records and reviewed credit card and security records. Information on when she was last seen is based on interviews with people, however no camera video exists, which the family and their attorney said they found odd.
"So many gaps and holes"
The military confirmed Guillen was last heard from at 11:30 a.m. based on phone records. The family's attorney Natalie Khawam said that a text was sent from Guillens phone on the day she was last heard from, notifying a supervisor of a serial number of one of the weapons she had to review.
Khawam questioned why such important military information would be texted and whether the text actually came from Guillen or someone using her phone. Guillens phone has not been found, Rep. Garcia said.
Garcia said there continue to be discrepancies between the familys timeline and what the investigators have detailed.
One has emerged regarding whether Guillen was in her barracks when routine head counts took place.
In at least one, it was admitted the supervisor or sergeant who actually is supposed to account for everyone in the barrack submitted a report that everyone was accounted for when, in fact, now hes admitted that he did not see Vanessa, said Garcia.
She said there should have been three or four different checks at the barracks by the end of the day.
As we all grieve the loss of one Soldier, someone out there can help us not to have to grieve for another. If you have information as to the whereabouts of Vanessa Guillen, call 254-495-7767#FortHood #USArmy #FindVanessa #FindVanessaGuillen pic.twitter.com/BCTIS9wpia Fort Hood (@forthood) June 21, 2020
Khawam said the family shared with military officials that Guillen had told them as well as friends that a sergeant had followed her into a shower while she was naked.
We suspect that person was her supervisor the same day after she was missing, the attorney said.
The family also said she was not supposed to work on the day of her disappearance, but was called in to work and they want to know who called her in.
The family said the military would not provide names of who her supervisor was nor provide names of witnesses.
Theres so many gaps and holes in what we learned today that I am going to demand a congressional investigation. For this family, we want to know what happened and who is covering up to who and why are they covering up, Khawam said.
I feel like we we're not going to resolve this down here, she said. We need the higher ups now.
In a separate case of a missing soldier, the Army announced Sunday that it had identified skeletal remains of Private Gregory Morales, 24, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma in the town of Killeen, where Fort Hood is located.
The military said they suspect foul play. Morales, who also used the last name Wedel, had been missing since Aug. 20, 2019. He was scheduled to be discharged from the Army in a couple of days.
Military officials say they have no information to connect Morales case to Guillens. The Army is offering $25,000 rewards for information in each of the cases.
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The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Response of the Yemeni Government and the Southern Transitional Council to the Ceasefire Request, Convene a Meeting in the Kingdom for Prompt Implementation of the Riyadh Agreement
Saudi Press Agency
Monday 1441/11/1 - 2020/06/22
Riyadh, Jun 22, 2020, SPA -- The Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen COL Turki Al-Malki said in a statement that "In light of the recent events in (Socotra) and (Abyan) governorate, the Coalition welcomes the response of the legitimate government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council for its request of a comprehensive ceasefire, de-escalation and a meeting to be convened in the Kingdom to move forward in implementing the Riyadh Agreement, in addition to the return of the political and military committees and teams in order to promptly implement it.
The Coalition regrets the recent developments in a number of Southern governorates in Yemen, and calls on all parties to prioritize the national interest of Yemen, its people, security and stability, and end the bloodshed through implementing the Riyadh Agreement, normalizing the situation in (Socotra), implementing a ceasefire in (Abyan) and avoiding escalations in all Yemeni governorates, including the media escalation.
The Coalition rejects any behaviors that undermine security and stability, and contravene the Riyadh Agreement in liberated areas. Reaffirming its longstanding commitment to stand by Yemen and its brotherly people, and continue its efforts to unite Yemeni peoples' ranks, bridge the gap between their components and support their endeavors to restore their nation, security, stability, state unity and territorial integrity.
The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will deploy observers on land in (Abyan) to observe the comprehensive ceasefire and separation of forces. The Coalition calls on all Yemeni political, social and media components and powers to support the parties' response to convene a meeting in Riyadh, and work diligently to implement the Agreement, that carries a substantial interest for Yemen and restores the state and its institutions in order to provide security, services and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people."
--SPA
18:08 LOCAL TIME 15:08 GMT
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China's top legislature likely to enact national security law for HK at next session by July 1
Global Times
By GT staff reporters Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/22 0:08:39
Bill mirrors maximum trust of central govt in SAR: observer
Hours after China revealed the details of the draft of the national security law for Hong Kong, the country's top legislature set the date for the next session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, during which the highly anticipated law is likely to be enacted to end the chaos and rampage throughout the city that has become "a base of subversive activities" instigated by the West over the years.
The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will convene its 20th session from June 28 to 30 in Beijing, according to a chairpersons' meeting held on Saturday, chaired by Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
Though the national security law for Hong Kong was not on the official agenda when the NPC Standing Committee announced it for the upcoming session, observers said that the draft could be proposed by the chairman of the NPC Standing Committee during the session.
Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the NPC Standing Committee from Hong Kong told the Global Times on Sunday that it is expected that top lawmakers may vote on the law during the committee's upcoming session before July 1.
According to a statement released after the three-day meeting of the 19th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee which concluded on Saturday, the central government would set up a commissioner's office for national security affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the HKSAR should establish a commission of safeguarding national security. By proposing to set up the two agencies, the law would mirror "the maximum trust" granted by the central government to the HKSAR government and give "maximum protection" to Hong Kong people's human rights and the rule of law, observers said. It also takes into account both Hong Kong's common laws while ensuring the law is implemented in the most effective way, they noted.
However, some Western media outlets, local opposition groups in Hong Kong and secessionists such as Jimmy Lai and Joshua Wong have not given up on smearing the legislature, calling it "controversial" and claiming that it would profoundly change the way Hong Kong people live and end the so-called political freedoms enshrined under "one country, two systems."
"Like I expected a few days ago, some lawmakers from opposition groups and others rushed to take their consistent tactics by spreading frightening rumors, smearing and demonizing the draft in order to attack the central and HKSAR governments," Carrie Lam, chief executive of the HKSAR government, said in a post published on her Facebook page after the details of the draft law were released.
Attempts at smearing the law or seeking help from foreign countries or associations to interfere in the matter are doomed to fail, as the determination of the central government to push forward the law and safeguard national security will not be shaken, Lam noted.
Still, when Western media, politicians and some NGOs depict the draft law on national security for Hong Kong, some characterizations have been filled with misinterpretation, prejudices and unfounded claims that question not only the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by the HKSAR but also the future of "one country, two systems." Some have not even taken a look at what the provisions of the draft law are really about, which has drawn a clear line between responsibilities and power of the central authorities and HKSAR.
A real threat?
Some US media such as The New York Times said the upcoming law would "punch a hole" in Hong Kong's judicial system, citing "pro-democracy" politicians while the Wall Street Journal, citing opposition groups and foreign governments including the US, criticized the move as compromising the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by the city. Other media like Reuters said the HKSAR's freedoms are in doubt, citing critics, and said the law signals "the deepest change to the city's way of life" since the city returned to the motherland in 1997.
After some observers in Hong Kong and the mainland carefully went through details in the draft law, they came up with the same conclusion: the draft is conveying the message from the central government to respect law enforcement and judiciary systems in the HKSAR on national security matters. "Only when HKSAR authorities can't handle a very few cases will the central government step in and exercise jurisdiction," Tam said.
The details of the draft law indicated that the central government would establish a commissioner's office for national security affairs to assess national security situations in the city and make recommendations on key strategies as well as major policies in maintaining national security. It will also oversee, guide, coordinate and support the HKSAR to fulfill its duty to protect national security, collect intelligence and handle criminal cases concerning national security in accordance with the law.
"It's necessary to set up a commissioner's office in Hong Kong to share intelligence, pass on experiences, provide technical support and help work arrangements on national security matters. It will support the HKSAR in implementing the national security law in a fully fledged, effective and accurate manner," said Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
The threat to national security posed by some forces in Hong Kong has become very serious, and the HKSAR has even become an "intelligence base, infiltration base and subversive base" for different countries, especially for the West, observers said.
The social turmoil over the past year showed that the HKSAR lacks sufficient capability and experience to safeguard national security due to the absence of an effective legal and law enforcement mechanism, as a result, guidance and supervision from the commissioner's office for national security affairs is urgently needed, which would closely coordinate with HKSAR authorities, Lau told the Global Times.
The new central government office will not interfere with Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) operations, as there will be a clear division of rank and work, where the commissioner's office will handle complex national security cases that cannot be handled by the police force, observers said, giving further explanation about why it is not a move to undermine "one country, two systems."
The office's relationship with the Hong Kong police is akin to that of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation with local police and that of the UK's MI5 Security Service with local police, Lawrence Tang Fei, a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times.
"For instance, in the US, the FBI works at federal government level while each state and city has their own police force. When it comes to major cases that can't be handled by single state, they require the deployment of the FBI," he said.
Specifically, the commissioner's office for national security affairs will handle cases that involve cross-border crimes that are beyond Hong Kong's jurisdiction and involve foreign diplomats who enjoy diplomatic immunity. "These cases are very hard for [local police and judiciary system] to handle and the central government must step in," Tang said.
Judicial independence ensured
Under the draft law, the HKSAR government will set up a special commission chaired by the chief executive to protect national security. It also allows the chief executive to appoint judges to handle national security cases. Critics raised concerns that the independence of the city's judiciary system will be jeopardized.
However, the draft law clearly states that the HKSAR shall exercise jurisdiction over criminal cases that endanger national security, from the investigation phase, to prosecution and trial and punishment, unless there are special circumstances.
"The draft showed that it will thoroughly activate and use the existing forces within the HKSAR government to execute the law-enforcement missions regarding national security affairs," Tian Feilong, a Hong Kong affairs and legal expert at Beihang University in Beijing, told the Global Times.
According to the content of the draft law, the jurisdiction power could be divided into "jurisdiction over normal and special cases," Tian said.
The national security commission in Hong Kong, led by chief executive, incorporating nine departments such as Chief Secretary for Administration, Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Financial Secretary, Secretary for Justice, Secretary for Security, Commissioner of Police, head of national security department of the HKPF and Director of Immigration Department will be in charge of the normal cases, the expert noted.
Once the case goes beyond the law-enforcement capability of HKSAR authorities, for example if it brings huge impact to public order and the legal system of the city, or HKSAR agencies face unprecedented pressure and difficulties with intelligence collection, case investigation and judgment, central authorities must step in to take ultimate responsibility, Tian said.
"The turmoil that started in June 2019 against the extradition bill fits the standard of the special situation," he said.
A growing number of legal experts and observers have been discussing whether cases related to the riots triggered by the now-withdrawn extradition bill since last year should be handled by the HKSAR or the central government, Tian said.
The cases relevant to the riots go beyond the capabilities of local law enforcement agencies, which had a huge impact on the rule of law and social order in Hong Kong, the expert noted. "The new law could apply retroactively to these cases, as the riots are not a past event but still ongoing," Tian added.
When it comes to the appointment of judges, some are concerned that Hong Kong will not be ruled by law, but by people. Senior Counsel Ronny Tong Ka-wah rebutted the claim.
"It's indeed strange to say appointing judges would harm the rule of law, as the Basic Law already states that judges of the courts of the HKSAR shall be appointed by the chief executive," he said.
Tong noted that while he previously did have some concerns over the upcoming law, which he feared might harm the city's judicial independence; he was reassured after he read the details of the draft law.
"Especially after I read the relevant articles about Hong Kong residents' rights according to the Basic Law of the HKSAR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights," he said.
Accelerate at full speed
While some countries like the US and UK continue to criticize China over the upcoming national security law for Hong Kong, lawmakers and observers said the external pressure will not have any impact on the central government's political will and legislature agenda on handling domestic affairs, particularly when they touch the country's core interests and the bottom-line.
"The decision made by the NPC on May 28 clearly stated the necessity and urgency of formulating the law. The NPC standing committee has the constitutional responsibility to accelerate the law's formulation to implement that decision," Tian said, noting that local and external forces inside and outside Hong Kong have been stepping up efforts to undermine the legislative process, which would instead help accelerate this process.
Meanwhile, the G7 statement on Hong Kong has exposed the severity of foreign intervention, and accelerating the legislative process of the law at full speed would demonstrate the central government's strong will and determination to strike down foreign interference and protect national security, he said.
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Defence Forces including some in Co Kildare are back in Ireland Covid free but are in 14 days quarantine, as per HSE guidelines, for anyone returning to the country.
The 115 Infantry Batallion, ranging in ages from twenties to sixties, are back from service in South Lebanon, after delays of up to six weeks. Some are quarantining in barracks, and some are back quarantining in their own homes. The rest of the unit returns on July 2.
Independent TD, Cathal Berry, said that the overseas troops have not had any reports of Covid 19 in Lebanon, despite being in close quarters.
He said: They have medical people trained in health and hygiene and they are used to dealing with infectious diseases such as Ebola.
The Lebanon troops were tested before leaving Lebanon and tested on return, and no reports were given of Covid.
Overall, there are very little reports of Covid 19 in the Defence Forces, with troops flying tests to Germany regularly and naval boats in a number of overseas countries.
Kildare representative for Wives and Partners of Defence Forces Sarah Walshe, said: They are thrilled to be back, they were in a compound over there, they had standard personal protective equipment, they are quite used to infectious diseases, it is nothing new for an operation overseas. There was uncertainty for them when they could come home, so it was an extended mission.
Comcast is giving some of its Houston-area customers new account numbers, which may require changes to the process of paying the cable TV and internet giant.
The company emailed some customers Monday saying their account numbers will change in August.
"Your new account number will appear on the first page of your bill statement as well as online through Xfinity.com/myaccount after Aug. 13, 2020. Please continue to use your current account number through Aug. 12, 2020," the email said.
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Local Comcast spokesperson Michael Bybee said the new numbers are necessary because of growth in the Houston market, adding the approach is similar to the way the telephone system eases number shortages.
"Since we continue to grow our customer base, were basically adding a new 'area code' for some customers," Bybee said. "Customer are notified 45 days in advance."
According to the email, customers who use electronic banking to pay their cable TV and internet bills will need to update their banks with the new account number after Aug. 13. And those who pay by check which requires putting the account number on each check will need to start using the new number after the August date.
Customers who use automatic payments through Comcast will not need to do anything, the email said.
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Hyderabad, June 23 : The Andhra Pradesh government may face Constitutional hurdles in drawing money from the state coffers to pay for salaries of the employees and other administrative expenses from July as the Appropriation Bill could not get the approval of the State Legislative Council, say legal experts.
Though the two-day session of the State Legislature was held last week to pass the state budget for 2020-21, it concluded on June 17 night without the Appropriation Bill being passed in the Upper House, where the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) is in minority.
The Bill could not be tabled in the Legislative Council due to utter chaos as members of YSRCP and opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) nearly came to blows as to which Bill should be taken up first. Deputy Chairman R. Subrahmanyam, who was in the chair, adjourned the House sine die.
This was the first time in the state's history that the Appropriation Bill was not passed by the legislature during the budget session.
This triggered a debate on whether the government faces Constitutional obstacles in accessing funds from the state coffers for its administrative expenses and the welfare schemes.
Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is understood to have discussed the issue with Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan during the meeting on Monday.
Though the Chief Minister's Office described the visit as a courtesy call after the Budget session of the Legislature, sources said he informed the governor about the situation that prevailed in the Council on the night of June 17, resulting in the Appropriation Bill not getting the approval.
YSRCP leaders see no problem for the government to draw funds from the coffers after June 30 as they point out that a Money Bill which could not be passed in the Council would be deemed to have been passed after 14 days.
According to them under Article 198(5) of the Constitution, a money bill tabled in the Council but not passed would be deemed to have been passed after 14 days.
However, the legal experts say Article 198(5) applies only if the bill is tabled in the House.
"The Appropriate Bill was not tabled in the Council and hence it can't be deemed approved after 14 days," says constitutional lawyer Jandhyala Ravi Shankar.
He pointed out that Finance Minister B. Rajendranath Reddy did not move the motion tabling the Bill. "The Bill was not transmitted from the Assembly to the Council. Technically, it is in transit and that is why the provisions of Article 198(5) would not apply," said Ravi Shankar, a former advisor to Andhra Pradesh State Legislature.
The YSRCP government may seek legal opinion over the options before it to overcome the Constitutional gridlock. Sources say since calling another legislature session may not be possible in the current situation, the government may pass an ordinance to tap the state coffers.
The budget session was originally scheduled in March but the state government had to postpone it in view of the COVID-19 situation. The governor, on the recommendation of the state cabinet, issued an ordinance on March 30, empowering the government to draw Rs 70,000 crore from the treasury for three months till June 30.
The Constitutional deadlock over Appropriation Bill is the latest challenge faced by Jagan Mohan Reddy government, which is already grappling with the huge slump in the revenues due to outbreak of coronavirus and the resultant lockdown. This also forced the government to put on hold its plans to shift the administrative capital from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam.
YSRCP, which has only 12 members in the 58-member Council, had to face another embarrassment in the upper house even as its recommendation to the Centre to scrap the Council is still pending with the Centre.
It was in January that the State Assembly, where YSRCP has absolute majority, passed a resolution to abolish the Council. The move came after TDP forced the Council to refer to the Select Committee two bills moved by the government for trifurcation of the state capital.
Both the bills were passed in the Assembly but hit a roadblock in the Upper House. YSRCP alleged that Chairman Mohammed Sharif succumbed to TDP pressure to refer the bills to the Select Committee.
The Assembly again passed the two bills in the brief session held last week. YSRCP insisted on taking up the two bills in the Council but it was resisted by the TDP.
The opposition party, which has 28 members, with the support of five members of the Progressive Democratic Front, wanted the Appropriation Bill to be first taken up.
There was utter chaos and the two sides nearly came to blows. Amid the din, the deputy chairman adjourned the House sine die.
With 120 New CCP Virus Cases in Victoria, Australias Chief Medical Officer Warns Against Mass Protests
Federal Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy, while warning about the potential for a second wave of the CCP virus, has said that the recent mass protests in Australia set a bad example that may have prompted others in the community to ignore social distancing restrictions as well.
Answering questions at a press conference on June 22, Murphy indicated this may have contributed to the 120 news cases in Victoria reported in the last 7 days that have led to increased restrictions at a time when the state was due to ease them.
Responding to a question about whether the protests were a super spreader event, Murphy said mass protests send a very difficult message to the rest of the community who were respecting all of the restrictions and the density rules.
It makes it difficult for contact tracers as you cant track who you have been next to, he said, speaking about the difficulty of tracking community transmission at such events.
Murphy said that Australia has been lucky not to see any major transmissions of the virus from these mass protests, at a time when hundreds of thousands of new cases are being reported by other nations.
One million new cases have been recorded in the last eight days.
Contact tracers from the neighbouring states of New South Wales and South Australia have been sent to Victoria to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.
Australias chief medical officer said there is the potential that people seeing that sort of gathering may have felt less compliant with the regulations in the other aspects of their life, so we still are very strongly discouraging these sorts of events.
Related Coverage Vic Premier Blames Families for Daily Spikes of CCP Virus Cases, Halts Lifting Restrictions
Victorian Opposition Leader Michael OBrien expressed dismay that the impact of thousands of people taking to the streets to protest was not mentioned in Premier Daniel Andrews announcement.
On June 20, Andrews announced an extension to the state of emergency in Victoria, blaming family gatherings for the spike in CCP virus cases.
Victoria is Australias Virus Hotspot
Victoria, already the focus of the federal government and the United States for refusing to abandon the CCPs Belt and Road Initiative, is the focus again as the countrys biggest hotspot for the CCP virus.
One of the 16 new cases reported on June 22 is an employee of H&M at Northland shopping centre who attended the Black Lives Matter protest on June 6. The department said the employee is not thought to have contracted the virus at the protest. The H&M store is undergoing a deep clean.
A total of 16 new CCP virus cases were reported in Victoria on June 22.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee on June 21 said Victorians should avoid travelling across the local government virus hotspot areas of Hume, Casey, Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia, and Darebin.
The panel of chief health officers said outbreaks have been identified at these locations.
Weve had more than 120 new cases in the past seven days and the main cause for this increase has been through cases in families, said Victorias Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton.
As a consequence, the Victorian Government has announced a tightening of the rules and has reduced the number of visitors you can have in your home to five. Outside of the home, people can now gather in groups of up to 10 only.
Although the Victorian health department statement linked most of the new cases to either schools, child care centres, or stores, it did not state of the origins of the cases spread amongst families.
Massive road development projects in the Tibet Autonomous Region have resulted in rivers changing course and expanding Chinas boundary into the northern territories of Nepal, according to a document from Nepals agriculture department.
The document, accessed by Hindustan Times, said patches of Nepalese territory in several districts had been encroached on by China, and it cautioned Beijing could take over more territory in the north if the rivers continue to change course. The loss of Nepalese territory due to rivers changing course could run into hundreds of hectares, it said.
There is a high possibility that over the period of time, China may develop its Border Observation Post of Armed Police in those territories, the document from the agriculture ministrys survey department said.
Nepal, which shares a boundary with China in the north, has 43 hills and mountains, from east to west, that act as the natural boundary between the two countries. The two sides have six check posts, essentially for trade.
The survey department assessed that the changing course of 11 rivers had already cost Nepal 36 hectares, or 0.36 sq km, across the four districts of Humla, Rasuwa, Sindhupal chowk and Sankhuwasabha.
The encroachment of 36 hectares by China was first reported to the KP Sharma Oli government last year.
There were street protests after the loss of Nepalese territory to China emerged in the local media but the government, accused by Olis detractors of attempting to cosy up to Chinas communist party, played down the encroachment by the Chinese and channelled the public outrage against India over new maps issued by New Delhi last November after the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was split into two union territories.
Oli went on to ramp up differences with India over Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh, spread over 330 sq km, in May after Chinese intervention helped him survive a rebellion within his party the previous month. That intervention, however, meant he had to scrap two ordinances promulgated just five days earlier.
Oli seized the opportunity after defence minister Rajnath Singh opened an 80-km road that ends at Lipulekh pass on the border with Tibet.
Analysts in New Delhi and Kathmandu believe Olis hard push for Nepals new political map was an effort to whip up ultra-nationalistic sentiments targeting India to consolidate his position in the government and the party. This is why, a diplomat in New Delhi said, didnt inform Parliament before it voted on the map earlier this month that he had ignored an offer of dialogue between the foreign secretaries of the two countries.
Instead, he gave parliamentarians the impression his government was forced to push the envelope since New Delhi had declined his offer for dialogue.
New Delhi hardened its position after the map was cleared by Nepals Parliament this month, asserting it was for him to create a conducive atmosphere in case he is interested in bilateral dialogue on the boundary issue.
Nepalese officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, questioned the veracity of the survey showing loss of land to the Chinese side and said such matters are handled by the survey department under the ministry of land reform and management.
Nepal and China have an agreed boundary and established protocols. The border has been completely mapped and there are pillars and established mechanisms for dealing with any issue that may arise, said one of the people cited above.
There are also periodic inspections between the two sides and any issues that could crop up on the ground are dealt with by the two sides, the person added.
The officials acknowledged that Nepal and India are yet to reach a similar stage in their handling of the border, which is yet to be completely mapped.
The Indian side said earlier this month that almost 98% of the 1,750-km land and riverine border between India and Nepal has been delineated and differences remain only in Kalapani sector in Uttarakhand and Susta sector in Bihar.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shishir Gupta Author of Indian Mujahideen: The Enemy Within (2011, Hachette) and Himalayan Face-off: Chinese Assertion and Indian Riposte (2014, Hachette). Awarded K Subrahmanyam Prize for Strategic Studies in 2015 by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the 2011 Ben Gurion Prize by Israel. ...view detail
Myth 5: Someone living with a mental illness is more likely to commit a crime or be violent | A mere 7.5 percent of violent acts are committed by people experiencing symptoms of mental illness, according to Bulthuis. More often than not, individuals with mental health issues are not violent. Someone with a mental illness is actually nearly 4 times more likely to be a victim of crime. (Representative image)
It's a pileup that keeps growing until it's too late People think depression is a prolonged episode of sadness but it isn't. There are no definite periods, and even though you're smiling at the moment, it feels empty inside."
Chinmay was 17 when he was diagnosed with clinical depression. He was preparing for IIT-JEE but never felt up to it. He felt alone in a group of boisterous, bright teenagers, the 22-year-old engineering graduate told Moneycontrol. Loneliness and sadness are what he remembers of those difficult, dark days.
It has been more than a week that actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai home in what police said was death by suicide. Some reports said the 34-year-old promising actor was diagnosed with depression. His death sparked a discussion on how we, as a country and a society, continue to undermine mental health.
While physical illnesses are easier to recognise and treat, conditions like depression, addictions, panic attacks and anxiety do not get the attention they deserve.
Every day eight students died by suicide in 2018 in India, the National Crime Records Bureau data shows . India reported 1.3 lakh suicides that year, of which 8 percent were students and 10 percent unemployed.
India's youth account for a fifth of its 1.3 billion people and face challenges that didn't even exist 15 years ago. There is a whole generation moving in unchartered waters.
To get a clearer picture of the pushes and pulls behind mental illnesses and there coping mechanism, Moneycontrol spoke to several people in the 15-25 age bracket. Those who came on record wanted to be identified by only their first names to protect their identity and that of their families.
The perils of a networked world
India's youth is the most connected demographic today. With easy access to the internet, social networking sites are an inextricable part of their lives. For many, they define their lives.
What were to be the means of communication have evolved into something unrecognisable--a cause of stress, low-self esteem and pressure.
Pictures of a friend vacationing in the Caribbean, a colleagues promotion, videos of a climb up the Himalayas, accounts of backpacking through Europe, or a solo bike trip, it is a world where haves and have-nots are neatly divided.
There are influencers who seem to live life king-size or even bigger. And they have a huge audiencefollowers, as they are referred to in the viral world, consuming every minute detail that is shared.
A majority of teenage patients have issues that are related to the internet, directly or indirectly. The peer pressure it exerts is enormous, and nobody likes to feel left out, Suruchi Kothari, a Mumbai-based psychologist said. Online, everyone is happy, their lives picture-perfect.
Until a few years ago, being young meant chasing grades, making a career and laying the foundation of what was seen as a good, secure life while managing to have some fun as well.
But, now it is more competitive and nothing is off-limitsfood, vacations, relationships, movies, dramas, clothes, just about everything. It is all lived in the glare of social media. It better look good on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or whatever is your poison.
Feeling left out or jealous is natural but the constant measuring up is hardly healthy.
"Heartbreaks are one of the leading causes along with the pressure to cope with academics and peers. During this time, they're trying to cope up with academic as well as peer pressure," Kothari said.
The virtual world sets an unreasonably high bar of expectations, leading to fear of missing out, low self-esteem and lack of confidence, which, in turn, can cause eating disorders, depression, and even addiction. .
For introverts, it is not easy to socialise and make friends.
"Youth in their early 20s have different priorities, but the root cause remains the same. They have to think about graduating, working, and building a career. In this case, the internet's unreal expectations and comparisons with others only leads to demoralisation. Gradually, this turns into stress, overwhelming the mind," Kothari said.
The web of negativity
The internet never sleeps and nor does the flow of information ebb.
Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, etc have made everyone a content creator and a consumer. There is information overload. A lot of it is toxic, aided by the anonymity granted by the medium.
"The volume of the content is unimaginable. Everyone has opinions, and you're at the centre of it all. It's easy to get influenced if you don't know what you're doing. In these crucial years, the sense of worth and morality is constantly challenged," said Chinmay.
Junior college was the toughest time for him. I was in a batch of some of the smartest kids, preparing for the IIT-JEE test. Ended up making zero friends and always had a fear of not being good enough. The test was miserable, and I stood no chance of getting admitted to a premier engineering institute," he said.
Chinmay said it wasnt one factor or incident that led to depression. Everyone has a unique trigger that makes them feel uncomfortable. In my case, I just felt numb. I stopped feeling empathy and these periods felt like oblivion, he said.
Sleep played a crucial role in his treatment and with the help of a psychiatrist, the trigger points were identified. His parents were supportive. He is living a happier and better life today, away from social media.
Childhood
It was a parent who was responsible for the mental trauma that Karishma, a Mumbai-based professional, has been living through. As a child, she was verbally and physically abused by her alcoholic father and was diagnosed with multiple illnesses, including systemic lupus erythematosus, an auto-immune disease.
While the internet has its share of the blame, upbringing and childhood are critical when it comes to mental health.
Children are often burdened with goals and compared to their peers. Continuous criticism can be detrimental to self-worth and confidence.
Low self-esteem is "unknowingly seeded by the parents and watered by social media", Kothari said.
If parents don't recognise mental health issues, the child, too, will grow up ignoring or even avoiding them.
We self-injure in a state of subconsciousness. Its only a few hours later that we realise what we had done and the extreme physical pain sets in, Karishma said.
Friends any day
Acknowledging a problem is the first step towards taking care of mental health.
Communication is the key but there's a growing disconnect between parents and children. Most of the people that Moneycontrol spoke to didnt share their problems with parents.
There is a generational gap--parents are pre-internet and children post-internet.
When India opened its economy in 1991, it also brought about social and cultural changes. For instance, dating, an almost alien concept for parents, is normal for their children who are more sure of what they want and dont shy away from expressing themselves.
The new generation, exposed to new ideas that have largely come from the West, dont want to conform, they want to chart their own course, break new grounds and find their own place in the world. The fact that economically they are a more secure generation also plays a part.
"My parents worked hard all their life to raise a family, buy a solid house, and give us the best education. But, I don't want to do either of that. I'm earning well right now and intend to travel the world, explore, and settling down isn't a goal or priority," 24-year-old Disha.
It is easier for them to fall back on peers as they can relate to each other. It's easier to share because friends are less judgemental, they say.
When it involves addiction, elders are a big no.
"There have never been casual discussions about relationships, sex, alcohol, or even boys. How do I go up to them and say I visited the psychiatrist and am taking some medicines? For them, it'll translate to the girl going mad," she said.
Though awareness is growing about mental health but it is a long road ahead.
Like all illnesses, mental health issues also have symptoms but there are no noticeable physical changes or thermometers to measure the extent of illness. Unwinding, talking about the problem helps.
"Everyone has a family doctor. You visit them once in a while to ensure you're okay or when you catch the flu during sudden weather changes. Similarly, a family counsellor can go a long way in improving everyone's mental health," Kothari said.
(The author writes on technology, aviation, and mobility.)
If you or someone you know needs help for mental health issues, call any of these helplines: NIMHANS toll-free number 0804611000, Mpower and BMC joint helpline 1800-120-820050, Vandrevala Foundation 1860-2662-345 or Aasra 9820466726
T op City firm Alliance Bernstein has called for Royal Mail to be split up.
At the moment Royal Mail has two arms, the UK Parcels, International and Letters division and General Logistics Systems (GLS) - a parcel delivery company based in Europe.
Bernstein wants to see GLS sold, now that former chief executive Rico Back - a supporter of the business - has left.
Daniel Roeska, analyst at Bernstein, said: We believe it would be in shareholders' best interests to split the company in two and let shareholders themselves decide on the future of the two businesses.
If GLS stays within the group, we see a substantial risk that cash flows from it or sale proceeds will be consumed in part by the UK Parcels and Letters transformation.
In its current form, Royal Mail Group is worth less than the sum of its parts. Why is Royal Mail the best long-term owner of GLS?
Royal Mail has had a difficult two years, plagued by letter declines and fights with unions.
Problems have been exacerbated further by coronavirus lockdown and the groups results on Thursday are likely to be poor.
Singapore jailed a North Korean man on Tuesday for helping supply luxury goods to department stores in his homeland in violation of sanctions, the latest case of illicit trade between the countries. There have been several cases in recent years of companies and individuals in the city-state supplying goods to the North, which has been hit with a barrage of UN sanctions over its weapons programmes. After completing his studies in Singapore in 2014, Li Hyon helped his father in North Korea source products in the city for his chain of department stores, according to court documents. The 31-year-old helped procure over Sg$400,000 (US$290,000) of luxury goods including perfumes, cosmetics, watches, wines and spirits over more than two years, and also carried items to the North. "There was appreciable harm to Singapore's international reputation and standing, and increased risk for the broader Singapore financial and economic sectors, as a result of the breaches," prosecutors said. Li was jailed for four weeks after pleading guilty to charges of abetting the supply of prohibited goods to the North. The director of one Singapore company involved in the scheme was jailed for nearly three years in November. The United Nations Security Council has adopted sanctions in response to the North's ballistic missile and nuclear tests, while Singapore has introduced laws to enforce them and in 2017 suspended trade ties with the North. In August, a Singaporean firm was accused of supplying wine and spirits worth about Sg$665,000 to the North. In 2016 a shipping firm in the city was fined for its role in an attempt to smuggle Soviet-era weapons and fighter jets from Cuba to the North.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-24 02:05:35|Editor: huaxia
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TIRANA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Albania's Technical Committee of Experts on the coronavirus situation has decided to give the green light to the reopening of public transport under strict health protocols, Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a live communication video via Facebook, Manastirliu announced the decision but did not mention a clear date on when the public transport would restart.
The minister said that the end of the state of natural disaster on Tuesday "does not diminish the vigilance on the part of medical staff and health ministry, and that all the anti-coronavirus measures will continue to be in force."
When public transport resumes, according to health protocols approved by the ministry, all buses and public transport vehicles will be allowed to use up to 70 percent of their passenger capacity, bus drivers and passengers must wear masks and gloves, and all busses and bus terminals must be disinfected.
In a reaction to the announcement, the Union of Public Transport Operators said that public transport operators are not ready to resume work unless their requests are met.
According to local media, the union said that public transport operators cannot afford the costs of respecting the health protocols. On top of the demands is the subsidizing of missing revenues for transport entities as a result of the protocols.
The union also requests the government to remove fuel taxes and cut the value-added tax from 20 percent to zero for the year 2020.
On Tuesday, health authorities reported 52 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total in the country to 2,047, with 1,195 recoveries and 46 fatalities. Enditem
Representative Karen Bass of California, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, is under consideration to be Joseph R. Biden Jr.s running mate and has spoken with his vice-presidential search team, people familiar with the vetting process said.
Ms. Bass, 66, joined the process somewhat later than some of the other prominent figures being reviewed by Mr. Biden and his advisers. Her emergence as a contender was first reported by CBS News.
A five-term member of the House who served before that as the speaker of the California State Assembly, Ms. Bass has been a prominent voice in the congressional debate about the future of policing. In a television appearance on Tuesday, she declined to comment on the vice-presidential selection process and said she was focused on the intensifying legislative work on a federal policing law.
It is not clear exactly how far Ms. Bass has moved in the process so far, or whether her contact with the search team has yet included the multiple rounds of lengthy interviews and requests for documents that a few other candidates have faced. Spokesmen for Ms. Bass and the Biden campaign declined to comment on her status in the search.
Armenias Constitutional Court is scheduled to start on July 7 hearings on the legality of coup charges brought against former President Robert Kocharian.
Kocharian is prosecuted under Article 300.1of Armenias Criminal Code dealing with overthrow of the constitutional order. The accusation rejected by him as politically motivated stems from the 2008 post-election unrest in Yerevan that left ten people dead.
The current code was enacted in 2009. Kocharians lawyers maintain that the article in question cannot be used retroactively against him. They argue that the previous code, which was in force during the dramatic events of March 2008, had no clauses relating to overthrow of the constitutional order and contained instead references to usurpation of state power.
Prosecutors say that there are no significant differences between the two definitions of a crime allegedly committed by the man who ruled Armenia from 1998-2008.
Kocharians legal team last year asked Armenias Constitutional Court to declare the coup charge illegal. A Yerevan judge who initially presided over the ex-presidents trial likewise asked the court to pass judgment on the legality of the accusation.
The Constitutional Court in turn decided in July 2019 to request an advisory opinion on the matter from the ECHR as well as the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. The ECHRs Grand Chamber released a lengthy and complex opinion on May 29, while the Venice Commission offered its assessment late last week.
The Constitutional Court decided on Monday to schedule the first hearing on the case for July 7 just as the Armenian parliament approved constitutional amendments calling for the immediate dismissal of three of its nine judges.
One of Kocharians lawyers, Hayk Alumian, claimed on Tuesday that the parliament controlled by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians My Step bloc is keen to quickly change the courts composition in order to ensure that the coup case against the ex-president is not dropped. Alumian said the authorities have been trying to imprison him at any cost.
Kocharians supporters have similarly alleged that Pashinian turned on the Constitutional Court last summer because it agreed to rule on the appeals lodged by the defense lawyers and the former trial judge.
Kocharian, his former chief of staff and two retired army generals went on trial in May 2019. The ex-president also stands accused of bribery. He strongly denies all accusations leveled against him, saying that they are part of a political vendetta waged by Pashinian. Law-enforcement authorities maintain that the case is not politically motivated.
One of the trial prosecutors, Gevorg Baghdasarian, insisted on Tuesday that the Constitutional Court has no legal grounds to declare the coup charge unconstitutional. He also said the ECHR and the Venice Commission did not conclude that the case should be dropped.
For his part, Tigran Yegorian, a lawyer representing relatives of nine people killed in March 2008 unrest, said he looks forward to the replacement of the three Constitutional Court judges. He said it should make the court more impartial.
The High-level Video Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation was held on 18 June 2020, with the participation of 25 countries from the Belt and Road family. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, attended the conference as special guests. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, chaired the event.
The conference is being held at a crucial time, as the whole world is going through a devastating pandemic and facing various challenges. This is especially the case for developing nations, which are more vulnerable. Public health is at stake in many countries, including the developed world. The US is the worst-hit country followed by the EU, Russia, Brazil and India. The global economy is suffering a massive impact, and some countries are already in a recession. China was the first country to become a victim of COVID-19, but due to hard work, the right policies and timely decisions, China has also become the first country to bring COVID-19 under control.
Against this backdrop, the conference served as an excellent forum for discussing the various issues and challenges facing the world, and for building consensus on how to address these issues and formulate a policy collectively.
Wang Yi said, "COVID-19, with its wide-ranging impact, is posing a challenge to humankind that has rarely been seen before. In order to defeat the virus, the world must come together in solidarity, partnership, and cooperation. For this reason, China initiated the Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation and hopes that at such a crucial time, a message of unity and cooperation from Belt and Road partners will bolster confidence in promoting Belt and Road cooperation and in defeating the virus."
Despite the devastating impact of the pandemic globally, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has continued to grow in both depth and substance. It has evolved into the largest platform for international cooperation, and has played an increasingly vital role in promoting development and prosperity around the world. Following last year's successful Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, it has embarked on a new phase of high-quality cooperation. Over the past year and more, despite setbacks like COVID-19 and a sluggish global economy, Belt and Road cooperation has pressed ahead against all the odds, making new and encouraging progress.
The BRI family of partners has continued to expand. Over the past year, 29 new government-to-government (G2G) cooperation documents were signed, bringing the total number of such documents to 200. Trade and economic exchanges have also continued to expand. In 2019, trade in goods between China and BRI partners topped US$1.3 trillion, up by 6 percent. Chinese investment in Belt and Road countries increased by US$15 billion. In the first quarter of this year, trade between China and its BRI partners rose by 3.2 percent, and direct investment by China was up by 11.7 percent.
President Xi Jinping said in a written message to the conference that it was a highly important meeting that allows Belt and Road cooperation partners to discuss a collective response to COVID-19, advance Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen international solidarity and cooperation. Whether it is in taming the virus or in achieving economic recovery, we cannot succeed without solidarity, cooperation, and multilateralism. The right approach to tackling global crises and realizing long-term development is through greater connectivity, openness, and inclusiveness."
President Xi's remarks are pertinent to the rapidly changing geopolitical situation and emerging global challenges. China has the potential, capability, requisite experience, strong political will, and visionary leadership to lead the world in the post-pandemic era. This conference has provided the basic framework for future cooperation and developments.
Pakistan is the biggest supporter of BRI and its largest beneficiary. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project under BRI, and both countries are committed to making it a success story and exemplary model for the rest of the world to follow.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi participated in the conference. He underscored that besides causing deaths, the COVID-19 pandemic had shaken the world and led to economic slowdown, bankruptcies, financial fissures, job losses and disruption of global supply chains. Highlighting the dangers the pandemic posed to social and political stability, the foreign minister said it was time for the international community to "demonstrate unity, solidarity, and multilateral cooperation to fight this pandemic."
The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People's Daily Online.
Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected]
India on Tuesday asked Pakistan to reduce its staff strength in the country by half, a decision that comes weeks after the police expelled two staffers at the high commission in Delhi on charges of spying. In the tit-for-tat action that followed, Pakistani security agencies picked two Indian high commission staffers in Islamabad, tortured them and framed them in a false case of a road accident and possession of fake currency.
The proposal, as first reported by Hindustan Times, had been moved as soon as horrifying details of the torture of two Indian staffers was conveyed to the external affairs ministry on June 16.
Government officials told Hindustan Times that the high commissions in Delhi and Islamabad had an agreed strength of 110 officials. This strength has been halved to 55. Both the countries currently have about 90-plus officials.
The external affairs ministry on Tuesday summoned Pakistans Charge d Affaires Syed Haider Shah and told them about Indias continuing concern about the activities of officials of his mission who have been engaged in acts of espionage and dealing with terrorist organisations.
Also Read: Beaten with rods, made to drink filthy water: 2 Indian staffers were tortured in Pak
Back in Islamabad, Syed Haider Shah was told, Pakistan has engaged in a sustained campaign to intimidate the officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad from carrying on their legitimate diplomatic functions.
The two officials who had returned on Monday, the external affairs ministry said, had provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies.
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 external affairs ministry said.
Therefore, the Government of India has taken the decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50%. 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, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.
In the discussions on the plan to halve the mission strength, a senior government official said, New Delhi had taken into account how Indian high commission officials in Islamabad were hardly able to move out of the mission due to fear that they could be picked up and framed in fake cases by Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence. In contrast, Pakistani officials in Delhi have been going around freely, some of them even tapping people for classified information.
Pakistan had last August downgraded diplomatic ties after India scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status and carved out two centrally-administered union territories. The missions of the two countries have since then been headed by a charge daffaires, not a high commissioner.
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Appointment
23 June 2020
The crew of Jaz in the City are delighted that Michael Fritz, formerly General Manager of the Steigenberger Hotel Treudelberg Hamburg, has been given the task of getting the Jaz in the City Vienna up and running as the hotel prepares for its official opening in the summer of 2021.
Michael Fritz sees Vienna very much as his second home, and he is now set to return to the city to assume responsibility General Manager a.k.a. The Band Leader for the pre-opening stage of the latest addition to the Jaz Family with effect from 1 September. After Amsterdam and Stuttgart, Jaz in the City Vienna will become the third offspring of the hotel brand for music enthusiasts in the summer of 2021. Jaz in the City Dubai will follow in 2022.
Born in Baden, Michael is an electronic music fan who began his career in the hotel sector by completing initial training in the occupation of hotel specialist. By 2001, he was already working as an administrative assistant at the Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin in Stuttgart. He then gained further experience with Hilton in Mainz and Vienna. He took on his first role as General Manager at the latter, before being appointed Head of Operations at The Westin Grand in Frankfurt.
A construction worker was found dead on a Cibolo roadway Tuesday afternoon, according to the Cibolo Police Department.
The 69-year-old man appears to have had a medical episode, CPD spokesperson Matt Schima said.
Officers were called to the 200 block of Asiago around 2 p.m. for an unresponsive man. First responders started life-saving measures but were unsuccessful.
The man, who was working on a nearby house, had gone outside to use the restroom. His coworkers noticed he had been gone for a while, so they went to check on him and found him in the roadway.
Police said management from Chesmar Homes, a construction company, was on scene and expresses its condolences to the family.
"As temperatures rise, we wish to remind the public to stay hydrated, work in pairs, and take frequent breaks to combat the Texas heat," police said in a statement.
No foul play is suspected at this time, Schima said. The family has been notified.
The suspension of H-1B and other non-immigrants visa by President Donald Trump is a big blow to the US industry and will undoubtedly impact the already fragile economic recovery process in the country, an India-centric American business advocacy group said on Tuesday.
President Trump on Monday issued the proclamation to temporarily suspend a number of popular non-immigrant visas, including the H-1B, H-4, H-2B visa, J and L visas. It will come into effect from June 24. The proclamation also extends till the end of the year his previous executive order that had banned issuing of new green cards of lawful permanent residency.
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum President and CEO, Mukesh Aghi, in fact, urged the Trump Administration to strengthen the program by increasing the number allotted visas and by tightening the existing loopholes in the program.
"Coming on the heels of the COVID crisis, the suspension of the non-immigrant visa program is a big blow to the US industry and will undoubtedly impact the already fragile economic recovery process here in the US. It also has the potential to do permanent damage to the US's reputation of attracting the best and the brightest," Aghi said.
In today's uncertain economic times, stability and predictability in the non-immigrant visa programs will ensure that businesses can operate with the continuity they need to meet their obligations and contribute to America's economic strength, innovation, and competitiveness, he asserted.
Temporary workers add tremendous value to the US economy, bringing necessary skills and expertise to supplement the US workforce. They add to America's competitiveness, not detract from it. Temporary workers also contribute to the local economies they work and reside in by spending in local stores and paying taxes, he argued.
Aghi said entrepreneurial immigration in the US-India corridor creates win-win opportunities for both countries.
In a recent survey, a sample of 12 Indian-born startups showed they created 634 high-paying jobs in the United States, and over 6,200 jobs worldwide. For every H1/ L1 visa issued to these startups, they created 40 jobs in the United States at a median income of USD175,000.
"We therefore urge the US administration to strengthen the program by increasing the number of allotted visas and by tightening the existing loopholes in the program," Aghi said, a day after Trump issued a proclamation to suspend issuing of H-1B visas, which is popular among Indian IT professionals, along with other foreign work visas for the rest of the year.
Trump said the step was essential to help millions of Americans who have lost their jobs due to the current economic crisis. The proclamation is expected to impact a large number of Indian IT professionals and several American and Indian companies who were issued H-1B visas by the US government for the fiscal year 2021 beginning October 1.
Top American Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also came out in support of legal immigration.
"Legal immigration is a positive for the American economy, and visa programs allowing American companies to secure qualified, legal labor throughout the world have benefitted economic growth in the United States," he said in a tweet.
However, Congressman Mo Brooks from Alabama supported the proclamation. "I'm pleased President Trump heeded the advice of my colleagues and I who recently asked for a halt to importing cheap foreign labor." he said.
US Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia argued that the proclamation ensures that certain nonimmigrants can be excepted from the suspension where necessary to facilitate the immediate and continued economic recovery of the United States.
Trump's actions are supported by important actions being taken at the Department of Labor to reform the H-1B visa program. The Department is strengthening wage protections and addressing abuses in the H-1B program, such as when non-US workers are hired by one company to displace US workers at another company, he said.
"The Labor Department is also increasing its cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security to identify businesses that misuse the H-1B program to the detriment of American workers," Scalia said.
The proclamation unveiled by Trump temporarily pauses the issuance of certain new non-immigrant visas until December 31, 2020, which could be extended as necessary.
Trump has also directed to use all available tools to transition to a merit-based immigration system, ending often-exploited avenues for fraud and abuse. New provisions include non-displacement provisions, which prohibit companies from laying off American workers only to replace citizen employees with foreign nationals, and new efforts to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining work permits, the Department of Homeland Security said.
The Congress on Tuesday hit back at the BJP for attacking Rahul Gandhi over his statements on the Ladakh standoff with China and alleged the ruling party has "lost its political balance and its leaders their balance of thought".
"It is extremely regrettable that the BJP and its government have lost its political balance and its spokespersons are bankrupt of ideas and have lost the balance of thought, as also balanced thinking in every manner possible. Their entire perverted, perverse thought process is pitiable," said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.
The Congress and the BJP have been engaged in a slugfest over the LAC standoff with China at Ladakh, with each attacking the other for the past few days.
The BJP had earlier in the day attacked the Congress, alleging that it is deriving "sadistic pleasure" by "showing" that India has lost land to China.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit out at Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging they are "conspiring" to lower the Indian Army's morale. He took exception to the Congress Working Committee meeting and its criticism of the Modi government on a day the Army chief was visiting Ladakh.
The Congress has surrendered its shame to China, he alleged.
"The Congress is deriving sadistic pleasure," he said, adding that the party should not use misfortunes like COVID-19 or the standoff with China as a "launch pad" for the "falling career" of its "clown prince".
Addressing a virtual press conference after the CWC meeting, Surjeala said the BJP's interest should be answering as to why did the government permit brazen Chinese transgressions into our territory.
"Why have the Chinese been permitted to or how dare the Chinese encroach upon our land," he asked.
Surjewala said the Defence Minister, External Affairs Minister and the External Affairs Ministry have all spoken about Chinese incursions and intrusion, yet the Prime Minister chose to deny it completely.
"Is asking questions about brazen Chinese aggressions and as to how the Chinese encroach upon our territory, now anti-national or misleading the country?" the Congress leader asserted.
Surjewala also questioned the government on the number of Chinese intrusions since 2014 as also on ceasefire violations by Pakistan and alleged that the highest number of soldiers and civilians have died on the border under the BJP government.
"If this is the act and conduct of a government that thrives on pseudo-nationalism and fake strength then it is our duty on behalf of India to ask these questions of the government and we will not fail India in adhering to our duty," he said.
ISTANBUL Turkeys Black minority has joined the global protest against the killing of African-American George Floyd, part of the communitys greater expression of its identity in a country that is often loath to embrace its diversity.
Turks of African descent gathered in the western port city of Izmir earlier this month to condemn US police brutality as protests spread from Minneapolis, where Floyds May 25 killing was caught on video, across the United States to Europe and the Middle East, transforming the Black Lives Matter movement into a global cry for social justice.
Often called Afro-Turks, Turkey's tens of thousands of Black citizens live mainly in Izmir and towns near the Aegean coast, many of them descendants of slaves brought to the Ottoman Empire. In recent years, they have established associations, organized cultural events, run for political office and are working with researchers to record their underdocumented history.
An annual highlight is the Calf Festival, once celebrated by slaves and revived in 2007. Each spring hundreds of residents, both Black and white, don African-style masks and dress to dance in a parade through Izmirs city center. This year, the coronavirus outbreak forced organizers to cancel.
We walk with pride, whereas previously we were timid, worried people would make comments. I realized this was a mistake. As people learn more about us, we are met with greater understanding, said Sakir Doguluer, head of the African Culture, Solidarity and Assistance Association, also known as the Afro-Turks Association.
Todays population is difficult to ascertain, as ethnicity is not asked on the Turkish census and generations of intermarriage have blurred ethnic lines. Doguluer estimated there are between 25,000 and 100,000, including in Konya, Adana, Istanbul and along the Black Sea.
Nevertheless, few in Turkey seem aware that one million Africans were forcibly brought to the empire, from the Balkans to north Africa and the Persian Gulf, in the 19th century alone, according to an educated guess by Hakan Erdem, history professor at Sabanci University and one of Turkeys few scholars working on slavery.
Slavery is perceived as a foreign phenomenon, which it is not. From the beginning, Ottoman society was slaveholding, he said. Its not taught in schools [and] its not part of the social and learned memory of Turkish citizens.
Historians have found evidence of Black slaves in present-day Turkey as far back as the 14th century, and Ottomans traded in African eunuchs beginning in the late 1500s, some of whom rose to powerful posts in the imperial regime. Most Afro-Turks trace their roots to east Africa, including Sudan and Ethiopia, and forebears who labored in Aegean cotton and tobacco fields in the 1800s. Others were forced to work in households as cooks and child caregivers or became soldiers and civil servants.
The practice never rivaled the transatlantic slave trade in scale nor brutality. It was not delineated along the same racial lines, with whites from captured territories also enslaved. Manumission rates were high, and indentured servitude also existed. After the sultan bowed to international pressure and banned their trade in 1857, the authorities intercepted captives at Izmirs ports and settled them as immigrants in villages, a handful of which remain majority-Black, said Erdem. Yet the Ottomans did not abolish slavery outright and clandestine bondage persisted into the early 20th century.
The lack of awareness of Afro-Turks origins parallels Turkeys often uneasy relationship with other minorities. Most Christians have been forced out over the last century, while other ethnic groups have been largely assimilated. The cultural and political expression of Kurds, Turkeys biggest minority group, is curtailed. The European Union has long pointed to Turkeys treatment of ethnic, religious and national groups as a matter of serious concern, though it doesnt mention Afro-Turks.
Yet Turks view racism as someone elses problem. Nearly two-thirds believe racism does not exist in Turkey, according to a survey released this month by Istanbul Economy Research. More than half said the police killings in the United States would not occur in Turkey despite a number of such incidents, including the shooting death of a Syrian teenager in April.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his American counterpart Donald Trump that Floyds killing was inhumane and said Islam compels him to fight the mistreatment of Blacks and refugees, without acknowledging the criticism of Turkeys own human rights record.
Mesut Mercan, who launched an unsuccessful bid for mayor of the western town of Selcuk last year and describes himself as a good Turkish nationalist, also credited Islam for staving off the uglier forms of racism that have roiled the United States. His group, the African Turks Development and Solidarity Association, organized one protest of Floyds killing, pledging to send 1,000 Qurans to US activists. Most Afro-Turks are practicing Muslims and are fiercely proud to call themselves Turks.
The Ottoman understanding of slavery was not based on race. There is a world of difference with those Americans whose ancestors were abducted from their lands with chains around their necks and ankles, said Mercan. His family first arrived in Turkey 400 years ago as free people, he said.
The Afro-Turks Association took part in another anti-racism rally to say to the world, those with African roots living in Turkey do not endure the racism that occurs in America or Europe, said vice chair Beyhan Turkkollu.
They are sometimes confronted with subtler forms of discrimination, such as being mistaken for foreign tourists, she said. The misnomer Arabs is used for Blacks, as is the pejorative zenci, borrowed from Arabic for dark skinned. Recent African migrants in Turkey say they are disrespected, including being touched or laughed at by strangers on the street.
The relatively open nature of the Ottoman system of slavery allowed those of African descent to enter wider society, including through marriage, which continues today, Erdem said. But that melding has also meant traces of African culture, like language, are all but lost today.
One of the main characteristics, what identifies and affects us, is our color, its all we have left. Mixed marriages cause that color to disappear, but this has helped create a richer culture, Turkkollu said. Vestiges of the past can be found in food, including a traditional okra dish that may have originated in Africa, she said.
The late activist Mustafa Olpak, who founded the Afro-Turks Association, is widely credited with removing the veil surrounding his community, writing a 2005 memoir that explored his familys passage from Kenya to Greece and on to Turkey. Nikki Brown, a professor of history at the University of Kentucky, completed the American edition of Olpaks story, to be published by Stanford University Press next year.
Mustafa took this huge chance to talk about the role that ethnicity and race plays in Turkish identity, Brown said. In her own research, she is often confronted by claims in Turkey that slavery was a long time ago and the Afro-Turks are dredging up bad memories by talking about it," she said. "That excuse really resonated with me as an African-American.
The passage of time has made recording the history of Afro-Turks more urgent. Brown is working on an oral history project in western Turkey and plans to publish a book with subjects photographs and stories, as well as a digital archive for the community.
A lot of these people are [elderly], and their stories are dying with them. There is so little literature on their history that these people become the living, walking narratives of the entire history of the Afro-Turks, she said.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new comments since its initial publication.
The Ministry of Finance has officially asked the Government to cut 50 percent of the registration fee for customers who buy locally-produced and assembled automobiles.
This is the key part of a governmental decree drafted by the finance ministry, which is expected to be applied from this month until the end of this year.
The draft decree was opened to ideas from ministries, sectors, localities, the business community, organisations and individuals before being sent to the Government for approval.
The ministry has received 47 contributions, including those from ministries of Foreign Affairs and Industry and Trade, to ensure compatibility between the decree with relevant international treaties, of which Vietnam is a member.
All participants agreed with the need for this decree for the development of the domestic automobile industry as well as its contents.
The ministrys preliminary assessment shows that the cut of 50 percent of the registration fee for locally-manufactured and assembled vehicles will affect local budget revenue in the last six months of this year, with an estimated amount of 3.7 trillion VND (159 million USD).
According to current regulations, the buyers of cars with nine seats or less have to pay registration fee of 10 percent of the car value in cities and provinces, except for Hanoi, which applies a rate of 12 percent.
Meanwhile, buyers of pick-up trucks with transport volume of less than 1,500 kilos and five seats or fewer, and vans with capacity of 1,500 kilos or less, will pay an amount equal to 60 percent of the nine-seat cars registration fee.
The average revenue generated by the registration fees on locally-manufactured and assembled vehicles is about 16 trillion VND per year.
Vietnam has initially controlled the COVID-19 pandemic, but the disease continues to affect countries around the world, showing no signs of slowing down. Many industries are heavily affected, including domestic automobile assembly and manufacturing.
During the social distancing period, most of the large car manufacturers and assemblers, such as Thaco, Thanh Cong, VinFast, Toyota, Ford and Honda, had to suspend production and assembly activities, causing disruptions to supply chains and demand.
Insiders said that domestic automakers have restarted production and resumed supply chains, but due to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic many difficulties lie ahead, especially for domestic automobile manufacturing and assembly enterprises who are dealing with high volumes of inventory.
Its predicted that the automobile market will not only be impacted this year but also for a few years to come.
The Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) says its members units consumed nearly 19,100 various cars in May, up 62 percent compared with the previous month. Of the sales, there were more than 13,000 passenger cars, 5,800 commercial vehicles, and 260 special purpose vehicles.
VAMA members sold 83,200 cars of all types this year, down 34 percent year-on-year.
The above figure does not include sales from other brands, which are not VAMA members, including TC MOTOR, Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, Subaru, Volkswagen and Volvo.
TC MOTOR (representative of Hyundai Thanh Cong brand), saw the highest volume in May sales with 4,800 units, bringing the total sales in the first five months of this year to 22,400 vehicles of all kinds.
Experts said that Vietnams automobile market rebounded sharply in May because the country removed social distancing regulations in April, helping stimulate demand. In addition, many auto businesses have launched discount and promotional programmes for customers, so the May sales figures improved./.VNS
Vietnam's automobile market sees 62 percent surge after social distancing The sales of automobile surged 62 percent month-on-month in May following the end of social distancing measures, according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA).
VANCOUVER, BC, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunniva Inc. ("Sunniva", the "Company", "we", "our" or "us") (CSE:SNN) (OTCQB:SNNVF) announced that, after the close of markets on June 22, 2020, the Company received a cease trade order (the "Cease Trade Order") issued by the British Columbia and Ontario Securities Commissions as a result of Sunniva's failure to file the following periodic disclosure (the "Annual Filings") required by British Columbia and Ontario securities legislation:
The Company's audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019;
Management's Discussion and Analysis relating to the Company's audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019;
Certification of the foregoing filings by the Company as required by National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings.
The Cease Trade Order, among other things, prohibits any person or company from trading, directly or indirectly, in any security of the Company in the Province of British Columbia, and in every other province or territory of Canada in which Sunniva is a reporting issuer and in which Multilateral Instrument 11-103 Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders in Multiple Jurisdictions applies, except for:
a beneficial securityholder of the Issuer who is not, and was not at the date of the Cease Trade Order, an insider or control person of the Issuer, may sell securities of the Issuer acquired before the date of the Cease Trade Order if both of the following apply:
the sale is made through a "foreign organized regulated market", as defined in section 1.1 of the Universal Market Integrity Rules of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada ; and
; and
the sale is made through an investment dealer registered in a jurisdiction of Canada in accordance with applicable securities legislation.
As previously announced, the Company has prepared its annual financial statements and plans to engage its auditors and begin the audit of the annual statements following confirmation of the waiver of conditions with respect to the sale of its property at Okanagan Falls, British Columbia (the "OK Falls Transaction"), announced on June 8, 2020. The waiver of conditions for the OK Falls Transaction is expected on July 2, 2020. At this time, the Company is unable to estimate when the Annual Filings will be completed and filed. The Company will provide updates with respect to the Annual Filings when in a position to do so.
Holders of Sunniva securities are urged to consult with their own investment advisors or legal counsel about the implications of the Cease Trade Order.
A copy of the Cease Trade Order has been posted on the website of the Canadian Securities Administrators at cto-iov.csa-acvm.ca and will be posted on the Company's website.
For more information about the Company please visit: www.sunniva.com.
The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information or Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information or statements. All statements that are or information which is not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, statements regarding the receipt of the waiver of conditions with respect to the OK Falls Transaction on July 2, 2020, the Company's plans to engage its auditors to begin the audit of the annual statements following confirmation of the waiver of conditions for the OK Falls Transaction, and the Company's inability to currently estimate when the filing of the Annual Filings will be completed are "forward-looking information or statements". Forward-looking information or statements 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 statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. With respect to forward-looking information and statements contained herein, Sunniva has made numerous assumptions including, among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in the Sunniva's continuous disclosure documents available on www.sedar.com. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information or statements. Although Sunniva has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information or statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking information or statements. Sunniva assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or statements, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law.
Company Contacts:
Sunniva Inc.
Sunniva Investor Relations Dr. Anthony Holler
Rob Knowles Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
VP Corporate Development Phone: (866) 786-6482
Phone: (587) 316-4319
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Sunniva Inc.
A U.S. spacesuit is pictured in the Quest airlock during a break in spacewalk preparations. Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy and Flight Engineer Bob Behnken will exit the International Space Station on June 26 and July 1 for a pair of spacewalks to upgrade power systems on the orbiting laboratory. Credit: NASA. (June 21, 2020)
Two NASA astronauts are getting ready for Friday's spacewalk to continue upgrading power systems on the International Space Station.
The other three Expedition 63 crewmembers today explored a variety of microgravity phenomena to improve health and industry on Earth and in space.
Commander Chris Cassidy and Flight Engineer Bob Behnken spent Monday afternoon reviewing the tools and procedures they will use during Friday's spacewalk. They were joined by fellow NASA astronaut Doug Hurley who will assist the duo in and out of their spacesuits and monitor their spacewalk activities. The two spacewalkers then checked their U.S. spacesuits and organized the Quest airlock where they will stage Friday's excursion.
Cassidy and Behnken will set their spacesuits to internal power on Friday around 7:35 a.m. EDT officially beginning their spacewalk. The duo will swap old nickel-hydrogen batteries with new lithium-ion batteries on the Starboard-6 truss structure. The batteries store power collected from the station's main solar arrays and distribute it throughout the orbiting lab.
Hurley spent the first half of his Monday working on fluid and combustion physics. He first explored how microfluidics can cause biochemical reactions in blood revealing mechanisms hidden on Earth. Next, he researched fabricating composite materials to learn how to repair and build structures on future space missions.
Cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin serviced laptop computers and stowed hardware used during a plasma crystal study in the station's Russian segment. Fellow cosmonaut Ivan Vagner configured cameras then worked on a study that provides high precision predictions of the station's motion and orbit.
This year, @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug made special memories with their sons around the #LaunchAmerica mission. This Father's Day, listen to these dads discuss sharing the excitement of spaceflight with their children. pic.twitter.com/iEYdez5a9e Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) June 21, 2020
On-Orbit Status Report
Payloads
Materials Science Laboratory- Sample Cartridge Assembly-Gravitational Effects on Distortion in Sintering (MSL SCA-GEDS)-German: The crew performed the activities needed to exchange the processed science sample cartridge assembly (SCA) with a new SCA for run C3. Liquid phase sintering is an important means to fabricate net-shape composite materials for applications over a range of industries. The science of liquid phase sintering is about 50 years old, but practice dates from the 1400s when gold was used to bond platinum in Columbia and Ecuador. Today, it is a mainstay in a diversity of fields, such as metal cutting tools, armor piercing projectiles, automotive engine connecting rods, and self-lubricating bearings. Future applications include use of liquid phase sintering as a means to perform in-space fabrication and repair, and for example using lunar regolith to fabricate structures on the moon or using metal powder to fabricate replacement components during extraterrestrial exploration. The MSL SCA-GEDS-German experiment focuses on determining the underlying scientific principles to forecast density, size, shape, and properties for liquid phase sintered bodies over a broad range of compositions in Earth-gravity (1g) and microgravity (g) conditions.
Capillary Driven Microfluidics: The crew performed a plate changeout in order to begin the 3rd cartridge run. Capillary-Driven Microfluidics in Space (Capillary Driven Microfluidics) examines the drawing of fluids into a tiny narrow tube in microgravity. Results may improve current mathematical models and understanding of microfluidic systems and improve fluid control in various devices. Diagnostic devices require separation of blood cells and plasma, which have different densities, and the absence of sedimentation and buoyancy-driven convection in microgravity improves the efficiency of this separation.
RED-EYE: The crew depressed the JEM airlock in preparation of the JEM slide table extension. The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) will capture and then maneuver the REDEYE-3 satellite for deployment. The RED-EYE program develops and demonstrates technologies which increase the utility of low-cost microsatellites using the Kaber Micro Satellite Deployer attached to the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM).
Systems
S6 Battery Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Preparations: Today, the ISS crew continued preparing for the upcoming S6 battery upgrade EVAs by performing an equipment lock prep activity for Extravehicular Activity Mobility Units (EMUs) 3004 and 3006. Additionally, procedure reviews and a procedure conference were also completed by the ISS crew and ground support teams. The first of two S6 channel 1B battery EVAs is planned for June 26, 2020.
H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)9 Cargo Operations: Today, the crew continued to perform HTV9 cargo transfer operations. Ground teams estimate ~8 hours of cargo operations remain to complete available cargo ops.
Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Maintenance: Today, the crew removed and replaced (R&R) the WHC Urine Receptacle and Insert Filter. After replacement, a functionality test of the WHC was performed and the WHC was declared operational. During previous maintenance, crew discovered precipitates in the pre-treated urine lines downstream from the WHC Pump Separator. Prior to the R&R, the crew inspected the lines to ensure precipitates had not returned to the WHC.
Completed Task List Activities:
EVA Airlock Unstow Part 2
Radio Frequency Identification Logistics Power Cycle
Today's Ground Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Robotics SPDM Targetless Grasp Demonstration
ATS PPL Update
Airlock LTL initiation
Parallel DDCU Reconfiguration
Look Ahead Plan
Tuesday, 6/23 (GMT 175)
Payloads:
REDEYE-3 Deploy Imagery
Systems:
EMU OFV
ROBoT EVA OBT
Acoustic Monitors Surveys
Wednesday, 6/24 (GMT 176)
Payloads:
FSL SMD sample exchange (ESA)
Space Studio KIBO laptop setup (JAXA)
CDM Plate Changeout (NASA)
EM Hardware Stow (NASA)
Systems:
HTV Cargo Ops
HMS WinSCAT
OBT Med Contingency Drill
EVA Safer C/O
EVA Suit IV Review
EVA Cuff Print
Thursday, 6/25 (GMT 177)
Payloads:
RADIN Deploy (ESA)
Systems:
EVA Tool Audit
EVA Procedure Review/Conference
EVA Equipment Lock Prep Pt 2
EVA PGT Battery Install
HMS WinSCAT
Today's Planned Activities:
All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.
Acoustic Monitor Setup for Crew Worn Measurements
JEM Airlock Depressurization
PK-4 data hard drives exchange
VECTOR-T. Installation of Nikon till Camera on window No. 9, settings adjustment, start imagery+C19. Setup and Checkout
Capillary Driven Microfluidics Plate Changeout
Photo/TV Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Camera Configuration
Packing of PK-4 Hard Drives inside Bubble Wrap Bags for return stowage on Soyuz
URAGAN. Observation and photography using Photo Equipment
Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Urine Hose Inspection
Configuration Setup and SW Installation on RS Remote LP
In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Urine Receptacle (UR) & Insert Filter (IF) Remove and Replace with Pre-Treated Urine Inspect
Testing RS Remote Laptop with Central Post Computers 1 and 2 in USOS
ISS repress with O2 from Progress 443 (DC1) Section 1
Material Science Laboratory Big Picture Words & Operations Review
Transfer Operations - Pack and stow items on HTV
Material Science Laboratory SCA Exchange NB1#4
Photo/TV JEM HDSDI Cable Swap
[] comm assets switchover to the primary string
Onboard Training (OBT) Robotics On-board Trainer (ROBoT) Setup
Auxiliary Laptop Computer System Anti-Virus Software Update
Preventive Maintenance of FS1 Laptop
SSC-16 Logout
Routine monthly maintenance of BRI
Cleaning Nikon still camera Digital Image Sensor
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review & Conference
Current converter fan () screen cleaning
Changeout of Replaceable Condensate Removal Lines [], preparation
Fan screen cleaning in MRM1 (group )
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Equipment Lock Preparation Part 1
Acoustic Monitor Battery Swap
Preparing for SW Antivirus Scan on Auxiliary Computer System Laptops
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Fuxi, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation was commemorated on Monday at a ceremony held in the city of Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province.
After the drum beating and bell tolling, a eulogy was read as part of the rituals. Worshippers offered sacrifices to the statue of Fuxi at the Fuxi Temple and paid floral tributes.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, this year less than 300 people participated in the commemoration ceremony. However, an online forum was created so worshippers at home and abroad can pay their tributes to Fuxi.
Taiwan also organized a similar annual event on the same day and at the same time, marking the seventh year of simultaneous commemoration of this legendary figure by the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
"Fuxi culture is one of the origins of Chinese civilization. Holding a commemoration for him can help deepen the sense of national identity," said Wang Mausong from Taiwan, adding that it was his second time to participate in the ceremony in Tianshui.
Fuxi is believed to be the inventor of writing, fishing and hunting. Unearthed millennia-old stone carvings depict Fuxi as half-human, half-snake. Tianshui is deemed as Fuxi's birthplace.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) All parts of the Philippines will remain under a form of community quarantine after the COVID-19 task force revised its guidelines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who also serves as the spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force, on Tuesday said a recalibration of current parameters was issued by the IATF.
Under Resolution No. 48, there will only be four levels of community quarantine: the strictest enhanced community quarantine, modified ECQ, general community quarantine, and the most relaxed modified GCQ.
The classification of "new normal," which means there are no travel and business restrictions as long as minimum health standards are observed, has been removed under the new directive.
"Sa ngayon wala munang new normal, ibig sabihin lahat ng lugar sa Pilipinas, meron pa ring community quarantine," he said in a media briefing.
[Translation: For now there will be no 'new normal' classification. This means the entire country will be under some form of community quarantine.]
High-risk areas will be placed on ECQ or MECQ based on case doubling time -- or the number of days it takes for cases to double -- and critical care utilization rate, which refers to the percentage of mechanical ventilators and isolation beds in temporary facilities as well as hospitals that being utilized. The two rates are used to gauge the health system's capacity to cope with infections.
Moderate-risk areas will be under GCQ or MGCQ, while low-risk areas will be placed on MGCQ.
The community quarantine issued by President Rodrigo Duterte is set to end on June 30. He is set to issue a fresh order before that date.
For the LGUs who want to appeal their community quarantine status, they need to submit information on daily trend of cases, available isolation beds, health system capacity targets, and utilization.
Meanwhile, IATF also approved longer hours for restaurants to entertain dine-in customers. Roque said the operation of restaurants dine-in services is extended until 9 p.m. as several local government units eased curfew hours.
Restaurants and other food establishments in areas under GCQ are allowed to operate their dine-in services up to 30 percent, while those in MGCQ areas can operate up to 50 percent store capacity.
The countrys coronavirus cases went up to 30,682 on Monday, with the Department of Health reporting another 630 infections. The DOH also added 250 to the tally of recoveries, which rose to 8,143. However, the death toll is now at 1,177, after eight more lost their lives to the disease.
Around 150 protesters gathered outside the Manitoba Law Courts Monday afternoon to kick off eight days of flash protests calling for justice for Black lives.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/6/2020 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Around 150 protesters gathered outside the Manitoba Law Courts Monday afternoon to kick off eight days of flash protests calling for justice for Black lives.
"Local officials are not taking demands seriously," a statement published on social media by organizers Justice 4 Black Lives reads. "These pop-up protests are a perfect way for our message to be heard loud and clear."
Protests will take place from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the rest of the week at different locations that will be announced through social media in the morning that day.
Mondays York Avenue rally was dedicated to American activist Oluwatoyin Salau, a 19 year old from Florida who had been active in the Black Lives Matter movement who disappeared shortly after discussing her sexual assault online. She was found dead on June 13. Her death is under investigation as a homicide.
Winnipeggers held a moment of silence in her memory and chanted her name. Other chants included "No justice, no peace, no racist police," and "Black Lives Matter."
Justice 4 Black Lives also organized a rally June 5 that drew 15,000 protesters and will be calling on local leaders throughout the week to implement demands drafted by the organization in collaboration with several local communities.
Justice 4 Black Lives Winnipeg plans to hold a rally every day this week. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)
The demands, which are expressed through an online petition that currently has more than 60,000 signatures, include defunding the Winnipeg Police Service and for the city to reopen investigations into the deaths of several people of colour shot and killed by police in Winnipeg. Recent amendments to the petition made additions including a freeze on police hiring and "true, genuine Black Canadian history" to be implemented in the provincial education curriculum.
Calls to defund police were intensified by supporters after the June 11 arrest of Flinn Nolan Dorian, 33, an Indigenous man in the Exchange District. Video footage showed police kicking, kneeling on and punching Dorian seven times. The police department has stood by the actions of its officers.
One attendee said she had chosen to come as a Black feminist fighting for change.
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"I see the importance of us coming together and fighting for this movement. I do see the need for change and this is the best moment for us to bring about social change," Jessica DaSilva said.
DaSilva said she hoped to attend the entire week of protests, and had attended the June 5 rally. Winnipeg has a way to go to achieve justice, but the ability to get there, she said.
"I think Winnipeg has lots of potential, when you think about the diversity and how people come together and the resilience of the city," she said,
"So I do believe that we can work together and come together, and make sure that the politicians, those in power, (are) listening to us."
malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: malakabas_
At a time when the anti-China sentiments calling for economic boycott is looming large as a result of border standoff in Eastern Ladakh, the Chennai customs on Tuesday held up China-centric consignments, leaving importers anxious
According to the sources, the imported consignments, most of them manufacturing raw materials including semiconductors, arrived in Chennai Monday late night and have not yet been cleared by the Customs department. However, the materials arrived from the other countries are already cleared. It left at least 60 manufacturers in the town in stress as the Customs did not reveal the reason for held up, the sources said
'Its true that the Customs department keeps delaying the process of clearing the consignments from China since Monday night. We are told that they kept the process delayed due to the intelligence report and a thorough checking on consignments underway based on intelligence input. However, the Customs officials did not reveal the details of the Intelligence. We hope it will be cleared in a day, said S. Nataraja, President, Chennai Customs Brokers Association (CCBA).
However, many importers doubt that Customs department has been given oral instruction from the government to hold delivery of goods from China as part of the China boycott campaign.
An importer said that the current situation came at a time when the global supply chain has already been badly impacted due to Covid19 pandemic. It may be recalled that thousands of containers that arrived from China post outbreak had been stranded in February last at various Indian ports as documents giving details of goods inside the boxes that need to be given to Indian consignees were stuck inside locked offices of shippers at Chinese cities.
Meanwhile, R. Srinivasa Naik, Customs Commissioner (Import) told DC that he had got nothing in writing from the senior officials about the boycott of China products. The current issue did happen due to specific intelligence inputs. We held up the consignments from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong for checking. The materials arrived from the other countries have already been released. We know that many manufacturers are anxious as the country witnesses a boycott campaign against Chinese products. We have been getting calls from concerned importers since the morning. The things will be back to normalcy by Wednesday morning, Commissioner said.
The border clash between India and China on June 15, which left dozens of Chinese and Indian military personnel dead, has significantly heightened international tensions. While the US has aggressively intervened on the side of India, Russia sees the clash as a major challenge to its geo-strategy and has been heavily involved in trying negotiate a resolution to the conflict.
Just two days after the clash occurred, on June 17, the Indian ambassador to Russia, D. Bala Venkatesh Varma, spoke on the phone with Russias deputy foreign minister, Igor Morgulov, about the border dispute. Last Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated that we are watching with great attention what is happening on the Chinese-Indian border and called the developments there very alarming.
Kashmiri Bakarwal nomads walk as an Indian army convoy moves on the Srinagar- Ladakh highway at Gagangeer, north-east of Srinagar, India, Wednesday, June 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Russia is hosting a meeting today with the Chinese and Indian foreign ministers in Moscow as part of the Russia-India-China trilateral grouping (RIC). According to media reports, the sides have agreed not to discuss the border dispute and instead focus solely on the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, the Indian defense minister Rajnath Singh will be participating in a victory day parade to celebrate the end of World War II in Moscow. The parade, originally planned for May 9, had been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. It is being held now under conditions where the Russian economy has been fully reopened despite a spike in cases.
The conflict between India and China is posing a fundamental challenge to Russias foreign policy in Asia and, more broadly, on the world stage. Russia has historically maintained close ties to India. Even though bilateral trade is relatively low, Russia is Indias largest supplier of weapons and both countries have a series of joint military production agreements. Moreover, Russia plays an important role in Indias civilian nuclear program
However, encircled by US imperialism and the European imperialist powers, over the past decade Russia has also been pushed into an increasingly close alliance with China, which has been engulfed in long-standing conflicts with India. Moscow and Beijing have developed a closer military collaboration, and Russia has pushed for several major economic projects, most notably the Power of Siberia pipeline.
While energy cooperation, in particular, has fallen far short of Russias expectationsthe Russian economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas exports, and China has been unwilling to pay the prices asked by Moscowit has become a central component of Moscows economic and geopolitical strategy.
By contrast, India, especially under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been fully integrated into the war drive by US imperialism against China. India has undertaken major military purchases from the US, including very advanced military technology that the US only sells to its closest allies, and the countries undertake a large number of joint military exercises. Under Modi, New Delhi has also made its military bases available to US warships and warplanes.
Under conditions of growing isolation on the world stage, Russia has sought to maintain good relations with both India and China. Moscow has pushed for several organizations that include all three powers, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an economic and security alliance, and the RIC. Russia has tried to use India, in particular, to counterbalance Chinas growing influence in Central Asia, where Russias economic interests in countries of the former Soviet Union often clash with those of Beijing. More generally, Russia is also concerned about becoming too dependent on China on both a political and economic level.
At the same time, the Indian government has refrained from joining the anti-Russia campaign of US and European imperialism, which has escalated in recent years over the Ukraine conflict and the Syrian war. Moreover, despite vocal objections from Washington, India has purchased Russias S-400 defense system. The finalization of the purchase will also be a subject of discussion during Indias defense minister Rajnath Singhs visit to Moscow this week.
In May, at the 2020 Valdai Club meeting, an annual gathering of leading Russian foreign policy pundits and officials, Fyodor Lukyanov, Russias leading foreign policy analyst, insisted: We should by all means stay away from the flywheel of the US-Chinese confrontation, which is gaining momentum. One of the tasks of Russias foreign policy in the foreseeable future will be to accurately build a system of counterbalances that would on the one hand prevent us from being involved in this confrontation, and, on the other hand, enable us to use the fact that there are some other countries that have absolutely no intention to participate in it. There is a common task of positioning oneself in the new world in a new way. I think that India and Russia can play the role of flagships.
Vasily Kashin, senior research fellow at the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of the Far East, was quoted by TASS as saying: What makes the role of Russia and India so special is that the outcome of the US-Chinese standoff will depend on them. He added that Russias position implies certain opportunities, but it is rather risky at the same time.
A Russian diplomat told the Hindu that Moscow had high stakes at a global level in the conflict, adding that Good relations between India and China are central to the rise of Eurasia and the emergence of a multipolar world order, which is not dominated by a single pole.
This strategy is now threatened by the growing tensions between India and China, which are fueled, above all, by the US war drive against China. At the same time, notwithstanding the infighting within the American ruling class over foreign policy and the Kremlins repeated attempts to find a negotiated settlement with American imperialism, Washington has only further ratcheted up its encirclement of Russia, most recently by enhancing the NATO status of Ukraine.
The campaign against China has been escalated at even greater speed and intensity. In a recent piece in Foreign Affairs that reflects the intense discussions in Washington about war preparations against China, Michele A. Flournoy, the former undersecretary of defense for policy, noted that the risk of a war between the US and China, which would inevitably draw in India and enflame the entire Asian continent, is higher than it has been for decades, and it is growing.
Flournoy argued that the most significant obstacle to averting war in Asia was the allegedly low deterrence by the US against China, and complained that Washington had not delivered on its promised pivot to Asia, which had been initiated by Obama.
Flournoy proposed a series of measures to dramatically heighten the US military buildup and prepare for warfare in all domainsair, sea, undersea, space, cyberspace. She wrote, To reestablish credible deterrence of China, the United States must be able to prevent the success of any act of military aggression by Beijing, either by denying the PLAs [Peoples Liberation Army] ability to achieve its aims or by imposing costs so great that Chinese leaders ultimately decide that the act is not in their interest. And [Chinese President] Xi and his advisers must believe that the United States has not just the capability but also the resolve to carry through on any deterrent threat it makes.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 510 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, raising the statewide total to 82,696.
Across Pennsylvania, 6,464 have deaths have been tied to COVID-19, including 38 new deaths reported Tuesday, according to the health department. More than two-thirds of the states coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.
The health department released new data Tuesday. The figures reflect coronavirus cases and deaths reported as of midnight. There are 596,407 people who have tested negative.
The number of new cases has dropped in recent weeks. The health departments website reports 743 people are being treated in hospitals, which is about a quarter of the peak.
Most people who contract the virus suffer only mild symptoms, but COVID-19 can be more serious for seniors and those with health complications.
Throughout the last several weeks, Gov. Tom Wolf has been lifting the most aggressive restrictions his administration had put in place to slow the spread of the virus.
Going green
Wolf announced that 12 more counties will be moving this week to the green phase, the least restrictive in the governors color-coded plan to reopen Pennsylvania.
These counties will move to the green phase on June 26: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and Susquehanna. Philadelphia will maintain some restrictions until July 3.
By June 26, only one Pennsylvania county - Lebanon County - will remain in the yellow phase. The Wolf administration cited an uptick in cases and faulted Lebanon County officials for allowing businesses to open ahead of the states guidelines. Lebanon County lawmakers and businesses sharply criticized the Wolf administration for not moving the county to the green phase.
Republican lawmakers argue the governor is opening the state too slowly. Earlier this month, the GOP-controlled General Assembly passed a resolution directing Wolf to end the state of emergency, which he extended earlier this month. Wolf has said he would veto it, while Republican lawmakers say he lacks the authority.
The state Supreme Court agreed last week to take up the case.
Nursing homes
Statewide, 4,410 coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes. Those deaths account for 68 percent of the states COVID-19 fatalities.
The health department said 17,294 residents in those facilities have contracted the virus, along with 3,082 employees. Altogether, 20,376 people have been infected in long-term care facilities.
Cases have been found at 669 facilities in 49 counties.
The health department said 6,260 COVID-19 cases involve health care workers.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 22:08:44|Editor: huaxia
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TOKYO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa on Tuesday observed the 75th anniversary of the end of Battle of Okinawa, a bloody World War II ground battle that saw more than 200,00 lives lost on the island.
In his "peace declaration" at the ceremony held at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, located on the southern tip of the island, the site of the final stage of the bloody battle, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki urged the world to unite in peace.
"We send our heart seeking peace to the world and ask people to share it," Tamaki said at the ceremony attended by 160 Okinawan residents, scaled down from last year's 5,000 attendees, due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
According to Okinawa's prefectural government, 94,000 civilians, the equivalent of 25 percent of Okinawa's population in 1945, a similar number of Japanese soldiers, and more than 12,000 U.S. troops were killed during the savage four-month battle on the island which raged from March 1945.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, not invited to attend the ceremony amid a lengthy standoff between the local and central government over the relocation of a controversial U.S. base on the island, sent a message by video.
In the message, the Japanese premiere acknowledged the "tremendous burden that people in Okinawa have been bearing from a concentration of U.S. bases," adding that he was "determined to achieve results in stages in order to work toward relieving the burden."
Earlier this month, however, the Japanese government said it would continue to push forward with the contentious relocation of a U.S. military base within Okinawa, despite opponents to the move dominating in a recent local assembly election.
Okinawa hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan, yet the tiny sub-tropical island accounts for just a small fraction of Japan's total landmass.
Local residents in Okinawa have for decades been forced to shoulder the burden of hosting the majority of U.S. bases in the entire country and have often been the victims of U.S. base-linked workers' criminal activities, which have included heinous cases of rape and murder.
They have also had to endure a steady flow of accidents and mishaps involving U.S. military aircraft.
Adding to Okinawans grievances, the new location for the U.S. base has an extremely delicate ecosystem unique to Okinawa that the locals desperately want to protect.
The overall plans for the new base involve at least 157 hectares of land being reclaimed from pristine waters off the Henoko area and the building of a V-shaped runway.
The plans stem from a pact made between the United States and Japan in 1996, with the coastal region of Henoko being selected as the replacement site for the base in 1999.
The local and central governments have long-been at odds over the relocation of the base, with Tamaki urging the central government to reduce Okinawa's disproportionate base-hosting burdens and shift the new base off the island, with calls also being made for it to be relocated outside of Japan altogether.
Along with the government of Okinawa, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has also urged the Abe administration to stop ignoring the voices of Okinawans. Enditem
BALTIMORE, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Maryland Precision Spring is pleased to announce its achievement of AS9100D and ISO 9100:2015 certification. AS9100 registration is an aviation, space, and defense quality standard, based on the ISO9001 quality management system and supported by the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG).
Maryland Precision Spring
"Certification to the demanding standards required by AS9100 proves our commitment to the aerospace market," explained Mark Caldwell, Engineering Manager, Maryland Precision Spring. Caldwell states that customers can expect to receive superior product conformity and reliability, highly accurate documentation, and streamlined processes compared to non-certified suppliers. Ultimately, waste is reduced, and overall costs are lowered by utilizing suppliers who are AS9100 certified. "AS9100 certification is a requirement to remain in and to grow within the aerospace and defense markets. Our customers asked us to do this and we listened," said Caldwell.
Maryland Precision Spring has been manufacturing custom components to the aerospace and general industrial markets for over 40 years. The company excels at application engineering support, consignment and Kan-Ban inventory, EDM prototyping production, in-house heat treating/tool shop and special packaging. This rapid response, combined with the quality assurance of the AS9100 certification, ensures the company's continued position as a trusted supplier within the aerospace and defense industries.
Maryland Precision Spring is one of nine MW Industries' companies that have earned AS9100 certification. "With this successful achievement, Maryland Precision Spring joins Accurate Screw Machine, Ameriflex, Atlantic Spring, Capital Spring, Century Spring, Economy Spring, Helical Products and Marox as certified manufacturing facilities within the MW family of brands," states Simon Newman, Chief Executive Officer of MW Industries. "This strengthens MW Industries' place as a leading manufacturer of Belleville washers, springs, stampings and other precision-manufactured components serving the aviation, space and defense markets."
About Maryland Precision Spring
Maryland Precision Spring, a brand of MW Industries, Inc., is a manufacturer of Belleville washers/disc springs, constant and variable force springs, light stampings, springs and wire forms, value-added assemblies and POP/reel retrievers with a history of providing the highest quality products and service excellence since 1972. In addition, Maryland Precision Spring is a major supplier to numerous industries including aerospace, construction, consumer power tools, distribution, electrical, food and beverage, lighting, military, outdoor power equipment and valve OEM. All our products are made in the USA. Maryland Precision Spring is AS9100:D and ISO 9001:2015 Certified.
About MW Industries, Inc.
MW Industries is a complete source for precision metal components such as springs, fasteners, bellows, and assemblies. With more than 20 manufacturing locations in the U.S., our highly engineered products are sold through direct sales, catalogs, e-commerce and distributors to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket customers in a wide variety of industries. No other manufacturer offers the breadth of products, engineering expertise, and rapid response of MW Industries.
Contact: Jennifer Applewhite
Marketing Specialist
www.mw-ind.com
(847) 349-5760
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U.K. visa application centers in Vietnam, which closed in late March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, reopened on Monday, the countrys embassy has announced.
They have also given their first appointments.
British ambassador Gareth Ward visited the center in Hanoi on Monday morning to chat with people who had come to apply for family reunion, student and work visas.
Vietnam eased social distancing measures, including a ban on gatherings of more than two people and stay-at-home orders, in late April. Britain is expected to reopen museums, galleries, cinemas, pubs and restaurants on July 4, The Guardian newspaper reported.
Vietnam has banned entry of foreign nationals and suspended international flights since late March.
While it is considering resuming international flights to certain Asian destinations like Tokyo, Seoul, Guangzhou, Taiwan, and Laos, there is no immediate plan to restart flights to the U.K.
Vietnam has recorded 349 Covid-19 cases so far, with only 21 still active and no fatalities. The U.K. has had over 305,000 cases and 42,647 deaths, being the fifth worst country by the pandemic in terms of infection tally.
A letter signed "The Curatorial Department" of the Guggenheim Museum was sent Monday to the institution's leadership, demanding immediate, wholesale changes to what it described as "an inequitable work environment that enables racism, white supremacy, and other discriminatory practices."
"We write to express collective concern regarding our institution, which is in urgent need of reform," said the letter addressed to Richard Armstrong, the museum's director; Elizabeth Duggal, the senior deputy director and chief operating officer; Sarah G. Austrian, the general counsel; and Nancy Spector, the museum's artistic director and chief curator.
The letter comes as cultural institutions are being called to account for what critics describe as their role in perpetuating systemic racism. Amid protests prompted by the killing of George Floyd, museums are looking more seriously at issues of equity in their hiring, governance, exhibitions and acquisitions.
The letter said it was not signed with individual names because the curators feared retaliation.
In a statement, Armstrong confirmed receipt of the letter from the curators "outlining requests to change procedures to ensure more collective, transparent and accountable decision-making processes in the department."
"Our curatorial staff is essential to the Guggenheim and we are listening," he said in the statement. "Their effort to make change is an opportunity for us to engage in a beneficial dialogue to become a more diverse, equitable and welcoming organization for all."
Armstrong began that dialogue with some of the museum's 22 curators on Monday in Zoom calls after receiving the letter, a museum spokeswoman confirmed. The spokeswoman, Sarah Eaton, also confirmed that the chief curator, Spector, has decided to take a three-month sabbatical beginning July 1, though there was no indication the decision was related to the letter.
Spector declined to comment.
On Sunday, Troy Conrad Therrien, the museum's curator of architecture and digital initiatives, sent his own letter to the museum's leadership in which he announced his plans to step down to take responsibility for what he described as his complicity in an "institutional culture that has systematically disenfranchised many for too long."
"It's time for many of us who have benefited from this flawed system while holding leadership positions to make space for those who can more fully embody the equity that is no longer just necessary but urgent," Therrien said.
The museum said it had not made a decision on Therrien's offer to resign.
The Guggenheim, which attracts about 1.2 million visitors annually, has a $60 million budget and a $90 million endowment. Of the museum's 276 full time staff members, 26 are black, 24 are Latino and 20 are Asian. Of the museum's 25 trustees, 23 are white.
The curators' letter calls on the museum to "put an end to the culture of favoritism, silencing, and retribution"; to review recruitment practices and guarantee the hiring of curators of color; and "to redress the museum's primarily white, male exhibition history and collecting practices."
The letter also calls for the museum to commission an independent investigation into its handling of last year's Basquiat exhibition and the show's guest curator, Chaedria LaBouvier, an art historian.
The letter followed on the heels of "An open letter to New York City's Cultural Institutions," on June 20 from a coalition of current and former employees and their supporters at the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Opera, the Museum of Modern Art and other cultural institutions.
"We do not need any more surveys, affinity groups, panels, or committees and other empty attempts to conceal the racism," the open letter said. "We write to you to express our outrage and discontent of consistent exploitation and unfair treatment of Black/Brown people at these cultural institutions."
The letter from the Guggenheim curators references the treatment of LaBouvier, who is black and who was not invited to participate in the museum's panel discussion about Basquiat with other scholars including some she, as guest curator, had selected for the exhibition catalog.
LaBouvier nevertheless attended the panel discussion, where from the audience she accused the Guggenheim of snubbing her and undermining her curatorial role in the show, "Basquiat's 'Defacement': The Untold Story." She also told The New York Times that she was excluded from decisions on how the exhibition was presented.
A few months later, the museum hired Ashley James, the first black full-time curator in the Guggenheim's 80-year-history.
Earlier this month, LaBouvier posted a tweet that attracted considerable attention: "Working at the Guggenheim w/ Nancy Spector & the leadership was the most racist professional experience of my life."
In an Essence article this month, the museum responded to LaBouvier's accusations. "The exhibition was one of the first programmatic efforts for the museum to confront its own role in our nation's patterns of injustice, an effort that we are continuing to work on with a critical examination of inherent bias in both the workplace and in our history."
The statement added that LaBouvier had been "supported by the museum with the collaborative spirit with which exhibitions are made at the Guggenheim."
But members of the curatorial staff have differed with that assessment. Appended to their letter Monday was a list of anonymous comments that had been gathered after a staff roundtable held this month by the museum's human resources department.
Several curators highlighted their concerns about LaBouvier's treatment.
"While many of us saw our own experiences reflected in her mistreatment, we did not speak up and were complicit in our silence," one comment said. "We cannot move forward with any credibility until we offer her a sincere, unqualified, public apology."
Terrorists killing a sarpanch, Ajay Bharati, a Kashmiri Pandit, in south Kashmirs Anantnag district has once again exposed the real face of terrorists and their masters. Sitting across the Line of Control, once again it has been proven beyond doubt that terrorists and their handlers are the worst enemies of people of Kashmir. And they are faceless murderers, who have no regard for human lives.
Bharatis killing is one more addition in the long list of innocents, who have been killed by these trigger-happy terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 30-years. Whosoever has tried to talk about peace and development in Kashmir has fallen prey to the bullets of the terrorists.
The deceased Sarpanch had returned to Kashmir along with his family in 1996 as he loved his roots and had rejected the idea of living in a separate township. He was a symbol of Kashmirs pluralism and Kashmiriyat. No one from Jammu came to vote for him in the Panchayat elections, which were held in 2018. The people who voted for him were Kashmiri Muslims of his own village.
Bharatis killing has saddened every right-thinking Kashmiri irrespective of him being a Muslim or a Hindu.
His killing has highlighted the fact that true Indians in Kashmir are the soft targets for the gun-wielding terrorists whose only job is to create fear and spill innocent blood. These indoctrinated terrorists are just a handful of people. Their presence in Kashmir doesnt mean that every Kashmiri is a terrorist and is a hardliner.
More than 95% people in Kashmir are peace lovers who want to live a peaceful and prosperous life. Terrorism has been imposed on them by our hostile neighbour, who during the past 30 years has left no stone unturned to turn Kashmir into a huge graveyard.
In 1947 when Pakistani tribals (Kabalis) reached north Kashmirs Baramulla district, a 19-year-old youth Shaheed Maqbool Sherwani stood like a wall and didnt allow these raiders to move towards Srinagar. He was killed by the tribals after they realized that he is a true-Indian.
Since 1990, many true-Indians like Sherwani have been killed by the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. But these killings have not shattered the resolve of the people in the Valley, who love their country and have stood by it during the most difficult times.
Ajay Bharatis cold-blooded murder by the terrorists has raised an important question. Why has our leadership failed to protect the people who have been loyal to the country? Why did the regimes led by Congress and other parties prior to 2014 just focus on few political families and the separatists? Had the erstwhile governments given loyal people a chance today, J&K would have been a better place to live in. Its unfortunate that loyalists were always taken for granted.
Since the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken over the reins of the country, there has been a paradigm shift in New Delhis Kashmir policy. Politicians, who used to call shots and dictate terms to Centre, have been cut to size. MLAs with separatist leanings have been shown their worth. The Modi government has sent a loud and clear message that pseudo-nationalism is not acceptable. Interests of the country are supreme and they cannot be compromised with.
However, in the process of acting tough against the anti-nationals, a few hyper-nationalist leaders and some media houses are trying to label every Kashmiri as a hate monger and a separatist. These leaders and media houses need to change their attitude. They should remember that people of Kashmir have given immense sacrifices to uphold the tricolour. They have faced bullets and bombs but have not allowed Pakistan to succeed in its nefarious designs.
Top officials in the security establishment have often reiterated that its due to the local support and information that security forces have got an upper hand against the terrorists. These glaring facts and realities cannot be ignored.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always said that Kashmiris have to be embraced and taken along. The leaders who give provocative statements and talk about resorting to violent means against the people of Kashmir are not doing any good to the nation. They are just adding fuel to the fire.
Ajay Bharatis addition to the list of the martyrs has further strengthened the resolve of the true-Indians in Kashmir that they wont allow Pakistan and its agents to create a wedge. One hopes that the nationalist people in our country will honour the sacrifices of Kashmiris and would allow things to fall at place rather than adding to the confusion.
(The writer is a former journalist, Chairman of Kashmir Youth Alliance and member of BJP. Views expressed are personal.)
Gordon Sloan starred in the first season of Big Brother Australia in 2001, alongside the likes of Blair McDonough and Sara-Marie Fedele.
And the circumstances surrounding his tragic death 13 years ago remain an unsolved mystery to this day.
The architect, who was known for his mohawk hairstyle, is said to have 'collapsed' in a Beijing nightclub on September 1, 2007.
Inside Big Brother's darkest secret: Why mystery still surrounds the death of season one star Gordon Sloan after he 'collapsed' in a Beijing nightclub in 2007. Pictured on April 23, 2001
He was rushed to Chaoyang Hospital in a coma, but died on September 13 at the age of 34.
At the time, his uncle Andy Schollum denied rumours Gordon had died of a drug overdose and said there must have been another reason.
He told Sydney Morning Herald: 'We don't know what to believe [but] the assertion that Gordon injected a toxic substance is absolutely incorrect and has caused the family deep emotional distress.'
Untimely death: The architect, who was known for his mohawk hairstyle, is said to have 'collapsed' in a Beijing nightclub on September 1, 2007. He died in hospital two weeks later
Mr Schollum explained that toxic substances had been found in his nephew's stomach that he would not have knowingly injected or consumed.
He also clarified that Gordon's family 'did not turn off his life support' and claimed the young man had instead died of hypoxia, or deprivation of oxygen to the brain.
The events leading up to Gordon's collapse are still unclear because Beijing police abandoned the investigation due to a lack of leads.
Sad: At the time, his uncle Andy Schollum denied rumours Gordon had died of a drug overdose and said there must have been another reason. Pictured: Gordon on Big Brother in 2001
Gordon had famously dated Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte in 2005, after finding fame on Big Brother.
They split up after six months, but remained friends until his death.
At the time, Natalie told the Herald Sun that Gordon's death was 'truly devastating beyond words'.
'He is a man who was often misunderstood but always saw the good in every person,' she said. 'Gordon was constantly trying to make the world a better place because he cared.'
Photo: David Prasad/Flickr
Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Fresno.
Fresno County judge extends zero bail amid COVID-19 quarantine in Fresno jail
The new order will remain in effect until 90 days after the Governor declares that the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic is lifted.
Read the full story on CBS47 Fresno.
Fresno man convicted of hitting woman with cocktail glass seeks new trial. Did court agree?
The Fifth District Court of Appeal has rejected a request for a new trial by former Fresno businessman Kelly Duley, who is currently serving a 38-years-to-life sentence for smashing a cocktail glass on a womans face.
Read the full story on The Fresno Bee.
These Fresno-area businesses and restaurants are closing but not all because of COVID-19
Just how hard is coronavirus hitting Fresno businesses?
Read the full story on The Fresno Bee.
Man shot at Fresno apartment building Monday morning
A man is in the hospital after a shooting took place at a northwest Fresno apartment building.
Read the full story on FOX26.
73-year-old Navy hero in Fresno has emotional reunion with daughter after 100 days
The Vietnam veteran was visibly moved when his daughter visited him as part of a special Father's Day parade hosted by the Veterans Home of California in Fresno.
Read the full story on Jason Oliveira ABC30.
This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
- The minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Oyeama, says 298 Nigerians departed the United Arab Emirates for the country
- According to him, the Nigerians departed the UAE on Monday, June 22
- Onyeama also disclosed that 17 Nigerians arrived Abuja from Senegal on Sunday, June 21
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Two hundred and ninety-eight Nigerians have departed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the country, minister of foreign affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has said.
The minister, who made the disclosure on his Twitter page, said the Nigerians departed the UAE on Monday, June 22.
According to Onyeama, 17 Nigerians arrived Abuja from Senegal on Sunday, June 21.
He said upon their arrival from the UAE, they will undergo the mandatory 14-day isolation as prescribed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
Geoffrey Onyeama. Photo credit: Newsweek
Source: Twitter
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that 50 Nigerians stranded in Pakistan arrived in Abuja on Friday, June 19.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) made the disclosure via its Twitter page @nidcom_gov on Friday, saying all evacuees were on compulsory 14 days self-isolation.
According to NIDCOM, the compulsory self-isolation was being observed according to the new protocol by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
In other news, a 20-year-old first-class degree holder in Economics, Aramide Akintimehin, embraced a career in training future leaders by dedicating her life to teach primary school pupils.
She earns a living as a primary school teacher who also runs a free school for out-of-school children, Talent Mine Academy.
Aramide said she was prompted to embark on this journey because of the poor quality of education in public schools.
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Aramide is also working on obtaining a diploma in Education from Babcock University.
In the course of imparting knowledge in these kids, the 20-year-old teacher also said she learns from them.
She narrated a scenario where she was unable to solve a verbal reasoning question which had already been solved by one of her pupils. She said the pupil explained to her how she arrived at the answer.
Aramide shared on her Instagram page: "We had Verbal Reasoning this morning and while trying to draft out the correct answers to the questions, I struggled with finding the answer to a particular question. I decided to check the notes of my kids to see if they attempted it because that question was a bit dicey."
COVID-19: Nigerians speak on effects of ease of lockdown| Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
[June 23, 2020] Aegon appoints Duncan Russell as Chief Transformation Officer
Aegon has appointed Duncan Russell (1978, British) in the newly established role of Chief Transformation Officer (CTO), effective September 1, 2020. He will report to CEO Lard Friese and will become a member of Aegon's Management Board. Duncan Russell will work closely with the Executive Board in setting the strategic direction of the company and will lead the activities in the areas of Group Strategy and Corporate Development. "I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Duncan Russell as our Chief Transformation Officer", Aegon CEO Lard Friese said. "Duncan brings a wealth of experience in the financial services sector and is a great addition to our team. He is the right person to lead our group strategy development and to drive initiatives focused on improving our overall performance. Duncan and I have worked closely togethe before and I look forward to our renewed collaboration."
Duncan Russell joins from UK-based Admiral Group Plc, where he last held the position of CFO of Admiral Financial Services. He worked in the Netherlands for NN Group N.V., responsible for Group Capital Management, Treasury, Business Development and Group Strategy. Prior to that, Duncan Russell was a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan. The appointment of Duncan Russell has been approved by the relevant regulatory authorities.
About Aegon Aegon's roots go back 175 years - to the first half of the nineteenth century. Since then, Aegon has grown into an international company, with businesses in more than 20 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Today, Aegon is one of the world's leading financial services organizations, providing life insurance, pensions and asset management. Aegon's purpose is to help people achieve a lifetime of financial security. More information on aegon.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200622005763/en/
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My favorite story in John Boltons book about the Trump Fun House sorry, White House was that President Trump appealed to Chinas leader to buy more U.S. agricultural products to boost Trumps farm vote and his re-election.
Donald: Stop begging. Both Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have decided to vote for you. Dont worry!
They know that as long as youre president, America will be in turmoil. For Xi, that means were a less formidable economic rival, and for Vlad, that means were a less attractive democratic model for his people. They also both know that as long as youre president the U.S. will never be able to galvanize a global coalition of allies against them, which is what China fears most on trade, human rights and Covid-19 and Russia on Ukraine and Syria.
Dont take it from me. Heres what Zhou Xiaoming, a former Chinese trade negotiator and deputy representative in Geneva, told Bloombergs Peter Martin: If Biden is elected, I think this could be more dangerous for China, because he will work with allies to target China, whereas Trump is destroying U.S. alliances.
Chinese officials, Martin reported, see a unified front on trade or human rights by the U.S. and its allies as Washingtons greatest asset for checking Chinas widening influence, and Trumps behavior ensures that will never come about.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 22:36:31|Editor: huaxia
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-This is the first formal summit between Chinese leaders and the new EU leadership after the latter's inauguration last year, and the highest-level bilateral meeting since the coronavirus outbreak.
-Cooperation far outweighs competition, and consensus far outweighs disagreement.
-Both sides hope to send a positive signal of China and the EU working together to fight COVID-19, advance cooperation and promote global economic recovery, with a view to bringing more stability and positive energy to the world, said analysts.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The meeting between leaders of China and the European Union (EU) held Monday via video link has added fresh impetus to the growth of bilateral ties and will lay a solid foundation for cooperation in the post-pandemic period, analysts said here Tuesday.
The meeting "has produced what the two sides set out to achieve, enhanced mutual understanding and trust, and injected new impetus into the further growth of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership," said Wang Lutong, director-general of the European Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, at a press briefing in Beijing Tuesday morning.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had a video conference with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen Monday night. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang co-hosted the leaders' meeting together with the two presidents from the EU side.
This is the first formal summit between Chinese leaders and the new EU leadership after its inauguration last year, and the highest-level bilateral meeting since the coronavirus outbreak.
PARTNERS RATHER THAN RIVALS
China and the EU have supported and helped each other since the COVID-19 outbreak, said Xi in the video conference.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
China is willing to join hands with the European side to push for more stable and mature relations in the post-pandemic period and lift ties to a new height, Xi told Michel and von der Leyen.
Stressing that China is "a partner, not a rival" of the EU side, Xi said China will continue to deepen reform and expand opening up, which will provide Europe with a new round of cooperation opportunities and development space.
"There is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and Europe. Cooperation far outweighs competition, and consensus far outweighs disagreement," he said, calling on the two sides to respect each other, and seek common ground while setting aside differences.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.
During the leaders' meeting, Li also pointed out that there are far more areas where both sides agree than disagree.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds the 22nd China-European Union (EU) leaders' meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
China attaches great importance to ties with the EU, the premier said, calling on the two sides to view bilateral relations from a long-term perspective and with a broader vision, and regard each other as comprehensive strategic partners.
The two EU leaders said in the meeting that relations between the EU and China are full of vitality, stressing that only through cooperation can the world cope with global challenges, and only dialogue and consultation can resolve conflicts and eliminate regional instability, as the world is facing great uncertainties.
The EU is ready to hold strategic talks with China to expand consensus in a candid manner, they noted.
Cui Hongjian, a senior research fellow at China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), told Xinhua the annual China-EU leaders' meeting shows that bilateral ties are robust and resilient against the backdrop of a global pandemic.
"Though the EU has new leaders, the keynote of cooperation remains unchanged and the bilateral agendas are still forging ahead," Cui said, adding that the current meeting would lay a solid foundation for China-EU cooperation and chart a new course for future development.
DRIVING WORLD ECONOMY RECOVERY
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to world economy. Therefore, ways of intensifying efforts to overcome the damage to global economic activity featured prominently in meetings between Chinese and EU leaders.
"Our two major economies should play the role as dual engines of the world economy, drive the recovery of global economy, jointly support a scientific and orderly resumption of work and production, strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, and keep global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth," Xi said.
At the meeting, China and EU reaffirmed commitment to conclude the China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement in 2020, and sign the China-EU Geographical Indications (GI) agreement soon.
According to Wang, both sides agree that China-EU economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial and look forward to concluding a comprehensive, balanced and high-level agreement on investment.
He added that the GI agreement will be signed in the near future and thus provide opportunities for the two sides to better protect their products.
The EU is ready to expand bilateral trade and push for more progress in cooperation with China in green and low-carbon development, digital economy and other areas, the two European leaders said.
President of the European Council Charles Michel attends the 22nd China-European Union (EU) leaders' meeting in Brussels, Belgium, June 22, 2020.(European Union/Handout via Xinhua)
They expressed willingness to work with China to overcome the impacts of the pandemic as soon as possible and advance world economic recovery.
According to Wang, while reaffirming its commitment to continue pursuing quality development and high-level opening-up, China believes that opening-up should work both ways.
"We hope that the EU side will continue to uphold openness in trade and investment markets and provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies investing in Europe," he said.
China and the EU account for a third of global GDP, said Cui at the CIIS. "Therefore, maintaining strong economic and trade cooperation between the two sides will resolve one third of global economic problems and make a huge contribution to world economic recovery."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends the 22nd China-European Union (EU) leaders' meeting in Brussels, Belgium, June 22, 2020. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua)
According to the two EU leaders, the bloc is committed to multilateralism, and stands ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with China on public health security, climate change, sustainable development, third-party cooperation in Africa and other major issues.
"The chances for a positive development of EU-China relations are good if China continues its pragmatic approach to multilateral cooperation and connects to key priorities and projects of EU, particularly the green deal," said Berthold Kuhn, a senior researcher at the Free University of Berlin.
In his view, the EU and China have many opportunities to go together. "For example, China can support the EU's Green Deal and the EU supports the green development of the Belt and Road Initiative."
China's shift from an export-led to a domestic demand-led growth model offers new opportunities for EU and the country, Kuhn said.
Wang said the meeting has shown that the two sides aspire for mutual assistance and cooperation in their support for an open world economy, multilateralism and peaceful and stable world development.
"Both sides hope to send a positive signal of China and EU working together to fight COVID-19, advance cooperation and promote global economic recovery, with a view to bringing more stability and positive energy to the world," he said.
COPENHAGEN - A Danish court acquitted three lawmakers Tuesday of defamation for writing an email in which they said public funds should not be granted to an organization helping women exposed to psychological violence because the woman behind it didnt distance herself from Islams Sharia law.
In 2017, Naser Khader, Martin Henriksen and Marcus Knuth __ all members of centre-right parties in Denmarks Parliament wrote an email to three centre-left lawmakers urging them not to back a 680,000 ($102,000) public grant to the organization headed by Shirin Khankan.
Their attempt failed and the money was allocated.
The three writers said Khankan was a controversial figure because she didnt want to distance herself from Islams Sharia law, among others. Khankan is also a female imam running a mosque for mainly women.
In acquitting the men, the Eastern High Court said their statements were made as part of a public debate on issues of significant social interest, and within the limits of the freedom of speech.
Khankan sued the men for defamation in March 2018 and had sought a financial compensation of 10,000 kroner.
Her Exitcirklen organization helps women who have been exposed to psychological violence, social control and radicalism through religion.
The lawmakers were then either in the centre-right government and supporting its harsh anti-immigration line. Henriksen, a member of the anti-immigration Danish Peoples party, is no longer in Parliament.
Knuth had described sharia as medieval, as barbaric and undemocratic while Khankan born in Denmark to a Syrian father and a Finnish mother has said, I am against sharia law and always have been. I am a supporter of a secular state ... this is not a new position, I have always had that.
Spotify is testing a new, more interactive ad format designed for podcasts: the in-app offer. Instead of prompting listeners to remember a coupon code or visit a specific website address, the in-app offer allows users to redeem an offer at a time that's convenient for them. This is done by way of a visual reminder within the Spotify app, which displays the sponsors on the podcast episode's page.
Below the podcast and description, a new section titled "Episode Sponsors" will appear, allowing listeners to then click through on the offer to redeem the coupon or other special deal. This will open the user's browser to the advertiser's landing page for immediate redemption, says Spotify.
"The average podcast listener has heard a countless number of ads ending with promo codes or show-specific websites, carefully repeated three times so as not to forget it. In-App Offers makes it vastly simpler for listeners to redeem deals whenever they come back to the app, and we can all benefit from one fewer w-w-w-dot spelling lesson from our favorite podcast creators," says Joel Withrow, senior product manager of Podcast Monetization at Spotify, in a statement.
The product is designed to better fit with the way users actually listen to podcasts -- usually, while they're doing something else, like cooking, cleaning, working out or driving for example. That means they often have to make a mental note of the offers they hear and want to research later. But this can be challenging.
The new product is in early alpha testing in the U.S. with Harrys in Last Podcast on the Left and in Germany with HelloFresh in Herrengedeck. There isn't yet a way to sign up to participate.
Image Credits: Spotify
The new feature builds on Spotify's existing Streaming Ad Insertion (SAI) technology, introduced at the beginning of 2020 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. SAI technology makes key data -- like ad impressions, frequency, reach, plus anonymized age, gender and device type available to podcasters and advertisers on Spotify for the first time. This sort of data was more difficult if not impossible, to collect via podcasts that were served only as downloads from RSS feeds.
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The company explained at the time of launch the problem it aimed to solve was on the advertiser's side -- they didn't know whether or not the ad they purchase is being consumed by the user.
SAI will be widely available to advertisers in the U.S. starting this summer, and is now available to select advertisers in Germany.
The addition of in-app offers to Spotify's suite comes following a continued heavy investment in podcasts, podcast tools and podcasting ad technology on the company's part. The company recently announced an exclusive audio partnership with DC & Warner Bros. and the launch of podcast playlists, for example. Spotify also just landed a podcast deal with Kim Kardashian West, focused on criminal justice, and brought top podcast The Joe Rogan Experience to its platform exclusively.
Meanwhile, Spotify says it's seeing triple-digit growth in podcast consumption, year-over-year, on its platform, while podcasts, more broadly, are reaching 1 in 3 or 100 million Americans every month.
Spotify didn't say when the new in-app offers ad experience would be publicly available.
An inmate is on the lam after walking away from a work crew in the Coast Range on Monday morning, authorities say.
The Oregon Department of Corrections said Brandon J. Sykes, 35, left a work crew near the Oregon 6 summit about 11:35 a.m. He was being held at the minimum-security South Fork Forest Camp.
Sykes was last seen wearing jeans with inmate stenciled on the knee in orange, a coat with a similar stencil, a blue t-shirt and a sweatshirt. He stands 5-foot-9, weighs 195 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes.
Sykes was convicted in 2016 of kidnapping, assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm, records show. His earliest release date was in the fall of next year.
Brandon J. SykesOregon Department of Corrections
Authorities urge anyone who has information about his location to call 1-800-452-7888, 503-569-0734 or a local police non-emergency number.
-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
SAO PAULO - Brazil is testing an experimental coronavirus vaccine, but interim Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello acknowledged Tuesday that the government has yet to strike a deal to get it if it works. Other nations have already secured hundreds of millions of doses of the shot created by Oxford University.
The countrys pandemic response has faced criticism since March, when President Jair Bolsonaro started defying social distancing recommendations. Hours before Brazils health minister spoke at congress, a judge ordered Bolsonaro to wear a face mask whenever he is outdoors in the capital of Brasilia.
Pazuello, an army general who made his career in logistics, discussed Brazils efforts to buy a vaccine for the virus or acquire the technology to make it. The countrys health regulator, Anvisa, approved human clinical trials for the potential vaccine this month.
Pazuello said a decision on a deal for Brazil to acquire the planned vaccine is expected by the end of the week, but will depend on the governments chief of staff.
British researchers started testing the experimental shot in May aiming to immunize more than 10,000 people, including older people and children. The vaccine is one of about a dozen in early stages of human testing.
Brazil, where coronavirus infections are still on the rise, is the only country other than the United Kingdom testing the Oxford vaccine. The country counts more than 1 million confirmed cases and more than 52,600 fatalities.
Clinical trials began in Sao Paulo on Monday and will start in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday. The British Embassy says 5,000 health professionals are being vaccinated.
We are working directly with the three most promising vaccines, Pazuello said, naming the Oxford shot, a vaccine under development by American company Moderna and one of the Chinese experiments, which he did not disclose.
Vijay Rangarajan, the British ambassador to Brazil, told The Associated Press he hopes Brazil will be one of the first countries to receive the vaccine if it works.
However, that will depend on when the country will sign the agreement, he said by email. There is already production capacity for the vaccine of 2 billion doses worldwide. But much of the global production is already purchased.
On May 21, the United States announced a deal for at least 300 million doses of the Oxford shot, and committed up to $1.2 billion to the effort. On June 13, pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca agreed to supply up to 400 million doses of the experimental vaccine to European Union nations. Other negotiations are ongoing with Russia and Japan, among other countries, the companys CEO said this month.
The British ambassador also added he wants to ensure Brazilians can benefit from any vaccine, quickly and not for profit.
Bolsonaro has been criticized for downplaying his governments response to the pandemic, comparing the disease to a little flu.
Prior to vaccine trials, Bolsonaro repeatedly touted the use of chloroquine to treat COVID-19, the disease that can be caused by the coronavirus, even as health experts dismissed its efficacy. The U.S. announced May 31 that it would donate 2 million doses of hydroxychloroquine, a similar anti-malarial that is considered less toxic, to the South American nation.
The U.S. also pledged to donate 1,000 ventilators to Brazil. The first 200 ventilators are expected arrive by the end of this week, U.S. Ambassador Todd Chapman told reporters Tuesday in a video call.
Another experimental vaccine in development by Chinese company Sinovac Biotech will be tested in Brazil in July, according to the Sao Paulo state government. Sinovac has a deal with the states Instituto Butantan to produce it. Some 9,000 Brazilians are expected to participate.
Earlier Tuesday, a Brazilian federal judge ordered Bolsonaro to comply with local rules to wear a face mask or be fined.
In recent weekends, a sometimes unmasked Bolsonaro has joined throngs of people protesting against Brazils Congress and Supreme Court and he has visited bakeries and outdoor food stalls, drawing crowds around him.
Since the end of April, Brazils federal district has required people to wear face masks in public to help control the spread of the new coronavirus. Failure to comply carries a possible daily fine of $390.
Judge Renato Coelho Borelli said in his ruling that Bolsonaro has exposed other people to the contagion of a disease that has caused national commotion.
The Brazilian president did not immediately comment on the decision. An earlier court ruling required him to publish the results of three COVID-19 tests he took early March, and all were negative for the virus. He has not disclosed any tests since then.
Bolsonaro sometimes appears in public events with a mask, unlike some other heads of state, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexicos Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Argentinas Alberto Fernandez, who has often hugged supporters and taken selfies with them while not wearing a mask, although use of a mask is mandatory in Argentinas capital.
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Associated Press writer Mayra Pertossi in Buenos Aires, Argentina, contributed to this report.
While Governor Pritzker and ISBE have so far been helpful and clear on policies and guidance regarding contending with COVID-19, Illinois size and geographic diversity was bound to catch up with the states ability to issue useful guidance, CTU said in a Tuesday statement. Todays guidance from ISBE is both too general and too vague to serve as a useful road map for CPS. In short, were going to be required to figure out many of the most critical features of school work for ourselves, in bargaining.
Lui Tuck Yew, Singaporean Ambassador to China (Photo provided by Embassy of Singapore in China)
The Singapore-China Fast Lane will help to ensure regional industrial chain and supply chain connectivity amidst COVID-19, said Lui Tuck Yew, Singapore's Ambassador to China.
In a written interview with Peoples Daily Online ahead of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore, the ambassador answered questions concerning epidemic prevention and control strategy in Singapore, the China-Singapore Fast Lane arrangement, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
Singapore s epidemic prevention and control strategy
The ambassador noted that COVID-19 is the most serious health crisis the world has faced in a century and Singapore has adopted a rational, evidence-based approach, seeking to flatten the curve by containing the virus transmission in order to prevent the healthcare system being overwhelmed.
He said at the start of April, Singapore implemented stricter measures known as the circuit breaker measures to reduce the risks of further outbreaks. It uses technology to speed up contact tracing so that cases can be detected and contained quickly to prevent large clusters from forming. At the same time, Singapore also significantly expanded its testing capacity from 2,000 tests per day in early April, to the current 13,000 tests daily.
According to the ambassador, Singapore has now entered phase two of reopening its economy and society, in which most regular activities can resume with safe distancing measures in place. Singapore is also involved in a global effort to develop a vaccine and is building up manufacturing capacity so that production can be ramped up quickly once a vaccine is found.
He added that externally, Singapore is carefully easing travel restrictions and border controls by slowly allowing some business travel between countries through the creation of tightly controlled reciprocal green lanes with selected countries.
China-Singapore Fast Lane arrangement
On June 8, both sides officially launched the Fast Lane to facilitate essential travel for business and official purposes between the two countries. The arrangement would be first applied between six Chinese provinces/municipalities and Singapore.
The ambassador also outlined the procedures that Chinese and Singaporean travelers using the Fast Lane need to follow. First, travelers will undergo pre-departure and post-arrival COVID-19 tests. They will also need to abide by existing measures such as health declarations and temperature screening prior to departure. Upon arrival, the host company or government agency will transport the traveler directly from the airport to the declared accommodation, where he/she must remain isolated for one to two days until the test result is released. Those who test negative will have to adhere to a controlled itinerary to minimize their exposure to the rest of the population.
He said the Singapore-China Fast Lane is the first of such arrangements that Singapore has launched with another partner, and will help to ensure the continuity of bilateral cooperation even as both sides continue to seek a balance between reopening and preventing further spread of COVID-19. The fast lane will help ensure supply chain connectivity amid COVID-19 as well as international cooperation and economic recovery.
30th anniversary
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore. The ambassador declared that Singapore and China enjoy a close, multifaceted and longstanding relationship at the political, economic and people-to-people levels. The anniversary not only provides both sides with the opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the past but also provides a platform for both sides to look into new areas of cooperation.
He further added that Singaporean President Halimah Yacob has accepted an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping and looks forward to making a state visit to China.
According to the ambassador, both sides have been in close contact on ways to stem the spread of the virus, provide assistance to people and gradually restore normalcy to exchanges while managing the public health risks.
The ambassador also mentioned a series of commemorative activities that are set to take place both in Singapore and China, such as an exhibition of Tang Cargo in Shanghai, where thousand-year-old treasures from the ancient Silk Road will be on display. We look forward to resuming our visits and exchanges, as well as exploring opportunities to deepen collaboration, particularly in the new areas of cooperation that have emerged in light of the pandemic, he said.
International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC)
In 2015, China and Singapore launched their third inter-governmental cooperation project the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity, with Chongqing as the operations centre. This year marks its 5th anniversary.
The ambassador pointed out that the ILSTC, under this project, has managed to mitigate the disruption caused by COVID-19 and has proven to be an effective new trade route between Southeast Asia and Western China. It has bolstered the resilience of our trade routes and supply chains, allowing for the smooth flow of essential goods such as food and medical products to support COVID-19 management efforts.
The 5th China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative (CCI) Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) Meeting was hosted on 12 May via videoconference. It witnessed the signing of eight Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) in sectors such as financial services, trade in food products, transport and logistics.
The ambassador said that as the CCI celebrates its 5th anniversary this year, we look forward to Chinas continued support in making the CCI-ILSTC an open and attractive platform for more companies and partners to come on board.
Of course you also have to worry about how to reopen the city without setting off an increase in COVID-19 cases. But reducing violent crime comes first. It always must come first. If Chicagoans are afraid to leave their homes and afraid of being hit by stray bullets inside their homes, hygiene lectures rapidly lose their effectiveness. The vast majority of Mondays mayoral press briefing with Lightfoot focused on beaches and restaurants and wearing masks. If the names of the weekend homicide victims were invoked, we didnt hear it.
More than half of people waiting for NHS tests in England had been waiting for six weeks or more by April, statistics have revealed.
The Labour Party's analysis found 470,000 people have been waiting a month-and-a-half or more for potentially life-saving scans and tests.
It is calling for weekly testing of all NHS staff so the health service can get back on its feet and clear the massive backlog of sick patients waiting to be diagnosed and treated.
In February just 2.8 per cent of people booked in for tests had to wait for six weeks, but this had soared to 55 per cent by April because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
These patients include people waiting for MRI or CT scans, ultrasounds, audiology (hearing) appointments, colonoscopies or heart, brain or lung tests.
Health bosses warned earlier this month that the surgery waiting list, growing because routine operations were cancelled during the Covid-19 crisis, could soar to 10million people by Christmas, with surgeons warning of a 'significant backlog'.
The number of people waiting more than six weeks for a diagnostic test or scan in England has soared during the Covid-19 pandemic
Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said the Government must act now to tackle a backlog in non-Covid-19 care
Shadow Health Secretary and Labour MP for Leicester South, Jonathan Ashworth, said: 'Estimates suggest two million people are waiting for cancer screening, tests or treatment and that 1,600 cases of cancer are currently left undiagnosed every month.
'Its now urgent ministers bring forward a plan to tackle the backlog in non Covid-19 care.
'A vital component would be the introduction of weekly routine testing of all NHS staff to keep them and patients safe from Covid-19 while receiving treatment.
'Were calling on MPs to support this motion to tackle the rapidly growing queues of their constituents waiting for treatment.'
Labour's analysis shows that most recent NHS England data has 840,742 people on waiting lists for diagnostic tests and scans.
At least 468,622 of them had been waiting for six weeks or longer in April, compared to 85,446 waiting the same time in March and 29,832 in February.
The biggest six-week-plus waiting lists were for ultrasound scans for reasons other than pregnancy (134,899), and for MRI scans (78,923).
Almost 50,000 people were waiting for CT scans, with another 47,000 waiting for echocardiogram heart scans.
The number of people waiting six weeks or more for an MRI scan - used to diagnose various illnesses, injuries and cancers - rose a staggering 1,277 per cent from 5,733 in February to 78,932 in April.
Waits for sigmoidoscopy, in which a camera is inserted into the rectum to check for bowel cancer or ulcers, have also got significantly longer.
The number of patients on that waiting list for six weeks or more rose by 722 per cent from 1,820 in February to 14,957 in April.
2.4 MILLION PATIENTS CAUGHT IN CANCER BACKLOG Almost 2.5million patients have missed out on vital cancer tests and treatment because of the pandemic. The NHS faces the shocking backlog of cases as it tries to return to normal and also cope with new victims of the disease. Cancer Research UK says 2.1million patients are awaiting crucial screening for breast, cervical and bowel cancer. Another 290,000 have missed out on urgent referrals to confirm or rule out tumours. And at least 21,600 patients have had surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy postponed in the past nine weeks. Some of these procedures would have saved lives or extended them, granting precious extra time with loved ones. It is also thought patients with warning signs of cancer have avoided seeking help because they are worried about contracting coronavirus in a surgery or hospital. The numbers awaiting cancer treatment are extremely worrying, according to Sarah Woolnough, policy chief at Cancer Research UK. She added: Were going to have this huge backlog to clear. Its a massive backlog of services and treatment to deliver. Its absolutely huge, its thousands and thousands and thousands. Advertisement
For cystoscopy, to check for bladder cancer, the six-week list rose from 1,270 to 8,190 (545 per cent) and for colonoscopy it rose 520 per cent from 5,234 to 32,430.
Mr Ashworth added: 'Ministers tell us the NHS has "coped" through the Covid-19 peak but that was on the back of cancelled operations, delayed scans and diagnostic tests.'
The warning about delayed diagnostic tests comes after surgeons fear a 'significant backlog' in the number of patients needing surgery.
The Royal College of Surgeons of England last month published a document advising members on the 'recovery of surgical services after Covid-19'.
It says: 'A significant backlog of surgical work is being created in addition to those patients on waiting lists before the present crisis.
'Retaining an expanded workforce and resources to deal with all of these patients is essential, but illness, fatigue and social issues among healthcare workers all threaten the necessary increase in surgical activity that is needed.'
Earlier this month a report by NHS Confederation, a semi-independent organisation of bosses in the NHS, said the surgery waiting list could hit 10million by Christmas.
Bosses behind the projection said a best case scenario could see 8million people waiting for treatment, if a Covid-19 vaccine or therapy comes along before then.
Experts warned it could take two years to clear the backlog, even if there is no second wave of coronavirus.
NHS Confederation's report warned services will be operating at around 60 per cent capacity because of new infection control and social distancing measures.
NHS Confederation chief executive, Niall Dickson, wrote to Boris Johnson to prepare the public for the huge waits they will have to face for months after the crisis is over.
He has also called for assurances about supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospital staff.
And the report also called for an extension of the current deal with the independent sector - in which the NHS can use private hospitals to treat its patients - until the end of the financial year 'to provide capacity to support the NHS to manage the backlog of treatment'.
The popular pseudonymous blogger behind Slate Star Codex claims that hes been forced to delete the blog after a New York Times reporter threatened to reveal his identity. It is the latest example of the papers willingness to grant anonymity according to inconsistent, ideologically self-serving criteria.
In the only post remaining on the site, Slate Star Codex founder Scott Alexander, who claims to write under his real first and middle names while withholding his last name, reveals that he recently spoke to a Times technology reporter who expressed interest in writing a mostly positive article about his blog.
Danielle Rhoades Ha, vice president of communications for the Times, told National Review in a statement that we do not comment on what we may or may not publish in the future. But when we report on newsworthy or influential figures, our goal is always to give readers all the accurate and relevant information we can.
Slate Star Codex is a popular blog in the rationalist subculture with an active community of readers. It began in 2013 and became famous for technical deep-dives into a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, medicine, psychology, politics, and social science. Among other topics, Alexander has questioned progressive conventions around the mutability of intelligence in his writing. He also noted the threat posed by coronavirus well before many mainstream publications began devoting extensive coverage to it.
Perhaps the Times intended to cover this blog and the broader subculture it inhabits. But Alexander, who did not return a request for comment, writes that the supposedly flattering article would come with a catch the Times had discovered Alexanders full name and planned to reveal it in the story. When Alexander pushed back, the reporter told him it was New York Times policy to include real names, and he couldnt change that.
NYT was so insistent on using my real name and didnt back down when I threatened to delete the blog, he detailed further on Reddit.
Story continues
Alexander explains that he wished to remain anonymous because his day job as a psychiatrist and his personal safety he claims to have received many death threats demanded it. I think its plausible that if I became a national news figure under my real name, my patients who run the gamut from far-left anarchists to far-right gun nuts wouldnt be able to engage with me in a normal therapeutic way, he wrote in the last remaining post on his blog.
After considering my options, I decided on the one you see now. If theres no blog, theres no story. Or at least the story will have to include some discussion of NYTs strategy of doxxing random bloggers for clicks, he continued.
Silicon Valley entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan identified the New York Times reporter as Cade Metz. Multiple users on the blogs active Reddit subforum also claim that Metz reached out to them for comment. And emails reviewed by National Review confirm that Metz was indeed asking around for sources to speak on Slate Star Codex, without mentioning that he planned to reveal Alexanders identity. I am putting together a story about Slate Star Codex a truly interesting and powerful voice and community, particularly at this time, he wrote in one such email sent last week.
Matthew Keller, an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado, confirmed that he also spoke to Metz.
We spoke about the blog, mostly in glowing terms. He did not reveal Scott Alexanders true identity (and of course, I have no information to provide about that), Keller said in an email. I cannot recall if Cade spoke of revealing his true identity, but if so, I would have assumed that was done with Scotts blessing. For what its worth, in general I do not agree with outing an anonymous blogger if they want to remain anonymous. Perhaps there are exceptions to that, but I dont see this as one of them.
Metz, Times technology editor Pui-Wing Tam, and Times associate managing editor for standards Philip Corbett did not return requests for comment on the story or on the editorial decision to publish Alexanders full name.
In 2018, Corbett unpacked the papers policy regarding the granting of anonymity to sources. Under our guidelines, anonymous sources should be used only for information that we think is newsworthy and credible, and that we are not able to report any other way, Corbett wrote. When the anonymous sourcing is central to the story, it generally must be approved by an even higher-ranking editor like a deputy managing editor, he added.
The policy which was announced in March 2016 by Corbett, Times executive editor Dean Baquet, and deputy executive editor Matt Purdy was intended to tighten up what critics considered a lax policy on anonymous sourcing. The situation was considered by certain staffers to be so dire that former Times public editor Margaret Sullivan launched a feature called AnonyWatch to catalog the excessive granting of anonymity at the paper.
In 2014, the Times granted anonymity in a number of cases that could have, contra Corbetts policy, been reported in many other ways. The paper granted anonymity to a past Oscar nominee who asked to withhold her identity because she was afraid of looking bad, as well as to a parent of a Middlebury sophomore who wanted to avoid embarrassing her daughter. A February 2015 story about renovations to the Port Authoritys Bus Terminal quoted a woman who asked not to be identified because she has always wanted to be an anonymous source.
But despite the changes, Corbett himself wrote in a 2017 post on sourcing for stories involving sexual assault that since no set of guidelines can cover every situation, the best we can do is to try to balance those questions of fairness and privacy with our chief goal: to tell readers what we know.
While there are differences between quoting an anonymous source and deliberately outing a public figure who is already anonymous, the lack of a hard-and-fast rule casts doubt on Metzs professed inability to secure anonymity for Alexander.
Indeed, in a profile published earlier this year of Chapo Trap House, a popular socialist podcast hosted by unofficial Bernie Sanders surrogates, the Times identified one of the podcasts co-hosts as Virgil Texas, explaining that he lives and works under that pseudonym.
Why the Times denied Scott Alexander the same right it granted to Virgil Texas is unclear. But since Donald Trumps election, anonymous sourcing has come roaring back at the Times, with Baquet admitting that the 2016 had changed the way the paper would cover and write about the president.
It appears the exceptions made for Trump-related coverage have bled into the coverage of a pseudonymous blogger.
More from National Review
President Trump has signed a new law suspending employment-based immigration while Americas economy recovers during the COVID-19 pandemic..
Trump freezes immigration for rest of 2020 President Trump has signed a new law suspending employment-based immigration while Americas economy recovers during the COVID-19 pandemic..
Trump freezes immigration for rest of 2020 President Trump has signed a new law suspending employment-based immigration while Americas economy recovers during the COVID-19 pandemic..
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President Donald Trump has signed a new Executive Order to limit immigration to the United States for the rest of this year. The Executive Order takes effect on June 24, 2020 at 12:01 AM EDT and expires on December 31, 2020.
The purpose of the Executive Order is to protect 525,000 jobs, according to the Trump administration. This figure represents the number of foreign nationals that the administration estimates will not be able to work in the country in 2020 as a result of the Executive Order.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused unemployment rates to spike around the world, including in the United States and Canada.
The Trump administration has long argued that welcoming immigrants hurts American workers. They believe limiting immigration during the pandemic will help American workers land on their feet.
On the other hand, Canada continues to argue that immigration creates jobs, and Canada remains committed to welcoming high levels of immigration.
Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs
Who is suspended from getting a U.S. work visa in 2020
For the remainder of this year, the U.S. will not issue new employment-based visas under the H-1B, H-2B, J, and L visa categories.
H-2B visas are for non-agricultural seasonal workers, J visas facilitate work and educational visitor exchange programs, while L visas are for intra-company transfers.
The suspension applies to people currently outside of the U.S. and who do not currently have a valid U.S. work visa.
The Executive Order provides the U.S. government with flexibility to exempt certain individuals from the suspension. Moreover, it does not apply to those seeking asylum in the U.S.
Trump announced a freeze on green cards in April but did not suspend employment-based visas at the time. Todays Executive Order also extends the freeze on new green cards to the end of 2020.
Indian H-1B visa holders pivoting to Canada
The H-1B visa is very popular and is issued to up to 85,000 people per year. It allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge, mainly in the tech sector.
H-1B visa holders sometimes encounter challenges in obtaining a U.S. green card, resulting in them looking to the likes of Canada to obtain permanent residence.
Former H-1B visa holders are among the large number of Indian nationals who immigrate to Canada each year, often through the Express Entry system. In fact, residents of the U.S. were the third-leading source of successful Express Entry candidates in 2018, while Indian citizens were the number one source of talent. In other words, a significant share of those successful under Express Entry are Indian citizens who submit their Canadian immigration applications while living in the U.S.
Such individuals fare well under Express Entry due to their high levels of education, English language skills, and professional work experience.
Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs
Other available Canadian immigration options
Canada has had special coronavirus immigration measures in place since March 18.
Nonetheless, the federal government, as well as most provinces have continued to hold immigration draws since March to welcome new permanent residents to the country. Bi-weekly Express Entry draws have continued to occur since then.
Canada is expected to hold several more Express Entry and provincial immigration draws this week.
In total, Canada offers over 80 different immigration pathways to skilled workers who are both living inside and outside of the country.
Canadas Global Talent Stream is another popular option for technology workers in the U.S. and other parts of the world who want to move to Canada.
Temporary foreign workers are among those exempt from the travel restrictions and are able to enter Canada including from the U.S. during the pandemic.
Other exempt individuals can also enter Canada from the U.S. while travel restrictions are in place.
Need assistance with a temporary visa application process? Contact wp@canadavisa.com
Get help with Canadian work permits and TRVs
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Sudhir Suryawanshi By
Express News Service
MUMBAI: At least 70 coronavirus positive patients have disappeared from Mumbai over the last three months and the city's civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has sought police's help over it.
These patients belonged to the BMCs P ward (Malad area), part of Mumbai suburbs. The patients switched off their mobile phones hence tracking them is turning out to be difficult. This locality was marked as emerging Covid 19 positive patients locations. The BMC has sought the police help to locate these missing patients, said a senior official.
And as Mumbai continues to observe a surge in coronavirus cases with over 67,000 cases, the BMC has also taken to door-to-door testing in containment zones to curb community spread.
We have submitted the mobile number, Aadhar cards photocopies and other details to police so they it will be easy for them to find out these missing patients. This information were collected during the test of these patients. The phones IMEI number may be used by police to trace the patients.
"Once the patients are traced they will send back to hospitals for further treatment. We have to also check whether they are in Mumbai or left the city or gone anywhere. We got the primary report that these were the migrant patients so they might have left the city as well, said a civic official requesting anonymity.
Earlier, an 82-year-old woman who was tested positive had gone missing for over eight days in Jalgaon, and later she was found dead in the toilet of the same hospital.
After this incident, the three doctors including the dean of the concerned hospital were suspended for their negligence.
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said an enquiry will be conducted for the missing patients and those accountable will be punished accordingly.
Jackie 'O' Henderson has purchased a new home for herself and her nine-year-old daughter Kitty in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Woollahra.
According to a report by Domain on Tuesday, the 45-year-old radio host splurged around $11million on the property dubbed 'Cooper Park House'.
The purchase comes after Jackie and ex-husband Lee Henderson sold their Vaucluse family home in March for $6.675million following their breakup.
Home sweet home: Jackie 'O' Henderson has purchased a new home for herself and her nine-year-old daughter Kitty in Sydney's Woollahra
Big money: According to a report by Domain on Tuesday, the 45-year-old radio host splurged around $11million on the property dubbed 'Cooper Park House'
The media personality was married to Lee from 2003, before announcing their shock split in October 2018.
And less than two years after parting ways, Jackie is clearly ready for a fresh start, purchasing the home just three days after it was put on the market.
While the exact purchase price is unknown, the property was put on the market on Friday with a price guide of around $10million, but real estate agents expected it to fetch closer to $11million.
Fresh start: The purchase comes after Jackie and ex-husband Lee Henderson sold their Vaucluse family home in March for $6.675million. This is Jackie's new walk-in-wardrobe
Jackie purchased the home from high-profile stockbroker Angus Aitken and his wife Sarah, who bought it 11 years earlier with a $3.3million price tag.
The couple spent four years renovating the home, and the 400-square-metre property boasts six-metre ceilings in the living room, glass walls overlooking Cooper Park and a cantilevered study.
Jackie had apparently been looking at properties in neighbouring Bellevue Hill before settling on the Woollahra home.
Swapping owners: Jackie purchased the home from high-profile stockbroker Angus Aitken and his wife Sarah, who bought the property 11 years earlier with a $3.3million price tag
In October last year, Jackie and her longtime radio co-host Kyle Sandilands signed an $80million five-year contract with KIIS FM.
But in April, it was revealed they were hit with a 10 per cent pay cut as a result of the coronavirus pandemic putting financial pressure on the company, as reported by Daily Mail Australia at the time.
Before the pay cut, Kyle, 49, and Jackie each earned around $8million a year for their breakfast radio program, The Kyle & Jackie O Show, but they are now believed to be on closer to $7.2million each.
With hotels reopening after the corona lockdown, there is a lot to consider for them to protect their guests and employees as well as possible. Hotel Resilient, a spin-off from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), supports hotels around the world with its free "COVID-READY" offers. It includes hygiene and protection standards, self-audit software, an e-learning module and the possibility of certification. In mid-June, Hotel Resilient's COVID-READY program has been launched in cooperation with 75 hotels in Phuket/Thailand.
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major challenge for every country in the world. Tourism is one of the hardest hit sectors in this crisis. Travel restrictions and infection control measures led to a drastic decline in bookings; many hotels had to close temporarily. But even after the measures are relaxed, it will still be a while before tourism can return to "business as usual". Travelers will remain cautious and prefer accommodations with convincing hygiene and protection concepts. Hotel Resilient, a KIT spin-off, supports large and small hotels around the world with their new "COVID-READY" offers, aiming to protect guests and employees as well as possible.
Modules: standards, software, e-learning and certification
"COVID-READY offers a comprehensive package including several modules, i. e. standards, software, e-learning and certification," explains Dr. Bijan Khazai, CEO of Hotel Resilient. "All content is free and openly accessible for hotels." The standards consist of 50 steps that cover the prevention and management of SARS-CoV-2 infections in all areas - from safe hygiene to enhanced cleaning to physical distancing to COVID-19 response strategies to new protocols signage and response plans for accommodation services and amenities such as hotel restaurants, gyms and spas.
Using the self-audit software, hotels can assess to what extent they already meet the required standards and what they can do to further improve their concepts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The e-learning module enables companies to train their employees accordingly. Furthermore, hotels can apply for a COVID-READY certification to demonstrate that they meet the standards. The latest scientific findings, international guidelines and best practices from the industry went into the development of COVID-READY. "Hotel Resilient has drawn on its extensive experience in risk-based evaluation and adapted it to COVID-19," says Khazai. In mid-June, COVID-READY has been launched in cooperation with 75 hotels in Phuket / Thailand. Hotel Resilient is already working with the tourism authorities in the Philippines, Palestine, Ecuador and Panama to support hotels in these destinations.
About Hotel Resilient
Hotel Resilient, a subsidiary of the company Risklayer, and has emerged from KIT's CEDIM - Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology. The initiative had its beginnings in a KIT as research project through a large consortium science and industry partners, and funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Bijan Khazai led a group of scientists and practitioners in developing international standards for hotels for disaster risk management and adaptation to climate change. A grant from the EXIST funding program by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy allowed Hotel Resilient to complete these standards and to develop software modules and training tools contribution to disaster resilient tourism. From this, not only the companies themselves, but also the regions and their residents will benefit.
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For further information please see https://hotelresilient.org
Press contact: Dr. Martin Heidelberger, Press Officer, Phone.: +49 721 608-21169, Mail: martin.heidelberger@kit.edu
Being The Research University in the Helmholtz-Association", KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility and information. For this, about 9,300 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 24,400 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
This press release is available on the internet at http://www.kit.edu.
The photo in the best quality available to us may be downloaded under http://www.kit.edu or requested by mail to presse@kit.edu or phone +49 721 608-21105. The photo may be used in the context given above exclusively.
As schools consider how and when to reopen their buildings during the pandemic, many are finding themselves overwhelmed by the potential expenses that would come with operating under social distancing guidelines: protective equipment, staff for smaller classrooms, and additional transportation to keep students spread out on bus rides.
The burdens loom large in particular for urban, under-resourced districts that often have neither the space nor the budgets to accommodate new health protocols.
In Hartford, Connecticut, Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez shudders at the thought of how to afford a scenario where each teacher had dramatically fewer students. In some grades, she said, she has individual teachers with up to 27 students in their classrooms.
My budget would be non-existent, she said.
The vast majority of American school districts have yet to announce when they will resume in-person instruction. The trajectory of the outbreak remains uncertain, and many are waiting on direction from their states. Many are developing plans for at least some distance learning, and budgets are one of the factors that could determine how much they do from afar.
In Camden, New Jersey, one of the states poorest cities, Superintendent Katrina McCombs said costs for classroom cleanings, protective equipment and other virus-related expenses are a concern, especially because the city relies on cash infusions from a state government that is facing a $10 billion shortfall over the current and next fiscal years.
New Jersey has not yet issued guidelines for reopening schools, but McCombs said she hopes the governor leaves flexibility for big urban districts like hers, where families could be at especially high risk for exposure given the number of multi-generational households.
I think the big thing that comes to mind right away just thinking about those logistics of our city, I would hope that as the governor is rolling out those recommendations they can take those unique factors into consideration especially in our large urban districts, she said.
As schools reopen it will cost the average school district about $1.8 million to make social distancing possible, according to an estimate published by AASA, the School Superintendents Association, and the Association of School Business Officials International. The expense will strain budgets of districts that are bracing for cuts due to the economic downturn and hoping for additional federal aid.
You have a significant increase in costs for school districts at a time when school districts are going to have less money. Why? Because you see all of the states budgets are going to be decimated, said Ben Domenech, executive director of AASA. How is that going to play out?
In the town of Stonington, Connecticut, school board chairwoman Alexa Garvey said it would help immensely with finances if the state eased guidance in place for the summer that there should be only one student on each seat of a bus. There are also unresolved questions about providing masks.
Does every child need a mask? she said. What are our obligations to supplying those masks?
The superintendent of Floridas Miami-Dade County Public Schools district, one of the nations largest, said at a recent National Press Club panel that it was considering teachers and parents input on how to continue instruction in light of changes forced by the pandemic and the associated costs.
Based on the demands of social distancing and precautions, there will not be enough money to have the old system back in a fully functional way, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.
Schools with more resources will have more options.
The affluent town of Greenwich, Connecticut, where the school system has 12.2 students for every teacher and instructor on staff, is like many others developing approaches for various scenarios. To keep up social distancing when buildings reopen, Superintendent Toni Jones has said the district could use media centers, cafeterias and other spaces for classrooms to spread out staff.
In Hartford, which has 14.7 students per teacher, the district serves many high-poverty communities and also brings in thousands of students from 60 other towns through school-choice programs. The superintendent there said the challenges associated with reopening are so severe, it may be time to come up with entirely new models for instruction.
Is it that the entire ecosystem has to be examined? Torres-Rodriguez said. If were going to go to smaller class sizes, where are we going to get more teachers from?
We know that we have experts in our community right now. We have our corporate. We have our industry. We have higher ed, she said. So how do we leverage our retirees, for example? How do we leverage our soon to be college upper class students? Industry? I just think it is an opportunity.
___
Kantele Franko, in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. Catalini reported from Trenton, New Jersey, and Melia reported from Hartford.
The medical training of local volunteers to triage and manage mild cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) admitted to isolation facilities in neighbourhood community centres and marriage halls began in Delhi on Tuesday.
As a pilot project, the government has started training the first batch of volunteers in New Delhi districts Budh Nagar Colony. Over the next five days, these volunteers will be taught about human anatomy and to measure vital indicators such as pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, temperature, hygiene and infection control practices, record keeping, and basic life support.
These centres are for patients with mild to moderate symptoms who do not have adequate space in their homes to isolate themselves. The centres will have the provision to provide oxygen to the patients, according to officials.
Under Delhi government guidelines, asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptoms can stay isolated at home if they have a separate room and bathroom. If not, they will be moved to either Covid Care Centres or Covid Health Centres. There are more than 6,000 beds at the existing centres, of which around 30% are occupied, according to data provided by the Delhi government.
The number of Covid-19 cases is increasing every day, so the government has decided to set up these small centres within the community, managed by the people from the community, for the people from the area. This is a pilot project, and if it is successful, then it will be implemented across Delhi. We train around 1,000 such volunteers in the district, Dr Nitin Shakya, the nodal officer for Covid-19, New Delhi district, said.
The centres will be linked to nearby hospitals and there will be doctors available for tele-consultation, he said.
The volunteers have to between the ages of 18 and 55 and free of comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart or kidney disease. Anyone can sign up to volunteer through the Delhi government website.
We also carried out a door-to-door drive asking people to volunteer. Around 35 people showed up for the training session today. The number might increase later on; people are scared that they will get the disease. Even when we started doing the antigen testing, it was difficult to motivate people to get tested, Jay Prakash, the chief coordinator from the office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Delhi Cantonment, said.
Harish Arya, a driver who lost his job during the lockdown, was among those who attended the training session on Tuesday. Initially, I had started donating food during the first lockdown and slowly got in touch with the district office, and have been volunteering with them ever since. I even helped motivate people who live in my area to get tested. I got myself and everyone in my family tested for Covid-19 as well. Today, the doctor taught us about all the parameters we had to monitor most of it was easy like reading the temperature on the thermometer or blood pressure or oxygen machine, he said.
Homemaker Shakuntala Pande has also been helping the district authorities with various activities related to Covid-19 in the area. I was informed that they will be starting centres for those who get sick in our community in some hall nearby. The officers asked me whether I wanted to help and I agreed. So, they asked me to come to the training today. A doctor taught us about the human body, she said.
The government is also working to add over 15,000 beds in makeshift hospitals for those with a severe infection in hotels and banquet halls. To staff these, the government is relying on doctors organisations.
This is like a war situation where, as a last resort, you train civilians to shoot and send them to the frontlines. We are also providing basic training so that they can take care of Covid-19 patients when there is a shortage of doctors, nurses, said Prakash.
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(Photo : Plastic Surgeon Dr. Scottsdale Discusses His Medical Missions to Help Children Who Suffer Deformities)
There have been considerable breakthroughs in plastic surgery procedures. It has become more commonplace than ever before. However, going under the surgeon's knife to alter or enhance something about your appearance is often considered an act driven by vanity. Celebrated plastic surgeon, Dr. Scottsdale would beg to differ. He knows from extensive personal experience that plastic surgery can and has improved the lives of millions of people worldwide, particularly children.
Ensuring children's lives are untroubled and carefree as possible is something that Dr. Scottsdale believes in. He helps by going regularly on mission trips. He travels to third world countries on medical missions to help children who need cleft lip palate reconstruction work, or who have suffered from other traumatic injuries. Helping children and families that can't afford basic medical care is one of the main reasons why Dr. Scottsdale became a plastic surgeon in the first place. He explained, "I love to help people feel better about themselves, regardless of the cause. My philosophy is, 'Be your own kind of beautiful.' My goal has always been to help people who need it the most, especially children."
Not long ago, if you didn't feel comfortable in your skin and found some aspect of your appearance unsightly or unsettling, you had to learn to live with it. This issue was particularly hard on children, who for example, were born with a cleft lip or palate. Fortunately, the growth of plastic surgeons who specialize in cleft lip reconstruction work and similar procedures allows children to have a better quality of life and to not feel anxious about their appearance.
Raised in El Paso, Texas, Dr. Scottsdale felt the urge to help people from an early age. After graduating from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, he opted to specialize in plastic surgery. He explained, "When I was in medical school, I was awed by the range of life-changing expertise a plastic surgeon had at his/her disposal. This included cleft lip procedures, cancer reconstruction, traumatic injury surgery, and aesthetic (cosmetic) makeovers." Dr. Scottsdale believes that a plastic surgeon is a "surgeon's surgeon". From head to toe, there is no part of the body that cannot be operated on. If another surgeon has an issue they cannot fix, they'll call for a plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
After becoming a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Scottsdale found a job in an environment where he believed his skills would be in high demand - the U.S. Army. Being in the military allowed Dr. Scottsdale to learn much more about the human body and how he could use his particular skill-set to help. The discipline and structure of army life also taught him how to be more focused, organized, and more detail-oriented. These were all lessons that served him well years later when he moved to AZ in 2015 and set up his practice, Natural Results Plastic Surgery.
Specializing in a range of cosmetic treatments and "always doing what's right for the patient," Dr. Scottsdale still ensures he takes time out at least once a year to go on mission trips in countries such as Guatemala, Laos, Mexico, Ecuador and many more, to operate on both adults and children in need of medical attention. Dr. Scottsdale explained, "I love helping people feel better about themselves and learning to love themselves again. Yet I feel my skill-set would be wasted if I didn't take the time to travel to these countries and help people who wouldn't necessarily be able to afford plastic surgery procedures. After all, helping others is why I became a doctor in the first place."
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ARLINGTON, Va., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index contracted 1% in May after falling 10.3% in April. In May, the index equaled 106.1 (2015=100) compared with 107.2 in April.
"While tonnage fell in May, even though other economic indicators like retail sales and housing starts rose, I'm not overly concerned," said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. "First, while down over 10 percent sequentially in April, truck tonnage did not fall as much as other economic indicators that month. This means that any rebound is tougher since tonnage didn't fall substantially to begin with. Second, there are indications that freight continues to improve as more and more states and localities lift lockdown restrictions."
April's drop was revised up to -10.3% from the 12.2% decline reported in our May 19 press release.
Compared with May 2019, the SA index contracted 9.6%, the largest year-over-year decline since 2009 during the depths of the Great Recession, although the index is not falling quite as much as during that economic downturn. For example, in April 2009, the index was off 14% from a year earlier. The latest drop was preceded by a 9.4% year-over-year drop in April. Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2019, tonnage is down 2.6%.
"While the overall economy will likely take more than a year to recover, assuming the pandemic doesn't spike again, the trucking industry could recover back to pre-COVID levels before many other industries because it hasn't fallen as much," Costello said. "As retail sales improve and housing starts recover, that will help trucking. The risk for trucking is that the virus surges again and places start to shut back down again."
The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 109.8 in May, 2.8% above the April level (106.9). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015. ATA's For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index is dominated by contract freight as opposed to spot market freight.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 71.4% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 11.49 billion tons of freight in 2018. Motor carriers collected $796.7 billion, or 80.3% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.
ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.
The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward.
SOURCE American Trucking Associations
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The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today grilling him on a series of allegations raised in former national security adviser John Boltons new book, including the allegation that President Donald Trump sought to end the Justice Departments charges against Turkeys state-run Halkbank.
Mr. Bolton also recounts [President Recep Tayyip Erdogans] efforts to influence US law enforcement actions against a Turkish firm accused of the largest violation of Iran sanctions in US history, which President Trump reportedly said he would take care of, wrote Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.
Menendez goes on to quiz Pompeo about his knowledge of the Halkbank affair, as well as several other allegations Bolton raised in his book, and asks the secretary if he took any steps to push back against Trump.
Why it matters: Bolton claimed that Erdogan, who allegedly used the bank for improper personal dealings, had frequently asked Trump to drop the case against Halkbank official Mehmet Atilla. The former national security adviser said Trump had asked him to call former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to get him to drop the case. Bolton says he never followed up on the request.
Whats next: Menendez has called on Bolton to respond to his question by July 1 and publicly testify before Congress. Senate Finance Committee top Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon has also noted that he will ask Bolton for more information regarding the Halkbank affair.
Know more: Cengiz Candar takes a deep dive on all the allegations regarding Trump and Turkey in Boltons new book.
Apart from calling facilities, prison inmates will now also have access to email communication with their lawyers, with the prior permission of the jail superintendent. The prison authorities on Tuesday while responding to a concern raised by petitioners that inmates were unable to instruct their lawyers, said that it was decided to allow inmates email access. The decision was part of the draft modified guidelines, pertaining to the safety and well-being of inmates in light of the Covid-19, spreading in some jails.
The state also informed the court that postal correspondence with prisoners would also be permitted in non-containment zones, where postal services had resumed. The guidelines also stated that relatives and families of inmates who tested positive for the virus, would be informed within 48-hours and the inmate would be shifted to the quarantine centre set up in temporary jails where he/she would be treated for the infection.
The division bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice MS Karnik while hearing a clutch of public interest litigation (PIL) through video conferencing, was informed by the state and prison authorities that the draft guidelines submitted in the earlier hearing had been modified, after considering the recommendations of the petitioners.
Advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni who was assisted by additional government pleader Jyoti Chavan informed the bench that the draft guidelines were consistent with the recommendations issued by ICMR and the state health department, from time to time. Kumbhakoni informed the court that the state had also accommodated the recommendations made by the petitioners related to Covid-19.
He added that some of the recommendations made by senior advocate Mihir Desai on behalf of Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), the NGO petitioner was related to prison reforms and as the Supreme Court was seized of a petition in that regard, the state had not accepted those recommendations.
Lawyers duly engaged by the inmates will be allowed to seek instructions either via emails or by speaking to the inmate after getting an appointment via email, in that regard from the superintendent of the concerned jail, said the modified draft guideline.
The bench has directed the petitioners to submit their suggestions and objections before the next hearing and posted the matter for Friday, June 26.
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Linkedin Andrin Raj (The Jakarta Post) Kuala Lumpur Tue, June 23, 2020 10:29 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660dd778 3 Opinion counterterrorism,terrorism-in-Indonesia,civil-military-relations,TNI,Densus-88,Indonesian-Military Free
Following the fall of the Soeharto regime, Indonesia has been besieged with sectarian and separatist turmoil, including terrorism. The Bali bombing in 2002 brought a serious realization that the country is under the threat of attacks by Islamist terrorist groups.
Although the administration tried to protect the countrys democratic institutions, they were not always successful in mitigating communal conflicts that at times flared up into societal-wide communal violence.
The Soeharto regime did prevent nonstate actors from conducting terroristic attacks and communal violence and kept the country safe, although atrocities committed by the regime were widespread. Soehartos use of the military was condemned and criticized by the international community and non-government organizations.
Indonesia is a fairly new state compared with the West, which took hundreds of years to develop its humanitarian laws. Atrocities, abuses and random killings of its own people were committed within its own states till the late 20th century.
Hence the learning curve needs to be established for Indonesia to prepare itself in the coming future for its national security policies to develop. Indonesia must be given a fair chance to improve and make the changes at its own pace regardless of what western interpretations dictate.
In response to a terrorist threat, Indonesia employed the full spectrum of counterterrorism measures, ranging from judicial prosecution to military-based special operations to conciliatory-based religious persuasion.
The civilian-led approach, that is coordinated through the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), is to focus on the joint efforts of the police, the judiciary and other government bodies in countering terrorism. With the police tasked with leading the defensively oriented antiterrorism effort in arresting and prosecuting through the court system, in accordance with the countrys Constitution and processes and regulations, hundreds of Islamist militants have been arrested and most successfully prosecuted.
Indonesias primary stand in countering terrorism was based on an offensive approach. Detachment 88 (Densus 88), an elite police unit, was established in 2002 after the 2002 Bali bombings as a counterterrorist unit to track and apprehend suspected terrorist operatives. The Densus 88 grew to an exemplary and commended unit within Southeast Asia.
The BNPT played various roles in counterterrorism such as engaging counterterrorism strategies in diplomatic engagement within Southeast Asia, working with its western counterparts, which allowed the BNPT to have wide expertise and knowledge engaging civil society and religious centers. This was to assist in countering the narratives and threats, the soft approach measure.
Today, Indonesias programs consist of two types of measures. While the hard consist of intelligence, judicial, law enforcement and military components, the soft measure is primarily conciliatory, as it seeks to address and resolve the underlying primarily theological and causes of violent extremism. The BNPT also engages with the international community in complying with various antiterrorism treaties and conventions.
The Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam clearly defines the humanitarian laws under Islam in dealing with terrorism. The Cairo Declaration opens with contributing to the efforts of mankind to assert human rights, to protect man from exploitation and persecution and to affirm his freedom and right to a dignified life in accordance with sharia.
Articles of the declaration, such as articles 2a and 2d, 7b, 16, 19d, 22a, 24 and 25, when compared to the Human Rights and the 1950 European Convention, show that the Cairo Declarations provisions, subject to sharia, are parallel to the European Conventions provisions.
Islamist terrorist groups also use similar values when spreading the threat via their interpretations and application of Islam, and the belief they are on a mission from Allah to fight to the death to stop westernization and the eradication of Islam from the ummah (society). However, this deserves an appropriate analysis and discussion, particularly in the context of human rights.
Terrorism is on the rise in the Southeast Asia region and in response resources are needed to neutralize a militia trained in combat warfare, so the military will be a good asset at the joint operations level. Indonesia has all its laws appropriately governed to address all forms of abuse or threats from any of its institutions and as such should move forward in its approach of a military-police cooperation.
Civil unrest, which has taken place in some cities over the past years in Indonesia, may call for some critical thinking, reflection and revaluation as to how many of Indonesias law enforcement officers are currently trained in both urban and jungle warfare. Understanding counterinsurgencies and incorporating training into the guardian mindset of police training could assist in preparing law enforcement officers in the 21st century for terrorist threats and attacks.
The Indonesian Military (TNI) is able to provide a new approach to warfare in countering terrorism and insurgency due to its ability from the years of experiences in combat. Rather than conventional warfare, it is therefore asymmetric struggles or nonconventional, low intensity, protracted conflict the Indonesian armed forces will face.
A presidential decree is under preparation to have the TNI assist law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting the law and arresting criminals. This approach is far-sighted and commendable as the future of Indonesias security is at stake from nonstate actors. The relocation of the capital city to Kalimantan is also a concern if law enforcement and security agencies are not prepared for active, seamless inter-agency cooperation.
With a threat from insurgency, an organized movement is aimed at overthrowing of a constituted government through the use of subversion and armed conflict. In a simple explanation, an insurgency is an organized, protracted politico-military struggle designed to weaken the control and legitimacy of an established government, occupying power or other political authority while increasing insurgent control.
Although, the TNI has been able to protect its sovereignty since 1945 Indonesia has yet to find a solution to countering security threats from Islamist terrorism. Strategy of cooperation and forming a joint taskforce of the law enforcement and security agencies, working closely with the community will be fundamental.
The current recommendations for joint cooperation between the TNI and police could focus on incorporating more empathetic policing tactics such as, trying to avoid physical control and encouraging de-escalation, and serving as opposed to conquering. The guardians of the republic must be always gentle with its citizens but fierce against its enemies, to paraphrase Plato.
The Indonesian protectors with a joint operational force will play a greater role in the outcomes of future policing and military actions and this can lead the way from a culture of warriors to a culture of guardians.
***
The writer is director for the Nordic Counter Terrorism Network based in Helsinki, and the Southeast Asia regional director for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals-Centre for Security Studies, Kuala Lumpur. The views expressed are his own.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Donald Trump and his siblings coerced their father into cutting their niece and nephew out of his will then perjured themselves about it afterwards, explosive court papers seen by DailyMail.com claim.
The allegations were made in 2000 by Mary and Fred Trump III, the children of the Presidents dead brother Fred Jr, in a lawsuit for wrongfully terminating their health insurance.
The bitter family dispute has come to the fore after it was revealed that Mary has written a tell-all - that was due out in August - that will include 'harrowing and salacious' details about the Trump family.
According to the president, Mary has violated an non-disclosure agreement and today he filed a temporary restraining order to keep her from publishing the tell-all.
In court papers obtained by DailyMail.com, Mary and her brother Fred challenged the will of family patriarch Fred Trump Sr, and alleged that the Trump family maliciously ended their medical coverage.
In an affidavit Mary claimed she discovered that in September 1991 Fred Sr, rewrote his will so it 'virtually disinherited' her and her brother.
The new will divided the bulk of the inheritance among his living children, meaning Mary and Fred III only got $200,000 each because their father was dead.
When they challenged the will in probate court, the Trump family allegedly canceled their health insurance in retaliation.
The lawsuit goes further and alleges the President, his brother Robert and their sister Maryanne manipulated Fred Sr into dramatically shrinking their inheritance.
Mary and Fred claim the Trumps lied during the probate for Fred Srs estate by saying he had not a scintilla of diminished capacity when he changed the will in 1991 at the age of 85.
But doctors who examined Fred Sr around then said he had early signs of dementia and couldnt even remember his birthday nor details of a story read to him 30 minutes prior, according to medical reports included in the lawsuit.
The documents allegedly show that Robert Trump told doctors in 1992 that Fred Srs memory had seen a notable decline for the past two years, flatly contradicting his later testimony to the probate court.
The court papers also suggest that Fred Srs judgement may have been further impaired by problems with alcohol.
Mary and Fred III even claim their grandfather may not have been the one to sign his revised will and contend it was allegedly signed by him.
Donald Trump and his siblings coerced their father into cutting their niece and nephew out of his will then perjured themselves about it afterwards, explosive court papers seen by DailyMail.com claim
The lawsuit goes further and alleges the President, his brother Robert and their sister Maryanne manipulated Fred Sr into dramatically shrinking their inheritance
The allegation was made in 2000 by Mary (left) and Fred Trump III (right), the children of the Presidents dead brother Fred Jr, in a lawsuit for wrongfully terminating their health insurance. The dispute from two decades ago, which was settled on confidential terms, was thrown back into the public eye when it emerged that Mary had written a book about Donald. The book, which is out next month, is called Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man
In an affidavit Mary Trump claimed: 'At the time the will was executed, my grandfather was suffering from senile dementia and significant memory impairment.
'My brother and I believe that the will is the product of undue influence and coercion by defendants upon my grandfather, who clearly lacked the requisite mental capacity to make a will.'
The dispute from two decades ago, which was settled on confidential terms, was thrown back into the public eye when it emerged that Mary had written a book about Donald.
The book, which is out next month, is called Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man.
The blurb says that Mary, 55, a psychologist, describes a nightmare of traumas, destructive relationships, and a tragic combination of neglect and abuse that helped to make Donald Trump the man he is today.
The lawsuit was filed in April 2000 at the Nassau County court in Long Island, New York.
Fred Sr. built up The Trump Organization into a vast real estate empire and Fred Trump Jr was his eldest son.
The civil complaint is on behalf of Mary and Fred III, the children of Fred Trump Jr, (pictured) the eldest brother of the President who died in 1982 aged 42 after a lifetime of battling alcohol addiction
But Fred Jr battled alcoholism his entire life and died at the age of 42 in 1982.
He left behind his widow Lisa and his two children, Fred III and Mary.
Their health insurance was covered by one of Fred Sr's companies as it had always been until his death in June 1999.
In an affidavit Mary claimed at that point, she discovered that in September 1991 Fred Sr, rewrote his will so it 'virtually disinherited' her and Fred III.
The new will divided the bulk of the inheritance among his living children, meaning Mary and Fred III only got $200,000 each because their father was dead.
That included coverage for Fred IIIs disabled infant son William, who needed round the clock nursing care for his seizures.
In her affidavit Mary claimed: I remember meeting with my uncle Robert (Trump) at the Drake Hotel (in New York) in mid-1999.
The purpose of the meeting was my uncles attempt to persuade us to sign waivers and consents to the probate of my grandfathers will.
When we expressed reluctance to do so, my uncle immediately stated that (the health insurance company) had already expended $125,000 for Williams care.
This barely veiled threat surfaced again a number of times, more blatantly, during the course of probate proceedings.'
Mary claimed that the probate of Fred Srs will - which was not resolved at the time - was not a slam dunk for the Trump family.
Medical reports included in their lawsuit allegedly show that Robert Trump (pictured with his father in 1989) told doctors in 1992 that Fred Srs memory had seen a notable decline for the past two years, flatly contradicting his later testimony to the probate court. The court papers suggest that Fred Srs judgement may have been further impaired by problems with alcohol
As Fred Sr recovered at the hospital, Dr. Philip D. Wilson, the surgeon-in-chief at Cornell University Medical College who performed the procedure, said his confused state of mind seems aggravated by the procedure. Pictured: Fred Sr was made to do a drawing test. Dr Jutagir wrote in his report: 'He could draw a clock accurately from memory but could not set the hands at the requested time'
While his doctors noted he had enjoyed excellent health throughout his whole life and still put in a full days work even though he was 85, they raised concerns about his mental faculties
TIMELINE OF FALLOUT BETWEEN TRUMP SIBLINGS AND THEIR NIECE AND NEPHEW For decades: Fred Sr agrees to pay Fred Trump Jr's family's medical bills. 1970: Fred Trump Jr and his wife Lisa Trump divorce. 1982: Fred Jr dies aged 42 after a lifetime of battling alcohol addiction. Fred Sr agrees to cover Linda's medical expenses, and those of her children, the lawsuit states September 18, 1991: Fred Sr changes his will - Mary and Fred III allege that he did so under the undue influence of Donald and the rest of the family. June 25, 1999: Fred Sr dies. Estate goes into probate. June 30, 1999: William Trump, Fred III's son, is born with severe disabilities and seizures which requires extensive medical treatment Early 2000: Mary and Fred III challenge Fred Sr's will because they claim he was manipulated into cutting them out. March 30, 2000: Trump family informed Fred III, his mother and his sister that their health insurance benefits which they had enjoyed all their lives would be terminated on May 1st that year. William's benefits would terminate on April 1, so two days later. April 27, 2000: Fred III, his wife, Mary and their mother sue Trump family, saying they are cutting their health insurance in retaliation for challenging the will. Later in 2000: Lawsuit settled, terms not disclosed. Advertisement
She claimed: There are very real questions regarding my grandfathers capacity and the undue amount of influence exercised by the defendants.
There is no doubt that my grandfather was suffering from significant mental impairment at the time he allegedly signed his will.
Perfectly content to perjure themselves, all of the defendants swore in their deposition testimony that my grandfather suffered from not a scintilla of diminished capacity.
The medical records, however, tell a very different tale.
At the time Fred Sr. changed his will in September 1991 he was considering undergoing surgery to replace his left hip, which he did in November that year when the pain became too much.
While his doctors noted he had enjoyed excellent health throughout his whole life and still put in a full days work even though he was 85, they raised concerns about his mental faculties, according to the suit.
As Fred Sr recovered at the hospital, Dr. Philip D. Wilson, the surgeon-in-chief at Cornell University Medical College who performed the procedure, said his confused state of mind seems aggravated by the procedure, court papers claim.
Dr. C. Ronald MacKenzie, a colleague of Dr. Wilsons, wrote in a report dated October 11, 1991 that it was clear throughout the interview that he (Fred Sr.) has significant memory impairment, the lawsuit papers claim.
Dr. MacKenzie noted in his report, which is in the lawsuit, that there had been an obvious decline in his memory in recent years and he had early signs of dementia.
On November 16 in a separate report, Dr. Wilson gave an admitting diagnosis of hip problems.
But the secondary diagnosis was alcoholic psychosis and atrial fibrillation, or an erratic heart rate.
He noted Fred Sr remains somewhat confused but less combative and that his fever may represent alcohol withdrawal, a fact Mary draws attention to in her affidavit to bolster her argument.
In February 2000, five months after the will was changed, Robert brought Fred Sr. to Geriatric Medicine Associates at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York for an evaluation of his memory.
Mary claimed Robert told the doctors that Fred Srs memory had been in notable decline for the past two years.
Mary argued: This was the same man who swore at his deposition, as did his brother and sister, that his father was mentally fit at the time he made his will.'
The neuropsychological evaluation by Professor Rajendra Jutagir is dated February 4th and 5th of 1992 and states Fred Sr. was referred to him for evaluation of problems with memory.
Dr. Jutagir wrote that Fred Sr. denied any symptoms of cognitive loss.
But the examination allegedly proved otherwise - Fred Sr. did not know his birthdate, was unsure of his age and turned to his son for help in responding to some questions.
Fred Sr. knew that it was 1992 but was unsure about the first two digits of the year.
He was unable to name this hospital, the notes included in the lawsuit claimed.
In an affidavit Mary claimed at that point, she discovered that in September 1991 Fred Sr rewrote his will so it 'virtually disinherited' her and Fred III. The new will divided the bulk of the inheritance among his living children, meaning Mary and Fred III only got $200,000 each because their father was dead. Pictured l-r: Robert, Elizabeth, Fred, Donald and Maryanne
Dr Jutagir wrote that Robert admitted that his fathers memory was amazing until about age 80, but that notable decline has occurred only in the last two years.
The report said: The patient now forgets names and will sometimes confuse one business situation with another.'
Dr Jutagir wrote: 'Immediate recall of stories read to him was poor relative to his level of achievement... conservative estimation suggests performance below 15th percentile.
'After a delay of 30 minutes recall of the stories was nil. Immediate recall of a story that he did read to himself was also impaired as he could remember only one detail (out of a possible 23), and showed evidence of mild confabulation.
'Remote memory was somewhat was somewhat impaired as he could only recall 3 of the last 9 presidents.'
In bitter legal filings Donald and his siblings laid out their reasons for refusing to pay for their great nephew Williams healthcare.
The Trumps argued that Mary and Fred III have already had millions of dollars from them and should be thanking them for their generosity.
Rather than suing them a thank-you would be extremely appreciated,' they claimed.
The Trumps even claimed that William didnt actually need 24/7 care - which they dismissed as expensive baby sitting - despite his frequent seizures.
Instead of hiring a nurse, Fred III should take a CPR course from the American Red Cross in case William has another cardiac arrest - and resuscitate the boy himself.
In her affidavit Mary claimed: For the defendants to threaten the health of a 10 month old infant in order to try and force a settlement and thereby cover up their own duplicitous conduct is obscene.
They have lied in the probate proceeding and they are lying in this proceeding, attempting to paint themselves as kind, loving and concerned individuals when nothing could be farther from the truth.
The last time Mary spoke publicly about her family was 20 years ago in an article for the New York Daily News in which she said Donald and his siblings should be ashamed of themselves.
She was reportedly the source for a New York Times investigation into the President in 2018 which demolished his image as a self made man.
In fact Donald received at least $413 million from his father and was a millionaire by the time he was eight.
The government has announced a package of measures to boost British food and farming businesses looking to export following the Covid-19 crisis.
The 'bounce back' package aims to 'turbo charge' UK food and drink exporters as dozens of countries begin to recover from the coronavirus.
Physical and virtual events will be part of the plan, including an overseas virtual buyer trial, a Smart Distance Selling Process and a package of Ready to Trade Exporting Masterclass webinars.
It includes the promotion and showcasing of British produce to new export markets, identifying opportunities and strengthening existing relationships.
Defra and the Department for International Trade (DIT), which are spearheading the package, said the plan would support farmers, manufacturers and agri-tech firms.
The agriculture, food and drink sector is the UKs largest manufacturing industry, contributing 121bn to the economy in 2018 and supporting around 4m jobs.
In 2019, UK food, feed and drink exports were worth 23.7 billion up 4.9 percent from 2018.
But the industry has been significantly hit by the coronavirus and its impact on international trade, with agri-food exports significantly down compared to last year.
Looking to boost exports, Defra and DIT will launch a new SME E-commerce Accelerator Pilot to increase the level of international e-commerce backing for SMEs in the industry.
The plan will also see the introduction of Defras first Agri-food Counsellor serving the Gulf, who will represent the interests of UK food and drink businesses already exporting, or planning to export, to the region.
The government's minister for export, Graham Stuart MP said more trade was 'critical' in helping food and farming businesses recover from the Covid-19 crisis.
The package will support bounce back in exports, and help our world-class producers and manufacturers increase trade with the rest of the world.
"It will also get the industry ready to capitalise on the opportunities that are being opened up by the series of free trade agreements that my department is negotiating around the world.
Ian Wright, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) welcomed the plan, adding that it came at an 'uncertain time' for exporters.
"Our success in restarting and expanding exports will be absolutely vital in aiding the UKs post-Covid economic recovery," Mr Wright said.
"In the longer term, it is important that government and industry continue to work together to take advantage of export opportunities and address fragmentation in available support across the UK.
What are the full range of measures?
Launch of a GREAT DIT Food & Drink Exporting Masterclass, a programme of webinars to be produced in conjunction with trade associations and UK regions
Launch of Food & Drink SME E-commerce Accelerator Pilot to increase the level of international e-commerce support for food and drink SMEs, including agri-tech.
Promote 50 Food and Drink Export Champions to stimulate new exporters, while utilising International Trade Advisor specialist networks focused on agri-food.
The first Defra Agri-food Counsellor serving the UAE and wider Gulf Region, with the role focussing on supporting the UK food and drink sector and representing the interests of firms already exporting to the area, as well as those looking to export for the first time.
Launch of a programme of physical and virtual events, using software to connect buyers, promote the UK and reach international markets. This will include an overseas virtual buyer trial working directly with chosen US buyers through a virtual delivery programme.
Leveraging Defras Food is GREAT campaign, which will extend into the UAE and the EU later this year, to provide targeted activity in priority export markets, such as USA, China and Japan.
Two Virtual Investor Roundtables chaired by Lord Grimstone, minister for investment, with food and farming firms to inform the development of the UKs investment strategy
Uplift of UK Export Finances Exporters Edge campaign to further outreach and engagement to identify and respond to the needs of the industry and raise awareness of how UKEF and Trade Finance can help the businesses win and fulfil export contracts.
Tunis (AFP) - Tunisian President Kais Saied on Tuesday criticised foreign interference he said was aimed at rolling back the young democracy in his country, and warned against efforts to divide neighbouring Libya.
"There are many indications of outside influence in Tunisia on the part of forces trying to push the country backwards," Saied told news channel France 24.
In an interview, he said some in Tunisia were complicit in this interference and that he had "a lot of information" to that effect.
But he argued that "duty" prevented him from giving more details to avoid "making the situation more complex".
Tunisian political parties clashed in parliament in early June over the country's position on the conflict in neighbouring Libya.
Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha movement, was accused of pursuing a parallel foreign policy backing Turkey.
He responded by accusing his rivals of using the Libyan conflict for domestic political ends.
Saied on Tuesday condemned all interference in Libya, wracked by conflict since 2011 and currently divided between the UN-recognised Government of National Accord in Tripoli and forces loyal to the eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar.
Turkey has backed the GNA, while the UAE and Egypt openly support Haftar, also suspected of receiving French backing.
French President Emmanuel Macron met Saied on Monday and fiercely criticised Turkish intervention in the conflict.
The Tunisian president said Tuesday that "any interference is a danger".
"Foreign interventions only exacerbate" the conflict, he added, stressing that "the responsibility is shared".
Speaking during an official visit to Paris, he warned against attempts to divide Libya.
"Division could be an open door to the division of other neighbouring countries... it's a danger to Tunisia and Algeria," he said.
Saied added that the GNA, backed by a UN Security Council resolution, had a legal basis, but that "this international legality cannot last (and) must be replaced by... a popular legitimacy."
Story continues
He also spoke out against parliament speaker Ghannouchi, stressing that Tunisia's foreign policy is the prerogative of the president.
"There is only one Tunisian diplomacy, led by the head of state," he said.
"I don't like to be walked over."
A LinkedIn profile for an Adam Korzeniewski said he worked for Commerce for three months beginning in April. Before that, he spent five months as a field manager with the Census Bureau, from December 2019 until April. He also is listed as having worked as a self-employed political consultant from April 2018 to December 2019; and as a general manager for Dollaride, the ride-sharing van company, for six months beginning in January 2019. He served in the Marines for five years beginning in 2007.
AUSTIN Former Vice President Joe Biden has a problem winning over Latino voters, and the effort to resolve it has been impossible to miss with just four months remaining until early voting starts.
Joe Biden still has time to make up the enthusiasm gap, said Chuck Rocha, a Democratic political strategist from Tyler who was a senior adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders national campaign.
But Biden definitely has work to do, Rocha said.
Biden lost the Latino vote badly to Sanders, I-Vt., in early primary states such as Nevada and California, and President Donald Trumps re-election campaign has been aggressive in its own outreach efforts, convinced that Trump can do better with Latinos in 2020 than he did four years ago.
That two-pronged problem can be seen in polling. While a recent nationwide Quinnipiac University poll showed Biden beating Trump among Latinos, his numbers were way down from Hillary Clintons four years ago when she faced Trump. Biden led Trump in the May poll among Latinos 45% to 38%. But four years ago at a similar point in the presidential campaign, Clinton was leading Trump 65% to 18% among Latino voters.
Bidens proposals for addressing college debt and health care for the poor are not as far-reaching as those of Sanders, which is part of his problem, Democratic strategists say.
And Latinos still associate Biden with the Secure Communities program that generated the bulk of the 2.3 million deportations during the Obama administration, mostly targeting undocumented immigrants who landed in jail for nonviolent crimes. The White House discontinued it in 2014.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez has insisted that Biden is already doing a lot of the right things to address Latino voters, who he says will be firmly on Bidens side when fall rolls around.
He knows he has to do more, Perez said.
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was more blunt in an interview with Politico last month, saying Bidens campaign had demonstrated little or no activity in the Hispanic community at that point.
The objective isnt to win the Hispanic vote (Biden will) do that but to keep it above 65% and to maximize Latino turnout, Richardson, who is Latino, told Politico. If we go to 58 or 57% with Hispanics, were in trouble.
Real commitment
By November, there are expected to be 32 million Latinos nationwide eligible to vote in the presidential race, according to the Pew Research Center. And the big majority of those potential voters are in just five states Texas, California, Florida, Arizona and New York. About 30% of the eligible voters in Texas are Latino.
The emphasis on appealing to Latinos and energizing them for the presidential election was on display early this month in Texas during the state Democratic Partys virtual convention. Just minutes into the six-day online event, listeners were reminded that in 2018 more than 800,000 new Latino voters flooded the polls in Texas and were a key reason why Democrat Beto ORourke came within 3 percentage points of beating Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Minutes later, Perez centered his speech on what he said was how poorly Latinos are doing under Trump, pointing to high uninsured rates in Texas and nationwide unemployment for Hispanics that has climbed to 17.6% during the coronavirus-sparked recession, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
It has more than tripled under Donald Trump, Perez said.
Trump has also pointed to unemployment rates, which dipped below 4% for Hispanics last year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The next day, Biden was hailing a new endorsement from Julian Castro and pledging to work with him on criminal justice reforms that the former San Antonio mayor championed before dropping out of the presidential race.
Im proud to endorse him, and Im convinced he can get real reform done, Castro said in response.
But that relationship has been slow to develop, though Castro served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the final 2 years of President Barack Obamas administration. Biden was vice president
Castro dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary at the beginning of the year and endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president. Even after Warren dropped out, Castro waited until this month to give Biden a full-throated endorsement.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is expanding its outreach to Hispanic communities in Texas with volunteers who are trained to engage and register voters.
Trump Victory and the Latinos for Trump coalition have built a permanent infrastructure in Texas hosting events in English and Spanish and recruiting thousands of Latino volunteers who are empowered and have the tools to deliver the White House and help elect Republicans up and down the ballot in November. Trump Victory Hispanic Outreach spokesperson Andres Malave said.
Rocha, the Democratic strategist, said that if Bidens going to regain his footing with Hispanic voters in key battleground states, its going to take a genuine effort and not token lip service that so many campaigns offer.
It takes a real commitment and a financial investment to make it happen, Rocha said.
He said that in the Sanders campaign, the national staff had Latino voices with enough clout to influence the campaign budget. He said they made an effort to hire Latino-owned firms and consultants to get the message to the communities they were targeting.
More woke white consultants are not going to solve our problem, Rocha said.
Biden: Too long
Biden has brought on high-level advisers including Cristobal Alex, a former president of the Latino Victory Fund, who serves as Bidens senior adviser for issues involving Hispanic voters. More recently, he brought on Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, as a senior adviser to help with Latino outreach.
Rocha said Biden must address the aggressive immigration policies that led to Obama being tagged as the deporter in chief.
Biden in February started laying the groundwork for that, using an interview with Univisions Jorge Ramos to issue his strongest words of regret.
We took far too long to get it right, Biden said then. I think it was a big mistake. Took too long to get it right.
But theres much more to reaching out to Latinos than just talking immigration reform, Rocha said. He said studying the data shows that Latino voters skew younger than the rest of general election voters.
That makes those younger voters more attuned to the lack of health care coverage, college affordability and criminal justice reform topics Sanders focused on early.
Biden addressed those concerns June 6, focusing a third of his 678-word speech at the Texas Democratic Convention on Hispanic voters.
Theres no question Latino communities are important to this state and to the country, Biden said. Youre a major reason for our economic growth. Youre a major reason why Texas is now a swing state.
Biden blasted Trump and blamed his rhetoric and policies for hurting Latinos across the nation.
Donald Trumps anti-Latino agenda has targeted Latinos with dire consequences, he said. Whether its his attacks on health care, a meaningless wall or children being ripped from the arms of their mothers.
We saw the results last August in El Paso, as El Paso was targeted by a hateful attack, Biden said, referencing the man accused of killing 23 in a Walmart parking lot.
Protecting Dreamers
Biden later shifted to talking about his commitment to protecting so-called Dreamers people brought illegally into the nation as children by their parents and who have lived the bulk of their lives here. If elected, Biden said, on day one I will introduce an immigration reform.
As Biden scouts for a running mate, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the only Latina governor in the nation, is reportedly on the short list with other contenders. Biden has committed publicly to picking a woman for vice president.
U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat, said that as the campaign season heats up, she has no doubt Biden is going to win big with Latinos. Early voting in Texas starts Oct. 19 just over four months away.
In Latino communities, I think Joe Biden already has a lot of energy, Garcia said. We can always bring it up a notch and put it into overdrive. And I think that is what its going to take.
jeremy.wallace@chron.com
CAMBRIDGE, England, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- STORM Therapeutics, the leading biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapies modulating RNA epigenetics, today announces the appointment of Dr. Josefin-Beate Holz as Clinical Advisor and Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Holz has over 25 years' experience in pharmaceutical drug development in Europe and North America. She has held executive managerial positions at international pharmaceutical & biotech companies Ablynx, GPC-Biotech, Gilead Sciences, Bristol-Myers Squibb and LEO Pharma. Dr. Holz has worked on more than 50 disease targets at various stages of clinical validation across oncology, immunology and other indications.
Commenting on today's appointment, Dr Keith Blundy, CEO of STORM Therapeutics said: "We are pleased to welcome Josefin to STORM. This is an exciting time as we accelerate the development of our lead programme, the first-in-class METTL3 inhibitor, into IND enabling studies and clinical trials. Josefin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in clinical research and has an excellent track record in the development of numerous molecular entities with novel mechanisms of action. Her experience will also add value to our pipeline of earlier programmes, particularly as we advance a second programme towards the clinic and apply our platform to new therapeutic areas beyond oncology."
Dr. Josefin-Beate Holz, Chief Medical Officer, STORM Therapeutics commented: "STORM is the world leading company tackling disease through modulating RNA modifying enzymes. I am very pleased to support STORM in the planning of the clinical development of its METTL3i and exciting earlier stage programmes."
Dr. Holz is a medical advisor to the European Commission and is member of various medical associations such as ASCO, ESMO and SITC. She provides clinical advice and part-time CMO support for SMEs and biotech companies. Dr. Holz received her PhD in Haematology Oncology from the University Marburg, Germany in 1995.
About STORM
STORM Therapeutics, founded in 2015, is a University of Cambridge spin-out translating the ground-breaking work of Professors Tony Kouzarides and Eric Miska in RNA epigenetics into the discovery of first-in-class drugs in oncology and other diseases. Storm is the leading company tackling disease through modulating RNA modifying enzymes and is developing a unique platform and pipeline to address these enzyme classes, including RNA methyltransferases.
STORM is backed by blue chip investors Cambridge Innovation Capital, M Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, Taiho Ventures LLC, Seroba Life Sciences and IP Group, who share the team's ambitions to build a world-leading company in the field.
www.stormtherapeutics.com
SOURCE STORM Therapeutics
Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, fifth from left, and ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk, third from left, pose with heads of diplomatic missions from 10 ASEAN member states during a roundtable at The Korea Times office in Jung-gu, central Seoul, June 15. From left are Charge d'affaires Christian L. De Jesus of the Philippines, Singaporean Ambassador Eric Teo Boon Hee, Lee, Myanmar Ambassador Thant Sin, Oh, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tu, Cambodian Ambassador Long Dimanche, Brunei Ambassador Pg Hjh Nooriyah PLW Pg Hj Yussof, Indonesian Ambassador Umar Hadi, Thai Ambassador Rommanee Kananurak, Lao Ambassador Thieng Boupha and Malaysian Ambassador Dato' Mohd Ashri Muda. Sponsored by the ASEAN-Korea Centre, the meeting was the first in a series of roundtables with ambassadors planned this year to mark the newspaper's 70th anniversary. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
June 15 gathering marks first in series of roundtables with ambassadors for Korea Times' 70th annivesrary
By Yi Whan-woo
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for ASEAN and Korea to follow up on their 2019 commemorative summit in Busan and spur cooperation through more frequent people-to-people exchanges.
Under the circumstances, a roundtable hosted by The Korea Times last week, as described by ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk, was "timely and meaningful" in helping ASEAN ambassadors to interact and facilitate partnerships between the two regions.
Mediated by Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, the roundtable at the newspaper office in central Seoul, June 15, was the first in a series of meetings with ambassadors planned this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the nation's first English-language newspaper.
Sponsored by the ASEAN-Korea Centre, a Seoul-based intergovernmental organization promoting relations with ASEAN, the June 15 gathering attracted heads of diplomatic missions from all 10 ASEAN member states.
The 10 guests were nine ambassadors Pg Hjh Nooriyah PLW Pg Hj Yussof of Brunei Darussalam, Long Dimanche of Cambodia, Umar Hadi of Indonesia, Thieng Boupha of Lao People's Democratic Republic, Dato' Mohd Ashri Muda of Malaysia, Thant Sin of Myanmar, Eric Teo Boon Hee of Singapore, Rommanee Kananurak of Thailand, Nguyen Vu Tu of Vietnam plus Charge d'affaires Christian L. De Jesus of the Philippines. Secretary General Lee joined them.
The event was only the second time the guests have been able to meet since the spread of the coronavirus in Korea. The first time was on May 29 during a meeting hosted by the Presidential Committee on New Southern Policy.
Under the theme "Korea-ASEAN efforts to fight COVID-19," the envoys spoke about their respective countries' experiences in dealing with coronavirus, their views on what is happening in Korea and how ASEAN and Korea can cooperate better in combating the pandemic.
"Facing the challenges of the coronavirus, the world, including ASEAN and Korea, are treading through an exceptional, unique and painful time," Lee said in his congratulatory speech.
He reckoned having trouble in face-to-face exchanges with ASEAN makes the ambassadors "more important than ever" because they play a larger role in bolstering cooperation with Korea.
"They should be a key player in keeping the momentum of cooperation," Lee said.
He viewed the role of the media, especially the English newspapers here, is also important in "bridging the communities of ASEAN and Korea."
"In that regard, the roundtable is both timely and meaningful," Lee added.
The longest-serving ASEAN ambassador in Korea and the interim chair of ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS), a group of Southeast Asian ambassadors here, Cambodian Ambassador Long thanked The Korea Times and the ASEAN-Korea Centre for organizing the roundtable.
"This is a great platform for discussion," Long said, adding ASEAN sees Korea as a model country when it comes to COVID-19 response.
He underlined that each Southeast Asian country, while taking measures to stop the coronavirus, also has been working within ASEAN, as well as through the ASEAN-Korea network and expanded frameworks such as ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and Korea).
"Nothing is better than putting an issue on the table and discussing it together," he said. "The more we talk within ASEAN and meet with dialogue partners, the more information and experiences we get in order to figure out the appropriate ways to overcome this pandemic."
As of June 22, the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases by ASEAN countries were 141 in Brunei, 129 in Cambodia, 46,845 in Indonesia, 19 in Laos, 8,587 in Malaysia, 290 in Myanmar, 30,682 in the Philippines, 42,313 in Singapore, 3,151 in Thailand and 349 in Vietnam.
Brunei and Laos have no more active cases, while Cambodia has two, Indonesia has 25,610, Malaysia has 289, Myanmar has 84, the Philippines has 21,362, Singapore has 6,697, Thailand has 71 and Vietnam has 21.
On death tolls, Brunei reported three, Indonesia 2,500, Malaysia 121, Myanmar six, the Philippines 1,177, Singapore 26 and Thailand 58. Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam reported no deaths.
The spike in coronavirus cases in Florida, Arizona, Oregon and other Southern and Western states can be traced back to around Memorial Day, when officials began loosening their lockdowns, health experts said Monday.
And in about two weeks, hospitals in those states could find themselves struggling to find enough beds for patients, one of the nation's top public health experts warned.
"In some smaller Southern towns, the per capita rates of infections could be as high as New York City was at its peak," Dr. Erik Toner of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security said.
Image: South Beach in Miami Beach (Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images file)
In the last 14 days, Oregon has reported a 234.4 percentage jump in infections, Oklahoma jumped by 202 percent, Florida's number increased by 155 percent, and Arizona's confirmed coronavirus cases climbed by 142 percent, according to an NBC News analysis of state health department figures.
Texas, Utah, Arkansas, Louisiana and more than a dozen other states as well as Guam and the Virgin Islands had increases in the numbers of reported cases in the last two weeks.
"It's basically the same reason for all these states: It was Memorial Day," Toner said. "And in the last week of May, most states began to seriously relax community mitigation efforts."
Toner said that as lockdowns are relaxed, "we will see a rise in coronavirus cases."
"The question is how high will they rise," he said. "Oregon, for example, has done a good job of dealing with the pandemic, and if people adhere to wearing face masks and social distancing, it may not be bad. But some Southern and Western states have gone out of their way to not wear face masks or practice social distancing, and we expect it to be much worse."
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, delayed reopening four of the state's most populous counties this month when cases started to climb.
The Republican governors of Arizona and Florida have move been more aggressive with reopening, sometimes over the objections of local hospital officials.
Story continues
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, warned Monday that "additional measures are going to be necessary" and that he may clamp down on businesses that don't require masks if the number of cases continues to climb.
"There are certain counties where a majority of the people who are tested positive in that county are under the age of 30, and this typically results from people going to bars," Abbott said.
Abbott last week blamed Memorial Day celebrations, along with a rise in the number of prison inmates who contracted the virus, for the dismal new data.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, announced Monday that he would delay the next phase of the state's reopening for 28 days.
"This remains a very contagious disease," Edwards said. "There are a lot of people out there saying they are done with this virus. Well, the virus isn't done with us."
Just a couple weeks ago, the governor reported that the state had escaped from Memorial Day unscathed.
Dr. Paul Cieslak, senior health adviser to the Oregon Health Authority, said Oregon's "recent rise in cases is due to a combination of many factors."
"We've had quite a few workplace outbreaks, increased contact tracing and testing, a large outbreak in Union County and finally just more community spread," Cieslak said. "But we still have a very low per capita case and death count and have the fifth-lowest cases per capita among states as measured by the CDC."
Image: Arizona coronavirus cases (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and allies, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, have attributed the rise in cases to more testing, a claim most health experts say is at best partly true.
Ducey also suggested another uniquely Arizona reason for the spread of the virus last week. "We're indoors in the summers," he said.
Ducey, as well as DeSantis and Abbott, have all insisted that their states have enough intensive care beds to handle any surge.
But DeSantis has also changed his state's guidelines for ICU reporting. From now on, DeSantis doesn't want the hospitals to report the number of patients in ICU beds. He wants hospitals to report the number of patients who require an "intensive level of care."
Florida passed 100,000 coronavirus cases Monday and has recorded more than 3,170 deaths.
Irrfan Khans son Babil Khan has issued an appeal to fans to desist from descending in a blame game after Sushant Singh Rajputs death, calling it a most futile act. Sushants death has led to social media outrage, with many believing that the actor was ostracized by the Bollywood privilege club.
Talking about the death of his father and Sushant within months of each other, Babil 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.
He also addressed the need to pin the blame on something or someone, calling it the most futile act. 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.
Sushant died by suicide at the age of 34; he was suffering from depression. His death has reignited the discussion around nepotism in the film industry.
Babil encouraged people to question nepotism and status quo but not in Sushants name. 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).
Earlier, Irrfans wife Sutapa Sikdar had also asked people to show empathy at this time. We cannot know ever what happens between two individuals its sickening to the core to pass moral judgement on social media.Just any one gets up today and becomes judge therapist relationship counselor blah blah blah. And I repeat count your blessings in these tough times then being vicious vultures. There is much more in life to share so get a life!! she had written.
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Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Academy and Thomson Reuters Mena have entered into a strategic partnership that aims to substantially boost the knowledge of legal technologies and legal research tools, and their use in the region.
The partnership will see Thomson Reuters Legal provide a series of online sessions to legal professionals across the region that are designed to help local legal professionals understand the various legal technologies and legal research tools that are available to them.
The sessions, suitable for all lawyers, whether law firms or in-house, will cover a range of topics from digital transformation and adopting legal tech to emerging legal trends in the market. It will also introduce participants to various legal technologies, including Thomson Reuters own global legal research platforms, Westlaw and Practical Law.
Alya Al Zarouni, Executive Vice President of Operations and Head of DIFC Academy, DIFC Authority said: The DIFC Academy is pleased to partner with Thomson Reuters Legal to provide legal professionals access to latest updates on legal tech and the available digitals tools that can support their sector. The pandemic has accelerated digitisation across all industries including the legal profession.
We are committed to collaborating with likeminded partners and institutions to develop the Centres knowledge-rich ecosystem, which in turn will help shape the future of finance. DIFC is home to many legal firms, including eight of worlds top 10 so the partnership will be of immediate benefit to our clients.
I believe our partnership with the DIFC Academy is very important now to raise awareness among legal professionals and organisations in the UAE and the region, especially since the Covid19 pandemic has accelerated the remote working trend. Many new technologies are now available, with more expected in the future, and it can be challenging to choose a good fit for the organisations needs. The legal sector is at a tipping point in terms of technology, and various tools are now available that can greatly boost efficiency and substantially increase the competitive advantage, said: Ibrahim Abdel Rehim, Legal Professionals Lead at Thomson Reuters Mena.
For more than a decade, DIFC has supported the learning needs of the financial services industry in the region by partnering with providers of top-ranked educational resources. The partnership with Thomson Reuters Mena now extends this service to the regions legal sector.
Legal professionals from across the region will have the opportunity to sign-up to various online seminars in the coming months, stay tuned to our LinkedIn page where interested parties can register their attendance. -- Tradearabia News Service
FELTON, California, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Fuel Cell Vehicle Market size is projected to touch USD 1.75 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Million Insights. The market is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 33.7% over the forecast duration. The growing investment by governments in the development of pollution-free vehicles is attributing to the growth of the market.
Fuel cell vehicles are pollution-free and greatly reduce the carbon footprint, thereby, expected to garner much traction over the next few years. Additionally, advancement in fuel cell technologies is further projected to drive the vehicle's demand. Owing to ongoing advancements, these vehicles are capable of matching the performance of conventional vehicles.
Fuel cell adoption is likely to rise over the forecast duration owing to stringent emission norms set by the governments across the globe. Further, various governments are also providing incentives to support the growth of the fuel cell vehicles market.
Please click here to get the sample pdf and find more details on "Fuel Cell Vehicles Market" Report 2025.
North America led the market in 2017 and expected to continue its dominance over the forecast duration. Europe and Asia Pacific are also witnessing a surge in demand owing to growing infrastructural development to support the development of fuel cell vehicles.
Further key findings from the report suggest:
The global fuel cell vehicle market was worth USD 194.5 million in 2017 and anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 33.7% from 2018 to 2025.
in 2017 and anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 33.7% from 2018 to 2025. Various initiatives taken by governments are encouraging the adoption of fuel cell vehicles.
North America occupied the largest market share in 2017 and projected to ascend at a CAGR of more than 36.0% over the forecast duration
occupied the largest market share in 2017 and projected to ascend at a CAGR of more than 36.0% over the forecast duration Europe accounted for only over 3% of the market share in fuel cell vehicle, however, the region is predicted to grow at a CAGR of over 38.0% over the forecast period.
Browse 60 page research report with TOC on "Global Fuel Cell Vehicle Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/global-fuel-cell-vehicle-market
Fuel Cell Vehicle Market Share Insights
Owing to the presence of only a few players, the market is concentrated in nature. Key players in the fuel cell vehicles market are Honda Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation. Two major players Honda and Toyota have introduced commercial vehicles in sedan segment while Hyundai has commercialized its SUV segment.
Although the market is captured by a handful of players, several other players have announced their roadmap to introduce fuel cell vehicles. For example, Audi with its Quattro fuel cell vehicles debuted in the market in 2016.
Million Insights has segmented the global fuel cell vehicles market on the basis of region:
Fuel Cell Vehicles Regional Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Billion, 2014 - 2025)
North America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Browse latest market research reports available with Million Insights:
About Million Insights:
Million Insights, is a distributor of market research reports, published by premium publishers only. We have a comprehensive market place that will enable you to compare data points, before you make a purchase. Enabling informed buying is our motto and we strive hard to ensure that our clients get to browse through multiple samples, prior to an investment. Service flexibility & the fastest response time are two pillars, on which our business model is founded. Our market research report store, includes in-depth reports, from across various industry verticals, such as healthcare, technology, chemicals, food & beverages, consumer goods, material science & automotive.
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SOURCE Million Insights
CMR Surgical appoints former SpaceX Senior Director as Chief Operations Officer
Cambridge, UK. 23 June 2020, 00:01 (BST). CMR Surgical Ltd, the company behind the next-generation surgical robotic system Versius, today announces the appointment of Barrington D'Arcy as Chief Operations Officer. As Chief Operations Officer, Barrington will oversee the growth of CMR Surgical's manufacturing and supply chain to support the Company's global expansion.
Barrington has more than 20 years of world class manufacturing experience, having started his career in the automotive industry as a manufacturing engineer and most recently working within the aerospace industry. He joins CMR from SpaceX, where his primary focus was to accelerate SpaceX's capability to manufacture space rockets in a high tech, low volume environment. Whilst at SpaceX, Barrington developed the manufacturing engineering team for the Company and led the composites manufacturing team across all disciplines. Prior to this, Barrington worked in manufacturing plants across Britain and Europe, specialising in automated manufacturing solutions for BMW and MINI, taking vehicles through the concept phase into full production.
Per Vegard Nerseth, Chief Executive Officer of CMR Surgical, said: "I am very pleased Barrington has chosen to join us as COO. Barrington has an incredibly strong background working in high-growth companies and a track record of scaling operations to produce high quality products which makes him an ideal fit for CMR at this important time. I welcome Barrington to the team as we continue to execute our commercialisation strategy and expand globally."
Barrington D'Arcy, Chief Operations Officer of CMR Surgical, said: "I hugely admire the team at CMR and what they have achieved with Versius in such a relatively short space of time. I am looking forward to using my skills and experience gained over the course of my career to help drive the vision of the business to make this remarkable robot available to physicians across the globe."
- ENDS -
Media Contacts:
If you wish to see more, please contact CMR Surgical at:
Sarah Ghabina / Ashley Davis-Marin
Global Communications Manager / Senior Communications Executive, CMR Surgical
T +44(0) 1223 755801
Epressoffice@cmrsurgical.com
Mary-Jane Elliott / Angela Gray / Lindsey Neville
Consilium Strategic Communications
T +44 (0)20 3709 5700
Ecmr@consilium-comms.com
Notes to editors:
About CMR Surgical Limited
CMR Surgical (CMR) is a global medical devices company dedicated to transforming surgery with Versius, a next-generation surgical robot.
Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, CMR is committed to working with surgeons, surgical teams and hospital partners, to provide an optimal tool to make robotic minimal access surgery universally accessible and affordable. With Versius, we are on a mission to redefine the surgical robotics market with practical, innovative technology and data that can improve surgical care.
Founded in 2014, CMR Surgical is private limited company backed by an international shareholder base of specialist and generalist investors.
[June 23, 2020] Coronavirus Impacts Flow of Money
In testimony before a House Congressional Committee last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that we may see spot coin shortages around the country as a result of the state economic shutdowns that began in March 2020 to stem the spread of COVID-19. The stay-at-home orders and closing of stores and restaurants interrupted the normal flow of cash and coins; slowing the economy and the movement of coins as well. "While Chairman Powell said any spot shortages of coin would be temporary, merchants should not take advantage of the situation by rounding prices or denying consumers the right to use cash," said Americans for Common Cents (ACC) Executive Director, Mark Weller. Weller's group promotes the penny and consumers' right to use cash when making purchases. While COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the global economic and social landscape, including how we purchase goods, price rounding is bad for consumers and the economy. Weller describes the extent of rounding's detrimental impact in that "rounding affects purchases from the gas pump to the grocery store." Although the use of cash is safe, the current pandemic led to an uptick in contactless payment. "Central banks around the world and medial experts confirm that coins are safe to use in times of the pandemic," according to Coinstar CEO, Jim Gaherity. Throughout the course of the pandemic, Coinstar kiosks in grocery stores and other retail locations have been, and continue to be, fully operational.
According to the International Currency Association, there is no evidence of cash transmitting the virus. ACC's Weller added, "the copper covering the penny is antimicrobial, it kills bacteria and viruses." While copper is not a COVID-19 cure-all and the topic deserves more study, past research has shown its promise for reducing contamination in public transit, restaurants, and health care facilities. Several consumer and nonprofit groups have also rallied around the idea that consumers should have multiple ways to make payments be that in cash, with credit and debit cards, or via contactless payments. In response to some businesses banning the use of cash, and in recognition of the harm this causes, members of Congress have introduced legislation to require retailers to accept cash payments. Congressman Don Payne's (D-NJ) bipartisan Payment Choice Act (H.R. 2650) will ensure that people are never turned away from a store simply because they do not have a credit or debit card.
As our nation continues to grapple with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, rounding prices and denying customer use of cash entirely are not constructive steps towards overcoming these challenges. About Americans for Common Cents Americans for Common Cents is a broad-based coalition of business and charitable organizations dedicated to keeping the penny. ACC was formed in 1990 in response to Congressional threats to eliminate the one-cent coin (www.pennies.org). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005901/en/
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Wirecard was left fighting for survival after acknowledging that 1.9 billion ($US2.1 billion) that it had reported as assets probably don't exist, deepening an accounting scandal that has rattled Germany's financial industry.
The payments processor said it's in discussions with creditors and considering a full-scale restructuring after pulling its financial results for fiscal 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. Previous descriptions of its business with third parties, which process transactions on Wirecard's behalf, were "not correct."
In less than a week, the fintech once hyped as the future of German finance has lost more than 90 per cent of its market value. Credit:Bloomberg
Even before the early Monday statement, the unfolding scandal had seen Wirecard's shares and bonds collapse, its chief executive depart, and left the company renegotiating debt terms with its lenders. In less than a week, the fintech once hyped as the future of German finance has lost more than 90 per cent of its market value, with the shares slumping for a third trading day on Monday.
"It's a complete disaster we're looking at," said Felix Hufeld, head of BaFin, Germany's top financial regulator, at a panel discussion.. "It's a shame that something like that happened."
The government is considering basic customs duty of around 20 per cent on solar energy equipment to provide an edge to domestic manufacturers and discourage imports, particularly from China.
However, solar energy developers are of the view that basic customs duty (BCD) on solar equipment will be counterproductive for the segment in view of India's ambitious target of having 100 GW of solar energy by 2022.
"The government is actively considering about 20 per cent basic customs duty on solar equipment because safeguard duty (SGD) on these is applicable till July 29, 2020," a source said.
At present, 15 per cent SGD is applicable on solar cells. This would be zero or nil from July 30, 2020.
There is no BCD on solar equipment as of now. Once BCD is imposed, it would be applicable on imports from all countries.
In July 2018, India had imposed SGD on solar cells imports from China and Malaysia for two years to protect domestic players from steep rise in the inbound shipments of the products.
The government had imposed 25 per cent SGD for the period July 30, 2018 to July 29, 2019, which gradually came down to 20 per cent for July 30, 2019 to January 29, 2020 and 15 per cent for January 30, 2020 to July 29, 2020.
"Since there will be zero duty on imports of solar equipment from July 30, 2020, there have been internal discussion in the ministries of new & renewable energy and finance," the source said.
Commenting on the issue, Shekhar Dutt, Director General, Solar Power Developers Association (SPDA) said,"Proposal to impose BCD of 20 per cent on cells and modules is counterproductive to the growth of overall solar power sector in the country."
He pointed out that SGD hardly resulted in any increase in cells/ module production or increase in competitiveness of domestically produced modules.
Also, it does not reduce the industrys dependence on raw materials like cells, wafers and ingots which anyways have to be imported, he added.
He suggested that the need of hour is to have a comprehensive strategy to develop the whole ecosystem which can promote production of entire value chain of solar modules which starts with production of metallurgical grade silica from quartz, ingots, wafers, cells and modules.
The SPDA supports an incentive scheme to develop India as solar manufacturing hub on large scale to compete with best international products at competitive price.
Any tariff or non-tariff barriers at this stage is not conducive to meet the target which India has committed as a nation to the world and will make electricity costly for consumers, he added.
Notwithstanding this, if the government is determined to curb Chinese imports, any customs duty or safeguard duty should not be applicable to solar projects that have already been auctioned which must include projects for which bids have been submitted or Letter of Award issued or power purchase agreement signed, he suggested.
Commenting on the issue, Pinaki Bhattacharyya, CEO, Amp Energy India said, "The government should focus on reducing the cost of domestic manufacturing of modules and cells with cost subsidies, interest subversion and lower power cost. This also ensures competitiveness in global market. Trade barriers like SGD did not do much and so customs duty just increases the cost of solar power for consumers which is not the best move".
New Delhi: Actress Amrita Rao has decided not to charge rent for her tenants who are stuck in their respective hometowns due to the lockdown. Amrita received requests from her tenants who had to leave Mumbai to forgo their rents for the past two-three months through her real estate agent. These people cannot travel back to Mumbai owing to the growing COVID-19 cases in the city.
When Amrita was informed about the same by her mother, who looks after her investments, she instantly decided not to take rent from March to May and also waived off the rents for June and July.
"Some of my tenants are in freelance professions like acting and cinematography. Such professions have no guaranteed monthly income, besides the pandemic is a dire situation for all and they decided to be safer with their families back home. I feel the situation calls for me to be understanding and help them in my best capacity," Amrita said.
Meanwhile, the Main Hoon Naa Actress has also decided to continue paying salaries to their household staff, who have also travelled to their villages to be with their families.
Amrita appeals to the public to help and be accommodating in whatever little capacity. She also strongly appealed to those tenants who have been occupying flats and have not lost their jobs to not use the lockdown as a mere pretext to skip paying dues and harass their landlords unnecessarily which is also a growing menace during the lockdown.
On the work front, Amrita Rao was last seen in 2019s Thackeray. Her next two films are slated to go on floors once the shootings resume.
A 28-year-old man has been charged after a woman was tortured, choked, and left with abdominal and facial injuries in inner Brisbane.
Police attended a Newstead residence after the man allegedly prevented the 25-year-old woman from leaving the house after seriously injuring her.
The woman could not leave the house, police allege. Credit:Gabriele Charotte
The woman suffered serious abdominal and facial injuries during the serious domestic violence incident.
She was taken to hospital to undergo further medical assessment and treatment.
The French humanitarian vessel Ocean Viking has set out for its first rescue mission in the Mediterranean in three months, operating with reduced means and a team watching for signs of coronavirus as they rescue shipwrecked migrants.
The Ocean Viking, operated by humanitarian group SOS Mediterranee, left the city of Marseille on Monday morning with the objective of being operational in Libyan waters by Thursday.
Teams have undergone a 14-day quarantine and extensive preparations to operate in the context of Covid-19, the NGO said on twitter, adding that medical teams now formed part of the onboard crew.
Despite the pandemic, the situation in the Central Mediterranean remains critical, the group said. Saving lives is a legal obligation and a moral duty, both at sea and on land.
The 22 people on board include rescuers, crew members and a medical team consisting of a doctor, two nurses and a midwife a unchanged configuration, with medical care being part of missions prior to the pandemic.
Now the same team is stocked with tests and other supplies to ensure everyone on board, including those who they rescue, follow the protocols that have become familiar during the coronavirus epidemic.
They'll check temperatures daily, they will wear masks, they will keep distance and they will wash their hands regularly, says Francois Thomas, president of the NGO.
If there are suspected cases of Covid-19, we've taken steps to isolate the people and not to spread the virus on board.
Expecting many rescues
Like other humanitarian groups, SOS Mediterranee stopped its operations due to health concerns earlier in the epidemic, around the same time Italy and Malta closed their ports to rescue vessels.
Its departure on Monday made it the third NGO to resume operations, with Sea Watch of Germany and Mediterranea Saving Humans of Italy both sending ships the second week of June.
Each of those groups announced Sunday they had rescued migrants, 211 and 67 respectively, and brought them to Sicily. But NGOs fear many lives have been lost during the three-month hiatus in rescue operations.
The most recent data of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reported 8,311 people have sought to cross the sea in the first five months of this year, up from 3,712 in the same period in 2019.
The International Organization for Migration in May warned of invisible shipwrecks. At the weekend it reported that that a vessel had capsized off the coast of Libya.
People have probably lost their lives with no witnesses, says Thomas of SOS Mediterranee. The drama is still there, it's urgent for rescue vessels of NGOs to rescue again.
Background
The Ocean Viking, which took over from SOS Mediterranee's previous vessel Aquarius, also set out for the first time since a partnership with medical NGO Doctors Without Borders came to an end.
Aside from leaving the group short on finances and sounding a call for donations with Thomas confirming: All costs previously assured by MSF are now paid by SOS Mediterranee the broken partnership underlines the difficulties in a coordinated European solution to welcoming migrants.
A group of European Union countries, including France, met in Malta last September in hopes of finding a new system for resettling asylum seekers rescued in the Mediterranean.
With the EU reopening borders as the coronavirus pandemic wanes, NGOs hope member states will seek a broader and longer-term agreement.
This will take time and they're not ready to find an agreement immediately, Thomas says. Citizens around the world showed strong solidarity during the pandemic. Now we hope states will do the same.
[June 23, 2020] Misty Robotics Introduces the Temp Screening Assistant
Misty Robotics, the creators of the Misty II platform robot, today announced the launch of the Temp Screening Assistant. This is the only temperature screening solution to employ a robot with character, Misty II. It addresses a company's health screening needs with the added value of delivering a great user experience. Employees, customers, and visitors will appreciate the novelty of interacting with a clever and personable robot, who engages dynamically, both visually and verbally. A first of its kind, the Temp Screening Assistant is an opportunity to reinforce a strong people culture and customer-centric brand. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005389/en/ Misty II Robot Taking Visitors Temperature (Photo: Business Wire) The Temp Screening Assistant for Misty II is an automated, contactless, and touchless solution for screening and detecting individuals with an elevated temperature and other health risk factors associated with COVID-19 infection. Companies benefit from reduced risk to their frontline staff and the elimination of surface hygiene concerns associated with touch-based systems. Screening is consistent, reliable and most of all friendly. "This is different from any other solution for temperature screening on the market. It isn't a tablet. It isn't a kiosk. It isn't a human with a no touch thermometer. Misty II in the role of temperature screener is a new kind of assistant, who can make the whole temperature screening process pleasant and memorable. Thanks to where robot technology and the study of Human Robot Interaction (HRI) have evolved, it's now very feasible to have an affordableand engaging robot experience, which is far better than the very dry kiosk-based experience," said Tim Enwall, CEO Misty Robotics.
Capabilities of the Temp Screening Assistant Core edition include: temperature screening using a high accuracy, blackbody referenced thermal imaging camera (accuracy within +/- 0.5 C), an interactive health question survey, immediate pass/fail result determination and recording, configurable SMS and/or email notifications, and web-based administration and reporting. Companies can upgrade to the Specialized edition which has an additional custom yes/no question capability, choice of available languages, custom greetings and the ability to elect to not store screening data. With the Temp Screening Assistant companies have a cost-effective solution that is easy to use, easy to maintain and easy to manage. (A consistently friendly attitude comes standard.) When compared to human-based solutions it is a fraction of the hourly cost of a human and no PPE is required. This is an advanced approach making tablet-based approaches feel very yesteryear.
The Temp Screening Assistant is a future-proof investment. Misty II has ongoing utility well after the need for COVID-19 screening. She can be put on the assignment of a general office assistant or any of the assignments found in the Misty Robotics Solution Hub. As a platform robot, a company's in-house software developers can also build new skills (robot applications) for her. "Robot (as a temperature screener) really hit a lightbulb for me. It was amazing. Smart solutions for a modern problem," stated David Torres, Safety Program Coordinator, North America, Twilio (News - Alert). "Misty's arrival at our site comes at a time when everyone could benefit from additional interactions that are positive and consistent," stated Per Schenck, Health and Safety Coordinator Mental Health Partners. Both the Core and Specialized editions will be available for pilot deployments starting mid-July. Pricing for the Temp Screener Assistant starts at $2,999 + a modest monthly fee. A leasing model is also available. For more information visit temperature.mistyrobotics.com. To see the Temp Screening Solution in action visit https://youtu.be/k3weTvjxfnE. The Temp Screening Assistant application is being announced at Collision from Home 2020. A press conference with Ian Bernstein, Founder, and Tim Enwall, CEO of Misty Robotics, will be held on Tuesday, June 23 at 1:20 to 1:50pm EDT. If you are interested, media can register via the Collision website (www.collisionconf.com/media). About Misty Robotics: Misty Robotics is the company behind Misty, a robot platform purpose-built for developers. Misty is focused on enabling developers to build apps for its robots that offer value and utility for businesses and at home. Misty Robotics is a spin-out of connected toy company, Sphero. Based in Boulder, Colorado, the company is financially backed by Venrock, Foundry Group and others. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005389/en/
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Last spring, legacy Southern Gospel artist The McKameys announced they'd no longer be touring full time, and released The Crown, an album that continued to bring their message of faithfulness and the power of the Gospel to the world. In the fall, the National Quartet Convention paused to honor the group that's released 54 albums over the course of their career and has the most #1 hits in Southern Gospel history.
Thousands of fans and industry peers filled the LeConte Centre in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to celebrate The McKameys' more than 60 years of singing. Now, fans of the group can relive that special afternoon with LIVE Like No Other, a CD and DVD featuring live music as well as behind the scenes interviews with The McKameys, to be released July 17. LIVE Like No Other is now available for pre-order, save and add.
"We are excited about the release of LIVE Like No Other, which was recorded at The National Quartet Convention in September of 2019 during our Farewell Tour," say The McKameys. "What a great day, being with so many great friends, praising the Lord in song, and feeling the spirit in a special way! We can't wait for everyone to experience the excitement and emotions that were present that day."
Throughout the one-and-a-half-hour concert, The McKameys performed many of their #1 hits, like "God On The Mountain," "Roll That Burden On Me," "Unspoken Request" and "Do You Know How It Feels," and crowd favorites like "Trophy Of Grace," "There Is Jesus" and "For The Record" in a joyful celebration of a career many don't get to enjoy.
The album release also marks the first time The McKameys' rendition of "God On The Mountain" - which was #1 on the Singing News charts for five months in 1988-89 and became their most requested song of all time - will be released on streaming services.
The DVD includes videos of The McKameys sharing personal stories from their careers and a special moment when Horizon Records and the National Quartet Convention honored the group for its dedication to spreading God's word over the years.
With both parts of LIVE Like No Other, fans of The McKameys will always be able to enjoy the group's heartfelt performance and message, though they're no longer touring.
Pre-order, add or save LIVE Like No Other ahead of its July 17 release date HERE.
About The McKameys
The McKameys are a family group based out of Clinton, Tennessee, entering in their sixth decade of spreading God's message of love and hope through their music. There have been a few changes throughout the years after beginning as 3 sisters to the group now consisting of one of those original sisters, Peg McKamey Bean along with her husband, Ruben, their daughter Connie Fortner along with her husband, Roger Fortner, their son, Elijah Fortner; and Sheryl Farris, Peg and Ruben's younger daughter.
The wonderful harmonies of this family along with great songs give them a unique opportunity to share God's love as well as encourage the saints. Whether they are performing one of their classics like "Right On Time," "I've Won," "Unspoken Request," "There Is Jesus," their signature song, "God On The Mountain" or a new release, there is an undeniable energy that carries them through each performance.
The McKameys have been awarded several different Singing News Fan Awards through the years and Ruben and Peg are also recipients of The Marvin Norcross Award and Norcross/Templeton Award, respectively. In 2016, Peg McKamey Bean was inducted into The Southern Gospel Music Hall Of Fame. Ruben Bean will be inducted into the hall of fame as part of the 2019 class this fall. This family group remains devoted to their Lord, first of all, and to their call to spread God's Word to others through their music.
Tags : The McKameys the mckameys interview The McKameys "LIVE Like No Other" The McKameys to Release CD/DVD "LIVE Like No Other"
New Delhi, June 23 : China has occupied a village of Nepal and allegedly removed the boundary pillars to legitimise its annexation, top government sources said on Tuesday. It has also been learnt that China has gradually made inroads into several Nepalese territories with an ulterior aim to seize complete control.
The latest in the line is Rui village in Gorkha district, which is now in total control of China. "In a massive departure from its diplomatic stand of non-interference, the Chinese have completely occupied Rui Village and the residents comprising around 72 houses are fighting for their original identity. This also shows how Nepal's current regime has surrendered to China and is now making anti-India statements and resorting to anti-India activities," top sources told IANS.
Apart from Rui village, China has also occupied strategic lands at 11 places across Nepal. Around 36 hectares of land in four districts of Nepal, which border China, have been illegally occupied by China, but so far Nepalese government is tightlipped about it. The occupation of Rui village has been done systematically by China in the last two years.
Since the village figures in the map of Nepal and is part of the Himalayan nation, the residents have always been associated with the country's identity. But the Nepal government, at the behest of China, is more engaged in creating artificial disputes with India over boundaries and three villages that belong to India.
Nepal has recently come out with a new map that claims parts of Indian territory in Pithoragarh district. India has rejected this new map of Nepal saying it is not based on historical facts or evidence. The new political map of the country features parts of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas which are in Indian territory.
The new political map was authenticated by Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari last week. India-Nepal relationship came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal immediately protested, saying the road violated the status quo of the region, which it described as "unresolved".
Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava had said the amendment amounts to "artificial enlargement of claims that are not based on historical fact or evidence and is not tenable". Last year, sources said, Nepal government realised China had been annexing their land however they preferred to remain silent.
"Even after realizing that China's aggressive nationalism and military expansionism are a reality, the policies fashioned by hardline Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders, Nepal communist government prefers to remain silent," said the sources. Nepal has found that China has already occupied six hectares of land near Bhagdare Khola (River) area and four hectares near Karnali River in Humla district.
They also found that China has illegally occupied two hectares near Sinjen Khola (river) and one hectare of Bhurjuk Khola (River) in Rasuwa district. It has also captured land adjacent to Lamde Khola and three hectares near Jambu Khola in Rasuwa district. China has also illegally occupied seven hectares of land in Kharane Khola and four hectares near Bhote Koshi of Sandhu Pal Chok district in Nepal, three hectares of Samjung Khola, two hectares near Kam Khola and four hectares of land from Arun river bed in Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal.
The term khola means river in local Nepali language. But, instead of objecting to Chinese illegal occupation and growing infiltration into the Nepalese boundaries, the KP Sharma Oli government is looking to unnecessarily interfere in India's sovereignty. Besides the new map, Oli government is obstructing the dam repair work at Gandak Barrage that threatens flooding in Bihar during the monsoon.
This provocative move, sources said, is being done by Nepal at China's behest which has crippled the world by spreading contagious coronavirus and is aggressively pursuing its expansionist policy. "Nepal's domestic policy appears to be ruled by China. The Oli government is escalating the tension between the two countries on issues that have earlier never figured in India-Nepal bilateral relationship. Occupation of its villages by China and now Nepal's provocative gesture in Bihar that shares 700 km international border with Nepal, makes it evident that Oli government is being ruled by Beijing," top sources said.
The rapper Bris has died after a shooting in Sacramento on 21 June. He was 24.
Pitchfork reports that Sacramento County Coroners records confirmed the artists death.
According to police, officers responded to a report of shots fired near Franklin Boulevard and Fruitridge Road, in the early hours of the morning.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers located the rapper, born Christopher Treadwell, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He had sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound.
The shooting reportedly took place after a solo vehicle collision.
Bris had released a number of new projects over the past year, including the 2019 mixtape 10:42 a collaboration with G-Man and tracks including Sparked a Fuse and Panhandling.
He was arrested at the end of 2019 and was released earlier this year, upon which he dropped First 42 Hours Freestyle.
Just last week, he released a video for his new single Need Hammy.
A number of fellow artists and rap fans mourned the news of Briss death.
Bris had just gotten out and was killing every beat. He had that slippery, nonchalant, stutter-stop flow, music writer Jeff Weiss wrote. Effortless and smooth, creating a new lingo.
The rate of loss in this era is tragic. Rappers dying before they have the chance to really get on or have the moment in the sun that they deserve. What a doomed generation. RIP Bris. What a talent. We wont even know how much we missed
Nestle will change the names of two of its confectionery products in Australia - Red Skins and Chicos sweets - on the grounds that they have racial overtones.
As the global debate over racial inequality continues following the killing of George Floyd in US police custody last month, corporations are being forced to examine their products and ethics to ensure they are not complicit in encouraging racism.
Both products are sold only in Australia and are produced by the Australian confectionery company Allens.
In a short statement on its website, Nestle said: This decision acknowledges the need to ensure that nothing we do marginalises our friends, neighbours and colleagues.
These names have overtones which are out of step with Nestles values, which are rooted in respect. While new names have not yet been finalised, we will move quickly to change these names.
Redskin is an offensive slang term that refers to Native Americans, while chico, which translates to boy in Spanish, can be offensive to those of Latin American descent.
The packaging of Red Skins candy, a raspberry-flavoured chewy confectionery, originally featured an image of a headdress-wearing Native American, but was changed a neutral red and purple wrapper in the 1990s.
Allens said in a post on Facebook: This decision acknowledges the need to keep creating smiles, ensuring that nothing we do marginalises our friends, neighbours and colleagues, or is out of step with our values.
Nestle has long faced calls to change the names of the candies and made the decision following PepsiCo Incs move to change the name and brand image of its Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup, which have been criticised as racist.
Several other companies have followed suit, including the makers of Uncle Bens rice, owned by Mars Inc; Mrs Butterworths syrup, owned by ConAgra Brans Inc and Cream of Wheat porridge, owned by B&G Foods Inc, who have said they would review their packaging.
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / Camber Energy, Inc. (NYSE American:CEI) ("Camber" or the "Company") today announced that on June 22, 2020, it sold 630 shares of its Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series C Preferred Stock") to an institutional investor in consideration for $6 million (a 5% original issue discount to the $10,000 face value of such preferred stock).
The Company plans to use the funds raised to pay operating expenses and expenses in connection with the merger contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into between the Company and Viking Energy Group, Inc. ("Viking") on February 3, 2020, as amended from time to time (the "Merger"), and subject to the parties coming to an agreement on terms and conditions relating to such advance, to advance a substantial portion of such funds to Viking, in anticipation of the Merger.
The Company recently received comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission on its initial draft Registration Statement on Form S-4 and plans to turn its attention to addressing such comments and re-filing the updated Form S-4 after the filing of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, which the Company plans to file later this week. The Company's goal is still to close the Merger by late summer, as previously disclosed.
In connection with sale of the Series C Preferred Stock to the institutional investor, such investor (who held all 2,566 outstanding shares of the Company's Series C Preferred Stock prior to the sale of the 630 new shares of preferred stock described above), entered into an amendment agreement with the Company. Pursuant to such agreement, the investor agreed to waive the requirement previously set forth in the purchase agreement entered into with such investor in February 2020, pursuant to which the investor purchased 525 shares of Series C Preferred Stock for $5 million, which would have required the Company to redeem all 525 of such shares of Series C Preferred Stock, for 110% of their face value (an aggregate of $5,775,000), in the event that the Merger did not close. As a result of such amendment, the $5,000,000 paid by the investor to the Company for the purchase of the 525 shares of Series C Preferred Stock on February 3, 2020 will be released from temporary equity and included in permanent equity in the Company's June 30, 2020 balance sheet.
Notwithstanding such amendment described above, the June 22, 2020 purchase agreement entered into with the investor requires, similar to as the prior terms of the February 2020 purchase agreement, that the Company redeem all 630 shares of Series C Preferred Stock sold to the investor at 110% of their face value, in the event the Merger does not close (which repurchase obligation totals $6,930,000).
Additional information regarding the transactions described above and the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock, which is convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, is disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and available at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at www.camber.energy.
Louis G. Schott, Interim CEO of the Company, stated, "We believe with this cash infusion, we will have sufficient capital to close the merger with Viking, and plan to continue to work towards closing such merger in the weeks ahead. Additionally, with the change in the presentation of the prior Series C Preferred Stock sold in February 2020 from temporary equity, to permanent equity, on the Company's June 30, 2020 balance sheet, we anticipate increasing our stockholders' equity as of June 30, 2020 to a level sufficient to meet the NYSE American's continued listing standards."
About Viking:
Viking is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties in the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent region. The company owns oil and gas leases in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kansas. Viking targets undervalued assets with realistic appreciation potential.
About Camber:
Based in Houston, Texas, Camber Energy (NYSE American:CEI) is a growth-oriented, independent oil and gas company engaged in the development of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in Texas. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.camber.energy.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the matters discussed in this communication which are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "strategy," "expects," "continues," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "would," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements.
Important factors that may cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the parties failing to complete the merger on the terms disclosed, if at all, the right of one or both of Viking or Camber to terminate the merger agreement and the result of such termination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Viking, Camber or their respective directors; the ability to obtain regulatory approvals and other consents, and meet other closing conditions to the merger on a timely basis or at all, including the risk that regulatory approvals or other consents required for the merger are not obtained on a timely basis or at all, or which are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated or that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the transaction; the ability to obtain approval by Viking stockholders and Camber stockholders on the expected schedule; required closing conditions which may not be able to be met and/or consents which may not be able to be obtained; difficulties and delays in integrating Viking's and Camber's businesses; prevailing economic, market, regulatory or business conditions, or changes in such conditions, negatively affecting the parties, including, but not limited to, as a result of the recent volatility in oil and gas prices and the status of the economy (both US and global) due to the Covid-19 pandemic and actions taken to slow the spread of Covid-19; risks that the transaction disrupts Viking's or Camber's current plans and operations; failing to fully realize anticipated cost savings and other anticipated benefits of the merger when expected or at all; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the merger; the ability of Camber to obtain the approval of its Series C Preferred Stock holder to close the Merger; the ability of Viking or Camber to retain and hire key personnel; the diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations; uncertainty as to the long-term value of the common stock of the combined company following the merger; the continued availability of capital and financing prior to, and following, the merger; the business, economic and political conditions in the markets in which Viking and Camber operate; and the fact that Viking's and Camber's reported earnings and financial position may be adversely affected by tax and other factors.
Other important factors that may cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements included in this communication are described in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Viking's and Camber's publicly filed reports, including Viking's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, Camber's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2019 and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Viking and Camber caution that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete, and they do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that either party may make except as required by applicable law. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Viking, Camber or any person acting on behalf of either party are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed merger, on June 4, 2020 Camber filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 to register the shares of Camber's common stock to be issued in connection with the merger. The registration statement includes a preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus which, when finalized, will be sent to the respective stockholders of Viking and Camber seeking their approval of their respective transaction-related proposals. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE FINAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND THE RELATED JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT VIKING, CAMBER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER.
Investors and security holders may obtain copies of these documents free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or from Viking at its website, www.Viking.com, or from Camber at its website, www.Camber.energy. Documents filed with the SEC by Viking will be available free of charge by accessing Viking's website at www.vikingenergygroup.com under the heading "Investors" - "SEC Filings", or, alternatively, by directing a request by telephone or mail to Viking Energy Group, Inc. at 15915 Katy Freeway, Suite 450, Houston, Texas, 77094, (281) 404-4387, and documents filed with the SEC by Camber will be available free of charge by accessing Camber's website at www.camber.energy under the heading "Investors" - "SEC Filings", or, alternatively, by directing a request by telephone or mail to Camber Energy, Inc. at 1415 Louisiana, Suite 3500, Houston, Texas, 77002, (210) 998-4035.
Participants in the Solicitation
Viking, Camber and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the respective stockholders of Viking and Camber in respect of the proposed merger under the rules of the SEC. Information about Viking's directors and executive officers is available in Viking's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Information about Camber's directors and executive officers is available in Camber's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2019 and its definitive proxy statement for its 2020 annual meeting of shareholders. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the final joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the merger when they become available. Investors should read the final joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from Viking or Camber using the sources indicated above.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
SOURCE: Camber Energy, Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/594855/Camber-Energy-Inc-Raises-6-Million-Through-Sale-of-Series-C-Preferred-Stock-Moves-Temporary-Equity-to-Permanent-Equity-and-Positions-Company-for-Closing-of-Viking-Merger
I would repeat this important warning: if we pass a bill thats ineffective, and the killings continue, and police departments resist change, and theres no accountability, the wound in our society will not close, it will fester, Schumer said. He added that if the bill would not have prevented the deaths of Floyd and others, and wont stop future deaths of Black Americans in police custody, then it does not represent the change we need right now.
China on Tuesday dismissed as fake news reports indicating that the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had suffered at least 40 casualties in the bruising brawl with Indian soldiers in eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley on June 15.
While denying the reports on PLA casualties, the Chinese foreign ministry said Indian and Chinese militaries held a meeting on June 22 to resolve the ongoing tension through talks.
China and India are in dialogue, in talks with each other to resolve this issue through diplomatic and military channels, ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.
As for what you saw in the media, for example, some people alleged that casualties on the Chinese side amounted to 40, I can tell you for sure that this is fake news, Zhao said responding to a specific question on the PLAs casualty numbers.
While the Indian Army lost 20 soldiers during the violent clash on the night of June 15, China has so far refused to reveal details of the casualties suffered by the PLA.
Union minister Gen VK Singh (retd) had indicated over the weekend that China could have suffered double the number of casualties in comparison to India numbers.
A commander-level meeting led by Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region, was held on Monday, lasting for nearly 11 hours.
It was held at Moldo on the Chinese side of the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) with a focus on cooling tensions.
When asked about Mondays meeting, Zhao said: On June 22, the border troops of China and India held the second military-level meeting in the border area, which was also the first military-level meeting after the incident of the Galwan Valley on June 15.
Speaking at the regular ministry briefing, Zhao added that the holding of this meeting showed that the two sides hope to resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, control the situation, and ease the situation.
During the meeting, based on the consensus of the first military-level meeting, the two sides exchanged frank and in-depth views on the outstanding issues in the current border control, and agreed to take necessary measures to promote the cooling of the situation, spokesperson Zhao said.
The two sides also agreed to maintain dialogue and jointly work together to promote peace and tranquility in the border areas, he added.
When asked about details of the disengagement, Zhao said: The specific measures are under discussion between the border troops of the two sides. I have no other information to release on this.
Linda Conner Lambeck /Hearst Connecticut Media
A windfall for students wishing to attend community college in Connecticut took a step forward last week when the Board of Regents for Higher Education approved a one-time $3 million payment that will allow eligible students to access free community college tuition for the fall 2020 semester.
State Senator Will Haskell (D-26) and State Representative Gregg Haddad (D-54) developed the program Pledge to Advance Connecticut (PAC) last year for this free tution intitiative.
Credit: Samantha Brooks
A study involving Arabian horses from 12 countries found that some populations maintained a larger degree of genetic diversity and that the breed did not contribute genetically to the modern-day Thoroughbred, contrary to popular thought.
An international team of scientists was led by the University of Florida's Samantha Brooks, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of animal sciences; Cornell University's Doug Antczak, the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine at the Baker Institute for Animal Health; and Andy Clark, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor in Cornell's department of molecular biology and genetics.
The group collected and examined DNA samples from 378 Arabian horses from Qatar, Iran, UAE, Poland, USA, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark and Canada. The research, published June 16 in the journal Scientific Reports, was conducted over an 8-year period, beginning in 2014 before Brooks made the move from Cornell to UF. The process was a lot of effort, she said, in part due to traveling to collect the Arabians' blood and hair samples, as well as natural delays in working with international colleagues to collect and ship other samples.
The samples were anonymized for data analysis purposes, except to note the horse's location and categorizing them as endurance competition, flat course racing or show horses. The data set was also expanded using information from past studies on other breeds, which included Thoroughbreds, Persian Arabian, Turkemen and Straight Egyptians.
"The Arabian horse has a special mystique due to the long recorded history of the breed," Brooks said. "Arabian horse breeders, in particular, know their horse's bloodlines many generations back. What we found was that in the area where this breed originateslikely the near East region, but we don't know exactlythere's a healthy level of diversity. This is particularly evident in populations from Bahrain and Syria, which suggests these are some pretty old populations."
The horse is prized for characteristics like heat tolerance and endurance, as well as its unique appearance, with a dish-shaped facial profile, wide-set eyes, an arched neck and a high tail carriage. It has been exported from its ancestral homeland for centuries, with some modern lineages drawn strictly from these smaller genetic pools, giving the breed a reputation for inbred disorders. While this was true for some groups they tested, Brooks noted, they also found remarkable diversity when considering the breed as a whole.
Brooks contrasted the discovery of more diverse populations with the samples they received from racing Arabians. Another longstanding myth says that the Arabian contributed genetically to the modern Thoroughbred, but the racing Arabians' DNA told a different story.
"What we found in these samples was not that much Arabian ancestry was part of the Thoroughbred line, but the opposite: that Thoroughbred DNA exists in most of the modern racing Arabian lines, indicating a more recent interbreeding within this group," Brooks said. "I can't speculate on the how or why, but this is clearly the story the DNA is telling us."
Another implication of this study, Brooks said, is the potential to identify the genetic regions that determine some of the Arabian's unique traits, like their facial profile. This could be expanded to identify the marker for other horse breeds' head shapes, for example.
The study has a long list of co-authors, with contributors from the University of Tehran, Iran; Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar; the University of Kentucky; the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland; the Hong Kong Jockey Club; the Equine Veterinary Medical Center in Doha, Qatar; and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. Elissa Cosgrove from the Clark lab and Raheleh Sadeghi, a visiting scientist from Iran in the Antczak lab, shared first co-authorship of the study.
"An exceptional aspect of this project was the wonderful level of open collaboration and sharing of resources by veterinary geneticists, equine scientists, and horsemen from around the world," Antczak said. "It was a great pleasure to conduct this global study for the benefit of the horse."
Explore further Study reveals domestic horse breed has third-lowest genetic diversity
More information: Cosgrove, E.J., Sadeghi, R., Schlamp, F. et al. Genome Diversity and the Origin of the Arabian Horse. Sci Rep 10, 9702 (2020). Journal information: Scientific Reports Cosgrove, E.J., Sadeghi, R., Schlamp, F. et al. Genome Diversity and the Origin of the Arabian Horse.10, 9702 (2020). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66232-1
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 22:08:14|Editor: huaxia
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JERUSALEM, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli police said on Tuesday they shot and badly injured a Palestinian "terrorist" after he attempted to run over policemen outside Jerusalem.
The incident took place in the area of Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said in a statement that the suspect tried to slam his vehicle against border police officers at a checkpoint. "Border police responded at the scene by opening fire at the vehicle," the statement read.
The suspect was shot and sustained serious wounds. There were no reports of injuries among the Israelis.
The incident came amidst Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's intention to annex the Jordan Valley, part of the West Bank that was seized during the 1967 Middle East war and where the Palestinians wish to build their future state.
The plan is objected by the Palestinians as well as most of the international community and was denounced by the United Nations as a violation of international law. Enditem
It may be officially summer, but Alessandra Ambrosio was still in sweater weather mode on Thursday.
The catwalk queen, 39, wore a perforated lilac sweater as she stepped out solo in sunny Brentwood, California.
Alessandra was seen leaving the children's boutique Everafter, where she was likely shopping for her two young children, daughter Anja, 11, and son Noah, eight.
Windy moment: Alessandra Ambrosio was seen making the street her runway on Tuesday in sunny Brentwood
Knows how to strut: From the sweater to the ripped jeans, the model was the epitome of California cool style
From the sweater to the ripped jeans, the model was the epitome of California cool style.
Eyes shielded behind a pair of gold-rim sunglasses, Alessandra oozed cool in a pair of flared ripped jeans and nude heels.
She protected herself with a delicate beige face mask and wore a small leather purse across her body.
Large shopping bag slung over her shoulder indicated she had completed plenty of shopping.
Sweater weather: Alessandra wore a perforated lilac sweater as she stepped out solo
Summer styling: She protected herself with a delicate beige face mask and wore a small leather purse across her body
Alessandra shares her two children with her ex-fiance Jamie Mazur who co-founded RE/DONE.
In 2018, Alessandra broke her decade-long engagement to Jamie, and she has since moved on with her current boyfriend Nicolo Oddi.
Anja, Noah and Nicolo were all with Alessandra when she rang in her 39th birthday at home in self-isolation this April.
Making a splash! Alessandra shared several snaps of herself modelling a bikini from her Gal Floripa line on Tuesday
Bikini babe: In the snaps, the model wore a teal green two piece as she splashed about in a pool
Alessandra rose to international fame as a Victoria's Secret Angel, announcing that she was giving up the title at the end of 2017.
She has collaborated with Aline and a pal called Gisele Coria to launch a new swimwear line called Gal Floripa, which debuted last March.
The brand takes its title from a nickname for Florianopolis, the Brazilian city where Alessandra gave birth to both of her children.
Alessandra shared several snaps of herself modelling a bikini from her Gal Floripa line on Tuesday.
In the snaps, the model wore a teal green two piece as she splashed about in a pool.
That's her girl: Alessandra smooched her daughter Anja as they enjoyed some quality mother-daughter time in self-isolation
(Natural News) We are all to believe that Derek Chauvin represents every white police officer in America, and this coming from a racist cop who was a registered Democrat, who was employed by a Democrat Police Chief, who Democrat voters voted into office in their Democrat controlled state thats shielded by a Democrat controlled union. There were already 18 complaints filed against Chauvin (by mostly white folks, so they didnt count), but he was let off the hook time and time again, by a Democrat prosecutor who just so happens to now be a Democrat Senator who goes by the name Amy KKK Klobuchar, failed presidential candidate. Still, the whole thing is Trumps fault. Because hes white and won the presidency by an electoral college landslide.
So now, being white, like Chauvin and Trump, automatically brandishes you a racist, white supremacist, elitist sinner who owes all Black people everything you own. The day the color white became illegal in America. Are you too suffering from SWS Shades of White Supremacy disorder?
White soap being banned because it means youre clean
Here it comes folks. The white bans. Everything white is racist and must be recalled, destroyed and made illegal to buy, sell or wear. No more white teeth folks. Color your teeth dark or face jail time and heavy fines. No more white pasta, white rice, white bread its all elitist! White sugar is elitist, we must be free from the tyranny and of the memories we dont even have. All white food is banned. All foods must be black. All cereals must be black, since cream color is closer to white skin.
The color white is now illegal. Start going through your wardrobe and pulling out those racist, white nationalist threads. You must also tan or paint your skin brown. No more whitey showing off some genetic eugenics trait the rest of America cant have. Black face is no longer offensive, its mandatory. Leave the house without black face and black teeth and you face jail time and a fine. You live in the Demoncratic States of Amerika, my friends.
All new Covid cases will be blamed on Trumps white supremacist rallies until the election
Being white and going to peaceful protests or (Trump) rallies is white supremacists illegally spreading Covid, but being Black and going to crowded, no-mask-wearing demonstrations (violent, psychopathic protests) is considered peaceful by all mainstream media, and its politically correct. When BLM wants to be heard, they do not vote, or write letters to government officials, or get a million Blacks to sign a petition, like everyone else does.
No, when BLM wants to be heard, they go to the city with bats, bricks, fire bombs, spray paint and Antifa thugs in front of them, burning cars, looting stores, assaulting and killing whites, and all cops, including Black ones, must stand down.
Same goes for the New York City Black Trans Lives gathering in Brooklyn. As long as you aint some elitist White trans, your life matters. Get it? George Floyd is the martyr for the day white became illegal in Amerika.
Black Teeth Matter
Surrender your elitist toiletries. No more whitening toothpaste or teeth whitening trays. Thats over. No white soap bars. Get ready for brown toilet paper. Seriously. Everything white is now offensive and considered hate mongering. White is racist. White means slave owner. All things must not have white, just as all things from the past that have black cartoon characters or mascots must be erased from history.
No more Uncle Bens Rice. No more Aunt Jemimas Pancakes. No more Count Chocula from General Mills. Thats a racist vampire wearing blackface, for Gods sake. Damn, those were good too. Thanks a lot CHAZ, or CHOP, or Guillotine Park, or whatever your name is today. Great representation of the entire Democrat platform. Just pure chaos and hate for everything non-Black. No, thats not racist at all, because you cant be Black and racist. By the way, using your fingers to make the okay sign is also illegal because BLM says its the symbol of white supremacy now.
Dont hate anyone. Be kind. Be smart. Love your country. It could be a whole lot worse. Tune your non-white internet dial to Trump.news for updates on colors that are close to white being considered shades of white supremacy and that may be banned next, including cream, beige, eggshell, off-white, khaki, neutral beige, mint cream, ghost white, seashell, ivory, snow, and even white smoke.
Sources for this article include:
NaturalNews.com
Trump.news
TheNewAmerican.com
Breitbart.com
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What is the Japan-China Senakaku island dispute
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, June 23: China is now embroiled in a maritime dispute with Japan. A week after a violent clash at the Galwan Valley, Japan has begun the legal process of complete integration of an island chain over which it has a dispute with China.
The Ishigaki city council in Japan's Okinawa passed a bill to change the name of an administrative area covering the disputed uninhibited island chain to Tonoshiro Senkaku from Tonoshiro effective October 1. The island lies 1,931 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.
In talks with China, India demands restoration of status quo ante
The legal status of the island, which the Chinese call as Diaoyus has been administered by Japan since 1972.
Rath Yatra begins in Puri's Jagannath Temple amid curfew due to Covid-19 pandemic | Oneindia News
Following the development, China warned Tokyo against any change in the status-quo.
China urged Japan to abide by the spirit of the four principle consensus. It was also urged Japan to avoid creating new incidents on the islands and take practical actions to maintain the stability of the East China Sea situation.
Japan on the other hand said that the bill was necessary to improve the efficiency of the administration.
The Sneak Islands are located in the East China Sea between Japan, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). The archipelago contains five uninhibited islands and three barren rocks.
Tensions between the two countries date back to several 100s of years. Neither Japan nor China is likely to backdown over territory considered as a birthright by the two. In case there is an unexpected flare up between China and Japan, it could trigger a military confrontation with the United States.
This is because the US has a mutual defence treaty with Japan and if Japanese territory is attacked by a foreign power, the US is obligated to defend it. There have been tensions simmering since the Japanese coastguard announced that Chinese government ships had been spotted in the waters close to Senakaku everyday since mid-April.
China says that its claim to the islands dates back to the 1400s. Japan on the other hand said that it saw no trace of any Chinese control of the islands in a survey conducted in 1885. Hence it has been formally recognised as Japanese sovereign territory in 1895.
Further a group of settlers manufactured dried fish and collected feathers with the islands have more than 200 inhabitants, according to the foreign ministry of Japan.
Japan then sold the islands in 1932 to the descendants of the original settlers. However the island was eventually deserted after the factory failed in 1940. After the World War II, the islands were administered by the US occupation force. However in 1972, US returned the islands to Japan as part of its withdrawal.
Several US media outlets, citing multiple sources close to the White House, said President Donald Trump was furious after his re-election campaign in Tulsa, Oklahoma was marred by empty seats.
The White House had promised Saturdays much-hyped event - Trumps first rally in three months - would be flooded with up to 100,000 people, but large sections of the 19,000-capacity BOK Center were empty.
The local fire department said only about 6,200 people were present, according to US media, but campaign officials claimed at least 12,000 attended.
An outdoor event for the overflow crowd was cancelled because no one showed up, despite Trumps team boasting of huge interest ahead of time and more than a million ticket requests.
Did teens, TikTok users and fans of Korean pop music troll the president of the United States?
For more than a week before Donald Trumps first campaign rally in three months on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, these tech-savvy groups opposing the president mobilised to reserve tickets for an event they had no intention of attending.
While its unlikely they were responsible for the low turnout, their antics may have inflated the campaigns expectations for attendance numbers that led to Saturdays disappointing show.
My 16 year old daughter and her friends in Park City Utah have hundreds of tickets. You have been rolled by Americas teens, veteran Republican campaign strategist Steve Schmidt tweeted on Saturday.
The tweet garnered more than 100,000 likes and many responses from people who say they or their kids did the same. Reached by telephone on Sunday, Schmidt called the rally an unmitigated disaster .
CNN had reported last Tuesday that a TikTok video posted by Mary Jo Laupp, who uses the hashtag #TikTokGrandma, was helping lead the charge. The video now has more than 700,000 likes.
Two K-pop fans who spoke to Reuters in Skype and phone interviews on Sunday said they had each registered for two spots, not using their real names and numbers. Em, a 17-year-old student in Kansas who only wanted to be identified by her username, said she had first heard about the effort on TikTok. She said many of the original tweets sharing information about the rally had been deleted.
I think it was partially the TikTokers and the K-pop fans but also people are not as interested in Trump as he thinks they are, she said.
Andrew Bates, a spokesperson for Trumps Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, said the turnout was a sign of weakening voter support. Donald Trump has abdicated leadership and it is no surprise that his supporters have responded by abandoning him, he said.
The Trump campaign blamed the fake news media for warning people away from the rally. Leftists and online trolls doing a victory lap, thinking they somehow impacted rally attendance, dont know what theyre talking about or how our rallies work, Trump campaign chairman Brad Parscale wrote.
Reporters who wrote gleefully about TikTok and K-Pop fans without contacting the campaign for comment behaved unprofessionally and were willing dupes to the charade, he said.
West Chester, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/23/2020 -- The attorneys at West Chester law firm Carosella & Associates understand that issues surrounding divorce can be contentious, especially when domestic violence is involved. They guide clients through every aspect of the process while taking all necessary steps to protect clients' rights and safety. When a Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) is essential to safeguard clients and/or their children, Carosella & Associates lawyers assist them with filing for such orders and advise them on how to proceed should an alleged abuser violate the PFA.
Unfortunately, false allegations of domestic abuse are not uncommon in messy divorce cases. Carosella defense attorneys and divorce lawyers also represent clients who have been wrongly accused of domestic violence. Regardless of the legal issues a client is facing, at Carosella & Associates they can find a divorce attorney to provide quality legal counsel and act as their staunch advocate.
"Our dedicated team is committed to helping clients who are dealing with difficult emotional, financial, and legal issues surrounding divorce," says Vincent Carosella, founding Partner. "We believe that everyone has the right to an equitable, fair divorce settlement, and shouldn't have to live in fear of reprisal from a spouse or partner. The well-being of our clients and their children is our top priority. We do whatever it takes to help them navigate the divorce process with as little stress as possible."
Whether a client is seeking a straightforward no-fault divorce or they are trying to figure out how to protect themselves from domestic abuse, they can count on Carosella & Associates to be by their side every step of the way.
About Carosella & Associates
For more than 24 years, the skilled team of attorneys, paralegals, firm administrators, administrative assistants, and legal secretaries at Carosella & Associates has provided successful legal representation for matters in myriad aspects of the law. The full-service law firm has decades of experience in many different areas, including estate planning, business succession planning, commercial and residential real estate, zoning, contracts, bankruptcy, immigration, divorce, and criminal law. Several of the attorneys at Carosella & Associates are licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. For more information visit carosella.com.
Some other types of foreign work visas were also suspended till the end of 2020 to protect US workers in a crucial election year.
New Delhi: In a huge blow to Indian techies eyeing the American job market, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday suspended H-1B visas till the end of the year. Some other types of foreign work visas were also suspended till the end of 2020 to protect US workers in a crucial election year. The new restrictions will take effect from Wednesday.
H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialised fields. According to estimates, before the coronavirus pandemic, the US issued 85,000 H-1B visas annually, of which Indians get 60,000. This move may badly affect Indian industry, especially the IT sector. Indian IT professionals who were issued H-1B visas for fiscal year 2021, starting October 1, will now have to wait till at least the end of the year to apply to US diplomatic missions to get their passports stamped, or for visa renewals.
In April, Trump signed an immigration proclamation targeting people outside the US seeking to legally migrate to America, with some exceptions. That order, that was set to lapse, will be extended till 2020 end expanded to include some guest worker visas. The new visas are L-1 visas for intra-company transfers, H-1B as well as the H-4 visa for spouses, H-2Bs for temporary non-agricultural workers and most J-1 visas for exchange visitors.
The proclamation also extends till the year end his earlier executive order that banned issuing of new Green Cards for lawful permanent residency.
Green Card holders are immediately eligible to compete for almost any job, at par with US citizens in most areas.
While issuing the proclamation, Trump has ignored the mounting opposition to his order by several businesses, legislators and human rights bodies. Google CEO Sunder Pichai said he was disappointed over Trumps decision, and added: Immigration contributed immensely to Americas economic success, making it a global leader in tech.
Hagens Berman Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Harvard University on Behalf of Students and Parents Seeking Repayment for Tuition Amid COVID-19 Shutdown
Harvard University is the latest to be sued in a class-action lawsuit demanding reimbursement for tuition and other costs amid its COVID-19-related campus closure, according to attorneys at Hagens Berman and Burns Charest.
If you are paying for college tuition, and/or room and board at any U.S. college or university closed due to COVID-19, find out more about the lawsuit and your rights.
The lawsuit against Harvard was filed June 22, 2020, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and accuses the university of breach of contract, unjust enrichment and conversion. Hagens Berman has also brought similar lawsuits against Boston University, Brandeis University (News - Alert), Brown University, Duke University, Emory University, George Washington University, Hofstra University, University of Miami, Pepperdine University, Quinnipiac University, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University and Washington University in St. Louis for failure to repay tuition-payers for their losses.
The student bringing the lawsuit was enrolled as a full-time graduate student at Harvard Law School during the spring 2020 semester, during which Harvard closed its campus and transitioned all courses to online instruction.
Harvard has not held in-person classes since March 13, 2020. The lawsuit states that the university instead offered students "a limited online experience presented by Zoom, void of face-to-face faculty and peer interaction, separated from program resources, and barredfrom facilities vital to study."
"The online learning option Harvard offered following the termination of its in-person services is subpar in practically every aspect: lack of facilities, lack of materials, lack of efficient classroom participation, and lack of access to faculty," the complaint reads. "Harvard continues to charge for tuition and fees as if nothing has changed, reaping the financial benefit of millions of dollars from students despite the inferior online learning environment."
"Harvard is one of the most prestigious learning institutions in the world," said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman and attorney for students in the class action. "A remote learning experience via Zoom is in no way commensurate to the in-person education students paid for. Students and parents deserve to be reimbursed, and we intend to hold Harvard accountable."
While Harvard's endowment is the largest in the world at nearly $40 billion, the university has refused to provide any tuition reimbursement for the spring 2020 term. The suit states that "the Harvard Law School administration has even gone so far as to tell concerned students to take out an additional loan and 'rent office space' if they have trouble studying off-campus."
Tuition costs ranged from $23,865 for undergraduate students at Harvard College to $36,720 for graduate students at Harvard Business School in the spring 2020 term.
Other Affected Universities
Hagens Berman is investigating the rights of those who are currently paying for room and board, and/or tuition at all U.S. colleges and universities that have been forced to close due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This may include parents, guardians or college students who are paying for their own costs of college.
Despite orders from colleges and universities sending home students and closing campuses, these institutions of higher learning continue to charge for tuition and room and board. Collectively, these institutions are continuing to receive millions from students despite their inability to continue school as normal, or occupy campus buildings and dorms.
Find out more about the class-action lawsuit against colleges and universities for tuition, room and board and other costs incurred during the outbreak of COVID-19.
About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights class-action law firm with nine offices across the country. The firm's tenacious drive for plaintiffs' rights has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of "Most Feared Plaintiff's Firm," and MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005272/en/
KYODO NEWS - Jun 23, 2020 - 14:54 | All, Japan
The government aims to improve its outreach to foreign children in Japan to provide them with learning opportunities as part of strategies adopted Tuesday to promote Japanese-language education.
A survey conducted last year by the education ministry yielded an estimate that more than 19,000 elementary or junior high school-age children of foreign nationalities in Japan do not attend school at all, including international schools.
In Japan, compulsory education covers nine years starting at first grade, from about age 6 to 15.
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Foreign residents of Japan are not subject to compulsory education but the ministry urges public schools to accept and provide free tuition to any child who wishes to enroll based on international treaties.
The government wants to ensure that all foreign children in Japan have the same educational opportunities as local students.
The basic policy to promote Japanese-language education endorsed at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday says it is the responsibility of the central and local governments to offer Japanese-language education to foreign children.
Under the new policy, local governments will work closely with international schools and relevant nonprofit organizations to better assess the situation and offer parents of foreign children information about their educational options.
Amid growing demand for Japanese-language education both at home and abroad, the basic policy also affirms the need to create new licenses for Japanese-language teachers.
Education minister Koichi Hagiuda stressed the need to deliver best-practice regulation at the municipality level to guarantee learning opportunities for foreign children.
"Based on the basic policy adopted this time, we will strengthen the system" to promote Japanese-language education, he told a press conference.
The policy was adopted based on the law on promotion of Japanese-language education that took effect in June last year. The policy will be reviewed every five years if deemed necessary.
The law stipulates the central government must make legal changes and provide necessary financing to promote Japanese-language education, while local governments are responsible for crafting and implementing specific measures and policies.
It was a major turnaround of the country's policies on language education, which have conventionally depended heavily on municipal and private efforts.
The legislation initiated by lawmakers was compiled as Japan introduced a new visa system in April last year to accept more foreign blue-collar workers to deal with severe labor shortages caused by the country's rapidly aging populace.
The number of foreign nationals in Japan stood at record-high 2.93 million as of the end of 2019, up 7.4 percent from the previous year, according to the Immigration Services Agency.
The ministry's first survey conducted on foreign children's school attendance in May and June last year found 19,654, or 15.8 percent, of foreign children eligible to enroll may not be attending Japanese elementary or junior high schools.
In addition to education being not compulsory for foreign nationals, the lack of sufficient command of the Japanese language among some children and guardians as well as the varied quality of local government support are suspected as reasons for the result.
The policy was adopted based on the revision to the law on promotion of Japanese language education that was put in force in June last year. The policy will be reviewed every five years if necessary.
Amid growing demand for Japanese language education both at home and abroad, the basic policy also affirms the need to create new licenses for Japanese language teachers.
She announced she was expecting her second child with husband Charlie Rundle three weeks ago.
And on Tuesday, Emma Freedman, 31, gushed over her handsome partner and their son William, one, in a loving tribute she posted to Instagram on their second wedding anniversary.
'Two years of marriage, one hilarious maniac of a son, our beautiful Utah (their dog), with another small human on the way... Who could have imagined we would have created such an amazing little family only two years on,' she captioned the post.
Cause to celebrate! Emma Freedman (pictured) gushed over husband Charlie Rundle as they celebrate their second wedding anniversary on Tuesday... after revealing they are expecting second child
Accompanying the tribute was a sweet image of Emma and Charlie, enjoying dinner out during their luxurious honeymoon in Europe.
'Flashback to our honeymoon when I was not pregnant, had a tan and was enjoying all the wine. Look forward to when we can do this again soon,' she said.
Emma then went on to explain the couple would be celebrating in a slightly less glamorous way tonight.
'Two years of marriage, one hilarious maniac of a son, our beautiful Utah (their dog), with another small human on the way... Who could have imagined we would have created such an amazing little family only two years on,' she captioned the post, which included a picture of her and Charlie enjoying their luxurious honeymoon in Europe
'In the meantime, we will go on bus spotting walks with Will and eat takeaway dumplings at home tonight in our trackies,' Emma said (Pictured with Charlie and Utah)
'In the meantime, we will go on bus spotting walks with Will and eat takeaway dumplings at home tonight in our trackies,' she said.
Last week, the popular TV and radio presenter shared a selfie of her blossoming pregnancy figure, taken in the bathroom of her home.
She posed on her side to reveal her tiny bump and wrote in the caption: '19 weeks with Bundle 2.0'.
Bumping along nicely! Emma shared the first glimpse of her small baby bump last week, after revealing she is expecting her second child
Emma confirmed she was pregnant with her second child to The Daily Telegraph three weeks ago.
'We're absolutely delighted and feel very lucky,' she told the publication.
The former Dancing With The Stars winner added: 'It will be a busy back end of the year, but we are excited for all of the chaos that comes with two small friends.'
Another bub on the way: Three weeks ago, Emma confirmed she was pregnant with her second child. She told The Daily Telegraph: We're absolutely delighted and feel very lucky' (Pictured: Emma and Charlie with their son one-year-old son William)
The couple are already parents to one-year-old son William Anthony Rundle and are excited for him to have a sibling who is due to arrive in October.
'Will has already shown quite the love of small babies so hopefully he is like that when he gets to meet his little sibling,' she added.
Emma said she was able to keep her second pregnancy a secret, due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Emma and Charlie tied the knot back in June 2018 at the Paddington Reservoir in Sydney. The couple began dating in 2015.
The Duchess of Cambridge has been opting for 'simpler' hairdos throughout lockdown that offer 'longevity between washes', a stylist has claimed - after the royal was seen debuting a new look during a video call yesterday.
Kate Middleton, 38, was pictured sporting a relaxed straight blow-dry with a sweeping side parting on the call from her Anmer Hall home in Norfolk, where she is isolating with Prince William, 38, and their three children.
According to James Johnson, the duchess has managed to maintain her incredible locks throughout the pandemic by wearing her hair in simple, classic styles.
He told FEMAIL that the mother-of-three's 'sophisticated' side-parting helped 'open her face and show off her amazing cheekbones' and covered any regrowth at the root.
James added that Kate's favoured Zoom-look - the half-up-half-down do - allows her greater longevity because she wouldn't have to wash her hair daily.
The Duchess of Cambridge has done an 'amazing job in lockdown adopting simpler looks' while having to arrange her own hair, according to a celebrity stylist - with the royal opting for clever tricks including practical half up-dos (pictured left) and side partings (pictured right) that cover regrowth lines
Kate Middleton has opted for her usual bouncy blow dry on occasion during lockdown, but has mainly worn a more relaxed style (pictured, during a virtual message last week)
While Kate has occasionally opted for her signature bouncy blow-dried waves during lockdown, the royal has worn her hair in a relaxed up-do and slicked back ponytail on the majority of her virtual appearances.
Speaking about her decision to ditch the curlers for her call yesterday, James said: 'Kate is a hair icon globally, shes known for her bouncy hair, but ability-wise, her more textured and bouncier looks are harder to recreate at home.
'So this side-parted style is perfect for someone who has less hair styling skills. Whilst being soft, and therefore easier to style herself, this hairdo also carries on her sophisticated look, even in lockdown.
He added: 'The side-parting helps open up her face, showing off her amazing cheekbones. It also a handy trick for covering solid regrowth lines exposed in the middle.
Celebrity hair stylist James Johnson told FEMAIL that Kate has opted for styles that offer longevity between washes, such as the simple ponytail (above)
'The tucked hair behind the ear keeps the whole look soft, whilst on trend - setting the bar for mum hair goals.'
Offering advice on how to recreate the look, James said a round brush should be used to create a gentle bend and flick on the ends, followed by a hydrating serum.
And while Kate's new style may differ from her usual big and bouncy blow dry, the celebrity stylist did point to earlier moments during lockdown when the royal had adopted her favourite look.
Speaking about Kate's earlier lockdown styles, James said: 'We've seen Kate adopt softer styles that are easier to recreate, and they're still on trend and in fashion.
James added that Kate's favoured Zoom-look, the half-up-half-down do (above), allows her to push her style an extra day and offers some longevity because she doesn't have to wash her locks each day
'While in lockdown, Kate's done an amazing job. With the half-up-half-down style she often opts for, and with hairdos like her newest one that can be turned into that easily, you get an extra day out of that look.'
He went on to explain that the half-up do and ponytail styles which Kate has showcased during the lockdown could also have been for practicality reasons.
James explained: 'Half-up-half-down is quite nice for Zoom calls and you're pushing that style an extra day.
'People usually wash it when they're having to go into the office but because it's half-up-half-down or in a ponytail you'll getting longevity out of your style, which she seems to be doing and looking great every time.'
Speaking about Kate's earlier lockdown looks, the stylist said: 'We've seen Kate (pictured on a video call in May) adopt softer styles that are easier to recreate, and they're still on trend and in fashion'
The duchess teamed up with the Duchess of Cornwall for the Zoom call to mark Children's Hospice Week. It is the first time the pair have undertaken a joint engagement, either virtual or in the flesh.
They spoke to Fraser's sibling Stuie Delf, 13, and his parents, Stuart and Carla Delf, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, during a video call with representatives of three charities.
Inspired by legendary 100-year-old fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore, Stuie vowed to undertake a sponsored five kilometres run every day last month to raise funds for the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) site in Milton, Cambridgeshire, which has seen a dramatic drop in funding due to the coronavirus pandemic.
'I hear you've been doing lots of fundraising, which has been amazing,' Kate, who is patron of EACH, said. Camilla added: 'Captain Tom has done a lot for this country, hasn't he? He's inspired so many people. You must be very fit, Stuie.'
The Duchesses spoke with the Delf family about their fundraising efforts following the death of Fraser, nine, in January during her call with the Duchess of Cornwall
The two women talked to him and his parents about the seven weeks they spent living in the hospice with Fraser before he died.
Kate, who became patron of EACH in 2012, described the work of children's hospices as 'extraordinary'.
She added: 'It's a credit to the staff that they can provide the environment, the nurturing space for those families to help them go through long or short term care. It's really awe-inspiring.'
Even with this weeks Supreme Court ruling, the workplace will be far from equal for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
While the nations highest court says you cant be fired for your sexual orientation or gender identity under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there are still gaps. For instance, the federal law doesnt protect those who work at businesses with fewer than 15 workers. It doesnt address bathrooms for transgender people. And its still an open question whether employers can fire an LGBTQ person for religious reasons.
Then there are gaps in employee benefits. Some employers may not pay for medical care for transgender people, or could leave out LGBTQ families.
Thats not to diminish the significance of the Supreme Court ruling, which some advocates say was an even bigger deal for LGBTQ Americans than marriage equality.
The decision was a watershed, said Kasey Suffredini, CEO of Freedom for All Americans, which advocates for LGBTQ rights. But at the same time its so basic and entry level. Now we actually get into the details into how that discrimination plays out in everyday lives.
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS
Transgender workers and people in same-sex relationships often face disparities in access to health care. Employers play a role because they work with insurance companies to decide which treatments should be covered under their employees health insurance plans.
For example, an insurance plan that a company crafts for employees may cover hormone treatments for a woman undergoing menopause, but it might not cover hormone treatments that a doctor prescribes for a transgender patient. And same-sex couples sometimes are shut out of benefits such as access to fertility treatments, which are in some states only offered to couples that are not the same gender.
Treatments for HIV, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men, are sometimes shortchanged by insurance plans.
Some HIV drugs may be outright not covered by insurance at all, or may be covered with copays or deductibles that make the drug essentially inaccessible, Suffredini said. Its like the functional equivalent of denying coverage altogether.
SMALL BUSINESSES
Not all workers are protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which only applies to business with 15 employees or more. But some states have laws that do cover those workers.
Fifteen states have nondiscrimination laws that cover all employers, regardless of size, according to Freedom for All Americans. Another 22 states have laws that cover workers at employers with at least two employees or more.
Connecticut, for example, extends the protections to workplaces with at least three employees, and Arkansas extends it to employers with nine, Freedom for All Americans said.
RELIGIOUS REASONS
In their ruling, the Supreme Court judges made clear that they werent going to make a call on whether a business can fire an employee for religious reasons, leaving that an open question.
It kind of punted on those issues and said we can address these at a later date, said Todd Anten, a lawyer at Quinn Emanuel.
Employers that have religious objections to employing LGBT people might be able to raise those claims in a different case, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the court.
PARENTAL LEAVE
Most workers in the U.S. do not have access to paid family leave to care for a newborn. But among those that have access to family leave, the policies often favor birth mothers, said Gabriel Dobson, 34, a gay man who is married to another man.
Dobson left his last job because he felt his employer was not promoting him because he is black and gay. Now, at a company thats more culturally inclusive, Dobson is facing subtler challenges. His new company offers 16 weeks of family leave to a mother who gives birth to a child, but only four weeks to a parent who did not give birth. Thats making him wonder how he and his husband would manage if they adopt a child.
When you are both non-birth parents and you have a child, who is going to get that time off to take care of the child? Dobson asked. It makes you feel like your situation is odd, when thats not typically how I feel about my situation.
RECOGNIZING LGBTQ WORKERS
Many employers may not know how many LGBTQ people it employs, which makes it hard to make sure theyre invited or included in particular programs.
Some big employers do allow employees to indicate on their human resources forms that they are LGBTQ, like they do for gender and race, said M.V. Lee Badgett, an economics professor and co-director of the Center for Employment Equity at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
I think employers that are trying to be proactive and are looking at gender gaps or maybe racial wage gaps, they should try to think about ways that they could do the same for LGBT people, Badgett said.
UNIFORMS
Dress codes and uniforms can present challenges for transgender employees. Rachel Mosby, who was the fire chief in Byron, Georgia, says she was fired from her job after she began showing up to work in feminine dress suits and skirts instead of one of the masculine suits she had been wearing for the last decade. Mosby spent more than $500 of fire department money on the suits, but was issued a written reprimand and required to pay the department back. When she bought herself male suits a decade earlier, there had been no issue.
These implicit biases and systemic discrimination against people that are others, none of that has gone away, Mosby said. Its still there, and thats what we have to fight against. Thats what we have to work to remove from our system.
Mosby filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the city for her termination.
BATHROOMS
Another issue the Supreme Court said it wouldnt decide last week: same-sex bathrooms and locker rooms.
Jerame Davis, executive director of LGBTQ workplace advocacy group Pride at Work, said employers right now have a lot of leeway in how they respond if a colleague doesnt want a transgender person to use the same restroom or locker room as them. Often times, the transgender person is singled out and asked to use a different facility, which isnt ideal, Davis said.
We shouldnt be singling out individuals, he said.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Legislation
WASHINGTON Inside the State Department, the definition of human rights is up for debate.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, an evangelical Christian, created a commission last July to provide a new vision for human rights policy that would more closely align with the nations founding principles and uphold religious freedom as Americas most fundamental value.
Human rights scholars have criticized the panel, saying it is filled with conservatives intent on promoting views against abortion and marriage equality. Critics also warn the commission sidesteps the State Departments internal bureau responsible for promoting human rights abroad.
And former agency officials caution that elevating the importance of religion could reverse the countrys longstanding belief that all rights are created equal and embolden countries that persecute same-sex couples or deny women access to reproductive health services for religious reasons.
There are those who would have preferred I didnt do it, and are concerned about the answers that our foundational documents will provide, Mr. Pompeo said of the commission last fall to a conservative womens group at the Trump International Hotel in Washington. I know where those rights came from. They came from our Lord.
[June 23, 2020] Navy Federal Once Again in Top 10 for Best Places to Work in IT
For a second year in a row, Navy Federal Credit Union ranks in the top 10 for IDG's Computerworld 2020 Best Places to Work in IT. This is the credit union's sixth consecutive year to make the list, ranking ninth among 52 large organizations. Navy Federal remains the only credit union among the large organizations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005839/en/ Navy Federal's Information Services Department provides support for the credit union's 21,500 employees and over 9.2 million members. "Technology is critical in our mission to deliver the best service for our members and employees," said Tony Gallardy, Chief Information Officer for Navy Federal. "Whether you're a member connecting with us through our mobile app or an employee teleworking from home, our ISD team has played a major role in making sure the credit union provides an incredible experience." Computerworld, in partnership with IDG's Insider Pro, compiles its Best Places to Work in IT list based on a comprehensive questionnaire regarding company offerings in categories such as benefits, career development, traning and retention. Additionally, IT professionals are surveyed and their responses are factored heavily in determining the rankings.
"As technology continues to evolve more rapidly than ever, attracting and retaining top IT talent to research, deploy and maintain that technology has never been more important or more challenging," said Mark Lewis, VP Audience (News - Alert) Development at IDG's Insider Pro. "Companies that have earned a spot on the Insider Pro and Computerworld 2020 Best Place to Work in IT list share a common denominator: They create an environment that not only rewards workers with competitive compensation and benefits, but they also foster a spirit of diversity, social responsibility, training and innovation." Navy Federal continues to place an emphasis on growing its team in ISD. Many career opportunities are available at various campus locations, including Winchester, VA, Pensacola, FL, and its headquarters in Vienna, VA. For information on jobs at Navy Federal, visit the careers page.
Year after year, Navy Federal is recognized for its dedication to creating a satisfying work environment and an exceptional member experience. Earlier this year, Navy Federal celebrated its 10th year on the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For List, ranking 19th, the highest in its history. Additionally, the credit union was recently ranked No. 1 in Customer Experience Excellence by KPMG. About Navy Federal Credit Union: Established in 1933 with only seven members, Navy Federal now has the distinct honor of serving over 9 million members globally and is the world's largest credit union. As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization, Navy Federal always puts the financial needs of its members first. Membership is open to all branches of the armed forces and their families. Dedicated to its mission of service, Navy Federal employs a workforce of over 21,500 and has a global network of 342 branches. For more information about Navy Federal Credit Union, visit navyfederal.org. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Opportunity Employer. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005839/en/
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I know, I know: According to almost every tech publication out there, this week is all about Magical and Revolutionary Things in the iOS universe. But let's set aside the superlative-slinging wizard-wand for a moment 'cause here in the land o' Android, we've got some serious thinking to do.
We're nearly two weeks into the release of Google's Android 11 Beta, y'see, and I can't help but obsess a bit over what this software suggests could or at least should come next. (And just think: If Google does in fact move forward with what I'm proposing, iPhone users can expect to see the same exact thing added to iOS in another five years! Hey-oh!)
At this point, as I laid out in a recent newsletter, Android 11 strikes me as coming down to three main themes: smarter privacy, smarter messaging, and smarter controls for the ways we interact with media and devices. The privacy part is arguably the most important, but the more I've lived with the messaging changes, the more I've come to appreciate how meaningful they are and the more I've come to contemplate what other improvements they could pave the way for in a future release.
[Get fresh Googley insight in your inbox every Friday with JR's Android Intelligence newsletter. Exclusive extras await!]
The Android messaging mashup: Part I
Before we dive into the future, let's do a quick recap of the present: Android 11, in case you haven't been paying attention, has a couple of noteworthy new communication-related touches both of which seem relatively inconsequential on the surface but start to show their value as you actually use 'em and experience their effect in the real world.
First is a revamp of the Android notification panel in which conversation-related notifications from any app or service get separated out into their own special section at the top. Then, for any alert that shows up in that section, you can press and hold the notification to easily set its sender as a priority-level person.
Doing so pins that person's notifications to the top of the Conversations section and causes their profile photo to appear as its own separate icon within your status bar whenever a notification from them is present. And here's the key part of all of this: Everything looks and acts the same, no matter what app or service is involved.
The second new element is the presence of Bubbles, a multitasking system we first heard about back in the Android 10 development era and are just now seeing in action for the first time. This part isn't totally up and running just yet, as hardly any apps are set up to support it yet but once developers get on board with the system, it'll let you tap a special icon within any conversation-related notification to pop that conversation out into a floating window. The window then stays on top of whatever else you're doing and can be collapsed down into a small floating circle for easy ongoing access.
So here's how this all comes together in practice and why I'm talking your ear off about it: The effect of these various pieces is that messaging on Android is starting to feel more consistent and connected less like juggling conversations from a dozen different apps and more like interacting with a streamlined communication environment on the operating system level.
Especially considering how many different messaging platforms most of us have to contend with these days (not to mention all the messaging apps Google itself is launching and repositioning every four to six hours), having a centralized place to manage all of your ongoing threads makes a world of difference. And between the new Conversations section itself and the Bubbles interface popping out of it, chatting really is becoming more of an Android experience, even when a bunch of different apps and platforms are involved.
But hold the phone 'cause there's a serious limitation: All of this works only when you're dealing with incoming conversations that are already underway ones for which notifications are already present. When you want to start a new conversation with someone, you still have to think about which service you use to talk to that person and then do the classic app-hopping dance.
It's a smart bit of streamlining, in other words, but it's only half the picture and especially when you see how heavily Google is emphasizing the idea that Android 11 is meant to make the operating system more "people-centric, not platform-centric," putting "people at the heart of the experience for Android" and "reimagin[ing] the way we have conversations on our phones," it's hard not to feel like this is only the beginning.
And it's hard not to hope Android 12 will finish what Android 11's begun.
The next phase of Android messaging
So here's what this is all building up to: With Android 11 making replying to and interacting with existing conversations a consistent, platform-agnostic experience, Android 12 needs to pick up where that leaves off and do the same thing for new conversations.
And for a model of what that could look like, we need to look no further than a few years back in smartphone history to a company just outside of Google's orbit.
Back when Microsoft was still developing its own smartphone operating system (and not yet building up a business within Google's Android world), its Windows Phone software had an intriguing element a messaging hub that, yup, brought different messaging platforms together into a single streamlined experience.
The Windows Phone messaging hub "blurred the lines" between different communication platforms, as one reviewer put it at the time letting you "focus on the people rather than having to choose" a specific service and then switch over to that app. It wasn't perfect and it certainly had its share of limitations, but the idea behind it was solid and almost a spot-on complement to what Google's giving us right now.
Imagine a system-level Android app that collected contact info from a variety of different platforms and pulled 'em into a single place, then let you go to that one hub to initiate conversations with people across any of the connected services. Combine that with the Conversations section and Bubbles system Android 11 brings into the equation, and you'd have a complete system for doing exactly what Google's describing for making Android "people-centric, not platform-centric," for putting "people at the heart of the experience for Android," and for "reimagin[ing] the way we have conversations on our phones."
It would finish what Android 11 started, and it'd give Android a huge leg up on that other mobile operating system when it comes to communication. (Well, it'd give it that leg up for a few years, anyway, until Apple emulated the exact same thing in 2026 and touted it as a "revolutionary new innovation.")
The funny thing is that Google actually almost did this nine years ago or started to think about it, at least. Remember this? With 2011's Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich release, Google debuted a highly touted new system for "integrat[ing] rich social communication and sharing touchpoints across the system, making it easy to talk, email, text, and share."
As Google put it at the time:
Throughout the system, a users social groups, profiles, and contacts are linked together and integrated for easy accessibility. At the center is a new People app that offers richer profile information, including a large profile picture, phone numbers, addresses and accounts, status updates, events, stream items, and a new button for connecting on integrated social networks.
That People app never progressed to the point of being a true multiplatform messaging hub and Google, being Google, quietly phased it out without explanation a few years after its splashy debut. The core idea was there, though; it just never had the chance to evolve and turn into something useful.
Google
With that same "people-centric" approach coming back around now with Android 11, it seems like the perfect opportunity to revive the People app concept and turn Android into a true people-centric, platform-combining operating system one where communication is an OS-level feature instead of a mishmosh of overlapping apps. It'd be a technical challenge to make happen, I'm sure, and probably a bit of logistical nightmare. If Google were able to pull it off, though, it'd be an incredible feat and a powerful productivity advantage.
Android 11 takes the first step in transforming a disparate forest of app-controlled actions into a connected and consistent part of the Android experience. Now Google just needs to complete that thought and fill in the rest of the picture. And from Microsoft's work with Windows Phone to Google's own unfinished ideas with Android, it doesn't have to look far to find the exact right form of inspiration.
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[Android Intelligence videos at Computerworld]
India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt
India prepares for long haul, but days of LAC nibbling by Chinese set to get over
India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
New Delhi, June 23: India will put an end to the nibbling by the Chinese at the Line of Actual Control. India will not provoke any skirmish, but will reply strongly to any transgression, officials in the national capital tell OneIndia.
While talks between the two sides continue at the military level, India is prepared for a long haul.
India has also upped the ante in response to the aggression by the Chinese. The Indian positions at Galwan, Hot Springs, Koyul, Fukche, Murgo, Depsong and Demchok face threats from the Chinese and hence the deployment has been enhanced. Meanwhile, the Indian agencies have sounded a high alert after it was noticed that China had deployed additional fighter jets, attack choppers and bombers at Hotan, Ngyari and Shigatse.
Rath Yatra begins in Puri's Jagannath Temple amid curfew due to Covid-19 pandemic | Oneindia News
In talks with China, India demands restoration of status quo ante
With Apache helicopters, Sukhoi fighters and tanks being added along the Line of Actual Control, the three divisions now form an arc and are ready to respond.
Both the Indian and Chinese armies have been fully deployed, the air bases activated and the navy has been placed on standby. Sources tell OneIndia that the situation is very tense, although there has been no escalation following the June 15 violent brawl.
In response to the mighty build up by the Chinese, the Indian Army positions too have been beefed up. The Air Force of both countries also continue to keep a surveillance watch on each other, the source cited above said.
On the other hand, the Air Force also moved its critical frontline assets including the Sukhoi 20 MKI, Mirage 2000 and Jaguar fighter aircraft fleet to the advanced positions where they can fly at a very short notice.
Further the Chinooks helicopters have been deployed in and around the Leh airbase to provide the capability of rapid troops transportation and inter valley troop transfer, in case any situation emerges. The American Apache attack choppers have also been deployed close to the areas where operations by ground troops are taking place at the moment.
With both armies not thinking in terms of disengagement, the situation is very tense. While there has been a bit of cooling down of the situation, the official cited above said that complete disengagement will take a longer time.
Chinese Army confirms death of its officer during military level talks with India
During the military level talks held on Tuesday, the Indian side demanded the withdrawal of PLA troops from the Galwan Valley, where the deadly clash had taken place on June 15.
The Indian side also demanded the restoration of status quo ante in the key strategic areas.
The meeting took place between Lieutenant General, Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh based 14 corps and Major General Liu Lin of the South Xinjiang military region. The talks began at around 11.30 am and went on till 10.15 pm, officials familiar with the developments said.
India also demanded the reduction of military deployments in the depth areas on their side of the disputed border. The main intention of the talks was to restore status quo in the Gogra Post, Galwan Valley and Gogra Post. The Indian Army wants the Chinese to move back from their current positions to where they were in early April.
India also flagged concerns about the build up of Chinese troops, artillery units in the Gogra Post Hot Springs sector, which is north of Pangong Tso.
My mother, were she still with us, would probably be shocked. Graphic violence. Full-frontal nudity. Explicit sex. Four-letter words. Torture. The truly horrible murder of a baby boy, made even more horrible by the decision to show viewers the face of the dead infant, whose eyelids have been stitched open.
What on earth have they done to Perry Mason? This is not my mothers Perry Mason. Its not the Perry Mason who featured in more than 80 novels by Erle Stanley Gardner.
That Perry, played by Raymond Burr from 1957 to 1966 in US televisions first weekly hour-long drama (its currently running on CBS Justice in the afternoons) and again in 26 TV movies in the 80s and 90s, was a suave, righteous criminal defence attorney who almost never lost a case.
As for his personal life... what personal life? He didnt have one.
Gardner, who closely supervised the TV series to make sure the legal details were always correct, wasnt remotely interested in what Perry did in his private time. It was all about what happened in the courtroom.
The new Perry Mason, an eight-part noir mini-series (therell presumably be more if its a hit) from HBO, does show us what Perry, now played by Matthew Rhys, gets up to when hes off the metre.
Mostly he gets drunk and shouts down the phone at his ex-wife, who wont let him talk to, let alone see, their nine-year-old son and returns unopened the toy fire truck Perry sends the boy for Christmas.
When hes not doing that, hes having enthusiastic and I mean fall-off-the-bed enthusiastic sex with Lupe (Veronica Falcon), a pilot who operates out of an airstrip beside Perrys rundown family dairy farm. She wants him to sell her the property so she can expand her business. He keeps refusing.
This Perry isnt even a lawyer yet; hes a slightly scruffy, down-at-heel private eye working in Los Angeles in 1931 a setting which, by the way, is superbly realised. The rest of America is in the grip of the Great Depression, but the City of Angels is growing ever fatter and more corrupt on oil and movie money.
Perry, a First World War veteran troubled by his experiences in France, mostly works at the seedy end of the market. He has no qualms about wearing dead mens clothes, sold to him for a buck or two by an unscrupulous mortician.
Video of the Day
When we meet Perry, he and his amiable partner Pete Strickland (Shea Whigham) are tailing a Fatty Arbuckle-type movie star on behalf of the studio, which hopes to catch him violating a morals clause. When Perry finds out more than he bargained for and tries to use it to leverage extra money from the studio boss, a Groucho Marx lookalike with a mean streak, it doesnt end well.
On the face of it, co-creators Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald have given us an origin story for a Perry Mason whos nothing at all like Perry Mason. If anything, he has more in common with Jake Gittes from Chinatown. Both are wounded men trying to hold onto their moral compass in a world turned upside and inside out by corruption.
Yet, by the end of this first episode, weve begun to glimpse the kernel of the man he will become.
His sometime employer, and the person who hooks him up with the child kidnap/murder case that drives the mini-series, is a lawyer called EB Jonathan (John Lithgow), whos something of a mentor to him.
EBs legal secretary is Della Street (Juliet Rylance), who in the books and old TV series is Perrys secretary-cum-assistant. Further down the line well meet another familiar character, investigator Paul Drake, who in this version becomes an African-American, played by Chris Chalk.
In a blink-and-youll-miss-it moment in last nights opener, we saw what looked like law books in Perrys home.
Holding it all together is Rhys, whos beyond wonderful here. Every moment of pain, sadness, disgust and anger seems etched into his face. This Perry Mason wont be for purists, but its definitely for me.
Perry Mason, Sky Atlantic/NOW TV, 4 stars
B oris Johnson will announce changes to the coronavirus lockdown in England on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister is expected to announce steps to ease restrictions on the hospitality industry and also make changes to the social distancing rule.
The last lockdown review was on May 28 after the Government published its "roadmap" for getting Britain out of lockdown on May 11.
What time is Boris Johnson's speech today?
Mr Johnson is expected to address the House of Commons at 12.30pm.
You can follow live updates here.
What is the Prime Minister likely to cover in the update?
Mr Johnson is likely to confirm that museums, galleries and cinemas will be added to the list of venues that are allowed to reopen from July 4.
The Prime Minister is also set to reveal the results of a review into the two-metre social distancing rule.
It is predicted that the distance will be cut to one metre, paving the way for more businesses - such as pubs, bars and restaurants - to emerge from lockdown.
The establishment of "air bridges" between the UK and other countries is likely to be discussed.
Mr Johnson is also likely to address the current quarantine measures on UK arrivals.
How can I watch the speech?
The speech to the House of Commons will be broadcast on Parliament TV.
It will also be available to watch in full on the BBC Parliament channel and broadcast on BBC News.
One of our missions was to bring food and be of service to people here in northwest Chicago, he said. We thought, Well, we could stay closed and try to wait this thing out, or we could follow through with our mission and open up in some sort of limited capacity while keeping everybodys safety top of mind.
Industry Update
Appointment
23 June 2020
Carl Dees
Appointed General Manager
At Hilton Madison Monona Terrace - WI, USA
Leading Hilton Madison Monona Terrace as general manager is Carl Dees, a seasoned hospitality veteran. Dees joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 2018 as vice president of operations. Before joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Dees served as vice president of operations for the third-party hotel management company, Crescent Hotels & Resorts. His 35-year hospitality career also includes positions with HEI Hotels & Resorts, Interstate Hotels & Resorts and Richfield Hospitality.
Marcus Hotels & Resorts Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), owns and/or manages 19 hotels, resorts and other properties in 10 states. A force in the hospitality industry, Marcus Hotels & Resorts provides expertise in management, development and historic renovations. more information
Recent Appointments at Marcus Hotels Carlo Vermeeren - General Manager 29 October 2021 Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized owner and management company and division of The Marcus Corporation, today announced the appointment of Carlo Vermeeren as general manager of the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District in Omaha, Nebraska. read more
Steve Hilton - Senior Vice President of Operations 5 October 2021 Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized owner and management company and division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), today announced the promotion of Steve Hilton to senior vice president of operations. read more
While the prosperity and development of the United States cannot be compared to that of Nepal, there is one thing in common; we have our Donald Trump. The Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli is confident, bossy, and dauntless in criticism which resembles some qualities of Trump, among many.
Confidence
Recently, one of the MPs asked the prime minister, Who said the immunity power of Nepali people is strong? in seeking the scientific evidence regarding Olis repeated claim.
I said, you must have heard, Oli answered confidently buttressing his argument with a superficial logic in Parliament.
The confidence of Donald Trump is regarded as a quality a leader should possess, and Oli is no less confident than Trump. For instance, the way he talks and delivers political lectures is sure to influence many, if not all. Despite his minimal academic qualification, he can also speak and deliver speeches in English easily. What he talks, either you love or hate, are clear enough to understand his ideas and thoughts.
Insincerity toward the pandemic
For several weeks, US President Donald Trump downplayed the likely consequences of the coronavirus, presenting it as a minor nuisance. He labelled the virus a Chinese virus to castigate China when the infection rate was soaring globally. He further scorned the role of WHO and rescinded the donation. This action was criticised as an immature action from the global sphere in the midst of the pandemic.
Now, look at Oli. The coronavirus coming from the Indian side is more lethal than that coming from China, he said a few weeks back. His statement further intensified the border debate in Indian media. Whether it is about the chemical composition of the virus or the claim that ginger and turmeric will fight against the virus, Olis statement only proved him as critical as Trump.
Likewise, in one of the speeches, Oli stated that the death of Nepalis was not due to the virus itself but due to other reasons. In the meantime, there was multifold evidence that people died from the virus, he was criticised for this cursory comment on the serious issue.
Demeaning certain communities, but still achieving excellent victory
While Trump and Oli both had faced some malicious allegations, they both won the elections with outstanding records. Lets see this fact in more details.
During the election, Trump was accused of being a mafia member, running unscrupulous business dealings, and promoting racial discrimination. But still, he confidently steered towards a landslide victory in the presidential elections.
Oli was condemned on social media for passing demeaning comments toward the Madhesi community before the election in Nepal. Despite this, he managed to gain an outstanding triumph in the election with almost two-thirds majority seats for his party.
What worked better for such victory? The stance Oli took against the 2015 Indian blockade had established Olis patriotic image, which gave him a great victory. Apart from this, confidence is something that fetches peoples attention even if they are with some controversial remarks. The one who can influence people in any way is a good player in politics.
Castigating media
Reprimanding the media is the next thing both Trump and Oli are accustomed to. Trump has always relished trashing the press, pretending that they are his most wily opposition. During briefings, he loves to play with insulting remarks when reporters ask reasonable questions or sometimes he would rather not answer. He insulted reporters from CNN and Fox News with sarcastic retorts even during the pandemic. We saw in the international news that he had berated, insulted and demeaned female reporters abruptly halting the press conference.
Now, look at Oli. Media is creating instability in the country, said Oli in the video message on the occasion of International Labour Day. Olis distaste for the media has long been a salient feature of his administration. Once, he showed displeasure stating that the media lacks the heart to report the good deeds of the government.
Ungenerosity towards critics
Intolerant to criticisms, the next common feature both hold is that they pass frequently unconscionable, superficial and bossy comments on serious issues. They easily snub opposite views without a serious look. The notion that the majority has elected me and my opinion is always the right will not help always. Instead, trying to understand the opposite views will make leaders more responsible for their deeds. The real leaders should listen to the criticisms and feedback from both public and opposition parties.
While it is the duty of opposition party to object to the wrongdoing of the government, sometimes they may aggrandise minor issues also to gain political advantage. Whatever it is, the leaders should at least have the patience to listen to those comments and understand them well. This way they can ignore if the issues seem worthless or try to assuage the criticisms by stating they will take the feedback seriously.
Bhandari is a lecturer.
Remember how bitterly Democrats complained when Republicans stalled President Barack Obamas nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Merrick Garland?
Leaders of the Republican-controlled Senate said it was unfair to appoint an associate justice during a presidential election year. So they sat on Garlands nomination for eight months. Shortly after taking over the Oval Office in January 2017, Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to fill the vacancy and he was confirmed.
The Senate GOP probably learned that trick by watching Illinois Democrats, who long ago mastered the art of getting their way. We were reminded of an example of that this week, when the General Assemblys Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, or JCAR, approved new permanent regulations for licensed firearms dealers in the state.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, signed the new rules into law 18 months ago four days after he took office. But the Firearms Dealers License Certification Act passed the General Assembly the previous May, when Republican Bruce Rauner was governor. Rauner had indicated hed veto it.
Lawmakers used a procedural maneuver to hold the bill until Pritzker was in place, according to Capitol News Illinois. He signed it on Jan. 17, 2019.
Capitol News Illinois said the new law requires anyone with a federal firearms license who operates a retail gun store, which does not include gun shows, to obtain a state certificate and to comply with regulations adopted by the Illinois State Police. Those were to include, among other things, rules on maintaining alarm systems, video surveillance systems and ways to secure the stores inventory after business hours.
One reason for the 18-month delay was haggling over how those rules would work. Whether you agree with the result or not, were just tired of the political maneuvering that so often shapes the laws we live under.
Negotiation and compromise is one thing as American as apple pie. Political intrigue is another. It leaves a bad taste in our mouths.
Daily News, Effingham
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:40:36|Editor: huaxia
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DHAKA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh reported over 3,400 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total in the country to nearly 120,000.
Senior Health Ministry official Nasima Sultana said in a briefing on Tuesday afternoon that "3,412 new COVID-19 positive cases and 43 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh."
She said: "The total number of positive cases is 119,198 and death toll stands currently at 1,545 with the fresh fatalities of 38 men and five women."
According to the official, 16,292 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh.
She said 880 more COVID-19 patients had recovered during the last 24 hours, bringing the total recoveries so far to 47,635. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-21 02:10:05|Editor: huaxia
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TEHRAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran's international police have asked Romania to permit a fact-finding mission from Iran to probe the death of a fugitive Iranian judge in Bucharest, Romania's capital, Iranian state TV reported on Saturday.
Hadi Shirzad, head of the Iranian international police, said on Saturday that they have sent a letter to the Romanian Interpol Police for a permission and asked for additional information about the death.
The Iranian police also called for the return of the body of the Judge, identified as Gholamreza Mansouri, he said.
The Iranian foreign ministry on Friday confirmed the death of the judge in Romania.
The Iranian judge apparently fell out of a window in the Duke Hotel in Bucharest on Friday.
On June 13, Iranian Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Esmaeili announced that the judge, accused of receiving 500,000 euros (558,867 U.S. dollars) in bribes, had been arrested in Romania. Enditem
SUNBURY A second ManorCare facility in central Pennsylvania has seen an increase In COVID-19 cases.
ManorCare Health Services in Sunbury had 34 new patient coronavirus cases in the past week to bring the total to 37, Julie Beckert, assistant vice president and director of marketing and communications in the corporate offices in Toledo, said Monday.
We tested the whole house and are slowly getting results back, she said. There were 28 test results pending on June 14, she said. The facility had 109 patients Monday.
All but three of the 37 have been isolated in-house, she said. There have been two deaths and five staff members are in self-quarantine after testing positive, she said.
The number of staff members who tested positive has increased by three in the past week.
ManorCare Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jersey Shore was hard hit earlier by the pandemic.
It had a total of 77 patients test positive, of which 49 are listed as recovered, Beckert said. There have been 23 deaths, she said.
Others have gone home or to a hospital and none requested a transfer, she said. Jersey Shore had 75 patients Monday.
All 19 employees at Jersey Shore who tested positive have recovered, she said.
ManorCare employees wear masks and eye protection and practice hygiene and infection control processes, she said.
We have been able to do whole house testing for both centers now that we are finally able to get tests for long-term care, Beckert said.
Having tests available and doing the tests will increase the number of COVID-19 cases. Many individuals who get tested are asymptomatic but having the tests helps us isolate and contain the virus earlier.
We realize any news of COVID-19 is concerning to families and communities, but we do have good systems in place and if we know early, we can contain the virus faster before it spreads.
(Rlingen, Norway, June 22nd, 2020): StrongPoint ASA and Sberbank, the largest bank in Russia, has signed a new General Agreement for up to 357 Cash-In-Transit cases (CIT).
"The CIT-market has been affected by a decline in retail business in general due to COVID-19. With that backdrop, we are very pleased that the activity in Sberbank requires additional CIT-cases. I am in particular proud of our sales representatives dialogue with Sberbank, and of the trust and confidence given us by one of Europe's leading financial institutions. Our partnership with Sberbank underlines their dedication for ensuring the highest possible security level when transporting cash between the cash centre and the pick-up location, says Jacob Tveraabak, CEO of StrongPoint.
StrongPoint has signed a general agreement for up to 357 CIT cases to Sberbank. Sberbank is the largest bank in Russia with 14 000 branches in 83 regions. The cases are expected to be delivered during Q3 2020. Key account management, deliveries, support and service is handled by StrongPoints Cash Security office in Russia.
ENDS
For additional information please contact:
Jacob Tveraabak
CEO, Strongpoint ASA
Mail: jacob.tveraabak@strongpoint.com
Phone: +47 908 21 370
Hilde Horn Gilen
CFO, StrongPoint ASA
Mail: hilde.gilen@strongpoint.com
Phone +47 920 60 158
About StrongPoint | www.strongpoint.com
StrongPoint is driving productivity for European retailers by providing innovative, integrated technology solutions for multi-channel retailing based on long-standing relationships with customers and partners. StrongPoint is also a leader in IBNS solutions for Cash-In-Transit (Cash Security), and Labels for customers in Norway and Sweden. StrongPoint offers best-in-class service and consultancy expertise through its team of 520 employees in Norway, Sweden, the Baltics, France, Belgium, Spain and Russia. StrongPoint is headquartered in Rlingen, Norway, and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: STRONG).
Story continues
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
A Kerry politician is inviting Garth Brooks to perform in Killarney.
It follows the release of a Netflix documentary that shows the country music superstar singing a song with his late mother that references the town.
Garth Brooks and his mother Colleen Carroll together singing 'The Irish Lullaby' which is featured in the Netflix documentary about his life called 'The Road I'm On'.
The county superstar says how much the song, which references Killarney, meant to both of them.
After watching the documentary, Killarney councillor Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan got the idea to invite Garth Brooks to perform in the town.
Watching the Garth brooks doc on Netflix and his mother and he singing about Killarney!!!!WOW. Somebody tell Peter Aitken we would host Garth in fitz stad for a week of concerts. Please retweet and see if Peter or Garth will respond. Lovely tv Niall Botty O'Callaghan (@bottykillarney) June 21, 2020
The independent councillor says the music icon could play in Fitzgerald Stadium, which previously hosted acts such as Elton John, Bryan Adams and Westlife, for as many nights as he wants.
Cllr O'Callaghan says Killarney would treat Garth Brooks much better than Dublin where five planned concerts for Croke Park were cancelled following a row over licensing.
They dont want Garth Brooks in Dublin, wed love to have him in the Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney for a week or two weeks, said Mr OCallaghan.
He can come down and play as much as he wants and he can have an emotional connection with his mom. Wed love to have him.
Previously, Brooks said cancelling the Dublin shows
Read More:
He told a fan at the Country Music Association Fest in 2018: "That [the cancellations] happened probably after the coolest moment in my musical career - selling 400,000 tickets in one city, that's very sweet. To have to refund 400,00 tickets broke my heart."
Not being allowed to play all five, I had to pick two of the five to cancel and I said 'screw that, I'm not going to do that to those people.'
It was either all or none, when it became none, it was like 'come over here and I've been lucky to see the Irish flag at just about every concert that we do and I so thank them for making the miles over here and hope its worth it."
CCP Virus Is Losing Virulence, May Vanish Without Need for Vaccine: Italian Doctor
An Italian infectious disease expert said that the CCP virus is losing its virulence and could disappear on its own without needing a vaccine.
Professor Matteo Bassetti, head of the infectious diseases clinic at the Policlinico San Martino hospital in Italy, said that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, is losing its ability to infect people and the mortality rate is decreasing.
The clinical impression I have is that the virus is changing in severity, Bassetti told The Telegraph, adding that in March and early April, the patterns of virulence were very different from what they are now.
Now, in the past four weeks, the picture has completely changed in terms of patterns. There could be a lower viral load in the respiratory tract, probably due to a genetic mutation in the virus which has not yet been demonstrated scientifically. Also, we are now more aware of the disease and able to manage it, he said.
Bassetti said the virus has undergone mutation and its viral load has decreased. He is of the opinion that the virus may never return and the world may not need a vaccine.
Last week, doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) said that the virus has been losing its severity and people arent getting as sick as they were before.
However other health experts are skeptical about those claims, saying theres not enough evidence to support that.
The spherical particles of the CCP virus, colorized blue, from the first U.S. case of COVID-19 in seen in a 2020 electron microscope image made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (AP-Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP/The Canadian Press)
I dont think we have evidence of this yet, Dr. Heidi Zapata, a Yale Medicine infectious disease doctor and assistant professor, told The Health Line.
The study concluded that most of the mutations were largely neutral and did not affect its lethality. Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician and senior scholar for Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, said the decrease in virulence reflected by the data could be a result of multiple factors, including greater testing.
This means the health care system is testing more people with milder symptoms.
We are getting much better at testing, and we test much quicker now, Adalja said.
Another theory about less severe virulence is that people might be getting infected with a lower amount of virus.
It may be that people are getting infected with a lower amount of virus now because so much social distancing has been put into place, Adalja said.
Some experts are also of the opinion that the weather could also play a role. Health Line reports that the SARS virus mysteriously disappeared after being virulent for seven to eight months. Virologists still dont understand the reason behind it.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Craving some sushi? Greater Cleveland is home to many restaurants offering traditional sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls to enjoy, along with some other inventive takes on the Japanese dish.
Get ready to break out a pair of chopsticks. Here are 24 restaurants where you can get sushi in Greater Cleveland:
Poll finds most Americans support clear standards for police use of force and want officers to report peer misconduct.
Americans overwhelmingly want clear standards on when police officers may use force and the consequences for officers who do so excessively, according to a new poll that finds nearly all Americans in favour of at least some level of change to the nations criminal justice system.
The new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research also finds there is strong support for penalising officers who engage in racially biased policing. Americans are more likely now than five years ago to say police violence against the public is a very serious problem and officers who cause injury or death on the job are treated too leniently.
For me, as a Black person, Im like, this has been happening, said Kevin Richardson, 38, of Charlotte, North Carolina. We shouldve been knowing it, we shouldve been seeing this and so now whats happened is, Ill be honest, white people are seeing it and saying: This is wrong.'
The survey of American adults took place after weeks of mass demonstrations against police violence and calls from some politicians and activists to defund departments in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died in custody after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes.
Americans are largely united behind the idea that action is required: Twenty-nine percent think the criminal justice system needs a complete overhaul, 40 percent say it needs major changes and 25 percent say it needs minor changes. Just 5 percent believe no changes are necessary.
Differing views on reform
Megan Pecknold, 33, of Spokane, Washington, said the protests have forced her to think about these issues in a way she, as a white person, had previously not done.
I had never really given much thought to police use of force. Im white. Ive never had a bad encounter with a police officer, she said. The last few months have brought to light more of this for me, and now I am educating myself.
Nearly six in 10 Black Americans think the criminal justice system needs a complete overhaul, compared with about a quarter of white Americans who said the same. About four in 10 white Americans say significant changes are needed; three in 10 prefer minor changes.
People kneel and raise their fists in the air for eight minutes and 46 seconds the time that George Floyd was pinned under a police officers knee during a march and protest to mark Juneteenth [Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP]
While Democrats are more likely than Republicans to think the system needs an overhaul, 44 percent to 12 percent respectively, Americans across party lines are nearly unanimous in thinking at least some change is necessary. Another 44 percent of Democrats think significant changes are necessary. Among Republicans, 34 percent call for significant changes and 47 percent for minor changes.
The poll finds overwhelming support for changes in how police departments operate: Requiring officers to wear body cameras, establishing clear standards for use of force, prosecuting officers who use excessive force and requiring officers to report misconduct by their peers.
Despite their popularity, body cameras have not always proved to be the fix reformers hoped for. But Kimberly Jones, 52, of New York City, said they are at the top of her list. You need more seeing whats going on as theyre pulling up on people, she said. You need to know from the start so you can stop something bad from happening.
Majorities of Democrats and Republicans alike strongly support establishing clear standards for use of force, requiring officers to wear video cameras and requiring officers to report misconduct by their peers. There is also bipartisan support for prosecuting officers who use excessive force and penalising officers for racially biased policing, though more Democrats than Republicans intensely favour these policies.
Brian Bernard, 54, a Republican and retired IT worker from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said the bystander video of Floyds death was like watching a nine-minute murder. But he said the problem is one of a bad cop, not a bad system. Banning chokeholds or requiring retraining will not make a bad officer better, he said.
Democrats and liberals seem to have a problem of only fixing symptoms, he said. They can never see the actual problem, and the problem is just a bad cop.
A man is tended to after being hit with pepper spray as protesters clash with US Park Police after they attempted to pull down the statue of former President Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square near the White House on June 22 [Tasos Katopodis /Getty Images/AFP]
While chants such as defund the police have become a rallying cry at some protests, the survey found that only 25 percent of Americans favour reducing law enforcement funding. Democrats are somewhat more likely to support than oppose doing so, 41 percent to 33 percent respectively, while Republicans are overwhelmingly opposed.
Bob Haines, a 75-year-old pilot from Oklahoma City who supports US President Donald Trump, said he thinks police officers do an excellent job. Just like in my profession, most of us do a good job, but there are a few bad pilots, Haines said. A couple of incidents have happened, and all of a sudden the skys falling, you know?
Democrats and Republicans divide on whether the justice system should reduce the focus on policing and prosecuting low-level offences, with 63 percent of Democrats and 30 percent of Republicans in favour. Overall, Americans are more likely to be in favour than opposed, 46 percent to 25 percent respectively.
To prevent police violence, most Americans also favour requiring all officers to participate in more extensive racial bias training.
The view over Durhams Main St. from Chopper-11.
FUND at the health department and DEFUND at the police department. pic.twitter.com/Lpon2FUNAP Steve Daniels (@DanielsABC11) June 23, 2020
Majority of Americans think police officers are more likely to use deadly force against a Black person and that Black Americans are generally treated less fairly by police.
Pecknold, who favours moderate changes in the criminal justice system, said those changes should be targeted at chipping away at systemic racist behaviour. I dont think Americans really understand how police are taught these tactics to begin with, she said. Understanding the details more will help us make smarter changes.
A billionaire boy from Queens might be the best shot for Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez to buy the Mets.
Mike Repole, whose company birthed BodyArmor and Vitaminwater, had joined the star-studded duo as a general partner, according to Darren Rovell of of The Action Newtork.
Rodriguez, a retired Yankees slugger, and Lopez, one of the worlds biggest pop stars, are engaged and have been working to buy the team from the Wilpons for a while.
Here are some quick facts about Repole:
Hes been interested in owning at least part of the Mets for years. Heres what he told The New York Times Joe Drape in 2011: It definitely is something that interests me, definitely something that intrigues me, and I want to have a meeting with them. I have no idea what theyre thinking, no idea what their terms are or if SNY is part of the deal. Its way too early to speculate whats going to happen, but Im interested.' At the time, he added that he had looked into buying the Mets before, but informally.
The 51-year-old was born in Middle Village Queens. He went to St. Johns University.
In 1999, Repole co-founded Energy Brands, also known as Glaceau, which crated Smartwater and Vitaminwater. David Wright , the Mets beloved third baseman, has been a spokesman for the company.
He was a chairman for Pirates Booty for years.
He owned Repole Stable, a horse racing operation. One of his best horses, Uncle Mo, was named the American Championion Two-Year-Old in 2010 and it sired Nyquist, which won the Kentucky Derby. Vino Rosso, another of Repoles horses, won the Breeders Cup Classic last year.
Hes married and has a daughter.
About a week ago, the New York Post reported that Lopez and Rodriguez could have a mystery bidder in place to help them.
Via the Post: The Galatioto Sports Partners investment bank is working with two investors who are considering investing up to a combined $250 million with A-Rod and J.Lo for their Mets bid, a source close to the situation said. ... Galatioto Sports is a leading investment bank that represented the 76ers in their 2011 sale to private equity billionaire Josh Harris, who is now bidding for the Mets. ... This interest should help J-Rod arrange backing for their bid, along with whatever money JPMorgan arranges.
Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com.
C-Suite Seeks Enterprise Automation Platform to Enable Self-Service Business Users to Achieve Immediate Benefits
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Delivering new insights into the future of work, today Blue Prism, (AIM: PRSM) announced the findings of its annual global survey in a report titled, "The Impact of a Digital Workforce on Business Agility & Survival". The report, based on research conducted with more than 6,700 knowledge workers and senior IT decision makers globally, reveals that in the UK 86% see robotic process automation (RPA) as solving the global productivity problem, 92% for driving digital transformation, and 83% as essential for business to remain competitive.
C-suite executives globally are also embracing automation with 92% looking to deploy and extend these capabilities throughout their organizations, while 81% indicated RPA and/or automation is critical in scaling technologies such as AI across their business. From creating and enhancing jobs, saving time and costs, accelerating and improving work quality, and making organisations more innovative, those surveyed universally agree that RPA is providing a hugely positive impact on work, business agility and resilience.
"These survey results help validate the sea change we see happening from automation," says Jason Kingdon, Executive Chairman and CEO of Blue Prism. "COVID-19 has put a spotlight on just what a Digital Workforce can do for business continuity, but it is just the beginning. This is about using intelligent automation to empower the non-technical knowledge worker to do more, faster and more efficiently, without having to rely on IT. This goes beyond using desktop macros or screen scraping productivity tools for a quick ROI, intelligent automation is at the center of enabling digital transformations for large scale enterprises."
The New Normal - Post COVID-19
Gauging the impact COVID-19 is having on businesses, Blue Prism also surveyed its own global customer base and found that 94% see a renewed urgency to use RPA as a lifeline for maintaining business continuity and ensuring a higher level of overall responsiveness. 94% of these customers also see Blue Prism's Digital Workforce enabling greater competitiveness while supporting remote collaboration in this "new normal". 100% of respondents are now looking to expand or extend RPA use within their organization, a sign of continued customer momentum and permanence.
Tackling Global Productivity
Across every industry, most knowledge-based work isn't delivering anywhere near its potential, evidenced by diminishing global productivity that's stagnated at one-tenth of what it was 40 years ago for some economies. With the pandemic, organisations face additional challenges from reduced workforces, customer demands and macroeconomic pressures. The survey results reveal a positive link between automation, global productivity, business agility and resilience. In the UK where 510 knowledge workers and 202 senior IT decision makers were surveyed as part of the study, 84% believe too much time is wasted on administration tasks, while it is telling that 88% of those decision makers see Automation as a solution to the global productivity problem, and 95% feel it can help them meet customer demands too.
Future-Proofing Businesses
In the UK, 83% of business decision makers believe that RPA and/or Automation is essential for their businesses to remain competitive. These positive sentiments are a reflection of the major time savings, improved accuracy and cost savings reported by UK business leaders, 94% of which already have plans in place to extend the use of automation across their businesses.
In today's competitive economic environment, UK decision makers also recognise that strategic technology investments like RPA can keep their digital transformation efforts on track. In fact, 92% surveyed identified RPA as an important factor in driving digital transformation - with nearly half indicating that RPA allows them to scale the deployment of other emerging technologies too. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, 76% of UK decision makers reported a struggle to meet customer demand, and 95% felt that automation would help address this challenge.
A Skills Shift Coming
The global survey reveals there's a need for re-skilling and training, with over three quarters surveyed indicating that there are skills which they are constantly sourcing for, such as data analysis and data science. To address this, 69% of UK knowledge workers surveyed indicated their organizations are providing learning opportunities for new skills/qualifications when they introduce technologies that will transform their job.
Automation Anxiety
Fear of automation is diminishing as there's a growing level of trust with more organisations adopting digital colleagues. UK knowledge workers are becoming increasingly comfortable with RPA, just 26% worry about related job losses in the next three years. More than half of knowledge workers are excited at the opportunities that RPA will create, while decision makers feel that adopting new tech will attract talent. Encouragingly, 83% of UK business decision maker believe that their employees would trust working alongside a Digital Workforce and 82% would even trust them to manage employees.
UK Businesses See Growing Preparedness for Automation in the Workforce 2019 2020 Business decision makers who agree their new hires are more prepared to work alongside a Digital Workforce 79% 85% Business decision makers who agree that adopting these technologies is an important factor in attracting and retaining the best talent 68% 83% Business decision makers who believe that their organization has been positively impacted by automation 70% 84% Knowledge workers with fears about job loss related to RPA 32% 26%
All these results highlight RPA being used as a platform and not merely a productivity tool, giving customers access to end-to-end Intelligent Automation solutions that cover all IT environments - on-premises, cloud, hybrid and SaaS. Blue Prism continues to push flexibility and choice for customers through innovations like Blue Prism Digital Exchange 2.0, Decipher IDP, v6.8 and Blue Prism Cloud making a Digital Workforce for Every Enterprise a reality.
Read the full results of the survey here
About the Report
The research was conducted by independent research firm Sapio on behalf of Blue Prism. 1,725 global business decision makers (those with a final say over budget spend of technology implementations) were surveyed in the UK (202), US (402), Japan (106), India (101) Australia (106), Germany (101), Singapore (100), France (100), Sweden (103), United Arab Emirates (103), Russia (100), China (100) and South Africa (101). A further 5,063 knowledge workers (workers whose main capital is knowledge, whose job is to "think for a living" and who have access to technology as part of their day-to-day jobs) were surveyed in the UK (510), US (1023), Japan (250), India (503) Australia (250), Germany (253), Singapore (255), France (251), Sweden (250), United Arab Emirates (250), Russia (507), China (599) and South Africa (250). All respondents worked in organizations with 250+ employees. In addition, the respondents worked in companies in which automation had already been adopted. All interviews were conducted online by Sapio Research during March 2020.
About Blue Prism
Blue Prism's vision is to provide a Digital Workforce for Every Enterprise. The company's purpose is to unleash the collaborative potential of humans, operating in harmony with a Digital Workforce, so every enterprise can exceed their business goals and drive meaningful growth, with unmatched speed and agility.
Fortune 500 and public-sector organizations, among customers across 70 commercial sectors, trust Blue Prism's enterprise-grade connected-RPA platform, which has users in more than 170 countries. By strategically applying intelligent automation, these organizations are creating new opportunities and services, while unlocking massive efficiencies that return millions of hours of work back into their business.
Available on-premises, in the cloud, hybrid, or as an integrated SaaS solution, Blue Prism's Digital Workforce automates ever more complex, end-to-end processes that drive a true digital transformation, collaboratively, at scale and across the entire enterprise.
Visit www.blueprism.com to learn more or follow Blue Prism on Twitter @blue_prism and on LinkedIn .
2020 Blue Prism Limited. "Blue Prism", "Thoughtonomy", the "Blue Prism" logo and Prism device are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Blue Prism Limited and its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
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Rare Earth Elements Project Receives Federal Funding
The potential development of a new industry to extract rare earth elements from the ash of Wyomings Powder River Basin coal has taken a step forward with a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
The grant is part of DOEs Technology Commercialization Fund, which was created to promote DOE national laboratories promising energy technology and expand the agencys efforts to foster commercial impacts developed from DOE research. The project will facilitate the expansion of technologies and methods for rare earth element extraction from coal ash that have been developed by researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
The $1.62 million, three-year project involves NETL, the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER), Campbell County, the city of Gillette and Energy Capital Economic Development. The project will create a pilot-scale production facility at the Advanced Carbon Products Innovation Center, now under development in Gillette, to demonstrate the economically viable production of rare earth elements from coal-related feedstocks.
This will help us understand the commercial potential of rare earth element extraction from Wyoming coal and coal ash, says Scott Quillinan, director of SERs Center for Economic Geology Research (CEGR). It also demonstrates the commitment and partnership that UW SER and CEGR have with Wyoming communities.
We are very excited that the Department of Energy has awarded the rare earth elements project this grant. Gillette and Campbell County have always benefited from the power of partnerships, and this project is another shining example, Gillette Mayor Louise Carter-King says. We always knew this was the perfect site, and it is gratifying to know that others recognize the potential of the Powder River Basin to assist our nation.
Rare earth elements are a series of chemical elements found in Earths crust. Due to their unique chemical properties, they have become essential components of many technologies spanning a range of applications including electronics, computer and communication systems, transportation, health care and national defense. The demand and cost of rare earth elements have grown significantly over recent years, stimulating an emphasis on economically feasible approaches for their recovery.
The potential to recover rare earth elements from coal is significant for Wyoming, the nations No. 1 coal producer. Studies have shown that Powder River Basin coal ash has high extractable rare earth element content compared to other coal ash, likely due to the calcium content in the coal. CEGR has conducted several studies characterizing the geochemical data of coal ash and examining how composition relates to the composition of the coal combusted in power plants. This work has led to identification of specific coal ash stocks available in high volumes -- 270 to 690 tons per day for a single power station -- that exhibit elevated rare earth elements content along with other critical materials of interest to DOE.
This project is based on many years of work to characterize the concentration of rare earth elements in Wyoming coal ash, says Davin Bagdonas, UW principal investigator on the project and CEGR research scientist.
The new DOE-funded project aims to identify the most promising feedstocks in the Powder River Basin for the extraction of rare earth elements and critical metals; perform extraction experiments to demonstrate the efficacy of extracting those elements and metals in an economic manner; and lift NETL extraction technologies to a pilot scale for deployment in Campbell County. The demonstration facility will be constructed and operated during the third year of the project.
We are delighted to have NETL and UW as partners in building and diversifying Wyomings and Campbell Countys economy, Campbell County Commissioner Rusty Bell says. This project will help strengthen our nations ability to supply our own rare earth elements, and Campbell County is proud to be a part of this project.
In addition to the $810,568 from the DOEs Technology Commercialization Fund, cost-share contributions are being made by SER, $375,568; Campbell County, $187,500; the city of Gillette, $187,500; and Energy Capital Economic Development, $60,000.
Recognizing that domestic sources of rare earths could ultimately be an economic development opportunity for Wyoming and also provide national security benefits, I couldnt be more excited about this project, SER Executive Director Holly Krutka says. A special thanks goes to the CEGR team, Campbell County, the city of Gillette, Energy Capital Economic Development and NETL for putting forth this successful proposal.
This project is an important step forward in diversifying and expanding Wyomings economy through value-added coal projects, says Phil Christopherson, CEO of Energy Capital Economic Development. We are very proud to host the NETL rare earth elements project at our Advanced Carbon Products Innovation Center.
Funding for this project was among $33 million announced recently for 82 projects supported by the DOEs Technology Commercialization Fund. The private sector is contributing over $36 million in matching funds. These projects will advance the commercialization of promising energy technologies and strengthen partnerships between DOEs national laboratories and private-sector companies to deploy these technologies to the marketplace.
The Technology Commercialization Fund, created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, promotes promising energy technologies by supporting entrepreneurs efforts to engage with the DOE national laboratory complex. DOE received over 220 applications for 2020 funding, with project teams engaging more than 130 different partners across multiple diverse disciplines.
[June 23, 2020] NewRez Partners With Multiplying Good To Expand Corporate Charitable Initiatives
NewRez LLC ("NewRez" or the "Company"), a national mortgage lender and servicing organization, is proud to announce a partnership with Multiplying Good, a long-standing national nonprofit dedicated to empowering, supporting and celebrating public service. NewRez and Multiplying Good have teamed up to support NewRez humanitarian initiatives across the country, enhancing its charitable mission of investing in the health, vibrancy and sustainability of communities through contribution, outreach, and participation. While public service and employee action have been long-standing components of NewRez's culture, the Company has more recently taken steps to formalize its commitment to charitable work. Launched in January 2020, the charitable initiative program known as NewRez NOW (Neighborhood Outreach Works), consolidated and redefined initiatives for both individual employees and employee groups to organize volunteer efforts. "NewRez is committed to giving back and we believe that now is as important as ever for our Company and our employees to have the resources they need to support causes they hold close to their hearts," said Kevin Harrigan, NewRez President and Chief Executive Officer Originations Division. "Community Investment is a defined pillar of the NewRez brand and we look forward to working with Multiplying Good to grow our community-focused goals." In partnership with Multiplying Good, NewRez will continue to expand its public service efforts and impact. "Since launching NewRez NOW, we have continued to see robust community engagement and volunteer activity from our employees," said Liz Monahan, NewRez Chief Human Resources Officer. "NewRez employees have supported a variety of causes, including food banks, Special Olympics, mental ealth programs, youth organizations, and more. We are thrilled to be collaborating with Multiplying Good and we take great pride in being able to create opportunities for our employees to give back to the communities in which we live and work. Multiplying Good provides us a means to grow and recognize the charitable initiatives and actions of our employees, both within our company and externally."
Multiplying Good also delivers an employee recognition platform, celebrating employees who have and continue to make positive contributions to their communities and inspiring them to grow their impact. Throughout the year, employees are able to nominate colleagues for their service achievements. The employee recognition program is founded on the concept of organizations connecting community engagement initiatives to corporate and employee values, and the resulting creation of positive relationships, teamwork and inclusive cultures. About NewRez LLC
NewRez LLC (NewRez) is a leading nationwide mortgage lender and servicer. As a lender, NewRez focuses on offering a breadth of industry-leading products, supported by a loan process that blends both human interaction and the benefits of technology into an unparalleled customer experience. Founded in 2008 and licensed to lend in 49 states, NewRez is headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania and operates multiple lending channels, including Correspondent Lending, Wholesale, Direct-to-Consumer, Retail, and a network of joint venture partners. The servicing business operates through NewRez's servicing division, which consists of its performing loan servicing division, NewRez Servicing, and its special servicing division, Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing. NewRez also has several affiliates that perform various services in the mortgage and real estate industries. These include Avenue 365 Lender Services, LLC, a title agency, and E Street Appraisal Management LLC, an appraisal management company. NewRez is member of the New Residential Investment Corp. family. More information is available at www.newrez.com. About Multiplying Good Multiplying Good is a national nonprofit that channels the power of public service to unleash potential in individuals. For nearly 50 years, they have honored those who build better communities, trained young leaders, and activated individuals and organizations to multiply the impact they can deliver. Through a continuum that starts with engagement and culminates in recognition, they fuel personal growth and multiply the power of service to others. Through recognition, they inspire individuals and those who hear their stories to deliver greater positive change. You can learn more about the organization by visiting MultiplyingGood.org or engaging with their online communities via Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (News - Alert). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005658/en/
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Further Outstanding Drill Results
Perth, June 23, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Wiluna Mining Corporation Limited ( ASX:WMX ) ( FRA:NZ3 ) ( OTCMKTS:BKHRF ) is pleased to report more exceptional high-grade results from resource development and infill drilling at the Wiluna Mining Centre. This will enable the Company to complete detailed Mineral Resources and Reserves estimates as part of the Stage 1 sulphides expansion project. At this stage, the Company intends to provide its update to its Mineral Resource estimation in September 2020 and Reserves in December 2020.The Company is well progressed in its initial 45,000-metre drilling program at the Wiluna Mining Operation with the primary focus on drilling the sulphide ore bodies in support of the proposed mine development sequence at the Wiluna Mining Centre with the intention to achieve the following;1. Significantly increase the confidence in the sulphide resources from inferred to indicated category which will in turn underpin the Stage 1 Reserve estimation.2. Add valuable tonnes and ounces to the Company's overall Mineral Resources; and3. Find new, high grade shoots that will enhance the ounces per vertical metre and, more importantly, increase the grade. This will help consolidate Stage 1 and enhance the transition into Stage 2 which has the plan to increase production to +200kozpa of gold dore and gold in concentrate over a long mine life.These latest results relate mainly to the Essex deposit (see Figure 1*). Essex is the second target in the sulphides to be drilled along with Bulletin with excellent results received from both these programs. The drilling is now taking place concurrently at third and fourth targets Calvert and East West. We expect results here in the next month. This will round out the first stage of the sulphide drilling by the end of June 2020.Along with the high-grade results released on 26 May 2020 for the Bulletin program, these results are extremely encouraging to support the Company's plans to commence underground mining of sulphide ore to achieve its 750,000 tonnes of ore per annum for the Stage 1 processing sulphide expansion which is expected to produce between 110-120kozpa in gold dore and gold in concentrate from September 2021.In the preliminary Stage 1 mining plan the average head grade of the underground ore at the Wiluna Mining Centre is 4.7 g/t. These drilling results give the Company great confidence that we may be able to increase the actual grade mined. The grade mined at Bulletin and the old Wiluna mine were > than 8 g/t.The Company intends to upgrade the current Mineral Resource at the end of September 2020 and is targeting to upgrade the Ore Reserve in December 2020.Following the successful commissioning of Stage 1 sulphides, the Company intends to, at a minimum, double the size of its concentrator and produce +200kozpa of gold and gold in concentrate.Enhanced resources and reserves underpin the Company's 24-month, five-point strategy which is to:1. Strengthen the balance sheet;2. Increase operational cash flow;3. Transition to include gold concentrate production;4. Expand production; and5. Undertake exploration and feasibility studies to fully develop a more than 200kozpa, long life gold operation.Stage 1 Sulphide Resource DevelopmentWiluna Mining's initial drilling at Essex and Bulletin zones is designed to methodically increase the geological confidence in sulphide resources that underpin Stage 1 production. Essex and Bulletin are located close to surface and close to existing infrastructure, which allows for rapid and low-cost development.The current mine plan includes 28% of inferred mineralisation in the first two years when mining is focussed at Essex and Bulletin, and 43% inferred in years three to four when mining extends to Calvert and East Lode. Consequently, the Company is undertaking aggressive infill and extensional drilling with a view to updating resources and reserves in the September and December quarters respectively.These latest results are expected to improve the grade and geological confidence of current resources and reserves at Essex, where the mining inventory is currently 38koz @ 4.6g/t.Latest results include:WURC0856:8m @ 5.31g/t from 168m, incl. 2m @ 18.12g/t8m @ 15.20g/t from 248m, incl. 5m @ 23.00g/t5m @ 3.95g/t from 287m, incl. 3m @ 6.26 g/tWURC0861:4m @ 24.46g/t from 159m, incl. 1m @ 94.5g/t6m @ 16.78g/t from 174m5m @ 3.13g/t from 199m, incl. 2m @ 21.30g/t11m @ 10.51g/t from 220mWURC0862:14m @ 9.52 g/t from 162m, incl. 1 m @ 10.50g/t4m@ 6.75 g/t from 230m, incl. 2m@11.41g/tWURC0864:3m@ 8.49g/t from 226m5m@ 4.06g/t from 246mAt Essex, drilling to convert the existing inferred resource to the indicated category has defined a new high-grade zone and discovered a high-grade parallel lode (Figures 3 & 4*). Further drilling is planned to the south to follow up these results, while mineralisation is now largely closed off to the north.Previous operators installed underground development to the base of the ore body, which requires minimal dewatering and rehabilitation to gain access to ore. The existing access also provides a platform for planned drilling from underground to drill out the newly defined high-grade zones.The Bulletin zone, with past production of 900koz @ 8g/t, is located close to surface with existing decline access and minimal mine development required to access ore. Infill drilling has targeted inferred resources along strike to the north and south of previous mine workings (Figure 5*).Latest drilling from the first target area located north of the main historical workings has returned significant results, including:BULP0014: 7.4m @ 15.82g/t from 40.56mBULP0015: 4.1m @ 4.88g/t from 44.15mThese latest results are expected to improve the grade and geological confidence of current resources and reserves at Bulletin, where the mining inventory is currently 67koz @ 4.2g/t, including approximately one quarter in the inferred resource category. Further infill drilling is planned from underground at further inferred resource targets (Figure 5*), with a view to updating resources and reserves in the September quarter.Drilling is now focussed on the Calvert and East Lode zones (Figure 1*), which are important ore sources in the first four years of the Stage 1 sulphides mine plan. Further drilling results will be reported in due course ahead of updated resource and reserve estimates to be published for the Wiluna Gold Project in the September and December quarters respectively.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd
Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMC) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential.
Gettysburg Bike Week may be cancelled, but bikers still plan to gather in Gettysburg July 9 through 12th.
Gettysburg Bike Week organizers announced on June 1 that the 2020 version of the 19-year-old event would be cancelled due to state and local coronavirus restrictions. But many motorcyclists wanted to still gather, support local businesses and ride amidst the Civil War battlefields.
Shaun Wood is one of those bikers, and, along with a small crew, helped put together a makeshift gathering that isnt affiliated with the original bike week at all. The gathering amounts to a series of loosely organized Facebook events under the Battlefield Bike Rally moniker. Among the events are the Battlefield Harley-Davidson Anniversary Bash on July 9, a bike rally on the same day and concerts on July 10 and 11 at various venues in Gettysburg. Theres also a motorcycle swap meet titled Thunder on the Strip that will happen throughout the weekend at a secret location -- youll have to text remind to 57838 to get the location.
The Battlefield Bike Rally aims to support the small businesses of Gettysburg and, in Woods words, take back our freedom from our tyrant governor.
But the main goal really is to help the local economy. This is all about small businesses for me, Wood said. Hes already posted on Facebook a list of restaurants and bars he recommends supporting during the weekend.
Were just getting together with a bunch of bikers and supporting the community, he said.
Wood said that the Battlefield Bike Rally events will follow CDC guidelines, and the bikers will be working to ensure that restrictions, like 250 person gathering limits, are followed at indoor venues.
You can learn more about what the bikers have planned by checking out the Facebook group page.
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India-Nepal border apprehensions have triggered reactions from across the world and recently, Bollywood actor Manisha Koirala expressed her thoughts over the border situation between the two countries on Twitter and stated that she was mulling over the relations between two 'sovereign' nations. However, the actor soon found herself at the receiving end of criticisms, as netizens slammed the actor for lecturing about sovereignty. Take a look at how fans reacted:
Also Read | Manisha Koirala Mourns Death Of 'dear Friend' Irrfan Khan, Says 'You Are Irreplaceable'
Manisha's Tweet
Territorial sovereignty + political sovereignty + economical sovereignty = sovereign state !! Lets mull over this !! Gm Manisha Koirala (@mkoirala) June 22, 2020
Also Read | Swaraj Kaushal Questions Manisha Koirala On Nepal Map Stance; 'How Do You Bring In China?'
Fans are enraged:
Nepal very soon will be China's Colony...Chinese Language are made mandatory to teach in schools...Nepal's current government will drag Nepal to Dark Ages.. Jerico Nomad (@DevdasJerico) June 22, 2020
When Nepali police fired shots on Madheshis what was your reaction? Ek (@EkBiharee) June 22, 2020
Thats not right.We are indipenden. ganesh poudyel (@ganeshdai01) June 22, 2020
Territorial sovereignty control by china + political sovereignty fully control by China + economic sovereignty more than 60 dependent on india = Unreliable country or confused country. Kaushal Jha (@Kaushal48362501) June 22, 2020
we all are into it. but it is necessary for our koirala leaders to understand as well. may be you can put some sence in them. walking on B.P baa's path for nepali congress is very important.. good morning Megh Raj Koirala (@KoiralaMegh) June 22, 2020
Also Read | Ajay Devgn's Movies With Manisha Koirala That You Must Check Out
Manisha Koirala strikes back!
Reacting to the criticisms with a befitting reply, Manisha Koirala asked fans not to be 'aggressive and disrespectful' towards each other. Adding to the same, Manisha Koirala remarked that all are in this situation together and the respective Governments will resolve the issue. Adding to the same, Koirala asked fans to remain 'civil' and 'hopeful' in the meantime. Take a look at the tweet:
A heartfelt request please lets not be aggressive and disrespectful..we are in this situation together..our respective Govs will resolve the issue. In the meantime we can be civil I remain hopeful Manisha Koirala (@mkoirala) June 22, 2020
India-Nepal tensions
Last week, Nepals Parliament authorities cleared the countrys new map, which includes Indian territories of Limpiadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani. Moreover, Nepal once again contested an international border issue with India and laid claim over the Indian territory of Bihar. Reportedly, the Nepalese authorities have now stopped Indian officials from conducting embarkment-related work along the border area. The incident occurred on June 15 on the banks of the Lal Bakey River in Bihar's East Champaran district, 45 kilometres away from the Motihari town. As the work was proceeding, Nepalese authorities reportedly interfered and prevented the fortification of the embankment.
Also Read | Manisha Koirala Mourns Death Of 'dear Friend' Irrfan Khan, Says 'You Are Irreplaceable'
We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Gildan Activewear Inc. (TSE:GIL).
What Is Insider Selling?
It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.
We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'.
See our latest analysis for Gildan Activewear
The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Gildan Activewear
Independent Director Russell Goodman made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for CA$87k worth of shares at a price of CA$35.00 each. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of CA$21.14. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels.
In the last twelve months Gildan Activewear insiders were buying shares, but not selling. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!
TSX:GIL Recent Insider Trading June 23rd 2020
There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.
Story continues
Insider Ownership of Gildan Activewear
Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It appears that Gildan Activewear insiders own 1.8% of the company, worth about CA$76m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.
So What Does This Data Suggest About Gildan Activewear Insiders?
The fact that there have been no Gildan Activewear insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Gildan Activewear insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for Gildan Activewear (1 shouldn't be ignored) you should be aware of.
Of course Gildan Activewear may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.
For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
The Andhra Pradesh police on Tuesday arrested two Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists for allegedly posting objectionable comments against the ruling YSR Congress Party leaders and the state government led by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on social media.
In the early hours of this morning, a team from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) came knocking at the residence of Nalanda Kishore, 70, in Visakhapatnam and whisked him away.
He requested the police to allow him to come to the CID office later in the day, as he was not feeling well. But the police did not listen to him and took him to the CID regional office headquarters in the town for interrogation, one of his family members told the reporters.
Kishore, who happens to be a follower of former minister and TDP lawmaker from Viskahapatnam (North) Srinivasa Rao Ganta, was charged for posting some objectionable comments against YSRC parliamentary party leader V Vijay Sai Reddy and state tourism minister Muthamsetty Srinivasa Rao on social media.
Getting to know about the arrest, Ganta rushed to the CID office, but he was not allowed to enter the premises.
What major crime has Kishore committed to have been arrested at such odd-hours? Has he resorted to any robbery or leakage of defence secrets or any other anti-national activity? He has just shared a few messages that he had received on social media. This is not good for democracy, he said.
In a similar incident, the CID arrested Chirumamilla Krishna, 35 of Nandigama in Krishna district on the same charges of posting objectionable comments against the Jagan government. Both the accused would be produced in the court in Mangalagiri after questioning.
TDP president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu strongly condemned the arrest of the TDP activists for questioning the policies of the Jagan government. He pointed out that the posts made by Kishore and Krishna had no personal attacks against anyone in the government or the ruling party.
In the last few days, the YSRCP leaders have circulated several posts on social media, running down the women leaders of the TDP, including MLA Adireddy Bhavani and spokesperson Panchumarthi Anuradha. Why havent the CID taken any action against them? the TDP chief questioned.
Last month, too, the CID arrested P Ranganayaki, a 60-year-old woman, for allegedly posting a comment against the Jagan government in connection with leakage of toxic Styrene gas from the LG Polymers plant at Visakhapatnam. She was released on bail. Similarly, the police served notice on another TDP activist Anusha Undavalli for passing comments of the YSRCP.
Last week, the Jagan government served legal notices on Chandrababu Naidu and two Telugu dailies, Eenadu and Andhra Jyothi, for publishing his statements alleging irregularities in restoration of mining leases to Saraswati Power in Dachepalli in Guntur district and in granting contract to a company for production of bags for door-to-door supply of rice to the consumers.
The government threatened to launch criminal prosecution against them, if they dont tender a public apology to the government.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an illness that has spread across the globe, infecting more than 9 million people. The novel coronavirus invades cells through "spike proteins," which sticks and binds itself to a host cell.
Now, a team of researchers at Lehigh University, Seoul National University, and the University of Cambridge have managed to map out every single atom in the spike proteins, including performing simulations on NURION, the largest supercomputer in South Korea at KRISTI (Korean Institute of Science and Technology Information).
The team believes that mapping every single atom in the spike protein is essential to better understand its role in viral entry into cells, which makes it the primary target for developing a vaccine or an antiviral drug against COVID-19.
A model of an S-protein. Illustration: Dr. Yeolkyo Choi/Lehigh
What are spike proteins?
The S protein is a highly glycosylated type I transmembrane fusion protein made up of about 1,160 to 1,400 amino acids, depending on the type of the virus. The presence of S proteins on coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus), and the MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus), is what generates the spike-shaped protrusions found on their surface.
The "spike protein or S protein" is the major surface protein the virus uses to bind to a receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is another protein that acts as a doorway into a human cell. Many therapies and vaccines were being based on preventing the attachment and fusion of these two receptors.
First open-source all-atom models of S protein
The scientists produced the first open-source all-atom models of a full-length spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 that facilitates entry into host cells.
A professor in Lehigh's Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering Department, Wonpil Im, developed the CHARMM-GUI.
First described in the Journal of Physical Chemistry B., CHARMM-GUI is a program that simulates complex biomolecular systems accurately and quickly. It is termed as a computational microscope that helps shed light on the molecular-level interactions that cannot be observed or studied in any other way.
The model-building program is open access and can be found on the website page of CHARMM-GUI. In the same source, the scientists shared a video illustrating how to build the membrane system from their SARS-CoV-2 S protein models.
"Our models are the first fully-glycosylated full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein models that are available to other scientists. I was fortunate to collaborate with Dr. Chaok Seok from Seoul National University in Korea and Dr. Tristan Croll from the University of Cambridge in the U.K. Our team spent days and nights to build these models very carefully from the known cryo-EM structure portions. Modeling was very challenging because there were many regions where simple modeling failed to provide high-quality models," Wonpil Im explained.
To arrive at their findings, the researchers first modeled the missing amino acid residues and other missing domains. Further, they modeled all glycans that are attached to the spike protein, which are molecules that can prevent antibody recognition.
New therapies and vaccine
Gaining more understanding about the coronavirus and its structure can help scientists find an effective vaccine or drug to combat the spreading infection. The researchers suggest that the data gathered on the spike protein's atoms can be used to develop therapies that specifically target the coronavirus on the atomic level, making them more effective.
Finding an effective vaccine and drug for the coronavirus is crucial amid the pandemic, which has spread across 188 countries and territories. So far, the virus has caused more than 472,000 deaths.
The United States and Brazil report the highest number of confirmed cases, with more than 2.32 million and 1.10 million cases, respectively. The United States has the highest death toll of at least 120,000 deaths, while Brazil reports more than 51,000 deaths.
Many countries have already lifted lockdown measures, slowly returning to normal despite the growing number of cases. The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on economies worldwide, prompting governments to open businesses slowly. With more people outside their homes, the virus may spread rapidly, causing more infections. Finding a vaccine and drug to treat the infection is crucial to prevent more deaths.
Lehigh Bioengineer Wonpil Im Play
A former San Antonio police officer lost his second bid to get his job back after a third-party arbitrator called his actions "blatantly offensive, revolting, disgusting and demeaning," according to the judgement.
Former SAPD officer Matthew Luckhurst who was also fired for attempting to feed a homeless man a sandwich made of dog feces was denied his appeal to be rehired after what he called a "prank that went too far," when he defecated and spread a brown substance on the toilet of the female restroom in the Bike Patrol Office in 2016.
Nearly four years later, an independent arbitrator voted to uphold the termination for violating the department's harassment, discrimination and sexual conduct in the workplace policies.
The judgement said Luckhurst admitted to purposely defecating in the female restroom because the men's room "smelled bad." His decision not to flush was because a female officer had posted a note asking the restroom be left clean, according to the report.
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Luckhurst also said that there were posters of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Ryan Gosling on the walls inside the bathroom and thought they were "making fun of 'us' meaning the males by saying they weren't as muscular or good looking as the actors," the report said.
After leaving the bathroom initially, the former officer then went to the kitchen, grabbed a boba tea smoothie and poured it onto the toilet to look like feces. He also took pictures of the toilet and bragged about it to other officers, the report said.
Luckhurst was suspended indefinitely after the "prank" was discovered by a female officer.
READ ALSO: Fired SAPD officer accused of feces sandwich prank says he 'never humiliated a homeless person'
"I reject the argument that the appellant's actions were a prank or horseplay rather than what they really were," said arbitrator Thomas Cippola. "... it was also based upon the sex of the targets women police officers and it certainly cannot be said to be otherwise as the appellant apparently has never contemplated or attempted to do something like this in the men's locker room."
A second officer was involved in the incident, said to have defecated in the toilet before Luckhurst, but only received a 30-day suspension as he seemed remorseful and had flushed the toilet before Luckhurst used the facilities.
Under the police union contract, Luckhurst can still appeal the decision once more to a state district judge.
Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
Smartphone owners in Ontario likely didnt know it, but the bones of the upcoming COVID Alert app have already been quietly downloaded onto their phones.
Built on the digital infrastructure of Google and Apple operating systems, the app is set to go live in July and is completely voluntary. But deep in the settings of phones that use an Apple or Google phone, users will find something called COVID-19 exposure notifications.
At the moment, the programs features are inactive, but Niagaras acting medical officer of health, Dr. Mustafa Hirji, said the software companies have downloaded parts of app into smartphones in preparation for its release. At the moment, all its features are turned off.
Premier Doug Ford wants as many people as possible to download the app next month. His government claims it will help identify new COVID-19 cases faster by improving contact tracing. However, Hirji said the app will actually be of little use to public health officials hunting down new novel coronavirus exposures.
Right now, when someone tests positive for COVID-19, public health officers launch an investigation to find anyone who may have been in contact with the infected person while they were likely contagious. Those people are placed in isolation and tested.
COVID-19 Alert will inform a user if someone else that person must also have the app and be somewhere nearby tested positive for COVID-19.
Phones with the app will communicate via Bluetooth signals, effectively registering the users as contacts for 14 days. If one of those people later tests positive for COVID-19, and voluntarily inputs the result into the app, the person they were near will receive an alert and tell them to contact public health.
COVID Alert will not tell a user who the infected person is, where or even when they came close enough for the phones to share information via Bluetooth.
Hirji said because the app doesnt tell public health who tested positive, it cannot start a contact tracing investigation.
Nor can public health find out who the infected user is. The app doesnt collect personal information and automatically destroys data it does have after 14 days. While this will protect user privacy, it effectively limits the usefulness of the app for public health authorities.
Some countries have used apps as a contact tracing tool, most notably South Korea and Singapore. But those apps had no privacy protections and recorded all information about the phones user and where they have been, and transmitted that data to the government.
Hirji said Norway had an app similar to the one to be rolled out in Ontario, but it was ultimately abandoned because it was useless.
You have to keep in mind that there is no scientific research done that shows these apps are actually useful and will speed up contact tracing, Hirji said.
A similar app was recently launched in Alberta. To date, only 11 per cent of Alberta residents have downloaded it.
Hirji said COVID Alert could be somewhat useful if it contained a code public health could use to identify an infected person.
However, public health authorities are already notified of any positive COVID-19 test results and are mandated to reach out to an infected persons contacts within 24 hours.
It is also not clear how effective it would be in a region like Niagara, which presently has a low daily case count.
On Tuesday, there were two new confirmed cases of COVID-19, one linked to a previous case and one with an unknown source.
That brings the historical total of COVID-19 cases to 743 since March 13. There are presently 23 active cases in Niagara, with two people being treated at St. Catharines hospital. At least 61 Niagara residents with the virus have died.
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(Newser) Police in San Jose are searching for a woman accused of deliberately coughing in a baby's face after arguing with the 1-year-old's mother about social distancing. Police spokesman Enrique Garcia says the suspect, a white woman in her 60s, removed her face mask, got close to the baby's face, and coughed two or three times before leaving the Yogurtland store on June 12, the San Jose Mercury News reports. "The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect was upset the female was not maintaining proper social distancing," Garcia says, per ABC.
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The incident is being investigated by the San Jose Police Department's assaults unit. "It happened so quick I was in shock. She got close, she took off her mask, and she coughed three times super hard on my son's face," the mother tells KGO. "I believe this woman may be racist because the family in front of her is white," she says. "Me and my grandma are Hispanic and she started telling me about my distance and harassing me and my son once I started speaking Spanish to my grandma." She says her son, who was in a stroller during the incident, had a slight fever afterward but he is now doing OKand she hopes he hasn't been infected with the coronavirus. (Read more California stories.)
When looking to select stocks, the more adventurous amongst us scout for growth stocks because were willing to invest today for a delayed payback. Others want to invest in names that are established, stable and generating regular income.
The current scenario has however upset our usual patterns with everyone looking for a certain amount of safety, even at the cost of earning less. The lowered risk appetite or increased caution if you will makes this a perfect time to invest in stocks that continue to show positive growth trends for 2020 while also providing some income.
If youre one of those people looking for the best of both worlds, you should definitely take a look at these-
Scorpio Tankers Inc. STNG
Monaco-based Scorpio Tankers provides marine transportation of petroleum products and crude oil for integrated oil companies, oil traders and other customers.
Recent strength in its numbers are indicative of a market where vessel supply is squeezed by maintenance dry docking, availability of modern vessels, voyage length and unprecedented demand as countries stocked cheap oil both onshore and on water. This is supporting strong spot and contract pricing, even as the consumption of stored oil levels out demand in the face of recovering oil prices.
Zacks Rank #1
Industry: Transportation Shipping Top 38% (96 out of 252 Zacks classified industries)
Last EPS surprise 64.0%
Current Year expected growth 731.6%
Dividend Yield 2.7%
Nexstar Media Group, Inc NXST
Nexstar, along with affiliates NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX and UPN, offers sales and other services to television stations in the states across Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and New York.
Despite a negative impact from the coronavirus, the companys strong position in the domestic market and accelerated political spending related to primary elections through July, as well as the November presidential federal and state-wide elections makes this stock attractive.
Story continues
Zacks Rank #2
Industry: Broadcast Radio and Television Top 29% (72 out of 252)
Last EPS surprise 28.4%
Current Year expected growth 216.4%
Dividend Yield 2.6%
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. AEM
Toronto, Canada-based Agnico Eagle Mines has gold and other mining operations in Canada, Mexico and Finland in addition to exploration operations in Canada, Europe, Latin America and the U.S. Its LaRonde mine in Quebec is one of Canadas largest operating gold mines by gold reserves and has provided the foundation for its domestic and international expansion.
In uncertain market conditions, the certainty of gold tends to move prices up, as investors shift money into the yellow metal. This is positive from an industry perspective. Management also said that gold mining operations are likely to be able to recover from the COVID-related slowdown better than others, although the company continues to operate below capacity at most operations. Its exploration activity is also going well. Cash flows are likely to remain stable.
Zacks Rank #2
Industry: Mining - Gold Top 9% (22 out of 252)
Last EPS surprise 27.8%
Current Year expected growth 53.9%
Dividend Yield 1.4%
Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. REYN
Reynolds Consumer Products, known for its Wrap(R) aluminum foil, Hefty(R) bags, and Hefty(R) party cups is a consumer branded and private label products company. Its product range includes cooking products, waste & storage products, and tableware.
Since these products are in the essential category as far as the pandemic is concerned, there was no resultant slowdown. On the other hand, with more people working from home, cooking at home and in general, staying home more often, the company actually saw an increase in demand. And in keeping with the work from home trend, some of this increase in demand will stay.
Zacks Rank #2
Industry: Consumer Products - Discretionary Top 33% (83 out of 252)
Last EPS surprise 20.00%
Current Year expected growth 29.66%
Dividend Yield 1.76%
Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020
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Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has assured Agboola Ajayi, deputy governor of Ondo state, of a...
Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has assured Agboola Ajayi, deputy governor of Ondo state, of a level-playing field during the governorship primary in the state.
He said this while welcoming Ajayi, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to PDP over the weekend.
At the event which took place at the partys secretariat in Akure, the state capital, on Monday, Secondus said Ajayis defection would be a boost for the party in the October 10 governorship election.
He said his visit to the state was not to endorse any particular aspirant, but to show support for all the aspirants.
He also called on the inspector-general of police to investigate the incident at the weekend in which Ajayi was alegedly prevented from moving out of the government house.
What has happened in Ondo State is an eye-opener to all. Security agents should do their job, he said.
We are going to organise, transparent and free primary in the state. People that cannot be bribed will come and do the primary process in the state.
I assure you of equal right to vote and be voted for. Our coming is not an endorsement of any particular candidate.
Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti, who was also present at the secretariat, expressed confidence that the PDP would win the forthcoming governorship election.
In his remarks, Ajayi said he was aware of the partys rules which he promised to adhere to.
Our exit from the APC will give PDP victory in Ondo State, Ajayi said.
I have contested more than four times on the platform of PDP. We have come back to add value to the party.
Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods and What the Vietnam War Did to My Father
Connecting the New Netflix Film With My Dads War Experiences
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Watching something can sometimes connect you with your past. Such was the case for me and a film depicting the lives of veterans who carry out a mission long after the war.
In the Netflix original movie, Da 5 Bloods (streaming now), five soldiers who served together in the Vietnam War, reunite over 40 years later to keep a promise. Buried in Vietnam soil is a treasure they hope to recover one day and a fallen comrade they want to bring home. Even though decades have passed, they quickly discover, there are parts of them that never left during the journey. Da 5 Bloods deals with the pain, memories and lasting friendships that form in the hellscape that is combat. This movie made me reflect on the reunion between my father and his last surviving war buddy who came to visit.
RELATED: Films That Accurately Portray the Black Experience
Getting my father to talk about Vietnam was impossible. I was as curious to learn, as he was determined to keep that part of him secret. So, when David (played by the brilliant John Majors) showed up halfway around the world to check on his dad in the Spike Lee film, I felt that, in my soul. My dad wasnt Paul, but Vietnam was virtually off-limits, that is until one day a man showed up at our door.
It was 7 p.m. one summer evening. My dad and I were watching something unimportant when there was a loud knock at the door. I got up to answer it. I opened the door and there stood a five-foot-something, brown-skinned, slightly built man with an afro curl. (This was the late 90s and he was from Texas.) He asked to see my father. I asked who he was. He replied, tell him its Charlie Brown.
David Lee/Netflix
The moment Da 5 Bloods reunite at a hotel in Vietnam decades later, you feel joy. I saw in their embraces, the love and relief of their spirits. It jumps off the screen like stray sparks from a fire. Id seen it before that day when my dad jumped up from the couch like someone pulled the fire alarm. He ran to the door and froze in his tracks. He shook the hands of Charlie Brown and they hugged for what seemed like forever.
I guess thats what going through hell does to you. The memories come flooding back. You feel overwhelming pride and happiness that this person you survived everything with is still here.
More than 275,000 black soldiers served in the Vietnam War. Bathed me in that Lymphoma. Agent orange herbicidal stew, Paul begins in the monologue that will surely secure Delroy Lindo his long-overdue Oscar. Sprayed that shit in the air and the water, my bloodstream, my DNA he continues. War is anguish. Its unspeakable, and though they may look, few ever find the words to express themselves. Imagine carrying that weight, unable to share because only a select few, that doesnt include the people they care about the most, could ever understand. Now go and function, normally, while remembering the war vividly, every day. That burden is being carried all around us. Theres a Paul, David, Otis, Eddie, and Melvin men who have grappled with the things they've seen and the things they had to do to survive, during their time in Vietnam closer to you than you think.
Before Charlie Brown arrived, my father mentioned Vietnam exactly once.
While watching the movie Dead Presidents, he spoke very briefly. We laid in rice patties for 24 hours straight. Couldnt move, or youre gone, he said. It was like the movie brought up a repressed memory that he couldnt keep secret. I knew how hard that was for him. His blood, Charlie, unlocked a little more.
I soaked up all of the stories they told about how they were the clean up squad. My dad, a Marine, would sit on the boat until someone needed help. Theyd go into the jungle for a few months and come back out, sometimes, they all wouldnt make it. He shared during Dead Presidents and he told more when Charlie Brown came. I believe he would have after seeing Da 5 Bloods too.
There was a cloud around Vietnam vets. They couldnt escape it when they came back. As the country protested the war, they werent heroes upon arrival. The generation who fought in WWII was, The greatest. However, Viet-vets were discarded. Unwanted at home and chastised in Vietnam. They even lost out on work because Vietnam vets were considered addicts at the time. At least, that was their reputation, according to research by the Ethics of Development in a Global Environment from Stanford University.
African-Americans returning home faced those obstacles along with the added pressure of being black. Sadly, they left one war abroad, to join another at home. The five bloods in the movie, knowing theyd never get their just due, decided theyd find a way to get what they were owed with recovered gold bars. Those bars were worth more than money. They were the reparations, a generation of African-American veterans are owed. Justice for the mistreatment, by the same country, they bravely fought for. It represented a connection, unbroken. And something that would tie their lives together and give them hope for their futures.
With extreme emotional accuracy, Da 5 Bloods is a reminder that the price of war is your life. If you survive, its hard to be the same again. The world and the cause changes. The people around you, move on as you fight to keep up. But the comradery, no matter how long it has been, remains the same.
When Charlie Brown left, my father wasnt sad. His war buddy, whom hed never see again, came to visit. They chatted for two days and drank beers. When it was time for him and his family to leave, they embraced one more time before Charlie hit the road. Arent you sad? I said as a little concerned kid would. No, I know hes alright, he replied. Id only seen that type of affirmation once until watching this movie. I wonder what stories my dad would have told me after watching this?
Time heals most wounds, but not these. Da 5 Bloods shows how hope, pain, and traumatic connection from war never fade. It becomes a part of your DNA. Right on.
Recommended Watching
Keeping with the Vietnam theme, in no particular order, here are 5 movies you should stream about the war:
Full Metal Jacket: The effects of being shaped up into a soldier are on full display here. You wont forget it. (HBO Max)
Hamburger Hill: They risked everything for a mission that the higher-ups ultimately didnt care about. (Amazon Prime)
Apocalypse Now: War does things to your mind. Everything it can do is in this film. (Hulu and HBO GO)
Born on the Fourth of July: Tom Cruise shows what happens when you come home from war and life turns into the exact opposite of what you thought it would be. (Hulu and Amazon Prime)
Dead Presidents: You go fight for your country, you come home less than a man. No job and no future but youve got a family to feed. What do you do? (Vudu)
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By DailyMail.com reporter on June 19, 2020
In a stunning reversal on June 19, the US Navy said it would not reinstate the captain of a coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier, saying he was in part to blame for the severity of the crisis on the warship.
Admiral Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, said Captain Brett Crozier, who was fired as captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in April, was guilty of 'questionable judgment' in handling an outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the nuclear-powered ship in March.
Gilday likewise faulted Rear Admiral Stuart Baker, Crozier's direct supervisor as the carrier's strike group commander, for poor leadership.
'It is my belief that both Admiral Baker and Captain Crozier fell well short of what we expect of those in command,' Gilday said at a Pentagon press conference.
'In reviewing both Admiral Baker's and Captain Crozier's actions, they did not do enough, soon enough, to fulfill their primary obligation' to keep the ship's 5,000 crew members safe, he added.
Capt. Brett Crozier, then-commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, addresses the crew on January 17, 2020, in San Diego. In a stunning reversal, the Navy has upheld the firing of Crozier, the aircraft carrier captain who urged faster action to protect his crew from a coronavirus outbreak, according to a U.S. official
The controversy exploded in April after Crozier sent a letter to Navy leaders asking that most of the crew be taken ashore, which was subsequently leaked to the press.
After a two-month investigation, the Navy decided that Crozier would not return to the Roosevelt and not be eligible to captain another ship.
Baker's expected promotion meanwhile has been placed on hold, pending further review.
Based on the findings, Crozier and Baker would be able to remain in the Navy and move on to other jobs at their current rank, but the admonishments are likely career-enders for both men.
The spread of the coronavirus aboard the carrier while on deployment in the Pacific in March exploded into one of the biggest military leadership crises of recent years.
More than 1,000 members of the crew eventually became infected, and one sailor died. The ship was sidelined for weeks at Guam but recently returned to duty.
Admiral Michael Gilday (above), chief of naval operations, said Crozier was guilty of 'questionable judgment' in handling an outbreak of COVID-19 on the USS Roosevelt
The decision by Adm. Mike Gilday, the chief of naval operations, to hold both Crozier Baker, accountable is a confirmation of concerns expressed by top Pentagon officials who demanded a deeper investigation last month when the initial probe recommended Crozier's reinstatement as the ship's captain.
The investigation, done by Adm. Robert Burke and endorsed Friday by Gilday, defends the abrupt turnaround on Crozier, saying that the more detailed probe uncovered poor decisions he made that failed to stem the outbreak or properly communicate the escalating crisis to senior commanders.
It also concludes that the ship's slow response to the virus was not just his fault, and that Baker also failed to take decisive actions to address the problem.
Gilday's recommendations cap a drama that has engulfed the Navy for nearly three months, sidelining the carrier for 10 weeks in Guam, and setting off a dramatic series of events that led to Croziers dismissal, the abrupt resignation of the acting Navy secretary who fired him, and the push for a broader review of the Pacific fleet's top commanders and how they handled the virus outbreak.
Crozier's firing upset the carrier's crew, and he received an ovation as he walked off the ship in April.
Sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt applaud for Captain Brett Crozier, after he was relieved of his command of the Theodore Roosevelt in April
The recommendations reflect concerns expressed by Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite who told a Senate committee in early May that the service was in 'rough waters' and suffering from leadership failures.
Braithwaite, who the official said endorsed Gildays report, pledged to the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing that he would restore a culture of good order and discipline to the service.
In late April, after a preliminary review, Gilday recommended that Crozier be returned to command the Roosevelt.
But Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pressed for a delay and a wider investigation of the coronavirus crisis on the ship, suggesting the need for deeper scrutiny of actions and decisions by senior admirals in the Pacific, a region critical to America's national security interests.
The COVID-19 outbreak on the Roosevelt was the most extensive and concentrated spread of the virus across the U.S. military.
It eventually sent all of the 4,800 crew members ashore for weeks of quarantine, in a systematic progression that kept enough sailors on the ship to keep it secure and running.
More broadly, it put out of commission a massive warship vital to the Navys mission of countering Chinas power in the Asia-Pacific region.
When the coronavirus outbreak was discovered on the Roosevelt, Crozier sent an email to several commanders pleading for more urgent Navy action, including the removal of nearly all sailors from the ship to protect their health.
That email was leaked to media, and the acting Navy secretary at the time, Thomas Modly, accused Crozier of bad judgment and directed that he be relieved of command April 2.
Days later, amid an uproar of his handling of the matter, Modly resigned and was replaced by James McPherson.
Braithwaites nomination to be secretary was still pending at the time. He took over earlier this month after he was confirmed by the Senate. In the report Friday, Gilday concluded that Crozier did not intentionally leak the email.
The Roosevelt, meanwhile, spent weeks in port in Guam, as crew members rotated ashore for quarantine and isolation at the military base and in hotels around the island.
After about two weeks of training at sea, the carrier returned to operations at sea with a reduced crew on June 4.
Sailors have continued to fly back to the ship from Guam after they have recovered from the virus or completed two-weeks of quarantine.
On Thursday, two of the ships aviators ejected from their F/A-18 fighter jet while conducting a training flight and were rescued in the Philippine Sea and found to be in good condition.
The incident is under investigation and it's not clear whether the crews long layoff in Guam or rapid return to sea played any role in the crash.
The Roosevelt's experience with the virus, however, spurred the development of widespread cleaning and health precautions across the military. And it also gave federal health authorities a population of sailors to test, providing greater insight into the science and the spread of the virus.
American tech firms condemned the Trump administrations decision to extend a pause on high-skilled H-1B visas, which are frequently used in the industry, warning that it puts Americans global competitiveness at risk.
The new restrictions, signed by Trump in an executive order on Monday, go into effect on Wednesday and will last through the end of the year. The administration explained that its decision stemmed from the fact that 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. In May, a group of Republican senators cited rising levels of American unemployment amid the coronavirus pandemic in a request that Trump ramp up his guest-worker restrictions.
But U.S. tech companies responded with almost universal criticism of the new measures.
Now is not the time to cut our nation off from the worlds talent or create uncertainty and anxiety. Immigrants play a vital role at our company, Microsoft president Brad Smith tweeted.
Now is not the time to cut our nation off from the worlds talent or create uncertainty and anxiety. Immigrants play a vital role at our company and support our countrys critical infrastructure. They are contributing to this country at a time when we need them most. Brad Smith (@BradSmi) June 23, 2020
Preventing high skilled professionals from entering the country and contributing to Americas economic recovery puts Americans global competitiveness at risk, Amazon said in a statement.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted that he was disappointed by the decision.
Immigration has contributed immensely to Americas economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today, he said.
Intel warned that its ability to lead in the fiercely competitive global semiconductor industry required H1-B visas. The U.S. must be able to attract and retain highly trained and specialized engineers and scientists from all over the world. There is a shortage of such talent in the U.S., and foreign national graduates of U.S. advanced degree programs are essential to closing this skills gap, the company explained.
Story continues
The Information Technology Industry Council, a prominent lobbying group for Silicon Valley giants Apple, Facebook, Google, HP, Oracle, and Salesforce, said Trumps move will have a dangerous impact on the economic recovery and growth for years to come.
As U.S. companies get their employees back to work, immigrants working in the technology industry are vital to sustaining promising recovery trends, as well as supporting the United States ongoing response to COVID-19, the group said.
Carl Guardino, CEO of business-advocacy organization the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, told The Mercury News that a majority of Silicon Valley engineers 58 of every 100 werent blessed to be born in the United States.
For us not to be celebrating that and to be intentionally blocking that is a sad day for this country, Guardino said.
More from National Review
Los Angeles, June 23 : Hollywood veteran actor Alec Baldwin blames the COVID-19 pandemic for ruining his best assortment of work in years.
Baldwin was supposed to reunite filmmaker Joel Souza, whose film "Crown Vic" he produced in the past, to film "Rust", before the pandemic paused production.
He also had "Blue Before Blood", a police thriller and TV projects such as the adaptation of "A Few Good Men" in pre-production, reports aceshowbiz.com.
"I had a year ahead of me, beginning in March, which was quite a lovely schedule. I had one of the nicest years I can recall in terms of the mix and match of the types of material, with three things in a row that were very, very unique and great opportunities. And then everything got blown to pieces. So everything's been affected," Baldwin told The Hollywood Reporter.
He added: "Who I'm in first position to now and who I owe my fall schedule to now is being discussed. So Rust is either in the fall or soon thereafter. But it will definitely be within the next 12 months." Talking about "Rust" and what drew him to the project, Baldwin said that he loves Souza's writing.
"Love is a word that is so overused, but I really do love his writing. I was going to do 'Crown Vic', but the schedule kept changing and I wasn't available. So I produced and then when this opportunity came up, on another draft of a script by Joel, I was elated. It wasn't even that I was looking to do a Western, I was just looking for something a little more cinematic with a little less talking," he said.
SAGINAW TWP, MI A five-count warrant has been issued against a former Texas police officer accused of pulling a gun on protesters during a recent Black Lives Matter protest in Saginaw Township.
The suspect, though, says he did nothing wrong.
Retailer J.C. Penney announced Monday seven more stores in Michigan will close as part of the companys bankruptcy plan. The closures come less than three weeks after the company announced the closing of three other stores in Michigan.
According to USA Today, the company expects to begin liquidation at the stores on July 3, once a federal judge agrees to the plan. Once liquidation begins, the company has previously said it expects stores will be open for approximately three months.
The seven closures in Michigan are part of 13 additional closings across the U.S. J.C. Penney previously announced plans to close a total of 242 stores, with 136 closures already announced. J.C. Penney filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May as years of declining sales combined with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic pushed the company to a near breaking point.
The seven additional closures in Michigan are:
M useum and gallery bosses are excited but cautious to welcome the public back, as new rules mean they will be allowed to open.
It was confirmed today in a statement by the Prime Minister that museums and galleries would be among institutions to be allowed to reopen from July 4, as the two metre social distancing rule is set to be reduced to one metre.
A joint statement from the museum directors of Tate, Science Museum, Natural History Museum, National Gallery, British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum said the announcement was "welcome". The statement said: "We will now work closely with government, trade unions and supporters to see how and when we can open our doors again in a financially sustainable manner, for the long term.
"The British public have faced a wretched few months of isolation, loss and anxiety in confronting the Covid-19 pandemic. The reopening of museums whose galleries speak to the creative, resilient power of the human spirit will provide solace and inspiration as Britain looks to the future."
Paddy Rodgers, director of Royal Museums Greenwich which includes the Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory and the Cutty Sark said the sector very much welcomed the move. He said his sites would include measures to ensure staff could get to work safely and social distancing procedures in the attractions, including sanitation stations, protective screens and limited visitors. He added: Today is a big step for our sector.
Art Fund director Jenny Waldman said that while it is great news that museums will be able to start opening again, for many this will take longer and the future of these vital beloved spaces remains uncertain. She said that closures have hit museum finances hard: Some may never reopen and for those who can, social distancing measures will drastically limit visitor numbers and associated income that make them economically viable.
Waldman added: At Art Fund were doing everything we can to support museums and galleries through grants, partnerships and additional fundraising but its also clear that government support will be needed to help secure their future."
Ian Blatchford, director of the Science Museum, warned Londoners shouldnt expect a sudden rush of museum openings.
Most museums I know would love to be open, even though I would say in virtually all cases that is likely to increase their financial losses, not reduce them, Blatchford told The Times. He also suggested the citys major museums may need to adopt a staggered opening as not to swamp London Underground.
Whitechapel Gallery's Director and exhibition co-curator Iwona Blazwick said the space was "really excited" to re-open.
She said: "We have some wonderful pieces that have been like Sleeping Beauty behind closed doors for four months and now we cannot wait to re-open. We have been working very hard with various experts to ensure safety. We will have maximum occupancy and other familiar measures to ensure everyone is safe. We are very lucky as we have a lot of space.
You can imagine how much money we have lost over the past four months so I am hoping everyone is ready to come and have a day out and revel in some art, buy a lovely book, or have a spot of lunch."
Blazwick said the gallery was set to partner up with the Barbican to set up walking tours between the two attractions past a number of pieces of city art so visitors could enjoy a whole cultural day out.
The news comes a week after Londons smaller commercial galleries began to welcome visitors again.
The Standing Committee of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, opened its 12th meeting on Monday to discuss winning the battle against poverty.
Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening ceremony.
Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting on invitation, and delivered a report. He said that decisive achievements have been made in the battle against poverty, with all major goals and tasks close to being completed.
However, Hu said the country still faced difficulties and challenges with regard to securing a decisive victory, and urged efforts to help the poor remain within the workforce or become employed amid the epidemic.
He also called for the establishment of long-term mechanisms to help regions that have shaken off poverty achieve overall vitalization and common prosperity.
The meeting was held partly on site and partly via video link. The main venue setting was in Beijing, with branches in Hong Kong and Macao.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:36:02|Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The 22nd China-European Union (EU) leaders' meeting is the latest testament to the great potential of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU, also a platform to kick-start relations in the post-pandemic era.
The meeting, held through video, showcases how China and the EU can weather the turbulence brought by the coronavirus pandemic, and will continue to be true partners and staunch supporters of each other.
The pandemic rips people of different countries apart, but it can not sever communication and cooperation. Video diplomacy is a necessary means of enhancing mutual understanding and trust and deepening bilateral and multilateral relationships in this special period.
China is a partner, not an opponent of the EU, as China will continue to deepen reform and expand opening up, which will provide EU with a new round of cooperation opportunities and development space.
China is injecting certainty in bilateral relations with EU in a time of uncertainty.
Despite all the changes going on in the world, the time-honored China-EU partnership is still full of vitality.
China and the EU, which together account for one-third of global gross domestic product, share broad common interests in trade and investment. Bilateral trade between China and the EU reached 4.86 trillion yuan (about 685.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019, growing at 8 percent year on year, according to the Academy of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
More than 3,200 Chinese enterprises invested directly in the EU last year, creating nearly 260,000 jobs for locals in all EU member states. The number of freight trains between China and Europe hit a new high of 1,033 in May, up 43 percent year on year, according to the China State Railway Group.
This is solid evidence that there is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and the EU, but ever greater room for mutually beneficial cooperation.
There is a long to-do list for China and the EU in the coming days. No matter what difficulties they may encounter, they will remain committed to upholding multilateralism and free trade, firmly opposing unilateralism and protectionism, and maintaining global peace and stability. China will unswervingly expand opening up and create a market-oriented and world-class business environment with a sound legal framework for companies from all countries.
For China and the EU, cooperation far outweighs competition, and consensus far outweighs disagreement. They can reserve differences through constructive communication, while expanding common ground with mutual respect.
In the post-pandemic era, it is in the best interests of China and the EU to work together and push for a more stable and mature relationship and lift their ties to new heights. Enditem
While New York eased COVID-19 lockdown measures and citizens returned to some semblance of normalcy, health experts are now worried about the alarming spread of the virus in other parts of the United States. New York was once the epicentre of the global pandemic, however, the state has been recording low numbers in recent days. While NY authorities allowed stores and restaurants to reopen, the health experts noted that Florida is the chief state among the latest hotspots.
According to an international media outlet, Florida, which was one of the last states to impose stay-at-home order and one of the first to lift the lockdown measures, recorded nearly 3,000 new positive cases on June 22. The officials also noted that Arizona had also reported nearly 2,200 additional cases earlier this week. With a rapid surge in COVID-19 infections mostly in South and West parts of the country, the experts reportedly said that the positivity rate has climbed.
READ: US: White Nationalist Richard Spencer Loses Lawyer In Lawsuit
While speaking to an international media outlet, Eric Toner, who is a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security in Baltimore, said that the increase in positive cases is a consequence of people venturing back into public spaces without wearing a face mask and not practising social distancing. Toner said that the spread of the virus is certain, however, the big question is how big the increase will be.
READ: US: Judge Sides With Guam Resident In Social Security Case
Texas records over 5K new cases in single day
With states like Texas reporting a record of over 5,000 new cases in a single day, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reportedly said that the outbreak in a distant part of the country was worrying him. Amid the rapid spread, Cuomo reportedly has also been talking with neighbouring states about placing restrictions on travellers from places such as Arizona and Florida. In a bid to contain the virus in New York, Cuomo had also ordered people arriving from Florida to self-quarantine for two weeks.
Meanwhile, as per reports, several states in the US recorded a weekly increase in new cases of coronavirus. While some new cases are believed to be linked to better testing, others are probably due to the eased public health restrictions that have allowed people to gather in groups. The United States overall has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, with over 2,312,000 positive cases and 120,402 deaths. Even with an increasing number of cases, the state continues to ease lockdown measures.
(Image: AP)
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Renowned Belfast publican Michael Stewart will be the next president of Belfast Chamber.
The hospitality chief will follow in the footsteps of Rajesh Rana who has stepped down from the post after two years.
On his departure, Mr Rana, director of Andras House, said: "It has been an amazing two years and quite a journey.
"I feel very grateful for the opportunity and I have certainly enjoyed it immensely, particularly meeting new people every day, from prime ministers to sole traders."
Mr Rana said Brexit, the Primark fire and Covid-19 presented many hurdles, adding: "It has been a difficult period for our members, but in times of stress an organisation like Belfast Chamber proves its mettle. We have taken up the challenge and have been incredibly busy lobbying for our members and the business community in Belfast in general."
Michael Stewart's career in hospitality here spans more than three decades and includes leading roles in some of the city's most successful bars and clubs.
Back in the 1980s, he worked at Lisburn Road venue Bob Cratchit's. He then joined the Botanic Inns Group, which included Madison's and The Botanic Inn.
Mr Stewart then worked at the former Ultimate Leisure's Bamboo Beach Club and later, Irene and Nan's, Bar Bacca and La Lea, the Potthouse and The Advocate.
Today he runs House Belfast hotel, bar and restaurant, with business partner Alan Clancy on Botanic Avenue - which occupies the former site of Madison's.
He also has his own firm Bar Czar, a consultancy and training business for the trade offering services such as security training.
[June 23, 2020] Despegar.com Obtains $40 Million Committed Credit Facility
Despegar.com, Corp. (NYSE: DESP), ("Despegar" or the "Company") the leading online travel company in Latin America, today announced that it has signed a $40 million committed revolving credit facility (the "Facility") with Citibank. The Facility has a 1-year term, renewable for an additional six months if certain financial covenants are met. This financing provides Despegar with additional financial flexibility with funds expected to be used for general corporate purposes. "We are pleased with the successful signing of this credit facility which represents a significant achievement given the current market environment," stated Damian Scokin, Chief Executive Officer of Despegar. "We took this opportunity to further strengthen our balance sheet and provide additional financial flexibility and liquidity while maintaining a prudent approach. Despegar has no long-term financial debt outstanding. This credit facility further supports our growth potential once the pandemic is behind us and travel resumes." About Despegar.com Despegar is the leading online travel company in Latin America. With over two decades of business experience and operating in 20 countries in the region, Despegar accompanies Latin American travelers from the moment they dream of taking a trip until they share their memories of that trip. Thanks to the strong commitment to technological development and customer service, Despegar offers a customized experience to more than 18 million customers. Despegar's websites and leading mobile apps, offer products from over 27 airlines, more than 690,000 accommodation options, as well as more than 1,260 car rental agencies and approximately 200 destination services suppliers with more than 7,500 activities throughout Latin America. The Company owns and operates two well-recognized brands, Despegar, its global brand, and Decolar, its Brazilian brand. Despegar is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DESP). For more information, please visit www.despegar.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We base these forward-looking statements on our current beliefs, expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting our business and our market. Many important factors could cause our actual results to differ substantially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking statements. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The words "believe," "may," "should," "aim," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "will," "expect" and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, capital expenditures, financing plans, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, the effects of future regulation and the effects of competition. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic, and governments' extraordinary measures to limit the spread of the virus, are disrupting the global economy and the travel industry, and consequently adversely affecting our business, results of operation and cash flows and, as conditions are recent, uncertain and changing rapidly, it is difficult to predict the full extent of the impact that the pandemic will have. Considering these limitations, you should not make any investment decision in reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005473/en/
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A Tennessee plumbing company has been ordered to pay back wages, damages and civil penalties for violating federal requirements related to overtime, record keeping and child labor laws, the U.S. Department of Labor said.
The department said Tim Jurisin Plumbing Inc. in Clarksville has been ordered by a federal court to pay $50,000 in back wages and damages to 12 employees. The company also has been told to pay $1,765 in civil money penalties for violating child labor protections.
An investigation by the departments Wage and Hour Division showed the residential and commercial plumbing company failed to pay employees for time they spent traveling back to the companys shop following out-of-town day assignments, a news release said.
The company also employed one minor to use power-driven equipment to perform plumbing duties, the Labor Department said Friday.
The company did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Tennessee
Teachers of tomorrow have been caught up in controversy as a West Australian university grapples with the complexities of testing students at home due to coronavirus restrictions.
A third-year primary school student teacher at Edith Cowan University posted to a closed Facebook page encouraging students to help people out in what she termed an exam but the university referred to as a test students had 24 hours to complete.
The post to the closed Facebook page for ECU student teachers.
A concerned parent of a fourth-year student said student teachers who found out about the alleged cheating were not happy because they would eventually be competing for jobs and it wasnt fair.
The assessment was worth 40 per cent of the students' overall mark for the science teaching unit and was open-book. According to the university, students were within their rights to discuss its content with anyone, including professors.
LONDON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WGSN , the global authority on trend forecasting, today announces the launch of a groundbreaking forecasting platform for the food and drink industry.
Alongside existing platforms for the consumer, fashion, beauty, lifestyle and interiors industries, WGSN brings its global trend expertise to food and drink, empowering its customers to develop today the products and services consumers will want to eat, drink and experience tomorrow.
WGSN's unique consumer-first approach provides a holistic view of the consumer lifestyle, enabling the food and drink industry to better understand consumer values and anticipate their needs. WGSN experts observe, assess and distil trends to provide rigorous insights, curated data and actionable recommendations for food and drink product development and strategic thinking.
The team is led by Kara Nielsen, a food trend authority with extensive experience researching and translating trends for innovation and product development.
Kara Nielsen, Director, WGSN Food & Drink:
"With content ranging from daily trends to one to ten year forecasts, WGSN Food & Drink provides the need-to-know-trends to empower the food industry to get ahead of change and confidently leverage the right trend at the right time."
Carla Buzasi, Managing Director, WGSN:
"The coronavirus pandemic is forging new consumer attitudes, making it more important than ever to understand what consumers will think, feel and behave, and the products they'll want to buy. In this scenario, WGSN is the ideal partner as it enables brands to understand, and design for, their future consumer."
About WGSN
WGSN is the global authority on consumer and design trends, helping brands around the world create the right products at the right time for tomorrow's consumer.
WGSN's trusted consumer and design forecasts power outstanding product design, enabling our customers to create a better future. Our services cover consumer insights, fashion, beauty, interiors, lifestyle, food and drink forecasting, data analytics and expert advisory.
About Ascential
Ascential (LSE: ASCL.L) is a specialist information, data and analytics company that helps the world's most ambitious businesses win in the digital economy. Our information, insights, connections, data and digital tools solve customer problems in three disciplines:
Product Design via WGSN ;
via ; Marketing via Cannes Lions , WARC and MediaLink ; and
via , and ; and Sales via Edge by Ascential, Flywheel Digital, Money20/20 and RWRC
Ascential also powers political, construction and environmental intelligence brands DeHavilland, Glenigan and Groundsure.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1190692/WGSN_Food_Drink.jpg
Construction workers, their families and civil society groups on Sunday commemorated the collapse of a building in the coastal city of Sihanoukville last June, with some workers refusing to resume work in the sector.
The building, which was owned by a Chinese national, collapsed on June 22, killing 28 workers and injuring 26 others. Construction worker union Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia held a commemorative and religious service on Sunday to remember the deceased.
Sok Kin, who heads the union, said that little had changed for construction workers across the country, estimating that 70 to 80 percent of workers had no access to safety equipment, such as harnesses, gloves and hard hats, at the worksite.
Through our observations, obviously 70 to 80 percent of workers dont obtain such equipment, Sok Kin said. But, there are a small number of companies whose reputation is good and who will provide such equipment to workers.
He said the practice of starting construction activity before receiving a license from the Ministry of Land Management was continuing unabated.
After the collapse in June, the government amended the Law on Construction in November 2019, adding stricter requirements on safety measures at worksites, safety and quality inspections and strengthening permit requirements.
However, in late December, another building collapsed in the coastal province of Kep, killing 36 people, including six children. Again, the government pushed for construction activities to begin only after a permit was issued and banned on-site living facilities for workers.
VOA Khmer contacted Land Management Ministry spokesperson Seng Loth multiple times on Monday but he could not be reached for comment, nor could reporters contact Lor Davuth, another ministry spokesperson.
Construction workers who survived the incident said on Sunday they were still traumatized by the incident and were unlikely to resume working at construction sites.
Mam Thim, who is from Kampot province, was a cement mixer at the Sihanoukville building and survived the crash with no injuries. He said he still remembers the crashing of the cement and metal.
I still dream of that incident. It still causes me to worry. I forget it some days, but on other days it still seems fresh [in my memory], he said.
The construction worker, who had been in the sector for around 20 years and helped run his household, said he was apprehensive of returning to similar work.
It still causes me to worry. Im afraid that if I go to work there again, the danger will occur again. It seems to me that I am done with this work, he said.
Mam Thim, in order to continue earning for his family, was working at smaller construction sites, such as individual homes, but did not want to work for larger projects.
Ouk Savath, 31 and another construction worker who survived the collapse, said he would not work on a construction site ever again. He added that workers and the families of the deceased had not received compensation from the construction company.
What we got so far is from the generous persons, meaning its an external donation. The most important thing is that we need compensation from the construction company, so that justice will be given to us, he said.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Tuesday set a number of requirements for the states three casinos to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, approving precautions that include social distancing at slot machines and a ban on mainstay games like roulette, craps and poker.
Commissioners approved the rules by a 5-0 vote.
Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park have been closed since mid-March. No reopening date has been set, and casino operators say they will need 10 to 14 days notice in order to ramp back up.
We wish our licensees great success when the reopening is permitted, commission Chairwoman Cathy Judd-Stein said. To each licensee, I thank you for your patience today.
The requirements were approved after a nearly two-hour meeting and weeks of preparation.
The sweeping guidelines include rules and recommendations for screening guests, including a requirement to make hand sanitizer available and a suggestion to conduct temperature checks. Social distancing guidelines for slots include a requirement that casinos turn off every other slot machine and remove chairs, and to either ensure a minimum of 6 feet between slot positions or install 6-foot-tall plexiglass dividers.
There are also reduced occupancy limits based on a formula for total patrons and employees. Commissioners believe the formula will reduce each facilitys capacity to about 25%.
The casinos opening date depends on Gov. Charlie Bakers reopening plan, and is expected to occur in Phase 3. The state is in what officials have called the second part of Phase 2.
The administration has said it will review two weeks of public health data from the start of indoor dining which began June 22 before launching Phase 3, meaning the decision is not likely until at least July 6.
Other minimum requirements for the reopening included:
Must comply with all guidance and protocals issued by local, state and federal governments and agencies.
Must develop a communications plan for informing guests of its COVID-19 precautions.
At all significant points of entry and exit, separate ingress from egress in order to avoid two-way guest traffic flow.
Casino staff to sanitize operating slot machines and chairs as frequently as possible between player turnover and at regular intervals, at a minimum of every 4 hours.
Signage at each point of entry and at prominent locations throughout the gaming area to remind guests of safe practices including frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer, proper wearing of masks, and to go home if sick.
Related Content:
NHHS English teacher wins prestigious board appointment
Julie Hart
A middle and high school English teacher from Henderson County has been named to the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a recognized national leader in professional development programming for North Carolina schoolteachers.
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger appointed Julie L. Hart to the board for a four-year term.
A homegrown Henderson County public schools educator and West Henderson High graduate, Hart will be teaching English at North Henderson High School this year, transitioning from the seventh-grade classroom. She began her career with the school system in August 2019 as an English teacher at Apple Valley Middle after graduating from UNC Asheville with a degree in Literature and Teacher Licensure.
"It was on my heart to serve and grow as a teacher beyond the classroom, but I was unsure how, Hart said. When Sen. Chuck Edwards told me earlier this year about the NCCAT Board of Trustees, I knew that this would be the perfect opportunity to serve!"
In addition to teaching 90-minute blocks of class, Hart will be responsible for professional development, weekly mentor meetings, creating unit lesson plans using Next Generation Learning-Focused Lesson Plan, collaborating with educators of other core subjects, parent communication, and teaching/modeling the Leader In Me initiative at North.
We are so pleased with Julie Hart's appointment to the NCCAT Board of Trustees. Her commitment to quality teaching and learning aligns well with the NCCAT mission, said Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Dr. Jan King. Just as she is fully committed to the students she serves, Ms. Hart will be a positive and contributing member of the NCCAT Board."
The NCCAT Board of Trustees is made up of the Chairman of the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction or their designees (both ex officio members); two members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; two members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and eight members appointed by the Governor, one from each of the eight educational regions.
Cai Qiyan spends her leisure time on top of a mountain in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 20, 2020. [Xinhua/Liu Junxi]
Cai Qiyan enjoys the view of flowing clouds from one of the mountain-top tea plantations. But the fun has also been a luxury for the 15-year-old, who was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. From an early age, Qiyan had found it extremely difficult to keep her spine upright. In the depth of the Dabie Mountains, Qiyan had to spend two hours on her way to school and back home since it "took much longer time walking with a bent body." Despite her good academic performance, Qiyan became ever more self-conscious as she grew up. In 2012, the family had decided to seek medical treatment in Beijing. In the eight years to come, Qiyan had undergone eight surgeries. With the help of surgical implants, Qiyan had eventually straightened her back after painful recoveries. However, multiple surgeries had thrown Qiyan's family into dire poverty. In 2016, Qiyan's family was registered by the government as an impoverished household. Thanks to local poverty-relief policies, the family shook off poverty in 2019. Qiyan's parents now run a tea plantation which bring them an annual revenue of 30,000 yuan (about 4,240 U.S. dollars). Qiyan says she feels particularly thankful for the medical staff and those who cared about her health. Now as a sixth-grader at a local boarding school, the girl says her biggest dream is to become a doctor herself.
Cai Qiyan attends a P.E. class at Sanhe Experimental School in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. [Xinhua/Zhang Duan]
Cai Qiyan helps her father remove weeds from the family tea plantation in Gaowan Village of Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 20, 2020. [Xinhua/Liu Junxi]
Cai Qiyan (L) shares ideas with a classmate at Sanhe Experimental School in Jinzhai County, east China's Anhui Province, June 19, 2020. [Xinhua/Zhang Duan]
(Source: Xinhua)
Kolkata, June 23 : A panchayat samity member in West Bengal's South 24-Parganas district was suspended from Trinamool Congress after he apologised in public on Tuesday in front of hundreds of angry villagers over the disbursement of relief to the Amphan-affected.
At Mathurapur village, angry villagers held Swapan Kumar Ghatu and questioned him on cyclone relief funds in the presence of police and block development officials.
Ghatu allegedly accepted his 'mistake' and publicly sought forgiveness by pulling his ears. According to district Trinamool Congress sources, the panchayat samity member has been suspended from the party for an indefinite period.
Meanwhile, the district administration has initiated the process to scrutinise the list of Amphan-affected villagers eligible for relief. The district administration will also review the list of those who have already received aid from the state for cyclonic disaster.
"If necessary, we will ask for refund from villagers who were not affected by the cyclonic storm," sources said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) Senator Joel Villanueva, the chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, urged the government to spend more on the labor force during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Villanueva said he believes investing in workers will make or break the countrys economic recovery.
Workers must have access to retraining or upskilling to be employable in the new normal job market. Aside from ramping up its labor matching efforts, the Department of Labor and Employment should also tap all available resources in our government to complement the needs of our workers in terms of access to knowledge and transfer of technology, Villanueva explained.
Villanueva said DOLE data show that the number of OFW deployment every year already went down by 39 percent, or from 615,873 from January to April last year to 377,784 during the same period this year.
The Labor Department earlier reported an additional 2.6 million unemployed Filipinos as of April 2020.
This brings the total number of unemployed Filipinos to about 5 million.
Gov't efforts to help people will fail if positive cases continue to increase
Villanueva also warned that all efforts of government will fail as long as the number of COVID-19 infections continue to increase.
Three months since the government started implementing strict quarantine protocols, the country is still reporting about 400 COVID-19-positive patients per day in the past few weeks.
Villanueva believes implementing strict quarantine protocols have been very helpful in containing the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, but he doubts all other government policies have been effective.
Whether or not effective ang ginagawa ng gobyerno aside from GCQ, parang hindi Ngayon pataas pa rin ng pataas ang trend ng infection. There must be something wrong, Villanueva explained.
Villanueva said there are conflicting policies that are causing confusion, citing the repatriation and quarantine protocols for returning Overseas Filipino Workers.
Iyong mga OFWs bago umuwi, kinuarantine sila sa ibang bansa. Noong umuwi sila pagdating sa Manila, kinuarantine uli ng 14 days. Pagkatapos dadalhin sa probinsya, iq-quarantine uli ng 14 days. May mga gaps e, Villanueva said.
The senator believes the government was not prepared for the influx of OFWs.
Kung mayroon tayong paghahanda, maayos na paghahanda, at meron tayong maayos na polisiya tungkol dyan, mas madali iyong magiging pagtanggap," he said.
The DOLE reported that about 53,000 OFWs have been repatriated and that about 100,000 are expected to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate hearing on government response to labor concerns
Because of these issues, Villanueva said the Senate Labor Committee will conduct a hearing on Wednesday to look into the governments response to the concerns of the labor sector.
Villanueva said there is a need to know the real situation of OFWs abroad and those who have already arrived in the country, how many workers are really affected by the COVID-19 health crisis and the plans of the government to help them.
Any government assistance that will be extended to businesses, lahat dapat ng efforts, tax credits, everything we do do, must always come with a commitment to retain their workers among their ranks, Villanueva said.
Villanuevas letter to Duque still unanswered
Meanwhile, Villanueva slammed the lack of cooperation of the Department of Health with lawmakers.
The senator said he had written a letter to Health Secretary Francisco Duque on May 5 as head of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases about the opening of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations and asked for some pertinent data.
A month and a half since, Villanueva said Duque still hasn't answered the letter. The senator said under the law, letters to government officials must be answered within 15 days.
The Maharashtra government has put Rs 5,020 crore worth investments from Chinese companies on hold as it awaits the Centres policy on China-based investors.
While there were initial reports that the investments have been cancelled, state industries minister Subhash Desai clarified that there is no decision to scrap the agreements.
Informal discussions between the state and the Centre to determine its future course are on, and there is no advisory on suspending Chinese projects, a source told the Business Standard, adding: We may go slow in attracting fresh investments from China.
Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.
Maharashtra has actively courted investors keen to dilute interests in China after the coronavirus pandemic exposed dangers of over dependence on a single large source and had signed multiple memorandums of understanding worth Rs 16,000 crore with companies across sectors.
Among these are three Chinese companies Great Wall Motors (auto sector Rs 3,770 crore), PMI Electro Mobility Solutions and Foton (electric mobility Rs 1,000 crore) and Hengli Engineering (engineering Rs 250 crore).
After 20 Indian soldiers died in a clash with Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh last week, relationship between the neighbours have been tense.
Maharashtra may still want to tread cautiously as it is expecting another fresh round of investments worth Rs 8,000 crore across sectors in the near future.
Click Consult's team Since Tesco chose us in 2019 we have worked on a large part of their website and across a number of their services to ensure that they see the best possible performance
Award-winning digital marketing agency Click Consult has today confirmed that their contract with Tesco, as the retailers search and digital agency, has been extended for a further two years.
The extended contract will allow Click Consult, who are based in Hooton, to continue improving several areas of the search marketing strategy for Tesco.
The retail giant first partnered with Click Consult in August 2019 for Organic Search (SEO) services across three Tesco Business units; Grocery, Real Food and the Club Card scheme.
Today it was announced that they would extend their deal with Click Consult allowing the agency to continue on these projects as well as several other exciting projects over the next two years.
Speaking about the partnership Click Consult's CEO Matt Bullas said: We are delighted that Tesco has once again put their faith in our agency and that they have renewed the partnership for another two years.
Since Tesco chose us in 2019 we have worked on a large part of their website and across a number of their services to ensure that they see the best possible performance. Our technical expertise means that we have been able to deliver in all areas and we look forward to continuing this in the future.
The team here at Click Consult has relished the opportunity to work on such a widespread project and the results that we have delivered have now opened this new door.
Tesco is one of the most recognisable brands in the UK market and a leading retailer in the grocery section. We know that there are a lot of technical changes that need to be implemented and a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes which is why we are glad to have had our contract extended.
The SEO team here at Click Consult were recently named the Best Organic Team in the country by The Drum and this is reflected in the work that we do for Tesco and other large clients.
We look forward to starting on the new workflow and planning out the strategy for Tesco over the coming months and cant wait to see yet more positive results.
Two possible vaccines to tackle Covid-19 in animals have proved successful in laboratory tests, scientists say.
In-vitro trials have shown the two vaccine candidates, developed by UK-based firm The Vaccine Group, induced immunity at sites where the coronavirus replicates.
The trials were conducted outside the animal a process known as 'in vitro' rather than in a live organism known as 'in vivo'.
The company's aim is to now develop vaccines that eliminate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, in living animals.
The vaccines could be used to ensure cats and other pets do not become 'a reservoir' for future outbreaks.
While the threat of catching Covid-19 from our pets is low, animals infected with coronavirus could lead to a second outbreak of the disease in humans, scientists say.
It follows reports of infected mink on fur farms in the Netherlands passing the virus on to human workers, leading to closures and culls.
There is currently no coronavirus vaccine for humans and experts fear one won't be ready until 2021, although there are multiple global efforts in progress.
The new development from The Vaccine Group (TVG) means there could be a vaccine for cats and other pets before people.
Dr Michael Jarvis at work in The Vaccine Group's labs. The University of Plymouth spinout company has revealed its first two possible vaccines have proved successful in pre-animal trial laboratory testing
'Like all other human coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 emerged originally from animals,' said Dr Michael Jarvis, associate professor in virology and immunology at the University of Plymouth and founder of TVG.
'There have already been a number of reported cases of human to animal transmissions of the virus and recently what appears to be the first evidence of animal to human transmission from mink.
'Although not from animal sources, the recent re-emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Beijing underlines the importance of being able to control this virus for the long-term.
'The ability to control SARS-CoV-2 and prevent Covid-19 re-emerging from animal populations might become a key tool in the fight against this pandemic.'
The company is also investigating the longer-term potential of human vaccines and the next stage of development will assess the technique's safety for use in humans, the company said in a statement.
The Vaccine Group aims to now develop vaccines so as to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in existing animal sources
'Whilst we are initially testing the efficacy of our vaccines in animals, positive data would open up the possibility of rapidly moving to a human vaccine,' said Dr Jarvis.
A vaccine works by training the immune system to recognise and combat pathogens, either viruses or bacteria.
To do this, certain molecules called 'antigens' from the pathogen must be introduced into the body to trigger an immune response.
By injecting these antigens into the body, the immune system can safely learn to recognise them as hostile invaders, produce antibodies and remember them for the future.
If the bacteria or virus reappears, the immune system will recognise the antigens and attack them before the pathogen can spread and cause sickness.
TVG's vaccines are based on safe forms of herpesviruses, which occur in nearly all animals including humans.
The vaccines are created by inserting regions of the targeted pathogen DNA into the herpesvirus, which then stimulates an immune response against the disease when delivered into the animal.
Scientists have made significant steps in the development of vaccines that could be used to tackle COVID-19 in animals
Testing found SARS-CoV-2 antigens were successfully incorporated in the company's vaccine platform, meaning the vaccines should stimulate an immune response once in the target animal.
The company's current vaccine candidates are two of four for SARS-CoV-2 currently under development.
Success with the first vaccine candidate was reached within eight weeks of the company first receiving antigen protein sequences.
'In-vitro expression of the SARS-CoV-2 antigens demonstrates they have been successfully incorporated into TVGs vaccine platform, meaning the vaccines should stimulate an immune response once in the target animal,' the company said.
'Work is now underway preparing stocks of the first two candidates for animal trials.'
The company is developing a range of vaccines to test different antigens and approaches to stimulating immunity.
This is important as it is 'still unclear' which approaches to creating effective and long-term immunity will work in both animals and humans.
'It is impressive to see the speed with which the team has developed these vaccine candidates,' said Matthew White at investor firm Frontier IP.
'Based on previous work with the same vaccine delivery platform we are hopeful that animal trials will demonstrate positive results.'
According to the British Veterinary Association (BVA), there is no evidence that pets can pass COVID-19 to their owners in fact, humans pose more of a risk to cats than the other way round.
The BVA suggested pets from infected households are more likely to carry the virus on their fur, through microscopic droplets that have been coughed or sneezed out by their human owner.
BVA, the UKs national body for veterinary surgeons, and other experts are keen to outline the distinction between cats carrying the virus on their fur, as opposed to being infected or showing symptoms themselves.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) says 'there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19', although it said 'it appears the virus it can spread from people to animals in some situations'.
This is despite the source of the current outbreak originally came from an animal, likely a bat, said CDCP, the US's national public health institute.
In a statement to MailOnline, TVG said that although animals may not be a route to 'significant spreading' of SARS-CoV-2, there is the potential for the virus to re-emerge at a later date from animals.
'Whilst human to human transmission is undoubtedly the primary route for spreading the virus, there have been incidents reported of animal to human transmission for example the recent reports of mink to human transmission on mink farms in the Netherlands.
'Ongoing re-emergence from an animal reservoir is a significant issue in other diseases such as Ebola and Lassa which continue to appear even though human to human transmission has been prevented.'
TORONTO, June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This news release is in furtherance of Cerro Grande Mining Corporations (the Company) news release dated February 20, 2020 that announced that Compania Minera Auromin Ltda (Auromin), Avenida Santa Maria 2224, Providencia, Santiago, Chile, had acquired, a non-interest bearing, unsecured convertible debenture (the Debenture), convertible into an aggregate of up to 81,807,694 common shares (each, a Common Share) of the Company on or after the date that is 180 days from the date of issuance of the Debentures. David, Ian and Matthew, who jointly own and control Auromin, announce that, for purposes of applicable securities laws, they have now acquired beneficial ownership of up to the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be issuable upon the conversion of the Debenture on or after August 19, 2020. Each of David, Ian and Matthew has acquired ownership and control of the Common Shares that may be acquired thereunder upon conversion on or after August 19, 2020.
The name and address of the Company is: Cerro Grande Mining Corporation, Avenida Santa Maria 2224, Providencia, Santiago, Chile.
On February 20, 2020, Auromin acquired the Debenture convertible into Common Shares in the aggregate principal amount of US$3,149,356.87 (CDN$4,090,384.70) in exchange for cash advances made to the Company by Auromin in the same amount. The outstanding amount of principal under the Debenture is convertible on or after August 19, 2020, at the option of the holder, until maturity, into Common Shares at a conversion price (the Conversion Price) equal to the greater of (i) CDN$0.05 per Common Share and (ii) the simple average of the closing price per Common Share on the Canadian Securities Exchange (or such other exchange on which the Common Shares may then be listed) for the 15 consecutive trading days period ending immediately prior to the date of the notice of conversion provided by the holder of the Debenture to the Company. On this basis, Auromin, can acquire up to 81,807,694 Common Shares upon conversion of the full amount of principal under the Debenture. All amounts have been converted based on an exchange rate of US$1.00 = CDN$1.2988.
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Immediately prior to June 20, 2020:
David Thomson had beneficial ownership of, or exercised control or direction over, 44,063,005 Common Shares, representing 12.98% of the 339,390,784 Common Shares issued and outstanding, calculated on a partially diluted basis and on a non-diluted basis (as David Thomson did not own, directly or indirectly, any stock options, warrants or other securities of the Company convertible into Common Shares).
Ian Thomson had beneficial ownership of, or exercised control or direction over 47,803,595 Common Shares, representing 14.09% of the 339,390,784 Common Shares issued and outstanding, calculated on a partially diluted basis and on a non-diluted basis (as Ian Thomson did not own, directly or indirectly, any stock options, warrants or other securities of the Company convertible into Common Shares).
Matthew Thomson had beneficial ownership of, or exercised control or direction over 47,803,595 Common Shares, representing 14.09% of the 339,390,784 Common Shares issued and outstanding, calculated on a partially diluted basis and on a non-diluted basis (as Matthew Thomson did not own, directly or indirectly, any stock options, warrants or other securities of the Company convertible into Common Shares).
Effective June 20, 2020, David Thomson, Ian Thomson and Matthew Thomson (indirectly through Auromin) had beneficial ownership of, or exercised control or direction over, an additional 81,807,694 Common Shares, , representing an increase of approximately 19.42%, in the aggregate, of the current number of issued and outstanding Common Shares being 339,390,784 Common Shares, calculated on a partially diluted basis, assuming the conversion of the Debenture, in full (which Debenture may not be converted prior to August 19, 2020).
The Thomsons, via Auromin, acquired the Debenture to provide financial relief to the Company in a time of financial hardship. The Thomsons intend to hold the Debenture until maturity, or if converted earlier into Common Shares, each of David, Ian and Matthew Thomson intends to hold such Common Shares for investment purposes and may, in the future, increase or decrease its ownership of securities of the Company, directly or indirectly, from time to time depending upon the business and prospects of the Company and future market conditions.
An early warning report (the EWR) is being filed on SEDAR and will be available for review at www.sedar.com under the Companys profile. A copy of the EWR can be obtained from the contact below.
For more information, please contact:
James Mac Auliffe
Tel: +56 2 256 96228
Navy veteran Andrew L. Dolopo, 75, is a descendant of the first Filipino to enlist in the Navy. Dolopos father Tomas Delopo, who joined in 1903, fought in WWI and was taken prisoner by the Japanese during the occupation of the Philipines in WWII.
In 1903, a lusty seminarian named Potenciano Parel abandoned his theological studies, assumed a new name and changed the history of the U.S. Navy and San Diego.
He was the first Filipino to join the United States Navy, said the mans 75-year-old son, Andrew Dolopo of Chula Vista. He liked being called an American.
With eight other enlistees, Parel under the assumed name Tomas Dolopo inaugurated a historic experiment. Taking advantage of President William McKinleys 1901 executive order, these Filipinos became American sailors.
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This program would continue for more than 90 years, and play a key role in establishing San Diegos Filipino-American community. While this relationship was never perfect, both sides reaped benefits. The American fleet enjoyed a fresh source of recruits in an era of expanding responsibilities in the western Pacific, while many young Filipinos saw a sailors uniform as a ticket to a better life.
When you were admitted to the Navy, said Rommel Alberto, vice president of Balboa Parks House of the Philippines and a 30-year Navy veteran who enlisted in 1973, it was like hitting the jackpot for life.
Despite discriminatory policies and racist attitudes, this allure was strong and brought tens of thousands of newcomers to San Diego County. Filipinos now comprise the regions largest Asian-American population, and scholars estimate that at least half of these 148,000 residents came here thanks to the Navy.
This history is sometimes painful, often upbeat. For the first family of the Filipino-American Navy, the Dolopos, its all personal.
I joined the Navy in 1964, in Cavite, at the U.S. naval base there, Andrew Dolopo said. My dad joined the Navy in the same place.
Quirks of history
Parel was studying to become a priest when he was seduced by a pair of legs. For months, while kneeling in prayer near a cracked wall inside a Manila seminary, he had enjoyed random glimpses of a woman walking past.
Yielding to temptation, he finally sneaked out of the seminary to chase this vision. Although he searched the city streets for days, he never found the woman. Instead, he found another love, riding at anchor in Manila Bay: the warships of the U.S. Navy.
Fearing he would face punishment back at the seminary, Parel decided to sail away. Unfortunately, he lacked the identification papers the Navy would require.
When a friend offered him his documents, Potenciano Parel seized the opportunity to begin a new life under a new name.
On Aug. 9, 1903, Tomas Dolopo became a coal-passer in the U.S. Navy. Enlistment forms describe the recruit as a native of Iloilo, on the island of Panay. He was 23, 4-foot-11, 120 pounds with smallpox scars on his face. His monthly base pay: $34.96.
Dolopos enlistment was made possible by several quirks of history. The U.S. victory in the Spanish-American War meant that the Philippines, a former Spanish colony, had become an American protectorate. The U.S. Navys Asiatic Squadron also inherited Spains naval bases and, once McKinleys executive order took hold, a new source of sailors and laborers.
An archipelago with more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines has strong maritime roots. Filipino sailors reached Central Californias Morro Bay in 1587, while Filipino fishermen established a village in Louisiana before the American Revolution. In 1919, the Philippines legislature honored that tradition by donating a destroyer, the Rizal, to the U.S. Navy,
Filipino applicants to the Navy faced tough entrance examinations and tight quotas, from 500 to 2,000 a year. When Dolopos active-duty career ended in 1926, there were only about 4,000 Filipinos in the Navy.
Dolopo joined the reserves, officially retiring in 1936 as a machinists mate first class. World War II came suddenly to the Philippines Japanese forces landed 10 hours after Pearl Harbor was bombed and numerous Filipinos were imprisoned, including Dolopo. The veteran escaped and spent the rest of the war with guerrilla forces, battling the invaders.
His son Andrew, born in 1940, has dim memories of the war and vivid recollections of his fathers postwar status. On the naval base at Cavite, the elder Dolopo was a legend.
A view of U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay in the Philippines with the city of Olongapo in the background in 1981. The ships docked at the pier in the foreground (from left): guided missile cruiser William H. Standley, guided missile destroyer Henry B. Wilson, guided missile destroyer Sterett and oiler Hassayampa. National Archives
We would go to the office of the admiral, where you needed an appointment but he didnt, said Andrew Dolopo. He would go in and get a cup of coffee and chitchat with the admiral. They would allow that!
Still, none of Tomas Dolopos numerous offspring he would outlive three wives, who gave him 12 children seemed inclined to follow his career path. None, that is, until one visited a recruiter in March 1964.
Andrew meant to surprise his father with the news of his enlistment. First, though, he celebrated with numerous drinks and one brawl. When Andrew was jailed, his father was willing to let the law take its course.
Andrews sister objected. Youre going to let him rot in jail, she asked their father, when he is leaving you?
Whats he doing? Tomas asked.
Joining the Navy!
The father went to the police station, and the son was released. After a brief reunion, Andrew Dolopo left for boot camp in the faraway, exotic city of San Diego.
Floating Plantation
New to Andrew Dolopo, San Diego was already well-known to many of his countrymen. In 1903, would-be teachers from the Philippines studied at the Normal School, the predecessor to San Diego State University. And as early as 1908, Filipino sailors had been stationed here.
In the 1920s, they were followed by a band of civilian Filipino reformers. They were intent on learning U.S. history and government, said Felix Tuyay, who teaches Filipino-American history at Southwestern College, and then going back to the Philippines.
Poverty at home inspired a generation of Filipino farmworkers to head to Hawaii in the 1930s and 40s, with some moving from the pineapple fields for jobs in California agriculture.
World War II disrupted this flow of labor and severed ties between Washington and Manila. In the wake of Japans defeat, the U.S. moved to grant the Philippines its independence, a process that culminated on July 4, 1946.
Despite its independent status, though, the Philippines remained dependent on the United States, and vice versa. Alarmed by the rise of the Communist Party in China and elsewhere in Asia, Washington hammered out a military base agreement with Manila in 1947. Once again, Philippine nationals would be recruited into the U.S. Navy. Only the best were accepted applicants had to be between 18 and 25, and pass physical and mental exams although they were not destined for the best jobs.
They were destined to become stewards.
They were like servants for the senior officers, said Alberto, who enlisted a year before the Navy discontinued the steward rating in 1974. They did everything for them, cooked for them, cleaned their quarters, did their laundry, shined their shoes and just about everything else.
The Washington Monthly dubbed this The Navys Floating Plantation. Many found the work demeaning.
Four generations of the Dolopo family gather for a portrait this month at Morley Field with photographer Alina Mendoza. Misael Virgen U-T
They basically taught us the job of the waitress, Oceansides Leo Sicat said in Beyond the Mask, Riz A. Oades 2005 history of Filipinos in the Navy. Personally, I was so insulted. I was almost a chemical engineer and I came to the United States just to become a steward.
Others argued that this job, despite its low status, had some attractions.
I figured I would not get hungry, Andrew Dolopo said, because the food was there.
Moreover, by the Philippines standards the pay was excellent. A year after enlisting, Dolopo married and started a family. Aurora Dolopo, his bride, was able to afford a large house in the Philippines. Yet her husbands assignments kept taking him to San Diego.
The couple spent most of their first six years of marriage apart. You are wasting the best years of my life, Aurora wrote to Andrew. Take me with you.
He did. In San Diego, though, a sailors salary didnt go as far. Andrew moved his wife and two daughters into a rented studio apartment in a poor part of Logan Heights.
We were starting over, Aurora said. It was tough.
Slowly, life improved. They left the apartment for a rented house; then Navy housing; then a home they bought in Paradise Hills.
Andrew acquired something else, too: U.S. citizenship. Filipino veterans of conflicts, from World War I through Vietnam, were granted a swift and relatively easy path through the naturalization process.
I passed with flying colors, Andrew said.
He hoped his all-American status would defuse racist comments. I didnt want to hear, Go back where you belong, he said. I was serving my country.
In the 1960s and 70s, though, it was not uncommon for Filipino sailors to be called Flip or other racist slurs. And opportunities were limited. In 1976, of the 17,000-plus Filipinos in the Navy, fewer than 100 were officers. None ranked higher than commander.
Back in those days, Andrew Dolopo said, there was a lot of prejudice.
While racist cracks were disturbing, Rommel Alfonso found the unspoken messages just as bad: You were sometimes treated as if you were not an equal. I had to make myself believe that I was just as good.
Barriers to good jobs and training were especially high for sailors who had not yet become American citizens. Jay Ruiz Sr., who enlisted in Cavite in 1960, remembers serving aboard a Point Loma-based diesel submarine in Point Loma. One day, his crew was scheduled to visit a nuclear-powered submarine. The entire crew took part, except for the groups one foreign national.
I was given the day off, Ruiz said.
Grandchildren of Navy veteran and Chula Vista resident Andrew Dolopo pose for a photo at Morley Field during a family portrait session. Dolopos father was the first Filipino to join the U.S. Navy, the beginning of a long relationship that played a key role in establishing San Diegos Filipino-American community. Misael Virgen U-T
Ruiz, who became a U.S. citizen four years after that unwanted holiday, served in the Navy for 20 years. Now 72, hes secretary for San Diegos Filipino American Military Officers Association despite the fact that he never attained an officers rank.
He owes his office to his association with a retired U.S. Army colonel, his wife, Dr. Ceferina Ruiz. Their family is a blend of Army and Navy, officer and enlisted. Their son, Jay Ruiz Jr., followed in his mothers footsteps, serving in the Army as an operating room technician.
It doesnt matter what job you do, you are all contributing, Ruiz Sr. said. I strongly feel we Filipinos have contributed a lot.
Tradition continues
San Diego Countys Filipino population grew dramatically during Ferdinand Marcos two decades as the Philippines president. The former World War II guerrilla fighter was elected in 1965 when the poor country was suffering from a brain drain.
These were professionals doctors, lawyers and nurses, Southwesterns Tuyay said.
After Marcos declared martial law in 1972, these immigrants were joined by college students and political protesters like Rommel Alfonso. Targeted by the Marcos regime, many fled the country.
For them, Tuyay said, the U.S. Navy meant security and safety. They were political refugees.
San Diego, where most recruits underwent basic training, beckoned with its warm climate. Many were stationed here and, after their naval careers were over, found jobs in local shipyards, agriculture and civil service. Andrew and Aurora Dolopos early dreams of retiring to the Philippines faded away, as their children and grandchildren built lives in the United States.
After living here so many years, Andrew Dolopo said, something grows inside of you. You are American.
On an official level, at least, links between Manila and Washington weakened. The U.S. shut down its bases in the Philippines toward the end of 1992, and the Navy stopped recruiting Filipino nationals. While the statistics are incomplete, the Pentagon reported that 34,620 Filipinos had enlisted between 1952 and 1990.
Yet the services ties to the Filipino-American community remain strong, as new generations followed their parents to sea. A familiar story, but with some positive new twists.
Consider the experience of Ed Buclatin, who grew up in Mira Mesa as the son of Stanley Buclatin, a retired steward first class. Influenced by his fathers sea stories, and entranced by the sight of jets flying out of nearby Miramar Naval Air Station, Ed enlisted in the Navy in 1984.
His career followed a trajectory that his father could have only imagined. He flew E-2C Hawkeyes for eight years and traveled the world. In 2010, he retired as a captain.
At right, Andrew Dolopo aboard the destroyer Stoddard in 1968, four years after joining the U.S. Navy at its base in Cavite in the Philippines. Courtesy Dolopo family
Asked if he ever experienced discrimination in the Navy, the younger Buclatins answer is concise and unqualified: No.
Any restrictions on the sorts of jobs he or other Filipinos could pursue within the service?
Not at all.
Part of this was because he was Filipino by heritage, American by birth. Since my father was not a U.S. citizen when he joined the Navy in the early 50s, Buclatin noted, he was not able to obtain a security clearance, which limited the ratings he could serve in.
Part of it, though, was due to a sea change in attitudes. Overt racism of the sort Rommel Alfonso had routinely encountered is no longer tolerated.
Since I retired, Alfonso said, the Navy has become a lot more professional. For instance, you cant say Flip any more.
In 2014, Capt. Ronald Ravelo took command of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, becoming the first Filipino-American to take a carriers helm. There are Filipino-American admirals, too, including a woman Rear Adm. Babette Betty Bolivar.
Andrew Dolopo never reached such heights, at least not in uniform. He retired in 1983, honorably discharged as a chief petty officer, for family reasons. His 16-year-old daughter, Analyn, was pregnant and single. Wanting to help raise his grandchild, Andrew left the service and sought a job close to home.
He found work as a hospital custodian.
He was the happiest janitor ever, Analyn Dolopo said. We are really indebted to him.
Analyn resumed her studies, becoming a nurse. She considered enlisting in the Navy, like her dad. But, again like her dad, she decided to focus on raising her daughter, Angela.
Yet the family tradition continues in the person of Petty Officer 1st Class Brett Flores Angelas husband and thus Tomas Dolopos great-grandson by marriage. An American of Guamanian and Filipino heritage, Flores finds Andrew Dolopos tales of life in the service strangely familiar and his stories of discrimination strange.
Now you find anybody anywhere doing everything, Flores said. Its a very diverse Navy now.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
Holidaymakers from 12 European countries with low virus infection rates will be allowed into Finland as of next month but tourists from Sweden will remain barred, ministers said on Tuesday.
Border restrictions will be lifted on July 13 for countries with fewer than eight new infections per 100,000 people over the preceding 14 days, Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo told a press conference.
The Schengen countries meeting the criteria are Germany, Italy, Austria, Greece, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Liechtenstein, she said.
In addition, Croatia, Cyprus and Ireland will be added to the green list.
Checks on travellers from Denmark, Norway, Iceland and the Baltic countries were already lifted last week but not from Sweden, which has seen a far higher rate of infection than anywhere else in the region.
Sweden has an infection rate of 118.2 per 100,000 people, Ohisalo said on Tuesday, while Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto underlined that the criteria for allowing entry was objective.
Officials will make a further assessment of whether other EU countries and the UK meet the criteria for entry by July 10.
Travellers from all countries in the Schengen passport-free zone are currently admitted to Finland if travelling for work, family or other essential reasons.
On Tuesday, the government also announced an end to the recommendation that over-70s avoid all unnecessary physical contact, which was introduced in March.
Families and Social Services Minister Krista Kiuru said the reproduction rate in Finland was believed to have fallen to between 0.4 and 0.8, which "allows the existing restrictions to be reconsidered".
The fact that 87 percent of Finland's 327 COVID-19 deaths have been among the over-70s "shows that following the recommendations has not been in vain," Kiuru said.
A recommendation for people to work from home will also cease on August 1, ministers said.
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2020 AFP
U.S. investor Calvey to stay under house arrest in Moscow until August 13
Moskva city news agency, Igor Ivanko
17:34 23/06/2020
MOSCOW, June 23 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Tuesday upheld extension of house arrest for Baring Vostok investment company's founder Michael Calvey in the 2.5-billion-ruble (about $40 million) embezzlement case until August 13, RAPSI learnt from the courts press service.
House arrest of other defendants, Baring Vostok partner for the financial industry sector Philippe Delpal, Baring Vostok investment director Ivan Zyuzin, partner Vagan Abgaryan, CEO of the First Collectors Bureau Maxim Vladimirov and former chairmen of the board of Vostochny bank Alexey Kordichev, was also extended for the same term.
Calveys defense asked court to mitigate conditions of his house arrest and permit walks as he had been diagnosed with an oncology disease.
In early December, the Moscow City Court denied release of over 7.5 million rubles ($117,000) belonging to Calvey from attachment but overturned the seizure of his flat.
In mid-February 2019, Moscows Basmanny District Court ordered detention of Calvey and five other defendants including Delpal, the companys partners Vagan Abgaryan, Baring Vostok Investment Director Ivan Zyuzin, Maxim Vladimirov and ex- chairman of Vostochny bank board Alexey Kordichev.
On April 11, Moscows Basmanny District Court released Calvey from detention and put him under house arrest. Delpals measure of restrained was changed in October.
According to investigation, Calvey knowing about a 2.5-billion-ruble debt of the First Collector Bureau, a firm under his control, has organized the sale of its shares to Vostochny bank that has led to embezzlement.
The Investigative Committee claims that he committed a crime that could not be classified as business crime because he used a chain of sham companies settling the deal. Moreover, investigators say they have a PricewaterhouseCoopers audit report on the done deal estimating the sold shares at 600,000 rubles, which indicates an instance of fraud.
Calvey denies allegations insisting that the deal was fair as both companies agreed its terms and stood for it, including a person reporting an alleged crime to law enforcement bodies. He noted that a report has been filed with police by a member of Vostochny bank board of directors Sherzod Yusupov. According to Calvey, the real reason of his prosecution is a wide corporate dispute related to the control of the bank by two groups of shareholders: Baring Vostok and stockholders coming from Uniastrum bank, which was reorganized and joined to Vostochny in early 2017.
Baring Vostok company founded by Calvey in 1994 focuses on private equity investments in the CIS and Russia. The company has invested in shares of Yandex, Vkusvill, Tinkoff Bank and other major projects.
The UK Delivery Team (UKDT) is represented by strategic partners Mace Limited, Arup Limited and Gleeds International Limited, a release issued by the UK Government indicated.
After a rigorous selection process, the UK has been chosen as the delivery partner of the Reconstruction Program to provide international expertise in major prevention programs and to rebuild critical infrastructure affected by the El Nino phenomenon.
The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office has launched an investigation into whether embattled Conroe City Councilman Duane Ham violated the law by allegedly leaving a threatening voicemail message with a local businessman.
Lt. Scott Spencer, a spokesman for the sheriffs office, confirmed Tuesday that a man contacted the department June 18 and lodged a complaint against Ham over the voicemail. Spencer said he could not comment further because the matter is under investigation.
In a brief obscenity-riddled voicemail, which was reviewed by The Courier, a male caller threatens to have someone break the businessmans legs and fingers and leaves his phone number to be called back. The phone number is Hams.
Be ready. Im not (expletive) around, the caller says in closing.
Ham has acknowledged calling the businessman. He said he was angry that the businessman had fired and been rude to a female acquaintance of Hams.
It was an accident on both sides, Ham said, who declined further comment. He said he would need to consult with his attorney, Conroe-based Steve Jackson, who didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said he was concerned about the accusations.
I have been made aware of an allegation against a Conroe city councilman, Ligon said. The investigation is currently ongoing for us to review. If the allegations are true, not only is it disappointing, its disgusting and criminal.
The investigation comes four months after Ham was arrested in Montgomery County and charged with drunken driving.
According to the Precinct 2 Constables Office, Ham was pulled over by a deputy just before 9 p.m. on Feb. 12 in the 300 block of S. Loop 336 West. The deputy observed signs of possible intoxication, including the smell of alcohol on Hams breath. Ham refused to provide a blood sample voluntarily, according to officials so a search warrant affidavit was prepared and County Court-At-Law 3 Judge Patrice McDonald issued a search warrant ordering a blood draw for evidence.
However, the charges were dismissed earlier this month for lack of evidence.
Last July, Ham was involved in an altercation at a bar that left him with a black eye.
According to a police report, Conroe police officers responded around 8:20 p.m. on July 13 to a report of fight in the outdoor seating area of the Pacific Yardhouse, 101 Metcalf St. in downtown Conroe. Dispatchers relayed to officers that two drunk men were refusing to leave the business and that one was threatening to punch the manager.
Officers found several patrons, including Ham, restraining the two men. The report states that the manager had asked the pair to leave after someone reported they may have been putting an unknown substance in the drinks of other patrons.
Ham, the report continues, confronted the men when one of them became aggressive toward him. Police said Ham pushed the man hard enough to cause him to fall backward onto the ground. That is when the other man who was the subject of the original call hit Ham on the left side of his face, causing him to stumble backward.
No arrests were made and no charges were filed in the incident. Additionally, no evidence was found that the two men had put anything in drinks at the bar.
Ham, a first-term councilman, was elected in 2016 after winning 57.5 percent of the vote in a runoff election against Tony Fuller for the Place 1 seat. Ham succeeded Marsha Porter, who was term-limited.
Ham will face businessmen Todd Yancy and Brandon Polk in the November election.
cdominguez@hcnonline.com
(TNS) U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx ticked off the ways the Smart City challenge grant would change Columbus. Standing behind a podium in Linden's Douglas Recreation Center in June 2016 , Foxx said the federal government's four-year, $40 million award would help the city link pregnant women in a neighborhood suffering from high rates of infant mortality to doctor's offices.As the winner of the national competition, Columbus also would be able to deploy autonomous shuttles at Easton, platoon semi-trucks to improve traffic flow and develop a first-of-its-kind autonomous vehicle corridor."In other words, this challenge has proven that we aren't just about technology for technology's sake. It's about making a direct impact on the mobility and quality of life, and the future of this community. So goes this challenge, so goes America," Foxx told the assembled dignitaries.Four years since Columbus became America's Smart City, though, some of those ideas still haven't materialized. Other projects have been delayed or are behind schedule.Columbus hasn't completely transformed into a transportation innovation hub, but officials involved say it has made progress."(Smart Cities) was a test to allow Columbus as a community to practice, to test out, how technology could positively change and impact the lives of individuals," City Council President Shannon G. Hardin told The Dispatch. "With tests, and with trials, come successes. But sometimes, (there is) certainly need for readjustment."Columbus received a $40 million grant from the federal government and $10 million from Vulcan and added $18 million in matching funds from the city, Franklin County, the Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio State University in 2016.The private sector added millions of dollars more through in-kind contributions.While Columbus celebrated winning the competition in June 2016, it didn't receive the grant award until August. Originally, the city was to develop projects and then collect data for the federal government to show whether they could be replicated in other cities.That was to be done over four years. But Smart Columbus received an extension, and the program with the federal government now runs through the middle of 2021."The grant was always a seed for a bigger opportunity for our community," said Jordan Davis, Smart Columbus director for the Columbus Partnership. "In so many ways we're setting a foundation for how we think about the future of our community and what a city may look like in 50 or 100 years."Ohio State committed about $15 million in cash and in-kind contributions to the project, but also brought expertise from its College of Engineering, said David Cooke, senior associate director from OSU's Center for Automotive Research.Ohio State researchers are helping evaluate most of the Smart Columbus projects, and he said those always were meant to be pilot projects, not technology that would be immediately distributed across the entire city."They're the key indicators of where we invest in the future," Cooke said.Since that 2016 news conference, Smart Columbus has had some successes.It launched the Smart Columbus Operating System, the umbrella that covers all of the other projects promised under the grant. The system aggregates data for the public and software developers.The open-source code for the system was released in 2019 so other cities could use it.It also built a Smart Columbus "Experience Center" Downtown that acts as a showroom for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids and doubles as office space for the project.An autonomous shuttle called Smart Circuit ran for 10 months along the Scioto Mile . It could hold up to six people, including an on-board operator who could take control of the shuttle.It worked with an app called Wayfinder to help people with cognitive disabilities find their way around through a 23-person pilot program.Smart Columbus beat its electrification program's goal of having at least 3,200 electric vehicles adopted by March 2020. It expects to hit its goal of 1,000 charging stations for vehicles in a seven-county region by the end of the year. By Dec. 31, the region had 826 ports installed.The $10 million Vulcan grant, which will be spent by the end of October, paid for electrification efforts.Other related projects started to orbit Smart Columbus too. For instance, Honda plans to install 200 "on-board units" in employee vehicles by this fall to help drivers detect potential collisions or when traffic signals are about to turn.And the state of Ohio launched Drive Ohio as the clearinghouse for autonomous vehicles in the state. Drive Ohio is leading the creation of a "Smart Mobility Corridor" for testing autonomous technology on a 35-mile stretch of Route 33 northwest of Columbus.But Smart Columbus also has had fits and starts, with some projects sputtering.Just weeks into running self-driving shuttles in Linden, in February one suddenly stopped, throwing a passenger to the floor . The passenger was treated and released from the hospital, but the incident forced Smart Columbus to park the two 12-passenger shuttles, pending changes . Shuttles should restart by September, said Mandy Bishop, Smart Columbus program manager for the city, but officials are watching social distancing requirements during the coronavirus pandemic.A plan to platoon trucks so that they could move more efficiently over highways was eliminated, according to quarterly progress reports.A trip-planning tool that was supposed to allow users to plan their route using multiple forms of transportation including buses and scooters launched in beta form in 2019 as "Pivot," but a payment system that was supposed to be part of the application still isn't available.In documents filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Smart Columbus noted that the state's shutdown to stop the spread of COVID-19 has affected travel patterns and slowed the release of some projects.A plan to retrofit 1,800 vehicles with technology that could interact in a "connected vehicle environment" is expected to be cut significantly because of the coronavirus, documents show."A large percentage of the workforce is working from home," Bishop said.She said the plan now is to retrofit up to 1,200 vehicles, including 350 to 500 private vehicles, with the rest distributed on emergency vehicles, COTA buses and other city vehicles, for a test project along the North High Street, Morse Road and Cleveland Avenue corridors. Bishop said Smart Columbus will begin recruiting people from the community soon.The coronavirus also was expected to affect the rollout of a common-payment system in the multimodal trip planning application, as well as recruitment for participants in a prenatal trip assistance program in Linden, according to Smart Columbus' most recent quarterly report.Bishop said 141 women are participating in the prenatal trip program.Six "smart mobility hubs," kiosks with WiFi where people can find different transportation options to plan trips, should be ready to go by the end of July after construction was to begin in fall 2019, Bishop said. The locations will be at Columbus State, the Linden Transit Center, St. Stephens Community House, the Columbus Public Library's Linden branch, Northern Lights Park and Ride and the Easton Transit Center.The community is getting other benefits, as well. Delegations from 80 cities and 20 countries visited Columbus to learn about the programs here, said Jennifer Fening, a Smart Columbus spokeswoman, giving the city more exposure.Fening said another $720 million has been invested by organizations throughout the region in mobility innovation, education and more. That includes $124 million for a wind tunnel and $49 million for a smart mobility center at the Transportation Research Center between Marysville and Bellefontaine, and $110 million for smart roads and signals.Hardin said Smart Columbus spent much of its first year figuring out how to work with officials in Washington, D.C.The city signed the grant agreement about two months before President Donald Trump was elected, and Hardin said project leaders feared that they would not be approved for future funding allocations as administrations changed.The U.S. Department of Transportation did not respond to a request for comment.Alex Fischer, president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, said there has been better progress with some efforts than others."We tried some things that worked, others that don't," Fischer said. "Plans have been refined and changed. Things have not worked as well as anticipated. Some got done ahead of schedule."Fischer said area businesses will continue to focus on new technology."Microtransit. Renewable energy. A carbon neutral society. All are going to be platforms that the partnership continues to build on," he said. "The private sector is planning to make sure the things started don't just stop."Patrick Harris, a COTA spokesman, said the Smart City award transformed the mindset of the community, including that of the transit authority's officials, citing the Wayfinder app and electric charging stations at COTA park-and-ride lots."Transit is really a key component of how we move forward as a smart city. That's something that really came out of the project," said Joshua Lapp, chair of the board for Transit Columbus.
Back to top Our Journalistic Standards
The Torstar Journalistic Standards Guide provides a comprehensive code of journalistic principles and conduct to guide Welland Tribune journalists in their mission to responsibly engage and connect our readers on all platforms with trusted news, information and content.
Here are the general editorial principles that provide the foundation for this guide:
RESPONSIBILITY
The Welland Tribune has responsibilities to its customers, its clients, its shareholders and its employees. But the operation of a news organization is, above all, a public trust, no less binding because it is not formally conferred. Our overriding responsibility is to the democratic society.
Freedom of expression and of the press must be defended against encroachment from any quarter, public or private. Journalists must ensure that the publics business is conducted in public. They must be vigilant against all who would exploit the press for selfish purposes.
Journalists who abuse the power of their professional roles for selfish motives or unworthy purposes are faithless to that public trust.
ACCESS
The Welland Tribune is a forum for the interchange of information and opinion. It should provide for the expression of disparate and conflicting views. It should give expression to the interests of minorities as well as majorities, of the powerless as well as the powerful.
ACCURACY AND TRUTH
Good faith with the reader is the foundation of ethical and excellent journalism. That good faith rests primarily on the readers confidence that what we print is correct. Every effort must be made to ensure that everything published in the Tribune is accurate, is presented in context, and that all significant sides are presented fairly.
Journalistic integrity demands that significant errors of fact, as well as errors of omission, should be corrected promptly and as prominently and transparently as warranted.
FAIRNESS
The Tribune should respect the rights of people involved in the news, be transparent and stand accountable to the public for the fairness and reliability of everything it publishes. Fair news reports provide relevant context, do not omit relevant facts and aim to be honest with readers about what we know and what we do not know. Our core fairness standard demands that any subject of potentially harmful allegations must be given opportunity to respond.
INDEPENDENCE
Independence from those we cover is a key principle of journalistic integrity. We avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts. The Tribune believes in paying the costs incurred in gathering and publishing news. In circumstances where that may not be possible, we disclose information that could create the perception of a conflict of interest. Transparency with our readers and openness about the potential for conflicts should guide our considerations about real or perceived conflicts.
IMPARTIALITY
To be impartial does not require a news organization to be unquestioning or to refrain from editorial expression. Sound practice, however, demands a clear distinction for readers between news and opinion. All content that contains explicit opinion or personal interpretation should be clearly identified as opinion or analysis, as appropriate.
PRIVACY
Every person has a right to privacy. There are inevitable conflicts between the right to privacy, the public good and the public's right to be informed about the conduct of public affairs. Each case should be judged in the light of common sense and humanity.
Back to top Accuracy and Corrections Policy
Here are some of the core policies included in our Standards Guide:
There can be no compromise with accuracy. Accuracy is our most basic contract with readers and is the responsibility of everyone in our newsrooms. Accuracy is grounded in verification, the essence of journalism. We must check and double-check all the information we publish, including information from all other publications.
Mistakes will happen. When they do, we correct our errors. Corrections serve the reader and they serve the public record. They are essential to building and maintaining trust with our readers. Anyone who becomes aware of a possible error has responsibility for alerting those responsible for corrections in their newsrooms.
Our corrections are guided by the core principles of accountability and transparency. We are accountable to our readers for the accuracy of the information we publish in stories, headlines, photos, cutlines, social media, graphics, data, videos and any other content on all of our platforms. We correct errors of fact in a clear, transparent manner on the platform(s) in which the error was published, as promptly as possible. We make clear to readers the correct information and the context and magnitude of the mistake.
On all of our platforms, it should be clear to readers how to report a possible error. Readers can do so by emailing corrections@niagaradailies.com or, on wellandtribune.ca, readers can report possible errors directly on an article page by selecting the "Report an Error" icon.
Back to top Diversity Policy
Inclusiveness is at the heart of thinking and acting as journalists. Torstar newsrooms aim to reflect the diversity of our communities and respect the human rights and equal dignity of all. We aim for a variety of voices as sources and contributors in our news and opinion.
We seek to foster greater community understanding about ethnicity, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status and physical/mental ability and do not perpetuate hurtful stereotypes.
Generally no reference, direct or indirect, should be made to a persons race, colour or religion unless it is pertinent to the story.
In the case of a missing person or a criminal suspect at large, there may be justification for identifying race or colour as part of a full description that provides as many details as possible. Avoid vague descriptions that serve no purpose. At times, a group may make race a public issue. In such cases, the persons race becomes relevant to the news.
Religion is important to the lives of many of our readers. We should not hold up one religion or set of beliefs as superior to another. Do not single out a religion or religious practice for ridicule or stereotyping or use profanities considered offensive to any religions.
We treat men and women equally and respect diverse gender identities, including people who identify as neither male nor female.
Torstar is committed to this same inclusivness and diversity reflective of our communities in its hiring, promotion, development and retention of its staff.
Back to top Anonymity and Confidential Sources
The public interest is best served when news sources are identified by their full names. Torstar journalists are aggressive in pressing sources to put information on the record and seek independently to corroborate off-the-record information.
We do not provide anonymity to those who attack individuals or organizations or engage in speculation the unattributed cheap shot. People under attack in our publications have the right to know their accusers.
There are times when reporters need confidential sources to serve readers and democracy. Responsible journalism in the public interest often depends on these confidential sources who give journalists information that powerful people seek to keep secret. There are times also when some sources, such as underage or other vulnerable people, may require anonymity in telling their stories.
Torstar journalists must discuss using confidential sources with their department head, and in some cases the newsrooms most senior editor. They must always reveal the sources identity to editors, and provide a compelling argument for why the source will not be named in news reports. Senior editors have responsibility to work with reporters to assess the credibility of all sources including confidential sources.
Once any promise is made to grant anonymity, we protect our source, only revealing their identity with that persons permission.
Published articles must explain why sources have been granted anonymity and why we consider them authoritative and credible. Confidential sources should have first-hand knowledge of the information and this must be conveyed to the reader. We should publish as much information as possible about the source including why they sought confidentiality without revealing identity.
The definitions and ground rules for not naming a source must be discussed with sources. Any further promises made or deals brokered with any source must be discussed in advance with senior editors and are subject to the following:
Composites, where several sources are compiled into one person, are not used. Pseudonyms are used only rarely, with a senior editors permission, and must be declared as such in stories.
The source and the journalist must be clear on what has been agreed to and that agreement must be shared with the department manager. Torstar journalists keep their promises.
Back to top Conflict of Interest
Independence from those we cover is a key principle of journalistic integrity. We avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts. In circumstances where that may not be possible, we disclose information that could create the perception of a conflict of interest. Transparency with our readers and openness about the potential for conflicts should guide our considerations about real or perceived conflicts.
These policies apply to all outside interests that could cause our audiences to question the fairness and independence of our journalism.
We seek primarily to ensure that our reporters reputations as fair-minded fact-finders are not compromised by public displays of political or partisan views on public issues, nor influenced by personal involvement or personal axe-grinding on issues we cover.
Opinion journalists have greater leeway on these matters, in line with the latitude to express their own views in their work.
All Torstar editorial staff should inform their immediate supervisors of any outside activity that could result in a conflict of interest, or reasonably perceived conflict of interest, that could cause our audiences to question the integrity of our work.
These policies are not intended to restrict the personal lives, interests or expressions of beliefs of Torstar journalists outside their work lives. Rather, as has been established through various arbitration processes across the company, they seek to ensure that any such personal activities and interests do not come into conflict with the public role of our news organizations in any way that could be seen to compromise our editorial independence and integrity.
Back to top News and Opinions
The Tribune clearly labels content on all platforms to draw a clear line between news and opinion. This glossary provides definitions for various types of news and opinion we publish.
NEWS
News content is verified information based on the impartial reporting of facts, either observed by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. News reports do not include the opinion of the author.
News Terms
Analysis: A critical or contextual examination of an important and topical issue based on factual reporting. It provides an explanation of the impact or meaning of news events and draws on the authority and expertise of the writer. Analysis articles do not contain the authors opinions.
Investigation: In-depth reporting in the public interest that reveals wrongdoing and/or systemic problems, holds those in power accountable and promotes positive change.
OPINION
Opinion articles based are based on personal interpretation and judgment of facts. Opinion journalists have wide latitude to express their own views, subject to standards of taste and laws of libel including views directly contrary to the editorial views of the Tribune.
Opinion Terms
Editorial: An article that presents a point of view reflecting the news organization's position on an issue of public interest. Editorials are not meant to be a neutral presentation of the facts. They are written by journalists who are expressing the view of the news organization. As an editorial serves to present the companys voice, there is no individual byline.
Opinion: Articles based on the authors interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. Opinion articles include columns written by staff and commentary from non-staff contributors. Opinion journalists have wide latitude to express their own views including views directly contrary to the news organization's editorial views, as long as they fall within the boundaries of taste and laws of libel. Columnists should not engage in personal axe-grinding or internecine debates with other columnists who write for either their own or other publications.
Advice: An advice article reflects the opinion of the author, who provides guidance or direction on a topic based on their expertise as well as their personal interpretations and judgments of facts.
Blog: An online journal updated regularly by a journalist or editorial department that supplements news coverage. Blogs are usually informal or conversational in style and may reflect a writers opinions, subject to the rights and responsibilities of fair comment.
First person: Narratives exploring an authors insights, observations or thoughts based on that individuals personal experience and opinions.
Readers letters: A selection of letters by readers expressing a point of view, usually concerning a recently published article or current event.
Review: A critical assessment of the merits of a subject, such as art, film, music, television, food or literature. Reviews are based on the writers informed/expert opinion.
Back to top Contact Us
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Russia, India and China should correctly handle and properly deal with "sensitive issues" in bilateral ties to safeguard the overall interests of their relations.
Wang's remarks at a virtual conference of the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) trilateral came amidst a violent clash between the militaries of India and China that led to the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley on June 15.
In his address to RIC Foreign Ministers, Wang said the three countries should "correctly handle and properly deal with sensitive factors in bilateral relations and safeguard the overall interests of mutual relation", without directly referring to the current round of India-China military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were also present in the meeting.
He backed Russia's proposal to hold the first RIC defence ministers meeting to enhance the level of defence and security cooperation.
Wang emphasised that China, Russia, and India are big countries that insist on strategic autonomy, a press release issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. He said the three nations should grasp the opportunity to enhance overall cooperation.
"Starting from the common interests of promoting the development of the three countries and safeguarding the world's peaceful development, we should correctly treat and properly handle the sensitive factors in bilateral relations and maintain the overall situation of mutual relations," he said.
"We should make good use of the overall momentum of cooperation in which the three countries are partners and opportunities for each other proceed from the common interests of promoting the development and revitalisation of the three countries and safeguarding the world peace and development," he said.
He said the three counties should adhere to multilateralism and improve global governance, resolutely defend the victory of the Second World War and promote the democratisation and the rule of law in international relations.
They should maintain the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, ensure the authority and effectiveness of the UN, and strengthen communication and coordination within the UN framework.
They should build an open world economy, maintain the multilateral trading system based on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and ensure the safe and smooth operation of the global industrial supply chain.
The three nations should improve the cooperation level of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in various fields and maintain unity and cooperation of the BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries.
The three countries should strengthen the cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic and work together to overcome it by carrying out mutual exchanges and lessons learned from their experiences to carry out epidemic information sharing, drug and vaccine R&D (Research and Development) cooperation.
The three nations should explore the establishment of a joint defence and joint control mechanism and establish a "fast channel" for the exchange of personnel and a "green channel" for logistics, he said.
The three countries should jointly promote international anti-epidemic cooperation, resolutely resist stigmatising the epidemic situation, and resolutely oppose making political essays in the name of anti-epidemic. They should support the World Health Organisation (WHO), promote the improvement of global public health governance and build a community of human health, he said.
China has come under increasing global pressure over lack of transparency in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which originated from the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
Wang suggested a tripartite joint force to perfect the cooperation mechanism.
"It is recommended to establish a tripartite ministerial dialogue mechanism in the professional fields of economy, trade, energy, transportation, education, culture, and health; establish a panel of experts and celebrities to provide suggestions for deepening the tripartite cooperation," the press release said.
MEXICO CITY - A longstanding feud over a wind-power project has boiled over into grisly violence, after at least 15 people were bludgeoned to death with stones and cement blocks, and some bodies were partly burned.
The government of the Pacific coast community of San Mateo del Mar in Oaxaca state said Monday that 13 men and two women were killed in what he described as an attack by a group of dissident townspeople on Sunday.
But dissidents who successfully opposed wind power projects in the largely Indigenous area say the mayors followers ambushed them at a coronavirus checkpoint and began shooting. The dissidents said several people were wounded but did not provide an exact figure on those wounded by gunshots.
The prosecutors office in the southern state confirmed the figure of 15 dead, and said a detachment of four detectives, 80 state police and 39 National Guard members had been sent to the scene of the killings.
It was not clear whether the confrontations Saturday and Sunday in San Mateo del Mar began at one of the sanitary checkpoints that have sprung up in recent months to stem the spread of coronavirus.
The area has been coveted for its open, windy coast, and the two sides have been feuding for years. The conflicts date back to 2012 when a consortium of companies tried to build a huge, 396-megawatt off-shore wind farm planned for a narrow spit of land in a lagoon near San Mateo.
The opponents managed to block the project, arguing it would affect their fishing, farming and sacred spaces.
Many residents belong to the Ikoots Indigenous group, sometimes known as the Huaves.
The killings were announced on the same day that Public Safety Secretary Alfonso Durazo praised the south-eastern part of the country, where Oaxaca is located, as the safest part of the country.
The southeast is particularly giving the best results in public safety, which is not easy anywhere, but specifically in the southeast the crime rate is much, much less serious than in the rest of the country, Durazo said.
That was in part because, before Sunday, the most spectacular violence was occurring in the north, in states like Guanajuato, which now accounts for about 15% to 20% of all the countrys homicides.
Attention was dominated by a weekend roundup of gang members in Guanajuato, which unleashed reprisal burning of vehicles by the Santa Rosa de Lima gang. That gang is fighting a bloody turf battle against the Jalisco cartel for control of the state.
On Monday, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the crackdown on the gang was carried out becaue we cannot let the situation fall into chaos, anarchy ... Guanajuato is a situation we have faced for some time now, and we had to act to prevent more bloodshed.
Many listed companies plan to buy tens of trillions of dong in treasury stocks.
Vinamilk, the nations leading dairy producer, plans to spend VND1.8 trillion to buy 17.5 million shares.
Khang Dien, a real estate developer, plans to pay VND448 billion for 20 million shares. CII, an infrastructure developer, has also decided to buy 14 million shares as the share price has dropped by 30 percent.
Hoa Binh Construction has registered to buy 10 millions shares to stabilize the stock prices. The money used to buy treasury stocks is from the 2019 undistributed profits.
Seeing share price falling to a low, IDICO plans to buy 15 million treasury stocks. VP Bank, listed among the most profitable banks in recent years, plans to buy 5 percent of shares in circulation, or 122 million.
A lot of enterprises in many different business fields have decided to take action to save share prices from falling. PAN Group registered to buy 21.6 million shares (10 percent), Hoang Huy Investment and Service 25 million shares, and Thien Long Group 1.5 million shares.
When investors panic and the share prices fall too much below the companies potential and value, they first plan to buy treasury stocks, said Nguyen Tra My, CEO of Pan Group.
Buying back shares for treasury shares is the strategy used by many listed companies when the market slides. This helps stop the decline in enterprise value and avoids the risk of being taken over at low prices.
Khang Dien, a real estate developer, plans to pay VND448 billion for 20 million shares. CII, an infrastructure developer, has also decided to buy 14 million shares as the share price has dropped by 30 percent.
However, analysts said buying treasury stocks is not always a wise move. In some cases, it may send negative messages to investors. Doubts may be raised that the executives of the companies dont know what to do with the cash they have.
Some listed companies may have to borrow money to buy treasury stocks. This will result in increased debt which puts financial pressure on enterprises.
Buying treasury stocks at this moment will be just a waste, because nothing can prevent the long-term downward trend, said Phan Le Thanh Long, director of CMA Australia in Vietnam.
He said that spending big money to buy stocks will bring disadvantages to enterprises because they may be short of money when things return to normal.
Instead of using trillions of dong to buy treasury stocks, enterprises can use the amount of money for other purposes to increase the enterprises value.
Kim Chi
More investors join Vietnamese stock market, cash flows in As many as 102,000 trading accounts opened in the last months, showing the attractiveness of the stock market.
- The first hijab-wearing judge in the United Kingdom says her parents once told her to remove her hijab before going for a scholarship interview
- Raffia Arshad says she insisted on wearing the hijab to the interview despite her parents' fear that it may reduce her chances of being selected
- She says she was selected for the scholarship in a law school and 17 years later, she became the first hijab-wearing judge in the United Kingdom
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Raffia Arshad, the first hijab-wearing judge in the United Kingdom, has recalled the risk she took when going for a scholarship interview.
Arshad said her family told her to remove her hijab because it would reduce her chances of being selected, but she insisted that she would wear it.
She said: "That was my career's defining moment. I took the risk & decided to keep the hijab on.
"I not only got selected for the scholarship in a law school, but today after 17 years of law experience, I am appointed as a 1st hijab-wearing judge in UK."
According to BBC, the judge said it took her a while to get to the height she has attained, adding that she is pleased to be where she is.
Raffia Arshad. Photo credit: Shoaib Mirza/LinkedIn
Source: UGC
She said: "It's taken a while to get here but I'm so pleased. It's not just a personal achievement. It's a huge achievement for anyone from a diverse background."
Raffia Arshad says she insisted on wearing the hijab to the interview despite her parents' fear that it may reduce her chances of being selected. Photo credit: New Age Islam
Source: UGC
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh previously reported that a young Ghanaian Muslim lady called Zainab Alhassan described how she was disqualified from the audition of TV3's Ghana's Most Beautiful pageant for wearing a hijab.
In a Facebook post, Zainab Alhassan said she passed through the first part of the audition, exhibited her talent, and showed off her oratory skills which she said impressed the judges.
In other news, Ghanas former president Jerry John Rawlings is a husband and father of four children who have accomplished laudable feats in their respective careers.
The founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), military leader and first president of the Fourth Republic ruled the country from 1981 to 2001.
Former president Rawlings is married to Nana Konadu Agyemang, with whom they have four children including three girls named Zanetor Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings, Amina Rawlings, and a boy, Kimathi Rawlings.
The Rawlings family has been under the media's lens for years for various reasons, but notably, political.
Ghanaian female accounting graduate and mushroom farmer recounts her experience | #Yencomgh
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In 1970, three of four African Americans in Michigan lived in and around Detroit.
A half-century later, little has changed.
According to Reuters and local press reports, South Africa's third-biggest operator, Cell C, has announced plans to lay off more than 38 per cent of its workforce.
About 960 workers, from a workforce of 2,500, will be made redundant as the company restructures its operations to align the organisation with what is described as its new operating model.
Discussions with junior management and semi-skilled staff are already under way on job cuts. However, reports suggest that the company is also looking at a number of ways to re-skill some of the affected employees.
Cell C, which is third in the market behind MTN and Vodacom, has not performed well in recent years, generating significant losses. This led to the launch of a turnaround strategy in early 2019 that focuses on cost savings through procurement cuts, a year-long hiring freeze, a review and discontinuation of certain product offerings. As part of this strategy Cell C recently reviewed its operating model and organisational structure, a process that affected 30 senior management positions in May.
Meanwhile, press reports have been full of stories about potential suitors for the company. In January Vodacom Group Ltd was said to be in talks with Cell C Pty Ltd about taking on the smaller operators contract-paying customers. In November last year it rejected a takeover offer from semi-privatised South African wireline and wireless telecommunications provider Telkom SA. And the recent news that Orange is considering an entry into the South African market within months has provoked a flurry of speculation about whether this would involve an investment in Cell C or even the purchase of the company.
Independent living facilities across Pennsylvania are starting to allow visitors as the state moves on in its coronavirus reopening plans.
Independent living facilities are devoted to senior citizens who are capable of being on their own but want to reside in a community setting. They arent nursing homes or assisted living facilities, which are restricting visitors until at least 28 days after their county moves into the green phase.
Independent living facilities have no such restrictions. However, the state department of health encourages facilities to proceed with caution.
We would certainly recommend these facilities assess their facility and its potential exposure and take steps to protect residents, said a health department spokesperson. In addition, certainly if there is a location that is dealing with concerns, the department would work with them to determine what the best approach would be.
Messiah Lifeways Messiah Village in Upper Allen Township began allowing non-essential visitors on June 12, encouraging all visits to be conducted outdoors or within the residents apartment or cottage. Masks are also encouraged, as is social distancing.
Residential living residents are independent and live on their own in cottages and apartment buildings at Messiah Village, so Messiah Lifeways has tried to balance that independence with our responsibility to do what we can to protect everyone on campus. said Kim Valvo, executive director of resident communities with Messiah Lifeways. Weve been very intentional about communicating with residents frequently to help educate them about COVID-19 and how they can keep themselves as safe and healthy as possible as outlined by the CDC, as well as to keep them up-to-date with changing procedures on campus.
Albright Care Services, which is part of Asbury Communities, Inc., began allowing visitors on June 22, with some restrictions. Albright Care facilities include Riverwoods in Lewisburg and Normandie Ridge in West Manchester Township. Independent living residents are allowed to have two daytime visitors, all of whom should wear masks and follow physical distancing protocols. Visitors are encouraged to stay for a maximum of two hours and should only be inside the residents living area, or on the residents porch or patio. Depending on where residents live, their visitors may be screened upon arrival.
Asbury Communities has the same rules in place for residents of its Springhill facility in Erie and Bethany Village in Lower Allen Township.
Reopening for visitors has been trickier at Country Meadows, which has locations across Pennsylvania. At Country Meadows, independent living residents often live mixed-in with those needing assisted living or personal care. While Country Meadows cant restrict residents from leaving their apartment, theyve been encouraging them to stay home when possible.
Its really about educating them, said Country Meadows senior vice president Meredith Mills. You moved into our community because you wanted a social setting with other neighbors and because you live in that communal setting, you need to be responsible for the health of our community.
Country Meadows is hoping to make a shift towards allowing outdoor visits, where everyone wears masks, in the next few weeks. For the time being, families are restricted to seeing residents through pre-arranged window visits.
Its absolutely heartbreaking keeping residents from being able to visit with their loved ones, Mills said. I feel there is a safe way to do it if we move to outside visits. Visiting outdoors with a loved one is a lot safer than other potential activities.
Were just as anxious as families are to get everyone back together, Mills said. We appreciate them being so patient with us so we can do it in a safe and organized way.
Since the pandemic is an ever evolving issue, be sure to check out the website of your loved ones living facility to see the latest updates on their policy for visitors.
This story has been updated to correct the relationship between Albright Care and Asbury Communities, as well as the operator of Bethany Village.
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Several rural Australian towns are set to see boom in jobs offering six-figure salaries by the end of the year.
The new owners of Buck Reef West gold mine, at Ravenswood in North Queensland, plan to go ahead with a major expansion that will create at least 150 jobs.
Ravenswood Gold chief executive Brett Fletcher said the Ravenswood Expansion Project would focus on boosting local employment.
The Buck Reef West gold mine (pictured), at Ravenswood in North Queensland, is set to undergo a major expansion that will create at least 150 jobs by the end of this year
Ravenswood Gold intends to employ as many local workers as possible from rural areas like Townsville, Ayr, Ravenswood and Home Hill. Pictured: A BHP student in South Australia
'Our intention is to employ as many of those people as we can from the local area and by that I mean Ravenswood, Charters Towers, Townsville, Ayr and Home Hill regions.
'That is pretty much where we get 99.9 per cent of the workforce at the moment,' Mr Fletcher said.
These new workers can expect to receive a salary of around $110,800, which is the average pay for a mining employee in Australia, according to Payscale.
Mr Fletcher explained Ravenswood Gold intended to 'commence full-scale open-pit mining' as part of the site expansion.
'We're working through a number of work packages, including pit design and construction of a new tailings dam,' he said.
This return to open-pit mining is expected to create at least 150 permanent positions between June and the end of 2020.
Ravenswood Gold will also use the mine's processing plant at maximum capacity and plans to expand production to seven or eight million tonnes of gold per annum.
Australian mining workers (NSW copper mine pictured) receive an average salary of $110,800
'We are looking to commence mining and processing Buck Reef West at five million tonnes per annum and then expanding as this mine ramps up' Mr Fletcher said.
He said Ravenswood Gold were already engaged in talks with various mining contractors in preparation for mining at Buck Reef West.
Townsville Enterprise chief executive Patricia O'Callaghan said Ravenswood Gold represented a significant contribution to North Queensland's economy.
'Across their upcoming $600 million expansion project this workforce is estimated to double, which is great news for our region at a time more important than ever,' she told Townsville Bulletin.
Ravenswood Gold intends to work at maximum capacity and process up to eight million tonnes of gold per annum. Pictured: Mining workers at a site in Sydney
'Ravenswood Gold is a major economic contributor to the local community and wider North Queensland.
'From building a new $10 million school, supplying medical services and growing tourism opportunities, the operations of Ravenswood Gold are truly more than just mining,' Ms O'Callaghan explained.
Ravenswood Gold acquired the mine as part of a consortium with Hong Kong based private equity manager EMR Capital and Singaporean company Golden Energy and Resources Limited.
The consortium paid an upfront consideration of $100 million to Resolute Mining in March.
Resolute Mining may also receive up to $200 million in contingent payments linked to the average gold price and the investment outcomes of Ravenswood.
Rabbi Kliel Rose looks out at the many busts at Citizens Hall of Fame in Assiniboine Park on Monday.
Kolkata, June 23 : West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday once again courted fresh controversy as he said that his party would adopt the same political strategy to counter the state's ruling Trinamool Congress that believes in resorting to violence.
Earlier, Ghosh had released a slogan on the social networking sites that read "bodlao hobe, bodol o hobe" which means there will be revenge as well as changes.
"If they take up swords, we will take up swords. If they fight with knives, we will take knives. As many as 104 BJP activists were killed in various political clashes across Bengal in past few years. We will answer them in the same language they believe in. They (Trinamool Congress) will not be able to stop us with the help of police forces," Ghosh said.
The BJP state chief said that his party has nothing to hide and the political change in Bengal is just a matter of time.
"BJP does not believe in violence and revenge. But if anyone thinks they can suppress us and kill our supporters like this, we are ready to counter them in their language of violence. We are not cowards. We will pay them back everything with interest," he hollered, adding that BJP also does what it says.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal police registered an FIR against Ghosh and other BJP leaders for gathering at the party's Subhash Nagar office on June 20 without permission. The BJP president along with the other party members assembled in West Midnapore's police station area to pay last respects to a party worker, Pawan Jana of Dantan, who was allegedly killed by Trinamool Congress-backed goons.
"Trinamool Congress will not be able to stop us by filing FIRs. They have given over 29,000 cases against BJP workers across Bengal," Ghosh added.
Reacting to Ghosh's comments, state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim said that the people of Bengal do not believe in violence and the school of politics that BJP is trying to practice in the state.
"People will reject them (BJP). The politics of violence and separatism do not work in West Bengal," Hakim said dubbing BJP as a communal party.
Senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said: "It is expected from the BJP state president to sound like that. They believe in violence and communalism as always. We have seen it in other states. Now their party is taking the same line in Bengal as well."
A North Korean loudspeaker is seen inside their territory in this picture taken from an observation platform, near the demilitarized zone which separates the two Koreas in Incheon, South Korea on June 23, 2020. (Yonhap/Reuters)
North Korea Seen Reinstalling Border Loudspeakers; Satellite Photos Show Liaison Office Damaged
SEOULNorth Korea is reinstalling loudspeakers blaring propaganda across the border in its latest step away from inter-Korean peace agreements, prompting the Souths military to explore similar moves, a South Korean military source said on June 23.
Tension between the two Koreas has risen in recent weeks after the North blew up a joint liaison office on its side of the border, declared an end to dialogue and threatened military action.
South Korean soldiers take part in a live fire exercise near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea, on June 23, 2020. (Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)
The North Korean regimes military was seen putting up loudspeakers near the demilitarised zone (DMZ). Such systems were taken down after the two Koreas signed an accord in 2018 to cease all hostile acts, the military official said.
Were also considering reinstalling our own loudspeakers, he said. But the North hasnt begun any broadcast yet, and were just getting ready to be able to counteract at any time.
A spokeswoman at Seouls defense ministry declined to confirm North Koreas moves but reiterated at a regular briefing that Pyongyang would have to pay for the consequences if it continues to defy joint efforts to foster peace.
The two countries have for decades pumped out propaganda from huge banks of speakers as a form of psychological warfare. The South aired a blend of news, Korean pop songs, and criticism of the northern regime, while the North blasted the South and praised its own socialist system.
Commercial satellite imagery of the liaison office site on Monday showed that the building remained standing, but had been heavily damaged.
Analysts at U.S.-based 38 North, which tracks North Korea, said last week that the explosion was clearly not a controlled detonation, as the building was not leveled and there was significant collateral damage to the adjacent buildings.
The North Korean regime began taking its recent actions as it denounced North Korean defectors in the South sending propaganda leaflets across the border.
Several defector-led groups have regularly sent flyers, food, $1 bills, mini radios, and USB sticks containing South Korean dramas and news, usually by balloon or in bottles in rivers.
One group, led by Park Sang-hak, who fled the isolated state in 2000, said on Tuesday it flew 20 balloons containing 500,000 leaflets, 500 booklets on South Korea, and 2,000 $1 bills.
South Koreas government has pursued legal action to stop such activities, citing safety concerns for residents in border towns, but controversy remains over whether it violates the countrys protections for freedom of expression.
Seouls Unification Ministry handling inter-Korean affairs issued a statement vowing a stern response to the leaflet launches by Parks group.
Pyongyangs state media said on Monday angry North Koreans have also prepared some 12 million leaflets to be sent back.
By Hyonhee Shin
U.S., Russian Envoys End First Day Of Talks On Nuclear Arms Treaty
By RFE/RL June 22, 2020
The United States and Russia on June 22 opened two days of talks on their last remaining nuclear arms control, the New START treaty, which caps the number of deployed long-range nuclear warheads each can have.
The top U.S. arms control negotiator, Marshall Billingslea, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov headed the delegations in Vienna, with little prospect of an imminent agreement on New START, which expires in February 2021.
Russia has called for an extension of the accord limiting Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals to 1,550 deployed long-range nuclear warheads each.
However, Washington has said that its bilateral arms control agreements with Moscow are outdated and that it wants Beijing to be included in any future agreements on nuclear weapons.
China has repeatedly rejected attempts to get it to join the talks. While the country has been expanding its nuclear arsenal, it is still far smaller than the U.S. and Russian programs.
Russia's UN envoy in the Austrian capital, Mikhail Ulyanov, tweeted just before 7 p.m. local time that the meeting in Vienna had ended, adding: "Official comments will follow."
Both Billingslea and Ryabkov were guarded in their statements as they arrived for the discussions.
"We'll see," the U.S. envoy said when asked what he expected to come of the talks. He declined to elaborate on their content.
Ryabkov was equally cautious, telling reporters, "Let's see, let's see. We are always very hopeful."
Ahead of the talks, Billingslea posted on Twitter a photo of Chinese flags at empty chairs at the Vienna negotiating table.
"China is a no-show. Beijing still hiding behind 'Great Wall of Secrecy' on its crash nuclear build-up, and so many other things. We will proceed with Russia, notwithstanding," he wrote.
On June 20, Ryabkov told Interfax that Russia has run out of arguments for extending the pact but will still raise the idea.
"We have repeatedly explained to the Americans why we think a decision in favor of an extension is right," he said at the time. "We won't find any more arguments for what we have already told them many times. Of course, we will use the opportunity to remind of our position."
While Russia would consider it "right and logical" to extend New START, "by and large this treaty is not everything," Ryabkov told Interfax.
Moscow, however, has repeatedly warned of the danger of a new arms race if the treaty is not renewed.
Ultimately, it will be up to what U.S. President Donald Trump's government decides, he added.
Trump has pulled out of or let expire a number of international agreements, including the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Iran nuclear deal. But his administration has voiced a general interest in preserving New START.
Russia, whose nuclear arsenal is a key element of power while it is vastly outspent on defense by the United States, says it wants to ensure parity with Washington.
It also wants a broader discussion with Washington on arms control, including on U.S. threats to resume nuclear tests after a suspension of nearly three decades.
Last month, Billingslea accused Moscow of modernizing thousands of "nonstrategic" nuclear weapons that fall outside of the New START treaty.
"They have adopted a highly provocative nuclear doctrine that embraces early escalation and use of nuclear weapons," he said, calling for any successor treaty to put more Russian arms under monitoring.
With reporting by AFP, Interfax, and dpa
Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/talks-to-salvage-last -major-nuclear-treaty-between-u-s-russia -to-begin-in-vienna/30683705.html
Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Shopify Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tobias Lutke is touting Canada as a relocation option after President Donald Trump temporarily suspended several employment-based visas.
"If this affects your plans consider coming to Canada instead," Lutke said in a tweet Tuesday. "If getting to the U.S. is your main objective you can still move on south after the H1-B rules change. But Canada is awesome. Give it a try."
Trump ordered a freeze on new work visas this week, affecting those seeking employment in technology and hospitality industries in the U.S. The directive is in place until the end of this year and has garnered significant backlash from tech behemoths like Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp.
Ottawa-based Shopify is on a hiring spree and has "lots of experience" with relocating people, Lutke said on Twitter. The e-commerce firm claimed the second-largest share of online retail sales in the U.S. last year and powers more than 1 million merchants across 175 countries, from Victoria Beckham's clothing line to megabrands such as Heineken and PepsiCo.
In 2019, Shopify helped move $61 billion of goods. This year, the coronavirus pandemic has given Shopify a huge push as brick-and-mortar retailers switch to online platforms and more consumers make purchases digitally. Since January, the company's share price has more than doubled, vying with Royal Bank of Canada as the nation's largest publicly traded company.
In contrast with its neighbor to the south, Canada has an international reputation of welcoming immigrants. More than one in five Canadians are foreign-born and roughly 60% of new arrivals came under the federal government's economic-admission category, according to the 2016 Census conducted by Statistics Canada.
A sign is displayed outside a branch of the TSB bank in central London
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Eamonn Crowley has been appointed chief executive of Permanent TSB (PTSB) with immediate effect, the Irish bank said on Monday.
Crowley makes the move from chief financial officer, having joined the bank in 2017.
Outgoing CEO Jeremy Masding, who leaves after more than eight years in charge, announced his departure in October last year. The mortgage lender is the smallest of three domestically-owned banks that survived Irelands financial crash a decade ago.
Chairman Robert Elliott said that Crowley's "breadth of experience and in-depth knowledge of the bank" will help him to lead Permanent TSB through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
Crowley will continue to perform his CFO duties until a successor is appointed. The bank has already begun the recruitment process, it said.
(Reporting by Graham Fahy; Editing by David Goodman)
Vikas Mehta. CEO, Ogilvy Africa
23.06.2020 LISTEN
23rd June 2020. Nairobi. Ogilvy Africa today announced the rollout of the regions first real-time marketing product that offers social intelligence and analytics, community management, and content innovations; in a unified offering.
Christened FEED, the product aims to connect brands to popular culture to keep pace with rapidly changing audience interest. FEED is being rolled out across Africa in a phased manner. The agency chose June 23rd as the launch date to commemorate the 109th birth anniversary of its global founder, David Ogilvy.
With FEED, we are delighted to see real-time marketing become a reality in this region. Brands have recognized the importance of having their finger on the consumers pulse for decades now, and there are several offerings in the market to serve different aspects of that opportunity. The agility and compatibility of these offerings however, remains a challenge. FEED has been developed to evolve the disparate offerings into one complete solution., said Vikas Mehta, CEO - Ogilvy Africa.
The first phase starts in Kenya with command centres and physical infrastructure set up in Nairobi. Having completed over three months of beta testing with some of existing clients of Ogilvy Africa, FEED will be rolled out in its next phase in Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania. By the end of the year, the offering will be available to clients throughout the continent. Besides, every deployment has the capacity to serve the entire continent from any location and is expandable to unlimited users.
The FEED ecosystem combines three components, or the three Ps Platform-People-Process. Every deployment starts with an audit of the technology environment and a customized solution-stack is deployed that complements the existing assets, instead of replacing them. FEED can go-live in 6-12 weeks of audit, depending on the scale and complexity of the operation.
Upon deployment, clients have an option to get an on-site team placed in their premises running a command-centre supported by off-site teams stationed in Ogilvy Africas offices. The working process is designed to provide width and depth of skills while being agile enough to work in 24-hour sprints.
While technology is available to all, technology alone seldom solves a problem. The added layer of our talent, combined with FEEDs proprietary process are key. Weve designed the process to put agility at the heart of the setup that delivers real-time, consistently Said Mehta.
FEED is available in light, standard and plus packages; allowing a wide spectrum of organisations to benefit from it.
Its worth noting that a significant part of the testing period for FEED coincided with the physical restrictions around the region due to COVID 19. The accelerated digital-adoption of the past three months has allowed FEED to be stress-tested on several occasions, helping make its process more robust.
For a free demo of FEED, drop a line to [email protected]
About Ogilvy Africa:
Ogilvy Africa is the largest network agency in Africa catering to 40 countries on the continent with a team of ~900 people across Central, East, and West Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi - Kenya, Ogilvy Africa manages a portfolio of over 100 brands for clients such as Airtel, Africa CDC, BAT, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Distell, Equity Bank, Exxon Mobil, Kenya Airways, Mondelez, NCBA, Nestle, Philips, PWC, SAB Miller, Sanlam, Total, UNICEF, and WWF amongst others.
The agency offers services across the full spectrum of marketing domains including advertising (on and offline), Customer Engagement & Commerce, Digital Transformation, Shopper Marketing, Media, PR & Influence; all under one roof with a mission to Make Brands Matter.
Ogilvy Africa is the most awarded network in Africa including several regional and global awards such as Cannes Lions, Grand Clio award, and the Dubai Lynx Festival.
Ogilvy is a global creative network launched by David Ogilvy in New York 70 years ago.
By Javier Solana and Oscar Fernandez
Javier Solana Oscar Fernandez
MEXICO CITY A powerful earthquake centered near the southern Mexico resort of Huatulco on Tuesday killed at least five people, swayed buildings in Mexico City and sent thousands fleeing into the streets.
Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said one person was killed in a building collapse in Huatulco, Oaxaca. Otherwise he said reports were of minor damage from the magnitude 7.4 quake, including broken windows and collapsed walls. Oaxaca Gov. Alejandro Murat said a second person was killed in an apparent house collapse in the mountain village of San Juan Ozolotepec and a third died in circumstances he did not explain.
Federal civil defense authorities reported two more deaths: a worker at the state-run oil company, Pemex, fell to his death from a refinery structure, and a man died in the Oaxaca village of San Agustin Amatengo when a wall fell on him.
Pemex also said the quake caused a fire at its refinery in the Pacific coast city of Salina Cruz, relatively near the epicenter. It said one worker was injured and the flames were quickly extinguished. Churches, bridges and highways also suffered damage during the quake.
Lopez Obrador said there had been more than 140 aftershocks, most of them small.
Seismic alarms sounded midmorning with enough warning for residents to exit buildings. Power was knocked out to some areas.
Helicopters flew over downtown Mexico City and police patrols sounded their sirens.
Groups of people still milled around in close proximity on streets and sidewalks in some neighborhoods of the capital about an hour after the quake. Many were not wearing masks despite past appeals from municipal officials for them to do so as a way to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
Inside a Mexico City military barracks converted to COVID-19 hospital, medical staff suited in protective equipment tried to calm anxious patients. Unable to evacuate isolation areas, patients huddled under a large beam in the womens ward while a nurse tried to calm one having a panic attack.
Teresa Juarez could only wish for it to pass quickly from her hospital bed where she lay connected to oxygen. Diabetic and with high blood pressure, Juarez said she thought about her five children. Its horrible, youre here and you dont know what to do, she said.
The U.S. Geologic Survey said the quake hit at 10:29 a.m. (11:29 a.m. Eastern) along Mexicos southern Pacific coast at a depth of 16 miles (26 km). The epicenter was 7 miles (12 km) south-southwest of Santa Maria Zapotitlan in Oaxaca state
It was felt in Guatemala and throughout south and central Mexico.
In Huatulco, a laid-back beach destination known for surfing and small protected coves, the earthquake knocked goods off shelves and some rubble from buildings.
Mari Gonzalez of the Princess Mayev hotel in Huatulco said staff and guests were able to evacuate the building before the quake, but that 45 minutes after the initial quake they were still outside as strong aftershocks continued.
It was strong, very strong, she said.
Gonzalez said there was some visible broken glass and mirrors, but no major damage. The staff was waiting for the aftershocks to dissipate before fully evaluating the property.
Local news media reported damage to some buildings in the state capital, Oaxaca city. State officials said they were looking for damage.
The USGS estimated that some 2 million people felt strong or moderate shaking and another 49 million felt weak or light shaking.
The earthquake hit a quake-prone region where four underground tectonic plates come together. In the past 35 years, there have been at least seven magnitude 7 or greater earthquakes, killing around 10,000 people most of them in a 1985 8.0 quake.
This has the potential to be a deadly earthquake and cause significant damage, U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Paul Earle said. This area is capable of and has had larger earthquakes in the past.
There will be aftershocks, Earle said. It is not unexpected to see a magnitude 6 at this point and a number of smaller ones.
This quake happened when the Cocos plate, which is to the southwest of the area, slipped under the North American plate, Earle said.
Youve got all sorts of plates and theyre moving quickly, Earle said. The important thing is how fast the plates are moving relative to each other.
__
Associated Press writers Chris Torchia in Mexico City and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has entreated the media and other public actors to exercise circumspection in condemning the Government for sanctioning the demolition of a structure on the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana.
He said the matter bothered on the diplomatic property as clearly stated in the Vienna Convention, which required the State to protect such property, and the Government would, therefore, address the issue in a proper legal manner.
The demolition of the diplomatic structure attracted both local and international condemnation, with some fearing that it could end up in a diplomatic row between Ghana and Nigeria if not properly addressed.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, who was responding to the demolition matter at the Minister's briefing, on Tuesday, emphasized that Government did not sanction the demolition, contrary to media speculations that it ordered the action.
The government of Ghana has since apologized to the Nigerian government following the demolition of the structure at the weekend.
Subsequently, Government has ordered proper investigation into the matter.
Media reports indicate that some men said to be armed, with the assistance of a bulldozer, broke through the locked gate and pulled down parts of a one-storey building which was still under construction on the compound.
Meanwhile, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, on Monday, June 22, visited the scene of the incident and apologised to the Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana.
She also assured that the ongoing investigation into the matter would be transparent.
We will ensure that whatever the outcome is, we will not hide it from the people of Ghana or the people of Nigeria. It will be laid bare, the Minister said.
Ms Ayorkor Botchwey emphasised that the incident was not a government-sanctioned activity and that government respected the rule of law.
On the connection between the demolition and the Osu Stool, the Minister said it would also be investigated.
The Minister said that even if it is a disputed land, the Government expected the aggrieved persons to go to court for redress.
"For this to happen, it's so unfortunate. We haven't seen any court order...this is most unacceptable and we condemn this action," she added.
Ms Ayorkor Botchwey gave the assurance that the Nigerian Commissioner in Ghana would receive the required security.
I can assure you that we will continue to provide you with protection as you are a diplomatic entity and therefore we will not allow anything untoward to happen, she said.
The relations between our two countries are too strong even if there is any kind of dispute over the land, for it to end in something like this it's unfortunate. This shouldnt happen between Ghana and Nigeria," Ms Ayorkor Botchwey stated.
Source: GNA
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Over 20 passengers of the Dehradun Jan Shatabdi Express have been quarantined after a co-passenger received a text message, while still on board the train on June 21, that his COVID-19 test has come positive, officials said.
The man immediately informed COVID control room authorities that he had tested positive, scaring his co-passengers who overheard him saying this on phone, they said.
The 48-year-old man, who works at a battery making factory in Noida, boarded the Dehradun-bound train from Ghaziabad on June 21 afternoon despite the fact that his COVID-19 test report was awaited, Haridwar GRP Station House Officer (SHO) Anuj Singh said on June 22.
The man hails from Shyampur in Uttarakhand's Rishikesh town.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
The passenger, who was travelling on board the Jan Shatabdi Express, had received a text message telling him that he had tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday, a Northern Railway spokesperson said.
The man was admitted to the isolation ward of the Mela Hospital in Haridwar after he deboarded the train, Haridwar Chief Medical Officer Saroj Naithani said.
Twenty-two of his co-passengers are in institutional quarantine in the town, she said.
Northern Railway spokesperson Deepak Kumar, however, said, He (the man) has been sent to a hospital while 19 others have been sent to a quarantine facility.
After the man got the message, he informed the control room through a toll-free number that he had tested COVID-19 positive. He made the call when the train was nearing Roorkee in Haridwar district.
Officials said that the man was asymptomatic.
The railways has asked authorities in Ghaziabad as to how a person who had given his sample for testing was allowed to board a train.
The man's samples were taken for testing at the factory in Noida and ideally he should have been restricted from any travel and kept in quarantine till his reports arrived, the officials said. SHO Singh said it is being investigated as to how the man whose swab samples had been sent for testing from Noida two days back was allowed by his company to travel and how he boarded the train.
With or without physical separation due to COVID-19, youth are using social media to connect and support each other, according to a report released today. Three leading researchers have just published Youth Connections for Wellbeing, an integrative review paper that illuminates how teens support each other through digital media during times of stress and isolation.
Leveraging their expertise across the fields of cultural anthropology, developmental psychology, and clinical psychology, scholars Mimi Ito, Candice Odgers, and Stephen Schueller discuss the potential of digital media to support youth wellbeing.
The work underlying the paper was completed prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The physical isolation that has resulted from shelter-in-place orders has yielded a seismic shift, making it even more critical to understand and leverage technology in a way that benefits youth.
The position paper summarizes current knowledge and redirects the conversation about adolescent social media use and wellbeing in three ways that are particularly relevant today:
Refocusing the debate over the relationship between youth social media use and wellbeing to reflect existing evidence, varied youth perspectives and backgrounds.
Identifying teen vulnerabilities and assets that may influence problematic and healthy social media engagement.
Suggesting opportunities where youth social engagement might mitigate vulnerabilities and leverage assets.
In the position paper Ito, Odgers, and Schueller highlight the need to move beyond the simple question of whether more time spent using social media causes mental health problems in adolescents. Instead, people should consider the specific forms of social media engagement that amplify or mitigate mental health risks for different adolescents. The team integrates findings from existing large-scale reviews, the voices of youth who have grown up on social media, and a systematic review of digital mental health apps available for youth.
The team finds that adolescents' online risks often mirror offline vulnerabilities. They note that it is particularly important for messages, interventions, and strategies to be targeted and tailored to the most vulnerable youth and those underserved by traditional mental health services.
A number of relevant findings, opportunities, and benefits are outlined in the paper, including:
Evaluating claims about whether social media use is leading to greater vulnerability for mental health problems for youth, including harassment and bullying, sleep disruption, and exposure to idealized images that may lead to envy.
Identifying factors such as poverty, discrimination, instability, social marginalization, and other forms of stress as more significant influences on mental health than technology.
Revealing that Black and trans youth have reported that online sources of empowerment are sources of support and strategies for coping with and discussing racism and prejudice.
Offering evidence that extending parental support to online spaces can be more effective in supporting youth wellbeing than restricting technology access, which can create more tension between youth and parents.
Recognizing that youth experience positive social support in many online settings, which may reduce their feelings of social isolation and social anxiety, increase their social skills, and augments their offline friendships.
Sharing details on how online communication and affinity networks including fandoms, gaming communities, and creative communities can help marginalized young people benefit from unique friendships and forms of social support.
Highlighting evidence that young people are actively seeking support for mental health information online and using online tools to elicit socio-emotional support. Most teens and tweens say social media helps support social-emotional wellbeing, boosting confidence, and alleviating anxiety, loneliness, and depression.
Describing ways to provide online mental health support to youth, especially those who are difficult to reach through more traditional clinical supports.
For example, one student interviewed shared how they experienced a supportive community online, saying: "I think a lot of my mutuals on Instagram, they're very open to being emotionally vulnerable on Instagram, so they'll actually say, 'I'm not doing fine.' I like it because it's a very nice community, just spreading love whether it be through comments or someone will actually say through messages like, 'Are you okay?'"
A freshman adjusting to life away from family shared how online connections made her feel close to them: "My mother just started using Messenger. I taught her how to use it. And so she texts me here and there. She's like, 'Good morning,' or, 'How are you doing?,' and then we FaceTime. Then my siblings, we use Instagram because that's where we're mostly at. We send each other videos and memes, and then we kind of comment just to make our day."
Given the rising rates of mental health concerns among young people in the U.S., Ito, Odgers, and Schueller encourage a sense of urgency in focusing research, investment, and public attention on how digital spaces and tools can be better designed and used to support youth's mental health.
###
The paper, which was supported by Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda Gates Company, was published by the Connected Learning Lab at the University of California, Irvine, and is available at https://youthwellbeing.online/SocialReport/.
An aid worker who was stripped of his British citizenship due to links to Al-Qaeda has been kidnapped by a rival Islamist group in Syria.
Tauqir Sharif, 31, from Walthamstow, east London, was seized last night by around 15 members of the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Atmeh, in the northwestern Idlib province.
Sharif, known locally as 'Tox,' and his British wife Racquell Hayden-Best have been aid workers in Syria since 2012, where they have since had five children.
In 2017, the Home Office informed Sharif he was to be stripped of his citizenship for being 'aligned with an AQ-aligned (Al-Qaeda) group.'
Sharif denies membership of any such group but has previously admitted to carrying an AK-47 in Syria for personal protection while travelling in an aid convoy.
Tauqir Sharif, 31, from Walthamstow, east London, was seized last night by around 15 members of the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the northwestern city of Idlib
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) members at a camp in the countryside of the northern Idlib province in August 2018. HTS, formerly known as Nusra Front, split from Al-Qaeda in 2016 in an act of defiance against the terror group's top brass, leading to accusations from both sides
But the government deemed his return would 'present a risk to the national security of the United Kingdom.'
Sharif says his interests in Syria have only ever been charitable and he is well-known to British charities in the country, according to Middle East Monitor.
Sharif had his citizenship removed by the then-home secretary Amber Rudd in 2017
The motive for his kidnapping was not immediately clear.
However, Sharif's popularity may have been a factor and HTS has grown increasingly paranoid about perceived threats to its authority in the volatile region.
HTS, formerly known as Nusra Front, split from Al-Qaeda in 2016 in an act of defiance against the terror group's top brass, leading to furious accusations from both sides.
HTS has been designated a terrorist group by the United States, Turkey and others.
A statement from the humanitarian colleagues of Sharif said: 'LUFS team member...was kidnapped tonight around 9.30PM by HTS and taken to an unknown location.'
On its Facebook page, LUFS describes itself as a Muslim Western charity supporting displaced people in Syria.
Sharif, known locally as 'Tox,' and his British wife Racquell Hayden-Best have been aid workers in Syria since 2012, where they have since had five children.
Syria's northwest is home to a mix of Islamist militant and opposition groups, many of which have fled other parts of Syria as President Bashar al-Assad, with Russian backing, has seized back territory during the roughly nine-year-old war.
The area is also populated by hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons that rely heavily on humanitarian assistance.
Attacks on humanitarian workers by rebel groups are not unheard of but they are usually allowed to move freely by HTS.
Asked by the BBC last year whether he was aligned with an Al-Qaeda backed group, Sharif replied: 'Of course not. I mean I came out here to help the innocent, people that were being massacred by the Bashar regime. I am an aid worker.
Sharif denies being part of any Al-Qaeda affiliated group and says he has only ever been a charitable worker in Syria
'I'm saying "OK, if there's evidence, put me in front of a jury and I will win". I believe that 100%. But to say that there's secret evidence and it's too secret for us to share with you I think that's unfair.'
The Home Office was able to strip Sharif of his citizenship because he is also holds a Pakistani passport, meaning he was not made stateless.
The Home Office has said of the furore over Sharif's case that any decision to strip an individual of their citizenship is done so 'on all available evidence and not taken lightly.'
[June 23, 2020] Halloran Farkas + Kittila LLP Announces the Addition of Senior Attorneys to Its Financial Services and Litigation Practices
The national corporate, litigation and IP law firm Halloran Farkas + Kittila LLP has announced the addition of three senior attorneys. "In this period where so many companies are contracting, we are proud to have the need and ability to attract these three superior attorneys to our firm," said Mike Halloran, a founding partner of HFK and former General Counsel of Bank of America, and Linda Lerner, head of the New York Office. Cassondra Joseph joined the New York office focusing primarily on all aspects of regulatory compliance and transactions for hedge funds, investment advisors and broker dealers. Working with clients from formation through regulatory approval and ongoing compliance, she assists clients in expanding their businesses while their legal and regulatory needs are met. She concentrates on fund formation and documentation, digital asset funds, and guidance on regulatorily compliant advertising. Prior to joining HFK, Cassondra was a Managing Director of a financial industry services firm. She had served as General Counsel at a NYSE brokerage firm that also included large investment advisors. Wiliam Green joined HFK's Delaware practice specializing in complex corporate and commercial litigation. His focus is on litigation in Delaware related to mergers and acquisitions, D&O liability, shareholder suits and business valuation. Bill brings HFK the benefits of a litigation boutique that cost effectively and nimbly responds to client needs. He understands securities fraud investigations conducted by the State of Delaware.
Prior to joining HFK, Bill served for nearly a decade in the Delaware Department of Justice, representing the state in administering and enforcing securities laws in administrative, civil, and criminal proceedings. And prior to that he practiced litigation focused on internal governance of Delaware business entities. Richard Duff Jordan joined the New York Office with extensive experience in legal/regulatory, compliance and risk for financial institutions, with particularly deep expertise working on cross-border activities. With over two decades working directly for US and non-U.S. banks with operations in more than 100 countries, he has a special perspective on working with multi-national clients to solve complex legal and business problems. He has spent considerable time living abroad, particularly in Latin America and the Middle East.
Prior to joining HFK, Duff worked for more than 30 years in senior legal, compliance and risk roles, at a major international law firm and with the U.S. Treasury/OCC. He has broad-scope expertise in risk management for all significant business lines of financial institution. "Each of these very talented attorneys adds both enormous breadth and depth of experience for our financial services clients. In these uncertain times it is very useful to have such highly experienced attorneys with perspectives that make them valuable to our clients," said Ted Kittila, HFK's Managing Partner. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005124/en/
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There are times that I feel obligated to defend a position that either I or the Suns editorial board has taken on the editorial page, be it large or small.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/6/2020 (578 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
There are times that I feel obligated to defend a position that either I or the Suns editorial board has taken on the editorial page, be it large or small.
And then there is today, when I cant quite do so.
Last week, we published an editorial in which we stated our support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the need for our society to support anti-racism causes, while at the same time expressing concern about the impact that large crowds of protesters could potentially have regarding the ongoing pandemic.
"Opposition or criticism of Black Lives Matter protest tactics might be interpreted by some as an indication of opposition to the movement itself and in some cases, that might very well be the case but it has been difficult to look at the large crowds that have gathered in Brandon without cringing a little bit in light of the COVID-19 pandemic," we wrote in the June 18 editorial.
"Its a natural response, particularly now that it has followed months of government-imposed social isolation under a societal agreement that it has been for our greater good that by isolating wed be saving lives. One prominent message being relayed in recent days has been that for past generations, service to their country meant fighting and in many cases dying overseas, while today its binge-watching Netflix in our homes. How selfish can one be when we cant even self-isolate at home, when for past generations of Canadians isolation was done as abused prisoners of war?"
I will partially defend the editorial in that we did quote Manitobas chief health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, who told media that no COVID-19 cases had been linked to recent Black Lives Matter protests in the province. We also noted that those attending local march events here in Brandon were seen making an effort to maintain a safe distance from one another.
But there have been a few developments since that editorial was published. For one, several reputable news organizations have published stories that refute the opinion that mass demonstrations are to blame for new cases of the coronavirus. More and better facts have been made public through media and the World Health Organization that suggest the position we took lacked justification.
In the U.K., The Guardian reported on June 18 the same day our editorial came out that a growing body of evidence "indicates that the vast majority of infections occur in so-called super-spread events, almost all of which take place indoors," and that the risk of infection from outdoor protests "is further reduced by the striking consistency with which demonstrators wear masks, and often make efforts to maintain personal distance." If people adhere to the many precautions that have been called for, ad nauseam, to protect ourselves against COVID-19, such as washing hands and wearing a mask, such mass demonstrations may still produce a few more coronavirus cases, "but not an avalanche."
The newspaper USA Today reported on June 19 that, according to its own analysis, surges in the virus "seem to be most intense in counties that had avoided the worst coronavirus outbreaks earlier in the year," and that "large protests were as common in counties without outbreaks as in others."
Even in Minnesota, the epicentre of the most recent wave of Black Lives Matter protests, the expected surge "in COVID-19 cases following the mass protests and riots over the killing of George Floyd has not yet materialized," the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune reported yesterday. On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health reported four more virus-related deaths and 308 more lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19.
"That is the lowest number of Minnesota deaths reported in one day in the pandemic since April 13," the Star Tribune stated.
That alone should be enough to change our minds and it is. Clearly the concerns we expressed were based upon wrong information. However, a member of the BEAR Group Team who helped to organize local protest marches in support of Black Lives Matter also reached out to the paper yesterday to defend his organization and how it attempted to minimize the spread of COVID-19 during the event. His letter to the editor is in todays paper.
We talked a bit in person on Monday and he gave me a fair critique of our position. Suffice to say I think we got it wrong last week, and we need to be forthright enough to say it.
Concerns over large gatherings of people in the middle of a pandemic are still valid, but if organizations like the BEAR Group Team and their participants take the necessary precautions, outdoor marches and protests will not significantly endanger the public.
Besides, racism remains as great a threat within our culture as it ever has been one that needs to be battled as much as any virus.
Matt Goerzen, editor
[June 23, 2020] METZ Online Store Opening in Spain, Presenting a Brand-New Visual Experience with German Smart TV
MADRID, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 15th, METZ online store officially opened on AliExpress, an international cross-border e-commerce platform. The store intends to bring German smart TVs featuring unrivalled quality, advanced technology, practicality and a touch of science to the Spanish and the rest of European markets, and has attracted high attention from consumers. On the opening day, METZ store held a variety of opening activities, not only offering shopping benefits to consumers, but also introducing three quality smart TV models to the Spanish consumers. Among them, the 58MUB6010 ultra-clear TV features 4K UHD image quality, excellent Netflix/Disney+ streaming services, as well as Dolby and DTS bidirectional decoding functions. Equipped with an open application platform, YouTube browsing, Google assistant, screen mirroring and other functions, it is a star product preferred by a lot f consumers.
The 32MTB7000 smart TV is built with an Android 9.0 system, AI technology, an open application platform, Disney+ streaming service, YouTube browsing, Google assistant, multi-session voice interaction, screen mirroring, and other functions, and features a narrow frame design and image enhancement, making it the optimal choice for users seeking for theater-level experiences. Furthermore, the 65S9A62A OLED smart TV features pixel-level dimming, independent illumination of self-illuminant and other functions, as well as the Dolby audio/visual system, linen-lining speakers, and a narrow frame design, which presents clearer images with a sense of hierarchy and makes it one of the products favored by consumers.
Apart from introducing a number of star products, METZ has also launched the #TravelwithMETZ marketing campaign on its Facebook homepage (#METZ Europe), and posted a number of creative articles. These articles have embedded product links that support one-click purchase, hence to expand the reach of the campaign and complement the opening of the METZ online store. As a high-end German home appliance brand, METZ has established a solid customer base in Spain and even the European market thanks to its meticulous design, rigorous workmanship, proved product performance, and user experiences that are in line with the European lifestyle. Based on this premise, the METZ online store on AliExpress will provide more customers with a convenient way to get to know METZ and buy METZ products, and bring METZ TVs built with advanced German technology and high-end manufacturing processes to more families in Spain. SOURCE Metz
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She's best known for her true life historical roles on the big and small screens.
But Claire Foy is taking her career in a new direction with her latest choice.
The British actress has signed on to star in the psychological horror movie Dust, THR.com reported on Monday.
Change of direction: Claire Foy has signed on to star in the psychological horror movie Dust. She'll play a young mother in 1930s Oklahoma who becomes convinced a mysterious force is threatening her family during terrible dust storms plaguing the state
Foy, 36, will play a young mother in 1930s Oklahoma when the state was being plagued by terrible dust storms.
As the dust envelops daily life, she becomes increasingly convinced that a mysterious presence is threatening her family.
She decides to take extraordinary measures to protect them.
Breakthrough role: Foy, 36, first gained international attention for her performance as Anne Boleyn opposite Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII in acclaimed TV series Wolf Hall
Royal role: The British actress cemented her leading lady status as Elizabeth II in Netflix's The Crown. She starred opposite Matt Smith as Prince Philip for two seasons of the streaming hit
Foy first garnered international notice as Anne Boleyn in the acclaimed British TV series Wolf Hall.
Foy starred opposite Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell and Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII as the Tudor queen who caused Henry to break with Rome and lost her head after failing to produce a male heir.
She went on to star as Elizabeth II in Netflix's The Crown which cemented her status as one of Britain's most in demand actresses.
She also played astronaut Neil Armstrong's wife Janet in First Man and the fictitious Lisbeth Salander in The Girl in the Spiders Web.
Shell next be seen in Louis Wain, a biopic about the 19th-century English artist, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
Historical figures: Foy also played astronaut Neil Armstrong's wife Janet in 2018's First Man opposite Ryan Gosling
A man who started a petition to rebrand a street in Newry named after an Irish nationalist who supported slavery has accused the city council of "kicking the can down the road" by trying to avoid the controversy.
A statue of John Mitchel in the border city, where a street is also named after the Young Ireland movement leader, has been at the centre of controversy since US anti-racism protests began to target statues of historical figures who backed slavery.
Demonstrators in Bristol pulled down a statue of a wealthy businessman who worked as a slave trader.
In Northern Ireland several petitions have taken aim at Mitchel, who died in Newry in 1875. One calls on GAA clubs named after the Irish patriot to disown him and another calls for his statue to be removed.
Padraig Mac Cionnaith started a petition to have John Mitchel Place renamed.
In a statement yesterday, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said its equality and good relations reference group met on Friday to discuss the issue.
The council set up the group to discuss "politically sensitive and contentious issues to reach a common understanding, agreement and actions".
The local authority said it would aim to educate the public about Mitchel.
In a statement it said: "Following constructive discussion between elected members on the John Mitchel statue and John Mitchel Place, it was agreed that officers proceed to clarify responsibility for the John Mitchel statue, develop options for an education programme, identify the origins of John Mitchel Place and give consideration as to other potential issues in relation to slavery within the council area."
Mr Mac Cionnaith, whose petition has attracted almost 2,000 signatures, accused the council of avoiding the issues.
"I find the council's decision disappointing and a matter of kicking the can down the road rather than addressing the issues at stake now," he said.
"There has pretty much been unanimous condemnation and disgust at John Mitchel having a statue/street named after him in the first place.
"People were surprised at his past - it should not have taken me starting a petition for people to learn about his disgusting views.
"The argument of judging historical figures in the historical period they lived doesn't apply to Mitchel as he campaigned against abolitionism in slavery's dying days and was nothing short of a white supremacist.
"I was hoping the council would take a definitive action by beginning the procedures to rename John Mitchel Place and relocate the statue to the local museum.
"A plaque on the street or beside the statue won't send a message that Newry is a welcoming place for people of all colours and backgrounds, but renaming a street named in his honour and relocating his statue will."
An online petition calling for Mitchel's statue to be retained had just 51 signatures last night.
The killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis a month ago led to mass protests and anger in the US, and in the UK attention has focused on the commemoration of significant figures from Britain's history in the slave trade.
A statue of slave trader Edward Colston was torn down in Bristol and thrown into the harbour.
This is not Newry's first naming row. The former Newry and Mourne District Council named a park after Raymond McCreesh, an IRA man who died on hunger strike and who was linked to the Kingsmill massacre in which 10 Protestant workers were murdered.
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced the launch of its Business Mentoring and Support (BMS) Programme, a CSR initiative designed to help SMEs in Dubai navigate new challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, by pairing them with large corporations that can offer support and mentorship where needed.
The first-of-its-kind programme, established by Dubai Chambers Centre for Responsible Business, will see SMEs in Dubai paired with large companies offering professional advice and resources tailored to unique needs, and helping participants strengthen business skills and competencies. At the same time, it provides an opportunity for large corporates to enhancer their CSR impact and contribute to the development of Dubais economy.
The Coca-Cola Company will launch the first initiative supported by the Dubai Chamber BMS Programme. As part of Coca Colas Open Like Never Before initiative, the company will donate 250,000 face masks and $240,000 worth of products to 3000 restaurants and small stores across the UAE, and advise the retailers with in-store safety communications and social awareness campaigns designed to encourage customers to support local stores.
Given the unprecedented challenges faced by SMEs in the current business landscape, it was a natural move for Dubai Chamber to create a programme providing these enterprises with valuable support and resources in the key challenge areas, in a way that not only addresses immediate needs but also helps them develop and grow into thriving businesses, said Dr. Belaid Rettab, Senior Director, Economic Research and Sustainable Business Development Sector, Dubai Chamber.
Beyond the short-term business benefits, the programme also aims to create a business support ecosystem and platform that builds stronger links between large companies and SMEs in Dubai, while it also offers many far-reaching benefits for participants, such as recognition, training, CSR support, mentorship and business partnerships, he explained.
The Centre for Responsible Business will deliver awareness programmes on the dual benefits of mentoring and support to increase the pool of mentors and supporters from large organisations and attract participation from SMEs in Dubai. In addition, the Centre will provide participants with access to training, a mentoring and support
framework and toolkits and guidelines on mentoring and support.
Companies interested in expressing their interest in participating in the Dubai Chamber BMS programme can do so contacting the CRB team on following email address: [email protected]
The new programme complements Dubai Chambers extensive efforts to help the business community deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic over the last few months, which include a dedicated online portal offering vital information and resources, the #BeSafeWorkSmart awareness campaign on remote working practices and a series of webinars advising companies on employee safety, legal inquiries, e-commerce tips and CSR best practices.
The Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) was established by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2004 to support and promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability. The Centres objective is to engage the Dubai business community in assuming greater responsibility for the emirates social and environmental needs. -- Tradearabia News Service
Oregon lawmakers are refining six police accountability proposals as they prepare to enter a special session Wednesday dedicated to those reforms and the states coronavirus response.
Gov. Kate Brown and legislators in both parties were prompted to pursue changes by statewide demonstrations against police violence towards Black people. For years, similar proposals by the Legislatures few lawmakers of color largely went nowhere.
A legislative committee on Tuesday took nearly two hours of public testimony during a virtual public hearing. People called in to share their opinions on the potential bills, ranging from a ban on chokeholds to the creation of a new statewide database of law enforcement discipline.
Lawmakers also want to make it more difficult for arbitrators to overturn police discipline, as arbitrators have done in the majority of high-profile cases in Portland over the last decade.
By no means are these the final product or is this the last conversation, Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Democrat from Happy Valley and one of four Black members of the Legislature, said during Tuesdays hearing. In my heart of hearts, I know there is so much we need to accomplish.
Bynum and a work group are crafting potential revisions to the proposed bills that should be made public soon, House Speaker Tina Kotek said during the hearing. Additional details, such as who else is on the work group and when exactly the amendments will surface, were not immediately available Tuesday from Bynum or a spokesman for House Democrats.
The six proposals under consideration are:
Make it harder for arbitrators to overturn law enforcement discipline
Require law enforcement officers to intervene and report when colleagues appear to use unreasonable force
Prohibit law enforcement agencies from using tear gas, long range acoustic devices or sound cannons
Ban law enforcement from using holds that inhibit a persons ability to breathe, including but not limited to choke holds
Put the Oregon attorney general in charge of investigating cases of law enforcement officers using deadly use of force or force that causes serious injuries
Create a statewide database of law enforcement officer discipline and publish the information online
Some Oregonians who weighed in Tuesday shared their personal experiences with law enforcement.
Jarena McDavid, whose 12-year-old son was pinned to the ground by Clackamas County Sheriffs deputies outside a mall last summer, told lawmakers we need a change and we need one soon.
As the incident unfolded, one of her sons friends called to tell McDavid what was happening. All I could think is please, dont hurt my baby, she told lawmakers. Im still asking myself, why couldnt a fellow officer intervene? I cant understand why this type of force is legal.
Deputies ultimately let McDavids son go and no charges were filed against the Black preteen, whose lawyers say he was a witness to a fight outside Clackamas Town Center to which deputies responded. McDavid filed a complaint with the sheriff about a deputys use of force against her son; after investigating, the sheriffs office found no wrongdoing.
Lawmakers are hoping some of the changes they are considering might reduce the frequency of similar incidents in the future, although its unclear how effective some of the proposed changes might be.
Candace Avalos, acting chair of the Portland Citizen Review Committee which has some oversight of that citys police, said the goal of narrowing arbitrators ability to overturn discipline is laudable.
However, the fatal flaw of the proposal is that it lacks an established standard of review that can reign in the arbitrators powers, Avalos said. It would only apply when arbitrators agree that law enforcement engaged in misconduct and in nearly every case involving grievous misconduct that has gone to arbitration in Portland, the arbitrator has reversed the findings of misconduct, she said. An egregious example, she said, is the arbitrators ruling that the city must rehire an officer who fatally shot an unarmed Black man, Aaron Campbell, in the back in 2010.
Through their lobbyist Michael Selvaggio, the Oregon Coalition of Police and Sheriffs objected to all of the proposals in one way or another, including the arbitration bill which was reshaped in recent legislative sessions to gain support.
For example, the coalition said lawmakers should instruct all law enforcement agencies to adopt policies requiring officers to intervene and report when their colleagues use unreasonable force, rather than enshrine such a duty in state law. If lawmakers still think the bill is a good idea, Sevaggio warned in written testimony, police and sheriffs deputies stand ready to support legislation conferring a similar report and intervene duty to legislators and other elected officials with regard to ethics and campaign violations
Regarding a potential ban on chokeholds, Selvaggio wrote that uses of deadly force that restrict anothers airways should remain in an officers legal repertoire of deadly force alongside their service weapon because there are instances when the maneuver is necessary in order to preserve the life of another person
Aaron Knott, a lobbyist for the Oregon Department of Justice, said Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum generally supports the police accountability proposals. This package represents a significant step forward, Knott said. We do hope that this is only the first step, however.
Still, the Department of Justice said lawmakers should hold off on banning tear gas and long range acoustic devices and instead study the options in a work group. And if lawmakers proceed with creating a statewide database of law enforcement discipline, Knott said, they should limit the clearinghouse to confirmed misconduct.
Publishing a complaint which was not found to be substantiated has the potential to hazard a risk that an officer will suffer a deprivation of employment without ever having had the opportunity to challenge the complaint, the Department of Justice wrote in submitted testimony. Indeed, the complaint may not have had any merit at all.
-- Hillary Borrud: hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud
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MBABANE The country has been hit by another drugs shortage.
A majority of public health facilities have recorded a shortage of 40 medical drugs which are used to treat a variety of diseases and infections. Most of the medicine that is either out of stock or in short supply includes antibiotics, which are known for fighting bacterial infections. Also recorded to be out of stock in public health facilities are cold mixtures, which treat cough and other symptoms of flu. Other medication that is not available is the one that treats arthritis, fungus infection and painkillers. Also, T HALOPERIDOL, a mental health drug that treats schizophrenia, tics in Tourette syndrome, mania in bipolar disorder, nausea and vomiting, delirium, agitation, acute psychosis, and hallucinations after alcohol withdrawal is out of stock.
According to a source, who preferred to remain anonymous, healthcare workers were finding it hard to perform their duties due to the shortage of medication that has hit the country. The worst part is mental health patients will now be affected as most of their medicine is not available, he said. Yesterday, this publication published that a six-year-old epileptic girl could not get medication as it was not available at the Piggs Peak Government Hospital. The Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) President, Bheki Mamba said the union was aware that the country had run out of some medical drugs. Mamba said with this, they were expecting that COVID-19 death cases would likely increase as the medication to treat underlying diseases was not available.
We are in the middle of winter and people get sicker during this time. If they do not get treatment, their immune system will be weakened, said Mamba. He said once peoples immune system was weak, they were prone to contracting COVID-19. Most of the death cases had underlying illnesses. This simply means that coronavirus should find a person with a strong immune system, he said. He said he hoped the issue of drug shortages in the country would be addressed soon. When sought for comment, Director of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula said he could not confirm whether all the drugs on the list were not available. We have a jargon that we use when referring to our medication, said Magagula. However, he did confirm that the country was experiencing a shortage of drugs. He said currently, the Ministry of Health was lacking funds to have sufficient medical supplies.
Students walk through Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on March 12, 2020. Harvard was accused of failing to report millions in foreign gifts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Education Department Intensifies Pressure on Colleges Over Foreign Gifts Reporting
Universities and colleges in the United States will need to provide more information when they report to the federal government about gifts and contracts involving foreign sources, according to the Education Department.
In an effort to step up its scrutiny of institutions receiving gifts from foreign entities, the Education Department on Monday launched a new online portal that all institutions must use to report foreign gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or more.
The new reporting system requires institutions to answer specific questions regarding their financial ties with foreign individuals and organizations. The department said in a statement that it is currently not receiving sufficient information to determine whether each school is properly reporting foreign gifts as mandated by federal law.
For example, the department said institutions must answer specific questions about each reportable transaction involving a foreign source, such as whether the foreign source is a foreign government, a foreign legal entity, an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, or a person acting as an agent of a foreign source.
This is about transparency, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said earlier this year, referring to an ongoing investigation into the disclosure of foreign funding at Harvard and Yale University. If colleges and universities are accepting foreign money and gifts, their students, donors, and taxpayers deserve to know how much and from whom. Moreover, its what the law requires.
Over the years, a number universities across the country have been found not properly reporting hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign gifts and contracts. A 2019 report by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations noted that nearly 70 percent of colleges that received $250,000 or more in annual funding from Hanban, the Chinese government agency that oversees the Confucius Institutes around the world, failed to disclose those payments.
Earlier this month, Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Tom Carper (D-Del) introduced the Safeguarding American Innovation Act (pdf), which aims to prevent China from indirectly stealing U.S.-funded intellectual property from U.S. academic institutions. The legislation would lower the reporting threshold for foreign gifts from $250,000 to $50,000, and give the Education Department the authority to punish schools that fail to properly report.
China has made it no secret that its goal is to surpass the United States as the world leader in scientific research, said Portman, addressing the Senate. One way its been doing that is by using secret contracts here in the United States with researchers, again, funded by tax dollars, doing research, medical research, scientific research, military research.
The Chinese government has actually been paying these people to provide information to the Chinese government to take this research paid for by U.S. tax dollars, he continued. Its wrong. It needs to stop.
Anmol Kaur Narang became one of the few Indian American Sikh women to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I am humbled that in reaching this goal, I am showing other Sikh Americans that any career path is possible for anyone willing to rise to the challenge, said Narang. (IANS photo)
The money will be refunded through online Direct Benefit Transfer mode into bank accounts of applicants, the Minority Affairs Minister said, adding this will be the first time since Independence that pilgrims from India will not be going for Haj
The government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020 after the kingdom conveyed that pilgrims should not be sent this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned last night and suggested not to send pilgrims from India for Haj this year, he told reporters.
Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has barred international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic.
Naqvi said 2,13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020 and the process to refund the full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction has been started immediately.
The money will be refunded through online Direct Benefit Transfer mode into bank accounts of applicants, the Minority Affairs Minister said, adding this will be the first time since Independence that pilgrims from India will not be going for Haj due to the unprecedented situation posed by the pandemic.
More than 2,300 women had applied to perform Haj without mehram (male companion) this year and now they will be allowed to go for Haj in 2021 on the basis of their application this year. Besides them, more women, who apply to go for Haj without Mehram next year, will also be facilitated, he said.
A total of 3,040 women have performed Haj after the Narendra Modi government ensured that Muslim women can perform Haj without mehram in 2018, Naqvi said, adding that a total of 2 lakh Indian Muslims had performed Haj in 2019, about 50 per cent of them being women.
In a statement, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Haj and Umrah said that due to coronavirus pandemic and the risks of it spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year will be held whereby a "very limited number" of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it.
"This decision is taken to ensure Haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols," the statement said.
Naqvi said honouring the decision of the Saudi government because of serious challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and keeping in mind the health and well-being of the people, it was decided that Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj this year.
The entire world is facing challenges from the coronavirus pandemic and Saudi Arabia has also been affected by it, he noted. Haj 2020 is proposed in the period between late July and early August.
The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.
The Secret Service told members of the media covering a protest in Lafayette Square to leave White House grounds on Monday evening, as demonstrators attempted to topple a statue of Andrew Jackson.
Why it matters: It's an "incredibly unusual" move, noted CNN's Kaitlan Collins live on air. Reporters are typically redirected to the White House briefing room during such incidents, per CNN. A Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement to Axios, "[I]n response to the increasingly violent demonstrations in Lafayette Park, four members of the media were misdirected by the Secret Service to leave the White House grounds. The members of the press were rerouted to exits on the south side of the complex for their own safety."
New Delhi, June 23 : The Central government on Tuesday declared the minimum support price (MSP) for mature dehusked coconut for 2020 at Rs 2,700 per quintal, up by Rs 129 or 5.02 per cent from Rs 2571 per quintal during 2019.
As per a statement by the Agriculture Ministry, Union minister for agriculture & farmers' welfare, rural development and panchayati raj Narendra Singh Tomar said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has paid the utmost attention to the interests of farmers nationwide.
Tomar said that coconut being a small holders' crop, aggregation and arranging copra-making facility at the farmers' level is a rarity.
Though the MSP for milling copra is Rs 9,960 per quintal for the 2020 crop season, the declaration of a higher MSP for dehusked coconut ensures immediate cash to the small farmers, who are unable to hold the product and have insufficient facilities for copra-making.
This would be a relief to the coconut farmers who are already affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent disruption in the supply chain, the statement said.
A Mexican drug cartel leader shared a video message fighting back tears and vowing revenge after his mother was captured by security forces this weekend.
Maria Ortiz - the mother of Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel leader Jose 'El Marro' Yepez - was arrested during a major security operation in the city of Celeya in Mexico's bloodiest state, Guanajuato.
Yepez's sister Juana Yepez and his cousin Rosalba were also arrested.
In a video widely shared on social media, Yepez can be seen lashing out against the government after the raid, in which authorities found about 1 kilogram of a substance resembling methamphetamine and 2 million pesos ($88,000).
In the clip Yepez, wearing jeans with a rifle slung over his shoulder, says: 'I'm going to be a stone in your shoe. I'm going to blow up, you will see.'
One of the most-wanted drug cartel leaders in Mexico Jose 'El Marro' Yepez (left) shared a video message fighting back tears and vowing revenge after his mother Maria Ortiz (right) was captured by security forces this weekend
He also said he feared the authorities would frame his mother as one of the leaders of the cartel and added: 'In my mother's and my people's name... I don't fear you.'
Mexico's security agencies said in a joint statement: 'Among the detainees are Maria 'N', Juana 'N' and Rosalba 'N', alleged financial operators of the criminal organization.'
They did not name the Santa Rosa cartel or its leader.
According to law enforcement information obtained by Mexican newspaper Milenio, authorities had gotten wind of a building located in San Isidro de Elguera, a rural town neighborhood in Celaya, where payments were being distributed to cartel workers.
El Marro's sister, Juana Yepez (left) and his cousin Rosalba (right) were among 26 individuals who were arrested Saturday by the military and the police due to their alleged ties to El Marro's Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel
A view of a street after alleged members of a gang set fire to vehicles and blocked roads in Celaya as well as other cities in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato following the arrest of a cartel leader's family, including his mother and sister
A burning car is pictured outside a store after an operation by security forces against the leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel in Celaya, Mexico, on Saturday
Authorities raided the safe house around 2pm and apprehended at least 26 people, including Yepez's mother, his sister, and his cousin.
At least a kilo of methamphetamine was also along with several vehicles, firearms and ammunition. They also found 2 million pesos which was in possession of El Marro's mother.
In response to the massive detentions, enraged cartel members blocked highways and set cars and trucks ablaze along roads in Celaya and 12 other cities, including Salamanca, Cortazar, Villagran and Dolores Hidalgo, so that El Marro could move around without being detected.
A motorist in Guanajuato records a vehicle set on fire as part of a violent response unleashed by members of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel
Authorities arrested 26 people (pictured) linked to the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel during an operation Saturday in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato
The Secretariat of National Defense said the arrests (pictured) took place at a safe house where alleged cartel members were being paid
In a separate video on Sunday, he accused Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of aiding the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, considered the nation's most powerful criminal organization and with whom he's been embroiled in an all-out war since 2017.
'They come with the only interest of backing those sons of b******.'
On Monday, Lopez Obrador countered by advising residents not to align themselves with El Marro and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel.
'Don't get involved in that,' Lopez Obrador said. 'There is a way to have income with supports that are being channelled. Don't get into protecting criminals.'
Yepez also said he had enlisted the services of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's old Sinaloa Cartel in his latest attempt to defeat the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
A sting at a criminal organization's safe house in central Mexico led to the arrest of 26 people Saturday in Celaya, Mexico
A vehicle was set on fire by alleged members of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel on Saturday in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato
Since 2017, Jose Antonio 'El Marro' Yepez (left), who commands the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, has been at odds with Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel
The gang began by robbing trains and expanded into stealing gasoline from government pipelines, and has branched out into extortion rackets, often clashing with the Jalisco New Generation Carte, which is led by Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera, a one-time ally of El Chapo who is now wanted by the United States.
Analysts say the confrontation is a key reason for a soaring number of homicides in Guanajuato, once one of Mexico's safer states and home to numerous foreign-owned manufacturing plants.
Meanwhile, authorities in the northwestern state of Sonora said a series of clashes in the municipality of Caborca left at least 12 men dead. Officials said they were found with their hands bound and they had been shot.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2020 / IMC International Mining Corp. (IMCX.CN)(OTC PINK:IMIMF)(3MX.F) (the "Company" or "IMC") is pleased to announce the voting results from its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders that was held on June 18, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia (the "Meeting"). Shareholders were asked to vote on several items of business as described in the Company's Management Information Circular dated April 30, 2020 (the "Circular"), and all proposals put forward to the Company's shareholders were approved. A total of 16,524,311 Common shares representing approximately 39.05% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares were voted in person or by proxy in connection with the Meeting.
The detailed voting results for the election of directors are as follows:
Director Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Brian E. Thurston 13,776,569 99.971% 3,984 0.029% Thomas E. Gregory Hawkins 11,898,073 86.349% 1,880,906 13.651% Faizaan Lalani 13,771,772 99.943% 7,835 0.057% Andreas (Andy) Graetz 12,816,571 93.012% 962,856 6.988%
All four management director nominees in the Circular received the required majority of votes to be elected as directors of the Company for the ensuing year. In addition, at the Meeting, a motion from the floor was tabled to set the number of directors of the Company at five (as opposed to four as stated in the Circular), and Samir Patel was elected as the fifth director of the Company after receiving the required majority of votes in this regard.
Following the Meeting, Thomas E. Gregory Hawkins (Chairman), Brian G. Thurston, Faizaan Lalani, Andreas (Andy) Graetz and Samir Patel will serve as members of IMC's board of directors (the "Board") until the Company's next annual general meeting of shareholders. IMC is pleased to have strengthened the Board with the additions of Mr. Graetz and Mr. Patel. Their biographies are set out below:
Andy Graetz
Mr. Graetz is a certified mining engineer with over 35 years' international mining experience having worked in Canada, the United States, the Philippines, Kazakhstan and South Africa in senior mine operational, corporate development, and CFO/finance administrative roles. He has held senior management positions with Altynalmas Gold, an affiliate of Ivanhoe Mines, Thistle Mining Inc., the Placer Dome Group of Companies, Lonrho South Africa Ltd, and the Gencor Group of Companies. For these, amongst others, he has led numerous corporate development opportunities and coordinated and managed a number of feasibility studies. Andy has served as Chief Financial Officer for public and private companies for 10 years and has been a board member of CGA Mining Ltd. and Yellowhead Mining Inc. His board responsibilities for Yellowhead Mining Inc. included the roles of Chair of the Audit and Compensation Committees. Mr Graetz holds a Bachelor of Science in the Branch of Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Masters in Business Administration from Brunel University in the United Kingdom and a South African Mine Managers Certificate for Metalliferous Mines.
Story continues
Samir Patel
Mr. Patel is a securities lawyer with over 11 years of experience in securities and corporate law, particularly in relation to M&A transactions, continuous disclosure requirements, corporate governance and equity financings. He is currently General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at First Mining Gold Corp., a gold exploration and development mining company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and has been with First Mining Gold since June 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Patel spent three and a half years as Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Wellgreen Platinum Ltd. (now Nickel Creek Platinum Corp.), a Canadian PGM-Ni mining exploration company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Before joining Wellgreen, Mr. Patel spent four years at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, a leading national law firm, practising as a securities lawyer in the firm's Securities & Capital Markets Group in Vancouver. Whilst at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Mr. Patel's practice involved advising clients in a variety of sectors with respect to securities, corporate and commercial law matters, with a focus on clients in the mining sector. Mr Patel has a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from the University Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
Subsequent to the Meeting, the Board re-appointed Brian Thurston as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and further strengthened the Company's management team by appointing Jamie Lewin as the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Janet Francis as the Company's Corporate Secretary.
Jamie Lewin is a Chartered Professional Accountant, who also holds an MBA with a specialization in financial management and a Certification in Public Companies. In addition, he completed an LLB at Laval University and a BA in Economics from Western University. He has more than 20 years' experience in accounting and finance for private and public companies in the brokerage and investment, manufacturing, distribution, resources and service sectors. He has served as Chief Financial Officer of several junior mining companies and is principal of Best Fit Consulting.
Janet Francis has 15 years' experience in the field of regulatory compliance and corporate governance. She has served as a director or officer of a number of public companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, and Canadian Securities Exchange in the technology, education, and mining sectors. She is principal of a corporate secretarial firm providing services to a range of publicly listed and other reporting issuers.
Mr. Thurston, in his role as Chief Executive Officer, will continue to focus on advancing IMC's property portfolio. The additions to the Company's Board and senior leadership appointments reflect part of the effort to position IMC for the execution of its growth and development strategy.
ON BEHALF OF IMC INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.
Brian Thurston
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: +1-778-928-6565
ABOUT IMC INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.
IMC is a junior exploration and development company focused on creating shareholder value through the advancements of its current assets that include the Thane Property in north-central British Columbia, and the Bullard Pass Property in Arizona. Utilizing its heavily experienced management team, IMC continues to source and evaluate assets to further generate shareholder value.
The Thane property covers approximately 206 km2 (50,904 acres) and is located in the Quesnel Terrane of north-central British Columbia. The northern part of the Quesnel Terrane extends from south of the Mt. Milligan Mine northward to the Kemess Mine, with the Thane property located midway between these two copper-gold porphyry deposits. The Thane property includes several highly prospective mineralized areas identified to date, including the Cathedral Area' on which the Company's exploration is currently focused.
The Bullard Pass Property is comprised of 171 unpatented federal lode claims totaling 3,420 acres and is located in west-central Arizona, northwest of Phoenix, within the Pierce Mining District of Yavapai County. The property has a regional setting typical of detachment fault gold deposits and has geological, mining and metallurgical similarities to the Mesquite Mine in California. The claims are 100% owned by IMC International Mining Corp.
INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Email: ir@internationalmining.ca
Telephone: +1-604-588-2110
https://imcxmining.com
Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Company's business and plans, including with respect to undertaking further acquisition and carrying out exploration activities in respect of its mineral projects. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, risks related to the ability of the Company to obtain necessary approvals; the speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's formative stage of development; the Company's financial position; conclusions of future economic evaluations; business integration risks; fluctuations in the securities market; that the Company's plans and prospects will vary from those stated in this news release; that the Company does not complete any further acquisitions; that the Company does not carry out exploration activities in respect of its mineral projects as planned (or at all); and that the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.
SOURCE: IMC International Mining Corp.
View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/594857/IMC-International-Mining-Corp-Announces-Voting-Results-from-2020-AGM-and-Management-Appointments
As cities around the nation take down Confederate monuments, New Jersey students are putting pressure on schools to rename halls or remove symbols that honor slave owners and racists.
From elementary schools to colleges, students have stepped up to say the hateful ideas espoused by historic figures with ties to New Jersey like President Woodrow Wilson have no place in the halls of education, especially as they increasingly host diverse students and staff.
China foreign ministry spokesman lambasts Navarro, saying he consistently lies and has no honesty and trustworthiness.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Monday walked back on his earlier remarks that the US-China trade pact was over, stoking volatility in markets already frazzled by the coronavirus pandemic.
Navarro said his comments were taken wildly out of context, while United States President Donald Trump confirmed in a tweet the deal with China was fully intact.
Hopefully they will continue to live up to the terms of the agreement, Trump said on Twitter.
Earlier on Monday, Navarro told Fox News its over in an interview when asked about the trade agreement.
He said the turning point came when the US learned about the spreading of the novel coronavirus only after a Chinese delegation had left Washington, DC, following the signing of the phase one deal on January 15, 2020.
It was at a time when they had already sent hundreds of thousands of people to this country to spread that virus, and it was just minutes after wheels up when that plane took off that we began to hear about this pandemic, Navarro said.
China on Tuesday responded to Navarros claims about the trade deal with disdain.
He consistently lies and has no honesty and trustworthiness, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a regular news briefing.
As for the trade deal, Zhao said: Chinas stance on the issue has been consistent and clear. He directed specific questions to relevant departments.
Financial markets were choppy, with US stock futures initially turning negative.
They have since recovered much of the lost ground after Navarro, one of the most outspoken critics of China among Trumps senior advisers, issued a statement saying his comments were not in reference to the US-China trade deal.
They had nothing at all to do with the Phase I trade deal, which continues in place. I was simply speaking to the lack of trust we now have of the Chinese Communist Party after they lied about the origins of the China virus and foisted a pandemic upon the world, he said.
The US-China trade negotiations lasted more than two years, heaped tariffs on $370bn of Chinese products, whipsawed financial markets and dented global growth well before the coronavirus outbreak triggered a worldwide recession.
US-China relations have reached their lowest point in years since the coronavirus pandemic that began in China hit the US hard. Trump and his administration have repeatedly accused Beijing of not being transparent about the outbreak.
Trump on Thursday renewed his threat to cut ties with China, a day after his top diplomats held talks with Beijing and his trade representative said he did not consider decoupling the US and Chinese economies a viable option.
Under the phase one trade deal, China had pledged to boost purchases of US goods by $200bn over two years.
But disruptions wrought by the pandemic saw US goods exports to China fall in the first quarter, providing a further challenge to the Trump administration less than five months out from the presidential election.
We had expected US-China tensions to escalate in the second half of this year in the run-up to the US elections, said Vasu Menon, senior investment strategist, at OCBC Bank Wealth Management in Singapore.
China hawks like Navarro could gain the upper hand and egg (Trump) on to take action against China. So expect markets to be very bumpy in the second half of this year because of the double whammy from COVID-19 and US-China tensions.
By PTI
CHENNAI: A new quarantine strategy confining to homes an estimated 7-8 lakh people is expected to cut down chances of transmission of the coronavirus in the metropolis, witnessing unabated spike in cases on a daily basis, according to a top official of the city civic body.
Apart from the containment measures, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) was also ramping up capacity of the Covid Care centres, adding over 7,000 beds, its Commissioner G Prakash said.
The Home Quarantine Monitoring System (HQMS) has been taken up in the city, under intense lockdown till June 30 in the wake of surge in cases, with about 4,500 volunteers assigned to help and monitor those under 14-day quarantine in all 15 zones of the corporation, he said.
This was in addition to measures such as door-to-door daily survey to detect people with coronavirus symptoms already being implemented in the city, which accounts for a whopping 42,752 COVID-19 cases out of the state's tally of 62,087 as of Monday.
The idea behind deploying volunteers in 200 divisions under the 15 zones was to help prevent those under isolation coming out of their homes for everyday needs, Prakash said.
A volunteer would cover five streets in case of high population density, and in other cases, 10 to 15 streets and buy and supply essential commodities or medicines required by the home quarantined and also monitor them to ensure they stayed indoors.
About 1.20 lakh homes were covered now and it was likely to cross two lakh as the HQMS now includes 18 categories of people, including those who opted for home isolation after testing positive and patients discharged from hospitals and Covid Care Centres, he said.
Assuming each house under quarantine has four people - witheither chances of having contracted the virus or who havealready tested positive -about two lakh homes under isolation wouldcover eight lakh people, the official said.
In effect, by putting about 7-8 lakh people who may spread the virus under home quarantine, "We are fully preventing the chances of transmission from them to others," he said.
He expressed confidence that such measures andthe current 12-day intense lockdown would help reduce the case load in the city.
Primary and extended contacts, people who have given swab samples to corporation collection centres, government or private facilities and waiting for test results are also covered under the quarantine plan.
As per revised protocol, currently no exit tests are done to determine if people being discharged have turned negative or not.
If people waiting for results were not restricted, it may result in virus dispersion if they turn out to be positive later, the official said underscoring the rationale behind placing such persons under quarantine.
Returnees by air, sea, train or road modes of transport also were being quarantined besides those who were traced in view of aspects like possibility of exposure to the pathogen.
On ramping-up bed capacity in Covid Care Centres in the city, he said already 17,500 beds are in place of which 12,000 have been operationalised by deputing doctors and other health care personnel.
"The present bed occupancy in CCCs are only 3,000 and we still have a lot of space."
Considering the contingency factor, however, more beds were being added under the CCC category to mainly cater to asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptoms, he said.
Additionally, 2,000 and 1,200 more beds would be set up in the Anna University and the IIT-Madras premises respectively.
Also, the corporation shall soon have access to 4,500 beds in the Tamil Nadu Housing Board built tenements at Athipet near Ambattur, he said.
Cumulatively, the city authorities shall have 7,700 more beds under the CCCs.
"Just in case, if we need more beds, these amenities cannot be created all of a sudden and that is why we are making arrangements for more beds," he said.
While government run facilities in the city have about 5,000 beds including the ESI Hospital, these primarily cater to those with symptoms and concomitant illnesses.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 15:48 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660fab83 1 City Jakarta-administration,anies-baswedan,WTP-opinion,BPK,Supreme-Audit-Agency,financial-report,Jakarta-Anniversary,audit Free
The Jakarta administration has kept its unqualified opinion (WTP) from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) for the third year in a row. Governor Anies Baswedan said it was one of the best presents that the city could have received for its anniversary.
The city administration earned the designation for its 2019 financial report. It had previously received the same WTP, the best audit grade, for its 2017 and 2018 financial reports.
Alhamdulillah [thank God], it is one of the best birthday gifts for Jakarta, Anies said during a plenary meeting at City Hall on Monday. The meeting was broadcast on the administrations YouTube channel.
The BPK officially presented the results of the audit to the administration during the meeting, which was held in commemoration of the citys anniversary.
Read also: Jakarta financial report given unqualified opinion for second year running
Anies welcomed the results, which he said were an honor for Jakartas financial management. He added that his administration would carry out the BPKs suggestions for further improvement.
Anies mentioned that the citys integrated budgeting process, improvements in the management of regional assets and the implementation of an online payment system in the administration were contributing factors to the high marks earned in the audit.
We hope that this achievement will boost our spirit to improve our performance and increase financial accountability in the future, the governor said.
BPK member Bahrullah Akbar said the WTP was granted to Jakarta based on the agencys audit of the 2019 financial report and the citys implementation of its action plan.
Even though the BPK awarded Jakarta its best audit grade, the agency noted several issues for the city to address.
Bahrullah said the city administration had not settled tax notifications (SPTT) on urban and rural land or building taxes (PBB-P2) on the reclaimed Maju Island in 2018 and 2019.
He added that the city had not properly recorded land procurement by the Jakarta Public Housing Agency, the management of low-cost housing compensation or the management of stalled compensation for floor area ratios. (mfp)
Boris Johnson has been accused of talking rubbish after he claimed no country in the world has a functioning track and trace app to combat the spread of coronavirus days after millions of Germans citizens downloaded the technology.
As he unveiled a string of measures to ease the lockdown in England, the prime minister defended the governments efforts to track the contacts of those who have tested positive for the virus, in the absence of any nationwide app.
The remarks from Mr Johnson follows the decision by ministers to ditch developing the country's own centralised, custom-made app in favour of existing platforms from global technology companies Apple and Google despite millions of pounds of taxpayers' money already being used.
Questioned on the app in the Commons by Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Johnson said: He mentions track and trace and isolate and yes its perfectly true that it would be great to have an app, but no country currently has a functioning track and trace app.
The great success of NHS test and trace is that contrary to some of the scepticism that we heard - it is so far not only contacted 87,000 people who have been in contact with those who have coronavirus, but they have elected voluntary to self-isolate and stop the disease from spreading in the community.
He added: That is a fantastic success by our NHS test and trace operating and we will continue to improve and develop that test and trace operation so to crack down on local outbreaks and enable our country to go forward.
However, in response to the prime ministers comments the Labour MP Chris Bryant posted on his Twitter account: So guess what? Boris Johnson was talking rubbish. Lots of countries have tracking apps.
Last week, Germany launched its contact tracing app in an attempt to curb the transmission rate of Covid-19, and a government spokesperson said it had been downloaded almost 10 million times.
Several other countries have also enrolled citizens onto smartphone tracing systems, including India, Singapore, France and Italy but some of them have reported flaws, including Norway which suspended its app last week over privacy concerns.
The apps are viewed as critical alongside human track and trace systems in order to alert individuals if they have been in close proximity to a person who has recently tested positive for the coronavirus.
In Australia, millions of citizens have also downloaded the countrys completely voluntary COVIDSafe app, but since its launch in April issues have been raised over the effectiveness of the Bluetooth technology when a devices screen is locked.
YEREVAN. According to the Constitution, there are entities that can appeal any legislative act of the parliament. Feliks Tokhyan, a member of the Constitutional Court (CC) of Armenia, stated this in a conversation with journalists Tuesday in front of the court, referring to the parliaments passing of the bill on constitutional amendments on Monday.
To a reporter's remark that this bill will not come to the Constitutional Court to consider its constitutionality, Tokhyan said. "Anyone who says it will not come [to the Constitutional Court ] does not know anything yet. According to the Constitution, there are entities that can appeal any legislative act of the parliament, and the Constitutional Court is the place to appeal [it].
In response to journalist's observation that as per these constitutional amendments, his powers as a Constitutional Court judge will also cease, and asked whether he is going to retire, the member of the Constitutional Court said as follows, in particular: "Ask them why the parliament is now changing what the people said. We have legitimate expectations. If he [a Constitutional Court judge] behaves lawfully, does not break the law, then he has the right to work until the x year.
"Grasp the essence of the issue from the point of view of individual, human rights of Tokhyan and other colleagues. You can't sleep in the evening and wake up in the morning, say, You're not a judge anymore," Feliks Tokhyan added.
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Journalists who abuse the power of their professional roles for selfish motives or unworthy purposes are faithless to that public trust.
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The Niagara Falls Review is a forum for the interchange of information and opinion. It should provide for the expression of disparate and conflicting views. It should give expression to the interests of minorities as well as majorities, of the powerless as well as the powerful.
ACCURACY AND TRUTH
Good faith with the reader is the foundation of ethical and excellent journalism. That good faith rests primarily on the readers confidence that what we print is correct. Every effort must be made to ensure that everything published in the Review is accurate, is presented in context, and that all significant sides are presented fairly.
Journalistic integrity demands that significant errors of fact, as well as errors of omission, should be corrected promptly and as prominently and transparently as warranted.
FAIRNESS
The Review should respect the rights of people involved in the news, be transparent and stand accountable to the public for the fairness and reliability of everything it publishes. Fair news reports provide relevant context, do not omit relevant facts and aim to be honest with readers about what we know and what we do not know. Our core fairness standard demands that any subject of potentially harmful allegations must be given opportunity to respond.
INDEPENDENCE
Independence from those we cover is a key principle of journalistic integrity. We avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts. The Review believes in paying the costs incurred in gathering and publishing news. In circumstances where that may not be possible, we disclose information that could create the perception of a conflict of interest. Transparency with our readers and openness about the potential for conflicts should guide our considerations about real or perceived conflicts.
IMPARTIALITY
To be impartial does not require a news organization to be unquestioning or to refrain from editorial expression. Sound practice, however, demands a clear distinction for readers between news and opinion. All content that contains explicit opinion or personal interpretation should be clearly identified as opinion or analysis, as appropriate.
PRIVACY
Every person has a right to privacy. There are inevitable conflicts between the right to privacy, the public good and the public's right to be informed about the conduct of public affairs. Each case should be judged in the light of common sense and humanity.
Here are some of the core policies included in our Standards Guide:
Back to top Accuracy and Corrections Policy
There can be no compromise with accuracy. Accuracy is our most basic contract with readers and is the responsibility of everyone in our newsrooms. Accuracy is grounded in verification, the essence of journalism. We must check and double-check all the information we publish, including information from all other publications.
Mistakes will happen. When they do, we correct our errors. Corrections serve the reader and they serve the public record. They are essential to building and maintaining trust with our readers. Anyone who becomes aware of a possible error has responsibility for alerting those responsible for corrections in their newsrooms.
Our corrections are guided by the core principles of accountability and transparency. We are accountable to our readers for the accuracy of the information we publish in stories, headlines, photos, cutlines, social media, graphics, data, videos and any other content on all of our platforms. We correct errors of fact in a clear, transparent manner on the platform(s) in which the error was published, as promptly as possible. We make clear to readers the correct information and the context and magnitude of the mistake.
On all of our platforms, it should be clear to readers how to report a possible error. Readers can do so by emailing corrections@niagaradailies.com or, on niagarafallsreview.ca, readers can report possible errors directly on an article page by selecting the "Report an Error" icon.
Back to top Diversity Policy
Inclusiveness is at the heart of thinking and acting as journalists. Torstar newsrooms aim to reflect the diversity of our communities and respect the human rights and equal dignity of all. We aim for a variety of voices as sources and contributors in our news and opinion.
We seek to foster greater community understanding about ethnicity, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status and physical/mental ability and do not perpetuate hurtful stereotypes.
Generally no reference, direct or indirect, should be made to a persons race, colour or religion unless it is pertinent to the story.
In the case of a missing person or a criminal suspect at large, there may be justification for identifying race or colour as part of a full description that provides as many details as possible. Avoid vague descriptions that serve no purpose. At times, a group may make race a public issue. In such cases, the persons race becomes relevant to the news.
Religion is important to the lives of many of our readers. We should not hold up one religion or set of beliefs as superior to another. Do not single out a religion or religious practice for ridicule or stereotyping or use profanities considered offensive to any religions.
We treat men and women equally and respect diverse gender identities, including people who identify as neither male nor female.
Torstar is committed to this same inclusivness and diversity reflective of our communities in its hiring, promotion, development and retention of its staff.
Back to top Anonymity and Confidential Sources
The public interest is best served when news sources are identified by their full names. Torstar journalists are aggressive in pressing sources to put information on the record and seek independently to corroborate off-the-record information.
We do not provide anonymity to those who attack individuals or organizations or engage in speculation the unattributed cheap shot. People under attack in our publications have the right to know their accusers.
There are times when reporters need confidential sources to serve readers and democracy. Responsible journalism in the public interest often depends on these confidential sources who give journalists information that powerful people seek to keep secret. There are times also when some sources, such as underage or other vulnerable people, may require anonymity in telling their stories.
Torstar journalists must discuss using confidential sources with their department head, and in some cases the newsrooms most senior editor. They must always reveal the sources identity to editors, and provide a compelling argument for why the source will not be named in news reports. Senior editors have responsibility to work with reporters to assess the credibility of all sources including confidential sources.
Once any promise is made to grant anonymity, we protect our source, only revealing their identity with that persons permission.
Published articles must explain why sources have been granted anonymity and why we consider them authoritative and credible. Confidential sources should have first-hand knowledge of the information and this must be conveyed to the reader. We should publish as much information as possible about the source including why they sought confidentiality without revealing identity.
The definitions and ground rules for not naming a source must be discussed with sources. Any further promises made or deals brokered with any source must be discussed in advance with senior editors and are subject to the following:
Composites, where several sources are compiled into one person, are not used. Pseudonyms are used only rarely, with a senior editors permission, and must be declared as such in stories.
The source and the journalist must be clear on what has been agreed to and that agreement must be shared with the department manager. Torstar journalists keep their promises.
Back to top Conflict of Interest
Independence from those we cover is a key principle of journalistic integrity. We avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts. In circumstances where that may not be possible, we disclose information that could create the perception of a conflict of interest. Transparency with our readers and openness about the potential for conflicts should guide our considerations about real or perceived conflicts.
These policies apply to all outside interests that could cause our audiences to question the fairness and independence of our journalism.
We seek primarily to ensure that our reporters reputations as fair-minded fact-finders are not compromised by public displays of political or partisan views on public issues, nor influenced by personal involvement or personal axe-grinding on issues we cover.
Opinion journalists have greater leeway on these matters, in line with the latitude to express their own views in their work.
All Torstar editorial staff should inform their immediate supervisors of any outside activity that could result in a conflict of interest, or reasonably perceived conflict of interest, that could cause our audiences to question the integrity of our work.
These policies are not intended to restrict the personal lives, interests or expressions of beliefs of Torstar journalists outside their work lives. Rather, as has been established through various arbitration processes across the company, they seek to ensure that any such personal activities and interests do not come into conflict with the public role of our news organizations in any way that could be seen to compromise our editorial independence and integrity.
Back to top News and Opinions
The Review clearly labels content on all platforms to draw a clear line between news and opinion. This glossary provides definitions for various types of news and opinion we publish.
NEWS
News content is verified information based on the impartial reporting of facts, either observed by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. News reports do not include the opinion of the author.
News Terms
Analysis: A critical or contextual examination of an important and topical issue based on factual reporting. It provides an explanation of the impact or meaning of news events and draws on the authority and expertise of the writer. Analysis articles do not contain the authors opinions.
Investigation: In-depth reporting in the public interest that reveals wrongdoing and/or systemic problems, holds those in power accountable and promotes positive change.
OPINION
Opinion articles based are based on personal interpretation and judgment of facts. Opinion journalists have wide latitude to express their own views, subject to standards of taste and laws of libel including views directly contrary to the editorial views of the Review.
Opinion Terms
Editorial: An article that presents a point of view reflecting the news organization's position on an issue of public interest. Editorials are not meant to be a neutral presentation of the facts. They are written by journalists who are expressing the view of the news organization. As an editorial serves to present the companys voice, there is no individual byline.
Opinion: Articles based on the authors interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. Opinion articles include columns written by staff and commentary from non-staff contributors. Opinion journalists have wide latitude to express their own views including views directly contrary to the news organization's editorial views, as long as they fall within the boundaries of taste and laws of libel. Columnists should not engage in personal axe-grinding or internecine debates with other columnists who write for either their own or other publications.
Advice: An advice article reflects the opinion of the author, who provides guidance or direction on a topic based on their expertise as well as their personal interpretations and judgments of facts.
Blog: An online journal updated regularly by a journalist or editorial department that supplements news coverage. Blogs are usually informal or conversational in style and may reflect a writers opinions, subject to the rights and responsibilities of fair comment.
First person: Narratives exploring an authors insights, observations or thoughts based on that individuals personal experience and opinions.
Readers letters: A selection of letters by readers expressing a point of view, usually concerning a recently published article or current event.
Review: A critical assessment of the merits of a subject, such as art, film, music, television, food or literature. Reviews are based on the writers informed/expert opinion.
Back to top Contact Us
The Niagara Falls Reviews mailing address is: PO BOX 5031 STN MAIN, St. Catharines, ON L2R 7T4
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White House officials are putting a target on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, positioning the agency as a coronavirus scapegoat as cases surge in many states and the U.S. falls behind other nations that are taming the pandemic.
Trump administration aides in recent weeks have seriously discussed launching an in-depth evaluation of the agency to chart what they view as its missteps in responding to the pandemic including an early failure to deploy working test kits, according to four senior administration officials. Part of that audit would include examining more closely the state-by-state death toll to tally only the Americans who died from Covid-19 directly rather than other factors. About 120,000 people in the U.S. have died of the coronavirus so far, according to the CDCs official count.
Aides have also discussed narrowing the mission of the agency or trying to embed more political appointees in it, according to interviews with 10 current and former senior administration officials and Republicans close to the White House. One official said the overall goal would be to make the CDC nimble and more responsive.
Politically, Trump aides have also been looking for a person or entity outside China to blame for the coronavirus response and have grown furious with the CDC, including its public health guidance and actions on testing, making it a prime target. But some wonder whether the wonky-sounding CDC, which the administration directly oversees, could be an effective fall guy on top of Trumps efforts to blame the World Health Organization.
WHO is an easy one, said one former administration official. It is foreign body in Switzerland. CDC will be tough to create a boogeyman around for the average voter.
The moves are among the White Houses efforts to deflect attacks on President Donald Trump and place blame elsewhere in the federal bureaucracy. Protecting the president is seen as increasingly important by political aides as the general election approaches in just over four months and criticism mounts from former Vice President Joe Biden, other Democrats and even former national security adviser John Bolton, who say the blame rests squarely on Trump.
Story continues
The efforts risk backfiring if they blame career health experts at the CDC, whose warnings early in the crisis were dismissed by Trump and his top aides as fearmongering.
Juliette Kayyem, an Obama-era former Homeland Security official who aided the response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, said it can be valuable for agencies to revisit their performance after a crisis but that theres no reason to single out the CDC.
When the history books are written about this crisis, is anyone actually going to believe that Americas abysmal performance and its high death rate was because of some bureaucratic impediment at the CDC?" Kayyem said. The core of America's problem is a White House that clearly was not pressed into action in January. And every flaw from CDC and testing to FEMA and the stockpiles to the supply chain and the states every systemic problem is rooted in White House malfeasance."
The discussion is ongoing about the best way to revamp an agency White House aides view as distant from the West Wing and filled with government career officials who do not respect or follow the Trump agenda.
No single plan for tweaking the CDC has gained traction inside the administration, and the time frame for any evaluation or audit remains unclear. One administration official said aides have discussed having someone inside the administration do the evaluation, or possibly bringing in an outside public health expert to lead it.
During a visit to the CDC last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar spoke with CDC Director Robert Redfield and other senior officials about how to move forward with the need for reforms of the agency, a senior administration official said. But the official said discussions are in their early stages, and they strongly disputed the suggestion that any evaluation of the CDC would amount to a scapegoating exercise.
An HHS spokesperson said the department does not comment on internal deliberations, and the CDC referred questions to the White House.
After this story first published, a senior White House official said the CDC was not being maligned. We found a few inconsistencies in CDC data based on data that were getting from hospitals, the official said. This is not about minimizing the role of CDC but ensuring that the American public gets accurate and verified data.
President Donald Trump holds up a picture as he listens during a meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, left, Associate Director for Laboratory Science and Safety Steve Monroe, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield, about the coronavirus at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Friday, March 6, 2020 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The CDC, with a staff of 20,000 people, has long served as a model for public health agencies around the world, with a global stature held by few U.S. agencies.
But even before the pandemic, Trump administration health officials had discussed shrinking the CDCs purview stressing to Redfield after his 2018 arrival that he should consider reorganizing and refocusing the public health agency.
The CDC had taken on a growing range of research projects and areas of study over the past several years, they argued, a steady expansion that risked distracting from its primary mission as the nations leading authority on identifying and responding to infectious disease threats. The CDC later published a strategic framework that defined the agencys five core capabilities.
In Trumps proposed budget for fiscal year 2021, the administration proposed a roughly 19 percent cut to the agencys discretionary budget. This years budget plan also proposed to refocus the CDC on its core mission of preventing and controlling infectious diseases and other emerging health issues, such as opioids.
The coronavirus crisis and the CDCs high-profile missteps have only strengthened the case for an overhaul, said a former senior official who was involved in those discussions.
The thing to do is take a hard look at the CDC and say what are the five things that they really need to do, and do it to the exclusion of everything else, the former official said, adding that Redfield had agreed with the prepandemic concerns that the agencys activities were too scattered. People have been talking about back to basics, core mission.
Redfields job is not in danger with an election so close, but officials from across the White House orbit have zeroed in on the CDC as a major problem within the coronavirus response. The vice presidents office has expressed concern about the accuracy of the coronavirus death toll, while parts of the Office of Management and Budget, such as the United States Digital Service, have been involved in reviewing the data at the state level.
As the nations top public health authority, the CDC has traditionally played a central role in crafting the federal governments response to health crises and communicating with the public. But the agency has assumed a far lower profile amid the pandemic, after a series of slip-ups that drew the ire of White House officials and hampered the administrations early response effort.
Initial coronavirus tests developed by the CDC in February proved faulty, delaying widespread plans to screen for the virus and allowing it to spread throughout the nation for weeks. An internal HHS investigation released last week found that the faulty test kits were likely contaminated at the CDC.
Messages from CDC officials early in the crisis, while in line with assessments from the scientific community, have embarrassed White House officials trying to contain the political fallout.
Nancy Messonnier, a top CDC official, surprised the White House in late February when she told reporters that a coronavirus outbreak was inevitable contradicting top officials assertions at the time that the disease was largely contained.
In April, Redfield drew Trumps attention after he warned that the country could face a brutal second wave of the disease come the fall a statement he was forced to clarify the next day.
And more recently, the agency has come under scrutiny from the White House over guidelines for reopening schools and institutions that were initially seen as overly prescriptive, and from public health experts for conflating two different types of coronavirus tests in its overall testing numbers.
One administration official said the main problem with the CDC has been with the data it receives from states about the Covid-19 death toll creating a larger problem clouding the U.S. response.
In Pennsylvania, if you have coronavirus and you die from a gunshot wound, it gets classified as a coronavirus death, the administration official said. If the data drives the decision-making, you want to make sure you have good data. When you have different ways of counting things, it can lead to distortion. The audit was suggested as means to confirm that or disprove that.
The situation remains tense in Luxembourg's labour market. The country counted 20,209 jobseekers in May.
National employment agency ADEM published the most recent unemployment rates earlier this Monday.
20,209 individuals looked for employment in May this year. This number is synonymous with an increase of almost 5,100 people compared to the same month last year (+33.6%).
Unemployment rates by gender were nearly identical.
The situation visibly worsened for young people under 30 over the course of last year. Youth unemployment is high in Luxembourg, ADEM director Isabelle Schlesser told RTL this Monday morning. She explained that, compared to the same period last year, Luxembourg recorded an increase of 52% young jobseekers in May.
The national unemployment rate has only slightly climbed from 6.9% in April to 7% in May.
10,600 jobseekers are currently receiving an unemployment allowance. This number has never been higher before, Isabelle Schlesser confirmed.
Religious freedom group urges Trump to immediately enforce sanctions on Chinese officials
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged the Trump administration to immediately enforce sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for the detention and persecution of more than a million Uyghurs in the Xinjiang autonomous region in western China.
More than a million ethnic Turkish Muslims have been detained in camps in Xinjiang by Chinas communist government, as estimated by the U.N. and the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, which was passed by Congress nearly unanimously last month, and seeks to safeguard the rights of this religious minority group.
For the past several years, China has been continuously arresting Uyghur people and placing them in re-education camps, the U.S.-based China Aid said in a statement released Thursday. Chinese authorities claimed these camps provide vocational training for Uyghur people. However, camp survivors reported being starved, tortured, forced to study pro-government propaganda, and made to do extensive labor with little to no pay.
The USCIRF said Thursday that it wants the president to immediately enforce sanctions listed in the bill that he signed into law on Wednesday.
For 20 years, USCIRF has loudly sounded the alarm on the actions of the Chinese Communist Party to target millions of Uyghur and other Muslims, the panel said in a statement on Wednesday. USCIRF has condemned the concentration camps where Uyghurs and other Muslims are being held as an unjustified mockery of international human rights standards, and along with the actions of the Chinese Communist Party against Uyghurs, as crimes against humanity and cultural genocide.
USCIRF urges the Administration to enforce the Act and issue immediate and targeted sanctions against Chinese government officials responsible for the persecution of Uyghurs, it added.
The administration must take meaningful action now to condemn Chinas crimes against humanity, modern slavery, and cultural genocide.
In a signing statement on Wednesday, the president said that some of the provisions for sanctions in the bill could limit his constitutional authority to engage in diplomacy as president so he would treat them as advisory and not mandatory.
The Act holds accountable perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses such as the systematic use of indoctrination camps, forced labor, and intrusive surveillance to eradicate the ethnic identity and religious beliefs of Uyghurs and other minorities in China, Trump said.
The Chinese government has continually denied that it has unjustly imprisoned Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region. However, documents called The China Cables that were leaked last year to news outlets revealed the ideological motivations and structure behind such detention centers.
The documents were leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a consortium that has worked with 17 media partners, including the BBC and The Guardian. Included in the leak was a nine-page memo reportedly sent out to officials operating the camps by then deputy-secretary of Xinjiangs Communist Party, Zhu Hailun, in 2017.
The BBC reported that the memo said detention centers in Xinjiang should be run as high-security prisons with strict punishments and no escapes. The memo also ordered detention center officials to increase discipline and punishment of behavioral violations, make remedial Mandarin studies a top priority and promote repentance and confession.
According to The Guardian, the memo also revealed that inmates at the camps were made to serve at least one year but could be detained indefinitely.
The Chinese government has also continued its campaign against Christianity during the countrys coronavirus outbreak by destroying crosses and demolishing a church while people were on lockdown.
More than 60 million Christians live in China, at least half of whom worship in unregistered, or illegal underground churches.
China is ranked as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors USAs World Watch List.
A boy in Long Thanh District, the southern province of Dong Nai, has been widely praised after a clip of him clearing trash from a clogged storm drain on June 16 went viral on social media.
Pham Trong Dat in the uniform of Long Thanh Secondary School in Dong Nai Province was seen to remove trash from a drain on June 16. Image extracted from CCTV by tuoitre.vn
The clip extracted from the CCTV of a local household showed that Pham Trong Dat, a sixth grader of Long An Secondary School, walked with his bicycle under the rain after school on June 16.
Seeing rubbish clogging a street drain, Dat stopped to remove the trash with his own hands so that rain water could be drained, preventing possible flooding on the street.
When Dat was asked why he did it, he said he thought it was normal and it seemed like the right thing to do.
Dats action has impressed online viewers, particularly when localities across Vietnam have entered the rainy season. Heavy rains usually cause flooding along roads and streets, causing travel chaos.
After receiving compliments online, on Monday morning, Dat was honoured during his schools flag salutation in front of students, teachers and staff of the school.
Leaders of Long Thanh District Peoples Committee also visited the school to award him with money and certificates of appreciation.
Other agencies such as the districts Education and Training Department, the districts youth association, and Long An Commune Peoples Committee also awarded the boy for his act.
Phan Thi Ngoc Mai, principle of Long An Secondary School, said that Dat and his grandmother were present at the ceremony.
Dat said that he would continue do helpful actions for the community. VNS
HCM City not making use of abandoned spaces Large areas under elevated roadways in HCM City lie abandoned even as the city suffers from a severe shortage of parking spaces.
Sackman is turning the page on restaurant uses at 649 Mattison and getting back to Asbury Parks initial intended uses.
Several restaurant and bar operators have taken a stab at location: 649 Mattison Avenue. The former bank building was initially opened as the Mattison Park Martini Bar. Under-capitalized - short-lived - shut down leaving the vault empty. Then the Pope came to town; the Trinity and the Pope restaurant. The Cajun-Creole inspired cuisine met the expectations of their customer base until the rapid escalations in rent from the landlord outpaced the ability to make money and survive. The Pope packed up and left the pews empty. Other ventures came and went, including but not limited to, the Bank on Mattison and finally the Skratch Eatery, which never made left its mark on Mattison Avenue. I might have missed one or two, but you get the point. Maybe the corner of Mattison and Bond in Asbury Park was never meant to be a restaurant?
Historic Asbury Park was once divided into several distinct zones. Near the ocean and the boardwalk are the large buildings of the mass popular resort, hotels, the casino, and the boardwalk itself. Inland, along Wesley Lake which forms the border with Ocean Grove to the south, stand the buildings of the commercial district that served the resort and its neighboring communities. Cookman Avenue, the first large street parallel to Wesley Lake became the principal retail street with at one point five 5 & 10 cent stores in a row on the 600 block. North of Cookman, Mattison Avenue became the site of banks but also marked the typical urban mixture with a downtown theater and office buildings. North of Mattison, Bangs Avenue, because of its location slightly farther removed from the prime retail area became the site of the utility offices with mixed residential commercial buildings infilling the street. Built in 1917, Merchants National Bank stood at the corner of Bond Street at 649 Mattison Avenue.
The architecturally pleasing 100+ year old former bank building has now been sold to Sackman Enterprises, as reported by Richard Santore of Bielat Santore & Company, Allenhurst, New Jersey. Sackman is turning the page on restaurant uses at 649 Mattison and getting back to Asbury Parks initial intended uses continues Santore. The recognized Asbury Park developer intends to convert the building into mixed-use office/residential space or all office space development, while adding a third floor to the existing two-story building.
In 2001, when Sackman Enterprises first invested in property in the New Jersey beach town of Asbury Park, their purchase of the historic Steinbach building was considered risky. Now, little over a decade after their initial endeavor into Asbury Park, Sackman Enterprises owns multiple properties in what has come to be recognized as one of New Jerseys fastest growing arts and culture destinations. This is the third real estate transaction the Allenhurst firm, Bielat Santore & Company has been able to close during the Covid-19 pandemic.
About Bielat Santore & Company
Bielat Santore & Company is an established commercial real estate firm. The companys expertise lies chiefly within the restaurant and hospitality industry, specializing in the sale of restaurants and other food and beverage real estate businesses. Since 1978, the principals of Bielat Santore & Company, Barry Bielat and Richard Santore, have sold more restaurants and similar type properties in New Jersey than any other real estate company. Furthermore, the firm has secured in excess of $500,000,000 in financing to facilitate these transactions. Visit the companys website, http://www.123bsc.com for the latest in new listings, property searches, available land, market data, financing trends, RSS feeds, press releases and more.
AN Irish-backed investment firm has sold part of its stake in Waterford tech business VR Education.
Sure Valley Ventures said it has recouped the value of its original investment in the Irish company, but has retained shares equivalent to a 4.38pc stake in VR Education. It said the Irish company has significant growth potential.
The sale by Sure Valley of more than 3.3 million shares will result in gross proceeds of just over 522,000 (577,000). The remaining stake in VR Education is worth about 1.8m (1.99m).
VR's share price is currently about 465pc more than the price at which Sure Valley Ventures made its initial investment in the Irish firm in 2019.
Waterford-based VR Education develops virtual reality training and education platforms. It was founded by Sandra Whelan and David Whelan.
The company raised almost 7m when it listed its shares in London and Dublin in 2018.
It recently announced that global tech firm HTC has agreed to invest 3m in the business and enter into a strategic partnership for the distribution and licensing of its Engage platform through HTC.
HTC's investment in VR Education gave it a 20pc stake in the firm.
Sure Valley Ventures is an entrepreneur-led venture capital fund focused on investing in the software technology sector with a specific focus on artificial intelligence, the internet of things and augmented and virtual reality.
Sure Valley partner Gareth Burchell said the strategic investment from HTC "adds validity" to the technology that has been developed by VR Education.
He added that Sure Valley believes the Irish company has a "major opportunity to achieve significant growth".
Releasing full-year results last week, VR Education said that its revenue rose 43pc to 1m.
Its earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) loss was 1.4m, which it said was in line with expectations.
A teacher born without a right forearm has been given an advanced bionic hero arm, which she said has changed her life forever.
Vikki Smith, 25, from Berkshire, whose students now describe her as a super teacher, had previously found it challenging with only one functioning arm to juggle carrying pens, books and worksheets while trying to help children.
She had her arm funded by the Worshipful Company of Glovers of London, who donate prosthetic hands and arms to people unable to get help from the NHS or through other means.
She said: My previous prosthetics have always been made to look realistic, so they look like real hands.
The hero arm is so different to anything Ive ever had, but it has given me so much more confidence.
I have always hidden away, Ive always liked people not looking at me, but then having this, its like a different me.
I remember when I put it on and walked to work on the first day, and I walked with my sleeves rolled up and it on full show, I was really proud of it. The kids say its my robot arm, its made me into a super teacher.
She is now able to use her bionic arm to cook, eat and drink and carry objects in the classroom.
She said it will allow her to demonstrate how people can overcome challenges in life and ensure that the children under her care can understand the importance of inclusivity.
Jonathan Isaacs, chairman of the Glovers Prosthetics Working Group, said: We chose Vikki as our first hero arm candidate as we recognised that it would be a life-changing opportunity for her in her personal and work life.
We recognised her ability to project positivity in overcoming difficulties and her determination to encourage inclusivity.
Master Glover Mr Roger De Courcey, said: The Worshipful Company of Glovers feel very privileged to have been involved in such a wonderful project and we hope that we might be in a position to help others in the future.
The arm is one of several hero arms manufactured by Bristol-based company Open Bionics.
In January, an 11-year-old quadruple amputee became the first person to receive an R2-D2-themed bionic arm.
Although the arm is currently only available through private clinics, Open Bionics is working with the NHS and hopes the limbs could become available more widely.
In February, a military veteran who lost part of his arm in Afghanistan became the first person to receive one of the hero arms on the NHS.
The hero arm is so different to anything I've ever had, but it has given me so much more confidence Vikki Smith
The arm is manufactured with 3D scanning and 3D printing. The advantage is that it is relatively light and considerably less expensive than other bionic arms on the market and gives the recipient a functional and personalised artificial limb.
Samantha Payne, chief operating officer and co-founder of Open Bionics, said: Were so grateful to the Worshipful Company of Glovers for funding a hero arm for Vikki.
The hero arm is the worlds most affordable multi-grip bionic arm and manufactured at a price point thats affordable enough for NHS healthcare.
Until the hero arm is available on the NHS, there are many people in the UK crowdfunding for better prosthetic devices.
If youre an upper limb amputee interested in the hero arm, please sign up on our website and well support you with raising funds.
Upper limb amputees looking for funding for prosthetic limbs can register online at www.openbionics.com/sign-up .
The Google app has recently learned some new tricks that can help you curb your appetite. Quite literally.
Though it may not be showing up for everyone right away, the snapshot feed within the Google app now shows you ideas on what to eat for dinner. Or really any meal. Because theres a new card in the feed that can suggest recipes for what to cook.
Thus, taking your appetite and beating it into submission by making a delicious meal. The food-related card showing up in the snapshot feed looks to officially be labeled Plan Todays meals with a tag that basically says hey, here are some recipe ideas for you today.
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New recipe cards arent the only new tricks in the Google app though. According to 9To5Google there are other new cards showing up in the app too.
New tricks for the Google app include podcast cards
Recipes for meals are always useful but what if you want suggestions on your daily dose of podcasts?
The Google app does that too now. Once you jump on over to the snapshot feed in the app, you may end up seeing a new card that says start listening for a fresh morning. These would be curated podcast suggestions for you based on other podcasts you may have already listened to.
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Because these are curated pieces of content though, you likely arent going to see this card if you never listen to podcasts. These snapshots are of course meant to be tailored for your own personal experience. And that isnt really happening if you get podcast or recipe cards in the snapshot when you never search for that stuff.
These cards are popping up on smart displays too
In addition to showing up in feeds on phones, the cards are also reportedly showing up on smart displays.
So if you have a Nest Hub or a Nest Hub Max for example, you may see these cards show up the next time you use either one. Worth keeping in mind is that they may not show up for everybody. For a few reasons at that.
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Firstly, as mentioned these feeds are tailored. So if you never search for recipes or podcasts, you probably wont see these cards. Secondly they may be arriving in peoples feeds slowly as Google begins to work them into the fold on a more consistent basis.
Both of these new cards will include links to the results theyre related to. So if you like what you can see you can easily access the content.
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Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 10:09 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660dc06a 1 Business tourism,Bali-tourism,travel-agency,Asita,COVID-19,coronavirus Free
Balis travel agencies association is calling for the island to be reopened to tourists as most of its members only have financial capability to weather the crisis until July. The plea comes following the governments decision to maintain travel restrictions on the tourist-packed island.
The Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) of Bali expected the government to finish the new normal protocol stipulation by the end of the month and reopen the island to tourists by July to prevent travel companies from collapsing.
Read also: Government won't open Bali yet: COVID-19 task force
Tour operators havent earned any income since March and we can only last until July. Therefore, we expect Bali to be open really soon, ASITA Bali secretary I Putu Winastra said during an online discussion held by the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry on June 18.
Putu fears that the collapse of travel agencies would not only cause massive layoffs but also affect the islands economy, as 80 percent of Balis economy comes from tourism and its related industries. Balis Ngurah Rai International Airport accounts for 63 percent of foreign tourist visits using through air gates, and 38 percent of overall foreign tourist visits in 2019, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data show.
National COVID-19 task force chief Doni Monardo on June 17 said that both the agency and Balis local administration agreed not to reopen Bali in the near future, amid the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
The result of our discussions with several regional leaders, including the Bali governor, was that we have decided not to open Bali yet," Doni said in a hearing with House of Representatives Commission X overseeing tourism.
Balis provincial administration also recently reported an increasing number of local COVID-19 transmissions on the island, causing the government to ban activities involving large groups of people, including traditional and religious activities.
Read also: Fears over virus cast shadow on plan to restart tourism
The island had recorded 1,080 cases as of Monday, ranking 11th in provinces across the archipelago, with nine deaths and 615 recoveries. That compares with 46,845 COVID-19 cases across Indonesia on Monday, with 150 dead and 18,735 recovered.
The Tourism Ministrys director for tourism marketing Vinsensius Jemadu said the government was taking a cautious stance and had set strict standards before deciding to reopen tourist destinations and the countrys borders.
We have to take careful considerations and require strict standards when we try to open our borders. We also require our provinces and islands to pass the requirements [before reopening], he said.
Even if the government decided to reopen Bali and welcome back tourists, there are still other challenges facing travel agencies on the island, an expert warned.
A tourism expert at Thailands Thammasat University, Walter Jamieson, said travel agencies must be able to strike a delicate balance between letting their guests experiencing their vacation without fear of COVID-19 infection while also applying a strict protocol to protect them from the virus.
Theres always a tension for travel destinations between appearing too regulated and maintaining safety. People want to have a good time and not think about handwashing and whatnot during a vacation, but we have to follow all health and safety protocols he said during the discussion.
Read also: Doubts loom over Indonesia's 'travel bubble' plan
The government is aiming to create travel bubbles with China, South Korea, Japan and Australia to attract travelers and businesspeople, despite COVID-19 infections nationwide showing no signs of slowing down.
The term travel bubble or travel corridor refers to an agreement in which countries that are successfully containing the outbreak can open their borders to each other to allow free movement within the bubble.
Indonesia recorded its biggest surge in COVID-19 cases with 1,331 new confirmed cases on June 18, according to the Health Ministry, a day after the country officially surpassed Singapore with the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Trump has also turned increasingly critical of China because of the spread of the coronavirus, which originated in a city there, and its damaging effects on the United States economy. And agricultural groups that were intended to benefit from the trade deal have complained to the Trump administration that China is lagging significantly behind targets in its promised purchases of farm goods, and that Chinese buyers are bypassing American soybeans for Brazilian ones.
But in testimony before Congress last week, Robert Lighthizer, the United States trade representative and the deals primary architect, forcefully defended Chinas progress in fulfilling the pact. He said that he was in frequent contact with Chinese officials and that they were working hard to live up to their agreements.
Every indication is that in spite of this Covid-19, they are going to do what they say, Mr. Lighthizer said.
In an interview on Monday evening, Martha MacCallum of Fox News asked Mr. Navarro about the presidents desire to maintain the deal as long as possible. He wanted them to make good on the promises because there had been progress made on that trade deal, but given everything thats happened and all the things you just listed, is that over? she asked.
Protesters holding signs gather at the LA City hall for a protest in Los Angeles, Calif. on June 19, 2020. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)
Highly Likely That COVID-19 Spike Linked to Protests, LA Health Official Says
The spike in new CCP virus cases in Los Angeles County is probably linked to massive protests that have taken place in recent weeks, a top health official said.
What we havent really been able to do, because we have such a high volume of cases coming in, is really pinpoint whether or not the exact source of an exposure was a protest, Barbara Ferrer, the director of the countys Department of Public Health, said at a press briefing Monday.
I do want to say that its highly likely, given the increased numbers that were seeing, that some of this is, in fact, people who may have been in a crowded situation at one of the protests where there was spread, she added.
Gatherings of nearly any size were prohibited in Los Angeles and in many parts of the country starting in March as authorities imposed harsh measures to try to slow the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes a disease called COVID-19.
But the death of George Floyd, a black man, in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day sparked nationwide protests and riots and authorities in many cities stopped enforcing social distancing mandates.
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, left, speaks as Mayor Eric Garcetti looks on at a press conference in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 4, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)
Los Angeles County health officials reported 2,571 new virus cases on Monday, the third day in the past week that officials recorded over 2,000 new cases during a single day.
While some of this may be due to lags in reporting, the numbers do tell us that were seeing an increase in community transmission, Ferrer said.
She urged people to stay home unless they need to undertake a so-called essential activity, such as obtaining food or medicine.
In a message aimed at people who are ignoring those recommendations, the health official said: If youve been out of your home and in crowded spaces, please stay away from anyone in your life who is older or has underlying health conditions as much as possible.
A number of areas in the United States are recording an increase in CCP virus cases in recent weeks. In many of those areas, the number of tests being done has also climbed. Of the over 960,000 tests done in Los Angeles County, 8 percent of people have tested positive.
Protesters gather on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif. on June 14, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Like most of those areas, the number of COVID-19 patients in Los Angeles requiring hospital care has remained steady even as the number of cases rise. Hospitalizations from COVID-19 are on the rise in the state of California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday.
As of Monday, 1,453 Los Angeles County residents are hospitalized. Of those, 28 percent are in intensive care units and 19 percent are on ventilators.
Apart from people likely being exposed to the virus at protests, its highly likely exposures are happening in workplaces and other sites where people are coming into close contact with each other, Ferrer told reporters.
The county has over 560 active institutional investigations ongoing to try to pinpoint the source of exposures.
County officials say 2,929 people have died with COVID-19, primarily those who are older or have underlying health conditions.
A dozen colleges at Oxford University have accepted five or fewer black undergraduates over the past three years.
Data revealed by the university's Undergraduate Admissions Report reveals that the number of black students studying at Oxford has gone up but remains low in some areas.
The number of black British students admitted into the university compared to other ethnic backgrounds increased from 18.3 per cent to 22.1 per cent, while 3.2 per cent of students enrolled between 2017 and 2019 had Black African or Black Caribbean heritage.
Data from Oxford University (pictured) revealed that 12 of its colleges have accepted five or fewer black UK students over the past three years
The university's vice-chancellor Professor Louise Richardson said: 'The data presented clearly demonstrates steady progress towards diversifying the make-up of our student body.'
'The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the deep education inequalities in our society.
'We are acutely conscious of its differential impact both on our current students and on those considering applying to Oxford.
The number of black students studying at the university has increased during this period, with vice-chancellor Professor Louise Richardson stating that Oxford is making an effort to diversify its student population
'Notwithstanding the major challenge of adapting to the constraints posed by the pandemic we fully intend to continue our progress towards ensuring that every talented, academically driven pupil in the country, wherever they come from, sees Oxford as a place for them.'
The data also revealed that the number of students from black and minority ethnic background remains low in some courses.
During the same time period, no black UK students were accepted onto to study geography, one was admitted to biology and just two for history and politics.
The university were planning to publish these statistics earlier this month but the move was delayed due to 'world events'.
The focus surrounding treatment of black people in society has intensified following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota at the end of May, which has since sparked the 'Black Lives Matter' movement across the globe.
Oxford's Oriol College, which has admitted six black UK students in the last three years, voted to remove the statue of British imperialist Cecil Rhodes (pictured) from the city centre
Oxford's Oriel College voted to remove the statue of imperialist alumni Cecil Rhodes in the city centre after significant protests in the area.
Over the past three years, only six black British students were accepted into the college.
The data also revealed that more 62.3 per cent of pupils accepted into Oxford over the past three years have come from state schools, compared to 55.6 per cent five years ago.
Meanwhile, 49 per cent of the admitted students come from London and the South East of England with 15 per cent coming from the north of England.
Top Indian IT firms have reduced their US visa dependency by 40-60 percent since President Donald Trump took office in 2017. In other words, the latest move by the American government to ban non-immigrant visas such as H-1B and L-1 may not make as big a dent as feared.
Share of Infosys in the H-1B pie fell the most, down 60 percent from 14,586 visas in FY17 to 5,496 in FY20. This is followed by Wipro at 56 percent, TCS at 52 percent and HCL Tech at 46 percent. For Cognizant, the drop in H-1B visas was 56 percent in FY19 compared to FY17.
This drop came on the back of increased denials and request for evidences due to stringent visa regulations in the US.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show
Localisation
This resulted in companies stepping up their localisation efforts. Localisation in the US now stands at more than 60 percent for the top IT firms. According to experts, increased localisation will to an extent contain the damage caused by the disruption.
Currently, visa renewals of those in the US are unlikely to be affected. Till now denials and request for evidences or RFE, were high for renewals, resulting in many tech employees coming back to India. That will change and approval rates will increase. The new changes will come into effect in the next 90 days. Currently, on an average, only 70 percent of applications are approved.
This means that companies may not face a severe manpower crunch.
More offshoring
Offshoring means moving resources to areas where the cost is low, for instance, India.
According to a research analyst, IT firms are likely to shift 2-5 percent of its resource to offshore locations in the coming months. Currently, offshore accounts for about 80-90 percent of the workforce across IT firms and this is likely to increase up to 85-95 percent on the back of COVID-19 and immigration reforms, the expert added.
According to many experts Moneycontrol spoke to, visa issues are likely to result in more offshoring in the coming years.
Institutional equities firm Emkay said in its report that revenue from offshore has been increasing since 2017.
For instance, Infosys' offshore volume growth in FY17 stood at 9.5 percent as opposed to 11.8 percent in FY20. In terms of revenues, offshore revenue growth stood at 6 percent compared to 8.2 percent for onshore. However, in FY20, offshore revenue growth was 9.3 percent as opposed to 6.7 percent onshore revenue growth.
As offshore volumes and revenues grow, experts added this trend is likely to stay.
US tech firms will be hurt
Sheela Murthy, founder, Murthy Law firm, an immigration firm in the US, said in an earlier interaction that this shift would only hurt the US economy as not only Indian firms but also top US tech companies will look at countries like India to set up offshore centres.
The scenario is not too far off going by the recent H-1B approval rates. The top five US tech companies dependency on H-1B had increased 43 percent, whereas Indias dependency decreased by 50 percent over the last couple of years. Top employers include Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple.
Saudi Arabia said on Monday it will bar arrivals from abroad to attend the hajj this year due to the coronavirus, allowing only a limited number of Saudi citizens and residents to make the pilgrimage with social distancing measures enforced.
This decision is taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols to protect human beings from the risks associated with this pandemic and in accordance with the teachings of Islam in preserving the lives of human beings, the ministry that oversees pilgrimages said in a statement.
The number of coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia has exceeded 160,000, with 1,307 deaths, following a rise in new infections over the past two weeks.
Some 2.5 million pilgrims typically visit the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina for the week-long hajj. Official data show Saudi Arabia earns around $12bn a year from the hajj and the lesser, year-round pilgrimage known as Umrah.
The kingdom halted international passenger flights in March and asked Muslims in March to put hajj plans on hold until further notice. International arrivals for umrah pilgrimages have also been suspended until further notice.
Earlier this month, Malaysia and Indonesia both barred their citizens from travelling to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, citing fears of the coronavirus.
Source: Daily Graphic
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The BioScience Talks podcast features discussions of topical issues related to the biological sciences.
The pandemic resulting from SARS-CoV-2 has had profound impacts on the conduct of scientific research and education: A large proportion of field research has ground to a halt, and research and science education were forced to move online. In light of these developments, the nation's biodiversity infrastructure--natural history collections housed in museums, herbaria, universities, and colleges, among other locations, and often available digitally--are ready to play an even larger role in enabling important scientific discoveries. Further, collections may also be instrumental in preventing or mitigating future infectious outbreaks. These developments are highlighted in two BioScience articles published today, both of which call for greater collaboration between the biodiversity collections community and other fields of study. In an Editorial, "Human Health, Interagency Coordination, and the Need for Biodiversity Data", Jennifer M. Zaspel and colleagues note that "massive advances in infrastructure, digitization, and organization of physical specimens and their associated data have transformed their use to address global societal challenges." To build on these successes, the authors argue for greater interagency cooperation and support for the "infrastructure, coordination, and management of biodiversity data." In a concurrently published Viewpoint, "Integrating Biodiversity Infrastructure into Pathogen Discovery and Mitigation of Emerging Infectious Diseases" Joseph A. Cook and colleagues elaborate the ways in which biodiversity science is a powerful tool for identifying future threats to human well-being. "At its core," the authors write, "the COVID-19 pandemic is a consequence of our fundamental ignorance of our planet's natural ecosystems and the effects of our encroachment on them." If properly supported, they argue, the world's natural history collections, which house 3 billion-plus specimens, can be a powerful tool for combating this ignorance. Such an effort will require new and large-scale collaboration with the biomedical community, report the authors. At present, they say, such efforts are hampered because "these communities are only vaguely aware of each other's resources, despite obvious benefits for both basic and clinical research." On a recent episode of BioScience Talks, several of the authors of these publications were joined by representatives from the BLUE (Biodiversity Literacy in Undergraduate Education) project and BCEENET (Biological Collections in Ecology and Evolution Network), two efforts that promote student learning via digitized specimens. The conversation ranged from today's publications to the use of collections as an educational tool, with a particular focus on working with digitized specimens in remote-learning environments. These discussions amplify the call for new investments in research and education that were recently outlined in the Extended Specimen Network--a community-informed strategic vision for new investments in biodiversity science and education.
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To hear the whole discussion, visit this link for this latest episode of the BioScience Talks podcast.
BioScience, published monthly by Oxford Journals, is the journal of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). BioScience is a forum for integrating the life sciences that publishes commentary and peer-reviewed articles. The journal has been published since 1964. AIBS is an organization for professional scientific societies and organizations, and individuals, involved with biology. AIBS provides decision-makers with high-quality, vetted information for the advancement of biology and society. Follow BioScience on Twitter @AIBSbiology.
Oxford Journals is a division of Oxford University Press. Oxford Journals publishes well over 300 academic and research journals covering a broad range of subject areas, two-thirds of which are published in collaboration with learned societies and other international organizations. The division been publishing journals for more than a century, and as part of the world's oldest and largest university press, has more than 500 years of publishing expertise behind it. Follow Oxford Journals on Twitter @OxfordJournals
The partnership aims to enhance operational agilityand innovationthrough ahybrid cloud strategy
Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced that it has been awarded a strategic, multi-year infrastructure modernization and digital transformation services engagement by Germany-based energy company E.ON.
Wipro will transform E.ON's legacy data centre operations to hybrid cloud model by leveraging its BoundaryLess Enterprise (BLE) framework and Wipro HOLMES, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation platform. The company will collaborate with E.ON to reduce their datacentre footprint, streamline its infrastructure and achieve operational agility by providing an integrated view of their data centre operations. Wipro's consumption-based hybrid cloud hosting strategy powered by AI will help E.ON optimize its workflows and deliver superior customer experience with increased efficiency.
Marcus Schaper, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, E.ON SE said, "The cloud transformation is a key element of our digital transformation journey towards a better tomorrow. We are confident that Wipro as a strategic partner will accompany us to execute our cloud strategy most reliably and efficiently."
N.S. Bala, President and Global Head, Energy, Natural Resources, Utilities Construction, Wipro Limited said,"We are delighted to be selected as E.ON's strategic transformation partner and look forward to supporting them on their digital journey. Our hybrid cloud hosting strategy powered by AI will provide an impetus to E.ON's business vision of consistently delivering technologically advanced, customer-centric energy solutions."
He further added, "In a fast changing world of prosumers and energy convergence, operational agility for better efficiency and effectiveness has become a strategic need for organisations. Wipro's deep expertise in the energy value chain, capabilities in new and emerging technologies backed by extensive global experience in working with some of the biggest utilities, positions us well to deliver this high value engagement for E.ON."
About E.ON
E.ON is an international investor-owned energy company, which focuses on energy networks and customer solutions. As one of Europe's largest energy companies, E.ON plays a leading role in shaping a clean, digital, decentralized world of energy. To this end, more than 75,000 employees develop and sell products and solutions for private, commercial and industrial customers. Around 50 million customers purchase electricity, gas, digital products or solutions for electric mobility, energy efficiency and climate protection from E.ON. E.ON is headquartered in Essen, Germany. For more information, please visit www.eon.com.
About Wipro Limited
Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 175,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future.
Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements
Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property, and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200623005557/en/
Contacts:
Media Contact:
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Wipro Limited
shraboni.banerjee@wipro.com
A Royal honour depicting a white angel standing on the neck of the Devil has been criticised by anti-racism campaigners who claim it resembles the killing of George Floyd.
The Order of St Michael and St George is awarded by the Queen to ambassadors and diplomats for distinguished service. It is the sixth most senior in the honours system.
An image on the badge shows St Michael trampling on a prostrate Satan, but campaigners say it looks like the recent killing of Mr Floyd, who was suffocated after a white police officer in the US knelt on his neck for nearly eight minutes.
The Order of St Michael and St George is awarded by the Queen to ambassadors and diplomats for distinguished service
The death triggered a global wave of Black Lives Matter protests.
An online petition calling for the redesign of the badge on the honour founded in 1818 after the Napoleonic wars has attracted more than 2,000 signatures.
The petition says: This is a highly offensive image. It is also reminiscent of the recent murder of George Floyd by the white policeman in the same manner presented here in this medal.
Bumi Thomas, a British-Nigerian activist, told The Guardian that the image on the badge was of a black man in chains with a white, blue-eyed figure standing on his neck.
She added: It is literally what happened to George Floyd and what has been happening to black people for centuries under the guise of diplomatic missions active, subliminal messaging that reinforces the conquest, subjugation and dehumanisation of people of colour.
Sir Simon Woolley, the director of Operation Black Vote, said: The original image may have been of St Michael slaying Satan, but the figure has no horns or tail and is clearly a black man.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, June 23, 2020 06:31 579 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660c8523 1 World russ-medlin,pedophile,Interpol-fugitive,bitcoin-scam,American Free
The Indonesian government said Monday that Russ Albert Medlin, an American fugitive recently arrested in Jakarta, had entered the archipelago before Interpol issued a red notice for the bitcoin scammer and convicted pedophile.
Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said in a hearing with House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs that the government received the notification three weeks after the man wanted by the FBI entered Indonesia.
There was no red notice when he arrived here. Our system didn't detect it at the time," Yasonna said on Monday. "After we received it, the immigration office and the National Police conducted a joint operation to arrest him. He could not have entered had we received the notification [sooner]."
According to the ministry, Medlin arrived in the Southeast Asian country using a tourist visa on Nov. 5, 2019, three weeks before Interpol issued its red notice on Dec. 9, 2019.
Read also: American fugitive arrested in Jakarta a known pedophile: Jakarta Police
He was nabbed in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, last week -- seven months since his arrival -- after three teenage girls alleged he paid to have sex with them. The police also confiscated more than US$20,000 in cash from the suspect.
If convicted under the 2014 law on child protection, he could face up to 15 years in prison. Police are now exploring the possibility that this case has a wider connection to child prostitution rings.
Medlin is wanted by the FBI for his alleged role in defrauding cryptocurrency investors out of US$722 million using a "high-tech Ponzi scheme".
He had been convicted twice in 2006 and 2008 for crimes relating to child molestation and flagged by Interpol as a child molester, the latter of which saw him serve two years in prison for the statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl and possession of child pornography.
Merriam-Webster, the venerable dictionary publisher, announced two weeks ago that it would update its definition of the word "racism" in response to a request by a 22-year-old woman from Missouri.
But company officials hastened to say that they would do so in line with their long-standing commitment to political neutrality and to the "real-world usage of a word," rather than trying to "promote any particular viewpoint". In other words, there would be no slant, no bias, no subtle editorialising in the revised definition.
Anti-racism campaigners have renamed streets in Glasgow city centre that have links to the slave trade following the worldwide Black Lives Matter protests. Credit:Getty Images
That's what Merriam-Webster is trying for with all the words in its dictionary. But it's not always easy. Going back centuries, there have been disputes about bias in dictionary definitions. And in today's politicised world - where the recent trending words in Merriam-Webster online searches have included "fascism," "antifa," "loot," "defund," "no quarter," "white supremacist," "curfew" and "anarchy" - how could the company not feel battered, like the rest of us, by the bitter differences of opinion that divide the country?
"People with a political axe to grind try to use the Bible and the Constitution as cudgels to prove their points - and, well, they use the dictionary that way, too," says Peter Sokolowski, an editor at large at Merriam-Webster. "But I think our credibility depends on this idea of our remaining a neutral, objective arbiter of meaning. That is the role of the dictionary."
Even before the protests and unrest, the public defenders office was polling its clients about when and whether they had been given access to a phone call. Out of 1,468 defendants surveyed between mid-April and early June, 33% said police never offered them access to a phone, according to the lawsuit. Of those who did get a phone call, the average wait time was 4.2 hours after they were taken into custody, the suit states.
Mubadala, one of the world's largest investment funds, has become interested in seven Ukrainian companies, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministrys press service.
"The Foreign Ministry and the State Property Fund of Ukraine held a constituent meeting with the investment fund Mubadala (UAE) and discussed its participation in large-scale privatization and its interest in seven Ukrainian companies in the investment atlas list," reads the statement.
It notes that representatives of one of the world's largest investment funds became interested in participating in the tender for seven Ukrainian companies, including the United Mining and Chemical Company Centrenergo and some regional power companies.
Participants in the meeting discussed the stage of project development and operational issues. In particular, with the assistance of the Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Arab Emirates, they agreed to establish liaison at the operational level between the representatives of Mubadala and the State Property Fund of Ukraine.
In was agreed that after the opening of the border between Ukraine and the UAE, a commission of the fund may visit Ukraine in July to see and assess the facilities.
I am very pleased that the fund Mubadala is interested in participating in large-scale privatization in Ukraine. This is a good signal that powerful world players see Ukraines great potential and want to invest. In addition, the participation of large investment funds makes the process of large-scale privatization more competitive, said Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba.
Mubadala (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) is one of the world's largest investment funds with assets of more than $850 billion.
iy
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Gunmen opened fire at a car belonging to the Afghan attorney generals office on Monday, killing all five people inside, including two prosecutors, an official said.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in the capital, Kabul, but the country has seen a recent spike in violence, with most attacks claimed by a local Islamic State affiliate.
The much larger Taliban insurgent group has scaled back its attacks since signing a peace agreement with the United States earlier this year. It denied any involvement in the shooting and said it would investigate.
Kabul police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz said the two prosecutors, two other employees and the driver were killed.
Jamshed Rasooli, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, said the prosecutors were members of the team supervising the release of Taliban prisoners as part of the agreement with the U.S. He blamed the attack on the enemies of peace."
Since the Feb. 29 peace deal, the government has released over 3,000 Taliban prisoners and the insurgent group has freed 631 Afghan national police and army personnel from captivity. A total of 5,000 Taliban members and 1,000 Afghan forces are to be released under the deal.
The prisoner releases are intended to build trust between the two warring sides ahead of eventual intra-Afghan talks that will end the nearly 19-year war and allow U.S. forces to withdraw from their longest conflict.
In early June, IS claimed responsibility for a bombing at a mosque in Kabul that killed two people, including the prayer leader. Eight worshipers were wounded.
A week later, another prayer leader and three worshipers were killed in a bomb blast inside another mosque in Kabul. Eight people were wounded in that attack.
CGCS 673 light curve including ASAS-SN data. Credit: Brincat et al., 2020.
Astronomers from Malta and Spain have conducted an observational campaign aimed at investigating the periodic behavior of a carbon star known as CGCS 673. The observations found that the studied object is a semi-regular variable star. The discovery is reported in a paper published June 15 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
Carbon stars are giant stars in a late phase of evolution. They are similar to red giants, but their atmospheres contain more carbon than oxygen. Observations show that most classical carbon stars are long-period irregular or semi-regular variable stars.
CGCS 673 (also known as GSC 03333-00416 or CASE 72) was identified as a carbon star in the 1950s. The star is located in the constellation of Perseus and has an effective temperature of about 3,300 K.
When a team of astronomers led by Stephen M. Brincat of Flarestar Observatory in San Gwann, Malta, conducted a study of a neighboring object designated UCAC4 690-029948, they found some hints suggesting that CGCS 673 is a variable source. Therefore, they started a monitoring campaign of this carbon star in order to get more insights into its nature.
The researchers performed photometric observations of CGCS 673 using the Flarestar Observatory, Znith Observatory in Malta and Tacande Observatory on the island of La Palma, Spain. The study was complemented by data from the All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN).
"Our observational campaign to monitor CGCS 763 was concluded on April 11, 2019, yielding a total number of 348 observations gathered by the observatories," the astronomers wrote in the paper.
By analyzing the collected data, Brincat and his colleagues found that CGCS 763 is a semi-regular (SR) variable with a period of about 135.10 days and a mean amplitude in V-band of approximately 0.188 mag. SR variables usually have periods between 20 and 2,000 days, with amplitudes ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 mag in the V-band.
Moreover, the researchers identified a noticeable periodicity in the light changes of CGCS 673, occasionally interrupted by a period of irregular variability.
"The light curve shows that the star is semi-regular in nature as regular cycles are interrupted by periods of irregularity," the paper reads.
The astronomers noted that these results, together with a color index obtained from professional databases, confirm that CGCS 763 belongs to the semi-regular class of variable stars. As a newly detected variable source, CGCS 763 received a unique identifier from the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) as (AAVSO UID) 000-BMZ-492.
CGCS 763 is therefore the latest addition to the still relatively short list of SR variable carbon stars. Further observations of this star, especially including more detailed photometry, could reveal more information about the properties of this variable object.
Explore further V2455 Cyg is a high amplitude Delta Scuti star, new observations suggest
More information: Carbon Star CGCS 673 identified as a Semi-regular variable star, arXiv:2006.07289 [astro-ph.SR] Carbon Star CGCS 673 identified as a Semi-regular variable star, arXiv:2006.07289 [astro-ph.SR] arxiv.org/abs/2006.07289
2020 Science X Network
Speaking to ANI, Paswan said, "I am confident that if these things come to the notice of the Ministry of External Affairs, then action will be taken. The central government has always been ready for this regarding Bihar. Every problem that has come to the notice of the Central Government or has been told to them, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has been worried that there should be more and more facilities in Bihar.""There is no reason that due to which Bihar does not get the amenities that we deserve. I sincerely hope that as soon as this subject comes to the notice of the Central Government, it will consider it promptly. This subject has definitely been a concern for our state," he added.Paswan continued saying if you see when the rainy season comes in Bihar for a long time, half the state is drowned in flood and half in dry."I have also constantly urged the Chief Minister that the problem will have to be resolved once and for all. Dam repairment is important. But other than that, we have to work on a plan to connect rivers. Until the rivers are connected, this situation will continue to remain. The Chief Minister has all the information about how to solve this problem," said Paswan.Nepal has taken a provocative move as it has stopped all repair work of river embankments in Bihar on the India-Nepal border, by erecting barriers and effectively putting a stop to work done by India to prevent flooding of its low-lying areas, the Bihar government has alleged.This comes at a time when tensions between Kathmandu and New Delhi have escalated over a new map in which the neighbouring country has staked claim over some Indian territories. Bihar, which shares over 700 kilometre-long international border with Nepal, can be severely affected by floods due to Nepal's action during the forthcoming rainy season as water from rivers coming from Nepal can overflow and wipe out entire villages.Speaking about Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide case Paswan said, it is Bihar government's responsibility to take care of our youth going to other cities for education or employment."I don't know why Sushant Singh Rajput took such a big step but a fair investigation should take place in his case. Many people have become active on social media after this incident but the fact is that there is a need to talk to the government of the state where this incident took place," said Paswan."I wrote a letter to Bihar CM in this regard stating that we need to talk to the Maharashtra government and if there is any accused, they should be punished. If this matter is taken lightly other Bihar youth will be scared to go out. Yesterday, I talked to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to carry out the investigation. Things like groupism are also being mentioned that a few people had boycotted him (Sushant). People who mentally tortured him following which he took this step, should be punished," he added. (ANI)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 11:11:35|Editor: huaxia
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WASHINGTON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Police on Monday night used a chemical irritant to disperse protesters who were attempting to topple a statue of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson in a park near the White House, local media reported.
Before the police intervention, the protesters threw ropes around the statue in Lafayette Square and began trying to pull it down, chanting "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Andrew Jackson's got to go," said the reports.
Protesters did manage to smash the wooden wheels of four replica canons at the base of the statue astride a horse, said a Washington Post report, adding "protesters threw things at police, and officers shoved people in the melee."
Earlier on Monday, police and protesters briefly clashed as city officials attempted to clear out tents erected on a street near the White House and the Black Lives Matter Plaza, saying they were creating a potential safety hazard.
Jackson, the seventh U.S. president, signed the Indian Removal Act in May 1830, which led to the relocations of thousands of Native Americans and the deaths of thousands more when he was in office. Enditem
Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers.
A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you.
1. Verification and registrar choice
After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files.
In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days.
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Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process.
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Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller.
Tiger Pistol with Realogy has been named a finalist in two categories, Most Original Use of Social and Best Brand Partnership for the Digiday Media Awards.
Tiger Pistol, the only social advertising platform that delivers local activation at global scale, has been named a finalist in two categories, Most Original Use of Social and Best Brand Partnership - B2B, in the prestigious Digiday Media Awards for its collaboration with Realogy, the largest residential real estate company in the US, for their Social Ad Engine product.
By pairing Realogys real estate industry expertise with Tiger Pistols knowledge of social advertising at scale, we were able to deliver a large scale social advertising capability that drives remarkable results for Realogys real estate agents, said Paul Elliott, CEO, Tiger Pistol. Our relationship with Realogy is a true partnership, and the campaigns we execute together dramatically exceed expectations for effectiveness and cost efficiency. These honors from the Digiday Media Awards highlight Tiger Pistols industry leadership, as well as the collaborative nature of the relationships we share with our partners, like Realogy.
Social Ad Engines industry-leading platform enables Realogys agents and brokers a seamless experience to publish high performing Facebook and Instagram ads. Every listing campaign leverages Social Ad Engines best-in-class, automatic A/B testing to ensure agents budgets are spent effectively to drive the best outcome. Agents realize the benefit of local social advertising with campaigns that are published directly from their Facebook Business Page versus from an office, company or brand page. For agents without an active listing, Social Ad Engine enables the auto-creation of branding campaigns to ensure agents can promote themselves anytime across the Facebook family of apps.
Just like every Tiger Pistol platform offering, we developed Social Ad Engine with users in mind, simplifying the arduous process of publishing social ads for each listing by building behind-the-scenes automation, said Talia Wachtel, VP Client Management at Tiger Pistol. Our platform lets agents onboard and connect their Facebook Business Page quickly and publish thumb-stopping ads with only a few clicks. Agents can easily see what they are accomplishing with intuitive dashboards to view their campaigns, metrics, results, and other key elements. Moreover, they can download a report to demonstrate campaign success to their clients.
Tiger Pistols knowledge of social media campaigns, service level, attention to detail, and true commitment to our partnership were integral pieces of the successful simultaneous launch of Social Ad Engine to five of our brands, said Christian Russo, Senior Director of Product Management, Realogy. The dedication and enjoyment in their work and platform is evident in everything they do. When we established our long-term partnership, we had no idea how impactful it would be in todays environment, however with Tiger Pistols help, we are able to deliver a level of certainty in these uncertain times with the speed and flexibility needed to let our agents and brokers own the recovery.
Tiger Pistols partnership helped Realogy pivot seamlessly in a time when the real estate industry has been forced to undergo dramatic operational changes. By accelerating the development roadmap, Tiger Pistol and Realogy were able to provide new and meaningful tools to agents through Social Ad Engine. Among some of the major changes made was a way for agents to speak to their communities in a more personal way through promoting agent advertisements, not just listings. Video and Carousel ads have also recently launched to enhance campaign performance and to give agents new ways to promote their listings and themselves.
Tiger Pistol and Realogys Social Ad Engine faces off against Questus and Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation, IDG Communications, Inc. and Splunk, Verizon Media and Procter & Gamble, and the Financial Times and CFA Institute for Best Brand Partnership - B2B. The competition is equally stiff in the Most Original Use of Social category, contending with Sputnik France for Paris Mayday, ESPN for Dear Kobe, Zyper, E! News, and Bleacher Report. Winners will be announced Thursday, June 25 at 2:30PM EST in a virtual ceremony.
To learn more about Social Ad Engine and Tiger Pistols other social advertising tools, and how Tiger Pistol, the worlds #1 social advertising automation platform for local, unlocks local activation at global scale for brands, resellers, and agencies visit http://www.tigerpistol.com.
About Tiger Pistol
Tiger Pistol is the worlds #1 social advertising automation platform for local. For nearly a decade, the company has been obsessively focused on building the worlds most effective social advertising platform for global brands, resellers, and agencies who realize the power of local activation at scale. As a preferred Facebook Marketing Partner and the largest third-party publisher of social advertising for local, Tiger Pistol creates, deploys, manages, and optimizes high-performance Facebook and Instagram ads at unprecedented scale, with over 800k Facebook and Instagram campaigns published to date. Tiger Pistol's first of its kind technology delivers meaningful and measurable business impact for brands, resellers, and agencies alike, helping to unlock value and efficiency through innovation-led social advertising automation. Tiger Pistol has been recognized by Digiday as the Best Social Media Marketing Platform, by Street Fight for Best Social Media Campaign and by Localogy as Best Localized Marketing Campaign, and by AdExchanger for Best Social Media Campaign. Tiger Pistol Ranks in the Top 100 on the Inc. 5000 List of Texass Fastest Growing Private Companies and in the top 5 among advertising and marketing companies. To learn more, call (888) 400-8845, visit TigerPistol.com, or follow on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AXA XL's North America Construction insurance business has added an enhanced risk evaluation resource from TradeTapp, a preconstruction solution from Autodesk Construction Cloud's BuildingConnected, to help general contractors assess the impact COVID-19 may have on subcontractor businesses and make informed, data-based selections for project teams.
According to Jason LaMonica, profit center head, Subcontractor Default Insurance business of AXA XL's North America Construction team, "To make informed hiring decisions and minimize the risk of their teams defaulting on a project, general contractors need to be aware of COVID-19's impact on their subcontractors' businesses. Giving our general contractor clients access to TradeTapp's new COVID-19 Impact Questionnaire will enable them to collect insight into a subcontractor's financial and organizational stability and resilience."
The Covid-19 Impact Questionnaire is a resource from TradeTapp, a qualification tool that helps general contractors select the best teams for their projects by leveraging industry data to assess subcontractor risks. The solution compiles subcontractor data into detailed, comprehensive profiles that include financial benchmarking, ratio calculations, and maximum exposure recommendations.
"Construction is a team sport and the success of the full team relies on the success of each contributor," said Dustin DeVan, vice president of construction industry strategy, Autodesk Construction Cloud. "Building successful teams and projects requires evaluating each contributor's risks upfront, and the TradeTapp questionnaire can help organizations conduct diligence to gather the insights needed to make informed decisions."
"COVID-19 related challenges such as project delays, supply chain disruptions, and material cost escalations can be consequential for an organization's bottom line and increase risk of defaults," said Cheri Hanes, SDI Risk Engineer on AXA XL's North America Construction business. "By providing access to this impact questionnaire, we're intent on helping our general contractor clients and their subcontractor teams avoid default risks and deliver projects as successfully as possible."
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ABOUT AXA XL AXA XL, the property & casualty and specialty risk division of AXA, provides insurance and risk management products and services for mid-sized companies through to large multinationals, and reinsurance solutions to insurance companies globally. We partner with those who move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com ABOUT AXA XL INSURANCE AXA XL Insurance offers property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty insurance solutions to mid-sized companies through to large multinationals globally. We partner with those who move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com
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In a concerted effort to enhance the service capabilities of customers in Singapore, CenturyLink, Inc. CTL recently extended its global alliance with SAP SE SAP to better serve businesses in the region. The strategic initiative will enable business enterprises to have seamless access to SAP business management solutions along with managed end-to-end applications, hybrid cloud and edge capabilities of CenturyLink's secure, global network.
Per the global alliance, CenturyLink is equipped to offer support for SAP solutions and services deployed on public and private clouds, including SAP S/4HANA implementations. These, in turn, enable various firms to complement and expand the IT resources and expertise across hybrid IT environments to drive efficiencies, enhance security and improve business insight.
Notably, SAP-certified solutions deliver secure data connectivity via CenturyLink's global, high-speed private network and are perfectly designed to optimize applications and data analytics. With a plethora of support services for consulting, implementation and ongoing management of the SAP ecosystem, the company aims to reduce complexity with its application-centric automation tools for standardizing deployments and infrastructure configuration. CenturyLinks scalable global infrastructure, managed services, next-generation redundant network connectivity and multi-layered security services help realize faster rollout for higher ROI in multi-tenant and private cloud environments.
The company now intends to extend these service capabilities in Singapore, which is one of the most connected economies in the world. The expanded business collaboration is likely to minimize disruption and support business continuity in the region, particularly in the aftermath of the coronavirus-induced turmoil and market volatility.
In order to strengthen its position in the market, CenturyLink is gradually shifting focus from integration to transformation efforts. The communications company intends to transform business operations through product evolution and digitization of customer interactions, which augurs well for revenues.
CenturyLink is focused on improving operational efficiencies through a number of methods, including network simplification and rationalization. This should help the company improve its end-to-end provisioning time and drive standardization. Moreover, its strong network capabilities, integrated hosting and network solutions are likely to promote growth in the cloud business. Notably, the company views its managed and cloud services as a key differentiator from other players in the market, which should boost the top line.
CenturyLink continues to focus on four key areas investing in growth through product and network expansions, delivering enhanced customer experience across businesses, transforming operations to improve efficiency and employee experience, and deleveraging to strengthen its balance sheet. The company is well positioned to support customers as they shift to next-generation hybrid platforms to meet their networking needs. It is likely to capitalize on opportunities for revenue growth from market dynamics such as growth in security, IoT, Big Data, 5G, AI and the demand for edge computing. It plans to expand its network infrastructure in 20 cities this year, as it helps enterprise businesses meet the growing demand for high-speed connectivity.
However, shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have lost 8.8% over the past year compared with the industrys decline of 0.4%.
Story continues
Some better-ranked stocks in the industry are T-Mobile US, Inc. TMUS and Telenav, Inc. TNAV, both carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
T-Mobile has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 18.9%. It delivered a positive earnings surprise of 19.4%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
Telenav delivered a positive earnings surprise of 108.3%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
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Some hard-to-find Korean condiments are now being sold by the restaurant Atoboy on its website Atonae. Along with the typical gochujang ($22 for about eight ounces), youll find Korean ganjang and cheongjang soy sauces ($25 for 8.45 ounces), lightly roasted perilla oil ($36 for 6.7 ounces) and lightly roasted sesame oil ($42 for 6.7 ounces). The condiments are imported from South Korea. The houses California chenin blanc, made in collaboration with Broc Cellars, is $165 for six bottles.
Atonae, atonae.com.
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Energy companies are already eyeing exports to Mexico and other business opportunities after federal officials approved regulatory changes that will allow shipments of liquefied natural gas by rail.
U.S. officials on Friday authorized the use of cryogenic railcars to ship the supercooled fuel from production plants to destinations across the nation.
Liquefied natural gas is used as a fuel to generate electricity at mining operations, drilling sites, industrial operations, farms and industrial facilities in remote areas beyond the reach of the traditional power grid. Shipping LNG by rail was previously prohibited but during an April 2019 visit to Houston, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing U.S. agencies to take another look at the issue.
The Departments new rule carefully lays out key operational safeguards to provide for the safe transportation of LNG by rail to more parts of the country where this energy source is needed, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in a statement.
LNG By Rail: Trump signs executive orders to boost energy industry
The ruling places liquefied natural gas on par with crude oil, gasoline, diesel, propane and other products but there are some conditions. Under the new rules, trains hauling 20 or more railcars loaded with LNG in a continuous block, or 35 or more LNG tank cars anywhere in the train, must use a higher standard of braking and power systems.
Most LNG is exported from the United States by sea using tankers that can hold 30 million gallons of the supercooled fuel. But over the the past five years, a boutique industry has been created using tanker trucks to haul up to 10,000 gallons of liquefied natural gas to customers in remote areas of the United States and Mexico.
Georgia-based cryogenic gas equipment manufacturer Chart Industries, said the companys plant in Minnesota makes railcars that can each haul 30,000 gallons. CEO Jill Evanko said LNG by rail can be used to deliver greater volumes and are competitive on price on shipments traveling more than 250 miles.
Rail typically has a fee per trip per car; highway is a cost per mile, Evanko said. Long highway runs often require a sleeper cab and two drivers. So in general our teams opinion is that LNG by rail is competitive with and more cost-effective than highway on longer distances.
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Houston liquefied natural gas company Stabilis Energy opened a $55 million LNG plant capable of producing 120,000 gallons of LNG a day in the South Texas town of George West in March 2015. The plant initially focused on supplying fuel to portable LNG-powered generators at remote drilling and fracking sites, but it has since added at least 10 Texas frac sand mines, out of reach of pipelines and power grids.
Stabilis also tapped into a growing market south of the border in Mexico where it supplies LNG to a number of industrial customers and greenhouses and bought a competitor to grow in the industrial city of Monterrey.
With the George West plant next to a rail spur, Stabilis CEO Jim Reddinger said the company would add equipment to load LNG into railcars, if it lands enough contracts.
Railcars can shave delivery time and increase volume but they would work better if you can avoid switching yards, Reddinger said. Thats where you lose time.
Keep on Trucking: 18-wheelers haul LNG exports into Mexico
Caio Zapata, CEO of Mexico City liquefied natural gas company Enestas, said there is solid demand south of the border but Mexico officials must approve rail transport of LNG before exports can happen.
Mexicos railcar regulations, he said, closely mirror those of the United States but governmental offices are maintaining limited business hours because of the coronvirus pandemic.
Now the question is how long will it take, Zapata said.
More: Read the latest oil and gas news from HoustonChronicle.com
Environmentalists dont approve of the changes.
Kelly Martin, director of the Sierra Clubs Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign, said the Trump administration is placing corporations over the safety of people.
Numerous deadly oil train accidents have made it abundantly clear that shipping dirty fuels by rail is a threat to public safety, Martin said. Not only has the Trump administration attacked safety standards meant to protect us from these incidents, now theyre actively courting disaster by allowing even more explosive material to move through our communities.
sergio.chapa@chron.com
http://twitter.com/SergioChapa
Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko said they have not been given a heads-up from the government about plans to dispose of its Telkom shares.
The government is desperately short of money amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has many assets which it can easily convert into cash.
One of the assets which are on top of the list of being sold is the governments 40.5% shareholding in Telkom.
In January, Bloomberg reported the Ramaphosa administration was accelerating the sale of government assets to fund SAA and other distressed SOEs.
Assets high on the list for sale included part of the states stake in Telkom and prime properties on Cape Towns waterfront.
It is, therefore, no surprise that there is now speculation that the government may dispose of its Telkom shareholding to improve its financial position.
This speculation was fuelled by a rise in Telkoms share price ahead of the announcement of its financial results on Monday.
Telkoms share price increased from R17.90 on 29 May to R27.50 by Friday 19 June, which included an 11% increase on Friday.
The image below shows Telkoms share price increase over the past month, before its financial release for the year ended 31 March 2020 on Monday.
Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko comments
Speaking to The Money Shows Bruce Whitfield, Maseko said he has a lot of sympathy for Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni, who is set to deliver a special budget speech on Wednesday.
Maseko said he never wants to lose shareholders, especially a large shareholder like the government.
If they have to dispose of their shareholding, given their size, we hope it will be done in a way which does not destroy value for other shareholders, said Maseko.
He added that they have not been given a heads-up from the government about any plans to dispose of its Telkom shares.
Shareholders generally dont tell us when they plan to do these sorts of things, said Maseko.
Previous plans to sell Telkom shares
Should Mboweni announce plans for the government to sell its shares in Telkom to free up money, it will not be the first time it has happened.
In October 2017, former finance minister Malusi Gigaba said the government was planning to sell some of its shares in Telkom to meet increased expenditure.
He said sluggish economic growth in 2017 has caused a significant reduction in the tax revenue outlook which has significantly eroded the governments fiscal position.
To ensure the expenditure ceiling is not breached, we have decided to dispose of a portion of governments Telkom shares, Gigaba said.
This plan was shelved with former telecommunication and postal services minister Siyabonga Cwele saying in November 2018 the plan to sell the governments stake in Telkom was no longer an option.
Before that in May 2012 Telkom announced that it had reached an in-principle agreement with Korea telecoms firm KT Corp to acquire a strategic equity shareholding of 20% in the company.
However, shortly after this announcement former communications minister Dina Pule said the cabinet had taken the decision not to support the transaction as proposed.
In a statement by the cabinet on 1 June 2012, it said Telkom is a key and strategic asset in the rollout of broadband and the effort to improve the skills of citizens.
Government recognise the need for Telkom to implement an urgent turn-around strategy, and to get the company back on its critical centre of delivering ICT services to all South Africans, new options will be considered by both Telkom and government in this regard, Cabinet said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) The Department of Health admitted on Tuesday weaknesses in its handling of the coronavirus response, but assured the public it is working on improving its processes and systems.
Maraming marami (a lot) was Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeires response when asked if there is any aspect in the COVID-19 response that DOH wants to improve.
The first on the department's list is its highly questioned information system, which serves as the basis for the quarantine restrictions imposed in the country, and other policies aimed at controlling COVID-19 transmission.
Unang una, gusto natin magka-improvement dito sa ating information system, Vergeire told reporters in a media forum.
[Translation: First of all, we want to see improvements in our information system.]
We saw a lot of weaknesses in our system. We want to improve in time, so we can have a more appropriate response, the official added. The department aims to see developments in the next few weeks at the earliest.
A former adviser to the special adviser to COVID-19 national task force and lawmakers previously expressed concern with the way the DOH reports data on COVID-19, which is now being probed by the Office of the Ombudsman, saying it is confusing and may not be credible. The department, on the other hand, stood by the integrity of its reports as it argued that no data could be 100-percent accurate.
Next in their priority list are improving health facilities and further expanding the countrys testing capacity, Vergeire added.
The DOH said actual tests done Sunday, June 21, were 10,967 - slightly below the weekly average of 12,400, and significantly lower than its rated or estimated daily testing capacity of 50,000.
But the agency noted 'indications' that the country is flattening the curve or slowing the spread of the highly contagious novel coronavirus, including the low critical care utilization rate and longer case doubling time. But the public has to be cautious in interpreting this announcement, Vergeire pointed out, as there are still areas in the country with local spikes in coronavirus infections like Cebu City.
Vergeire explained that the current critical care utilization rate of the Philippines is around 35 to 36 percent, which means the national healthcare system has not been overwhelmed by the COVID-19 yet. That rate refers to the percentage utilized out of all available mechanical ventilators and isolation beds in temporary facilities as well as hospitals.
Meanwhile, it now takes 7.26 days to double the number of infections in the country, from two to three days before movement restrictions were implemented in mid-March, Vergeire said.
"The Virtual Shopper program will open a new lane of engagement, driving sales to our retail partners, while also expanding shopping opportunities for our customers," said Steven B. Tanger, CEO of Tanger Outlets. "Given the ever-changing landscape related to the COVID-19 pandemic, constant innovation is more critical than ever before when it comes to serving retailers and customers. The Virtual Shopper program is part of the solution and one of our new initiatives to support the ecommerce and omni-channel ecosystem."
Through Tanger's new 'Virtual Shopper' program, shoppers can now shop remotely for their favorite brands, styles and outlet value deals across multiple retailers via onsite shopping specialists and stylists. The new program serves to drive in-store sales for brands and retailers, functioning as a digital, service-minded extension of the brick-and-mortar retail experience.
The Virtual Shopper program provides a range of services, from finding a specific product to customer styling, all at no cost to shoppers. It also gives shoppers the ability to access Tanger's entire portfolio, not just the center nearest them.
"Now, more than ever, it's critical for Tanger to come up with new and innovative ways to meet the needs of our shoppers and retailers," said Stephen Yalof, COO and President of Tanger Outlets. "Our Virtual Shopper program gives shoppers an insider VIP experience by connecting them with a personal Tanger associate that knows the hottest and best deals as well as new product launches offered in each store. With the wellbeing of our customers being a top priority, we wanted to provide more options for those who may not be ready to visit us in-person but still want to experience the fun and savings Tanger has to offer."
Shoppers simply fill out a virtual shopping form, detailing their preferences, explore their favorite brands and share the items they want with their personal shopper, who then shops in-store at Tanger Outlets on their behalf. After selecting their products, shoppers can either opt for curbside pick-up or have the items delivered to their home. Tanger shoppers have access to locations in the U.S. and Canada and over 2,800 stores to find exactly what they're looking for.
In addition to the new Virtual Shopper program, Tanger Outlets is open for in-person shopping in accordance with local, state and CDC regulations, having implemented a wide range of safety protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With many brands now offering curbside pick-up, Tanger also established convenient locations around each center where shoppers can pick up items from multiple retailers.
About Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.:
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT), is a publicly-traded REIT headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina that presently operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 39 upscale outlet shopping centers. Tanger's operating properties are located in 20 states and in Canada, totaling approximately 14.3 million square feet, leased to over 2,800 stores which are operated by more than 510 different brand name companies. The Company has more than 39 years of experience in the outlet industry. Tanger Outlet Centers continue to attract more than 181 million visitors annually. For more information on Tanger Outlet Centers, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit the Company's website at www.tangeroutlets.com.
Media Contact Information
Quentin Pell VP
Corporate Communications and Enterprise Risk Management
336-834-6827
[email protected]
SOURCE Tanger Outlets
Related Links
https://www.tangeroutlet.com
- FaceApp has been regaining popularity not just in the Philippines but in other countries too
- Based on the statistics shown by Google PlayStore, the total number of downloads has reached 100 million
- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has warned the public about the use of the said tool
- It stated that the application may have the potential to access sensitive photos or private information
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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has issued a warning to the public about the use of popular mobile application called FaceApp.
KAMI learned that the said image manipulation tool has been gaining popularity since many people are entertained with how users can change their gender in a picture.
As of this writing, the application already has more than 100 million downloads, based on the statistics shown by PlayStore.
Photo from Getty Image
Source: Getty Images
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Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas of GMA News recently wrote an article about the warning of NBI Cybercrime Division versus the possible dangers of using FaceApp.
It was stated that the application may have the potential to access personal information and sensitive photos of those who are using it.
The report also mentioned that uninstalling the app does not mean a person is already safe from experiencing breach of privacy.
However, NBI clarified that it is not urging the public to not use the entertaining tool. It said that people must read the fine print first before downloading it.
"Ang sinasabi lang namin is kung saka-sakaling gusto mong mag-download ng apps, nakalagay doon, 'will you allow this app to access your photos, videos...' Pag-isipan mo muna, meron ba akong sensitive materials... sa cellphone ko,'" said NBI Cybercrime Division chief Victor Lorenzo.
"Pag sinabi mong wala, pangalawa basahin mo yung fine print. Pag komportable ka doon sa terms and conditions nila, i-download mo, gamitin mo... Hindi yung masyado tayong excited, hindi na natin alam, [na] hindi pala tayo comfortable doon sa terms and conditions," he added.
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In a previous article by , Liza Soberanos FaceApp boy versions stunned a lot of social media users.
FaceApp is one of the most in-demand mobile applications not just in the Philippines but in the whole world. It requires 18MB to download it on Google PlayStore.
Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts!
Source: KAMI.com.gh
The North Korean equipment was always sub-par and the tinny waffle it broadcast could barely be understood a few hundred meters away, but like its decision to float propaganda leaflets across the border it signals a return to square one and end to any de-escalation agreements.
The two sides dismantled their walls of loudhailers after President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Panmunjom 2018.
North Korea is reinstalling loudspeakers in the demilitarized zone that will blare propaganda across the border, the South Korean military said Monday.
Yet Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo told the National Assemblys Defense Committee on Monday that the North's latest demolition of the joint liaison office in Kaesong "has nothing to do with the inter-Korean military agreement of 2018."
Asked whether the blowup signals the scrapping of the de-escalation pact, he said, "Not at all so far."
Asked how the military would react if the North floats propaganda leaflets across the border he said, "There's nothing the military could do about it."
The pact pledges to end government-level psychological warfare, but the Norths recent histrionics were prompted by private activists here floating leaflets into North Korea.
The South Korean military has not reacted so far but it expected to erect its own walls of loudhailers again in due course.
"We've already made it clear that we'll respond reciprocally to repeated threats from the North following the demolition of the liaison office," a senior South Korean military officer said.
The US decision to suspend the non-immigrant visas till the end of this year is unlikely to affect Indian IT services companies in the near term, though the industry is awaiting several clarifications on the issue.
According to industry watchers, a tepid demand environment owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and travel restrictions have made the outcome of this decision less adverse than in normal times.
The short-term impact will not be much as even employees are not keen to go the US given the global pandemic. However, it adds to the uncertainty in the non-immigrant visa regime by setting up such precedent, said Pareekh Jain, an IT outsourcing advisor and founder of Pareekh Consulting.
The global IT industry is going through a lull with no new projects coming up as enterprises go slow on discretionary spending. This has led to lower utilisation of manpower already stationed in the US. On the backdrop of falling demand, most have also reduced their dependence on external workers by employing fewer subcontractors.
New projects are scant in supply due to Covid. In the absence of new projects, the requirement of new staffers under the H-1B visa is also less. So, this suspension will not have much impact in operational term on Indian IT services firms, said Sanjeev Hota, head of research at brokerage firm Sharekhan.
Even dependence of Indian technology firms on the non-immigrant visas have come down drastically over the years as most firms have local hires to execute projects in the US.
ALSO READ: IT stocks: Street shrugs off Trump's extension of ban on H1-B visas
As per a report by Kotak Institutional Equities, Wipro had the highest localisation ratio of close to 70 per cent at the end of FY20, while it was 68 per cent of HCL Technologies. Out of the total employee base of Infosys in the US, around 63 per cent are local Americans, while it stands at about 45 per cent for Tech Mahindra.
In the normal course, impact of the (visa) suspension could have been material. However, the impact can be contained due to reasons such as recessionary environment, travel restriction and aggressive localisation, the report by Kotak Institutional Equities, said.
However, HR experts said while the temporary suspension of visas may not cause much operational issues, firms will incur additional expenses in redeploying their visa holding employees who are currently outside of the US and cant go back as per the executive order.
Companies will have to look at deploying the resources who are currently outside the US in billable projects, which may lead to additional expenses for the firms. Secondly, those employees may have to undergo financial loss as salaries are likely to come down when they start operating from India or outside of client geographies, said Aditya Narayan Mishra, director and chief executive officer at CIEL HR Services.
Even the price that the companies charge the clients may also come for renegotiation in case these employees start working from remote locations outside the US, added Mishra.
Matt Rourke
Tuesday is primary day across New York, with voters picking winners in party contests to determine candidates for Congress, the state Legislature and delayed from April by the coronavirus pandemic the Democratic presidential nod.
Voting runs from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit timesunion.com for results but bear in mind that because of the high number of absentee ballots distributed this year, it's likely that close races won't be resolved for a week or possibly longer.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - UK food producer Cranswick plc (CWK.L) reported Tuesday that its fiscal 2020 profit before tax grew 20.2 percent to 104.0 million pounds from last year's 86.5 million pounds. Earnings per share grew 17.4 percent to 159.1 pence from 135.5 pence last year. Adjusted profit before tax was 102.3 million pounds, up from 92.0 million pounds a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share were 156.4 pence, compared to 144.3 pence a year ago. Revenue climbed 16 percent to 1.67 billion pounds from last year's 1.44 billion pounds. On a like-for-like basis, revenue grew 13 percent. Total export revenue went up 92 percent including Far East export revenue up 122 percent. Further, the company said its Board is proposing a final dividend of 43.7 pence per share, an increase of 9.3 percent. This brings total dividend for the year of 60.4 pence per share, up 8.1 percent. Looking ahead, Adam Couch, Cranswick's Chief Executive Officer, said, 'There has been a positive start to trading in the new financial year, though we remain mindful of the uncertainty around the longer-term effects of the COVID-19 crisis and Brexit negotiations. Nonetheless, our outlook for the current year is unchanged and we have a solid platform from which to continue Cranswick's successful long-term development.' Separately, Cranswick announced the appointment of HSBC Bank plc as its joint corporate broker. 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.
New Delhi, June 23 : In the backdrop of the India-China dispute in Ladakh, 73.6 per cent people said that they trust the Indian government more than the Opposition parties on issues of national security, as per the latest IANS CVoter Snap Poll.
According to the survey, people across various age groups have put their trust in the Indian government on matters of national security instead of the Opposition parties.
In the age group profile, 83.7 percent of people over 60 years said that they trust the government more on national security issues, followed by 76.5 per cent people in the middle age group (45-60), 72.1 per cent in the 25-45 years age group, and 68.8 per cent of freshers or people below the age of 25 years.
The government also enjoys maximum support across the education group -- 75.5 per cent in the lower education group, 74.2 per cent in the middle education group and 64.4 per cent in the higher education group.
In the social group category, except the Muslims and Sikhs (27.4 per cent and 49.7 per cent, respectively), most people trusted the Indian government more than the Opposition parties on national securities issues.
In the income group category, 75.4 per cent people in the lower income group trust the Indian government instead of the Opposition parties, followed by 72.6 per cent in the middle income group and 70 per cent in the higher income group.
Only 16.7 per cent respondents said they trust the Opposition more than the Indian government on issues of national security, while 9.6 per cent said they neither trust the Opposition, nor the government on this issue.
When the same query was put to the Opposition voters in the last general elections, 56.3 per cent said they trust the Indian government over the Opposition; 81.7 per cent of the NDA voters also put their trust in the Indian government.
In the gender category, both male (76.3 per cent) and female (70.6 per cent) have expressed their satisfaction with the Indian government on matters pertaining to national security, especially the ongoing dispute with China.
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With private sector lender Yes Bank still facing capital woes, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has agreed to extend the special liquidity facility for the lender for another three months, a central bank official said on condition of anonymity.
Considering the prevailing capital situation of the bank, the RBI has decided to extend the support for a further period, said the official. The facility, announced earlier for three months till 16 June, was given to the bank as temporary assistance after the lender was bailed out by a bank consortium as part of an RBI-initiated reconstruction package.
Yes Bank had requested the RBI to extend the facility for a year. On March 13, 2020, the government notified the "Yes Bank Ltd. Reconstruction Scheme, 2020".
As per the scheme, authorised capital was increased from Rs 1,100 crore to Rs 6,200 crore. The State Bank of India (SBI) and others invested in 1,000 crore shares at a price of Rs 10 per equity share.
The bank has received capital amounting to Rs 10,000 crore as of March 14, 2020 from a consortium of banks and financial institutions led by State Bank of India.
SBI is required to hold up to 49 percent with a minimum holding of 26 percent in the bank subject to a three-year lock in. Other investors are subject to a three-year lock-in for 75 percent of the investments they make in the bank.
In Q4, Yes Bank posted a net loss of Rs 3,668 crore in the quarter ended March on account of higher provisions, or the money set aside to cover risky loans. The loss posted in the three months to March 2020 more than doubled compared with the Rs 1,507 crore loss posted a year ago.
Yes Bank showed an extraordinary income of Rs 6,297 crore (net of tax) from the writedown of additional tier- 1 (AT1) bonds in its profit and loss account. If that amount were to be adjusted with the profit after tax (PAT) figure, the bank would show a profit of Rs 2,628 crore.
Most notably, the gross non-performing assets (GNPAs), or bad loans, of the bank stood at 16.8 percent compared with 3.22 percent a year ago. Compared with the December quarter, the gross NPAs eased up a bit from 18.87 percent. Net NPAs in the March quarter stood at 5.03 percent compared with 5.97 percent in the December quarter and 1.86 percent in the year ago quarter.
The bank's deposits have shrunk to Rs 1.05 lakh crore, down 54 percent compared with Rs 2.27 lakh crore in the year-ago quarter while advances declined 29 percent y-o-y to Rs 1.7 lakh crore from Rs 2.4 lakh crore in the year-ago quarter. The capital adequacy ratio under Basel-III fell to 8.5 percent from 16.5 percent in the year-ago quarter.
Yes Bank is in the process of raising more capital to meet the regulatory norms and fund its revival plans.
After saying that he's willing to give evidence against the deceased financier and pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Britain's Prince Andrew is said to be marked for death.
In a report by the National Enquirer's June 29, 2020 issue, the Duke of York has been pressured immensely by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justin to squeal about the sex fiend and start naming names.
Epstein died under mysterious circumstances while he was in jail for federal sex trafficking charges.
According to the Enquirer's prison sources, Epstein told pals that he needed to kill himself or else, a bunch of shady rich men, influential figures, and sex slave traffickers would hurt the people he loved.
The 66-year-old's death in prison was ruled to be a suicide, despite many believing that many of Epstein's enemies have managed to infiltrate the New York City federal prison and murdered him.
Fears are high for the royal family, as it has been said that the same hands that had something to do with Jeffrey Epstein's death are also out to kill Prince Andrew.
Florida attorney Spencer Kuvin told the National Enquirer, "If you believe Epstein was murdered and if I were Prince Andrew, I would certainly be nervous."
Kevin represented three of Epstein's reported victims.
"If he has information regarding people who were in Epstein's circle and were concerned enough to take him out, I would be nervous that they would be coming after me as well."
Prince Andrew is Queen Elizabeth II's favorite son. The Enquirer believes that she would personally intervene to make sure that the Duke has 24/7 protection.
Insiders also told the publication that the monarch had ordered security to keep an eye on "Randy Andy."
A Buckingham Palace insider told the news portal, "The guards are there for personal protection, but now they will report to the queen's head of security and update Andrew's whereabouts."
"The Queen will not have Andrew blundering his way into any more scandals. She's keeping a tight leash on him from now on."
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's right-hand woman, has also vanished without a trace. His former business partner, Jean-Luc Brunel, went underground, leaving the Duke of York as the remaining key player in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Steven Hoffenberg, also a disgraced financier, received 18 years in prison for a Ponzi scheme he claimed that Epstein was the mastermind.
Epstein escaped prosecution.
Hoffenberg called the royal's potential testimony a major threat to Epstein's scheming business partners.
Speaking to the National Enquirer, he said, "Epstein was a major player in the international sex trafficking business."
He added, In that line of work, there is no diplomatic protection. They don't care if you're a royal."
Though there were allegations that Prince Andrew sold girls and had sexually molested them, Hoffenberg revealed that the royal did not sell girls, but he was one of Epstein's closest friends.
The Duke of York has insisted that his former close friend's sex crimes have nothing to do with him. The 60-year-old father of two has also denied any improper misconduct against any woman.
However, the British national has been pictured with his arm around then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claimed that Epstein has forced her to have sex with the Prince in 2001.
Last year, Prince Andrew spoke in an interview and denied the accusations being thrown against him.
He claimed he couldn't even remember meeting her.
READ MORE: Prince Charles Health Scare: Not Yet COVID-19 Free?
[June 23, 2020] Minister O'Regan Participates in the International Energy Agency's Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
OTTAWA, ON, June 23, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada remains committed to innovation and building a clean energy future to strengthen the economy, create good jobs and support the natural resource sectors. This will be more important than ever as we prepare to reopen the economy and plan our recovery. The Honourable Seamus O'Regan, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today told the International Energy Agency's (IEA) fifth annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency that private investments will be essential to a sustainable recovery from the global pandemic. "Public funds alone cannot meet the level of investment required for a rapid and sustainable recovery attracting private sector investment is essential," Minister O'Regan said during a videoconference whose participants included IEA Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol, ministers from IEA member countries, as well as guests from international organizations and industry. Minister O'Regan made his comments during a session that explored new approaches to energy effiiency action. The Minister reiterated the critical role of energy efficiency, not only in our transition to a low-carbon future, but also in our recovery from the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
The conference was an opportunity to engage on key issues around energy efficiency and discussions focused on policy actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as long-term objectives for clean energy transition. The importance of Canada's resource sectors, including energy efficiency to our national economy, our natural environment and our everyday lives has been magnified during the pandemic. The government remains committed to building a clean energy future that will not only support our natural resource sectors through this tough economic time but also grow the economy and create good jobs.
Quote "Energy efficiency is key to Canada's transition to a clean energy future. As we prepare to reopen the economy, we are pleased to collaborate with the IEA and other international partners to discuss energy efficiency solutions so we can rise up to the challenge of protecting our environment, support workers and communities, and get the economy back on track." The Honourable Seamus O'Regan
Canada's Minister of Natural Resources Related Information
International Energy Agency Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)
SOURCE Natural Resources Canada
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While there were reports of some voters in New York and Kentucky having to cast ballots in person after failing to receive an absentee ballot, it did not appear to be causing the long lines that were seen in places like Milwaukee and Atlanta. The longest wait times were reported at the lone voting site in Lexington, Kentucky. Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins said he added two more check-in stations at the Lexington site after turnout remained steady into the late morning with voters reporting a wait time of about an hour and a half.
Many were shocked yesterday to learn of allegations that Dyson Heydon engaged in repeated acts of sexual harassment while a member of the High Court of Australia.
The news is indeed deeply troubling: it reminds us that harassment and discrimination can and does occur at the highest levels of Australian public and private institutions; and that it can be very hard for victims to gain redress.
The commissioner Dyson Heydon arrives at the royal commission into trade unions in 2015 in Sydney, Credit:Ben Rushton
In this case, the High Court has acted in just the way we would hope as an institution
committed both to procedural fairness and substantive justice. Chief Justice Kiefel appointed Dr Vivienne Thom, a highly qualified and independent officer, to investigate the complaints. Dr Thom probed the credibility of the allegations and gave Heydon an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
This was clearly sufficient to meet the requirements of procedural fairness. The contrary
suggestion from Heydon's lawyers that the inquiry was conducted "without administering affirmations or oaths" or any opportunity to "confront those complaining or to cross-examine them" does not comport with the purpose of the investigation,
and its non-criminal nature.
Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong says he has forgiven Ibrahim Dauda (popularly known as Ibrah One) for his foul-mouthed outbursts on social media but insists the socialite will still answer for some fraudulent business transactions.
Mr Agyapong said he had seen medical reports which indicate that Ibrah is not mentally stable, so he would forgive him for insulting President Akufo-Addo on social media. However, he says Ibrah will face the law for any criminal acts that he has allegedly perpetrated.
"We can forgive him for his sickness, but what we cannot forgive him for his criminal activities,... You can't tell me that he is bipolar so he can be duping people," Mr Agyapong said on Net2 TV's The Seat on Monday.
"That (behaviour), It will not wash and as a government, we have to do something about it".
He said causes of cyber scams in Ghana was increasing at an alarming rate because of the activities of some Ghanaians and other West African nationals.
Mr Agyapong said ever since he started talking about exposing Ibrah for cybercrime and fraud, he had been approached by three individuals who came to plead with him not to expose them.
Shedding light on the modus-operandi of cybercriminals in Ghana, Mr Agyapong advised the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to scrutinize all applications for offshore accounts.
He said the "fraudboys" scam people through such accounts and because the face difficulties repatriating the cash use such funds to purchase vehicles which they sell on the cheap in Ghana.
Source: Daily Graphic
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Maharashtra cyber department on Tuesday issued a warning about Chinese cyber attackers planning a large scale phishing attack and stated that over 40,000 suspected attacks on sites related to information, infrastructure and banking were witnessed in the last 4-5 days. The advisory comes close on the heels of a similar warning issued by Indias official cybersecurity agency in the backdrop of recent India-China border clashes that have led to worsening of relations between the two countries.
In last 4-5 days, resources on cyberspace of India especially related to information, infrastructure & banking have been under attack from China. At least 40,300 such cyber attacks were attempted, most of them can be traced to Chengdu area of China, Maharashtra Cyber Department Special IG, Y Yadav was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
A report published on June 18 quoting intelligence officials had claimed that China had opened another front against India with sustained DDOS (distributed denial of service) attacks on Indian information websites and the countrys financial payments system.
Also Read: China ordered attacks on Indian troops in Galwan Valley
The attacks attempted to flood a network with artificially created internet traffic and targeted a variety of sites including government websites and the banking system including ATMs.
The report claimed most of these attacks were traced back to the central Chinese city of Chengdua city known as the hub of hackers and also the headquarters of the Chinese Armys Unit 61398, which is PLAs covert cyberwarfare section.
These attacks were reported on Tuesday last and continued through Wednesday, however, they were unsuccessful.
It is said that several hackers in Chengdu work under the patronage of government agencies to camouflage their operation for official deniability.
Indian agencies had warned that Chinese cyber attackers could also carry out a massive phishing attack in the guise of a free Covid-19 test.
Australia, too, recently suspected a Chinese hand in a massive cyber attack on several of its strategic sites targeting administration, industries, essential services, critical infrastructure and political organizations among others.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had hinted at Chinas role by describing the attacks as malicious and sophisticated and carried out by state-based cyber actor. He further added that there are not a large number of state-based actors that can engage in this type of activity.
Australian experts explicitly named China for the attacks. Australia has been vociferously supporting the demand for an international investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic and has also backed Indias calls for reforms of the World Health Organization in the aftermath of its initial handling of the crisis.
China had retaliated with tariffs on Australian exports, including barley and beef.
The recent warning is the latest in a series of such alerts issued including the one released last Friday which cited the threat of a cyber attack by North Korea-based cyber criminals.
As preventive measures, all the central security forces have been asked to direct their employees against opening or clicking on attachments in unsolicited e-mail, SMS or messages through social media.
Libyan National Army Introduces No-Fly Zone Around Sirte, LNA Spokesperson Says
Sputnik News
03:48 GMT 22.06.2020
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The east-based Libyan National Army (LNA) has introduced a no-fly zone around the city of Sirte on Sunday, LNA spokesperson Maj. Gen. Ahmed Mismari said, also welcoming Cairo's announcement of being prepared to send in its forces.
"The area from the As Sultan settlement east of Sirte until the al-Heesa village in the west is being declared a no-fly zone where the flights of any aviation, except for LNA aircraft, are prohibited," Mismari said in a statement obtained by Sputnik.
According to the LNA spokesperson, the no-fly zone stretches across 200 kilometers (124 miles).
On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi said that Egypt had an internationally legitimate right to intervene in Libya and told the army to be prepared to fight abroad, should the need arise. The Egyptian president also said that the Libyan east-based House of Representatives was the only legitimately elected one among Libya's power entities and offered to help Libyan tribes resist foreign intervention by training and equipping them.
Sisi stressed that if the city of Sirte, which he called the "red line" for Egypt, fell into the hands of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), Egypt would be legitimized in sending in its military on defense grounds.
Mismari hailed the Saturday announcement of the Egyptian president, saying during a Sunday press conference that Cairo was acting in the interests of national security and that the internal conflict in Libya had spread beyond the country's borders and the region. The LNA spokesperson accused groups supported by the GNA of escalating the internal crisis in Libya and claimed that Turkey was meddling in the situation in order to get hold of Libyan resources.
On 6 June, Sisi held a meeting with field marshal Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA). After the talks, the Egyptian president announced the so-called Cairo Initiative which outlined conditions of a political settlement in Libya and stipulated that warring parties cease fire on 8 June. The initiative was supported by Russia, the United States and several Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while Turkey and the rival Libyan administration, the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez Sarraj, rejected it.
For more than a year, Haftar's army has been trying to capture the capital of Libya. Both sides of the conflict have accused each other of receiving aid in arms and manpower from abroad. In recent weeks, the GNA forces have made major military gains against LNA and have announced their intention to build on the success by establishing control of the city of Sirte, currently under the control of Haftar's forces.
A Sputnik
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As a second surge of coronavirus grips Texas, immigrants at detention facilities in the state - long hot spots for contagious infections - are also bracing for a second rise in cases.
Unlike at many nursing homes and jails, widespread testing for the corona virus has not occurred at immigrant detention facilities, said U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, and Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, who toured two such facilities Monday.
The conditions are bad. These people are living in a Petri dish, Castro said on a call with reporters after the tour. Were three months into the pandemic, and they still havent taken the time to test everybody in the facility.
In Texas, there are 285 detained immigrants currently infected with coronavirus in 16 facilities, making up a third of the total number of cases in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities across the country.
Overall, the caseload in ICE facilities in Texas has been 938 since the start of the pandemic, which means hundreds of those who tested positive have since been released, deported or quarantined in detention until no longer infected.
Castro and Garcia said there did not seem to be sufficient protocols in place to prevent a resurgence of the disease at Pearsalls South Texas ICE Processing Center, an adult facility that has reported 47 cases, and Dilleys South Texas Family Residential Center, which detains parents and children.
ICE said its protocols were comprehensive for both staff and detainees, including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.
The facilities provide masks and sanitizers and the ICE Health Service Corps also provides comprehensive medical care to detainees in ICE custody, the agency said in a prepared statement in response to questions. ICE continues to make discretionary releases on a case-by-case basis.
Nationwide, ICE facilities are generally nowhere near full. The detained population has dropped by over 7,000 since the beginning of March, resting now at around 24,041. ICE released more than 900 detainees in response to the pandemic after deeming them medically vulnerable and not a danger to the community, according to agency officials.
But the main cause of the drop in numbers is the Trump administrations shutdown of U.S. borders under an emergency public health code that allows the government to turn away asylum seekers and other cross-border traffic deemed non-essential.
ICE said the Pearsall facility was operating at 30 percent capacity, while the family detention center in Dilley has filled only 7 percent of its bed space to promote social distancing efforts.
On ExpressNews.com: Immigrants in detention near San Antonio fear coronavirus spread
In Dilley, there was a coronavirus testing machine, but despite access to it, not all families detained there have been tested, Garcia said. The machine was being loaned out to other facilities, she was told.
There, a woman and her 7-year-old son told the House members theyd been detained for nearly 300 days. There were multiple children who appeared to be 1 year old, Castro said.
Garcia and Castro also spoke with Miriam and her 15-year-old daughter Julieth, who asked that their full names not be published for fear of retribution. The Honduran mother and daughter have been living in detention for more than nine months, and were recently one of dozens of families presented with a form to authorize release of their children while parents stayed detained what advocates called another form of family separation.
ICE is not separating families, ICE responded in its statement. On April 24, ICE was directed by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to make every effort to promptly and safely release juvenile aliens who have suitable custodians and who are not a flight risk or a danger to themselves or others.
In a previous interview as well as to Castro and Garcia on Monday Miriam said ICE officials had handed her a form, in English, that would have resulted in her daughter being released without her. She didnt sign it; no parent at any of the countrys three family residential centers did.
Fearful of losing her daughter, Miriam also said in a recent interview that she was fearful of prolonged detainment, considering the coronavirus danger and Julieths myriad health conditions. She has asthma, gastritis and tachycardia, a heart condition that makes it beat more than 100 times a minute.
She was rushed to the hospital recently and returned to detention, Castro said.
On ExpressNews.com: Immigrant mother: They tried to separate my daughter from me
Local lawyers have said they fear the coronavirus could enter Dilley by way of the Pearsall facility, which is only about 20 miles away. Some contract workers at Dilley also work at the Pearsall detention center, where dozens of detainees have contracted coronavirus since the pandemics start. They make up 34 percent of Frio Countys total number of cases.
Pearsall facility workers told Castro and Garcia that detainees get new face masks every day. One told them detainees were making their own masks in late March. Theyve since been provided masks by ICE.
But aside from that, it doesnt look like theyve done much to prevent a greater outbreak, Garcia said. She said the detainees had just begun wearing masks a week or two ago, as if in preparation for the congressional tour what she called window dressing for our visit.
On ExpressNews.com: Detained immigrants pepper-sprayed for protesting amid coronavirus fears
The two places we saw today are prisons. Theyre prisons, Castro said, adding it was a disregard for the humanity of these people that ICE barely lifts a finger to make sure that these folks are safe.
Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. To read more from Silvia, become a subscriber. sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF
In the wake of a leadership change at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a small group of religious freedom advocates is trying to secure millions of dollars in funding for two internet censorship circumvention tools developed by supporters of the Falun Gong, a controversial religious group banned in China.
Why it matters: In recent years, Falun Gong supporters have made common cause with the global far-right, and a growing rapport between its advocates and U.S. ultra-conservatives within USAGM could override internal vetting processes and channel funding toward pet projects.
What's happening: After Trump appointee and Steve Bannon ally Michael Pack took over at USAGM last week, he fired the heads of its media agencies and replaced board members with administration loyalists without international broadcasting experience.
The shake-up is fueling concerns that the takeover might herald a politicization of U.S. government media.
Pack also fired Libby Liu, head of the Open Technology Fund, an organization under USAGM oversight that helps develop internet privacy and censorship circumvention tools such as Signal, a widely used encrypted messaging service.
Details: It's the Open Technology Fund's purse that advocates of UltraSurf and Freegate, tools developed and supported by Falun Gong affiliates, hope will now open up.
UltraSurf and Freegate are internet censorship circumvention tools that some users in China and other authoritarian regimes have long used to gain access to censored websites.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors, USAGM's predecessor, previously directed funding to UltraSurf, but stopped after UltraSurf's developers refused to comply with an independent security audit, part of the fund's mandatory process for all its funding recipients.
Christian and religious liberty groups in the U.S. have helped promote UltraSurf to U.S. politicians, arguing that Christians and other persecuted religious groups in China, including the Falun Gong, need it in order to access the unfettered internet.
Among UltraSurf's strongest backers are Katrina Lantos Swett of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice and Michael Horowitz, who formerly directed the Project for International Religious Liberty at the Hudson Institute.
Horowitz, who has promoted UltraSurf for over a decade, appeared on Bannon's radio show "War Room" one week before the USAGM dismissals and called on Liu to be fired. Bannon repeated her name and appeared to write it down while on air.
Swett has repeatedly called for the Open Technology Fund to redirect millions of dollars to support UltraSurf and Freegate.
What they're saying: Both Swett and Horowitz have cast UltraSurf and similar programs as tools that could potentially tear down the Great Firewall, China's system of internet censorship, and perhaps even topple the Chinese Communist Party itself.
"We believe that the great firewall of China is the Berlin Wall of our time," Swett told Axios in an interview, adding that Beijing censors the internet out of the belief that "their current repressive autocratic system cannot survive freedom."
But, but, but: It's not that simple, say experts in internet privacy and censorship circumvention.
China's internet censorship is advanced and well-funded, and no single tool, or even type of tool, is sufficient to meet the many different needs of users behind the Great Firewall, a person familiar with censorship circumvention tools told Axios.
That's why the Open Technology Fund has sought to fund research and development to create new technologies that could be widely adopted by many tool developers, rather than pouring the bulk of its funding into a single tool.
Background: The Falun Gong is heavily persecuted in China but has flourished outside of China's borders, operating a global media empire that includes the Epoch Times.
In recent years, the Epoch Times has thrown its support behind the far-right agendas of ascendant populist, anti-immigrant parties in the U.S. and Europe.
It is now recognized as a part of the pro-Trump alternative media ecosystem.
The bottom line: A far-right take-over of an independent U.S. government agency may allow once-fringe ideas promulgated by a controversial religious group to become official policy.
Editor's note: This post has been corrected to reflect that it was the Broadcasting Board of Governors that previously directed funding to UltraSurf (not the Open Technology Fund).
Nicole Echols, the Pee Dee branch executive director of Harvest Hope Food Bank, said the food bank serves about 600,000 individuals in a 20-county area.
When the first load arrived and was distributed, Echols said the recipients were beaming over the produce.
We traditionally give out can goods, and just to have fresh vegetables and fruit means so much to us, Echols said.
She said they serve nine of the most rural, underserved areas of the state.
Echols said her partnering organizations are ready to move the produce.
People are so excited, she said. This will make a huge impact.
She said with the previous shipment, one of their partners, Hope Health, gave out 600 boxes in two hours to its clients.
Echols said people will be able to drive up to receive a box. She said people are hearing about the availability of the produce through word of mouth from their partner organizations and churches.
South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers also was on hand for the unloading of boxes on Tuesday.
Bengaluru: Karnataka IAS officer BM Vijay Shankar, accused in multi-crore I Monetary Advisory (IMA) Ponzi scam, allegedly committed suicide at his residence in Jayanagar (Bengaluru) on Tuesday (June 23) evening.
The police are investigating the matter and the reason is yet to be ascertained.
Earlier, Vijay Shankar was arrested by the SIT in connection with a multi-crore 'IMA Ponzi scam' in 2019 on allegations of taking bribe of Rs 1.5 crore from a company.
He was later released on bail.
The government had ordered his suspension after his arrest.
When the case was handed over to the CBI for the investigation, they also filed an FIR against Vijay Shankar.
The CBI had also sought the State government's permission to prosecute him in May 2020.
Vijay Shankar was the Deputy Commissioner for Urban Bengaluru district.
New Delhi: Five staffers of the Indian high commission in Pakistan, including the two who suffered grievous injuries while being tortured during their illegal custody by Pakistani security agencies exactly a week ago in Islamabad, returned to India on Monday through the Attari-Wagah land border in Punjab.
Those who returned were identified as Air Adviser Group Capt. Manu Midha, Second Secretary S. Shiv Kumar and staff members Pankaj, Selvadhas Paul and Dwimu Brahma.
This comes at a time when the Indian high commission is set to repatriate a total of 748 Indian nationals back from Pakistan from June 25 to 27 through the Attari-Wagah border as part of the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a day-long drama last Monday, the two Indian high commission staffers who had gone missing while on official duties in the morning were released late in the evening after claims by the Pakistani police that they were involved in a road accident or hit-and-run case. An FIR filed against them by the Pakistani police apparently mentioned that they caused injuries to a person and were also in possession of fake currency to the tune of Rs 10,000. The fake currency charge slapped against them by the Pakistani authorities made clear that it was untenable for them to stay in that country any further.
The next day, in New Delhi, India had summoned Pakistani charge daffaires Syed Haidar Shah for the second time in two days and had lodged a strong protest for torturing and coercing the two officials to accept false charges against them. The Pakistani action by its spy agency ISI is seen as retaliation by Islamabad after two Pakistan high commission officials were asked to leave India late last month after being caught carrying out espionage activities.
The halting of a British pork plant's sales to China after just a few workers contracted coronavirus highlights the risk that more facilities around the world could see exports disrupted.
China's customs authorities said that a division of the U.K.'s Tulip Ltd. and a beef unit of Brazil's Agra voluntarily stopped shipments to China after some workers tested positive. Tulip said three of its 640 workers at its Tipton, England, site tested positive -- a relatively small amount compared with recent outbreaks at meat plants in Europe and the Americas.
The news follows China's suspension of poultry imports from a Tyson Foods Inc. plant in the U.S., where hundreds of cases were reported, and a German abattoir has also voluntarily halted pork exports to the Asian country. While food consultant Gira said some companies may have freely stopped sales to China to avoid risking a ban, it raises concerns about interruption to trade.
Further sales disruptions would be a blow to Europe's pork industry. China accounted for more than half of exports from the European Union -- the world's top shipper -- in the first four months of the year and is the U.K.'s top customer. Plus, meat products sold to China often aren't popular in Europe.
"The way things are going, I think there will be more" export disruptions, said Max Green, a meat and livestock analyst at IHS Markit. "That's four plants now in less than a week, and they're not all located in one country."
Though exports from most meat factories around the world remain unaffected, there's been a rise in outbreaks at plants in the past few months. China stepped up testing of imported meat in June after tracing a domestic outbreak to the chopping board of a seller of imported salmon. The tests were negative and officials agreed with global experts that food trade was unlikely to be responsible, but there are signs buyers remain wary.
China asked meat exporters to send a letter declaring they've complied with covid-19 food safety rules during production, with similar measures for soybean shippers, people familiar with the matter have said.
The export halts may be a sign that some plants are self-policing and stopping shipments themselves rather than risking a ban, said Rupert Claxton, meat director at Gira. That means exports could resume once outbreaks ebb. China's meat demand surged after an outbreak of African swine fever decimated its hog herd last year, and domestic prices remain high.
Tulip, which belongs to JBS SA's Pilgrim's Pride unit, said it's continuing to test staff at the Tipton facility. Companies can boost measures to avoid large-scale outbreaks, but it's difficult to avoid a handful of cases, according to IHS Markit's Green.
"That would pretty much exclude a large chunk of the world's meat plants," he said. "It seems very unclear at this stage where they draw the line."
Tanaiste Simon Coveney has warned there will be huge political uncertainty if Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party do not form a coalition government.
There is so much uncertainty in Ireland at present on the back of Covid-19 which makes it all the more important that the programme for government is agreed.
A coalition of all three parties can be balanced and strong and can help the country rebuild, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.
Mr Coveney acknowledged that there were some within Fine Gael who were finding it difficult to consider going into coalition with Fianna Fail.
This is a new form of government, some people are uncertain with that.
The party needed to be defined by the future not the past, he added. Politicians had a responsibility to the electorate to get the economy back working again.
We will learn from the last time and do even better.
The programme for government represented a series of compromises thats how coalition works, he said. It was a progressive programme for government that had a very strong social net.
I believe this is absolutely worth supporting. Mr Coveney added that he would welcome the support of Independent TDs for the new coalition government, but it was important that any support be transparent.
He said he believed there were a number of Independent TDs who wanted to be constructive, but he could not rule out anything.
Earlier on Morning Ireland Green Party TD Marc O Cathasiagh said that support for the programme for government by the Green Party would be a close call, but he hoped there would be enough to get it across the line.
The Korber Prize for European Science 2020, which is endowed with one million euros, is being awarded to the Hungarian physician Botond Roska.
Roska has revolutionized ophthalmology with his work and is one of the world's leading experts in the study of vision and the retina. He has set himself the goal of restoring sight to the blind.
Most eye diseases are caused by hereditary or age-related defects in the retina. Roska and his colleagues have carried out pioneering work to identify the approximately one hundred different cell types in the retina and their complex interplay in signal processing.
They have been able to attribute numerous retinal diseases to genetic defects in individual cells. The scientist is now working on making these fundamental insights beneficial for patients and using gene therapies to alleviate or cure their diseases.
Roska achieved a genuine breakthrough when he reprogrammed a cell type in the eye, enabling it to take over the function of defective light receptor cells. He was thus able to make blind retinas light-sensitive again - and clinical trials with blind people have already begun.
Botond Roska, 50, initially studied cello at the Academy of Music in Budapest, but had to give up his musical career due to an injury and subsequently completed his studies in medicine and mathematics.
He received his PhD in neurobiology from Berkeley, USA and then continued his research as a Harvard Fellow in the fields of genetics and virology at Harvard.
From 2005 to 2017, Roska led a research group at the private Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel. Together with Professor Hendrik Scholl, he became a founding director of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, IOB in December 2017.
For many people, the idea of going blind is even worse than, for example, Alzheimer's disease or cancer. In addition, eye diseases are increasing greatly because people are living to an older age. An estimated 36 million people worldwide are blind and over a billion suffer from severe visual impairment.
For a long time, innovations in ophthalmology were frustratingly slow.
"This is due to the fact that basic researchers often do not know the therapeutic needs in clinics precisely enough," explains Roska. One reason is that they lack direct contact with the patients."
The scientific teams in the clinics, on the other hand, are usually not sufficiently informed about the latest state of basic research. To close this gap, the IOB has been pursuing an interdisciplinary approach since 2017, in which "basic researchers and clinicians work hand in hand on a daily basis". Botond Roska, Physician, Study Lead Author,Koerber-Stiftung (Koerber Foundation)
An essential factor in the success of the IOB is the multidisciplinary access to and combination of methods from genetics, molecular biology, neurosciences and computer science.
Traditionally, physicians had examined the retina of the eye mainly as tissue. Roska and his colleagues, on the other hand, made the effort to study the approximately one hundred cell types in the retina and their functional interaction intensively for the first time.
The team also located and mapped genetic defects that lead to eye diseases. In this way, the researchers created a pool of new knowledge that puts ophthalmology on a new footing.
The retina is located in the back of the eyeball - opposite the lens of the eye that projects images onto it. Its light-sensitive elements are called rods and cones, which convert the incoming light into electrical signals.
"The retina is an outgrowth of the brain. Its complex network of nerve cells processes the signals similarly to a computer," says Roska.
Its complicated structure makes the retina particularly susceptible and it is the most affected of all the body's organs by genetic diseases. Roska focuses in particular on the most common genetic eye disease, Retinitis pigmentosa.
Retinitis pigmentosa begins with deficits in seeing in the dark because the rods die. Later, the cones lose their sensitivity to light, which leads to blindness. Retinitis pigmentosa has so far generally been considered incurable.
Botond Roska now wants to use a healing method he already tested in 2008: Using gene ferries (transport vehicles), light-sensitive protein channels, which originate from algae, fungi or bacteria, are incorporated into still intact cells of the retina.
These then take over the task of the light receptor cells and allow at least partially restored vision. A clinical study with five test persons is already underway.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is another disease of the photoreceptors. This disease affects only the central region of the retina, called the "macula" or "fovea", which is responsible for high resolution vision allowing people to read or recognise faces.
Botond Roska's team has recently developed a new technology that may in the future facilitate the restoration of visual function in the degenerated fovea of AMD patients. The researchers sensitised human retinal cells to infrared light, which can be projected onto the fovea using special goggles.
Roska's latest success is likely to prove to be a decisive aid in this respect. He has succeeded for the first time in growing a complete artificial retina in Petri dishes.
From one of the patient's skin cells, a retinal organoid grows in about 30 weeks through various genetic engineering steps.
These organoids contain similar cell types with the same or related functions as the adult retina. If the patient from whom the skin sample was taken has genetic defects in the retina,
these defects are also found in the artificially cultivated organoids. The scientists can now use these miniature retinas to test whether certain gene therapies work and try out different approaches.
The Korber European Science Prize 2020 will be presented to Botond Roska on 7 September in the Great Festival Hall of Hamburg City Hall. The Korber Prize, endowed with one million euros, is one of the world's most highly endowed research prizes.
Five percent of the prize money is to be used for science communication. Every year since 1985, the Korber Foundation has honoured a major breakthrough in the physical or life sciences in Europe with the Korber Prize.
It is awarded for excellent and innovative research approaches with high application potential. To date, six prize winners have also been awarded the Nobel Prize after receiving the Korber Prize.
- An Italian infectious disease doctor claimed that COVID-19 is already getting weaker
- He stated that the virus could disappear on its own without the need for a vaccine
- Dr. Matteo Bassetti also disclosed the reasons why he thought of such positive claims
- According to him, the virus has changed from a tiger several months ago to a wild cat
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An infectious disease specialist in Italy recently claimed that the novel coronavirus disease is already getting weaker and less dangerous.
KAMI learned that it was Dr. Matteo Bassetti, a doctor working at the San Martino Hospital, who aired the said claim that immediately gave hope to many people.
He told the Sunday Telegraph that the patterns were different from what was observed in March and April where a drastic spike in the number of cases was recorded.
The clinical impression I have is that the virus is changing in severity, he quipped.
It was like an aggressive tiger in March and April but now its like a wild cat. Even elderly patients, aged 80 or 90, are now sitting up in bed and they are breathing without help. The same patients would have died in two or three days before, he added.
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The New York Post also reported the statement of Dr. Bassetti about the possible reasons why he thinks the virus is getting weaker.
It also mentioned why the said specialist claimed that COVID-19 could disappear on its own without the need for a vaccine.
I think the virus has mutated because our immune system reacts to the virus and we have a lower viral load now due to the lockdown, mask-wearing, social distancing he stressed.
We still have to demonstrate why its different now. We have fewer and fewer people infected and it could end up with the virus dying out, he added.
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In a previous article by , Chinese medical experts said the Philippines is at risk of not being able to cut COVID-19 source.
The novel coronavirus disease has greatly affected the lives of millions of people around the world. As of this writing, the confirmed global cases already reached more than 9 million.
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After three months of political and legal wrangling, culminating this weekend with former national security advisor John Bolton and President Donald Trump publicly lobbing insults at each other, pub day has finally arrived for Bolton's White House memoir, The Room Where It Happened (S&S) a book that PW described in its review as a well-informed yet self-serving account with a high bombshell to chaff ratio. While the national media attention The Room Where It Happened received for the past several weeks as the Trump administration appealed to the courts to prevent its publication guarantees it bestseller status, especially with the chains and online, it is receiving a decidedly mixed reception from indie booksellers.
According to Barnes & Noble buyer Sally Leventhal in a release this morning, due to pre-orders, The Room Where It Happened "has jumped to the top" of the chain's bestseller list. "We anticipate it holding that spot buoyed by the intense interest in this perspective look inside the White House, Leventhal stated, We are now launching into the Presidential campaigns in earnest, and John Boltons tell-all is the first of several big, partisan political titles publishing this summer and fall.
In contrast, a survey of participants in PWs Bxsellers Facebook group indicated that a slight majority of the approximately 30 respondents intend to stock the book, although many of them expressed caveats. Almost half of the indie booksellers responding to PW's query are opting to fulfill special orders only, while three booksellers disclosed that they flatly refuse to sell the book at all.
As far as Angela Redden, the owner of Reading Rock Books in Dickson, Tenn. is concerned, "Our motto is that books are for everyone, so we will sell it. Everyone means everyone." Pravadeen Madan, the CEO of Kepler's Books & Magazines in Menlo Park, Calif, responded by writing, "Of course we will be selling the book. And hopefully a lot of copies. I don't even comprehend the premise behind [PW's] question."
Judith Kissner, the owner of Scout & Morgan Books in Cambridge, Minn., reported that it has received 19 pre-orders, "high for a store of my size" in rural Minnesota "for yet another book about this administration." As of this morning, Kissner had not received her books ordered from Ingram.
I did a post inquiring who is interested in the book, wrote Bob Lingle owner of Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in Lakewood, N.Y. So I know how many to bring in. If people want to give me money for the book, I will take their money. But I'm not a fan of a man who, when he had the opportunity to do something, did nothing and is now trying to profit of his experience.
It's another Pol-Book of the Mo,' wrote Stephanie Lillegard of North Bank Books in Stevenson, Wash., No requests so far, will order it in for people, won't stock it. But I'll probably carry the one that's coming out soon that's been written by his niece [Too Much and Never Enough by Mary Trump], and [put] a copy in the memoir section and in the politics and culture section.
Personal Politics and Bookselling
Claire Benedict of Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, Vt. Is going to be subversive when it comes to accommodating customers who buy the book. She received a few special orders and added a few copies to the order she made to S&S, to make sure that if there is demand, the store can meet it. Between all the leaks before pub date and how people feel about Bolton, she said, I'm not sure we'll sell a lot but we want to be prepared. Benedict said that, for fun a political sticker stating Vote like your democracy depends on it, will be placed inside every pre-ordered copy of The Room Where It Happened.
Three booksellers are going even further: hello hello books in Rockland, Me., Print: A Bookstore in Portland, Me., and Postmark Books in Rosendale, N.Y. not only refuse to stock the book, they wont even accept special orders for it.
hello hello books website declares, Please note: we are not accepting/processing orders for this book. While we very much appreciate you wanting to support us by buying it through us, we have made it clear to the publisher that we will not be ordering the book at all in protest of the $2 million advance Bolton was paid to cash in on information he should have been sharing during the impeachment trial. If you absolutely must purchase it, please consider ordering it from a Black-owned bookshop, (here's a list), ideally from their Bookshop,org storefront so the work is all done for them. We especially love Brain Lair Books.
Print: A Bookstore simply does not include Boltons book among the June 23 releases listed on its website. A search provides complete bibliographic information for The Room Where It Happened, but notes that it is not available for ordering from Print.
Postmarks Jesse Post expressed similar concerns, adding, We also dont support S&S long practice of stunt publishing that profits from what they see as scintillating controversies but are actually matters of life or death to people that dont share the same privilege as Viacom executives. We have plenty of well reported and better intentioned books about the Trump White House we can sell people who are interested to learn more.
The City Where It Happened
If there is any region where The Room Where It Happened might flop, ironically, its the Washington, D.C. metro area. Three of five area indies contacted by PW disclosed that they have received just a few pre-orders between two and five -- for The Room Where It Happened.
The sense I get is that people are mad at Bolton for holding out for the book, instead of testifying under oath during the impeachment hearings, said one of these booksellers, who requested anonymity, saying she was speaking for herself and not for the bookstores owner. The store is filing special orders only. Why do we even want to sell this book? And we sold tons of copies of the Mueller Report, so our customers are interested in such things. I do like the title, though even if he did lift it from Hamilton.
Another bookseller, Emilie Sommer of East City Bookshop, explained that there have been so many Trump administration tell-alls already, and there is so much else happening in the news cycle. We're still seeing more demand for anti-racist texts and books by Black authors, but that could change when the book is actually released. We're always guaranteed at least a flurry of sales whenever Trump tells people not to buy a book.
As for Kramerbooks & Cafe on Dupont Circle, which opened its doors to the public for the first time on Monday, a store representative declined to disclose how many copies have been stocked and how many pre-orders received. Publicist Leah Frelinghuysen would say only that the book would be made available inside the store, as well as through curbside pickup and delivery. Further up Connecticut Avenue, Politics & Prose ordered a bunch of copies even though to date it has received 70 pre-orders. According to co-owner Bradley Graham, that is well below the pre-order number for previous newsy books about the Trump administration.
In an earlier version of this story, Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in New York State was mistaken for another indie with the same name in Colorado; this error has been corrected.
It is believed he was at the Indiana Dunes State Park with friends at the beach, which was closed to swimming at the time and did not have lifeguards, Craig said. The area, near the beachs western parking lot, was closed while the search continued.
As a Washington Post reader named Walter A. Pinchback put it in a Letter to the Editor after Keyss death: At this moment, all Washington is wrought up about the crime situation here, and every good citizen is behind the movement to cleanse the city of the unlawful element, but it will be of no avail unless the people have faith and confidence in the enforcement officials.
A man wearing a face mask walks near the wire fences decorated with ribbons written with messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Thursday, June 18, 2020. AP
As well as pitting North against South, the Korean War embroiled each side's communist and Western allies with the Soviet Union and China backing Pyongyang, and a US-led coalition under a United Nations banner supporting Seoul.
AFP traces the course of the conflict, which broke out on June 25, 1950 and ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war.
- Two Koreas created -
The Soviet Union declared war on Japan, Korea's colonial ruler, between the US nuclear strikes on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, and sent troops pouring into the peninsula.
Washington and Moscow agreed to divide it into two occupied zones along the 38th parallel, a line of latitude that splits the territory roughly across the middle.
Two rival states emerged in 1948. In Seoul, the capital of the South, the Harvard- and Princeton-educated Syngman Rhee led a US-oriented regime.
Moscow appointed Kim Il Sung, who had led a Korean contingent in the Soviet army, as head of the North. His son and grandson have since retained an absolute grip on power in Pyongyang.
Both the communist North and the capitalist South claimed to be the legitimate government of the entire peninsula.
- Invasion and counter-attack -
On June 25, 1950, the North invaded the South as Kim Il Sung attempted to reunify Korea by force.
The UN Security Council authorised armed intervention in support of the South Moscow did not veto the resolution as it was boycotting the body.
But the South's forces crumbled before the Northern advance, and Pyongyang's army seized Seoul just three days after crossing the 38th parallel.
Multinational UN forces, led by the US, arrived in the South to help. But they were pushed back to the Pusan Perimeter, a pocket on the peninsula's southeastern tip around the city now known as Busan.
The Incheon Landing a bold counter-offensive launched in the city to the west of Seoul recaptured the capital, split the North's forces and turned the tide.
Yoga guru Ramdev on Tuesday claimed to have found the first Ayurvedic cure for coronavirus through research by Patanjali Research Institute, Haridwar, and National Institute of Medical Sciences, NIMS University, Jaipur.
Patanjali claimed 'Coronil' and 'Swasari' had shown 100% favourable results during clinical trials on affected patients at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar.
Launching the medicines at a press conference in Haridwar, Ramdev claimed "100% recovery rate in seven days".
The corona kit will be made available at Rs 545, said Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna, adding it will have medicines for 30 days. Patanjali claims the kit can also be taken as prevention for coronavirus.
This is not an immunity booster but a coronavirus cure, Ramdev said.
Manufactured by Haridwar-based Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, the medicine is the result of a research partnership between Patanjali Research Institute and the National Institute of Medical Sciences. The drug was clinically tried on 280 COVID-19 positive persons out of which 69% were cured within three days, said Ramdev.
Ramdev said, The entire world is waiting for a vaccine to cure coronavirus and we are proud to say that through clinically controlled trial-based, evidence-based method, we have first ayurvedic medicine to cure corona called Coronil and Swasari.
The other two medicines to be taken along with Coronil are 'Shwasari' which works on strengthening the respiratory system and cures the obvious symptoms of corona including cough, cold and fever and a nasal drop named 'Anu Tel' which helps build immunity, the firm said. Ramdev said the medicines can be ordered online through a mobile app from next Monday.
"A combination of optimum concentration comprises of Divya Swasari Vati, Patanjali Giloy Ghanwati, Patanjali Tulsi Ghanwati and Patanjali Ashwagandha capsules along with Patanjali Divya Anu Taila was administered in Corona positive patients to tackle the outbreak," a press release said.
This ayurvedic formulation constitutes of active phytoconstituents ranging from
Withanone of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) to Tinocordiside of Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) and Scutellarin of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum). Furthermore, it added "Swasari Vati, composed of other potential herbs named as Kakrashringi (Pistacia integerrima), Rundati (Cressa cretica), Akarkara (Anacyclus pyrethrum) along with hundreds of efficacious phytochemicals, phytometabolites and essential minerals, is also used to exhibit its miraculous benefits against this lethal disease."
The overall coordinator of Patanjali's clinical trial said it was conducted in mild to moderate cases. "The trial on moderate to serious cases are still to take place, the clinical trial is still underway," he added.
At the launch of the medicine, NIMS director Balbir Singh Tomar said there were challenges to conduct the trials as some raised questions and doubts but later the Ethics Committee of the institute passed it.
The claims made by Tomar and Ramdev said in three days, 69% of the patients showed recovery and in seven days, 100% tested negative. They claimed that due to divine intervention, the death rate was 0%.
While launching the medicines, Ramdev said: The kit used shows 100 per cent recovery rate within 3-7 days. Two trials were conducted by the team in Delhi and Ahmedabad. In one of them, there were 280 patients, and it showed 100 per cent recovery. This is not just for prevention, but for cure. This was followed by an all-important clinical control trial.
Tomar said they took permission from CTRI (clinical trial registry- India) and were allowed, as claimed by the speakers present, after which they conducted a randomised 1 to 1 placebo control double line trial. Their next step is to take the study forward to the severe patients on ventilators.
The yoga gurus claims, however, did not go down well with the scientific community that urged caution in glorifying a drug without appraisal from other experts in the field.
Dr SP Kalantri, Professor of Medicine, MGIMS Sevagram in Maharashtra said, I would urge caution from prematurely drawing conclusions from this study. We need to assess the study methodology and its design and examine the data critically before we conclude that the drug is safe and effective for Covid-19 patients.
He suggested the study investigators share the full details of their study and let the scientific community appraise it critically before the (sensational) results are shared with the media.
Sir Paul McCartney is backing a PETA campaign urging the government to remove mandatory meat, fish and dairy from school menus in England.
The former Beatle, 78, and his daughters Stella, 48, and Mary, 50, have co-signed a letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson asking the government to give school-aged children' more vegan and climate-friendly options.
The McCartneys, who founded the hugely popular Meat Free Monday in 2009, wrote the request as part of a consultation process with the National Food Strategy, a landmark review into Britain's food system.
Paul McCartney, 78, and his daughters Stella (right), 48, and Mary (left), 50, have co-signed a letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson asking the government to give school-aged children's more vegan and climate-friendly options
In England, schools are currently required to serve a portion of dairy every day, a portion of meat at least three times a week, and a portion of fish once every three weeks.
The Liverpudlian is asking them to replace it with nutritional guidelines 'that allow schools to be more flexible'.
PETA says these requirements are out of step with public health advice, are damaging to the environment, as well as causing pain and suffering to animals.
They are calling for the standards to be revised so that each school gets to choose whether or how often it serves dairy, meat, and fish, as long as pupils' nutritional needs are met.
In a statement, the family said: 'No one needs to eat meat, so it shouldn't be mandatory to serve it in schools. It's time to revise the School Food Standards to help the planet, spare animals, and promote healthy eating.'
The campaign, by PETA, has also been supported by MPs, and environmental, health, and animal protection groups.
The pop icon is asking the government to replace it with nutritional guidelines 'that allow schools to be more flexible'
In a statement, the campaign group say that 70 per cent of British children want more vegan meals on their school menus, and 20 per cent of children in the UK are obese by the time they're in year 6.
PETA claim the School Food Standards are 'so outdated that they don't even comply with the government's own nutritional advice to the public the Eatwell Guide which recommends that people eat more pulses and reduce their consumption of red and processed meats.
'As the world faces dual health and climate crises, going vegan is one of the best things young people can do for animals, the planet, and their own health'.
Sir Paul and his daughters have been long-term animal rights activists and vegetarians.
Linda McCartney, the musician's late wife, and mother of Stella and Mary, launched a line of frozen vegetarian food in 1991 which has become known as one of the biggest celebrity mass-market brands.
SAN DIEGO, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Film Sales is offering to license Dante's Hell, and its sequels, for worldwide distribution at the Cannes Marche Du Films from June 22-26, 2020.
Dante's Hell is a 108-minute feature documentary, depicting the story of a man that went on a journey through the worst of the afterlife, Hell, to finally consummate his love relationship at the gate of Paradise (3rd sequel). It features Eric Roberts and Franco Nero among over 30 celebrities and scholars from the US, UK, Italy and The Vatican. Inferno Panoramic, an original painting to Dino Di Durante exposing the Anunnaki and Illuminati in Hell.
Soon, the world will be able to see an extraordinary film based on Dante Alighieri's literary masterpiece, The Divine Comedy - Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. Dante's Hell is the first slate of a vibrant and historic documentary trilogy, which could be the blockbuster of the year. Not until now, has this story been told so descriptively by visual art from artists of the highest caliber and an array of celebrities and known scholars.
Dante's Hell, produced and directed by Boris Acosta, is a compelling four-quadrant and spectacular documentary like no other, presented as a visual and narrative journey to Inferno. Dante's Hell is a rare and unique film featuring an amazing international cast such as Eric Roberts and Franco Nero, among more than 30 celebrities, scholars and artists from Italy, US, UK, including Monsignor Marco Frisina from The Vatican.
What makes "Dante's Hell" so spectacular? Both, the film and the exclusively-created art collection, took 12 years to produce to give us an unprecedented way of interpreting one of the greatest stories of all time. The Infernal story is presented circle by circle in an unprecedented and unique way that no other film has done in history. Virgil guides and protects Dante on his dark journey descending circle-by-circle, and chasm to chasm to the center of the Earth, and out into Purgatory (2nd sequel). Dante's Hell is the story of Dante's own journey through the first and worst part of the afterlife, Hell. The Divine Comedy trilogy is the greatest love story ever written. It is about a man who went through worst of the afterlife to consummate his love relationship at the Gates of Paradise (3rd sequel).
Visually, Dante's Hell features over 300 paintings and illustrations by several artists, including a new RE-painted 75-piece art collection by Dino Di Durante, never seen before, a remake from his earlier collection, already published in books available in 33 languages , "Inferno - The Art Collection". It also features dramatic animation clips from Dante's Hell Animated with Eric Roberts as Dante and the historic animation film Inferno Dantesco Animato with Franco Nero as the narrator. Furthermore, the final touch of this massive documentary is the addition of some excerpts from the first Italian feature film "L'Inferno (1911)". The trilogy is a set of inspiring films that answers all humans' basic questions.
Dante's Hell is not only based on one of the greatest stories of all time, but also on Boris Acosta's shocking, eye-opening thesis titled "Dante's Inferno Decoded", which offers a new real vision of what Hell may be like and how it actually could exist in a hollow Earth.
Certified journalists have been granted direct to watch Dante's Hell on Cinando, others can request it by email.
Media contact:
Paola Saporiti
[email protected]
0017204326830
SOURCE Global Film Sales
The phrase Keep the Immigrants, Deport the Racists appears all over Etsy. Variations on the saying are proudly emblazoned on coffee cups, pins, leggings, and even needlepoint. T-shirts with Black Power fists bursting through the midsection or with thoughtfully designed fonts or squished American flags all carry the message, too. But only one of those products featured the slogan on a sky-blue shirt. A woman involved in the demonstrations following the death of George Floyd bought and wore that very shirt to a protest in Philadelphiaand although it appears to be just a generic slogan tee, it set off a long winding chain of events that eventually resulted in her arrest. A complaint filed by the FBI details how the organization painstakingly tracked down Lore-Elisabeth Blumenthal, who was wanted for allegedly setting fire to a police car (Seamus Hughes, deputy director of the program on extremism at George Washington University, originally broke the case down on Twitter before deleting his thread because his Twitter notifications were a cesspool, he told me). The case peels back the many ways social media posts, online purchasing behavior, and even the clothes we think of as relatively anonymous can be used to sniff out individual protesters.
On May 30th, Blumenthal went to a protest in Philadelphia wearing a light blue T-shirt, a backpack, blue jeans, and gloves. A person matching this description was seen in photos and footage filmed from TV news helicopters seizing a burning piece of wood from a barricade and shoving it into a police SUV, which was eaten up by flames moments later.
Although there was news coverage of the scene, plus a video uploaded to Vimeo, investigators were unable to determine the identity of their suspectuntil they hopped on Instagram. There, one amateur photographer shared 500 images from the Philadelphia protest, some of which included the person of interest, with the FBI. From those photos, the text on the T-shirtKeep the Immigrants, Deport the Racistsand the peace sign tattoo on the inside of the persons arm were both visible. All the FBI really needed was the T-shirt, which was traced back to a shop on Etsy. In the shops comments section, a user from Philadelphia with the display name Xx Mv thanked the seller for fast shipping.
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From there, the FBI followed a string of websites where Blumenthal was set up. Her Etsy page led investigators to her profile on Poshmark, a secondary marketplace for clothes, which gave agents a real name that matched with a LinkedIn profile. The LinkedIn profile listed out Blumenthals place of work, where investigators found videos of a masseuse with the same peace sign tattoo, as well as a phone number and corresponding address. The FBI subpoenaed records from the Etsy shopwhich found the T-shirt was shipped to the same address. An arrest warrant was issued and Blumenthal was taken into custody.
This isnt the first time in recent months the FBI has used tattoos to identify protesters. Tattoo artists around the country have posted warnings on social media that investigators are coming to shops with images of protesters ink in hopes of matching them to a client. Shortly after Grand Avenue Tattoo reopened after coronavirus lockdown in Minnesota, two FBI agents pulled up to the shop and asked artist Ransom Bennett to identify designs. Bennett initially refused, but said the agents still held out a photo for him to look at. It was an extremely pixelated photo with a tattoo on the inside of the forearm that was impossible to make out, Bennett told me. He explained to the investigator that identifying the owner would be impossiblethe photo would render making a positive ID irresponsible, in his words. But not all photos of tattoos are so illegible.
Tattoos and the clothes protesters wear arent just clues that make it possible to track someone down. The FBI can also look at what a person is wearing to clarify intent. The complaint makes special note of Blumenthals white-grey gloves, which are believed to be flame-retardant. The fact that the subject is wearing these is evidence of intent and planning to engage in activities that could potentially hurt her hands and/or eyes, including arson, the complaint reads.
Drawing intent out of seemingly quotidian items like gloves is not unusual for the FBI, according to Joe Navarro, a former investigator with the agency who specializes in body language and nonverbal communication. We look at all evidence, Navarro wrote over email. Nomex [a flame-resistant material] gloves are suggestive of intent, most people don't have Nomex gloves. When the case is presented in court and the jury is asked to determine intent, Navarro said, your outfitand what it meansmatters. It is not that the agents need this, it is that the jury needs to know this, he wrote. These details are important: merely intending to commit a crime can lead to a stricter legal punishmentthe difference between first- and second-degree murder, for instance. The right (or wrong) pair of gloves could add time to any sentencing.
A case like Blumenthals is exactly why experts have advised protesters to wear non-identifying clothes and to cover their tattoos before taking to the streets. Apps that blur out protesters' faces have also become essential for anyone who wants to share to places like Instagram. Social media has fueled much of the protests and has also become a fertile ground for government surveillance, Paul Hetznecker, an attorney representing protesters, including Blumenthal, told the Philly Inquirer. (Hetznecker did not respond to a request for comment.) I think people have lost awareness of that.
Blumenthal is currently being held without bail and faces up to 80 years in prison. Great investigative work by the FBI that led to todays charges, William M. McSwain, the United States attorney for the eastern district of Pennsylvania wrote in a tweet about the case. Richly ironic that we identified this alleged arsonist by her peace sign tattoo. In a separate tweet, McSwain seemed to suggest that such investigations, whether or not they're driven by clothing and tattoos, might soon become the norm. Anybody who engaged in such acts can stand by to put your hands behind your back and head to federal prison, he wrote. We are coming for you.
Update 6/24: A previous version of this article stated that Blumenthal faces 10 years in prison, as originally stated in the Department of Justice's release. The maximum possible sentence is 80 years.
Originally Appeared on GQ
Many companies know how important it is to make improvements when it comes to diversity, discrimination, and inclusion, but they may not know exactly know how to it. They also know their staff needs training on these issues as well, if they are to have a cohesive team that is on the same page. Business Training Media is offering an online course, called Practice Respect Anti- Discrimination, Diversity & Inclusion, to help companies understand these issues and be successful in this area.
We have a long history of helping to train businesses on a wide variety of topics, explains Myron Curry, founder of Business Training Media. This course on diversity and inclusion is one that can play an important role in helping to set the tone within a company and on a team. Now is the perfect time for this type of training to become a priority.
Practice Respect Anti- Discrimination, Diversity & Inclusion is a convenient self-paced online course that provides users with a full year of access. The course aims to help organizations be able to identify and encourage diversity, as well as teach them how to support an inclusive work environment. The three program training models, which are 8-12 minutes each, are:
1. The Respectful Workplace: Introduction
2. The Respectful Workplace: Identifying Discrimination
3. The Respectful Workplace: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity
The course focuses on promoting a positive workplace by using video scenarios. Those who take the training course will learn about the benefits of your team adhering to an anti-discrimination policy that respects diversity. The course focuses on exploring workplace discrimination, including what it is and how to identify it, as well as how to encourage diversity and support an inclusive workplace.
Anti-discrimination and diversity are important issues that can no longer be overlooked, added Curry. By having your employees engage in a course like this, your business will be far better off, and you will be creating a team that can thrive together.
Practice Respect Anti-Discrimination, Diversity & Inclusion training course can be found online: https://www.businesstrainingmedia.com/practice-respect-anti-discrimination-d-i.php
Business Training Media offers over 6,500 training products, including online courses in management, cybersecurity, customer service, sexual harassment, COVID-19 resources, and more. The company has provided training for such companies as Bank of America, FedEx, Verizon, Google, Yahoo, IBM and more. To learn more or register for the course, visit the site: https://www.businesstrainingmedia.com/
About Business Training Media
Founded in 1998, Business Training Media offers thousands of training products for corporations. Based in Encino, Calif., it provides business training solutions for companies worldwide. It has had over 26,000 customers, including many Fortune 500 companies. Its training tools are available in multiple delivery options, including online, video streaming, e-learning courses, DVD, USB, webinars, books, games, and more. To learn more, visit the site: https://www.businesstrainingmedia.com/
Emotions were high in a good way at the MBS International Airport Commissions June meeting. The commission bid a fond farewell to retiring airport director Jeff Nagel by passing a resolution in his honor and sharing some of their thoughts on his distinguished 18-year career at MBS.
Casually attired and seated off to the side while his successor, James Canders, ran his first commission meeting as the new airport director, the unassuming Nagel, in customary fashion, attempted to deflect any praise coming his way. But, like it or not, this was his moment and the board along with longtime colleagues who joined the meeting, were determined to give their leader a proper send-off.
I have some big shoes to fill, said Canders, who was hired as assistant airport manager in late 2018. Jeff has always been there to support me. Hes given me really good advice. I want him to know how much I appreciate it.
Nagels career spans more than 36 years in the aviation industry. He came to MBS in 2002 after spending 13 years in various roles at Cherry Capital Airport, in Traverse City. He first worked as assistant director under Betty Owen for 18 months before succeeding her as MBS airport director when she retired in February 2004.
In addressing Nagel, Commission Chair Brad Kaye said, I havent been here that long, about a year and a half, but I appreciate the time Ive spent with you. Youve explained processes very logically. It was never this is the way its done and thats it. Were going to miss you.
The official resolution lauded Nagel for, among other accomplishments, his leadership on many high value projects at MBS. Unquestionably, said commissioners, construction of a new $55 million air carrier terminal on the north side of the airport and subsequent demolition of the old terminal, rank at the top of his list of career feats.
One of the greatest things you accomplished was having the vision and direction to get the new terminal going, said Commissioner Ernie Krygier by way of phone. That was one heck of an accomplishment. You should be so proud.
Thank you, Ernie, said Nagel. I appreciate that.
Nagels leadership extended beyond MBS. He was highly active within the Michigan Association of Airport Executives, serving on their executive board for many years, including a year stint as president. Commissioners praised Nagel for deftly working through complex federal regulations and nuanced grant applications. Moreover, he treated his colleagues with kindness and respect as they worked together to put their own stamp on MBS through both good and turbulent times.
Jeff established a new way of leading the airport, said Kaye. This will live on. Were going to be talking about it for many years.
MBS is owned by three different municipalities: Midland, the City of Saginaw and Bay County. Never once, according to Nagel, did politics get in the way.
Two cities and a county working together was a great thing to see, he said. When nine local board members came in this room, it what was best for the airport. They say it takes a lot of luck and great people around you to be successful. Ive been fortunate to have both.
As a fairly new commissioner, I appreciate how Jeff makes sure new commissioners are prepared for the job, said Commissioner John Milne. He helps them understand the processes.
Hes made our jobs easy, said Commissioner Steve Arnosky.
Theres a lot of appreciation around this room, Kaye said.
Following the meeting, Kaye presented Nagel with a photo album that captured some of Nagels career highlights through the years.
The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) on Tuesday advised authorities to help all government and private hospitals, and public sector units, among others, to conduct antibody-based COVID-19 tests to allay concerns of healthcare workers and employees.
Rapid antibody test for COVID-19 should be used only for surveillance and not diagnosis, the apex health research body said.
Detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 can be useful for conducting sero-surveys to understand the proportion of population exposed to the infection, including asymptomatic individuals, said the ICMR.
IgG antibodies generally start appearing after two weeks of onset of infection once the individual has recovered and lasts for several months, it said. So the IgG test is not useful for detecting of acute infection, the ICMR advisory on newer additional strategies for COVID-19 testing released on Tuesday said.
Besides, the ICMR also recommended deployment of rapid antigen detection test for COVID-19 in combination with the "gold standard" RT-PCR test in containment zones, central and state government medical colleges and government hospitals, private hospitals approved by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare (NABH), and NABL accredited and ICMR approved private laboratories for COVID-19 testing.
Hospitals, laboratories and state governments intending to perform point-of-care (PoC) antigen test need to register with the ICMR to obtain the login credentials for data entry. Data of testing needs to be entered on the ICMR portal on a real-time basis, the health research body said.
The ICMR portal has been modified to include a component on antigen testing.
"Labs/hospitals initiating testing through the rapid antigen point-of-care test need to ensure that all symptomatic negative patients should essentially be referred to a real-time RT-PCR test for COVID-19. "This is particularly essential as the rapid antigen PoC test has a moderate sensitivity," the advisory said.
The entities using antigen PoC test are expected to tie up with the nearest RT-PCR COVID-19 testing laboratory to ensure that all symptomatic cases, who are negative by the rapid antigen test, get tested at the nearest facility, it said.
The ICMR encouraged manufacturers of all antigen-based tests to approach it for validation and inclusion of their test in the wider testing approach of the country.
The advisory said a positive test should be considered as a "true positive" whereas all symptomatic individuals testing negative through the rapid antigen test should be confirmed with a real-time RT- PCR test.
Since test, track and treat is the only way to prevent spread of the coronavirus infection and save lives, it is imperative that testing should be made widely available to all symptomatic individuals and contact tracing mechanisms strengthened, the ICMR said.
"ICMR advises all concerned state governments, public and private Institutions to take required steps to scale up testing for COVID-19 by deploying combination of various tests as advised," the advisory stated.
The largest trade union in the country has urged prime minister Boris Johnson to close the gaps over the UKs health inequalities and protect BAME people from Covid-19.
Unison, which has almost 1.4 million members, is asking the government to implement all recommendations from a Public Health England (PHE) report which suggested black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are dying from Covid-19 at greater rates than people in white ethnic groups.
The review said historic racism and poorer experiences of healthcare or at work may make BAME individuals less likely to seek care when needed or, as NHS staff, to speak up when they have concerns about personal protective equipment (PPE) or increased risk.
It also said the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on minority groups may be explained by social and economic inequalities, differing risks at work and the prevalence of conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and asthma, which can increase the severity of the disease.
Separate data from the Office for National Statistics has shown that black people are 1.9 times more likely to die of Covid-19 than white people, while British-Indians are around 1.5 times more likely.
And analysis from PHE also found that once in hospital, people from BAME backgrounds were more likely to then require admission to an intensive care unit.
In a letter sent to the PM, Unisons general secretary Dave Prentis said coronavirus is inextricably linked to inequality.
Urgent action is needed to close the gaps in health inequalities and poverty that accelerate susceptibility to coronavirus and life expectancy, he said.
Black workers and communities deserve to have the PHE report acted upon and their lives valued and protected as all others.
The PHE report, based on stakeholder engagement with more than 4,000 people, called for immediate action in areas such as housing to reduce inequalities and targeted messaging on smoking, obesity and improving management of common conditions including hypertension and diabetes.
It also recommended: better data collection about ethnicity and religion, which should also be recorded on death certificates; using audits and health impact assessments to improve BAME groups access to, experiences of and outcomes from NHS services; and producing culturally sensitive education to rebuild trust and help communities access services.
Doctors have also called for the recommendations of the report to be implemented immediately. The British Medical Association said it was critical to carry out risk assessments of vulnerable groups and protect them at work.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, who chairs the council of the British Medical Association, said: Its important we now move forward and deliver those changes because its the fair and right thing to do for our population.
However, the review has still attracted criticism for being too vague. Kamlesh Khunti, a professor of primary care diabetes and vascular medicine at the University of Leicester, said: The report makes seven recommendations, many of which seem obvious, but does not give a huge amount of detail on how these can be implemented and over what timeframe.
Additional reporting by PA
London: One in three patients who recover from COVID-19 could be harmed for life, with long-term damage to their lungs, as well as chronic fatigue and psychological disturbances, research suggests.
Experts said there was growing evidence that the virus could cause persistent or even permanent trauma, including impairment to the brain and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Guidance from the British National Health Service (NHS) seen by the London Telegraph suggests that around 30 per cent of patients who recover from COVID-19 may be left with damaged and scarred lung tissue, if it follows patterns of similar diseases.
In an interview with the newspaper, the head of the new NHS centre for COVID-19 recovery said she was worried about how little was known about how long the consequences could last.
Ministry of External Affairs has also shed light on the growing cases of minority persecution, urged Afghan government to ensure the safety of Sikhs.
India on Monday strongly condemned the abduction of Nedan Singh, a Sikh community leader in Afghanistan, by terrorists, and said that targeting and persecution of the minority community members by terror groups at the behest of their external supporters is a matter of grave concern.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in response to media queries that India is in touch with Afghanistan government for ensuring safety, security and well being of the minority community there.
We strongly condemn the abduction of Nedan Singh, a leader of the Hindu and Sikh Community of Afghanistan, by terrorists. The targeting and persecution of the minority community members by terrorists at the behest of their external supporters is a matter of grave concern, Srivastava said.
Also read: Sikh abducted in Afghanistan, community seeks Indias help
Also read: Slow down testing: Trump receives flak for Tulsa address
India is in touch with the Government of Afghanistan for ensuring safety, security and well being of the minority community in Afghanistan. We hope that the Government of Afghanistan would be able to secure safe and early release of Nedan Singh, he said.
Nedan Singh, who belongs to Tsamkani district in the Paktia province, was employed as a Gursewak (helper) at the local Gurdwara. He was kidnapped from the Paktia province in Eastern Afghanistan last week.
Also read: Rajnath Singh arrives in Moscow to attend 75th Victory Day Parade
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Provincial enforcement officers handed out more than $20,000 worth of tickets for alleged violations of the province's Emergency Measures Act between the beginning of April and the end of May.
The data, obtained by CBC News through access to information, includes the date the ticket was issued and the "area of offence," but doesn't provide any information on what the person allegedly did to warrant a ticket with a $292.50 fine.
"The specific reason for violating the emergency order is documented in each ticket but is not collected for statistical analysis," Department of Public Safety spokesperson Coreen Enos wrote in an email. No one from the department was made available for an interview.
The figures show that provincial ticketing has been concentrated near New Brunswick's border with Quebec and in rural communities with small populations. For example, tiny communities like Hoyt, Cornhill and McKees Mills appear on the list of communities where tickets were given out.
Meanwhile, two of the province's three largest cities Saint John and Moncton saw only one ticket each during the nearly two-month span. No tickets were given out in three counties clustered in the western part of the province: in York County, where Fredericton is located, as well as Carleton and Victoria counties.
The two most-ticketed communities are both near the border with Quebec. In Saint-Jacques 12 tickets were issued and in the city of Campbellton, ten were issued. The tiny village of St. Martins was the third most-ticketed community, with five tickets all handed out on April 19.
The 70 tickets were all issued by provincial enforcement officers and don't include tickets that have been written by police.
The data indicates that only two of the 70 cases have resulted in convictions, while the rest are listed as "not completed." The province confirmed that means only two of the 70 fines have been paid, for a total of $585 collected by the province.
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Research tracks how officers are policing the pandemic
The uneven ticketing raises questions about how the rules are being applied and whether they're being applied the same way across the province.
That's one of the reasons researchers Alexander McClelland and Alex Luscombe started the Policing the Pandemic project. They've been trying to track and map, in almost real time, how police and other enforcement officers have been enforcing emergency rules across the country.
Certain Indigenous communities have seen high amounts of tickets. Then in cities, we've seen primarily poor and homeless people being targeted. -Alexander McClelland
Both McClelland and Luscombe have researched the criminalization of HIV in Canada, detailing how Black, Indigenous and poor Canadians are most likely to be targeted by police. When they started seeing a rise in new emergency powers across the country, they feared a similar trend would emerge.
"One of the reasons that we started this project is that the vagueness and broadness of the rules would mean that it could be applied disproportionately to certain people in certain populations that are often targets of police," said McClelland, who is an incoming assistant professor in the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University.
"Certain Indigenous communities have seen high amounts of tickets. Then in cities, we've seen primarily poor and homeless people being targeted."
Alexander McClelland
McClelland would like to see the tickets withdrawn across the country, saying that people aren't clear on what recourse they have when they receive a ticket.
Unclear how many tickets issued by police
Most police forces contacted by CBC News would not reveal how many tickets they've handed out, noting that fines are a last resort.
"The New Brunswick RCMP is not releasing the number of tickets that have been issued as issuing tickets is only one part of our enforcement efforts and does not reflect all of the work that is being done collaboratively with communities, our policing partners and the province," New Brunswick RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jullie Rogers-Marsh wrote in an email.
Submitted by Keith Gagnon.
The Saint John Police Force, Fredericton Police Force, Grand Falls Police Force and Bathurst Police Force also refused to say how many tickets they've issued.
"In all cases, from the information received from members, they were blatant cases of disregard for the mandatory order that put the public health safety of others at risk," Bathurst police chief Ernie Boudreau wrote in an email.
BNPP Regional Police Force, which patrols several small communities on the Bay of Chaleur, has not issued any tickets, according to Chief Charles Comeau, while the Woodstock Police Force has only issued one.
McClelland believes it's crucial for police to be open about how they're enforcing emergency rules and who is being ticketed.
"In the context of the pandemic, this is something that has never been tested before," he said.
"We don't know if ticketing people for [not] social distancing or physical distancing actually even works. So I think police need to be transparent about how they've been mobilizing this so that we can kind of hold it to account and measure it and ask questions about it."
The court acknowledged its move came in the wake of protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, saying events in recent weeks have brought to the forefront the disproportionate impact the application of certain laws, rules, policies and practices have had on the African American population, the Latinx community, and other people of color in Illinois and nationally.
The University of Chile's clinical hospital in Santiago has made the rare decision of letting families of COVID-19 patients see their dying loved ones.
It's breaking with the practice at many hospitals around the world, that has placed the need to slow the spread of the coronavirus above providing patients the comfort of being with their families in their final moments.
That's forced many of the nearly half a million who have died globally to suffer alone, or say a digital goodbye.
Carlos Romero, who heads the hospital's intensive care unit, says the decision to let a family visit is made when it's apparent that the end is near, where possible, while adhering to a specific safety protocol.
"You realize that in some sick patients the disease is finally beyond what we're able to do to help them recover....With those patients we can call the family, we prepare them, they have to match a certain profile, because they can't be under quarantine, they can't have close contact, they can't be in a risk group so that they don't have a danger of becoming infected, but they can come and be with them for a few moments."
Visitors are screened for the coronavirus and issued with the same protective equipment used by medics, before being guided into the sealed glass rooms with COVID-19 patients.
So far, the hospital's ICU has avoided any cases of contagion among its staff.
Latin America is now seeing a major surge in coronavirus infections and Chile is one of its hardest-hit nations.
Romero says that it's the small victories of seeing some patients recover that keep his staff going... and for the patients who don't make it, they've at least created a space to say goodbye.
A court in Kenya on Tuesday charged a police officer with the murder of a 13-year-old boy in a Nairobi slum as authorities enforced a coronavirus curfew.
Yassin Hussein Moyo was shot dead on the balcony of his home in March as police officers used force to clear the streets in the poor neighbourhood of Huruma.
His death came to illustrate the chaotic and sometimes violent enforcement of a night-time curfew by Kenyan police, who have been accused of murdering more than a dozen others since the coronavirus lockdown began in late March.
Police constable Patrick Ndiema was arraigned before a judge in Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi and charged with murdering the teenager.
He pleaded not guilty, and was ordered to remain in police custody until Wednesday when a judge will hear his bail application.
Earlier this month, the police oversight agency IPOA said at least 15 deaths had been "directly linked" to curfew enforcement.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused police officers of murder and using excess force, whippings and tear gas to violently force Kenyans indoors during the early days of the curfew.
Activists have seized the global groundswell against police brutality following George Floyd's death in the United States to highlight Kenya's own record on unlawful killings by law enforcement.
A small protest against police violence was held in June in Mathare, one of Nairobi's bigger slums, which has rarely seen officers convicted for brutality.
WASHINGTON - Thousands of Canadians working for technology companies or multinational corporations in the United States could be affected by a new ban that freezes the issuance of temporary work visas until the end of the year.
The Trump administration on Monday extended a ban on green cards issued outside the U.S. and added many temporary work visas to the freeze.
The ban on new visas, which takes effect Wednesday, applies to four categories including H-1B, H-2B, J-1 and L-1.
In 2019, more than 4,600 people born in Canada were approved as beneficiaries under the H-1B alone, which is widely used by American and Indian technology companies, according to a report compiled by the citizenship and immigration division of the Department of Homeland Security.
Documents provided by the U.S. State Department also showed more than 400 Canadians with impacted visas last year, including 101 for the H-1B and 156 for the J-1. The State numbers also show 161 Canadians with L-1 visas, issued to managers and other multinational employees, and five H-2B visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers.
The Trump administration cast the effort as a way to free up jobs in an American economy reeling from the coronavirus. A senior official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity predicted it will open up to 525,000 jobs for Americans, a claim that was immediately challenged by critics.
The ban, while temporary, represents a cut to legal immigration on a scale that had eluded the administration before the pandemic. Long-term changes that would prevent many asylum seekers from getting work permits and would allocate high-tech worker visas differently are also being sought.
Business groups pressed hard to limit the changes, but got little of what they wanted, marking a victory for immigration hardliners as Trump seeks to further solidify their support ahead of the November election.
There will be exemptions for food processing workers, which make up about 15% of H-2B visas, the official said. Health care workers assisting with the coronavirus fight will continue to be spared from the green-card freeze, though their exemption will be narrower.
In the administration of our Nations immigration system, we must remain mindful of the impact of foreign workers on the United States labour market, particularly in the current extraordinary environment of high domestic unemployment and depressed demand for labour, Trump wrote in his presidential proclamation.
Trump imposed a 60-day ban on green cards issued abroad in April, which was set to expire Monday. That announcement, which largely targeted family members, drew a surprisingly chilly reception from immigration hardliners, who said the president didnt go far enough.
The new steps to include non-immigrant visas went a long toward appeasing hardliners.
This is a bold move by the Trump administration to protect American jobs, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for restrictions. Not all the items on our checklist of needed actions are included in todays announcement, but the corporate lobbyists who were desperately fighting for exceptions to protect their clients access to cheap foreign labour have largely been rebuffed.
Thomas J. Donohue, the U.S. Chamber of Commerces chief executive officer, said the measures will harm, not help, the American economy.
Putting up a not welcome sign for engineers, executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses and other workers wont help our country, it will hold us back, he said. Restrictive changes to our nations immigration system will push investment and economic activity abroad, slow growth, and reduce job creation.
BSA, a group that represents major software companies, urged the administration to reconsider, particularly changes to the H-1B program, saying they will hinder economic recovery by making it harder to fill critical positions.
Filling these roles that are more abundant than the number of U.S. employees qualified to fill them means these jobs can be kept in the U.S., the group said. This allows companies based in the U.S. to remain globally competitive, which in turn boosts the U.S. economy, creating jobs for millions of Americans.
The freezes on visas issued abroad are designed to take effect immediately. Other changes, including restrictions on work permits for asylum seekers, will go through a formal rule-making process that takes months.
The administration is proposing a new way of awarding H-1B visas, the official said, awarding them by highest salary instead of by lottery.
H-1B visas are capped at 85,000 a year for people with highly specialized knowledge and minimum of a bachelors degree, often in science, technology, engineering, teaching and accounting. Critics say high-tech companies have used the visas as a tool to outsource jobs to foreigners, replacing Americans.
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. was the largest H-1B employer in the 2018 fiscal year, followed by Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Infosys Ltd., Deloitte Consulting LLP and Microsoft Corp. Other major employers include Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Google and Facebook Inc.
The rule against asylum seekers, scheduled to take effect Aug. 25, would make it much more difficult for them to get work permits by, among other things, lengthening the waiting time to apply from 150 days to a year and barring applicants who cross the border illegally.
The 328-page regulation signed by Chad Mizelle, the Homeland Security Departments acting general counsel, who is considered an ally of White House adviser Stephen Miller says limiting work permits will remove a major incentive for people to come to the United States for asylum.
It is the latest in a long string of measures that make asylum more difficult to get almost unattainable, according to some immigrant advocacy groups.
The rule will prevent many refugees from feeding, supporting, and housing themselves and their families, said Eleanor Acer, Human Rights Firsts senior director for refugee protection. Asylum seekers and their families already struggle to survive under existing work authorization wait times. But this rule will make survival impossible for many.
Perhaps the only major consolation for business and academic institutions is the preservation at least for now of the Optional Practical Training program that allows college graduates to stay in the United States up to three years after completing study.
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Spagat reported from San Diego.
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA Canada's chief public health officer says there are positive signs the Omicron wave is peaking in this country, but no one should start choreographing a COVID-19 victory dance. "There is no doubt that nobody wants to have all these restrictive measures anymore, and Omicron may or may not have put us one step toward that new reality," Dr. Theresa Tam said Friday during a COVID-19 briefing in Ottawa. "We need to plan for the different scenarios and just be ready for a time of emergence of
Authorities in Saudi Arabia specified details today about this years Hajj pilgrimage after announcing the major Islamic event would take place with a limited number of attendees.
Yesterday, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the pilgrimage would occur with a very limited number of participants from various nationalities already present in Saudi Arabia due to the coronavirus pandemic. A Saudi official told The Associated Press today the figure would be only a few thousand people. Hajj usually brings more than 2 million Muslims from all around the world to Islams holiest city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia each year. In 2020, it will begin in late July.
Today, the ministry specified the restrictions under which this years much smaller Hajj will take place. Pilgrims will be quarantined both before and after the Hajj, the ministry said in a tweet.
The state-run Saudi Press Agency further reported that pilgrims must be under 65 years of age and not have any chronic diseases. They will be tested for COVID-19 before they reach the holy sites, and medical teams will accompany them. The pilgrims accommodations and visits to the sites will also be set up to allow for social distancing, according to the agency.
Saudi Arabia has been one of the hardest-hit countries in the region, with Mecca in particular having high numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases. The country has registered more than 3,000 cases several days in a row. There have been 164,144 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia as of today, according to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health statistics.
A Florida lawmaker filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging that the executive order that requires Orange County residents to wear protective face masks to slow the spread of Covid-19 is unconstitutional.
Anthony Sabatini, who filed the lawsuit along with a local businessman, believes that requiring residents to wear masks infringes on their rights.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings put the mask order into effect as of Saturday, June 20, which stipulates that residents must wear masks in public with the exception of some circumstances.
The order was issued after Florida saw a surge of coronavirus cases. As of Monday, Orange County had seen more than 5,000 cases of coronavirus, with Florida now seeing more than 100,000.
Pictured: Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who has filed a lawsuit against Orange County, Florida against the bill that make it mandatory for residents to wear masks in public places. He claims that it is unconstitutional and infringes on resident's rights
Sabatini called a news conference on Monday to announce the lawsuit against the country, and saw dozens of people who oppose the order in attendance.
'We have a loud and unapologetic message that we have to send to the elected officials of Orange County, and that is this: that you have to follow the law and follow the constitution and not invade the private rights of people,' Florida Republican legislator Sabatini said in a news conference on Monday.
He described the mandatory order as 'vague', 'illegal' and 'utter nonsense'.
In a tweet, he shared an image of the bill, specifically the section that lists the exceptions to the law, highlighting that the law appears to not apply to government employees.
'You can't make this up!' he wrote. 'Did you know the unlawful Orange County mask mandate, Emergency Order 2020-23, doesn't apply for "government employees?"
'... So one set of rules for the common folk and another set of rules for government employees sick!'
Pictured: People wear masks along Miami Beach, Florida's famed Ocean Drive on South Beach, Monday, June 22, 2020. More than 100,000 people in Florida have been diagnosed with the coronavirus
Carl Jackson, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, said that the order makes doing his job as a businessman and entrepreneur difficult.
'They're trying to use COVID-19 to infringe on our rights,' Jackson said, according to WFTV9.
Jackson's legal team have said they are looking to get Orange County to change the law to allow people to choose themselves whether or not to wear a mask.
Speaking to FOX 35 Orlando, attorney behind the lawsuit said that would happily drop the lawsuit if Demings changed the word 'required' to 'recommend' in the order requiring masks.
Pictured: A couple walks past a sign asking people not to visit Miami Beach, Florida's famed South Beach if they have a cough or fever, Monday, June 22, 2020
Speaking on Monday during a news conference, Mayor Demings described the mask order as a 'measured approach' to help prevent the spread of the virus.
'I still believe that what we're doing is a measured approach to responding appropriately,' Demings said, adding that the order will help stop the spike of new cases.
'The decisions we're making here on the local level are apolitical,' he said. 'It has nothing to do with party affiliation. It has to do with putting the needs of the people first.'
Dr. Raul Pino, Orange County Medical Officer, said during the same news conference that wearing a mask is a way to protect yourself while also being respectful to others.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) saw a 33 percent decline in its equity holding value in FY20 to Rs 4.1 lakh crore. Data compiled by Moneycontrol showed that there was a sharp decline in the equity holding value of LIC between the December quarter (Q3) and March quarter (Q4) of FY20, as Coronavirus-linked market volatility impacted stock prices.
This data comprises of all companies where LIC has a stake more than 1 percent. Equity holdings below 1 percent is not reflected in the stock exchange data. LIC had ended FY19 with an equity holding value of Rs 6.13 lakh crore.
At the end of Q3, LIC equity holding value stood at Rs 5.76 lakh crore. This value declined by 28.7 percent by the end of Q4FY20 to Rs 4.1 lakh crore.
Infographic: Ritesh Presswala
While investing in the equity markets, LIC follows a 'contrarian' investment strategy, which is 'sell' when the sentiment is bullish and 'buy' when the mood is bearish.
LIC did not respond to a query sent by Moneycontrol.
Ever since February 2020, fears of a widespread COVID-19 pandemic in India had started building in the country. This had impacted the stock market indices as well.
BSE Sensex plunged to 29,468.49 by March end compared to 41,306.02 on January 1, 2020. The sharpest dip was seen on March 23 when Sensex lost as much as 3,934.72 points to close at 25,981.24.
This was just a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis nationwide lockdown announcement which came into effect from March 25.
How did COVID-19 lockdown impact LIC?
After the lockdown was announced in March, there was a rising concern about economic slowdown due to major establishments, in both manufacturing and services sectors, being shut.
Life insurance companies saw a 32.2 percent year-on-year (YoY) decrease in new premium collection to Rs 25,409.30 crore in March 2020. Here, LIC saw a 31.1 percent decline in first year premiums to Rs 17,066.57 crore.
However, the countrys largest insurer saw a 25.2 percent growth in new premium to Rs 1.78 lakh crore for the full financial year (FY20).
For FY20, while LIC had set an equity investment target of Rs 86,000 crore, the insurer is said to have achieved about 80 percent of that number.
However, LIC was able to meet the profits from equity target of Rs 24,700 crore.
Continuing the March 2020 trend in FY21, LIC has seen a decline in new premium collections in April and May. Data from IRDAI shows that LIC first year premiums saw a 26.5 percent YoY decline to Rs 13,793.18 crore for the April 1-May 31 period.
Also Read: Government invites bids for advisors for LIC IPO
The policyholder funds of LIC are invested into both equity and debt instruments. Being a long-term business, a larger portion of the funds are invested into government securities and other guaranteed instruments.
So, when there is a decline in premium collections, equity investments also get impacted. In FY21, LIC has invested about Rs 12,100 crore in the equity market so far.
However, LIC is not a stranger to volatility in the stock markets. During the 2008 stock market crash, LIC saw more than 45 percent erosion in equity holding value. However, it recovered within a year by churning its portfolio and selling stocks.
The market value of LIC's investment as at the end of FY19 stood at around Rs 28.7 lakh crore, growing YoY by 8.6 percent. The insurer's total assets had touched an all-time high of Rs 31 lakh crore in FY19, which was a 9.4 percent rise. Consolidated data for FY20 is not yet available.
Why are LICs investments important?
LIC is the largest institutional investor in the equity markets. Hence, the life insurers investment patterns are closely watched by other stock market participants including foreign institutional investors.
Also Read: LIC IPO: A listing everyone is waiting for
Right now, ahead of the proposed initial public offering of LIC, its equity investments are under closer scrutiny. The future investment strategy will also be watched including sectoral investments, financial position of the investee firms as well as equity profit booking.
The final valuation of LIC, which is now estimated to be valued at Rs 10 lakh crore, will depend on the kind of investment decisions it takes. Whether it is participation in government's divestment programmes, IPO investment, or buying fresh stocks in companies it is already invested in.
Australia's largest bank is facing millions of dollars in fines after becoming the target of financial regulators yet again.
The Commonwealth Bank has been hit with a lawsuit from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission over claims it sold superannuation products through its bank tellers - a practice which was banned in 2012 to prevent financial institutions from taking advantage of their customers.
The financial watchdog is alleging the Commonwealth Bank breached the 'conflicted remuneration' law a staggering 390,000 times.
Each individual offence carries a maximum penalty of $1million.
The Commonwealth Bank is in hot water with financial regulators yet again and could face billions of dollars in fines for selling superannuation products through its tellers
But despite the staggering potential fines that could be handed down by the federal court, a Commonwealth Bank spokesman said it is 'misleading' to suggest the bank will receive the maximum penalty for each alleged offence.
'At present it is simply too early in the proceedings to speculate as to the amount of the civil penalty a court may award (if at all),' he told the Guardian.
Commonwealth Bank made an announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange declaring it has 'acknowledged' the civil proceeding that are underway and will be reviewing Australian Securities and Investments Commission's claim.
The bank is alleged to have pushed its Essential Super financial products at branches between June 2013 to October 2017, raking in $22million dollars in illegal fees.
Regulators say Commonwealth Bank then shared the proceeds with Colonial First State - a wholly-own superannuation subsidiary which is also a target of the lawsuit.
The legal action was made as a result of the 2018 Banking Royal Commission and comes after the Commonwealth Bank agreed to pay $530billion dollars after Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre uncovered systemic breaches of money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.
Commissioner Kenneth Hayne (pictured) makes his opening statements during the Round 5 hearing of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry
All transactions over $10,000 must be reported to authorities under Australian law.
But between November 2012 to September 2015, individuals were able to dump larger sums of money into the Commonwealth Bank's Intelligent Deposit Machines without the transactions being reported.
There were 53,500 of these breaches with the total number of transactions believed to be about $625million.
During the same time period, the bank was also found to have not properly monitored 778,370 accounts.
A date for the initial hearing is yet to be set by the federal court.
NEW YORK, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Prodapt, a leading consulting, technology, and network services provider to the Digital Service Providers (DSPs), today announced a partnership with Lanner Electronics, the industry-leading provider of scalable and customizable edge computing platforms. The partnership will offer DSPs and enterprises pre-integrated synergetic solutions in the areas of 5G, multi-access edge computing (MEC), universal CPEs (uCPE), managed SD-WAN services.
Lanner Electronics partners with Prodapt to offer DSPs and enterprises pre-integrated synergetic solutions in the areas of 5G, multi-access edge computing (MEC), universal CPEs (uCPE), managed SD-WAN services
Prodapt OVX automation & network cloud integration accelerators enable DSPs to build cloud agnostic edge infrastructure, with hyperscalers and/or use pre-packaged best-of-breed MEC solutions from the OVX marketplace technology vendors. This enables DSPs to onboard businesses, launch new telco-edge enabled 5G apps/services and recognize new revenues faster while creating differentiation.
With Prodapt's OVX DSPs will have access to ready-for-service, pre-vetted Lanner's HTCA MEC platforms.
Focused on service agility and velocity, the Prodapt's partnership with Lanner will help DSPs shorten the time to market of new virtualized and cloud services to a variety of industry verticals, such as healthcare, gaming, immersive video, security, IoT/IIoT, and 5G broadcast.
"Over the past four years, Lanner has developed a comprehensive whitebox portfolio addressing a variety of virtual edge services, such as uCPE, SD-WAN, 5G and MEC. To enable agile service deployment in SDN framework, service providers require not only high-density compute resources but also network programmability", said Sven Freudenfeld, CTO of Lanner Electronics Telecom Application Business Unit. "Combining Prodapt's OVX accelerators, Lanner's strong SDN/NFV ecosystem, and programmable network fabric will help DSPs accelerate the deployment cycle and reduce the CAPEX and OPEX of new service rollouts".
"This partnership is aiming to enable DSPs to quickly deploy their unique software-defined network services" said Rajiv Papneja, SVP & Global Head of Network Services, "We are excited to partner and host Lanner's modular MEC Platforms HTCA series in Prodapt's OVX marketplace, pre-integrated with our accelerators including hybrid network automation, eye-on-the-net analytics tools, and solution testing pipelines. With system integration support, DSPs can now achieve cost efficiency while bringing service agility in cloud-native, open software-defined networks."
About Lanner Electronics
Founded in 1986, Lanner is an ISO 9001 accredited organization with headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, and offices in USA, Canada and China. With over 35 years of experience in system and board hardware engineering, Lanner provides high-performance, reliable and cost-effective computing platforms. Lanner is most renowned for its range of x86 and RISC network appliances as it has for many years been the key hardware provider to some of the largest network security companies in the world. In this field, Lanner delivers hardware for everything from basic load balancing and firewall appliances to more demanding VPN, bypass, intrusion detection and UTM systems that require deep packet inspection. http://www.lannerinc.com/
About Prodapt
Prodapt helps clients transform their IT, products, operations, and networks to meet their strategic objectives. Prodapt provides end-to-end IT/software architecture consulting, application development, systems integration, testing, maintenance & support. Prodapt provides insights and thought leadership-led transformation services leveraging next-gen technologies such as RPA (robotic process automation), AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning), SDN-NFV (software-defined networking/network function virtualization) and next-gen OSS/BSS systems. It's business consulting team provides Six Sigma process improvement and automation/RPA consulting services to telco operations teams.
Headquartered in Chennai, Prodapt has offices in the Americas, Europe, India, and Africa and is an ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2013, SSAE18 / ISAE, and GDPR Compliant organization. Prodapt is part of a 120-year-old business conglomerate, The Jhaver Group, which employs over 16,500 people across 64+ global locations. For more information, please visit: www.prodapt.com and Prodapt Open Virtual Exchange: http://www.openvx.ai
Media Contact
Brian Chen
[email protected]
Tel: +886-2-8692-6060
SOURCE Lanner Electronics
Related Links
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In 2018, soldiers sped through a crowded market in the northern town of Taouremba, shooting their guns into the air where their drone hovered above. The group of gunmen gathered the men towards the central marketplace and allowed the women to run home.
Abducting villagers from their homes
According to The New York Times, one soldier started to read names off a tablet computer, and those that were called were ordered to strip naked, soldiers then used their own clothes to tie them up and placed them in the back of a pickup truck.
When a few men tried to hide among the crowd, two informants revealed their location to the soldiers, resulting in one being shot on the spot.
Several witnesses and human rights advocates later revealed that the bodies of the 13 civilians that were abducted were found dumped outside of the town.
Burkina Faso, in the last four years, had faced similar chaos, having armed men rob civilians, threatening and murdering some of the least fortunate citizens in the West African nation, and driving away 850,000 people from their homes.
The group of gunmen consist of terrorists that are loosely connected with the Islamic State or Al Qaeda, while some are bandits or vigilantes. A few, however, and the African government denies the claim, are part of the Burkina Faso's armed forces.
The attacks that occurred between January 17 and 25 forced the government's plans to accelerate its creation of a militia force which had raised concerns of potential future abuses, as reported by HRW.
Also Read: Pentagon Sources Warn US May Lose War With China in the Pacific
A crisis and conflict researcher, Jonathan Pedneault of the Human Rights Watch, said that the massive killings that the murderous men committed reveal their disregard for human life. He added that the leaders of armed groups should immediately cease these attacks and prevent them from happening against civilians.
Previously, Human Rights Watch had recorded 250 civilian casualties in the hands of Islamist armed groups between April and December of last year. It includes incidents where security forces executed the men they have in custody over allegations of expressing their support of the armed groups.
Calls for peace
According to Vatican News, Pope Francis had recently announced his appeal to end the violence in the nation of Burkina Faso and encouraged interreligious communication and coordination.
This year had already seen the deaths of at least 110 civilians in jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso. And in the last 18 months, it is believed that more than 2,000 people have lost their lives and are still incomplete statistics. The missing figures are a result of a law that prohibits journalists from tackling stories that could lead to the demoralization of the country's defence forces.
After the attacks in Taouremba in 2018, some people have left the village while others have stayed, thinking that the soldiers were satisfied with what they have done and who they have killed.
In 2019, however, another group of soldiers arrived in the village, and this time, they took 33 men. The villagers reportedly only found the bodies of 28 men.
Now, the marketplace in Taouremba is filled with hallowed halls with empty houses and a millet field is left fallow.
Related Article: Coronavirus Curfew, Lockdowns in Africa Has Become Violent
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African country with highest number of confirmed COVID-19 infections to begin trial of vaccine involving 2,000 people.
South Africa plans to roll out the continents first coronavirus vaccine trial this week, according to the university leading the pilot, as the country grapples with the highest number of coronavirus cases in Africa.
The vaccine candidate, developed by the Oxford Jenner Institute in the United Kingdom, is already being evaluated there, where 4,000 participants have signed up for the trial.
In South Africa, the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) is collaborating with the University of Oxford and the Oxford Jenner Institute in the trial of the vaccine known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. The pilot will involve 2,000 people, including 50 who have HIV.
We began screening participants for the South African Oxford 1 COVID-19 vaccine trial last week, and the first participants will be vaccinated this week, Wits vaccinology professor Shabir Madhi told a virtual news conference.
Brazil is planning its own pilot, while the United States is preparing to test another vaccine in a mass trial of up to 30,000 participants.
South Africas coronavirus cases jumped to more than 100,000 on Monday, while the number of related deaths approached 2,000.
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Officials implemented a strict nationwide lockdown on March 27 but in recent weeks, confinement measures are being gradually phased out to allow business to pick up and limit the damage to an already ailing economy.
As we enter winter in South Africa and pressure increases on public hospitals, now more than ever we need a vaccine to prevent infection by COVID-19, Madhi said, describing the vaccine trial as a landmark moment.
Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize echoed Madhis concerns, warning that South Africa was going through a devastating storm expected to peak during the cold winter months.
At the opening of a field hospital in the Eastern Cape province, Mkhize said on Tuesday there were now more than 27,000 beds for COVID-19 patients and more than 400 quarantine sites across the country.
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Our scientific estimation is that 60 to 70 percent of our population may be infected by coronavirus, the minister said, adding that hospitalisation rates remained lower than anticipated.
The new field hospital was built in collaboration with the German development agency and carmaker Volkswagen (VW) the largest German investment in South Africa.
A total of 3,300 beds were set up at a disused VW plant in the southern city of Port Elizabeth.
Mkhize applauded the public-private collaboration, as well as the healthcare workers battling the virus.
More than 3,500 doctors and nurses in the country have contracted COVID-19, the highly infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus, since the start of the pandemic, and at least 34 have succumbed to the respiratory disease.
Meany said he thinks the archdiocese might have chosen the suburban church, rather than the cathedral, because its spacious design allows for social distancing, both for the priests on the altar and the worshippers in the pews. The parking lot has plenty of capacity, and after the June 29 ceremony the large, grassy courtyard will provide a place for the newly-ordained priests to give their first blessings to their family members and friends.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 23.06.2020:
Armenia confirmed 418 COVID-19 new cases, bringing the total number to 21,006.
The total number of tests conducted so far is 98,117.
Also, 10,364 people are currently being treated.
According to the latest data, 10,144 people have recovered thus far.
The death toll in Armenia has reached 372.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Vahe Enfiajyan has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to his Facebook page, he feels fine and doesnt have any troubling complaints for the time being.
The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia continues to expose fake users on the internet who publish and disseminate false information that harms security.
As per the respective NSS statement, on May 21, a video was spread by a so-called Alex, a subscriber of a Ukrainian phone number registered on WhatsApp, and by a YouTube channel named under Armen Tigranian, in which, allegedly, Azerbaijani citizens are walking around in Yerevan, where they had stayed because of the coronavirus, and are making video recordings.
But the investigation has found out that this video was edited, and a pre-made recording was attached to it.
Prosperous Armenia Party made a statement on the constitutional amendments bill passed Monday in the parliament.
According to the party, they are collecting signatures of MPs for an appeal to the Constitutional Court.
Armenian parliament passed, in the second and final reading, the draft amendments to the Constitution. A total of 89 MPs voted for the bill.
The opposition Bright Armenia and Prosperous Armenia factions were not participating in the sitting.
According to the said amendments, the Constitutional Court judges who have been in office for 12 years and more shall be removed from office, while the current president of the court, Hrayr Tovmasyan, will continue to be a judge of the court, but no longer as its president.
During a regular meeting of the Turkish supreme advisory committee, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed to establish an independent body fighting against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
The speakers at the meeting stressed that there was no specific organization in Turkey that will deal with Armenian Genocide denial and the development of a respective strategy, Hurriyet reported. It was noted that a number of Turkish ministries were participating in the fight against Armenian Genocide recognition, but no single policy was developed in this regard.
A report on this same topic, and prepared by five universities, was also presented.
The President of Turkey accepted the proposals of the participants in the meeting and instructed to create an independent body that will deal with the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
The UK government has set out a 'bounce back' plan of trade measures for the agriculture, food and drink industry to help support businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus lockdown.
The new strategic interventions, jointly announced by the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on Monday, will offer immediate support to help businesses in the industry grow their trade activity overseas.
It is designed to provide unprecedented help for UK companies to capitalise on post-Brexit trade agreements being negotiated by DIT with Japan, the US, Australia and New Zealand.
More trade is absolutely critical to helping the UK's agriculture, food and drink industry recover from the impact of coronavirus, said Graham Stuart, UK Minister for Export.
The package of measures we have announced today will support 'bounce back' in exports, and help our world-class producers and manufacturers increase trade with the rest of the world. It will also get the industry ready to capitalise on the opportunities that are being opened up by the series of free trade agreements that my department is negotiating around the world, he said.
The package includes a new programme of physical and virtual events tailored to help a variety of businesses and exporters. These include an overseas virtual buyer trial, a 'Smart Distance Selling Process', and a package of 'Ready to Trade' Exporting Masterclass webinars.
The DIT said that leveraging its existing E-exporting Programme, the department will also launch a new small and medium enterprise (SME) E-commerce Accelerator Pilot to increase the level of international e-commerce backing for SMEs in the food and drink industry.
The plan will also see the introduction of Defra's first Agri-food Counsellor serving the Gulf. In this new role, they will support the UK's food and drink industry and represent the interests of UK businesses already exporting, or planning to export, to the region.
Around 50 Food and Drink Export Champions will be promoted to stimulate aspiring exporters, while utilising International Trade Advisor specialist networks focused on agri-food.
This package of measures signifies our strong commitment to support the sector in recovering from the impact of coronavirus. It includes the promotion and showcasing of British expertise and produce to new export markets, identifying opportunities and strengthening existing relationships, said Victoria Prentis, Defra's Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.
"Our new Agri food counsellor serving the Gulf region will be an important new role representing the interests of UK businesses exporting to the area, working to open new export markets and supporting food and drink promotion activities within the region," she said.
According to official UK government data, the agriculture, food and drink industry is the UK's largest manufacturing industry and plays a vital role in the UK's food supply chain, which contributed 121 billion pounds to the UK economy in 2018 supporting around 4 million jobs.
In 2019, UK food, feed and drink exports were worth 23.7 billion pounds up 4.9 per cent from 2018.
Ian Wright CBE, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation said: UK food and drink is an international success story, exporting more than 23 billion pounds of quality products each year.
The 'bounce back' plan will ensure that specialist support is available to those UK businesses which trade around the world and provides fantastic potential for those companies looking to export.
Over the last two months, the DIT has launched the first round of talks for the US, Japan and Australia and New Zealand Free Trade Agreement negotiations. In 2019, the UK exported 2.4 billion pounds of food and drink to the US, 312 million pounds to Japan, 453 million pounds to Australia and 58 million pounds to New Zealand.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nephila Capital announced today that the Lloyd's Council has given in principle approval to Nephila's plan to form a new syndicate.
Nephila is the largest institutional asset manager dedicated to investing in natural catastrophe and weather risk. Nephila's Syndicate 2357 at Lloyd's, which is backed by funds managed by Nephila, has been trading since 2013.
Nephila Syndicate Management Ltd (NSM), Nephila's Lloyd's managing agency, has been given approval to create Syndicate 2358, which it plans to launch in Q4 2020 as part of the Future at Lloyd's initiative. Syndicate 2358 will write a diversified portfolio of Lloyd's specialty risks to create a complementary source of returns for institutional ILS investors looking to broaden their exposure into specialty lines. The new Syndicate will seek to partner with leading underwriters in targeted classes of business who can put the syndicate's capital to work to the mutual benefit of capital providers. Adopting this "follow" model allows for efficient and flexible access to risk. NSM will manage the portfolio and seeks to generate an attractive risk adjusted return for its investors over time.
Adam Beatty, CEO of NSM, said, "We are excited about this new venture for Nephila at Lloyd's. We see an opportunity to build a high-quality investment proposition for ILS investors and to do it using the unique and attractive features of the Lloyd's market."
Frank Majors, co-founder and co-CEO of Nephila Capital, said, "Our Lloyd's business is an important part of Nephila's strategy. We are delighted to support the Lloyd's market further with an innovative new business that can contribute to the Future at Lloyd's vision."
Lloyd's CEO, John Neal, said, "Nephila's new syndicate represents an exciting step forward in our Future at Lloyd's ambition, with a route for ILS capital to be more quickly matched with risk. I look forward to watching Syndicate 2358 develop, following its launch during 2020."
Nephila Capital Ltd Corporate Inquiries Victoria Place, 3rd Floor West Mandi Abate Little #31 Victoria Street Nephila Advisors LLC Hamilton HM 10 +1 615 509 9007 Bermuda [email protected]
T 441 296 3626
F 441 296 3648
About Nephila Capital
Nephila Capital Ltd is a leading investment manager specializing in (re)insurance, climate and weather risk. The firm has been active in the ILS markets since launching its first fund in 1998 and offers a broad range of investment products focusing on instruments such as insurance-linked securities, catastrophe bonds, insurance swaps, and private transactions across its robust platform. Nephila has approximately $10.2 billion in assets under management as of June 1, 2020 and is headquartered in Bermuda, with offices in San Francisco, CA, Nashville, TN and London. There are currently over 250 employees across its various business lines with expertise in finance, seismic engineering, catastrophe modeling, risk management and traditional underwriting.
About Nephila Syndicate Management Ltd
Nephila Syndicate Management Ltd is Nephila's managing agency at Lloyd's. Syndicate 2357 was the first syndicate at Lloyd's to be wholly backed by capital from managed ILS portfolios raised from institutional investors. It is wholly supported by investment funds managed by Nephila Capital and writes Property Catastrophe Reinsurance, US insurance and weather risk business.
SOURCE Nephila Capital Ltd
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:41:28|Editor: huaxia
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BANGKOK, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday that he and the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) are still considering whether to extend the state of emergency which expires on June 30.
"It is true that Thailand is able to contain the spread of COVID-19, and I understand that we have had not a single new domestic case since late May, but the worldwide pandemic is still prevalent," Prayut told the media after a Cabinet meeting. "The state of emergency will give authorities the power to make swift decisions in response to contain the virus."
However Prayut said that regardless of the emergency decree, he will try his utmost to relieve and lift as much restrictions as he can, so the Thai economy can quickly recover.
"There is no political motivation whatsoever in regards to imposing or extending the emergency decree," said Prayut. "The decision is not up to me alone. It will be a collective decision, from me, the CCSA and the Cabinet meeting."
"I acknowledge the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the Thai economy, but the overall health and well-being of the Thai people, are my priorities," he said.
The decree was announced on March 26 when Thailand imposed lockdown measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
It was extended at the end of April and again in May and is due to expire on June 30.
Political activist groups and some opposition parties have been demanding that the government scrap the emergency decree, claiming that the pandemic situation has improved and the country has entered the 4th phase of lockdown relaxations.
They also claim that the government has an ulterior motive for maintaining the decree, namely to restrict political activities.
Thailand on Tuesday confirmed five more cases of the COVID-19 from patients who returned from Egypt and Qatar earlier this month.
The total number of COVID-19 cases now stand at 3,156 and the Death toll remains at 58.
There are no new local transmissions on Tuesday. Enditem
In a new analysis of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, test results for nearly 38,000 people has found a positivity rate among Latinx populations about three times higher than for any other racial and ethnic group.
The findings, published June 18 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), add to evidence that there are much higher COVID-19 infection rates among U.S. minorities, particularly in Latinx communities.
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Data Science in Emergency Medicine and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Department of Emergency Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases collaborated on the study.
We suspected socially and economically marginalized groups were being heavily impacted by COVID-19. Our study is believed to be among the first in measuring such differences in a diverse region." Diego A. Martinez, PhD., Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
The researchers concluded that crowded living conditions and continuous working at jobs due to economic necessity and essential worker status contributed to the higher rate of positive tests in the Latinx community.
"It is clear that the systematic exclusion of this population from health care services has contributed to the disparities we see today," says Kathleen R. Page, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and a study member, who also cared for many of the patients.
"This pandemic has taught us that we are all interconnected. At the very least, we must engage with communities early and provide language and culturally appropriate information and services, removing as many barriers to care as possible."
The investigators analyzed results of diagnostic tests performed between March 11 and May 25 across five Johns Hopkins Health System hospitals, including emergency departments and 30 outpatient clinics in the Baltimore-Washington area.
Out of 37,727 adults and children tested, 6,162 tests came back positive. Of those tests, the positivity rate for Latinx was 42.6%, significantly higher than those who identified as Black (17.6%); Other (17.2%); or white (8.8%).
Overall, about half of those Latinx who tested positive were women and half were men, and most (61.5%) were between the ages of 18 and 44.
The study also found that the number of positive cases in each group peaked at different times: Latinx patient cases peaked later in the study period, on May 10 at 53.4%, compared with Black patients, among whom cases peaked on April 19 (29.6%), and white patients, on April 16 (16.1%).
Researchers say that as testing volume in Maryland increased for all racial and ethnic groups, positivity rates declined.
Among those who tested positive, 2,212 were admitted to a Johns Hopkins Health System hospital. The study data show that Latinx patients were less likely to be admitted to the hospital (29.1%) compared with Black (41.7%) and white (40.1%) patients.
Of the patients who were hospitalized, Latinx patients were younger (18 to 44 years); more likely to be male (64.9%); and had much lower rates of comorbidities, such as hypertension (44.8%), congestive heart failure (41.1%), pulmonary disease (20.7%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (19.2%) than Black or white patients.
Eighty-two percent of Black patients and 70.4% of white patients had hypertension; 56.1% of Black patients and 56.6% of white patients had congestive heart failure; 32.9% of Black patients and 33.9% of white patients had pulmonary disease; and 27.9% of Black patients and 30% of white patients had COPD.
However, more Black patients had diabetes (52.8%), compared with Latinx (32.8%) and white (29.6%) patients.
Page calls the findings "staggering." She says that a majority of the Latinx patients are often immigrants with limited English proficiency who work in low-wage, essential jobs, such as construction and cleaning.
"Many of these patients tell me they delayed coming to the hospital until absolutely necessary because they were worried about medical bills, and were not sure if they could receive care because of their immigration status," she says.
"Most of the patients I've met are not eligible for benefits, have no health insurance, and rent rooms in crowded houses. The need to work, lack of occupational protections and crowded living conditions have led to high transmission in this community."
While the Baltimore-Washington area represents a small subsection of the Latinx community, researchers suspect similar health disparities will be found elsewhere around the nation, but their degree and causes might differ -; depending on the region.
"Knowing what is driving these health disparities in each region is much-needed evidence to develop tailored policies and interventions to better serve all of our people," Martinez says.
The researchers say their data are already informing practices and planning across the Johns Hopkins Health System, and they hope their findings lead to changes elsewhere to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in minority populations.
"Protecting Latinx individuals, building trust and reducing barriers to engagement in public health initiatives, such as providing equal protection for workers; reducing the threat of deportation; and performing charity care for those unable to afford health care and, should be essential as our nation grapples with strategies to contain the impact of COVID-19," Martinez says.
He adds that local health officials will likely see higher success by engaging community-based organizations, such as churches, which have experience addressing concerns of the vulnerable Latinx population.
Graphic images of the Nigerian couple, who were found dead at their residence in the Ilasan area of Lagos state has emerged online.
The couple, identified as Olamide Alli, 25, and Chris Ndukwe, 39, were involved in the murder-suicide incident that happened at Road 5, House 16a, Victory Point Estate, Ilasan on Sunday.
The couple share two boys, a seven-year-old and a three-year-old.
According to reports, Chris brutally stabbed Olamide to death before he committed suicide by drinking a pesticide after they had an altercation over paternity of their children.
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It was gathered that the man had locked his lover in his room where he duck taped her, cut her braids with plier and stabbed her multiple times with different knives.
DSP Bala Elkana, the state Police Public Relations Officer, has ordered a full-fledge investigation into the matter.
Read Also: Ruggedman Assists Woman Allegedly Assaulted By Police
See the graphic photos from the scene of the incident below:
Stale bread and damaged goods were given to the most vulnerable and needy during the coronavirus crisis in Northern Ireland, an Ulster Unionist said.
It has left some receiving the official aid feeling like an afterthought, Communities Minister Caral Ni Chuilin acknowledged in a reply.
The food parcels are intended for around 80,000 people who have been asked to remain indoors and shield from the infection as well as those who are in critical need.
Thanks to Conor Mclaughlin, Laura and Orla Vernon helping at the @CommunityFoodB1 today. pic.twitter.com/QFaazeOt23 CLG Ard Eoin (@ardoynegac) June 20, 2020
Ms Ni Chuilin said: We have all got our own dignity and nobody wants to take out-of-date bread.
The message is that you feel like an afterthought, despite all of the efforts and the good people behind that.
Shielding at home is recommended by the NHS for people with some cancers or organ transplants whose immune system is severely repressed.
The food programme continues until the end of July.
Around 150,000 food boxes have been distributed since April.
People request support through a helpline and that bid is then assessed.
A Big Thank you to East Belfast Coronavirus Community Support Team and Belfast City Council for providing food and Toiletries.
The Diamond Project volunteers were out distributing over 45 Parcels today to the Lord street/ Avoniel road area.
Much Appreciated by all. pic.twitter.com/8frfEVWZ8c Charter NI (@CharterNI) June 17, 2020
The minister said critical lessons had been learned about peoples entitlement to fresh food.
Ulster Unionist John Stewart asked the minister: Could you look at the quality of some of that food being put out?
He said products included out-of-date bread and damaged goods, adding that some of the most vulnerable people were being missed out.
The minister said: That is not good enough.
She added: Access to the food programme has proven to be a key element of the emergency response.
A total of 1.5 million in financial support has been given to local councils.
The minister added: I am aware of a significant community response to those in need of food, income and connectedness.
She answered questions at the Stormont Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ohios U.S. Senators on Tuesday encouraged the U.S. International Trade Commission to uphold a United Steelworkers Union complaint that alleges Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and Thailand are endangering U.S. jobs by dumping passenger vehicle and light truck tires in the United States.
The union said imports from those four countries rose nearly 20 percent between 2017 and 2019, reaching 85.3 million tires valued at $4.4 billion last year. Its complaint alleges that Vietnamese tire producers are receiving numerous government subsidies that put U.S. companies at a disadvantage, and claims dumping margins as high as 195 percent for Korea, 147 percent for Taiwan, 217 percent for Thailand, and 33 percent for Vietnam.
A statement from the unions president, Tom Conway, said that even though demand for tires increased in that time, domestic producers were still forced to grapple with reduced market share, falling profits and lost jobs.
The union represents workers at Cooper Tires plants in Findlay, Ohio and Texarkana, Ark.; Goodyears plants in Fayetteville, N.C., Gadsden, Ala., and Topeka, Kan.; Michelins plants in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Sumitomos plant in Tonawanda, N.Y.; and Yokohamas plant in Salem, Va.
The ITC is required to reach a preliminary determination in its antidumping and countervailing duty investigation by June 29.
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican Sen. Rob Portman on Thursday joined nine of their colleagues in sending a letter to the ITC that urged strong enforcement of U.S. trade remedy laws. The letter noted that tariffs were imposed on Chinese tire imports in 2009 to address systemic dumping in the U.S. market, but other foreign competitors are employing unfair practices to gain market share in the U.S. while Chinese tire imports face additional duties.
U.S. trade remedy laws are intended to provide relief to U.S. companies and their workers when they are undermined by unfairly traded imports, their letter said. We urge you to give full and fair consideration to the USW petitions in these cases and to ensure U.S. trade remedy laws are fully enforced.
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MEXICO CITY - Mexicos novel coronavirus cases mounted and added their youngest infections Monday, when triplets tested positive for the virus on the day they were born.
Monica Rangel, the health secretary of the northern state of San Luis Potosi, said the triplets were born May 8 to a mother who was also positive but asymptomatic.
Rangel said the triplets are not believed to be in danger. She said the case was being studied to see whether the triplets were infected before or after birth was being conducted, but said it appeared improbable they could have been infected outside the womb so quickly.
It is not the first time newborns have tested positive for the virus, but it is rare.
Nationwide, Mexicos confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 4,577 to 185,122, and the confirmed death toll rose by 759 to 22,584.
Both numbers are considered significant undercounts due to Mexicos very low levels of testing. Officials said that levels of infections appear to have stabilized, and held out hopes, as they have many times before, that the numbers may start declining soon.
T his is the first picture of a young father who died after being blasted with a shotgun in a suburban street in south-west London.
Kyle Kelson, 25, was gunned down in Cheam and died at the scene 30 minutes later after police and air ambulance paramedics battled to save him.
Armed officers and the air ambulance were scrambled to the shooting in Brocks Drive , a tree-lined road of family homes, at 1.12am.
A post mortem examination revealed that Mr Kelson, who was from Cheam, had died from a shotgun wound to the head.
Murder squad detectives have released images of a car that was seen pulling away after the attack.
Detectives have released images of a car that was seen pulling away after the attack / Metropolitan Police
Mr Kelsons grieving mother paid tribute to her son as police appealed for information to help bring his killer to justice.
Angella Kelson said: Kyle was a much loved father, son, brother and friend to so many people. His big beautiful smile brought joy to all of us.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard, who is leading the murder hunt, said: Our investigation is making progress, but I still need to hear from residents or people who were walking or driving through Brocks Drive in the early hours of Friday morning.
Did you see anyone acting suspiciously? No matter how insignificant it may seem, you could have crucial information."
Referring to the picture of the car, he added: I am also releasing an image of a dark coloured car that was seen driving away from the scene. We are not certain about the make and model. I want to hear from anyone who saw this car in the area or has information about it.
A man has lost his life in violent circumstances and his family are devastated. They need and deserve answers and the community can help us provide them. If you have information, video or images that could help us, please contact us immediately.
There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.
Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 0208 721 4622, 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting reference Cad 414/19Jun. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Prime minister says China is prosecuting Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor over Canadas arrest of top Huawei executive.
Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, has slammed Chinas political detention of two Canadians, accusing Beijing of holding the pair on spying charges in retaliation for his countrys arrest of a top executive from Chinese telecoms company Huawei.
His comments on Monday came after China began prosecuting ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, for suspected spying on state secrets and gathering intelligence for overseas interests charges that could result in life imprisonment.
Beijings move followed a Canadian ruling that the case of Chinese Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who is fighting extradition to the United States, can go forward.
Relations between Canada and China have hit rock bottom over the cases.
At his daily briefing on Monday, Trudeau said Chinese officials highlight that there is an obvious link between Mengs arrest in December 2018 and the detention of the Canadians and a few days later.
They made those links from the very beginning and continue to put political pressure on Canada through that detention, he said. This using of arbitrary detentions as a means to advance political gains is something that is fully unacceptable in a world based on rules.
Accomplice
Spavor, 44, is a businessman with ties to North Korea, while Kovrig works for the International Crisis Group (ICG), a non-governmental organisation that focuses on conflict resolution.
China maintains the detentions are not linked to Meng, but has warned Canada it could face consequences for helping the US with her case. It has also blocked billions of dollars worth of Canadian agricultural exports.
In Beijing, a spokesman for the foreign ministry told Trudeau to stop making irresponsible remarks, saying the spying charges were completely different from the case of Meng.
There is no such thing as arbitrary detention, said Zhao Lijian. China urges the relevant Canadian leader to earnestly respect the spirit of the rule of law, respect Chinas judicial sovereignty and stop making irresponsible remarks.
Meng, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies and the daughter of its founder, is accused of lying to banks in Hong Kong about Huaweis dealings with Iran in a possible violation of US sanctions.
Mengs case is a seriously political incident and part of US efforts to suppress Chinese high-tech enterprises and Huawei, Zhao said. He said Canada played the role of an accomplice.
We strongly urge Canada to correct its mistakes as soon as possible, immediately release Meng Wanzhou and ensure her safe return to home, said Zhao.
Meng is living in a mansion she owns in Vancouver, while Kovrig and Spavor are being held at an undisclosed location and have been denied access to lawyers and family members.
Zhao said visits by foreign diplomats to prisoners had been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Heartbreaking
As the diplomatic spat intensified, Kovrigs wife, Vina Nadjibulla, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp that Ottawa could be doing more for her husband, saying words were no longer enough.
Im interested in us being strong, but not antagonistic, she said. We cannot win a race to the bottom with China, we cannot become aggressive and confrontational because confrontation is not a strategy.
It is heartbreaking, she added, knowing that Kovrig is languishing in a cell he described in letters to her and other family as a concrete jungle.
Basically he has been confined to a single cell this entire time. He has not gone outside. He has not seen a tree or had fresh air to breathe for 560 days, she said.
Nadjibulla said she had obtained a legal opinion that Canadas justice minister could step in at any time to quash Mengs extradition, but whether the minister should act is a second question.
Former senior Canadian officials have also proposed a prisoner swap of sorts, suggesting intervention in the extradition process to release Meng in exchange for the repatriation of the two Canadians.
But Trudeau rejected the idea.
Obviously, there are tools in a government that exist that sometimes havent been used in a very, very long time, he said during his briefing. We are proceeding in a way that defends and upholds the independence of our judicial system, and we will not interfere politically in the unfolding of our rigorous, independent justice system.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called the charges against Kovrig and Spavor politically motivated and completely groundless.
The United States stands with Canada in calling on Beijing for the immediate release of the two men and rejects the use of these unjustified detentions to coerce Canada, Pompeo said in a statement.
Australia, Britain, France, Germany, the EU and others have also pressed China over the detention of the Canadians.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 20:12:55|Editor: huaxia
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HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam talks to media before the HKSAR Executive Council meeting on June 23, 2020 in Hong Kong, south China. (Photo Credit: HKSAR government news website)
The national security law for HKSAR will fully respect and protect the various freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents, as well as HK's judicial independence, says HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
HONG KONG, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The explanatory statement of the draft law on safeguarding national security in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has made clear that the upcoming law will respect and protect Hong Kong residents' human rights, and Hong Kong's judicial independence will not be impacted, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday.
In the explanatory statement made by an official with the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee as the national legislature was reviewing the draft law last week, it was clearly stated that the law only targets four categories of crimes endangering national security and will fully respect and protect the various freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the Basic Law and international covenants, Lam said at a media session ahead of the HKSAR Executive Council meeting on Tuesday morning.
It was also made clear that a series of principles of the rule of law, such as no crime without the law, the presumption of innocence, protection of rights of defendants, and fair trial, will be upheld, she noted.
Stressing judicial independence as an important part of the rule of law in Hong Kong, the chief executive pointed out that judicial independence is guaranteed by multiple articles of the Basic Law, and there is no content in the explanatory statement of the draft law that contradicts these articles.
In the explanatory statement there is no mention of restrictions on the nationality of judges who will adjudicate over national security cases in Hong Kong, which demonstrates the central authorities' high respect for and full trust in Hong Kong's judiciary, Lam said, adding that she is confident that the judiciary will handle national security cases independently without interference.
Lam sternly refuted claims that the law will undermine judicial independence by allowing the HKSAR chief executive to appoint judges to handle national security cases.
Lam noted that judges of the HKSAR courts shall be appointed by the chief executive on the recommendation of an independent commission composed of local judges, persons from the legal profession and eminent persons from other sectors, adding that the appointment of judges for national security cases will follow the same procedure.
Safeguarding national security is a fundamental responsibility of the central government as well as a common obligation of all the Chinese people including Hong Kong residents, Lam said.
The law does not violate the principle of "one country, two systems," instead, it will better safeguard it, she added.
By Trend
Poland supports the idea of developing the multimodal transport corridors connecting Europe and Asia, including those passing through South Caucasus, Press Office Director at Polands Foreign Ministry Andrzej F?fara told Trend.
"This route can be an important element of the EU's connectivity policy as well. It should strengthen of multidimensional cooperation between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, including Azerbaijan," he said.
F?fara said no doubt COVID-19 has brought the new reality also to global logistics and transportation.
"Though passenger flights were and in large extent still are temporarily suspended, the demand for medical cargo air transportation services has grown significantly and entities from our two countries were recently cooperating in this field," he noted.
F?fara went on to add that Polish Azerbaijani political and economic relations are close.
"Poland considers Azerbaijan as its very important economic partner in the region of South Caucasus. According to the Polish data, value of goods exported from Poland to Azerbaijan in 2019 reached $83 million and Azerbaijani exports to Poland was around $5 million. Poland is the sixth supplier of goods to Azerbaijan among EU countries. Those figures are satisfactory neither to Poland, nor to Azerbaijan. Its too early to give exact numbers for this year as we dont have trade statistics for the first half of 2020 yet. What we can say is that the first months of 2020 has shown positive dynamics in our bilateral trade but the COVID19 pandemic will have for sure its negative impact on economic cooperation between the two countries," he said.
F?fara expressed confidence that the trade office of the Polish Agency for Trade and Investment opened two years ago in Landmark complex in Baku and Azerbaijani Trade Representation in Warsaw are effectively working to provide companies from the two countries with needed information and useful contacts to develop further our bilateral business cooperation.
Platforms which allow savers to spread their money across multiple accounts with one application are continuing to see heavy demand, even after initial market turmoil caused by the coronavirus subsided.
Savers are locking into short-term fixed-rate deals to combat rate cuts while looking to keep larger cash piles safe by spreading it across several banks to obtain Financial Services Compensation Scheme Protection on large pots.
This simplicity and safety has seen the likes of Flagstone, Hargreaves Lansdown Active Savings and Raisin all seeing a big bounce in March as savers pulled money out of the stock market.
They have continued to attract customers throughout spring, with Raisin celebrating a record May.
Online savings platforms allow savers to open accounts with multiple banks with one application, although they don't necessarily offer the best savings rates around
It told This is Money it saw an 810 per cent rise in new customer registrations last month and took in as much as 200million.
Co-founder Kevin Mountford said the interest was likely down to the fact that Raisin, which largely partners with overseas or smaller, often sharia banks which don't have access to cheap Bank of England funding, offered some of the best one-year fixed-rate bonds on the market last month.
Flagstone, a cash platform partnered with 45 banks offering 240 accounts which is aimed at ultra-high net worth savers, said it had seen doubling in demand from new customers applying in March and April.
Its chief marketing officer Eylem Yangin said: 'Although the initial post-lockdown spike is behind us, we still see a persistent level of elevated demand and interest in our cash deposit platform.'
And DIY investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown saw cash stored in its Active Savings platform swell by 31 per cent to more than 2billlion between January and April, according to a May trading statement.
In a bid to attract more customers it offered a 25 sign-up bonus for those who opened an account between 20 May and 17 June and paid in 5,000.
James Blower, industry expert and founder of The Savings Guru, said savers were getting more comfortable using platforms and those who had cashed out of the stock market when share prices fell were looking for a similar experience to manage their cash.
Platforms are also able to leverage savers' cash to secure better deals for their users.
Only last week Flagstone was still offering a 95-day notice account paying 1.8 per cent, the best rate on the wider market is currently 1.1 per cent.
It remains to be seen if savers will pull money out of cash and reinvest it now stock markets have mostly recovered from a torrid March, but platform savers have increasingly been opting for short-term fixed-rate accounts, in an attempt to strike a balance between having access to their cash and securing a better rate.
Hargreaves Lansdown's Sarah Coles said: 'The gradual move towards fixed rate savings continued through April, although more than half of new accounts opened during the month were still easy-access.
'Three-month fixed rate accounts maintained their popularity between March and April, but the real change was the rise in the proportion of cash going into accounts fixed for between three months and one year.'
Savers may be looking to maximise interest in the hope that rates will be better this time next year.
Flagstone found its customers were opting for shorter-duration accounts like notice and three to six month fixed-term rates.
Savers stashed an extra 30billion away in total in March and April, the Bank of England found, while 21billion was put into easy-access accounts as savers opted to keep cash on hand.
A large chunk of this headed to Goldman Sachs brand Marcus Bank, which shut its doors to new easy-access customers recently after attracting a glut of cash in March and April.
James Blower added: 'I think this is being driven primarily by pricing dynamics in the market.
'There's now less than 0.4 per cent difference between the best one-year and five-year rates so there's very little incentive for savers to lock away.
'A secondary driver is that the coronavirus has been very polarising for the country.
'Some people have been severely hit by it and are struggling financially, whereas others have found themselves short term in a much stronger financial position so are putting some of that money away for shorter terms to see how coronavirus plays out.'
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Germany has today ordered 640,000 people back into lockdown after a coronavirus outbreak at a meat factory caused a spike in the R rate - dealing a major setback to a country widely praised for its handling of the pandemic.
More than 1,500 people have tested positive at the Toennies slaughterhouse in the last week and the districts of Guetersloh and Warendorf have now become the first in Germany to enter a second lockdown.
Bars, gyms and cinemas will all have to shut their doors again while picnics and barbecues will be banned, schools are already closed and the 10-person limit on public gatherings has been slashed to two.
The spike in cases has punctured optimism that Germany had successfully weathered the pandemic, after it was praised for keeping its death toll far lower than that in Britain, Spain, Italy or France.
Armin Laschet, the state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, said the affected areas would return 'to the measures that applied several weeks ago' - turning back the clock to before Germany started easing the lockdown.
The meat factory is in Guetersloh, but Warendorf has also triggered an 'emergency brake' after the number of cases rose above 50 per 100,000 in a seven-day period, under a threshold agreed by Angela Merkel.
Laschet also urged people to avoid travelling away during the week-long lockdown - although this will not be enforced - and holiday resorts elsewhere in Germany have already started turning away visitors from the area.
Health authorities had already quarantined all 6,500 workers at the Toennies plant and carried out tests on the entire workforce, with screening now set to be expanded to the whole area.
The plant's billionaire owner Clemens Toennies, nicknamed the 'Pig Baron', has apologised for the outbreak amid claims that the crowded accommodation where many Eastern European migrant workers live may have contributed to the spread of the virus.
German Red Cross workers in protective suits stand in front of a house yesterday where Toennies meat factory workers are being quarantined following an outbreak at the plant
German soldiers wearing masks carry crates of bottles and other supplies to employees of the Toennies slaughterhouse today as the whole Guetersloh district went back into lockdown after an outbreak at the plant
Health authorities have quarantined all 6,500 workers at the Toennies plant (pictured) and tested the entire workforce after the outbreak came to light last week
A woman wearing a mask passes a packet of nappies over a fence today as the German army and police help to distribute supplies to people living in quarantine after the coronavirus outbreak
Lockdowns have been imposed in Warendorf and Guetersloh (shown in red) in Germany's most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia following a spike in the R rate linked to a meat factory in the area
Germany's R rate has ballooned to 2.76 following a series of local outbreaks, far above the level of 1.00 which signals that the contagion has stopped accelerating
The plant's billionaire owner Clemens Toennies (pictured), nicknamed the 'Pig Baron', has apologised for the outbreak and admitted that the firm has struggled to trace contacts
Billionaire 'pig baron' Clemens Toennies who feuded with family and caused racism row Clemens Toennies co-founded the meat firm with his brother Bernd in 1971 and his net worth is now estimated at $2.3billion. The firm employs more than 16,000 people in total, including many Eastern European migrants at the virus-hit plant where 20,000 pigs are slaughtered every day. Some of his workers have complained about low pay and poor working conditions since long before the coronavirus outbreak, leading to accusations of 'modern slavery'. Toennies has also been chairman of German football club Schalke 04 since 2001. Last year he was forced to step down from Schalke for three months after saying that power stations should be built in Africa so that 'the Africans would stop cutting down trees and produce babies when it is dark'. German football bosses ruled that his comments were racist but he was allowed to return to work in November. Even before that, Toennies had long been an unpopular figure at the club after years of underachievement despite massive investment with the help of Russian energy giant Gazprom, which sponsors Schalke's shirts. His Russian links caused a separate row in 2014 when he said the Schalke team would accept an invitation to Moscow from Vladimir Putin and 'would like to see the Kremlin'. Toennies was slapped down by Angela Merkel's government, which was at loggerheads with Russia over its actions in Ukraine at the time. 'Accepting an invitation to the Kremlin in the current situation and letting yourself be exploited like that doesn't really show good intuition,' the general secretary of Merkel's party said. The 64-year-old businessman has also been involved in a lengthy legal battle with his nephew Robert, who also owns a stake in the firm after his co-founder father Bernd died in 1994. A settlement was reached in 2017 but the legal wrangling resumed last year when Robert claimed he had been misled about an investment in China. Speaking to a trade magazine last year, Robert Toennies said his uncle Clemens 'could be sick with megalomania'. Toennies is also a donor to Merkel's CDU party - prompting questions from the socialist Left Party about 'what influence these annual presents to the CDU may have'. Party spokesman Bernd Riexinger was among those to refer to Toennies as the 'pig baron'. Toennies himself likes to talk about his humble background and touts his humanitarian work for animals and impoverished children, German media says. Advertisement
The Toennies cluster is the largest of several new outbreaks which have sent Germany's R rate rising to an alarming 2.02, although health chiefs say the number is more likely to lurch around when the overall figures are low. The figure was 2.88 on Sunday and 2.76 on Monday.
The outbreak in Germany's most populous state is the country's biggest since it began lifting the lockdown in early May.
The infection rate in Guetersloh is 480 cases per 100,000 residents in the last week, while the figure in Warendorf is 257 - both well above the 'emergency brake' threshold of 50.
As of Sunday, 21 people were being treated in hospital, six of them in intensive care.
'This is a limited measure of caution. We will lift the measure as soon as possible, when we have certainty about the safety of the infection,' Laschet told a news conference today as he announced the return to lockdown in Guetersloh. 'It is a preventative measure.'
Guetersloh residents will be offered free testing, Laschet said - with 24 infections identified so far that are not linked to the meat factory.
State officials subsequently announced that the lockdown rules would also apply to the neighbouring district of Warendorf.
Under the new rules, only two people from different households can meet at a time. The threshold is 10 people in the rest of the state or unlimited if only two households are involved.
The lockdown is initially in place for a week and could be lifted on June 30 if the situation has improved by then, although Laschet did not give details of how this would be measured.
The district of Guetersloh has around 360,000 residents, while the population of Warendorf is around 280,000.
The move comes as Germany and the rest of the EU begin taking steps towards getting tourism up and running again, with many European borders reopening just last week.
Several planeloads of German tourists have flown to Mallorca in Spain to take part in a trial run for resuming the tourist season as the country emerges from its own lockdown.
But the latest flare-up prompted authorities on the German island of Usedom to turn away a couple who had travelled from Guetersloh.
The state of Bavaria has also announced that holidaymakers from Guetersloh will be turned away from hotels and guesthouses for the time being.
Clemens Toennies, who has an estimated net worth of $2.3billion, said on Saturday that the new outbreak was an 'existential crisis' for the company.
'As a company we thought we had done everything right,' he said, after operations were suspended because of the crisis.
'As an entrepreneur I can only apologise. We have caused this and are fully responsible for it,' Toennies said.
The outbreak has also prompted protests in front of the meat-packing plant calling for the closure of slaughterhouses across Germany.
State premier Laschet has previously linked the cramped working and living conditions among Toennies' workforce to the spread of the virus. The low temperatures at the plant have also been suggested as a possible cause of the crisis.
The company has today responded to criticism by announcing plans to improve working conditions at the plant, by giving its employees better contracts and providing them with more spacious accommodation.
A member of the German army adjusts the googles of a health professional outside the houses of employees of the Toennies factory today
German army soldiers wearing face shields carry crates of supplies as they enter the accommodation block along with colleagues wearing protective suits today
People who are under quarantine following the slaughterhouse coronavirus outbreak receive a delivery of bottled water at their accommodation in Germany today
The last week has seen an increase in coronavirus cases in Germany caused by a handful of local clusters including the meat factory outbreak near Guetersloh
The spike in new cases has not yet been reflected in the death toll, which rose by only 10 today - taking the total in Germany to 8,895
Ansgar Puff, a bishop in nearby Cologne, condemned what he called 'exploitation and slavery-like practices' at meat-packing plants in Germany.
'Migrants from Eastern Europe are misused as cheap labour in the middle of Germany and housed in inhumane dwellings. The exploitative employment in the meat industry is a scandal,' he said.
'Before the corona cases in the slaughterhouses, the topic was of little interest to the general public. It was just too easy for many to close their eyes.'
Germany's labour minister Hubertus Heil has suggested that Toennies could have to pay damages for the outbreak.
'We should examine to what extent the company bears civil responsibility' for the outbreak and resulting lockdown, he told German television.
Anton Hofreiter, the parliamentary leader of the Green party, has said that Clemens Toennies should pay any such compensation out of his own pocket.
Local authorities are employing translators to help manage the quarantine and the embassies of Romania, Bulgaria and Poland have offered assistance.
China has already banned meat imports from Toennies, which is one of Germany's largest meat producers.
Animal rights activists protest in front of the Toennies meat-packing plant at the weekend amid anger over the conditions in which Eastern European migrants are living and working
A German soldier walks beside a security guard at the meat-packing plant in western Germany where thousands of people have been tested
The outbreak near Guetersloh was first reported on Wednesday, when 400 workers tested positive.
By Friday, that number had doubled to 803 and it had climbed further to 1,029 by Saturday. Last night it increased to 1,553.
The entire workforce has been quarantined whether they tested positive or not, while health authorities carry out further screening on their households.
The German army has been deployed to help manage the quarantine while police distribute food to thousands of people in an accommodation block.
State premier Laschet has previously said he 'cannot rule out a blanket lockdown' in Germany's most populous state.
Laschet has come under fire for suggesting that 'Romanians and Bulgarians' working at the plant were responsible for bringing the virus.
He later backtracked and acknowledged that the migrants' poor working and living conditions in Germany may have contributed to the spread of the virus.
Eastern European workers at the Toennies plant are seen behind a barrier at their accommodation in western Germany yesterday
A member of a mobile testing unit organised by the German army and German Red Cross tests a resident for coronavirus yesterday
A police officer helps to deliver food for quarantined employees of the meat processing company yesterday
The Toennies outbreak is the largest of a handful of new clusters which have sent Germany's R rate soaring to 2.76 in recent days.
A figure above 1 means that the number of cases will grow over time, while a rate below 1 means that the outbreak is in decline.
Angela Merkel has previously warned that Germany's hospitals could be overwhelmed if the rate hovers even slightly above 1.
The Robert Koch diseases institute (RKI) which calculates the rate says the rate is prone to jumping around when the overall number of cases is still low.
The high rate 'is linked to local clusters... with the outbreak in North Rhine-Westphalia playing a particularly large role,' the RKI says.
Germany's total number of new cases rose to 3,553 last week compared to 2,290 the week before - ending 10 straight weeks of decline.
Police officers guard the buildings where employees of the Toennies meat factory remain under lockdown yesterday
Testing officials wearing protective gear cross a street yesterday as they carry out screening on thousands of Toennies employees and their families
North Rhine-Westphalia was responsible for more than half of the 537 new cases reported in Germany yesterday, according to official figures.
Elsewhere in Germany, further outbreaks have been detected in the city of Magdeburg, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt and in the Berlin district of Neukolln.
In addition, hundreds tried to escape a tower block quarantine in Goettingen on Saturday after 700 people were placed in lockdown because of an outbreak.
The weekly figure of 3,553 cases is still well below the number seen at the height of the crisis, when 39,167 new cases were added in the week beginning on March 30.
In addition, the latest spike has not yet made any noticeable impression on Germany's death figures, which remain relatively low.
The RKI reported only 10 new deaths today and the total for the last week was only 96, compared to 119 the week before.
Germany has recorded a total of 190,862 cases and 8,895 deaths since the pandemic began.
The country has generally been praised for its handling of the pandemic, with the death rate much lower than in Britain, France, Italy or Spain.
LOS ANGELESMomentum had been building in New Zealand over recent months for a nationwide law blocking internet porn, but the effort spearheaded by Interior Affairs Minister Tracey Martin appears to have hit a roadblock. Martin said late last year that she planned to bring her porn ban bill before New Zealands parliament prior to the 2020 elections, which are scheduled for September.
According to a report by The New Zealand Herald this week, Martin who also serves as Minister for Children created a draft proposal to require blocking of porn sites by internet service providers for anyone under 18 years of age.
But when she circulated the paper among members of the governing coalition including her own centrist New Zealand First Party, as well as the liberal-progressive Labor and Green Parties, she found a lack of interest. She now says she will not attempt to push the porn-blocking plan any further.
New Zealands government contains a position known as chief censor, whose job description is largely as advertised to censor media content that enters the southwestern Pacific island country of about 5 million people. The current chief censor, David Shanks, said in September of last year that he had considered banning all porn by pushing a proverbial button.
Imagine I've got a box with a button on ita big red button, Shanks said at the time. If I push that button, I've terminated all access to pornography for everyone in this country. Should I push the button?
In December, Shanks released the results of what he said was the first research study of online porn, saying that his findings were a bit shocking. According to the study, which consisted simply of viewing the 200 Pornhub videos most often accessed by New Zealanders, he found that step porn videos portraying sex acts among performers pretending to be members of a blended family comprised almost half of those most often accessed by Kiwis.
Despite her inability to win support for her porn-blocking proposal, Martin still says that she favors an age-verification system for online porn, according to the Herald report.
In 2017, the United Kingdom passed a law requiring just such an age verification system, but after two years and a cost equivalent to $2.5 million in taxpayer cash, the U.K. simply abandoned the law last October as unworkable.
Photo by Dan Whitfield / Pexels
PHNOM PENH, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese doctors have provided the first online training course on echocardiography to Cambodian volunteer doctors to help them diagnose children with the Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), an organizer said Monday.
Chea Monyrith, manager of the CHD project in Cambodia, said the course was held recently in capital Phnom Penh, with the participation of 10 Cambodian volunteer doctors from various cities and provinces.
"Chinese doctors at the Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital had used online platform Zoom to teach them (Cambodian volunteer doctors) on how to use echocardiography devices," he told Xinhua. "Through the course, I believe that they will be able to screen children for the CHD."
He said the course was part of the China-Cambodia Love Heart Journey program that was launched in January 2018. Under the three-year program, China will provide 150 Cambodian children who have CHD with free surgeries.
He said the CHD project in Cambodia has so far assisted the Chinese medical team to carry out heart checks for more than 100,000 school children in 15 Cambodian cities and provinces for the CHD.
The Court of Master Sommeliers Americas has said it will stop addressing its top wine experts as 'master' after the practice generated accusations of racism.
The controversy erupted after black sommelier Tahiirah Habibi posted an emotional video on Instagram last week recalling how she was instructed to use the honorific while taking an exam in 2011.
'They stuck with this rule for two days and it literally crushed me,' Habibi recalled. 'I passed the test, even with the trauma of that, but something died that day.'
Habibi said she was moved to speak out after the Court of Master Sommeliers published a statement condemning racism, which promoted her organization supporting black wine professionals, The Hue Society, without contacting her first.
Participants are seen at a Court of Master Sommeliers Americas event. The wine industry is facing accusations that it has long lacked diversity and inclusion
Sommelier Tahiirah Habibi (left and right) posted an emotional video on Instagram last week recalling how she was instructed to use the honorific 'master' while taking an exam in 2011
The Court has since published a revised statement that removes mention of The Hue Society and apologizes for the lapse.
Habibi said in her video that while her goal had once been to become the first black female master sommelier, her experience in 2011 prompted her to cut all ties with the organization.
Though she passed that introductory exam, she said she did not want to take higher levels, some of which would have involved serving wine in a simulated restaurant environment.
'I just couldn't imagine having to pour a glass of wine for someone while calling them 'master,' Habibi told the San Francisco Chronicle.
'There was no point in attempting to go forward' in the court, she continued. 'I couldn't deal with people who couldn't see that that language was a problem.'
Master sommelier Devon Broglie, chair of the board of directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, said he spoke with Habibi this week about the 2011 incident.
'I expressed deep regret for the unwelcoming experience and the racism perpetrated then,' he told the Chronicle.
The board 'will move to officially end any use of 'Master + Last name' only,' he added, saying that any references to 'master sommelier' must use the full term now.
A Court of Master Sommeliers event is seen above. The group says it will no longer refer to master sommeliers simply as 'master' due to concerns about racism
On June 17, the day after Habibi posted her video, prominent master sommelier Richard Betts rocked the industry by renouncing his title and cutting ties with the court.
'The recent global amplification of the long-ignored outcry for racial equality and social justice has elicited what feels to me like a complete lack of empathy from the CMSA; for me this was the last straw,' Betts wrote in a Medium post.
Betts also expressed his lingering outrage over the court's handling of a 2018 cheating scandal in the Master Sommelier Examination.
The grueling exam, which is the final test to become a master sommelier, requires candidates to identify wines based only on their appearance, taste and smell.
Since the organization's founding in the U.K. in 1977, only 269 people have ever passed the exam.
In 2018, it emerged that an examiner had leaked information about the wines included in the test, and the results of all 23 people who passed were invalidated.
Prominent master sommelier Richard Betts (above) rocked the industry by renouncing his title and cutting ties with the court
'If 'preserving the integrity' of some elite credential is the main priority, which in turn leads us to treat our candidates in an unfair manner, then I want no part of it,' wrote Betts, who runs the Australian wine label An Approach to Relaxation with his wife, sommelier Carla Rza Betts.
Broglie, the group's chairman, said that the court encourages disagreement from its members.
It is unfortunate that (Betts) is using current events to publicly rehash his disagreement over the difficult decisions the board made in 2018, he told the Chronicle.
On June 22, master sommelier Brian McClintic also renounced his title and blasted the court for issuing a statement denouncing racism that does not include the words 'black lives matter'.
The group's statement, first posted on June 7 and then edited to remove the reference to The Hue Society, condemns 'racism, prejudice, and racially motivated violence in all its forms' but doesn't mention Black Lives Matter by name.
'And while the argument has been posed that living Black Lives Matter is far more constructive than any hollow proclamation, the truth of the matter is, if one is really committed to living Black Lives Matter, it should be immeasurably easy to say aloud,' wrote McClintic in his own Medium post.
McClintic is one of the stars of the documentary movie Somm and the owner of Viticole Wine Club in Napa.
On Monday, the court published a new statement on Facebook that opened with the words: 'Black Lives Matter.'
'Sometimes its the words we do not say that have far greater impact,' the statement continued. 'Words have power. They represent our unified stand against racism and our pledge to drive diversity and inclusion in the wine industry.'
As we Virginians try to get back to semi-normal and Danvilles opening up restaurants again, I am wondering why Taco Bell is the only fast food place allowing customers to dine inside? I have really been surprised that Hardees, Arbys, McDonalds, Wendys and others have remained drive-thru only when they all have been complaining about the impact on their businesses! I hate sounding mean but why should I get your overpriced food delivered or pick it up when it is easier just to make a sandwich at home? Eating out inside a restaurant is a way to finally feel normal again! I read that McDonalds breakfasts are down almost 30%. Why? Because eating in our cars is getting old! Many of us upon eating a meal have to use the restrooms! Yet this luxury isnt allowed in stores not allowing dine in! It has become abundantly clear that the fast food industry is taking full advantage of the rationing of condiments, paper napkins, no beverage refills and no trash containers outside for customer use! It is easy to keep clean restrooms and dining rooms when no customers are allowed access to either! I have grown tired of incorrect orders through the drive-thru! When something is missing or something is wrong, all I have to do is wait again in my vehicle for it to be fixed!
Bengaluru, June 23 : Expressing concern over more police personnel testing positive of late, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Tuesday that a special centre is being set up for Covid testing of police employees in the state.
"A special Covid-19 testing centre is being set up to check police personnel affected by the virus and all steps will be taken to provide the best treatment to those infected," Yediyurappa said in a series of tweets on his official twitter handle.
The Chief Minister's remarks came after a 50-year-old constable of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) allegedly committed suicide in the city earlier in the day, as he was depressed after testing positive.
Mourning the death, the Chief Minister directed the state home department to compensate his family at the earliest.
"The news about the suicide is very sad. I offer my condolence to his bereaved family. Our police force is doing a yeomen service as Corona warriors across the state over the last 3 months," said Yediyurappa in another tweet.
Being on the frontline of the war against the deadly disease, about 70 police personnel have been infected in the city alone, including a personal assistant to state Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Amakr Kumar Pandey, who went into home quarantine for 14 days.
Two head constables with Halasurgate police station and Kumaraswamy layout traffic police station, a constable with the city crime branch and another constable from the Kalasipalayam police station also tested positive on Monday.
Similarly, 58 police officers and their staff, including Inspector General of Police (IGP-southern range) Vipul Kumar, Mysuru Superintendent of Police Ryshyanath and Additional Superintendent of Police Sneha are under home quarantine after a policeman attached to the Nanjungud police station in the southern district tested positive on Sunday.
Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The central government has decided to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50% and will, in a reciprocal move, scale down its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion. The move comes after incidents of staffers from Pakistan High Commission being involved in espionage and terror funding came to fore.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday and said the move would be implemented within seven days.
The usual strength of the High Commission in Delhi is 110, and it will now come down to 55.
"Pakistan's Charge dAffaires was summoned today and informed that India repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of officials of his High Commission," said the MEA. "They have been engaged in espionage and dealings with terror organisations. Two officials caught red-handed and expelled on May 31 was an example."
Pak High Commission's Direct Involvement in Terror Funding
India's premier investigation agency NIA while investigating a case pertaining to terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir had zeroed in on one Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali.
According to NIA, Watali was the conduit operated by Pakistan's ISI and Delhi-based high commission for the transfer of money to various Hurriyat leaders.
After searching his premise, some documents were obtained by the agency, which revealed that one staffer from Pakistan High Commission Iqbal Cheema sent him the money.
According to those papers, the Pakistan High Commission disbursed huge sums of money to Watali on two occasions Rs 30 lakh on March 15, 2016 and Rs 40 lakh on October 20, 2016 through Iqbal Cheema.
Mudassar Iqbal Cheema was posted as First Secretary (Press) at Pakistan High Commission, Delhi from September 23, 2015 to November 2, 2016. On the latter date, Cheema along with five other officials were called by Islamabad.
Pak High Commissions Connection to DSP Davinder Singhs Case
NIA, during its investigations in another case pertaining to the arrests of Davinder Singh, DSP at J&K police, Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Naveed Mushtaq and Rafi Ahmad, who were arrested in January 2020, has found that the accused persons were in constant touch with a Pakistan High Commission official Shafaqat. According to sources in NIA, he was also a conduit for hawala transactions and terror financing.
Repetetion of History after 19 Years
Even after the 2001 attack on Parliament of India, investigations led to the Pakistan High Commission. At that time, too, a decision was taken to reduce the staff strength by fifty per cent. The then foreign minister of India, Jaswant Singh said in a statement that officials from Pakistan High Commission were not only involved in espionage but they had links with terror outfits. The MEA had directed the High Commission to reduce its staff by half within 48 hours. Nineteen years down the line, there seems to be a repetition of history, spurred by Pakistan.
India last month had expelled two officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on charges of espionage. The Centre had declared the two officials as "persona non grata" and had ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours.
The two officials Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir were caught by the Delhi Police while they were obtaining sensitive documents related to India's security installations from an Indian national in exchange for money, official sources had said in New Delhi.
Pakistan had later summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register its strong protest over the decision to expel its officials.
Earlier this month, the Indian government had summoned Pakistan's Charge d'affaires after the reported arrest of two officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. It was suspected that the two staffers were picked up by Pakistani security agencies to frame them as spies, sources had told CNN-News18.
"While their officials indulged in actions that are not in conformity with their privileged status in the High Commission, 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," said the MEA statement on Tuesday. "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 have provided graphic details of the barbaric treatment that they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies."
The government said 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," it said, adding this was the reason why the decision to scale down the staff strength was taken.
Pakistan denies allegations
Pakistan rejected what it called "baseless allegations" by India of any violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations by its High Commission officials in New Delhi, asserting they always function within the parameters of international law.
The Indian Charge d' Affaires in Islamabad was summoned to convey Pakistan's rejection and condemnation of the "baseless Indian allegations", said Pakistan's Foreign Office.
"Pakistan completely dismisses allegations of any violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by the officials of the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi and reiterates that they always function within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms," it said.
"The Indian Charge d' Affaires was also informed of Pakistan's decision to reduce the Indian High Commission's staff strength by 50% as a reciprocal measure," the FO said, adding the Indian diplomat was asked to implement the decision conveyed to him within seven days.
According to a mutual arrangement, the sanctioned staff strength of the Indian and Pakistani high commissions is 110 each. However, both high commissions are not operating at full strength currently.
Officials said both sides will have to reduce staff strength by 40-45 people in view of India's decision.
The last time India downgraded diplomatic ties by asking Pakistan to reduce the staff strength in its high commission was after the Parliament attack in December 2001. However, as relations improved by 2005, the staff strength at both missions returned to the normal level.
Pakistan had downgraded diplomatic ties by expelling the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad following India's decision to withdraw special status to Jammu and Kashmir in August last year.
(With inputs from PTI)
As construction crews try to meet Trumps objectives despite the pandemic and the desert heat, the project has essentially split into two. The administration has been laying down new 30-foot steel barriers relatively quickly on federally controlled land in the West, including national forests, wildlife preserves and military bases. But progress has been much slower along the lower Rio Grande in South Texas the areas considered to be the highest priority to CBP because the land there is almost entirely in private hands.
ALBANY The fear of reduced state funding has become a reality for 12 cities across New York as the Cuomo administration plans to withhold a total $74 million from municipalities.
The state Conference of Mayors on Tuesday shared on Twitter a spreadsheet of 12 cities, including Rensselaer, that will see a 20 percent reduction in their "aid to municipalities" (AIM) funding. The support is usually dispersed to communities at the end of their fiscal years; the 12 cities that received notice of the reduction from the state comptroller a slate that also includes Buffalo and Yonkers will wind up their current fiscal years on June 30. (Albany, Schenectady, Troy and Saratoga Springs have fiscal years that kick off Jan. 1.)
It certainly is going to pose serious cash-flow issues, particularly because it's at the end of (the cities') fiscal year,said Peter Baynes, executive director of the Conference of Mayors. The other challenge is they just dont know if and when the payment ever will arrive.
Baynes said municipalities rely on state aid as well as sales and property taxes as their main sources of revenue, and even withholding a portion of the AIM funding will make paying for essential services difficult.
The withheld amounts run from $138,787 in the city of Rensselaer to $19.5 million in Yonkers, according to figures compiled by the Conference of Mayors.
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said before coronavirus pandemic, the city was expecting a $1.5 million surplus, but as costs went up in responding to the virus and revenue dropped from lost sales tax revenue, they have had to contend with an $8 million deficit. Tack on the over $12 million in state aid being withheld from Syracuse and Walsh said the impact is "devastating."
"What is so difficult about this news is this is the final state aid payment, and by far the largest for the city just as we are closing out our fiscal year," he said. "There is no time to adjust our spending to account for it, and we can't assume that the remaining funding is coming."
Early on, state officials hinted that state aid could be reduced to help deal with the roughly $10 billion deficit New York faces from the economic impact of the coronavirus. Local governments, in turn, have stressed the need to keep state aid intact as they, too, have seen lost sales tax revenue from the mass closure of businesses in response to the pandemic.
The state said the reduction might not be a permanent loss.
We are not reducing support for AIM at this time and instead are holding back 20 percent of the funding as the state contends with a cash crunch caused by a 14 percent drop in revenue due entirely to the pandemic (and) the federal decision to delay income tax filings to July, and awaits clarity on federal assistance to offset this revenue loss, said Freeman Klopott, spokesman for the state Division of the Budget, in a statement.
State and local officials across New York have called on the federal government to provide aid to help offset the deep revenue losses theyve experienced during the pandemic. However, some Republican congressional leaders have stalled that effort, arguing that the aid amounts to bailouts for Democratic-controlled states with excessive budgets.
So far, the federal government has provided funding that helps New York and local governments cover expenses directly related to responding to the coronavirus pandemic but none of that funding addresses the lost revenue from business restrictions and other measures taken to reduce the spread of the virus.
3 1 of 3 Jon Monaghan Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Lori Van Buren/Times Union Show More Show Less 3 of 3
As a former mayor, state Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes, said hes not happy with the state withholding some of the funds from communities, but he noted that the action is comparable to what the state is doing across all departments.
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McDonald added that due to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos sweeping executive powers, granted during this years budget process to respond to the pandemic, the Legislature cannot act to undo the state's decision to merely withhold funds unless the reductions become permanent cuts.
What would be catastrophic, of course, is an actual cut. Were hopeful thats not going to happen, he said, adding that leaders of Republican-led states are now recognizing their need for federal aid. Misery loves company, and thats what we are probably looking for company with the other states.
Rensselaer Mayor Michael Stammel said the city was already facing a $2.4 million deficit due to budgeting errors in previous years; the city has also seen a drop in sales tax revenue. A reduction in state aid only digs the city into a deeper deficit, he said, which could mean layoffs and service cuts in the budget for Rensselaers next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Thats a big hit. We need that money to keep employees and maintain our streets, Stammel said. We dont have the luxury that big cities have. They have a lot more money to play with than we do.
Stammel said Cuomo and state legislators need to relax the various restrictions communities are faced with, like the 2 percent tax cap and enforcing COVID-19 protocols for business.
The Syracuse mayor agreed that the rules from the state limits their flexibility, but that the burden shouldn't be solely on taxpayers' shoulders.
"We've been doing our best to hold things together with the hopes that the federal government steps up and does their job. We have had to furlough a number of employees, and we'll be furloughing more in the coming weeks," Walsh said. "We're running out of runway here, and the federal government needed to act yesterday, and they didn't. Unless they act soon, there will absolutely have to be layoffs and service cuts."
The legislator also called for setting up a "large-scale Anti-corruption platform".
Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach has addressed the Director of the National Anti-corruption Bureau, Artem Sytnyk, over the case involving the Burisma Group gas company.
The MP spoke Monday at a joint press conference with a former chief of a prosecutorial group with the Prosecutor General's Office for investigating economic crimes of the Yanukovych regime in 2016-2019, Kostiantyn Kulyk, following a presentation of a second part of the leaked recordings of what purportedly is communications between the ex-President Petro Poroshenko and ex-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, an UNIAN correspondent reported.
"We appeal to NABU chief Artem Sytnyk to answer the following questions: why did companies close to Biden disappear from the criminal proceedings in [case #]1590? How did the case concerning a bribe of US$50 million end? If Burisma representatives were detained on a $6 million bribe, then where did $44 million go? Does NABU intend to summon for questioning any of Biden's contacts?" said the deputy.
The appeal followed a claim former prosecutor Kulyk voiced at the same press conference that in 2019 former ecology minister Mykola Zlochevsky, who had been in office during Viktor Yanukovych era, allegedly offered $50 million to shut the case involving Burisma .
Also, Kulyk claimed it was due to a change of prosecutor general that stopped the investigation into the bribe attempt: "Ruslan Riaboshapka came in and then the probe into that bribe attempt halted. Meanwhile, Riaboshapka said there was no such case whatsoever."
In an interview with LB.ua, Riaboshapka said: "There's no such thing as Burisma case. It only exists in the mind of those who invented it. There may simply be some proceedings in which the word 'Burisma' may appear. Maybe there are several such proceedings."
Ruslan Riaboshapka who has been fired earlier this year to be replaced by Iryna Venediktova dismissed Kostiantyn Kulyk in late November 2019 after the latter failed to undergo re-evaluation tests, according to a statement.
MP Derkach added that the main question is: "If there is no such case... then why did Burisma bring bags with millions of dollars in cash? What is left in case 1590 anyway except for [businessman Serhiy] Kurchenko's name and the Kherson oil transshipment station? Where are the papers related to financial monitoring related to Latvia and Cyprus: deleted, dissected, or disposed of? And what about the charges against [former ecology minister Mykola] Zlochevsky and why is he still not on the international wanted list?"
Derkach asked journalists to consider these questions as an official appeal to Artem Sytnyk.
Also, Derkach initiated the creation of a "large-scale Anti-corruption platform" that would investigate such cases.
As UNIAN reported earlier, citing the Telegraph, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked that his country be left out of November's U.S. presidential election after a Ukrainian MP Andriy Derkach published tapes apparently intended to embarrass Joe Biden.
Volodymyr Zelensky denied involvement in the first portion of leaks last month of conversations between ex-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, his predecessor, and told the Telegraph he did not want the scandal to undermine Ukraine's strategic alliance with the United States.
"Why is it necessary to drag Ukraine into this, again?" Zelensky told the Telegraph in an interview over Skype. "Now we are enjoying bipartisan support in the United States both in Congress and the Senate. We have the support of the president. These tapes are not a priority."
Read alsoPoroshenko-Biden calls: Ukraine starts probe into illegal interception of communications media
Audio quality and background noises in leaked tapes of what MP Derkach says are phone conversations between Petro Poroshenko and U.S. officials suggest they were recorded on the Ukrainian side, in the office where Poroshenko held talks with his counterparts. Investigation has been launched into eavesdropping on presidential commuinications.
Last week, Ukraine received from the United States $60 mln worth of military aid, including Javelin anti-tank systems, to boost defenses and repel Russian aggression. The U.S. is also poised to sell Ukraine patrol boats, guns, and sensors worth a total of $600 million.
UNIAN memo. On June 12, three persons were detained upon the attempt to hand a $5 million bribe to the leadership of the National Anti-corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office for closing the criminal proceeding targeting ex-ecology minister and president of Burisma Group Mykola Zlochevsky.
The case concerns his alleged complicity in embezzlement of the NBU's stabilization loan, which was issued to a bank controlled by businessman Serhiy Kurchenko, and the subsequent laundering of these funds. Currently, the investigation in this case has been suspended, while Zlochevsky remains on the wanted list. Law enforcers detained three persons in what appears to have been a sting raid.
Burisma said in a statement it had nothing to do with the matter, Reuters reported. It did not respond to a request for comment from the company's founder Mykola Zlochevsky. The Ukrainian company was thrust into the global spotlight last year in the impeachment inquiry into whether U.S. President Donald Trump improperly pressured Kyiv into opening a case against his rival Joe Biden for the November election race.
"Let's put an end to this once and for all. Biden Jr. and Biden Sr. do not appear in this particular proceeding," Nazar Kholodnytsky, head of anti-corruption investigations at the prosecution service, told Saturday's briefing.
The country's former prosecutor general told Reuters in June that an audit he commissioned while in office of thousands of old case files had found no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden while he worked for Burisma.
Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) declared the results of its combined state/upper subordinate services general selection/ Divyanjan backlog (mains)-2018, commonly known as PCS (mains)-2018, on Tuesday evening.
The exam was conducted for a total of 988 posts, including four for which no interviews are to be conducted and the selections are to be made based solely on the written exams. As a result, for the remaining 984 posts, a total of 2,669 candidates have been declared successful and qualified to take part in the interview round of the selection process, said secretary, UPPSC, Jagdish.
The interview dates and schedule will be declared later. The result of PCS (Mains)-2018 has been duly uploaded on the official website of the commission uppsc.up.nic.in for the benefit of the candidates, he added.
The UPPSC secretary said for four posts, including one post of executive officer class-1/assistant city commissioner and three posts of accountant urban development, no interviews will be conducted. The final result of these posts will be declared along with the final results of PCS-2018 after the interview round of other posts.
Details like marks obtained, cut-off marks etc will be made known after the declaration of the final results, he added.
Result of women candidates from outside Uttar Pradesh declared successful on the basis of the release issued on October 5, 2019, will be subject to the final decision of the court in special appeal 475/2019 filed by the UP government.
PCS (preliminary) exam-2018 was held along with the recruitment exam for assistant conservator of forest/range forest officer on October 28, 2018. The exam was held at 1381 centres in 29 districts of the state. Of the 6,35,844 applicants, 3,98,630 had appeared in the preliminary exam. The result of the preliminary exam was declared on March 30, 2019. In it, a total of 19,096 candidates were declared successful.
On the orders of the Allahabad high court, the commission on October 5, 2019 amended the results of the PCS (preliminary)-2018 and declared 160 women candidates of outside UP eligible to appear in the mains. The mains exam was conducted between October 18 and 22, 2019 in Prayagraj and Lucknow. In it, 16,738 candidates had appeared.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR K Sandeep Kumar K Sandeep Kumar is a Special Correspondent of Hindustan Times heading the Allahabad Bureau. He has spent over 16 years reporting extensively in Uttar Pradesh, especially Allahabad and Lucknow. He covers politics, science and technology, higher education, medical and health and defence matters. He also writes on development issues. ...view detail
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New Delhi, June 23: Patanjali CEO Acharya Balakrishnan on Tuesday has claimed that the Central government has been provided with all the necessary details of clinical trials of Coronil-touted as coronavirus cure.
Patanjali Ayurved Ltd was asked by the AYUSH ministry of government of India to suspend advertisements promoting use of Coronil, launched on Tuesday, as an effective treatment for the deadly Covid-19 infection.
Issuing a clarification, Balakrishnan tweeted, "This government encourages Ayurveda and works for its glory, the communication gap has been filled and the Ayush ministry has been given all the information regarding the 100% fulfillment of all the standard parameters of Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trials (of Coronil)."
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Yoga guru Ramdev's herbal medicine company Patanjali Ayurved on Tuesday claimed to have discovered a medicine that could cure coronavirus in just seven days - a claim that the Ayush Ministry scoffed at by seeking stopping of advertisements for the drug.
Stop advertising 'Coronil' as COVID cure; prove claims scientifically first: Govt tells Patanjali
While Ramdev claimed that Ayurved-based 'Coronil and Swasari' medicine have shown 100 per cent favourable results during clinical trials on COVID-19 infected patients except those on a life support system, the Ayush Ministry sought from the company detailed report on composition, testing and other data of the drugs.
The ministry also used powers under a 1954 law to ask the firm to "stop advertising/publicizing" claims of corona cure drug until the issue is examined by it.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks at Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) headquarters during a national election, in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 21, 2020. (Marko Djurica/Reuters)
Ruling Conservative Party Claims Victory in Serbian Parliamentary Election
BELGRADESerbias ruling conservative party led by President Aleksandar Vucic claimed a landslide victory in the parliamentary election on June 21.
The projection shows the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) on track to win 62.5 percent of the votes, while the Socialist partya junior coalition partner in the outgoing governmentis seen coming second with 10.7 percent of the votes.
The center-right Serbian Patriotic Alliance led by former water polo player Aleksandar Sapic is seen in third place with 4 percent of the votes.
A brass band orchestra at the SNS headquarters was playing traditional Serbian music before Vucic proclaimed victory.
Dozens of smiling people cramped in a small room, hugged each other, and few had their faces covered with masks, despite doctors warning to be cautious to avoid spreading of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.
Tonight people showed enormous trust in our team, Vucic told journalists. Serbian people have decided what kind of future they want.
Another Serbian pollster CRTA saw turnout at 48 percent compared to 56.7 percent in 2016.
Turnout was hit by a boycott by some opposition parties, who say the vote will not be free or fair owing to Vucics grip on the media.
A voter wearing a mask prepares to cast her ballot during national election at a polling station in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 21, 2020. (Marko Djurica/Reuters)
Voters largely back efforts by Vucics ruling coalition to push for Serbian membership of the European Union while maintaining strong ties with Russia and China.
But the future government will face increasing EU and U.S. pressure to recognize the independence of Serbias former province of Kosovo, a move seen as key for regional stability.
Serbia, which has a population of 7.2 million, has reported 12,894 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 261 deaths. It was among the first European countries to start opening its borders on May 22 and all lockdown curbs have since been lifted.
Analysts and pollsters said that health concerns kept some voters at home, especially among higher-risk groups. About 1.2 million people on the electoral list have lived abroad for years and are unlikely to vote.
By Aleksandar Vasovic
Epoch Times staff contributed to this report
By Express News Service
HYDERABAD: The State government began depositing Rythu Bandhu amounts into the bank accounts of farmers on Monday. Around 50.84 lakh farmers received a total of Rs 5,294.53 crore on the first day. Officials started depositing money from 10 am and by evening, over 50 lakh farmers had received the money. Additionally, 63,477 farmers with ROFR pattas received Rs 82.37 crore.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister T Harish Rao, in a tweet, said that for the release of the funds, the State government had used the latest technology to help farmers. In a statement, Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy thanked the NIC and bank officials for depositing the money quickly. He said all farmers who got pattadar passbooks until June 16 would get Rythu Bandhu amounts. He said around 5 lakh farmers did not furnish their bank account details to the Agriculture department, and when they do, they too would get the Rythu Bandhu amounts.
Srinagar, June 23 : Police on Tuesday revealed that a Ph.D. scholar, who went missing from J&K's Ganderbal district since June 14, has joined the militant ranks.
IGP (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar told reporters that Hilal Ahmad belonging to Bemina area in Srinagar district has joined the militant ranks.
The IGP was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a wreath laying ceremony to honour the CRPF trooper killed during an encounter with the security forces in Pulwama district earlier in the day in which two militants were also killed.
Hilal Ahmad, a Ph.D. scholar had gone missing according to his family and friends from Naranag(Wangat) area during a trekking and picnic outing.
While Hilal's friends had proceeded to the Gangabal lake on the foot of the Harmukh mountain, Hilal had decided to wait at Naranag for the return of his friends.
When his friends returned, they said Hilal had gone missing.
Relatives of Hilal Ahmad held a protest in Srinagar on Monday seeking government help to trace the missing youth.
Private sector hospitals in Rajasthan are opposing the fixing of charges by the state government for treatment of Covid-19 patients, calling for a revision of rates even as the health minister on Tuesday warned of action against hospitals that fail to comply.
The state government on Saturday fixed the amount chargeable by private labs and hospitals for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. Private labs can charge Rs 2,200 per test while private hospital can charge Rs 2,000 per day for a bed while they can charge Rs 4,000 for a ventilator bed in the ICU.
State health minister Raghu Sharma said private hospitals cannot be allowed to loot the people. He said the government has appointed a nodal officer who will look into the complaints filed by patients against private hospitals.
Also read: Delhis Covid centre, 10 times bigger than Chinas largest, to start this week
We are not against private hospitals but they should understand their responsibility. They cannot extort money from patients. They will have to provide treatment on the rates fixed by the government or we will be forced to act against them, said Sharma.
He said complaints received on the toll-free number would be investigated by the nodal officer and action will be taken against hospitals. He said the government was willing to talk to the private hospitals and address their concerns.
Representatives of private hospitals say they were not consulted before the government fixed the rates.
Dr Vijay Kapoor, secretary of the private hospitals and nursing homes society, said the rates fixed by the government are not financially and practically feasible. The society has around 400 private hospitals as members.
Dr Kapoor said there is much unrest among the members regarding the charges. We would urge the government to rethink and revise the rates.
Dr MN Thareja, president of Indian Medical Association, Rajasthan chapter, said private hospitals should be able to meet expenses such as salary and overheads incurred on the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
Private hospitals dont want to earn from Covid patients. We want to serve patients. But we should also be able to meet our expenses otherwise it is not viable for hospitals, he said.
He said the expenses include salaries for doctors, nursing staff, class 4 employees and sweepers, along with the cost of the PPE kits, cost of food for staff on Covid duty, cost of transportation, cost of accommodation of the staff.
The government provides Rs 2,440 daily to those in quarantine. We will also have to give that to our staff. Hospitals will also have to make separate wards, entrance, lobby, waiting rooms for Covid-19 patients, said Dr Thareja.
He said depending on the city and the category of the hospital, the daily charges incurred would range between Rs 10,000 to Rs 35,000 for a Covid-19 patient.
Dr Kapoor added that the private sector hospitals are not being included in decision-making by the state government.
The government is taking so many important decisions regarding Covid-19 but the private hospitals have never been consulted. On what basis have these rates been decided? They should have at least compared the rates in other states which are in the range of Rs 8,000 to Rs 14,000 per bed/per day and then make a decision, he said.
No representative from our society was invited for discussions even though the private sector provides up to 70 percent of healthcare services in the state, he said. In Jaipur, the government hospitals have 7,500 beds while private hospitals account for 13,000 beds, he said.
Twitter hid one of President Donald Trump's tweets on Tuesday with a warning label - the fifth tweet from the president that the social media company has labeled in the last several weeks.
Twitter said the tweet violates its policy prohibiting abusive behavior and specifically "the presence of a threat of harm against an identifiable group." The tweet says "There will never be an "Autonomous Zone" in Washington, D.C., as long as I'm your President. If they try they will be met with serious force!"
The warning label hides the president's tweet, and users must click it to view the text.
Twitter has faced off with President Donald Trump over his account in the last few weeks, drawing his ire as the company labeled two of his tweets for misleading information about mail-in ballots, one for a manipulated video and one for inciting violence.
After the first of the labels - which placed fact-check warnings on two tweets about mail-in ballots - Trump and his supporters lashed out at Twitter, accusing the company of censoring conservative voices. Trump signed an executive order that sought to punish social media companies by opening the door to change a federal law that gives Internet companies broad legal immunity over what their users post online.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted in response to Twitter's labeling on Tuesday, writing, "Twitter labeled it 'abusive behavior' for the President of the United States to say that he will enforce the law. Twitter says it is 'abusive' to prevent rioters from forcibly seizing territory to set up a lawless zone in our capital."
She followed it up with mention of the shootings in Seattle's autonomous zone controlled by protesters. "We must have LAW AND ORDER!" she wrote.
After Twitter labeled one of Trump's tweets as "manipulated media" for linking to a doctored video last week, White House spokesman Judd Deere said, "If Twitter is not careful, it's going to have to label itself a 'manipulator.' "
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted Tuesday for Twitter to "#StopTheBias."
"The President tweets that people should stop breaking the law and Twitter moves to censor him," he wrote.
Twitter said it would leave Trump's Tuesday tweet online because of its "relevance to ongoing public conversation."
Trump's tweet appears to refer to the area in front of the White House that some protesters call the "Black House Autonomous Zone," which was cleared out by police Tuesday. There is also a so-called "autonomous zone" controlled by protesters in Seattle, which is now known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest. The zone had been largely peaceful, but shootings in the area have led the city to say it will start asking people to leave the zone at night, The Seattle Times reports.
Twitter noted that this is not the first time it has used the public interest notice to limit how a tweet can be viewed or shared. That type of label was also used on a May Trump tweet in which he referred to protesters as "THUGS" and wrote, "Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts."
Fellow social media giant Facebook left that post up, provoking harsh criticism against the company. Trump also posted Tuesday's message about the autonomous zone on Facebook, where it was unlabeled. Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Social media companies have been caught in a heated public debate about how to treat politicians on their websites since the 2016 elections, and concerns have become heightened as this year's presidential election approaches.
Many companies have been sold during the COVID-19 crisis due to lack of capital and longterm financial durability.
In late April, the market was stirred up by the news that DOJI, a gold, silver and gemstone group, had completed the takeover of The Gioi Kim Cuong (Diamond World).
DOJI has acquired The Gioi Kim Cuong
With the deal, The Gioi Kim Cuongs 100 shops, mostly located at shopping centers and supermarkets such as Big C, Vincom and Co-op with nearly 1,000 workers, now belong to DOJI.
The value of the deal remains a secret, but analysts said the amount of money DOJI to buy one of the top 3 in the jewelry market, must be huge.
Thu Duc Housings Board of Management has announced it will complete the deal on transfering all 49 percent of shares, 1.813 million shares (VND48,400 per share, worth VND87.75 billion) of Thu Duc Agricultural Products Market Management JSC in June.
Many companies have been sold during the COVID-19 crisis due to lack of capital and longterm financial durability.
A representative of Thu Duc Housing said the transfer aims to help the company gather strength on its core business field.
The owner of a resort real estate project in Bau Trang, Phan Thiet City of Binh Thuan province, covering an area of 100 hectares, has to sell the project for VND480 billion because he cannot financially implement the project.
The capital we hoped we could get from other business fields has be o e stuck because of Covid-19, he explained. We have to sell the project to gather strength on the production. "
A report found that in the first five months of the year, foreign investors spent $2.99 billion on capital contributions and buying into Vietnamese enterprises, equal to 39.1 percent of that of the same period last year. However, the number of deals was 11.6 percent higher, meaning that fewer deals had occurred.
Vu Tien Loc, chair of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said many Vietnamese enterprises have been hit hard by Covid-19, and have to sell their companies at low prices in many cases.
The capital inflow into M&A is quite large, creating a strong wave, but the value of the deals may not be as expected, Loc commented.
Su Ngoc Khuong from Savills Vietnam said many foreign investors want to buy real estate projects in Vietnam. Most of the projects Savills Vietnam is providing consultancy to, worth $500 million in total, kicked off in late 2019. As sellers need money, deals could be made very quickly.
Raymond Clement from Savills Hotels Asia Pacific said in addition to the retail sector, Covid-19 has affected the flexibility of the resort real estate market. That is the reason behind large M&A deals.
Chi Mai
VND16 trillion credit package inaccessible to businesses The Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) is ready to disburse VND16 trillion for enterprises that need money to pay to workers. But none of them have accessed the package.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Johannesburg, South Africa Tue, June 23, 2020 11:15 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660e26b3 2 World South-Africa,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,COVID-19-death-toll,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free
South Africa on Monday said it had over 100,000 coronavirus cases, the highest in the continent, while the number of deaths inched towards 2,000.
"As of today, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa has breached the 100 000 mark at 101,590," the health ministry said.
Sixty-one deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths to 1,991.
Despite the grim death toll, data shows that the mortality rate in South Africa is at two percent, while 52.6 percent of virus patients have recovered.
The worst-hit area is Western Cape, the coastal province accounting for 1,458 of the country's deaths and more than half of its infections.
According to the World Health Organization, more than half of the continents infections are in South Africa.
Nigeria and Ghana are next on the list, having recorded over 20,000 and 14,000 cases respectively.
South Africa has struggled to set a strategy for dealing with the pandemic.
Officials instituted a strict lockdown when the virus first hit in March but they backtracked as the rate of infections increased and opted to reopen most sectors of the economy.
Despite an unprecedented $26 billion virus relief package and food parcels, many South Africans have struggled to get by.
Under-fire President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted difficulties in balancing public health with saving the nation's economy, which was already in tatters before the virus.
"For a country such as ours, which was already facing an unemployment crisis and weak economic growth, difficult decisions and difficult days lie ahead," he said in his weekly letter to the public on Monday.
"We would urge that the difficult decisions to be taken are taken with care and with due regard to balancing the sustainability of companies and the livelihoods of workers."
The main opposition Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has threatened legal action if the government refuses to completely end the nationwide lockdown.
However, leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema said the president had "completely divorced himself from logic" by even partially reopening the economy.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has warned that the gradual reopening does not mean the threat of COVID-19 has disappeared.
"My fear is that by the time these pockets of society come to realize the severity of the virus, it will be far too late," he wrote in an opinion piece in Sunday's papers.
The government is due to propose a supplementary budget on Wednesday in the face of the crisis.
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WASHINGTON (AP) 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.
. . .
See also: Timing is everything in handling the insurrection
The Trump administration has had a few things to say during these unsettling times.
Trump doesn't approve of statues being torn down. Barr threatens Bolton with proceeds from his book being forked over if Bolton doesn't complete the approval process prior to publication. (By the way: financial profits, not potential jail time!)
Trump tweets about "law and order."
Barr and Trump warn that mail-in ballots are a recipe for massive voter fraud, including outside interference from China.
Pompeo is aghast at how poorly the media covered a recent major announcement by the State Department.
And I'm sorry to say that needless to say, our so-called leaders on the right who sit in Congress do nothing. Not one has the guts to speak the truth. (Truth = Black Lives Matter is a front group for Marxists bent on taking this country down.)
Graphic credit: Pixabay.
Meanwhile, the left has plenty of words, but leftists are also taking action as they steamroll across America, putting all the pieces into place to steal the election, silencing speech, wreaking havoc in our streets with impunity, and tearing down statues. This is about far more than statues it's about our history, our founding fathers, the birth of this nation, and ultimately our Constitution.
Threats and violence work if no one stops them. And no one is stopping them.
The commies are out of the closet and doing what they always do: destroy. This time, they're hiding within, and behind, Black Lives Matter, which uses the accusation of racism like a human shield.
It doesn't have to be this way. If someone would stand up to this madness, we might have a fighting chance.
But a lopsided war is being waged as one side advances and the other side is impotent or missing in action.
We cannot sustain this. Our country is being destroyed before our eyes.
America is an idea, and it can survive only if we, as Americans, bring that idea to life. But right now, those intent on destroying America are having a field day while the rest of us, from ordinary Americans to those with power, sit, watch, and comment.
Some have written that problems are only in Democrat-run cities, so there's nothing to be concerned about if you live in rural areas. But that's not true. This is beyond looting and arson (which are bad enough). This is about thoughtcrimes and the end of free speech. It's about people being afraid to speak their minds, losing their jobs if they express ideas that run counter to the leftist narrative. It's about being physically assaulted and, in some cases, killed.
Others have written that such movements typically die out. But I would assert that's an old model. America has sustained decades and decades of an education system that brainwashes our children, a media complex that is (im)pure propaganda, and big tech that wields incredible power over our ability to express our views.
Still others have posited that if we just wait it out, there will be a backlash, to which I say: maybe. But we have four months to Election Day, and I wouldn't count on anything short of being bold and strong immediately, as in now, and tomorrow, and every day thereafter.
But all we're served up are words. Or silence as we chronicle our demise.
And then, as if on cue, while writing this, rioters showed up at the White House, trying to take down the statue of Andrew Jackson, vandalizing St. John's Church, and creating mayhem.
I, along with countless other Americans, waited for strong action from the President. Instead, we got more words, via tweets from Trump and the secretary of the interior, proclaiming that "justice will be served" and that "we will not bow to anarchists."
Except justice is not being served, and, apparently, we are bowing to anarchists.
Criminals were right there trying to take down the statue. They could have been arrested on site. But they weren't.
Where is Wray? Where is Barr? Where is every single head of every single department that has power over this insanity?
I guess we're supposed to take heart that these crazed criminals could be arrested you know, at some future point in time. If they tried it again. Someone might arrest them. Perhaps. (Pardon me while I laugh, cry, shake my head, and pull the hair out of it.)
And speaking of arrests, on the rare occasion when rioters have been arrested, they've been released immediately, rendering law and order a complete sham, a total waste of time and resources for a pony show.
People (or at least conservatives) are reaching a breaking point. We see criminals loot, burn, deface, vandalize, attack, and wreak all manner of havoc with impunity.
We see the left setting the stage for a race war, a civil war, a revolution. And we look around for our leaders. And find none.
Evil is sweeping across this nation and no one seems to have the courage to stand up to it. Instead, the President is tweeting about prison sentences for defacing statues!
What's going on is so much bigger than statues. Statues are the symbol and if history is any guide, they tell us what's coming next.
I see little evidence that Trump knows what to do, and Barr isn't far behind in the ineffective department.
And if I'm wrong, and good things are happening behind the scenes in terms of tracking people down, arresting them, and charging them with crimes that will stick, then someone from the administration needs to speak to the American people and spell it out (though this wouldn't absolve them of their responsibility to uphold the law in the streets as anarchy unfolds).
America is being erased and destroyed. The seeds have been sown for our fundamental transformation, and then the time arrived to turn us into Venezuela. For anyone who thought we were immune, think again. It's happening.
(Natural News) Cornell University law professor William Jacobson thought he had grown callous to petitions for his ouster. Activistsincluding students, faculty, and alumnihave called for his firing on numerous occasions since he launched the popular conservative website Legal Insurrection in 2008, but the campaign against him has taken personal attacks to new levels in the wake of George Floyds death in police custody.
(Article by Chrissy Clark republished from FreeBeacon.com)
On [the Black Lives Matter] issue, you cannot deviate one iota or they will try to get you kicked out of the school, they will falsely accuse you of being racist, they will do a name and shame campaign against you, Jacobson told the Washington Free Beacon. Its been a problem for multiple decades in academia.
BLM supporters, in a coordinated effort with the Black Law Student Association, Cornell alumni, and law school faculty, are calling on the school to sack Jacobson for publicly critiquing BLMs ideology. An alumni petition began on June 11 calling on the university to take immediate action to drive him out. The professor said his accusers are disingenuously attacking his character to force the schools hand.
In prior years, people who called on Cornell to fire Jacobson were generally off-campus political and ideological opponents, and the Cornell administrators defended his right to speak publicly. Now those calls are coming from within the Cornell community and the administration has remained silent.
What we need in this circumstance is strong administrative leadership, Jacobson said. Its a very repressive atmosphere and its only getting worse. There appears to be a zero-tolerance for any criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Cornell did not respond to a request for comment.
The showdown emerged after Jacobson wrote two articles in early June that criticized the fabricated narrative that emerged after a Ferguson, Mo., police officer fatally shot Michael Brown in 2014President Obamas Justice Department determined that the shooting was justifiedas well as the riots and looting that followed the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer.
Twenty-one members of Cornells law faculty penned a letter to the editor at the Cornell Daily Sun calling Jacobson a racist who was masquerading as an informed commentary writer.
These commentators are the defenders of institutionalized racism and violence. They are entitled to their viewpoints. We do not name them, so as to deprive them of a larger platform for their racist speech, the letter says. As clinical teachers who have spent our lives promoting social justice, combatting discrimination and teaching tolerance, we cannot allow their hateful vitriol to go unchallenged.
The organizers behind the letter did not return a request for comment.
College administrators bowed to activists and summoned Jacobson to a meeting on June 8. The meeting was contentious, as law school dean Eduardo Penalver read the professor letters from alumni calling for his firing, according to Jacobson.
Not a single coworker, alumni, or student who signed letters to the editor [at the Cornell Daily Sun] contacted me before their publication, he said.
After the meeting, Penalver, who did not return a request for comment, publicly condemned Jacobson in a statement, calling the posts both offensive and poorly reasoned. Jacobson said the dean had abused his position.
Deans do not normally take an institutional position on faculty speech, and thats what I think makes this story truly extraordinary. The dean of the law school has decided to express his personal views as an institutional view, Jacobson said. He can state his personal opinion all he wants, but when hes speaking on behalf of the institution, his personal opinions should not enter into it.
Jacobson expressed deep frustration with academia excluding conservative opinions from the conversation. The atmosphere has hardened in recent years into a cancel culture that punishes those who break from liberal orthodoxy on numerous issues. Jacobson said such an attitude has only fueled resentment on campus. He expressed concern that hateful reactions that have been used to silence academics are spreading in the whole society.
Jacobson has won support from some Cornell students. The Ivy League schools College Republicans praised the professor for giving students a critical perspective on a contentious issue. Chapter president Weston Barker said that punishing any academic for ideological reasons is counter to the mission of the university.
At no point, to our knowledge, has Professor Jacobson ever devalued the lives of black Americans. Instead, he has been critical of a movement which demands radical policy reform, Barker said. One would hope that when confronted with policy demands which have the potential to seriously reshape the workings of public life, a professor employed by one of our nations foremost schools of law would approach and investigate such demands with learned, yet critical care. Professor Jacobson has done as much.
Backlash for criticism of BLM is not limited to Cornell. Academics are demanding a University of Chicago professor have his senior editing position revoked after he criticized activists ties to the defund the police movement. Jacobson said intimidation tactics have been effective at silencing independent thinkers.
I have had people who have written for [Legal Insurrection] who have to use pseudonyms because theyre in academia and theyre afraid of retribution, he said. I have many students who approach me to show me support, but they do it behind closed doors because theyre scared of being attacked.
Read more at: FreeBeacon.com
Joe Bidens presidential campaign is severely restricting its staffers and volunteers contacts with foreign officials to avoid even the perception of outside interference with this years election a move it attributes to a poisonous environment created by President Donald Trump.
The decision, though made last year, was shared with POLITICO this week as a new book from former national security adviser John Bolton alleges that Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help ensure his reelection.
It could be a tough policy to enforce given that the Biden campaigns foreign policy apparatus has expanded to more than 1,000 people and that foreign governments are increasingly eager to establish connections with the campaign.
Trump was impeached late last year over his attempts to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate Biden and his son, Hunter, though he was later acquitted in the Senate. U.S. intelligence officials have warned that Russia is trying to interfere in the 2020 race as it did in 2016, when they believe Moscow tried to boost Trump.
Because of this poisonous environment created by the president, and so that there is no confusion as to whether or not we are inviting any assistance from foreign governments our campaign has refrained from engaging in substantive conversations with foreign government officials, and would only do so under conditions that ensure transparency, Antony Blinken, a senior adviser to Biden, said in a statement to POLITICO.
Blinken accused Trump of having debased the office of the presidency by even begging foreign governments to shore up his re-election campaign. Trump has denied that allegation, though he has publicly called on the Chinese and Ukrainian governments to investigate the Bidens.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Biden has for years forcefully argued against any campaign accepting foreign assistance, Blinken said.
The Biden campaign said it did not foresee any circumstance in which it would engage in any substantive interaction with a foreign official. But if such a situation did arise, it would involve a pre-set agenda cleared with campaign lawyers and foreign affairs staffers, that a notetaker would summarize the conversation, and that a readout would be given to the press.
Story continues
The Biden campaigns choice is in many ways more symbolic than anything.
Biden has longstanding relationships with an array of foreign officials, including heads of state, dating back to his years in Congress as well as his time as Barack Obamas vice president. Some of his top foreign policy advisers among them Blinken, a former deputy secretary of State; Jake Sullivan, a former top State Department official; and Julie Smith, who advised Biden at the White House are veteran Washington figures with massive Rolodexes who have published essays and other position papers that speak to what a Biden presidency might look like.
And because Biden and many of his advisers served in the Obama administration, their negotiating styles as well as their views on plenty of foreign policy issues also are well-known.
Still, the decision to adhere to such a rule is irking some foreign diplomats. Many governments, often through their ambassadors and other embassy officials, try to ingratiate themselves with American presidential campaigns, especially once both parties presumptive nominees are clear.
Its frustrating, a Middle Eastern diplomat said, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic. I know people are talking about election interference, but were talking about building a relationship with, say, the foreign policy adviser who might become the next national security adviser. You want to do that in this day and not when theyre in the position. When theyre officially in office, theyre harder to get to.
Its not unusual for presidential contenders to talk to foreign diplomats or even heads of state during their campaigns, though it can come with risks.
In 2016, both Trump and Hillary Clinton met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, drawing fierce criticism for engaging with the brutally repressive dictator. Trump also drew headlines for a quick trip to Mexico, a country hed repeatedly insulted, to meet with its then-president, Enrique Pena Nieto.
The Biden campaigns decision to restrict contacts with foreign officials was quietly made within a couple of months after the former vice president formally launched his White House run in April 2019.
Its a notable move given how much attention Trump has drawn for his questionable dealings with foreign officials as he seeks a second term.
Boltons revelations in particular have rattled Washington. The former national security adviser, a man with lengthy conservative credentials, asserts that Trump pushed Chinas Xi to boost purchases of U.S. agricultural products, a move that could improve Trumps standing in the heartland.
He stressed the importance of farmers, and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome, wrote Bolton, who was pushed out of the White House last year as his relationship with the president soured.
Trump has shot back that Boltons book is a compilation of lies and made up stories, all intended to make me look bad and called for him to be prosecuted for allegedly publishing classified information. Bolton denies any wrongdoing.
Many of the ridiculous statements he attributes to me were never made, pure fiction, the president tweeted June 18. Just trying to get even for firing him like the sick puppy he is! (Bolton maintains that he resigned.)
A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not reply to questions related to this story, including whether it has a similar policy.
In 2016 and after the election, several Trump campaign aides dealings with foreign officials came under scrutiny. A drunken encounter between one volunteer adviser, George Papadopoulos, and the Australian ambassador to London launched a secret FBI investigation into whether the Trump campaign had colluded with Russia to swing the election. The FBI also surveilled Carter Page, a volunteer who had worked in Moscow and had ongoing ties to Russian officials. Jeff Sessions, then a U.S. senator, met with several foreign officials in his capacity as the campaigns top foreign policy adviser including, controversially, the Russian ambassador.
In 2020, even before effectively wrapping up the primary, Biden had already won the allegiance of much of the Democratic foreign policy establishment, with many former Obama appointees flocking to his campaign.
According to two people on calls with the Biden campaign during which the issue was discussed in the spring, at least 800 foreign policy and national security hands are on the Biden team. Another 400 had applied to join at that point.
Such positions are unpaid and less influential than official campaign staffers such as Blinken, but they can be key stepping stones for people who wish to join the next administration, and a place to hash out new ideas and firm up policy positions. These volunteer advisers also have been told not to talk to foreign officials about the campaign.
A number of our over 1,000 informal volunteers, in the course of their own professional work, deal with foreign government officials but they have been given strict guidance to never interact with any such officials on behalf of the campaign and not to share anything about their advice to the campaign or other substantive campaign matters, a Biden aide said.
The Biden campaign has set up some 20 committees to tackle foreign policy and national security issues, such as relations with China, the two people said.
While the numbers are large, theyre not entirely unprecedented.
During the 2016 campaign, Clinton locked down the expertise of hundreds of foreign policy analysts, leaving few available to offer their time to Bernie Sanders, her main rival for the Democratic nomination.
She's spent the past few days in Wyoming with her extended family as part of Father's Day celebrations.
And Kim Kardashian proved the state was the perfect place to wake-up to, sharing a clip of a rainbow on Tuesday morning.
The 39-year-old appeared to be quad biking around her 1,400 acre $14 million ranch while filming the picturesque view.
Welcomed surprise: Kim Kardashian was greeted by a beautiful morning rainbow in Wyoming on Tuesday
Kim followed along the path behind another family member and their quad bike.
Her clip comes after she spent Father's Day in Wyoming with husband, Kanye West, and their four kids, North, seven, Saint, four, Chicago, two, and Psalm, one.
'Happy Fathers Day to the best dad!!!! Thank you for making life so much fun! You give our kids the most awesome life! I love you so much!!!' she captioned.
Family affair: Her clip comes after she spent Father's Day in Wyoming with husband, Kanye West, and their four kids, North, seven, Saint, four, Chicago, two, and Psalm, one
Summer vacation: Also joining the West's in Wyoming is Kourtney Kardashian and her kids, Mason, 10, Penelope, seven (pictured with North), and Reign, five
Kim split her feed from time on her ranch on Monday when she shared a throwback video of herself wearing a corset similar to the one made for her 2019 Met Gala look.
Despite having previously shared that the corset left her with 'a pain she'd never experienced in her life' and forced her to take 'breathing lessons,' she said she had gone to all ends of the earth to have another one made.
The 39-year-old took to social media to reveal the original Mr Pearl design was misplaced on the Met Gala night, so she flew all the way to London to have another one made, following the event.
Not in Wyoming anymore! Kim split her feed from time on her ranch on Monday when she shared a throwback video of herself wearing a corset similar to the one made for her 2019 Met Gala look
Stay tuned! Kim also teased that the corset may be coming out again in the coming months when she celebrates her 40th birthday
'Just found this in my phone from my special trip to London last year to meet w Mr. Pearl,' she captioned the video.
'I wore a corset like this for the Met Ball for my @manfredthierrymugler Camp look but the corset was misplaced that night and I want it so badly preserved for my archive that I flew to London to have another made for the archive.'
Kim also teased that the corset may be coming out again in the coming months when she celebrates her 40th birthday.
Complete discomfort: Kim Kardashian revealed last year that her Mister Pearl corset that she wore to the 2019 Met Gala left her in such pain that she said she's 'never felt in her life'
'We also might have started making a few more looks including my special 40th bday look.'
'Cant wait to show you the LOOKSSSS weve been cooking up ' she ended.
Kim's clip saw her pose in the new corset via a round mirror in London.
A suitcase appeared to be open at the back but she ensured all eyes were purely on her incredibly cinched-in frame.
Painful! 'I have never felt pain like that in my life,' she confessed
Not as easy as slipping it on: Kim's interview comes after she previously confessed that she had taken corset breathing lessons from Mister Pearl and couldn't even sit down in her Thierry Mugler ensemble
Speaking to WSJ Magazine last year, she confessed the Mister Pearl corset even left her with indentations down her back and stomach.
'I have never felt pain like that in my life,' she confessed.
Kim added that while her waist was tinier than ever, the discomfort she felt was something else.
'I'll have to show you pictures of the aftermath when I took it off - the indentations on my back and my stomach,' she told the publication.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has dismissed claims that the 44-bed treatment centre being erected at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has stalled due to lack of funds.
There were media reports that the contractors working on the facility have abandoned the project and will only return when money is made available to continue the construction.
The treatment centre was to augment Ghanas efforts in COVID-19 case management.
But speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye indicated that reports that the building has come to a standstill are untrue.
The Korle Bu building has not been abandoned. Construction is going on. The response to this from the beginning was to build our strength for the next pandemic and any other infectious disease. So no one has abandoned the Korle Bu building. It will be done.
He also mentioned that the Service is working assiduously to complete an additional 100-bed facility in the Ashanti region in a week's time to boost the countrys healthcare capacity.
I just returned from Kumasi last night, we are expanding about 14 beds from Kumasi South and by this weekend it will be done. We are giving them an additional 25 building so that staff will have a place to sleep and rest while they work. I have also been to the Toase to look at the 70-bed capacity donated by Prof. Frimpong Boateng. We are putting in place the things needed and hoping that within a week that place will also be ready, he disclosed.
---citinewsroom
NOAA/NASA's Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of the Bighorn Fire on June 22, 2020, showing clouds of smoke pouring off this fire that is plaguing Arizona. On June 24, the fire has grown to 65,536 acres and is 33 percent contained. On June 05, 2020, a lightning strike started the Bighorn Fire in the Catalina Mountains northwest of Tucson, Arizona on the Coronado National Forest. Due to current dry, windy weather conditions the fire has pushed closer to communities forcing evacuation. Dry conditions also add to fuel stores of tinder-dry tall grass, brush, dormant brush and hardwood slash.
The fire is burning in steep and rugged terrain in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. Catalina State Park and several popular trails in the area are closed including Romero Canyon, Pima Canyon, Finger Rock, Pontatoc, Pontatoc Ridge and Linda Vista. Smoke impacts to surrounding communities are being carefully monitored.
The Suomi NPP image below illustrates the flow of the smoke from the Bighorn Fire which extends out 63 miles southeast and 41 miles to the northeast. The ruler is an application which is available through the Worldview website to measure distances.
NASA's satellite instruments are often the first to detect wildfires burning in remote regions, and the locations of new fires are sent directly to land managers worldwide within hours of the satellite overpass. Together, NASA instruments detect actively burning fires, track the transport of smoke from fires, provide information for fire management, and map the extent of changes to ecosystems, based on the extent and severity of burn scars. NASA has a fleet of Earth-observing instruments, many of which contribute to our understanding of fire in the Earth system. Satellites in orbit around the poles provide observations of the entire planet several times per day, whereas satellites in a geostationary orbit provide coarse-resolution imagery of fires, smoke and clouds every five to 15 minutes. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/fires/main/missions/index.html
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NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks "right now." Actively burning fires, detected by thermal bands, are shown as red points. Image Courtesy: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). Caption: Lynn Jenner with information from Inciweb.
South Africa's embattled ex-president Jacob Zuma returned to court on Tuesday for the latest round in a corruption case that saw lawyers clash angrily over the much-delayed proceedings.
Zuma, in power from 2009 to 2018, faces 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering relating to the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military equipment.
He allegedly took bribes of four million rand ($220,000 / 200,000 euros) over a $3.4-billion arms deal with French aerospace and defence giant Thales in 1999, when he was deputy president.
After heated exchanges between prosecution and defence attorneys in the latest pre-trial hearing in the 15-year-old case, Judge Kate Pillay adjourned until September 8 when, she hoped, a date would be set for the trial's start.
"Hopefully the application will be launched and perhaps even heard, if an urgent date would be secured," Pillay said.
Pillay also cancelled the arrest warrant the ex-president was slapped with in February after he failed to appear for a pre-trial hearing while undergoing medical treatment in Cuba.
Outside the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, Zuma's son Edward Zuma told local television station eNCA, "I doubt that he will get a fair trial."
"Clearly this conspiracy against former President Zuma is not something that is new, and it's not something that will end now, it is something will forever be there until they achieve what they want to achieve," he said.
Zuma was forced to step down in 2018 by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) after a nine-year reign marked by corruption allegations and dwindling popularity.
He recently abandoned several attempts to halt the trial, claiming his "innocence (would be) demonstrated for all to see".
The collaboration network of European projects belonging to the Horizon 2020 Excellent Science program, showing only the top 1,000 organizations involved. U.K. institutions are shown in orange, European institutions are in blue. Credit: the authors and Kampal Data Solutions
The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, a move known as Brexit, took effect Jan. 31, 2020. The results of this change affected trade and security, but scientists wanted to know how it might affect the EU Framework Programmes for Research, known as Horizon 2020.
"Brexit is an unprecedented perturbation of a research and development collaboration network," author Jesus Gomez-Gardenes said. "The departure of a large number of institutions from a single country that is one of the research and innovation leaders cannot be compared to any other situation in the modern history of research."
In a study published this week in Chaos, the authors examined a network of 19,200 research organizations to determine how removing U.K. research organizations affects three Horizon 2020 programs: Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership and Societal Changes.
To examine risks, they looked at percolation theory, the idea that complex networks are more sensitive to random deletion of nodes than to attacks on the system that target specific, tightly related organizations. In a network of interconnected nodes, Brexit is viewed as targeted attack compared to random removal of organizations from the research network.
Networks were examined in terms of global efficiency (the ability to facilitate connections between organizations), local efficiency (how well local neighbors in the network maintain the ability to collaborate and share information) and mesoscopic-scale effects.
"When large-scale networks are examined in detail, it is common to find modular organization, the grouping of institutions into modules or communities, and make a mesoscopic analysis," Gomez-Gardenes said. "The European network seems very robust in its mesoscale organization, with the exception of the Excellent Science program, for which the leave of U.K. institutions yields a reorganization of the largest collaboration clusters."
The analysis used centrality measures, such as an organization's position in the path between other pairs of organizations, its distance from local neighbors in the network and its importance relative to its neighbors, to characterize the connectedness of organizations in the research network and their role in collaborations and formations of new projects.
The study showed a greater reduction in global efficiency when U.K. organizations are removed, with a larger negative impact for the Excellent Science program due to high measures of centrality of U.K. institutions in this collaboration network. However, the impact of Brexit in local efficiency is weaker, pinpointing that local collaboration clusters will retain their structure after Brexit.
Explore further What maritime shipping can learn from brain network science
More information: "Analyzing the potential impact of BREXIT on the European research collaboration network," Chaos (2020). Journal information: Chaos "Analyzing the potential impact of BREXIT on the European research collaboration network,"(2020). aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.5139019
On June 19, eight people of color who work as correctional officers in Minnesota filed a discrimination lawsuit. The accused facility allegedly prevented the eight people of color from guarding or being on the same floor as Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd.
Discrimination against people of color
According to NBC News, on May 29, Derek Chauvin was charged with murder and was brought to the Ramsey County Jail. Eight officers of the county jail said that their superintended segregated them and that only white officers were allowed to be around Derek Chauvin.
The attorney representing the eight guards, Atty. Bonnie Smith, told NBC News on June 21 that her clients were instructed by their superintended that they had to leave the fifth floor where Chauvin was being held. All those who were banned from going near Chauvin were people of color and they were replaced with white guards.
Atty. Smith also stated that the eight officers were humiliated and debased by the decision of their superintendent, according to Kare. The decision made the officers feel like they were not trusted by their supervisors.
In addition to that, Atty. Smith that the eight officers are highly trained and are experienced professionals just like their white counterparts, and they have every right to perform the same task and duties as the rest. The segregation at the facility had devastated the eight officers especially since the racial tension is intense in the country right now.
Also Read: All Four Minneapolis Ex Police Officers Charged in George Floyd's Death
The lawsuit
In the lawsuit, the eight officers want all employees of the county jail to undergo racial bias training. They are also asking for a formal and public apology as well as for monetary compensation.
They want the supervisors who were responsible for the decision to segregate them to be disciplined. Smith also stated that the primary goal of the lawsuit is to make sure that it won't happen again.
According to the Ramsey County Sheriff's office, only three officers were reassigned and it only lasted for 45 minutes. Steve Lydon, Ramsey County Jail's superintendent, said in a statement that he recognizes that the murder of George Floyd was likely to create racialized trauma.
Lydon stated that he felt that he had the duty to protect and support his employees of color who may have been traumatized by what happened to George Floyd in the hands of the Minneapolis police officers. He said that their trauma might get heightened if they have to come face to face with Derek Chauvin, the former officer who knelt on Floyd's neck, killing him.
Lydon added that he made the decision out of concern and care and without the comfort of time. He wanted to limit the exposure of his employees of color to a murder suspect who could aggravate the feelings of frustration and anger.
Atty. Smith stated that Lydon's statement seems to be an after the fact justification, adding that her eight clients never asked for protection and Lydon's concern and care was not mentioned to the eight officers while they ere bring segregated. She also said that if Lydon is really trying to protect his employees of color, he would not be segregating them based on the color of their skin.
Atty. Smith said Lydon is not preventing racial trauma, he is creating it. The Ramsey County Sheriff said they will review what happened. Meanwhile, Lydon's responsibilities have been modified and they have installed an interim supervisor.
Related Article: Ex-Police Officer Charged with Death of George Floyd Still Eligible for $1M Pension
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 17:58:25|Editor: huaxia
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SUVA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,223 drug cases have been recorded by police in Fiji in 2019, said Fijian police chief on Tuesday.
According to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), Fijian Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho said on Tuesday that this is an increase of 16 percent compared to 1,058 drug raids in 2018.
Police are confident that they have collected enough intel to functionally disrupt drug operations in Fiji, he said, adding that this was reflected in the increase in the number of drug related arrests in recent months.
He said that the police force was concerned with the increase in alleged possession of green drugs or marijuana and hard drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
Qiliho added that they will continue to gather additional information which adds on to what the force has gathered in the last three years and they are confident of disrupting this illegal trade in the island nation.
According to the police chief, they have set up teams in all divisions around the country specifically coordinating drug activities.
Qiliho said earlier that the impact of hard drugs to a small island nation like Fiji is devastating.
"The impacts of this on a small country like ours will be very devastating, productive people made unproductive, the strain on the health system, the strain on the economy will be huge."
The most commonly abused substances in Fiji are marijuana, methamphetamine, cigarettes, kava and alcohol. In 2018, the Fijian police seized drugs worth over 94 million U.S. dollars in the island nation. Enditem
People hold signs calling for China to release Canadian detainees Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig during an extradition hearing for Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou at the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada on March 6, 2019. (Lindsey Wasson/Reuters)
Pompeo Urges China to Release 2 Detained Canadians After Groundless Charges
WASHINGTON/OTTAWAU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Monday for the immediate release of two Canadians charged by China with espionage, saying the United States was extremely concerned and that the two mens detention was unjustified.
These charges are politically motivated and completely groundless, Pompeo said in a statement.
Chinese prosecutors announced the charges on June 19 against former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, who were arrested in late 2018.
The two men were detained shortly after Canadian police detained Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, on a U.S. warrant.
Canadawhich says it cannot interfere in the extradition processhas so far asked allies to put pressure on Beijing to free the two men, but dismisses talk of sanctions.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked Pompeo and nations that recently denounced Chinas treatment of the two men, saying it was important for like-minded nations to show solidarity.
He also dismissed a suggestion that Ottawa tried to exchange Meng for the two detained men, saying that would weaken Canadas values and the justice system.
Trudeau said the two cases were clearly linked. Earlier in the day, China said they were unrelated and repeated calls for Mengs release.
Kovrigs wife, Vina Nadjibulla, said she had obtained a legal opinion in Canada that confirmed Justice Minister David Lametti could formally end the extradition process against Meng.
The minister can act. Whether the minister should act is a second question. And that is a conversation we should be having instead of hiding behind, she told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
Theres a lot of people who sort of say that we need to stand up to China and we need to be tough on China. Im not one of them. Im not one of them because this is not about China. This is about Canada and Canadian lives that are in harms way. I am interested in Canada and Canadians standing up for Canadians and Canadian values.
Nadjibulla said that Ottawa could be doing more for her husband, saying words were no longer enough although she recognized that he is now a pawn in a political game set in motion by the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing.
We as Canadians, as a Canadian government, have to take action to bring him home.
He has been confined to a single cell this entire time. He has not gone outside, he has not seen a tree or had fresh air to breathe for 560 days, said Nadjibulla.
She did not give details and Lamettis office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
By Susan Heavey. The Epoch Times contributed to this article.
She rarely puts a foot wrong when it comes to fashion.
And Monica Bellucci looked the picture of sophistication as she attended the Jam Capsule exhibition opening night at the Grande Halle de La Villette in Paris on Monday.
After several months in lockdown, the Italian actress, 55, dressed up for the occasion and looked gorgeous in a black flared jumpsuit.
Beauty: Monica Bellucci looked the picture of sophistication as she attended the Jam Capsule exhibition opening night at Grande Halle de La Villette in Paris on Monday
Monica teased a hint of cleavage in the jumpsuit which had a low cut neckline with a a ribbon tie at the bust.
The striking actress complemented the look with white heels and showcased her age-defying beauty by sweeping her brunette hair off of her face.
Monica posed for a photo with director Tom Volf ahead of the showcase.
Simple: After several months in lockdown, the Italian actress, 55, dressed up for the occasion and looked gorgeous in a black flared jumpsuit
Demure: Monica teased a hint of cleavage in the jumpsuit which had a low cut neckline with a a ribbon tie at the bust
Flawless: The striking actress complemented the look with white heels and showcased her age-defying beauty by sweeping her brunette hair off of her face
Monica was seen at the event without her man Nicolas Lefebvre, 36, who she has been believed to be dating since May 2017, four years after her split from ex-husband Vincent Cassell.
The actress first confirmed she was seeing someone in an interview with Paris Match last November, but stayed coy about her partner's identity.
Admitting they had been dating a while and things were going well, she said of her new man: 'The man I share my life with doesn't have the same job as me, but he travels a lot. His rhythm of life complements mine.'
Asked whether she would consider getting married again, the former Bond girl kept her cards close to her chest.
She said: 'When you've been married twice before, you need to take time to think about it before starting over, to understand why it happened and why you divorced. Let's just say I'm in a learning phase at the moment.'
Monica was married to fashion photographer Claudio Carlos Basso from 1990 until 1994, and then Matrix star Vincent Cassel from 1999 until 2015.
People's right to redress in employment law disputes is being undermined by a long delay in hearings resulting from lockdown and Covid-19, it's been claimed.
This month, a direction from Eileen McBride, president of the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal, said that hearings listed for between July and the end of October are now postponed.
But employment solicitor Rosemary Connolly said delaying hearings until November at the earliest was potentially harmful as claims were usually urgent matters.
And practitioners are concerned about a future backlog - which is likely to increase as many staff face the prospect of losing their jobs when the furlough scheme runs out. That could give rise to possible legal action by workers if proper procedure is not followed.
The tribunals building has been closed since March, though the direction said preparations for remote hearings are being made.
Ms Connolly, who runs a practice in Warrenpoint, said: "Individuals who have had their employment terminated face immediate financial hardship and where they have grounds for seeking legal redress it is important that this should be available to them within a timely fashion given that they will have lost income as a result."
The tribunals system is part of the Department for the Economy, which said staff were working remotely to process claims.
Ms Connolly said delays to hearings did not help either side to a dispute.
It is never advantageous to anyone to be involved in litigation which is unduly lengthy because of course with the passage of time memories fade and circumstances change, she said.
Litigation inevitably brings a certain degree of stress and of course ongoing financial pressure and it should always be an important consideration that, so far as possible and in particular in relation to the resolution of claims concerning legal rights and entitlements in employment, it should be brought to adjudication as soon as possible. This is in the interest of both employees and employers.
The Department for the Economy said: Whilst the office building closed on the March 26, staff, and the judiciary, have been working remotely to ensure that any cases that have been submitted since that date are being processed.
All communications in regard to current cases is still being dealt with on a daily basis.
Louise McAloon, an employment law partner at Belfast-based solicitors Worthingtons, said the impact of Covid-19 on the tribunals system would be felt into 2022.
But she said there was evidence of continued decision-making on claims, with her firm being given the decision in a claimants case where the action was started ahead of the pandemic.
However, warning there would be a backlog to contend with, she said: Not only is there delay in listing of hearings, but decisions usually take place months thereafter. Employers and employees will see a delay in any sort of outcome into 2021 and further on.
Employees might question whether its worth making a claim as life does move on.
She said she expected claims to arise out of the interpretation of furlough and redundancy. Firms are expected to assess the size of their workforce before the Governments wage support furlough scheme comes to a close.
When you take these delays alongside the fact that increased redundancies mean were likely to see an upturn in claims, this will be quite an acute period for the tribunals right into January next year, she explained.
She added that after experiencing the 2008 recession, claims over redundancy were now to be expected in the present downturn.
Between adjourned claims and more cases, when you put those together the public will feel theyre not necessarily getting justice in the right timescale, Ms McAloon said.
She said many tribunals had been heard remotely in Britain but there was a reluctance to embrace a remote format in Northern Ireland particularly in complex cases involving contentious issues.
In Britain, appeals to the decisions of employment tribunals can be taken to an Appeals Tribunal, but in Northern Ireland they must be taken to the Court of Appeal. Ms McAloon said that the expense involved in that route mean that many were keen for hearings to be carried out in person so that the correct decision could be made.
Another employment lawyer, who did not want to be named, said compensation for unfair dismissal or similar actions could sometimes tide a worker over until their next job. However, delays in processing claims could mean people missing out on a lifeline when they needed it the most.
Ms McAloon said it was not clear possible delays would put people off making claims.
None of us know if it would have a chilling factor... its very much of an unknown. But there is a worry justice delayed is justice denied. People with meritorious claims and entitled to compensation may have to wait months if not years to receive it, she said.
Walt Disney World employees are hoping to push back the reopening of the happiest place on Earth.
An online petition is asking Disney and government officials to reconsider the reopening timeline of the popular Florida attractions.
Katie Belisle created the petition which cites Floridas recent reports of higher daily confirmed coronavirus cases as a source of concern. The petition is addressed to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.
Because of the increase in cases suddenly, it is clear that theme parks a non-essential business should not be planning to operate until the cases have gone down again. The recent spike of COVID-19 cases is concerning due to our proposed opening in July, Belisle wrote.
Disney announced it is planning a phased reopening of the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom beginning on July 11. Park guests will be able to visit Epcot and Hollywood Studios starting July 15.
This virus is not gone, unfortunately, its only become worse in this state, she said. Re-opening the theme parks is only putting our guests, employees, and families at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. While theme parks are a great way to relax and enjoy free time, it is a non-essential business; it is not fair to the people who work there to risk their lives, especially if they are at risk or have family members who are at risk. People are more important than making a profit.
When guests return to Disney World, they will encounter enhanced health and safety measures. According to Disney, there will be more cleanings and adjustments made to promote social distancing. Parks will operate below full capacity to aid in social distancing. Some experiences, including parades and firework shows, will also be affected.
Park guests (age two and up) will have to wear face coverings and adhere to temperature screenings, according to Disneys new guidelines.
Magic seekers will also have to use Disneys revamped online reservation system, which limits guests to visiting only one park per day.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Disney fans slammed the new reservations system June 22.
Guests may make reservations beginning on these dates:
June 22, 2020: Disney Resort and other select hotel guests with a valid theme park admission
June 26, 2020: Annual Passholders without a resort stay
June 28, 2020: Existing ticket holders
READ MORE
United Nations also extended the Diwali greeting on the occasion. A happy and safe Diwali to all those who are celebrating!, tweeted the UN.
Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja was honoured by the United Nations on June 23. Shailaja was invited as a speaker to the UN Public Service Day, the only one to be invited from India.
The minister presented the Kerala Model at the virtual event held by the United Nations. The event was organised to honour the women and men who risk their lives and health to deliver essential public services amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Shailaja's selection to the UN panel is a result of the widespread appreciation received by the state in its fight against the coronavirus outbreak.
The event included an orchestral piece performed by the UN Orchestra and a video showcasing public servants in action developed from over 80 submissions received from public servants at national and local levels worldwide, the UN said.
The main speakers at the live video event also include Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the General Assembly; HE Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia; Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organisation; Liu Zhenmin, United Nations Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Chin Young, Minister of Interior and Safety, Republic of Korea; Dr In-Jae Lee, Deputy Minister of the Interior and Safety, Republic of Korea; Jim Campbell, Director, Health Workforce Department WHO; Annette Kennedy, President of International Council of Nurses; and Rosa Pavenelli, General Secretary, Public Services International.
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Indian border troops held a second round of talks at the level of corps commanders in the border area on June 22, and both agreed to keep up dialogue and work together for peace and tranquility on the ground along the border, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Tuesday.
Media reports quoted Indian army sources as saying that on June 22, an 11-hour long commander-level meeting was held between India and China, and the two sides exchanged views on the current situation in the border area.
In response, Zhao told a news briefing that it is also the first such meeting after the Galwan Valley incident on June 15, and the holding of the talks shows that both sides hope to properly handle differences and manage and ease the situation through dialogue and consultation.
"During the talks, the two sides, on the basis of the first commander-level talks, had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on outstanding issues in border management and control and agreed to take necessary measures to lower the temperature," Zhao said.
Both agreed to keep up dialogue and work together for peace and tranquility on the ground along the border, he said.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/23/2020
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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
star Nicole Nafziger has confirmed she's not pregnant and apologized to her fans for posting a misleading Instagram photo of a sonogram.Nicole has taken some heat from her Instagram followers recently for posting "misleading" content on her account.Nicole led her followers to believe she's pregnant, presumably with fiance Azan Tefou 's child, when her Instagram account posted a since-deleted sonogram photo last week, according to In Touch Weekly.But on June 18, Nicole reportedly posted a message to fans to set the record straight."No, I am not pregnant," Nicole said in her Instagram Stories, In Touch reported."Sorry for the confusing post. Hope everyone is staying safe out there! Peace and love to all."Nicole has also been accused of pretending to be with and spend time with Azan.But Nicole revealed in March she was stuck in Morocco while visiting Azan and everything was closed after the country shut down international flights due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.Nicole disclosed she and Azan had reunited in a selfie she posted March 11 on Instagram."So happy to finally be with my love again," Nicole captioned the picture.Later that month, Nicole gushed on Instagram, " I never want to leave your side my love," next to another picture of the pair.But Nicole's family was convinced Nicole and Azan weren't going to tie the knot during her visit and they weren't any closer to marriage "Her family isn't aware of there being any kind of wedding planning at the moment," a source told the magazine in April."Nicole would want her close family there and [her daughter] May for sure, so her family thinks she wouldn't go and get married behind their backs."The source added at the time, "No one sees it happening in the near future."As Nicole and Azan previously learned, weddings are also very expensive, and Nicole reportedly quit her job in order to visit her fiance overseas.According to In Touch, Nicole confirmed earlier this year Azan was still her fiance and she loves him with "all" of her heart after four years of dating. She reportedly said they're just trying to "navigate this challenging thing called life together."But in November 2019, RadarOnline reported it had been two years since the couple last saw each other."They still talk occasionally, but there have been a lot of fights between them on the phone," a source said."The family is surprised they're still together... He can't get a visa. She's talked about going back to Morocco, but she doesn't have money. She has to save."Nicole and Azan met on a mobile dating app years ago when she was 21 years old and living in Bradenton, FL. Azan was 23 years old and from Agadir, Morocco, at the time.Nicole and Azan got their start on reality TV by starring on Season 4 of the original series, followed by Season 5 of the series.That later led into an appearance on Season 3 of : Happily Ever After? and then Season 4.Nicole and Azan's initial wedding plans in Morocco in 2018 fell through due to alleged time and financial constraints.At the time, Azan seemed to convince Nicole to invest $6,000 of her wedding money into opening a beauty store instead, while he planned to contribute $500 to the overall cost.It's unclear whether that store was a real possibility or will ever actually open considering both Nicole and Azan have made different claims.Nicole then planned to meet Azan for a fun vacation in Grenada, but Azan chose to cancel their reunion due to an alleged "family emergency."Nicole therefore booked a trip back to Morocco in 2019, when she thought a wedding would be "highly likely." But the trip got canceled just two weeks later.Nicole never disclosed the reasons behind canceling that trip to Morocco, but the frustration and disappointment all over her face on Season 4 of : Happily Ever After? pointed to Azan being the decision-maker.During the Tell-All special for the spinoff's fourth season, Nicole announced her trip to Morocco didn't happen "because sometimes, things are just personal."In August 2019, a source told In Touch that Nicole was getting her life "back on track" with a her new job as a barista and an apartment of her own. Nicole had also enrolled her daughter May in kindergarten.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
EDWARDSVILLE On Tuesday, the city council unanimously adopted a resolution adopting 10 shared principles that were developed between the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) and the NAACP.
Edwardsville Police Chief Jay Keeevn previously met with John Cunningham, president of the NAACP Edwardsville Branch, and others on June 10.
Keeven gave a short presentation during the city council meeting with Cunningham in attendance.
Last fall, I had the opportunity to participate in a conference with the Illinois Chapter of the NAACP and the Illinois State Chiefs Association, Keeven said. He said several state police chiefs, NAACP chapter leadership members, other community leaders and younger citizens attended.
This past spring, Cunningham co-organized a world cafe event at the Glen Carbon Police Department, which Keeven also attended.
What were hoping with this resolution this evening [is to] make a permanent, formal record of our agreement on these 10 shared principles between the Edwardsville NAACP, the Edwardsville Police Department and by extension, the City of Edwardsville, Keeven said. Those principles are:
1. We value the life of every person and consider life to be the highest value.
2. All persons should be treated with dignity and respect. This is another foundational value.
3. We reject discrimination toward any person that is based on race, ethnicity, religion, color, nationality, immigrant status, sexual orientation, gender, disability or familial status.
4. We endorse the six pillars in the report of the Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The first pillar is to build and rebuild trust through procedural justice, transparency, accountability and honest recognition of past and present obstacles.
5. We endorse the four pillars of procedural justice, which are fairness, voice (i.e., an opportunity for citizens and police to believe they are heard), transparency and impartiality.
6. We endorse the values inherent in community policing, which includes community partnerships involving law enforcement, engagement of police officers with residents outside of interaction specific to enforcement of laws, and problem-solving that is collaborative, not one-sided.
7. We believe that developing strong ongoing relationships between law enforcement and communities of color at the leadership level and street level will be the keys to diminishing and eliminating racial tension.
8. We believe that law enforcement and community leaders have a mutual responsibility to encourage all citizens to gain a better understanding and knowledge of the law to assist them in their interactions with law enforcement officers.
9. We support diversity in police departments and in the law enforcement profession. Law enforcement and communities have a mutual responsibility and should work together to make a concerted effort to recruit diverse police departments.
10. We believe de-escalation training should be required to ensure the safety of community members and officers. We endorse using de-escalation tactics to reduce the potential for confrontations that endanger law enforcement officers and community members; and the principle that human life should be taken only as a last resort.
I want to commend you and John Cunningham for your work on this, said Alderman SJ Morrison. I feel proud to live in a community thats willing to take these extra steps.
I had two comments made to me recently by constituents, who praised the police department in their crisis intervention training and the way they were able to de-escalate a situation and not always assume the worst of a person and to take the extra effort to help that person instead of throwing them in jail, said Alderwoman Janet Stack.
New Delhi, June 23 : In view of the rising Covid-19 cases in Delhi, now a city housing society has established its own isolation centres for patients with mild symptoms to combat the spread of the deadly disease.
Uner the initiative of the Federation of CGHS, Dwarka, in an introductory phase, an apartment's office hall has been converted into a six-bed and four-bed isolation centre. The four-bed isolation centre in Neelachal Apartments, Sector 4, Dwarka was inaugurated by District Magistrate, South-West, Rahul Singh.
"Keeping in mind the increasing number of cases in the city, the residents of the society voluntarily came forward with an idea of establishing isolation centres for stable Covid-19 patients with mild or moderate symptoms," Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Dwarka, Chandra Shekhar said.
"To meet any medical emergency, we will provide doctors on call immediately and would take further necessary action. If the health of a person in an isolation centre worsens and he or she needs to be admitted to a hospital, then arrangements will be made immediately," he added.
The work to set up isolation centres began after observing unavailability of beds in hospitals, and the hefty fees in private hospitals, said Akash Khatri who is the President of Neelachal Apartments residents association.
The four-bed isolation centre will provide all necessary medical attention to the patients who have contracted the infection. "The isolation centre is equipped with medical supplies, such as oxygen cylinders, oximeters, thermal scanner, masks, gloves, and personal protective equipment (PPE) kits as well as a separate toilet," Khatri told IANS.
He said that they have also requested the administration to provide them with doctors and nurses to monitor the health of the patients who are kept in the isolation centre. "Some local doctors have also volunteered to help us if required," he noted.
Delhi has overtaken Tamil Nadu to become the second worst-hit state with 62,655 cases. According to the latest update by the Union Health Ministry, 2,233 deaths have been recorded due to the infection so far in the national capital.
Gus and Lucille Moeller started a small bakery on Almeda Road in 1930.
Moellers Bakery has changed locations twice over the course of 90 years becoming a Houston icon in the process and is currently located on the south side of Bellaire just west of Wesleyan, but it is still a small family-owned and -operated bakery.
A LOOK BACK: A sweet business eyes 80th anniversary
Its definitely been interesting growing up as far as how many people know about it and how far weve been and how much of an icon it is, said Eric Moeller, Gus and Lucilles grandson who is still active in running the bakery. I was talking to my dad (D.W. Moeller, Gus and Lucilles son, who took over running the bakery in 1980), and he actually got a little tearyeyed when he realized wed been around for 90 years and how much the city and everybody around here has just made us such an icon. We wouldnt be here without our customers.
When Moellers started, Gus would bake the items and Lucille would work the front.
Eric remembers his father often telling him about how Gus would grumble about Lucille talking to each customer and how that would back up the line.
Sales manager Carol McGraw has been working for Moellers Bakery for 40 years. She was hired by D.W. and remembers receiving calls from Lucille in her first couple of weeks on the job checking in on her and making sure she was doing everything the right way.
CURBSIDE SERVICE: You can pick up a box of goodies for your sweet tooth at these Houston bakeries
She has known Eric his entire life and laughed that she could share some stories about him.
The bakery still uses the same oven that it used in 1942 and still uses the original recipes from Gus.
Everything we do is by hand from scratch. There is no pre-made anything back there, said Carol. Every petit fours you see it cut, iced, and decorated by hand, not by machine. Our product is good is because we started out with good formulas. Mr. Moeller came up with some items and came up with the recipes, and we dont change them.
Carol said that there are still some older customers who come in who remember Lucille working the register and how she would give a cookie to each child who walked in the door.
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Erics mom and D.W.s wife, Theresa, and Carol became good friends and would go to the beach together with their children.
Despite its popularity, Moellers continues to have only the one location.
Weve thought about it (expanding to other locations), but, the more we considered it, the more we realized we would lose that family touch and, by losing that family touch, we would have lost our connection with our customers and our neighborhood, Carol said, We just felt like it wasnt worth it. We were all doing okay. Our customers appreciated us, and we love them and so, we just felt like, if we kept expanding, we would lose that home-style neighborhood bakery touch.
Carol likes to hire young people from the local neighborhoods of West University, Southside Place, Bellaire and River Oaks.
Some of those people have gone on to be CEOs of companies.
While many of those younger people who help with sales go on to their careers, many of the bakers in the back have been with the company for well over a decade, and some for many decades. Everybody knows each others children.
The official day of Moellers 90th birthday is July 14, but Carol has decided to move the celebration back to the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She attributes her saying there so long to the family atmosphere of the bakery.
To me it means a lot to be able to be the third generation running the bakery, said Eric. Over the years, weve really done something right, and our customers have really come to love us. To make it 90 years, especially for a small family-owned business, really means a lot to me knowing that Houston values us the way they do. Were able to make their occasions, their graduations and weddings, special. We have third-generation families that come to us, still for their cakes and their special occasions. That means a lot to me that they still keep coming to us.
elliott.lapin@hearst.com
Ireland, Luxembourg need more muscle to police tech giants, EU report says FILE PHOTO: A combination photo from files of Facebook Google and Twitter logos
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Ireland and Luxembourg, European headquarters to Google , Facebook , Twitter and Amazon , need a substantial boost in resources to deal with data breaches by U.S. tech giants, a European Union report said.
The report by the European Commission, seen by Reuters, sought to assess the effectiveness of the EU's landmark data privacy rules known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) adopted in 2018.
GDPR requires companies to seek people's consent before using their personal data or face steep fines. European Vice President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova has previously lauded the rules as a compass to guide the EU into the digital age.
The report said that data protection agencies across the 27-country bloc had increased staff by 42% increase and budgets by 49% between 2016-2019, but the Irish and Luxembourg governments needed to do more.
"Given that the largest big tech multinationals are established in Ireland and Luxembourg, the data protection authorities of these countries act as lead authorities in many important cross-border cases and may need larger resources than their population would otherwise suggest," the report said.
The Irish watchdog has opened cases into Facebook, Facebook-owned Instagram and WhatsApp as well as Twitter , Apple , Verizon Media, Microsoft-owned LinkedIn and U.S. digital advertiser Quantcast.
The report urged national watchdogs to launch joint investigations that would lead to more harmonised rules and approaches.
It said some of the challenges were reconciling data privacy rights with the right to freedom of expression, and how to apply the rules to technologies such as artificial intelligence, facial recognition, blockchain and the internet of things.
Enforcement continues to be the weak link, said Eva Simon at the Civil Liberties Union for Europe.
"There are still far too many governments, organisations and businesses flouting the rules," she said.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee. Editing by Jane Merriman)
By Trend
Poland supports the idea of developing the multimodal transport corridors connecting Europe and Asia, including those passing through South Caucasus, Press Office Director at Polands Foreign Ministry Andrzej Fafara told Trend.
"This route can be an important element of the EU's connectivity policy as well. It should strengthen of multidimensional cooperation between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, including Azerbaijan," he said.
Fafara said no doubt COVID-19 has brought the new reality also to global logistics and transportation.
"Though passenger flights were and in large extent still are temporarily suspended, the demand for medical cargo air transportation services has grown significantly and entities from our two countries were recently cooperating in this field," he noted.
Fafara went on to add that Polish Azerbaijani political and economic relations are close.
"Poland considers Azerbaijan as its very important economic partner in the region of South Caucasus. According to the Polish data, value of goods exported from Poland to Azerbaijan in 2019 reached $83 million and Azerbaijani exports to Poland was around $5 million. Poland is the sixth supplier of goods to Azerbaijan among EU countries. Those figures are satisfactory neither to Poland, nor to Azerbaijan. Its too early to give exact numbers for this year as we dont have trade statistics for the first half of 2020 yet. What we can say is that the first months of 2020 has shown positive dynamics in our bilateral trade but the COVID19 pandemic will have for sure its negative impact on economic cooperation between the two countries," he said.
Fafara expressed confidence that the trade office of the Polish Agency for Trade and Investment opened two years ago in Landmark complex in Baku and Azerbaijani Trade Representation in Warsaw are effectively working to provide companies from the two countries with needed information and useful contacts to develop further our bilateral business cooperation.
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Page Industries lost 1.06% to Rs 19165 after the company's net profit slumped 58.6% to Rs 31.02 crore on 11% decline in net sales to Rs 541.26 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.
Profit before tax stood at Rs 43.18 crore in Q4 FY20, down by 62.9% from Rs 116.28 crore in Q4 FY19. Current tax expense tumbled 73.1% to Rs 9 crore during the quarter.
Revenue was impacted by sharp volume decline in March due to retail outlets being temporarily shut on account of the nation-wide lockdown. Lower absorption of costs invested in sales and marketing, people and technology contributed to the lower PAT.
Commenting on the results, managing director, Sunder Genomal said, The company delivered a strong year given the circumstances, with growth in revenues and a very strong return on capital employed. Despite the short-term macro situation, we continue to remain confident of the medium term given our strong business model, product portfolio and healthy balance sheet. We continue to make investments and spend in sales and marketing, particularly at the point-of-sale such as display fixtures and in-store branding. We will continue our aggressive expansion plans of new exclusive brand outlets and hope to touch the 1,000 outlet milestone by the end of this financial year. We believe that these investments are required for ensuring high growth over the next few years.
Page Industries is the exclusive licensee of JOCKEY International Inc. (USA) for manufacture, distribution and marketing of the JOCKEY brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UAE. Page Industries is also the exclusive licensee of Speedo International for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of the Speedo brand in India.
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A former transit union finance officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges he stole $117,000 from his unions operating accounts, said Craig Carpenito, U.S. Attorney for the New Jersey district.
Angel Luis Garcia, 57, of Tampa, Florida, former financial secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1614 in Dover, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling from the union when he appeared before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in a video proceeding, Carpenito said in a release.
Garcia was charged on Dec. 5, 2019 in U.S. District Court in New Jersey with one count of embezzlement of $117,000 from the union. The charges resulted from an investigation by the U.S. Labor Departments Office of Labor-Management Standards and special agents from the departments New York region.
Garcia was a bus driver who held a part-time position at Local 1614. He was elected as the unions financial secretary, serving from June 2014 through May 2019. It wasnt immediately clear which bus company Garcia drove for. He was not an NJ Transit employee.
As financial secretary, Garcia was responsible for maintaining the unions check book and other financial documents. Garcia withdrew approximately $117,000 from the unions three bank accounts to pay for his rent, utilities, telephone and other personal goods and services, without approval of union executives, officials said.
Embezzlement carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 17, 2020.
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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
Former President John Dramani Mahama will in the coming days announce some far-reaching policies as part of his message to the electorate for the December polls, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has hinted.
According to the party, consistent with their ideology, the policies would be implemented to the latter should the party emerge victorious in the December polls.
At a media conference addressed by the partys Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, in Accra yesterday, the NDC said the policy announcement would be ahead of the out-dooring of the partys manifesto in August.
The flagbearer and leader of the NDC will in the coming days announce some big-ticket policies which are central to his transformational vision for this country.
This announcement will include a major and comprehensive job creation policy he intends to undertake to create millions and permanent dignifying jobs for the teeming unemployed youth when he assumes the reins of power in 2021.
Not only are we going to announce a policy but we will give you the breakdown and how we will achieve that when given the mandate, Mr Gyamfi said.
The 2020 general elections, he said was a referendum on the performance of President Akufo-Addo who has failed woefully to deliver on his numerous campaign promises having fulfilled only 14 per cent of his 631 manifesto promises they made to the Ghanaian people in 2016.
According to the NDC, Ghana needs former President John Dramani Mahama more than ever owing to the abysmal performance of the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
The term of office of President Akufo-Addo, the opposition party said has been nothing but hopelessness for the many Ghanaians who thronged the voting centres in 2016 to vote for President Akufo-Addo and the NPP.
The NDC asserted that the next John Mahama-led government would restore the lost confidence.
Even though there has been and continue to be hopelessness, lawlessness, and absolute impunity under the vindictive and non-performing Akufo-Addo government, there is hope for a better inclusive and prosperous Ghana.
This hope is anchored on the return of the visionary, trustworthy and humble John Dramani Mahama to the Jubilee House on January 7, 2021 to rescue our beloved country from the hands of the vindictive, corrupt and nepotistic Akufo-Addo government and to restore the nation back to the path of true progress and development.
His Excellency John Dramani Mahama is committed to fixing the mess that has been created by the maladministration of President Akufo-Addo in all sectors of the nation and in all facets of our lives, Mr Gyamfi said.
Enumerating some of the policies Mr Mahama would introduce to alleviate the suffering of the people ahead of the big announcement, Sammy Gyamfi said unlike the current government, the former president was a tried a tested person when it came to the fulfilment of electoral campaign promises.
Some of the policies he said would include free technical and vocational education from the second cycle to the tertiary level, the institution of a national apprenticeship programme and the provision of health infrastructure in all regions and districts which dont have regional and district hospitals respectively.
Source: The Ghanaian Times
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More than 17,000 people took advantage of free COVID-19 testing offered last week aimed for people who had attended Black Lives Matter protests. Of those, 2.5% tested positive for the coronavirus, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday morning.
Massachusetts offered free COVID-19 testing at more than 50 sites on Wednesday and Thursday, and a handful offered testing on Friday. In total, 17,617 people got COVID-19 tests under the initiative. Baker said the results are consistent with the statewide public health data.
Were obviously pleased to see that the percentage of positive tests was quite low, considering the frequency and the size of those protests and demonstrations, but we also pointed out that the vast majority of the folks who participated in those demonstrations were wearing masks or face coverings of one kind or another, the Republican governor said Tuesday during a news briefing at the former Boston State Hospital site.
Baker noted other factors may have played a role in keeping the number of positive tests low, including the decisions to hold protests outdoors and the crowds of people moving in lieu of congregating in one place.
But the 2.5% figure only accounts for protesters who got tested. It is unclear how many attendees took advantage of the free COVID-19 testing last week or have otherwise gotten tested.
State health officials reported 17 new coronavirus-related deaths and 149 cases on Monday. The death toll now stands at 7,874.
Protests have continued in the weeks following George Floyds death. A viral video captured Floyd, a Black man, lying down as a white officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Some protesters have criticized the Baker administration in its response to calls to defund the police, or at least re-allocate money from police budgets to local education, health and social programs in communities of color.
Protesters on Monday marched in memory of Rayshard Brooks, a Black man killed while fleeing from police in Atlanta. Organizers called on attendees to flood the governors office with calls criticizing his policing standards bill because it offers bonuses to police officers to undergo training rather than re-allocating funds elsewhere.
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Millions of skywatchers across the eastern hemisphere witnessed the most spectacular annular eclipse of the decade over the weekend. And it did not disappoint.
On Sunday, observers in parts of central Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Taiwan were able to witness a grand spectacle that appeared at 11:45 p.m. EST Saturday and ended on Sunday at 5:34 a.m. EST.
Solar eclipses are visible only from a handful of locations where the Moon casts its shadow on Earths surface as it sweeps across the sky.
This combination of pictures created on June 21, 2020, shows the Moon moving in front of the Sun during an annular solar eclipse as seen from (top L to R) Kurukshetra, Allahabad, and Bangalore, and (bottom L to R) Kolkata, New Delhi, and Bangalore on June 21, 2020. (JEWEL SAMAD,MANJUNATH KIRAN,SANJAY KANOJIA,DIBYANGSHU SARKAR,SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Unlike total solar eclipses, annular eclipses feature a unique ring of fire that appears at its climax.
This occurs when the Moon is farther away from Earth along its elliptical orbit, thus making it appear smaller from the vantage point of Earth. So when it crosses in front of the solar disk, it is not entirely obscured; a thin ring-shaped sliver of light appears around the Moon as the three celestial bodies align.
The event formed a perfect halo around the Moon above Uttarakhand, India, around 2:40 a.m. EST (12:10 p.m. local time), Daily Mail reported.
Solar eclipse of June 21, 2020, in Beigang, Yunlin, Taiwan. Captured with XF 55-200 + ND100000 solar filter. (Littlebtc/CC BY-SA 4.0)
The eclipse was last seen in Taiwan, where hundreds gathered in open spaces in the city of Chiayi to view the spectacle with special protective glasses, Reuters reported.
Its an astronomical miracle, said Elisa Chen, 29.
Fifty-six-year-old retiree Zhuang Yuhui, who traveled from nearby Taichung City to witness the event, shared, Im more than 50 years old, so its great that I could see this.
Im beyond excited.
This picture shows the Moon passing in front of the Sun during an annular solar eclipse in Manila on June 21, 2020. (TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)
This weekends annular eclipse was the most spectacular in 10 years. It occurred in the middle of peak eclipse season (June and July), which meant a near-prefect alignment of the Moon and Sunwhich was 99 percent obscured by the Moon, making it almost a total eclipse.
Yet, Sundays eclipse was even rarer, as it occurred on Earths longest day of the year for the northern hemisphere, a solstice, an event that hasnt happened in at least 100 years, according to Reuters calculations based on NASA data. The next one will be in 2039, and then in 2392.
Though many were able to take in the spectacle, some hopeful eclipse watchers in different parts of the world were unable to due to weather considerations as well as pandemic lockdown restrictions.
Solar eclipse on June 21, 2020, witnessed in Yemen at 8:09 a.m. local time. (Almuhammedi/CC BY-SA 4.0)
In Nairobi in east Africa, clouds obscured the Sun at the exact moment of the eclipse, while would-be observers were prevented from trekking in search of clearer skies due to virus-containment measures.
With the pandemic situation, were not able to have crowds and get kids to look through or do stuff, said Susan Murbana, who runs Travelling Telescope educational program in Nairobi. We had around 50 people joining us via Zoom and then we have so many people via our Facebook live.
Meanwhile, despite an overcast sky in New Delhi, viewers still managed to observe a partial eclipse.
In Dubai, plans to see the phenomenon were halted due to quarantine, yet viewers tuned in to the internet to witness the cosmic event on live feed.
People gather to watch the partial solar eclipse along a promenade on June 21, 2020, in Hong Kong. (Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty Images)
We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.
The maker of a so-called COVID-19 "vaccine" will repay his victims and, after a suit by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, is permanently barred from marketing vaccines without evidence and testing.
Under a legally binding agreement, Redmond area resident Johnny T. Stine and his firm, North Coast Biologics, are prohibited from marketing future vaccines without rigorous testing and sound scientific evidence.
The agreement comes just over a week after the Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit, and less than two months after Ferguson sent Stine a "cease-and-desist order" to stop marketing the alleged vaccine.
Stine will pay $8,500 to the state for the cost of suing him, plus an additional $30,000 providing he lives up to the agreement. The AG's office will reach out to those who purchased the "vaccine" and facilitate refunds. Thirty victims stand to get back $12,000.
"Mr. Stine marketed a false vaccine when Washingtonians felt particularly vulnerable. "That's not only morally wrong, it's illegal," Ferguson said in a statement. "The resolution ensures Mr. Stine refunds the individuals he swindled. He will pay an even steeper cost if he ever tries this again."
The "vaccine" was marketed on Facebook in early March through April, the peak period of the pandemic in Washington. Thirty-seven of the first 50 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus were in Washington state. Stine sold and administered the vaccine at a price of $400. Stine had claimed to have developed the "vaccine" in half a day and that it had made him immune to the coronavirus after he tested it on himself.
In one Facebook post, Stine asserted that he had sent his product to Chin for testing. He subsequently posted that he would not wait for the U.S. or European health agencies to create or approve a vaccine, saying he refused to "wait several months for something so trivial that it took me half a day to design." He later argued that "coronaviruses are easy as (bleep) to make a vaccine against."
North Coast Biologics describes itself as an "antibody discovery company," based in King County, founded and directed by one Johnny Stine. It failed. In 2012, it filed for a business license renewal and was administratively dissolved. But Stine continued to run North Coast Biologics and promote products on its Facebook page.
The Facebook page has been shut down due to the Attorney General's lawsuit.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, predicted in April that a coronavirus vaccine could be "doable" by early 2021 "if things fell in the right place." The White House Task Force on the coronavirus has not held a briefing in weeks, as President Trump has shifted emphasis on restarting the economy. The virus has continued to spike in several states, particularly Arizona, Alabama, Florida and Texas.
AG Ferguson has delivered warnings on how scammers are trying to take advantage of the pandemic.
The leadoff tip for not getting ripped off: "Be skeptical there is no cure for COVID-19. Followed by: "Don't click on links they were malicious" and "Don't provide your personal information to unknown sources who may be trying to get your personal and financial information."
And, when it comes to charities, "Don't donate money without researching who is asking for your money there are many bogus charities offering to help."
MORE COVID-19 COVERAGE:
"We believe that Schools of Public Service have a unique and powerful opportunity to engage a broader group of motivated undergraduates eager to make change in the world, said Thomas W. Ross, president of the Volcker Alliance.
The Volcker Alliance and the Arizona State University Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions have launched the Next Generation Service Partnership (NextGen Service), a national initiative that seeks to expand public service learning experiences for undergraduates.
International protests and outrage over the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black Americans at the hands of police officers, along with society-wide measures required to contain the coronavirus pandemic, make clear that our nation is in crisis. Just as clear is that we need government to be able to respond effectively to crisesnow and in the future, said Thomas W. Ross, president of the Volcker Alliance. Governments preparedness requires a concerted effort to develop the next generation of public leaders. We believe that Schools of Public Service have a unique and powerful opportunity to engage a broader group of motivated undergraduates eager to make change in the world, said Mr. Ross.
The Next Generation Service Partnership will meet the demand to elevate undergraduate student engagement as a national priority for Schools of Public Serviceincluding Schools of Public Affairs, Administration, and Policy; expand the reach of educational strategies that work for undergraduates; foster collaborative planning and learning between Schools of Public Service and other academic departments across their campuses; and provide technical support to help Schools of Public Service accelerate the implementation of effective undergraduate programming.
We have seen at ASU and around the country how committed our countrys young people are to positive social impact, said Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University. NextGen Service will give universities around the country the guidance and resources they need to better support their undergraduates drive to make a difference in careers of public service.
The Public Service Academy (PSA) at ASUs Watts College is an esteemed, innovative approach to undergraduate engagement that helps students from more than 150 different majors across the university develop the skills, networks, and experiences they need to take on the most complex challenges of our time.
Leveraging the knowledge and experience of our amazing PSA team at Watts College, the NextGen Service initiative will offer an opportunity for Schools of Public Service to actively explore or design new strategies for engaging undergraduate learners, said Jonathan Koppell, dean of ASUs Watts College.
NextGen Service offers two tiers of engagement for interested schools. In the first tier, Watts College and the Volcker Alliance will offer a series of webinars and interactive forums, open to all interested attendees, to share information about ASUs Public Service Academy model and other approaches to undergraduate public service education. In the second tier, interested Schools of Public Service may be selected to participate in a more intensive one-year planning cohort. Schools joining the cohort will have access to a range of support to inform and accelerate their planning and implementation efforts.
The first three schools to participate in the NextGen Service planning cohort are The Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College of the City University of New York, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, and the School of Public Administration in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
For more information on the Next Generation Service Partnership, visit volckeralliance.org.
The Volcker Alliance advances effective management of government to achieve results that matter to citizens. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization is inspired by the legendary public service of our founder, Paul A. Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, and his vision of a public sector workforce with the experience, preparation, and commitment to ensure that government is accountable and delivers with excellence. Visit volckeralliance.org to learn more. Follow us on social media @VolckerAlliance and subscribe to the Volcker Alliance newsletter for the latest news and developments. The Volcker Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it. Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions is made up of four schools and more than 20 research centersall with a shared goal of advancing research and discovery of public value, and furthering the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities that we serve.
Over the next few weeks, you'll be hearing from members of our staff as they talk about their work, their readers, their career and their home.
Chinese threat actors are increasingly targeting various sectors in India, with over 40,300 cyber attack attempts made in just the past five days. The information has been shared by Maharashtras cyber security cell, which has noted the increasing activity of Chinese state-backed hackers targeting numerous sectors in India. While Chinese threat actors are known cyber crime actors across the world, the recent surge in hacker activity comes in light of heightened geopolitical tensions in Galwan Valley at the Indo-China border.
Speaking to News18, Yashasvi Yadav, Inspector General of Police, cyber security at Maharashtra Police, said, In the past 4-5 days, there is a sudden surge of cyber criminal activity in the Indian cyber space. Resources and sectors such as infrastructure, information and banking have been heavily targeted in this period by Chinese attackers. At least 40,300 cyber attacks have been made in this time, and a large volume of these attacks have originated from Chengdu, the capital city of Chinas Sichuan province.
Talking about the type of attacks that have largely become prevalent, Yadav said, These attacks can be divided into three categories denial of service, IP hijacking and phishing. This has led to the Indian governments cyber infrastructure being vulnerable right now.
Echoing these observations, Himanshu Dubey, director of Quick Heal Security Labs, told News18, Over the past few days, we have seen some well-calibrated attacks targeting Indias critical infrastructure using malware that are designed to communicate with CnC (Command & Control) servers based in China. As part of these attacks, crypto miners and Remote Access Tool (RAT) malware are being dropped on victim computers, which enable remote administration and extensive interactions with those devices. Some of the actions include keylogging (a common tactic used to steal credentials), screen capture, privilege escalation (used to gain deep-level access to classified files) and data exfiltration, among others.
Dubey also said that noted Pakistani hacker collective APT36 (aka Transparent Tribe) has also been targeting Indian Defence organisations persistently since March. While it is not clear if the actions of Pakistani and Chinese hackers are correlated, Dubey said on the matter, Attackers are using honey-trapping to get inside an organisations environment, with the intent of stealing sensitive information.
Making an appeal to common users to take cyber security even more seriously in such tense socio-political times, Yadav said, I would advise everyone, including all individual users, to pay attention to necessary cyber security protocol and protect their online resources. Use robust firewalls, and for enterprises, it is important that they audit their systems by verified cyber security experts.
The Gujarat High Court late on Monday night refused to modify its earlier order to not allow holding of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, scheduled for Tuesday, and rejected an application moved by the state government seeking permission to organise the event.
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court late on Monday night refused to modify its earlier order to not allow holding of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, scheduled for Tuesday, and rejected an application moved by the state government seeking permission to organise the event.
The division bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice J B Pardilwala rejected the application filed by the state government and five other parties seeking modification of the court's order on Saturday staying the 143rd Rath Yatra.
The Supreme Court had on Monday allowed the holding of the Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri, a ground on which the Gujarat government had moved its plea.
The court started the urgent hearing at 12 am and passed its order at around 2 am on Tuesday, saying there can be no comparison between the coronavirus pandemic situation in Gujarat and Odisha.
Four individuals and an NGO apart from the government had moved applications to implead them as parties to the PIL in which the court had passed the order to not allow the historic annual procession in the city due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The court said the Rath Yatra and other processions should be held within the temple premises but no procession should be taken out in view of the prevailing coronavirus situation in Ahmedabad.
The court had stayed the Rath Yatra after hearing a PIL that said there was a risk to public health as the procession would pass through several containment areas in Ahmedabad and lakhs of people would join it along its 18-km long route.
Earlier on Monday, the court had declined to entertain a civil application moved by an NGO seeking a modification of its order and allowing a symbolic Rath Yatra for a shorter distance with no public participation.
The state government late evening moved a plea for urgent circulation after the Supreme Court paved the way for the holding of the Rath Yatra at Puri in Odisha with certain conditions.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani told reporters late on Monday evening after attending the aarti at the Lord Jagannath temple that the government has asked the Advocate General to seek from the court the permission to hold the Rath Yatra with restrictions.
The Supreme Court on Monday allowed holding of the historic Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri, which starts on Tuesday, with certain conditions including that there would be no public attendance.
Modifying its 18 June order in which it had said that this year's yatra cannot be allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the apex court permitted holding of the annual procession after taking note of Odisha government's stand that it can be held in a limited way without public attendance.
The apex court also directed Odisha government to impose a curfew in Puri city during the time when the chariots are taken out in the procession, among other conditions.
In its plea, the Gujarat government too had said that curfew will be imposed in the city areas falling on the route of the yatra and only a handful of people will be allowed with just three chariots.
Ahmedabad district has reported more than 19,000 coronavirus cases and over 1,350 deaths.
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Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, long suspected of being a target in a sweeping corruption probe involving a "pay-to-play" scheme at City Hall, was arrested Tuesday on a federal racketeering charge.
Huizar, who represents L.A.'s Council District 14, was taken into custody by FBI agents at his Boyle Heights home, according to Laura Eimiller, spokesperson for the FBI's L.A. field office.
He has been charged with "conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act," federal prosecutors said in a news release, alleging he agreed to accept at least $1.5 million in bribes.
The councilmember "led a criminal enterprise that used his powerful position at City Hall to solicit and accept lucrative bribes and other financial benefits to enrich himself and his close associates," U.S. Department of Justice officials said. That enterprise also engaged in fraud, extortion, and money laundering, according to prosecutors.
"This case pulled back the curtain on rampant corruption at City Hall," U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said in the release. "Using the power of his office to approve or stall large building projects, Huizar worked through a web of other corrupt city officials, lobbyists, consultants and developers to line his pockets and maintain his hold on Council District 14, which he turned into a money-making criminal enterprise that shaped the development landscape in Los Angeles."
The RICO conspiracy charge alleged in the complaint (which you can read below) carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Huizar's attorneys, Mary Carter Andrues and Vicki Podberesky, said the council member "intends to respond to the government's allegations in court."
"He firmly believes that these matters should be handled in a court of law and not in the media. Councilman Huizar requests that the press respect the privacy of his family and children," they said in a written statement provided to KPCC/LAist.
The FBI raided Huizar's home and district offices in 2018. A hard-drive sniffing dog was deployed at his house in Boyle Heights and agents left with a filing box labeled "Fundraising."
In that search, agents seized about $129,000 in cash from Huizar's home, according to the 172-page indictment released today (you can read the whole thing here). Federal officials said cash recovered in the 2018 raid included money found in a suit and wrapped up in a T-shirt.
These images from the federal indictment of L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar show some of the $129,000 in cash FBI agents seized from the councilmember's Boyle Heights home in November 2018. (Courtesy U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California)
Federal officials painted a detailed picture of the alleged criminal scheme. They said the investigation, dubbed "Casino Loyale," began in 2015 with a tip from "partners" in Las Vegas that Huizar was seen cashing out casino chips that were ultimately traced back to a Chinese developer.
The court filings offer the example of an unnamed company that schemed with Huizar to secure benefits connected to an Arts District project. The executive highlighted the "truly amazing" accomplishment of minimizing affordable units in a building "in a wealthy opinionated hipster community." The executive made several donations to a political action committee linked to Huizar.
Department of Justice and FBI officials stressed that their investigation into corruption at L.A. City Hall will not end with the arrest of Huizar.
Huizar made a court appearance Tuesday afternoon, but was not asked to enter a plea, according to a Department of Justice press release. The judge ordered his release on a $100,000 bond, and he was set to be released later this afternoon. A preliminary hearing was set for July 14, with an arraignment scheduled for July 20.
REACTION FROM CITY LEADERS
Following the news of Huizar's arrest, City Council President Nury Martinez said she would start the process to remove the councilmember from office.
Please see my statement on the arrest of Jose Huizar. pic.twitter.com/zrkYNwAPwk Nury Martinez (@CD6Nury) June 23, 2020
Tuesday afternoon, the City Council voted 14-0 to suspend Huizar, though he can't be officially removed from his position unless he pleads or is found guilty.
Former state Senator Kevin de Leon has already won the election to succeed Huizar with more than 50% of the vote in the March primary, but isn't scheduled to take office for several months.
"I am in discussions with 14th District Councilmember-elect Kevin de Leon on what is the best path forward for Council District 14," Martinez said. "Today's arrest of a duly elected city councilmember is a stain on our city government, but it should serve as a reminder that no one is above the law."
In May, Martinez asked Huizar not to attend meetings until there was "legal clarity" regarding his involvement in the FBI probe, and several councilmembers called on him to resign.
Mayor Eric Garcetti provided this statement to LAist:
"Councilmember Huizar has violated the trust of the people who elected him. I have zero tolerance for this criminal behavior and corruption. He should be immediately removed from the City Council and replaced by his democratically-elected successor to ensure that the 14th Council District has the representation it deserves."
Huizar's peers on the L.A. City Council are also weighing in.
"I am disappointed, disgusted, and ashamed to have shared a title with Jose Huizar," Councilmember Joe Buscaino said in a statement to LAist. "He has tarnished the reputation of the entire L.A. City Council."
Councilmember David Ryu said corruption "has been allowed to fester in City Hall for far too long," adding that serious reform is needed.
Jose Huizars corruption is disgusting. But solving pay-to-play politics does not end with his arrest. pic.twitter.com/8VNCzjoIdV David E. Ryu (@davideryu) June 23, 2020
Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell said Huizar should resign immediately, or else the City Council should vote to suspend him (that was before they voted to do just that).
"The constant stream of pay-to-play corruption indictments and guilty pleas have taken a devastating toll on the ideals of public service that I hold near and dear," O'Farrell said. "The vast majority of city employees chose a career to do some good in this world and work day in and day out with integrity and professionalism. This is a betrayal to us all."
"It's time welcome Councilmember Kevin DeLeon, and have a representative of the neighborhoods of the 14th District join the work to steer us through a time of crisis and build a better, stronger, more equitable Los Angeles," Councilmember Mike Bonin said in a statement.
Councilman Bob Blumenfield wondered why arresting and charging Huizar "took so darn long" in light of "all the damning material" that's come to light through the yearslong investigation.
"The FBI and DOJ have been clear that they are still investigating any and all forms of corruption at City Hall and I welcome their efforts," he said in a statement. "We need to root out all illegal schemes and participants before we can lift the cloud of corruption and uncertainty that is making it hard for the city to function properly. Consequences for criminal behavior, along with accountability and transparency measures, are a critical part of the process for restoring the public's trust."
"No one is above the law," Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said in a statement. "Our City, State and Country deserve public servants acting with integrity -- whether elected, appointed or sworn. I look forward to justice being served in all cases where the public's trust has been betrayed."
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
The sweeping FBI investigation of City Hall has appeared to target the Planning and Land Use Management Committee, known as PLUM -- a powerful body where development projects meet their fates. They flourish with public support or die in regulation purgatory.
The first documented activity by the FBI was a search warrant issued in February 2017 on Huizar's personal Yahoo email account.
Huizar was the chair of PLUM until the FBI raided his home and offices in the fall of 2018 and Council President Herb Wesson subsequently stripped the 14th District councilman of all committee assignments.
An FBI agent carries a case from the Boyle Heights home of L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar on Nov. 7, 2018. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
The councilman's wife, Richelle Huizar, had announced her candidacy to run for the 14th District seat when her husband was termed out of office in 2020. But her campaign was short-lived: she dropped out of the race in November 2018 following the FBI raids.
Huizar was named in another search warrant the FBI issued to Google in July 2018, which suggested the feds were digging into "development projects in and around Los Angeles that relate to foreign investors." Chinese development firms like Oceanwide Holdings were included in the warrant, which requested information from the Gmail account of Raymond Chan, former head of the city's Department of Building and Safety. Chan later worked as a deputy mayor and then at the private firm CCC Investment Group.
Other city officials and staff named in the warrant: Councilman Curren Price; Deron Williams, chief of staff to Councilman Herb Wesson; and Joel Jacinto, a Garcetti appointee to the city's board of public works.
Huizar began his political career on the LAUSD board, first elected in 2001 and rising to president in 2003. He worked as an attorney while on the school board. Four years later, he replaced Antonio Villaraigosa on the city council in a special election after Villaraigosa ascended to the mayor's office.
Huizar's district covers a swath of east and northeast L.A. and most of downtown, including Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, some of Highland Park, and Eagle Rock.
OTHER CHARGES SO FAR
Huizar's arrest follows a string of corruption-related charges connected to the FBI investigation:
On May 27, former Huizar special assistant George Esparza agreed to plead guilty to a racketeering charge. Prosecutors said that, among other crimes, Esparza helped facilitate more than $1 million in bribes from a Chinese real estate tycoon who was looking to build a skyscraper in Huizar's district. In addition to the bribes, the tycoon provided nearly $600,000 to settle a 2013 sexual harassment lawsuit against an unnamed councilmember. In 2014, Huizar settled a sexual harassment lawsuit against him by a former staffer.
On May 13, it was reported that George Chiang, a Granada Hills real estate developer, agreed to plead guilty in connection with a scheme to bribe public officials -- including an unnamed member of the L.A. City Council -- to smooth the passage of real estate projects.
On March 19, Justin Jangwoo Kim, a real estate appraiser and political fundraiser, agreed to plead guilty to facilitating a $500,000 bribe payment to an unnamed city councilman, who allegedly agreed to help usher a residential development project through PLUM, overcoming an appeal based on the state's environmental law. Kim worked with a top staffer for the councilmember, according to the plea agreement. That staffer accepted $200,000 on behalf of their boss. Kim also pocketed a large chunk of the money as compensation for organizing and carrying out the deal.
On March 27, former councilman and member of the PLUM committee Mitch Englander agreed to plead guilty to one count of scheming to falsify material facts. He had previously pleaded not guilty to seven counts of violating federal anti-corruption law. Englander was allegedly caught on tape discussing how to cover up a lavish Las Vegas trip and cash payments from a businessman who wanted lucrative Los Angeles developer connections to help sell his products.
Englander's chief-of-staff until June 2017 was now-Councilman John Lee, who represents the same district. Lee was not named in the indictment, but has since confirmed he went on the Vegas trip. On Monday, Lee said in a statement that he was unaware of any illegal activity, and cooperated "completely" with the FBI. On Wednesday, the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Association will take up a motion to call on Councilman John Lee to resign. A petition has also been started calling for Lee's resignation.
Libby Denkmann, Ryan Fonseca, Aaron Mendelson, and Mike Roe contributed to this story.
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Thiruvananthapuram, June 23 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said one more Covid-19 patient had passed away, taking the total death toll to 22 in the southern state even as 141 more positive cases were detected.
"These 141 new cases include 79 who came from abroad, and 52 returnees from within the country. Nine are local infectees and one health professional. The total positive cases now are 1,620," said Vijayan.
He pointed out that 1,50,196 people were under observation in homes, corona care centres and in hospitals in Kerala.
"By now, 1.92 lakh corona samples have been tested by various methods and more testing would be done. Till date, 3,451 positive cases were registered in the state," added Vijayan.
He said that if people failed to adhere to COVID-19 norms, strict lockdown guidelines will have to be made.
The Kerala CM was however non-committal on Kerala diaspora requiring Covid-negative certificate starting from Friday while returning from the Middle East countries.
"Discussions are on with the Centre and we will inform people about the outcome very soon," said Vijayan.
Among the new fatalities was a 68-year-old Kollam resident who had arrived from Delhi by train to Kochi on June 10. On June 17, he developing corona symptoms and was moved to the local hospital. After he tested corona positive, he was shifted to the Medical College Hospital where he passed away on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram Mayor K. Sreekumar said that restrictions will be imposed in two main city markets and malls for 10 days, wherein only 50 per cent of the shops will reopen on every alternate day.
A study involving Arabian horses from 12 countries found that some populations maintained a larger degree of genetic diversity and that the breed did not contribute genetically to the modern-day Thoroughbred, contrary to popular thought.
An international team of scientists was led by the University of Florida's Samantha Brooks, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of animal sciences; Cornell University's Doug Antczak, the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine at the Baker Institute for Animal Health; and Andy Clark, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor in Cornell's department of molecular biology and genetics.
The group collected and examined DNA samples from 378 Arabian horses from Qatar, Iran, UAE, Poland, USA, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark and Canada. The research, published June 16 in the journal Scientific Reports, was conducted over an 8-year period, beginning in 2014 before Brooks made the move from Cornell to UF. The process was a lot of effort, she said, in part due to traveling to collect the Arabians' blood and hair samples, as well as natural delays in working with international colleagues to collect and ship other samples.
The samples were anonymized for data analysis purposes, except to note the horse's location and categorizing them as endurance competition, flat course racing or show horses. The data set was also expanded using information from past studies on other breeds, which included Thoroughbreds, Persian Arabian, Turkemen and Straight Egyptians.
"The Arabian horse has a special mystique due to the long recorded history of the breed," Brooks said. "Arabian horse breeders, in particular, know their horse's bloodlines many generations back. What we found was that in the area where this breed originates - likely the near East region, but we don't know exactly - there's a healthy level of diversity. This is particularly evident in populations from Bahrain and Syria, which suggests these are some pretty old populations."
The horse is prized for characteristics like heat tolerance and endurance, as well as its unique appearance, with a dish-shaped facial profile, wide-set eyes, an arched neck and a high tail carriage. It has been exported from its ancestral homeland for centuries, with some modern lineages drawn strictly from these smaller genetic pools, giving the breed a reputation for inbred disorders. While this was true for some groups they tested, Brooks noted, they also found remarkable diversity when considering the breed as a whole.
Brooks contrasted the discovery of more diverse populations with the samples they received from racing Arabians. Another longstanding myth says that the Arabian contributed genetically to the modern Thoroughbred, but the racing Arabians' DNA told a different story.
"What we found in these samples was not that much Arabian ancestry was part of the Thoroughbred line, but the opposite: that Thoroughbred DNA exists in most of the modern racing Arabian lines, indicating a more recent interbreeding within this group," Brooks said. "I can't speculate on the how or why, but this is clearly the story the DNA is telling us."
Another implication of this study, Brooks said, is the potential to identify the genetic regions that determine some of the Arabian's unique traits, like their facial profile. This could be expanded to identify the marker for other horse breeds' head shapes, for example.
The study has a long list of co-authors, with contributors from the University of Tehran, Iran; Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar; the University of Kentucky; the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland; the Hong Kong Jockey Club; the Equine Veterinary Medical Center in Doha, Qatar; and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. Elissa Cosgrove from the Clark lab and Raheleh Sadeghi, a visiting scientist from Iran in the Antczak lab, shared first co-authorship of the study.
"An exceptional aspect of this project was the wonderful level of open collaboration and sharing of resources by veterinary geneticists, equine scientists, and horsemen from around the world," Antczak said. "It was a great pleasure to conduct this global study for the benefit of the horse."
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The research was funded by a grant from the Qatar National Research Fund with additional support from the Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research, Arabian Horse Foundation, Animal Health Foundation, Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation, Inc., and a Meinig Family Investigator award.
An unexpected side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is increased pressure on religious minorities, including violations of freedom of religion or belief. According to U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Ahmed Shaheed, The pandemic has caused a flare-up in existing religious intolerance in many countries. I am alarmed to see the upsurge in incitement to hatred, scapegoating religious or belief communities, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims for the spread of virus.
The fact is that 83 percent of the worlds population lives in places with high or very high restrictions on worship and religious expression, most of them targeting religious minorities. The coronavirus pandemic did not create these conditions, but it has made the situation worse.
For that reason, U.S. President Donald Trump on June 2 signed an Executive Order to advance international religious freedom by integrating it into U.S. diplomacy.
The Executive Order requires the Secretary of State to develop a plan within six months that will prioritize international religious freedom in the planning and implementation of United States foreign policy and the foreign assistance programs of the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. It also provides at least $50 million per fiscal year for programs that advance international religious freedom.
USAID will play a critical role in the implementation of the Executive Order, said USAID Acting Administrator John Barsa in a written statement. Americans have always believed our first freedom is the freedom of religion, and it is a key component of our national security strategy.
USAID's efforts toward fulfillment of the President's Executive Order on Advancing International Religious Freedom will be managed by Samah Norquist, Senior Advisor on Religious Freedom and Pluralism in the Middle East. Ms. Norquist has decades of experience working in international affairs and religious liberty issues in the Middle East and globally.
Promoting religious liberty is a pillar of our new multi-year country strategies, said Acting Administrator Barsa.
Whether in response to genocide committed against Christians and Yazidis in Northern Iraq, or the ethnic cleansing of the Muslim Rohingya in Burma, the institutional culture regarding international religious freedom has become a top priority at USAID.
FORT HOOD The family of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, a Fort Hood soldier missing for two months, angrily denounced the Armys initial response to her suspicious disappearance after meeting with the posts deputy commanding general and learning that investigators believe she is a victim of foul play.
I begged them to go out to look for my daughter, and they didnt, they never did. I begged them to close that base, to investigate room by room, barrack by barrack, building by building, Gloria Guillen told reporters Tuesday. They never did.
Flanked by a Tampa, Fla.-based attorney and a Houston congresswoman, Guillens family held an emotional news conference outside Fort Hoods main gate after meeting with commanders and the Army Criminal Investigation Command, commonly known as CID.
Guillen, 20, of Houston was last seen between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on April 22 in the parking lot of her 3rd Cavalry Regiments engineer squadron headquarters. Her car keys, barracks room key, ID card and wallet were found in an armory room where she had worked earlier in the day.
Search teams that have combed lakes, rivers and rugged rural areas from near Belton to Fort Hood now expect to find a body not rescue her alive.
I think right now were looking at recovery, said Tim Miller, founder and director of Texas EquuSearch, a Dickinson-based organization that has supplied volunteer searchers in the hunt for Guillen since late April. Ive been wrong before, and I hope Im wrong this time, but I dont feel as though I am wrong.
U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, said a CID investigator told the family that foul play was involved, but little was said about what might be done next.
They just said that they were going to keep investigating and that theyre looking at a number of things, but thats all we could get out of them. But the fact that theyre saying foul play now tells us a lot.
Guillen grew up in southeast Houston, an area represented by Garcia, and graduated from Cesar Chavez High School. Records show she joined the Army on June 11, 2018.
Efforts to find her have become a national cause, prompting actress Salma Hayek to post a photo of the GI in civilian clothing with the message, Bring Us Back Vanessa in English and Spanish.
Now Playing: Pfc. Vanessa Guillens mother, Gloria, her sister, Lupe, and US Rep. Sylvia Garcia talk with the media at Fort Hood. Video: San Antonio Express-News
Garcia and the missing womans family met with Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt a day after volunteers and Fort Hood investigators searched a stretch of river 23 miles to the southeast. EquuSearchs Miller said three dozen volunteers using sonar and other devices also have scoured lakes on Fort Hood that are about a quarter of a mile from where she vanished.
How to help find Pfc. Vanessa Guillen The Army Criminal Investigation Command is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for credible information leading to the whereabouts of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen. Anyone with information can contact Army CID at (254) 495-7767. They also can also anonymously submit tips at https://www.cid.army.mil/report-a-crime.html. See More Collapse
Despite the search efforts, which began nine days after Guillen disappeared and have been conducted repeatedly since, Lupe Guillen told reporters that she no longer trusted the Army and believed her sister had been sexually harassed.
My sister is not the first or the last victim. This is going to keep coming for other young women that are just trying to serve and protect the country, so I want justice and I want answers, she said, sobbing.
Someone kidnapped her, and shes missing after two months, and shes still not with me, and I want her, and I want her alive. Because she entered that base alive, and I want her back like that. I want her alive, and I want her still with me.
Havent quit looking
Initial searches included more than 500 soldiers per day who combed parts of training areas, barracks and other sections of Fort Hood. Helicopters from the 1st Cavalry Division have flown 100 hours on and off post.
The search Sunday and Monday, in an area by the Leon River south of Temple, was the fifth that had been done in parts of Central Texas in a 25-mile radius of the post, Miller said. In one case, searchers used sonar to penetrate the depths of Lake Belton but turned up nothing.
We havent quit looking, Fort Hood spokesman Tyler Broadway said.
The family has insisted that Guillen was the victim of sexual harassment by a sergeant who walked in on her as she showered. Lupe Guillen said Tuesday that 200 soldiers had gone missing at Fort Hood over the years, while another sister, Mayra Guillen, alleged on a Go Fund Me page that the soldier was being held against her will. The page Monday reported raising $73,730.
Broadway, the post spokesman, said 74 GIs had gone absent without leave since 2020 and that 53 of them had returned to duty.
He said he didnt know if Guillens chain of command had been notified of a sexual harassment complaint before she vanished. The regiments commander, Col. Ralph Overland, ordered an investigation of the incident Thursday. An investigating officer will report back him.
The allegation triggered a series of testimonials on the #FindVanessaGuillen Facebook page from women who said they had been targets of sexual harassment and sexual assaults while in the military.
One commenter, Meli Cordello, contributed $40 and said that as a veteran, she was sure Guillen had been sexually harassed, adding, That type of unwanted attention happens all the time.
Elizabeth Guillen donated $50 to the Go Fund Me site, saying she was a soldier at Fort Hood who had been confused with the missing woman when she used the Armys Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, or SHARP.
I too had a SHARP situation, she wrote. I know how scary and alone one can feel during a sexual harassment situation. I know the feeling of thinking you can fix it on your own. My heart goes out to the family of my sister in arms. I pray for her, and hope she is found soon.
Sexual assault an issue
The problem has persisted for years throughout the services. Just last month, the Pentagons latest study on sexual assault and harassment revealed a persistent pattern of rising incidents.
The number of sexual assault reports in the armed services rose 3 percent last year, with the Air Force showing the sharpest jump 9 percent from the previous year, a continuation of a long-term trend. The Pentagon said 6,236 reports were filed by service members in fiscal year 2019, which ended Sept. 30. It was 6,053 in 2018.
The family had many questions about what had happened, with Garcia saying no one had yet produced a timeline of events. The attorney, Natalie Khawam, said the family doesnt know who Guillen was reporting to on the day she disappeared, but pointed to text messages that aroused their suspicion, containing the serial number of a weapon she was supposed to inspect.
Why would she put that in a text message? That seems like it defeats protocol, so were wondering if he used her phone to text himself and make it look like she was working, Khawam said. Thats our suspicion; we hope we brought light to that. Why would you use your personal cell phone when youre supposed to write things down in a book a lot of it doesnt connect.
In an emotional statement to reporters in Spanish, Guillens mother contended the Army hadnt searched hard enough for her daughter.
The Army had to do more to find her, she said, adding, I demand that they investigate their houses, their ranches, their rooms, their cell phones, that they take away (their cell phones) from them until they tell me where my daughter is!
While the family made it clear they want a joyous reunion with Guillen, Garcia said theyre also beginning to grapple with the possibility it isnt going to happen.
I think the familys beginning to I know the father today shared with me that he thinks somethings gone wrong, she said of Rogelio Roger Guillen, who was at the post Tuesday but did not speak. So I think the family is slowly beginning to wrestle with that, and I think its weighing on them very heavy.
Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Sig, become a subscriber. sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe
Flash
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread quickly in South Asia on Monday with India's death toll rising to 13,699 and total cases reaching 425,282, while Thailand reported no confirmed local transmissions for the 28th consecutive day.
India's federal health ministry Monday morning said 445 new deaths due to COVID-19, besides fresh 14,821 positive cases were reported during the past 24 hours across the country, taking the number of deaths to 13,699 and total cases to 425,282.
Bangladesh reported 3,480 more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total cases in the country to over 115,000.
Meanwhile, 38 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh, senior health ministry official Nasima Sultana said in a briefing on Monday afternoon.
"The total number of positive cases is now 115,786 and death toll stands currently at 1,502 with the fresh fatalities of 33 men and five women," she said.
Cases in Indonesia rose by 954 within one day to 46,845, with the death toll adding by 35 to 2,500, Achmad Yurianto, a health ministry official, said at a press conference.
Cases in the Philippines rose to 30,682 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 630 more infections.
The DOH said in its bulletin that the number of recoveries rose to 8,143 after 250 more patients survived the disease.
The death toll also increased to 1,177 after eight more patients succumbed to the disease, the DOH added.
Afghanistan's Public Health Ministry confirmed 310 new positive COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 29,143 in the country, spokesman for the ministry Sayedudin Jami said.
According to the official, 12 patients died over the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 598 since the outbreak of the disease in February in Afghanistan.
An Australian defense force officer has become Papua New Guinea's (PNG) ninth confirmed COVID-19 patient, local newspaper The National reported.
PNG'S National Pandemic Controller David Manning said the case was a reminder to the public that the risk of COVID-19 in PNG remains "very high."
The Australian state of Victoria has taken a step back from easing COVID-19 restrictions scheduled for Monday, after recording a spike in new infections.
The state recorded 16 news cases on Monday following six straight days of double digit growth, including more than 40 new cases over the weekend -- the largest increase for Victoria in two months.
South Korea reported 17 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of 0:00 a.m. Monday local time, raising the total number of infections to 12,438.
The daily caseload fell below 20 in almost four weeks. For the past week, the daily confirmed cases moved between 40 and 60 due to small cluster infections.
No more death was confirmed, leaving the death toll at 280. The total fatality rate stood at 2.25 percent.
New Zealand reported two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total active cases in the country to nine, all linked to overseas travel, according to the Ministry of Health.
The combined number of confirmed and probable cases in New Zealand is 1,511, according to the ministry.
The number of COVID-19 related deaths in New Zealand was 22, while that of recovered cases was 1,482, the health ministry said.
The Thai government reported no confirmed local transmissions of the COVID-19 pandemic for the 28th consecutive day. "The only new COVID-19 cases are the imported ones," said Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Thailand now stands at 3,151 with 58 deaths since January.
The number of COVID-19 recoveries in Sri Lanka surpassed the 1,500-mark on Monday after 28 patients were discharged from hospital, health ministry statistics showed.
According to the health ministry, to date, 1,950 people have been infected with the virus after the first local patient was detected in March, out of which 1,526 patients have recovered, bringing down the total active cases to 424.
A total of 11 deaths have been reported from the virus in the country so far.
In the days following the death by suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, netizens and a few celebrities have been expressing their anger on the 'camp' culture of Bollywood. Celebrities like Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Alia bhatt and others are being accused of being responsible for Sushant's death, and they are getting more and more violent by the day.
As is that's not enough, even fans of these celebrities are being targeted and being pressured to unfollow them on social media. Former Bigg Boss contestant Arshi Khan, who is vocal about being a big fan of Salman's, is one such celeb who is being viciously attacked on her personal number.
Arshi has been receiving abusive messages from people for following Salman Khan.
Speaking to Telly Chakkar, Arshi said, "As everyone knows that I'm big fan of Salman Khan and I'm very much vocal about it since Bigg Boss days, so now after Sushant's death, people are texting me, calling me on my personal number, I don't know how they got it... I'm surprised... and my social media accounts pe toh I'm trolled... People asking me to stop following Salman. asking me if I'm physical with him. I can't narrate but I'm being harassed. I don't really know how I'm dragged in the story. What's my mistake? I'm being mentally tortured... if this really doesn't stop soon... I'll go legal on this."
ALSO READ: Harshvardhan Kapoor Asks 'What If Those Being Targets Of Hate Today, Depart Tomorrow?'
She added, "I'm sorry for the loss of Sushant. but it really doesn't mean these people who claim to be his fans will harass others. I'm very much in favour of Salman Khan... and I'll b always be... because I know he is not at fault. Rest laws are here... I trust our Indian law."
Sushant was found hanging in his apartment on June 14, 2020. Sushant did not leave a note. The police are currently investigating the reasons behind his suicide.
ALSO READ: Sushant Singh Rajput Death: Shekhar Suman Feels 'There Is More Than Meets The Eye'!
Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM
BERLIN - The former CEO of German financial technology company Wirecard has been arrested on suspicion of misrepresenting the firms finances in an accounting scandal that centres on a missing 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion), prosecutors in Munich said Tuesday.
Markus Braun resigned on Friday after the company said that auditors couldnt find accounts containing the money. On Monday, Wirecard said it had concluded that the money probably doesnt exist.
A court issued an arrest warrant shortly afterward and Braun, who had been in Vienna, turned himself in on Monday evening.
The arrest deepens a scandal engulfing Wirecard AG, which provides companies the technologies and platforms for cashless payments. It was once regarded as a star of the growing financial technology sector, attracting international investors and getting listed on Germanys blue-chip stock index. But its fortunes began to turn after the company became the subject last year of Financial Times reports about accounting irregularities in its Asian operations. Wirecard disputed the reports and said it was the victim of speculators.
Braun is accused of inflating the companys financial position using sham income from other businesses, possibly in collaboration with further perpetrators, in order to portray the company as financially stronger and more attractive for investors and clients, the prosecutors said in a statement.
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 the incorrect financial statements were used to get bank loans.
After Braun turned himself in, he pledged his co-operation in a first meeting with investigators, Leiding told reporters.
Later Tuesday, he was brought before a judge, who ordered that he be released on condition that he post a 5 million-euro ($5.7 million) bail and report to police every week, prosecutors said. They said it wasnt considered necessary to keep him in custody to secure the proceedings at present, given that he had turned himself in.
On Monday Wirecard fired its chief operating officer, Jan Marsalek, who had been suspended from the board last week. German news agency dpa reported that Marsalek had been in charge of overseeing daily operations including in Southeast Asia, where the possible fraud occurred.
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 Philippines 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 1.9 billion euros 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 22.6% in Frankfurt trading at 17.70 euros.
The Bachelor's Laura Byrne has revealed she has been tested for coronavirus.
The former reality star said her fiance Matty 'J' Johnson sent her out like a 'sacrificial lamb' to get a COVID-19 test when the whole family fell ill.
Recalling the situation to former co-star Brittany Hockley on their podcast Life Uncut, the 31-year-old explained that with her grandmother's 90th birthday fast approaching, she was forced to go out and get tested on behalf of the family when Matty refused to do so.
'He just wouldn't do it': The Bachelor's Laura Byrne has revealed that her fiance Matty 'J' Johnson sent her out like a 'sacrificial lamb' to get a COVID-19 test when the whole family fell ill
'I got the flu, Matty got the flu, and Marley [their one-year-old daughter] got the flu,' Laura explained. 'I feel like anyone who gets the flu now just thinks it's COVID. I thought, "I can't leave the house, I can't do anything."'
Laura then relayed her horror when Matt 'sent her out as the sacrificial lamb to go and get COVID tested'.
She went on to explain that she was further prompted to go for the test because her Nana's milestone 90th birthday was coming up on the weekend, and she desperately wanted to see her.
'I was like, "we have to go and see her!" It's been a big year for us. I couldn't not see her [sic],' she said.
'Obviously, I needed to know whether I was hugely contagious and if I had this killer virus.'
Laura then detailed the testing process, revealing: 'I had a cotton bud shoved into my brain and up your nose - as far as you can possibly push something.
'I had to see her': The 31-year-old explained that with her grandmother's 90th birthday fast approaching, she was forced to get tested on behalf of the family when Matty refused to do so
'A cotton bud shoved into my brain': Laura then spoke about the COVID-19 testing process in detail
'It was swabbed around and pulled out. Then they go on in and do the second side!' She hilariously added: 'It's then most penetration I've had in a while!'
Laura added that her test came back negative and she was not suffering from coronavirus.
Laura and her other half Matty recently celebrated a year since welcoming their first child together, Marlie-Mae.
The doting parents posted loving tributes to their adorable little girl to celebrate her first birthday.
'Happy birthday to this sassy, funny, smart, cuddly, nocturnal, smiley little slice of human pudding,' Laura captioned a series of candid photos from Marlie-Mae's first year.
She's growing up so fast! On Saturday, Laura and Matty posted loving tributes to Instagram to celebrate their adorable daughter Marlie-Mae's first birthday (all pictured)
'Being your mummy, your back up dancer, your chef and chauffeur is the best gig in the biz. We love you,' she added.
Accompanying her post was a series of images of Laura and Marlie-Mae, with the adorable tiny tot showing off her big cheeky grin.
Proud father Matty also shared a video tribute on his Instagram page.
So sweet: 'Being your mummy, your back up dancer, your chef and chauffeur is the best gig in the biz. We love you,' Laura captioned a sweet series of images from her daughter's first year
The short clip started by showing a pregnant Laura before she gave birth in hospital, and ended with the toddler being able to stand on her own.
The footage of Marlie-Mae was accompanied by a moving rendition of Can't Help Falling In Love by Kina Grannis.
'Our little girl is one!!! Happy birthday to the best thing that ever happened to us. Love you Marlie-Mae,' he captioned the post.
Proud father! Proud father Matty also shared a video tribute on his Instagram page
'I'm not crying YOU ARE... how lucky we are,' Laura responded to his sweet tribute, adding a red heart emoji.
Their celebrity friends were quick to send their good wishes to Marlie-Mae for her big day.
'Happy b'day,' wrote Married At First Sight star Jules Robinson, who is expecting her first child with husband Cameron Merchant in September.
Well wishes! Their celebrity friends were quick to send their good wishes to Marlie-Mae for her big day
'I love her so much,' wrote Laura's podcast host and fellow Bachelor alum Brittany.
'She is too much! Happy birthday beautiful Marlie-Mae,' commented Bachelor star Elly Miles.
Last month, Laura told TV week magazine that the coronavirus pandemic meant they had to scale back their celebrations for Marlie-Mae's birthday.
Restrictions: Last month, Laura told TV week magazine that the coronavirus pandemic meant they had to scale back their celebrations for Marlie-Mae's birthday
'It's sad we won't be able to have a first birthday party with our friends and family, but we are still going to try and make the day special,' Laura said.
The health crisis has also forced the couple to postpone their wedding til next year.
Laura and Matty fell in love on the 2017 season of the Bachelor.
The pair became engaged while on vacation in Fiji in April 2018, two months before they welcomed their daughter.
Appointment
23 June 2020
The historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, operated by Pivot Hotels & Resorts, is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Cerrie as the property's new Executive Chef. In his role, Cerrie oversees the operations of Grand Hotel's on-site restaurants, including the spectacular Main Dining Room, Woods, Jockey Club at the Grand Stand, The Gatehouse, Grand Coffee and Provisions, and Fort Mackinac Tea Room.
Cerrie has more than 25 years of culinary experience and has prepared food for dignitaries and celebrities alike. In 2013, Cerrie was inducted as Chef Rotisseur into the Chaine des Rotisseurs, the world's oldest international gastronomic society that celebrates the practice of choosing, cooking and eating fine cuisine and wine.
Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, Cerrie trained at the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute in Pittsburgh. He went on to study abroad in the Caribbean, Cuba and Jamaica where he expanded on his professional training and refined his Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asian food techniques while finding creative ways to infuse them into his own style of cooking. His resume includes stints at The Erie Club, Erie's acclaimed Bayfront Grille and Aloft and Element Austin Downtown.
SHANGHAI, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Music China, jointly organized by CMIA, Shanghai INTEX and Messe Frankfurt, returns in Shanghai New International Expo Centre on October 28-31, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic has been effectively curbed in China, people's life and business is back on track, and tradeshows in Shanghai will also return from July.
Embracing its 19th edition this year, Music China is accepted as one of the world's largest tradeshows of musical instruments. Traders and dealers from over the world gather together each year on the show, seeking for innovative products and potential business opportunities. Last year, Music China hosted more than 2,400 exhibitors from over 34 countries and regions, drawing 122,519 attendees from 78 countries and regions.
In 2020, Music China will cover an exhibiting area of 145,000 square metres, with 13 exhibition halls displaying different categories of musical instruments and products, expecting to host more than 2,500 international exhibitors and over 128,000 visitors from both home and abroad. Except for the exhibition, over 70 industrial forums and seminars will also be organized during the show, leading to the future prosperity of the world's music industry. It is undoubtedly a platform for exhibitors to seek business opportunities, as well as for audiences to acquire insight of the industry.
Despite the impact of the pandemic, global brands have still confirmed to attend Music China 2020, including AKG, Aria, AXL, Bechstein, Buffet, Casio, Conn-Selmer, Dunhuang, Fengling, Hsinghai, JBL, Jinyin, JOYO, Kawai, Levy's, NUX, Parsons, Pearl River, PianoDisc, Pioneer DJ, Saga, Samick, Schimmel, Seiler Steinway, Taylor, Yamaha, and Yanagisawa. They are expected to provide visitors with their trendy products and fancy booths.
Although the epidemic spread has become a global issue recently, there are good signs as the world has been making joint efforts to contain and mitigate the virus. Music China, under this context, is still playing its role as the platform to link exhibitors and their targeted audiences, working together as responsible partners with all the exhibitors to pull through.
For more information about Music China 2020, please visit our official website: www.musicchina-expo.com . We look forward to seeing you this autumn.
Contacts:
Ms Arlene Zhu
+86-21-6295-5609
zhuliwen@shanghai-intex.com
Pharos Inc., a SaaS provider that helps manage the business and economics of cybersecurity, today announced a partnership with Indelible, LLC, a leading strategic cybersecurity consultancy, to offer clients in the U.S. and Canada a unique combination of software and consulting services designed to strengthen and optimize cybersecurity operations.
The Pharos security-economics SaaS platform helps CISOs model and justify cyber threat preparedness outcomes, and to track and optimize security operations in delivery. Pharos utilizes proprietary threat and budget quantifying and calibrating processes that structure security strategy, budget, and operations into measurable key performance indicators. These are continuously calculated and monitored to ensure budget is best leveraged and resources are guided to optimal outcomes. This is all done in a strong business context to ensure security prioritizes the most important results in business terms.
"Security strategies must move quickly as the business-scape, threat-scape, and available budget and resources seems to evolve each month. The executive team at Indelible consists of three of the most accomplished professionals in cyber security consulting and I have seen firsthand how satisfied their customers are. There is a natural fit here between these front-line industry leaders and the deep design of the Pharos SaaS platform," said Pharos founder and CTO Douglas Ferguson.
Indelible, LLC has built a reputation for helping clients solve some of the most complex challenges in Cybersecurity. Examples include advanced advisory services for full security program as well as specific program components like assessment and management of Security Operations, Vulnerability Management, and Secure Software Development, and Cyber Incident Response (IR).
"We are seeing that todays CISOs rely heavily on their partners and trusted advisors. We build strong, effective, and secure environments with right-sized policies and practices," said Carric Dooley, Indelible's co-founder and CEO. "Pharos provides clients with a best-of-breed SaaS solution that measures and prioritizes key performance elements within any type of defense profile in a manner that is highly valuable. Our entire team is excited about this partnership and look forward to helping the professionals at Pharos with an extended set of solutions to help deliver true security to their clients."
About Pharos Security
Pharos delivers a security-economic quant system as a real-time SaaS platform for business leadership and security management to centrally manage the business of cyber security.
For more information about Pharos and its services visit: https://pharossecurity.com/
About Indelible
Indelible LLC provides advanced cybersecurity services to both advise on, and directly manage security posture and active cyber threats. Combining strategic and tactical guidance on capability and program alongside a highly competitive Cyber Incident Response (IR) offering, Indelible can help with asserting control over the impact of a cyber incident or raise the chances of avoiding a high-impact incident altogether.
For more information about Indelible and its products visit: https://www.Indelible.global
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend:
Exports of mining industry products from Turkey to Turkmenistan grew 2.5 times from January through May 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, having exceeded $2.7 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend.
In May 2020, exports of mining products from Turkey to Turkmenistan increased 4.9 times compared to May 2019 and surpassed $1.7 million.
In the first 5 months of 2020, the export of mining products from Turkey to the world market dropped by 15.1 percent compared to the same period of 2019. In this period, Turkeys export of mining products made up 2.5 percent of the countrys total exports.
In May 2020, Turkey exported $272.7 million worth of mining products to the foreign markets, which is 40.5 percent less compared to the same month of last year. Thus, the countrys export of mining products accounted for 2.7 percent of its total exports in the reporting month.
According to the ministry, from May 2019 through May 2020, Turkey exported over $4 million worth of mining industry products to international markets.
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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
The next government must address barriers to work for asylum seekers as part of a programme for government commitment to end Direct Provision, the Irish Refugee Council has said.
Irish Refugee Council CEO Nick Henderson said the latest Department of Justice figures on the number of asylum seekers who are working or looking for work showed the potential of right to work regulations but that barriers must be addressed.
The latest figures to June 2020 show that almost 6,500 asylum seekers have sought permission to work since the government introduced right to work regulations two years ago, of which 71% -4,614- were granted permission.
Of those granted permission to work around half (2,187) found work and 30% (662) were working and living independently.
A nine-month waiting period before applicants can seek permission to work and difficulties opening bank accounts or securing a driving licence presented barriers to work for asylum seekers, Mr Henderson said.
The numbers show the potential of the right to work and that, if it was broadened out, more people could work, Mr Henderson said, adding that the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic would also have to be taken into account.
Nearly a third of people, who are working, are living independently and that shows that people can support themselves and contribute back to the economy.
The waiting time should be reduced to a maximum of three months or removed altogether, Mr Henderson said, adding that the whole asylum process and system needs to be overhauled.
There is Direct Provision in terms of bricks and mortar and accommodation and there is the wider reception system, which includes the right to work and a vulnerability assessment, and those are the kinds of things that need to be addressed and changed as well, Mr Henderson said.
US President Donald Trump has banned Green Cards and non-immigrant visas such as H-1B till the end of 2020 in a move intended to help the US economy.
The move will impact IT firms and the technology industry in both India and the US.
Also read: What is the actual impact of Trumps H-1B visa ban and other questions answered
Around four lakh H-1B and one lakh L-1 Indian visa-holders in the US are employed across many technology and IT firms.
The White House said the suspension of Green Cards and non-immigrant visas would help create 5.25 lakh jobs for US workers.
US-based technology giants such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple and Intel hire a large number of staff through the H-1B visa, and have a high approval rate of 96 percent.
While the move will not affect employees with valid visas who are already in the US, it will hurt employees who have valid H-1B visas but are not currently in the US. It may also force the companies to pause recruitment of individuals who require the H-1B visa.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed disappointment at the suspension of the visas.
"Immigration has contributed immensely to America's economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today, Pichai said in a tweet.
Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, the Twitter vice-president for public policy and philanthropy, said it undermined the greatest economic asset: its diversity".
Amazon, too, reacted to the move, calling it "short-sighted".
"Preventing high skilled professionals from entering the country and contributing to Americas economic recovery puts Americans global competitiveness at risk" the company said in a statement.
A Kotak Institutional Securities report has said that a prolonged ban of H-1B and L-1 visas will adversely impact the talent supply chain of the IT companies even if the companies boost their localisation in the US, which is more than 50 percent.
Also read: H-1B visa ban | NASSCOM urges US govt to shorten suspension of visa to 90 days
The Trump administration's move to suspend H-1B visas will hurt innovation, productivity, and job creation in the US, according to Michael Clemens, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development and a leading migration economist said.
"H-1B visas are a major channel for the most educated and entrepreneurial people in the world to begin working and putting down roots in America," he said.
India-based software majors such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro and Cognizant, which hire several employees at their US offices through the H-1B visa, will also be adversely impacted by the ban on non-immigrant visas and green cards.
A dedicated husband who went viral after sitting outside of his pregnant wife's hospital room so they could enjoy weekly date nights has revealed she gave birth to a healthy baby boy - just in time for Father's Day.
Robert Conlin, 45, from Illinois, spent weeks sitting outside his wife Shona Moeller's hospital room after she was admitted more than a month before her due date - forcing them to spend the remainder of her pregnancy apart because of COVID-19 restrictions surrounding visitors.
But over the weekend, Robert was finally reunited with his wife - just in time to be there when Shona, 41, gave birth to their baby boy, Forest, who arrived on Saturday, the day before the new dad celebrated his first Father's Day as a parent.
Family! Illinois resident Robert Conlin went viral after sitting outside of his pregnant wife's hospital room for weekly date nights, and he has now revealed they welcomed a baby boy
Journey: Shona Moeller, 41, was admitted to hospital 72 days ago when her water broke prematurely at 20 weeks - and she was separated from her husband Bob because of COVID-19
Adorable! The couple's baby son Forest was born prematurely, weighing in at 4lbs 3oz and measuring at 17.5 inches
Taking to Facebook on Saturday, 70 days after Shona entered the hospital when her water broke prematurely at 20 weeks, Robert shared images of his wife on the way to the delivery room.
The proud dad shared a selfie of the two of them in the hospital, as well as a picture of Shona in a wheelchair, surrounded by nurses, before revealing that his preemie son had been born less than two hours later.
In a separate post, Robert, who goes by Bob, revealed that Forest was born just after lunchtime, weighing 4lbs 3 oz and measuring 17.5 inches long.
'Here he is. Forest Gace Walter Conlin,' Bob wrote while sharing adorable images of his newborn son. '4lbs 3 oz, 17.5 inches long. Hes doing well. Momma is doing well. Im a mess and doing well.'
A few hours after Forest was born, the baby boy met his mother for the very first time, after being taken to the NICU, where he is being treated for complications relating to his premature birth.
Sharing photos of Forest and Shona's first meeting, Bob wrote: 'Momma meets Forest for the first time. He immediately started rooting as soon as he got near her.
'We were moved to the mother baby unit saying goodbye to Shonas home for the last 69 days.
'Forest is in the NICU doing well. The Neonatologist said Forest blew us away with how well hes doing. Things can change quickly so we celebrate this now.
He's here! Because he couldn't see her in person, Bob would sit outside his Shona's hospital window for weekly date nights
'Here we go!' Bob, 45, has been sharing regular updates from the hospital after the couple went viral thanks to his sweet weekly date nights
Get ready: Shona spent 70 days in hospital without her husband - who was finally allowed in to see her just before the birth of their son
'Some rest then we take turns going to see him.'
On Tuesday, proud dad Bob shared another update with the family's friends and followers, revealing that Shona will be released from the hospital on Wednesday, while their son is likely to be moved out of his incubator and into a proper NICU bed after making brilliant progress.
'Forest is doing all the things magical babies do,' Bob wrote on his wife's 72nd day in the hospital. 'He had a great night. He is holding his oxygen levels at 100% and using less air flow each day.
'His Physical Therapy is progressing and his IV is coming out tonight! Hes tolerating his feeds and hes wanting more and more. Shona is dry nuzzling him and he goes nuts when he smells and feels Momma.
'He will likely be moved from his spaceship to a normal NICU bed tomorrow... This is unbelievable and yet of course he is doing as well as he is. He was born of Magic and Miracles.
'Shona walked the hall for the first time in 72 days this morning. Momma is progressing well.
'Our last Date Night Dinner at and in the hospital is tonight. Mom will be discharged tomorrow. Hallelujah.'
Baby Forest's birth came 70 days after Shona was first admitted to the hospital, during which time her husband Robert was not allowed into see her.
Little one on the way! Shona's water broke prematurely at 20 weeks, and she was admitted to the hospital at 23-weeks pregnant
Love: Robert started coming by once a week and sitting outside her window, four floors down
Dedication: He holds up cute signs and brings dinner, having her meal delivered to her in her room
However the proud father refused to let COVID-19 regulations prevent him from spending time with his wife, and he set up weekly socially-distanced date nights, bringing her takeout and then sitting at a table four floors below her window, holding up sweet signs and FaceTiming her.
Shona's water broke prematurely when she was just 20 weeks pregnant. A fetus is considered viable at 24 weeks, so Shona was ordered to stay on bedrest to delay delivery.
She stayed at home at first, but at 23 weeks, she was admitted to the Amita Health Adventist Medical Center in Hinsdale, near Chicago. Because of the pandemic, the couple wouldn't be able to be together again until she gave birth.
'I remember the day before she went into the hospital and we were both just sobbing and I was thinking how could Shona possibly be going through this without me by her side,' Robert told Good Morning America. 'It was really sad and scary but we just focused on the baby and tried to make the best of the situation.'
'After she was here for a couple days, she was able to get moved to a room with a window to the outside,' he said in an interview with WGN9.
'And once we found that out, that I could come and visit and see her through the fourth story window, it just seemed like were going to capitalize everything we can with that because thats all weve got.'
Robert told her that he was planning a date night. She assumed that they'd just talk over FaceTime, but Robert had more in mind.
Shona said: 'I got a package and they brought it into my room and theyre like, "Look down." And he was there and he had this sign that said, "I love you."
'In this time where Im by myself, every gesture feels so monumental and lovely and sweet,' Shona said
Sweet: She's held onto the signs and has them hanging in her window
'Shona has been really great with sending pictures and Forest gets monitored a few times a day and she calls me every time it happens so Im able to hear his heartbeat,' Robert said
She told GMA she 'lost her breath' when she spotted him.
'In this time where Im by myself, every gesture feels so monumental and lovely and sweet,' Shona said. 'It felt like he had traveled the world to come see me because it meant so much.
'Hes just been a beacon of support,' she added. 'He has such a big heart.'
Since that first time, he's brought more signs, including 'Proud Papa' and 'You are beautiful.'
The mom-to-be will stay on bedrest for the rest of her pregnancy to increase Forest's chance of survival.
She is currently 28 weeks along, which gives the baby a five per cent mortality risk if he was born now. They're hoping to get her to 34 weeks before she gives birth. Full term is 40 weeks.
'Shona has been really great with sending pictures and Forest gets monitored a few times a day and she calls me every time it happens so Im able to hear his heartbeat,' Robert said.
More recently, Shona hasn't been able to get out of bed to see him at the window, but they're still having date nights and Robert will be able to join her in the delivery room when she gives birth.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. and PARIS, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 6WIND, a high-performance networking software company, today announced that Togglebox, an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) company, selected its Turbo Router software to boost performance and security for its cloud hosting business. Togglebox competes with cloud computing providers such as Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure with its dedication to customers seeking the highest level of customer service and performance without overpaying for cutting edge server technology.
vRouter Software Replaces Hardware
Togglebox was looking to replace aging Brocade MLX devices that had reached their maximum capacity. As a growing IaaS company with an increasing customer list, Togglebox required a solution that could support over 1 million routes and a large number of Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) entries. Togglebox researched hardware and software options and discovered that 6WIND Turbo Router met these requirements, and more, as a vRouter installed on its SuperMicro Intel-based 10G and 100G servers.
Togglebox is currently using 6WIND Turbo Router for upstream BGP routing, Layer 3 routing of VLANs, Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) for high availability and as a firewall with security features such as sFlow and filtering. 6WIND's high performance security software features are important to protect Togglebox's customers from inbound and outbound DDoS attacks by handling bursts of small packets at line rate.
"6WIND vRouters allowed us to replace our Brocade MLX devices, and upgrade overall performance and security, with software," said Matt Ayres, Owner of Togglebox. "No other hardware or software solutions were able to achieve these metrics for us previously."
"6WIND vRouters help Togglebox continue its mission as an innovator in the cloud hosting market," said Kelly LeBlanc, 6WIND VP of Marketing and Business Development. "Togglebox is a testament to the value of software as a replacement for hardware to increase performance and customer service, at an attractive price."
6WIND's vRouter family includes Turbo Router, Turbo IPsec and Turbo CG-NAT software packages with license options according to capacity, tunnel and connection requirements.
Click here to read the full case study.
About 6WIND
6WIND provides server software for networking deployed globally at Tier-1 OEMs, Service Providers and Enterprises. 6WINDGate helps OEMs build 5G, TCP, Telecom Infrastructure and Network Appliance solutions on x86 and Arm processors in months versus years. 6WIND's vRouter family replaces hardware with software for Border Router, CG-NAT, VPN Concentrator and Hypervisor Acceleration solutions. 6WIND is based near Paris, France with regional offices in China and the United States. For more information visit: http://www.6wind.com
Company Contact:
Kelly LeBlanc
VP of Marketing for 6WIND
Phone: +1 (408) 508-6732
[email protected]
SOURCE 6WIND
Related Links
http://6wind.com
Another K-Mart in the midstate is closing
K-Mart at 3975 Columbia Ave. in West Hempfield Township will close, a store employee and manager told LancasterOnline.
PennLive reached out to Transformco, the parent company of Kmart and Sears but the company declined to comment.
Seritage Growth Properties, the property owner, announced it had reached an agreement to terminate leases at the 17 properties where it rents to Kmart and Sears including the West Hempfield store if the stores close by the end of September, the LancasterOnline report said.
K-Mart has closed a number of stores in the midstate in recent years.
Kmart closed three midstate stores at 5600 Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township,1890 Fruitville Pike in Manheim Township and 1094 Haines Road in Springettsbury Township in 2017. The Kmart on the Carlisle Pike was redeveloped into a Hobby Lobby, Stein Mart, Marshalls and HomeGoods.
The Kmart on Jonestown Road in Lower Paxton Township closed in 2018. The former Kmart along with a former LA Fitness were redeveloped into an At Home Superstore. Kmart at the Summerdale Plaza in East Pennsboro Township also closed in 2018.
A former Kmart store on Walnut Bottom Road in South Middleton Township closed last year and was purchased by the Amerco Real Estate Company, which provides real estate and development services for moving and storage company, U-Haul.
A former Kmart at the Hershey Square shopping center in Derry Township closed last year and will be redeveloped to include a number of tenants including T.J. Maxx, Planet Fitness and Five Below.
Kmart has also closed stores in the Ephrata, Lebanon, Chambersburg and Elizabethtown areas within the last year as well.
In addition to the West Hempfield Township store, the retailer has three stores left in the state in the Walnutport, Willow Street and Kingston areas, according to Kmarts website.
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The Centre is supplying 50,000 Made in India ventilators to various state governments and union territories to fight Covid-19. The central government has allocated Rs 2,000 crore for this from the PM-CARES fund.
So far, 2,923 ventilators have been manufactured, the government said in a release. It further said that 1,340 ventilators have already been delivered to states and union territories and prominent recipients include Maharashtra and Delhi, two of the worst-affected states by the Covid-19 pandemic. They have received 275 ventilators each.
The other affected states where these ventilators have been sent are Gujarat (175), Bihar (100), Karnataka (90) and Rajasthan (75).
A sum of Rs 1,000 crore has also been released to states and union territories for welfare of migrant labourers, the government said. This fund is to be used for arranging accommodation, food, medical treatment and transportation of the migrants.
The highest amount has been given to Maharashtra (Rs 181 crore), followed by Uttar Pradesh (Rs 103 crore), Tamil Nadu (Rs 83 crore), Gujarat (Rs 66 crore), Delhi (Rs 55 crore), West Bengal (Rs 53 crore), Bihar (Rs 51 crore), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 50 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 50 crore) and Karnataka (Rs 34 crore).
The Centre has been helping states in tackling the coroanvirus disease. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held a seires of discussions with various chief ministers where he has taken stock of the situation and offered helo to state governments.
He even called an all-party meeting on the issue where the prime minister said that Indias response to the disease has been very good and reiterated that early lockdown helped keep the number of fatalities low.
Home minister Amit Shah also held separate meetings with Delhi lieutenant governor, chief minister and other officials to prepare a response after hige spike in the number of cases in the national capital. The revamped action plan laid emphasis on the need for more effective containment and tracing efforts, widening the scope of detecting infections and intensifying social distancing and surveillance at the ground level to tackle the outbreak.
Meanwhile, Indias Covid-19 tally climbed to 4,40,215 as 14,933 new infections and 1,78,014 active cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the health ministry.
Mr Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, the Deputy Attorney General, has called for the amendment of some provisions of the Local Government Act and Legislations to ensure that the election of a Presiding Member for District Assemblies is based on a simple majority.
The Deputy Attorney Generals call came at the backdrop of the various Assemblies inability to elect their Presiding Members after the District Assembly Elections and inauguration in December last year and January this year respectively.
In the Upper East Region, out of the 15 Municipal and District Assemblies, only six Assemblies have been able to elect their presiding members.
For instance, at Zebilla in the Bawku District, the Assembly has not had a presiding member for four years running and the situation is having a toll on the development of the district.
Per the provisions of the Local Government Act of 2016, Act 939, one must obtain a two-thirds majority of the total number of assembly members to be a Presiding Member and many of the Assemblies across the country on countless occasions failed to meet the law.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Kpemka, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tempane Constituency stated that almost all the Assembly Members of the various assemblies were political party affiliates and the situation was not compelling them to have consensus.
According to him, the entrenched positions taken by the Assembly Members in the various Assemblies across the country were making it very difficult for certain Assemblies to get the required two-thirds majority during the election of a Presiding Member.
Mr Kpemka noted that the situation had over the years retarded development in many districts especially the deprived areas and therefore called on the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to as matter of urgency initiate steps to amend some of the provisions of the Act, to allow for a simple majority in the election of a Presiding Members.
The Deputy Attorney General who is also NPP Parliamentary candidate for the 2020 general elections explained that without the presiding member the various development committees of the assembly would be missing and the deliberative role of the assembly members would also be lost, thereby retarding development and deepening the poverty cycle.
Without the Presiding Member, the deliberative role which is very important will be missing and the Assembly will have to go through the LI and find a way of forming the committees otherwise the Assembly will not be able to function, he added.
He expressed strong support for any move to revisit Article 55 of the Constitution to ensure that the various Assembly Members were elected based on partisan lines to avoid the pretense of the Assembly Members.
He said, I will support any move by the President to amend the various Local Government Acts and Legislations to ensure that the Presiding Member position is by simple majority because the reason behind the current system is to make sure that the Presiding Member has absolute support and control over the Assembly.
But if we have realized over time that the practice does not allow development to flourish but is rather a hindrance to the development of the districts we have to go by a simple majority.
The Deputy Attorney General further advocated the amendment of the provisions of the Local Government Acts to allow Members of Parliament to vote during the election of the Presiding Member since the MP is part of members of the assembly and their votes usually count.
Source: GNA
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Linkedin Matthias Blamont (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Tue, June 23, 2020 13:15 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660ec09e 2 World sanofi,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-vaccines,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,COVID-19-treatment Free
French drugmaker Sanofi SA said on Tuesday it expects to get approval for the potential COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with Britain's GlaxoSmithKline Plc by the first half of next year, faster than previously anticipated.
Sanofi, which is hosting a virtual research and development event, and GSK had said in April the vaccine, if successful, would be available in the second half of 2021.
"We are being guided by our dialogue with regulatory authorities," Sanofi research chief John Reed told reporters, when asked about the accelerated time frame.
There are currently no vaccines to prevent the coronavirus that has infected more than 9 million people and killed over 469,000 globally, and only a couple of medicines that have demonstrated benefit in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in clinical trials.
Many drugmakers are racing to come up with a safe and effective vaccine that can be produced at large scale.
Moderna Inc, the University of Oxford in collaboration with AstraZeneca Plc, and an alliance of BioNTech and Pfizer Inc grabbed headlines by moving to human trials as early as March.
Sanofi Chief Executive Paul Hudson said the firsts in the race now were not assured of securing victory.
"There are companies moving faster, but let us be brutally clear, speed has three downsides," he said of competition.
"They are using existing work, in many cases done for SARS; it is likely not to be as efficacious; and there is no guarantee on supply in large volumes," Hudson said.
The probability of success for Sanofi is "higher than anybody else," the CEO said.
The comments echoed those of GSK, whose chief medical officer for vaccines told Reuters on Friday the company was aiming at quality before speed.
Sanofi, whose Pasteur vaccines division has a long established reputation, notably in flu, is currently working on two vaccine projects.
One uses an adjuvant made by GSK to potentially boost its efficacy. It has received financial support from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
The other, being developed with US company Translate Bio Inc, relies on a different technology known as mRNA, similar to the Moderna approach.
Clinical trials of the vaccine developed with GSK, described as a recombinant vaccine because of the use of GSK's boosting adjuvant, are to start in September. Trials of the mRNA vaccine candidate should begin around the end of the year, the company said.
Sanofi said it had capacity to produce up to 1 billion doses a year of its recombinant vaccine, and that it would be able to supply up to 360 million doses of its mRNA vaccine annually.
In April, Sanofi said it had manufacturing capacity for 600 million doses for its recombinant vaccine, with the ambition to double production by mid-2021.
The company also said it would expand its collaboration with Translate Bio on developing vaccines, in a deal which will give the US group $425 million in upfront payments.
Bayer AG rose as much as 7.3 per cent after Handelsblatt reported that the company is close to a resolution of litigation over its Roundup weedkiller, offering potential relief from one of its biggest threats.
The companys supervisory board is expected to vote on a package valued at $8 billion (U.S.) to $10 billion in the coming days, the German newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the negotiations and close to the company. Bayer plans to announce the deal this week, Handelsblatt said. The company declined to comment on the report.
Accusations that Roundup caused cancer in some users of the weedkiller have bedeviled Bayer since its $63 billion purchase of the agricultural giant in 2018. Bayer has denied the link and is appealing suits it has lost. Investors have criticized chief executive officer Werner Baumann for the acquisition, hitting him with a no-confidence vote last year and longtime chairman Werner Wenning retired this spring before his term expired.
Last month, Bloomberg reported that Bayer had reached verbal agreements to resolve a substantial portion of an estimated 125,000 U.S. lawsuits over the controversial weedkiller. The company was expected to announce the settlement in June once the supervisory board gave its approval, people familiar with the matter said at the time.
Outstanding cases
Bayer has told plaintiff attorneys that it will earmark $8 billion to resolve all current cases, including those held in abeyance, and will set aside another $2 billion to cover future suits linking the weedkiller to a form of cancer known as non-Hodgkins lymphoma, people familiar with the matter said last month.
Handelsblatt reported Tuesday that it appears that all the plaintiff attorneys representing Roundup cases have signed onto the deal. As of early this week, however, a handful of plaintiff attorneys were still holding out for larger payouts, people familiar with the matter have told Bloomberg.
The shares were up 6.2 per cent at 3:57 p.m. in Frankfurt. Bayer has lost a fourth of its value since the Monsanto deal closed.
Some cases are still outstanding that wont be covered by the possible settlement. A group of lawyers who say they couldnt reach a deal with the German drug and chemical giant recently filed 13 new suits on behalf of children whove developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of cancer some researchers have tied to glyphosate.
Eleven of the new suits were filed in state court in St. Louis last week, while two others were in California, said Fletch Trammell, one of the childrens lawyers, in an interview. They accuse the company of failing to warn about the risks of using the weedkiller in backyards, playgrounds and parks. Trammells group of lawyers also has 5,000 Roundup cases not covered by the planned settlement.
I gave Bayer an opportunity to settle these cases and they werent interested in paying a fair resolution to them, he said. We are prepared to take these cases to trial to get what we consider to be fair compensation for our clients.
The new lawsuits were filed on behalf of children ranging in age from five to 17 years old. Most are still battling their cancers, but 13-year-old Jacob Savage of Forks, Washington, died in 2017 from non-Hodgkins lymphoma, or NHL, according to court filings. Other such suits on behalf of children are also pending.
Bayer has great sympathy for children and adults who are diagnosed with NHL, but the science does not support that Roundup is the cause of this disease, the company said Monday in a statement about the new suits.
Bayer notched a court victory Monday, though, when a federal judge in Sacramento blocked the state of California from requiring that any company selling a glyphosate-based produce place a clear and reasonable warning on it. Californias Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment listed glyphosate in July 2017 as a chemical known to the state to cause cancer. U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb made final his 2018 preliminary ruling that requiring Bayer to provide that warning on Roundup is a violation of its free-speech protections.
People in Ukraine's capital Kiev got frightened after they witnessed a giant mushroom-shaped cloud, which triggered panic of a nuclear blast. However, authorities later allayed their fears by informing that it was a naturally-occurring phenomenon.
The mushroom-shaped cloud was spotted just 60 miles from Chernobyl, where the worlds worst nuclear disaster took place in 1968. The Chernobyl disaster caused around 100 deaths and it is believed that the lives of many were cut short as a result of the long-term effects of excess radiation exposure.
The locals put out the pictures of the event on social media, before officials explained the phenomenon. Ukrainian State Emergency Service also shared pictures of the cloud with a caption, Admit it, who got scared?
The rare formation is known as anvil cloud. The officials said that they have seen such clouds before above Kiev Oblast, Ternopil Oblast and Vinnitsa.
The scientific name of the anvil cloud is cumulonimbus incus and it is formed when strong air currents carry water vapour upwards. The dense cloud generated in this process stabilises in the stratosphere, reported metro.co.uk.
Most of the time, the formation is asymmetrical due to which the clouds get anvil-like appearance. But, in some cases, the clouds form symmetrically, looking more like a mushroom.
Such clouds have the ability to produce lightning and they can even cause severe weather events such as tornadoes and hailstones. Before dissipating, they typically stay in place regardless of how strong the wind is.
On the other hand, nuclear mushroom clouds get dispersed by winds after about an hour.
By Akbar Mammadov
Azerbaijan and European Union will organize online capacity development training to manage EcoPortal, the website of EU External Action (EEAS) reported on June 22.
Starting from today, water experts from Azerbaijan and European Environment Agency will hold online capacity development training for managing EcoPortal. The training will focus on sharing environmental information, including that on water a resource that is vital for all life on our planet, ecosystems, society and the economy. This capacity building is in line with the European Unions objectives of promoting greener development and digitization in the Eastern Partnership, the report reads.
According to the information provided by the EAAS, as Azerbaijan is one of the water scarce countries in the region, water use efficiency and protection of the freshwater ecosystems are vital.
Thus, data and information, which is considered to be shared among water agencies, will be supported by Azerbaijans EcoPortal. This share of the data and information among the agencies is aimed at underpinning Azerbaijans policy-making based on the knowledge.
Furthermore, the European Union has also assisted to harmonize Azerbaijans data on water quality in line with the water quality data dictionary of the European Water Information System (WISE).
It is now compatible with the European dataset. Similarly, the indicators developed based on the water quality data and published on the EcoPortal follow an indicator template from the European Environment Agency, the report said.
Enabling the comparison of the state of Azerbaijans water resources with its neighboring countries (Russia, Iran, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia), it will also be possible to make a comparison with any member state of the EU. Thanks to these indicators, which can be compared in a regional base, the knowledge-based policy dialogue on water resources at the national and regional level will be supported.
The EcoPortal is the platform where all indicators are available as well as many other data and information will serve to wider interest groups such as water practitioners, research community, international organizations that are heavily depending on national data for regional or global assessments, the report reads.
Thus, system functionalities and EcoPortals design are encouraged by the WISE. The WISE is an information system to which all member states of the European Union report the data and share information about their water resources. It also provides water datasets, indicators, dynamic maps and reports. It allows for exchanging and sharing the data and information among the national water agencies in line with the Shared Environmental Information System principles and practices.
In addition, ordinary citizens, experts, practitioners and academia are now capable of accessing various databases and compare Azerbaijans water quality data with the data of EU Member States.
"The ENI SEIS II East project is funded by the European Union. The project implements the principles and practices of the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) in various environmental domains. The project builds on previous cooperation activities in the six Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine), carried out between 2010-2015", the report said.
The purpose of the project is aimed at deepening the relations with the six Eastern Partnership countries and between the EU, as well as supporting the promotion of environmental protection by strengthening environmental governance. Moreover, it allows to build capacity in the fields of biodiversity, water, land, air and environmental assessments.
The European Environment Agency delivers the latest and best practices and methodologies of the EU, aiming to improve the institutional capacities of the national environmental and statistical authorities in the EaP countries..
Earlier, during the Summit of the Eastern Partnership countries via video conference on June 18, President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan is in the final stages of negotiations on a new partnership agreement with the European Union.
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Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The show will go on for this year's Western Montana Fair to some degree with a televised rodeo, virtual exhibits and socially distanced livestock events, according to plans that organizers proposed Monday to the Missoula Board of County Commissioners.
Although the fair plans to move forward with some events, other fixtures, such as the carnival, bingo, food concessions and motorsports are on hiatus until next year.
"This is what we're landing on in terms of what we think will really work this year," said Emily Brock, Missoula County Fairgrounds director.
Brock said the fair is working with the Missoula City-County Health Department to develop the plans, and will need the health department's approval before proceeding. The fair is scheduled Aug. 5-9. The county is currently hosting a drive-through COVID-19 testing site at the Fairgrounds, which Brock said would remain open if the health department chooses.
Brock said fairgrounds staff evaluated each component of the fair individually to decide which options were feasible with limited budgets and COVID-19 restrictions.
The proposed plan for this year's Western Montana Fair includes a televised rodeo, virtual still exhibits, and 4-H and FFA, Future Farmers of America, livestock events for show and sale. Brock said food concessionaires were invited, but many opted out because profits would be slim without the crowds.
There will not be open class livestock events this year, and the public will not be allowed to attend 4-H and FFA livestock events, though the shows will be filmed on MCAT.
"For the show, we're proposing one species per day," Brock said. "The species would load in, it would be judged and load out, and then no general public."
Brock said participants will be required to wear face masks inside barns and comply with social distancing protocols. Similarly, Brock said animal sales will be split between two days, with the animals for sale loading in and out each day.
Missoula County typically breaks even on the fair, spending about $500,000 that it makes back. However, the fair is anticipating an overall $20,000 deficit, which it is requesting from the county.
Commissioner Josh Slotnick said he felt it is important to honor the work of 4-H and FFA students despite the deficits.
"We still have opportunities for sponsorships, and I feel confident we'll make up that $20,000," he said.
The majority of the deficit comes from still exhibiting, and some from 4-H. However, Brock said the fair expects to get more sponsorships for 4-H, which will cover the premiums that contestants win for their livestock and the cost of hiring judges.
Despite the deficits, organizers and students involved in 4-H and FFA said the fair is an important milestone for them.
"The fair, in general, is just like the final culmination of all the hard work that you've been doing all year," said Lindsey Knight, a 4-H member and 2020 graduate of Frenchtown High School. "It's like stepping on home plate after you hit a home run ... You've done all the book work, all the working with your animals, it kind of just all comes together."
The fair is also tentatively proceeding with a televised rodeo, which would be a one-on-one match rodeo featuring about five world champions in Montana. Fair staff will work with historians to create short videos about each of the champions and Montana's rodeo history.
"It's kind of like the Olympics," Brock said. "We do the backstory on the contestants, and then we would have the rodeo match, and it would be televised."
There will be limited crowd seating with social distancing measures, with capacity for about 300 people total in the arena. Brock said she thinks the fair can bring in about $40,000 in sponsorships to cover the cost of the rodeo, but said they would not proceed with it if they are unable to get those sponsorships.
Still exhibits will also be held this year, although they will be "quasi virtual." Contestants will set up their exhibits in the commercial building by appointment to be judged and photographed. The winners will be revealed virtually during fair week.
Brock said there will also be exhibits focused on COVID-19 resilience within the community. She estimates the still exhibits will cost about $19,000, although she said she thinks the fair can raise about $5,000 in sponsorships, with the remaining $14,000 incurred by the county. Brock noted that the fair may not give a premium award for exhibit categories if there are only a few entries.
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GENEVA/ZURICH -- Coronavirus cases are soaring in several major countries at the same time, with worrying increases in Latin America, especially Brazil, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
The world recorded more than 183,000 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the most in a single day since the outbreak started in December, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Certainly the numbers are increasing because the epidemic is developing in a number of populous countries at the same time and across the whole world, WHOs top emergencies expert, Mike Ryan, told an online briefing.
Some of that increase may be attributed to increased testing ... And certainly countries like India are testing more. But we do not believe that this is a testing phenomenon.
Global cases surpassed 9 million on Monday, with the United States, China and other hard-hit countries also reporting new outbreaks, according to a Reuters tally.
Ryan said there had been a jump in cases in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Bolivia and Guatemala, as well as Brazil, which had passed the 1 million mark - second only to the United States - and reported a record 54,000 cases in the previous 24 hours.
He said some of the jump in Brazil might reflect changes in the reporting system, but added:
There still are relatively low tests per population, and the positivity rates for testing are still quite high overall. From that perspective, we would say that this trend is not reflective of exhaustive testing, but probably under-estimating the actual number of cases.
1,000 deaths a day
Latin Americas largest country has frequently recorded more than 1,000 deaths a day over the last month.
President Jair Bolsonaro, sometimes called the Tropical Trump, has been widely criticised for his handling of the crisis. The country still has no permanent health minister after losing two since April, following clashes with the president.
Bolsonaro has shunned social distancing, calling it a job-killing measure more dangerous than the virus itself. He has also promoted two anti-malarial drugs - chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine - as remedies, despite a lack of evidence that they work.
Ryan said he thought there had been great upticks in cases in a number of U.S. states.
Im not 100 percent sure about the age profile, but Ive seen the reports that some of this is amongst younger people. That may reflect the fact that younger people are more mobile and they are getting out and taking advantage of the reductions in restrictions of movement ...
What is clear is that the increase is not entirely explained through just increased testing.
The WHO also said it was worried about Germany, where the reproduction rate of the virus hit 2.88 on Sunday, well above the maximum level of one transmission per person needed to contain the disease over the longer term.
Tedros said a lack of global leadership and unity in fighting the virus was a bigger threat than the outbreak itself, and that politicisation had made the pandemic worse.
The WHO has been criticised by some member states, especially the United States, which says it was too weak, too slow and too China-centric in tackling the disease at the outset.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Stockholm, Sweden Tue, June 23, 2020 15:45 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660fa6ec 2 World Sweden,Swedish,coronavirus,coronavirus-effect,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free
Confidence in the Swedish authorities' ability to manage the coronavirus pandemic has fallen, a poll published on Tuesday showed, as the death toll has soared amid a highly-publicized light approach.
Unlike most European nations, Sweden never closed society down, opting instead to keep schools for under-16s open, as well as cafes, bars and restaurants and most businesses.
The Public Health Agency argued that lockdowns only work temporarily, insisting that drastic short-term measures are too ineffective to justify their impact on people.
The country of 10.3 million has reported 5,122 COVID-19 deaths, far exceeding the combined total of its Nordic neighbors which all adopted much stricter measures.
As a result, many countries now opening up to tourism have barred Swedes from entry, including closest neighbors Denmark, Finland and Norway.
Stockholm has also been slow to roll out mass testing.
An Ipsos poll of 1,191 Swedes published in daily Dagens Nyheter showed that in June, 45 percent had "strong confidence" in authorities' ability to handle the crisis.
That compared with 56 percent in April, while those who had "little confidence" rose from 21 to 29 percent.
And 57 percent now have "strong confidence" in the Public Health Agency, down from 69 percent in April.
Support for the agency's state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, who has become the face of Sweden's strategy, remains relatively strong although it has declined from 69 to 60 percent.
Those who believed the center-left government was coping well with the crisis meanwhile dropped from 50 percent in May to 38 percent in June.
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven's support also dropped from 49 percent to 39 percent.
"The differences are big enough that we can say with certainty that there has been a real change. The view of authorities' capabilities has taken a clear negative turn," Ipsos analyst Nicklas Kallebring told Dagens Nyheter.
Captain Amarinder Singh
Chandigarh: Terming the Galwan Valley violence as part of a larger design on the part of China, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said India should not make the mistake of dismissing the incident as a patrol clash but should take a firm stand against any Chinese incursions into the Indian territory.
Capt Amarinder SinghThe amount of build-up in Galwan Valley showed that the Chinese were working on a plan, said Captain Amarinder, adding that India could not afford to lose even an inch of its land in the area, which is of huge strategic importance for both sides. We have all seen clashes in our time, with Pakistan and even with Chinese, and this is definitely not a patrol clash, he stressed.
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Referring to the map of the area, the Chief Minister said the Chinese had reached right half way through to the Siachen Glacier after Pakistan ceded the northern part of Shaksgam Valley in PoK in 1963. Beyond that there is an area that is any case belongs to China, he explained, adding that there is a little gap between the glacier and the Aksai Chin area, which is the Daulat Beg gap, which they are trying to close.
We have to take a strong position, and we should be clear that if we lose even an inch of land we must hold them responsible, he said at the the Congress Working Committee (CWC) video conference convened by the partys interim president Sonia Gandhi, with former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi among the participants.
Galwan ValleyThe Chief Minister also cornered the Centre over its failure to support the state in its fight against Covid, pointing out that all that Punjab had received so far from the Centre was its own Rs 2800 crore for January to March period, and just a few other grants. He said that GST dues for April to June were still pending.
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Despite repeated pleas and memorandums, no help was forthcoming from the Centre to the state government for tackling the Covid crisis, he said, adding that the Government of India was not giving even the states own share.
The state had not received a single paisa of the Rs 20000 lakh crore package announced by the Prime Minister, he said, noting that with the estimated shortfall of Rs 25,000 to 30,000 Crores this year, and the rest going into the Covid war, the situation for Punjab was bad.
His government was forced to manage on its own to create resources for fighting Covid, said Captain Amarinder, adding that he was sure other states were in the same unfortunate position. Nobody is listening to us, he lamented, adding that he had to put aside Rs 35 crore to arrange for 500 trains to send 5.63 lakh migrants back to their homes.
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Capt Amarinder Singh and Narendra Modi The Chief Minister said that with 2.33 lakh of the total 2.52 lakh industries in Punjab now reopen, migrants were now also coming back to the state. His government, he said, was trying its best to get the industry back on track with all possible facilities and easing of norms, but the units were currently working at 40% capacity and would take some months to return to their full strength.
Even on this count, the central government was not extending any help, said the Chief Minister, citing the example of the large number of units that had started manufacturing PPE kits on request from the Government of India. Now the state was in a position to produce 15 lakh PPE kits every day but there were no buyers, he said, adding that he had written to the Prime Minister for permission to export these kits.
A total of 17 lakh local and migrant workers were engaged in industries currently, with more joining the farmers in the paddy operations, he said, adding that many farmers from Punjab had personally gone to UP, Bihar and Jharkhand to get the migrant labourers back.
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Free food grain distribution among migrant workers was continuing in the state, he said, adding that he had also asked the Centre to extend the food grain scheme by another 6 months, especially in view of the bumper crop produced again this year by Punjab farmers despite the challenging Covid restrictions.
Punjab governmentThe migrant labourers who had stayed back and did not have ration cards etc needed food, said the Chief Minister, adding that he had written to the Prime Minister thrice on this issue, with no response forthcoming. Of the states 13.50 Lakh migrant labourers, only 5.63 lakh had gone back while the rest had stayed back, he said, adding that while jobs were now available for them, food was still a problem.
Speaking of the states economic revival plan, the Chief Minister said the Montek Ahulwalia committee set up to formulate the strategy was sharing its feedback with the government, which was accordingly charting the way forward. The committee has six working, of which the Finance team had already submitted its report and the others are expected to come in soon.
Briefing the CWC about the Covid situation in the state, Captain Amarinder said sampling and testing was being continuously enhanced and a micro-containment strategy had been adopted to check the spread of the pandemic. The number of cases was, however, still rising, mainly on account of the increased testing and the large number of people coming from outside, including other states and countries.
Apart from Ludhiana and Jalandhar, one of the worst affected districts was Amritsar, where all the international flights were landing, including from the highly contaminated Gulf region, he revealed. The other big problem area was the thousands of people reaching Punjab every day from Delhi, where the situation was extremely bad, he said, adding that many of these people were not reporting themselves and had to be traced and tracked, including in villages.
Captain Amarinder said his government was fully geared to tackle the spread of the pandemic and was continuously scaling up its preparedness in terms of beds, isolation centres, testing labs, PPE kits, masks, ventilators and oxygen kits etc.
[June 23, 2020] How Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacovigilance Is Transforming the Pharmaceutical Industry | Quantzig
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President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak later on Tuesday at one of the largest megachurches in the Southwest. Dream City Church in Phoenix is hosting the Students for Trump Convention today, where the president will give a speech billed as an address to young Americans.
New cases of COVID-19 are surging in Arizona. Several major cities, including Phoenix, have enacted new mask requirements just within the last week. But Dream City, like the president, has taken an approach to the virus that veers between dismissiveness and scientifically questionable swagger. In a video posted Sunday to the churchs Facebook page, senior pastor Luke Barnett claimed that the church had installed air purifiers that kill 99.9 percent of COVID in 10 minutes. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the churchs chief operations officer, Brendon Zastrow, Barnett explains that the church contracted with a local company called CleanAir EXP to install the purifiers. When you come into our auditorium, 99 percent of COVID is gone, killedif it was there in the first place, Barnett says in the clip. You can know when you come here youll be safe and protected. Thank God for great technology and thank God for being proactive. Neither man wears a mask as they talk.
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The video was later removed from the churchs Facebook page. We understand there is recent confusion around the claims made by one of our customers around our laboratory testing, the CEO of CleanAir EXP, Tim Bender, said in an email statement. Our patented technology leads to a 99.9% elimination of airborne coronavirus surrogates. We do not, however, eliminate COVID-19 at this time.
We do not eliminate COVID -19 at this time, the CEO of the air purifier company said in an email.
Dream City did not cancel in-person worship services until April 5 and reopened its doors on May 31, a much shorter closure window than many other churches, even those also headed by Trump supporters. Robert Jeffress First Baptist Dallas, for example, closed March 22 and reopened June 7 at 20 percent capacity. In nonpandemic times, the church attracts more than 20,000 attendees to weekend church services at six locations, including at its 72-acre flagship campus in Phoenix. Barnett was among a group of 25 Christian leaders invited to a private meeting at the White House last fall, and he attended an Evangelicals for Trump Coalition event in Miami in January.
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Founded in 1923 as Phoenix First Assembly of God, Dream City became the fastest-growing church in America under Barnetts father, Tommy. Tommy, who is still listed as the churchs co-pastor, approached leadership with a showmans instinct for headline-getting stunts. He oversaw the construction of the current building in 1985, which he boasted to a local newspaper cost more than $10 million. Tulsa, Oklahoma, televangelist Oral Roberts visited to help dedicate the new building; Tommy also cultivated a friendship with later-disgraced televangelist Jimmy Swaggart. At one point the church spent almost $200,000 on a Christmas extravaganza featuring flying angels, a laser light show, and live camels, elephants, and kangaroos, and an Easter show featured an onstage fountain spouting 50 feet in the air and sparks flying from angels fingers to ignite the stone in front of Jesus tomb. In 1997, Tommy jogged from Phoenix to Los Angeles to raise money for the churchs 400,000-square-foot California mission, the Dream Center. Tommy also made no secret of his politics: In 1986, he appeared with conservative activist Pat Robertson at a D.C. rally teasing Robertsons future run for president; 4,000 peopleincluding the head of the local John Birch Societygathered at the church to watch the event on closed-circuit television and cheer for Robertson.
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Luke Barnett took over the church from his father in 2011 and renamed it Dream City Church a few years later. In many charismatic megachurches, ministry is a family business. Lukes brother now heads the Dream Center and nearby Pentecostal megachurch, and Barnetts daughters are both listed as employees of the churchs communications team. A Twitter account associated with one of the women has retweeted messages dismissive of police brutality and protests in recent weeks, as well as a message from Students for Trump founder Ryan Fournier calling for one MASSIVE MEGA RALLY.
Despite the apparent lack of public pushback from its parishioners, Dream City made a late attempt to distance itself from the Trump event today. Dream Citys facility rental does not constitute endorsement of the opinions of its renters, reads a statement on the church website. The church said it agreed to rent the space to Students for Trump before Trumps involvement had been confirmed. (Students for Trump was acquired last year by conservative activist Charlie Kirks Turning Point Action.) A Students for Trump spokesman told me they approached the church in part because it is a large and well-equipped event spacebut also because of the assumption of ideological friendliness. Its obviously a conservative event, he said. Youre not going to try to have this event at a Planned Parenthood.
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I have an unusual family. Its multiracial. The skin of my grandchildren ranges from dark to fair! (None, by the way, is adopted.) Like most grandmothers, I utterly adore all of them. However, according to Black Lives Matter (BLM), at this juncture, only my black grandchildren are worth a cracker. Yet all the grandchildren are siblings and cousins, who (most of the time) love each other! When they see BLM signs, what are they supposed to think?
Can my black grandchildren now demand an apology for the systemic racism that BLM considers inherent in their white brothers? Can they claim more treats as reparation? Should my white grandchildren, bow low as their black siblings enter the room? Try to systematize that agenda and all hell will break loose. What about the children who are neither the one nor the other, but in the middle? Or, even if their skin is dark, what if they identify as white -- and vice versa. How would the Supreme Court textualize that? Are their parents (my children) supposed to favor the dark over the light, during this newest, fashionable iteration of the racist slur?
And what of their grandfathers history -- from a (very) black Ghanaian clan, some members of which, one or two centuries ago, procured slaves to sell to the white traders? Perhaps my black grandchildren should apologize to themselves for their bipolar heritage, before they sanctimoniously insist on the right to possess their white brothers laptops! Does this place a double burden on the white grandkids -- with two slave legacies -- the wholesalers and the retailers? Perhaps they ought to hand over all their toys as retribution.
It is after all about consumer goods, isnt it? Racial equality for BLM, means the equal distribution of Nikes, diamond studs, expensive watches, flashy gold chains, multiple guns, fast cars, new technological devices, nice houses, and now, it seems, gold teeth. Never mind having to get a tiresome education and skills to procure a decent income -- even with an affirmative action leg up. And it was for the identical purpose that the West Africans sold their own into slavery. They coveted European manufactured goods.
I reared my children to be colorblind and proud of their mixed heritage. I did not reckon on political revenge. Even in South Africa, which has long since eliminated the appalling official apartheid policy of racial segregation, revenge is now sought against the remaining white farmers. The latter have been cultivating their land for centuries. Yet, if they manage to escape the extraordinary white farmer homicide rate, (winked at by South Africas corrupt government and deliberately fudged over by the woke MSM), their future still looks bleak. The desire for revenge, it seems, has a moving horizon. It never ends.
The tragic consequence of BLM will be the continual impoverishment of inner-city black children who have never been taught values that can lift them out of misery. Welfare handouts reward broken families and fatherless children are overrepresented as imprisoned, underachieving and self-destructive -- like George Floyd. Meanwhile, BLM is busy agitating to demolish the family unit entirely in the name of pulling down the patriarchy, (which over the last 2,000 years gave us the greatest civilization ever built.) Yet, there are many successful, specifically tailored, pedagogical programs around the world which have lifted children out of intergenerational poverty. The global billionaires are uninterested. They prefer to fund revolution, not education and the wealthy are falling over themselves to finance BLM.
BLMs binary choice foists upon us a partisan ideology, which pervades the entire progressing-to-pandemonium Left. Its a false, vindictive narrative of inherent, systemic white racism is parasitical. Once inside the bloodstream it proliferates, setting the body politic at war with itself. The multiracial family is a microcosm of this macro-level assault.
As the chief (and outnumbered) representative in my own family, personifying (in my white skin), the vile, systemically-privileged, imperialist, neocolonial, empire-mongering, white race, believe me, I know what its like to be an ethnic minority! On the other hand, the fact that I walked over hot coals to marry a very black Ghanaian back in that year of rebellion, 1968, would seem to put me in the non-racist camp? Nope. Only unquestioning genuflection to the current woke ideology will suffice.
Rational, broad-based historical inquiry, which would free the enslaved minds of the black and white sheep population, has been tossed overboard for craven fealty to slogans, myths, and symbols, by the very white sheep who are its targets. They acquiesce to their own demise. A few weeks ago, a local realtor lost her job for removing a BLM placard! She has apologized. The company has apologized, and the dangerous racist pantomime continues.
This calamitous education deficit may prove to be our lethal sarcoma. Even the sciences are spotted with malignant tumors. The worthy Hillsdale College model needs nationwide replication, so that once again we can stand with MLK, acknowledging the importance of character over color and the civilized, broadly educated, human spirit over a pair of looted Nikes. From the perspective of outer space, we are a single multicultural family! The ignorance of one, injures us all!
Never mind. Ill just go back to writing my memoir. Apologies for imposing an old grandmothers grief.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and WB Country Director in Vietnam Ousmane Dione (Photo: VNA)
The PM suggested that on his capacity as WB Country Director for four African countries in the near future, Dione will serve as a bridge to expand Vietnams exports to Africa.
He thanked the lender for its important contributions to Vietnams development, including poverty reduction projects, supply of loans and technical consultation to the finance-banking sector.
The host also expressed thanks to the WB for supporting Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19.
Dione, for his part, congratulated Vietnam on becoming an example of COVID-19 response in the world thanks to drastic directions of the Government.
He expressed his delight that the Vietnamese Government has taken note of the WBs policy recommendations and proposed that Vietnam further step up digital transformation, offer services to the public faster and improve the operation efficiency of the State apparatus.
Speaking highly of the PMs directions to attract more foreign direct investment, Dione said the Governments issuance of Decree 56 on the management and use of official development assistance and preferential loans by foreign sponsors is necessary.
On water resources in Mekong River and the Mekong Delta, Dione highlighted the need to promote international cooperation in dealing with the issue and affirmed that the WB and his successor will always stand side by side with Vietnam during development process.
About the WBs fiscal projects 2020, the PM thanked Dione for assisting Vietnam in graduating from the International Development Assistance (IDA), informing his guest that he has assigned the Finance Ministry to work with the WB on COVID-19 response loans, adding that the ministry and the Ministry of Planning and Investment have also been assigned to collect the WBs recommendations.
However, two federal officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak freely said the White House was pressuring agencies to bring as many employees back to the office as possible. That includes thousands who have been able to work from home during the pandemic and thousands more who are getting paid but not working because their roles dont convert to telework, whether theyre phone agents for the Internal Revenue Service or intelligence analysts who must work in protected office settings.
An international research collaboration, including Northwestern University astronomers, has detected a mystery object inside the puzzling area known as the "mass gap" -- the range that lies between the heaviest known neutron star and the lightest known black hole. The finding has important implications for astrophysics and the understanding of low-mass compact objects.
When the most massive stars die, they collapse under their own gravity and leave behind black holes; when stars that are a bit less massive than this die, they explode in a supernova and leave behind dense, dead remnants of stars called neutron stars. The heaviest known neutron star is no more than 2.5 times the mass of our sun, or 2.5 solar masses, and the lightest known black hole is about 5 solar masses. For decades, astronomers have wondered: Are there any objects in this mass gap?
Now, in a new study from the National Science Foundation's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the European Virgo observatory, scientists have announced the discovery of an object of 2.6 solar masses, placing it firmly in the mass gap.
The intriguing object was found on Aug. 14, 2019, as it merged with a black hole of 23 solar masses, generating a splash of gravitational waves detected back on Earth by LIGO and Virgo. A paper about the detection was published today (June 23) by The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
"Mergers of a mixed nature -- black holes and neutron stars -- have been predicted for decades, but this compact object in the mass gap is a complete surprise," said Northwestern's Vicky Kalogera, who coordinated writing of the paper. "We are really pushing our knowledge of low-mass compact objects. Even though we can't classify the object with conviction, we have seen either the heaviest known neutron star or the lightest known black hole. Either way, it breaks a record."
Kalogera, a leading astrophysicist in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC), is an expert in the astrophysics of compact object binaries and analysis of gravitational-wave data. She is the Daniel I. Linzer Distinguished University Professor of Physics and Astronomy and director of CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics) in Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
"Whereas we are not sure about the nature of the low-mass compact object, we have obtained a very robust measure of its mass, which falls right into the so-called mass gap," said Mario Spera, a co-author of the paper who studies the formation of merging binaries. He is a Virgo collaboration member and a European Union Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at CIERA and the University of Padova.
"This exciting and unprecedented finding, combined with the unique mass ratio of the merger event, challenges all the astrophysical models that try to shed light on the origins of this event," Spera said. "However, we are quite sure that the universe is telling us, for the umpteenth time, that our ideas on how compact objects form, evolve and merge are still very fuzzy."
The cosmic merger described in the study, an event dubbed GW190814, resulted in a final black hole about 25 times the mass of the sun. (Some of the merged mass was converted to a blast of energy in the form of gravitational waves). The newly formed black hole lies about 800 million light-years away from Earth.
Before the two objects merged, their masses differed by a factor of nine, making this the most extreme mass ratio known for a gravitational-wave event. Another recently reported LIGO-Virgo event, called GW190412, occurred between two black holes with a mass ratio of about 4:1.
In addition to Kalogera and Spera, the other Northwestern researchers involved in the study are Chase Kimball, Christopher Berry and Mike Zevin. The three are authors of the paper and members of CIERA.
Kimball, an astronomy Ph.D. student and LSC member, assessed how often mergers such as GW190814 occur in the universe. Berry, the CIERA Board of Visitors Research Professor, is a member of the LSC Editorial Board for all LSC publications and served as the lead representative for this study. Zevin, an astronomy Ph.D. student and LSC member, contributed to the astrophysical interpretation and also to writing the GW190412 discovery paper.
"It's a challenge for current theoretical models to form merging pairs of compact objects with such an extreme mass ratio in which the low-mass partner resides in the mass gap," Kalogera said. "This discovery implies these events occur much more often than we predicted, making this a really intriguing low-mass object.
"The mystery object may be a neutron star merging with a black hole -- an exciting possibility expected theoretically but not yet confirmed observationally," she said. "However, at 2.6 times the mass of our sun, it exceeds modern predictions for the maximum mass of neutron stars and may instead be the lightest black hole ever detected."
"Whether or not the object is a heavy neutron star or a light black hole, the discovery is the first in a new class of binary mergers," Kimball added. "Models of binary populations will have to account for how often we now can infer that these sort of events occur."
When the LIGO and Virgo scientists spotted this merger, they immediately sent out an alert to the astronomical community. Dozens of ground- and space-based telescopes followed up in search of light waves generated in the event, but none picked up any signals.
So far, such light counterparts to gravitational-wave signals have been seen only once, in an event called GW170817. The event, discovered by the LIGO-Virgo network in August of 2017, involved a fiery collision between two neutron stars that was subsequently witnessed by dozens of telescopes on Earth and in space. Neutron star collisions are messy affairs with matter flung outward in all directions and are thus expected to shine with light. Conversely, black hole mergers, in most circumstances, are thought not to produce light.
According to the LIGO and Virgo scientists, the August 2019 event was not seen in light for a few possible reasons. First, this event was six times farther away than the merger observed in 2017, making it harder to pick up any light signals. Secondly, if the collision involved two black holes, it likely would have not shone with any light. Thirdly, if the object was in fact a neutron star, its nine-fold more massive black-hole partner might have swallowed it whole; a neutron star consumed whole by a black hole would not give off any light.
"I think of Pac-Man eating a little dot," says Kalogera. "When the masses are highly asymmetric, the smaller compact object can be eaten by the black hole in one bite."
How will researchers ever know if the mystery object was a neutron star or black hole? Future observations with LIGO and possibly other telescopes may catch similar events that would help reveal whether additional objects exist in the mass gap.
"The mass gap has been an interesting puzzle for decades, and now we've detected an object that fits just inside it," said Pedro Marronetti, program director for gravitational physics at the National Science Foundation (NSF). "That cannot be explained without defying our understanding of extremely dense matter or what we know about the evolution of stars. This observation is yet another example of the transformative potential of the field of gravitational-wave astronomy, which brings novel insights to light with every new detection."
###
The Astrophysical Journal Letters paper is titled "GW190814: Gravitational Waves from the Coalescence of a 23 M Black Hole with a 2.6 M Compact Object."
Additional information about the gravitational-wave observatories:
LIGO is funded by the NSF and operated by Caltech and MIT, which conceived of LIGO and lead the project. Financial support for the Advanced LIGO project was led by the NSF with Germany (Max Planck Society), the U.K. (Science and Technology Facilities Council) and Australia (Australian Research Council-OzGrav) making significant commitments and contributions to the project. Approximately 1,300 scientists from around the world participate in the effort through the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration. A list of additional partners is available.
The Virgo Collaboration is currently composed of approximately 520 members from 99 institutes in 11 different countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) hosts the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy and is funded by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy and Nikhef in the Netherlands. A list of the Virgo Collaboration groups is available.
Webinar Series
For those wishing for a deeper dive into these LIGO-Virgo results and other research from the latest observing run, the team has scheduled a webinar intended for a scientific audience. Called the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Webinar Series, this will be the first in a series of webinars discussing the gravitational-wave network's results in-depth. The one-hour Zoom webinar will be on June 25 at 14:00 Universal Time Coordinated (7:00am Pacific Daylight Time; 10:00am Eastern Daylight Time; 16:00 Central European Summer Time; 23:00 Japan Standard Time).
To register, visit: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3315925939436/WN_rsJximZ8R36WqZnMH16IrA
The Zoom webinar also will be livestreamed, and a recording will be available upon request.
2 cops deputed for CM Bommai's security held for trying to 'extort' money from drug peddlers
Is there Karnataka weekend lockdowns or night curfew? Here's what minister has to say
Karnataka Minister K Sudhakar's wife, daughter test positive for Covid-19
India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Bengaluru, June 23: Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar's wife and daughter have been tested positive for coronavirus, a day after his 82-year-old father tested positive for the virus. However, his two sons have been tested negative.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote,''Test results of our family members have come. Unfortunately, my wife and daughter have tested positive for #Covid19 and are undergoing treatment. My two sons and myself have tested negative. I am grateful to everyone for their best wishes and prayers.''
Test results of our family members have come. Unfortunately, my wife and daughter have tested positive for #Covid19 and are undergoing treatment. My two sons and myself have tested negative. I am grateful to everyone for their best wishes and prayers. Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) June 23, 2020
Rath Yatra begins in Puri's Jagannath Temple amid curfew due to Covid-19 pandemic | Oneindia News
Earlier on Monday, Sudhakar had tweeted"My father's COVID19 test has come out positive. Anxiously waiting for reports of other family members. Praying for speedy recovery of my father."
Karnataka issues order notifying setting up of fever clinics in pvt hospitals
Later in another tweet, he said a domestic help in the family has also tested positive and was undergoing treatment at a designated hospital.
The Minister had earlier on Monday said his father was admitted to a hospital with complaints of fever and cough and had undergone COVID-19 test.
In April, Sudhakar along with three other cabinet colleagues had undergone COVID-19 test, after they reportedly came in contact with the coronavirus positive video journalist of a Kannada news channel but the results turned out to be negative.
As of Monday evening, cumulatively 9,399 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 142 deaths and 5,730 discharges.
[June 23, 2020] AGU and TetraScience partner to provide R&D, Production labs with best-in-class BIO-API data solution in the cloud
LEVERKUSEN, Germany and BOSTON, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AGU Planungsgesellschaft mbH and TetraScience, Inc. announce a new partnership to integrate their flagship products to automatically collect and unify R&D data in life sciences. The integration connects the bioprocessing data collected by AGU's [email protected] Data Cockpit (SDC) with TetraScience's R&D data cloud platform and network. With this agreement, TetraScience expands its portfolio of data connectors to include all analyzers integrated with the SDC platform, and AGU extends its SDC solution to connect Contract Organization (CRO/CDMO) data and instrument data from other R&D processes, as well as to integrate SDC data to state-of-the-art data science and analytics toolings. This integration is immediately available for biopharma companies based in Europe and the US. "We are excited to partner with AGU," shares Spin Wang, CEO, and Co-Founder of TetraScience. "With this integration, our customers unify their BIO-API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) data with the rest of their experimental data in the scientific workflow, making it accessible and preparing it for analysis with popular data science and visualization tools. We are committed to connecting every data source and target in the biopharma R&D data landscape - partnering with AGU immediately increases the number of instrument connectors we are able to offer to all of our biopharma customers." Unifying Life Sciences R&D Data AGU and TetraScience provide data solutions that make it easy to collect and manage R&D data. AGU's [email protected] Data Cockpit (SDC) platform focuses on the complex BIO-API process. TetraScience seeks to unify all biopharma R&D data in the cloud, making it actionable and accessible to ELN/LIMS, data science, and analytics. With this partnership, labs take nother step towards knocking down the data silos and unifying R&D data in a central cloud platform.
"[email protected] Data Cockpit is a powerful middleware with a wide range of applications for the interface of analyzers to supervisory systems. SDC integrates data between LIMS, MES, DCS and the instrument sensors and analyzers. SDC automates the instrument interface, data processing and systems approval process, removing the need for lengthy paper alternatives based around manual data entry," explained Klaus Bruch, CEO of AGU. "For more than 10 years, SDC has improved quality, reduced costs, and shortened the length of discovery for many of the top Pharmaceutical companies in the world and the BIO-API industry. Together with TetraScience, AGU is excited to expand SDC's data integration to an ever-growing network of data types and sources in the cloud." "Biopharma R&D needs to unify and harmonize experimental data in the Cloud in order to fully capitalize on the power of AI and data science. In turn, AI and data science will uncover insights that will accelerate the discovery and development of therapeutics that extend and enhance human life," explains Patrick Grady, Executive Chairman of TetraScience. "While Biopharma has been slow to adopt advanced cloud capabilities, we are witnessing a surge of interest in TetraScience's open platform and network. Industry participants of all kinds global pharmas, biotech startups, electronic lab notebook and lab information management system vendors, contract research organizations, biopharma app companies, and more recognize that this movement to the R&D Data Cloud must be driven by a vendor-neutral partner with no allegiance beyond the data itself. We are thrilled to add SDC as a valued partner in the network."
The Partners About [email protected] Data Cockpit (SDC) [email protected] Data Cockpit is a unique software system which enables the use of sensors and analyzers for the collection, review and approval of trial results in laboratories. The technician is no longer required to manually start and read measurements from the devices, but, rather, the measurements for these devices are reported centrally on the SDC server. The SDC currently supports over 50 types of analyzers including Cedex Bio, Cedex HiRes, Cedex Standard and Cobas technology and can also be connected to existing master systems such as LIMS, MES and DCS automation technology. About TetraScience TetraScience is the leading R&D Data Cloud company, making life sciences lab data truly accessible and actionable. We unify data across the Digital Lab in the cloud, putting an end to the silos and unlocking analytics. More than 80 leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies rely on our cloud-native platform and applications to automatically collect, centralize, and harmonize their experimental data, preparing it for analytics. The platform provides built-in connectivity to an increasing network of instruments, informatics, data, and analytics systems. Activate the flow of your data. Learn more at www.tetrascience.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agu-and-tetrascience-partner-to-provide-rd-production-labs-with-best-in-class-bio-api-data-solution-in-the-cloud-301081272.html SOURCE TetraScience
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One of Silicon Valleys top investors has quietly dumped seven figures into Democratic super PACs over the past two years through a pair of dark money groups that have little documented activity beyond channeling money into federal elections.
Matt Cohler, a former Facebook executive and a partner at the venture capital firm Benchmark, is behind the pair of nonprofit groups, one of which has donated a total of more than $1 million this year alone to three leading Democratic political groups. The Pacific Environmental Coalitions latest donation came last month, according to records released this week; it donated $500,000 to Senate Majority PAC, a powerhouse super PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Earlier this year, PEC also donated $300,000 to Unite the Country, a super PAC supporting former vice president Joe Bidens presidential campaign. And in February, the group chipped in $250,000 to VoteVets, the progressive vets group that was backing former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigiegs presidential bid at the time.
Theres little public information about the PEC. It doesnt appear to have a website or social media presence. And it hasnt existed long enough to file an annual financial report with the Internal Revenue Service. But according to incorporation records in California, Cohler is the groups chief executive officer.
That relative lack of information about PECs activity caught the attention of the ethics watchdog group Campaign Legal Center. The group says it plans to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission detailing its suspicion that PEC and another Cohler-run dark money group ran afoul of laws barring donors from using pass through entities to mask the sources of their political contributions.
"This appears to be yet another example of shell corporations being used to funnel money to super PACs while hiding the true sources of the money, Brendan Fischer, CLCs director of federal reforms, told The Daily Beast in an email. Voters have a right to know which wealthy special interests are spending big money to secretly influence our vote and our government."
Story continues
Cohler, who didnt respond to requests for comment on his involvement, was an executive at Facebook from 2005 to 2008, according to his LinkedIn page, before joining Benchmark. He sits on a host of corporate boards, and is widely considered one of Silicon Valleys top investors.
His involvement in groups making these sizable political contributions, which has not been previously reported, shows how wealthy political donors can use nonprofits to obscure their identities, even as they seek to exert tremendous influence over political campaigns.
The PEC appears to be the second dark money group that Cohler has set up to make federal political contributions. The similarly named Pacific Atlantic Action Coalition donated $200,000 to Senate Majority PAC in July 2018, less than two months after it was formed, on May 21. That groups incorporation records also list Cohler as its chief executive.
Unlike PEC, the Pacific Atlantic Action Coalition has been around long enough to file annual financial figures with the IRS. Its filing shows that the group received a single contribution during its first month in existence, a donation of $443,000 worth of securities. It doesnt identify the donor, but that sum comprises the entirety of its income for the year.
PAAC says in that filing that its mission is to educate the general public regarding issues of public policy and to promote and bring about advances in such areas of public policy... through education, advocacy, grantmaking and other permissible activities in furtherance of its exempt purpose. Like PEC, the group doesnt appear to have a public presence online.
PAAC also structured its fiscal year to end of June 30, 2018, meaning its initial filing only covered the first five weeks of its existenceand stopped short of the date of its contribution to Senate Majority PAC. Numerous requests to Cohler and the firms treasurer for its subsequent annual filing went unanswered.
That treasurer works for a tax and wealth advisory firm in Palo Alto employed by some of Silicon Valleys most prominent investors and executives. Both PEC and PAAC have also filed documentation with state corporate regulators listing attorneys with the firm Arnold & Porter. That firm has offices in Palo Alto, but both of the attorneys listed in those corporate records are based at its Washington, D.C., office.
Read more at The Daily Beast.
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Photo: The Canadian Press Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on March 9, 2020. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says he has repaid two mortgages with a Chinese state bank and refinanced them with a Canadian bank. Champagne disclosed the development during testimony today before the House of Commons health committee. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says he has repaid two mortgages with a Chinese state bank and refinanced them with a Canadian financial institution.
Champagne disclosed the development during testimony Tuesday before the House of Commons health committee, saying he decided to refinance the mortgages to avoid a distraction.
Earlier this month, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer called on Champagne to explain how the mortgages with a Chinese state bank would not compromise his ability to handle Canada's tense relations with the People's Republic.
Champagne reiterated Tuesday what his office already has said: that he disclosed the two mortgages to the ethics commissioner when he entered politics in 2015.
"Neither of these mortgages nor any of my other liabilities have ever had a bearing on my function as a public office holder," Champagne told the committee in his opening remarks.
"And to avoid any distractions, both have been repaid in full and refinanced with a Canadian bank."
He said the commissioner's public registry will be updated to reflect the financial change.
The committee is studying the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Champagne raised the issue as he was wrapping up an opening statement because he said it has been in the news.
Before Champagne entered politics, he lived and worked in London and bought two apartments in 2009 and 2013, which he continues to own and rent.
His office has said the London branch of the Bank of China, (UK) Ltd. was one of a limited number of lenders that would give mortgages to people living in Britain on temporary work visas, as Champagne was at the time.
Garnett Genuis, the Conservative critic for China-Canada relations, told Champagne that many of his Liberal colleagues had said the mortgages were "not a big deal" but that the minister's decision to move them indicates otherwise.
"I appreciate that there is now an understanding that that is an issue, and that that has been addressed," said Genuis.
"This is something that of course, we in the Opposition were calling for."
Genuis questioned whether Champagne fully disclosed the nature of the Chinese mortgages. The minister said he did and would table documents with the committee that backed that assertion.
"Parliament has other things to do than focus on my apartments ... I've been forthcoming," Champagne said.
"But to avoid any distraction to you, the Opposition, Parliament and this committee I decided to refinance with a Canadian bank."
Scheer said earlier this month that the mortgages were problematic because of the strained relations between Canada and China since the RCMP arrested Chinese high-tech scion Meng Wanzhou on an American extradition warrant in December 2018.
China arrested two Canadian men, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, nine days later in what is widely viewed as retaliation and has charged them with spying. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dismissed the Chinese action as politically motivated pressure to force the government to intervene in a legitimate Canadian court proceeding to free Meng.
Champagne, who was appointed to his current cabinet post after last fall's federal election following appointments to the trade and infrastructure portfolios, has said freeing Kovrig and Spavor is his top priority.
In his first week on the job, he pressed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi about Kovrig and Spavor in a meeting at a G20 gathering in Japan.
Last month, Champagne joined a coalition of countries pushing to have Taiwan included in COVID-19 discussions at the World Health Organization over the vocal objections of China. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and considers any international overture towards it as meddling in its internal affairs.
MONTREALQuebecs police watchdog announced Tuesday morning it was investigating the death of a 53-year-old man after an officer shot him during an intervention northeast of Montreal.
The Bureau des enquetes independantes said in a news release that provincial police were called to a home in Lavaltrie on Monday night and found a man and a woman at the scene.
The BEI said preliminary information suggests police took the man outside after the woman filed a complaint against him, but the man and one of the officers went back in after the man asked to get his wallet and personal items.
At that time, the man grabbed a knife and injured himself and the police officer shot him, the BEI said.
The man was taken to hospital where he was declared dead.
The watchdog sent seven investigators to the scene, and they will have assistance from Montreal police.
Meanwhile, the BEI also announced an investigation into a separate incident, this one involving Montreal police.
Preliminary information in that case suggests police used a stun gun on a 48-year-old man who became agitated and started hitting his head against walls while in detention on Monday night, the BEI said.
Police then called a tactical intervention squad who used a stun gun on the man again as well as paramedics.
The man was taken to hospital but his injuries are not considered life-threatening.
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Jeffrey Epstein's case in the U.S. remains unresolved, thanks to Prince Andrew who has reportedly provided zero cooperation to the investigation of the late billionaire pedophile and convicted sex offender.
The prolonged, unprogressive investigation caused a U.S. lawyer to demand the Duke of York's appearance and face the FBI interview as soon as possible to answer questions about Epstein's alleged illegal acts.
In an exclusive interview with Express U.K., the representative of three of Epstein's victims, Attorney Spencer Kuvin, called out the duke to cooperate.
"My advice to him as a human being is to step up, be a man and give whatever information he can to help bring co-conspirators to justice," Kuvin exclaimed. "Don't hide in your bunker like a whimpering coward."
He also took his chance to warn Prince Andrew about possibly traveling to America to run away from federal agents, a move which he called "insanely stupid." If this happens, the Florida-based attorney said the royal could be arrested for failing to cooperate.
"If he were to set foot anywhere in America or on US territory, it would be like poking the bear - he could be arrested for failing to co-operate," Kuvin shared.
Prince Andrew vs. U.S. DOJ
Kuvin's remarks came after the U.S. Department of Justice submitted a formal request to the Home Office in pursuit of cross-questioning the Duke of York.
The request aims to force Prince Andrew to answer questions about his ties to Epstein since he has been reportedly avoiding the authorities for the interview.
However, his legal team fought back multiple times, claiming that the royal prince has approached them at least three times to be a witness. Prince Andrew's camp said that the U.S. DOJ was "misleading" the public and was just doing things for publicity.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," one source told The Telegraph earlier this year. "The Duke is more than happy to talk to the FBI, but he hasn't been approached by them yet."
The insider added that the Duke of York has been preparing for the investigations and such by calling weekly meetings with his lawyers at Royal Lodge in Windsor and at Buckingham Palace.
Even in November 2019, the Duke proclaimed that he was "willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations if required."
The promised cooperation with authorities came after Prince Andrew appeared in an ill-judged BBC interview, during which he received plenty of criticisms. In the said interview, he spoke to Emily Maitlis about his friendship with the pedophile billionaire and the allegations of sexual impropriety with a then-underage Virginia Roberts.
Prince Andrew A Trafficker, Too?
Amid the exchange of words between Prince Andrew's legal team and the U.S. authorities, the duke faced another humiliation after the Netflix four-part docu-series titled "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich" dropped some bombshell revelations about his ties with Epstein.
Steve Skully, Epstein's former IT employee on Little Saint James Island, claimed that he saw the Duke of York touching a woman when he stayed at the billionaire's private Caribbean island in the early 2000s.
"Jeffrey hung out with a lot of powerful and well-known figures both politically and financially, and I mean British royalty," Skully revealed in the documentary. "It was probably around 2004, I saw Prince Andrew. He was at the pool. He was with at that time an unknown girl to me."
He then confirmed that the young woman did not have any top on, with Prince Andrew engaging with her in foreplay.
"He was grabbing her, and grinding against her," Skully recalled, which was the same statement he previously disclosed to The Sun.
As of writing, Prince Andrew nor his team has spoken about the new controversy. However, it is expected that Epstein's victim will finally get the answers once the duke presents himself.
READ MORE: Royal Danger: Man THREATENS To Stab Queen Elizabeth II's Daughter [REPORT]
Press Release
June 23, 2020 Statement of Senator Joel Villanueva on
the prospects of economic recovery by Q4 2020 The path to economic recovery has two stumbling blocks at the moment: the continuing increase of COVID-19 cases, and the lack of a clear set of policies to help workers adapt to the new normal. Our government must arrest the increase of COVID-19 cases to boost economic activity. As long as the infection trend is upward, all our efforts to restart the economy will fail miserably. Workers must have access to retraining or upskilling to be employable in the new normal job market. Aside from ramping up its labor matching efforts, the Department of Labor and Employment should also tap all available resources in our government to complement the needs of our workers in terms of access to knowledge and transfer of technology. Any government assistance that will be extended to businesses must always come with a commitment to retain their workers among their ranks. To achieve all this, our government must not hesitate to spend on our labor force. We must understand that at this point in time, investing in our workers will make or break our country's economic recovery.
Jacksonville police have arrested a Roodhouse man on a criminal sexual assault charge.
Christopher D. Hunnicutt, 19, of Roodhouse was arrested Monday. Authorities said the arrest stems from an ongoing investigation of an incident that occurred in May.
She was president of the Hinsdale Junior Womans Club, and her involvement in organizations continued when they moved to Western Springs, Robert Milano said. She was chairwoman of the St. John the Cross Parish Council in the late 1970s, and was a Western Springs village trustee from 1989 to 1993, and village president from 1997 to 2001.
Reaffirms Expectation to File Annual Filings and Restated Audit by July 10, 2020
OAKLAND, Calif. and TORONTO, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Harborside Inc. ("Harborside" or the "Company") (CSE: HBOR), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, is providing an update to its previously disclosed management cease trade order ("MCTO") in respect of the audited annual financial statements and corresponding management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 (collectively, the "Annual Filings") and cease trade order (the "CTO") in respect of the refiling of certain historical financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 (the "Restated Audit"), and the interim periods ended March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019, and September 30, 2019, and any corresponding management's discussion and analyses (collectively, the "Restated Interims").
As previously disclosed, the delay in completing the Annual Filings occurred due to the impact of COVID-19. The Restated Audit and Restated Interim are due primarily to changes in the application of accounting treatments related to certain transactions by its reverse takeover acquirer, FLRish, Inc. Notwithstanding the delays in completing the filings, there is not expected to be a material impact to the assets currently owned by the Company, its current cash position or the positive financial performance the Company has reported so far this year.
The Company continues to expect to file the Annual Filings and Restated Audit no later than July 10, 2020 and will apply to have the CTO revoked. Although the CTO resulted in trading in the subordinate voting shares of the Company being suspended on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"), the CTO is not expected to result in the Company being delisted from the CSE and the Company expects trading to resume on the CSE shortly after the revocation of the CTO.
The Company expects that a MCTO will remain in place until the Restated Interims are filed. The Company continues to work diligently with its auditor to file the Annual Filings, Restated Audit and Restated Interims as quickly as possible.
"While I don't want to minimize the significance of the delayed filing and restatement, our current financial performance remains positive and improving," said Peter Bilodeau, Chairman and Interim CEO of the Company. "Harborside has continued to perform well, despite the additional challenges we have all experienced as a result of COVID-19 and recent social unrest, and as I previously stated, 2020 is expected to be a banner year for our company."
As required under Canadian securities laws, the Company will provide a further update on or about June 30, 2020. Additionally, to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no material business developments as of the date of this news release that have not been generally disclosed.
For the latest news, activities, and media coverage, please visit the Harborside corporate website at www.investharborside.com or connect with us on LinkedIn , Facebook , and Twitter .
About Harborside:
Harborside Inc. is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis retailers in California, operating three of the major dispensaries in the San Francisco Bay Area, a dispensary in Desert Hot Springs outfitted with Southern California's only cannabis drive-thru window, a dispensary in Oregon and a cultivation facility in Salinas, California. Harborside has played an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California consumers. Co-founded by Steve DeAngelo and dress wedding in 2006, Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Harborside is currently a publicly listed company on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") trading under the ticker symbol "HBOR". Additional information regarding Harborside is available under Harborside's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com .
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward looking-statements relate to, among other things, the timing of filing the Annual Filings, the Restated Audit and the Restated Interims, revocation of the CTO and MCTO and resumption of trading .
These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: management's perceptions of the anticipated timeline in which the Annual Filings, the Restated Audit and the Restated Interims can be completed and filed; implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the California cannabis market and changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution and sale of cannabis and cannabis related products in the State of California; litigation risk; and employee relations. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
The Company is indirectly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, these activities are currently illegal under United States federal law. Additional information regarding this and other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Listing Statement dated May 30, 2019, filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .
The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Harborside Inc.
Smoking, divorce and alcohol abuse have the closest connection to death out of 57 social and behavioural factors analyzed in research published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The study analyzed survey data collected from 13,611 adults in the U.S. between 1992 and 2008, and identified which factors applied to those who died between 2008 and 2014.
"It shows that a lifespan approach is needed to really understand health and mortality," said Eli Puterman, assistant professor at the University of British Columbia's school of kinesiology and lead author of the study. "For example, instead of just asking whether people are unemployed, we looked at their history of unemployment over 16 years. If they were unemployed at any time, was that a predictor of mortality? It's more than just a one-time snapshot in people's lives, where something might be missed because it did not occur. Our approach provides a look at potential long-term impacts through a lifespan lens."
Life expectancy in the U.S. has stagnated for three decades relative to other industrialized countries, raising questions about which factors might be contributing. Biological factors and medical conditions are always at the top of the list, so this study intentionally excluded those in favour of social, psychological, economic, and behavioural factors.
Of the 57 factors analyzed, the 10 most closely associated with death, in order of significance, were:
1. Current smoker 2. History of divorce 3. History of alcohol abuse advertisement 4. Recent financial difficulties 5. History of unemployment 6. Previous history as a smoker 7. Lower life satisfaction 8. Never married 9. History of food stamps advertisement 10. Negative affectivity
The data came from the nationally representative U.S. Health and Retirement Study, whose participants ranged in age from 50 to 104, with an average age of 69.3. These surveys didn't capture every possible adversity -- neither food insecurity nor domestic abuse was addressed, for example -- but the new findings provide an indication of where various factors stand in relation to each other.
"If we're going to put money and effort into interventions or policy changes, these areas could potentially provide the greatest return on that investment," Puterman said. "Smoking has been understood as one of the greatest predictors of mortality for 40 years, if not more, but by identifying a factor like negative affectivity -- this idea that you tend to see and feel more negative things in your life -- we can see that we might need to start targeting this with interventions. Can we shift it and have an impact on mortality rates? Similarly, can we target interventions for the unemployed and those with financial difficulties to reduce their risk?"
UBC kinesiology masters student Benjamin Hives also contributed to the study, along with Puterman's colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, University of California San Francisco, and Stanford University.
Meghan Foxs name has been in the news a lot lately. The Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen actress has made headlines not only for her relationship with her Midnight in the Switchgrass co-star Machine Gun Kelly but also for a 2009 interview she did with Jimmy Kimmel that has resurfaced online.
The clip showed Fox talking to the late night host about her audition for Bad Boys II. The actress explained that she had to dance in front of director Michael Bay in a bikini when she was just 15 years old.
Megan Fox | Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
Fox concluded her story saying, Thats kind of a microcosm of how Bays mind works. To which Kimmel replied, Yeah, well thats really a microcosm of how all our minds work.
A number of fans became upset over the revelation and Kimmels reaction. After the clip made the rounds, Fox took to Instagram with a lengthy post and said she was never assaulted or prayed upon by Bay. She also insisted that for her Transformers role she was not made to wash or work on someones cars in a way that was extraneous from the material in the actual script.
Bey and Kimmel have not commented on the clip.
Megan Foxs age
Fox was born on May 16, 1986, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to parents Gloria Darlene and Franklin Thomas Fox.
By the age of 13, she began modeling but she wanted to get into acting for as long as she can remember.
I wanted to be an actress from the time I was 2, Fox told The New York Times. My mom said it was the only thing I ever said I wanted to do. When I was 4 or 5, I watched The Wizard of Oz, and for a year, I asked her to call me Dorothy. When my mom explained to me that Dorothy was not real, that an actress plays her, I decided I wanted to be an actress.
Foxs dating history and marriage
Fox married fellow actor Brian Austin Green in 2010. The pair met in 2004 when she was 18 and he was 30 on the sitcom Hope & Faith and dated on-and-off for years.
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green | Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Ferrari North America
I liked him right away, Fox told The New York Times Magazine. Everyone was around the monitor watching a scene, and Brian accidentally touched my leg. I remember literal electricity shooting through me and out me from every direction. It was like magic.
Fox filed for divorce from Green in 2015, but they got back together and she later requested to dismiss their divorce case. In May 2020, Green announced on an episode of his podcast they had split up. The estranged couple share three children: Bodhi, Noah, and Journey.
While the Jennifers Body actress has only been married once another one of her relationships was a hot topic in the past.
After she starred in Transformers with Shia LaBeouf in 2007, rumors swirled that they were romantically involved. Fox finally confirmed their fling in 2018 on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen when she said, I love [LaBeouf ]. Ive never been really private about that. I love him.
In June 2020, rapper Machine Gun Kelly confirmed via Twitter that he was dating Fox.
RELATED: How Did Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly Meet?
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Bothered by the apparent failure of the Imo State Governor Mr. Hope Uzodinma and the pliant House of Assembly to take steps to check the growing number of attacks by armed Fulani terrorists and herdsmen in parts of Imo State, the Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned the trend and strongly canvassed the passage and enforcement of a legislation to ban outdoor and open grazing of animals all over Imo State and to equip the communities to set up active vigilantes in addition to the community policing mechanism recently unveiled in the state.
Besides, the Rights group has admonished Governor Hope Uzodinma to tone down the anti-opposition party's rhetorical warfare being waged by his administration against the major opposition platform of the Peoples Democratic party(PDP) and to begin proper governance in Imo state which is seriously lacking given the widespread discontent and mass dissatisfaction expressed by Millions of the good people of the state who are legitimately worried about the lack of developmental focus by the state administration which has created the security vacuum that have impacted negatively on the wellbeing of the people as manifested by the growing rates of killings and attacks ochestrated and organised by armed Fulani herdsmen rampaging all around the farming communities in the three Senatorial zones of Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri in the last couple of Months.
In a statement to the media by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said it was unfortunate that palpable tension had enveloped Obudi Agwa community in Oguta council area of Imo State following marauding Fulani herdsmen attacking and killing an indigene of the community in his farm.
"HURIWA is shocked to learn that for two weeks since after that gruesome murder of Elder Ozoemena Iriaka who had gone to his farm in the morning hours when he saw Fulani herdsmen grazing their cattle on his farm and that he had confronted for grazing their cattle on his farm, the Imo State House of Assembly and Governor Hope Uzodinma are still unable to put pressure on the relevant security forces in Imo State to apprehend the killer Fulani herdsmen and bring then to justice.
HURIWA lamented that the inaction of the Imo State government is the motivating factor to these armed marauders who seem to have upped the ante of their murderous attacks to other sections of the state including the sexual violations and murder of a mother of four which till date since after two weeks is yet to be resolved.
HURIWA stated that the primary duty and responsibility of government is to secure the lives of the citizens just as the Rights group said it was regrettable that even when it was further learnt that the deceased had tried to chase away the cows from his farm, an action which had angered the herdsmen who attacked him with their machetes, inflicting deep cuts on the back of his head as he tried to escape from them, the Imo State administration seems to be working on the theory that soon the matter would be swept under the carpets.
"We reject this absolute neglect of the primary Constitutional responsibility of government by the current political establishment in Imo state and we call on the governor and the State House of Assembly to pass the Anti-open grazing law in Imo state and to stop the infiltration of the state by killer armed Fulani herdsmen.
"Hope Uzodinma as far as the law is concerned is the chief security officer of Imo state by virtue of the legal fact that he is the governor of Imo State. He must desist from thinking that he owns his allegiance to the Fulani Caliphate going by the circumstances of his emergence through a controversial verdict of the Supreme Court of Nigeria presided over by the Fulani born Sharia jurist Alhaji Muhammad Tanko of Bauchi State. Hope Uzodinma must govern Imo State for the benefit of Imo people and the best way to go about it is to eliminate all traces of threats to the security and lives and property of the good people of Imo State for the period of time that he would preside over the affairs of Imo state. Imo state people should organise and not agonize to protect their ancestral lands from being overrun by foreign mercenariesmasquerading as Fulani herdsmen. Imo State must never be allowed to become a theatre of terrorism".
HURIWA has similarly tasked Governor Hope Uzodinma to arrest the suspected killers who allegedly killed a 45-year-old woman, Mrs Susanna Iwuoha, after raping her.
HURIWA recalled that Mrs. Iwuoha, a mother of four from Alaocha, Umuchiaku, in Lowa-Okata autonomous community, Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area, was found dead with her face immersed into a local stream some days after she left home for her farmland.
The Rights group said it is possible that she was killed by the same armed Fulani herdsmen who killed the elderly farmer in Oguta because the woman, whose undergarment was carted away by her attackers, was discovered by a community search party after her children raised the alarm over her disappearance since June 3. One Bernard Ekeka, who is believed to have seen the unidentified attackers, was also killed.According to Iwuohas 15-year-old daughter, Ugochi, they had earlier gone to the farm together for weeding and returned home before her mother decided to return later that day to harvest some crops.
HURIWA is once more charging the Imo State governor and the State House of Assembly to rapidly pass the anti- open grazing law if there is none to put to a permanent end the rampaging attacks of armed Fulani herdsmen just as the Rights group said the Imo State government should seek for ways of galvanizing a regional approach towards instituting a SOUTH EASTERN ANTI-OPEN GRAZING LAW and to set up a regional security network to protect the region from all forms of violent attacks.
Relatedly, HURIWA thinks the National Assembly is not committed to the fight against sexual violations of youngsters by rapists who are unleashing venomous attacks on young girls and boys all around the Country.
"HURIWA is apprehensive that all the noises coming from Abuja about the issue of combating RAPE and sexual attacks against younger persons by mostly Men, are just cosmetic and artificial wailing of pretenders who will simply wait for the mass of the citizens to stop talking about these rape cases in the social media and then the Country returns to the business as usual default format that it has been for over 60 years. The National Assembly has the knive and the yam and so why are they crying? They are the legislators who can look at all the laws relating to sexual offences and then fundamentally reform these archaic legal framework to bring it in tandem with the demands of the 21st century compliant Nigerian nation. The Presidency should stop the public show and the media showmanship over the cases of RAPE and sexual attacks against younger persons in Nigeria. If you are in government, your responsibility is to maintain law and order and punish offenders and not to cry like little babies when the system seems to have failed our children by not protecting them from murderous rapists. The Presidency runs the Police which has failed to prosecute sexual violators. The Presidency is where the Federal Attorney General and minister of justice works. Law Reform Commission is located in the Presidency and so why is the Federal Government not seen activating measures to strengthen the laws against rapists so as to introduce strong enough sanctions and legal penalties that would serve as deterrence to the violent rapists who are running riots all over the Country?"
Several staff members at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and passersby were disturbed to witness hospital security officers holding a Black woman in handcuffs outside the hospital entrance last week for nearly an hour.
Some took photos and others complained to hospital management, prompting hospital officials to announce the next day it was suspending their security personnels use of handcuffing or trespass arrests in non-violent situations at all Legacy Health medical centers.
We are conducting a full and swift investigation,' wrote Gretchen Nichols, president of Legacy Healths Columbia Region to staff the next day, according to an email obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Legacy Healths Columbia region includes Legacy Emanuel and Legacy Mount Hood Medical Centers.
First and foremost, our patient relations team is reaching out to the patient to listen, hear what happened from the patients perspective, and to offer immediate and continued support for their safety and wellbeing.'
The woman had been arrested inside the hospital, which was upsetting to employees and others who observed it.
Upon learning of this situation, we issued an immediate change in security protocols strictly prohibiting handcuffing or trespass arrests until further notice,' Nichols wrote to staff, in response to complaints.
The trespass case appears to be an example of what Disability Rights Oregon last summer called the growing problem of hospitals criminalizing so-called unwanted'' trespassers.
Initial reports from Legacy Emanuel staff were that the woman had been a patient in the hospitals emergency department, and when she was discharged, she said she hadnt been given all of her belongings back. When she wouldnt leave, she was detained and handcuffed by hospital security and accused of trespass.
Security had called Portland police and were waiting with her handcuffed outside the hospital for about an hour, when a crowd formed and some people took photos of the security personnel and the handcuffed woman. The hospital eventually let the woman go after some staff informed hospital supervisors.
Legacy officials said they couldnt provide any details, citing patient privacy concerns but confirmed there was an incident involving the trespass arrest of a patient at the hospital about 5:30 p.m on Thursday.
Nichols said the hospital will be doing a thorough evaluation of the hospitals security practices.
Safety and treating every patient and employee with dignity, respect, and compassion is our number one priority at Legacy Health. We take this matter very seriously and are in the process of conducting a full and swift investigation,' Nichols said in a statement Monday. We are committed to ensuring the physical and emotional safety of everyone within our care, every day, without exception.'
In a report issued last spring, Disability Rights Oregon, an advocacy group that offers legal advice and representation for people with physical or mental health disabilities, had studied 142 reports of trespass calls from five Portland hospitals and the metro areas psychiatric emergency department between the summer of 2017 through the summer of 2018.
Disability Rights Oregon argued that hospitals were contributing to the criminalization of people with mental illness,' through its trespass arrests.
The report found that homeless people, people of color and people suffering from mental health problems were disproportionately represented among those arrested for trespass at hospitals. While nearly all landed in jail, only a quarter appeared to present a risk of violence, the report said.
This is a change thats long overdue,' said Sarah Radcliffe, managing attorney for Disability Rights Oregons Mental Health Rights Project, which released last years report on hospital trespass cases.
Since the report was issued last year, Radcliffe said the agency didnt get good traction from Legacy' hospitals in response.
This is a problematic tactic that Legacy has been aware of for a long time,' she said. Its good to see them take action now.'
-- Maxine Bernstein
Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212
Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
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SYDNEY, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Now's the time to start planning your next trip to New South Wales, Australia, and a must visit is the picturesque town of Mudgee.
Pair idyllic wineries and epicurean delights with heritage streetscapes and boutique shops, and you have the charming country town of Mudgee, reachable by short flight or a 3.5 hour drive northwest of Sydney.
Upon arriving in Mudgee, stop for a coffee and a bite to eat at locals' favourite - Alby & Esthers . Located on a cobblestoned corner of Mudgee, the circa 1873 stone terrace is packed with character and charm, and a mouth-watering menu inspired by local ingredients.
Stroll along the pretty tree-lined streets and admire colonial buildings, including the Mudgee Post Office, designed by architect Alexander Dawson and built in 1862. Whilst in town, pay a visit to local boutiques including Whatever Mudgee , Edited and Co. and Cherry Red .
After taking in the streetscapes, continue exploring the culinary delights of Mudgee at your leisure, beginning with one of many local wineries.
Located in the valley of Apple Tree Flat - Logan Wines is a picturesque locale of the Mudgee region set amongst the mountains of the Great Dividing Range.
If biodynamic wines are of interest, a must visit is Lowe Wines . This winery specialises in small batch winemaking using innovative techniques, displaying practical sustainable management in their vineyards and on the farm.
Whilst at Lowe Wines, enjoy lunch at onsite restaurant - Zin House . The modern farmhouse restaurant takes in sweeping views of Tinja property, nestled among classic Mudgee hillscapes and the vineyards.
Continue your wine tasting at Robert Stein Winery and Vineyard . With a family winegrowing lineage dating back to 1838, the vineyard was established in 1976 and is now producing award-winning reds, whites and fortified wines.
Situated in the grounds of the Robert Stein Winery, the Pipeclay Pumphouse Restaurant is one of Mudgee's premier fine dining establishments. Utilising as much local and farm grown produce as possible, the dishes created by Chef and owner Andy Crestani reflect the passion and quality of these local producers.
After lunch, continue your wine tasting at Burnbrae Wines . The boutique winery is family owned and also home to bespoke onsite accommodation including The Winemakers Cottage and Varykino House .
Try some locally made beers paired with a hearty meal at the nearby microbrewery - Mudgee Brewing Co . Alternatively, Mudgee is renowned for having stellar night skies so stargaze at the Mudgee Observatory , where you can marvel at the Milky Way galaxy through a range of telescopes.
As the evening winds down, spend the night at one of many unique accommodation options including luxury self-contained apartments at Perry Street Hotel or premier or award-winning glamping experiences at Sierra Escape .
Note to editors
Imagery is available via this link , for additional materials, visit the Content Library .
SOURCE Destination NSW
President Trump denied joking about slowing down coronavirus testing - instead doubling down on his claim that the upswing in COVID-19 cases in the United States is due to more testing.
'I don't kid,' the president said as he departed the White House for Arizona Tuesday. 'By having more tests. We find more cases,' he continued, adding that testing was a 'double-edged sword.'
On Saturday night at his Tulsa rally, Trump made a similar point and also said that he told his people, 'slow the testing down, please,' in order for the U.S. to have lower case numbers.
President Trump answered, 'I don't kid,' when asked about comments he made Saturday night that suggested he had ordered government officials to slow down COVID-19 testing in the U.S. so the country would have lower case numbers
Since the president made the comments, his staff has had to play clean-up, including press secretary Kayleigh McEnany who said Monday that President Trump was speaking 'in jest'
At Monday's press briefing, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president was speaking 'in jest' when he said he ordered coronavirus testing to be slowed down so the country had fewer cases
President Trump originally made the comments during Saturday night's rally in Tulsa, which marked the first time he officially returned to the cmpaign trail since the coronavirus pandemic cancelled large-scale gatherings
Political critics of the president jumped at his statement.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's campaign continued to call it on Tuesday 'stunning and outrageus.'
The White House has played clean-up since, with Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro saying Sunday on CNN that the president was being 'tongue-in-cheek.'
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany used similar phrasing at the briefing Monday, saying the president's comments were made 'in jest.'
'Any suggestion that testing has been curtailed is not rooted in fact,' she said.
She added that 26.7 million coronavirus tests have now been administered.
'The president was trying to expose what the media oftentimes does is they ignore the fact that the United States has more cases because we have more testing,' she explained. 'We are leading the world on testing.'
'It was a comment that he made in jest. It was a comment that he made in passing,' she added.
McEnany was then asked if the president should be making jokes about the coronavirus when more than 122,000 Americans have died.
'He was not joking about coronavirus, I just said he was joking about the media and their failure to understand the fact that when you test more you'll also find more cases,' she replied.
Before the briefing Monday, Trump was interviewed by broadcast journalist Joe St. George and he twice dodged the question of whether he told government officials to slow down COVID-19 testing.
When a reporter pointed to the president's Monday comments - and how he didn't say anything about making them 'in jest' - McEnany replied, 'The president instead used that opportunity to extoll the fact that we've done more than 25 million tests.'
He boasted about those numbers on Tuesday as well.
'We did 25-plus, 25 million tests. Think of that - 25 million. If you look at other countries they did 1 million, 2 million, 3 million. Big countries. We did 25 million, way more by double, triple, quadruple any other country,' Trump said.
'Therefore, with tests, we're going to have more cases. By having more cases, it sounds bad. But actually what it is, is we're finding people, many of those people aren't sick,' the president continued.
Trump added that because the U.S. is finding all these cases 'we have a very low mortality rate.'
'Just about the best in the world,' he said.
On Monday, the World Health Organization pushed back on Trump's assertion that cases were rising because of increased testing.
'We do not believe that this is a testing phenomenon,' said Mike Ryan, the executive director of WHO's emergencies program. 'Clearly when you look at the hospital admissions, [they] are also rising in a number of countries and deaths are also rising.'
'Theyre not due to increased testing per se. So there definitely is a shift in the sense that the virus is now very well established on a global level,' Ryan said at a press conference in Geneva.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Thokozani Khupe has recalled nine parliamentarians of the opposition MDC Alliance.
This comes barely two weeks after High Court judge, Joseph Mafusire, made a provisional order stopping the Khupe MDC formation from refilling positions left vacant by the recalling of four legislators - Thabitha Khumalo, Lilian Timveous, Charlotte Hwende and Prosper Mutseyami - aligned to Nelson Chamisas MDC Allience.
House of Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda announced Tuesday that the MDC-T has recalled Amos Chibaya, Happymore Chidziva, Nomathemba Ndlovu, Anna Muyambo, Francesca Ncube, Murisi Zwizwayi, Virginia Muradzikwa, Concilia Majaya and Mucharairwa Mugidho.
The partys presidential spokesperson, Khaliphani Pugeni, said the MDC-T will recall more legislators aligned to MDC Alliance if they continue supporting Chamisa.
We are recalling those that are aligning themselves with other parties ... We will recall all those that attend MDC Alliance meetings. This is why we have recalled some of them today.
The Supreme Court recently ruled that Chamisa was not legitimately elected MDC leader soon after the death of the partys founding president Morgan Tsvangirai.
Chamisa contested the 2018 presidential poll under the MDC Alliance. He got over two million votes and President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was declared the winner by the Electoral Court, amassed more votes in the disputed poll. Chamisa has refused to recognize Mnangagwa as the president of Zimbabwe.
Adenovirus, which typically can cause a common cold, has a far more dangerous impact if it reaches the heart.
When the virus commandeers gap junctions, it can slow production of connexin43, disturbing the electrical system that keeps a heart beating properly, leading to arrythmias and sometimes sudden cardiac death.
Calhoun performed specific experiments that confirmed that the virus can effectively hijack the system that heart muscle cells use to communicate. Similar research is often performed using mouse models, but previously scientists lacked an effective model for adenovirus and the human heart.
Calhoun innovated a diagnostic technique using induced pluripotent stem cell derived-cardiomyocytes - human skin cells converted to heart cells. He applied adenovirus to those and watched what happened.
He saw what he expected - the virus took over the gap junctions for its own replication purposes - but he saw something else he didn't expect.
I realized there were two distinct processes going on here, with the virus giving a double hit to the cell's ability to communicate with its neighbors. Firstly, it was rapidly closing existing channels, and secondly it was shutting down the cells' ability to make new ones." Patrick Calhoun, Researcher, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Smyth and Calhoun took particular interest in how the virus halted connexin43 creation and gap junction formation. The virus switched a protein pathway classically described as making new connexin to suppressing connexin instead. Smyth sees promise in learning more about how the virus made that change.
"We might learn something very new about the molecular biology there that's causing that switch," said Smyth, who is also an associate professor of biological sciences in the Virginia Tech College of Science and of basic science education in the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
"The research has some limitations for extending the findings to the living heart because it's done in vitro - in a dish outside of the human body - but still has tremendous value," Smyth said. Fundamental studies provide the footing for the translational research that discovers therapeutics and diagnostic methods that improve people's health."
"They give us pointers and clues as to what to look for," Smyth said. "This research goes beyond viral infection with the hope that we can generate new therapeutic interventions for diseased hearts," Calhoun said. "We're essentially learning from adenovirus to find the most efficient ways to stop, rather than cause, arrhythmias."
Calhoun's research formed a significant part of his recently defended doctoral dissertation. It's complemented by the work of Rachel Padget, another researcher in Smyth's lab who was recently awarded a National Institutes of Health fellowship to develop a first-ever mouse model to investigate how adenovirus attacks the heart.
Calhoun, originally from Niceville, Fla., has been mentored by Smyth for more than five years. A U.S. Army veteran, Calhoun began his academic career at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, Va., before transferring to Virginia Tech.
This month he'll begin work as a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, where he'll continue his study of cardiac health.
Smyth, an investigator in the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute's Center for Heart and Reparative Medicine Research, is the senior author on the paper. Calhoun's research was funded by an American Heart Association grant awarded in 2018.
Amaravati, June 23 : Andhra Pradesh's state nodal officer noted that 407 new cases were detected in the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. on Tuesday, taking the overall tally of Covid cases in Andhra Pradesh to 9,834.
Compared to the 5 deaths reported on Sunday and Monday, 8 deaths were registered in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.
While 3 deaths each were reported from Krishna and Kurnool districts, Guntur and Kadapa districts reported 1 death each. The latest update takes the state's death toll to 119.
East Godavari district reported the highest tally of 87 cases, followed by Anantapur and Kurnool districts with 68 and 53 cases respectively. All the 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh, reported fresh Covid cases, with Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts reporting the lowest single-day tally of 1 case each.
The overall tally of 9,834 positive cases includes cases detected among people returning from other states and abroad.
While the active cases are 5,123, the number of patients who have been discharged stands at 4,592. The preceding 24 hours saw 40 new cases detected among people who returned from other states to Andhra Pradesh. While 14 samples belonged to returnees from Tamil Nadu, 13 positive samples belonged to returnees from Telangana, 5 positive samples were of people returning from Maharashtra.
Three samples of people returning from Delhi, 2 from Bihar, and 1 each from Karnataka, UP and Haryana, were found to be Covid positive. The overall tally of Covid positive persons who returned from other states currently stands at 1,624. Of this, the active cases tally is 653, while 971 persons have been discharged till date.
Similarly, 7 returnees from Kuwait and 8 from Qatar were also found to be Covid positive. The cumulative tally of Covid patients in this category is 352, while 55 persons have been discharged after getting cured. As of Tuesday, 297 persons in this category are undergoing treatment in hospitals.
By Moira Warburton
June 23 (Reuters) - Hearings on Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou's extradition to the United States from Canada will extend into late April 2021, according to documents released by a British Columbia court on Tuesday.
Meng was arrested in December 2018 by Canadian authorities at the Vancouver International Airport on a warrant from the United States charging her with bank fraud for allegedly misleading HSBC on Huawei's business dealings in Iran.
She has been on house arrest in Vancouver and is fighting extradition to the United States.
A Canadian judge ruled in May that the case met the standard of double criminality, meaning her alleged crimes would be illegal in Canada as well as in the United States, dashing her hopes for an early release.
The hearings were initially scheduled to wrap up in October 2020. But in light of the coronavirus pandemic, both Canadian prosecutors representing the federal government and Huawei lawyers agreed to an extended schedule for the hearings, which was approved by a judge on Tuesday.
Hearings relating to Meng's remaining claims - including abuses of process by Canadian and American authorities in her arrest and the request for extradition - will take place between July 2020 and April 2021. (Reporting by Moira Warburton in Toronto; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Amazon bans Family Research Council from AmazonSmile program
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Amazon has banned another conservative nonprofit from its AmazonSmile program, which allows customers to choose a charity to receive proceeds from their purchases.
The tech giant's decision to ban the Family Research Council was reportedly based on recommendations from the Southern Poverty Law Center, the program's gatekeeper, which frequently labels conservative and Christian organizations as "hate groups."
"While Amazon customers can use the AmazonSmile program to donate a portion of each purchase to left-leaning organizations like Planned Parenthood, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the Center for American Progress (and to be fair, to many right-leaning organizations, too), Amazon has decided to single out a few well-known conservative organizations like FRC and ADF from receiving part of the tens of millions of dollars the program raises each year from customers," Kay Coles James, president of The Heritage Foundation, wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Times.
The Scottsdale, Arizona-based Christian legal firm Alliance Defending Freedom was banned in 2018 after SPLC labeled it as a hate group due to its biblical views on sexuality.
"The SPLC itself is a completely discredited organization," James wrote. "It bills itself as being on the front lines in the fight against racial inequality and injustice, yet last year its own staffers accused its leadership of years of racial and gender discrimination and of widespread sexual harassment. Whistleblowers said that the organization had a 'systemic culture of racism and sexism within its workplace.' As a result, its co-founder and president were both forced out."
She added, "The people at the SPLC certainly have a right to disagree with these groups' policy positions; but it's unconscionable that they would label decent people as hateful and consider them on equal footing with neo-Nazis and the Klan."
At "the urging of Amazon's board of directors," shareholders recently defeated a resolution that would have ended the use of the SPLC's defamatory list, James pointed out.
After the ADF was banned from participating in the AmazonSmile program in 2018, its President and CEO Michael Farris sent a letter to Amazon to protest its decision. In the letter, he argued that the company should refrain from using the SPLC to make decisions on what groups can and cannot be eligible for AmazonSmile.
"Although the SPLC did good work many years ago, it has devolved into a far-left propaganda machine that slanders organizations with which it disagrees and destroys the possibility of civil discourse in the process," wrote Farris at the time. "The group has been discredited by investigative journalists and charity watchdogs as a 'direct mail scam' that has seen its leaders amass enormous fortunes. It is no surprise that the United States Department of Defense and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have severed ties with the SPLC."
In 2017, Amazon also banned D. James Kennedy Ministries from participating in the AmazonSmile program after it, too, was labeled as a "hate group" by the SPLC. In response, the Christian ministry filed a defamation lawsuit against Amazon and the SPLC.
Critics of the SPLC have also accused it of inciting violence against conservative individuals and organizations, linking it to the 2012 shooting at the Family Research Council and student protests against Charles Murray at Middlebury College in 2018.
After the shooting at FRC's headquarters eight years ago, the assailant, Floyd Lee Corkins II, said he was incited by the SPLC's list of "anti-gay" organizations which included the FRC, and told FBI agents after the attack that he wanted to "make a statement against people [who worked at FRC]."
At the time, the SPLC issued a statement saying, "We have argued consistently that violence is no answer to problems in a democratic society, and we have strongly criticized all those who endorse such violence, whether on the political left or the political right," the SPLC stated in 2012.
Robert Netzly, CEO of Inspire Investing, expressed concerns in an op-ed piece for The Christian Post that Amazon isn't living up to its commitment to viewpoint diversity.
"Amazon has taken great pains to portray themselves as champions of diversity, and have made public statements about their supposed commitment to respecting diverse viewpoints," Netzly asserted. "For example, their website proclaims that 'diversity and inclusion are good for business and more fundamentally simply right.'"
Netzly added, "This begs the question, if Amazon is such a believer in diversity, why would its board recommend that shareholders vote against a resolution that would provide 'a full evaluation of viewpoint bias and associated risks to ensure that Amazon is making balanced decisions and that it is acting consistent with its commitment to diversity?'"
Police continued the search for a possible drowning victim Tuesday morning in a park in Somerset County.
On Monday night, Bridgewater Police received a report of a possible drowning in the Chimney Rock Reservoir, said police Lt. John Mitzak. The Somerset County Dive team scoured the water until dark, he said.
At 8 a.m. Tuesday, the search resumed with the New Jersey State Police expected to send a team with sonar equipment, Mitzak said.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.
Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com.
Older boomers may have wanted to change the world, Richard Perez-Pena wrote in these pages in 2014; most of my peers just wanted to change the channel.
The term was coined in 1999 by Jonathan Pontell, a cultural critic, who likes the double meaning of Jones: not only the anonymity of it, but also the sense of yearning. And in an interview last week, Mr. Pontell told me he thinks that Generation Jones may play a crucial role in the 2020 election.
Unlike older boomers, members of this generation are reliably conservative, perhaps because the traumas of the 1970s led us to distrust government. But Mr. Pontell thinks that Jonesers are now tipping to the left, for two reasons. First, Mr. Trumps fumbling response to the Covid-19 crisis has hurt him with Jonesers, who are part of the demographic most at risk from the disease. And then there is Mr. Trumps cruel mocking of Joe Bidens senior moments. There are lots of seniors out there that also have senior moments, Mr. Pontell says. They dont really like the president mocking those one bit.
Donald Trump (who is, it should be noted, an older boomer) has been a fraud on so many levels, but if theres anything authentic about him, its his air of grievance. It may have been this, Mr. Pontell says, that made Jonesers vote for him in 2016. Hillary Clinton, to them, was the epitome of older baby boomer entitlement, and if Mr. Trump stood for anything, it was for the very things Gen Jones most identifies with: jealousy, resentment, self-pity.
Theres a word in Ireland, begrudgery. Padraig OMorain, writing in The Irish Times, says: Behind a lot of this begrudgery lies the unexamined and unspoken assumption that there is only so much happiness to go around. And guess what? The others have too much and I have too little.
I turned to the feminist author Susan Faludi a fellow Generation Joneser, born in 1959 for more insight. I recognize the yearning/resenting description of that cohort, she told me. Personally, Ive always been in the yearning category a modern-day Miniver Cheevy, born too late to be in the thick of the 60s social justice movements, which I shamelessly romanticized. As a girl, I had, God help me, a suede fringe vest and a hippie doll that came with a sign that said You Turn Me On!
But many Jonesers feel bitterness about the 1960s, Ms. Faludi said, not nostalgia: Researching my book Stiffed, I met many angry baby boomer men laid-off workers, evangelicals, militiamen who felt they were slipping down the status ladder and blamed civil rights, antiwar, feminist and L.G.B.T. activism for their misery.
"The Class of 2020 has faced so many disappointments," said Brian Gies , Chief Marketing Officer with Church's . "We may not be able to make it up to each and every senior in America, but we can show those in our communities how much we care about celebrating their achievements."
The three students selected for the surprise drive-thru graduation were chosen from G.W. Brackenridge High School in San Antonio the city where the very first Church's restaurant was opened in 1952. Students were selected because of their outstanding accomplishments and leadership within the senior class. Principal of G.W. Brackenridge, Yesenia Cordova, was actually a Church's team member in her own high school days, and said the gesture by Church's was, "one of true generosity and community spirit." Additionally, in recognition of the Church's Chicken - David Newman Internship Program, all three students each received a $2,000 donation for their next steps in education.
Church's Chicken partnered with local franchisee, Ampler Chicken LLC, who own and operate over 30 restaurants in the San Antonio area to not only pull off the surprise, but co-fund the donation to each student as they advance in their education.
On Thursday, June 11, when students drove through their local Church's at 1209 Steves Avenue, they were met with personalized messaging and signage congratulating them on their graduation, a crowd of cheering supporters, and at the drive-thru Principal Cordova gave a brief commencement speech and presented each student with an official diploma. The three seniors all showed positivity and leadership over their high school careers and include a future teacher (Jasson Zamora), a positivity film maker (Danny Nguyen), and the class president (Leticia Zuniga).
Jasson is known throughout the senior class as a hardworking, friendly, determined warrior. He spent much of his high school career fighting bravely against brain cancer while remaining committed to his studies, and always caring about others like his mother, siblings, and fellow students more than himself. During his drive-thru ceremony, he was met with messages of encouragement from his mother, his favorite Church's menu item mashed potatoes, and proud wishes for his future studies at Our Lady of the Lake University where he will pursue becoming an elementary school teacher.
Danny who is an active, take-charge, senior class leader with a spirit for bringing people together, held positions as the captain of multiple academic clubs, a member of the band, a senior class officer, and a lead within the school's Media & Film Institute. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, Danny coordinated a Positivity Videos series to help inspire, motivate, and reassure others dealing with difficult times. Danny goes to Church's Chicken nearly every week, usually getting a family meal and saving a few extra fries for himself. This made his drive-thru graduation a truly unexpected surprise especially when seeing his proud parents, Vietnamese immigrants, who got to experience the joy of watching the first member of their family to graduate from a U.S. high school and on his way to attend Trinity University in San Antonio.
As Leticia experienced her drive-thru graduation, she was met with the overwhelming support of her devoted mother and her three sisters. Leticia served as Senior Class President, was a member of the National Honor Society, participated in ROTC, and also found time to volunteer in her community. Because Leticia doesn't drive, she had to be lured to her drive-thru graduation with the promise of her favorite treat Church's Chicken Tender Strips. Once there, however, the future Hawaii Pacific University student was cheered on by family, friends, and educators all applauding her achievements.
"A meaningful part of our down-home heritage is showing people how much Church's cares," added Gies. "Our brand has historically brought people and the community together, celebrating special occasions, and simply enjoying the comfort that comes from meals prepared with love. We hope the entire Class of 2020 knows we applaud their tenacity and perseverance, and that we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all graduates!"
The videos of the surprise graduation can be viewed on the Church's Chicken Facebook and Instagram pages.
About Church's Chicken
Founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952 by George W. Church, Church's Chicken is one of the largest quick-service restaurant chicken chains in the world. Church's specializes in Original and Spicy Chicken freshly prepared throughout the day in small batches that are hand-battered and double-breaded, Tender Strips, Honey-Butter Biscuits made from scratch and freshly baked, and classic, homestyle sides all for a great value. Church's (along with its sister brand Texas Chicken outside the Americas) has more than 1,500 locations in 25 countries and international territories. With system-wide sales of more than $1 billion, the system had a recording-breaking year in 2019. During two national media windows the brand drove sales performance that outpaced the broader QSR category. For more information, visit www.churchs.com. Follow Church's on Facebook at www.facebook.com/churchschicken and Twitter at www.twitter.com/churchschicken.
Contact: Kim Miller
866.571.3449
[email protected]
SOURCE Church's Chicken
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The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to avoid nine hand sanitizer products manufactured in Mexico because, it said, they may contain methanol, a substance that can be toxic if absorbed through the skin or ingested.
In an advisory dated Friday, the agency said it had tested samples of two products, Lavar Gel and CleanCare No Germ, and found they had 81% and 28% methanol, also known as wood alcohol.
Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects, the agency said.
The FDA said Wednesday that it had recommended that the manufacturer, Eskbiochem SA de CV of Mexico, remove its products from the market but that so far the company had not responded.
An Eskbiochem representative, Alexander Escamillo, said the manufacturer learned of the agency warning only Monday.
Escamillo said another person who had access to our company registered it with the FDA. He registered our labels and shipped sanitizers, he said. We did not register ourselves.
He did not identify the person and said the company could not even log into its FDA profile because we dont know how to.
We would never do that, send a toxic chemical maliciously, Escamillo said, adding that the company would take action against the person, whom he referred to as a broker.
The FDA recommended that anyone exposed to the hand sanitizers with methanol seek immediate treatment. Substantial methanol exposure can lead to nausea, vomiting, headaches, permanent blindness and seizures, among other harmful effects.
The agency said that it was unaware of any reports of adverse events associated with these products. It said consumers should dispose of sanitizers listed in the warning in appropriate hazardous waste containers and not flush them or pour them down the drain.
Among the other Eskbiochem products the agency flagged were CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 75% or 80% alcohol; Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer; and Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer.
It was not immediately clear when they were released for sale in the United States.
Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, said methanol itself was not significantly toxic. Rather, he said, it was formaldehyde and formic acid the metabolites produced by the breakdown of methanol in the body that could prove deadly.
Exposure to the metabolites can lead to a condition known as metabolic acidosis, a dangerous accumulation of acid in the bloodstream, which is toxic to the organs and tissues in the body, leading to seizures, kidney failure, blindness, low blood pressure and fatal cardiac arrhythmias, Glatter said.
Children are most at risk if they ingest methanol, but it can also be harmful if they rub it on their skin or inhale it, he added.
Sales of hand sanitizer have boomed during the coronavirus pandemic as consumers have heeded the calls of health officials to wash or sanitize their hands to keep from contracting the virus.
Historically, methanol was once manufactured by the distillation of wood. Wood alcohol was a hidden danger for unwary drinkers during Prohibition. In New York in 1926, about 750 people died after drinking wood alcohol-laced bootlegged liquor, according to an account at the Mob Museum.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
The downturn in the euro zone continued to recover in June, according to data Tuesday, giving the latest indication of the region's economic health as it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.
Flash purchasing manager's index (PMI) data measuring activity in both the services and manufacturing sector in the euro zone came in at 47.5 in June, up from a final reading of 31.9 in May. The 50-point mark separates contraction from expansion. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the flash June PMI to come in at 42.4.
The 15.6-point rise was by far the largest in the survey history with the exception of May's record increase, IHS Markit said in its data release.
"The latest gain took the PMI to its highest since February, though still indicated an overall decline in business output. Output fell again in both manufacturing and services, the latter showing the slightly steeper rate of decline. Both sectors nevertheless reported markedly reduced rates of contraction for a second month running," it said.
IHS Markit added that the ongoing downturn in output was linked to a fourth consecutive monthly deterioration of inflows of new business, "which in turn contributed to a further steep decline in backlogs of orders for companies to work through." These factors continued to moderate in June, however, signaling that further improvement could be seen in next month's indices.
IHS Markit's Chief Business Economist Chris Williamson said the data "indicated another substantial easing of the region's downturn in June."
"Output and demand are still falling but no longer collapsing," he continued. "While second-quarter GDP is still likely to have dropped at an unprecedented rate, the rise in the PMI adds to expectations that the lifting of lockdown restrictions will help bring the downturn to an end as we head into the summer."
The data gives markets another indication of the extent to which euro zone countries are recovering from lockdowns across the region that effectively saw whole industries shut down.
Business activity in the single currency area had hit a three-month high in May, with the final composite PMI (which includes both manufacturing and services) coming in at 31.9, up from 13.6 in April.
The data Tuesday builds on other indications of the region's economic wellbeing, or not. On Monday, flash consumer confidence data for the euro zone and wider European Union showed further improvement in June. Nonetheless, recent unemployment data painted a worrying picture, especially for young people.
Housing minister Robert Jenrick pushed through a decision to approve a Tory donor's 1billion housing development to allow him to save tens of millions of pounds in tax, documents tonight appear to show.
The Housing Secretary tonight finally bowed to pressure to release correspondence over his role in the 'cash for favours' row involving Richard Desmond's Westferry Printworks scheme in East London.
They show that Mr Jenrick was 'insistent' the former media mogul's 1,500 luxury flat project in Docklands be approved within days - and before a new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was introduced by the local council.
That levy would have cost Mr Desmond up to 50million
The mogul urged Mr Jenrick to approve the scheme so that 'Marxists' did not get 'doe for nothing', texts between the two have revealed.
In a text to Mr Desmond on November 18 after spending time with him at an event, Mr Jenrick said: 'Good to spend time with you tonight Richard. See you again soon I hope.'
Mr Desmond replied: 'Thanks Robert I really appreciate your text Will call your office tomorrow to arrange Very best.'
In a text two days later regarding the development, Mr Desmond said: 'We appreciate the speed as we don't want to give Marxists loads of doe for nothing!
'We all want to go with the scheme and the social housing we have proposed and spent a month at the Marxist town hall debating, thanks again, all my best Richard.'
Mr Jenrick replied: 'As Secretary of State it is important not to give any appearance of being influenced by applicants of cases that I may have a role in or to have predetermined them and so I think it is best that we don't meet until after the matter has been decided, one way of [sic] another - and I can't provide any advice to you on that, other than to say that I will receive advice from my officials after the general election assuming I remain in office and will consider it carefully in accordance with the rules and guidance.
'I hope that is okay and we can meet to discuss other matters soon, hopefully on the 19th. Robert.'
In a trache of 129 documents published tonight was a Thursday January 9 email in which an anonymous mandarin noted: 'On timing, my understanding is that the SoS is/was insistent that decision was issued this week ie tomorrow (Friday) - as next week the viability of the scheme is impacted by a change in the London CIL regime.'
The Housing Secretary tonight finally bowed to pressure to release correspondence over his role in approving Richard Desmond's Westferry Printworks scheme in East London.
Another email from the following day added: 'LB (London Borough of) Tower Hamlets is adopting a new local plan and CIL regime next week. The appellant (Mr Desmond) believes that the proposal would not be viable if it was liable to CIL charges'
The minister is under fire for overruling the authority and a planning inspector to grant permission, two months after sitting next to the ex-Express owner Mr Desmond at a Tory fundraising dinner.
His decision came the day before the community levy was introduced that would have cost Mr Desmond up to 50million, according to Labour.
In a trache of 129 documents published tonight was a Thursday January 9 email between staff at the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in which an anonymous mandarin noted: 'On timing, my understanding is that the SoS is/was insistent that decision was issued this week ie tomorrow (Friday) - as next week the viability of the scheme is impacted by a change in the London CIL regime.'
Another email from the following day added: 'LB (London Borough of) Tower Hamlets is adopting a new local plan and CIL regime next week. The appellant (Mr Desmond) believes that the proposal would not be viable if it was liable to CIL charges.'
Mr Jenrick had earlier been forced into an embarrassing climbdown when he agreed to publish the papers.
He made the admission as Labour prepared to stage a parliamentary vote on its demand for he and his advisers to publish all correspondence on the matter.
Mr Jenrick also waived affordable housing rules, giving the billionaire businessman an estimated 106million in extra revenue. Two weeks later, Mr Desmond donated 12,000 to the Conservative Party.
The Housing Secretary has since had to quash his own approval, conceding the decision was 'unlawful'.
In the Commons this afternoon, Mr Jenrick said further information would be released today, noting discussions and correspondence 'which the Government would not normally release' will be made public.
He accused Labour of making 'wild accusations' against him and claimed the documents would show a decision was taken with an 'open mind' on the merits of the case.
Mr Jenrick is embroiled in a 'cash for favours' row over his approval of Richard Desmond's (pictured) plan for 1,500 homes in east London
Mr Jenrick also waived affordable housing rules, giving the billionaire businessman an estimated 106million in extra revenue. Two weeks later, Mr Desmond donated 12,000 to the Conservative Party.
'I will write to the chair of the select committee outlining the timeline of events and the rationale for my decision-making pertaining to the Westferry Printworks planning decision,' he said.
'Alongside this letter, and after a comprehensive review of what documents might be in scope of this motion, and of the letter that he sent me on behalf of his select committee, I will be releasing later today all relevant information relating to this planning matter using the Freedom of Information Act as a benchmark.
'I recognise that there are higher standards of transparency expected in the quasi-judicial planning process which is why I will also release discussions and correspondence which the Government would not normally release.
'These documents show that contrary to the wild accusations and the baseless innuendo propagated by the honourable gentleman (Steve Reed) opposite, and restated today in a series of totally inaccurate statements and comments, this was a decision taken with an open mind on the merits of the case after a thorough decision-making process.'
Mr Jenrick had until now resisted calls to hand over correspondence relating to his decision. Tower Hamlets Council launched a High Court challenge in March and demanded he disclose the papers.
Instead, Mr Jenrick accepted that his approval had been 'unlawful by reason of apparent bias' and it was quashed. He agreed to take no further part in decisions about the application.
The housing, communities and local government Commons committee has also requested he publish the correspondence. Labour called for Mr Jenrick to 'come clean' by releasing the documents without delay. It will hold an opposition day debate on the matter this afternoon and will force a vote on a motion that would compel the publication of the papers.
Opening the debate today, shadow communities secretary Steve Reed probed further on a Tory Party fundraising dinner in November 2019 attended by both Mr Jenrick and Mr Desmond.
He noted: 'I understand Mr Desmond's lobbyists, a company called Thorncliffe, had been busy selling tickets to the event to people who wanted access to the Secretary of State.'
He added: 'Ministers are not allowed to take planning decisions if they have been lobbied by the applicant and, under the ministerial code, ministers are required not to place themselves under an obligation by, for instance, helping to raise funds from a donor who stands to benefit from the decisions they make because it raises questions about cash for favours - which would be a serious abuse of power.'
He overruled the local council and a planning inspector to grant permission in January, two months after the minister sat next to the former newspaper tycoon at a Tory fundraising dinner
'The Government's moral authority hangs by a thread. If the Secretary of State has nothing to hide then he has nothing to fear from publishing these documents.'
Last night Mr Jenrick was facing questions over a second planning row, involving the Jockey Club.
He has called in an application for it to build 318 homes and a hotel at Sandown Park in Esher, Surrey.
The intervention has raised concerns about conflicts of interest because of the Jockey Club's links to senior Conservative figures and donors.
Its board includes Tory peer Baroness Harding, who oversees the Government's coronavirus test and trace programme,
Rose Paterson, wife of Tory MP Owen Paterson, and Peter Stanley, who last year donated 5,000 to Health Secretary Matt Hancock's constituency office in Newmarket, where the Jockey Club is based.
Racehorse owner Tim Syder gave the Conservative Party 12,500 in November, shortly before he joined the Jockey Club board.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has insisted that 'each planning appeal is taken on its own merits'.
[June 23, 2020] Chicago Area Company Makes Large Donation to Local Food Pantry
MUNDELEIN, Ill., June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Utopia Global, Inc., a Mundelein, IL-based enterprise data management company, and an SAP Solution Extension partner, last week delivered several carloads of freshly purchased food and essential living supplies, to the Libertyville Township Food Pantry in Libertyville, IL in response to overwhelming community need during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Utopia Global launched a community support initiative called Utopia CARES (uCARES). uCARES is focused on promoting diversity and supporting a variety of social and economic causes in our local communities. "We are extremely grateful for Utopia's on-going commitment to the Libertyville Township Food pantry", said Kathleen O'Connor, Supervisor of the Libertyville Township Food Pantry. "Utopia and its employees have generously supported us throughout the years by volunteering at the pantry as well as making sizable donations. Their generosity will provide food for the most sensitive individuals and families in our community during a very difficult time.We are very thankful," added O'Connor.
"We have supported Libertyville Township Food Pantry for over 6 years. When we learned that our community food pantry was facing one of its' greatest shortages in recent history, we were immediately compelled to help. It was heart-warming to hear that our contribution helped care for several hundred families in the community," said Arvind J. Singh, CEO at Utopia Global, Inc. About Utopia
Utopia Global, Inc. is a leading global data solutions company. Utopia's full suite of propriety software and consulting services enable enterprise-class clients to build, fix, and sustain high integrity data that serves as the foundation for their digital transformation initiatives. As SAP's worldwide partner for master data governance, Utopia is the exclusive developer of solution extensions for SAP Master Data Governance. Utopia's solutions portfolio helps organizations migrate to SAP S/4HANA leveraging MDG as the bridge, and maintain data integrity between digital twins, across multiple systems of record. With over 17 years of innovative breakthroughs, Utopia firmly believes that "Perfect Data is Perfectly Possible." For further information, please visit www.utopiainc.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chicago-area-company-makes-large-donation-to-local-food-pantry-301082158.html SOURCE Utopia Global, Inc.
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The RJD suffered a big jolt on Tuesday when five of its eight members in the legislative council of Bihar quit the opposition party and joined Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U) even as Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, one of its founding members, resigned as the national vice- president.
It was a day of mayhem for the main opposition party as SM Qamar Alam, a national general secretary of the RJD, walked to the chamber of Vidhan Parishad Acting Chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh along with four others to tender their resignation.
The other MLCs who resigned are Sanjay Prasad, Radha Charan Seth, Ranvijay Kumar Singh and Dlip Rai. The acting chairman said the five MLCs have been recognised as a separate group, the merger of which into the JD(U) has been approved.
Meanwhile, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, a former Union minister, who is down with COVID 19 and admitted to AIIMS, Patna, shot off a letter to the party leadership conveying his decision to step down as national vice-president as he was unhappy over the type of people being inducted into the RJD of late.
Singh is said to have been miffed over reports that Rama Singh, a mafia don-turned-politician formerly associated with Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP who had defeated the RJD veteran in his pocket borough of Vaishali in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, was likely to join the party founded and headed by Lalu Prasad.
Saudi-led coalition says it shot down missiles and booby-trapped unmanned aircraft fired from Houthi-run Sanaa.
Yemens Houthi rebels say they have carried out their largest-ever military operation against neighbouring Saudi Arabia, targeting the defence ministry and a military base in the kingdoms capital, Riyadh.
Their announcement on Tuesday came after a Saudi-led military coalition battling the rebels in Yemen said it had intercepted and destroyed missiles and drones fired from the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.
A large number of winged ballistic missiles and drones targeted the capital of the Saudi enemy pounding military headquarters and centres including the defence and intelligence ministry and [King] Salman Air Base, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech.
The Houthis said they had also targeted military sites in other cities including Jazan and Najran in the south, close to the border with Yemen.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Earlier, Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki was quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency as saying: Joint coalition forces managed to intercept and destroy a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia from Sanaa towards Riyadh in a deliberate hostile operation.
The coalition said it had also brought down eight booby-trapped unmanned aircraft to target civilian objects and civilians in the kingdom, as well as three ballistic missiles from Saada governorate towards the kingdom.
B ig escalation
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mamoun Abu-Nowar a retired Jordanian air force general said the latest developments were reason enough to make Saudi Arabia insecure about its military prowess despite Riyadhs claims of intercepting missiles.
Reaching Riyadh with that accuracy and targeting the ministry of defence and some other military [base] is a big escalation because the Houthis are winning now in Jawf and some parts in Yemen, he said, speaking from Amman.
This makes the Saudis insecure and unstable for any investment in the future and its a big threat for the Saudi defence air system which I feel is a bit weak to intercept such missiles, he continued. They need the THAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defence] system which intercepts missiles beyond the atmosphere.
The attack came after Saudi Arabia announced on Monday that Yemens southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the countrys internationally-recognised government agreed to a ceasefire after months of infighting.
The agreement aims to close the rift between the two former allies in the war against the Houthis.
Dust rises from the site of a Saudi-led air raid in Sanaa, Yemen [File: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters]
Yemen has been locked in conflict since 2014 when the Houthis took control of Sanaa, and went on to seize much of the north.
Fighting escalated in March 2015 when the Saudi-UAE-led military coalition intervened to restore the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Saudi Arabia was targeted with dozens of attacks using ballistic missiles or drones last year, including a devastating raid on oil giant Aramcos facilities that temporarily knocked out half the kingdoms crude output.
The long-running war has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, and forced millions from their homes in what the United Nations has called the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.
The BJP government at the Centre should prevail up the United States of America to withdraw the temporary ban on issuing of H1B, H2B, L1 and temporary work visas with a view to saving several families and also major IT companies based in Tamil Nadu, DMK President M K Stalin said on Tuesday.
Reacting to the announcement made by US President Donald Trump on suspending in the issuing of visas, Stalin, in a statement, said that of the total number of H1B visas given out every year, 75 per cent went to Indians.
Thus the ban would severely impact India, which is attempting to recover, economically, from the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision would socially and economically impact Indian workers, who contributed to research and development in the technical, medical and knowledge sectors in the US, Stalin said.
The unjustified move would affect lakhs of Indian workers in the high-tech and knowledge-based industries, he said adding that it would not only lead to their losing their livelihood but also their families, depending on them, losing on their income.
Over two lakh Indian students in the US would be seriously hit by the decision of the Trump administration as they would not be able to find jobs there. Not only would that put a pressure on them as they would have to repay education loans, they would now have to find means of returning to India in these times of lockdown due to the Coronavirus crisis.
In India, eight per cent of the internal production depended on the information technology sector, which would be handicapped by the visa ban as the top companies, most of them based in Tamil Nadu, were likely to lose US $ 40 billion, Stalin said.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin could become the first openly gay vice presidential candidate in history.
Baldwin is one of the top 10 potential running mates on 2020 presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's list, according to reports.
Baldwin has acknowledged that she is in regular contact with the campaign but has not said whether she is being vetted. "Were he to ask me to be his vice president, I would surely say yes," Baldwin recently told Milwaukee's NBC affiliate WTMJ. "But I will keep my conversations in confidence . We just need to win."
A Baldwin spokesman told CNBC in an email on Monday, "The Senator and the campaign haven't been discussing the content of her conversations with the Vice President and the campaign and won't go into the process. She feels that the process is the Vice President's to conduct and will leave it to his team to provide any comments."
Baldwin, the first openly gay woman elected to Congress and the first openly gay person elected to the Senate, is well-liked among her peers, according to Barney Frank, the former congressman from Massachusetts who is also gay.
The two served together in the House from 2009 to 2013, when he retired and she moved on to the Senate. Frank came out after he was elected. He said Baldwin has many qualities that would make her a good choice, including her record as a reliable progressive.
"She's an extraordinary woman," said Frank, who notes that she's never lost an election. "She's the first out LGBT person elected to Congress."
Not long ago, it would have been too risky to choose a gay running mate, but attitudes have changed dramatically in recent years, said Paul Nolette, associate professor and chair of the political science department at Wisconsin's Marquette University.
A Gallup poll from June found that 67% of voters believe gay marriage should be legal, up from 27% in 1996.
In April 2019, a Quinipiac University poll found that 70% of voters would be "open to electing a president who is a gay man," the question a nod to the candidacy of former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. That poll also found that 92% of Americans thought that an employer should not be able to fire someone based on sexual orientation.
Last week, the Supreme Court handed down a landmark ruling that protects gay, lesbian and transgender employees from being fired or turned down for a job based on their sexual orientation.
Far from hurting Biden's prospects, a ground-breaking decision to include Baldwin could energize voters, Nolette said. "Democratic voters do get excited about firsts," he said. "Having the first LGBT individual on the ticket would be an advantage."
We cast our MoM-branded spotlight on Citadelle Gin, an expression created at a Cognac house, that predates the craft gin boom. Its founder Alexandre Gabriel explains why he created a gin in the first place, the 18th-century recipe he based it on and his patented brand of gin distillation.
Given that he runs his own Cognac, rum and gin brands, you might think its hard to pin down Alexandre Gabriel. But, in my experience, the restless innovator is always happy to make time to chat about booze. Before I ask a question, he informs me hes just spent the morning planting juniper trees at the Bonbonnet Estate and that he hopes the juniper and lemon supply for Citadelle Gin will be totally self-sustainable within five years. Hes been planting juniper berries since September 2017, inspired by the fact that the south west of France was known for its juniper berries during medieval times. He then explains that as someone one grew up on a farm hes attached to the idea of growing what he needs, organically, of course. He already grows his own grapes for his Cognac.
In the midst of this discussion, Gabriel moves onto the topic of expansion, explaining that his other hobby is architecture. We are expanding the distillery at the old estate at Bonbonnet. We do everything ourselves. The stonemasons are the guys who fill the barrels at Maison Ferrand. Were putting nine pot stills in, old Cognac stills that I found that date back to the 1950s and 60s and we are refurbishing them as we speak. Right now we are using our Cognac stills off-season to distil Citadelle, he explains. I still havent actually asked a question at this point. We are going to be able to use an economical system for our cooling water. Instead of using an inverter to cool it down and waste energy, were going to use warmer water and install long pipes so that we reuse that water in our greenhouse to grow the lemons that we need for Citadelle. More juniper berries, more stills, more experiments.
Were ten minutes in and I already know this is going to be a productive interview. But you dont expect any less from Gabriel, as youll know if youve read our previous features on Pierre Ferrand and Plantation Rum. Today, however, the focus is on Citadelle Gin. In my opinion, its his most intriguing brand. Why? Because its a premium French gin brand that was released back in the 90s. Its hard to put into context now given gins boom in the last decade how crazy you would have sounded pitching this idea. Gabriel remembers the feeling well. It was like a moon landing! There was nobody on the gin planet. In 1996 I thought the world was waiting for an artisanal delicious gin. It was not!
In the early days of Citadelle, Gabriel recalls a group of students proposing to do a business case on the brand. Naturally, Gabriel accepted, hoping their acumen would provide some insight. Their analysis? There is no way this can work, Gabriel says, laughing at his own expense. This kept happening. I remember our importer in America looking at me like I must have gone mad. A French gin?! This decision was made purely out of passion and it was almost disastrous to our business. I have made many mistakes and I hope I am going to make less, he says. It looked like Citadelle wouldnt work because it was out of time and it was financially painful. But, in the end, the two wrongs became a right. Now there is a new gin every week, right!?
Citadelle Gin didnt thrive so much as survive in the early days, slowly building a reputation and fan base for its fresh, clean and delightfully mixable profile. Gabriel is particularly grateful to the influence of Ferran Adria of El Bulli fame. In about 1997/98 Adria was on TV. He said that Gin and Tonic is a gastronomic act and a beautiful aperitif and that you should use a great gin. He whipped out a bottle of Citadelle. We were like wow. That made a difference, Gabriel recalls. This guy is the one that put the Spanish Gin and Tonic, which conquered the world, on the map. He really did, I was there and I saw it, and he never took credit for it but he really did. Then in the US, the New York Times wrote a beautiful piece in 1999 called something like Citadelle storms the gate. It was half a page and that was a big push for New York. Every bit counted for us.
But before the days of trying to convince customers to give French gin a try, Gabriel had a much bigger stumbling block. He had to convince the authorities to give French gin a try. The Appellation dOrigine Controlee (AOC) regulations stated that the brandy can only be distilled between November and March. After that stills must be locked up and put into hibernation for seven months. From the outside, that might seem perfect. The regions copper alembic stills and distillers have six months of the year free to distil something else and you dont have to waste money creating a new distillery. But nothings ever that simple, as Gabriel found out quickly. Distilling gin in Cognac stills wasnt simply frowned upon, it was outright banned. The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) had never received a request for this to change and probably never thought anybody would ask. But Gabriel is not one to follow conventional wisdom or pay much heed to what he believed were antiquated laws.
What followed was a struggle in which Gabriel lobbied to make his gin, arguing that there was historical precedent for this act. Extensive research uncovered that historically gin was produced in pot stills over a naked flame, which is exactly how Cognac pot stills were designed. I dont know about you but when I am pissed at something I work even harder! France is a very bureaucratic country. I was told theres no rule that allows me to do this, but I was much younger and rebellious in nature and I said theres no rule that says I cannot, he said. Eventually, after five long years, I finally received the AOC approval to distil gin in Cognac in 1995!
Gabriels keen interest in history also led him to an 18th-century French distillery that inspired the Citadelle name and influenced the profile of the gin he would eventually make. I tried to absorb everything I could about gin. Ive always been attached to the idea of revitalising artisanal spirits that are a part of French heritage. We know the ancestor of gin was inspired by the Dutch, but at the time the Netherlands was a huge area that included parts of France and Belgium. I hired interns, I still do this a lot, to go through all the archives in the main cities. One day they discovered in a church an archive with a whole documented history of every parchment about the first official genever distillery in France, Gabriel says. I still have all the copies. It was established in the citadel of Dunkirk in 1775 on Louis XVIs authorisation to smuggle gin to the UK. The distillers, Carpeau and Stival, used 12 copper pot stills to distil their gin and multiple botanicals like exotic spices alongside juniper berries. It was actually transported in barrels too. We uncovered some of their recipes. It was an inspiration and I thought the name was cool. Luckily it was not patented anymore!
While some inspiration for Citadelle Gin came from this historical booze, Gabriel already had a style in mind: a classic profile that was fresh, thirst-quenching and most importantly juniper-forward. Good thing hes growing so many of his own. I wanted Citadelle to be fully integrated with many other elements that give it a rich mouth-feel and a great complexity. The apex of the triangle would be the juniper berries, the second element being citrus, lemon with a little bit of orange in our case and then the third element is the warm wind of exoticism, in our case nutmeg, that true gins should have, says Gabriel. Were lucky because the Cognac stills have a very low swan neck which extracts a lot of the essential oils of the botanicals and it gives you a viscosity effect that balances the freshness of the product and the citrus-feel. I knew I would get that luscious effect from the distillation methods, its very slow, thats the only downside to it.
Citadelle Gin is crafted using a unique technique called progressive infusion, which Gabriel describes as being a similar process to making tea, except you brew different elements at different times in the teapot. In the case of Citadelle Gin, the elements refer to the botanicals: French juniper berries, orris root, French violet root, Moroccan coriander, almonds, Spanish lemon peel, Mexican orange peel, angelica from North Germany, Indian cardamom, Indian nutmeg, cassia bark, Sri Lankan cinnamon, Mediterranean fennel, African grains of paradise, cubeb from Java, Chinese liquorice, cumin, French anise, and savory. Each botanical is infused in neutral alcohol of French wheat for different lengths of proof and time, according to its aromatic function, Gabriel explains. While some require a strong degree of alcohol and a long infusion such as juniper berries, others infuse better in a weaker degree of alcohol, in a shorter time like star anise.
The infusion process lasts three to four days, during which the botanicals are added in successive steps while the degree of alcohol diminishes. We lower the ABV with pure water, the same water that we use to bring down the ABV for Cognac, in which all the mineral elements have been eliminated through the reverse osmosis process. At the end, once the 19 botanicals have been infused, the ABV is about 30-35%. We set 20% of the infused spirit aside before sending it to the distillery and we infuse three extra botanicals, yuzu, cornflower and genepi from the Alps, Gabriel says. We then take the infused spirit to the distillery and we distil. Since the spirit has already been distilled at least three times, we only have to do one distillation. We do not keep the heads, we keep the heart and a large part of the seconds as well.
This atypical process of progressive infusion is actually a patented technique, something which Gabriel had never thought of doing until a figure within the government recommended it. Theres a lot of pride in the French gastronomy and we were told our process should be recorded as a French method. Also, if we did it we could be involved in the French research and development programme, he explains. This afforded me the chance to hire a young guy from my village, Nicolas, who did a PhD thesis on the terroir of the Cognac. Weve given this guy training and its been great to have him on my side since then. By the way, the patent is fully open, Im not gathering any money from it. If you want to use it, its Patent No. 17 58092.
The process of creating gin clearly still excites Gabriel more than two decades later. The potential to explore an array of aromatics that were different from the ones I grew up with is very attractive. But also, look at the regulations on how Cognac is made. Its 23 pages long. With gin, its more like a page or half a page, so the only real limit is your imagination which is very exciting when you come from the Cognac world. I am trained classically in Cognac so I am playing Bach, if you will, so when I make gin its like getting to play rocknroll or jazz instead. That freedom is wonderful, Gabriel explains. When we made Citadelle Reserve we aged it in acacia barrels, a style my grandfather taught me. But if I do that in Cognac Id be looking at five months! Yet, we know that classic Cognacs from the 1900s were aged in chestnut barrels thanks to English archives. Its illegal now. Crazy right?
He first released Citadelle Reserve back in 2008. Once again, this puts him ahead of the curve in the craft gin game, as there werent many aged gins around back then. But Gabriel is quick to clarify that it wasnt his idea. Instead, it was inspired by another round of research into the history of gin. Im ashamed to say, it didnt come to my mind until I was reading this old document from the archives about gin being shipped gin in barrels. It was really late at night and I immediately ran to our barrels and started pouring gin in a Cognac barrel, he explains. It was the first revival of the yellow gins that I know of. Some people followed suit, but its still very niche as a category.
Acacia wood was just a starting point for Gabriels cask experimentations. At Maison Ferrand, youll find barrels of wild cherry woods, chataignier (chestnut) and murier (mulberry), as well as French oak having contained Pineau de Charentes or Cognac. All have been used to make editions of Citadelle Reserve, and spirit from all these wood types have been blended in the egg. What egg? The huge wooden egg on site. No, seriously. Its a patented wood receptacle in which aged Citadelle Gins are blended, making it the first and only gin in the world to use this method. We call it the ovum. When I saw this egg I fell in love. Its a slow and constant blending process designed to integrate the different wood essences, Gabriel explains. At 2.45 meters high and with the help of natural convection, the gin inside is in a state of perpetual motion, reducing oxygenation, and preserving the palette of aromas and evaporating volatile aromatic components.
Gabriels desire to explore and test the limits of gin led to the creation of the limited edition Extreme Collection. The first was Citadelle No Mistake Old Tom Gin, made with caramelised Caribbean brown sugar that was aged in the barrel with its cask-aged Citadelle Reserve. Wild Blossom followed, a gin inspired by his mothers love of herbal infusions that was distilled wild cherry blossom petals and aged in cherrywood casks for five months. They keep me sane. Take Saisons of the Witch, which I made by roasting my juniper berries and distilled it with the other botanicals to create a slightly smoky, roasted pepper gin. We sell it only on the estate and we made a few hundred bottles, but I love it, Gabriel says. Right now I can tease that weve got a new aged gin expression on the way and, also some breaking news, we have a gin maturing in 100-litre vats made from juniper berry tree. All this crazy stuff that Im having fun with is all part of that new frontier of gin! Then 2021 will be the 25th anniversary of the launching of Citadelle, so the 25th anniversary will come with some surprises as well.
The freedom of distilling gin does have its drawbacks for Gabriel, whos very passionate about gin being a juniper-forward spirit in profile. I disagree with people just adding the flavour of fruit into a gin. I am older now, I have learned to be respectful. I know the flavoured and coloured gins are growing extremely well, but thats a direction that Im not interested in. To me, it is to gin what the marshmallow-flavoured vodka was to that category. We have to be careful as producers because it can dirty the name of gin, Gabriel reasons. Im a purist that way. I have been cautious of exploring and pushing boundaries, even though I am usually considered the guy who is always pushing things. But an approach that is motivated by purely commercial goals is a problem. We are confusing people. We have to be careful that gin isnt looked at as a different category. The real definition is that gin is a spirit with the dominant flavour of juniper berries.
Despite his reservations about the flavoured category, Gabriel remains optimistic that gin has got a very exciting future. Gin has been around for a long time and has gone through a renaissance, a revival that I would never have expected in 1996. But there is still a great interest in gin thats not going away too quickly. I know England and Spain were the precursor and have been crazy about it for a while but the French are just getting started, Gabriel says. People are really excited about gin because of the possibilities that the producer, and therefore the drinker, can explore. Thats the beauty of gin.
So how to use Citadelle Gin? Gabriel has a few thoughts: I love a G&T and with Citadelle its incredible, but my little sin is actually a Gin Reserve with just a glassful of dry Curacao, he says. Not the blue stuff, we make an original curacao made with real orange. I also love a gin martini with a great vermouth like Dolin and of course I love a French 75. My advice would be to explore and experiment. Its what Alexandre Gabriel would do.
Citadelle Gin Tasting Note:
Nose: Bright, piney juniper is at the forefront, with warm citrus from orange and coriander in support alongside some green cardamom and fresh flowers. In the backdrop, there are deeper, spicy notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and grains of paradise, which are joined by a slight nutty quality and the sticky sweetness of liquorice.
Palate: The juniper is front and centre once more, but its joined by spice from cracked black pepper, the floral sweetness of Parma Violets and a savoury, woody quality. Its a rich and full-bodied palate that features orange peel, cumin, star anise and cardamom throughout.
Finish: Dry and a little peppery at first, the finish then develops with plenty of aromatic baking spices, fennel, more liquorice and a sweet hint of angelica.
Overall: A complex, intriguing and well-integrated gin that does a particularly good job of balancing floral and spicy notes.
Citadelle gin is available from Master of Malt.
Binita Jaiswal By
Express News Service
CHENNAI: Apparel exporters have expressed concern on the ban imposed on export of PPE kits, stating that the industry is losing business to countries like Pakistan, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
According to Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Pakistan has received $100 million export orders last week which is likely to go up to $500 million. Bangladesh, too, has, protected its global business from countries such as the US, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Kuwait. These countries have lifted ban on PPE kits orders, post which they have bagged huge orders. Domestic manufacturers, on the other hand,
have been losing despite its export advantages.
Taking note of the scenario, the AEPC has requested the Centre to lift the ban order at the earliest for the benefit of the industry. AEPC chairman A Sakthivel said that manufacturers in India are currently producing over 8 lakh PPE kits per day, which is much higher than the domestic requirement.
The global market for PPEs is estimated to be more than $60 billion over the next five years and we have the capability to grab a lions share of it. Due to the ban order, however, our manufacturers are not able to accept export orders and countries like Pakistan and Indonesia are being benefitted, said Sakthivel.
Over 700 manufacturers in a span of four months have managed to reach from zero to 8 lakh PPE suits per day. If the ban order is lifted, we can easily export to European Union and other countries and gain good business, he said.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has created an air bridge to get medical supplies, like 22.5 lakh PPEs exported from Vietnam. India is also part of this initiative and we should not be losing out... India should consider the economic and political dividends that timely PPE exports will generate in the post-covid era, APEC noted.
A renowned graffiti artist has accused police and local government of censoring a mural he painted in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Scott Marsh painted the two-storey mural of a burning patrol car tucked away in a side street in inner-Sydney on Monday.
He claims less than 24 hours later he was sent a video of council workers allegedly painting over the artwork with police nearby, which he then posted to his Facebook page.
'Pretty disappointing to be sent a video of NSW Police Force and City of Sydney council painting over my mural this morning,' Mr Marsh alleged on Tuesday.
Visual artist Scott Marsh painted the two-storey mural of a burning patrol car tucked away in a side street in inner-Sydney on Monday
'It's a confronting image, it is supposed to be,' he said.
Mr Marsh had called the artwork a symbol of 'pain and frustration' when it was first completed.
He then went on to explain he had sought permission from the building owner and had intentionally placed the mural away from a main street.
'When anti-police sentiment is high, I don't see whats to be gained by censoring public artwork that you don't agree with,' Mr Marsh said and added the #blacklivesmatter hashtag.
People commenting on the video expressed their concern over the artwork being removed, claiming it was evidence of censorship.
'That is upsetting,' one person said.
'Just wondering about the legality of this, if the landowner has agreed and given permission for this artwork,' another person said.
The artwork includes the name 'TJ Hickey' in graffiti on the side of the police van.
Thomas (TJ) Hickey was a 17-year-old Indigenous Gamilaraay boy who died in 2004 after being thrown from his pushbike and impaled on a fence during a police pursuit in inner-city Sydney.
Mr Marsh claims less than 24 hours later on Tuesday he was sent a video of police and council workers painting over the artwork
A police patrol car parked on the Sydney street next to the mural as it was painted over on Tuesday
The incident ignited the Redfern Riots in which the local Indigenous Community vented their anger at police.
One woman commenting on the artwork said a portrait of the boy would have been a better message.
'Our community has been stigmatised enough,' the woman wrote.
'I appreciate the sentiment but I see this as only leading to more police violence and it won't be this artist or white people getting chucked around'.
'Don't use pain you have never felt to push your own agenda... a portrait of our brother would have been more appropriate, he was a child, people need to remember that'.
A police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia they were made aware of the mural and referred the matter to council.
'South Sydney Police Area Command were made aware of an anti-police mural painted on a Redfern building after receiving several complaints from the community,' the spokesperson said.
'The mural is believed to have been painted over the weekend in Glover Lane. Police have spoken with the building owner and referred the matter to local council.'
A City of Sydney spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that they had removed the artwork.
'At the request of the NSW Police, the City of Sydney this morning removed a mural from a wall in Glover Lane, Redfern,' the spokesperson said.
The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia reimposed a lockdown on a municipality that's been hit by a spate of coronavirus cases at a large meat factory.
The measure, announced Tuesday by state premier Armin Laschet, will initially remain in force until the end of June. A total 1,553 workers have so far tested positive at the meat factory near the city of Guetersloh that is operated by Toennies GmbH.
Germany's coronavirus infection rate remains well above the government's target, highlighting the risk of outbreaks. The so-called reproduction factor edged lower to 2.76 on Monday following three straight increases, according to the latest estimate from the Robert Koch Institute, or RKI. The government is trying to keep the figure below 1.0 to prevent a second wave of infections.
"We must continue to be vigilant, the virus is still in our country," Lothar Wieler, head of the RKI, told a news conference on Tuesday. "If we give it the chance to spread, it will take that chance -- we can see that in the current development of outbreaks."
Sven-Georg Adenauer, the Guetersloh district administrator, said earlier Tuesday that additional measures were needed to control the disease after it spread to the families of some Toennies employees.
"We've always said we'd need to take action if the numbers continued to rise," Adenauer said in an interview with ARD television Tuesday.
Meat companies have been able to circumvent stricter rules on working conditions by using subcontractors, Labor Minister Hubertus Heil told ARD Monday. Heil said he would like new legislation due to take effect in January 2021 to be brought forward, but that the government needs to make sure it's legally watertight.
There were 496 new infections in Germany in the 24 hours through Tuesday morning, bringing the total to 191,768, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Fatalities increased by 4 to 8,899.
The RKI also provides a seven-day R-value, which compensates for fluctuations. That value was 1.83 on Monday, down from 2.03 the previous day. Since case numbers in Germany are generally low, local outbreaks have a relatively strong influence on the infection rate, according to the RKI.
A woman who attempted to smuggle her husband across the border at the Peace Bridge has been granted a conditional discharge.
The integrity of our national borders is a matter of national security and the violation of these borders by way of human smuggling has always been a serious matter and should be treated seriously by the courts, Judge Joseph De Filippis said Monday in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines after Maria Lucero pleaded guilty to two charges under the Immigration and Refugee Act.
On Oct 21, 2018, Lucero crossed the bridge from Buffalo, N.Y., to Fort Erie and told Canada Border Service Agency officers she was returning to Canada after spending the day visiting friends in the United States.
When the border agent lifted the vehicles trunk, court heard, he spotted something unusual.
Inside the trunk, he saw a blanket, the federal Crown told court. When he touched the blanket he felt a long solid object. Underneath it, he saw a portion of a leg and a foot.
It turns out the womans husband, a resident of Italy, was hiding in the trunk of the car.
Court was told the man had angered some people who were part of a gang, and had travelled to where he met up with the defendant, with whom he had been having a long-distance relationship.
She decided to help him, said defence lawyer Jeremie Nadeau, adding the couple subsequently married.
She understands the best course of action would have been to bring him to the border and ask for refugee status, perhaps. If the situation ever repeats itself in the future she wont try to smuggle any one over the border.
Despite the seriousness of the crime, the judge said, a conditional discharge followed by probation would be an appropriate penalty due to several mitigating factors.
This was not a commercial venture of human smuggling, De Filippis said. It was a person who smuggled another person with whom she was romantically involved.
The venture did not succeed, he added, and the man in question has since been deported to Italy.
She is a person who is genuinely and substantially sorry for what shes done and I accept that, the judge said.
Also, the defendant is an essential worker and a criminal conviction would have negative consequences on her employment.
The story of BJP, which began in Bengal with Mookerjee, is poised to return to that state very soon
adhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP State President VD Sharma, BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and other leaders pay tribute to Jansangh founder leader Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, on his death anniversary, at BJP State headquarters in Bhopal. PTI Photo
The NDA crossed 100 Rajya Sabha seats on Friday, further consolidating the BJP as Indias dominant political force in its 40th year.
The BJP was formed in April 1980 after its members were expelled from the Janata Party, the joint Opposition force launched three years earlier to counter an authoritarian Indira Gandhi. One of its components was the Jan Sangh, launched in 1951.
According to its own record, the Jan Sangh was the result of three events. First, the death of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in December 1950, second, Syama Prasad Mookerjees resignation from the Nehru government, and the election, also in 1950, and subsequent forcing out of P.D. Tandon as Congress president. Tandon was seen as a Hindu conservative opposed to Nehrus secularism, and after Patels death Nehru forced Tandon to resign.
Another event, also acknowledged by the Jan Sangh as important to its formation, was the banning of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh after Mahatma Gandhis assassination in 1948 and the arrest of its leader M.S. Golwalkar.
The RSS was not registered as a political organisation and the ban was lifted in 1949, on the condition that it adopt a constitution, that it agreed to do.
At this point, inside the RSS, and published in its mouthpiece Organiser, there began a series of articles arguing why the RSS should participate in politics. Golwalkars solution was to not make the RSS itself a political body but to allow workers to set up a party.
They joined S.P. Mookerjee, earlier head of the Hindu Mahasabha, and the Jan Sangh was formed with Mookerjee as its leader. Golwalkar asked some of his people to join the partys structure, including Deen Dayal Upadhayay, who was a pracharak in Uttar Pradesh.
Later, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani, who was writing film reviews for Organiser, were also asked to join.
The RSS was already a quarter century old at this point and had spread well beyond Nagpur. It was thus able to provide the necessary frame for the Jan Sangh to be present in several states at the point of its launch. Mookerjee was a former Cabinet minister but had a base only in Bengal. Mookerjees death in 1953 meant the RSS could take control of the party.
In Indias first general election the Jan Sangh won only a handful of seats and this continued till the 1970s, when under Vajpayee it merged into the Janata Party with the rest of the Opposition.
When Jan Sangh members were expelled and had to form a new party in 1980, Vajpayee rejected the call to rename it the Bharatiya Jan Sangh. He said they had learned from the experience of being part of a larger group.
The two changes that came from this was that first, the Bharatiya Janata Party (as named by Vajpayee) would expand its cadre and take non-RSS individuals, and second, the BJPs constitution would differ from the Jan Sanghs and would promise allegiance to Indias secularism and socialism.
This is still a unique feature in both the BJPs constitution and the oath that it makes all its members sign.
This party also did not do well and got only two seats in the 1984 general election in which the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi demolished the entire Opposition. What changed the partys fortunes was a movement started by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to be allowed to pray at the Babri Masjid, where two idols of Ram and Sita were placed in December 1949.
The oath to secularism was ignored and under its new president L.K. Advani, the party adopted the VHP demand, though Ayodhya had been on the manifesto of neither the Jan Sangh, formed only months after the idols were placed inside the mosque, or the BJP up to that point.
The polarisation that Mr Advani produced in Indian society with his decision to pursue the Ayodhya project finally gave the RSS the sort of success it was looking for, and the BJP won 85 seats in 1989. It joined another coalition called the Janata Dal, but this time supported it from outside.
When the government collapsed, Mr Advani returned to the Babri issue, finally leading a mob in December 1992 which demolished it and over 2,000 Indians died in the riots that followed.
After the demolition and the violence, the party increased its popularity further and under Vajpayee, who was back in charge, it doubled its tally to 182 in the 1998 elections. It got stuck here, winning 180 in the next one in 1999, and then slipping to 138 in 2004.
The BJP had moved away from its Ayodhya and anti-Muslim positions substantially while in power. What changed was the riots in Gujarat in 2002, after which Vajpayee tried unsuccessfully to oust Narendra Modi as chief minister.
What happened next was the classic example of what takes place in ideological parties.
The leader is always vulnerable to the person who is more extreme than he is and is charismatic. Thus, after Vajpayee failed to wrestle Mr Modi down, the writing was on the wall. Mr Modis acceleration of the BJP away from its constitutional promise of secularism produced a profit and the BJP doubled again to over 300 seats in 2019.
The story of the party seems complex but in many ways it is quite simple. And the story, which began in Bengal with Mookerjee, is poised to return to that state very soon.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the company known as BE offers artificial intelligence-based products that revolutionize the concept of 'Live and Learn', using unique e-learning and travel platforms.
Pandemic or not, BE's digital products undeniably empowered hundreds and thousands of people, unleashed their potential just with smartphones and effectively created many more millionaires.
BE
Monir, Moyn and Ehsaan, true visionaries, have achieved a monumental milestone that other up-and-coming entrepreneurs have only dreamed of. Today, BE celebrates and transcends to a brand-new outlook and goals that will accelerate their vision to become a billion-dollar company by 2022. In a recent video conference that connected almost 10,000 attendants, making it one of its biggest online events, BE announced their new brand and its corresponding affirmations that resonate well with their imminent next big break. Moyn Islam, President and CEO of BE, said, "We're reintroducing our original vision with a new look and new affirmations: to be bold, brave, inspired, motivated, free and unique. Simply put, we are sending out a message in lines with - Be a better you for a better tomorrow."
What BE has created already empowers people from all walks of life, regardless of their educational or financial background, to build their very own multimillion-dollar business from their smartphone. The concept of Live & Learn helps people to acquire new skill-sets, earn money, all while traveling around the world, receiving complimentary stays at five-star hotels, and simply living their dreams. Monir Islam, Chief Visionary Officer of BE, affirms, "We're excited about the assets that BE has in the areas of education, fintech, travel and lifestyle. We were able to develop such rapid solutions in the face of unpredictability in these extraordinary times, and this is just the beginning of our exponential growth."
The real purpose of innovative technology is fulfilled only when it brings people together and creates a sense of community. That's precisely what BE stands to do and will continue its pursuit towards, creating oneness with the smart use of technology. Industry experts say the pandemic, which disrupted businesses, toppled industries, and even crippled economies worldwide, has left companies revolving around digital platforms unscathed. BE holds pride in being one of those businesses, which not only survived but in fact saw a surge in sales during the month of May. Ehsaan B. Islam, Chief Technology Officer of BE, says, "Exponential growth in business means developing rapid solutions over efficiency in the face of unpredictability. We will continue to seek growth as long as there is space for technological evolution in the world."
As young lads growing up in a hardworking household in London, these brothers and pathbreakers in the entrepreneurial world did one thing right to reach where they're today, that is, relentlessly follow their passion. It's their passion, hard work and a belief that led to the success of BE. Right now, more than ever before, people are looking for opportunities to increase and diversify their financial independence, and BE is what people might need to accomplish that in life.
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The Supreme Court is set to make its first landmark ruling on abortion rights in the era of Donald Trump as early as this week, with the deciding vote likely to be left down to one judge.
The court is set to vote on a constitutional challenge to a highly controversial Louisiana law allowing the regulation of abortion providers to come into effect, which could set a new precedent for the protection of abortion rights in the US.
The 2014 Louisiana law requires physicians who perform abortions to hold active admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their facility. Challengers have said it places obstacles in the path of women seeking a pre-viability abortion.
Defenders have argued the law benefits abortion patients by making abortion safer, even though the court found that a previous similar law offered no such benefit.
The law has been regarded as significantly similar to a case that was heard in 2016, namely Whole Womans Health v Hellerstedt, that also required abortion providers to have similar admitting privileges.
Roberts has as much if not more of an interest than anyone in the public face and integrity of the court, Professor Steven Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago told The Hill.
Notably, the Louisiana case asks the justices to weigh their own past rulings on abortion.
In the 2016 case, Justice Roberts dissented on technical grounds from the majority, which ruled a 5-3 vote that the law was unconstitutional because its burden on a womans right to an abortion outweighed any medical benefit.
[Justice Roberts] is acutely aware that if the court were to take dramatic actions in the Louisiana case, like overturning Hellerstedt, it would widely be seen as a sheer political move, Prof Schwinn said.
This case is not a direct challenge to Roe v Wade, the landmark supreme court decision protecting a womans liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction, but could be seen as a watershed moment in the change in precedent of abolition rights in the US under Mr Trump.
Story continues
The district court said the law placed an undue burden on women seeking abortions in Louisiana, applying the Supreme Courts guidance in the previous case of Hellerstedt. However, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that ruling, prompting the appeal to the supreme court and the decision that lies ahead.
President Trump has been clear on his position on abortion clear and has promised to see Roe v Wade overturned since his 2016 presidential campaign.
The decision from the court on the Louisiana case could come as early as Monday, reports have said.
Read more
Supreme Court blocks Trump from rescinding DACA programme
Trump administration rolls back health protections for LGBT+ people
Crossing state lines for an abortion while America locks down
Woman behind landmark abortion rights case was paid to change her mind
Chief Justice John Roberts
D inner parties and sleepovers will be allowed again, with grandparents permitted to meet families indoors, as Britain exits from lockdown, the Prime Minister announced today.
Two households will be able to get together to socialise, eat and drink inside one of their homes providing members of each different household keep their distance.
And the visitors will be allowed to stay the night, as long as they do not sleep with members of the host household. It does not mean couples, said an official.
Pubs and restaurants will also reopen for indoor feasting and drinking at table service but not buffets, while indoor wedding services will be allowed , as part of the changes, which will come into force on July 4.
Camping, holiday cottages and hotels will open up and churches will be open for worship but not hymn-singing.
The changes clear the way for Britons to start booking summer holidays and for a rescue of Londons shattered hospitality sector that has been in deep freeze since March.
In place of the blanket two-metre rule of social distancing, there will also be a one metre plus mitigation for situations where two metres are not possible. Mitigation could mean wearing a mask, such as on public transport, or keeping the encounter brief.
A woman wears a face mask on the Underground / AFP via Getty Images
The Prime Minister told the Commons that the pandemic had left permanent scars and he would not hesitate to lock down again if necessary.
At every stage caution will be our watchword. Every stage will be conditional and reversible.
Boris Johnson says two households can meet inside from July 4
We cannot life all the restrictions at once so we have to make difficult judgments, he told MPs.
The more we open up, the more vigilant we will need to be.
The changes mean there will be more complicated rules than before.
Neil Piddington, general manager of Maidenhead's Craufurd Arms, checks the beer after Boris Johnson's announcement / PA
On visiting other homes, one household could meet different households on subsequent weekends, and there is no limit on the numbers who can meet as long as no more than two households are involved.
The advice is separate from the rule that allows up to six people from many different households to meet out of doors.
What is reopening after Boris Johnson's announcement? And which venues are staying closed? Allowed to reopen:
Hotels, bed & breakfasts, places of worship, libraries, work canteens, bars, pubs, cinemas, museums, art galleries, outdoor playgrounds, outdoor gyms, amusement arcades, indoor leisure such as social clubs and bingo halls. Indoor attractions at aquariums and wildlife centres and zoos could open. Live performances are not allowed yet but theatres could open to screen films and give hospitality.
Staying closed:
Remaining closed are nightclubs, bowling alleys, skating rinks, indoor play areas, massage and tattoo parlours, indoor gyms, fitness centres and and dance halls, swimming polls and water parks.
Where two households meet indoors they will be asked to remain socially distant, to maintain regular hand washing and the continue cleaning shared spaces.
That means following the two metres or one-metre-plus guidance and regular hand-washing, said the PMs spokesman.
Downing Street there did not have to be a gap between when you see another household. You could meet with one household in the morning and another one in the evening.
However, only households that are in a support bubble can have physical contact with each other.
Downing Street said: Where two households meet indoors well be asking people to follow our advice which means to remain socially distant, regular hand washing and cleaning shared spaces.
I think people will show common sense and theyve worked really hard to get this disease under control and I think they will understand that we still have more to do. The virus is not beaten.
Downing Street said the advice would allow people much more social contact, allow people to see both sets of grandparents and have people over for dinner.
Although churches will be allowed to hold services for small groups of worshippers, singing will be forbidden because scientists have advised that it increases the risk of the virus being spread on droplets.
Lockdown rules latest: Here's what you can't do
Downing Street said wedding ceremonies, bar mitzvahs and christenings can start again from July 4. The Government is now working to increase the number of guests couples will be allowed to have at the service. But they will only be allowed go to hospitality venues with only one other household - putting a limit on the size of any reception or after-party.
Funerals will be allowed as now with close family only.
Cinemas are being allowed to show films , subject to strict rules. Filmgoers will have to leave row by row, and premises must apply one-way systems in corridors and foyers.
However, there is no return yet for Londons theatres because of continuing safety concerns about performers on stage.
The return of pubs and restaurants will also mean getting used to new ways of behaving on a night out.
Indoor dining and drinking will be allowed at a table, and waiters will have to exit the dining area after taking orders and serving meals. Tables can be closer than two metres apart providing people from different households face away from each other.
Diners and drinkers will have to give their names on arrival so that they can be passed to NHS Test & Trace if one of the guests later falls ill with Covid-19.
There will be enforcement measures, but the system will mainly rely on the publics willingness to co-operate.
Bars and diners that have space outdoors will be encouraged to use it. As revealed by the Standard last week, a planning Bill this week will enable car parks to be turned into beer gardens or dining terraces.
When Mr Johnson announced the reopening of restaurants and pubs, MPs cheered and one shouted: "Hallelujah."
Book lovers will see the return of libraries, with books quarantined between lendings. Community centres will also reopen, restoring services to lonely people and youths.
Face coverings mandatory on public transport as lockdown eases 1 /22 Face coverings mandatory on public transport as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Jeremy Selwyn Daniel Hambury PA PA Nigel Howard Nigel Howard Jeremy Selwyn Daniel Hambury Jeremy Selwyn Jeremy Selwyn Nigel Howard Jeremy Selwyn Jeremy Selwyn Jeremy Selwyn Nigel Howard Nigel Howard
For holidaymakers, choices from July 4 will include camping, B&Bs, cottages and hotels, all subject to strict cleaning requirements.
Separately the Department of Health is working towards free travel corridors to hotspots in the European Union and beyond to allow sunseekers to go abroad, but these are not yet ready.
Hairdressers will be back to tame the nations lockdown hair styles , with staff wearing masks and gloves.
However the Government said close proximity venues such as nightclubs, soft-play areas, indoor gyms, swimming pools, water parks, bowling alleys and spas will need to remain closed for now.
Officials are now working with those sectors to help them become Covid-19 Secure and reopen as soon as possible.
Business leaders welcomed the end of the blanket two-metre rule.
Edwin Morgan, Director of Policy at the The Institute of Directors said: "Reducing the 2m rule will undoubtedly bring relief to many businesses.
"A quarter of our members have said that under current social distancing rules they are likely to operate at less than half capacity. For many, this simply isn't sustainable, particularly with the furlough scheme set to wind down.
"This change isn't a panacea, and doesn't mean safety can take a backseat. If anything, the onus is now even more on directors to ensure rigorous mitigating measures are in place. In some cases, this wont be easy or cheap. With many firms already strapped for cash, the Treasury should consider supporting companies to make the necessary adjustments, particularly as some haven't been able to access schemes so far."
But Lucy Yardley, professor of health psychology at the University of Bristol and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, told BBC Newsnight there was a danger that some people thought lockdown had ended.
London restaurants doing food deliveries after 10pm 1 /26 London restaurants doing food deliveries after 10pm Motu - ACROSS LONDON This delivery-only brand from the JKS Restaurants delivers its Indian menu until (relatively) late. 10.30pm (Monday-Sunday), SW11, E14, N7, NW3, E1, N8, motuindiankitchen.com Berenjak - ACROSS LONDON The acclaimed Soho Iranian (also by JKS) boasts two new delivery-only kitchens in east and north London. 10.30pm (Wednesday-Saturday), W1, EC4, NW3, berenjaklondon.com Five Guys - ACROSS LONDON The US-hailing burger brand keeps many of its London locations open as late as midnight the earliest close is at 10pm. Selected locations up to 12am, restaurants.fiveguys.co.uk Dishoom - ACROSS LONDON The much-loved Bombay-style restaurants are back in the delivery game at their Kings Cross, Kensington and Shoreditch locations. 10.30pm (Monday-Sunday), N1, W8, E2, dishoom.com Hoppers - ACROSS LONDON A third JKS restaurant expanding its delivery remit, the Sri Lankan favourite is also delivering from a dark kitchen in the City. 10.30pm (Monday-Saturday), 9.30pm (Sunday), W1, N1, EC4, hopperslondon.com John Carey L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele - CENTRAL The London offshoot of the worlds best pizza restaurant in Naples is open until midnight on the weekends. 12am (Thursday-Sunday), 11pm (Monday-Wednesday), W1, NW1, anticapizzeriadamichele.co.uk Gymkhana - CENTRAL The Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Mayfair is delivering for the first time. 10.30pm (Monday-Sunday), 42 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JH, gymkhanalondon.com JinLi - CENTRAL Spice up your life with a delivery of hot-and-numbing dishes from this Sichuan restaurant in Chinatown. 10.30pm (Monday-Sunday), 16-18 Newport Place, WC2H 7PR, jinli.co.uk 50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo Naples-style pizza and some of the best in London. 11pm (Monday-Sunday), 7 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5BY, 50kalo.it Luciano Furia Jamavar The upmarket Mayfair Indian is delivering its Royal Kitchen menu, which includes the option of enjoying a set, five-course feast. 10.30pm (Thursday-Saturday), 10pm (Monday-Wednesday), 8 Mount Street, W1K 3NF, jamavarrestaurants.com Bombay Bustle - CENTRAL Indian fine dining redesigned for takeaway on this restaurants Dabbawala menu. 10.30pm (Thursday-Saturday), 10pm (Sunday-Wednesday), 29 Maddox Street, W1S 2PA, bombaybustle.com Shu Xiangge - CENTRAL The Chinatown hot pot classic is delivering personal portions of its spicy broth, with customers able to choose all their own toppings. 11pm (Monday-Sunday), 10 Gerrard Street, W1D 5PW, via Deliveroo Trishna - CENTRAL Gymkhanas equally starred sibling restaurant is also delivering its dishes inspired by Indias coastal cuisines. 10.30pm (Monday-Sunday), 15-17 Blandford Street, W1U 3DG, trishnalondon.com Yard Sale Pizza - NORTH The north-east London pizza favourites deliver their pies into the night, as late as 10.30 on the weekends. 10.30pm (Friday-Saturday), 10pm (Sunday-Thursday), E2, E5, N4, E11, E17, yardsalepizza.com Big Fernand - WEST The Parisian burger chain landed in London last year, and is delivering its French-style patties. 10.30pm (Sunday-Thursday), 11pm (Friday-Saturday), 39 Thurloe Place, SW7 2HP, bigfernanduk.com Yatai - WEST Angelo Satos concept is delivering his famous katsu sandos and more Japanese dishes from a dark kitchen in Battersea. 10.30pm (Monday-Sunday), London Cooking Project 1 Ethelburga Street, SW11 4AG, via Deliveroo Zheng Chelsea - WEST This neighbourhood Pan-Asian restaurant has Malaysian food at its heart, with a punch-packing beef rendang. 11pm (Monday, Wednesday-Saturday) 4 Sydney Street, SW3 6PP, zhengchelsea.co.uk Matt Writtle The Laughing Heart - EAST Tom Anglesea is delivering an ever-changing menu from the east London wine bar. 11pm (Thursday-Sunday), thelaughingheartlondon.com Brigadiers - EAST The indulgent City Indian is delivering its butter chicken wings and biryanis for the first time. 10.30pm (Monday-Sunday), 1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, EC4N 8AR, brigadierslondon.com Baba G's - SOUTH The Indian-influenced bhangra burger brand has set up new delivery kitchens across south London. 10.30pm (Friday-Saturday), 10pm (Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday), SW9, SE4, SE19, SE1, bhangraburger.com Haydon Perrior
Professor Yardley said you could argue that we were never so much listening to the Government as doing what we thought was right at the right time and added it would be much harder to impose lockdown for a second time.
Former chancellor Sajid Javid called for a significant temporary cut in national insurance to boost the economic recovery, making it cheaper for employers to take on staff.
Charities have expressed concern over plans for 2.2 million of the most vulnerable people in England to stop shielding from the end of July.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has warned a lockdown could be imposed on the island of Anglesey following a coronavirus outbreak at a chicken processing plant.
NHS Blood and Transplant has called for more men who have had Covid-19 to donate blood plasma to establish if it can be used to treat sufferers following evidence they produce more antibodies than women.
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Mr Johnson discussed todays moves in advance with chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer for England Professor Chris Whitty.
Downing Street said ministers will not hesitate to reimpose controls if the spread of the virus picks up again.
Jaipur, June 23 : The rift between Congress factions in Rajasthan came out into the open on Tuesday when Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, without naming Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, said that all claims made by his party leaders before the Rajya Sabha polls have been proved baseless.
"Both our candidates have received cent per cent votes from our MLAs who stood together during polls. I have been claiming that both our candidates shall win and what we claimed has turned out true. Any kind of doubts and suspicions spread around earlier were baseless," he added.
Gehlot, in the run-up to the Rajya Sabha polls, accused the BJP of indulging in horse-trading and luring Congress MLAs by allegedly offering them Rs 25-35 crore.
He also also took the party MLAs and independents to a plush resort to prevent their alleged poaching by the BJP.
Party whip Mahesh Joshi further filed a complaint with the SOG and the ACB that unaccounted money has reached Rajasthan during lockdown days.
However, Pilot dismissed all these claims as groundless.
Addressing the media in the state Congress office after paying tributes to Sanjay Gandhi on his birth anniversary, he also said that as the state party chief, he owes a lot to grassroot workers who have worked hard for the last five years and hence, he shall look to ensure they get the respect and rewards they deserve.
Pilot's statements also seems to be a warning for Gehlot, who, sources said, is all out to dole out plush political rewards to his favourites, independent MLAs and BSP MLAs who supported the Congress in the elections to the state's Rajya Sabha seats.
However, grassroots workers working on ground are not quite happy with these reports that political appointments will be given to outsiders for simply showing their support to Gehlot while doing nothing.
"Gehlot has shown a scripted yet successful show smartly, but how shall he sail smoothly in the coming days with a party divided on different issues," said a senior Congress worker who did not want to be named.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country said by Nathan Hale before his execution and Give me liberty or give me death by Patrick Henry of Virginia were two of the sayings I remember today from fourth grade in a Connecticut public school about 65 years ago. They were patriotic sayings in the context of historic times and were joined with Benjamin Franklins pragmatic posting in the Poor Richards Almanac (1738), Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. I also remember, I shall return, spoken by Gen. Douglas McArthur as he left Corregidor, but we were not exposed to the history at the time or the context for the comments.
How did we miss out on the story of Reconstruction in the South after the Civil War? Was there a battle or a hero? How did white superiority continue after the Lost Cause? If Lincoln issued a final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863 did not it make all slaves in all states free and provide them with rights enjoyed at that time principally by white men with property? Why did Juneteenth, another day for celebration, on June 19, 1865, when a Union general delivered a full freedom proclamation in Galveston, Texas, become important?
Washington: Protesters tried to tear down a statue of former US president Andrew Jackson on Monday (Tuesday AEST) near the White House, scrawling "killer scum" on the base and pulling at ropes around the figure of Jackson on a horse before police intervened.
Video footage posted to social media also showed demonstrators climbing on the bronze monument in Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House, in the latest bid to destroy images of historical figures considered racist or divisive.
A worker cleans a statue of former US president Andrew Jackson near the White House last week. Protesters failed to bring it down on Monday. Credit:AP
Police in riot gear are then seen moving in to drive the crowd back and form a protective ring around the statue, which was erected in 1852 on a white marble base and depicts Jackson astride a rearing horse.
CNN reported that Secret Service told members of the press corps to immediately leave the White House grounds, in a "highly unusual decision that did not immediately come with an explanation".
Its a cry being called out at protests across North America; its the subject of dozens of letters to Hamiltons police board and petitions gathering thousands of signatures here.
Defund the police.
The movement is not a new one, but it has garnered steam and more mainstream support in the wake of the death of George Floyd, who suffocated under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, and other police action that disproportionately affects Black and Indigenous people and people of colour.
Its a buzzword, said Ameil Joseph, an associate professor in McMaster Universitys department of social work, who spoke at a rally where hundreds converged outside Hamilton city hall.
But its an idea that has been well-studied, he said, adding that its really about reallocating public resources in a way that makes people feel safe and protected, and values health and well-being.
When we dont invest in each other, we see problems collide with our most critical services emergency rooms and police, he said.
Within the defund movement are calls to completely dismantle traditional policing, to redirect a portion of the police budget to community groups trained to deal with specific issues, such as mental health crises, and to have civilians investigate specific types of crime, such as sexual assault.
But at its core its about shifting funding to social services that could better help people and prevent the need for police. Its about decriminalizing addiction, mental illness and poverty.
Those who oppose police defunding raise fears that reducing police would reduce public safety.
Disturbances, domestic incidents and people in crisis are the most frequent calls Hamilton police respond to. In 2019, Hamilton police received 195,000 calls to 911.
Right now, police are treated as a jack of all trades, said Sarah Adjekum, a McMaster University PhD student studying violence, trauma and the experiences of minority communities.
Its time to reimagine policing and find solutions where force isnt necessary, she said, advocating a more humanitarian and compassionate approach.
Exploring budget cuts to prove it wont work
In Hamilton, people have taken to the streets in multiple protests against anti-Black racism in recent weeks, with some of them drawing thousands in attendance.
And the movement has already seen change. Faced with public calls from past and current students and community members, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board voted to terminate and review a controversial police liaison program in schools. The news was met with cheers from the more than 100 protesters who shut down Main and Bay streets, staging a sit-in in anticipation of the debate.
In some cities in the United States and Canada, council leaders are exploring cuts to police budgets. On June 11, Hamiltons police board voted to explore what a 20 per cent budget cut would look like, but only to prove why it would be impossible.
Coun. Chad Collins, who put forward the motion, said he thinks defunding the police is nonsensical and would lead to fewer officers on the streets, which would effectively neuter the police.
As the debate circled, board members agreed there were social problems and inequities that needed to be addressed. Collins argued police should examine what a budget cut would look like because he anticipated requests from some of his colleagues on council.
In a joint video statement released June 17, Coun. Nrinder Nann and Coun. Maureen Wilson announced they were supporting calls to defund the police, listening to demands from thousands of residents.
Over the last three weeks we have watched brutal acts of racism play out on our screens, weve listened with empathy to the growing chorus of voices bravely sharing their experiences of racism and injustice, Nann said.
She also noted most fatal encounters with police involve people with addiction or mental illness.
There have been seven people killed in Hamilton police shootings since 2007 and all but one involved mental illness or crisis. Three of those killed were white and four were racialized.
The provincial police watchdog the Special Investigations Unit cleared police of wrongdoing in all of the deaths. In most of the cases, the person killed was armed, including several with knives.
We believe its possible to deeply invest in crisis prevention and intervention without criminalizing mental health and addictions, Nann said.
This is not the time for performance politics or empty gestures, she added.
Police legitimacy versus police responsibility
Wilson said defunding the police doesnt mean an end to law enforcement or an end to the investigation of violent crime. Rather, its about reallocating parts of the police budget into housing, eduction, health and social development to address Hamiltons Code Red crisis, which is an ongoing Spectator investigation that shows strong ties in the citys neighbourhoods between levels of health and levels of wealth.
The motion approved at the police board meeting to look at what a 20 per cent cut would mean did not call for a service assessment for what type of calls police respond to, how and with what impact, Wilson said.
There was no call for statistics on excessive use of force, nor percentage of calls involving mental health crises.
This information could help the board fulfil its duties and inform the public, she added.
The national conversation is talking about police legitimacy, said Hamilton police deputy chief Frank Bergen, adding that this is really making it noisy and convoluting the local conversation.
Pointing to the statement by councillors Nann and Wilson, he said the conversation isnt about police not being funded, but rather a larger conversation about suitable responses to call for services.
This has been part of the police conversation all along and police want a seat at the table to be part of that discussion, he said.
Bergen sits on Hamiltons Community Safety and Well-Being Plan committee, which is developing a community-wide plan to combat crime and increase public safety through an integrated approach that looks beyond just policing.
The framework for the plan was set out by the province in 2018 with the goal of addressing the root causes of crime. Its unclear what changes if any may come from this plan, the completion of which has been delayed because of COVID-19.
Everybody has a role to play, Bergen said.
But to simply cut 20 per cent of the police budget, without having support from government and planning in place, would mean cutting officers but not decreasing the number of calls police get.
The stark reality is that 90 per cent of the $171-million police budget is for staffing thats $153.9 million. If you cut 20 per cent of that budget, it would mean about 236 fewer constable positions, he said.
Of the $17.1 million remaining in the operating budget, Bergen said a lot of that is simply keeping the lights on, and having safe cars, gas and computers.
The motion to examine what a 20 per cent funding cut would mean came at the same meeting where the police board and Chief Eric Girt apologized for inadequate preparation for the 2019 Pride festival that ended with violent clashes.
For some, there was an irony in police apologizing for their treatment of one community, while in their opinion not listening to others who are hurting.
Even while apologizing, theyre still doing the things theyre apologizing for, said Kojo Damptey, interim executive director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion.
He argued the events at Pride dispels the idea that public safety is equal to increase in policing.
Money for prevention, not policing
Instead, Damptey said the real question is what could be done with the $171-million police budget?
Then our community will have the agency to create a society that doesnt have an institution that can stop people arbitrarily, (lacks) training in mental health, criminalizes houseless people, he said, adding that the money ought to be invested in social services.
Black and Indigenous people are overrepresented in the justice system and are also more likely to be victims of crime in Canada. So are people with mental illness and addiction.
According to Statistics Canada, in 2017-18 Indigenous adults represented 30 per cent of admissions to provincial jails and 29 per cent of admissions to federal prison, while only representing four per cent of Canadas adult population.
The John Howard Society reports the Black community is overrepresented in Canadian correctional institutions by more than 300 per cent and Indigenous people by nearly 500 per cent. And once in jail, they are more likely to face discipline and less likely to get parole.
The main point is we dont want punitive measures, we want preventive measures, Damptey said.
In Ontario, police budgets are approved by the police board and municipal council. They do not have the authority to debate the budget line by line and are not allowed to direct police operations.
Damptey argued that since municipalities approve the police budget, they also have the power to take it away.
But the laws of the province say municipalities in Ontario are obligated to provide policing. At a minimum, there are five core policing functions set out in the Police Services Act: crime prevention, law enforcement, assistance to victims of crime, public order maintenance and emergency response.
The act says that if a municipality does not provide policing, the Ontario Provincial Police will step in and the municipality must pay Ontarios Ministry of Finance for the services.
For defunding to work, Joseph said there would need to be a bigger picture approach that examined changing the laws of the country to decriminalize many things in areas such as mental health, addiction, sex work or immigration.
If these things are decriminalized, then many people will not be imprisoned, he said.
We wont need the spaces in the prison system, he said, adding that that money can also be used to reinvest in programs and services.
The ways that our laws are designed and the courts operate, they overwhelmingly and disproportionately target Black, Indigenous and people of colour, Joseph said.
And not-for-profits are the ones often working in a patchwork system to help people.
It has been inadequate, Joseph said.
Clint Twolan, president of the Hamilton Police Association union representing officers, said drastically reducing the police budget without already having other measures in place would be a recipe for a disaster. But he also recognizes that police spend a lot of time responding to mental health and other calls that are not criminal.
I think its important to note that police have been saying for years to stop downloading (work onto police), he said. We havent been crying for more work.
Police already have innovative approaches to dealing with people in crisis.
They created the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team, which pairs trained officers with mental-health professionals to respond to 911 calls of people in crisis, and the Social Navigator Program, which through a referral process helps divert people away from court to social service agencies.
Twolan also pointed to the importance of police oversight, arguing that police are the most regulated agency in Ontario, from the rules of the Police Services Act, to oversight bodies including the Special Investigations Unit and Office of the Independent Police Review Director.
What happens if someone dies, such as by suicide, during an encounter with a crisis responder? he asked.
Options from other jurisdictions
In the Oregon communities of Eugene and Springfield, there is a different approach to crisis intervention. The CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) is a free, mobile program that operates 24-7, responding to non-criminal crisis incidents, including homelessness, intoxication, disorientation, substance abuse and mental illness and dispute resolution.
The difference? They are not police. Rather, each team has a mental-health crisis worker and an EMT (emergency medical technician).
They receive calls through the police non-emergency dispatch and are trained to de-escalate.
If a caller reports a crime in progress, violence or a life-threatening situation, police can respond. This program isnt new it was founded in 1989.
In Camden, N.J., once one of the most violent cities in America, the police service was dissolved in 2012. The police service wasnt defunded or abolished, but in its place the community created a new county police service that shifted to a community-based policing approach.
All the officers of the old police service were laid off, but were asked if they wanted to go to the new service. It was a significant cultural shift that included changing the metrics used to measure an officers success. The service no longer measured how many arrests an officer made or how many tickets they give out these same metrics are part of how Hamilton police officers are assessed during performance reviews where they are typically encouraged to set targets or goals for themselves.
Police, including in Hamilton, shy away from using the word quota. But individual squads often set ticket targets.
Use of force
Using force is part of police work. If someone resists arrest, officers are trained to use force to detain them. The level of force allowed in Ontario depends on the incident and is subjective to the individual officer.
There are many rules in place in Ontario that differ from parts of the United States, including banning the use of chokeholds and requiring the service to track every incident where force is used, including every time a gun is drawn and a conductive energy weapon (CEW) is used.
In 2018, 233 total use-of-force reports were submitted by Hamilton officers that year.
What we dont know is how many of those encounters involved people of colour.
As of this January, police services in Ontario are mandated to collect race-related data in use-of-force arrests. This data is not expected to be released until next year, as police present their use-of-force reports annually to the police board.
In 2018, police fired their guns 28 times and used CEWs (such as a Taser) 57 times. Police drew their handguns 39 times and pointed firearms 125 times.
All but two of the shots fired were to euthanize animals. The other two incidents in 2018 were the fatal shootings of Quinn MacDougall, killed on April 3, and Robyn Garlow, who was killed in an apartment on King Street East on Oct. 20. Both times, the victims had a knife.
Often the presence of police officers can escalate a situation, said Adjekum, the PhD student.
The reality is people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of crime.
This warrants a revaluation of what is taking place, she said, adding that could include taking officers out of schools and also having outreach workers respond to some calls on the streets and allowing them to make the call if police are needed.
The courts have acknowledged the disproportionate impact on radicalized communities, include using Gladue reports to examine the background of Indigenous offenders at sentencing.
Its about time to consider the ways this disproportionate focus also warrants a broader more transformative approach, Adjekum said.
Hamilton has been fairly innovative, she said, pointing the MCRRT and Social Navigator programs.
Hamilton could be a leader.
Mayank Singh By
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: In a clear snub to the China, India has confirmed that there is no meeting between the Defence Ministers of the two countries in Moscow.
The two minsters will be in Moscow together to attend June 24 Victory Day Parade of Russia.
Defence Ministry Spokesperson A. Bharat Bhushan Babu denied on Tuesday of any such meeting.
Defence Minister would not be meeting Chinese Defence Minister. Babu said.
This was in relation with the Chinese government mouth piece Global Times report saying meeting between the two was expected.
Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe is expected to attend Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow on Wednesday, and since Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is also attending the event, the two will very likely meet in Moscow over border tensions between the two countries. wrote the Global Times.
Rajnath started his three-day visit to Russia on Monday, and will also attend the June 24 parade.
ALSO READ | India-China standoff: Breakthrough in talks as both Armies agree to disengage
Global Times quoted Qian Feng, the director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute of Tsinghua University in Beijing, saying if the meeting between the two countries' defense ministers materializes, it will contribute to easing the situation following the army commander-level meeting, wrote Global Times.
The border tensions between the two sides soared after the Chinese troops attacked the Indian soldiers on June 15 at Galwan Valley in which 20 had died. Chinese army acknowledged the casualties but it did not reveal the count of dead.
The Corps Commanders of the two countries met on Monday and Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in Eastern Ladakh were discussed and it was decided to be taken forward by both sides.
Russia has been one of India's key suppliers of arms and ammunition.
A tri-service 75-member Indian military contingent has already reached Moscow to participate in the parade.
The Indian team will participate in the parade alongside armed forces personnel from at least 11 countries including China.
"The visit of the defence minister will strengthen the longstanding special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia," the defence ministry said on Saturday.
"The Indian participation in the victory day parade will be a mark of tribute to the great sacrifices made by Russia and other nations in the Second World War in which Indian soldiers also participated and made supreme sacrifice," it said.
(With PTI Inputs)
For the past two years, Kim Jong-Un's sister Kim Yo Jong had been seen beside the supreme leader acting as a political strategist. The siblings have had a good relationship as they have studied together in Switzerland.
World's first female dictator
Recently, however, Yo Jong is steadily becoming the first female dictator in the world. She is the only one of Kim's to be considered as a powerful ally of the supreme leader.
According to ATOZ News, Yo Jong was first seen in 2018 when she visited South Korea. She went on a tour with her Winter Olympics team and afterwards showed an aggressive attitude towards their southern brethren.
Last week, Yo Jong decided to escalate tensions between the two Koreas by blowing up the liaison office located in Kaesong, which was built as a means of communication between the two countries.
The move is thought to be the North's first missile launch this year and had received severe criticisms for the South.
The North Korean regime had been known to use violent and undiplomatic methods to showcase its authority. Still, the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee's First Vice-Department Director ordered the recent attack.
When Jong-un was first reported to be missing in March, his sister delivered a statement which marked the first national address under her name, as published by Express UK.
Since her first moment in the spotlight, she had continuously heightened tensions between the two countries and had shown her criticisms of defectors spreading anti-DPRK leaflets.
She called the defectors "human scum" and compared them to mongrel dogs. Yo Jong also attacked the South Korean President Moon Jae-In in her statements, calling him insane but appearing to be normal.
After Jong-un's disappearance earlier this year, rumours of Yo Jong succession started spreading. A similar incident occurred when Jong-un suddenly went missing in 2014, giving rise to speculations of his sister gaining the position of the supreme leader.
Yo Jong is allegedly married to the party secretary Choe Ryong-Hae's son and is considered to be the second-in-command in North Korea.
Also Read: North Korea Prepares to Drown South Korea with 'Leaflets of Punishment'
A powerful influence
NK News' Oliver Hotham said Yo Jong's influence stems from her brother, who holds the most powerful position in the country, as reported by BBC. She had recently become North Korea's new point-person in charge of inter-Korean affairs.
Yo Jong threatened to send troops in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) along the border between the two countries in June. The announcement came after the South allegedly failed to prevent defectors from spreading anti-DPRK propaganda.
The recently popular female figure is the youngest among the late Kim Jong-Il's daughters and has the same mother as the supreme leader Kim Jong-un.
She was born four years after Jong-Un, and the two of them shared the same home in their studies in Berne.
Officials from the Switzerland educational institute she enrolled in said a group of guards and caretakers were over-protective of the heir. Allegedly, she once came down with a mild cold and was quickly recovered from the school and brought to a nearby hospital.
For the past five years, her job had been to protect her brother's national image and status. In 2017, however, she was promoted to be an alternate member of the politburo, suggesting a change in seniority without changing her role in propaganda.
Rumours of her succession have spread every time her brother is reported missing from the public eye or when there any uncertainties with him.
Related Article: Next Dictator: Kim Yo Jong is Becoming the 'Terminator' Princess
@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tenants of a Niagara Falls apartment building fighting a proposed 10 per cent rent increase have now been threatened with eviction for creating a toxic environment.
A letter provided to residents of Summerset Court on June 10 stated a law firm has been retained and will commence legal action and possible eviction against tenants management believes have caused tension at the Ethel Street building.
But residents believe its a hollow threat in response to their refusal to pay a rent increase nearly five times the current legal limit in Ontario.
Terry Bedell, a tenant for 18 years, said all residents in the building received the letter but two tenants received personalized versions. One was to a tenant of 27 years, and another of 29 years.
(The landlord) thinks they may be trouble to him, said Bedell. The one (tenant) has gotten his lawyer involved already.
The building is co-owned by local business owner Tony Di Giacomo, who said the double-digit rent increase proposed to start next April is necessary because of years of insufficient increases by a previous manager. A letter given to tenants in May stated if they oppose the increase, he will bring the matter to court. If denied by the courts, he will then change the units into condominiums.
The ten per cent rent increase, the letter stated, would be followed by similar increases over the next few years to make the building financially viable.
The same letter was provided to residents of Elmwood Apartments on Dorchester Road, which Di Giacomo also co-owns.
The legal limit rent can be increased in Ontario this year is 2.2 per cent.
Contacted Tuesday, Di Giacomo said the majority of people at Summerset Court are in favour of the increase in order to avoid their units becoming condos. The latest letter, he added, was necessary to address the friction in the building. He said some residents are leaving nasty letters on other tenants doors.
I dont know if Ill be allowed to throw them out but Im going to take them to court, he said.
Im trying to appease people, to say, I know the environment is not nice now, but Im going to try to fix it.
Di Giacomo said years of insufficient rent increases, coupled with rising insurance and taxes, has made the building unsustainable.
The proposed rent increase drew sharp criticism from Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates, who called it downright despicable in the midst of a pandemic.
Bedell said the latest letter threatening evictions is unlawful and meant to intimidate tenants.
Ive noticed theyre quite down right now some dont want to fight this battle, he said. They want to stick their heads in the sand.
Were quite surprised. Youd think hed want loyal tenants they all pay their rent on time. Its a good group of seniors.
Bedell said a group of tenants have discussed the latest letter with some lawyers and legal aid workers.
What his tactic is, what hes doing with these letters, we just dont understand.
Should the apartments become condominiums, the provinces Residential Tenancies Act states tenants have the first opportunity to buy the unit. But even if they refuse, a landlord cannot terminate the tenancy after the property has been converted.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) urged Texans to stay home to fight the "rampant" spread of the coronavirus on Tuesday, warning in interviews with local outlets KRIS-TV and KBTX-TV that the state has reported an all-time high of over 5,400 new cases over the last 24 hours.
What he's saying: First, we want to make sure that everyone reinforces the best safe practices of wearing a mask, hand sanitization, maintaining safe distance, but importantly, because the spread is so rampant right now, theres never a reason for you to have to leave your home. Unless you do need to go out, the safest place for you is at your home, Abbott told KBTX-TV.
"There is an executive order already in place given (to) local authorities to put restrictions on crowds gathering over 500," Abbott told KRIS-TV when asked about mitigating infection spikes after Fourth of July gatherings.
"We did see an increase after Memorial Day. We saw an increase in the early part of June. We need to make sure we have the flexibility to reduce crowds in ways that will reduce the spread of COVID-19," he said.
Flashback: Abbott said Monday that while the virus is spreading at an "unacceptable rate," another lockdown would only be considered as the "last option." On Tuesday, Abbott said the state may consider having to "ratchet back on the expansion of opening businesses" if the spread didn't slow, but added, "Thats the last thing that either I or those businesses want to do."
Between the lines: Earlier this month, officials in Houston the epicenter of the outbreak in Texas said that coronavirus spread in the city is uncontrolled and poses a significant threat to the community.
"We don't have evidence that the public health measures we have in place are able to limit that community transmission," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said at a press conference.
that the public health measures we have in place are able to limit that community transmission," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said at a press conference. Texas' stay-at-home order, which lapsed on April 30, was one of the shortest in the country, per the New York Times.
Go deeper: COVID-19 sweeps the South
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across the U.S. and Canada to protest against police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. His last words "I can't breathe" have become a rallying cry to end systemic racism not just in policing but also in other sectors of society.
At the same time, the global pandemic has laid bare the social inequities that make Black, Indigenous and other people of colour more susceptible to COVID-19.
CBC News spoke with five Canadian physicians about racism they've personally experienced and what impact systemic discrimination has had on their patients and their profession.
Dr. Onye Nnorom, 39
Family doctor, president of the Black Physicians' Association of Ontario in Toronto
Evan Mitsui/CBC
"I intentionally didn't watch the [George Floyd] video. When I watch these videos, I see a human being, but I also see my father. I see my brother. I see my sons, because this is part of our entire life of feeling systemic anti-Black racism It impacts everyone, because it's a human being, but for us, it's our past, our present and our potential future in a moment like that.
"There are many layers to it (racism). It's in how patients are treated. I've engaged with so many community members who describe being ignored when they go to the emergency department.
"For example, people who may come in for a pain crisis for a particular genetic condition, sickle cell disease, which predominantly affects people of west African descent.
"When they come and they need treatment with opioids, they are thought to be drug seeking ... Based on the research from the United States, there is no evidence that black patients are more drug-seeking or have a predisposition to becoming addicted to opioids. But those biases are there. "People saying that they are colour blind is not helpful at all, because it denies the inequities we experience as Black people in Canada."
Story continues
WATCH | Dr. Onye Nnorom on the structures and systems that have historically favoured white Canadians:
Dr. Nel Wieman, 55
Psychiatrist, senior medical officer at the First Nations Health Authority in Vancouver
Maggie MacPherson/CBC
"It's not a surprise to me to see people rising up and exclaiming their unhappiness and wanting things to change. What has surprised me a little bit is the sustainability of the movement.
"As far as Indigneous people are concerned, you just have to look at the largest national reports concerning Indigenous people. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the reporting into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. Right there in front of you is the fact that there is structural, systemic racism in Canada it's not even arguable.
"I work in public health, so we've completely pivoted. Eighty to 90 per cent of our work is now COVID. So I understand that action related to murdered and missing Indigenous women has been delayed because of the pandemic, but again, that's another failure to act and move forward. We have all these reports what are we going to do about it?
"I don't want to see Black and Indigenous issues pitted against each other. You start to get into that old argument which isn't helpful we've suffered so much more than you, or you've suffered so much more than us. There's no comparison. We have to be anti-racist about everything."
WATCH | Dr. Nel Wieman on being singled out for her Indigenous heritage and labelled 'one of the smart ones' by colleagues:
Dr. Amy Tan, 41
Family hospice doctor and researcher in Calgary
Rebecca Kelly/CBC
"Since the pandemic began, there has been increasing overt East Asian racism, to the point where my parents who live in Vancouver and immigrated 50 years ago are now scared to leave their house.
"I support masking for all in Canada along with physical distancing and hand hygiene as we open up the economy and try to decrease the spread....
"My parents said there was no way they were going to wear a mask, because it would increase their Asian-ness and put a target on their back. For them to share with me that this is the first time in 50 years they've felt physically scared in Canada, enraged me and cut me to the core and caused me despair. That was the last straw for me, and I had to speak up.
"Treating people the same or equally doesn't mean equity, because you're completely negating the disparities that exist and have existed for generations. I'm complicit, too. I bought in to just put your head down and work hard and be agreeable and be 'the model minority.'"
"I'm going to help by presenting my own cultural group's complicity in this and try to take this burden off the Black population and the Indigenous population and to say, 'I understand to some degree, so I'm going to use that empathy to help you.'"
WATCH | Dr. Amy Tan on the racism in the workplace she and her colleagues of Chinese descent experienced during the pandemic:
Dr. Naheed Dosani, 35
Street doctor in Toronto
Evan Mitsui/CBC
"I've seen the headlines: Protests are happening will they cause a second wave? The right headline here is: Racism is happening will it cause a second wave?
"They are literally out protesting during a pandemic that is disproportionately affecting people of colour to protest police brutality that disproportionately affects people of colour. That runs deep.
"The people I care for are scared, and they're worried. Particularly during COVID, we've seen the criminalization of homelessness. Particularly, people experiencing homelessness are inhabiting parks and other spaces, because they don't have elsewhere to go, because respites, shelters and drop-ins have had to reduce services and hours.
"The response in many jurisdictions is that they're being policed. They're being ticketed, and this is inappropriate and leads to worse outcomes in interactions with police."
"The events that occur in the United States and here recently have led people of colour the people I care for to be fearful of interactions with police, and this doesn't add to their health-care outcomes being better. It brings into question their overall safety and well-being."
WATCH | Dr. Naheed Dosani on the need for 'real allyship' among health care workers of colour:
Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, 42
Intensive care unit doctor, researcher in Ottawa
Toni Choueiri/CBC
"I can't put the words seeing that [video]. There was so much hurt, so much despair. Knowing he wasn't being treated like a human. Even an animal wouldn't have been treated like that....
"Whenever we try to turn the corner, when we try to display some form of activism it gets shut down. We have people going on a knee during a national anthem, and they shut that down. We say Black lives matter, and they shut that down with 'All lives matter' bullshit. Yes, all lives matter, but your people aren't being murdered on the street without any consequence."
"Every Black person in this country will have a story. We all have a time when we were hurt by our skin colour....
"I remember a guy called me n--ger on the ice. It's hard, you feel defenceless, but as a kid, the teaching is just to ignore it. Pretend it doesn't eat at you. Pretend it doesn't mean anything to you, and that's what I would do."
"As you went up the ranks [of medical school], I did feel that you had to prove your worth a little more. I wondered how much was race, how much was my personality....
"I wasn't mentored. I had a tough time finding some guidance. You had these ideas for research in your career, and no one took me under their wing. As a result, I mentor a lot of trainees. It's too important to me now. This was something that I felt was lacking as I was coming up through med school."
WATCH | Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng on experiencing blatant racism from a professor as a medical student:
10 Powerful Christian Podcasts From Famous Pastors
Are you looking for a new Christian podcast to stream? If youre seeking uplifting faith-centric shows to listen to, look no further. You can stream thousands of Christian sermons, topical faith podcasts and so much more right now on Edifi.
Edifi is a new Christian podcast app that aggregates almost every Christian show imaginable, offering transformational and faith-inspiring Christian podcasts all in one place for your listening enjoyment. And if youre looking for Christian sermons, in particular, Edifi has you covered.
From short, powerful sermons to more lengthy theological explorations, the app is filled with pastoral guidance and powerful sermons online that will help transform your perspective. Below, we have a list of just some of what you can hear on Edifi (download the app today).
From John Piper sermons to messages from Greg Laurie and Steven Furtick, Edifi is the podcast app for you!
Greg Laurie Podcast
If youre looking for stellar preaching and sermons online, look no further than the Greg Laurie Podcast. Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, delivers powerful messages about living out the gospel. This is a must-listen Christian podcast.
Listen to Christian sermons on the Greg Laurie Podcast today.
Pastor Rick Warrens Daily Hope
Pastor Rick Warren is one of Americas most famous preachers. Listen to his Daily Hope Christian podcast to hear some of his preaching and some of his daily, uplifting messages. Play Warrens Daily Hope podcast on Edifi today.
John Piper Sermons
Another Christian sermons series worth streaming today comes from Pastor John Piper. John Piper sermons are available in podcast form here. And John Piper sermons can also be found in another form as well: Q&A.
Ask Pastor John is a bit different from the typical content one would find in John Piper sermons. This particular online sermon series is more focused on answering tough questions from listeners and fans. Listen to that Christian podcast here.
Summit Life With J.D. Greear
Pastor J.D. Greear offers Christian sermons each week, with his preaching diving into some powerful gospel-driven commentary. If youre looking for new Christian sermons to stream, be sure to try out Summit Life With J.D. Greear. Listen here.
Elevation With Steven Furtick
From lessons on letting go, to discussions surrounding miracles and fear, Furticks podcast tackles a plethora of preaching topics. You can listen to Elevation With Steven Furtick here.
Tony Evans Sermons
Pastor Tony Evans is yet another powerful preacher who will help grow and transform your spiritual walk. His Christian sermons are also available in podcast form. Listen to his preaching and his sermons online right now.
Your Move With Andy Stanley Podcast
And if youre looking for short, powerful sermons, look no further than Andy Stanleys Christian podcast. Stanley, pastor of North Point Community Church in Georgia, delivers powerful, 30-minute Christian sermons in Your Move. Listen to the podcast on Edifi today.
Daily Radio Program With Charles Stanley
Then theres Pastor Charles Stanley, whose Daily Radio Program With Charles Stanley will surely offer additional Christian sermons for your listening enjoyment. You can access these sermons online with the Edifi app today!
Radical With David Platt
If youre looking to discover new Christian sermons, another place to look is the Radical With David Platt podcast. Platts powerful preaching and his sermons online will inspire you. So, consider downloading or subscribing to this Christian podcast today.
Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast
And last but not least comes the Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast sermons online that will deeply inspire you. Keller is known for his deep theological dives, so his Christian sermons are sure not to disappoint.
If youre looking for uplifting and thought-provoking preaching, look no further than the Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast. Listen today.
And thats not all! Edifi is filled with powerful Christian podcasts, with categories ranging from Bible studies to women, marriage, kids, prayer and op-ed content. Download the Edifi app today.
Food lovers in St. Louis can sample a new culinary adventure in town for free and from their homes.
Danish American chef Lasse Sorensen will host a new series on Nine PBS, premiering on July 13, which explores the diversity of the St. Louis food scene by following the roots of its cultural influences. In each episode, Sorensen, an immigrant from Denmark, spends time in the kitchens of some of the citys most celebrated restaurants, learning more about the people behind the food.
Food is what connects us all together, he said, no matter where we come from. He says the restaurant scene in St. Louis rivals that of any large city in the country.
In the series premiere, Sorensen meets Munsok So, owner of the sushi spot, the Drunken Fish. So, who also opened the Korean fried chicken venture Kimchi Guys, talks about the changes in public awareness of foods like kimchi and his experiences growing up in St. Louis as an immigrant from Korea.
The series is more than just recipes and tempting dishes.
"There is a lot of heart that goes into the food at these places," Sorensen said. His curiosity about kimchi finds him sharing a family dinner in the home of Sos Korean parents.
Sorensen opened his own fine dining restaurant, Toms Place, in DeSoto, Ill., 22 years ago. He followed his dream of owning his own restaurant after several years of working as a chef in LA. His wife, Maryjane, who helps run Tom's Place, is originally from the area.
He is hoping the series encourages people to try new area restaurants and helps the industry struggling to survive during this pandemic.
We talked about a lot of other stuff besides cooking on the show, he said. Were going for the stories behind the chefs.
The series gives the viewer an intimate look into the cultures that influence the St. Louis food scene and shares the backstory of the neighborhoods that support them. Sorensen takes viewers around places like Lacledes Landing and Bevo Mill to better understand how these neighborhoods are shaped by the people who settled there.
The 13-episode of "Food is Love" premieres on Nine PBS at 7:30 p.m. July 13 and streams at ninenet.org and the PBS Video app.
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Around 16,000 new companies have been registered since the country went into lockdown, official sources told Business Standard. The Central Registration Centre has been working throughout this period, at half the strength, even on weekends and holidays to keep the incorporation of companies going, a senior government official said. While the numbers have dropped by over a half compared to last year, experts still ...
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Yangon, June 23 : The worlds longest internet blockade in Myanmars conflict-ridden northwest has entered its second year, preventing the arrival of humanitarian aid and COVID-19 information.
Myanmar's government has been battling the Arakan Army (AA), an armed group fighting for the independence of ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, in a bloody war since January 2019, reports Efe news.
Authorities shut down internet services in the area on June 21, 2019 which has been extended until August 1, making it the world's longest blackout.
The move has drawn criticism from international and domestic rights organizations, as well as several Western embassies in the country who on Sunday issued a statement demanding its removal.
Laetitia van den Assum, a Dutch diplomat and member of a commission that seeks to find solutions to the Arakan conflict, told Efe: "The internet shutdown creates a black hole. Basic information for the functioning of society is sucked out of it.
"It makes it difficult to assess the volume of aid required." Due to the conflict, more than 130,000 people have been displaced in the remote areas of northern Arakan and southern Chin State, where the digital blockade has failed to defeat insurgents.
It is not only access to information that is problematic, a lack of access to humanitarian aid organizations means many in the area are not aware of the coronavirus pandemic.
The AA, which has about 6,000 troops, was created in 2009 by a group of ethnic Rakhine predominantly Buddhist students to fight for state autonomy.
The government, led since 2016 by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has been involved in a complex peace process with several guerrillas for years but the AA has been excluded from talks as it is deemed a terrorist organization.
The conflict with the AA is not the only one that the country's Army has been embroiled in the state of Arakan in recent years.
In 2017, the Rohingya Muslim minority, which authorities deny citizenship and describe as migrants, suffered a brutal crackdown by the military after forming a guerilla.
More than 730,000 people fled to neighbouring Bangladesh for which the military and the Myanmar government face an accusation of genocide at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Using 3D modeling and machine learning, scientists claim they have solved the mystery of the tiny earthquakes that rumbled daily under Cahuilla, California, from early 2016 to late 2019 - nearly four years.
Some kind of natural fluid, such as water or liquid carbon dioxide, is likely to be the culprit. As a new study points out, it undoubtedly breached a barrier in the underground rock, altering the pressure and friction equilibrium along the fault line, and contributing to a long sequence of minor tremors.
The study can be seen in the Science journal.
ALSO READ: Is There Life in Mars? Scientists Say It's Possible Due to Over 170 Marsquakes and 10,0000 Tornadoes Reported!
The Cahuilla Swarm's fault creep
The techniques deployed here could prove vital in understanding and predicting future earthquakes. Like the one that happened near Cahuilla, both major quakes and smaller swarms add up to tens of thousands of individual occurrences.
Around 22,000 mysterious earthquakes rumbled Southern California since 2016. The behavior has confounded scientists for years.
"We used to think of faults more in terms of two dimensions: like giant cracks extending into the earth," says geophysicist Zachary Ross, from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
"What we're learning is that you really need to understand the fault in three dimensions to get a clear picture of why earthquake swarms occur."
Ross and his colleagues used neural networks to examine thousands of seismic events, ranging from 0.7 to 4.4 in magnitude. The analysis revealed a deep, narrow 3D fault line extending down approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles).
The model showed an underground reservoir's likely presence. It was initially cut off from the fault zone before it leaked through and triggered the tremors. Spotting this was only made possible by high-resolution simulation of the team.
If the work is completed, it sheds light when viewed in profile on a narrow, 50-meter long fault zone with steep curves. It was those curves, Ross says, that revealed the explanation for seismic activity in the area for many years.
The study says the leading potential explanation for the swarms was groundwater circulation or a slow slippage on an active fault, called fault creep.
"The detail here is incredible," seismologist Elizabeth Vanacore from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, who wasn't involved in the research, told Maya Wei-Haas at National Geographic.
"This type of work is cutting edge and really where the science is going."
Swarms like the one studied here typically don't contain any major quakes. They are also much less predictable than the big earthquakes, which usually begin with a major shock followed by slowly declining aftershocks.
Slow quakes
What made this particular swarm fascinating is it lasted too long -- more like a swarm in slow motion. Other swarms are likely to last days, weeks, or months. The scientists say it is now winding down, probably because the fluid has reached an impermeable barrier.
The next step is to test the simulation technique further afield, across southern California and elsewhere - it could be that further earthquake swarms are responsible for natural fluid injections, which seismologists would study using this methodology.
"These observations bring us closer to providing concrete explanations for how and why earthquake swarms start, grow, and terminate," says Ross.
ALSO READ: Is Earth's Doomsday Near? NASA Warns Killer Asteroid May Arrive on Earth in 5 Days
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Cosmo announces regulatory approval of GI GENIUS in Israel
Dublin, Ireland - June 23, 2020 - Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. (SIX: COPN) ("Cosmo") today announced that GI Genius has received regulatory approval in Israel.
GI Genius is the first system using artificial intelligence to detect colorectal polyps and is already available in Europe.
Cosmo recently announced very positive results of the first investigator initiated prospective clinical study of its GI Genius artificial intelligence endoscopy device. In this trial the system increased adenoma detection rate by an absolute value of 16% from 40.9% in the control arm to 56.9% in the GI Genius group. For more information regarding the GI Genius investigator initiated trial please visit: https://www.cosmopharma.com/news-and-media/press-releases-and-company-news/2020/200220
The trial required for GI Genius registration in the U.S. which commenced earlier this year and which was substantially halted due to Covid-19 is now resuming. It is expected to last approximately 4-6 months.
Alessandro Della Cha (CEO of Cosmo) commented: "We are very happy with the continued expansion of the GI Genius franchise".
About Cosmo Pharmaceuticals
Cosmo is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising products to treat selected gastrointestinal disorders and improve endoscopy quality measures through aiding the detection of colonic lesions. Cosmo has also developed medical devices for endoscopy and has recently entered into a partnership with Medtronic for the global distribution of GI Genius its artificial intelligence device for use in coloscopies and GI procedures. Cosmo has licensed Aemcolo to Red Hill Biopharma and is the licensee of Byfavo(remimazolam) for the U.S. for procedural sedation, which it has sub-licensed to Acacia. For additional information on Cosmo and its products please visit the Company's website: www.cosmopharma.com
Financial calendar
2020 Half-Year Results July 30, 2020
Contact
Niall Donnelly, CFO & Head of Investor Relations
Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V.
Tel: +353 1 817 03 70
ndonnelly@cosmopharma.com
Disclaimer
Some of the information contained in this press release contains forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Cosmo undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
This communication is not an offer of securities of any issuer. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirement of the US Securities Act of 1933.
This press release constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities and it does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of article 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange or any similar document. The offer will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of, a securities prospectus to be published. An investment decision regarding the securities to be publicly offered should only be made on the basis of the securities prospectus.
This press release is made to and directed only at (i) persons outside the United Kingdom, (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), and (iii) high net worth individuals, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this press release or any of its contents.
This press release does not constitute an "offer of securities to the public" within the meaning of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Union (the "Prospectus Directive") of the securities referred to in it (the "Securities") in any member state of the European Economic Area (the "EEA"). Any offers of the Securities to persons in the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in member states of the EEA, from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of the Securities.
Police clear H street and Black Lives Matter Plaza after protesters set up an autonomous zone the previous night, just north of the White House in Washington on June 23, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
DC Police Clear Autonomous Zone Protesters Near White House
Police in Washington on Tuesday cleared the streets around the White House after protesters tried to set up an autonomous zone on Monday evening.
Some protesters had set up tents and food distribution areas near H Street and 16th Street, known as Black Lives Matter Plaza, near Lafayette Square. Riot police were seen telling protesters to leave while moving in a line.
The police were heard telling the demonstrators and occupiers to move back, move back.
DC police clear the streets just north of the #WhiteHouse where protesters tried to set up an autonomous zone last night. pic.twitter.com/OgId4yFs9u Charlotte Cuthbertson (@charlottecuthbo) June 23, 2020
Lafayette Square is located just north of the White House. On Monday evening, Black Lives Matter supporters unsuccessfully attempted to take down a statue of former President Andrew Jackson, located in the square.
Protesters set up makeshift barricades in the area and claimed that it is an autonomous zone, featuring makeshift structures and tents. Black Lives Matter, defund the police, and similar slogans were painted on signs.
BHAZ: Black House Autonomous Zone was spray-painted on plywood around H Street, while BHAZ was painted on the columns of St. Johns Episcopal Church, which was vandalized earlier this month during George Floyd protests.
BHAZ appears to be in reference to the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, a so-called autonomous zone that was set up in Seattles Capitol Hill area. The area was formerly called the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ.
Interior Secretary David L. Bernhardt said in a statement that he was at the scene near the statue where another so-called peaceful protest led to destruction tonight, adding that we will not bow to anarchists. He added, Law and order will prevail, and justice will be served.
The Andrew Jackson statue was defaced by criminals who sought to topple the statue recognizing the seventh President of the United States, noting that law enforcement officers ensured that this would not happen, Bernhardt said.
Police clear H street and Black Lives Matter Plaza after protesters set up an autonomous zone the previous night, just north of the White House in Washington on June 23, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
Police clear H Street and Black Lives Matter Plaza after protesters set up an autonomous zone the previous night, just north of the White House in Washington on June 23, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
President Donald Trump on Monday warned that demonstrators who try to take down federally owned statues will face prison terms.
I have authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veterans Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent, he wrote in a statement.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the president said law enforcement officers in Washington stopped the toppling of a great monument, referring to the Jackson statue. We are looking at long-term jail sentences for these vandals and these hoodlums and these anarchists and agitators and call them whatever you want. Some people dont like that language, but thats what they are. Theyre bad people, they dont love our country, and theyre not taking down our monuments, he said.
Tents line the sidewalk just before police clear H Street and Black Lives Matter Plaza after protesters set up an autonomous zone the previous night, just north of the White House in Washington on June 23, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
Barriers and a sign block H Street just before police clear the area after protesters set up an autonomous zone the previous night, just north of the White House in Washington on June 23, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
Tents line the sidewalk just before police clear H Street and Black Lives Matter Plaza after protesters set up an autonomous zone the previous night, just north of the White House in Washington on June 23, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)
Trump also vowed on Tuesday to squash any potential autonomous zones from being set up in Washington.
There will never be an Autonomous Zone in Washington, D.C., as long as Im your President, he wrote on Twitter. If they try they will be met with serious force!
Two shootings were reported in Seattles CHOP over the weekend, leaving at least one person dead. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Monday she would move to disperse CHOP following the weekend violence.
Charlotte Cuthbertson Senior Reporter Follow Charlotte Cuthbertson is a senior reporter with The Epoch Times who primarily covers border security and the opioid crisis.
According to a government report confirmed by ANI, China is using increased road construction in Tibet to encroach Nepali land.
China is using increased road construction in Tibet to encroach Nepali land, according to a government report accessed and confirmed by ANI. The report, prepared by Survey Department of Agriculture Ministry, shows a list of 11 places, of which China has encroached at 10 places comprising about 33 hectares of Nepali land, by diverting the flow of rivers which act as a natural boundary.
The Chinese Government is widely expanding its road network in so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) because of which some rivers and its tributaries have changed their course and are flowing towards Nepal. The flow of rivers is gradually receding the Nepalese territories and if it continues to remain so for some more time, it would cede the maximum portion of Nepals land towards TAR, the document obtained by ANI states.
A total of 10 hectares of land has been encroached in Humla district as Chinese construction works diverted Bagdare Khola river and Karnali river. Six hectares of Nepali land has been encroached in Rasuwa district as the construction work in Tibet brought diversions in Sinjen, Bhurjuk and Jambu Khola.
Also Read India China standoff: Army Chief to visit Leh, review on-ground situation
Also Read: Mutual consensus to disengage: India-China at military talks
Likewise, a total of 11 hectares of Nepal land is already claimed by China for falling in Tibet with the diversion of Kharane Khola and Bhote Kosi in Sindhupalchowk district.
Chinese road construction in Tibet also has diverted the flow of Sumjung, Kam Khola and Arun rivers of Sankhuwasabha district resulting in the encroachment of nine hectares of Nepali land. The document has warned that Nepal would lose more lands if proper steps are not taken in time.
If the receding of land by rivers continues, then hundreds of hectare naturally go towards TAR. There is a high possibility that over a period of time, China may develop Border Observation Post (BOP) of its armed police in those territories, the document states.
After the survey in the 1960s and erection of pillars to determine the boundary with China, Nepal has not initiated any further steps to secure its border. Only a total of 100 pillars were erected on the northern side of the border with China. While with India the number of pillars stands at 8,553.
In recent times, the world has witnessed an escalation in Chinas territorial aggression on all sides of its border.Its actions led to a violent standoff with India near Ladakh. It has had standoffs with Vietnam and Malaysia in the South China Sea, pressurized Taiwan with nighttime drills in Taiwan Strait and threatened Australia with the boycott of wine, beef, barley, and Chinese students.
Beijing has also brought in a new law Hong Kong Security law to increase its control on the semi-autonomous city despite strong protests.
Also Read: China hurries to pass HK national security law
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Poetry has peaked during this pandemic, with people of all ages turning to the time-honoured art form for comfort.
Since lockdown was imposed on NSW on March 31, Radio Nationals flagship breakfast program has launched a regular Friday poetry spot. Meanwhile, the flood of poems submitted to the Heralds letters page immediately after the first cases of coronavirus led to a special plea in the Saturday editions Postscript column.
Just as the bushfires did, the acting letters editor wrote, the virus brings out the poet in many readers. But no matter how heartfelt your verse, we dont have the space.
Likewise, Mitchell Librarian Richard Neville has been amazed at how many poems have been submitted to the State Library of NSWs unique online record of personal reflections as we go through the various stages of COVID-19.
The onslaught of two-year-old qualifiers continued on Tuesday (June 16), as Magical Acres in New Jersey played host to a 20-race session that saw ten dashes devoted to the aspiring youngsters.
'Baby races' comprised the first ten dashes on the docket, as trotters and pacers of both sexes and gaits took turns on the 'fast' five-eighths-mile course.
The fastest of Magical Acres' Tuesday baby races was won by the Linda Toscano-trained and Scott Zeron-driven Crunch Hanover, a Captaintreacherous--Code One Hanover colt that sold for $115,000 as a yearling last fall in Harrisburg.
Crunch Hanover left out from Post 3 in Race 9, cut all the fractions (:29, :59.4, 1:28.4), and recorded a one and a half-length win in 1:57.2 off of a :28.3 final quarter. Crunch Hanover is owned by Enviro Stables Ltd., South Mountain Stables, R And I Farms LLC, and The Bays Stable LLC.
The fastest of the session's pacing filly miles was recorded by the Noel Daley-trained and Andrew McCarthy-driven Farady Hanover, who is a full sister to 2017 Little Brown Jug winner Filibuster Hanover.
In Race 5, Farady Hanover, who was a $275,000 Harrisburg yearling sale purchase last fall, started from Post 2, cut all of the fractions (:30.1, 1:01.2, 1:32), and hung on for a nose win in 1:59.4 off of a :27.4 final quarter. Farady Hanover is owned by Bruce Edward of Australia.
The fastest of the session's trotting miles was recorded by a filly, as the Linda Toscano-trained and David Miller-driven Lady Chaos earned the distinction in 1:59.1
Lady Chaos, who was a $125,000 yearling sale purchase last fall in Lexington, was a wire-to-wire winner in Race 10 on Tuesday. The daughter of Cantab Hall--Strong Legacy did all of the work on the front end (:30.1, 1:00.4, 1:30.2) and kicked home in 28.4 seconds for the 1:59.1 victory. Lady Chaos is owned by Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pontone, Joseph Lozito Jr., and Enviro Stables Ltd.
In terms of the session's fastest male trotting performance, that distinction was held by the Per Engblom-trained and Yannick Gingras-driven Ethan T Hanover, the Bar Hopping--Emmylou Who colt that sold for $130,000 at the Harrisburg auction last fall.
Ethan T Hanover, who is out of the same mare as the great Emoticon Hanover, started from Post 1 in Race 2 on Tuesday. The bay colt did all of the work on the engine (:30.3, 1:02.1, 1:32.3) before finishing things off with a :28.2 final quarter. The win time was 2:01 and the margin of victory was three and a half lengths. Ethan T Hanover is owned by Engblom Stable LLC, Douglas Sipple, and Mal And Janet Burroughs.
Returning Dan Patch Award winner Lyons Sentinel was also in action during the qualifying docket, and the three-year-old Canadian-owned miss proved to be a tactical and sharp winner for trainer Jim King Jr. and driver Tim Tetrick.
After having started from Post 2 in Race 13, Lyons Sentinel, who is a Captaintreacherous filly, took a pocket ride through the fractions (:27.2, :57.4, 1:25.3) and bravened up in the final quarter. The 2019 Shes A Great Lady winner tipped out, fired home with a 26-second final quarter and posted a neck win in a sharp 1:51.4. Lyons Sentinel, who won nine of her 14 races at two and banked $920,000, is owned by Threelyonsracing of Brantford, Ontario.
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Linkedin Rita Widiadana (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar, Bali Tue, June 23, 2020 14:49 578 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40660f3abf 4 Health Tuberculosis,tuberculosis-in-Indonesia,COVID-19,Corona,pandemic,health,health-care,health-care-in-Indonesia Free
COVID-19-related lockdown measures are creating barriers of access to comprehensive tuberculosis (TB) services.
A 30-year-old researcher, Anggita, is scrambling to get regular medicine and treatment for her TB at a private hospital next to her office in South Jakarta but found nothing left at the hospital amid the COVID-19 pandemic since early April.
I was diagnosed with TB a year ago and have to go through TB medication for one year without interruption. Now, I am in my seventh month of medication, but I am very worried that the medicines are scarce now and that I have to repeat my TB treatment from zero, said Anggita, who braved the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) enforced in the capital city of Jakarta to get her medicines.
Anggita is not alone. Millions of people with TB in Indonesia and other countries in the world fear disruption of their medical treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Slums: The majority of people living with TB reside in densely populated areas, where poor basic infrastructure makes it hard to comply with the government's policy on social and physical distancing during COVID-19 pandemic. (healthpolicy.watch.org/-)
Early diagnosis, contact tracing, initiation of TB treatment, uninterrupted treatment, follow-up, side-effect management, monitoring and treatment and other TB care is being affected, making it hard for TB patients to access needed healthcare services.
As mid-June 2020, most Asia Pacific countries are still locked down to some extent because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesia is no exception, although some cities, including the capital of Jakarta, have started opening businesses, offices and public transportation.
The present COVID-19 chaos could weaken the quality of TB data that high-burden countries such as Indonesia are able to collect and analyze.
With an estimated 1.2 million people with TB, Indonesia accounts for about 10 percent of the global TB case number. About 760,000 (49 percent of the global total) people die from TB each year in the region, and more than 65,000 people die in Indonesia every year.
Infographic on TB mortality (World Health Organization's TB Report/-)
Around 3 of 10 million TB patients are deemed missing, because either they have not been detected or they have not reported to health authorities, stressed Tara Singh Bam, deputy director for the Asia-Pacific region of the Paris-based International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (The Union).
We [The Union] believe that health services, including programs to combat TB, need to be actively engaged in ensuring an effective and rapid response to COVID-19 while ensuring that TB services are maintained and uninterrupted, explained Tara.
TB is still the most deadly infectious respiratory disease in the world, with 1.5 million people dying of TB annually, or 4,000 every day, and the number of people who develop the TB disease, around 10 million, has been relatively static for decades.
TB affects mostly low- or middle-income countries, where widespread poverty, a lack of medical care and little public health intervention allows the disease to spread in cramped living conditions.
Just a few weeks prior to the first COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan between Christmas 2019 and New Years Eve, Indonesia hosted the launch of the Global Plan as a follow-up commitment to the 2018 United Nations political declaration to end TB, with specific targets by 2022 (40 million people treated for TB, including 3.5 million children and 1.5 million people with drug resistance).
Infographic on TB health care (World Health Organization's TB Report/-)
The Global Plan explains the need for new diagnostic tools, medicine and ultimately, a TB vaccine, explained Paula Fujiwara, scientific director of the The Union in a virtual interview after the launching.
In fact, this is what has to be done immediately to provide the resources to develop these tools, Paula said adding that research would take time, but during the time tools are being developed, each part of the global community had a part to play.
Why we chose Indonesia as the host is because we looked at countries with a high TB burden, and the country is the best place where we think we can intervene with the government and make a big impact-by bringing political awareness and advocacy to the topic, she maintained.
With support from the chair of the Indonesian Stop TB Partnership, Arifin Panigoro, the Global Plan to End TB has received a strong political commitment from Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo.
What was most concerning, Paula said, was that Indonesia still lagged behind in the treatment of people with TB, which is only 67 percent.
This means Indonesia is not yet diagnosing 23 percent of the estimated number of people with TB, added Paula.
The COVID-19 pandemic will likely halt the implementation of the Global Plan to End TB as well as regional and national efforts.
A study by The Unions scientists found that COVID-19 has impacted all research activities and scientific conferences on TB and has caused delays in the distribution of TB drugs, diagnosis and vaccine trials, which could have a big impact on when new tools can be introduced.
Years of under-investment in supporting health systems respond to TB have made TB and its drug resistant forms the biggest infectious disease killer with over 4,000 deaths per day. We cant afford to repeat these mistakes and be unprepared for pandemics like COVID-19, said the Unions executive director, Jose Luis Castro.
Huge efforts were currently being made to develop COVID-19 tests, drugs and vaccines, he noted.
This could have a chilling effect on research and development for new TB technology, Castro added.
TB is already under-funded by about $3billion per year. Donor support [via the Global Fund, PEPFAR and Unitaid], therefore, might be critical to tide over this looming crisis, he noted.
Castro further said a diversion of TB funding to COVID-19 was a real concern.
Every effort should be made to minimize this. The bigger concern, in the longer term, is that countries will cut expenditure on TB because of the possible massive economic loss due to the outbreak.
By Akbar Mammadov
Azerbaijans Defense Ministry has opened a new engineering infrastructure of the Engineering Troops, the ministrys press service reported on June 23.
A new engineering town and training area for driving engineering equipment have also been constructed and put into operation.
The new engineering infrastructure will enable to organize and conduct combat training in units and subunits of the Engineering Troops, and maintain tactical-special, special training and technical readiness of engineer-sapper units.
Attending the opening of the new engineering infrastructure, Deputy Minister of Defense for Logistics, Lieutenant General Fuad Mammadov has also inspected the newly-constructed soldiers barracks, the canteen, the medical point, the bath and laundry complex, as well as other service and administrative facilities.
The ministry noted that conditions created in this engineering infrastructure will positively affect maintaining a high level of combat readiness of units and subunits of the Engineering Troops.
Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
(Newser) The outdoor gear company Patagonia is the latest company to announce an advertising boycott of Facebook and its Instagram app for the month of Julyor longersaying the social media giant has "failed to take steps to stop the spread of hateful lies and dangerous propaganda on its platform." Patagonia joins the North Face and outdoor gear company REI, which have announced similar boycotts, the AP reports. It is not clear how the boycotts will affect Facebooks advertising revenue, which was nearly $70 billion in 2019. According to Facebook's ad library, Patagonia spent nearly $1 million on ads about social issues or politics between May 2018 and June 2020. The ads got the "social issues" moniker because they were about environmental issues. A Facebook representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
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Last week, civil rights groups called on large advertisers to stop Facebook ad campaigns during July, saying the social network isnt doing enough to curtail racist and violent content on its platform. The groups in the #StopHateforProfit campaign, launched Wednesday, include the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Sleeping Giants, Color Of Change, Free Press, and Common Sense. The groups say Facebook amplifies white supremacists, allows posts that incite violence and contain political propaganda and misinformation, and doesn't stop "bad actors using the platform to do harm." Facebook has been under fire for leaving up posts by President Trump that suggested police-brutality protesters in Minneapolis could be shot.
(Read more Facebook stories.)
Jamstack is an increasingly popular web development philosophy that aims to speed up both the web development process and webpage download times. Drawing from the devops movement and the continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) techniques that are becoming the norm in many organizations, Jamstack upends long-held techniques for building interactive web pages, shifting load-time code execution away from web servers and toward in-browser JavaScript and external services accessed via application programming interfaces (APIs).
What is Jamstack? Jamstack, defined
Jamstack is a web application model based on three pillars, which provide the initials in its name: JavaScript, APIs, and markup. Web pages for a Jamstack site consist of standard markup language, so they can be built and tested anywhere, without dependencies on app servers or server-side technologies like Node.js. Any interactive functionality is provided by standard JavaScript code that executes in the browser, which makes calls to reusable APIs over HTTPS to get access to external data or any other functionality that cant be built into the webpage itself.
To understand why the Jamstack philosophy is revolutionary, consider the LAMP stack, which exemplifies the way most developers have thought about web development for most of the last 15 years. LAMP stands for Linux (the OS that powers most web servers), Apache (the server software running on those Linux machines), MySQL (the database where information the web application needed is stored), and PHP/Perl/Python (the language that server-side code is written in). When you point your browser to a LAMP-based website, the web server executes the server-side code that generates the web page on the fly, drawing data as needed from the MySQL database.
The LAMP architecture allows for the creation of dynamic and interactive websites, but it also requires a powerful web serverand the more traffic a site gets, the more computing power on the server side it needs. Even with a fully featured server, dynamic web pages can take a long time to build and load. In a world of people with short attention spans browsing the web on their phones, that delay has become increasingly unacceptable.
Jamstack was born as part of the static web movement, which arose in the mid 2010s as a reaction against this traditional model of how a website should work. To understand Jamstack, you need to understand todays technology behind static websites.
Static sites, static site generators, and Jamstack
If you had to explain to a complete newbie how the web works, it might go something like this: Somewhere in a web servers filesystem there are HTML files, accessible by HTTP addresses, which a web browser downloads and then interprets to create a web page. But thats a description of a static site: It assumes the HTML files already exist when the web browser goes looking for them. As weve already seen, much of the web over the past decade has been dominated by dynamic sites, which instead generate HTML files on the fly in response to web requests, often based on parameters passed to the web server via forms or in the URL itself.
In the very early days of the web, when web pages were invariably static, many web developers wrote the HTML code by hand. As web pages grew more complex, tools like Macromedias Dreamweaver arrived, which could generate those static HTML pages programmatically. As the static web movement took off in the mid 2010s, a new wave of so-called static site generators began to emerge, including Gatsby, Hugo, and Jeckyll. Unlike WYSIWYG tools like Dreamweaver, static site generators are command-line driven, and designed to be integrated with CI/CD processes. HTML files are generated by the tools, often based on content written in Markdown, and automatically uploaded to a version control repository like GitHub. As these files are marked ready for production, static pages on the live website are automatically updated.
An important thing to keep in mind is that static in this context doesnt mean that these are simple web 1.0 pages that arent interactive. Remember, these pages can include advanced JavaScript that executes in the browser and makes API calls to databases, server-side functionality, or hosted serverless functions. But because none of that execution happens on the web server itself, a static site doesnt need an industrial-powered web host complete with a database. Many static sites are deployed to content delivery networks, or CDNs, where content is mirrored on multiple servers around the world in order to be delivered quickly to users anywhere.
Mathieu Dionne, marketing lead at Snipcart, describes the early days of this new world of static sites in a blog post, and mentions that around 2015, the Netlify founders ... had just come up with the term Jamstack to work around the negative connotation of static web. In other words, weve been describing the Jamstack process throughout this section. But now we need to briefly discuss Netlify and their role in the ecosystem.
What is Netlify?
Netlify is a cloud computing and web hosting company. Netlify cofounder Mathias Biilmann coined the term Jamstack, and Netlifys services are tailored to customers who want to build sites based on the Jamstack philosophy.
Netlify claims to have cracked a specific problem that had been holding back static sites, which is cache invalidation. Database-driven dynamic websites may eat up a lot of server resources, but you can be certain that theyll serve up the latest version of your website to any visitor who stops by. Because Jamstack websites are often hosted on the multiple distributed servers of a CDN, updates are less straightforward. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to hours for each CDN server to figure out that its cached version of the site is no longer valid. Netfliys CDN provides instant cache invalidation for HTML files to work around this problem.
But Netlify isnt the only hosting provider in the Jamstack space, and it doesnt have any kind of trademark or proprietary control over the term. There are a number of Jamstack hosting and deployment solutions available, and most of the big cloud providers are getting in on the action, including AWS, Google Firebase, and Microsoft Azure.
Jamstack CMS
If youre someone who has to deal with a website on a day-to-day basis, you know that getting the website built and hosted is just the beginning. You also need a way to create new content and add it to your site. Because the people wholl be doing that typically wont be programmers, theyll need a user-friendly tool namely, a content management system, or CMS. Traditional CMSes, like WordPress, offer a back-end UI where you can enter website content, manage a database where that content is stored, and build dynamic web pages that present that content in response to browser requests.
CMSes for Jamstack sites work differently, and they are generally referred to as headless. A headless CMS offers a UI for entering and managing content and a database or other means of storing it, but does not itself generate HTML code for a browser to parse. Instead, the websites static HTML pages use JavaScript to make calls to the CMSs APIs, and the CMS returns the content in a format that JavaScript can turn into a webpage.
This system thoroughly separates content from presentation, which is of course a longstanding ideal of programming. Because the CMS has an accessible API, multiple web pages can easily access it. For instance, if youve built separate mobile, desktop, and smartwatch versions of your website, all of these versions can access the same content stored in the CMS.
Netlify, as you might expect, has their own offering in this space, called NetlifyCMS, but there are a number of other offerings available; developer Nebojsa Radakovic breaks them down for you in a blog post. There are a lot of up-and-comers on that list, as well as one very familiar name. While we used WordPress as an example of a traditional CMS, WordPress can be run as a headless CMS to power a Jamstack site as well.
Jamstack conference
Netlify also works to create a Jamstack community and sponsors Jamstack conferences. The company held events in New York, London, and San Francisco in 2019, and hosted a virtual event in May of 2020. As of this writing, you can sign up for the San Francisco event scheduled for October 6-7, 2020, though the coronavirus pandemic still has fall conference plans up in the air.
If youd like updates, you can follow the conference on Twitter. You can also check out past talks on the Jamstack Conf YouTube channel.
Jamstack tutorials
Looking to go deeper? Check out these Jamstack tutorials that will give you some hands-on experience in building a Jamstack site:
Once youve mastered the basic concepts outlined here, youll be prepared to start working with Jamstack development in your professional life. Happy learning!
The OnePlus Nord is one of the most anticipated handsets in the tech community at the moment, and it seems like OnePlus is also referring to it as Avicii.
Confused? Well, that seems to be the codename of this device. Earlier this month, Ishan Agarwal suggested that Avicii may be the OnePlus Zs codename. Well, it seems like that info has been accurate.
Avicii is the codename of the upcoming OnePlus Nord
The device stopped being referred to as the OnePlus Z in the meantime, as it seems like OnePlus Nord will be its name. Its codename remains unchanged, though, as OnePlus Nord seems to be referred to as Avicii internally.
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Ishan Agarwal went to Twitter yet again, to prove his claim. He shared an image that Carl Pei shared, and then deleted. In that image, you can see Avicii T-shirts, as shown below.
If the word Avicii sounds familiar, it should. Avicii was a well-known Swedish DJ, he was popular all over the world, basically. Unfortunately, hes no longer with us, as he passed away back in 2018.
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This may be OnePlus way to honor Aviciis work, we can only guess at this point. Avicii codename is quite specific, though, and its most certainly connected to the DJ. its too specific.
The OnePlus Nord will become official next month, it seems. The phone is rumored to launch on July 10, though the company didnt confirm its release date just yet.
The company did tease something yesterday, though. A cyan-colored OnePlus logo was shared, with a promise of something new on the horizon. OnePlus co-founder, Carl Pei, said its time to rock the boat again.
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The phone will arrive in early July
This is clearly pointing towards the OnePlus Nord launch, so it seems like it is coming in early July, as rumored. The device may launch in India, but it will be available in a number of regions all over the world.
The OnePlus Nord will become the OnePlus Xs spiritual successor. It will be a mid-range offering from the company, and yet pack a punch, thats for sure.
The OnePlus Nord will be fueled by the Snapdragon 765G 64-bit octa-core processor. That is one of Qualcomms best mid-range chips, and the device will support 5G connectivity.
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The OnePlus Nord will be made out of metal and glass. It will include a centered display camera hole, and a flat display, most probably. The phone will feature four cameras on the back, it seems. If youd like to know more, click here.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.
Heavy rainfall to lash Kerala, IMD issues orange alert for several districts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts in Kerala on June 26 in the wake of heavy rainfall amid the monsoon season. Read more
In a meet with China, Russia, Jaishankar says need to respect ethos of international law
In a thinly veiled dig at China against the backdrop of a tense border stand-off, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the worlds leading voices should act in an exemplary manner by respecting international law and recognising the interests of partners. Read more
Skinny-jeans guru Hedi Slimane makes YSL keep paying for $8 million photos
Hedi Slimane, the 51-year-old fashion designer and photographer is one of fashions biggest and most enigmatic names. Slimane is best known for setting the menswear agenda when he brought back skinny suits and jeans at LVMHs Dior Homme in the early 2000s, prompting men around the world to retire their flouncy trousers and pay a premium for form-fitting looks. Read more
Will Indians be allowed to travel for Haj this year? Union Minister answers
Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Indians wont be traveling to Saudi Arabia this year for the annual Haj pilgrimage. Naqvi said the decision was taken after Saudi Arabia asked not to send Indian pilgrims. Muslims from India travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj annually. Read more
Picture of doctors wrinkled palm after wearing gloves for 10 hours go viral. Thanks, says Twitter
It has been months that the emergency workers like doctors, nurses, and other medical staff are fighting a relentless war against coronavirus. Each and every day, they go beyond their call of duty to make sure that people get proper treatment. Read more
Bharat Browser is the desi browser that you were looking for
Lately, there has been an increased push in the country to develop and adopt products from Indian companies. Mitron and Chingari apps are already being seen as the Indian alternatives to TikTok. Read more
Bhushan Kumars wife Divya Khosla lashes out at thankless Sonu Nigam, accuses him of selling lies and deceit
After singer Sonu Nigam targeted T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar in a video, actor and filmmaker Divya Khosla Kumar has accused him of peddling lies. On her Instagram stories, she said that Sonu was launched by the music label and called him ungrateful. Read more
Enhanced actionable visibility across all networks, predefined dashboards and user enablement help NetOps teams to align digital objectives with continuously changing business reality.
BRNO, Czech Republic, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Flowmon Networks, a global network intelligence company, has announced the general availability of Flowmon 11, ushering in redefined user ergonomics that dramatically streamlines network troubleshooting. Overall enhanced UX helps NetOps teams to keep pace with increasing business demands without trading off performance and reliability of digital environments.
Throughout recent years, organizations accelerated the adoption of BYOD, Internet of Things and cloud-first strategy to be more agile and to scale their business better. Hand in hand with unquestionable benefits, these trends have also brought new visibility gaps, intensifying pressure on organizations that want to preserve the performance demanded of their digital environments. Bringing enhanced actionable insights across all networks, fast deployment and no-brainer setup, Flowmon 11 helps to cover visibility gaps and proactively identify and respond to performance incidents.
"Flowmon 11 is a culmination of our effort to bring NetOps teams actionable intelligence with frictionless deployment, easy setup and instant value," says Petr Springl, VP Product & Engineering at Flowmon Networks. "Starting with a redesigned dashboard, an integrated workflow enables NetOps teams to find, analyze and fix issues without a hitch and focus on supporting core business objectives. All of this at scale and across on-premise, datacenter, SDN, cloud and hybrid environment in literally one mouse-click."
Preset Library to Provide Instant Value for Users
In order to minimize the effort, required skillset and time spent on configuring views and dashboard, Flowmon has introduced so-called Presets; a library of pre-defined dashboards for a variety of use cases. Users simply choose the desired preset and get instant access to actionable intelligence, which dramatically streamlines e.g. the monitoring of new services.
Presets reflect the most common needs of Flowmon users, such as monitoring of videoconferencing services, streaming services, utilization of VPM, monitoring of SaaS such as Office 365, G Suite, social networks, as well as a number of enterprise protocols (DNS, DHCP, ...), encrypted traffic analysis and media services. Once applied, Flowmon automatically creates related profiles, report channels, widgets and dashboards.
Amongst other new features, Flowmon 11 delivers simplicity, flexibility and reliability, enabling users to:
Shorten MTTR dramatically by easily switching between predefined dashboards for performance, networks, security, application views; available in one click.
dramatically by easily switching between predefined dashboards for performance, networks, security, application views; available in one click. Get holistic access to information from the whole solution with full customization options via consolidated reporting.
to information from the whole solution with full customization options via consolidated reporting. Make decisive actions with an at-a-glance overview - New high-level widgets make sure insights to the whole system are at hand, with status reports on infrastructure, application delivery, or the number of security incidents including their severity.
with an at-a-glance overview - New high-level widgets make sure insights to the whole system are at hand, with status reports on infrastructure, application delivery, or the number of security incidents including their severity. Run multi-tenant environments (for MSPs) - Different customers can share one appliance, where everyone sees the data only from the flow source or profile assigned to them.
Availability and further resources
Flowmon 11 is now available to all Flowmon customers.
Learn more about the new Flowmon 11 in this blog: https://www.flowmon.com/en/blog/flowmon-11-insight-at-your-fingertips
Check out Flowmon's interactive online demo: https://www.flowmon.com/en/try-online-demo
About Flowmon
Flowmon creates a secure and transparent digital environment where people rule the network regardless of its complexity and nature.
For additional information, please contact:
Lukas Dolnicek, PR & Communications
T: +420-530-510-616
E: lukas.dolnicek@flowmon.com
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1194378/Flowmon_11_Dashboard.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1194379/Flowmon_11_Logo.jpg
Moscow/New Delhi, June 23 : Even as the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China remains tense, India on Tuesday posed great faith in its strategic partnership with Beijing's close ally, Russia.
During his special three-day visit to Moscow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the India-Russia bilateral relationship is a special and privileged strategic partnership, the future of which remains strong.
Singh is in Moscow at the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Defence to attend the Victory Day Parade to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the victory of the allies over Nazi Germany.
India-Russia relations, the minister said, are one of "special and privileged strategic partnership. Our defence relationship is one of its important pillars," he added.
Singh reviewed India's defence relationship in a meeting with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov, despite the restrictions of the pandemic.
The discussions, Singh said, were very positive and productive. He said Russia had assured him that the ongoing defence contracts will be maintained and not just maintained, in a number of cases will be taken forward in a shorter time.
All the proposals of India have received positive response from the Russian side, he said adding that he is fully satisfied with the discussions.
Earlier this morning, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar had discussions with his counterpart and Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.
"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.
Paying tributes to the "immense sacrifice of the Russian people for victory in the Second World War," Singh thanked the people of Russia, specially the veterans, who contributed to the world's common security.
The minister recalled that Indian soldiers also 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 recalled.
"Therefore, it is a great honour that an Indian military contingent will be marching in the Red Square tomorrow," Singh said adding that it "is a sign of everlasting friendship between the armed forces of both our countries." Singh's visit to Moscow is the first foreign visit from India of an official delegation after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Describing it as a sign of "special friendship" between India and Russia, the defence minister said, "Despite all the difficulties of the pandemic, our bilateral relations are keeping good contacts at the various levels." President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is to visit India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, later this year, Singh said adding that his government was looking forward to it.
But the fact that Flavortown came from Fieri is a bonus and not the main reason why he's pushing for the name, Woodbridge said. Describing the city as a "melting pot" of different cultures and nationalities, Woodbridge said the name would honor the city's "proud heritage as a culinary crossroads and one of the nation's largest test markets for the food industry," according to the petition.
As of Sunday afternoon, more than 17,400 have signed the petition and it grabbed the attention of Budweiser, which offered to give out free Bud Light Seltzer to all the city's residents if the name is officially changed to Flavortown.
Woodbridge, who currently lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, said he's planning on driving back up to his hometown soon to deliver the printed petition to city officials.
Others have proposed changing the city's name after an Indigenous figure, which Woodbridge says he supports. All he really wants is for the city to no longer be named after Columbus.
"We as a culture in America are waking up to how bad of a person he was," Woodbridge said. "Now is the time for progressiveness. It's a time for change."
The Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of Parliament and MP for Nsawam/Adoagyiri, Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh has condemned the destruction of a building belonging to the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana.
The unfortunate demolishing of the property took place on 20th June, 2020.
He has therefore appealed to the IGP to ensure speedy investigation into the matter.
Speaking to Peace FM News, Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh said a check made by the Committee indicates that the Police have arrested some persons in connection with the crime.
He described the incident as very disturbing as it has the tendency of affecting the relationship between Ghana and Nigeria.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh also expressed concern about the haste with which the Minority Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of Parliament issued a statement on the matter which seemed to create the erroneous impression that government has a hand in the matter.
He said President Nana Akufo-Addo and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have always addressed issues regarding the two countries with Sterling diplomacy leading to amicable resolution of the issues.
Source: Emmanuel Akorli/ Peace FM Parliamentary Correspondent
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.
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In an effort to amplify the voices of Black women in the Canadian fashion and beauty industry, were asking models, designers, PR pros and more to share their experiences with systemic discrimination. Their stories can help us all, The Kit included, find ways to actually fight anti-Black racism here at home.
I got signed when I was 18. My older sister was a model, but I never thought I would get into the industry. I was super book smart and such a tomboyI loved anything other than getting all dolled up. Being a lawyer was always the end goal. I decided to try modelling for awhile and see how it went.
In the modelling world, I looked up to Naomi Campbell, Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, and Leomie Anderson, who is a huge activist for Black models in the industry. She was always vocal about racism in the fashion world and the struggles that she experienced at fashion showstheyre very overt about it in Europe. I never thought that it would happen to me. When it did, it broke my heart.
For one of my first fashion shows in Edmonton, a makeup artist did my makeup, but it wasnt done properlyit wasnt the right colour for my skin. I didnt know how to voice that because I was new. I was in the bathroom, fixing it, explaining to another model that the foundation was a completely different colour from my skin, when someone came out of the stalls. It was the lead makeup artist. She went directly to my booker and told them that I was in the bathroom fixing my makeup. My booker said, If your makeup isnt done right, you just have to go with it. People talk. Its a small industry. It wasnt my fault that the makeup artist didnt have my colour in her kit. I didnt want to go on the runway looking like that.
That encounter had repercussions. I was confirmed for a cover when all of a sudden, the client dropped me. My agent told me that I was pulled because that lead makeup artist had also gotten chosen for the job and told the client I was difficult. After that, there were a lot of jobs that I couldnt get because she was on them.
There were a few other encounters with her, and then there was an incident that was so bad it made me leave Edmonton. I was walking in a fashion show for a production company, and the owners were best friends with that makeup artist. When I came in and saw the makeup artist and her team, my heart sank. I sat down in the makeup chair, and the makeup artist who was working on me didnt have my colour. She was asking other artists if they had my colour when I stood up and kind of walked awayI just wanted to hide. I hated being Black in that moment. I was so ashamed. I felt like my skin colour was such an issue. It was always recurring and none of the other models had to go through that. I called my agent and said, Its happening again.
Then someone was calling my nameit was the lead makeup artist. She started yelling across the room about me, Shes so difficult! Shes always making a scene. She went to go speak with the production company clients while I stood there, crying.
I knew then that I couldnt stay in Edmonton Its a small city and word gets aroundI worried that I wouldnt be able to reclaim my name. I told my agent that I wanted to go work somewhere else.
I went to Toronto for four months where I had a successful first season, then I was signed by another agency in South Africa. I travelled for a few jobs. In November, a client flew me all the way to Vancouver for a campaign shoot. I was the main model for the campaign, but when I got there, the makeup artist openly said, I dont have your colour, Im so sorry. The hair artist kept complaining about how thick and kinky my hair was. She had her hair straightener on at 450 degrees, and when I stood up, there was so much damaged hair dropping onto my white shirt. I went to the bathroom and cried. I was the only girl they flew in and booked for a full day for the campaign! Why would you hire a white makeup artist and white hair stylist to do a job theyre not even equipped to do?
Im based in Toronto now, and its better because a lot of makeup artists here have worked with Black models, but it definitely has its shortcomings. One thing that is consistent: They require Black models to bring their Black hair stuff, their products and extensions, and to prep their hair. The white models arent expected to do that. You get the odd makeup artist who doesnt have our colour, or who thinks that one shade is going to work on all the Black models.
A lot of people in the industry are uncomfortable with hearing the word racismeven if they think they arent racist, their actions often are. Racism is not just calling someone the N word, its rarely as overt as that. Tokenism, for example, perpetuates the idea of white supremacy. Theres this idea that brands have two kinds of Black models to feature: one biracial model with loose curls in an afro that is hanging to her shoulders and one really dark-skinned model with a shaved head. The biracial model is Black enough that we can say we have diversity in our campaigns, but shes not too Black. And the second model is often about exotifying Blackness. But the white people making the decisions forget about the Black people in between. There can be this huge range of white models, but when it comes to Black models, theres often only two and thats at best.
Recently, that production company in Edmonton posted something on social media about solidarity with Black Lives Matter. I called them out publicly on their post to tell them not to post a quote, but share nothing about an actual plan of action. We had a Zoom call about the issue. They told me they were so sorry, how they should have done better for me in that moment. That lead makeup artist was on the Zoom call. She didnt turn on her camera until the call was about to end and then offered, what appeared to me to be an insincere apology. She knew all the negative things she said about me, labelling me as an angry Black woman just because I was standing up for myself and my Blackness.
Labels like difficult to work with or bitchy have cultural underpinnings and context. It is imperative that people understand such verbiage aimed at Black models is not interpreted the same way as when said to white models. These words further perpetuate tropes such as the angry Black woman and other negative stereotypes. Language is important. I am allowed to feel passionate and be assertive about something and it does not mean that I have to be angry.
People need to realize that when a model speaks up on set, it has nothing to do with undermining you as a hair stylist or a makeup artist. There is always more to learn. I love the idea of being able to go on set and saying, I actually have my foundation colour today and them not taking it as an insult. For them to say, This is what I have my kit, do you want to take a look? If youre not happy with it, we can use what youve brought.
Mode Models, my mother agency, was the first to really be about change and stand up for their Black models. They talked with me and the other Black models on their board and decided to implement a fee in their booking policy. It is payable directly to models by the client if a model arrives on set and the hair and makeup artists are not equipped to work with our skin tone/hair texture. They also advertised for Black hair and makeup artists to apply to work with the agency; theyve since hired two. These are significant milestones for Black modelskeep in mind, I have never worked with a Black makeup artist since starting my career in Canada. Furthermore, they have set precedent for other agencies to take action and follow suit; a few Toronto agencies have picked up the baton as well.
After speaking out on Instagram about my experiences, celebrity makeup artist Simone Otis reached out to me and helped to amplify my voice by starting a much-needed public conversation between a Black model and a white makeup artist. I am grateful for artists like her and many others who understand the need to celebrate diversity in beauty. I shot my first major campaign with her on my first visit to Toronto and she saw beauty in my Blackness and pushed to get me in front of other clients. Modelling is an amazing opportunity that not many people get to do and though its often a struggleeven more so being Blackthere are amazing experiences that come with it.
I have many more goals I would like to check off my bucket list in modelling before I retire, but my ultimate goal is to be a lawyer. Id love to go to law school in the U.K., to follow in the footsteps of someone like Amal Clooney and help people through humanitarian and international law. The cost of tuition alone is $40,000 per year and Ive been blessed to be able to use modelling as a way to pay for that dream. So I have a time limit because I want to get serious about my passion, which is helping people.
The current political climate of the world and the light being shone on the beauty/fashion industry has reminded me of how passionate my goal of becoming a lawyer is. It took great courage for me to publicly be the voice that speaks up for Black models who have experienced this discrimination. The industry has taught us that we are to just sit there and look pretty and have no opinions; I have had artists say this to me verbatim. My passion to be a lawyer who stands up for those facing injustice has galvanized me to speak out now and encourage other models to do the same, and say enough is enough.
The takeaway that I want models, brands, agencies, photographers and any interested reader to know is that I am demanding there be balance and diversity in the industry. The industry has created this Anglo standard of beauty and it has marginalized, dismissed and made people like me, who are in between the other shades, feel invisible; such disregard for our humanity is anti-Blackness. When artists dont have my colour foundation or know how to do my hair, they are reinforcing the idea that I am not the standard. The unconscious bias is so loud in these moments and it announces that my skin is too Black or my hair is too thick or too kinky. Weve been conditioned to believe that straight hair is beautiful, light skin is beautiful. This superficial hierarchy of beauty continues to perpetuate one standard of beauty rather than celebrating diversity.
I want Black models to know that they have a voice and have the power to speak up; and brands, hair and makeup artists, casting directors, photographers, agencies, please acknowledge that theres a standard and that you have the power to change it. Stop perpetuating and reinforcing homogeny because no one type of person should hold the monopoly of what is considered beautiful.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-23 09:25:55|Editor: huaxia
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WASHINGTON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. economy is expected to grow more slowly than people had hoped months ago as the country cannot stop the community spread of COVID-19, a senior U.S. Federal Reserve official said on Monday.
"Some of the better economic data we've been getting has reflected the fact that those places are opening up, but they may not be opening up as safely as they need to," said Eric Rosengren, president of Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, in an interview with Yahoo Finance.
"If the result is that they (officials) have to impose new restrictions later in the year, that actually is going to slow down the economic recovery," he said, noting the economy and the pandemic are "very closely intertwined."
"That is actually my baseline forecast, (which) is that unfortunately we're unlikely to stop the community spread, and we'll be in a situation where the economy is growing more slowly than we might have hoped a few months ago," said the Fed official.
COVID-19-related deaths in the United States surpassed 120,000 on Monday with about 2.3 million infections, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, and new cases continue rising nationwide.
Rosengren said the central bank's newly launched Main Street Lending Program, which offers small and medium-sized companies loans, could provide "insurance" against what he expects to be a more difficult second half of the year.
"If I'm right the second half of the year is more difficult than many people are anticipating. I think having this facility up and running will be an important insurance policy for the economy," he said.
Rosengren's latest remarks came after a Fed official said Friday that the U.S. unemployment rate will remain in double digits by the end of this year.
"I expect the unemployment rate to still be at double-digit levels at the end of the year, given what are likely to be persistent economic headwinds from the pandemic over the second half of the year," he said.
Since February, U.S. employers have shed nearly 20 million jobs from payrolls, reversing almost 10 years of job gains, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate jumped to a post-World War II high of 14.7 percent in April, and then moved down to a still very elevated 13.3 percent in May. Enditem
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Guinness has ramped up production of the black stuff at its Dublin brewery as it prepares for pubs in Britain and Ireland to reopen.
At the start of the lockdown in Ireland, Guinness reduced operations at its famous St James's Gate brewery to the minimal level required to keep yeast stocks alive.
It was the first time that had happened since the 1916 Easter Rising rebellion in the city.
Hundreds of thousands of unused kegs of the stout were taken back from shuttered bars and repurposed to fertilise Christmas tree plantations as part of the brewery's forestry commitments.
Now production has been stepped up once again as pubs and bars across Ireland, the UK and beyond prepare to start welcoming customers back.
Four and half gallon kegs are filled up with beer at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland. At the start of the lockdown in Ireland, Guinness reduced operations at its famous St James's Gate brewery to the minimal level required to keep yeast stocks alive. It was the first time that had happened since the 1916 Easter Rising rebellion in the city.
Kegs of Guinness are stacked ready for distribution at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland. Hundreds of thousands of unused kegs of the stout were taken back from shuttered bars and repurposed to fertilise Christmas tree plantations as part of the brewery's forestry commitments.
Mariusz Brzyk assistant manager of Paddy Cullens pub in Dublin takes delivery of fresh Guinness as bars across Ireland in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland. Anticipating the challenges the drinks industry is set to encounter in the era of social distancing, Guinness owner Diageo has announced an 80 million 'Raising the Bar' fund to help pubs pay for new hygiene and safety measures - 13 million of which is being made available on the island of Ireland.
Anticipating the challenges the drinks industry is set to encounter in the era of social distancing, Guinness owner Diageo has announced an 80 million 'Raising the Bar' fund to help pubs pay for new hygiene and safety measures - 13 million of which is being made available on the island of Ireland.
The PA news agency has been behind the scenes at St James's Gate to witnesses the scaling up of operations.
Aidan Crowe, the director of operations at the brewery, said Guinness decided in the early days of lockdown to support its on-trade customers by retrieving the kegs that were set to go undrunk due to the closure of hospitality outlets.
'It's been a tough time in the brewery but it's been a much tougher time if you're trying to run on-trade outlets in this part of the world,' he told PA.
'That's why it was very, very important right from the start of the lockdown to support the on-trade as much as we could. That's why we took the decision to bring back all of the beer from the on-trade.'
Steve Gilson checks on the progress of a brewing vat at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland. Aidan Crowe, the director of operations at the brewery, said Guinness decided in the early days of lockdown to support its on-trade customers by retrieving the kegs that were set to go undrunk due to the closure of hospitality outlets.
Guinness delivery trucks at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland
Aidan Crowe, Director of Operations at at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland. Asked how many litres had been returned, Mr Crowe said: 'You'd probably make me cry if I started to add it all up, but it's hundreds of thousands of kegs and we've still got some products to decant and we've still got some markets that haven't finished returning their beer to us. So a lot of beer and a lot of kegs.'
He added: 'Basically what we do is we take all the keg beer back and we decant it and we disperse the product through a number of environmentally sustainable routes.
'The vast majority of the beer goes to willow and Christmas tree plantations, it's used as nutrients in those farms.
'We've also diverted some product through to anaerobic digesters, where it produces a bio-gas.
'Actually, we're quite optimistic that, in the long term, that bio-gas can be a suitable fuel source for us to use here in the brewery.
'And then we've also diverted some of the product for composting.
'So it's an unprecedented problem for us to have and we wanted to ensure that in terms of how we manage that and manage the beer it was environmentally sustainable, because that's so critically important, not just for our business, but obviously for the country as a whole as well.'
Logistics Manager Colin Griffey with Kegs of Guinness stacked ready for distribution at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland
A truck filled with kegs of Guinness leaving the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland
Four and half gallon kegs are filled up with beer by special machines at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland
Asked how many litres had been returned, Mr Crowe said: 'You'd probably make me cry if I started to add it all up, but it's hundreds of thousands of kegs and we've still got some products to decant and we've still got some markets that haven't finished returning their beer to us. So a lot of beer and a lot of kegs.'
The main brew house at St James's Gate produces 7.2 million hectolitres (720 million litres) a year.
That amounts to 39 pints a second all year round.
Ordinarily, St James's brews 2.5 million pints of Guinness every day and 1.5 million pints of other beer and stout.
But all that was scaled back in the last two weeks of March and first week of April.
'Our biggest job really over that period of time was just managing what was an unprecedented downturn,' said Mr Crowe.
'Probably going back to 1916, actually, is the last time we had such a dramatic short-term change.
Beer taster Stephen mulligan tests the quality of batches of Guinness as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin
Beer taster Stephen mulligan fills out a form on batches of Guinness as part of the quality control which takes place at the world famous brewery in Dublin
'Now, thankfully, we're on the other side of that, we're ramping up very, very strongly through the months of June and July.'
St James's Gate's three largest markets are Great Britain, Ireland and North America but overall it distributes to 130 countries worldwide.
All stout, beer and ale produced at the height of lockdown was used only for canned products.
So while the kegging operation at St James's Gate ground to a near halt, canning and bottle operations in Belfast and Runcorn actually stepped up production, to meet the added demand from the off-sales trade.
A worker places lids on four and a half gallon kegs of Guinness at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin
Kegs of Guinness stacked ready for distribution at the St James's Gate Guinness brewery in Dublin as production ramps up in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland
Mariusz Brzyk assistant manager of Paddy Cullens pub in Dublin hands over a fresh pint of stout after taking a new delivery of Guinness as bars across Ireland in preparation for bars re-opening in the UK and Ireland
Mr Crowe said the biggest challenge the brewery now faces is the uncertainty about what demand will look like in the first few months of eased restrictions.
'We've got to be prepared for different eventualities,' he said.
'If it's slower than we expect, we've got to be ready for that. If it's significantly busier than we expect, we've got to be ready for that too. And we are ready, we will be ready.
'It's a much nicer set of challenges to be trying to manage than the challenges that we had back in March when everything was being ramped down.'
LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) - British wholesale gas prices
rose on Tuesday morning, as imports from Norway fell and
supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) remained weak.
* The within-day contract was up 1.35 pence at
14.35p/ therm by 0839 GMT.
* The day-ahead contract was up 0.48 p at 14.30
p/therm.
* Traders said with supply and demand fairly balanced in the
market, the expectation of low Norwegian imports and news of an
unplanned outage helped to buoy prices.
* Imports from Norway through the Langeled pipeline were
nominated
at 5 million cubic metres (mcm)/day, down 20 mcm from the
previous day, Refintiv Eikon data showed.
* An unplanned outage cut supply from Norways Gulfalks
field,
system operator Gassco said.
* Flow from Britain's LNG terminals was forecast at 32 mcm
on
Tuesday, up 2 mcm from Monday.
* Britain's gas system was almost balanced with demand
forecast at
163.6 mcm and flows at 165.8 mcm/day, National Grid data showed.
* Further out on the curve prices also rose.
* The July contract was up 0.83 p at 14.65
p/therm.
* The Winter 2020 contract < TRGBNBPSH1> was up 0.45 p at
33.00
p/therm.
* The day-ahead gas price at the Dutch TTF hub
was up
0.33 euro at 5.55 euros per megawatt hour.
* The benchmark Dec-20 EU carbon contract was up
0.52
euro at 25.05 euros per tonne.
(Reporting By Susanna Twidale; editing by Nina Chestney)
Edwin Garrubbo who is in the cosmetics business and an Italophile, with family ties to Italy has written the Garrubbo Guide, a well-researched book with just about every detail of the Italian table. And for him, its best appreciated in Italy; he says America does not come close. He provides a concise history of Italian food and rules like dont cut your spaghetti and describes most ingredients and dishes in detail. The book also gives a rundown of Italian wines and pasta shapes, lists the specialties of each province and includes a glossary. When it comes to coffee, he does not have nice things to say about Starbucks.
Garrubbo Guide: The Importance of Eating Italian by Edwin Garrubbo (Garrubbo Communications, $24.95), garrubbo.com.
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